2011 Prius - Windshield triples light source images

This thread has been kind of quiet lately. Where did everyone go?

I took my car to the dealer today. They have not heard of the problem before but I educated them. They inspected the windshield and spoke to Toyota corporate. Toyota is now well aware of the problem. However, there is not yet an official fix. Therefore the best the dealer could do was open a case and if a resolution comes up they will let me know.

Anyone else having different experiences?

 

I'm in the same place. The dealer was willing to replace the windshield, but after them seeing the same issue on multiple cars, we both thought it was better to raise awareness with Toyota corp and await the service bulletin. A case is being opened with Toyota to report/document the issue. I will give the dealer credit in advocating on my behalf.

So right now, I'm in a holding pattern until they identify a solution.

 

To those that have opened a case with Toyota (or had one opened on their behalf...), please also report the issue to NHTSA - it takes all of 5 minutes to do this: File a Vehicle Safety Complaint Form | Safercar.gov | NHTSA. Doing this will help get this issue resolved faster... if NHTSA starts leaning on Toyota, things will have to happen faster (e.g. Unintended Accel or 3rd Gen braking issue).

In both cases, be sure to save the case number from Toyota and NHTSA. Also be sure to get or ask for documented evidence of any and all repair attempts (by repair attempts, I mean, ANY visit to a dealer or from a Toyota rep where you attempted to get it fixed, looked at, etc). If things go a legal route for any of you anytime in the future, you'll definitely need written documentation of EVERYTHING or else you'll get walked all over.

 

Called Toyota (800-331-4331) today to confirm the situation and see if there were any updates. No updates on their end.

Will call the service mgr. at my dealership next week to check on their end.

 

This reminds me, I need to schedule my meeting at my dealer in regards to this.

 

Just to recap where we seem to be:

• This issue first came up over a year ago.
• Since then more and more people are reporting the problem.
• The problem has even been publicized in a Bay Area TV news report.
• Despite how much time has passed there is still no acknowledgement of a problem or solution from Toyota. Seems like people are just being told to wait.
• Windshields aren't getting replaced. There are also no conclusive reports yet that windshield replacement remedies the problem.

Not very encouraging to say the least.

Has anyone considered taking more drastic action such as pursuing legal action under the Lemon Law or even a class action? Sounds like there are people pursuing Lemon lawsuits, maybe they aren't allowed to talk about it publicly. Might it take a class action to get Toyota's full attention on this matter?

 

Being that I was leading a lot of the work behind this issue, I'll catch you all up later today...

 

BOOM - MEGA UPDATE

Hello again folks - here's my official catch up, update post:

First off, my car is gone. I'll get to that in a few.

To those that are wondering, "What can I do now? Toyota doesn't seem to be doing anything..." *sadface*

Well, here's what you CAN do if it bothers you that much and are NOT willing to wait for Toyota to finally fix the problem, someday.

GET A LAWYER! (THEIR COSTS ARE COVERED BY LAW - no out of pocket costs to you - may be different in your state if this isn't a Federal thing...)

Being this is a SAFETY issue, Toyota gets TWO shots to fix it (at least in California they do, your state's LEMON LAW may vary) and both need to be DOCUMENTED. Once you have this, you can get in touch with a Lemon Law lawyer (you can use mine - see below for name - the guy is AWESOME) and then file a lawsuit. Within about a month or so, Toyota may probably settle and you can return your car and get ALL costs refunded, minus a mileage deduction in the form of: Purchase Price x First Reported Issue Mileage/120,000... So, if your car was 32,000 and your mileage when you first reported the problem was 3000, the deduction would be: 800 dollars. Everything else MUST be returned to you... i.e. the full purchase price, tax, license, fees, interest, EVERYTHING (minus the mileage deduction).

How things worked out for me, as I am sure you all wonder. This is the summarized version because I could write a book on what has happened over the last year.

My problem began in March 2012. I was one of the FIRST to have the Plug-In. After trying to get this fixed a number of times (final count was 6 or 7 times), I got pissed and filed for arbitration in Nov 2012 (STUPIDLY) i.e. DONT DO THIS - GET A LAWYER. My arbitration was approved and I requested an in-person hearing. Forward to Jan 2012 - in the arbitration meeting I opted to accept a new windshield (because this was NEVER offered before) within 30 days of that date. Toyota came to the rescue (lol) on day 29 with a fresh windshield I was told, one that was redesigned or something from AGC Automotive in Japan. The windshield was rushed over here from Japan and installed. The dealer rep drove around with me for about an hour while it got dark (yet it was never very dark, just daylight/dusk). I could still see the issue in the windshield, yet we could not document it with his OLD camera. I left and as it got darker, it got far easier to see the problem. I even took pictures of the "repaired" windshield. Fast forward to the next day, I contacted a lawyer I had previously spoken to (Mark Anderson) and I opted to meet with him the next business day. I sent him everything I've collected, etc and we went ahead to file suit in Feb.

Toyota responded fairly quick to being served on this one. Their lawyer asked for our terms and we responded. They sat on it for a while until... forward to early March. The SF ABC 7 story drops and less than a week later, Toyota's lawyer is asking to settle (buyback my car). So after crunching the numbers, I accepted and arrangements were eventually made for some other organization to facilitate the buyback process. The car was finally returned to Toyota last Monday and today I received what I had coming (sorry can't say).

S0, long story short, or tl;dr: This problem is no longer my problem. Toyota, if you're reading this, I hope you fix this because the lawsuits are going to start piling up on this issue if you keep stalling. At least let people know what the hell is going on in regards to this...

 

Maybe they're taking a page out of the VW playbook. Check out VW and it's TDI high pressure fuel pump vs. the NHTSA. Talk about dragging feet.

 

Glad you are taken care of. But that still leaves all the rest of us!

Personally I like the car, so I would prefer Toyota to fix the problem rather than buy the car back from me.

Please PM me or post your lawyer's contact info. I am considering filing a class action.

 

I liked the car as well... I had the 3rd Gen/2010 and gave it up for this thing (which I totally regret now). It would be great if Toyota fixes it, however they're still going to take their time until enough people bitch and complain, as I have said for months now.

Give Mark (see below) a call and get his opinion on class-action. He's probably more up to speed on how that might fare (compared to other lawyers) based on what's been going on with Toyota and me and any others he's helping.

Lawyer Info:

Mark F. Anderson - San Francisco Consumer Fraud Lawyer :: Mark F. Anderson

2011 to 2013 Prius Windshields Triple Light Sources :: California Lemon Law Lawyer Blog

The guy is totally awesome - provided a really great experience though the whole process! He's probably the king of lemon law lawyers here in Ca.

 

Well bummer. The windshield issue is not enough of an issue for me to want to do anything like phvdriv3r has done. I won't do the lemon law unless it's really a lemon. IE Always in the shop. I can live with the windshield as I really don't pay it much attention. Plus, I've put way too much money in it with the window tint, sharkfin, center caps, proclips cell phone holder, floor liners, etc etc. I also like it way too much.

Oh well. I guess I'll call my tint guy and get the front windshield strip done. I was hoping to hear about a TSB before I did that so that I could avoid re-tinting. C'est la vie!

So phvdriv3r, what you going to get to replace your PIP?

 

It was in the shop a lot, and I definitely couldn't deal with the headaches I got at night. The fact that there was a safety thing also made it more of a priority to have it fixed or sent off. A year was more than enough time and what's irritating is that it took 9 months before Toyota even started taking this seriously.

I am currently considering the Leaf to replace the PIP - can't beat a $199/mo lease + CA rebate + HOV & 1/2 price bridge tolls. Plus I can get something better after 3 years and not worry about battery life the whole time (DCFC - no worries). I have been a 100% Japanese car guy so far, so the other options I'll consider are Honda and Toyota - sorry no Mazda, lol. I have a motorcycle now that I am using as primary transport, the car will be secondary/backup from this point forward for commute.

 

I had been out of town on business, and then on a long vacation out of the country so I didn't have time to do anything with my windshield other than email the salesperson at the dealership and advise them of the problem. I didn't get any response back from her for a few weeks, but when I filed out the Toyota satisfaction survey I mentioned it in there and then the sales person and the service manager called me because of that. I made an appointment to bring the car in tomorrow. Service manager said she hadn't heard of the probelm and was surprised given the large number of Prius taxi's they've sold. She said they would buff the windshield and see what happens. She said they could try replacing the windshield. She said first she wants to look into it. I advised her that Toyota is aware of the issue.

We'll see what happens. I'm not holding my breath based on what others have written about their experiences. I've learned to deal with the headaches during the day simply by not trying to focus on anything when I drive. I don't read any signs and that seems to help. It's not exactly safe or convenient but it keeps the pain away. At night time though driving is very difficult. The lights everywhere just make it unsafe. At some intersections it's so overwhelming that I'm afraid I'm eventually going to hit a pedestrian or cyclist. There's only so many flashing bright things I can take in at once. So I avoid driving at night, and I commute to work during the week by bicycle so my eyes get lots of rest from driving the car on the weekends.

 

i had sa miata that was very nice for 13 years.

 

Just got back from the dealer. They acknowledge they see the problem so then we went out in a new Prius v on their lot and the same problem exists. So they said there's nothing they can do other than notify toyota of the issue. So they filed some acronym of a thing with Toyota. I'll call Toyota myself later and submit a complaint.

 

Still looking for a replacement car and I am running out of Japanese options. AGC Automotive apparently has the market for windshield glass in Japan and so far each of the cars I have test driven (Leaf and Accord Plug-in) both have the problem. The Accord Plug-in had it the WORST by far, even more severe than my original windshield had. It was so bad, it really seemed like you were seeing three identical lights... the refracted light copies were almost as bright as the source.

At this point it looks like I am going to start directing my efforts at getting something done at the Federal level. The absence of DOT guidelines regarding refractive index is very concerning to me (as it should be to all consumers). Focusing on the dealers or manufactures apparently is going nowhere because ultimately the fault lies with AGC Automotive in Japan. If the DOT or NHTSA can lay down some guidelines on acceptable refractive index, we'll start seeing cars with good glass. Until the guidelines are in place, AGC and other windshield glass manufacturers will have the ability to make the windshields however they like, regardless of how much refraction is produced in each (e.g. Accord Plug-in).

Not sure how I'll proceed now... US cars are out of the question for me, and because I'd like to keep decent fuel/electrical economy euro cars are also not an option.

 

What about a VW TDI? That was my my other choice when deciding which car I would buy.

 

I would avoid VWs until they correct their transmission problems.

 

This - ...pulled thoughts out of my head.