2001 Toyota Prius Complaint Log

I HAVE A 2001 PRIUS THAT ALSO HAS A PROBLEM WITH BRAKING, SIMILAR TO THAT DESCRIBED WITH THE 2010 MODEL. AT LOW SPEEDS WHEN THE CAR HITS A BUMP OR POTHOLE THE BRAKING IS MOMENTARILY LOST, BUT THEN RESUMES WITHIN 1-2 SECONDS. IN ~ 2003 I HAD A VERY LOW SPEED COLLISION FROM THIS (ABOUT $1000 DAMAGE TO THE HOOD SHEET METAL), BUT HAVE NOW LEARNED TO COMPENSATE FOR IT (BASICALLY APPLY BRAKES HARD AND WAIT FOR BRAKING TO RESUME AFTER THE PAUSE). I HAD REPORTED THIS TO THE DEALER ON SEVERAL EVALUATIONS, INCLUDING AFTER THE ACCIDENT, AND WAS TOLD THAT NO PROBLEM COULD BE IDENTIFIED. I AM REPORTING THIS BECAUSE IT IS REMARKABLY SIMILAR TO WHAT IT PURPORTED TO BE A NEW PROBLEM WITH THE 2010 PRIUS. IT IS NOT NEW. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CONTACT ME IF YOU WOULD FIND OTHER INFORMATION USEFUL. *TR

GAS MOTOR FAILED TO CONTINUE OPERATING WHILE DRIVING ON THE ROAD TWICE. ONCE IN AUGUST,2003,AGAIN MARCH,2004.VEHICLE LOST POWER BOTH TIMES-CREATED A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD BECAUSE I CCOULD NOT MAINTAIN SPEED ON ROADS WHERE SPEED LIMITS WERE 40 AND 50 MPH.THERE WAS TRAFFIC AROUND THE VEHICLE IN BOTH INSTANCES. ON SECOND INCIDENT-NARROWLY AVOIDED A COLLISION FROM THE REAR.OTHER VEHICLE SWERVED TO AVOID MY VEHICLE. DEALER REPLACED DEFECTIVE COMPUTER IN 2003 AND DEFECTIVE ACCELERATOR SENSOR UNIT 2004.*AK

2001 TOYOTA PRIUS-SUDDEN DROP IN SPEED-COULD NOT EXCEED 17 MPH. DANGEROUS IN TRAFFIC TOYOTA REPLACED COMPUTER-OLD PARTS NOT AVAILABLE INCIDENT DATE IS APPROXIMATE-TOOK 2 1/2 MONTHS TO REPAIR

THE 2001 TOYOTA PRIUS HAS A FAULTY ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER THE 8-YEAR HYBRID SYSTEM WARRANTY. NOT ONLY ARE THERE SAFETY ISSUES WITH THIS PROBLEM (E.G. SUDDEN LOSS OF ACCELERATION THAT COULD CAUSE ACCIDENTS, INCORRECT COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE ACCELERATOR AND THE HYBRID SYSTEM, ETC.) BUT THERE IS A LACK ON TOYOTA'S PART TO ADMIT THAT THE ACCELERATOR IS A CRITICAL COMPONENT OF THE HYBRID SYSTEM. WHEN THE ACCELERATOR FAILS, IT CAUSES THE "CHECK HYBRID SYSTEM" LIGHT TO APPEAR ON THE DASHBOARD AND CAN MAKE THE CAR DANGEROUSLY UNRESPONSIVE (ESPECIALLY ON THE FREEWAY). THE HYBRID SYSTEM IS EXPECTING INFORMATION FROM THE ACCELERATOR, AND WHEN IT DOESN'T RECEIVE IT, EITHER THE GAS ENGINE, OR THE ELECTRIC ENGINE, OR BOTH ENGINES FAIL TO OPERATE. EVEN THOUGH TWO TOYOTA DEALERS (STEVENS CREEK TOYOTA AND CAPITOL TOYOTA) AGREE THAT THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE, BOTH CLAIM THAT THIS REPAIR IS NOT COVERED UNDER THE 8-YEAR HYBRID SYSTEM WARRANTY. HOWEVER, IF THIS ACCELERATOR PROBLEM IS NOT DIRECTLY RELATED, THEN WHY DOES THE WARNING LIGHT COME ON WHEN THE ACCELERATOR SENSOR FAILS? ALSO, WHY DID THE DEALER WHO PERFORMED THE $654.52 REPAIR TELL ME THAT THE COMPLETE ACCELERATOR ASSEMBLY PART HAD JUST BEEN RECENTLY REVISED BY TOYOTA? (I MIGHT ADD THAT AN INDEPENDENT ELECTRICAL ENGINEER ANALYZED THE PART AND CONCLUDED THAT THE ACCELERATOR HAS AN MTBF OF 1500 HOURS. HE CONCLUDED THAT EVERY PRIUS OWNER WOULD BE SUBJECT TO THIS SAME HAZARDOUS PROBLEM SEVERAL TIMES DURING THE LIFETIME OF THE CAR!!) I HAVE SUBSTANTIAL EVIDENCE FROM OTHER PRIUS OWNERS WHO ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEMS AND WOULD BE HAPPY TO SHARE THIS INFORMATION WITH YOUR INVESTIGATION TEAM. IN MY OPINION, THESE PROBLEMS ARE SERIOUS ENOUGH TO MERIT CONSIDERATION FOR EITHER A RECALL OR A REVISION OF TOYOTA'S "HYBRID SYSTEM" WARRANTY POLICIES. I APPRECIATE ANY ASSISTANCE YOU CAN PROVIDE ME IN THIS MATTER AND I HOPE THAT TOGETHER WE CAN PREVENT NEEDLESS DEATHS FROM THIS UNSAFE ACCELERATOR. *AK

THE VEHICLE FISH TAILED WHEN DRIVING ON A WINDY DAY OR WHEN AN 18 WHEELER PASSES OR IF A SUDDEN LANE CHANGE IS MADE. THIS STARTED OCCURRING ONLY WHEN SPEED WAS AT 55 MPH, BUT HAS PROGRESSED. CURRENTLY, IT'S OCCURRING AT 50 MPH AND SLOWER. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED ALL FOUR TIRES, THE CONTROL BUSHING, AND THE REAR STRUTS IN AN ATTEMPT TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. BUT PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK

PROBLEMS STARTED IN NOVEMBER 2003. HAD OIL CHANGED AND AN HOUR LATER ALL THE WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON IN THE VEHICLE. IMMEDIATELY RETURNED TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE IT TOOK 2 WEEKS TO REPLACE THE FUEL PUMP (37,000 MILES). SINCE THEN THE CAR HAS BEEN BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP AN ADDITIONAL 9 TIMES TO THE CURRENT DATE (MAY 2005) FOR SEVERAL DIFFERENT THINGS. THE COMPUTER HAS BEEN REPLACED TWO TIMES. THE ENGINE HAS BEEN REPLACED. THE INJECTORS CLEANED, THEN A FEW MONTHS LATER HAD TO BE COMPLETELY REPLACED. THE THROTTLE BODY HAS BEEN REPLACED. I HAVE BEEN DRIVING THE CAR WHEN IT WOULD NOT ACELERATE AND HAD TO PULL OVER IN TRAFFIC. THE FIRST TIME THE DEALERSHIP SAID THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS WHEN THE CAR GOT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY COULD NOT RECREATE THE CODES OR SITUATION SO THEY COULD NOT DO ANYTHING. THE SECOND TIME (APRIL 2005) ALL FOUR INJECTORS WERE REPLACED AS WELL AS THE MASS AIR FLOW SYSTEM. THE CAR HAS BEEN IN THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AT OUR TOYOTA DEALERSHIP FOR A TOTAL OF 17 TIMES SINCE THE CAR ARRIVED AT APPROXIMATELY 180 DAYS!!! 10 OF THOSE 17 TIMES HAS BEEN BECAUSE THE WARNING LIGHTS HAVE COME ON. HAVE ENTERED INTO ARBITRATION AND WE ARE AWAITING AN ANSWER ON THE DECISION.

MY TOYOTA PRIUS 2001 HAS STALLED TWICE, WHILE ON THE FREEWAY. I WENT FROM 60 MPH TO 10 MPH WITHIN SECONDS. IT WAS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. THE GAS ENGINE SHUT OFF AND ALL I HAD WAS ELECTRIC POWER. TOYOTA REPLACED MULTIPLE COMPUTER PARTS BOTH TIMES.

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT 35MPH, THE FRONT PASSENGER TIRE BLEW OUT. (SIZE # P175/65R14) (DOT # UNKNOWN.) THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *PH TIRES WERE ROTATED WHEN THE OIL WAS CHANGED. DEALER STATED TIRES FAILED DUE TO LACK OF ROTATION. ON ONE OCCASION, CONSUMER THOROUGHLY CHECKED THE TIRE BEFORE DRIVING. TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY FOUND A WORM NAIL AFTER LOOKING FOR OVER AN HOUR. CONSUMER HAS THE TIRES. AFTER THE FIRST FAILURE, THE CONSUMER CONTACTED WENT TO FIRESTONE FOR REPLACEMENT TIRES. FIRESTONE STATED THEY COULD ANOTHER TIRE AND GET THE SAME EFFECT SINCE THEY DIDN'T HAVE IT IN STOCK. TOYOTA STATED DIFFERENTLY AND NOR DID THEY HAVE THE TIRE IN STOCK. AFTER DAYS OF THREATS, TOYOTA HAD THE SAME EXACT TIRE AVAILABLE FOR THE CONSUMER. *PH

I OWN A 2001 TOYOTA PRIUS. SEVERAL TIMES IN THE LAST FEW MONTHS I HAVE EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF POWER COMBINED WITH MY DASH WARNING LIGHTS. I HAD ONE SIMILAR INCIDENT LAST YEAR. THE DEALERSHIP CLAIMS THEIR DIAGNOSTICS FIND NO PROBLEM (NO CODES = NO PROBLEM). THEREFORE NOTHING IS RESOLVED AND THE CAR REMAINS PRONE TO LOSS OF POWER, A DANGEROUS CONDITION WHEN TRAVELING ON ANY FREEWAY. BY LOOKING AT THE CHAT BOARDS (YAHOO IN PARTICULAR) IT'S EVEDINT AI AM NOT AN ISOLATED CASE. I BELIEVE TOYOTA HAS AN OBLIGATION TO ADDRESS AND CORRECT THIS ISSUE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. RICHARD TOROK

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. INSUFFICIENT ELECTRICAL CONTACT CAN OCCUR IN THE TORQUE SENSOR THAT CONTROLS THE POWER ASSIST OPERATION OF THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING GEAR BOX. THE TORQUE SENSOR COULD SEND IMPROPER ELECTRICAL SIGNALS. DEALERS WILL REPAIR THE ELECTRIC STEERING GEAR BOX.*AK RIGHT TURN SIGNAL DOES NOT CANCEL AFTER A HARD RIGHT TURN. VEHICLE WOULD PULL OUT IN FRONT OF THE CONSUMER BECAUSE THEY THINK HE'S GOING TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN. *PH *JB

EXTREME TIRE BLOW OUT(ONLY SHREDS LEFT)HESITATION RESULTING IN LOSS OF POWER IN TRAFFIC/GAS PEDAL SENSOR?*AK

TWICE NOW I HAVE HAD WARNING LIGHTS APPEAR ON MY 2001 TOYOTA PRIUS SCREEN. THE FIRST TIME WAS THREE WEEKS AGO WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON A FREEWAY IN HOT WEATHER. I PULLED OVER AS I WAS LOSING POWER. THE GAS ENGINE WOULD NOT TURN ON. I WAS ON BATTERY POWER ONLY. I LIMPED TO AN EXIT AND PARKED THE CAR. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE NEAREST TOYOTA DEALER. HE FIXED A STEERING RECALL PART AND THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE THE PROBLEM. HE COULD FIND NO ERROR CODES. I DROVE OFF. YESTERDAY IT HAPPENED AGAIN UNDER THE SAME CONDITIONS. I PULLED OVER, WAITED TWENTY MINUTES AND STARTED THE CAR AGAIN. THE WARNING LIGHTS WERE THEN OFF AND THE POWER WAS NOW NORMAL. I IMMEDIATELY TOOK IT TO MY HOME DEALER. HE TESTED IT AND TODAY TOLD ME THAT HE COULD FIND NOTHING. HE SAID THAT IF HE COULD NOT RECREATE THE PROBLEM IN THE SHOP, THERE WAS NOTHING HE COULD DO. THERE IS NO QUESTION THAT THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY HAZARD AS THE LOSS OF POWER PARTICULARLY DURING AN ACCELERATION ONTO A FREEWAY COULD CAUSE A MAJOR ACCIDENT. MY FAMILY WILL NOW NOT DRIVE THE CAR ON A FREEWAY.*AK

6/2001 PRIUS; MILEAGE ~20,000; BRIDGESTONE POTENZA 175/65/R14RX ORIGINAL TIRES; WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH ON SURFACE STREETS, REAR RIGHT PASSENGER TREAD SEPARATED FROM THE TIRE. DEALER RECOMMENDED GOING TO TIRE VENDOR FOR WARRANTEE REPLACEMENT. PLAN TO PURSUE ISSUE WITH TOYOTA.*AK

WHILE DRIVING, THE CAR LOST POWER AND WOULD START UP AGAIN, BUT WOULD NOT STAY RUNNING. CAR WAS TOWED IN AND THE DEALER PUT A NEW ENGINE ECU- (COMPUTER). THIS TOOK A MONTH, AS THE COMPUTER HAD TO BE MADE IN JAPAN. A YEAR AND A HALF LATER, THE NEW COMPUTER HAS BEEN REPLACED AND THE CAR CONTINUES TO NOT START UP. IT HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP FOUR TIMES THIS MONTH, EACH TIME THE CAR IS RETURNED TO ME AND WILL NOT START THE NEXT DAY.

BRIDGESTONE POTENZA TIRES, P175/65R14- ON JULY 28, 2003 HAD TO REPLACE TIRES ON THE 2001 TOYOTA PRIUS. ONE TIRE WAS FLAT. I NOTICED THAT THE TIRE HAD A BIG CRACK AND THE CORDS WERE VISIBLE. I LOOKED AT IT CLOSER AND NOTICED THAT THERE WERE CRACKS HALFWAY AROUND THE TIRE. I LOOKED AT THE OTHER 3 TIRES AND NOTICED THAT THEY HAD CRACKS ALSO. THE TIRES LOOKED LIKED THEY WERE VERY OLD. *AK

POTENZA 175/65/R14XL (OEM TIRES) WHICH ARE SPECIFICALLY MADE FOR THE PRIUS, WEAR QUICKLY AND ON THE EDGES. THIS RESULTED IN MY TIRE TREAD HAVING A 1/32 RATING, WHILE THE MIDDLE OF THE TIRE STILL HAD A LONG LIFE LEFT.*AK WHEN MAKING SHARP TURNS AT LOW SPEEDS (ESPECIALLY WHEN THE CAR IS COLD), THE STEERING WHEEL WILL VIBRATE (SOMETIMES AUDIBLY, SOMETIMES NOT). WERE THIS TO HAPPEN AT EVEN A SLIGHTLY HIGHER SPEED, ACCIDENTS MAY OCCUR. THIS PROBLEM HAS BECOME MORE FREQUENT IN THE LAST FEW WEEKS. IT NOW OCCURS AT LEAST EVERY OTHER DAY.

WHILE PARKING THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE ACCELERATED SUDDENLY. *NM THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE HIT AN ELECTRIC BOX AS A RESULT OF THE UNEXPECTED ACCELERATION WHILE TRYING TO PARK. A SECOND OCCURANCE OF THIS PROBLEM HAPPENED IN A MALL PARKING LOT. *TC

A READER OF THE SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIB WHEELS SECTION RESPONDED TO AN ARTICLE REGARDING UNEXPECTED ACCELERATION FROM ELECTRONIC THROTTLES AND THE EDITOR FORWARDED THE LETTER TO NHTSA.***NO ANSWER REQUIRED***. *MR WHILE PARKING IN A DIAGONAL PARKING SPACE THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE ACCELERATED SUDDENLY ACROSS A SIDEWALK AND HIT AN ELECTRIC BOX. THIS SUDDEN ACCELERATION PROBLEM HAPPENED AGAIN WHILE THE CONSUMER WAS PARKING. THAT TIME NOT ACCIDENT OCCURRED. *BF *NM

CONSUMER STATED WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND WITH NO WARNING THE STEERING BOLTS BECAME LOOSE AND CAUSED THE STEERING WHEEL TO JUMP AROUND, WHICH MADE THE VEHICLE DIFFICULT TO STEER. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK VEHICLE PULLED SIGNIFICANTLY WHILE DRIVING. THE TIRES WERE INSPECTED AT 15,536 MILES, BUT AT 18,800 MILES ONE OF THE TIRE BLEW REVEALING THE TIRES WERE BALD. LATER, IT WAS DISCOVERED THE ALIGNMENT WAS OUT AND TIRE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. *PH *JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNED A 2001 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS. THE "HYBRID" (EXCLAMATION MARK) WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. IMMEDIATELY, THE ENGINE STALLED. THE WARNING LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED UNTIL THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. THE IDENTICAL FAILURES OCCURRED ON TWENTY SEPARATE OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE ENGINE STARTED AND RESUMED NORMAL OPERATION. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 16,000. THE CONTACT NO LONGER OWNED THE VEHICLE. UPDATED 4/5/10 *CN THE CONSUMER HAS SINCE SOLD THE VEHICLE. UPDATD 06/14/10.*JB

THERE IS A TIRE SEPARATION PROBLEM WITH THE LATEST SET OF BRIDGESTONE TIRES THAT WE RECEIVED FROM THE TOYOTA DEALER FOR OUR PRIUS. THE ORIGINAL TIRES WERE RECALLED DUE TO PREMATURE WEAR. THE REAR LEFT TIRE SEPARATED AND MY DAUGHTER LUCKILY WAS ABLE TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE ON THE FREEWAY AT UNDER 55 MPH. SHE NOTICED THE PROBLEM IMMEDIATELY WHEN SHE GOT ON THE FREEWAY OR SHE MIGHT HAVE LOST CONTROL. FOR AN EXAMPLE OF THE SEPARATION, SEE: HTTP://WWW.FIRESTONE-TIRE-RECALL.COM/PAGES/ADVOCATE/11-13.HTML WE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE LEFT REAR AND SAME NEW CONDITION AS LINK ABOVE.*AK

WHILE TRAVELING ABOUT 70MPH ON THE HIGHWAY WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT TREAD SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE TIRE BRIDGESTONE POTENXA RE92 175/65R14. DEALER IS AWARE OF PROBLEM. THIS IS THE CORRECT TIRE 175/65R14 XL845. *AK

STEERING RACK PROBLEM.....NEEDS REPLACEMENT DUE TO A BROKEN ITEM IN THE STEERING RACK. CAUSES HIGH PITCHED NOISE WHENEVER STEERING WHEEL IS TURNED. TOYOTA AGREED TO REPLACE PART, BUT REQUIRES US TO PAY FOR THE LABOR TO REPLACE THE PART. ($500). *AK

PREMATURE TIRE WEAR ON TOYOTA PRIUS. *AK

THIS IS THE 3RD SET OF TIRES I HAVE HAD TO PUT ON THE CAR DUE TO UNEVEN WEAR. I ONLY HAVE 48000 MILES ON THE CAR. THE TIRES WEAR AS THOUGH THEY ARE UNDER INFLATED, BUT I AM CAREFUL TO BE SURE THAT I AM FOLLOWING THE MANUFACTURERS RECOMMENDATION FOR TIRE INFLATION. SINCE THIS IS THE ONLY TIRE USEABLE ON THIS CAR, I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED IN TOYOTA'S RESPONSE TO THE PROBLEM. SINCE TOYOTA PROBABLY GAVE THE SPECS TO BRIDGESTONE TO MANUFACTURE THE TIRE, IT IS TOYOTA'S RESPONSIBILITY TO ASSURE THAT THE TIRE WAS DESIGNED TO BE TO HAVE A NORMAL TREAD LIFE AS WELL AS HELP THE CAR FUNCTION EFFICIENTLY. IT IS REALLY TOUGH TO HAVE TO PAY $80.00 A TIRE AND HAVE IT ONLY LAST 25000 MILES. YES I HAVE HAD THE DEALER SERVICING THE CAR AND ROTATING THE TIRES AND THE ALIGNMENT IS FINE. THE PROBLEM IS THE TIRE THAT TOYOTA REQUIRES TO BE USED ON THE PRIUS.

THE TIRES ON OUR 2001 PRIUS CONTINUALLY FAIL AFTER ABOUT 15,000 MILES. WE HAVE HAD STATE INSPECTIONS FAIL BECAUSE OF TREAD WEAR, REFUSED SERVICE AT BRIDGESTONE DEALERS BECAUSE OF TREAD WEAR. WITH LESS THAN 50K MILES WE ARE WORKING ON THE THIRD SET OF TIRES. WE CHECK PRESSURE AND ROTATE OUR TIRES REGULARLY. SINCE TOYOTA CLAIMS THERE ARE NO REPLACEMENTS AND NO TREAD WEAR WARRANTIES, WE THINK THE CAR SHOULD NO LONGER BE ALLOWED ON THE US MARKET. *NLM

THE VEHICLE LOST POWER WHEN THE CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE. *AK ALSO THE VEHICLE PULLED TO THE RIGHT THE TIRES WERE REPLACED SEVERAL TIMES AND THE VEHICLE HAD NUMEROUS ALIGNMENTS. THE RACK AND PINION WAS REPLACED AND THE FUEL TANK ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACE. *JB

DT: WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE SHUT DOWN AND WOULD NOT RESTART. ALL 3 TIMES THAT THIS HAPPENED CONSUMER WAS ON THE FREEWAY. CONSUMER OWNED THE CAR FOR 1 YEAR BEFORE IT STARTED STALLING, AND IT HAS STALLED TWO MORE TIMES SINCE THEN. EACH TIME THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO TOYOTA, AND EACH THEY TIME THEY WERE UNABLE TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM WAS.*AK *SB *NM

DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY EARLY AM, STILL DARK, GAS ENGINE FAILED, ECU FAILURE SHOWN ON SCREEN. ELECTRIC MOTOR WAS GOING AT MAXIMUM WITH NO "GAS" PEDAL APPLIED. PULLED OVER, TURNED OFF. 300V BATT ALREADY FULLY DISCHARGED WHEN IT GOT TO THE DEALER. THEY CHARGED IT AND IT HAS NOT HAPPENED AGAIN BEFORE SELLING IN 2006. 2001 PRIUS. LATER ON HAD TWO BAD RACK & PINION, THE 2ND ONE FAILED A COUPLE MONTHS AFTER REPLACEMENT ON A LONG FREEWAY TRIP AT MILE 300. VERY HARD TO STEER EVEN AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. TOYOTA REPLACED AGAIN. *TR

FOR THE SECOND TIME IN LESS THAN 6 MONTHS ANOTHER FRONT TIRE BLEW OUT WHILE DRIVING. FIRST BLOWOUT WAS IN AUGUST 2002 WITH ABOUT 21,000 MILES ON VEHICLE. SECOND TIRE BLOWOUT OCCURRED WITH 27,000 MILES ON AN EIGHTEEN MONTH OLD CAR. THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT, BUT IT WAS VERY SCARY, AND IT FELT UNSAFE. WHEELS VIBRATED FOR A FEW MONTHS, SMALL AMOUNT, BUT DEALER SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG. FINALLY, DEALER INFORMED CONSUMER THAT SOMETHING WAS WRONG WITH RACK AND PINION STEERING, AND IT NEEDED REPLACEMENT.*AK

THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED A FLAT TIRE. THE CONSUMER NOTICED THE TIRE WAS WORN BADLY ON THE INSIDE. THE MANUFACTURER OFFERED A SUPPLEMENTAL TIRE WARRANTY, IN WHICH THE CONSUMER DID QUALIFY, DUE TO THE FACT THE TIRES WEREN'T ROTATED. SCC

THE FRONT TIRES WORE OUT UNEVENLY. THE OUTSIDE OF THE TIRES WORE TO THE POINT THAT AIR WAS LEAKING OUT. CONSUMER TIRES WERE NOT APART OF A RECALL TOYOTA ISSUED ACCORDING TO THE VIN OF THE VEHICLE. THE TIRES ARE BRIDGESTONE POTENZA RE 92, TUBELESS STEEL BELTED RADIAL M+S. P175/65 R14 84S. DOT # EL 9P T9902, JDH 2301 E92Z. CONSUMER REQUEST RECALL INFORMATION ON THESE TIRES STATED ABOVE. *JG

HYBRID ELECTRIC VEHICLE; STEERING RACK FAILED CAUSING VEHICLE TO PULL FROM SIDE TO SIDE. *AK *NLM

CONSUMER STATES DROVE HIS NEW AUTO APPROX 300 MILES AND HAD IT PARKED, WHEN HE WENT TO GET HIS AUTO THE PANEL LIGHTS WERE LIT, WARNING THAT SOMETHING WAS WRONG. AFTER CALLING A DEALER AND DRIVING HIS AUTO, HE WAS TOLD THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE AUTO. CONSUMER STATES THAT THIS SAME PROBLEM IS ON OUR WEB SITE. NLM

TIRES ON VEHICLE ARE COMING APART ON THE INSIDE TREAD LINE AFTER APPROXIMATELY 5,000 MILES OF USE. WE HAD ONE CRASH WHERE CAR COULD NOT BE STOPPED IN TIME. DID NOT PUT THE CRASH TOGETHER WITH THE TIRE PROBLEM UNTIL RECENTLY. *NM

SUSPECTED QUALITY ISSUE RESULTING IN PREMATURE WEAR OF FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE, LEADING TO POTENTIALLY UNSAFE DRIVING/HANDLING SITUATIONS.*AK

ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT HAD WORN DOWN TO THE TREAD. WHILE DRIVING AT 50 MPH IN A 2001 TOYOTA, PRIUS LEFT REAR TIRE HAD A BLOWOUT. REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT TIRE SIZE P175/65R14, DOT# EL9PJDH0102. BRIDGESTONE AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFED. *AK CONSUMER BELIEVES VEHICLE IS TOO HEAVY FOR TIRES. *TT

DEALER INFORMS THAT 2 OTHER VEHICLES ARE IN FOR REPAIR FOR THE SAME FAILURE. ALL THREE VEHICLES CAME IN WITHIN A 2 WEEK PERIOD. I HAVE BEEN GIVEN AN ESTIMATE OF TIME TO REPAIR RANGING FROM 2 TO 4 WEEKS BECAUSE OF UNAVAILABILITY OF PARTS. DEALER'S SERVICE DEPARTMENT FEELS THAT THE CAR IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. STEERING WHEEL EXPERIENCES "MINOR JERKS OR TICS". SERVICE WRITTER SAYS THIS IS BECAUSE OF ERRANT ELECTRICAL SIGNALS BEING SENT TO POWER ASSIST.*AK

TIRES ON 2001, TOYOTA, PRIUS, ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT, TIRE SIZE P175/65R14, DOT# EL 9P CHA 2700 AND EL 9P CHA 2800 ARE WEARING UNUSUALLY. MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. *AK *YH

THE CONSUMER STATES THAT THE VEHICLE HAD GONE OUT OF CONTROL. THE CONSUMER WAS COASTING INTO THE DRIVEWAY, WHEN SHE PLACED HER FOOT ON THE BRAKE, THE VEHICLE SURGED INTO THE GARAGE AND DAMAGED ITEMS. THE CONSUMER NO LONGER WANTS THE VEHICLE BECAUSE SHE FEELS UNSAFE. THE CONSUMER SAID THAT TOYOTA DIDN'T WANT TO EXCEPT RESPONSIBILTY, EVEN THOUGH THE SERVICE MANAGER DID REPORT THAT THE GAS ENGINE SURGE COULD OCCUR IN ORDER TO CHARGE THE BATTERY. *SCC *DT

WITHIN 9 MONTHS OF VEHICLE PURCHASE I HAD THREE FLAT TIRES AND REPLACED THE BRIDGESTONE POTENZA TIRES WITH A DIFFERENT BRAND RATHER THAN RIST ADDITIONAL FAILURES. *AK

EXPERIENCED FOUR BLOWOUTS ON ORGINAL EQUIPMENT BRIDGESTONE TIRES, SIZE P17565R14. FRONT SIDE AND REAR PASSENGER SIDE TIRES HAD TWO OF THE FOUR BLOWOUTS. THIRD BLOWOUT OCCURED WHILE VEHICLE WAS BEING TEST DRIVEN AT DEALERSHIP. ALL BLOWOUTS HAVE OCCURRED AT LOW SPEEDS, EXCEPT FOR BLOWOUT AT THE DEALERSHIP. *AK *SLC

AT 30,000 MILE SERVICE I WAS TOLD MY CAR WAS "NOT SAFE TO DRIVE." THE TIRES WERE WORN TO THE CORDS. TOYOTA REPLACED THEM FOR FREE, BUT I WAS TOLD THAT THE PRIUS WAS KNOWN FOR HAVING "PROBLEMS" WITH THEIR TIRES. HAD I NOT BEEN TOLD ABOUT THE CONDITION OF MY TIRES, I MIGHT HAVE HAD AN ACCIDENT. OTHER PRIUS OWNERS SHOULD BE NOTIFIED OF THIS.*AK (TIRESIZE: P175/65R14)

MY WIFE'S 2001 TOYOTA PRIUS WITH 108K MILES STOPPED BEING ABLE TO BE DRIVEN WHEN SHE WAS DRIVING IT HOME. IT STOPPED ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY AND MORE WARNING LIGHTS THAN I'D EVER SEEN CAME ON. IT WOULD NOT DRIVE MORE THAN A FEW MPH AND WOULD SHAKE AND RUN ROUGHLY. IT HAD TO BE TOWED APPROX 81 MILES TO A TOYOTA DEALER NEAR OUR HOME. THEY TOLD US THE TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED FOR ABOUT $7000 INCLUDING LABOR. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH ONLINE, I FOUND THAT THIS IS A SOMEWHAT COMMON PROBLEM WITH OTHER OWNERS (PRIUSCHAT.COM). ALSO, THAT THERE WERE SEVERAL REFERENCES TO TOYOTA COVERING PART OR MOST OF THE BILL, EVEN ON VEHICLES NOT UNDER WARRANTY. IF THAT'S NOT ADMITTING A DEFECT, I DON'T KNOW WHAT IS. *TR

ALTHOUGH THE TIRES ON THIS VEHICLE WERE SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED FOR IT BY BRIGESTONE, THE TREAD COMPOUND IS TOO WEAK TO CARRY THE HIGH WEIGHT OF THE VEHICLE WITHOUT FAILING.

CONTINUED EXCESSIVE TIRE WEAR POSSIBLE CAUSE VEHICLE WEIGHT AND ALIGNMENT PROBLEM. I AM ON MY THIRD SET OF TIRES IN 30,000 MILES AND THE TIRES THAT ARE NOW ON THE CAR ARE WEARING POORLY AFTER LESS THEN 5,000 MILES. TOYOTA IS REFUSING TO HELP ME WITH THIS PROBLEM ANY FURTHER THEN THEY HAVE. THE CAR WONDERS IN SLIGHTLY WINDY CONDITIONS AND FREEWAY DRIVING WHICH FELLS UNSAFE. TOYOTA HAS HAD TO REPLACE THE COMPUTER AND DO A VALVE JOB DUE TO THE LOSS OF POWER I EXPERIENCED, WHICH COULD HAVE BEEN A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION.*AK

I WAS ADVISED DURING A ROUTINE OIL CHANGE THAT MY TIRES WERE UNSAFE TO DRIVE ON. I WAS ALSO ADVISED THAT TIYOTA KNOWS THAT THESE UNIQUE TORES FAIL AT ABOUT 10,000 MILES. TOYOTA SAYS THAT THESE TIRES ARE THE ONLY TYPE ACCEPTABLE FOR USE ON THIS VEHICLE AND TO USE ANOTHER MANUFACTURER WILL VOID THE WARRANTY. THERE ARE NO REPLACEMENT TIRES AVAILABLE AND THEY (THE DEALER) ESTIMATES AT LEAST ONE MONTH WAIT. *AK (TIRESIZE: P175/65R14)

ON FOUR DIFFERENT DATES, 5/01, 8/9/01, 8/10/01, 8/19/01, THE ABOVE MENTIONED PRIUS HAS LOST POWER IN INTERSTATE TRAFFIC CAUSING DRIVER TO MOVE TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD AND PROCEED ON BATTERY POWER TO NEXT EXIT. THIS WOULD BE A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION IN AREAS OF OUR STATE WHERE HIGHWAYS ARE UNDER CONSTRUCTION AND CONCRETE BARRICADES TAKE THE PLACE OF SHOULDERS. AFTER THE FOURTH INCIDENT THE DEALER IS ORDERING SOME REPLACEMENT COMPUTER PART. WE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE FREQUENCY OF THIS PROBLEM WITH OTHER SIMILAR VEHICILES SINCE THEY ARE NEW TO THE UNITED STATES DRIVING COMMUNITY.*AK

AT 45MPH ON DRY PAVEMENT, CLEAR WEATHER CONDITIONS I DISENGAGED CRUISE CONTROL BY TAPPING BRAKES. SO THAT I COULD ACCELERATE INTO TRAFFIC. THE VEHICLE PULLED HARD TO THE LEFT. I THEN FOUND MYSELF IN A COUNTERCLOCKWISE SKID ACROSS THE PAVEMENT AS I LEFT THE PAVEMENT I FELT THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE DROP. NOW SPINNING I BOUNCED OFF A TREE AND INTO A DRAINAGE DITCH WITH ABOUT 1 AND 1/2 FOOT OF MUD AND WATER. IT WAS THEN I NOTICED THAT ONE OF THE WHEELS (LEFT REAR) HAD SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE AND WAS ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE DITCH. IT ALL HAPPENED SO FAST I HAVE NO IDEA OF THE ACTUAL CAUSE. THE STUDS WHICH HOLD THE WHEEL TO THE AXEL SHEAREDOFF, ANS AXLE SNAPPED, THE UNDERCARRAGE AND SUPPORTS WERE TANGLED. FHP OFFICER AT SITE INDICATED IT COULD HAVE BEEN MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION OF SOME SORT. BECAUSE OF CONDITIONS I CONTACTED TOYOTA AS WELL AS INSURANCE CO (PROGRESSIVE). NO ONE HAS YET EVALUATED THE CAUSE. TOYOTAS FIRST COMMENT WAS "WHAT DO YOU EXPECT FROM AN INVESTIGATION" MY ANSWERWAS " TO PREVENT A SIMILAR EVENT IN THE FUTURE". AS I RELATED THE EVENT TO EVERY ONE I ALSO NOTED THAT THE STEERING DIDNOT LET ME CORRECT THE SKID. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY HELD IN LIMBO BY INSURANCE AND TOYOTA. WHILE I AM WALKING. ALL SAFETY EQUIPMENT FUNCTIONED PROPERLY.*AK

CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO A SHOP FOR A ROUTINE CHECK UP AND MECHANIC INSPECTED FRONT TIRES, AND NOTICED THAT ON BOTH TIRES TREAD BEGAN TO SEPARATE. THEY WERE BRIDGE STONE/ FIRESTONE TIRES. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK