2008 Toyota Prius Complaint Log

HID HEADLIGHTS HAVE FAILED TWICE ON DRIVER SIDE AND TWICE ON PASSENGER SIDE. WE CONTINUE TO REPLACE THE BULBS AND THEY CONTINUE TO FAIL. *TR

I NORMALLY GET ABOUT 450 MILES OUT OF ONE 11.9 GALLON TANK. RECENTLY, I DISCOVERED MY FUEL GAUGE LIGHT GOING OFF AT 300 MILES. WHEN I FILLED UP MY TANK IT ONLY TOOK 7 GALLONS, LEAVING 5 GALLONS THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN IN THE TANK. AFTER FILLING IT UP, FUEL GAUGE LIGHT WENT OFF JUST BELOW 300 MILES. WHEN I TOOK MY VEHICLE IN FOR AN OIL CHANGE I ASKED ABOUT IT THINKING THERE WAS SOMETHING WRONG WITH MY FUEL SENSOR. I WAS ADVISED BY THE CLERK THAT IT WAS THE BLADDER, AND TO JUST KEEP IT FULL-THATS ALL. HE GAVE OTHER ADVISE LIKE MAKE SURE THE TIRE PRESSURE ON MY TIRES WERE GOOD (THEY WERE ROTATED AND CHECKED A WEEK PRIOR TO THIS), AND TO CHECK MY AIR FILTER. NOW I AM CONFUSED, AND DO NOT KNOW HOW MUCH FUEL IS ACTUALLY IN MY TANK. I HAVE HAD MY VEHICLE FOR 3 1/2 YEARS AND NEVER HAD A PROBLEM TILL NOW. *TR

WE BOUGHT OUR 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS IN NOV 2007. AFTER ABOUT 3 YEARS USE, THE RUBBER COVER ON THE HATCH RELEASE HANDLE (THE EXTERIOR HANDLE OF THE REAR HATCH) MELTED INTO A STICKY TARRY BLACK RUBBERY GOOEY MESS. TO OPEN THE HATCH, YOU HAVE TO TOUCH THIS BLACK GOO EACH TIME, WHICH MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO OPERATE THE HATCH RELEASE. WE BELIEVE THIS MELTING PROCESS STARTED AT ABOUT THE 2 YR. MARK, BUT HAS BEEN A SERIOUS ISSUE FOR THE PAST YEAR. WE CAN BARELY OPEN THE REAR HATCHBACK NOW. I HAVE SEEN ON THE INTERNET THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED TO SEVERAL CAR OWNERS, PARTICULARLY IN FLORIDA. WE LIVE IN VIRGINIA THOUGH. TOYOTA KNOWS ABOUT THIS, AND IS SELLING THE ENTIRE WIRING HARNESS FOR $96 PLUS REPAIR COSTS, AND HAS DONE NOTHING ABOUT RECALLING THIS. FROM A SAFETY PERSPECTIVE, WE EXPERIENCE EXTREME DIFFICULTY OPENING THE REAR HATCH (A LIFE SAFETY ACCESS POINT), AND WILL GET STICKY BLACK TAR ON OUR HANDS FROM THE MELTED DOWN RUBBER COVER OF THE EXTERIOR HATCH RELEASE HANDLE. TO ME, THIS IS BOTH A SERIOUS LIFE SAFETY ISSUE AND A SERIOUS QUALITY DEFECT THAT TOYOTA IS OPTING TO IGNORE AND ONLY FIXING ON VEHICLES WITH EXTENDED WARRANTIES, SINCE THE FAILURE APPEARS TO OCCUR AT AROUND THE 3 YEAR MARK. I AM AWARE OF THE OUTSTANDING WORK DONE BY NHTSA ON OTHER SAFETY ISSUES, SO I AM ASKING FOR YOUR AGENCY TO TAKE A LOOK AT THESE INSTANCES AND ALSO TO INQUIRE FROM TOYOTA WHY THEY ARE NOT RECALLING THESE HANDLES THAT ARE MELTING IN THE SUN!!! IT'S OUTRAGEOUS. I THINK A DOOR HANDLE OR HATCH HANDLE SHOULD BE MADE TO LAST MORE THAN 3 YEARS. PLEASE REVIEW THESE FORUM COMMENTS OF OTHER INCIDENTS: *TR

REAR HATCHBACK LOCKING/UNLOCKING BUTTON GUMMY AND INABILITY TO UNLOCK TRUCK MANUALLY AND ELECTRICALLY. UNABLE TO ACCESS TRUNK WHERE EMERGENCY/SAFETY EQUIPMENT LOCATED. *TR

PULLING AWAY FROM A STOP SIGN, IN THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERSECTION, MY 2008 PRIUS WAS T-BONED BY A 1994 VAN (TRAVELING 35MPH ACCORDING TO THE DRIVER). THE VAN STRUCK THE CENTER OF THE PASSENGER DOOR, CRUSHING THE DOOR AND DOOR FRAME. THE REAR DOOR IS ALSO DAMAGED AN UNABLE TO BE OPENED. THE REAR SEAT PASSENGER BROKE THE WINDOW WITH HER HEAD AND REQUIRED STAPLES, FRONT PASSENGER ARM WAS SMASHED BY THE DOOR, DRIVER HAS WHIPLASH. NONE OF THE AIRBAGS IN THE CAR DEPLOYED. THE VAN'S TWO FRONT AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. *TR

THE LIFT GATE'S PROBLEMATIC OPENING, HAS CAUSED THE LATCH AND THE BODY PART THAT IT IS ATTACHED, TO BREAK AWAY FROM THE VEHICLE. *JS

I HAVE HAD A RECURRING PROBLEM WITH THE HID HEADLAMPS ON MY 08 PRIUS. I HAVE REPLACED ONE ECM MODULE IN THE LIGHT DO TO MOISTURE FROM AN IMPROPERLY SEALED HEADLAMP UNIT. SINCE THAT TIME THE SAME HEADLAMP HAS BEGUN TO FLICKER ON AND OFF, WORKING ABOUT 90% OF THE TIME IN THE BEGINNING AND NOW ONLY WORKING ABOUT 10% OF THE TIME. I THOUGHT THAT IT MIGHT BE RELATED TO THE ECM THAT WAS REPLACED BUT JUST THE OTHER DAY THE OTHER HEADLAMP BEGAN TO FLICKER ON AND OFF AS WELL. THERE ARE AN ABUNDANCE OF PRIUS OWNERS WHO ARE BLOGGING AND COMMENTING ON FORUMS ABOUT HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. ONE WEBSITE PROMPTS USERS TO REPORT THIS INCIDENT TO YOUR SITE SO THAT THIS SAFETY PROBLEM WILL BE RESOLVED. *TR

PASSENGER SIDE HEAD LIGHT WENT OUT IN NOVEMBER, 2011, TRIED TO REPLACE BULB MYSELF, TOOK TO DEALER WHO REPLACED IT "FREE, UNDER WARRANTY!" NOW DRIVER-SIDE HEAD LIGHT WENT OUT, CALLED DEALER, TOLD NO LONGER COVERED UNDER WARRANTY AND REFERRED TO LAWSUIT WHICH HAD TOYOTA NOT TAKING BLAME OR DOING A RECALL BUT EXTENDED WARRANTY TO 5 YEARS, 50,000 MILES. BUT MY CAR WAS AT 60,000 MILES IN NOVEMBER. CALLED DEALER AGAIN AND TOLD THAT THEY DID IT AS A "COURTESY". HUH? WHY? IF THEY TOLD ME IT WASN'T COVERED BUT THEY WERE DOING IT AS A COURTESY, I WOULD STILL BE SINGING THEIR PRAISES. BUT INSTEAD, I FEEL I WAS LIED TO. SO I TOOK IT TO ANOTHER DEALER, REPAIR COST $211. FOR ABOUT 5 MINUTES OF WORK. FROM THE LAWSUIT, I READ THAT THIS CAN HAPPEN OVER AND OVER AGAIN. MY BF SAYS THAT SOMETIMES WHEN I'M FOLLOWING HIM IN MY CAR, MY LIGHT WOULD RANDOMLY GO OUT! DEFINITELY AN EXPENSIVE & DANGEROUS PROBLEM W/ THESE GREAT CARS!! *TR

PRIUS 2008 HEADLIGHTS TURNS OFF INTERMITTENTLY. ONE CAN NEVER BE SURE WHEN OR HOW IF FAILS. AT TIMES IT WORKS FINE THEN IT DOES NOT. *TR

I PURCHASED FOUR CONTINENTAL 185 65 R15 TIRES FOR 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS AND HAD THEM INSTALLED AT A NISSAN DEALERSHIP ON 10/24/2011WITH MILEAGE 92526 DUE TO CURB STRIKES, I INCURRED TWO ROAD HAZARD SIDEWALL CLAIMS WITHIN 2 DAYS OF INSTALL; ONE BULBOUS SECTION AND ONE FLAT. INSTALLATION OF WARRANTY REPLACEMENTS OCCURRED 11/08/11 AT MILEAGE 93335. ANOTHER CURB STRIKE SIDEWALL WARRANTY CLAIM FOR THIRD TIRE INSTALLED ON 2/28/12 AT MILEAGE 98658. FOURTH AND FINAL REPLACEMENT OF ORIGINALLY PURCHASED TIRES YET TO BE PROCESSED/INSTALLED FROM CURB STRIKE ROAD HAZARD ON 4/9/12 AT MILEAGE 100289. PRIOR TO PURCHASE OF CONTINENTAL TIRES, NO ROAD HAZARD HAS OCCURRED WITH THE VEHICLE ON TWO OTHER BRANDS OF TIRES. I HAD TO PURCHASE AN EXTRA OEM SPARE TIRE DUE TO THE LENGTH OF THE WARRANTY PROCESS AND THE NUMBER OF OCCURRENCES. THE LAST AND FINAL TIME, SINCE I HAD NOT YET REPLACED MY OEM SPARE AGAIN(IT HADN'T BEEN SIX WEEKS SINCE THE LAST REPLACEMENT) I PURCHASED A LESS-EXPENSIVE BRAND AND MODEL, AS EACH LOCAL CONTINENTAL DEALER IS UNABLE TO ORDER THIS MODEL OF TIRE FROM THEIR DISTRIBUTOR AND HAS TO CALL CONTINENTAL FOR REPLACEMENT DIRECTLY. THE SECOND OEM SPARE WAS UNFIT FOR DRIVING. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS MALFUNCTIONED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE LIGHTS WOULD FLICKER AND IF SHE WOULD TURN THEM OFF COMPLETELY, THEY WOULD RESUME NORMAL FUNCTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 75,000.

HID BULBS TURN OFF RANDOMLY WHILE DRIVING. THE COST WAS OVER $700 TO REPLACE. *KB

WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT, THE DRIVERS SIDE HEADLIGHT WILL INTERMITTENTLY DIM AND THEN TURN OFF. TURNING THE LIGHT SWITCH OFF AND THEN BACK ON WILL ALLOW THE LIGHTS TO COME BACK ON BUT THE DRIVERS SIDE HEADLIGHT WILL IMMEDIATELY DIM AND THEN WITHOUT WARNING TURN OFF AGAIN. *KB

I HAVE HAD INTERMITTENT TROUBLE WITH HEADLIGHTS ON EITHER SIDE OF THE CAR GOING OUT SPONTANEOUSLY WHILE DRIVING. I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO CORRECT IT BY TURNING THE SWITCH OFF AND THEN BACK ON AGAIN AND THEY COME BACK ON. I HAVE NOW HAD AN INSTANT WHERE BOTH HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT AT THE SAME TIME. THIS IS QUITE SCARY WHEN YOU ARE TRAVELING AT 65 MILES AN HOUR WITH LIMITED STREET LIGHTS. *TR

INTERMITTENT HID HEADLIGHT FAILURE. HEADLIGHTS - PASSENGER AND/OR DRIVER SIDE HEADLIGHT GOES OUT. REPLACED HEADLIGHT BULBS (2X) - THIS DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. TURNING OFF THE HEADLIGHTS AND TURNING THEM BACK ON RESTORES THE LIGHT, HOWEVER, THE LIGHTS WILL AGAIN INTERMITTENTLY FAIL. ON A LONGER TRIP, THIS CAN OCCUR REPEATEDLY. *TR

WHILE ENTERING A HIGHWAY ONRAMP IN MY COMPANY'S 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS, THE CAR SUDDENLY BEGAN ACCELERATING OUT OF CONTROL WITHOUT APPLICATION OF THE GAS PEDAL. I HAD TO PRESS HARD ON THE BRAKE JUST TO HOLD THE CAR AT 65 MPH. THE CAR WAS SURGING AND LUNGING FORWARD, AND I WORRIED I WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO FIND A PLACE TO PULL OVER BEFORE LOSING CONTROL COMPLETELY. FOR THE NEXT 5-10 MINUTES, AS I APPROACHED TRAFFIC IN FRONT OF ME, THE CAR CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE, EVEN THOUGH I HAD MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE THE ENTIRE TIME. AT ONE POINT I NOTICED THE CAR WAS REACHING SPEEDS IN EXCESS OF 95 MPH. A LOUD RATTLING NOISE ENSUED AND AN ELECTRICAL SMELL FILLED THE CAR. EVENTUALLY, THE BRAKE COMPLETELY FAILED TO HAVE ANY EFFECT, AND, BARRELING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AT 90 MPH, I PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL, BUT IT CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. AT THIS POINT I HAD MY RIGHT FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL AND DEPRESSED THE PARKING BREAK ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR WITH MY LEFT FOOT, THIS SLOWED THE CAR SLIGHTLY, BUT NOT ENOUGH TO REGAIN CONTROL. FINALLY, I TURNED THE CAR OFF COMPLETELY, AND WITH MY HAZARD LIGHTS ON, MANAGED TO PULL THE CAR AWAY FROM TRAFFIC AND OFF ON THE SHOULDER OF THE HIGHWAY, WHERE I COASTED FOR A LONG DISTANCE, SPEEDS DECREASING GRADUALLY UNTIL EVENTUALLY IT STOPPED. SMOKE AND A BURNING ELECTRICAL SMELL FILLED THE CAR. I FILED A POLICE REPORT WITH AN OFFICER WHO HAPPENED TO ALSO BE ON THE SHOULDER, GIVING SOMEONE A SPEEDING TICKET. MY COMPANY TOWED THE CAR TO A DEALERSHIP, AND AN INVESTIGATION IS SUPPOSEDLY UNDERWAY, THOUGH I'M NOT OPTIMISTIC ABOUT ANY SORT OF RESOLUTION BASED ON THE TESTIMONIES I HAVE READ FROM OTHERS WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME THING. LUCKILY, IN MY CASE, THIS DIDN'T RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT, AND NOONE WAS KILLED. *TR

AROUND OR JUST AFTER 40,000 MILES THE RIGHT HEADLIGHT ON MY 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS STARTED TURNING OFF WHILE DRIVING. TURNING THE LIGHTS OFF THEN ON CORRECTS THE PROBLEM -- BUT THIS IS ANNOYING AND DANGEROUS WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT. *TR

INTERMITTENT HEADLAMP FAILURE. *TR

AFTER ABOUT 3 YEARS OF USE, THE HATCH RELEASE HANDLE (THE EXTERIOR HANDLE OF THE REAR HATCH) STARTED TO BECOME SOFT AND STICKY, AND AFTER A FEW MONTHS EVENTUALLY TOTALLY MELTS INTO A STICKY, GOOEY BLACK MESS THAT WOULD STICK TO YOUR HANDS WHENEVER YOU TOUCH IT. THE HATCH BECOMES HARDER AND HARDER TO OPEN. *TR

IN AUGUST 2011, A PRINCETON, NJ, POLICE OFFICE STOPPED ME TO REPORT THAT MY RIGHT HEADLIGHT WAS NOT WORKING. ON SEPTEMBER 1, 2011, I PAID LAWRENCE TOYOTA $281.84 TO REPLACE THE RIGHT SIDE HEADLIGHT. LATER THAT MONTH, WHEN I DROVE HOME, I NOTICED THAT THE RIGHT LIGHT WAS NOT SHINGING AGAINST THE GARAGE DOOR. WHEN I GOT OUT OF THE CAR, I SAW THE HEADLIGHT WAS NOT WORKING. EARLY IN OCTOBER, THE FRONT END OF THE CAR WAS DAMAGED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE, INCLUDING BOTH HEADLIGHTS. THE BODY SHOP REPLACED THE HEADLIGHTS. SHORTLY AFTER I TOOK THE CAR HOME, I NOTICE BOTH THE LEFT AND RIGHT HEADLIGHTS FAILED RANDOMLY. WHILE DRIVING, I NOTICE THE LIGHT WOULD NOT BE UNIFORM ALONG THE PAVEMENT. WHEN TRAFFIC WAS STOPPED AT A LIGHT, ONE LIGHT WOULD REFLECT FROM THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. WHEN I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO THE BODY SHOP, THEY CONFIRMED THAT THE LIGHTS WOULD GO ON AND OFF SPONTANEOUSLY. THEY REPLACED BOTH LIGHTS AND THE "MODULATOR" THAT GOVERNS THE HEADLIGHTS. THE PROBLEM PERSISTED. THEY TOOK THE CAR TO FREEHOLD TOYOTA WHO "ADJUSTED" THE LIGHTS AND MODULATOR. WHEN I DROVE THE CAR AWAY FROM THE BODY SHOP, I LIGHT WAS HIGHER THAN EXPECTED; REFLECTING OFF TREE BRANCHES WELL ABOVE THE CAR. A FEW DAYS LATER, I DROVE THE CAR TO A STORE AND NOTICED THE RIGHT LIGHT WAS NOT SHINING AGAINST THE WALL OF THE BUILDING. A PERSON THE CAR THAT PULLED IN BEFORE ME COMMENTED THAT THE LEFT LEADLIGHT WAS AIMED SO HIGH THAT IT BLINDED HIM, MAKING HIS REARVIEW MIRROR UNUSABLE. *TR

2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO BOTH HEADLIGHTS FAILED WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT. *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE HEADLIGHTS DID NOT FLICKER, NOR WAS THERE ANY GRADUAL FLICKERING DIMMING OF THE LIGHTS. ABOUT A MONTH BEFORE, ONE HEADLIGHT WENT OUT. THE NEXT DAY, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT BOTH HEADLIGHTS WERE OPERATIONAL AND NO REPAIR WAS MADE. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THE LIGHTS WERE WORKING AND THAT THE HID HEADLIGHTS SOMETIMES EXHIBIT AN ERRATIC BEHAVIOR WHEN THEY WERE IN THE PROCESS OF FAILING. THE CONSUMER AGREED TO LET THE DEALER REPLACE THE HID BULBS AT A COST OF $ 555.32. *JB

MY 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS POPS OUT OF DRIVE INTO NEUTRAL SPORADICALLY. I HAVE TO HOLD THE GEAR SELECTOR IN THE DRIVE POSITION WITH MY RIGHT HAND WHILE I DRIVE ONE HANDED WITH MY LEFT. *TR

RUBBER ON THE 2008 PRIUS IS MELTING AND DRIPPING. I'VE SEEN MANY COMPLAINTS ON LINE ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. *TR

REAR LIFTGATE RUBBER GUARD HAS BECOME MELTED AND GOOEY CAUSING INTERMITTENT BACK LIFTGATE DOOR LOOK ISSUES. I NEED TO REPLACE JUST THE RUBBER PIECE. *TR

TOYOTA 2008 PRIUS TRUNK HATCH RELEASE RUBBER PIECE MELTED. 2008 MODEL WAS ONLY 2.5 YEARS OLD WHEN THIS HAPPENED. DEALER SAYS $197.00 FOR THIS PART. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO REPLACED BOTH HEADLIGHTS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE WITH THE REPAIRS. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 39,000.

MY 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS WILL NOT STAY IN D WHEN SHIFTING OR R IT POPS BACK INTO N IT DOES IT ON HOT DAYS. NEED TO REPLACE THE GEAR SHIFT LEVER ASSEMBLY. WHEN ITS HOT OUTSIDE IT BINDS UP AND GOES BACK INTO N WHILE SHIFTING OR DRIVING. HAS HAPPENED 2 TIMES SO FAR IN THE LAST WEEK. IN ORDER TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE YOU HAVE TO HOLD THE LEVER IN R OR D TO GO ANYWHERE. *KB

VEHICLE WILL NOT STAY IN GEAR, USUALLY HOT DAYS WHEN IT HAPPEN. WEATHER ITS IN REV OR DRIVE IT WILL SHIFT BACK TO NEUTRAL. IT STARTED JULY 2011. TOOK IT TO DEALER THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE. NOW YESTERDAY MAY 27TH IT HAPPEN AGAIN. YOU WOULD HAVE TO HOLD DOWN OR UP GEAR SHIFT TO HAVE GEAR STAY IN PLACE. *TR

A SUDDEN JERK AND A BUNCH OF WARNINGS LIGHTS APPEARED ON DASHBOARD. THE CAR MADE IT 20 MILES TO MY HOME BUT I WAS RUNNING ON A DAMAGED ENGINE. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER THE NEXT DAY, ALLEN TOYOTA OF GULFPORT, MS, AND THEY FIXED IT SAYING WATER PUMP HAD TO BE REPLACED CHARGING ME $295. I HAVE RECEIPT. DEALER TOLD ME TO APPLY TO THIS WEBSITE AS I RECENTLY RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FROM TOYOTA ABOUT THIS PART PROMISING THEY WOULD REIMBURSE IF THE PART HAD BEEN REPAIRED AT MY EXPENSE BEFORE RECEIVING RECALL LETTER. *TR

THE HEADLIGHT ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE CAR GOES OUT WHILE DRIVING. IT COMES BACK ON WHEN I TURN THE HEADLIGHT OFF AND TURN THEM BACK ON AGAIN. THE HEADLIGHT WILL GO OFF AGAIN AT DIFFERENT SPEEDS. THE HEADLIGHT MAY GO OFF MULTIPLE TIMES WHEN DRIVING. THIS IS A VERY LARGE SAFETY CONCERN. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE PARKED THE CONTACT STATED THE GEAR SHIFT WOULD NOT MOVE FROM NEUTRAL TO DRIVE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE FAILURE WOULD OCCUR WHEN THE GEAR SHIFT WAS ALSO IN REVERSE. THE CONTACT SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF AND AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS WAS ABLE TO MOVE THE GEAR SHIFT TO THE DESIRED GEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 57,700. UPDATED 8/30/11 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE DEALER REPLACED THE GEAR SHIFT ASSEMBLY. UPDATED 09/23/11

PRIUS TRUNK HANDLE MELTED. *TR

MY HEADLIGHTS TURNED THEM SELF OFF ON ANY GIVEN TIME EITHER ONE ON A TIME OR BOTH AT THE SAME TIME SAME THING HAPPENS IF THE HIGHBEAMS ARE ON DAY OR NIGHT TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM TEMPORARILY YOU HAVE TO TURN THE LIGHTS ON AND OFF QUICKLY AND YOU HAVE NO GUARANTEE HOW LONG IT WILL STAY ON I SPOKE TO THE TOYOTA CORPORATION AND THEY WILL NOT HELP BECAUSE MY CAR HAS 90,000 MILES MY CAR IS 2008 TO FIX THIS PROBLEM THE DEALERSHIP IS CHARGING $1200 I HAVE EXTENDED WARRANTY ON THE CAR BUT ELECTRICAL IS NOT COVERED. *TR

MY 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS HEADLIGHTS WORK INTERMITENTLY. SOMETIMES ONE SIDE GOES OUT, FLICKERS OR BOTH GO OUT. THIS OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT ON THE FREEWAY SEVERAL TIMES. I TURNED THE LIGHT SWITCH OFF AND BACK ON AND THE LIGHTS WORK AGAIN. IT IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. I HAVE CONTACTED TOYOTA AND THEY SAY THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO BUT REPLACE THE BULBS AT A BIG COST. I LOOKED ON A BLOG AND MANY ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD. WHAT CAN I DO? *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL AND THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO SHIFT INTO ANY OTHER GEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN INSPECTED BY THE DEALER AND THEY ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE SHIFTER NEEDED TO REPLACED DUE TO AN ELECTRICAL FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 109,000.

HID HEADLIGHT BULBS GO OUT AND COME BACK ON SOMETIMES BOTH AT THE SAME TIME. I AM TOLD BY MANY OTHER PRIUS OWNERS THAT THIS HAPPENS A LOT. *TR

ALMOST WEEKLY MY PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT GOES VERY DIM OR OUT COMPLETELY. I KNOW IT WHEN I TURN RIGHT AS IT IS DARK AS I ENTER A SIDE STREET UNTIL DRIVER'S HEADLIGHT ILLUMINATES AREA. BULBS ARE $ 279 AND NEW ONES DON'T CORRECT IT. I KEEP GETTING DEFECTIVE EQUIPMENT TICKETS AS WELL. THANK YOU *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE COULD ONLY BE SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL INDEPENDENTLY AND WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO DRIVE, REVERSE OR PARK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO REPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER A YEAR LATER FOR THE SAME PROBLEM, WHERE THE GEAR SHIFT ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 52,000. UPDATED 07/25/12*LJ UPDATED 7/26/12 *CN UPDATED 07/30/12 THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT GO INTO PARK OR DRIVE. THE CONSUMER STATED A PIECE OF CLEAR, FLEXIBLE PLASTIC ATTACHED TO THE LEVER BEHIND THE KNOB WITH THE R/N/D SEEMED TO STICK TO THE LEVER GUIDE. IT HAPPENED MORE WHEN IT WAS HOT, EITHER BECAUSE THE CLEAR PLASTIC BECAME MORE STICKY, OR BECAUSE IT EXPANDED A LITTLE OR BOTH. IT WOULD THEN PREVENT THE LEVER FROM RETURNING COMPLETELY TO ITS RIGHT MOST POSITION, AND THE LEVER WOULD STAY IN THE MIDDLE POSITION. THE CONSUMER STATED SHE TRIED TO SLIDE THE CLEAR PLASTIC BACK WITH HER FINGERS TOWARDS THE KNOB, SO IT WAS IN LESS CONTACT WITH THE GUIDE, IT MADE THE LEVER SLIDE MORE FREELY AND SHE HAS NOT EXPERIENCED ANY MORE PROBLEMS SINCE THEN. UPDATED 08/02/12 UPDATED 08/08/12.*JB

THE HEADLIGHTS HAVE REPEATEDLY BURNED OUT SINCE THE CAR WARRANTY EXPIRED. THE DON'T JUST SLOWLY DIM LIKE OTHER HEADLIGHTS. THEY GO COMPLETELY OUT OF A SUDDEN. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE HEADLIGHTS FIVE TIMES. *TR

SUNSHINE KIDS RADIAN XTSL CARSEAT WITH SUPERLATCH SYSTEM, PURCHASED ON MAY 11, 2011, BECOMES LOOSE AFTER SEVERAL DAYS OF NORMAL USAGE EVEN THOUGH PROPERLY INSTALLED TO START. THE SEAT WAS MANUFACTURER'S IN CHINA NOVEMBER 2010, MODEL US19500, SERIAL # 111001985 04329. THE SEAT IS INSTALLED IN A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS AND WE ARE UNABLE TO GET A SECURE INSTALLATION USING THE SEATBELT. WHEN INSTALLED USING THE SUPERLATCH SYSTEM, THE SEAT CAN BE MOVED SEVERAL INCHES IN ANY DIRECTION AFTER MY CHILD HAS CLIMBED IN AND OUT OF THE SEAT OVER THE COURSE OF A FEW DAYS. THE COMPANY HAS NOT YET RESPONDED TO MY COMPLAINTS. (RELATED VEHICLE INFORMATION: MODEL YEAR=2008, MAKE=TOYOTA, MODEL=PRIUS). *TR

HEADLAMP WENT OFF AND ON WHILE DRIVING. DRIVER'S SIDE HEADLAMP WAS REPLACED AND NOW THE PASSENGER'S SIDE IS DOING THE SAME THING ONLY A COUPLE MONTHS LATER. *TR

GREEN GLARE ON WINDSHIELD EMANATING FROM SPEEDOMETER PROJECTOR OBSCURING VISIBILITY AT NIGHT. CAR TAKEN TO TOYOTA DEALER FOR INSPECTION. OUTCOME UNKNOWN. *TR

AFTER DRIVING FOR ABOUT 500 MILES THE CAR WAS PARKED IN THE GARAGE FOR TWO DAYS. WHEN I TRIED TO START THE CAR THE 12V BATTERY WAS DEAD. I USED 3 DIFFERENT BATTERIES TO TRY TO START THE CAR. THE LIGHTS CAME ON ON THE DASH BUT THERE WAS A WARNING MESSAGE THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION AND NEEDED TO PUT THE CAR ON A LEVEL SURFACE WHICH IT ALREADY WAS, AND THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT COME OUT OF PARK AND THE MOTOR WOULD NOT START. THE CAR COULD NOT BE MOVED. WHEN A NEW BATTERY WAS INSTALLED THE CAR RESUMED WORKING FINE. IF THE DEAD BATTERY HAD HAPPENED WHEN WE WERE STOPPED ON I81 BECAUSE OF CONSTRUCTION, WE WOULD HAVE BEEN STUCK IN THE FAST LANE WITH NO WAY TO MOVE THE CAR OUT OF THE TRAVEL LANE UNTIL A TOW TRUCK ARRIVED.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING LESS THAN 20 MPH WHEN HE ATTEMPTED TO PARK THE VEHICLE AND IT UNEXPECTEDLY ACCELERATED UPON ENGAGING THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP AND CRASHED INTO A CEMENT GARAGE WALL. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE FRAME AND FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE WERE SEVERELY DAMAGED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE FROM THE SCENE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR BODY DAMAGE AND TO BE REPAIRED. THE CAUSE OF FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THERE WAS A PRIOR RECALL REPAIR PERFORMED THAT WAS RELATED TO THE DEFECT UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 09V388000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL: ACCELERATOR PEDAL). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,000. UPDATED 08/31/11*LJ UPDATED 2/9/12 *CN

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE GEAR SHIFT INTERLOCK HAD TO BE DEPRESSED IN ORDER TO UNLOCK AND SHIFT THE VEHICLE INTO ANY GEAR. IF THE BUTTON WAS NOT DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RECOGNIZE HE GEAR AND PLACE THE VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT IN ORDER TO DRIVE FORWARD OR IN REVERSE, THE BUTTON HAD TO BE ABNORMALLY HELD DOWN WHILE DRIVING UNTIL THE VEHICLE WAS SHUT OFF. IF THE BUTTON WAS NOT DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE WOULD SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL INDEPENDENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED OR REPAIRED FOR THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 94,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT STATED THE FUEL SYSTEM WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED IMMEDIATELY BEFORE THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THE OWNER'S MANUAL INDICATED THAT WHEN THE FUEL SYSTEM WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED THE VEHICLE SHOULD HAVE HAD AT LEAST 3 GALLONS OF FUEL LEFT. A TOW TRUCK APPEARED ON THE SCENE TO DELIVER MORE FUEL TO THE CONTACT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO HAVE THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED AND WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 33,000.

AFTER ONLY ABOUT 3 YEARS USE, THE RUBBER COVER ON THE HATCH RELEASE HANDLE (THE EXTERIOR HANDLE OF THE REAR HATCH) OF OUR 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS, MELTED INTO A STICKY TARRY BLACK RUBBERY GOOEY MESS. I CAN BEST DESCRIBE IT AS BEING A VISCOUS BLACK GLOB LIKE ROOFING TAR. TO OPEN THE HATCH, YOU HAVE TO TOUCH THIS BLACK GOO EACH TIME, WHICH MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO OPERATE THE HATCH RELEASE. WE BELIEVE THIS MELTING PROCESS STARTED AT ABOUT THE 2 YR. MARK. I THOUGHT THAT THIS MIGHT BE A SINGULAR ISSUE, BUT HAVE FOUND THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED TO SEVERAL CAR OWNERS, PARTICULARLY IN FLORIDA. WE LIVE IN LOUISIANA. TOYOTA KNOWS ABOUT THIS, AND IS SELLING THE ENTIRE WIRING HARNESS FOR $96 PLUS REPAIR COSTS, AND HAS DONE NOTHING ABOUT RECALLING THIS. FROM A SAFETY PERSPECTIVE, THIS MEANS YOU CAN EXPERIENCE EXTREME DIFFICULTY OPENING THE REAR HATCH (A LIFE SAFETY ACCESS POINT), AND WILL GET STICKY BLACK TAR ON YOU FROM THE MELTED DOWN RUBBER COVER OF THE EXTERIOR HATCH RELEASE HANDLE. TO ME, THIS IS BOTH A SERIOUS LIFE SAFETY ISSUE AND A SERIOUS QUALITY DEFECT THAT TOYOTA IS OPTING TO IGNORE AND ONLY FIXING ON VEHICLES WITH EXTENDED WARRANTIES, SINCE THE FAILURE APPEARS TO OCCUR AT AROUND THE 2 YEAR MARK (IE AFTER 2 YEARS OF EXPOSURE TO THE BRIGHT SUN IN LOUISIANA FOR EXAMPLE). I AM AWARE OF THE OUTSTANDING WORK DONE BY NHTSA ON OTHER SAFETY ISSUES, INCLUDING THE PROBLEM WITH RUSTY FRAMES ON 02 ISUZU AXIOMS, AND I FIND THIS PROBLEM TO BE SIMILAR IN NATURE, SO I AM ASKING FOR YOUR AGENCY TO TAKE A LOOK AT THESE INSTANCES AND ALSO TO INQUIRE FROM TOYOTA WHY THEY ARE NOT RECALLING THESE HANDLES THAT ARE MELTING IN THE SUN!!! IT'S OUTRAGEOUS. I THINK A DOOR HANDLE OR HATCH HANDLE SHOULD BE MADE TO LAST MORE THAN 2 YEARS. *TR

MY 2008 PRIUS TRUNK HANDLE HAS MELTED. IT IS NOW DIFFICULT TO OPEN, AND IS EXTREMELY MESSY. THIS STARTED IN MAY 2011, JUST OUTSIDE THE WARRANTY PERIOD OF THE CAR. *TR

I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 60 MPH ON THE INTERSTATE WHEN THE ACCELERATOR STOPPED WORKING. THE POWER SLOWLY DRAINED OUT OF THE CAR AND I BARELY MADE IT OFF THE HIGHWAY. THIS HAS NEVER HAPPENED BEFORE. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO A MECHANIC'S SHOP WHERE AFTER MUCH INVESTIGATION THEY FOUND THAT A LEAF HAD GOTTEN PAST THE AIR FILTRATION SYSTEM AND WAS BLOCKING THE INTAKE SENSOR SYSTEM. WHEN ONE SENSOR IS BLOCKED THE WHOLE CAR SHUTS DOWN! THIS WAS SCARY AND DANGEROUS. I KNOW IT IS UNLIKELY TO HAPPEN AGAIN. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PARK, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. IN ADDITION, WHILE SHIFTING INTO REVERSE, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESPOND. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN SHIFTED INTO DRIVE AND THE VEHICLE RAPIDLY ACCELERATED AND CRASHED INTO A TREE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS AWAITING A DIAGNOSIS OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS THEN CONTACTED WHO REFERRED HIM BACK TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 30,000. UPDATED 05/24/11*LJ UPDATED 05/25/11 UPDATED 06/16/11