This is a report of product failure and subsequent refusal by toyota to replace failed parts post 36 k mi. Warranty. They are a steering wheel compound disintergration and the premature oxidation of the plastic spoiler paint only w/o similarly occuring on the sheetmetal of the body.
2008 Toyota Prius steering complaints
Page 2 of 2: complaints 11 to 18 of 18, newest first, as owners wrote them.
Gear shifted into neutral without use of gear shift control. Happened several times and wasn't able to shift into reverse or drive. Kept going back to neutral. Park also wasn't working. Powered car off which did put in park. Restarted and drove home without issue. Tried to recreate at home and same problem occurred. Was able to manually hold gear shift in drive or reverse to move car into driveway. Have left car at toyota service center today for inspection. Did not occur when tech tried it day after incident at 7am. Initial incident occurred on hot afternoon at 5pm with 100 degree temperatures. Have read online of similar problems related to hot temp. Have had car for 5 years with no problems like this. Just crossed 50000 miles and am covered under warranty until oct. I hope it can be repaired. And hope it does not happen while I am driving at faster speeds. So far only happens when parked and recently started. Starter battery was replaced around 2 years ago.
Steering wheel seemed to lock, causing me to nearly lose control of the vehicle.
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 toyota prius. The contact stated that while traveling 10 MPH, the vehicle independently veered to the left. The contact's vehicle was crashed into by a dump truck on the front passenger's side. The vehicle was destroyed. The vehicle was towed to a private mechanic and a police report was filed. There were no injuries. The manufacturer was not contacted. The vehicle was not inspected to determine the cause of the steering failure. The failure mileage was 147,000 and the current mileage was 147,000. The VIN was not available.
Cpcs:i1410421a. 2008 toyota prius. Consumer stated the car was taken in for a wheel alignment. Apparently, toyota has not allowed any way to adjust the rear toe or camber on the prius, which can result in steering issues and problems associated with excessive or uneven tire wear.
Toyota prius 2008 driving over potholes or wet pavement, it's harder to steer or brake than I've ever experienced in another car. This has happened approximately 15 times since I bought the car in july 2008.
After having driven my prius nearly 15,000 miles in all types of weather (except snow) and on residential roads as well as interstate highways with no steering problems, on a single day on residential streets at 20 to 25 MPH and gentle rain, it hydroplaned twice with damages each time to the car and to a fire hydrant once. Each event was while going around a gentle left curve at reasonable speed. The first time, I was able to correct and spin out 360 degrees with the left quarter-panel hitting a roadside garbage container. The second time, the car did not respond to any steering maneuvers nor the brakes when applied. The car stopped only after colliding with the fire hydrant. Significant damage was sustained in each collision. I have traveled this street several times daily, often on rainy days, and never before had any steering problems. It was as though something had changed in the steering control on this day. I was sober and unimpaired.
Vehicle is extremely, almost dangerously, sensitive to cross winds and wake turbulence from larger vehicles, trucks specifically.
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