2008 TOYOTA PRIUS Structurebody Problems

Trunk lock will not unlock or allow opening, back latch malfunctions, when car battery dies or car looses power《• you cannot open the trunk and access emergency tools/equipment and battery to jump car. •》You have to access by climbing through the front of the car if you are able-bodied too. There is no opening handle from the inside of the trunk to be let out, scariest and one of the most important major safety concerns, theres no emergency exit from inside vehicle. Water/snow/ice also falls down into the vehicle when opening hatchback, it slides inward from hood of car or slides back from rear windshield and door, causes water to be pooled up in my battery compartment.

I WAS TRAVELING AT ABOUT 35-40 MPH ON A 4 LANE CITY ROAD & A TRUCK PULLED IN FRONT OF ME FROM A SHOPPING CENTER ON OPPOSITE SIDE OF ROAD FROM WHICH I WAS TRAVELING WITHOUT STOPPING IN CENTER MEDIAN CROSSOVER. I HIT BRAKES BUT I HAD NO TIME TO STOP. I'M NOT SURE THE BRAKES EVEN WORKED AS THERE WERE NO SKID MARKS FROM BRAKING. THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE OF MY CAR HIT HARD & ALSO DAMAGED DRIVERS SIDE WHEEL WELL, FENDER PANEL. MY AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY AND MY HEAD COLLIDED WITH THE STEERING WHEEL. IT RESULTED IN MY HAVING A CONCUSSION, WHIPLASH, A FRACTURE IN MY NECK, SHOULDER PAIN & NERVE ISSUES IN MY ARMS & HANDS, BACK & HIP PAIN. I KNOW IF THE AIRBAG HAD DEPLOYED I WOULDN'T HAVE SUFFERED ALL THE PHYSICAL ISSUES. THIS ALL HAPPENED JAN. 11 & I STILL HAVE PAIN. THE...

THE RUBBER TRUNK SWITCH COVER HAS DEGRADED, AND CONTINUES TO "MELT" OR "DISINTEGRATE" OVER TIME. ORIGINALLY THIS WAS A MERE IRRITATION, LEAVING STICKY BLACK RESIDUE ON MY FINGERS EVERY TIME I OPENED THE TRUNK. HOWEVER, NOW THE SWITCH FAILS TO OPERATE MOST OF THE TIME. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE, SINCE I AM UNABLE TO OPEN THE TRUNK TO ACCESS THE SPARE TIRE, AS WELL AS OTHER SAFETY EQUIPMENT OR SUPPLIES.

THE HATCHBACK RUBBER DOOR HANDLE MELTED EVEN THOUGH MY CAR IS GARAGED AND NOT EXPOSED TO THE SUN'S HEAT. ALSO THE HATCHBACK LATCH WOULD NOT KEEP THE DOOR IN AN OPEN POSITION. IT DROPPED MULTIPLE TIMES HITTING MY HEAD WHILE GETTING THE GROCERIES. CAN'T REMEMBER HOW MANY TIMES IT HIT MY HEAD BUT DEFINITELY A SAFETY ISSUE THAT TOYOTA SHOULD ADDRESS.

TOYOTA PRIUS (2008) - FIRE AFTER MINOR ACCIDENT (BATTERY FIRE) AFTER A FAIRLY STANDARD REAR END COLLISION (25-30 MPH), MY TOYOTA PRIUS CAUGHT FIRE AND BURST INTO FLAMES. I WAS STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT ON A CITY STREET IN CHICAGO, IL WHEN THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED, MY VEHICLE WAS NOT IN MOTION. WITHIN MINUTES OF IMPACT (TO RIGHT REAR OF CAR), THE RESPONDING POLICE OFFICER SAW FIRE UNDER THE CAR (BEGAN IN REAR) AND THE FIRE DEPT WAS CALLED. THE FIRE TRAVELLED TO THE FRONT OF THE CAR AND THE CAR HAS BEEN DEEMED A TOTAL LOSS. THE POLICE AND TOW COMPANY BELIEVE THIS WAS CAUSED BY THE PRIUS BATTERY AND THESE CARS ARE VERY UNSAFE TO BE ON THE ROAD WITH THIS CONDITION. THERE HAS BEEN NO RELATED RECALL ON THIS VEHICLE, BUT IT'S INCREDIBLY UNSAFE AND I'M VERY HAPPY I WAS NOT TRAVELING WITH MY CHILDREN AT TIME...

MY 2008 PRIUS (67,500 MILES) REGULARLY SERVICED AT THE TOYOTA DEALER HAD A CATASTROPHIC BRAKE FAILURE WHILE I WAS GOING IN REVERSE DOWN MY DRIVE WAY . I HAVE DONE THE SAME MANEUVER EVERY DAY FOR MORE THAN 20 YEARS IN THIS DRIVEWAY AND NEVER HAD A PROBLEM. AS THE BRAKES FAILED I ATTEMPTED TO PUMP THE BRAKE PEDAL MORE TO NO AVAIL. THE CAR CROSSED THE STREET AND WENT IN THE NEIGHBOR YARD ACROSS FROM MY DRIVEWAY. THE CAR IS TOTALED AND I BELIEVE IT WAS A COMPLETE BRAKE FAILURE THAT CAUSED THE ACCIDENT. I WOULD LIKE TOYOTA TO COMPENSATE ME FOR THE TOTAL LOSS OF MY CAR.

MY REAR HATCH DOOR LATCH COVER AND SWITCH ARE INOPERABLE AND THE RUBBER LATCH COVER IS GUMMY. HATCH WILL NO LONGER OPEN - THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE- HOW CAN I GET TO MY SPARE TIRE?

I WAS IN A PARKING LOT AND TURNED MY CAR INTO A PARKING SPACE. AS I SLOWED MY CAR TO BRING IT TO A STOP, APPLYING THE BRAKE, THE CAR ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN AND CRASHED INTO A RAILING AT THE HEAD OF THE PARKING SPACE. ALTHOUGH I PUSHED THE BRAKE ALL THE WAY TO TO FLOOR, I COULD NOT STOP THE CAR. THE CAR HIT AT SUCH A SPEED THAT IT BROKE A SOLID WOOD RAILING AT THE FRONT OF THE PARKING SPACE. MY CAR WAS DECLARED A TOTAL LOSS BY MY INSURANCE COMPANY BECAUSE OF THE DAMAGE. IT SEEMED TO ME THE CAR ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN AND THE BRAKE WAS NONFUNCTIONAL. I COULD NOT STOP THE CAR. I HAD TWO RELATED INCIDENTS PRIOR TO THIS CRASH. THE FIRST, I REAR-ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKE TO STOP AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT. AGAIN, THE CAR ACCELERATED AND...

MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING WITH A PASSENGER IN THE FRONT, ON A TOWN STREET AND A VEHICLE PULLED OUT IN FRONT OF HER. THE IMPACT WAS ON HER FRONT BUMPER AND HOOD PUSHING THE SIDE QUARTER PANELS BACK. THE OTHER VEHICLE WAS AN OLDER PONTIAC GRAND PRIS, THEIR AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. NO AIRBAGS DEPLOYED ON THE TOYOTA PRIUS.WHY DID THE AIRBAGS NOT DEPLOY?

THE RUBBER ON THE REAR LIFTGATE HAS DETERIORATED. MY FINGERS GET COVERED IN A STICKY GOO EVERY TIME I OPEN IT.

THE REAR LATCH ASSEMBLY IS HELD IN PLACE BY PLASTIC BOLTS. OVER TIME, THE PLASTIC DISTINGRATES. WHEN ATTEMPTING TO OPEN THE REAR LATCH OF THE PARKED CAR, THE PLASTIC CRACKED AND THE ASSEMBLY CAME LOOSE.

THE HATCHBACK LATCH HAS A RUBBER COVER WHICH HAS BEEN DETERIORATING FOR SEVERAL YEARS. THERE ARE 100S OF COMPLAINTS ON THE INTERNET ABOUT IT. NOW, THE LATCH PRESSURE PLATE FAILS TO ALLOW ME TO OPEN HATCH AND THE NEARBY (PLASTIC?) PART IS BROKEN--SIMILAR TO MANY OTHERS ON WEB. DEALER QUOTES A $540 COST TO REPAIR THE LATCH AND PLATE.

REAR SWITCH THAT ALLOWS LIFT GATE TO BE OPEN, FAILS. RUBBER BREAKS DOWN AND BECOMES LIKE GLUE, MAKING IT HARD FOR INDIVIDUAL OPENING LIFT GATE TO REMOVE HAND AS NORMALLY EXPECTED, INDUCING STRAIN ON INDIVIDUAL BACK AND CREATING UNEXPECTED TWISTING MOTION CAUSING INJURY AND DAMAGING TRIM ON CAR. TOYOTA HAS ISSUED RECALL IN JAPAN BUT NOT US [HTTPS://TOYOTA.JP/RECALL/KAISYU/121107.HTML] [NOT SURE OF EXACT DATE, THIS IS SECOND REPORT TOYOTA CLAIM 1512-2317-10]

THE LATCH HANDLE ON THE HATCHBACK HAS "MELTED" FOR LACK OF A BETTER WORD. THE HANDLE HAS BECOME GOOEY AND LEAVES A BLACK RESIDUE ON MY FINGERS EVERY TIME I OPEN THE HATCHBACK. BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM, THE HANDLE IS HARDER TO USE, MAKING IT MORE TRYING TO OPEN THE TRUNK.

I PURCHASED MY PRIUS IN 2008. APPROXIMATELY 3 YEARS AFTER PURCHASE, I NOTICED THAT THE HANDLE ON THE BACK HATCH HAD STARTED TO GET REALLY SOFT IN HOT WEATHER AND FREEZE UP A LITTLE IN COLD WEATHER. AT FIRST IT WAS JUST A NUISANCE AS IT SOMETIMES LEFT A BLACK STICKY SUBSTANCE ON MY HANDS; HOWEVER, OVER TIME IT BECAME PROGRESSIVELY WORSE AND THE HATCH BECAME HARDER TO OPEN. I CANNOT OPEN IT AT ALL NOW (SEPT. 2015), LEAVING ME WITHOUT ACCESS TO THE SPARE TIRE, THE BATTERY, SNOW SHOVEL, OR MY ACCIDENT KIT (FLARES, BLANKET, ETC). MY BACK LIGHT ALSO KEEPS GOING OFF THEN COMING BACK (I GOT A TICKET FOR IT) BUT I CANNOT GET TO THE LIGHT FIXTURE BECAUSE I CANNOT OPEN THE TRUNK. THIS IS THEREFORE A SAFETY HAZARD AND TOYOTA SHOULD FIX IT. I AM TOLD THAT THEY HAVE ADMITTED LIABILITY AND FIXED THIS PROBLEM...

THE LATCH HANDLE ON THE HATCHBACK HAS DISINTEGRATED. THE HANDLE HAS BECOME GOOEY AND LEAVES A BLACK RESIDUE ON MY FINGERS EVERY TIME I OPEN THE HATCHBACK. BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM, THE HANDLE IS HARDER TO USE, MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO OPEN THE TRUNK. REPLACEMENT PART NUMBER IS 84905-47010.

WE PURCHASED OUR PRIUS IN 2008. APPROXIMATELY 3 YEARS AFTER PURCHASE, WE NOTICED THAT THE HANDLE ON THE BACK HATCH STARTED TO MELT. AT FIRST IT WAS JUST A NUISANCE AS IT LEFT A BLACK GOO ON YOUR HANDS. AS TIME PASSED IT BECAME PROGRESSIVELY WORSE AND THE HATCH BECAME HARDER TO OPEN DUE TO THE MELTED HANDLE. LAST WEEK (AUG. 2015) OUR 12 VOLT BATTERY DIED OVER NIGHT AND WE COULDN'T START THE CAR OR GET ANYTHING TO WORK. OF COURSE, WE COULD NOT OPEN THE BACK HATCH AT ALL TO ACCESS THE BATTERY. WE CALLED A TOW SERVICE TO TOW OUR CAR TO THE LOCAL DEALER. WE WERE ABLE TO JUMP THE CAR AND DRIVE TO THE DEALER. THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN SAID THAT HE HAD NEVER HERD OF THIS HAPPENING. IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE MELTED HANDLE SHORTED OUT THE WIRING FOR THE REAR LIGHT AND DRAINED THE...

I WAS HIT IN THE REAR END WHICH SHOVED ME INTO THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME 7/31/2015. AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY.

THE BLACK RUBBER IS DISINTEGRATING AND FALLING OFF THE OUTSIDE TRUNK LATCH, MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO OPEN THE HATCHBACK TO GET TO THE SPARE TIRE OR BATTERY. THIS IS ALSO HAPPENING TO MY NEIGHBOR, WHO PARKS RIGHT NEXT TO ME AND ALSO HAS A 2008 PRIUS.

REAR HATCHBACK LOCKING/UNLOCKING RUBBER HANDLE DISOLVED/MELTED AND BECAME A TAR-LIKE MASS THAT STUCK TO FINGERS. UNABLE TO UNLOCK TRUCK MANUALLY AND ELECTRICALLY. UNABLE TO ACCESS TRUNK WHERE EMERGENCY/SAFETY EQUIPMENT LOCATED.

I WAS DRIVING MY 2008 PRIUS IN RAINY WEATHER (NORMAL FOR SEATTLE) NORTHBOUND ON INTERSTATE 5 IN RELATIVELY HEAVY TRAFFIC. TRAFFIC WAS SLOWING DOWN, SO I BRAKE AND DECREASED MY SPEED FURTHER. AS I GOT CLOSER TO THE CAR AHEAD OF ME, I PUSHED MORE FIRMLY ON THE BRAKE, AND NOTHING HAPPENED. THE ABS DID NOT ENGAGE. THE CAR JUST KEPT MOVING ALONG AND I RAN INTO THE CAR AHEAD OF ME. LUCKILY MY SPEED WAS ONLY 5-7 MPH. THE OTHER CAR, AN SUV, WAS NOT DAMAGED. MY FRONT HOOD WAS QUITE CRUNCHED. NO ONE WAS HURT. MY CONCERN IS THAT THE BRAKES SIMPLY DID NOT ENGAGE AT THE LAST MOMENT. I HAVE READ ABOUT THE RECALLS OF 2010 PRIUS' BECAUSE OF ABS FAILURES, SO I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU WERE AWARE OF AT LEAST ONE 2008 PRIUS THAT SEEMS TO HAVE EXPERIENCED A SIMILAR FAILURE. THANKS. *TR

THE BACK LATCH OF MY 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS BEGAN MELTING LAST SUMMER, LEAVING A STICKY BLACK RESIDUE ON MY HAND WHEN I TOUCHED IT. IT NOW TAKES BOTH HANDS AND A LOT OF PRESSURE/STRENGTH TO EVEN OPEN IT. I SEE THAT OTHER OWNERS HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM, YET TOYOTA DID NOT ISSUE A RECALL AND IS INSTEAD, DEMANDING $315 TO REPLACE IT. SINCE THE INABILITY TO QUICKLY ACCESS THE TRUNK IN AM EMERGENCY PRESENTS A SAFETY CONCERN, I FEEL THAT I HAVE NO ALTERNATIVE BUT TO REPLACE IT. IT WILL BE THE LAST TOYOTA THAT I OWN. *TR

THE BLACK PART ON THE "TRUNK" WHICH YOU HAVE TO TOUCH TO OPEN THE HATCHBACK, STARTED MELTING THE FIRST SUMMER AFTER WE BOUGHT THE PRIUS. EVERY SUMMER SINCE IT DRIPS BLACK RUBBER, WHICH SMEARS ALL OVER YOUR HAND EVERY TIME YOU OPEN THE DOOR. IN THE WINTER, IT DOESN'T MELT, BUT THE TRUNK IS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO OPEN, WHICH COULD CREATE A RISK OF DEATH, IF PASSENGERS WERE TRAPPED INSIDE A BURNING CAR AFTER A COLLISION. FROM WHAT I READ ON THE INTERNET, TOYOTA IS DENYING THIS IS A MANUFACURING DEFECT, CLAIMING THAT PEOPLE ARE USING THE WRONG PRODUCTS TO CLEAN THEIR CARS. WHICH IS ILLOGICAL, AND WHOLLY INACCURATE IN THIS CASE, SINCE MY HUSBAND CERTAINLY NEVER WASHED THE CAR FOR THE FIRST SEVERAL YEARS HE HAD IT, UNTIL I GOT TIRED OF A DIRTY CAR AND HAD IT DETAILED. IT WAS MELTING LONG BEFORE THAT. TOYOTA NEEDS TO ACCEPT...

THIS IS A REPORT OF PRODUCT FAILURE AND SUBSEQUENT REFUSAL BY TOYOTA TO REPLACE FAILED PARTS POST 36 K MI. WARRANTY. THEY ARE A STEERING WHEEL COMPOUND DISINTERGRATION AND THE PREMATURE OXIDATION OF THE PLASTIC SPOILER PAINT ONLY W/O SIMILARLY OCCURING ON THE SHEETMETAL OF THE BODY.

ON MY 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS REAR HATCH LIFTGATE, THE HANDLE HAS MELTED MAKING IT VERY DIFFICULT TO OPEN THE REAR HATCH. THIS IS A SAFETY PROBLEM BECAUSE THERE IS THEN NO SAFE WAY TO REMOVE ITEMS FROM THE REAR. SINCE THE SPARE TIRE IS STORED IN THE HATCH, TOYOTA SHOULD REPAIR THIS PROBLEM. THIS SEEMS TO BE AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH THE 2ND GENERATION PRIUS. I HAVE READ NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS ISSUE ON VARIOUS FORUMS. THE ENTIRE LIFTGATE ASSEMBLY HAS NOW BROKEN FROM THE HATCH, CAUSING THE REAR HATCH NOT TO OPEN OR CLOSE PROPERLY. THE SAFETY ISSUE HAS NOW BECOME WORSE AS I AM WORRIED THAT THE REAR HATCH MAY OPEN WHILE DRIVING. *TR

RUBBER LIKE MATERIAL THAT MADE THE HATCHBACK LATCH HAS MELTED TO THE PLASTIC/METAL. DIFFICULTY OPENING. ON SOME OCCASIONS, IT WILL NOT OPEN. WILL NOT OPEN IN EXTREME HEAT OR COLD WEATHER. ALL DOORS SHOULD FUNCTION PROPERLY. DEALERSHIP WILL NOT REPLACE EVEN THOUGH IT IS OBVIOUSLY A PROBLEM. *TR

I AM A MECHANICAL PROFESSIONAL ENGINEER LICENSED IN THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA. I WAS WITH AN INDIVIDUAL AT THE TIME THIS OCCURRED AS THEY ATTEMPTED TO OPEN THE BACK HATCH. UPON TRYING TO LIFT THE TAIL GATE THE INDIVIDUAL HEARD THE CLICK AND THE SLIGHT RELEASE OF THE LOCK FOR THE TAIL GATE. THEY WERE UNAWARE OF THE DEGRADED CONDITION OF THE SWITCHES COVER. UPON TRYING TO LIFT THE HATCH THEY FELT THEIR FINGERS "APPEAR" TO SINK INTO THE SWITCH. AFRAID OF SHOCK OR SUFFERING PHYSICAL ARM THE INDIVIDUAL ATTEMPTED TO PULL HAND AWAY FROM HATCH LATCH. DUE TO THE ADHESIVE NATURE OF THE DEGRADED SWITCH COVER THE FINGERS COULD NOT BE REMOVED IN THE NATURAL EXPECTED MOTION. THE ALTER MOTION RESULTED IN THE BREAKING OF THE LATCH SWITCH COVER AND THE INDIVIDUALS HAND BEING LAUNCHED IN A DIRECTION THAT FORTUNATELY ONLY RESULTED IN A SHOULDER SPRAIN. THIS LEFT THE...

ON THE HATCH, THE EXTERIOR SWITCH TO OPEN THE HATCH IS COVERED BY A RUBBER SEAL TO PREVENT MOISTURE. UNFORTUNATELY FOR ME (AND APPARENTLY HUNDREDS OF OTHER CONSUMERS I'VE SPOKEN TO ONLINE), THE RUBBER EVENTUALLY DISSOLVES AND DESTROYS THE SWITCHING MECHANISM, LEADING TO AN INABILITY TO OPEN THE TRUNK/HATCH. THIS HAS POTENTIAL SAFETY IMPLICATIONS AS IF THERE WERE A BATTERY FIRE, I'D HAVE NO WAY TO OPEN THE HATCH TO TRY TO PUT OUT THE FIRE OR RETRIEVE ANYTHING. *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

REAR HATCH SWITCH MELTED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED FOR $290.62. THIS IS A TOYOTA PROBLEM WHICH THEY REFUSE TO ACKNOWLEDGE. *TR

BLACK HANDLE ON HATCH MELTING. AFTER ONLY ABOUT 5 YEARS USE, THE RUBBER COVER ON THE HATCH RELEASE HANDLE (THE EXTERIOR HANDLE OF THE REAR HATCH) OF MY 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS, MELTED INTO A STICKY TARRY BLACK RUBBERY GOOEY MESS. I CAN BEST DESCRIBE IT AS BEING A VISCOUS BLACK GLOB LIKE ROOFING TAR. TO OPEN THE HATCH, YOU HAVE TO TOUCH THIS BLACK GOO EACH TIME, WHICH MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO OPERATE THE HATCH RELEASE. I WENT TO TOYOTA ARDMORE, PA TO COMPLAIN ABOUT IT BUT DID NOT GET ANY ANSWERS AND CHOOSE TO IGNORE IT. I AM ASKING FOR YOUR AGENCY TO TAKE A LOOK AT THESE INSTANCES AND ALSO TO ASK TOYOTA WHY THEY ARE NOT RECALLING THESE HANDLES. THANKS FOR YOUR HELP.

LIFT GATE LATCH RUBBER COVER IS MELTED. *TR

I LIVE IN TEXAS WHERE THE WEATHER GETS HOT DURING THE SUMMER. I NOTICED LAST YEAR THAT THE RUBBER TRUNK LATCH ON MY TOYOTA PRIUS WAS NOTICEABLY DIFFERENT IN TEXTURE AFTER I HAD TRIED TO USE IT AFTER IT HAD BEEN PARKED IN THE SUN. IT DIDN'T CAUSE MUCH OF A PROBLEM THEN, BUT NOW IT HAS MELTED SO MUCH THAT IT DROOPS DOWN OVER AN INCH AND IS ABOUT TO FALL OFF FROM THE SIDES. THE HANDLE HAS TURNED INTO A TAR LIKE SUBSTANCE, AND WILL NOT REATTACHED TO THE ORIGINAL PART. I SPOKE WITH MY DEALERSHIP, AND THEY HAVE TOLD ME THAT THIS IS A CONSISTENT PROBLEM, BUT WILL NOT REPLACE IT FOR UNDER $400. I NORMALLY PARK MY VEHICLE IN A GARAGE, SO THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A MANUFACTURER DEFECT THAT THEY WANT ME TO PAY FOR TO REPLACE. THIS CONCERNS ME AS I WILL NOT BE ABLE...

THE HATCHBACK RELEASE IS MELTING. IT IS ALL GOOEY WHEN YOU OPEN THE DOOR. ONE OF MY CONCERNS IS WHAT TYPE OF CHEMICAL IS GETTING ON MY HANDS? IS IT TOXIC? THE SECOND IS SAFETY. I HAVE READ OVER TIME YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO OPEN THE HATCHBACK. THIS WOULD NOT BE APPROPRIATE IF YOU HAD A FLAT TIRE. I CONTACTED TOYOTA AND THEY SAID THEY HAVE NO RECORD OF THIS PROBLEM,BUT AFTER RESEARCHING THE INTERNET I SEE A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF COMPLAINTS. I ALSO SEE A LOT OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM ON THIS SITE. PLEASE HAVE A RECALL FOR A DEFECTIVE PART. I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT IT WOULD COST 210.00 PLUS TAX FOR A REPLACEMENT. *TR

MELT DOWN OF HATCHBACK RELEASE HANDLE. VERY HARD TO OPEN HATCHBACK. *TR

THE BLACK RUBBER TRUNK RELEASE COVER HAS DETERIORATED/MELTED, MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO OPEN THE REAR HATCH OF THE CAR. THIS APPEARS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM, BASED ON THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS REPORTED ON THE INTERNET FOR THIS SAME ISSUE. APPEARS TO BE A MANUFACTURING/PART DEFECT. *TR

AFTER ABOUT 3 YEARS OF USE, THE HATCH RELEASE HANDLE (THE EXTERIOR HANDLE OF THE REAR HATCH) STARTED TO BECOME SOFT AND STICKY, AND AFTER A FEW MONTHS EVENTUALLY TOTALLY MELTS INTO A STICKY, GOOEY BLACK MESS THAT WOULD STICK TO YOUR HANDS WHENEVER YOU TOUCH IT. THE HATCH BECOMES HARDER AND HARDER TO OPEN. *TR

AT ABOUT 2 YEARS OLD THE HANDLE TO THE BACK HATCH RELEASE MELTED INTO A TARRY GOO. *TR

ON 8/29/12, I GOT INTO MY 2008 PRIUS IN THE PARKING LOT OF THE EASTON, MD GIANT FOOD-STORE TO RETURN HOME. THIS LOT IS ON A SLOPE JUST ABOVE A PARKING LOT FOR WALMART, WITH A PAVED ROAD BETWEEN THE 2 LOTS. THE PARKING LOTS WERE VERY CROWDED. I NEEDED TO GET TO THE ROAD SEPARATING THE 2 LOTS IN ORDER TO GO HOME. I HAD JUST STARTED THE PRIUS AND PUT IT INTO DRIVE WHEN IT STARTED TO ROAR LOUDLY, JUMPED OUT FAST, AND ACCELERATED RAPIDLY, EVEN THOUGH I BRAKE MULTIPLE TIMES. THE BRAKES SEEMED TO MAKE IT ACCELERATE FASTER. I WAS NOT TOUCHING THE GAS PEDAL, ONLY THE BRAKE, BUT THE CAR WAS ROARING AND OUT OF CONTROL. ON THE WAY OUT OF THE GIANT LOT, THE PRIUS HIT 3 CARS. THE NOISE WAS VERY LOUD, AND THE CAR WAS OUT OF CONTROL. PUMPING THE BRAKES OR HOLDING...

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HANDLE ON THE LIFT GATE MELTED. THE CONTACT NOTICED IT WHEN HE GRABBED THE LIFT GATE HANDLE AND A STICKY SOLUTION COVERED HIS HANDS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION BUT WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALLS ON THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 56,000.

AFTER ONLY ABOUT 3 YEARS USE, THE RUBBER COVER ON THE HATCH RELEASE HANDLE (THE EXTERIOR HANDLE OF THE REAR HATCH) OF OUR 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS, MELTED INTO A STICKY TARRY BLACK RUBBERY GOOEY MESS. I CAN BEST DESCRIBE IT AS BEING A VISCOUS BLACK GLOB LIKE ROOFING TAR. TO OPEN THE HATCH, YOU HAVE TO TOUCH THIS BLACK GOO EACH TIME, WHICH MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO OPERATE THE HATCH RELEASE. WE BELIEVE THIS MELTING PROCESS STARTED AT ABOUT THE 2 YR. MARK. I THOUGHT THAT THIS MIGHT BE A SINGULAR ISSUE, BUT HAVE FOUND THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED TO SEVERAL CAR OWNERS, PARTICULARLY IN FLORIDA. WE LIVE IN LOUISIANA. TOYOTA KNOWS ABOUT THIS, AND IS SELLING THE ENTIRE WIRING HARNESS FOR $96 PLUS REPAIR COSTS, AND HAS DONE NOTHING ABOUT RECALLING THIS. FROM A SAFETY PERSPECTIVE, THIS MEANS YOU CAN EXPERIENCE EXTREME DIFFICULTY OPENING THE REAR HATCH (A LIFE...