Toyota Prius Software Problems - READ ONLY

752 messages, Last post on Sep 10, 2006 at 5:54 PM

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#81 of 752 Re: Screen Failure not a Prius-Only Problem [stevedebi] by Sylvia STAFF Apr 28, 2005 (7:17 pm)
Replying to: stevedebi (Apr 28, 2005 11:05 am) You can post a link to the Toyota web site. You just can't post links to other forums. So we don't derail this discussion - please don't respond to this message about policies or the Membership Agreement. If you want to discuss it, email me.
#82 of 752 Screen Failure by eprupis Apr 29, 2005 (8:29 am)
I brought my 04 Prius in to the dealer and they gave me a loaner car and called me in a few hours to tell me I needed a new screen and thet it would take 2-3 days to come in but I could keep the loaner or return and take my car. I kept the loaner to save a 40 mile round trip and the car was repaired in the time frame promised. It's now 10 days and the new screen is working fine. No cost except time, gas and annoyance. Eprupis Replies to this message: tempusvn (Apr 29, 2005 11:42 am)
#83 of 752 Re: Screen Failure [eprupis] by tempusvn Apr 29, 2005 (11:42 am)
Replying to: eprupis (Apr 29, 2005 8:29 am) "the new screen is working fine" I bet you now have a new feature too. See if the Info button on the Steering wheel doesn't now toggle between the two Info screens. On the Pre-TSB screens it didn't, but on the Post-TSB screens it seems to.
#84 of 752 Screen Failure by eprupis May 01, 2005 (12:24 pm)
After reading the posting of tempusvn, I pushed the info button on my replacement screen and sure enough the screen changed back and forth. It is interesting that neither the dealer or Toyota advised me of this new feature. Are there other new features? Who knows!
#86 of 752 Reluctant to post this message by ejbeck May 02, 2005 (7:14 pm)
My wife and I bought a new Prius in early March of 2005. My wife was coasting to stop (around 5 MPH) for a stop sign and when she put her foot on the brake the car started to accelerate. She came to a stop after hitting another car head on. Before she hit the car (she also sideswiped another car) she was able to look at her feet to confirm that she was indeed pressing on the brake pedal. We have contacted the Dealer and Toyota Product Liability and have been given a case number. We were told the inspection alone can take up to 30 days (it has been 3 weeks since the brake failure incident) and have had to rent a car at our expense to get us through. We live in Los Angeles and like all Prius owners, we were thrilled when we took delivery of the car. We will also notify the NHTSA about this. Replies to this message: falconone (May 03, 2005 3:37 am) stevedebi (May 03, 2005 11:29 am) loverand (Jul 27, 2005 4:56 pm) blane (Jul 27, 2005 5:10 pm) falconone (Jul 28, 2005 3:25 am) xsnerg (Sep 20, 2005 8:19 am) blane (Sep 20, 2005 3:13 pm) eprupis (Sep 21, 2005 9:41 am)
#87 of 752 Re: Reluctant to post this message [ejbeck] by falconone May 03, 2005 (3:37 am)
Replying to: ejbeck (May 02, 2005 7:14 pm) This is the first case I've read about this. Sounds like the Audi problems from 20 yrs ago. I don't doubt your wife, but it just seem very odd for that to happen. Replies to this message: stevedebi (May 03, 2005 11:29 am)
#88 of 752 Re: Toyota Prius Software Problems [stevedebi] by raj786 May 03, 2005 (10:58 am)
Replying to: stevedebi (Mar 16, 2005 1:58 pm) I had a similar problem with my Toyota Prius 04 (14250 miles) yesterday. I was driving on a Freeway (not fast just about 50mph) and all of a sudden all the warning lights came on (red exclamation mark in a triangle , engine failure with exclamation mark, another exclamation mark in a circle and some other scary signs). I immediately pulled over on the shoulder of the highway, and stopped the car. There was also only one bar left for the battery( again in scary red color).I checked the owner's manual to make sense out of those signs and it said "DO NOT drive and contact your Toyota Dealer immediately", so I did. The car was towed to the Toyota dealer and the Dealer had it for a day. The dealer had it checked and told me that the software needed to be upgraded. He told me that Toyota was aware of the problem and the upgrade was already out. I think It is a very serious problem. Now I was searching on the internet for more information on this Prius software problem, I found that there are many incidents of this type where all of a sudden the software crashes. Thanks for the information about NHTSA, I already reported the problem. Replies to this message: refields (May 16, 2005 11:23 am) sinepman (May 16, 2005 11:41 am) refields (May 16, 2005 4:22 pm) and 4 more...
#89 of 752 Re: Reluctant to post this message [falconone] by stevedebi May 03, 2005 (11:29 am)
Replying to: falconone (May 03, 2005 3:37 am) "This is the first case I've read about this. Sounds like the Audi problems from 20 yrs ago. I don't doubt your wife, but it just seem very odd for that to happen." Yes, but the Audi 20 years ago didn't have a computer program transferring power directly from an electric motor to the wheels. I suppose that (in theory) modern throttle-by-wire systems could also be subject to this kind of software problem, but those are far simpler systems - turn on the power, turn off the power. The Prius computer has to merge the two power sources together - much more difficult and complex. Complexity leads to more potential programming errors. I'm not saying this was a programming error - it could be mechanical - but it is possible.
#90 of 752 Wonder if the Prius has anti-virus? by stevedebi May 11, 2005 (12:16 pm)
A nasty thought just occurred to me. I think it would theoretically be possible for a hacker to use the Bluetooth to introduce a virus into the Prius. The BT is used for communications, but it must have some access to the central computer system. And the BT protocol has sufficient range to allow access. Of course, the likelyhood of someone finding out how the Prius is programmed is remote, but I doubt that Toyota put in any protections against virus programs... Highly unlikely, but an interesting if troubling concept... Replies to this message: sinepman (May 12, 2005 9:08 am) stevedebi (May 12, 2005 11:37 am)