This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.
So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.
Total breakdown of wife's 2004 Prius on September 2 in fine weather one in san jose. The vehicle displayed sudden and significant loss of power while merging into the interstate. Loss of gas/engine power with failure of the internal combustion with engine to start, resulted in only electric motor propulsion and breakdown on the highway as the battery quickly went to single pink bar level within a 1/2 miles. Multiple mil lamps lit up and stayed on. Began to merge onto the highway from a stop speed of 30 or 40 mph and slowly accelerated into heavy traffic. She had to pull off to the (ugh) breakdown lane of the highway with all of its debris, etc. The dealer completed the repair, san jose invoice number tocs190787 dtd 9/2/05 applied EG047-04 on car. The dealer repairs seemed to have fixed the car. Contacted a Toyota Prius advisor with three concerns: If there was a service bulletin for this characteristic that would prevent the roadway failure then why was it not executed during prior services 3-9-05, 5-26-05 & 6-09-05 at this same dealer. What led one to believe that the car was not reliable after this repair. The consumer, an accomplished engineer, a knew about software bugs. A software bug did not impair operation until the right combination of environmental factors was reached. The consumer assumed that all Prius had this potential bug that contaminated the electronic control unit (ECU). ECU.
Total breakdown of consumer's wife 2004 Prius on September 2, 2005 in san jose, California. The vehicle suddenly lost power while merging into the interstate. A loss of gas engine power with failure of the internal combustion/engine to start, resulted in only electric motor propulsion and breakdown on the highway as the battery quickly went to single pink bar level within a 1/2 mile. Multiple mil lamps lit up. Began to merge onto the highway from a stop speed of 30 or 40 mph and slowly accelerated into heavy traffic. Had to pull off to the breakdown lane of the highway with all of its debris, etc. The dealer completed the repairs at san jose's capitol Toyota on 9/2/05. The dealer fixed the car. But the consumer contacted a Toyota pries advisor who stated if there was a service bulletin for this characteristic that would prevent the roadway failure then why was it not executed during prior services on 3/9/05, 5/26/05 and 6/09/05. This indicated that the car was reliable after the repairs. The consumer, an accomplished engineer, said Toyota knew about software bugs. A software bug did not impair operation until the right combination of environmental factors was reached. All pries had this potential bug that contaminated the electronic control module (echo).
A. how long and at what speed was the consumer driving before the vehicle lost power" 4 minutes, 50 mph. B. has the consumer accelerated, decelerated or drove at a steady pace when the vehicle lost power? steady pace. C. after the vehicle lost power was the driver able to continue driving the vehicle? if so, how long and at what speed. It stalled out. D. did any warning lights appear before and/or after the incident occurred? if so, describe the lights that were lit. As it happened a hazard icon and an engine check light came on. E. did the vehicle eventually stall and come to a stop? how long did this occur after the warning lights were lit? yes, 30 seconds. F. was the driver able to restart the vehicle right after it stalled" if so, how long did it took, 3-4 times or 2-3 minutes)" took a couple of times, but it started within a minutes. G. was driver able to restart the vehicle after letting it sit awhile? yes. H. was the vehicle towed? no. I. what was wrong with the vehicle" it required an update of a computer program. J did the dealer reprogram the electronic control unit (ECU) or any software" yes. K. vehicle had special service campaigns 40A or 40D performed prior to the incident? when consumer called Toyota she was told vehicle was up to date on all services. L. had vehicle any problems since the repair" no. Consumer had a problem six months ago where it stalled..
.how long and at what speed was the consumer driving before the vehicle lost power" had driven about 10 minutes on commuting home was driving at least 50-60 mph. B.was the consumer accelerating, decelerating, or driving at a steady- state when the vehicle lost power?driving at a steady state. C. vehicle lost power, was the driver able to continue driving the vehicle? if so, how long and at what speed?not able to continue driving, could not restart vehicle. Did any warning lights appear before and/or after the incident occurred? an odd beep and then some symbols illuminated on control panel but can't remember what symbol, thinks it make have been a car with an X through it. Referred to owners manual. Called for help.. came to a complete stop just seconds after the beep and warning lights. F was unable to restart vehicle. G. no restart whatsoever. H. was the vehicle towed? yes to a dealer. I.what did the dealer say was wrong with the vehicle" diagnosis code did not have available, but was aware of service bulletin pertaining to this issue. Questioned why there had not been a recall. J. did the dealer reprogram the ECU (electronic control unit) or any software" yes-the ECU. K.did have recall on navigation software update prior to this episode. L. has the vehicle had any problems since the repair" no but fearful it may happen again.
Contact has a 2004 Toyota Prius, and while driving the vehicle it has failed on two separate occasions. A. how long and at what speed was the consumer driving before the vehicle lost power" approximately 15 -20 minutes, going about 45 mph. B. was the consumer accelerating, decelerating, or driving at a steady- state when the vehicle lost power? driving at a steady rate. C. after the vehicle lost power, was the driver able to continue driving the vehicle? if so, how long and at what speed? the vehicle was stopped and pulled off the road. D. did any warning lights appear before and/or after the incident occurred? yes, if so, describe the lights that were lit. Check engine light. E. did the vehicle eventually stall and come to a stop? how long did this occur after the warning lights were lit? one part of the vehicle was operating but the driver could not accelerate. F. was the driver able to restart the vehicle right after it stalled? if so, how long did it take (# of attempts and/ or time " ex: 3-4 times or 2-3 minutes)? yes, the engine light kept coming back on. 1 time, right after the vehicle stalled.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Georgetown, TX, USA