VEHICLE BRAKE ACTUATOR CONTINUOUSLY PUMPING AND RUNNING EVEN WHEN VEHICLE IS OFF OR STOPPED, ABS LIGHTS CAN LIGHT UP UNDER MODERATE BRAKING ON DRY ROADS. EARLIER GENERATIONS OF THE PRIUS HAD SIMILAR ISSUES AND TOYOTA ADDED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY TO COVER A RATHER EXPENSIVE REPAIR THAT COULD COMPROMISE THE SAFETY OF THE VEHICLE. THERE IS A WELL KNOWN ISSUE WITH THIS BRAKING SYSTEM WHEN READING FURTHER ON TOYOTA PRIUS FORUMS.
2013 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 2013 record →
WE HAVE HAD MULTIPLE LOW BEAM BULB FAILURES. USUALLY IT STARTS WITH 1 THE BURNS OUT THE OTHER WITHIN A WEEK OR TWO. IN THE LAST YEAR WE HAVE REPLACED BOTH BULBS 3 TIMES. THE LAST TIME WAS FEBRUARY 24TH LAST NIGHT ON MARCH 11TH WE RECEIVED A WARNING TICKET FOR A HEADLIGHT OUT. I WENT TO REPLACE THE BULB AGAIN AND IT WAS GOOD, AFTER REMOVING IT I REINSTALLED AND IT WORKED. SHUT THE CAR OFF AND CAME BACK OUT AND IT WOULDN'T COME ON AGAIN WITHOUT DISCONNECTING THE HARNESS AND PLUGGING IT BACK IN. THERE IS NOTICEABLE DISCOLORATION ON BOTH HEADLIGHT PLUGS.
WE HARE RECENTLY STARTED EXPERIENCING EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION WITHOUT DASH WARNING. OUR CAR BURNED 2 QUARTS OF OIL IN 150 MILES WITH NO WARNING. TOYOTA HAS ISSUED AN INTERNAL SERVICE BULLETIN (T-SB-0169-16) THAT COVERS OUR VIN NUMBER, BUT SINCE WE ARE BEYOND WARRANTY THEY MADE NO OFFER TO HELP (WE WERE NOT NOTIFIED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS UNDER WARRANTY). ESSENTIALLY OUR CAR WAS IN MOTION AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS WITH LITTLE OR NO OIL, BUT NO WARNING THAT THERE WAS NO OIL. I THINK WE GOT VERY LUCKY THAT OUR DRIVE ENDED BEFORE THE ENGINE FAILED.
I HAD THE PROPER RECALL FIXES DONE ON MY 2013 TOYOTA PRIUS 3 MONTHS AGO FOR THE STALLING ISSUES. LAST NIGHT WHILE ACCELERATING TO GET ON THE FREEWAY MY PRIUS SHUT DOWN AND ENTERED LIMP HOME MODE. THE 'CHECK HYBRID SYSTEM. STOP VEHICLE IN A SAFE PLACE' LIGHT CAME ON. EVENTUALLY THE CAR WOULDN'T TURN ON AT ALL. I DIDN'T FEEL SAFE ONE BIT. I'M A FEMALE, ALONE AT NIGHT, IN A BAD PART OF TOWN, IT WAS 25 OUTSIDE, ON THE SIDE OF A FREEWAY! I DON'T BELIEVE THE RECALL FIXED THE PROBLEM.
RECURRING "CHECK HYBRID SYSTEM" ISSUE = JOV SOFTWARE UPDATE FAILEDTHIS IS MY 2ND COMPLAINT (11298645)RE. THE NON-SAFETY OF MY PRIUS. DEC 2019, THE JOV SOFTWARE UPDATE FAILED. I WAS LUCKY TO BE DRIVING IN A PARKING LOT AS OTHERWISE I WOULDN'T BE HERE WRITING TO YOU. MY CAR STOPPED WORKING ENTIRELY & ABRUPTLY. I DROVE IT ONLY FOR 1.2 MILES THAT DAY. IT DIDN'T GO INTO A FAIL-SAFE DRIVING MODE & DIDN'T GO INTO NEUTRAL EITHER. THEY'RE 3 WITNESSES. IT GOT TOWED TO TOYOTA HOLLYWOOD WHO ACCUSED THE CAR'S POWER LOSS ON THE REGULAR BATTERY. THE BAD OVERHEATED INVERTER CAUSED IT & DRAINED THE BATTERY SURELY. TOYOTA'S EXECUTIVE OFFICE SEND OUT A FTS INSPECTION WHO DROVE THE CAR ALSO TO RECREATE THE DTC CODE W/ TESTS & THEREAFTER SAID IT'S SAFE TO DRIVE. FALSE ASSESSMENT. THE HYBRID WARNING MSG APPEARS AGAIN ON JANUARY 16. I DROVE IT ONLY FOR 1.6 MI THAT DAY. I STARTED MY CAR, THE WARNING MSG REMAINED ON DISPLAY UNTIL I DROVE IT HOME FOR 1.6MI GOING 15MI/HR. THE PUBLIC KNOWS: "THE INVERTERS HAVE BEEN OVERHEATING, CAUSING THE SOFTWARE THAT CONTROLS THE VEHICLES TO SHUT DOWN THE POWER OR PUT THE VEHICLE INTO WHAT IS KNOWN AS A LIMP-HOME MODE THAT IS SUPPOSED TO ALLOW DRIVERS TO GET TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD SAFELY." NOW, TOYOTA CULVER CITY HAS MY CAR SINCE JAN 18; THEY COULD ONLY SEE A "LOW VOLTAGE BATTERY" ISSUE & AREN'T SURE. ?TOYOTA HAS FOUND THAT IN RARE SITUATIONS, THE VEHICLE MAY NOT ENTER A FAIL-SAFE DRIVING MODE AS INTENDED,? THE STATEMENT SAID. ?IF THIS OCCURS, THE VEHICLE COULD LOSE
MY CAR HAS STOPPED RUNNING WITH ALL WARNING LIGHTS AND HYBRID SYSTEM FAILURE WARNING THREE TIMES NOW. FIRST TIME I WAS DRIVING WHEN LIGHTS CAME ON BUT GOT TO PARKING LOT WHERE IT DIED. I WAS ABLE TO RESTART CAR AFTER A COUPLE OF HOURS, STILL ALL WARNING LIGHTS AND HYBRID WARNING SHOWING BUT WAS ABLE TO GET IT TO DEALERSHIP. SECOND TIME I WAS DRIVING ON SMALL ROAD AND WAS ABLE TO GET CAR TO SIDE OF ROAD. AGAIN IT STARTED AFTER A COUPLE HOURS WITH ALL WARNINGS LIT AND I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE TO DEALERSHIP WERE IT ALSO DIED AGAIN BUT THEY STARTED IT LATER BY RESETTING CODES. THIRD TIME IT STOPPED IN DRIVEWAY AND I WAS UNABLE TO START IT. HAD IT TOWED TO DEALERSHIP. FIRST TIME. 12V BATTERY WAS REPLACED AND SOFTWARE UPDATE PERFORMED. SECOND TWO TIMES IRA TOYOTA DEALERSHIP HAS SENT ME BACK OUT ON THE ROAD TO WAIT AND SEE IF IT HAPPENS AGAIN.
WHILE DRIVING OUR 2013 PRIUS ON A 5 FIVE-LANE HIGHWAY 2-10-20, OUR PRIUS GOES INTO LIMP HOME MODE ALL THE SUDDEN AND SLOWS THE CAR DOWN SIGNIFICANTLY WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED. THIS OCCURRED AT THE SAME TIME AS I WAS PASSING A CAR TO EXIT THE HIGHWAY, ALSO WITH ANOTHER CAR CLOSE AT THE REAR CLEARLY INTENDING TO GET AHEAD OF ME AFTER I HAD PASSED THE OTHER CAR. I UNEXPECTEDLY REALIZED THAT I HAD NO ACCELERATION AND THAT THE ALL THE DASH LIGHTS HAD COME ON. I WAS VERY FORTUNATELY TO BE ABLE TO MANEUVER ACROSS THE DRIVING LANES TO THE HIGHWAY EXIT WITHOUT BEING HIT AS MY SPEED GO DOWN. THE SITUATION WAS EXTREMELY HAZARDOUS. TOOK THE CAR TO THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP THE NEXT DAY ON 2-11-20 AND THE TECH DISCOVERED THE CAR WENT INTO THE LIMP HOME MODE BECAUSE OF A CATASTROPHE INVERTER FAILURE. WE DID RECEIVE THE UPDATED SOFTWARE FROM THE RECALL IN 2014, YET THE INVERTER STILL FAILED. THE INVERTER WAS REPAIRED BY THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP 100% UNDER WARRANTY.
CAR FAILS TO STOP AND/OR LOSES TRACTION WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES AT LOW SPEEDS. MY TIRE SHOP HAS INSPECTED BOTH WINTER AND SUMMER TIRES FOR TREAD AND INFLATION, SO THOSE FACTORS WEREN'T AN ISSUE DURING THE TIMES I LOST TRACTION CONTROL. EXAMPLES INCLUDE: 1) SKIDDING AND FAILING TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP AT THE EXIT TO A DRY, PAVED PARKING LOT (FORTUNATELY MY CAR STOPPED BEFORE ENTERING TRAFFIC, BUT I SLID PAST THE ACTUAL STOP SIGN IN LINE WITH THE SIDEWALK - IT FELT LIKE I WAS ROLLING ON LOOSE GRAVEL BUT WHEN I GOT OUT AND CHECKED THE PAVEMENT WAS CLEAN); 2) FAILING TO STOP WHEN APPLYING BRAKES ON A STRAIGHT ROAD IN SNOW AS I APPROACHED A LIGHT THAT WAS CHANGING WHILE GOING ABOUT 30-35 MPH (I HAD ENOUGH STOPPING DISTANCE TO TEST EVERY BRAKING TECHNIQUE, FROM NORMAL BRAKING TO PUMPING THE BRAKES TO PUSHING THE BRAKE PEDAL ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR; I ENDED UP MAKING AN EMERGENCY RIGHT TURN INTO THE SHOULDER OTHERWISE I WOULD HAVE GONE THROUGH THE LIGHT INTO THE PATH OF OTHER CARS); 3) SLIDING AND FAILING TO STOP ON WINTER SIDE STREETS DESPITE ONLY TRAVELING 5 MPH BECAUSE I DON'T TRUST MY BRAKES. I'VE ALSO HAD THE TRACTION LIGHT COME ON AND FELT MY CAR SLIPPING WHEN DRIVING NORMALLY (20-25 MPH) THROUGH DRY RESIDENTIAL INTERSECTIONS WITH ENGINEERED DRAINAGE GUTTERS RUNNING PERPENDICULAR TO THE STREET, OR WHILE MAKING SLOW TURNS THROUGH INTERSECTIONS WITH UNAVOIDABLE SHALLOW POTHOLES. I TOOK THE CAR TO A TOYOTA DEALERSHIP IN OCTOBER 2019 IN RESPONSE TO A CUSTOMER SUPPORT PROGRAM
ON MONDAY JAN, 27, 2020, I WAS INVOLVED IN THE ACCIDENT WITH MY 2013 TOYOTA PRIUS I WAS DRIVING ON A FREEWAY WITH REGULAR TRAFFIC. THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME SUDDENLY CAME TO A STOP. I IMMEDIATELY SLAMMED ON MY BRAKES VERY HARD. I HAD PLENTY OF SAFE DISTANCE BETWEEN TWO CARS. I ENDED UP RUNNING INTO THE REAR END OF FRONT CAR WITHOUT ANY NOTICEABLE SLOWDOWN. THE BRAKES DID NOT COME ON. THERE WAS NOT ANY FEELING OF GRABBING OR TIRE MAKING ANY SCREECHING NOISE. ALSO I DID NOT SEE ANY TIRE MARKS ON ROAD. ALL OF THE AIR BAGS WERE DEPLOYED AND THERE WAS A FRONTAL IMPACT. I ALSO DID NOT FEEL MY SEAT BELT TIGHTENING UP.THE BRAKES WERE NEVER FELT LIKE BEING EXERTING AT ALL. THE CAR WAS BADLY DAMAGED IN FRONT.
I WAS DRIVING MY PRIUS 2013 MODEL IN A PARKING LOT ON 12/24/2019 WHEN ITABRUPTLY (WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING MESSAGES) SHUT DOWN WITH THIS MESSAGE: "CHECK HYBRID SYSTEM STOP THE VEHICLE IN A SAFE PLACE." MY CAR WOULD NOT MOVE AN INCH, DIDN'T GO INTO LIMP MODE AND DIDN'T GO INTO NEUTRAL EITHER.MY PRIUS HAD A 2ND RECALL SOFTWARE UPDATE IN 2019 AND ITWAS SUPPOSE TO PREVENT MY CAR FROM SHUTTING DOWNCOMPLETELYAND SHOULD HAVE GONE INTO FAIL-SAFE DRIVING MODE BUT THAT DID NOT HAPPEN AND THE SOFTWARE UPDATE SEEMS TO BE JUST A BANDAID. IT WAS TOWED TO A DEALERSHIP WHO DIDN'T LOOK AT IT FOR 2 DAYS DUE TO THE HOLIDAYS AND THE BAD INVERTER DRAINED THE NORMAL BATTERY AND THE HYBRID WARNING CODE WITH IT. THE DEALERSHIP DID NOT REPLACE THE INVERTER AS THEY SAID THEY COULDN'T RECREATE THE DTC CODE WHICH I BELIEVE DOESN'T QUALIFY FOR NOT WANTING TO ENSURE SAFETY AFTER I HAD 3 WITNESSES INCLUDING MYSELF,SEEING THE HYBRID SYSTEM INVERTER FAILURE AS WELL. WHERE IS THE ORIGINAL DTC CODE? IT SHOULD NOT EVAPORATE AFTER A BAD INVERTER DRAINS THE BATTERY AND I HAVE THE HYBRID WARNING MESSAGE ON VIDEO BUT WAS TOLD BY THE DEALERSHIP ANDMANUFACTURER THAT IT'S NOT SUFFICIENT.AND THEY DID NOT OFFER TO CHECK THEINVERTER ORTHE IGBT TO ENSURE ITSSAFENESS. INSTEAD, I WAS ASKED TO PICK UP MY CAR AFTER THEY FIXED A 'BATTERY CELL' ISSUE THAT WAS NEVER THE PROBLEM UNTIL IT WAS AT THE DEALERSHIP. I PICKED UP MY CAR TODAY STILL WITH A BAD INVERTER,AN ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN AND I HOPE IT WON'T BE ON A FREEWAY.*DT*JB
ATTEMPTING TO TRAVEL IN MY 2013 PRIUS FIVE DURING XMAS WAS DRIVING AND APPROACHING A RED AND WHILE TRYING TO STOP PEDAL WENT DIRECTLY TO FLOOR AND SKID LIGHT WENT ON AND BARELY AVOIDED WHAT SHOULD BE AN EASY STOP!! WEATHER CLEAR FELT A DRAG AND NO COASTING ABILITY... CAR HAS 21,000 MILES AND IS IN PERFECT APPEARANCE BUT FAR FROM IN PEAK CONDITION AS THIS CAR FROM BRAND NEW HAD ISSUES I GOT TIRED WAITING FOR TOYOTA TO FIX. CRUISE CONTROL, BRAKES, BLUETOOTH, ENGINE WRAPPING SOUNDS ON STARTUP, I AM TOLD THE BRAKE ISSUE SINCE NEW IS NOW A 3,000+ REPAIR AND SINCE IT SHOWED NO CODE AT DEALER I WOULD HAVE TO PAY! MERRY XMAS TOYOTA! WHAT IS NHTSA WAITING FOR??? I AM SHOCKED AT BOTH FOR INACTION SO I WILL MAKE SOME CALL TO MY ELECTED OFFICIALS THIS HAS TO BE FIXED. TOYOTA IS BECOMING GM WHO WOULD HAVE FIGURED?? MY OTHER PRIUS ISSUES MATTER LESS WHEN BRAKES DON'T STOP YOU REASONABLY AND THE REPAIR IS OVER 3,000 ON A CAR WITH 21,000 WELL CARED FOR MILES...
FROM DAY #1 THESE ISSUES WERE PRESENT ON 2013 PRIUS FIVE: LKA SUDDENLY STOPS CAR OVER MINOR CAR MOVEMENTS AHEAD,MAJOR KNOCKING SOUNDS FROM ENGINE ON COLD STARTS, BRAKE PEDAL HITS FLOOR AND SUDDENLY LOCKS UP! I NOW HAVE 20K AND HARDLY DRIVE IT NOW TRIPS SKID ICON?, BLUETOOTH IS ERRATIC, CRUISE CONTROL SHUTS OFF OR WON'T TURN ON WHEN ITS WET OUT, DRIZZLES OR RAINS! IS MY TOYOTA MY MOTHER WARNING ME NOT TO DRIVE IN BUMPER TO BUMPER TRAFFIC, AVOID RAIN OR SNOW, NOT TO USE ELECTRONICS OR LISTEN TO MUSIC WHILE DRIVING AND IF I USE THE TECH IN THIS 36K PRIUS FIVE ITS CAUSING ME TO DRIVE LIKE A 90 YR OLD WITH BAD EYES AND EVEN POORER JUDGEMENT! IT'S A WONDER WHY SOME PEOPLE HATE PRIUS DRIVERS..! THE 12V BATTERY DIES EVERY FEW DAYS SO I MUST KEEP IT PLUGGED IN. I EVEN WRAP MY FOB IN FOIL AT HOME AND KEEP IT AS FAR FROM CAR AS POSSIBLE TO NOT WAKE UP THE CAR IF I WALK BY A WINDOW CLOSE TO ITS PARKED TO AVOID POWER DRAIN. TOYOTA TELLS DEALER EVERYTHING IS OKAY? ....IN WHAT WORLD WOULD ANYONE PAY TO HAVE A CAR LIKE THIS AND TELL CUSTOMERS ITS OKAY?? I HAVE TO DRIVE AND OTHER PEOPLE'S LIVES ARE IN DANGER! MY SON IS NOW GETTING READY TO DRIVE AND I CAN'T IMAGINE HIM FIGHTING THE CONTROLS THAT TOYOTA BUILT IN TO KEEP HIM SAFE! I USED TO MANAGE A PORSCHE DEALERSHIP AND RACED ON MANY TRACKS AND CAN DRIVE FAIRLY WELL AND DON'T LIKE TO COMPLAIN BUT AFTER MY RECENT ISSUE AND RESEARCH FOUND A LOT OF COMMON PROBLEMS WITH OTHERS SO I CHIMED IN..
WHILE DRIVING ON RTE. 24 SOUTH IN MASSACHUSETTS (AROUND BROCKTON/BRIDGEWATER/ TAUNTON, MA) THE CAUTION LIGHT BEGAN FLASHING (TRIANGLE WITH EXCLAMATION). I PULLED OVER AT THE NEAREST REST STOP TO SEE IF THERE WAS ANY OBSERVABLE PROBLEM, BUT I COULD NOT DETECT ANYTHING SPECIFIC. I GOT BACK ON THE HIGHWAY; AND THE LIGHT CONTINUED BEEPING INTERMITTENTLY AND THEN ABOUT A MILE LATER I FELT A SHIFT IN THE TRANSMISSION AND SUDDENLY I WAS IN NEUTRAL, QUICKLY DECELERATING FROM 65 MPH. THANKFULLY I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER SAFELY, AT WHICH POINT A NEW MESSAGE WAS ON MY DASH TELLING ME TO PULL OVER, THAT THERE WAS SOMETHING WRONG WITH MY HYBRID SYSTEM! WE (THE TOW TRUCK GUY AND I) NOTICED OIL UNDER THE CAR AND CONFIRMED IT WAS CLEAN OIL, AND I SAW ANOTHER SPOT IN MY DRIVEWAY WHEN I GOT HOME. I HAVE SURMISED THAT WHEN I GOT MY OIL CHANGED LAST WEEK, SOMETHING MIGHT HAVE HAPPENED TO CAUSE THE LEAK, WHICH IS IN FACT THE CASE AND NOW MY ENGINE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED (THE REPAIR SHOP HAS OWNED THE ERROR AND IS PAYING FOR THIS). HOWEVER MY CONCERN THAT I WISH TO REGISTER IS THAT THE CAR SHOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO TELL ME NOT TO DRIVE IT, NOT JUST A CAUTION LIGHT THAT COULD HAVE MEANT ANYTHING. I COULD HAVE HAD A VERY SERIOUS ACCIDENT. AND WHEN I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP FROM WHICH I BOUGHT THE CAR, NO ONE CALLED ME BACK (I TRIED THREE TIMES AND WAS DISCONNECTED ONCE) BRAINTREE TOYOTA. (781) 848-9300 THIS SEEMS LIKE A DEFECT THAT NEEDS LOOKING AT. BEING THROWN INTO NEUTRAL GOING 65 MILES PER HOUR AS A RE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE AND TWO UNKNOWN WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. IN ADDITION, THE CHECK HYBRID SYSTEM AND "STOP THE VEHICLE AT A SAFE PLACE' MESSAGES APPEARED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. FURTHERMORE, WHILE DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO PARK ON THE SHOULDER OF A ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V684000 (HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM). THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO PENSKE TOYOTA OF DOWNEY (LOCATED AT 9136 EAST FIRESTONE BLVD, DOWNEY, CA 90241, (562) 904-5600) WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT A SOFTWARE UPDATE WAS NEEDED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS NOT RELATED TO THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 170,000.
IN THE MIDDLE OF DRIVING MY CAR ON NOV 18 & NOV 21ST, THE ENGINE REVS EXTREMELY LOUD FOLLOWED BY THE INABILITY TO ACTUALLY DRIVE MY CAR, LIKE ITS SHUTTING DOWN ON ME. IN A MATTER OF ABOUT 5 SECONDS AND IT NOT ALLOWING ME TO DRIVE OR ACCELERATE IT RETURNS TO NORMAL. IT HAS HAPPENED TWICE THIS WEEK AND THOUGHT FOR SURE I WOULD FIND A RECALL ON THIS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS ISSUE BUT TO NO AVAIL. IT HAPPENED BOTH TIMES ON A WELL TRAVELED TWO-LANE HIGHWAY. I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 35-40MPH. I WAS FORTUNATE ENOUGH NO ONE WAS DIRECTLY BEHIND ME BOTH TIMES. INCREDIBLY DANGEROUS! TOYOTA PLEASE DO A RECALL ASAP!
TOYOTA DEALERSHIP REFUSED ON RECALL BASED ON DEFECTED STEERING SHAFT WHICH WAS BOUGHT BY ME AND FIXED BY MECHANIC. IT WAS CRITICAL ISSUE AND RECALL IN OTHER MODELS AS WELL. ALSO, TOYOTA DOES NOT FIX DEFECTIVE PISTON RINGS BASED ON EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION -HTTPS://ATTACHMENTS.PRIUSCHAT.COM/ATTACHMENT-FILES/2019/04/165269_T-SB-0169-16.PDF. PLEASE HELP ME AT LEAST RECOVER SOME MONEY FOR THE PART AND FINALLY LET THEM BE RESPONSIBLE FOR BURNED OIL IN ENGINE!
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2013 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE ACCELERATING FROM A STOP, A TACOMA TRUCK CRASHED INTO THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED AND TOWED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE HEAD THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THEIR INVESTIGATOR DID NOT HAVE A READING OF ANY FAILURES FOR THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 64,800.*MP THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE FRONT AND SIDE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY BECAUSE THERE WAS INSUFFICIENT DECELERATION IN THE CRASH. *DL
UNKNOWN SQUEAKING AT THE BACK, NONE OF THE MECHANICS WAS ABLE IDENTIFY THE SOUND ON THE BACK SEAT ... OIL BURNING, BULBS BURNING SO OFTEN.
BASED ON THE DESCRIPTION FROM THE DEALER, THE PISTON ROD BROKE AND HIT THE CASING AND BROKE THE CASING CAUSING CATASTROPHIC FAILURE, THIS HAPPENED WHEN I WAS DRIVING THE CAR AND WAS AT 40 MPH. AS I WAS DRIVING, I HEARD A LOUD BANG AND SUDDENLY MY CAR STARTED SHAKING VIOLENTLY AND THEN SMOKE STARTED COMING OUT FROM THE ENGINE AREA. I IMMEDIATELY STOPPED THE CAR AND GOT IT TOWED TO THE NEAREST SHOP FOR INSPECTION WHEN THEY FOUND THIS ISSUE WHICH IF I WAS ON A HIGHWAY COULD HAVE BEEN DISASTROUS. AND COULD HAVE GOT INTO AN UNFORTUNATE ACCIDENT. WHICH COULD HAVE BEEN FATAL..
WHILE I WAS DRIVING STRAIGHT IN THE MORNING ON THE HIGHWAY I HEARD A HUGE POP THINKING MAYBE MY TIRE BLEW OUT WHEN I WENT TO LOOK MY SUNROOF HAD A HUGE CRACK AND MY TIRES WERE ALL FINE. IT WASN'T A WINDY DAY BUT I DROVE A LITTLE SLOWER TO WORK NOT KNOWING WHAT TO DO. 20 MINUTES LATER ARRIVING LATER THE GLASS SHATTERED LEAVING A WHOLE IN MY SUNROOF. LUCKILY THE INSIDE SLIDING CAP TO THE SUNROOF WAS CLOSED. I BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID SOMETHING MUST HAVE HIT IT BUT WHEN I BROUGHT IT TO GET FIXED AT AN AUTO COLLISION THEY SAID IT EXPLODED. FROM THE LOOKS OF IT, IT LOOKS LIKE IT EXPLODED TO ME WITH THE GLASS POINTING UP.
HARD TO READ THE PANEL WHEN LIGHT STAYS ON. AFTER CAR IS SHUT DOWN THE LIGHT STAYS ON .CAR IS STATIONARY.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2013 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE DRIVER PRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL TO STOP THE VEHICLE BUT THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED FORWARD AND CRASHED INTO A SECOND VEHICLE. DURING THE CRASH THE DRIVER SUSTAINED MULTIPLE CONTUSIONS TO THE BODY INCLUDING THE CHEST AREA WHICH REQUIRED MEDICAL TREATMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED AWAY. A POLICE REPORT #159681-2019 WAS TAKEN AT THE SCENE. THE LOCAL DEALER TOYOTA OF RICHARDSON (1221 N. CENTRAL EXPY. RICHARDSON TX.) THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.
BRAKE ACCUMULATOR FAILURE RESULTING IN NOT BEING ABLE TO STOP PROPERLY. BRAKES BEGAN PULSATING AND MAKING SOUNDS UNDER PASSENGER SEAT. ELECTRIC PUMPING SOUND BECAME MORE AND MORE PROMINENT OVER TIME. BRAKES FAILED AND WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON, RESULTING IN INABILITY TO STOP PROPERLY, AND HITTING THE CURB IN A PARKING LOT. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A MAJOR ISSUE WITH THE PRIUS. SERVICE MANAGER ADMITTED THEY SEE IT ALL THE TIME. WHEN I ASKED WHY WE WERE NOT NOTIFIED IN ADVANCE, THEY SAID A 'HIDDEN WARRANTY' EXISTED, BUT YOU HAVE TO WAIT FOR THE PROBLEM TO HAPPEN. THIS PROBLEM HAPPENED TWICE IN OUR 2005 PRIUS. THANK GOODNESS WE DID NOT HAVE ANY ACCIDENTS AS A RESULT OF THE BRAKE FAILURE. BRAKES ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT SYSTEM IN A CAR, AND WITHOUT THEM, WELL, YOU CAN'T STOP. PLEASE WORK WITH TOYOTA TO NOTIFY OWNERS OF THIS DANGEROUS DEFECT IN THEIR PRIUSES FROM THE YEAR 2004 ON.
I WAS IN LOS ANGELES PICKING UP MY TWO FRIENDS ON WHITLEY AVENUE, THIS STREET IS ON A BIT OF AN INCLINE. I WAS DRIVING MY TOYOTA PRIUS AND PRESSED THE "PARK" BUTTON. INSTEAD OF PARKING, THE CAR STARTED TO ROLL BACKWARDS AND WENT INTO NEUTRAL. THE GEAR SHIRT IS SEPARATE FROM THE PARK BUTTON SO I KNOW FOR A FACT THAT I DID NOT PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL. I ATTEMPTED TO PRESS THE POWER BUTTON ON "PARK" BUTTON ON THE CAR. I EVEN TRIED TO CHAGE THE GEAR SHIFT TO "D" (FOR DRIVE) REPEATEDLY. NOTHING I TRIED AT THE TIME WAS WORKING AND WHITLEY AVENUE INTERSECTS A VERY HEAVY TRAFFIC STREET, FRANKLIN AVENUE SO I NEEDED TO STOP THE CAR BEFORE IT WENT INTO THIS STREET. I TURNED MY WHEEL TO HIT MY CARE AGAINST CURB SO THAT IT WOULD STOP ROLLING. THIS RESULTED IN MY CAR CAUSING A DOMINO EFFECT AND HITTING A SECOND CAR, WHICH HIT ANOTHER CAR, WHICH HIT ANOTHER CAR. IN TOTAL MY CAR AND THREE OTHER CARS WERE AFFECTED BY THIS IMPACT. MY TRUNK COMPLETELY SHATTERED AND THE STUFF FROM IT FLEW INTO THE CAR THAT I HIT DIRECTLY HIT (THIS TRUNK ALSO COMPLETELY SHATTERED). THE TRUNK OF THE THIRD CAR ALSO COMPLETELY SHATTERED. MY CAR IS NOW TOTALED AND I WOULD LIKE TO FIND OUT WHAT HAPPENED. AFTER THE ACCIDENT I WAS SPEAKING WITH PEOPLE IN THE AREA AND ANOTHER LADY INFORMED ME THAT SHE HAD SEEN ANOTHER PRIUS ROLL UNCONTROLLABLY DOWN THAT HILL AS WELL.
I RECEIVED THE RECALL NOTICE AND TO PREVENT AN ACCIDENT, I HAVE NOT BEEN DRIVING MY CAR. MY NEAREST DEALSHIP, WHOM I HAVE UTILIZED OFTEN, NOW ARE DISCRIMINATING BY STATING FALSE PERSONAL STATEMENTS AGAINST ME. THIS MAY BE GENDER, AGE OR RACIST BASED. SO I NEED SUPPORT TO HAVE MY CAR TOWED & HAVE HAMER TOYOTA FAIRLY & PROFESSIONALLY COMPLETE THE SAFETY RECALL REPAIRS. I HAVE BEEN AT THE DEALSHIP AND ON THE PHONE WITH ALL LEVELS OF EMPLOYEES WHO HAVE BELITTLED, MADE FALSE STATEMENTS AND/ OR JUST PLAIN INHUMANE WITH NO REMEDY FOR MY 2013 TOYOTA PRIUS.
HYBRID SYSTEM SHUTS DOWN WHILE DRIVING WITHOUT WARNING AND HAPPENS EVERY DAY
PLEASE REFERENCE THE LOS ANGELES TIMES ARTICLE OF APRIL 14, 2019: "AFTER SECOND RECALL, TOYOTA PRIUS ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IS STILL OVERHEATING". MY CAR HAS HAD THE SOFTWARE UPDATES, BUT IS APPARENTLY STILL UNSAFE TO DRIVE. I AM TERRIFIED THAT I COULD EXPERIENCE A "LIMP-HOME" SITUATION WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGH SPEED ON THE LOCAL FREEWAYS. I AM REQUESTING THAT THE NHTSA AGGRESSIVELY PURSUE TOYOTA TO RECALL THE AFFECTED CARS AND COMPLETELY FIX THE PROBLEM BY REPLACING THE INVERTERS.
I HAVE BEEN CALLING SEVERAL TOYOTA DEALERS REGARDING THIS RECALL AND NONE OF THEM HAVE GOT TO ME WITH AN APPOINTMENT YET. I AM TIRED OF WASTING TIME WAITING FOR THEIR RESPONSES FOR A COUPLE OF MONTHS.
2013 PRIUS, MILEAGE 29,409. CAR IN MOTION DRIVING ON CITY STREETS. WHILE BREAKING ON UNEVEN ROADS/POTHOLES, THE CAR SKIDS AND FRONT WHEELS LOCK UP AND TRACTION CONTROL/BREAK ASSIST LIGHT APPEARS ON THE DASHBOARD. WHEN THIS OCCURS THE CAR IS DANGEROUSLY SLOW TO BREAK AND TAKES FAR TOO LONG TO STOP. THIS HAPPENS ALMOST DAILY ON MY COMMUTE TO WORK IN BOTH DRY AND WET CONDITIONS. THIS SEEMS TO BE AN ISSUE WITH THE BREAKING/STABILITY SYSTEM.
4 OR 5 TIMES SINCE I HAD THE RECENT HYBRID SOFTWARE UPDATE, I'VE HAD TROUBLE STARTING THE CAR, ESPECIALLY WHEN THE LIGHTS ARE SET TO AUTO OR ON, WHEN FIRST STARTING IN THE MORNING. SOMETIMES TURNING THE LIGHTS OFF ENABLES STARTING, BUT NOT ALWAYS. MY TOYOTA DEALER CHECKED THE BATTERY AND ELECTRICAL AND SAID ALL IS NORMAL - BUT IT'S CLEARLY NOT.
EXPERIENCED WHAT APPEARS TO BE A COMMON MALFUNCTION OF THE ABS SYSTEM. WENT OVER A REGULAR ROAD BUMP ON A CITY STREET, NOTHING DRASTIC, WHILE BRAKING. IMMEDIATELY AFTER, THE TRACTION CONTROL, BRAKE, AND ABS LIGHTS CAME ON SOLID. THERE WAS STILL SOME BRAKING AVAILABLE, BUT IT REQUIRED MUCH MORE FORCE AND PEDAL TRAVEL TO ACHIEVE THE SAME LEVEL OF BRAKING AS BEFORE. THIS COULD BE VERY DANGEROUS IF SOMEONE THEN NEEDED TO STOP SUDDENLY. I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE HOME. FOUND SOME FORUMS ON LINE ABOUT THIS PROBLEM, WHICH APPEARS TO BE WIDESPREAD. USING A PAPERCLIP, I WAS ABLE TO 'RESET' THE SYSTEM, CLEARING THE WARNING LIGHTS AND REESTABLISHING ABS AND REGENERATIVE BRAKING...BUT ONLY FOR A SHORT WHILE. LATER IN THE DAY, THE SAME MALFUNCTION OCCURRED, WITH THE SAME WARNING LIGHTS APPEARING, LOSS OF ABS AND REGEN BRAKING.
SOMETHING STARTED BUZZING EVERY FEW SECONDS IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT TOWARD DRIVERS SIDE FIREWALL. AT SLOW SPEEDS, BRAKES PULSATED WITH UNEVEN BRAKING. AS TIME WENT ON, BUZZING WAS MORE FREQUENT. WARNING LIGHTS FLASHED ONCE BUT WENT OUT. AFTER THAT, WHEN PARKING CAR, THE BRAKES WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR AND I HIT ANOTHER CAR AT PARKING SPEEDS. DEALER SAYS 'BRAKE ACTUATOR PUMP' AND WILL COST NEARLY $3000 TO FIX. THIS PUMP ALSO WENT OUT ON MY 2005 PRIUS! BUT THAT WAS COVERED BY A 'HIDDEN' WARRANTY THAT I FOUND WHILE GOOGLING THE ISSUE. WOULD HAVE PAID FULL PRICE FOR THAT REPAIR IF I HAD NOT RUN ACROSS THAT TSB. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A BIG MONEY MAKER FOR TOYOTA FIXING THESE BUT IS A HUGE DANGER TO THE MANY DRIVERS THIS HAS HAPPENED TO OVER THE YEARS. PLEASE DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT. IT IS A RECURRING AND SUBSTANTIAL THREAT TO DRIVER SAFETY THAT MANY DRIVERS WILL OVERLOOK BECAUSE OF THE INFLATED COST OF THE PARTS. THANK YOU.
THE CAR BURNS OIL FOR NOT REASON. BETWEEN OIL CHANGES I WILL GO THROUGH 2 QUARTS OF OIL THAT I HAVE TO ADD. OTHER PRIUS OWNERS HAVE THE SAME ISSUES. I ONLY HAVE 120,000 MILES ON IT.
A LOT OF LIGHTS LIT UP ON THE DASH. THE REGENERATIVE BRAKING QUIT WORKING AND THE BRAKE PADS WORE OUT REALLY QUICK.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND WAS UNABLE TO BE RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE INVERTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V684000 (HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM). THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 36,000.
ENGINE RATTLE/KNOCKING NOISE ON FIRST MORNING START UP ON OCCASION. CAR IS PARKED OUTSIDE IN A DRIVEWAY IN LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA. PREVIOUS DATES UNKNOWN (MAYBE HAPPENED 4 OTHER TIMES). LOG STARTED 11/26/18 SINCE THE NOISE WAS REALLY BAD THAT DAY. 11/26/18 AT 6 A.M. CAR SAT IN DRIVEWAY FOR 2 DAYS. THE NOISE WAS REALLY BAD, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. THE NEXT DAY THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AUTOMATICALLY CAME OFF. 1/22/19 AT 6 A.M. CAR SAT IN DRIVEWAY FOR 2 DAYS. THE NOISE WAS BAD BUT NOT AS BAD AS 11/26/18. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT DID NOT COME ON. 2/1/19 AT 6 A.M. CAR SAT IN DRIVEWAY OVERNIGHT. SLIGHT NOISE. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT DID NOT COME ON. I HAVE SEEN SEVERAL OTHER COMPLAINTS ONLINE. SOME HAVE SAID ITS THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. THE DEALER HAS REQUESTED I TAKE MY CAR IN FOR THE RECALL (RECALL NO. 18V684) TO SEE IF IT FIXES THE PROBLEM BUT I'M GOING TO REQUEST THEY DIG INTO THIS FURTHER. I HAVE APPROXIMATELY 92,000 MILES.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER'S SEAT BELT WAS LOOSE AND DID NOT HAVE ANY TENSION. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO GERMAIN TOYOTA OF NAPLES (13315 TAMIAMI TRAIL N, NAPLES, FL 34110, (239) 301-3156) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE SEAT BELT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED, BUT WAS NOT ABLE TO ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 129,000.
BRAKE ACTUATOR WENT BAD AFTER RECENT (SERVICE APPT 1/26/19) INSTALL OF NEW 12 VOLT BATTERY AND SOFTWARE UPDATE DUE TO NHTSA RECALL #18V-684. WHILE TRAVELING DOWN THE HIGHWAY ON 1/30/19 LIGHTS CAME ON FOR BRAKE, ABS AND SKID CONTROL. VEHICLE WAS NOT BRAKING AT THE TIME. CONDITION CAUSED REDUCTION OF BRAKE CONTROL. THE NEXT DAY WHILE AGAIN TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY AT HIGHWAY SPEED TO TOYOTA DEALER FOR SERVICE, THE LIGHTS WENT OFF AND BRAKES WORKED PROPERLY. SERVICE WAS NOT ABLE TO RESET CODE AND I WAS TOLD THAT MEANS THE BRAKE ACTUATOR NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. I WAS QUOTED $3,400 FOR REPAIR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V684000 (HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM). THE CONTACT CALLED FREDERICK CHEVROLET AT 717-406-1727 (LOCATED AT 1505 QUENTIN RD, LEBANON, PA 17042) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND WAS NOT ABLE TO CONFIRM WHEN THE PARTS WERE TO BECOME AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT. *TT*JB
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V684000 (HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM); HOWEVER, THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. AN UNKNOWN DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
SUN ROOF EXPLODED / SHATTERED WHILE DRIVING ON THE FWY. AT 70 MPH. NO TRAFFIC AROUND, CLEAR DAY ABOUT 70 DEG F. AFTER HEARING THE EXPLOSION, I PULLED OVER AND FOUND THE GLASS HAD SHATTERED AND IT APPEARED THAT IT WAS CAUSED BY PRESSURE FROM INSIDE AS THE SHAPE OF THE SHATTERED GLASS WAS BOWED OUTWARDLY. NO APPARENT IMPACT FROM ANY FOREIGN OBJECT.
UNUSUAL LOUD CLICKING AND SCREECHING SOUND AS WELL AS VIBRATION FEELING UNDER THE BRAKE PEDAL WHILE PRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL AND BRAKES DON'T FEEL POWERFUL ENOUGH DESPITE JUST GETTING NEW BRAKE PADS AT THE DEALERSHIP AND THERE IS MUCH LONGER DISTANCE NEEDED FOR BRAKING AND BRINGING TO A FULL STOP. THIS HAS PROGRESSIVELY INCREASED SINCE LAST NOTICED ABOUT 11-12 MONTHS AGO WHEN THE ODOMETER WAS AROUNT 95000 MILES. IT STARTED SPONTANEAOUSLY ON ITS OWN. THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT OR IMPACT OF ANY KIND.
TOYOTA HAS ISSUED A RECALL WITH NO REMEDY. THEY SAY THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THE CAR COULD STALL AT HIGH SPEEDS AND INCREASE THE LIKELIHOOD OF A CRASH. I HAVE SMALL CHILDREN AND PLAN TO TRAVEL OVER THE HOLIDAYS. I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE THIS CAR. WE HAVE FOLLOWED THE PREVIOUS RECALL NOTICES.
CAR STALLS OUT AND WON'T ACCELERATE
THE ENGINE TERRIBLY SHAKES AND GOT A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE DURING AN INITIAL STATIONARY COLD START IN THE MORNING DURING WINTER. IT HAPPENED 3 TIMES THIS DECEMBER 2017.
I NOTICED WHEN I WAS DRIVING ON A DRY CLEAR DAY TRACTION CONTROL/BRAKE LIGHT/ABS ILLUMINATED MY BRAKES BECAME EXTREMELY HARD TO PRESS AND COME TO A STOP ALSO MY CRUISE CONTROL WILL NOT ENGAGE. THE LIGHTS ON THE DASH WOULD GO OFF AND THE CAR WOULD DRIVE NORMAL FOR A FEW DAYS. IT REPEATED THIS SCENARIO A FEW TIMES BEFORE THE TRACTION CONTROL/BRAKE LIGHT/ABS LIGHTS STAYED ON PERMANENTLY AS WELL AS THE CRUISE CONTROL WILL NOT ENGAGE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V684000 (HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM). THE DEALER (TOYOTA CARLSBAD, 5424 PASEO DEL NORTE, CARLSBAD, CA 92008, 760-537-6700) WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REMEDY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A TECHNICIAN AT THE DEALER DID NOT KNOW ABOUT THE RECALL AND STATED THAT IT WAS A SOFTWARE UPDATE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
A RECALL WAS ISSUED FOR THE YEARS 2010 THROUGH 2014, PENDING THE DEVELOPMENT AND DISTRIBUTION OF A REMEDY. IT HAS BEEN FOUR YEARS AND I FEEL THAT HAS ALLOWED TOYOTA SUFFICIENT TIME TO ISSUE A REMEDY.
I WAS DRIVING DOWN A CITY ROAD AT 25-30 MPH AT DUSK (5:15PM), AND WITH MY HEADLIGHTS ON. THE FIRST INDICATION OF A PROBLEM WAS THE SMELL OF BURNING RUBBER WHEN I TURNED ON THE HEATER. ASSUMING THE PROBLEM WAS WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE AHEAD OF ME, I TURNED OFF THE HEATER AND KEPT DRIVING. A MILE LATER, AS I WAS NEARING MY DESTINATION, I NOTICED SEVERAL WARNING LIGHTS TURN ON (SKID LIGHT AND EXCLAMATION MARK LIGHT) AND THE STEERING BECAME LESS RESPONSIVE. I THEN SAW SMOKE EMITTING FROM UNDER MY HOOD. A FEW SECONDS LATER, THE FRONT PASSENGER-SIDE CORNER OF THE CAR BURST INTO FLAMES. I MANAGED TO PULL OVER, WOKE UP MY TWO YOUNG CHILDREN FROM THEIR CAR SEATS, AND GOT EVERYONE OUT. WITHIN A MINUTE, THE ENTIRE HOOD WAS ABLAZE. GIVEN WHERE THE FIRE STARTED, I SUSPECT THE HEADLIGHT. I REPLACED IT THE DAY BEFORE. THE LIGHT SEEMED TO WORK FINE FOR 1 DAY, BUT IT IS SUSPICIOUS THAT IS ALSO THE AREA WHERE THE FIRE STARTED.
SUDDENLY THE ABS, BRAKE AND THE TRACTION LIGHT CAME ON AND WILL GO WAY AFTER 20MIN. WHEN THE LIGHTS CAME ON THERE'S NO WARNING SO YOU MIGHT GET AN ACCIDENT WITHOUT BEING PREPARED FOR WORDS AS IS SO DANGEROUS TO HAVE SUCH A SAFETY ISSUE WITH THE CAR LIKE THIS.
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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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