2009 Toyota Prius: engine stalls while driving

Filed Jun 15, 2021 · Electrical, Engine · VA

My 2009 Toyota Prius abruptly lost power while driving. The electrical system turned off and the vehicle stalled while going 50 mph on a 2-lane parkway. While I was able to put my hazard lights on and steer the vehicle, I had no other control and was at a high risk of a crash. There's no emergency lane and few areas wide enough to pull over on the parkway. I was forced to coast the vehicle until I could pull off the parkway onto a patch of grass off the busy road. There were no warnings, messages, or other symptoms of the problems prior to failure. I had plenty of gasoline in the tank, so it wasn't due to a lack of fuel. The car would not start after pulling over and I had to get towed. After researching the issue, it sounds very similar to the safety recall involving certain 2013-2015 Model Year Prius and 2014 – 2017 Model Year Prius v in the United States, the press release for which was published on June 24 2020: https://tinyurl.com/4mrnz9nr Furthermore, the Los Angeles Times wrote an article on April 23 2018 about a similar issue, referring to a recall in 2014 which was intended to fix overheating problems in the 2010-204 Prius inverter. Those recall documents suggest that Toyota has been tracking this issue with the inverter since 2011. https://tinyurl.com/afwvt2sc A sudden power loss is generally considered a serious safety defect. I could have gotten into a serious car accident today and injured myself or other drivers. The 2009 Toyota Prius model had a recall issued on recall date: 11/14/2012 under the federal safety agency Campaign ID: 12V536000, referring to a "short circuit between coil wires and a possible open fuse, creating a stall-like condition of the hybrid system while the vehicle is being driven. This may increase the risk of a vehicle crash." At this time, I don't believe Toyota has conducted due diligence into ensuring the safety of the 2009 Toyota Prius model. The vehicle has not yet been inspected by the manufacturer or insurance reps.

Filed Oct 19, 2020 · Electrical, Engine · TX

We have a 2009 prius which stalled on the freeway as my husband was driving it yesterday (10/16/2020). Luckily, even though it was a busy austin freeway, my husband was able to maneuver it to the shoulder and call aaa to tow the car to the service station. On inspection, we were told that the reason for the stall was the failure of the inverter drive pump along with the 12v battery on board. This car was part of the recall for the inverter drive pump and that was replaced by an authorized toyota service center in 2013 for a similar issue. On the oct 16th, 2020, there were no warning lights - no engine check light and not even the 'maintenance required' light - the car turned on just fine, my husband was able to drive it 5 miles to the freeway, get on the freeway at 60 MPH and drive a few miles on it before losing all power in the car. The service tech informs us that the inverter pump can break down due to just regular driving - but there was zero indication that this unit, which apparently is crucial to the car while being driven, was in any danger of imminent failure. I do not know if this part is examined or serviced as part of regular maintenance, but no warnings were raised when this car was last serviced, at an authorized toyota service station in dec of 2019.

Filed Oct 16, 2018 · Brakes · CA

The lightbulbs burn out very easily. The car stalls when you are trying to leave from a light or stop sign. There is a recall for this but not on my model and there should be sometimes when stopping on breaks the car will show slippery alert even thought there is no reason for it. All these things have caused danger for us while driving the vehicle. This has been happening for years

Filed Oct 28, 2015 · Lights · 155,000 miles · VA

Within the last few weeks, the headlights randomly turn off. Sometimes the driver's side, sometimes the passenger side...sometimes both at the same time. Tonight, I had both headlights and dash lights shut off while driving home down a dark, wet, very curvy, leaf covered road. Quickly turning the lights on and off briefly solved the problem. This should never happen and poses a tremendous threat of bodily harm not only to the drivers/passengers in the prius, but to other travelers as well. I am extremely disappointed in toyota for refusing to be accountable and accept responsibility for the safety of the many consumers who have experienced this problem.

Filed Oct 1, 2015 · Lights · 101,000 miles · CA

Headlights, high intensity discharge turn off. Both headlights turn off while driving.

Filed Jul 15, 2014 · Transmission · 66,000 miles · OH

Tl* the contact owns a 2009 toyota prius. The contact stated that while driving at 35 MPH, the vehicle shifted out of gear and stalled. The vehicle could be restarted. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, who could not duplicate the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 66,000. The VIN was not available.

Filed Jun 12, 2014 · Acceleration, Fuel system · 85,000 miles · TX

A year ago, upon taking off from a stop my car began to stall. I drive two blocks it continues to putt along and stall, then after less than a mile it starts to run as normal. I take my car in to be told it is out of gas, which it did not indicate low fuel, it had over a quarter of a tank. I insist they continue to check my car over days of them driving it, after a week they experience something similar and replace my junction box. Since then I've replace the water pump, taken my car in for a steering recall. Also, there are instances where my car upon take off stalls, but nothing severe, just something you feel when accelerating. Recently, 6/5/14, I experienced the same issue, but this time I immediately put gas into my car even though my indicator panel shows I have fuel. Only this time I start my car and the air conditioner is not working and it continues to stall, after turning my car on and off several times and driving a few blocks the AC cuts on and my car begins to run fine. I have been told by toyota that bc there is no indicator light and it's running fine there is nothing they can do. There was a recent recall in february of 2014 with similar issues I am experiencing but my car was not apart of the recall. Not sure what else I can do. Numerous toyota dealerships have been of no help and I fear that my safety is at risk.

Filed Mar 24, 2014 · Lights · 100,000 miles · NH

The right headlight sporadically shuts off while driving. I have had this happen nearly every time I drive with my headlights on. I have been pulled over twice by a police officer because of this issue. I find that if I turn the headlights off and on again, the issue corrects itself, but then occurs again, sometimes during the same driving trip. Not only do I have to incorporate extra time during my night commutes because I may be pulled over by a police officer, but this is dangerous and is a known issue. Please correct this issue by having toyota recall the prius.

Filed Dec 29, 2013 · Lights · FL

Beginning in july 2013, the headlights on my 2009 toyota prius started flickering while driving at night and then both lights went off. The headlights continue to turn off while driving. Sometimes it is one light and sometimes it is both lights. When it is one light, it is never the same light that goes out.

Filed Feb 19, 2013 · Fuel system · 30,000 miles · WA

Car exhibits symptoms consistent with fuel tank bladder collapse. Have observed widely erratic fuel gauge indications and difficulty adding fuel - particularly in colder weather, (temperatures below approximately 45 degrees f). On occasion it has almost impossible to add gas to a nearly empty tank even at a trickle as the fuel filler auto shutoff keeps tripping. Attempts to add even small amounts of gas can result in gas spewing back out the filling accompanied by belching sounds coming from the tank. Often the tank cannot be filled to the advertised capacity even in warmer weather. Toyota dealer service denies ever having heard of this problem and has offered no credible solution. On an extended trip this could easily result in being stalled with little warning as there is no reliable indication of how much usable fuel is in the tank or when the fuel gauge is going to quickly drop to near zero. This is also an environmental concern due to emission of gasoline fumes and spurting of raw gas during refueling.

Filed Sep 1, 2012 · Electrical, Engine · 35,000 miles · TX

The vehicle stalled out while I was driving, four times in about a mile - including once on a very busy road with no shoulder. The electrical error board lit up, the transmission reverted to neutral or park and I could not put the car back into drive. After I turned the car off, and then turned it back on, it went into drive but only for a short while before lights started flashing and it stalled again.

Filed Jan 6, 2011 · Engine · 19,800 miles · ME

Tl*the contact owns a 2009 toyota prius. While driving approximately 5 MPH, the vehicle stalled and all warning lights illuminated. The contact was able to restart the vehicle but it stalled again. The vehicle was towed to an authorized dealer who replaced the short engine block. The dealer stated that the piston rod was bent due to bad fuel in the vehicle. The failure mileage was approximately 19,800 and the current mileage was 20,500.