2008 Toyota Prius: multiple warning lights

Filed Jan 1, 2022 · Brakes · NC

I was driving at a speed of 30mph on a road with a slight incline. As I descended that slight incline, I began my descent at a speed of 30mph. There was about 250 ft between the descent of the incline, and the red light at the bottom. As soon as I began my descent I lost all brake pressure. Fortunately there was an entrance to a parking lot to my right, just before the stop light. When friction had slowed my car down I was able to find a parking spot to pull over. Accompanied with my failing brakes were all of my brake associated lights on the dash, and the red triangle light. There was also a steady high pitch buzzing noise. Still, without brake pressure I get out to inspect the car. There were no signs of leaking brake fluid and the rotors and pads were in great condition. The drum brakes in the back were also in great working order. After finding nothing of suspicion, I turn the far off and back on. To my surprise all the warning lights were off, and my brakes were once again functioning properly. The only thing changed was a buzzing noise from the brake actuator as it built up pressure. It has now been over a month with no issues from the brakes expect for the lingering unusual noise from the actuator, which I suspect it to mean that the actuator is close to failing. I no longer feel safe driving this vehicle. I took the car to my nearest Toyota dealer the day after the incident. They were not able to read any codes because the codes did not store. They told me they would have to see the car with all the lights on for it to read. Basically meaning, "we can't do anything about it until you're life is at great risk". This problem should absolutely be recalled as I am not the only one to have this issue. Toyota says there top priority is consumer safety, yet they blatantly disregard the issue, and instead do very little to resolve it.

Filed Mar 30, 2020 · Brakes · 185,000 miles · FL

When turning the car on, while in park, the car lunges forward with the brake pedal fully depressed. The ABS actuator/modulator is constantly whirring. Several dash lights are illuminated simultaneously (ABS vsc, e-brake, !). My dealer says that this is a common prius problem that can result in complete failure of braking capability and that the repair is $3,500. According to my service advisor, another customer of central florida toyota was scheduled for this repair when his brakes failed and his car was totaled. This seems like a very serious safety issue, and is documented on owner forums as a common problem for prius'. My car has been doing this for a couple weeks now, and realizing how serious is it has prompted me to schedule the repair at my local dealership. I am a nursing home administrator and I rely on this car for my 100 mile commutes.

Filed Sep 23, 2019 · Brakes, Driver assistance · 179,000 miles · GA

Was parked in line to pick up child from school. Turned car on and put it on drive, moved slowly when parking brake light, ABS warning light, traction control light all came on and then my brakes went limp. Had to push all the way to the floor and stopping was still hard to do. Almost hit the car in front of me when suddenly all lights went off and brakes jerked to a sudden stop. I'm terrified to drive my car at faster speed knowing my brakes basically went out. Pretty sure it's failing brake actuator and toyota knows about this probably but didn't do a recall only extended warranties... I didn't own the car when those warranties we're going on in 2016. Headlights also will randomly turn off and I have to turn them off and back on constantly driving at night.

Filed Sep 13, 2018 · Brakes, Driver assistance · 148,000 miles · OR

Driving on city street while very rainy outside, drove through a puddle and felt the brakes loosen, all the warning lights came on and wouldn't turn off. Anti-lock breaking system was offline. Took to toyota dealership, mechanics said the ABS is not communicating with the computer and it would be $2800.00 to fix. Breaks feel loose and are not as responsive anymore.

Filed Oct 17, 2017 · Lights · 147,000 miles · PA

I had the dealer check driver side light, said it was good. After very recently purchasing my pre-owned prius I did a night test drive. The driver side headlight would dim then go out. During a nighttime emergency, all the lights went out while traveling a back country road, I flipped the switch and they came back on, only to go off again while traveling the highway, flipped switch again to turn on again. Upon investigating the problem, I found this is an ongoing problem. Why is there no recall??????? This is extremely dangerous and scary!!!!!!!! This is happening every time headlights are on and in motion!!!!!!!! Recall now!!!!!!!

Filed Apr 17, 2015 · Brakes, Electrical · 149,850 miles · WA

I was driving 50mph when the car lost power.the car suddenly had no power brakes, no ability to easily steer, no engine power and many warning lights came on including an warning that the main hybrid battery was not charging. The car would not respond to acceleration. The car came to a stop. I held the start button the car shut off. The car restarted with no problems. All the warning lights were off. I put the car in drive and started to accelerate. All the warning lights come on just as before and the car suffers the same issues again. I went through the same process of turning the car off and turning it back on. The car started up again with no problems again, all the lights were off. It failed on more time on the trip home. I was able to restart the car and put my emergency lights on. I never drove over 25mph on the trip back to the house. My family took the car to wilson toyota in bellingham wa. They examined the car and said the 12v battery had failed. They told my family that the main 12v battery runs all the electrical to get the car started and running. We told the dealer the car still had electrical power. They still replaced the 12v battery. The following day my family went to look at the car and a service person at the dealer, who said he was new to this location, said he had noticed that the 12v battery had seemed to be replaced recently. They said they would keep the car to keep looking over its systems. On 4/16/2015 my family called toyota to discuss our safety concerns with regard to how the car failed. We explained we also have a 2007 prius that had the main hybrid battery fail and that all the warning lights that came on were similar in both cars. The dealer has said there are no codes that said the main hybrid battery is failing. I am worried that I or my family could be seriously injured if the car failed in this manner again while on a busy highway or intersection.

Filed Oct 17, 2014 · Brakes · 105,327 miles · CA

I was driving to work in the freeway and suddenly I heard a loud continuous beep noise with all the lights in the dash was lit. When I tried to apply the brake, the brake did not respond, I was going at 30 MPH, since there was traffic. I got panic and turned the steering to the right and drove to the curb and stopped there. I toed the vehicle to toyota dealer and they said the brake actuator broke and said that it costs around 3500 dollar. How come the brake actuator fail in the vehicle which is 5 and half years old ?

Filed Feb 12, 2014 · Electrical, Engine · 79,000 miles · ME

Was driving to nova scotia 10/18/13. Stopped for coffee after 2 hrs of driving. Car would not restart. Returning to maine10/20/2013 was passing a tractor trailer truck with another trailer truck passing behind me as well. No check engine light had come on at any time during the trip. Suddenly,all the warning lights on the dashboard lit up and the car stopped working while driving at 75 MPH. Tried not to slow too quickly with truck bearing down behind me ,but could not accelerate either. Car had popped into neutral . Got off on left of two lane highway .car was dead. Would not start. Had towed to toyota dealer in amherst. Diagnostics found no cause. Had to drive 4 hours back home next day not knowing if it would happen again. Took car to toyota dealer 45 miles from my home in us. The following week .no cause found. Happened again shortly after on main street, blocking traffic . Towed to local mechanic. Was there one week. Unable to diagnose. Towed 45 miles to toyota again. There another week. I was told it was a problem with fuse box assembly. Shortly after, the master warning light came on, as well as a warning symbol on the touch screen meaning 'malfunction in hybrid system.' towed again to toyota dealer. Front battery replaced. Noted today that prius recall on '09-'14 models for exact same thing that happened to my '08 model. Total cost $600.00 plus $270.00 towing and $120.00 for hotel .

Filed Jun 14, 2013 · Lights · 64,355 miles · CA

I was driving the vehicle when the driver side headlight went out. The vehicle continued to drive fine, while on the freeway all the lights turned off. I was able to turn the switch off and then on again. When doing so the passenger side light turned back on. Approximately 7-10 minutes later the lights went out again. Again I flipped the switch off then on again and the lights turned back on. This happened about 3-4 times over a 32 minute drive. When I got home, I turned the lights on in my driveway and they were both working. As I backed out of the driveway the left head light went out again.

Filed Jun 4, 2013 · Electrical, Lights · 101,000 miles · ME

All lights suddenly went black, front, back everything. I was going 50 MPH on a mountain road and was on a straight road section out of the curves when everything went black. It was night-time at about 9:30 pm so very dark. I went into shock immediately slammed on brakes, just glad no one in back of me and carefully tried to feel to the side of the road. This is a road with alot of 18 wheelers as it is a major route. Also very curvy, and I was lucky not to get killed!!!!!

Filed Jun 26, 2011 · Lights · 61,000 miles · NV

2008 toyota prius, VIN [xxx], both driver side and passenger side headlight go on and off while in the on position. Started nov. 2010 with both headlights going out on a trip out of town. Then for about 5 months no problems. Now since april 2011 the drives side headlight occasionally goes off, but the passenger side constantly goes off. I will turn on my light to drive at nigh and the passenger light will be on at first then within a few minutes it will go out. I can get it to come back on if I switch the headlight switch off and back on, this turns off all the lights momentarily and then it will come on again for a few more minutes, then have to constantly repeat the process over and over. I have gone online and found forums where there are hundreds if not thousands of the same complaints and toyota has done nothing to remedy the problem all but to charge outrageous prices to temporarily fix the problem that will just start all over. I have gone to our local dealer who gave us a quote and said it was a problem that they were not aware of. Come on, they are sweeping it under the rug and ripping off pruis owners. I certainly hope it doesn't take someone dying to get toyota or someone to realize what a major problem there is and that it needs to be addressed immediately. I do not feet this is an issue with the bulb itself, as the bulb works, it has to be something wrong with the electrical, as many others have replaced the bulbs to only have the same problem return in a short period of time. Your help in this matter would be greatly appreciated. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).

Filed Apr 10, 2011 · Lights · 52,000 miles · FL

Both headlights and inside lights failed, suddenly and without warning, while traveling on a dark stretch of interstate highway at night. For the past two months, the right headlight failed suddenly on occasion, but it could be turned back on my switching off the headlights and then turning them back on. This is the first time all lights failed, and it almost caused a crash.