Page 9 of 9 · complaints 401–424 of 424

2012 Toyota Prius complaints

Owner reports filed with NHTSA about this vehicle, newest first and reproduced as filed. They are unverified accounts: one proves nothing, and a pattern across many is the thing worth reading. Back to the full 2012 record →

Visibility/Wiper
Filed Oct 16, 201275 milesFL

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DASHBOARD REFLECTED ONTO THE SIDE VIEW MIRRORS, BLOCKING THE CONTACT'S VISIBILITY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO REFUSED TO ASSIST HIM SINCE THEY WERE UNABLE TO ALTER THE VEHICLE DESIGN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 4,000.

Visibility/Wiper
Filed Oct 10, 2012200 milesCA

THERE IS A TRIPLE EFFECT IN VISIBILITY WHEN A LIGHT SOURCE (EG ONCOMING TRAFFIC HEADLIGHTS) FALL ON THE WINDSHIELD. THIS ISSUE IS EVIDENT FROM ALL ANGLES AND BOTH FRONT SEATS. HAS A DISTRACTING AND A STRAINING EFFECT ON THE EYES. FEELS LIKE WEARING BI-FOCAL GLASSES. *TR

Fuel/Propulsion System
Filed Oct 7, 201213,104 milesUT

FUEL INDICATOR ON THE DASH SHOWED 3 BARS FOR REMAINING FUEL. VEHICLE RAN OUT OF FUEL DESPITE SHOWING 3 BARS. OFTENTIMES AFTER TANK IS FILLED IT ONLY ILLUMINATES TO 1 OR 2 UNDER THE TOP BAR INSTEAD OF SHOWING A FULL TANK. THERE IS OBVIOUSLY A PROBLEM THAT THE CAR IS NOT ACCURATELY REPORTING THE FUEL LEVEL. *TR

Equipment
Filed Sep 27, 20124,000 milesCA

NAVAGATION SCREEN, WHEN SUN HITS THE SCREEN FROM RIGHT DIRECTION THE SCREEN CAN ACT LIKE A VERY BRIGHT MIRROR AND BLIND DRIVER WITHOUT WARNING. *TR

Structure › BodyCrash1 injured
Filed Sep 26, 20122,200 milesTN

ON SEPTEMBER 8, 2012 MY WIFE WAS ON HER WAY TO OUR RENTAL AND WAS HIT AS SHE READIED TO TURN TO THE HOUSE. OUR 2012 TOYOTA PRIUS 3 WAS THROWN INTO THE AIR AND BOUNCED BACK TO A DIAGONAL POSITION ACROSS THE ROAD. UPON IMPACT, THE STEERING WHEEL AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY UNTIL AFTER IMPACT--HER SEATBELT DID NOT RESTRAIN HER FROM HITTING HER CHEST ON THE STEERING WHEEL NOR DID THE KNEE AIR BAG DEPLOY UNTIL AFTER SHE HIT HER KNEES ON THE LOWER DASH. FORTUNATELY FOR HER AND ME, SHE SUFFERED DEEP BRUISING BUT NO BROKEN BONES ETC. AS OF TODAY, 9/26/2012, HER CHEST STILL HURTS BUT THE PAIN IS DIMINISHING. I CONTACTED TOYOTA AND FILED A COMPLAINT ON 9/8/2012 AND WAS TOLD THEY WOULD INVESTIGATE--CASE #[XXX], MY CONCERN SINCE WE HAVE HEARD NOTHING IS THAT YOU TOO WILL HEAR NOTHING AND IF THIS ISSUE EXISTS IN OTHER PRIUS CARS ON THE ROAD, SOMEONE WILL SUFFER MORE THAN MY WIFE. IF THIS IS AN ISOLATED CASE--GOOD FOR TOYOTA BUT HOW DOES THIS HELP US? I CALLED TOYOTA TODAY FOR AN UPDATE BUT HAVE NOT YET HEARD BACK. IF MORE INFORMATION IS NEEDED PLZ CONTACT ME. WE WOULD LIKE TO KNOW THE OUT COME OF THIS COMPLAINT. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

Electrical System
Filed Sep 20, 20122,000 milesCA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED WHEN HER MOTHER WHOM HAS A PACEMAKER OCCUPIED THE VEHICLE, THE GAUGES WOULD MOVE INDEPENDENTLY AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESPOND. THE VEHICLE WOULD RETURN TO NORMAL FUNCTION WHENEVER HER MOTHER EXITED THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT CHECKED THE OWNER'S MANUAL AND NOTICED THAT THERE WAS A SECTION THAT INDICATED THAT PERSONS WITH A PACEMAKER SHOULD NOT OPERATE THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED BUT STATED THAT THEY WERE UNAWARE OF ANY ISSUE REGARDING THE VEHICLE AND PACEMAKERS, AND OFFERED NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 2,000. UPDATED 09-28-12 *BF UPDATED 10/01/2012 *JS UPDATED 6/13/13 *CN

Visibility/Wiper
Filed Sep 14, 20125,000 milesCA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE AUTO DIMMING REAR VIEW MIRROR FAILED TO FUNCTION CORRECTLY AND WOULD NOT DIM THE LIGHTS FROM OTHER VEHICLES IN THE REAR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE BELIEVED THE SPOILER ON THE HATCH BACK WOULD CAST A SHADOW ON THE DIMMING SENSOR AND PREVENT THE MIRROR FROM DIMMING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5,000.

Electrical System
Filed Sep 7, 20124,944 milesCA

DRIVING 70 MPH CAR BEGAN TO GO INTO HIGH RPM, THEN ACCELERATED TO 74 FROM 70 MPH. I TRIED TO DECREASE SPEED THEN VEHICLE SHUT OFF GOT A LONG BEEP AND MESSAGE ON DISPLAY "CHECK HYBRID SYSTEM, PULL OVER IMMEDIATELY" ALL LIGHTS ON DASH WERE INDICATING FAILURES. COASTED TO SAFETY WITH 5 PASSENGERS IN VEHICLE ACROSS TRAFFIC AT 9:30 PM TO SHOULDER. TRIED TO RESTART SEVERAL TIMES THEN VEHICLE WENT INTO HIGH RPM THEN ENGINE KNOCKED LOUDLY AND WAS COMPLETELY DISABLED. LOST BRAKES, PEDAL WAS HARD, LOST POWER STEERING, DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. I STILL HAD 2 BARS INDICATING PLENTY OF FUEL IN CAR. PRIOR FILLUP WAS 7.6 GALLONS AT PUMP, USUALLY GET OVER 500 MILES PER TANK, TRIP METER ONLY SHOWED UNDER 400 MILES SINCE FILL UP SO HAD PLENTY OF FUEL AND THERE WAS NO LOW FUEL INDICATOR. REPORTED ALL PROBLEMS TO DEALER. THEY ONLY NOTED THE CAR SHUT DOWN BUT TOLD ME THEY CONFIRMED EVERYTHING I SAID AND THAT TOYOTA ENGINEERS ARE TRYING TO RESOLVE THIS SINCE THEY ARE AWARE OF THIS TYPE OF PROBLEM. SO FAR DEALER AND TOYOTA HAVE NOT ADDRESSED THE HIGH RPM, THE ACCELERATION, LOSS OF ELECTRONICS AND HYBRID SYSTEM FAILURE AND TOLD ME THEY HAVENEVER HEARD OF ANY TOYOTA EVER HAVING A REPORT OF A HIGH RPM OR ACCELERATION WITHOUT INTENT TO ACCELERATE FORM THE DRIVER. VEHICLE IS UNSAFE, HAS 4944 MILES AND THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED ABOUT A MONTH AFTER PURCHASE. TOYOTA STILL DOES NOT KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEMS ARE AND IN POSSESSION OF THE VEHICLE. *TR *JS

Air BagsCrash
Filed Sep 4, 201281 milesCA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AS HIS VEHICLE WAS PARKED A VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF HIS VEHICLE AT 10 MPH WHICH CAUSED EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE FRAME AND BUMPER. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY BUT THE AIR BAGS WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 81.

Service Brakes
Filed Aug 30, 20123,000 milesWA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE BRAKES LOCKED UP. THE CONTACT CONTINUED TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL AND SHUT THE VEHICLE ON AND OFF BY PUSHING THE START BUTTON. THE FAILURE OCCURS INTERMITTENTLY. THE CONTACT ALSO NOTICED THE BRAKE PEDAL DROPS TO THE FLOOR BOARD ABOUT A HALF INCH WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND A COMPLAINT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,000.

Engine
Filed Aug 25, 20129,550 milesCA

HYBRID ENGINE SUDDENLY SHUT DOWN WITHOUT WARNING WHILE VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING 65 MPH ON A BUSY FREEWAY, CAUSING VEHICLE TO COME AN UNSAFE STOP. DEPRESSING ACCELERATOR HAD NO EFFECT. ONBOARD COMPUTER GAVE ERROR MESSAGE "CHECK HYBRID SYSTEM. STOP THE VEHICLE IN A SAFE PLACE." RESTARTING VEHICLE PRODUCED THE SAME ERROR MESSAGE AND STILL UNABLE TO SHIFT VEHICLE INTO DRIVE OR REVERSE. FUEL TANK FULL AT TIME OF INCIDENT. VEHICLE PURCHASED NEW 5 MONTHS PRIOR FROM TOYOTA DEALERSHIP. NO AFTERMARKET PARTS OR MODIFICATIONS PRESENT. *TR

Fuel System, Other
Filed Aug 15, 20126,000 milesCA

WHEN DRIVING DASHBOARD "HYBRID SYSTEM NOT WORKING. PULL OVER..." THIS WAS 7/3/2012. IT HAD RUN OUT OF GAS EVEN THOUGH THERE WERE 2 BARS OUT OF 10 STILL PRESENT ON GAS GAUGE. ON 7/30/12 LATER THIS HAPPENED AGAIN WITH 4 BARS SHOWING. GOT THE FUEL SENSOR AND GAUGE REPLACED ON 7/30/12. 8/14/12 WITH 3 BARS SHOWING, CRUISING RANGE OF 60 MILES AND HAVING GONE 480 MILES THE SAME WARNING "HYBRID SYSTEM NOT WORKING..." I WAS ABLE TO GET TO A GAS STATION BEFORE RUNNING OUT OF GAS. THE PRIUS MANUAL STATES THE TANK HOLDS 9.5 GALLONS. FILLING UP THE TANK TOOK 9.91 GALLONS. THERE IS CLEARLY SOMETHING WRONG. THE FUEL SENSOR AND GAUGE HAVE ALREADY BEEN REPLACED, THOUGH. THIS IS A MAJOR PROBLEM FOR A NEW CAR. THIS IS A NEW MODEL. *TR

Electrical System
Filed Aug 1, 20122,865 milesCA

CAR BECOMES IMMOBILE - WILL NOT SHIFT INTO REVERSE OR DRIVE. COMPUTER KEEPS SENDING THE MESSAGE TO PUT IT IN PARK AND DEPRESS BRAKE, BUT ONCE THAT IS DONE, ANY ATTEMPT TO SHIFT INTO REVERSE OR DRIVE TRIGGERS THE MESSAGE, ENDLESSLY. THE PROBLEM IS APPARENTLY INTERMITTENT. OCCURRED FOR TWO HOURS YESTERDAY, AFTER OCCURRING TO A LESSER EXTENT IN PRECEDING DAYS (IN THE DAYS PRECEDING THE TOTAL BREAKDOWN, I WAS ABLE TO SHIFT AFTER A SLIGHT DELAY AND A FEW ATTEMPTS). THE DEALERSHIP TO WHICH I HAD IT TOWED SAID IT WAS FINE TODAY. EVERYTHING CHECKS OUT. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD BECAUSE THE CAR CAN BE IN AN UNSAFE POSITION WHEN IT BECOMES IMMOBILE. I WAS PARTLY OUT OF A PARKING SPACE, SOMEWHAT BLOCKING TRAFFIC. THE PROBLEM INVOLVES THE COMPUTER AND THE TRANSMISSION - AT LEAST

Visibility/Wiper
Filed Jul 22, 20121,500 milesCA

THERE ARE VERY DANGEROUS BLIND SPOTS ON BOTH REAR DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDES OF THE TOYOTA PRIUS V . VEHICLES LOCATED NEAR THE MID TO REAR OF THE CAR CAN NOT BE SEEN IN MIRRORS OR BY GLANCING OVER THE SHOULDER WHEN CHANGING LANES. I HAVE HAD NUMEROUS NEAR COLLISIONS DUE TO THIS DESIGN DEFECT. I HAVE BROUGHT THIS TO THE ATTENTION OF THE TOYOTA CORPORATION AND THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP AND HAVE HAD NO CO-OPERATION IN DEALING WITH THIS SAFETY HAZARD. I AM A VERY EXPERIENCED DRIVER AN NEVER HAD AN ACCIDENT THAT WAS MY FAULT IN MY 50 YEARS OF DRIVING. ANY ASSISTANCE YOU CAN PROVIDE FOR THIS VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION WILL BE GREATLY WELCOMED. THIS CONDITION IS AN ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN! [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

Visibility/Wiper
Filed Jul 12, 2012FL

MY 2012 PRIUS V HAS A SERIOUS REFLECTION IN THE POINT OF VEIW OF THE SIDE VIEW MIRRORS, WHEN THE FRONT WINDOWS ARE ROLLED UP, AND THE SUN IS HIGH NOON(+-5 HOURS) POSITION. THIS IS CAUSED BY THE WHITE DASH TRIM THAT THE SUN HITS. *TR ## VIN PASSED ## TOYOTA PRIUS V 2012 ##. *TR

Electrical System
Filed Jul 12, 20126 milesPA

NEW PRIUS DOES NOT WORK BLUETOOTH WISE WITH EXISTING PHONE. PRIUS I JUST TRADED IN DID. NO RESOLUTION FROM DEALER (TOYOTA WORLD O NEWARK DELAWARE) AND NO RESOLUTION FROM TOYOTA CORPORATE. I WAS TOLD THEY COULD DO NOTHING AND THAT I WOULD HAVE TO PURCHASE NEW PHONES. WE ARE DRIVING VEHICLE WITHOUT BLUETOOTH WITHOUT CELL PHONES IN OUR EARS THEREBY CREATING SAFETY HAZARD. *TR

Vehicle Speed ControlCrash
Filed May 24, 20122,400 milesNJ

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AS SHE WAS ENTERING A PARKING SPACE AT 3 MPH, THE VEHICLE DID NOT STOP WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A TREE. THE CONTACT WAS NOT INJURED. THE POLICE WERE NOTIFIED AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT'S INSURANCE COMPANY WAS CONTACTED WHO ADVISED THAT THEY WOULD INSPECT THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE WHO SENT A REPRESENTATIVE TO FURTHER ASSES THE FAILURE. AFTER INSPECTION, THE REPRESENTATIVE NOTICED THAT THE BRAKE AND ACCELERATOR PEDALS WERE DEPRESSED SIMULTANEOUSLY AND ADVISED THAT THERE WERE NO FAILURES WITHIN THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,400.... UPDATED 08/15/12 *BF

Service BrakesCrash
Filed May 15, 20121,800 milesOR

AS I WAS APPROACHING A TURN I BEGAN TO BRAKE AND THE BRAKES FAILED. I TRIED PRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL HARDER AND MAKING SURE THAT I HAD PROPER FOOT PLACEMENT AND IT FELT LIKE THE CAR ACCELERATED AT THAT POINT. SINCE THE CAR WAS NOT SLOWING DOWN I WAS UNABLE TO MAKE THE TURN AND ENDED UP CROSSING THE ROAD DIAGONALLY AND GOING UP ONTO THE CURB. ONCE THE CAR WAS OVER THE CURB AND IN THE GRASS THE BRAKES FINALLY ENGAGED AND THE VEHICLE CAME TO A STOP. *JS

Air BagsCrash
Filed Apr 25, 20123,306 milesKY

THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A MULTI VEHICLE ACCIDENT, WHERE THE CAR WAS HIT TWICE ON THE DRIVERS SIDE, THE 2ND IMPACT HITTING THE DRIVERS DOOR CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE DOOR AND FENDER ALONG SIDE OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE AIR BAGS ILLUMINATED DUE TO THE CRASH, BUT THERE WAS NO DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIRBAGS. ALL PARTY'S WERE CONCERNED WHY THE MALFUNCTION LIGHT CAME ON DURING THE CRASH, AND SHOULD THE BAGS HAVE DEPLOYED. THE BODY SHOP SAID THEY THINK IT WAS CAUSE THE DOOR WAS MISALIGNED AFTER THE IMPACT. CONCERNED THAT THE SYSTEM MAY DEACTIVATE ITSELF DURING A CRASH AND NOT DEPLOY THE AIRBAGS. *TR

Seats
Filed Mar 27, 20122,300 milesPA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA PRIUS V. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT COULD NOT BE ADJUSTED AWAY FROM THE STEERING WHEEL. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,300 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 2300.

Electrical System
Filed Mar 20, 20125 milesCA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS EQUIPPED WITH A HANDS-FREE PHONE SYSTEM. THE CONTACT EXPRESSED CONCERNS THAT HE HAD TO ACTIVATE TOO MANY BUTTONS IN ORDER TO OPERATE THE PHONE SYSTEM. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT FELT THAT THE SYSTEM COULD CREATE A SAFETY HAZARD WHILE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND NO ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATING AS INTENDED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5.

Seat Belts
Filed Feb 1, 2012PA

THE LATCH SYSTEM DESIGN ON THE SEATS ON THE NEW PRIUS V IS FLAWED. INSTEAD OF HAVING FOUR LATCH POINTS, ONE SET OF TWO FOR THE LEFT SEAT AND ONE SET OF TWO FOR THE RIGHT SEAT, THEY HAVE ONLY THREE LATCH POINTS, ONE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE LEFT SEAT, ONE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE RIGHT SEAT AND ONE IN THE MIDDLE OF CAR. OUR CHILD SAFETY SEAT HAS THREE BUCKLES DESIGNED TO WORK WITH THE LATCH SYSTEM, ONE ON THE LEFT, ONE ON THE RIGHT AND A TOP TETHER. THE LEFT AND RIGHT BUCKLES CANNOT ATTACH TO THE SAME LATCH POINT BECAUSE THEN THE CHILD SAFETY SEAT WILL PIVOT. THIS MEANS ONE MUST INSTALL THE CHILD SAFETY SEAT AT AN OFFSET TO THE CAR'S SEAT, USING THE MIDDLE AND RIGHT LATCH POINTS FOR A CHILD SAFETY SEAT INSTALLED ON THE RIGHT SIDE. BUT THEN THE TOP TETHER, WHICH MUST GO OVER THE TOP OF THE SEAT DOWN TO A LATCH POINT, IS NO LONGER AS SECURE AS IT SHOULD BE, SINCE THE LATCH POINT IS THEN OFF-CENTER WITH REGARD TO THE TOP TETHER. IF THE CHILD IS OLD ENOUGH THAT THEY NEED TO USE THE CAR'S SEAT BELTS WITH THE CHILD SAFETY SEAT (E.G., A BOOSTER SEAT) INSTEAD OF THE RESTRAINTS BUILT-INTO THE CHILD SAFETY SEAT, ONE CAN'T BUCKLE IN THE SEAT BELT BECAUSE THE BUCKLE INTENDED FOR THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE CAR IS BURIED UNDERNEATH THE OFFSET CHILD SAFETY SEAT. THE MIDDLE BUCKLE IS DESIGNED TO NOT WORK WITH THE SIDE SEAT BELTS. IF ONE USES THE LEFT SIDE BUCKLE WITH THE RIGHT SIDE SEAT BELT, IT'S NOT AS SECURE, AND THEN THE LEFT SIDE PASSENGER (OR A SECOND CHILD SAFETY SEAT) HAS NO SEAT BELT. SO A PROPER

Service Brakes, Hydraulic
Filed Jan 17, 20122,000 milesIL

SUNDAY DEC. 11TH: PULLING OUT OF CHICAGO GARAGE, CAR MAKES ODD ROTATIONAL NOISE. THE SOUND SEEMS TO GO AWAY AFTER ABOUT A BLOCK OR SO OF DRIVING. THE DEALERSHIP IS CLOSED AND I AM BOOKED UP WITH CLIENTS, SO I CONTINUE TO TEST AND SEE IF TEMPERATURE OR ENVIRONMENT EFFECT THE NOISE. THE NOISE APPEARS TO ONLY HAPPEN ON A 'COLD START' BUT ALL OTHER FACTORS DO NOT SEEM TO SHOW AN IMPRESSIVE CHANGE. DEC. 15TH: I CALL TOYOTA CORPORATE AND FILE A COMPLAINT, THEN PER THEIR DIRECTION, CALL THE DEALER AND MAKE AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE THE NOISE PROBLEM FIXED. JAN. 13TH: AFTER SEVERAL CALLS TO CORPORATE, AND HAVING TAKEN THE CAR IN THREE TIMES TO THE DEALERSHIP (MIDTOWN TOYOTA- CHICAGO), I HAVE BEEN INFORMED BY ONE OF THE SERVICE EMPLOYEES THAT TOYOTA IS HAVING A PROBLEM WITH MANY OF THESE MODELS. THEY THINK IT IS A BACK BRAKE ISSUE, PERHAPS DEFECTIVE PART(S). AS BOTH TOYOTA & THE DEALERSHIP ARE NOT OFFICIALLY TELLING ME THIS. THIS IS WHAT I KNOW, THEY HAVE BEEN LYING TO ME AS A CONSUMER AND ME AND OTHER CUSTOMERS ARE DRIVING A CAR WITH A POTENTIAL SAFETY PROBLEM. I DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING THIS CAR.

Seats
Filed Dec 31, 2011CA

THE DRIVERS SEAT DOES NOT RAISE FAR ENOUGH TO ALLOW SHORTER DRIVERS TO SEE OVER THE DASH BOARD , BASE OF WINDSHIELD AND REAR OF HOOD. THIS PREVENTS SHORTER DRIVERS FROM BEING ABLE TO SEE THE THE GROUND ANYWHERE NEAR THE CAR. GIVING THE DRIVERS A 2 DIMENSIONAL VIEW OF THE TRAFFIC AND OBJECTS BETWEEN 3 AND 5 FEET HIGH. ANYTHING BELOW 3 FOOT TALL IS NOT VISIBLE FOR 30 TO 50 FEET IN FRONT OF THE CAR. THE RAISED BELT LINE IS ALSO CAUSING THIS PROBLEM OF 2 DIMENSIONAL VIEWS VERSES 3 DIMENSIONAL VIEWS. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE.. IT COULD BE FIXED WITH INCREASED TRAVEL HEIGHT FOR THE DRIVERS SEAT. AS I HAVE HAD TO OFFER SEVERAL FRIEND CHAIR CUSHIONS TO PROP THEM UP SO THEY COULD SEE.. WHEN I LOOKED IN THE CAR. I DON'T THINK DO TO THE WINDSHIELD ANGLE.. THAT I BEING ALMOST 6 FOOT TALL COULD SEE THE GROUND ANYWHERE NEAR THE FRONT OF THE CAR EITHER. I DON'T FIT IN THESE CARS. *KB

Reading these

NHTSA publishes every complaint as the owner wrote it and investigates only a fraction. Spelling, capitalisation and judgement are the filer’s own. What carries weight is repetition: the same component failing the same way across many filings, and whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

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