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Toyota Motor Corporation Prius Consumer Reviews

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2002 Prius Problems
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NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE -- I have an 2002 Prius. Since we have owned the car we have had a multitude of problems. Those problems include: 1) Car has gone through 12 tires in under 90,000 miles. No matter what is adjusted on the car, it eats the tires. This has included one blow out. 2) Grounding bracket broke lose and had to have it serviced. Was covered by warranty. The following repairs were all made between 60,000 and 90,000 miles.

3) In less than 500 miles after my $300+ 60,000 mile service my fuel pump went out. It took a week to get it back and I had to rent a car since we did not have another. Within 2 days of getting the car back it went out again and had to be replaced. Another long wait and car rental. 4) Between 60,000 and 70,000 miles, there were multiple problems with the fuel pump, various related parts and the fuel injectors. I was told the injectors could not be cleaned on a Prius, only replaced. It cost over $600. Corporate Toyota later informed me that the injectors could be cleaned. Other have said they cannot be. It seems Toyota does not know its own vehicles.

5) Steering failed while driving down the interstate. Without warning, it became nearly impossible to steer. I have been tracking the steering problems with the Prius. My Prius has had the exact same problem as the others yet Toyota says they corrected the problem before mine was manufactured. I even reported the problem to several dealerships before it went out because it would shake and vibrate, lock up and jerk to the right. This was mainly happening when you first started the car. Toyota could never find the problem. I had to pay $2,200 to fix the problem. The dealership I brought the car to, Beaman toyota, was of no help.

The only reason I brought the car to them was because the car broke down next to them. Corporate Toyota looks for the local dealership to vouch for the customers, in other words, to see if you have come in regularly, are a loyal customer etc... Since I had never been there before, they did not vouch for me. I sent corporate Toyota a 30+ page fax of all my service receipts from the different dealerships I have been to. We have moved several times so we have had several dealerships.

When we find a good one, we stick with them and we're loyal. We have had all our maintenance done, even oil changes at Toyota. It counted for nothing. Loyalty to Toyota is meaningless. They know that they can replace you with another customer at the drop off a hat.

The vehicle was bought to be reliable. Between 60,000 and 90,000 miles alone, the car has required nearly $5,000 in repairs, maintenance and tires. It has financially strained our family. One of the representatives from Toyota, **, agreed that our car did not represent what they consider Toyota quality, yet they will do nothing about it. Over the course of ownership, I have dealt with Toyota financing, corporate Toyota and multiple dealerships. I can say they are all lacking.

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Poor Corporate Customer Service
StarStarEmpty StarEmpty StarEmpty StarBy -
Rating: 2/51

Oct 7, 2012 - I bought a 2010 Prius 3 in 2010 and now have abut 63000 miles on it. I love this car. I have had no mechanical problems except one that made itself known just past the 36 month warranty period. I noticed that my solar driven cooling fan wasn't working this summer. I thought the fan had maybe died but then I looked at the solar panel and saw that green copper corrosion caused by long term moisture infiltration had shorted out the solar panel and it was unable to produce electricity anymore.

I had the Dealer look at the panel and by looking at the panel from a ladder, he ascertained that the moisture infiltration had reached all the way across the panel to the rear as evidenced by the green corrosion of the wiring in the panel. Now this just didn't happen overnight, it is obvious moisture had been infiltrating the panel for several years. There was no moisture visible in the pane, just the evidence of long term corrosion throughout the panel. What I am saying is this. These panels were manufactured by an outside vendor for Toyota. If made properly, a solar panel should be hermetically sealed.

Most solar panels normally have a useful life of 15 years. This panel was defective the day it was made and it just took 3 years for the corrosion to infiltrate deep enough to disable enough of the solar cells to render it inoperative.
The reason I tell you this is the solar option is an expensive option. ($2000 replacement cost) If you are still in your warranty period I would suggest having the panel inspected for corrosion before you experience a failure. Once you know what to look for you can examine it yourself. Much like a hermetically sealed double pane house window there will be some clouding of the glass panel where the moisture has infiltrated.

In my case the infiltration appears to have been going on for years before total failure. Since it is tinted and part of the roof design you won't notice the subtle changes in the color unless you inspect the panel closely. In conclusion, these panels should be waterproof and sealed during manufacture. If any moisture infiltrates by means other than from damage it is a design and/or manufacturing error.

(Oct 11, 2012 1:38 pm) Well, I just got off the phone with Toyota Corporate. Basically they told me that they will give me $750 towards my repair of $2000 for the defective solar panel on my 2010 Prius. I told them I was surprised that they weren't at least offering to supply the part and I could pay for the labor (about $350) for repair as most all other car manufacturers would have done. Even Ford has been known to do this. Sadly, It appears Toyota's customer service quality is well below Ford's.

I guess Toyota has made a corporate decision of "Buyer Beware". If Toyota installs a defective part in your new car and you don't find out until 9 days after the 3 years warranty is up it is just too bad for you. Even if it was defective before the warranty expired. Amazing! It is disappointing to see this attitude from a company I thought was known for quality and great customer service. I asked them if I could appeal the decision and was told "No, I would have to pursue a remedy outside Toyota". In other words hire a lawyer or file in small claims court. What a craven answer.

I hope you folks don't have any problems with your Toyota after the paper warranty is up. Toyota appears not to care about or understand their customers. It has become, in my opinion, a company run by bean counters and Lawyers. I like my dealer and had planned on making Toyota my car of choice for the future, but after this experience I think I won't be buying any more of their cars.

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Prius Purchase
By -

HOLLYWOOD, FLORIDA -- This was my fist time buying a car in my life. We went to do Toyota Hollywood Florida dealer ship and we decide to buy one Toyota Prius 4 full and ** was awesome he done his part of job perfect. Then we buy the car October 16 2011 and the manager told me your car will be here tomorrow (17 Oct.) They told me to call them. And between 1 to 2 o clock you can come and pick up your car. Then we left with my wife. Next day in the morning I was excited and I after I get to car I was going to get to my wife from work. I was call my friend and I was going to pick up to car from dealer.

I call them around 01:00 pm ** answer me he told me car is not arrive yet. He told me they will call me back. Then after 1 hour there was no call to me. And I call back there was no answer and they didn't call me even back. And 02:30 pm I decide to go to dealer to ask situation. When we go there ** welcome to us and he was busy and he call me one of the (most disaster bloody awful rude bad attitude sales manager) manager from outside and he welcome and he told me "sir let me check to car location" and he left. And I say "OK". I went to drink some coffee with my friend and were waiting.

After 10 min nobody come to me and we went outside to look at the cars with my friend and we come back. After he told me I am coming back, 35 min past. And I saw him behind to desk and I went to ask him. "Sir is everything alright" and he is telling me "somebody was going to speak with you". And I say "excuse me sir but nobody come to me last half an hour and also you were going to inform me". When I say like that, he was using body language and telling me slowly we are transporting. (And I told him I can understand English because he was joke with my English) and another sale manager come and say "sir you have to give us 3- 4 days to provide it to you".

And I told them "I can sir I promises to pick up my wife from the work what you guys are telling me". And he say "we cannot make anything to you" and I left. And of the day what I learn my car was at the dealer in the morning and they sell my car to another people in the morning. And this disaster sales managers arguing with me and telling me to wait 3 more days.

I can't believe what kind of business Toyota do but it is bloody awful for me. And they are calling my wife and apologize from her not me and offering for two days rental car. We do not need rental car. After they make me upset at the dealer they did it second time with this offer more upset. Sorry but your Toyota dealers are most suck awful disaster dealers in the world for me now. And everybody must know what kind of business Toyota do.

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Tired of Being Told It's Normal
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I purchased my 2008 Toyota Prius in April 5th of 2010. The first problem that I noticed with the vehicle is with the gas tank in-tank bladder. The vehicle is difficult to fill up with fuel. When attempting to fuel the vehicle the fuel nozzle keeps clicking right off from the beginning. I adjust the nozzle so that it can pump, but I have to fill it up very slowly to get a full tank. In a couple of occasions it has gushed fuel out of the gas tank when it is done fueling. I don't believe that this is normal. Also it is hard to know how much fuel is left in the gas tank because of the in-tank bladder.

Now Toyota tells me that this problem has been fixed by not having an in-tank bladder on the '10 and '11 Prius's but they said that they will not make the repair retroactive to cover the older Prius vehicles that are having this problem. By making this change on the newer vehicles they have admitted that there is a problem. The problem I am having with the traction control system is that when I am on a snowy road, even if I have snow tires on the vehicle, when the system engages it simply cuts out the engine completely making you come to a full stop in the middle of traffic.

To me that is an accident waiting to happen, especially when this problem happens there are no brake lights that come on to warn the driver behind me. I have owned many vehicles with traction control and have never had the problems I am having with this Toyota pile of manure. When a Traction Control System in good working order is activated, the vehicle applies the ABS and cuts back on the throttle in order to achieve traction, but it does not come to a full stop.

I would like Toyota Motor Corporation to either refund my purchase of the vehicle or trade me out of my present vehicle (without me ending up in the losing end of the deal) into another Toyota vehicle that is not a hybrid. I will make Toyota this promise, if they respond negatively, I will make sure that every newspaper willing to print my story will do so. I am a business entrepreneur and I will make sure that everyone I come in contact with will know that Toyota Motor Corporation is not to be trusted, that they are aware of the problems plaguing the Prius model and refuse to do anything about.

Toyota may be a large corporation, and because of that they may think they can step on the little people like myself and get away with it. Let me repeat myself, I used to be a service advisor for the Infiniti car line. I am very well versed on the systems that most vehicles have and I can tell you that the way the traction control system is operating on my vehicle is not "normal" like Toyota says it is. I will speak with any newspaper agency that is willing to print my story and I will make sure that other people with the same problems read it and know that it's time to stand up to Toyota and make them responsible for their serious lack of testing on their product.

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Service nightmare
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MT KISCO -- Toyota North in Mt Kisco Ny are not only rude, they are incompetent. I had a new short block needed on my engine (that I agree was totally my fault) however, they were so rude, nasty and judgmental. I was horrified. The repairs came to 7,400 dollars (which I accepted) but the service was horrible. And I was told numerous in the nastiest tone that is what happens when you abuse your car. Then six different days they said my car would be ready and failed to mention the parts didn't come in until, The female service person told me. I needed 2 rental cars since I kept thinking my car was ready.

Then after 2 weeks with my car I was told it would be ready the next day and got a call that day that my transmission didn't and it would cost another 1,500 and take another week and he couldn't care less about my ordeal with having no car for 3 weeks. Then finally after another week and repair that cost more than the car was worth I finally got my car back running. And of course they couldn't even wash it. Then, that night when it got dark, I realized I couldn't see anything. None of my front headlight and only 1 rear light worked. I almost got killed with my 4 year old in the back seat. I went to Toyota fuming, which was the first time I lost control or even got an attitude.

I told ** after 7,400 and rude service you almost kill me and my son with no light. He told me to calm down and that he doesn't have to do anything and the lights are probable out because I didn't take care of my car and it was in such as horrible state when it came in with 4 bald tires. I told him my lawyer husband was researching how to drag this through court just to make your dealership pay and ** said "I will welcome a lawsuit from you". I was horrified not only is it statistically impossible for all the lights to go out at 1 time because they worked the night before I brought that are in, but also they couldn't check the lights after $7,400 and 3 weeks.

They are supposed to check the lights if you get an oil change. At this point I would be willing to pay another 7,400 dollars to erase this experience from my memory. I will definitely serious research a dealerships reputation before ever buying a car because after asking around I find out this place is one of the worst for customer service, even the Hertz guy was jagged from the service treatment. I will make it my personal mission to bad mouth Toyota and this place.

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Prius 2004-2008; Major Safety Problems
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I have a 2005 Prius and generally love the car. But it has two major safety flaws. Toyota has known about these flaws for several years, but has not fixed them. They relate to traction control and seat height. The Prius has a traction control system that brings the drive wheels to a full stop when it senses slippage. This puts the car in dangerous, sometimes life threatening situations when trying to drive up slippery hills. The first rule of making it up a slippery (ie: snowy) hill is, don't stop. If you lose momentum, you probably won't regain it. Instead you'll have to back down and try again.

When going up a snowy hill in the Prius, if the wheels slip, the tires come to a full stop, which often brings the car to a full stop. Sometimes the car starts to slide backwards and the driver has no control. Good drivers know how to maintain just enough wheel spin to keep the car moving. The Prius takes this option away from the driver.

Apparently the system was designed to protect the hybrid system. But it's more important to protect the driver and passengers. The traction control should be converted to limited slip, like the FJ Cruiser. Due to the traction control system that brings the wheels to a full stop, the Prius may be the worst car in the world at making it up snow covered, gravel or other slippery hills.

The second problem is that the US Prius does not have driver's seat height adjustment. Prius's in Japan, Europe and Australia have it. Less expensive US Toyota cars (Yaris, Corolla, Camry) have height adjustment. But every model Prius, even the most expensive, does not have it. Aside from being uncomfortable, it creates a hazard for tall and short drivers. The Prius roof slopes down in the front and back. Because tall drivers cannot lower the seat, they sit too high in the car. This restricts their vision out of the front and rear windshields. Because short drivers cannot raise the seat, their vision is restricted as well.

At least two thirds of Prius drivers would use the height adjustment feature if it was available. It's hard to imagine a feature that provides greater driver comfort for less cost. It's also hard to imagine why driver's seat height adjustment was not put on the $30,000 high end Prius, when it was put on the $13,000 base model Yaris sedan.

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Prius Problem
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Incident = On 1/19/11 My 2005 Prius began to shake while driving on surface streets. I pulled over, checked the car but saw nothing that would cause the shaking. I then started the car and began to drive. The shaking started again like an unbalanced washer. I took the car to Hollywood Toyota. Toyota checked the car and indicated that 2 Spark plugs had gone bad and that 2 Ignition coils had shorted out. As a result the engine had carbon deposits and needed extensive cleaning. I have done all scheduled maintenance to Toyota specification.

As a result I contacted Toyota's offices to voice safety concerns. Were there any other similar reported incidents and do they consider any safety issues. Didn't get a clear answer at all from them. Toyota once again is in denial with Prius problems.

Damage Resulting = Cost was $989.81. I feel that Toyota needs to reimburse me for these repairs. Had this happened on the freeway, results could have been different. I complained to Toyota and they have offered me $348.10 off the total work. It's not just a money issue it's a safety issue as well.

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Toyota won't let me out of my lease
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2 weeks ago my 2010 Prius brakes failed on me at a stop sign. There was a small pot hole before the stop sign, and when the brakes were applied, it went out in the road about 7 feet. I called the dealership where I leased the vehicle in January 2010 and was told to drive it up, and they would give me a vehicle to drive. When I arrived, I told them that I did not this car back, that when I leased it the salesman assured me that it was not part of any recall, braking or gas pedal problem, because it was made in Japan.

I asked them why I have never received any recall notice from them, or Toyota. They told me that Toyota said that this is a safe vehicle now that the gas pedal is fixed. I was told that I had to call Toyota, and complain to them. Now I am waited for a arbitration form to fill out. Can anybody help me??

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Closed rear hatch, inside rear view mirror broke off!!!
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Closed the rear hatch on my Prius one day, and the inside rear view mirror came off, taking a chunk of windshield with it. The car had 74K miles on it - contacting Toyota, they said they wouldn't repair it since the car had too many miles on it and was off warranty. I understand the purpose of the warranty, but some defects do show themselves later, and Toyota's claim that the mileage was too high doesn't hold water in my opinion since this is not a mileage based defect. I also wrote letters to the president of Toyota USA and the VP of customer retention to no avail. I believe that Toyota has a manufacturing/materials defect that they are not willing to admit.

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Deceitful Selling Practices
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NEW JERSEY -- I purchased a new 2007 Toyota Prius last year. Everything the salesman told me in the showroom was a lie. I was told the car would go 700 to 800 miles on a tank full of gas. It gets 350. I was told it had a bumper to bumper warranty. They have covered NOTHING that I have brought it back for. I even paid $1500 to extend the warranty to 100,000 miles. When I asked for a refund of that money before the extended warranty started they laughed. When I took the car in for service holding a broken part the service manager took the part and said, "Let me see if we have a new one." When he came back he said he didn't have the part, it could be ordered, and I would have to pay for it.

When I asked for the broken part back he told me he "lost it". In 5 minutes? Come on, how dumb do they think the public is? This is the first foreign car I ever purchased and will NEVER purchase another one. I'm sticking to American made. The only good thing about this car was the gas mileage even though it was nothing like they claimed it to be. Told me it was 51 to 61 and it is actually 42 MPH.

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Toyota Motor Corporation Prius Rating:
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2.0 out of 5, based on 1 ratings and
13 reviews & complaints.
Contact Information:
Toyota Motor Corporation
25 Atlantic Avenue
Erlanger, KY 41018-3188
800-331-4331 (ph)
www.toyota.com
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