2008 TOYOTA PRIUS Power Train Problems

In temperatures above 95 degrees the vehicle shifts into neutral while driving, and you need to physically hold the shift lever in Drive or Reverse to keep it out of neutral. It won't go into park at all unless you restart. This could cause a fatal accident while driving, particularly on the freeway. It has not yet been confirmed since it only happens at very high temperatures, which is rare where I live (Seattle). There has been quite a lot of discussion on Reddit and other internet sites about this problem with Priuses, particularly the 2008 model. I have an appointment with my mechanic to replace the shift lever assembly, which appears to be the most commonly referenced fix. There are no warning lights, other messages, or symptoms before or while this is happening. The problem resolves when the air temperature goes back down.

The contact owns a 2008 Toyota Prius. The contact stated while driving approximately 65 MPH, she heard a beeping sound, and the instrument cluster flashed the parking brake and a triangle symbol with an exclamation point was illuminated. The contact stated that the "Failure with Transmission - Pull Over and Shift to Park(P)” message was displayed. The contact stated that the shift indicator on the instrument cluster showed that the vehicle was shifted into park(P). The contact stated that the vehicle made an abnormal grinding sound and started losing motive power. The contact stated that the engine was still running however, the vehicle lost power steering and braking functionality. The contact stated that when she depressed the accelerator pedal the vehicle failed to respond. The contact pulled off the roadway and turned off and restarted the vehicle and the vehicle regained normal functionality; however, after driving for ten miles, the...

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SLIPS INTO NEUTRAL UNEXPECTEDLY, AND WHEN IT DOES, OFTEN YOU CAN'T GET IT OUT OF NEUTRAL WITHOUT TURNING CAR OFF. THIS HAS AN ELECTRONIC SHIFT SELECTOR. THIS APPEARS TO BE A RAMPANT PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR. DO AN INTERNET SEARCH ON 2008 PRIUS SLIPS INTO NEUTRAL AND YOU WILL SEE MANY PEOPLE ARE HAVING THIS ISSUE. VERY DANGEROUS WHEN THIS HAPPENS ON THE HIGHWAY.

ON THE MORNING OF 11/14/18, VEHICLE (W. 112,000 MILES ON IT) FAILED TO START OR MOVE IN OUR DRIVEWAY. 12/5/18 ADVISED BY CASEYS, THETOYOTA DEALERSHIP IN .WILLIAMSBSURG VA., THAT THE CVT HAD FAILED AND WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $6500 - HAPPENS OCCASIONALLY!. SUBSEQUENTLY SOLD VEHICLE TO DEALER EMPLOYEE FOR SCRAP. I NOTE THE NHTSA IS CONSIDERING A RECALL ON THE CVT'S INSTALLED IN THE TOYOTA COROLLAS. SEEMS OVERDUE. GLAD FOR MY FAMILY THIS DID NOT HAPPEN WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION.

THE CAR FROM A STOP, IF YOU STEP ON THE GAS WHILE MAKING A RIGHT TURN THE CAR HESITATES REALLY BAD AND COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. I'VE TAKEN IT IN WHEN THE CAR HAD LESS THAN 10K MILES. THEY COULD NOT REMAKE THE PROBLEM. THE CAR HESITATES STILL AND HAS NOT CHANGED, IT CURRENTLY HAS 117K MILES. I BELIEVE THERE IS A SOFTWARE PROBLEM.

CAR STALLED COMPLETELY UNDER HIGH SPEED ACCELERATION ABOUT 70-75MPH MPH ON FREEWAY. LOST ALL POWER .

CAR SHIFT LEVER POPS OUT OF DRIVE POSITION AND REVERSE POSITION INTERMITTENTLY ON STARTUP. SEEMS TO HAPPEN WHEN INTERIOR OF CAR IS HOT AFTER SITTING IN SUN FOR A LONG PERIOD.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE GEAR SHIFTER WOULD NOT STAY ENGAGED IN REVERSE OR DRIVE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED PERIODICALLY. IN ORDER TO KEEP THE GEAR SHIFTER ENGAGED IN DRIVE OR REVERSE, IT WOULD HAVE TO BE HELD IN THAT POSITION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE INADVERTENTLY SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL AND STOPPED. THE VEHICLE MADE A CHIMING SOUND AND UNKNOWN WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 200,000.

INVERTER WATER PUMP REPLACED AT 75000 MILES UNDER RECALL AND FAILURE. SAME PUMP FAILED AGAIN AT 146600 MILES. REPLACEMENT PUMP LASTED LESS MILES THAN ORIGINAL. PUMP DESIGN OR MANUFACTURE IS NOT ADEQUATE FOR SERVICE. DIAGNOSIS WAS PUMP SEIZED DURING EXPRESSWAY DRIVING (65 MPH). DID NOT CAUSE AN IMMEDIATE STOPPAGE BUT VSC WARNING CAUSED REDUCED CONTROLLABILITY.

I HAVE HAD MY 2008 PRIUS SINCE IT WAS NEW AND I HAVE TAKEN METICULOUS CARE OF THE VEHICLE WITH DOCUMENTATION TO PROVE IT. THE VEHICLE IS BURNING OIL TO THE EXTENT THAT I HAVE TO PUT A QUART OF OIL IN EVERY 700 MILES. MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP CONFIRMED IT IS AN ISSUE WITH THE VEHICLE BUT TOYOTA USA SAID THEY WON'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT BECAUSE THERE "HAS NOT BEEN ENOUGH COMPLAINTS". HOWEVER, THE TOYOTA PRIUS CHAT WEBSITE HAS NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT OIL CONSUMPTION. TOYOTA DID AN EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR THE COROLLA AND CAMRY BUT REFUSES TO DO ANYTHING FOR THE PRIUS. NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS HAVE BEEN MADE WITH TOYOTA USA TO CORRECT THIS ISSUE BUT THEY REFUSE TO DO SO. THEY DID SAY THEY CORRECTED THE ISSUE IN THE NEWER MODELS . . .BUT YET DON'T WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT IS IT AN ISSUE! SO, THEY CORRECTED AN ISSUE...

WHAT'S WRONG WITH TOYOTA AND NHTSA? TODAY IN HOT WEATHER WITH THE AIR CONDITIONER ON MY 2008 PRIUS ONCE AGAIN SUDDENLY DROPPED ITSELF OUT OF DRIVE INTO NEUTRAL WITHOUT WARNING AND IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY. ONE HAS TO HOLD THE SHIFTER IN DRIVE TO GET OUT OFEVERYONE'S WAY. IF THIS ISN'T A LIFE-THREATENING SAFETY HAZARD THEN I DON'T KNOW WHAT IS. UNLESS YOU WANT A FEW FOLKS TO DIE BEFORE ANYTHING GETS DONE ABOUT THIS. THE INTERNET AND PRIUS FORUMS DOCUMENT THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED DEFECT. THE DEALER THROWS UP ITS HANDS' NOT OUR PROBLEM!!

ON A WARM/HOT DAY THE VEHICLE DROPS SUDDENLY ITSELF OUT OF DRIVE OR REVERSE. THIS CAN HAPPEN FROM BEING PARKED OR CRUCIALLY WHILE ONE IS DRIVING. USUALLY THE AIR CONDITIONER IS ON. YOU CAN BE DRIVING DOWN A CITY STREET OR HIGHWAY WHEN THE CAR DROPS ITSELF OUT OF GEAR,' VERY DANGEROUS AND SCARY. ONE HAS TO HOLD THE SHIFT MECHANISM IN DRIVE CONTINUOUSLY TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT. THE INTERNET DOCUMENTS THIS EXACT DEFECT IN OTHER 2008 PRIUS'. VISITS TO THE DEALER ARE MET WITH SHRUGGED SHOULDERS.

VEHICLE WAS OFF AND IN PARK. VEHICLE WAS STARTED AND SHIFTED INTO DRIVE. IN LESS THEN 1 SECOND, VEHICLE SLIPPED OUT OF DRIVE AND INTO NEUTRAL AS DESCRIBED IN THE TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN ISSUED BY TOYOTA (T-SB-0142-11). PROBLEM AS REOCCURRED MULTIPLE TIMES SINCE, INCLUDING WHILE DRIVING AT SPEEDS ABOVE 45 MPH.

WHEN I TRIED TO SHIFT MY CAR INTO GEAR, IT AUTOMATICALLY WENT TO NEUTRAL . THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES IN WARM WEATHER. I HAVE HAD TO DRIVE HOLDING THE LEVER IN THE APPROPRIATE POSITION. THIS IS BOTH CUMBERSOME AS WELL AS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. I DID CALL MY LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER TO REPORT THE PROBLEM, BUT WAS NEVER CALLED BACK. SINCE THIS OCCURS SPORADICALLY , I JUST LET IT GO. IT HAPPENED AGAIN YESTERDAY, MAY 6, 2015, WHEN I TRIED TO PUT IT IN REVERSE. IT JUMPED TO NEUTRAL & GOT CLOSE TO ROLLING OFF A DROP OFF IN A PARKING LOT. I HELD THE LEVER IN REVERSE, & LUCKILY PREVENTED MY CAR FROM GOING OFF A CLIFF. FRIGHTENING! *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHIFTED GEARS INTO NEUTRAL. THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHERE IT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 148,000. UPDATED 04/07/15*LJ THE CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO SHIFT INTO GEAR AND POPPED INTO NEUTRAL. THE NEXT DAY, EVERYTHING WORKED NORMALLY. UPDATED 06/30/15*JB

THE CAR MOVES FROM DRIVE TO NEUTRAL MODE. I PUT THE CAR IN "D" AND IT SUDDENLY MOVED BACK TO "N". KEEP THE LEVER HELD ON "D" AND YOU CAN DRIVE, OTHERWISE IT SWITCHES BACK TO "N". HAPPENED 3 TO 4 TIMES TODAY. VERY SCARED IF THIS HAPPENS WHEN DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY OR GETTING STARTED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT AS THE CAR BEHIND MAY NOT HAVE ENOUGH SPACE OR INDICATION OF THE VEHICLE SLOWING DOWN BECAUSE OF LOSS OF ACCELERATOR. *TR

WHEN MAKING A TURN FROM A STOP AND TRYING TO ACCELERATE QUICKLY THE CAR JERKS AND HESITATE AS THE ANTI SLIP SYSTEM LIGHT FLASHES AND ENGAGES. YOU CANNOT ACCELERATE QUICKLY INTO TRAFFIC FROM A DEAD STOP MAKING A TURN AS THE CAR REFUSES, JERKS AND ACTS LIKE IT WILL STALL. PAVEMENT IS DRY AND NO GRAVEL. HAPPENS EACH AND EVERY TIME SINCE I PURCHASED THE CAR. EASY TO REPLICATE. COME TO A COMPLETE STOP, THEN TURN RIGHT WHILE PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR DOWN QUICKLY AND THE SLIP SYSTEM KICKS, CAR JERKS, HESITATES AND THEN VERY SLOWLY STARTS TO EVENTUALLY ACCELERATE. *TR

GEAR SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL WITHOUT USE OF GEAR SHIFT CONTROL. HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES AND WASN'T ABLE TO SHIFT INTO REVERSE OR DRIVE. KEPT GOING BACK TO NEUTRAL. PARK ALSO WASN'T WORKING. POWERED CAR OFF WHICH DID PUT IN PARK. RESTARTED AND DROVE HOME WITHOUT ISSUE. TRIED TO RECREATE AT HOME AND SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED. WAS ABLE TO MANUALLY HOLD GEAR SHIFT IN DRIVE OR REVERSE TO MOVE CAR INTO DRIVEWAY. HAVE LEFT CAR AT TOYOTA SERVICE CENTER TODAY FOR INSPECTION. DID NOT OCCUR WHEN TECH TRIED IT DAY AFTER INCIDENT AT 7AM. INITIAL INCIDENT OCCURRED ON HOT AFTERNOON AT 5PM WITH 100 DEGREE TEMPERATURES. HAVE READ ONLINE OF SIMILAR PROBLEMS RELATED TO HOT TEMP. HAVE HAD CAR FOR 5 YEARS WITH NO PROBLEMS LIKE THIS. JUST CROSSED 50000 MILES AND AM COVERED UNDER WARRANTY UNTIL OCT. I HOPE IT CAN BE REPAIRED. AND HOPE IT DOES NOT HAPPEN WHILE I...

1 - AFTER BEING PARKED THE CAR WILL GO INTO REVERSE OR DRIVE, BUT WHEN YOU LET OFF OF THE BRAKE, IT WILL GO INTO NEUTRAL. 2 - IF LEFT RUNNING IN PARK, THE CAR WILL GO OUT OF PARK AND GO INTO NEUTRAL. THIS WILL ALLOW THE CAR TO ROLL, IF IT IS NOT ON EXACTLY FLAT LEVEL GROUND. 3 - WHILE DRIVING, THE CAR WILL JUMP OUT OF DRIVE AND GO INTO NEUTRAL. 4 - IN ALL OF THESE INCIDENTS, YOU CAN HOLD THE SHIFTER LEVER IN THE DESIRED MODE AND THE CAR WILL DRIVE FINE. 5 - TALKED TO A TOYOTA REPAIR FACILITY AND I WAS TOLD THAT THEY HAVE NEVER HEARD OF THIS. DID SOME RESEARCH ON THE NET AND FOUND MANY OF THESE SAME INCIDENTS. 6 - THIS IS DEFINITELY A SAFETY ISSUE, THAT APPARENTLY TOYOTA DON'T WANT TO ADMIT. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE WOULD INDEPENDENTLY SHIFT FROM DRIVE INTO NEUTRAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE REPLICATED. THE TECHNICIAN INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT REPLACING THE SHIFTER MAY RECTIFY THE FAILURE BUT WAS UNABLE TO GUARANTEE IT WOULD BE A PERMANENT FIX. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 112,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. REMAILED 08/20/14*LJ

MY 2008 PRIUS WON'T STAY IN GEARS OCCASIONALLY GEAR JUMPED BACK FROM D TO N MODE. FORTUNATELY, IT DIDN'T HAPPEN WHEN I DROVE 70 MILES PER HOUR. I WENT TO TOYOTA CENTER AND THEY SAID I HAVE TO PAY FOR THE SHIFT LEVER. I DON'T KNOW WHY I SHOULD PAY FOR IT, IT IS A DEFECT OF THIS CAR, NOT BECAUSE HOW I DRIVE THIS CAR. PLUS, I DON'T HAVE THIS MONEY, SO I DIDN'T REPAIR FOR IT. I NEED TO REPORT THIS BEFORE SOMEONE GET KILLED. I THINK TOYOTA SHOULD RECALL 2008 PRIUS, TO MAKE SURE OUR (CUSTOMER) SAFETY. *TR

ON OCCASION THE VEHICLE WILL POP OUT OF D OR WILL HAVE A PROBLEM GETTING INTO D. THIS DAY I PARKED, LEFT THE VEHICLE RUNNING (ON) SINCE IT WAS COLD IN BOSTON AND MY WIFE WAS SITTING IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. EXISTED THE CAR, RETRIEVED A PACKAGE I WAS DELIVERING FROM THE BACK SEAT AND LEFT. ABOUT 5 MIN LATER, MY WIFE SAID THAT ALL OF A SUDDEN SHE FEELS THE CAR MOVING FORWARD AND BEFORE SHE CAN STOP IT THE CAR CRASHED INTO A TRUCK WITH A VERY LARGE TOW HITCH ASSEMBLY. THE CRASH NAILED MY FRONT HOOD VIRTUALLY DEAD CENTER. DEALER COULD NOT REPLICATE BUT SEEMS FROM OTHER ONLINE COMMENTS THAT THIS IS NOT UNKNOWN ABOUT GEAR DIFFICULTY ALTHOUGH POPPING OUT OF P SEEMS LIKE A NEW ADD-ON OR MAYBE FEW OF US EVER LEAVE A CAR RUNNING. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE POWER TRAIN MOVED INTO NEUTRAL INDEPENDENTLY. THE CONTACT MOVED THE GEAR SHIFTER BACK INTO DRIVE. ONE WEEK LATER WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 60 MPH, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE GEAR SHIFT MECHANISM WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 57,000.

LAST WEEK I WENT OUT DRIVING WITH A FRIEND, I WAS DELIVERING MEALS ON WHEELS TO VARIOUS HOMES IN MY AREA. AT ONE HOUSE I BRAKE THE CAR TO A STOP AND SHIFTED INTO PARK AND LEFT THE MOTOR RUNNING. I THEN GOT OUT OF THE DRIVER'S SEAT, WENT AND OPENED THE BACK DOOR, TOOK OUT THE NECESSARY MEALS, CLOSED THE DOOR AND THEN WENT INTO THE HOUSE FOR THE DELIVERY. IN THE MEANTIME, MY FRIEND SAT IN THE PARKED CAR AND AFTER A VERY FEW MINUTES GOT OUT OF THE CAR TO LOOK AT SOMETHING IN THE NEIGHBORING GARDEN. OUT OF THE CORNER OF HER EYE SHE SAW THE CAR CREEPING FORWARD. SHE RUSHED TO THE CAR AND TRIED TO STOP IT BUT COULDN'T AND SO BEGAN TO SCREAM MY NAME? JUST AT THAT TIME I FINISHED MY DELIVERY CAME OUT OF THE HOUSE AND NOTICED THE CAR WAS...

WHEN I PUT THE CAR IN DRIVE, IT SLIPS BACK INTO NEUTRAL. IN ORDER TO DRIVE THE CAR, I MUST HOLD THE LEVER IN THE DRIVE POSITION. THE DEALER IS CHARGING ME $500 TO FIX BUT I BELIEVE THIS IS A DEFECT AND A SAFETY PROBLEM AND SHOULD BE ADDRESSED BY THE MANUFACTURER. I HAVE READ MANY EXAMPLES OF THIS PROBLEM ON TOYOTANATION.COM UNDER "2008 PRIUS WON'T STAY IN GEAR". *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING THE GEAR WOULD SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL ON ITS OWN. THE CONTACT SHIFTED BACK INTO DRIVE GEAR BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND THEY STATED THAT THE LEVER ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE BUT PROVIDED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 71,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

THE CAR SHIFTS FROM BOTH R (REVERSE) AND D (DRIVE) TO N (NEUTRAL) FOR NO APPARENT REASON. THIS USUALLY HAPPENS AFTER FIRST GETTING INTO THE CAR. I'LL SHIFT INTO R, AND IT WILL DROP TO N. SAME FOR D. THIS CAN HAPPEN A FEW TIMES EACH TIME. USUALLY, WHEN I HOLD IT IN PLACE LONG ENOUGH TO START MOVING OVER 3 MPH, IT SEEMS FINE AND I DO NOT NEED TO CONTINUE HOLDING THE SHIFT LEVER. HOWEVER, LOTS OF REPORTS ONLINE, AND I AM A BIT CONCERNED THAT THIS WILL HAPPEN MORE OFTEN. THIS HAS NOT HAPPENED WHILE ACTIVELY DRIVING (ALWAYS IN PARKING LOTS SO FAR). IT MAY BE RELATED TO HEAT, AS MOST OCCURRENCES HAVE BEEN ON HOT DAYS, BUT NOT EXCLUSIVELY. THIS SEEMS TO BE A DEFECT IN THE 2008 PRIUS. *TR

AFTER 10 MINUTES OF CITY STREET DRIVING, THE CAR WAS IDLING IN PARK FOR 2 MINUTES. THE CAR WAS THEN PUT INTO DRIVE AND THE BRAKE SLOWLY RELEASED. AS SOON AS THE ENGINE TURNED OVER TO ASSIST THE BATTERY DRIVE, THE SHIFT KNOB BOUNCED INTO NEUTRAL AND THE DASH INDICATED NEUTRAL AS WELL. WITH THE BRAKE ON, THE SHIFT KNOB COULD BE PLACED BACK INTO DRIVE AND THE DASH INDICATED DRIVE. THE CAR STAYED IN DRIVE FOR THE FIRST SECOND BEFORE THE ENGINE TURNED OVER THEN SLIPPED BACK INTO NEUTRAL. THIS REPEATED 4 MORE TIMES. PLACING THE CAR IN PARK, TURNING OFF THE AIR CONDITIONING, AND POWERING DOWN THE CAR DID NOT PREVENT THE CAR FROM SLIPPING INTO NEUTRAL. THE CAR STAYED IN DRIVE ONLY BY HOLDING THE SHIFT KNOB IN THE DRIVE POSITION. AFTER THE 3 MINUTE DRIVE HOME HOLDING THE SHIFT KNOB IN DRIVE, THE PROBLEM DID NOT...

VEHICLE WILL NOT STAY IN GEAR, USUALLY HOT DAYS WHEN IT HAPPEN. WEATHER ITS IN REV OR DRIVE IT WILL SHIFT BACK TO NEUTRAL. IT STARTED JULY 2011. TOOK IT TO DEALER THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE. NOW YESTERDAY MAY 27TH IT HAPPEN AGAIN. YOU WOULD HAVE TO HOLD DOWN OR UP GEAR SHIFT TO HAVE GEAR STAY IN PLACE. *TR

I STOPPED AT MY MAILBOX YESTERDAY AND PUT THE CAR IN PARK. WHEN I GOT BACK IN THE CAR AND ATTEMPTED TO DRIVE AWAY THE CAR SLIPPED INTO NEUTRAL ALL BY ITSELF. I PUT IT BACK IN DRIVE AND AGAIN IT SLIPPED INTO NEUTRAL. IT DID THIS 5 TIMES BEFORE I FINALLY HELD THE KNOB DOWN INTO DRIVE SO I COULD GET THE CAR HOME INTO MY DRIVEWAY. WHEN I STARTED THE CAR THIS MORNING IT SEEMED TO WORK FINE, BUT I AM FINDING TONS OF REPORTS ON THE INTERNET OF PEOPLE EXPERIENCING THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM AND EVEN A YOU TUBE VIDEO OF A LADY WHO DOCUMENTED WHEN IT HAPPENED TO HER. *TR

MY 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS POPS OUT OF DRIVE INTO NEUTRAL SPORADICALLY. I HAVE TO HOLD THE GEAR SELECTOR IN THE DRIVE POSITION WITH MY RIGHT HAND WHILE I DRIVE ONE HANDED WITH MY LEFT. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED AND SHUT OFF WHEN IT BEGAN TO DRIVE FORWARD. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO DRIVE FORWARD AND DROVE BEHIND A BUILDING BEFORE CRASHING INTO BUSHES. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT SHE LEFT THE KEYS IN THE IGNITION WHEN SHE SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF, BUT THE VEHICLE WAS SHUT OFF WHILE SHIFTED IN THE PARK POSITION. UPON LOCATING THE CRASHED VEHICLE, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEYS WERE IN THE IGNITION AND THE VEHICLE WAS STILL SHIFTED IN PARK. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO HAVE THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 36,000.

CAR WILL NOT STAY IN DRIVE AFTER IT HAS BEEN IDLING, IN PARK, ON A HOT DAY. WHEN GETTING BACK IN CAR AND PUTTING THE CAR IN DRIVE, IT SLIPS BACK TO NEUTRAL AFTER ACCELERATOR PEDAL IS PRESSED. CAR GOES A FEW FEET THEN SLIPS BACK TO NEUTRAL. AFTER PUTTING IT BACK INTO DRIVE AND PRESSING THE PEDAL AGAIN, IT SLIPS BACK TO NEUTRAL. THE ONLY SOLUTION IS TO SHUT THE CAR OFF COMPLETELY AND RESTART AFTER 15-20 MINUTES. THIS HAS TWICE LEFT ME NOSED OUT INTO A BUSY STREET. I FIRST TRIED TO RESOLVE THIS ISSUE WITH MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP, TOYOTA, ON 9/17/10 . THEY CLAIMED THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM AND SAID THEY HAD NEVER HEARD OF IT EVEN THOUGH I BROUGHT THEM SEVERAL INTERNET ACCOUNTS OF OTHERS WHO REPORTED THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM. THIS YEAR, WHEN THE PROBLEM STARTED AGAIN WITH THE HOT WEATHER, I REPORTED...

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL AND THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO SHIFT INTO ANY OTHER GEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN INSPECTED BY THE DEALER AND THEY ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE SHIFTER NEEDED TO REPLACED DUE TO AN ELECTRICAL FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 109,000.

ON 3 SEPARATE DAYS, 2 DURING THE SUMMER OF 2009 AND 1 DURING THE SUMMER OF 2010, OUR PRIUS TRANSMISSION HAS AUTOMATICALLY AND REPEATEDLY SHIFTED FROM D (DRIVE) TO N (NEUTRAL) WITHOUT WARNING WHILE THE CAR WAS MOVING. ALL INCIDENTS HAPPENED ON EXTREMELY HOT DAYS (TEMPERATURES NEAR 100) IN THE AFTERNOON AFTER THE CAR HAD BEEN PARKED OUT IN THE SUN AND WITHOUT US HAVING MADE ANY ACCIDENTAL CONTACT WITH THE SHIFTER / DRIVE SELECTOR WHILE DRIVING. THIS CREATED DANGEROUS SITUATIONS SEVERAL TIMES AS THE CAR ERRATICALLY SLOWED AS WE ENTERED INTERSECTIONS OR PULLED OUT ONTO BUSY STREETS. OUR INITIAL RESPONSE WAS TO DEPRESS THE ACCELERATOR, BUT WHEN THIS HAD NO EFFECT, WE DISCOVERED THE TRANSMISSION LIGHT HAD MOVED FROM D TO N. IT WAS ESPECIALLY DANGEROUS WHEN MAKING LEFT HAND TURNS ON BUSY STREETS WITH ONCOMING TRAFFIC. WE DISCOVERED THAT WE COULD KEEP THE CAR MOVING BY CONSTANTLY HOLDING...

WHEN I PUT MY 2008 PRIUS INTO THE PARK MODE ALONG WITH THE BRAKE BUT STILL HAVING THE CAR RUNNING, I WILL OPEN THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR TO GET MY MAIL. WHEN I THEN CLOSE THE DOOR AND TRY AND PUT THE CAR INTO DRIVE, IT WILL AUTOMATICALLY SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL. NUMEROUS TRIES TO GET THE CAR INTO THE DRIVE MODE WILL FAIL. I THEN COAST MY CAR DOWN THE HILL INTO MY DRIVEWAY. I HAVE TRIED SHUTTING OFF THE CAR AND STARTING FROM SCRATCH BUT IT WILL SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL. THIS HAS HAPPENED INTERMITTENTLY OVER THE LAST MONTH. I TOOK IT TO MY LOCAL DEALER AND THEY COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG. IT OCCURRED AFTER THEY SAID THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG SO I WILL BE TAKING IT BACK IN. THE CONSEQUENCES ARE THAT I AM ON A ROAD AND CAN'T GET MY CAR TO DRIVE. ONE OTHER ISSUE THAT OCCURRED...

2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. CONSUMER STATES FAULT IN VEHICLE *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED HE BACKED OUT OF A PARKING SPACE, SHIFTED INTO DRIVE AND THE VEHICLE REFUSED TO RESPOND TO DRIVE AS HE PRESSED THE ACCELERATOR. IT SEEMED THE BRAKE WAS ON. A MASTER FAULT APPEARED ON THE SCREEN. IT SAID BATTERIES WILL NOT CHARGE IF LET IN THE NEUTRAL POSITION. AFTER SEVERAL TRIES, IT FINALLY RESPONDED. *JB

LAST NIGHT ABOUT 6:00PM CST. MY GAS PEDAL STUCK ON MY 2008 TOYOTA. I WAS AT A USED CAR DEALERSHIP LOOKING AT TRUCKS. I GOT OUT OF THE PRIUS TO LOOK AT A TRUCK. I GOT BACK INTO THE CAR PUT IT IN DRIVE AND WHEN I TOOK OFF THE PEDAL STUCK TO THE FLOOR. I PUT THE SHIFTER INTO NEUTRAL STOPPED THE CAR, PUT IT BACK INTO DRIVE AND THE PEDAL WAS STILL STUCK. ONCE AGAIN I PUT THE SHIFTER INTO NEUTRAL, STOPPED THE CAR AND PUT THE SHIFTER INTO PARK, ADJUSTED THE FLOOR MAT (I DON'T KNOW IF THE MAT WAS THE PROBLEM OR NOT) THEN PUT THE SHIFTER INTO DRIVE AND IT WAS FINE. I SURE IT IS NOT RELATED BUT I HAD JUST HAD THE CAR IN THE SHOP (SMART MOTORS) THE PREVIOUS WEEK TO ADJUST THE TIRE PRESSURE LIGHT. *TR

I LEFT MY 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS RUNNING AND HAD TO RUN BACK INTO A HOME WHERE I'D JUST LEFT A SALES APPOINTMENT. EVENTHOUGH I HAD THE KEY FOB IN MY POCKET, I NOTICED OUT OF THE CORNER OF MY EYE AS I WAS CROSSING THE STREET BACK TOWARDS THE HOUSE THAT MY CAR WAS CAREENING INTO THE BUICK PARKED ACROSS THE STREET. I RAN AND JUMPED IN AND STEERED IT AWAY FROM T-BONING THE PARKED BUICK, BUT COULD NOT KEEP IT THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE PRIUS FROM SCRAPING ALONG THE DRIVER'S SIDE CORNER OF THE BUICK'S REAR BUMPER. *TR

I OWN A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS WHICH SURGES AHEAD WHEN I AM BRAKING UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS: WET, UNEVEN SURFACES, AND BUMPY ROADS. IT IS SCARY BECAUSE I NEARLY HIT SOMEONE AT A STOP SIGN AND I FEEL OUT OF CONTROL WHEN IT DOES THIS. ON AVERAGE, HAPPENS 1-2X WEEK. IT HAPPENS WHEN MY FOOT IS OFF THE GAS PEDAL AND I AM UNDER 20 MPH. IT SEEMS LIKE A COMPUTER ERROR AND NOT ACCELERATOR RELATED. *TR