2003 Toyota Prius Problems

The contact owns a 2003 Toyota Prius. The contact stated that while driving at 65 MPH, the steering wheel began to vibrate with an unknown message displayed on the instrument panel. As the failure persisted, the message disappeared, and the contact was able to drive to her destination. Upon restart of the vehicle, the contact received a do not drive message on the instrument panel with the steering wheel vibrating. Due to the failure, the contact had the vehicle towed to a dealer where it was diagnosed with a defective steering sensor. Upon investigation, the contact linked the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 11V304000 (Steering). The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred her to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 176,000.

IT'S MOSTLY WHEN I'M TURNING RIGHT THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT WILL COME AND THERE WILL BE NO POWER STEERING. I HAVE SEE A LOT OF COMPLAINTS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. SOMETIMES AS I WAS DRIVING IN THE CITY OR JUST AS I'M STARTING TO DRIVE

OCCASIONALLY, WHEN BRAKING, THE CAR WILL BEGIN TO BRAKE, THEN LURCH FORWARD A LITTLE, AND THEN BRAKE AGAIN PROPERLY. IT'S DISCONCERTING AT BEST AND SCARY AND DANGEROUS AT WORST. I'VE HAD THIS BRAKE PROBLEM FOR YEARS BUT FINALLY REALIZED THAT IT'S A SIGNIFICANT TOYOTA FLAW WITH THE ABS, AND THAT NEWER PRIUSES AND LEXUSES WERE RECALLED BECAUSE OF A SIMILAR PROBLEM. TOYOTA DID NOT RECALL THE 2001-03 PRIUSES AND REFUSE TO ACCEPT THAT IT'S ANYTHING BUT THE RESULT OF AGE (AS PER AUG 2020). HOWEVER, I'VE SEEN ONLINE THAT MANY OWNERS HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM SINCE THEY FIRST BOUGHT THE CAR! I BOUGHT IT USED AND CAN'T REMEMBER HOW LONG IT'S BEEN HAPPENING. IT'S NOT EVERY TIME I DRIVE THE CAR. IT HASN'T CAUSED AN ACCIDENT, BUT IT CERTAINLY COULD. AND IF I CRASH INTO SOMEONE, IT WILL BE CONSIDERED MY FAULT, EVEN THOUGH IT'S VERY CLEARLY TOYOTA'S FAULT! I'M VERY DISTURBED THAT PEOPLE HAVE BEEN REPORTING THIS ISSUE FOR YEARS, THAT TOYOTA DEALERS HAVE REFERENCED IT AS A PROBLEM, TOO, AND THAT TOYOTA REFUSES TO ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY AND FIX THE PROBLEM.

FOR NO APPARENT REASON WHEN DRIVING, THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WILL ENGAGE, WITHOUT PRESSING THE E BRAKE PEDAL. ALSO, INTERMITTENT ONCE CAR IS PARKED AND DOORS LOCKED, ALARM WILL JUST START GOING OFF FOR NONREASON.

FOR NO APPARENT REASON WHEN DRIVING, THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WILL ENGAGE, WITHOUT PRESSING THE E BRAKE PEDAL. ALSO, INTERMITTENT ONCE CAR IS PARKED AND DOORS LOCKED, ALARM WILL JUST START GOING OFF FOR NONREASON.

THERE IS NO THERMOSTAT GAUGE IN A 2003 TOYOTA PRIUS , THE CAR OVER HEATS AND YOU DON'T KNOW UNTIL YOUR IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC NEARLY GETTING KILLED. TOYOTA WAS CONTACTED, BUT SAY NOT A RECALL AND THEY DON'T HONESTLY CAR CAUSE CAR IS OLD . THAT'S NOT RIGHT , ANYTHING YOU STILL USE FROM CARS OR EVEN MEDICINE HAVE LATER COME BACK TO HURT OR KILLED PEOPLE. THERE IS NO HOT TO COLD GAUGE IN THE CAR , 2003 ONLY . I HAVE INVESTIGATED AND SEE PEOPLE PUBLISH ABOUT THIS BUT LET IT SLIP BY . I WAS DRIVING WITH NO INSTALLED GAUGE AND SURVIVED THROUGH MAKE A LEFT HAND TURN ON A STALLED VEHICLE THAT OVER HEATED AND WAS LATER CHECK BY TOYOTA TECHNICIANS THAT SAID F THERE WAS A THERMOSTAT GAUGE PROBLEM WOULD OF MOST LIKELY BE AVOIDED. SOMEBODY CAN'T KEEP OPEN AND CLOSING THE RADIATOR CAP CAUSE OF THIS MISSING GAUGE . OIL HAS DIPSTICK YOU CHECK !!! SAFELY TOO. NOT GOING FRY MY FACE OR BURN MY HANDS ON KEEP CHECKING THE RADIATOR. PLUS WITH A PROPER GAUGE YOU MIGHT KNOW IF YOUR CAR IS COOLED DOWN OR SAFER TO CHECK. TOYOTA HAD REFUSED TO ADDRESS OR CLAIM ANY ISSUES. CASE# [XXX]. PEOPLE LIVES ON AT STAKE CAUSE THEY WANTED TO A. SAVE MONEY B. DON'T KNOW HOW FORGET TO INSTALL THE PART FOR THE YEAR ON EVERY 2003 PRIUS !! PLEASE HELP , TOYOTA DOES NOT CAR ABOUT MY SAFETY OR ANYBODY ELSE SAFETY - [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

THERE IS NO THERMOSTAT GAUGE IN A 2003 TOYOTA PRIUS , THE CAR OVER HEATS AND YOU DON'T KNOW UNTIL YOUR IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC NEARLY GETTING KILLED. TOYOTA WAS CONTACTED, BUT SAY NOT A RECALL AND THEY DON'T HONESTLY CAR CAUSE CAR IS OLD . THAT'S NOT RIGHT , ANYTHING YOU STILL USE FROM CARS OR EVEN MEDICINE HAVE LATER COME BACK TO HURT OR KILLED PEOPLE. THERE IS NO HOT TO COLD GAUGE IN THE CAR , 2003 ONLY . I HAVE INVESTIGATED AND SEE PEOPLE PUBLISH ABOUT THIS BUT LET IT SLIP BY . I WAS DRIVING WITH NO INSTALLED GAUGE AND SURVIVED THROUGH MAKE A LEFT HAND TURN ON A STALLED VEHICLE THAT OVER HEATED AND WAS LATER CHECK BY TOYOTA TECHNICIANS THAT SAID F THERE WAS A THERMOSTAT GAUGE PROBLEM WOULD OF MOST LIKELY BE AVOIDED. SOMEBODY CAN'T KEEP OPEN AND CLOSING THE RADIATOR CAP CAUSE OF THIS MISSING GAUGE . OIL HAS DIPSTICK YOU CHECK !!! SAFELY TOO. NOT GOING FRY MY FACE OR BURN MY HANDS ON KEEP CHECKING THE RADIATOR. PLUS WITH A PROPER GAUGE YOU MIGHT KNOW IF YOUR CAR IS COOLED DOWN OR SAFER TO CHECK. TOYOTA HAD REFUSED TO ADDRESS OR CLAIM ANY ISSUES. CASE# [XXX]. PEOPLE LIVES ON AT STAKE CAUSE THEY WANTED TO A. SAVE MONEY B. DON'T KNOW HOW FORGET TO INSTALL THE PART FOR THE YEAR ON EVERY 2003 PRIUS !! PLEASE HELP , TOYOTA DOES NOT CAR ABOUT MY SAFETY OR ANYBODY ELSE SAFETY - [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED HIS VEHICLE HAD BEEN TO THE DEALER APPROXIMATELY THIRTY TIMES FOR VARIOUS SAFETY FAILURES. THE CONTACT HAD EXPERIENCED THE VEHICLE STALLING WITHOUT WARNING WHILE TRAVELING UPHILL AT SPEEDS OF 25 MPH, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WARNING LIGHTS REMAINED ILLUMINATED, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ENGAGE FROM BATTERY TO GASOLINE POWER WHEN WARRANTED, AND THE CONTACT INTERMITTENTLY WAS UNABLE TO MOVE THE GEAR SHIFT SELECTOR INTO THE REVERSE POSITION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE HE ADVISED THAT THERE MAY BE ENGINE OIL IN THE THROTTLE CAUSING THE STALLING ISSUES. THE CONTACT WAS AWAITING A HYBRID EXPERT TO FURTHER INSPECT THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 30,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 97,300.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA PRIUS HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE HAD EXPERIENCED SEVERAL FAILURES WITHIN THE VEHICLE SINCE PURCHASING THREE MONTHS AGO. THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED, THE LEFT FRONT TIRE HAD A LEAK AND THE INVERTER WAS REPLACED BECAUSE SEVERAL LIGHTS ON THE INSTRUMENTAL PANEL REMAINED ILLUMINATED. ON DECEMBER 3, 2010, WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH THE STEERING WHEEL BEGAN TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHO PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC TEST BUT WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE A FAILURE CODE. THE DEALER TEST DROVE THE VEHICLE BUT WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 86,000.

2003 TOYOTA PRIUS WAS PROCEEDING WEST ON I-40 NEAR KNOXVILLE, TN WHEN THE TREAD SEPARATED FROM THE LEFT REAR TIRE AND WRAPPED ITSELF AROUND THE AXLE CAUSING THE DRIVER TO LOSE CONTROL. THE CAR VEERED TO THE LEFT THEN TO THE RIGHT, HIT A GUARDRAIL AND THEN HIT A SEMI HEAD-ON. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED, THE DRIVER SURVIVED WITH A CONCUSSION AND A HEAD WOUND. *TR

MY 2003 PRIUS (FIRST GEN, FROM JAPAN), HAS BEEN THRU A FEW RECALLS - 1 WAS TO SEAL THE BATTERY BETTER EARLY ON (04ISH), THEN IT WAS GIVEN NEW PINION SHAFT NUTS. LATEST ISSUE HAS BEEN AN ISSUE ALL ALONG, JUST NOT DIAGNOSED/FIXED TIL NOW. SOMETIMES THE 'CHECK ENGINE' LIGHT WOULD COME ON, WITH THE CAR/! /TRIANGLE GRAPHIC ON TOUCH SCREEN. THIS TIME IT DIDN'T GO AWAY. LONG STORY SHORT, IT WAS THE ELECTRIC WATER PUMP THAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. DEALER SAID IT WASN'T CYCLING PROPERLY, LEAKING ANTIFREEZE; ALSO A BIG HYBRID BATTERY ISSUE WAS SHOWING UP, BUT THEY SUSPECTED WHEN FIXING WATER PUMP IT MIGHT CLEAR UP BATTERY ISSUE. DID RESEARCH, FOUND THIS HAS BEEN A BIG ISSUE FOR A LOT OF PRIUS OWNERS. SAW THE CONSUMER REPORTS & THIS STORY, FROM A TOYOTA NEWS RELEASE. THE FOLLOWING IS EXACTLY WHAT I'VE EXPERIENCED, & MY CAR WAS PART OF THE PINION SHAFT NUTS/STEERING COLUMN RECALL, BUT NOT WATER PUMP RECALL!: "TOYOTA IS RECALLING 670,000 OF THEIR POPULAR PRIUS HYBRIDS IN THE US TO CORRECT TWO SAFETY ISSUES. THEY SAY ALL OF THE VEHICLES WILL BE INSPECTED TO SEE IF A PART IN THE STEERING SHAFT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED DUE TO AN ISSUE THAT COULD CAUSE EXCESSIVE WEAR. 350,000 OF THESE SAME PRIUS VEHICLES (FROM 2001-2010 IN JAPAN ) ARE ALSO BEING RECALLED TO REPLACE THE ELECTRIC WATER PUMP FOR THE HYBRID SYSTEM. TOYOTA SAYS THE PUMP COULD FAIL AND CAUSE THE HYBRID SYSTEM TO STOP RUNNING. THEY SAID ITS DEALERS WILL INSPECT & REPLACE ANY DEFECTS FREE OF CHARGE. RECALL NOTICES WILL GO TO OWNERS IN DEC. 2012. ABOUT 2.77M VEHICLES WORLDWIDE ARE AFFECTED."TOYOTA DID NOT PAY FOR MY REPAIR, $669; THAT WAS WITH A 15% OFF COUPON! I AM KEEPING MY RECEIPT. TOYOTA NEEDS TO INCLUDE MY VIN IN THE NEXT BATCH OF RECALLS FOR THIS DEFECTIVE WATER PUMP, WHICH HAS BEEN DEFECTIVE SINCE DAY 1, BUT A SLOW DIAGNOSIS, THAT MAY HAVE AFFECTED THE OVERALL FUNCTION OF THE HYBRID SYSTEM BATTERY PERMANENTLY. NO FUN! *TR

CUSTOMER STATES VEHICLE BEGAN RACING WILDLY, ACTING LIKE TRANSMISSION WAS NOT ENGAGED. DRIVER STATED AS NOT DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR DURING THE ALLEGED EVENT. CUSTOMER WAS DRIVING ON STEEP UPHILL GRADES AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH. VEHICLE WAS SHUT OFF AND RESTARTED. VEHICLE PROCEEDED TO OPERATE WITH 6-7 REOCCURRENCES THROUGHOUT 100 MILES OF DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. CUSTOMER STATES THAT THIS HAS NEVER HAPPENED BEFORE HOWEVER 6 MONTHS EARLIER THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START AND WOULD STALL REPEATEDLY. CUSTOMER STATES VEHICLE AS RELATIVELY TROUBLE FREE WITH A HISTORY OF ROUTINE MAINTENANCE AS WELL AS REPLACEMENT OF THE REAR WHEEL BEARINGS. (NOTE: THIS RECORD WAS RECEIVED VIA TELPHONE BY AN ODI INVESTIGATOR RATHER THAN THROUGH OUR HOTLINE OR ONLINE FORM. IT HAS BEEN ADDED TO OUR COMPLAINT FILE IN RESPONSE TO A THIRD PARTY REQUEST.) UPDATED 05/03/12*LJ UPDATED 05/04/12

2003 TOYOTA PRIUS - DEVELOPED RATTLE AND TOOK TO THE DEALER. AFTER A LONG EXAMINATION, DEALER DETERMINED THE PROBLEM WAS WITH THE POWER STEERING RACK. DEALER ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THERE HAD BEEN NO ACCIDENT AND COULD NOT DETERMINE A CAUSE. THE REPAIR COST QUOTED WAS $3,500, ONE HALF OF THE RESALE VALUE OF THE CAR. I CONTACTED TOYOTA MOTOR SALES AND WAS TOLD THAT SINCE THE CAR HAD APPROX. 62,000 MILES, THEY WOULD DO NOTHING. THE DEALER HAS INDICATED A WILLINGNESS TO NEGOTIATE ON THE REPAIR PRICE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED HIS VEHICLE HAD BEEN TO THE DEALER APPROXIMATELY THIRTY TIMES FOR VARIOUS SAFETY FAILURES. THE CONTACT HAD EXPERIENCED THE VEHICLE STALLING WITHOUT WARNING WHILE TRAVELING UPHILL AT SPEEDS OF 25 MPH, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WARNING LIGHTS REMAINED ILLUMINATED, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ENGAGE FROM BATTERY TO GASOLINE POWER WHEN WARRANTED, AND THE CONTACT INTERMITTENTLY WAS UNABLE TO MOVE THE GEAR SHIFT SELECTOR INTO THE REVERSE POSITION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE HE ADVISED THAT THERE MAY BE ENGINE OIL IN THE THROTTLE CAUSING THE STALLING ISSUES. THE CONTACT WAS AWAITING A HYBRID EXPERT TO FURTHER INSPECT THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 30,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 97,300.

THERE IS NO THERMOSTAT GAUGE IN A 2003 TOYOTA PRIUS , THE CAR OVER HEATS AND YOU DON'T KNOW UNTIL YOUR IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC NEARLY GETTING KILLED. TOYOTA WAS CONTACTED, BUT SAY NOT A RECALL AND THEY DON'T HONESTLY CAR CAUSE CAR IS OLD . THAT'S NOT RIGHT , ANYTHING YOU STILL USE FROM CARS OR EVEN MEDICINE HAVE LATER COME BACK TO HURT OR KILLED PEOPLE. THERE IS NO HOT TO COLD GAUGE IN THE CAR , 2003 ONLY . I HAVE INVESTIGATED AND SEE PEOPLE PUBLISH ABOUT THIS BUT LET IT SLIP BY . I WAS DRIVING WITH NO INSTALLED GAUGE AND SURVIVED THROUGH MAKE A LEFT HAND TURN ON A STALLED VEHICLE THAT OVER HEATED AND WAS LATER CHECK BY TOYOTA TECHNICIANS THAT SAID F THERE WAS A THERMOSTAT GAUGE PROBLEM WOULD OF MOST LIKELY BE AVOIDED. SOMEBODY CAN'T KEEP OPEN AND CLOSING THE RADIATOR CAP CAUSE OF THIS MISSING GAUGE . OIL HAS DIPSTICK YOU CHECK !!! SAFELY TOO. NOT GOING FRY MY FACE OR BURN MY HANDS ON KEEP CHECKING THE RADIATOR. PLUS WITH A PROPER GAUGE YOU MIGHT KNOW IF YOUR CAR IS COOLED DOWN OR SAFER TO CHECK. TOYOTA HAD REFUSED TO ADDRESS OR CLAIM ANY ISSUES. CASE# [XXX]. PEOPLE LIVES ON AT STAKE CAUSE THEY WANTED TO A. SAVE MONEY B. DON'T KNOW HOW FORGET TO INSTALL THE PART FOR THE YEAR ON EVERY 2003 PRIUS !! PLEASE HELP , TOYOTA DOES NOT CAR ABOUT MY SAFETY OR ANYBODY ELSE SAFETY - [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

DT:WHILE DRIVING AT 25-30 MPH VEHICLE LOST POWER AND STALLED DUE TO ELECTRONIC THROTTLE MODULE FAILURE. *AK UPDATED 12/6/2005 - THE DEALER REPLACED THE FUEL RELAY. *NM

MY 2003 PRIUS (FIRST GEN, FROM JAPAN), HAS BEEN THRU A FEW RECALLS - 1 WAS TO SEAL THE BATTERY BETTER EARLY ON (04ISH), THEN IT WAS GIVEN NEW PINION SHAFT NUTS. LATEST ISSUE HAS BEEN AN ISSUE ALL ALONG, JUST NOT DIAGNOSED/FIXED TIL NOW. SOMETIMES THE 'CHECK ENGINE' LIGHT WOULD COME ON, WITH THE CAR/! /TRIANGLE GRAPHIC ON TOUCH SCREEN. THIS TIME IT DIDN'T GO AWAY. LONG STORY SHORT, IT WAS THE ELECTRIC WATER PUMP THAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. DEALER SAID IT WASN'T CYCLING PROPERLY, LEAKING ANTIFREEZE; ALSO A BIG HYBRID BATTERY ISSUE WAS SHOWING UP, BUT THEY SUSPECTED WHEN FIXING WATER PUMP IT MIGHT CLEAR UP BATTERY ISSUE. DID RESEARCH, FOUND THIS HAS BEEN A BIG ISSUE FOR A LOT OF PRIUS OWNERS. SAW THE CONSUMER REPORTS & THIS STORY, FROM A TOYOTA NEWS RELEASE. THE FOLLOWING IS EXACTLY WHAT I'VE EXPERIENCED, & MY CAR WAS PART OF THE PINION SHAFT NUTS/STEERING COLUMN RECALL, BUT NOT WATER PUMP RECALL!: "TOYOTA IS RECALLING 670,000 OF THEIR POPULAR PRIUS HYBRIDS IN THE US TO CORRECT TWO SAFETY ISSUES. THEY SAY ALL OF THE VEHICLES WILL BE INSPECTED TO SEE IF A PART IN THE STEERING SHAFT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED DUE TO AN ISSUE THAT COULD CAUSE EXCESSIVE WEAR. 350,000 OF THESE SAME PRIUS VEHICLES (FROM 2001-2010 IN JAPAN ) ARE ALSO BEING RECALLED TO REPLACE THE ELECTRIC WATER PUMP FOR THE HYBRID SYSTEM. TOYOTA SAYS THE PUMP COULD FAIL AND CAUSE THE HYBRID SYSTEM TO STOP RUNNING. THEY SAID ITS DEALERS WILL INSPECT & REPLACE ANY DEFECTS FREE OF CHARGE. RECALL NOTICES WILL GO TO OWNERS IN DEC. 2012. ABOUT 2.77M VEHICLES WORLDWIDE ARE AFFECTED."TOYOTA DID NOT PAY FOR MY REPAIR, $669; THAT WAS WITH A 15% OFF COUPON! I AM KEEPING MY RECEIPT. TOYOTA NEEDS TO INCLUDE MY VIN IN THE NEXT BATCH OF RECALLS FOR THIS DEFECTIVE WATER PUMP, WHICH HAS BEEN DEFECTIVE SINCE DAY 1, BUT A SLOW DIAGNOSIS, THAT MAY HAVE AFFECTED THE OVERALL FUNCTION OF THE HYBRID SYSTEM BATTERY PERMANENTLY. NO FUN! *TR

2203 TOYOTA PRIUS CST BRAKE LIGHT GOES ON INTERMITTENTLY HAD BRAKES REPLACED BY DEALER. BRAKES DID NOT FEEL OK BUT TOLD THIS WAS NORMAL. BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR INTERMITTENTLY BUT NO BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON. AFTER CAR SLID THRU RED LIGHT AT INTERSECTION, CAR WAS BROUGHT BACK TO DEALER. REPLACED MASTER CYLINDER. BRAKES STILL DID NOT WORK. DEALER SAID BRAKE HOSES WERE SOFT & SWOLLEN AND BRAKE CONTROLLER STICKING. REPLACED BRAKE HOSES, FLUSHED LINES CAP. BLEEDER PLUG ACTUATOR ASSY. CAR HAS 67,000 MILES. *TR

2003 TOYOTA PRIUS WITH EXCESSIVE TIRE WEAR. FIRST TIRE FAILURE (SEP 03) AT APPROXIMATELY 14K MILES; TOTAL FAILURE OF TIRE, WE LUCKED OUT. REMAINDER OF TIRES REPLACED AT ABOUT 18K MILES. THAT GOOD-QUALITY SET HAS NOW WORN TO THE POINT OF NEEDING TO BE REPLACED AT 38000 MILES. TOYOTA ADMITS THERE IS A PROBLEM, BUT WILL DO NOTHING TO HELP THE CUSTOMER WITH IT. A WEB SEARCH SHOWS OTHER OWNERS HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM (TIRE WALL FAILURES, LIKE OUR FIRST FAILURE) -- WITH SOME COMPENSATED, SOME NOT. THERE ARE ALSO OTHER DEFECTS WHICH THE MANUFACTURER WILL NOT/CANNOT REPAIR AFTER SEVERAL REPORTS....UNTIL THEY BLAME THE CUSTOMER FOR "HURTING" THE CAR AFTER THEY CAN'T FIX IT.*AK

BRIDGESTONE TIRES SUPPLIED BY MANUFACTURER HAD BEGAN DELAMINATING ALONG INSIDE RIM BECAUSE REAR ALIGNMENT ON 2003 TOYOTA PRIUS WAS INCORRECT. ONE TIRE WAS NEAR COMPLETE FAILURE WHEN DISCOVERED. THE QUESTION IS: DOES THE WEIGHT OF THE BATTERY PACK (PLACED IMMEDIATELY OVER THE REAR AXLE) CAUSE THE REAR SUSPENSION TO MISALIGN IN NORMAL DAILY DRIVING, WHICH IN TURN PLACES EXTREME WEAR ON THE INSIDE OF THE REAR TIRES? BECAUSE THE WEAR IS ON THE INSIDE OF THE TIRE, THE PROBLEM MAY NOT BE DISCOVERED BEFORE A BLOWOUT OCCURS. *JB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA PRIUS HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE HAD EXPERIENCED SEVERAL FAILURES WITHIN THE VEHICLE SINCE PURCHASING THREE MONTHS AGO. THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED, THE LEFT FRONT TIRE HAD A LEAK AND THE INVERTER WAS REPLACED BECAUSE SEVERAL LIGHTS ON THE INSTRUMENTAL PANEL REMAINED ILLUMINATED. ON DECEMBER 3, 2010, WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH THE STEERING WHEEL BEGAN TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHO PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC TEST BUT WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE A FAILURE CODE. THE DEALER TEST DROVE THE VEHICLE BUT WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 86,000.

2003 TOYOTA PRIUS - DEVELOPED RATTLE AND TOOK TO THE DEALER. AFTER A LONG EXAMINATION, DEALER DETERMINED THE PROBLEM WAS WITH THE POWER STEERING RACK. DEALER ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THERE HAD BEEN NO ACCIDENT AND COULD NOT DETERMINE A CAUSE. THE REPAIR COST QUOTED WAS $3,500, ONE HALF OF THE RESALE VALUE OF THE CAR. I CONTACTED TOYOTA MOTOR SALES AND WAS TOLD THAT SINCE THE CAR HAD APPROX. 62,000 MILES, THEY WOULD DO NOTHING. THE DEALER HAS INDICATED A WILLINGNESS TO NEGOTIATE ON THE REPAIR PRICE. *TR

2003 TOYOTA PRIUS--HEADLIGHT LENSES CLOUD UP, RENDERING THE ABILITY TO SEE AT NIGHT NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE. I HAVE TRIED THE DYI KITS TO REMOVE THE CLOUDINESS, BUT THEY ONLY IMPROVE IT SLIGHTLY AND ONLY TEMPORARILY. WITHIN 3 MONTHS, THEY ARE JUST AS BAD AGAIN. NOW I AM TOLD THAT IT WILL NOT PASS STATE INSPECTION AS IT IS. NEW LENSES ARE EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE AS IT IS EVIDENTLY A DEALER ITEM ONLY. *TR

WHILE BACKING UP SLOWLY (UNDER 10), THE CAR SUDDENLY SPED UP, UNINTENDED ACCELERATED, TO HIT THE MOVABLE BARRIER AND ANOTHER CAR BEFORE BRAKED.

PURCHASED CAR ON EBAY FROM A PA DEALER, DID NOT KNOW, NOR WAS I TOLD THAT THE CAR HAD NO AIRBAG. WHETHER IT WAS REMOVED OR NOT REPLACED I DON'T KNOW. MY WIFE WAS DRIVING AND RECEIVED A COMPOUND FRACTURE OF HER RIGHT LEG. I UNDERSTAND THAT IT IS A FEDERAL OFFENSE NOT TO NOTIFY A BUYER OF MISSING AIRBAGS. MY WIFE HAD TO BE AIRLIFTED FOR TREATMENT, AND STILL IS UNABLE TO WALK CORRECTLY. SHE HAS CONTINUOUS PAIN. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE REAR END OF THE VEHICLE AND THE SEAT BELT FAILED TO RESTRAIN HER FROM HITTING HER HEAD ONTO THE STEERING WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. UPDATED 10/2/14*CN THE CONSUMER STATED SHE DID NOT REPORT THIS INFORMATION. THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE SEATBELTS WHICH WAS NEVER TAKEN CARE OF. THE CONSUMER DID NOT SUSTAIN INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE CONSUMER SOUGHT MEDICAL ATTENTION TO ENSURE HER INJURIES WERE ACTUALLY MINOR. UPDATED 3/30/2015 *JS