2009 TOYOTA PRIUS Complaints

I WAS DRIVING WHEN THE ABS, BRAKE SYSTEM, AND PARKING BRAKE LIGHT TURNED ON. THE BRAKES BECAME VERY MUSHY, I WAS TRYING TO STOP, AND I COULD HEAR THE BRAKE ACTUATOR MOTOR BUZZING AND MAKING A GROANING NOISE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MEDIA HOME SCREEN FAILED TO FUNCTION AS DESIGNED DUE TO FREQUENT GLITCHES. SEVERAL OTHER ELECTRICAL FEATURES WERE ALSO INOPERABLE INCLUDING THE BACK CAMERA DUE TO THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT CALLED EDDY'S TOYOTA OF WICHITA (7333 E. KELLOGG DR, WICHITA, KS 67207, (316) 652-2222) WHERE HE WAS INFORMED THAT THE HOME SCREEN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT REPLACING THE MEDIA HOME SCREEN MAY NOT GUARANTEE THAT THE FAILURE WOULD NOT RECUR. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO CONTACT THE MANUFACTURER VIA EMAIL HOWEVER, A RETURN RESPONSE WAS NOT RECEIVED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 170,000.

DRIVING VEHICLE ON A CITY STREET IN DRIVE GEAR AND IT SLIPPED OUT OF DRIVE INTO NEUTRAL WITHOUT WARNING. TRIED TO PUT IT BACK IN DRIVE (AS I WAS ON THE ROAD) BUT EVERY TIME I SWITCHED GEARS BACK TO DRIVE AND RELEASED THE GEAR SHIFTER IT WOULD IMMEDIATELY POP BACK INTO NEUTRAL. I PARKED & TURNED THE CAR OFF, WAITED AND THEN TURNED IT BACK ON AGAIN. IT SEEMED TO BE OKAY SO I GOT ON THE FREEWAY HOME AND AFTER I MERGED INTO TRAFFIC THE SAME PROBLEM HAPPENED (BUT WHILE I WAS DRIVING AT A MUCH FASTER SPEED). I HAD TO HOLD THE GEAR SHIFT DOWN IN DRIVE THE ENTIRE RIDE HOME (WITH MY ONE YEAR OLD IN THE CAR). I GOT HOME AND AFTER I PARKED AND LET THE CAR SIT I WENT BACK OUT AND TRIED THE CAR AGAIN AND IT HAPPENED AGAIN. I CHECKED AND THE SAME PROBLEM HAPPENED IN REVERSE (IT WON'T STAY IN REVERSE, IT JUST POPS BACK INTO NEUTRAL).

UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE IT MAKES A HIGH-PITCHED BEEP, FOLLOWED BY A BUZZING SOUND THAT REPEATS EVERY FIVE TO EIGHT SECONDS. THE DASHBOARD DISPLAYS THE TPS, ABS, VSC, AND BRAKE LIGHTS. WHEN PUTTING THE VEHICLE IN DRIVE, THE HIGH-PITCH SOUND RETURNS FOR ONE TO TWO MINUTES. DURING THAT TIME THE BRAKE PEDAL BECOMES IMPOSSIBLE TO DEPRESS. IF THE ENGAGED, THE VEHICLE DOES NOT STOP UNTIL THE BRAKE PRESSURE RETURNS. ONCE THE SOUND STOPS, THE BRAKE PRESSURE RETURNS TO NORMAL. DIAGNOSIS FROM TOYOTA SHOWS: CODE C1256 = ACCUMULATOR LOW PRESSURE. CODE C1391 ABNORMAL LEAK OF ACCUMULATOR PRESSURE. ESTIMATE FOR REPAIRS = $2,811.72. AT PRESENT THE VEHICLE IS UNSAFE TO OPERATE AS TOYOTA ADVISED, IN THE VEHICLE'S CURRENT CONDITION THE BRAKE SYSTEM COULD FAIL AT ANY TIME.

BRAKE ACTUATOR MALFUNCTIONED AND CAUSED ME TO HIT A PARKED CAR IN MY DRIVEWAY (BACKING UP). EVEN THOUGH I HAVE LESS THAN 130K MILES ON MY VEHICLE, IT IS A YEAR AFTER THE EXTENDED WARRANTY I AM RESPONSIBLE FOR PAYING THE $3K REPAIR. THE NEGLIGENCE BY TOYOTA IN HANDLING THIS RECALL IS TERRIBLE AND LIFE THREATENING. THERE SHOULD BE A CLASS ACTION SUIT AGAINST TOYOTA FOR THE HUNDREDS OF INJURIES AND DAMAGES BY THEIR NEGLIGENCE.

MY CAR'S BRAKE ACTUATOR FAILED WHILE I WAS ON HIGHWAY. GLADLY NOTHING DANGEROUS HAPPENED BUT I AM CONCERNED OTHERS WILL FACE THE SIMILAR SITUATION WITH WORST SCENARIO. TOYOTA TOLD ME THE WARRANTY EXPIRED AND QUOTED ME $2600. PLEASE ASK TOYOTA TO EXTEND THE WARRANTY.

BRAKE WARNING LIGHT WENT ON THE DASH. BROUGHT THE CAR IN AND DEALERSHIP SAID IT WAS A BAD BRAKE ACTUATOR. SAID IT WOULD COST ALMOST $3000 TO REPAIR AND SAID THAT THERE WAS A EXTENDED WARRANTY ON THE PART THAT EXPIRED. IF NOTHING SCREAMS OF A RECALL AS A PROBLEM WITH BRAKES, I DON' KNOW WHAT WOULD.

HEADLIGHTS GO OUT AFTER A FEW DAYS.. REPLACED OVER 8 BULBS. CHECKED CONNECTORS, CHECKED WIRING.. NO PROBLEM FOUND AND THE PROBLEM STILL EXIST.

FAILING BRAKE ACTUATOR ASSEMBLY THAT TOYOTA KNEW WAS DEFECTIVE. THEY EXTENDED WARRANTY THROUGH 2017, BUT THE ISSUE HAPPENS AROUND 200,000 MILES. NOW THAT THE EXTENDED WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED TOYOTA IS CHARGING $2300 TO REPLACE THIS KNOWN AND DEFECTIVE PART.

BRAKE PRESSURE LOSS AND CONSTANT NOISE FROM THE BRAKE ACTUATOR, READ CODES C1256 AND C1391