TroubleCAR
73
Trouble

2009 Toyota Prius

Complaints: 497Avg mileage: 53,909 miSince: Dec 2008
2 deathsCrashFire27 injured

Problem Areas

Exterior Lighting
109
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
79
Vehicle Speed Control
67
Service Brakes
59
Electrical System
52
Service Brakes, Electric
44
Unknown or Other
20
Engine
19
Traction Control System
15
Power Train
15

Complaints Over Time

Recent Complaints

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
100,000 miFeb 3, 2010CCCCCC, MA
1 deathCrash3 injured

BRIGHAM PHYSICIAN KILLED IN CAR CRASH TOP INTERNIST WAS LOVED BY PATIENTS, HOSPITAL'S STAFF SHE WAS A MOTHER, WIFE, DOCTOR, AND SUPERVISOR. GLOBE STAFF / APRIL 23, 2009 EMAIL| PRINT| SINGLE PAGE| YAHOO! BUZZ| SHARETHISTEXT SIZE ' + THE POPULAR MEDICAL DIRECTOR OF A MAJOR PHYSICIANS' GROUP AT BRIGHAM AND WOMEN'S HOSPITAL DIED TUESDAY AFTER SHE WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD-ON CAR CRASH NEAR HER HOME IN NEEDHAM. POLICE AND RELATIVES SAID IT APPEARED THAT AN INTERNIST WHO FOR THE PAST 27 YEARS SERVED AS MEDICAL DIRECTOR OF BRIGHAM INTERNAL MEDICINE ASSOCIATES, CROSSED INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC SHORTLY BEFORE 6 P.M. AS SHE WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK IN HER 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS ON GREENDALE AVENUE. THE 60-YEAR-OLD RELATIVELY SMALL HYBRID CAR COLLIDED WITH A TOYOTA SEQUOIA. THE WOMAN WHO WAS DRIVING THE SPORT UTILITY VEHICLE AND HER TWO PASSENGERS SUFFERED INJURIES THAT WERE NOT LIFE-THREATENING, POLICE SAID. THEIR NAMES WERE NOT RELEASED. INVESTIGATORS SAID IT DOES NOT APPEAR THAT SPEED OR ALCOHOL PLAYED A ROLE IN THE CRASH, BUT POLICE SAID THEY ARE INVESTIGATING WHETHER SHE WAS USING HER BLACKBERRY AT THE TIME. THE SPEED LIMIT ON THE ROAD IS 40 MILES PER HOUR. THEY ALSO SAID IT DOES NOT APPEAR THAT SHE WAS WEARING A SEAT BELT. THE THREE IN THE SEQUOIA WERE WEARING SEAT BELTS. *TR

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
Sep 27, 2011NASHUA, NH
1 deathCrash

2009 TOYOTA PRIUS. CONSUMER STATES STEERING WHEEL AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY DURING A FATAL CAR ACCIDENT *TGW ACCORDING TO THE POLICE REPORT, THE DRIVER REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE. *JB

EXTERIOR LIGHTING
125,000 miMay 3, 2021MESA, AZ
Crash1 injured

IN DECEMBER OF 2018, I PULLED MY CAR UP TO A REDBOX STATION TO RETURN A MOVIE. I PUSHED THE PARK BUTTON ON MY 2009 TOYOTA PRIUS AND GOT OUT OF MY CAR TO PUT THE MOVIE INTO THE SLOT. THE CAR APPARENTLY WAS NOT IN PARK AND CONTINUED TO MOVE FORWARD (I TRIED TO CATCH IT, BUT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL, AND HURT MYSELF IN DOING SO) UNTIL IT SLAMMED INTO A PARKED CAR IN THE SAME PARKING LOT. MY INSURANCE LISTED IT AS AN AT-FAULT ACCIDENT AND FIXED MY CAR AND THE ONE THAT MY VEHICLE HAD HIT. (I TOLD THE ADJUSTER I KNEW THAT I HAD PUT THE CAR IN PARK) I ALSO HAD A 700.00 DEDUCTIBLE TO PAY FOR FIXING MY DAMAGED CAR. AS TIME WENT BY, THIS STARTED HAPPENING MORE AND MORE FREQUENTLY. I WOULD PUSH THE BUTTON FOR MY CAR TO GO INTO PARK MODE AND IT WOULD NOT GO INTO PARK. I WOULD HAVE TO PUT THE CAR INTO ANOTHER GEAR AND THEN IT WOULD GO INTO PARK. OTHER WEIRD THINGS WITH THE CAR WERE HAPPENING AS WELL. SOMETIMES THE CAR WOULD NOT TURN OFF AND MORE AND MORE WHEN I WOULD START THE CAR, THE DASHBOARD WOULD BE COMPLETELY BLACK. I MENTIONED TO MY MECHANIC THAT THIS WAS HAPPENING, HOWEVER, I COULD NOT MAKE IT HAPPEN WHENEVER I TOOK IT TO HIM. I DID MANAGE TO GET IT ON VIDEO THOUGH THAT IT WAS HAPPENING. I JUST RECENTLY LEARNED FROM MY MECHANIC THAT THIS HAS BEEN A SAFETY ISSUE WITH THIS CAR AND THAT IT'S A BAD COMBINATION METER. HE ALSO INFORMED ME THAT TOYOTA ONLY ALLOWED FOR 9 YEARS FROM THE DATE THE CAR WAS MANUFACTURED FOR THIS PROBLEM TO BE FIXED. HOW COME I DID NOT RECEIVE ANY NOTIFICATION THAT THIS COULD HAPPEN AND HOW DO YOU PUT A TIME LIMIT ON A SAFETY ISSUE SUCH AS THIS ONE. MY CAR DID NOT GO INTO PARK MODE AND ENDED UP SLAMMING INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. I COULD HAVE EASILY FALLEN UNDER THE WHEELS OF THE VEHICLE AS IT KEPT ON MOVING OR IT COULD HAVE EASILY HIT ANOTHER PERSON. I AM HOPING SOMEONE CAN INVESTIGATE THIS FOR ME AND GET BACK TO ME WITH INFORMATION ON HOW I CAN GET THIS FIXED.

AIR BAGS
103,000 miOct 13, 2019TORRINGTON, CT
Crash1 injured

I WAS TURNING LEFT AND WAS HIT BY AN ONCOMING CAR. MOST DAMAGE DONE TO THE FRONT RIGHT. THE CAR WAS TOTALED. I WAS GOING ABOUT 5-10MPH THOUGH THE ONCOMING CAR WAS GOING APPROXIMATELY 40MPH. THE FIREMEN, POLICE AND INSURANCE ADJUSTER WERE ALL VERY CONCERNED THAT THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. MY BABIES WERE SAFE IN THE BACKSEAT THANKS TO THEIR CAR SEATS. I HAD TO GO TO THE HOSPITAL AND SUFFERED A CONCUSSION. WE JUST HAD OUR CAR TUNED UP AT OUR LOCAL TOYOTA DEALERSHIP NOT EVEN 6 MOS AGO. THEY DID NOT SAY ANYTHING ABOUT A CONCERN WITH THE AIRBAGS.

AIR BAGS
113,000 miSep 24, 2019LOS ANGELES, CA
Crash1 injured

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE THAT RAN A RED LIGHT. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. POLICE REPORT NUMBER: 190815712 WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES TO THE KNEE AND HIS HEAD WAS INJURED DUE TO STRIKING THE UPPER WINDSHIELD AND REARVIEW MIRROR. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS NOT RECEIVED. THE CONTACT SUFFERED A HEADACHE FOR A FEW DAYS FOLLOWING THE CRASH. THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO HIS HOUSE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DESTROYED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 113,000.

AIR BAGS
186,000 miJan 30, 2017PENFIELD, NY
Crash1 injured

THE CAR WAS INVOLVED IN A MOVING COLLISION THAT TOTALED THE DRIVERS FRONT END AND CAUSED THE DRIVER TO BE INJURED BECAUSE THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. I SUSPECT THAT THE CARS STEERING FAILED WHILE GOING AROUND A SHARP CURVE. THE CAR HAS LOST STEERING ONE TIME BEFORE AND WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *TR*DT*JB

SERVICE BRAKES
174,000 miOct 9, 2016SANTA BARBARA, CA
Crash1 injured

DRIVER WENT TO PARK AND THE BRAKES DID NOT RESPOND! IN FACT THE VEHICLE WENT FROM 2-5MPH TO APPROX 30+ & KEPT PICKING UP SPEED AND WENT INTO STOREFRONT. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO WRESTLE VEHICLE INTO REVERSE AND IT WENT EQUALLY FAST BACK INTO A PARKED CAR WHERE IT FINALLY CAME TO A STOP. HUGELY FRIGHTENING AND POTENTIALLY LETHAL.

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Jun 8, 2015EAGLE, ID
Crash1 injured

2009 TOYOTA PRIUS. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE ACCELERATION ISSUES. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED ON MAY 10, 2010. ON FEBRUARY 11, 2010, THE CONSUMERS WIFE WAS APPROACHING A SMALL BUSINESS IN A PARKING LOT. SHE WAS ALMOST AT A DEAD STOP, WHEN THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY WENT A RAPID ACCELERATION MODE, JUMPED A CURBED AND SIDEWALK, AND HIT A BRICK WALL OF A BUSINESS BUILDING. THERE WAS SEVERE DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE AS WELL AS TO THE BRICK WALL OF THE BUILDING. THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. *JB

AIR BAGS
18,252 miMay 20, 2015MC VEYTOWN, PA
Crash1 injured

I WAS STRUCK BY A SPEEDING AUTO SO HARD THAT THE FORCE OF THE IMPACT OBLITERATED THE ENTIRE FRONT END OF MY VEHICLE. I SUFFERED SERIOUS LEFT KNEE AND LEFT SHOULDER INJURIES. NOT ONE TAKATA AIRBAG DEPLOYED. HAD THE AIRBAGS FUNCTIONED PROPERLY I MIGHT HAVE AVOIDED THE INJURIES TO MY BODY. MY CAR WAS CONSIDERED A TOTAL LOSS.

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
75,000 miMar 27, 2014ROUND ROCK, TX
Crash1 injured

DRIVER INTENTIONALLY ACCELERATED TO AVOID COLLISION, THEN PRIUS UNINTENTIONALLY ACCELERATED AFTER IMPACT WITH THE OTHER VEHICLE, CROSSING THE MEDIAN AND CROSSING THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION STREET LANES THEN UP ON TO THE SIDEWALK AND HIT THE CONCRETE BRIDGE RAIL AND FINALLY STOPPED. HAVE CONTACTED TOYOTA, THEY WANT UP TO A MONTH TO PULL THE CRASH DATA FROM THE CAR. I ASKED IF THEY COULD PULL THE DATA IN A WEEK, THEY SAID UP TO 30 DAYS THE CAR WILL HAVE TO SIT AT THE DEALERSHIP. A MONTH IS UNREASONABLE TO GO WITHOUT A CAR. THEY REFUSED TO SEND THE INVESTIGATOR TO PULL THE DATA AT THE BODY SHOP, SAID IT MUST BE DONE AT THE DEALERSHIP. I GAVE THEM THE NAME & ADDRESS OF THE BODY SHOP. *TR

STRUCTURE:BODY
18,232 miSep 19, 2013MCVEYTOWN, PA
Crash1 injured

I WAS TURNING LEFT INTO THE GAS STATION LOCATED ON US 22 AND E. JOHN ST. A SPEEDING CAR STRUCK ME ON THE PASSENGER SIDE NEAR THE DOOR AND FRONT FENDER. THE SPEEDING CAR CONTINUED SO HARD THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE LOWER FRAME RAIL WAS RIPPED FROM THE CAR. NO AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. I SUFFERED LEFT KNEE AND LEFT SHOULDER INJURIES NECESSITATING SEVERAL SURGERIES. THE CAR WAS EQUIPPED WITH DRIVER'S SIDE AND FRONT RIGHT AIR BAGS. ALSO, DR AND FR SIDE AND CURTAIN AIR BAGS. NO AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE CAR WAS TOTALED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY. *TR

STRUCTURE:BODY
81,000 miSep 12, 2013DALLAS, TX
Crash1 injured

MY WIFE AND I WERE DRIVING DOWN A RESIDENTIAL STREET APPROACHING A STOP SIGN. THERE WERE TWO CARS STOPPED AT THE SIGN. SEVERAL HUNDRED FEET FROM THE STOP, I TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE ACCELERATOR. THE CAR DID NOT SLOW DOWN. I STEPPED ON THE BRAKE. THE CAR DID NOT SLOW DOWN. I STOOD ON THE BRAKE AS HARD AS I COULD. THE CAR DID NOT SLOW DOWN. I SAID TO MY UNDERSTANDABLY ALARMED WIFE, WE'RE NOT STOPPING. AND WE DIDN'T UNTIL WE SMASHED INTO THE BACK OF A TAHOE STOPPED AT THE STOP SIGN, DOING MAJOR DAMAGE TO THE PRIUS THAT RENDERED IT UNDRIVEABLE AND PERHAPS TOTALED. MY WIFE HAS A VERY SORE BACK THAT I AM HOPING STARTS TO FEEL BETTER TODAY OR WE WILL HAVE TO SCHEDULE A DOCTOR'S APPOINTMENT. *TR

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
32,000 miJul 16, 2012SARASOTA, FL
Crash1 injured

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE BRAKES WERE DEPRESSED THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED ABNORMALLY. THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A POST OFFICE BUILDING AS A RESULT. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE HEAD, SHOULDER, NECK AND BACK. THE POLICE WERE CONTACTED AND A REPORT WAS TAKEN. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 32,000.

SERVICE BRAKES
15,000 miJun 27, 2012AMBLER, PA
Crash1 injured

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE EXITING A PARKING SPACE, THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED AND THE VEHICLE DID NOT RESPOND. THE VEHICLE INSTEAD ACCELERATED WHILE THE CONTACT HAD THE BRAKE DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A TRUCK. THE CONTACT DID NOT SUSTAIN INJURIES. THE PASSENGER DID SUSTAIN SOME MINOR CUTS AND A MINOR HIT TO THE HEAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED OR REPAIRED. THE POLICE DEPARTMENT WAS PRESENT AND A POLICE REPORT WAS AVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN REPAIRED UNDER THE RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 09V388000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL: ACCELERATOR PEDAL). THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE UNDER 15,000.

SERVICE BRAKES
73,000 miApr 16, 2012CONROE, TX
Crash1 injured

I WAS APPROXIMATELY 8 OR 9 CAR LENGTHS FROM A VEHICLE THAT SLAMMED ON HER BRAKES BEFORE HITTING THE CAR IN FRONT OF HER, SO I STOOD UP ON MY BRAKES AT ABOUT 30 -35 MPH. THE CARS BRAKES DID NOT GRAB FOR ABOUT A SECOND, THEN STARTED TO GRAB RIGHT BEFORE IMPACTING THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. *JS

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
8,000 miSep 23, 2010LOS ANGELES, CA
Crash1 injured

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS AT A COMPLETE STOP WHEN IT SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE BRICK WALL ALTHOUGH THE DRIVER WAS ATTEMPTING TO APPLY THE BRAKES. THE DRIVER EXPERIENCED SEVERE WHIPLASH, SWELLING IN HER CHEST, BRUISING ON HER RIBS AND SHOULDER. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THERE WAS NO MENTION OF THE VEHICLE BEING DESTROYED. A FEW MONTHS PRIOR TO THE FAILURE THE DEALER PERFORMED AN COMPLETE VEHICLE INSPECTION AND DEALER STATED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG IT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 8,000.

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
9,000 miSep 23, 2010LOS ANGELES, CA
Crash1 injured

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE VEHICLE STOPPED IT SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO APPLY THE BRAKES BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SLOW DOWN CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO CRASH INTO A WALL. THE CRASH THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND THE CONTACT SUFFERED INJURIES TO THE NECK, KNEE, AND CHEST. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER REGARDING THE CRASH AND THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY WANTED TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE AND DOES NOT WANT IT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 9,000.

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
23,000 miJul 20, 2010JAMESTOWN, NC
Crash2 injured

2009 TOYOTA PRIUS WAS HIT FROM BEHIND AND PUSHED INTO THE VEHICLE IN FRONT. AT NO TIME DID THE SEAT BELTS CATCH NOR DID THE AIRBAGS DEPLOY. MY DAUGHTER'S FACE COLLIDED WITH THE DASHBOARD DUE TO THE SEAT BELTS NOT WORKING AND NO AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT. SO FAR TOYOTA SAYS THAT THERE IS NOTHING TO FIX, THE CAR PERFORMED AS IT WAS DESIGNED TO. *TR

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
9,200 miApr 19, 2010WEST VANCOUVER, 00
Crash1 injured

I WAS MOVING TOWARD A STOP SIGN AND SLOWING AS USUAL. THE ROAD IS LEVEL AND IT WAS DRY. SUDDENLY THERE SEEMED TO BE NO BRAKING AND THE NEXT THING I KNEW I HAD BEEN HIT BY A TRUCK TRAVELING AT RIGHT ANGLES FROM MY LEFT. I APPARENTLY WENT THROUGH THE STOP SIGN. I BROUGHT THE CAR TO A STOP SAFELY AT THE SIDE OF THE ROAD TO CHECK ON THE TRUCK WHICH HAD SWERVED INTO A FENCE. THE DRIVER OF THE TRUCK WAS CUT BY GLASS. MY CAR HAD THE BUMPER AND GRILL TORN OFF AND UNIBODY BENT. THIS WAS A BRAKE FAILURE. UNLIKE SOME REPORTS, THE ROAD WAS NOT ROUGH. THIS WAS A LOW SPEED FAILURE. ANOTHER FEW FEET AND MY DRIVER'S DOOR WOULD HAVE BEEN HIT AND I COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED. *TR

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
12,299 miMar 17, 2010KENNER, LA
Crash1 injured

TL* THE CONTACT RENTED A 2009 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING AT SPEEDS OF 40 MPH UP HILL, THE VEHICLE ABNORMALLY ACCELERATED AND CRASHED INTO AN 18-WHEEL TRUCK. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED A BROKEN LEG AND WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL VIA HELICOPTER. THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE WAS SEVERELY DAMAGED AND WAS TOWED BACK TO THE RENTAL CAR COMPANY. THE CONTACT SECURED LEGAL COUNCIL TO HANDLE THE MATTER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 12,299 AND THE CURRENT WAS UNKNOWN.

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