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Toyota Prius

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Toyota Prius • General Complaints • Acceleration • Availability • Battery • Fuel Gauge • Headlight • Insurance Costs • Service Delays • Tires • Transmission • Traction --- • Happy Hybrid Owners --- Test Drive • Three Lead Feet Meet Little Fuel Sipper --- News • Toyota Ready to Expand Safety Recall Beyond Floor Mats • U.S. Prius Sales Drop 45 Percent • Prius Tops Consumer Reports Best New-Car Value List • Toyota Parks Plans For New Prius Plant • Prius Vandalism On the Rise in California • Toyota Plans Prius Plant in Mississippi • Solar Panels to Power Prius Air Conditioning • Unexpected Problems Confront Prius Owners • NHTSA to Hear 'Silent Killer' Complaints • Reports of Prius Price Gouging Rise with Gas Prices • Prius, Porsche Models Top Most-Satisfied Lists • Should You Buy a Second-Hand Prius? • Winter Weather Warning for Prius Drivers • Prius Again Tops Owner Satisfaction Survey • Prius Helps Toyota Knock Off Ford for #2 Spot • Toyota Recalls Floor Mats, NHTSA Warns Prius Owners • Feds Probe Prius Runaway Acceleration • Prius Owners Report More Unintended Acceleration Incidents • Runaway Acceleration Plagues Prians • Toyota Delays Third-Generation Prius • Sales Top 1 Million but Some Owners Find Prius Doesn't Age Well • Prius Owners Losing Ground in Traction Battle • Prius Traction Control Complaints on the Rise • Prius Stalls in Snow; Owners Steamed • Prius Shuts Down in the Snow, Reader Complains • Prius Supplies Increase as Sales Slow • Prius Discounts Popping Up in Showrooms • EPA Finds Prius #1 in Gas Mileage • Prius Owners Question Mileage Claims • Prius Tops Consumer Satisfaction Survey • Hybrids Don't Always Deliver the Expected Fuel Economy

Kathy of Torrance CA (03/13/08)
I am the owner of 2006 Prius. On February 25, 2008 at 8am heading to work, suddenly, the hazardous red light and the battery light went off on my dashboard screen and realized that my car was loosing power on busy 110 Harbor freeway north bound. I panicked not knowing what happened. The car became heavy and it started to slow down no matter how I pushed the accelerator.

I could not control the speed anymore. All I could think was to pull my car to the right shoulder and I barely made it to the nearest shoulder which was very narrow. I feared of the speeding cars approaching from behind thinking maybe one of the cars will eventually crash into me. I called above dealer right away but I was told that they would not know the problem until they see my car and suggested my car be towed. When my car got to the dealer, Sean first told me that things like this is most likely covered under warranty so he suggested leaving the car and rent a car.

The technician replaced the air filter with the new one because the air filter had accumulated oil but I was also told that this type of service was not covered under warranty and that I was responsible for the service/labor as well as the rentacar cost.

My car was at their shop few months ago for 20,000 oil change but he told me that this has nothing to do with what they did, it was not my fault either and there was nothing for me to do in the future to avoid the same problem. I was not thrilled with his response - I just didn't get it my most important thing was nothing but safety. After I told him that I plan to report this to the manufacturer, he went to talk to his supervisor and decided not to charge me.

Even though I didnt have to pay, I still was not happy not knowing why the oil got into the air filter. Sean didnt know the answer. As the mechanic, Steve who fixed my car left for training, I waited few days for his return. He said he learned that putting in too much oil in the oil filter can cause the oil to overflow to air filter and thus the oil can accumulate quicker and can cause the car to breakdown.

The normal service of replacing the air filter is usually after 60,000 miles. I then called Sean and repeated what the mechanic informed me and told him to educate the mechanic who did the oil change on my car few months ago and also inform his supervisor. He was sincere and apologized for the inconvenience I went through. I still cant get over the traumatic experience I went through that morning on 110 freeway and I am still paranoid off and on thinking, I hope this car doesnt stop again.

David of Mount Gretna, PA March 12, 2008

David of Mount Gretna PA (03/12/08)
I really like my Toyota Prius except when it is snowing. I was stopped on a slight incline and the traction control system would not let me get going. This was really distressing as a large truck was coming at me and I am sure he was wondering why I wasn't moving. The slush would cause the tires to slip and the control system would not let the tires spin enough to get a grip on the pavement. This could have caused a bad situation. Would suggest a switch so that the driver could turn off the system.

Vesselin of Burlington, OTHER March 11, 2008

Vesselin of Burlington, Canada (03/11/08)
Impossible to drive off in 2 inches of snow due to the wheel shut off of the 2007 Toyota Prius' traction control. This was on my driveway and on a parking lot. Thanks god it was not in real driving condition! Toyota, please give us the ability to shut down the traction control in such situations!

E. of Montebello, NY March 6, 2008

E. of Montebello NY (03/06/08)
On warm days when I use the air conditioning in my 2007 Toyota Prius, there is a smell of mold. I brought the car in for service and was told by Bob that the problem was my fault because I was circulating the air within the cab. He advised me to switch it to outside air. That was a lie. I've since learned that the car defaults to outside air. I brought the car in again to get service and this time they put some kind of awful smelling air freshener through the system. They insisted that the problem was not covered by the warranty, and I've paid for each service visit. I purchased the car last April and the warranty is expiring soon. Toyota has been playing cat and mouse with me. They assigned a case worker who leaves messages for me at home when I'm obviously at work. She then takes two days to get back to me. They are conciously running out the clock so that future repairs won't be covered under the warranty. In the meanwhile, the front passenger seat doesn't slide forward and the CD player won't fast forward or back. I'm afraid the very first new car I've ever had in my life is a disaster. Please help!

John of Pittsburgh, PA March 2, 2008

John of Pittsburgh PA (03/02/08)
This is the first winter I've driving my 2006 Toyota Prius. I am very concerned with how the car drives in ice and snow. It is extremely dangerous and I will not drive it if the is any chance of snow or ice on the roads. Just one of several times I was caught in a potentially dangerous driving condition. One dark snowy night, I was attempting to pull out onto a roadway and the wheels began to slip. Then the engine power cut back until the wheels stopped slipping. Every time I tried, the same think happened. I was in the middle of the intersection and the car would not advance forward. My car was sitting broadside in the road to oncoming traffic. There was another car behind my car before I pulled out. He is now at the stop sign. So now I cant go forward because the car stops when the wheels slip. And I cant backup out of the intersection because there is a car behind me. And now there is a car coming towards me broadside. Well with the help of a couple of very alert drivers (on that dark road) we were able to avoid a very serious accident. I live in Pennsylvania and Ive been driving in winter for over 40 years. And Ive driven all types of vehicles. It is my believe that this is not a safe car to drive in ice or snow. It is just a matter of time (if it hasnt happened already) before someone is seriously injured or is killed.

Bob of Columbiana, AL February 27, 2008

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