10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
72,800 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.

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problem #4

Jan 012008

Prius

  • miles
I had been pulled over on several occassions for faulty tail lights. This has been ongoing since I bought the car. Then my children told me of the front head lights going out for no reason. I did not believe them till the went out on me. After taking it to several Toyota dealers and said that there is nothing wrong, on 09/10/2009 I filed a complaint with a "monica" from the NHTSA in DC. I have yet to hear anything to this date and I am afraid of a serious crash when the lights go out without knowing why. I also have a check light that has been on since before my warranty went out and no one wants to correct the problem. I hate this car, it scares me and there are other issues and I have to date only received one recall and that is on the mats.

- Eure, NC, USA

problem #3

Apr 172010

Prius

  • 90,000 miles
48 mph traveling North on or 217; without cause and simultaneously brake warning light on ABS warning light on vsc warning light on audible alarm steady tone then try to stop: Brake pedal up high, brake pedal unresponsive and hard to press, immediately pulled of on allen exit; brakes still unresponsive, pressed maximum force on brake pedal brakes locked up the wheels skidding and burning rubber.

- Portland, OR, USA

problem #2

Feb 282010

Prius

  • 136,488 miles
My 2005 Toyota Prius have left and right hid headlight problems. The passenger side headlight goes out intermittently, then both headlights goes out with no warning. This is an expensive problem, there are major safety concerns linked to the sudden loss of headlights. There should be a saftey recall on all Toyota Prius headlight assembly. The headlights and the electronics cost more than $1,000 to replace.

- Upper Marlboro, MD, USA

problem #1

Mar 012010

Prius

  • 64,714 miles
Having just started the car and enroute to my destination, I was on a city street following a large landscape truck traveling approximately 20-25mph.. road conditions were dry. Although the truck's brake lights were not on, I perceived the truck was gradually slowing. In anticipation of making a stop, I moved my foot from the accelerator to the brake pedal. When the truck's driver applied his brakes, I also applied my brakes intending to come to a gentle stop by lightly pressing the brake pedal. Without warning the brake pedal 'softened' and my Prius continued to coast with no braking at all. Since the truck's size and width obscured sight of any on-coming traffic, I couldn't turn out of my lane and as a result rear- ended the truck. Since there was no damage to the truck or injuries, a police report was not filed; however, I immediately called my insurance agent and was authorized to drive to an approved body shop. After the repairs were completed, I scheduled an appointment on March 19th 2010 with my Toyota dealer to check my car's braking system. The brake pads/shoes, braking fluid were found to be fine, but no analysis of the computer braking system was discussed. According to the Toyota service adviser, the braking failure couldn't be duplicated and their mechanic found nothing mechanical that might have caused the problem. I am dissatisfied with Toyota's service adviser's dismissive position regarding my brake's failure. Despite their inability to diagnose the problem, the service adviser insists the car is safe to drive, but offers no evidence to support this claim. In the past I've complained to Toyota service about the intermittent 'floaty' feeling I experience when depressing the brake in stop and go traffic. No extensive diagnosis of the braking system was ever offered to me, and indeed, the brakes finally failed. Since no one at my local Toyota dealer is willing to resolve this issue satisfactorily, I find it necessary to file a formal complaint

- Pleasanton, CA, USA