2013 Toyota Prius Complaint Log

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WITHOUT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BEING APPLIED. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A DITCH AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 19,000.

2013 PRIUS C TWO, BOUGHT BRAND NEW WITH 15 MILES ON IT 5 WEEKS AGO. A FEW TIMES WHEN DRIVING, I NOTICED THE BRAKES SEEMED WEAK, LIKE THEY WEREN'T STOPPING THE CAR VERY WELL EVEN AT LOW SPEEDS. MY DRIVING IS MOSTLY IN TOWN ON RESIDENTIAL STREETS, SO I'M RARELY GOING OVER 35 MPH. EVEN SO, I'D HAVE TO REALLY MASH THE PEDAL ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR TO GET THE CAR TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP, OTHERWISE IT WOULD KEEP MOVING FORWARD. SEVERAL TIMES I ENDED UP ABOUT 5-10 FEET PAST THE LINE, STICKING THE FRONT BUMPER INTO CROSS TRAFFIC. LUCKILY NO ONE HIT ME. I CHALKED IT UP TO THE QUIRKS OF A DIFFERENT CAR THAN THE ONE I WAS USED TO, AND FIGURED IF IT KEPT HAPPENING I'D TAKE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP. ON MONDAY, MY WIFE WAS STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT. THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN AND THE CAR IN FRONT OF HER STARTED TO MOVE FORWARD. AFTER A FEW HUNDRED FEET, HE SUDDENLY SLAMMED ON HIS BRAKES. SHE SAID HER BRAKE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR, AND THE PRIUS DIDN'T SLOW DOWN AT ALL. SHE HIT HIM GOING ABOUT 25 MPH AND TOTALED THE PRIUS. SHE'S AN EXCELLENT DRIVER AND I'VE BEEN WITH HER BEFORE WHEN SHE'S HAD TO PANIC-STOP. SHE'S NEVER DRIVEN A CAR WITHOUT ABS, SO SHE IS USED TO PUSHING THE PEDAL HARD AND KEEPING HER FOOT ON IT. SHE WOULDN'T EVEN KNOW HOW TO "PUMP" THE PEDAL. SHE SWEARS THE PEDAL JUST WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR AND THE CAR DIDN'T SLOW DOWN AT ALL. THANKFULLY, SHE'S OKAY AND NO ONE WAS INJURED. *TR

DASHBOARD LIGHTS CONTINUALLY TO LOSE ITS DISPLAY LIGHTING. DASHBOARD GOES DARK AND CAN REMAIN THAT WAY FOR MANY MILES. DEALERSHIP SAYS DASHBOARD LIGHTS WORK AS DESIGNED. THIS WILL HAPPEN WITH HEADLIGHTS ON AND DURING THE DAY. DRIVING UNDER A SHADED AREA (SUCH AS UNDER AN OVER PASS OR A SIGN) THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS WILL GO OUT COMPLETELY DARK AND SOMETIMES RETURN TO NORMAL AFTER RETURNING TO THE SUN LIGHT AREA. RECENTLY THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS DID NOT RETURN TO NORMAL AFTER GOING UNDER A SHADE SIGN (DURING THE DAY) AND I CONTINUED TO DRIVE FOR OVER 5 MILES. TURNING THE CAR OFF AND ON RETURNED THE DASH BOARD LIGHTS TO NORMAL OR ADJUSTING THE BRIGHTNESS OF THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS WITH THE SWITCH WHILE DRIVING. DEALERSHIP HAS LOOKED AT THIS ISSUE OVER 3 TIMES AND HAS INDICATED THE DASH BOARD LIGHTS WORK THE SAME AS OTHER 2013 PRIUS. I CAN PROVIDE A VIDEO SHOWING THE DASH BOARD LIGHTS GOING COMPLETE DARK. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE BRAKES FAILED. THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED ABNORMALLY, TRAVELED OVER A SIDEWALK AND THEN OVER THE STEPS OF THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER HOWEVER, THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ACCELERATION FAILURE WAS RECURRING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 7,500. UPDATED 01/08/14*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE DEALER WENT FAR BEYOND, WHAT THEY HAD TO DO, TO MAKE SURE SHE WAS TAKEN CARE OF. HOWEVER, TOYOTA CORPORATION WAS LESS THAN HELPFUL. UPDATE 01/09/13

I BOUGHT THIS CAR IN NOVEMBER SINCE THE CAR IS NEW . I WANTED TO INSTALL MUD GUARDS SO I HAD TO REMOVE EACH WHEEL. AS I WAS TORQUING THE WHEEL NUTS, ONE STUD CAME OFF. I USED A TORQUE WRENCH 65 FTLB. I WENT TO THE DEALER THEY TOLD ME THAT I BROKE THE STUD THAT THIS IS NOT COVER BY THE WARRANTY. I TOLD THEM THAT THIS STUDS MUST HAVE A DEFECT FROM MANUFACTURING. I HOPE THEY DON'T FAIL WHILE I'M DRIVING. *TR

SHIFTED INTO DRIVE AND CAR WENT TO REVERSE. THIS IS 4TH OCCURRENCE OF THIS ISSUE.

WE PURCHASED A 2013 PRIUS V IN JULY. WHEN WE BOUGHT IT, I WAS CONCERNED ABOUT THE BACK SEAT MIDDLE BODY RESTRAINT BEING ATTACHED TO THE INSIDE ROOF BEHIND THE BACK PASSENGER SEAT. BUT MY BOYS ARE 6, SO FELT THEY WOULD BE OKAY. THIS WEEK, ONE OF THE BOYS GOT TANGLED IN THE SEAT BELT. WHEN HE TRIED TO RELEASE THE BELT, IT RACHETED UP AND TIGHTENED WITH THE BELT WRAPPED AROUND HIS NECK. HE & HIS BROTHER TOLD US HE WAS CAUGHT & ASKED US TO STOP. WE WERE ON A HIGHWAY, & HAD TO TURN OFF & FIND A SAFE PLACE TO PARK. IN THE MEANTIME, HE BECAME MORE DISTRESSED, & SAID HE WAS HAVING TROUBLE BREATHING. WE LOOKED BACK & HE WAS WRAPPED IN THE BELT, STRETCHED IN THE SEAT. NEEDLESS TO SAY, WE WERE VERY UPSET. WE STOPPED, & TRIED TO GET THE BELT LOOSE, BUT IT JUST PULLED TIGHTER. THE BELT IS PERMANENTLY ATTACHED TO THE LAP BELT SECTION, & COULD NOT BE RELEASED. WE WERE IN THE COUNTRY. NO ONE NEARBY. WE DON'T CARRY KNIVES. FORTUNATELY, I HAD BOUGHT YEARS AGO, A TOOL FOR BREAKING AUTO GLASS, WITH A CUTTER IN IT FOR SEAT BELTS. I WAS ABLE TO FIND IT, AND CUT THE BELT. IT WAS VERY TOUGH, & TOOK A LOT OF EFFORT. OUR SON WAS BRUISED, FRIGHTENED, BUT OTHERWISE OKAY. WE WILL NOT BE REPAIRING THE SEATBELT, AS THIS IS A DEFINITE SAFETY HAZARD. OUR SON WOULD HAVE HUNG IN THE BACK SEAT, IF HE HAD NOT BEEN ABLE TO TELL US HE WAS CAUGHT, & COULDN'T BREATHE WELL. THIS COULD HAPPEN TO A CHILD TOO YOUNG TO REALIZE WHAT WAS HAPPENING, AND BE FATAL. THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW THAT COULD BE FIXED BY ALLOWING THE BELT TO BE RELEASED FROM THE LAP COMPONENT OF THE BELT. *TR

CAR WENT INTO REVERSE WHEN SHIFTER WAS PUT IN DRIVE.

CAR REVERSED WHEN PUT INTO DRIVE. CAR CRASHES INTO A PARKED JEEP SUSTAINING DAMAGE OF 2000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH UPHILL, THE HEADLIGHTS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE AN ADEQUATE AMOUNT OF ILLUMINATION. THE FAILURE RECURRED WHENEVER THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING ON AN INCLINE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000. UPDATED 11/15/13*CN

I AM SEEING MULTIPLE LIGHT IMAGES ABOVE AND BELOW THE ORIGINAL LIGHT. FOR INSTANCE, IF I SEE A RED LIGHT, I SEE ONE GHOST IMAGE ABOVE, AND ONE GHOST IMAGE BELOW. AS I GET CLOSER TO THE LIGHT SOURCE, THE IMAGES CONVERGE. ANY LIGHT SOURCE AT NIGHT APPEARS TO HAVE THIS GHOSTING EFFECT AT DISTANCES 25' +. IT CAN BE VERY BLINDING WHEN SEVERAL CARS IN FRONT HIT THEIR BRAKES. IT IS ALSO BLINDING FROM THE HEADLIGHTS OF CARS TRAVELING ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I DETERMINED IT WAS THE WINDSHIELD AFTER RIDING IN ANOTHER VEHICLE AT NIGHT, AND DID NOT HAVE ANY VISION ISSUES. THE NEXT TIME I DROVE THE PRIUS AT NIGHT AND EXPERIENCED THE GHOSTING, I LOOKED AT THE SAME OBJECTS FROM THE OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE, AND THEY WERE CLEAR. *TR

RECURRING PROBLEM. WHEN BRAKING THE VEHICLE WILL OCCASIONALLY "SLIDE" RATHER THAN BRAKE WHEN THE CAR GOES OVER DIFFERENT ROAD SURFACES. THIS HAPPENS FOR ABOUT THE LENGTH OF THE CAR OR LESS (PROBABLY THE LENGTH OF THE DIFFERENT SURFACE) AND THEN THE BRAKING CONTINUES ONCE THE ROAD IS CONSISTENT AGAIN. I HAVE SPOKEN WITH THE DEALER AND THEY INDICATE THIS IS A KNOWN SYMPTOM OF THE CAR'S DEGENERATIVE BRAKING SYSTEM FUNCTIONING "PROPERLY" WHEN ALL TIRES ARE NOT WORKING IN SYNC. I THINK IT'S A DEFECT THAT WILL EVENTUALLY LEAD TO REAR-END COLLISIONS. THIS HAS OCCURRED WHEN GOING OVER STEEL PLATES, POTHOLES, APPROACHING TOLL-BOOTH STOPS - ALL IN GOOD WEATHER, AND ON SLICK ROAD SURFACES DURING POOR WEATHER.

ABS, BRAKE AND TRACTION CONTROL WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON WHILE DRIVING ON POSTED LIMITS ON HIGHWAY UNDER DRY CONDITIONS. AT SAME TIME, BRAKE PEDAL SUDDENLY REQUIRED MORE PRESSURE TO STOP CAR. WARNING LIGHTS STAYED ON, AND RETURNED AFTER CAR WAS TURNED OFF AND ON AGAIN. DEALER STATED IT WAS BRAKE STROKE SENSOR MALFUNCTION AND REPLACED PART. CAR WAS PURCHASED NEW AND HAD ONLY DRIVEN IT FOR A FEW WEEKS. EXACT SAME THING HAPPEN AGAIN JUNE 2015 AND JULY 2015. DRIVING ON HIGHWAY, DRY CONDITIONS, ALL THREE WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON, AND BRAKE PEDAL REQUIRED MUCH MORE PRESSURE TO WORK. STEERING ALSO LOST SOME POWER. DEALER DIAGNOSED A STROKE SENSOR MALFUNCTION. COMPUTER CODE WAS C1247. FIRST DEALER I TOOK IT TO IN JUNE 2015 COULDN'T RECREATE THE PROBLEM, CLEARED THE CODE, AND SAID EVERYTHING WAS FIXED. WROTE "CAR IS SAFE TO DRIVE" ON MY RECEIPT. 2 WEEKS LATER SAME PROBLEM REAPPEARED AND A DIFFERENT DEALER SAID BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER WAS FAILING.

THE HEAD RESTRAINTS PUSH MY HEAD UNCOMFORTABLY AND DANGEROUSLY FORWARD. THIS MAKES DRIVING A LITERAL PAIN IN THE NECK. IT ALSO LIMITS MY ABILITY TO SEE STRAIGHT IN FRONT OF ME OUT THE WINDSHIELD (BECAUSE MY HEAD IS FORCED FORWARD AND DOWN) AND IT SEVERELY LIMITS MY ABILITY TO TURN MY HEAD TO SEE BEHIND MY VEHICLE OR TO THE SIDES OF THE CAR. NHTSA HAS MADE A HORRIBLE, HORRIBLE "SAFETY" LAW AND TOYOTA AND OTHER MANUFACTURES HAVE IMPLEMENTED IT IN THE WORST WAY POSSIBLE. NOT ALL DRIVERS ARE BALD, 6-FOOT-TALL MALES. THE MANUFACTURES AND THE NHTSA NEED TO CONSIDER SHORTER DRIVERS AND DRIVERS WITH HAIR (HAIR STYLED IN BUNS, PONYTAILS, BRAIDS, FRENCH TWISTS, ETC. CAN EFFECT THE OVERALL DIAMETER OF THE HEAD) BEFORE INSISTING THAT THE HEAD RESTRAINTS LEAN RIDICULOUSLY AND DANGEROUSLY FORWARD. *JS

THIS VEHICLE ATTEMPTS TO GO 8 MPH WITH THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL NOT DEPRESSED AT ALL. IT DOES THIS ANY TIME THE CAR IS "ON", EVEN IF IT IS IN REVERSE. THE BRAKE MUST BE APPLIED TO STOP THE CAR. EVEN WHEN THE BRAKE IS PRESSED, THE COMPUTER WILL APPLY POWER TO THE WHEELS, WHICH RESULTS IN THE BRAKE HAVING TO FIGHT AGAINST THE MOTORS. SOMETIMES THE CAR CAN LURCH SLIGHTLY, AND ONCE IT HIT A CURB UNEXPECTEDLY CAUSING DAMAGE TO FRONT PLASTIC PARTS. IF YOU ARE STOPPED AT A RED LITE, YOU MUST APPLY THE BRAKE OTHERWISE IT WILL CRASH INTO THE CAR IN FRONT OF YOU ON ITS OWN. THIS BEHAVIOR IS DANGEROUS AND VERY ANNOYING. ONE MECHANIC I SPOKE TO AT THE DEALER SAID THIS IS NORMAL. IT SEEMS SENSELESS AND SHOULD NOT BE NORMAL. I ASK TOYOTA TO FIX THE MINOR DAMAGE TO MY CAR AND FIX THIS PROBLEM.

THERE IS A SEVERE DIFFRACTION EFFECT THROUGH THE LAMINATED WINDSHIELD. BRIGHT LIGHTS ARE TRIPLED. THIS IS LIKELY CAUSED BY DEFECTIVE PLASTIC LAYER BETWEEN THE GLASS. IT IS VERY DISTRACTING, ESPECIALLY AT NIGHT. *TR

WHEN I APPLY BREAK AT ANY SPEED (MAYBE ABOVE 20MPH) THE BREAK SYSTEM DOESN'T WORK PROPERLY. I HAVE TO PRESS THE BRAKE PADDLE REALLY HARD DOWN TO THE FLOOR. SOME TIME I EVEN HAVE TO RELEASE THE PADDLE AND THEN RE-BRAKE. THIS IS DANGEROUS, NOT SAFE AT ALL. BREAK ACTING LIKE THIS WAY SINCE I BROUGHT IT BRAND NEW. I NOTIFY DEALER TWICE TO CHECK (1ST YEAR OF SERVICE AND THEN SECOND YEAR OF SERVICE), THEY CAME BACK AND SAYS NOTHING WRONG (THIS WAS UNDER WARRANTY). NOW, WHEN I WENT TO DEALER TO REPORT THIS.. DEALER LIKE YOUR VEH IS 2013 AND HAS 10K MILES ON IT AT AUGUST, 2016, LET'S CHANGE THE ROTOR AND BREAK AND THEN WE CAN TEST IT (ARE THEY SERIOUS?). I AM SCARED TO DRIVE AND HAVE A FEELING, I WILL CRASH WITH A BRAKING SYSTEM LIKE THIS PRIUS. SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH SOME/FEW PRIUS - PLEASE ADDRESS BEFORE SOMEONE DIES.

EVERY TIME I RECEIVED CALL ON MY CELL BLUETOOTH SEEMS LIKE VOICE BREAKING UP. IT IS NOT THE PHONE PROBLEM. I HAVE CHECKED THE SAME PHONE IN MY OTHER CARS AND WORKS FINE. THIS BLUETOOTH NEEDS SOFTWARE UPGRADE. *TR

WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY THE CAR'S DASH LIT UP AND THE CAR'S ENGINE DIED AND THEN RESTARTED. THE FUEL QUANTITY DISPLAYED, DECREASED BY THREE BARS BEFORE RETURNING TO IT'S NORMAL--ACCURATE--LEVEL. THE CAR THEN DROVE NORMALLY AND ALLOWED ME TO GET IT INTO THE DRIVEWAY. *TR

THERE IS A SEVERE DIFFRACTION EFFECT THROUGH WINDSHIELD. BRIGHT LIGHTS ARE TRIPLED. FOR EXAMPLE ONE BELOW AND ONE ABOVE THE BRAKE LIGHT OR TRAFFIC SIGNAL LIGHT. IT IS VERY DISTRACTING, AND VERY TIRING AFTER 20-30MINS OF DRIVING ESPECIALLY AT NIGHT. BUT HAPPENS ALL THE TIME (EVEN FOR ONCOMING HEADLIGHTS). *TR

WHEN PUTTING THE VEHICLE IN REVERSE A LOUD BEEPING IS HEARD INSIDE THE CABIN. WE AREN'T SURE OF ITS PURPOSE AS THE BEEPING CANNOT BE HEARD OUTSIDE OF THE CAR IF THE WINDOWS ARE UP OR IF THE WINDOWS ARE DOWN AND THE RADIO IS ON. THE BEEP CAN ONLY BE FAINTLY HEARD OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE IF THE WINDOWS ARE DOWN AND THERE IS NO OTHER NOISE. BECAUSE THE BEEPING IS SO LOUD IN THE VEHICLE, THE DRIVER CANNOT HEAR SHOUTS, SCREAMS OR OTHER DISTRESS SIGNALS TO ALERT THEM OF A HAZARD WHEN BACKING UP. THE BEEPING IS LOUD AND CONSTANT AND IS NOT AFFECTED BY THE NEARNESS OF AN OBJECT, AS WITH OTHER VEHICLE BEEPING BACKUP SYSTEMS. THE LOUD BEEPING CREATES A HAZARD BY DISTRACTING THE DRIVER AND NOT ALERTING PEOPLE OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. *TR

WHILE SLOWING DOWN FOR A RED LIGHT THE CAR'S ELECTRONICS MADE A BEEPING NOISE, ALL THE DASH LIGHTS CAME ON, THE GAS GAUGE DISPLAYED A RAPIDLY DROPPING QUANTITY, THEN WENT BACK UP TO HALF FULL. A RED TRIANGLE WAS DISPLAYED ON THE DASH DURING THIS TIME. DURING THIS TIME, THE CAR WAS COMPLETELY DISABLED AND UNABLE TO MOVE AND WAS SITTING IN THE INTERSECTION. I TRIED MULTIPLE TIMES TO RESTART THE CAR, THE DASH LIGHTS WOULD COME ON, BUT THE CAR WASN'T ACTUALLY RUNNING OR RESPONDING TO PEDAL INPUTS. AFTER 7 MINUTES THE CAR FINALLY STARTED BACK UP AND I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE TO THE DEALERSHIP. I LEFT THE CAR'S ENGINE RUNNING (EV MODE WHILE PARKED) AND THEY HOOKED IT UP TO THE COMPUTER. THEY SAID EVERYTHING WAS FINE AND THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT. THIS HAS HAPPENED BEFORE, AND IT HAPPENED AGAIN, TWO DAYS AFTER THE DEALERSHIP GAVE ME MY CAR BACK (THEY KEPT IT THAT WEEKEND). *TR

MY 2013 PRIUS-V3, HAS A BUILD UP OF CONDENSATION IN HEADLIGHTS, DEALER REPLACED BOTH ONCE. CONDENSATION RETURNED, DEALER TOOK PICTURES AS TOYOTA CORPORATION WANTED. AFTER WEEKS, TOYOTA SAID THEY WOULD DO NOTHING TO FIX PROBLEM UNLESS THERE WAS STANDING WATER IN THE HEADLIGHT. NOTE CONDENSATION SHOULD NOT EXIST, AND CONDENSATION WILL DAMAGE THE BULBS WHICH IN TURN CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. *TR

WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT I NOTICE THAT ON-COMING LIGHTS (BOTH FROM ON-COMING CARS AND TRAFFIC LIGHTS) ARE DISTORTED SO THAT THERE IS A TRIPLE IMAGE, WITH DUPLICATE IMAGES BOTH ABOVE AND BELOW THE ACTUAL LIGHT SOURCE. THESE DUPLICATE IMAGES GET CLOSER AND CLOSER TO THE ORIGINAL LIGHT SOURCE AS THE VEHICLE GETS CLOSER TO THE LIGHT SOURCE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 2 MPH AND APPLYING THE BRAKES, THE VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD AND ACCELERATED UNEXPECTEDLY. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESPOND TO THE BRAKES AND CRASHED INTO A NEARBY CEMENT POST. THERE WERE NO PERSONAL INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THERE WAS SEVERE BODY DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY WITH THE IMPACT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A COLLISION CENTER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 500.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DECELERATING, THE VEHICLE ERRONEOUSLY ACCELERATED AND CRASHED INTO A POLE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR WAS THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 300. UPDATED 08/27/13*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED JUST BEFORE COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED AND HIT A BRICK POST. UPDATED 08/29/13

WHILE DRIVING THE CAR--ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS--THE DASH LIGHTS ALL ILLUMINATE AT ONCE, FOLLOWED BY UNRESPONSIVE CONTROLS FOR A FEW SECONDS. THEN THE DASH LIGHTS GO OUT (RETURN TO NORMAL) AND NORMAL CONTROLS AND ACCELERATION RETURN. *TR

I OWN A NEW 2013 TOYOTA PRIUS V-5. WHILE ON THE FREEWAY TAKING AN INTERCHANGE. I HAD CRUISE CONTROL SET AT 65 MPH, DISENGAGING IT AS I APPROACHED THE INTERCHANGE THAT SLOWS TO 35 MPH DUE TO THE CURVE. I WAS COASTING WHEN THE CAR SUDDENLY BRAKE, INTERNAL WARNING LIGHT FLASHING, ALARM BEEPING AND SEAT BELT LOCKED UP. I WAS ALONE IN THE CAR (THANK GOD) WITH NO CARS BEHIND ME OR IN FRONT OF ME. IT WAS AN EXTREMELY WINDY DAY AND WAS TOLD BY TOYOTA THAT IT IS POSSIBLE SOMETHING BLEW IN FRONT OF THE SENSOR. THAT IN ITSELF IS ANOTHER SAFETY ISSUE. CAN I NOT DRIVE MY CAR ON A WINDY, RAINY OR SNOWY DAY, IN FEAR OF THE PRE COLLISION SYSTEM MISINTERPRETING WHAT IS IN FRONT OF THE SENSOR? I IMMEDIATELY TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP ONLY TO BE TOLD TODAY THAT THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG AND THAT I AM MORE THAN WELCOME TO TAKE A DRIVE WITH THEIR TECHNICIAN TO SEE IF I CAN REPLICATE WHAT HAD OCCURRED. I INQUIRED IF THE EDR HAD RECORDED THE EVENT AND THEY TOLD ME NO. IS THERE SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE EDR? SHOULDN'T IT HAVE RECORDED SOMETHING LIKE THAT? I CAN'T UNDERSTAND WHY THE PRE-COLLISION SYSTEM (PCS) WOULD ACT AS IF IT WERE TRYING TO PREPARE FOR IMPACT IF THERE WAS NOTHING IF FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. I COULD HAVE BEEN REAR ENDED OR LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

NEITHER MY WIFE NOR I CAN HEAR THE DIRECTIONAL SIGNAL INDICATOR (THE CLICKING) WHEN THE SIGNAL INDICATES A LEFT OR RIGHT TURN WHEN THE CAR IS MOVING. THUS, WE DON'T TURN OFF THE INDICATOR WHEN WE FINISH TURNING. THEREFORE, WE ARE VERY OFTEN DRIVING WITH OUR DIRECTIONAL SIGNALS INDICATING A TURN WHEN WE HAVE NO INTENTION OF TURNING. WE CALLED THE LOCAL TOYOTA SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND THEY TOLD US THAT THEY ARE UNABLE TO AUGMENT THE SOUND SO THAT IT IS AUDIBLE. WE BELIEVE THAT THIS CONDITION OF THE PRIUS IS HAZARDOUS AND TOYOTA SHOULD ISSUE A RECALL AND FIX IT. *TR

TOYOTA PRIUS EMITS A LOUD AND DISTRACTING BEEPING TONE INSIDE THE CABIN WHEN PLACED IN REVERSE. THE TONE IS SO LOUD THAT A DRIVER MAY NOT HEAR SHOUTS, A HORN, OR OTHER EXTERIOR NOISE INDICATING A HAZARD WHILE REVERSING. TOYOTA DEALERSHIPS CHARGE HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS TO TURN OFF THE INTERIOR BEEPING, DESPITE THE EVIDENT SAFETY HAZARD IS POSES. *TR

PURCHASED 2013 TOYOTA PRIUS NEW, WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT THERE IS A GHOST OR PRISM EFFECT THROUGH THE FRONT WINDSHIELD. THIS IS ESPECIALLY NOTICEABLE WITH THE HEADLIGHTS OF OTHER VEHICLES, THEY ARE DOUBLED OR TRIPLED STACKED ON TOP OF THE ONE HEADLIGHT. ALSO VERY NOTICEABLE WITH ONCOMING TRAFFIC HEADLIGHTS AND TAIL LIGHTS. TRAFFIC SIGNALS, ESPECIALLY THE RED STOP LIGHT AND THE GREEN GO LIGHT, THERE WILL BE ONE LIGHT WITH A GHOST IMAGE ABOVE AND BELOW. THIS IS VERY DISTRACTING, CREATES HAZARDOUS CONDITIONS WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AND MAKES IT HARD TO ESTIMATE DISTANCES AND AFTER A PERIOD OF TIME (5-10 MINUTES) BECOMES A STRAIN ON THE EYES. *TR

WHEN I TURN ON THE LOW BEAM OF THE HEADLIGHTS THERE IS A DARK SHADOW ON THE UPPER HALF OF THE WINDSHIELD THAT DIMINISHES VISIBILITY. I ASKED THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT ABOUT IT AT FREEMAN TOYOTA IN SANTA ROSA WHERE I PURCHASED IT NEW IN AUGUST OF 20123 AND WAS TOLD NOTHING COULD BE DONE TO FIX IT. IT'S A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD WHICH I HOPE YOU CAN HELP ME REMEDY. THANK YOU. *TR

AFTER BUYING A NEW 2013 TOYOTA PRIUS I NOTICED THAT THE DRIVERS HEADREST WOULD WORK ITS WAY UP TO THE HIGHEST POSITION AT ANY SPEED, NOT JUST THE SPEED LISTED AT THE TIME OF INCIDENT. MAKING THE A POTENTIALLY FATAL DESIGN FLAW, I AM CONCERNED THAT IN A FRONT OR REAR END COLLISION THIS DEFECT COULD EITHER SNAP, BREAK OR INCREASE THE POSSIBILITY OF EXCESSIVE INJURY TO MY NECK. I TOOK THE CAR BACK THE DEALER SHIP AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THAT COULD BE DONE ABOUT IT. THE SERVICE MANAGER ([XXX]) IT WAS A DESIGN FLAW. I HAVE OWNED A 2008 PRIUS WITH NO PROBLEM, MY WIFE'S 2010 PRIUS HAS NO SUCH PROBLEM EITHER. I AM WANTING THIS DOCUMENTED SO THAT IF I AM INVOLVED WITH THE ABOVE MENTIONED ACCIDENT TYPE THAT SOMETHING MAY BE DONE ABOUT THIS. I AM CONSTANTLY HAVING TO RELEASE THE LOCKING LATCH AND PUSH THE HEADREST BACK DOWN. THIS OCCURS ON AVERAGE 5 TO 10 TIMES IN AN HOUR DRIVE OR LESS. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

THIS PRIUS HAS FOGGINESS IN THE WINDSHIELD WHICH APPEARS TO BE A DEFECT CAUSED DURING THE TEMPERING PROCESS OF THE GLASS. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2013 TOYOTA PRIUS 5. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHENEVER SHE WAS DRIVING IN REVERSE, THE VEHICLE WOULD JERK VIOLENTLY. IN ADDITION, THE INTERIOR DOME LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE SPORADICALLY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ALL OF THE LIGHTS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND RADIO CONSOLE FAILED TO ILLUMINATE AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 10,900.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PARK, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY AND CRASHED INTO A WOODEN STAIRCASE. THE CONTACT THEN SHIFTED INTO REVERSE AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY IN REVERSE, COMING TO A STOP IN THE STREET. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. AN ENGINEER WAS DISPATCHED TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE. THE RESULTS WERE MAILED TO THE CONTACT, STATING THAT THERE WAS NO CAUSE FOR THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 899.

I WOULD LIKE TO REGISTER A MAJOR COMPLAINT ABOUT THE DESIGN OF THE HEADREST. IT PUSHES MY HEAD FORWARD AT SUCH AN ANGLE THAT IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO SIT COMFORTABLY IN THE SEAT. IN ORDER TO HOLD MY HEAD UP STRAIGHT I MUST TILT THE SEAT BACK BEYOND WHAT IS SAFE OR DESIRABLE FOR DRIVING AND EVEN THAT IS NOT COMPLETELY SATISFACTORY FOR THE ANGLE OF MY HEAD. PLEASE REQUIRE CAR MANUFACTURERS TO PROVIDE ADJUSTABLE OR ALTERNATIVE HEADRESTS WHICH CAN ACCOMMODATE DIFFERENT DRIVERS MORE SAFELY. IF NTSB IS REQUIRING THE CURRENT DESIGN, THEY'VE MADE A BIG MISTAKE. *TR

THE DATES I AM NOT SURE OF IT WOULDN'T LET ME CONTINUE WITH OUT PUTTING IN A DATE AND THE SAME FOR MILEAGE AND SPEED, I HAD MY CAR UPDATED BY TOYOTA THEY SAID IT WAS A VOLUNTARY RECALL , EXACTLY AFTER THE UPDATE I NOW GET10-15 MILES LESS A GALLON AND MY VEHICLE HESITATES ON ACCELERATION 1-3 SECONDS ,I HAVE BROUGHT THE CAR BACK 2 TIMES AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY HAVEN'T HEARD OF ANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT PROBLEMS AFTER THE UPDATE I LEFT MY CAR WITH THEM BOTH TIMES ON A FRIDAY AND PICKED UP ON A MONDAY THEY SAID THEY RECALIBRATED THE COMPUTER THE FIRST TIME AND IT HAD BETTER MILEAGE UNTIL I FILLED UP AND RESET THE ODOMETER AND BACK TO THE LESS MILEAGE AGAIN, 2ND TIME THEY SAID I NEEDED A FUEL SYSTEM CLEAN AND ANOTHER THING ,I DID THEM BOTH AND NOTHING AGAIN NO CHANGE (THEY SAID IT MIGHT IMPROVE MY MILES SOME ). I HAVE BEEN ON SOCIAL NETWORK SITE PRIUS CHAT ETC. AND OTHERS ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME THING AND MORE I FEEL LIKE IM GETTINGA RUN AROUND WITH THEM (TOYOTA) IT HAS COST ME ALMOST $500 TO GET NO WHERE, AND THE LOSS OF MILES IS COSTLY ALSO I OWN A HYBRID AND FEELS LIKE IN DRIVING A STANDARD 4 CYLINDER, THE ACCELERATION DELAY STARTED ABOUT A MONTH AGO IM GONNA BRING IT BACK FOR BOTH PROBLEMS AND I EXPECT TO BE TOLD I NEED SOMETHING ELSE (TUNE UP ETC)THAT WONT RESOLVE MY ISSUE THANK YOU *TR

TL * THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED. THE VEHICLE RESUMED TO 40 MPH ONCE THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AGAIN. THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL AGAIN AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED. A CRASH OCCURRED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THERE WAS A DELAY IN THE BRAKING SYSTEM. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 12,000.