What 233 owners told NHTSA about the 2014 Toyota Prius Phev

the cylinder head gasket blew because of the poor design of the intake manifold and the EGR system. There are updated parts to fix this issue, but there was no recall. This poor design led to the vehicle having "the Death Knock." It started doing this knock on my trip driving my daughter to college. The engine could have seized in traffic on the way to [XXX] from [XXX] . No warning lights came on telling me there was an issue. The vehicle is being taken apart now to see if my connecting rods were bent from the coolant entering the combustion chamber. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ODI 11724395

Head gasket failure. No check, engine, light or warning. My car was very well maintained regularly. After research, I found this to be a very common problem. Yes it is available for inspection. Upon request. The problem was confirmed by chemical test, ignition vapors going into engine coolant. Other symptoms were misfiring on cylinder two and cylinder four. Severe engine knocking.

NHTSA ODI 11721338

misfire code along with rough starts/light load. T-SB-0116-15

NHTSA ODI 11706254

2014 Toyota Prius: While driving at high speed the engine stalled unexpectedly, steering and braking were not effected. Was able to safely coast to a stop in the breakdown lane and after a few minutes, restart the engine and proceed driving. Another event occurred on the entrance ramp onto an interstate highway. I was able to pull over safely and the car restarted after a short delay. This seems to be a very dangerous condition. Toyota dealer service said they could not determine the cause and they know of no recall. I found online a reference to NHTSA Recall # 20V369000 that referred to "unexpected hybrid power system shut down." That is what happened to me.

NHTSA ODI 11589472

The contact owns a 2014 Toyota Prius C. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost motive power. The contact was able to move the vehicle to the shoulder of the roadway safely. The contact stated that before losing motive power, an unknown warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact stated that the failure had recurred. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 73,211.

NHTSA ODI 11528077

The car has oil consumption and over heat the try to fix it but no no one can d it so far

NHTSA ODI 11504237

The air temperature was probably about 50 or 60 F. On a route I routinely drive , I accelerated up hill normally from 0mph to about 45 to 55 mph. I did not accelerate aggressively. Just after climbing the short hill, The engine suddenly loses all power. I had to pull over. I look under the engine to find five pieces of metal blown out of the bottom of the engine block above the oil pan and oil spilling out onto the ground. The car has about 98,000 miles on it and was maintenance regularly including on schedule oil changes, coolant change, state inspections. There were no check engine lights or electronic error codes to indicate anything was wrong with the vehicle which I would have been able to diagnose and possibly fix. The car had been maintenanced in August/September for winter by myself. On the last maintenance, oil was discovered inside the engine air manifold and throttle body that had to be cleaned out and (The EGR was also moderately carbon clogged). I'm very dissatisfied with how Toyota handled my case. They called twice to ask when I wanted to schedule my next service appointment when they had the car sitting on their parking lot for three months. I also wrote them a detailed email similar to this report asking how Toyota could help and that I could not afford to buy another car. The engine failed and it can be inspected upon request. The vehicle had complete loss of power. The vehicle was towed to the nearest dealer. I have seen videos on youtube.com that show other people replacing blown prius engines and head gaskets. You would see chunks of metal missing from the engine block. The vehicle was not inspected by the manufacturer police or insurance. I could have been hit by another car from behind especially if the hill were longer like on a mountain side or some other situation. Separate issue: Mice enter the two rear ventilation openings to nest in the car. Mice chewed on of the oxygen sensor wires to cause an electrical fault.

NHTSA ODI 11471272

While driving, I received a warning "hybrid system malfunction". Within seconds, the vehicle powered off and the steering wheel LOCKED. I had no control of the car and came to an abrupt stop in lane 1 of a two lane road. I was fortunate that it was late in the evening with few cars on the road, had I been on the highway during rush hour the outcome, due to loss of power and control (steering), could have been catastrophic and perhaps fatal for me or other commuters. I note that in 2014, Toyota notified NHTSA of a recall to, "rectify software in two of the Prius's electronic control units, one for the motor/generator and the other controlling the hybrid system." Further Toyota said, "In rare circumstances, it could shut down the hybrid system itself, resulting in loss of power and the vehicle coming to a stop". This is exactly what happened to me the other night. Toyota claims, in 2014, that "it has received no reports of accidents or injuries related to the problem." This seems to be an extraordinarily amount of good luck as I could have been easily rear-ended the other night. Curiously, in this NHTSA data base, another owner reported an incident (11439720) on November 8, 2021, that is similar to the experience I had just days prior. And our VINS are eerily close. Coincidence? Not likely. Does the 2014 recall apply to my car and if not, why not given I experienced the exact same symptoms?

NHTSA ODI 11441194

While driving on the interstate yesterday my Prius computer shut down entirely.

NHTSA ODI 11439720

Originally, Toyota issued a safety recall in 2014 to address the inverter defect in model years 2010 to 2014, an attempt to fix the problem on about 800,000 cars in the U.S. by modifying software that controls the hybrid electrical system. It was intended to fix the overheating problems. The inverter controls the power flowing between the battery and electrical motors. The inverter boosts the battery from 200 - 500 volts. They inspected my car saying it was in excellent condition. After, the software upgrade i had major problems. My original Prius battery with around 65,000 miles stopped holding a charge. My 12 volt battery also died shortly after. And my power outlets in my got super hot and spiratually worked off and on. And my driver seat gets hot when i turn on car even though seat button is off. I am sweating all the time. Plus, i have skin conditions and asma. I talked to dimitri, and they tried to charge me 1200for unnecessary repair. Also, failed to call NHTSA as promised

NHTSA ODI 11426958

I TURNED ON MY VEHICLE AND WHEN I SWITCHED GEARS, FROM PARK TO DRIVE, IT DID NOT REGISTER THAT IT WAS IN DRIVE. WHEN I TRIED TO DRIVE AWAY, THERE WAS NO ACCELERATION AND LACK OF POWER. MY BATTERY WAS OPERATING AT ALMOST MAX CAPACITY.

NHTSA ODI 11310098

CAR IS BURNING OIL INTERNALLY. OIL IS BURNING UP IN 4 WEEK S TUME

NHTSA ODI 11291370

CITY STREET ...PRESSED ON GAS AFTER THE LIGHT CHANGED AND IT DID NOT GO FORWARD AND THEN WAIVERED FOR AWHILE. I WAS VERY CLOSE TO HOME. I DO NOT KNOW HOW IT WILL WORK TOMORROW . NO WARNING LIGHTS WERE ON. IT HAS ACTED FUNNY BEFORE LIKE THIS ON HIGHWAY TRIPS AND THEN IT WOULDN'T DO IT. TOYOTA DEALERS DO NOT EVEN KNOW ABOUT THEM AND IT IS ANNOYING. IT FEELS LIKE A TRANSMISSION SLIPPING BUT HAS LESS THAN 70,000 MILES. I THOUGHT MAYBE HEAT IS DOING IT BUT NOW THAT IT IS OUT OF WARRANTY IE OVER 5 YEARS OLD, I DO NOT KNOW WHAT TO DO. I AM UNSURE WHAT CAUSES THIS SINCE NO LIGHTS WARN ANYTHING IS WRONG.

NHTSA ODI 11240225

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED ON THE ROAD. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO VEER TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS LATER TOWED TO WHITE RIVER TOYOTA (303 SYKES MOUNTAIN AVE, WHITE RIVER JUNCTION, VT 05001, (802) 299-2800) TO BE DIAGNOSED, BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE MECHANIC ALSO STATED THAT IF THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE, THEN THERE WAS NO FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND PROVIDED A CASE NUMBER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 63,000.

NHTSA ODI 11235086

I WAS DRIVING SUDDENLY I STARTED TO LOSE POWER WITHIN FEW SECOND THE CAR STALLED AND GOT AN HYBRID ERROR AND THE CAR WENT IN SAFE MODE THE CAR DOESN'T GO IN D ONLY N OR P, ALSO THE DASHBOARD LIGHTING GOES ON AND OFF AND SMOKING SO I TOWED THE CAR TO LARRY H MILLER TOYOTA CORONA CA, THE MANAGE DUSTIN SAID THIS IS RECALL ISSUE AND WE NEED TO UPDATE THE SOFTWARE TWO DAYS LATER THE SERVICE AGENT MRS LORENA SAID WE FOUND COOLANT IN THE OIL AND OUR SERVICE TECH THINKS I HAVE BLOWN HEAD GASKET BUT TALKING WITH TOYOTA MANUFACTURER IS COVERED AND I CAN GET RENTAL CAR TOO BUT I NEED TO AUTHORISE $2040 YEAR DOWN BECAUSE TOYOTA WANTS TO KNOW WHAT CAUSE THE HEAD GASKET TO FAILED BUT MRS LORENA ASSURED ME 'I 100% COVERED AND I WILL NOT HAVE TO PAY' SO I AGREED TWO DAYS LATER DUSTIN THE SERVICE MANAGER CALLED AND SAID I NEED TO COME TO DEALER SHOP HE WANTS TO SHOW ME SOMETHING SO I HAD TO CALL THE BASE (AIR FORCE) AND GET HALF DAY OFF WHEN I GOT THERE MY CAR WAS DISASSEMBLED EXCEPT I COULD SEE THE PISTONS AND THE BLOCK TOYOTA TECH HAD RULERS AND FILLERS GAGE AND SHOWING ME THAT MY BLOCK IS WARPED ABOUT 0.008 INCH AND I NEED A NEW ENGINE AROUND $11,000 OR USED ABOUT $8,200 OR I CAN TAKE MY CAR AS IS WITHOUT PAYING ANYTHING I TOLD I CANNOT AFFORDS IT SO I TOWED THE CAR HOME, PRIOR TO BECOMING AN ENGINEER I WAS MACHINEST SO I SENT THE HEAD TO MACHINE SHOP FOR EXAMINATION THE CYLINDER HEAD WAS FLAT AND HAS NO CRACK OR SIGN OF FAILURE AND MADE OF ALUMINIUM IF THE BLOCK IS WARPED THE HEAD SHOULD BE WARPED TOO AND THE TECH MEASUREMENTS WAS INCORRECT BECAUSE AFTER CLEANING THE BLOCK SURFACE FROM GASKET DEBRIS WAS FLAT TOO SO I CALLED THE DEALER ABOUT MY FINDING I WAS TOLD DUSTIN IS IN VACATION AND COMING BACK ON 2/12/2019 TODAY IS 2/14/2019 AND HE IS NOT RETURNING MY CALL I TOOK THE CAR RUNNING BUT DOESN'T GO TO DRIVE FOR RECALL NOW I HAVE DISASSEMBLED CAR. THIS IS 2ND TIME HYBRID ISSUES.

NHTSA ODI 11180019

DEALER MECHANICS AT TOYOTA BERKELEY, TOYOTA VALLEJO AND CITY IN DALY CITY ALL HAVE STATED THAT THE CRACK IN MY OIL TANK IS A 'WELL KNOWN' MANUFACTURER DEFECT. THE MECHANICS STATE WHEN BUILDING THAT PART, A MACHINE CLAMPED THE 2 PARTS TOGETHER. BUT THE MACHINE DOESN'T WIPE IT DOWN BEFOREHAND AND ANY OIL WILL KEEP THE 2 PIECES SEPARATED, WHICH EVENTUALLY FORM A CRACK. WHEN THE OIL IS LEFT UNCHANGED FOR A PERIOD OF TIME THE CRACK GETS BIGGER, THE OIL LEAKS AND EVENTUALLY DOESN'T WORK. I WAS TOLD IF I KEEP UP WITH MY REGULAR OIL CHANGES, IT SHOULD WORK. BUT I GET ANXIETY NOW EVERY TIME THAT MAINTENANCE LIGHT GOES ON AND I FEEL LIKE I HAVE TO CHANGE THE OIL IMMEDIATELY OR ELSE.

NHTSA ODI 11176429

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 TOYOTA PRIUS C. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE MANAGED TO RESTART AFTER A FEW ATTEMPTS AND THE FAILURE WAS CORRECTED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE HOME. A DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 49,000. *DT CONSUMER STATED DEALER RAN COMPLETE DIAGNOSTICS AND FOUND NO FAULTS LOGGED. CONSUMER WILL REPLACE INVERTER. *JB

NHTSA ODI 11154525

I WAS GOING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AT ABOUT 70 MPH WHEN ALL THE SUDDEN THE PRIUS LOST POWER. THE PRIUS DROPPED DOWN TO ABOUT 55 MPH. AFTER A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME THE POWER PICKED UP. I GOT OFF THE HIGHWAY AND TOOK THE BACK ROADS. IT WAS A VERY HOT DAY.

NHTSA ODI 11151409

I ACTUALLY WOULD LIKE TO FILE A CONCERN REGARDING THE 2010 - 2014 INVERTER/COMPONENT FAILURES. THIS PROBLEM WAS BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION BY MY DEALER INDICATING THAT THE MOTOR/GENERATOR ECU COULD RESET, CAUSING THE HYBRID SYSTEM TO SHUT DOWN, RESULTING IN MY VEHICLE STOPPING WHILE BEING DRIVEN AND SUBJECTING ME OR WHOM EVER IS DRIVING AT RISK OF A CRASH. I CALLED TOYOTA CUSTOMER SERVICE AND SHOW LITTLE CONCERN FOR THIS POTENTIAL PROBLEM BUT JUST TOLD ME THAT I SHOULD VERIFY WITH MY DEALER THAT THE EOE-PRIUS RECALL TO REFRESH SOFTWARE IN THE INVERTER WAS PERFORMED. IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT IT WAS PERFORMED ON MY CAR ON 2/14/14 AT SAN FRANCISCO TOYOTA AND THAT THEY TENDED THE WARRANTY FOR 15 YEARS, UNLIMITED MILEAGE. MY DEALER TOLD ME THAT SOME VEHICLES THAT HAVE HAD THE EOE-PRIUS RECALL HAVE STILL SUFFERED INVERTER FAILURE. IS TOYOTA GOING TO WAIT FOR SOMEONE TO DIE, BEFORE THEY WILL CORRECT THIS PROBLEM. A VERY CONCERNED PIRUS OWNER! IM JUST WONDERING IF I SHOULD SELL MY PIRUS BEFORE IT (TOYOTA) KILLS ME OR SOMEONE I LOVE.

NHTSA ODI 11090167

I WAS DRIVING IN SAN FRANCISCO I HAD THREE PASSENGER WITH ME IN THE CAR AND WHEN I WAS GOING UP TO THE HILL THE CAR POWER STARTS GETTING WEAKER AND I WAS HEARING THAT CARES IN THE CAR I DON'T WANT TO GO UP THE HILL NOW I'M LIKE IT'S KEEPS GOING WEAKER AND WEAKER AND WEAKER AND ALL THE SUDDEN THE CAR STARTED ROLLING BACK ON ME I THINK THE CANNOT TAKE MORE THAN FOUR PEOPLE IN THE CAR AND I THINK YOU CANNOT DRIVE THE SCORE IN SAN FRANCISCO AND THIS HAPPENED TO ME TWICE AND THE FIRST TIME I HAD AN ACCIDENT AT THE CORNER BEHIND ME BECAUSE THE CAR COULDN'T GO UP THE HILL AND IT'S NOT EVEN BIG HILL IS A SMALL HILL IT'S ALL OVER SAN FRANCISCO THOSE HILLS.

NHTSA ODI 10970913

RODENTS CHEWED THROUGH MAJORITY OF THE WIRING UNDER THE HOOD AND BUILD NESTS IN THE ENGINE. THIS HAS HAPPENED TWICE AND I HAVE ONLY OWNED THE CAR FOR 5 MONTHS AND COST ME A LOT OF MONEY FOR REPAIRS WHICH TOYOTA WILL NOT COVER AND SAID IT IS NOT THEIR RESPONSIBILITY FOR USING THESE SOY BASED WIRES THAT ATTRACTS RODENTS.

NHTSA ODI 10948489

HEADLIGHTS AND CABIN LIGHTS FAILED TO TURN OFF WHEN REMOTE LOCK WAS ACTIVATED. LIGHTS WERE THEN TURNED OFF MANUALLY. FIVE HOURS LATER, IN THE PARKING LOT, THE CAR WAS NEARLY COMPLETELY DEAD. LAST TIME IT HAPPENED, WE LEFT IT AND IT RECHARGED ITSELF. THIS TIME, IT DID NOT RECHARGE ITSELF; IT WAS COMPLETELY DEAD THE NEXT DAY. WE HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP, WHO "JUMPED" IT AND LET IT SIT OVERNIGHT. THEY SAY IT NOW HAS NO PROBLEM.

NHTSA ODI 10884290

WITHIN THE LAST SIX MONTHS, AND ABOUT FOUR TIMES, I HAD EXPERIENCED ROUGH/HIGH IDLING DURING HOT DAYS AND AFTER DRIVING OVER 80 MILES; USING AIR CONDITIONING. (I WORK OVER 70 MILES FROM HOME.) I DECIDED TO TAKE THE CAR TO THE TOYOTA OF REDLANDS DEALERSHIP ON AUGUST 4, 2015, BECAUSE THE CAR WAS DISPLAYING THE SAME CONDITIONS. WHILE ON THE WAY TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND ON THE FREEWAY, THE CAR BEGAN TO IDLE HEAVILY. I MERGED TO EXIT THE FREEWAY AND WHILE ON THE OFF RAMP, STOPPED, THE CAR COMPLETELY SHUT OFF. THE DISPLAY READ "CHECK HYBRID ENGINE. STOP PARK THE CAR SAFELY." I WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE TO MOVE FROM OFF-RAMP TRAFFIC AND PARK IT. THE MESSAGE ON DISPLAY WAS STILL THERE. I SHUT OFF THE CAR AND CALLED THE DEALERSHIP. THEY RECOMMENDED I HAVE THE CAR TOWED TO THEM. WHEN TOW TRUCK ARRIVED, I TURNED ON THE CAR TO POSITION IT FOR THE TOWING BED. THE MESSAGE NO LONGER DISPLAYED . THE CAR STAYED WITH DEALERSHIP ALL DAY ON AUGUST 5, 2015. ACCORDING TO THE DEALERSHIP, THE DISPLAY SHOWED NO MESSAGE AND THERE IS NO CODE TO INDICATE A MALFUNCTION OCCURRED. THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. I AM KEEPING THE VEHICLE AT THE DEALERSHIP ON AUGUST 6, 2015, FOR FURTHER EVALUATION. MY CONCERN IS TWO-FOLD: 1. MY SAFETY, 2. IF THE SYSTEM DISPLAYED A MESSAGE, WHY DOES THE SYSTEM NOT PRODUCE A CODE FOR THE TECHNICIANS AS A NON-HYBRID CAR WOULD? THIS ITSELF PRESENTS A SERIOUS ISSUE.

NHTSA ODI 10746625

WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS A SERIES OF YELLOW TRIANGLES SUDDENLY FLASHED ON THE DASHBOARD ALONG WITH SOME BEEPS. THE ENGINE THEN STALLED AND THE GAS PEDAL NO LONGER RESPONDED TO ANY INPUTS. DUE TO A COMBINATION OF SHEER LUCK AND DRIVER PRESENCE OF MIND THE CAR WAS STEERED TO THE SHOULDER OF THE HIGHWAY WHERE IT CAME TO A HALT. THE EXPERIENCE OF TRYING TO CONTROL A CAR WITH A STALLED ENGINE AND SAFELY STEER IT TO THE SHOULDER IN HEAVY TRAFFIC WAS TERRIFYING TO SAY THE LEAST. THE CAR WAS TAKEN STRAIGHT TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS LEFT FOR SERVICE. AFTER DIAGNOSIS A COUPLE OF DAYS LATER THE DEALER CALLED BACK AND SAID THAT THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE HAD FAILED WHICH IS WHY THE ENGINE HAD STALLED. THE CAR IS STILL WITH THE DEALER SINCE THE PART IS NOT AVAILABLE AND NEEDS TO BE SHIPPED FROM TOYOTA. THE DEALER CLAIMED THAT THIS WAS SUCH A RARE OCCURRENCE THAT THEY DID NOT HAVE THE PARTS AVAILABLE. THEY ALSO CLAIMED THAT THEY DID NOT KNOW ANYONE ELSE FOR WHOM THIS HAD HAPPENED. MAYBE SO BUT THIS WAS AN INCIDENT THAT COULD HAVE BEEN FATAL. THE FACT THAT NOBODY GOT KILLED IS JUST PLAIN LUCK. *JS

NHTSA ODI 10579397