2009 Toyota Prius transmission problems

Filed Jan 3, 2022 · Electrical, Transmission · VI

The car stopped moving while I was driving. The engine is functional but it will not engage the drivetrain. The dashboard lights up intermittently. Most of the time the dash is dark. The local Toyota dealer will not take this car into the service department since it is over 10 years old and the dealer has not done all the regular servicings of the car. So I can not drive it.

Filed Apr 11, 2020 · Transmission · 123,000 miles · CA

Driving vehicle on a city street in drive gear and it slipped out of drive into neutral without warning. Tried to put it back in drive (as I was on the road) but every time I switched gears back to drive and released the gear shifter it would immediately pop back into neutral. I parked & turned the car off, waited and then turned it back on again. It seemed to be okay so I got on the freeway home and after I merged into traffic the same problem happened (but while I was driving at a much faster speed). I had to hold the gear shift down in drive the entire ride home (with my one year old in the car). I got home and after I parked and let the car sit I went back out and tried the car again and it happened again. I checked and the same problem happened in reverse (it won't stay in reverse, it just pops back into neutral).

Filed Oct 30, 2018 · Electrical, Engine · 88,604 miles · CA

Complete shutdown of prius automobile with no warning while in motion on a city street. Rolled to a stop in safe area. Nothing worked except emergency blinkers. No instrumentation or warning lights appeared. The car was locked in fwd park and could not be towed by flatbed tow truck as there is no override. Lift tow truck was used to get to dealer. Diagnosed as melted hybrid invertor pump. Dealer replaced pump and fuse for a $641.47 cost to me. If this had happened on a highway/freeway it would have been a disaster. The complete loss of power without warning at freeway speed could very easily ended up as a multiple car pile up. Just the thought of crossing multiple lanes in traffic with no power, just rolling, makes me think it's time to get rid of this car.

Filed Mar 30, 2018 · Acceleration, Brakes · IN

Consumer writes in regards to vehicle steering loss, brake loss and acceleration issues, corporation failure to inform consumer of counterfeit drive train issues that injured consumer. Smd the consumer stated toyota failed to warn them about being convicted of "using the intellectual property of hybrid drive inventor without his permission."

Filed Apr 7, 2016 · Transmission · 103,000 miles · VA

This car cuts off power to save the powertrain from damage, that is what toyota told me. You must be extremely careful when entering traffic because you can lose power for 2-3 seconds if the cars computer senses any wheel spin. The way I see it this is a machine that was designed by the engineers to save itself from damage, the safety of the driver is of no concern to the computer program. You must always!!! Be aware when driving this car that it can and will cut all power when you enter traffic. The best way to drive this car and stay alive is to make sure any approaching vehicles are much farther away than you would consider normal if you were driving any other car. Imagine in the future that a firefighting robot runs into a burning building to save you, the robot picks you up and starts to exit the building. The robots computer senses that it is getting too hot for its design parameters so it drops you on the floor and runs out of the building to save itself, that analogy basically describes the 2009 prius , its computer saves itself without thought that you are left in the middle of the road without power. Toyota told me again that the transmission could not handle the power from the motor so they made the computer cut power if wheel spin was detected. My major complaint is the length of time the power is cut 2-3 seconds which is a very very long time when you are entering traffic.

Filed Nov 23, 2014 · Engine, Transmission · 50,000 miles · OR

Service engine light, code p1121, coolant recovery tank flow control valve bad. There is a service campaign on this for 2007 prius and the problem is supposed to be solve for 2009 prius. Also this is part of the emission control system, as the purpose of coolant recovery tank is the warm up engine sooner to pass emission test. Called toyota dealer, not covered by emission warranty. This is a known and very common problem and toyota is dragging its leg on it.

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 Dec 31, 2012 · Transmission · 108,000 miles · OH

While engine running and in parked mode, engine suddenly raced as if gas pedal was depressed and vehicle lunged forward a few inches.

Filed Nov 22, 2011 · Acceleration, Electrical · 23,687 miles · AZ

I was gliding into a commercial parking space with my foot off the accelerator in the second before I moved my foot onto the brake. Suddenly, the accelerator pushed down by itself, the car surged forward towards the truck in the space in front of mine. I slammed on the brake. End of incident. No mat was in the way. I had taken part in the recall.

Filed May 23, 2011 · Acceleration, Transmission · 500 miles · NC

I was driving my 6-month old 2009 prius one summer day on a dry, paved, slightly downward incline when the following problem occurred. As I approached a traffic circle at about 5 MPH and then applied the brakes, my car jumped forward for about a second and a gold light on the dash was briefly visible through my peripheral vision. Because I was familiar with anti-lock braking systems, I think that I kept my foot on the brake pedal, though I may have reflexively released it in my startle. At any rate the car stopped a few feet later. Thankfully there was no collision, largely due, I believe, to my habit of coasting to a stop when practical. However, this was a bit unnerving, and also since it was during the period of concern about toyota prius' unintended acceleration, I made a point of reporting it to my car dealer. I could not identify which dash light had flashed for a second. The dealer's response was that there was probably an uneven surface on the road that caused the problem. Sure enough, there had been both a shallow pothole and a bit of gravel where the stopping problem occurred. However, I take issue with toyota's blaming road conditions for this problem when clearly the problem is that the car cannot respond appropriately even during very slow speeds. The problem hasn't recurred because I avoided the pothole afterward and never have to stop on a dime, pothole or no. I have had cars with anti-lock braking systems (ABS) and never encountered this problem with them. Therefore, imo toyota needs to improve the ABS or the (then new) stability control feature on priuses, both of which my car has. In all of the hype about toyota cars' sustained unintended acceleration, I do not remember that this other event that I have described was also being addressed. How come? Where are the federal safety agency, nasa, and toyota on this?