2008 Toyota Prius Complaint Log

ONE OF OUR HEADLAMPS BEGAN TO FAIL INTERMITTENTLY WITHOUT ANY APPARENT CAUSE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON A FREQUENT BASIS (25-75% OF THE TIME) BUT COULD NOT BE CAUSED. THE DEALER RECOMMENDED WE REPLACE BOTH BULBS DUE TO THE EXPENSE OF REMOVING THE BUMPER WHICH IS REQUIRED. THE DEALER CLAIMED THAT IT IS NORMAL FOR THIS TYPE OF HID BULB TO FAIL AT THIS TIME IN THE LIFE OF THE VEHICLE. *TR

IN JANUARY 2010 I BEGAN TO SUSPECT THAT THE PASSENGER-SIDE HIGH-INTENSITY-DISCHARGE(HID) HEADLIGHT OF MY 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS WAS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT, IT SEEMED LIKE MY HEADLIGHTS WERE NOT EVENLY ILLUMINATING THE ROAD AHEAD OF ME. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS I CHECKED MY HEADLIGHTS BY TURNING ON MY VEHICLE AND HEADLIGHTS, BUT SAW BOTH HEADLIGHTS ILLUMINATED PROPERLY. IN EARLY SEPTEMBER 2010, I DISCOVERED THE PASSENGERS-SIDE HEADLIGHT STOPPED ILLUMINATING APPROXIMATELY 5 MINUTES AFTER TURNING ON THE HEADLIGHTS. AS THE WEEKS WENT ON, THE PASSENGER-SIDE HEADLIGHT STOPPED ILLUMINATING MORE QUICKLY. AFTER I DISCOVERED THE HEADLIGHT MALFUNCTION, I DID SOME ONLINE RESEARCH AND FOUND HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE EXPERIENCING THE SAME THING. I LEARNED NHTSA LOOKED INTO THE ISSUE AND DECIDED NOT TO ISSUE A SAFETY RECALL. AS A RESULT, I DECIDED TO WAIT UNTIL MY 30,000 CHECK-UP TO HAVE THE DEALER LOOK AT MY HEADLIGHT. ON OCT 21, 2010 I WAS DRIVING ON INTERSTATE 238 AT NIGHT IN THE POURING RAIN. I WAS TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH WHEN BOTH HEADLIGHTS SIMULTANEOUSLY STOPPED ILLUMINATING. UNABLE TO SEE THE ROAD AHEAD OF ME DUE TO THE LACK OF HEADLIGHTS, I COULD NOT PULL OVER. I SLOWED DOWN TO 50 MPH, TURNED OFF THE HEADLIGHTS THEN TURNED THEM BACK ON. THIS CAUSED BOTH HEADLIGHTS TO RE-ILLUMINATE. THE PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT STOPPED ILLUMINATING AFTER ABOUT 60 SECONDS. IT IS A MIRACLE I DID NOT DRIVE OFF THE ROAD AND KILL MYSELF OR SOMEONE ELSE. MY VEHICLE IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY AND TOYOTA IS REPLACING BOTH HEADLIGHTS. *TR

BOTH OF THE FRONT HEADLIGHTS ON OUR 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS WENT OUT ,SIMULTANEOUSLY, WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT. ALTHOUGH QUITE FRIGHTENING, FORTUNATELY, THE INCIDENT HAPPENED ON A WELL LIT STREET AT A SLOW SPEED AND WE WERE ABLE TO REACH OUR DESTINATION SAFELY. IF THIS HAD OCCURRED ON A CURVY ROAD, DARKER AREA, ETC. THE RESULTS MAY HAVE BEEN DEADLY. SINCE BOTH HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT, OUR ASSUMPTION WAS THAT THE ISSUE WAS ELECTRICAL OR PERHAPS A BLOWN FUSE. WE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A TOYOTA DEALERSHIP WHERE WE WERE TOLD, WITHOUT INSPECTION, THAT THIS WAS A KNOWN PROBLEM AND THAT THE HEADLIGHTS WERE DEFECTIVE. FURTHERMORE, WE WERE TOLD THAT THE PROBLEM IS NOT COVERED UNDER OUR EXTENDED WARRANTY AND WE ARE EXPECTED TO PAY FOR THE REPLACEMENT BULBS, ESTIMATED AT ~$500. IT IS EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTING THAT TOYOTA IS AWARE OF THIS ISSUE, HAS NOT NOTIFIED ITS CUSTOMERS OF THE HAZARD, AND HAS NOT RECALLED THE PART. AT THIS POINT, WE HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO REPLACE THE BULBS IMMEDIATELY AND AT OUR EXPENSE, AS WE UNDERSTAND IT IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE WITHOUT HEADLIGHTS. *TR

2008 TOYOTA PRIUS WITH 33,000 MILES EXPERIENCES INTERMITTENT HEADLIGHT FAILURE. BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT SIDE HEADLIGHTS GO OUT AT RANDOM WHILE DRIVING IN ANY CONDITIONS - HOT OR COLD, WET OR DRY, ETC. TURNING LIGHTS OFF THEN ON SOMETIMES RESOLVES PROBLEM FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. *TR

IN SEPTEMBER, 2010, I PURCHASED A 2008 PRIUS FROM POWER TOYOTA OF TEMPE, ARIZONA. WHEN I MADE THE PURCHASE, THE CAR HAD JUST OVER 55,000 MILES ON IT. SHORTLY AFTERWARD, I NOTICED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT WOULD PERIODICALLY GO OUT, AND I WOULD HAVE TO TURN THE LIGHTS OFF AND ON AGAIN IN ORDER TO HAVE IT COME BACK ON. A MONTH OR SO INTO MY OWNERSHIP, I RECEIVED A NOTICE FROM TOYOTA, CONCERNING A RECALL THAT PERFECTLY DESCRIBED THE PROBLEM I WAS HAVING. I CALLED POWER TOYOTA, GAVE THEM MY INFORMATION, AND ADVISED I WANTED TO BRING MY CAR IN FOR THE RECALL WORK. THEY MADE THE APPOINTMENT. WHEN I BROUGHT THE CAR IN, I WAS TOLD I WAS INELIGIBLE FOR THE WORK, BECAUSE MY CAR HAD MORE THAN 55K MILES ON IT, AND ALL THEY WOULD BE DOING WAS CHANGING THE BULB. THEY WANTED TO CHARGE ME OVER 300 DOLLARS FOR RECALL WORK, BECAUSE THEY WERE TOO CHEAP OR LAZY TO FIX WHAT WAS A KNOWN ISSUE BEFORE SELLING ME THE CAR. I AM WRITING TO FIND OUT WHAT RECOURSE I HAVE. I UNDERSTAND THAT TIME HAS PASSED, BUT I AM STILL EXPERIENCING THE SAME ISSUE. IF IT WERE AS SIMPLE AS THE BULB, IT CERTAINLY WOULD HAVE BURNED OUT BY NOW. I REUSE TO PAY HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS FOR SOMETHING THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO EITHER BE FIXED BEFORE I BOUGHT THE CAR, OR ONCE THE I RECEIVED THE RECALL NOTICE. THE 55,000 MILE REQUIREMENT SEEMS LIKE AN UNFAIRLY ARBITRARY LIMIT, AND I DISAGREE WITH IT. PLEASE ADVISE HOW I CAN GET THE ORIGINAL RECALL HONORED. *TR

THE DRIVER SIDE HID HEADLIGHT ON MY 2008 PRIUS BEGAN FLICKERING AT 70,000 MILES. THE FLICKER WOULD BEGIN AFTER 15 MIN OF DRIVING AND THEN HEADLIGHT WOULD GO OUT. PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT WAS FINE. I ORDERED A REPLACEMENT BULB FROM INTERNET BECAUSE REPAIR COST THROUGH DEALER WAS OVER $200. I WAS DRIVING HOME AT NIGHT LAST THURSDAY AND SUDDENLY BOTH HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT. THERE WAS NEVER ANY FLICKER WITH PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT. I WAS PLUNGED INTO COMPLETE DARKNESS DRIVING 55 MPH ON A DARK COUNTRY ROAD. IT WAS SCARY. I HAVE NEVER HAD A CAR DO THIS. DEALER SHIP ADVISES IT WILL BE NEARLY $500 TO REPAIR BOTH HEADLIGHTS WHICH I CAN NOT AFFORD. I ORDERED ANOTHER BULB THROUGH INTERNET. I WILL NOT BE ABLE TO DRIVE MY CAR AT NIGHT UNTIL BULBS ARE REPLACED. *TR

HIGH DENSITY HEADLIGHT ON PASSENGER SIDE BURNED OUT QUICKLY, AFTER ONLY 2+ YEARS OF DRIVING. DEALER GARAGE REPLACED AT NO COST - SINCE IT WAS STILL UNDER THE FULL EXTENDED WARRANTY. HIGH DENSITY HEADLIGHT ON DRIVER SIDE WENT OUT WHILE DRIVING. IT WENT BACK ON LATER THAT DAY, AND HAS BEEN INTERMITTENT SINCE, BUT MOSTLY NOT WORKING. JUST STARTED RESEARCHING REPLACEMENT BULB PRICES WHEN I FOUND OUT HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE BEEN HAVING THIS SAME ISSUE. PASSENGER SIDE TAIL LIGHT WENT OUT. WIGGLING THE BULB, SOCKET AND WIRING GOT THE LIGHT WORKING AGAIN. *TR

PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT IS NOT WORKING ON OUR 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. IT TAKES THE VERY EXPENSIVE HID BULBS. I DO NOT KNOW HOW LONG THE BULB HAS NOT BEEN WORKING AS IT WORKS FOR A MINUTE THEN GOES OUT. THE VEHICLE HAS 38000 MILES ON IT. A DEALERSHIP HAS RECOMMENDED REPLACING BOTH BULBS AT THE SAME TIME TO SAVE MONEY. *TR

WE HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT IT WILL GO OFF BY ITS SELF WITH OUT US KNOWING BUT WE COULD TURN LIGHTS OFF THEN TURN THEM BACK ON AND IT WILL STAY ON FOR AWHILE WE HAD TOYOTA REPLACE LIGHT LAST YEAR AND IT WAS FINE FOR APPROX. 6 MONTHS AND THEN STARTED DOIN SAME THING AGAIN FINALLY LAST WEEK IT WENT OUT AND WILL NOT COME ON AT ALL I KNOW OF SEVERAL OTHER PRIUS OWNERS WITH SAME PROBLEM WOULD GREATLY APPRECIATE YOUR HELP! *TR

AT RANDOM TIMES THE HID HEADLIGHTS ON MY 08 TOYOTA PRIUS WILL TURN OFF. IT HAPPENS TO BOTH LIGHTS BUT IT HAS NEVER HAPPENED TO BOTH LIGHTS AT THE SAME TIME, WHICH MAY HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. THE HEADLIGHTS WILL TURN BACK ON IF I TURN THE POWER SWITCH OFF AND THEN BACK ON. I HAVE READ ON THE INTERNET THAT THIS SAME PROBLEM IS HAPPENING WITH ALOT OF PRIUS MODELS. *TR

RIGHT HEADLIGHT ON 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS GO OUT AND TO GET IT BACK ON, THE LIGHTS MUST BE TURNED OFF AND THEN ON. THIS MAY HAPPEN SEVERAL TIMES DURING A DRIVE. *TR

WE HAVE A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS PURCHASED IN OCTOBER 2007 AND HAVE HAD INTERMITTENT PROBLEMS WITH THE HEADLIGHTS GOING OFF DURING OPERATION. WE HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM FOR THE PAST 6 MONTHS. WHEN CONTACTING TOYOTA THEY HAVE NOT HELPED AT ALL SAYING THAT THEY EXTENDED THE WARRANTY TO 50,000 MILES FOR THIS AND WE ARE OVER THAT MILEAGE MILE STONE WHICH IS VERY CONVENIENT FOR TOYOTA. THE COST TO PUT IN TWO NEW HEADLIGHTS IS OVER $600 WHICH I CANT AFFORD. WITH ALL THE COMPLAINTS I'M READING ABOUT ITS AMAZING THAT A RECALL IS NOT IN AFFECT OR THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION ISN'T ORDERING A RECALL. *TR

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 LOUISIANA. WE ALSO 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 3 YEAR MARK (IE AFTER 3 YEARS OF EXPOSURE TO THE BRIGHT SUN). I AM AWARE OF THE OUTSTANDING WORK DONE BY NHTSA ON OTHER SAFETY ISSUES 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 3 YEARS. PLEASE REVIEW THESE FORUM COMMENTS OF OTHER INCIDENTS: HTTP://PRIUSCHAT.COM/FORUMS/GEN-II-PRIUS-CARE-MAINTENANCE-TROUBLESHOOTING/71647-2007-PRIUS-TRUNK-HATCH-RELEASE-RUBBER-PIECE-MELTED-5.HTML THANK YOU FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE. *TR

2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. LEFT HEADLIGHT GOES OUT, TURN OFF THEN ON LITE COMES ON FOR A FEW MINUTES. NOW RIGHT HEADLIGHT IS GOING OUT, WITH BOTH LIGHTS GOING OFF @ NIGHT I HAVE A SERIOUS SAFETY PROBLEM. THESE ARE THE HID HEADLIGHTS WHICH ARE VERY EXPENSIVE TO REPLACE,($300 TO $500). CHECKING ON LINE IT SEEMS THAT THIS IS BECOMING A MAJOR SAFETY PROBLEM.. *TR

2008 PRIUS DRIVER SIDE HEADLIGHT DOES NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY. BULB HAS BEEN REPLACED BUT THE LIGHT STILL WORKS ONLY INTERMITTENTLY. *TR

PRIUS STARTS WHEN THE POWER BUTTON IS PUSHED. THERE IS NO DASHBOARD LIGHTS AND SINCE THE DASH BOARD IS DIGITAL THERE IS NO WAY TO TELL WHAT GEAR THE CAR IS IN OR WHAT SPEED YOU ARE TRAVELING. CAR DRIVES WITHOUT AN OPERATIONAL DASHBOARD WHICH THE DEALER DOES NOT RECOMMEND. CAR IS UNDER 2000 MILE WARRANTY. DEALER UNWILLING TO REPAIR COMBINATION METER WHICH IS THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM BECAUSE THEY COULD NOT REPLICATE THE PROBLEM WHILE AT THE DEALERSHIP. PROBLEM IS WELL DOCUMENTED ON PRIUS CHAT. COST $1600. *TR

THE HEADLIGHTS ON OUR 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS TURNED OFF SUDDENLY WHILE WE ARE DRIVING AFTER DARK ON THE HIGHWAY DOING 55 MPH. THE HEADLIGHTS WOULD NOT COME BACK ON. WE HAD TO TURN ON OUR FOG LIGHT TO GET HOME THIS IS DANGEROUS DURING NIGHT TIME DRIVING. ACCORDING TO THE INTERNET, THIS HEADLIGHT FAILURE PROBLEM HAS BEEN REPORTED MANY TIMES TO YOUR AGENCY. *TR

DURING NORMAL DRIVING, DRIVER'S SIDE (HID) HEADLIGHT BEGIN FAILING AFTER A FEW MINUTES EVERY TIME THE LIGHTS WERE TURNED ON. AFTER A FEW DAYS, BOTH HEADLIGHTS BEGAN TO FAIL AFTER INITIALLY TURNING ON. TURNING THE LIGHTS OFF AND BACK ON RETURNS THEM TO OPERATION, BUT AFTER A FEW MINUTES THEY FAIL AGAIN. *TR

I PURCHASED A NEW 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS IN FEB. 2008. IT HAS THE XENON HIGH-INTENSITY DISCHARGE (HID) HEADLIGHTS. IN OCT. 2009, THE DRIVERS SIDE HEADLIGHT WENT OUT AND I TOOK IT TO MY DEALER WHO REPLACED THE BULB AND COMPUTER SUB-ASSY ALL UNDER WARRANTY. DEALER SAID GOOD THING UNDER WARRANTY AS BULB ALONE COST $300 (I WAS SHOCKED). DEALER SAID BULB SHOULD NOT HAVE GONE OUT THAT QUICK (I HAVE NEVER HAD A VEHICLE HAVE A BULB GO OUT THAT QUICK. MY MOM HAS A TAHOE THAT IS 10 YRS OLD, LEAVES LIGHTS ON ALL THE TIME WHEN DRIVING AND HAS NEVER HAD TO REPLACE THE BULB). THEY REPLACED COMPUTER SUB-ASSY AS WELL TO BE SAFE. WEEKEND OF SEPT 17, 2010, PASSENGER LIGHT STARTED FLICKERING AND WOULD BE OUT SOMETIMES AND SOMETIMES NOT. I TOOK TO DEALER ON 9/27/10 AND HAD TO HAVE THAT BULB REPLACED. CAR WAS OUT OF WARRANTY BY 7,000 MILES SO IT COST ME $216. THANKFULLY THE PRICE OF THE BULBS HAD DROPPED FROM $300 TO $150, THOUGH COST STILL RIDICULOUS. DEALER DID NOT REPLACE COMPUTER PART THIS TIME AS THEY DID IN OCT. 2009. I GOT ON WEB AND NOTICED OTHERS HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM. HEADLIGHT BULBS GOING OUT IN SUCH A SHORT TIME. I CALLED TOYOTA, AND OF COURSE WAS TOLD NOTHING THEY COULD DUE SINCE CAR OUT OF WARRANTY. SAID TO HOLD ONTO PAPERWORK IN CASE THERE WAS A RECALL. DECIDED TO FILE COMPLAINT IN HOPES GOV'T WILL LOOK INTO THIS ISSUE THAT IS A PROBLEM WITH A SIZABLE NUMBER OF PRIUS OWNERS. *TR

I HAD A BLOWOUT ON I-75 IN LEXINGTON KY. WENT TO WALMART TO GET TIRES. WHEN I GOT TO CHARLOTTE NC I WENT TO THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP TO HAVE MY REMAINING BACK TWO TIRES CHECKED. HE SAID THEY WERE DEFECTIVE. THE TIRES WERE ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT ON MY 2008 PRIUS. THE TIRE INFORMATION IS 15" P185/65R15. *TR

THE HID HEADLIGHTS ON MY 2008 PRIUS HAVE BEGUN TO FAIL. EITHER ONE MAY NOT TURN ON, OR THEY MAY TURN OFF INDIVIDUALLY BY THEMSELVES. *TR

I HAVE A 2008 PRIUS AND HAVE HAD TO REPLACE BOTH THE LEFT AND RIGHT HID LAMPS. APPROXIMATE COST IS $150 PER REPLACEMENT. I FEEL THAT THE HID FAILURE IS A HAZARD, BOTH OF THE HID LIGHTS CAME ON AND WENT OUT PERIODICALLY OVER TIME BEFORE EVENTUALLY FAILING, FINALLY. THE HIDS SHOULD LAST LONGER THAN 2 YEARS AND INTERMITTENT OUTAGES SHOULD NOT BE A PART OF A CRITICAL NIGHT TIME OPERATING SYSTEM. *TR

HID HEADLAMP REPLACEMENT FOR THE TOYOTA PRIUS. AFTER 21,000 THE LEFT BULB STARTED TO FLICKER AND THEN GOES OUT. CAN BE RESTARTED BY TURNING SWITCH OFF AND THEN ON AGAIN. HEADLIGHTS GO OUT WITH NO NOTICE. COULD BE VERY DANGEROUS DRIVING AT NIGHT ON A DARK ROAD. DEALER WANTS ANYWHERE FROM $350 TO $1000 TO CHANGE THE LAMPS. SAY THE FRONT BUMPER NEEDS TO BE REMOVED. OWNERS MANUAL HAS INSTRUCTIONS BUT TO ME NOT TOTALLY ACCURATE. FOLLOWING THE INSTRUCTIONS STILL DOES NOT FIX THE ACCESS PROBLEM. BULBS APPARENTLY ARE ONLY AVAILABLE FROM THE TOYOTA DEALER. PRICE STATS AT $175. BESIDES THE PRICE OF THE BULB AND THE UNNECESSARY LABOR THIS IS A VERY UNSAFE SITUATION ON THE ROAD SHOULD THEY GO OUT ALL OF A SUDDEN. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH AT NIGHT, BOTH HEADLIGHTS FLICKERED ON AND OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO STATED THAT THEY OFFER NO ASSISTANCE IF THE DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15,000.

THE MATERIAL IN THE TRUNK DOOR HANDLE IS DISSOLVING AND OR DISINTEGRATING. AT TIMES THIS APPEARS TO BE THE CAUSE OF A DELAY IN OPENING THE TRUNK. MY CONCERN IS THAT IN THE CASE OF AN EMERGENCY A DELAY IN REACHING ITEMS NEEDED TO DEAL WITH A ROADSIDE EMERGENCY THAT ARE STORED IN THE TRUNK MAY OCCUR. I HAD MENTIONED THIS DEFECT TO TOYOTA DEALERS IN PRIOR YEARS AND MY COMPLAINT WAS IN MY OPINION RELEGATED TO THE "UNIMPORTANT BUCKET". I RECENTLY RESEARCHED THE DEFECT ON THE INTERNET AND OBSERVED WHAT I WAS EXPERIENCING HAS BEEN PREVIOUSLY DOCUMENTED IN OTHER COMPLAINTS. IN A RECENT VISIT TO A TOYOTA SERVICE CENTER FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE I AGAIN PRESENTED WHAT WAS HAPPENING AND THE DOCUMENTATION I OBSERVED ON THE INTERNET AND WAS TOLD THE VEHICLE REPAIR WAS OUT OF THE WARRANTY PERIOD AND THERE WOULD BE A CHARGE IF I WANTED THE REPAIR. THE CHARGE IMO WAS EXCESSIVE FOR SOMETHING THAT IMO WAS A BUILT IN DEFECT AND DESERVES A RECALL. *TR

2008 TOYOTA PRIUS HIGH INTENSITY DISCHARGE (HID) LIGHT FLICKERS AND IS ON INTERMITTENTLY. YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN IT GOES OUT. A CALL TO THE LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER INDICATES MINIMUM OF $500 TO REPLACE 2 HEADLIGHT BULBS. *TR

2008 PRIUS PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT IS INTERMITTENT AND FOR NO APPARENT REASON GOES OFF FOR EXTENDED PERIODS AND THEN COMES BACK ON. I HAVE BEEN STOPPED AND WARNED BY THE POLICE REGARDING THIS ISSUE BUT WHEN I TRY TO CHECK IT OUT IT SEEMS TO WORK FINE. I HAVE TAPPED THE LIGHT AND WIGGLED THE WIRES BUT TO NO EFFECT. THE INTERNET IS FULL OF SIMILAR COMPLAINTS WHICH NEED TO BE REVIEWED AND RESOLVED BY THE MANUFACTURER. *TR

I OWN A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS AND HAVE EXPERIENCED BRAKING PROBLEMS SINCE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. ANY TIME I GO OVER A BUMP/POTHOLE, WHILE TURNING, RESULTS IN A FLOATING SENSATION, SURGE FORWARD, AND MOMENTARY LOSS OF STEERING. I ALMOST HAD AN ACCIDENT 2 WEEKS AGO AT AN INTERSECTION WHEN THIS OCCURRED. SERVICED MY VEHICLE YESTERDAY AND THEY CLAIM THE SKID CONTROL SYSTEM IS WORKING AS IT WAS DESIGNED. THERE IS DEFINITELY A FATAL FLAW IN THIS SYSTEM AND LIKELY A CHIP ISSUE. TOYOTA IS NOT DOING ANYTHING. *TR

AT ABOUT 2 YEARS OLD THE HANDLE TO THE BACK HATCH RELEASE MELTED INTO A TARRY GOO. *TR

DRIVER'S SIDE HEADLIGHT GOES ON/OFF INTERMITTENTLY. EVERY TIME I TAKE IT IN TO GET LOOKED AT OR REPLACED, IT WORKS. WILL GO OUT AFTER DRIVING A FEW MILES, BUT WILL TURN BACK ON WHEN I TURN OFF/ON HEADLIGHTS. THEN IT WILL DIM AND GO OUT AGAIN AFTER A FEW MILES. I NEVER GOT A RECALL NOTICE IN THE MAIL FROM TOYOTA FOR THIS, BUT WHEN I TOOK MY CAR TO THE DEALER TO GET THE ACCELERATOR RECALL FIXED, THEY TOLD ME THAT TOYOTA WOULD COVER IF I HAD LESS THAN 50,000 MILES. I HAVE BEEN DEALING WITH THIS OFF AND ON ISSUE FOR A LONG TIME BECAUSE THE LIGHT WORKS PART OF THE TIME AND I ONLY KNOW THAT IT IS OUT WHEN SOMEONE TELLS ME THEY SAW ME IN TOWN WITH A HEADLIGHT OUT. TOYOTA QUOTED ME $150 FOR THE BULB AND ADDITIONAL $105 FOR LABOR TO INSTALL BECAUSE I AM OVER THE 50,000 MILES. THIS SHOULD BE A WARRANTY COVERED BY TOYOTA AS IT IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THESE CARS. TOYOTA SHOULD HAVE NOTIFIED OWNERS OF THIS POTENTIAL PROBLEM. *TR

2008 PRIUS WITH HID HEADLIGHTS. DRIVER SIDE HEADLIGHT GOES OUT AFTER 1-3 MINUTES. TURNING OFF HEADLIGHT SWITCH AND TURNING BACK ON RESTORES HEADLIGHT FOR ANOTHER 1-3 MINUTES. *TR

I OWN A 2008 PRIUS. I HAVE COMPLAINED TWICE TO MY TOYOTA DEALERSHIP THAT AT TIMES, WHEN BRAKING ON A BUMPY ROAD IT FEELS AS IF MY BRAKES MOMENTARILY RELEASE. SOME TIMES IT WILL TAKE YOUR BREATH AWAY. I WILL NOT ALLOW MY DAUGHTERS TO DRIVE THIS CAR BECAUSE OF THE UNCOMFORTABLE SENSATION. I KNOW THE CAR WILL STOP (IT ALWAYS HAS) BUT FOR A SPLIT SECOND IT IS FRIGHTENING. BOTH TIMES I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY MY TOYOTA DEALER THAT IT IS THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE FEATURE KICKING IN. ONCE THEY TEST DROVE IT FOR ABOUT 15 MINUTES AND SAID THERE WAS NO PROBLEM. I DRIVE IT DAILY AND I MAY ONLY EXPERIENCE IT TWICE A WEEK. 15 MINUTES WILL NOT TELL THEM ANYTHING. *TR

THE HEADLIGHTS ON MY 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS JUST GO OUT RANDOMLY. SOMETIMES IT IS JUST THE DRIVER SIDE OR THE PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT, BUT AT TIMES IT HAS BEEN BOTH. I HAVE TO TURN THE HEADLIGHTS OFF AND THEN BACK ON TO GET THEM TO WORK. BUT THIS ISN'T A PERMANENT SOLUTION BECAUSE IT WILL HAPPEN AGAIN THE NEXT TIME I START THE CAR. IT HAS EVEN HAPPENED 2+ TIMES ON THE SAME TRIP. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD BECAUSE I GENERALLY DON'T KNOW WHEN ONE OR THE OTHER LIGHT HAS TURNED OFF UNLESS I HAPPEN TO SEE IT IN THE BACK BUMPER OF THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. AND IT WOULD DEFINITELY BE A HAZARD IF BOTH LIGHTS GO OUT AND THE ON/OFF TRICK DOESN'T GET THEM WORKING AGAIN. THE CAR IS ALMOST 3 YRS OLD AND HAS 45000 MILES. TOYOTA SERVICE DEPARTMENT CLAIMED TO HAVE NOT HEARD OF ANY ISSUES WITH THE LIGHTS AND I WAS TOLD THEY COULD NOT SEE ANYTHING WRONG AND COULD NOT REPLICATE THE PROBLEM WHILE THEY HAD MY CAR. *TR

THIS CAR IS FAIRLY NEW AND HAS HID HEADLIGHTS. LAST WEEK THE RIGHT HEADLIGHT WENT OUT. BY TURNING THE LIGHTS OFF AND ON, I WAS ABLE TO GET IT TO COME ON. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID THEY CHECKED IT OUT THOROUGHLY AND COULD FIND NO PROBLEM. YESTERDAY, THE RIGHT HEADLIGHT WAS AGAIN OUT, AND TURNING IT OFF AND ON GOT IT TO LIGHT UP, BUT DIMMER THAN THE LEFT. I BELIEVE THERE IS A SAFETY DEFECT IN THESE HID HEADLIGHTS THAT TOYOTA IS NOT RECOGNIZING. *TR

2008 TOYOTA PRIUS HEADLAMP ON THE PASSENGER SIDE FAILS INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT. SOMETIMES TURNING THE LIGHTS OFF AND BACK ON SOLVES THE PROBLEM ALTHOUGH THIS IS NOT GOOD TO DO AT NIGHT. THIS SEEMS LIKE A SAFETY ISSUE THAT TOYOTA SHOULD HAVE A RECALL ON, BUT TOYOTA DOES NOT. THEY RECOMMEND A $300 REPLACEMENT OF BOTH BULBS. I AM WORRIED THAT IF BOTH BULBS FAIL THERE WILL BE A WRECK. IT SEEMS LIKE THERE ARE MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM ONLINE THAT TOYOTA DOES NOT ADMIT HAVING A PROBLEM WITH. *TR

CAR WILL NOT STAY IN DRIVE AFTER IT HAS BEEN IDLING, IN PARK, ON A HOT DAY. WHEN GETTING BACK IN CAR AND PUTTING THE CAR IN DRIVE, IT SLIPS BACK TO NEUTRAL AFTER ACCELERATOR PEDAL IS PRESSED. CAR GOES A FEW FEET THEN SLIPS BACK TO NEUTRAL. AFTER PUTTING IT BACK INTO DRIVE AND PRESSING THE PEDAL AGAIN, IT SLIPS BACK TO NEUTRAL. THE ONLY SOLUTION IS TO SHUT THE CAR OFF COMPLETELY AND RESTART AFTER 15-20 MINUTES. THIS HAS TWICE LEFT ME NOSED OUT INTO A BUSY STREET. I FIRST TRIED TO RESOLVE THIS ISSUE WITH MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP, TOYOTA, ON 9/17/10 . THEY CLAIMED THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM AND SAID THEY HAD NEVER HEARD OF IT EVEN THOUGH I BROUGHT THEM SEVERAL INTERNET ACCOUNTS OF OTHERS WHO REPORTED THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM. THIS YEAR, WHEN THE PROBLEM STARTED AGAIN WITH THE HOT WEATHER, I REPORTED IT TO TOYOTA USA (CASE # ). THEY ALSO SAID THEY'VE NEVER HEARD OF THE PROBLEM BEFORE AND INSISTED THAT I MUST HAVE THE PROBLEM DUPLICATED AT THE DEALERSHIP. SO, I RETURNED TO MY DEALERSHIP BUT THIS TIME WITH A DVD COPY OF THE PROBLEM THAT I HAD TAKEN WITH MY MOVIE CAMERA. THIS DVD SHOWS THE ISSUE PERFECTLY. THEY RESPONDED THAT A TOYOTA TECH HAS FOUND AN "UPGRADE" THAT THEY CAN PROVIDE ME FOR $240 LABOR. THEY COMMENTED THAT MY CAR HAD 52,000 MILES ON IT WHEN THE PROBLEM FIRST STARTED SO THEY'RE BEING REALLY NICE IN PROVIDING THE PART "UPGRADE". IT'S ALMOST AS IF THEY'RE SAYING THAT AT 52,000 MILES I SHOULDN'T EXPECT THE TRANSMISSION TO STAY IN GEAR!?!? I TOLD THEM THAT THE POWER-TRAIN IS WARRENTED FOR 100,000 MILES AND IF THIS ISN'T A POWER-TRAIN ISSUE I DON'T KNOW WHAT IS. FUTHERMORE, THEY MAY REGARD IT AS AN "UPGRADE" BUT I REGARD IT AS A SAFETY DEFECT THAT SHOULD BE REPLACED BY TOYOTA AT NO CHARGE. I HAVE A COPY OF THE DVD, CLEARLY SHOWING THE ISSUE, THAT I WOULD BE HAPPY TO PROVIDE TO YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) *TT

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH INTO A PARKING SPACE. THE CONTACT ENGAGED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE ENGINE REVVED EXTREMELY HIGH WITH AN INCREASE IN THE ACCELERATION. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP AND TRAVELED OVER A CEMENT PARKING BLOCK. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE AND CRASHED INTO A BRICK WALL. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY WITH THE IMPACT INVOLVED. THERE WAS NO PERSONAL INJURY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED OF THE INCIDENT. THE ESTIMATED COST FOR THE BRICK WALL DAMAGES WAS $2,500. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 09V388000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL: ACCELERATOR PEDAL) IN JUNE OF 2010. THE CONTACT STATED THE REMEDY DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A COLLISION CENTER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 30,000.

STARTED DRIVING 2008 PRIUS HOME AND THE DRIVERS SIDE HEADLIGHT WENT OUT THEN BOTH LIGHTS. TURNED THEM OFF AND THEN ON AGAIN AND THEY WORKED FOR A FEW MINUTES OFF AGAIN. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 3 MPH AND ATTEMPTING A TURN INTO A PARKING SPACE, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WENT STRAIGHT TO THE FLOOR AND HE ATTEMPTED TO APPLY EXTREME PRESSURE TO THE BRAKES BUT TO NO AVAIL. THE VEHICLE WENT OVER A CURB AND A SIDEWALK. THE VEHICLE CAME TO A STOP AS THE REAR TIRES CRASHED INTO A CONCRETE WHEEL STOPPER. THE CONTACT WAS NOT INJURED. THE DEALER WAS INFORMED OF THE FAILURE AND WOULD NOT PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 30,080. UPDATED 01/12/11*LJ UPDATED 02/23/11

I HAVE A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS AND THE HID HEADLIGHTS GO OUT AFTER BEING TURNED ON FOR ABOUT 20 MINUTES. I CAN TURN THE HEADLIGHTS OFF AND BACK ON AN THE HEADLIGHTS WILL WORK FOR ANOTHER 20 MINUTES UNTIL ONE WILL GO OUT AGAIN. I DO NOT LEAVE THE LIGHTS ON ALL OF THE TIME WHILE DRIVING. THE REPLACEMENT BULBS ARE $150 AT TOYOTA AND THEY SAY IT IS NOT COVERED BY THE EXTENDED WARRANTY. I DO NOT THINK THE BULBS SHOULD STOP WORKING SO SOON. *TR

THE HEADLIGHT OR HEADLIGHTS GO OUT INTERMITTENTLY ON MY 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS HYBRID. *TR

WHEN I PUT MY 2008 PRIUS INTO THE PARK MODE ALONG WITH THE BRAKE BUT STILL HAVING THE CAR RUNNING, I WILL OPEN THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR TO GET MY MAIL. WHEN I THEN CLOSE THE DOOR AND TRY AND PUT THE CAR INTO DRIVE, IT WILL AUTOMATICALLY SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL. NUMEROUS TRIES TO GET THE CAR INTO THE DRIVE MODE WILL FAIL. I THEN COAST MY CAR DOWN THE HILL INTO MY DRIVEWAY. I HAVE TRIED SHUTTING OFF THE CAR AND STARTING FROM SCRATCH BUT IT WILL SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL. THIS HAS HAPPENED INTERMITTENTLY OVER THE LAST MONTH. I TOOK IT TO MY LOCAL DEALER AND THEY COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG. IT OCCURRED AFTER THEY SAID THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG SO I WILL BE TAKING IT BACK IN. THE CONSEQUENCES ARE THAT I AM ON A ROAD AND CAN'T GET MY CAR TO DRIVE. ONE OTHER ISSUE THAT OCCURRED DURING THIS TIME IS THAT I WAS DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 50MPH AND ALL OF A SUDDEN MY CAR SHIFTED INTO THE B MODE. I WAS ABLE TO SHIFT OUT OF IT BUT MY CONCERN IS THAT THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG. *TR

I HAVE JUST HAD MY LEFT FRONT HEADLAMP GO OUT ON MY 2008 PRIUS. THERE IS 46,000 MILES ON MY CAR AND THE COST OF REPLACING ONE HEADLAMP WAS $254 WITH LABOR CHARGE THROUGH THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I BOUGHT IT. THIS IS LUDICROUS. I CAN REPLACE A NORMAL HEADLAMP MYSELF FOR ABOUT $15. ACCORDING TO JD POWER, THE EXPECTED LIFESPAN OF AN HID BULB IS "3,000 HOURS (ABOUT 90,000 MILES FOR THE AVERAGE DRIVER.)" I DON'T SEE HOW OR WHY THE BULB SHOULD COST SO MUCH TO REPLACE AND WHY TOYOTA DOES NOT COVER THE BULBS FOR LONGER. I PURCHASED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY, ONLY TO FIND OUT THAT THE EXTENSIONS ARE NOT COVERED BY TOYOTA BUT BY THE INDIVIDUAL DEALERSHIP. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT HEARD A SQUEAKING NOISE WHEN HE APPLIED PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL, WHETHER DRIVING THE VEHICLE OR WHILE IT WAS STOPPED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS TOLD THAT THE FAILURE WAS COMMON BUT IT WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 30,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 60,743.

ON 7/26/10 I PURCHASED 2008 CERTIFIED TOYOTA PRIUS. I DIDN'T RECEIVE CAR UNTIL 7/28/10. I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO DEALERSHIP ON 7/29/10 BECAUSE THE INSIDE CABIN SMELLS LIKE GAS AFTER THE CAR IS TURNED ON FOR ABOUT 5 MINUTES. DEALERSHIP CONFIRMED THAT IT DID SMELL LIKE GAS AND IT WAS DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. CURRENTLY TOYOTA IS LOOKING AT CAUSE OF PROBLEM. I FEAR THIS CAR MIGHT BE A DANGEROUS COMBINATION OF HIGH POWER VOLTAGE AND GAS FUMES. VEHICLE WAS NOT PROPERLY INSPECTED AND SOLD IN A DANGEROUS CONDITION. *TR

ON 7/26/10 I PURCHASED 2008 CERTIFIED TOYOTA PRIUS. I DIDN'T RECEIVE CAR UNTIL 7/28/10. I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO DEALERSHIP ON 7/29/10 BECAUSE THE INSIDE CABIN SMELLS LIKE GAS AFTER THE CAR IS TURNED ON FOR ABOUT 5 MINUTES. DEALERSHIP CONFIRMED THAT IT DID SMELL LIKE GAS AND IT WAS DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. CURRENTLY TOYOTA IS LOOKING AT CAUSE OF PROBLEM. I FEAR THIS CAR MIGHT BE A DANGEROUS COMBINATION OF HIGH POWER VOLTAGE AND GAS FUMES. VEHICLE WAS NOT PROPERLY INSPECTED AND SOLD IN A DANGEROUS CONDITION. DEALERSHIP I PURCHASED FROM IS LONGO TOYOTA LOCATED IN EL MONTE, CA. *TR

DRIVING TO WORK AGAIN IN THE EARLY A.M., MY DRIVER'S SIDE HEADLIGHT WENT OUT AGAIN, BUT DIDN'T KNOW IT UNTIL I WAS STOPPED BY POLICE. AFTER THE OFFICER TOLD ME ONE OF MY HEADLIGHTS WAS OUT, I TURNED THEM OFF, THEN BACK ON AND THE OFFICER TOLD ME THAT BOTH LIGHTS CAME BACK ON. HE ALSO TOLD ME THAT THEY HAVE HAD TO STOP NUMEROUS PRIUS VEHICLES WITH THIS PROBLEM, WHICH SUPPORTS MY CONTENTION THAT THIS IS A SERIOUS ISSUE THAT NHTSA OR TOYOTA NEEDS TO ADDRESS AND HAVE FIXED W/O HAVING THE CONSUMER PAY FOR IT, OR BE HURT IF THIS CAUSES AN ACCIDENT. I HAVE FILED SEVERAL SAFETY COMPLAINTS NOW WITH THE NHTSA AND HAVE NEVER GOTTEN A RESPONSE. I WOULD APPRECIATE KNOWING IF THESE REPORTS ARE BEING EVALUATED OR SIMPLY IGNORED, BUT PLEASE DO YOUR JOB AND ADDRESS THIS SITUATION BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT. *TR

I WAS SITTING WITH THE CAR ON AND IN PARK AT SONIC DRIVE IN WHEN IT LUNGED FORWARD 3-4 FEET BEFORE I COULD HIT THE BRAKES. THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP AFTER WORK. AFTER CHECKING ON THE COMPUTER AND TEST RIDING IT THEY COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG OR DUPLICATE THE SUDDEN ACCELERATION. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE SHIFTED INTO REVERSE GEAR AND THE VEHICLE MOVED FORWARD. HE WAS ABLE TO APPLY THE BRAKES IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED APPROXIMATELY TEN TIMES BUT HE DID NOT TAKE THE VEHICLE TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. HE STATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED IN A PARKING LOT WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED AND CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. NO DAMAGE WAS DONE TO EITHER VEHICLE. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED A KNEE INJURY. HE CALLED THE DEALER AND THEY REFERRED HIM TO THE MANUFACTURER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CALLED BUT THEY HAVE NOT RETURNED HIS CALL. THE FAILURE HAD BEEN ON GOING FOR SIX MONTHS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 19,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 22,300. UPDATED 10/05/10 *BF UPDATED 10/07/10

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS SUDDENLY SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING, WITHIN A FEW SECONDS, THE CONTACT ACTIVATED THE HEADLIGHTS SWITCH AND THEY BEGAN TO FUNCTION NORMALLY. THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED AND THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WAS 56000.