2009 Toyota PRIUS: complaints, problems and recalls

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 CONT…

Owner-reported narrative. 5,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10251661 at NHTSA ↗

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

Owner-reported narrative. 150 miles reported. Look up ODI 10253053 at NHTSA ↗

FUEL TANK CAPACITY DANGEROUSLY VARIABLE IN TOYOTA PRIUS. OUR 2009 PRIUS ROUTINELY IS UNABLE TO FILL TO FULL CAPACITY OF 11.9 GALLONS. WORSE IS COLD TEMPERATURES. WAS NOT TOLD OF THIS ISSUE AT TIME OF PURCHASE. HAVE SINCE LEARNED MORE ABOUT THE FUEL BLADDER FROM CONSUMER CHAT FORUMS, BUT TOYOTA NEEDS TO DISCLOSE THE RANGE OF FUEL CAPACITY IN THEIR MANUALS, OR IMPROVE THE DESIGN TO *TR

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10255399 at NHTSA ↗

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH ON A LIGHTLY SNOW COVERED ROAD SURFACE, THE BRAKES DID NOT RESPOND WHEN THE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SLOW DOWN. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT CRASHED ONTO THE CURB IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE DRIVER WAS UNINJURED, BUT THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED SEVERE DAMAGE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR INSPECTION, BUT THEY COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE IS IN …

Owner-reported narrative. 480 miles reported. Look up ODI 10259676 at NHTSA ↗

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA PRUIS. WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 30-40 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITONS, THE CONTACT REAR-ENDED THE PRECEDING VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY AND THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THERE WERE NO INJURIES, BUT THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED SEVERE DAMAGE. THE POLICE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED TO THE SCENE AND A REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY UNDER INVESTIGATION AND THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE HAS NOT YET BEEN DETERMINED. THE IN…

Owner-reported narrative. 2,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10263172 at NHTSA ↗

2009 TOYOTA PRIUS RAN OUT OF GAS WHEN IT "SHOULD" HAVE HAD 3 GALLONS LEFT (BASED ON STATED FUEL CAPACITY OF 11.9 GALLONS, AND ON FUEL GAUGE). APPARENTLY THE FUEL BLADDER DOES NOT CONTAIN A RELIABLE AMOUNT OF GAS WHEN FILLED, AND THE GAS GAUGE WARNING (WHICH THE MANUAL SAYS GOES ON WITH ABOUT 3 GALLONS LEFT) MAY NOT COME ON UNTIL LESS THAN A HALF A GALLON REMAINS. THIS IS DANGEROUS. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 4,900 miles reported. Look up ODI 10263294 at NHTSA ↗

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH INTO A PARKING SPACE, THE BRAKES DID NOT WORK WHEN THE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS, THE VEHICLE STRUCK A GARAGE DOOR AND THE CONTACT REAR-ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE DUE TO THE BRAKE FAILURE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE DEALER HAS NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. CURRENTLY, THE VEHICLE IS IN THE REPAIR SHOP FOR THE BODY DAMAGE, NOT FOR THE BRAKES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 1,200.

Owner-reported narrative. 1,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10263612 at NHTSA ↗

HI THERE, I HAVE A NEW 2009 TOYOTA PRIUS. A COUPLE OF DAYS AGO AS I WAS PULLING INTO THE PARKING SPOT AT THE GARAGE MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE, THE CAR STARTED ALL OF A SUDDEN MOVING VERY SMOOTHLY WITHOUT ANY RESISTANCE REGARDLESS OF MY ATTEMPTS TO STOP IT. IT WAS HITTING THE WALL IN FRONT OF IT A COUPLE OF TIMES UNTIL I MANAGED TO POWER DOWN THE CAR. THE FRONT BUMPER OF THE CAR IS COMPLETELY DESTROYED AND WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED. I TOOK THE CAR TO A DEALER TO CHECK BRAKES THOROUGHLY. THEY DID AND TOLD ME THAT EVERYTHING IS FINE WITH THE BRAKES. PE…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10263699 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)

GULF STATES TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2005-2010 VEHICLES FOR FAILING TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 110, "TIRE SELECTION AND RIMS." THESE VEHICLES WERE SOLD BETWEEN SEPTEMBER 1, 2005 AND JUNE 2, 2008 WITHOUT THE REQUISITE LOAD CARRYING CAPACITY MODIFICATION LABELS.

Consequence: THIS DOES NOT MEET THE STANDARD REQUIREMENTS.

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. DEALERS WILL ALSO CORRECT THE OWNER'S MANUAL. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 27, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT GULF STATES TOYOTA AT 713-580-3300.

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.

Reported: 2013-01-16 (January 16, 2013)

Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain models interspersed through model years 2009 through 2013 as follows: model year 2009-2012 Tacoma, 4Runner, Camry, Camry Hybrid, Prius, and RAV4; model year 2009-2010 Avalon, FJ Cruiser, and Highlander Hybrid; model year 2010-2013 model year Corolla, Sienna and Tundra; model year 2009-2013 Highlander and Venza; model year 2012 Prius V; and model year 2010-2012 Sequoia. During modification by SET to include accessories such as leather seat covers, seat heaters or headrest DVD systems, these vehicles may not have had the passenger seat occupant sensing system calibration tested. Without passing the calibration test, the occupant sensing system may not operate as designed.

Consequence: If the front passenger seat occupant sensing system is out of calibration, the front passenger airbags may not deploy or they may deploy inappropriately for the passenger's size and position. This could increase the risk of personal injury during the event of a vehicle crash necessitating airbag deployment.

Remedy: Southeast Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will test the sensitivity of the occupant detection sensors, and recalibrate them as necessary. The recall began on March 21, 2013. Owners may contact Southeast Toyota at 1-800-301-6859.