Jan 9, 2013Speed control
2011 PRIUS, USA EQUIPMENT PACKAGE FIVE. 20000 MILES DRIVEN -- RECOMMENDED SERVICE DONE EVERY 5000, INCLUDING THE 20000 SERVICE DONE LESS THAN 1000 MILES AGO. EASTBOUND ON I-78, A FEW EXITS WEST OF ALLENTOWN PA. SPEED LIMIT 65, RADAR CRUISE SET TO 68 AND DEFAULT THREE-BARS [MAX DISTANCE]. ALL WAS GOOD FOR 30 OR SO MILES OF ROLLING HILLS AND LIGHT TRAFFIC. THEN, WITH NO CHANGE IN TRAFFIC DENSITY OR AVERAGE TRAFFIC SPEED, THE PRIUS STARTED SLOWING DOWN -- AS WOULD BE QUITE APPROPRIATE IF THE DRIVER AHEAD OF ME HAD EASED UP ON THE GAS. 60, 55, 50, 45. NOT QUICKLY -- NO WHERE NEAR AS QUICKLY AS IF I WERE TO TURN OFF THE CRUISE. IT WAS AS THOUGH THERE WAS TRAFFIC SLOWING DOWN AHEAD AND THE RADAR WAS JUST RESPONDING TO IT. BUT THE TRAFFIC AHEAD WAS NOT SLOWING DOWN. NO BEEPS, NO BRAKE ASSIST -- THE PRIUS JUST GENTLY SLOWED DOWN -- IN FACT, THE 'CAR AHEAD' ICON WAS STILL DISPLAYED ON THE CRUISE INDICATOR -- BUT IN REALITY, THE CAR AHEAD WAS FAR BEYOND WHERE 'CAR AHEAD' SHOULD HAVE BEEN DISPLAYED. HE WAS STILL DOING 65 WHILE I WAS DOWN TO 45. I WAS WATCHING AHEAD AND BEHIND ME -- STILL WONDERING IF THE RADAR HAD SEEN SOMETHING I WAS MISSING -- AND DIDN'T REALLY RESUME ACTIVE CONTROL TILL CARS BEHIND STARTED TO GET CLOSE [I REALLY WAS CONCERNED THE PRIUS SAW SOMETHING I DIDN'T!]. AS THE CARS BEHIND GOT CLOSER, I JUST PUSHED DOWN ON THE GAS -- NEVER DE-ACTIVATED THE CRUISE -- AND WHEN BACK AT 60 OR SO, THE CRUISE AGAIN STARTED TO ACT 'NORMALLY'. THERE WERE NO CODES RECORDED, SO I DON'T EXPECT THE DEALER TO EVEN WANT TO LOOK AT IT. TOYOTA HAS NOT RESPONDED ON THIS ISSUE SO FAR [OTHER THAN TO SEND SPAM ADVERTISING EMAIL]. *TR
NHTSA ODI 10491947
Dec 31, 2012Lights
HIGH INTENSITY DISCHARGE (HID) BULB IN FRONT PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT WENT OUT. NO EXPLANATION FOR WHY THIS OCCURRED; IT SIMPLY BURNED OUT. THESE BULBS SHOULD LAST A LOT LONGER THAN 26,000 MILES. *TR
NHTSA ODI 10490549
Dec 19, 2012Brakes
I WAS TRAVELING DOWN A MOUNTAINOUS ROAD AND THE ROAD SURFACE CHANGED FROM GRAVEL TO ASPHALT. I WAS ALSO BRAKING AT THE SAME TIME WHEN THE BRAKES SEEM TO BECOME NONEXISTENT AND THE CAR JUST LURCHED FORWARD. THIS HAS HAPPENED 3 TIMES BEFORE. *TR
NHTSA ODI 10489219
Nov 20, 2012SeatsEquipment Adaptive/mobilityFire
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS EQUIPPED WITH AN AFTERMARKET HEATED SEAT WARMER MANUFACTURED BY PHILIPS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEATED SEAT WARMER FAILED. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE DRIVER'S SEAT HAD BECOME HOTTER THAN NORMAL THE CONTACT THEN NOTICED THAT A HOLE HAD BURNED INTO THE DRIVER'S SEAT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A SPECIALIZED EQUIPMENT DEALER FOR FURTHER INSPECTION.THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE SERIAL AND MODEL NUMBERS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 56,000 AND THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 56, 200. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
NHTSA ODI 10485278
Nov 14, 2012Brakes
WHILE DRIVING ON A ROUGH ROAD SURFACE AND APPLYING THE BRAKES THE CAR LOST ITS BRAKES OR THE POWER TO THE BRAKES AND SURGE FORWARD. THERE WAS A FEELING THAT THE ABS HAD ENGAGED THAN DISENGAGED LEAVING THE CAR WITH NO BRAKES. NORMALLY THE BRAKES ARE VERY CONSISTENT, THEY SLOW AND STOP THE CAR QUICKLY AND SAFELY, HOWEVER WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED WHILE RIDING ON ROUGH ROADS THEY BECOME VERY INCONSISTENT AND UNRELIABLE. IT FEELS THAT THE BRAKES STOP FUNCTIONING, BRAKING DISTANCE BECOMES LONGER AS DOES THE TIME REQUIRED TO STOP THE CAR. I FIRST NOTICED THIS CONDITION WHILE BRAKING ON A ROUGH ROAD AT ABOUT 30 MPH. THE CONDITION NOW OCCURS NOT ONLY WHEN DRIVING ON ROUGH ROADS (PAVED ROADS WITH POTHOLES/POTHOLE REPAIRS) BUT ALSO ON WET/SLICK ROADS. THIS CONDITION IS INTERMITTENT BUT IS OCCURRING MORE FREQUENTLY AND AT ANY SPEED, ROAD SURFACE AND WEATHER CONDITION. THE DEALERSHIP HAS BEEN UNSUCCESSFUL IN REPLICATING THE CONDITION BY DRIVING THE CAR OVER ROUGH ROADS AND APPLYING THE BRAKES. THEY TELL ME THAT UNLESS THEY CAN EXPERIENCE THE CONDITION (SEE FOR THEMSELVES) THEY CAN NOT DIAGNOSE OR REPAIR THE CONDITION. TOYOTA CORPORATE TELL ME THEY STAND BEHIND THE DEALERSHIP AND CAN DO NOTHING. *TR
NHTSA ODI 10484633
Oct 28, 2012Body & structureBrakesCrash
WE PURCHASED A 10 MONTH OLD TOYOTA PRIUS ON MARCH 16ND 2012 WITH ONLY 1367 MILES. THE PRIOR OWNER WHO WAS LEASING THIS CAR RETURNED THE CAR DUE TO MILEAGE INCONSISTENCY..... ON OCT 5TH 2012, I WAS DRIVING ON SUNNY DRY DAY AT 22MPH THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME SLOWED DOWN. I STEPPED ON THE BRAKE TO SLOWDOWN BUT THE CAR DID NOT STOP. WHEN I STEPPED ON THE BRAKE IT DID NOT RESPOND IMMEDIATELY, I APPLIED COMPLETE PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE HOWEVER THE CAR STILL DID NOT SLOW DOWN ENOUGH AND I HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. PER THE REPORT FROM TOYOTA THE SPEED WENT DOWN FROM 22MPH TO 5MPH AT THE TIME OF THE IMPACT. I DO NOT AGREE WITH THE TOYOTA REPORT THAT I ONLY STEPPED ON THE BRAKE FOR 2 SECONDS AS IT WAS MUCH MORE... BEFORE THE ACCIDENT THE BRAKE WAS MUCH HARDER AND LESS FORCEFUL PRESSURE MADE THE CAR STOP AFTER THE ACCIDENT THE BRAKE FEELS SOFTER AND MORE PRESSURE IS NEEDED TO MAKE THE BRAKE WORK. THIS IS AN ALMOST BRAND NEW CAR WITH 7K MILES ON IT HOWEVER I DO FEEL SAFE IN THIS CAR ANYMORE AFTER THIS ACCIDENT AND I FEAR FOR MY LIFE AND PUBLIC SAFETY. WHAT WILL HAPPEN I DRIVE ON A HIGHWAY AT 60MPH AND THE BRAKE WILL NOT WORK?? TOYOTA DENIES ANY TECHNICAL ERROR WITH THE CAR AND BLAMES THE ACCIDENT ON ME. THERE ARE PLENTY OF REPORTS OF SIMILAR ACCIDENTS REPORTED BY CONSUMERS ON THIS SAME ISSUE HERE: HTTP://TOWNHALL-TALK.EDMUNDS.COM/DIRECT/VIEW/.F0DB60B. *TR
NHTSA ODI 10482485
Oct 15, 2012Engine
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE NOTICED A LEAK COMING FROM INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS WHERE THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THERE WERE SPIDERS IN THE HVAC DRAINAGE HOSE AND THE SPIDERS HAD CREATED A NEST EGG IN THE HOSE, WHICH CAUSED THE LEAK. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY ADVISED HER THAT THE FAILURE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER HER WARRANTY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 20,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
NHTSA ODI 10480584
Sep 28, 2012Brakes
THIS WAS NOT THE FIRST INCIDENT, BUT THE MOST NOTICEABLE. WHEN BRAKING AND COMING TO A STOP, IF THE TIRES HIT A POTHOLE OR ANY KIND OF HOLE OR BUMP IN THE ROAD, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATES SUDDENLY. TODAY, IT ACCELERATED AS I WAS BRAKING AND COMING TO STOP AT A RED LIGHT. MY BACK RIGHT TIRE WENT OVER A POTHOLE, AND THE CAR JUMPED AND ACCELERATED ABOUT 10 FEET. LUCKILY THERE WAS NO CAR IN FRONT OF ME. *TR
NHTSA ODI 10477385
Sep 25, 2012LightsEquipment
TOYOTA PRIUS REAR TAIL LIGHTS ARE REFLECTING SUNLIGHT IN EARLY MORNING AND LATE AFTERNOON AS THE TURN SIGNAL AND BRAKE LIGHT CANNOT BE SEEN, THE SILVER CLEAR LENSES ARE TURNING INTO A PRISM . *TR
NHTSA ODI 10476948
Aug 19, 2012Speed control
WE'VE BEEN HAVING A PROBLEM WITH THE DRCC (DYNAMIC RADAR CRUSE CONTROL) ON OUR 2011 PRIUS. THE DRCC LOCKS UP (FREEZES) -LOCKING ONTO A PHANTOM VEHICLE AHEAD AND ACTIVATING THE BEEPER/APPLYING THE BRAKES -' EVEN WHEN THERE IS NO VEHICLE IS AHEAD! THIS CREATES A SAFETY HAZARD AS THE CAR SUDDENLY DECELERATES AT INTERSTATE SPEEDS WITH NO WARNING TO VEHICLES BEHIND. WE HAVE HAD 7 OCCURRENCES OF THIS PROBLEM. A SEARCH OF THE HTSA DATABASE YIELDS TWO SIMILAR REPORTS (10448415 & 10421208). IN ALL CASES THIS HAS OCCURRED ON CLEAR SUNNY DAYS AS THE CAR WAS PASSING A SEMI TRACTOR-TRAILER ON AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY WHEN OUR CAR WAS PASSING THE SEMI'S CAB. IN MOST CASES, THERE WAS NO VEHICLE IN FRONT (CAR IN CONSTANT SPEED MODE) - IT JUST SUDDENLY ACTED LIKE THERE WAS ONE! WHENEVER THIS OCCURS, THE CAR KEEPS BRAKING AND THE ONLY IMMEDIATE SOLUTION IS TO TURN DISENGAGE THE CRUSE CONTROL. WHEN THE TEMPERATURE IS HIGH (ABOVE 90 DEGREES) WHEN WE RE-ENGAGE THE DRCC, THE UNIT IS STILL LOCKED UP! WHAT CLEARED THE LOCKED UP CONDITION WAS TURNING OFF THE CAR. ON ONE OCCASION, WHEN THE AMBIENT TEMPERATURE HAD DROPPED BELOW 90 DEGREES THE DRCC CLEARED ITSELF. I HAVE A LOG OF ALL 7 OCCURRENCES OF THIS PROBLEM. I HAVE CONTACTED TOYOTA ABOUT THIS PROBLEM (CASE #S [XXX] & [XXX]) AND THEY HAD ME TAKE THE CAR TO MY LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER WHO USED THEIR TECHSCAN TOOL TO DOWNLOAD ANY SYSTEM GENERATED ERROR CODES - THEY FOUND NONE. (OF COURSE, IF THE SOFTWARE DESIGN OF THE SYSTEM DOES NOT RECOGNIZE THAT MALFUNCTION HAS OCCURRED, NO ERROR CODE WILL BE GENERATED.) THE DEALER ALSO TOOK THE CAR OUT ON A COUPLE OF (SHORT) TEST DRIVES, BUT THE SYSTEM PERFORMED NORMALLY. *NOTE: A POSSIBLE PROBLEM HERE IS THAT, WHEN HOT, THE RADAR UNIT IS PICKING UP SIGNALS FROM THE TRUCK'S SATELLITE POSITION REPORTING SYSTEM. THERE ARE SEVERAL ELECTRONIC MANUFACTURING FAULTS THAT COULD LEAD TO THIS. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
NHTSA ODI 10471467
Jun 7, 2012Speed control
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED UNEXPECTEDLY AFTER THE BRAKES AND START BUTTON WERE DEPRESSED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 28,600.
NHTSA ODI 10460939
May 31, 2012BrakesFuel system
ON APRIL 3 2012 WE DROVE OUR 2011 TOYOTA PRIUS TO A FULL AND COMPLETE STOP AT A STOP SIGN IN A RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD. WHILE WE WERE STOPPED, THE CAR SURGED FORWARD APPROXIMATELY 5 FEET BEFORE COMING TO A STOP. MY WIFE, WHO AS DRIVING LOOKED DOWN TO CHECK THAT HER FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE. WHILE STARING AT HER FOOT SQUARELY ON THE BRAKE, THE CAR SURGED FORWARD AGAIN ABOUT 3 FEET. THE CAR THEN SURGED FORWARD AGAIN ABOUT ONE FOOT BEFORE STOPPING. LUCKILY THERE WAS NO CROSSING TRAFFIC, PEDESTRIANS OR ANY OTHER OBSTRUCTIONS. NO COLLISION OCCURRED AND NO ONE WAS HURT. WE CALLED TOYOTA CARE IMMEDIATELY AND THEY PROMPTLY PICKED UP THE CAR AND TOOK IT TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER LATER CALLED US AND INFORMED US THAT THEY HAD DIAGNOSED THE CAR AND THAT NO PROBLEM COULD BE FOUND. WE DISPUTED THAT WE WERE UNWILLING TO TAKE THE CAR BACK UNTIL A PROBLEM WAS FOUND AND THEY TOLD US THAT THEY HAD DONE EVERYTHING THEY COULD DO AND EVEN HAD DRIVEN THE CAR 10 MILES WITH NO INCIDENT. I INFORMED THEM THAT WE HAD DRIVEN THE CAR NEARLY 10,000 MILES AND IT HAPPENED ONCE. ONCE IS TOO MANY TIMES. THE DEALER TOLD US WE HAD TO TAKE THE CAR BACK. WE ASKED FOR A WRITTEN STATEMENT GUARANTEEING THE SAFETY OF THE CAR AND THAT THE ISSUE WOULD NOT OCCUR. THEY SAID THEY COULD OFFER NO WRITTEN STATEMENT, SO WE REFUSED TO TAKE THE CAR BACK WHAT FOLLOWED WAS ESSENTIALLY THE DEALER PASSING THE BUCK TO TOYOTA CORPORATE WHO BASICALLY TOLD US THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO AND THAT IF WE STILL HAD A PROBLEM WE COULD GO TO ARBITRATION. TOYOTA CORPORATE WAS NEITHER REASSURING NOR HELPFUL. WE ARE NOW IN ARBITRATION WITH TOYOTA. WE HAVE OUR ARBITRATION HEARING TODAY. IT HAS NOW BEEN NEARLY TWO MONTHS SINCE WE HAVE HAD THE CAR, YET WE ARE STILL PAYING THE LEASE AND INSURANCE. WE ARE NOT LOOKING FOR MONEY, WE ONLY WANT ASSURANCE AND SAFETY FOR OUR FAMILY. *TR
NHTSA ODI 10460127
May 20, 2012Brakes
WHEN I PUSH ON THE BRAKES AND I HAPPEN TO GO OVER A BUMP OR A POT HOLE, MY PRIUS SPEEDS UP. IT ACCELERATES WHEN I TRY TO DECELERATE. I HAVE TO PUSH HARDER ON THE BRAKES TO REALLY SLOW THE CAR DOWN. THIS PROBLEM HAPPENS WHEN I'M DRIVING AT AROUND 40MILE/HR. I HAVE A 2011 TYPE III PRIUS. I TOOK MY CAR TO THE TOYOTA DEALER AND THEY CLAIMED THAT THEY COULD NOT REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM. THIS IS TOTAL BS BECAUSE AS SOON AS I GOT IT BACK FROM THEM I COULD REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM ON MY WAY BACK HOME. PLEASE ADVISE ME OF WHAT TO DO. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
NHTSA ODI 10459051
May 18, 2012Brakes
NOTICED BRAKES BREAKING INTERMITTENTLY ABOUT A WEEK AFTER PURCHASE. DISMISSED IT BECAUSE OF WEATHER AND IT WAS A NEW CAR, THOUGHT IT WAS JUST DIFFERENT FEEL FROM MY LAST VEHICLE. I DON'T DRIVE OFTEN AVERAGING 10,000 MILES OR LESS PER YEAR, SO WHEN I NOTICED THIS PROBLEM REPEATING, AND ACTUALLY NEAR CAUSING AN ACCIDENT I GOT CONCERNED. TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP TODAY, THEY FOUND NOTHING WRONG, AND ON THE WAY HOME EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM. THE INABILITY TO STOP COMPLETELY PRESENTS A HAZARD, ESPECIALLY WHEN THIS OCCURS UNDER NORMAL BRAKING CONDITIONS. IF THE DEALER CAN'T FIND THE PROBLEM WHAT RECOURSES DO CONSUMERS HAVE? *TR
NHTSA ODI 10458927
May 9, 2012Tires
WHEN YOU GO OVER A BUMP IN THE ROAD AT A SLOW SPEED THE TIRE SLIPS SLIGHTLY ON THE ROAD BED. YOKOHAMA REPRESENTATIVE SAYS THEY HAVE HAD NO COMPLAINTS (TELEPHONE CONVERSATION, 5/9/12, PART OF THEIR CASE #[XXX]). I FOUND THE TIRE IS THE PROBLEM WHILE SEARCHING ONLINE COMMENTS ABOUT THE TIRE. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).*TR
NHTSA ODI 10457883
May 9, 2012Tires
SINCE I PURCHASED A 2011 TOYOTA PRIUS IN DECEMBER 2011 I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE 2 IRREPARABLE ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT YOKOHAMA AVIS S33 TIRES DUE TO SIDE WALL DAMAGE. I AM CONCERNED THAT THE SIDE WALLS ARE NOT STRONG ENOUGH TO RESIST POTENTIAL HAZARDS. THIS IS PART OF YOKOHAMA CASE #[XXX] WHICH INCLUDED OTHER CONCERNS. I HAVE RARELY HAD A SIDEWALL PROBLEM AND NEVER A FLAT TIRE WITH NEW TIRES. THE FIRST OCCURRED AT ABOUT 300 MILES OF USE THE NEXT AT 8300 MILES, THE APPROXIMATE INCIDENT DATE. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).*TR
NHTSA ODI 10457885
May 2, 2012Engine
STARTED CAR AFTER PROLONGED PERIOD OF COLD SOAK (PARKED FOR ONE WEEK OUTSIDE IN TEMPERATURES AROUND THE FREEZING MARK). ENGINE EXHIBITED A LOUD KNOCK/RATTLE AND HAD A DELAYED THROTTLE RESPONSE AS I WAS PULLING OUT ONTO THE STREET. HAD TO SHUT ENGINE DOWN (WITH VEHICLE LOCATED IN STREET, SAFETY CONCERN) TO STOP LOUD KNOCK AND RE-START ENGINE. RATTLE/KNOCK HAD DISAPPEARED. TOYOTA DEALERSHIP WHEN PRESENTED WITH ISSUE AND TOYOTA ISSUED TSB (T-SB 0012-10) ON THIS VERY ISSUE DECLINED TO PERFORM NECESSARY WORK SINCE THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO "RECREATE" THE ISSUE. I EXPLAINED THAT THIS ONLY HAPPENED ONCE AND TO REPLICATE THEY WOULD NEED TO PARK IT IN THE SAME CONDITIONS FOR A WEEK. I CANNOT LEAVE MY CAR WITH THEM FOR THIS LONG AND THEREFORE THIS IS AN UNREASONABLE REQUEST. MULTIPLE OWNERS HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM (AS A QUICK SEARCH ON YOUTUBE WILL CONFIRM) YET TOYOTA IS DENYING TO FIX THIS. *JS
NHTSA ODI 10457152
Apr 23, 2012Speed control
DROVE OVER A SPEED HUMP, AND AS THE FRONT TIRES HIT THE LEVEL PAVEMENT, THE CAR LURCHED FORWARD. RESPONDED TO BRAKES JUST FINE. HAPPENED AGAIN A WEEK LATER AS BOTH FRONT TIRES SIMULTANEOUSLY WENT OVER AN EDGE DROPOFF AT A CONSTRUCTION AREA. *TR
NHTSA ODI 10456141
Apr 5, 2012Brakes
BRAKING OVER UNEVEN ROAD SURFACE CAUSE LOSS IN BRAKING FORCE. THIS ONLY OCCURS WHILE BRAKING OVER UNEVEN ROAD SURFACE. VERY CLOSE CALLS. *TR
NHTSA ODI 10454198
Apr 4, 2012Electronic Stability Control (esc)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING UPHILL AT 5 MPH AND IN THREE INCHES OF SNOW WHEN THE VEHICLE STALLED WITH THE ILLUMINATION OF THE SDS WARNING LIGHT. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE WHO STATED THAT THE WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED IN FORWARD MODE ONLY TO DEMONSTRATE IN WHAT MODE THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT NO LONGER OWNED THE VEHICLE. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 12,000.
NHTSA ODI 10454049
Mar 27, 2012AirbagsSeat beltsCrash1 injury
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2011 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 8 MPH WHEN ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR. THE DRIVER'S SIDE SAFETY BELT FAILED TO RETAIN THE DRIVER, CAUSING INJURIES TO THE BACK AND NECK. THE POLICE WERE NOTIFIED AND A REPORT WAS ON FILE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 8,000. UPDATED 04/19/12*LJ THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THE AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY. TOYOTA SENT THE CONSUMER A NOTICE EXPLAINING THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY, BECAUSE THERE WAS NO DIRECT FRONTAL IMPACT, ONLY IMPACT TO THE RIGHT FRONT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE/DOOR AREA, THE MORE YIELDING PORTIONS OF THE VEHICLE. THERE WAS INSUFFICIENT ABRUPT FORWARD DECELERATION OF THE VEHICLE TO DEPLOY THE AIR BAG. THE LETTER ALSO STATED THE SEAT BELT OPERATED AS DESIGNED WITHIN THE MANUFACTURER'S SPECIFICATION. UPDATED EVOQ 05/24/12 UPDATED EVOQ 06/18/12
NHTSA ODI 10453247
Mar 9, 2012Engine & cooling
UPON ICE START UP AT TIMES, THERE IS A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE EMANATING FROM ENGINE COMPARTMENT. GOES AWAY AFTER 10 SECONDS AND CAR DRIVES FINE. HAS OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THOUGH THERE IS A TSB ISSUED, DEALER WOULD NOT FIX UNLESS ISSUE IS REPLICATED DESPITE SHOWING THEM WHAT MY CAR DID ON VIDEO. MOST NOTICEABLE AFTER CAR WAS RUN FOR A VERY BRIEF TIME HOURS BEFORE. ALSO NOTICE THE LAST FEW WEEKS, WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE, UPON ICE STARTING UP, THE ENGINE IS ROUGH AND THE SHIFT TO ICE IS NOTICEABLE. PREVIOUSLY IT WAS SMOOTH. NO CODES HAVE APPEARED AND THE CAR APPEARS TO RUN NORMAL OTHERWISE. I WOULD LIKE THE DEALER TO FIX THE PROBLEM AS DESCRIBED IN 2 SEPARATE TSBS (ENGINE MOUNTS AND INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET). *TR
NHTSA ODI 10451014
Feb 15, 2012LightsVisibility & wipers
STARTING ON/ABOUT FEBRUARY 1ST, 2011, ANY POINT SOURCE OF LIGHT (I.E., TRAFFIC SIGNAL, HEADLIGHT, TAILLIGHT) VIEWED THROUGH THE FRONT WINDSHIELD CREATES AN OPTICAL EFFECT OF MULTIPLE IMAGES. THE EFFECT TYPICALLY MANIFESTS AS A TRIPLE IMAGE WHEN THE LIGHT IS VIEWED FROM A DISTANCE -- ONE FALSE IMAGE, EACH ABOVE AND BELOW THE ACTUAL LIGHT. AS THE LIGHT SOURCE IS APPROACHED, THE IMAGES CONVERGE ON THE CENTER (ACTUAL) LIGHT SOURCE, GOING FROM THREE (ONE FALSE ABOVE AND BELOW) TO EVENTUALLY ONE IMAGE WHEN THE LIGHT SOURCE IS VERY CLOSE (SUCH AS A CAR PASSING, GOING IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION). THIS EFFECT HAS BEEN CONTINUOUSLY OCCURRING SINCE IT WAS FIRST NOTICED, AND IT OCCURS WITH ALL SOURCES OF LIGHT. IT IS MOST NOTICEABLE AND DISTRACTING WITH HEADLIGHTS APPROACHING FROM THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION AT NIGHT (ESPECIALLY A DARK NIGHT ON A DARK ROAD). *TR
NHTSA ODI 10448023
Jan 16, 2012Visibility & wipers
STARTING ON/ABOUT 12 OCTOBER 2011, ANY POINT SOURCE OF LIGHT (I.E., TRAFFIC SIGNAL, HEADLIGHT, TAILLIGHT) VIEWED THROUGH THE FRONT WINDSHIELD CREATES AN OPTICAL EFFECT OF MULTIPLE IMAGES, SOMEWHAT LIKE VIEWING THE LIGHT THROUGH A PRISM. THE EFFECT TYPICALLY MANIFESTS AS A QUINTUPLE IMAGE WHEN THE LIGHT IS VIEWED FROM A DISTANCE -- TWO FALSE IMAGES EACH ABOVE AND BELOW THE ACTUAL LIGHT. AS THE LIGHT SOURCE IS APPROACHED, THE IMAGES CONVERGE ON THE CENTER (ACTUAL) LIGHT SOURCE, GOING FROM FIVE TO THREE (ONE FALSE ABOVE AND BELOW) TO EVENTUALLY NEARLY ONE IMAGE WHEN AT A STOP LINE. THIS EFFECT HAS BEEN CONTINUOUSLY OCCURRING SINCE OCTOBER 2011, AND IT OCCURS WITH ALL SOURCES OF LIGHT. RED AND YELLOW COLORS ARE THE MOST VISIBLE/PRONOUNCED, BUT IT IS ALSO SEEN WITH GREEN OR OTHER COLORS OF LIGHT. ALTHOUGH THE VEHICLE IS DRIVABLE, THE PRISMATIC EFFECT IS VERY DISTRACTING, ESPECIALLY IN AN URBAN/SUBURBAN ENVIRONMENT WHERE THERE ARE MANY TRAFFIC SIGNALS AND OTHER VEHICLES IN THE AREA. *TR
NHTSA ODI 10443927
Dec 29, 2011Engine & coolingSpeed control
THE CAR SUDDENLY DECELERATED FROM 65 MILES AN HOUR TO ABOUT 5 MILES PER HOUR WHILE DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY AT NIGHT WITH THE SHOULDER BLOCKED DUE TO ROAD CONSTRUCTION. THIS SAME PROBLEM WAS PRESENT IN THE 2004 PRIUS AND WAS APPARENTLY THE SUBJECT OF NHTSA INVESTIGATION. THERE WAS A RECALL ISSUED ON NOVEMBER 30, 2010 FOR 650,000 UNITS OF THE 2010 PRIUS. TOYOTA HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM IN THE EARLIER MODELS AND ADMITS IT DOESN'T KNOW THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM IN THE 2011 PRIUS. THIS DEFECT PRESENTS A GREAT DANGER, ESPECIALLY WHEN DRIVING IN HEAVY TRAFFIC AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. *KB
NHTSA ODI 10441676