2016 Toyota Prius Body & Structure Problems

Your car's blue exterior paint has begun peeling and flaking off, starting around 2019, particularly on sun-exposed areas like the roof, rear window panel, and trunk. The black trim panel behind the rear right mirror also started peeling at the same time. Both your dealership and an independent shop have confirmed this is a serious paint defect, and the underlying concern is that exposed metal could eventually corrode if the protective paint layer continues to fail.

Your 2016 Prius has been making clicking sounds from underneath the car since 2018, particularly from the steering area, which you believe could be a safety issue at highway speeds. You've also noticed peeling paint on the exterior and door areas, and your windshield cracked in an unusual pattern from a small rock impact. The repair likely involves inspection and replacement of steering components, weatherstripping, and the windshield.

While driving on Highway 99 in California, your car ran over debris in the road, causing a loud thud that shook the vehicle and frightened your family. The impact broke your front bumper and dented the right door. While this wasn't a crash, the sudden impact could have been dangerous if other vehicles were nearby. Repairs will likely involve replacing the front bumper and repairing or replacing the right door.

At the beginning of this week, I was checking fluid levels and upon dropping my hood, I watched a crack in the windshield extend up from the base of the windshield. Then, while I was driving, I watched the crack extend and branch into a second crack. Upon further inspection, it appears cracking started under the windshield wiper and arched downward to the base of the windshield and another a new crack extend upward. I am the only person who drives this car. I do not park under a tree or anything that might fall on the windshield. I have not experienced any rocks hitting the windshield recently. I have not driven in the rain in several weeks. The only time the windshield wipers moved recently is when I cleaned my windshield over the weekend and lifted the wipers to reach underneath. Best as I can tell, the crack started due to the windshield wiper being picked up and let back down. This concerns me a great deal considering that is not a great amount of force.

I HAVE NOW HAD MY WINDSHIELD DEVELOP CRACKS TWICE. THE FIRST TIME WAS ON JANUARY 8, 2018. I WAS DRIVING BEHIND A LARGE TRUCK, AND A PEBBLE WAS KICKED UP BY THE TRUCK'S REAR TIRE THAT STRUCK THE MIDDLE OF THE BASE OF MY WINDSHIELD. A CRACK DEVELOPED THE NEXT DAY, AND STARTED SPREADING. I HAD MY WINDSHIELD REPLACED. THE SECOND WINDSHIELD CRACK OCCURRED ON 11/6/2018. MY SPOUSE AND I HAD RETURNED FROM DINNER, AND HE NOTICED A CRACK AT THE BASE OF THE WINDSHIELD, JUST TO THE RIGHT OF CENTER, BEFORE WE GOT OUT OF THE CAR, AFTER WE HAD PARKED IN OUR INDOOR GARAGE. THIS TIME, I DO NOT RECALL ANY OBJECTS, SUCH AS A PEBBLE, GRAVEL, OR HAIL, HITTING MY WINDSHIELD PRIOR TO THE CRACK DEVELOPING.

THE WINDSHIELD ON MY 2016 TOYOTA PRIUS CRACKED FOR NO REASON. I PARKED MY PRIUS IN A COVERED PARKING GARAGE. WHEN I RETURNED TO MY CAR LATER, THERE WAS A LARGE CRACK IN THE WINDSHIELD (OVER A FOOT LONG), AND THE CRACK CURVED DOWN TO THE BOTTOM OF THE WINDSHIELD. I DON'T KNOW WHAT CAUSED THE WINDSHIELD TO CRACK ALL OF A SUDDEN. THERE WERE NO SIGNS OF DEBRIS OR IMPACT. I BELIEVE THE WINDSHIELD MAYBE DEFECTIVE OR WAS SET ON MY CAR IMPROPERLY IN THE FACTORY, WHICH CAUSED STRESS ON THE WINDSHIELD WHICH LED TO THE LARGE CRACK.

IN MOTION ON A HIGHWAY. WINDSHIELD GOT HIT BY A ?ROCK? AND HAD A SMALL STAR. WITHIN DAYS IT HAS GROWN TO COVER THE ENTIRE WINDSHIELD IN SEVERAL DIFFERENT PATTERNS. WINDSHIELD IS TOTAL LOSS AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED.

LEASED THE VEHICLE FOR LESS THAN 1 YEAR AND HAVE EXPERIENCED 3 MAJOR CRACKS TO THE FRONT WINDSHIELD. THE FIRST ONE WAS CAUSED BY PROBABLY A SMALL ROCK WHILE DRIVING MID SPEED AND SPREAD IMMEDIATELY FROM THE PASSENGER-SIDE PERIMETER. THE SECOND ONE WAS CAUSED BY UNKNOWN, MAYBE A ROCK, AS I DID NOT SEE NOR HEAR ANYTHING BUT OVERNIGHT SAW A CRACK IN THE CENTER THAT SPREAD VERY QUICKLY. THE THIRD CRACK WAS CAUSED BY PROBABLY A SMALL ROCK THAT STARTED ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE PERIMETER. I HAVE OWNED NICER CARS THAN THE PRIUS AND ALSO ONES LESS PRESTIGIOUS. WHILE OWNING THESE CARS FOR 5+ YEARS AND DRIVING EXTENSIVELY, I HAVE NEVER, EVER SUFFERED MORE ROCK IMPACTS BY A WINDSHIELD THAT CAUSED EXTENSIVE DAMAGE THAN WHEN I HAVE DRIVEN THIS 2016 PRIUS. THIS CAR SHOULD BE RE-EXAMINED FOR SAFETY AND ANGLES. IN ADDITION, TOYOTA SUPPOSEDLY HAS HAD A BACKORDER OF THIS PARTICULAR TYPE OF WINDSHIELD AND HAS NOT ALLOWED AFTER-MARKET PRODUCTION SO I AM FORCED TO EITHER USE MY INSURANCE OR PAY AN EXORBITANT AMOUNT OUT OF POCKET.

I HAD VERY SMALL WINDSHIELD CRACK WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON 10 FRWY COVINA CA , I DIDN'T NOTICE ANYTHING HIT MY WINDSHIELD WAS VERY HOT DAY JUST HEARD TING AND I SHAW CRACK BUT WITHIN A DAY WAS VERY LONG ABOUT 2FT CRACK .I TOOK LONGO TOYOTA AT EL-MONTE THEY SAID IT DON'T COVER BY DEALER OR TOYOTA COMPANY SO THEY GIVE ME $1265 EST. COST TO FIX IT.IT WAS MY 2016 TOYOTA PRIUS MILES 17K ONLY AND UNDER FACTORY WARRANTY ANOTHER PROBLEM WITH 2016 PRIUS IS BODY COLOR POPUP SO EASY IT JUST COMEUP SO SO EASY LOOK LIKE THEY JUST PAINT SO EASY ... I HAVE SO BAD EXPERIENCE WITH PRIUS CAR FEEL LIKE I JUST WAST MY 30K FOR JUST PIECE OF [XXX] PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

2016 TOYOTA PRIUS. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO CONCERNS ABOUT FRONT END BUMPER BEING EXTREMELY LOW TO THE GROUND.*LD THE CONSUMER REQUESTED TO BE ADVISED ON THE LEGAL SPECIFICATIONS FOR THE DISTANCE BETWEEN THE GROUND AND THE BUMPER AND ENGINE OF THE VEHICLE. UPDATED 09/20/2017*JS

The paint on your Prius is peeling in several areas: around the trunk and on the black trim pieces near the rear passenger windows on both sides. The clear protective coating has worn away in these spots. This is a cosmetic issue that may worsen over time and could affect the appearance of your vehicle.