2008 Toyota Prius Complaint Log

I OWN A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS THAT HAS INTERMITTENT HEADLIGHT FAILURE. I HAVE BEEN TRAVELING TO AND FROM WASHINGTON HOSPITAL CENTER AND MY RESIDENCE IN SOUTHERN MARYLAND. APPROXIMATELY, 75 MILES EACH WAY DAILY TO VISIT MY MOTHER IN ICU. I HAVE BEEN STOPPED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS BY THE METROPOLITAN POLICE DEPARTMENT AS WELL AS THE MARYLAND STATE POLICE FOR A HEADLIGHT OUT. WHILE BEING ISSUED A CITATION, I TURN MY LIGHTS OFF AND ON AGAIN SO THE OFFICER CAN SEE THAT IT IS A MECHANICAL FAILURE, NOT NEGLIGENCE ON MY PART. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE REPAIRED BY TOYOTA. *TR

I DRIVE A 2008 PRIUS. WHEN BRAKING AND DRIVING OVER A POT-HOLE, BUMP, OR OTHER ROAD WORK THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM ENGAGES, AND THE BRAKES RELEASE FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME (>1 SECOND) CAUSING THE CAR TO COAST DURING THIS TIME. I DRIVE ON BUSY CITY STREETS AND ON HIGHWAYS WITH STOP AND GO TRAFFIC, AND THIS UNCONTROLLED BRAKE RELEASE REPRESENTS A SAFETY HAZARD. I HAVE DRIVEN VEHICLES WITH ANTI-LOCK BRAKES BEFORE, AND THIS KIND OF BRAKING RELEASE IS MUCH LONGER AND RESULTS IN A MUCH GREATER LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL THAN IN OTHER VEHICLES I HAVE DRIVEN. IN A SPECIFIC RECENT INCIDENT, I HIT A CAR IMMEDIATELY IN FRONT OF ME. IN THE INCIDENT, I WAS DRIVING OVER BUMPY PAVEMENT AND THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME STOPPED ABRUPTLY. AS I TRIED TO BRAKE SHARPLY TO AVOID HITTING THE CAR IN FRONT, THE BRAKING RELEASED BECAUSE THE ANTI LOCK BRAKES ENGAGED, AND INSTEAD OF STOPPING SAFELY, I HIT THE CAR. ALTHOUGH THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND DAMAGE WAS MINOR, THE INCIDENT (AND THE REGULARITY WITH WHICH THE BRAKES RELEASE UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS) SEEMS TO ME TO REPRESENT A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY PROBLEM FOR THE VEHICLE. *TR

2008 TOYOTA PRIUS HID HEADLAMPS ARE INTERMITTENT WHILE DRIVING. PUBLIC AND PERSONAL SAFETY HAZARD! REPLACED HID BULBS WITH THE PROPER TYPE, AND THE INTERMITTENT CONTINUE TO OCCUR. PHILLIPS D4R HID BULBS ARE THE RECOMMENDED REPLACEMENT BULBS. HID HEADLAMPS WINK OFF AT RANDOM, WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED. I THINK THAT THE INTERNAL MECHANISM OF THE HEADLAMP BEAM ADJUSTER (WHICH CONSISTS OF A WEIGHTED, DAMPED AND MOVABLE SUBREFLECTOR) MAY BE HITTING THE BULBS AND CAUSING THEM TO PREMATURELY FAIL, OR THE BULBS AND BALLAST ARE FAULTY. PHILLIPS D4R HID BULBS ARE EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE, AND ARE EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO REPLACE BECAUSE THE ACCESS TO THE BACK OF THE HEADLAMP ASSEMBLY IS VERY CRAMPED AND CONFINED. *TR

HI, WHILE DRIVING TO WORK THIS MORNING, MY LEFT HEADLIGHT FLASHED AND THEN STOPPED WORKING. MY 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS IS ABOUT 1.75 YEARS OLD WITH APPROXIMATELY 28,000 MILES. I HAVE HEARD FROM OTHER PRIUS OWNERS THAT THEY HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THEIR HEADLIGHTS. I HAVE ALSO HEARD THE REPLACEMENT COST FOR THE HEADLIGHT IS $300.00. I FIND THAT HARD TO BELIEVE, NONETHELESS HEADLIGHTS IN EVERYOTHER CAR I HAVE OWNED SEEM TO HAVE A LIFE OF 10 OR MORE YEARS. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE I DRIVE TO WORK EARLY IN THE MORNING WHEN IT IS DARK AND I SOMETIMES DON'T RETURN HOME UNTIL AFTER DARK. THE BULK OF MY DRIVING HAS BEEN IN THE DAYLIGHT, HOWEVER I NEED MY CAR TO GET TO WORK. ALSO ON 3 OCCASIONS MY CRUISE CONTROL ACCELERATED BEYOND WHERE I SET IT. FOR EXAMPLE I RESET THE CONTROL AFTER HAVING HIT THE BRAKES. I GOT BACK TO MY SPEED AND SET THE CRUISE CONTROL AT 70MPH. I NOTICED A SHORT WHILE LATER THE CAR WAS GOING 95. I HIT THE BRAKES TO SLOW DOWN AND THE CAR IMMEDIATELY CAME OUT OF CRUISE CONTROL AND SLOWED DOWN AS IT SHOULD. I NOW TAKE THE CAR ALL THE WAY OUT OF CRUISE CONTROL SHUTTING IT OFF AFTER I HIT THE BRAKES. I NEXT TURN THE CONTROL BACK ON AND RESET THE CRUISE. USING THE CRUISE THIS WAY I HAVE NOT HAD THE PROBLEM OF THE CAR SPEEDING UP. II FIGURE I WILL CONTINUE TO USE THE CRUISE THIS WAY AND OBSERVE WHETHER THERE IS ANY PROBLEM. HOWEVER,I DON'T BELIEVE TOYOTA INTENDED FOR THE CRUISE CONTROL TO BE USED THIS WAY. THANK YOU *TR

2008 TOYOTA PRIUS HEADLIGHTS - THE CAR ONLY HAS 2 YEARS AND 30K MILES AND THE PASSENGER HEADLIGHT FLICKERED UNTIL IT FINALLY STOPPED WORKING. WENT TO THE DEALER AND THEY WANT OVER $300 TO CHANGE A LIGHT BULB!! SO TRYING TO DO IT MYSELF AND I HAVE TO TAKE THE CAR APART. IT IS UNBELIEVABLE! *TR

THE HID HEADLAMP OF MY 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS WAS WORKING INTERMITTENTLY AND I GOT A TRAFFIC TICKET FOR IT. SINCE I WAS UNAWARE THAT THE LAMP WAS OUT, THE TICKET WAS ONLY A WARNING. I HAD THE LAMP REPLACED AT MY EXPENSE AT 36300 MILES AND $300! *TR

2008 PRIUS WITH HID HEADLIGHTS. THE PROBLEM IS THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE HEADLIGHT GOES OUT INTERMITTENTLY. TURNING THE LIGHTS OFF AND BACK ON AGAIN SOMETIMES RESTORES THE DEFECTIVE LIGHT. THIS IS A SAFETY RELATED ISSUE THAT APPEARS FREQUENTLY ON THE PRIUS CHAT LIST AND IS AN EXPENSIVE FIX. TOYOTA HAS CHOSEN NOT TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE AT THIS POINT. *TR

HID HEADLIGHTS ON 2008 PRIUS FAILING WITHOUT A KNOWN FIX FROM TOYOTA. EACH BULB COSTS OVER $150.00. *TR

I WAS DRIVING A RENTED TOYOTA PRIUS 2008 HYBRID ELECTRIC ON APRIL 8TH IN MISSISSAUGA ONTARIO AND MET WITH THREE VEHICLES COLLISION. ON A SOLID GREEN SIGNAL, A MIN VAN COMING FROM EAST, OPPOSITE DIRECTION CUT OFF THE ONCOMING TRAFFIC FROM WEST. FIRST CAR SLAMMED THE BRAKES AND DID NOT HIT THE WRONGFUL MINI VAN. SECOND CAR HIT THE FIRST CAR. I REAR ENDED SECOND CAR. I WAS IN SAFE DISTANCE AND APPLIED BRAKES. THIS CAR DID NOT STOP AND KEPT MOVING AND HIT THE SECOND CAR. IT WAS A RAINY DAY. NORMAL CARS WOULD STOP WITHOUT HITTING. NO ONE INJURED. I THINK TOYOTA HAS TO ADVICE ALL YEAR MODELS TO FIX THE BRAKE PROBLEMS. CONTACTED TOYOTA SCARBOROUGH. IT SAYS THIS CAR IS NOT IN RE-CALL LIST. HOW RECALLING LIST PREPARED, I DO NOT KNOW. AFTER INCIDENTS? I WILL NEVER DRIVE PRIUS AGAIN. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHENEVER HE WOULD DRIVE 35 MPH OR ABOVE, BOTH HEADLIGHTS WOULD INTERMITTENTLY FLUCTUATE ON AND OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO INFORMED HER THAT THE FAILURE WAS COMMON FOR HER YEAR, MAKE AND MODEL THEREFORE, THE DEALER WAS WILLING TO TAKE THE LIABILITY FOR FIFTY PERCENT OF THE REPAIR COST. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 76,000. UPDATED 03/03/11 *BF UPATED 1/4/11 *CN

RIGHT LANE OF FREEWAY 134 E IN BURBANK CA BLOCKED AND VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME AND MYSELF WERE OBLIGED TO COME TO A FULL STOP. MY 2008 PRIUS WAS THEN REAR-ENDED BY A RANGE ROVER AND PROPELLED INTO THE LARGE PICKUP TRUCK IN FRONT OF ME. BOTH BACK AND FRONT WERE SIGNIFICANTLY IMPACTED AND CAR WAS A TOTAL LOSS. DRIVER (MYSELF) WAS WEARING SEATBELT AND SUFFERED FACE AND CHEST CONTUSIONS. THE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY AND DRIVER'S FACE IMPACTED STEERING WHEEL. *TR

LAST NIGHT ABOUT 6:00PM CST. MY GAS PEDAL STUCK ON MY 2008 TOYOTA. I WAS AT A USED CAR DEALERSHIP LOOKING AT TRUCKS. I GOT OUT OF THE PRIUS TO LOOK AT A TRUCK. I GOT BACK INTO THE CAR PUT IT IN DRIVE AND WHEN I TOOK OFF THE PEDAL STUCK TO THE FLOOR. I PUT THE SHIFTER INTO NEUTRAL STOPPED THE CAR, PUT IT BACK INTO DRIVE AND THE PEDAL WAS STILL STUCK. ONCE AGAIN I PUT THE SHIFTER INTO NEUTRAL, STOPPED THE CAR AND PUT THE SHIFTER INTO PARK, ADJUSTED THE FLOOR MAT (I DON'T KNOW IF THE MAT WAS THE PROBLEM OR NOT) THEN PUT THE SHIFTER INTO DRIVE AND IT WAS FINE. I SURE IT IS NOT RELATED BUT I HAD JUST HAD THE CAR IN THE SHOP (SMART MOTORS) THE PREVIOUS WEEK TO ADJUST THE TIRE PRESSURE LIGHT. *TR

FEB 6, 2010 - PURCHASED 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS WITH 40,940 MILES. MARCH 1, 2010 - PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT FAILED DURING NIGHT DRIVING. MILEAGE APPROX. 42200. LIGHT WORKED THE NEXT DAY, BUT ONLY FOR A SHORT TIME. WORKED INTERMITTENTLY THROUGHOUT THAT DAY. CONTACTED DEALERSHIP. MARCH3, 2010 - HEADLIGHT REPLACED BY DEALERSHIP FOR COST OF LABOR ONLY. APRIL 3, 2010 - NEW PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT AGAIN FAILED DURING NIGHT DRIVING. WORKED THE NEXT EVENING WITHOUT INCIDENT. WILL CONTACT DEALERSHIP 4/5 TO ADDRESS INTERMITTENT HEADLIGHT ISSUE. *TR

I NOTICED THE PASSENGER SIDE HEADLINE ON MY 2008 PRIUS START FLICKERING, MY CAR HAS 44K MILES. ACCORDING TO MY DEALERSHIP, THE FIXTURE IS OVERHEATING AND WILL FAIL SOON. TOTAL COST TO REPLACE AND INSTALL NEW BULB WILL BE OVER $400 FOR A LIGHT BULB. I BELIEVE THAT THIS PART OR DESIGN IS DEFECTIVE.

2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. CONSUMER STATES FAULT IN VEHICLE *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED HE BACKED OUT OF A PARKING SPACE, SHIFTED INTO DRIVE AND THE VEHICLE REFUSED TO RESPOND TO DRIVE AS HE PRESSED THE ACCELERATOR. IT SEEMED THE BRAKE WAS ON. A MASTER FAULT APPEARED ON THE SCREEN. IT SAID BATTERIES WILL NOT CHARGE IF LET IN THE NEUTRAL POSITION. AFTER SEVERAL TRIES, IT FINALLY RESPONDED. *JB

THE 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS HAS A STRONG SMELL THAT RESEMBLES A ELECTRICAL BURNING SMELL IT MAKES YOUR EYES WATER AND YOUR CLOTHS SMELL LIKE IT LONG AFTER YOU HAVE LEFT THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER IS NOT SURE WHERE IT IS COMING FROM. THERE ARE OTHER REPORTED CLAIMS OF THE SAME SMELL ON THE INTERNET. *TR

TOYOTA PRIUS - 2.5 YEARS OLD, UNDER FULL PARTS & LABOR FACTORY WARRANTY HEAD LIGHTS HID BULBS WORK INTERMITTENTLY. DEALERSHIP RESPONSE: PAY $771.43+TAX FOR BULBS - GOT WRITTEN QUOTE *CN

WHEN HITTING SMALL BUMPS TRAVELLING AT SPEEDS OF 25-50MPH (SUCH AS BUMPS BEFORE BRIDGES) THE ABS WILL ACTIVATE AND THE PEDALS GO LOOSE. IT SEEMS THE CAR CAN NOT BE CONTROLLED FOR ABOUT 3/4 OF A SECOND ONCE THIS OCCURS. LUCKILY I HAVE NEVER BEEN ROUNDING A TURN OR APPROACHING STOPPED TRAFFIC WHEN THIS OCCURS OR I WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO STOP. I HAD ONE CLOSE CALL WHERE THE BRAKES SEEMED TO LAG BEFORE KICKING IN, THEN JOLTING HARD AFTER THE DELAY CAUSING ME TO ALMOST LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE.

2008 TOYOTA PRIUS WAS HIT IN THE REAR, SIDE AND FRONT AND TOTALED FOR A LOSS OF $20,792.00 AND AIR BAGS NEVER DEPLOYED. *CN

I WAS DRIVING TO THE AIRPORT ONE NIGHT AND THE HEADLIGHTS ON MY 2008 PRIUS TURNED OFF. I WAS ABLE TO TURN THEM BACK ON BY RESETING THE LIGHT SWITCH. THIS HAPPEN SEVERAL TIMES DURING MY TRIP TO AND FROM THE AIRPORT. I TOOK THE VEHICLE INTO DUBLIN (CA) TOYOTA BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO ACCURATELY DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. EVERYTHING CHECKED OUT OK TO THEM EVEN THOUGH THE LIGHTS WERE TURNING ON AND OFF IN THEIR SERVICE BAY. THEY SUGGESTED CHANGING BOTH LIGHTS FOR $600 WHICH THEY SAID WAS A DISCOUNT FROM TOYOTA. HOWEVER THEY COULD NOT GUARANTEE THIS WOULD CORRECT THE PROBLEM. I DECIDED TO ORDER THE BULBS AND CHANGE THEM MYSELF. I UNDERSTAND THIS IS A FAIRLY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE PRIUS. NEED YOUR HELP TO FORCE TOYOTA TO FIND THE ROOT CAUSE OF THE FAILURE.

I HAVE A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS THAT WE PURCHASED NEW IN APRIL OF 08. ON MARCH 19TH I WAS DRIVING IN HEAVY STOP AND GO TRAFFIC ON A STREET WITH CONSTRUCTION PANELS ON PARTS OF SURFACE. I WAS LEAVING A CAR LENGTH IN FRONT OF ME. WHEN THE CAR AHEAD STOPPED, I APPLIED THE BRAKES AND NOTHING HAPPENED. THE CAR KEPT GOING AND CRASHED INTO THE REAR END OF THE CAR AHEAD. NO ONE HURT BUT DAMAGE TO BUMPER AND HOOD OF MY CAR. TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP NEXT MORNING. TOYOTA REP LOOKED OVER IT, RAN DIAGONSTIC CODES AND SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE CAR. I KNOW THE BRAKES FAILED. WE HAVE LOST CONFIDENCE IN THE CAR AND TOYOTA SERVICE.

MY 2008 PRIUS SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AS I PULLED OVER TO PARK AT THE CURB 2 HOURS AGO. MY FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE, NOT NEAR THE ACCELERATOR, AND I LONG AGO REPLACED MY FLOOR MATS SO I KNOW THERE WAS NO MECHANICAL INTERFERENCE. THIS IS THE 2ND TIME I HAVE HAD THIS EXPERIENCE WITH THE CAR. CIRCUMSTANCES WERE IDENTICAL IN THE FIRST OCCURRENCE. NO DAMAGE RESULTED AS THE ACCELERATION SEEMED TO PULSE FOR LESS THAN 1 SECOND AND I DID NOT LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. I DID NOTICE SOME GRAVEL IN THE ROAD AS I APPROACHED THE PARKING SPOT BUT I AM CONFIDENT THAT THE VEHICLE DID NOT SKID. *TR

LEFT FROM HEADLIGHT HAS FAILED AT 28 MONTHS / 36,000 MILES, AND I'VE BEEN QUOTED >$200 TO REPAIR! *TR

2008 PRIUS. AT 35,000 MILES THE PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT BURNT OUT, COVERED BY WARRANTY. AT 40,000 MILES THE DRIVER'S SIDE BURNS OUT, BUT IT IS NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY. $200 TO REPLACE. I'VE NEVER BEEN TOLD BY CARSON CITY TOYOTA THAT PRIUS CARS HAVE A PROBLEM WITH HEADLIGHTS. *TR

CONSUMER IS CONCERNED WITH BRAKING PROBLEMS WITH THE 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. *TS THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THE BRAKING PROBLEM WAS RELATED TO WEIGHT OF THE VEHICLE, DUE TO IT BEING SO LIGHT.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 2 MPH AND DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE VEHICLE ABNORMALLY ACCELERATED. SHE MAINTAINED FIRM PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE AND WAS ABLE TO BRING THE VEHICLE TO A STOP. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT LEFT THE VEHICLE IN THE DEALERS POSSESSION FOR FURTHER INSPECTION. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 12,900. UPDATED 11/16/10 *BF UPDATED 11/16/10

I WAS TRYING TO PARK MY CAR(TOYOTA PRIUS 2008) IN THE FARMERS MARKET AND THE CAR DIDN'T STOP AND CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE AND WENT FURTHER ABOUT 50 FEET AND HIT A WOOD POLE. LATER TOYOTA SERVICE FIXED THE PROBLEM BY CHANGING THE NECESSARY PARTS IN THE VEHICLE. THEY CONFIRMED THAT THEY TOOK THE CAR FOR TEST DRIVE AND MADE SURE THAT EVERYTHING IS OK. BUT I AM STILL SCARED TO DRIVE THAT CAR BECAUSE OF WHAT HAPPENED. I HAVE BEEN DRIVING FOR MORE THAN 18 YEARS IN THIS COUNTRY AND DO NOT HAVE ANY TRAFFIC VIOLATIONS OR ACCIDENTS. THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME ANYTHING LIKE THIS HAPPENED. I ALSO OWN TWO OTHER VEHICLES , HONDA ODYSSEY AND TOYOTA CAMRY. *TR

TOYOTA PRIUS VIN=[XXX] PASSENGER HID HEADLIGHT FAILED WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT. STOPPED, SHUT OFF ENGINE, RESTARTED AND HEADLIGHT REENERGIZED, BUT FAILED AGAIN WHILE DRIVING AFTER A FEW MINUTES. MILES ON CAR 35,499. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH INTO A GRASSY FIELD TO PARK THE VEHICLE. WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS APPLIED THE VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD AND STRUCK A PEDESTRIAN. THE CONTACT ENGAGED THE AUTOMATIC IGNITION OFF BUTTON FOR AN IMMEDIATE RESPONSE. THE VEHICLE CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THIS TIME. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 27,000. UPDATED 5/3/10 *CN A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FIED. UPDATED 05/17/10.*JB

IN MY 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS, WHEN I AM BRAKING (USING THE REGENERATIVE BRAKING SYSTEM) AND HIT A ROUGH PATCH OF PAVEMENT THAT REQUIRES THE ABS, THERE IS A SHORT TIME WHEN NO BRAKE IS ENGAGED AND THE CAR SEEMS TO SPEED UP TEMPORARILY (JUST A SPLIT SECOND). PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS, NOT JUST THE DATE REQUESTED BELOW. *TR

AFTER READING ABOUT THE RUN A WAY PRIUS IN SAN DIEGO MONDAY, I ATTEMPTED TO PUT MY PRIUS IN NEUTRAL. NEUTRAL DOES NOT EXIST OR DOES NOT WORK. WHILE ACCELERATING ONE CANNOT PUT THE PRIUS IN NEUTRAL. THIS IS A CONCERN. I CALLED THE DEALER AND THE REP SAID THAT PRIUS' ARE A BREED ALL THERE OWN AND PRETTY MUCH AGREED THAT THE NEUTRAL DID NOT WORK. PEOPLE SHOULD KNOW THIS. *TR

MY 2008 PRIUS HAS AN UNACCEPTABLE LEVEL OF ABS FALSE ACTIVATION. I HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR AN SOFTWARE UPDATE TO BE DEVELOPED AND DEPLOYED, BUT IT SEEMS TOYOTA ONLY ACKNOWLEDGES THE ISSUE ON THE 2010 MODEL. I AM A FORMER BRAKE SYSTEMS ENGINEER AND I KNOW HOW THE ABS SHOULD OPERATE. THIS TUNING IS TOO SENSITIVE ON ROUGH SURFACES AND RESULTS IN TEMPORARY REDUCTION IN BRAKING FORCE THAT IS DISCONCERTING AND POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS. THIS OCCURS ANYTIME BRAKING ON ROUGH SURFACES (CHATTER BUMP). *TR

WE OWN A 2008 PRIUS. THE TRANSPORTATION SECRETARY (AND THE LATEST INCIDENT IN CALIF.) LEADS US TO BELIEVE IT IS UNSAFE. ALL WE CAN GET FROM TOYOTA AND ITS DEALER IS WAIT UNTIL YOU GET A LETTER. WHEN IS THE GOVERNMENT GOING TO FORCE THEM TO DO SOMETHING? *TR

I LEFT MY 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS RUNNING AND HAD TO RUN BACK INTO A HOME WHERE I'D JUST LEFT A SALES APPOINTMENT. EVENTHOUGH I HAD THE KEY FOB IN MY POCKET, I NOTICED OUT OF THE CORNER OF MY EYE AS I WAS CROSSING THE STREET BACK TOWARDS THE HOUSE THAT MY CAR WAS CAREENING INTO THE BUICK PARKED ACROSS THE STREET. I RAN AND JUMPED IN AND STEERED IT AWAY FROM T-BONING THE PARKED BUICK, BUT COULD NOT KEEP IT THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE PRIUS FROM SCRAPING ALONG THE DRIVER'S SIDE CORNER OF THE BUICK'S REAR BUMPER. *TR

2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. CONSUMER STATES UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. *TGW WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY, THE CONSUMER LET UP OFF THE ACCELERATOR, BUT THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO SPEED UP. THE CONSUMER RELEASED HER FOOT COMPLETELY FROM THE ACCELERATOR ALL TOGETHER, BUT THE VEHICLE INCREASED IN SPEED. THE BRAKE WAS APPLIED, BUT IT DID NOT SLOW IT DOWN AT FIRST. FINALLY, THE BRAKE BEGAN TO WORK. THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO DRIVE SAFELY TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THE FLOOR MAT WAS REMOVED MONTHS AGO. *JB

WHENEVER I BRAKE WHILE DRIVING OVER A BUMP IN THE ROAD OR A POTHOLE, MY BRAKES GIVE OUT MOMENTARILY. AT THAT SAME TIME A SYMBOL FLASHES ON MY DASHBOARD. MY MANUAL IDENTIFIES THIS SYMBOL AS "THE VSC (VEHICLE STABILITY CONTROL) HAS BEEN ENGAGED." THIS FORM REQUIRES A SPECIFIC MONTH, DAY, YEAR. THE APPROXIMATELY INCIDENT DATES ARE EVERY DAY, EVERY WEEK, EVERY MONTH, EVERY YEAR. *TR

THE DRIVER'S SIDE HID HEADLAMP INTERMITTENTLY FAILS WHILE THE CAR IS IN OPERATION. I HAVE BROUGHT THIS TO THE TOYOTA DEALERS SEVERAL TIMES, ONLY TO BE TOLD THE PROBLEM CANNOT BE RECREATED. *TR

UNPROMPTED ACCELERATION - CAR ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN ACCORD. THIS HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES AND LASTS FOR ONLY A SECOND OR SO. THIS COMPLAINT IS PROMPTED BY MORE SEVERE REPORTS WHICH ARE VERY CONCERNING TO US IN REGARD TO POTENTIAL HAZARD. *TR

PREMATURE FAILURE OF HID LIGHT BULB ON 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS WITH 49,000 MILES ON IT . THEN BEING TOLD BY THE DEALER IT WILL COST 250.00 TO REPLACE IT.I UNDERSTAND THIS A REALLY COMMON FAILURE ON PRIUS WITH HID LIGHT BULBS AND IT HAPPENS ALOT.. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY. THE CONTACT OBSERVED A WATER LEAK IN THE TRUNK IN THE SPARE TIRE WHEEL WELL. THE FAILURE OCCURRED DURING RAINY WEATHER CONDITIONS. THE WATER WAS DRAINED FROM THE WHEEL WELL. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED ABOUT THE POTENTIAL SAFETY HAZARD CONTRIBUTED TO WATER LEAKAGE WITHIN THE BATTERY. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 40,000.

2008 TOYOTA PRIUS HID HEADLAMP HAS GONE OUT ON THE DRIVERS SIDE...DEALERSHIP IN ASHEVILLE ONLY SAYS ITS PAST THE 36,000 MILES AND OUT OF WARRANTY. GOING TO HAVE THE DEALERSHIP CHECK OUT THE LIGHT AND WHAT IS WRONG. SAW ALL THE COMPLAINTS WITH OTHER OWNERS AND THIS IS A PROBLEM, AND A SAFETY ISSUE. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THIS OR A LEMON LAW PUT ON IT SO TOYOTA WILL HANDLE THE COSTS. I AM JUST WONDERING HOW MUCH IT WILL COST. THE LIGHT ALONE IS ABOUT $150.00 EACH. *TR

2008 PRIUS REGULARLY THRUSTS FORWARD AFTER ABOUT 30 SECONDS FROM STARTING THE CAR. THEN, CAR LOOMS BACK INTO POSITION. IT HAS ALWAYS SCARED ME AND MAKES ME INSECURE TO DRIVE THE CAR. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR IN DECEMBER 2007, SO THE DATE OF THE INCIDENT BELOW IS INACCURATE. I FELT I SHOULD REPORT THIS IN LIGHT OF THE RECENT REPORTS OF DEFECTS, ETC. THANK YOU. *TR

HEADLIGHTS OFTEN GO OUT. IF I STOP AND MANIPULATE THE CONNECTION, IT WILL COME BACK ON. THERE IS NO GUARANTEE THE LIGHT WILL STAY ON. PRIMARILY HAPPENS ON THE DRIVERS SIDE LIGHT BUT PASSENGER SIDE HAS ALSO GONE OUT. THEY HAVE NEVER(AS YET) BOTH GONE OUT AT THE SAME TIME. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH ON WET ROAD CONDITIONS PROCEEDING TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN WHEN THE ENGINE MADE A LOUD SURGING SOUND FOLLOWED BY AN UNINTENDED BRIEF ACCELERATION, HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO CONTINUE NORMAL OPERATION. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE MALFUNCTION. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 15,334.

2008 PRIUS HEAD LIGHT FAILURE. BOTH HEADLIGHTS HAVE GONE OUT. NOT UNDER WARRANTY I HAD NEW HEADLIGHT PUT IN (1-2009 & 1 IN 2010). *TR

I PURCHASED A 2008 PRIUS WITH HID BULBS AND THEY BOTH STARTED GOING OUT A COUPLE WEEKS AFTER OWNING IT WHILE I WAS DRIVING HOME AT NIGHT. IN JUST A MATTER OF MINUTES, I HAD NO LIGHTS AT ALL! I WAS IN A URBAN AREA, SO THE STREET LIGHTS WERE THERE SO THAT I COULD SEE. BUT IF I WERE IN THE COUNTRY, AS I USUALLY AM ABOUT ONCE A WEEK, I WOULD HAVE BEEN IN BIG TROUBLE. *TR

I OWN A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS AND I HAVE PROBLEMS WITH MY BRAKES AFTER GOING OVER BUMPY ROADS OR POTHOLES. I NOTICE THIS WHEN I AM APPLYING CONSTANT BRAKE PRESSURE THROUGH BUMPY ROAD CONDITIONS AS MY BRAKES WILL SIMPLY LET GO. I PERSONALLY BELIEVE THAT THERE IS A SOFTWARE PROBLEM REGARDING THE ABS SYSTEM AND THE SYSTEM BELIEVING THERE IS WHEEL LOCK UP WHEN THERE IS NONE. THIS WOULD CAUSE THE ABS SYSTEM TO ENGAGE. IT SHOULD NOT BE SO SENSITIVE THAT IS GOES OFF WHEN NO WHEELS ARE SLIPPING. I HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS IN MANY INSTANCES AND IT HAS ALMOST LEAD TO ME CRASHING INTO A TOLL BOOTH ARM/POLE. OR ONCE DRIVING TOO FAR INTO AN INTERSECTION AT A RED LIGHT. TOYOTA SAYS THE BRAKING PROBLEM ONLY AFFECTS THE 2010 PRIUS MODEL BUT THIS IS SIMPLY NOT TRUE. I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING THIS SINCE I FIRST TOOK POSSESSION OF MY MODEL 2008 PRIUS IN EARLY 2008. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE TRAVELING AT A SPEED OF 25 MPH THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO APPLY THE BRAKES AND NOTICED THAT THEY WOULD NOT ENGAGE. WHEN THE BRAKES FAILED TO STOP THE VEHICLE THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A CURB WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO STOP. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES OR NEED TO FILE A POLICE REPORT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 15,500.

PRIUS 2008 HEADLAMP: BOTH THE PASSENGER AND DRIVER SIDE HEADLAMPS, ONE AT A TIME, INTERMITTENTLY TURN OFF. IF I TURN THE LIGHTS OF FOR A FEW SECONDS, THE LIGHT COMES BACK ON AND STAYS ON, SOMETIMES FOR A SHORT WHILE AND SOMETIMES FOR A LONGER PERIOD. I HAVE NOT HAD BOTH GO OUT AT THE SAME TIME. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR AT LEAST ONE MONTH.

WHEN BRAKING ON SLIPPERY SURFACE-THE ABS KICKS IN- IT FEELS AS THOUGH THE BRAKES DISENGAGE AND THE CAR SPEEDS UP SLIGHTLY. *TR