2008 Toyota PRIUS: complaints, problems and recalls

I HAVE REPORTED TO TOYOTA MY CONCERN ABOUT THE 2008 MODEL YEAR PRIUS, THE MIDDLE BACK PASSENGER SEAT. THE SEAT HAS BEEN RAISED UP ABOUT 2 INCHES (PADDING) BUT IS NARROW, CAUSING IT TO NOT BE STABLE/COMPATIBLE WITH AT LEAST 3 DIFFERENT CHILD RESTRAINT/BOOSTER SEATS THAT WE HAVE TRIED. THIS WAS NOT THE CASE WITH THE 2005 MODEL YEAR PRIUS. I HAVE REPORTED THIS TO MANUFACTURER, COMPLAINT#REF#200712061340. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10211074 at NHTSA ↗

WHEN I TURN MY HEAD LIGHTS ON AFTER A FEW MINUTES LEFT LIGHT GOES OFF I TURN OFF THE LIGHTS AND TURN BACK ON AGAIN THE BOTH LIGHTS ARE ON FOR FEW MINUTES AND THEN AGAIN LEFT LIGHT GOES OFF. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 32,105 miles reported. Look up ODI 10215277 at NHTSA ↗

TL*THE CONTACT'S MOTHER OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE VEHICLE WAS STRUCK ON THE PASSENGER SIDE BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND TWO OCCUPANTS DIED. THE VIN, SPEED, PURCHASE DATE, ENGINE SIZE, NUMBER OF CYLINDERS, AND MILEAGES WERE UNKNOWN.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10219072 at NHTSA ↗

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS FAIL TO PROJECT FAR ENOUGH DOWN THE ROAD. THE FAILURE IS EVIDENT WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 450 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 83. UPDATED 05/19/08. *LJ UPDATED 05/19/08

Owner-reported narrative. 83 miles reported. Look up ODI 10225385 at NHTSA ↗

DEAR NHTSA, I OWN A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS THAT I PURCHASED FROM CAPISTRANO TOYOTA DEALERSHIP IN ORANGE COUNTY, CALIFORNIA. THE DESIGN FLAW WITH THE VEHICLE THAT I AM ABOUT TO REPORT COULD POTENTIALLY CAUSE DEATH OR BODILY INJURY IF IT'S NOT CORRECTED RIGHT THE WAY. THE ISSUE IS THAT IF YOU DRIVE THE CAR AT NIGHT AND THE INTERIOR DIMMER IS TURNED WAY UP, YOU COULD SEE A LINE OF BLUE LIGHT ABOUT 6 INCHES LONG RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WINDSHIELD, ON THE DRIVER SIDE. I BELIEVE THAT THE LIGHT THAT YOU SEE ON THE WINDSHIELD IS THE RESULT OF THE …

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10225752 at NHTSA ↗

THE LEFT REAR AND REAR CENTER SEATBELT RECEPTACLES ARE INSTALLED ADJACENT TO ONE ANOTHER, BUT IN A REVERSE POSITION IN 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS VEHICLES. WHEN PASSENGERS ARE SEATED IN BOTH THE LEFT REAR AND CENTER POSITIONS, THEIR BELT/SHOULDER HARNESS STRAPS CROSS AT THE ADJACENT RECEPTACLES, CAUSING CHAFING. TOYOTA INFORMS ME THIS FEATURE IS BY DESIGN. I BELIEVE THIS IS A POTENTIAL POINT OF FAILURE OF THE SEAT BELTS, AND IS THEREFORE A SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10225756 at NHTSA ↗

I RECENTLY RETURNED FROM A 2,300 MILE ROAD TRIP THAT BEGAN IN WOODLAND WA. DURING THIS TRIP, WE FILLED UP IN ASHLAND ORE ON OUR WAY TO RENO NV. ORE REQUIRES THAT AN ATTENDANT DO THIS AND OFF WE WENT, NEXT GAS FILL UP WAS TO HAVE BEEN RENO! WE HEADED EAST, TURNED OFF I-5 AND ONTO HWY 89 AND SWITCHED DRIVERS. AFTER ONLY 83 MILES, THE GAS TANK SHOWED THAT THERE WAS LESS THAN 1/2 A TANK. LUCKILY WE HAD NOT MISSED MCCLOUD CALIFORNIA, LAST STOP FOR GAS FOR MANY MILES! WHEN WE FILLED UP IN RENO, THE GAS PUMP SHUT OFF WAY TOO SOON! WE HAD T…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10229666 at NHTSA ↗

SUMMARY: PRIUS LOW FUEL WARNING LIGHT/BUZZER CAME ON, AND ONLY 5 MILES LATER CAR RAN OUT OF GAS, IN A BAD PLACE AT NIGHT ON HIGHWAY. THE MANUAL STATES THAT WHEN LOW LIGHT COMES ON YOU HAVE THREE GALLONS OR LESS. WITH THE PRIUS, EVEN TREATING THIS CONSERVATIVELY AS ONLY 1 1/2 GALLONS, THAT SHOULD STILL BE OVER 60 MILES. I HAD DRIVEN THE VEHICLE BETWEEN 30 AND 50 MILES WITH LOW LIGHT ON MULTIPLE TIMES PREVIOUSLY. THIS USUALLY WORKS OCCASIONALLY FAILS FUEL WARNING IS CLEARLY DANGEROUS. AND FROM INTERNET RESEARCHING, IT IS CLEARLY A WIDESPR…

Owner-reported narrative. 7,700 miles reported. Look up ODI 10230023 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2009-10-05 (October 5, 2009)

TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2004-2010 PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL CAN GET STUCK IN THE WIDE OPEN POSITION DUE TO ITS BEING TRAPPED BY AN UNSECURED OR INCOMPATIBLE DRIVER'S FLOOR MAT.

Consequence: A STUCK OPEN ACCELERATOR PEDAL MAY RESULT IN VERY HIGH VEHICLE SPEEDS AND MAKE IT DIFFICULT TO STOP THE VEHICLE, WHICH COULD CAUSE A CRASH, SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH.

Remedy: TOYOTA FILED AN AMENDED DEFECT REPORT ON NOVEMBER 25, 2009, STATING THAT DEALERS WILL MODIFY THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND, ON CERTAIN VEHICLES, ALTER THE SHAPE OF THE FLOOR SURFACE UNDER THE PEDAL. THESE CHANGES ADDRESS THE RISK OF PEDAL ENTRAPMENT DUE TO INTERFERENCE WITH THE FLOOR MAT. REDESIGNED ACCELERATOR PEDALS WILL BECOME AVAILABLE BEGINNING IN APRIL 2010 AND DEALERS WILL REPLACE ANY MODIFIED PEDAL WITH THE NEW PEDAL IF DESIRED. ALSO, DEALERS WILL REPLACE ANY GENUINE TOYOTA OR LEXUS ALL-WEATHER FLOOR MATS WITH REDESIGNED ALL-WEATHER MATS, OR REPURCHASE THE PREVIOUS MATS FROM OWNERS WHO DO NOT WANT THE NEW ONES. ADDITIONALLY, SOFTWARE MODIFICATIONS WILL BE INSTALLED ON CAMRY, AVALON AND LEXUS ES 350, IS 350 AND IS 250 MODELS THAT WILL ENSURE THAT THE BRAKE OVERRIDES THE ACCELERATOR IN THE EVENT BOTH BRAKE AND ACCELERATOR PEDALS ARE APPLIED. TOYOTA WILL BEGIN MAILING LETTERS TO OWNERS ON DECEMBER 31, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331, LEXUS AT 1-800-255-3987.

Reported: 2010-02-03 (February 3, 2010)

SOUTHEAST TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2005-2011 PASSENGER VEHICLES FOR FAILING TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 110, "TIRE SELECTION AND RIMS." THESE VEHICLES WERE SOLD WITHOUT THE REQUISITE LOAD CARRYING CAPACITY MODIFICATION LABELS.

Consequence: A DRIVER MAY OVERLOAD A VEHICLE WHICH MAY INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL MAIL TO CONSUMERS THE CORRECTED LABEL OR THE CUSTOMER WILL HAVE THE OPTION FOR DEALERS TO INSTALL THE LABEL FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 27, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SOUTHEAST TOYOTA AT 1-800-301-6859.

Reported: 2012-11-14 (November 14, 2012)

Toyota is recalling certain model year 2004-2009 Prius vehicles manufactured August 6, 2003, through March 30, 2009 and FCHV-adv vehicles manufactured December 12, 2008, through September 13, 2011. During manufacturing, a scratch may have occurred inside of the electrically driven water pump at the coil wire. The coil wire may corrode at the scratched portion.

Consequence: The corroded coil wire may break and the water pump could stop. The corroded coil wire could cause a short circuit between coil wires and a possible open fuse, creating a stall-like condition of the hybrid system while the vehicle is being driven. This may increase the risk of a vehicle crash.

Remedy: Toyota will notify its owners, and dealers will replace the electric water pump, free of charge. The recall began on January 17, 2013. Owners may contact their Toyota dealer or the Toyota Customer Experience Center at 1-800-331-4331.

Reported: 2012-11-14 (November 14, 2012)

Toyota is recalling certain model year 2004-2009 Prius vehicles manufactured August 5, 2003, through March 30, 2009. The affected vehicles have a steering intermediate extension shaft assembly built with metal splines that complete the connection from the steering wheel to the steering gear. These splines may have been manufactured with an insufficient hardness.

Consequence: Over time, the splines may wear and eventually fail resulting in a loss of steering ability, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.

Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the extension shaft and replace it if it is one with insufficient hardness, free of charge. The recall began during December 2012. Owners may contact their Toyota dealer or the Toyota Customer Experience Center at 1-800-331-4331.