2014 TOYOTA PRIUS Complaints

I FREQUENTLY GET A MUSTY SMELL OUT OF MY VENTS THAT I HAVE NOTICED FROM TIME OF TAKING OWNERSHIP. I WAS TOLD AT THAT TIME TOYOTA WAS AWARE OF IT AND THE SOLUTION WAS TO TAKE THE SYSTEM OUT OF RECIRCULATE A FEW MILES FROM HOME ALLOWING OUTSIDE FRESHER AIR IN TO REMOVE THE APPARENT MOISTURE BUILDUP. I TRIED TO LEAVE THE SYSTEM IN THE FRESH AIR MODE MOST OF THE TIME, BUT STILL EXPERIENCE THIS SMELL/ODOR. AT MY 10K SERVICE I BROUGHT THIS UP AGAIN AND WAS OFFERED A 'GOODWILL' SYSTEM CLEANING AND A CHARCOAL FILTER. THE MECHANIC PERFORMED THE PROCEDURE (ALTHOUGH I AM NOT SURE IF IT WAS FOR THE RECOMMENDED TIME FRAME, DASH-CAM INSIDE VEHICLE CAUGHT THE WHOLE 10K SERVICE) THE SMELL IS STILL THERE AND SOMETIMES EVEN OVERWHELMINGLY BAD.

WE WERE IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC ON THE HIGHWAY FOR JUST OVER A HALF HOUR WITH MY TWO YOUNG CHILDREN IN THE CAR. SPEEDS BELOW 10 MILES PER HOUR. AT THE TIME OF INCIDENT, WE WERE TRAVELING BETWEEN 5-7 MPH. TRIED COMING TO A STOP WITH ABOUT 10 FEET BETWEEN OUR CAR AND A BIG RIG IN FRONT. THE BRAKES WOULDN'T EGANGE. REPEATEDLY STOMPED ON THE BRAKE PEDAL BETWEEN 5 TO 10 TIMES. CAR BREAK WOULD NOT ENGAGE AND WE ROLLED INTO BIG RIG BUMPER. THIS GAVE US A CHANCE TO POWER DOWN THE CAR WITH THE PUSH/START BUTTON.

I WAS IN A PARKING LOT AND PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE. THEN I HEARD A "BOOM" AND I THOUGHT THAT I BACKED INTO SOMETHING, SO I QUICKLY PUT THE CAR INTO DRIVE. I THEN FELT THE CAR EXCELERATING FAST AND I WAS PUSHING THE BRAKE AS HARD AS I COULD AND COULD NOT STOP THE CAR FROM MOVING FORWARD. THE CAR PROCEEDED TO EXCELLERATE AND WHEN OVER A CURB UP ONTO PAVEMENT AND THROUGH A METAL FENCE AND BENT A 5 INCH ROUND METAL FENCING DOWN TO THE GROUND AND THE CAR KEPT GOING ANOTHER 30 FEET TILL IT FINALLY STOPPED. YOU CAN SEE THE SKID MARKS IN THE THE PARKING LOT.

I PULLED MY 2014 TOYOTA PRIUS SLOWLY OUT OF A PARKING SLOT IN A SMALL PARKING LOT TURNING IT THE DIRECTION I WANTED TO GO ON A VERY SLIGHT SLANT DOWNHILL. BEFORE I COULD PUT IT IN DRIVE FROM REVERSE IT STARTED ROLLING DOWNWARD ON ITS OWN. WHEN I WENT TO APPLY THE BRAKES, THEY WERE SQUISHY AND DID NOT ENGAGE. I TRIED SEVERAL TIMES TO GET THEM TO ENGAGE BUT THEY NEVER DID. I WENT TO PUT THE EMERGENCY BRAKE ON BUT IT IS LOCATED SO HIGH UP IT WAS DIFFICULT TO GET MY FOOT UP THERE QUICKLY. MEANWHILE THERE WAS A TRUCK PARKED ACROSS THE END OF THE PARKING LOT LANE SO MY CAR ROLLED INTO THE TRUCK CREATING DENTS IN THE FRONT DOOR PANEL AND REAR DOOR PANEL. THIS WAS OBVIOUS BRAKE FAILURE. I WENT TO THE LOCAL TOYOTA REPAIR AND DEALERSHIP AND SPOKE WITH A SHOP EMPLOYEE. HE TOLD ME THAT THIS CAN ACTUALLY HAPPEN WHERE YOU CAN BACK A CAR UP AND TURN IT AND IT WILL GO ON ITS OWN (BUT IT SEEMS HE IMPLIED THAT THE "READY" LIGHT MIGHT NOT HAVE ENGAGED) AND THAT HE "HAD SEEN IT HAPPEN HIMSELF". IF THE TRUCK HAD NOT BEEN THERE, MY CAR WOULD HAVE ROLLED DIRECTLY OUT INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC ON THE MAIN THOROUGHFARE THROUGH TOWN WHICH HAD THE HUGE POTENTIAL OF CAUSING A MAJOR ACCIDENT WITH INJURIES. I DID TRY TO RECREATE THE EVENT IN A NONPOPULATED AREA IN A VERY SAFE MANNER AND WAS UNABLE TO DO SO. THAT EVEN SCARES ME MORE!!! AS YOU HAVE NO IDEA IF IT CAN OR WILL HAPPEN AGAIN. I SPENT $20,000 PLUS FOR A NEW CAR THAT I AM ALWAYS HYPER-CAUTIOUS IN BECAUSE NO ONE WILL FESS UP TO PROBLEMS. IF I SELL THE CAR IT WILL BE AT A GREAT LOSS WHICH I CANNOT AFFORD! IN THE INTERNET I NOTE THAT THERE WERE SIMILAR PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKES, ESPECIALLY AROUND 2007 - MANY WERE DOCUMENTED BUT TOYOTA WAS NEVER TAKEN TO TASK RE: THESE CONSUMER COMPLAINTS AS I SUPPOSE THE CONSUMERS JUST COULDN'T "PROVE" THEM. AS USUAL MONEY TRUMPS HUMAN LIVES AND SAFETY. TOYOTA SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF THEMSELVES. *TR

WE FLEW TO SEA TAC (SEATTLE WA ) AIRPORT FROM SLC UT. WE PLANNED ON ATTENDING A FAMILY GATHERING AND RENTED A CAR FROM HERTZ. WE HAVE OWNED A 2006 PRIUS AND ASKED IF THEY MIGHT HAVE A NEW MODEL TO RENT FOR COMPARISON ON OUR PART, WHICH THEY DID, HOWEVER IT TURNED OUT TO BE A PRIUS C, WHICH WAS NOT AT ALL LIKE OUR PRIUS. THE TRAFFIC ON THE FREEWAY WAS STOP AND GO SLOW ON A MULTI LANE FREEWAY AND WERE ON AN INNER LANE. ( I - 405 NORTH BOUND ) AS I ROLLED UP TO WHAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN A STOPPING SITUATION THE TRAFFIC STARTED TO MOVE FORWARD, AND AS I STEPPED ON THE PEDAL TO MOVE FORWARD, I NOTICED THAT NOTHING WAS HAPPENING AND THE CAR SOON CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE CAR WAS ABSENT AND VISIBLE POWER, NO VISUAL INFORMATION ON THE MPH SCREEN, THE EMERGENCY LIGHT WOULD NOT WORK, I WAS NERVOUS AND SCARED AND EVERYTHING HAD GONE DARK, I DID NOT WHAT TO DO, I TRIED TO MOVE THE KEY POSITION THE CARS BEHIND ME STARTED TO HONK, AND THEY WERE ALSO TRYING TO GET AROUND ME, JUST AS I WAS STARTING TO CALL 911 FOR SOME HELP THE CAR POWERED BACK UP WITH A MESSAGE TO PUT THE CAR IN PARK AND START THE MOTOR I MOVED OUT OF THE SITUATION AND GOT OFF THE FREEWAY AND TOOK BACKROADS TO REACH THE MOTEL, WITH THE INTENT TO NEVER DRIVE THIS CAR AGAIN, THE NEXT AM I CALLED HERTZ AND THEY MADE ARRANGEMENTS TO TRADE THE CAR OUT AT OUR MOTEL, WHICH THEY DID. THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER INDICATED THAT THE PROBLEM ON THIS SPECIFIC CAR WAS CAUSED BY ITS SOFTWARE AND HE WAS AWARE OF OTHER DRIVERS FACING THE SAME SITUATION, BUT I SHOULD COUNT MY BLESSING THAT I WAS NOT INVOLVED IN A MAJOR ACCIDENT I DO NOT THINK THIS CAR SHOULD EVER BE ALLOWED ON OUR ROADS JUST BASED ON THIS EXPERIENCE. FOR YOUR REVIEW AND VALIDATION - HERTZ RENTAL RECORD [XXX] LIC [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

AFTER ABOUT 6 MONTHS A/C AND CABIN FAN SYSTEM SMELLED MOLDY, MILDEWY AND VERY MUSTY. TOYOTA SERVICE DEPT SAID ALL NEW MODELS HAVE THE PROBLEM (!) AND TOLD ME TO JUST TRY TO RUN THE FAN WITHOUT A/C. PROBLEM DID NOT GO AWAY! AT MY 12 MONTH CHECK, I REPORTED AIR QUALITY MOLDLY/MILDEW PERSISTS, AND SERVICE REP REPORTED THAT ALL NEW 2014 MODELS DO HAVE THE MOLDY/MILDEW CABIN AIR QUALITY PROBLEM AND TOLD ME TO ALWAYS RUN THE A/C AND FAN SYSTEM WITH "OUTSIDE AIR" COMING IN TOTRY TO CLEAN IT OUT. PROBLEM DID NOT GO AWAY. I LOOKED ONLINE AT "TOYOTANATION.COM" FORUM AND NOTE THAT LONG TERM TOYOTA OWNERS, WHO NOW HAVE NEW 2014 MODELS, ARE EXPERIENCING THE PROBLEM FOR THE 1ST TIME! MUSTY/MILDEWY/ MOLDY CABIN AIR IS DEFINITELY A HEALTH HAZARD, AND TOYOTA SHOULD FIX IT OR AT LEAST OFFER ROUTINE A/C AND AIR SYSTEM FLUSHING SERVICE. INSTEAD TOYOTA SERVICE DEPTS NOW HAVE A CHARGE OF $175 TO FLUSH THE VERY BAD AIR QUALITY IN THE NEW 2014 SYSTEMS THAT THEY CREATED! ONE PERSON SAID HE FILED A COMPLAINT WITH NHTSA. I TRIED THE SAME THING WITH AN EMAIL ON THE NHTSA SITE. NOW I AM FILING A MORE FORMAL COMPLAINT. HOPE THIS WORKS! PLS HELP. IT IS MAKING ME SICK. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT VEHICLE INTERMITTENTLY SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE DRIVE AND/OR REVERSE GEAR NEEDED TO BE HELD IN ORDER FOR THE GEAR NOT TO SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,000.

I CLOSED THE TRUNK DOOR, AND THE BACK LIGHT GLASS (REAR WINDOW) COMPLETELY SHATTERED. WHEN THIS OCCURRED, THE GLASS WAS NOT CRACKED AND WE WERE NOT IN EXTREME TEMPERATURES (IT WAS ABOUT 65 DEGREES). I TOOK IT TO THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP, AND THE SERVICE GUY SAID IT'S "IMPOSSIBLE" FOR THE GLASS TO BREAK AS IT DID. IT'S OBVIOUSLY NOT IMPOSSIBLE IF IT CAN HAPPEN WITH NORMAL CLOSING OF THE TRUNK DOOR. VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED NEW LESS THAN A YEAR AGO. *TR

I WAS CROSSING THE TRAIN TRACKS IN PALO ALTO ON CHARLESTON ST NEAR ALMA AND TRIED TO STOP AT A STOP LIGHT RIGHT AFTER THE TRACKS. WHEN I STEPPED HARD ON THE BRAKES, THE BRAKES DID NOT WORK AT ALL. MY CAR DID NOT SLOW DOWN AT ALL AND I HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. *TR

MUSTY SMELL IN VEHICLE, SICK W/ RESPIRATORY SYMPTOMS, INCLUDING DISTRESS AFTER USING AIR CONDITIONING OR HEATING SYSTEM OR DEFROSTERS. I BROUGHT MY CAR TO DEALER FOR 5000 MILE SERVICE AND MANAGER TOLD ME THE "THERE IS MOLD INSIDE THE AIR CONDITIONER AND HEATING AND ALL VENTED AIR SYSTEM. THIS IS THE WAY THE NEW DESIGN IS, THE AIR SYSTEM IS CLOSED OFF AND THE MOISTURE LAYS IN THERE GROWING MOLD." HE SAID "YOU HAVE TO OPEN THE WINDOWS, IF YOU ARE SENSITIVE, OR HAVE IT CLEANED EVERY WEEK TO KEEP THE SMELL OUT." HE SAID " THAT IS A CHARGE NOT COVERED BY YOUR LEASE, I'LL TAKE THE DASH OFF AND PUT A NEW FILTER AND FLUSH THE AIR HANDLING SYSTEM OUT FOR YOU, THIS TIME. IT USUALLY COST OVER $250.DOLLARS. YOU CAN DO IT YOURSELF BY SPRAYING A WHOLE CAN OF LYSOL BEHIND THE CABIN FILTER EVERY WEEK". MOLD IS KNOWN TO BE DEADLY AND THIS SHOULD NOT BE AN ALLOWED DESIGN. I HAVE SOUGHT MEDICAL ATTENTION FOR THIS PROBLEM AND NOW REFERRED TO A PULMONOLOGIST FOR SPECIAL TEST. I DEFINITELY WOULD NOT HAVE OBTAINED THIS CAR IF THE DEALER HAD DISCLOSED THIS KNOWN PROBLEM. BAD. *TR