2008 Toyota Prius body problems

Filed Aug 31, 2025 · Body, Electrical · MI

Trunk lock will not unlock or allow opening, back latch malfunctions, when car battery dies or car looses power《• you cannot open the trunk and access emergency tools/equipment and battery to jump car. •》You have to access by climbing through the front of the car if you are able-bodied too. There is no opening handle from the inside of the trunk to be let out, scariest and one of the most important major safety concerns, theres no emergency exit from inside vehicle. Water/snow/ice also falls down into the vehicle when opening hatchback, it slides inward from hood of car or slides back from rear windshield and door, causes water to be pooled up in my battery compartment.

Filed Feb 6, 2021 · Body, Brakes · 93,000 miles · AL · crash · 1 injury

I was traveling at about 35-40 MPH on a 4 lane city road & a truck pulled in front of me from a shopping center on opposite side of road from which I was traveling without stopping in center median crossover. I hit brakes but I had no time to stop. I'm not sure the brakes even worked as there were no skid marks from braking. The front driver side of my car hit hard & also damaged drivers side wheel well, fender panel. My airbag did not deploy and my head collided with the steering wheel. It resulted in my having a concussion, whiplash, a fracture in my neck, shoulder pain & nerve issues in my arms & hands, back & hip pain. I know if the airbag had deployed I wouldn't have suffered all the physical issues. This all happened jan. 11 & I still have pain. The car is a total loss.

Filed Jan 19, 2019 · Body · 82,000 miles · CA

The rubber trunk switch cover has degraded, and continues to "melt" or "disintegrate" over time. Originally this was a mere irritation, leaving sticky black residue on my fingers every time I opened the trunk. However, now the switch fails to operate most of the time. This is a safety issue, since I am unable to open the trunk to access the spare tire, as well as other safety equipment or supplies.

Filed Jul 12, 2018 · Body, Electrical · 75,000 miles · FL · fire

Tl* the contact owns a 2008 toyota prius. While driving various speeds, the instrument panel failed to illuminate. The contact also stated that the rear hatch button melted. The vehicle was taken to south dade toyota (29330 s dixie hwy, homestead, fl 33033, (786) 465-7908) where it was diagnosed that the wire connections were disconnected. The contact was also informed that the rear hatch button was a manufacturer defect and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failures and informed the contact that the vehicle was not included in a recall. The approximate failure mileage was 75,000.

Filed Feb 6, 2018 · Body · TX

The hatchback rubber door handle melted even though my car is garaged and not exposed to the sun's heat. Also the hatchback latch would not keep the door in an open position. It dropped multiple times hitting my head while getting the groceries. Can't remember how many times it hit my head but definitely a safety issue that toyota should address.

Filed Oct 27, 2017 · Body, Electrical · 60,000 miles · IL · crash · fire · 1 injury

Toyota prius (2008) - fire after minor accident (battery fire) after a fairly standard rear end collision (25-30 MPH), my toyota prius caught fire and burst into flames. I was stopped at a red light on a city street in chicago, il when the accident occurred, my vehicle was not in motion. Within minutes of impact (to right rear of car), the responding police officer saw fire under the car (began in rear) and the fire dept was called. The fire travelled to the front of the car and the car has been deemed a total loss. The police and tow company believe this was caused by the prius battery and these cars are very unsafe to be on the road with this condition. There has been no related recall on this vehicle, but it's incredibly unsafe and I'm very happy I was not traveling with my children at time of accident. I appreciate you taking time to review this case and taking steps to ensure toyota addresses the issues with the prius vehicles. I've attached the police report and photos of the car fire (I also have video of the fire, but the file is too large to attach on this submission - available upon request). No major injuries - I experienced soreness / headaches from impact/whiplash and saw my doctor following accident (no major injury). Please review and let me know if I can provide anything else / answer any questions. Thank you in advance! [xxx] ('parts of this document have been redacted to protect personally identifiable information pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).')

Filed Mar 18, 2017 · Body, Brakes · CA

My 2008 prius (67,500 miles) regularly serviced at the toyota dealer had a catastrophic brake failure while I was going in reverse down my drive way . I have done the same maneuver every day for more than 20 years in this driveway and never had a problem. As the brakes failed I attempted to pump the brake pedal more to no avail. The car crossed the street and went in the neighbor yard across from my driveway. The car is totaled and I believe it was a complete brake failure that caused the accident. I would like toyota to compensate me for the total loss of my car.

Filed Jan 11, 2017 · Body · 105,000 miles · WA

My rear hatch door latch cover and switch are inoperable and the rubber latch cover is gummy. Hatch will no longer open - this is a huge safety issue- how can I get to my spare tire?

Filed Sep 26, 2016 · Body, Brakes · 82,000 miles · MA · crash

I was in a parking lot and turned my car into a parking space. As I slowed my car to bring it to a stop, applying the brake, the car accelerated on its own and crashed into a railing at the head of the parking space. Although I pushed the brake all the way to to floor, I could not stop the car. The car hit at such a speed that it broke a solid wood railing at the front of the parking space. My car was declared a total loss by my insurance company because of the damage. It seemed to me the car accelerated on its own and the brake was nonfunctional. I could not stop the car. I had two related incidents prior to this crash. The first, I rear-ended another vehicle when applying the brake to stop at a traffic light. Again, the car accelerated and the brake would not stop it. Even with the brake fully pressed, the car hit the other vehicle, bounced backward, continued to accelerate and hit the car again before coming to a stop. Secondly, one time I noticed when applying the brake to make a sharp right turn, the car lurched forward. This did not result in a crash.

Filed Sep 3, 2016 · Airbags, Body · 101,000 miles · PA · crash · 1 injury

My daughter was driving with a passenger in the front, on a town street and a vehicle pulled out in front of her. The impact was on her front bumper and hood pushing the side quarter panels back. The other vehicle was an older pontiac grand pris, their airbags deployed. No airbags deployed on the toyota prius.why did the airbags not deploy?