2004 Toyota Prius Transmission Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE APPLIED THE BRAKES AND DEPRESSED THE SHIFT BUTTON TO SHIFT INTO PARK. AS HE REMOVED HIS FOOT FROM THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE VEHICLE THEN ROLLED FORWARD UNTIL PRESSURE WAS REAPPLIED TO THE BRAKES. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THERE WAS A MALFUNCTION IN WHICH THE VEHICLE WAS NOT ACTUALLY SHIFTED INTO PARK AFTER HE ENGAGED THE PARK BUTTON. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO HAVE THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED OR THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 52,700.

NHTSA ID

10375379

Incident

Jan 8, 2011

Mileage

52,700 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2004 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING THE GEAR SHIFT BECAME STUCK BETWEEN DRIVE AND NEUTRAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND WHERE THE SHIFT LEVER ASSEMBLY WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY TOLD HIM THEY WERE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,500 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 50,656.

NHTSA ID

10375012

Incident

Jan 3, 2011

Mileage

50,500 mi

MY 2004 TOYOTA PRIUS HAS LEFT ME STRANDED FOR 15 MINUTE PERIODS OF TIME WHILE PARKED ON MY STREET. ALL THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS COME ON AS WELL AS THE FOLLOWING RED WARNING "CAUTION - TRANSMISSION "P" LOCK MECHANISM IS ABNORMAL. PARK IN A FLAT PLACE AND APPLY BRAKE." I WAS PARKED ON A MILD INCLINE AND I ALWAYS USE MY PARKING BRAKE. THIS HOWEVER MAKES ME SUSPICIOUS OF WHETHER THE PARKING BRAKE IS HARDY ENOUGH TO WORK WHEN PARKED ON THE CROWN OF A STREET PARKING SPACE. I APPLIED AND RE-APPLIED MY PARKING BRAKE WITHOUT SUCCESS. I OPEN AND CLOSED THE HOOD WITHOUT SUCCESS. I OPEN AND CLOSED MY DOOR WITHOUT SUCCESS. I PLACED ALL MY PASSENGER SEAT ITEMS ON THE FLOOR WITHOUT SUCCESS. I HELD THE IGNITION BUTTON WITHOUT SUCCESS. I PLACED MY KEY FOB INTO THE IGNITION WITHOUT SUCCESS. AND WHEN TRYING TO REMOVE MY KEY FOB SO I COULD GO CALL A TOW TRUCK, THE ENTIRE DASHBOARD HOUSING FOR THE IGNITION KEY CAME LOOSE AND DIS-ARTICULATED IN MY HAND. I JUST CAREFULLY PUSHED THE PLASTIC HOUSING BACK INTO THE DASHBOARD.... HOWEVER, THAT WAS DEPRESSING TO SEE. FINALLY, AFTER ALL THE TINKERING FOR 15 MINUTES, MY CAR FINALLY TURNED OFF. I WAS THEN ABLE TO TURN IT BACK ON AND DRIVE AWAY WITHOUT A PROBLEM. IN RETROSPECT, THIS HAS HAPPENED ON AT LEAST 4 OCCASIONS SINCE DECEMBER 24, 2009 AND I JUST ASSUMED THAT DURING THE BOUT WITH MY INJURED LEG THAT I WAS NOT ADEQUATELY PLACING ENOUGH FORCE ON THE PARKING BRAKE..... BUT SHOULD THIS HAPPEN SO EASILY?? I HAVE SEEN MANY OTHER SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ONLINE. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THIS IS PART OF THE WHOLE SAFETY ISSUES WITH CARS NOT BEING ABLE TO STOP WHILE RUNNING. THANKS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10333915

Incident

May 30, 2010

Mileage

50,000 mi

I HAVE A 2004 PRIUS. THE SHIFT LEVER BEGAN TO STICK IN THE SELECT GEAR POSITION INSTEAD OF GOING BACK TO THE NEUTRAL POSITION. WHEN THIS HAPPENED, THE PARK BUTTON WOULD NOT WORK, CAUSING THE CAR TO MOVE FORWARD IF THE BRAKE WAS RELEASED. I CALLED TOYOTA AND COMPLAINED TWICE. THE GEAR SELECT LEVER NEEDS TO BE MODIFIED SO IT DOESN'T STICK AND THE SOFTWARE CHANGED TO ALLOW THE PARK FUNCTION TO WORK WHEN THE CAR IS STOPPED REGARDLESS OF THE POSITION OF THE GEAR SELECT LEVER. *TR

NHTSA ID

10318454

Incident

Feb 9, 2008

Mileage

80,000 mi

WHEN THE CAR IS COLD, THE GEAR SHIFTER WON'T STAY IN FORWARD OR REVERSE WITHOUT BEING HELD DOWN MANUALLY. IT GOES INTO NEUTRAL. *TR

NHTSA ID

10310136

Incident

Feb 3, 2010

Mileage

150,000 mi

TWICE MY TOYOTA PRIUS HAS "SURGED" UNEXPECTEDLY. I WAS COASTING INTO A PARKING SPACE BOTH TIMES, SO WAS ABLE TO STOMP ON THE BRAKE AND STOP THE CAR. WHEN THE FIRST RECALL WAS ISSUED I KNEW IT WASN'T THE FLOOR MAT. MINE WAS THE ORIGINAL ONE AND WAS FIRMLY ATTACHED. IT DID NOT MOVE AND "ENTRAP" THE PEDAL AND I DID NOT HAVE MY FOOT ON THE GAS WHEN THE SURGES HAPPENED. I DID NOT BOTHER TO REPORT IT AT THE TIME, AS I AM AN OLDER FEMALE AND HAVE BEEN TREATED LIKE AN IDIOT AT THE DEALERSHIP WHEN I SPOKE WITH THE SERVICE PEOPLE. THE CAR HAS BEEN FINE IN EVERY OTHER WAY. I BELIEVE THIS IS A THROTTLE OR COMPUTER/ELECTRONIC PROBLEM AND I BELIEVE THAT THEY KNOW IT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10304126

Incident

May 20, 2009

Mileage

42,000 mi

2004 TOYOTA PRIUS AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION CONTROL PROBLEMS. CONSUMER STATES THAT TRANSMISSION CONTROL LEVER BECAME WORN. SOMETIMES THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO THE ROLL WITH THIS DEFECT. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED THE INTERNAL SPRING THAT MOVES THE TRANSMISSION LEVER BACK TO THE PREVIOUS POSITION BECAME WORN AND NOW IT DOESN'T RETURN TO IT'S NORMAL POSITION WHEN PUTTING IT IN REVERSE OR DRIVE. THE SHIFTER LEVER WAS STICKING IN DRIVE OR REVERSE. *JB

NHTSA ID

10237130

Incident

Jan 1, 1901

2ND OCCURRENCE OF TOYOTA PRIUS ACCELERATION. WHILE WIFE LEAVING DAUGHTERS SCHOOL, CAR ACCELERATED (PEDAL OFF THE ACCELERATOR!), SHE JAMMED ON BRAKES, BUT WAS CLOSE IN PROVOKING AN ACCIDENT ON MAIN STREET. THIS IS THE SECOND OCCURRENCE. FIRST TIME, SHE HIT A TAXI WHILE STOPPED IN A RED LIGHT. ACCIDENT WAS REPORTED BY POLICE (NO INJURIES). FIRST TIME TOOK CAR INTO THE DEALER (NO APPARENT PROBLEMS). PLANNING ON TAKING CAR AGAIN TO DEALER TOMORROW.!

NHTSA ID

10206271

Incident

Oct 18, 2007

WHILE DRIVING PRIUS ON MAJOR HIGHWAY IN DFW METROPLEX DURING EVENING RUSH HOUR THE WARNING LIGHT CAME ON, THEN A COUPLE SECONDS LATER, ENTIRE DASH BOARD INFORMATION SCREEN AND ALL WARNING LIGHTS FLASHED. CAR ENGINE CONTINUED TO RUN, AND WOULD NOT TURN OFF, BUT NO POWER WAS AVAILABLE TO STEERING OR BRAKES. THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED AT THE APEX OF A BRIDGE. HOWEVER, WAS ABLE TO COAST THE CAR INTO THE MEDIAN BETWEEN THE MERGE RAMP OF THE MAJOR HIGHWAY AND THE INTERSTATE. VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION IF IT HAD OCCURRED BEFORE APEX OF THE BRIDGE. )CALLED THE DEALERSHIP, WHO IN TURN, CALLED A TOW TRUCK. HAD TO BASICALLY PLAY WITH POWER BUTTON, BRAKE, AND GEAR SHIFT TO GET IT INTO NEUTRAL SO THE CAR COULD BE LOADED ONTO THE TOW TRUCK. TOOK DEALER THREE DAYS TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. IT WAS BLAMED ON A SHORT IN AUXILIARY BATTERY. HOWEVER, IT SEEMED TO BE WORKING OKAY. THIS WAS THE THIRD TIME OCCURRENCE SUCH AS THIS HAPPENED TO THIS CAR, AS WELL AS A NON-FUNCTIONING DRIVER INFORMATION SCREEN, THAT IF THE CAR WAS HOT INSIDE THEN INFORMATION SCREEN WORKED, IF NO, THEN THE SCREEN STATED NO CONNECTION TO AIR CONDITIONING , WHICH OCCURRED SINCE FIRST TIME THE SHUT DOWN HAPPENED. THOUGHT THIS PROBLEM WAS SUPPOSED TO BE FIXED WITH THE SOFTWARE UPGRADE THAT THEY INSTALLED AFTER THE LAST OCCURRENCE. IT APPEARED THAT THIS DEFECT HAPPENED EVERY 18,000 MILES . NOW THERE IS 79,000 MILES ON THE CAR.*AK

NHTSA ID

10190212

Incident

Apr 20, 2007

Mileage

78,800 mi

WHEN SHIFTING FROM PARK TO DRIVE, CAR SOMETIMES GOES INTO REVERSE INSTEAD. DEALER CONFIRMED PROBLEM AND OFFERED TO REPLACE SHIFTING MECHANISM FOR $50 DEDUCTIBLE ON EXTENDED WARRANTY. WILL TRY TO OBTAIN OLD PART. *NM

NHTSA ID

10167424

Incident

Sep 5, 2006

Mileage

77,500 mi

THE PRIUS USES A LEVER AND GATE TO SHIFT THE TRANSMISSION INTO GEAR. ON MY PRIUS, THE LEVER STUCK IN THE GATE POSITION AND DID NOT RETURN TO THE NEUTRAL POSITION. I PUSHED THE "PARK" BUTTON AND BEGAN TO EXIT THE CAR. IT ROLLED FORWARD IN GEAR AND I HAD TO JUMP BACK IN AND JAM ON THE BRAKE TO AVOID INJURING SOMEONE. THIS DEFECT IS EXTREMELY SERIOUS. IF THE SELECTOR LEVER DOES NOT RETURN TO THE NEUTRAL POSITION AFTER A GEAR IS SELECTED, THE PARK FUNCTION IS DISABLED AND THE VEHICLE WILL MOVE FORWARD. *JB

NHTSA ID

10165380

Incident

Aug 13, 2006

Mileage

80,845 mi

3 MONTHS AGO, ALL OF THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS IN MY TOYOTA PRIUS 04 CAME ON. I BROUGHT IT STRAIGHT TO THE DEALER. THEY TOOK IT FOR A TEST DRIVE, BUT THE LIGHTS HAD GONE OFF AND THEY REFUSED TO CHECK IT, SAYING IT WAS OKAY. THEN, YESTERDAY, ALL OF THE LIGHTS CAME ON AGAIN. I WAS ON THE SAN FRANCISCO BAY BRIDGE AND COULD NOT PULL OVER ANYWHERE. THEN, THE ACCELERATOR STOPPED WORKING AND THE CAR ROLLED TO A STOP. I CALLED 911 AND TRIED TO TURN OFF THE CAR. THE CAR WOULD NOT TURN OFF. THE ACCELERATOR STILL WOULDN'T WORK AND I WAS STUCK IN THE MIDDLE OF HEAVY TRAFFIC ON THE BRIDGE. FINALLY, CALTRANS USED A TOW TRUCK TO PUSH ME OFF OF THE BRIDGE. I WAS THEN TOWED TO THE TOYOTA DEALER. THE TOYOTA DEALER CHECKED THE CAR AND DISCOVERED THAT I HAD A BUG IN THE SOFTWARE CONTROL UNIT. HE UPDATED THE SOFTWARE AND, SUPPOSEDLY, IT NOW WORKS. I ASKED HIM IF IT WAS THE SAME ISSUE THAT WAS REPORTED IN THE NEWS AS A POTENTIAL RECALL AND HE SAID YES. *JB

NHTSA ID

10131996

Incident

Aug 7, 2005

Mileage

13,961 mi

2004 TOYOTA PRIUS INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE FAILED TO START BUT VEHICLE OPERATED IN ELECTRIC MODE. WHEN BATTERY FAILED, THE VEHICLE SHUTDOWN IN PARK SO WE WERE UNABLE TO PUSH THE VEHICLE OUT OF THE STREET. FAILURE OF A COMPONENT SHOULD NOT MAKE IT IMPOSSIBLE TO MOVE THE VEHICLE. VEHICLE SHOULD NOT FAIL IN PARK. *JB

NHTSA ID

10131815

Incident

Aug 2, 2004

Mileage

18,800 mi

DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CAR GOES INTO A MODE WHERE IT WILL NOT LET THE CONSUMER SHIFT INTO GEAR AND BECAUSE IT IS ELECTRIC SHIFT, THE CONSUMER DOES NOT KNOW THAT HE WAS UNABLE TO SHIFT INTO GEAR. IF HE IS ON A HILL THIS CONDITION WOULD MAKE THE VEHICLE COAST DOWN HILL. WHEN THE CONSUMER GETS INTO THE CAR, PRESSES THE BRAKE AND PRESSES THE POWER BUTTON THE CAR GOES INTO THE IGNITION ON MODE INSTEAD OF THE READY MODE. IF HE IS LOOKING AT THE DASH HE CAN TELL THIS HAS HAPPENED BUT IF HE DOES NOT LOOK AT THE DASH HE WOULD NOT KNOW THAT HE WAS UNABLE TO SHIFT THE CAR INTO GEAR. IF THE CAR IS ON A SLOPE IT WILL GO DOWN THE SLOPE AS SOON AS HE LETS OFF THE BRAKE AND STEPPING ON THE GAS DOES NOT MAKE A DIFFERENCE. OBVIOUSLY IF THERE IS ANYTHING IN FRONT OR BEHIND THE CAR AND THERE WAS SOMETHING IN THE CARS PATH DOWN THE HILL HE WOULD RUN INTO IT. ALSO, TWO VISITS TO THE DEALER UNABLE TO DUPLICATE OR FIX THE PROBLEM BECAUSE IT IS INTERMITTENT. *NM *JB

NHTSA ID

10128383

Incident

Jul 14, 2004

MY TOYOTA PRIUS STALLED WHILE MOVING AT ABOUT 35-40 MPH IN CITY TRAFFIC IN CHANDLER, ARIZONA. THE EMERGENCY LIGHT CAME ON AND THE ENGINE QUIT. I WAS ABLE TO MANEUVER THE CAR TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AS IT COASTED, THEN WE PUSHED IT INTO A PARKING LOT. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO TEMPE TOYOTA (NOW POWER TOYOTA) AND THEY RE-PROGRAMMED THE ON-BOARD COMPUTER, AND I HAVEN'T HAD A PROBLEM SINCE.

NHTSA ID

10124209

Incident

Apr 1, 2005

Mileage

8,000 mi

DT: THE CONSUMER OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA PRIUS. HE SAYS THAT HE IS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE BECAUSE IT WILL SHUT OFF WHILE IN TRAFFIC. ALSO THE PARK MECHANISM WILL DISENGAGED AND THE LOCK BUTTON DOES NOT UNLOCK THE DOORS AS SPECIFIED IN THE OWNERS MANUAL. ALSO THE START BUTTON DOES NOT CONSISTENTLY START THE VEHICLE PROPERLY. *JB THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED: INOPERATIVE BRAKE LIGHT, THE FUEL DOOR SPRING WAS REPLACED, DOME LIGHT REMAINED ON, ENGINE WOULD DISENGAGE, LIGHTS WOULD REMAIN LIT AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE UNTIL THE VEHICLE WAS SHUT OFF AND RESTARTED TO GET THE BRAKE LIGHT TO GO OUT, RATTLING AS IF IT WERE GOING TO STALL, THE ALARM SOUNDED ON ONE OCCASION WHEN THE DOOR WAS OPENED, FUEL DOOR SPRING MALFUNCTIONED AND FUEL DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN. THE TECHNICIANS WERE UNABLE TO VERIFY THE DOOR LOCK MALFUNCTION. THE CONSUMER WOULD LIKE THE VEHICLE REPLACED WITH A 2005 MODEL EQUIPPED AS DETAILED ON THE ORIGINAL INVOICE INCLUDING AFTERMARKET ITEMS PAID FOR. *SC

NHTSA ID

10121220

Incident

Sep 30, 2004