This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.
So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.
The latch handle on the hatchback has "melted" for lack of a better word. The handle has become gooey and leaves a black residue on my fingers every time I open the hatchback. Because of this problem, the handle is harder to use, making it more trying to open the trunk.
Some months ago the driver's door lock stopped working. I ended up using the key to open the door for a couple of months, since Toyota dealer quoted me $500 to correct the problem. After a couple of months, I decided to pay and the issue was fixed. To my surprise, the front passenger door lock is going bad now. When I try to unlock it from within the car, using the "unlock doors" button, it will work every 3rd time or so. Clearly a bigger issue, not isolated to my individual vehicle. I only have 70000 miles and always serviced my vehicle at the Toyota dealers. I would like Toyota to pay to fix my lock and reimburse me for the actuator I already paid to replace.
The contact owns a 2008 Toyota Prius. The contact stated that with the vehicle parked, the interior doors locked independently and would not unlock when using the electronic key fob. The key-less ignition was off however, the air conditioner and radio were activated during the malfunction. There was an occupant in the vehicle who was unable to engage the power lock switch. The fire department was called to the scene to unlock the doors. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer and was not diagnosed. The manufacturer was not notified of the problem. The approximate failure mileage was 50,000.
The contact owns a 2008 Toyota Prius. The contact stated that the vehicle was parked and the rear driver's door could not be opened from the interior. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer where the contact was informed that the child safety lock on the door was engaged. The dealer disengaged the child safety lock, but the failure recurred on an intermittent basis. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown. The VIN was unavailable.
- Seal Beach, CA, USA
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In early 2010 (estimate), the rear driver side door lock of our 2008 Toyota Prius would not unlock with key faub or driver side door lock/unlock button. I took vehicle into poway Toyota (poway, ca) and they stated door lock actuator failed, which they replaced at my cost. By the summer of 2010 (estimate), the other three door locks have failed. I must use the key to open the front driver's door and reach over to open the passenger side doors while passengers wait outside the vehicle. It is not safe for passengers to wait to enter vehicle. To have all four door locks fail within three years of the car construction, indicates to me there could be a defect with this part of the Toyota Prius. I request you investigate this matter.
Rear hatchback locking/unlocking button gummy and inability to unlock truck manually and electrically. Unable to access trunk where emergency/safety equipment located.
My 2008 Prius trunk handle has melted. It is now difficult to open, and is extremely messy. This started in May 2011, just outside the warranty period of the car.
There were no distinguishing events that led up to the total failure of my 2008 Toyota Prius driver side headlight and door lock assembly (front). They both no longer worked within a 1 day period and required replacement. Noticing 2 or more other vehicles of the same make and model there for light replacement caused me to inquire what caused their light malfunctions. In the matter of minutes of my calling in, roughly an hour into the dealerships opening, I was told the lights were available, by the time arrived, within 5 minutes, enough autos had arrived also with the "hid" headlamps out that the dealerships entire stock of lights had been used up, and required my having to return after another shipment of lights were received, as well. I did not request the old part.
Today, I went to work driving my Prius (2008 with 11000 miles) without any dash board lights. The dashboard under the windshield is a reflective type with a whole array of operating indicating lights across to the passengers side. Only the airbag indicator light worked for the passenger side. The cruise control did not work. I tried various power on/off brake on/off combinations to get the dashboard lights working. I pressed the power button with or without the brakes engaged during startup. The engine still ran and the headlights, turn indicators, brake lights, radio and fuel consumption gauge worked. I had no idea of my driving speed other than what other car speed around me were doing. I had to drive under the risk of braking the law as well as the distracting no lighting. Then a worse problem developed. I could not turn the shut car off and I could not lock it after I got out. It gave me the usual beep that it was still running. I tried pressing the power button numerous times. I tried locking the car with the mechanical key and it electronically kept opening. I tried various combinations of braking while sitting, walking a greater distance from the car, using the emergency brake and slamming on the dashboard hoping it was a loose wire. Nothing worked. The car is sitting in the parking lot right now still running without a key. I could not lock it. As I walked away, I pressed the electronic key numerous times. The little red light indicated it was working. What else can I do. L was late for work and I start at 6 am. The dealer, (Toyota heartland of bremerton), doesn't open until 7:00 am and its 6:25 am. I manually turned off the display and radio so the minimum amount of lighting was showing. As far as I know, the car is still in the parking lot running and easy to steal. The engine would not power down nor would the car lock. The dashboard (below the windshield) not lighting was same problem I had a couple of months ago.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Los Angeles, CA, USA