2012 Toyota Prius V

On 10-17-24 these warning lights came on: 1. Pre-collision System 2. Hybrid System 3. Airbag 4. Safety Connect red light And Intermittently: 1. Slip Indicator 2. Brake System Cruise control would not set, and displayed "E3". ------- Component failed: Dealer determined that the driver's side door harness had been chewed by a rat that had entered the under dash area "somehow". They said it couldn't be repaired but must be replaced. My insurance deductible was $500 and they paid the balance of the $1,387.06 bill. (I have retained the harness, which could have been repaired by splicing the two wires connecting to the driver's side airbag collision sensor. The labor to splice the wires would have been less than an hour.) ------ Safety: The chewed wire apparently disabled the Airbag, Pre Collision, Emergency Automatic Braking, Seatbelt Pre-Tensioning, ABS, and Stability Systems. ----- The dealer confirmed the problem. ----- My insurance adjuster did inspect the harness. ----- I placed electronic rat traps in the vehicle, which killed three rats. ========= NEXT ========= ALL THE SAME WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON A FEW MONTHS LATER! I didn't throw more money at the Dealer, and took off the panels to inspect the wiring myself. There was damage to the passenger side door harness wires. I removed the harness and ordered a $60 used replacement on Ebay. While waiting for delivery, I researched rat damage to Toyota wires, and how rats could possibly enter the interior of the car. I discovered that there is an UNSCREENED 12x9 inch opening to bring fresh air into the HVAC system. It is hidden under the windshield wiper cowls. Also, there are two UNSCREENED vents in the trunk area. Other Prius owners covered those openings with 1/4 inch metal wire hardware cloth. I spent a few hours disassembling, covering, and reassembling pieces to prevent further access through the fresh air intake, and will do to the rear next. TOYOTA should recall these cars and ratproof the harnesses

Upon driving out of my school parking lot at approximately 15 to 20 miles per hour I noticed a cushiony filled with a brakes and all of a sudden I heard a shhh all of my lights popped up on my dashboard. When I took my vehicle in to be able to find out what was going on with it I was told that I need a master cylinder and a brake booster. This was after having my vehicle for only 3 years where I purchased it from Rice Toyota Greensboro North Carolina.

MY HORN NO LONGER WORKS. I TOOK IT INTO THE DEALER AND IT WAS DIAGNOSED AS HAVING A FAULTY SPIRAL CABLE. ACCORDING TO INFORMATION ON THE INTERNET, THE SPIRAL CABLE ALSO PLAYS A ROLE IN THE DEPLOYMENT OF THE DRIVER AIRBAG. THIS PART WAS UNDER A RECALL FOR VEHICLES A COUPLE OF YEARS PRIOR. I FEEL THAT IF THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE AND AN EXTREME SAFETY ISSUE THEN IT SHOULD ALSO BE FIXED UNDER RECALL. THE DEALER PRICE TO FIX THIS IS OVER $800. I HAVE OPENED A CASE WITH TOYOTA #210-128-2281, BUT THEY DON'T SEE IT AS A SAFETY CONCERN AND WILL NOT OFFER ASSISTANCE TO REMEDY THE FAULTY CABLE.

MY FRONT AND DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAGS DIDN'T OPEN WHEN MY CAR WAS HIT ON THAT SIDE BY ANOTHER CAR DRIVEN BY A LADY WHO RAN A STOP SIGN; AND STRUCK MY MOVING CAR; TOTALING MY CAR. I SUFFERED SERTOUS CHEST, NECK AND BACK SPRAINS THAT STILL L BOTHER ME. I WAS STRUCK PRETTY HARD, I SUFFERED A TERRIBLE JOLT TO MY CHEST AREA WHEN MY CAR CAME TO A HARD STOP, AND I STILL HIT THE STEERING WHEEL. THIS ACCIDENT COSTS ME MY JOB AND I AM NO LONGER ABLE TO STAND OR WALK FOR LONG PERIODS OF TIME.

ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS IT SOUNDS AS THOUGH SOMETHING 'METAL' IS SLIDING AROUND INSIDE THE PANEL OF THE FRONT PASSENGER DOOR. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER 3 OR 4 TIMES AND THEY CANNOT VERIFY IT. WHEN I WENT OUT WITH A TECH, ONCE, ALTHOUGH IT HAD MADE THE SOUND AS I TURNED OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY, IT WOULDN'T DUPLICATE WITH THE TECHNICIAN. THEY WOULDN'T TAKE OFF THE PANEL TO INVESTIGATE. GIVEN THE PROBLEM WITH AIRBAGS THIS MAKES ME VERY NERVOUS AND I HOPE THAT I AM NEVER IN A CRASH.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2012 TOYOTA PRIUS V. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH AND MAKING A LEFT TURN, A VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. AS A RESULT, THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED, BUT THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAGS FAILED TO FULLY INFLATE. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE CHEST THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO DEEMED THE VEHICLE DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 23,000.

DRIVER IN A 2005 FORD FOCUS 4 DOOR TURNED LEFT IN FRONT OF ME. MY PRIUS V HIT THE FORD FOCUS ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE CORNER. MY PRIUS WAS DAMAGED IN THE CENTER OF THE FRONT. THE SPEED OF MY VEHICLE IS LESS THAT 40 MPH, THE SPEED LIMIT. I BELIEVE I WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 30 MPH BEFORE I HIT THE BRAKES HAD ABOUT 25 FEET TO STOP. WHEN WE HIT THE FORD IT WAS LIKE HITTING A BRICK WALL, MY PRIUS POPPED UP OFF THE GROUND ABOUT A FOOT. NEITHER OF THE FRONT AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. MY WIFE, THE PASSENGER IN MY PRIUS FRACTURED HER STERNUM DUE TO THE PRESSURE OF THE SEAT BELT. UPDATED 06/06/2014 *JS