2008 Toyota Prius Complaint Log

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE PARKING THE VEHICLE, THE BRAKES FAILED. AS A CONSEQUENCE, HE CRASHED INTO A FENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. SINCE SEPTEMBER 29, 2009 THE DEALER HAS HAD POSSESSION OF THE VEHICLE, BUT THEY HAVEN'T IDENTIFIED THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. HE FILED CASE #0910101726 WITH THE MANUFACTURER. THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE 7,800.

MY DAUGHTER, DRIVING HER 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS, WAS HIT BY ANOTHER VEHICLE, SPUN AROUND AND HIT BY A SECOND VEHICLE. I WISH TO ATTACH PICTURES OF HER VEHICLE WHICH SHOW THE DESTRUCTION BUT, THE ONE THING THAT THE PHOTOS DO NOT SHOW IS THE SIDE-CURTAINS BEING DEPLOYED. SHE WAS INJURED BUT THANKFULLY HER CHILDREN WERE NOT IN THE VEHICLE. WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE THE PHOTOS? LET ME KNOW. *TR

I HAVE NOTICED A SEEMING PROBLEM WITH MY 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. IF I AM BRAKING WHEN I HAPPEN TO GO OVER A BUMP IN THE ROAD, THE BRAKES SEEM LIKE THEY "LET UP", SO THAT IT FEELS LIKE INSTEAD OF BRAKING, THE CAR IS ACCELERATING. OCCASIONALLY, THE LIGHT WILL COME ON THE DASH THAT INDICATES A SLIPPERY ROAD, SO I THINK IT MAY HAVE SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES? IT JUST DOESN'T SEEM RIGHT, AND I'M CURIOUS IF THERE MAY BE A DEFECT IN THE BRAKE SYSTEM. *TR

PASSENGER-SIDE HID HEADLAMP FAILED ON MY 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS AT ~36,400 MILEAGE. TOOK IT TO DEALER 2 DAYS LATER AND THEY SAID PROBLEM COULD BE LAMP OR COMPUTER AND THAT BOTH WERE EXPENSIVE ($300), BUT SINCE LAMP WAS ON THEY COULD NOT INVESTIGATE THE PROBLEM. I TOOK CAR BACK AND ONCE AGAIN LIGHT DIMMED THEN FLICKERED OFF WHILE DRIVING. I DID SOME READING AND FOUND THAT THIS HID FAILURE IS A WELL-KNOWN DEFECT ON SECOND GENERATION PRIUS. CURRENT MILEAGE IS 36,900 SO NOT UNDER WARRANTY. PLACED CALL TO MANUFACTURER TO FIND OUT IF THERE IS ANY REMEDY FOR THIS DEFECT AND THEY WILL GET BACK TO ME W/IN 24 HOURS. I WILL HAVE TO GET A REPLACEMENT SINCE IT IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE AT NIGHT IN SEMI-RURAL AREA WITH ON-AGAIN/OFF-AGAIN HEADLIGHTS. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND I HOPE WE DON'T HAVE TO WAIT FOR A FATALITY, LIKE WITH THE FLOORMATS, TO GET SOME ACTION. *TR

2008 PRIUS HYBRID. BRAKES FAILED AT LOW SPEED ON SEPTEMBER 19, RESULTING IN A COLLISION WITH AN ON-COMING CAR. I WAS PULLING OUT OF A PARKING LOT VERY SLOWLY WHEN I OBSERVED A CAR MAKING A RIGHT TURN INTO THE STREET I WAS ATTEMPTING TO ENTER. I IMMEDIATELY APPLIED THE BRAKE, WITH ABSOLUTELY NO RESPONSE. NO ONE WAS INJURED BECAUSE IT WAS A VERY SLOW SPEED IMPACT. I HAVE CONSEQUENTLY READ OF OTHER DRIVERS' EXACT SAME EXPERIENCES. TOYOTA HAS MODIFIED THEIR BRAKING SYSTEM FOR THE 2010 MODEL. FROM WHAT I CAN READ, THE PROBLEM LIES IN THE COMPUTER SYSTEM WHICH HAS TROUBLE DECIDING WHICH SYSTEM TO USE, RESULTING IN A DELAY WHICH CAUSES A COLLISION. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH AT NIGHT THE DRIVER-SIDE HEADLIGHT FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, AND THE HEADLIGHTS' COMPUTER CHIP WAS REPLACED. AFTER THE REPAIR BOTH EXTERIOR HEAD LAMPS FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER AND BOTH COMPUTER CHIPS WERE REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 24,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 25,000. THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS UNAVAILBLE. UPDATED 10/29/09. *LJ BOTH HEADLIGHTS FAILED AND WERE REPLACED. UPDATED 10/29/09*JB

DRIVING ON PCH IN CORONA DEL MAR, CA AT A SPEED OF APPROX. 25 MPH. TRYING TO BRAKE AT A PEDESTRIAN CROSSWALK WHERE A CAR WAS ALREADY STOPPED IN FRONT OF THE PRIUS. CAR DID NOT BRAKE, INSTEAD IT ACCELERATED AND THE CAR THAT WAS ALREADY STOPPED AT THE CROSSWALK WAS REARENDED. DRIVER OF PRIUS INJURED ANKLE. PRIUS IS TOTALED. POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. *TR

SEP. 1ST I WAS DRIVING MY 2008 PRIUS AND IT STARTED SHIFTING BY ITSELF FROM DRIVE INTO NEUTRAL AND ONE TIME EVEN FROM DRIVE INTO NEUTRAL INTO REVERSE. THIS HAPPENED AFTER I PULLED OFF THE HIGHWAY ON AN EXIT RAMP AND THEN SLOWED TO A STOP IN ORDER TO GET ONTO THE LOCAL ROAD. ON THE PRIUS, WHEN YOU PUT THE SHIFT INTO THE DRIVE POSITION, THE SHIFTING KNOB THEN RETURNS TO ITS STARTING POSITION, BUT THE CAR IS SUPPOSED TO REMAIN IN THE DRIVE GEAR. MY CAR WOULDN'T DO THAT. ABOUT 2 SECONDS AFTER I PUT IT IN DRIVE AND THEN APPLIED THE GAS, IT WOULD SHIFT OUT OF DRIVE AND INTO NEUTRAL.. THE ONLY WAY I COULD DRIVE THE VEHICLE WAS BY MANUALLY HOLDING THE SHIFTING KNOB IN THE DRIVE POSITION THE ENTIRE TRIP HOME (25 MILES). WHEN I GOT HOME AND TRIED TO PUT IT IN PARK, IT WOULDN'T DO IT. IT DID GO INTO PARK HOWEVER, WHEN I POWERED OFF THE VEHICLE. THE NEXT DAY I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE BY HANGING A HEAVY METAL SHOP CLAMP AROUND THE SHIFTING KNOB IN ORDER TO HOLD IT IN THE DRIVE POSITION. I CALLED THE NEAREST TOYOTA DEALERSHIP, WHICH IS GRIFFITH MOTORS IN THE DALLES, OREGON. THEY SAID THEY HAD NEVER HEARD OF THIS HAPPENING BEFORE AND TO BRING IT IN. I ALSO CALLED A MUCH LARGER (AND FARTHER) TOYOTA DEALERSHIP IN GRESHAM, OREGON. THEY SAID NO ONE HAD EVER HEARD OF THAT HAPPENING EITHER. I WAITED UNTIL THE FOLLOWING DAY TO TAKEN THE CAR INTO THE CLOSER DEALERSHIP IN THE DALLES (SEP RD), BUT THE CAR WAS NO LONGER DOING ITS WEIRD THING. THEY SAID THEY CHECKED IT OUT THOROUGHLY WITH THE COMPUTER DIAGNOSTIC SYSTEM AND COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG. THEY SAID THERE WERE NO CODES IN THE SYSTEM INDICATING THAT ANYTHING WAS WRONG. IT DROVE FINE UNTIL SEP 15TH, WHEN AT APPROX. 4 PM IT SUDDENLY STARTED SHIFTING INTO NEUTRAL AT A BUSY INTERSECTION IN KENNEWICK, WA, AND I THEN HAD A COLLISION WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE. NO ONE WAS HURT, BUT THE CAR IS NOW IN A BODY SHOP. I GOOGLED THIS PROBLEM AND FOUND A PERSON ON CONSUMERAFFAIRS.COM WHO'S PRIUS IS DOING THE SAME THING. SUGGESTIONS. *TR

BOTH HEADLIGHT BULBS WILL GO OUT WHEN THE VEHICLE IS HOT. IT CAN BE ONE AT A TIME OR SIMULTANEOUSLY. ADDITIONALLY BOTH TAIL LIGHT BULBS STOPPED WORKING APPROXIMATELY 1 WEEK PRIOR. WHEN THE REAR BULBS WERE REPLACED THE HEADLIGHT PROBLEM SEEMED TO WORSEN. *TR

2008 TOYOTA PRIUS (TOURING MODEL) -- DRIVER SIDE HID HEADLIGHT BEGAN TO FAIL IN SEPT 2009. BECAME MORE FREQUENT AS TIME ELAPSED (WOULD OCCUR 3+ TIMES DURING 30 MINUTE TRIP). TURNING LIGHTS OFF AND BACK ON TEMPORARILY RESOLVED ISSUE, BUT DRIVER BULB WOULD EVENTUALLY FAIL AGAIN. RESULTED IN REDUCED VISIBILITY AND POTENTIAL BLIND SPOT FOR DRIVER IN FRONT OF VEHICLE. RESEARCHED ONLINE - SUSPECTED ECU. CONTACTED TOYOTA CORPORATE AROUND DECEMBER 2009. WAS ADVISED THAT ECU WAS NOT THE PROBLEM - BULB REPAIR SUGGESTED. DEALER DIAGNOSTIC SUGGESTED. DID NOT GO TO DEAL TO SPEND $100 TO TELL ME A LIGHT BULB SHOULD BE REPLACED. RECEIVED NOTICE JAN 2010 THAT SYMPTOMS MATCHING MINE WAS DUE TO HEADLIGHT REACHING END OF LIFE. ORDERED AND ATTEMPTED TO REPLACE BULBS IN JAN 2010. DID NOT BRING TO TOYOTA AS COST TO REPLACE BULBS WAS AT LEAST 6X MORE THAT "DO IT YOURSELF". ATTEMPT TO REPLACE BULBS RESULTED IN MIXED SUCCESS. WAS ABLE TO GET BOTH HID HEADLIGHTS REPLACED AND FUNCTIONING (AFTER PASSENGER SIDE OR DRIVER SIDE WOULD NOT REMAIN ON CONSISTENTLY). TESTED HIGH BEAMS - AFTER HIGH BEAMS WERE DISENGAGED BOTH HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT, BUT HEADLIGHT SWITCH REMAINED ENGAGED. DISCONNECTED AND RECONNECTED WIRING. ONLY PASSENGER SIDE BULB FUNCTIONED. AFRAID TO USE HIGH BEAMS AND NO FAITH IN HEADLIGHTS. RELUCTANT TO SPEND HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS TO HAVE DEALER CHANGE BULBS, SAME PROBLEM OCCUR, AND SPEND HUNDREDS OR 1,000+ DOLLARS. ORIGINAL BULBS RETAINED AND I WILL BE PUTTING THEM BACK IN ONCE WEATHER IS WARMER. STRONG BELIEF THAT BULBS ARE NOT TO BLAME AND ECU OR OTHER ELECTRICAL COMPONENT IS AT FAULT. DOZENS OF SIMILAR ISSUES REPORTED ONLINE. *TR

I HAVE A 2008 PRIUS AND ON THREE OCCASIONS WHILE DRIVING AT SLOW SPEEDS WHEN I WENT TO APPLY THE BRAKES THEY JUST LOCKED UP ON ME AND SENT ME LUNGING FORWARD. THANK GOD I WAS WEARING A SEAT BELT. WHEN I COMPLAINED ABOUT THIS TO THE DEALER THEY SAID THEY TOLD ME TO TAKE THE FLOOR MATS OUT. NOW I COME TO FIND OUT THIS MORNING THAT THEY HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKE SYSTEMS ON THE PRIUS BUT AFTER INVESTIGATING THIS THEY SAY ONLY ON THE 2010 MODELS. SORRY IT HAS HAPPENED TO MINE AND IT HAPPENED 3 TIMES ONLY AT SLOW SPEEDS. MOST OF MY DRIVING IS HIGHWAY DRIVING AND THAT IS PROBABLY WHY I HAVE ONLY EXPERIENCED THIS ONLY 3 TIMES. *TR

THE RIGHT HID HEADLAMP ON MY 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS HAS FAILED. THE HEADLAMP NOW GOES ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY. I LOOKED INTO REPLACING THE BULB, BUT UPON BEING TOLD THE COST WOULD BE UP TO SEVERAL HUNDRED DOLLARS AND NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY, I DECIDED TO FIND A BULB AND REPLACE ON MY OWN. *TR

DRIVER IN TOYOTA PRIUS WAS STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT. ACCORDING TO WITNESSES, FOR NO APPARENT REASON THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED, ROLLED OR DROVE INTO INTERSECTION WHERE VEHICLE WAS STRUCK BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. PRIUS DRIVER WAS KILLED. UPDATED 03/14/10 *BF *TR ACCORDING TO THE POLICE REPORT, THERE WAS ONLY ONE DEATH AND NO INJURIES. UPDATED 06/15/10. *JB UPDATE 9/21/2011*CW

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AS HE WAS DRIVING 40 MPH HIS HEADLIGHTS SHUT OFF AND HE COULD NOT SEE WHICH RESULTED IN HIM HITTING A DOG. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND A REPRESENTATIVE STATED THAT SOMEONE WOULD RETURN HIS CALL. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEE DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,160.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS HYBRID. WHILE ENTERING THE PARKING GARAGE THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WITHOUT INTENTION. AS A CONSEQUENCE THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A PARKED VEHICLE. PRIOR TO THE FAILURE HE NOTICED THAT THE ELECTRIC POWER "OFF" SWITCH WAS ENGAGED. THE ESTIMATED COST FOR DAMAGES FOR EACH VEHICLE WAS $1,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 39,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 40,000.

I HAVE A HID HEADLIGHT ON A 2008 PRIUS THAT APPEARS TO FLICKER AND THEN GOES OUT. THE PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE INTERMITTENT AND WAS BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION BY A POLICEMAN. WHEN I START THE CAR AT HOME THE HEADLIGHT COMES ON BRIGHTLY. A FEW MILES DOWN THE ROAD THE PROBLEM STARTS. REPAIR COST IS VERY EXPENSIVE. *TR

MY 2008 PRIUS FREQUENTLY HAD FAILURE OF ONE AND BOTH HEADLAMPS AT THE SAME TIME. I WAS UNABLE TO BRING THEM BACK ON BY TURNING THEM ON AND OFF. THEY WOULD RESET AFTER VEHICLE SAT FOR A TIME. *TR

I HAVE A 2008 PRIUS WITH ABOUT 40,000 MILES ON IT, THE HEADLAMPS ARE TURNING OFF RANDOMLY. I QUICKLY FLIP THE SWITCH OFF, THEN BACK ON AND THEY REMAIN ON FOR ABOUT 2 MINUTES, THEN FAIL AGAIN. VERY DANGEROUS WHEN ON COUNTRY ROADS. I KEEP THE FOG LIGHTS ON AS BACK UP. JUST GOT BACK FROM DEALER AND THEY TOLD ME $400 TO REPLACE. OUCH! I DECIDED TO TAKE THE RISK AND KEEP ON DRIVING DUE TO THE EXTREMELY HIGH COST AND NO DECENT GUARANTEE AFTER THE INSTALL. *TR

BOTH HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT PERIODICALLY WITHOUT WARNING MAKING IT UNSAFE TO DRIVE AT NIGHT. THEN NOTICED THE DRIVERS SIDE WENT OUT PERIODICALLY AND HAD TO FLIP THE SWITCH FOR LIGHT TO GO BACK ON. THIS HAPPENED FOR MONTH OR SO. THEN IT COMPLETELY WENT OUT. THEN ABOUT MONTH LATER - THE PASSENGER LIGHT WOULD GO OUT WITHOUT WARNING LEAVING ME WITH NO LIGHTS WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT. BY FLIPPING THE SWITCH, THE LIGHT WOULD GO BACK ON FOR FEW MINUTES AND THEN AGAIN SHUT OFF. CAR IS A 2008 PRIUS. THIS SHOULD NOT HAPPEN TO A BARELY 2 YEAR OLD CAR. THERE SEEMS TO BE SOME SORT OF MALFUNCTION WITH THE WIRING, ETC BECAUSE THE LIGHTS SHOULD NOT BE GOING OUT SO SOON... *TR

HEADLIGHTS ON CAR GO OFF WHILE DRIVING. I HAVE TO KEEP TURNING THE SWITCH OFF AND ON TO GET THEM BACK ON. THIS IS HAPPENING MORE AND MORE. I WILL BE DRIVING ON A DARK ROAD WITH NO STREETLAMPS AND MY HEADLIGHTS WILL GO COMPLETELY OUT. ALL OF A SUDDEN I FIND THAT I'M DRIVING BLIND. . I HAVE FOUND THAT OTHER PRIUS CARS ARE HAVING THIS SAME PROBLEM. I HAVE A 2008 PRIUS WITH 41,000 MILES ON IT. IT'S SCARY AND VERY DANGEROUS: HTTP://WWW.HYBRIDCARS.COM/FORUMS/REPLACING-HEADLIGHT-BULB-T910.HTML#COMM... *TR

THIS IS ABOUT MY PRIUS 2008 MODEL. WHEN IT GOES OVER BUMPS OR UNEVEN ROAD SURFACES, THE CAR TENDS TO SURGE FORWARD SUDDENLY AND UNEXPECTEDLY. IT DOESN'T OCCUR ALL THE TIME, BUT MORE THAN ENOUGH TIMES FOR ME TO NOTICE. USUALLY, IT IS WHEN I'M GOING BETWEEN 35 AND 45 MILES AN HOUR OVER A BUMP OR UNEVEN SURFACE. I CORRECT THE SURGING BY APPLYING THE BREAKS GENTLY. I HAVE NOT YET MADE THE DEALER AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE APPROXIMATE INCIDENT DATE I'M REPORTING IS THE DATE AT WHICH I NOTICED IT STARTED HAPPENING, ABOUT ONE YEAR FROM WHEN I PURCHASED THE CAR. BUT SINCE THEN, IT HAS OCCURRED MORE. *TR

TOYOTA PRIUS 2008. I BOUGHT THE CAR AS USED FLEET CAR IN AUGUST 2009. THE FIRST TIME I DROVE OVER UNEVEN ROADS, SPECIFICALLY MANHOLE COVERS ON A SLIGHT DOWN GRADE, THE SLIP LIGHT CAME ON AND THE CAR FELT AS IF IT WERE SLIDING WITHOUT GRIPPING THE ROAD OVER THE COVER. I CONTINUED TO HAVE THAT SAME FEELING WHEN TRYING TO STOP ON UNEVEN ROAD CONDITIONS, SPECIFICALLY METAL MANHOLE COVERS. I MENTIONED THIS TO THE DEALER OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF MONTHS. AS LONG AS THE ROAD IS DRY, THIS IS A MOMENTARY FEELING. HOWEVER, ONE DAY THE ROADS WERE RECENTLY WET FROM A RAIN. I WENT TO STOP AND THE CAR SLID AT LEAST SEVERAL FEET BEFORE THE CAR STOPPED. I WAS DECELERATING FROM 35 MILES AN HOUR TO AN ABRUPT STOP. THIS REACTION PERSISTS. I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR IN TO BE INSPECTED AND TOLD THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE ANTI-LOCKING MECHANISM. HOWEVER, I CONTINUE TO HAVE NO GRIPPING ACTION ON WET PAVEMENTS (I SLID COMPLETELY OVER AN ICE PATCH THIS WEEK AT A STOP SIGN. THE PATCH OF ICE WAS AT LEAST 10 FEET ACROSS. I ANTICIPATED THIS PROBLEM SO APPROACHED THE SPOT SLOWLY AND STILL SLID CLEAR TO THE OTHER SIDE, WHICH PUT ME INTO THE CROSS STREET TRAFFIC. FORTUNATELY, I WAS THE ONLY ONE ON THE STREET. *TR

2008 TOYOTA PRIUS - HID HEADLIGHTS. LIGHTS TURN OFF INDEPENDENTLY AND INTERMITTENTLY. SOMETIMES ONE, SOMETIMES BOTH. RESTARTING VEHICLE WILL RESOLVE PROBLEM TEMPORARILY, BUT THEY USUALLY FAIL AGAIN. I CONTACTED TOYOTA EXPERIENCE HOTLINE. A CASE MANAGER STATED THAT THIS IS NORMAL BEHAVIOR FOR THESE HEADLIGHTS WHEN THEY ARE STARTING TO NEED REPLACEMENT. THIS VEHICLE HAD 38000 MILES WHEN PROBLEM STARTED. IF THE BEHAVIOR WERE NORMAL, WOULDN'T IT BE IN THE OWNERS MANUAL? A NORMAL BEHAVIOR WOULDN'T CREATE SUCH A SAFETY HAZARD WITHOUT SOME KIND OF WARNING LIGHT. FOR INSTANCE, WHEN MY TIRE PRESSURE IS LOW, A WARNING LIGHT COMES ON. WE WERE ONLY TOLD TO BRING IT TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. *TR

MY 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS HAS A DEFECTIVE FUEL TANK. I CAN'T RELIABLY FILL IT UP OR RELY ON THE FUEL GAGE TO DETERMINE ENDURANCE. RUNNING OUT OF FUEL IN THE LEFT LANE ON A BUSY HIGHWAY IS A MAJOR SAFETY HAZARD FOR MYSELF AND OTHER DRIVERS ON THE ROAD. *TR

I CURRENTLY OWN A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS, AND FORMERLY OWNED A 2003 PRIUS. AFTER APPROXIMATELY 30,000 MILES, I WAS MADE AWARE BY OTHERS THAT MY DRIVER'S SIDE HEADLIGHT WAS OUT. AFTER FURTHER INVESTIGATION, I LEARNED THE LAMP WOULD TURN ON IF I TURNED OFF THE LIGHTS AND THEN TURNED THEM BACK ON AGAIN. I HAVE SINCE BEEN PULLED OVER THREE TIMES DUE TO A HEADLIGHT BEING OUT. THE FUNCTION OF THE LIGHT HAS BECOME VERY INCONSISTENT- I CONDUCTED A ROAD TEST OF OVER 30 MILES (AUTO MILEAGE 47000) RESULTING IN THE DRIVERS SIDE LAMP BURNING OUT SEVEN TIMES WITHOUT RELATIONSHIP TO DRIVING CONDITIONS (SPEED, BUMPS ETC). THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD. I HAVE PAID ALMOST $200 TO TOYOTA DEALERS WHO COULD NOT ISOLATE A PROBLEM. SINCE THEN, I CARRY THE DEALER INFO WITH ME SO WHEN I GET PULLED OVER AGAIN, I CAN SHOW THE OFFICER I HAVE ATTEMPTED TO FIX THIS PROBLEM TO NO AVAIL FROM THE MANUFACTURER. SINCE THEN I HAVE DISCOVERED THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM IN THIS MODEL. I HAVE EVEN SEEN OTHER PRIUS' WITH THE DRIVER'S HEADLIGHT OUT. *TR

WHILE DRIVING MY 2008 PRIUS RANDOMLY STALLS. THIS HAS HAPPENED MORE THAN 6 TIMES IN THE LAST 30 DAYS. THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS ALL GO ON AND A CONSTANT TONE IS EMITTED. AT THAT POINT I HAVE GREATLY REDUCED ABILITY TO OPERATE THE VEHICLE (APPARENTLY ON ELECTRIC POWER BUT VERY SLOW). SINCE THIS OCCURS WHILE DRIVING THERE IS A SERIOUS POSSIBILITY OF ACCIDENT AS THERE IS VERY LIMITED CONTROL. TO RESET THE PROBLEM YOU MUST PULL OVER AND PUT THE CAR IN PARK AND SHUT IT OFF. TURNING IT BACK ON CORRECTS THE ISSUE. TOOK IT TO A DEALER. THEY HAD IT FOR A 8 DAYS AND CLAIMED: 1. THE ON BOARD COMPUTER DID NOT RECORD ANYTHING UNUSUAL 2. THEY COULD NOT REPRO THIS DURING THEIR TEST DRIVES 3. THEY RETURNED THE CAR BACK TO ME - 20 MINUTES LATER ON MY WAY HOME THE CAR STALLED AGAIN. 4. AT THIS TIME THEY HAVE NO FIX FOR THIS PROBLEM. *TR

ON MY 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS, THE BRAKE ACTUATOR AND BRAKE REGULATOR FAILED FIRST IN NOVEMBER 2008-- CAR WAS LESS THAN 6 MONTHS OLD. IN ABOUT AUGUST 2009, CHIRPING FRONT END NOISE RETURNED SOMEWHAT INTERMITTENTLY-- NOISE HAS GOTTEN TO THE POINT THAT IT HAPPENS REPEATEDLY EVERY TIME THE CAR IS DRIVEN. TOOK CAR TO TOYOTA DEALERSHIP TO BE DIAGNOSED YESTERDAY (10/17/09) AND THEY HAVE DETERMINED THAT IT IS THE BRAKE ACTUATOR THAT HAS FAILED AGAIN-- TWICE IN LESS THAN 1-1/2 YEARS OF OWNING THE BRAND NEW CAR. VEHICLE MILEAGE AS OF TODAY IS 22,900. THEY HAVE NOT FULLY DIAGNOSED THE CAR AND WILL NOT LOOK TO SEE IF THE REGULATOR HAS ALSO FAILED AGAIN UNTIL THEY REPLACE THE ACTUATOR. MEANWHILE, THEY'VE PUT ME BACK OUT ON THE ROAD IN THIS CAR FOR A FEW DAYS UNTIL THEY GET THE PART IN. THESE ARE MULTIPLE FAILURES OF COMPONENTS OF THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM EARLY IN THE LIFE OF THE CAR. THEY DO NOT SEEM CONCERNED ABOUT TRYING TO DIAGNOSE THE TRUE ROOT CAUSE-- WHAT MAY BE CAUSING THESE PARTS TO FAIL. THE DEALER HAS ASKED MULTIPLE TIMES IF THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT-- NO, IT HAS NOT. EVIDENTLY BRAKE ACTUATOR FAILURES IS A KNOWN PROBLEM ON THE 2004-2007 PRIUS (TOYOTA ISSUED A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN-- NOT PROACTIVE, BUT "IF A CUSTOMER COMPLAINS... HERE'S WHAT TO DO TO FIX IT"). IT SEEMS THAT NO SUCH BULLETIN HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR 2008 MODEL. I'M VERY CONCERNED THAT IT IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE THIS CAR WITH TWO DIFFERENT PARTS (AND MAYBE OTHERS?) OF THE ABS HAVING FAILED REPEATED TIMES. I'M ALSO VERY CONCERNED ABOUT TOYOTA'S CAVALIER ATTITUDE ABOUT IT. *TR

WAS STOPPED IN TRAFFIC, AT A LIGHT. LIGHT CHANGED TO GREEN. CAR AHEAD OF PULLED FORWARD. I MOVED FORWARD, ~15-20MPH. CAR AHEAD STOPPED. I RELEASED ACCELERATOR AND PRESSED ON BRAKE PEDAL. CAR DID NOT SLOW DOWN, KEPT MOVING FORWARD AS IF ACCELERATOR WAS PRESSED. BRAKE PEDAL FELT 'HARD', IT DID NOT MOVE DOWN. I KEPT PRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL. BRAKES FINALLY TOOK HOLD AND CAR STOPPED. LUCKILY I DID NOT HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. *TR

MY 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS SLIDES WHEN I BRAKE ON WET ROADS. IT IS VERY SCARY AND I'M CONCERNED THIS WILL CAUSE AN ACCIDENT...ESPECIALLY BECAUSE OCCASIONALLY WHEN MY 77 YR. OLD MOTHER IS DRIVING IT AND IS NOT ACCUSTOMED TO IT. *TR

TOYOTA PRIUS, 2008, INVOLVED IN ACCIDENT , AUGUST 13, 2009 WHEN IT ACCELERATED RAPIDLY OUT OF CONTROL AFTER BEING AT A STOP SIGN FOR 4 MINUTES STOPPED IN A LINE OF TRAFFIC, HITTING CAR IN FRONT AND BEING VERY DIFFICULT TO BRING TO A STOP. WENT FROM 0 TO 45 MPH VERY QUICKLY AND HARD TO STOP .TOYOTA HAS NOT RESPONDED TO COMPLAINT OR MY INSISTENCE THAT IT BE FIXED. WAS DEEMED BY JUDGE WHO HEARD THE APPEAL OF TICKET TO BE A MECHANICAL FAILURE. FIRST ACCIDENT FOR ME IN 48.5 YEARS OF DRIVING. INITIALLY I THOUGHT IT WAS BRAKE FAILURE, BUT AFTER THE INFO CAME OUT, IT MATCHES EXACTLY THE ACCELERATOR STICKING THAT HAS BEEN DESCRIBED. FILED COMPLAINT WITH TOYOTA IN OCTOBER AND HAVE NOT HEARD BACK. HAVEN WAS THE CONTACT, CLAIM NUMBER AT TOYOTA IS #0910145720. ALSO NOTIFIED DEALER WHERE IT WAS PURCHASED AND HAVE NOT HEARD FROM THEM. WAS ASSURED I'D HEAR IN JANUARY AND GOT A LETTER INDICATING THAT I SHOULD TAKE THE FLOOR MAT OUT. IT HAPPENED AGAIN IN NOVEMBER OF 2009, ALTHOUGH I IMMEDIATELY RECOGNIZED IT AND GOT THE CAR STOPPED QUICKLY. I'M NOW AFRAID TO DRIVE IT BUT NEED MY CAR TO WORK. *TR

LTR FWD ON BEHALF OF (MI) RE TOYOTA BRAKING PROBLEM IN HER 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS, REPLY TO LANSING, MI OFC. *TGW THE CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN ACCIDENT. THE CONSUMER WAS STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN BEHIND TWO VEHICLES GOING SOUTH AT AN INTERSECTION, WAITING TO TURN RIGHT. THE CONSUMER STATED HER FIRST PRACTICE IN DRIVING THE VEHICLE, WHEN STARTING FROM A STOP IS TO SIMPLY TAKE HER FOOT OFF THE BRAKE PEDAL AND ALLOW IT TO START MOVING WITHOUT PUTTING HER FOOT ON THE GAS PEDAL, TO MAXIMIZE FUEL EFFICIENCY. AS SHE MOVED HER FOOT TOWARD THE GAS PEDAL, BUT NOT QUITE ON THE PEDAL, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY LURCHED AT A VERY HIGH RPM AND HIT THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF HER, WHICH WAS ABOUT 3 FEET. SHE APPLIED THE BRAKES AGAIN, AND THE SAME THING HAPPENED. THE CONSUMER STATED THE DAMAGE TO BOTH VEHICLES WERE MINIMAL. THE CONSUMER STATED THE INCIDENT HAPPENED AGAIN, BUT WITHOUT INCIDENT. *JB

I OWN A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. SEVERAL MONTHS AGO I STARTED TO EXPERIENCE A PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE. WHEN I TRAVEL IN REVERSE AND THEN STOP TO GO FORWARD, THE VEHICLE DOESN'T MOVE WHEN I SHIFT IT TO FORWARD. WHEN STOPPED, I HAVE RETURNED THE SHIFTER TO REVERSE AND IT DOESN'T MOVE. IF I TURN OFF THE CAR AND PLACE IT IN DRIVE, IT MOVES. I BELIEVE IT'S A ELECTRICAL PROBLEM BECAUSE THE SHIFTER DOESN'T HAVE LINKAGE AND ITS ELECTRIC. IT DOESN'T HAPPEN ALL THE TIME AND HAS OCCURRED ON FOUR DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. WHEN I BROUGHT THE CAR TO THE DEALER FOR SERVICE, NOTHING WAS FOUND BECAUSE IT WASN'T OCCURRING AT THE TIME. *TR

I HAVE A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS (BOUGHT NEW) & HAVE HAD SEVERAL PROBLEMS WITH THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. THE BIGGEST PROBLEM HAPPENED WHEN MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. SUDDENLY THE RADIO WENT OFF & ALL LIGHTS ON THE DASH WENT OFF. HE PULLED OVER, TURNED OFF THE MOTOR & THEN TURNED IT ON AGAIN. IT WAS THEN OK. ANOTHER PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED 3 TIMES. THE CAR WON'T START & I HAVE TO KEEP TRYING. AFTER A FEW ATTEMPTS IT DOES START. I HAD NOT REPORTED THESE PROBLEMS, & WOULD NOT HAVE EXCEPT FOR THE PROBLEMS THAT TOYOTAS ARE NOW HAVING. I THINK THAT MAYBE MANY PEOPLE ARE EXPERIENCING THIS PROBLEM. AND ALTHOUGH MY CAR SHOULD HAVE BEEN IN THE FLOORMAT RECALL, I HAVE NEVER HAD ANY LETTER OR CALLS FROM MY DEALER. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH INTO A PARKING SPACE AND SLOWLY DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE VEHICLE ABNORMALLY ACCELERATED AND CRASHED INTO A SHOPPING CART. THE VEHICLE PROCEEDED, CRASHING INTO ANOTHER SHOPPING CART AND THEN INTO A BRICK WALL. THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED MODERATE DAMAGE TO THE FRONT END BUMPER. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BY HIS INSURANCE COMPANY. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THE CONTACT TO HAVE THE VEHICLE INSPECTED BY THE DEALER. THE DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE AND FOUND NO FAULT IN THE THROTTLE SYSTEM. A DIAGNOSTIC TEST WAS PERFORMED AND THE DEALER STATED THAT THE COMPUTER CODE INDICATED THAT THE DRIVER WAS "DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR AND BRAKE PEDALS SIMULTANEOUSLY." THE CONTACT VERIFIED THAT NEITHER HE NOR THE OTHER DRIVER OF THE VEHICLE HAD EVER OPERATED THE VEHICLE IN SUCH A MANNER. THERE WERE NO ADDITIONAL REPAIRS MADE TO THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,210 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS UNDER 11,000. UPDATED 5/6/10 *CN UPDATED 05/24/10

2008 TOYOTA PRIUS HEADLIGHT FAILURE--HEADLIGHTS WILL GO OUT AT ANYTIME. DRIVER SWITCHES LIGHTS OFF THEN BACK ON TO REGAIN HEADLIGHT. DEALER SAID IT IS A FAILURE OF THE HIGH DENSITY LAMP ASSEMBLY. ENTIRE ASSEMBLY REPLACEMENT IS THE ONLY REPAIR. COST OF ASSEMBLY IS 250 DOLLARS AND 50 DOLLARS TO REMOVE & INSTALL. *TR

PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT SUDDENLY WENT OUT. *TR

HEADLIGHTS INTERMITTENTLY TURN OFF WHILE DRIVING OR PARKED. HEADLIGHTS MUST BE CYCLED OFF, THEN ON TO MAKE THEM WORK AGAIN. *TR

BOTH THE DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SIDE HIGH INTENSITY DISCHARGE (HID) HEADLAMPS IN MY 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS HAVE BEEN FLICKERING WHILE DRIVING OVER THE LAST SEVERAL WEEKS, CREATING A SUDDEN UNEXPECTED HAZARDOUS LIMITED VISIBILITY CONDITION. THERE IS LESS THAN 40,000 MILES ON THE CAR, WHICH I BOUGHT BRAND NEW FROM THE DEALER IN NOVEMBER 2007. TOYOTA'S WARRANTY DOES NOT COVER THE EXORBITANT REPAIR COST OF THE PREMATURELY EXPIRED HID BULBS, THOUGH THERE HAVE BEEN OVER 400 COMPLAINTS AGAINST THIS DEFECT. THEREFORE I AM FILING AN OFFICIAL COMPLAINT, AND A SUGGESTION FOR A FULL INVESTIGATION INTO THE POSSIBILITY OF A RECALL OF THE HID LAMPS. *TR

TOYOTA PRIUS HID HEADLIGHT UNEXPECTEDLY TURNS OFF. CAR ONLY HAS 42,000 MILES ON IT. THIS IS SECOND HEADLIGHT TO GO THROUGH THIS PROBLEM. FIRST OCCURRED AT ABOUT 15,000 MILES. REPLACEMENT COSTS UPWARDS OF $300+. FIRST LIGHT WAS COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. SECOND, THE DEALER SIMPLY TOLD ME TO "PINCH PENNIES." *TR

PASSENGER SIDE HID HEADLIGHT FAILURE ON 2008 PRIUS TOURING MODEL. THE LIGHT FAILED SUDDENLY WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT. IT FLICKERS WHEN TURNING THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH OFF THEN ON AGAIN BUT DOES NOT REILLUMINATE. MILEAGE IS 30. *TR

I OWN A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. MY PASSENGER HEADLIGHT BEGAN TO CHANGE COLOR AND INTENSITY AND THEN BEGAN TO TURN OFF WHILE DRIVING. THEN BOTH HEADLIGHTS STARTED TO TURN OFF WHILE DRIVING. THE HEADLIGHTS WILL COME BACK ON IF I TURN THE SWITCH OFF AND THEN BACK ON. THE HEADLIGHTS HAVE BEEN INSPECTED AT A TOYOTA DEALERSHIP WHO SAID THAT THEY NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALERSHIP QUOTES $655 FOR THIS REPAIR. AFTER RESEARCHING THE PROBLEM, I HAVE FOUND THIS IS A KNOWN DEFECT AMONG MANY PRIUS OWNERS. *TR

WE OWN A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS THERE HAS BEEN THREE SEPARATE INCIDENTS WHILE BRAKING THAT THE CAR WOULD SPEED UP. THE DEALER SAID IT WAS JUST THE ELECTRIC MOTOR AND GAS ENGINE CHANGING BACK AND FORTH. I READ ON THE INTERNET OF OTHER PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM ALSO ONE LADY WHO WAS STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT AND WHEN SHE PRESSED ON THE GAS PEDAL TOO TAKE OFF AT A NORMAL SPEED THE CAR SPED UP FAST CAUSING HER TOO PUT BOTH FEET ON THE BRAKE TOO STOP THE CAR. THESE ARE ALL PRE 2010 CARS THEY ALSO NEED TO BE LOOKED AT. *TR

THE HID BULB ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF MY 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS WITH ONLY 40K MILES ON IT, GOES OUT INTERMITTENTLY. IF I TURN MY SWITCH OFF AND THEN BACK ON, THE BULB WILL COME BACK ON, FOR A LITTLE WHILE. THE DEALERSHIP WANTS $300 TO REPLACE THE BULB. THE HAZARD OF POSSIBLY LOSING THE DRIVER SIDE LIGHT BEFORE I CAN GET THE PASSENGER SIDE REPAIRED IS OF GREAT CONCERN. THIS IS A CONTINUING, CONSTANT PROBLEM. *TR

DEFECTIVE HID HEADLIGHTS OF PRIUS BY TOYOTA. MY 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS HID LEFT SIDE HEADLIGHT BEGAN FADING, INTERMITTENTLY CEASING AND EVENTUALLY CEASED COMPLETELY AROUND 2ND WEEK OF JULY, 2009. THE 100K MILE BUMPER TO BUMPER PLATINUM EXTENDED WARRANTY ON THE VEHICLE PURCHASED FROM THE TOYOTA DEALER WHEN I BOUGHT THE CAR WOULD NOT COVER THIS REPLACEMENT. SO, I HAD TO PAY $325 DOLLARS ON JULY 24TH TO REPLACE IT. THAT EVENING, THE RIGHT SIDE HID HEADLIGHT BEGAN HAVING THE SAME GRADUAL FAILURE AND IT'S NOW WORKING WEAKLY AND INTERMITTENTLY. ANOTHER $325 DOLLARS WILL BE NEEDED TO PAY FOR IT AND I DON'T HAVE IT. FOR MONTHS, I HAVE OBSERVED OTHER PRIUS WITH 1 HEADLIGHT OUT AND THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A DEFECTIVE PRODUCT. PLEASE INVESTIGATE, PUNISH AND MANDATE A RECALL FROM TOYOTA. *TR

HEADLIGHT PASSENGER AND DRIVER SIDE WILL INTERMITTENTLY TURN OFF. IF I TURN OFF THE HEADLIGHTS COMPLETELY AND TURN THEM BACK ON THEY WILL SOMETIMES CORRECT THEMSELVES AND STAY ON FOR UP TO 15 MINUTES BEFORE TURNING OFF AGAIN. *TR

THE DRIVER'S SIDE HID HEADLIGHT SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONS (LIGHT GOES OUT) APPROXIMATELY 30-60 SECONDS AFTER VEHICLE STARTUP. THE PASSENGER SIDE HID HEADLIGHT SYSTEM FAILED (REPLACED) NINE MONTHS AGO. *TR

PRIUS 2008 HEADLIGHT GO OFF AND BACK ON. DEALER SAYS THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM BUT TOYOTA HAS NOT DONE A RECALL. NEW LIGHT WILL BE $500 PLUS LABOR TO PUT IT IN. ASKED IF THIS CAN HAPPEN WITH THE OTHER SIDE AND DEALER SAYS YES. *TR

THE BRAKES ON MY 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS DISENGAGED FOR A SECOND OR TWO WHILE ATTEMPTING TO STOP ON A ROAD THAT WAS BUMPY *CN

I OWN A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. ON 12JUL2008 I WAS RETURNING HOME AND DRIVING ON HWY 70 EAST,NEAR GOLDSBORO, NC. I WAS TRAVELING AT A SPEED OF APPROX 55-60 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS IN CRUISE CONTROL. THE TRAFFIC WAS GETTING HEAVY AND I HAD TO SLOW DOWN. SO I PUT ON THE BRAKES AND THE CRUISE CONTROL DID NOT RESPOND OR DISENGAGE AT THAT TIME. SO I KEPT APPLYING PRESSURE ON THE BRAKE PEDAL AND PULLED OFF OF THE ROADWAY. WHEN I LIFTED MY FOOT OFF OF THE BRAKE PEDAL THE VEHICLE AGAIN WANTED TO ACCELERATE. I HAD TO TURN THE IGNITION SYSTEM OFF AND WAIT A SHORT TIME. I RE-STARTED THE VEHICLE AND EVERY SEEM TO BE OK. ON 13JUL09 I HAD THE VEHICLE CHECKED OUT BY A TOYOTA OF NEW BERN, AND THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. THEY STATED THEY WOULD OPEN A CASE ON IT AND NOTIFY THERE COMPANY. I JUST WANTED TO WRITE THIS NOTICE IN CASE IT HAPPENS AGAIN TO ME OR SOMEONE ELSE. *TR

2008 TOYOTA PRIUS LEANS TO LEFT 3/4 ". IT IS VISIBLY NOTICEABLE AND SITS EVEN LOWER WITH DRIVER OCCUPANT. TOYOTA DEALER SAYS WITHIN SPECS AND IS SAFE. THEY WON'T REPLACE SPRINGS ON LEFT SIDE OR COILS. MANY OTHER PRIUS OWNERS HAVE SAME PROBLEMS. I HAVE EXTENDED WARRANTY WHICH WE PAID A LOT FOR AND THEY STILL WON'T FIX VEHICLE. THIS CAN'T BE SAFE CAN IT? *TR