2012 Toyota Prius Complaint Log

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE NAVIGATION WOULD STOP GIVING VERBAL DIRECTIONS WHEN WITHIN 3 MILES OF DESTINATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE COULD BE REPLICATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 7,000. THE CONSUMER STATED THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THE NAVIGATION SYSTEM WAS WORKING AS DESIGNED. UPDATED 1/18/2013*JS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED WHEN HER MOTHER WHOM HAS A PACEMAKER OCCUPIED THE VEHICLE, THE GAUGES WOULD MOVE INDEPENDENTLY AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESPOND. THE VEHICLE WOULD RETURN TO NORMAL FUNCTION WHENEVER HER MOTHER EXITED THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT CHECKED THE OWNER'S MANUAL AND NOTICED THAT THERE WAS A SECTION THAT INDICATED THAT PERSONS WITH A PACEMAKER SHOULD NOT OPERATE THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED BUT STATED THAT THEY WERE UNAWARE OF ANY ISSUE REGARDING THE VEHICLE AND PACEMAKERS, AND OFFERED NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 2,000. UPDATED 09-28-12 *BF UPDATED 10/01/2012 *JS UPDATED 6/13/13 *CN

PURCHASED PRIUS V IN MARCH 2012, JUNE 2012 TOOK VEHICLE IN FOR SERVICE AND TO HAVE DEALER LOOK INTO NOISE COMING FROM REAR BRAKES. DEALER STATED THEY COULD NOT HEAR THE NOISE AND SAW NOTHING UPON INSPECTION. NOISE BECAME MORE FREQUENT AND LOUDER, TOOK VEHICLE BACK TO DEALER AND THEY COULD HEAR THE NOISE. UPON INSPECTING THE REAR BRAKES THEY FOUND REAR ROTORS HAD ABNORMAL MARKINGS IN THEM FROM IMPROPER MACHINING. BRAKE PAD FRICTION MATERIAL GLAZED. ROTORS AND PADS REPLACED. AFTER A WEEK THE NOISE RETURNED. TOOK VEHICLE BACK TO DEALER AND WAS TOLD THIS WAS A PROBLEM WHICH TOYOTA HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING FOR MONTHS BUT HAS FOUND NO SOLUTION TOO. WAS TOLD I WOULD BE INFORMED WHEN A SOLUTION WAS FOUND AND I COULD BRING THE VEHICLE BACK THEN. I FEEL THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN WHICH NEEDS TO BE LOOKED INTO. *TR

WHEN YOU START TO DRIVE IT MAKES A LOUD HOWLING SOUND, IT IS GETTING LOUDER AS TIME GOES ON. PEOPLE LOOK AT US LIKE WE ARE CRAZY FOR DRIVING WITH BAD BRAKES. WE HAVE HAD IT IN TO THE DEALER MANY TIMES TO JUST BE TOLD IT IS THE WAY IT IS. NO REPAIR IS NECESSARY. IT IS GETTING MORE AND MORE ANNOYING TO LISTEN TO. IT LASTS LONGER AS TIME GOES ON. COME ON TOYOTA LETS GET THIS TAKEN CARE OF BEFORE THERE IS A FATAL COLLISION DUE TO THIS! IT IS GETTING SCARY TO DRIVE AND FEEL SAFE. *TR

FROM DATE OF PURCHASE, VEHICLE PERFORMED UNPREDICTABLY. TRANSITIONING FROM ELECTRIC TO MOTOR WAS ROUGH AND NOTICEABLE. AT 600 MILES, A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT WAS FELT DURING TRANSITION. DEALER FOUND NOTHING. BRAKE PEDAL TRAVELED TO THE FLOOR AND VEHICLE WENT THROUGH STOP SIGN AT LOW SPEED. ROUTE 44 TOYOTA INSISTED I NEEDED TO GET USED TO ELECTRONIC BRAKES. TOYOTA INSISTED BRAKES WORKED AS PRESCRIBED. RECENTLY, A AAA DRIVER DISCOVERED THE GROUND WIRE ON THE BATTERY WAS LOOSE. THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED AND THE VEHICLE NOW FUNCTIONS AS DESCRIBED, THE HILL HOLD FUNCTIONS AS DESCRIBED. NHTSA DID AN INSPECTION IN RESPONSE TO A DEFECT PETITION - VEHICLE DID NOT PERFORM AS DESCRIBED IN THE FEDERAL REGISTER. BRAKE PEDAL IS NOW HIGH, AS IT WAS INITIALLY. THIS VEHICLE WAS SENT FROM THE FACTORY WITH A LOOSE BATTERY GROUND AND IT WAS COVERED UP BY EVERYONE FROM TOYOTA, DEALERSHIPS TO NHTSA WHEN THE CORRECTION WAS SIMPLE. TOYOTA DOES NOT STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE NOTICED THAT WHEN THE LIGHTS WERE VIEWED THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL PRISM EFFECT. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THERE WAS AN IMAGE LOCATED ABOVE AND BELOW THE ACTUAL LIGHT SOURCE THAT OCCURRED WITH ALL LIGHT SOURCES SUCH AS HEADLIGHTS, TAIL LIGHTS, STREET LIGHTS, TRAFFIC LIGHTS, ETC. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE A TECHNICIAN ADVISED THAT NO REPAIRS WERE NEEDED AND THAT THE ISSUE WAS NOT A DEFECT BUT RATHER A CHARACTERISTIC OF THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALLS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 7,200. UPDATED 12/10/12 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE'S WINDSHIELD WAS REPLACED ONCE. THE REPLACEMENT WINDSHIELD HAD THE SAME DEFECT THE CASE WAS TAKEN TO ARBITRATION WHEN TOYOTA REFUSED TO FIND A REMEDY FOR THE SAFETY DEFECT. ARBITRATION WAS LOST DUE TO "LACK OF EVIDENCE". UPDATED 12/18/2012*JS

AS I WAS APPROACHING A TURN I BEGAN TO BRAKE AND THE BRAKES FAILED. I TRIED PRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL HARDER AND MAKING SURE THAT I HAD PROPER FOOT PLACEMENT AND IT FELT LIKE THE CAR ACCELERATED AT THAT POINT. SINCE THE CAR WAS NOT SLOWING DOWN I WAS UNABLE TO MAKE THE TURN AND ENDED UP CROSSING THE ROAD DIAGONALLY AND GOING UP ONTO THE CURB. ONCE THE CAR WAS OVER THE CURB AND IN THE GRASS THE BRAKES FINALLY ENGAGED AND THE VEHICLE CAME TO A STOP. *JS

1. WHEN VEHICLE TRANSITIONED FROM BATTERY TO MOTOR, SIGNIFICANT IMPACT RESULTED 2. BRAKE PEDAL TRAVELED TO FLOOR, DASH WARNING LIGHT CAME ON [VEHICLE TOWED] 3. ATTEMPTING TO LEAVE DEALERS LOT, BRAKE PEDAL TRAVELED TO FLOOR. TECHNICIAN WITNESSED. *TR UPDATED 01/15/13

CIGARETTE/POWER OUTLET FUSE ALWAYS BLOWS VERY FREQUENTLY - EVEN WITH A GPS USE OF CELLPHONE CHARGER ONLY. HAVE BEEN TO TOYOTA DEALERSHIP AND HAVE NOT ADDRESSED THE ISSUE AFTER SEVERAL COMPLAINTS. REPLACING FUSES DOES NOT ADDRESS THE ISSUE. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE FOR PEOPLE DEPENDENT ON GPS AND COMMUNICATION SPECIALLY FOR LONG TRAVELS. *TR ## VIN FAILED ##

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE BRAKES LOCKED UP. THE CONTACT CONTINUED TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL AND SHUT THE VEHICLE ON AND OFF BY PUSHING THE START BUTTON. THE FAILURE OCCURS INTERMITTENTLY. THE CONTACT ALSO NOTICED THE BRAKE PEDAL DROPS TO THE FLOOR BOARD ABOUT A HALF INCH WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND A COMPLAINT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE INTERIOR SPLASH PROTECTOR BECAME DISENGAGED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT HAD PREVIOUSLY EXPERIENCED THE SAME DEFECT WITH THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE SPLASH PROTECTOR. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE DEFECT WAS DUE TO THE VEHICLE BEING TOO LOW TO THE GROUND AND WHEN PARKING THE VEHICLE, THE SPLASH PROTECTORS WOULD MAKE CONTACT WITH THE CURB CAUSING THEM TO BECOME LOOSE AND EVENTUALLY DETACH FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE PROTECTORS WOULD ALSO MAKE CONTACT WITH THE TIRES ONCE THEY BECAME LOOSE. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED AND REPAIRED AT THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND NO SOLUTION WAS OFFERED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5,000.

THE VEHICLE EMITS A REPETITIVE 'WOO......WOO.....' THAT VARIES WITH SPEED/WHEEL REVOLUTION (SOMETHING RUBBING DURING EACH REVOLUTION). TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY TO TELL, IT SOUNDS LIKE THE GROAN IS COMING FROM THE REAR-PASSENGER SIDE. THE SOUND IS USUALLY PRESENT AFTER THE CAR HAS SAT OVERNIGHT OR AFTER PROLONGED PARKING AND LAST FOR 100-300 FEET OF DRIVING. I'VE EVEN HEARD IT AFTER FOUR HOURS OF BEING PARKED AT WORK. IT WILL TYPICALLY MAKE THIS SOUND FOR A FEW DAYS AFTER A RAIN EVENT. THE SOUND HAS OCCURRED IN BOTH FORWARD AND REVERSE AND WITH THE EMERGENCY BRAKE ON OR OFF PRIOR TO DEPARTURE. I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN APRIL AND HAVE HEARD IT ALL THE WAY TO THE PRESENT. DURING A TIRE REPLACEMENT I MADE NOTE OF THE ISSUE TO THE DEALER, WHO ATTRIBUTED IT TO ROTOR OXIDATION. I RESPONDED THAT I'VE HEARD THE GRIND/GROAN OF RUST BEING WORN OFF THE ROTOR WHEN FIRST APPLY THE BRAKES, AND THIS IS NOT THAT SOUND. I WENT IN WITH A RECORDING ON MY PHONE AND THE TECHNICIAN AGREED IT WASN'T RUST. THEY REPAIRED THE TIRE AND TRIED TO REPRODUCE THE CONDITION WITHOUT SUCCESS. THEY DID TEAR DOWN THE BRAKE AND FOUND NOTHING OUT OF THE ORDINARY. THE FACT THAT THIS ISSUE PERSISTS ON MULTIPLE VEHICLES OF THIS MODEL IS INDICATIVE OF A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT THAT SHOULD BE ADDRESSED. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AS SHE WAS ENTERING A PARKING SPACE AT 3 MPH, THE VEHICLE DID NOT STOP WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A TREE. THE CONTACT WAS NOT INJURED. THE POLICE WERE NOTIFIED AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT'S INSURANCE COMPANY WAS CONTACTED WHO ADVISED THAT THEY WOULD INSPECT THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE WHO SENT A REPRESENTATIVE TO FURTHER ASSES THE FAILURE. AFTER INSPECTION, THE REPRESENTATIVE NOTICED THAT THE BRAKE AND ACCELERATOR PEDALS WERE DEPRESSED SIMULTANEOUSLY AND ADVISED THAT THERE WERE NO FAILURES WITHIN THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,400.... UPDATED 08/15/12 *BF

HEAD LIGHTS FROM ONCOMING TRAFFIC AT NIGHTTIME HAVE A "HALO" AND "PRISM" APPEARANCE. ADDITIONALLY, REFLECTIVE ROAD SIGNS ARE ALSO VERY DISTORTED, SEEING WHAT APPEARS TO BE MULTIPLE SIGNS. SINCE THAT TIME EYES HAVE BEEN TESTED WITH NO CHANGE FROM LAST EXAM AND NEW GLASSES ARE NOW BEING WORN. THERE IS NO DIFFERENCE. MY WIFE STATES SHE SEES THE SAME DISTORTION WHEN DRIVING AFTER DARK. THIS HAS BEEN A CONTINUAL PROBLEM SINCE WE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, THE WINDSHIELD WAS REPLACED IN AUGUST, 2012, AS A RESULT OF HAIL DAMAGE. IT WAS REPLACED WITH GENUINE TOYOTA PARTS. THERE IS NO DIFFERENCE. *TR

THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A MULTI VEHICLE ACCIDENT, WHERE THE CAR WAS HIT TWICE ON THE DRIVERS SIDE, THE 2ND IMPACT HITTING THE DRIVERS DOOR CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE DOOR AND FENDER ALONG SIDE OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE AIR BAGS ILLUMINATED DUE TO THE CRASH, BUT THERE WAS NO DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIRBAGS. ALL PARTY'S WERE CONCERNED WHY THE MALFUNCTION LIGHT CAME ON DURING THE CRASH, AND SHOULD THE BAGS HAVE DEPLOYED. THE BODY SHOP SAID THEY THINK IT WAS CAUSE THE DOOR WAS MISALIGNED AFTER THE IMPACT. CONCERNED THAT THE SYSTEM MAY DEACTIVATE ITSELF DURING A CRASH AND NOT DEPLOY THE AIRBAGS. *TR

I HAVE OWNED A TOYOTA PRIUS 2012 SINCE FEBRUARY 2012 AND HAVE HAD MULTIPLE ISSUES WITH THE BRAKING SYSTEM. I HAVE NOTICED THAT IF DRIVING OVER A DEPRESSION IN THE ROAD (E.G. POT HOLE OR MAN HOLE COVER) WHILE DEPRESSING THE BRAKE THE VEHICLE ACCELERATES. IT SEEMS THAT THE VEHICLES BRAKE SYSTEM RELEASES AND YOU HAVE TO REAPPLY THE BRAKES. I HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE INSPECTED BY THE DEALER 2 TIMES AND THEY HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM. I HAVE NOTICE VARIOUS OTHER COMPLAINS ON THIS WEBSITE AND WANTED TO ADD MY EXPERIENCE. HOPEFULLY THIS WILL EVENTUALLY LEAD TO THE GOVERNMENT FORCING TOYOTA TO RECALL 2012 PRIUS MODELS BEFORE SOMEONE IS SERIOUSLY HURT. *TR

THERE ARE VERY DANGEROUS BLIND SPOTS ON BOTH REAR DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDES OF THE TOYOTA PRIUS V . VEHICLES LOCATED NEAR THE MID TO REAR OF THE CAR CAN NOT BE SEEN IN MIRRORS OR BY GLANCING OVER THE SHOULDER WHEN CHANGING LANES. I HAVE HAD NUMEROUS NEAR COLLISIONS DUE TO THIS DESIGN DEFECT. I HAVE BROUGHT THIS TO THE ATTENTION OF THE TOYOTA CORPORATION AND THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP AND HAVE HAD NO CO-OPERATION IN DEALING WITH THIS SAFETY HAZARD. I AM A VERY EXPERIENCED DRIVER AN NEVER HAD AN ACCIDENT THAT WAS MY FAULT IN MY 50 YEARS OF DRIVING. ANY ASSISTANCE YOU CAN PROVIDE FOR THIS VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION WILL BE GREATLY WELCOMED. THIS CONDITION IS AN ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN! [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA PRIUS V. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT COULD NOT BE ADJUSTED AWAY FROM THE STEERING WHEEL. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,300 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 2300.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS EQUIPPED WITH A HANDS-FREE PHONE SYSTEM. THE CONTACT EXPRESSED CONCERNS THAT HE HAD TO ACTIVATE TOO MANY BUTTONS IN ORDER TO OPERATE THE PHONE SYSTEM. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT FELT THAT THE SYSTEM COULD CREATE A SAFETY HAZARD WHILE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND NO ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATING AS INTENDED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5.

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

THE LATCH SYSTEM DESIGN ON THE SEATS ON THE NEW PRIUS V IS FLAWED. INSTEAD OF HAVING FOUR LATCH POINTS, ONE SET OF TWO FOR THE LEFT SEAT AND ONE SET OF TWO FOR THE RIGHT SEAT, THEY HAVE ONLY THREE LATCH POINTS, ONE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE LEFT SEAT, ONE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE RIGHT SEAT AND ONE IN THE MIDDLE OF CAR. OUR CHILD SAFETY SEAT HAS THREE BUCKLES DESIGNED TO WORK WITH THE LATCH SYSTEM, ONE ON THE LEFT, ONE ON THE RIGHT AND A TOP TETHER. THE LEFT AND RIGHT BUCKLES CANNOT ATTACH TO THE SAME LATCH POINT BECAUSE THEN THE CHILD SAFETY SEAT WILL PIVOT. THIS MEANS ONE MUST INSTALL THE CHILD SAFETY SEAT AT AN OFFSET TO THE CAR'S SEAT, USING THE MIDDLE AND RIGHT LATCH POINTS FOR A CHILD SAFETY SEAT INSTALLED ON THE RIGHT SIDE. BUT THEN THE TOP TETHER, WHICH MUST GO OVER THE TOP OF THE SEAT DOWN TO A LATCH POINT, IS NO LONGER AS SECURE AS IT SHOULD BE, SINCE THE LATCH POINT IS THEN OFF-CENTER WITH REGARD TO THE TOP TETHER. IF THE CHILD IS OLD ENOUGH THAT THEY NEED TO USE THE CAR'S SEAT BELTS WITH THE CHILD SAFETY SEAT (E.G., A BOOSTER SEAT) INSTEAD OF THE RESTRAINTS BUILT-INTO THE CHILD SAFETY SEAT, ONE CAN'T BUCKLE IN THE SEAT BELT BECAUSE THE BUCKLE INTENDED FOR THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE CAR IS BURIED UNDERNEATH THE OFFSET CHILD SAFETY SEAT. THE MIDDLE BUCKLE IS DESIGNED TO NOT WORK WITH THE SIDE SEAT BELTS. IF ONE USES THE LEFT SIDE BUCKLE WITH THE RIGHT SIDE SEAT BELT, IT'S NOT AS SECURE, AND THEN THE LEFT SIDE PASSENGER (OR A SECOND CHILD SAFETY SEAT) HAS NO SEAT BELT. SO A PROPER USE OF THE SEAT BELTS REQUIRES THE CHILD SAFETY SEAT TO BE CENTERED ON THE SEAT, BUT THEN EITHER THE LATCHES ARE CONNECTED AT AN OFFSET OR THEY ARE CONNECTED TO THE SAME LATCH AND PIVOT. EITHER WAY THE CHILD SAFETY SEAT IS NOT REALLY SECURE. *TR

WHEN STARTING TO DRIVE THE CAR AFTER IS HAS BEEN SITTING FOR ABOUT 3 HOURS AND ESPECIALLY FIRST THING IN THE MORNING, THE VEHICLE MAKES A GROANING NOISE WHICH SEEMS TO BE COMING FROM THE LEFT REAR TIRE AREA. IT LASTS FOR ABOUT THE FIRST 50 FEET AND THEN IT STOPS MAKING THE NOISE. THIS HAS HAPPENED WITH TEMPERATURES VARYING BETWEEN 40 TO 75 DEGREES. WHEN IT IS REALLY HOT IN THE MORNING, THE NOISE IS NOT PRESENT. THE DEALER HAS LOOKED AT THE VEHICLE SEVERAL TIMES AND THEY SAY THAT THIS IS A NATIONAL PROBLEM WITH NO SOLUTION. I HAVE OWNED THIS CAR FOR 4 DAYS SHORT OF A YEAR WITH 12,250 MILES ON IT AND IT DOES IT ALL THE TIME. THIS IS VERY FRUSTRATING BECAUSE THE CAR IS FINE OTHERWISE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESPOND TO DECELERATION ATTEMPTS. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE FAILURE WAS EXPERIENCED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5,000.

THE DRIVERS SEAT DOES NOT RAISE FAR ENOUGH TO ALLOW SHORTER DRIVERS TO SEE OVER THE DASH BOARD , BASE OF WINDSHIELD AND REAR OF HOOD. THIS PREVENTS SHORTER DRIVERS FROM BEING ABLE TO SEE THE THE GROUND ANYWHERE NEAR THE CAR. GIVING THE DRIVERS A 2 DIMENSIONAL VIEW OF THE TRAFFIC AND OBJECTS BETWEEN 3 AND 5 FEET HIGH. ANYTHING BELOW 3 FOOT TALL IS NOT VISIBLE FOR 30 TO 50 FEET IN FRONT OF THE CAR. THE RAISED BELT LINE IS ALSO CAUSING THIS PROBLEM OF 2 DIMENSIONAL VIEWS VERSES 3 DIMENSIONAL VIEWS. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE.. IT COULD BE FIXED WITH INCREASED TRAVEL HEIGHT FOR THE DRIVERS SEAT. AS I HAVE HAD TO OFFER SEVERAL FRIEND CHAIR CUSHIONS TO PROP THEM UP SO THEY COULD SEE.. WHEN I LOOKED IN THE CAR. I DON'T THINK DO TO THE WINDSHIELD ANGLE.. THAT I BEING ALMOST 6 FOOT TALL COULD SEE THE GROUND ANYWHERE NEAR THE FRONT OF THE CAR EITHER. I DON'T FIT IN THESE CARS. *KB

SUNDAY DEC. 11TH: PULLING OUT OF CHICAGO GARAGE, CAR MAKES ODD ROTATIONAL NOISE. THE SOUND SEEMS TO GO AWAY AFTER ABOUT A BLOCK OR SO OF DRIVING. THE DEALERSHIP IS CLOSED AND I AM BOOKED UP WITH CLIENTS, SO I CONTINUE TO TEST AND SEE IF TEMPERATURE OR ENVIRONMENT EFFECT THE NOISE. THE NOISE APPEARS TO ONLY HAPPEN ON A 'COLD START' BUT ALL OTHER FACTORS DO NOT SEEM TO SHOW AN IMPRESSIVE CHANGE. DEC. 15TH: I CALL TOYOTA CORPORATE AND FILE A COMPLAINT, THEN PER THEIR DIRECTION, CALL THE DEALER AND MAKE AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE THE NOISE PROBLEM FIXED. JAN. 13TH: AFTER SEVERAL CALLS TO CORPORATE, AND HAVING TAKEN THE CAR IN THREE TIMES TO THE DEALERSHIP (MIDTOWN TOYOTA- CHICAGO), I HAVE BEEN INFORMED BY ONE OF THE SERVICE EMPLOYEES THAT TOYOTA IS HAVING A PROBLEM WITH MANY OF THESE MODELS. THEY THINK IT IS A BACK BRAKE ISSUE, PERHAPS DEFECTIVE PART(S). AS BOTH TOYOTA & THE DEALERSHIP ARE NOT OFFICIALLY TELLING ME THIS. THIS IS WHAT I KNOW, THEY HAVE BEEN LYING TO ME AS A CONSUMER AND ME AND OTHER CUSTOMERS ARE DRIVING A CAR WITH A POTENTIAL SAFETY PROBLEM. I DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING THIS CAR.

MY CAR HAS AN ISSUE I FIRST NOTICED SOON AFTER I BOUGHT IT, AND THAT NOW HAPPENS AT LEAST TWICE A WEEK. THE DATE I'VE ENTERED IS THE APPROXIMATE FIRST DATE I NOTICED THE PROBLEM OCCUR. I DESCRIBE BELOW A MORE RECENT INSTANCE OF THE SAME BEHAVIOR, THE TIME WHEN IT FELT THE LEAST SAFE. /// THE RECURRING BEHAVIOR IS THAT WHILE DECELERATING WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, IF THE CAR GOES OVER AN OBSTRUCTION LIKE A ROCK, A ROUGH PATCH OF ROAD, OR A POTHOLE, IT SOMETIMES LURCHES FORWARD BEFORE RESUMING DECELERATION. THE SENSATION IS OF ACCELERATING, BUT EVEN IF IT'S ONLY THAT THE CAR MOMENTARILY STOPS DECELERATING IT'S DISCONCERTING AND IN A FEW INSTANCES HAS GOTTEN ME CLOSE TO AN ACCIDENT. /// THE TIME IT CAME CLOSEST TO CAUSING AN ACCIDENT WAS ON 3/21/13, WHEN I FEARED THE CAR WAS GOING TO ROLL INTO A CROSSWALK AS PEOPLE CROSSED. WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE, COMING TO A STOP AT A STOP SIGN, WE WENT OVER UNEVEN PAVEMENT AND THE CAR LURCHED FORWARD WHILE ONLY A FEW FEET FROM THE CROSSWALK. SEVERAL PEOPLE WAITED CLOSE TO THE EDGE OF THE SIDEWALK AT A BUS STOP. ONE OF THEM SEEMED READY TO STEP OUTTO CROSS THE STREET, AND I BRACED FOR THE WORST. /// ULTIMATELY I STOPPED A FEW FEET BEFORE THE CROSSWALK, BUT THE SITUATION FELT COMPLETELY UNSAFE SINCE IT INVOLVED LOSING STOPPING POWER WHILE COMING TO A STOP SIGN WITH PEDESTRIANS PRESENT. *TR