2004 TOYOTA PRIUS Complaints

IN THE 2004 TOYOTA PRIUS THERE IS A BUTTON ON BOTH BACK SEATS BY THE HEADRESTS THAT UNLATCHES THE SEATBACK. MY FOUR YEAR OLD CAN EASILY PUSH DOWN THIS BUTTON WITH ONE FINGER, AND MY CONCERN IS THAT A CHILD (OR OTHERS) COULD UNLATCH THE SEAT WITHOUT THE DRIVER KNOWING. SHOULD THE CAR CRASH OR STOP SUDDENLY THE SEAT COULD COME DOWN, POSSIBLY WITH A PASSENGER IN IT. I TOLD THE CAR DEALER AND A TOYOTA CUSTOMER SERVICE REP ABOUT MY CONCERN. I WAS TOLD THE BUTTON IS NOT DESIGNED THAT WAY, BUT WHEN I CONTACTED A SECOND DEALERSHIP THEIR 2004 PRIUS DID THE SAME AS THE CAR I TESTED. I WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS DESIGNED SO THAT YOU HAD TO CONTINUE TO HOLD DOWN THE BUTTON IN ORDER TO PULL THE SEATBACK FORWARD. THIS IS NOT THE CASE IN REALITY. THE BUTTON NEEDS TO BE CHILDPROOFED EITHER BY MOVING IT SO IT IS NOT EASILY SEEN AND REACHED BY A CHILD, PROVIDING A COVER, OR ADDING A LIGHT ON THE DASH SO THE DRIVER IS AWARE OF THE SEAT BEING UNLATCHED. I WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS ALSO DESIGNED SO THAT THE SEAT COULD NOT BE UNLATCHED WHILE THE CAR WAS IN MOTION. ALSO NOT TRUE. I WAS THE FIRST TO NOTICE THIS UNSAFE FEATURE, AND WE WERE IN MOTION WHEN I UNLATCHED MY SEAT.*AK

THE FUEL INDICATOR MALFUNCTIONS DURING THE WINTER MONTHS. IT STARTS TO SHOW EMPTY GAS TANK WHEN IT IS 1/2 FULL. THIS PROBLEM GOES AWAY WHEN TEMPORATURE RISES. TOYOTA IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM AND TELLS US THAT THIS IS PROBABLY DUE TO BAD GAS TANK DESIGN. THERE IS NO SOLUTION TO THIS PROBLEM FOR OVER ONE YEAR AND TOYOTA IS NOT WILLING TO FIX THIS ISSUE.*AK

WHILE TRAVELING 25 MPH CONSUMER'S VEHICLE PROCEEDED TO STRIKE ANOTHER VEHICLE . UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. ALSO, DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT TIGHTENED SO MUCH THAT CONSUMER COULD NOT BREATH. AFTER FINALLY RELEASING THE SEAT BELT CONSUMER COULD BREATH.*AK

THE ACCLERATOR STUCK CONTINUOUSLY, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO STALL AND SHUTDOWN. DEALER HAS BEEN UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM ,AND THE MANUFACTURER OFFERED NO SOLUTION. *AK

FLUID ON LEFT REAR TIRE RIM AND LOSS OF HUB CAP. DISCOVERED LEAKING BRAKE CYLINDER ASSEMBLY AND SOAKED DISK BRAKE PADS. MASTER CYLINDER BRAKE LEVEL DOWN TO TO MINIMUM FILL LEVEL. BRAKE FLUID POOLING ON GARAGE FLOOR UNDER LEFT REAR WHEEL. *AK

WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR. SUDDENLY THE VEHICLE VIBRATED UNCONTROLLABLY. THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND PULLED OVER. THE CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THE DRIVER'S REAR TIRE BLEW OUT. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *JB

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT 60 MPH. THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN. THE CONSUMER PRESSED ON THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL FOR SPEED, HOWEVER THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO LOSE POWER. THE CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED. THE VEHICLE IS STILL AT THE DEALERSHIP. *JB THE PROBLEM WAS DUE TO A COMPUTER GLITCH PER TSB. THE BATTERY HAD GONE DEAD. *SC

1) ON A 95 DEGREE DAY THE CAR WAS PARKED IN THE SUN. 2) BRAKE LIGHT ASSEMBLY DEFORMED IN THE HEAT OBSCURING SOME OF THE 6 LED REFLECTORS. THE BLACK PLASTIC USED IN THE ASSEMBLY DOES NOT HOLD UP TO THE HEAT. 3) I COMPLAINED TO TOYOTA CORPORATE IN CALIFORNIA TO FIX THE SOURCE OF THE PROBLEM. NOTHING DONE TO DATE.

THE CHILD WAS TRAPPED IN THE SEAT BELT. THE LATCH WOULD NOT RELEASE THE CHILD. THE BELT HAD TO BE CUT OFF. THE CHILD WAS TAKEN TO THE DOCTOR FOR AN EXAM. *NM

1. THE TOYOTA PRIUS HAS AN ALIGNMENT DEFECT THAT WORE OUT MY TIRES PREMATURELY. . THE CAR RODE ON THE WALL AND INNER TREAD OF THE TIRE WEARING IT DOWN TO THE NYLON AND WIRE BEFORE IT POPPED 3. NEW TIRES WERE PUT ON THE CAR. *AK