2004 Toyota Prius stability control problems

ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

(COMBINATION METER PROBLEM) WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT ON THE FREEWAY THE ENTIRE INSTRUMENT PANEL (DASH BOARD) STARTED BLINKING ON AND OFF. FOR OUR SAFETY, WE DECIDED TO SLOW DOWN AND EXIT THE FREEWAY AND STOP IN A SAFE AREA. WE TURNED THE IGNITION OFF, THEN STARTED THE CAR, WITH NOTHING APPEARING ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL BESIDE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. WE LOST THE SPEEDOMETER, ALL GAUGES AND ALL THE ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONICS WHICH NORMALLY HELPS TO GUIDE OUR DRIVING.WE HAD TO TAKE THE CAR TO THE TOYOTA DEALER THE FOLLOWING MORNING WHICH TOOK SEVEN DAYS TO REPLACE THE COMBO METER. I LATER FOUND OUT THAT THIS ISSUE IS NOT KNEW AND THERE WAS A LETTER ISSUED BY TOYOTA TITLED (2004 TO CERTAIN 2009 MODEL YEAR PRIUS VEHICLES COMBINATION METER WARRANTY ENHANCEMENT NOTICE). THE LETTER STATED THAT THEY HAD PROBLEMS WITH SOME OF THESE PRIUS YEAR MODELS AND THAT IF THE OWNER DID NOT EXPERIENCE THIS CONDITION TO FILE THE LETTER IN THEIR VEHICLE'S OWNER'S WARRANTY INFORMATION BOOKLET. HERE IS MY REQUEST: THIS SHOULD NOT BE A WARRANTY ISSUE BUT SHOULD HAVE BEEN A SAFETY RECALL AS DEPENDING OF THE NUMBER OF MILES THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN, THIS ISSUE SEEMS TO SOONER OR LATER OCCUR. I REPAIRED MY VEHICLE AND PAID FOR ALL THE REPAIRS, ALL I NEED NOW IS FOR THE NHTSA TO LOOK INTO THIS PROBLEM, INVESTIGATE IT AND HAVE TOYOTA SEND A RECALL LETTER RATHER THAN AN EXTENDED WARRANTY. THIS WAY I CAN RECEIVE A REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE REPAIRS. HERE IS A LINK TO THE LETTER AND ALL CONSUMERS COMPLAINTS: HTTPS://WWW.TOYOHEADQUARTERS.COM/THREADS/2004-2009-TOYOTA-PRIUS-COMBINATION-METER-WARRANTY-EXTENSION-ZTV.174/ I BELIEVE FOR THE SAFETY OF ALL PRIUS DRIVERS IN THE USA, THIS SHOULD BE CHANGED TO A RECALL SINCE MANY OF THESE MODEL AND YEAR PRIUS VEHICLES ARE STILL ON THE ROAD AND WILL REACH A CERTAIN MILEAGE TO MAKE TO COMBINATION METER FAIL.

NHTSA complaint #11193001 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

ABS ACTUATOR FAILURES. EFFECTING THE BRAKING.

NHTSA complaint #11172434 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

MY PRIUS SUDDENLY HAD A 70 TO80% LOSS OF BRAKE POWER. MY PARKING BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON ALONG WITH THE ABS, VCS, THE RED TRIANGLE AND A LOAD BUZZER. IF THIS HAD HAPPENED AT HIGHWAY SPEED I COULD HAVE REAR-ENDED OR KILLED SOMEONE. AFTER TURNING MY CAR OFF AND LETTING IT SIT THE LIGHTS STAYED OFF. THIS CONCERNS ME BECAUSE IT COULD LEAD TO A FALSE SENSE THERE'S NOTHING WRONG. I TOOK MY CAR TO THE DEALER AND THEY SEEMED TO KNOW RIGHT AWAY IT WAS THE ABS BRAKE ACTUATOR CODE C1256. I DID SOME DIGGING AND IT SEEMS THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM AND YET IT'S NOT A RECALL ISSUE. I WANT EVERYBODY TO KNOW THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. MY PRIUS WAS BOUGHT NEW BY MY SENIOR PARENTS, THEY KEPT IT GARAGED AND ONLY HAD 45000. MILES ON IT WHEN I BOUGHT IT FROM THERE ESTATE. AT THE TIME THE MALFUNCTION AC CURED IT STILL ONLY HAS 72456. MILES ON IT. FOR A PART TO MALFUNCTION WITH SUCH LITTLE MILES TO ME INDICATES A VERY SERIOUS DEFECT. IN MOTION GOING STRAIGHT DRIVING AT 25 MPH RESIDENTIAL STREET.

NHTSA complaint #11082096 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

MY 2004 PRIUS'S CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TURNS ON RANDOMLY WND OFTEN AND I LOSE FULL POWER OF THE CAR. THE BATTERY IS FULLY CHARGED. THE CAR STOPPED 4 TIMES TODAY - LOST ALL POWER AND THE BRAKE WOULD NOT STOP THE CAR.

NHTSA complaint #11023778 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM

TRACTION CONTROL DISABLES CAR WHEN SLIPPERY... ENGINE TOTALLY SHUTS OFF. CAN HAPPEN PASSING THROUGH AN INTERSECTION WHEN ICY/SNOWY, ETC. ALSO MAKES ASCENDING HILLS NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE.

NHTSA complaint #10376360 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM

1. EVENTS LEADING TO FAILURE DRIVING IN 1 - 2 INCHES OF SNOW, I ATTEMPTED LEFT TURN, ENCOUNTERING A SOMEWHAT DEEPER (APPROXIMATELY 4-INCH, AND HEAVILY TRACKED FROM PREVIOUS VEHICLES) BERM OF SNOW AT THE ENTRANCE OF THE SIDE STREET ONTO WHICH I WAS TURNING. 2. THE FAILURE, HOW OFTEN IT OCCURS, ITS CONSEQUENCES THE TRACTION CONTROL SEIZED ALL MOTION OF FRONT (TRACTION) TIRES, THOUGH SNOW WAS NOT DEEP ENOUGH OTHERWISE TO PREVENT MOVEMENT. THIS LEFT ME IN THE PATH OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC APPROACHING DOWNHILL ON SLIPPERY ROAD. THE TRACTION CONTROL COMPLETELY DISABLED CAR, LEADING TO VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. ALSO, CONTINUED APPLICATION OF ACCELERATOR PEDAL TO GET THE CAR TO MOVE QUICKLY CREATED SMELL OF HOT TRANSMISSION. THERE IS NO QUESTION THAT, EVEN WITH THE OPEN DIFFERENTIAL, THE CAR WOULD HAVE PROGRESSED THROUGH THE SNOW BUT FOR THE TRACTION CONTROL. AND, OF COURSE, THERE IS NO QUESTION THAT THIS PROBLEM IS INHERENT TO THE TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM AND WOULD OCCUR WHENEVER CONDITIONS OCCUR THAT CROSS THE THRESHOLD OF SLIPPERINESS AND RESISTANCE I ENCOUNTERED. 3. THE DEFECT REMAINS UNCORRECTED. THE ESSENTIAL CORRECTION IS REDESIGN AND REPLACEMENT OF THE TRACTION AND/OR ADDING A DISABLING SWITCH.

NHTSA complaint #10371766 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

THE AUTOMOBILE WAS STOPPED AT A INTERSECTION AND THE PAVEMENT WAS WET FROM A LIGHT RAIN. I APPLIED NORMAL PRESSURE TO THE ACCELERATOR AND FELT THE CAR MOVE FORWARD AS EXPECTED. THEN THE PROBLEM OCCURS, I FELT THE TIRES SLIP DUE TO A LOST OF TRACTION WITH THE WET PAVEMENT. AT THAT POINT THE ANTI-SKID/TRACTION CONTROL ENGAGED AND STOPPED ALL POWER TO THE WHEELS. THIS LEFT ME PART WAY INTO THE INTERSECTION AND NO POWER TO THE WHEELS. PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR EVEN TO THE FLOOR RESULTED IN NO CHANGE, NO MOTOR OR ENGINE POWER. THIS HAS OCCURRED THREE TIME IN SIMILAR CONDITIONS, WITH MIXED RESULTS. TWICE THE PROBLEM COULD OF LEAD TO AN MAJOR ACCIDENT. IN SUMMARY THIS PROBLEM DISABLE THE DRIVE TRAIN IN A UNPREDICTABLE MANNER THAT TAKES THE DRIVER OUT OF THE PROCESS.

NHTSA complaint #10344153 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM

RETURNING FROM WORK APPROX 1700 DRIVING MY 2004 TOYOTA PRIUS IN THE GREATER WASHINGTON D.C. METRO AREA. IT WAS THE FIRST DAY OF FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OFFICE OPENINGS SINCE THE BLIZZARD OF 2010 HAD STARTED. MY RESIDENCE IS APPROXIMATELY 1.5 MILES FROM A MAJOR PRIMARY ROAD (VA HWY 7 IN LOUDOUN COUNTY). THE ROAD IS SECONDARY STATE ROAD VADOT OWNED AND MAINTAINED DIRT (PACKED GRAVEL) ROAD FOR APPROXIMATELY 1.25 MILES, PROCEEDING INTO OUR MY DEVELOPMENT THE ROAD IS PAVED ASPHALT FRO THE REMAINING .25 MILES. ON THE SECONDARY ROAD THE CONDITIONS OF THE ROAD WAS PACKED SNOW WITH SMALL RUNS OF LOOSE SNOW. THE ROAD IS VERY WINDING WITH SLIGHT INCLINES AND DECLINES THROUGHOUT. EVERY TIME MY CAR WOULD BREAK TRACTION I WOULD LOSE POWER LEAVING ME WITH NO CORRECTION CAPABILITY TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OVER THE VEHICLE. I ALMOST RAN INTO EMBANKMENTS AND OVER THE SOFT SHOULDER SEVERAL TIMES DESPITE SLOWING DOWN TO A CRAWL. ONCE ENTERING INTO THE NEIGHBORHOOD THE CAR SEEMED TO STABLE OUT UNTIL I BEGAN DRIVING ON AN UPHILL PORTION OF THE ROAD. THIS IS A STEPPER HILL THAN ON THE SECONDARY ROAD. WHEN MY TIRES BROKE TRACTION ALL POWER FROM THE CAR WAS LOST LEAVING ME IN AN UNCONTROLLED SITUATION OF SLIDING AROUND ON THE ROAD EVENTUALLY INTO THE SOFT SHOULDER OF A DOWNHILL CLIFF. I WAS ATTEMPTED TO START MOVING FORWARD GET MYSELF AWAY FROM THE SHOULDER AND THE CAR WOULD NOT MOVE OR PUT ANY SORT OF POWER TO THE WHEELS. I WAS TERRIFIED AND STUCK. I MADE SEVERAL ATTEMPTS FINDING NEW LINES (PATHS) FINALLY REACHING THE TOP OF THE HILL (MY DRIVEWAY) DUE TO THE REMOVAL OF CAR POWER. THIS HAS CONTINUED TO HAPPEN UN SUSPECTING THROUGHOUT THE MONTH ON THE UNPAVED ROADS PLACING ME IN DANGER. I AM SCARED TO DRIVE IT IN ANY WINTER CONDITION. IT APPEARS THIS IS WELL DOCUMENTED ON CONSUMER AFFAIRS WEBSITE AND I HAVE NO WAY TO CORRECT THIS EXCEPT SELL MY CAR.

NHTSA complaint #10315682 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH ON A ROAD COVERED WITH THREE INCHES OF SNOW. THE VEHICLE BEGAN BEGAN TO SKID. THE SKID CONTROL WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM ACTIVATED AND CAUSED THE ENGINE TO BECOME INOPERATIVE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED DURING ACTIVATION OF THE TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT WAS A MANUFACTURER DESIGN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,000.

NHTSA complaint #10312832 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

REPEATED BRAKING AT SLOW SPEEDS RESULTED IN BOTH ABS AND BRAKE ON SIGNALS, OWNER'S MANUAL SAYS STOP DRIVING AND CONTACT DEALER IMMEDIATELY. DROVE SLOWLY TO DEALER WHO RAN DIAGNOSTICS.($98)TOLD TO REPLACE COMPUTER ($2000) NOT IN STOCK. TOLD OK TO DRIVE UNTIL REPLACEMENT. ADJUSTED SOMETHING. WARNING LIGHTS OPERATED AS EXPECTED. SITUATION RECURRED TWICE. OWNER'S MANUAL INDICATED KNOWLEDGE OF POSSIBLE FAILURE. ALSO "PARKING BRAKE ABNORMAL STATUS HAS APPEARED TWICE. NO EXPLANATION IN MANUAL

NHTSA complaint #10307186 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL:AUTOMATIC (ASC)

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAS NO TRACTION WHILE DRIVING UPHILL AT ANY SPEED. THE VEHICLE WILL NOT MOVE OR GO FORWARD. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN INSPECTED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 65,300 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000. UPDATED 04/16/08. *LJ THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN THE TRACTION CONTROL DETECTS NO TRACTION ON ANY DRIVE WHEEL, THE VEHICLE REFUSES TO GIVE POWER TO THE WHEELS. THE VEHICLE FREEZES.

NHTSA complaint #10223116 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL:AUTOMATIC (ASC)

DT: CONSUMER HAD 2 EPISODES OF ENGINE STALLING. THE 1ST TIME CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS PASSING ANOTHER VEHICLE WHEN ANOTHER VEHICLE APPEARED IN THE LANE AND CONSUMER ACCELERATED QUICKLY AND CHANGED LANE. THE WARNING LIGHT CAME ON ALONG WITH A BEEPING NOISE, AND SUDDENLY LOST POWER. WAS RUNNING ONLY ON ELECTRIC POWER UNTIL WAS ABLE TO MAKE IT TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE ENGINE DID NOT RESTART UNTIL TURNED OFF THE WHOLE SYSTEM AND THEN IT RESTARTED IT. CONTINUED TO HAVE WARNING LIGHTS FOR SEVERAL HOURS. CALLED TOYOTA HOT LINE, AND WAS INFORMED IT WAS SAFE TO DRIVE. THE FOLLOWING MONDAY TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, WHO PLACED IT ON A COMPUTER AND NOTED IT WAS NORMAL. THEY THOUGHT IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN THE VEHICLE STABILITY CONTROL BECAUSE THAT LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED, AND EARLIER WHEN THAT HAPPENED DRIVER SWERVED INTO A LANE. THE 2ND EPISODE OCCURRED AS ACCELERATING TO GET ON A FREEWAY RAMP AND HAD SLOWED TO ENTER TRAFFIC, ANOTHER DRIVER ALLOWED CONSUMER'S VEHICLE TO ENTER AND DRIVER ACCELERATED GAIN AND THE ENGINE CUT OFF. WAS ABLE TO DRIVE ON BATTERY POWER ABOUT A MILE GOING 40 MPH TO THE NEXT EXIT. PULLED OFF, AND AGAIN TURNED SYSTEM OFF, AND AGAIN THE ENGINE RESTARTED. THIS TIME THE VEHICLE,S STABILITY LIGHT DID NOT ILLUMINATE. THE DISPLAY SCREEN HAD A BAR THAT SAID, PROBLEM. WHEN CAR WAS TAKEN TO DEALER NO LIGHTS ILLUMINATED.

NHTSA complaint #10124288 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.