2009 Toyota Prius

These are unverified consumer reports filed with NHTSA, shown as submitted.

• 12/31/2019· SERVICE BRAKES

  MY CAR'S BRAKE ACTUATOR FAILED WHILE I WAS ON HIGHWAY. GLADLY NOTHING DANGEROUS HAPPENED BUT I AM CONCERNED OTHERS WILL FACE THE SIMILAR SITUATION WITH WORST SCENARIO. TOYOTA TOLD ME THE WARRANTY EXPIRED AND QUOTED ME $2600. PLEASE ASK TOYOTA TO EXTEND THE WARRANTY.

• 12/31/2018· ENGINE

  TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING AT UNKNOWN SPEEDS, THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE INCREASED TO HIGH AND COOLANT NEEDED TO BE ADDED TO THE VEHICLE. ALL OF THE INDICATORS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WERE ILLUMINATED. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 151,759.

• 12/31/2012· POWER TRAIN

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

• 12/30/2018· VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,SERVICE BRAKES

  MY PRIUS NOW HAS ALL THOSE DASH LIGHTS ON: !, ABS, VCS. I WAS DRIVING YESTERDAY, ON A CITY STREET AND THE LIGHTS CAME ON, AND THE BRAKES SUDDENLY DID NOT WORK-HARD TO PUSH. FOR MONTHS, WHEN I WOULD DRIVE OVER ROUGH TERRAIN, I HAD THE LOSS OF BRAKING, ACCELERATING, AND THE SLICK ROAD ICON WOULD ILLUMINATE. THE IS EXACTLY THE SAME ABS MODULE PROBLEM AFFECTING 2010 PRIUS, ANDS NEEDS TO BE RECALLED AND REPAIRS COVERED.IF I DIDN'T STAY SO FAR BEHIND OTHER VEHICLES, I WOULD HAVE REAR-ENDED SOMEONE.

• 12/30/2014· SERVICE BRAKES

  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.

• 12/30/2009· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULICCrash

  ON DEC 11, 2009, I WAS DRIVING DOWN A STREET IN CAMBRIDGE, MA (I HAD A COWORKER IN THE CAR) AND WE WERE IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC AT A STOP LIGHT. THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME CRAWLED UP TO APPROACH THE LIGHT AFTER SEVERAL CARS HAD GONE THROUGH-THEN STOPPED @ THE RED LIGHT. I PROCEEDED TO DO THE SAME. WHEN I APPLIED MY BRAKES TO STOP THERE WAS NO RESPONSE, SO I PRESSED DOWN HARDER-STILL NO RESPONSE. I THEN BEGAN TO PUMP MY BRAKES TO AVOID THE ACCIDENT BUT THERE WAS STILL NO RESPONSE FROM THE BRAKING SYSTEM. IF THE BRAKING SYSTEM HAD NOT FAILED I WOULD HAVE MORE THAN ENOUGH RESPONSE TIME AND DISTANCE TO STOP BUT MY CAR KEPT @ A STEADY SPEED AND ENDED UP REAR ENDING THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. NO ONE WAS INJURED BUT THERE WAS MINOR DAMAGE TO THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME AND $1800 DAMAGE TO MY CAR. I'VE HAD OTHER INSTANCE WHERE I'VE HIT POTHOLES IN THE PAST WHILE SLOWING DOWN- AND THE BRAKE SYSTEM WOULD STOP MOMENTARILY FROM WORKING. I WORK IN THE BOSTON AREA- WHERE I'M CONSTANTLY IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC. I'VE EXPERIENCED 2 PREVIOUS TIMES SLIGHT BRAKE DELAY-WHICH I'VE COMPENSATED FOR AND GIVE MYSELF MORE ROOM BETWEEN MY CAR AND THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. IN ADDITION THERE WAS ONE INSTANCE 4MONTHS AGO WHERE I WAS COMING TO A STOP- AND I HEARD ONE OF THE MOTORS (I'M ASSUMING THE ELECTRIC B/C IT CHARGES AS YOU STOP) REV UP AND MY CAR JILTED FORWARD- AS IF I HAD STEPPED ON THE GAS BUT I HAD MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE THE WHOLE TIME. THAT WAS THE ONLY INSTANCE OF THAT. I'VE HAD MY CAR SINCE APRIL 2009 AND WHEN THE TWO INSTANCES OF BRAKE DELAY OCCURRED, I HAD THE TOYOTA SERVICE CENTER CHECK MY BRAKES AND THEY CAME BACK STATING THEY WERE FINE. AFTER THE ACCIDENT I DID REPORT THE FAILURE TO TOYOTA AND HAVE YET TO HEAR FROM THEM ABOUT IT. I WOULD LIKE TO NOTE THAT THERE ARE SEVERAL SITES ONLINE WITH CUSTOMERS COMPLAINING ABOUT BRAKE FAILING/DELAYING AT SPEEDS LESS THAN 20MPH. *TR

• 12/29/2016· STRUCTURE

  TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HATCH WAS MELTED TO THE HATCH LEVER LATCH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.

• 12/29/2013· EXTERIOR LIGHTING

  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

• 12/29/2009· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,POWER TRAIN

  I PURCHASED A NEW 2009 TOYOTA PRIUS HYBRID (GAS/ELECTRIC) ON MARCH 31, 2009. THE CAR WORKED GREAT, BUT WITH ONLY 490 MILES ON THE ODOMETER, I DID A ROUTINE SHUT DOWN OF THE CAR ON MAY 20, 2009 WHICH TURNED OUT TO BE ANYTHING BUT ROUTINE. DURING THIS EVENT, I SHUT THE CAR OFF USING THE PROCEDURE TAUGHT TO ME BY THE DEALERSHIP SALESMAN, WHICH WAS THE SAME PROCEDURE OUTLINED IN THE USER MANUAL. HOWEVER, AT THIS SHUT DOWN, A VERY DRAMATIC POWER SURGE WENT THROUGH THE SYSTEM, JOLTING THE ENGINES IN THEIR MOTOR MOUNTS (I HEARD AN EXTREMELY LOUD SQUEAL WHEN THE ENGINES, BOTH GAS AND ELECTRIC, JOLTED TO A STOP, WHICH I ASSUME WAS THE MOTOR MOUNTS TAKING THE FORCE OF THE POWER SURGE), AND MOVING THE CAR VIOLENTLY FORWARD STOPPING WITH THE TRANSMISSION LOCK AND BRAKE WHICH I HAD SET). THIS WAS A VERY UNPLEASANT AND UN-NATURAL EVENT. FOLLOWING THIS EVENT, THE CAR DID START AND OPERATE THROUGH ITS FUNCTIONS, BUT THE DRIVING CHARACTERISTICS CHANGED DRAMATICALLY. WHAT HAD BEEN A SMOOTH OPERATING SYNERGY DRIVE SYSTEM WAS NOW SLIGHTLY GRABBY BOTH IN ACCELERATION AND DECELERATION, AND I EXPERIENCED HARD 'CLUNK' SHIFTS WHEN DRIVING. APPROXIMATELY EVERY 15TH GAS ENGINE SHUT DOWN, THE GAS ENGINE WOULD 'DIESEL' AND HAVE A DISTURBING LONG CYCLING SHUT DOWN VIBRATING AND JOLTING THE CAR IN AN ALARMING FASHION WHICH IS NOT SAFE. ON JUNE 2, 2009, I BROUGHT THE CAR INTO MY TOYOTA DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT, WAS TOLD THE CAR "CAN'T DO THAT" AND WAS TOLD THE COMPUTER SHOWED NOTHING WRONG. ON JULY 8, 2009, I WENT TO ANOTHER TOYOTA DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT, THEY SAID THE CAR WAS ROUGH, AND TRIED TO RE-SEAT THE ENGINES IN THE MOUNTS, WHICH TEMPORARILY CORRECTED THE PROBLEM UNTIL A MAJOR GAS ENGINE JOLTING SHUT DOWN OCCURRED AGAIN. I TOOK IT IN AGAIN ON 24 SEPTEMBER, 2009, AND ASKED TO HAVE THE ENGINE MOUNTS REPLACED. THEY TRIED TO RESEAT THE ENGINES AGAIN, WITH NO SUCCESS, AND THE RANDOM JOLTING GAS SHUTDOWNS ON THE HYBRID SYSTEM CONTINUE, WHICH ARE A SAFETY HAZARD DURING OPERATION. *TR

• 12/29/2008· FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

  UNABLE TO PROPERLY FILL THE FUEL TANK. THE FUEL BLADDER COLLAPSES. *TR

• 12/28/2017· EXTERIOR LIGHTING

  HEADLIGHTS GO OUT ALL THE TIME. I'VE REPLACED THE BALLASTS AND THE HEADLIGHTS 5 TIMES IN THE LAST YEAR. 1 MONTH AFTER NEW HEADLIGHTS AND NEW BALLASTS THE HEADLIGHTS ARE BACK OUT AGAIN. THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM SINCE I GOT THIS CAR. SOMETIMES I CAN TURN THE LIGHTS ON AND OFF AND IT WILL WORK FOR A BIT.

• 12/24/2019· SERVICE BRAKES

  BRAKE WARNING LIGHT WENT ON THE DASH. BROUGHT THE CAR IN AND DEALERSHIP SAID IT WAS A BAD BRAKE ACTUATOR. SAID IT WOULD COST ALMOST $3000 TO REPAIR AND SAID THAT THERE WAS A EXTENDED WARRANTY ON THE PART THAT EXPIRED. IF NOTHING SCREAMS OF A RECALL AS A PROBLEM WITH BRAKES, I DON' KNOW WHAT WOULD.

• 12/23/2017· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,EXTERIOR LIGHTING,SERVICE BRAKES

  MY HEADLIGHT PASSENGER SIDE KEEPS GOING OUT AFTER A FEW SECONDS OF TURNING ON. THIS KEEPS ME FROM DRIVING AT NIGHT. MY COMPUTER CONTROLS ON MY DASH BOARD THAT WORKS THE AC. AND DISPLAYS THE INFORMATION ABOUT THE CAR DOES NOT WORK. MY ABS BREAK LIGHT WILL NOT GO OFF. THIS HAS AFFECTED MY BREAKING SYSTEM ON MY CAR. ALL OF THESE ITEMS I HAVE MENTIONED ALL OCCURRED WHILE I WAS DRIVING THE CAR.

• 12/22/2012· EXTERIOR LIGHTING

  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

• 12/18/2023· EXTERIOR LIGHTING

  Apparently a known issue with the HID lights coming on or off intermittently.

• 12/17/2014· EXTERIOR LIGHTING

  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.

• 12/16/2014· EXTERIOR LIGHTING

  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

• 12/16/2009· VEHICLE SPEED CONTROLCrash

  TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO APPROACH AN INTERSECTION AT 20 MPH THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT DECELERATE. CONSEQUENTLY THE DRIVER REAR-ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE, WHICH CAUSED THAT VEHICLE TO REAR-END ANOTHER VEHICLE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THERE WERE NO PERSONAL INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THE FRONT BUMPER WAS REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,485. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 5,023. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

• 12/15/2019· EXTERIOR LIGHTING

  HEADLIGHTS GO OUT AFTER A FEW DAYS.. REPLACED OVER 8 BULBS. CHECKED CONNECTORS, CHECKED WIRING.. NO PROBLEM FOUND AND THE PROBLEM STILL EXIST.

• 12/14/2015· ENGINE

  TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE ENGINE STARTED TO REV AND VEHICLE ACCELERATED UNCONTROLLABLY. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AFTER WAITING A MOVEMENT BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS AWAITING A DIAGNOSIS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000.

• 12/13/2013· STEERING,ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC),SERVICE BRAKES

  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

• 12/13/2013· EXTERIOR LIGHTING

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

• 12/13/2008· ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

  WE BROUGHT A NEW 2009 PRIUS IN SEPTEMBER OF THIS YEAR, 2008. I WAS DRIVING IN THE SNOW, AND FOUND THAT THIS CAR HAS A MIND OF ITS OWN; THE TRACTION CONTROL TOOK TOTAL CONTROL OF THE CAR, AND LEFT ME IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD IN A CURVE AS I WAS ABOUT TO GO UP A HILL. THE CAR CAME TO A STOP; I COULD NOT ACCELERATE AT ALL! THE SHERIFF, WHO WAS DRIVING ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE STREET HAD TO GO OFF THE ROAD TO KEEP FROM HITTING ME HEAD ON, AND THE PERSON BEHIND ME HAD TO SWERVE TO KEEP FROM HITTING ME. THANK GOD I DIDN'T HAVE AN ACCIDENT! I CONTACTED THE TWO TOYOTA DEALERS IN OUR AREA, AND I WAS TOLD THAT THE RESPONSE FROM THE PRIUS WAS "NORMAL." WHEN I CALLED THE TOYOTA 800 CUSTOMER SERVICE NUMBER, I WAS AGAIN TOLD THAT THE CAR WAS DESIGNED THAT WAY. THEY ALSO SUGGESTED THAT WE TRY SNOW TIRES ON THE CAR. IN SPITE OF LIVING WHERE WE ARE IN JOHNSON CITY, NEW YORK (NEAR BINGHAMTON), WE HAVE ALWAYS USED ALL-SEASON TIRES WITHOUT ANY TROUBLE. WE HAD A 1995 INTREPID WHICH HAD TRACTION CONTROL, AND WE HAD NO TROUBLE WITH IT. IT HAD A SWITCH THAT YOU COULD USE IF YOU NEEDED TO TURN THE TRACTION CONTROL OFF. I DON'T KNOW WHY THE PRIUS HAS NO WAY TO TURN THE TRACTION CONTROL OFF; I BELIEVE TOYOTA'S DESIGN IS FAULTY AND DANGEROUS. IT'S A DEATH TRAP, A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD AND NEEDS TO BE CHANGED! PLEASE HELP US IN GETTING THE ATTENTION OF THE TOYOTA MOTOR COMPANY TO DO A RECALL AND MAKE IT SO THAT THIS CAR HAS A WAY TO TURN OFF THE TRACTION CONTROL WHEN IT DEEMS NECESSARY. IT SHOULD NOT BE NECESSARY FOR ACCIDENTS TO OCCUR AND PEOPLE BE HURT OR KILLED TO MAKE IT COMPULSORY THAT A BAD DESIGN BE FIXED. (PLEASE NOTE: WE WROTE "CAMRY" ON YOUR FORM UNDER MODEL SELECTION BECAUSE YOU DID NOT HAVE "PRIUS" LISTED. WE HAD TO SELECT SOME CAR MODEL IN ORDER TO PROCEED WITH THE APPLICATION). THANK YOU. *TR

• 12/12/2018· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,SERVICE BRAKES

  OUR PRIUS STARTED MAKING THIS NOISE RECENT... 4 SECONDS OF SPINNING CLICKING, THEN QUIET FOR 5 SECONDS THEN REPEAT. HAPPENS WHILE DRIVING, WHILE PARKED AND I JUST WENT OUT THERE WITH MY KEYS IN MY POCKET AND OPENED THE DOOR AND IT STARTED MAKING THE NOISE WHEN THE ENGINE STARTS...SO DOES THE RATTLING AND KNOCKING SOUNDS. WHEN I HIT ON BRAKE, THE BRAKE MAKES VERY ANNOYING NOISE.

• 12/12/2018· ENGINE

  MY CAR RECENTLY HAS A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND THE OBDII SCANNER SHOW THE FAULT CODE P1121 WHICH IS A FAILED THREE-WAY COOLANT CONTROL VALVE. TOYOTA HAS ISSUED A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN (TSB) ON THIS PROBLEM: EG001-08 M.I.L. IT SHOULD BE A RECALL BECAUSE IT'S A COMMON PROBLEM FOR 2ND GENERATION TOYOTA PRIUS.

• 12/12/2014· EXTERIOR LIGHTING

  HEADLIGHT GOES OUT RANDOMLY AND REQUIRES THE HEADLIGHTS TO BE TURNED OFF THEN ON. *TR

• 12/12/2010· AIR BAGSCrash

  GOOD DAY, I AM A 19 YEAR POLICE VETERAN FOR A MEDIUM SIZE POLICE DEPARTMENT IN ALASKA. I WANTED TO PASS ALONG ON OBSERVATION THAT MYSELF AND OTHER OFFICERS ARE SEEING IN THE FIELD. SPECIFICALLY, WE HAVE NOTED THAT WITH THE INCREASE IN ICY CONDITIONS AND INCREASED VEHICLE COLLISIONS, THAT MANY OF THE SMALLER VEHICLES SUCH AS SUBARU'S AND TOYOTA PRIUS ARE NOT HAVING THEIR AIRBAGS ACTIVATED. WE HAVE SEEN ABOUT A HALF DOZEN WRECKS WHERE THE COLLISION HAS CAUSED THE CAR TO SLAM INTO A VEHICLE IN FRONT OF IT AT A STOP LIGHT OR SIMILAR AND THE BUMPER DOESN'T TOUCH THE REAR OF THE STANDING VEHICLE CAUSING THE AIRBAG TO DEPLOY, HOWEVER, THE HOOD/ENGINE COMPARTMENT IS CRUMPLED. ADDITIONALLY, SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAGS ARE ALSO NOT DEPLOYING ON ANGLED IMPACTS. I DO NOT KNOW IF YOU HAVE HAD OTHER OBSERVATIONS OF THIS BUT WANTED AWARENESS IN CASE THERE IS A TREND IN DESIGN OR SENSORS. *TR

• 12/11/2013· EXTERIOR LIGHTING

  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

• 12/10/2015· EXTERIOR LIGHTING

  TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT, THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS DIM INTERMITTENTLY. THE CONTACT DROVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY WAS DAMAGED AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED DAILY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.

• 12/10/2010· VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

  I HAVE A 2009 PRIUS BASE WITH 42K MILES. AFTER PLACING THE VEHICLE IN PARK AND WAITING IN THE VEHICLE, IT SUDDENLY LURCHED FORWARD ABOUT 1 OR 2 INCHES AND WITH ENOUGH FORCE TO SHATTER A LIGHT POST. THIS SEEMS A DANGEROUS FLAW. IT HAPPENS FREQUENTLY; AFTER SPEAKING WITH A REPAIR SHOP, I WAS TOLD THIS IS NORMAL FOR A PRIUS AND IS PART OF THE RECHARGING DESIGN OF THE HYBRID SYSTEM. I WAS ADVISED TO USE THE PARKING BRAKE WHENEVER POSSIBLE. THIS SEEMS DANGEROUS. *TR

• 12/10/2010· FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE,FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER

  2009 TOYOTA PRIUS, CAR HAS HAD A BAD FUEL GAUGE , DROVE OFF THE LOT NEW AND HAVE HAD FUEL TANK REPLACED ONCE. FUEL GAUGE FAILED AGAIN THIS IS THE SECOND TIME. DEALER UNABLE TO REPAIR, TOLD ME IT WAS A DESIGN FLAW AND IT COULD NOT BE REPAIRED, I AM RUNNING OUT OF GAS AND I CAN NOT USE THIS NEW CAR ON A LONG TRIP. I DO NOT KNOW AND I AM GUESSING ON HOW MUCH FUEL I HAVE. THIS IS UNSAFE AND UNCALLED FOR. RUNNING OUT OF GLASS ON FREEWAY AND IT IS DANGEROUS. *TR

• 12/08/2011· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  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.

• 12/07/2018· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,SERVICE BRAKES

  OUR PRIUS STARTED MAKING THIS NOISE RECENT... 4 SECONDS OF SPINNING CLICKING, THEN QUIET FOR 5 SECONDS THEN REPEAT. HAPPENS WHILE DRIVING, WHILE PARKED AND I JUST WENT OUT THERE WITH MY KEYS IN MY POCKET AND OPENED THE DOOR AND IT STARTED MAKING THE NOISE WHEN THE ENGINE STARTS...SO DOES THE RATTLING AND KNOCKING SOUNDS. WHEN I HIT ON BRAKE, THE BRAKE BOOSTER MAKES VERY ANNOYING NOISE.

• 12/05/2024· UNKNOWN OR OTHER,SERVICE BRAKES,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE

  In the 2009 Toyota Series II vehicle there are two parts for the brake actuator pump assembly which has been cycling about every 20 seconds for the past six months or more. There is an intermittent tone when depressing the brake pedal before starting the car (engine off). The Brake dash warning light is on continuously. Occasional loss of brake power in reverse causing the driver to re-apply the brakes to stop unwanted motion of the vehicle.

• 12/05/2013· EXTERIOR LIGHTING

  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

• 12/04/2016· EXTERIOR LIGHTING

  2009 TOYOTA PRIUS PASSENGER HEADLIGHT GOES OFF SPONTANEOUSLY WHILE DRIVING OR STATIONARY. WHEN YOU TURN OFF THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH, THEN TURN THEM ON, THE HEADLIGHT TURNS BACK ON FOR A WHILE. THEN AFTER A WHILE THE HEADLIGHT TURNS OFF AGAIN. THIS DEFECT WAS A NHTSA RECALL AND EXTENDED WARRANTY PROBLEM BUT THE DEALER SAID THE WARRANTY AND RECALL HAS EXPIRED. THEY WANT TO CHARGE ME OVER $500 TO FIX THIS DEFECT. NHTSA NEEDS TO EXTEND THE RECALL AND WARRANTY BECAUSE THERE HAVE BEEN ACCIDENT DEATHS AND INJURY RELATED TO THIS DEFECT. YOU CAN SEE THE DEFECT DOCUMENTED ON SEVERAL YOUTUBE VIDEOS: TOYOTA PRIUS HEADLIGHT FAILURE. PLEASE ISSUE AN ORDER FOR DEALERS TO RECALL AND EXTEND THE WARRANTY TO FIX THIS HEADLIGHT DEFECT AT NO COST TO OWNERS !! *TR

• 12/04/2013· STRUCTURE

  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

• 12/04/2011· EXTERIOR LIGHTING

  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

• 12/04/2009· POWER TRAIN

  TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS. THE CRUISE CONTROL SELECTOR WAS ACTIVATED. THE DRIVER'S HAND SLIGHTLY HIT THE GEAR SHIFTER IN WHICH THE SHIFTER MOVED OUT OF GEAR. THE CONTACT HAD CONCERN OF THE SAFETY RISK REGARDING THE POOR MANUFACTURER DESIGN. IMMEDIATELY, THE GEAR SHIFTER WAS MOVED INTO THE PROPER GEAR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 7,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 8,000.

• 12/02/2010· AIR BAGSCrash

  I OWN A PRIUS 2009. I WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT IN WHICH A TRUCK RUN A RED LIGHT, BROADSIDED A VEHICLE AT THE INTERSECTION. THIS VEHICLE SPUN AND HIT THE RIGHT FRONT PART OF MY CAR. THE PROBLEM IS THAT THE DRIVER AIRBAG DEPLOYED ABOUT 2 MIN AFTER THE HIT, BUT THE AIRBAG WAS TORN AND THE INFLATION GAS LEAKED INTO THE CABIN. THE PASSENGER BAG WAS NOT DEPLOYED. I WAS ALONE IN THE CAR AND WAS NOT INJURED. I HAVE REPORTED THE INCIDENT TO TOYOTA. *TR

• 12/01/2010· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  BRAKING ABILITY DECREASES TEMPORARILY WHAT APPEARS TO BE A SECOND OR SO WHILE DRIVING WHEN APPLYING BRAKES AND GOING OVER A BUMP OR SMALL POTHOLE. DECREASED BRAKING ABILITY WHILE GOING OVER BUMPS/POTHOLES APPEARS TO OCCUR EVERY TIME. THE LAST TIME OF OCCURRENCE IT APPEARED THAT THE CAR MAY HAVE ACCELERATED MOMENTARILY WHEN INITIALLY BRAKING AND GOING OVER A VERY SHALLOW SMALL POTHOLE.

• 11/30/2019· SERVICE BRAKES

  FAILING BRAKE ACTUATOR ASSEMBLY THAT TOYOTA KNEW WAS DEFECTIVE. THEY EXTENDED WARRANTY THROUGH 2017, BUT THE ISSUE HAPPENS AROUND 200,000 MILES. NOW THAT THE EXTENDED WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED TOYOTA IS CHARGING $2300 TO REPLACE THIS KNOWN AND DEFECTIVE PART.

• 11/29/2016· EXTERIOR LIGHTING

  RIGHT HEADLIGHT GOES OFF RANDOMLY ALL THE TIME WHEN DRIVING IN CITY STREETS OR HIGHWAYS, I HAVE TO TURN LIGHTS OFF AND TURN THEM ON AGAIN UNTIL IT GOES OFF AGAIN, CHANGED BULB DID NOT HELP. THIS IS HAPPENING FOR ABOUT 6 MONTHS NOW. *TR

• 11/28/2018· UNKNOWN OR OTHER,SERVICE BRAKES

  MY CAR HAS BEEN INTERMITTENTLY DISPLAYING ABS VSC AND BRAKE WARNING LIGHTS. WHEN THEY ARE ON THERE IS NO BRAKE REGENERATION. THE LIGHTS HAVE COME ON AND GONE OFF AND NOW ARE ON AGAIN. GETTING OBD CODE C1391 (ABNORMAL LEAK IN ACCUMULATOR) MY VEHICLE IS JUST A SMALL AMOUNT OVER MILEAGE TO COVER THIS UNDER ENHANCED WARRANTY BUT TOYOTA KNOWS THEY HAVE A BRAKE ACCUMULATOR PROBLEM AND WANTS 3K TO FIX WHAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN A RECALL LONG AGO. HAVE CALLED AND TOYOTA WILL NOT HELP.

• 11/28/2018· SUSPENSION,AIR BAGS,STRUCTURECrash

  MAYBE RELATED TO TAKATA RECALL: WE DID NOT RECEIVE A RECALL, HOWEVER OUR CAR SKID INTO A TREE AND HAD SIGNIFICANT FRONT END DAMAGE, HOWEVER NO AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. WAS GOING 25 MPH ON A SUBURBAN RESIDENTIAL ST DURING A MIXED SNOW/SLEET STORM. SLIGHT CURVE AND SLIGHTLY DOWNHILL. THE BRAKES WERE NOT APPLIED AS THEY COULD HAVE MADE IT WORSE. CAR SPED UP INTO THE SKID TOTALLING THE CAR WITH $11,000 DAMAGE. WE HAVE BEEN GIVEN SEVERAL OPINIONS THAT THE VELOCITY NECESSARY TO CAUSE THE DAMAGE SHOULD HAVE TRIGGERED THE AIRBAG SENSORS. CAR HIT THE MIDDLE OF THE BUMPER AND PERHAPS MISSED THE SENSORS? NO REPORT WAS FILED BY THE POLICE AS ACCIDENT WAS CAUSED BY THE ROAD CONDITIONS/WEATHER NOT DRIVER ERROR. I HAVE PHOTOS I CAN SEND IN A FEW DAYS

• 11/26/2019· SERVICE BRAKES

  BRAKE PRESSURE LOSS AND CONSTANT NOISE FROM THE BRAKE ACTUATOR, READ CODES C1256 AND C1391

• 11/23/2014· POWER TRAIN,ENGINE

  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

• 11/22/2017· UNKNOWN OR OTHER

  THE COMBINATION METER WENT OUT ON MY PRIUS. ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS, THE DASHBOARD WENT BLANK. WHEN THIS HAPPENS THE DRIVER IS UNABLE TO SEE THE SPEED OR ANY OTHER SAFETY LIGHTS. THE MOST ALARMING ISSUE WAS WHEN OUR VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHUT OFF AFTER THE DASHBOARD WENT BLANK. WHEN WE ARRIVED AT OUR DESTINATION WE WERE UNABLE TO TURN THE VEHICLE OFF WITH THE PUSH BUTTON 'START.' THE CAR CONTINUED TO RUN ON RESERVE EVEN AFTER THE BATTERY TERMINALS WERE DISCONNECTED. WE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP THEY WERE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND TOYOTA HAD ALREADY EXTENDED THE WARRANTY ON THIS PART TO NINE YEARS FROM ORIGINAL DATE OF USE. UNFORTUNATELY FOR US, OUR CAR WAS NINE YEARS AND ONE MONTH. THE SCARIEST ISSUE IS THAT THE CAR DRIVER IS UNABLE TO TELL THEIR SPEED AND THIS COULD POTENTIALLY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. THE CAR ALSO IS EXTREMELY DARK (AT NIGHT) WHEN THE DASHBOARD IS NOT DISPLAYING AND CAUSES ISSUES WITH VISABILITY.

• 11/22/2011· POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

  I WAS GLIDING INTO A COMMERCIAL PARKING SPACE WITH MY FOOT OFF THE ACCELERATOR IN THE SECOND BEFORE I MOVED MY FOOT ONTO THE BRAKE. SUDDENLY, THE ACCELERATOR PUSHED DOWN BY ITSELF, THE CAR SURGED FORWARD TOWARDS THE TRUCK IN THE SPACE IN FRONT OF MINE. I SLAMMED ON THE BRAKE. END OF INCIDENT. NO MAT WAS IN THE WAY. I HAD TAKEN PART IN THE RECALL. *TR

• 11/20/2017· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER

  DISPLAY FOR ODOMETER, SPEEDOMETER AND GAS GAUGE GOES OUT INTERMITTENTLY.THE 'COMBINATION METER' (A.K.A. 'INSTRUMENT PANEL' OR 'CLUSTER', THE THING YOU'RE LOOKING AT IN FRONT OF YOU) IS BAD. THERE ARE SEVERAL ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS IN THE CIRCUIT BOARD THAT CONTROL HOW IT 'POWERS UP', AND THEY FAIL. LACKING THE ABILITY TO POWER UP, THE DISPLAY GOES BLACK. JOE MYERS QUOTED US $1156 FOR REPAIR, AND ONE WEEK REPAIR TIME. SERVICE ADVISOR SAID THAT REPAIR PART IS FIXED PART SO THAT PROBLEM WILL NO LONGER OCCUR. WE MUST DRIVE THE VEHICLE TILL WE REPLACE IT. NO OFFER WAS MADE TO PROVIDE A LOANER CAR IF 07 PRIUS WENT INTO SHOP FOR REPLACEMENT CLUSTER. IT IS REALLY UNSAFE TO DRIVE WITHOUT KNOWING SPEED THAT CAR IS TRAVELING. AND WE WOULD NOT KNOW GAS LEVEL. WHO WANTS TO RUN OUT OF FUEL? VERY UNSAFE. WHY ISN'T TOYOTA OWNING UP TO THIS DEFICIENCY? SHOULDN'T IT BE A RECALL REPAIR? WE ARE THE ORIGINAL OWNER AND WE HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE INTO THE DEALERSHIP SERVICE SHOP FOR REPAIRS SINCE WE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE.