2006 TOYOTA PRIUS Complaints

BRAKE ACTUATOR FAILED WHEN CAR WAS BACKING UP IN A PARKING LOT; CAR MADE JERKING ACTION AND STOPPED ON ITS OWN; ALL WARNING LIGHTS LIT; WARNING TO TAKE IT FOR SERVICE IMMEDIATELY - WHICH WAS DONE AFTER CONSULTATION WITH THE DEALER (DRIVEN THERE).

ABS ACTUATOR/ ACCUMULATOR FAILING. UNSAFE TO DRIVE THE CAR. AFRAID TO DRIVE THE CAR

I WAS DRIVING NORMALLY AND SUDDENLY A CONTINUOS BEEP WAS THERE,I TRIED TO STOP A NO BRAKES.I WAS ABLE TO STEER MY CAR TO A SAFE PLACE.THEN USED A TOLL SERVICE AND TOOK IT TO MY TOYOTA DEALER.IN A SHORT TIME THEY TOLD ME THEY TOLD ME THE COMPUTERIZED BRAKE SYSTEM WAS DEFECTIVE AND THE JOB WILL COST ME $2250.00 I CAN NOT AFFORD. I TOLLED THE CAR BACK TO MY HOUSE .LATER I FOUND THAT THERE HAD BEEN A RECALL FROM TOYOTA.I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED ALTHOUGH I TOOK MY CAR THERE FOR REGULAR CHECKUPS. NOTE: MY CAR WAS IN MOTION AND PREVIOUS TO INCIDENT I HAD DESCENDED A STEEP HILL. I CONSIDER MYSELF LUCKY ON THAT DATE,THREE MINUTES EARLIER I WOULD HAVE BEEN IN GREAT DISTRESS TRYING TO STOP MY TOYOTA PRIUS.

THE RIGHT HEADLIGHT INTERMITTENTLY GOES OUT. IT HAS HAPPENED UPON START UP, AND WHILE DRIVING. IT IS USUALLY NOTICED WHEN SITTING BEHIND ANOTHER VEHICLE (SEEING HEADLIGHT REFLECTION IN FRONT VEHICLE'S REAR), SOMEONE TELLS ME, OR, I REMEMBER TO CHECK. WHEN IT'S REALIZED, TURNING THE SWITCH OFF, AND ON AGAIN, MAKES THE LIGHT COME BACK ON. IT DOESN'T APPEAR TO BE ANY PARTICULAR WEATHER, SITUATION, OR LENGTH OF DRIVE THAT CAUSES IT. IT STARTED AT LEAST 1 AND 1/2 YEARS AGO. IT WAS FIRST NOTICED 12/16/16.

SOMETIMES AS I DRIVE THE VEHICLE, AFTER A WHILE, EITHER ONE OF THE HEADLIGHTS TURNS OFF RANDOMLY. I DON'T ALWAYS NOTICE WHEN IT HAPPENS, OTHER THAN WHEN PULLING UP BEHIND ANOTHER VEHICLE AT A STOP LIGHT AND NOTICE THAT THERE IS ONLY 1 HEADLIGHT REFLECTION COMING FROM MY VEHICLE. THEY BOTH WORK NORMALLY IF I TURN THEM OFF AND ON AGAIN.

THE DRIVERS SIDE INTERMITTENT HEADLIGHT HAS LONG BEEN A PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE. THIS WAS A REPORTED SAFETY ISSUE THAT WAS WIDELY IGNORED WHICH VIOLATES CALIFORNIA LAW. I FINALLY TOOK IT MYSELF TO GET REPLACED AFTER NOT GETTING ANY HELP WITH MY REPORTING. I WOULD LIKE TO RECEIVE A REFUND FOR THE PROBLEM THAT IS A RECALL ISSUE.

THE ABS ACTUATOR IS FAILING TO PRIME CAUSING THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES TO SLIP AND THE BRAKES NOT TO ENGAGE. THIS HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES WHILE BOTH STATIONARY AND DRIVING. I SEE THAT TOYOTA HAD EXTENDED WARRANTY RELATED TO THIS ISSUE HOWEVER THAT EXPIRED 12/31/2017. MY ISSUE STARTED IN JANUARY OF 2018. I HAVE ATTACHED A COPY OF THE WARRANTY ENHANCEMENT FOR REFERENCE.

MY BRAKES FAILED 4/3/18 WHILE I WAS IN TRAFFIC. I WAS DRIVING ON A CITY STREET DURING RUSH HOUR. THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME BRAKED IN TRAFFIC AND I HAD PLENTY OF BRAKE DISTANCE BUT AS MY CAR SLOWED ALMOST TO A COMPLETE STOP IT SUDDENLY FELT AS IF THE ENGINE REVVED AND PROPELLED THE CAR FORWARD EVEN THOUGH THE BRAKE WAS FULLY ENGAGED. THE ONLY THING THAT STOPPED THE CAR WAS THAT IT RAN INTO THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME CAUSING DAMAGE TO BOTH CARS. I TOLD THE TWO OFFICERS THAT ARRIVED ABOUT THE PROBLEM WITH MY BRAKES BUT THEY IGNORED ME AND ISSUED A $165 TICKET FOR "FOLLOWING TOO CLOSELY". THE ACCIDENT BECAME A LAWSUIT AND A REP FROM MY INSURANCE CONTACTED ME FOR DETAILS. I ALSO TOLD HER ABOUT THE PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKES AND ONCE AGAIN WAS IGNORED. THIS PAST SATURDAY (4/14/18 ABOUT 2 WEEKS AFTER THE FIRST BRAKE FAILURE) I DECIDED TO GO TO THE GROCERY STORE. AFTER SHOPPING I GOT INTO MY CAR, HIT THE POWER BUTTON AND PUT THE CAR INTO REVERSE, MY INTENT BEING TO LEAVE MY PARKING SPACE. I KEPT MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE SINCE I SAW A CAR APPROACHING FROM MY RIGHT IN THE PARKING LOT. MY CAR WAS STATIONARY, BUT I HAD MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND MY CAR STARTED TO MOVE IN REVERSE, EVEN THOUGH I HAD THE BRAKE PEDAL FULLY DEPRESSED. IT JUST DROVE ITSELF, IN REVERSE, OUT INTO ONCOMING PARKING LOT TRAFFIC. THIS TIME I WAS BETTER PREPARED AND SINCE THE CAR WAS MOVING FROM A COMPLETE STOP, IT WASN'T GOING VERY FAST SO I PUMPED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THAT SEEMED TO "RESET" IT AND THE BRAKES CAME BACK. THIS TIME I WAS ABLE TO STOP THE CAR BEFORE COLLIDING WITH ANYONE. I HAVE ALWAYS LOVED THIS CAR BUT NOW I NO LONGER FEEL SAFE DRIVING IT AND UNFORTUNATELY, I CANNOT AFFORD TO BUY A NEW CAR. THE STRESS ALONE IS CAUSING ME TO LOSE SLEEP AND FOCUS THROUGHOUT MY DAY. EVERY TIME I HAVE TO GET BEHIND THE WHEEL AND THE WORRY THAT I MAY END UP HURTING SOMEONE ELSE. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD.

WHEN IN MOTION THE LEFT FRONT HID LIGHT GOES OUT. TURNING THE LIGHT SWITCH OFF AND BACK ON (DANGEROUS ON THE ROAD AT NIGHT) BRINGS THE LIGHT BACK ON. MAY HAPPEN SEVERAL TIMES IN ONE TRIP OR MAYBE NOT AT ALL. WEATHER IRRELEVANT. HAS BEEN HAPPENING PAST SEVERAL MONTHS.

PRIUS MAKING BUZZING SOUND EVERY 15-20 SECONDS DUES TO FAULTY ABS ACTUATOR PUMP WHILE DRIVING AND WHEN THE CAR TURNED OFF. THAT MEANS IT IS LEAKING BREAKING SYSTEM PRESSURE. NOW IT'S GETTING WORSE AS ABS PRESSURE DOES NOT STAY AND CAR ROLLS WHEN SWITCHING FROM PARK TO REVERSE OR DRIVE MODE. HAVE TO KEEP APPLYING BREAKS FOR CAR TO STOP. THE ROLLING OCCURS GOOD 3 TO 4 SECONDS AND THAT'S ENOUGH TO COVER 3 FEET OR SO. IT'S DANGEROUS WHEN REVERSING FROM PARK WITH SLOPE SURFACE.