Toyota Prius Complaints (2010)

2,829 consumer complaints on file.

#10544665September 20, 2013
ENGINE, HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM: INVERTER
I WAS DRIVING 15 MPH AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE CAR STALLED AND STATED, "CHECK HYBRID SYSTEM". STOPPED THE CARE RIGHT AWAY CALLED AAA AND TOOK IT TO A TOYOTA FACILITY WHERE THEY DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS A FAILED INVERTER, WHICH IS PART OF THE HYBRID SYSTEM. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND MUST BE ADDRESSED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10543906September 16, 2013
STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HATCH/TRUNK DOOR WOULD FALL UNEXPECTEDLY AND WITHOUT ANY WARNING. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE DOOR HAD FALLEN ON HER AT LEAST THREE TIMES. THE CONTACT WAS NOT INJURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE MECHANIC STATED THAT IT WAS NORMAL FOR THE HATCH/TRUCK DOOR TO FALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 78,496.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10543431September 13, 2013
SERVICE BRAKES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS.THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH OVER A ROAD BUMP AND THE VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD ABNORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION BUT THEY COULD NOT DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 36,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10543016September 11, 2013
SERVICE BRAKES
THIS INCIDENT HAS OCCURRED NUMEROUS TIMES SINCE PURCHASING THE CAR, BUT IT WASN'T UNTIL LAST WEEK (9/6/2013) THAT I BECAME TERRIFIED AS I ALMOST HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME. WHENEVER MY PRIUS RUNS OVER A POTHOLE, BUMP, UNEVEN SURFACE, OR DEEP MANHOLE COVER AS I AM BRAKING TOWARDS AN INTERSECTION TO COME TO A STOP (FOR ME, ALL THESE INCIDENTS OCCURRED WHEN I APPROACHED AN INTERSECTION) THE BRAKES STOP WORKING FOR A BRIEF MOMENT AND SUDDENLY MY CAR JERKS FORWARD, LURCHES FORWARD, OR ACCELERATES. I HAVE TO PRESS DOWN MY BRAKES REALLY HARD TO THE FLOOR TO STOP THE VEHICLE WHEN THIS HAPPENS. WHEN THIS FAILS, I IMMEDIATELY RELEASE THE BRAKE AND RE-APPLY VERY HARD TO THE FLOOR TO STOP THE CAR. IN THESE MOMENTS IT BECOMES SCARY AS I AM NEVER SURE IF THE CAR WILL COME TO A STOP BEFORE THE INTERSECTION. LAST WEEK, I WAS APPROACHING A BUSY INTERSECTION WHILE BRAKING AND I RAN OVER A UNEVEN POTHOLE COVER/FILLER AT ABOUT 5 TO 15 MPH WHICH CAUSED MY CAR TO ACCELERATE TO LIKE 20 OR 25 MPH! I HAD TO BRAKE VERY HARD IN ORDER TO STOP MY CAR AND SWERVE TO THE RIGHT TO AVOID HITTING THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. THIS PROBLEM ONLY OCCURS WHEN MY RIGHT SIDE TIRES HIT THE UNEVEN SURFACE, MANHOLE COVER, POTHOLES, BUMPS, ETC. I HAVE NOT HAD AN INCIDENT WHERE IT HAPPENED WITH THE LEFT TIRES. TOYOTA SERVICE HAS SAID THERE IS NO PROBLEM WITH MY CAR'S BRAKES AND THEREFORE SAID THEY CAN'T FIX ANYTHING. THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH TOYOTA'S PRIUS BRAKING SYSTEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10543052September 11, 2013
SERVICE BRAKES
THIS VEHICLE SHOULD BE PART OF THE LARGER TOYOTA RECALL ON BRAKES THAT WAS ANNOUNCED EARLIER THIS YEAR. AFTER A FEW THOUSAND MILES, I NOTICED THAT THE BRAKES GAVE WAY IF THE PRIUS HITS A BUMP OR POTHOLE. TOYOTA'S STATEMENT THAT "CUSTOMERS ARE PERCEIVING INCONSISTENT BRAKE FEEL DURING SLOW AND STEADY APPLICATION OF THE BRAKES ON ROUGH OR SLICK ROAD SURFACES" IS AN UNDERSTATEMENT. THE BRAKES DON'T ACTUALLY WORK WHEN YOU ARE DECELERATING AND HIT A BUMP, WHICH IS PROBLEMATIC WHEN YOU LIVE IN A CITY NOTORIOUS FOR POTHOLES. I REPORTED THIS ISSUE EARLY ON TO MY DEALER, AND HAVE SINCE FOLLOWED UP, EACH TIME BEING MET WITH THE SAME RESPONSE: THERE ARE NO REPORTS ON THIS ISSUE. FOR WHATEVER REASON, TOYOTA FEELS THAT ONLY CERTAIN VIN LOT NUMBERS MERIT THE RECALL, BUT I CAN ASSURE THEM THE PROBLEM IS MORE WIDESPREAD. MOST OWNERS I'VE TALKED TO HAVE TRIED TO ACCOMMODATE THE PROBLEM BY BEING AWARE OF BUMPS WHEN COMING TO A STOP, BUT AT SOME POINT SOMEONE WILL INJURE OR KILL SOMEONE ELSE AS A RESULT OF THIS BRAKING ISSUE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10543070September 11, 2013
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE LOW BEAM HEAD LIGHTS FAILED AND COULD NOT BE RE-ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION WHERE THEY STATED THAT THE LIGHT BULBS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED FIVE TIMES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000. UPDATED 10/29/13*CN THE CONSUMER STATED BOTH OF THE LOW BEAMS WENT OUT SIMULTANEOUSLY. ALSO, WHEN THE WIRES WERE WIGGLED THE LIGHTS WOULD COME ON. THE DEALER SUGGESTED TO TURN TO THE VEHICLE OFF, AND THEN TURN IT BACK IT ON. THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THERE WAS AN ELECTRICAL OR COMPUTER PROBLEM.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10542852September 10, 2013
HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM: INVERTER
WHILE TRAVELING ON AN EXPRESSWAY, DURING RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC,EVERY LIGHT ON THE DASH BOARD LIT UP THEN THE CAR COMPLETELY DIED. A MESSAGE OF 'HYBRID SYSTEM FAILED' SHOWED BEFORE IT DIED. THERE WAS NO SLOW DOWN OR WARNING. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THE INVERTER WAS REPLACED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10542825September 10, 2013
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. UPON RESTARTING, THE VEHICLE RESUMED NORMALLY BUT THE FAILURE LATER RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS WHERE THE VOLT BATTERY WAS REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 49,312. ..UPDATED 10/30/13 *BF UPDATED 10/31/13*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE DEALERSHIP DID NOT PUT THE ENGINE GUARD ON THE VEHICLE PROPERLY, THE ENGINE COVER DETACHED, THE TIRES WENT FLAT FREQUENTLY, LIGHTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, AND THE BATTERY COMPLETELY POWERED OFF. A SEPARATE DEALERSHIP INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE VEHICLE WAS DEFECTIVE. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE SECOND TIME THE VEHICLE SHUT DOWN WAS AT 60 MPH THE VEHICLE POWERED OFF 10 WITHIN 10 MINUTES ON THE SAME DAY DURING RUSH HOUR. UPDATED 11/4/2013 *JS THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE POWERED OFF TWICE WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED, SHE WAS DRIVING 15 MPH AND THE SECOND TIME IT HAPPENED SHE WAS DRIVING 60 MPH AND SHE LOST POWER ALL TOGETHER.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10542838September 10, 2013
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I RECEIVED AN URGENT SAFETY RECALL NOTICE FROM TOYOTA RE: MY 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS BRAKE BOOSTER PUMP ASSEMBLY (ACCUMULATOR). AT THE BOTTOM OF THE NOTICE THERE IS THIS INFORMATION: "IF YOU BELIEVE THAT THE DEALER OR TOYOTA HAS FAILED OR IS UNABLE TO REMEDY THE DEFECT WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME, YOU MAY SUBMIT A COMPLAINT TO...(LISTS SEVERAL OPTIONS, INCLUDING WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV)." MY CORVALLIS, OREGON DEALER NOTIFIED ME THAT I AM ON A WAITING LIST OF APPROXIMATELY 15 VEHICLE OWNERS WAITING FOR THIS REPAIR. I WAS TOLD THAT TOYOTA IS ONLY PROVIDING MATERIALS TO THIS DEALER TO MAKE TWO REPAIRS A WEEK. WAITING POTENTIALLY TWO MONTHS FOR REPAIR OF A PROBLEM THAT "COULD AFFECT STOPPING DISTANCE AND INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH" IS DISCONCERTING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10542674September 9, 2013
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
MY CAR IS CONSTANTLY BLOWING LIGHT BULBS. IT STARTED AFTER ONLY ONE YEAR WITH HEADLIGHTS. BOTH TAG LIGHTS AND SEVERAL FRONT MARKER LIGHTS HAVE BLOWN. THERE HAS TO BE AN ELECTRONICS PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10541776September 4, 2013
SERVICE BRAKES
THIS INCIDENT HAS OCCURRED TWICE UNDER IDENTICAL CONDITIONS, IN THE SAME LOCATION. THE CAR DID NOT ENGAGE THE BRAKES UNTIL APPROXIMATELY ONE SECOND AFTER I DEPRESSED THE PEDAL. MAYBE THE COMPUTER'S ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL IS INVOLVED IN THE PROBLEM, EVEN THOUGH THE CAR DID NOT INDICATE THAT ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL WAS ENGAGED. BOTH TIMES I WAS DRIVING ON A SLIGHT DOWNHILL AT ~20 MPH. IMMEDIATELY AFTER I PASSED OVER SOME BUMPS, I DEPRESSED THE BRAKES, AND THERE WAS A SIGNIFICANT DELAY IN THE BRAKES BEING ENGAGED (1S). I THINK THE BUMPS IN THE ROAD ARE INVOLVED IN THIS ISSUE. OF NOTE, THIS CAR UNDERWENT AN UPDATE TO ITS SOFTWARE PROGRAM FOLLOWING A RECALL INVOLVING BRAKING PROBLEMS, AND THESE INCIDENTS OCCURRED AFTER THE UPDATE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10537845August 29, 2013
SERVICE BRAKES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE DELAYED TO ENGAGE WHILE DECELERATING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO STEER THE STEERING WHEEL AWAY AND AVOID CRASHING INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES FOR THE FAILURE AND A DIAGNOSTIC WAS PERFORMED, WHICH INDICATED THAT THE COMPUTER SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE RESET. THE COMPUTER SYSTEM WAS RESET BUT THE FAILURE WAS NOT CORRECTED. THE VEHICLE WAS ALSO TEST DRIVEN, BUT THE FAILURE DID NOT DUPLICATE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 35,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10536597August 21, 2013
SERVICE BRAKES
WHILE BRAKING OVER AN UNEVEN SURFACE COMING UP TO A STOP LIGHT, THE CAR LURCHED FORWARD, CAUSING IT TO SEEMINGLY ACCELERATE INTO THE CROSSWALK. I WAS COASTING UP TO THE STOPLIGHT AND APPLIED THE BRAKES CLOSER TO THE LIGHT, AS THE CAR WAS TRAVELING OVER THE UNEVEN SURFACE. THE UNEVEN SURFACE WAS CAUSED BY RAISED METAL PLATES COVERING ROAD CONSTRUCTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 5-10 MPH AND DECELERATING AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT. THIS HAS HAPPENED WITH REGULAR CONSISTENCY EVEN THOUGH THE CAR GOT THE SOFTWARE FIX WITHIN A FEW MONTHS OF PURCHASE IN 2010. IT MOSTLY HAPPENS DECELERATING OVER POTHOLES IN THE ROAD, WHEN GOING FROM COASTING (REGENERATIVE BREAKING) TO APPLYING THE BRAKES BY FOOT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10536514August 21, 2013
SERVICE BRAKES, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHEN BRAKING, SUCH AS WHEN APPROACHING A STOP SIGN OR STOP LIGHT, IN THE PRESENCE OF BUMPS, POTHOLES, OR ROUGH/UNEVEN ROAD SURFACES, THE CAR NOTICEABLY AND FORCEFULLY "LURCHES FORWARD", AND THERE IS MOMENTARY LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE'S STOPPING MECHANISM. *TR...UPDATED 02-03-15 *BF *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10535597August 15, 2013
AIR BAGS, AIR BAGS:ON-OFF SWITCH ASSEMBLY
2010 TOYOTA PRIUS. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE AIR BAG SWITCH. *SMD THE CONSUMER REQUESTED TO HAVE AN AIR BAG ON-OFF SWITCH INSTALLED IN HIS VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT, WITH HIS PREVIOUS VEHICLE AND IT WAS STRUCK ON THE LEFT SIDE JUST IN FRONT OF THE REAR WHEEL, DAMAGING THE BODY AND REAR DOOR, BUT NOT SERIOUSLY. IT WAS THE ONLY DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE. HOWEVER, THE UPPER LEFT AIR BAG DEPLOYED STRIKING HIM ON THE SIDE OF THE HEAD AND BREAKING HIS NECK.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10535298August 14, 2013
SERVICE BRAKES
WHILE BRAKING AT LOW SPEEDS -- SUCH AS WHILE APPROACHING A TRAFFIC LIGHT OR AN INTERSECTION -- PASSING OVER A POTHOLE OR UNEVEN ROAD SURFACE OFTEN CAUSES THE BRAKES TO DISENGAGE. THE SENSATION IS ONE IN WHICH MY FOOT IS IN THE SAME PLACE AS IT WAS WHEN I BEGAN BRAKING, BUT SUDDENLY THERE IS NO GIVE TO THE PEDAL, THE BRAKING HAS STOPPED -- BRAKING DOES NOT RETURN UNTIL I PUSH FURTHER DOWN ON THE PEDAL. MY FOOT IS NOT DISLODGED BY THE BUMP, AND THE BRAKING MECHANISM WILL NOT RE-ENGAGE UNLESS I PUSH THE PEDAL TO A NEW, DEEPER LOCATION. IT IS OBVIOUSLY DISCONCERTING AT INTERSECTIONS, AND SINCE MOVING TO A NEW LOCATION AND HAVING TO RE-LEARN WHERE ON MY ROUTES THIS PROBLEM WILL OCCUR, I DECIDED IT WAS TIME TO FILE A COMPLAINT. THE FRUSTRATION IS THAT THIS ISSUE WAS SUPPOSEDLY SOLVED A COUPLE YEARS AGO WITH A SOFTWARE FIX FROM TOYOTA, BUT THAT FIX SEEMS TO NOT HAVE WORKED. I FILED A COMPLAINT ABOUT THE PRIUS PROBLEM WITH SOME AGENCY (POSSIBLY NHTSA OR FTC) A FEW YEARS AGO WHEN THE OTHER, MORE NOTABLE, BRAKE-STICKING PROBLEM IN OTHER TOYOTAS WAS IN THE NEWS. THIS PARTICULAR ISSUE IS QUITE DIFFERENT. NOTE: THE DATE OF FIRST INCIDENCE IS APPROXIMATE, BUT THE PROBLEM PERSISTS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10535250August 13, 2013
SERVICE BRAKES
I WAS DRIVING CAR ABOUT 25 MILES P H AND SANDALEE THE ABS LIGHTS CAME UP AND ITS WAS READY HARD TO STOP THE CAR SOMEHOW BREAK WASN'T WORKING PROPERLY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10534378August 8, 2013
ENGINE, POWER TRAIN, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY IN ALBANY, NY AREA, SLOWED DOWN TO GO THROUGH TOLLBOOTH AS I BEGAN TO ACCELERATE TO CONTINUE ON HIGHWAY, CHECK HYBRID LIGHT CAME ON AND ENGINE ABRUPTLY STOPPED. I WAS ABLE TO COAST THE CAR FROM LEFT LANE OVER TO THE BREAKDOWN LANE. TURNED OFF CAR AND WAS UNABLE TO RESTART. TOYOTA DEALERSHIP FOUND THAT THE POWER INVERTER HAD FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. ERROR CODES LISTED BY DEALER: P0A94 DC/DC CONVERTER PERFORMANCE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10534044August 7, 2013
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
LAST NIGHT, AT 10 PM, ON GETTING BACK TO INTO MY CAR TO DRIVE TO MY HOUSE 7 MILES AWAY, BOTH THE HEADLIGHTS DID NOT WORK. THE HIGH BEAM LIGHTS WERE WORKING, BUT THE REGULAR HEADLIGHTS DID NOT. AS A RESULT, I WAS DRIVING IN DARK ON A SINGLE LANE HIGHWAY, AND IT WAS A VERY SCARY EXPERIENCE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10534058August 7, 2013
SERVICE BRAKES
WHEN I TRY TO BRAKE, OCCASIONALLY, THE CAR JUMPS FORWARD, INSTEAD OF STOPPING. IT MOVES LIKE 6 INCHES TO 12 INCHES. IT HAPPENS MORE OFTEN WHEN I TRY TO BRAKE AT A STOP SIGN, WHEN THE ROAD IS ROUGH, OR THERE IS A POTHOLE. IT GIVES A FEELING OF THAT CAR ACTUALLY ACCELERATED INSTEAD OF SLOWING, AND FEELS UNSAFE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

← Back to Toyota Prius