Toyota Prius Complaints (2008)

1,497 consumer complaints on file.

#10307685February 9, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
THERE ARE TWO ISSUES WITH MY 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE RAPIDLY, THE ENGINE CUTS OUT AND HESITATES. I THINK IT'S RELATED TO THE TRACTION CONTROL, BUT THIS HAPPENS WAY TOO EASILY. I HAVE NEW TIRES AND IT HAPPENS ON DRY PAVEMENT. THE SECOND ISSUE IS RELATED TO THE BRAKES. WHEN BRAKING AND ENCOUNTERING SMALL BUMPS IN THE ROAD, THE CAR APPEARS TO LEAP FORWARD. THERE IS A SENSATION OF ACCELERATING WHEN THIS HAPPENS, ALTHOUGH I'M CERTAIN IT IS JUST THE ABS SYSTEM. IT IS A VERY UNEASY FEELING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10307713February 9, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
BRAKES MOMENTARILY FAIL AND/OR THE CAR LURCHES FORWARD WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES WHILE DRIVING ON TOP OF A POT HOLE OR OTHER SIMILAR OBSTRUCTION. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10307730February 9, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS HYBRID. WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH HE EXPERIENCED A DELAY WHENEVER THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED UNLESS HE CONTINUED TO APPLY PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL. HE WILL TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 45,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10307744February 9, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC
NOT A SMOOTH BRAKING SYSTEM WHEN BRAKING OVER BUMPS / HOLES, RAILROAD TRACKS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10307775February 9, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC
I OWN A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS OCCASIONS THAT THE BRAKES ON MY CAR HAVE NOT WORKED PROPERLY. THE LAST TIME WAS ON PAVEMENT THAT WAS WET, TRYING TO STOP FOR A RED LIGHT ON A DOWNHILL ROAD. LUCKILY THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME WENT THROUGH THE RED LIGHT OR I WOULD HAVE HIT IT. THE OTHER TIMES HAVE BEEN NEAR MY HOME, I LIVE ON A DIRT ROAD, MANY OF THE ROADS ARE UNPAVED AND UNEVEN DIRT ROADS IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD WHERE I AM EXTREMELY CAUTIOUS WHEN BRAKING BECAUSE MANY TIMES THE BRAKES DO NOT WORK WELL. THE LIGHT DOES COME ON TO INDICATE UNEVEN ROAD, WHILE BRAKING. I HAVE NOTICED THIS PROBLEM SINCE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. I HOPE SOMETHING CAN BE DONE ABOUT THE BRAKING SYSTEM. THIS OCCURS DAILY BECAUSE I LIVE ON A DIRT ROAD. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10307795February 9, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
2008 TOYOTA PRIUS - WHEN BRAKING OVER AN UNEVEN SURFACE, THE DECELERATION MOMENTARILY DISAPPEARS - THIS IS USUALLY LESS THAN A SECOND, BUT IS VERY NOTICEABLE. THIS HAS HAPPENED FOR AS LONG AS I'VE OWNED THE CAR (LATE 2007) - AND I CAN REPRODUCE THE EVENT. A ROAD WAS JUST WORKED ON NEAR MY HOUSE AND A PART OF THE PAVEMENT NEAR THE INTERSECTION HAS BEEN REMOVED AND FILLED IN WITH GRAVEL - WHEN APPROACHING THE INTERSECTION, THE BRAKING SUDDENLY RELEASES, THEN REAPPLIES. I ALWAYS THOUGHT THIS WAS RELATED TO THE TRACTION CONTROL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10307802February 9, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
2008 TOYOTA PRIUS HYBRID - BRAKING PROBLEM SINCE PURCHASE OF CAR. SON REMARKED FREQUENTLY WHEN HE DROVE VEHICLE. I NOTICED IT ONLY WHEN HITTING A BUMPY SURFACE THAT CAUSED CAR TO RESPOND AS IF IT HAD LOST TRACTION AND SEEMED TO ENGAGE THE ABS SYSTEM. NO CONSEQUENCES TO DATE, BUT RISKY IF BUMPY CONDITIONS OCCUR ON ICY PATCHES. I MENTIONED AT LAST VEHICLE CHECKUP AT TOYOTA DEALERSHIP WHERE I GO FOR SERVICE, BUT WAS TOLD PROBLEM COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED - SO NO REMEMDY SUGGESTED. I FEEL CONFIDENT TOYOTA WILL ADDRESS, BUT SINCE I AM A PRE- 2010 PRIUS, I WANTED TO BRING THIS TO YOUR ATTENTION. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10307809February 9, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM
WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL ENGAGED, THE BRAKES SHUT OFF TEMPORARILY WHILE THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT IS ON. THIS FAILURE OCCURS DAILY WHEN I APPROACH THE STOP SIGN IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD. AS A APPROACH THE STOP SIGN (BRAKES ENGAGED), THE ROAD DIPS SLIGHTLY WHICH TURNS ON THE TRACTION CONTROL. AT THIS POINT THE BRAKES TURN OFF (WITH MY FOOT STILL ON THE PEDAL) UNTIL THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT GOES OUT INDICATING THAT THE TRACTION CONTROL HAS DISENGAGED. SO FAR I HAVE BEEN LUCKY AND HAVE NOT HIT ANYONE AFTER ROLLING THROUGH THE STOP SIGN. THIS IS NOT A NEW PROBLEM AS IT HAS HAPPENED BASICALLY EVERY DAY SINCE I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE. I HAVE BEEN DEALING WITH IT UNTIL I SAW THE NOTICE ABOUT THE 2010 PRIUS WITH EXACTLY THE SAME PROBLEM. I WOULD LIKE TO SUBMIT A FORMAL COMPLAINT SO THAT THE 2010 PRIUS BRAKE INVESTIGATION CAN BE EXPANDED TO INCLUDE THE 2008 PRIUS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10307820February 9, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
WITH THE MOTOR RUNNING, THE TRANSMISSION IN PARK AND THE EMERGENCY BRAKE SET, THE CAR LURCHED FORWARD. THE ENGINE WAS WARM AT THE TIME. ON ANOTHER OCCASION WITH THE TRANSMISSION IN REVERSE AND THE BRAKE PEDAL DEPRESSED, THE CAR LURCHED REARWARD ALMOST STRIKING A PEDESTRIAN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10307822February 9, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC
WE OWN A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS THERE HAS BEEN THREE SEPARATE INCIDENTS WHILE BRAKING THAT THE CAR WOULD SPEED UP. THE DEALER SAID IT WAS JUST THE ELECTRIC MOTOR AND GAS ENGINE CHANGING BACK AND FORTH. I READ ON THE INTERNET OF OTHER PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM ALSO ONE LADY WHO WAS STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT AND WHEN SHE PRESSED ON THE GAS PEDAL TOO TAKE OFF AT A NORMAL SPEED THE CAR SPED UP FAST CAUSING HER TOO PUT BOTH FEET ON THE BRAKE TOO STOP THE CAR. THESE ARE ALL PRE 2010 CARS THEY ALSO NEED TO BE LOOKED AT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10307836February 9, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH AND APPLYING THE BRAKES THEY FAILED TO RESPOND UNLESS SHE APPLIED PRESSURE. THIS FAILURE OCCURRED APPROXIMATELY 20 TIMES SINCE SHE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. THE BRAKES ALSO MALFUNCTIONED WHENEVER SHE DROVE OVER RAILROAD TRACKS. THE DEALER STATED THAT SHE MUST BE DOING SOMETHING WRONG TO CAUSE THE BRAKES TO MALFUNCTION. NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 13000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10307850February 9, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. BRAKES SEEMS TO "LOSE HOLD" WHEN DRIVING AT SLOW SPEEDS AND HITTING A BUMP IN THE ROAD. THE LOSS OF BRAKING SEEMS TO ONLY LAST FOR A FRACTION OF A SECOND BUT IS VERY DISCONCERTING. ALSO, DRIVER'S SIDE HEADLAMP KEPT MALFUNCTIONING, GOING OFF PERIODICALLY WHEN DRIVING. DEALER COULD NOT REPLICATE PROBLEM IN SHOP, SO STATED THERE WAS NO PROBLEM. TOOK CAR BACK THREE ADDITIONAL TIMES FOR SAME ISSUE. FINALLY DEALER SAID THERE'D BEEN NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS AND CHANGED OUT THE HEADLAMP AT A COST OF $250.00. ($150 FOR THE HEADLAMP AND $100 FOR LABOR) LATER GOT A LETTER FROM TOYOTA ACKNOWLEDGING THE FAULTY HEADLAMP ISSUE, BUT SAID TOYOTA HAD GIVEN US A DISCOUNT BY ONLY CHARGING $150.00 FOR THE HEADLAMP INSTEAD OF THE REGULAR $300.00 COST. $300.00 FOR A HEADLAMP SEEMS EXCESSIVE AND IF IT'S A COMMON ISSUE WHY IS TOYOTA NOT ISSUING A RECALL FOR THIS MATTER.*TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10307858February 9, 2010
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
I HAVE A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS AND APPARENTLY I'M EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEMS AS THE 2010'S IN THE RECALL. AFTER READING THE DESCRIPTION FROM NEW RELEASES I REALIZE THAT I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING THE PROBLEM. THE EVENT IS REPRODUCIBLE AND OCCURS WHENEVER I'M BRAKING AND THE CAR HITS THE SLIGHTEST BUMP OR DIP IN THE ROAD. IF I DO NOT LET GO OF THE BRAKE JUST BEFORE THE BUMP/DIP/SMALL POTHOLE, THE BRAKE SEEMS TO DISENGAGE AND THE CAR FEELS AS IF ITS LURCHING FORWARD. THE ENGINE DOES NOT SEEM TO REV BUT THERE IS A DEFINITE FEELING OF ACCELERATION. I HAVE NOTICED THIS PRETTY MUCH SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR BUT DID NOT THINK ALL TO MUCH OF IT, I JUST ADJUSTED MY DRIVING HABITS AS BEST AS POSSIBLE. ( I THOUGHT PERHAPS THE ABS OR TRACTION CONTROL WAS JUST TOO SENSITIVE) I DRIVE THROUGH OUT THE DAY AND A ROAD I TRAVEL ON HAS GOTTEN PRETTY BEAT UP WITH ALL THE SNOW REMOVAL SO I HAVE TO BE VERY CAREFUL DRIVING ON THIS ROAD IF THERE IS ANY TRAFFIC, AS I MUST ANTICIPATE THE BUMPS/DIPS AND BRAKE ACCORDINGLY OTHERWISE THIS EVENT WILL OCCUR. AGAIN THE ISSUE IS REPRODUCIBLE THANKFULLY I HAVE NOT HAD AN ACCIDENT DUE TO THIS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10307841February 9, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC
I HAVE A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS AND ON DECEMBER 4, 2009, I REAR-ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE AFTER MY BRAKES FAILED. I APPLIED THE BRAKES AS I WAS COMING UPON THE CAR, AND THE CAR JUST KEPT GOING. FORTUNATELY, I WAS GOING AT A SLOW SPEED. I IMMEDIATELY REPORTED THE ACCIDENT TO MY INSURANCE COMPANY AND I DID TELL THE REPRESENTATIVE THAT I HIT THE BRAKES BUT THE CAR KEPT GOING. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10307878February 9, 2010
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
HID BULB WENT OUT ON FRONT LEFT OF CAR WHEN IT WAS JUST OUT OF WARRANTY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10307903February 9, 2010
TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
THE CAR'S ANTI-LOCK BRAKES FAIL TO ENGAGE WHEN THE TRACTION CONTROL KICKS IN. THUS, THE CAR SLIDES FORWARD UNCONTROLLABLY. I HAVE AVOIDED ACCIDENTS ONLY BY SWERVING. ADDITIONALLY, THE TRACTION CONTROL WILL ACTIVATE WHEN ON DRY PAVEMENT. THUS, NORMAL STOPPING CAN BE DIFFICULT IF THE CAR'S TRACTION CONTROL IS ACTIVATED (TYPICALLY DUE TO A BUMP/POTHOLE). *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10307965February 9, 2010
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
I WAS DRIVING SLOWING TO PARK MY CAR INTO A LOT, MY CAR SUDDENLY TOOK ITSELF. I SLAMMED THE BRAKES SO HARD, IT WAS HARD ENOUGH TO DROP MY BAG WHICH WAS ON THE PASSENGER'S SEAT. TODAY, 9TH OF FEB. NOTHING WAS WRONG ACCORDING TO DEALER SHOP. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10308030February 9, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
MY BRAKES FLASH A SIGNAL ON THE DASH AND FEEL LIKE THEY 'RELEASE' WHEN I AM BRAKING AND DRIVE ACROSS A ROUGH SPOT. ALSO, TODAY MY CAR DID THE SAME THING WHEN I WENT TO ACCELERATE FROM A STOP LIGHT, THE ROAD WAS WET FROM RAIN. THIS HAS HAPPENED MORE TIMES THAN I CAN COUNT AND I DIDN'T REALIZE IT WAS A PROBLEM ALTHOUGH IT IS VERY CONCERNING, UNTIL THE TOYOTA RECALL INFORMATION ABOUT THE NEW PRIUS. I DRIVE THE SAME ROAD EVERYDAY AND THERE IS A DOWN HILL AREA THAT COMES TO A STOP LIGHT AND MY CAR DOES THIS EVERY TIME IF I HAVE TO BRAKE GOING DOWN THE HILL FOR THE LIGHT, UNLESS I TAKE MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKES WHEN I HIT THE ROUGH AREAS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10308053February 9, 2010
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET TRAIL BLAZER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL TANK WAS LEAKING AROUND THE SPOUT SINCE THERE WAS AN INLET CHECK VALVE FRACTURE. NO MAINTENANCE WAS PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO CONFIRMED THAT THE INLET VALVE WAS CRACKED. THE DEALER REFUSED TO ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE REPAIR COST. THERE WERE NO RECALLS OR WARRANTIES RELATED TO THE FAILURE. THE CHEVROLET MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT THEY WOULD REVIEW THE CASE AND INFORM THE CONTACT OF THE OUTCOME. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 119,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10308045February 9, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC
I OWN A 2008 PRIUS AND HAVE EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF BRAKING SENSATION NUMEROUS TIMES WHILE DRIVING ON WINDING, OR UNEVEN ROAD AT SLOW SPEED. I THOUGHT I WAS JUST IMAGINING THIS FOR A LONG TIME UNTIL RECENT WEEKS. I'M HOPING THAT TOYOTA WILL GO BACK AND FIX EARLIER MODELS AS WELL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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