What 471 owners told NHTSA about the 2013 Toyota Prius V

I AM SEEING MULTIPLE LIGHT IMAGES ABOVE AND BELOW THE ORIGINAL LIGHT. FOR INSTANCE, IF I SEE A RED LIGHT, I SEE ONE GHOST IMAGE ABOVE, AND ONE GHOST IMAGE BELOW. AS I GET CLOSER TO THE LIGHT SOURCE, THE IMAGES CONVERGE. ANY LIGHT SOURCE AT NIGHT APPEARS TO HAVE THIS GHOSTING EFFECT AT DISTANCES 25' +. IT CAN BE VERY BLINDING WHEN SEVERAL CARS IN FRONT HIT THEIR BRAKES. IT IS ALSO BLINDING FROM THE HEADLIGHTS OF CARS TRAVELING ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I DETERMINED IT WAS THE WINDSHIELD AFTER RIDING IN ANOTHER VEHICLE AT NIGHT, AND DID NOT HAVE ANY VISION ISSUES. THE NEXT TIME I DROVE THE PRIUS AT NIGHT AND EXPERIENCED THE GHOSTING, I LOOKED AT THE SAME OBJECTS FROM THE OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE, AND THEY WERE CLEAR. *TR

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH UPHILL, THE HEADLIGHTS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE AN ADEQUATE AMOUNT OF ILLUMINATION. THE FAILURE RECURRED WHENEVER THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING ON AN INCLINE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000. UPDATED 11/15/13*CN

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THE HEAD RESTRAINTS PUSH MY HEAD UNCOMFORTABLY AND DANGEROUSLY FORWARD. THIS MAKES DRIVING A LITERAL PAIN IN THE NECK. IT ALSO LIMITS MY ABILITY TO SEE STRAIGHT IN FRONT OF ME OUT THE WINDSHIELD (BECAUSE MY HEAD IS FORCED FORWARD AND DOWN) AND IT SEVERELY LIMITS MY ABILITY TO TURN MY HEAD TO SEE BEHIND MY VEHICLE OR TO THE SIDES OF THE CAR. NHTSA HAS MADE A HORRIBLE, HORRIBLE "SAFETY" LAW AND TOYOTA AND OTHER MANUFACTURES HAVE IMPLEMENTED IT IN THE WORST WAY POSSIBLE. NOT ALL DRIVERS ARE BALD, 6-FOOT-TALL MALES. THE MANUFACTURES AND THE NHTSA NEED TO CONSIDER SHORTER DRIVERS AND DRIVERS WITH HAIR (HAIR STYLED IN BUNS, PONYTAILS, BRAIDS, FRENCH TWISTS, ETC. CAN EFFECT THE OVERALL DIAMETER OF THE HEAD) BEFORE INSISTING THAT THE HEAD RESTRAINTS LEAN RIDICULOUSLY AND DANGEROUSLY FORWARD. *JS

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EVERY TIME I RECEIVED CALL ON MY CELL BLUETOOTH SEEMS LIKE VOICE BREAKING UP. IT IS NOT THE PHONE PROBLEM. I HAVE CHECKED THE SAME PHONE IN MY OTHER CARS AND WORKS FINE. THIS BLUETOOTH NEEDS SOFTWARE UPGRADE. *TR

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THERE IS A SEVERE DIFFRACTION EFFECT THROUGH THE LAMINATED WINDSHIELD. BRIGHT LIGHTS ARE TRIPLED. THIS IS LIKELY CAUSED BY DEFECTIVE PLASTIC LAYER BETWEEN THE GLASS. IT IS VERY DISTRACTING, ESPECIALLY AT NIGHT. *TR

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MY 2013 PRIUS-V3, HAS A BUILD UP OF CONDENSATION IN HEADLIGHTS, DEALER REPLACED BOTH ONCE. CONDENSATION RETURNED, DEALER TOOK PICTURES AS TOYOTA CORPORATION WANTED. AFTER WEEKS, TOYOTA SAID THEY WOULD DO NOTHING TO FIX PROBLEM UNLESS THERE WAS STANDING WATER IN THE HEADLIGHT. NOTE CONDENSATION SHOULD NOT EXIST, AND CONDENSATION WILL DAMAGE THE BULBS WHICH IN TURN CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. *TR

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WHILE DRIVING THE CAR--ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS--THE DASH LIGHTS ALL ILLUMINATE AT ONCE, FOLLOWED BY UNRESPONSIVE CONTROLS FOR A FEW SECONDS. THEN THE DASH LIGHTS GO OUT (RETURN TO NORMAL) AND NORMAL CONTROLS AND ACCELERATION RETURN. *TR

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WHILE SLOWING DOWN FOR A RED LIGHT THE CAR'S ELECTRONICS MADE A BEEPING NOISE, ALL THE DASH LIGHTS CAME ON, THE GAS GAUGE DISPLAYED A RAPIDLY DROPPING QUANTITY, THEN WENT BACK UP TO HALF FULL. A RED TRIANGLE WAS DISPLAYED ON THE DASH DURING THIS TIME. DURING THIS TIME, THE CAR WAS COMPLETELY DISABLED AND UNABLE TO MOVE AND WAS SITTING IN THE INTERSECTION. I TRIED MULTIPLE TIMES TO RESTART THE CAR, THE DASH LIGHTS WOULD COME ON, BUT THE CAR WASN'T ACTUALLY RUNNING OR RESPONDING TO PEDAL INPUTS. AFTER 7 MINUTES THE CAR FINALLY STARTED BACK UP AND I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE TO THE DEALERSHIP. I LEFT THE CAR'S ENGINE RUNNING (EV MODE WHILE PARKED) AND THEY HOOKED IT UP TO THE COMPUTER. THEY SAID EVERYTHING WAS FINE AND THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT. THIS HAS HAPPENED BEFORE, AND IT HAPPENED AGAIN, TWO DAYS AFTER THE DEALERSHIP GAVE ME MY CAR BACK (THEY KEPT IT THAT WEEKEND). *TR

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WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY THE CAR'S DASH LIT UP AND THE CAR'S ENGINE DIED AND THEN RESTARTED. THE FUEL QUANTITY DISPLAYED, DECREASED BY THREE BARS BEFORE RETURNING TO IT'S NORMAL--ACCURATE--LEVEL. THE CAR THEN DROVE NORMALLY AND ALLOWED ME TO GET IT INTO THE DRIVEWAY. *TR

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WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT I NOTICE THAT ON-COMING LIGHTS (BOTH FROM ON-COMING CARS AND TRAFFIC LIGHTS) ARE DISTORTED SO THAT THERE IS A TRIPLE IMAGE, WITH DUPLICATE IMAGES BOTH ABOVE AND BELOW THE ACTUAL LIGHT SOURCE. THESE DUPLICATE IMAGES GET CLOSER AND CLOSER TO THE ORIGINAL LIGHT SOURCE AS THE VEHICLE GETS CLOSER TO THE LIGHT SOURCE. *TR

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WHEN PUTTING THE VEHICLE IN REVERSE A LOUD BEEPING IS HEARD INSIDE THE CABIN. WE AREN'T SURE OF ITS PURPOSE AS THE BEEPING CANNOT BE HEARD OUTSIDE OF THE CAR IF THE WINDOWS ARE UP OR IF THE WINDOWS ARE DOWN AND THE RADIO IS ON. THE BEEP CAN ONLY BE FAINTLY HEARD OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE IF THE WINDOWS ARE DOWN AND THERE IS NO OTHER NOISE. BECAUSE THE BEEPING IS SO LOUD IN THE VEHICLE, THE DRIVER CANNOT HEAR SHOUTS, SCREAMS OR OTHER DISTRESS SIGNALS TO ALERT THEM OF A HAZARD WHEN BACKING UP. THE BEEPING IS LOUD AND CONSTANT AND IS NOT AFFECTED BY THE NEARNESS OF AN OBJECT, AS WITH OTHER VEHICLE BEEPING BACKUP SYSTEMS. THE LOUD BEEPING CREATES A HAZARD BY DISTRACTING THE DRIVER AND NOT ALERTING PEOPLE OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. *TR

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DECELERATING, THE VEHICLE ERRONEOUSLY ACCELERATED AND CRASHED INTO A POLE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR WAS THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 300. UPDATED 08/27/13*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED JUST BEFORE COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED AND HIT A BRICK POST. UPDATED 08/29/13

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 2 MPH AND APPLYING THE BRAKES, THE VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD AND ACCELERATED UNEXPECTEDLY. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESPOND TO THE BRAKES AND CRASHED INTO A NEARBY CEMENT POST. THERE WERE NO PERSONAL INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THERE WAS SEVERE BODY DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY WITH THE IMPACT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A COLLISION CENTER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 500.

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I OWN A NEW 2013 TOYOTA PRIUS V-5. WHILE ON THE FREEWAY TAKING AN INTERCHANGE. I HAD CRUISE CONTROL SET AT 65 MPH, DISENGAGING IT AS I APPROACHED THE INTERCHANGE THAT SLOWS TO 35 MPH DUE TO THE CURVE. I WAS COASTING WHEN THE CAR SUDDENLY BRAKE, INTERNAL WARNING LIGHT FLASHING, ALARM BEEPING AND SEAT BELT LOCKED UP. I WAS ALONE IN THE CAR (THANK GOD) WITH NO CARS BEHIND ME OR IN FRONT OF ME. IT WAS AN EXTREMELY WINDY DAY AND WAS TOLD BY TOYOTA THAT IT IS POSSIBLE SOMETHING BLEW IN FRONT OF THE SENSOR. THAT IN ITSELF IS ANOTHER SAFETY ISSUE. CAN I NOT DRIVE MY CAR ON A WINDY, RAINY OR SNOWY DAY, IN FEAR OF THE PRE COLLISION SYSTEM MISINTERPRETING WHAT IS IN FRONT OF THE SENSOR? I IMMEDIATELY TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP ONLY TO BE TOLD TODAY THAT THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG AND THAT I AM MORE THAN WELCOME TO TAKE A DRIVE WITH THEIR TECHNICIAN TO SEE IF I CAN REPLICATE WHAT HAD OCCURRED. I INQUIRED IF THE EDR HAD RECORDED THE EVENT AND THEY TOLD ME NO. IS THERE SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE EDR? SHOULDN'T IT HAVE RECORDED SOMETHING LIKE THAT? I CAN'T UNDERSTAND WHY THE PRE-COLLISION SYSTEM (PCS) WOULD ACT AS IF IT WERE TRYING TO PREPARE FOR IMPACT IF THERE WAS NOTHING IF FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. I COULD HAVE BEEN REAR ENDED OR LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

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NEITHER MY WIFE NOR I CAN HEAR THE DIRECTIONAL SIGNAL INDICATOR (THE CLICKING) WHEN THE SIGNAL INDICATES A LEFT OR RIGHT TURN WHEN THE CAR IS MOVING. THUS, WE DON'T TURN OFF THE INDICATOR WHEN WE FINISH TURNING. THEREFORE, WE ARE VERY OFTEN DRIVING WITH OUR DIRECTIONAL SIGNALS INDICATING A TURN WHEN WE HAVE NO INTENTION OF TURNING. WE CALLED THE LOCAL TOYOTA SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND THEY TOLD US THAT THEY ARE UNABLE TO AUGMENT THE SOUND SO THAT IT IS AUDIBLE. WE BELIEVE THAT THIS CONDITION OF THE PRIUS IS HAZARDOUS AND TOYOTA SHOULD ISSUE A RECALL AND FIX IT. *TR

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TOYOTA PRIUS EMITS A LOUD AND DISTRACTING BEEPING TONE INSIDE THE CABIN WHEN PLACED IN REVERSE. THE TONE IS SO LOUD THAT A DRIVER MAY NOT HEAR SHOUTS, A HORN, OR OTHER EXTERIOR NOISE INDICATING A HAZARD WHILE REVERSING. TOYOTA DEALERSHIPS CHARGE HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS TO TURN OFF THE INTERIOR BEEPING, DESPITE THE EVIDENT SAFETY HAZARD IS POSES. *TR

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AFTER BUYING A NEW 2013 TOYOTA PRIUS I NOTICED THAT THE DRIVERS HEADREST WOULD WORK ITS WAY UP TO THE HIGHEST POSITION AT ANY SPEED, NOT JUST THE SPEED LISTED AT THE TIME OF INCIDENT. MAKING THE A POTENTIALLY FATAL DESIGN FLAW, I AM CONCERNED THAT IN A FRONT OR REAR END COLLISION THIS DEFECT COULD EITHER SNAP, BREAK OR INCREASE THE POSSIBILITY OF EXCESSIVE INJURY TO MY NECK. I TOOK THE CAR BACK THE DEALER SHIP AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THAT COULD BE DONE ABOUT IT. THE SERVICE MANAGER ([XXX]) IT WAS A DESIGN FLAW. I HAVE OWNED A 2008 PRIUS WITH NO PROBLEM, MY WIFE'S 2010 PRIUS HAS NO SUCH PROBLEM EITHER. I AM WANTING THIS DOCUMENTED SO THAT IF I AM INVOLVED WITH THE ABOVE MENTIONED ACCIDENT TYPE THAT SOMETHING MAY BE DONE ABOUT THIS. I AM CONSTANTLY HAVING TO RELEASE THE LOCKING LATCH AND PUSH THE HEADREST BACK DOWN. THIS OCCURS ON AVERAGE 5 TO 10 TIMES IN AN HOUR DRIVE OR LESS. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

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PURCHASED 2013 TOYOTA PRIUS NEW, WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT THERE IS A GHOST OR PRISM EFFECT THROUGH THE FRONT WINDSHIELD. THIS IS ESPECIALLY NOTICEABLE WITH THE HEADLIGHTS OF OTHER VEHICLES, THEY ARE DOUBLED OR TRIPLED STACKED ON TOP OF THE ONE HEADLIGHT. ALSO VERY NOTICEABLE WITH ONCOMING TRAFFIC HEADLIGHTS AND TAIL LIGHTS. TRAFFIC SIGNALS, ESPECIALLY THE RED STOP LIGHT AND THE GREEN GO LIGHT, THERE WILL BE ONE LIGHT WITH A GHOST IMAGE ABOVE AND BELOW. THIS IS VERY DISTRACTING, CREATES HAZARDOUS CONDITIONS WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AND MAKES IT HARD TO ESTIMATE DISTANCES AND AFTER A PERIOD OF TIME (5-10 MINUTES) BECOMES A STRAIN ON THE EYES. *TR

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THIS PRIUS HAS FOGGINESS IN THE WINDSHIELD WHICH APPEARS TO BE A DEFECT CAUSED DURING THE TEMPERING PROCESS OF THE GLASS. *TR

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PARK, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY AND CRASHED INTO A WOODEN STAIRCASE. THE CONTACT THEN SHIFTED INTO REVERSE AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY IN REVERSE, COMING TO A STOP IN THE STREET. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. AN ENGINEER WAS DISPATCHED TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE. THE RESULTS WERE MAILED TO THE CONTACT, STATING THAT THERE WAS NO CAUSE FOR THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 899.

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I WOULD LIKE TO REGISTER A MAJOR COMPLAINT ABOUT THE DESIGN OF THE HEADREST. IT PUSHES MY HEAD FORWARD AT SUCH AN ANGLE THAT IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO SIT COMFORTABLY IN THE SEAT. IN ORDER TO HOLD MY HEAD UP STRAIGHT I MUST TILT THE SEAT BACK BEYOND WHAT IS SAFE OR DESIRABLE FOR DRIVING AND EVEN THAT IS NOT COMPLETELY SATISFACTORY FOR THE ANGLE OF MY HEAD. PLEASE REQUIRE CAR MANUFACTURERS TO PROVIDE ADJUSTABLE OR ALTERNATIVE HEADRESTS WHICH CAN ACCOMMODATE DIFFERENT DRIVERS MORE SAFELY. IF NTSB IS REQUIRING THE CURRENT DESIGN, THEY'VE MADE A BIG MISTAKE. *TR

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