2008 Toyota Prius Complaint Log

ON 3 SEPARATE DAYS, 2 DURING THE SUMMER OF 2009 AND 1 DURING THE SUMMER OF 2010, OUR PRIUS TRANSMISSION HAS AUTOMATICALLY AND REPEATEDLY SHIFTED FROM D (DRIVE) TO N (NEUTRAL) WITHOUT WARNING WHILE THE CAR WAS MOVING. ALL INCIDENTS HAPPENED ON EXTREMELY HOT DAYS (TEMPERATURES NEAR 100) IN THE AFTERNOON AFTER THE CAR HAD BEEN PARKED OUT IN THE SUN AND WITHOUT US HAVING MADE ANY ACCIDENTAL CONTACT WITH THE SHIFTER / DRIVE SELECTOR WHILE DRIVING. THIS CREATED DANGEROUS SITUATIONS SEVERAL TIMES AS THE CAR ERRATICALLY SLOWED AS WE ENTERED INTERSECTIONS OR PULLED OUT ONTO BUSY STREETS. OUR INITIAL RESPONSE WAS TO DEPRESS THE ACCELERATOR, BUT WHEN THIS HAD NO EFFECT, WE DISCOVERED THE TRANSMISSION LIGHT HAD MOVED FROM D TO N. IT WAS ESPECIALLY DANGEROUS WHEN MAKING LEFT HAND TURNS ON BUSY STREETS WITH ONCOMING TRAFFIC. WE DISCOVERED THAT WE COULD KEEP THE CAR MOVING BY CONSTANTLY HOLDING THE SHIFTER / DRIVE SELECTOR LEVER IN THE D POSITION. TURNING OFF THE AIR CONDITIONER DID NOT HELP THE PROBLEM. AFTER THE FIRST TIME THIS HAPPENED, WE TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP TO INVESTIGATE THE PROBLEM, BUT THE SERVICE TECHNICIANS THERE WERE UNABLE TO REPRODUCE IT. THIS GLITCH REMAINS A CONCERN TO US BECAUSE THE LOSS OF POWER AND ACCELERATION IS UNPREDICTABLE AND THEREFORE DANGEROUS, BUT AT LEAST WE KNOW WE CAN KEEP THE CAR MOVING BY HOLDING THE SHIFTER IN THE D POSITION. BECAUSE THE CAR IS SO COMPUTERIZED, I SUSPECT AN ELECTRONIC COMPONENT OF THE DRIVE SYSTEM MAY MALFUNCTION AT HIGH TEMPERATURES. THE MILEAGE NUMBER I GAVE IS AN APPROXIMATION SINCE I DIDN'T RECORD THE ACTUAL MILEAGE WHEN THIS FIRST HAPPENED, BUT THE DEALER WHO SERVICED THE CAR SHORTLY THEREAFTER SHOULD HAVE THAT INFORMATION.

THE LEFT HEADLIGHT GOES ON AND OFF. THIS IS A RECURRING PROBLEM WITH 2008 PRIUS ACCORDING TO OTHER INTERNET SITES I HAVE VISITED. THERE SHOULD HAVE BEEN A RECALL.

HEADLIGHTS UNEXPECTEDLY STOP WORKING. *TR

PRIUS ACCELERATES WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED GOING OVER POT HOLES AND SOMETIMES RIDGES IN THE ROAD. *TR

DRIVING HOME FROM CHURCH JULY 5, 2009 THE BEACH TRAFFIC WAS BUMPER TO BUMPER. STOP AND GO TRAFFIC. I WAS STOPPED BEHIND AN SUV. THE TRAFFIC STARTED TO MOVE AND MY PRIUS BOLTED FORWARD INTO THE SUV WHICH IN TURN PUSHED IT INTO ANOTHER SUV. MY CAR WAS TOTALED. THE ENGINE WAS PUSHED ALL THE WAY BACK INTO THE FRONT SEAT. THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN JUST A FENDER BENDER. NO ONE WAS INJURED. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT WAS DIM, BUT THE OTHER HEADLIGHT ILLUMINATED PROPERLY. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE IN FOR INSPECTION, BUT THE PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT WAS WORKING NORMALLY AT THE TIME. A FEW DAYS LATER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, THE PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT SUDDENLY DIMMED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT THE HEADLIGHT BEGAN WORKING NORMALLY AGAIN. THE DEALER REPLACED BOTH HEADLIGHTS. THROUGH RESEARCH, THE CONTACT FOUND THIS TO BE AN ONGOING ISSUE WITH HER MAKE AND MODEL VEHICLE. SHE BELIEVES THAT IT IS A SAFETY HAZARD AND A RECALL SHOULD BE ISSUED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 23,000.

WE HAVE 2008 PRIUS THAT FIRST BEGAN HAVING LEFT HEADLAMP GO OUT WHEN DRIVING, WE WOULD HAVE TO PULL OVER SAFE PLACE ALONG ROAD TURN MESS WITH TURNING HEADLIGHTS ON AND OFF... CREATED UNSAFE DRIVING REMAINDER OF TRIP, APROX 200 MILES NIGHT DRIVE TO GET HOME WITH ONE HEADLIGHT... NOT GOOD ON MONTANA ROADS WITH WILDLIFE PREVALENT ON ROADWAY... DEALER REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY... TWO WEEKS LATER SAME TROUBLE WITH RIGHT HEADLIGHT WHILE DRIVING HOME AT NIGHT FROM SPOKANE WA. TO BIGFORK, MT AGAIN DANGEROUS 5 HR DRIVE AT NIGHT ON FREEWAY WITH POOR VISIBILITY... THIS TIME DEALER SAID THEY NEEDED TO REPLACE BOTH THE RIGHT HEADLIGHT AND A COMPUTER SUB ASSY... HELP.. BOTH INSTANCES CAUSED UNSAFE DRIVING CONDITIONS, NIGHT WITH ONLY ONE HEADLIGHT WITH LOTS OF WILDLIFE CROSSING THE HWY... AND IT IS IMPORTANT TO KNOW WE CAN NOT SIMPLY PULL INTO SERVICE STATION AND REPLACE THE HEADLIGHT, IT IS A DEALER ONLY ITEM THAT WE ARE TOLD INVOLVES REMOVING THE FRONT BUMPER TO REPLACE... *TR

THE ENGINE GOT WATER IN IT BEFORE I EVEN GOT THE CAR AND IT ALSO HAD TWO BENT PISTON RODS. *TR

THE HEADLIGHTS ON MY 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS GO OFF INTERMITTENTLY AND AT RANDOM. IT IS A DAILY OCCURRENCE. SOMETIMES IT IS THE LEFT SOMETIMES THE RIGHT. TURNING THE HEADLIGHTS OFF AND THEN BACK ON WILL RELIGHT THE HEADLAMP THAT HAS STOPPED WORKING. TURNING THEM OFF AND THEN ON WHILE DRIVING IS NOT ALWAYS EASY TO DO AND PRESENTS A SAFETY PROBLEM SINCE I AM TEMPORARILY NOT VISIBLE TO OTHER DRIVERS. ON ONE OCCASION WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN ON AN UNLITE STREET BOTH HEADLAMPS WENT OFF AND ANOTHER VEHICLE ALMOST HIT ME BECAUSE I WAS NOT VISIBLE. I AM NOT ALWAYS AWARE THAT ONE OF THE HEADLIGHTS IS OUT. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THEY DID NOT SEE ANY PROBLEM WITH THE HEADLIGHTS AND I MUST HAVE IMAGINED IT. SO, I TOOK VIDEO. NOW THEY SAY I NEED NEW BULBS AT A COST OF JUST UNDER $400.00 EACH. I CANNOT AFFORD IT. THIS IS A FACTORY DEFECT THAT I WAS NEVER INFORMED ABOUT PRIOR TO PURCHASING THE VEHICLE BRAND NEW IN SEPTEMBER 2007. I HAVE BEEN TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF. I WOULD HAVE NEVER PURCHASED THE VEHICLE HAD I KNOWN OR BEEN INFORMED OF A PROBLEM. THERE ARE TWO ADDITIONAL UNDIAGNOSED PROBLEMS. I AM TOLD THAT NONE WILL BE COVERED BY THE DEALERSHIP OR THE MANUFACTURER. THE COST OF THE REPLACEMENT BULBS (WHICH ARE ALSO DEFECTIVE) WILL NOT BE COVERED, REGARDLESS OF HOW OFTEN I NEED TO REPLACE THEM. *TR

CONSTANT HEADLIGHT BULB REPLACEMENT - SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE - WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY A HEADLIGHT BULB WILL GO OUT; FIRST ON ONE SIDE THEN THE OTHER SIDE. BULB REPLACEMENT HAS OCCURRED EVERY COUPLE OF MONTHS FOR SEVERAL YEARS NOW. WHAT HAPPENS IF BOTH HEADLIGHTS GO OUT AT THE SAME TIME??? I LOOSE TIME FROM WORK TO HAVE THE REPLACEMENTS DONE. WHY HAS THERE BEEN NO RECALL?

2008 PRIUS BRAKE ACCELERATION. I PULLED SLOWLY INTO MY REGULAR PARKING SPOT AT WORK . MY PRIUS ALL OF A SUDDEN SPED UP AND I COULDN'T STOP IT BEFORE THE CAR HIT THE UTILITY BOX ON THE SIDE OF OUR OFFICE. I HAVE PICTURES AND A WITNESS. I INFORMED MY INSURANCE "ALLSTATE" WHEN THE PROBLEM WAS BROUGHT TO PUBLIC ATTENTION BUT BECAUSE I HAD MOVED AND NO LONGER HAVE ALLSTATE, THEY WERE NOT CONCERNED. I HAVE NOTIFIED TOYOTA AND AS OF THIS DATE, THEY HAVE NOT COMMENTED. I WAS TOLD AT THE TIME THAT IT WAS MY FAULT, THEREFORE I ASSUMED IT MUST HAVE BEEN. I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT I EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM AND NOW REALIZE I WAS NOT AT FAULT. THE ACCIDENT IS ON MY RECORD FOR THREE YEARS AND MY PRIUS HAD TO HAVE A NEW BUMPER WHICH CAUSES IT TO NO LONGER HAVE FULL RESALE VALUE. *TR

2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. HID HEADLIGHT DIMS OR GOES OUT. TURNING LIGHTS OFF AND BACK ON RESTORES HEADLIGHT. THERE ARE NUMEROUS REPORTS OF THIS PROBLEM ON PRIUSCHAT.COM AS WELL AS OTHER PLACES. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE FOR NIGHT DRIVING. *TR

2008 TOYOTA PRIUS HID HEADLIGHT FAILURE. VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED NEW 2ND WEEK OF APRIL 2008 AND HAS LESS THAN 7,500 MI ON ODOMETER. DRIVER SIDE HID HEADLIGHT FAILED ON THE EVENING BELOW WITHOUT WARNING WHILE ON HIGHWAY. WORKED INTERMITTENTLY BUT DIM, BETWEEN JUNE 22ND TILL REPLACED ON 6/29 UNDER WARRANTY. *TR

1. ANY UNEVEN ROAD SURFACE, ICE, OR SLIPPERY ROAD (AFTER A RAIN) 2. THE CAR LURCHES FORWARD WHEN ATTEMPTING TO BRAKE AS A CAR WOULD WITH A STANDARD TRANSMISSION IF BRAKING WITHOUT DOWNSHIFTING 3. NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE. TOYOTA SUMMARIZES THE PROBLEM AS SUCH:THE WHEEL SLIDE OR STABILITY INDICATOR SWITCHES ON FOR NO APPARENT REASON EQUALING A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. HAPPENS CONDITIONS RANGING FROM PERFECT TO OTHER. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHEN BRAKING FROM SPEEDS OF 6 MPH, THERE WAS AN UNUSUAL INCREASE IN BRAKE STOPPING TIME. THE CONTACT STATED SHE APPLIED EXTREME PRESSURE TO THE BRAKES BEFORE THEY ENGAGED. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THERE WERE NO REPAIRS MADE TO THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 25,000. UPDATED 7/26/10 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE BRAKE WOULD START TO ENGAGE AND THEN SUDDENLY LET GO. UPDATED 08/03/10*JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHENEVER THE CONTACT WOULD ATTEMPT TO APPLY THE BRAKES WHILE DRIVING AT A LOW SPEED THEY WOULD NOT FULLY ENGAGE INCREASING STOPPING DISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE REPRODUCED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 25000. UPDATED 03/09/10. *LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WOULD LURCH SPORADICALLY, WHICH ONLY OCCURRED WHEN STOPPING. UPDATED 06/11/10.*JB

WE BOUGHT THE PRIUS ON JUNE 2008 AND IT HAS ONLY 4023 MILES BUT IN LAST ONE MONTH IT BROKE DOWN THREE TIMES . FIRST TIME THE CAR STOPPED ON HIGHWAY A STRONG BEEP SOUND AND THEN CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, VEHICLE STABILITY CONTROL LIGHT AND A BIG RED ALERT TRIANGLE CAME UP THE CAR LOST IT'S POWER COMPLETELY AND GOT STALLED IN THE MIDDLE OF HWY - PRETTY SCARY. THEN ON 6/2/2009 WE NOTICED THAT WE CANNOT OPEN THE HATCH BACK DOOR AND THE CAR IS COMPLETELY DEAD. BOTH TIMES WE TOWED THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND FIRST TIME THEY SAID THEY DID NOT FIND ANY THING WRONG AND THEY HAVE RESET ALL THE COMPUTER, SECOND TIME THEY SAID THE BATTERY WAS DRAINED OUT WITHOUT REALLY NY PROPER REASON. LAST NIGHT WE DROVE THE CAR MAY BE ABOUT 15 MILES OR SO AND IT'S THE SAME SITUATION THE BEEP SOUND AND ALL THE HAZARD LIGHTS CAME ON IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD AND THE CAR IS DEAD AGAIN AND WE HAD TO TOW TO THE DEALER. THREE TIMES IN ONE MONTH AND IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD WITH A $30,000 DOLLARS CAR IS UNACCEPTABLE. SOME ONE REALLY CAN KILL US FROM THE BACK BECAUSE IT IS SO SUDDEN THAT NO WAY THEY COULD PREDICT THAT WE ARE GOING TO BE STALLED WITHIN 5 SECONDS FROM 65 MILES/HOUR SPEED. WE HAVE A CHILD AND SHE TRAVELS ON THE BACK SEAT ALL THE TIME. WHAT IS THE SOLUTION FOR IT? TOYOTA NEEDS TO TAKE THE RESPONSIBILITY. IT IS A REAL SAFETY ISSUE FOR OUR FAMILY. *TR

I OWN A 2008 PRIUS AND HAVE EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF BRAKING SENSATION NUMEROUS TIMES WHILE DRIVING ON WINDING, OR UNEVEN ROAD AT SLOW SPEED. I THOUGHT I WAS JUST IMAGINING THIS FOR A LONG TIME UNTIL RECENT WEEKS. I'M HOPING THAT TOYOTA WILL GO BACK AND FIX EARLIER MODELS AS WELL. *TR

HEADLIGHT FAILURE, HAD TO HAVE REPLACED. THE PART WAS COVERED BY WARRANTY BUT LABOR FOR $700 WAS NOT. *TR

DRIVERS SIDE HID HEADLIGHT FLICKERS AND DIES. CAN CYCLE POWER AND COMES ON FOR 5 SEC AND DIES. *TR

BOTH FRONT HEADLAMPS INTERMITTENTLY FAIL. TURNING THE LIGHTS ON AND OFF FIXES IT FOR A SHORT WHILE. IT IS DANGEROUS TO DRIVE WITHOUT KNOWING IF THE LIGHTS ARE ON AT NIGHT. *TR

2008 TOYOTA PRIUS BOTH HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT @29,000 MILES. WAS ABLE TO REPLACE UNDER WARRANTY. 6 MONTHS LATER @44,000 MILES, LEFT HEADLIGHT WENT OUT. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL. ITS TERRIBLE THAT A HID LIGHTBULB COSTS $150 AND NOT INCLUDING LABOR! IN THIS ECONOMY, WE DON'T HAVE $200 LAYING AROUND TO REPLACE THE BULB. ON TOP OF THAT, YOU GET PULLED OVER BY THE POLICE AND YOU GET A TICKET AND YOU ARE FORCED TO REPLACE THE BULB WHEN YOU DON'T HAVE THE MONEY. THESE HIGH PRICED BULBS SHOULD LAST FOR THE LIFE OF THE CAR NOT REPLACE THEM EVERY 6 MONTHS OR SO. PLEASE MAKE TOYOTA RECALL THESE LIGHTS. *TR

I WAS IN WILLIAMS, AZ ON MAY 27, 2009. AT THE RAILROAD RV PARK. GOT INTO MY 2008 PRIUS TO RETURN TO CONRESS AND IMMEDIATELY SMASHED INTO A POST ABOUT 50 FEET FROM MY STARTING POINT. IT HAPPEND SO FAST I DON'T KNOW HOW IT HAPPENED. DIDN'T EVEN HAVE A CHANCE TO APPLY THE BRAKE. FILED AN ACCIDENT REPORT REPORT WITH THE WILLIAMS POLICE DEPARTMENT SINCE THERE WAS PROPERTY DAMAGE TO THE RV POST AND MY PRIUS. HAD MODERATE DAMAGE BUT WAS ABLE TO LIMP BACK HOME. REPAIRED MY PRIUS AT A LOCAL COLLISION SHOP. DROVE DOWN TO THE PHOENIX, AZ, AREA (ALMOST 55 MILES FROM HOME) ABOUT TWO MONTHS AGO. AFTER ABOUT THE LAST 20 FREEWAY MILES I SAW TRAFFIC STOPPED AHEAD AT A STOP SIGN. STARTED TO APPLY THE BRAKES AND NOTICED THAT I DIDN'T SLOW IMMEDIATELY. FINALLY ENDED UP ONLY ABOUT 50 FEET FROM THE CAR AHEAD. HAD TO AGGRESSIVELY APPLY THE BRAKES WHEN I SAW I WASN'T STOPPING AS SOON AS I THOUGHT. WAS RELIEVED WHEN I DIDN'T PLOW INTO THAT CAR AHEAD THIS SAME OCCURANCE HAPPENED AT LEAST ONCE EARLIER BUT WAS NOT AS FIGHTENING. SOMETIMES, WHILE STOPPED AT A LIGHT, I HAVE A FEELING THAT SOMEONE BUMPED ME IN THE REAR, BUT I HAVE NEVER BEEN BUMPED. THIS IDENTICAL PROBLEM EVEN OCCURRED WHEN I HAD MY 2002 PRIUS. MOST SERVICE MANAGERS SAY "IT IS NOTHING TO BE WORRIED ABOUT". WAS HOPING TO HAVE BEEN ABLE TO WAIT UNTIL THEY PRODUCED A "PLUG-IN" PRIUS BUT I PROBABLY WON'T EVER BUY A TOYOTA PRODUCT AGAIN. I AM REALLY WORRIED ABOUT A FUTURE ACCIDENT IN MY PRIUS AND HATE TO DRIVE IT. MY 2008 PRIUS. *TR

MY 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS HEADLIGHTS GO OUT INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING. SOMETIMES ONE LIGHT, SOMETIMES BOTH. I WILL TURN THE LIGHTS OFF AND TURN THEM BACK ON AND THEY WILL BOTH WORK FOR VARYING PERIODS OF TIME BEFORE ONE OR BOTH GO OUT AGAIN. EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO DUPLICATE FOR THE SERVICE PERSONNEL. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE ENGINE IN THE VEHICLE MADE A NOISE WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE DEALER HAS DIAGNOSED THE FAILURE ON TWO OCCASIONS AND STATED THAT THE COIL PACKS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. TWO MONTHS AFTER THE COIL PACKS WERE REPLACED THE FAILURE RECURRED. A REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE CORPORATE OFFICE INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE; HOWEVER, THEY REMOVED AND DISMANTLED THE ENGINE AND FOUND WATER IN THE ENGINE. THE MECHANICS STATED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT THE CONTACTS EXPENSE. THE CONTACT HAS REQUESTED THAT THE ENGINE BE REPLACED AT NO COST BY THE MANUFACTURER SINCE IT WAS A NEW VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 12,201 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 14,000.

WHILE DRIVING MY EMPLOYER'S 2008 (OR 2009) TOYOTA PRIUS SEVERAL TIMES IN SUMMER OF 2009, I PRESSED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL TO THE FLOOR TO PASS, AND THE PEDAL STUCK IN THE WIDE OPEN POSITION. THIS HAPPENED SEVERAL SEPARATE TIMES DURING THE SUMMER OF 2009. THE CAR WAS SENT TO LOCAL TOYOTA DEALERSHIP, WHERE IT WAS SUPPOSEDLY FIXED, HOWEVER IT STUCK SEVERAL TIMES AGAIN AFTER REPAIR? THIS PROBLEM HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH FLOORMATS. THIS HAPPENED TO OTHER DRIVERS AT WORK OF THIS SAME CAR TOO. I AM A PROFESSIONAL DRIVER WITH 40 YEARS OF DRIVING EXPERIENCE. *TR

NO BRAKES, 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS WITH ONLY 10,000 MILES. FAILED SENSOR. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHENEVER THE VEHICLE RUNS OUT OF FUEL, THE GEAR SHIFTER BECOMES DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THE VEHICLE BECOMES NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO MOVE OR PLACED INTO NEUTRAL TO PUSH TO A SAFE SPOT. THE OWNERS MANUAL DOES NOT CONTAIN INFORMATION REGARDING THIS FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT IT TAKES A MINIMUM OF THREE GALLONS OF GASOLINE IN ORDER FOR THE VEHICLE TO RESTART. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY DID NOT HAVE TO NOTIFY CONSUMERS OF THIS ISSUE. THE CONTACT FOUND NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS FOR THE SAME FAILURE THAT HE EXPERIENCED AND BELIEVES THAT IT IS A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 32,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED TO A HIGH SPEED AND WOULD NOT SLOW DOWN. THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL, BUT THE VEHICLE STILL WOULD NOT STOP. HE HAD TO PUSH THE POWER BUTTON IN ORDER TO TURN OFF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE RESTARTED, BUT IT WOULD NOT RESET ITSELF. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND IS CURRENTLY BEING REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,000.

2008 TOYOTA PRIUS DRIVER'S SIDE HEADLIGHT GOES OUT UNEXPECTEDLY WHILE DRIVING. THE HEADLIGHT COMES BACK ON IF THE HEADLIGHTS ARE TURNED OFF AND BACK ON AGAIN. THIS HAS BEEN OCCURRING NEARLY DAILY SINCE MAY 2009. PROBLEM OCCURS ON BOTH SMOOTH AND BUMPY ROADS AND AT DIFFERENT SPEEDS. *TR

ABOUT 33K ON MY NEW BELOVED '08 PRIUS MY LEFT HEADLIGHT WENT OUT AS I WAS PULLING INTO MY GARAGE. THE NEXT MORNING IT CAME ON JUST FINE. I NOTICED A DECLINE FROM THERE. A FEW DAYS LATER THE RIGHT ONE WENT OUT AND ON A SUNDAY TRIP ABOUT 2 MONTHS LATER BOTH HEADLIGHTS FLICKERED. I FOUND THAT IN THE INTERIM TURNING THEM OFF AND THEN BACK ON AGAIN HELPED SOMETIMES. NOW THE LIGHTS ARE OUT AND I CANNOT DRIVE AT NIGHT OR IN THE RAIN! THE FIRST DEALERSHIP SAID THEY COULDN'T REPLICATE THE PROBLEM, SO THEY COULDN'T FIX IT UNDER WARRANTY. THEY SAID THEY COULD REPLACE THE HEADLIGHT, BUT AT MY COST. IT DOESN'T SEEM LIKE THE LIGHT ITSELF IS THE PROBLEM (WHY WOULD IT THEN COME ON AFTER TURNING IT OFF AND ON AGAIN?) *TR

WHEN MY 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS MOVES ON A BUMPY SURFACE AT LOW SPEED I FEEL A PAUSE IN THE BRAKING - SAME PROBLEM THAT IS BEING REPORTED ON THE 2010 MODELS. *CN

ON MY 2008 PRIUS I APPLIED THE BRAKES OVER ANYTHING OTHER THAN PERFECTLY SMOOTH DRY PAVEMENT AND THE "TRACTION CONTROL" LIGHT COMES ON AND THE CAR STOPS ALL BRAKING FORCE MOMENTARILY FOR APPROXIMATELY A SECOND OR SO. WHILE THIS IS USUALLY JUST AN ANNOYANCE I WAS DRIVING ON THE WASHINGTON CAPITAL BELTWAY I-495 EAST NEAR THE ROUTE 50 THE CAR AHEAD OF ME SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES, I LOOKED AWAY BRIEFLY THEN HIT THE BRAKES AND THE BRAKES DID NOT APPLY PRESSURE CONSISTENTLY CAUSING MY CAR TO RUN INTO THE BACK OF A LARGER TRUCK WHICH SHOULD HAVE A FAR GREATER BRAKING DISTANCE THAN MY PRIUS. I SHOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO BRAKE IN TIME. *TR

AS THE TRAFFIC BEGAN TO ACCELERATE AFTER STOPPING AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT THE BRAKES ON MY 2008 PRIUS, WHICH I HAD FOR LESS THAN A DAY, APPARENTLY FAILED. I HAD PLENTY OF ROOM ( 3 TO 4 CAR LENGTHS) WHEN THE VAN IN FRONT OF ME STOPPED SHORT. I SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES, BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP (THE HIGHWAY WAS WET AND I ASSUMED THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES ACTIVATED CAUSING THE STOPPING DISTANCE TO BE EXTENDED, BUT THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF THE ABS ENGAGING). THE RESULTING ACCIDENT CAUSED OVER $ 4,000 IN FRONT END DAMAGE. ALSO, THE ESC APPEAR TO "SKIP" WHILE TRAVELING OVER A RAILROAD TRACK NEAR MY HOME. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED UNEXPECTEDLY. THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL, BUT THE VEHICLE DID NOT STOP ACCELERATING. THE VEHICLE WAS LITERALLY IN A "RUNAWAY" MODE AND THE ENGINE HAD TO BE TURNED OFF IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE HAS OCCURRED AT LEAST 12 TIMES IN THE PAST YEAR. TOYOTA CLAIMS TO BE UNAWARE OF THIS FAILURE AND REFUSES TO INVESTIGATE THE COMPLAINTS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4,200.

I WAS STOPPED AND TICKETED BY A CHP OFFICER ON HIGHWAY 5 SOUTH OF SACRAMENTO, CA AFTER BEING CLOCKED AT 93 MPH, WHILE I HAD SET THE CRUISE CONTROL OF MY 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS AT 80 MPH. *TR

I HAD A SUDDEN BLOW-OUT WHILE DRIVING MY 2008 PRIUS ON THE FREEWAY. ALL FOUR TIRES ARE GOODYEAR P185/65R15 AND CAME WITH THE VEHICLE. THE CAR MILEAGE IS ABOUT 19,900. WITHOUT ANY WARNING (LOW TIRE PRESSURE LIGHT, ETC.), THE LEFT REAR TIRE BLEW OUT DUE TO TREAD SEPARATION ALMOST CAUSING ME TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. I WENT TO THE LOCAL TOYOTA DEALERSHIP WHO DESCRIBED THE DAMAGE TO THE TIRE AS "TREAD SEPARATION" ON THEIR PAPERWORK. THEY REPLACED THE TIRE AS A "ONE TIME CUSTOMER COURTESY" BUT WOULD NOT ACKNOWLEDGE IT WAS DEFECTIVE. I AM NOW VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE REMAINING THREE TIRES ON THE CAR. *TR

2008 TOYOTA PRIUS HEADLAMP KEEPS GOING OUT. REPLACED BOTH HID HEADLAMPS AS TOYOTA CORPORATE TOLD ME TO DO AND PROBLEM CONSISTS. SAFETY HAZARD WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT WITH CHILDREN IN CAR AND BUSY PEDESTRIANS ON DARK ROADS WITH STROLLERS AND BABIES NOT COUNTING DEER OR OTHER ANIMALS. TOYOTA HAS REFUSED TO RECALL ISSUE. IM TIRED! *TR

S10 APPROPRIATE HANDLING - LETTER TO THE SECRETARY FROM MRS. JUDY HALEY GIZMO DISPUTING CLAIM BY TOYOTA THAT UNINTENDED ACCELERATION OF TOYOTA VEHICLES DUE TO FAULTY FLOOR MATS. *NJ THE CONSUMER DISPUTED TOYOTA'S CLAIM THAT THE MANY CASES OF UNINTENDED ACCELERATION WERE DUE TO FAULTY FLOOR MATS. THE CONSUMER STATED THE CRASH SHE HAD WAS NOT DUE TO FAULTY FLOOR MAT'S WHICH WERE LATCHED DOWN, BUT WAS DUE TO ACCELERATION/BRAKE PROBLEMS IN THE COMPUTER AND ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER STATED SHE BACKED THE VEHICLE OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY, SHE EXITED THE GARAGE AND PRESSED THE BUTTON TO CLOSE THE GARAGE DOOR. AFTER CLOSING THE GARAGE DOOR, SHE SATED SHE WASN'T SURE IF SHE PLACED THE GEAR IN DRIVE OR NEUTRAL, BUT SUDDENLY THE VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD GOING UP TO 15-20 MPH. WITHIN 5 SECONDS THE CONSUMER CRASHED INTO THE GARAGE DOOR, RAMMED INTO THE INSIDE KITCHEN WALL CAUSING EXTENSIVE DAMAGE. THE AIR BAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY. THE CONSUMER SUFFERED INJURIES.

I HAVE A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. I HAVE EXPERIENCED A CHANGE IN DECELERATION AS YOU ARE BRAKING AND THE VEHICLE SPEED IS 10-15 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE SWITCHES FROM REGENERATIVE BRAKING TO MECHANICAL BRAKING THERE IS A LAG AND THE SENSATION THAT THE VEHICLE IS SPEEDING UP. *TR

2008 PRIUS:ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS WHILE BREAKING ON ROUGH ROADS OR OVER MANHOLE COVERS, VEHICLE LOOSES TRACTION(LIGHTS ON DASH FLASH AND BREAKS FAIL) MOMENTARILY. USUALLY ALREADY SLOWING, FEELS LIKE BATTERY POWER STARTING TO TAKE OVER, THEN WHEN YOU GO TO BREAK IT SEAMS LIKE THE BATTERY POWER IS JUST KICKING IN. (A TIMING THING) EXACTLY AS WHAT WAS DESCRIBED IN 2010 PRIUS. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER A YEAR AGO. UNABLE TO REPLICATE. NOTHING DONE. CONTINUES TO HAPPEN. *TR

I HAVE A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS AND THE HEADLIGHTS DO NOT WORK PROPERLY. THEY GO OUT, THEN TURN BACK ON. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT TOYOTA NEEDS TO TAKE CARE OF. *TR

NOTHING LEADING UP TO THE EVENT OF THE FAILURE OF THE HEADLAMPS GOING OFF WHILE DRIVING. I WILL BE DRIVING MY VEHICLE ON THE ROAD, AND THE LIGHTS WILL TURN OFF; BOTH HEADLAMPS, AND WHILE I CAN TURN THE SWITCH OFF, THEN ON AGAIN TO MAKE THEM OPERATIONAL AGAIN, THEY JUST TURN RIGHT BACK OFF AT RANDOM. THIS NOW OCCURS EVERY TIME I USE THE VEHICLE. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS. THIS IS AN ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN, AND MANUFACTURE DOES NOT WARRANTY WHAT THE DEALER CLAIMS IS A FAULTY COMPUTER. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALER AS I AM IN CONTACT WITH TOYOTA TO COVER EXPENSES AS I CANNOT AFFORD $1000.00 IN REPLACEMENT REPAIRS. *TR

A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS, 3,800 MILES ON ODOMETER, COLLIDED WITH A TREE. THE COLLISION WAS HEAD ON. THE CAR WAS EVALUATED BY THE INSURANCE ADJUSTER, AS A TOTAL LOSS. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT INFLATE, NEITHER THE DRIVER SIDE NOR THE PASSENGER SIDE. HEAD INJURIES RESULTED TO BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER. PASSENGER IS SUING ME. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. IN NOVEMBER OF 2008, THE PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT BULB BLEW OUT. THE BULB WAS REPLACED. IN APRIL OF 2009, THE DRIVER'S SIDE HEADLIGHT BULB BLEW OUT AND WAS ALSO REPLACED. CURRENTLY, BOTH HEADLIGHTS ARE WORKING, BUT THE CONTACT BELIEVES THAT THE FAILURES COULD RECUR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 25,000. UPDATED 06/09/09 *BF UPDATED 06/09/09.*JB

2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. CONSUMER STATES UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. *TGW THE CONSUMERS WIFE WAS DRIVING WHEN SHE FELT THE VEHICLE SPEED UP AND PULL TO THE RIGHT. SHE ATTEMPTED TO TURN THE WHEEL TO THE LEFT TO COMPENSATE, BUT THE NEXT THING SHE KNEW, SHE WAS HANGING FROM THE SEAT BELT UPSIDE DOWN. THE CONSUMER HIT A CONCRETE MAILBOX AND ROLLED OVER. THE CONSUMERS WIFE SUFFERED INJURIES.*JB

I OWN A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. I HAVE, WITHIN THE PAST TWO DAYS, EXPERIENCED THE FAILURE OF ONE OF THE HID HEADLIGHTS. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THE PRIUS HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING PREMATURE FAILURE OF THE HID LIGHTS. MY CAR IS JUST OVER A YEAR OLD WITH 44,000 MILES ON IT. I BELIEVE THE HEADLIGHTS GOING OUT, NOT STAYING ON, OR FAILING PREMATURELY IS CERTAINLY A SAFETY ISSUE. I DRIVE HOME FROM WORK EACH NIGHT IN THE DARK AND HAVE DECIDE THE PRIUS IS NOW A 'DAYTIME' ONLY VEHICLE SINCE IT CANNOT BE TRUSTED TO KEEP HEADLIGHTS ON A DARK, WOODED HIGHWAY AT NIGHT. THIS IS AN ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN. I BELIEVE IT IS TIME TO HAVE TOYOTA OWN UP TO THEIR PROBLEM WITH THE PREMATURE FAILURE OF THESE BULBS. HID ARE EXPECTED TO LAST SOMEWHERE IN THE VICINITY OF 3000-5000 HOURS, EVEN WITH MY HIGH MILEAGE, MY HID HAVE LESS THAN 1000 HOURS ON THEM. THERE IS OBVIOUSLY SOMETHING MORE TO THIS THAN JUST BULB FAILURE AND IT IS PLAINLY DANGEROUS AND SHOULD NOT WAIT FOR SOMEONE TO BE INJURED! *TR

LEFT HEADLIGHT GOES OUT, USUALLY AFTER THE CAR HAS BEEN ON FOR A MINUTE. USUALLY IT STAYS OUT FOR THE ENTIRE TIME THE CAR IS ON. THE RIGHT HEADLIGHT ALSO WENT OUT ONCE, REQUIRING ME TO DRIVE WITH JUST THE DIM FLOOD LIGHTS, BUT IT CAME BACK ON A DAY LATER AND HAS STAYED ON. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE WHEN EVEN ONE LIGHT GOES OUT, AND IS INTERMITTENT, BUT TO HAVE BOTH LIGHTS GO OUT WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT IS VERY DANGEROUS. SINCE IT IS INTERMITTENT, I WOULD HAVE TO SAY THIS IS A DEFECT AND NOT JUST THE BULB BURNING OUT. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHENEVER THE CONTACT DRIVES THE VEHICLE DURING WET CONDITIONS AND APPLIES THE BRAKES THE REAR TIRES WILL LOCK AND THEN RELEASE WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THE CONTACT HAD THE REAR BRAKE DRUMS CLEANED. THE FAILURE IS STILL OCCURING. THE CONTACT HAS NOTICED THE FAILURE SINCE THE DAY THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 46000, FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 27000. UPDATED 03/10/10 *BF UPADTED 08/24/10*JB

2008 TOYOTA PRIUS HEADLIGHT(S) TURN OFF WITHOUT WARNING. OVER THE PAST THREE MONTHS, THE PASSENGER HEADLIGHT TURNS OFF ANYTIME FROM 2-30 MINUTES AFTER BEING TURNED ON. SOMETIMES THE DRIVER HEADLIGHT WILL TURN OFF. ON ONE OCCASION, THE REMAINING LIGHT TURNED OFF, LEAVING ME IN THE DARK! LUCKILY, I WAS IN A 30MPH ZONE WITH STREET LIGHTS. THAT'S WHEN I DISCOVERED THAT TURNING THE LIGHTS OFF AND ON SOMEHOW RESETS THEM. INTERNET REPORTS INDICATE THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH HID HEADLIGHTS ON THE PRIUS. IT'S A SAFETY ISSUE, AS MY LOCAL POLICE HAVE TWICE INFORMED ME. *TR