Toyota Prius wheel problems

WHEELS

Unknown. There were a multitude of codes that appeared on the diagnostics causing problems with engine. The temperature, brake, tire sensor lights are all on. The cruise control is not working. White smoke emitting from tail pipe and engine. Main engine coolant leaking. Car overheating rapidly.

NHTSA complaint #11748670 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

WHEELS

We took delivery of our 2024 Prius XLE (Gen 5) on 09-05-2024. It came with Toyo 19" Low Profile tires (195/50R19). On 04-17-2025 we had to replace a tire at 10,848 miles due to sidewall damage. On 05-05-2025 we had to replace a second tire at 11,749 miles due to side wall damage. Our dealer stated both side wall failures were most likely due to potholes. We did not remember hitting any major potholes. However, we live in Wisconsin were potholes of all sizes are prevalent. Both tire failures happen at night. Toyota does not provide a spare tire for the Prius. On the second tire failure, my wife had to drive a few miles to get to a safe spot to stop. On 11-25-2025 I replaced these Toyo tires with 19" Michelin tires. At that time I was told one of our wheels was damaged. I expect that happen when my wife had to drive on the flat to get to a safe location. In researching these tire problems, I found many other Gen 5 Prius owners had similar problems with the 19" Toyo tires. Interestingly, most owners reporting these tire problems lived in cold climate areas as we do. My Toyota dealer refuses to cover the wheel damage under warranty. In addition, Toyota refuses to cover the wheel replacement under warranty. These are the expenses I have encountered addressing this problem. First tire: $216.81, Second tire: $233.48, Replacement set of tires: $952.92. The cost for a new wheel is estimated at $781.93. In my opinion, the 19" Toyo tires are Unsafe At Any Speed on cold climate roads. Can you provide me with assistance in getting Toyota to cover my replacement wheel under warranty? In addition, I feel Toyota should face a RECALL for the 19" Toyo tires on the Gen 5 Prius. I have all the documentation for these charges. In addition, if you want more data on other owners that have faced this problem, I can reach out to them on social media and get them to contact you. Thanks for your assistance. [XXX] [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6

NHTSA complaint #11720150 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

WHEELS

Automanufactures are Phasing Out Spare Tires Toyota and other automakers no longer include spare tires in new vehicles. I recently experienced the serious consequences of their decision . While driving to work in my new 2025 Toyota Prius, I got a flat tire. I manage to get to work and parked in a parking garage. My husband came to help and went to install the spare. He opened the trunk and found Styrofoam under the liner with a tire inflation kit... no spare tire! We had a horrible experience for the next three days!!! So... Consumer Beware: • Tire kit is not a solution; it does not work for all leaks. • Tow trucks can not access cars in parking garages due to low height. • Driving out could damage tire rims. • Health risks from exposure to the tire inflation chemicals: headaches within an hour, lasting into the next day, skin irritation, and respiratory inflammation/congestion. Time, Labor, and Cost; (It's all on the consumer) After days and many hours of calling Toyota, the dealer, and tire shops, we had to: • drive back to remove the flat tire • order a new tire • deliver to the flat tire to the shop • pick up the new tire the next day • drive back to replace the flat ourselves. Solutions / Warnings: • Spare tire: Toyota does not make one, leaving consumers without options. • Consumers must rely on unreliable tire kits, roadside assistance towing to a dealership (which could not help because tow trucks can not fit in parking garage) or do it all yourself. • No adequate health warnings on the tire kit—contains natural rubber (latex), propylene, and ammonia. Toyota reps offered no empathy or real solutions, only demeaning statements that consumer should know that Toyota (and other automakers) no longer includes spare tires only ineffective tire kits, leaving Toyota and others removing spare tires to save money and appear to improve gas mileage creates serious risk for consumers.

NHTSA complaint #11700575 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

WHEELS

The contact owns a 2023 Toyota Prius equipped with Bridgestone Tires, Tire Line: Ecopia, Tire Size: 195/60/R17, DOT Number: 1ELUK0DDB. The contact stated that while driving approximately 5 - 10 MPH in a parking lot, a piece of metal slashed the passenger’s side front tire. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact was unable to use the tire puncture repair kit to repair the tire. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, who was unable to repair the tire. The mechanic determined that the tire and wheel needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and provided a refund. The tire was mailed to the manufacturer. The tire and vehicle failure mileage was unknown.

NHTSA complaint #11681786 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

WHEELS

Tires are failing on the year model at an alarming rate. We have just turned 30,000 miles and have had 7 failures. 2 were deemed unrepairable and had to be replaced, the others were patched or plugged. The concern is sidewall failures on this year model, seems as if it a poorly engineered wheel size for this car that will result in catastrophic failures. I’ve called Toyota and there are apparently no alternatives. Sidewall failures or regular flats. can place drivers in difficult/ dangerous driving conditions. Facebook Prius groups indicate this is a widespread issue not exclusively to me. I’ve been driving for 45 plus years and have never had such an experience as this. Keep in mind, Toyota sends these vehicles out without spares or tire changing equipment and the acceptable replacement tires are not readily available and have to be ordered. Again I’m making this issue known as these vehicles are creating dangerous conditions for inexperienced drivers and our motoring public that Toyota is not interested in correcting.

NHTSA complaint #11671230 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

WHEELS

purchased tires at walmart auto care center in 2019 at 2770 E. Carson St. Lakewood, 90712, +15624298137. the warranty shows they should last at least 40000 miles. the tires worned out (by walmart auto care center staff on 11/2024) at 27000 miles. Walmart has not worked with me to replace these defective low quality tires (viva3 brand) and i am in a dilemma as i am unable to replace them now. I am [XXX] and [XXX] and i use my vehicle for doctors, pharmacy and errands for my daily survival. thanks INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA complaint #11642777 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

WHEELS

2012 Prius in very good condition with 180k miles- only 12 years old. Driving on back roads (thankfully) and the drivers side rear wheel compelely fell off while driving. I was doing about 30 MPH and felt like there was a flat tire so I was in the process of pulling over when the whole rear assembly snapped. The wheel hit the rear quarter of the car and bounced about 100 feet down the road. I could have been on the highway and this could have been fatal I believe. Very, Very scary. As can be seen in attached photos the issue was rust from the inside. This is very concerning since there was no way for me to know this was an issue. I could have been killed or killed someone else. I believe Toyota needs to look into this since there are other Prius' out there the same thing happened to on this very thread. Although this is a Massachusetts car I have owed it since 25k miles and have maintained it impeccably. I always have the undercarriage cleaned after driving on salty roads. Safety inspection was current- only done the month before. Had that wheel bearing replaced about 2 weeks before the incident and the reputable mechanic reported no issues. There was no warning except for maybe a minute before it happened- the car was vibrating like I had a flat tire. The damage repair estimate on this was $8500. Catastrophic fail Toyota. Is this a rust issue like the Tacoma, Tundra, and Sequoia?????

NHTSA complaint #11634157 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

WHEELS

The light up display for the odometer, fuel gauge, and speedometer does not always light up. When it is not lit, the cruise control and any warning and informative alarms/lights also do not work. This is a well-known issue among owners of these cars, related to the capacitors on the circuit board for the display being defective, and there is extensive documentation of it online. It may also have had a technical service bulletin released for the issue, but I'm not entirely sure. The light goes out intermittently and is not always consistently out. I did mention it to the service personnel when I took it in to get recalls repaired recently, and they didn't seem surprised or unaware of the issue. I did not ask them to diagnose or fix it, as I know I can get it done for a better deal elsewhere.

NHTSA complaint #11632471 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

WHEELS

The rear axle beam broke off near the passenger side rear wheel. The wheel flops around and the vehicle is totally unsafe to drive.

NHTSA complaint #11614013 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

WHEELS

I had begun to notice a slight shimmy at highway speed for a few days, but it wasn't pronounced enough to cause concern, especially since the weather was very windy and already subjecting the car to heavy crosswinds. On Monday, [XXX], the shimmy became suddenly more pronounced, so I pulled off the highway ([XXX]) and parallel-parked on street in Cambridge, MA. While parking, I heard a loud creaking and grinding sound, and the car no longer responded to steering inputs. I exited the car and noticed the rear driver's side wheel protruding at a strange angle from the wheel well. I called AAA and the tow truck driver discovered that, behind the wheel, where the wheel meets the rear axle, the arm had rusted clean through. In other words, the wheel had completely fallen off, and was being held to the car only by the brake line. I was towed to a mechanic in Salem, MA. Both the Salem mechanic and the AAA tow truck driver said that they had never seen anything like this in all the years they'd been servicing cars. I told them that the car had never been in a flood or otherwise involved in the kind of extraordinary event that would cause more than typical rust exposure. Had the wheel come off at highway speed, I could have been seriously injured or killed. The issue did not seem to have been caused by driver/owner oversight or normal wear and tear. It seems highly unusual and potentially indicative of a defect or manufacturing error. I hope other 2010 Prius owners are aware of the vehicle's susceptibility to this issue. And I would like Toyota to take some responsibility for the high cost of repair. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA complaint #11588095 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

WHEELS

This car is the Limited edition with 19 inch wheels. It does not come with a spare tire. The tires originally equipped on the vehicle are Michelin 195/50R19 Primacy A/S and they are NOT available to Toyota dealerships or at Tire Stores. I have one tire picked up a screw first week I owned the car, Toyota would not repair the tire, they said screw too close to edge of tire and not safe to repair or drive. Tire is not available so they sent me home with screw and I had to do repair myself, since tire is NOT available I have been driving around with this "unsafe" repair now for 6 months, tire has not fallen apart yet. next issue in April found a different tire is defective with a sidewall leak, it is under warranty but no replacement tires are available, Toyota is not taking care of this problem and has left me to handle it. Tire has to be filled sometimes 2 times a day and with sidewall coming apart is unsafe to drive.

NHTSA complaint #11588149 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

WHEELS

This Car is NOT equipped with a spare tire or Jack and there is NO option available from Toyota and the manufacture refuses to address the many consumer concerns and offer a solution. This is unacceptable and a spare tire and jack should be REQUIRED safety equipment in the USA - I can't own a car without a spare tire, lug wrench, and jack. This is negligent from the manufacture and needed to report this in effort to get this offered as an Option or required by law so people can drive safe. WIth all the regulations we have and this is not required. It should be!

NHTSA complaint #11575142 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

WHEELS

The rear right wheel broke off when going in reverse, leaving driveway (low speed). Towed to a garage. Was told that the rear frame member had rusted through. Had no warning of this -- car is used regularly and had been inspected several months ago. EXACT SAME THING HAPPENED TO ANOTHER COUPLE WE KNOW WHO ALSO OWN A 2013 PRIUS -- rear wheel came off because the frame member rusted through. Happened about a month before ours. They too were going in reverse, slowly, coming out of a parking spot, after driving 40+ miles to Boston. Car needed to be towed and rear frame member replaced. Repair for us cost $1300

NHTSA complaint #11565553 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

WHEELS

The vehicle has started to exhibit a wobbling feeling when driving, similar to when there is a bubble or blister in the tire. At only 4 years old, and with only 44K miles, we knew this shouldn't be the problem. An inspection by Les Schwab Tires, as well as the Toyota dealership where we purchased the vehicle new confirmed that all four tires are damaged, i.e. the "cords snapped" on the belt, exposing the nylon and steel belts, and putting the vehicle in danger of a blow-out on all four tires. We first noticed this around the beginning of October.

NHTSA complaint #11554435 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

WHEELS

All dashboard lights up. The brake fluid is full and the pads are in proper shape. When braking the car slips a few feets and I was about to make accedents several times with my school children.

NHTSA complaint #11521687 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

WHEELS

I was driving my 2010 Toyota Prius and my car started beeping when I was driving when I tried to slow down the car was not able to stop the breaking system ABS started displaying and my car started to beep and it won’t stop beeping. I did take my car to the dealer for a recalled inspection after my car broke down and I was no longer able to drive for my own safety. After I took the car to Downey Toyota for hybrid recall they didn’t tell me anything but on the document they gave me it did state that the ABS was a problem. Now my car is still not able to be used because of my own safety concerns since the vehicle won’t break when I put the brake pedal and a none stop beeping sound that won’t stop at all.

NHTSA complaint #11494890 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

WHEELS

Low pitched rumbling sound from front wheel well when car is moving between 5-25 mph.

NHTSA complaint #11434933 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

WHEELS

WHILE DRIVING ON THE I 4 WE HAD A BLOWOUT ON THE REAR PASSENGER TIRE. THE CAR HAD LESS THAN 200 MILES ON IT SO IT WAS BRAND NEW. THE DEALERSHIP FOUND OBJECT IN THE TIRE THAT COULD HAVE CAUSE THE PROBLEM THE ONLY CONCLUSION I COULD COME TO IS THAT THIS TIRE WAS DEFECTIVE. THE DEALERSHIP SAID I COULD HAVE RUN OVER A LARGE OBJECT OR A LARGE POTHOLE, WHICH I DOUBT.

NHTSA complaint #11404863 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.