2008 Toyota Prius Electrical System

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 25 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER PANEL FAILED TO DISPLAY READING LEVELS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THREE INDEPENDENT MECHANICS. THE MECHANICS WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000.

THE SPIRAL CABLE THAT CONTROLS THE ELECTRICAL SUPPLY TO THE STEERING WHEEL (RADIO, HEATING,AIR CONDITIONING, ETC. FAILED). IN SOME VEHICLES THE AIR BAG POWER SUPPLY IS ROUTED THROUGH THIS CABLE AND THE AIR BAG POWER SUPPLY FAILS WHEN THE SPIRAL CABLE FAILS. IN MY PARTICULAR CASE THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT DID NOT COME ON BUT MOST OF THE OTHER SWITCHES CEASED WORKING).

THE DASHBOARD LIGHT WILL NOT COME ON AND I COULD NOT READ MILEAGE OR HOW FAST I WAS GOING. EVENTUALLY, CAR SHUTS DOWN IN MOTION. TOOK IT TO KEYES TOYOTA IN VAN NUYS, CA. THEY ACKNOWLEDGED THERE WAS A DEFECT AND RECALL AND WOULD FIX IT AFTER A FEW DAYS THEY ARE TELLING ME I HAVE TO SPEND ABOUT $4000 TO GET IT FIXED BECAUSE THERE ARE FUSES BURNT AND CANNOT DETERMINE WHAT IS CAUSING THIS. *TR

WHEN I STARTED THE CAR THE DASH LIGHTS DIDN'T COME ON. THIS HAS HAPPENED 3 TIMES. DOESN'T REALLY SOUND LIKE A BIG DEAL UNTIL YOU REALIZE YOU DON'T KNOW HOW FAST YOU'RE DRIVING, DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH GAS YOU HAVE - NOT TO MENTION, IF ANYTHING GOES WRONG WITH THE CAR WHILE THIS IS HAPPENING THE WARNING LIGHT WILL NOT ILLUMINATE. ALSO WHEN THIS HAPPENS THE CAR DOESN'T TURN OFF. *TR

THIS HAPPENED WHEN I WAS DRIVING IN SFO CITY ON AN UPHILL STREET. IT WAS BUMPER TO BUMPER TRAFFIC AND THE CAR WAS GOING JUST FINE (STOP-AND-GO), AND AT ONE POINT IT JUST STOPPED ON THE UPHILL AND WON'T PULL UP. I HAD HALF+ TANK OF GAS, BATTERY WAS SHOWING 4 BARS, THE CAR WAS ON (ALL ELECTRICS OKAY) BUT WON'T PULL UP EVEN WHEN PRESSING HARD ON THE GAS. THERE WAS A EMERGENCY WARNING LIGHT THAT CAME (SYSTEM MALFUNCTION OR SOMETHING). I EVEN RESTARTED THE CAR, BUT NO HELP. FINALLY AAA CAME AND TOWED THE CAR AND BROUGHT IT BACK TO THE NORMAL ROAD AND IT STARTED RUNNING FINE?? NOT SURE WHAT CAUSED THIS? I STRONGLY SUSPECT THAT THIS HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE HYBRID SWITCHING. MY CAR SERVICE (DEALER) SAYS THE 12V BATTERY (NOT THE HYBRID ONE) COULD BE DEAD/LOW. *TR

WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS THAT REGULATE SPEED, GAS LEVEL, OIL, ODOMETER, ETC DO NOT LIGHT UP. DURING THIS TIME, THE ODOMETER READING IS ALSO DISABLED AND NOT CALCULATED. THE DASHBOARD AREA IS COMPLETELY DARK. THE BACK UP CAMERA IS ALSO DISABLED AND THE INFORMATION FOR MPG, ELECTRICAL ENGINE ALSO DO NOT WORK. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER TO HAVE THE ISSUE CHECKED BUT THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE RECREATED. THE CURRENT WORK AROUND THAT I DISCOVERED IS TO TURN ON THE LIGHT SWITCH BEFORE TURNING ON THE VEHICLE. THIS SITUATION IS VERY DANGEROUS SINCE YOU ARE UNABLE TO DETERMINE YOUR SPEED, GAS, AND OIL LEVEL AS WELL AS ANY OTHER POTENTIAL PROBLEMS. AFTER SOME ONLINE RESEARCH I DETERMINED THAT MANY OTHER CONSUMERS HAVE BEEN AFFECTED BY THE SAME ISSUE. *TR

MY VEHICLE IS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS AT DESCRIBED IN THE TOYOTA WARRANTY ENHANCEMENT - ZTV FOR THE COMBINATION METER, WHERE THE DISPLAY PANEL WON'T LIGHT UP WHEN THE CAR IS STARTED IN THE MORNING. THE CAR WILL ALSO NOT POWER DOWN WHEN THE POWER BUTTON IS PUSHED. THE CAR CAN BE DRIVEN, BUT SINCE YOU CAN'T SEE THE SPEED, MILEAGE, OR FUEL LEVELS IT'S NOT SAFE TO DRIVE THE CAR. EVENTUALLY AFTER SEVERAL MILES OF DRIVING THE CAR CAN BE POWERED OFF AND THE PANEL WILL LIGHT UP AFTER STARTING THE CAR AGAIN. MY CAR CALLS WITHIN THE 2004-2009 YEARS LISTED, BUT MY SPECIFIC VIN IS NOT PART OF THE RECALLED CARS. TOYOTA SAID I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR ANY REPAIRS MYSELF. *TR

TURNED ON CAR AND NO DASH LIGHTS CAME ON. NO SPEEDOMETER, NO ODOMETER, NO FUEL GAUGE, NO GEAR SHIFT INDICATOR. BROKEN COMBINATION METER. TOYOTA HAS ISSUED A TSB - T-SB-0172-09 BUT WILL NOT REPAIR UNDER WARRANTY. *TR

WHILE PARKED AT THE LOCAL POST OFFICE THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STARTED TO ROLL BACK. IT ROLLED APPROXIMATELY 4-5 CA LENGTHS. THE VEHICLE DRUG ME BUT CAME TO A STOP. THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE "ENGAGED" INTO DRIVE IN ORDER TO MOVE THE CAR. NOT SURE IF THIS IS AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM OR NOT BUT OBVIOUSLY THE PARKING DID NOT STAY ENGAGED. *TR

THE SCREEN HAS STOPPED RESPONDING PROPERLY. IT IS MOSTLY THE LEFT SIDE OF THE SCREEN THAT DOESN'T RESPOND AT ALL, BUT AT TIMES ITS THE ENTIRE SCREEN. THIS SCREEN IS NECESSARY TO CONTROL THE AIR/HEATER; TELEPHONE, SOUND, ETC. I HAVE SEEN SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ALL OVER THE INTERNET DISCUSSING THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM BUT YET TOYOTA WILL NOT MAKE A RECALL OF THE PROBLEM EQUIPMENT. *TR

VEHICLE INSTURMENT CLUSTER FAILURE. VEHICLE WILL NOT POWER DOWN. *TR

FOR SEVERAL WEEKS, I'VE BEEN HAVING INTERMITTENT LOWERING OF DASHBOARD LIGHTS, OR COMPLETE LACK OF THEM. ON THIS CAR, THAT MEANS I SUDDENLY WILL HAVE NO SPEEDOMETER, NO GAS GAUGE, WHICH CAN BE VERY DANGEROUS (PARTICULARLY THE SPEEDOMETER!). WHEN I BROUGHT IT TO MY MECHANIC, I WAS TOLD THAT THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM, BUT THAT TOYOTA HAD NOT ISSUED A RECALL FOR THE PART WHICH REQUIRES THE REPLACEMENT OF THE ENTIRE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THERE ARE NO ISSUES WITH THE ACTUAL BULBS; IT'S A COMPUTER ISSUE, FROM WHAT I'M TOLD. THIS IS NOT AN AGE ISSUE OF THE CAR; THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY MALFUNCTION!. *TR

SHORTLY AFTER I PURCHASED THE CAR NEW, THE AUDIO DISPLAY UNIT (TOUCH SCREEN,) WHICH ALSO CONTROLS AIR CONDITIONING FAILED AND WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY ON JANUARY 5, 2008. THE SAME UNIT FAILED AGAIN ON OCTOBER 30, 2011 . THE TOUCH SCREEN IS UNRESPONSIVE, WHICH MAKES IT IMPOSSIBLE TO USE IT TO CONTROL AIR CONDITIONING, AUDIO AND OTHER INFORMATION FUNCTIONS. THE TOYOTA DEALER FROM WHOM I PURCHASED THE CAR EXAMINED THE PART, CONFIRMED THAT IT IS DEFECTIVE AND INFORMED ME THAT A REPLACEMENT WILL COST OVER $7,000 (SEVEN THOUSAND) WHICH IS ABOUT HALF OF THE CURRENT BLUE BOOK VALUE OF THE CAR. IT IS THEREFORE NOT ECONOMICAL TO REPAIR IT. I WAS ALSO INFORMED THAT WHILE THE CAR HAS A 3 YEARS/30000 WARRANTY, THE DEFECTIVE PART IN QUESTION HAS ONLY ONE YEAR WARRANTY. THIS SEEMS DECEPTIVE, BECAUSE ACCORDING TO TOYOTA'S TSB EL002-05, THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM. *KB

AFTER DRIVING FOR ABOUT 500 MILES THE CAR WAS PARKED IN THE GARAGE FOR TWO DAYS. WHEN I TRIED TO START THE CAR THE 12V BATTERY WAS DEAD. I USED 3 DIFFERENT BATTERIES TO TRY TO START THE CAR. THE LIGHTS CAME ON ON THE DASH BUT THERE WAS A WARNING MESSAGE THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION AND NEEDED TO PUT THE CAR ON A LEVEL SURFACE WHICH IT ALREADY WAS, AND THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT COME OUT OF PARK AND THE MOTOR WOULD NOT START. THE CAR COULD NOT BE MOVED. WHEN A NEW BATTERY WAS INSTALLED THE CAR RESUMED WORKING FINE. IF THE DEAD BATTERY HAD HAPPENED WHEN WE WERE STOPPED ON I81 BECAUSE OF CONSTRUCTION, WE WOULD HAVE BEEN STUCK IN THE FAST LANE WITH NO WAY TO MOVE THE CAR OUT OF THE TRAVEL LANE UNTIL A TOW TRUCK ARRIVED.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH ON THE FREEWAY THE HYBRID WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENTAL PANEL AND THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED. HE WAS ABLE TO DRIFT THE VEHICLE ONTO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER. THE DIAGNOSIS DETERMINED THAT THE AIR FLOW SENSOR FAILED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 56,000.

THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ON A 2008 PRIUS DECIDES NOT WORK AT VARIED TIMES. IT IS A SPORADIC PROBLEM WHICH OCCURS THEN GOES AWAY. YOU COULD BE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AT NIGHT THEN YOU SEE THAT YOU HAVE NO DISPLAY TELLING YOU: 1) HOW FAST YOU ARE GOING, 2) HOW MUCH GAS DO YOU HAVE, OR 3) DISTANCE TRAVELED. IT'S TOO DIFFICULT TO TROUBLESHOOT BECAUSE THE PROBLEM WOULD GOES AWAY. *TR

PRIUS STARTS WHEN THE POWER BUTTON IS PUSHED. THERE IS NO DASHBOARD LIGHTS AND SINCE THE DASH BOARD IS DIGITAL THERE IS NO WAY TO TELL WHAT GEAR THE CAR IS IN OR WHAT SPEED YOU ARE TRAVELING. CAR DRIVES WITHOUT AN OPERATIONAL DASHBOARD WHICH THE DEALER DOES NOT RECOMMEND. CAR IS UNDER 2000 MILE WARRANTY. DEALER UNWILLING TO REPAIR COMBINATION METER WHICH IS THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM BECAUSE THEY COULD NOT REPLICATE THE PROBLEM WHILE AT THE DEALERSHIP. PROBLEM IS WELL DOCUMENTED ON PRIUS CHAT. COST $1600. *TR

I HAVE A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. EVERY NOW AND AGAIN FOR NO APPARENT REASON THE DIGITAL DASHBOARD (LED) WILL NOT COME ON UPON ENGINE STARTUP OR IT GOES OFF WHILE DRIVING. THE CAR RUNS IT JUST THE DASHBOARD IS BLANK. THE MOST RECENT INCIDENT WAS THIS PAST FRIDAY. THE DEALER, ARLINGTON TOYOTA, IN ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, IL HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO FIND THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM.

THE 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS HAS A STRONG SMELL THAT RESEMBLES A ELECTRICAL BURNING SMELL IT MAKES YOUR EYES WATER AND YOUR CLOTHS SMELL LIKE IT LONG AFTER YOU HAVE LEFT THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER IS NOT SURE WHERE IT IS COMING FROM. THERE ARE OTHER REPORTED CLAIMS OF THE SAME SMELL ON THE INTERNET. *TR

OUR OFFICE OWNS A TOYOTA PRIUS THAT I DRIVE OCCASIONAL TO WORK ASSIGNMENTS. I TOOK THE CAR ON A TRIP TO SEE A WORK PROJECT BUT STOPPED TO PICK UP ANOTHER EMPLOYEE BEFORE HEADING TO THE SITE. WHEN I PULLED UP TO PICK UP THE EMPLOYEE THE PRIUS'S ENTIRE DASHBOARD DISPLAY WENT BLANK. I PULLED THE CAR INTO A PARKING SPACE AND TRIED TO TURN IT OFF. THE "KEY" WOULD NOT COME OUT OF THE RECEIVER. I REALIZED THE CAR WAS STILL RUNNING SO I TRIED REPEATEDLY TO TURN IT OFF BY PRESSING ON THE POWER BUTTON. THE OTHER EMPLOYEE SHOWED UP SO WE DROVE THE CAR BACK TO MY OFFICE (2 BLOCKS) GOT ANOTHER VEHICLE AND I DROVE THE PRIUS TO THE OFFICE SERVICE GARAGE. THE GARAGE STAFF COULDN'T TURN OFF THE CAR EITHER. SO I LEFT IT THERE. LATER THE GARAGE CALLED TO SAY THE CAR WAS READY. I ASKED THEM WHAT WAS WRONG WITH THE CAR. THEY SAY IT JUST HAD TO BE RE-BOOTED BY HOLDING DOWN THE POWER BUTTON FOR 10 SECONDS. AFTER HEARING ABOUT PEOPLE GETTING KILLED DRIVING TOYOTA PRODUCTS AND TOYOTA SAYING THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE COMPUTER I THOUGHT I SHOULD WRITE AND TELL YOU IT IS THE COMPUTER! IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN HEARING MORE DETAILS OR PICKING UP THE VEHICLE FOR INSPECTION YOU CAN E-MAIL ME . I CAN FILL IN A LOT OF DETAILS WHEN I GET BACK TO THE OFFICE. I USED 1/12/2010 TO GET THROUGH THIS FORM BUT I CAN CHECK THE DATE WHEN I GET INTO THE OFFICE. *TR

2008 PRUIS- TWICE IN COLD WEATHER THE COMPUTER DASHBOARD INDICATORS WOULDNT SHOW ANY INFO INCLUDING SPEED OF CAR AND THE CAR WOULD NOT TURN OFF. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THEY HAD NEVER HEARD OF THIS BEFORE. AFTER ABOUT 30 MINUTES OF DRIVING AROUND THE DASHBOARD CAME ON AND I WAS ABLE TO TURN THE CAR OFF. I LOOKED THIS UP ONLINE AND OTHERS HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM IN COLD WEATHER WITH THE PRUIS. *TR

I N A 2008 PRIUS, THREE INCIDENTS TURNING RIGHT AND LEFT WHILE ON AN INCLINE. TWO TIMES IN THE LAST 3 WEEKS, LOOSING POWER WITH BRAKE/WHEELS LIGHTS ON WHEN SLOWING TO TURN LEFT ON PINE STREET AT TAYLOR...ANOTHER TIME, ALSO IN SAN FRANCISCO SLOWING GOING UPHILL AT POST AND LEAVENWORTH(NO TURN) BUT HILL AND SLOWING AND LOOSING POWER. IN CARMEL, ABOUT ONE MONTH AGO, TURNING DOWNHILL TO THE RIGHT, FROM HIGHWAY #1 TO CARPENTER STREET(AGAIN, BRAKE LIGHTS/WHEELS)LOSS OF POWER. TOLD TECH'S WHEN SERVICED...TOLD IT WAS NORMAL! *TR

2008 TOYOTA PRIUS ENGINE SHUTTING OFF. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE VEHICLE ENGINE WILL SHUT ITSELF OFF AND DRIVER HAS NO CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED THE INCIDENT HAPPENED DURING SLIPPERY DRIVING CONDITIONS. *JB

I HAVE A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS (BOUGHT NEW) & HAVE HAD SEVERAL PROBLEMS WITH THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. THE BIGGEST PROBLEM HAPPENED WHEN MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. SUDDENLY THE RADIO WENT OFF & ALL LIGHTS ON THE DASH WENT OFF. HE PULLED OVER, TURNED OFF THE MOTOR & THEN TURNED IT ON AGAIN. IT WAS THEN OK. ANOTHER PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED 3 TIMES. THE CAR WON'T START & I HAVE TO KEEP TRYING. AFTER A FEW ATTEMPTS IT DOES START. I HAD NOT REPORTED THESE PROBLEMS, & WOULD NOT HAVE EXCEPT FOR THE PROBLEMS THAT TOYOTAS ARE NOW HAVING. I THINK THAT MAYBE MANY PEOPLE ARE EXPERIENCING THIS PROBLEM. AND ALTHOUGH MY CAR SHOULD HAVE BEEN IN THE FLOORMAT RECALL, I HAVE NEVER HAD ANY LETTER OR CALLS FROM MY DEALER. *TR

I HAVE 2008 PRIUS TOYOTA THAT 3 TIMES IN 2 YEARS I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO TURN THE CAR OFF AND THE DASHBOARD IS NOT LIT UP. AFTER 20 MINUTES THE CAR LIGHTS UP AGAIN AND I CAN TURN THE CAR OFF. FEARFUL THAT I CANNOT TURN CAR OFF EVER, THEN WHAT? I HAVE CALLED TOYOTA CUSTOMER SERVICE AND THEY DENY HEARING ABOUT THIS BEFORE BUT PRIUS CHAT FORUM HAS SEVERAL PEOPLE THAT HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. SEEMS COLD WEATHER RELATED AND FOR SOME THE "COMBINATION METER" WAS THE PROBLEM. IT COSTS $800 TO REPLACE. *TR