2008 Toyota Prius Complaint Log

DEAR NHTSA, I BOUGHT MY CAR JULY, 2008 AND I NOTICED RIGHT A WAY AT NIGHT MY CAR HAVE THIS VERY BRIGHT LIGHT FRONT OF MY WINDSHIELD. I FOUND OUT WHERE IT WAS COMING FROM AND IT WAS COMING FROM REFLECTION FROM THE ODOMETER. THIS LIGHT IS VERY DANGEROUS BECAUSE I CAN'T SEE A '!@#$% THING NOTHING BUT BRIGHT GREEN LINE LIGHT. THIS LIGHT IS DESIGN FLAW & NEED TO BE CORRECTED A.S.A.P. TOYOTA IS DOING NOTHING BUT TELLING ME TO RESELL MY CAR BACK TO THEM FOR CHEAP. I LIKE MY CAR BUT THIS ISSUE. I LIKE MY CAR TO BE FIXED. PLEASE HELP ME... *TR

2008 PRIUS SPEEDS UP WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED WHILE GOING OVER BUMPY ROAD OR POT HOLE THIS IS A CONSTANT PROBLEM THAT EXISTS TODAY. *TR

EVERY TIME WE STEP ON AND OFF THE BRAKE THERE IS A GRINDING NOISE. I HAVE VISITED 2 DEALERSHIPS TO HELP IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM AT LEAST 7 TOYOTA PEOPLE HAVE VERIFIED THE NOISE BUT ARE UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE. THE LOCAL REP ORIGINALLY SAID I HEAR IT, DON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS AND THEREFORE CANNOT FIX IT. AFTER I CONTACTED THEIR CORPORATE HQS IN CA HE NOW SAYS IT IS A NORMAL NOISE.WITHOUT EXPLAINING CAUSE. THIS IS A 2008 PRIUS VEHICLE. FRIENDS WHO HAVE 2005,2007 AND 2009 PRIUS' DO NOT HAVE THIS NOISE. IT IS A LIFE THREATENING PROBLEM UNTIL THE CAUSE IS DETERMINED. SINCE IT INVOLVES THE BRAKES. I HAVE A DETAILED LIST OF ALL THE ACTIONS I HAVE TAKEN, WHICH INDIVIDUALS VERIFIED THE NOISE AND THE INDIVIDUALS I HAVE SPOKEN TO CONCERNING THIS PROBLEM. IS IT A FAULTY ELECTRIC MOTOR OR CONTROLLER BETWEEN GAS AND ELECTRIC MOTOR? THIS VEHICLE USES THE ELECTRIC MOTOR AS PART OF THE BRAKING SYSTEM. DID THE VEHICLE DESIGN PUT A NOISE IN 2008 AND TAKE IT OUT IN 2009? PLEASE HELP ME HAVE TOYOTA EXAMINE THE VEHICLE AND DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE NOISE AND FIX IT. PLEASE HELP BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT. *TR FRED ZIVITOFSKY

FUEL GAUGE AND FUEL TANK REPORT LOWER THAN EXPECTED VALUES WHICH LEAD TO MISCALCULATED TRIPS BETWEEN FILL UPS. ON THE FIRST DAY, THE TANK REPORTED FULL AT AROUND 11GALLONS. THE SECOND TIME OF FILLING UP, I COULD ONLY FILL UP 8 GALLONS BECAUSE THE FUEL PUMP SENSOR WOULD STOP AT THE GAS STATION. THE THIRD, AND FOURTH TIME WOULD ONLY ALLOW ME TO PUT IN 6 GALLONS, AND 4 GALLONS. THIS MAKES IT EXTREMELY INACCURATE IN REPORTING HOW MUCH GAS IS LEFT IN THE CAR. I NEARLY RAN OUT OF GAS GOING THROUGH AZ FOR A LONG DRIVE BECAUSE OF THE INACCURATE AMOUNT OF REPORTED GAS. TOYOTA MAKES A EUROPEAN VERSION WHICH DOES NOT HAVE THIS BLADDER PROBLEM. (THE FUEL TANK CAPACITY FOR A EUROPEAN NHW11 WITHOUT THE BLADDER IS 50 LITRES ) WHY NOT MODIFY OR REPLACE THE AMERICAN VERSION WHICH IS CLEARLY REPORTS BOGUS GAS READINGS? IT'S A SERIOUS PROBLEM WHEN YOU RUN OUT OF GAS ON THE HIGHWAY OR OVERESTIMATE TO THE NEXT REFUELING STATION. PRIUS 2008 MODEL, PURCHASED 6/2008. *TR

I OWN A 2008 PRIUS. THE FUEL GAUGE DOES NOT WORK AT ALL AND THE DEALER HAS TOLD ME IT'S A FUNCTION OF THE BLADDER GAS TANK. I CANNOT FILL THE TANK BECAUSE IT WILL NOT TAKE ENOUGH FUEL BEFORE THE PUMP SHUTS OFF. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM I AM TOLD NOW BY OTHER OWNERS. TOYOTA SHOULD TELL PEOPLE BEFORE THEY BUY THE CAR. I HAVE LESS THEN 1000 MILES ON THE CAR NOW. *TR

2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. UPON DRIVING THE VEHICLE THE RIGHT HEADLIGHT DIMS. AFTER APPROXIMATELY 60 SECONDS BOTH LIGHT TURN OFF. *TR

WHILE COMING TO A STOP AT A RED LIGHT, ANOTHER CAR CHANGED LANES IN FRONT OF US. MY HUSBAND PRESSED ON THE BRAKES HARDER TO STOP FASTER, THE CAR DID NOT CONTINUE TO STOP AND INSTEAD CONTINUE TO ACCELERATE INTO THE CAR THAT HAD CHANGED INTO OUR LANE CAUSING US TO REAR END THE CAR IN FRONT OF US. SINCE THEN WE HAVE HAD THE CAR SERVICED AND THEY SAY THE BRAKES ARE FINE. THE CAR STILL WILL NOT SLOW ANY FASTER IF THE BRAKES ARE PRESSED HARDER AND OFTEN THE ABS WILL ENGAGED AS WE COME TO A STOP CAUSING THE CAR TO JERK TO A STOP. *TR

THE NHTSA SHOULD WIDEN THEIR FORMAL INVESTIGATION OF THE MOMENTARY LOSS OF BRAKING CAPABILITY WHILE TRAVELING OVER AN UNEVEN ROAD SURFACE, POTHOLE OR BUMP IN TOYOTA PRIUS HYBRIDS, BEYOND MODEL YEAR 2010, TO AT LEAST THE 2008 AND 2009 MODELS. I HAVE A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS HYBRID AND I'VE BEEN HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM SINCE I BOUGHT MINE IN JUNE OF 2008. PLEASE WIDEN YOUR INVESTIGATION TO AT LEAST THE 2008 & 2009 PRIUS MODELS AS WELL, IF NOT EVEN FURTHER BACK THAN THAT... THANK YOU. *JB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHENEVER THE CONTACT DRIVES THE VEHICLE AT A LOW SPEED AND TRAVELS OVER A BUMP OR POT HOLE WHILE ATTEMPTING TO BRAKE THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLES BRAKES WOULD MOMENTARILY DISENGAGE AND THEN CORRECT ITSELF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATING NORMALY. THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS AND THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 22474.

I BOUGHT A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS IN THE SUMMER OF 2008 AND ALMOST IMMEDIATELY GOT INTO AN ACCIDENT. I WAS TURNING A CORNER AND THE CAR DIDN'T HANDLE AS I EXPECTED - I GOT A "HYDROPLANING" WARNING LIGHT EVEN THOUGHT IT WAS NOT RAINING AND TRIED TO BRAKE, BUT THE BRAKES DID NOT REACT AND I ENDED UP CRASHING INTO A CURB, CAUSING $3,000 IN DAMAGE TO THE WHEEL, AXEL, AND BUMPER. NO ONE WAS HURT AND THERE WAS NO PROPERTY DAMAGE OTHER THAN TO MY OWN CAR. AT THE TIME I CHALKED IT UP TO NOT YET BEING USED TO THE CAR, I HAD PREVIOUSLY HAD A JETTA THAT HANDLED WONDERFULLY AND I WAS USED TO THAT CAR BEING COMPLETELY RESPONSIVE. I MADE THE NECESSARY REPAIRS TO MY CAR AND JUST TRIED TO BE MORE CAUTIOUS WHEN I WAS DRIVING IN THE FUTURE. I HAVE ALWAYS NOTICED CERTAIN THINGS ABOUT THE HANDLING AND BRAKING OF THIS CAR, AND THE CURRENT RECALL ON THE 2010 VERSION MADE ME REALIZE I WASN'T IMAGINING THESE PROBLEMS. I CONSTANTLY GET THE HYDROPLANING TYPE WARNING ON MY DASHBOARD WHEN I GO OVER BUMPS OR IN BAD WEATHER, TO THE POINT WHERE I FEEL UNSAFE DRIVING MY PRIUS IN INCLEMENT WEATHER AND OFTEN BORROW A RELATIVE'S CAR. I HAVE BEEN LUCKY TO HAVE NO MORE ACCIDENTS OTHER THAN THAT FIRST ONE, BUT THERE HAVE BEEN MOST DEFINITELY BEEN TIMES WHEN I FELT THE CAR WAS NOT HANDLING THE WAY IT OUGHT TO. EVEN WHEN I HAD THAT ACCIDENT I HAD MAINTAINED TO FAMILY AND FRIENDS THAT I JUST COULDN'T FATHOM HOW I GOT INTO THAT ACCIDENT AND I FELT LIKE IT WAS "THE CAR'S FAULT." I DIDN'T SPREAD THIS OPINION TOO WIDELY THOUGH BECAUSE IT SOUNDED LIKE I WAS JUST MAKING AN EXCUSE FOR MY ACCIDENT. THAT'S REALLY HOW I FELT THOUGH; AS IF SOMETHING WENT WRONG WITH THE BRAKES THAT DAY. I FELT IF I HAD BEEN IN ANY OTHER CAR I'VE EVER DRIVEN THAT ACCIDENT COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED. I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW THERE WAS AN OPTION TO FILE A COMPLAINT WITH THE NHTSA UNTIL THIS RECALL HIT THE NEWS, SO I FIGURED FILING A COMPLAINT NOW IS BETTER THAN NEVER FILING AT ALL. THANKS FOR YOUR TIME. *TR

I WAS PARKING MY CAR HEAD IN FIRST, IN AN APARTMENT PARKING LOT, I HAD JUST PULLED INTO THE SPACE, PUT MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND DEPRESSED THE PARK BUTTON, I THEN BEGAN TO REACH FOR THE POWER BUTTON WHEN THE CAR UNCONTROLLABLY LUNGED FORWARD GOING UP A SLIGHT INCLINE, HITTING A CHAIN LINK FENCE POLE AND COMING TO A STOP DAMAGING THE FRONT BUMPER. I DON'T KNOW IF IT WAS THE BRAKE, OR ELECTRICAL SYSTEM BUT, ON OCCASION SINCE THIS INCIDENT, I HAVE ACCIDENTALLY TURNED THE CRUISE CONTROL ON AND FELT A SURGE OF SPEED BUT THE CAR WAS SLOWED/STOPPED BY USING THE BRAKE. IT'S SO EASY TO TURN THE CRUISE CONTROL ON WITHOUT KNOWING IT AND I WONDER IF IT COULD BE A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR TO SOME OF THE PRIUS PROBLEMS. *TR

2008 TOYOTA PRIUS: DRIVING OVER MANHOLE COVERS OR BUMPS IN THE ROAD, THE CAR FELT LIKE IT ACCELERATED WHEN BRAKING AND THE "SLIPPERY" LIGHT CAME ON THE DASHBOARD. IT HAPPENS WHENEVER I NEED TO BRAKE OVER A MANHOLE OR BUMP OR SLICK SPOT. I WENT TO THE DEALER MONTHS AGO (END OF SUMMER '09) WITH THIS COMPLAINT BUT SAID THEY WOULD NEED TO DO A FULL DIAGNOSTICS ON THE CAR AT MY EXPENSE SINCE THERE HAVE BEEN NO ISSUES WITH THE PRIUS' ABS THEY WOULD NEED TO CHECK EVERYTHING. I DID NOT HAVE THIS DONE. I CHECKED "SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC" SINCE YOUR FORM DID NOT HAVE AN OPTION TO CHOOSE ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM. ALSO, THERE ARE A LOT MORE DATES OF INCIDENTS THAN JUST ONE. *TR

INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). HELLO AND TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN: I PURCHASED A 2008 PRIUS ON MAY 14, 2008 AND EXPERIENCED WITHIN ONE MONTH OF BUYING THIS PRIUS, AN ISSUE WITH THE BRAKES. I TRIED BRAKING AS I PULLED UP TO MY GARAGE IN ORDER TO PARK MY CAR IN FRONT OF IT LIKE I USUALLY DO, THE BRAKE ACTED "IFFY" AND THE CAR WENT RIGHT INTO MY GARAGE DOOR! ORIGINALLY, I THOUGHT THIS WAS MY FAULT, BUT I KNEW I HAD HIT THE BRAKES CORRECTLY LIKE I DID IN THE PAST AND SWEAR SOMETHING MUST OF ACTED-UP. A COUPLE MONTHS LATER I EXPERIENCED SOMETHING LIKE THIS AGAIN, IN A TARGET STORE PARKING LOT WHERE THE BRAKE WAS ACTING, "IFFY." WHEN I BROUGHT MY CAR INTO THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP FOR THE 5000 MILES CHECK-UP I HAD EXPRESSED MY CONCERNS, BUT THIS WAS BEFORE ANY "RECALL" NOTICE WHAT-SO-EVER!! I HAVE BEEN BACK TO TOYOTA FOR MY EVERY 5000 MILES CHECK-UP SINCE, AND ALWAYS INQUIRE ABOUT THAT SITUATION AS I HOPE THEY DOCUMENT MY CONCERNS. KNOCK ON WOOD, I HAVE NOT HAD THIS HAPPEN AGAIN, BUT IT DID HAPPEN, AND I HAVE A NEW GARAGE DOOR AND SCRAPED FRONT FENDER TO SHOW FOR IT! WHEN I HEARD ABOUT THE "RECALL" I JUST KNEW IT WAS NOT ME NOR MY IMAGINATION HERE!!! I AM SEEKING REPAIR/DAMAGE COMPENSATION FOR THE FRONT FENDER AND GARAGE DOOR REPLACEMENT! THANK YOU VERY MUCH. YOUR EXPERIENCE REGARDING THIS PROBLEM IS GREATLY APPRECIATED. [XXX] *TR

CAR IN MOTION, RIGHT HEADLIGHT GOES OUT. CITY POLICE PULL ME OVER. I TURN THE LIGHTS OFF THEN BACK ON. THE LIGHT WORKS UNTIL NEXT TIME IT GOES OUT. MY WIFE DRIVING SAME CAR AND POLICE PULL HER OVER FOR LEFT HEADLIGHT OUT. SHE TURNED LIGHTS OFF THEN ON AND THE LIGHT WORKS AGAIN. CAR IN MOTION BOTH TIMES AND ALL OTHER TIMES. STREETS & HIGHWAYS.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING THE HEADLIGHTS FAILED INTERMITTENTLY WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 40,000.

WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL ENGAGED, THE BRAKES SHUT OFF TEMPORARILY WHILE THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT IS ON. THIS FAILURE OCCURS DAILY WHEN I APPROACH THE STOP SIGN IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD. AS A APPROACH THE STOP SIGN (BRAKES ENGAGED), THE ROAD DIPS SLIGHTLY WHICH TURNS ON THE TRACTION CONTROL. AT THIS POINT THE BRAKES TURN OFF (WITH MY FOOT STILL ON THE PEDAL) UNTIL THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT GOES OUT INDICATING THAT THE TRACTION CONTROL HAS DISENGAGED. SO FAR I HAVE BEEN LUCKY AND HAVE NOT HIT ANYONE AFTER ROLLING THROUGH THE STOP SIGN. THIS IS NOT A NEW PROBLEM AS IT HAS HAPPENED BASICALLY EVERY DAY SINCE I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE. I HAVE BEEN DEALING WITH IT UNTIL I SAW THE NOTICE ABOUT THE 2010 PRIUS WITH EXACTLY THE SAME PROBLEM. I WOULD LIKE TO SUBMIT A FORMAL COMPLAINT SO THAT THE 2010 PRIUS BRAKE INVESTIGATION CAN BE EXPANDED TO INCLUDE THE 2008 PRIUS. *TR

I AM HAVING ISSUES WITH MY 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS BRAKES. WHEN I APPLY PRESSURE TO THE BRAKES (GENTLE- NOT SUDDEN) THERE IS AN INSTANT WHEN THE CAR JERKS FORWARD AND SEEMS TO SPEED UP. THE ABS SENSOR LIGHT COMES ON FOR A SECOND OR TWO, THEN GOES OFF AND THE NORMAL BRAKING RESUMES. THIS ALSO HAPPENED TO ME WITH MY 2006 HIGHLANDER HYBRID (OF WHICH I LEASED FROM 9/06-4/08). WHEN I BROUGHT IT TO MY DEALERS ATTENTION, WHAT WAS GOING ON, THEY SAID THAT IT WAS COMPLETELY NORMAL. IT DID NOT SEEM NORMAL TO ME. IN FACT, I HAVE A NEIGHBOR WHO ALSO HAS A HIGHLANDER HYBRID WHO ATTRIBUTED A RECENT FENDER BENDER TO THIS VERY BRAKE/JERKING ISSUE. THIS HAPPENS ALMOST ON A DAILY BASIS (EVERY 2 DAYS WOULD BE MORE LIKE IT), PARTICULARLY WHEN I DRIVE ON THE BUMPY COUNTRY DIRT ROADS AROUND WHERE I LIVE. I TYPICALLY DRIVE SLOW (10-15 MPH) ON THE DIRT ROADS BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO DAMAGE/JOSSLE THE PARTS IN CAR 'LOOSE', SO 'HIGH' SPEED WOULD NOT PLAY A ROLE IN WHY MY ABS LIGHT COMES ON AND THE CAR JUMPS FORWARD. THE ISSUE HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED BY MY DEALER, THOUGH I HAVE BROUGHT IT TO THEIR ATTENTION WITH BOTH CARS. AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, THEY SAID IT WAS 'NORMAL'. FORTUNATELY THIS HAS NOT CAUSED AN ACCIDENT BUT I TYPICALLY DRIVE VERY CONSERVATIVELY AND AM VERY AWARE OF WHAT THIS CAR DOES - BRAKE WISE, SO I TEND TO BRAKE EARLY, IF POSSIBLE. *TR

ON JUNE 2,2008 MY WIFE BROUGHT HER NEW PRIUS INTO THE GARAGE TO PARK IT AND SUDDENLY IT JUST ACCELERATED AND WENT THROUGH THE GARAGE DOOR AND WALL. DAMAGES TO THE CAR, HOUSE, AND INSURANCE INCREASES TOTALED CLOSE TO $10,000. TOYOTA REPAIRED THE PRIUS AND WE TOLD THEM VERBALLY HOW THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND THEY SHRUGGED IT OFF. WE HAD BEEN SENT AT ONE TIME A LETTER THAT SAID WE MAY IN THE FUTURE RECEIVE A RECALL NOTICE BUT NEVER DID. THEREFORE WE WOULD HOPE TOYOTA TAKES CARE OF THESE ISSUES SO WE DON'T NEED TO TAKE FURTHER ACTION SEEING IT WAS A MANUFACTURING DEFAULT. WE'VE SENT TOYOTA TWO COMPLAINTS ALREADY AND NOT EVEN ONE WAS ACKNOWLEDGED AND BEING A FAITHFUL BUYER OF TOYOTA'S, WITHOUT ACTION ON THIS ISSUE WE MAY BE FORCED TO PURCHASE OTHER MAKE VEHICLES AND WE WILL REFUSE TO FURTHER PROMOTE TOYOTA UNLESS THE ISSUES ARE REMEDIED TO INCLUDE THE HOME DAMAGE AND OUR INSURANCE SURCHARGE. YOUR ASSISTANCE IN THIS ACCELERATION MANUFACTURING ISSUE WHICH HAS COST US ALMOST $10,000 IS UNCALLED FOR AND TOYOTA SHOULD HAVE BEGUN THE PROCESS OF RECALLS QUITE SOME TIME AGO. THANKING YOU IN ADVANCE FOR ANY ASSISTANCE YOU MAY BE ABLE TO GET FOR US SO WE DON'T HAVE TO SEEK FURTHER ASSISTANCE TO GET THESE ISSUES TAKEN CARE OF AND MY WIFE'S SUFFERING WITH THE CONCERN THAT THIS ISSUE COULD HAPPEN AGAIN. I HAVE ADVISED HER THAT IN SUCH SITUATION IF IT WERE TO OCCUR SHE IS TO SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF IMMEDIATELY AS WELL AS PUT IT IN NEUTRAL AND PUT ON THE EMERGENCY BREAK. UNFORTUNATELY OUR LONG STANDING MARRIAGE WITH TOYOTA MAY BE OVER WITH UNLESS WE ARE ASSISTED. *TR

SUMMARY: PRIUS LOW FUEL WARNING LIGHT/BUZZER CAME ON, AND ONLY 5 MILES LATER CAR RAN OUT OF GAS, IN A BAD PLACE AT NIGHT ON HIGHWAY. THE MANUAL STATES THAT WHEN LOW LIGHT COMES ON YOU HAVE THREE GALLONS OR LESS. WITH THE PRIUS, EVEN TREATING THIS CONSERVATIVELY AS ONLY 1 1/2 GALLONS, THAT SHOULD STILL BE OVER 60 MILES. I HAD DRIVEN THE VEHICLE BETWEEN 30 AND 50 MILES WITH LOW LIGHT ON MULTIPLE TIMES PREVIOUSLY. THIS USUALLY WORKS OCCASIONALLY FAILS FUEL WARNING IS CLEARLY DANGEROUS. AND FROM INTERNET RESEARCHING, IT IS CLEARLY A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM, AND TOYOTA NOT ONLY IS COMPLETELY IGNORING IT, THEY DENIED TO ME HAVING RECEIVED ANY COMPLAINTS ON THIS (THERE ARE PREVIOUS COMPLAINTS ON THIS EVEN RIGHT ON THIS NHTSA WEBSITE). DRIVING FROM COLORADO TO KANSAS CITY ON I-70, A LITTLE AFTER PASSING THE SIGN THAT SAID "TOPEKA 27 MILES", JUST AFTER 10 AT NIGHT, THE LOW FUEL LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND WARNING SOUNDED. WE PLANNED TO STOP AT THE NEXT FUEL STOP, WHICH WE EXPECTED TO BE WITHIN 20 MILES AT THE MOST. ABOUT 5 MILES AFTER THE LIGHT ILLUMINATED, THE CAR SUDDENLY LOST POWER, THE GAS ENGINE CLEARLY HAD QUIT, THE RED TRIANGLE WARNING ILLUMINATED, ALONG WITH ANOTHER WARNING. AFTER THE INITIAL SCARE, I PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER, SLOWLY, UNDER BATTERY POWER, NOT KNOWING WHAT HAD HAPPENED. IN THE MANUAL WE FOUND THAT THE SECOND WARNING INDICATED "HYBRID SYSTEM MALFUNCTION", AND NOT TO ATTEMPT TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. SOME 10-15 MINUTES LATER, AS WE WERE TRYING TO GET EMERGENCY HELP, THAT WARNING DISAPPEARED, AND A NEW MESSAGE CAME UP, "ADD FUEL". EVENTUALLY WE BORROWED GAS FROM A FAMILY THAT STOPPED TO HELP US IN THIS RURAL AREA, AND GOT HELP FROM A HIGHWAY PATROLMAN. TOYOTA CHECKED VEHICLE, DENIES PROBLEMS, DENIES RECEIVING COMPLAINTS, REFUSES TO SEND WARNINGS TO PRIUS OWNERS. NHTSA, THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE, LIKE YOUR RECALL 00V384. *TR 6/19/08 ADD **CW THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THAT THE LOW FUEL WARNING LIGHT WAS DEFECTIVE.

FAILURE OF CAR TO BRAKE WHEN DRIVING OVER ROUGH ROAD OR POT HOLES AND GLARE FROM SPEEDOMETER ACROSS FIELD OF VISION IN WINDSHIELD WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT. *TR

2008 TOYOTA PRIUS HYBRID - BRAKING PROBLEM SINCE PURCHASE OF CAR. SON REMARKED FREQUENTLY WHEN HE DROVE VEHICLE. I NOTICED IT ONLY WHEN HITTING A BUMPY SURFACE THAT CAUSED CAR TO RESPOND AS IF IT HAD LOST TRACTION AND SEEMED TO ENGAGE THE ABS SYSTEM. NO CONSEQUENCES TO DATE, BUT RISKY IF BUMPY CONDITIONS OCCUR ON ICY PATCHES. I MENTIONED AT LAST VEHICLE CHECKUP AT TOYOTA DEALERSHIP WHERE I GO FOR SERVICE, BUT WAS TOLD PROBLEM COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED - SO NO REMEMDY SUGGESTED. I FEEL CONFIDENT TOYOTA WILL ADDRESS, BUT SINCE I AM A PRE- 2010 PRIUS, I WANTED TO BRING THIS TO YOUR ATTENTION. *TR

MY 2008 PRIUS HAS THE SAME LOSS OF TRACTION WHEN GOING OVER UNEVEN SURFACES AS THE 2010 CAS. THERE ARE TWO SECTIONS OF ROAD THAT I DRIVE OVER EVERYDAY TO AND FROM WORK. EVERYDAY, WHEN I GO OVER THESE SURFACES MY ANTI-LOCK BRAKE LIGHT TURNS ON INDICATING THAT IT IS MOMENTARILY NOT WORKING. IT THEN FEELS LIKE I AM SLIDING ON ICE UNTIL I GET TO EVEN ROAD. PLEASE EXPAND THE INVESTIGATION TO THE AT LEAST THE 2008 MODELS. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED OVER A ROAD BUMP, THE BRAKES WOULD FAIL MOMENTARILY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP BUT THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NEED TO BE DIAGNOSED BY AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD BE INSPECTED WITHIN SIXTY DAYS. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 40,000.

2008 PRIUS BRAKE PROBLEM. THE SAME PROBLEM DESCRIBED WITH THE 2010 PRIUS, IS EXACTLY THE SAME ISSUE I AM HAVING WITH MY 2008 PRIUS. PLEASE CONSIDER EXTENDING THE EVALUATION OF THE PRIUS BACK TO EARLIER YEARS OF THE PROBLEM. *JB

THE FIRST TIME THIS HAPPENED WAS APPROXIMATELY 3 WEEKS AFTER PURCHASING MY NEW '08 PRIUS. I WAS ATTEMPTING TO FILL MY NEARLY EMPTY GAS TANK, WHEN THE GAS NOZZLE CLICKED OFF AFTER ABOUT 2 SECONDS OF FILLING. I REPEATEDLY TRIED TO CONTINUE FILLING ONLY TO HAVE THE NOZZLE REPEATEDLY CLICK OFF WITHOUT FILLING ANY FURTHER. I WOULD SQUEEZE THE HANDLE, A LITTLE GAS WOULD GO INTO THE CAR AND THE NOZZLE WOULD CLICK OFF. AFTER ABOUT 5 MINUTES OF THIS FRUSTRATION, I REMOVED THE NOZZLE FROM THE CAR AND WHATEVER GASOLINE WAS IN THE TANK CAME GUSHING OUT OF THE GAS TANK. A LOT OF GAS, POURED DOWN THE SIDE OF MY NEW CAR AND ONTO MYSELF. AFTER THIS, THE GAS GAUGE WAS APPARENTLY STUCK ON ?FULL?, AS I DROVE THE CAR A ABOUT 100 MILES AND THE GAS GAUGE REMAINED AT THE ?FULL? SETTING EVEN THOUGH I HAD NOT EVEN PUT IN 3 GALLONS OF GAS IN MY SEEMINGLY EMPTY TANK. WITH MOST EVERY SUBSEQUENT FILL AFTER THIS IT WOULD TAKE FOREVER TO FILL THE TANK WITH THE NOZZLE CONSTANTLY CLICKING OFF?PLUS IT IS DIFFICULT TO TELL WHEN THE TANK IS ACTUALLY FULL. THE GAS HAS CONTINUED TO POUR OUT ONTO MY CAR AND MYSELF ON OCCASIONAL FILLS OVER THE COURSE OF THE LAST 5 MONTHS. I'VE PUT 16,000 MILES ON MY PRIUS AND IT HAS MOST ALWAYS BEEN THE SAME ROUTINE WHEN FUELING?THE NOZZLE CONSTANTLY CLICKING OFF AND ME STANDING THERE SQUEEZING THE NOZZLE HANDLE OVER AND OVER AND TRYING TO GUESS WHEN THE TANK IS ACTUALLY FULL. I OFTEN COULD NOT PUT MORE THAN ONE SECOND OF FUEL IN MY PRIUS BEFORE THE FUEL NOZZLE WOULD CLICK OFF AND I KEEP HAVING TO PULL THE PUMP SPIGOT OUT UNTIL IT JUST BARELY SQUIRTS GAS PAST THE LITTLE FLAPPER DOOR, AND EVEN THEN IT KEEPS SHUTTING OFF. IT TAKES ME ALMOST 20 MINUTES TO PUT LESS THAN 6 GALLONS OF GAS IN THIS CAR AND IT IS AN ENVIRONMENTAL AND A SAFETY CONCERN TO CONTINUE HAVING GAS POUR OUT OF THE TANK TO THE GROUND AND ONTO MY CLOTHING/BODY. TOYOTA WILL NOT REMEDY THIS PROBLEM AND IT IS BOTH AN ENVIRONMENTAL AND SAFETY CONCERN TO MYSELF AND OTHERS. THERE IS DOCUMENTATION SINCE 2004. *TR

I RECENTLY RETURNED FROM A 2,300 MILE ROAD TRIP THAT BEGAN IN WOODLAND WA. DURING THIS TRIP, WE FILLED UP IN ASHLAND ORE ON OUR WAY TO RENO NV. ORE REQUIRES THAT AN ATTENDANT DO THIS AND OFF WE WENT, NEXT GAS FILL UP WAS TO HAVE BEEN RENO! WE HEADED EAST, TURNED OFF I-5 AND ONTO HWY 89 AND SWITCHED DRIVERS. AFTER ONLY 83 MILES, THE GAS TANK SHOWED THAT THERE WAS LESS THAN 1/2 A TANK. LUCKILY WE HAD NOT MISSED MCCLOUD CALIFORNIA, LAST STOP FOR GAS FOR MANY MILES! WHEN WE FILLED UP IN RENO, THE GAS PUMP SHUT OFF WAY TOO SOON! WE HAD TO PULL THE GAS NOZZLE WAY OUT AND EXTREMELY SLOWLY MANAGED TO FILL UP THE GAS TANK. DURING THIS SLOW PROCESS, AIR AND GAS WOULD BUBBLE UP AND AT TIMES OUT OF THE TANK. WE REPEATED THIS PROCESS AT EVERY FILL UP ALONG THE TRIP AND SINCE WE HAVE GOTTEN HOME. TEMPERATURE, TIME OF DAY AND ALTITUDE SEEM TO NOT HAVE ANY EFFECT ON GETTING THE TANK FILLED, THE PUMP SHUT OFF EARLY AT EVERY INSTANCE. ANOTHER ISSUE IS THE FUEL GAUGE. THE CAR WOULD TRAVEL 200 MILES BEFORE EVEN ONE GAUGE INDICATOR WOULD CLICK OFF. THERE ARE 10 INDICATORS AND THE TANK SUPPOSEDLY HOLDS NEARLY 12 GALLONS OF GAS. I BET THAT THE CAR DOES NOT GET 200 MILES PER GALLON! I SPOKE THE OWNER OF A 2005 PRIUS. HE INDICATED HE ALSO HAS CHALLENGES FILLING HIS TANK. HE WAS TOLD THAT THIS HAS TO DO WITH THE AMBIENT TEMPERATURE. I HAVE TALKED WITH A TOYOTA PRIUS TECHNICIAN. HE STATED THAT THERE ARE NO PARTS THAT CAN FIX THIS ISSUE. HE NOTED THAT THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON SINCE THE FIRST PRIUS, THAT THERE IS NO FIX AVAILABLE. HE ALSO NOTED IN THE WINTER THAT AT LEAST ONE PRIUS OWNER COMES IN EACH AND EVERY DAY WITH THIS SAME GAS TANK CONCERN. I ALSO DID SOME RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET AND THIS APPEARS TO BE A LONG OUTSTANDING SAFETY HAZARD! IT APPEARS THAT TOYOTA IS CONTINUING TO MANUFACTURE A DEFECTIVE, UNSAFE PRODUCT WITH FULL KNOWLEDGE OF THE ISSUE. I THANK YOU IN ADVANCE FOR WORKING ON THIS MAJOR SAFETY AND LONGSTANDING SAFETY PROBLEM. *TR

I HAVE A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. FROM DAY ONE, I HAVE HAD A PROBLEM WITH BRAKING OVER UNEVEN TERRAIN. WHEN THE VEHICLE GOES OVER THE UNEVEN TERRAIN, AND YOU ARE BRAKING, THE STABILITY CONTROL LIGHT GOES ON THE DASH AND THE BRAKES STOP WORKING UNTIL THE VEHICLE IS PAST THE UNEVEN ROAD. THIS ALSO HAPPENS ON ICY ROADS WHEN THE VEHICLE STARTS TO SLIP, THE BRAKES FAIL. I DID NOT THINK THERE WAS ANYTHING WRONG UNTIL I HEARD OF SIMILAR COMPLAINTS. I AM TAKING THE VEHICLE IN TO THE DEALER THIS WEEK FOR IT'S SERVICE AND WILL BE REPORTING THE PROBLEM TO THEM AT THAT TIME. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN PULLING UP TO HER GARAGE TO PARK THE VEHICLE, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP WHEN SHE APPLIED THE BRAKES AND HIT THE GARAGE DOOR. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. FOUR MONTHS LATER, THE FAILURE RECURRED, MINUS THE CRASH. SHE HAD NOT NOTICED ANY PROBLEMS SINCE THEN. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THE DEALER TOLD HER THAT THEY COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. SHE HAD NOT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER TO-DATE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 26,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 3.

I HAVE A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS AND HAVE HAD BRAKE PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR SINCE IT WAS NEW BEEN BACK TO DEALERS AT LEAST 6 TIMES ONLY TO BE TOLD "WE CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM". WHEN IT IS RAINING AND I FIRST START OUT WITH THE CAR THE BRAKES WILL SLAM ON AND THE TIRES WILL SKID. MY WIFE HAD THE CAR OUT ONE TIME WHILE I WAS IN THE HOSPITAL AND SHE HURT HER BREAST WITH THE SEATBELT WHEN THIS HAPPENED TO HER. ALSO WHEN I AM STEPPING ON THE BRAKES WHEN GOING OVER SOME BUMPS THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL WILL LOCK UP AND THE ANTI SKID LIGHT COMES ON. THIS CAR IS DANGEROUS TO DRIVE AND THE LAST TIME I SPOKE TO TOYOTA TUES OF THIS WEEK THE PERSON I SPOKE TO SAID WHAT WOULD I LIKE FOR TOYOTA TO DO FOR ME AND I TOLD HIM TOYOTA SHOULD BUY THIS CAR BACK FROM ME AND ALL HE SAID WAS THAT IS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN. JUST WANT TO BE HEARD AT THIS POINT THAT IS WHY I AM MAKING A COMPLAINT WITH NHTSA. WE NEED TO BE HEARD. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD PAUSE AND THE TIRES LOST TRACTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THE VEHICLE WAS PERFORMING NORMALLY AND COULD NOT BE REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 25,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE PLACING FUEL IN THE VEHICLE, IT WILL NOT FILL TO ITS FULL CAPACITY. THIS IS A CONTINUOUS FAILURE THAT OCCURS IN ALL WEATHER CONDITIONS AND TEMPERATURES. THERE IS A MALFUNCTION WITH THE FUEL GAUGE DEVICE. THE INACCURATE READINGS OF THE FUEL GAUGE CAUSES DISCOMFORT WHEN DRIVING. THE TOYOTA MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD ONLY CONSUME 6-7 GALLONS OF GASOLINE, EVEN THOUGH THE FUEL TANK CAPACITY WAS 11.9 GALLONS. THE MANUFACTURER IS AWARE OF THE FAILURE, BUT THE FUEL TANK CANNOT BE REPLACED IN THESE VEHICLES. THE TANK WOULD NEED TO BE REDESIGNED. THE CONTACT RECENTLY TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE FUEL TANK FAILURE WAS RELATED TO THE BLADDER SYSTEM. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY BEING REPAIRED FOR THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 9,000. UPDATED 07/07/08. *LJ UPDATED *JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT DURING INCLEMENT WEATHER THE BRAKES LOCKED. THE CONTACT STATES WHILE DRIVING 5 MILES PER HOUR THE CONTACT APPLIED THE BRAKES AND WENT THROUGH THE INTERSECTION WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES. THE CONTACT STATES THAT THE VEHICLE WAS HAVING PROBLEMS WHEN IT WAS PURCHASED. THE CONTACT STATES THAT HE HAS TAKEN THE VEHICLE IN FOR INSPECTION AND WAS TOLD NOTHING WAS WRONG AND SINCE THE ISSUES COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED THEY WERE NOT WILLING TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THE CONTACT STATES HE SPOKE WITH TOYOTA AND WAS ADVISED THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATES THAT WHILE GOING OVER A POTHOLE OR A RAILROAD TRACK THE BRAKES WOULD NOT ENGAGE AND THE ANTI SKID LIGHT ON THE DASHBOARD COMES ON. THE CONTACT STATES THAT THE BRAKES INTERLOCK THREE TO FOUR SECONDS LATER. THE FAILURE MILES WERE 2000 MILES. THE CURRENT MILES WERE 24500. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

2008 TOYOTA PRIUS -ABS RELEASES BRAKES WHILE APPLYING BRAKES OVER BUMP OR BUMPY ROAD SURFACE CAUSING LONGER STOPPING DISTANCE. VEHICLE WILL STOP ACCELERATION IN TURN IF GOING OVER BUMP AS THUG STABILITY CONTROL IS ACTIVATING. *TR

I PURCHASED MY PRIUS NEW. I HAVE HAD A CHRONIC & CONSTANT ISSUE WITH MY HEAD LIGHTS & TAIL LIGHTS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. I HAVE HAD THIS ISSUE CHECKED BY MECHANICS AND HAVE BEEN TOLD THIS IS A "TOYOTA ELECTRICAL ISSUE". THERE IS NO PROBLEM WITH THE BULBS OR COMPONENTS THAT CAN BE FOUND BY MECHANICS. THIS IS A DANGEROUS PROBLEM, AND OCCURS RANDOMLY WITHOUT NOTICE. MY HEAD LIGHTS OR TAIL LIGHTS JUST "GO OUT"...ANY TIME, ANYWHERE! I HAVE SPOKEN WITH OTHER TOYOTA PRIUS OWNERS (OTHER YEARS TOO), AND THEY HAVE THE SAME PROBLEMS. *TR

I HAVE READ NEWS REPORTS ABOUT THE 2010 PRIUS BRAKING ISSUES. AS AN OWNER OF A 2008 PRIUS, I HAVE EXPERIENCED NEAR IDENTICAL BEHAVIOR. WHEN BRAKING, IF THE CAR HITS A POTHOLE OR A BUMP, I MOMENTARILY (MAYBE 1/2 -1 SECOND OF TIME) LOSE ALL BRAKING POWER BEFORE BRAKING THEN RESUMES. AFTER THIS 'HICCUP' THE ABS/TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT BLINKS 3-4 TIMES. THE ISSUE HAS NEVER RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT, HOWEVER I HAVE CHANGED MY DRIVING HABITS TO ENSURE I HAVE EXTRA ROOM TO STOP AS THE ISSUE IS BOTH RECURRING AND QUITE FREQUENT (THERE IS ONE OFFRAMP ON MY WAY HOME FROM WORK WITH A SMALL BUMP THAT CAUSES THIS ISSUE 35-50% OF THE TIME). I KNOW THAT THE CURRENT STORY IS THAT THE 2010 PRIUS HAS A 'REDESIGNED' BRAKING SYSTEM, SO PRIOR MODELS AND GENERATIONS ARE SUPPOSEDLY NOT AFFECTED BY THE PROBLEM THE NHTSA IS CURRENTLY INVESTIGATING. MY EXPERIENCE, HOWEVER, LEADS ME TO BELIEVE THE PROBLEM IS MORE WIDESPREAD AND DOES IN FACT IMPACT EARLIER GENERATION PRIUS CARS, POSSIBLY IN A PORTION OF THE BRAKING CONTROL SYSTEM COMMON TO BOTH THE OLDER AND NEWER PRIUS MODELS. *TR

I OWN A 2008 PRIUS. WHEN BRAKING ON AN UNEVEN SURFACE, THE BRAKES SEEM TO MOMENTARILY FAIL AND THE ABS LIGHT BLINKS ON THE DASHBOARD. IT MAKES ME FEEL AS THOUGH THERE IS A DEFECT IN THE BRAKING SYSTEM. THIS HAPPENS REGULARLY. INCIDENT DATE IS ACTUALLY DATE OF PURCHASE OF THE CAR. *TR

PRIUS BRAKE PROBLEMS - ON 4-24-08 I BROUGHT MY PRUIS INTO TOYOTA TO REPLACE A BRAKE ACTUATOR. AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT MY DASH BOARD LIT UP LIKE A CHRISTMAS TREE. IT TOOK TOYOTA ABOUT 4 WEEKS TO FIX THE PROBLEM. IS THIS RELATED TO THE BRAKE PROBLEMS RELEASED RECENTLY OR A NEW PROBLEM. THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT INVOLVED. *TR

I HAVE A 2008 PRIUS THAT HAS THE SAME PROBLEM AS THAT REPORTED WITH THE 2010. EVERY TIME I BRAKE ON A RIPPLED OR BUMPY SURFACE, THERE IS A REPEATED MOMENTARY LOSS OF BRAKING. ON A CERTAIN DOWNHILL STRETCH OF ROAD NEAR ME, IT HAPPENED EVERY TIME I DROVE IT, UNTIL IT WAS RESURFACED. ANOTHER PROBLEM IS THAT IF THE VEHICLE IS ON AN INCLINED SURFACE OF CRUSHED ROCK, THERE IS A COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER. THE DEALER DESCRIBES THIS AS AN "OVERLY SENSITIVE TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM" THAT CANNOT BE ADJUSTED. THIS IS ALSO HAZARDOUS BECAUSE ON SLICK SURFACES, EACH MOMENTARY LOSS OF TRACTION RESULTS IN AN OVERLY-COMPENSATED PERIOD OF SERIOUSLY REDUCED ACCELERATION; WE HAVE BEEN SITTING DUCKS IN INTERSECTIONS, UNABLE TO QUICKLY ACCELERATE OUT OF THE WAY IF CONDITIONS ARE SLICK, NOT BECAUSE OF THE SURFACE ITSELF, BUT BECAUSE OF THE WAY THE VEHICLE MIS-HANDLES THE SITUATION. *JB

I WAS DRIVING MY 2008 PRIUS AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH AND IT BEGAN TO ACCELERATE. I TOOK MY FOOT OFF OF THE ACCELERATOR, BUT IT DIDN'T STOP. I PUMPED THE BRAKE, BUT IT HAD NO EFFECT. IT STOPPED SUDDENLY, AND THE CAR OPERATED NORMALLY. THE INCIDENT DIDN'T LAST LONG, AND HASN'T HAPPENED AGAIN. UNTIL I READ ABOUT THE OTHER, MORE SERIOUS INCIDENTS WITH THE ACCELERATOR I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW HOW TO DESCRIBE IT - I'D NEVER HEARD OF SUCH A THING HAPPENING. I WOULD HAVE FELT FOOLISH TALKING TO THE GUYS AT THE SERVICE CENTER, SO I DECIDED TO WAIT TO SEE IF IT HAPPENED AGAIN. *TR

2008 TOYOTA PRIUS--44,000 MILES, LED HEADLIGHTS KEEP GOING OUT--$166 PART + $45 LABOR. I REPLACED ONE IN JANUARY, 2010, NOW ANOTHER APRIL 19, 2010. THESE ARE VERY PRICEY LIGHTBULBS AND NEED TO BE RECALLED AND NOT PRICED TO THE CUSTOMER. THE INCIDENT DATE BELOW IS THE SECOND OCCURRENCE. WHEN THE POLICE STOPPED AND ISSUED ME A WARNING TO TELL ME THAT MY FRONT HEADLIGHT WAS OUT, HE ALSO SAID THAT MY REAR TAIL-LIGHT WAS OUT AS WELL. THERE ARE DEFINITE PROBLEMS WITH TOYOTA AND THEIR PRIUS LIGHTING AND I'M TIRED OF PAYING THE BILL. MY BILL TODAY IS $250. I ALSO BOUGHT A $1100 EXTENDED WARRANTY WHICH WAS OF NO USE. *TR

OUR 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS HAS A BRAKE HESITATION. THIS HESITATION OCCURS WHEN GOING OVER A ROUGH ROAD SURFACE WHILE BRAKING OR SLOWING. THIS PROBLEM HAPPENS OFTEN. I HAVE LEARNED THAT IF I KEEP PRESSING ON THE BRAKE WHEN THIS HAPPENS I AM ABLE TO STOP AND/OR SLOW DOWN. *TR

TOYOTA PRIUS BRAKING PROBLEMS NOT LIMITED TO GENERATION 3 VEHICLES. I HAVE AND 2008 PRIUS (GENERATION 2) THAT ALWAYS LUNGES FORWARD WHILE BRAKING WHEN THE VEHICLE ROLLS OVER A POTHOLE. *TR

TOYOTA PRIUS HEADLIGHTS FLICKER AND GO OUT INTERMITTENTLY EVERY TIME THE HEADLIGHTS ARE ON SINCE APRIL OF 2008 AND WHEN TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR A REPAIR, DEALER INFORMED ME THAT THERE WAS NOTHING DIAGNOSTICALLY WRONG WITH MY LIGHTS. *TR

IN YEAR OF 2009, I DROVE MY 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS TO VISIT MY FRIEND'S HOUSE ON A LOCAL ROAD. THE WEATHER WAS NICE. WHILE I SAW MY FRIEND'S HOUSE NEAR, I STARTED TO HIT THE BRAKE TO SLOW DOWN, ALL OF SUDDEN, MY CAR GOT SPEEDING UP AND I ENDED UP TO HIT THE ROADSIDE FENCE TO STOP THIS TERRIBLE SHOCK. I SPENT ABOUT $2,500 TO FIX THE FRONT BUMPER COVER AND OTHER SCRATCHES ON MY CAR. UNTIL NOW I READ THE NEWS ABOUT THE DEFECT ON TOYOTA CARS PROBLEM. I FEEL EXTREMELY FRIGHTEN I COULD HAVE GOT KILLED IF I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY DURING THAT TIME. I FEEL I HAVE TO GIVE THIS REPORT ABOUT MY CAR ACCIDENT ON DRIVING MY TOYOTA PRIUS TO LET PUBLIC TO BE AWARE OF. I MENTIONED THIS TO LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER. THEY TOLD ME THAT I HAVE WRONG MODEL OF PRIUS FOR THE PROBLEM THAT I SHOULD NOT HAVE PROBLEM ON THIS PRIUS. I WAS DISAPPOINTED AT THE RESPONSE FROM CAR DEALER WHO DID NOT HAVE AUTO SAFETY CONCERN AT ALL FOR CONSUMER. THIS IS SOMETHING RELATED TO THE HUMAN LIFE WHILE THEY TOOK SUCH QUESTION CARELESSLY. I HAVE LOST THE CONFIDENCE ON TOYOTA AUTO. IF POSSIBLE, I WOULD LIKE TO SEEK TOYOTA TAKE BACK MY PRIUS AND REIMBURSE MY REPAIR COST OF THIS ACCIDENT. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS FAIL TO PROJECT FAR ENOUGH DOWN THE ROAD. THE FAILURE IS EVIDENT WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 450 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 83. UPDATED 05/19/08. *LJ UPDATED 05/19/08

I OWN A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. IN APRIL OF 2008, 4 MONTHS AFTER I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE, I WAS PULLING INTO A SPOT IN THE PARKING STRUCTURE AT WORK. ALL OF A SUDDEN THE ENGINE GUNNED AND THE CAR LURCHED FORWARD, WENT OVER THE BUMPER GUARD IN THE SPOT, AND WAS STOPPED BY THE CONCRETE OVERHANG, WHICH TOTALLY CRUNCHED THE HOOD. AT THE TIME, I SAID TO MYSELF, "WHY AREN'T THE BRAKES WORKING?" I THINK THIS PROBLEM MAY BE RELATED TO THE GAS PEDAL PROBLEMS CURRENTLY BEING REPORTED CONCERNING THE TOYOTAS. THANKS FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE. *TR

THE LEFT REAR AND REAR CENTER SEATBELT RECEPTACLES ARE INSTALLED ADJACENT TO ONE ANOTHER, BUT IN A REVERSE POSITION IN 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS VEHICLES. WHEN PASSENGERS ARE SEATED IN BOTH THE LEFT REAR AND CENTER POSITIONS, THEIR BELT/SHOULDER HARNESS STRAPS CROSS AT THE ADJACENT RECEPTACLES, CAUSING CHAFING. TOYOTA INFORMS ME THIS FEATURE IS BY DESIGN. I BELIEVE THIS IS A POTENTIAL POINT OF FAILURE OF THE SEAT BELTS, AND IS THEREFORE A SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

DEAR NHTSA, I OWN A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS THAT I PURCHASED FROM CAPISTRANO TOYOTA DEALERSHIP IN ORANGE COUNTY, CALIFORNIA. THE DESIGN FLAW WITH THE VEHICLE THAT I AM ABOUT TO REPORT COULD POTENTIALLY CAUSE DEATH OR BODILY INJURY IF IT'S NOT CORRECTED RIGHT THE WAY. THE ISSUE IS THAT IF YOU DRIVE THE CAR AT NIGHT AND THE INTERIOR DIMMER IS TURNED WAY UP, YOU COULD SEE A LINE OF BLUE LIGHT ABOUT 6 INCHES LONG RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WINDSHIELD, ON THE DRIVER SIDE. I BELIEVE THAT THE LIGHT THAT YOU SEE ON THE WINDSHIELD IS THE RESULT OF THE LIGHT REFLECTION FROM THE ODOMETER. THE LIGHT ON THE WINDSHIELD IS A DISTRACTION FOR DRIVERS. I GOT DISTRACTED BY LOOKING AT THIS LIGHT WHILE DRIVING, AND ALMOST GOT INTO AN ACCIDENT ON 03/15/08. IT TOOK ME A WHILE TO FIND OUT THAT THE LIGHT REFLECTION ON THE WINDSHIELD GOES AWAY IF THE DIMMER IS TURNED WAY DOWN. HOWEVER, THE GPS SCREEN TURNS DARK AND ALL INTERIOR LIGHTS GO DIM IF THE DIMMER IS TURNED WAY DOWN. I THINK THIS IS A MAJOR DESIGNFLAW WITH THE VEHICLE BECAUSE I LIKE MY GPS SCREEN AND ALL INTERIOR LIGHTS TO BE BRIGHT WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT. I'VE REPORTED THE PROBLEM TO TOYOTA, BUT THEY TOLD ME THAT THERE'S NOTHING THAT THEY COULD DO AT THIS POINT BECAUSE THAT'S HOW IT IS DESIGNED. I HOPE THAT NHTSA COULD PERSUADE TOYOTA TO RECALL ALL PRIUSES AND CORRECT THE PROBLEM BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED OR HURT. YOUR HELP WITH THIS ISSUE IS GREATLY APPRECIATED. *TR

EVERY TIME I AM BRAKING AND GO OVER A BUMP IN MY 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM KICKS IN. WHEN IT DOES SO, IT FEELS LIKE THE BRAKES DISENGAGE FOR A SECOND AND THE CAR GOES FASTER, LIKE THE BRAKING SYSTEM IS FAILING BEFORE IT ENDS UP KICKING IN. MY TOYOTA DEALER TELLS ME THIS IS THE WAY IT IS SUPPOSED TO WORK BUT IT DOES NOT FEEL SAFE TO ME. IT HAS BEEN THIS WAY SINCE THE FIRST DAY I BOUGHT THE CAR BRAND NEW FROM THE DEALER. *TR

WHEN I TRIED TO SLOW DOWN AND HIT THE BREAK, IT TOOK MORE TIME, COMPARE TO OTHER CAR. I TRIED NOT TO HIT THE CAR AHEAD OF ME AND TURN LEFT AND HIT THE LEFT FRONT DOOR TO THE FURNITURE ON THE STREET BESIDE GARBAGE CAN. I DIDN'T CRASH TO THE OTHER CAR AND I DIDN'T GET HURT. I THOUGHT THAT IS USUAL FOR HYBRID CAR AND I FIXED MY CAR IN AUTOSHOP. SINCE THEN, I HIT BREAK VERY EARLY. AND LAST WINTER, MY CAR DIDN'T STOP ON THE ICY ROAD AND SINCE THEN I DIDN'T DRIVE WHENVER IT SNOW OR ICY. *CN