2008 Toyota Prius Complaint Log

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING AT 2 MPH THE VEHICLE ABNORMALLY ACCELERATED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 17,000. UPDATED 10/01/10*LJ WHILE SLOWLY MOVING INTO A PARKING SPACE, WITH HER FOOT ON THE BRAKE, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY LUNGED FORWARD LANDING ON A PARKING LOT DIVIDER. THE CONSUMER SUFFERED WHIPLASH. UPDATED 10/10/05

THE HID HEADLAMPS ON THE 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS KEEP TURNING OFF WHILE I'M DRIVING. SOMETIMES THE LEFT ONE, SOMETIMES THE RIGHT ONE, AND SOMETIMES BOTH. I HAVE TO TURN THE HEADLAMP SWITCH OFF AND THEM BACK ON AGAIN TO GET THEM THE WORK. SOMETIMES SEVERAL TIMES DURING A 15 MIN. TRIP. MY CAR IS ONLY 2 YEARS OLD WITH 47,000 MILES. I HAVE NEVER HAD HEADLAMP FAIL WITHIN 2 YEARS. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS. THESE LAMPS ARE SUPPOSE TO LAST TWICE AS LONG A REGULAR BULBS AND THEY APPEAR TO LAST HALF AS LONG. THEY SEEM TO BE OVER-POWERED. GOT A LETTER FROM TOYOTA THAT SAID THEY WOULD DO ME A FAVOR AND REDUCE THE COST OF A NEW BULB FROM $300 TO $150 (PLUS LABOR). THE LETTER ALSO SAID "TRY NOT TO USE THE HEADLAMPS". NOW THAT IS THE WAY TO SOLVE A PROBLEM. "IF THE HEADLAMPS TURN OFF WHEN YOU USE THEM, DON'T USE THEM AND THEY WON'T TURN OFF!" BRILLIANT!!!??? *TR

JULY 16TH OUR SON WAS DRIVING HIS 2008 PRIUS WHEN THE BRAKES FAILED AND THERE WAS ACCELERATION WITH THE CAR. HE REARENDED AN SUV AT A STOP LIGHT. WE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP WHERE WE PURCHASED THE CAR. THEY WERE GOING TO CHECK IT OUT, BUT DUE TO THE FACT OF AN ACCIDENT, THEY HAD OUR SON CALL TOYOTA TO GIVE THEM A REPORT OF WHAT HAPPENED. TOYOTA SAID THEY WOULD SEND A REP. TO EXAMINE THE CAR, WHICH THEY WOULD NOT BE THERE FOR 2 WEEKS. WE WAITED AND THEY FINALLY ARRIVED AROUND AUGUST 4TH OR 5TH. THE DEALERSHIP CALLED AND SAID WE COULD COME AND GET THE CAR, WHICH I WAS CONCERNED NOT KNOWING IF THERE WAS DEFECT OR NOT. THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP TOLD US TOYOTA TAKES ALL RESPONSIBILITY OUT OF THEIR HANDS. I FELT THAT WAS RIDICULOUS SINCE THEY SELL TOYOTA VEHICLES. ON AUGUST 12TH OUR SON CALLED TOYOTA AND THEY SAID THAT THERE WOULD BE A LETTER COMING IN ABOUT 35 DAYS. WE ARE STILL WAITING AND FEEL THE DEALERSHIP AND TOYOTA HAS DONE NOTHING BUT PASS THE BUCK. WE ALSO PURCHASED ANOTHER PRIUS AT THE SAME TIME. BY THE WAY THEY BOTH TOLD MY SON IN THE BEGINNING THAT THERE HAD BEEN A RECALL. AFTER EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENED OUR SON REALIZED THAT THERE WERE SEVERAL OTHER INCIDENTS THAT TOOK PLACE WITH THE CAR AND THOUGHT IT WAS HIM, UNTIL THIS ACCIDENT HAPPENED. WE FEEL THAT THERE IS ALSO AN ELECTRICAL ISSUE WITH THIS CAR BECAUSE THERE HAS 2 NEW BATTERIES INSTALLED IN THE CAR SINCE PURCHASED IN 2008. WE JUST WANT ANSWERS!!!!! THERE WAS $1800 DOLLARS DAMAGE SUSTAINED WITH THIS ACCIDENT. IT SEEMS TO ME THAT NO ONE HERE WANTS TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY WITH SOME ANSWERS. *TR

(TRANSMISSION PROBLEM) IN A HOT SUMMER DAY WHERE TEMPERATURE WAS ABOVE 98 DEGREES, WHILE IN DRIVE, THE GEAR WILL NOT STAY IN DRIVE AND SWITCHED TO NEUTRAL. IT HAPPENED WHILE I WAS GOING THRU AN INTERSECTION, IT COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT DUE TO THIS UNEXPECTED CHANGE FROM DRIVE TO NEUTRAL EVEN THOUGH I HAD MY FOOT ON THE ACCELERATOR. SINCE THAT FIRST INCIDENT, IT HAPPENED INFREQUENTLY, BUT SEVERAL TIMES DURING THE LAST TWO YEARS AND ONLY DURING THE HOT SUMMER MONTHS. WHEN IT DOES HAPPEN, IT WOULD NOT STAY IN DRIVE, REVERSE OR GO INTO PARK, IT JUST DEFAULT TO NEUTRAL. THE ONLY WAY TO KEEP IT RUNNING IS BY MANUALLY HOLDING THE GEAR HANDLE TO DRIVE OR REVERSE. THIS CAN BE A DANGEROUS CONDITION IF IT HAPPENS IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION WITHOUT UNDERSTANDING HOW TO KEEP IT IN DRIVE MANUALLY. I HAVE MENTIONED THIS TO TOYOTA DEALER AND THEIR ANSWER WAS THAT THEY HAVE NO OTHER COMPLAINTS. I THINK AN INVESTIGATION SHOULD BE INITIATED ON THIS DEFECT TO AVOID POTENTIAL LOSS OF LIFE. THERE IS A FORUM ON THE INTERNET WITH OTHER DRIVERS RELATING THEIR SIMILAR EXPERIENCES: HTTP://WWW.TOYOTANATION.COM/FORUM/ARCHIVE/INDEX.PHP/T-343977.HTML

MY 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS TOURING EDITION HAS HAD A CONSISTENT PROBLEM WITH THE SKID LIGHT GOING ON UNDER THE MOST INNOCUOUS OF CONDITIONS. I NOW HAVE 34,000 MILES ON IT, AND AFTER IT HAPPENED AGAIN YESTERDAY, AND I SAW THIS WEBSITE ADDRESS, I DECIDED TO REPORT IT. OFTEN, WHEN I DRIVE AT ANY SPEED, ESPECIALLY ON CITY STREETS, IF I GO OVER A TINY BUMP, A SMALL POT HOLE, A MINOR MOIST SPOT, NOT TO MENTION SNOW AND ICE, THE YELLOW LIGHT COMES ON WHILE THE CAR SEEMS TO BECOME AIRBORNE FOR A FEW SECONDS, SEEMS OUT OF CONTROL, AND SKIDS WHEN THE TIRES GRIP THE GROUND AGAIN. MY HEART LURCHES ALONG WITH THE CAR, AND IT MAKES ME AFRAID TO DRIVE IT (IN ADDITION TO THE GENERAL RECALLS THAT HAVE ERODED MY CONFIDENCE IN THE CAR). IN SOME CASES, I HAVE ACTUALLY SKIDDED INTO A CURB BEFORE I COULD REGAIN CONTROL WITH THE BRAKE. (I WAS TOLD BY MY DEALERSHIP 1) THEY HAVEN'T HEARD OF SUCH A PROBLEM; LATER: 2) WELL, IT IS BECAUSE OF THE TIRES, WHICH HAD ONLY 20,000 MILES ON THEM; AND WHEN WE REPLACED THE TIRES WITH MICHELINS AND IT STILL HAPPENED: 3) THE CAR IS SUPPOSED TO DO THIS AND IT'S GOOD THAT THE BRAKING SYSTEM IS SO SENSITIVE. *TR

HID HEADLIGHT MALFUNCTION - DRIVER SIDE HEADLAMP GOES OUT RANDOMLY BUT COMES BACK ON WHEN TURNED OFF THEN BACK ON. *TR

NOTICED DRIVER SIDE HID HEADLIGHT WAS OUT ON FREEWAY. AFTER STOPPING AND STARTING CAR, IT WORKED AGAIN. LATER NOTICED THAT IT TURNS ON FOR A SECOND AND TURNS OFF ON ITS OWN AND MUST TURN OFF AND ON AGAIN A FEW TIMES BEFORE IT STAYS ON ... FOR HOW LONG? 42,000 MILES ON VEHICLE. THIS IS DANGEROUS IN THAT IT PERFORMS SPORADICALLY. *TR

DRIVING TO WORK IN THE EARLY A.M., MY DRIVER'S SIDE HEADLIGHT WENT OUT AGAIN. I TURNED OFF MY HEADLIGHTS, THEN BACK ON AND BOTH LIGHTS CAME BACK ON. I HAD BEEN DRIVING FOR PROBABLY 20 MINUTES WITH JUST ONE HEADLIGHT, AND DIDN'T KNOW IT, WHICH WAS VERY DANGEROUS. THERE MUST BE SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM SUPPORTING THE LIGHTING. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD AND IT HAS ME WORRIED EVERY TIME I GET ON THE ROAD THAT BOTH LIGHTS COULD GO OUT AT ANY TIME PRE-DAWN, DUSK OR NIGHT. IT IS LIKELY MAKING ALL PRIUS OWNERS FOCUS TOO MUCH ON THEIR HEADLIGHTS RATHER THAN CONCENTRATING ON THEIR DRIVING, WHICH IS ALSO VERY DANGEROUS. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED AFTER DRIVING OVER A BUMP IN THE ROAD. ON A SEPARATE OCCASION WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH WITH THE BRAKES ENGAGED, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WITHOUT DRIVER INTENT. IN ADDITION, WHILE TRAVELING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE VEHICLE UNINTENTIONALLY ACCELERATED WHILE DRIVING OVER A ROAD BUMP IN THE ROAD AND CRASHED INTO A TREE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A REPAIR FACILITY AFTER THE CRASH OCCURRED. THERE WERE TWO INJURIES. THE DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE BUT WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE OR LOCATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS HYBRID. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR A ROUTINE OIL CHANGE AND WAS TOLD THAT THE VEHICLE WAS ON THE TOYOTA RECALL LIST FOR THE NHTSA RECALL 09V388000, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THE DEALER REPAIRED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BY CUTTING IT BUT IT WAS TOO SHORT AND CAUSED HER FOOT TO BECOME STUCK UNDERNEATH THE PEDAL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HER VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE DEALER ADVISED HER THAT THE SPECIFICATIONS AND THE DESIGN OF THE PEDAL ARE REQUIRED PER THE RECALL AND COULD NOT BE ALTERED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CALLED AND CONFIRMED WHAT THE DEALER TOLD THE CONTACT ABOUT THE RECALL REPAIR. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 50,000.

I HAVE TOYOTA PRIUS 2008 WITH 52000 MILES AND BOTH HID LIGHTS NEED REPLACING COSTING OVER $500.00. WAS TOLD THEY HAVE NEVER HAD PROBLEM AT DEALER AND YET WAS ABLE TO FIND MANY INCIDENTS THAT INDICATE IS COMMON AND A DEFECT IN THE LIGHTS. TOYOTA GAVE ME A CASE NUMBER, BUT WOULD TAKE NO RESPONSIBILITY. *TR

2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. CONSUMER STATES UNINTENDED ACCELERATION *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED AS SHE WAS COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP WITH HER FOOT ON THE BRAKE, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. WITHIN ABOUT 1/10TH OF A SECOND, IT WAS MOVING AT A VERY HIGH RATE OF SPEED. THE VEHICLE DID NOT INCREASE SPEED GRADUALLY, BUT WAS ALMOST INSTANTLY MOVING VERY FAST. THE CONSUMER STATED SHE COULD HEAR THE ENGINE REVVING QUITE LOUDLY. THE VEHICLE CROSSED A GRASSY AREA ABOUT 20 FEET WIDE AND THEN HIT A POST WHICH WAS ABOUT 6 INCHES IN DIAMETER. IT DEMOLISHED THE POST AND THEN PLOWED THROUGH SOME SMALL TREES AND LARGE SHRUBBERY. THE VEHICLE FINALLY CAME TO REST ABOUT 10 INCHES FROM THE CORNER OF A HOUSE. THE CONSUMER STATED PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT, SHE RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER IN THE MAIL, AND COMPLIED WITH THE RECALL. HOWEVER, SINCE THE RECALL WAS PERFORMED, SHE NOTICED THAT WHEN THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS ACTIVATED AND GOING UP A RISE IN THE ROAD, THE ENGINE WOULD START TO AUDIBLY REV AND THE VEHICLE WOULD GAIN 2, 3,4 MPH OVER WHAT WAS SET FOR THE CRUISE CONTROL SPEED. IT ALSO GAINED A FEW MILES WHEN ON A DOWNWARD SLOPE. AS SOON AS THE ROAD LEVELED OUT, IT WOULD GO BACK TO WHAT THE CRUISE CONTROL SETTING WAS. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER, BUT THEY DISMISSED IT AS NOT IMPORTANT AND SAID IT WAS A NORMAL OCCURRENCE AND IT HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THE RECALL WORK THEY PERFORMED. *JB

DRIVING TO WORK IN THE A.M., AND ABOUT 5 MINUTES AFTER LEAVING THE HOUSE, MY DRIVER'S SIDE HEADLIGHT WENT OUT AGAIN. I TURNED OFF MY HEADLIGHTS, THEN BACK ON AND BOTH LIGHTS CAME BACK ON. THERE IS DEFINITELY SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM SUPPORTING THE LIGHTING. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD AND IT NOW HAS ME NERVOUS EVERY TIME I GET ON THE ROAD THAT IT WILL GO OUT AT ANY TIME DAY OR NIGHT. IT IS LIKELY MAKING PRIUS OWNERS FOCUS TOO MUCH ON WATCHING FOR SIGNS THEIR HEADLIGHTS ARE STILL ON INSTEAD OF CONCENTRATING ON THEIR DRIVING. *TR

2008 TOYOTA PRIUS: REFUELING STARTED TO BECOME A PROBLEM AT 35,000 MILES. TANK WOULD NOT REFILL COMPLETELY AND GAS IS "BURPED" OUT TANK. VERY FRUSTRATING REFUELING BECAUSE GAS HOSE CLICKS OFF REPEATEDLY EVEN THOUGH TANK IS NOT FULL. TYPICALLY TANK WILL TAKE AN ADDITIONAL 2 GALLONS OF FUEL AFTER THE FIRST TIME IT CLICKS "FULL". IT TAKES 5 MINUTES TO PUT IN LAST 2 GALLONS AND THEN FUEL BUBBLES UP AND POURS OUT OF TANK. I COULD SEE THE AIR BUBBLES WORKING THEIR WAY TO THE SURFACE AS THE GAS TANK BURPS OUT THE FUEL. THE BLADDER GAS TANK IS CLEARLY DEFECTIVE AND IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO KNOW WHEN TANK IS FULL. MICHAEL'S TOYOTA OF BELLEVUE, WASHINGTON HAS BEEN WORTHLESS - FIRST TELLING ME THEY AREN'T AWARE OF THIS ISSUE AND THEY HAD NO PROBLEM REFILLING THE CAR AND THE LAST TIME TELLING ME THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO AND I SHOULD CALL TOYOTA. GREAT CUSTOMER SERVICE... THANKS HEAVENS THE CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY BECAUSE I HAVE NO INTEREST IN DOING FURTHER BUSINESS WITH THEM. TOYOTA SHOULD ACKNOWLEDGE THIS DEFECT AND REPLACE THE BLADDER GAS TANK WITH A REGULAR VERSION. *TR

DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD LAST NIGHT (6/19) AND MY DRIVER'S SIDE HEADLIGHT WENT OUT AS I WAS CROSSING OVER A BRIDGE. I CLOSELY FOLLOWED THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME AND AS SOON AS I GOT OFF THE BRIDGE I TURNED OFF, THEN BACK ON MY LIGHTS, AND BOTH HEADLIGHTS CAME BACK ON. THIS IS A CONTINUING SAFETY ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED!!! *TR

I AM HAVING A RECURRING TRANSMISSION PROBLEM ON A 2008 PRIUS THAT SEEMS TO BE A VERY SIMILAR PROBLEM TO ONE DESCRIBED BY OTHER PRIUS OWNERS. WHEN THE CAR IS WARM (WARM DAY, DRIVE FOR LONGER THAN 15 MINUTES) THE TRANSMISSION CAN SLIP OUT OF DRIVE (OR REVERSE) INTO NEUTRAL. IT WILL DO THIS REPEATEDLY AND NOT ALLOW TO PROCEED IN GEAR UNTIL YOU TURN OFF THE IGNITION FOR SOME MINUTES. THE CAR WILL OPERATE IF YOU MANUALLY PUSH THE GEAR SHIFT LEVER INTO DRIVER AND HOLD IT THERE CONTINUOUSLY UNTIL YOU REACH YOUR DESTINATION. I WILL TAKE IT INTO TOYOTA FOR SERVICE BUT I DO THINK IT MAY BE AN ENGINEERING OR DESIGN FLAW WITH THE TRANSMISSION. THE EXPERIENCE OF OTHER DRIVERS (INCLUDING A VIDEO LINK FOR THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM) CAN BE FOUND ONLINE HERE: HTTP://WWW.TOYOTANATION.COM/FORUM/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?P=3233114#POST3233114

MELT DOWN OF HATCHBACK RELEASE HANDLE. VERY HARD TO OPEN HATCHBACK. *TR

I HAVE A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS, AND REPEATEDLY EXPERIENCE THE "BRAKE DROP-OUT" PROBLEM THAT HAS BEEN DISCUSSED ON NUMEROUS PRIUS-RELATED WEBSITES. (SEE, FOR EXAMPLE, HTTP://PRIUSCHAT.COM/FORUMS/GEN-II-PRIUS-TECHNICAL-DISCUSSION/80218-TRACTION-CONTROL-DISABLING-BRAKES-OVER-BUMPS.HTML, OR HTTP://PRIUSCHAT.COM/FORUMS/PRIUS-HYBRID-NEWS/75647-TOYOTAS-NEXT-PAGE-RANKING-NIGHTMARE-PRIUS-BRAKES-4.HTML, AMONG OTHERS). I ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN RAISED WITH NHTSA NUMEROUS TIMES. THE PROBLEM I EXPERIENCE IS THAT WHEN I DRIVE OVER A BUMP OR POTHOLE, PARTICULARLY AT A LOW SPEED, WHILE BRAKING, A WARNING LIGHT FLASHES ON AND THE CAR MOMENTARILY LURCHES FORWARD. SEVERAL TIMES I HAVE FELT CLOSE TO GETTING INTO AN ACCIDENT AS A RESULT. I UNDERSTAND FROM THE EXTENSIVE ONLINE DISCUSSIONS OF THIS PROBLEM THAT IT HAS TO DO WITH A TRANSITION FROM THE REGENERATIVE BRAKING SYSTEM TO THE TRADITIONAL FRICTION BRAKING SYSTEM, BUT THAT ONLY EXPLAINS THE PROBLEM, AND DOES NOT SOLVE IT. I UNDERSTAND THAT TOYOTA HAS ADDRESSED THIS PROBLEM IN THE GEN III PRIUS, BUT HAS DONE NOTHING ABOUT THE GEN II PRIUS. ALSO, THIS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE FLOOR MAT RECALL FOR THIS CAR. *TR

2008 TOYOTA PRIUS HID LIGHTS GO OUT AT NIGHT. STARTED TO HAPPEN AROUND 50K MILES. I REPLACED THE PASSENGER SIDE HID TWICE. THE FIRST TIME, IT FIXED THE PROBLEM FOR SEVERAL MONTHS. NOW, AFTER ABOUT 10 MINUTES, IT TURNS OFF. TURNING THE LIGHTS OFF THEN ON WILL BRING THE LIGHT BACK ON, SOMETIMES FOR MINUTES, OFTEN FOR SECONDS. *TR

TOYOTA PRIUS HEADLIGHT DEFECT. THE LIGHT INTERMITTENTLY SHUT OFF. AT TIMES IT WOULD BEGIN WORKING BY TURNING THE LIGHTS OFF AND ON AGAIN, OTHER TIMES IT WOULD COME ON WITHOUT DOING ANYTHING AND AT TIMES IT WOULDN'T COME BACK ON AT ALL. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED IN RAINY WEATHER, THE VEHICLE HYDROPLANED AND CRASHED INTO A CURB. THE FRONT PASSENGER WHEEL DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE POLICE ARRIVED TO ASSIST ON SCENE. A POLICE REPORT WAS AVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE THE DAMAGES WERE BEING REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED FOR THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 22,800.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE BRAKING FROM A SPEED OF 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE ABNORMALLY ACCELERATED. THE CONTACT DROVE THE VEHICLE OFF THE ROADWAY BUT WAS UNABLE TO STOP THE ACCELERATION ALTHOUGH HE WAS DEPRESSING THE BRAKES. THE VEHICLE PROCEEDED FOR APPROXIMATELY 400 YARDS, DRIVING OVER SEVERAL BUMPS, GRASS AND OTHER ROAD OBSTRUCTIONS BEFORE THE VEHICLE FINALLY CAME TO A STOP. THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED JUST AS THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO DECREASE IN SPEED. THERE WAS SMOKE COMING FROM THE BRAKES AND THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE BLEW DURING THE FAILURE. THE POLICE ARRIVED TO ASSIST. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS AWAITING A DIAGNOSIS OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 22,000. UPDATED EVOQ 08/17/10 UPDATED 01/14/11 *BF UPDATED 04/01/11

2008 TOYOTA PRIUS WITH UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. *KB AN INSPECTION WAS PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE. ACCORDING TO THE DEALER, THE FRONT AND REAR BRAKES WERE COMPLETELY WORN, THE ROTORS WERE ALSO WORN AND WERE IN NEED OF REPLACEMENT. THE BRAKE FLUID WAS WITHIN NORMAL LIMITS AND THERE WAS A FLUID LEAK FROM THE IMPACT DAMAGE. THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS IN GOOD CONDITION AND MOVED FREELY WITH NO BINDING OR STICKING. THE DRIVERS SIDE FLOOR MAT WAS AN AFTERMARKET ALL WEATHER MAT, NOT PROPERLY SECURED. IT WAS POSITIONED FORWARD WHERE IT COULD INTERFERE WITH THE ACCELERATOR. ACCORDING TO THE LETTER THE BRAKES CAUGHT ON FIRE AND A MOTORIST EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. *JB UPDATED 12/30/10 *BF UPDATED 01/07/11

HID HEADLIGHTS UNEXPECTEDLY SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING. WHEN I TURN THEM OFF, THEN BACK ON, THEY WORK PERFECTLY FINE, BUT I DON'T KNOW WHEN THEY'LL GO OUT AGAIN. THIS IS CLEARLY A SAFETY ISSUE. IT DOES APPEAR THAT THE HID HEADLIGHT EQUIPPED PRIUS HAS SOME ELECTRICAL OR DESIGN DEFECT. *TR

HID HEADLIGHTS UNEXPECTEDLY SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING. THIS IS CLEARLY A SAFETY ISSUE AND APPEARS TO BE A DEFECT WITH THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM OR DESIGN OF THE LIGHTING COMPONENTS OTHER THAN THE BULBS BECAUSE IF I TURN THEM OFF THEY COME BACK ON FINE EVERY TIME LIKE THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH THEM. *TR

2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. CONSUMER STATES PROBLEM WITH TRACTION CONTROL *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED SHE WAS DRIVING IN THE RAIN AT A SPEED OF 40 MPH WHEN SHE NOTICED THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT WAS FLICKERING ON AND OFF MORE THAN SHE PREVIOUSLY EXPERIENCED. SHE ALSO SMELLED AN ODOR SIMILAR TO SOMETHING BURNING. SHE OPENED THE WINDOWS TO LET IT CLEAR. HOWEVER, THE SMELL SEEMED TO LINGER IN THE VEHICLE FOR AT LEAST A MILE. AS SHE APPROACHED A TOWN, THE SPEED LIMIT WAS REDUCED FROM 45 MPH TO 25 MPH SO SHE SLOWED DOWN AND CONTINUED TO EXPERIENCE THE FLICKERING OF THE TRACTION CONTROL WARNING LIGHT WHILE DRIVING ON WET PAVEMENT. AS THE CONSUMER APPROACHED A CONTROLLED INTERSECTION AT A SPEED OF APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH AND WAS APPLYING THE BRAKES TO STOP FOR THE RED LIGHT, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY SHUT DOWN AS SHE WAS UNABLE TO STEER AND HAD NO BRAKES OR TRACTION. AS SHE WAS ABOUT TO HIT THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF HER, SHE SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES ONE LAST TIME AND WAS ABLE TO STOP AT THE LAST SECOND. WHEN THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN SHE PROCEEDED TO DRIVE IN THE RAIN AT A MAXIMUM SPEED OF 40 MPH AND THE TRACTION CONTROL WARNING LIGHT CAME ON ONLY ONE ADDITIONAL TIME UNTIL SHE REACHED HER DESTINATION 20 MINUTES LATER. *JB

HID HEADLIGHTS THAT UNEXPECTEDLY SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING, BUT COME BACK ON WHEN MANUALLY TURNED OFF, THEN ON. APPEARS TO BE PROBLEM WITH THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, NOT THE LIGHTS, OR A DESIGN DEFECT. *TR

HEADLIGHT PASSENGER SIDE GOING WHILE DRIVING COMING BACK ON DO NOT KNOW WHEN BOTH WILL GO OUT. COST TO REPLACE ONE HEADLIGHT $150 FOR BULB $95 TO REPLACE. HAVE HEARD OTHER OWNERS HAVING SAME PROBLEMS AND MORE THEN ONE TIME. HAVE HEARD OF OVERHEATING PROBLEM CAUSING EARLY OUTAGE OF BULBS OVER AND OVER. ALSO PROBLEM WITH COMPUTER CAUSING THESE PROBLEMS. PROBLEM SHOW UP FOR FIRST TIME I BELIEVE IN 2010. IT IS GETTING WORST AND I'M NO LONGER DRIVING. *TR

ON MY 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS, WHEN I HIT A BUMP OR POTHOLE AT RELATIVELY LOW SPEED, THE CAR SOMETIMES GOES INTO "ANTI-SKID" MODE, LEADING TO A BRIEF (~1/2 SECOND), DISCONCERTING PERIOD OF LURCHING/ACCELERATION/LOSS OF BRAKING ABILITY BEFORE THE CAR RETURNS TO NORMAL. THIS PROBLEM IS USUALLY ACCOMPANIED BY THE LIGHTING OF THE YELLOW SKID ICON INDICATOR ON THE DASH. *TR

DRIVER'S SIDE HEADLIGHT ON 2008 PRIUS FAILS INTERMITTENTLY. *TR

OUR PRIUS HEADLIGHTS GO OUT INTERMITTENTLY. USUALLY ONE AT A TIME, BUT SEVERAL TIMES THEY HAVE BOTH GONE OUT AT THE SAME TIME ALMOST CAUSING A CRASH. I TOOK IT TO THE TOYOTA DEALER IT WAS PURCHASED FROM WHILE STILL UNDER WARRANTY, THEY CLAIMED IT WAS A LIGHT BULB "GOING" OUT, THAT WAS 3 YEARS AGO AND THE BULB STILL ISN'T OUT. *TR

A NUMBER OF TIMES SINCE WE PURCHASED OUR NEW PRIUS IN SEPTEMBER OF 2007, I'VE QUESTIONED IN MY MIND WHETHER OUR HID HEADLIGHTS WERE BRIGHT ENOUGH. I WOULD NORMALLY PUT THE THOUGHT OUT OF MY MIND SINCE I WEAR GLASSED TO READ, AND I FIGURED THAT MAYBE I JUST NEED REGULAR GLASSES. ABOUT A MONTH AGO THINGS CHANGED WHILE MY WIFE AND I WERE DRIVING FROM ATLANTA, GA., TO PENSACOLA, FLA. TO VISIT FAMILY. ABOUT 15 MINUTES FROM OUR DESTINATION, A SHERIFF PULLED US OVER, INFORMED, US THAT ONE OF OUR HEADLIGHTS WAS OUT AND ALMOST GAVE US A TICKET. SINCE WE OBVIOUSLY HAD NO IDEA THAT ONE OF OUR LIGHTS WAS OUT, HE GAVE US A WARNING INSTEAD. THE NEXT MORNING I OPENED THE HOOD TO SEE IF THERE WAS A LOOSE CONNECTION. WHEN I TURNED THE LIGHTS ON TO TEST THEM, THEY WERE WORKING AND I WAS NOT ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE ISSUE. EVERY TIME THAT I STARTED OUR PRIUS WHILE WE WERE IN FLORIDA I CHECKED THE LIGHTS AND THEY WERE BOTH ON. THERE WERE A COUPLE OF TIMES, AFTER WE HAD BEEN DRIVING FOR 30 MINUTES OR SO THAT I WOULD CHECK THE LIGHTS BEFORE TURNING THE CAR OFF AND THE PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT WAS OUT. I TRIED TURNING THE LIGHT-SWITCH OFF AND THEN ON AND SOME TIMES THE PASSENGER HEADLIGHT WOULD TURN ON AND OTHER TIMES IT WOULD STAY OFF. SINCE THAT TIME, I HAVE CHECKED OUR HEADLIGHTS ON A REGULAR BASIS AND FOUND EITHER THE PASSENGER HEADLIGHT WAS OUT OR THE DRIVER'S SIDE HEADLIGHT WAS OUT. TURNING THE SWITCH OFF AND THEN BACK ON WOULD SOMETIMES CAUSE THE LIGHT TO COME BACK ON BUT OTHER TIMES IT WOULD CAUSE THAT LIGHT TO COME BACK ON AND THE OTHER HEADLIGHT TO TURN OFF. OTHER TIMES, BY TURNING THE LIGHT-SWITCH OFF AND THEN BACK ON, BOTH LIGHTS WOULD TURN OFF. THIS IS FRUSTRATING FOR ME AND WORRIES ME GREATLY SINCE MY WIFE IS THE PRIMARY DRIVER OF OUR PRIUS. I HATE TO THINK WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF BOTH HEADLIGHTS WOULD TURN OFF WHILE MY WIFE WAS DRIVING AT NIGHT ON A DARK STREET OR HIGHWAY. THIS IS A GRAVELY IMPORTANT SAFETY ISSUE FOR MY WIFE AND I. *TR

THE HEADLIGHTS AND REAR LIGHTS ON MY 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS INTERMITTENTLY GO OUT. SEVERAL TIMES I'VE BROUGHT THE CAR TO THE LOCAL TOYOTA DEALERSHIP TO HAVE THEM REPAIRED ONLY HEAR THERE IS NOTHING WRONG OR GET A BILL FOR REPLACING THE LIGHTS OR VARIOUS ASSOCIATED PARTS. ON AT LEAST SIX OCCASIONS I'VE BEEN STOPPED AT NIGHT BY PEOPLE AT TRAFFIC LIGHTS TELLING ME MY LIGHTS ARE OUT. MY HUSBAND WAS STOPPED AND CITED BY A POLICE OFFICER FOR BOTH HEADLIGHTS BEING OUT. AT THE TIME MY HUSBAND WAS TRAVELING FOR BUSINESS AND HAD TO STOP AND SPEND THE NIGHT AT A HOTEL BECAUSE HE COULDN'T SAFELY CONTINUE DRIVING. THE LAST TIME I BROUGHT THE CAR IN FOR THIS ISSUE THE PREVIOUS NIGHT THE LIGHT HAD BEEN OUT BUT IT WAS WORKING WHEN I GOT TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE SERVICEMAN SAID HE WOULD LOOK AT THE ISSUE BUT IF THE LIGHTS WEREN'T ACTING UP THEN THERE WAS NOTHING HE COULD DO. WHILE I WAS WAITING I GOOGLED "PROBLEMS WITH PRIUS HEADLIGHTS" AND FOUND THE ISSUE WAS COMMON, AND IN FACT, HAD CAUSED A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT. WHEN I BROUGHT THE ATTENTION TO THE SERVICEMAN HE SAID, "THAT'S WHY I SAID I'D HEARD ABOUT THE ISSUE BUT TOYOTA ISN'T TAKING MONETARY RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS ISSUE." ESSENTIALLY, I REPEATEDLY ENGAGE IS THE SAME ROUTINE OF GOING TO THE DEALERSHIP, PAYING FOR SOMETHING THAT DOESN'T WORK, THEN HAVING MY LIGHTS MALFUNCTION AT NIGHT WHEN I NEED THEM. *TR

2008 TOYOTA PRIUS - BRAKING SYSTEM. BRAKING ON A ROUGH OR BUMPY ROAD, THE BRAKES WILL DISENGAGE AND CAUSE YOUR BRAKING TIME TO INCREASE BY 5-10 FT WITHOUT NOTICE. WHEN THIS DISENGAGEMENT HAPPENS, YOU FEEL FOR A FEW SECONDS AS IF YOU HAVE LOST CONTROL OF THE CAR AND THE SKID LIGHT COMES ON AS WELL. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ON MAY 21, 2010, WHILE DRIVING AT 20 MPH, THE CONTACT APPLIED THE BRAKES BUT THE VEHICLE DID NOT STOP. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE. THERE WERE MINOR DAMAGES TO THE VEHICLE BUT THE CONTACT SUFFERED A LEG INJURY AND WAS HE TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL. THERE WAS NO POLICE REPORT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO LATER SENT HIM A LETTER STATING THAT NO FAILURE WAS FOUND WITHIN THE VEHICLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 60,000.

ON 20 MAY 2010 AT 11,966 MILES EVERY BRAKE/STABILITY WARNING LIGHT CAME ON (INCLUDING THE WARNING FOR THE PARKING/EMERGENCY BRAKE WHICH WAS NOT ENGAGED), REGENERATIVE BRAKING APPEARED TO HAVE FAILED, AND HYDRAULIC/FRICTION BRAKES BEHAVED AS IF ABS WAS ACTING AT A VERY SLOW PULSE RATE, APPROXIMATELY A 5-SECOND CYCLE. FOR ABOUT 2 SECONDS DURING THE "OFF" PORTION OF THIS CYCLE THE BRAKES WERE EFFECTIVELY INOPERATIVE, WITH THE PARKING/EMERGENCY BRAKE THE ONLY SOURCE OF BRAKING. THIS BEHAVIOR PERSISTED AFTER SHUTTING DOWN AND RESTARTING THE CAR. THE DEALER'S SERVICE DEPARTMENT REPORTED THAT THREE ERRORS HAD BEEN LOGGED: C1247 - STROKE SENSOR C1300 - ABS ECU MALFUNCTION C2318 - LOW VOLTAGE ERROR RESETTING THE COMPUTERS CLEARED THE WARNING INDICATIONS AND RESTORED NORMAL BRAKE SYSTEM BEHAVIOR. AT MY BEHEST, THE DEALER WORKED WITH TOYOTA ENGINEERING TO IDENTIFY WHY A LOW VOLTAGE WOULD CAUSE A COMPUTER FAILURE WHICH COULD CAUSE SUBSTANTIAL LOSS OF BRAKING ABILITY. THEY KEPT THE CAR FOR 8 DAYS BUT DID NOT APPEAR TO COMPLETE ANY SORT OF ROOT CAUSE ANALYSIS OF THE FAILURE. ON 17 DECEMBER 2012 AT 27,324 MILES THE BRAKES AGAIN FAILED WITH THE SAME SET OF WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THIS TIME, ABS DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE ACTIVE AT ALL. FOR THE FIRST 2-5 CM OF BRAKE PEDAL TRAVEL, IN THE REGIME WHERE REGENERATIVE BRAKING WOULD BE ACTIVE, NO BRAKING IS EVIDENT. AS THE PEDAL IS FURTHER DEPRESSED, THE HYDRAULIC/FRICTION BRAKES ABRUPTLY ENGAGE. PRESSING HARDER DOES RESULT IN INCREASED BRAKING THOUGH BRAKING IS ROUGH. NO PULSATION AS MIGHT BE EXPECTED FROM ABS WAS NOTICED. NO ATTEMPT WAS MADE TO BRAKE HARD ENOUGH TO LOCK UP THE BRAKES. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALER. *TR

2008 PRIUS. OFTEN WHEN I GO OVER A BUMP THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM KICKS IN AND IT FEELS AS IF I HAVE LOST CONTROL OF THE CAR. I DON'T THINK I COULD STOP SUDDENLY. I HAVEN'T HAD AN ACCIDENT BUT I AM UNCOMFORTABLE DRIVING SOMETIMES EVEN IN GOOD WEATHER. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT WAS NO HELP. *TR

2008 PRIUS DRIVER-SIDE HEADLIGHT GOES OUT FREQUENTLY BUT WILL COME BACK ON IF YOU TURN THE LIGHTS ON THEN OFF AGAIN. THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH TOYOTA HID LIGHTS AS THE VEHICLE IS ONLY 2 YEARS OLD. *TR

FREQUENTLY WHILE DRIVING ON DRY, CLEAR AND CLEAN ROADS, MY CAR BRAKING SYSTEM WILL SEEM TO FAIL AND FEEL LIKE THE CAR IS GOING INTO A SKID. THE ABS WARNING LIGHT COMES ON AS WELL - ALTHOUGH THERE IS NO REASON FOR BRAKE TROUBLE. SEEMS TO BE HAPPENING MORE AND MORE FREQUENTLY LATELY. *TR

WHEN I STEP ON THE BRAKES, AND THE ROAD IS BUMPY, THE BRAKES FEEL LIKE THEY ARE NOT WORKING FOR A SECOND, AND THEN THEY GRAB. THIS HAPPENS EVERY TIME I AM BRAKING AND THERE IS A BUMP IN THE ROAD. *TR

I OWN A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS AND ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS THE HID LIGHTBULBS HAVE FLICKERED AND GONE OUT WHILE DRIVING. THE REPLACEMENT COST OF THE LIGHTBULBS IS IN EXCESS OF $200. *TR

1. WHILE DRIVING AND BRAKING OVER POTHOLES OR ROUGH ROAD, THE CAR VEERS FORWARD EVEN THOUGH BRAKES ARE BEING APPLIED 2. HAPPENS EVER SINCE WE RECEIVED OUR 2008 PRIUS MAYBE ONCE A MONTH OR SO: RESULTS IN SCARY FEW MOMENTS, ALTHOUGH NO ACCIDENTS YET HAVE OCCURRED 3. DEALER CLAIMS CANNOT RE-CREATE THE ISSUE. *TR

DURING A HARD BRAKING EVENT, THE ANTI-LOCK-BRAKES TAKE OVER BUT FOR A MOMENT BEFORE THEY DO, IT FEELS LIKE I HAVE NO BRAKES AND THE CAR SEEMS TO GO FASTER. IT IS A SCARY FEELING. *TR

MY 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS HAD A PROBLEM AROUND MAY 2009 WITH IT'S HID HEADLAMP - THE HEADLAMP WILL TURN OFF WITHOUT WARNING WHILE I AM DRIVING THE CAR - TOYOTA REPLACED THE PASSENGER SIDE HID HEADLAMP. SAME PROBLEM I AM EXPERIENCING WITH THE DRIVER SIDE HID HEADLAMP - LIGHT TURNS OFF WHILE DRIVING THE PRIUS. *TR

BOTH HID HEADLIGHTS HAVE GONE OUT IN UNDER 40,000 MILES IN MY 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. *TR

MULTIPLE OCCURRENCES OVER THE PAST 3 YEARS OF HEADLIGHTS (ONE OR AT TIMES BOTH) GOING OUT UNEXPECTEDLY WITHOUT WARNING. YOU GO INTO PARTIAL LIGHTING OR TOTAL DARKNESS. AFTER A FEW MINUTES YOU CAN TURN THE HEADLIGHTS BACK ON AND THEY MAY STAY LIT FOR FEW MINUTES OR SEVERAL HOURS. I HAVE HAD DEALERSHIPS LOOK AT THE CAR AND SAY THAT IT IS JUST THE BULBS FAILING (BULBS THAT ARE SUPPOSE TO LAST 10 TIMES LONGER THAN CONVENTIONAL BULBS). THE CAR IS NOW 4 YEARS OLD AND I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE BULBS YEARLY. DEALERSHIP COSTS THAT WAS ORIGINALLY $350 PLUS INSTALLATION PER BULB. TOYOTA HAS NOW DROPPED THEIR PRICE TO $150 PER BULB. AFTERMARKET BULBS NOW AVAILABLE BUT YOU STILL ONLY GET A LIFE OF 7 MONTHS TO A YEAR PER BULB LOTS OF TALK FROM DEALERS BUT NO SOLUTION. I WENT TO AFTER MARKET BULBS THINKING THAT THE PROBLEM WAS TOYOTA BULBS. THE SAME PROBLEM OCCURS. THE PROBLEM IS NOT THE BULBS, THE PROBLEM IS IN THE VEHICLE WIRING. THIS IS A SEVERE PROBLEM THAT MUST BE LOOKED INTO IN THAT IT PUTTING A LOT OF PRIUS OWNERS ALONG WITH OTHERS ON THE HIGHWAY AT RISK. *TR

MY 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS LOSES BRAKING POWER EVERY TIME I BRAKE WHEN GOING OVER A BUMPY OR UNEVEN SURFACE AND IT TAKES 1/2 TO 1 SECOND BEFORE THEY RE-ENGAGE. TOOK CAR TO TOYOTA DEALER AND HAD SERVICE TECHNICIAN GO ON A TEST DRIVE WITH ME. WHEN THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN EXPERIENCED THIS LOSS IN BRAKES, HE EXPLAINED THAT THE TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM WAS DESIGNED TO RELEASE THE BRAKES ON THE TIRE (DURING BUMPY ROAD SURFACE) TO PREVENT LOCK-UP, BUT IF I KEPT MY FOOT ON THE PEDAL LONG ENOUGH THE BRAKES WOULD RE-ENGAGE. MY COMPLAINT IS THE LENGTH OF TIME IT TAKES FOR THE BRAKES TO RE-ENGAGE WAS TOO LONG AND MIGHT RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE TIME LAPSE WAS NORMAL/STANDARD FOR ABS AND PRIUS DRIVERS NEEDED TO ADJUST THEIR DRIVING HABITS TO ALLOW FOR IT. *TR

S10 APPROPRIATE HANDLING-LETTER TO THE SECRETARY FROM RE TOYOTA PROBLEMS *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE BRAKES MADE A NOISE. ACCORDING TO THE DEALER, THERE MAY HAVE BEEN RUST ON THE ROTORS, DUE TO LACK OF DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT GETTING PROPER GAS MILEAGE AND THE GAS MOTOR MADE A LOT OF NOISE.

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 65 MPH ON A SMOOTH INTERSTATE, MY 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS ACCELERATED WHEN I TAPPED THE BRAKE TO TAKE IT OUT OF CRUISE CONTROL. I STEPPED ON THE BRAKE AGAIN AND IT STOPPED ACCELERATING, AND SLOWED DOWN. I HAD REMOVED THE FLOOR MAT A FEW WEEKS PRIOR. I TOOK IT TO TOYOTA TO HAVE THE RECALL WORK DONE, WHICH INCLUDED A SOFTWARE UPGRADE. THEY SAID AFTER THEY INSPECTED THE CAR THAT THEY DETERMINED FORM THE LOG THAT THE BRAKE AND ACCELERATOR HAD BEEN PRESSED AT THE SAME TIME, TWICE. I AM SURE I DID NOT STEP ON BOTH. AS I SAID, I TAPPED THE BREAK TO TAKE IT OUT OF CRUISE CONTROL, AND AT THE TIME IT ACCELERATED MY FOOT WAS IN THE AIR, NOT TOUCHING EITHER PEDAL. I SUGGESTED THE CRUISE CONTROL MAY BE ERRONEOUSLY PUTTING FLAGS IN THE LOG AS IT SLOWS AND ACCELERATED TO MAINTAIN A CONSISTENT SPEED. THE DEALER REFUSED TO REPORT THIS SUGGESTION OR SINCE IT WOULD BE DIAGNOSING, AND SAID THERE WAS NO PLACE FOR THEM TO REPORT THAT I WAS SURE I HAD NOT STEPPED ON BOTH PEDALS AT THE SAME TIME. THANK YOU, AND I HOPE YOU ARE ABLE TO RESOLVE THIS PROBLEM. *TR

SEVERE SAFETY CONCERNS WITH A 2008 PRIUS ARE THE FOLLOWING: THE ANSWERS AND SOLUTIONS TO THE FOLLOWING ARE NECESSARY BEFORE ANYONE COULD BE CONSIDERED SAFE DRIVING THIS 2008 PRIUS: 1.WHY DID OUR PRIUS HAVE A POWER FAILURE ON APRIL 13TH WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH ON A FLAT STRETCH OF HWY 101 GOING NORTH AT THE BLITHEDALE EXIT IN MILL VALLEY, CA? 2.WHY WHILE DRIVING UP DIVISIDERO AROUND 11:30 OR 12 NOON ON APRIL 25, 2010 DID THE CAR BEGIN BEEPING LOUDLY WHEN GOING UP THE HILL IN PACIFIC HEIGHTS? 3. WHY DID IT THEN START MAKING TWO DIFFERENT BEEPING SOUNDS? WE THEN PULLED OVER AND FOUND THAT THE TRANSMISSION INDICATED THAT IT HAD JUMPED INTO REVERSE EVEN THOUGH THE CAR WAS STILL GOING FORWARD. WE HAD NOT TOUCHED THE SHIFT LEVER, BOTH HANDS WERE ON THE WHEEL. IT JUMPED INTO REVERSE BY ITSELF. 4.WHY , AFTER WE THEN RETURNED THE SHIFT TO DRIVE, WERE WE ABLE TO GO FURTHER UP THE HILL AND THE LOUD BEEPING STARTED AGAIN WHILE THE TRANSMISSION WAS STILL IN DRIVE? WE STOPPED THE CAR AND KEPT A FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL UNTIL HELP ARRIVED. AAA CAME. AAA DROVE THE CAR WITHOUT BEEPING TO A MORE LEVEL PART OF THE STREET TO LOAD IT UPON A TRUCK AND CARRIED THE CAR TO THE SAN FRANCISCO GEARY TOYOTA SERVICE CENTER. THEY HAVE YET [5.20.10] TO ACCURATELY DIAGNOSE AND CORRECT THESE PROBLEMS SO IT IS SAFE TO DRIVE. *TR