2003 Toyota Prius Complaint Log

ELECTRONIC: STEERING IN MY TOYOTA PRIUS SHAKES AND PULLS TO THE RIGHT SOMETIMES. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER WHEN THIS BEGAN LAST FALL AND THEY TOLD ME THE STEERING COMPUTER AND THE ENTIRE STEERING SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THEY TOLD ME THIS IS NOT DANGEROUS BUT IT SCARES ME, ESPECIALLY WITH THE RECENT RECALLS. *TR

THE BRAKE SYSTEM IN MY CAR FAILED. IT WAS FOUND LATER THAT BOTH THE COMPUTER AND PUM/ENGINE SYSTEM FOR THE BRAKES FAILED SIMULTANEOUSLY. I WAS CHARGED $2000 FOR REPAIRS. *TR

I HAVE A 2003 PRIUS WITH 100K MILES. AT ABOUT 95K MILES I BEGAN TO NOTICE AN ANOMALY IN THE STEERING. WHEN I BACK OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY TO MY RIGHT THE STEERING WHEEL SHUDDERS. THIS HAPPENS MORE FREQUENTLY WHEN IT IS COLD. THE SHUDDER HAPPENS OCCASIONALLY OTHER PLACES, USUALLY AT LOW SPEED. I HAVE READ THE OTHER REPORTS AND WORRY ABOUT THE MORE SEVERE FAILURES OTHERS HAVE REPORTED. MY DEALER QUOTED ME $2300 TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM WHICH HE DESCRIBED AS THE "STEERING BOX". EVEN AT 100K MILES THIS DEFINITELY SEEMS LIKE A RECALL ISSUE TO ME BECAUSE IT IS SO SAFETY CRITICAL. *TR

2003 TOYOTA PRIUS--HEADLIGHT LENSES CLOUD UP, RENDERING THE ABILITY TO SEE AT NIGHT NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE. I HAVE TRIED THE DYI KITS TO REMOVE THE CLOUDINESS, BUT THEY ONLY IMPROVE IT SLIGHTLY AND ONLY TEMPORARILY. WITHIN 3 MONTHS, THEY ARE JUST AS BAD AGAIN. NOW I AM TOLD THAT IT WILL NOT PASS STATE INSPECTION AS IT IS. NEW LENSES ARE EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE AS IT IS EVIDENTLY A DEALER ITEM ONLY. *TR

I HAD A 2003 TOYOTA PRIUS WHICH I WAS VERY HAPPY WITH. UNEXPECTEDLY, AND WITHOUT WARNING, THE STEERING COLUMN LOCKED WHILE I WAS DRIVING THE CAR AND I WAS UNABLE TO NAVIGATE THE CAR. FORTUNATELY, I WAS IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD AND WAS ABLE TO STOP THE CAR IN A NEIGHBOR'S YARD WITHOUT INCIDENT. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO MY DEALER AND LEARNED THAT THE STEERING WOUD NEED TO BE REPLACED FOR ABOUT $1500 OR MORE. SINCE THE CAR HAD ALMOST 120,000 MILES ON IT, I CHOSE NOT TO REPAIR IT. MY DEALER SUGGESTED I WRITE TO THE TOYOTA CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS, WHICH I DID. AFTER A LOT OF WRANGLING, THEY SENT ME A CHECK FOR $1,500 TO COVER THE LOSS OF MY TRADE-IN VALUE BUT ONLY AFTER I AGREED TO PURCHASE A NEW TOYOTA VEHICLE. AT THE TIME, I LET IT GO, BUT REALIZE NOW WITH ALL THE CONCERNS BEING RAISED, THAT PERHAPS MY STORY IS IMPORTANT. THE STEERING FAILURE COULD HAVE OCCURED WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 65 MPH OR WHILE EXITING A HIGH SPEED RAMP. WORSE, IT COULD HAVE HAPPENED ON THE CHESAPEAKE BAY BRIDGE, WHICH I HAD CROSSED JUST 15 MINUTES EARLIER.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO SLIGHTLY TURN THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE LEFT, THE STEERING COLUMN BECAME STUCK IN A FIXATED POSITION. THE CONTACT COULD NOT COMPLETE THE TURN. SHE PULLED TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE TO RESUME NORMAL OPERATION. THE FOLLOWING DAY, THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP AND THE STEERING MAIN SHAFT ASSEMBLY, TILT COLUMN ASSEMBLY, AND BOLT WERE REPLACED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND IT IS CURRENTLY BEING REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 36,000. UPDATED 10-07-08 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED SHE HAS NOT EXPERIENCED ANY MORE FAILURES SINCE THE REPAIR WAS DONE. UPDATED 10/15/08. *JB

I CURRENTLY OWN A 2003 TOYOTA PRIUS WITH ABOUT 76,000 MILES. I AM ACTIVE DUTY MILITARY CURRENTLY STATIONED IN GERMANY. I HAVE ENCOUNTERED A STEERING PROBLEM WHERE THE STEERING WHEEL SHUTTERS AND SHAKES AS IF YOU ARE DRIVING ON ROUGH TERRAIN. IT USUALLY OCCURS BETWEEN 5 MPH AND 30 MPH WHILE IN A TURN. WHEN THIS OCCURS YOU TEMPORARILY LOSE CONTROL OF THE STEERING AND POTENTIALLY, THE CAR. AFTER DOING SOME CURSORY RESEARCH ON LINE THIS APPEARS TO BE A RECURRING PROBLEM WITH THE TOYOTA PRIUS (HTTP://PRIUSCHAT.COM/FORUMS/CARE-MAINTENANCE-TROUBLESHOOTING/36358-03-POWER-STEERING.HTML ) I THINK IT HAS ALSO BEEN AN ISSUE WITH THE 2001-2002 MODELS THAT HAVE BEEN RECALLED FOR THIS PROBLEM BUT NOT FOR THE 2003 AND BEYOND. I BELIEVE THAT THIS DOES AFFECT THE ABILITY FOR THE CAR TO BE DRIVEN SAFELY. WE TOOK IT IN TO A DEALER HERE IN GERMANY AND THEY GAVE AN ESTIMATE OF 2500 EURO FOR REPAIR, WHICH EQUATES TO ABOUT $3800 US DOLLARS. THE CAR IS ONLY WORTH APPROXIMATELY $10,000. BECAUSE OF THE EXTREME COST, I CONDUCTED RESEARCH ON THE PROBLEM AND THEN CALLED TOYOTA TO SEE IF THIS WOULD BE COVERED BECAUSE THIS IS A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT WITH THE ENGINEERING. TO MY DISMAY, TOYOTA INFORMED ME THAT IT WAS NOT COVERED AND TO MAKE MATTERS WORSE, THAT THEY WOULD NOT COVER THIS VEHICLE REGARDLESS BECAUSE I AM STATIONED OVERSEAS. *TR

ERRATIC BEHAVIOR OF ELECTRIC POWER STEERING. UNCONTROLLABLE SHAKING OF STEERING WHEEL. AN UN SAFE CONDITION. THERE HAS TO BE A LOT THESE PROBLEMS BECAUSE REPLACEMENT STEERING RACKS ARE ON BACK ORDER AND NO PREDICTION OF WHEN THEY WILL AVAILABLE. WITH NO PARTS AVAILABLE AND CAR UN SAFE THEN CAR IS USELESS. *TR

2003 TOYOTA PRIUS WAS PROCEEDING WEST ON I-40 NEAR KNOXVILLE, TN WHEN THE TREAD SEPARATED FROM THE LEFT REAR TIRE AND WRAPPED ITSELF AROUND THE AXLE CAUSING THE DRIVER TO LOSE CONTROL. THE CAR VEERED TO THE LEFT THEN TO THE RIGHT, HIT A GUARDRAIL AND THEN HIT A SEMI HEAD-ON. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED, THE DRIVER SURVIVED WITH A CONCUSSION AND A HEAD WOUND. *TR

I OWN A 2003 PRIUS. WHEN I BOUGHT IT, BEFORE I EVER DROVE IT (WAS SNOW AND ICE) DEALER TOLD ME TO BE CAREFUL OF THE BRAKES. HE SAID, WHEN APPLIED, IT MAY FEEL FOR A SPLIT SECOND THAT I WAS SPEEDING UP OR NOT STOPPING. THE CAR DOES THIS ON SLIPPERY AND ROUGH RD AND ALWAYS HAS. I THOUGHT THAT WAS THE NATURE OF THE HYBRID AND HAVE LEARNED TO DRIVE ACCORDINGLY BUT IT IS DEFINITELY A TRYING SITUATION. *TR

I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK ON A FRIDAY EVENING, TURNED RIGHT, AND THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED. I SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES TO AVOID HITTING A PARKED TRUCK, AND SPENT THE NEXT SEVERAL MINUTES TRYING TO REGAIN STEERING CONTROL. THE NEXT DAY I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP, AND WAS TOLD THE ELECTRONIC STEERING RACK HAD FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, AT A COST OF APPROXIMATELY $2000 (AS THE STEERING SYSTEM WARRANTY ONLY EXTENDS TO 3 MONTHS OR 36,000 MILES.) MY CAR HAS JUST OVER 69,000 MILES ON IT. I HAVE ADHERED TO THE MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE, AND ALWAYS BRING IT TO THE DEALER. THERE IS NOTHING I COULD HAVE DONE TO PREVENT THIS FAILURE, AND I AM SHOCKED THAT THERE WERE NO WARNINGS OR REDUNDANCIES IN PLACE TO DETECT THE FAILURE OF SUCH A CRITICAL SYSTEM. I LIVE IN LOS ANGELES, AND IF I HAD BEEN ON A FREEWAY OR CANYON ROAD WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED, I WOULD LIKELY HAVE BEEN KILLED. THERE HAVE BEEN TWO ISSUES RELATING TO THE PRIUS STEERING SYSTEM (RECALL #18732/NHTSA # 00V285000 AND TSB # 0403/NHTSA # 10008428), BUT I WAS TOLD THAT NEITHER OF THESE APPLIED TO MY VEHICLE. I PICKED UP MY CAR TODAY AND WAS TOLD THE WORK IS COVERED BY A 1 YEAR, UNLIMITED MILEAGE WARRANTY. I FIND IT UNACCEPTABLE THAT TOYOTA PROVIDES SUCH A SHORT WARRANTY ON SUCH A CRITICAL PIECE OF EQUIPMENT. IF THIS PART EVER FAILS AGAIN, I AM EXTREMELY LIKELY TO BE HURT OR KILLED. I AM HAPPY TO HAVE MY CAR BACK, BUT AM PRETTY TERRIFIED TO DRIVE IT, OR ANY TOYOTA, AGAIN. I UNDERSTAND THAT CARS DON?T LAST FOREVER, AND I AM GENERALLY VERY HAPPY WITH HOW MY PRIUS HAS HELD UP. HOWEVER, I ALSO THINK THE MANUFACTURER HAS A RESPONSIBILITY TO DO EVERYTHING IT CAN TO ENSURE THE SAFETY OF ITS CUSTOMERS. I WANT TO KNOW WHAT SYSTEMS ARE IN PLACE TO PREVENT THIS PART FROM FAILING AGAIN, WHAT TOYOTA WILL DO IF IT DOES FAIL AGAIN, AND WHAT TOYOTA HAS TO SAY ABOUT THE FAILURE AND INCREDIBLY HIGH PRICE TAG OF A SYSTEM THAT HAS BEEN RECALLED IN OTHER MODELS, AND COULD HAVE COST ME MY LIFE. *TR

THIS COMPLAINT CONCERNS THE FAILURE OF THE POWER ASSIST OPERATION OF THE ELECTRICAL POWER STEERING SYSTEM. THE POWER STEERING WARNING ICON IS DISPLAYED ON THE CENTRAL PANEL AND THE DRIVER EXPERIENCES AN ABNORMAL STEERING EFFORT. *TR

AFTER A SERIES OF PROBLEMS WITH THE PRIUS ENGINE THE LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER INFORMED ME THAT I NEEDED TO HAVE THE CAR'S TRANSMISSION REPLACED. NATURALLY THE VEHICLE IS NO LONGER COVERED BY ITS WARRANTY. BACK GROUND: 2003 PRIUS, ODOMETER READING 116,289. ON 12/22/2008, I STARTED THE CAR AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT APPEARED. I WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE DEALERSHIP INFORMED ME THAT THE GASOLINE ENGINE SHUT DOWN AND THE BATTERY RAN OUT OF POWER. THE DEALERSHIP COULD NOT REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM. ON 12/27/2008, I STARTED THE CAR AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT APPEARED AGAIN. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE TOYOTA DEALER. THE DEALERSHIP DISCOVERED OIL IN THE INTAKE MANIFOLD AS PER A TSB. THE DEALERSHIP DID NOT CHARGE ME FOR PART OF THE REPAIRS. ON 01/04/2008, I WAS DRIVING WHEN AN INTERMITTENT GRINDING NOISE BEGAN ON BOTH BRAKING AND ACCELERATION. I FOUND THAT THE NOISE DISAPPEARED IF I BRAKED AND ACCELERATED EXTREMELY GENTLY. I IMMEDIATELY DROVE TO THE DEALERSHIP. WHEN I WENT TO THE DEALERSHIP, I WAS TOLD THAT THE PROBLEM COULD BE AS SIMPLE AS A SHIM IN THE BRAKING SYSTEM THAT MAY HAVE SLIPPED OUT OF POSITION. I AUTHORIZED AN ESTIMATE OF $52.52. THE FOLLOWING DAY, A SERVICE PERSON OF THE DEALERSHIP CALLED AND TOLD ME THAT THE BRAKES WERE FINE BUT THAT THE PROBLEM COULD BE RESOLVED BY CHANGING THE SPARKPLUGS. I ORALLY AUTHORIZED AN ESTIMATE OF ABOUT $150.00 (I DON?T REMEMBER THE EXACT AMOUNT.). THE SERVICE REP CALLED ME LATER THAT DAY (1/5) AND EXPLAINED THAT MY PROBLEM WASN'T?T REALLY THE SPARKPLUGS BUT THAT THE CAR'S TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE ESTIMATE FOR THE PARTS AND LABOR FOR THIS REPAIR WOULD BE APPROXIMATELY $2,000. THE SERVICE REP INFORMED ME ON 1/6/2008 THAT A MISTAKE WAS MADE AND COST OF THE NEW TRANSMISSION ALONE WOULD BE $5,000, WITH OTHER PARTS, LABOR, AND THE COST OF A RENTAL CAR, THE FINAL ESTIMATE FOR REPAIR WAS AROUND $7,000. *CN

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING AT A LOW SPEED FOUR TIMES, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED OVER THE SPEED LIMIT. TWICE THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED ON AN ICE COVERED ROAD. THE VEHICLE ALSO ACCELERATED TWICE WHILE DRIVING OVER A POT HOLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NEVER TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. ROUTINE MAINTENANCE WAS PERFORMED AND UP TO DATE PRIOR THE VEHICLE ACCELERATING. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000.

2003 TOYOTA PRIUS WITH ACCELERATION AND BRAKE PROBLEMS. CUSTOMER STATED WHEN SHE RELEASED HER FOOT FROM THE BRAKE PEDAL THE VEHICLE RACED FORWARD WHILE MAKING A LOUD NOISE. THE BRAKES WERE REAPPLIED BUT IT DID NOT STOP THE VEHICLE. *KB THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO VEER SLIGHTLY TO THE LEFT TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT. THE VEHICLE FINALLY STOPPED AFTER LURCHING ABOUT 30 TO 40 FEET WELL BEYOND THE STOP SIGN AND INTO THE INTERSECTION. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *JB

2003 TOYOTA PRIUS ENGINE STALLED THREE TIMES. DEALER REPAIRED AND PROBLEM RECURRED AGAIN THE SAME DAY. *TR. UPDATED 01/09/08. *LJ THE DEALER FOUND OIL INSIDE THE MANIFOLD. UPDATED *JB

I WAS DRIVING EAST AT 50 MPH ON CALIFORNIA HWY 68 AT 0800. IT WAS RAINING BUT THERE WAS NO STANDING WATER. I WAS DRIVING A 2003 TOYOTA PRIUS. AS I CROSSED THE INTERSECTION WITH SAN BENANCIO ROAD THE CAR SLOWLY SWERVED TO THE LEFT ACROSS THE ROAD, ENTERING THE OPPOSITE SHOULDER SLIDING BROADSIDE. THE CAR CONTINUED THE ROTATION, COMING TO REST FACING EAST AGAIN. I DID NOTHING TO INITIATE THIS BIZARRE EVENT. *JB

2003 TOYOTA PRIUS HAD 12V BATTERY REPLACED UNDER TOYOTA TSB EL014-03 "BATTERY CAPACITY IMPROVEMENT" INSTRUCTIONS WERE OMITTED AS WELL AS NOT FOLLOWED. CAR WAS DRIVEN FOR APPROX. 2 WEEKS WITH BATTERY NOT VENTED OUTSIDE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT AND NOT PROTECTED FROM DAMAGE BY HEAVY OBJECTS IN TRUNK. WAS CORRECTED BY ME PRIOR TO FURTHER OPERATION. POTENTIAL FOR A FIRE STARTING IN THE TRUNK OF THE CAR DUE TO HYDROGEN GAS BUILD UP FROM CHARGING/DISCHARGING IGNITING THE TRUNK LINING, PASSING UP THE PLASTIC VENTILATION SYSTEM FOR TRACTION BATTERY AND FUSING HIGH VOLTAGE TRACTION BATTERY CABLES TOGETHER WAS THERE PRIOR TO CORRECTING VENT SITUATION. AWAITING RESPONSE FROM LOCAL DEALER AND WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THERE ARE SPECIFIC REGULATIONS ABOUT VENTING LEAD ACID BATTERIES OUTSIDE PASSENGER COMPARTMENTS OTHER THAN FEDERAL MOTOR SAFETY ADMINISTRATION 393.30 BATTERY INSTALLATION. *NM

2003 TOYOTA PRIUS -- IN COLD WEATHER THE CARS COMPUTER DOES NOT ACT PROPERLY AND WILL SHUT DOWN THE ENGINE. *NM

CONSUMER 2003 PRIUS PASSENGER SIDE TIRE BLEW OUT. *TS THE CONSUMER THOROUGHLY READ THE OWNER'S MANUAL ON HOLD TO CHANGE THE TIRE. THE SUPPLIED JACK WAS USED TO RAISE THE CAR. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS RAISED A SHORT DISTANCE THE JACK SLID FORWARD AND THE CAR DROPPED TO THE GROUND. THE CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO RAISE THE VEHICLE THREE MORE TIMES WITH THE SAME RESULT. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE INTERMITTENTLY STALLED AND LOST POWER. THE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED OCCASIONALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP NUMEROUS TIMES, BUT THE PROBLEM PERSISTED. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE HYBRID ENGINE COMPUTER, THE MASS AIR FLOW METER, FUEL TANK, AND HYBRID BATTERY.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN HE TURNED HIS VEHICLE TO THE LEFT AT ANY SPEED, THE STEERING MADE A WEIRD NOISE AND WOULD NOT RETURN TO THE STRAIGHT POSITION. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER 15 MONTHS AGO AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE FAILURE WAS RELATED TO THE TEMPERATURE. THE DEALER STATED THAT AT A COOLER TEMPERATURE, THE STEERING WOULD GO BACK TO NORMAL. THE FAILURE NEVER CORRECTED ITSELF AND THE VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT BACK TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER INFORMED HIM THAT HE NEEDED TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE RACK AND PINION STEERING SYSTEM. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE VIN, ENGINE SIZE, AND NUMBER OF CYLINDERS WERE UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 70,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 130,000.

2003 TOYOTA PRIUS WITH ENGINE PROBLEMS. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE TRIANGLE AND ENGINE LIGHTS WOULD ILLUMINATE UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE. MECHANIC STATED THAT THERE WAS OIL IN THE AIR INTAKE AND ON THE SENSORS. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED TWICE WHILE HIS WIFE WAS DRIVING, THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF, WHICH LEFT HER DRIVING WITH JUST THE ELECTRIC MOTOR. *JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHEN THE CONTACT WOULD DRIVE THE VEHICLE SHE NOTICED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD TURN LEFT AND RIGHT AND WOULD NOT RETURN TO THE CENTER POSITION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP ON 2 SEPARATE OCCASIONS WHERE THE CONTACT HAD THE RACK AND PINION REPLACED ON BOTH OCCASIONS THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 42000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 103000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

COMPUTER FAILED. *JB

REFERENCE INVESTIGATION # PE05029: MY TOYOTA PRIUS 2003 [XXX] GASOLINE/ ELECTRIC HYBRID VEHICLES THAT CAN BE OPERATED IN GASOLINE OR ELECTRIC MODE. ON 4 SEPARATE OCCASIONS, THE GASOLINE ENGINE SHUT DOWN SUDDENLY WITHOUT WARNING. EACH TIME I WAS DRIVING WITH THE SPEED OF HIGHWAY TRAFFIC. THE THREE PREVIOUS TIMES THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO OPERATE USING THE ELECTRIC MODE FOR A PERIOD OF TIME AFTER THE GAS ENGINE STALLED. THIS LAST AND 4TH TIME THE VEHICLE SHUT DOWN AT THE SAME TIME THAT THEY FELT THE GAS ENGINE STALLED. I WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AFTER 3 IMMEDIATE ATTEMPTS TO TURN THE CAR ON. I WAS ABLE TO SLOWLY DRIVE THE CAR OFF THE HIGHWAYS AND TO PARK. AS WITH THE LAST 3 TIMES, I AGAIN HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED. EACH OF THE 4 STALLING INCIDENTS, I WAS ALERTED BY AN AUDIBLE SOUND AND VARIOUS WARNING LIGHTS. AFTER THE CAR STALLED THE BRAKE AND STEERING OPERATION CONTINUED TO FUNCTION AS THE CAR DRIFTED TO A STOP. EACH TIME THE REASON WAS FOR THE FAILURE TO OPERATE WAS CAUSED BY SOMETHING DIFFERENT, AS I AM TOLD BY THE SERVICE CENTER. THIS LAST TIME, (4TH) THE DEALERSHIP SAID THE CAR IS "FINE" ASKED ME TO PAY THE TOW AND IS SENDING ME ON MY WAY. NOTHING WAS DONE. I DRIVE ABOUT 90 MILES A DAY WITH MY 8 YR OLD DAUGHTER AS MY PRIMARY PASSENGER. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION THAT HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED BY TOYOTA. MY DEALERSHIP (KINGS TOYOTA CINCINNATI OHIO). *NM UPDATED 07/17/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

I HAVE A 2003 TOYOTA PRIUS. I HAD MY FIRST FLAT TIRE AT APPROXIMATELY 18,000 MILES. SECOND FLAT TIRE CAME 20,000 MILES. WHEN I TOOK THE CAR TO THE TIRE STORE I WAS TOLD THAT PRIUS HAVE MAJOR PROBLEMS WITH TIRES. THEY INDICATED THAT BOTH BACK TIRES WERE COMPLETELY WORN AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I SPOKE TO THE SERVICE MANAGER FOR TOYOTA DEALERSHIP AND SHE ADMITTED THAT THERE WAS AN ISSUE BUT THAT IT HAD BEEN RECTIFIED. SHE REPLACED MY LAST EXISTING TIRE AT APPROXIMATELY 25,000 MILES. AT 45,000 SERVICE I WAS AGAIN TOLD THAT BOTH OF MY BACK TIRES WERE COMPLETELY WORN AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED IMMEDIATELY. TOYOTA INDICATED THIS WAS MY FAULT FOR NOT PROPERLY SERVICING THE CAR. I HAVE HAD ALL RECOMMENDED SERVICE UP TO THAT POINT. I CONTACTED THE MANAGER OF THE DEALERSHIP. HE ADVISES ME NOW THAT THE TIRES WILL ALWAYS ONLY LAST APPROXIMATELY 20 TO 25 K MILES. HE SUGGESTED THAT I CHECK MY TIRE PRESSURE AT LEAST EVERY TWO WEEKS AND HAVE TIRES ROTATED EVERY 5,000 MILES BUT ADMITTED THAT THIS WILL PROBABLY NOT HELP BECAUSE OF THE DESIGN OF THE CAR.*JB

DT:WHILE DRIVING AT 25-30 MPH VEHICLE LOST POWER AND STALLED DUE TO ELECTRONIC THROTTLE MODULE FAILURE. *AK UPDATED 12/6/2005 - THE DEALER REPLACED THE FUEL RELAY. *NM

2003 TOYOTA PRIUS GAS ENGINE STALLED, WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON ALL OVER THE SCREEN, AND IT WOULD ONLY DRIVE ON "BATTERY POWER." AFTER STOPPING, I TURNED THE CAR OFF BUT IT WOULD NOT RE-START IMMEDIATELY. AFTER A FEW TRIES AND THEN WAITING, THE GAS ENGINE STARTED WHEN I TURNED THE KEY. DURING THE TIME IT WAS RUNNING ON BATTERY, AIR CONDITIONER WAS BLOWING HOT AIR. AFTER GAS ENGINE RE-STARTED, AIR CONDITIONER BLEW COLD AIR. TOYOTA SERVICE SAID THEY HAD NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE WHAT WAS ON THE SCREEN THEY DIAGNOSED AND SAID IT WAS THE COMPUTER AND ORDERED PARTS. THEY WERE ALSO THINKING THE BATTERY HAD SOMETHING TO DO WITH IT. 1. THEY MAY NOT HAVE DIAGNOSED MY CAR CORRECTLY SINCE THEY DO NOT KNOW ABOUT THIS RECALL, AND MAY NOT FIX IT CORRECTLY (INCLUDING PUTTING GREASE ON CERTAIN WIRES). AND 2. THAT NEWS REPORTS IN THE U.S. SAY IT IS 2004 AND 2005 PRIUSES WHICH ARE AFFECTED, SO 2003 OWNERS MAY NOT GET LETTERS TO TAKE THEIR CAR IN ON THIS RECALL. THIS COULD RESULT IN PEOPLE BEING KILLED. I WANT SERVICE DEPT TO UNDERSTAND THAT PRIUS 2003 OWNERS MAY NOT BE NOTIFIED BECAUSE TOYOTA MAY NOT BE AWARE THAT THEY ALSO HAVE THE PROBLEM. THEY SHOULD INFORM TOYOTA THEY HAVE A 2003 IN FOR REPAIR WITH SAME PROBLEM AS 2004-2005 CARS. I AM CONCERNED THEY MAY NOT DO REPAIRS ON MY CAR IN ACCORDANCE WITH WHAT IS SPECIFIED ON THE RECALL EVEN IF I DID NOT GET A LETTER. THIS UPSETS ME AND IT ALSO SCARES ME. I AM SURE TOYOTA WOULD NOTIFY SERVICE & OWNERS IF THEY WERE AWARE IT ALSO AFFECTS 2003 PRIUS'. SO I WANT YOU TO MAKE THEM AWARE OF IT AND BE SURE THEY SEND THE 2003 OWNERS LETTERS TOO. *NM

TOYOTA PRIUS HYBRID 1. TIRE BLOW OUT WITH THE RIGHT PSI AND CLEAR BEAUTIFUL DAY. DEALER WILL NOT WARRANTY OR CHANGE TIRE. 2. THE CAR STOP AND STARTED RUNNING ONLY ON ELECTRICAL SERVICE. CALL TOYOTA DEALER AND THEY ASK ME TO START THE CAR THREE TIMES AND IT WILL GO AWAY. I DID IT AND DROVE TO THE DEALER THEY EXPLAINED TO ME THAT THE HUMIDITY WAS CAUSING THE PROBLEM. THIS HAD HAPPEN ABOUT FOUR TIMES AND EVERY TIME THE HUMIDITY WAS HIGH BUT THIS IS AND INCONVENIENCE NOT JUST TO ME BUT MY WIFE. ONE OF THIS DAYS THE EASY FIXING WILL NOT WORK THEM WHAT? *JB

WE PURCHASED A 2003 PRIUS. THE CARS ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT INCLUDED BRIDGESTONE EXTRA LOAD TIRES P175/65R14. IN LESS THAN 25,000 MILES WE HAD TO REPLACE THE TIRES WITH A SECOND SET. AFTER ABOUT 10,000 WEAR ON BOTH SETS THE NOISE FROM THE TIRES HAS BEEN SO LOUD IT WAS UNCOMFORTABLE TO RIDE IN THE CAR. WHILE THIS IS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE IT IS VERY AGGRAVATING WHEN YOU CONSIDER THE COST OF THE VEHICLE.

BRIDGESTONE TIRES SUPPLIED BY MANUFACTURER HAD BEGAN DELAMINATING ALONG INSIDE RIM BECAUSE REAR ALIGNMENT ON 2003 TOYOTA PRIUS WAS INCORRECT. ONE TIRE WAS NEAR COMPLETE FAILURE WHEN DISCOVERED. THE QUESTION IS: DOES THE WEIGHT OF THE BATTERY PACK (PLACED IMMEDIATELY OVER THE REAR AXLE) CAUSE THE REAR SUSPENSION TO MISALIGN IN NORMAL DAILY DRIVING, WHICH IN TURN PLACES EXTREME WEAR ON THE INSIDE OF THE REAR TIRES? BECAUSE THE WEAR IS ON THE INSIDE OF THE TIRE, THE PROBLEM MAY NOT BE DISCOVERED BEFORE A BLOWOUT OCCURS. *JB

2003 TOYOTA PRIUS WITH EXCESSIVE TIRE WEAR. FIRST TIRE FAILURE (SEP 03) AT APPROXIMATELY 14K MILES; TOTAL FAILURE OF TIRE, WE LUCKED OUT. REMAINDER OF TIRES REPLACED AT ABOUT 18K MILES. THAT GOOD-QUALITY SET HAS NOW WORN TO THE POINT OF NEEDING TO BE REPLACED AT 38000 MILES. TOYOTA ADMITS THERE IS A PROBLEM, BUT WILL DO NOTHING TO HELP THE CUSTOMER WITH IT. A WEB SEARCH SHOWS OTHER OWNERS HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM (TIRE WALL FAILURES, LIKE OUR FIRST FAILURE) -- WITH SOME COMPENSATED, SOME NOT. THERE ARE ALSO OTHER DEFECTS WHICH THE MANUFACTURER WILL NOT/CANNOT REPAIR AFTER SEVERAL REPORTS....UNTIL THEY BLAME THE CUSTOMER FOR "HURTING" THE CAR AFTER THEY CAN'T FIX IT.*AK

TOYOTA PRIUS HYBRID, 2003 ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT PREVIOUS WARNING WHILE DRIVING ON CA HWY 10 IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT, AROUND 12:30 AM. WAS FORCED TO EXIT THE HWY, MADE UNSAFE TURNS IN TRYING TO REACH A GAS STATION WHILE THE CAR WAS STILL MOVING BY INERTIA.

I HAD A BLOW OUT ON THE FRONT RIGHT TIRE ON MY 2003 PRIUS. THE TIRE HAD A LARGE SPLIT ACROSS THE ENTIRE INSIDE OF THE TIRE - THE SIDE YOU COULDN'T' SEE - AS WELL AS THE SPOT IN THE OUTSIDE OF THE TIRE THAT HAD BLOWN OUT. THE TIRE WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED AND HAD VERY UNUSUAL WEAR PATTERNS ON IT. THE REST OF THE TIRES DID NOT SHOW UNUSUAL WEAR. I TOOK IT BACK TO BRIDGESTONE SINCE IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY AND THEY SAID IT WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE PRIUS. I TOOK IT TO THE TOYOTA DEALER WHO SAID THE TIRE WARRANTY WAS THROUGH BRIDGESTONE. I NOW PLAN TO REPLACE THE TIRES WITH HIGHER PSI TIRES THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN ON THE CAR TO BEGIN WITH WHEN PURCHASED. THE BLOW OUT SOUNDED LIKE AN EXPLOSION WHEN IT HAPPENED. IF I HAD BEEN ON A FREEWAY I WOULD HAVE LOST CONTROL OF THE CAR. *JB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED HIS VEHICLE HAD BEEN TO THE DEALER APPROXIMATELY THIRTY TIMES FOR VARIOUS SAFETY FAILURES. THE CONTACT HAD EXPERIENCED THE VEHICLE STALLING WITHOUT WARNING WHILE TRAVELING UPHILL AT SPEEDS OF 25 MPH, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WARNING LIGHTS REMAINED ILLUMINATED, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ENGAGE FROM BATTERY TO GASOLINE POWER WHEN WARRANTED, AND THE CONTACT INTERMITTENTLY WAS UNABLE TO MOVE THE GEAR SHIFT SELECTOR INTO THE REVERSE POSITION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE HE ADVISED THAT THERE MAY BE ENGINE OIL IN THE THROTTLE CAUSING THE STALLING ISSUES. THE CONTACT WAS AWAITING A HYBRID EXPERT TO FURTHER INSPECT THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 30,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 97,300.

MY TIRES WERE WORN TO THE CORDS, ALL FOUR OF THEM, ON BOTH SIDES, THE INSIDE WAS WORSE. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER (TOYOTA OF GLENDORA) AND ASKED THEM TO CHECK IT AND THE ALIGNMENT, AMONG OTHER THINGS. I HAD JUST 22,667.0 MILES ON IT. THEY CALLED ME AND SAID THE TIRES WERE JUST "WORN OUT" AND THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE ALIGNMENT. I TOOK IT TO FIRESTONE (WHO WARRANTIED THE TIRES) AND WAS TOLD BY 3 DIFFERENT PROFESSIONALS THERE THAT THE TIRES WERE NOT WORN OUT, THAT THE SIDE WALLS WERE DESTROYED DUE TO FAULTY ALIGNMENT. I HAD TO PAY FOR 4 NEW TIRES AND AN ALIGNMENT. I WROTE TO TOYOTA WHO REFERRED ME BACK TO TOYOTA OF GLENDORA. TOYOTA OF GLENDORA CONTACTED ME BY PHONE AND DENIED EVER TELLING ME THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE ALIGNMENT. THEY CLAIMED THEY COULDN'T FIX THE ALIGNMENT BECAUSE ALL 4 TIRES WERE BAD. I CLAIMED THEY LIED ABOUT THE ALIGNMENT TO KEEP FROM KEEPING IT OVER NIGHT AGAIN, BUILDING UP TO THE LEMON LAW. I FEEL THEY DAMAGED MY ALIGNMENT WHEN THEY REPLACED MY ENTIRE RACK AND PINION STEERING IN OCT 03, THEY DENIED THIS SAYING THAT REPLACING THE RACK AND PINION DOESN'T AFFECT THE ALIGNMENT. THEY DIDN'T TELL ME ABOUT THE DAMAGE TO THE TIRES WHICH THEY SHOULD HAVE NOTICED LAST TIME THEY ROTATED THEM. I WANT THEM TO PAY FOR MY ALIGNMENT AND PERHAPS MY FOUR NEW TIRES, THEY REFUSED AND HUNG UP ON ME. I WROTE TO TOYOTA AGAIN AND THEY RESPONDED WITH A LETTER DEFERRING TO THE DEALER, TOYOTA OF GLENDORA.*AK

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY BETWEEN 25-35 MPH OVER UNEVEN PAVEMENT WHEN PRESSURE WAS APPLIED TO THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP UNTIL EXCESSIVE FORCE WAS APPLIED TO THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE VEHICLE RESUMED NORMAL OPERATION. THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100.

VEHICLE WOULD RUN OUT OF GAS, BUT THE FUEL GAUGE INDICATOR WOULD READ THAT THERE WAS STILL ENOUGH FUEL IN THE FUEL TANK. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

DRIVING HOME ON JULY 22, 2003 AT ABOUT 4:30PM, TRAVELING NORTH ON THE 57 FREEWAY TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 68 MPH HAD BLOW OUT ON RIGHT REAR TIRE. TIRE HAD COMPLETE BLOW OUT IF SIDE WALL, VEHICLE HAD ONLY APPROXIMATELY 10,700 MILES. I HAD CHECKED TIRE PRESSURE THE PRIOR DAY AND HAD 33 PSI IN FRONT AND 36 PSI IN REAR AS THE SPECIFICATIONS ARE WRITTEN IN THE OWNERS HANDBOOK. *LA

AT 5,000 MILES THE FRONT TIRES ON MY '03 PRIUS WERE WORN TO CORD EXPOSED. WHEN I FIRST APPROACHED THE DEALER, 4/03, WITH CONCERNS AT 1,500 MILES AND OBVIOUS WEAR, I WAS TOLD THAT THEY HAD NOT SEEN THIS PROBLEM BEFORE. THEY ALIGNED THE FRONT END AND SAID THAT SHOULD FIX THE PROBLEM. WHEN I BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALER,6/13/03,THEY TOLD ME THAT THE PROBLEM IS COMMON, A DESIGN DEFECT. THE TIRES ARE TOO SMALL FOR THE WEIGHT OF THE VEHICLE'S FRONT END. I LEFT THE CAR WITH THEM AND WAS CALLED AT THE END OF THE DAY. THE SAID THAT THEY COULD NOT GET THE APPROVAL FROM TOYOTA TO REPLACE THE TIRES UNDER WARRANTY. I WOULD EITHER HAVE TO PAY FOR THE TIRES MYSELF OR TAKE THE CAR AS IS. I TOLD THEM I WOULD TAKE THE CAR AS IS, BUT WOULD HOLD THEM RESPONSIBLE FOR WHAT MAY HAPPEN IF THE TIRES FAILED. WHEN I WENT TO GET THE CAR THEY WERE MOUNTING NEW TIRES AT THEIR EXPENSE. I CALLED TOYOTA CUSTOMER SERVICE TO FILE A COMPLAINT, 6/13/03. THEY PRETEND TO BE UNAWARE OF ANY PROBLEMS WITH PRIUS TIRES. TOYOTA WILL NOT RECOMMEND ANY TIRE FOR THE PRIUS THAN THE BRIGESTONE POTENZA RE92. I THINK THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. IT IS UNREASONABLE TO EXPECT CUSTOMERS TO REPLACE TIRES MORE OFTEN THAN OIL CHANGES. MY DAILY CANYON COMMUTE IS ADMITTEDLY HARDER ON TIRES THAN AVERAGE, BUT I DESCRIBED IT EXACTLY TO THE SALESMAN WHEN I PURCHASED THE CAR. NOTHING WAS DISCLOSED TO ME ABOUT POTENTIAL TIRE WEAR PROBLEMS.

BLOWN TIRE

UNUSUAL TIRE WEAR: FRONT OEM TIRES WORN TO CORDS AT 5000 MILES. PRESSURE KEPT AT SPECIFIED PSI. ALIGNMENT CHECKED AND ADJUSTED AT 1,500 MILES. *NLM

THE SIDE WALL BLEW OUT AT 75 MPH ON THE FIRST 100 + DEGREE DAY. BRIDGESTONES REP CLAIMED THAT THERE WAS MAYBE AN INDICATION OF NAIL DAMAGE; HOWEVER THE TIRE WAS TOO BADLY DAMAGED TO BE SURE. NEXT, IT HAD BEEN RUN FLAT, HOWEVER THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN QUICKLY APPARENT IN THE ENGINE NOISE WITH THE CV TRANS. THEY FAILED TO HONOR THEIR WARRANTY, ADMITTING THAT DOING SO WOULD RAISE A RED FLAG AT THE NHTSA. *AK

IN READING RECENT MEDIA REPORTS REGARDING BRAKING FAILURES OF THE 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS, I REALIZED THAT I HAVE EXPERIENCED SIMILAR LAPSES IN MY 2003 PRIUS' BRAKING SINCE THE DAY I BOUGHT THE CAR. I WANTED TO GET THIS ON RECORD AS IT SEEMS THE MEDIA REPORTS BELIEVE THIS TO ONLY BE A PROBLEM IN THE 2010 MODEL WHEN THIS MAY BE AN ISSUE THAT HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR A LONG TIME. BASICALLY, WHETHER OR NOT THE PHENOMENON OCCURS DURING BRAKING DEPENDS ON SEVERAL FACTORS AND SEEMS TO OCCUR MORE OFTEN IF THE ROAD IS WET. IF ONE HAPPENS TO BE ROLLING OVER A MANHOLE COVER, OR HITTING A POTHOLE OR BUMP AT THE MOMENT THE BRAKES ARE DEPRESSED IT FEELS AS THOUGH, FOR A BRIEF MOMENT, THAT THE CAR IS SKIDDING FORWARD ACROSS THE CHANGE IN ROADWAY SURFACE. THIS ALSO HAPPENS WHEN BRAKING OVER A THICKLY PAINTED CROSSWALK LINE OR THE WORD STOP PAINTED ON THE ROAD. THE COMMON FACTOR SEEMS TO BE BRAKING AS THE CAR'S TIRE TRANSITIONS FROM A HIGH FRICTION TO REDUCED FRICTION SURFACE. I BELIEVE I COULD REPRODUCE THIS ON DEMAND GIVEN THE RIGHT CONDITIONS. EARLY ON I BROUGHT IT TO THE ATTENTION OF MY DEALERSHIP BUT THEIR WAS NO FOLLOWUP. FORTUNATELY IT HAS NEVER CAUSED AN ACCIDENT, BUT UNDER THE RIGHT CIRCUMSTANCES IT COULD. I'VE DEALT WITH THE PROBLEM BY EITHER BRAKING BEFORE OR AFTER THE ROAD SURFACES I KNOW TO CAUSE THE BRAKE SLIPPING EFFECT. *TR

I HOPE YOU ARE NOT LIMITING YOUR INVESTIGATION OF PRIUS BRAKES TO THE 2010 MODEL. I HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM ON MY 2003 PRIUS SINCE THE DAY I DROVE IT HOME. WHEN GOING OVER UNEVEN SURFACES, PARTICULARLY METAL PLATES OR MANHOLE COVERS, BRAKING MOMENTARILY STOPS AND DOES NOT RESUME UNTIL THE WHEELS HIT THE REGULAR ROAD SURFACE. ALTHOUGH I HAVE HAD NO ACCIDENTS, THE SENSATION OF SKIDDING IS FRIGHTENING. *TR

SINCE THE FIRST MONTH AFTER BUYING THE CAR, GAS MILEAGE HAS BEEN NO MORE THAN 30 MILES PER GALLON, WHICH IS AT LEAST 20 MILES LESS THAN ADVERTISED... ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION THE CAR HAS JERKED FORWARD IN TRAFFIC ALMOST CAUSING ACCIDENTS AND WHEN DRIVING MORE THAN 60 MPH THE CAR LOSES CONTROL, ALSO THE CAR HAS SHUT OFF NUMEROUS TIMES WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH ALMOST CAUSING MORE ACCIDENTS. *LA

WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH POWER STEERING FAILED 4 TIMES. DEALERSHIP WILL REPLACE THE RACK AND PINION.*AK

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING AT 70MPH ON HIGHWAY WITH CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED. WHEN DEPRESSING BRAKE PEDAL TO DISENGAGE CRUISE CONTROL THE VEHICLE SPUN OUT AND STOPPED FACING THE ONCOMING TRAFFIC.*AK