The rear hatch release on my 2009 toyota prius has begun to decompose and turn into a rubbery, gooey mess. It interferes with the use of the hatch as the goo not only gets on the fingers but appears to be blocking the release mechanism.
2009 Toyota Prius body complaints
Page 2 of 2: complaints 11 to 19 of 19, newest first, as owners wrote them.
The rubber cover to the hatchback trunk latch has melted. It is now sticky and gooey and literally immovable. This presents a safety hazard, because sometimes I can't open the hatchback which contains the spare tire and other tools. I have no other way to access anything in the "trunk" when I'm unable to open the latch. The toyota dealer said this defective part is not covered by warranty and quoted an exorbitant price to replace it. I feel toyota should replace this defective part at no cost to owners.
I was turning left into the gas station located on us 22 and e. John st. A speeding car struck me on the passenger side near the door and front fender. The speeding car continued so hard that the driver's side lower frame rail was ripped from the car. No air bags deployed. I suffered left knee and left shoulder injuries necessitating several surgeries. The car was equipped with driver's side and front right air bags. Also, dr and fr side and curtain air bags. No air bags deployed. The car was totaled by the insurance company.
My wife and I were driving down a residential street approaching a stop sign. There were two cars stopped at the sign. Several hundred feet from the stop, I took my foot off the accelerator. The car did not slow down. I stepped on the brake. The car did not slow down. I stood on the brake as hard as I could. The car did not slow down. I said to my understandably alarmed wife, we're not stopping. And we didn't until we smashed into the back of a tahoe stopped at the stop sign, doing major damage to the prius that rendered it undriveable and perhaps totaled. My wife has a very sore back that I am hoping starts to feel better today or we will have to schedule a doctor's appointment.
The back door/hatch switch rubber is melting/very sticky. The problem was first reported in the 2007 prius and other model toyota models. I expect that this switch will become defective and it is the only means to enter the hatch area of the prius.the hatch area is the location of the spare tire, flares and other safety products carried in the automobile. This is a very common problem of toyota models and is definitely a factory defective part.
The rubber cover on my touring model prius's hatch locking assembly - the hidden area you grab to open the hatch - has deteriorated to the point that it is gummy like tar. There are dozens of online complaints about this happening to 2007 and 2008 models, which like my prius, were manufactured in japan. I've owned several hatchbacks and never seen this problem on much older hatch locks. From all of the online complaints it's clear to me that toyota is aware of this defect but when contacted, they first told me they had never heard of this being a problem, and now tell me it advises customers it's "normal wear." from a safety perspective the melting rubber makes it difficult to open the rear hatch (a life safety access point), and the sticky black tar-like material from the cover is also potentially dangerous. I ask your agency to take a look at these instances and also to inquire why toyota is not recalling these handles that are melting, which has to be the result of defective rubber. I think a door handle or hatch handle should be made to last more than three years.
In an attempt to avoid oncoming calves on a county dirt road driver inadvertantly pulled steering wheel to the right and hit a tree at road side. Tree is twelve inched from road surface. Before seat belt restrained driver, driver's forward momentum broke the steering wheel. Driver was not injured. Went to local hospital er. Sheriff investigated. With the extensive damage to the front end of the vehicle the air bag should have deployed. It did not. Photos taken. Your organization is being notified as we feel the air bag should have deployed. We will also contact toyota. Thank you. [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).
Tl* the contact owns a 2009 toyota prius. The contact stated that squirrels were able chew through the wiring and the fuse box from under the vehicle. In addition, the squirrels had also chewed through the plastic radiator cover and support panel for the fan and the ABS warning light was illuminated as a result of the damages. The contact was concerned because there was no cover for the under the vehicle to prevent the squirrels or rodents from entering and damaging the vehicle. The contact stated that the failure was recurring. The failure mileage was 2,091 and the current mileage was 2,373.
Rust in the bottom frame of prius.
VIN decoder
See the problems and recalls for an exact car
Buying a used 2009 Toyota Prius?
Check the exact car before you pay: accidents, salvage or flood titles, odometer readings and previous owners.
Check its history