2008 TOYOTA Prius

Intermittent headlight on right side. It will turn off for no reason and (usually) turns back on when the lights are turned off and then back on (sometimes after repeated attempts). Both ballasts and HID bulbs have been replaced with OEM parts and the problem persists. I know of many complaints about this but do not see that Toyota has an open recall about such an important safety issue

Headlights randomly turn off while driving

The front headlight goes on and off, very unsafe at night.

Problem with headlights going off randomly. Occurs regularly! Today it happened twice. Accident likely.

Defective engine required replacement prior to 140k miles (due to cylinder malfunction and excessive oil consumption that had been increasing over several years), at a cost of $3700 for a used one. This has also damaged the catalytic converter, quoted at $900. At 149k miles, the hybrid battery has failed as well, which has a quoted replacement cost of $2400. While slightly outside of warranty, the engine and hybrid battery are both core components that are expected to last significantly longer. The cost of replacing them exceeds the KBB value of the car, which is unacceptable for a 10 year old vehicle with average mileage that was properly maintained. I contacted both the dealership and manufacturer, and neither will accept any ownership in the matter, or provide assistance on repair costs.

I see the same engine issues on several other NHTSA complaints:
10948680
10908102
10924885

Headlights continue to go out. Started a couple months ago with one light, now both headlights go out intermittently. Turing lights on and off temporarily resolves issue, but continues to worsen.

Both headlights in the front of my car have burnt out multiple times. One first went out in 2010 when the car had 35K miles on it and each light has been replaced at least twice since then each time costing $300-400. Most recently the replacement lights have not even lasted six months. This is not only expensive and a major annoyance but also a safety hazard when driving at night. I feel that Toyota should provide a proper fix for this problem and compensate me for the multiple times I have needed to pay for the repairs.

Intermittent driver side headlight failure. Turn the lights off and it comes back on for a short while.

Cant fill tank beyond 7 gallons and its a 10 gallon tank

Our 2008 Prius experienced engine failure while driving ca. 70 mph on a day when the temperature was between 90 and 95 degrees. This appears to be the same problem with the inverter that has happened on later models, especially as high thermal stress featured in reports of those. Two mechanics were unable to pull a computer code on it and said they couldnt offer an opinion unless it was replicated. Each mentioned the inverter problem, but claimed that it could only have happened on model years more recent than ours. A Toyota company rep claimed never to have heard of it happening on any car before 2010. I asked if there were a database of such issues she could check to see if other owners had anything similar happen before 2010, but she declined to do so. I believe she claimed that the company maintained no such database. All I remember for sure is that she projected no inclination to follow up, appearing to treat it as a one-off problem that didnt merit further attention.

This happened while I was passing a truck, with a car close behind clearly intending to pass me after I had gotten around the truck. I suddenly realized that I had no acceleration and that the dash lights had come on. I was luckily able to steer across the driving lane to the right shoulder without being hit as my speed dropped. I tried starting the car again; it started up as if nothing had happened so we continued, carefully, on our way.

That specific problem has not reoccurred, although there were two incidents (one earlier that day and one the day before) when pushing start failed to start the engine. Dash lights and air conditioner fan came on, but engine did not start until the start button had been pushed twice more. In both of these cases the temperature was also in the 90s (Louisville, August 12-13 2017).

lights turn off while driving ether of both head lights go out while driving. Turning off and back on resets problem.

excessive oil consumption: Burns 1 quart every 1500 miles. No leaks, probably faulty pistons

Headlights go off and/or go dim. First the right headlight shits off and sometimes both lights go off. Often both headlights are very dim to the point I can not tell if they are on.

The headlights flicker all the time – then both will automatically, randomly turn off during night driving…extremely dangerous

Head Lights Go Out intermittently. They will come back on sometimes and go back off without any consistency to the problem.

each headlight goes out everytime you drive now both lites go out

Vehicle was purchased new in 2008 by my mother and has been a good car overall. However, my mother had to replace one of the headlights previously and since I took ownership, the headlight on the driver\'s side has worked only intermittently. I paid $500 to replace the headlight in March of 2017. It worked for 2 days and went out again!

Headlights go off while driving, it has changed from passenger side to drivers side.

Toyota has excluded the Prius in advising their owner about excessive oil consumption but included the Camry, Corolla, Seqoiua etc. It burns/NOT LEAKS 1 quart every 1,000miles. No warning light on the Prius just have to keep checking it. Dealer says no fix except eventually put in a new engine. On the Prius Chat forum many people have noted the same problem with no assistance from Toyota.

My headlights went off while I was driving at night in my 2008 Toyota Prius. I was driving 55 mph on a curvy mountain road, where there were no street lights. It was pitch dark! A very dangerous situation, to say the least. I\'m lucky I didn\'t run off the road or get in a wreck. I\'m 74 years old and my vision is not as good as it used to be and I had to drive 40 miles to my house, with just my fog lights. The next day I called my local Toyota dealer to see if they knew what caused the problem and to see if there was a recall on the problem. They said it was probably the light bulbs and it would cost me $120 just to assess the problem and that there was no recall on the problem. I checked on the internet and found this to be a widespread problem for this car and replacing the light bulbs would cost me around $500 and it doesn\'t always solve the problem. So, I don\'t know what to do! Why would I spend $500 on the problem, when it doesn\'t\' solve the problem?? I can\'t believe there is no recall on a problem of this nature, as it\'s a very dangerous defect.

My headlights go out constantly without warning while im driving down the road. Sometimes my dash goes out. I have tried to correct the problem and I have seen others have this same problem and there is nothing being done about it.

Sometimes one headlight goes out, sometimes the other, sometimes both while driving. Turning switch off then on restores lights. Happens frequently (say six times per evening) and has been doing this for s couple of years. I am not willing to pay Toyota to \"chase\" an electrical problem and others have reported to me this is extremely expensive to fix. This should be taken care of by Toyota as it is obviously a factory problem.

One headlight started to flicker and then went out. I can get it to come back on only if I turn the lights off and then on again. Now both lights go it simultaneously and come back in on is I turn them off and then on again. I\'ve read that replacing the lights doesn\'t always fix the problem. Can\'t afford to pay for the repair if it isn\'t going to fix it. It\'s very dangerous especially on the interstate. Scary. This is happening to a lot of people. Does someone have to die to get this on a recall??

Intermittent headlight failure. Sometimes can be fixed by turning them on and off. At one time I had them both go out.

Both headlights cut off at the same time while driving at night on a winding unlit road. The headlights did not come back on but we used the high beams to reach our destination. I don\'t understand how both headlights failed at the same instant.

My wife, 2 children, and I were on a rod trip last night. About an hour into the trip, I noticed that I thought one of the headlights appeared to be flickering (but both had been fine art he beginning of the trip). We stopped about an hour later to rest, and I saw that the passenger headlight was out. We decided that the flickering must have been the headlight failing, and that we needed to get it repaired after getting to our destination. Our real problem happened about 2 hours later when my wife was driving and suddenly both headlights went out while traveling 65mph and we were plunged into total darkness. Fortunately, we were approaching an exit off ramp, and we were able to safely get off the freeway and to a gas station using the light of our hazard lights. After getting to the gas station, we were able to get BOTH headlights back O by toggling the headlight control on and off. We decided the safe thing to dosas to get a hotel and resume our trip in daylight. The hotel was only a short distance down the road, one of our headlights began flickering again and went out again in the short time it took us to get there. Toggling the control again got the lamp back on, but need to take our car to get serviced as soon as possible before driving it at night again.

After experiencing this problem, I found several articles on line, including the following:

http://www.toyotaproblems.com/trends/prius-headlights/

This seems to be a serious problem that is not isolated to our case or even just a few Cassie\'s. I urge the NHTSA to reopen their investigation, as many drivers\' and passengers\' lives could be in danger because of this engineering defect.

Headlights go out while driving . Sometimes one but both have gone out while driving .

Head lights now both go out, Since 2010 just one head light would go out, replace the relay but didn\'t seems to help just lived with it and turned the light off then back on again. Aug.8 2016, now both head lights and all running light now go dead! Very dangerous!

one head light fades out during driving. Turning head lights off and on corrects the issue for short term

Headlights work fine. Same problem as described here http://www.toyotaproblems.com/trends/prius-headlights/
this is extremely dangerous and costed me over $800 dollars. Not the first time the lights flicker, but first time they never come back on both at the same time. If I turn them off then on again, they work for 30 seconds. Ridiculous. Very upset at Toyota never doing a recall for this known issue.

My HID headlights act crazy. I will start car pull out usually about 10 mins later passenger headlight cuts off. I have to turn headlights off with switch and back on it comes back on. I have read many complaints online about this same exact problem on this year Prius.

Drivers side head light works intermittently. Both headlights come on when initially turned on, however the driver side headlight turns off after an undetermined amount of time (the time frame varies). I am able to turn it back on by turning the lights off and then back on. This is however, a huge safety issue when driving down the county roads where there are no street lights, as I am unable to see the road during the time the lights are off. I had the HID headlight replaced, however that did NOT fix the problem.

This is the intermittent headlight issue for 2008 Toyota Prius’ A front headlight will go out, and if you turn off an on the lights, they both come back on. This first happened to me a few months back.
The only suggestion to fix this is from Toyota which is to take the car to a dealer and for $550 they take off the bumper (do some trick), and put in new bulbs.
Instead, I spent $180 for 2 new bulbs, and replaced them myself (without taking off the bumper and doing the trick), and it worked for 2 weeks before 1 or the other bulb intermittently goes off. At least they are brighter now, though this is 1) a safety issue as the lights act unpredictably, and 2) replacing headlights is on the order of changing a tire or windshield wipers. It’s like changing a light bulb, no?!
The real issue is the ballasts which as I understand it regulate the lights. These are not easy (for me) to fix. This only seems to happen on some cars, and I think that Toyota should replace the ballasts when this comes up.
All the back and forth has left me with not great headlights (going off randomly) for 2 months now while I’ve been trying to figure this out. I hardly see why I should pay $550 at a dealer, when I’m not even sure that will fix the issue. Thank you.

right headlight flickers and goes out intermittently. Then about a week ago both lights just turned off randomly. this has happened twice in the last week. When you switch the lights on then off they have come back on so far.

I bought my Prius new in 2008. About a year later, I started having to replacement the headlight bulbs. First one side then the other, every couple of months. Now I’m being told the headlight assembly for both headlights needs to be replaced. they say it will be about $700.00. What happens if both headlights go out at the same time? This is a serious safety issue. I would think Toyota would not want the liability. After all, a recall is good PR and less costly than a law suit.

My left headlight goes out while driving. If I turn my headlights off and then back on the light with work again, but not for very long. This makes for unsafe driving.

THE HEADLIGHTS INTERMITTENTLY, AND WITHOUT WARNING, GO OUT. BY TURNING THE LIGHTS OFF AND ON, THEY COME ON AGAIN FOR UP TO TEN MINUTES

Driver’s side headlight goes out periodically.

My lights have been going off intermittently for a few months now. I went to the dealership for a 12 V battery issue and a couple of recall items, including the hybrid cooling recall issue and the dealer thought this might fix the issue but it has not. What happens is that at any given moment, each and every day/night, when I am driving one or the other headlight will go out. Occasionally both will go out. This happens when the vehicle is on city streets, highways, going straight, around turns, on smooth road, over bumps, and standing still. The only way this is remedied is when I toggle the light switch off and on. Sometimes it takes 2-3 toggles to get the problem to resolve, the suddenly and again, and again the one or the other lights go out. Apparently this is an issue with Toyota Prius’s of my year. I am astonished that this has not become a recall item. During the day it is not dangerous but it certainly is at night. Is Toyota waiting for a body count to be created before they remedy this situation. I am not a mechanic though you don’t have to be one to see that this kind of issue is not the bulb, because when the bulbs are working they shine brightly. It has to be some other issue with the functioning of the lighting system. I think this needs needs to become a recall item immediately before people die due to this issue. What is their problem in not resolving this issue NOW?

Right headlight goes out. I can turn the headlights on and off to get it back, but it goes out again in a few minutes. I should have done my homework first. If I had, I would have learned that this is a notorious problem with this car. Instead, I tried fixing it with an independent mechanic. He made two repair attempts, changing the ballast and the bulb twice. Both times, the problem returned almost immediately. Tomorrow, I will finally bring the car to a Toyota service center. I will complain if I am overcharged.

Lights intermittently blink off– every 10 minutes or so one blinks off, and sometimes both at once! I just flip them off and back on again, but it’s scary. Sometimes I don’t notice right away when only one goes out.

Known formally as high-intensity discharge (HID) lights, they either work intermittently making nighttime driving a lot more exciting or fail entirely.

Car going in on Saturday. Has been ongoing, headlights intermittently flicker than turn off. Occasionally it has happened where it’s just the left light, just the right light or both lights. Only fix I’ve found is to turn off the lights and turn them back on. It fixes the issue sometimes, but sometimes it doesn’t help at all and need to turn the lights off and back on again. Very dangerous at night obviously, as dangerous as having both headlights going out for no reason at all. It happens on smooth roads, bumpy roads, while turning, while going straight, etc. I haven’t been able to pinpoint the cause. I have however replaced at least 3 headlights in the past year. If the light goes out, highbeams also don’t work.

Headlights turn off intermittently while driving on the freeway before sunrise.

I bought this 2008 Prius used in 2012 and begin to notice intermittent problems with the headlights. My driver’s side headlight would just randomly go out. Since I noticed this happening beginning shortly after I purchased it, it seems like it’s been doing it more often. I basically have to turn off the lights and turn them back on again – then it comes back on – but only for a while. Tonight (8/15) I was driving on a very dark night going 60 MPH in the county and both headlights went out at the same time!!!!! OMG – I’m amazed that we didn’t go in the ditch or hit something – it was just total darkness. I slammed on the brakes and managed to keep the car straight to avoid crashing. I turned the headlights off and then on – they both came back on. So I’m obviously to a point where I can’t trust to drive this car at night. What really amazed me is when I goggled this I found that this is a known problem with these models and apparently Toyota has refused to issue a recall and fix this problem. I read that it was determined not to be a safety issue. OMG are you kidding me. My wife and I could have easily been involved in a serious accident due to this problem – we were very lucky. So I will be contacting my local Toyota dealer, but it sounds like Toyota is pretty much washing their hands of this issue – but I’ll see what I can find out. But I thought I would at least report this incident to this site to add to the growing list of Prius’s with this problem. It really needs to be addressed.

Brake problem is ABS when slowing down on a bumpy road, the brakes stop working. The computer problem was a faulty speedometer array and Toyota replaced that. The headlight problem is on-going. I’ve replaced 4 bulbs so far myself and it’s a pain when your hands are large. The bulbs are very expensive.

Both problems are intermittent so I am not able to easily show them to a Toyota dealer, but both are safety problems. The first problem is that the computer that controls the speedometer and fuel gauge display sometimes will not boot up when the car is started on a cold winter morning. Without the display I don’t know my speed or how much fuel I have left. The second problem is intermittent failure of one or both headlights. I was pulled over by a policeman last night because one headlight was not working. The headlights will come back on if cycled off then on again, but they cannot be trusted. They can fail while driving. Both of these are known problems of this model of the Prius. Both problems will cost thousands of dollars to repair. Combined they be more than the value of the vehicle at this time.

Driving down a surface street my headlights started dimming. I switched on the bright lights to see if that would help. All of the lights immediately went off. I then switched them off completely and then turned them back on again. They came back at full power. This was about a month ago. It happened again the other day. Same exact thing. I took it into Toyota who said that that my right front bulb was bad. They replaced both headlight bulbs – left and right. I have read thru investigating on the web that Toyota had a class action suit against them in early 2011. The suit claimed that a defect caused sporadic headlight functionality while driving and that Toyota knew of the problem. They agreed to a settlement but denied any defect. This is still an on-going issue with 2006-2009 Prius cars. It’s a safety hazard and Toyota should be forced to fix these cars with a recall. The NHTSA started investigating the issue in 2009 after receiving over 650 complaints, but they concluded that the defects only affected one headlight. They are wrong! For both lights to go out, as mine did, and then come back on is a safety issue!

One headlight started to work intermittently around 51,000 miles, then completely failed. I replaced the bulb but that did not fix the problem. Then the other headlight failed suddenly at 63,000 miles. So now I have no working headlights.

Dash display absent. No speed or fuel information.

Headlights go out while driving.

Computer controls: No dash display or back up camera. After several tries, it finally reset to normal Headlights: One or both headlights shut off while driving. Usually come back on after switch is turned off then on. Paid $60.00 for new headlights, but problem continues. Vehicle is a Prius, which was not listed on drop down menu.

The left headlight keeps going out while driving or not. It will come back on when bumping the side of the car with my hand. This is a safety concern and I feel it should be a recall on the light. The bulb and the connector are fine, no problems.

The driver’s side headlamp has been going off intermittently for many years. Now, both lights go out and I am driving with the fog lights onlyVery dangerous! If Toyota knows about this, there should be a recall and fix!

RIGHT HAND SIDE GOING OFF AT RANDOM TIMES.WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT HAVE KEEP TURNING ON AND OFF HEADLIGHTS

both headlights intermittent

Driver side headlight and brights just went off while driving last night. At first both went off, I pulled over to the side of the road and turned the car off. The restarted the car and only one came on. The same thing happened the night before. This happened in August too but then they came on again….so I let it go. But last night was scary because I was driving in the mountains at night (which I often have to do since I live in the mountains) and it was very dark since the driver’s side light was not working and both of the brights stopped. Sometimes they do but I think this is a terribly dangerous situation. I notified Toyota about it but when they finally called back, the lights were working again. Now I am concerned that it might happen again. It is too expensive for me to get them replaced. Almost $1000.00 !!!

i keep having to replace the headlights. I have been stopped twice by police officers, warning me of the problem. I have replaced headlights five times, but they keep burning out. Toyota charges a ridiculous $175 for headlights. Both lights went out together as I was driving at night on the freeway. It was very late at night in a very remote section of I-40 between Barstow and Needles. The headlights were flickering for some miles, then went completely out. I stopped the car and turned off the engine. I found that when I restarted the car, the headlights came back on and I was able to drive another 30 or 40 miles and they would go out again. I found that if I turned off the head lights, as I was driving, then I could turn them back on for another . Kind of dangerous at night, but at least I could get some light.
Third party Japanese headlights in my Prius don’t flicker before burning out. They simply go out all at once, and don’t come back on when I turn the switch off & back on. But they are half the price of Toyota headlights.

the headlights randomly stop working, will shut off. replacement bulbs are almost $200 each and doesn’t fix the problem

Right head light would go off on it’s own. Turning lights off then back on would relight the head light. Lamp was replaced by dealer about a year ago. Now it is back and some times BOTH HEADLIGHTS go off.

My daughter drives this car. Her friends have told her numerous times her driver side headlight was out. When she would check it would be working. Last Wednesday she got pulled over and given a warning ticket for passenger side light out. When she got home she noticed it out. When she shut off the car then restarted the light came back on! This a very dangerous situation. I have since noticed that many other 2008 Prius owners are having the same problems.

I filed the following complaint with the NHTSA: Since shortly after purchasing a new 2008 Prius I have had issues w/ 1 headlight going out while driving. If I pull over, shut the car off & restart it, the light usually comes back on. Sometimes I have to do this several times to get the light back on. The problem has escalated to BOTH headlights going out at the SAME TIME. I was driving alone on a dark curvy road at 10pm going 35 & suddenly BOTH of my headlights went off! I couldn’t see a thing & was now driving in the pitch dark on a curvy road! I pulled over as quickly as I could & actually hit a mailbox because I couldn’t see anything. If someone was walking their dog I would have run over them while trying to pull over. After continuously turning the car on & off, turning the lights on & off, turning the high beams on & off, I finally got the lights to go back on. While driving the rest of the way home,1 headlight went out. This is VERY dangerous. Not only are you left driving in the dark & no one else or other cars can see you but it causes panic as it is TOTALLY unexpected & how a driver reacts when this happens can cause an accident (if not having headlights doesn’t do it). A new driver or older person driving when BOTH headlights go out would certainly cause them to panic. I have been pulled over by police for having a light out. This problem started when the car was only a few months old; Toyota replaced the bulb under warranty; this did not solve the problem as the lights have continued to go out. Having 1 light out is bad but having BOTH go out WHILE driving is asking for an accident & for someone to get killed. If I can be ticketed for having a light out because the car is considered unsafe than a safety recall s/b issued. These cars are getting older; please re-open this investigation so that we don’t have another GM ignition issue where people have died & we find out the problem was known about for years.

Dealer taking advantage of defect problem!
The Left Front head lamp would go out (received a ticket for it). We discovered that if we turned the head lights off and on the lamp came back on.
Toyota payed off a class action law suit to fix the problem however we don’t qualify due to milage.
Additionally the dealer over charged us claiming the front bumper needed to be removed (the toyota manual doesn’t say to remove bumper). Many people with NO experience have changed the bulb in aprox 20 minutes.

While driving in July 2013 my headlight went out. I purchased a new HID bulb and had it installed a few days later. In December of 2013 the same drivers side headlight went out. I was able to get the light to work intermittently by toggling the on/off switch. It would turn the light back on for 1-2 minutes and go out again. I had the bulb removed and purchased another bulb. I will have it installed soon. Each bulb costs around $175. I have been quoted by the Toyota dealer $120 for labor.

My headlights on my Prius randomly flicker off for no reason; sometimes the left one; usually the right one, and every once in a while, they both go off.

When I turn of the headlight and turn it back on, the light(s) come back on; sometimes for 1 second, sometimes for a few minutes; sometimes for a bit longer; but then it eventually flicks back off again and I have to do that over and over and it is very dangerous, as it is a distraction while driving to have to suddenly be flicking lights on and off…

This is a major safety issue. I live in the mountains on curvy streets, and the lights have gone off, and luckily I am a ninja and quickly turned the lights back on before flying off of the cliff, but I am scared to let my wife drive my car at night as she is not quite as much of a ninja…

After calling Toyota, they are saying this is NOT a safety issue, and that I have to go pay a bunch of money to fix this. I have now researched this online, and have found this to be a common problem out there, and it is strange that it is not considered a recall.
Here are some links below that I have researched:
http://articles.latimes.com/2011/jan/19/business/la-fi-0120-toyota-prius-20110120
http://www.kctv5.com/story/18609018/kctv5-investigates-prius-headlight-problems
http://priuschat.com/threads/hid-headlight-recall-sort-of.74753/
http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1022113_high-intensity-headlight-horrors-perplex-prius-owners
http://www.kmov.com/news/local/Local-woman-one-of-thousands-with-Toyota-headlight-problems-191911091.html
http://www.consumer-car-reviews.com/toyota-prius-headlight-problems/

I started noticing on Sept. 25, 2013 my front headlights would go off intermittently and come back on. I was driving about 70mph when I first noticed the right headlight went off and came back on about 10 minutes later. Later I noticed the same happening with the right headlight. Recently the rt. headlight also started flickering intermittently.

right HID headlamp intermittent, replaced under warranty @ 46,248 mi. has failed again @ 76,000 mi.

I applied brake at stop sign and car sped up across road into a fence and dropped 20 feet down a hill. Airbags did not go off My wife suffered back fracture etc. car was totaled.

After intermittent headlights going out one at a time for many months, in June while driving at night everything went dark including the dashboard. After being pulled over by the NH State Police, we told him what was happening with the lights. He said you have a safety issue that must be dealed with ASAP

Add me to the list of Prius owners who have experienced one, the other, or BOTH headlights flickering and going OUT intermittently while driving.
Prior to my purchase of this used car, the dealer, at 34,000 miles, serviced the car for the same issue — and replaced the bulb.
Six months after I purchased the car, I replaced both bulbs, and now they are both flickering and going dark again. I am pulled over by the police every other night — and I can show them that the headlights DO work if I turn them off and on again.

Toyota says it is not their problem — but it isn’t the bulbs, it has to be the wiring which they take no responsibility for. I can’t afford to keep replacing these expensive bulbs, and know that even new bulbs wont prevent my car from driving at 65 mph on the highway without headlights.

Right headlight fails intermittently. Problem is getting worse. I’m just discovering that many Prius owners have had this problem.

Passenger side head light went out in November, 2011, tried to replace bulb myself, took to dealer who replaced it “free, under warranty!” Now driver-side head light went out, called dealer, told no longer covered under warranty and referred to lawsuit which had Toyota not taking blame or doing a recall but extended warranty to 5 years, 50,000 miles. But my car was at 60,000 miles in November. Called dealer again and told that they did it as a “courtesy”. Huh? Why? If they told me it wasn’t covered but they were doing it as a courtesy, I would still be singing their praises. But instead, I feel I was lied to. So I took it to another dealer, repair cost $211. for about 5 minutes of work. From the lawsuit, I read that this can happen over and over again. My bf says that sometimes when I’m following him in my car, my light would randomly go out! Definately an expensive & dangerous problem w/ these great cars!!

I am having problem with my 2008 US made Toyota Prius. The headlight suddenly turns off while I am driving my vehicle. I found over the internet that there was a lawsuit that was file and Toyota has agreed to extend the warranty on all the 2006 – 2009 affected headlights to 5 Years and 50,000 miles. However when I went to the dealer, they clearly refused on fixing the headlight and informed me that there is no recall notice on my vehicle. Since this is not a recall but a fix that needs to be done, I would request you please provide me directions on how to get the headlights fixed at the earliest. I am having a serious safety issue with headlights.

See failures

The rubber on the trunk release is melting and actually dripping in the heat. The Toyota Service call center gave me no satisfaction on this complaint. It seems to be a universal problem with 2007-2008 Priuses.

The right front headlight fails unexpectedly while driving, but comes back on when the headlights are turned off and the back on. While traveling on a dark interstate highway at 70 MPH, both headlights and dashlights, unexpectedly and without warning, failed simultaneously, and I was driving in pitch black darkness for a few seconds before I could turn off the headlight switch and then turn them back on.

The gas tannk on my 2008 Toyota Prius cannot be filled completely without taking extreme measures. I contacted Toyota Corporate and here is there answer:Dear Ms. Sharar:We apologize with your dissatisfaction with the fuel tank bladder in your 2008 Prius.As your Case Manager Brittney explained to you, this is the design of the fuel tank and there is no repair available to change the design.We appreciate you taking the time to let us know of your dissatisfaction with the fuel tank bladder because the only way we know what our customers are looking for is when they tell us, as you have. We try to scope our customers out in advance, by researching the market, conducting interviews, surveys, focus groups and doing our homework, but there’s no better source than a Toyota owner who takes the time to tell us like it is.We can’t guarantee that a change would be made, but if it were, it would be driven by just this sort of honest communication.We have documented your email at our National Headquarters under file #200806050939. If we can be of further assistance, please feel free to contact us.Sincerely,Kym WilsonToyota Customer ExperienceThere is no fix for the gas tank issue. There is also another issue with the traction control system … I have not yet experienced it, but have discussed with three other owners.

This Prius is experiencing a systemic computer/controller/software problem that I believe is foreshadowing what could become a catastrophic break down and one that Toyota will not address. There have been 2 instances where the brakes briefly did not immediately engage when the brake pedal was depressed and also 2 instances where the car lurched forward more rapidly than one would expect when pressing on the accelerator. The car was taken to a Toyota dealership for these problems but the diagnostics showed no codes, and therefore no fixable problem. Toyota’s response today is to take the car back to the dealership for diagnosis. The problem in doing so, however, is that the diagnostic machine can not find the problem. My car requires a greater diagnostic search and Toyota has a unique opportunity to examine my 2008 Prius, because unlike others, my car seems to be foreshadowing the serious problems that Toyota at the moment denies. I was also an owner of a previous 2004 Prius that was totaled from sudden acceleration that was clearly not caused by floor mats nor a sticking accelerator.

2008 toyota prius. consumer states problem with brakes disengage when braking. *tgw in addition, the brakes disengaged when the tires rolled over a tar strip or any other type of bumps. also, the heating system was not adequate during winter conditions, the automatic dimming rear view mirror did not work because it was blocked by the rear window frame. consequently, the consumer was blinded by the lights of other vehicles behind him. *jb

2008 toyota prius. consumer states problem with vehicle floor mat *tgw the consumer took the vehicle to the dealer to comply with the accelerator pedal recall. when the consumer picked up the vehicle, he noticed the drivers floor mat was still missing from where he had placed it in the trunk and that the area had not been vacuumed. the consumer stated the procedures had not been followed as stated in the recall. the consumer didn't believe the floor mat inspection had been done, and only the accelerator pedal was modified. *jb

2008 toyota prius. consumer expresses discontent with recall issues *tgw the consumer stated he is afraid to drive the vehicle and no one has any suggestions.

2008 toyota prius. consumer states brake problems with the vehicle. *tgw on several occasions, prior to public notice and the recently announced recall, the consumer noticed an unusual braking incident. the incidents happened while slowing down to make a turn. when she applied the brake, the engine raced for a split second and the vehicle surged for a moment. *jb

S10 appropriate handling re sudden unintended acceleration incident fm owner of a toyota vehicle. *tgw 2008 toyota prius. the consumer experienced several acceleration surges while driving on the freeway and using the cruise control. the vehicle suddenly surged forward from 68 mph to 74 mph.

2008 toyota prius engine shutting off. consumer states that the vehicle engine will shut itself off and driver has no control of the vehicle. *kb the consumer stated the incident happened during slippery driving conditions. *jb

Brake actuator has failed. the brakes no longer are getting pressure, and require a lot of force on the pedal to stop. the brake light is on, as well as abs, vsc, and ! lights. apparently this is a known issue, and toyota was fixing these under warranty up to 10 years / 150,000 miles, whichever came first. my car has 128k miles, but it's more than 10 years old, and thus, the faulty part is no longer covered under the warranty.

My vin number says its a 2008, it is a 2011, prius my brake booster pump went out and locked my breaks. i ended up on side walk. called dealer said it was dangerous to drive. it appears that there is a recall/class action. costing me $1400.00 for a new system. it was in motion.

Tl* the contact owns a 2008 toyota prius. while driving various speeds, the instrument panel failed to illuminate. the contact also stated that the rear hatch button melted. the vehicle was taken to south dade toyota (29330 s dixie hwy, homestead, fl 33033, (786) 465-7908) where it was diagnosed that the wire connections were disconnected. the contact was also informed that the rear hatch button was a manufacturer defect and needed to be replaced. the vehicle was repaired. the manufacturer was notified of the failures and informed the contact that the vehicle was not included in a recall. the approximate failure mileage was 75,000.

I was traveling at about 35-40 mph on a 4 lane city road & a truck pulled in front of me from a shopping center on opposite side of road from which i was traveling without stopping in center median crossover. i hit brakes but i had no time to stop. i'm not sure the brakes even worked as there were no skid marks from braking. the front driver side of my car hit hard & also damaged drivers side wheel well, fender panel. my airbag did not deploy and my head collided with the steering wheel. it resulted in my having a concussion, whiplash, a fracture in my neck, shoulder pain & nerve issues in my arms & hands, back & hip pain. i know if the airbag had deployed i wouldn't have suffered all the physical issues. this all happened jan. 11 & i still have pain. the car is a total loss.

While driving normally down the highway, a buzzing pitch suddenly came up at the same time that a red triangle, abs, brake, and brake system warnings lighted up. the brakes felt unresponsive, but fortunately, there was low traffic and i was able to get home safely. when i started the car the next day and changed the gear from parking to reverse, the brakes again were unresponsive, and i had to press them completely down to avoid a collision. i was able to get the car to the dealer, and they diagnosed a failed brake actuator. the dealer informed me that there was an enhanced warranty for this part and although the car qualified under the mileage requirements (it had only 76,500 miles), they told me that i was out of that warranty because the car was more than 10 years old. i inquired them about how it was possible that if they knew about this part failure, i was never notified about it as an owner. then, they explained to me that it was not a recall, that they only informed a customer if his/her car presented that specific problem. the cost of the repair was around $2,750 with parts and labor. from what i have read online, this has been a continuing issue affecting many toyota prius as well as other toyota models, and it seems that toyota has tried to avoid a recall on it. at least, they should have implemented that enhanced warranty for the vehicle's lifetime if they do not proactively notify about it. i personally was lucky that i did not get hurt, but clearly, this malfunctioning part is a safety hazard for drivers out there and a recall should have been issued to prevent accidents; we are talking about people's lives.

Abs system failing and brakes not working very dangerous to drive

Tl* the contact owns a 2008 toyota prius. the contact stated that while driving at various speeds, several unknown warning lights were illuminated. the contact depressed the brake pedal which failed to stop the vehicle in a reasonable amount of time. the contact attempted to drive the vehicle until the vehicle came to a complete stop. the vehicle was towed to folsom lake toyota (200 plaza dr, folsom, ca 95630, (916)355-1500) to be diagnosed. the contact was informed that the brake actuator failed and needed to be replaced. the vehicle was not repaired. the contact stated that the vehicle was unsafe to drive. the manufacturer was not notified of the failure. the failure mileage was approximately 120,000.

Instrument cluster in my 2008 toyota prius completely went dark while driving from phoenix to my home in tucson. i was travelling on i-10 at a speed of approximately 70mph. terribly frightening when all gauges fail at the same instant. this happened in jan 2021. speedometer, fuel gauge, headlight indicators, prndl, lcruise control, lights that indicate engine emergencies do not light. back-up camera does not work nor do the back-up lights. these all are extremely dangerous safety issues. having researched this problem it is evident that toyota knew about this problem as they have recalled thousands of prius' for this issue. they issued an extended warranty for this issue but mine expired before i purchased this vehicle in february, 2020. i firmly am convinced that toyota should honor the warranty for this dangerously common failure which happens to many different model year of the prius. it's, in fact, irresponsible of toyota to not repair these vehicles as they have known how massively prevalent these failures are. the local toyota dealers is charging over $1000.00 to fix the problem. i, for one, cannot afford such a cost for a malfunctioning, critical for safely operating their product, that should be remedied into perpetuity, since they have unquestionably been fully aware of the problem and it's severity. i should not be excluded from repair simply because the failure happened later in this particular vehicle than others.

Right side headlight goes out intermittently without a traceable cause. people have noticed the light out while at motion on a residential street at low speed, on a highway at 50 mph and at rest.

Tl* the contact owns a 2008 toyota prius. the contact stated while driving 40 mph, the vehicle stalled. the contact stated no warning light was illuminated. the vehicle was taken to thousand oaks toyota (2401 thousand oaks blvd, thousand oaks, ca 91362) where it was diagnosed with the water pump needing to be replaced. the vehicle was serviced in 2013 under nhtsa campaign number: 12v536000 (engine and engine cooling, hybrid propulsion system). the vehicle was repaired however, the failure was experienced years later. the manufacturer had been informed of the failure. the contact was informed that the warranty for the part was only good for a year. the failure mileage was approximately 150,000.

Tl the contact owns a 2008 toyota prius. the contact stated that while driving at various speeds, several unknown warning lights were illuminated. the contact depressed the brake pedal which failed to stop the vehicle in a reasonable amount of time. the contact attempted to drive the vehicle until the vehicle came to a complete stop. the vehicle was towed to folsom lake toyota (200 plaza dr, folsom, ca 95630, (916)355-1500) to be diagnosed. the contact was informed that the brake actuator failed and needed to be replaced. the vehicle was not repaired. the contact stated that the vehicle was unsafe to drive. the manufacturer was not notified of the failure. the failure mileage was approximately 120,000.

Hi i have a 2004-2009 prius that experienced a brake actuator failure. come to find out this is a recalled part, i would love to speak to someone about getting this remedied as it is a $3,000 fix.

My vehicle was showing 4 bars for how much gas was left in the tank. i drove to fill it up but despite how much i put in the fuel gauge won't read it and is stuck on 4 bars. when driving it won't decrease either i've driven over 70 miles and it still won't adjust.

There is a rampant “epidemic" with the toyota prius of stolen catalytic converters (cc) for all model years. the cc (including oxygen sensor) is made of precious metals that have skyrocketed in price on the “open market”. the prius cc contains 8% precious metals of rhodium, platinum, and palladium. thieves can get “in-and-out” within a matter of minutes (1-3) and then re-sell the cc on the open market. examples of how rampant this is: (1) august 2020, the charlotte-mecklenburg county police department reported a 357% increase in stolen ccs; (2) yesterday, when filing a police report with the athens-clark county police department on my 2008 prius cc, detective told my son it was the fifth (5th) report of a stolen catalytic converter that day; (3) my local repair shop told me they have installed at least 5 replacement ccs in the last 2 weeks—far exceeding anything to-date. the cc on my 2008 prius was stolen on wednesday, february 10. (i also have a new 2021 prius that i am deathly afraid to drive anywhere for fear of getting the cc stolen.) the cost of replacement for a stolen cc can range from about $1,600 (after market) to more than $5,000 (oem-toyota). my 2008 prius, it has cost me $1,704 for the replacement (after market) catalytic converter. a company in california makes an after market theft deterrent system called cat security (www.getcatsecurity.com). for my 2008 prius its $160; for the 2021 prius its $135. professional installation (i.e., repair shop or toyota dealer) is required costing another $150 - $300 dollars. i have contacted toyota usa and filed a complaint. the issue is they respond with “amnesia”, not acknowledging that the problem exists. i am requesting the nhtsa tell toyota-usa to issue a recall to all model-year prius's, immediately to correct and secure the catalytic converter system form theft.

My car is consuming oil. told toyota dealer about it 2-3 years ago several times and they kept saying just add oil. now it is worse. i need to add oil every gas fill up. not leaking or burning, but using oil! i have added 4 quarts since last oil change and only gone over approx 2200 miles.

Vehicle repeatedly shifted into other gears while driving at full speed (neutral occurred most often, but also experienced it shifting into park). this also occurred after car had been idling. the shifter did not appear to move on it's own, yet car would shift out of drive on it's own. this occurred on the highway, idling, and on regular surface streets. anywhere in between 5-75 mph. tsb 0142-11

My passenger side headlight blinks off while driving (in motion). turning the lights off then on again corrects the problem for a short time, but then it goes off again. replacing the bulb did not correct the problem. *tr

My prius has a little over 67000 miles on it now. a couple months ago there was an intense alarm going off when i just entered the hwy. lights came on all over the dash but the car drove fine and home was 2 miles away. because of the alarm i pulled over and realized my brakes weren't working correctly. i called my repair service and they said to carefully drive home and bring it in the next morning since they were closing. as i drove home the brakes got worse and in parking behind my other car it almost didn't stop. turned off the car, called the service repair and they said drive back now. the car was off about 5 min. and the brakes were better but not 100% there. got a loaner drove home. next day he said they couldn't find anything wrong. hasn't happened in the last 2000 miles i put on it but i have noticed that the car lunges when hitting a small bump in the road while braking. it feels like the brakes stop for a second or two and the car speeds up. quite a worrisome problem if the brakes are going to get worse as the car ages or the abs messes it up as i have read. sometimes the car does accelerate faster than normal but my toyota pickup will do that sometimes and i just figure it might be some kind of fuel surge?

For years the driver side hid headlight goes off every few minutes. i have to turn the headlights off then on again for both to relight. the driver side light then stays lit for only 2 to 5 minutes. this problem poses a serious risk to me as well as other motorists. this problem needs to result in a formal nhtsa recall.

When i have the brake pushed down and i am in another gear besides park, then the brake can stop working and just roll forward or backward depending on where i am at. it does it part of the time, not all of the time. i am afraid i am going to hit something. it is when i am in stationary position in drive or reverse. it can happen anywhere. i do not know the exact dates that this has happened. but it has happened numerous times.

Headlights go out unexpectedly.

Both headlights cut off at the same time while driving at night (55-65 mph) on an unlit winding road above a reservoir. managed to stop the car near the right side of the road without going off the edge and although the headlights did not come back on, we used the high beams to get us down the hill to our destination.

Tl* the contact owns a 2008 toyota prius. while driving 20 mph and depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle failed to increase in speed. all the warning indicators illuminated on the instrument panel. the vehicle was taken to a dealer where the cause of the failure could not be determined. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was notified of the failure. the failure mileage was approximately 81,500.

Hid lighting , headlights go off intermittently when driving . need to turn light switch on and off to turn back on. ongoing problem unexpected unable to predict

Driving at 35 miles per hour on a rural paved road both headlights failed simultaneously nearly causing myself and my son go off the road down an embankment while trying to get the lights to come back on at night. the hid headlights have been an issue in the past with a class action lawsuit being paid. i need to get this repaired and want toyota to cover the recall warranty work.

While driving at night one or both of the front headlights will go out. sometimes they also go very dim. when either headlight goes out, i have to turn off the lights and turn them on again. i have almost gone off the road a few times on a windy stretch of road where the lights kept going off every few seconds. i've already gotten a ticket over this, when i was on a well-lit main road and didn't even know a light had gone out. i've been dealing with this for 9 months. everything i read says that buying the expensive new headlights again doesn't fix the problem. i try to avoid driving at night, but i can't always, and i shouldn't have to. nothing draws the attention of the cops like blinking your headlights on and off repeatedly while going down the road. we had a few really stormy days and my choices were to leave my headlights off, which was completely unsafe in that heavy of a tucson monsoon, or to drive knowing i'd only have one headlight on after a few minutes, and i wouldn't know which one, or to drive in a storm, calling attention to myself for only having one headlight, and inviting a second ticket.

I was in a parking lot and turned my car into a parking space. as i slowed my car to bring it to a stop, applying the brake, the car accelerated on its own and crashed into a railing at the head of the parking space. although i pushed the brake all the way to to floor, i could not stop the car. the car hit at such a speed that it broke a solid wood railing at the front of the parking space. my car was declared a total loss by my insurance company because of the damage. it seemed to me the car accelerated on its own and the brake was nonfunctional. i could not stop the car. i had two related incidents prior to this crash. the first, i rear-ended another vehicle when applying the brake to stop at a traffic light. again, the car accelerated and the brake would not stop it. even with the brake fully pressed, the car hit the other vehicle, bounced backward, continued to accelerate and hit the car again before coming to a stop. secondly, one time i noticed when applying the brake to make a sharp right turn, the car lurched forward. this did not result in a crash.

My wife, 2 children, and i were on a rod trip last night. about an hour into the trip, i noticed that i thought one of the headlights appeared to be flickering (but both had been fine art he beginning of the trip). we stopped about an hour later to rest, and i saw that the passenger headlight was out. we decided that the flickering must have been the headlight failing, and that we needed to get it repaired after getting to our destination. our real problem happened about 2 hours later when my wife was driving and suddenly both headlights went out while traveling 65mph and we were plunged into total darkness. fortunately, we were approaching an exit off ramp, and we were able to safely get off the freeway and to a gas station using the light of our hazard lights. after getting to the gas station, we were able to get both headlights back o by toggling the headlight control on and off. we decided the safe thing to dosas to get a hotel and resume our trip in daylight. the hotel was only a short distance down the road, one of our headlights began flickering again and went out again in the short time it took us to get there. toggling the control again got the lamp back on, but need to take our car to get serviced as soon as possible before driving it at night again. after experiencing this problem, i found several articles on line, including the following: http://www.toyotaproblems.com/trends/prius-headlights/ this seems to be a serious problem that is not isolated to our case or even just a few cassie's. i urge the nhtsa to reopen their investigation, as many drivers' and passengers' lives could be in danger because of this engineering defect.

Tl* the contact owns a 2008 toyota prius. while driving 40 mph, the contact heard a screeching noise while depressing the brake pedal. the contact also noticed that if the pedal was depressed quickly, the vehicle took a longer time to stop. the vehicle was taken to john elway's crown toyota (1201 kettering dr, ontario, ca 91761) where it was diagnosed that the brake actuator assembly failed and needed to be replaced. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was made aware of the failure and stated that they would look into the situation. the approximate failure mileage was 148,045.

Anti lock brake actuator and pump has gone out feb. 2008. brakes would lock up feb. 2017. new from toyota is $1600.00. city and highway driving was told if had a wreck they would lock up if we did not replace. we had to quit driivng brakes control got so bad till we could afford a used part off internet for $645.00.

The passenger light keeps failing when it is on at night when i am driving. it has started to happen more and more. it is definitely dangerous. i have already been pulled over once for the headlight being out.

Faulty combination meter, which displays car speed, odometer, fuel level, and turning off the car. toyota extended their warranty for 9 years but won't fix the known issue anytime past 9 years. mine failed 9 years 2.5 months. toyota customer service said that they have replaced a whooping 669,000 combination meters.

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.

The headlights both flicker and go out even after replacing with brand new bulbs. this is extremely unsafe as the headlamps may turn off during adverse weather or dark conditions. i have wasted a lot of money replacing head light bulbs when the problem seems to be with the computers in the headlamp fixtures. this seems to be a very common problem with this make and model and it is a very costly repair for something that never should have happened in the first place.

I bought my 2008 toyota prius from by boss in june 2016. when i bought the car the passenger headlight was out, so i bought a new one and had it replaced. for the past few months i have noticed that the driver side headlight goes out just out of the blue, it comes on when i turn the lights on and it may stay on for an entire trip or it may just stay on for a few minutes. i can turn the lights off and back on and it will come on and like i said, it may stay on the entire trip or just for a few minutes. i haven't noticed any specific thing that makes it go off such as road condition, weather, it will even go off while sitting in the driveway. i have had it checked for loose connections, wire damage and none was to be found. i have read that this has been an issue for several people that have the prius. this has caused me to be pulled over and fortunately the officer understood, once i showed him that it comes on and i explained that i can't determine when or if it will go out, and he gave me a warning. this is also very dangerous with limiting lighting for visibility while driving at night.

Pasdanger headlight goes on and off without cause and at will

Tl* the contact owns a 2008 toyota prius. while driving various speeds, the vehicle inadvertently shifted into neutral and stopped. the vehicle made a chiming sound and unknown warning indicators illuminated. the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. the manufacturer was notified of the failure. the failure mileage was approximately 200,000.

If i am applying the brakes when i hit a pothole or bumps in the road the brakes briefly stop working and don't re engage for several feet. thus, if i am driving 30mph, the brakes won't re engage for about 15 feet. i took the car to the dealer twice and they claimed there was no problem. i checked online and found numerous complaints of the exact same problem by other 2008 prius owners. i believe it is a programing problem with the interplay of the traction control system and the abs system. apparently there was a recall for a similar problem in the 2010 models but not the 2008 models. i have experienced this problem throughout the life of the car. please look into this problem

The vehicle combination meter sporadically will not turn on which prevents the display of the speed of the car. during this condition, the fuel economy will not display, the car may not be powered off by normal procedure, and the fuel gauge, drive train mode indicator, and odometer are not visible. this has occurred for the past 2 years, primarily during cold weather, but also during warm weather, and i have a video recording of this problem while operating this specific vehicle dated february 20 2017. toyota will not honor their own warranty extension described in their document pol12-05, related to tsb t-sb-0172-09, stating that the dealer must be able to reproduce the issue in order to cover the replacement. toyota's document pol12-05 specifically states "this condition is primarily found in cold weather climate conditions. when the vehicle is brought to your dealership it may no longer be in a climate which allows duplication of the condition. if this occurs, please verify with the customer that the experienced condition is in accordance with this warranty extension and proceed with replacement of the combination meter." on 5/12/2017, andrea n. (would not provide last name) with toyota customer experience center, assigned me toyota case # 1705121649 and stated that "the dealer must reproduce the issue in order to cover replacement under warranty" despite the toyota letter explicitly allowing for warranty replacement when the condition cannot be reproduced by the dealer.

When vehicle is turned on, instrument cluster also known as the combination meter, fail to turn on. this issue is very concerning due to the overall computer controlled functions of this vehicle. the speedometer, trip meter, odometer and other functions are not functioning due to the failure of the combination meter. functions that are considered safety items such as the power brakes, power steering, anti lock brake system, speedometer, lights, etc. there is an issued warranty covering the issue up to a certain amount of time however since it is not a wear and tear item it should be covered by the manufacturer regardless. after vehicle is eventually ignited, combination meter does not illuminate and when attempting to turn off the vehicle, it fails to do so which also includes not being able to remove the key. i was advised by a toyota mechanic to access the safety override by holding the power button however that procedure does not work all of the time. i am very concerned about this issue due to my safety and drivers around me and their safety and hopefully this issue can be avoided before a possible a catastrophic accident happens.

Inverter water pump replaced at 75000 miles under recall and failure. same pump failed again at 146600 miles. replacement pump lasted less miles than original. pump design or manufacture is not adequate for service. diagnosis was pump seized during expressway driving (65 mph). did not cause an immediate stoppage but vsc warning caused reduced controllability.

Passenger side seat airbag bad

The headlights flicker or/and turn off without notice and quite often, regardless if the vehicle is stationary or in the middle of the freeway at night. replacing the hid bulbs doesn't remedy the problem. this may be very dangerous.

Dash lights showing speed, fuel level and odometer stop functioning intermittently. so far it happened once on start up after a cold night. dash lights came back on later in the day. vehicle was not driven, though everything else seemed to work ok.

Smog check failed because of obd bulb check failure and obdii failure. service fault codes are u0100 lost communication with ecm/pcm "a" and u0111 lost communication with battery energy control module "a." car only has 60,000 miles.

I had a headlight failure a few weeks ago. it came back on after a few days. now the other one is out! this is dangerous.

The fuel gauge for my 2008 toyoto prius recently became inaccurate and it was determined defective according to the toyoto dealership, which required me to spend $1,115 to have it and its gas tank replaced. i wrote toyoto on june 24, 2017 asking that they reimburse me for the defect. when they failed to respond i called toyoto customer experience center, who told me that they would not reimburse me because the defect was "out of warranty" and there had been "no recalls." please investigate and order toyoto to conduct a recall and reimburse its owners. inaccurate defective prius fuel gauges appears to be a widespread problem, with repairpal.com reporting 119 complaints. and in the past the nhtsa has determined that inaccurate fuel gauges is a safety issue since "it may result in the vehicle unexpectedly running out of fuel and stalling, increasing the risk of a crash."

The main display/touch-screen in my toyota prius stopped working while it was parked and the engine was off. the device worked in the morning when, but it would not work that afternoon when i re-started my car. the device also stopped working at that same time. as a result, i am unable to: monitor the hybrid system; access the climate controls (there are some controls on the steering wheel, but, since i cannot see the effect, i am very reluctant to touch them fearing that i will lose what little a/c i have now); the back-up camera; the blue-tooth (for my hands-free cell phone); the navigation system; vehicle maintenance info; etc. i have driven my vehicle since, and now my vehicle flashes the symbol indicating the absence of my key-fob (even though i have it with me in my pocket) unless/until i push the key-fob into its slot in my prius. as a result, in addition to all of the other things i am no longer able to access, i am now very concerned that my prius is going to malfunction while i am driving down the road due to its failure now to recognize the presence of my key-fob. in researching this issue, it is apparent that many other prius owners (several year models) have had similar issues with this device. when i took my vehicle to toyota to have them repair/replace my device, the asst. service manager informed me that toyota did not make the device, that they do not have any replacements, that the manufacturer also does not have any more replacements, and that my only hope was for them to disconnect/remove the device, send it off to a 3rd party to "hopefully repair" my device, and that this process will take up to 2 weeks (while i drive without it). it is inconceivable to me that toyota is unaware of this problem (since all of their supply and the manufacturer's supply of replacement units has been exhausted). please help.

My 2008 prius hid headlight on the driver's side goes off intermittently after few minutes of driving. switching the headlight completely off and then back on brings it back sometimes. reading from other prius owners comments, this seems to be a common issue with some of the prius models. this is definitely a serious safety hazard, and i would like to ask if toyota provides any suggested fix to this problem since it's common on multiple vehicles of the same model.

Each headlite goes out everytime youdrive now both headlites go out been doing it sometime dealer says 3200.00 to fix really the car only worth 4,000

The main display randomly goes out after starting the car. my prius was at 82,000 miles when the problem began. i contacted the dealer, central florida toyota, who informed me it's a bad euc module that controls the display for speed, fuel, what gear you are in and if your head lights are on. all of those items are extremely important when operating a vehicle and if not working could cause an accident. i contacted toyota corporate on the issue and was provided a case number. they informed me the 9 year out warranty had expired since my car left the lot in sep. 2007. toyota corporate nor central florida toyota would offer any assistance on the part, labor or even proving a loaner car while service was preformed to correct the issue. i was informed from central florida toyota it could take up to 6 weeks for the part / labor to be completed. please open an investigation of this part, as research has shown this to be a known bug with the system. due to the tools this module controls (speed, gears, lights) this could cause a catastrophic accident. please hold toyota accountable to keeping their customers safe. as a long time toyota owner, i am extremely disappointment in their handling of the situation. i will be happy to provide any information needed to help correct this issue for all prius owners that have or have had this issue with no assistance from toyota.

Tl* the contact owns a 2008 toyota prius. the contact stated that the high intensity discharge (hid) indicator on the passenger side malfunctioned while driving various speeds. the vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the vehicle needed a new hid light. the dealer did not repair the vehicle. the manufacturer was notified of the failure. the failure mileage was 170,000.

Passenger side headlight will come on normally but then will dim and go out while in operation (parked or in motion). headlight will come on again briefly when headlights are turned off and then on again, but then dims and goes out. mechanic said bulbs are fine, that the problem is the computer.

Burning oil and clogged injectors at 90000 miles despite have all oil changes at prescribed intervals as advised by toyota. an engine rebuild and injector replacement have been recommended. no satisfaction from toyota despite known problem.

Ever since my fiance and i have had this car (late 2015, bought used with about 98,000 miles on it) there has been intermittent headlight failure! we thought we needed the headlights replaced and that would solve the problem. first of all, the specific headlight type for this vehicle (vin [xxx]) is very expensive. about $100 per bulb! secondly, they are so difficult to replace that my trusted, long-time auto shop had to remove the entire front bumper to replace them, costing me $300 in labor. that's a total of $500 for repairs, just for headlights! then, just a few months later, the intermittent headlight failure started again. it is happening now (sept 16, 2016) and is a threat to my safety. i have been pulled over twice by the police for having a "burned out headlight," but i switch the lights off and back on again and they work fine for another 20 minutes or so. this problem is absolutely a threat to the safety of drivers, passengers, and others on the road at night. headlight replacement itself is so outrageously expensive that it is absurdly unfair that unsuspecting vehicle owners should be responsible for the cost. toyota needs to recall these vehicles and pay for the repairs to the electrical system. i am afraid that if toyota does not take responsibility for this problem, they will eventually be sued by someone who is hurt in an accident caused by this problem. problem happens while the vehicle is stationary, in motion, on city streets and highways, while turning, while going straight forward, and reverse. information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6). *tr

Headlight go out while driving car . sometimes one light goes out and both have gone out at highway speed.

Right front headlight fades out after 9-10 minutes of driving. toyota dealer says it's due to some "overheating" issue and wants $600+ to replace!!

My daughter was driving with a passenger in the front, on a town street and a vehicle pulled out in front of her. the impact was on her front bumper and hood pushing the side quarter panels back. the other vehicle was an older pontiac grand pris, their airbags deployed. no airbags deployed on the toyota prius.why did the airbags not deploy?

The rubber on the rear liftgate has deteriorated. my fingers get covered in a sticky goo every time i open it.

I have had my 2008 prius since it was new and i have taken meticulous care of the vehicle with documentation to prove it. the vehicle is burning oil to the extent that i have to put a quart of oil in every 700 miles. my local dealership confirmed it is an issue with the vehicle but toyota usa said they won't do anything about it because there "has not been enough complaints". however, the toyota prius chat website has numerous complaints about oil consumption. toyota did an extended warranty for the corolla and camry but refuses to do anything for the prius. numerous attempts have been made with toyota usa to correct this issue but they refuse to do so. they did say they corrected the issue in the newer models . . .but yet don't want to acknowledge that is it an issue! so, they corrected an issue that they currently don't acknowledge is an issue!! second to this issue is that the back window can only be closed by the driver's window button and will not close for the person sitting at that window in the back.

At 93,000 miles my 2008 toyota prius began rapidly consuming oil. i was told by dealer that nothing could be done and i needed to carry oil with me and check level every time i fill up my gas tank. this is a known issue with the toyota prius according to my dealer and web research.

Problems started in 2010 driver head light would go off, replaced the relay with no effect, just lived with it would turn the lights off and back on and would then work. now at 72,500 miles both head lights and all running lights go out while driving! you can't see anything and other drivers can't see you! very dangerous! water pump went out should have been covered with a recall a year later but toyota would not reimburse the part.

My 2008 prius (67,500 miles) regularly serviced at the toyota dealer had a catastrophic brake failure while i was going in reverse down my drive way . i have done the same maneuver every day for more than 20 years in this driveway and never had a problem. as the brakes failed i attempted to pump the brake pedal more to no avail. the car crossed the street and went in the neighbor yard across from my driveway. the car is totaled and i believe it was a complete brake failure that caused the accident. i would like toyota to compensate me for the total loss of my car.

Tl* the contact owns a 2008 toyota prius. the contact stated that the abs and vsc warning indicators randomly flashed. the dealer was notified of the failure, performed a multi-point inspection, and stated that the brake actuator needed to be replaced. the manufacturer was notified of the failure. the vin was not available. the approximate failure mileage was 37,000.

I was in an automobile accident where i rear ended vehicle in front of me. i tried to stop but the vehicle would not stop or even make an attempt to slow down. my ankle suffered a severe twist from trying to apply brakes. there was plenty of room to stop but the brakes would not react to slow down vehicle. there was a car coming in the oncoming lane so i could not go around vehicle in front of me. my vehicle was in motion in the city and i was going straight. the pavement was a little rough and my abs light was going off and all i could do was hit vehicle in front of me due to brakes failing and not slowing me down.

More recently, i am concerned about safety and serviceability of my car - toyota prius second generation. the car was purchased in the u.s. and imported to russia, vin [xxx]. the car check showed that there are some problems on these cars. i checked this on site toyota.com/recalls, and received the following information: 1. safety recall c0t 2.safety recall c0u my prius has not completed campaign status of safety recall. now my water pump is broken. i sent the request to the toyota us and russian distributor in september 2016 (i think it is enough) but they don't want to help me. one of my requests has been documented at your national hq under file #[xxx]. but now if i ask us distributor about request status they answer is like that: "[xxx], we sincerely apologize; once we can provide an answer to you will be contacted directly on the next steps to take. [xxx] toyota customer experience center" the russian distributor answered that my prius don't covered by safety recall program, and i need to fix my prius problem by myself. can you help me with my problem? i don't know what can i do more to fix my problem? i want to send to you the necessary information: 1. full name of the registered owner: [xxx] . 2. registered owner's physical address in russia (no apo address): [xxx] 3. registered owner's phone number in russia: [xxx] 4. name and address of the toyota dealer where i would like the recall to be completed: "toyota center primorskiy" shkolnaya st. 96a, saint-petersburg, 197374, russia. tel. +7 812 336-38-88 http://toyotacenter.ru/ 5. verification of the registered owner's email address: [xxx] i hope to continue to remain a fan of the brand toyota. information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6). *tr

Mfd multi function display screen doesn't respond to touch. have to operate through steering wheel. so have to turn on a/c to run heater and can't control the flow of the air pressure. looking on the internet, (prius chat) this has been a common problem with first and second generation cars. dealer wants $5000 to repair. the car is only worth $5,500. it should be a recall item due to all the failures.

Headlights flicker and turn off and on. have had headlights replaced 3 times and problem reoccurs. lights are on when i start driving then turn off and sometimes turn back on.

The back latch on my 2008 toyota prius trunk has been made with faulty materials. the poor choice in materials used to construct the latch are a safety concern. in extreme temperatures, the latch does not function properly. in extreme heat, the latch melts and burns and sticks to my hand and anything else it comes in contact with. in extreme cold temperatures i am unable to get my trunk open. this was a design flaw that could affect my safety if i was ever in need of getting into my trunk, or out of it in a life or death situation. if i was stuck in my car and the only way out was through my trunk because of a crash or avalanche or other disaster, i better hope that it's on a nice warm day, because if it's on a cold day i'm screwed as it will be nearly impossible to get me out. this is a design flaw on the part of toyota, and i would appreciate them taking into account their customers safety and remedying an issue that was caused by them using a material that does not work in extreme temperatures. i love a lot about my prius, but a latch that melts and freezes and only works properly when the temperature is between 45 and 75 isn't acceptable to me.

Just purchased this vehicle. left headlight will flicker a few times and then go out. the whole light is off, both low and high beams will not work. if i turn the lights off and then back on it will work again.

While driving in the dark my passenger side headlight went out. then a few days later it switched to the driver side headlight going out. now while driving at night they will go off at least 10 times on my 9 mile freeway drive. it is not safe! *tr

My headlights went off while i was driving at night. i was out in the country, in the mountains on a curvy road, where there were no street lights. it was pitch dark and a very dangerous situation, to say the least. i'm lucky i didn't run off the road or get in a wreck. i'm 74 years old and my vision is not as good as it used to be and i had to drive 40 miles to my house, with just my fog lights. i called my local toyota dealer, to see if they knew what caused my headlights to go out and if there was a recall on the problem. they said it was probably a light bulb problem and there was no recall on the problem. they said it would cost me $120 just to assess the problem. i checked on the internet and found this to be a widespread problem for this car and replacing the light bulbs cost around $500 and it doesn't solve the problem. in many cases it reoccurs. so, i don't know what to do. why would i spend $500 on the problem, when it doesn't solve the problem?? i can't believe there's no recall on a problem of this nature, as it's a very dangerous defect!

Headlights randomly shut off, can sometimes be turned back on if headlights are turned off and then on, but they never stay on. very unsafe when driving at night. toyota should recall and fix this issue. *tr

One headlight turns off randomly. every now and again turning the lights off and on again will fix the problem for a short time.

Toyota has excluded the prius in advising their owner about excessive oil consumption but included the camry, corolla, seqoiua etc. it burns/not leaks 1 quart every 1,000miles. no warning light on the prius just have to keep checking it. dealer says no fix except eventually put in a new engine. on the prius chat forum many people have noted the same problem with no assistance from toyota.

My 2008 toyota prius has hid headlamps. when the vehicle was still under warranty, aon of the headlamps went out, so i took it to toyota, and they replaced the burned out headlamp and also replaced the other headlamp, saying that there was a problem with the headlamps, and the new headlamps should solve the problem. i had to replace another headlamp at about 80,000 miles, and the opposite side headlamp at about 90,000 miles. since i replaced the last headlamp, the right one, it went out again, so i replaced it again. now that same headlamp keeps going out, and then it goes back on, it doesn't appear to be heat related, as sometimes it is off when i first start the car and shortly thereafter, it comes on. if i flash the bright switch back and forth it makes no difference. it always seems to be the low beam. if i repeatedly flash the hi-low switch, eventually the low beam will go out, then if i turn the light switch off and on again, the low beam returns back on. i have replaced the lamp with one that i thought was burned out and the same thing happens. i have checked on line, and have read how people taking their prius to the dealer are being charged from $300.00 to $4000.00 for changing various parts, and still are having the same problem. i have bee stopped by the police twice for having 1 headlight out, and i never know when it is going to be out. i have read of some people having the problem with both headlights, and know that it is an accident just waiting to happen. i have even tried to see if there was an option available to change the headlights from hid to halogen, but could not find any such option available. since this seems to be a widespread problem, and an obvious safety issue, shouldn't toyota step up and offer a solution? i would appreciate if this problem could be investigated. thank you. *tr

Car completely shut down with no power at stop light. rear ended by another vehical traveling at apprx. 45 mph. no prior warning of any battery issues or any other trouble lights. injuries sustained. car only had 75,000 miles on odometer and had been well maintained. car was stopped at red light on craig rd. and durango in las vegas nevada when failure occured. two female occupants both with minor injuries, one transported to hospital

Primary headlights randomly go out while both parked and driving down the road. sometimes both at the same time. turning them off and on again manually resets them to work again. this seems like a huge design flaw and major safety hazard, since it leads to driving in the dark without headlights. repair shops want $100s per bulb to replace hid bulbs that seem to not actually be burned out. the design choice for hid bulbs that exhibit this temporary failure mode seems to be a fundamentally flawed engineering choice compared to other, more reliable technology such as leds. no existing recalls were found when searching the dot.gov website for this issue.

I was traveling at about 35-40 mph on a 4 lane city road & a truck pulled in front of me from a shopping center on opposite side of road from which i was traveling without stopping in center median crossover. i hit brakes but i had no time to stop. i'm not sure the brakes even worked as there were no skid marks from braking. the front driver side of my car hit hard & also damaged drivers side wheel well, fender panel. my airbag did not deploy and my head collided with the steering wheel. it resulted in my having a concussion, whiplash, a fracture in my neck, shoulder pain & nerve issues in my arms & hands, back & hip pain. i know if the airbag had deployed i wouldn't have suffered all the physical issues. this all happened jan. 11 & i still have pain. the car is a total loss.

A recurrent and hard-to-diagnose problem i have had with my 2008 prius for several years is the fact that the dashboard display (speedometer, fuel gage, drive / reverse etc.) will occasionally not turn on with the car on days that are cold and rainy. although newer models (2019) both experience this issue and have enjoyed a recall for the part (the combination meter) to be fixed, for older priuses such as mine the equivalent work is limited to those who paid for an extended warrantee relating to the known problems of this one single part--a warrantee that i was never offered when i purchased the car in 2011, and that ended in 2015. the 2019 recall's information is here: https://pressroom.toyota.com/?generate_pdf=58021 even if i had purchased the part's extended warrantee, whether or not i'd even able to *use* it by demonstrating to the technician that the problem is occurring is questionable, not to mention literally up to the weather. the problem been very difficult for techs to diagnose since there aren't many cold and rainy days to set it off where i live, not to mention it would often resolve itself before the car can be taken into the shop for diagnosis. it was only possible this time around because the problem was worse than in the past, severe enough that i could not turn off my car. the fact that toyota would hide repairs for a massive safety flaw behind a limited-run warranty, when the problem is actually broader and affects cars produced over 15 years apart (2004 to 2019) is one thing. but the fact that this problem actually creates a hazard for the driver--not being able to turn off the car, not being able to know if you're in drive or reverse, or even how fast you're going!-- makes this limiting behavior seem somewhat despicable. i feel this recall should include all affected prius models, because this is clearly a broader defect.

1, dark instument panel, speedometer, odometer, fuel gauge, prnd display. 2, power button inoperable, at the time of speedometer failsure this is very dangerous when driving without instrument panel, you do not know the speed of driving, you do not know when you run out of gas , you do not know which prnd mode you are at and you cannot turn off the power of the car.

Filling tank with at least 8 gallons, after 100 miles gauge drops 3 bars for past three years first 100 miles max two bars wonder if diaphragm is stuck

The cooling pump for the electrical system had cracked and fluid leaked out no heat in car and red triangle of death display on dash local repair shop installed new pump it has been replaced 2 times. still leaks from housing

My headlights go out without warning while i amdriving down the road. the have gotten worse and go out more frequently and sometimes stay off. i have replaced the lights several times and am still having problems. i need help because i have almost gotten tickets behind this problem. my thing is toyota knows abot this and refuse to have a recall on this issue.

My rear hatch door latch cover and switch are inoperable and the rubber latch cover is gummy. hatch will no longer open - this is a huge safety issue- how can i get to my spare tire?

The headlamps go dark at random times while driving at night. this occurs on the highway or city street and more often shortly after beginning the drive rather than later in the trip. on numerous occasions one or both headlamps will shut off. i am able to restore the lights by switching the headlamps off and then on again. this has been a problem for two years since the car had 45,000 miles until now with 65,000 miles. *tr

Cluster went blank and vehicle would not power off, key fob stuck in ignition. toyota service recommended replacing combo meter but i am one month out of warranty. i was driving tried to park but car would not turn off, but would come to a stop in the parking lot. *tr

Either headlight, or both, may suddenly go out. turn off switch then back on and light(s) restored. happens frequently (say six times per evening) and has been doing this for about two years. frequently stopped by police.

My headlights intermittently go off and it will change which headlight (between my two white front headlight and gold headlights). it happens while i am driving. i can turn my headlights on and off and it sometimes fixes the problem. on one occasion all my headlights went off. *tr

My headlights are flickering before going completely out. sometimes it's the left, sometimes the right. turning the light switch off, then on, seems to rectify the issue but only temporarily. a very small % of the time would both lights go off completely. again, turning light switch off, then on, fixes it temporarily. there is no exact timeframe in which the lights start to flicker. and sometimes i notice it happening when going over a bump, but that is not always the case.

The driver's side headlight on my 2008 prius goes out periodically when driving but, to date, not when stationary. i recently drove to texas and back and this didn't occur on the highway or country roads. it seems to only happen in city stop-and-go driving, but i can't be sure. if noticed, by turning the lights off and on it comes back on but it's not always noticeable. information online indicates that costly hid bulb and ballast replacements, and/or other costly repairs, do not solve the problem. this poses a potentially serious safety risk and has gotten me pulled over by the police. the problem seems to be common with 2006-2009 prius's which would indicate a design/manufacturing flaw that toyota should address and correct. please look into this matter and advise me on how to proceed to correct the problem. thank-you, richard luellen [email protected]

The dash lights on my car went completely blank and the car is unable to shut off. toyota has a safety campaign that addresses this issue but it is only good for first 9 years of the car. my car is a 2008 model and i understand this problem affects all 2004-2009 models. as this is a safety concern with not being able to turn off the car properly, it is causing lots of anxiety not knowing if my car is actually turned off in my garage. my mom drives the car and she's 78 years old, she cannot tell if the car is off when she exits the car. there are occasions where the hybrid car turns on while it's in the garage because my mom was not able to turn the car off. this should be an issue where toyota issues a recall for the safety of everyone that owns these cars and parks in a garage.

On august 31, 2020 drove into town with wife in our 2008 toyota prius. highway speed. no problems. drove around town-no problem. stopped at friend's house.when leaving his house, went to start car as always and the following warning lights went on: brake, vsc, abs and <!> also, brake pedal went down to floor when engine started. other than warning lights being on and with brake pedal feel coming back to normal , we drove home. i put a code reader on to see what the problem was/is and clear codes. none were found. decided to take car to autozone for them to put their code reader on. once again no problem codes were found. went back home and called local toyota dealership and left message for service guy i use if necessary. no response from him. later, i looked up reported prius problems on internet and came across your web site where i noticed this prius problem has been reported to you many times before.called toyota usa (888-270-9371) and obtained a inquiry reference number. someone was suppose to get back with me but never did so today i called back in and ended up speaking to a higher toyota advocate.basically was told the brake part which is not functioning, they had a self imposed recall on it in 2015 and it lasted till end of 2017. if you had a failure during that time they replaced it at no charge. .if they knew it was bad part in 2015 or probably before that, they needed to replace all or replace them as the problem presented itself. per the research i have done, it costs now with them several thousand dollars to fix.the car is not drivable as the brakes can go out at any time. bottom line is that they knew the part problem existed and limited their liability to a short time period and only on cars that actually had the issue in the time frame allowed. working brakes on a vehicle is extremelly critical .

Automatic transmission slips into neutral unexpectedly, and when it does, often you can't get it out of neutral without turning car off. this has an electronic shift selector. this appears to be a rampant problem with this car. do an internet search on 2008 prius slips into neutral and you will see many people are having this issue. very dangerous when this happens on the highway.

The manager w/ american transmission told me when the hybrid system starting to go bad ( the inverter water pumper had to be replaced) messed up the abs pump and module. my mechanic told me it's a bad design. i put 0 mph the sytem is messed right when the start button is pressed this didn't cause an accident this still caused a delay due the pandemic and i need to be refunded and american transmission from toyota. please open attachment

I just purchased this vehicle one month ago. my son experienced the combination meter going blank while driving. he was unable to see how fast he was going, how much fuel he has, and what gear he is in. the biggest issue is he was unable to turn off the car once he finished his drive. eventually he did. this apparently is a known issue by toyota. the have a tsb on the replacement of the combination meter as well as a warranty enhancement program (ztv). from talking with toyota, the original owner was sent a letter about the problem, but never did anything about it. whether this was a problem for that owner or not at that time, i am unaware. either way, this is now a problem for me and according to toyota, the warranty enhancement has expired and now i am stuck paying for the repair. this is a safety issue and should be addressed and resolved by toyota.

Tl* the contact owns a 2008 toyota prius. the contact stated that the vehicle experienced brake failure and was taken to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed. the contact was informed that the abs module needed to be replaced. the vehicle was not repaired. neither the dealer nor the manufacturer were notified of the failure. the failure mileage was approximately 173,600.

My 2008 toyota prius brake system is very dangarous ,on the hi way speed of 55 i push the brake softly ,out of sadden car started acting like a wild horse slipping to the left and right and i am an experienced driver on ice,i lived in m ichigan for a long time ,so i survived , and all drivers around me stopped and there was no accident, i am afraid driving that car,i have called toyota dealer, seems like use to be a recall but they have some hesitions to accept the faulty,dangarous brake system,i am going to complain to the ceo of the company.god help me,i was lucky my family and i survived ,my message to the toyota prius owners is please double check your vin number and recalls,and insist to fix this common defect on toyota prius ,by the dealer with no charges.very very unsfe brake system. and my instrument lights are on and off i can not see the speed and the odometer and the gas indicator,i heard it was a recall but the dealership did not accept it. if i want to fix these faulty defective parts would cost me over 4000 dollars,toyota is responsible,i beleive should and must fix it for free valuntarly ,

My coolant inverter pump has been recalled, and repaired before i bought the car, and the same issue is happening again after i bought the car less than a year ago. today, the same check engine light came on, went to advanced auto parts and got the code p0a93 - coolant inverter pump failing.

Car won't start at times. a code of p0aa6 comes on but then i cannot get a sub code (detailed code) to determine what is wrong. i have taken it to 3 dealers and 3 separate mechanics and the same thing happens. they can't retrieve a sub code to figure out what's wrong. they reset it so i can get home and the same thing happens again and i have to tow it to another place. can't depend on this car to start.

I was having trouble with my brakes, lost control of my car going 30-35 mph on a city street, hit telephone pole, airbag deployed, injured. mva 06/12/20

Brakes went out. hydrauli control assembly antilock brakes modulator valve. toyota wants $3,806 to repair it. there was a warranty extension program that ended december 2017. this should be on recall, tons of problems. i am the second owner of the vehicle, purchased april 2017, but was not notified by toyota of the warranty extension, or that it was ending. i was driving the vehicle, all brake lights came on, toyota says not to drive due to risk of complete loss of braking system. case number 10664 has been filed with toyota.

The back latch of my 2008 toyota prius has degraded and no longer functions. i am unable to open the back hatch door. i am concerned that in case of an emergency i will not be able to open my trunk and have access to my spare tire, tools, flares , etc. because of this mfg. quality defect, i would like to have toyota pay for the expense of this repair. my car is unsafe as is.

I bought a used 2008 prius for my daughter at a dealership in may, 2020. soon after the abs, brake and traction control lights on the dash came on. i took it to the toyota dealer and was told it's the abs actuator that is leaking. the leaking can cause your brakes to lock up and not stop the car when pushing them. after further research, there are many complaints about this issue for the 2008 prius. this seems like a very serious safety issue and is documented on many owner forums as a common problem for the prius. after further research, toyota did offer a limited warranty on this issue, however, many people are now getting this issue after the warranty has already expired. toyota has bulletin gz1 with over 171 complaints and there are hundreds of complaints about this throughout the internet. i could understand a warranty being issued for a problem that is common but not deadly, however, the failure of the abs actuator has already caused deaths and should be an issued recall and not a temporary warranty.. *tr

When turning the car on, while in park, the car lunges forward with the brake pedal fully depressed. the abs actuator/modulator is constantly whirring. several dash lights are illuminated simultaneously (abs vsc, e-brake, !). my dealer says that this is a common prius problem that can result in complete failure of braking capability and that the repair is $3,500. according to my service advisor, another customer of central florida toyota was scheduled for this repair when his brakes failed and his car was totaled. this seems like a very serious safety issue, and is documented on owner forums as a common problem for prius'. my car has been doing this for a couple weeks now, and realizing how serious is it has prompted me to schedule the repair at my local dealership. i am a nursing home administrator and i rely on this car for my 100 mile commutes.

My prius recall the abs system. but i am no receive any letter.toyota does not send letter.

2008 prius abs and brake lights came on, front passenger tire locked up suddenly almost causing daughter to run off the highway. i drove the vehicle and could not duplicate the issue. 9 months later the abs and brake lights came on again, toyota cleared codes could not find anything wrong and released the vehicle back. lights returned the next day. toyota now states needs a new brake actuator for $2700. toyota has bulletin gz1 with over 171 complaints on your site with not counting all the vehicles repaired under this bulletin. they will not fix the vehicle without payment of almost half of the vehicle's worth. contacted toyota customer service and they were not willing to assist with a known issue. with the risk of accidents when brakes lock up or fail, why was this not a safety recall instead of a "silent recall" warranty extension

Headlights are defective. i have changed the relay switch, computer hid and headlights and they still are not working. i’ve also had to pay a ticket as a result.

For the past year since i’ve had the vehicle the car accelerates instead of slow down if i hit a bump or before i step on the break it speed up and slips instead of slow down.

Tl* the contact owns a 2008 toyota prius. the contact stated that while driving at about 35 mph, the brake light illuminated and the braking power was reduced. the vehicle was taken to the toyota of hollywood dealer, located at 6000 hollywood blvd, los angeles, ca 90028) and was told that the vehicle was out of warranty. the manufacturer was made aware of the failure and stated that the warranty expired. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure mileage was approximately 151,000.

Tl* the contact owns a 2008 toyota prius. the contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the brake pedal was depressed but failed to immediately stop the vehicle. the contact stated that the braking distance was extended. an audible chime was heard while the abs, vsc, brakes, and battery warning lights were illuminated. the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the brake actuator and the abs brake sensors needed to be replaced. the vehicle was not repaired. the local dealer (unknown) was notified of the failure. the manufacture was not yet contacted. the failure mileage was 70,000.

Tl* the contact owns a 2008 toyota prius. the contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the brake warning light illuminated and the braking power was reduced. the failure recurred and the brake ceased. the contact stated that the failure recurred intermittently. the contact called the panama city toyota dealer, located in panama city, florida, and was told there was no recall. the manufacturer was made aware of the failure and stated that there was no recall. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure mileage was approximately 167,000.

The break actuator is broken and now causing problems to the cars break system. this is a well documented issue and should be looked into. this happened while i was driving the car and needs to be replaced. toyota did have a extended warrenty for the part but now it is over. i think they should have a recall on the part and have it fixed.

I was driving my car as normal on a city street and the speedometer and warning lights (except for the check engine light) all turned off. we pulled over but the car would not go into park or turn off. we had no choice but to continue driving, not knowing our speed or any warning lights that could prevent serious injury (including knowing the level of the gas). once we got home it took about 10 minutes to get the car into park and off, but pressing the park and power buttons in random orders. i have no idea what ultimately allowed the car to turn off. it has happened twice now and it’s scary not knowing the speed all the sudden in the middle of driving. also, having been in such a habit of clicking the park button and being safely in park, we almost crashed into our house after being in the driveway the second time, not realizing the display had just gone out again for a second time upon arriving home. the car continued rolling forward of course until the brakes were slammed. i understand there was an extended warranty for my year prius (2008), but has since ended. this is a safety issue and i have no idea why this wasn’t a recall. toyota needs to continue to honor the repair of vehicles that are affected. just recently, it was released that toyota is recalling the 2019 models for this same issue (speedometer going out) and they are referring to it as a safety issue. this should be done for any model affected and should not have an end date.

I had some brake work done on my car at meineke on january 6, and when they did the brake bleed they were unable to bleed the left rear brake. they did some investigating and said it was going to take several hours of labor to diagnose. i decided to take it to the dealership, which i did on jan 7. they got error code c1253, and diagnosed the problem as an internal leak in the actuator. this is both a dangerous and expensive problem. looking around online i saw that this was a known problem in priuses (both gen 2 and gen 3), and has been the subject of warranty enhancement program zg-1. unfortunately, that wep expired at the end of 2017. given the dangerousness of the issue (i.e. this is not an optional repair if you want to keep driving your car safely) and the number of people who continue to experience this known problem, it seems like toyota should issue a recall (ideal; would prevent people from discovering the problem by losing brake function while driving) or at least continue to cover the full cost of replacements. i'm just "lucky" i discovered the issue while having other brake work done.

Recurring problem, inconsistency in fuel levels at the gas pump. possible hybrid energy theft from batteries or heating element. last fill-up at the north conduit mobil with 8 dollars, resulting in a less than a half a tank level, with a quarter tank level before fill up.

A lot of times when i turn the vehicle off and come back to turn it on there's no display for speed what gear i'm in mileage or fuel. the only way i seem to be able to make it work is to pop the back hatch and disconnect the main power from the battery. sometimes i do that 20 or 30 times before it works.

My 2008 toyota prius shut off while i was driving on the road i could’ve involved in big accident if i was on a highway the way it shutdown without any warning sign. it just suddenly stopped

The passenger side headlight turns off unpredictably, usually within 10 minutes of driving time. turning the lights off and back on sometimes gets the headlight to turn back on, but not always. then within 10 minutes it will turn off again. not only is this a safety issue and driving violation, i also cannot sell the car with non-functioning headlights.

Tl* the contact owns a 2008 toyota prius. when the contact attempted to stop the vehicle, excessive pressure had to be applied to the brake pedal and a loud sound was heard from the rear of the vehicle. the noise sounded as if the brakes were releasing from the rear of the vehicle. in addition, the brake, abs, vsc, and the explanation mark with a circle icon warning indicators illuminated. when using the brakes, the contact would need to activate the vehicle's b mode to assist with slowing down the vehicle. the contact also noticed that the vehicle's tires would seize without warning. the vehicle was not taken to a certified mechanic or dealer. the vehicle had not been diagnosed or repaired. the manufacturer was not contacted. the approximate failure mileage was 121,000.

Tl* the contact owns a 2008 toyota prius. while driving 45 mph, the obstruction control warning indicator illuminated intermittently and caused the emergency brake to engage. the contact would have to turn the vehicle off and back on in order for it to resume normal operation. the vehicle was taken to south dade toyota (29330 s dixie hwy, homestead, fl 33033, (786) 465-7908) where it was diagnosed that the actuator failed and needed to be replaced. the vehicle was not repaired and the failure recurred. the manufacturer was made aware of the failure and did not assist. the failure mileage was approximately 70,000.

The dashboard lights go out, meaning you can no longer see the mph, the fuel, and everything important to drive with gauges. this can happen at anytime, driving or parked, on any street in any weather. also note, you can no longer shut the car off, unless you hold the start button for 20 seconds. sometimes the car will still not shut off, it's also sometimes hard to tell if the car is off, because there is no more dash. the only well to tell is to see if the radio goes on. there are a few ways to reset this major malfunction, to try and get things working again by disconnecting batteries, but this is a dangerous problem, that could kill someone while driving and needs attention and recalled soon as possible!

The brake actuator is failing. it has a constant pumping sound that indicates this part is failing. this seems to be a known problem for many gen 2 prius owners. toyota had a campaign to replace this part but i was never notified of it. had i been notified i would have taken my car in for service.

My wife and i own 2 prius 2nd generation models since 2014. the issue is with the instrument cluster randomly malfunctioning and not displaying when the vehicle is on and sometimes not being able to turn the vehicle off. it happens while driving, stationary, raining, just randomly. this has happened more than 10 times on my car alone, and my wife can contests to hers as well. what we both are experiencing is one of many situations. while driving the dash lights and interior lights will just not work: i'm unable to see driving speed, if my headlights are on. even while stationary we experience the same thing. the main reasons for reporting this is because coincidentally it happens to both of us at random times in 2 different vehicles same model and year. from my own research this has been going on for a while with other owners with the same models. i don't know what constitutes as a safety concern for recalls, but i feel this is one. i'm fortunate to not have any accidents so far. but for others who are experiencing this can accidentally start speeding, or become startled because of the sudden loss of dash visuals, and result in harm of other's or property. this just happened again today and i just had to say something since this has been a persistent issue for my wife and i. thanks for taking the time to read this and please look into this.

My wife and i own 2 prius 2nd generation models since 2014. the issue is with the instrument cluster randomly malfunctioning and not displaying when the vehicle is on and sometimes not being able to turn the vehicle off. it happens while driving, stationary, raining, just randomly. this has happened more than 10 times on my car alone, and my wife can contests to hers as well. what we both are experiencing is one of many situations. while driving the dash lights and interior lights will just not work: i'm unable to see driving speed, if my headlights are on. even while stationary we experience the same thing. the main reasons for reporting this is because coincidentally it happens to both of us at random times in 2 different vehicles same model and year. from my own research this has been going on for a while with other owners with the same models. i don't know what constitutes as a safety concern for recalls, but i feel this is one. i'm fortunate to not have any accidents so far. but for others who are experiencing this can accidentally start speeding, or become startled because of the sudden loss of dash visuals, and result in harm of other's or property. this just happened again today and i just had to say something since this has been a persistent issue for my wife and i. thanks for taking the time to read this and please look into this.

The brake actuator failed. the brakes started stopping abruptly while driving and would also be on slowing the car down while i was driving. ifound out that toyota was making this repair at no cost up until january 2018. my issue is that the vehicle has been registered to me since 2013. my complaint is that toyota knew the brake actuator was an issue on this model but failed to notify me to correct it even though they had my contact information during the time that it was being fixed for free.

Ventilation circuit to select inside to outside air has been cyber-terrorised several times. the system is vital to operate securely, as a disabled constituent, in a great metropolis, that has sewage and garbage vapors everywhere. they access the funtion to open the damper to let outside air in suddenly, exposing my respiratory system to inhale waste. i have respiirated. garbage air pollution, here in new york so much, it has activated my childhood asthma. please find a way to seal the ecu's.

The cryptocurrency industry has spawned a frenzy of hybrid battery energy theft. my combination meter spikes and reduces down a deficit in fuel, insight of other vehicles driving close enough to extract power from the rear battery cells. every time i re-fuel the combination meter re-calibrates fhe fuel and electric level. i lose 5 to 20 percent of that level once it has calibrates, every time.

Second generation toyota prius (model years 04-09, an estimated 669,700 vehicles, toyota highlander 06 ~66,200 vehicles (and lexus models~196,000 vehicles) have a known defective brake power booster known as brake actuator assembly. toyota published tsb 0032-16. the brakes fail. toyota denied to remove the known faulty part in 2016 because the part had not established symptoms yet and vehicle was over 175,000 miles. 5/24/2019 while in motion on interstate 77, the yellow anti-lock brake system abs, the electronic variable speed control vsc (traction) , the electronic controlled brake alert lamps illuminate. the hybrid propulsion system fails because the power brakes do not regenerate electricity to charge the hybrid battery fuel cells. turning the hybrid vehicle into a plain gas powered vehicle with faulty brakes. the power brake system creates a thumping vibration sound due to the pressure inside the actuator is not retaining/holding pressure. i asked local o'reily's to scan vehicle, reading codes brake actuator failure. reported to toyota dealership 5/30/2019 with yellow warning lamps engaged and with knowledge of codes. charged $150.09 to verify codes that i retrieved in 3 minutes and estimate $2938.47 to replace known faulty part. i contacted toyota national -1906030924.toyota needs to own this recall. recall the faulty part known to fail in 2016. toyota aware of part failure, to such extent, toyota discontinued this brake actuator and redesigned for generation 3 2010-. toyota has updated the replacement part with new part #s. how many vehicles are currently on highways with this known faulty system, endangering all vehicles in proximity? this is a national issue. a safety issue. needs immediate attention, please. i purchased new updated part, drove to tampa, florida to have installed by professional installer.

Fuel cell (rigid gas tank has a bladder inside). toyota published technical service bulletin in 2008, concerning the failure of gas tank. the inner bladder can deform. the 10 gallon tank no longer accepts total volume of gas. 05/2019, and my 08 prius accepts only 3.8 gallons of gas at a full fill-up. gauge quickly advances from full mark to six cells, then 3 and at 182 miles between full, the warning empty lamp engages. toyota aware of this defect of generation 2 (04-09 model years). to such extent, the collapsible bladder inside the tank was abandoned for generation 3 models. this solid problem needs to be addressed. gas tank deforms.

I was driving on the highway 75 mph, (had just gotten back on the highway from a quick stop) when suddenly the brake warning system came on. the brake light/anti-traction control/high pitched siren all sounded. my braking power reduced to around 20%. i was in traffic. i was able to pull to the shoulder and gradually slow down to around 30 mph while traffic was whizzing by. i had to drive on a narrow bridge shoulder to get to the next exit, a mile down the road. after exiting, i turned off the car and restarted. the first time, everything was fine. the second, i had the same problem. third, no problem. fourth - problem again. fifth - no problem. i hired a mobile mechanic to come and do the computer diagnostic, which showed no faults. he then reset the computer; i tested out the car to see if it occurred again. and it didn't, so i cautiously drove home. cause is unknown. thankfully this didn't cause an accident, but it could have!

The speedometer does not display when turning on the car. i figured out that by unplugging the battery in the back it would sometime bring it back on. now it only comes on every once in a while, it’s no longer keeping track of miles when not on, as well as the fuel gauge is not keeping track of gas and have ran out twice because it stated half full.

The fuel gauge and fuel sensor doesn't work in the 2008 prius touring that i just purchased on july 09, 2019. the dealership that i purchased it from did not inform me of this issue at all. now i see that this exact issue is happening to a lot of these particular year models. the reset for the faulty readings doesn't work either... please do a recall for this issue!!! i am on disability and can not afford to pay for this defect!!! i'm afraid to go more than a few blocks in this car for fear of running out of gas... i have no clue how much gas is in this thing as it spits a lot of what i put in, back out when it suddenly overflows gas all over me. are there other options available to help us owners???

Son was driving car on city street going around 35 mph, then 20 brakes went out completely until parked. started with a loud beep noise, lights on dash then brakes no longer worked. he had to push as hard as he could to try and at least slow car down not to hit car in front of him, pulled into bike lane to avoid crash as car would not stop. turned car off and left in parking lot. i went to get car to drive home and then brakes were working. however scared to let him drive it in case issues happen s again. have not taken to dealership yet. the other issue is since we purchase the car burns oil, car has around 130k miles and before 3000 miles up have less then quart of oil and no.lwaks in drive way therefore feel it must be buring oil. add ouk at each gass fill up to avoid no oil.

Tl* the contact owns a 2008 toyota prius. after parking the vehicle and turning off the ignition, the vehicle restarted on its own several minutes later. the vehicle was taken to jim norton toyota (9809 s memorial dr, tulsa, ok 74133, (918) 215-3786) where it was determined that the failure may have been due to a combination meter failure. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was notified and provided case number: 1910093151. the approximate failure mileage was 59,397.

Right hid headlight keeps going out during short or long trips. it it's now october 2019. this same light was replaced for same problem in july 2018 and i was told by my mechanic that my ballast and electrical connection is fine. it should not be burned out by now. i only use the lights at night or during rain. i have read on several online forums with similar complaints from prius owners. this is a safety issue.

The 2008 prius has a digital display. sometimes when the vehicle starts up there is no information displayed on the screen. nothing shows what gear (reverse, neutral, forward) it is in. there is no speedometer display. no odometer display. no fuel level display. at the same time that the dash does not light up, i have noticed there is no backup camera or backup lights when the vehicle is in reverse. in addition to the above, the start button will not fully shut down the car. it will cycle between accessory mode and full start when the button is pressed. i have noticed that when the problem is happening the vehicle is also not keeping track of the miles driven while the dash is not displaying - so when the dash does start working again, the odometer is not showing true mileage. after getting the vehicle to finally shut down, i have sometimes had the issue not present the next day at startup. other times it will last through several starts and stops. i have read online that this problem is consistent with a faulty combination meter. and i feel it is a safety issue.

My car has been having this issue with braking and dashboard lights with 'brakes, abs, vsc. have taken it to the dealer and have spent thousands of dollars already. replaced the brake system (pads, drums, etc..), catalytic converter, hybrid battery. every time i drive out out of the dealer 'all is good' as codes were cleared but a few months after, the lights are on again. these issues have cause are causing my car to be acting up while driving and trying to break at stop signs and crossing lights by delaying to stop on time. this is a safety issue and needs to be addressed by toyota in assisting us with repairs. unless they'll wait for a tragedy before doing something about it. have called the dealer and they always say 'it could this' or 'it could be that'. so far the repairs they have done is supposed to fix the current issue with breaks, lights on the dashboard but now abs can be related to the actuator and that will cost me around $3,000! which i cannot afford anymore. my car is paid for and i've spent almost $7,000 in 'repairs' and of course all vehicle's warrantees had expired when i took it in. in reviewing multiple complaints, this seems to be an issue with these abs and vsc problems and there should be some type of recall to fix them, otherwise as customers we're losing faith in toyota and/or their dealers. i love toyota cars but going through these experiences with costly repairs may change my mind in going with another brand.

Was parked in line to pick up child from school. turned car on and put it on drive, moved slowly when parking brake light, abs warning light, traction control light all came on and then my brakes went limp. had to push all the way to the floor and stopping was still hard to do. almost hit the car in front of me when suddenly all lights went off and brakes jerked to a sudden stop. i'm terrified to drive my car at faster speed knowing my brakes basically went out. pretty sure it's failing brake actuator and toyota knows about this probably but didn't do a recall only extended warranties... i didn't own the car when those warranties we're going on in 2016. headlights also will randomly turn off and i have to turn them off and back on constantly driving at night.

While driving during the day or night, throughout the year (non-seasonal), both headlights (hid) flicker, and the passenger side headlight goes off completely and intermittently. sometimes it comes back on if i turn the lights off and on again, but most of the time it doesn't. we have been pulled over twice for this and received two tickets from police. it doesn't work to exchange or replace bulbs. i know i'm not the only 2008 prius owner with this problem and i believe toyota needs to pay to have it repaired.

There is a very wildly known issue with the prius 2004-2009 break accentuator assembly. toyota created an extended warranty for the replacement of this part because they know it is extremely faulty, the warranty has been extended three times since the original in 2004. the last expiration date they set was good until july of 2018. however, since then, there are tons of cars, including mine, where the assembly has gone bad, meaning that the brakes will continue to have a slow leak and can fail at any point causing physical harm and possible death to the driver. toyota is very very aware of this issue, however refuse to do a recall on the part.. since their third time extending the warranty, i can no longer get my replaced, which is a $2,700 fix, that is a cost that is worth more than the cars themselves. a recall needs to be done on this part, it is extremely unsafe since drivers can lose the ability to brake their cars causing harm to them, those traveling in the car, as well as everyone around them. i am eight and a half months pregnant, and will be driving with a newborn and unable to get this part fixed, so i can no longer drive my vehicle because toyota will not replace the part.. it needs to be put under a recall status immediately.

In april 2016, i purchased a 2008 toyota prius from a central florida dealer for the sum of $9290 cash. i was subsequently sent notices from toyota that my warranty was expiring and i needed to send an information card back to them . the notices occurred during 2016 & 2017 . apparently during that period they had an extended warranty period where they would fix part #44500-47141 if your prius dashboard was indicating a malfunction was occurring. in march of 2018, the extended warranty for abs anti lock actuator assembly valued at $1200 with a $60 to $800 labor fee for installation ended. last week 5/9/2019 i called the 800 number and found my car was registered for the warranty work but was told i am no longer eligible for the repair work. i must now absorb the total cost now when my dashboard is intermittently giving me warning lights that anti brake system has a malfunction. failure of the abs system on my prius can occur at any time unless i pay for the repair.

The inside to outside air vent actuators are moving in different directions, venting intake manifold gases into the cabin. synthetic oil smell in the cabin, via the two front vents.

The headlights will suddenly fail, either one at a time, or more recently both at the same time when night driving. i am able to flip the switch to turn one back on but now the passenger light will not come back on at all. i am driving at night when i notice this happening but it probably also happens in day light.

While driving on the highway the abs, vsc, and (!) lights came on. the brake pedal became hard, and i had to push incredibly hard to slow the vehicle. after having the codes read and resetting the abs, vsc, (!) lights, the brakes worked again until the lights came on again after about 50 miles. the codes have read "accumulator pressure fault".

There was brake actuator failure in my car which due to part failure. toyota did not issue a recall but instead a warranty enhancement. to me, this seems ridiculous since toyota did not notify owners and i was not aware of the problem until i experienced the problem and luckily was not in an accident. we misses the cut off for the warranty by a few months. this unexpected expense seems is a huge financial burden to my family for a safety issue i feel toyota should morally cover. are they waiting for someone to be injured due to this problem?

There was a popping noise in my steering wheel and then i had no movement in my tires. my steering wheel just spins round and round but my tires will not move i was driving down the street and i had no control of my car. so i believe it has something to do with the steering shaft or suspension.*dt*jb

The dim headlight only, not the bright, only on the drivers side front goes out 4 or 5 times a year. the front brights are not affected and have never gone out nor has the dim headlight on the passenger side front ever gone out. the car is driven daily usually and on city streets only.

The crank case ventilates randomly into the cabin. the foul stench of motor oil disperses into the cabin intermittently. the ventilator actuator orientates the crank case gases, hazardously contaminating my respiratory system.

For the third time i have had to replace my brake light switch, this is a safety issue as it affect how the brake lights work. the break light switch, when malfunctioning prevent or inhibits the vehicle from starting properly. if the switch fails while driving, it can cause problem with the battery regeneration, this is in addition to causing a driving hazard while driving.

Headlights turn off or flicker while driving. it happens intermittently. it is a major safety issue when driving at night as it nearly caused an accident. using the high beams helps for a short period but the headlights still turn off on their own. turning them off and on brings them back on most of the time but only for a short period of time.

While driving at night, left headlight goes out intermittently (about every 3 minutes). i have to turn lights completely off then on again to reset. this is ongoing and appears to be happening more frequently with time.

My brake actuator failed causing loss of breaks. this is a public safety issue. i live in los angeles where these cars are all over the roads. i am 6 months past the 10-year restriction on the warranty enhancement zg1. the cost to repair and replace this is $2,200. toyota issued this "warranty enhancement" to almost 800,000 cars. why is this not a safety recall yet? toyota should not be able to get away with this lack of concern for safety of their customers, other dirvers on the road, and their customer service regarding this issue has been a horrible experience.

Brake actuator failure. tsb released in 2017. my vehicle was over stated mileage limit (150,000), and was not showing any ill effects of the 2017 toyota repair at no cost. i am driving along us 77 and on this 4 lane major highway, the power assist brakes fail. now 204780 miles 5/2019 and the emergency brake, abs,vsc and brake warning lamps illuminate and the power brakes are no longer functioning. codes c1256 and c1391. the dealer estimate is $2938.47. toyota has a tsb from 2017, and without repair, the vehicle is useless. a major part failure, safety recall needs to be issued. this is the most popular most sold hybrid vehicle line, and has a known system failure. known since 2017. this is an unsafe vehicle with a brake actuator failure.

The abs brakes accumulator is bad.

My brake, abs, vsc, and (!) lights come on and the brakes become compromised and don't work properly

Tl* the contact owns a 2008 toyota prius. when the vehicle was started, the instrument panel gauges did not display. on several occasions, after turning off the vehicle, the engine continued to operate. the failures were not diagnosed or repaired. the manufacturer and an unknown dealer were notified of the failures. the failure mileage was 30,000.

I bought my 2008 prius used in 2016, the headlights worked for a little while, then they started to randomly shut off. sometimes just one, sometimes both at the same time. i have replaced the headlights twice and it is still happening. i have googled this problem and there are several people saying their prius' are having the same problem. toyota refuses to fix the issue.

Combination meter display not illuminating when the vehicle’s ignition is turned “on” i have a 2008 prius that i maintain regularly at authorized toyota dealers without a miss. dashboard on toyota prius stops working intermittently. when it fails, one can't know the speed of vehicle, milage, gear (d/r/p/n) etc. this happened couple of times even during middle of drive. when it happens, i can't even stop the car. i had do bit more research to figure out how to stop the car when this happens. i took it a dealer near by they diagnosed its due to defective combination meter. the quoted $800 to fix this. when i asked dealer about warranty, he said there is a warranty enhancement but it will only cover 9 years from date of purchase. upon further research on internet, this issue appears to be very common in toyota prius models and found a reference to warranty enhancement. i never received any such communication, more over this is a real safety issue that involves no consumer fault. i found no reference to this in toyota web pages in "my toyota" section, rather found references in internet (attached). i called 1-800-331-4331 number the dealer gave me, they weren't willing to honor the warranty because 9 years gone from my date of purchase. i tried to explain why its safety issue with no consumer fault. fix is very costly for consumer for problem caused by toyota.

The rubber trunk switch cover has degraded, and continues to "melt" or "disintegrate" over time. originally this was a mere irritation, leaving sticky black residue on my fingers every time i opened the trunk. however, now the switch fails to operate most of the time. this is a safety issue, since i am unable to open the trunk to access the spare tire, as well as other safety equipment or supplies.

While i was backing out of a spot in a parking garage the vcs, abs & (!) light went on and my brakes locked up at the same time. i had to shut the car off and turn it back on and luckily was able to drive home. a few days later while i was driving on a city street at about 20 mph the same 3 lights came on and the brakes locked up. i had to drive the car to the side of the road and restart it. my battery has not been charging as well. i paid $150 at a local mechanic to run a diagnostic check and they told me it would cost $3000 to repair the brake actuator assembly. if i continue to drive the car with this failing part it will cause the hybrid battery to die as well another $3000 hit.

Tl* the contact owns a 2008 toyota prius. while driving 70 mph, the brake booster malfunctioned. the indicators for the brake booster and parking lights were illuminated. the dealer (toyota of denton, 4100 s interstate 35, denton, tx 76210, (940) 293-4548) stated that it would cost $2,787 for the repairs. the manufacturer stated that since there was no recall, the contact would have to pay for the repairs. the failure mileage was 174,500.

Tl* the contact owns a 2008 toyota prius. when the vehicle was started, the brakes made an abnormal noise and the abs indicator illuminated. the contact called charles toyota at 860-889-8375 (located at 500 w thames st, norwich, ct 06360) and was informed that there was no recall. the manufacturer was made aware of the failure and was informed that the extended warranty was expired. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure mileage was approximately 108,000.

For several years our toyota prius has exhibited the following issue: intermittently, and without warning, when you start the car the dashboard does not light. as a consequent, you cannot not see the speed you’re driving at, the fuel level of the car, any warnings such as check engine, low tire pressure etc, and you’re not able to use a number of other important features such as cruise control. in addition, you are not able to turn off the car when you reach your destination. because you cannot turn off the car, you cannot lock it. undisclosed to customers, there has been for several years an extended warranty being offered by toyota, to the dealerships, to fix this problem (warranty policy bulletin, pol 12-05). this information is provided only to dealerships. as i customer, i never received information about this extended warranty. i only found out about it via other customers. our local toyota dealership (toyota of olympia) has refused to apply the extended warranty and fix the problem. we contacted the dealership several years ago about the issue, which they have a record of. toyota customer service also refuses to help us get this issue fixed and apply the extended warranty. the case number with customer service is 1812072507. both toyota and the dealership state that the customer most replicate this intermittent issue to a dealership mechanic before either entity will authorize fixing the issue. several weeks or months may go by before the issue appears and it appears only for an unpredictable duration before "going away", so this is an impossible burden of proof for the customer -- the customer has to take the car to a dealership at the moment the intermittent issue occurs, and must arrive at the dealership and get the mechanic to immediately drop their other work in order to hopefully witness the issue before it "goes away".

Combination meter failure - went to start car and no response. looked like an electrical short, nothing on dashboard lit up, nothing worked. weather had recently turned cold. online research shows this is a common problem. there's an expired extended warranty: bulletin no.: pol12-05 this should be a recall.

Electrical issue with headlight - drivers side front headlight turns off within 2-3 minutes. i’ve replaced the bulb and the issue persists, and many prius owners have faced a similar if not identical issue. if you turn the lights off and on again, it turns back on but only for a few minutes. seems like a wiring issue and there should be a recall.

2008 toyota prius como meter failure. combo meter fails in cold weather, creating a dangerous driving condition. cannot read speed, fuel, climate controls unresponsive. very unhappy with my toyota prius when they told me it was out of date for the warranty repair. they want $1300 to fix one of their safety violations. there should be a safety recall for this part. my car has had this problem stationary and moving.

When the vehicle stopped at the traffic light then it turns go, the prius doesn't speed up even when you press on gas pedal, it hesitates to move for awhile before it picks up the speed which is a hazard.

Highlights go out intermittently. usually can reset by turning on and off. definitely a hazard. may have caused an accident. regularly getting told light is out. stopped by police for lights out. does not appear to be loose connection or bad bulb.

Tl* the contact owns a 2008 toyota prius. while driving at low speeds, the vehicle stalled and completely turned off. the vehicle would then restart without warning. the vehicle was towed to right toyota (7701 e frank lloyd wright blvd, scottsdale, az 85260, (480) 771-6449), but the cause of the failure was not determined. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was made aware of the failure. the failure mileage was unknown.

Car stalled completely under high speed acceleration about 70-75mph mph on freeway. lost all power .

The hid headlamps flicker and turn off by themselves randomly while driving. sometimes only the drivers side turns off and then later the passenger side, but sometimes both sides turn off at the same time while the vehicle is moving at various speeds. this is very dangerous especially when it happens while driving at night at high speeds on a dark road. it happened at speeds of 60mph while on a 2 lane highway late at night and at lower speeds such as 30-45mph on city streets. the headlamps also flicker and randomly turn off while the vehicle is parked with headlights on. the only remedy is to completely shut off and turn back on the headlamps and then they work for a few minutes then turn off randomly again. this is a recurring issue. these cars should be issued a recall for this problem. this is a serious safety issue.

Tl* the contact owns a 2008 toyota prius. while driving 20 mph, the brake, anti-lock braking system, vehicle stability control, and traction control warning indicators illuminated on the instrument panel. additionally, there was a triangle symbol flashing. the vehicle was taken to autonation toyota leesburg (1 cardinal park dr se, leesburg, va 20175, 571-357-3965) where it was diagnosed that the anti-lock brake system actuator needed to be replaced. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was contacted and provided case number: 1809122780. the manufacturer stated that the vehicle was not covered under a warranty. the failure mileage was 206,970.

Tl* the contact owns a 2008 toyota prius. the contact stated that the gear shifter would not stay engaged in reverse or drive. the contact mentioned that the failure occurred periodically. in order to keep the gear shifter engaged in drive or reverse, it would have to be held in that position. the vehicle was not taken to a dealer or independent mechanic for diagnostic testing or repairs. the manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. the failure mileage was 130,000.

Toyota brake system failure in january 2018. this issue resulted in an accident and is a critical safety problem. toyota is aware of this problem and are unwilling to correct the issue.

I was already driving (highway) for over 30 minutes this morning (24 sept 2018) and exited to the city street. after making a right turn (about a minute after the turn and now on a straight road) i momentarily lost control of steering - the car just moved into the opposite flow of traffic and i slowed down and try to control it and i swayed both ways before i was stable again. (luckily there were only a few cars on both sides of traffic) it happened so fast (2-3 seconds max) and while a warning light came on the dashboard and an audible sound - i was not able to see what it was. i managed to drive onto a vacant parking lot, observed the steering and when i felt i had control i drove another 10 minutes to work, this time had no problems nor signs of a problem. it was lightly raining and road was wet.*dt*jb

Driving on city street while very rainy outside, drove through a puddle and felt the brakes loosen, all the warning lights came on and wouldn't turn off. anti-lock breaking system was offline. took to toyota dealership, mechanics said the abs is not communicating with the computer and it would be $2800.00 to fix. breaks feel loose and are not as responsive anymore.

While driving, attempted to press brake which went to the floor and all abs warning lights came on immediately. i was forced to quickly press down the parking brake to stop the vehicle. there were no warning signs that the braking system was damaged or faulty. luckily, i was able to stop before damage to propert or human injury occurred. after taking the vehicle to the dealership to be assessed, we were informed that the brake actuator system has failed. toyota is aware of this potential problem with the prius as they offered an extended warranty covering it. unfortunately, we were never notified of the potential problem or warranty and are now “outside of the parameters” to have if repaired by toyota. the warranty extension expired appx. 10 months ago. after researching several reputable sources, it is apparent that this is a significant safety issue on a defect that toyota is aware of however no recall has been issued as of yet. how many crashes, injuries &/or deaths will have to occur before something is done? this is not a “normal wear and tear problem”. this is a mechanical failure with no warning that could be disastrous for the owners of these vehicles.

Car shift lever pops out of drive position and reverse position intermittently on startup. seems to happen when interior of car is hot after sitting in sun for a long period.

Headlights have been replaced more than once and now are flickering again and have gone out completely. this has been an ongoing problem since it was new. dealer has not resolved the problem nor given us a reason why.this is becoming a very expensive problem, we were told that there was a recall but we were not notified. we love the prius except for this,

Defective engine required replacement prior to 139k miles (due to cylinder malfunction and excessive oil consumption), at a cost of $3700 for a used one. this has also damaged the catalytic converter, quoted at $900. at 149k miles, the hybrid battery has failed as well, which has a quoted replacement cost of $2400. while slightly outside of warranty, the engine and hybrid battery are both core components that are expected to last significantly longer. in carb states, toyota even warrants the hybrid battery for 150k miles. the cost of replacing them exceeds the kbb value of the car, which is unacceptable for a 10 year old vehicle with average mileage that was properly maintained. i contacted both the dealership and manufacturer, and neither will accept any ownership in the matter, or provide assistance on repair costs.

After 2nd day owning the brake light came on and 3 other lights vsc, circle with exclamation, check engine, and one more i believe. went to toyota to find out the brake actuator is out and they would charge me 2 thousand dollars. there should be warranty on this malfunction. when driving we were luckily in a parking lot.

The brake actuator is not working properly causing safety issues related to the brakes

One headlight or the other or both go out randomly.

Struck a car at approx 50 mph spun then crashed into a tree dead center of car. air bags did not deploy.

Combination meter is defective, light panel, including speedometer & fuel levels go dark, unable to tell speed of vehicle or remaining fuel, multiple incidents, all began (thus far) while vehicle was stationary.

On sunday, may 6 the abs, brake light, and master warning indicator lights were activated on my 2008 prius. the technician at toyota identify the issue as the brake actuator. the estimated service bill is $3,500. my car is routinely serviced by toyota and even though the brakes were making noises, i was unaware that the brake actuator was failing. the replacement part would have been fully covered under the warranty enhancement notification (zg1), but that ended on december 31, 2017. my car was symptomatic, but since the warning lights were not activated, toyota did not replace the actuator, or informs me of its imminent failure. (toyota relied solely on the car’s abs warning lights instead of using their diagnostic evaluation system, which determines trade-in value.) i am the original owner with less than 87,000 miles, which is far below the 150,000 miles stated in the warranty enhancement notification. without brakes, my ten year old car in excellent condition is worthless and the costly part makes repairing impossible. toyota headquarter is standing behind the date on their warranty. the brake actuator--a very major component--should have been recalled and fixed.

Driver's side headlight goes off after driving a few minutes. turning off the lights and turning them back on resets the headlight back on, for a short time, and then goes off again. this is a serious safety hazard and toyota should fess up to the design flaw and recall all the affected cars and fix the problem.

My prius made a sound like a turkey call/barking sound, my brake light, abs light, vsc light and exclamation light all came on at the same time. took veh to toyota dealership and was advised it was the brake actuator that needed to be replaced. was advised it was very dangerous to drive any further with this issue.

Tl* the contact owns a 2008 toyota prius. when the contact attempted to use the seat belt, it failed to retract from the seat and could not be adjusted. in addition, the contact stated that the seat belt was torn. there were no warning indicators illuminated. the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the seat belt needed to be replaced. the vehicle was repaired. the vehicle was not taken to a dealer. the manufacturer was not notified of the failure. the approximate failure mileage was 143,000.

Driver side headlight randomly shuts off while the vehicle is in motion. have replaced the bulb and fuses, but the problem persists.

Our 2008 prius experienced engine failure while driving ca. 70 mph on a day when the temperature was between 90 and 95 degrees. this appears to be the same problem with the inverter that has happened on later models, especially as “high thermal stress” featured in reports of those. two mechanics were unable to pull a computer code on it and said they couldn’t offer an opinion unless it was replicated. each mentioned the inverter problem, but claimed that it could only have happened on model years more recent than ours. a toyota company rep claimed never to have heard of it happening on any car before 2010. i asked if there were a database of such issues she could check to see if other owners had anything similar happen before 2010, but she declined to do so. i believe she claimed that the company maintained no such database. all i remember for sure is that she projected no inclination to follow up, appearing to treat it as a one-off problem that didn’t merit further attention. this happened while i was passing a truck, with a car close behind clearly intending to pass me after i had gotten around the truck. i suddenly realized that i had no acceleration and that the dash lights had come on. i was luckily able to steer across the driving lane to the right shoulder without being hit as my speed dropped. i tried starting the car again; it started up as if nothing had happened so we continued, carefully, on our way. that specific problem has not reoccurred, although there were two incidents (one earlier that day and one the day before) when pushing “start” failed to start the engine. dash lights and air conditioner fan came on, but engine did not start until the “start” button had been pushed twice more. in both of these cases the temperature was also in the 90s.

The car has an 11.9 gallon gas tank and i cant put in more then 7 gallons of gas at a time. when pumping...if the pumps rushes the gas into the tank too quickly...i cant get any gas because the pump will turn off as if the tank is completely full when its empty. i have had sensors checked and its the bladder of the gas tank.

Car burns a quart of oil every 1000 miles which started at 150k. this is an ongoing problem that cant be fixed.

Brake acu

2008 toyota prius. consumer writes in regards to illuminated warning light and dash not working. *ld the consumer stated that vehicle was not covered under the recall due to the age of the vehicle. *js

Powered on vehicle in driveway and while the car was still in park and the brake pedal engaged, the car rolled out of the driveway. i applied additional pressure to the brake pedal to stop the vehicle from rolling out. a week later, the instrument panel warning lights for abs, vsc, brake system and brake illuminated due to internal malfunctions of the brake actuator assembly. toyota stated the vehicle is outside of the extended warranty for this known issue.

Vehicle brake actuator failed causing loss of brakes during reversing, all brake warning lights illuminated on dash. found that toyotas extended warranty on this part expired in december 2017. i was never sent a notice about this part possibly failing.

Combination meter is failing. u was told by a dealer that toyota had issued a warranty enhancement, instead of a safety recall. since i am not the original owner i was not notified of the problem and by the time i discovered it, the warranty extension has expired. toyota refuses to pay for repairs. instrument panel not working is a safety issue and toyota has to be forced to issue a recall.

Brake actuator failing (warning lights on, clunking sound when depressing brake, increased force to apply brakes) two months after extended "service campaign" ended. had a recall been issued i would have been notified there was a technical problem that needs to be fixed. a known technical issue that affects a vehicle's brakes and anti- locking braking system should result in a recall.

The abs warning came on and we took it to the dealership for diagnosis. apparently there was a "warranty enhancement program" attached to this car for this specific problem, the brake actuator assembly". however, even this is a known manufacturing-defect, toyota is refusing to pay for this service because they reasoned that this has fallen out of their warranty dates, which included 2 types of coverage: primary coverage ended 12/31/2017 and secondary coverage for car less than 10 years old from the first use or 150,000 miles, whichever occurs first. according to toyota, the first use of my toyota prius is 10/13/2007, and 10 years from that date is 10/13/2017, which came before even the deadline for primary coverage. this "warranty enhancement program" is for 2004-2009 prius. you would think it will cover at least until the last manufactured car of 2009, but that was not the case. also, the dealer and the manufacturer both stated that they can't fix it unless you actually have the abs light turned on and it warns about the issue. you would think if that light comes on, it will be very dangerous if you are driving 60 mph on the freeway and you can't brake! toyota definitely did not think so. the repairs i was quoted for this particular problem is $2800 + tax, which is expensive and i can't afford to pay for it. i feel ridiculed because this is a manufacturing defect and it is not something related to wear-and-tear. toyota acknowledged that this is a manufacturer defect and the reason they refuse to pay for this service is because it fell outside of the "extended warranty period". we did not even receive the notice to begin with; i found this out on the internet and apparently, a lot of people have this problem with their vehicles and toyota either dragged out the timeline of repair so that it will surpass the deadline stated on the letter of the program.

Brake, abs, vsc, ! with circle around it, and a solid high pitch alarm came on while driving and when coming to a red light at 55mph, i noticed my brakes had failed. this had almost caused me an accident by running into the back end of another car. thankfully i had my foot and the brake peddle pressed almost through the firewall as was able to stop. this is not a hazard, this is extremely dangerous for any prius driven like this.

Abs,break and the vsc lights are on which is indicate that my actuator abs system fails in my prius 2008 . technician notes: c1256 accumulator low pressure. 0.00 0.00 c1391 abnormal leak of pressure. the abs brake actuator has failed. this a known issue. to rectify this issue we will need to replace the abs brake actuator, resistor, and flush the system. tsb-0032-16 states that this is a common issue caused by an internal brake fluid leak in the brake actuator. the front brake pads look almost new, and the rotors are in good shape. the rear shoes and drums are in good shape as well. the noise the customer is hearing is the abs engaging. this is covered under warranty from toyota for 10 years, 100,000 miles. i called to see if they would honor this. they said that the vehcile is out of warranty. brk0 rp r&r abs brake actuator and bleed the system. labor : $624.75 expressly disclaims all warranties, whether express or implied, including any parts : $1,981.39 implied warranty of merchantability of fitness for a particular purpose and sublet : $0.00 neither assumes nor authorizes any person to assume for it any liability in $0.00 connection with the sale of said products. supply charg other fees : $30.00 subtotal : $2,636.14 x____________________________________________________ date ________________ sales tax : $165.94 total : $2,802.08 paid by : pay ref : paid : $0.00 due : $2,802.08

The trunk latch on this model is faulty and dangerous. the material used for the latch is too susceptible to temperature and either become rock hard in the winter cold or melty and gooey in the summer heat. it is almost impossible to get into my trunk through the back latch in the wintertime. i try and maybe if the weather is warm enough and it's just right, i can get into my trunk about 10 percent of the time, if that. recently, i tried to open my trunk unsuccessfully. it opened enough to not be securely shut, but not enough to pop open. i was then also unable to shut the trunk. what ended up transpiring was a trunk that would register as opening and shutting, without the actual ability to fully open it or shut it. so the car door light must have come on at some point and drained my battery which then left me stranded on a winter day in a cold parking lot away from home. all because toyota effed up and used a very poor choice in materials for their trunk latches. this is something that they should correct so other people don't have trunk issues that end up causing problems. if someone needs to open their trunk in the winter time to retrieve medicine, like an epi-pen, then they are screwed. if someone needs to open the latch to help remove an animal or child out of a car for whatever reason, they are screwed. if they just simply want to have trunk functionality for hauling groceries, they are screwed. and if they are like me and manage to unfortunately find that sweet spot where the trunk only partially opens, but not fully, and their battery ends up becoming drained and they are stranded in the middle of nowhere, they are also screwed. toyota made a mistake, and they should do something to fix it. i love my prius, but this one trunk latch issue is enough to make me reconsider other cars with functional door latches.

Headlights shut off while driving at night. i received two warning tickets from highway patrol as i was driving back from ft. worth to nacogdoches, but when i stopped, both headlights were working. then as i was driving, both headlights (with bright lights on) turned off. had to pull over and then they started working again.

Went off the road into a ditch to avoid a deer. ditch was im guessing about 4 foot deep . air bags did not work. hit my head and have a large bruise on my chest .

We have a 2008 prius hybrid. **brake acentuator has failed** when the brake pedal is applied, the vehicle continues to move and then the vehicle suddenly stops (without notice). i took the vehicle to the dealership and was informed of the recall. appreciate your support. due to a class action suit against toyota for this problem, they extented the warranty. apparantly i fall out of the date specified. this is a problem where thousands of vehicles are on the road with an identified issue. toyota does not want to assist me in any way. as a veteran with 100% disability, i am requesting for this issue to be reopened immediately, and assist owners correct a extremely dangerous safety problem. this problem is costing close to $3000.00 for repair. my contact information: [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6). *tt

No dashboard lights - combination meter is bad

Toyota extended the abs module warranty for a known issue, but we were never notified therefore it expired. now the abs accumulator has failed and toyota wants $3-4k for the repairs even though this is a common problem from factory that can cause brakes to fail.

During the accident, the back seat fell down. i am assuming it happened due to the force of the impact but it was terrifying because sometimes we have our children rear facing in that vehicle. the vehicle was rear-ended on the freeway and the glass was broken in the back from the impact.

When pressing the brake during stationary or in while in motion the abs actuator starts to make noise.

The lighting system has electrical markings on the relay and fuse blocks for daytime running lights, with no daytime running lights installed. headlight and license plate light systems works intermittently. causing bulbs to fail.

While driving down the road the instrument panel went black. i could not see driving speed or remaining fuel. i drove to toyota dealer and could not shut down the engine upon arrival nor remove my key from the key slot. there are numerous online complaints about "prius instrument cluster not working". toyota quietly agreed to extend warranty coverage for 9 years from date of first use or until 2013. https://www.toyoheadquarters.com/threads/2004-2009-toyota-prius-combination-meter-warranty-extension-ztv.174/ i believe this should have been a safety recall as it is unsafe to operate a motor vehicle under these conditions and the operator might not be able to shut off their vehicle or remove the ignition key. there are almost 700,000 affected vehicles in the class. repair costs $925 or more for affected owners. several have posted videos of home remedies involving disconnecting the battery terminals to cause a "reset", which may encourage other owners to continue to operate the vehicle in an unsafe condition where failure is imminent.

On the morning of 11/14/18, vehicle (w. 112,000 miles on it) failed to start or move in our driveway. 12/5/18 advised by caseys, thetoyota dealership in .williamsbsurg va., that the cvt had failed and would need to be replaced at a cost of $6500 - happens occasionally!. subsequently sold vehicle to dealer employee for scrap. i note the nhtsa is considering a recall on the cvt's installed in the toyota corollas. seems overdue. glad for my family this did not happen when the vehicle was in motion.

Lighting on speedometer only works when it is warm outside. i can't tell how fast i'm driving or if i have any gas.happens when vehicle is moving and when stationary.

I was in an automobile accident in feb of 2015 i hot another vehicle going approximately 15mph no air bags were deployed and the police officer and body shop both were surprised no air bags deployed. i'm curious if this was due to a fault you airbag and luckly i wasn't seriously injured. my dash computer sensor went out in 2015, causing me to not be able to read an odometer, speedometer, etc. i had this part replaced at my expense due to the safety hazard it potentially could cause i'd like to see a formal recall for this part. toyota acknowledged the safety error and did issue a extended warranty which i was not covered by. i replaced my inverter a third time in 2017 die to over heating. after the recall was performed i did noticed deceased power which greatly affected the performance of my vehicle making it more sluggish. due to the performance loss i've not been able to use the car for normal trips that were taken previously due to safety concerns.

My driver side seat belt stopped responding around in 2015. the latch worked correctly however the sensor would show my seatbelt was not done. i had this repaired at my expense in early 2017 due to worry if there was an accidental i would be unable to prove i was wearing a seat belt.

My headlights are constantly going out usually the driver side but i'm replacing headlights every six months about. after the second time replacing the headlights i've been very careful only using at night. the lights at not last but a fraction of the time they should be last i g and i've been buying the best on the market insuing i get a quality product with the best visibility. i feel there's some faulty wiring or something causing a surge prompting the headlights to fail prematurely. i've seen several other complaints about headlights letting me know this is not a one off issue.

My car has been making noises for a couple years now and i recently found out it's been my brake actuator. due to the actuator not keeping compression the abs brake system isn't working properly and my car rolls right out of the driveway into the road die to poor braking system. i've called toyota and spoken with the dealership they're aware of the safety issue but state my car is outside of the warranty period and want $3400 for repairs than may increase once work has begun.

Have been hearing more noises than usual and then the brake wasn't staying engaged after starting the vehicle and putting it in gear. then all brake warning lights have come on, brake, abs, vsc, and (o), and stayed on. local dealership is saying it's the brake actuator and quoted me $2,900 to fix. really?!

My mother has a 2008 prius that has two serious issues that toyota has acknowledged and even offered to fix under what they call a support program. sounds great right? here's the problem. 1. she never received a letter notifying her of the problem and that it needed to be fixed (and only now that the issues have become her issues is she aware there was a recall and 2. toyota set a time frame to fix these issues which she is now past. again, sounds like they tried to do the right thing? the first issue is an internal leak causing her brake booster to malfunction (which is a toyota issue, not an age or wear and tear issue) and the second issue is that there are no lights on her dash board(combination meter) which means that for a prius, there is no way to tell your speed or gas levels. so take that in. she has a car, that has two major issues, one of which toyota fixed up until dec of 2017 and the other dec of 2016 and are caused by faulty parts and labor by toyota, and they will no longer fix these. the break issue cost $2400 and the dash $800. for an issue that is caused by toyota not the driver or wear and tear and is a serious safety issue. this is the kind of company toyota really is. several years ago my mom received about 14 letters stating she needed to come in and replace her floor matts because they were part of a recall. floor mats! she's received recall issues on her door lock among other things that she promptly had fixed. she took her car to the toyota dealership many times and no one ever mentioned these issues or "support programs". but breaks and dashboards aren't as important as floor mats or door locks. i would love for toyota to explain to me and everyone else, how something they acknowledge is a toyota issue, has an expiration date to get fixed by them.

Tl* the contact owns a 2008 toyota prius. while the vehicle was stationary, the brake actuator developed a leak that caused it to malfunction. the contact stated that the abs also failed and he could not stop the vehicle. the vehicle rolled out of the driveway into the middle of the road. there was no crash due to the failure. bell toyota in peoria, arizona was made aware of the failure, but the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was made aware of the failure. the failure mileage was approximately 147,000.

Headlight will unexpectedly turn off, despite working bulb. this happens without warning when driving. both headlights will work fine for a while and then one will turn off, even though the headlight bulbs are ok. we bought the car used around 2014 and has happened about 4 times a year since then. no other problems with car.

Excessive oil consumption. one quart down every 1500 miles. first noticed jan 5, 2018

Running on a city street at 20 miles, gas pedal would not work, could not decrease or increase mileage. brake pedal worked but went all the way down and finally stopped with a jerk. a constant noise and and has a toyota confirmed brake acctuator problem that toyota refuses to help since extra warrant expired in 12/2017

Purchased 2008 prius in july 2017. the car has 85k miles on it now. recently found out the brake actuators need to be replaced. this was diagnosed at the nearest toyota dealership. they quoted it will be $2200.00 to replace. in addition, the dealer said it was a known safety issue and there was no warrantee available for it. this known safety issue is a very expensive ordeal to handle. this is a toyota structural integrity problem from the information received from the service dept. at the toyota dealer. if there was a extended warrantee out there that termed, they need to re-instate it. toyota needs to correct known safety issues as such, especially when it comes to the braking system.

Abs actuator, vcs failure. unsafe braking issues. toyota dealer is quoting $2500 to fix. found that a warrant extension was added by toyota as this is a known issue, although toyota corp is saying that the warranty extension expired january 1st, 2018. a friend with a 2006 prius has the same warranty extension expiration (letter attached) and where my car is a 2008 model, toyota corp advises that the extension expires at the same time and that there is no other options, that they will not assist with this safety problem.

The hatchback rubber door handle melted even though my car is garaged and not exposed to the sun's heat. also the hatchback latch would not keep the door in an open position. it dropped multiple times hitting my head while getting the groceries. can't remember how many times it hit my head but definitely a safety issue that toyota should address.

Tl* the contact owns a 2008 toyota prius. while driving approximately 30 mph, the instrument cluster failed. also, the vehicle became sluggish and stalled. the vehicle was taken to riley toyota (2105 christy drive, jefferson city, mo 65101) where it was diagnosed that the combination meter failed. the vehicle was currently at the dealer to be repaired. the manufacturer was notified of the failure. the approximate failure mileage was 150,000. the vin was not available.

Brake actuator failed but the warranty expired less than 2 months ago. it's a $2000+ cost to replace the part. i want toyota to pay for it because it was their shoddy assembly that caused it. there are so many complaints on priuschat and whatnot.

Headlight high beams and low beams sporadically stop functioning while driving. toyota has known about this problem for years and failed to remediate problem or notify owners. problem stems from a faulty ballast in headlight assembly.

Speedometer randomly turns off so you can not see how fast you are going. dealer says it is a known warranty issue, but i am no longer covered.

The right headlight goes off while i am riding. i took it to the dealer and they can't find anything wrong. when the light goes out and i turn the light switch off and then turn it back on. the light comes on. then it will go out again after driving for a while. i have been stopped by the police. i explained to the officer and he told me that i had to get it fixed or don't drive the car at night. i can't tell if the light is on or off while driving unless i come up behind another car and see the reflection. i always check the light when i start my trips and it is always on. i heard that one gentleman paid up to $2600.00 for repairs do to the same thing. he still has the problem. can some one please help me and other toyota owners. i can't afford to pay aa dealer to experiment with the car and i can't afford another car at this time. i'm 71 years old and retired on a fixed income.

Both headlamps will intermittently shut off while driving. first started with the right side headlamp turning off then progressively both are now turning off while driving at night creating an unsafe driving situation.

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. the contact stated that the vehicle was experiencing electrical failures, which caused the fuel gauge, odometer, cruise control, and speedometer to malfunction. in addition, the entire instrument panel would black out. there were no warning indicators illuminated. the vehicle was taken to carson city toyota (2590 s carson st, carson city, nv 89701, (775) 882-8211) where it was diagnosed that the speedometer would have to be replaced. the other failures were not diagnosed. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was contacted and did not assist. the failure mileage was 220,000. *tt*jb

Tl* the contact owns a 2008 toyota prius. while driving at night, the headlights failed to operate. kalispell toyota (2845 u.s. 93 s, kalispell, mt 59901, (406) 755-6060) replaced the bulbs, which cost over $600. the contact found a warranty that expired in september of 2018 after the vehicle was bought used on september 28, 2018. the dealer did not address the main issue of a possible computer board malfunction in the vehicle that may have to be replaced at an additional cost. the failure mileage was 71,000.

The right headlight intermittently goes out. sometimes it takes repeated attempts turning off and on to get it back on. both ballasts and hid lamps have been replaced, yet this intermittent problem persists. i know of many complaints but do not know if toyota has an open recall on this important safety issue.

On friday, november 2, 2018. the brake light and lights for abs and vsc came on, i brought it on to a toyota dealership service center. he immediately told me without inspecting it that it would be a very costly repair. i received a phone call after they ran diagnostic test and he confirmed it was the abs actuator that needed replacements at a cost of $2500. and then told me that there was a warranty enhancement but that it expired in june of 2018. the tech also told me that it was no help to call toyota to request repair because they would not be willing to do it. there seems to be so many toyota prius owners who are stuck because toyota is unwilling to repair the issue with the actuator and should do regardless of the limit on warranty or just lift the limit on the warranty. my vehicle only has 100k and i should not have to be paying $2500 to replace a faulty part on the car that toyota is fully aware of.

The headlights turn off randomly as i'm driving. it happens at any speed (even when i'm stopped) and on any road, in any condition, in any weather. sometimes just one, sometimes both at the same time. it makes driving at night both a hassle and hazardous.

I was working as a delivery driver lucky for me i just turned in to a gated community and had to stop. went past gate tried to break and couldn't stop tell i floored the break petal.it took so long to stop if i had been doing 45 mph i'd never stopped in time looks to be the brake actuator failed i see this a lot with the prius. something needs to be done. i could have goten seriously hurt and it's a big safety flaw.

I called toyota about the stalling software recall and my car is not on the list and needs to be added to it. my car does the same thing as the others reported. when i hit a bump on any street or freeway the engine flutters and the slippery when wet light comes on and it hard excellorates forward even when my foot is on the brake and there's really no stopping it.

Inverter cooler water pump failed during normal interstate driving speed (70 mph).

Breaking ceases to work at random intervals. abs light turns on and then off. problem is very random and unexplained. sometimes occurs at a light or when taking off from the park position. seems that a recall should have been issued for this issue.

Starting about a year ago, our prius headlights have begun to fail while driving car. it first started with the left headlight going out occasionally while driving, and now it is happening to both headlights while driving. at first i thought i hadn’t turn headlights on or i had a burned out bulb. now it seems to happen all the time. if i turn headlights off and back on tends to temporarily resolve issue. however, problem seems to be getting worse as time goes by.

Abs lights came on as i started the car and warning signals also. the vehicle was in a parking lot as i was preparing to drive when the signals came on. here they are: brake, (!) abs, vsc.

This is a ridiculously dangerous car. the push button system for starting is extremely dangerous for kids. my wife loads my three year old in the prius with her keys in her bag. the older son who is five likes cars and jumps in the drivers seat at the base of our driveway on the hill where he can start the car since she is within 10-15 feet of the car.

After starting the car i put the car into drive and the transmission pops right into neural after moving forward slightly. i attempted this several times. i was able to use the car by holding the shifting lever manually in the drive position. after i drive the car that way for 10 or 15 min. it works as intended. this happens about every couple months. this happens right after starting car when the car is wanted up or cold.

Toyota has acknowledge an issue with its combination meter in the 2004-2009 toyota prius but has not recalled the issue and instead wants payment to fix the problem. toyota has documented this under the toyota service bulletin t-sb-0172-09: "some 2004-2009 model year prius vehicles may experience an intermittent condition where the combination meter display will not illuminate in cold weather conditions. an updated combination meter ecu is now available to correct this condition" toyota offered a 3 year warrenty window for this but being outside this they want almost $1000 to fix this. this issue stops the speedometer for illuminating which creates a safety hazard when gauging the correct speed for the road and conditions.

Tl* the contact owns a 2008 toyota prius. while driving various speeds, the instrument panel failed to illuminate. the contact also stated that the rear hatch button melted. the vehicle was taken to south dade toyota (29330 s dixie hwy, homestead, fl 33033, (786) 465-7908) where it was diagnosed that the wire connections were disconnected. the contact was also informed that the rear hatch button was a manufacturer defect and needed to be replaced. the vehicle was repaired. the manufacturer was notified of the failures and informed the contact that the vehicle was not included in a recall. the approximate failure mileage was 75,000.

When driving at night, headlights will go out on their own, left, right, or both at same time. have to turn light switch off and on till they come back on. driving on road or highway. smooth road. so now i can't drive after dark.

Both headlights in the front of my car have burnt out multiple times and it happened again today. one first went out in 2010 when the car had 35k miles on it and each light has been replaced at least twice since then each time costing $300-400. most recently the replacement lights have not even lasted six months. this is not only expensive and a major annoyance but also a safety hazard when driving at night. i feel that toyota should provide a proper fix for this problem and compensate me for the multiple times i have needed to pay for the repairs.

There is a recall on break actuator failing. when i called toyota and local dealership they said that i am out of the extended warranty period. when i was in the dealership last year they said without the warning lights on they can’t fix the issue. the lights came on yesterday, the problem starts when the mileage is high, my car has just 78000 miles. the dealership and toyota will not fix the problem. please help me in this regards as this is a safety concern on my car.

I noticed a buzzing sound from my engine compartment a couple of days ago. the buzzing sound occurs every 15 seconds and last for around 4 seconds. after doing research i found this is the sound of the abs brake actuator on the verge of failing. i also discovered that 1.5 years ago toyota sent a letter to all 2004-2009 prius owners about this issue and offered to replace for free until dec 31st 2017 or 10 years/150,000 miles after. i never got this letter and my prius has 163,000 miles. i am attaching the zg-1 letter that was suppose to be sent to all 2004-2009 prius owners. i feel that a recall should be issued regardless of mileage as this is a brake safety issue. their letter confirms they know of the problem but only gave 1.5 years to fix which is unfair to 2008-2009 owners whose cars have not been around long enough for this to happen yet.

Headlights intermittently go out when driving at night. the vehicle is in motion on an interstate or even a 2 way highway. i am able to use light switch to turn off and turn on again, but will happen again while driving. have not repaired as of yet, but have read about several issues of this sort with this model. have stopped driving at night because of these issues. this has been getting worse every time i drive this vehicle. started with 1 headlight, now it is both.

I have three major problems with my 2008 prius. #1 the engine intermittently, will not turn off when parking the car. #2 the dash lights also intermittently will not come on, affecting my ability to see how fast i am going on the highway or streets, it also prevents me from seeing how much gas is left in the tank. #3 the outside air and air conditioner, also will not work, intermittently.

Tl* the contact owns a 2008 toyota prius. while driving 60 mph, the rear window shattered while the rear defroster was in the on position. the rear defroster indicator illuminated. the contacted called toyota of poway (13631 poway rd, poway, ca 92064) and was advised to schedule a service appointment. the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. the manufacturer was not notified. the failure mileage was approximately 55,000.

Car runs but dashboard lights fail to illuminate when it is cold outside. this is a widespread problem with 2004-2009 2nd gen prius as evidenced by pervasive internet comments by owners experiencing this problem. the problem is toyota used an overly weak capacitor for a combination meter circuit so when it is cold insufficient electricity is available to illuminate critical-safety-related dashboard lights, including the speedometer. toyota recognized the issue and issued a warranty extension for this exact problem but limited it to vehicles within 9 years of date of first use. the problem apparently tends to emerge only after 8 or 9 years so many vehicle owners discover the problem is not covered. owners face the choice of a costly repair at their own expense or driving without a speedometer or backup camera or critical, safety-related warning lights. toyota should be required to fix this hazardous condition for all vehicle that develop this problem, especially since it is due to a recognized, widespread deficiency in the car's electronic circuitry.

The electronic dashboard combination meter (speedometer, fuel gauge, and odometer) is defective and intermittently fails to turn on. the dashboard is blank. we have no ability to discern vehicle speed, fuel level, or number of miles driven. typically, the display will not turn on when the ignition is started. after several miles of driving, the combination meter eventually turns on. the problem seems to have become worse now that the weather is cold, with the combination meter taking far longer to turn on -- after 10-12 miles of driving. toyota has issued a tsb on the defect and has extended the warranty for this defective part, but our vehicle falls a few months outside the extended warranty period. don wood toyota of athens, oh and toyota motor sales usa refuse to replace the defective part under warranty. a little internet research indicates that this is a common defect in certain model year prius.

My car had performed perfectly for the first 100k miles. by 112k miles the oil was very low, no oil on the dip stick when i went in to have the oil change. yet there was no low oil light or engine light to warn me. this was a complete surprise to me since that had never happened before and the usage had been at a normal rate up until then. i began looking for leaks, etc with no evidence of that. the next service it was again extremely low. i now know that i must add about a quart every 1000 miles to keep up with its demand. the dealer and other mechanics all tell me the only solution is a new engine. some suggest a used or rebuilt one though they are still many thousands of dollars. this problem, they say, will only get worse, clogging the spark plugs and potentially having an incident of engine stalling or shutting totally down while driving. this is a safety issue that toyota should be fixing. i paid $1500 for an extended warranty for the first 100k miles with no problems, and now, it seems, i am stuck with a true lemon! this car should be listed with the others that toyota has acknowledged have engine defects because it has the same problem. i will never by another toyota unless they warranty this issue. the word is getting out. they do not take care of their defect problems. so much for the very undeserved reputation of many toyota models!

The headlights go dim and /or shut off as i am driving. this problem usually starts with the right headlight shutting off and sometimes both will go dim or shut off completely. both lights work initially on startup and shine bright at first but immediately dim to a lower level and then as i drive they will dim or the right light will turn off or sometimes both turn off all together. they will come back on if i turn off and back on the headlight switch.

Tl* the contact owns a 2008 toyota prius. while stationary and driving various speeds, all of the instrument panel indicators failed to illuminate. south dade toyota in homestead, florida was made aware of the failure and stated that it was a factory defect. the manufacturer was made aware of the failure and stated that there was no recall. the contact was referred to nhtsa. the failure mileage was 75,000.

Two problems 1. in cold or cooler weather, my dash does not display. after sometimes 1 hour, it will suddenly turn on. also, when the dash does not display the car does not turn off, unless i hold the start button for a long time. also the rear view camera does not work. also my smart key does not start the car, unless inserted. 2. sometimes my headlights and running lights do not work. it always happens in an alternating manner. if my front right head light is not working, then my rear left running light is not working or vice a versa. this problem also appears and goes away at random intervals. i have checked and there was a recall for the combination meter, but when i called toyota customer experience center, they told me that the recall expired. i was not informed of the recall and even when i searched on line, no recalls show up. what do i do? can i still have toyota fix this problem? the lighting issue seems to be related to a faulty hid computer. again, no recall shows up, can i get this fixed? i have been pulled over one time by police, and am afraid of driving at night because of this problem. this has been ongoing, intermittently, since last winter.

Had a blown right side headlight. i had it replaced and now headlight comes on and turns off and sometimes stays off. only one dose it.

The passenger headlight turned off and refused to go on so i removed it and put it back. it worked for a month longer, then blew up. i just put in a brand new bulb which turns on, then immediately goes out. after checking online, this appears to be an ongoing issue which toyota hasn't addressed. i don't know what to do.

For over a year now we have had major issues with our prius headlights going out while driving at night on freeway, local streets and sitting parked. you can turn the lights off and back on and the lights will work again. the lights at this point will go out about every other minute or two. this is a serious and dangerous problem that needs to be recalled by toyota.

Toyota prius (2008) - fire after minor accident (battery fire) after a fairly standard rear end collision (25-30 mph), my toyota prius caught fire and burst into flames. i was stopped at a red light on a city street in chicago, il when the accident occurred, my vehicle was not in motion. within minutes of impact (to right rear of car), the responding police officer saw fire under the car (began in rear) and the fire dept was called. the fire travelled to the front of the car and the car has been deemed a total loss. the police and tow company believe this was caused by the prius battery and these cars are very unsafe to be on the road with this condition. there has been no related recall on this vehicle, but it's incredibly unsafe and i'm very happy i was not traveling with my children at time of accident. i appreciate you taking time to review this case and taking steps to ensure toyota addresses the issues with the prius vehicles. i've attached the police report and photos of the car fire (i also have video of the fire, but the file is too large to attach on this submission - available upon request). no major injuries - i experienced soreness / headaches from impact/whiplash and saw my doctor following accident (no major injury). please review and let me know if i can provide anything else / answer any questions. thank you in advance! [xxx] (“parts of this document have been redacted to protect personally identifiable information pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).”)*jb

The drivers side headlight will go out while driving the car. this happens without warning and with no apparent resaon. toyota fixed the problem under warranty in 2009, however the problem is still happening. this is a true safety defect with this car!! toyota knows about it but has not offered to fixed the problem beyond their warranty extension of five years and 60k miles. i must say it's quite uncomfortable to be driving at night on ther highway and other un-lit roads and have one of your headlights go out. this safety defect is expensive to fix. $800.00 to $2400.00. depending on how may defective parts need to be replaced!! i contacted the local toyota dealer and the national toyota customer service center. i opened a case with them (171-0041862). however toyota did not offere to fix the safety defect on my car.

Replaced the headlight, after a few months the new headlight shuts itself off. have to turn the headlights off and back on to get the headlight to come back on. this happens while driving and you never know when the light shuts it's self off.

Tl* the contact owns a 2008 toyota prius. upon attempting to shut off the vehicle, it failed to shut off. additionally, the speedometer display failed to appear. the vehicle was taken to heritage toyota (1620 shelburne rd, south burlington, vt 05403) where it was diagnosed that the combination meter failed and needed to be replaced. the vehicle was repaired. the manufacturer was made aware of the failure and stated that they would not assist. the approximate failure mileage was 200,000.

Right front light began failing sometimes recently, apparent at night, occasional. left front light quit for awhile yesterday, then relit and worked for awhile. both are unreliable and replacement is complicated, expensive, and does not work often it appears. we will try replacement of bulbs, it is unreliable and headlights are required at night to work, always! pure scam it seems, by toyota and us governance, both for sale, so sad. let us buyers beware.

I had the dealer check driver side light, said it was good. after very recently purchasing my pre-owned prius i did a night test drive. the driver side headlight would dim then go out. during a nighttime emergency, all the lights went out while traveling a back country road, i flipped the switch and they came back on, only to go off again while traveling the highway, flipped switch again to turn on again. upon investigating the problem, i found this is an ongoing problem. why is there no recall??????? this is extremely dangerous and scary!!!!!!!! this is happening every time headlights are on and in motion!!!!!!!! recall now!!!!!!!

I am writing to you about my 2008 toyota prius. ..the dashboard will go completely out while driving on the hwy when this happens you have no complete dashboard and the ignition will not operate. i have reached out to toyota and was told my 9 year warranty is out of date and this my problem. ..very unsafe component to have fail while driving.

The headlights flicker all the time - then both will automatically, randomly turn off during night driving...extremely dangerous

My display has gone black multiple times. start the car and there is no display, no rear camera.... a major safety concern i have found out through the toyota forum. so i have to go to the back unplug something from my battery - or my wife or daughter. not safe by any means!! no recall for this fmvss issue. unacceptable.

The hid headlights go out while driving every couple of months and need to be replaced. this is a known issue to toyota who has made no attempt to fix it. consumers are being told by dealers that they need a new hid computer at their expense ($1800). it is dangerous to be driving at night and have your headlights go out! the only "fix" besides spending a ton of money on the new computer is to replace the bulbs every 3 months, which is crazy.

I have replaced my headlights twice and they still will go out. they switch from passenger to drivers side headlights going out. they go out while driving on the highway which is extremely dangerous. i have spent over $400 trying to fix this safety problem with no solution so far.

I was driving down the interstate at 11:30 going 70mph when both of my headlights shut off. i was able to flick the switch off and on again and they came back. in the last two weeks the drivers side light has intermittently been shutting off but this is the first time i've had an issue with both simultaneously.

The headlights have started to randomly turn off -- sometimes just one or the other, other times both turn off at the same time, requiring that i turn them on again manually. this has happened a few times in the past week on the interstate, along a rural stretch with a 70mph speed limit in maine.

Car suddenly loses power and hazarde warning,brkaes,abs lights come on. took to dealer,they charged $600 and did not repair the problem. the vehicle was in motion going 45 mph.

One head light fades out during use. turning the head lights off and on again fixes the issue short term.

I was impacted directly from the side, while in motion on a city street heading straight. i slightly swerved to the right. the other driver ran a stop sign from a cross street. the impact was hard enough to total the vehicle, and to bounce my head against the driver's side window, push me into a curb on the opposite side and cross traffic. the damage was at the majority toward the rear door, but impacted the center of the car and driver door enough where it was pushed an 1-inch and the driver door could not be opened. firefighters at the scene were concerned that the curtain airbags did not deploy. i am also concerned. i would like to know if this is a defect that could involve other cars and other people in an accident.

When i put the car in reverse or drive, it pops back into neutral - even when the car is driving down the road. it doesn't happen consistently. for example, i drove it to the store and it was fine. when i came out of the store to drive home, it had the issue all the way home. i had to hold the gear shifter in drive the entire time to make it home or it would go into neutral by itself. i didn't have a car crash but this could have easily caused one if i wasn't paying close attention to it.

My hid headlights are acting crazy. i start my car and pull out after about 10 mins my passenger headlight will just go out. i can turn my headlights off by the switch and back on and it will come back on. it scares me though that both might go out one night and not come back on. i was actually pulled over tonight by the police because of this issue with the headlights.

Same issue as described here http://www.toyotaproblems.com/trends/prius-headlights/ this should be recalled. it is extremely dangerous to have headlights issues that were known to be there since factory manufacturing. i am puzzled a recall was never done. i first replaced the headlights last week. they are new! the headlights work but they turn off within a minute. if i turn headlights off and on, they turn on and go off within a minute again. this is very dangerous if it happens at night time and you drive fast on the freeway (i live in la, so i am always on the freeway). and it costed about $800 to repair.

While driving the vehicle at night, the driver's side headlight goes off. the lights have to be turned on and off repeatedly to keep the headlight lit.

Tl* the contact owns a 2008 toyota prius. the contact stated that the instrument cluster failed to function and the warning indicators did not illuminate. the failure occurred randomly more than five times since the contact purchased the vehicle. the dealer was notified of the failure, inspected the vehicle, and was not able to replicate and diagnose the failure. the manufacturer was notified of the failure. the contact was to check to determine if they could provide further testing to diagnose the failure. the vin and failure mileage were not available.

Trunk/hatch release--rubber piece, has gummed up for the second tim. it was replaced once by a recall--now what?

Both headlights come on when turned on, however after an undetermined amount of time (the time frame varies) the drivers side hid light turns off. i am able to temporarily correct the problem by turning the lights off and then back on. this, however, is a huge safety issue, as i am unable to see the roadway during the time the lights are off (i drive on county roads where there are no street lights). i have replaced the bulb, however that did not fix the problem.

While driving down a two lane highway at 55mph in a very remote and dark location, both headlights failed. i was able to avoid what would likely have been a fatal collision only because i was on a straight portion of the road at the time - had this happened a few seconds earlier, i'd have been taking a very sharp curve at speed and would likely have driven off the road before i could react. i was able to pull over and toggle the switch to reactivate the lights, but i was in an area so remote that calling for a road service was not possible, so i had to drive the vehicle another 35 miles to reach my home. i was told by the dealer that it was likely a "fluke" - but... both headlights failed, simultaneously, a second time, a few weeks later. toyota wants to replace the bulbs but will not guarantee that they will not fail, simultaneously, again. i've since learned that this has happened to many prius owners and that nhtsa investigation determined that this problem is "not serious" because simultaneous failure of both headlights is "rare" - but this very thing has happened twice in so many months to my vehicle. the problem is in fact so common that there was a class action lawsuit. it is not possible to safely or legally drive a vehicle that has potentially failing headlights (that the dealer will not guarantee can be fixed), leaving me with a basically useless car that i cannot in good conscience resell to another motorist. really, it is only a matter of time until this known issue results in a fatality.

Driving at night the head lights went out, could have been killed. had to turn headlights on and off for them to work. took car to dealer, said it might cost 1,000s of dollars to figure out what is wrong. sounds like a recall, now i can't drive my car at night!!! : (

The rubber rear hatch door release button on my 2008 toyota prius started to degrade and become sticky in hot summer weather. i originally thought that the latch was sticky and greasy because dealership service people had opened the car with greasy hands, but then the latch button cover became stiff and difficult to press a few months later, when the weather turned cold. this became a real safety hazard when i loaded the car completely full of my belongings on a cold night to move cross-country the next morning, and the door latch was so stiff and brittle from the cold that it cracked and broke, but the hatch wouldn't open. my chains, spare tire, tools, jumper cables, etc. were all stuffed back there, completely unreachable from the front because the car was full (one of the items was a bed frame, which probably could not be removed without opening the rear hatch). needless to say, i didn't feel very comfortable starting a 2-day cross-country drive on winter roads the next morning, without access to my emergency equipment. eventually, the latch button started working again, but it remains cracked, hard in the cold, and gooey in the summer. i am hoping to replace this part as soon as i am able to spend the $300–500 that the dealership charges for this repair. this latch button is clearly defective and was tested for neither cold (<40ºf) nor warm (>80ºf) weather.

What's wrong with toyota and nhtsa? today in hot weather with the air conditioner on my 2008 prius once again suddenly dropped itself out of drive into neutral without warning and in the middle of the highway. one has to hold the shifter in drive to get out ofeveryone's way. if this isn't a life-threatening safety hazard then i don't know what is. unless you want a few folks to die before anything gets done about this. the internet and prius forums document this is not an isolated defect. the dealer throws up its hands— not our problem!!

One light randomly went off. then as we were driving (at night) both front and back lights went off, both high and low beams. only the flashers and fog lights worked. we called for a tow ($120) and as they were unloading the car at home, the lights came back on again. so it's not a bulb, not a fuse. i found out online that this is a known problem.

I have had to replace 6 headlamps on this vehicle. the first two failures were covered under warranty but the problem persists. i now have had to replace 4 other lamps at a cost of about $330 for each lamp. toyota has not responded. there are many complaints from other prius owners having the same issue.

While driving, high intensity headlights are unreliable - each side randomly turns off. this is a dangerous issue.

Abs actuator leak . is not only my car

Tl* the contact owns a 2008 toyota prius. while driving approximately 50 mph, the headlights failed without warning. the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the headlights needed to be replaced. the vehicle was repaired; however, the failure recurred. the manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. the vin and failure mileage were unknown.

The rear latch assembly is held in place by plastic bolts. over time, the plastic distingrates. when attempting to open the rear latch of the parked car, the plastic cracked and the assembly came loose.

Warning lights came on when i started it- after purchasing the car used (brake light, abs, vsc, and ! lights). would occur intermittently every other day. i replaced the 12v battery. took it to the dealership- said they had not idea and 'recalibrated' it. the light came on the next day. returned to the dealership and now we are being told it's the 'brake actuator' and it's a very well known issue in the generation 2 prius'. see attached picture for warning lights.

Front left light will randomly turn off. sometimes it occurs after making a turn. light will sometimes come back on if you turn them off, then turn them back on.

Took my prius into the dealer today for service. later, the writer called to tell me that the mechanic had found a build-up of link and dirt that might lead up an overheating or other issues with the battery pack beneath the rear seat. i paid approximately $350 to have the battery fan serviced and later discovered that this issue is under investigation by the fhtsa. i can provide a copy of the now-paid service bill.

The hatchback latch has a rubber cover which has been deteriorating for several years. there are 100s of complaints on the internet about it. now, the latch pressure plate fails to allow me to open hatch and the nearby (plastic?) part is broken--similar to many others on web. dealer quotes a $540 cost to repair the latch and plate.

This is the intermittent headlight issue for 2008 toyota prius' a front headlight will go out, and if you turn off an on the lights, they both come back on. this first happened to me a few months back. the only suggestion to fix this is from toyota which is to take the car to a dealer and for $550 they take off the bumper (do some trick), and put in new bulbs. instead, i spent $180 for 2 new bulbs, and replaced them myself (without taking off the bumper and doing the trick), and it worked for 2 weeks before 1 or the other bulb intermittently goes off. at least they are brighter now, though this is 1) a safety issue as the lights act unpredictably, and 2) replacing headlights is on the order of changing a tire or windshield wipers. it's like changing a light bulb, no?! the real issue is the ballasts which as i understand it regulate the lights. these are not easy (for me) to fix. this only seems to happen on some cars, and i think that toyota should replace the ballasts when this comes up. all the back and forth has left me with not great headlights (going off randomly) for 2 months now while i've been trying to figure this out. i hardly see why i should pay $550 at a dealer, when i'm not even sure that will fix the issue. i have requested toyota (national) should fix the issue whatever it is (not have me keep going back for estimates and submitting them). thank you. *tr

Front left headlight suddenly goes out while driving or stationary but will come back on once i turn headlights off then on again. happens constantly - at least 2-3 times per hour while i'm driving. i have to constant turn my lights off then on again to get the headlight to come back on. nothing is wrong with the bulb - it is not burned out or dim - the whole headlight just turns off. this problem has been on-going since i purchased the car in june of 2015 and happens every time i drive it during the night. it is extremely dangerous - what if my other headlight goes out, too?

I've got a 2008 prius. one of the headlights keeps going out. i can't really tell when or how it goes out since i can't see it. i'll notice it when i see the reflection in the back of another car. if i turn the bright lights on and off it has no effect, but when i turn them all the way off and back on the light comes back. sometimes on long trips it will stay on the whole time, sometimes it won't. sometimes on short trips it will go out, sometimes it won't. it is not an event i can make happen.

Headlights are malfunctioning while i am driving making it extremely dangerous .. i live in a canyon and drive alot at night and have almost had some extreamly deadly collisions due to this issue not only that but have spent a insane amount of money in court fees and fix it tickets

Headlights go completely out or the right headlight goes out...both situations are randomly occurring. i was driving on the beach line hwy. in florida, at night, on my way to the orlando airpirt, when my headlights went completely out. the beach lineis a 2 lane hwy. with no center barrier or median, no exterior lighting, and cars coming from the opposite direction going 60+ mph. needless to say, it was a "white knuckle" experience. i thought that there was only something wrong with my car, but when i recently researched thus problem, i became aware that it effects 2006-2009 prius's. why hasn't there been a forced recall on toyota to fix this serious safety issue? it needs to be addressed!

Driving down a highway at 10:30pm and my headlights just failed. both of them off! no warning, just black. i turned off the light switch and back on, they lite up again bright for about 2seconds then dimmed a little and 30 seconds later, off again. this continued for about then minutes; off, bright, dim, off, etc...then only one light stayed on for the remainder of my 20 mile drive home. thank goodness it was a relatively straight road and not very busy but there are no street lights or bill boards on this road so when the lights went out...it was very dark.

Headlight went out on highway at 65 mph at night .was very dark and created a blind spot on the left side of the car. i now find that toyota knew about this and tells me to just turn the lights off and on and the headlight will come back on, thats fun at 60-70 mph. very dangerous.

Passenger side airbag light shows off when passenger is riding in passenger seat. precision toyota told me the weight limit is 80 pounds to turn on the airbag. my wife is between 90 and 95 pounds and sometimes the airbag will say on and other times it will say off. i had a 2015 prius v for the last week and it has the same problem with the passenger airbag not turning on when my wife is present. this is a safety issue, because if something was to happen, then the passenger will be dead because the airbag did not work. when i went to pick up the car, one of the manager told me the airbag will not be active until the passenger is 150 pounds or more. two people in the same dealership gave me different number for when the airbag will actually work and save the passengers life. i believe this is a design problem that has been around since 2008 and is still the same in the 2015 prius v model that i had this past week. please review and let me know what i can do to help you to get toyota to fix this design problem with the passenger side airbag not being turned on when somebody is in the passenger seat. thanks [xxx], email: [xxx] cell phone [xxx]. every time we drive around town, passenger airbag will be on sometimes and off other times. this is always happening when the vehicle is in motion on city streets and highways. this has been happening for years. toyota wanted $ 129.00 to test. they did test and said that it is working per design. this design needs to be changed. information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6). *tr

Right headlight flickers and intermittently turns off and on. about a week ago both headlights turned off while driving. this has happened 2x in the past week and half. luckily we turn them off then on and they have come back on each time. we have had the right headlight fixed several other times also. i just heard about the issues that other people have had which is why i am just now pursuing this.

While driving on the highway at night, the left headlight will go out. i turn the headlight switch off and back on and the left headlight comes on again. however, within a few minutes it goes out again. this happens repeatedly. one time both headlights went off at the same time. i'm reporting this because it is an issue that many prius driver's have had so seems to be a design problem. this issue has occurred many times and seems to be a permanent problem now.

The hid headlights on my 2008 toyota prius touring model have numerous critical safety problems. the headlights go out completely and randomly at any time while driving. i have been thrown into complete blackness on windy country roads. i have had several vehicles swerve to avoid me as i have swerved to avoid cars, trees, curbs, poles etc. furthermore, the lights are very dim causing further driving difficulty and danger with even worse performance in inclement weather. i have become very anxious and the lights going on and off distract and worry other drivers. it is so bad that i risk my life by driving the car at night.

When driving home on highway just after dark, both headlights went out simultaneously without driver interaction. headlight switch was still on, untouched. visibility outward as well as other vehicles seeing me (black prius at night without lights) severely impaired, could easily have caused an accident. pulled over and turned headlight switch off, then back on; lights came on bright and immediately dimmed, apparently normal. checked online and found a number of similar (escalating) occurrences by others, without a recall yet by toyota. after pulling over and stopping

This month, when leaving for a trip, i noticed the passenger side headlamp was out. i planned on replacing it when i returned. upon returning, the headlamp has mysteriously come back on. i researched intermittent headlamp problems with my car and found out many others have had the same issue. i'm now not sure if the problem is the headlamp or some circuit.

The headlights on my 2008 toyota prius turn off sporadically sometimes one sometimes both very dangerous at night because they both turned off so i need to get ahold of somebody and see what i need to do to get this problem solved my name is [xxx] and the phone number to reach me at is [xxx]. the lights turn off in all weather on country roads of the free way. information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6). *tr

The latch handle on the hatchback has "melted" for lack of a better word. the handle has become gooey and leaves a black residue on my fingers every time i open the hatchback. because of this problem, the handle is harder to use, making it more trying to open the trunk.

Rear switch that allows lift gate to be open, fails. rubber breaks down and becomes like glue, making it hard for individual opening lift gate to remove hand as normally expected, inducing strain on individual back and creating unexpected twisting motion causing injury and damaging trim on car. toyota has issued recall in japan but not us [https://toyota.jp/recall/kaisyu/121107.html] [not sure of exact date, this is second report toyota claim 1512-2317-10]

Constant headlight bulb replacement - serious safety issue - while driving on the highway a headlight bulb will go out; first on one side then the other side. bulb replacement has occurred every couple of months for several years now. what happens if both headlights go out at the same time??? i loose time from work to have the replacements done. why has there been no recall?

I was driving my prius up mauna kea summit access road on the big island (hawaii) today when the power stalled. i was already at the visitor center (elv. 9,000 ft) so i steered off the road, sat for awhile, then started up the car. it started up but the power seemed off and on. i turned around and headed down the mountain. by the time i got to the bottom of the access road, i had no power and a red triangle light with an exclamation mark came on. of course i was out in the middle of nowhere, 40 miles from any homes, so i coasted 43 miles down the mountain until i reached hilo town and steered into a gas station. i asked the owner if i could leave the prius there while i called a tow truck. she said i had to move my prius into a parking stall. i thought maybe we could push it into the stall. i tried starting the car and the power came on, just like that. but the red triangle light with exclamation mark didn't go away. i managed to drive home, which was only a few miles away. the prius seems to be driving fine now, with the exception of the red triangle light, but i know something is wrong.

Started to have issues with right headlight on 2008 prius starting in 2013 but was not aware of the class action lawsuit. finally replaced the bulb 10/14 and spent $200 out of pocket to replace bulbs. i'm frustrated because the same headlight went out just nine months later!

Driver side head light turns on, then flickers and then goes out . i have been stopped twice. replaced relay ($75.00) no differance . .this happens when starting the car before even putting in gear

The headlights on my 2008 toyota prius are totally unreliable, have been replaced once, and now i find there was a class action lawsuit - and there should be one again. the dealer does not know what to do. they do not know if the bulbs or the headlight mechanism is flawed. the lights flicker, go out (both or each) unexpectedly, and while driving - this is terrifying. turns out it is a well known problem and nhtsa has not addressed it fully. most recent was at the dealer 12/17/2015, flickering, going out, and not properly going to brights. the bulbs cost $188/each. ridiculous.

Hit - t-boned. drivers side - front quarter panel -knocked out- car totaled- four air bags in front- not one went off- want to know why ???? car was in motion. .....updated12/07/15*bf; updated 04/27/18*jb *tr

The headlights intermittently, and without warning, go out. this happens every time the lights are turned on. by quickly turning the lights off and then back on, they have thus-far turned back on. they will remain on for up to ten minutes. the turning off happens whether the car is moving ot not.

Bought the car in late october and the left front headlight has gone out twice.

Yokahama avid tire(185-65-rl15, ccly 84p 2013x3 ,84p 3613x1) on the front passenger side blew out on aug. 12, 2015 forcing me onto the shoulder. it was 4;00 pm and the road was crowded. if the left tire had blown out there would have been a major accident. i immediately replaced the tire with another brand. and since i have no storage, the tire dealer disposed of the tire. on august 20, i had to replace the rear passenger tire because i noticed a quarter sized bubble on the sidewall. i have a photo of that bubble and copies of the replacement tire bills. all four tires were installed 12/19/2013 at the auto dealer. at that time the car had 32,228 miles. when the first tire blew the speedometer read 38,992 miles ( 6,644 miles), the second tire was replaced after being driven another 50 miles with a different brand and also disposed of. the remaining yokahama tires were placed on the rear of the vehicle. i spoke with a yokahama representative who said i needed the tires to proceed with an investigation. he said there was nothing else i could do.. since this tire defect could have had disasterous consequences. i would like an investigation and information regarding the safety of yokahama tires. any action you can take on behalf of myself and other motorists would be appreciated.any further information including the photo and receipts i will be pleased to share with you at your request. looking forward to your response.

Left headlight goes out while setting still and while driving. on a ten mile trip the light will go out 6 - 10 times. turning the light off and back on makes the light to burn again. i have been stopped by the police for this. when i stop i ,turn the headlamps off, when they tell me why i was pulled over for i play dumb and they instruct me to turn on my lights and dim them or put on high beam. they are left scratching there head and i'm on my way. this happens every time the vehicle is driven at night. also happens setting still.

My lights have been going off intermittently for a few months now. i went to the dealership for a 12 v battery issue and a couple of recall items, including the hybrid cooling recall issue and the dealer thought this might fix the issue but it has not. what happens is that at any given moment, each and every day/night, when i am driving one or the other headlight will go out. occasionally both will go out. the only way this is remedied is when i toggle the light switch off and on. sometimes it takes 2-3 toggles to get the problem to resolve, the suddenly and again, and again the one or the other lights go out. apparently this is an issue with toyota prius's of my year. this happens every time i drive and there is no rhyme or reason. i happens when i am driving. i have tested it to see if happen over bumps and it does not specifically--it just happens when i am driving and several times over. i am not a mechanic though you don't have to be one to see that this kind of issue is not the bulb, because when the bulbs are working they shine brightly. it has to be some other issue with the functioning of the lighting system. this happens on city streets, on highways and when stationary. it happens when i am going straight and turning. it happens and any and all speeds.

Tl* the contact owns a 2008 toyota prius. the contact stated that the passenger side headlight failed. the vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that moisture entered the headlight and affected the headlight concealment devices. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. the failure mileage was 50,000.

About two years ago, one of my headlights began to cut out without warning. now, starting 2 months ago, both of my headlights stop working at the same time without warning, i have had 2 near-misses because of this issue, toyota, my car manufacturer, refuses to do anything to fix this highly dangerous issue, even though over 200,000 prius owners have reported the problem. who knows how many other owners out there who have not reported anything?!

On 10-28-15, i was driving at a very low speed in a parking lot. as i attempted to turn left to park, i heard a loud crack sound in the steering wheel. the steering wheel became extremely loose and know longer could control the motion of the wheels. i could move forward and backwards but all steering control failed. thank god i was in a parking lot! i immediately called toyota and had the car towed there. they could not pinpoint the cause but said i needed a rack and pinion steering wheel shaft replacement, spiral cable, and steering shaft. repair cost total is $2298.77. my car is well maintained and has never been in an accident. i'm up to date on recalls so this was very upsetting to me.....updated 12/30/15 *bf*dt *tp *js

Headlights intermittently flash off with no warning. can not be repaired. sometimes both flip off at same time. one goes out (or both) appr. every 5-10 minutes of driving, or while car is stationary with lights on.

Known formally as high-intensity discharge (hid) lights, they either work intermittently – making nighttime driving a lot more exciting – or fail entirely......updated 12/03/15 *bf updated 11/17/17*js

Trunk latch handle is a sticky mess. leaves black marks on fingers. fix this problem toyota!

While driving in the early morning before sunrise, several times, the headlights turned off suddenly. frightening while on the highway. luckily the lights turned back on. this happened at least 5 different times.

The latch handle on the hatchback has disintegrated. it is getting harder to open hatchback.

I have 2008 toyota prius it has hid bulb assembly, both head lights are going off randomly, and it starts working again if we turn off switch & turn on again, but we dont know when it goes off, yesterday only police issue the ticket for same problem, i changed the hid bulb 4-5 times but still not found any solution,

I purchased my prius in 2008. approximately 3 years after purchase, i noticed that the handle on the back hatch had started to get really soft in hot weather and freeze up a little in cold weather. at first it was just a nuisance as it sometimes left a black sticky substance on my hands; however, over time it became progressively worse and the hatch became harder to open. i cannot open it at all now (sept. 2015), leaving me without access to the spare tire, the battery, snow shovel, or my accident kit (flares, blanket, etc). my back light also keeps going off then coming back (i got a ticket for it) but i cannot get to the light fixture because i cannot open the trunk. this is therefore a safety hazard and toyota should fix it. i am told that they have admitted liability and fixed this problem for free in japan. if that is true, it should be extended to the us! lack of access to battery and spare tire and the problem with the rear light pose a serious safety issue.

Headlights short out intermittently. both headlights have gone out, the left has gone out, the right has gone out. if i turn off the lights and flip them back on, they occassionally both come back on, or one comes back on or neither come back on. this is extremely dangerous at night. it has to be electrical. there's no way it's the bulbs, i've owned the car for a year and have blown through many bulbs already. this is getting expensive besides dangerous. this happens on bumpy roads, smooth roads, turning, going straight. i haven't found a certain thing that makes them turn off. this has been happening for a long time, but i can only choose one date below.

I was traveling northbound on the saw mill river parkway. exited on the northbound taconic state parkway ramp. after crossing the taconic state parkwat overpass. my 2008 toyota prius (without any input from my part) turned left and accelerated onto the grassy area. even though made multiple attempts at correcting my direction by turning the car to the right and to stop the car, neither the steering inputs or engaging the brakes had any effect on the vehicle. after traveling almost the entire width of the grassy area, the car was caught by a branch on the ground, just before the driver side of the car would have slammed into a tree. i then proceeded to turn the car off. when i turn the car back on, everything was back to normal. there was no error message from the ecu during or after the incident.

The latch handle on the hatchback has disintegrated. the handle has become gooey and leaves a black residue on my fingers every time i open the hatchback. because of this problem, the handle is harder to use, making it difficult to open the trunk. replacement part number is 84905-47010.

Headlights flicker, dim, and eventually go out altogether while driving. i have replaced the 12v battery and it still occurs. concerned for safety of myself and my family.

Initially the passenger side headlight began to flicker. then it went out. when i turned the lights off and on again it came back on. since then completely randomly one light or the other, but more commonly the passneger side will flicker and dim, and then later go out. turning the lights off and back on will usually restore the light but more than half the time only to a dimmed or flickering condition. sometimes both lights just go out randomly and without warning.

On a warm/hot day the vehicle drops suddenly itself out of drive or reverse. this can happen from being parked or crucially while one is driving. usually the air conditioner is on. you can be driving down a city street or highway when the car drops itself out of gear,” very dangerous and scary. one has to hold the shift mechanism in drive continuously to avoid an accident. the internet documents this exact defect in other 2008 prius'. visits to the dealer are met with shrugged shoulders.

We purchased our prius in 2008. approximately 3 years after purchase, we noticed that the handle on the back hatch started to melt. at first it was just a nuisance as it left a black goo on your hands. as time passed it became progressively worse and the hatch became harder to open due to the melted handle. last week (aug. 2015) our 12 volt battery died over night and we couldn't start the car or get anything to work. of course, we could not open the back hatch at all to access the battery. we called a tow service to tow our car to the local dealer. we were able to jump the car and drive to the dealer. the service technician said that he had never herd of this happening. it was determined that the melted handle shorted out the wiring for the rear light and drained the battery overnight. after a little research< we found that this is not a localized problem but is pretty common on 2007 and 2008 prius'. toyota is not willing to fix ts own design flaw and we are out $250. this poses a serious safety issue if there is a flat tire or dead battery and we are unable to open the back hatch.

Vehicle was off and in park. vehicle was started and shifted into drive. in less then 1 second, vehicle slipped out of drive and into neutral as described in the technical service bulletin issued by toyota (t-sb-0142-11). problem as reoccurred multiple times since, including while driving at speeds above 45 mph.

I was hit in the rear end which shoved me into the vehicle in front of me 7/31/2015. air bags did not deploy.

Tl* the contact owns a 2008 toyota prius. the contact stated that while driving 60 mph, the head lights suddenly failed to illuminate intermittently. the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. the manufacturer was not notified of the failure. the failure mileage was 104,000. the vin was unavailable.

Very dangerous situation...was driving home from the mountins down a windy road and both headlights on my toyota prius failed. brought car into toyota of manhatten next day and had to have both headlights replaced for $530.$300 for the light bulbs and 230 for labor. learned online that this is a common failure for 2008 prius, and that there was a class action lawsuit that was settled too early and does not cover older vehicles with complete light failure.

As i was driving from work at 2:00 a.m., the driver's side headlamp went dark. i'm on a two-lane road, not that heavily traveled when this happened. i was able to rotate the headlamp switch off then back on and the headlight was restored. for the balance of my 60 mile ride, this happened 2 more times. as time progressed the failures happened more often and closer together. eventually, the lamp wouldn't stay on for more than a minute. i went to an auto parts store to get a replacement bulb and they told me it was a "dealer only" item. i called the dealer and they told me a replacement bulb was $300.00 and it was $300 to install it. that's preposterous! i found a "youtube" video and purchased a bulb on amazon for $50 and installed it myself. this has happened 3 more times. toyota knows there's a design or component flaw and they refuse to fix it. thanks toyota.

I purchased my 2008 toyota prius as a certified pre-owned vehicle in 2014. every time the car goes over a bump in the road -- be it a man hold, railroad tracks -- the car traction control light illuminates and the car lurches forward for 1-2 seconds. this has happened countless times. it is a commonplace occurrence when going over any kind of uneven surface on the road. from what i have read, this is common in the 2008 prius and i am wondering why this hasn't been investigated. on july 12th, i was driving in ky in heavy rain, going about 50 mph. the traction control light came on, i began to hydroplane, and the car accelerated to 60mph and i almost drove off the road. i have been driving for sixteen years and have never hydroplaned. my fear is the car doing the same thing in rain that it does on uneven surfaces on dry road -- lurching forward slightly which is not what you want when driving in the rain.

When driving vehicle in warm weather it slips on its own from drive to neutral. this happens while driving down the road. in order to continue you have to hold the gear lever in d or else it slips back into n which of course causes you to lose speed. this happens if you stop at a stop light and then try to go. also happens while you are driving down the road. there have been complaints on a toyota forum (customers) and numerous people are having this problem. nothing shows up in diagnostic tests. we had our 12v battery replaced because a low charge message came up. still having same problem. other posts say it's the shift lever and it is a manufacturer flaw. this fix is another $500.this is clearly a safety issue and a manufacturer issue.

The rear hatch handle cover - which appears to be rubber - started deteriorating rather quickly in the summer heat about 2-3 weeks ago and has turned into a rubbery, sticky black mess. the deteriorating rubber has interfered with the use of the hatch release handle. a couple of days ago, the car would not start and was completely dead. we discovered that the rear hatch had not closed completely and resulted in an interior light remaining on which completely drained the battery. there are many complaints on internet blogs and chat forums from other prius owners having the same problem. i believe this could easily result in a safety issue due to the inability of the rear hatch to close properly and potentially opening during operation of the vehicle. my local toyota dealer charged me $208 to repair/replace the latch. in my opinion, this appears to be a vehicle defect which should require a recall or a warranty extension from toyota and a refund of any monies paid by prius owners to fix the problem.

Driving at night i noticed my headlights dimming. i turned on my high beams and my headlights went out completely and i was in the dark. i turned the headlights off and then back on again and they came back on at full light. i pulled to the side of the road and had my passenger check the headlights outside. the right front light was out and the drivers side was on. this had happened one time previously. i took my car into toyota and they ran a check and told me that my right hid bulb was out, but that the left was still working. they replaced both bulbs and said i was good to go. i worry, from reading all of the complaints on 2006-2009 prius headlights that this may or may not solve the problem. i consider this a safety hazard - losing lights at night. i have read there was a class action suit filed against toyota in 2011, but still, nothing has been done by toyota to fix this problem. the suit has ended and i am not able to claim anything. still, i am worried that this will lead eventually to someone's accident. this needs to be investigated and solved. there are too many complaints dealing with this problem.

The black rubber is disintegrating and falling off the outside trunk latch, making it difficult to open the hatchback to get to the spare tire or battery. this is also happening to my neighbor, who parks right next to me and also has a 2008 prius.

I've been told a few times i had a headlight out but half the time when i check it, it would be working. it's not just the headlight it's also the parking and front side marker light on the same side. these lights are expensive and should last a lot longer than 90k miles. seeing how it works intermittently and more than one i don't want to waste money to replace it. if it's going to happen again like most complaints i've read about. i've tried when it was out to turn the lights off and back on. it would work. while you're driving in area with street lights you wouldn't know it's out. there's 1064 complaints at the time i write this. when is toyota going to step up and correct this failure. is someone at nhtsa looking into this issue? *tr

The black hatch release on my 2008 toyota prius has melted making it very difficult (sometimes impossible) to open the hatch. toyota is apparently aware of this problem yet refuses to issue a recall. the cost to replace with part exceeds $300. this is a safety issue as doors need to function properly on a vehicle.

Vehicle starts, runs for limited time -2-3 mins. shuts off vehicle starts no electrical visibility on dash.. blank. vehicle starts with electrical visibility, runs for 3-5 miles, looses electrical visibility. updated 12/4/2017*cn vehicle starts with electrical visibility runs for 3-4 miles .vehicle stops, shuts off in traffic. vehicle will not start. requires jump start,,. and runs enough to take car to dealer. vehicle will not start, requires jump start and will not hold charge. requires towing to dealer. ma 10/8

Driver side headlight turns off. if i turn lights off, then on again, the headlight will turn on.

External rubber seal on rear hatch latch/switch is deteriorating/melting/sticky. safety issue due to loss of ability to open or access rear compartment when rubber disintegrates. exposes electrical components.

Rear hatchback locking/unlocking rubber handle disolved/melted and became a tar-like mass that stuck to fingers. unable to unlock truck manually and electrically. unable to access trunk where emergency/safety equipment located.

Drivers side headlight will dim then go out out after a few seconds of operation. if the lights are turned off and then on again the headlight will work for a few more seconds then dim and go out. the bulb has been changed but that did not resolve the problem. updated 12/21/2015 *js

There is a glass area below the lip of the hatchback, that exploded when shutting the hatchback. the glass was not hit by any object inside or outside the car. glass just exploded.

After a routine oil change at 149,706 miles, my 2008 toyota prius began using an excessive amount of oil, about 1 quart every 1,000 miles. i have had the oil changed regularly since the car was new (i bought it new in january 2008) and have had nearly all the required service done by a registered, licensed mechanic in middletown, california, which is where i live. i discovered the excessive oil use when i next had the oil changed at about 155,000 miles.

2008 prius will not shift into gear. the shift gears pop back into 'neutral' position and will not stay in 'drive' or 'reverse' making it impossible to drive.

Almost weekly my passenger side headlight goes very dim or out completely. i know it when i turn right as it is dark as i enter a side street until driver's headlight illuminates area. bulbs are $ 279 and new ones don't correct it. i keep getting defective equipment tickets as well. thank you *tr

I was driving my toyota 2008 prius in the pitch black at 70-75 mph in the badlands state park. the headlights turned off spontaneously. i had to make an emergency stop. no headlights!! they eventually turned back on.

The left headlight goes on and off. this is a recurring problem with 2008 prius according to other internet sites i have visited. there should have been a recall.

Tl* the contact owns a 2008 toyota prius. the contact started the vehicle and noticed that the brakes failed to work. the dealer stated that the abs pump failed and needed to be replaced. the manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. the vehicle was repaired. the failure mileage was 127,000.

When i tried to shift my car into gear, it automatically went to neutral . this has happened several times in warm weather. i have had to drive holding the lever in the appropriate position. this is both cumbersome as well as extremely dangerous. i did call my local toyota dealer to report the problem, but was never called back. since this occurs sporadically , i just let it go. it happened again yesterday, may 6, 2015, when i tried to put it in reverse. it jumped to neutral & got close to rolling off a drop off in a parking lot. i held the lever in reverse, & luckily prevented my car from going off a cliff. frightening! *tr

I bought a used toyota prius 2008 .right side headlight keeps turning off at night. *tr

I was driving 50mph when the car lost power.the car suddenly had no power brakes, no ability to easily steer, no engine power and many warning lights came on including an warning that the main hybrid battery was not charging. the car would not respond to acceleration. the car came to a stop. i held the start button the car shut off. the car restarted with no problems. all the warning lights were off. i put the car in drive and started to accelerate. all the warning lights come on just as before and the car suffers the same issues again. i went through the same process of turning the car off and turning it back on. the car started up again with no problems again, all the lights were off. it failed on more time on the trip home. i was able to restart the car and put my emergency lights on. i never drove over 25mph on the trip back to the house. my family took the car to wilson toyota in bellingham wa. they examined the car and said the 12v battery had failed. they told my family that the main 12v battery runs all the electrical to get the car started and running. we told the dealer the car still had electrical power. they still replaced the 12v battery. the following day my family went to look at the car and a service person at the dealer, who said he was new to this location, said he had noticed that the 12v battery had seemed to be replaced recently. they said they would keep the car to keep looking over its systems. on 4/16/2015 my family called toyota to discuss our safety concerns with regard to how the car failed. we explained we also have a 2007 prius that had the main hybrid battery fail and that all the warning lights that came on were similar in both cars. the dealer has said there are no codes that said the main hybrid battery is failing. i am worried that i or my family could be seriously injured if the car failed in this manner again while on a busy highway or intersection. *tr

Engine compression catastrophically fails approximately every 2000 miles. *tr

The left headlight keeps turning itself off when driving or not. when bumped next to the headlight cover it comes back on. the bulb and connector are fine. this is a safety hazard, that if the right one starts doing the same thin at night, it would put me into a dangerous and life threatening situation. i think toyota should have a recall on this problem. *tr

I was traveling on a major highway and all my lights went out. pitch black. luckily, there were very few cars on the road. i was able to pull to the side and put my flashers on and use their intermittent flashing to slowly find my way home (about 8 more miles). this could have caused fatalities - my own and others who may have crashed into me. this was a terrible situation and from what i have just researched, it happens with the prius. now i have the inconvenience (and expense?) od figuring out how to get this fixed so it will never happen again!!!! *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2008 toyota prius. the contact stated that the navigation system control and the heating and cooling unit failed. the contact mentioned that the navigation system shut off causing the heating and cooling unit to fail. the failure recurred several times. the vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the navigation system needed to be replaced. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was notified of the failure. the failure mileage was 90,000.

The rubber cover on the rear hatch door latch / switch has degraded and melted. it is impossible to open the rear hatch and to access my spare tire, making this a safety hazard. there is no manual way to release the hatch. there have been dozens of complaints on the nhtsa site about this issue, see http://www.meyersonstrategy.com/2013/09/toyotas-sticky-2007-prius-hatch-problem.html for more. this should be fixed by toyota--it is a very expensive ($200-400) repair. *tr

While driving at night approx. 50 miles per hour prius lost power and appeared to be in neutral. did not lose headlights. i pulled over and shut down and restarted without incident buy am fearful of it happening again in traffic. *tr

This isn't a "safety" issue so i hope this is the right place to file this. the trunk latch on the toyota prius disintegrates. i believe the material, design is poor. it will cost $487 to replace this. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2008 toyota prius. the contact stated that the display screen shorted intermittently and then failed to work without warning. the vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer, who inspected the fuses and cleaned the screen. the technician replaced the multi display unit. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was notified of the failure. the approximate failure mileage was 104,000.

Intermittent headlamp failure. flicking lights on and off will temporarily remedy only to fail again during the same drive. near accident on pitch black mountain road when both lights failed. bulbs have been replaced multiple times by dealer and problem continues. i've been pulled over by law enforcement and given warnings. we have two young children and cannot safely drive our car during the night or for travel. there is clearly a problem...why is there no accountability? must there be deaths or injuries to get this resolved? *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2008 toyota prius. while driving 5 mph, the vehicle shifted gears into neutral. the failure recurred multiple times. the vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was not diagnosed or repaired. the manufacturer was made aware of the failure. the failure mileage was 148,000. updated 04/07/15*lj the consumer was unable to shift into gear and popped into neutral. the next day, everything worked normally. updated 06/30/15*jb

Right headlight started working intermittently around 50,000 miles, then finally failed. replacing the bulb did not fix the problem. then left headlight completely failed around 63,000 miles. it was definitely annoying to have one functioning headlight, and now it's just plain unsafe not to have any at all. *tr

2008 toyota prius pulled into the path of a pick up truck and was struck in the driver's door. side air bags did not deploy. *tr updated 9/19/2017*cn

Letter from senator nelson on behalf of constituent re 2008 toyota prius airbags. *smd the consumer stated no one was able to tell her, if the vehicle was manufactured with takata air bags. *jb

Tl*the contact owns a 2008 toyota prius. the contact stated that while driving at 25 mph, the contact noticed that the instrument cluster panel failed to display reading levels. the vehicle was taken to three independent mechanics. the mechanics were unable to duplicate the failure. the failure recurred on numerous occasions. the manufacturer was notified of the failure. the failure mileage was 85,000.

The electric hybrid pump failed on 01/08/2013 and was replaced by the toyota dealer which was under recall, and less than 13 thousand miles and 4 months later (05/13/14), the same part failed again and this time i was charged over $700 to have it replaced again. *tr

The latch cover on the hatchback has deteriorated and is almost completely melted away. in warm weather it is incredibly sticky and anything that touches it gets black goo on it, and the goo is hard to remove form hands or anything else. it has been hard to open for more than a year, and has gotten so bad that we have had to replace it today at a cost of $285. i emailed toyota customer service months ago about the problem, and they said they have never heard this is an issue on their vehicles. *tr

The headlights intermittently fail - turn off - during driving (without warning). fortunately, so far only one headlight has failed at once. toyota is aware of this issue, but so far there haven't been enough problems, apparently, to justify a safety recall. seems like a very serious thing - and it is just a matter of good fortune on toyota's part that there have not been fatalities (to my knowledge). *tr

I was driving my 2008 prius in rainy weather (normal for seattle) northbound on interstate 5 in relatively heavy traffic. traffic was slowing down, so i brake and decreased my speed further. as i got closer to the car ahead of me, i pushed more firmly on the brake, and nothing happened. the abs did not engage. the car just kept moving along and i ran into the car ahead of me. luckily my speed was only 5-7 mph. the other car, an suv, was not damaged. my front hood was quite crunched. no one was hurt. my concern is that the brakes simply did not engage at the last moment. i have read about the recalls of 2010 prius' because of abs failures, so i wanted to make sure that you were aware of at least one 2008 prius that seems to have experienced a similar failure. thanks. *tr

The car moves from drive to neutral mode. i put the car in "d" and it suddenly moved back to "n". keep the lever held on "d" and you can drive, otherwise it switches back to "n". happened 3 to 4 times today. very scared if this happens when driving on the freeway or getting started at a traffic light as the car behind may not have enough space or indication of the vehicle slowing down because of loss of accelerator. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2008 toyota prius. the contact stated that the check engine warning light remained illuminated. an independent mechanic diagnosed that the coolant control valve needed to be replaced. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was made aware of the failure. the approximate failure mileage was 150,000.

Our car was exhibiting a serious defect that toyota has already found and documented on their site, saying that they are doing an extended warranty to correct the problem. however, they have grossly mismanaged this extended warranty by not providing the part at all or perhaps at some far future time (we still don't know when we will get our car back, perhaps months or never). when word gets out that customers who bring their car in to get fixed have no idea when they get their car back, they will instead keep driving the car with the highly dangerous defect. the defect is the combination meter, which controls the dashboard indicators. when it goes down, none of the dashboard indicators work and the driver does not know what gear he or she is in, how much gasoline is in the tank, what speed the car is going, etc. these are the cars that toyota is leaving on the road because they are yet again incompetently managing a safety defect. this could lead to serious injuries and deaths. i spoke to [xxx] at toyota today (january 5, 2015), and, based on the conversation, toyota could care less whether this is handled right or not. she did not seem the least bit alarmed, and indicated that their course of action was to do nothing. the dealer ordered the part last monday, but, according to the dealer, toyota's tracking of this part is completely disorganized. toyota has no idea when it went out and is ignoring the tracking information provided by the shipper (apparently ups) so the customers have no idea when they get their cars back. customers are not given loaner cars. if they turn their cars in to be fixed, they cannot go to work. therefore, they will drive with the dangerous defect. also, car owners are not being notified of the defect. they only find out the hard way, perhaps right before an accident. information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6). *tr

The driver headlamp turns off after approx 5 minutes of use. can turn lights off then on again to restart headlamp. i first took to dealer after purchasing used because of this problem and they did not mention what i have recently learned is a known defect. this has been occurring for the last two years. changing bulb fixes problem for a while but problem re-occurs. this issue is a major safety issue, and toyota is charging exorbitant rates to replace the headlamps. i am afraid to drive my car at night or for long distances. this problem needs a permanent fix! *tr

I have reported this issue to this website in the past. the traction control disables the drive wheels inconsistently and arbitrarily under many circumstances, often resulting in a real safety hazard. it can happen when starting from a stop on dry or wet pavement or when hitting small bumps/holes at low speeds (25-45 mph). this is extremely frightening when trying to pull into traffic from a stop on dry pavement - power is cut, slowing entry into moving traffic and increasing accident potential. the local toyota dealer tells us that nothing can be done about it. surely it's a serious enough hazard that needs to be addressed. *tr

Purchased used in oct 2013, first had to replace headlight in dec 2013. have replaced right headlight 6 times and ballast once. problem only temporarily resolved. this month headlight went out again. have replaced ballast and bulb with no success. headlight will not stay on longer than 30 sec before going back out. *tr

Driving up provo canyon at 4:30am and suddenly both headlights completely turned off. i had to come to a complete stop because i had zero visibility. i now have to toggle the headlight switch off and on every couple of minutes in order for the headlights to remain on. there appears to be a short, but from what i have read about this problem, it is a common issue with the 2008 toyota prius. the repair costs can be very steep--$800-$1800 dollars to have both headlights replaced and that does not guarantee that the problem will be fixed. toyota needs to recall the 2008 prius model and fix the obvious safety related issue with this model! i could have been killed on that early morning drive and now i have to constantly be aware that my headlights will not stay on as they are supposed to do!! it is more than annoying--it is a very severe safety issue that needs to be addressed by the corporation!! *tr

The spiral cable that controls the electrical supply to the steering wheel (radio, heating,air conditioning, etc. failed). in some vehicles the air bag power supply is routed through this cable and the air bag power supply fails when the spiral cable fails. in my particular case the air bag warning light did not come on but most of the other switches ceased working).

The back latch of my 2008 toyota prius began melting last summer, leaving a sticky black residue on my hand when i touched it. it now takes both hands and a lot of pressure/strength to even open it. i see that other owners have experienced this problem, yet toyota did not issue a recall and is instead, demanding $315 to replace it. since the inability to quickly access the trunk in am emergency presents a safety concern, i feel that i have no alternative but to replace it. it will be the last toyota that i own. *tr

Headlights are not reliable. *js

2008 toyota prius. consumer requesting all recalls associated with vehicle. *ta the consumer referenced recall # 09v388000. he also mentioned information regarding a steering defect. *jb

I was driving my prius with 130,000 miles last night in a residential neighborhood featuring a counterclockwise,(left-hand) moderate curve. the "circle" ended at an intersection where i was to make a right turn. i turned my steering to the right to cancel the counterclockwise trajectory, but my front wheels seemed to be "locked" in the left turning motion. i slammed the brakes, but could not stop the car from climbing the curb and sideswiping a tree, causing my driver's side front wheel to be shoved backward towards the driver door in the wheel frame. my car is now at a body shop with an agreed $5600.00 in damage, mostly to the steering assembly, suspension, and wheel/axle. the wheel panel above the wheel will be replaced, and scratches on the front bumper and driver door will be repaired. work is scheduled to be completed by january 5. i believe that the condition which caused the steering to lock in a left-turn condition without warning on a dry road is a serious manufacturing defect for which i should be reimbursed .fortunately, there was no traffic and no injuries, and even the tree seems unscathed. this could have been tragic on an interstate or in congested high speed traffic. i have been pleased with my prius' performance to this point, but believe that toyota has responsibility for this matter as evidenced by steering related recalls on similar vintage prius models. i request full reimbursement for my repair, mindful that these expenses could be a lot higher had this failure occurred under different circumstances. i had previously submitted this information to a toyota inquiry website and have not received an acknowledgement or response form toyota. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2008 toyota prius. while starting the vehicle, the brake, abs, and vsc lights illuminated. in addition, the brakes dragged without pressure being applied pressure to the brake pedal and the vehicle veered to the left. the vehicle was taken to the dealer and an independent mechanic. the technician diagnosed that the brake actuator was faulty and needed to be replaced. the vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred several times. the manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. the failure mileage was 185,000.

The hatchback lift has deteriorated and no longer works. the toyota service representative quoted me $570 to replace it, stating it could pose an electrical system safety issue. no damage has occurred and since it is keyless ... how does this happen? the clear coat has degraded only on the piece of metal that encloses the hatchback's lift mechanism and started flaking about the same time that i noticed it was getting harder and harder to lift the hatchback. could these two failures be related? when these problems started several months ago it didn't occur to me that there might be a connection. the service rep ignored my question about a possible relationship. *tr

Head lights go out. while driving at night lights went out. very unsafe. *tr

The driver's side headlamp has been going off intermittently for many years. now, both lights go out and i am driving with the fog lights only? very dangerous! if toyota knows about this, there should be a recall and fix! *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

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 black part on the "trunk" which you have to touch to open the hatchback, started melting the first summer after we bought the prius. every summer since it drips black rubber, which smears all over your hand every time you open the door. in the winter, it doesn't melt, but the trunk is extremely difficult to open, which could create a risk of death, if passengers were trapped inside a burning car after a collision. from what i read on the internet, toyota is denying this is a manufacuring defect, claiming that people are using the wrong products to clean their cars. which is illogical, and wholly inaccurate in this case, since my husband certainly never washed the car for the first several years he had it, until i got tired of a dirty car and had it detailed. it was melting long before that. toyota needs to accept responsibility for their mistake, and fix it. *tr

Headlights go off suddenly. sometimes one or the other, some times both. *tr

The headlight on the right side of the car goes out while driving. it comes back on when i turn the headlight off and turn them back on again. the headlight will go off again at different speeds. the headlight may go off multiple times when driving. this is a very large safety concern. *tr

Was driving in the dark with my brights on and both headlights suddenly went off. flipped the switch and they came back on. 4/5 minutes later they went completely off again and i had to switch them in the dark. the bulbs are fine. the right headlight has been randomly going on and off again but wasn't a noticeable safety issue. both lights going off randomly in the pitch dark almost caused me to crash. *tr

Rear hatch button rubber has melted. causes electrical hatch opening mechanism to fail completely. rubber remains sticky in hot weather, transfers tarry residue to fingers. in cold weather button will not function at all. safety issue because rear hatch is not accessible. can not access spare tire. there is no hatch release available at driver's seat in front. there is no mechanical only alternative. child trapped in trunk would have no way out. despite numerous and well documented cases reported online toyota will not fix problem voluntarily. *tr

As of 11/2014 there has been a total of 3 wheel bearing issues with my 2008 toyota prius. the first occurred in 2012(right rear) and the other two occurred in 2014(both front). this is a real safety concern, since it can cause the wheel to seize and cause a major accident. there is an obvious defect in toyota's wheel bearings for three to fail on one vehicle and the first failing at only 70,000 miles. toyota has refused to pay for the $1700 in repairs. there should be a recall because if the wheel seizes or falls off this can cause fatalities. toyota should look into why one of there factories is producing defective sub-par wheel bearings. *tr

This is a report of product failure and subsequent refusal by toyota to replace failed parts post 36 k mi. warranty. they are a steering wheel compound disintergration and the premature oxidation of the plastic spoiler paint only w/o similarly occuring on the sheetmetal of the body.

I leave my headlights on all of the time. sometimes when i am driving my prius the left headlight will go out. if i turn the headlights off and then back on the light will come back on again. sometimes restarting the car will make the headlight come on. also the headlight sometimes is off when the car is started. same thing, turn headlights off and then on or restart the car and the headlight comes back on. i thought i might need a new headlight but was involved in a car accident (8-13-14) and the headlight was damaged. i now have a new headlight assembly but the problem has returned. the dealer has told me twice (including today) that i need a new headlight. i do not think that is the problem. this is a major concern for me as this frequently occurs when i am traveling on an interstate at a high rate of speed. i will not turn my lights off and back on at 60 mph. please investigate. *tr

We have had problems with passenger side headlight it will go off by its self with out us knowing but we could turn lights off then turn them back on and it will stay on for awhile we had toyota replace light last year and it was fine for approx. 6 months and then started doin same thing again finally last week it went out and will not come on at all i know of several other prius owners with same problem would greatly appreciate your help! *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2008 toyota prius. the contact stated that while driving at approximately 3 mph, the vehicle accelerated independently and surged forward. as a result, the contact crashed into a rocked landscaping. a police report was filed and there were no injuries reported. the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. the manufacturer was notified of the failure. the failure mileage was 80,000. updated 8/31/2017*cn

Driving on sb hwy 35 at 74mph, master warning light came on and vehicle shut down, no electrical or engine control. pulled safely to shoulder of road. car would not restart. got out of car, locked car, unlocked car (toyota technician instructions), then car restarted. got car off the road, contacted state farm for tow to autonation toyota south austin. toyota technician removed a third party telematic device (in-drive) from obd port. vehicle diagnostic scan showed two communication errors u0100 and u0111. third party telematic device was not reinstalled. vehicle was test driven, held overnight, test driven again and the errors or shutdown did not repeat. toyota service manager said they have seen third party devices connected to odb port cause errors and have to be removed or replaced. we have three hybrid vehicles in our household each with a third party telematic device from in-drive. all three have been removed and returned to in-drive with supplied packaging and return instructions. *tr

While driving down the highway, the left headlight quit working. we took it to the dealer, and it was working fine again. this happened several times over the next few months before the dealership finally admitted that it was a known problem that was going to be handled under recall. i asked that they fix it now, and they advised i would have to pay the cost and then possibly be reimbursed as i was past the 36,000 mile limit for bumper to bumper repairs. ...a cost of nearly $1,100 to fix 1 headlight on a 2 year old car. i refused, and the intermittent outages continued, and progressively got worse. then the right headlight started doing the same thing. i am rolling the dice every night i drive the car as i cannot afford to spend $2,000 or more to fix headlights on a car with a known defect that dramatically puts me, my family, and everyone else on the road at risk of catastrophe. toyota has stated this will not be handled as a recall as it deems it to not be a safety issue as you still have 1 working headlight. that is untrue, as mine have gone out simultaneously several times. *tr

The first time both lights went out, we were traveling south on i-95 near richmond, va. prior to this, we thought the lights had dimmed a couple times, but when we checked them, they were fine. there is no mistake when you loose both headlights while on high beam, there are no fog lights, so it gets very dark. i think going to low beam gave us some light (the fog lights) but do not remember, i then turned the light switch off and back on immediately, which turned the lights back on. since that first incident of them both going out, we have seen both the driver's side headlight alone, the passenger side headlight alone, and at least half a dozen times both lights go out at the same time. all but once, turning the light switch off and then on turned the lights back on. the last time both went out, i had to turn the switch off and back on several times to get the lights back on. with a cost of over $200 per light, i decided to change the passenger side light and see if that light would stay on. it made no difference. i found in the user's manual that low voltage could cause the high intensity discharge (hid) lights to go out, so i had aaa check the engine battery. the test showed the battery was good, but it only had 364 cold cranking amps so i had a new battery put in. we were told by two other sources that the right battery had 450 cold crank amps so i thought that might account for the hid light problem. that was just a few days ago, and the passenger side headlight has still gone out several times since the bulb and battery were replaced. so far, we have not had both lights go out again. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2008 toyota prius. while driving approximately 45 mph, the vehicle was involved in a head on crash and the air bags failed to deploy. it was unknown if any injuries were sustained or if a police report was filed. the vehicle was towed to the contact’s residence. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was not notified of the failure. the approximate failure mileage was 85,000. updated 8/31/2017*cn

My toyota prius has hid headlights. both the left and right headlights randomly stop working. at times however, both lights go out at the same time while driving. this creates a very dangerous situation while driving at night. the lights will typically come back on if i toggle the lights off and back on. i've read that there was a class action suit against toyota for this very issue. i contacted a toyota dealership and they recommended i replace the headlights, at considerable cost. but in my research it seems that the problem persists with many people even after their hid bulbs were replaced. why there has not been a recall for this baffles me. i'm wondering who had to die before it becomes a national issue. *tr

On 10/7/14 i arrived home after work and noticed my right headlight was out. it was dark and i don't know when the light failed. over the next few days, i did not notice the light failing, however, i am very concerned that it will happen again, based on the numerous other complaints filed (and not filed). this is a huge safety concern for me. i live in los angeles and, as my car is black and if my headlights are out i am at risk of being hit in this very congested city. *tr

I was driving to work in the freeway and suddenly i heard a loud continuous beep noise with all the lights in the dash was lit. when i tried to apply the brake, the brake did not respond, i was going at 30 mph, since there was traffic. i got panic and turned the steering to the right and drove to the curb and stopped there. i toed the vehicle to toyota dealer and they said the brake actuator broke and said that it costs around 3500 dollar. how come the brake actuator fail in the vehicle which is 5 and half years old ? *tr

I have recently discovered that my headlights do not work consistently. sometimes the left is out. sometimes the right. sometimes neither. it is very scary to think about driving at night when i cannot be confident of the headlights. in trying to learn about this problem i discovered it has been widely reported but there has been no recall. i am extremely concerned as i have to travel a long distance at night. i purchased a toyota because of it's excellent reputation. now i'm wondering if my confidence was misplaced. *tr

Starting in june 2013 our prius headlights would intermittently and unpredictably go out. it's difficult to tell at times but mostly this occurred on the left headlight. in january 2014 the problem was occurring regularly rather than sporadically so i had both hid lights replaced at a cost of $389.30. this seemed to temporarily resolve the problem but it has started again this time with both headlights turning off randomly. this is a definite safety hazard as it requires me to turn the light switch off then back on again to get the lights to turn back on. i have recently had to do this several times on a drive of 10' duration. i have read that this is a problem with many prius vehicles with the hid lights. *tr

While in the line for a car wash, i released the brake to move forward. upon applying the brake to stop, the prius accelerated causing me to slam on the brake. my wife experienced a similar incident with the same prius several months later while in a parking lot. she applied the brake at a very slow speed and the car accelerated forward causing her to also slam on the brakes. *tr

Both headlights intermittently fail and recover when switch is cycled. cannot drive vehicle at night. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2008 toyota prius. while driving at night with the headlights activated, the headlights flickered before shutting off. the failure occurred intermittently. the dealer stated that the high intensity discharge head lamps needed to be replaced. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was notified of the failure. the failure mileage was 87,000.

Intermittent hid headlight failure. headlights - passenger and/or driver side headlight goes out. replaced headlight bulbs (2x) - this did not fix the problem. turning off the headlights and turning them back on restores the light, however, the lights will again intermittently fail. on a longer trip, this can occur repeatedly. *tr

Rubber like material that made the hatchback latch has melted to the plastic/metal. difficulty opening. on some occasions, it will not open. will not open in extreme heat or cold weather. all doors should function properly. dealership will not replace even though it is obviously a problem. *tr

Driving down the road and the headlights just go out, after flipping the lights off and on, they come back on. *tr

On my 2008 toyota prius rear hatch liftgate, the handle has melted making it very difficult to open the rear hatch. this is a safety problem because there is then no safe way to remove items from the rear. since the spare tire is stored in the hatch, toyota should repair this problem. this seems to be an ongoing problem with the 2nd generation prius. i have read numerous complaints regarding this issue on various forums. the entire liftgate assembly has now broken from the hatch, causing the rear hatch not to open or close properly. the safety issue has now become worse as i am worried that the rear hatch may open while driving. *tr

Driving 2008 toyota prius with 105k miles on the freeway. suddenly, i saw the abs,vcs and brake lights shows up on the dashboard along with a continuous screeching noise. i tried to apply the brakes but the car did not stop, i applied the brake even harder, still the car did not stop but continuous to move forward. it was traffic time on a monday morning, so i was going on 15mph. when i found that my brake did not respond, i immediately moved to the curb and called aaa. dealer did check my vehicle and said there is break actuator issue and needs to be replace with a price tag of 3823 usd. spoke to toyota customer service, and the associate told that this is a wear and tear issue. how come the brake actuator become faulty on a 6 year old car, which was advertised a safe car. note: i had my 100k service done and i was told everything was normal. *tr

Intermittent hid headlight failure. headlights - passenger and/or driver side headlight goes out. turning off the headlights and turning them back on restored the light, however, the lights will again intermittently failed on a longer/shorter trip, this has been occurring repeatedly and i don't feel comfortable driving during night time. it is dangerous and terrifying. there needs to be a recall again asap. i understand there was a recall in the past for similar reasons but not sure what is the status now. i bought this car privately from original owner (who bought brand new from dealer) and they mentioned that this problem was brought to attention of toyota dealer in danvers, ma (ira toyota) but they could not diagnose the cause. i looked around and found that this problem is known to toyota but wondering how dealer didn't know about it. the information can be found at link http://articles.latimes.com/2011/jan/19/business/la-fi-0120-toyota-prius-20110120 i am looking forward to hear back from toyota or somebody who could help me fix this problem and help me drive my vehicle safely. *tr

I am a mechanical professional engineer licensed in the state of california. i was with an individual at the time this occurred as they attempted to open the back hatch. upon trying to lift the tail gate the individual heard the click and the slight release of the lock for the tail gate. they were unaware of the degraded condition of the switches cover. upon trying to lift the hatch they felt their fingers "appear" to sink into the switch. afraid of shock or suffering physical arm the individual attempted to pull hand away from hatch latch. due to the adhesive nature of the degraded switch cover the fingers could not be removed in the natural expected motion. the alter motion resulted in the breaking of the latch switch cover and the individuals hand being launched in a direction that fortunately only resulted in a shoulder sprain. this left the vehicle back hatch with a broken cover and prevent the user from using the back hatch until the cover and switch were /repaired or replaced. it appears the rubber/gasket/cover for the back hatch latch switch degrades overtime due to unknown reasons. in the heat in this particular case the cover began to melt and drip off the cover/switch. the material became tacky/sticky enough to become adhesive enough that signification [implying that force would be enough to cause self injury for someone that was not expecting the situation to develop as such.] force was required to separate fingers from the switch (several ft/lbs of force).

Black handle on hatch started melting. after only about 4 years use, the rubber cover on the hatch release handle (the exterior handle of the rear hatch) of my 2008 toyota prius, melted into a sticky tarry black rubbery gooey mess. it drips down on the rear bumper. i can best describe it as being a viscous black glob like roofing tar. to open the hatch, you have to touch this black goo each time, which makes it difficult to operate the hatch release. eventually this will disable the latch from operating. i went to toyota dealer to complain about it but did not get any answers and choose to ignore it. i am asking for your agency to take a look at these instances and also to ask toyota why they are not recalling these handles. thanks for your help.

2008 toyota prius. consumer writes in regards to defective tires. *smd the consumer was informed on two separate occasions, when having the tires balanced and rotated, the tires were defective. the consumer was informed, a bad alignment could have caused the tires to become defective. *jb

Well driving 65mph on freeway both headlights went off. turning them off and on 2x worked. it happened 2 more times within 20min. i stopped driving and have not drove at night since. luckily there was a car close both times. it was dangerous and terrifying. there needs to be a recall asap. *tr

As i was coming to a stop driving along a side street, i hit a slight bump in the road while braking. the brakes stopped working for about 1 and 1/2 seconds while the vsc light was flashing. then the brakes started working again and i could stop the car. this has happened 3 additional times since then in different places driving around town, probably after hitting slight bumps or a few pieces of gravel. one of those happened as i was going to the toyota dealer to have it checked out. the toyota serviceman could not find any codes that indicated that there was a problem. "no verifiable malfunction occurred." yesterday, i talked to the toyota service manager again. he said that there was nothing he could do to fix the car. *tr

Trunk hatch release rubber piece started going soft; it is now melted and completely disintegrated into the latch locking mechanism. *tr

The right headlight and sometimes both headlights go out randomly on our 2008 toyota prius. this is extremely frightening! i have learned to quickly turn the headlights off and then right back on. sometimes this takes care of the problem, sometimes for a short while, sometimes longer. sometimes i have to pull over and fiddle with the light switch until i, once again, have headlights! since i used to leave my headlights on all of the time, day or night, i did not realize, at first, that i was having a problem. i would just think "wow, it's really dark out here!" the headlight icon on the dashboard always indicated that my lights were on, so i thought everything was fine. i had to wait until i got home to have my husband check the lights. sometimes they worked properly so it took us a long time to figure out that we have a big problem. our local toyota dealer gave us the run around and acted as is they knew nothing about a headlight problem, told us to come right in and they would replace the headlights for either $8.00 or $12.00 each with no labor cost; and then changed and said they would fix the problem for $526.00! i said, "no, thanks!" and went to see another local shop which specializes in toyotas. they suggested that we look on the internet to see if there were any recalls relating to this problem. while no recalls are listed yet, i found many complaints from toyota prius owners stating exactly the same problem we are having. please help all of us! suddenly having no headlights while driving in a poorly lit area is causing me grave (pun intended!) concerns! i try not to drive at night or in the rain, but i am not always able to avoid doing so. i am very frightened and would like to have my headlights fixed, but not at highway robbery prices! having headlights go out after only 6 years seems like a very short time to me, compared to the other cars we have owned! *tr

Right head light would go off on it's own. light was replaced by dealer about a year ago. now both headlights go out!!!!!! *tr

Both of my cars headlights turn off intermittently and for no reason (the bulbs and ballasts have been replaced and are in working order). i will be driving down the road at night (interstate 70mph) and occasionally both headlights will just turn off. i have almost gotten in a wreck multiple times due to the fact i'm driving at night and out of nowhere my lights go out. this is a huge safety issue. when looking this up online, i'm not the only person with my year/make/model that is having this issue. this has been happening on and off since my vehicle was at 75,000 miles. last night specifically i almost got in a wreck going 70mph on the interstate because of it. many times i can turn the headlights off and back on again and one or both will work again. *tr

The rear hatch release button/cover has disintegrated into a mush of black gooey material that turns my hands black. i have read that many other people have had this issue but that there has not yet been a recall. it doesn't seem reasonable that a 6 year old car should have this happening to many people. clearly it was a defective part to begin with. *tr

I was driving my 2008 prius on highway and warning light came on. in 2 minutes all power gone and i have had to towed to the dealer. they said, water pump failed and because of that hybrid inverter fried. car was out of guaranty and there was no recall about water pump. i paid nearly $5.000.00 for water pump and hybrid invertor. i have seen there is a recall about water pump now. is there any way i can get my money back? *tr

On the hatch, the exterior switch to open the hatch is covered by a rubber seal to prevent moisture. unfortunately for me (and apparently hundreds of other consumers i've spoken to online), the rubber eventually dissolves and destroys the switching mechanism, leading to an inability to open the trunk/hatch. this has potential safety implications as if there were a battery fire, i'd have no way to open the hatch to try to put out the fire or retrieve anything. *tr

This car was in an accident and the airbags did not deploy. the airbags did not deploy at all. the car was totaled.......updated 08/14/14 *bf

Tl* the contact owns a 2008 toyota prius. the contact stated that while driving at 35 mph, there was an abnormal noise coming from the front passengers side. the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed that the engine mount became loose and needed to be replaced. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was made aware of the failure. the approximate failure mileage was 115,000.

While driving, the left hid headlight went off. turning the lights off and then on allowed the left headlight to come back on. this problem has happened over a several week period. headlight illumination is suddenly cut in half without any warning. this seems like a safety recall item to me. *tr

1 - after being parked the car will go into reverse or drive, but when you let off of the brake, it will go into neutral. 2 - if left running in park, the car will go out of park and go into neutral. this will allow the car to roll, if it is not on exactly flat level ground. 3 - while driving, the car will jump out of drive and go into neutral. 4 - in all of these incidents, you can hold the shifter lever in the desired mode and the car will drive fine. 5 - talked to a toyota repair facility and i was told that they have never heard of this. did some research on the net and found many of these same incidents. 6 - this is definitely a safety issue, that apparently toyota don't want to admit. *tr

Steering wheel seemed to lock, causing me to nearly lose control of the vehicle. *tr

Gear shifted into neutral without use of gear shift control. happened several times and wasn't able to shift into reverse or drive. kept going back to neutral. park also wasn't working. powered car off which did put in park. restarted and drove home without issue. tried to recreate at home and same problem occurred. was able to manually hold gear shift in drive or reverse to move car into driveway. have left car at toyota service center today for inspection. did not occur when tech tried it day after incident at 7am. initial incident occurred on hot afternoon at 5pm with 100 degree temperatures. have read online of similar problems related to hot temp. have had car for 5 years with no problems like this. just crossed 50000 miles and am covered under warranty until oct. i hope it can be repaired. and hope it does not happen while i am driving at faster speeds. so far only happens when parked and recently started. starter battery was replaced around 2 years ago. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2008 toyota prius. the contact stated the brake and abs warning lights illuminated intermittently. the contact mentioned that intermittently the brakes became inoperable. the vehicle was taken to a dealer and the diagnosis was a leaking abs actuator needed to be replaced. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was made aware of the failure. the failure and current mileage was 100,000. updated 10/7/14*cn updated 3/25/2015 *js

Low beam headlights have failed . drivers right headlight fails mostly, but left headlight fails about 33% of the time. i have lost both headlights after a while and is extremely dangerous at night! we have had to stop driving at night because headlights will not stay on past 5 mins. i have looked into the class action lawsuit and at 60000 miles i do not qualify for the settlement. i am very concerned with the safety of my family. i hope toyota finds a real fix for this problem, or the 1000+ dollar fix will be for nothing. at this point i have lost faith in toyota and i hope this issue is addressed properly. *tr

The latch handle on the hatchback has "melted" for lack of a better word. the handle has become gooey and leaves a black residue on my fingers every time i open the hatchback. because of this problem, the handle is harder to use, making it more trying to open the trunk. *tr

The liftgate glass release switch cover has turned into a black blob and makes it impossible to get into the trunk to access the spare tire and any safety equipment on board. this problem has been reported by many 2007-2008 prius owners. *tr

The back latch of my 2008 toyota prius has degraded ("melted" almost). it no longer functions properly, and i am unable to open the back hatch door easily. sometimes it requires considerable effort and perseverance to get it open. i am concerned that in the case of an emergency, i will not be able to get the door open. this is a major cause for concern and it is a serious safety hazard. the item in question is a rubber pad, about 1" x 3", located facing down on a horizontal surface of the trunk lid, just above the license plate. it covers a momentary contact switch. when you depress the switch, through this rubbery pad, the computer checks to see if there's a key in the vicinity. if there is, the automatic latch for the trunk is activated and the trunk opens. the rubber pad deterioration interferes with the functioning of the latch and toyota refuses to address this issue proactively in spite of numerous complaints related to the defective materials they have used. *js

2008 toyota prius. consumer writes in regards to all the dash board warning lights set off at the same time due to the inverter pump failing. *smd the consumer stated when the incident happened, there was a loud sound and a sudden decrease in power. the consumer discovered the inverter pump failing, was a common issue with her make and model vehicle. *jb

Hid headlights have failed twice on driver side and twice on passenger side. we continue to replace the bulbs and they continue to fail. *tr

My husband was t-boned on the drivers side of our 2008 toyota prius by a suv going approximately 40 mph and not one air bag deployed. thankfully the impact was near the front driver tire instead of directly on the door. the drivers side door was impacted and my husband had to wait for the fire department to pry open the door so he could get out of the vehicle. we bought this car brand new and it has never been in accident before. *tr..updated 12/09/15 *bf updated 8/31/2017*cn

On may 25, 2014, i was informed that one of my headlights was out. upon doing some research, i discovered that many other toyota prius owners had the identical problem, and that following a class action suit, toyota agreed to reimburse owners for repair of the faulty parts, but only up to 5 yrs/50k miles. my prius had under 35,000 miles but was 9 months over the age warranty. the toyota dealership charged $739.19 to replace toyota's defective headlight bulb along with their defective module, and toyota refused to provide any relief for this known safety issue after the vehicle beyond 5 years. toyota failed to issue a recall for this defective headlight issue, which of course is an issue of safety. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2008 toyota prius. the contact stated that while driving various speeds, the vehicle would independently shift from drive into neutral. the vehicle was taken to a dealer where the failure was unable to be replicated. the technician informed the contact that replacing the shifter may rectify the failure but was unable to guarantee it would be a permanent fix. the manufacturer was notified of the failure. the vehicle was not repaired. the approximate failure and current mileage was 112,000. the vin was not available. remailed 08/20/14*lj

The dashboard light will not come on and i could not read mileage or how fast i was going. eventually, car shuts down in motion. took it to keyes toyota in van nuys, ca. they acknowledged there was a defect and recall and would fix it after a few days they are telling me i have to spend about $4000 to get it fixed because there are fuses burnt and cannot determine what is causing this. *tr

The headlights have repeatedly burned out since the car warranty expired. the don't just slowly dim like other headlights. they go completely out of a sudden. i have had to replace headlights five times. *tr

On this date while driving on the interstate 5 near los angeles my prius made a loud noise and started shutting down as i was driving on the far left lane. the car immediately slowed down and the vsc icon as well as the check engine light icon became visible, however the odometer was blank and i could not tell what speed i was traveling, the car was coming to a complete stop. once i managed to get to the far right shoulder the car made a stop. i was almost rear ended by a big rig which had to swerve to the left side in order to avoid hitting my car. it wasn't until then that i noticed the red engine light icon displayed on the control panel not the odometer. i have never seen this warning light but after looking at the owner's manual it clearly stated that once this light appears you need to get the vehicle off the road as soon as possible or it will cause an accident. this was the first time i noticed this sign and it appeared after the fact. the car had no engine oil, which was ridiculous since i had not noticed any leaks and i take my car in every 2 months to the dealer for an oil change. the dealer had no explanation other than it did not have any leaks and they were not able to verify when the red engine oil came on. this happened on 5/30/14, my last visit to the dealer was on 4/12/14 and at the time they did not detect any problems with the oil leaking. this clearly makes no sense and they are refusing to take responsibility. toyota owners should be very cautious as this should have never happened the sensor should have given me a warning prior to the car shutting down. this could have caused many fatalities being in a heavily populated highway. *tr

Right headlight continues to go off while driving down the road. my daughter drives this car now and got pulled over last wednesday night and got a warning ticket for headlight being out. when she got home she noticed it out. she stopped the engine then restarted and the light came back on. her friends have told her several times over the last 3 months that she had a light out, but every time she checked it was working. this is a huge safety concern, i looked it up on internet and see that many others are experiencing the same issue. please help us toyota! *tr

Since shortly after purchasing a new 2008 prius i have had issues w/ 1 headlight going out while driving. if i pull over, shut the car off & restart it, the light usually comes back on. sometimes i have to do this several times to get the light back on.the problem has escalated to both headlights going out at the same time. i was driving alone on a dark curvy road at 10pm going 35 & suddenly both of my headlights went off! i couldn't see a thing & was now driving in the pitch dark on a curvy road! i pulled over as quickly as i could & actually hit a mailbox because i couldn't see anything. if someone was walking their dog i would have run over them while trying to pull over.after continuously turning the car on & off, turning the lights on & off, turning the high beams on & off, i finally got the lights to go back on. while driving the rest of the way home,1 headlight went out.this is very dangerous.not only are you left driving in the dark & no one else or other cars can see you but it causes panic as it is totally unexpected & how a driver reacts when this happens can cause an accident (if not having headlights doesn't do it). a new driver or older person driving when both headlights go out would certainly cause them to panic. i have been pulled over by police for having a light out. this problem started when the car was only a few months old; toyota replaced the bulb under warranty; this did not solve the problem as the lights have continued to go out. having 1 light out is bad but having both go out while driving is asking for an accident & for someone to get killed. if i can be ticketed for having a light out because the car is considered unsafe than a safety recall s/b issued. these cars are getting older; please re-open this investigation so that we don't have another gm ignition issue where people have died & we find out the problem was known about for years. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2008 toyota prius. the contact stated that while traveling 10 mph, the vehicle independently veered to the left. the contact's vehicle was crashed into by a dump truck on the front passenger's side. the vehicle was destroyed. the vehicle was towed to a private mechanic and a police report was filed. there were no injuries. the manufacturer was not contacted. the vehicle was not inspected to determine the cause of the steering failure. the failure mileage was 147,000 and the current mileage was 147,000. the vin was not available.

My 2008 prius won't stay in gears occasionally gear jumped back from d to n mode. fortunately, it didn't happen when i drove 70 miles per hour. i went to toyota center and they said i have to pay for the shift lever. i don't know why i should pay for it, it is a defect of this car, not because how i drive this car. plus, i don't have this money, so i didn't repair for it. i need to report this before someone get killed. i think toyota should recall 2008 prius, to make sure our (customer) safety. *tr

We have had two catastrophic failures of continental pro contact tires (195/55-16) - one on 12/11/2012 (right front) and one on 04/24/2014 (left front). both tires had been in service less than 5,000 miles, were correctly inflated and in no way misused. no road obstacle has hit - the tires simply disintegrated after a few seconds of tire pressure warning light indication. both look as though a tiger saw had been used to cut around the circumference where the sidewall turns to meet the tread. *tr

On 09/01/10, we took our 2008 prius in because there were two times the car didn't stop when we used the brakes. i told the service manager, the car was accelerating on its own. it was scary and i feared an accident. after they worked on the car, i was told that it was the floor mats that interfered with the accelerator pedal. it didn't make sense to me because i had to put my foot under the pedal to raise it up since it was stuck. i was angry they completely ignored the fact the car was accelerating on its own and acted as though the problem was handled. on 03/31/12, w. manchester/hindry, before 2:00 p.m., it had drizzled, i stopped at a light, drove ahead and at a fork in the road i tapped my brakes to slow down on a curve. instead, the car kept accelerating. i stepped on the brakes but the car did not respond. the car kept gaining speed! i was at least 3 car lengths behind other car, plenty of time to stop but the car accelerated no matter how hard i stepped on the brakes. it was terrifying! i realized i was going to crash and there was nothing i could do to prevent it. i rear ended the mercedes, the airbags failed to deploy. i had 2 boxes of books in the trunk that hit the back of my seat and knocked down the rear seats from the impact. the car was towed. damages: $5,988.79. medical: $25,000. next month, a cracked pump was discovered at firewall, due to the accident. the black box showed impact was at 35 mph, (35-27) mph, 0.02 sec. injuries: concussion, whiplash, back spasms, double-crush injury, ptsd, depression, migraines. i couldn't drive or start physical therapy for 4 mos., until 07/27/12. my therapist worked alot to relax my muscles, i had traction, bought a traction device $400. and 6 mos. of chiropractic for muscle spasms. 12/08/12, i had a nerve-test, it was abnormal for a double-crush injury. prescribed xanax for ptsd, anxiety. *tr

On 09/01/10, we took our 2008 prius in because there were two times the car didn't stop when we used the brakes. i told the service manager, the car was accelerating on its own. it was scary and i feared an accident. after they worked on the car, i was told that it was the floor mats that interfered with the accelerator pedal. it didn't make sense to me because i had to put my foot under the pedal to raise it up since it was stuck. i was angry they completely ignored the fact the car was accelerating on its own and acted as though the problem was handled. on 03/31/12, w. manchester/hindry, before 2:00 p.m., it had drizzled, i stopped at a light, drove ahead and at a fork in the road i tapped my brakes to slow down on a curve. instead, the car kept accelerating. i stepped on the brakes but the car did not respond. the car kept gaining speed! i was at least 3 car lengths behind other car, plenty of time to stop but the car accelerated no matter how hard i stepped on the brakes. it was terrifying! i realized i was going to crash and there was nothing i could do to prevent it. i rear ended the mercedes, the airbags failed to deploy. i had 2 boxes of books in the trunk that hit the back of my seat and knocked down the rear seats from the impact. the car was towed. damages: $5,988.79. medical: $25,000. next month, a cracked pump was discovered at firewall, due to the accident. the black box showed impact was at 35 mph, (35-27) mph, 0.02 sec. injuries: concussion, whiplash, back spasms, double-crush injury, ptsd, depression, migraines. i couldn't drive or start physical therapy for 4 mos., until 07/27/12. my therapist worked alot to relax my muscles, i had traction, bought a traction device $400. and 6 mos. of chiropractic for muscle spasms. 12/08/12, i had a nerve-test, it was abnormal for a double-crush injury. prescribed xanax for ptsd, anxiety. *tr

Headlight will go off when driving, sometimes one only. then the other. there is no set pattern. headlights will come back on when the on/off switch is turned off then back on, then will go off again. three oem bulbs have been replaced in one and a half years. i understand that i am not the only person that is having this problem. toyota does not acknowledge that there is a problem. they say that it is just a bad bulb and just replace the bulb only to have the same thing happen. this is a safety issue as we cannot predict when bulbs will go out! *tr

I was leaving a store parking lot when the driver in front of me stopped and told me my driver's side headlight was out. it was getting dark so i had to postpone my plans and go straight home. when i arrived home the headlights were both on, but then on parking in the garage i noticed the passenger side headlight was off. the next morning i drove to my mechanic and the headlights were both on when i left, but on arriving there they were both off. i as shocked when my mechanic said to go to the dealer because this was a known problem with my vehicle and toyota was sued for it. he said the dealer needed to report it to toyota, however, the dealer denied knowing anything about the issue or that there was a lawsuit until i showed it to them online and then they admitted it. when i asked them if toyota has changed anything about the headlight problem they said "no!" the estimate was $485. i called toyota and complained because many people with this problem said replacing the bulbs doesn't fix the problem and that it may recur or more expensive repairs might be necessary. the toyota customer service said they would cover the cost to replace the headlamp bulbs just this time only because i've been a toyota customer for 17 years and not because of any negligence on their part. and like the dealer, basically lied and refused to admit they knew anything about the issue or the lawsuit but at the same time mentioned the 50,000 mile/5 year extended warranty from lawsuit for same issue, which excludes me. i do not feel safe driving this car anymore. my headlights could go off again while i'm driving at night and i could be involved in an accident. it's irresponsible and totally unacceptable to ignore dangerous safety issue like this and lie to cover it up, not only by toyota but any government agency paid by taxpayers to look out for the safety of the public. *tr

I was driving my 2008 toyota prius and the hid left headlight suddenly went out. while driving in the dark, i had to turn off my headlights and turn them back on. when i did this, both lights came back on. this issue happened several times over the course of an hour. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2008 toyota prius. the contact stated that the driver's side headlight would continuously fail without warning. the contact mentioned that he was able to turn the head light back on immediately after the failure. the vehicle was taken to the dealer where the technician stated that the headlight needed to be replaced. the manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. the vehicle was not repaired. the vin was not available. the failure mileage was 115,000 and the current mileage was 137,000.

Tl* the contact owns a 2008 toyota prius. the contact stated while driving at night the headlights shut off intermittently. the vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the light bulbs needed to be replaced. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was notified of the failure. the approximate failure mileage was 50,000 and the current mileage was 55,000.

Every few weeks (even several times in the same week), the dashboard lights on the car go completely dark, without warning (no, the dimmer switch is not turned to "low" or "off"-- that is the first thing we tried). simultaneously, or sometimes at different times, the car refuses to turn off, even when the "off" switch is pressed constantly or intermittently, for up to a half-hour. obviously, it is extremely dangerous to leave a car running, so one cannot leave the car; when driving, the loss of all the dashboard information is terrifying, especially at night when it is so distracting as to be potentially crash-causing. the toyota dealer first claimed it was the 12-volt battery, so we replaced it. this did not fix it. at the dealer's request, we left the car with them for a long weekend, and they claimed that since they weren't able to reenact the situation, they could not help us. after some back-and-forth, they agreed to replace a "combination meter," which toyota had apparently found troublesome enough to offer free "out-of-warranty" repairs of. however, the dealer first said toyota would not pay for it unless the dealer was able to independently verify the trouble, and they were not able to recreate the distressing situation. as if we would lie in order to receive a new combination meter! we just want to car to work and be safe. now we are waiting five-plus days for the part to come in, and not even sure if it will fix our problem. there's plenty of discussion of this exact same issue all across the internet. why has the company not figured this out, and trained its mechanics accordingly? *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

It actually happened two times within a month. in one case, i was turning left to take a ramp with a very low speed around 5 mph. even though some parts of the road was icy, but the car didn't slip. it was exactly a several sudden pushes, unintended acceleration, with my foot on the brake only. i was so scared because i couldn't control the car for few seconds, and i thought i totally lost the control of the car. i tried to steer the car safely and turn on my emergency light. checked the brake again, it was working after that. the second time, happened to me when i was coming out of school parking and didn't have any speed at all. again around 5 mph. school is located in residential area. when you get out of the parking, you can only turn right, then there is an intersection with a stop sign almost 50 feet away. on the day of incident, i tried to stop behind the stop sign with no speed at all, but suddenly the car got the same continuous and sudden pushes. it was accelerated unintended. my foot was completely on the brake, but i lost the control again, and i was so lucky that day that there were no cars around the intersection, i tried to steer the car to the left, turned on my emergency light, and tried to push the brake again and again. after few seconds, i found it working. i called the toyota the same day, and they are in the process of scheduling me for inspection. again, even though the surface was slick with ice, but i didn't have speed, and it didn't look like abs is working. i exactly know how abs works, specially when it is snowy or icy. this is very scary. please investigate. thanks. *tr

Purchased car used. i noticed immediately that the right light was flickering. in a few days, it started going out. came back on later, then went out again back and forth. after having bulb replaced, with in 2 days, it did the same thing. left hid light is now doing the same flickering, though not going out totally yet that i have noticed. turning lights on and off make them work again until the next time they randomly go out. they will randomly go out or on even if sitting still. after researching, i am finding that people are spending 1000s of dollars and still not getting this fixed. *tr

Car loses braking ablities when going over rough terrain or slippery terrain. the abs initiates but then stops. the abs light can be seen on the dash (normal). this action is very frightening. the stopping distances have left room for error, so no accidents yet.

The hid headlamps on this vehicle were part of a class action suit several years ago alleging the lamps failed prematurely. toyota settled the suit by acknowledging the defective parts and extending the warranty to 5 years or 50,000 miles. i was forced to have both headlamps replaced right at 50,000 as one had gone out and almost immediately the other started going on and off intermittently. it created a significant safety hazard at the time. on friday february 28, 2014 i had another headlamp go out while on a dark stretch of rural highway in central missouri. i was fortunate enough to get home, but was forced to have the lamp replaced at significant cost ($247.38) the next day. this headlamp lasted approximately 45,000 miles. toyota has refused to accept responsibility for this item which i feel is creating a very significant safety hazard. while i was fortunate enough to be in a dark area at the time of the failure that made the issue quite obvious, drivers in a more urban environment would have easily never noticed. even for those who did notice most drivers would be unaware of the proclivity for these lamps to fail and the imminent danger they are in driving at night on a single lamp with these particular lamps. unfortunately headlamps have been such a reliable part that most drivers will feel it's a once in a blue moon event and there is no urgency for the replacement. it appears that while they said as part of the suit settlement that they had resolved the issue with the lamps failing prematurely they quite clearly have not. they are most definitely putting drivers in danger. it is my hope that nhtsa will look into this issue. *tr

When i started the car the dash lights didn't come on. this has happened 3 times. doesn't really sound like a big deal until you realize you don't know how fast you're driving, don't know how much gas you have - not to mention, if anything goes wrong with the car while this is happening the warning light will not illuminate. also when this happens the car doesn't turn off. *tr

There is a leak inside the 12v battery compartment that houses the battery and the electronic brake controller. the car's hatch leaks water in from rain and car washes and it collects around the 12v battery. in this prius, this area has the battery, electronic brake controller, and further back is the hv battery. there should not be any water that can leak into this area with the electronics. there are many google threads regarding owners experiencing this problem with water leaking inside the car's back area. this is a major safety issue that needs to be addressed because the battery and brake booster is in this exact area where it can affect the safety of the car when driven. *tr

When i was on the freeway, one of my headlights just went out. i had the same exact headlight replaced only one year ago. a few days later, both of my headlights had the same problem. they would flicker and then just go out while i am driving at high speeds. if i turn the light switch on and off while i am driving they sometimes come back on. sometimes i have to pull over and restart the car for them to come back on. this issue is not safe! please help. *tr

The headlight turns off suddenly. most of the time it is the left head light and some time right head light.the head light comes back on after turning off and on. it is dangerous when all of a sudden the light went out at night. mechanic find no problem. hwever, the head light cuts off suddenly. *tr

This is in regards to the electrical fuel pump that is already being recalled. i had my vehicle shut off while driving in traffic. i had it towed to the toyota dealership at the time and they replaced the electric water pump, the water pump, and the battery. my invoice came out to $1213. i sent this to toyota for a refund when the recall notice came out. they refunded me a mere $428 (this is for only the electric water pump) claiming that they do not have anything that shows the battery or the other water pump could be effected by the recall condition. it seems strange that i brought my vehicle in when i experienced exactly the same condition described in the recall and ended up needing multiple parts replaced when toyota claims only the electrical water pump may be effected. i had no other issues with my vehicle leading up to this so it seems highly unlikely that the water pump and battery just went bad at the very same moment the electrical water pump stopped. *tr

The exterior headlights continue to malfunction. they turn off randomly, and you much switch them on and off again to get them to continue to work. they at times malfunction at the same time, and the cost of the replacement bulb is astronomical at approx. $200 per bulb. malfunction continues to happen, even after bulb replacement. *tr

Was driving to nova scotia 10/18/13. stopped for coffee after 2 hrs of driving. car would not restart. returning to maine10/20/2013 was passing a tractor trailer truck with another trailer truck passing behind me as well. no check engine light had come on at any time during the trip. suddenly,all the warning lights on the dashboard lit up and the car stopped working while driving at 75 mph. tried not to slow too quickly with truck bearing down behind me ,but could not accelerate either. car had popped into neutral . got off on left of two lane highway .car was dead. would not start. had towed to toyota dealer in amherst. diagnostics found no cause. had to drive 4 hours back home next day not knowing if it would happen again. took car to toyota dealer 45 miles from my home in us. the following week .no cause found. happened again shortly after on main street, blocking traffic . towed to local mechanic. was there one week. unable to diagnose. towed 45 miles to toyota again. there another week. i was told it was a problem with fuse box assembly. shortly after, the master warning light came on, as well as a warning symbol on the touch screen meaning 'malfunction in hybrid system.' towed again to toyota dealer. front battery replaced. noted today that prius recall on '09-'14 models for exact same thing that happened to my '08 model. total cost $600.00 plus $270.00 towing and $120.00 for hotel . *tr

Driver of 2008 toyota prius was traveling at approximately 30 mph when driver was struck on left rear quarter panel, hit black ice and struck a curb then a tree. airbag deployed and driver collided with airbag and the driver seat belt did not keep driver in place and driver struck the top of his head on the top of the windshield. *tr

On occasion the vehicle will pop out of d or will have a problem getting into d. this day i parked, left the vehicle running (on) since it was cold in boston and my wife was sitting in the passenger seat. existed the car, retrieved a package i was delivering from the back seat and left. about 5 min later, my wife said that all of a sudden she feels the car moving forward and before she can stop it the car crashed into a truck with a very large tow hitch assembly. the crash nailed my front hood virtually dead center. dealer could not replicate but seems from other online comments that this is not unknown about gear difficulty although popping out of p seems like a new add-on or maybe few of us ever leave a car running. *tr

My brother was killed in a car wreck on 1/14/2014 as you can see from the article of what happened. not one airbag went off during this wreck. there is video and pictures of the severity of the wreck. 54-year-old [xxx] was killed in a three-vehicle accident on i-75 tuesday morning, january 14, 2014. [xxx] i-75 accident.according to georgia state patrol, traffic was stopped in the northbound lanes of i-75, near exit 64, for an earlier accident. [xxx], of orlando, was either slowing or stopped in his toyota prius in the inside lane when a gmc envoy crashed into the back of [xxx] prius, forcing it into a stopped semi-truck in the middle lane. tragically, [xxx] perished from his injuries. information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6). *tr

Although the investigation of hid headlight failure on 2006-09 on the toyota prius was closed in 2009, i wanted to add my complaint to your file. i just paid to replace my drivers' side headlight for the third time. it was replaced once under warranty, comped a second time by the dealer and now i had to pay $1,022.24 to replace it after the company refused to. there is clearly an issue with this headlight and the cost of replacing it is obscene, making it a safety threat. *tr

One or both headlights shut off intermittently while driving. usually come back on when switch is turned off, then on. may happen repeatedly. *tr

Everytime i drive the car and engage the brakes over an uneven, bumpy, or slick surface, the anti lock brake system engages. when it engages the car no longer slows down, it is like the brakes are completely gone for 1-2 seconds until the brakes re-engage. i have had several close incidents of almost hitting other vehicles. i have not done anything about it because it is a company vehicle and nothing bad has happened until today. the anti-lock brakes system disengaged the brakes and i ended up rear ending another vehicle. *tr

The lights just turn off by themselves. one will go out, then the other. many times both will go out at he same time it is really scary. the lights have been replaced and it still happens. *tr

I was driving down the highway at night at approx. 70 mph and both headlights turned off. i then slowed down and shut the headlights off manually and then turned them back on. both headlights turned on and worked properly. within that week i brought the car to a shop and had him replace both headlights at a crazy cost. thinking that this fixed the problem i continued to drive the car, i have had one other time that both headlights went out but have had multiple times where one head light would go out. i have been pulled over by the authorities at least twice by having the headlight out. in order to fix the lights i have to shut them off and then turn them back on. this is very unsafe, my life, my family members life, and possible other lives are at risk!!! *tr

Cpcs:i1410421a. 2008 toyota prius. consumer stated the car was taken in for a wheel alignment. apparently, toyota has not allowed any way to adjust the rear toe or camber on the prius, which can result in steering issues and problems associated with excessive or uneven tire wear. *ln

2008 toyota prius. consumer writes in regards to air bags never deployed in accident. *smd the consumer stated there was no need to keep sending recall letters, because the vehicle was totaled in an accident in december 2011. the consumer stated he struck the center guardrail, during a winter storm. *jb

Toyota prius (2008) hatch release rubber cover piece detached and tore apart. note that my rx300 selection of make/part number is bogus, as i have no way of knowing who made this rubber component. *tr

My head lights will all of a sudden go out while driving. i've had to click them off and on again, but it keeps happening and is quite scary while driving at night. since i work until 10:00pm every night, i am constantly driving at night. i have also been stopped by our local police department and issued a warning for having a headlight out. i have been to my local toyota dealer and was told by them that since my warranty has expired, it would cost me about $350.00 per headlight to replace. i have also been researching and noticed that this is an ongoing problem with this type of car. i also understand that there was a class action suit involving this model, but we have never been notified of anything to do with this problem. why hasn't the nhtsa notified owners of this ongoing defect? when this happens it is quite scary. *tr

Driving down 4 lane, undivided highway at night and both headlights went dark. *tr

Rear hatch switch melted and had to be replaced for $290.62. this is a toyota problem which they refuse to acknowledge. *tr

In july of 2013, while driving, the drivers side headlight went out. i bought a new headlight hid bulb and had it installed a few days later. in december of 2013 the light went out again. i was able to get it to work intermittently by toggling the on/off switch. the light would stay on for 1-2 minutes before going out again. i had the lightbulb removed and will have to purchase another bulb to be installed. each bulb costs nearly $175. i have been quoted $120 by a toyota dealer for labor. *tr

Pulling away from home after starting car, i noticed dashboard lights were out, no speedometer, etc. although blinker lights worked. later, backing up, i noticed the camera image did not work. big problem was when i got to work and car would not turn off. i tried for 20 minutes including that i made the mistake of putting smart key into slot thinking that would help only to realize that key could not be removed without car being off. i absolutely had to go to my office; had to leave car unattended in downtown. when returned a few hours later to go to dealer, i tried it again and it turned off.

I was driving home at night when both my headlights on my toyota prius suddenly completely went off for no reason. i had an issue a few weeks before, and had noticed that sometimes the front right headlight would just blink off, and a friend of mine had pointed out that i had a headlight out. but when i turned on my car the next time both lights were working... soon i realized that if the light blinked off, and if i turned the lights off and back on again they would both come one; sometimes for a few minutes or longer, but sometimes only for a second and then blink back off... i was about to look into getting that checked out when suddenly this time last week both lights went off, on my curvy street in malibu in the dark where there are no street lights as i live in the mountain 2 miles away from the pch and it is a very dark and dangerously curvy road... luckily my reflexes kicked in and i quickly flicked the lights off and on as i had done before and the lights came back on, but i could have easily flown off the cliff here... if my wife was driving my car and not known about flicking the lights on and off she could have died. i will not let her drive my car at night until this is fixed. it was completely pitch black for a second there and the average person who had not discovered this yet could have had a fatal death in that moment. imagine if i had not known that i needed to flick my lights back on and off which i had luckily just found worked only weeks before with the singly headlight going out... i contacted toyota and they said they will not fix this on their own, and that have to pay in full for replacing the bulbs. i have now done research on this and found countless complaints online about this, and i can't believe this is not a simple recall issue and that toyota is not taking responsibility... absolutely ludicrous. what can be done? *tr

While driving my car the headlight go off without any warning. this is extremely dangerous. i have already filled one complaint. i thought i had fixed the problem when i replaced my headlights but that only worked for about a month and the same thing started to happen again, now i cant drive at night with out my headlights going out. *tr

The drivers side headlight goes out intermittently. we replaced the bulb, but we are still having the problem.

Left head light goes out while driving. i can turn head lights off and back on and it starts working again. the dealer says i need a new bulb at the rate of $330.00 dollars plus tax and $50.00 to install. i asked if it was guaranteed they said no once it is installed there is no guarantee. i was born at night but not last night!! i think they have another problem and don't have a clue what it is! at $400.00 a light bulb-good money if you can get it. *tr

Head lights shut off while driving usually on passenger side i turn them off and back on and they work then it may or may not happen again some times it is on the drivers side as well getting worse taken it by dealer ship they say they don't know what's causing it yet this is a common problem with this car i believe it is a flaw in manufacturing and designee. *tr

Head lights suddenly went out for about 5 seconds at night! they came back on by themselves. i was told by dealer hard to find intermittent problems. of course it was working when at dealer. told i needed both hid head lights @$265. each. also possible head light assembly and computer. approx another $2200. my passenger side headlight has been intermittent for a while, but this is the first time both have gone out and left me blind!! many other complaints from others i have talked to. should be recalled. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2008 toyota prius. the contact sated that while driving less than 10 mph on a wet road surface, the brakes failed to respond when engaged and went straight to the floor. in addition, the brake pedal became stuck to the floorboard when depressed. the contact was able to coast to the shoulder where the brake pedal was released. the vehicle resumed normally and was later taken to the dealer, who advised that the battery failed and caused the brake actuator to fail. the dealer replaced the battery. the failure and current mileage was 61,000. updated 02/11/2014 *bf the consumer stated there was no resistance and the pedal did not get stuck, but it had no effect in stopping the vehicle. after several seconds, the consumer coasted to the shoulder at which time, the brakes started to work. also, the battery was replaced. a month after the incident, the instrument cluster failed again, with no warning lights and it had to be replaced.

I was driving about 70mph on sept. 25, 2013 when i noticed my rt. front headlight went off on a dark road. later it came back on. when i stopped to pull over, it was out completely. i continued traveling and it came back on. since then, i've noticed both rt. and left headlight intermittently turn off by themselves and go back on by themselves while driving. recently it's become more frequent and the left front flickers occasionally. it's a safety hazard. my address is: [xxx]driver license #:[xxx]/ ss#: [xxx]vin: [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6). *tr

I have a toyota prius and it is used as a taxi in san francisco. i had noticed a few times that the engine revs up while i was at stop and the battery was fully charged. it was like the engine pulse. idle to high rev and idle again for a few times and that happened for about 2 weeks while on the road. the vehicle started to accelerate by itself at the first week of nov 2013 and happen again on highway 101 south in mill valley ca around 8 pm. i have called city toyota and explained about it but the service department just told me to get appointment to check it up. as i assume myself as well experienced driver with 25 years of driving multi type of vehicles, it is not driver error nor the pedal nor the floor mats. it is mechanical or electrical problem.

When i brake and also go over a bump my 2008 prius lurches forward. the traction control light illuminates. the brakes become ineffective. this caused me to have an accident last night. the cars before me came to a sudden stop. i was driving 15-20mph but unfortunately i hit the brakes while unknowningly simultaneously going over a bump. the faulty traction control system sent me into a 1-2 second lurch forward with zero brakes. when i finally was able to have brakes i had to maneuver the vehicle to the left of the car ahead scratching the aura and denting my front right panel. this is not the first time the brakes have failed but it is the first time i was involved in an accident because of it. toyota drivers need to leave a 4 sec. space between cars to make up for the 2 sec. lapse in brakes. *tr

Most recently i was driving at night and the left headlight was not working at all. the next day i took the car to my local mechanic and both lights were working fine so they were unable to do anything. two days later i was driving home late and again the lights worked fine. this has been a constant problem. sometimes the lights (one or both) work and sometimes they don't. two months ago i was driving on a dark winding rode with only the fog lights working, both of the headlights were out. you never know when it's going to happen and it's extremely dangerous. is it a problem with the hid lights or a circuit issue? my toyota dealer was unaware of the problem despite what appears to be several complaints having been logged. my car only has 66k miles and i don't drive at night very often. *tr

Normal traffic, dry pavement, level surface, clear visibility 40 mph. i was following in traffic, not particularly close behind a full size pickup truck. the truck stopped very quickly. i performed a 'panic' stop by depressing the brake pedal as hard as possible and maintained the pressure. my prius slowed but did not stop prior to hitting the truck. no airbags deployed. as i pushed the brake pedal as hard as possible, there was never any 'chattering' characteristic of hydraulic brakes being applied with accompanied abs pulsating activity. i believe there was never any 'switch' between the hybrid regernerative braking and to the hydraulic braking. i truly believe in any other car w/o the regenerative/hydraulic bake switch, the car would have stopped in a much shorter distance. the car is now being repaired, after which i will have the brakes examined. *tr

Intermittent hid headlight operation this has been recurring over the last 5 years. always mentioned during the maintenance check-ups never corrected. *tr

Both headlights went out. this was my first experience about 1 year ago. for the past several months, one or both headlights will go out at least a couple of times each morning during my one hour commute. recovery is to turn the headlight switch off and then on quickly. fortunately, my car has fog lamps which i now keep on continuously to avoid being completely in the dark. i have checked online reports and understand this is a known problem. toyota dealer doesn't think there is a problem since the lights work fine when the car is in their service area. seems the car must be moving to cause the issue. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2008 toyota prius. the contact stated that while driving approximately 20 mph, the engine rpms increased excessively as the vehicle suddenly accelerated. in addition, the brakes failed to stop the vehicle and the contact crashed into a wall. a police report was filed. the contact was transported to the hospital as a precaution, but was not injured. the vehicle was destroyed and towed to a private mechanic but was not diagnosed to determine the cause of the failure. the manufacturer was not notified of the failure. the approximate failure and current mileage was 54,000. updated 11/14/13*cn

While driving,no more gas power,warning lights on,vsc too.throttle response was not working,turned off the car for few minutes and restarted it,it worked for a short while and did it again... toyota oakland said i needed to replace the engine throttle body.$1600!!! one month after the warranty wore off. *tr

Traveling at 40 m.p.h. a pickup truck pulled out onto the roadway ahead about 150ft. i depressed the brake and the vehicle slowed quickly at first to roughly 35 m.p.h. when the abs warning light displayed for a brief moment to about 30 m.p.h. after the warning light stopped flashing; 2 flashes, about 1/2 of a second, the pressure was solid and the vehicle slowed minimally. i managed to stop the vehicle in time, but felt that the brake system had failed to properly slow the vehicle. it felt like stopping a train. i feel unsafe in this vehicle under these conditions and have seen a lot of similar incidences reading online. i'm concerned for my the safety of my family and other motorist, and feel that toyota should take the responsibility to resolve this issue with these vehicles. *tr

I rear-ended the car in front of me in a very low speed accident, listed on my ticket as 1+ mph by the police officer who witnessed my accident while at the scene attending to an already-occurred accident. when i was 2-3 car lengths behind the car in front of me, going approx. 5-10 mph, i saw their brake lights go on, and i pushed the brake pedal and nothing happened. i pumped the brakes, and nothing happened. when i realized that my car's momentum was not slowing in the slightest, and that i was going to hit the car in front of me, i tried to maneuver into the vacant right lane, but the failure of the car to even slow down made accident avoidance not possible. when i struck the car in front of me, the blow was primarily with the left front corner of my car contacting the center of their bumper. my car was totaled; their car need a new rear bumper but only for cosmetic purposes. i will testify under oath in a court of law that the brakes in my 2008 toyota prius failed, and that is why i had this wreck. *tr

Following the purchase of my 2008 toyota prius, we visited a friend who told us our passenger side headlight was out. when we turned off the lights and turned them back on it came on. we have had the dealer we purchased the car from and our mechanic try to find the problem but the lights still go out, sometimes passenger side, sometimes driver side, and a few times they have both gone out. when the switch is shut off and on they come back on. i'm afraid my lights may fail and be the cause of an accident. we, my husband and i, took the car to a toyota dealer to fix the safety recalls on the vehicle and specifically asked them to check the headlights and described our problems to them. they failed to check our lights but gave us a checklist of other maintenance suggestions. *tr

One, the other, or both headlight turn off unexpectedly while driving. rotating the headlight control stalk to off position and then back to on position will relight the headlights. the problem is getting progressively worse. there are now multiple incidents even during short trips. *tr

Hid headlamp intermittent, replaced under warranty but has failed again @ 76,000 mi. *tr

2008 prius headlamps intermittent hid problem. this is a known and common problem with toyota prius 2004-2009. no recall for it that i am aware of, however they light will go out randomly. the cost of repair can been extreme. toyota was sued for this, but did not make an official recall (http://www.girardgibbs.com/toyota-prius/). when driving my lights will go out for no reason. turn the switch off and back on will sometimes correct the issue, but others times i have to wait a bit and retry. this is a danger and safety issue. i have read where repairs can run from 300 - 1100 per side to repair. in addition, the rear lift gate latch rubber is becoming very sticky. i have again read numerous complaints that it eventually melts and again toyota has not put a recall in place for this. lastly the mpg is horrible. in the city i get 27 to 36 randomly changes, there is no stability in the mpg. it is all over the board. i am the only driver. this vehicle was purchased at tustin toyota in tustin california. they have refused all calls from me. they have not called back after 4 messages and two internet chat messages. *tr

Drivers headlights goes on and off randomly. bulbs will not fix it and there is no factory fix for this problem. if they both go out at the same time very unsafe. for a fairly new car. *tr

Headlights blink out singly or at the same time for over a year now. increasingly both lights go out over last year. car at 74000 miles now. can be one or both so i doubt this is a bulb issue. *tr

Passenger side headlight turned off. when light switch was toggled headlight turned on again. over the course of a year the driver side headlight exhibited the same problem, sometimes both headlights have gone out (including on a secluded road at night) without warning. there is no warning light to indicate either bulb is malfunctioning. currently passenger side light does not function at all, and now the driver side light does not stay on more than 30 seconds at a time. *js

While driving my 2008 prius at night, i had my headlights on. driving at approx 50 - 60 mph my hid front lights went out. i was in complete darkness. i can not understand why this not a safety recall by now because i understand that this is happening with regularity.

Some months ago the driver's door lock stopped working. i ended up using the key to open the door for a couple of months, since toyota dealer quoted me $500 to correct the problem. after a couple of months, i decided to pay and the issue was fixed. to my surprise, the front passenger door lock is going bad now. when i try to unlock it from within the car, using the "unlock doors" button, it will work every 3rd time or so. clearly a bigger issue, not isolated to my individual vehicle. i only have 70000 miles and always serviced my vehicle at the toyota dealers. i would like toyota to pay to fix my lock and reimburse me for the actuator i already paid to replace. *js

Black handle on hatch melting. after only about 5 years use, the rubber cover on the hatch release handle (the exterior handle of the rear hatch) of my 2008 toyota prius, melted into a sticky tarry black rubbery gooey mess. i can best describe it as being a viscous black glob like roofing tar. to open the hatch, you have to touch this black goo each time, which makes it difficult to operate the hatch release. i went to toyota ardmore, pa to complain about it but did not get any answers and choose to ignore it. i am asking for your agency to take a look at these instances and also to ask toyota why they are not recalling these handles. thanks for your help.

My headlight keeps going out. i know its a known problem but there has not been recall and it did not occur until recently, so it does not fit in with the toyota 50,000 miles and under rule. however, i have been stopped a couple times and its happening more and more every day. this should be recalled! *tr

The rear hatch latch rubber cover has melted, making it difficult to open the door.

This happened when i was driving in sfo city on an uphill street. it was bumper to bumper traffic and the car was going just fine (stop-and-go), and at one point it just stopped on the uphill and won't pull up. i had half+ tank of gas, battery was showing 4 bars, the car was on (all electrics okay) but won't pull up even when pressing hard on the gas. there was a emergency warning light that came (system malfunction or something). i even restarted the car, but no help. finally aaa came and towed the car and brought it back to the normal road and it started running fine?? not sure what caused this? i strongly suspect that this has something to do with the hybrid switching. my car service (dealer) says the 12v battery (not the hybrid one) could be dead/low. *tr

Lift gate latch rubber cover is melted. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2008 toyota prius. the contact stated that while driving 30 mph, the vehicle accelerated without manual force. in addition, the brakes failed to stop the vehicle and the contact crashed into the rear bumper of another vehicle. the contact sustained a concussion, whip lash, and injuries to the neck and back. the driver of the second vehicle sustained whip lash. a police report was filed. the vehicle was towed to a body shop. the vehicle was not repaired and the manufacturer was not notified. the vin was not available. the approximate failure mileage was 50,000.

Rear liftgate rubber guard has become melted and gooey causing intermittent back liftgate door look issues. i need to replace just the rubber piece. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2008 toyota prius. the contact stated that while driving 30 mph, the power train moved into neutral independently. the contact moved the gear shifter back into drive. one week later while the contact was driving 60 mph, the failure recurred. the vehicle was taken to a dealer for diagnosis and the contact was informed that the gear shift mechanism would need to be replaced. the manufacturer was notified of the failure. the vehicle was repaired. the failure and current mileages were 57,000.

I was driving on the highway when both my lights started to flicker and then both went out. then after turning the headlights off then my right headlight stayed off and my left headlight came back on and i continued on the road, after about 5 mins down the road the left went out again but came back on. and didn't have problems with it again. then 3 weeks ago i got my right bulb replaced and it worked with no problems. then after 2 weeks my bulb blew again. then last night i was coming home on my way from my barn and the left headlight flickered 1 time and then i had no headlights and took my car down into a field because i couldn't see after i came to a stop my lights came back on with me turning the lights on and off. *tr

Rear hatch release cover melts off switch. my prius rear hatch release rubber cover became sticky a year or so ago. then started melting off the switch this year. i left the car sit for a week in high 90 temps and the rubber cover was nearly melted to my license plate. it was no longer attached to the electric switch. i researched on line and found several people complaining about this issue. toyota wants $200 plus for the switch. this should not breakdown like this. would like to have toyota fix the problem since it has a hard time keeping this part in stock. that shows it's a problem. *tr

When i try to open the trunk, the rubber piece that you touch in order to open the trunk seem to have melted. my fingers turn black every time i try to open the trunk. does anyone know what that rubber piece is called or the part number so that i can replace it? it makes the rear hatch very hard to open in hot and cold weather. *tr

This has happened a number of times before. we were driving at night about 11:00 p.m. and the headlights were working fine. suddenly, both headlights went out. i slowed the car and turned the headlights off and turned them back on again very quickly. no problem the rest of the way home. sometimes the lights would dim and i was not sure if they were on or not and would shut them off again and then on again. sometimes other drivers would signal me that the headlights were not working and i would turn them off and then on again and they would both be lit. but often when there is still ambient light as on a city street or lots of other cars, i would not be aware that they were off until i hit a dark section of road. i went to toyota yesterday and the replaced both bulbs. this happened a couple of years ago and i became aware of it because i was following my son in law in his car and he said that i had no lights. very scary. i did the same thing then and turned them off and on again. *tr

I live in texas where the weather gets hot during the summer. i noticed last year that the rubber trunk latch on my toyota prius was noticeably different in texture after i had tried to use it after it had been parked in the sun. it didn't cause much of a problem then, but now it has melted so much that it droops down over an inch and is about to fall off from the sides. the handle has turned into a tar like substance, and will not reattached to the original part. i spoke with my dealership, and they have told me that this is a consistent problem, but will not replace it for under $400. i normally park my vehicle in a garage, so this is obviously a manufacturer defect that they want me to pay for to replace. this concerns me as i will not be able to use my trunk with the rubber piece gone, since it protects it from the water, dust and debris. the electrical connections also allow me to use the trunk, lock and unlock the car, and is part of the entire engine and braking system. with the known problems that already are associated with the prius, i am scared to drive the car with potential issues that could arise from the electrical issues and losing access to the safety equipment (emergency supplies, spare tire, jack) that are all located in the trunk. if there was ever a need to exit from the trunk, it would not be possible once the latch has been compromised. please look into this issue as it has occurred to countless people who all own 07-08 priuses, as we would all like to be able to use our trunk handles without being covered in black goo. *tr

The hatchback release is melting. it is all gooey when you open the door. one of my concerns is what type of chemical is getting on my hands? is it toxic? the second is safety. i have read over time you will not be able to open the hatchback. this would not be appropriate if you had a flat tire. i contacted toyota and they said they have no record of this problem,but after researching the internet i see a significant amount of complaints. i also see a lot of complaints about this problem on this site. please have a recall for a defective part. i was told by the dealer that it would cost 210.00 plus tax for a replacement. *tr

While driving home, friends who were following me passed me then calledto let me know that my car's right front light and left rear light was not working. for the last week or so people coming towards me blinked their lights .. i have regular checkups at the toyota place, so i ignored it. looking back on it, they were probably trying to tell me about the headlight. i took my 2008 prius to the toyota dealer to replace the bulbs. the repair representative said that the front lights were working but the left rear light wasn't . when i told him both lights were definitely not working the previous night, he said if i wanted, they could replace the rear light with a bulb, but the right headlight was more difficult due to removing the bumper and changing the light assembly (not just a bulb!). this would cost me about $300. i thought that a bulb replacement would do it but not so, this car has blue lights that require bumper removal to even get to the light. since the light was working at that time and $300 is a lot for a retired single woman , i told him i would think about it. not knowing if the light will work or not, i quit driving after dark. however, unexpected rain storms forced me to turn the lights on a couple days ago. it worked. however, the problem is i am not sure if they will come on or not. maybe the left headlight is doing the same thing: going off and on when i have no indication that this is happening. i bought the prius to save money on gas and called it my "last" car and have taken care of it as prescribed. now i don't feel safe to drive it at night or when it rains. *tr

There has been a chirping sound coming from my brakes. im not sure when it began i just thought it was a normal occurrence recently my dashboard lights or indicator lights have come on i took my car in to the dealer and they told me that it needed a new actuator pump which would cost around 3000dollars to replaceafter doing some research online i discovered that this is a ongoing problem with these cars this actually a pump is defective on a lot of these cars this car should be recalled and the problem should be fixed by the dealer. *tr

There is condensation in driver side headlight. toyota and also their extra care platinum policy are not willing to take care of problem. toyota dealer said "it is a common problem for prius" , but there is no repair sealing, they say the entire housing needs to be changed, moisture is a danger to the electrical system! they say, total price around $600. why should i be responsible for their manufacturing defect, and also be in danger if lights would go off when driving. i am a 67 year old female keep my car in perfect order and it would be very dangerous for me if any light failure was to happen when i am driving at night. *tr

Left hid headlight flickers on and off, then turns off. if i turn the headlights off and then back on again, the light will stay on for a bit, but then will eventually flicker out again. also, the bulb is very difficult to access and replace, and toyota reportedly charges a lot to replace and install these bulbs. *tr

The headlight will go out,i turn my lights off than on again the light will come on again. this keeps happening over and over again

Last week i went out driving with a friend, i was delivering meals on wheels to various homes in my area. at one house i brake the car to a stop and shifted into park and left the motor running. i then got out of the driver's seat, went and opened the back door, took out the necessary meals, closed the door and then went into the house for the delivery. in the meantime, my friend sat in the parked car and after a very few minutes got out of the car to look at something in the neighboring garden. out of the corner of her eye she saw the car creeping forward. she rushed to the car and tried to stop it but couldn't and so began to scream my name? just at that time i finished my delivery came out of the house and noticed the car was not parked where i left it and heard her screams. i ran to the driveway and saw the car moving forward. i ran after it, managed to open the door and pushed the power button to turn off the motor. this stopped the car just in time before running either into a tree, into another car or off the driveway down a cliff. we were, obviously very shaken up by the incident. no one knows why or how the car went out of park into drive. both my friend and i are sure the car was stationary when i left it and when she left it. it seems to have suddenly shifted. i have gone back to that site to check if there was in incline or anything that would have caused the car to move. the ground was flat, dry and nothing was there to account for this incident. i am writing this to see if this is a problem for the prius. is it something i must be aware of? is there something that must be done to prevent this from happening again? and i would like this to be noted and made a record of by the company and the board of transportation. i would be interested to know if anyone else has had this problem? *tr

Light will turn off, i will turn the switch and they come back on but don't stay on, i have been using the high beams but now they will not work. the regular beams are staying on a little longer but have to do the same thing, turn the switch and on again, the dealer can't seem to find the problem at a cost of $1100, and now replacing the light bulbs at $350 is a bit much. i do a lot of driving during dawn hours and night. why is toyota not cover the cost of this problem. this is an issue with many of the prius from 2005 to 2008 it should be a recall to have the control module replaced on all hid lights d2r. *tr

Melt down of hatchback release handle. very hard to open hatchback. *tr

I was driving the vehicle when the driver side headlight went out. the vehicle continued to drive fine, while on the freeway all the lights turned off. i was able to turn the switch off and then on again. when doing so the passenger side light turned back on. approximately 7-10 minutes later the lights went out again. again i flipped the switch off then on again and the lights turned back on. this happened about 3-4 times over a 32 minute drive. when i got home, i turned the lights on in my driveway and they were both working. as i backed out of the driveway the left head light went out again. *tr

All lights suddenly went black, front, back everything. i was going 50 mph on a mountain road and was on a straight road section out of the curves when everything went black. it was night-time at about 9:30 pm so very dark. i went into shock immediately slammed on brakes, just glad no one in back of me and carefully tried to feel to the side of the road. this is a road with alot of 18 wheelers as it is a major route. also very curvy, and i was lucky not to get killed!!!!! *tr

The plastic part on the rear latch for the toyota prius is now like gum. after internet research this is a common problem for all toyota latches and it costs about $280.00 to fix. i have a 2008 toyota prius and this is a known defective part and should be recalled and the consumer should not be charged. *tr

Intermittent headlight failure. headlight will go out. usually, if lights are turned off and back on, headlight will come back on. sometimes the headlight will turn on, sometimes it won't. this has happened several times (3 or 4) since i have noticed the failure two months ago. *tr

Driving down the highway and the head lights just stopped working , turned them off and back on and worked for about 25 miles and did it again this time i had the fog lights on and it wasn't as bad but again turned them off and then back on worked till i got home .. *tr

My front passenger headlight goes out constantly when driving. i have taken it to two mechanics who cannot find anything wrong with the bulb itself and have told me it's a problem with the hids wiring. i have seen hundreds of complaints online from other prius owners having the identical issue and they are urging for a recall. i am also urging for a recall. there was a class-action lawsuit in regards to this dangerous problem and i don't understand why toyota has created a knowingly faulty lighting system and can't recall it. those who sued toyota have gotten theirs fixed, does it really have to go that far for the rest of us? *tr

The headlights of my prius suddenly went out at night. they came back on after i turned the light switch off and then back on again. this happens 10 or more times an hour for the last several months. almost collided with a bike rider because they suddenly turned off and i couldn't see the person crossing the street. *tr

I purchased a used 2008 prius with approx 30,000 miles. since purchase from a dealership, it only gives at best 41.9mpg, 2nd.. i have had to jump start it on 4 occasions due to a dead battery and the fluid doesn't go far enough to clean the windshield. on the most recent occasion with 35,000 miles..... a week ago i attempted to start the vehicle and it would not. i got it jump started again, i noticed a critical light came on (a triangle and ! sign in red). i brought it to the dealer who said i needed a new battery. i have an extended warranty which they say does not cover it and so had to pay $395.71. i called toyota corporate who offered $300 credit towards any service. the service dept informed me this battery has a 1 year warranty. 3.. i also have noticed a lack of traction after going over small bumps on the road. this happens on any surface when driving at 25mpg or faster... feels like it kind of goes faster. *tr

Both headlights turned off randomly while driving on the freeway late night.. it was extremely dark because there were not many other cars around at the time. *tr

Headlights turn off while driving. turning them off and on works. this has happened several times, randomly. *tr

2008 toyota prius. consumer writes in regards to vehicle headlight issues. *smd the consumer stated around june 2012, he noticed the left front headlight would go out intermittently and come back on. he went to the local dealer and paid $ 203.60 to have the bulb replaced. soon after, the new bulb exhibited the same problem and on september 29, 2012,the dealer replaced the bulb again at no charge. the problem continued with the second replacement bulb and the dealer informed the consumer, that toyota would most likely not replaced the bulb again and the problem was likely the left headlight ballast needed to be replaced. the consumer contacted the purchasing dealer, to get their opinion on replacing the headlight ballast, and he was informed the problem was in litigation and as a result, toyota could not take responsibility for the issue. on december 27, 2012, the dealer replaced the ballast at a cost of $331.24. recently, the right headlight turned on and off intermittently. the consumer was advised not to replace anything else, until he heard from toyota.

The material in the trunk door handle is dissolving and or disintegrating. at times this appears to be the cause of a delay in opening the trunk. my concern is that in the case of an emergency a delay in reaching items needed to deal with a roadside emergency that are stored in the trunk may occur. i had mentioned this defect to toyota dealers in prior years and my complaint was in my opinion relegated to the "unimportant bucket". i recently researched the defect on the internet and observed what i was experiencing has been previously documented in other complaints. in a recent visit to a toyota service center for routine maintenance i again presented what was happening and the documentation i observed on the internet and was told the vehicle repair was out of the warranty period and there would be a charge if i wanted the repair. the charge imo was excessive for something that imo was a built in defect and deserves a recall. *tr

My car had hesitation issues since shortly after i bought it. it would bog down, and almost die in traffic. i would lose speed on the hwy/road & nearly get hit. previously, the dealer replaced the gas tank because its "bladder" was bad @ 54,057 miles on 08/05/2011. the factory split the cost on this repair (which appears to occur more than they are admitting). the performance improved for a little while, but there has always been funny noises coming from my vehicle and the car would not power on at times. other times, it would freeze or power off. the maintenance warning lights would come on and then turn off. infrequently, air would come through the backseat vents like it is supposed to. frequently, i would smell unusual smells after stopping my car. my car ate up the inside of a new set of tires very quickly despite being properly aligned. the hvac blower motor was cutting on and off at times and making funny noises. many times when it would cut off, i could open and slam the hood and the hvac blower motor would engage, as if there was an electrical short in it. when the hvac blower motor quit altogether, i took my car to the dealer. the dealer said that the mower had gone out. there was an actual problem with the hv electric water pump as well as a factory recall. interestingly, the dealer discovered tat the engine motor water pump was also leaking. what a coincidence! now that all of these components have been replaced, my car appears to work normal again like it has not worked since i first bought the car. *tr

When i started the car, the lights on the dash didn't come on so i could see how fast i was going or how much gas i had. i called the dealership and they said it's due to cold weather. after 15 minutes, the dash lights came on. toyota suggested i could get the issue fixed for $1500 but it wouldn't be easy to get the part. could take 30 days or more and may not 100% solve the issue. *tr

Headlights intermittently turn off while driving or parked. headlights must be cycled off, then on to make them work again. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2008 toyota prius. the contact stated that while driving approximately 30 mph and depressing the brakes, the pedal became hard and required additional force to be depressed. the abs and another unknown warning light illuminated immediately after the failure. the vehicle was taken to the dealer where they advised her that the brake actuator assembly failed and needed to be replaced. the manufacturer was contacted and offered no assistance. the failure and current mileages were approximately 75,000. *tr

Tl*the contact owns a 2008 toyota prius. the contact stated that while driving 55 mph, the headlights failed. the contact took the vehicle to the dealer for inspection and they stated that the light bulbs needed to be replaced. the vehicle was repaired but the failure recurred. the manufacturer was not notified. the failure mileage was 85,000. the vin was unavailable.

The headlights have intermittent operation. function does not seem to be based on time, weather, or speed. it poses a safety threat when driving on the highway at night. the bulbs have been repetitively changed but the problem persists. *tr

On three separate occasions i started my prius by using the electric start button without the key. the car starts and runs but the instrument panel does not light up. once i arrived at my destination the car will not shut off. it take approx. 1 hr of running before it will turn off. my dealership indicated they had not heard of this issue but after a diagnostic test, discovered that a computer chip communicating with the start button was the issue. the part is not available for 4 to 6 weeks and they will not release my car to me since they consider it a safety issue. they indicated its part of a recall issue..never heard of it! hummm. no cost for the fix since it is part of the recall and toyota has provided me with a rental car. *tr

Approximately february of 2012 my headlights began to randomly turn off. if i turned the headlights off, and then on again, they would turn back on. however, since this first occurrence, both headlights would turn off. one will no longer turn back on. i have replaced the bulb ($300) and this did not fix the problem. i was told from the toyota dealership that the headlight computer would need to be replaced ($1800). to date, i have been pulled over approximately 5 times for driving without headlights. this is a huge safety issue. i am terrified that the safety of my two boys, along with myself is at stake. please investigate this. this is not o.k. *tr

As an active duty member of the military, i move frequently. my mailing address was at address "a", then i moved to address "b" nearly two years ago. since the move, i have received several mailings at address "b" from toyota dealerships (spam mail, flyers, etc.) and from toyota corporation (pending recall notices). i recently received at address "b" a notice from toyota corporation that there was an upcoming recall for my vehicle's steering shaft and water pump. the actual recall notice, with instructions on how to receive repairs at toyota's expense, was just mailed last week to address "a". i still live at address "b" and never changed my address back to "a". fortunately, the current resident of address "a" forwarded the recall notice to me, at personal expense. it's hard to imagine how toyota could accidentally revert to an earlier address only for the mailing notice that costs toyota time and money. i went to the toyota website to update or verify the address they have on file for an owner. before an owner can access that information, the owner must read through a lengthy "terms and conditions" agreement and provide an e-mail address so that, among other things, toyota can send "offers". i'm not interested in additional "offers" from toyota, nor permitting an open marketing agreement with them. i would only like my defective product repaired. *tr

As i was driving, one of my headlights went out. i bought a replacement bulb, but the next time i turned my car on, the bulb was no longer out. after the first incident, i noticed the lights went out more and more frequently. many times, both lights went out simultaneously. if i turn the light switch off then back on again, both light work. however, it is temporary and after about three minutes, one or both of the lights go out again. it is creating hazardous driving conditions because it is unpredictable. *tr

I only can put 4 gallons of gas in my prius. toyota say it is ok. *tr

Both headlights go out without warning, i can turn the headlights back on by turning switch off and then back on. in doing research i have found this is a common defect with the toyota prius years 2006-2009. why isn't this a recall? when getting an estimate to fix is up to a $1,000. i feel like toyota needs to step up before someone is hurt or dead from an accident pertaining to this issue. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2008 toyota prius. the contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle accelerated independently. the failure recurred numerous times. the contact had her husband drove the vehicle and the failure recurred causing them to crash into another vehicle. there were no injuries. the vehicle was towed and stored until it could be inspected. the vehicle was not taken to a mechanic. the manufacturer was notified but no assistance was given. the failure and current mileage was 70,000. updated 3/22/13 *cn

One headlight went out. was able to get it back on by turning both headlights off and then back on. since the first time i have had either the right or left headlight just randomly go out and have to turn off my headlights while driving and back on to reset it. on numerous occasions(maybe about 5 or 6) i have had both headlights go out at the same time and been in complete darkness. just last week it happened to my 16 year old daughter who was driving, on the freeway, and was very scary. about a month ago, i had my lights on during a dark overcast day for safety and a deputy pulled me over because one of the headlights had temporarily turned off. told the officer that this is a common defect with prius(and reported by many) and that toyota has failed to respond. he shook his head and said he'll remember that when pulling over other prius. *tr

High density headlight on passenger side burned out quickly, after only 2+ years of driving. dealer garage replaced at no cost - since it was still under the full extended warranty. high density headlight on driver side went out while driving. it went back on later that day, and has been intermittent since, but mostly not working. just started researching replacement bulb prices when i found out how many people have been having this same issue. passenger side tail light went out. wiggling the bulb, socket and wiring got the light working again. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2008 toyota prius. the contact stated that the vehicle failed to start unless a particular warning light was cleared by disconnecting and reconnecting the battery. the contact was unsure of what light illuminated. in addition, the vehicle stalled when speeds exceeded 50 mph. the contact also stated that the failure may be due to the engine plug-in battery add-on kit that he personally installed. the vehicle was taken to the dealer where the contact was informed that there was a low battery indicator problem that caused the failure. the technician informed the contact that once the add-on was removed, the failure ceased. the failure mileage was 60,000 and the current mileage was 70,000. updated 02/12/13*lj the consumer stated his complaint was against the makers and distributors of the phev conversion kit, he had installed in his vehicle. the battery kit was used to provide additional electrical battery power to the built in battery of the hybrid. the consumer stated occasionally, the phev kit would cause the engine to shut down while driving on the highway at speeds of 45 -65 mph. when the incident occurred, there was a warning beep and the general warning triangle would appear on the dashboard. once it happened, the consumer was unable to re-start the vehicle, until the general warning triangle was cleared. he had to clear it, by disconnecting the 12 volt battery for a minute and the re-connecting the 12 volt battery. the consumer stated after the engine shut down for a third time, he removed the phev battery kit. updated 02/13/13

This morning when i started my car the dash panel lights would not come on. i drove seven miles to top off the gas(i could not tell how much i had because of the dash being off.)i then could not shut the car off. i drove for about a half hour and my dash lights just came on. when i got to my destination i was able to shut the car off and the dash lights are fine now. this happened once before about six months ago. i see on line that several people have had this same problem. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2008 toyota prius. the contact stated that while traveling downhill at 30 mph, the brake was depressed but failed to engage. the contact had to steer the vehicle into a ditch in order to avoid a crash. the contact was not injured. the manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. the vehicle was towed to a salvage yard and was not inspected for the cause of the failure. the failure and current mileage was 100,000. the vin was not available.

Recently purchased used 2008 prius. when driving at night i noticed that the headlights shut off intermittently. they go back on by turning lights off and on. this happened three times when driving for 10 minutes on a dark road. very dangerous! *tr

Right hand headlight started turning off intermittently when starting the car or driving at no particular speed. today the left hand light start remained off when starting the car. it turned on once i cycled the light switch. while driving in the dark experienced both lights intermittently turning off individually and simultaneously about ten times. after cycling the switch the lights would come back on. *tr

Headlights will go off spontaneously either separately or together. sometimes will come back on by toggling the light switch. can be either headlight when fails singly. problem is variable but can happen when parked or while driving. most recent episode both lights failed at 50 mph then after toggling the switch came back on. *tr

A sudden jerk and a bunch of warnings lights appeared on dashboard. the car made it 20 miles to my home but i was running on a damaged engine. took it to the dealer the next day, allen toyota of gulfport, ms, and they fixed it saying water pump had to be replaced charging me $295. i have receipt. dealer told me to apply to this website as i recently received a recall notice from toyota about this part promising they would reimburse if the part had been repaired at my expense before receiving recall letter. *tr

My vehicle is having the same problems at described in the toyota warranty enhancement - ztv for the combination meter, where the display panel won't light up when the car is started in the morning. the car will also not power down when the power button is pushed. the car can be driven, but since you can't see the speed, mileage, or fuel levels it's not safe to drive the car. eventually after several miles of driving the car can be powered off and the panel will light up after starting the car again. my car calls within the 2004-2009 years listed, but my specific vin is not part of the recalled cars. toyota said i would have to pay for any repairs myself. *tr

One evening in early september i was driving on a surface street when my passenger headlight went out. i turned off my lights and turned them back on and the passenger headlight came back on. a few days later i was driving on the highway when both ( driver and passenger) headlights went out without warning. i was able to pull over to the side of road; almost causing an accident.i verified the lights were in the on position. i turned the lights off and immediately back on and both headlights turned on. both headlights have gone out without warning with the most recent occurring this evening on a busy not well lit highway. i have replaced the passenger light bulb with no resolution therefore i have not replaced the driverside light at least every couple days one of the headlights ( passenger and/or driver side light) turns off which require me to turn the lights off and back on to bring both headlights to operational status. definite safety concern. *tr

I was driving to work on highway 327 north of highway us 20 and traveling along at 45 mph and all of a sudden both headlights went out. it was dark. i slowed down immediately and turn the headlights off and on again and they came on. i have noticed that at times one headlight turns off or the other. people have told me that i have headlight out and i might get a ticket, but when i check them and one is out i just simply turn the switch off and on again and they usually come on. i thought about changing the headlights but saw a video online that says that is not the problem and there should be a recall. so please check into this before someone is killed. *tr

On 20 may 2010 at 11,966 miles every brake/stability warning light came on (including the warning for the parking/emergency brake which was not engaged), regenerative braking appeared to have failed, and hydraulic/friction brakes behaved as if abs was acting at a very slow pulse rate, approximately a 5-second cycle. for about 2 seconds during the "off" portion of this cycle the brakes were effectively inoperative, with the parking/emergency brake the only source of braking. this behavior persisted after shutting down and restarting the car. the dealer's service department reported that three errors had been logged: c1247 - stroke sensor c1300 - abs ecu malfunction c2318 - low voltage error resetting the computers cleared the warning indications and restored normal brake system behavior. at my behest, the dealer worked with toyota engineering to identify why a low voltage would cause a computer failure which could cause substantial loss of braking ability. they kept the car for 8 days but did not appear to complete any sort of root cause analysis of the failure. on 17 december 2012 at 27,324 miles the brakes again failed with the same set of warning lights illuminated. this time, abs does not appear to be active at all. for the first 2-5 cm of brake pedal travel, in the regime where regenerative braking would be active, no braking is evident. as the pedal is further depressed, the hydraulic/friction brakes abruptly engage. pressing harder does result in increased braking though braking is rough. no pulsation as might be expected from abs was noticed. no attempt was made to brake hard enough to lock up the brakes. the vehicle is currently at the dealer. *tr

Intermittenly either headlamp may go out. turning off and on the headlamps turns the dead lamp back on. *tr

2008 toyota prius. consumer writes in regards to defective parts replaced in vehicle. *smd the consumer stated the check engine light illuminated. after doing research, it appeared the problem was with the coolant control valve. the vehicle was taken to the dealership, where an inspection revealed the check engine light was due to the premature failure of the coolant control valve.

When starting the vehicle the dashboard lights that regulate speed, gas level, oil, odometer, etc do not light up. during this time, the odometer reading is also disabled and not calculated. the dashboard area is completely dark. the back up camera is also disabled and the information for mpg, electrical engine also do not work. took it to the dealer to have the issue checked but the problem could not be recreated. the current work around that i discovered is to turn on the light switch before turning on the vehicle. this situation is very dangerous since you are unable to determine your speed, gas, and oil level as well as any other potential problems. after some online research i determined that many other consumers have been affected by the same issue. *tr

On several occasions, i have been driving at night and noticed that both of my headlights have gone out. after flicking the on/off switch, the lights came back. i took the car in for new bulbs, believing this to be the cause. the mechanic replaced the hid bulb on the passenger side and when we turned on the lights, the passenger side failed within a few seconds. we tried turning the lights on and off several times and eventually, both lights stayed on. we put the old bulb back in and it worked again, although it failed again quickly and had to be turned back on by flicking the lights several times. my mechanic told me this indicates a problem with the headlight module(s). the previous owner of the car had the entire headlight system replaced within the first year or two of ownership because toyota of downtown oakland offered to do it free of charge because, as they told her, "all of the headlight components were about to be recalled." this is a major safety issue, and i have several prius owner friends who are experiencing the same problem with their 2nd generation priuses. i have not heard of any other car that needs new headlight modules regularly and believe this to be a factory defect. *tr

Vehicle headlights dim as well as interior, nearly causing a critical accident as driver 's vision , headlights were not providing adequate lighting to make turn at night. this problem continues to-date and am afraid that if toyota is not held accountable for their defective product or a recall is not conducted we are driving in an unsafe vehicle. please advise as we cannot afford to buy new or different car.( or a repair of 1700$ this is a safety hazard to us and others please do something to protect the public and us.my understanding is that you are responsible for vehicle, passer safety and there fore our safety is in your hands i acn be reached at[xxx] additional information or assistance please keep us and others safe. information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6). *tr

The right headlight on my 2008 prius went out while driving. i noticed the next morning that it was back on. i figured out that if i turn the light off then on again, it will come back on, for a while. i eventually had it replaced, to the tune of $120 parts and $40 labor. but after a couple of weeks it's doing it again. not only that, but now the left headlight is doing the same thing. i'm very concerned about driving at night because changing the bulbs doesn't fix the problem, so it seems like it's only a matter of time before they both go out at the same time! *tr

The non hid headlights on my car intermittently turn off. i've had both headlights go out twice while i was driving after dark - i have no idea how many times it might happen during the day. i've had at one headlight go out as well once, perhaps twice. i've switched the lights off and then back on again and that fixes the problem...until it happens again. i'm very hesitant now to drive this car after dark for fear that something will happen again. *tr

I've got a package 6 2008 prius. the passenger side headlight keeps going out. i can't really tell when or how it goes out since i can't see it. i'll notice it when i see the reflection in the back of another car or is someone tells me. if i turn the bright lights on and off it has no effect, but when i turn them all the way off and back on the light comes back. sometimes on long trips it will stay on the whole time, sometimes it won't. sometimes on short trips it will go out, sometimes it won't. it is not an event i can make happen. i've taken it to the dealer and they can't make it happen. dealer replaced both bulbs and it still happening. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2008 toyota prius. the contact stated that when driving at night hours the headlights would go out intermittently. the vehicle was taken to the dealer for diagnosis. the technician stated that the bulbs and the light fixture needed to be replaced. the vehicle was repaired for the bulbs and one side for the light fixture. after having the repairs the bulbs failed approximately 3 months later. the manufacturer was contacted and they offered no assistance. the failure mileage was approximately 6,000 and the current mileage was approximately 132,000. updated 2/19/13 *cn within the first year of owning the vehicle, the headlamp went out. approximately every 3-5 months, the alternate headlamp would go out. this has gone on to date. occasionally, a lamp would come back on again for a day or two, then go out for good. so, they were not necessarily burning out, but malfunctioning. after the warranty expired, the dealer charged the consumer $200 to replace the bulb, insisting it could not be done by the her. at the next occurrence, they charged her $145 and at the third occurrence, the consumer demanded they be responsible for the cost. the consumer then contacted toyota and was informed, the bulb could changed by her. the consumer had her son changed the bulb and two weeks later, the other bulb went out. updated 02/05/13

Since new this car has had headlight problems. toyota replaced 1 headlight bulb that actually did not come on at the dealership .you never know when a light will go out , or which one. they always come back on if you turn the switch of and on. the car has been to 3 dealerships , the lights have always came on for the techs. i filed a complaint with the company , then researched the problem. i found over 2000 similar complaints. apparently this agency decided that your headlights going out is not a safety issue. when they went out on a foggy mountain road 11-27-12 everyone around us thought differently. my 65 year old wife was driving and was crying before we got off of the mountain. the prius has been a great car. toyota has not been honest or responsible. we are trying to get the car fixed so someone else does not get our problem. either way this car is gone. *tr

Someone pointed out that my right front headlight was out. however, when i got home and checked it, the headlight was on. it has continued to go off and on intermittently since then and is getting worse. i've learned from other websites that several owners of prius models from 2006 to 2009 have had the same problem. *tr

Multiple occurrences over the past 3 years of headlights (one or at times both) going out unexpectedly without warning. you go into partial lighting or total darkness. after a few minutes you can turn the headlights back on and they may stay lit for few minutes or several hours. i have had dealerships look at the car and say that it is just the bulbs failing (bulbs that are suppose to last 10 times longer than conventional bulbs). the car is now 4 years old and i have had to replace the bulbs yearly. dealership costs that was originally $350 plus installation per bulb. toyota has now dropped their price to $150 per bulb. aftermarket bulbs now available but you still only get a life of 7 months to a year per bulb lots of talk from dealers but no solution. i went to after market bulbs thinking that the problem was toyota bulbs. the same problem occurs. the problem is not the bulbs, the problem is in the vehicle wiring. this is a severe problem that must be looked into in that it putting a lot of prius owners along with others on the highway at risk. *tr

When the headlights are first turned on, both work. in a few minutes the driver's side hid light dims and then goes out. this happens repeatedly. if i turn the lights off and then turn them on again, the same thing happens, both are lit, the driver's side dims and then goes out again in a few minutes. *tr

The front headlights intermittently shut off. sometimes it's the left and or right headlight separately and sometimes they shut off together. if i toggle the lights on and off, they may or may not turn back on. it was very dangerous driving at night on the highway. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2008 toyota prius. the contact stated that with the vehicle parked, the interior doors locked independently and would not unlock when using the electronic key fob. the key-less ignition was off however, the air conditioner and radio were activated during the malfunction. there was an occupant in the vehicle who was unable to engage the power lock switch. the fire department was called to the scene to unlock the doors. the vehicle was not taken to a dealer and was not diagnosed. the manufacturer was not notified of the problem. the approximate failure mileage was 50,000.

Tl* the contact owns a 2008 toyota prius. the contact stated that the headlights malfunctioned. the contact mentioned that the lights would flicker and if she would turn them off completely, they would resume normal function. the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who stated that the headlights needed to be replaced. the manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure mileage was unknown and the current mileage was 75,000.

I have had a recurring problem with the hid headlamps on my 08 prius. i have replaced one ecm module in the light do to moisture from an improperly sealed headlamp unit. since that time the same headlamp has begun to flicker on and off, working about 90% of the time in the beginning and now only working about 10% of the time. i thought that it might be related to the ecm that was replaced but just the other day the other headlamp began to flicker on and off as well. there are an abundance of prius owners who are blogging and commenting on forums about having the same problem. one website prompts users to report this incident to your site so that this safety problem will be resolved. *tr

Passenger air bag light in instrument panel remains off even when an adult is in passenger seat, thus negating the deployment of air bag when other sensors might activate it. nor does an un-buckled seat belt sensor activate the warning buzzer. fyi similar problem. €¢ toyota is recalling 11,153 of its 2012-13 scion iq models because the passenger air bag may malfunction. in its report to the agency, toyota said the problem was because of a cable under the passenger seat that is part of the system that determines if a person is sitting in the seat and the air bag should be turned on. the report said the cable could be damaged by moving the seat fore and aft. that could either cause the air bag not to deploy in a crash or to deploy without being in a crash. *tr

Turned on car and no dash lights came on. no speedometer, no odometer, no fuel gauge, no gear shift indicator. broken combination meter. toyota has issued a tsb - t-sb-0172-09 but will not repair under warranty. *tr

2008 toyota prius. the right hid headlight turns off intermittently without warning. when i turn off the lights and turn them back on, the headlight lights up again but sometimes turns off a few minutes later. i paid over $500 to replace both lights, but the problem is still occurring. i contacted the dealer and they said they can't help me, other than to replace the entire headlight system, presumably at a cost of a few thousand dollars. i notified the manufacturer and they told me to contact a local dealer. i believe this to be a manufacturer defect that should be recalled and corrected by the manufacturer. this is a serious problem that can cause injury to me and others on the road. *tr

2008 toyota prius (runaway toyota) 09/18/2012 at home depot parking area. as i was in a parking stall, i stepped on a brake to come to a complete stop, suddenly the car took off with its fully force. the brake pedal did not work. my right foot was on the brake pedal and not on the gas pedal. my car jumped over a wheel stop and banged onto a tree and stop. insurance agent came by shortly as well as a police. the car was towed to the big island toyota who denies defects. without my knowledge toyota made national claim so that my car is frozen-no one can touch it, until i sign a liability waiver (releasing toyota from any liability) . meantime they said i need to pay parking charge to hold my car in their service department. toyota wants me to sign a liability waiver and insurance company to repair the car so that they can whole sale the vehicle. my car 2008 toyota prius was recalled in 2008, the service department did something to the gas pedal. i want the world to know the car is not safe, it can trigger the gas pedal to go full when brake is stepped on. *tr

In september, 2010, i purchased a 2008 prius from power toyota of tempe, arizona. when i made the purchase, the car had just over 55,000 miles on it. shortly afterward, i noticed that the passenger side headlight would periodically go out, and i would have to turn the lights off and on again in order to have it come back on. a month or so into my ownership, i received a notice from toyota, concerning a recall that perfectly described the problem i was having. i called power toyota, gave them my information, and advised i wanted to bring my car in for the recall work. they made the appointment. when i brought the car in, i was told i was ineligible for the work, because my car had more than 55k miles on it, and all they would be doing was changing the bulb. they wanted to charge me over 300 dollars for recall work, because they were too cheap or lazy to fix what was a known issue before selling me the car. i am writing to find out what recourse i have. i understand that time has passed, but i am still experiencing the same issue. if it were as simple as the bulb, it certainly would have burned out by now. i reuse to pay hundreds of dollars for something that was supposed to either be fixed before i bought the car, or once the i received the recall notice. the 55,000 mile requirement seems like an unfairly arbitrary limit, and i disagree with it. please advise how i can get the original recall honored. *tr

The screen has stopped responding properly. it is mostly the left side of the screen that doesn't respond at all, but at times its the entire screen. this screen is necessary to control the air/heater; telephone, sound, etc. i have seen several complaints all over the internet discussing the exact same problem but yet toyota will not make a recall of the problem equipment. *tr

While driving at any speed, the hid headlights intermittently cut off. this usually happens one at a time, and mostly on the passengers side. i am unable to tell when they go off until either i get pulled over and warned which has happened once already or i pull up and see reflection off back of another car. the lights will work for short periods then off again then on again. this appears to be a known issue with this make/model and the manufacturer (toyota) is not taking responsibility and charging upwards of $600 for repair. in my opinion this is a big safety issue which i believe toyota should take responsibility for an obvious defect. i have also read this has occurred to many owners of this vehicle. after a further lengthy research my understanding is there is actually a class action lawsuit for this, of which i would rather see the nhtsa take action and have toyota make good on these defects, and recall to resolve this problem. thank you *tr

The driver side hid headlight intermittently would turn off. once i discover my headlight is off, i can turn off my headlights completely and turn them back on immediately and have both headlights working again. initially i called the dealership and brought the car in but we were not able to reproduce the issue. as time goes by, the intermittent issue is becoming more often. the dealership has recommended that i have both headlights replaced when i called initially but i understand hid headlights should last longer than 1 year of usage. i have been driving with these issues for 3 years and the headlights still work as long as i monitor them consistently while i drive. *tr

While parked at the local post office the vehicle suddenly started to roll back. it rolled approximately 4-5 ca lengths. the vehicle drug me but came to a stop. the vehicle had to be "engaged" into drive in order to move the car. not sure if this is an electrical problem or not but obviously the parking did not stay engaged. *tr

After about 3 years of use, the hatch release handle (the exterior handle of the rear hatch) started to become soft and sticky, and after a few months eventually totally melts into a sticky, gooey black mess that would stick to your hands whenever you touch it. the hatch becomes harder and harder to open. *tr

The black rubber trunk release cover has deteriorated/melted, making it difficult to open the rear hatch of the car. this appears to be a common problem, based on the number of complaints reported on the internet for this same issue. appears to be a manufacturing/part defect. *tr

Our prius headlights go out intermittently. usually one at a time, but several times they have both gone out at the same time almost causing a crash. i took it to the toyota dealer it was purchased from while still under warranty, they claimed it was a light bulb "going" out, that was 3 years ago and the bulb still isn't out. *tr

Driver's side headlight goes on/off intermittently. every time i take it in to get looked at or replaced, it works. will go out after driving a few miles, but will turn back on when i turn off/on headlights. then it will dim and go out again after a few miles. i never got a recall notice in the mail from toyota for this, but when i took my car to the dealer to get the accelerator recall fixed, they told me that toyota would cover if i had less than 50,000 miles. i have been dealing with this off and on issue for a long time because the light works part of the time and i only know that it is out when someone tells me they saw me in town with a headlight out. toyota quoted me $150 for the bulb and additional $105 for labor to install because i am over the 50,000 miles. this should be a warranty covered by toyota as it is a known problem with these cars. toyota should have notified owners of this potential problem. *tr

Headlights go off. sometimes just one, other times both. *tr

I had been driving the car for less than 10 minutes when the "red triangle" red problem light came on the screen. i immediately looked for a safe place to pull over when the car made a series of short dinging sounds and the car was automatically put in neutral and the brake engaged--in the middle of a busy intersection! i was forced to flee the vehicle as there were oncoming cars that didn't look like they were going to stop. when the signal changed, i went back to the car and put on the emergency flashers. then i tried to put the car back in drive and it would not budge from neutral. i then switched the car off and back on and was able to drive it out of the intersection safely. if this had occurred even 5 minutes later, my 9-year-old daughter would have been in the vehicle with me and we would not have been able to react as quickly as i did. the car has been towed to my personal mechanic by aaa for diagnosis, but at this time it does not appear that this was an error, but a design flaw that put my safety in critical danger. *tr

When i put the car in drive, it slips back into neutral. in order to drive the car, i must hold the lever in the drive position. the dealer is charging me $500 to fix but i believe this is a defect and a safety problem and should be addressed by the manufacturer. i have read many examples of this problem on toyotanation.com under "2008 prius won't stay in gear". *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2008 toyota prius. the contact stated while driving the gear would shift into neutral on its own. the contact shifted back into drive gear but the failure recurred. the vehicle was taken to a dealer for inspection and they stated that the lever assembly needed to be replaced. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was notified of the failure but provided no assistance. the failure mileage was 71,000. the vin was unavailable.

While negotiating a curves, both high intensity headlights went out, leaving us in complete darkness. we couldn't tell if we needed to keep turning or straighten out. finally figured out you can reset by turning them off & then back on. this has happened 3 times since. additionally, the right headlight will flicker and/or go off. have been stopped by numerous people, including the police. dealership work/charges haven't resolved this. i know you've received many complaints from prius owners, and that there is a class-action. time for your to reopen the investigation!! *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2008 toyota prius. the contact stated that while attempting to park the engine revved up. as a result, the vehicle jumped the curve and ran into some bushes. no injuries were reported. the vehicle was not taken to the dealer. the failure and current mileage was 87,102. ..updated 11/14/12 *bf updated 11/15/2012 *js

On 8/29/12, i got into my 2008 prius in the parking lot of the easton, md giant food-store to return home. this lot is on a slope just above a parking lot for walmart, with a paved road between the 2 lots. the parking lots were very crowded. i needed to get to the road separating the 2 lots in order to go home. i had just started the prius and put it into drive when it started to roar loudly, jumped out fast, and accelerated rapidly, even though i brake multiple times. the brakes seemed to make it accelerate faster. i was not touching the gas pedal, only the brake, but the car was roaring and out of control. on the way out of the giant lot, the prius hit 3 cars. the noise was very loud, and the car was out of control. pumping the brakes or holding them down did nothing to slow the car, and the noise was terrifying. the brakes did not work, and the prius continued to make a very loud roaring noise. the speed of the car made steering difficult, if not impossible, and there could have been injuries. the prius then left the giant parking lot, went down the mulched slope, crossed the street, bumped over the curb, and went up the walmart slope hitting a small tree. the car was probably going at least 40 mph and came to a stop only after it plunged into an unoccupied black car parked in the walmart parking lot. it was severely damaged and towed away. no one knew who the owner was at the time the police ordered it towed away. an occupant would have been severely injured or killed.during the above, the prius continued to run and the airbag functioned, keeping me uninjured. the brakes and the accelerator failed totally. four vehicles were damaged, one of which was totaled. but as far as i know, there were no injuries??for which i am grateful. this prius should not have been on the road despite having only 74,000 miles and its apparent good condition. *tr

On 09jul2012 4:00 p.m while driving my prius 2008 hybrid, heading home on i15n, the electric power on the vehicle shutdown without any previous warning, or alert. i immediately maneuvered the vehicle to the right shoulder of the highway. immediately called aaa for a towing into toyota of escondido, located on 231 lincoln parkway, escondido, ca 92026 ph# (760) 746-0674. today 09/01/2012 - currently experiencing problems with intermittent hid headlight operation: i've got a package 6 2006 prius. one of the headlights keeps going out. i can't really tell when or how it goes out since i can't see it. i'll notice it when i see the reflection in the back of another car. if i turn the bright lights on and off it has no effect, but when i turn them all the way off and back on the light comes back. request a safety recall for toyota to take care of the electrical corrective actions. *tr

The car warnings went on and displayed the symbol for brake systems failure. the car brakes went out and then the car sped up slightly until the brakes re-engaged. i was driving slowly and was near my home, so no one was hurt thankfully. we had to have it towed because the car manual said not to drive it more than 3 mph when you have a brake systems failure. it was determined that the defective parts were the electric water pump and the mechanical water pump. toyota has recalled 2003-2007 electric water pumps for the prius. my concern is that this could have been a tragic accident if we were going faster. my question is whether the 2008 electric water pump for the prius need to be recalled? *tr

My headlights turned them self off on any given time either one on a time or both at the same time same thing happens if the highbeams are on day or night to correct this problem temporarily you have to turn the lights on and off quickly and you have no guarantee how long it will stay on i spoke to the toyota corporation and they will not help because my car has 90,000 miles my car is 2008 to fix this problem the dealership is charging $1200 i have extended warranty on the car but electrical is not covered. *tr

At about 2 years old the handle to the back hatch release melted into a tarry goo. *tr

Passenger side head light went out in november, 2011, tried to replace bulb myself, took to dealer who replaced it "free, under warranty!" now driver-side head light went out, called dealer, told no longer covered under warranty and referred to lawsuit which had toyota not taking blame or doing a recall but extended warranty to 5 years, 50,000 miles. but my car was at 60,000 miles in november. called dealer again and told that they did it as a "courtesy". huh? why? if they told me it wasn't covered but they were doing it as a courtesy, i would still be singing their praises. but instead, i feel i was lied to. so i took it to another dealer, repair cost $211. for about 5 minutes of work. from the lawsuit, i read that this can happen over and over again. my bf says that sometimes when i'm following him in my car, my light would randomly go out! definitely an expensive & dangerous problem w/ these great cars!! *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2008 toyota prius. the contact stated that while driving 45 mph, the headlights failed and reilluminated independently. the vehicle was taken to the dealer who stated that the headlights needed to be replaced. the vehicle was repaired however, the failure continued. the manufacturer was contacted and provided no assistance. the failure mileage was 91,000 and the current mileage was 92,000. the vin was not available. updated 9/26/12 *cn

Tl* the contact owns a 2008 toyota prius. the contact started that the headlights failed to operate upon engaging. the contact mentioned that the failure occurred intermittently while driving. the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who replaced both head lamps. the failure recurred the same day the repair was performed. the vehicle was taken to a dealer who diagnosed that the headlight and socket needed to be replaced. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was made aware of the failure who did not offer any assistance since the vehicle was no longer under warranty. the approximate failure mileage was 65,200.

Tl* the contact owns a 2008 toyota prius. the contact stated that the handle on the lift gate melted. the contact noticed it when he grabbed the lift gate handle and a sticky solution covered his hands. the vehicle was taken to the dealer for inspection but was not repaired. the manufacturer was notified and stated that there was no recalls on the failure. the failure mileage was 56,000.

The headlights and rear lights on my 2008 toyota prius intermittently go out. several times i've brought the car to the local toyota dealership to have them repaired only hear there is nothing wrong or get a bill for replacing the lights or various associated parts. on at least six occasions i've been stopped at night by people at traffic lights telling me my lights are out. my husband was stopped and cited by a police officer for both headlights being out. at the time my husband was traveling for business and had to stop and spend the night at a hotel because he couldn't safely continue driving. the last time i brought the car in for this issue the previous night the light had been out but it was working when i got to the dealership. the serviceman said he would look at the issue but if the lights weren't acting up then there was nothing he could do. while i was waiting i googled "problems with prius headlights" and found the issue was common, and in fact, had caused a class action lawsuit. when i brought the attention to the serviceman he said, "that's why i said i'd heard about the issue but toyota isn't taking monetary responsibility for this issue." essentially, i repeatedly engage is the same routine of going to the dealership, paying for something that doesn't work, then having my lights malfunction at night when i need them. *tr

I have a 2008 prius. i was driving in the evening on the freeway and noticed the reflection of my headlights in the bumper of the car ahead of me. my right headlight seemed to be off. i turned my lights off and on again quickly and they both went on again. this has happened repeatedly over the past two months. sometimes they both stay on. sometimes the right one fades. my spouse noticed that both lights were alternately flickering as i drove behind him one night. *tr

Around 4:30pm on saturday afternoon, we opened the car door to run some errands and were startled by a piercing noise. the dashboard was lighting up (abs & vsc) and although the car started, the dashboard remained lit and the beeping continued. when driving the car to the dealership, the brakes did not brake fully. after a $58 diagnostic test, we were told that acc pressure sensor needed to be cleared and if we returned with the same problem, we may need to replace a "brake actuator part" (cost = $2,560). before this incident, on saturday afternoon, we drove the car on the interstate for about 150 miles. for the last 15 minutes of our trip, we were driving through heavy rains on the interstate and on side roads. we did not experience any problems when driving the car in the rain, but are wondering whether or not the water affected the brakes. *tr

Both headlights abruptly turned off while traveling home at nights going approx. 50 mph. turned lights off and then back on and both headlights came back on. this is the third time this has happened. each time it's both the headlights. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2008 toyota prius. the contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the headlights stopped illuminating. the contact mentioned that he was able to turn them back on by engaging the switch several times. 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 62,000 and the current mileage was 65,000. updated 09/05/12*lj the consumer stated after driving for about 10 minutes with the headlights on, one light would go out. by turning the headlight switch off then back on, the failed light would come back on. after about five minutes, the other light would go out. updated 09/111/12

Tl* the contact owned a 2008 toyota prius. the contact stated that while driving 25 mph, the brakes failed, which caused the vehicle to crash into another vehicle. no injuries were reported. the vehicle was destroyed at the scene and towed away to the dealer. the dealer diagnosed that the brakes functioned properly and there was no failure. the manufacturer was notified and stated that the failure was the contact’s fault. no assistance was offered. the failure and current mileages were 50,000. the vin was unavailable.

The front headlights unexpectedly turn off. sometimes one at a time, sometimes both. always reset by turning lights off and then back on. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2008 toyota prius. the contact stated that while driving 15 mph, he heard a rattling noise coming from the engine. the contact pulled the vehicle into a parking lot and noticed that there was to puddle of oil under the vehicle. the vehicle was towed to the dealer for inspection where they stated that there was a hole in the engine pan . the manufacturer was notified and stated that they had to review the case with the dealer. the failure mileage was 60,000. updated 07/26/12

Pulled out of parking lot, started accelerating, went to hit brakes and brakes failed. brake pedal travel was more than normal, started pulsing brakes. dashboard lights came on (not sure which ones). problem also occurred in september 2011, and toyota reset the "brake stroke sensor" charged us for this work, and recommended replacing the sensor (~500). dealership stated this was not covered under warranty due to over three years. even though it was a safety issue, they did not replace sensor at that time. *tt