2009 Toyota Prius Electrical System

The contact owns a 2009 Toyota Prius. The contact stated that the instrument cluster was intermittently inoperable. The contact stated that the failure had been recurring increasingly. Additionally, the contact stated that the vehicle would fail to start or to turn off intermittently while pressing the Push to Start button. The contact stated that the vehicle would respond as needed after several attempts. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that the instrument panel combination meter had failed and needed to be replaced. The mechanic related the failure to Toyota Campaign Number: ZTV and referred the contact to the dealer for the repair. The dealer was contacted and informed the contact that the repair could not be covered under Toyota Campaign Number: ZTV. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 167,532.

The contact owns a 2009 Toyota Prius. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the instrument panel lights would turn off and no instrumentation could be accessed or read. The failure was intermittent, and finally got it to shut off after trying many different things. Consumer had a hard time turning off the car. The cause of the failure was not determined but the contact was informed that a manufacturer’s extended service which addressed the failure was available from the manufacturer. The manufacturer and dealer were contacted but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 215,000.

THE AM2 FUSE RANDOMLY SHORTED, AND WHEN REPLACED KEEPS SHORTING, AS CONSISTENT WITH THE PREVIOUS RECALL FOR THE 2ND GENERATION TOYOTA PRIUS' INVERTER COOLANT PUMP.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MEDIA HOME SCREEN FAILED TO FUNCTION AS DESIGNED DUE TO FREQUENT GLITCHES. SEVERAL OTHER ELECTRICAL FEATURES WERE ALSO INOPERABLE INCLUDING THE BACK CAMERA DUE TO THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT CALLED EDDY'S TOYOTA OF WICHITA (7333 E. KELLOGG DR, WICHITA, KS 67207, (316) 652-2222) WHERE HE WAS INFORMED THAT THE HOME SCREEN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT REPLACING THE MEDIA HOME SCREEN MAY NOT GUARANTEE THAT THE FAILURE WOULD NOT RECUR. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO CONTACT THE MANUFACTURER VIA EMAIL HOWEVER, A RETURN RESPONSE WAS NOT RECEIVED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 170,000.

2009 TOYOTA PRIUS. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO DAMAGED INVERTER. *LD *JS THE CONSUMER STATED WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO LOSE POWER AND WARNING LIGHTS FLASHED ON THE DASHBOARD. *JS

THE MULTI-FUNCTION DISPLAY (MFD) STOPPED WORKING AROUND 200K. AT FIRST, THE SCREEN WOULD NOT RESPOND TO TOUCH, THEN IT WOULD FREEZE OR APPEAR FUZZY, THEN THE DISPLAY HAD STATIC OR WOULD GO ON AND OFF, NOW IT IS JUST BLACK, WITH THE RARE INCIDENT (EVERY COUPLE OF MONTHS, USUALLY WHEN IT IS COLD OUTSIDE) WHERE THE MFD DISPLAYS A WHITE SCREEN OR GRAY SCREEN WITH LINES THROUGH IT. AS MANY OF THE VEHICLES FEATURES (REAR CAMERA, A/C, RADIO, ODOMETER, MILEAGE, ETC.) ARE CONTROLLED THROUGH THE MFD, I HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO UTILIZE THESE FEATURES. ON OTHER MESSAGE BOARDS (PRIUSCHAT) THIS APPEARS TO BE A RATHER COMMON PROBLEM AND SHOULD WARRANT SOME SORT OF CORRECTIVE ASSISTANCE FROM THE MANUFACTURE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY EXPLODED AND BURST INTO FLAMES WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS SECURELY PARKED FOR SIX WEEKS WHILE THE CONTACT WAS AWAY. THE POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENTS WERE AT THE SCENE, BUT NO REPORTS WERE FILED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND PROVIDED THE CONTACT WITH A CASE NUMBER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 100,000.

I HAVE CONTACTED TOYOTA CONCERNING THE FAILURE OF A COMBINATION METER IN MY DAUGHTER'S 2007 PRIUS. THIS HAPPENED ON STARTUP. THIS ITEM IS RELATED TO THE DISPLAY SCREEN. AS MENTIONED IN THEIR WARRANTY POLICY BULLETIN NO: POL 12-05 DATED 10/12/12 A FAILURE CAN RESULT IN THE SCREEN GOING DARK. IF THIS HAPPENS IN THE NIGHT THIS CAN RESULT IN A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE BOTH BECAUSE OF THE UNEXPECTED AND IMMEDIATE DISTRACTION AND THE LOSS OF CRITICAL VISUAL INFORMATION. THEIR WARRANTY BULLETIN DOES NOT SEEM TO ADDRESS THE SERIOUSNESS OF THE MATTER. IT IS MY OPINION THAT THIS ITEM SHOULD BE AN IMMEDIATE RECALL. MY 2009 PRIUS IS ONE OF THOSE MENTIONED IN THEIR BULLETIN. THOUGH I HAVE NOT EXPERIENCED ANY FAILURE, I BECAME AWARE OF THIS ISSUE WITH THE RECENT EVENT THAT MY DAUGHTER EXPERIENCED. NEITHER I NOR MY DAUGHTER HAS RECEIVED ANY NOTIFICATION FROM TOYOTA. I AM A FAN OF THE PRIUS AS IS MY DAUGHTER, BUT THIS ISSUE IS TOO SERIOUS TO SIMPLY IGNORE. IT IS MY HOPE THAT THIS WILL BE ADDRESSED WITH TOYOTA.

MULTIFUNCTION DISPLAY FUNCTIONS INTERMITTENTLY. ORIGINALLY, PROBLEM ONLY APPEARED IN CONJUNCTION WITH COMBINATION METER FAILURE DURING COLD WEATHER STARTS. COMBINATION METER HAS BEEN REPLACED BY TOYOTA PER THEIR EXTENDED WARRANTY BUT MULTIFUNCTION DISPLAY PROBLEM PERSISTS. ON COLD STARTS IN THE MORNING THE UNIT DOES NOT FUNCTION. LATER IN THE DAY, AFTER SITTING IN THE SUN FOR A WHILE, THE UNIT WILL OCCASIONALLY START TO WORK BUT MIGHT GO ON/OFF AND RESET ITSELF WHILE DRIVING. ALL NAVIGATION MEMORY IS STILL THERE, INCLUDING AC SETTINGS BUT PHONE SETTINGS ARE WIPED OUT. THIS MULTIFUNCTION DISPLAY IS THE PRIMARY CONTROL FOR AC AND HEATER, NAVIGATION SYSTEM, TELEPHONE/BLUETOOTH, AUDIO, DIAGNOSTICS/MAINTENANCE, ETC. TOYOTA HAS INFORMED ME THAT THE UNIT IS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDS TO BE SENT TO THE MANUFACTURER (FUJITSU) FOR REPAIR. THIS APPEARS TO BE A WELL DOCUMENTED PROBLEM WITH THIS UNIT ON GEN 2 PRIUSES 2004-2009. THERE SHOULD BE AN EXTENDED WARRANTY ON THIS PIECE OF EQUIPMENT JUST LIKE THE EXTENDED WARRANTY ON THE COMBINATION METER.

THIS CAR HAS HAD 3 NEW BATTERIES AND IT HAS JUST OVER 5,000 MILES. TODAY AAA JUMPED THE CAR AND I DROVE FOR OVER AN HOUR TO CHARGE UP THE BATTERY, THEN I WENT GROCERY SHOPPING, CAME OUT AND THE CAR WOULDN'T START. CALLED AAA THEY CAME OUT AND STARTED MY CAR AND CAME HOME. GOT UP TO TAKE IT INTO THE DEALERSHIP AND IT WON'T START. THE TEST HE RAN ON THE BATTERY I WAS TOLD THE BATTERY IS OK, THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG IN THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. THE ELECTRICAL MONITOR ON THE DASHBOARD DOES NOT SHOW ME HOW MANY MILES PER HOUR I HAVE BEEN DRIVING. THE BLUE LINE GO UP MAKING ME THINK THE BATTERY IS CHARGED, BUT WHEN I STOP I CANNOT RESTART THE CAR. I CANNOT AFFORD TO KEEP TAKING MY CAR INTO TOYOTA TO GET IT FIXED. THE DEALERSHIP IS TOYOTA TEMECULA VALLEY ON YNEZ RD, ALSO CALLED TOYOTA4U.COM. MAYBE IT IS THE POWER BUTTON, NOT CONNECTING TO THE ELECTRICAL. LAST TIME THE SERVICE REP YELLED AT ME THAT IT WAS MY FAULT FOR NOT TAKE THE CAR OUT EVERY DAY AND DRIVING IT ON THE FREEWAY, AND I WAS SO EMBARRASSED I SAID JUST PUT ANOTHER BATTERY IN IT. I HAVE ALWAYS HAD CADILLAC BEFORE THIS, BUT I FELT TOYOTA WAS A RELIABLE CAR, AND MY NEIGHBOR LIKE THEM. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AN EXTREMELY STRONG BATTERY ACID ODOR EMITTED INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE THROUGH THE VENTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF FAILURE AND CLEANED THE ENTIRE UPHOLSTERY IN THE VEHICLE; HOWEVER THE ODOR PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE CONTACT PLANNED TO TAKE THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 29,000.

THIS WAS THE SECOND TIME THAT THE CAR WOULD NOT START AFTER A SITTING FOR APPROXIMATELY SEVEN DAYS. IT HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE PURCHASED WHERE CHECKED AND JUMPED. I WAS TOLD TO NOT LET THE CAR SIT IDLE. TODAY I CONTACTED TOYOTA DIRECTLY AT 800-331-4221. I WAS GIVEN CASE # 1108121588. REPRESENTATIVES WERE VERY PROFESSIONAL AND CHECKED WITH TOYOTA TECHNICIANS FOR THE 2009 PRIUS. APPARENTLY, THE CAR SHOULD NOT SET FOR 4 TO 5 DAYS, (7 DAYS AT THE OUTSIDE) WITHOUT BEING DRIVEN. CONCERN: DEALER AND TOYOTA DO NOT MENTION THIS SERIOUS FLAW. AS A SOLE FEMALE DRIVER IN THE HOUSEHOLD, I WOULD NO HAVE PURCHASED THIS CAR GIVEN THIS VERY PERTINENT INFORMATION. IT MEANS THAT SOMETHING AS SIMPLE AS TAKING THIS CAR TO THE AIRPORT FOR A TRIP IS NOT A PRUDENT POSSIBILITY. TRYING TO DO A PERSONAL PART TO USE LESS GAS AND LESSEN EMISSIONS COMES WITH A SERIOUS AND NOT STATED SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

RE: 2009 TOYOTA PRIUS. APPROX. 23K MILES. ON SUNDAY, AUGUST 14, 2011 WE WERE DRIVING AT ABOUT 40 MPH WHEN WITHOUT WARNING, THE CAR COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN - ALL SYSTEMS AND ALL INFORMATION DISPLAYS. IN SPITE OF COMPROMISED STEERING AND BRAKING WE WERE ABLE TO STOP CAR. CAR WAS COMPLETELY UNRESPONSIVE OTHER THAN BEING ABLE TO TURN ON HAZARD SIGNAL. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A TOYOTA DEALER. DEALER JUST INFORMED US THAT THE CAUSE WAS A WATER PUMP FAILURE WHICH CAUSED THE CAR TO GO INTO A "SAFE" MODE SHUTTING DOWN THE CAR WITHOUT ANY WARNING OR TIME FOR THE DRIVER TO FIND A SAFE RESPONSE. UPON QUESTIONING, THE DEALER ALSO SAID THIS WOULD ALSO HAPPEN AT HIGHER SPEEDS WHICH IN OUR OPINION, COULD POSE A LIFE THREATENING SITUATION NOT ONLY FOR THE OPERATOR BUT FOR THOSE VEHICLES AROUND HIM. FURTHER WHEN ASKED, THE DEALER SAID IT DID NOT KNOW IF THE FAILURE OF ANY OTHER COMPONENTS WOULD CAUSE A SIMILAR SHUT-DOWN. OBVIOUSLY, TOYOTA'S DEFINITION OF "SAFE" MODE IS 180 DEGREES OFF AND THIS IS A SYSTEM DESIGN FLAW THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED BEFORE IT RESULTS IN A TRAGEDY (IF IT HASN'T ALREADY DONE SO). *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA PRIUS HYBRID EQUIPPED WITH AN AFTERMARKET 10KW KIT. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 10 MPH WITH THE 10KW PLUGGED IN WHEN IT CAUGHT ON FIRE CAUSING THE STANDARD HYBRID VEHICLE TO BECOME AN ELECTRIC VEHICLE. THE ELECTRICAL WIRING CAUGHT ON FIRE WHICH WAS LOCATED IN THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE NEAR THE TAIL LIGHT. THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED BY THE CONTACT AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED BUT THE FIRE HAD BEEN EXTINGUISHED BY THE TIME THEY ARRIVED. A FIRE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A MECHANIC SHOP WHO WAS UNABLE TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WAS THEN CONTACTED AND THEY STATED THAT BECAUSE THE 10KW WAS AN AFTER MARKET PART, THEY WOULD NOT PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 33,126.

RE: 2009 PRIUS > UPON ARRIVAL AT CHURCH, ENGINE WOULD NOT SHUT OFF. RETURNED HOME, ENGINE WOULD NOT SHUT OFF. COULD NOT REMOVE 'KEY' FROM SLOT. ABOUT 2 HOURS LATER, CAR COULD BE SHUT OFF. > CALLED DEALER AND EXPLAINED. DEALER SAID 'THIS HAS NEVER HAPPENED, WE WILL GET BACK TO YOU' WHICH DID NOT HAPPEN. SINCE THEN, THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL TIMES THAT THE POWER SWITCH HAD TO BE PRESSED SEVERAL TIMES TO MAKE THE CAR SHUT OFF. > THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH OR STUCK ACCELERATOR. DOT SHOULD REQUIRE MANUFACTURERS TO USE A CONVENTIONAL KEY SWITCH TO ALLOW THE DRIVER TO SHUT OFF THE ENGINE. *TR

INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) SEVERAL ELECTRONIC MALFUNCTIONS, ALL OCCURRING WHEN MY BLUE TOOTH IS CONNECTED. SOME INADEQUATELY SHIELDED WIRING OR CONNECTOR(S) COULD ACCOUNT FOR THIS. I SAW IN THE CONGRESSIONAL TESTIMONY BY A LADY IN A LEXUS USED HER BLUE TOOTH CONNECTION TO CALL HER HUSBAND DURING THE 6 MINUTES OF STRUGGLE TO STOP HER CAR'S OUT OF CONTROL ACCELERATION BY VARIOUS METHODS INCLUDING BOTH FEET ONN THE BRAKE. I HAVE A 2009 TOYOTA PRIUS THAT THE DEALER SAYS IS WORKING "NORMAL." THESE EVENTS HAVE NOT BEEN NORMAL, AND ON ONE OCCASION MY ENERGY SCREEN THAT WAS DOING WIERD THINGS ACTUALLY CHANGED TO THE SPEED DIAL SCREEN. IN ANOTHER INCIDENT, (SMART KEY FEATURE IS DISABLED BECAUSE IT DRAINS THE BATTERY) I LOCKED THE CAR WITH MY KEY FOB AS USUAL, AND WHEN I RETURNED COULD NOT UNLOCK IT THAT WAY AND HAD TO DIG OUT THE "KEY" TO OPEN THE DOOR SO I COULD START THE CAR. MY BATTERY HAS DIED 3 TIMES AND WAS FINALLY REPLACED. I BOUGHT THIS PRIUS TOURING MARCH 26, 2009. THE DEALER HAS NO IDEA OF WHAT'S GOING ON, ONLY TELLS ME THE CAR IS "NORMAL." I SUSPECT SOMETHING SO SIMPLE AS SHIELDING FROM THE WEAK BLUE TOOTH SIGNAL COULD WELL BE CAUSING A VARIETY OF PROBLEMS, PROBABLY DEPENDING ON WHERE THE FAULTY WIRING IS LOCATED. IF NOBODY IS INVESTIGATING THIS, IIT IS A MISTAKE!. [XXX] *TR

TOYOTA PRIUS YR/MDL 2009/1224 A I HAVE ATTEMPTED TO HAVE THE FOLLOWING CHECKED WITH TOYOTA OF HICKORY WHERE I PURCHASED THE PRIUS AND WAS TOLD THAT I NEEDED TO ALLOW THE BATTERY TO HEAT UP BEFORE TRYING TO PLACE IT INTO REVERSE OR DRIVE. MY PRIUS WILL GO INTO N, IT WILL LOCK ALL DOORS AND WINDOWS AND NOT GO INTO GEAR OR START. I HAVE BEEN LOCKED IN THE CAR DURING THIS PAST SUMMER WITHOUT AIR AND I ATTEMPTED SEVERAL TIMES TO CUT THE CAR ON AND OFF BEFORE IT WOULD GO INTO GEAR. THIS IS VERY HORRIFIC TO SAY THE LEAST. I WAS AT LAKE NORMAN TOYOTA YESTERDAY AND WAS TOLD THIS WAS A COMMON COMPLAINT. YET NO ONE OFFERED TO TAKE THIS CAR IN AND CHECK FOR PROBLEMS. FROM THE DAY I DROVE OFF THE LOT UNTIL NOW THIS HYBRID GAS/ELEC SEDAN HAS GIVEN ME NOTHING BUT TROUBLE. *TW *TR