2013 Toyota Prius

MY CAR HAS STOPPED RUNNING WITH ALL WARNING LIGHTS AND HYBRID SYSTEM FAILURE WARNING THREE TIMES NOW. FIRST TIME I WAS DRIVING WHEN LIGHTS CAME ON BUT GOT TO PARKING LOT WHERE IT DIED. I WAS ABLE TO RESTART CAR AFTER A COUPLE OF HOURS, STILL ALL WARNING LIGHTS AND HYBRID WARNING SHOWING BUT WAS ABLE TO GET IT TO DEALERSHIP. SECOND TIME I WAS DRIVING ON SMALL ROAD AND WAS ABLE TO GET CAR TO SIDE OF ROAD. AGAIN IT STARTED AFTER A COUPLE HOURS WITH ALL WARNINGS LIT AND I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE TO DEALERSHIP WERE IT ALSO DIED AGAIN BUT THEY STARTED IT LATER BY RESETTING CODES. THIRD TIME IT STOPPED IN DRIVEWAY AND I WAS UNABLE TO START IT. HAD IT TOWED TO DEALERSHIP. FIRST TIME. 12V BATTERY WAS REPLACED AND SOFTWARE UPDATE PERFORMED. SECOND TWO TIMES IRA TOYOTA DEALERSHIP HAS SENT ME BACK OUT ON THE ROAD TO WAIT AND SEE IF IT HAPPENS AGAIN.

WHILE DRIVING OUR 2013 PRIUS ON A 5 FIVE-LANE HIGHWAY 2-10-20, OUR PRIUS GOES INTO LIMP HOME MODE ALL THE SUDDEN AND SLOWS THE CAR DOWN SIGNIFICANTLY WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED. THIS OCCURRED AT THE SAME TIME AS I WAS PASSING A CAR TO EXIT THE HIGHWAY, ALSO WITH ANOTHER CAR CLOSE AT THE REAR CLEARLY INTENDING TO GET AHEAD OF ME AFTER I HAD PASSED THE OTHER CAR. I UNEXPECTEDLY REALIZED THAT I HAD NO ACCELERATION AND THAT THE ALL THE DASH LIGHTS HAD COME ON. I WAS VERY FORTUNATELY TO BE ABLE TO MANEUVER ACROSS THE DRIVING LANES TO THE HIGHWAY EXIT WITHOUT BEING HIT AS MY SPEED GO DOWN. THE SITUATION WAS EXTREMELY HAZARDOUS. TOOK THE CAR TO THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP THE NEXT DAY ON 2-11-20 AND THE TECH DISCOVERED THE CAR WENT INTO THE LIMP HOME MODE BECAUSE OF A CATASTROPHE INVERTER FAILURE. WE DID RECEIVE THE UPDATED SOFTWARE FROM THE RECALL IN 2014, YET THE INVERTER STILL FAILED. THE INVERTER WAS REPAIRED BY THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP 100% UNDER WARRANTY.

CAR FAILS TO STOP AND/OR LOSES TRACTION WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES AT LOW SPEEDS. MY TIRE SHOP HAS INSPECTED BOTH WINTER AND SUMMER TIRES FOR TREAD AND INFLATION, SO THOSE FACTORS WEREN'T AN ISSUE DURING THE TIMES I LOST TRACTION CONTROL. EXAMPLES INCLUDE: 1) SKIDDING AND FAILING TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP AT THE EXIT TO A DRY, PAVED PARKING LOT (FORTUNATELY MY CAR STOPPED BEFORE ENTERING TRAFFIC, BUT I SLID PAST THE ACTUAL STOP SIGN IN LINE WITH THE SIDEWALK - IT FELT LIKE I WAS ROLLING ON LOOSE GRAVEL BUT WHEN I GOT OUT AND CHECKED THE PAVEMENT WAS CLEAN); 2) FAILING TO STOP WHEN APPLYING BRAKES ON A STRAIGHT ROAD IN SNOW AS I APPROACHED A LIGHT THAT WAS CHANGING WHILE GOING ABOUT 30-35 MPH (I HAD ENOUGH STOPPING DISTANCE TO TEST EVERY BRAKING TECHNIQUE, FROM NORMAL BRAKING TO PUMPING THE BRAKES TO PUSHING THE BRAKE PEDAL ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR; I ENDED UP MAKING AN EMERGENCY RIGHT TURN INTO THE SHOULDER OTHERWISE I WOULD HAVE GONE THROUGH THE LIGHT INTO THE PATH OF OTHER CARS); 3) SLIDING AND FAILING TO STOP ON WINTER SIDE STREETS DESPITE ONLY TRAVELING 5 MPH BECAUSE I DON'T TRUST MY BRAKES. I'VE ALSO HAD THE TRACTION LIGHT COME ON AND FELT MY CAR SLIPPING WHEN DRIVING NORMALLY (20-25 MPH) THROUGH DRY RESIDENTIAL INTERSECTIONS WITH ENGINEERED DRAINAGE GUTTERS RUNNING PERPENDICULAR TO THE STREET, OR WHILE MAKING SLOW TURNS THROUGH INTERSECTIONS WITH UNAVOIDABLE SHALLOW POTHOLES. I TOOK THE CAR TO A TOYOTA DEALERSHIP IN OCTOBER 2019 IN RESPONSE TO A CUSTOMER SUPPORT PROGRAM NOTIFICATION THAT INDICATED MY MAKE AND MODEL MIGHT BE AFFECTED BY A BRAKE BOOSTER PUMP ASSEMBLY ISSUE, BUT THE DEALERSHIP FOUND "NOTHING WRONG" (NO WARRANTY RELATED DIAGNOSTIC CODE PER TOYOTA'S GUIDELINES) AND SUBSEQUENTLY DID NOT PERFORM ANY REPAIRS. I'VE EXPERIENCED THIS ISSUE SPORADICALLY FOR OVER A YEAR, MOST RECENT INCIDENT ON 2/3/2020.

ON MONDAY JAN, 27, 2020, I WAS INVOLVED IN THE ACCIDENT WITH MY 2013 TOYOTA PRIUS I WAS DRIVING ON A FREEWAY WITH REGULAR TRAFFIC. THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME SUDDENLY CAME TO A STOP. I IMMEDIATELY SLAMMED ON MY BRAKES VERY HARD. I HAD PLENTY OF SAFE DISTANCE BETWEEN TWO CARS. I ENDED UP RUNNING INTO THE REAR END OF FRONT CAR WITHOUT ANY NOTICEABLE SLOWDOWN. THE BRAKES DID NOT COME ON. THERE WAS NOT ANY FEELING OF GRABBING OR TIRE MAKING ANY SCREECHING NOISE. ALSO I DID NOT SEE ANY TIRE MARKS ON ROAD. ALL OF THE AIR BAGS WERE DEPLOYED AND THERE WAS A FRONTAL IMPACT. I ALSO DID NOT FEEL MY SEAT BELT TIGHTENING UP.THE BRAKES WERE NEVER FELT LIKE BEING EXERTING AT ALL. THE CAR WAS BADLY DAMAGED IN FRONT.

I WAS DRIVING MY PRIUS 2013 MODEL IN A PARKING LOT ON 12/24/2019 WHEN ITABRUPTLY (WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING MESSAGES) SHUT DOWN WITH THIS MESSAGE: "CHECK HYBRID SYSTEM STOP THE VEHICLE IN A SAFE PLACE." MY CAR WOULD NOT MOVE AN INCH, DIDN'T GO INTO LIMP MODE AND DIDN'T GO INTO NEUTRAL EITHER.MY PRIUS HAD A 2ND RECALL SOFTWARE UPDATE IN 2019 AND ITWAS SUPPOSE TO PREVENT MY CAR FROM SHUTTING DOWNCOMPLETELYAND SHOULD HAVE GONE INTO FAIL-SAFE DRIVING MODE BUT THAT DID NOT HAPPEN AND THE SOFTWARE UPDATE SEEMS TO BE JUST A BANDAID. IT WAS TOWED TO A DEALERSHIP WHO DIDN'T LOOK AT IT FOR 2 DAYS DUE TO THE HOLIDAYS AND THE BAD INVERTER DRAINED THE NORMAL BATTERY AND THE HYBRID WARNING CODE WITH IT. THE DEALERSHIP DID NOT REPLACE THE INVERTER AS THEY SAID THEY COULDN'T RECREATE THE DTC CODE WHICH I BELIEVE DOESN'T QUALIFY FOR NOT WANTING TO ENSURE SAFETY AFTER I HAD 3 WITNESSES INCLUDING MYSELF,SEEING THE HYBRID SYSTEM INVERTER FAILURE AS WELL. WHERE IS THE ORIGINAL DTC CODE? IT SHOULD NOT EVAPORATE AFTER A BAD INVERTER DRAINS THE BATTERY AND I HAVE THE HYBRID WARNING MESSAGE ON VIDEO BUT WAS TOLD BY THE DEALERSHIP ANDMANUFACTURER THAT IT'S NOT SUFFICIENT.AND THEY DID NOT OFFER TO CHECK THEINVERTER ORTHE IGBT TO ENSURE ITSSAFENESS. INSTEAD, I WAS ASKED TO PICK UP MY CAR AFTER THEY FIXED A 'BATTERY CELL' ISSUE THAT WAS NEVER THE PROBLEM UNTIL IT WAS AT THE DEALERSHIP. I PICKED UP MY CAR TODAY STILL WITH A BAD INVERTER,AN ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN AND I HOPE IT WON'T BE ON A FREEWAY.*DT*JB

ATTEMPTING TO TRAVEL IN MY 2013 PRIUS FIVE DURING XMAS WAS DRIVING AND APPROACHING A RED AND WHILE TRYING TO STOP PEDAL WENT DIRECTLY TO FLOOR AND SKID LIGHT WENT ON AND BARELY AVOIDED WHAT SHOULD BE AN EASY STOP!! WEATHER CLEAR FELT A DRAG AND NO COASTING ABILITY... CAR HAS 21,000 MILES AND IS IN PERFECT APPEARANCE BUT FAR FROM IN PEAK CONDITION AS THIS CAR FROM BRAND NEW HAD ISSUES I GOT TIRED WAITING FOR TOYOTA TO FIX. CRUISE CONTROL, BRAKES, BLUETOOTH, ENGINE WRAPPING SOUNDS ON STARTUP, I AM TOLD THE BRAKE ISSUE SINCE NEW IS NOW A 3,000+ REPAIR AND SINCE IT SHOWED NO CODE AT DEALER I WOULD HAVE TO PAY! MERRY XMAS TOYOTA! WHAT IS NHTSA WAITING FOR??? I AM SHOCKED AT BOTH FOR INACTION SO I WILL MAKE SOME CALL TO MY ELECTED OFFICIALS THIS HAS TO BE FIXED. TOYOTA IS BECOMING GM WHO WOULD HAVE FIGURED?? MY OTHER PRIUS ISSUES MATTER LESS WHEN BRAKES DON'T STOP YOU REASONABLY AND THE REPAIR IS OVER 3,000 ON A CAR WITH 21,000 WELL CARED FOR MILES...

FROM DAY #1 THESE ISSUES WERE PRESENT ON 2013 PRIUS FIVE: LKA SUDDENLY STOPS CAR OVER MINOR CAR MOVEMENTS AHEAD,MAJOR KNOCKING SOUNDS FROM ENGINE ON COLD STARTS, BRAKE PEDAL HITS FLOOR AND SUDDENLY LOCKS UP! I NOW HAVE 20K AND HARDLY DRIVE IT NOW TRIPS SKID ICON?, BLUETOOTH IS ERRATIC, CRUISE CONTROL SHUTS OFF OR WON'T TURN ON WHEN ITS WET OUT, DRIZZLES OR RAINS! IS MY TOYOTA MY MOTHER WARNING ME NOT TO DRIVE IN BUMPER TO BUMPER TRAFFIC, AVOID RAIN OR SNOW, NOT TO USE ELECTRONICS OR LISTEN TO MUSIC WHILE DRIVING AND IF I USE THE TECH IN THIS 36K PRIUS FIVE ITS CAUSING ME TO DRIVE LIKE A 90 YR OLD WITH BAD EYES AND EVEN POORER JUDGEMENT! IT'S A WONDER WHY SOME PEOPLE HATE PRIUS DRIVERS..! THE 12V BATTERY DIES EVERY FEW DAYS SO I MUST KEEP IT PLUGGED IN. I EVEN WRAP MY FOB IN FOIL AT HOME AND KEEP IT AS FAR FROM CAR AS POSSIBLE TO NOT WAKE UP THE CAR IF I WALK BY A WINDOW CLOSE TO ITS PARKED TO AVOID POWER DRAIN. TOYOTA TELLS DEALER EVERYTHING IS OKAY? ....IN WHAT WORLD WOULD ANYONE PAY TO HAVE A CAR LIKE THIS AND TELL CUSTOMERS ITS OKAY?? I HAVE TO DRIVE AND OTHER PEOPLE'S LIVES ARE IN DANGER! MY SON IS NOW GETTING READY TO DRIVE AND I CAN'T IMAGINE HIM FIGHTING THE CONTROLS THAT TOYOTA BUILT IN TO KEEP HIM SAFE! I USED TO MANAGE A PORSCHE DEALERSHIP AND RACED ON MANY TRACKS AND CAN DRIVE FAIRLY WELL AND DON'T LIKE TO COMPLAIN BUT AFTER MY RECENT ISSUE AND RESEARCH FOUND A LOT OF COMMON PROBLEMS WITH OTHERS SO I CHIMED IN..

WHILE DRIVING ON RTE. 24 SOUTH IN MASSACHUSETTS (AROUND BROCKTON/BRIDGEWATER/ TAUNTON, MA) THE CAUTION LIGHT BEGAN FLASHING (TRIANGLE WITH EXCLAMATION). I PULLED OVER AT THE NEAREST REST STOP TO SEE IF THERE WAS ANY OBSERVABLE PROBLEM, BUT I COULD NOT DETECT ANYTHING SPECIFIC. I GOT BACK ON THE HIGHWAY; AND THE LIGHT CONTINUED BEEPING INTERMITTENTLY AND THEN ABOUT A MILE LATER I FELT A SHIFT IN THE TRANSMISSION AND SUDDENLY I WAS IN NEUTRAL, QUICKLY DECELERATING FROM 65 MPH. THANKFULLY I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER SAFELY, AT WHICH POINT A NEW MESSAGE WAS ON MY DASH TELLING ME TO PULL OVER, THAT THERE WAS SOMETHING WRONG WITH MY HYBRID SYSTEM! WE (THE TOW TRUCK GUY AND I) NOTICED OIL UNDER THE CAR AND CONFIRMED IT WAS CLEAN OIL, AND I SAW ANOTHER SPOT IN MY DRIVEWAY WHEN I GOT HOME. I HAVE SURMISED THAT WHEN I GOT MY OIL CHANGED LAST WEEK, SOMETHING MIGHT HAVE HAPPENED TO CAUSE THE LEAK, WHICH IS IN FACT THE CASE AND NOW MY ENGINE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED (THE REPAIR SHOP HAS OWNED THE ERROR AND IS PAYING FOR THIS). HOWEVER MY CONCERN THAT I WISH TO REGISTER IS THAT THE CAR SHOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO TELL ME NOT TO DRIVE IT, NOT JUST A CAUTION LIGHT THAT COULD HAVE MEANT ANYTHING. I COULD HAVE HAD A VERY SERIOUS ACCIDENT. AND WHEN I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP FROM WHICH I BOUGHT THE CAR, NO ONE CALLED ME BACK (I TRIED THREE TIMES AND WAS DISCONNECTED ONCE) BRAINTREE TOYOTA. (781) 848-9300 THIS SEEMS LIKE A DEFECT THAT NEEDS LOOKING AT. BEING THROWN INTO NEUTRAL GOING 65 MILES PER HOUR AS A RESPONSE TO AN ENGINE LEAKING OIL IS NOT OK. THERE SHOULD HAVE BEEN A WARNING NOT TO DRIVE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE AND TWO UNKNOWN WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. IN ADDITION, THE CHECK HYBRID SYSTEM AND "STOP THE VEHICLE AT A SAFE PLACE' MESSAGES APPEARED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. FURTHERMORE, WHILE DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO PARK ON THE SHOULDER OF A ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V684000 (HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM). THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO PENSKE TOYOTA OF DOWNEY (LOCATED AT 9136 EAST FIRESTONE BLVD, DOWNEY, CA 90241, (562) 904-5600) WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT A SOFTWARE UPDATE WAS NEEDED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS NOT RELATED TO THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 170,000.

IN THE MIDDLE OF DRIVING MY CAR ON NOV 18 & NOV 21ST, THE ENGINE REVS EXTREMELY LOUD FOLLOWED BY THE INABILITY TO ACTUALLY DRIVE MY CAR, LIKE ITS SHUTTING DOWN ON ME. IN A MATTER OF ABOUT 5 SECONDS AND IT NOT ALLOWING ME TO DRIVE OR ACCELERATE IT RETURNS TO NORMAL. IT HAS HAPPENED TWICE THIS WEEK AND THOUGHT FOR SURE I WOULD FIND A RECALL ON THIS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS ISSUE BUT TO NO AVAIL. IT HAPPENED BOTH TIMES ON A WELL TRAVELED TWO-LANE HIGHWAY. I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 35-40MPH. I WAS FORTUNATE ENOUGH NO ONE WAS DIRECTLY BEHIND ME BOTH TIMES. INCREDIBLY DANGEROUS! TOYOTA PLEASE DO A RECALL ASAP!