2008 Toyota Prius Complaint Log

ACCELERATOR PEDAL ON VEHICLE FAILED TO RETURN TO NON ACCELERATING POSITION AFTER ACCELERATING ON FREEWAY. VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE EVEN WHILE BRAKING. I HAD TO WEDGE MY FOOT UNDERNEATH THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL TO LIFT IT TO THE FULL UPWARD POSITION. THIS INCIDENT OCCURRED WHILE ACCELERATING SHARPLY, AND HAS NOT OCCURRED WITH GENTLE ACCELERATION. I HAVE AVOIDED ANY SUDDEN ACCELERATION WITH THIS VEHICLE , FOR FEAR OF A RECURRENCE OF THIS PROBLEM. THERE WAS NO FLOOR MAT INTERFERENCE WHILE THIS WAS OCCURRING, IT FELT AS THOUGH THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS BEING OPERATED WITHOUT FOOT CONTACT, AS I COULD FEEL THE PEDAL DEPRESS UNDERNEATH MY RESTING FOOT. I AM A VERY EXPERIENCED DRIVER AND HAVE DRIVEN COMMERCIALLY FOR 20 YEARS AND HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED ANYTHING LIKE THIS. *TR

I WAS INVOLVED IN A ACCIDENT IN MY 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. I WAS TRAVELING EAST ON GREENBACK LANE IN CITRUS HEIGHTS CA ON DEC. 24 2008 SLIGHT SPRINKLING AT THE TIME AT ABOUT 35 MPH WHEN THE CARS IN FRONT OF ME BEGAN TO STOP I COULDN'T GET THE CAR STOPPED AND REAR ENDED A VAN . THE BRAKES DIDN'T WORK FOR A SECOND OR SO AND I KEPT PRESSURE ON AND FINALLY THEY STARTED TO WORK BUT TO LATE TO AVOID THE COLLISION. I HIT A MINIVAN AND IT PUSHED HIM INTO A 2005 CHEVY TRAILBLAZER. I DIDN'T REALIZE AT THE TIME MY CAR MAY BE DEFECTIVE UNTIL ALL THE NEWS STARTED TO SURFACE AND NOW MANY OTHERS ARE HAVING THE SAME SYMPTOMS. EVERYONE ELSE SAID THEY WEREN'T INJURED AT THE TIME BUT NOW THE DRIVER IN THE TRAIL BLAZER SAYS HE HAS WHIPLASH INJURIES. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHEN DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH OVER AN ICY OR BUMPY ROAD SURFACE AND DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE VEHICLE SEEMED TO CONTINUE ACCELERATING INSTEAD OF DECREASING IN SPEED. THE DRIVER HAD TO CONTINUE DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL IN ORDER TO DECREASE THE SPEED OF THE VEHICLE. SHE NOTICED THE PROBLEM ON AT LEAST 6 SEPARATE OCCASIONS. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO TO CORRECT THE FAILURE. THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED AND NO REPAIRS WERE MADE TO THE VEHICLE AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 5,000 AND THE CURRENT WAS 500.

THE PRIUS HAS A MARK ON DASH BY CENTER SCREEN AND IS POOR SIGN. *TR

WHEN MAKING A TURN FROM A STOP AND TRYING TO ACCELERATE QUICKLY THE CAR JERKS AND HESITATE AS THE ANTI SLIP SYSTEM LIGHT FLASHES AND ENGAGES. YOU CANNOT ACCELERATE QUICKLY INTO TRAFFIC FROM A DEAD STOP MAKING A TURN AS THE CAR REFUSES, JERKS AND ACTS LIKE IT WILL STALL. PAVEMENT IS DRY AND NO GRAVEL. HAPPENS EACH AND EVERY TIME SINCE I PURCHASED THE CAR. EASY TO REPLICATE. COME TO A COMPLETE STOP, THEN TURN RIGHT WHILE PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR DOWN QUICKLY AND THE SLIP SYSTEM KICKS, CAR JERKS, HESITATES AND THEN VERY SLOWLY STARTS TO EVENTUALLY ACCELERATE. *TR

WE HAVE TWO PRIUS CARS WITH SAME ISSUE - WHEN MAKING A TURN FROM A STOP AND TRYING TO ACCELERATE QUICKLY THE CAR JERKS AND HESITATE AS THE ANTI SLIP SYSTEM LIGHT FLASHES AND ENGAGES. YOU CANNOT ACCELERATE QUICKLY INTO TRAFFIC FROM A DEAD STOP MAKING A TURN AS THE CAR REFUSES, JERKS AND ACTS LIKE IT WILL STALL. PAVEMENT IS DRY AND NO GRAVEL. HAPPENS EACH AND EVERY TIME SINCE I PURCHASED THE CAR. EASY TO REPLICATE. COME TO A COMPLETE STOP, THEN TURN RIGHT WHILE PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR DOWN QUICKLY AND THE SLIP SYSTEM KICKS, CAR JERKS, HESITATES AND THEN VERY SLOWLY STARTS TO EVENTUALLY ACCELERATE. *TR

The contact owns a 2008 Toyota Prius. The contact stated that while driving over a bump or rock the anti-skid warning light illuminated. The contact stated that while driving the brakes, ABS, and traction control warning lights illuminated. The contact called the local dealer but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The approximate failure mileage was 164,000.

THE HEADLIGHT OF MY 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS STOPPED WORKING SO I WHEN I HAD IT REPLACED THE DEALERSHIP CHARGED ME $350.00 FOR THE BULB. AFTER I PAID FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF THE BULB, THE SERVICE MANAGER GAME ME A CUSTOMER SERVICE NUMBER TO CALL AND COMPLAIN ABOUT THE PRICE OF THE BULB. NO ONE ANSWERED. I WENT HOME AND CHECKED THE VARIOUS BLOGS ON THE INTERNET AND FOUND THAT THIS HAS BEEN AN ON GOING PROBLEM WITH THE TOYOTA PRIUS. THE HEADLIGHTS SEEM TO BE DEFECTIVE. EXCLUDING THE INFLATED COST OF A LIGHT BULB, THIS HAS TO BE A SAFETY CONCERN FOR TOYOTA. THE BOTTOM LINE IS I PAID JUST OVER $401.00 TO REPLACE A $10.00 LIGHT BULB. THAT IS JUST PLAIN WRONG AND SOMEONE SHOULD HOLD TOYOTA RESPONSIBLE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME IN THIS MATTER. DENNIS BENNETT *TR

AFTER HAVING DRIVEN MY PRIUS NEARLY 15,000 MILES IN ALL TYPES OF WEATHER (EXCEPT SNOW) AND ON RESIDENTIAL ROADS AS WELL AS INTERSTATE HIGHWAYS WITH NO STEERING PROBLEMS, ON A SINGLE DAY ON RESIDENTIAL STREETS AT 20 TO 25 MPH AND GENTLE RAIN, IT HYDROPLANED TWICE WITH DAMAGES EACH TIME TO THE CAR AND TO A FIRE HYDRANT ONCE. EACH EVENT WAS WHILE GOING AROUND A GENTLE LEFT CURVE AT REASONABLE SPEED. THE FIRST TIME, I WAS ABLE TO CORRECT AND SPIN OUT 360 DEGREES WITH THE LEFT QUARTER-PANEL HITTING A ROADSIDE GARBAGE CONTAINER. THE SECOND TIME, THE CAR DID NOT RESPOND TO ANY STEERING MANEUVERS NOR THE BRAKES WHEN APPLIED. THE CAR STOPPED ONLY AFTER COLLIDING WITH THE FIRE HYDRANT. SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE WAS SUSTAINED IN EACH COLLISION. I HAVE TRAVELED THIS STREET SEVERAL TIMES DAILY, OFTEN ON RAINY DAYS, AND NEVER BEFORE HAD ANY STEERING PROBLEMS. IT WAS AS THOUGH SOMETHING HAD CHANGED IN THE STEERING CONTROL ON THIS DAY. I WAS SOBER AND UNIMPAIRED. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHENEVER THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS ENGAGED WHILE DRIVING AT SPEEDS OF 20 MPH OR MORE OVER ICE OR A SPEED BUMP, THE BRAKES FAILED. WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED, THE TRACTION CONTROL WOULD ACTIVATE CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SLIDE MOMENTARILY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED VIA EMAIL; HOWEVER SHE HAS NOT RECEIVED A RESPONSE. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE TO DATE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNDER 1,000 AND THE CURRENT WAS 18,300.

BRAKES RELEASE AT STOPS WHERE ONLY SLIGHT ROAD CONDITIONS EXIST AND HERE THERE SHOULD BE COMPLETE BRAKING. I HAVE FOUND THIS HAPPENS AT NUMEROUS TIMES DURING THE PERIOD I HAVE OWNED MY 2008 PRIUS. I BELIEVE THERE ARE VALID CONCERNS WITH THIS VEHICLES BRAKE SYSTEM THAT NEED TO BE ACKNOWLEDGED AND ADDRESSED BY THE MANUFACTURER. *CN

I HAVE 2008 PRIUS TOYOTA THAT 3 TIMES IN 2 YEARS I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO TURN THE CAR OFF AND THE DASHBOARD IS NOT LIT UP. AFTER 20 MINUTES THE CAR LIGHTS UP AGAIN AND I CAN TURN THE CAR OFF. FEARFUL THAT I CANNOT TURN CAR OFF EVER, THEN WHAT? I HAVE CALLED TOYOTA CUSTOMER SERVICE AND THEY DENY HEARING ABOUT THIS BEFORE BUT PRIUS CHAT FORUM HAS SEVERAL PEOPLE THAT HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. SEEMS COLD WEATHER RELATED AND FOR SOME THE "COMBINATION METER" WAS THE PROBLEM. IT COSTS $800 TO REPLACE. *TR

2008 TOYOTA PRIUS (NON-TOURING) -- HID HEADLAMP AUTO TURN OFF NOTICED THAT UPON ARRIVAL AT HOME ONE EVENING FROM WORK, THAT ONLY MY PASSENGER HEADLAMP WAS WORKING. HOWEVER I WENT TO REPLACE THE BULB THE FOLLOWING WEEKEND, THE DRIVER BULB WAS CLEARLY ON AND WORKING PROPERLY. SINCE THEN AND IN SEEMINGLY INCREASING FREQUENCY, I HAVE BEEN KEEPING NOTICE OF THIS MATTER AND IT HAS NOW GOTTEN TO THE POINT WHERE THE DRIVER HID HEADLAMP TURNS OFF AT LEAST EVERY OTHER TRIP HOME FROM WORK DURING THE EVENING. TURNING ALL LIGHTS OFF AND IMMEDIATELY BACK ON CORRECTS THE ISSUE UNLESS DONE TOO FAST. AND AFTER DOING SO THE DRIVER SIDE IS NOT AS BRIGHT FOR SOME 5-10 MINUTE PERIOD OF TIME. HOWEVER, AFTER THE HIDS HAVE BEEN OFF OVER NIGHT AND DURING MOST OF THE DAY (WHILE PARKED) THEY BOTH TURN ON AND APPEAR TO BE AT NEARLY THE SAME BRIGHTNESS UNTIL THE DRIVER HID HEADLAMP JUST UP AND TURNS OFF WHEN IT WANTS TO. THE TURN OFF IS RARELY ASSOCIATED WITH A MAJOR BUMP OR OTHER ROAD OBSTRUCTION BUT THE LAMP RARELY STAYS ON WHEN ENCOUNTERING SUCH THINGS (ROCKS, BUMPS, CHIPPED ROAD SURFACE, ETC), BUT IN GENERAL IT JUST TURNS OFF WHEN IT WANTS TO WITHOUT ANY DETECTABLE REASON. FIRST NOTICED ON OR AROUND NOV 20, 2008 BUT IN THE PAST YEAR THE PROBLEM HAS GROWN IN FREQUENCY TO MAYBE ONCE EVERY 4-5 WEEKS TO NOW ONCE EVERY 2-3 DAYS. I TRAVEL APPROX. 65 MILES EACHDAY ROUND TRIP TO WORK AND IT IS GENERALLY DUSK OR NIGHTFALL WHEN I RETURN HOME. *TR

PREMATURE HID HEADLAMP FAILURE. MY CAR IS BARELY 40K MILES. HEADLAMPS INTERMITTENTLY GOES OUT. IT WOULD COME BACK ON IF I TURN THE HEADLAMPS OFF AND THEN ON. *TR

THE PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT SUDDENLY WENT OUT. *TR

WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES , OVER ROUGH ROAD THE CAR WILL VAULT FORWARD BEFORE STOPPING. *TR

VEHICLE RAN OFF ROAD ON CURVE, DRIVER REPORTED VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED OUT OF CONTROL. UPDATED 06/03/10*BF UPDATED IVOQ. 06/07/10 UPDATED 9/29/11*CW

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS PURCHASED NEW. HE STATED WHILE BRAKING AT SPEEDS LESS THAN 10 MPH, THE VEHICLE WOULD VIOLENTLY JERK FORWARD. THIS INCIDENT WAS DESCRIBED AS, THE BRAKES MOMENTARILY FAILING AND ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE BUT THEN WOULD CATCH ITSELF.THE CONTACT STATED THE FAILURE OCCURRED OVER 15-20 TIMES WITHIN A YEAR AND A HALF. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER NOR WERE THERE ANY RECALLS FOR HIS VEHICLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE UNDER 10,000.

WE OWN A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS WITH HID HEADLAMPS. ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS OVER THE PAST 18 - 20 MONTHS, EITHER HEADLAMP WILL TURN OFF. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE. TURNING THE SWITCH OFF AND BACK ON RESTORES NORMAL FUNCTION. WE REPORTED THE ISSUE TO THE DEALER WE PURCHASED THE CAR FROM AND WAS TOLD THEY COULD DO NOTHING EXCEPT REPLACE HEADLAMPS AT OUR EXPENSE. THE HEADLAMPS TURN OFF WITH ALARMING REGULARITY, TO THE POINT WE DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AFTER DARK. *TR

GAS TANK DOES NOT OPERATE AS ADVERTISED AND POSES A POTENTIALLY VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM FOR CONSUMERS WHO RUN OUT OF GAS OR CAN'T REFILL THE TANK AS ADVERTISED. THE GAUGE DOES NOT APPEAR TO WORK ACCURATELY AND DOES NOT TRULY REFLECT THE AMOUNT OF GAS REMAINING OR THE CONSUMPTION OF GAS. *TR

WHILE MY 2004 TOYOTA PRIUS WAS IN THE SHOP FOR ITS 30,000 MILE MAINTENANCE, MY MECHANIC FOUND THAT THE WATER PUMP HAS BEEN LEAKING COOLANT (PHOTOS AVAILABLE). THE CAR HAS ONLY 21,600 MILES, AND ITS WATER PUMP SHOULD LAST AT LEAST THREE TIMES AS LONG. MY LOCAL BERKELEY TOYOTA DEALER HAD THREE '04 PRIUS PUMPS ON HAND WHICH IS INDICATIVE THAT MANY PRIUS' ARE EXPERIENCING SUCH A WATER PUMP FAILURE. I'M WRITING TO INFORM YOU OF WHAT APPEARS TO BE A SUBSTANDARD PART ON 2004 PRIUS'. *TR

THE HEADLIGHTS ON MY 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS WORK INTERMITTENTLY WHICH CAUSE REAL SAFETY ISSUES WHEN DRIVING. THE HEADLIGHTS ARE HID (HIGH INTENSITY DISCHARGE) AND THE TOYOTA DEALER HAS TRIED REPAIRING THE PROBLEM BUT THE PROBLEM RETURNS. THIS RECURRING PROBLEM HAS BEEN NOTED BY MANY OWNERS BUT TOYOTA DOES NOT COVER THE PROBLEM IF IT IS OUT OF THEIR 3YR / 36KMILE WARRANTY. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY BY TOYOTA REGARDLESS OF MILEAGE. THEY PROBABLY DON'T WANT TO COVER THIS UNDER WARRANTY AS THE BULB COSTS ~$300 (~$400 INSTALLED). *TR

HAVE A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. HEADLIGHTS OPERATE INTERMITTENTLY. I UNDERSTAND THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM WITH PRIUS FOR A FEW YEARS AND HAS BILKED ALOT OF MONEY FROM OWNERS UNFAIRLY. WHO IS OUR ADVOCATE. EXORBITANT PRICES ARE BEING CHARGED FOR PARTS AND LABOR. PLEASE HELP US. THANK YOU. *TR

MY 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS HEADLIGHTS KEEP GOING OUT, THE BULBS ARE FINE, BUT I HAVE TO TURN OFF AND TURN ON THE LIGHT MANY TIME ON HIGHWAY TO MAKE THEM STAY ON. THAT IS NOT SAFETY WAY EVER. IF I FORGOT TO TURN IT OFF AND ON AGAIN, I CAN CAUSE AN ACCIDENT OR POLICE OFFICER WILL GIVE PULL ME OVER. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 30 MPH WHEN THE DRIVERS SIDE HEADLIGHTS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO CONFIRMED THE BULB NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON THREE PREVIOUS OCCASIONS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED, BUT THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE WENT FLAT. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE TIRE WITH A SPARE. THE VEHICLE THEN BEGAN EXPERIENCING NUMEROUS FAILURES. THE INSTRUMENT PANEL GAUGES ILLUMINATED AND THE ODOMETER BEGAN TO FAIL. THE DEALER STATED THAT IT WOULD TAKE A FEW DAYS TO DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. DAYS LATER, THE MECHANIC EXPLAINED THAT THERE WAS AN ISSUE WITH THE COMPUTER SYSTEM NOT RECOGNIZING THE OVERSIZED TIRES. THE MECHANIC PLACED THE REGULAR SIZE TIRE BACK ON THE VEHICLE, WHICH CORRECTED THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT IS CONCERNED THAT THE SPARE TIRE COULD CAUSE DANGEROUS DRIVING CONDITIONS IF IT EVER NEEDED TO BE USED AGAIN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 14,500. UPDATED 11/14/08. *LJ UPDATED 11/18/08.*JB

I AM WRITING ABOUT A CAUTION STATEMENT ON PAGE 48 OF THE TOYOTA PRIUS 2008 OWNER'S MANUAL. THE CAUTION STATEMENT STATES "PEOPLE WITH IMPLANTED PACEMAKERS OR CARDIAC DEFIBRILLATORS SHOULD KEEP AWAY FROM THE SMART KEY SYSTEM ANTENNAS." PEOPLE WANTING TO TEST DRIVE OR PURCHASE THE PRIUS OR ANY VEHICLE WITH A SMART KEY SYSTEM SHOULD BE ASKED PRIOR TO DRIVING OR PURCHASING THE CAR IF THEY HAVE EITHER OF THESE DEVICES. IF SO, THE SMART KEY SYSTEM SHOULD BE DEACTIVATED. ALSO, TOYOTA SHOULD SEND A LETTER TO ALL OWNERS OF VEHICLES WITH A SMART KEY SYSTEM WARNING THEM TO DEACTIVATE THE SMART KEY SYSTEM IF EITHER THE DRIVER OR A PASSENGER HAS A PACEMAKER OR DEFIBRILLATOR. THIS CAUTION INFORMATION SHOULD NOT BE LOCATED ON PAGE 48, BUT SHOULD BE CLEARLY POSTED ON THE VEHICLE AND STICKER. *TR

I HAVE A 2008 PRIUS AND THE HID HEADLIGHTS GO OUT IN THE FIRST 5 MILES AFTER STARTING UP, BOTH SIDES WILL GO OUT, BUT IF I CLICK THE SWITCH THEY COME BACK ONE. I' M A LINE HAUL COURIER AND DRIVE 423 MILES A NIGHT SO I HAVE THE PATTERN OF THE LIGHTS GOING OUT ONE SIDE THEN THE OTHER FOR ABOUT 5 TO 10 MINS. HITTING THE SWITCH TO PRIME THEM BACK ON THEN THEY STAY ONE FOR AN HOUR OR EVEN TWO. IF I STOP AT 7-11 OR GAS, THEY'LL ACT UP FOR ABOUT ANOTHER 10 MINS, THEN THEY STAY ON. ONCE IN A GREAT WHILE ONE OF THEM WILL GO OFF, BUT I DRIVE WITH MY RUNNING LIGHTS ON SO I'LL HAVE LIGHT TO CATCH WHEN THEY GO OFF. I STARTED TO COMPLAIN AFTER A MONTH OR SO, BUT THE GAL SAID THAT IT WOULD COST $800.00 OR MORE, (I'VE HEARD IT'S HIGHER. I 'VE ASKED A COUPLE OF TIMES AND WAS TOLD 'IT'S ELECTRICAL! I CAN'T AFFORD THAT KIND OF SCRATCH FOR SOMETHING THAT'S SHOULD BE ALL WORKING, FOR $26,000! I JUST FIGURE THAT IT SHOULD WORK AND IF IT DON'T, WHY SHOULD I PAY FOR SOMETHING THAT SHOULD COME WITH THIS HIGH TECH VEHICLE!! ANY WAY I LOVE IT EXCEPT FROM THE INTERMITTENT HIGH LIGHT FAILURE...I HOPE MY CHP DOESN'T BLOW A FUSE IF SOMETHING HAPPENS AND THEY TEST IT AND TOYOTA WAS AT FAULT AS IT SHOULD PROVIDE A SAFE CAR FOR CALIFORNIA HIGHWAYS... *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 15 MPH THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. THE BRAKES WOULD NOT ENGAGE DURING THE ACCELERATION CAUSING THE CONTACT TO CRASH INTO A NEARBY POLE. NO ONE WAS INJURED DURING THE CRASH. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED FOR THE INCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL BODY SHOP. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALERSHIP. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 12000.

HID HEAD LIGHT GOES OFF WHILE DRIVING IN TOYOTA PRIUS 08. *TR

THE FUEL GAUGE ON MY PRIUS REGISTERED 3 GALLON FUEL REMAINING (ACCORDING TO THE OWNERS' MANUAL). I RAN OUT OF FUEL ON A BUSY EXPRESSWAY WITHOUT WARNING. FORTUNATELY, I WAS NOT HIT. I WAS TOWED TO A TOYOTA DEALERSHIP WHO INFORMED ME THAT THE PRIUS GAS TANK IS A PLASTIC BAG AND THE FUEL GAUGE DOES NOT REGISTER CORRECTLY. I ASKED WHAT TOYOTA WAS DOING ABOUT THIS. I WAS TOLD THAT THEY WERE "LOOKING INTO IT". THAT WAS MORE THAN ONE YEAR AGO. THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP TOLD ME TO KEEP THE GAS TANK 1/2 FULL IN ORDER TO PREVENT MY PRIUS FROM RUNNING OUT OF FUEL. OF COURSE, THIS CUTS THE VEHICLE RANGE IN HALF. I ASSUMED THAT TOYOTA WOULD WORK FOR A SOLUTION, BUT FRANKLY, AFTER ALL THE RECENT REVELATIONS, I WONDER IF TOYOTA HAS LOOKED FOR A SOLUTION. AT THE VERY LEAST, TOYOTA SHOULD INFORM ALL PRIUS OWNERS TO KEEP THEIR GAS TANKS 1/2 FULL IN ORDER TO AVOID THE POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS EVENT THAT I EXPERIENCED. (I AM A REGISTERED PROFESSIONAL ENGINEER, MECHANICAL, STATE OF CALIFORNIA.) *TR

THE CAR FROM A STOP, IF YOU STEP ON THE GAS WHILE MAKING A RIGHT TURN THE CAR HESITATES REALLY BAD AND COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. I'VE TAKEN IT IN WHEN THE CAR HAD LESS THAN 10K MILES. THEY COULD NOT REMAKE THE PROBLEM. THE CAR HESITATES STILL AND HAS NOT CHANGED, IT CURRENTLY HAS 117K MILES. I BELIEVE THERE IS A SOFTWARE PROBLEM.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT REAR ENDED THE PRECEDING VEHICLE. NO PASSENGERS WERE INJURED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE BRAKES WERE NOT DEFECTIVE. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 3,500.

HEADLIGHT FAILURE ON THE PRIUS SEEMS TO BE AN ON GOING ISSUE FROM YEAR TO YEAR FOR THE MODELS THAT HAVE THE HID TYPE. I LOST THE DRIVERS SIDE LIGHT ABOUT THE FIRST OF SEPT. 08 AND THE PASSENGER SIDE THIS MORNING. DOING A SEARCH AND READING OF THE PROBLEM IS WHY I AM FILING A COMPLAINT. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN DRIVING OVER A BUMP AT LOW SPEEDS, WHEN SHE DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE BRAKES WOULD NOT ENGAGE. IT WOULD SLOW DOWN EVENTUALLY BUT NOT IN THE NORMAL TIME IT SHOULD. WHEN DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE VEHICLE WOULD JERK FORWARD AS IF THE CONTACT MADE A SUDDEN STOP. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP TWICE. THE FIRST TIME SHE WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE AND AFTER THE SECOND VISIT, SHE WAS TOLD THEY REPAIRED THE VEHICLE, HOWEVER THEY DID NOT TELL HER WHAT REPAIRS WERE MADE. SHE STILL NOTICED THE SAME PROBLEMS. SHE HAD NOT SPOKEN WITH THE MANUFACTURER TO-DATE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 18,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 20.

I HAVE A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS AND MY PROBLEM IS WITH THE BRAKING AND THE ANTI SKID COMING ON EVEN ON DRY PAVEMENT. I HAVE ALSO A NOISE THAT COMES FROM BRAKING WHEN THE CAR IS STOPPED. WHEN YOU PRESS ON THE BRAKE IT MAKES A CLICKING AND GRINDING NOISE EVEN WHEN THE CAR IS NOT GOING. I HAVE HAD IT IN ABOUT 4-5 TIMES FOR THESE 2 PROBLEMS AND 3 TIMES THEY BLED THE BRAKES AND 2 TIMES THEY CHANGED THE ACTUATOR. THIS PROBLEM STARTED ABOUT 3-4 MONTHS AFTER I PURCHASED MY 2008 PRIUS. *TR

I HAVE A 2007 PRIUS HEADLIGHTS GO OFF 1 AT A TIME THEN BOTH SOMETIMES,THEY COME ON WHEN I FLIP ON OFF SWITCH; THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING AT LEAST 10 TIMES PER WEEK DEALER TELLS ME BULBS FOR $509 PLUS TAX DOES NOT MAKE SENSE SINCE BULBS WORK FINE MOST OF THE TIME OTHER PEOPLE INDICATE THAT CHANGING BULBS DOES NOT SOLVE PROBLEM. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKES ON HER VEHICLE WERE HIGHLY SENSITIVE. WHEN SHE BARELY DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE VEHICLE WOULD COME TO A COMPLETE STOP. THERE WERE FOUR WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. ONCE THE INDICATORS ILLUMINATED, THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND DISCOVERED IT WAS SOFT. THE PEDAL THEN EXTENDED TO THE FLOORBOARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER SIX TIMES FOR REPLACEMENTS, BUT THE FAILURES COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE BRAKE ACTUATOR WAS REPLACED, BUT THIS DID NOT CORRECT THE FAILURE. WHILE DRIVING LESS THAN 15 MPH, THE VEHICLE CAME TO A SUDDEN STOP WITHOUT THE CONTACT TOUCHING THE BRAKE PEDAL. SHE THEN TURNED ON THE EMERGENCY LIGHTS AND DEPRESSED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL UNTIL THE VEHICLE RESPONDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,200 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 8,800.

BRAKING FAILS WHEN GOING OVER RUMBLE STRIPS OR ROUGH ROAD SURFACE. 2 ACCIDENTS IN THIS CAR BOTH ON CITY STREETS WITH SOMEWHAT POOR SURFACE. BOTH A SPEEDS LESS THAN 30 MPH BUT WHOLE SYSTEM SHUTS DOWN UTILL BUMPS STOP ONLY ACCIDENTS I HAVE HAD IN 40 YEARS OF DRIVING. I WORK IN 3 STATES AVG 60K /YR I ASKED DEALER TO DISABLE THE ANTI SKID FEATURE AS MANUAL SAID COULD BE DONE DEALER SAID THEY HAD TROUBLE DISABLING FEATURE IT KEPT RESETING ITSELF TO ON *CN

MY MOTHER HAS A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS AND WAS PULLING INTO MY DRIVEWAY. THE APPROACH TO THE DRIVEWAY IS UPHILL AND THE DRIVEWAY IS MORE OF A PARKING AREA WITH AN ACCESS APRON. FOR SOME UNKNOWN REASON, THE CAR'S ENGINE REVVED (VERY HIGH RPMS - I COULD HEAR IT FROM THE BASEMENT). THE CAR GRAZED THE SIDE OF THE HOUSE, WENT THROUGH A SHORT WALL (BRICK - ABOUT 1 FOOT TALL, 1 FOOT THICK AND 5 FEET LONG) AND AN IRON DECK GATE. THE CAR ENDED UP ON THE DECK AFTER BREAKING OFF TWO 6X6 SUPPORT POSTS. THE DECK HAS HORIZONTAL STAINLESS STEEL CABLES INSTEAD OF PICKETS, AND I BELIEVE THAT THESE ARE WHAT KEPT THE CAR FROM GOING OVER THE EDGE - A 25 FOOT DROP. *TR

ON A SLIGHT INCLINE, WITH FRONT WHEELS TURNED, CAR STARTED NORMALLY THEN ACCELERATED BY ITSELF AND WAS DIFFICULT TO STOP WITH BOTH FEET ON BRAKE PEDAL. ACCELERATION WAS NOT SUDDENLY FAST BUT WAS INCREASING WHEN I TURNED CAR INTO GRAVEL DRIVE LEADING UP A HILL. CAR STOPPED WITH BRAKING AND WAS SUCCESSFULLY TURNED OFF IN THE MANNER REQUIRED BY MANUAL. CAR RESTARTED AND NO FURTHER PROBLEM WAS EXPERIENCED. *TR

ON SEPTEMBER 1, 2008 I HAD AN ACCIDENT INVOLVING MY 2008 PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING SOUTH ON 295 NEAR RICHMOND, VA, TRAFFIC CAME TO A TOTAL STOP NEAR THE VIRGINIA BEACH EXIT. I WAS UNABLE TO STOP AND HIT THE SUV IN FRONT OF ME. AFTER SEEING THE TRAFFIC STOPPING, I APPLIED MY BRAKES AS HARD AS I COULD BUT THE CAR DID NOT STOP. I ALSO DID NOT FEEL THE ABS ENGAGE. NATURALLY, I WAS CHARGED WITH CAUSING THE ACCIDENT. WHEN THE PRIUS WAS REPAIRED (~$12,000), I REQUESTED TOYOTA TO CHECK FOR A FAILURE OF THE ABS. THEY REPORTED THAT THE COMPUTER DID NOT REGISTER ANY MALFUNCTION. I AM SUBMITTING THIS NOW AFTER HEARING THROUGH THE MEDIA THAT THE PRIUS HAS HAD REPORTED BRAKE PROBLEMS. I HAVE ALWAYS BELIEVED THAT MY ACCIDENT WAS CAUSED BY THE PRIUS' BRAKES FAILING TO STOP IN A REASONABLE DISTANCE. I WAS DRIVING IN THE RIGHT-HAND LANE, NOT EXCEEDING THE SPEED LIMIT, BUT THE CAR JUST WOULD NOT STOP WHEN I BRAKED VERY HARD. I HAD NO VISIBLE OR TACTILE INDICATION THAT THE ABS HAD ENGAGED. THANK YOU FOR CONSIDERING MY ISSUE. *TR

REPRODUCIBLE LAG IN BRAKE RESPONSE WHEN DRIVING OVER BUMPY CONDITIONS AT LOW SPEEDS (8-20MPH) ON DRY ROAD CONDITIONS. IF I BRAKE BEFORE A SHARP BUMP (E.G., POTHOLE BEFORE STOP SIGN), THERE IS A DELAY IN BRAKE ENGAGEMENT ON THE ORDER OF SECOND(S), AND THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT FLASHES ON THE DASHBOARD. THE BRAKES WILL EVENTUALLY ENGAGE. THIS IS MOST NOTICEABLE AND REPRODUCIBLE WHEN I AM DRIVING ON A UNIVERSITY CAMPUS THAT IS IN THE FOOTHILLS OF SALT LAKE CITY ON A DECLINING AND CURVY ROAD. HOWEVER, I HAVE ENCOUNTERED THIS BRAKE ISSUE PERIODICALLY WHEN HITTING POTHOLES OR SHARP BUMPS ON SLIGHT DECLINES AT OTHER VENUES. HOWEVER, THIS HAS LED TO SEVERAL EPISODES OF THE CAR STOPPING LATER THAN ANTICIPATED, AND I WORRY THAT MY SCENARIO REPRESENTS A "SENTINEL EVENT" FOR FUTURE SAFETY ISSUES. I INQUIRED ABOUT THIS AT A DEALERSHIP, AND THEIR RESPONSE WAS THAT "YOU JUST HAVE TO ADJUST TO THE BRAKE FEEL COMPARED TO YOUR OLD NON-HYBRID CAR." *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH THE FRONT BRAKES LOCKED ON THE VEHICLE. ON ONE OCCASION THE FAILURE ALMOST CAUSED A CRASH WITH A HEAVY TRUCK. AFTER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE FOUR TIMES, THE ENGINEERS ADMITTED THERE WAS AN ACTUAL BRAKE PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE. HOWEVER THEY COULD NOT IDENTIFY THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 94,400. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 22,000. UPDATED 1/4/10 *CN THE BRAKE PADS WERE REPLACED AND THE FRONT ROTORS WERE MACHINED. UPDATED 01/06/10.*JB

VEHICLE IS EXTREMELY, ALMOST DANGEROUSLY, SENSITIVE TO CROSS WINDS AND WAKE TURBULENCE FROM LARGER VEHICLES, TRUCKS SPECIFICALLY. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE WAS STRUCK ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT'S WIFE SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES AND THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED MAJOR DAMAGES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 3,000.

JUST BOUGHT BRAND NEW 2008 PRIUS. OWNER'S MANUAL CLAIMS THAT WITH JUST ONE BAR SHOWING ON FUEL GAUGE THERE WOULD BE 3.0 GAL. OR LESS IN FUEL BLADDER. THE FUEL GAUGE IS TOTALLY UNRELIABLE BASED ON THESE RESULTS: 10 BARS (FULL FILLUP) GOT 200 MILES TO 9 BARS -- 3 BARS LEFT GOT 100 MILES TO 2 BARS -- 2 BARS LEFT GOT 20 MILES TO 1 BAR -- 1 BAR LEFT GOT ONLY 5 MILES BEFORE CAR CAME TO A STOP AND WOULD NOT RESTART --. THE HYBRID BATTERY GAUGE SHOWED 0 CHARGE. AFTER PUTTING IN 2.5 GAL. THE FUEL GAUGE SHOWED 2 BARS. ENGINE STARTED AND I COULD DRIVE 1.25 MILES TO A GAS STATION. THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED ON I-40 AT 9:00 PM IN NEW MEXICO. WE WERE VERY LUCKY THAT THERE WAS A GAS STATION NEARBY, BECAUSE THERE ARE MANY STRETCHES OF I-40 WHERE THERE IS NO GAS STATION FOR 20-40 MILES. THERE HAVE BEEN MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT BOTH THE UNRELIABLE FUEL GAUGE AND THE BLADDER TYPE FUEL TANK. THE TOYOTA DEALER NEVER MENTIONED THESE DEFECTS, NOR DOES THE OWNER'S MANUAL. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING 75 MPH WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ACTIVATED, THE CONTACT ACCELERATED PAST 80 MPH TO PASS ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SLOW DOWN AFTERWARDS AND ACCELERATED PAST 90 MPH. SHE DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL, BUT THE CRUISE CONTROL WOULD NOT DISENGAGE. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO TAP THE BRAKE PEDAL AND SHUT OFF THE CRUISE CONTROL MANUALLY, BUT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. SHE MANAGED TO PULL TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD AND SHUT OFF THE ENGINE. UPON RESTARTING, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED AGAIN WITHOUT DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. SHE ATTEMPTED TO RESET THE CRUISE CONTROL TO 60 MPH, BUT IT WOULD NOT RESPOND. THE CONTACT WAITED 30 MINUTES BEFORE RESTARTING THE VEHICLE AND IT APPEARED TO HAVE MOVED FROM THE LOCKED POSITION OF ACCELERATION. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE LESS THAN 7,250.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING INTO A SHARP CURVE; APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH. THERE WAS AN UNEXPECTED INCREASE IN ACCELERATION. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SLOW DOWN DURING BRAKING. SUDDENLY, THE VEHICLE ROLLED OVER AN EMBANKMENT AND ONTO THE ROAD. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE POLICE WAS CALLED TO THE SCENE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTO BODY SHOP. THE FAILURE WAS MILEAGE 3,222. THE CONTACT HAD CONCERN OF THE SAFETY RISK INVOLVED.

I HAVE A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS WITH 10K MILES ON IT. SEVERAL WEEKS AGO WHILE DRIVING 65 ON THE HIGHWAY, THE CRUISE CONTROL KICKED OUT AND THE CAR RAPIDLY DECELERATED, ALMOST LIKE IT WAS BRAKING. I COULD NOT RE-SET THE CRUISE CONTROL AGAIN UNTIL AFTER STOPPING AND RESTARTING THE CAR. THE PROBLEM HAS AGAIN HAPPENED 3 MORE TIMES IN THE PAST WEEK. AUTO DEALERSHIP SAYS THEY CANNOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT UNLESS I BRING IT IN AND CAN RECREATE THE PROBLEM. VERY DANGEROUS WHEN CRUISE CONTROL KICKS OUT AND PEOPLE ARE DRIVING CLOSELY BEHIND ME. *TR