2009 Toyota Prius Problems

Dashboard Warning Lights: ABS, VSC, Parking Brake Light, Triangle with Exclamation Point, Codes: C1256 & C1391, Intermittent Audible Cabin Buzzing indicating critical pressure loss on start-up for about 10 seconds...then stops, not loss so much as anti-braking quick bursts at about 5 mph of stopping v slowly and seamlessly coming to a stop. I contacted Toyota Corporate Case Management; they refused to escalate or remediate the issue due to vehicle mileage, despite being notified of the active brake pressure leak codes and the audible safety alarm.

I own 2 2009 Toyota Prius. Both cars less than 175,000 miles and both have failed ABS modules. The ABS module in this vehicle is also the power brake booster. This failure can cause braking issues such as loss of braking or sudden brake application. Only known fix is replacement of the ABS brake module which requires the Toyota Techstream service computer.

Apparently a known issue with the HID lights coming on or off intermittently.

The front lights and break lights sometimes turn off while I am driving. Both of the lights or one of them.

Dashboard Warning Lights: ABS, VSC, Parking Brake Light, Triangle with Exclamation Point, Codes: C1256 & C1391, Intermittent Audible Cabin Buzzing indicating critical pressure loss on start-up for about 10 seconds...then stops, not loss so much as anti-braking quick bursts at about 5 mph of stopping v slowly and seamlessly coming to a stop. I contacted Toyota Corporate Case Management; they refused to escalate or remediate the issue due to vehicle mileage, despite being notified of the active brake pressure leak codes and the audible safety alarm.

Brake actuator is broken. Toyota knew about this problem and they had a warranty for 10 years or 150k miles. Mine only has 80k miles. The repair is half of what the car is worth. I thought a Toyota with such low miles would be dependable. Toyota knew that people have died from this problem with their car. I need this car to get to work and get my kids to school. It’s older than 10 years so I am just screwed on something they knew was broken. Of course the sales person at the Toyota dealership did not tell us about it when he sold us the car

Breaking system failure do to ASB Actuator, breaks are locking and vehicle is engine braking.

The contact owns a 2009 Toyota Prius. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, extra effort was needed to stop the vehicle while depressing the brake pedal. In addition, the contact stated that the instrument panel intermittently went blank and failed to operate as needed. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where the contact was informed that the ABS and the instrument cluster needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 157,000.

Breaking system failure do to ASB Actuator, breaks are locking and vehicle is engine braking.

The engine light went on while driving on the highway. We immediately pulled over and had the vehicle towed to the nearest dealership. The dealership informed us that both the Brake Actuator (Toyota part TO44500-47141) and water pump (Toyota par TOG9020-47031) had failed. The car was no longer save to drive.

Our 2009 Toyota Prius is known as a Gen 2 Prius (model years 2004 -2009). All Gen 2 Priuses has a bladder inside their fuel tank. Over time, these bladders are known to deteriorate. In our case, the fuel tank capacity is shrinking and fuel can be difficult to add to the tank (pumps click off repeatedly and occasionally, fuel splashes back out of the tank). Additionally, the fuel gauge reports unreliable statuses and drops or adds multiple "bars" at a time yet fuel, when added, and tank status as reported by the gauge, are inconsistent with one another. Thus, we, the drivers, don't know how much fuel is in the tank and may consider carrying a full gas can to avoid being stranded along the roadside. We believe Toyota knew about this Gen 2 defect at the time we purchased our 2009 Prius, which was in March, 2009. In fact, the new Gen 3 Priuses, starting with the 2010 model year, had already had their fuel systems redesigned and factories were probably being retooled when we purchased our vehicle. Thus, they knowing sold us a vehicle with a known product defect. Now, with the bladder deteriorating, the local Toyota dealership wants to replace our fuel tank/system at a cost of almost $2,000. The replacement tank will be of an identical design as the one they sold me in 2009. So they want me to pay an additional two grand for a tank that has been known to be defective for the past 13 years. This is unbelievable!

My 2009 Toyota Prius abruptly lost power while driving. The electrical system turned off and the vehicle stalled while going 50 mph on a 2-lane parkway. While I was able to put my hazard lights on and steer the vehicle, I had no other control and was at a high risk of a crash. There's no emergency lane and few areas wide enough to pull over on the parkway. I was forced to coast the vehicle until I could pull off the parkway onto a patch of grass off the busy road. There were no warnings, messages, or other symptoms of the problems prior to failure. I had plenty of gasoline in the tank, so it wasn't due to a lack of fuel. The car would not start after pulling over and I had to get towed. After researching the issue, it sounds very similar to the safety recall involving certain 2013-2015 Model Year Prius and 2014 – 2017 Model Year Prius v in the United States, the press release for which was published on June 24 2020: https://tinyurl.com/4mrnz9nr Furthermore, the Los Angeles Times wrote an article on April 23 2018 about a similar issue, referring to a recall in 2014 which was intended to fix overheating problems in the 2010-204 Prius inverter. Those recall documents suggest that Toyota has been tracking this issue with the inverter since 2011. https://tinyurl.com/afwvt2sc A sudden power loss is generally considered a serious safety defect. I could have gotten into a serious car accident today and injured myself or other drivers. The 2009 Toyota Prius model had a recall issued on recall date: 11/14/2012 under NHTSA Campaign ID: 12V536000, referring to a "short circuit between coil wires and a possible open fuse, creating a stall-like condition of the hybrid system while the vehicle is being driven. This may increase the risk of a vehicle crash." At this time, I don't believe Toyota has conducted due diligence into ensuring the safety of the 2009 Toyota Prius model. The vehicle has not yet been inspected by the manufacturer or insurance reps.

All dashboard lights up. The brake fluid is full and the pads are in proper shape. When braking the car slips a few feets and I was about to make accedents several times with my school children.

WHEN MY 2009 TOYOTA PRIUS GOES OVER 65 MPH THE PROBLEM LIGHT FLASHES ON THE DISPLAY AND THE THE ENGINE OIL LIGHT ILLUMINATES AS WELL. *TR

Over the years the rubber handle which needs to be pressed in in order to open the trunk has disintegrated. Now it’s at the point where the assembly under the rubber handle is exposed. It is getting harder and harder to open. I need to be able to get into the truck to get to my spare tire and road hazard equipment. I can’t get a picture s8nce it’s too close to the body and covered by the overhanging trunk lid. It’s about $500 to fix. But I rarely use that handle, so it certainly was never abused. Just a very bad design.

THE BACK LATCH OF MY GRANDDAUGHTERS 09 TOYOTA PRIUS HAS DEGRADED ("MELTED" ALMOST). IT NO LONGER FUNCTIONS PROPERLY, AND WE ARE UNABLE TO OPEN THE BACK HATCH DOOR EASILY. SOMETIMES IT REQUIRES CONSIDERABLE EFFORT AND PERSEVERANCE TO GET IT OPEN. I AM CONCERNED THAT IN THE CASE OF AN EMERGENCY, SHE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO GET THE DOOR OPEN. THIS IS A MAJOR CAUSE FOR CONCERN AND IT IS A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD. IT IS NECESSARY TO GET TO THE SPARE TIRE, MAYBE EVEN GET OUT OF THE TRUNK IN CASE OF A FIRE OR OTHER REASON. IT IS A BLACK, GOOEY MESS. SHE FIRST NOTICED IT A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, BUT I JUST FOUND OUT ABOUT IT AND I AM OBVIOUSLY CONCERNED ABOUT HER SAFETY.

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.

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.

The car stopped moving while I was driving. The engine is functional but it will not engage the drivetrain. The dashboard lights up intermittently. Most of the time the dash is dark. The local Toyota dealer will not take this car into the service department since it is over 10 years old and the dealer has not done all the regular servicings of the car. So I can not drive it.

DRIVING VEHICLE ON A CITY STREET IN DRIVE GEAR AND IT SLIPPED OUT OF DRIVE INTO NEUTRAL WITHOUT WARNING. TRIED TO PUT IT BACK IN DRIVE (AS I WAS ON THE ROAD) BUT EVERY TIME I SWITCHED GEARS BACK TO DRIVE AND RELEASED THE GEAR SHIFTER IT WOULD IMMEDIATELY POP BACK INTO NEUTRAL. I PARKED & TURNED THE CAR OFF, WAITED AND THEN TURNED IT BACK ON AGAIN. IT SEEMED TO BE OKAY SO I GOT ON THE FREEWAY HOME AND AFTER I MERGED INTO TRAFFIC THE SAME PROBLEM HAPPENED (BUT WHILE I WAS DRIVING AT A MUCH FASTER SPEED). I HAD TO HOLD THE GEAR SHIFT DOWN IN DRIVE THE ENTIRE RIDE HOME (WITH MY ONE YEAR OLD IN THE CAR). I GOT HOME AND AFTER I PARKED AND LET THE CAR SIT I WENT BACK OUT AND TRIED THE CAR AGAIN AND IT HAPPENED AGAIN. I CHECKED AND THE SAME PROBLEM HAPPENED IN REVERSE (IT WON'T STAY IN REVERSE, IT JUST POPS BACK INTO NEUTRAL).

I was driving the 2009 Prius to my storage unit there was a car that I needed to go around so i sifted into reverse when I noticed a scraping sound as I was backing when I shifted into forward the sound again was there is when i noticed I had no directional control of the vehicle steering wheel would turn but the tires would not respond at all. I called for a tow truck, I called think of a greater safety issue than driving a car with no control over where it goes.

CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE STEERING LOSS, BRAKE LOSS AND ACCELERATION ISSUES, CORPORATION FAILURE TO INFORM CONSUMER OF COUNTERFEIT DRIVE TRAIN ISSUES THAT INJURED CONSUMER. SMD THE CONSUMER STATED TOYOTA FAILED TO WARN THEM ABOUT BEING CONVICTED OF "USING THE INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY OF HYBRID DRIVE INVENTOR WITHOUT HIS PERMISSION." *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING 2 MPH IN REVERSE, THE CONTACT SHIFTED THE VEHICLE INTO DRIVE AND NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS STILL REVERSING. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN SHIFTED BACK INTO REVERSE AND THEN BACK INTO DRIVE BEFORE THE VEHICLE WOULD DRIVE FORWARD. THE FAILURE HAS OCCURRED ON THREE DIFFERENT OCCASIONS THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER. HE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT WHEN PRESSING THE START BUTTON THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. THE BRAKE LIGHT ALSO ILLUMINATES ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL EVEN THOUGH THE BRAKES ARE NOT ENGAGED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 10000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 2 MPH INTO A PARKING SPACE WITH PRESSURE APPLIED TO THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE VEHICLE SLOWED DOWN, FOLLOWED BY AN UNEXPECTED ACCELERATION. THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A HANDICAP PARKING POLE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THERE WAS A SEPARATE OCCASION WHEN THE GEAR SELECTOR FAILED TO SHIFT INTO REVERSE GEAR OR PARK POSITION. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS FUNCTIONING PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THIS TIME. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 36,000.

MAYBE RELATED TO TAKATA RECALL: WE DID NOT RECEIVE A RECALL, HOWEVER OUR CAR SKID INTO A TREE AND HAD SIGNIFICANT FRONT END DAMAGE, HOWEVER NO AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. WAS GOING 25 MPH ON A SUBURBAN RESIDENTIAL ST DURING A MIXED SNOW/SLEET STORM. SLIGHT CURVE AND SLIGHTLY DOWNHILL. THE BRAKES WERE NOT APPLIED AS THEY COULD HAVE MADE IT WORSE. CAR SPED UP INTO THE SKID TOTALLING THE CAR WITH $11,000 DAMAGE. WE HAVE BEEN GIVEN SEVERAL OPINIONS THAT THE VELOCITY NECESSARY TO CAUSE THE DAMAGE SHOULD HAVE TRIGGERED THE AIRBAG SENSORS. CAR HIT THE MIDDLE OF THE BUMPER AND PERHAPS MISSED THE SENSORS? NO REPORT WAS FILED BY THE POLICE AS ACCIDENT WAS CAUSED BY THE ROAD CONDITIONS/WEATHER NOT DRIVER ERROR. I HAVE PHOTOS I CAN SEND IN A FEW DAYS

WHILE INCHING SLOWLY INTO A PARKING SPOT, VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AT FULL SPEED TO JUMP OVER THE PARKING BARRIER. WHEELS WERE TURNED SLIGHTLY TO RIGHT, SO CAR VEERED RIGHT AND STOPPED AS IT HIGH-CENTERED ON THE BARRIER, JUST BEHIND FRONT WHEELS. NO INJURIES- DRIVER & CHILD IN BACK WERE BUCKLED. WITNESSED BY MANY PEDESTRIANS WHO RAN TO ASSIST. ONE WITNESS SAID THE SAME THING HAPPENED IN HER PRIUS, BUT TOYOTA WAS USELESS TO HELP. IN MONTHS SINCE THE INCIDENT, TOYOTA HAS BEEN TERRIBLE AT RESPONDING IN ANY HELPFUL WAY. THE BLACK BOX RECORDER SHOWS NOTHING, OF COURSE, SINCE IT WAS A SLOW IMPACT WITHOUT AIRBAG DEPLOY. MOST INTERESTINGLY, THE NHTSA HAS NO INFO OF THIS INCIDENT, WHICH I'M REPORTING TODAY ONLY BECAUSE I NOTICED IN THE OWNER MANUAL ON REAR PAGE, SMALL PRINT, SOME INFO ABOUT REPORTING SAFETY DEFECTS FOR U.S. OWNERS... BUT AT LEAST 20 TOYOTA PERSONNEL, INSURANCE ADJUSTORS, REPAIR FACILITIES AND SALES TEAM MEMBERS NEVER SAID ANYTHING ABOUT SUCH A REPORT. HENCE MY ASSUMPTION THAT MOST OF THESE INCIDENTS ARE NOT REPORTED TO GOV'T UNLESS FATALITIES OCCUR. *TR

THE BALLASTS FOR THE HID LIGHTS IN THE 2009 PRIUS ARE FAMOUSLY UNRELIABLE. MINE DEMONSTRATED THIS LAST EVENING IN A VERY UNNERVING WAY. THE HEADLAMPS WOULD SIMPLY TURN OFF WITHOUT WARNING, SOMETIMES ONE, AND MANY TIMES, BOTH, LEAVING ME TO THE MERCY OF STREET LIGHTS! THIS IS INCREDIBLY DANGEROUS. I CHECKED ON IT AND FOUND THAT THIS HAPPENS TO HUNDREDS OF PRIUS DRIVERS. ISN'T TOYOTA CONCERNED THAT ITS $1,200 CHARGE FOR FIXING ITS OWN DEFECTIVE EQUIPMENT (FOR THE BALLASTS ARE KNOWN FOR THIS) WILL LEAD TO DEATH OF POOR PERSONS WHO CANNOT AFFORD THE FIX? SHOULDN'T THERE BE A GENERAL RECALL FOR SUCH A CONSUMER-SAFETY ISSUE? (SURE, CYCLING THE LIGHTS TURNS THEM BACK ON, BUT WHEN YOU ARE DRIVING IN THE DARK, IT ISN'T EASY TO THINK WELL.)

THE HEADLIGHTS HAVE BEEN GOING OUT RANDOMLY FOR THE LAST FEW MONTHS BUT ONLY ONE AT A TIME. THIS EVENING WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM A LATE MEETING, BOTH HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT WHILE DRIVING AT 55MPH. I PULLED OFF THE HIGHWAY AND TRIED TURNING THE CAR OFF AND ON AGAIN. HEADLIGHTS WENT ON WHEN I TURNED THE CAR BACK ON, SO I RESUMED DRIVING ONLY TO HAVE THE LIGHTS GO OUT AGAIN! THIS TIME I FLICKED ON THE HIGH BEAMS AND THE LIGHTS CAME ON. I STOPPED TO GRAB A BITE TO EAT FIGURING I COULD DO THE HIGH BEAM TRICK AGAIN. WHEN I STARTED THE CAR, THE LIGHTS WENT ON AND HIGH BEAMS TURNED ON WHEN I ENGAGED THE LEVER. WHILE DRIVING HOME, LESS THAN 2 MILES FROM WHERE I STARTED THE CAR, HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT AND THE HIGH BEAMS DID NOT WORK EITHER WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO TURN THEM ON. I PULLED OVER TO TURN THE CAR OFF AND ON AGAIN BUT WITH NO LUCK THIS TIME. VERY SLOWLY DROVE THE LAST MILE HOME ON THE LESS TRAVELED ROAD WITH MY FLASHERS ON...THIS SITUATION IS INCREDIBLY DANGEROUS. *TR

PASSENGER SEAT SENSOR OPERATES INTERMITTENTLY. REPORTED TO DEALER FOR REPAIR, HOWEVER DEALER STATED THEY COULD NOT REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM. HOWEVER PROBLEM PERSISTS INTERMITTENTLY. THIS SOUNDS EXACTLY LIKE THE SEAT SENSOR PROBLEM FOR WHICH A RECALL WAS ISSUED FOR SOME 2009 PRIUS MODELS (13V014000). OUR PRIUS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. PERHAPS THIS RECALL SHOULD BE EXPANDED.

TOYOTA PRIUS 2009 HEADLIGHTS WERE ON AND OFF FINALLY THE LEFT SIDE WENT OFF TOTALLY. THE SEAL OUTSIDE THE HEADLIGHT DIDN'T PREVENT OF WATER CAME INTO THE SYSTEM AND DAMAGED IT . ALSO WHILE DRIVING THE CAR ACCELERATED AND DECELERATED BY ITSELF . AND WHILE STOPPING THE CAR JUMP. *TR

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

MULTIPLE ISSUES WITH 2009 PRIUS. FIRST: LOSS OF AIR PRESSURE IN FRONT LEFT TIRE FROM TIME I PICKED UP THE VEHICLE TO PRESENT. I CONTINUALLY NEED TO PUT AIR IN THE TIRE, USUALLY ON A WEEKLY/BI-WEEKLY BASIS. THE OTHER TIRES ARE FINE. SECOND: FOR THE SAME TIRE, THE TIRE PRESSURE LIGHT WOULD NOT BE TRIGGERED UNTIL ~23 POUNDS, SHOULD HAVE BEEN TRIGGERED IN SAME TIRE AT 33 LBS. THIRD: VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP WHEN APPLYING PRESSURE ON BRAKES AT SLOW SPEED. THIS HAS OCCURRED ABOUT 6 TIMES IN A 6 MONTH PERIOD. SIMULTANEOUSLY, THE VSC LIGHT WENT ON AND THE SLID INDICATOR WENT ON. THE TERRAIN WAS ON EITHER ASPHALT OR CONCRETE ROADS, SLIGHTLY DOWNHILL (CONCRETE) AND ONE STREET IS A BIT ROUGH (FILLED IN POT HOLES). ALSO, BOTH AREAS ARE WITHIN A QUARTER MILE OF EACH OTHER AND NEAR THE OCEAN. WITH EACH OCCURRENCE THE VSC WENT INTO EFFECT. ON 11/21/09 IT JOLTED HARD MUCH MORE THAN THE OTHER OCCASIONS; THIS DATE WAS THE INCIDENT ON THE BRIDGE WHEN THE CAR WAS GOING IN A SLIGHT DOWNWARD DIRECTION. I LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE FOR SEVERAL SECONDS AND WAS AFRAID THAT I WOULD HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME; I BEEPED MY HORN TO WARN THE DRIVER IN FRONT OF ME. MY VEHICLE DID STOP IN TIME BUT IT TOOK ALOT LONGER THAN IT SHOULD HAVE TAKEN. ON A LATER OCCASION, I WAS GOING ABOUT 5-10 MPH FASTER ON A NEARBY STREET AND ATTEMPTED TO STOP FOR A STOP SIGN AND IT DID THE SAME THING, HOWEVER THE VSC DID NOT JOLT BACK AS HARD. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT ANGLED DOWN AS MUCH AS THE 11/21/09 INCIDENT. ON 11/21/09 I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO CABE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP AND THEY LOOKED AT THE CAR BUT FOUND NOTHING WRONG WITH IT. I ALSO HAD THE CAR LOOKED AT BY TOYOTA CORP TODAY AND WAS TOLD THAT THE DRIVER FEELS THAT I FELT THE ABS BRAKES ONLY. THIS IS NOT THE CASE. WHEN I STEPPED ON THE BRAKES EACH OCCASION IT WAS AS THOUGH THERE WAS NOTHING THERE AND I HAD NO CONTROL IN STOPPING IT. THIS WAS ESPECIALLY TRUE WHEN THE VSC KICKED IN (THE JERKING). EACH TIME IT LASTED MANY, SEVERAL OR MORE SECONDS. *TR