2004 Toyota Prius acceleration problems

Filed Apr 2, 2022 · Acceleration · TX

I need your help to get Toyota to fix 2 items: -ABS Accumulator: I understand Toyota at one time had a recall on the ‘ABS Accumulator’, that may have expired. At that time, I did not have any issue, nor was I aware of the recall. Now the ‘ABS Accumulator’ has gone out and is really hurting the braking. I had to get new brakes & they get locked because of the ABS malfunction. It is an expensive item – more than the cost of the car. I intend to keep the car for a long time, if Toyota can help me get the ABS Accumulator fixed? -MFD: The Multi-Functional Display (MFD) in the middle of the dashboard, has gone blank. It used to just partially blank out before, but now the whole screen is blank all the time, making it very hazardous to drive. Obviously, there is nothing I have done & it is a manufacturing defect, because it should last the life of the car. Please have Toyota fix the 2 problems (ABS & MFD). All requests to Toyota have gone unfulfilled. Your help is needed & will be greatly appreciated.

Filed Apr 22, 2019 · Acceleration, Electrical · 115,000 miles · CO

I am the owner of a 2004 prius. After buying my car used 2 years ago I noticed that once in awhile the display, including fuel consumption, speedometer, odometer, and more, would not light up and that the car would not turn off easily several times I have been in situations where I have little gas an am unable to see my gas gauge or know how fat iam going on the highway. I understand that this was once covered by toyota under the warranty extension but is not considered a safety concern. The warranty extension is expired. In what universe are a functioning fuel gauge and speedometer not considered a safety concern? I am also concerned that this will deteriorate further and cause an accident.

Filed Jul 12, 2018 · Acceleration, Engine · 184,000 miles · PA

This occurred to me yesterday while traveling 60 MPH in 94 f heat on I-76 e just before the 676 / 76 split. I was traveling in the far left lane when the car suddenly lost power. Looking at the dash I noticed the shifter had moved itself into n (neutral), it would not move back into drive. I applied my hazard lights and began forced my way rightward across three lanes to the shoulder, speed rapidly decreasing and seemingly more sluggishly than a normal coast. I think the emergency brake was automatically being applied or I was fighting a braking system. One lane from the shoulder, a ups truck was headed for me from behind. Luckily, he was able to swerve into the shoulder and pass me there as he could not move left into other traffic. We only narrowly avoided a collision with me or the elevated barrier on the side of the road. I had only 10 MPH left and no ability to redirect my vehicle. Once on the side of the expressway, I was able to google this well-known issue with the vehicle. I let the vehicle cool off, turned off the air conditioning, though didn't want to risk turning the vehicle off. I was concerned I would have to wait until nightfall to get back into traffic (still flowing around 60 MPH and a very narrow shoulder) luckily during a small traffic backup up the road I was able to re-enter traffic at a modest speed. I crossed my fingers as the rest of my commute (another 2 miles or so) was 95% highway driving. Luckily the car held out for me to get home.

Filed Jul 9, 2015 · Acceleration, Electrical · 200,600 miles · CA

Speedometer & other control information display went blank. Pulled over to side of road but unable to turn off engine. Contacted toyota & was told problem is known & warranty extend to 9 years & unlimited miles. However, my vehicle is older than nine years, so I must pay estimate $1400 to fix & car will be unavailable for estimate 2 weeks. The vehicle is unsafe to drive, prior to this known problem occurring car was operating perfectly ( averaging 50 mpg per tank of gas, documented). This appears to be a safety problem that was known by the manufacturer, however they seems to be trying to hide this by making the statistical estimate that by extending the warranty the majority of these cars would be off the road and their lawyers & legal insurance would cost less than the few humans kills after this arbitrary 9 year risk period. I could have been killed as a result of this failure! Fortunately I was not, however I am left with a vehicle that is undriveable (with no warning!) and can only be repaired by toyota at a cost I am not able to afford!

Filed Feb 14, 2012 · Acceleration, Electrical · CA

2004 toyota prius. Consumer states unintended acceleration *tgw the consumer stated the sudden acceleration happened three times, over a six year span. He managed to put the vehicle in neutral, coast to the side of the road, and turned the vehicle off. Once the vehicle was restarted, all worked fine. The consumer stated a few weeks ago his vehicle was about to reach 300,000 miles, as he reached for his camera, he realized the odometer never went past 299,999 miles. However, within five miles, the vehicle suddenly lost power brakes, the air condition stopped working, the hybrid drive shut off and the fan for the hybrid battery came on, as well as yellow and red lights appeared on the dash. Also, two warning graphics appeared on the navigation screen, one indicating trouble. The consumer pulled over, and shut the engine off. He then restarted the vehicle and everything went back to normal. It appeared that by shutting off the engine and restarting it, caused the main computer reboot. The consumer stated it continued several more times, until he arrived home. The dealer informed the consumer the vehicle was a large computer, and when one component stops working, such as the odometer, other components cease too. The dealer explained an odometer limit was placed on the vehicle by the factory.

Filed Jan 19, 2012 · Acceleration, Electrical · 160,000 miles · CA

When ambient temperature is cold, sometimes dashboard lights and speedometer do not come on when the car is started. Car runs but with no instrument panel. Sometimes when the car is in this state the car cannot be turned off by pressing the start button. Car can only be turned off by pressing and holding the start button down for several seconds, and even this does not always work. This problem has been getting worse over time. Toyota dealership refuses to investigate the problem, but it is documented in their warranty repair t-sb-0172-09 combination meter intermittent display bulletin. Instead, the dealership tries to sell us a new car!

Filed Oct 22, 2011 · Acceleration · 86,360 miles · VA

While driving slowly in traffic, after a particularly rough transmission shift, the large red exclamation mark warning inside a triangle lit up on the dashboard, along with the yellow "check engine" and "vsc" (vehicle stability control) warnings. The car was pulled over to a safe location and stopped. The engine was turned off and on a few times and the warnings continued. On the fourth or fifth turn-on, the problem cleared itself and has not recurred. This is the second electronic glitch that has occurred on this vehicle while driving. The first was reported as odi id number 10407518. Both times, the problems, which had different symptoms, corrected themselves after turning the engine off and on a few times. Since the dealer was unable to duplicate the problem in the first case, the dealer has not yet been informed in this case. It has been exceedingly fortunate that both of these electronic glitches, neither of which were related to floormats by the way, were not of the sudden-unwanted-acceleration variety. The randomness of both the timing and the symptoms of these electronic glitches suggest that sudden unwanted acceleration could easily have been the result.

Filed Feb 18, 2011 · Acceleration, Brakes · 120,000 miles · WA · crash · 3 injuries

Tl*the contact owns a 2004 toyota prius. While driving approximately 55 MPH the vehicle accelerated on its own. The vehicle crashed into a concrete divider on the highway. The contact stated that the air bags did not deploy. The contact was able to drive the vehicle after the crash. The driver and the passengers sustained injuries to their back and neck and were under going therapy for their injuries. There was no police report filed. The contact stated that the crash caused damage to the front bumper and the front passenger side door which would not open. The manufacturer stated that an inspector would inspect the vehicle. The inspector stated that there was a problem with the ABS brakes. The contact received the report from the manufacturer and they did not indicate that there was a safety failure and were unable to provide further assistance. The body damage was repaired. The contact stated that she did not feel safe driving the vehicle after the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 120,000.

Filed Oct 18, 2010 · Acceleration, Electrical · CA · crash

2004 toyota prius. Consumer asserts that vehicle accident was caused by a computer malfunction *tgw the consumer stated prior to the accident, on one occasion, the vehicle bolted and jerked slightly as she stopped the vehicle. When she attempted to take off, the vehicle responded sluggishly and then accelerated quickly. The day of the accident, as the consumer approached the stop sign, the vehicle started bucking and jerking violently. After she pulled off from the stop sign, she crashed into a large SUV. The consumer stated she saw the SUV pass, so she purposely waited so she could make a left turn, but ended causing severe damage to her vehicle.

Filed Aug 10, 2010 · Acceleration · AZ

2004 toyota prius with unintended acceleration. *kb the consumer stated he experienced sudden acceleration after the recall was performed. The consumer also stated someone else drove her vehicle and he experienced sluggish acceleration of the vehicle. A message flashed quickly, but he was unable to read it.