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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
- Homestead, FL, USA
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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.
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).')
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.
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Pomona, CA, USA