What 516 owners told NHTSA about the 2011 Toyota Prius C

THE CSA RECALL WAS ISSUED OVER A MONTH AGO AND NOTHING HAS HAPPENING. I FEEL LIKE THIS IS NOT DONE IN A TIMELY MANNER. I HAVEN'T EXPERIENCED AN PROBLEM WITH THE CURTAIN SHIELD AIR BAG IN MY PRIUS, BUT THAT'S NOT THE POINT. I COULD HAVE AND THERE'S NO INDICATION OF WHEN THE REMEDY WILL BE AVAILABLE. I'M AN ATTORNEY AND I THINK THEY'RE ASKING FOR A CLASS-ACTION LAWSUIT. I DIDN'T ENTER MY PHONE NUMBER BECAUSE THAT'S PRIVATE. I CONTACTED TOYOYA 7/26 BUT HAVEN'T RECEIVED A RESPONSE. AGAIN, THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE.

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HEADLIGHTS BURN OUT FREQUENTLY OR STOP WORKING INTERMITTENTLY; HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY ON PASSENGER SIDE APPEARS TO HAVE LEAKAGE AND LOW BEAM APPEARS AT A LESSER BRIGHTNESS THAN DRIVER SIDE BEAM. HAD AT DEALER 4 TIMES IN SAME DAY FOR ISSUE WITH DRIVER HEADLIGHT IN SUMMER 2015 AND NOW AT DEALER FOR PASSENGER SIDE ISSUES. THIS HAPPENS IN UNPREDICTABLE CIRCUMSTANCES INCLUDING AFTER LONG OPERATION OR AFTER HAVING JUST STARTED THE VEHICLE - INCONSISTENT.

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CAR WAS IN MOTION ABOUT 20MPH. WHEN BRAKES WAS APPLIED, THE CAR FAILED TO SLOW DOWN BUT INSTEAD QUICKLY ACCELERATED. CONTINUOUSLY APPLYING THE BRAKES DID NOTHING. CAR CAME TO A STOP APPLY RUNNING INTO ANOTHER CAR.

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REQUEST HELP WITH 2011 TOYOTA PRIUS OIL CONSUMPTION, QUALITY, SAFETY, & AIR POLLUTION ISSUES: I BOUGHT THE CAR NEW. JUST AFTER 100,000 MILES I NOTICED IT WAS USING OIL BETWEEN OIL CHANGES. IT HAS GOTTEN WAY WORSE TO NOW AT 145,000 MILES IT USED 3 QTS IN 2000 MILES. IT DOES NOT WARN YOU THAT THE OIL LEVEL IS LOW UNTIL YOU ARE 3.5 QTS LOW & A MESSAGES SAYS YOU HAVE LOW OIL PRESSURE. THIS IS UNSAFE IN THAT THE CAR COULD GO DRY ON OIL AND THE ENGINE SIEZE UP. THERE IS A TSB ON THIS FOR OTHER TOYOTA VEHICLES, BUT NOT YET PRIUS. I BELIEVE PRIUS NEEDS TO BE ADDED TO THE LIST & I WANT TOYOTA TO REPLACE MY ENGINE OR AT LEAST THE PISTON RINGS. SO FAR TOYOTA IS NOT ADMITTING TO OIL CONSUMPTION PROBLEMS WITH THE PRIUS. THIS IS ALSO A POSSIBLE EMISSIONS ISSUE. I CONTACTED TOYOTA'S CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE CENTER IN FEB 2016 AND THEY SET-UP CASE NO. 1602170764 TO TRACK MY COMPLAINT. THEY REFERRED ME TO ALAMO TOYOTA IN SAN ANTONIO. I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT TOYOTA IS BEING PROACTIVE IN ADDRESSING THIS PROBLEM. AFTER RESEARCHING THIS ISSUE ON LINE, I HAVE FOUND MANY OTHER TOYOTA PRIUS OWNERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM DOES NOT SHOW UP UNTIL YOU ARE CLOSE TO THE 80,000-100,000 MILES POINT AND SO FOR THOSE FOLKS THAT DRIVE LESS, THE PROBLEM MAY NOT SHOW UP FOR ANOTHER COUPLE OF YEARS. I THANK YOU IN ADVANCE FOR ANY HELP THAT YOU CAN PROVIDE TO ME. I SPENT OVER $23,000 FOR THIS CAR AND HOPED IT WOULD GIVE ME TROUBLE-FREE TRANSPORTATION FOR MORE THAN 4 YEARS AND 100,000 MILES.

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PRIUS STARTED CONSUMING OIL AROUND THE 105,000 MILE MARK. TWO MONTHS AGO, I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY HAD ME COME BACK AFTER 1100 MILES AFTER MY OIL CHANGE. THEY SAID IT WAS CONSUMING OIL BECAUSE THE PISTON RINGS WERE LEAKING. THE LADY TRIED TO SELL ME A USED ENGINE FOR 3,000 OR 5,000 DOLLARS. I TOLD HER THAT IS WHY I BOUGHT TOYOTA BECAUSE I DIDN'T WANT TO SPEND MONEY AFTER 100,000 MILES. I HAVE LOOKED ONLINE AND THIS PRACTICALLY HAPPENING TO ALL THE 2010-2011 PRII. MY BUDDY OWNS AND CAMRY AND JUST HAD HIS BLOCK/PISTON RINGS CHANGED FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS MORNING, I AM A 100 MILES FROM THE NEED OF AN OIL CHANGE, AND WHEN APPLY THE BREAKS I GET A YELLOW LIGHT COMING ON SAYING "NOT ENOUGH OIL PRESSURE". I GOOGLE THIS AND PEOPLE ARE SAYING IT IS BECAUSE MY OIL IS LOW AGAIN. I THINK TOYOTA IS TRYING TO AVOID HAVING TO RECALL THIS.

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BRAKES FAILING WHEN APPLIED HARD OR WHILE DRIVING OVER BUMPS.

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THE PRIUS HAS A PROBLEM WHEN BRAKING OVER BROKEN PAVEMENT OR POTHOLES. THIS HAPPENS WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED TO SLOW THE VEHICLE AND THE CAR ENTERS AN AREA OF THE ROAD WHERE THERE IS UNEVEN GROUND. THE BRAKES SEEM TO NOT WORK FOR A SECOND EVEN IF THERE IS STEADY PRESSURE APPLIED TO THE BRAKE PEDAL. THIS PROBLEM CAUSES QUITE A STARTLE TO THE CAR'S DRIVER. THIS IS ESPECIALLY A CONCERN TO US WHEN THIS HAPPENS AT A CROSSWALK. THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM. TOYOTA OF AMERICA HAS BEEN CONTACTED TWICE, I HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE IN TO MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP BUT NO FIX IS AVAILABLE.

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MY HEADLIGHT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE KEEPS DYING OUT OF NOWHERE AFTER ABOUT THREE OR FOUR MONTHS OF USE (ABOUT 6,000 MILES OF DRIVING). IT HAS BEEN DOING THIS FOR THE PAST YEAR NOW AND OCCURS ABOUT THREE OF FOUR TIMES A YEAR. IT WOULD HAPPEN OUT OF NOWHERE. TODAY IT OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING IN THE RAIN DURING WORK (I DELIVER FOOD, NEEDING MY CAR TO DRIVE).

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WHEN BRAKING WHILE THE VEHICLE IS GOING OVER A BUMP OR DEPRESSION IN THE GROUND, THE VEHICLE LURCHES FORWARD. INSTEAD OF STOPPING THE VEHICLE SEEMS TO ACCELERATE FORWARD. THIS HAPPENS CONSISTENTLY IN THIS SETTING.

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HEADLAMP, 2011 PRIUS 5 DOOR HATCHBACK, I HAVE REPLACED THE RIGHT HEADLAMP 5 TIMES SINCE PURCHASING THE VEHICLE IN 2012. RECENTLY THE LAMP ABOVE THE THE HEADLAMP HAS ALSO GONE OUT. IF YOU MOVE THE WIRING I NOTICED THE LIGHTS WILL WORK FOR A WHILE THEN GO OUT. THE HEADLAMPS WILL WORK FOR A WHILE WHEN REPLACE BUT WITH THE LAST REPLACEMENT THE RIGHT NEW HEADLAMP WILL NOT WORK.

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THE CAR WAS TRAVELING AT ABOUT 40MPH WHEN WE T BONED ANOTHER CAR THAT ENTERED OUR LANE ILLEGALLY. MY WIFE APPLIED THE BRAKES AND WE SKIDDED FOR ABOUT 10 YARDS BEFORE HITTING THE OTHER CAR. NEITHER THE SEAT BELT RESTRAINING SYSTEM NOR THE AIR BAG SYSTEM OPERATED.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY, ALL OF THE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKE MASTER ASSEMBLY AND THE BRAKE BOOSTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 81,000.

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MICE INVADED MY CAR. TRAPPED 6. FOUND NESTS IN ENGINE AREA, UNDER TRUNK, INSIDE HOOD FELT IN GLOVE COMPARTMENT IN A WATER BOTTLE. THE SMELL DOES NOT LEAVE AFTER HAVING CAR DETAILED AND STEAM CLEANED. TOYOTA SHOULD TAKE CARE OF THIS. NOT THE CONSUMER PROBLEM. MY CAR WAS DRIVEN EVERY DAY AND INSIDE A GARAGE.

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2011 TOYOTA PRIUS 3. ( MOST MODELS 2010-2014) ENGINEERING DESIGN FLAW ALLOWS MICE TO EASILY ACCESS INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE THROUGH AIR SYSTEM. WHEN MICE ARE PRESENT WHILE DRIVING THIS CREATES A DRIVING DISTRACTION THAT CAN LEAD TO AN ACCIDENT OR DEATH. TOYOTA CORP REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM, BUT THE DEALERSHIP DOES FIELD COMPLAINTS BUT WILL NOT ACT BECAUSE TOYOTA REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM AN ORDER A BULLETIN . I HAVE PHOTOS AND SOLUTION TO ISSUE, HOWEVER SEVERAL OTHERS MAY BE UNAWARE OF THE ISSUE A SIMPLE GOOGLE SEARCH WILL RESULT IN ADDITIONAL FINDINGS. I MYSELF AM A VICTIM OF THE DESIGN FLAW AND NEARLY RESULTED IN A CAR ACCIDENT. WITHOUT BEING DRAMATIC- THIS IS TRULY A ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE REVIEWED SERIOUSLY. I CANT PROVIDE MORE DETAILS IF NEEDED. I'M NOT LOOKING TO GAIN MONEY, MEDIA ATTENTION OR ANYTHING ELSE OTHER THAN THERE IS TRULY AN ISSUE AND I WANT OTHERS TO BE SAFE. ITS HEARTBREAKING TO LOOK IN THE REAR VIEW MIRROR TO SEE A 15 MONTH OLD BABY SCREAMING BECAUSE A MOUSE IS RUNNING ACROSS HER BODY AND ANOTHER MOUSE IS RUNNING ACROSS THE BACK SEAT AND THEN THE FLOOR BOARD UNDER YOUR FEET WHILE TRYING TO PULL OVER WITH NO ROAD SHOULDER.

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I WAS DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY IN THE COUNTRY, GO ABOUT THE SPEED LIMIT OF 55 WHEN I HEARD A VERY LOUD SOUND LIKE AN EXPLOSION OR GUNSHOT. I HAD THE COVER TO THE SUNROOF OPEN AND WHEN I LOOKED UP I COULD SEE THAT THE SUNROOF WAS SHATTERED, CRACKLED EVERYWHERE, BUT INTACT. WHEN I PULLED OVER TO LOOK AT IT FROM THE OUTSIDE, I COULD NOT SEE ANY DEBRIS FROM ANYTHING THAT WOULD HAVE HIT IT.. INSTEAD IT APPEARS TO BOW FROM UNDERNEATH AND THE SIDES HAVE LINEAR CRACKS ALL AROUND. I WAS NOT CLOSE TO ANOTHER VEHICLE WHEN IT HAPPENED EITHER, SO I DO NOT SEE THAT IT COULD HAVE BEEN CAUSED FROM ANYTHING EXTERNALLY. THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED ME TO BE DISTRACTED TO CAUSE AN ACCIDENT OR INJURY IF THE GLASS HAD ENTIRELY FALLEN THROUGH TO THE INSIDE.

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THERE IS A SERVICE BULLETIN CONCERNING DRIVER SIDE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHT MALFUNCTION TOYOTA WILL BE GLAD TO FIX THE PROBLEM FOR $300 BS HEAD LIGHTS SHOULD WORK !! THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL

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THE CD PLAYER BURNS THE CD IMAGE LABEL. WHEN ENTERING 4 CDS INTO THE CHANGER THE CD IN THE 4TH POSITION BURNS ALMOST THE ENTIRE IMAGE LABEL. THE OTHER CDS HAD THE IMAGE PAPER BURNED ON THE OUTER 1/4 IN OF THE LABEL. I REPORTED THIS TO THE TOYOTA DEALER ON MAY 1, 2016. ON MAY 16,2016 I DOVE FROM WILMINGTON OHIO TO LORAIN OHIO, 3 HOURS PLAYING 4 CDS CONTINUOUSLY. THIS CAUSED THE HEAT IN GHE CD PLAYER TO INCREASE AND BURN THE CDS. THE CD PLAYER FEELS VERY HOT TO THE TOUCH AFTER USE.

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BRAKES DISENGAGE MOMENTARILY WHEN BRAKING ON A BUMPY ROADWAY. I HAVE HAD THIS HAPPEN MULTIPLE TIMES. IT FEELS LIKE THE ABS SYSTEM RELEASES THE BRAKES AND THEN REAPPLIES BRAKING. LUCKILY, I HAVE NOT HAD VEHICLES IN FRONT OF ME.

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EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE - IT CAN BE MONTHS BETWEEN EVENTS - OUR PRIUS MOMENTARILY SLAMS ON THE BRAKES WHEN DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS WHILE NOTHING ELSE IS GOING ON. WE KNOW IT'S NOT OPERATOR ERROR. IT'S HAPPENED TO MY WIFE SEVERAL TIMES AND ME ONCE. WHEN IT HAPPENED TO ME I WAS DRIVING STRAIGHT AHEAD ON A DRY, LIGHTLY TRAVELED DIVIDED HIGHWAY DURING THE DAY. EVERYTHING ON THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS UP, ALARMS GO OFF, THE CAR DECELERATES LIKE I SUDDENLY STOMPED ON THE BRAKE PEDAL THOUGH MY FOOT NEVER MOVED OFF OF THE GAS, IT LASTS FOR MAYBE A SECOND AND THEN THE CAR IS BACK TO NORMAL. IT'S THE SAME EACH TIME IT'S HAPPENED. LUCKILY EACH TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED WE HAVEN'T HAD ANYONE TAILGATING US. WE'VE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER MULTIPLE TIMES. THE FIRST COUPLE OF TIMES THEY LOOKED AT US LIKE WE WERE LOONY. THEY CHECKED IT OUT AND WE GOT IT BACK WITH A MESSAGE THAT SAID THE TECHNICIAN CHECKED THE COMPUTER AND TEST DROVE IT FOR 20 MILES AND THE CAR WAS OPERATING AS DESIGNED. EXCEPT IT HAPPENED AGAIN. WE FINALLY CONVINCED THEM THAT THIS WAS MAYBE A LEGITIMATE ISSUE AND THEY SAID THEY BROUGHT IN A TOYOTA FIELD SPECIALIST WHO CHECKED THE CAR OUT AND THEY SAID THAT THE ISSUE WAS THE PCS WAVE RADAR SENSOR THAT WAS SLIGHTLY OUT OF ALIGNMENT DUE TO BODY DAMAGE (MY WIFE HAD HIT A SMALL DEER ABOUT A YEAR PRIOR TO THAT - DAMAGE WAS MINOR AND REPAIRED AT A LOCAL BODY SHOP). AFTER THEY REALIGNED THE SENSOR, THE CAR BEHAVED ITSELF FOR ABOUT FIVE MONTHS. UNTIL YESTERDAY WHEN IT HAPPENED AGAIN.

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THIS CAR CONSUMES OIL... IT DOSE NOT LEAK THE OIL AND THE DEALER SAYS THAT ONE QUART IN 1200 MILES IS NORMAL... THIS OIL IS POLLUTING THE ATMOSPHERE AND IS EXPENSIVE. I FI WAS TOLD THAT IT WOULD CONSUME THIS MUCH OIL AT 100K, I WOULD NOT HAVE PURCHASED THE CAR.

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THE HEADLIGHTS IN MY 2011 TOYOTA PRIUS HAVE BURNED OUT 3 TIMES IN THE LAST 6 MONTHS, TWO OF THE TIMES BEING AT NIGHT AND I'VE HAD TO USE MY HIGH BEAMS SO THAT I CAN SEE. WHEN I BROUGHT IT TO MY MECHANIC, I WAS TOLD THAT IT'S A DEFECT WITH THE 2010 AND 2011 PRIUS AND THAT THE ONLY WAY TO REPAIR THE ISSUE IS TO INSTALL AN ENHANCEMENT KIT, WHICH COST ME OVER $500. WHEN I CALLED TOYOTA ABOUT THIS PROBLEM, I WAS TOLD THAT MY EXTENDED WARRANTY DOES NOT COVER BURNED OUT HEADLIGHTS. I KEEP TRYING TO TELL THEM THAT I DON'T EXPECT THEM TO COVER BURNED OUT HEADLIGHTS, BUT THAT THEY ARE BURNING OUT BECAUSE OF A DEFECT WITH THE CAR. THEY KEEP BRUSHING ME OFF. I AM VERY UPSET BY THE FACT THAT IT'S A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THE CAR AND TOYOTA IS NOT STANDING BY IT.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2011 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE THE CONTACT'S BROTHER IN-LAW WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS STRUCK BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE SPUN AROUND AND CRASHED INTO A GUARDRAIL. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A TOW YARD. THE INSURANCE COMPANY DECLARED THE VEHICLE TOTALLED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,290.

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LOW BEAMS FAILING. INCREASING IN FREQUENCY. BOTH LOW BEAM HEADLAMPS WILL GO OUT AT THE SAME TIME. HAPPENING MONTHLY AND USUALLY IN DAMP WEATHER. FREQUENCY IS INCREASING. SAFETY IS A MAJOR CONCERN.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE HEADLIGHT WIRING HARNESS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS INTERMITTENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 62,000.

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LIGHTS KEEP GOING OUT. I'VE REPLACED 5 TIMES IN THE LAST YEAR. STILL KEEP GOING OUT EVERY 2 TO 3 MONTHS.

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