Summary of problems reported on Prius 2010

[CivicQc]

List of problems reported on the Prius 2010

Note to all Prius 2010 owners: if you have observed any of the problems described below on your Prius, please post the problem name and your Prius build date (in this thread). This way we can keep track of problem resolution and update this list accordingly.

Display / electronics

Category: Problems

Problem: Air Conditioning display is cloudy/blurry
Description: Cloudy/Blurry AC screen?
Solution: Solved. Toyota has issued a TSB and is replacing the AC display under warranty. See Cloudy/Blurry AC screen?

Problem: Delay in answering calls with Nav and Bluetooth
Description: Delay in answering phone w/Nav
Solution: Pending
Last observed on a Prius built on: Oct 2009

Problem: Satellite radio signal is weak
Description: 2010 Prius - Satellite Radio Signal Weak
Solution: Pending
Last observed on a Prius built on: Oct 2009

Problem: FM radio reception is weak
Description: Weak FM radio reception in 2010 Prius?
Solution: Pending
Last observed on a Prius built on: Jan 2010

Category: Vehicle does not meet user's expectations

Problem: Car computer overestimates MPG
Description: http://priuschat.com/forums/gen-iii-...r-results.html
Solution: Pending (Toyota has been made aware of the problem)
Last observed on a Prius built on: June 2009


Category: Annoyances / potentially bad design

Problem: Red arrow in energy monitor hard to see in daylight
Description: Fix for difficulty seeing red arrows on Energy Monitor Screen in daylight (2010 Prius II)?
Solution: Pending
Last observed on a Prius built on: January 2010

Problem: Satellite radio display is truncated to 16 characters
Description: Satellite Radio Character Length
Solution: Pending
Last observed on a Prius built on: Oct 2009

Problem: Ghost image on speed display
Description: Double Vision on Speed Display
Solution: Pending, although some have observed that the intensity of the ghosting effect depends on the driver's head position.
Last observed on a Prius built on: June 2009

Problem: Can't hear nav voice over stereo
Description: Can't hear nav voice over stereo
Solution: Pending

Problem: Phone numbers disappear from contact list
Description: http://priuschat.com/forums/gen-iii-...appearing.html
Solution: Pending. It is unclear whether the issue comes from the phone or the car.
Last observed on a Prius built on: June 2009

Problem: Built in microphone is weak (muffled)
Description:Low Microphone Volume on Gen III
Solution: Pending

Problem: Cruise control is slow to engage
Description: Cruise control slow to engage
Solution: Pending
Last observed on a Prius built on: Jan 2010

Category: Hard to reproduce, under investigation

Problem: Slip indicator comes on when at a full stop
Description: Slip indicator comes on when at a full stop
Solution: Pending

Problem: Apparent screen burn-in
Description: Energy Monitor Burning in !!!??? and Anyone else notice any screen burn?
Solution: Pending, although it is not totally clear whether the burn-in effect is permanent or temporary.

Problem: Navigation DVD not detected at car boot up
Description: Insert DVD Navigation Disk
Solution: Pending


Other interior features

Category: Problems

Problem: Cargo net panel separation
Description: 2010 Cargo Net issues and resolution (panel separation)
Solution: Solved. Toyota is now selling cargo nets with an updated version of the hook, that is much stronger. Also see: Cargo Net Fix TSB# is 0347-09 and Cargo Net Fix TSB# is 0347-09

Problem: Tonneau cover won't retract at low temperature
Description: Prius in deep (15cm+) loose snow (Results)
Solution: Pending.
Last observed on a Prius built on: Oct 2009

Category: Annoyances / potentially bad design

Problem: Auto-dimming mirror sensor wrongly positioned
Description: Homelink Mirror Auto Dimming (or not?)
Solution: Pending, although some have found temporary fixes as detailed in the link above.
Last observed on a Prius built on: Oct 2009

Problem: Seatbelts on the rear seats are difficult to fasten
Description: Rear Seat Buckling Problems in the 2010 Prius?
Solution: Pending, although some have found ways to make fastening a bit easier.

Problem: Rattle noises from various sources inside the cabin
Description: Several threads, including: Do you hear rattling noises?, Gen 3 Dashboard rattles & creaks, B-Pillar Rattle
Solution: Pending.
Last observed on a Prius built on: January 2010


Mechanical

Category: Problems

Problem: Brakes grabbing in reverse
Description: braking in reverse
Solution: Pending, although some have found ways to avoid it, and others claim the problem goes away after a few weeks.

Problem: Rough engine start
Description: Rough engine start, violent shaking at start up and Prius Condition After 2 Weeks Vacation
Solution: Pending.

Problem: Unintended acceleration when backing up
Description: braking in reverse and Summary of problems reported on Prius 2010
Solution: Pending.

Problem: Coolant is leaking from the transaxle coolant drain plug
Description: Inverter Coolant Leak: T-SB-0352-09
Solution: Solved. Toyota has issued a TSB and tightens the plug under warranty. See: Inverter Coolant Leak: T-SB-0352-09

Category: Disputed

Problem: Momentary loss of braking power when navigating over a bumpy surface, pot hole or water
Description: The problem seems to be caused by the delay in switching from regeneration to friction braking. See Braking problem, Is there something wrong with my traction control ? and http://priuschat.com/forums/gen-iii-...n-braking.html
Solution: Solved. The problem was fixed on the production line on January 1st 2010. Toyota will recall all 2010 Prius that have the problem. See FAQs on the 2010 Prius Recall | PriusChat

Problem: Squeaking sound from wheels during rolling start
Description: http://priuschat.com/forums/gen-iii-...ing-start.html
Solution: Solved. Toyota has issued a TSB. See Rear Brake Squeak - T-SB-0098-10

Category: Annoyances / potentially bad design

Problem: Disengaging cruise control requires a firm push on the brakes
Description: Releasing Cruise Control with Brake
Solution: Pending. The problem would be related with the position of the brake light switch, and apparently cannot be adjusted without altering brake light behavior. According to Releasing Cruise Control with Brake, the sensitivity of the sensor can be adjusted easily.
Last observed on a Prius built on: June 2009

Category: Hard to reproduce, under investigation

Problem: Occasional traction power killed in deep snow
Description: Prius in deep (15cm+) loose snow (Results)
Solution: Only rarely observed, cannot be reproduced easily. Pending.


Battery

Category: Hard to reproduce, under investigation

Problem: Small (12 v) battery discharges too much when car not used for more than 10 days
Description: See 2010 II 12 Volt Battery Dead After 17 Days of Parking and 12 volt battery dead - 2010 Prius
Solution: Only rarely observed. The Prius is apparently equipped with a system to prevent it from happening. Disconnecting the battery when the car is not used for long periods prevents the problem from happening. Observations described in Battery Lives After Parking For a Full Month showed the battery can remain ok for 1 month.

[CivicQc]

In an attempt to summarize the various problems that have been reported on the Prius III, I suggest we hold a list of those in this thread. If you find a problem that has been reported in one of the Prius III forums, add a reply to this thread, and I will update the first post with the data you provided. Hopefully we can make a list that can be useful to the other members (and to Toyota).

The rules when submitting a problem:
1- It must be a real problem (e.g. not things like: "I don't like the color...")
2- The problem must be on the vehicle (e.g. not with vendors, warranty, price paid, etc.)
3- You must provide evidence that at least 2 people have noticed/experienced the problem
4- You must provide a hyperlink to the thread that describes the problem
5- If a solution to the problem was described, you should also add a hyperlink to it.
6- New rules may be added in the future...
Notes:
1- I will do my best to update the list as often as possible - but it will probably not be every day.
2- The more replies we get, the more complete the list will be.
3- If members are not happy about the list - I will withdraw.
4- When reading the list, please take into account the fact that English is my second language...
5- If you feel this thread should appear in a different Prius III forum, feel free to make the suggestion.
6- If you believe one of the problems in the list is not a problem (e.g. if the feature operates the way it was designed), please do not hesitate to say so.

All suggestions are welcome!

[tumbleweed]

I think this thread is a good idea, thank you for starting it.

Cloudy AC Screen has been reported by a lot of people, no fix yet:

Cloudy/Blurry AC screen?

[efusco]

Excellent idea--stickied.

[RRxing]

Cargo Net panel separation...

http://priuschat.com/forums/gen-iii-...eparation.html

Solution: Toyota has suspended sales of the nets while they work on a solution. Some have found temporary fixes as detailed in the link.

[32kcolors]

Originally Posted by CivicQc

Problem: Red arrow in energy monitor hard to see in daylight
Description: Fix for difficulty seeing red arrows on Energy Monitor Screen in daylight (2010 Prius II)?
Solution: Pending

A prospective solution is one of the dealer-enabled personalized settings that adjusts the brightness of the instrumental panel. See post below. However, KJF never reported back to us with the results.

Originally Posted by KJF

I finally got my Toyota dealer to agree to customize the afore-mentioned instrument panel brightness so that I can see if the red parts of the displays are more visible in the daytime. To get this done without paying the $38 shop rate for 1/2 hour, I resorted to threatening them with my latest Toyota survey that I recently received via e-mail and have yet to complete. The dealer's customer service relations person called Toyota who said that I was the first and only one to complain of this issue. Toyota told them to do the customization for no charge and asked that I share the results on PriusChat. (I had told them I had posted my difficulty on this site and others said they were having the same problem and no one had reported trying this customization to see if it solved the problem.) So I will be making my apointment for this in the near future and will post my results.

[CivicQc]

Originally Posted by 32kcolors

A prospective solution is one of the dealer-enabled personalized settings that adjusts the brightness of the instrumental panel. See post below. However, KJF never reported back to us with the results.

True - thanks for adding this. I was thinking of that very thread when writing the lines on that problem. I'll stick to "Pending" for now, but will update it as soon as we hear from someone who can confirm that the proposed solution (or any other) actually solves the problem.

[pdxrose]

While not for your list, I think rolling out a new edition of an auto without offering most standard assessories is a problem

I am fortunate to have another vehicle to drive that is under lease for another year. So for me, its not as pressing to have mud flaps but a hood deflector and side body molding were since you can't turn back the clock (without a body shop : )

A local dealer found me a hood deflector that looks like the picture on Toyota Canada's 10 Prius. Then, I considered the sportwing side molding but because of my color, thought the smaller profile of Toyota Canada would look better (thanks to our Canadian members for input).

So after hours of research on how to import something in to the US (including a call to a trade specialist at the US Embassy in Toronto and a auto specialist at border patrole in WA), I finally got it done. Took me over a week (then ironically, UPS ground delivered in only two day for $18). I called over ten BC dealers before one agreed to sell to the states - now I see why as it was a huge hassle. Shout out to Open Road Toyota in Port Moody BC - though don't think they want any more yankees bothering them unless you drive in

Back to my original comment - don't roll out a car without standard assessories.

[stream]

Delay in answering calls with Bluetooth:
http://priuschat.com/forums/gen-iii-...one-w-nav.html

[a priori]

Originally Posted by stream

Delay in answering calls with Bluetooth:
http://priuschat.com/forums/gen-iii-...one-w-nav.html

Agreed. Please add to the first post in this Sticky.

I've experienced this delay. I also have the Cargo Net problem (but only since May 25). And, I've also documented the 5% overstatement of MPGs on the 2010's MID.

I would say that I have the color viewing problem, but I've just given up on that display. I think I'll include that as something to have fixed when I schedule my final Cargo Net fix.

Very valuable thread.

Before someone decides this thread is about complaining . . . it isn't. This is a very constructive way of directing not only PC readers to issue discussions, but also to share with Toyota which issues are either universal or widespread.