2008 Toyota Prius Complaint Log

ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS MY 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS HAS DONE THE AUTOMATIC ACCELERATION PROBLEM. THESE WERE BOTH LONG BEFORE RECENT REPORTS IN APRIL OF LAST YEAR. THE FIRST TIME WAS ON ROUTE 84 BETWEEN THE WHITE PLAINS AND CARMEL EXITS. MY VEHICLE ACCELERATED TO BETWEEN 80 -85 MPH. I WAS IN SOME TRAFFIC AND FLASHED MY LIGHTS AT OTHER VEHICLES IN THE PASSING LANE BECAUSE I COULD NOT STOP! WHEN I REGAINED CONTROL OF MY VEHICLE SEVERAL MINUTES LATER, I CALLED MY DEALERSHIP AND THEY HAD ME BRING THE CAR RIGHT IN AND THEN TOLD ME NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH IT. THEY TOLD ME IT WAS A BRAKE PROBLEM. I HAD TWO WITNESSES MY 16 AND 19 YEAR OLD CHILDREN. A FEW MONTHS LATER, THE ACCELERATION HAPPENED AGAIN WITH MY 49 YEAR OLD FINANCE IN THE CAR. IT WAS AN IN TOWN ACCELERATION ON THE ROAD IN FRONT OF MY HOUSE (HOOKER AVENUE). AGAIN, I REGAINED CONTROL IN A FEW MINUTES, BUT PARTIALLY WENT THROUGH A RED LIGHT BECAUSE OF INABILITY TO STOP. AGAIN, I HAD IT CHECKED AT THE DEALERSHIP. AGAIN, THEY PUT IT DOWN AS BRAKE RELATED INSTEAD OF ACCELERATION, THEY CHECKED THE CAR AND SAID IT WAS FINE. I CALLED THEM AFTER THIS 2008 TOYOTA INCIDENT AND THEY ARE SAYING THIS DOESN'T HAPPEN ON MY MODEL. IT DOES! THEY RAN ANOTHER CHECK THIS MORNING AND AGAIN NOTHING WRONG. PLEASE DO SOMETHING BEFORE SOMEONE IS KILLED! *TR

IN THE 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS "TOURING EDITION", THE HID (HIGH INTENSITY DISCHARGE) LAMPS FAIL AT A MORE RAPID PACE THAN THEIR STANDARD HALOGEN COUNTERPARTS. WHEN THEY DO FAIL, THEY FAIL WITHOUT WARNING AND CAN BE TURNED ON INTERMITTENTLY, GIVING THE IMPRESSION OF A LOOSE BULB OR WIRE AND DELAYING REPAIR. IF THE HEADLIGHTS ARE OUTSIDE OF THEIR EXTREMELY SHORT WARRANTY PERIOD (ONLY 36,000 MILES), TOYOTA ALSO WANTS OVER $500 IN PARTS AND LABOR TO REPAIR THESE NIGH-IMPOSSIBLE-TO-REPLACE LIGHT BULBS, PER BULB, EVEN THOUGH THE BULBS ONLY COST ABOUT $123 EACH FROM A THIRD-PARTY SUPPLIER ($215 THROUGH TOYOTA). BECAUSE OF THE FALSE SENSE OF SECURITY CAUSED BY THE APPEARANCE OF A LOOSE WIRE OR BULB, AND THE RELUCTANCE TO SHELL OUT $500 FOR REPAIR, MANY DRIVERS WILL CHOOSE TO WAIT ON REPAIRS. SHORTLY AFTER THE FIRST BULB FAILS, LESS THAN 2000 MILES IN MY CASE, THE OTHER BULB WILL FAIL, MOST LIKELY BECAUSE OF AN IMBALANCE IN THE HIGH-VOLTAGE HID SYSTEM.SHOULD THIS HAPPEN AT NIGHT, IT COULD POSE AN EXTREME SAFETY RISK TO THE OCCUPANTS OF THE VEHICLE. I RECOMMEND THAT A RECALL, OR POSSIBLY A WARRANTY EXTENSION ON THE HEADLIGHTS, BE ISSUED WITH ALL HASTE. *TR

NEEDING MAXIMUM ACCELERATION TO AVOID BEING STRUCK FROM BEHIND, I THRUST THE ACCELERATOR TO THE FLOOR IN MY '08 PRIUS. SAFELY AVOIDING A POSSIBLE COLLISION, MY AUTO CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. THE ACCELERATOR WAS STUCK IN THE FULL DOWN POSITION AND COULD NOT BE BUDGED EITHER BY HAND OR BY REPEATED STOMPING TO RELEASE IT. I MADE SURE THE FLOOR MAT WAS NOT INTERFERING WITH THE ACCELERATOR, WHICH IT WASN'T. I BRAKED HARD AND TURNED OFF THE 4 LANE STREET TO THE RIGHT AND WAS ABOUT TO TURN OFF THE ENGINE WHEN IT RELEASED AS RAPIDLY AS IT BEGAN. I REPORTED IT TO TOYOTA AT MY NEXT OIL SERVICE - BUT THEY HAD NO PRIOR EXPERIENCE OF THIS TYPE OF COMPLAINT. I HAVE SINCE REFRAINED MAXIMUM ACCELERATION - BUT AM AFRAID TO LET ANYONE ELSE DRIVE MY AUTO. NOW THAT I AM AWARE THAT THERE IS NO DIRECT MECHANICAL CONNECTION TO TO INVESTIGATE OR CORRECT IN THE FUEL SYSTEM, BUT INSTEAD AN ELECTRONIC ONE, ("FLY BY WIRE" LIKE THE NEW COMMERCIAL JETS), I AM EVEN MORE ON EDGE. THANK GOD, THE PRIUS IS UNDERPOWERED. IN A MORE POWERFUL AUTO, THE ENGINE WOULD HAVE OVERPOWERED THE BRAKES AND LED TO A POSSIBLE DISASTER. ELECTRONICS MALFUNCTION SPORADICALLY! PLEASE INVESTIGATE!!!*TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. SHE STATED THAT THREE TIMES SHE HAS EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION. ONCE WHILE TURNING LEFT ON THE HIGHWAY AT 55MPH THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. SHE ALSO EXPERIENCED BRAKE FAILURE WHEN PULLING UP TO A STOP SIGN, OR RED LIGHT, OR DRIVING OVER A BUMP THE BRAKE DID NOT RESPOND IMMEDIATELY. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER STATED THE VEHICLE IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL AND THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO, BUT THEY WOULD REPORT THE FAILURE TO THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 25,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE 33,765.

MY 2008 PRIUS PASSENGER HEADLAMP INTERMITTENTLY FAILS TO LIGHT. IT IS USUALLY NOT WORKING, BUT SOMETIMES AFTER TURNING THE ON/OFF SWITCH A FEW TIMES, IT WORKS FOR A PERIOD. WHEN IT FAILS, MY HEADLIGHTS DO NOT ILLUMINATE THE ROAD CORRECTLY, CAUSING A VERY UNSAFE SITUATION. I HAVE RECEIVED A WARNING FROM LOCAL POLICE. I HAVE NOT ATTEMPTED TO FIX THIS YET, BUT AFTER READING THROUGH THIS, HTTP://WWW.HYBRIDCARS.COM/FORUMS/REPLACING-HEADLIGHT-BULB-T910.HTML , FORUM, I DECIDED TO FILE A COMPLAINT. *TR

HEAD LAMPS WENT OUT WITH ONLY 30K MILE AND BOTH WENT OUT WITHIN A WEEK OF EACH OTHER COSTING ME 1K TO REPAIR. *TR

1. IN THE K-MART LEVEL PARKING LOT WHEN STARTING TO PRESS ON THE BRAKE PEDAL THE CAR SHOT FORWARD ABOUT 6 FEET. NOTE THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE HAS NEVER HAD A FLOOR MAT. 2. BRAKES WERE TESTED AT THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THE PREOWNED CAR WAS PURCHASED AND THE DEALER SAID THAT THERE WAS NO PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKES. 3. THIS PROBLEM RECURRED FOUR OTHER TIMES, THE MOST RECENT OF WHICH WAS ON THE WAY TO THE CAR DEALERSHIP WHERE THE TOYOTA GAS PEDAL RECALL WORK WAS DONE. AFTER THE GAS PEDAL RECALL SERVICE WAS COMPLETED THE SERVICE MANAGER ROAD TESTED THE CAR AND THEN HAD THE BRAKES CHECKED AND INFORMED ME THAT THE BRAKES WERE OKAY AND TOLD ME THAT I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT ANTI-LOCK BRAKES FELT LIKE IN A HYBRID, ALTHOUGH I HAD OWNED THREE OTHER CARS WITH ANTI-LOCK BRAKES. *TR

THIS PERTAINS TO ANY HYBRID VEHICLE. WHILE WALKING PAST ONE IN A MALL PARKING LOT, THE DRIVER STARTED TO BACK OUT. SINCE THE ENGINE DOES NOT ENGAGE AT THIS SPEED, THERE IS NO AUDIBLE WARNING TO PEDESTRIANS AND IF THE DRIVER IS NOT PAYING ENOUGH ATTENTION, THE PEDESTRIAN COULD BE INJURED. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE ACCELERATOR IN THE VEHICLE LAUNCHED THE VEHICLE INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. HE DOES NOT WANT TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE AGAIN AND FEELS THAT THE ISSUE SHOULD BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY BY THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 6,000. SEE ALSO 10273044 *DSY.

I DRIVE A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. AS I WAS DRIVING OUT OF THE GAS STATION AND STEPPED ON THE ACCELERATOR, THE CAR CONTINUED GOING FASTER. THE BRAKE DID NOT WORK, THE ONLY WAY THE CAR STOPPED WAS BY HITTING ANOTHER CAR. *TR SEE ALSO 10265332 *DSY.

PREMATURE HEADLAMP FAILURE ON TOYOTA PRIUS AND EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE REPLACEMENT. *TR

ELECTRIC THROTTLE PROBLEM ON THE 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. *NJ THE DEALER TOLD THE CONSUMER TO REMOVE THE FLOOR MATS. THE CONSUMER ALSO RECEIVED A LETTER REGARDING THE DEFECT. THE CONSUMER STATED NO ONE HAS CONTACTED HER REGARDING A REMEDY FOR THE DEFECT. *JB

RECURRING HID HEADLIGHT /COMPUTER FAILURE ON 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. MY HID HEADLIGHT/COMPUTER HAS FAILED ON MY 2008 PRIUS COSTING $600 TO REPLACE. I FREQUENTLY ENCOUNTER OTHER PRIUS VEHICLES ON THE ROAD WITH ONE HEADLIGHT OUT WHICH LEADS ME TO BELIEVE THERE IS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT IN THE COMPUTER. *TR

FRONT AIRBAGS PASSENGER SIDE. WHILE ADULT SITTING IN PASSENGER SEAT AIRBAG SIGN READS NO AIRBAG SOMETIMES OTHER TIMES READS AIRBAG ON. PASSENGER GETS IN AND OUT AND SIGN MAY OR MAY NOT CHANGE. NOT SURE IF AIRBAGS ARE WORKING AT ALL. *TR

2008 PRIUS, CAN NOT FILL GAS TANK WITHOUT CONTINUOUS STOPS AND STARTS, AND THEN FUEL PERCOLATES OUT OF THE TANK, ONTO SHOES AND GROUND. VERY UNSAFE. CAN CAUSE FIRE. THIS IS DUE TO DEFECTIVE "RUBBER BLADDER GAS TANK". DEALERS CAN NOT FIX. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS WORKED INTERMITTENTLY. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE WARRANTY WOULD NOT COVER THE REPAIRS FOR THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE LESS THAN 38,000.

I OWN A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS, PACKAGE 6, WITH 40600 MILES ON IT. THE HID HEADLIGHTS STARTED TO GO OUT WHILE DRIVING. IT STARTED WITH THE DRIVERS SIDE, THEN THE PASSENGER SIDE LIGHT WAS AFFECTED. I COULD TURN THE LIGHTS OFF THEN BACK ON AND THEY WOULD WORK AGAIN FOR A PERIOD OF TIME. TWICE, WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT THEY BOTH WENT OUT. LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO TURN THEM OFF AND BACK ON AND IT STAYED ON. THIS PROBLEM SHOULDN'T OCCUR ON A NEW VEHICLE WITH 40K MILES. I WAS CITED BY A POLICE OFFICER ON 18MAR09 FOR DRIVING WITH 1 OPERATING HEADLIGHT. *TR

PASSENGER HEADLIGHT WENT OUT ON OUR 2008 PRIUS IN MARCH 2009. SINCE THE CAR IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY, THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE HEADLIGHT. THE SERVICE MANAGER TOLD US THAT IF WE SEE EVEN A "FLICKER" TO COME BACK IN AND HAVE IT REPLACED AGAIN BEFORE OUR WARRANTY RUNS OUT. ON MAY 26, 2009, THE DRIVER SIDE LIGHT WENT OUT. WE WILL BE TAKING IT IN TO HAVE IT REPLACED AS WELL. *TR

2009 TOYOTA PRIUS, ENGINE FAILURE WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH ON HIGHWAY., PULLED OVER MOMENTARILY AND PROCEEDED. FIRST OCCURRENCE. ENGINE STOP RUNNING ON HWY DRIVING AT 55 MPH, HAD TO BE TOWED TO DEALER FOR REPAIR. SECOND OCCURRENCE. *TR

2008 TOYOTA PRIUS BOTH HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT THIS MORNING AND I WAS ABLE TO GET THEM TO COME BACK ON FOR ABOUT 5 MINUTES TOTAL WHILE DRIVING TO WORK. I DRIVE 70 MILES ON FREEWAY EACH WAY IN THE DARK. DRIVER SIDE BRIGHT LIGHT WOULD COME ON BRIEFLY THEN GO OUT AGAIN. PASSENGER SIDE BRIGHT LIGHT DID NOT. I DROVE TO WORK WITH THE FOG LIGHTS ON ONLY. *TR

I HAVE A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS WITH HIGH INTENSITY DISCHARGE HEADLAMPS, AND MORE OFTEN THAN NOT THEY BOTH GO OUT RANDOMLY, I HAVE TO TURN THEM OFF THEN ON AGAIN TO GET THEM TO WORK AS MANY AS 5 TIMES AN HOUR OF DRIVING (COMMUTER), THIS PROBLEM REALLY STARTED TO BE AN ISSUE BACK IN MARCH WHEN THE LEFT HEADLAMP CONSISTENTLY KEPT GOING OUT. NOW I BROUGHT IT IN FOR SERVICE AND TOYOTA WILL COVER IT THIS TIME BUT ALTHOUGH MY CAR IS 1 YEAR AND 11 MONTHS OLD I HAVE ALMOST REACHED THE 36,000 MILE LIMITATION. AFTER WHICH THIS REPAIR WILL COST ME APPROXIMATELY $1000.00. I DO HAVE TOYOTA EXTRA CARE WARRANTY FOR 8 YEARS OR 125,000 MILES AND THE WILL NOT COVER SUCH ISSUES EVEN IF THEY ARE DUE TO DEFECTS. I AM CONCERNED THAT IF THIS BECOMES A CONSISTENT PROBLEM IT MAY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. I COMMUTE DAILY APPROXIMATELY 50 MILES AND I ALWAYS RETURN FROM WORK AT NIGHT. I WILL GET THE OLD SET OF LAMPS BACK FROM THE DEALER FOR ANALYSIS IF NEEDED. I REALLY THINK THAT THIS CONCERN SHOULD BE OF UTMOST IMPORTANCE BECAUSE IT HAS THE POTENTIAL TO CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY IF IT IS NOT CORRECTED. *TR

TOYOTA 2008 PRIUS SUDDEN ACCELERATION, REMOVED THE MATS PRIOR TO THE RECALL, AS WE FIGURED OUT BY LOOKING AT OTHER CARS CLEARANCE BELOW THE GAS PEDAL. I ACCELERATED BACKWARDS WHEN TRYING TO PARK MY CAR. HIT A PARKED CAR. AFTER REMOVAL OF THE MATS, MY CAR HAS ACCELERATED ON TWO OTHER OCCASIONS. I TURNED THE CAR OFF AFTER STOMPING ON BRAKE AND APPLYING PARKING BRAKE. I INFORMED JOHN ELLWAY TOYOTA DEALERSHIP IN MANHATTAN BEACH CA AND THEY WERE DISMISSIVE. THIS HAPPENED LONG BEFORE SUDDEN ACCELERATION WAS IN THE MEDIA. THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH MY CAR AND THEY REFUSE TO ACKNOWLEDGE IT. THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED, MY MOTHER WATCHED ME ZOOM DOWN OUR ALLEY IN REVERSE AS I WAS ATTEMPTING TO PARK MY CAR. I HAVE A WITNESS. ONE TWO OTHER OCCASIONS THIS HAS HAPPENED, THE DEALER SAYS THAT MY CAR IS NOT EFFECTED BY THE RECALL. I HAD THE ALL WEATHER CAR MATS IN MY CAR THAT I PURCHASED AT THE DEALER. I REMOVED THEM, BUT THIS STILL HAS HAPPENED. IF SOMETHING HAPPENS TO ME I WANT THIS TO BE A RECORD OF MY COMPLAINT. *TR

2008 PRIUS WITH HID HEADLIGHTS. BOTH INTERMITTENTLY FAIL. CAN BE CORRECTED BY SWITCHING LIGHTS OFF/ON. SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE NEVER CAN TELL WHEN THEY WILL FAIL. *TR

MY 2008 PRUIS HEAD LIGHTS HAVE BEEN GOING OFF AT NIGHT. IT IS VERY DANGEROUS BECAUSE THERE IS NO WARNING AT ALL. AFTER TURNING THE LIGHT CONTROL ON AND OFF THEY WILL COME BACK ON. THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME I NEEDED NEW BULBS AT 259.00 EACH. I TOLD THEM THE BULBS WERE WORKING AND ON AND WILL COME BACK ON. AFTER I TOLD HIM READING ABOUT ALL THE PROBLEMS ON THE INTERNET HE TOLD ME TO CONTACT TOYOTA. HAVEN'T HEARD FROM THE AS OF YET. *TR

2008 TOYOTA PRIUS PKG 6...LOST POWER AT 65MPH...ENGINE SHUT DOWN AND I LOST CONTROL OF CAR...PULLED OVER...LIGHTS SAID THERE WAS NO FUEL BUT I HAD REFUELED EARLIER THAT MORNING. TOOK TO DEALER...COULD NOT FIND A PROBLEM. ALSO, HID HEADLIGHTS INTERMITTENTLY DON'T WORK...VERY UNSAFE...HAS CAUSED TROUBLE WITH POLICE...I AM BEYOND IRRITATED WITH TOYOTA. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE KEPT FAILING AND TURNING OFF. THEY WERE REPLACED TWICE. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO REPLACED THE HEADLIGHTS THE FIRST TIME AT NO EXPENSE TO HIM. THE CONTACT THEN RECEIVED A LETTER STATING THE SECOND PAIR OF HEADLAMPS WOULD BE REPLACED AT A REDUCED RATE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 20,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 30,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT TWO YEARS AGO, THE HEADLIGHTS BEGAN ILLUMINATING INTERMITTENTLY. THE HEADLIGHTS WERE REPLACED BY AN AUTHORIZED DEALER YET THE FAILURE CONTINUOUSLY RECURRED. BOTH THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE HEADLIGHT FAILURE WAS DUE TO PRODUCTION AND THAT THEY WERE ABLE TO REPAIR THE FAILURE, BUT AT HER EXPENSE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT FURTHER REPAIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 55,000 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 26,000.

DRIVING 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS, GOING AROUND A ROUND ABOUT WHEN THE CAR WENT OVER A SMALL PATCH OF ICE. THE BRAKE WAS APPLIED BUT THE CAR DID NOT SEEM TO SLOW DOWN OR RESPOND. THE CARS PASSENGER FRONT TIRE HIT THE CURB AND CAUSED $2300 WORTH OF DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO OTHER INJURIES OR DAMAGE. *TR

2008 TOYOTA PRIUS HID BULBS HAVE FAILED INTERMITTENT TAKE IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY REPLACED THE ECU FOR THE HID'S 2X BUT WILL NOT WARRANTY BULB, THEY WANT $349.99 FOR BULB AND 1 HR LABOR THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AS BOTH CAN GO OFF TOGETHER IF I TURN HEADLIGHTS ON THEN OFF THEY WORK I HAVE BEEN GIVEN WARNINGS BY THE POLICE 3X ALREADY AND TRY TO EXPLAIN SO BACK TO THE DEALER FOR THE SAME RUN AROUND I PURCHASED 2 BULBS FROM MY LOCAL PARTS STORE FOR A FRACTION AT $149EA BUT STILL THIS IS OUTRAGEOUS...NHTSA SHOULD FORCE TOYOTA INTO A SAFETY RECALL WHICH THIS IS ONE. YOU NEED LIGHTS TO DRIVE AT NIGHT? I DO THINK SO. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE HEADLIGHTS FAILED UNEXPECTEDLY. THE FAILURE OCCURS MOSTLY IN DARK CONDITIONS. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY WOULD INVESTIGATE THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT FOUND NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS REGARDING THE HEADLIGHTS AND BELIEVES THAT THIS IS A SERIOUS DEFECT AND SAFETY ISSUE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED FOUR TIMES AND THE DEALER RECOMMENDED TURNING THE HEADLIGHTS ON AND OFF UNTIL THEY REMAIN ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 52,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 54,000.

I HAVE A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS, PACKAGE 6 MODEL THAT I BOUGHT DECEMBER 27, 2008. THE CAR HAS ABOUT 23,000 MILES ON IT. BEGINNING IN MID-FEBRUARY 2009, THE LEFT HEADLAMP STARTED GOING ON AND OFF. ABOUT TWO WEEKS AGO, THE RIGHT HEADLAMP BEGAN DOING THE SAME THING. WHEN I START THE CAR, BOTH HEADLAMPS WILL BE ON AND ON MOST DRIVES, ONE OF THE HEADLAMPS WILL GO OUT. IF I TURN THE LIGHTS OFF AND THEN BACK ON, THE HEADLAMP WILL USUALLY COME BACK ON FOR A BIT (THOUGH SOMETIMES IT LOOKS VERY WEAK) BEFORE GOING OUT AGAIN. SOMETIMES THE HEADLAMP WILL COME BACK ON BY ITSELF WHEN I AM DRIVING. ON SOME DRIVES (USUALLY SHORT ONES) NEITHER HEADLAMP WILL GO OUT. THE LEFT (DRIVER SIDE) HEADLAMP DOES THIS MUCH MORE FREQUENTLY THAN THE RIGHT. I'M CONCERNED ABOUT BEING STOPPED FOR HAVING A HEADLIGHT OUT AND THAT BOTH LIGHTS MAY GO OUT AT THE SAME TIME (THEY HAVEN'T YET). SINCE THE HEADLAMP KEEPS COMING BACK ON, I DON'T THINK THAT REPLACING IT WILL FIX THIS ISSUE. *TR

A. DASH LIGHTS WOULD JUST DISAPPEAR (NO DISPLAY FOR SPEED OR GEAR) B. KEY "BOB" WOULDN'T RELEASE AND CAR WOULDN'T TURN OFF. - TWICE C. CAR WOULD "REV-UP" WHEN ENGINE COOL WHILE IN GEAR APPLYING BRAKES 1. TOOK TO DEALER TO RESOLVE - COULDN'T RECREATE THE PROBLEMS AND WAS TOLD TO KEEP THE KEY IN MY POCKET. 2. SECOND TIME WAS ABLE TO TAKE TO THE DEALER WHILE THE PROBLEM WAS HAPPENING. AFTER 30 MINUTES CAME BACK WITH THE SOLUTION OF NOT TO INSERT KEY BOB. THE LIGHTS AND THE "KEY BOB" PROBLEM HAPPEN TWICE. THE ENGINE "REV-UP" HAPPEN WHEN THE CAR WAS COLD AND I WOULD NEED TO MAKE SURE TO FIRMLY APPLY THE BRAKES. THE LAST TIME IT HAPPENED I WASN'T SO LUCKY - GOING AT A SPEED OF 40 I STARTED A TURN TO GO UNDER THE FREEWAY WHEN THE ENGINE "REV-UP" AND FORCED ME INTO A CONCRETE WALL... TOTALING THE CAR. *TR

OVER PERIOD OF SEVERAL WEEKS CAR WOULD REFUSE TO ACCEPT FUEL. STATED CAPACITY IS OVER 11 GALLONS. VEHICLE HAS NEVER TAKEN MORE THAN 9 GALLONS TO FILL UP AT AN INDICATED EMPTY POINT (1 BAR ON FUEL GAUGE). CAR WOULD NOT ACCEPT FUEL WITHOUT BURPING FUEL ALL OVER THE SIDE OF THE CAR AND PAVEMENT SURROUNDING. EACH SUCCESSIVE FILL UP WOULD REQUIRE LESS FUEL BEFORE BURPING AT FUEL CUTOFF FROM PUMP. TOYOTA CLAIMED THAT I HAD BEEN DOING TO MANY MINI FILL-UPS (NOT INTENTIONALLY SINCE GAUGE WAS MALFUNCTIONING). TOYOTA DEALERSHIP "RESET" FUEL SYSTEM EARLY MARCH 2009 AND SINCE HAS FUNCTIONED PROPERLY. BELIEVE TOYOTA (AND US GOV'T AGENCY THAT APPROVED THIS FAULTY SYSTEM IN THE FIRST PLACE) SHOULD REPLACE FUEL SYSTEM WITH VERSION THE EUROPEANS ARE USING AS I HAVEN'T SEEN ANY COMPLAINTS IN EUROPE ON THIS ISSUE. *TR

THIS IS FOR A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. THIS PROBLEM OCCURS DURING NORMAL DAILY/ROUTINE DRIVING, AND OCCURS ALMOST DAILY. PROBLEM: WHILE BRAKING, IF I ENCOUNTER ANY NON-SMOOTH SURFACES (SMALL POT HOLE, SLIGHT GRAVEL, ETC) OR WHILE BRAKING AND TURNING--THE BRAKING PRESSURE/FORCE MOMENTARILY RELEASES FOR ABOUT A 1/2 SECOND ,AND IS IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWED BY A FLASHING ABS LIGHT. WHEN THIS OCCURS, THE CAR ALSO MOMENTARILY LUNGES FORWARD DUE TO HAVING NO BRAKING FORCE. ON 4 OCCASIONS I ALMOST ENDED UP INTO CROSS TRAFFIC AT AN INTERSECTION. THIS HAS OCCURRED SINCE I FIRST OWNED THE CAR BACK IN JULY 2009 AND IS NOT A RECENT DEVELOPMENT. THIS SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED TODAY DURING MY COMMUTE TO WORK ON WINTRY MX WEATHER ROADS, BUT I DID NOT HAVE ANY NEAR COLLISIONS. NO REPAIRS OR WORK HAS BEEN PERFORMED ON MY CAR TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. I ASSUMED THIS PROBLEM WAS INHERENT TO HYBRIDS, BUT IN LIGHT OF RECENT PRIUS BRAKING PROBLEMS ON THE NEWS, I FELT IT WAS MY DUTY TO REPORT THAT MY 2008 PRIUS DOES HAVE A BRAKING ISSUE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC AT 15 MPH, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SLOW DOWN WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO THE PRECEDING VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES, BUT A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THROUGH ONLINE RESEARCH, HE DISCOVERED THAT THERE IS AN ONGOING ISSUE WITH THE PRIUS' ELECTRIC BRAKES. THE DEALER STATED THAT WATER MAY HAVE ENTERED INTO THE ELECTRIC BRAKE SYSTEM AND CAUSED THE MALFUNCTION. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 3382 UPDATED 4/14/09 *CN UPDATED 04/17/09.*JB

HID HEADLIGHTS TURN OFF INTERMITTENTLY. PROBLEM FIRST OCCURRED IN EARLY 2009 AND A TOYOTA DEALER REPLACED BOTH HEADLIGHTS (ONE HAD STOPPED WORKING AND DEALER STATED THE OTHER HAD ISSUES). PROBLEM RECURRED LATE 2011, WITH EITHER LIGHT SOMETIMES NOT WORKING, BUT THEN RE-LIGHTING BY ITSELF. USUALLY, TURNING THE HEADLIGHTS OFF AND BACK ON MANUALLY WILL RESOLVE THE ISSUE FOR A TIME. ALSO, BOTH OF THE TAIL LIGHTS WILL SOMETIMES STOP WORKING. USUALLY, IF I TAKE THE COVER OFF FROM THE INSIDE AND TURN THE LIGHT SOCKET (WHERE IT SNAPS INTO THE PLASTIC MOLDING) THE LIGHT WILL TURN BACK ON. UNFORTUNATELY, I CAN'T TELL HOW OFTEN I AM DRIVING WITH ONE OR BOTH TAIL LIGHTS NOT FUNCTIONING, AS I DON'T LOOK AT THE BACK OF THE CAR OFTEN. I HAVE FOUND THEM NON-FUNCTIONING 3 TIMES IN THE LAST 3 MONTHS, AND EACH TIME THE BULB WAS FINE AND BEGAN WORKING WHEN I TURNED THE SOCKET BACK AND FORTH. *TR

2008 TOYOTA PRIUS LOSES ALL POWER WHEN TRACTION CONTROL ENGAGES. *TR

2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. CONSUMER STATES UNINTENDED ACCELERATION WHICH CAUSED AN ACCIDENT.*TGW THE CONSUMER STATED AS HE WAS APPLYING THE BRAKES TO KEEP FROM HITTING A HUGE DIRT MOUND, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INSTEAD OF BRAKING. HE WENT OVER THE MOUND ONTO SOME RAILROAD RACKS. THE CONSUMER STATED HE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT, BUT DISMISSED IT. THE CONSUMER CONTINUED TO EXPERIENCE SUDDEN ACCELERATION AFTER THE ACCIDENT. THE CONSUMER NO LONGER OWNS THE VEHICLE. NO POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. *JB

I OWN A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS AND FROM THE DAY I DROVE IT OFF THE LOT ITS HAD BRAKING PROBLEMS. I HAVE ALWAYS JUST ASSUMED THE CAR WAS USELESS IN BAD WEATHER BECAUSE THE SMALLEST AMOUNT OF RAIN OR SNOW SEEMED TO PREVENT ME FROM BRAKING. I WOULD BEGIN TO SLOW DOWN AND IF THE CAR NOTICED A TIRE SLIDE EVEN AN INCH IT WOULD SEEM TO ACTIVATE THE TRACTION CONTROL AND THE BREAK WOULD RELEASE. I THOUGHT THIS WAS SOME SORT OF HORRIBLY DESIGNED SAFETY DEVICE TO PREVENT HYDROPLANNING. BUT I'VE BEEN PAYING MORE ATTENTION TO WHEN MY BRAKES RELEASE AND IT'S ANYTIME I SLOW DOWN AND HIT A POT HOLE, OR SLOW DOWN FOR A DIP. THE MOMENT THE TIRES LOSE ANY CONTACT/FRICTION ON THE ROAD THE BRAKES STOP WORKING. SO FAR IT'S BEEN MOST DANGEROUS WHEN TURNING ONTO SIDE STREETS OR INTO PARKING LOTS WITH A BUMP OR DIP. IF A CAR IS COMING OUT OF THE SAME DRIVEWAY I'M SLOWING TO ENTER I HAVE TO "PUMP" MY BRAKES WHEN I TURN SO I DON'T HIT THE OTHER CAR. IT'S MUCH WORSE IN ANY SNOW/RAIN. IT'S ALMOST AS THOUGH WHEN I BEGIN TO SLIDE A LITTLE AND THE BRAKE RELEASES IT ACTUALLY ACCELERATES. THE BRAKES GIVE OUT ON A DAILY BASIS, THIS IS NOT RARE OR INSIGNIFICANT. THIS HAS GOT TO BE A MANUFACTURING ERROR WITH THE BRAKING SYSTEM IT'S JUST SO CONSISTENTLY FAULTY. *TR

HID BULB WENT OUT ON FRONT LEFT OF CAR WHEN IT WAS JUST OUT OF WARRANTY. *TR

INTERIOR INSTRUMENT FAILURE. TEMPERATURE APP. 23 DEG. F. CAR STARTED NORMALLY MFD CAME UP FINE. MAIN DASH INSTRUMENTS FAILED TO COME ON. NO SPEEDOMETER, GEARSHIFT INDICATOR, FUEL GAUGE, OR ODOMETER. ALL EXTERIOR LIGHTING WORKED FINE. VEHICLE SHIFTED INTO REVERSE AND DROVE NORMALLY FOR ABOUT 15-20 MIN. WHEN I PARKED AND TRIED TO TURN OFF THE CAR BY PRESSING THE POWER BUTTON THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SHUT DOWN. CONTACTED TOYOTA USA AND WAS INFORMED THAT THEY RELY ON THEIR DEALERSHIPS FOR TECH SUPPORT. WENT THROUGH MANUAL DRIVETRAIN SHUTDOWN BY PRESSING AND HOLDING THE POWER BUTTON. SHUTTING DOWN ALL ACCESSORIES TO LIMIT ACCESSORY BATTERY. COULD NOT LOCK VEHICLE. APPROXIMATELY 30 MINUTES LATER WENT OUT TO THE CAR AND VEHICLE POWERED UP AS THOUGH NOTHING HAD HAPPENED. I BELIEVE THAT THE TEMPERATURE WAS THE ISSUE AND THERE IS SOME SOFTWARE ISSUE THAT IS NOT IN THE OWNERS MANUAL. ANYTIME YOU CANNOT TURN OFF A VEHICLE THERE IS A RISK FOR AN ACCIDENT AND OR INJURY FROM AN UNOCCUPIED VEHICLE. THE DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPT. THEORIZED THAT THE ACCESSORY BATTERY MAY BE LOW. BUT THIS WOULD RESULT IN THE CAR NOT BRINGING THE MAIN BATTERY ONLINE. TOYOTA SHOULD ADDRESS THIS ISSUE . *TR

BRAKES TOTALLY FAILED ON 2008 PRIUS, CAUSING IT TO CRASH INTO CAR AHEAD, WHICH IN TURN WAS PUSHED INTO THE CAR AHEAD OF IT. WIFE DRIVING, GRANDDAUGHTER IN BACK SEAT. REPORTED TO TOYOTA, WHICH INVESTIGATED AND CLAIMED NO PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKES. $16000 REPAIR TAB. SAME SYNDROME (NO BRAKES) IN SAME CAR ENCOUNTERED BY HUSBAND LAST MONTH (JAN 2010). ACCIDENT AVOIDED DUE TO CAR AHEAD PULLING OUT. CAR TAKEN TO TOYOTA DEALER WHO KEPT IT A WEEK, REPORTED NO TROUBLE FOUND. *TR

ACCELERATOR STICKING ON 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS - 5 TO 10 TIMES. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER (BEAVER TOYOTA - SANTA FE, NM). THE FIRST TIME THEY SAID THEY DID NOT KNOW WHAT IT WAS SINCE THEY COULD NOT REPRODUCE IT. THE SECOND TIME THEY SAID IT MUST HAVE BEEN BECAUSE OF THE FLOOR MATS. THE THIRD TIME I CALLED THEY SAID THE FLOOR MATS EVEN THOUGH I HAD REMOVED THEM. I AM UNSURE OF THE FIRST DATE ALTHOUGH IT SHOULD BE IN THEIR RECORDS. IT HAS NOT HAPPENED IN ABOUT 6 MONTHS. WHEN IT HAPPENED I WOULD PUT MY LEFT FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND "PRY" UP THE ACCELERATOR WITH THE FRONT OF MY RIGHT FOOT. THE FLOOR MAT NEVER SEEMED TO BE INVOLVED. MY DATES IN THIS REPORT ARE APPROXIMATE. *TR

ON MY 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS, THE BRAKES DO NOT WORK AFTER HITTING A LARGE POTHOLE OR BUMP. I THOUGHT IT WAS HOW THEY NORMALLY WORKED ON THE PRIUS AS IT IS A VERY LIGHT CAR. HOWEVER, I CAN MAKE IT HAPPEN AT ANY TIME AND HAVE SINCE LEARNED OF THE RECALL (OR PENDING RECALL) OF THE 2010 PRIUS FOR THE SAME ISSUE. *TR

TODAY, I WENT TO WORK DRIVING MY PRIUS (2008 WITH 11000 MILES) WITHOUT ANY DASH BOARD LIGHTS. THE DASHBOARD UNDER THE WINDSHIELD IS A REFLECTIVE TYPE WITH A WHOLE ARRAY OF OPERATING INDICATING LIGHTS ACROSS TO THE PASSENGERS SIDE. ONLY THE AIRBAG INDICATOR LIGHT WORKED FOR THE PASSENGER SIDE. THE CRUISE CONTROL DID NOT WORK. I TRIED VARIOUS POWER ON/OFF BRAKE ON/OFF COMBINATIONS TO GET THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS WORKING. I PRESSED THE POWER BUTTON WITH OR WITHOUT THE BRAKES ENGAGED DURING STARTUP. THE ENGINE STILL RAN AND THE HEADLIGHTS, TURN INDICATORS, BRAKE LIGHTS, RADIO AND FUEL CONSUMPTION GAUGE WORKED. I HAD NO IDEA OF MY DRIVING SPEED OTHER THAN WHAT OTHER CAR SPEED AROUND ME WERE DOING. I HAD TO DRIVE UNDER THE RISK OF BRAKING THE LAW AS WELL AS THE DISTRACTING NO LIGHTING. THEN A WORSE PROBLEM DEVELOPED. I COULD NOT TURN THE SHUT CAR OFF AND I COULD NOT LOCK IT AFTER I GOT OUT. IT GAVE ME THE USUAL BEEP THAT IT WAS STILL RUNNING. I TRIED PRESSING THE POWER BUTTON NUMEROUS TIMES. I TRIED LOCKING THE CAR WITH THE MECHANICAL KEY AND IT ELECTRONICALLY KEPT OPENING. I TRIED VARIOUS COMBINATIONS OF BRAKING WHILE SITTING, WALKING A GREATER DISTANCE FROM THE CAR, USING THE EMERGENCY BRAKE AND SLAMMING ON THE DASHBOARD HOPING IT WAS A LOOSE WIRE. NOTHING WORKED. THE CAR IS SITTING IN THE PARKING LOT RIGHT NOW STILL RUNNING WITHOUT A KEY. I COULD NOT LOCK IT. AS I WALKED AWAY, I PRESSED THE ELECTRONIC KEY NUMEROUS TIMES. THE LITTLE RED LIGHT INDICATED IT WAS WORKING. WHAT ELSE CAN I DO. L WAS LATE FOR WORK AND I START AT 6 AM. THE DEALER, (TOYOTA HEARTLAND OF BREMERTON), DOESN'T OPEN UNTIL 7:00 AM AND ITS 6:25 AM. I MANUALLY TURNED OFF THE DISPLAY AND RADIO SO THE MINIMUM AMOUNT OF LIGHTING WAS SHOWING. AS FAR AS I KNOW, THE CAR IS STILL IN THE PARKING LOT RUNNING AND EASY TO STEAL. THE ENGINE WOULD NOT POWER DOWN NOR WOULD THE CAR LOCK. THE DASHBOARD (BELOW THE WINDSHIELD) NOT LIGHTING WAS SAME PROBLEM I HAD A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE DRIVER PASSED OUT AND LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE AND CRASHED THROUGH A FENCE. THE VEHICLE CAME TO A STOP WHEN IT CRASHED INTO A HEAD STONE IN A CEMETERY. THE DRIVER WAS WEARING HER SEAT BELT, BUT THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED HEAD, NECK, AND CHEST INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY AN INSURANCE ADJUSTER, WHO STATED THAT THE AIR BAGS MALFUNCTIONED AND SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED BASED ON THE RATE OF SPEED AND FRONTAL DAMAGE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE CONTACT IS IN THE PROCESS OF NOTIFYING THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 24,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS HYBRID. WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH HE EXPERIENCED A DELAY WHENEVER THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED UNLESS HE CONTINUED TO APPLY PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL. HE WILL TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 45,000.

WE HAVE A 2008 PRIUS WHICH HAS A COUPLE OF DANGEROUS THINGS ABOUT IT WHICH THE DEALER SAYS IS 'THE WAY IT'S DESIGNED TO WORK'. 1.I BELIEVE THEY ARE RECALLING THE 2010 PRIUS FOR THIS PROBLEM, BUT THE 2008 HAS IT ALSO. THE CARS BRAKING SYSTEM COMPLETELY RELEASES ALL THE BRAKES, SO FAR I'VE JUST NOTICED IT IN THE REAR WHEELS, WHEN GOING AROUND A CURVE AND THE WHEEL HITS A BUMP AND LOOSES TRACTION. THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT GOES ON AND ALL THE BRAKES ARE GONE FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. IT FEELS AS IF THE CAR IS ALSO ACCELERATING DURING THIS PERIOD OF TIME, BUT THAT COULD JUST BE A RESULT OF LOOSING THE BRAKING SYSTEM. 2.THE ENGINE 'COMPLETELY SHUTS OFF' WHEN THE FRONT WHEELS SPIN. IN SNOW ON A GRADE WHICH CAN EASILY BE DRIVEN ON WITH A VEHICLES SLIPPING FROM TIME TO TIME, THE PRIUS MOTOR SHUTS DOWN WHEN A DRIVING WHEEL SPINS AND ALL FORWARD MOMENTUM IS LOST ' IE AFTER SPIN, NO ENGINE, POWER, SPIN, NO ENGINE SEVERAL TIMES THE CAR COMES TO A STOP IN THE ROAD. I ALSO CAN'T GET UP MY NEIGHBORS DRIVEWAY IF IT RAINS BECAUSE OF THIS. IF CROSSING A LANE OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC FROM A STOP SIGN AND THE WHEEL SPINS WE ARE IN 'MORTAL DANGER' OF BEING HIT. *TR

I BURN MY HEADLIGHTS IN THE DAYTIME. A FRIEND SAW ME DRIVING, PHONED ME AND SAID THAT I HAD A HEADLIGHT OUT (LEFT). AFTER I ARRIVED AT MY DESTINATION, I TURNED OFF THE LIGHTS, THEN BACK ON, AND THE HEADLIGHT WORKED AGAIN. IF THIS WERE TO HAPPEN AT NIGHT, IT WOULD OF COURSE, BE MORE OF A HAZARD. *TR

WE OWN TWO (2) PRIUS CARS. ONE IS A 2008 TOURING MODEL PRIUS; THE OTHER IS A 2010 PRIUS V PURCHASED IN DECEMBER 2009. BOTH CARS HAVE THE BRAKING ISSUE WHEN THE ANTILOCK BRAKES ARE USED ON ROUGH ROADS SUCH AS POTHOLES. I HAVE MADE THIS KNOWN TO CALDWELL TOYOTA - I WAS TOLD BOTH CARS OPERATE WITHIN SPECIFICATIONS. BOTH CARS "JUMP AND LURCH FORWARD" WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS "SLAMMED ON". I KNOW THAT THE 2010 PRIUS SHOULD BE RECALLED AND REPAIRED. MY CONCERN IS THAT THE SAME ISSUE EXISTS IN THE 2008 PRIUS. WHY IS THE 2008 YEAR NOT BEING RECALLED? *TR