2008 Toyota Prius Complaint Log

IN MY 2008 PRIUS, WHEN I AM BRAKING AND GO OVER A BUMP, THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM KICKS IN. HOWEVER, WHEN IT DOES, IT FEELS LIKE THE BRAKES DISENGAGE FOR A SECOND AND THE CAR SPEEDS UP. I FEEL LIKE I AM LOSING CONTROL OF THE CAR FOR A FEW SECONDS. *TR

WHEN I AM BRAKING AND GO OVER A BUMP IN MY 2008 PRIUS TOYOTA, IT FEELS LIKE THE BRAKES DISENGAGE FOR A SECOND AND THE CAR GOES FASTER. I NOTICED THIS MAINLY DURING WINTER DRIVING IN SNOW AND ICE. *TR

THE HID LEFT HEADLIGHT WORKS INTERMITTENTLY ON MY 2008 PRIUS. MY CAR IS BEYOND WARRANTY FOR THIS AND TOYOTA HAS OFFERED "CUSTOMER SUPPORT" FOR THIS PROBLEM AT A REDUCED COST. THE REDUCED COST IS IN EXCESS OF $1000 FOR CONTROL ECU AND BULB REPLACEMENT. PRIUS FORUMS SUGGEST I CONTACT YOU FOR ASSISTANCE IN THIS SAFETY MATTER. *TR

ON 31 DECEMBER 2009 MY 08 PRIUS WAS SLOWED DOWN PRIOR TO TURNING INTO A DRIVEWAY, WHEN IT SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. IT WENT OUT OF CONTROL AND CRASHED INTO TREES AND A POWERPOLE. THE FLOOR MAT, THAT ACCORDING TO TOYOTA IS SUPPOSED TO CAUSE THIS, WAS PROPERLY ATTACHED TO THE PEGS IN THE FLOOR, AND IN PROPER PLACE EVEN AFTER THE CRASH RECENTLY, ON 6 APRIL, 2010, I AGAIN EXPERIENCED A SUDDEN UNEXPLAINED ACCELERATION WHEN GOING ABOUT 5/10 MILES PER HOUR. IT LASTED ABOUT FOUR SECONDS AND DID NOT RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT. *TR

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, AND THE DRIVER'S SIDE HEADLIGHT SUDDENLY QUIT WORKING. I TURNED THE LIGHTS OFF AND THEN BACK ON; THE HEADLIGHT BEGAN WORKING AGAIN. THIS HAPPENED THREE TIMES IN A 10 MILE STRETCH. THE FOLLOWING DAY THE SAME THING HAPPENED WITH THE PASSENGER'S SIDE HEADLIGHT. MY PARKING LIGHTS HAVE DONE THE SAME THING AS WELL. *TR

I HAVE A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS AND LIVE IN ST. PAUL, MN. IN LATE DECEMBER FOLLOWING A SNOW AND THEN ICE STORM I WAS DRIVING ON CITY STREETS. AS I WAS COMING UP TO AN INTERSECTION WITH A STOP SIGN, I APPLIED THE BRAKES AND NOTHING HAPPENED. THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES DID NOT ENGAGE AT ALL. I PRESSED HARDER AND NOTHING HAPPENED. I AVOIDED AN ACCIDENT BY MAKING A SHARP RIGHT HAND TURN AND MISSING THE CAR WHICH I WAS ABOUT TO HIT BROADSIDE. I HAVE TAKEN NO ACTION YET REGARDING THIS MALFUNCTION. *TR

MY 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS HEADLIGHTS STOPS WORKING ALL OF A SUDDEN WITHOUT ANY WARNING. IF I TURN OFF AND TURN ON THE LIGHTS AGAIN, THEY WORK FINE FOR FEW MINUTES AND SUDDENLY STOP WORKING AGAIN. SINCE THE LIGHTS STOPS WORKING RANDOMLY, THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS WHILE DRIVING ALONE IN REMOTE ROADS THAT DO NOT HAVE ADEQUATE STREET LIGHTING. I REQUEST NHTSA TO INVESTIGATE INTO THIS PROMPTLY. *TR

I HAVE A 08 PRIUS. THE LAST FEW MONTHS I HAVE BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH MY HEADLIGHTS. I HAVE PEOPLE TELL ME I HAVE A LIGHT OUT, BUT WHEN I CHECK ITS WORKING. IT SEEMS THAT I AM DRIVING IN THE DARK SOMETIMES WITH JUST MY FOG LAMPS, I TURN THE LIGHTS OFF AND ON THEN THEY SEEM BRIGHTER. HEADLAMPS COST $179. PLUS LABOR. TOYOTA WILL NOT GUARANTEE THAT IS THE FIX AND TALKING IT MAY COST UPWARDS OF 4-5 THOUSAND DOLLARS FOR DEPENDABLE LIGHTS. THIS SEEMS LIKE A CRIME TOO ME. I HEAR OF A POSSIBLE RECALL OF THIS PROBLEM BUT NOT REALLY SURE WHAT TO DO ABOUT THE PROBLEM NOW, I DON'T HAVE 4-5 THOUSAND DOLLARS TO HAVE PROPERLY WORKING HEADLIGHTS. *TR

I OWN A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. AFTER READING A REPORT ABOUT POSSIBLE BRAKING PROBLEMS WITH THIS AUTO, I WANTED SOMEONE TO BE AWARE THAT THIS IS ALSO HAPPENING WITH THE 2008 PRIUS AND NOT JUST THE 2010 PRIUS. I HAVE EXPERIENCE SEVERAL TIMES WHEN I HIT A SMALL POTHOLE OR EVEN A SPEED BUMP, THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH A MOMENTARY LOSS OF BRAKING CAPABILITY. THIS HAS NOT RESULTED IN ANY ACCIDENT OR INJURY, BUT VERY SCARY WHEN IT HAPPENS. I DISMISSED THE PROBLEM THINKING IT WAS SUPPOSE TO ACT THAT WAY, BUT NOW I AM CONCERNED. *TR

WHILE DRIVING, THE DRIVER'S SIDE HEADLIGHT WILL FAIL (TURN OFF) FOR NO APPARENT REASON. TURNING THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH OFF THEN ON WILL RESTORE THE HEADLIGHTS FUNCTIONING. I HAVE BEEN STOPPED BY THE POLICE ONCE FOR THIS, AND HAVE NOTICED IT NOW ON MY OWN MANY TIMES SINCE; ALMOST EVERY TIME I DRIVE. *TR

I HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY UPDATE FROM TOYOTA AFTER THEY SENT ME A NOTICE 2 MONTHS AGO ABOUT MY FLOOR MAT ISSUE. *TR

I HAVE A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE HID BULBS DID NOT LAST OVER A YEAR. *TW

I WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25MPH. A FIRE ENGINE ENTERED THE INTERSECTION AHEAD OF ME WITHOUT WARNING. I APPLIED THE BRAKES IMMEDIATELY, BUT THEY LOCKED UP AND I SLID ON ICE. I COULD NOT STOP AND HIT THE FIRE ENGINE. MY VEHICLE WAS TOTALED AND I WAS FOUND AT FAULT FOR THE ACCIDENT. *TR

PRIUS IS 2 YEARS OLD. DRIVER'S SIDE HID HEADLAMP FAILS INTERMITTENTLY. NOTE THE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ON THIS WEBSITE RE: HID HEADLAMP FAILURE. TOYOTA OFFERED TO INSTALL A NEW BULB WITHOUT CHARGE FOR THE PART (NORMALLY $150 DOLLARS) BUT INSISTED ON CHARGING $93 LABOR. 93 DOLLARS TO CHANGE A BULB? A BULB THAT SHOULD LAST FOR MANY, MANY YEARS? WHEN WILL TOYOTA ADMIT TO A DEFECT? I PAID EXTRA FOR HID HEADLAMPS FOR THIS? *TR

I WAS DRIVING N ON BROADWAY AND CRASHED INTO A POWER POLE SEVERAL BLOCKS FROM WHERE I WAS GOING. I DON'T REMEMBER THE CRASH OR THE EVENTS LEADING UP TO THE CRASH DUE TO A HEAD INJURY. I WAS DRIVING A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. I HADN'T HAD ANY PROBLEMS BEFORE THE CRASH. MY DOCTORS ARE PERFORMING NUMEROUS TESTS TO DETERMINE IF THERE ARE ANY PHYSICAL PROBLEMS WITH ME (SO FAR NOTHING HAS SHOWN UP IN THE TESTS), BUT NO ONE HAS CONSIDERED WHETHER OR NOT THERE WAS A DEFECT WITH THE CAR THAT MAY HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THE ACCIDENT. *TR

MY 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS HAS EXPERIENCED THE SAME BRAKING PROBLEMS DESCRIBED IN RECENT MEDIA RELEASES. MY 2005 PRIUS ALSO HAD THE SAME PROBLEM, BUT I'VE SINCE SOLD IT. WHEN DRIVING OVER A SLIPPERY SURFACE (ICE, A WET SEWER COVER OR PAINTED CROSSWALK LINE) AND NEEDING TO BRAKE - WHEN I FIRST APPLY THE BRAKE IT BEGINS TO STOP, THEN THE CAR SUDDENLY SPEEDS UP AGAIN BEFORE CONTINUING TO BRAKE. I'VE LEARNED TO KEEP MY DISTANCE SO I DON'T HIT ANYONE IN THE SPLIT SECOND THE CAR IS NO LONGER BRAKING. *TR

I HAVE A 2008 PRIUS. I WAS IN BUMPER TO BUMPER TRAFFIC AND STOPPED. WHEN THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME MOVED UP (I WAS ABOUT 2 OR 3 CAR LINKS BEHIND THEM) I TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE AND MY CAR SURGED FORWARD , I PRESSED AS HARD AS I COULD ON THE BRAKE WITH BOTH FEET AND THE CAR CRASHED INTO THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. IT WAS LIKE IN SLOW MOTION, BUT THE CAR WOULD NOT STOP. I PUT THE CAR IN PARK THEN TURNED IT OFF AFTER THE CRASH. MY AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY, BUT IT CAUSED THE REAR BUMPER OF THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME TO ALMOST FALL OFF IN THE STREET. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE NEAREST DEALERSHIP. I WAS NOT GIVEN A TICKET BY THE POLICE. I TOLD ALL THIS TO THE DEALERSHIP AND INS. COMPANY AND WE REQUESTED AN INSPECTION OF THE BRAKES. AFTER THE BODY REPAIR ON MY CAR IWAS COMPLETED, THE DEALERSHIP DID A VISUAL INSPECTION OF THE BRAKES, TEST DROVE IT AND SAID IT MET WITH THEIR SPECS. AND THAT THE PADS WERE STILL WITHIN THE PROPER THICKNESS ON THE BRAKES. THEY COULDN'T FIND ANY PROBLEM. *TR

ON 12/03/09 WE WERE TICKETED FOR A LEFT HEADLIGHT OUT ON OUR 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. WE DIDN'T KNOW IT WAS OUT OR GOING OUT. IT LOOKED ON TO US. TWO MILES FROM HOME IT LOOKED AS BRIGHT AS EVER. THE NEXT MORNING, AS MUCH AS WE TRIED, THE GARAGE COULD NOT FIND A BULB OUT, GOING OUT, WEAK, ON OR OFF, NOTHING WAS WRONG! WE HAD A FUNERAL TO GO TO AND PAID THE FINE. TWO WEEKS LATER, A LETTER WAS MAILED FROM TOYOTA LISTING ISSUES REGARDING THESE HID LIGHTS STATING THAT THESE SUDDENLY GO OUT, AND ON AND OFF, AMONG OTHER THINGS, NEAR THE END OF THEIR LIFE. MY CAR IS A 2008. MY HUSBAND AND I CANNOT REPLACE THESE EXPENSIVE, EXOTIC HID BULBS BECAUSE ACCESS IS IN A VERY TIGHT PLACE AND THE BUMPER MUST BE REMOVED--SERIOUSLY!!!! EVEN IF WE COULD DO IT, THESE HID BULBS CANNOT BE PURCHASED IN A NORMAL AUTOMOTIVE STORE. ANYHOW, AGAIN ON 10/17/10 I WAS SEVERAL HOURS OUT OF TOWN, DRIVING HOME ON THE INTERSTATE, AT NIGHT, ON A WEEKEND, AND THE OTHER HEADLIGHT WENT OUT!!! I COULD NOT PUT IN A NEW BULB MYSELF. I HAD NO ONE TO CALL WITH THIS EXOTIC HID LIGHT AND CERTAINLY NO ONE THAT WOULD TAKE OFF A BUMPER ON THE INTERSTATE. SUDDEN, COMPLETE LIGHT OUTAGE AT NIGHT IS A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. ON TOP OF THIS, HID HEADLAMP PROBLEM, ANY LIGHT BULB NEEDS TO BE RELATIVELY EASY TO REPLACE. AT $150. PER BULB, VERY PRICEY LIGHT PLUS BUMPER REMOVAL LABOR EXPENSE AT 1 HOUR ($288), THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP SERVICE CLERK ACTUALLY SAID "YOU CHOSE THIS OPTION." HELP BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED ON ONE OF THESE DARK ROADS (CHANCES ARE THIS HAS OCCURRED WITH NO ONE ALIVE TO KNOW THIS WAS THE CAUSE)!!! *TR

I DRIVE A BLACK 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS AND AFTER READING THE NEWS REPORTS, I THINK THERE MIGHT BE SIMILAR BRAKING ISSUES WITH MY VEHICLE. THE CONDITION DEFINITELY DOES NOT HAPPEN VERY OFTEN, BUT I WOULD SAY AT LEAST 5-10 TIMES OVER THE 23 MONTHS (MARCH 08 - PRESENT) THAT I HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE. WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL APPLIED AFTER GOING OVER A ROUGH SPOT OR POTHOLE IN THE ROAD, IT FELT LIKE THE CAR WAS SKIDDING OR SLIDING. THE CAR WOULD RESUME NORMAL OPERATING CONDITIONS WITHIN A FEW SECONDS. THE CAR WAS NEVER OUT OF CONTROL, BUT THE STEERING WHEEL AND BRAKE PEDAL DEFINITELY FELT VERY LOOSE WHICH IS DIFFERENT THAN UNDER NORMAL CIRCUMSTANCES. ALSO, WHEN THIS CONDITION OCCURS, THE LOW-TRACTION INDICATOR LIGHT ON THE DASHBOARD ILLUMINATES FOR A FEW SECONDS. THESE INCIDENTS OCCURRED WHEN THERE WAS NOT OTHER TRAFFIC AROUND. UP TO THIS POINT, I ATTRIBUTED THE CONDITION TO DRIVER ERROR, BUT I WOULD RATHER ADD MY DESCRIPTION AND ERR ON THE SIDE OF BEING OVERLY CAUTIOUS. *TR

WHEN BRAKING, IF A POTHOLE OR BUMP IN THE ROAD IS HIT, THE CAR SEEMINGLY JERKS FORWARD/ACCELERATES FOR A SPLIT SECOND. *TR

DRIVING ON SNOWY OR SLIPPERY ROAD CONDITIONS CAN CAUSE MY 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS TO LOSE POWER COMPLETELY. IN DECEMBER I WAS GOING UP A VERY SLIGHT INCLINE, IN APPROXIMATELY 2 INCHES OF SNOW. THE PRIUS LOST A LITTLE TRACTION GOING UP THE INCLINE AND THEN SHUT OFF COMPLETELY. I HAD NO CONTROL AT ALL AS MY CAR WENT BACKWARD DOWN THE INCLINE AND THEN STRAIGHT INTO A SNOWBANK, WHERE I WAS STUCK. LUCKILY THERE WAS NO CAR DIRECTLY BEHIND ME. IT WAS VERY SCARY. I LOOKED ONLINE FOR INFORMATION ABOUT THIS PROBLEM, FOUND A TON OF IT, THEN WENT AND BOUGHT SOME VERY EXPENSIVE SNOW TIRES. NOW I'M USING THOSE AND HOPING I WILL NOT LOSE ANY TRACTION AT ALL WITH THEM. *TR

APPROXIMATELY 2 MONTHS AGO I RECEIVED A LETTER FROM TOYOTA RE: RECALL DUE TO POTENTIAL FOR CAR MAT CAUSING ACCELERATOR TO STICK OPEN. LETTER INDICATED THEY WOULD NOTIFY ME "AS SOON AS A CAMPAIGN REMEDY IS AVAILABLE FOR MY VEHICLE." LETTER FURTHER INDICATED THAT I COULD SUBMIT A COMPLAINT TO YOU "IF YOU BELIEVE THAT TOYOTA HAS FAILED OR IS UNABLE TO PROVIDE A REMEDY WITHOUT CHARGE OR WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME".. I HAVE NOT RECEIVED A NOTICE ABOUT ANY "REMEDY CAMPAIGN". THIS IS NOT TIMELY AND I DO NOT BELIEVE THEY ARE ABLE TO PROVIDE A REMEDY. AS YOU ARE AWARE, SINCE THAT TIME, THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS REPORTS OF "SUDDEN UNEXPECTED ACCELERATION" IN THESE VEHICLES. IT IS ALSO APPARENT THAT THE FLOOR MAT HAS HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH MOST, IF NOT ALL OF THEM. IT DOES NOT APPEAR THAT TOYOTA HAS ANY INTENTION OF NOTIFYING ME OF ANY "REMEDY" AS THEY ARE NOT ACKNOWLEDGING ANY OTHER ACCELERATION PROBLEM. EVERY TIME MY WIFE OR I DRIVE THIS VEHICLE WE ARE RISKING THIS HAPPENING TO OUR VEHICLE AND TOYOTA IS NOT DOING ANYTHING IN A TIMELY MANNER. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS WHICH WAS PURCHASED IN 2008. HE STATED THAT THE EXTERIOR HID HEADLIGHTS FAILED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY REPLACED THE LIGHT BULBS BUT WOULD HAVE TO REMOVE THE ENTIRE FRONT FENDER IN ORDER TO REACH THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY. THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THE TYPE OF FAILURE AS DESCRIBED. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED WITH THE UNPREDICTABILITY OF THE HEADLIGHT FAILURE AND HIS SAFETY AT NIGHT. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THERE WAS NO PARTICULAR SPEED DESCRIBED AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT. THERE WERE NO REPAIRS MADE TO THE VEHICLE TO DATE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE UNDER 38,000.

THANK GOODNESS NOTHING HAPPENED YET BUT MY TOYOTA 2008 PRIUS HAS HEADLIGHT ISSUES. MY PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT KEEPS GOING OUT. I FIND OUT THAT IT COSTS ANYWHERE BETWEEN 200 TO 300 DOLLARS OR MORE TO REPAIR. AND FIXING IT DOES NOT GUARANTEE IT WON'T HAPPEN AGAIN! TOYOTA SENT ME A LETTER EXPLAINING THE PROBLEM AND THAT IF I BRING IT IN TO A DEALER THAT IT WILL ONLY COST ME 150 DOLLARS PLUS LABOR. WELL THANX FOR NOTHING TOYOTA. *TR

TOYOTA PRIUS HEADLIGHTS INTERMITTENTLY FAIL. WHEN DRIVING WITH THE HEADLIGHTS ON, ONE OR BOTH HEADLIGHTS WILL FAIL. UPON TURNING THE LIGHTS OFF AND BACK ON USING THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH ON THE TURN SIGNAL HANDLE, THE LIGHT(S) WILL COME BACK ON. THE ISSUE BEGAN IN LATE 2009 AND HAS CONTINUED TO OCCUR ABOUT 50% OF THE TIME WHEN THE CAR IS USED AT NIGHT. IT IS USUALLY LIMITED TO ONE HEADLIGHT OR THE OTHER AND FAILURE OF BOTH LIGHTS AT THE SAME TIME HAS ONLY BEEN SEEN ONCE. TOYOTA CUSTOMER SUPPORT HAS STATED TO MYSELF (AND OTHER OWNERS) THAT THE ISSUE IS "PREMATURE FAILURE" OF THE HID (HIGH-INTENSITY DISCHARGE) HEADLIGHTS INSTALLED ON 2006 - 2008 MODEL PRIUSES. THEY ARE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND ARE OFFERING "DISCOUNTED" LIGHTS FOR ONLY $150 EACH, WITH NO DISCOUNT OFFERED FOR THE LABOR-INTENSIVE PROCESS OF REPLACING THE LAMPS, WHICH REQUIRES REMOVAL OF THE BUMPER. THE VEHICLE IS NOT COMPATIBLE WITH ANY OTHER TYPE OF BULB (SUCH AS THE HALOGEN BULBS THAT ARE STANDARD ON THE NEWER PRIUS MODELS), SO OWNERS ARE FORCED TO PAY TOYOTA AN INCREDIBLY HIGH FEE (EVEN AFTER THE DISCOUNT) TO GET THEIR CARS SAFELY BACK ON THE ROAD. I HAVE NOT HAD THE ISSUE RESOLVED BECAUSE OF THE HIGH COST. THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN OBSERVED AND DOCUMENTED BY HUNDREDS OF OWNERS ON THE PRIUSCHAT.COM FORUM AND HUNDREDS OR THOUSANDS MORE ON OTHER WEBSITES. PREVIOUS NHTSA INVESTIGATION DOCUMENTED THAT THIS PROBLEM MAY HAVE BEEN PRESENT IN AS MANY AS 100,000 VEHICLES. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE DEALT WITH BY THE MANUFACTURER. THE ISSUE IS APPARENTLY RESOLVED IN 2009 AND LATER MODELS BECAUSE THE HID LAMPS WERE REPLACED WITH HALOGEN, BUT THE DANGER OF HEADLIGHT FAILURE ON EARLIER MODELS WILL REMAIN HIGH UNTIL TOYOTA MAKES THE EARLIER MODELS COMPATIBLE WITH MORE RELIABLE HEADLIGHTS. ALL OF THIS ASSUMES TOYOTA IS BEING FORTHRIGHT IN THEIR CLAIM THAT THE HID BULBS ARE THE CULPRIT. IF THERE IS A BIGGER ISSUE, CONSUMERS SHOULD OBVIOUSLY BE MADE AWARE OF THAT, AS WELL. *TR

LED BRAKE TAIL LIGHTS TOO BRIGHT. BLIND DRIVER BEHIND VEHICLE AT NIGHT. *TR

THE HEADLIGHTS ON MY 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS WENT OUT WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT IN A VERY RURAL SETTING! I WAS ABLE TO TURN THEM BACK ON BY TURNING OFF/ON THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH. YET, ONLY ONE OR BOTH LIGHTS WOULD COME ON. AS MY CAR HAS 49,000 MILES IN LESS THAN 2 YEARS, IT IS OUT OF WARRANTY. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THAT THE BULBS HAD A SHORT IN THEM. YET I THOUGHT THE BULBS WERE TO BE LONGLASTING? ALSO, IT WAS A SAFETY FACTOR THAT THEY BOTH WENT OUT AT NIGHT! I HAVE SEEN OTHER REPORTS ON BLOGS THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED TO OTHERS. CAN YOU HELP BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT! FINALLY, THE REPAIR COST FOR THE LIGHTS WAS ENORMOUS! IT WAS $254 PER LIGHT TO BE FIXED! I AM JUST BLESSED THAT THIS DID NOT OCCUR IN A BUSY INTERSECTION OR WITH ONCOMING TRAFFIC! *TR

MY 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS HAS EXPERIENCED MULTIPLE INCIDENTS IN WHICH THE BRAKES DO NOT KICK IN FOR A SECOND OR SO WHEN TRYING TO BRAKE GOING OVER ROUGH ROADS. THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE LIGHT COMES ON THE DASHBOARD, BUT THE BRAKES THEMSELVES DO NOT BEGIN TO SLOW DOWN THE CAR FOR A SECOND OR SO. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 6 MPH ON AN ICY ROAD SURFACE; PROCEEDING TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN WITH PRESSURE APPLIED TO BRAKE PEDAL, THERE WAS A THREE SECOND DELAY POWER RESPONSE. THE DRIVER EXERTED EXCESSIVE FORCE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL AND SUDDENLY, THE VEHICLE SLOWED DOWN. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO RESUME NORMAL OPERATION. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHENEVER MAKING A RIGHT TURN ON ANY TYPE OF ROAD SURFACE CONDITIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THE TECHNICIAN REFUSED TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THIS TIME. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 14,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

2008 PRUIS- TWICE IN COLD WEATHER THE COMPUTER DASHBOARD INDICATORS WOULDNT SHOW ANY INFO INCLUDING SPEED OF CAR AND THE CAR WOULD NOT TURN OFF. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THEY HAD NEVER HEARD OF THIS BEFORE. AFTER ABOUT 30 MINUTES OF DRIVING AROUND THE DASHBOARD CAME ON AND I WAS ABLE TO TURN THE CAR OFF. I LOOKED THIS UP ONLINE AND OTHERS HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM IN COLD WEATHER WITH THE PRUIS. *TR

I HAVE A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS AND ON DECEMBER 4, 2009, I REAR-ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE AFTER MY BRAKES FAILED. I APPLIED THE BRAKES AS I WAS COMING UPON THE CAR, AND THE CAR JUST KEPT GOING. FORTUNATELY, I WAS GOING AT A SLOW SPEED. I IMMEDIATELY REPORTED THE ACCIDENT TO MY INSURANCE COMPANY AND I DID TELL THE REPRESENTATIVE THAT I HIT THE BRAKES BUT THE CAR KEPT GOING. *TR

MY HID HEADLIGHTS STARTED TO FAIL AT 30K. THE DEALER REPLACED THE LEFT ONE. A FEW MONTHS LATER THE RIGHT SIDE FAILED. SINCE THEN I HAVE EXPERIENCE THE ONE OR THE OTHER HEADLIGHT GOING OUT AND WHEN I SHUT THE CAR OFF AND RESTART IT MAY OR MAY NOT COME BACK ON. THE LATEST EVENT WAS 30 DEC 2011. I WAS AT THE DEALER TRYING TO PRICE A BULB AND VERIFIED THE LIGHT WAS NOT WORKING. WHEN I LEFT THE DEALER THE BULB STARTED WORKING AGAIN. I SAW THE LAWSUIT WAS SETTLED BUT MY CAR WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. I FEEL THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE TOYOTA SHOULD RECALL AND RESOLVE BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED ON A DARK WINDING ROAD. *KB

TOYOTA PRIUS HID HEADLIGHT - MY PRIUS HEADLIGHT WENT OUT WHILE DRIVING DOWN A HIGHWAY. SINCE THEN THE LOW AND HIGH BEAMS GO ON AND OFF RANDOMLY. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY TOLD ME THE BULB WAS FINE AND IT WAS A SHORT IN THE ELECTIRCAL THAT THEY COULD NOT FIND. THEY SUGGESTED THAT I JUST DRIVE WITH IT AND KEEP TRYING TO SHAKE THE WIRES AND DETERMINE WHERE THE PROBLEM WAS. NOW (A MONTH LATTER) I GET A LETTER FROM TOYOTA TELLING ME IT IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THE BULB ALL ALONG. THE SOLUTION IS TO AVOID USING MY HEADLIGHTS (THAT WAS THE SUGGESTION IN THE LETTER, ONLY USE THEM WHEN REQUIRED BY LAW) AND IF I HAVE TO USE THEM ALLOW THEM TO COOL BEFORE I TURN THEM ON AGAIN! WHAT A BUNCH OF IDIOTS FOR SUGGESTING NOT USING YOUR HEADLIGHTS! I'M STILL UNDER WARRENTY, BUT WILL NOW HAVE TO PAY ~$200 EACH TIME THIS PROBLEM BULB BURNS OUT - UNLESS I FOLLOW TOYOTA'S ADVICE AND SKIP USING THEM AT ALL :). *TR

I HAVE A 2008 PRIUS, BUT I HAVE THAT SAME BRAKING ISSUE THAT THE 2010 PRIUS HAS. AT LEAST 3 OR 4 TIMES IN THE PAST, I HAVE HIT A BUMP WHILE BRAKING, USUALLY WHEN APPROACHING AN INTERSECTION, AND THE CAR FEELS LIKE IT SURGES FORWARD OFF THE BUMP, REQUIRING PUSHING THE BRAKE HARDER. IT'S A STRANGE ENOUGH SENSATION THAT IT WOULD MAKE ME SAY "WHOA, THAT FELT WEIRD" EVERY SINGLE TIME, BUT I JUST THOUGHT I DIDN'T BRAKE HARD ENOUGH. UNTIL I HEARD AND READ ABOUT THE 2010 PRIUS BRAKING COMPLAINTS, AND THEN REALIZED THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT HAS BEEN HAPPENING WITH MY 2008 MODEL. IT WAS ALWAYS WHEN BRAKING AND HITTING A BUMP AT THE SAME TIME. SO FAR, THERE'S NEVER BEEN A CAR CLOSE ENOUGH IN FRONT OF ME TO HIT WHEN IT SURGES FORWARD. I DON'T HAVE SPECIFIC DATES FOR THE INCIDENTS, AS I HADN'T BEEN KEEPING TRACK OF THE EPISODES UP UNTIL NOW. BUT YOUR FORM REQUIRES A DATE, SO I'M JUST USING 12/1/09, ALTHOUGH IT HAS HAPPENED SPORADICALLY THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. I SENT AN E-MAIL ABOUT IT TO NHTSA ON 2/9/10. YOU REPLIED BACK ON 2/18/10 THAT IT WAS RECEIVED -- CASE NUMBER 232390 & NHTSA ID: 194611. I HAVE A SERVICE APPT. AT THE DEALERSHIP ON 2/20/10 FOR SOME OTHER WARRANTY ITEMS, AND I ALSO MENTIONED THIS BRAKING ISSUE TO THEM, ALTHOUGH I DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY WILL BE ABLE TO DO WITH THE INFORMATION AT THIS TIME, SINCE THE FOCUS IS ONLY ON THE PROBLEM WITH THE 2010 MODEL AT THE PRESENT TIME. BUT IT WOULD APPEAR THAT IT INVOLVES EARLIER MODELS, TOO. *TR

DEC 1 2008 PRIUS - UNEXPECTED ACCELERATION IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC AND WITH FOOT ON THE BRAKE, THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND HIT THE CAR IN FROM OF ME ... APPROXIMATELY A CAR LENGTH OR SO AWAY. THE MOTOR RACED HIGH AND I WAS UNABLE TO GET THE ENGINE TO SHUT DOWN UNTIL I HELD ON THE POWER BUTTON FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME. THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME WAS PUSHED INTO THE CAR AHEAD OF THEM IT TOOK TOYOTA OVER A MONTH TO INSPECT THE CAR (THEIR LEGAL FOLKS SET IT UP) AND WE WERE TOLD WE COULD BE PRESENT WHEN IT HAPPENED, BUT THEY DIDN'T LET US KNOW. OVER 5 WEEKS AFTER THE ACCIDENT WE RECEIVED A FORM LETTER FROM TOYOTA STATING THEY FOUND NOTHING WRONG. WITH TOYOTA'S DELAY, WE ENDED UP WAITING OVER 8 WEEKS TO GET THE CAR BACK, AT A COST OF $15,000 .... FOR A COLLISION WHERE THE TRAFFIC WAS MOVING 1-4 MILES PER HOUR. THE CAR IS KNOW UNSAFE AND WE CANNOT DRIVE IT. OFFERS FROM 2 TOYOTA DEALERSHIPS ARE UP TO $3K UNDER KELLY BLUE BOOK TRADE IN VALUE FOR A REPLACE CAR (NON PRIUS). DRIVER OF PRIUS HAS A RECORD OF DRIVING OVER 30 YEARS WITH NO ACCIDENTS. *TR

SINCE NEW THIS CAR HAS HAD HEADLIGHT PROBLEMS. TOYOTA REPLACED 1 HEADLIGHT BULB THAT ACTUALLY DID NOT COME ON AT THE DEALERSHIP .YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN A LIGHT WILL GO OUT , OR WHICH ONE. THEY ALWAYS COME BACK ON IF YOU TURN THE SWITCH OF AND ON. THE CAR HAS BEEN TO 3 DEALERSHIPS , THE LIGHTS HAVE ALWAYS CAME ON FOR THE TECHS. I FILED A COMPLAINT WITH THE COMPANY , THEN RESEARCHED THE PROBLEM. I FOUND OVER 2000 SIMILAR COMPLAINTS. APPARENTLY THIS AGENCY DECIDED THAT YOUR HEADLIGHTS GOING OUT IS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE. WHEN THEY WENT OUT ON A FOGGY MOUNTAIN ROAD 11-27-12 EVERYONE AROUND US THOUGHT DIFFERENTLY. MY 65 YEAR OLD WIFE WAS DRIVING AND WAS CRYING BEFORE WE GOT OFF OF THE MOUNTAIN. THE PRIUS HAS BEEN A GREAT CAR. TOYOTA HAS NOT BEEN HONEST OR RESPONSIBLE. WE ARE TRYING TO GET THE CAR FIXED SO SOMEONE ELSE DOES NOT GET OUR PROBLEM. EITHER WAY THIS CAR IS GONE. *TR

2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. CONSUMER STATES UNINTENDED ACCELERATION AND RECEIPT OF A RECALL NOTICE *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED SHE PULLED INTO A PARKING SPACE GOING VERY SLOW, WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED OUT OF CONTROL RAN OVER A PARKING CEMENT BLOCK AND THEN HIT A BUSH. THE CONSUMER REMOVED THE FLOOR MAT, HOWEVER A WEEK LATER THE SAME INCIDENT HAPPENED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO FIND ANYTHING WRONG. *JB

DRIVERS SIDE HEADLIGHT FAILED. DID NOT WORK AT ALL AFTER TURNING HEADLIGHTS ON AND OFF. I WAS TRAVELING FOR WORK (ABOUT 2000 MILES OF DRIVING OVER 4 DAYS) AND DID NOT HAVE TIME TO EITHER REPAIR THE PROBLEM MYSELF OR TAKE IT TO THE DEALER. DURING THE 4 DAYS OF DRIVING WITH ONE HEADLIGHT, I NOTICED THE PASSENGER'S SIDE HEADLIGHT FAILING AS WELL, INTERMITTENTLY, LEAVING ME WITH NO HEADLIGHTS. IF I TURNED THE LIGHTS OFF THEN BACK ON, THE PASSENGER SIDE WORKED, BUT THE DRIVERS SIDE STILL DIDN'T. THE PASSENGER SIDE LIGHT WOULD STAY ON FOR HOURS AFTER CYCLING THE POWER, SO IT SEEMS TO ME LIKE A RANDOM INTERMITTENT PROBLEM, NOT DUE TO OVERHEATING OR BULB LIFE. *TR

2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. BRAKES SEEMS TO "LOSE HOLD" WHEN DRIVING AT SLOW SPEEDS AND HITTING A BUMP IN THE ROAD. THE LOSS OF BRAKING SEEMS TO ONLY LAST FOR A FRACTION OF A SECOND BUT IS VERY DISCONCERTING. ALSO, DRIVER'S SIDE HEADLAMP KEPT MALFUNCTIONING, GOING OFF PERIODICALLY WHEN DRIVING. DEALER COULD NOT REPLICATE PROBLEM IN SHOP, SO STATED THERE WAS NO PROBLEM. TOOK CAR BACK THREE ADDITIONAL TIMES FOR SAME ISSUE. FINALLY DEALER SAID THERE'D BEEN NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS AND CHANGED OUT THE HEADLAMP AT A COST OF $250.00. ($150 FOR THE HEADLAMP AND $100 FOR LABOR) LATER GOT A LETTER FROM TOYOTA ACKNOWLEDGING THE FAULTY HEADLAMP ISSUE, BUT SAID TOYOTA HAD GIVEN US A DISCOUNT BY ONLY CHARGING $150.00 FOR THE HEADLAMP INSTEAD OF THE REGULAR $300.00 COST. $300.00 FOR A HEADLAMP SEEMS EXCESSIVE AND IF IT'S A COMMON ISSUE WHY IS TOYOTA NOT ISSUING A RECALL FOR THIS MATTER.*TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHENEVER THE CONTACT DRIVES HER VEHICLE AT ANY SPEED AND ATTEMPST TO BRAKE OVER A ROUGH TERRAIN THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLES BRAKES WILL DISENGAGE FOR A SHORT PERIOD AND THEN CORRECT ITSELF. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALERSHIP AND THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 50000.

AT 15K MILES THE CAR STARTED TO LURCH WHEN APPLYING BRAKE. CALLED DEALER AND WAS SIMPLY TOLD THAT IS HOW THE PRIUS IS. THIS ACTION CONTINUED AND EVERY TIME IT HAPPENED WE CALLED THE DEALER AND GOT THE SAME ANSWER. AT 60K WE WERE ON OUR WAY TO SERVICE FOR REGULAR MAINTENANCE AND 2 BLOCKS AWAY THE CAR LURCHED INTO TRAFFIC. THAT WAS THE MOST AGGRESSIVE THE CAR HAD EVER GOT AND IT SCARED US TO THE CORE. WHEN WE ARRIVED AT THE DEALER WE TOLD THEM ABOUT WHAT JUST OCCURED AND THE MANAGER SAID HE WANTED TO GO ON A TEST DRIVE AND WE WERE HAPPY TO HEAR IT. THE MANAGER SAT IN THE CAR AND THEN DECIDED AGAINST THE TEST DRIVE. WE WERE THEN TOLD THAT THEY COULD RESEARCH THE PROBLEM BUT IT WOULD BE AT A COST TO US UNLESS WE GET THE SERVICE DONE AS WELL. WE WERE BOTHERED AND COULDN'T UNDERSTAND WHY WE WERE BEING TREATED THIS WAY. WE LEFT THAT DEALER FRUSTRATED AND ANGRY. WE THEN TOOK IT TO ANOTHER DEALER WHOM INSPECTED THE CAR AND SAID EVERYTHING LOOKED FINE AND BY THE WAY WE SHOW BRAKE AND GAS BEING APPLIED AT THE SAME TIME. THE TECH SAID "YOU SHOULD STOP DRIVING WITH 2 FEET." WE LEFT THAT RIDICULOUSNESS AND CALLED TOYOTA COMPLAINT DEPT. THE CALL WAS IN DEC. 2009 AND THEY DIDN'T SEE OUT CAR UNTIL FEB. 2010. AND AFTER INSPECTING THE CAR WAS GIVEN THE EXACT SAME DIAGNOSIS. WE AVOID DRIVING THE CAR AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE. WE TOLD THE MASTER TECH THAT OUR DASH BOARD SHUT DOWN WHILE DRIVING ON THE FRWY AT 65MPH AND HAS THE NEW ADDED PROBLEM OF LURCHING WHILE ALREADY IN MOTION AND WE ARE AFRAID OF OUR CAR AND FOR OUR SAFETY. THE MASTER TECH SAID IT WAS ALL OPERATOR ERROR. THAT APPEARS TO BE THE END RESULT WITH TOYOTA AND WE ARE HIGHLY DISAPPOINTED. WE HAVE BEEN TOYOTA CUSTOMERS SINCE 1992 AND NOW PAY FOR A CAR WE AVOID DRIVING WHENEVER POSSIBLE. WE JUST WANT TO BE IN A SAFE CAR ON THE ROAD AND FEEL SECURE NOT FEAR. *TR

WHEN I BRAKE FOR A BUMP OR POTHOLE, MY 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS, ACCELERATES ON ITS OWN WHEN THE FRONT TIRES HITS THE BUMP OR POTHOLE. I MUST HIT THE BRAKES HARDER IN ORDER TO SLOW. THIS OCCURS VERY FREQUENTLY, I NOTICE THIS ESPECIALLY AT LOW SPEEDS. THIS ACCELERATION ON A BUMP RECENTLY OCCURRED WHEN THERE WAS A CAR IMMEDIATELY IN FRONT OF ME, I BARELY MISSED HITTING THE CAR. THIS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH FLOOR MAT. THE FLOOR MAT IS PROPERLY SECURE, MOREOVER IT ONLY HAPPENS IN THIS SITUATION (I.E., THE FLOOR MAT DOES NOT INVISIBLY GET IN THE WAY WHEN I HIT A BUMP AND MAGICALLY GO BACK INTO PLACE ALL THE OTHER TIME.) *TR

TOYOTA PRIUS 2008, DRIVER'S SIDE HID HEADLIGHT WENT OUT AT 29K MILES <2 YEARS OF USE, DIFFERENT DEALERSHIPS TELL DIFFERENT STORIES ON WHETHER IT'S A WARRANTY REPAIR; BULB PRICING RANGES FROM $30 TO $350; SANDY SPRINGS TOYOTA SOLD US THE WRONG PART; OWNER'S MANUAL GIVES WRONG INSTRUCTIONS: THE LIGHT BULB CASING LOOKS NOTHING LIKE THE DIAGRAM; SOME ONLINE SOURCES CITE A TOTAL COST + LABOR $1700; SOME DON'T RECOMMEND DOWNGRADING TO A NON-HID BULB; SOME SAY THAT THE VOLTAGE IS VERY HIGH AND POSES RISK OF ELECTROCUTION WHEN REPLACING AT HOME; *TR

MOMENTARY BRAKE FAILURE ON 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. SO FAR THE BRAKES APPEARED TO FAIL FOR A FRACTION OF A SECOND ON THREE OCCASIONS. IN ALL THREE INSTANCES THIS HAPPENED WHEN I WAS GOING OVER A DEFECT IN THE PAVEMENT (NOT A POTHOLE, JUST A ROUGH SECTION OF PAVING). *TR

I OWN A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS AND THE DRIVER SIDE HID BULB BURNT OUT ON 11/19/2009. I NORMALLY DRIVE MY CAR TO AND FROM WORK. I PROMPTLY CALLED TOYOTA SERVICE DEPARTMENT ON 11/20/2009 AND I ASKED THE FEMALE CUSTOMER REPRESENTATIVE IF THE HID WOULD BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. I PURCHASED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY WHEN I PURCHASED THE CAR BACK IN JANUARY OF 2008. SHE SAID SHE DID NOT KNOW IF IT WOULD BE COVERED; I WOULD HAVE TO COME IN AND SEE. AT 11/21/2009 7:30 AM, I ROLL INTO TOYOTA'S DEALERSHIP AND ONE OF THE SERVICE MANAGERS REPLIED TO ME THAT THE BULBS WERE ONLY COVERED UP TO 36,000 MILES EVEN WITH THE EXTENDED WARRANTY. HE WAS RUDE AND I PROMPTLY LEFT TOYOTA. *TR

I OWN AND OPERATE A LOGISTICS COMPANY IN SOUTHERN MAINE. PART OF OUR FLEET IS THREE 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS'. IN READING THE DESCRIPTION OF YOUR 2010 PRIUS BRAKE FAILURE INVESTIGATION, I CAN SAY FOR ABSOLUTE SURE THAT THIS SAME PROBLEM EXISTS IN THE 2008 MODEL YEAR. IN ALL THREE OF OUR PRIUS', ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, I HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM. WE AREN'T KNOWN FOR HAVING THE MOST WONDERFUL ROADS IN THE NORTHEAST AND WE ALSO HAVE MANY RAILROAD TRACKS. THE PROBLEM AS I SEE IT IS THAT WHEN YOU HIT A LARGE POTHOLE/ RAILROAD TRACK THERE SEEMS TO BE A 0.5 - 2 SECOND LAG TIME BEFORE THE BRAKES ACTUALLY RESPOND. WE HAVE MANY DIFFERENT EMPLOYEES DRIVE OUR CARS AND IN ASKING THEM THEY ALL, AT LEAST ON ONE OCCASIONS, HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM. PLEASE LOOK INTO YEARS BEYOND JUST THE 2010. I CAN ASSURE YOU THAT IF YOU SENT OUT A SURVEY THERE WOULD BE A LARGE PERCENTAGE OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM. WE DRIVE THESE CARS FOR A LIVING AND WE RELY ON YOU TO MAKE SURE THAT WHAT WE DRIVE IS SAFE FOR US AND OUR EMPLOYEES. *JB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING A LEFT TURN AND DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESPOND. THE CONTACT WAS IN THE PROCESS OF MAKING THE TURN WHEN ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE DRIVER SIDE OF THE CONTACTS VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE SPUN TWICE AND CAME TO A STOP. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND TWO PASSENGERS WERE REPORTED INJURED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO TOOK A COMPLAINT AND STATED THAT SOMEONE WOULD CONTACT HER LATER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE UNKNOWN.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE IDLING AT A STOP LIGHT, THE ENGINE REVVED , AND THEN THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED. SHE HAS CALLED THE TOYOTA MANUFACTURED, AND WAS ADVISED THAT THE FLOOR-MATS CAUSED THE FAILURE. SHE WAS WAITING FOR A REPRESENTATIVE TO CALL HER BACK. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.

2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. ON 11/18/09. 1) I WAS PARKED AND READY TO LEAVE THE PARKING SPOT WHEN SUDDENLY THE CAR HAD AN ACCELERATION BACKWARDS. I COULDNT STOP THE CAR BUT LUCKILY I WAS IN A TIGHT PARKING SPOT AND THE CAR HIT THE OBJECT BEHIND (LIKE A TREE) UNDER THE 45 DEGREE ANGLE WHICH LEFT THE DEEP REAR CORNER BUMPER DENT. (STILL THERE). I CALLED IN AND COMPLAINED TO BROOKLYN TOYOTA AND DROVE IN FOR SERVICE THE SAME DAY ( INCLUDING TO DO THE TIRE INSPECTION). TOYOTA DEALER DIDNT FIND ANY PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR'S ACCELERATION OR TIRES BUT AS A RESULT OF THE DEALER INCOMPETENCE THAT WAS UNABLE TO DETECT A NAIL IN THE TIRE -I HAD A FLAT TIRE JUST 20 MIN AFTER I LEFT THE DEALER. I CALLED AAA FOR ASSISTANCE INCIDENT # 2181 ON 11/18/09. I ALSO CALLED ADVANTAGE TOYOTA IN LYNBROOK , LI TO INSPECT AND POSSIBLY FIX THE ACCELERATION AND THE BUMPER. THEY ALSO SAID THEY DIDNT HAVE ANY RECALL NOTICES TO FIX AND COULDNT FIX THE BUMPER UNLESS TAKEN TO A PAID COLLISION SHOP. 2) I ALSO HAD THE CAR IN THE ADVANTAGE TOYOTA SERVICE ON 11/4/09 FOR OIL, FILTER, CHECK UP AND THE BRAKES AND TIRES. I TOLD THEM I EXPERIENCE LOOSING TRACTION / BRAKES AFTER HITTING THE BUMPS OR THE POTHOLE OR MAN HOLES.

RAPID ACCELERATION WHILE CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED. WHILE CRUISE CONTROL WAS SET FOR 68 MPH, I FOUND IT NECESSARY TO PASS A SEMI. WHILE THE CRUISE WAS ENGAGED THE ACCELERATOR WAS DEPRESSED AND I WAS ABLE TO PASS THE TRUCK NOT HAVING TO GO ANY FASTER THAN 73. SHORTLY AFTER, I BECAME AWARE THAT THE CAR WAS CONTINUING TO ACCELERATE AND I WAS UNABLE DISENGAGE CRUISE CONTROL BY BRAKING ONCE NORMALLY AND BRAKING ONCE HARD....THE ACCELERATION CONTINUED. SPEEDS WERE IN EXCESS OF 93+ AND I WAS FINALLY ABLE TO STOP THE ACCELERATION BY DISENGAGING THE CRUISE AT THE SWITCH. BRAKING SHOULD ALWAYS DISENGAGE CRUISE AND SHOULD HAVE SLOWED THE VEHICLE. IT DID NEITHER. FORTUNATELY I WAS ON AN OPEN FREEWAY....WITH ONLY WEATHER ISSUES....BUT THIS COULD HAVE BEEN VERY SERIOUS OR FATAL SHOULD TRAFFIC HAD BEEN STOPPED IN FRONT OF ME. *TR