What 516 owners told NHTSA about the 2011 Toyota Prius

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.

NHTSA ODI 11287861

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!

NHTSA ODI 11253987

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.

NHTSA ODI 11253469

WHILE DRIVING AT CA FREEWAY SPEED (65MPH) THE CAR GOES LIMP. THE ACCELERATOR FAILS TO WORK AND EVEN FLOORING THE VEHICLE MAKES NO DIFFERENCE. AT THIS POINT THE SPEED OF THE VEHICLE DECREASES AND I HAVE TO IMMEDIATELY PULL TO THE SHOULDER. THE "CHECK HYBRID SYSTEM" ALERT SHOWS ON THE DASH AND ALSO ELECTRIC POWER STEERING AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR THE PAST YEAR AND I HAVE TAKEN IT TO SEVERAL TOYOTA DEALERSHIPS WITH NO RESOLVE. I HAVE SPENT A TOTAL OF $4500 WITHOUT TOYOTA OF VALLEJO OR THE NOW BANKRUPT TOYOTA OF FAIRFIELD SOLVING THE ISSUE. THIS IS A LIFE THREATENING ISSUE AND HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES WITH CHILDREN IN THE VEHICLE. SHOW IN VIDEO: HTTPS://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=CA5HJRSNFSG

NHTSA ODI 11242826

WE WERE ON FREEWAY WHEN AN ODD SMELL WAS DETECTED. THERE WERE SEVERAL LARGE TRUCKS IN THE AREA AND WE PASSED OFF THE SMELL TO THE TRUCKS. A COUPLE OF MILES LATER THE PASSENGER SAID, "THE FLOOR IS ON FIRE!" AT THIS POINT, AN ABUNDANCE OF SMOKE APPEARED ABOVE THE DASHBOARD ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE. WE EXITED THE FREEWAY, FOUND A FIRE EXTINGUISHER AND WERE ABLE TO PUT OUT THE FIRE. THE LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER WAS INFORMED BUT NO ACTION WAS TAKEN. THE INSURANCE COMPANY HAS TOTALED THE VEHICLE. WE ARE AWAITING THE SETTLEMENT CHECK. WE HAVE NO IDEA WHAT STARTED THE FIRE. THERE WERE NO INDICATORS I.E. WARNING LIGHTS/BUZZERS, ETC. PRIOR TO THE FIRE. THE AREA UNDER THE DASHBOARD ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE IS A CHARRED MASS. THEREIN A LARGE HOLE AT THE TOP OF THE DASH NEAR WHERE THE SPEAKER FOR THAT SIDE IS HOUSED. *BF*JB

NHTSA ODI 11221795

WELL I WAS DRIVING AND SUDDENLY MY CAR BATTERY TURNED OFF AND CHECK HYBRID SYSTEM CAME ON THE DASHBOARD IT STOPPED SO I PARKED IT ON SIDE AND UNPLUG BATTERY WIRES SO IT START WORKING AGAIN THE WEIRD THING IS THAT WHEN I CHECK TO SEE ANY CODE BUT NOTHING CAME RECENTLY IT WAS HAPPENING AND ONE RECALL CAME FOR HYBRID BATTERY AFTER THAT IT WAS WORKING FINE BUT NOW THIS THING HAPPENED AGAIN AND IT WAS DANGEROUS BECAUSE I WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF HIGHWAY AND CAR STOPPED.

NHTSA ODI 11205273

THE CAR STARTS AS NORMAL AND DRIVES NORMALLY BUT ONCE YOU START TO COME TO A STOP THE CAR SHUTS OFF AND WILL ONLY RESTART WHEN YOU DEPRESS THE GAS PEDAL BUT SHUTS DOWN AGAIN WHEN YOU RELEASE THE GAS PEDAL, NORMAL CITY STREETS AND HIGHWAY

NHTSA ODI 11185909

A FEW MONTHS AGO I HAD THE REQUIRED SOFTWARE UPDATE TO ADJUST THE SAFETY FEATURE IN THE HYBRID SYSTEM IN CASE OF A FAILURE. WHILE DRIVING ON A SIDE STREET ON 3/1/19 I PRESSED THE GAS AFTER BEING STOPPED, THE CAR JERKED, AND THE CHECK HYBRID SYSTEM LIGHT CAME ON. THIS WAS ON RAILROAD TRACKS BUT THE CAR DID DRIVE ON THE GAS ENGINE A SHORT DISTANCE TO MAKE IT OVER THE RAILROAD TRACKS. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO A TOYOTA DEALER WHO STATED THE INVERTER WAS BAD, BUT THAT TOYOTA WOULD REPLACE IT AS THEY EXTENDED THE WARRANTY. THIS SEEMS TO BE AN ISSUE THAT TOYOTA IS IGNORING. I ALSO OWN A 2014 TOYOTA PRIUS V WHICH IS ALSO PRONE TO THIS ISSUE. TOYOTA SHOULD ADDRESS THIS ISSUE BEYOND A MERE SOFTWARE UPDATE.

NHTSA ODI 11183833

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, ALL THE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED THE SAME SYMPTOMS AS LISTED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V684000 (HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM). THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO KEARNY MESA TOYOTA (4910 KEARNY MESA RD, SAN DIEGO, CA, 858-413-9625) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE COMPUTERS FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND PROVIDED CASE NUMBER: 1812113112. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 124,000.

NHTSA ODI 11160962

AS I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY MY CAR FILLED WITH SMOKE AND I REALIZED MY ENGINE HAD CAUGHT FIRE, I WAS ABLE TO GET OUT, THE WHOLE FRONT OF MY CAR WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES IN NO TIME

NHTSA ODI 11156109

DRIVING VEHICLE DOWN HIGHWAY, TAPPED BRAKES BUT BRAKES DID NOT WORK, ALL THE LIGHTS ON MY DASH LIT UP. I LOST TRACTION IN BRAKES CAUSING VEHICLE TO LOSE CONTROL.

NHTSA ODI 11154783

THE TRACTION CONTROL, ABS LIGHT AND WARNING LIGHT ALL CAME WHICH I BELIEVE ALL TO BE A SAFETY ISSUE

NHTSA ODI 11142932

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2011 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER WITHOUT WARNING. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A TREE AND A CEMENT BARRIER. THE AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AND WAS ABLE TO BE DRIVEN TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED BACK, NECK, AND CHEST INJURIES THAT DID NOT REQUIRE MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS LATER DEEMED DESTROYED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V684000 (HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND PROVIDED A CASE NUMBER. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 72,000.

NHTSA ODI 11142471

AFTER HEAVY RAINS, WATER GETS INTO THE SPARE TIRE STORAGE WELL, CAUSING A SHORT IN THE TPMS MONITOR FOR THE SPARE TIRE. ALL TIRES HAVE APPROPRIATE AIR PRESSURE BUT THE TELL-TALE SHOWS UNTIL THE SPARE TIRE STORAGE AREA DRIES OUT - SEVERAL DAYS. THIS IS A NEW PHENOMENON BUT THERE ARE NO TEARS OR DINGS IN THE GASKET AROUND THE HATCHBACK. NOT SURE WHERE THE WATER GETS IN.

NHTSA ODI 11128651

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE EXITING HIGHWAY TRAFFIC, THE ENGINE STALLED AND ALL THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTING ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO COAST THE VEHICLE TO A SAFE AREA. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO HENDRICK TOYOTA CONCORD (7670 BRUTON SMITH BOULEVARD, CONCORD, NORTH CAROLINA 28026, 704-467-8287) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE COMPUTER INVERTER FAILED. THE INVERTER WAS REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 93,500.

NHTSA ODI 11128145

I WAS DRIVING ALONG ON THE FREEWAY TRYING TO GET HOME AND SUDDENLY MY PRIUS LOST POWER. I WAS PANICKING, GOOD THING I HAD MY BROTHERS WITH ME OR ELSE I WOULD HAVE LOST IT. WE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT WAS GOING ON! WE MANAGED TO GET OFF THE FREEWAY SAFELY, BUT WE WERE DISTRESSED.

NHTSA ODI 11112149

JUNE 29TH 2018 WAS IN THE CAR WASH GOING THORUGH WHEN THE DASH BOARD PANEL SAID TRACTION BATTERY LOW PUT IN PARK THE BATTERY INDICATOR SHOWED ONE BAR LIGHT ON BUT I COULDNT PUT IT IN PARK FOR I WAS STILL GOING THORGH CAR WASH WHEN IT WAS DONE WASHING PUT CAR IN DRIVE AND IT WAS VERY SLOW IN DRIVING IT TOOK IT AWHILE TO COME BACK UP IN POWER JULY 6TH TOOK IT TO LOCAL DEALER AND I THINK THEY THOUGHT I WAS NUTS THEY SAID THEY NEVER HEARD OF SUCH OF A THING HAPPING LIKE THAT. THOUGHT MATBE IT WAS THE NEW BATTERY THEY PUT IN MY CAR IN MARCH OF 20018 SO I WANT THIS ON RECORD THAT I HAD IT CHECKED EVEN CALLED AND CHECKED ON LINE IF THERE WAS A TRECALL ONLY THING I FOUND WAS A 2014 RECALL ON MY YEAR BUT NOT MY VION OF THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM SOFTWARE. IS IT POSSABLE THAT IS WHAT HAPPENED TO MY CAR. HOPE YOU CAN GIVE ME A ANSWER

NHTSA ODI 11110383

THE HONK / SPIRAL CABLE IS DEFECTIVE - ONLY NOTICED IT IN 2015 (BROUGHT TO THE DEALER) BUT NEVER USED THE HONK BEFORE THAT - COULD HAVE BEEN EARLIER... IT ONLY WORKS WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL IS COMPLETELY TURNED TO ONE SIDE. SINCE CAR HAS NEVER BEEN INVOLVED IN ACCIDENT , THIS IS A MANUFACTURE DEFECT AND NOT WEAR AND TEAR - TOYOTA SHOULD COVER IT - I SEE THEY HAVE ON OTHER MODELS - I CAME CLOSE TO 2 SERIOUS ACCIDENTS WHEN I WAS UNABLE TO WARN DISTRACTED DRIVERS - THE COST IS HIGH AND THIS IS WHY I DID NOT NOT GET IT FIXED IN 2015 WHEN I FIRST NOTICED IT (THE CAR WAS ONLY 4 YEARS OLD) -

NHTSA ODI 11091012

I WAS GETTING ON THE INTERSTATE AND ALL OF A SUDDEN I LOST POWER AND MY DASH LITE UP CHECK HYBRID SYSTEM /ABS/ BREAKS. I CAN NOT DRIVE MY CAR BECAUSE IT HAS NO POWER PLEASE HELP THANK YOU

NHTSA ODI 11084932

THE HEADLIGHTS KEEP BURNING OUT, I HAVE REPLACED THE DRIVERS SIDE 3 TIMES IN 12 MONTHS AND THE PASSENGER SIDE TWICE. I ONLY USE SYLVANIA BRAND, BUT HAVE SWITCHED TO DIFFERENT BRIGHTNESS TO SEE IF IT HAS ANY IMPACT, IT HAS A SLIGHT IMPACT BUT NOT MUCH. THE HEADLIGHTS ARE NOT ON WHEN NOT NEEDED.

NHTSA ODI 11074922

DIM HEADLIGHT PROBLEM WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT, UNABLE TO SEE ROAD CLEARLY WITH LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS ON AT NIGHT, HAVE TO USE HIGH BEAM HEADLIGHTS TO SEE ROAD. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE FOR ME

NHTSA ODI 11072238

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 TOYOTA PRIUS. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, THE CONTACT HAD TO ADD FOUR QUARTS OF OIL WITHIN 10,000 MILES OF DRIVING. ON ANOTHER OCCASION, THE CONTACT HAD TO ADD THREE AND A HALF QUARTS OF OIL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE OIL PRESSURE INDICATOR FAILED TO OPERATE AND WARN HIM THAT THE OIL WAS LOW. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THEY HAD NOT RECEIVED MANY COMPLAINTS AND THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,000.

NHTSA ODI 11020650

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE'S HORN LOST FUNCTIONALITY. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO BE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 60,000.

NHTSA ODI 10995896

DASH BOARD KEEPS BEEPING, YET I HAVE REPLACED THE KEY BATTERY 3 TIMES AND NOW DEALER SAYS KEY NOT DETECTED, YET CAR RUNS SO THE KEY IS DETECTED BUT THE BEEPING WILL NOT STOP. TOOK TO DEALER PAID 89.99 FOR DIAGNOSTIC PER DEALER. DEALER NOW SAYS THE LEFT HARNESS NEEDS REPLACED FOR $1802 PLUS TAX. I FEEL MANUFACTURER SHOULD ALLOW CONSUMERS WHO BOUGHT THERE PRODUCT BE GIVEN INFORMATION ABOUT HISTORY OF FAULTY ELECTRICAL WIRES EVEN WHEN IT IS NOT A SAFETY HAZARD. JUST TURN OFF THE BEEPING NOISE IF THAT IS THE ONLY ISSUE. MILEAGE 58847...

NHTSA ODI 10994385

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS AT NIGHT, THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE HEADLIGHT BECAME INOPERABLE. ON ANOTHER OCCASION, THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT ALSO FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALER RECOMMENDED THAT BOTH BULBS BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED TWO YEARS LATER WHERE BOTH HEADLIGHTS FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

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