What 516 owners told NHTSA about the 2011 Toyota Prius C

A FEW WEEKS AGO MY BRAKE AND ABS LIGHTS CAME ON AND MY BRAKE PEDAL CHANGED AND BECAME SPONGY. SINCE I WAS STILL ABLE TO BRAKE, I KEPT DRIVING THE CAR AND BECAME USED TO THE SPONGY PEDAL. THEN THE OTHER DAY I WAS RETURNING HOME FROM WORK WHEN THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME SUDDENLY HIT HIS BRAKES. I HAD TO QUICKLY HIT MINE AS WELL AND THE BRAKES LOCKED UP SENDING THE CAR SHARPLY TO THE RIGHT AND I CRASHED INTO THE GUARD RAIL CAUSING $1500 WORTH OF DAMAGE. I PICKED UP THE CAR TODAY AFTER HAVING THE DAMAGE REPAIRED BUT I STILL HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNDISCLOSED SPEED, SEVERAL WARNING LIGHTS DISPLAYED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND WENT TO THE FLOORBOARD WHICH EXTENDED THE BRAKING DISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V684000 (HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM). THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MARIETTA TOYOTA LOCATED AT (750 COBB PKWY S, MARIETTA, GA 30060 (470) 938-8430). THE DEALER DECLINED TO OFFER THE REPAIR BECAUSE THE VEHICLE HAD A SALVAGE TITLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND OFFERED A SOFTWARE UPDATE OF THE HYBRID SYSTEM BUT DECLINED TO OFFER ANY ADDITIONAL REPAIRS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 101,000.

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LOUD RATTLE, SHAKING IN MOTOR AREA. WAS FOUND TO BE A HEAD GASKET LEAK. USING A LOT OF ANTIFREEZE AND WHITE SMOKE OUT THE TAIL PIPE. WHILE IDLE OR IN MOTION AND WHILE GAS ENGINE IS RUNNING. STARTED INTERMITTENTLY AT FIRST AND VERY SHORT, EG. FOR A SECOND OR TWO, THEN GOT LOUDER, MORE OFTEN AND LASTED LONGER. THIS CAR HAS 128,000 MILES. THIS SAME ISSUE IS HAPPENING ON MY 2010 PRIUS WITH 250,000 MILES. I RESEARCHED THIS AND IT IS A COMMON PLACE WITH GEN 3 PRIUS CARS. I CAN NO LONGER DRIVE EITHER ONE OF MY PRIUS CARS SAFELY.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING A SQUILLING CAME FROM THE BRAKES. THE BRAKING DISTANCE WAS EXTENDED. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERN THE VEHICLE UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE A SQUILLING NOISE WAS PRESENT COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE AND WHEN PRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL THE BRAKING DISTANCE WAS EXTENDED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL SERVICE CENTER SERVER CO TOYOTA(2841 PUKOLOA, HI) WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKE ACTUATOR WAS FAULTY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT YET REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 144,000.

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I HAVE BEEN LUCKY TO MISS CLOSED-CALL HITTING THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME AFTER SKIDDING. WHEN I APPLY BRAKES GOING DOWN THE RAMP, THE CAR SKIDS AND THE BRAKE DOESN'T STOP THE CAR UNTIL I GET PRETTY CLOSE TO THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. I AM MORE CONCERNED BECAUSE SOME PARTS OF THE ROAD ARE UNEVEN WHERE I LIVE THAT INCREASES THE CHANCE OF BRAKE FAILURE. IT HAPPENS ON SURFACE ROADS WHEN THERE IS A BUMP TOO. THE BRAKING DISTANCE INCREASE WHEN THE STREET IS WET.

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WHEN I WAS ABOUT TO EXIT WHILE DRIVING ON FREEWAY, MYABS, BRAKE, TCS LIGHT IS SUDDENLY ON, THE BRAKE NEED POWER TO PUSH AND REGENERATE CHARGER NOT WORKING WHEN BRAKE PEDAL PUSH, AND MAKE MPG DROP.

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TRACTION CONTROL, ABS AND BRAKE LIGHTS CAME ON TODAY AND BRAKE PRESSURE DROPPED SEVERELY WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. NOT SAFE TO DRIVE.

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AFTER RECEIVING THE COMPUTER UPDATE MY FUEL MILEAGE HAS DROPPED 10 MILES. THE OTHER PROBLEM IN THE RATE OF TIRE WEAR AND PULL. I TOOK THE CAR IN FOR AN ALIGNMENT TO A TOYOTA DEALERSHIP BECAUSE IT WAS PULLING THEY TOLD ME THEY DID THE ALIGNMENT. AFTER I GOT MY CAR BACK IT WAS STILL PULLING I QUESTIONED THEM AND THEY SAID THAT WAS NORMAL. THE LAST THING IS I GOT NEW TIRES PUT ON THE CAR AND HAD TO REPLACE THEM 10 MONTHS LATER BECAUSE THERE WAS ABOUT 15 PERCENT TREAD LIFE LEFT. THE TIRES WERE ROTATED PROPERLY.

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WHEN DRIVING OVER UNEVEN SURFACES LIKE POTHOLES AND APPLYING MY BREAKS, I FEEL A DELAYED RESPONSE UNTIL AFTER I'M OUT OF THE POTHOLE. IN OTHER WORDS; I APPLY BREAKS, GO OVER POT HOLE, BREAKS DISENGAGE EVEN THOUGH THE PEDAL IS PRESSED, AND REENGAGED ONCE I'M ON A SMOOTH SURFACE. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING SINCE I FIRST BOUGHT MY CAR FIVE YEARS AGO, BUT I ALWAYS THOUGHT IT WAS ME OVER THINKING IT.

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HEADLIGHT BULBS FAIL FREQUENTLY, SEVERAL TIMES PER YEAR. I CALLED TOYOTA IN JANUARY 2020. I WAS INFORMED THEY HAD A BRIEF WARRANTY EXTENSION TO COVER THE ISSUE, BUT THAT HAS ENDED. THEY'VE REFUSED TO OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THEY CLAIM THEY NOTIFIED ME OF THE ISSUE, BUT THEY CLEARLY DID NOT; THE ADDRESS THEY CLAIMED TO HAVE SENT IT TO WAS NOT MY ADDRESS. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE, BECAUSE THE BULBS FAIL SO FREQUENTLY AND ARE NOT OWNER-REPLACEABLE. I HOPE YOU CAN HELP. THANK YOU.

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THE ABS TRACTION, CONTROL AND BRAKE LIGHT COME ON FOR 2 TO 3 HOURS. THEN THE LIGHT WILL GO OFF THROUGHOUT THE DAY AND THEN THE LIGHTS WILL POP BACK ON AND I JUST WENT TO STOP MY CAR WENT SIDEWAYS SCARIEST MOMENT EVER . THE OTHER VEHICLE ON THE 2 LANE ROAD I WAS ON SWERVED OFF THE ROAD TO AVOID HITTING ME BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WENT SIDEWAYS . AT THIS TIME ALL 3 LIGHTS WERE LIT UP . I DRIVE ABOUT 10 HOURS A DAY . PLEASE INVESTIGATE. (NEARLY DIED AS WELL AS THE GUY IN THE OTHER VEHICLE)

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THE BRAKE SYSTEM APPEARS TO BREAK DOWN; ABS MODULE AND BRAKE BOOSTER LOSE POWER. THIS CAUSES BRAKING TO BE HARDER AND POTENTIAL SAFETY FOR THE VEHICLE TO LOSE ALL BRAKING CAPABILITY. THIS ISSUE OCCURS WHEN BRAKING. THERE APPEARS TO BE LESS AIR PRESSURE IN ASSIST IN THE BRAKING. READING ONLINE THIS IS A VERY COMMON ISSUE FOR THE 2011 VEHICLE! THE 2010 MODEL HAD A RECALL DUE TO MANUFACTURE DEFECT. HTTPS://WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/TOYOTA/PRIUS/2011/BRAKES/SERVICE_BRAKES.SHTML PLEASE ADDRESS SOON BECAUSE THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE!

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SAFETY SRS WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO GLENS FALLS TOYOTA (169 BROAD ST, GLENS FALLS, NY 12801, (518) 793-5611) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SPIRAL CABLE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND PROVIDED CASE NUMBER: 1912090334. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 104,000.

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LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS ARE BURNING OUT WITHIN A WEEK OF INSTALLATION. WHEN BULBS ARE REPLACED, ONE OF THE TWO BULBS WILL BURN OUT WITHIN A WEEK, YET THE OTHER BULB WILL STAY ACTIVE. BOTH SIDES ARE AFFECTED. IT RANDOMLY CHOOSES WHICH SIDE TO BURN OUT.

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BRAKE, TRACTION CONTROL, TIRE PRESSURE, ABS LIGHTS ALL COME ON WHILE DRIVING. TOOK TO SHOP. CLAIMS IT'S THE BRAKE BOOSTER/ ACTUATOR PROBLEM. CUSTOMER SUPPORT PROGRAM

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I REPLACED BOTH HEADLIGHTS SEVERAL TIMES AT A MUCH FASTER TIME PERIOD THAN ANY OTHER VEHICLE I HAVE EVER OWNED. ONCE I EVEN HAD TO REPLACE THE HEADLAMP ASSEMBLY WHEN ONE OF THE HEADLIGHTS GENERATED SO MUCH HEAT THAT THE HEADLAMP ASSEMBLY PLASTIC MELTED.

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I WAS MAKING A LEFT TURN AT A VERY BUSY LOS ANGELES INTERSECTION AND DURING NEEDED ACCELERATION TO TURN, THE PRIUS LOST POWER FOR A FULL SECOND AND THEN POWER CAME BACK SLOWLY AND I BARELY MADE IT THROUGH THE INTERSECTION, A T BONE COLLISION WAS IMMINENT, AND I MISSED GETTING HIT BY INCHES. ALL THE WARNING LIGHTS ON THE DASH ILLUMINATED AND I WAS FRAZZLED. THE HYBRID BATTERY WAS 2/3 RDS FULL AT THE TIME. THERE HAVE BEEN OTHER INSTANCES WHERE THE CAR LOST POWER FOR BRIEF MOMENTS WHEN THE HYBRID BATTERY WAS LOW AND DIDNT THINK ANYTHING OF IT AT THE TIME. THE MPG HAS REMAINED BELOW 40 AND AFTER HYBRID FAILURE, AROUND 26. ALSO, I HAD A GEN 2 PRIUS AND THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WENT BAD AROUND 150,000. CALIFORNIA PUNISHES CONSUMERS BY NOT ALLOWING AFTER MARKET CATS AND FORCES THEM TO BUY OEM AT AN EXTREME MARK UP. WITHOUT A PROPER CAT, YOU CANT HAVE CAL SMOG APPROVAL, NO APPROVAL, NO REGISTRATION. TOTAL WASTE OF RESOURCE WHEN THE ACTUAL COST OF REPLACEMENT OF THE CAT IS AROUND $2K AT THE DEALER. IF I LIVED IN AZ, AFTER MARKET IS $475. AT THAT POINT A CAR OF THAT AGE AND MILAGE IS WORTH AROUND $2-3K. BATTERY AND CAT REPLACEMENT COSTS SHOULD NOT ECLIPSE THE VALUE OF THE CAR. STILL DOESN'T MENTION THE REST OF THE MECHANICAL AND SAFTEY APPARATUS . IF AN ENGINE WORKS HALF TIME ON A HYBRID, WHY DOES THE CAT BURN OUT SO SOOOON? THE SCAM IS BAKED INTO THE VEHICLE AND OUR GOVT SUPPORTS IT. FIX CARB!

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MY CAR SPONTANEOUSLY STARTED SHOWING THE ABS SYSTEM WARNING LIGHT, THE "BRAKE" LIGHT, AND THE ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL INDICATOR LIGHT WITHOUT WARNING WHILE PARKED. AS SOON AS THIS HAPPENED AND I PUT IT IN MOTION, THE CAR BEGAN RESPONDING POORLY TO BRAKING, WITH INCREASED PRESSURE AND LACK OF RESPONSIVENESS. ADDITIONALLY, THE CAR IS RECEIVING BARELY ANY BATTERY CHARGE FROM THE BRAKES (A SMALL AMOUNT COMPARED TO THE NORMALLY FULL CHARGE), AND A WHIRRING NOISE CAN BE HEARD ABOUT EVERY 3 SECONDS ( THE SAME WHIRRING NOISE THAT OCCURS WHEN THE CAR IS STARTING UP, WHICH I THINK MAY BE RELATED TO THE BATTERY). THIS ISSUE HAPPENED WHILE THE CAR WAS AT REST, AND AFFECTS THE CAR WHILE IN MOTION AND AT REST. THE CAR FEELS UNSAFE TO DRIVE DUE TO UNPREDICTABILITY WITH THE BRAKES AND THEIR EFFECTIVENESS. I BELIEVE THIS ISSUE MAY BE ASSOCIATED WITH THE BRAKE ACTUATOR.

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AFTER APPLYING BRAKES CAR CONTINUED TO MOVE FORWARD THROUGH GARAGE OPENING CRASHING INTO WALL AT END OF GARAGE BEFORE IT STOPPED. BRAKE WAS NOT SLOWING/STOPPING VEHICLE

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WARNING LIGHTS FOR TRACTION CONTROL, BRAKE, AVE ALL APPEARED, AND THEN BRAKING DRAMATICALLY CHANGED. ALMOST LIKE NOT HAVING POWER BRAKES. LIGHTS WENT OFF AND NORMAL BRAKE FINCTION RETURNED. THE WARNING INDICATOR LIGHTS GO ON AND OFF, AT RANDOM. CODE C1391 SHOWS WHEN SCANNED. THIS IS SAME SYMPTOM AS EXHIBITED BY 2010 MODEL YEAR PRIUSES COVERED BY RECALL. MINE IS 2011, EXACT SAME ISSUE BUT NOT COVERED BY RECALL. PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED AT LOW 5-25 MPH AND HIGHWAY SPEEDS (55-70 MPH) THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AS IF THIS HAPPENS AT HIGH SPEED (HIGHWAY) AND THE PROBLEM OCCURS THERE IS A SUDDEN CHANGE IN BRAKING QUALITY AN ACCIDENT MAY RESULT. THIS HAPPENS WHEN THE VEHICLE IS MOVING, AT ANY SPEED.

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I HAVE AN EARLY YEAR 2011 TOYOTA PRIUS, THE BREAK BOOSTER AND MASTER CYLINDER ASSEMBLY WORK INTERMEDIATELY. SOMETIMES IT SHOWS ERRORS WITH LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD AND BRAKES HAVE A LOT OF PLAY AND ARE SPONGY AND OTHER TIMES THEY WORK PERFECTLY NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION AND WHEN I WENT TO USE THE BREAKS IN A TRAFFIC SITUATION THEY ENDED UP HARDLY WORKING PUTTING MYSELF IN A HIGHER RISK FOR A COLLISION AND PUTTING MY LIFE ENDANGER.

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THE CHECK HYBRID SYSTEM JUST CAME ON. WE HAVE OWNED THE CAR FOR LESS THAN 1 YEAR. ALTHOUGH IT WAS USED, IT HAS 116,000 MILES ON IT. WE DO NOT KNOW WHETHER IS A CALIFORNIA VEHICLE. WE BELIEVE IT IS A BATTERY ISSUE. THIS WOULD MEAN THAT THE BATTERY WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED WHICH WOULD COST 2500 DOLLARS. THAT IS RIDICULOUS TO EXPECT WHEN WE JUST BOUGHT IT 1 YEAR AGO!

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THE PRIUS HORN IS DEFECTIVE WHEN I PURCHASE THE CARL THE DEALER SOLD IT TO ME DEFECTIVE IT THE WASN'T WORKING AND THEY WANTED TO CHARGE ME I SPOKE TO THE MANAGER AND HE WAS ABLE TO REPAIR IT TWO YEARS LATER SAME PROBLEM I BELIVE THAT IT HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE AIRBAG WHEN AM DRIVING AND MAKING A TURN THE HOUR TURNS ON WHEN I TURN THE STERING WHEEL AGAIN IT GOES OFF BUT IF I TRY USEING THE HORN NORMALY IT DOESN'T WORK AT ALL.

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MY 2011 PRIUS VERY RECENTLY HAS STARTED MAKING AUDIBLY NOISE WHILE PRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL, WHETHER IN MOTION OR STOPPED. THIS NOISE CONTAINS CONTINUOUS WHIRRING, WHINING AND LOUD CLICKING NOISE. THESE NOISES WHERE NOT SEEN BEFORE COMPLETELY. I SPOKE TO DEALER MENTIONING A TSB PERTAINING TO THIS PARTICULAR ISSUE IN SPECIFIC AND WAS TOLD NOTHING CAN BE DONE UNTIL IT FAILS COMPLETELY, WHICH IS BAD, AS I HAVE A FAMILY OF 3 AND GOD FORBID IF THIS WERE TO HAPPEN WHILE DRIVING ON FREEWAY, A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD AND TOYOTA DEALER (RUDY LUTHER) RESPONSE IS IRRESPONSIBLE. I AM ACTUALLY WORRIED MORE NOW ON WAITING FOR THE BRAKES TO FAIL. THIS LOUD CONTINUOUS CLICKING NOISES OCCURS THE MOMENT CAR IS TURNED ON AND THE NOISES LINGERS ON FOR SHORT WHILE AFTER THE CAR IS TURNED OFF, AT MOMENTS I HAVE TO PRESS ON THE BRAKES REALLY HARDER THAN USUAL TO GET THE CAR SLOWED AND IS A TREMENDOUS PANICKY SITUATION. I AM REGISTERING AND REQUESTING FOR THIS TO BE LOOKED IMMEDIATELY BEFORE ANY CATASTROPHE.

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CAR STALLED PULLING INTO TRAFFIC. TOOK ABOUT 15 SEC TO RESTART. NO DIAGNOSTIC LIGHTS LIT UP ON DASH. CAR LOST POWER LAST MONTH AND ENGINE LIGHT WENT ON AND ENGINE COULD NOT BE RESTARTED.HAD TO BE TOWED TO DEALERSHIP. IT REPLACED VALVE ASSEMBLY FOR VACUUM AND REPROGRAMMED PCM. HOWEVER, THAT ISSUE WAS PRECEDED BY A CREEP OF DIAGNOSTIC LIGHTS (COURSE OF 1 HOUR), FROM CHECK OIL TO CHECK ENGINE, AND THEN IT COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN.

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