19 of the
644 complaints about the 2009 Toyota Prius are about the
body and structure — 3% of everything
reported for this model year.
Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before
68,440 miles.
Over the years the rubber handle which needs to be pressed in in order to open the trunk has disintegrated. Now it’s at the point where the assembly under the rubber handle is exposed. It is getting harder and harder to open. I need to be able to get into the truck to get to my spare tire and road hazard equipment. I can’t get a picture s8nce it’s too close to the body and covered by the overhanging trunk lid. It’s about $500 to fix. But I rarely use that handle, so it certainly was never abused. Just a very bad design.
NHTSA complaint #11452047 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Roseville, CA
STRUCTURE:BODY
THE BACK LATCH OF MY GRANDDAUGHTERS 09 TOYOTA PRIUS HAS DEGRADED ("MELTED" ALMOST). IT NO LONGER FUNCTIONS PROPERLY, AND WE ARE UNABLE TO OPEN THE BACK HATCH DOOR EASILY. SOMETIMES IT REQUIRES CONSIDERABLE EFFORT AND PERSEVERANCE TO GET IT OPEN. I AM CONCERNED THAT IN THE CASE OF AN EMERGENCY, SHE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO GET THE DOOR OPEN. THIS IS A MAJOR CAUSE FOR CONCERN AND IT IS A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD. IT IS NECESSARY TO GET TO THE SPARE TIRE, MAYBE EVEN GET OUT OF THE TRUNK IN CASE OF A FIRE OR OTHER REASON. IT IS A BLACK, GOOEY MESS. SHE FIRST NOTICED IT A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, BUT I JUST FOUND OUT ABOUT IT AND I AM OBVIOUSLY CONCERNED ABOUT HER SAFETY.
NHTSA complaint #11363777 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 103,000 milesTorrington, CTCrash1 injured
STRUCTURE:BODY
I WAS TURNING LEFT AND WAS HIT BY AN ONCOMING CAR. MOST DAMAGE DONE TO THE FRONT RIGHT. THE CAR WAS TOTALED. I WAS GOING ABOUT 5-10MPH THOUGH THE ONCOMING CAR WAS GOING APPROXIMATELY 40MPH. THE FIREMEN, POLICE AND INSURANCE ADJUSTER WERE ALL VERY CONCERNED THAT THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. MY BABIES WERE SAFE IN THE BACKSEAT THANKS TO THEIR CAR SEATS. I HAD TO GO TO THE HOSPITAL AND SUFFERED A CONCUSSION. WE JUST HAD OUR CAR TUNED UP AT OUR LOCAL TOYOTA DEALERSHIP NOT EVEN 6 MOS AGO. THEY DID NOT SAY ANYTHING ABOUT A CONCERN WITH THE AIRBAGS.
NHTSA complaint #11268210 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 60,000 milesRandallstown, MD
STRUCTURE:BODY
SINCE A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO THE LEFT BACK DOOR WON'T OPEN FROM THE INSIDE. IT CAN ONLY BE OPENED FROM THE OUTSIDE. SINCE THURSDAY, FEB. 28, 2019 THE RIGHT BACK DOOR ALSO CAN'T BE OPENED FROM THE INSIDE, ONLY FROM THE OUTSIDE. THAT DOOR HARDLY EVER IS USED. THE PASSENGER WAS TRAPPED INSIDE. I HAD TO OPEN IT FROM THE OUTSIDE TO LET HIM OUT. THIS HAS NEVER HAPPENED BEFORE TO ANY CAR I EVER DROVE OR WAS A PASSENGER IN. IT'S VERY DANGEROUS TO BE TRAPPED INSIDE. SOMETHING IS SERIOUSLY WRONG WITH HOW THE DOOR WAS MANUFACTURED.
NHTSA complaint #11183846 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 128,000 milesColumbia, MDCrash
STRUCTURE:BODY
MAYBE RELATED TO TAKATA RECALL: WE DID NOT RECEIVE A RECALL, HOWEVER OUR CAR SKID INTO A TREE AND HAD SIGNIFICANT FRONT END DAMAGE, HOWEVER NO AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. WAS GOING 25 MPH ON A SUBURBAN RESIDENTIAL ST DURING A MIXED SNOW/SLEET STORM. SLIGHT CURVE AND SLIGHTLY DOWNHILL. THE BRAKES WERE NOT APPLIED AS THEY COULD HAVE MADE IT WORSE. CAR SPED UP INTO THE SKID TOTALLING THE CAR WITH $11,000 DAMAGE. WE HAVE BEEN GIVEN SEVERAL OPINIONS THAT THE VELOCITY NECESSARY TO CAUSE THE DAMAGE SHOULD HAVE TRIGGERED THE AIRBAG SENSORS. CAR HIT THE MIDDLE OF THE BUMPER AND PERHAPS MISSED THE SENSORS? NO REPORT WAS FILED BY THE POLICE AS ACCIDENT WAS CAUSED BY THE ROAD CONDITIONS/WEATHER NOT DRIVER ERROR. I HAVE PHOTOS I CAN SEND IN A FEW DAYS
NHTSA complaint #11154396 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 136,545 milesTopanga, CA
STRUCTURE:BODY
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT HAD DIFFICULTY OPENING THE TRUNK OF THE VEHICLE. ONCE OPENED, THE PANEL ABOVE THE LICENSE PLATE DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE PANEL WAS HANGING WITH ALL THE WIRES STILL ATTACHED TO THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT COULD NO LONGER ACCESS THE TRUNK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE PANEL NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 136,545.
NHTSA complaint #10948691 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 70,000 milesNEW Vernon, NJ
STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HATCH WAS MELTED TO THE HATCH LEVER LATCH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.
NHTSA complaint #10938610 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 68,440 milesTucson, AZCrash
STRUCTURE:BODY
WHILE INCHING SLOWLY INTO A PARKING SPOT, VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AT FULL SPEED TO JUMP OVER THE PARKING BARRIER. WHEELS WERE TURNED SLIGHTLY TO RIGHT, SO CAR VEERED RIGHT AND STOPPED AS IT HIGH-CENTERED ON THE BARRIER, JUST BEHIND FRONT WHEELS. NO INJURIES- DRIVER & CHILD IN BACK WERE BUCKLED. WITNESSED BY MANY PEDESTRIANS WHO RAN TO ASSIST. ONE WITNESS SAID THE SAME THING HAPPENED IN HER PRIUS, BUT TOYOTA WAS USELESS TO HELP. IN MONTHS SINCE THE INCIDENT, TOYOTA HAS BEEN TERRIBLE AT RESPONDING IN ANY HELPFUL WAY. THE BLACK BOX RECORDER SHOWS NOTHING, OF COURSE, SINCE IT WAS A SLOW IMPACT WITHOUT AIRBAG DEPLOY. MOST INTERESTINGLY, THE NHTSA HAS NO INFO OF THIS INCIDENT, WHICH I'M REPORTING TODAY ONLY BECAUSE I NOTICED IN THE OWNER MANUAL ON REAR PAGE, SMALL PRINT, SOME INFO ABOUT REPORTING SAFETY DEFECTS FOR U.S. OWNERS... BUT AT LEAST 20 TOYOTA PERSONNEL, INSURANCE ADJUSTORS, REPAIR FACILITIES AND SALES TEAM MEMBERS NEVER SAID ANYTHING ABOUT SUCH A REPORT. HENCE MY ASSUMPTION THAT MOST OF THESE INCIDENTS ARE NOT REPORTED TO GOV'T UNLESS FATALITIES OCCUR.
NHTSA complaint #10683826 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 102,000 milesPembroke Pines, FL
STRUCTURE
THE RUBBER COVER TO THE OUTSIDE TRUCK LATCH HAS MELTED COMPLETELY IN HOT FLORIDA WEATHER AND HAS BECOME GOOEY TO THE POINT OF DRIPPING ONTO MY LICENSE PLATE. THE TRUCK IS VERY DIFFICULT TO OPEN AND SOMETIMES I AM UNABLE TO LOCK OR OPEN THE CAR BECAUSE THE TRUNK IS NOT ALL THE WAY CLOSED. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE IF I NEEDED TO GET INTO THE TRUNK TO GET A SPARE TIRE I MAY NOT BE ABLE TO. GIVEN MANY OTHER REPORTS OF THIS ISSUE DATING BACK TO 2007 MODELS, TOYOTA SHOULD STOP USING THIS TYPE OF COMPONENT AND SHOULD RECALL THIS ITEM AND FIX IT WITH A DIFFERENT MATERIAL SO THIS DOES NOT KEEP HAPPENING. I AM ALSO CONCERNED THE EXPOSED LATCH WILL CAUSE ELECTRICAL DAMAGE TO THE TRUNK OR LIGHTING BECAUSE OF SEVERE RAIN THAT OFTEN OCCURS IN FLORIDA WHERE THIS PROBLEM SEEMS PREVALENT.
NHTSA complaint #10629342 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Alachua, FL
STRUCTURE:BODY
HATCHBACK RUBBER PART OF LATCH MELTED AND BECAME A STICKY MESS. ELECTRONICS ON LATCH ARE NOW EXPOSED TO MOISTURE AND DIRT.
NHTSA complaint #10559595 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 60,000 milesKaneohe, HI
STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE
THE REAR HATCH RELEASE ON MY 2009 TOYOTA PRIUS HAS BEGUN TO DECOMPOSE AND TURN INTO A RUBBERY, GOOEY MESS. IT INTERFERES WITH THE USE OF THE HATCH AS THE GOO NOT ONLY GETS ON THE FINGERS BUT APPEARS TO BE BLOCKING THE RELEASE MECHANISM.
NHTSA complaint #10554874 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 54,000 milesSavannah, GA
STRUCTURE:BODY
THE RUBBER COVER TO THE HATCHBACK TRUNK LATCH HAS MELTED. IT IS NOW STICKY AND GOOEY AND LITERALLY IMMOVABLE. THIS PRESENTS A SAFETY HAZARD, BECAUSE SOMETIMES I CAN'T OPEN THE HATCHBACK WHICH CONTAINS THE SPARE TIRE AND OTHER TOOLS. I HAVE NO OTHER WAY TO ACCESS ANYTHING IN THE "TRUNK" WHEN I'M UNABLE TO OPEN THE LATCH. THE TOYOTA DEALER SAID THIS DEFECTIVE PART IS NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY AND QUOTED AN EXORBITANT PRICE TO REPLACE IT. I FEEL TOYOTA SHOULD REPLACE THIS DEFECTIVE PART AT NO COST TO OWNERS.
NHTSA complaint #10549287 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 18,232 milesMcveytown, PACrash1 injured
STRUCTURE:BODY
I WAS TURNING LEFT INTO THE GAS STATION LOCATED ON US 22 AND E. JOHN ST. A SPEEDING CAR STRUCK ME ON THE PASSENGER SIDE NEAR THE DOOR AND FRONT FENDER. THE SPEEDING CAR CONTINUED SO HARD THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE LOWER FRAME RAIL WAS RIPPED FROM THE CAR. NO AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. I SUFFERED LEFT KNEE AND LEFT SHOULDER INJURIES NECESSITATING SEVERAL SURGERIES. THE CAR WAS EQUIPPED WITH DRIVER'S SIDE AND FRONT RIGHT AIR BAGS. ALSO, DR AND FR SIDE AND CURTAIN AIR BAGS. NO AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE CAR WAS TOTALED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY.
NHTSA complaint #10544423 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 81,000 milesDallas, TXCrash1 injured
STRUCTURE:BODY
MY WIFE AND I WERE DRIVING DOWN A RESIDENTIAL STREET APPROACHING A STOP SIGN. THERE WERE TWO CARS STOPPED AT THE SIGN. SEVERAL HUNDRED FEET FROM THE STOP, I TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE ACCELERATOR. THE CAR DID NOT SLOW DOWN. I STEPPED ON THE BRAKE. THE CAR DID NOT SLOW DOWN. I STOOD ON THE BRAKE AS HARD AS I COULD. THE CAR DID NOT SLOW DOWN. I SAID TO MY UNDERSTANDABLY ALARMED WIFE, WE'RE NOT STOPPING. AND WE DIDN'T UNTIL WE SMASHED INTO THE BACK OF A TAHOE STOPPED AT THE STOP SIGN, DOING MAJOR DAMAGE TO THE PRIUS THAT RENDERED IT UNDRIVEABLE AND PERHAPS TOTALED. MY WIFE HAS A VERY SORE BACK THAT I AM HOPING STARTS TO FEEL BETTER TODAY OR WE WILL HAVE TO SCHEDULE A DOCTOR'S APPOINTMENT.
NHTSA complaint #10543245 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 49,300 milesAmherst, VA
STRUCTURE
THE BACK DOOR/HATCH SWITCH RUBBER IS MELTING/VERY STICKY. THE PROBLEM WAS FIRST REPORTED IN THE 2007 PRIUS AND OTHER MODEL TOYOTA MODELS. I EXPECT THAT THIS SWITCH WILL BECOME DEFECTIVE AND IT IS THE ONLY MEANS TO ENTER THE HATCH AREA OF THE PRIUS.THE HATCH AREA IS THE LOCATION OF THE SPARE TIRE, FLARES AND OTHER SAFETY PRODUCTS CARRIED IN THE AUTOMOBILE. THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM OF TOYOTA MODELS AND IS DEFINITELY A FACTORY DEFECTIVE PART.
NHTSA complaint #10542981 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 25,000 milesTampa, FL
STRUCTURE
THE RUBBER COVER ON MY TOURING MODEL PRIUS'S HATCH LOCKING ASSEMBLY - THE HIDDEN AREA YOU GRAB TO OPEN THE HATCH - HAS DETERIORATED TO THE POINT THAT IT IS GUMMY LIKE TAR. THERE ARE DOZENS OF ONLINE COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS HAPPENING TO 2007 AND 2008 MODELS, WHICH LIKE MY PRIUS, WERE MANUFACTURED IN JAPAN. I'VE OWNED SEVERAL HATCHBACKS AND NEVER SEEN THIS PROBLEM ON MUCH OLDER HATCH LOCKS. FROM ALL OF THE ONLINE COMPLAINTS IT'S CLEAR TO ME THAT TOYOTA IS AWARE OF THIS DEFECT BUT WHEN CONTACTED, THEY FIRST TOLD ME THEY HAD NEVER HEARD OF THIS BEING A PROBLEM, AND NOW TELL ME IT ADVISES CUSTOMERS IT'S "NORMAL WEAR." FROM A SAFETY PERSPECTIVE THE MELTING RUBBER MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO OPEN THE REAR HATCH (A LIFE SAFETY ACCESS POINT), AND THE STICKY BLACK TAR-LIKE MATERIAL FROM THE COVER IS ALSO POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS. I ASK YOUR AGENCY TO TAKE A LOOK AT THESE INSTANCES AND ALSO TO INQUIRE WHY TOYOTA IS NOT RECALLING THESE HANDLES THAT ARE MELTING, WHICH HAS TO BE THE RESULT OF DEFECTIVE RUBBER. I THINK A DOOR HANDLE OR HATCH HANDLE SHOULD BE MADE TO LAST MORE THAN THREE YEARS.
NHTSA complaint #10534602 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 81,000 milesClarksville, ARCrash
STRUCTURE:BODY
IN AN ATTEMPT TO AVOID ONCOMING CALVES ON A COUNTY DIRT ROAD DRIVER INADVERTANTLY PULLED STEERING WHEEL TO THE RIGHT AND HIT A TREE AT ROAD SIDE. TREE IS TWELVE INCHED FROM ROAD SURFACE. BEFORE SEAT BELT RESTRAINED DRIVER, DRIVER'S FORWARD MOMENTUM BROKE THE STEERING WHEEL. DRIVER WAS NOT INJURED. WENT TO LOCAL HOSPITAL ER. SHERIFF INVESTIGATED. WITH THE EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE THE AIR BAG SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED. IT DID NOT. PHOTOS TAKEN. YOUR ORGANIZATION IS BEING NOTIFIED AS WE FEEL THE AIR BAG SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED. WE WILL ALSO CONTACT TOYOTA. THANK YOU. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
NHTSA complaint #10501231 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 2,373 milesBiloxi, MS
STRUCTURE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SQUIRRELS WERE ABLE CHEW THROUGH THE WIRING AND THE FUSE BOX FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, THE SQUIRRELS HAD ALSO CHEWED THROUGH THE PLASTIC RADIATOR COVER AND SUPPORT PANEL FOR THE FAN AND THE ABS WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED AS A RESULT OF THE DAMAGES. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED BECAUSE THERE WAS NO COVER FOR THE UNDER THE VEHICLE TO PREVENT THE SQUIRRELS OR RODENTS FROM ENTERING AND DAMAGING THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS RECURRING. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,091 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 2,373.
NHTSA complaint #10392907 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Pullman, WA
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
RUST IN THE BOTTOM FRAME OF PRIUS.
NHTSA complaint #10329284 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.