NHTSA Owner Complaint Log
This page lists owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2009 Toyota Prius. Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA and do not by themselves prove a defect or defect rate.
THE 2009 PRIUS ENGINE HAS A DEFECT IN THE SEALS ALLOWING OIL TO SEEP INTO THE ENGINE AND BE BURNED. THIS CAUSES THE MOTOR TO USE EXTENSIVELY MORE OIL THAN NEEDED. CAUSING POSSIBLE NEAR FAILURE. IT MUST BE CRITICALLY MAINTAINED OR THE ENGINE WILL RUN DRY AND DESTROY ITSELF. *TR
THE HID LIGHTS HAVE BECOME INTERMITTENT. FIRST THE LEFT ONE WOULD RANDOMLY GO OFF AND THEN LATER COME BACK ON, ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION. MORE RECENTLY THE RIGHT ONE IS SHOWING THE SAME BEHAVIOR.
MY 2009 PRIUS RIGHT HEADLIGHT GOES OUT PERIODICALLY AND WITHOUT WARNING. IF I TURN THE HEADLIGHTS OFF & ON AGAIN, IT WORKS AGAIN, BUT ONLY FOR A PERIOD OF TIME.
I WAS DRIVING 10-15 MPH IN THE MIDDLE OF MY SMALL TOWN, COMING UP A SLIGHT HILL ON A STREET THAT LEVELED OUT SHORTLY BEFORE THE SITE OF THE ACCIDENT. AS I DROVE UP ONTO THE LEVEL PART OF THE STREET, I SAW THAT THERE WAS A LONG LINE OF CARS STOPPED AHEAD OF ME, WAITING FOR A TRAFFIC LIGHT TO CHANGE. I WAS ABOUT 2-3 CAR LENGTHS FROM THE LAST CAR IN THE LANE OF TRAFFIC, WHEN THE LAST CAR IN THE LINE OF CARS AHEAD OF ME BRAKED VERY SUDDENLY, AND AS I WAS COMING UP TO THAT CAR, I ALSO STEPPED HARD ON MY BRAKES - AND - MY BRAKES COMPLETELY FAILED! I WILL HAVE NIGHTMARES FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE OF THOSE NEXT FEW MOMENTS OF PRESSING ON THE BRAKE AND SEEING MY CAR IGNORE ME AND CONTINUE FORWARD, RIGHT INTO THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. AND, I FELT THAT MY CAR ACCELERATED, AS THE BRAKES FAILED, WHICH MADE THE SITUATION EVEN WORSE. MY CAR HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME (CAR #2) WHICH HIT CAR #3, WHICH HIT CAR #4. MY CAR WAS DECLARED A TOTAL LOSS, THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME WAS BADLY DAMAGED AND HAD TO BE LOADED ONTO A FLATBED TRUCK OF THE COLLISION COMPANY. CARS #3 AND #4 COULD BE DRIVEN AWAY; CAR #3 HAD SOME DAMAGE TO THE FRONT AND BACK OF THE CAR, WHILE CAR #4 HAD SOME SCRATCHES ON THE REAR BUMPER. I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED OF ANY SAFETY RECALL FOR THE BRAKES OF THIS CAR, BUT I WAS OFTEN ALARMED WHEN THE BRAKES SEEMED TO SLIP OR NOT WORK FOR A FEW SECONDS EACH TIME THAT I DROVE OVER A SMALL BUMP, POTHOLE, MANHOLE COVER, ETC. DURING THE SIX YEARS THAT I OWNED AND DROVE THIS CAR. THERE ARE MANY OTHER PRIUS DRIVERS THAT HAVE WRITTEN TO THE EDMUND.COM AND OTHER WEBSITES TO TELL OF THEIR SIMILAR ACCIDENTS OR NEAR ACCIDENTS. PLEASE WARN THE PUBLIC AND PARTICULARLY PRIUS OWNERS OF THIS DANGER. THESE CARS ARE NOT SAFE! *TR
BOTH HEADLIGHTS GO OUT WITHOUT WARNING WHEN DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY. *TR
THIS CAR HAS HAD 3 NEW BATTERIES AND IT HAS JUST OVER 5,000 MILES. TODAY AAA JUMPED THE CAR AND I DROVE FOR OVER AN HOUR TO CHARGE UP THE BATTERY, THEN I WENT GROCERY SHOPPING, CAME OUT AND THE CAR WOULDN'T START. CALLED AAA THEY CAME OUT AND STARTED MY CAR AND CAME HOME. GOT UP TO TAKE IT INTO THE DEALERSHIP AND IT WON'T START. THE TEST HE RAN ON THE BATTERY I WAS TOLD THE BATTERY IS OK, THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG IN THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. THE ELECTRICAL MONITOR ON THE DASHBOARD DOES NOT SHOW ME HOW MANY MILES PER HOUR I HAVE BEEN DRIVING. THE BLUE LINE GO UP MAKING ME THINK THE BATTERY IS CHARGED, BUT WHEN I STOP I CANNOT RESTART THE CAR. I CANNOT AFFORD TO KEEP TAKING MY CAR INTO TOYOTA TO GET IT FIXED. THE DEALERSHIP IS TOYOTA TEMECULA VALLEY ON YNEZ RD, ALSO CALLED TOYOTA4U.COM. MAYBE IT IS THE POWER BUTTON, NOT CONNECTING TO THE ELECTRICAL. LAST TIME THE SERVICE REP YELLED AT ME THAT IT WAS MY FAULT FOR NOT TAKE THE CAR OUT EVERY DAY AND DRIVING IT ON THE FREEWAY, AND I WAS SO EMBARRASSED I SAID JUST PUT ANOTHER BATTERY IN IT. I HAVE ALWAYS HAD CADILLAC BEFORE THIS, BUT I FELT TOYOTA WAS A RELIABLE CAR, AND MY NEIGHBOR LIKE THEM. *TR
2009 TOYOTA PRIUS. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE ACCELERATION ISSUES. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED ON MAY 10, 2010. ON FEBRUARY 11, 2010, THE CONSUMERS WIFE WAS APPROACHING A SMALL BUSINESS IN A PARKING LOT. SHE WAS ALMOST AT A DEAD STOP, WHEN THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY WENT A RAPID ACCELERATION MODE, JUMPED A CURBED AND SIDEWALK, AND HIT A BRICK WALL OF A BUSINESS BUILDING. THERE WAS SEVERE DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE AS WELL AS TO THE BRICK WALL OF THE BUILDING. THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. *JB
2/14/2015 AS I WAS CHECKING MY VEHICLE I SAW A LOT OF CONDENSATION IN THE DRIVERS SIDE HID HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY. AFTER RESEARCHING I SAW THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH SUBSEQUENT PROBLEMS OF HEADLIGHTS GOING ON AND OFF WITH NO WARNING. THE HEADLIGHT SEAL PROBLEM IS A COMMON ISSUE AND THERE WAS A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT. UNFORTUNATELY IT ENDED 2011 AND I DIDN'T KNOW AT THAT TIME I WOULD EXPERIENCE THE ISSUE AT A LATER DATE. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL FOR THIS $400 PLUS REPAIR. THE PART ALONE IS $375. *TR
TOYOTA PRIUS 2009 HEADLIGHTS WERE ON AND OFF FINALLY THE LEFT SIDE WENT OFF TOTALLY. THE SEAL OUTSIDE THE HEADLIGHT DIDN'T PREVENT OF WATER CAME INTO THE SYSTEM AND DAMAGED IT . ALSO WHILE DRIVING THE CAR ACCELERATED AND DECELERATED BY ITSELF . AND WHILE STOPPING THE CAR JUMP. *TR
WHEN MY 2009 TOYOTA PRIUS GOES OVER 65 MPH THE PROBLEM LIGHT FLASHES ON THE DISPLAY AND THE THE ENGINE OIL LIGHT ILLUMINATES AS WELL. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND FAILED TO RESPOND. IN ADDITION, THE BRAKE, THE VSC, AND THE ABS WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,500.
DRIVER'S SIDE HEADLIGHT WILL GO OUT WITHOUT WARNING. LATER THE LIGHT WILL GO OUT AGAIN. THE HEADLIGHT HAS BEEN REPLACED AS WELL AS THE AMPLIFIER. THE NEW LIGHT BULB WAS LEFT ON FOR 3 HOURS WHILE CAR WAS PARKED BUT THEN WHEN IT WAS DRIVEN, THE LIGHT WENT OUT AGAIN. *TR
WHILE INCHING SLOWLY INTO A PARKING SPOT, VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AT FULL SPEED TO JUMP OVER THE PARKING BARRIER. WHEELS WERE TURNED SLIGHTLY TO RIGHT, SO CAR VEERED RIGHT AND STOPPED AS IT HIGH-CENTERED ON THE BARRIER, JUST BEHIND FRONT WHEELS. NO INJURIES- DRIVER & CHILD IN BACK WERE BUCKLED. WITNESSED BY MANY PEDESTRIANS WHO RAN TO ASSIST. ONE WITNESS SAID THE SAME THING HAPPENED IN HER PRIUS, BUT TOYOTA WAS USELESS TO HELP. IN MONTHS SINCE THE INCIDENT, TOYOTA HAS BEEN TERRIBLE AT RESPONDING IN ANY HELPFUL WAY. THE BLACK BOX RECORDER SHOWS NOTHING, OF COURSE, SINCE IT WAS A SLOW IMPACT WITHOUT AIRBAG DEPLOY. MOST INTERESTINGLY, THE NHTSA HAS NO INFO OF THIS INCIDENT, WHICH I'M REPORTING TODAY ONLY BECAUSE I NOTICED IN THE OWNER MANUAL ON REAR PAGE, SMALL PRINT, SOME INFO ABOUT REPORTING SAFETY DEFECTS FOR U.S. OWNERS... BUT AT LEAST 20 TOYOTA PERSONNEL, INSURANCE ADJUSTORS, REPAIR FACILITIES AND SALES TEAM MEMBERS NEVER SAID ANYTHING ABOUT SUCH A REPORT. HENCE MY ASSUMPTION THAT MOST OF THESE INCIDENTS ARE NOT REPORTED TO GOV'T UNLESS FATALITIES OCCUR. *TR
SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT, CODE P1121, COOLANT RECOVERY TANK FLOW CONTROL VALVE BAD. THERE IS A SERVICE CAMPAIGN ON THIS FOR 2007 PRIUS AND THE PROBLEM IS SUPPOSED TO BE SOLVE FOR 2009 PRIUS. ALSO THIS IS PART OF THE EMISSION CONTROL SYSTEM, AS THE PURPOSE OF COOLANT RECOVERY TANK IS THE WARM UP ENGINE SOONER TO PASS EMISSION TEST. CALLED TOYOTA DEALER, NOT COVERED BY EMISSION WARRANTY. THIS IS A KNOWN AND VERY COMMON PROBLEM AND TOYOTA IS DRAGGING ITS LEG ON IT. *TR
DRIVING ON A DARK ROAD I WENT FROM HIGH BEAMS TO LOW AND THE ENTIRE LIGHTING SYSTEM WENT OUT. I WAS QUICK SO CYCLED THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH, EVERYTHING CAME BACK ON BUT THE PASSENGER HEADLIGHT. TRIED REPLACING THE LIGHT BULB, IT STILL WONT WORK. I PAID EXTRA FOR THESE H I D HEADLIGHTS. NOW I'M TOLD 1000 DOLLARS TO FIX THEM. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2009 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED TO THE IMPOUND LOT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
TOYOTA DEALER RECEIPT: CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON - COOLANT CONTROL VALVE STUCK... REPLACED COOLANT CONTROL VALVE COST/$589.97 INCLUDING 450.00 LABOR + ENGINE WATER PUMP LEAKING COOLANT REPLACED ENGINE WATER PUMP/ ENGINE DRIVE BELT COST/$557.98 INCLUDING $430.00 LABOR MILEAGE!!! 41, 632 MILES 2009 PRIUS TOTAL COST $1173.41. CUSTOMER COMPLAINED TO TOYOTA MOTOR CORP AND RESPONSE WAS...NO FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE -36,000 MILE WARRANTY HAS PASSED. *TR
AFTER READING THE NEW YORK TIMES ARTICLE (11 SEP 2014) ON TAKATA AIR BAGS, I FOUND OUT THAT OUR 2009 TOYOTA PRIUS WAS NOT (YET) SUBJECT TO RECALL FOR THE DEFECTIVE TAKATA AIRBAGS, EVEN THOUGH, ACCORDING TO THE NYT MANY MILLIONS OF TOYOTAS HAD THESE AIR BAGS. I CONTACTED TOYOTA USA CUSTOMER SUPPORT TO INQUIRE IF OUR PRIUS HAD AIR BAGS MANUFACTURED BY TAKATA. I WAS INFORMED BY TOYOTA USA THAT THEY CONSIDERED THIS INFORMATION AS "PROPRIETARY" AND WOULD NOT INFORM ME AS TO WHETHER OR NOT OUR VEHICLE HAD AIR BAGS MANUFACTURED BY TAKATA AND THEREFORE LIKELY TO HAVE DEFECTIVE CANISTERS SHOULD THERE EVER BE AN INCIDENT THAT CAUSED THE AIR BAGS TO DEPLOY (OR EXPLODE, AS THEY CASE MAY BE). TOYOTA SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO INFORM CUSTOMERS IF TOYOTA HAS USED TAKATA AIR BAGS IN THEIR VEHICLES, EVEN IF THE NHTSA & DOT HAS NOT YET GOTTEN AROUND TO MANDATING A RECALL. TO ME, THIS SEEMS SIMILAR TO THE GM STARTER ISSUE FOR WHICH THERE WAS PLENTY OF BLAME ON NHTSA-DOT AS WELL AS GM. THANK YOU. *TR
HEADLIGHT WILL INTERMITTANTLY GO OUT. TURNS BACK ON WHEN LIGHTS ARE TURNED OFF AND ON BUT KEEPS RECURRING WITH NO WARNING. *TR
THE RUBBER COVER TO THE OUTSIDE TRUCK LATCH HAS MELTED COMPLETELY IN HOT FLORIDA WEATHER AND HAS BECOME GOOEY TO THE POINT OF DRIPPING ONTO MY LICENSE PLATE. THE TRUCK IS VERY DIFFICULT TO OPEN AND SOMETIMES I AM UNABLE TO LOCK OR OPEN THE CAR BECAUSE THE TRUNK IS NOT ALL THE WAY CLOSED. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE IF I NEEDED TO GET INTO THE TRUNK TO GET A SPARE TIRE I MAY NOT BE ABLE TO. GIVEN MANY OTHER REPORTS OF THIS ISSUE DATING BACK TO 2007 MODELS, TOYOTA SHOULD STOP USING THIS TYPE OF COMPONENT AND SHOULD RECALL THIS ITEM AND FIX IT WITH A DIFFERENT MATERIAL SO THIS DOES NOT KEEP HAPPENING. I AM ALSO CONCERNED THE EXPOSED LATCH WILL CAUSE ELECTRICAL DAMAGE TO THE TRUNK OR LIGHTING BECAUSE OF SEVERE RAIN THAT OFTEN OCCURS IN FLORIDA WHERE THIS PROBLEM SEEMS PREVALENT. *TR
THERE HAS BEEN NO INJURIES OR VEHICLE DAMAGE. I LEFT OFF TOTAL REPAIR COST BECAUSE THE REPAIR SHOP HAS NOT FINISHED SOLVING THE PROBLEM. IN 2013 I STARTED HAVE HAVING HEADLIGHT PROBLEMS AND HAVE IT ABOUT THREE MONTHS SINCE. I HAVE REPLACED THE HEADLIGHT BULBS SEVERAL TIMES ON BOTH SIDES. ONE TIME THE HEADLIGHTS WOULD OPERATE OPPOSITE( ONE SIDE WOULD BE HIGH BEAM ONLY AND THE OTHER WOULD BE LOW BEAM ONLY AND WHEN SWITCHING THE SWITCH INSIDE TO HIGH BEAM THE HEADLIGHTS WOULD SWITCH AS TO WHAT THEY DID ONLY. ON WED 8/20/14 THE LOW BEAM QUIT WORKING. I EARLIER PURCHASED A NEW PLUG AND 2 NEW BULBS IN CASE I HAD A PROBLEM. I TOOK THE CAR TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP( MY ONLY TOYOTA DEALER IN MY TOWN CAN NOT BE TRUSTED) WHERE I LIVE. HE INSTALLED THE NEW PLUG AND WE TRIED EACH OF THE TWO NEW BULBS AND THEY EXHIBITED THE SAME PROBLEM - THE LOW BEAM WAS JUST A SPEC OF LIGHT; NOT ENOUGH FOR THE LOW BEAM. HE TESTED THE VOLTAGE IN THE GROUND SIDE OF THE PLUG AND THE FUSE POSITION IN THE FUSE ASSEMBLY AND IT LIT UP HIS VOLTAGE TESTER WITH A SPEC OF LIGHT. HE HAD NO IDEA WHAT SYSTEM SENT THE VOLTAGE TO THE LOW BEAM SIDE FOR THE PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT. I AM TAKING THE CAR BACK ON WED 8/27/14 TO FINISH THE JOB. *TR
THE HID HEADLIGHTS STARTED TO FLICKER AND WENT OFF. REPEATEDLY HAPPENED. FIRST THE PASSENGER SIDE THEN THE DRIVER SIDE. I HAD THE HID HEADLIGHTS REPLACED TWO DAYS AGO. THE PASSENGER HEADLIGHT WAS STILL DIMMED, THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEEMED FINE. TODAY, THE DRIVER'S SIDE WENT OFF AGAIN AND WON'T TURN BACK ON. THE PASSENGER SIDE IS STILL WORKING, BUT DIMMED. *TR
MY 2009 PRIUS HAS A NON-NAVIGATION MULIT-FUNCTION DISPLAY THAT CONTROLS EVERYTHING FROM SOUND TO TEMPERATURE TO HANDS FREE PHONE. PLUS, IT FUNCTIONS AS THE REARVIEW CAMERA DISPLAY. IN AUGUST OF 2014 AT ABOUT 80,000 MILES THE SCREEN BEGAN TO TURN OFF SPONTANEOUSLY WHILE DRIVING (IF IT TURNED ON AT ALL.) I HAVE READ MANY REPORTS OF THIS HAPPENING TO THE 2009 MODELS. I AM CONCERNED MOST ABOUT THE REAR VIEW SCREEN BECAUSE THIS MODEL OF PRIUS HAS LARGE BLINDSPOTS AND I RELIED HEAVILY ON THIS SCREEN. *TR
PASSENGER HEAD LIGHT STARTED FLICKERING ON AND OFF, I PULLED OVER TURNED CAR OFF THEN BACK ON, HEAD LIGHT CAME ON BUT WAS DIM. I DON'T DO MUCH NIGHT DRIVING AND THIS WAS VERY CONCERNING. I STILL HAVE THIS ISSUE, AND HAVE NOW FOUND ON LINE THAT THIS SHOULD BE A SAFETY RECALL. UP TO $400 TO FIX, JUST FOR A HEAD LIGHT. YOU GOT TO BE KIDDING. AS SOON AS THE OTHER HEAD LIGHT STARTS ACTING UP AS WELL I WON'T BE ABLE TO DRIVE AT NIGHT. I DON'T HAVE $800-$1000 TO REPLACE HEAD LIGHT. THIS IS A REAL SAFETY ISSUE. THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL. *TR
LEFT FRONT HEADLIGHT BEGAN TO FLICKER, THEN FAILED COMPLETELY ON HIGHWAY WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT. TAKEN IN FOR REPAIR ON 8/2/14. WAS TOLD THAT ENTIRE HID ASSEMBLY UNIT AND COMPUTER SUB-ASSY HAD TO BE REPLACE. *TR
RIGHT HEADLIGHT DOES NOT STAY ON. HAD THE FILAMENT CHANGED 2-3 TIMES AND STILL BURNS OUT. THIS IS NOT SAFE. CANNOT GET A GOOD ANSWER AS TO WHY THIS KEEPS HAPPENING!!!
WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT, BOTH HEADLIGHTS, WITHOUT WARNING WENT OUT. IMMEDIATELY, I PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND TURNED THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH TO OFF. THEN, PAUSED A MOMENT BEFORE RELIGHTING THEM, UNFORTUNATELY RELIGHTING THEM NORMALLY FAILED. SO AGAIN, I WORKED WITH THE SWITCH, ONLY TO DISCOVER THAT THESE WOULD RELIGHT IF AND ON IF I HELD THE LIGHTS ON USING THE 'DIMMER MODE' TO BRIGHT THE ROAD. UNFORTUNATELY, MINE LIKE OTHERS, IS UNPREDICTABLE AT BEST - SO REPRODUCING THIS INCIDENT 'ON DEMAND' IS DIFFICULT AT BEST. IN READING OTHER CONSUMER COMPLAINTS, THIS SEEMS TO BE AN ONGOING AND COSTLY PROBLEM. AFTER FURTHER REVIEW, I HAVE DISCOVERED THAT THIS HEADLIGHT CHALLENGE HAS BEEN PART OF A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT. SHAME ON TOYOTA FOR NOT ISSUING A RECALL ON THIS MATTER - PRIUS OWNERS, AS WELL AS FELLOW DRIVERS WHOM WE SHARE THE ROAD WITH ARE AT HIGH RISK. *TR
WATER PUMP FAILURE. 76,000 MILES IS PREMATURE FOR A WATERPUMP. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHIFTED OUT OF GEAR AND STALLED. THE VEHICLE COULD BE RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, WHO COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 66,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
COMING OUT OF THE GROCERY STORE I STARTED MY 2009 TOYOTA PRIUS AND I NOTICE THAT IT LOST BRAKING POWER AND THE ABS,VSC,(!),AND EMERGENCY BRAKE LIGHTS STAY ON. I DID SOME RESEARCH AND THERE IS A RECALL FOR 2009 PRIUS CONCERNING THIS PROBLEM, BUT ONLY ON VEHICLES MANUFACTURED BETWEEN 3/2009-10/2009 MINE WAS MANUFACTURE ON 10/2008. I THINK THE RECALL SHOULD BE ON ALL 2009 MODELS REGARDLESS OF MANUFACTURING DATE. THERE ARE MANY OWNERS ONLINE COMPLAINING ABOUT THIS ISSUE. MY WIFE AND CHILDREN WHERE SCARED, AND I COULD OF EASILY HURT SOMEONE WALKING IN FRONT OF MY CAR AT THE GROCERY'S STORE PARKING LOT. I CAN'T DRIVE THIS CAR ANYMORE PLEASE EXTEND THE RECALL TO ALL 2009 MODELS REGARDLESS OF MANUFACTURING DATE. THANK YOU. *JS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 70 MPH, THE HEADLIGHTS FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT DEACTIVATED AND ACTIVATED THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH AND THE HEADLIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 114,000.
HEADLIGHTS EITHER PASSENGER OR DRIVER SIDE WILL GO OUT FOR NO REASON. TURNING THE LIGHTS OFF AND ON WILL RELIGHT BOTH HEADLAMPS, BUT ONLY FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. *TR
ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS PRIOR TO THE MOST RECENT INCIDENT DATE LISTED, THE PREVIOUSLY MENTIONED 2009 TOYOTA PRIUS HAS HAD INTERMITTENT COMPLETE OR PARTIAL HEADLIGHT FAILURE. ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS THAT SEEM TO BE RANDOM IN NATURE EITHER THE DRIVERS SIDE OR PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT WILL FAIL INDIVIDUAL WHILE THE COUNTERPART (OPPOSITE HEADLIGHT) WILL CONTINUE TO OPERATE. ALSO, AS RANDOM AS ONE INDIVIDUAL HEADLIGHT FAILING BOTH HEADLIGHTS HAVE GONE OUT OR FAILED SIMULTANEOUSLY. THE OPERATOR HAS BEEN ABLE TO RECTIFY THE IMMEDIATE HAZARD BY SIMPLY TURNING THE MAIN ACTIVATION SWITCH FOR THE HEADLIGHT FROM "ON" TO "OFF" AND THEN TO "ON" AGAIN. THIS PROCEDURE WILL, ON MOST OCCASIONS TEMPORARILY RECTIFY THE IMMEDIATE HAZARD BUT THE INTERMITTENT FAILURE HAS AND WILL CONTINUE. OPERATOR CONDUCTED RESEARCH ON THE ISSUE AND DISCOVERED THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM THE 2005-2009 TOYOTA PRIUS IS DISPLAYING. TOYOTA CORPORATE WAS CONTACTED BY THE OPERATOR AND STATED THAT A CUSTOMER CARE INITIATIVE WAS DIRECTED TO ALL TOYOTA SERVICE DEPARTMENTS TO REDUCE THE COST OF REPLACEMENT BULBS. HOWEVER, WHAT IS UNIQUE ABOUT THIS SITUATION IS A HEADLAMP HID BULB ON THE DRIVERS SIDE WAS REPLACED APPROXIMATELY ONE YEAR AGO AND IS THE MORE FREQUENT HEADLAMP FAILURE OCCURRING. THIS SEEMS TO INVALIDATE THE REMEDY THAT TOYOTA CORPORATE HAS DEVISED WHICH IS TO REPLACE THE BULBS. *TR
LEFT HEADLIGHT STARTED SPORADICALLY FLICKERING IN APRIL 2014, THEN RIGHT HEADLIGHT STARTED FLICKERING AND GOING OUT IN AUGUST 2014. BOUGHT REPLACEMENT BULBS, WHICH WORKED FOR 3 MONTHS, NOW BOTH HEADLIGHTS WILL INTERMITTENTLY GO OUT WHILE DRIVING. VERY DANGEROUS TO DRIVE AT NIGHT AS THEY JUST SUDDENLY GO OUT WITH NO NOTICE. HAVE DISCUSSED WITH MECHANIC WHO INFORMED ME THAT IT IS A "BALLAST" PROBLEM WITH THE 2009 PRIUS AND A CLASS ACTION LAW SUIT EXISTED, BUT SINCE MY CAR WAS OUTSIDE OF THE 5 YEARS 50K MILES COVERAGE THE COST TO REPAIR WOULD BE SOMEWHERE AROUND $1200.00 PER LIGHT. TOYOTA NEEDS TO FIX THIS PROBLEM AS A DEFECT!!!
DRIVER INTENTIONALLY ACCELERATED TO AVOID COLLISION, THEN PRIUS UNINTENTIONALLY ACCELERATED AFTER IMPACT WITH THE OTHER VEHICLE, CROSSING THE MEDIAN AND CROSSING THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION STREET LANES THEN UP ON TO THE SIDEWALK AND HIT THE CONCRETE BRIDGE RAIL AND FINALLY STOPPED. HAVE CONTACTED TOYOTA, THEY WANT UP TO A MONTH TO PULL THE CRASH DATA FROM THE CAR. I ASKED IF THEY COULD PULL THE DATA IN A WEEK, THEY SAID UP TO 30 DAYS THE CAR WILL HAVE TO SIT AT THE DEALERSHIP. A MONTH IS UNREASONABLE TO GO WITHOUT A CAR. THEY REFUSED TO SEND THE INVESTIGATOR TO PULL THE DATA AT THE BODY SHOP, SAID IT MUST BE DONE AT THE DEALERSHIP. I GAVE THEM THE NAME & ADDRESS OF THE BODY SHOP. *TR
I HAD JUST BOUGHT MY CAR ON FEBRUARY 19, 2014 AND NOTICED A HEADLIGHT OUT ON THE WAY HOME. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THEY WOULD REPLACE IT. I TOOK IT IN ON FEBRUARY 26, 2014 BUT THEY DIDN'T HAVE A REPLACEMENT BULB. THEY WERE GOING TO CALL ME WHEN IT CAME IN. THE DRIVER'S SIDE HEADLIGHT WOULD RANDOMLY SHUT OFF. ON MARCH 10, 2014 ON THE WAY HOME JUST AFTER DUSK THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME SLAMMED ON THEIR BRAKES TO AVOID A DEER. I SLAMMED ON MY BRAKES TO AVOID HITTING THEM AND MY LIGHTS JUST WENT OFF. I COULD NOT TELL HOW CLOSE I WAS TO THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME AND HAD NO CLUE IF ALL MY LIGHTS WERE OFF AND WHETHER THE CAR FOLLOWING ME COULD SEE ME. I WAS SCARED. I MEAN I WAS REALLY SCARED. I TURNED THE LIGHTS OFF AND BACK ON AND THEY WORKED. THE DEALERSHIP CHANGED THE DRIVER'S SIDE HEADLIGHT ON MARCH 13, 2014 AND TOLD ME THAT A SHORT IN IT HAD CAUSED THE HEADLIGHTS TO SHUT OFF. I AM SCARED TO DRIVE AT NIGHT. ON MAY 14, 2014 THE PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT SHUT OFF FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE THE INCIDENT. I AM AFRAID A SHORT IN IT WILL SHUT OFF BOTH LIGHTS SO I ONLY DRIVE AT NIGHT WHEN I ABSOLUTELY CAN'T KEEP FROM IT. THIS CAR IS GOING TO GET ME KILLED IF I DRIVE AT NIGHT. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS WOULD STOP WORKING SPORADICALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE BULBS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 94,000.
THE RIGHT HEADLIGHT SPORADICALLY SHUTS OFF WHILE DRIVING. I HAVE HAD THIS HAPPEN NEARLY EVERY TIME I DRIVE WITH MY HEADLIGHTS ON. I HAVE BEEN PULLED OVER TWICE BY A POLICE OFFICER BECAUSE OF THIS ISSUE. I FIND THAT IF I TURN THE HEADLIGHTS OFF AND ON AGAIN, THE ISSUE CORRECTS ITSELF, BUT THEN OCCURS AGAIN, SOMETIMES DURING THE SAME DRIVING TRIP. NOT ONLY DO I HAVE TO INCORPORATE EXTRA TIME DURING MY NIGHT COMMUTES BECAUSE I MAY BE PULLED OVER BY A POLICE OFFICER, BUT THIS IS DANGEROUS AND IS A KNOWN ISSUE. PLEASE CORRECT THIS ISSUE BY HAVING TOYOTA RECALL THE PRIUS. *TR
MY RIGHT HEADLIGHT STARTED GOING OFF WITHOUT WARNING, NOW BOTH LIGHTS ARE GOING OFF WITHOUT WARNING. SCARY SCARY SCARY AND DANGEROUS. I HAVE TO TURN THE HEAD LIGHTS ON AND OFF FOR THEM TO COME BACK ON; IT IS DANGEROUS WHEN I HAVE TO DRIVE AT NIGHT. IT MAKES IF DIFFICULT TO CONCENTRATE ON THE ROAD, AND IT BECOMES HAZARDOUS AND FREIGHTING. *TR
AS I WAS DRIVING MY 2009 TOYOTA PRIUS ON THE SERVICE ROAD OF I-30 IN DALLAS AROUND 25 MPH AFTER PREVIOUSLY TAKING OFF FROM A RED LIGHT, MY VEHICLE'S WARNING LIGHTS ALL TURNED ON AND STARTED TO BEEP AND I COULD NOT BRAKE OR REALLY STEER. MY VEHICLE...I ALMOST HIT THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME. SOMEHOW I WAS ABLE TO TURN RIGHT INTO A PARKING LOT AND SOMEHOW PRESS ON THE BRAKES STRONG IN ENOUGH TO MAKE THE CAR STOP. I FEARED FOR SAFETY AND THE SAFETY OTHERS AS WELL. IT WAS A VERY SCARY SITUATION TO BE IN A CAR THAT WAS NOT RESPONDING WHEN YOU ARE TRYING TO BREAK AND THERE'S NOTHING YOU CAN DO ABOUT IT. ONCE I WAS IN THE PARKING LOT, I TURNED THE VEHICLE ON AND OFF AND THE LIGHTS WERE STILL ON AND BEEPING, DID IT AGAIN AND IT STOPPED. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP AND THEY ARE TELLING ME IT'S AN ISSUE WITH THE ACCELERATOR AND BRAKE SYSTEM AND THAT I HAVE TO PAY TO HAVE IT FIXED, BUT I AM WONDERING HOW CAN TOYOTA NOT BE AT FAULT FOR THIS SAFETY ISSUE? I'M GLAD I DIDN'T INJURE MYSELF OR ANOTHER PERSON THIS TIME, BUT I THINK TOYOTA REALLY NEEDS TO LOOK INTO THIS ISSUE WITH THEIR PRIUS VEHICLES. I DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING MINE AT ALL NOW.....THEY CAN NOT GET AWAY WITH NOT BEING RESPONSIBLE AND LIABLE FOR THEIR FAULTY AND DEFECTIVE VEHICLE'S SAFETY MECHANISMS. *TR
THE REAR HATCH RELEASE ON MY 2009 TOYOTA PRIUS HAS BEGUN TO DECOMPOSE AND TURN INTO A RUBBERY, GOOEY MESS. IT INTERFERES WITH THE USE OF THE HATCH AS THE GOO NOT ONLY GETS ON THE FINGERS BUT APPEARS TO BE BLOCKING THE RELEASE MECHANISM. *TR
LEFT HEADLIGHT WENT OUT WHILE DRIVING. THEN BOTH HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT A MINUTE LATER. TURNED LIGHTS OFF AND BACK ON AND THEY WERE OK FOR A MINUTE. THEN THE LEFT HEADLIGHT WENT OUT AGAIN. THIS KEEPS ON RECURRING . *TR
HEADLIGHT GOES OUT RANDOMLY AND REQUIRES THE HEADLIGHTS TO BE TURNED OFF THEN ON. *TR
MY RIGHT HEADLIGHT GOES OFF WITHOUT WARNING. I HAVE TO TURN THE HEAD LIGHTS ON AND OFF FOR IT TO COME BACK ON; IT IS DANGEROUS WHEN I HAVE TO DRIVE AT NIGHT, AND THE HEADLIGHT GOES OUT,. THIS IS A CONTINUOUS PROBLEM, IT MAKE IF DIFFICULT TO CONCENTRATE ON THE ROAD, AND IT BECOMES HAZARDOUS AND FREIGHTING. IT IS ALSO BOTHERSOME TO OTHERS WHEN I HAVE TO TURN MY LIGHTS ON AND OFF. *TR
I NOTICED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE HEADLIGHT APPEARED TO BE OUT, SO I CHECKED IT AND IT WAS. WHEN I TURNED THE LIGHTS OFF AND BACK ON THE HEADLIGHT CAME ON FOR A PERIOD OF TIME AND WENT OFF. I HAD THE HEADLAMPS CHANGED WITH OEM PART AND THE LIGHTS WORKED FOR A DAY AND NOW IT IS OUT AGAIN, WHICH MIGHT BE BALLAST OR SOMETHING ELSE. I HAVE READ MANY COMPLAINTS ONLINE FOR THE 2006-2009 MODELS HAVE PREMATURE HEADLIGHT FAILURE AND GREAT EXPENSE TO FIX. IT IS DANGEROUS WHEN I HAVE TO DRIVE AT NIGHT AND I LIKE TO LEAVE THE LIGHTS ON DURING THE DAY FOR SAFETY. *TR
WHEN MY 2009 TOYOTA PRIUS REACHED APPROXIMATELY 65,000 MILES, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, AND THE ERROR CODE WAS P1121, INDICATING A PROBLEM WITH THE COOLANT CONTROL VALVE. I TOOK THE CAR TO MY LOCAL TOYOTA DEALERSHIP, AND THEIR CHARGE FOR REPLACING THE PART WAS $400. THE MECHANIC WHO INSPECTED THE VALVE SAID IT WAS NOT CLOSING SECURELY. HE SAID MAKING THE REPAIR WOULD NOT IMPROVE THE CAR'S PERFORMANCE OR AFFECT ITS VALUE, AND THEREFORE HE DID NOT RECOMMEND MAKING THE REPAIR. UNFORTUNATELY, I HAVE REALIZED THAT OPTING OUT OF THIS REPAIR DOES AFFECT THE CAR'S SAFETY. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS CONSTANTLY ON. EVEN IF I MANUALLY TURN IT OFF, IT COMES RIGHT BACK ON, SO IT IS UNLIKELY THAT I WILL BE AWARE IF OTHER MECHANICAL ISSUES EVER ARISE. MY MOTHER DRIVES A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS WHICH JUST HIT 65,000 MILES, AND HER CAR PRODUCED THE EXACT SAME ERROR CODE. IT IS STATISTICALLY IMPOSSIBLE THAT TWO CARS OF THE SAME MAKE AND MODEL, ONLY A YEAR APART IN AGE, IN THE SAME HOUSEHOLD, WOULD PRODUCE IDENTICAL ERROR CODES AFTER REACHING ROUGHLY THE SAME MILEAGE FOR ANY REASON OTHER THAN DEFECTIVE MANUFACTURING. I BELIEVE THIS ERROR CODE IS THE RESULT OF A MANUFACTURING ERROR THAT TOYOTA SHOULD ADDRESS THROUGH A SAFETY RECALL. TOYOTA'S OWN MECHANIC ADMITTED THAT THE REPAIR IS FINANCIALLY IMPRACTICAL FOR CUSTOMERS, YET IF THE REPAIR IS NOT MADE, DRIVERS ARE LEFT WITHOUT A FUNCTIONAL CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WHICH IS A SAFETY HAZARD. *TR
2009 TOYOTA PRIUS. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO HYBRID ELECTRIC WATER PUMP RECALL NOTICE. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED TWO WEEKS AFTER THE HYBRID WATER PUMP WAS FIXED, A RED TRIANGLE LAMP APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO OVERHEAT. THE CONSUMER WENT BACK TO THE DEALER AND WAS CHARGED 4202/16 FOR THE DIAGNOSIS AND INFORMED HIM THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONSUMER WENT TO HIS PERSONAL MECHANIC, WHERE THE HYBRID ELECTRIC PUMP WAS REPLACED AND THE CODES WERE CLEARED.
WE ARE HAVING AN ISSUE WITH THE LEFT HEADLIGHT GOING OUT AFTER ABOUT 15 MINUTES OF DRIVING. WE'VE TAKEN IT INTO THE SHOP MULTIPLE TIMES AND HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO GET THE ISSUE FIXED. WE TOOK THIS TO THE SHOP THE LATEST TIME AND THEY TOLD US IT IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THE TOYOTA PRIUS HYBRID. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE STARTING THE IGNITION, A STRONG ODOR OF FUEL EMITTED INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT DID NOT DETECT A FUEL LEAK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 77,771.
THE LIGHTBULBS BURN OUT VERY EASILY. THE CAR STALLS WHEN YOU ARE TRYING TO LEAVE FROM A LIGHT OR STOP SIGN. THERE IS A RECALL FOR THIS BUT NOT ON MY MODEL AND THERE SHOULD BE SOMETIMES WHEN STOPPING ON BREAKS THE CAR WILL SHOW SLIPPERY ALERT EVEN THOUGHT THERE IS NO REASON FOR IT. ALL THESE THINGS HAVE CAUSED DANGER FOR US WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR YEARS
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026