Toyota Prius Complaints (2008)

1,497 consumer complaints on file.

#10243433September 25, 2008
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
HEADLIGHT FAILURE ON THE PRIUS SEEMS TO BE AN ON GOING ISSUE FROM YEAR TO YEAR FOR THE MODELS THAT HAVE THE HID TYPE. I LOST THE DRIVERS SIDE LIGHT ABOUT THE FIRST OF SEPT. 08 AND THE PASSENGER SIDE THIS MORNING. DOING A SEARCH AND READING OF THE PROBLEM IS WHY I AM FILING A COMPLAINT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10240853September 3, 2008
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
ON A SLIGHT INCLINE, WITH FRONT WHEELS TURNED, CAR STARTED NORMALLY THEN ACCELERATED BY ITSELF AND WAS DIFFICULT TO STOP WITH BOTH FEET ON BRAKE PEDAL. ACCELERATION WAS NOT SUDDENLY FAST BUT WAS INCREASING WHEN I TURNED CAR INTO GRAVEL DRIVE LEADING UP A HILL. CAR STOPPED WITH BRAKING AND WAS SUCCESSFULLY TURNED OFF IN THE MANNER REQUIRED BY MANUAL. CAR RESTARTED AND NO FURTHER PROBLEM WAS EXPERIENCED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10239560August 25, 2008
AIR BAGS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE WAS STRUCK ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT'S WIFE SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES AND THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED MAJOR DAMAGES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 3,000.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10239128August 21, 2008
FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER
JUST BOUGHT BRAND NEW 2008 PRIUS. OWNER'S MANUAL CLAIMS THAT WITH JUST ONE BAR SHOWING ON FUEL GAUGE THERE WOULD BE 3.0 GAL. OR LESS IN FUEL BLADDER. THE FUEL GAUGE IS TOTALLY UNRELIABLE BASED ON THESE RESULTS: 10 BARS (FULL FILLUP) GOT 200 MILES TO 9 BARS -- 3 BARS LEFT GOT 100 MILES TO 2 BARS -- 2 BARS LEFT GOT 20 MILES TO 1 BAR -- 1 BAR LEFT GOT ONLY 5 MILES BEFORE CAR CAME TO A STOP AND WOULD NOT RESTART --. THE HYBRID BATTERY GAUGE SHOWED 0 CHARGE. AFTER PUTTING IN 2.5 GAL. THE FUEL GAUGE SHOWED 2 BARS. ENGINE STARTED AND I COULD DRIVE 1.25 MILES TO A GAS STATION. THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED ON I-40 AT 9:00 PM IN NEW MEXICO. WE WERE VERY LUCKY THAT THERE WAS A GAS STATION NEARBY, BECAUSE THERE ARE MANY STRETCHES OF I-40 WHERE THERE IS NO GAS STATION FOR 20-40 MILES. THERE HAVE BEEN MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT BOTH THE UNRELIABLE FUEL GAUGE AND THE BLADDER TYPE FUEL TANK. THE TOYOTA DEALER NEVER MENTIONED THESE DEFECTS, NOR DOES THE OWNER'S MANUAL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10238879August 19, 2008
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING 75 MPH WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ACTIVATED, THE CONTACT ACCELERATED PAST 80 MPH TO PASS ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SLOW DOWN AFTERWARDS AND ACCELERATED PAST 90 MPH. SHE DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL, BUT THE CRUISE CONTROL WOULD NOT DISENGAGE. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO TAP THE BRAKE PEDAL AND SHUT OFF THE CRUISE CONTROL MANUALLY, BUT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. SHE MANAGED TO PULL TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD AND SHUT OFF THE ENGINE. UPON RESTARTING, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED AGAIN WITHOUT DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. SHE ATTEMPTED TO RESET THE CRUISE CONTROL TO 60 MPH, BUT IT WOULD NOT RESPOND. THE CONTACT WAITED 30 MINUTES BEFORE RESTARTING THE VEHICLE AND IT APPEARED TO HAVE MOVED FROM THE LOCKED POSITION OF ACCELERATION. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE LESS THAN 7,250.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10237506August 8, 2008
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
I HAVE A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS WITH 10K MILES ON IT. SEVERAL WEEKS AGO WHILE DRIVING 65 ON THE HIGHWAY, THE CRUISE CONTROL KICKED OUT AND THE CAR RAPIDLY DECELERATED, ALMOST LIKE IT WAS BRAKING. I COULD NOT RE-SET THE CRUISE CONTROL AGAIN UNTIL AFTER STOPPING AND RESTARTING THE CAR. THE PROBLEM HAS AGAIN HAPPENED 3 MORE TIMES IN THE PAST WEEK. AUTO DEALERSHIP SAYS THEY CANNOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT UNLESS I BRING IT IN AND CAN RECREATE THE PROBLEM. VERY DANGEROUS WHEN CRUISE CONTROL KICKS OUT AND PEOPLE ARE DRIVING CLOSELY BEHIND ME. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10236453July 30, 2008
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
I OWN A 2008 PRIUS. THE FUEL GAUGE DOES NOT WORK AT ALL AND THE DEALER HAS TOLD ME IT'S A FUNCTION OF THE BLADDER GAS TANK. I CANNOT FILL THE TANK BECAUSE IT WILL NOT TAKE ENOUGH FUEL BEFORE THE PUMP SHUTS OFF. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM I AM TOLD NOW BY OTHER OWNERS. TOYOTA SHOULD TELL PEOPLE BEFORE THEY BUY THE CAR. I HAVE LESS THEN 1000 MILES ON THE CAR NOW. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10236157July 28, 2008
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
FUEL GAUGE AND FUEL TANK REPORT LOWER THAN EXPECTED VALUES WHICH LEAD TO MISCALCULATED TRIPS BETWEEN FILL UPS. ON THE FIRST DAY, THE TANK REPORTED FULL AT AROUND 11GALLONS. THE SECOND TIME OF FILLING UP, I COULD ONLY FILL UP 8 GALLONS BECAUSE THE FUEL PUMP SENSOR WOULD STOP AT THE GAS STATION. THE THIRD, AND FOURTH TIME WOULD ONLY ALLOW ME TO PUT IN 6 GALLONS, AND 4 GALLONS. THIS MAKES IT EXTREMELY INACCURATE IN REPORTING HOW MUCH GAS IS LEFT IN THE CAR. I NEARLY RAN OUT OF GAS GOING THROUGH AZ FOR A LONG DRIVE BECAUSE OF THE INACCURATE AMOUNT OF REPORTED GAS. TOYOTA MAKES A EUROPEAN VERSION WHICH DOES NOT HAVE THIS BLADDER PROBLEM. (THE FUEL TANK CAPACITY FOR A EUROPEAN NHW11 WITHOUT THE BLADDER IS 50 LITRES ) WHY NOT MODIFY OR REPLACE THE AMERICAN VERSION WHICH IS CLEARLY REPORTS BOGUS GAS READINGS? IT'S A SERIOUS PROBLEM WHEN YOU RUN OUT OF GAS ON THE HIGHWAY OR OVERESTIMATE TO THE NEXT REFUELING STATION. PRIUS 2008 MODEL, PURCHASED 6/2008. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10230515June 10, 2008
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE PLACING FUEL IN THE VEHICLE, IT WILL NOT FILL TO ITS FULL CAPACITY. THIS IS A CONTINUOUS FAILURE THAT OCCURS IN ALL WEATHER CONDITIONS AND TEMPERATURES. THERE IS A MALFUNCTION WITH THE FUEL GAUGE DEVICE. THE INACCURATE READINGS OF THE FUEL GAUGE CAUSES DISCOMFORT WHEN DRIVING. THE TOYOTA MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD ONLY CONSUME 6-7 GALLONS OF GASOLINE, EVEN THOUGH THE FUEL TANK CAPACITY WAS 11.9 GALLONS. THE MANUFACTURER IS AWARE OF THE FAILURE, BUT THE FUEL TANK CANNOT BE REPLACED IN THESE VEHICLES. THE TANK WOULD NEED TO BE REDESIGNED. THE CONTACT RECENTLY TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE FUEL TANK FAILURE WAS RELATED TO THE BLADDER SYSTEM. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY BEING REPAIRED FOR THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 9,000. UPDATED 07/07/08. *LJ UPDATED *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10230023June 5, 2008
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
SUMMARY: PRIUS LOW FUEL WARNING LIGHT/BUZZER CAME ON, AND ONLY 5 MILES LATER CAR RAN OUT OF GAS, IN A BAD PLACE AT NIGHT ON HIGHWAY. THE MANUAL STATES THAT WHEN LOW LIGHT COMES ON YOU HAVE THREE GALLONS OR LESS. WITH THE PRIUS, EVEN TREATING THIS CONSERVATIVELY AS ONLY 1 1/2 GALLONS, THAT SHOULD STILL BE OVER 60 MILES. I HAD DRIVEN THE VEHICLE BETWEEN 30 AND 50 MILES WITH LOW LIGHT ON MULTIPLE TIMES PREVIOUSLY. THIS USUALLY WORKS OCCASIONALLY FAILS FUEL WARNING IS CLEARLY DANGEROUS. AND FROM INTERNET RESEARCHING, IT IS CLEARLY A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM, AND TOYOTA NOT ONLY IS COMPLETELY IGNORING IT, THEY DENIED TO ME HAVING RECEIVED ANY COMPLAINTS ON THIS (THERE ARE PREVIOUS COMPLAINTS ON THIS EVEN RIGHT ON THIS NHTSA WEBSITE). DRIVING FROM COLORADO TO KANSAS CITY ON I-70, A LITTLE AFTER PASSING THE SIGN THAT SAID "TOPEKA 27 MILES", JUST AFTER 10 AT NIGHT, THE LOW FUEL LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND WARNING SOUNDED. WE PLANNED TO STOP AT THE NEXT FUEL STOP, WHICH WE EXPECTED TO BE WITHIN 20 MILES AT THE MOST. ABOUT 5 MILES AFTER THE LIGHT ILLUMINATED, THE CAR SUDDENLY LOST POWER, THE GAS ENGINE CLEARLY HAD QUIT, THE RED TRIANGLE WARNING ILLUMINATED, ALONG WITH ANOTHER WARNING. AFTER THE INITIAL SCARE, I PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER, SLOWLY, UNDER BATTERY POWER, NOT KNOWING WHAT HAD HAPPENED. IN THE MANUAL WE FOUND THAT THE SECOND WARNING INDICATED "HYBRID SYSTEM MALFUNCTION", AND NOT TO ATTEMPT TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. SOME 10-15 MINUTES LATER, AS WE WERE TRYING TO GET EMERGENCY HELP, THAT WARNING DISAPPEARED, AND A NEW MESSAGE CAME UP, "ADD FUEL". EVENTUALLY WE BORROWED GAS FROM A FAMILY THAT STOPPED TO HELP US IN THIS RURAL AREA, AND GOT HELP FROM A HIGHWAY PATROLMAN. TOYOTA CHECKED VEHICLE, DENIES PROBLEMS, DENIES RECEIVING COMPLAINTS, REFUSES TO SEND WARNINGS TO PRIUS OWNERS. NHTSA, THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE, LIKE YOUR RECALL 00V384. *TR 6/19/08 ADD **CW THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THAT THE LOW FUEL WARNING LIGHT WAS DEFECTIVE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10229666June 2, 2008
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
I RECENTLY RETURNED FROM A 2,300 MILE ROAD TRIP THAT BEGAN IN WOODLAND WA. DURING THIS TRIP, WE FILLED UP IN ASHLAND ORE ON OUR WAY TO RENO NV. ORE REQUIRES THAT AN ATTENDANT DO THIS AND OFF WE WENT, NEXT GAS FILL UP WAS TO HAVE BEEN RENO! WE HEADED EAST, TURNED OFF I-5 AND ONTO HWY 89 AND SWITCHED DRIVERS. AFTER ONLY 83 MILES, THE GAS TANK SHOWED THAT THERE WAS LESS THAN 1/2 A TANK. LUCKILY WE HAD NOT MISSED MCCLOUD CALIFORNIA, LAST STOP FOR GAS FOR MANY MILES! WHEN WE FILLED UP IN RENO, THE GAS PUMP SHUT OFF WAY TOO SOON! WE HAD TO PULL THE GAS NOZZLE WAY OUT AND EXTREMELY SLOWLY MANAGED TO FILL UP THE GAS TANK. DURING THIS SLOW PROCESS, AIR AND GAS WOULD BUBBLE UP AND AT TIMES OUT OF THE TANK. WE REPEATED THIS PROCESS AT EVERY FILL UP ALONG THE TRIP AND SINCE WE HAVE GOTTEN HOME. TEMPERATURE, TIME OF DAY AND ALTITUDE SEEM TO NOT HAVE ANY EFFECT ON GETTING THE TANK FILLED, THE PUMP SHUT OFF EARLY AT EVERY INSTANCE. ANOTHER ISSUE IS THE FUEL GAUGE. THE CAR WOULD TRAVEL 200 MILES BEFORE EVEN ONE GAUGE INDICATOR WOULD CLICK OFF. THERE ARE 10 INDICATORS AND THE TANK SUPPOSEDLY HOLDS NEARLY 12 GALLONS OF GAS. I BET THAT THE CAR DOES NOT GET 200 MILES PER GALLON! I SPOKE THE OWNER OF A 2005 PRIUS. HE INDICATED HE ALSO HAS CHALLENGES FILLING HIS TANK. HE WAS TOLD THAT THIS HAS TO DO WITH THE AMBIENT TEMPERATURE. I HAVE TALKED WITH A TOYOTA PRIUS TECHNICIAN. HE STATED THAT THERE ARE NO PARTS THAT CAN FIX THIS ISSUE. HE NOTED THAT THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON SINCE THE FIRST PRIUS, THAT THERE IS NO FIX AVAILABLE. HE ALSO NOTED IN THE WINTER THAT AT LEAST ONE PRIUS OWNER COMES IN EACH AND EVERY DAY WITH THIS SAME GAS TANK CONCERN. I ALSO DID SOME RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET AND THIS APPEARS TO BE A LONG OUTSTANDING SAFETY HAZARD! IT APPEARS THAT TOYOTA IS CONTINUING TO MANUFACTURE A DEFECTIVE, UNSAFE PRODUCT WITH FULL KNOWLEDGE OF THE ISSUE. I THANK YOU IN ADVANCE FOR WORKING ON THIS MAJOR SAFETY AND LONGSTANDING SAFETY PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10225752April 25, 2008
INTERIOR LIGHTING
DEAR NHTSA, I OWN A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS THAT I PURCHASED FROM CAPISTRANO TOYOTA DEALERSHIP IN ORANGE COUNTY, CALIFORNIA. THE DESIGN FLAW WITH THE VEHICLE THAT I AM ABOUT TO REPORT COULD POTENTIALLY CAUSE DEATH OR BODILY INJURY IF IT'S NOT CORRECTED RIGHT THE WAY. THE ISSUE IS THAT IF YOU DRIVE THE CAR AT NIGHT AND THE INTERIOR DIMMER IS TURNED WAY UP, YOU COULD SEE A LINE OF BLUE LIGHT ABOUT 6 INCHES LONG RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WINDSHIELD, ON THE DRIVER SIDE. I BELIEVE THAT THE LIGHT THAT YOU SEE ON THE WINDSHIELD IS THE RESULT OF THE LIGHT REFLECTION FROM THE ODOMETER. THE LIGHT ON THE WINDSHIELD IS A DISTRACTION FOR DRIVERS. I GOT DISTRACTED BY LOOKING AT THIS LIGHT WHILE DRIVING, AND ALMOST GOT INTO AN ACCIDENT ON 03/15/08. IT TOOK ME A WHILE TO FIND OUT THAT THE LIGHT REFLECTION ON THE WINDSHIELD GOES AWAY IF THE DIMMER IS TURNED WAY DOWN. HOWEVER, THE GPS SCREEN TURNS DARK AND ALL INTERIOR LIGHTS GO DIM IF THE DIMMER IS TURNED WAY DOWN. I THINK THIS IS A MAJOR DESIGNFLAW WITH THE VEHICLE BECAUSE I LIKE MY GPS SCREEN AND ALL INTERIOR LIGHTS TO BE BRIGHT WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT. I'VE REPORTED THE PROBLEM TO TOYOTA, BUT THEY TOLD ME THAT THERE'S NOTHING THAT THEY COULD DO AT THIS POINT BECAUSE THAT'S HOW IT IS DESIGNED. I HOPE THAT NHTSA COULD PERSUADE TOYOTA TO RECALL ALL PRIUSES AND CORRECT THE PROBLEM BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED OR HURT. YOUR HELP WITH THIS ISSUE IS GREATLY APPRECIATED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10225756April 25, 2008
SEAT BELTS
THE LEFT REAR AND REAR CENTER SEATBELT RECEPTACLES ARE INSTALLED ADJACENT TO ONE ANOTHER, BUT IN A REVERSE POSITION IN 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS VEHICLES. WHEN PASSENGERS ARE SEATED IN BOTH THE LEFT REAR AND CENTER POSITIONS, THEIR BELT/SHOULDER HARNESS STRAPS CROSS AT THE ADJACENT RECEPTACLES, CAUSING CHAFING. TOYOTA INFORMS ME THIS FEATURE IS BY DESIGN. I BELIEVE THIS IS A POTENTIAL POINT OF FAILURE OF THE SEAT BELTS, AND IS THEREFORE A SAFETY ISSUE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10225385April 22, 2008
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS FAIL TO PROJECT FAR ENOUGH DOWN THE ROAD. THE FAILURE IS EVIDENT WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 450 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 83. UPDATED 05/19/08. *LJ UPDATED 05/19/08
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10219072February 25, 2008
AIR BAGS
TL*THE CONTACT'S MOTHER OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE VEHICLE WAS STRUCK ON THE PASSENGER SIDE BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND TWO OCCUPANTS DIED. THE VIN, SPEED, PURCHASE DATE, ENGINE SIZE, NUMBER OF CYLINDERS, AND MILEAGES WERE UNKNOWN.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
2
#10215277January 17, 2008
EXTERIOR LIGHTING, EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
WHEN I TURN MY HEAD LIGHTS ON AFTER A FEW MINUTES LEFT LIGHT GOES OFF I TURN OFF THE LIGHTS AND TURN BACK ON AGAIN THE BOTH LIGHTS ARE ON FOR FEW MINUTES AND THEN AGAIN LEFT LIGHT GOES OFF. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10211074December 6, 2007
CHILD SEAT, SEATS
I HAVE REPORTED TO TOYOTA MY CONCERN ABOUT THE 2008 MODEL YEAR PRIUS, THE MIDDLE BACK PASSENGER SEAT. THE SEAT HAS BEEN RAISED UP ABOUT 2 INCHES (PADDING) BUT IS NARROW, CAUSING IT TO NOT BE STABLE/COMPATIBLE WITH AT LEAST 3 DIFFERENT CHILD RESTRAINT/BOOSTER SEATS THAT WE HAVE TRIED. THIS WAS NOT THE CASE WITH THE 2005 MODEL YEAR PRIUS. I HAVE REPORTED THIS TO MANUFACTURER, COMPLAINT#REF#200712061340. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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