2004 Toyota Prius Complaint Log

DT: OWN 2004 TOYOTA PRIUS AND ON 6 DIFFERENT OCCASIONS WHILE DRIVING IN THE CITY, THE ENGINE HAS STALLED OUT. THE CONSUMER HAD TO STOP AND WAIT ABOUT 10 MINUTES AND RESTART THE ENGINE AND EVERYTHING WOULD BE FINE. TOOK TO DEALER AND THEY COULD NOT DIAGNOSE THIS UNLESS THEY ENCOUNTERED THIS AS IT HAPPENED. THIS IS THE ONLY PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE. *TT *SC *JB

DRIVER SIDE HEADLIGHT INTERMITTENTLY TURNS OFF WHILE DRIVING. DRIVER IS NOT AWARE HEADLIGHT IS NOT WORKING UNTIL POLICE PULLS HIM OVER OR AFTER RETURNING TO GARAGE AT HOME, HE CAN SEE FROM HEADLIGHT GLARE ON THE WALL THAT ONE LIGHT IS OUT. USUALLY TURNING THE LIGHT OFF, AND THEN BACK ON CORRECTS THE PROBLEM, HOWEVER YOU CANT BE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY FLASHING YOUR LIGHTS EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE TO MAKE SURE THEY ARE ON. IT IS JUST A DANGEROUS SITUATION. THE INTERNET SHOWS THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM AND ITS FRUSTRATING THAT TOYOTA HAS NOT ACKNOWLEDGED OR PROVIDED A FIX.

FLUID ON LEFT REAR TIRE RIM AND LOSS OF HUB CAP. DISCOVERED LEAKING BRAKE CYLINDER ASSEMBLY AND SOAKED DISK BRAKE PADS. MASTER CYLINDER BRAKE LEVEL DOWN TO TO MINIMUM FILL LEVEL. BRAKE FLUID POOLING ON GARAGE FLOOR UNDER LEFT REAR WHEEL. *AK

DT: CONSUMER STATES: WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS UNDER 3000 MILES ALL THE WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON, AND WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD THE VEHICLE SLOWLY LOST POWER AND WAS GOING ABOUT 25 MPH. AFTER ABOUT 20 MIN VEHICLE STARTED BACK, THE DEALER DID DIAGNOSTIC AND RESET THE SYSTEM. *AK

WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR. SUDDENLY THE VEHICLE VIBRATED UNCONTROLLABLY. THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND PULLED OVER. THE CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THE DRIVER'S REAR TIRE BLEW OUT. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *JB

MY WIFE WAS COASTING INTO A PARKING SPACE WITH HER FOOT ON THE BRAKE. THE ENGINE APPARENTLY EXPERIENCED A POWER SURGE CAUSING THE CAR TO SHOOT FORWARD VIOLENTLY GOING THROUGH A FENCE AND OVER A TWO FOOT RETAINING WALL, ACROSS A DRIVEWAY AND CRASHING INTO ANOTHER CAR. WHETHER IT WAS THE GAS ENGINE OR ELECTRIC DRIVE IS NOT CLEAR. OUR DAUGHTER WHO WAS IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT OBSERVED THAT MY WIFE'S FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE THE WHOLE TIME. BOTH MY WIFE AND DAUGHTER RECEIVED NECK INJURIES REQUIRING TREATMENT. *NM

I WOULD LIKE TO REPORT A STALLING I EXPERIENCED WHILE DRIVING OUR TOYOTA PRIUS (2004) THE CAR STALLED A LITTLE AFTER I MERGED ONTO HIGHWAY 85 IN CUPERTINO. ALL THE WARNING LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD CAME ON AND THE CAR WOULD NO LONGER ACCELERATE AS I TRIED TO DRIVE UP TO 65 MPH. IT APPEARED THAT THE GAS ENGINE QUIT AND IT WAS RUNNING ON ELECTRIC POWER. I WAS ABLE TO COAST ON TILL THE NEXT EXIT. AFTER GETTING OFF THE FREEWAY, I PULLED INTO THE NEAREST PARKING LOT WHERE I TURNED TO CAR OFF. I WAS ABLE TO RESTART IT AND IT DROVE FINE BUT ALL THE WARNING LIGHTS REMAINED ON. SO I IMMEDIATELY DROVE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP IN SUNNYVALE WHERE WE BOUGHT THE CAR WHERE IT WAS FIXED. I AM NOT SURE THAT TOYOTA DEALERS ARE KEEPING ACCURATE RECORDS OF THE PROBLEM. I READ AN ARTICLE IN THE MERCURY NEWS TODAY'S EDITION IN WHICH ADAM SIMMS, THE OPERATING PARTNER AT TOYOTA OF SUNNYVALE HAS CLAIMED THAT "NONE OF THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE BOUGHT A PRIUS AT HIS DEALERSHIP HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH STALLING". I KNOW THIS IS NOT TRUE BECAUSE I HAVE EXPERIENCED THE PROBLEM AND HAD IT FIXED AT HIS DEALERSHIP. I AM NOT SURE OF THE EXACT DATE THE INCIDENT OCCURED. I BELIEVE IT WAS SOMETIME DURING THE THE SECOND WEEK OF NOV.

I HAVE A 2004 TOYOTA PRIUS. I HAVE HAD IT STALL AT LOW SPEED (APPROX 35MPH) MARCH 2004 I HAD IT LOSE POWER AT HIGHWAY SPEED ON NOV 7, 2004.

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE WILL JUST STOP. CONSUMER STATES THERE IS A SOFTWARE PROBLEM WITH ENGINE BEING FAULTY FROM THE COMPUTER. CONSUMER RECEIVES A DOZEN WARNING LIGHTS. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALERSHIP SO THAT THE VEHICLE COULD BE DIAGNOSED. CONSUMER IS AWARE OF OTHER SIMILAR COMPLAINTS. *AK *NM

ODD BRAKING BEHAVIOR IN 2004 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHEN CAR IS IN ITS FIRST FEW MINUTES OF OPERATION AFTER SITTING OVERNIGHT, THIS ODD BEHAVIOR OCCURS: THE FIRST OR SECOND TIME I APPLY THE BRAKES, THEY GRAB AS THOUGH THE PEDAL HAS BEEN PRESSED VERY HARD. THE CAR LURCHES TO A STOP. I RELEASE THE BRAKE PEDAL TO GO FORWARD AGAIN, APPLYING PRESSURE TO THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THEN I APPLY PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE GRABBING HAPPENS AGAIN. USUALLY BY THE THIRD BRAKING ACTION THE 'GRABBY' BEHAVIOR STOPS. THIS HAS NOT HAPPENED AT HIGH SPEEDS, PRESUMABLY BECAUSE THE CAR GETS IT 'OUT OF ITS SYSTEM' BY THE TIME IT IS WARMED UP. I USED TO BE A MECHANIC AND THIS IS DEFINITELY SOMETHING I HAVE NEVER FELT BEFORE, SUCH AS CONDENSATION ON THE DISC ROTORS. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING SINCE THE CAR WA NEW IN 2004. I WORKED AROUND IT. BUT NOW WITH THE NEWS ABOUT BRAKING PROBLEMS ON NEW PRIUSES, I THOUGHT I SHOULD REPORT IT. *TR

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT 60 MPH. THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN. THE CONSUMER PRESSED ON THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL FOR SPEED, HOWEVER THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO LOSE POWER. THE CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED. THE VEHICLE IS STILL AT THE DEALERSHIP. *JB THE PROBLEM WAS DUE TO A COMPUTER GLITCH PER TSB. THE BATTERY HAD GONE DEAD. *SC

THE CHILD WAS TRAPPED IN THE SEAT BELT. THE LATCH WOULD NOT RELEASE THE CHILD. THE BELT HAD TO BE CUT OFF. THE CHILD WAS TAKEN TO THE DOCTOR FOR AN EXAM. *NM

I AM ESTIMATING THE DATES - I TOOK MY 2004 PRIUS TO THE DEALER ON OCTOBER 12, AS IT WAS NOT DRIVING RIGHT SINCE I HAD DONE A "HARD BRAKE" THE WEEK BEFORE. THE SERVICE DEPT WAS UNABLE TO FIND ANYTHING AMISS. THEN, WHILE DRIVING TO WORK THAT FRIDAY, MY CAR INDICATED THAT I NEEDED TO STOP THE CAR IMMEDIATELY (VIA THE RED TRIANGLE ETC. LIGHTS ON DASHBOARD). I WAS TRAVELLING AT ABOUT 45 MILES PER HOUR AT THE TIME. I COASTED INTO A LEFT TURN LANE, BUT WAS UNABLE TO COMPLETE THE TURN INTO THE PARKING LOT AS THE CAR HAD SHUT DOWN. I WAS PUSHED INTO THE PARKING LOT. I CONTACTED THE DEALER AND THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE NEAREST DEALER (LARRY MILLER TOYOTA ON W. BELL ROAD). I WAS TOLD THE ECU WAS REPROGRAMMED AND THAT THERE WAS A SERVICE BULLETIN THAT WAS NOT SENT TO OWNERS, BUT DIRECTED DEALERS TO DO THE FIX ONLY WHEN THERE WAS A CAR WITH THE FAILURE. MY CAR HAS EXHIBITED THE RED TRIANGLE ONE OTHER TIME, 4/15/05 I BELIEVE, IT WAS TOWED AGAIN, TO BELL ROAD TOYOTA. THE ANSWER SEEMS TO BE "IF THERE IS NO CODE ON THE COMPUTER THAT SOMETHING IS WRONG, WE CANNOT FIX IT, SINCE WE DON'T KNOW WHERE THE PROBLEM IS."

DAD: VEHICLE RUNS AND SUDDENLY STALLS AND STOPS WORKING. OWNER ATTEMPTS TO START CAR AGAIN, AND IT DOES NOT START. CAR WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER THREE TIMES, AND DEALER FIXED IT. BUT, AFTER SOME TIME THE CAR DID NOT WORK AGAIN. OWNER STATED THAT CAR WAS SERVICED ON REGULAR BASIS.*AK

THE ACCLERATOR STUCK CONTINUOUSLY, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO STALL AND SHUTDOWN. DEALER HAS BEEN UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM ,AND THE MANUFACTURER OFFERED NO SOLUTION. *AK

2004 TOYOTA PRIUS CUT OFF WHILE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS.*MR WHEN THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE STALLED ON THE HIGHWAY, ANOTHER MOTORIST REAR ENDED THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE. *JB

DT: THE CONSUMER OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA PRIUS. HE SAYS THAT HE IS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE BECAUSE IT WILL SHUT OFF WHILE IN TRAFFIC. ALSO THE PARK MECHANISM WILL DISENGAGED AND THE LOCK BUTTON DOES NOT UNLOCK THE DOORS AS SPECIFIED IN THE OWNERS MANUAL. ALSO THE START BUTTON DOES NOT CONSISTENTLY START THE VEHICLE PROPERLY. *JB THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED: INOPERATIVE BRAKE LIGHT, THE FUEL DOOR SPRING WAS REPLACED, DOME LIGHT REMAINED ON, ENGINE WOULD DISENGAGE, LIGHTS WOULD REMAIN LIT AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE UNTIL THE VEHICLE WAS SHUT OFF AND RESTARTED TO GET THE BRAKE LIGHT TO GO OUT, RATTLING AS IF IT WERE GOING TO STALL, THE ALARM SOUNDED ON ONE OCCASION WHEN THE DOOR WAS OPENED, FUEL DOOR SPRING MALFUNCTIONED AND FUEL DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN. THE TECHNICIANS WERE UNABLE TO VERIFY THE DOOR LOCK MALFUNCTION. THE CONSUMER WOULD LIKE THE VEHICLE REPLACED WITH A 2005 MODEL EQUIPPED AS DETAILED ON THE ORIGINAL INVOICE INCLUDING AFTERMARKET ITEMS PAID FOR. *SC

MY 2004 PRIUS' COMBUSTION ENGINE SHUT DOWN ON THE FREEWAY IN SEP'04. THE CAR SWITCHED TO BATTERY MODE ONLY AND ROLLED ON UNTIL THE BATTERY WAS COMPLETELY DRAINED AND THEN COMPLETELY STALLED. I GOT STUCK IN LANES, CREATED A RUSH-HOUR TRAFFIC JAM, AND HAD TO BE PUSHED TO A SHOULDER BY A POLICE CAR. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHO SAID IT WAS A SOFTWARE GLITCH WHICH THEY PROCEEDED TO FIX AND THE CAR HAS BEEN WORKING WELL SINCE THEN.

WAS DRIVING MY 3 MONTH OLD '04 PRIUS ON A 2 LANE HWY, LATE NIGHT, 50MPH. PRIUS ENGINES SUDDENLY STOPPED AND MANY WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON. I PULLED OVER, THOUGH THERE WAS NO SAFE PLACE TO DO SO, SET MY FLASHERS AND BEGAN CALLING FOR HELP. SPENT THE NEXT HOUR CALLING POLICE AND TOW TRUCKS, TOO BUSY IN A DANGEROUS PLACE TO TROUBLESHOOT. DID NOT FEEL SAFE IN THE CAR DUE TO HIGH SPEED TRAFFIC. FINALLY TOWED TO DEALERSHIP AND CAR WAS ADMITTED IN THE MORNING. DEALER KEPT FOR 5 DAYS, ASKING ME TO TAKE IT HOME, NOTHING WRONG. I INSISTED THAT I WAS NOT COMFORTABLE TAKING THE CAR HOME UNTIL SOMETHING WAS DONE TO FIX IT. CALLED TOYOTA USA HQ AND REPORTED THE PROBLEM. THEY WORKED WITH THE DEALER AND EVENTUALLY GOT MY CAR BACK. 1 WEEK LATER, SAME THING HAPPENED, DAYTIME, WITH MY FAMILY ABOARD. THIS TIME, WAS ABLE TO RESTART AND DRIVE TO DEALERSHIP. REPORTED INCIDENT TO TOYOTA USA HQ. WHILE CAR WAS IN SHOP, TOYOTA SENT ME A LETTER OFFERING TO BUY THE CAR BACK FROM ME, DUE TO MY LACK OF CONFIDENCE IN THE CAR. I REGRETFULLY ACCEPTED. I AM VERY MUCH ENTHSED BY THE PRIUS POTENTIAL, BUT THESE GLITCHES ARE SCARY. TOYOTA BUYING THE CAR BACK FROM ME ALMOST FELT LIKE A COVERUP ATTEMPT.

1. THE TOYOTA PRIUS HAS AN ALIGNMENT DEFECT THAT WORE OUT MY TIRES PREMATURELY. . THE CAR RODE ON THE WALL AND INNER TREAD OF THE TIRE WEARING IT DOWN TO THE NYLON AND WIRE BEFORE IT POPPED 3. NEW TIRES WERE PUT ON THE CAR. *AK

1. I WAS DRIVING AROUND 30 TO 40 MPH AND THE GAS ENGINE FAILED SUDDENLY DURING THE COURSE OF NORMAL DRIVING, LEAVING ONLY THE ELECTRICAL ENGINE RUNNING. AT THE SAME TIME THE ENGINE FAILED, MANY LIGHTS TURNED ON ON THE DASHBOARD. 2. I WAS ON A CANYON ROAD IN THE LOS ANGELES MOUNTAINS WHEN IT FAILED, WHICH WAS A SINGLE LANE ROAD EACH WAY WITH NOWHERE TO PULL OFF. LUCKILY, I HAD JUST REACHED ON OF THE CRESTS IN THE CANYON WHEN THE ENGINE FAILED, SO WITH THE ELECTRICAL ENGINE I WAS ABLE TO COAST TO A SIDE STREET. ONCE ON THE SIDE STREET, THE ELECTRICAL ENGINE DIED QUICKLY, PROBABLY BECAUSE OF THE STEEP SLOPE UPWARDS OF THE STREET. 3. I TRIED TO TURN OFF THE CAR AND IT WOULDN'T TURN OFF, SO I POPPED THE HOOD AND GOT OUT TO SEE IF THERE WAS AN OBVIOUS PROBLEM. FINDING NO PROBLEM I COULD SEE I WENT BACK INSIDE THE CAR AND HELD DOWN THE POWER BUTTON UNTIL THE VEHICLE TURNED OFF FINALLY. WHEN THE VEHICLE TURNED BACK ON, THE ENGINE SEMPT TO WORK NORMALLY, AND I IMMEDIATELY WENT TO THE NEAREST TOYOTA DEALER. THEY SAID THEY HAD HEARD OF THE PROBLEM ONCE OR TWICE BEFORE AND IT REQUIRES A SOFTWARE UPDATE TO THE CAR. I WAS WEARY OF THEIR PROPOSED SOLUTION SINCE IT IS SUCH A DANGEROUS PROBLEM, BUT THAT'S ALL THEY SAID THEY COULD DO, SO I TOLD THEM TO GO AHEAD.

DT: WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 55-60 MPH THE CAR STALLED AND CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP. IT WAS TOWED INTO A DEALERSHIP, THEY LOOKED AT THE COMPUTER AND CORRECTED THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT STALLED SINCE.*AK *NM

DT: A. HOW LONG AND AT WHAT SPEED WAS THE CONSUMER DRIVING BEFORE THE VEHICLE LOST POWER? HAD BEEN DRIVING FOR ABOUT 15 MINUTES GOING ABOUT 65 MPH. B. WAS THE CONSUMER ACCELERATING, DECELERATING, OR DRIVING AT A STEADY- STATE WHEN THE VEHICLE LOST POWER? OWNER BELIEVES SHE WAS SLOWING DOWN AT THE TIME OF STALL. C. AFTER THE VEHICLE LOST POWER, WAS THE DRIVER ABLE TO CONTINUE DRIVING THE VEHICLE? IF SO, HOW LONG AND AT WHAT SPEED? OWNER WAS AFRAID TO DRIVE IT, AND CALLED DEALERSHIP AND HAD IT TOWED. D. DID ANY WARNING LIGHTS APPEAR BEFORE AND/OR AFTER THE INCIDENT OCCURRED. IF SO, DESCRIBE THE LIGHTS THAT WERE LIT. ALL WARNING LIGHTS WERE ON AS IT STALLED. E.DID THE VEHICLE EVENTUALLY STALL AND COME TO A STOP? HOW LONG DID THIS OCCUR AFTER THE WARNING LIGHTS WERE LIT? THE VEHICLE DID STALL AND COME TO A STOP. VEHICLE STALLED, THEN LIT UP SECONDS AFTER STALLING. YES. F.WAS THE DRIVER ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE RIGHT AFTER IT STALLED? G. WASS THE DRIVER ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AFTER LETTING IT SIT AWHILE? IF SO, HOW LONG WAS THIS AFTER THE VEHICLE STALLED? NO NO ATTEMPT WAS MADE TO RESTART BECAUSE IT WAS TOWED. H.WAS THE VEHICLE TOWED? YES. I.WHAT DID THE DEALER SAY WAS WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE? DEALER SAID THERE WAS A SOFTWARE GLITCH. DEALER REPROGRAMMED THE ECU (ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT) OR ANY SOFTWARE? YES. *AK *TT *NM

INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). MY 2004 PRIUS ALMOST KILLED US IN 2004. IT ACCELERATED SO FAST, THAT I HAD TO GO IN THE MEDIAN. WE COULD NOT SOW IT DOWN OR STOP IT, THERE WAS A BRIDGE AHEAD, SO I MANAGED TO GET BACK ON THE HIGHWAY SHOULDER AND TAKE IT OUT OF GEAR AND SLOW IT DOWN. SINCE THEN HAS BLAMED EVEYRTHING ON ME, I FELL ASLEEP,ETC. I DID NOT KNOW UNTIL KNOW THAT IT WAS THE CAR THAT CAUSED IT. WE COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED! SHE INSISTED WE GET RID OF THE CAR, I SOLD IT TO CARMAX IN LAS VEGAS,WHERE WE LIVED. [XXX] *TR

DT: 2004 TOYOTA PRIUS, CONSUMER WAS DRIVING ON HIGHWAY 24 AND THE VEHICLE STOPPED. IT HAD TO BE TOWED. VEHICLE LOST POWER WHILE GOING 60-65 MPH. *AK. THE VEHICLE STALL AGAIN ON AUGUST 29TH, 2005 WHILE BEING DRIVEN DRIVING 40 MPH. THE MILEAGE WAS 24480. THE CONSUMER CONTACT GM AND DEMANDED A NEW VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER BOUGHT THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE BACK. *NM

DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA PRIUS. THIS VEHICLE WOULD STALL AT HIGH SPEEDS. HE WAS GOING 65-70 MPH AT TIME OF INCIDENT. THIS HAPPENED WITHOUT WARNING. IT EXACTLY WHAT THE REPORTS SAID HAPPENED TO HIM. HE CAN BE CONTACTED BY ODI FOR THIS IF NEEDED. ALSO, HAD PREMATURE WEAR ON TIRES. HAD THE FRONT AND REAR ENDS ALIGNED THREE TIMES SINCE HE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE.*AK

THE SIDE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS BROADSIDED ON THE DRIVERS SIDE. *SC *JB

DT; LAST SUMMER WAS DRIVING DOWN HIGHWAY AT ABOUT 45-50 MPH AND ONE OF THE ENGINES WENT OUT, AND THE CAR DECELERATED AND FINALLY STALLED OUT. PARKED BY ROADSIDE ,AND HAD TO BE TOWED TO DEALERSHIP. SERVICEMAN DID A COMPUTER CORRECTION, BUT DID NOT RECORD THIS BECAUSE IT HAPPENED AT NIGHT. AGAIN ABOUT 2 MONTHS AGO THE ENGINE WENT OUT, CAR SLOWED, AND WOULD NOT RESTART. HAD TO BE TOWED TO DEALERSHIP. THE CAR WAS RETURNED WITHOUT EXPLANATION. AFRAID THIS MAY HAPPEN AGAIN. *AK *SB

1) ON A 95 DEGREE DAY THE CAR WAS PARKED IN THE SUN. 2) BRAKE LIGHT ASSEMBLY DEFORMED IN THE HEAT OBSCURING SOME OF THE 6 LED REFLECTORS. THE BLACK PLASTIC USED IN THE ASSEMBLY DOES NOT HOLD UP TO THE HEAT. 3) I COMPLAINED TO TOYOTA CORPORATE IN CALIFORNIA TO FIX THE SOURCE OF THE PROBLEM. NOTHING DONE TO DATE.

VEHICLE STALLED TWICE WITHOUT WARNING. HAD TO BE TOWED TO DEALER.

2004 TOYOTA PRIUS INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE FAILED TO START BUT VEHICLE OPERATED IN ELECTRIC MODE. WHEN BATTERY FAILED, THE VEHICLE SHUTDOWN IN PARK SO WE WERE UNABLE TO PUSH THE VEHICLE OUT OF THE STREET. FAILURE OF A COMPONENT SHOULD NOT MAKE IT IMPOSSIBLE TO MOVE THE VEHICLE. VEHICLE SHOULD NOT FAIL IN PARK. *JB

2004 PRIUS- WARNING LIGHTS--INCLUDING MASTER WARNING-- APPEARED ON DASH AND COMPUTER. VEHICLE LOST POWER AND COULD NOT BE SHUT DOWN OR RESTARTED. TOWED TO DEALERSHIP WHICH INFORMED ME THAT NO FAULT COULD BE FOUND AND CAR APPEARED TO BE OPERATING NORMALLY. CAR NOW RUNS NORMALLY EXCEPT FOR "READY" LIGHT THAT APPEARS ON DASH. *JB

DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CAR GOES INTO A MODE WHERE IT WILL NOT LET THE CONSUMER SHIFT INTO GEAR AND BECAUSE IT IS ELECTRIC SHIFT, THE CONSUMER DOES NOT KNOW THAT HE WAS UNABLE TO SHIFT INTO GEAR. IF HE IS ON A HILL THIS CONDITION WOULD MAKE THE VEHICLE COAST DOWN HILL. WHEN THE CONSUMER GETS INTO THE CAR, PRESSES THE BRAKE AND PRESSES THE POWER BUTTON THE CAR GOES INTO THE IGNITION ON MODE INSTEAD OF THE READY MODE. IF HE IS LOOKING AT THE DASH HE CAN TELL THIS HAS HAPPENED BUT IF HE DOES NOT LOOK AT THE DASH HE WOULD NOT KNOW THAT HE WAS UNABLE TO SHIFT THE CAR INTO GEAR. IF THE CAR IS ON A SLOPE IT WILL GO DOWN THE SLOPE AS SOON AS HE LETS OFF THE BRAKE AND STEPPING ON THE GAS DOES NOT MAKE A DIFFERENCE. OBVIOUSLY IF THERE IS ANYTHING IN FRONT OR BEHIND THE CAR AND THERE WAS SOMETHING IN THE CARS PATH DOWN THE HILL HE WOULD RUN INTO IT. ALSO, TWO VISITS TO THE DEALER UNABLE TO DUPLICATE OR FIX THE PROBLEM BECAUSE IT IS INTERMITTENT. *NM *JB

VEHICLE STALLED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25-30MPH ON SURFACE STREET WITH 1/4 TANK OF GAS REMAINING.

APPROACHING ENTRANCE RAMP TO I495 N EXIT 32 WESTFORD MA AT MODEST SIDE STREET SPEED 25-40 APPROXIMATELY. CAR RAPIDLY LOST ACCELERATION. CONTINUED FOR ABOUT ONE MINUTE ONTO THE INTERSTATE AND STALLED ON THE SHOULDER. BATTERY INDICATED SHOWED ONLY ONE BAR. GAS AT LEAST 1/3 FULL. ELECTRIC WINDOWS AND DISPLAYS AND LIGHTS WORKED. CERTAIN WARNING INDICATORS WERE LIT INCLUDING RED DANGER TRIANGLE. COULD NOT TURN OFF THE POWER OR REMOVE THE KEY. AFTER 20-25 MINUTES, WHILE WAITING FOR THE TOW TRUNK, I WAS ABLE TO POWER OFF AND ON AND THEN THE CAR STARTED AND I DROVE HOME (30 MILES). PERFORMANCE APPEARED NORMAL BUT THE RED TRIANGLE AND A FEW OTHER INDICATORS REMAINED LIT.

SINCE PURCHASING A 2004 PRIUS IN FEB. 2004, IT HAS STALLED FIVE TIMES. FOUR WERE WITHIN A TWO WEEK PERIOD IN JUNE 2004 AND WERE RELATED TO A LOOSE WIRE TO THE BATTERY. ONE WAS IN JUNE 2005.

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STALLED. CONSUMER RESTARTED THE VEHICLE, AND PULLED OVER. CONSUMER NOTICED ALL WARNING LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD AND REMAINED ON. CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM, BUT INSISTED THAT WARNING LIGHT SHOULD BE TURNED OFF. *AK

DT: WHILE DRIVING AT A STEADY PACE, THE VEHICLE STALLED. *AK *JB

IN JUNE 2004, THE 2004 TOYATA PRIUS WE HAD PURCHASED IN MID-MAY MALFUNCTIONED AS I WAS ACCELERATING ONTO A FREEWAY ON-RAMP IN DALY CITY, CALIFORNIA. A LOUD BEEP SOUNDED, AND ALL THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS LIT UP AT ONCE, INCLUDING THE EXCLAMATION POINT. THE GAS ENGINE DID NOT ENGAGE AS IT USUALLY DID AT HIGHER SPEEDS, LEADING TO A RAPID DEPLETION OF THE BATTERY, WHICH FORCED ME TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE FREEWAY. I TURNED OFF THE CAR, WAITED 5 MINUTES, AND THEN PRESSED THE POWER BUTTON. THE LIGHTS ON THE DASH LIT UP AGAIN BUT THE CAR DID NOT START. I CALLED FOR A TOW, WHICH TOOK ABOUT 70 MINUTES. IN THE MEANTIME, I TRIED THE POWER BUTTON AT 15 MINUTE INTERVALS. AT 45 MINUTES, THE CAR STARTED NORMALLY. HOWEVER, BY THEN THE TOWING COMPANY WAS ON ITS WAY AND THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE SERVICE CENTER OF THE CITY TOYOTA DEALERSHIP IN DALY CITY, WHICH HAPPENED TO BE WHERE WE PURCHASED THE CAR. THE CAR WAS LEFT FOR A FEW DAYS. WHEN I RETRIEVED IT, THEY WERE UNABLE TO EXPLAIN WHY THE PROBLEM OCCURRED. WE HAVE BEEN DRIVING THE CAR SINCE WITHOUT INCIDENT.

DT: CONSUMER HAD 2 EPISODES OF ENGINE STALLING. THE 1ST TIME CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS PASSING ANOTHER VEHICLE WHEN ANOTHER VEHICLE APPEARED IN THE LANE AND CONSUMER ACCELERATED QUICKLY AND CHANGED LANE. THE WARNING LIGHT CAME ON ALONG WITH A BEEPING NOISE, AND SUDDENLY LOST POWER. WAS RUNNING ONLY ON ELECTRIC POWER UNTIL WAS ABLE TO MAKE IT TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE ENGINE DID NOT RESTART UNTIL TURNED OFF THE WHOLE SYSTEM AND THEN IT RESTARTED IT. CONTINUED TO HAVE WARNING LIGHTS FOR SEVERAL HOURS. CALLED TOYOTA HOT LINE, AND WAS INFORMED IT WAS SAFE TO DRIVE. THE FOLLOWING MONDAY TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, WHO PLACED IT ON A COMPUTER AND NOTED IT WAS NORMAL. THEY THOUGHT IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN THE VEHICLE STABILITY CONTROL BECAUSE THAT LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED, AND EARLIER WHEN THAT HAPPENED DRIVER SWERVED INTO A LANE. THE 2ND EPISODE OCCURRED AS ACCELERATING TO GET ON A FREEWAY RAMP AND HAD SLOWED TO ENTER TRAFFIC, ANOTHER DRIVER ALLOWED CONSUMER'S VEHICLE TO ENTER AND DRIVER ACCELERATED GAIN AND THE ENGINE CUT OFF. WAS ABLE TO DRIVE ON BATTERY POWER ABOUT A MILE GOING 40 MPH TO THE NEXT EXIT. PULLED OFF, AND AGAIN TURNED SYSTEM OFF, AND AGAIN THE ENGINE RESTARTED. THIS TIME THE VEHICLE,S STABILITY LIGHT DID NOT ILLUMINATE. THE DISPLAY SCREEN HAD A BAR THAT SAID, PROBLEM. WHEN CAR WAS TAKEN TO DEALER NO LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. *AK

PURCHASED A 2004 TOYOTA PRIUS ON MARCH 2, 2004. ON MAY 24, 2004 THE CAR STOPPED WHILE I WAS DRIVING IT. I COULD NOT RESTART IT FOR APPROXIMATELY 15 MINUTES. I SAT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET DURING THAT TIME. THE DEALER SAID THEY HAD NEVER HEARD OF THIS HAPPENING. OM JUNE 16, 2004 THE CAR STOPPED RUNNING WHILE I WAS AT AN INTERSECTION. I HAD TO WAIT APPROXIMATELY 15 MINUTES BEFORE IT WOULD START. THE DEALER SAID THEY DIDN'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THIS. ON JUNE 21, 2004 THE CAR COMPUTERS WERE TESTED ON A RECALL AND FOUND TO BE OUT OF SYNC. THEY WERE ADJUSTED AND I WAS TOLD THAT WOULD TAKE CARE OF MY PROBLEM. IN CONTINUED TO HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR NOT STARTING. ON OCT. 6, 2004 I WAS GIVEN A NEW CAR REMOTE CONTROL TO FIX THE PROBLEM. I CONTINUED TO HAVE PROBLEMS. ON DECEMBER 6, 2004 THE CAR COMPLETELY FAILED. I WAS UNABLE TO START OR TURN OFF THE CAR. AFTER 20 MINUTES IT STARTED AND I WAS ABLE TO LEAVE IT WITH THE DEALER. THE MULTI DISPLAY UNIT WAS REPLACED. THE CAR CONTINUED TO STOP INTERMITTENTLY;. ON JANUARY 19, 2005 THE CAR FAILED TO START. A NEW SMALL BATTERY WAS INSTALLED. ON MARCH 29, 2005 THE BRAKES LOCKED UP. THE ABS ACTUATOR WAS REPLACED. ON MAY 21, 2005 THE CAR FAILED TO START. IT IS PRESENTLY AT THE DEALER.

DT: TOYOTA PRIUS GAS ENGINE STALLED 3 TIMES, TWICE WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AND ON RAMP. 1) MAY 13 2004 STALLED IN BUSY INTERSECTION GOING ABOUT 40 MPH, ELECTRICAL ENGINE STILL WORKED, SO SPEED DROPPED TO 20 MPH, AND CONSUMER STOPPED ON THE SIDE. ALL WARNING LIGHTS WERE ON. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO TOYOTA, AND THEY SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG EXCEPT DIRTY GAS. THEY RESET WARNING LIGHTS, AND TOLD IT WAS SAFE. 2) JUNE 1, 2004, WHILE MERGING ONTO A HIGHWAY GOING UP THE RAMP AT ABOUT 50 MPH CAR JERKED AND SLOWED TO ABOUT 25 MPH WITHOUT WARNING. CAR BEHIND M HAD TO GO ONTO SHOULDER TO AVOID REAR ENDING CONSUMER'S VEHICLE. ALL WARNING LIGHTS WERE ON AGAIN . WHEN CHECKING ENGINE DISPLAY ONLY ELECTRICAL POWER WAS WORKING AGAIN. GAS ENGINE HAD STALLED, CAUSING THE IMMEDIATE DECREASE IN SPEED, WITHOUT BRAKE LIGHTS SO CAR BEHIND DIDN'T KNOW WHAT WAS HAPPENING. TOWED TO TOYOTA. THEY SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG AGAIN EXCEPT DIRTY GAS. CONSUMER CHANGED GAS STATIONS AND USED THEIR RECOMMENDED ONES SINCE THE LAST INCIDENT. CONSUMER REFUSED TO TAKE THE CAR BACK . HAD TWO TODDLERS WHO WERE IN THE CAR AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENTS. GMC DEALER SENT A PATCH WHICH WA SSUPPOSE TO FIX THE PROBLEM, BUT PATCH DID,T WORK. PROBLEM RECURRED.*AK

AT 8000 MILES THE GOODYEAR INTEGRITY 185/65 R 15 TIRES HAVE NO TRACTION WHEN ROADS ARE WET OR SLIPPERY RESULTING IN WHEEL SPIN. *AK

WHILE DRIVING UNDER NORMAL CONDITIONS, I EXPERIENCED A MAJOR BRAKE MALFUNCTION (BRAKES BARELY RESPONDED AT ALL--ONLY BY PUSHING BRAKE PEDAL TO FLOOR DID I MANAGE TO SLOW DOWN/STOP VEHICLE). A CONTINUOUS WARNING BUZZER SOUNDED, AND THE ABS WARNING LIGHT AND BRAKE WARNING LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED ON DASH. VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED TO NEAREST DEALER. THIS COULD HAVE LED TO A CRASH AND INJURIES IF TRAFFIC HAD BEEN HEAVY. I BELIEVE THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE. THE PROBLEM WAS DIAGNOSED AS A "BRAKE ACTUATOR" FAILURE, AND THE PART(S) ARE CURRENTLY ON BACKORDER. THE VEHICLE IS A 2004 TOYOTA PRIUS. *AK

SUDDEN SHUTDOWN OF 2004 PRIUS. I WAS CRUSING AT ABOUT 40 MPH WHEN THE ENGINE UNEXPECTEDLY SHUT DOWN AND ALL DASHBOARD WARNING LIGHTS BECAME ILLUMINATED. I WAS ABLE TO SAFELY PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. AFTER CYCLING POWER BUTTON, CAR STARTED AGAIN, BUT "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. DEALERSHIP FOUND CODE P3191 IN DIAGNOSTIC SYSTEM, BUT COULD NOT COME UP WITH AN EXPLANATION. I AM REPORTING THIS NOW BECAUSE OF RECENT PUBLICITY REGARDING SIMILAR PRIUS INCIDENTS.

WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN. THE VEHICLE WAS HYBRID. THE OWNER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER, AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE BATTERY WAS CHARGED, AND THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. *AK THERE WERE A SERIES OF THESE EVENTS. THE VEHICLE ALSO STALLED WHILE IN MOTION. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT THE CHARGING SYSTEM WAS TESTED AND NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. *SC *JB

MY 2004 PRIUS HAS THE SAME BRAKING PROBLEM THAT HAS BEEN REPORTED FOR THE 2010 PRIUS, THAT IS, WHEN I AM SLOWING DOWN AND HIT A BUMP OR HOLE, THERE IS A MOMENTARY ACCELERATION. I REPORTED THIS TO TOYOTA IN 2004 AND REGIONAL TOYOTA REP CAME OUT AND LOOKED AT THE CAR AND SAID IT WAS NORMAL. SO...THIS PROBLEM IS NOT LIMITED TO 2010 PRIUS. *TR

I DROVE MY TOYOTA PRIUS FROM FLORIDA TO COLORADO. AFTER ABOUT 2100 MILES THE CAR STALLED. I WAS STUCK ON THE HIGHWAY FOR ABOUT 2 HOURS AT A TEMPERATURE OF 15 DEGREES UNTIL I GOT TOWED TO A TOYOTA DEALER. THE DEALER RECHARGED THE BATTERY, WHICH COMPLETELY DISCHARGED WHILE I SAT IN THE STALLED CAR WITH THE HEATER ON, AND THE PROBLEM WAS GONE.

ON THE TOYOTA 2004 PRIUS THE LEFT REAR AND CENTER REAR SEAT BELT BUCKELS ARE INTERCHANGED. THE LEFT REAR BUCKEL IS POSITIONED IN A VERTICAL POSITION BETWEEN THE LEFT AND CENTER SEATS. THE CENTER REAR SEAT BELT BUCKEL (MARKED CENTER) IS ON A FABRIC STRAP THAT EMERGES BETWEEN THE LEFT REAR SEAT CUSHION AND THE LEFT REAR BACK CUSHION APPROXIMATELY TWO INCHES FROM THE RIGHT EDGE OF THE LEFTREAR SEAT CUSHION (IF YOU ARE NOT CAREFUL YOU WILL SIT ON IT WHEN YOU USE THE LEFT REAR SEAT). AS A RESULT IT IS DIFFICULT TO FASTEN THE SEAT BELTS SINCE THEY CROSS OVER AND INTERFERE WITH EACH OTHER. IT IS ALSO VERY DIFFICULT (COMPARED TO A NORMAL SEAT BELT) TO OPEN THEM DUE TO THE INTERFERENCE. I SUGGEST THAT IT WOULD BE EXTREMELY DIFFICULT FOR THE AVERAGE INDIVIDUAL TO OPEN THESE TWO SEAT BELTS IN AN EMERGECY SITUATION. AS A RESULT, I FEEL THAT THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY ITEM THAT REQUIRES CORRECTION AT AN EARLY DATE. THE DEALER, BILL PAGE TOYOTA, STATED THAT ALL 2004 PRIUS THEY HAD RECEIVED WERE THE SAME CONFIGURATION AND THEY HAD NO MEANS TO CHANGE IT. THEY SUGGESTED CONTACTING TOYOTA. I HAVE FILED AN OFFICAL COMPLAINT WITH TOYOTA (#200312300834) AND THEY INDICATED THAT THERE WOULD BE NO FEEDBACK OR CORRECTION. NOTE: PRIUS NOT ON YOUR LIST. ENTERED RAV4 TO BE ANLE TO SUBMITTHIS COMPLAINT

REPORTED TO TOYOTA ON 2/7/04 FILE #200402110133. WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, 70MPH, CRUISE CONTROL ON, BOTH MY WIFE AND MYSELF HAVE ACCIDENTALLY BUMPED THE GEAR SHIFT KNOB WITH OUR HAND AND PUT THE PRIUS INTO DYNAMIC BRAKING MODE (DBM). THE SEMI-TRUCK BEHIND ME ALMOST RAN ME OVER BEFORE I COULD GET THE CAR BACK INTO DRIVE. VERY DANGEROUS!!! THE BRAKE LIGHT DOES NOT COME ON DURING DBM. TOYOTA SHOULD CHANGE THE SOFTWARE TO MAKE A DELAY IN THE GEAR-SHIFT FOR DBM SIMILAR TO SHIFTING INTO NEUTRAL?*AK