2008 Toyota Prius Transmission 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 failure recurred. The contact drove the vehicle back to the residence and turned off and restarted the vehicle several times. The contact had not taken the vehicle to a local dealer or independent mechanic. The vehicle had not been diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 130,000.

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 THAT THEY CURRENTLY DON'T ACKNOWLEDGE IS AN ISSUE!! SECOND TO THIS ISSUE IS THAT THE BACK WINDOW CAN ONLY BE CLOSED BY THE DRIVER'S WINDOW BUTTON AND WILL NOT CLOSE FOR THE PERSON SITTING AT THAT WINDOW IN THE BACK.

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

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 NOT PARKED WHERE I LEFT IT AND HEARD HER SCREAMS. I RAN TO THE DRIVEWAY AND SAW THE CAR MOVING FORWARD. I RAN AFTER IT, MANAGED TO OPEN THE DOOR AND PUSHED THE POWER BUTTON TO TURN OFF THE MOTOR. THIS STOPPED THE CAR JUST IN TIME BEFORE RUNNING EITHER INTO A TREE, INTO ANOTHER CAR OR OFF THE DRIVEWAY DOWN A CLIFF. WE WERE, OBVIOUSLY VERY SHAKEN UP BY THE INCIDENT. NO ONE KNOWS WHY OR HOW THE CAR WENT OUT OF PARK INTO DRIVE. BOTH MY FRIEND AND I ARE SURE THE CAR WAS STATIONARY WHEN I LEFT IT AND WHEN SHE LEFT IT. IT SEEMS TO HAVE SUDDENLY SHIFTED. I HAVE GONE BACK TO THAT SITE TO CHECK IF THERE WAS IN INCLINE OR ANYTHING THAT WOULD HAVE CAUSED THE CAR TO MOVE. THE GROUND WAS FLAT, DRY AND NOTHING WAS THERE TO ACCOUNT FOR THIS INCIDENT. I AM WRITING THIS TO SEE IF THIS IS A PROBLEM FOR THE PRIUS. IS IT SOMETHING I MUST BE AWARE OF? IS THERE SOMETHING THAT MUST BE DONE TO PREVENT THIS FROM HAPPENING AGAIN? AND I WOULD LIKE THIS TO BE NOTED AND MADE A RECORD OF BY THE COMPANY AND THE BOARD OF TRANSPORTATION. I WOULD BE INTERESTED TO KNOW IF ANYONE ELSE HAS HAD THIS PROBLEM? *TR

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.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE COULD ONLY BE SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL INDEPENDENTLY AND WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO DRIVE, REVERSE OR PARK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO REPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER A YEAR LATER FOR THE SAME PROBLEM, WHERE THE GEAR SHIFT ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 52,000. UPDATED 07/25/12*LJ UPDATED 7/26/12 *CN UPDATED 07/30/12 THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT GO INTO PARK OR DRIVE. THE CONSUMER STATED A PIECE OF CLEAR, FLEXIBLE PLASTIC ATTACHED TO THE LEVER BEHIND THE KNOB WITH THE R/N/D SEEMED TO STICK TO THE LEVER GUIDE. IT HAPPENED MORE WHEN IT WAS HOT, EITHER BECAUSE THE CLEAR PLASTIC BECAME MORE STICKY, OR BECAUSE IT EXPANDED A LITTLE OR BOTH. IT WOULD THEN PREVENT THE LEVER FROM RETURNING COMPLETELY TO ITS RIGHT MOST POSITION, AND THE LEVER WOULD STAY IN THE MIDDLE POSITION. THE CONSUMER STATED SHE TRIED TO SLIDE THE CLEAR PLASTIC BACK WITH HER FINGERS TOWARDS THE KNOB, SO IT WAS IN LESS CONTACT WITH THE GUIDE, IT MADE THE LEVER SLIDE MORE FREELY AND SHE HAS NOT EXPERIENCED ANY MORE PROBLEMS SINCE THEN. UPDATED 08/02/12 UPDATED 08/08/12.*JB

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 REPEAT. LATER THAT EVENING AND THE NEXT DAY THE PROBLEM DID NOT REPEAT. IT WAS APPROXIMATELY 80 DEGREES F ON THE AFTERNOON OF THE OCCURRENCE AND THE CAR HAD BEEN PARKED IN THE SUN FOR 7 HOURS, THE AIR CONDITIONING WAS RUNNING AT THE TIME OF THE OCCURRENCE. *TR

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 IT TO TOYOTA USA (CASE # ). THEY ALSO SAID THEY'VE NEVER HEARD OF THE PROBLEM BEFORE AND INSISTED THAT I MUST HAVE THE PROBLEM DUPLICATED AT THE DEALERSHIP. SO, I RETURNED TO MY DEALERSHIP BUT THIS TIME WITH A DVD COPY OF THE PROBLEM THAT I HAD TAKEN WITH MY MOVIE CAMERA. THIS DVD SHOWS THE ISSUE PERFECTLY. THEY RESPONDED THAT A TOYOTA TECH HAS FOUND AN "UPGRADE" THAT THEY CAN PROVIDE ME FOR $240 LABOR. THEY COMMENTED THAT MY CAR HAD 52,000 MILES ON IT WHEN THE PROBLEM FIRST STARTED SO THEY'RE BEING REALLY NICE IN PROVIDING THE PART "UPGRADE". IT'S ALMOST AS IF THEY'RE SAYING THAT AT 52,000 MILES I SHOULDN'T EXPECT THE TRANSMISSION TO STAY IN GEAR!?!? I TOLD THEM THAT THE POWER-TRAIN IS WARRENTED FOR 100,000 MILES AND IF THIS ISN'T A POWER-TRAIN ISSUE I DON'T KNOW WHAT IS. FUTHERMORE, THEY MAY REGARD IT AS AN "UPGRADE" BUT I REGARD IT AS A SAFETY DEFECT THAT SHOULD BE REPLACED BY TOYOTA AT NO CHARGE. I HAVE A COPY OF THE DVD, CLEARLY SHOWING THE ISSUE, THAT I WOULD BE HAPPY TO PROVIDE TO YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) *TT

MY 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS WILL NOT STAY IN D WHEN SHIFTING OR R IT POPS BACK INTO N IT DOES IT ON HOT DAYS. NEED TO REPLACE THE GEAR SHIFT LEVER ASSEMBLY. WHEN ITS HOT OUTSIDE IT BINDS UP AND GOES BACK INTO N WHILE SHIFTING OR DRIVING. HAS HAPPENED 2 TIMES SO FAR IN THE LAST WEEK. IN ORDER TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE YOU HAVE TO HOLD THE LEVER IN R OR D TO GO ANYWHERE. *KB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE PARKED THE CONTACT STATED THE GEAR SHIFT WOULD NOT MOVE FROM NEUTRAL TO DRIVE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE FAILURE WOULD OCCUR WHEN THE GEAR SHIFT WAS ALSO IN REVERSE. THE CONTACT SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF AND AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS WAS ABLE TO MOVE THE GEAR SHIFT TO THE DESIRED GEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 57,700. UPDATED 8/30/11 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE DEALER REPLACED THE GEAR SHIFT ASSEMBLY. UPDATED 09/23/11

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.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE GEAR SHIFT INTERLOCK HAD TO BE DEPRESSED IN ORDER TO UNLOCK AND SHIFT THE VEHICLE INTO ANY GEAR. IF THE BUTTON WAS NOT DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RECOGNIZE HE GEAR AND PLACE THE VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT IN ORDER TO DRIVE FORWARD OR IN REVERSE, THE BUTTON HAD TO BE ABNORMALLY HELD DOWN WHILE DRIVING UNTIL THE VEHICLE WAS SHUT OFF. IF THE BUTTON WAS NOT DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE WOULD SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL INDEPENDENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED OR REPAIRED FOR THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 94,000.

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 THE SHIFTER / DRIVE SELECTOR LEVER IN THE D POSITION. TURNING OFF THE AIR CONDITIONER DID NOT HELP THE PROBLEM. AFTER THE FIRST TIME THIS HAPPENED, WE TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP TO INVESTIGATE THE PROBLEM, BUT THE SERVICE TECHNICIANS THERE WERE UNABLE TO REPRODUCE IT. THIS GLITCH REMAINS A CONCERN TO US BECAUSE THE LOSS OF POWER AND ACCELERATION IS UNPREDICTABLE AND THEREFORE DANGEROUS, BUT AT LEAST WE KNOW WE CAN KEEP THE CAR MOVING BY HOLDING THE SHIFTER IN THE D POSITION. BECAUSE THE CAR IS SO COMPUTERIZED, I SUSPECT AN ELECTRONIC COMPONENT OF THE DRIVE SYSTEM MAY MALFUNCTION AT HIGH TEMPERATURES. THE MILEAGE NUMBER I GAVE IS AN APPROXIMATION SINCE I DIDN'T RECORD THE ACTUAL MILEAGE WHEN THIS FIRST HAPPENED, BUT THE DEALER WHO SERVICED THE CAR SHORTLY THEREAFTER SHOULD HAVE THAT INFORMATION.

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 DURING THIS TIME IS THAT I WAS DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 50MPH AND ALL OF A SUDDEN MY CAR SHIFTED INTO THE B MODE. I WAS ABLE TO SHIFT OUT OF IT BUT MY CONCERN IS THAT THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE SHIFTED INTO REVERSE GEAR AND THE VEHICLE MOVED FORWARD. HE WAS ABLE TO APPLY THE BRAKES IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED APPROXIMATELY TEN TIMES BUT HE DID NOT TAKE THE VEHICLE TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. HE STATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED IN A PARKING LOT WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED AND CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. NO DAMAGE WAS DONE TO EITHER VEHICLE. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED A KNEE INJURY. HE CALLED THE DEALER AND THEY REFERRED HIM TO THE MANUFACTURER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CALLED BUT THEY HAVE NOT RETURNED HIS CALL. THE FAILURE HAD BEEN ON GOING FOR SIX MONTHS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 19,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 22,300. UPDATED 10/05/10 *BF UPDATED 10/07/10

I AM HAVING A RECURRING TRANSMISSION PROBLEM ON A 2008 PRIUS THAT SEEMS TO BE A VERY SIMILAR PROBLEM TO ONE DESCRIBED BY OTHER PRIUS OWNERS. WHEN THE CAR IS WARM (WARM DAY, DRIVE FOR LONGER THAN 15 MINUTES) THE TRANSMISSION CAN SLIP OUT OF DRIVE (OR REVERSE) INTO NEUTRAL. IT WILL DO THIS REPEATEDLY AND NOT ALLOW TO PROCEED IN GEAR UNTIL YOU TURN OFF THE IGNITION FOR SOME MINUTES. THE CAR WILL OPERATE IF YOU MANUALLY PUSH THE GEAR SHIFT LEVER INTO DRIVER AND HOLD IT THERE CONTINUOUSLY UNTIL YOU REACH YOUR DESTINATION. I WILL TAKE IT INTO TOYOTA FOR SERVICE BUT I DO THINK IT MAY BE AN ENGINEERING OR DESIGN FLAW WITH THE TRANSMISSION. THE EXPERIENCE OF OTHER DRIVERS (INCLUDING A VIDEO LINK FOR THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM) CAN BE FOUND ONLINE HERE: HTTP://WWW.TOYOTANATION.COM/FORUM/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?P=3233114#POST3233114

SEVERE SAFETY CONCERNS WITH A 2008 PRIUS ARE THE FOLLOWING: THE ANSWERS AND SOLUTIONS TO THE FOLLOWING ARE NECESSARY BEFORE ANYONE COULD BE CONSIDERED SAFE DRIVING THIS 2008 PRIUS: 1.WHY DID OUR PRIUS HAVE A POWER FAILURE ON APRIL 13TH WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH ON A FLAT STRETCH OF HWY 101 GOING NORTH AT THE BLITHEDALE EXIT IN MILL VALLEY, CA? 2.WHY WHILE DRIVING UP DIVISIDERO AROUND 11:30 OR 12 NOON ON APRIL 25, 2010 DID THE CAR BEGIN BEEPING LOUDLY WHEN GOING UP THE HILL IN PACIFIC HEIGHTS? 3. WHY DID IT THEN START MAKING TWO DIFFERENT BEEPING SOUNDS? WE THEN PULLED OVER AND FOUND THAT THE TRANSMISSION INDICATED THAT IT HAD JUMPED INTO REVERSE EVEN THOUGH THE CAR WAS STILL GOING FORWARD. WE HAD NOT TOUCHED THE SHIFT LEVER, BOTH HANDS WERE ON THE WHEEL. IT JUMPED INTO REVERSE BY ITSELF. 4.WHY , AFTER WE THEN RETURNED THE SHIFT TO DRIVE, WERE WE ABLE TO GO FURTHER UP THE HILL AND THE LOUD BEEPING STARTED AGAIN WHILE THE TRANSMISSION WAS STILL IN DRIVE? WE STOPPED THE CAR AND KEPT A FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL UNTIL HELP ARRIVED. AAA CAME. AAA DROVE THE CAR WITHOUT BEEPING TO A MORE LEVEL PART OF THE STREET TO LOAD IT UPON A TRUCK AND CARRIED THE CAR TO THE SAN FRANCISCO GEARY TOYOTA SERVICE CENTER. THEY HAVE YET [5.20.10] TO ACCURATELY DIAGNOSE AND CORRECT THESE PROBLEMS SO IT IS SAFE TO DRIVE. *TR

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

AFTER READING ABOUT THE RUN A WAY PRIUS IN SAN DIEGO MONDAY, I ATTEMPTED TO PUT MY PRIUS IN NEUTRAL. NEUTRAL DOES NOT EXIST OR DOES NOT WORK. WHILE ACCELERATING ONE CANNOT PUT THE PRIUS IN NEUTRAL. THIS IS A CONCERN. I CALLED THE DEALER AND THE REP SAID THAT PRIUS' ARE A BREED ALL THERE OWN AND PRETTY MUCH AGREED THAT THE NEUTRAL DID NOT WORK. PEOPLE SHOULD KNOW THIS. *TR

I OWN A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. SEVERAL MONTHS AGO I STARTED TO EXPERIENCE A PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE. WHEN I TRAVEL IN REVERSE AND THEN STOP TO GO FORWARD, THE VEHICLE DOESN'T MOVE WHEN I SHIFT IT TO FORWARD. WHEN STOPPED, I HAVE RETURNED THE SHIFTER TO REVERSE AND IT DOESN'T MOVE. IF I TURN OFF THE CAR AND PLACE IT IN DRIVE, IT MOVES. I BELIEVE IT'S A ELECTRICAL PROBLEM BECAUSE THE SHIFTER DOESN'T HAVE LINKAGE AND ITS ELECTRIC. IT DOESN'T HAPPEN ALL THE TIME AND HAS OCCURRED ON FOUR DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. WHEN I BROUGHT THE CAR TO THE DEALER FOR SERVICE, NOTHING WAS FOUND BECAUSE IT WASN'T OCCURRING AT THE TIME. *TR

WITH THE MOTOR RUNNING, THE TRANSMISSION IN PARK AND THE EMERGENCY BRAKE SET, THE CAR LURCHED FORWARD. THE ENGINE WAS WARM AT THE TIME. ON ANOTHER OCCASION WITH THE TRANSMISSION IN REVERSE AND THE BRAKE PEDAL DEPRESSED, THE CAR LURCHED REARWARD ALMOST STRIKING A PEDESTRIAN. *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

2008 TOYOTA PRIUS LOSES ALL POWER WHEN TRACTION CONTROL ENGAGES. *TR

SEP. 1ST I WAS DRIVING MY 2008 PRIUS AND IT STARTED SHIFTING BY ITSELF FROM DRIVE INTO NEUTRAL AND ONE TIME EVEN FROM DRIVE INTO NEUTRAL INTO REVERSE. THIS HAPPENED AFTER I PULLED OFF THE HIGHWAY ON AN EXIT RAMP AND THEN SLOWED TO A STOP IN ORDER TO GET ONTO THE LOCAL ROAD. ON THE PRIUS, WHEN YOU PUT THE SHIFT INTO THE DRIVE POSITION, THE SHIFTING KNOB THEN RETURNS TO ITS STARTING POSITION, BUT THE CAR IS SUPPOSED TO REMAIN IN THE DRIVE GEAR. MY CAR WOULDN'T DO THAT. ABOUT 2 SECONDS AFTER I PUT IT IN DRIVE AND THEN APPLIED THE GAS, IT WOULD SHIFT OUT OF DRIVE AND INTO NEUTRAL.. THE ONLY WAY I COULD DRIVE THE VEHICLE WAS BY MANUALLY HOLDING THE SHIFTING KNOB IN THE DRIVE POSITION THE ENTIRE TRIP HOME (25 MILES). WHEN I GOT HOME AND TRIED TO PUT IT IN PARK, IT WOULDN'T DO IT. IT DID GO INTO PARK HOWEVER, WHEN I POWERED OFF THE VEHICLE. THE NEXT DAY I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE BY HANGING A HEAVY METAL SHOP CLAMP AROUND THE SHIFTING KNOB IN ORDER TO HOLD IT IN THE DRIVE POSITION. I CALLED THE NEAREST TOYOTA DEALERSHIP, WHICH IS GRIFFITH MOTORS IN THE DALLES, OREGON. THEY SAID THEY HAD NEVER HEARD OF THIS HAPPENING BEFORE AND TO BRING IT IN. I ALSO CALLED A MUCH LARGER (AND FARTHER) TOYOTA DEALERSHIP IN GRESHAM, OREGON. THEY SAID NO ONE HAD EVER HEARD OF THAT HAPPENING EITHER. I WAITED UNTIL THE FOLLOWING DAY TO TAKEN THE CAR INTO THE CLOSER DEALERSHIP IN THE DALLES (SEP RD), BUT THE CAR WAS NO LONGER DOING ITS WEIRD THING. THEY SAID THEY CHECKED IT OUT THOROUGHLY WITH THE COMPUTER DIAGNOSTIC SYSTEM AND COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG. THEY SAID THERE WERE NO CODES IN THE SYSTEM INDICATING THAT ANYTHING WAS WRONG. IT DROVE FINE UNTIL SEP 15TH, WHEN AT APPROX. 4 PM IT SUDDENLY STARTED SHIFTING INTO NEUTRAL AT A BUSY INTERSECTION IN KENNEWICK, WA, AND I THEN HAD A COLLISION WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE. NO ONE WAS HURT, BUT THE CAR IS NOW IN A BODY SHOP. I GOOGLED THIS PROBLEM AND FOUND A PERSON ON CONSUMERAFFAIRS.COM WHO'S PRIUS IS DOING THE SAME THING. SUGGESTIONS. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHENEVER THE VEHICLE RUNS OUT OF FUEL, THE GEAR SHIFTER BECOMES DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THE VEHICLE BECOMES NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO MOVE OR PLACED INTO NEUTRAL TO PUSH TO A SAFE SPOT. THE OWNERS MANUAL DOES NOT CONTAIN INFORMATION REGARDING THIS FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT IT TAKES A MINIMUM OF THREE GALLONS OF GASOLINE IN ORDER FOR THE VEHICLE TO RESTART. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY DID NOT HAVE TO NOTIFY CONSUMERS OF THIS ISSUE. THE CONTACT FOUND NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS FOR THE SAME FAILURE THAT HE EXPERIENCED AND BELIEVES THAT IT IS A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 32,000.