2009 Toyota Prius Complaint Log

I NARROWLY MISSED HITTING A PEDESTRIAN IN A CROSSING WALK AT 5AM IN THE MORNING. THE REASON-BOTH OF MY HEADLIGHTS HAD TURNED THEMSELVES OFF. I HAVE HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE RIGHT ONE GOING OFF AND AM ABLE TO TURN IT BACK ON BY TURNING THE LIGHT S OFF, THEN BACK ON. BUT NOW THEY BOTH ARE TURNING OFF AT DIFFERENT TIMES AND IT IS HARD TO TELL UNTIL SOMETHING LIKE THIS HAPPENS.(IT'S HARD TO TELL AS THIS CAR HAS 2 FOGLIGHTS THAT I NORMALLY KEEP ON, AND THEY GIVE THE ILLUSION THAT THE HEADLIGHTS ARE ON). THE PROBLEM IS NOT IN THE HEADLIGHT ITSELF. I KNOW AS I HAD THE PROBLEM PRIOR TO A FRONT END COLLISION ABOUT 6 MONTHS AGO IN WHICH THEY REPLACED BOTH HEADLIGHTS.THE PROBLEM HAS TO BE IN WHATEVER COMPUTER CONTROLS THE HEADLIGHTS. THIS IS A SERIOUS DEFECT AND SHOULD BE MANUFACTURER RECALL ISSUE BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED. *TR

SAME BASIC COMPLAINT AS IN OTHER SIMILAR 'SAFETY COMPLAINTS'; FOR ABOUT THE LAST YEAR, HEADLIGHTS GO DIM, FLICKER, ONE OR THE OTHER WILL GO OUT FOR NO APPARENT REASON, AND MORE DISTRESSING AND IMPORTANTLY, IN THE LAST COUPLE MONTHS, THEY WILL BOTH JUST TURN OFF COMPLETELY AND AT THE SAME TIME WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AT ANY SPEED. I HAVE TO TURN THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH OFF AND ON TO 'RESET' THE LIGHTS AND GET THEM BACK ON. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE OFFICIAL TOYOTA REPAIR SHOP; THEY WOULD NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THAT IT IS A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM. BLAMED THE BULBS, WHICH IS IN CONFLICT WITH THE OWNERS MANUAL INSTRUCTIONS, AND WANTED TO CHARGE ME $ 550 TO REPLACE ONLY THE TWO BULBS. THIS NEEDS TO BE A RECALL ITEM AS IT IS VERY DANGEROUS TO HAVE ALL LIGHTS SUDDENLY GO OFF WITHOUT ANY WARNING, THEN HAVING TO FUMBLE AROUND IN THE PITCH BLACK TO TURN THE LIGHT SWITCH OFF AND ON AGAIN TO 'RESET' THIS FAILURE. *TR

THE RUBBER COVER TO THE HATCHBACK TRUNK LATCH HAS MELTED. IT IS NOW STICKY AND GOOEY AND LITERALLY IMMOVABLE. THIS PRESENTS A SAFETY HAZARD, BECAUSE SOMETIMES I CAN'T OPEN THE HATCHBACK WHICH CONTAINS THE SPARE TIRE AND OTHER TOOLS. I HAVE NO OTHER WAY TO ACCESS ANYTHING IN THE "TRUNK" WHEN I'M UNABLE TO OPEN THE LATCH. THE TOYOTA DEALER SAID THIS DEFECTIVE PART IS NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY AND QUOTED AN EXORBITANT PRICE TO REPLACE IT. I FEEL TOYOTA SHOULD REPLACE THIS DEFECTIVE PART AT NO COST TO OWNERS. *TR

THE VEHICLE BRAKING LOST BRAKING MOMENTARILY WHEN I WAS DRIVING OVER SMALL BUMPS AND VEHICLE SLIP SIGN ILLUMINATED. *TR

MY WIFE AND I WERE DRIVING DOWN A RESIDENTIAL STREET APPROACHING A STOP SIGN. THERE WERE TWO CARS STOPPED AT THE SIGN. SEVERAL HUNDRED FEET FROM THE STOP, I TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE ACCELERATOR. THE CAR DID NOT SLOW DOWN. I STEPPED ON THE BRAKE. THE CAR DID NOT SLOW DOWN. I STOOD ON THE BRAKE AS HARD AS I COULD. THE CAR DID NOT SLOW DOWN. I SAID TO MY UNDERSTANDABLY ALARMED WIFE, WE'RE NOT STOPPING. AND WE DIDN'T UNTIL WE SMASHED INTO THE BACK OF A TAHOE STOPPED AT THE STOP SIGN, DOING MAJOR DAMAGE TO THE PRIUS THAT RENDERED IT UNDRIVEABLE AND PERHAPS TOTALED. MY WIFE HAS A VERY SORE BACK THAT I AM HOPING STARTS TO FEEL BETTER TODAY OR WE WILL HAVE TO SCHEDULE A DOCTOR'S APPOINTMENT. *TR

FOR SOME MONTHS NOW I HAVE BEEN HAVING TROUBLE WITH THE RIGHT FRONT HEADLIGHT IN MY PRIUS WHICH IS AN HID LAMP. THE LIGHTS GOES OUT AND THEN WHEN I TURN THE LIGHT SWITCH OFF THEN BACK ON AGAIN THE LAMP LIGHTS AGAIN. I HAVE TO DO THIS NUMEROUS TIMES WHILE DRIVING. IT EITHER EVENTUALLY STAY'S LIT OR I JUST GIVE UP AND ANTICIPATE A TICKET. ON OCCASION WHEN I TRY TO GET THE LIGHT TO COME BACK ON THE DRIVERS SIDE LIGHT GOES OUT, AND THEN I AM WITHOUT HEADLIGHTS UNTIL I REPEAT THE PROCESS. IT IS NOT ONLY DANGEROUS WHILE DRIVING IN THE DARK, BUT WHEN YOU TRY TO GET THE LAMP TO TURN BACK ON, PEOPLE THINK YOUR FLASHING THEM FROM BEHIND WHICH CAUSES THEM TO BECOME AGGRESSIVE. IT IS VERY STRESSFUL AND I KNEW IF I LOOKED THIS UP ONLINE I'D PROBABLY FIND THAT THERE WAS A RECALL. I WAS NOT SURPRISED TO FIND OUT THAT THERE WERE COMPLAINT IDENTICAL TO MINE, BUT NO RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED AGAINST TOYOTA TO FIX THE APPARENT DESIGN PROBLEM. I AM A 28 YEAR VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTER AND ALSO A SENIOR SAFETY SPECIALIST FOR MY COMPANY. WHY DO WE HAVE TO WAIT FOR A SERIOUS INCIDENT TO OCCUR BEFORE TOYOTA IS FORCED TO FIX THE ISSUE. I WILL NOT REPLACE THIS EXPENSIVE BULB SINCE IT APPEARS THAT IT ONLY REMEDIATES THE PROBLEM FOR A SHORT PERIOD THE OF TIME BEFORE IT HAPPENS AGAIN. I AM ENTRUSTING IN YOUR ORGANIZATION TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THE ISSUE TO ENSURE THE WELL BEING OF ME, MY FAMILY AND THOSE AROUND US WHO EITHER DRIVE THESE MODELS AND/OR BECOME ADDITIONAL VICTIMS FROM OUR VEHICLES DUE TO HAVING TO "COMPLETELY" SHUT DOWN THE HEADLIGHTS IN AN ATTEMPT TO GET THEM BACK UP. AGAIN THIS SOMETIMES CREATES BOTH HEADLIGHTS TO GO OUT UNTIL REPEATED. CAN THAT REALLY BE A BULB ISSUE? I THINK NOT. PLEASE FORCE THIS LARGE COMPANY TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THE ISSUE BEFORE STATISTICS CLIMB ON ACCIDENTS AND OR INJURIES RESULTING FROM THESE HEADLIGHT FAILURES. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND ANTICIPATED ACTIONS. *TR

DRIVING AND MY LEFT HEADLIGHT SPONTANEOUSLY TURNED OFF. IF IS NOT BURNED OUT, AS IT WAS WORKING WHEN I LEFT, AND STOPPING AND RESTARTING THE CAR TURNED IT BACK ON. VERY DANGEROUS AS THE ROAD WAS DARK, NOT TO MENTION I DON'T WANT A TRAFFIC TICKET. PLEASE STOP IGNORING THIS PROBLEM. *TT

HEADLIGHT ON RIGHT SIDE (PASSENGER) FADES OUT RANDOMLY - GETTING WORSE OVER PAST 6 MONTHS. NOW BOTH LIGHTS GO OUT. TURNING OFF/ON *USUALLY* FIXES, BUT DOESN'T LAST. *TR

THE BACK DOOR/HATCH SWITCH RUBBER IS MELTING/VERY STICKY. THE PROBLEM WAS FIRST REPORTED IN THE 2007 PRIUS AND OTHER MODEL TOYOTA MODELS. I EXPECT THAT THIS SWITCH WILL BECOME DEFECTIVE AND IT IS THE ONLY MEANS TO ENTER THE HATCH AREA OF THE PRIUS.THE HATCH AREA IS THE LOCATION OF THE SPARE TIRE, FLARES AND OTHER SAFETY PRODUCTS CARRIED IN THE AUTOMOBILE. THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM OF TOYOTA MODELS AND IS DEFINITELY A FACTORY DEFECTIVE PART. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT, THE DRIVER'S SIDE HEAD LIGHT FAILED. THE CONTACT TURNED THE SWITCH BACK ON AND THEN THE PASSENGER'S SIDE HEADLIGHT FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION WHERE THEY STATED THAT THE HID HEADLIGHTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000.

THE AIRBAG LIGHT HAS BEEN ON FOR THE LAST SOME YEARS AND I HAVE ASKED TO DEALER TO CHECK ON IT FOR 1 HOUR (CUZ OF COST OF LABOR) AND THEY CAN NOT FIND THE PROBLEM. WHAT SHOULD I DO... I DO NOT SEE A RECALL LETTER ON THIS???

THE RUBBER COVER ON MY TOURING MODEL PRIUS'S HATCH LOCKING ASSEMBLY - THE HIDDEN AREA YOU GRAB TO OPEN THE HATCH - HAS DETERIORATED TO THE POINT THAT IT IS GUMMY LIKE TAR. THERE ARE DOZENS OF ONLINE COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS HAPPENING TO 2007 AND 2008 MODELS, WHICH LIKE MY PRIUS, WERE MANUFACTURED IN JAPAN. I'VE OWNED SEVERAL HATCHBACKS AND NEVER SEEN THIS PROBLEM ON MUCH OLDER HATCH LOCKS. FROM ALL OF THE ONLINE COMPLAINTS IT'S CLEAR TO ME THAT TOYOTA IS AWARE OF THIS DEFECT BUT WHEN CONTACTED, THEY FIRST TOLD ME THEY HAD NEVER HEARD OF THIS BEING A PROBLEM, AND NOW TELL ME IT ADVISES CUSTOMERS IT'S "NORMAL WEAR." FROM A SAFETY PERSPECTIVE THE MELTING RUBBER MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO OPEN THE REAR HATCH (A LIFE SAFETY ACCESS POINT), AND THE STICKY BLACK TAR-LIKE MATERIAL FROM THE COVER IS ALSO POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS. I ASK YOUR AGENCY TO TAKE A LOOK AT THESE INSTANCES AND ALSO TO INQUIRE WHY TOYOTA IS NOT RECALLING THESE HANDLES THAT ARE MELTING, WHICH HAS TO BE THE RESULT OF DEFECTIVE RUBBER. I THINK A DOOR HANDLE OR HATCH HANDLE SHOULD BE MADE TO LAST MORE THAN THREE YEARS. *TR

BEGINNING IN JULY 2013, THE HEADLIGHTS ON MY 2009 TOYOTA PRIUS STARTED FLICKERING WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT AND THEN BOTH LIGHTS WENT OFF. THE HEADLIGHTS CONTINUE TO TURN OFF WHILE DRIVING. SOMETIMES IT IS ONE LIGHT AND SOMETIMES IT IS BOTH LIGHTS. WHEN IT IS ONE LIGHT, IT IS NEVER THE SAME LIGHT THAT GOES OUT. *TR

WE WERE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE AT 70 MPH, WHEN THE HEADLIGHTS SUDDENLY WENT OUT. IT WAS DARK AND RAINING, AND WERE UNABLE TO SEE THE ROAD EDGE. WE PUSHED THE EMERGENCY FLASHERS AND WERE ABLE TO SEE HOW CLOSE TO THE ROAD EDGE WE WERE. ABOUT TWO MINUTES LATER, THE LIGHTS BOTH CAME BACK ON AND WE CONTINUED TO DRIVE TO SEEK A SAFER AREA. EVERY 15 MINUTES THE LIGHTS WOULD FLICKER. *TR

I NOTICED A STRANGE NOISE ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE CAR, WHICH WAS GETTING LOUDER EVERY DAY. TOOK TO A DEALER, AND I WAS TOLD THAT MY RIGHT STRUT AND STRUT MOUNT CRASHED AND NEEDED A REPLACEMENT. THEY ALSO TOLD ME THAT THE OTHER FRONT STRUT NEEDED A REPLACEMENT. I AM ONLY DRIVING NORMAL ROADS. *TR

SINCE I PURCHASED THE PRIUS IN EARLY 2012 WITH LESS THAN 60,000 MILES, I ALWAYS NOTICED THAT WHEN BRAKING OVER ROUGH SURFACES, THE ABS WOULD KICK IN AND WOULD DELAY THE BRAKING BY AT LEAST 1/2 SECOND PER ABS/STABILITY CONTROL EVENT. WHILE I HAD NEVER HAD AN INCIDENT INITIALLY, THERE WERE MANY CLOSE CALLS. AFTER TALKING WITH THE LOCAL TOYOTA DEALERSHIP, THEY SAID IT WAS PERFORMING AS EXPECTED AND THAT I WAS NOT USED TO THE CAR'S HANDLING CHARACTERISTICS. HOWEVER, ON 6/4/2013, THE BRAKING SYSTEM PERFORMED ITS USUAL DELAY AND DID NOT ALLOW ME TO STOP IN TIME, THEREBY REAR-ENDING ANOTHER PERSON IN A CONSTRUCTION ZONE OVER A ROUGH ROADWAY. THIS NEEDS TO BE SOMETHING THAT NHTSA LOOKS INTO FOR A RECALL SITUATION. THERE ARE TOO MANY COMPLAINTS ALREADY FOR THEM JUST TO IGNORE THIS WHEN THERE ALREADY HAS BEEN A RECALL OF THE 2010 PRIUS FOR THE SAME ISSUE. *TR

A YEAR AGO, UPON TAKING OFF FROM A STOP MY CAR BEGAN TO STALL. I DRIVE TWO BLOCKS IT CONTINUES TO PUTT ALONG AND STALL, THEN AFTER LESS THAN A MILE IT STARTS TO RUN AS NORMAL. I TAKE MY CAR IN TO BE TOLD IT IS OUT OF GAS, WHICH IT DID NOT INDICATE LOW FUEL, IT HAD OVER A QUARTER OF A TANK. I INSIST THEY CONTINUE TO CHECK MY CAR OVER DAYS OF THEM DRIVING IT, AFTER A WEEK THEY EXPERIENCE SOMETHING SIMILAR AND REPLACE MY JUNCTION BOX. SINCE THEN I'VE REPLACE THE WATER PUMP, TAKEN MY CAR IN FOR A STEERING RECALL. ALSO, THERE ARE INSTANCES WHERE MY CAR UPON TAKE OFF STALLS, BUT NOTHING SEVERE, JUST SOMETHING YOU FEEL WHEN ACCELERATING. RECENTLY, 6/5/14, I EXPERIENCED THE SAME ISSUE, BUT THIS TIME I IMMEDIATELY PUT GAS INTO MY CAR EVEN THOUGH MY INDICATOR PANEL SHOWS I HAVE FUEL. ONLY THIS TIME I START MY CAR AND THE AIR CONDITIONER IS NOT WORKING AND IT CONTINUES TO STALL, AFTER TURNING MY CAR ON AND OFF SEVERAL TIMES AND DRIVING A FEW BLOCKS THE AC CUTS ON AND MY CAR BEGINS TO RUN FINE. I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY TOYOTA THAT BC THERE IS NO INDICATOR LIGHT AND IT'S RUNNING FINE THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO. THERE WAS A RECENT RECALL IN FEBRUARY OF 2014 WITH SIMILAR ISSUES I AM EXPERIENCING BUT MY CAR WAS NOT APART OF THE RECALL. NOT SURE WHAT ELSE I CAN DO. NUMEROUS TOYOTA DEALERSHIPS HAVE BEEN OF NO HELP AND I FEAR THAT MY SAFETY IS AT RISK. *TR

HEADLIGHTS INTERMITTENTLY FAIL. BULBS ARE OK. HEADLIGHT CAN BE RESTARTED BY TURNING THEM OFF THEN BACK ON. A DANGEROUS SITUATION! *TR

ABOUT TWO YEARS AGO ONE OR ANOTHER OF MY HEADLIGHTS WOULD GO OFF INTERMITTENTLY. WHEN I TURNED THE SWITCH OFF AND BACK ON, THEY'D BOTH BE ON. THIS WAS IRRITATING BUT IT WAS RANDOM AND SPORADIC ENOUGH THAT I DIDN'T TAKE IT IN FOR SERVICE UNTIL BOTH LIGHTS STARTED GOING OFF IN RECENT WEEKS. I THEN DISCOVERED ON THE INTERNET THE HISTORY AND EXTENT OF THIS PROBLEM. THE SERVICE PEOPLE AT THE DEALERSHIP ONLY INDICATED THAT THIS PROBLEM HAD OCCURRED WITH THE 2005-2009 PRIUS BUT WEREN'T FORTHCOMING WITH OTHER BACKGROUND INFORMATION. $500 LATER I HAVE NEW LIGHTS. MY PLAN IS TO HAVE "PROBLEMS" WITH THEM EVERY 11 MONTHS AS LONG AS I OWN THE CAR, IF THEY DON'T GO OFF ON THEIR OWN, SO THAT I CAN GET THE PROBLEM FIXED UNDER THE DEALER'S 12 MONTH WARRANTY. FORTUNATELY, MOST OF MY DRIVING IS DOWNTOWN IN A LARGE CITY WHERE OTHER LIGHTING IS AVAILABLE. I DID THINK WHENEVER I WAS ON THE FREEWAY AT NIGHT I'D BETTER HAVE THE LIGHTS CHECKED. ALTHOUGH THERE APPARENTLY ISN'T A BODY COUNT WITH THIS PROBLEM, OR IS THERE?, IT CERTAINLY WOULD HAVE BEEN HELPFUL TO HAVE RECEIVED SOME WRITTEN INFORMATION FROM TOYOTA OR NHTSA THAT THIS PROBLEM IS PERVASIVE AND COULD BE VERY DANGEROUS. *TR

I NOTICED SOME CONDENSATION IN BOTH FRONT HEADLAMPS SOME TIME AGO BUT JUST THOUGHT IT WAS A COSMETIC PROBLEM. ABOUT THREE DAYS AGO BOTH MY HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT. I TOOK MY CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY INFORMED ME THAT THE WATER INSIDE THE HEADLAMPS CAUSED MY HID LIGHTS TO SHORT OUT. I AM OUT OF THE 36 MONTH 36,000 MILE WARRANTY, BUT STILL WITHIN MY EXTENDED WARRANTY'S LIMITS. TOYOTA IS NOT GOING TO COVER THE REPLACEMENT OF THE LIGHT BULBS OR CHANGE OUT THE HEADLIGHTS SINCE I'M PAST THE ORIGINAL WARRANTY COVERAGE LIMIT. I WAS QUOTED BY MY TOYOTA DEALERSHIP OVER $1,500 TO REPAIR THIS PROBLEM. I ALSO FOUND A MEMO FROM TOYOTA (MEMO # T-SB-0188-11) THAT TALKS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND STATES THAT UNDER THE OEM WARRANTY, IT SHOULD BE REPLACED AT NO CHARGE TO THE CUSTOMER. *TR

MY DRIVER SIDE HEAD LIGHT GOES OUT AT LEAST ONCE EVERY TIME I DRIVE WITH THEM ON. IT MAY GO OUT SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE I ARRIVE AT MY DESTINATION. I HAVE TO TURN MY LIGHTS OFF AND THEN ON AGAIN TO HAVE THE LIGHT COME ON. IT IS VERY HARD TO SEE WHEN THE LIGHT IS OUT AND I HAVE EVEN BEEN STOPPED BY THE POLICE BECAUSE I HAVE ONLY ONE HEADLIGHT. AS YOU CAN SEE BY ALL THE COMPLAINTS FROM THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE TAKEN THE TIME TO FILE THIS FORM, IT IS NOT JUST A HEADLIGHT BULB. EVERY TIME I DRIVE AT NIGHT I'M WORRIED THAT BOTH LIGHTS WILL GO OUT AS SOME OF THE COMPLAINTS HAVE RECORDED. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD. TOYOTA SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE TO FIND AN ANSWER AND BE FORCED TO ISSUE A RECALL BEFORE THERE IS A DEATH. *TR

IN AN ATTEMPT TO AVOID ONCOMING CALVES ON A COUNTY DIRT ROAD DRIVER INADVERTANTLY PULLED STEERING WHEEL TO THE RIGHT AND HIT A TREE AT ROAD SIDE. TREE IS TWELVE INCHED FROM ROAD SURFACE. BEFORE SEAT BELT RESTRAINED DRIVER, DRIVER'S FORWARD MOMENTUM BROKE THE STEERING WHEEL. DRIVER WAS NOT INJURED. WENT TO LOCAL HOSPITAL ER. SHERIFF INVESTIGATED. WITH THE EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE THE AIR BAG SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED. IT DID NOT. PHOTOS TAKEN. YOUR ORGANIZATION IS BEING NOTIFIED AS WE FEEL THE AIR BAG SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED. WE WILL ALSO CONTACT TOYOTA. THANK YOU. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

WHEN I TURNED ON THE CAR, THE HEADLIGHTS WOULD NOT TURN ON. BOTH LIGHTS HAD BEEN FULLY OPERATIONAL THE DAY BEFORE. BOTH HIGH AND LOW BEAMS ON BOTH SIDES DID NOT WORK, SO IT IS DEFINITELY NOT THE CASE THAT FOUR SEPARATE BULBS OR FUSES ALL BLEW INDEPENDENTLY. I TRIED TURNING THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH ON AND OFF SEVERAL TIMES, BUT THIS DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THE FOG LIGHTS DO ILLUMINATE, BUT THAT IS NOT ENOUGH ILLUMINATION FOR SAFE DRIVING IN MY AREA. *TR

BOTH LOW BEAMS HAVE GONE OUT WITHOUT ANY WARNING, BUT REPLACING BULBS AND FUSES DOESN'T FIX THE ISSUE. *TR

I PURCHASED MY 2009 PRIUS 3 YEARS 4 MONTHS AGO. I NOTICED A STRANGE NEW SOUND COMING FROM THE ENGINE. IT WAS A RATTLING NOISE EVERY 15 SECONDS OR SO LASTING APPROXIMATELY 3-4 SECONDS THEN STARTING OVER 15 SECONDS LATER CONSTANTLY REPEATING THIS CYCLE. IT CONTINUED WHEN THE CAR WAS OFF OR ON. I BROUGHT IT IN TO MY TOYOTA DEALERSHIP. THEY CALLED ME THE NEXT DAY WITH VERY UNSETTLING NEWS SAYING IT WAS THE "BRAKE ACCUMULATOR" AS IT WAS LOSING BRAKE PRESSURE AND THE NOISE WAS IT TRYING TO BUILD THE BRAKE PRESSURE BACK UP BUT IT WASN'T HOLDING. HE SAID IT WOULD COST $2,700 TO REPAIR. MY SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE SAID THIS IS A PART THAT SHOULD NOT FAIL AND HAS NEVER BEEN REPLACED BEFORE AT THIS DEALERSHIP. IT WAS A FIRST FOR THEM. I WAS VERY UPSET AS THIS SHOULDN'T BE HAPPENING IN A 3.5 YEAR OLD CAR WITH ONLY 66,500 MILES ON IT THAT HAS BEEN IMPECCABLY MAINTAINED. THE MORE RESEARCH I DID, I SAW THIS WAS OCCURRING QUITE OFTEN IN CAMRY HYBRIDS ALONG WITH THE PRIUS. THIS IS A PART THAT SHOULD NOT BE FAILING AT ALL ESPECIALLY IN NEWER CARS. IF THIS PART IS NOT REPLACED IT CAN LEAD TO CATASTROPHIC BREAK FAILURE. THIS SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED AND ADDED TO TOYOTA PRIUS'S NEVER ENDING RECALL LIST! THIS IS THE LAST TOYOTA I WILL OWN. *TR

HEADLIGHTS AT FIRST SEEMED TO ONLY FLICKER THEN I HAD A HEADLIGHT GO OUT THEN I NOTICED THAT I COULD FLIP THE LIGHTS ON AND OFF GET IT TO COME ON. NOW ITS TO THE POINT WE CAN NOT USE THIS CAR AT NIGHT. ITS BECOME A SAFETY HAZARD AND I DO T THINK ITS SOMETHING I SHOULD PAY TO REPAIR AND THINK TOYOTA IS STUPID FOR NOT RECALLING. *TR

2009 TOYOTA PRIUS. CONSUMER WRITE REGARDS TO VEHICLE BRAKE PROBLEMS. CONSUMER ALSO SENT REVISED TOYOTA DOCUMENT. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE SAME BRAKING PROBLEM EXISTED FOR MODELS BEFORE AND AFTER THE 2010 MODELS. HOWEVER, ONLY THE 2010 MODELS WERE RECALLED.

THE HEADLIGHTS HAVE BEEN GOING OUT RANDOMLY FOR THE LAST FEW MONTHS BUT ONLY ONE AT A TIME. THIS EVENING WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM A LATE MEETING, BOTH HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT WHILE DRIVING AT 55MPH. I PULLED OFF THE HIGHWAY AND TRIED TURNING THE CAR OFF AND ON AGAIN. HEADLIGHTS WENT ON WHEN I TURNED THE CAR BACK ON, SO I RESUMED DRIVING ONLY TO HAVE THE LIGHTS GO OUT AGAIN! THIS TIME I FLICKED ON THE HIGH BEAMS AND THE LIGHTS CAME ON. I STOPPED TO GRAB A BITE TO EAT FIGURING I COULD DO THE HIGH BEAM TRICK AGAIN. WHEN I STARTED THE CAR, THE LIGHTS WENT ON AND HIGH BEAMS TURNED ON WHEN I ENGAGED THE LEVER. WHILE DRIVING HOME, LESS THAN 2 MILES FROM WHERE I STARTED THE CAR, HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT AND THE HIGH BEAMS DID NOT WORK EITHER WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO TURN THEM ON. I PULLED OVER TO TURN THE CAR OFF AND ON AGAIN BUT WITH NO LUCK THIS TIME. VERY SLOWLY DROVE THE LAST MILE HOME ON THE LESS TRAVELED ROAD WITH MY FLASHERS ON...THIS SITUATION IS INCREDIBLY DANGEROUS. *TR

I PULLED UP TO THE GAS PUMP AND COULD NOT PUT GAS IN MY CAR. IT HAD A LITTLE GAS IN IT, BUT THE PUMP CUT OFF BEFORE I COULD GET STARTED. THE CAR HAS HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE BLADDER SINCE ITS INCEPTION. I CAN NEVER FILL UP THE TANK. THE DEALER WANTS ME TO PAY AN ELABORATE AMOUNT TO GET IT FIXED. I WENT OUT ON THE INTERNET AND OTHER PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM WITH NOT BEING ABLE TO FILL UP THEIR TANK. *TR

I PULLED MY TOYOTA PRIUS INTO MY DRIVEWAY, STEPPED ON THE BRAKE, OPENED THE GARAGE DOOR AND WAITED FOR MY HUSBAND TO GET OUT OF THE CAR. HE OPENED THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR AND STARTED TO MOVE HIS FOOT OUT THE DOOR BUT BEFORE HE EVEN GOT ONE FOOT OUT, THE CAR SURGED AHEAD AND RAN INTO THE GARAGE, PRETTY MUCH DESTROYING ALL THE STORAGE UNITS ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE GARAGE. MY HUSBAND THINKS THE CAR WAS GOING BETWEEN 35 AND 40 MPH. SINCE MY ACCIDENT THERE HAVE BEEN TWO OTHER INCIDENTS OF TOYOTAS ACCELERATING INDEPENDENTLY IN PALO ALTO. ONE RAN INTO A HOUSE ON PARK AVENUE, DESTROYING THE FRONT WALL AND FRONT DOOR OF THE HOUSE. A FEW DAYS LATER, A TOYOTA RAN OVER A CURB, ACROSS A LAWN AND INTO A CORNER OF A HOUSE ON NORTH CALIFORNIA AVE. BOTH OF THESE INCIDENTS WERE REPORTED TO THE POLICE UNFORTUNATELY, I CANNOT GET THE NAME AND CONTACT OF THE OTHER TWO DRIVERS BECAUSE MY NAME IS NOT ON THE POLICE REPORTS. MY QUESTIONS ARE THESE: IS THERE ANY LEGAL WAY TO GET THE INFORMATION ABOUT THESE OTHER 2 DRIVERS? ALSO, SOMEONE TOLD ME THEY THOUGHT THERE IS A CLASS ACTION SUIT OUT AGAINST TOYOTA BECAUSE OF ACCELERATION PROBLEMS. IS THERE ANY WAY TO FIND OUT ABOUT THAT? I AM AWARE THAT THIS IS PROBABLY JUST A PROBLEM I WILL HAVE TO DEAL WITH BUT I ALWAYS TRY EVERYTHING. *TR

MY PASSENGER HEADLIGHT WILL TURN OFF WHILE I AM DRIVING. NOW BOTH HEADLIGHTS WILL TURN OFF AT ONCE. USUALLY ONE WILL COME BACK ON. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS! THIS BEGAN IN JANUARY 2013. *TR

I HAD JUST PURCHASED MY 2009 TOYOTA PRIUS THE EVENING OF FRIDAY DECEMBER 28TH 2012 AND HAD ONLY DRIVEN THAT WEEKEND. THEN ON THE 31ST I NOTICED WHEN I WAS PULLING INTO A GAS STATION I HAD ONLY ONE HEADLIGHT WORKING... DIDN'T THINK TO MUCH ABOUT IT. THEN WHEN I WAS LEAVING NOTICED THAT BOTH LIGHTS WERE ON WORKING. A FEW HOURS LATER I NOTICED A FLICKER LIKE A LIGHT WAS GOING OUT. NOTICED AGAIN PASSENGER HEADLIGHT WAS GOING OUT.. I HAD THE CAR BACK AT THE SHOP OVER A BATTERY ISSUE ON JANUARY 2ND AS MY BATTERY HAD SUDDENLY DIED. WHEN I TOOK IT UP TO TOYOTA I MENTIONED THE HEADLIGHT WAS TOLD OH NOTHING THEY CAN SEE. THEN MONTHS LATER IT CONTINUED. THEN AGAIN EVERY NOW AND THEN.. I WOULD FLIP THE LIGHTS ON AND OFF AND SOMETIMES IT WOULDN'T DO IT AGAIN FOR MONTHS... THEN IN SEPT 2013 IT STARTED TO DO IT ON BOTH SIDES. AGAIN CONTACTED TOYOTA NOTHING. THEN MY TEENAGER DAUGHTER HAD THE CAR AND CALLED ME HYSTERICAL SAYING NO HEADLIGHTS WERE ON. SHE HAD JUST GOTTEN HER LICENSE DAYS PRIOR. HER FIRST OUTING WITHOUT ME. THEN AGAIN BATTERY ISSUE WENT BACK TO TOYOTA WAS TOLD NOT A CLUE. NOW READING THE INFO I'VE COME ACROSS WITH 2001-2009 PRIUS HEADLIGHT ISSUES I'M PISSED THAT TOYOTA IS AWARE OF THIS AND LIED AND SAID THEYHAD NOT HEARD OF SUCH A THING. NOW OCTOBER 2014 I AM NO LONGER ABLE TO DRIVE THE CAR IN THE RAIN OR AT NIGHT. AS I NOW HAVE NO HEADLIGHTS. I FIND THIS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE AND CONSIDERING HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE STATED THIS AND THE FACT SOMEONE CAN BE KILLED OR INJURED SERIOUSLY AS ONE OVERLOOKS I THINK IS A MAJOR SERIOUS ISSUE AND CONCERN. I AM NOT PAYING TO HAVE HEADLIGHTS REPLACED OR ELECTRICAL ISSUES AS THIS IS SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO BE RECALLED AND FIXED BY TOYOTA. *TR

WHILE ENGINE RUNNING AND IN PARKED MODE, ENGINE SUDDENLY RACED AS IF GAS PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD A FEW INCHES. *TR

HEADLIGHTS GO OFF BY THEMSELVES. WHEN I START THE CAR BOTH HEADLIGHTS GO ON, BUT AFTER DRIVING A LITTLE WHILE THE LEFT OR RIGHT, OR SOMETIMES BOTH HEADLIGHTS WILL SHUT OFF. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WATER PENETRATED THE HEADLIGHT'S PLASTIC COVERING DUE TO IMPROPER SEALING AND CAUSED THE LIGHT BULB TO FAIL. THE DEALER REPLACED THE LIGHT BULB HOUSING BUT THE FAILURE WAS NOT CORRECTED. THE PASSENGER LIGHT BULB FAILED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

THE PASSENGER HEADLIGHT COMES ON INITIALLY BUT DURING THE DRIVE WILL GO OFF. I CAN TURN THE LIGHTS OFF AND BACK ON AND THE LIGHT COMES BACK ON. THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM AND I DON'T KNOW IT HAS HAPPENED UNLESS I PULL UP BEHIND SOMEONE AND SEE THE REFLECTION OF MY HEADLIGHTS ON THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. *TR

CAR EXHIBITS SYMPTOMS CONSISTENT WITH FUEL TANK BLADDER COLLAPSE. HAVE OBSERVED WIDELY ERRATIC FUEL GAUGE INDICATIONS AND DIFFICULTY ADDING FUEL - PARTICULARLY IN COLDER WEATHER, (TEMPERATURES BELOW APPROXIMATELY 45 DEGREES F). ON OCCASION IT HAS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO ADD GAS TO A NEARLY EMPTY TANK EVEN AT A TRICKLE AS THE FUEL FILLER AUTO SHUTOFF KEEPS TRIPPING. ATTEMPTS TO ADD EVEN SMALL AMOUNTS OF GAS CAN RESULT IN GAS SPEWING BACK OUT THE FILLING ACCOMPANIED BY BELCHING SOUNDS COMING FROM THE TANK. OFTEN THE TANK CANNOT BE FILLED TO THE ADVERTISED CAPACITY EVEN IN WARMER WEATHER. TOYOTA DEALER SERVICE DENIES EVER HAVING HEARD OF THIS PROBLEM AND HAS OFFERED NO CREDIBLE SOLUTION. ON AN EXTENDED TRIP THIS COULD EASILY RESULT IN BEING STALLED WITH LITTLE WARNING AS THERE IS NO RELIABLE INDICATION OF HOW MUCH USABLE FUEL IS IN THE TANK OR WHEN THE FUEL GAUGE IS GOING TO QUICKLY DROP TO NEAR ZERO. THIS IS ALSO AN ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERN DUE TO EMISSION OF GASOLINE FUMES AND SPURTING OF RAW GAS DURING REFUELING. *TR

UNABLE TO ADD ANY GAS TO THE FUEL TANK EVEN WHEN TANK IS NEAR EMPTY. GAS JUST SPURTS BACK OUT OF THE FILLER NECK. OVER TIME WE HAVE LEARNED THAT THIS IS TEMPERATURE RELATED. AT OR NEAR FREEZING TEMPERATURES AND COLDER IT BECOMES IMPOSSIBLE AT TIMES TO ADD ANY GAS TO THE TANK. THE ONLY WAY TO ADD FUEL IS TO GET THE CAR TO A WARMER LOCATION AND LET IT SIT FOR A FEW HOURS. WE HAVE DETAILED RECORDS DOCUMENTING SEVERAL INSTANCES WHERE WE COULD ADD NO FUEL AND MANY INSTANCES WHERE A NEAR EMPTY TANK WILL TAKE ONLY 1-2 GALLONS. THE CAR HAS BEEN SEEN BY TWO DIFFERENT TOYOTA SERVICE CENTERS BUT THEY CLAIM THEY CAN FIND NOTHING WRONG. TOYOTA USA HAS STOPPED RESPONDING TO OUR REQUESTS FOR HELP. WE ARE UNABLE TO TRUST THE CAR FOR EXTENDED TRIPS IN THE WINTER DUE TO FEARS OF GETTING STUCK WITH AN EMPTY GAS TANK. A (RELATED?) PROBLEM IS THAT THE FUEL LEVEL INDICATIONS ARE NOT CONSISTENT AND THUS CANNOT BE TRUSTED. *TT

THE VEHICLE STALLED OUT WHILE I WAS DRIVING, FOUR TIMES IN ABOUT A MILE - INCLUDING ONCE ON A VERY BUSY ROAD WITH NO SHOULDER. THE ELECTRICAL ERROR BOARD LIT UP, THE TRANSMISSION REVERTED TO NEUTRAL OR PARK AND I COULD NOT PUT THE CAR BACK INTO DRIVE. AFTER I TURNED THE CAR OFF, AND THEN TURNED IT BACK ON, IT WENT INTO DRIVE BUT ONLY FOR A SHORT WHILE BEFORE LIGHTS STARTED FLASHING AND IT STALLED AGAIN. *TR

IF MY CAR SITS IN THE SUN, ON OCCASION THE AUDIO CONTROLS - AM/FM, VOLUME, POWER, TRACK SELECTOR, ETC. FAIL TO FUNCTION (THEY ARE UNRESPONSIVE). IF THE CAR IS TURNED OFF, THEN BACK ON, THEY WORK. THIS IS NOT A SAFETY CONCERN, PER SE. MY CONCERN IS NOT THE AUDIO PORTION NOT WORKING, BUT THE SYSTEM DESIGN AND QUALITY OF COMPONENTS. WERE THESE SAME COMPONENTS USED ELSEWHERE IN THE CAR? I'VE ONLY SEEN THIS HAPPEN WHEN MY CAR HAS BECOME HOT SITTING (NOT RUNNING) DUE TO THE WEATHER. USUALLY WHEN I PARKED FACING WEST AND THE SUN HAS BEEN HITTING THE FRONT OF THE CAR ALL DAY AND I LEAVE FROM WORK. THIS HASN'T HAPPENED IN THE PAST 2-3 YEARS BECAUSE I'VE KEPT MY CAR OUT OF THE SUN WHEN PARKING. IT OCCURRED BETWEEN 2012 AN 2014. I DO NOT HAVE AN EXACT DATE OF WHEN IT OCCURRED EVEN THOUGH YOUR FORM FORCES ME TO SPECIFY ONE.

HATCHBACK RUBBER PART OF LATCH MELTED AND BECAME A STICKY MESS. ELECTRONICS ON LATCH ARE NOW EXPOSED TO MOISTURE AND DIRT. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE BRAKES WERE DEPRESSED THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED ABNORMALLY. THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A POST OFFICE BUILDING AS A RESULT. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE HEAD, SHOULDER, NECK AND BACK. THE POLICE WERE CONTACTED AND A REPORT WAS TAKEN. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 32,000.

THE HEADLIGHT(S) GO OFF WHILE DRIVING WITHOUT WARNING AND IT BECOMES HAZARDOUS AND FRIGHTENING. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE EXITING A PARKING SPACE, THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED AND THE VEHICLE DID NOT RESPOND. THE VEHICLE INSTEAD ACCELERATED WHILE THE CONTACT HAD THE BRAKE DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A TRUCK. THE CONTACT DID NOT SUSTAIN INJURIES. THE PASSENGER DID SUSTAIN SOME MINOR CUTS AND A MINOR HIT TO THE HEAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED OR REPAIRED. THE POLICE DEPARTMENT WAS PRESENT AND A POLICE REPORT WAS AVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN REPAIRED UNDER THE RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 09V388000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL: ACCELERATOR PEDAL). THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE UNDER 15,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AN EXTREMELY STRONG BATTERY ACID ODOR EMITTED INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE THROUGH THE VENTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF FAILURE AND CLEANED THE ENTIRE UPHOLSTERY IN THE VEHICLE; HOWEVER THE ODOR PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE CONTACT PLANNED TO TAKE THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 29,000.

I WAS APPROXIMATELY 8 OR 9 CAR LENGTHS FROM A VEHICLE THAT SLAMMED ON HER BRAKES BEFORE HITTING THE CAR IN FRONT OF HER, SO I STOOD UP ON MY BRAKES AT ABOUT 30 -35 MPH. THE CARS BRAKES DID NOT GRAB FOR ABOUT A SECOND, THEN STARTED TO GRAB RIGHT BEFORE IMPACTING THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. *JS

I PURCHASED THIS 2009 PRIUS FROM MY ELDERLY PARENTS WHO DIDN'T DRIVE AT NIGHT SO THE HID ISSUE WAS NOT DISCOVERED UNTIL AFTER WARRANTY. MY WIFE AND I WERE DRIVING AT NIGHT IN JAN. 2012 AND BOTH HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT. I CALLED TOYOTA (LIMBAUGH AND HOOVER) IN BIRMINGHAM, AL. ABOUT THE SAFETY ISSUE AND THEY SAID THEY WEREN'T AWARE OF ANY ISSUES AND TOYOTA HAD NO RECALL. AT THIS POINT, I'M OUT APPROXIMATELY $400 AND MY TIME AND THE ISSUE KEEPS COMING BACK. CAN YOU PLEASE HELP? THANK YOU. *TR

MY 2009 PRIUS HAS HEADLIGHTS THAT INTERMITTENTLY FLICKER OR EXTINGUISH AT RANDOM TIMES. SOMETIMES THE RIGHT HEADLIGHT WILL EXTINGUISH, SOMETIMES IT'S THE LEFT HEADLIGHT, AND SOMETIMES BOTH EXTINGUISH AT THE SAME TIME. SOME TIMES THE LIGHT(S) COME BACK ON WITHOUT ANY ACTION, AND SOMETIMES IT IS NECESSARY TO TURN THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH OFF AND RIGHT BACK ON. TO DATE, THE LIGHTS HAVE RESUMED NORMAL OPERATION WHEN THEY ARE TURNED ON AND OFF, AT LEAST SO FAR IT HAS WORKED EVERY TIME. THIS CAN BE EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND FRIGHTENING ESPECIALLY ON THE FREEWAY OR A MOUNTAIN ROAD. THIS PHENOMENON SEEMS TO BE INCREASING IN ITS FREQUENCY OF OCCURRENCE. WHY HASN'T TOYOTA BEEN FORCED TO RECALL THE PRIUS FOR THIS LIFE THREATENING SAFETY ISSUE? I WAS TOLD BY THE TOYOTA DEALER THAT IT'S A BAD FILAMENT IN THE HEADLIGHT, I'VE NEVER SEEN A FILAMENT BEHAVE THAT WAY. *TR

HEADLIGHT AND TAIL LIGHTS FAILED TO WORK AT START UP, AFTER A WHILE THE HIGHBEAMS DID WORK SO CAR COULD BE DRIVING HOME. LATER THAT EVENING EVERYTHING WORKED FINE AT STARTUP. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA PRIUS HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO BRAKE, THE TRACTION WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE BRAKE FAILED TO RESPOND WITH A REDUCTION IN ENGINE POWER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE ONLY LASTED FOR A MOMENT BEFORE RETURNING TO NORMAL FUNCTION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 67,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.