Three problems related to front air bag sensor control have been reported for the 2010 Toyota Prius. The most recently reported issues are listed below.
The passenger air bag sensor is faulty. I see this problem exists in the recall history of this make and model. But I don't see a current recall for it now. What should I do?.
Passenger airbag doesn't go on 50% of the time. I tried to remedy it today at dealership, so I listed today as incident date. . But really been happening since October 2013 when I bought it used. The air bag reads: passenger airbag off when a person, greater than 100lbs sits in the front seat. I have photographic evidence of a person sitting in front seat, with passenger airbag off, yet dealer cannot fix it because they couldn't reproduce the problem, or could get a malfunction code. I stated, it only happens approx 50% of the time. I only took one photo one day last week. . . I offered I could have 20 photos! of a person in the front seat with the sign passenger airbag off, but unless the dealer can recreate it and it warrants a malfunction code, then they can fix it. I am frustrated beyond belief, as I have proof the air bag sensor is not working correctly, and yet the dealer and Toyota cannot fix it. The service manager stated he would "open a case" with Toyota, and I did the same as well. I also told Toyota I was entering this into the NHTSA datatbase. I pray nothing ever happens to the right front side of the car. . . Because the airbag is malfunctioning and even with my premier extended warranty, Toyota will not fix it.
Our car was involved in an accident on July 5, 2012 at around 9:30 am. Accident occurred on little road going north after junction of ridge road and before embassy blvd. Car was in the central lane in a zone rated for 45miles. It was going with the traffic at around 40 miles. Suddenly a large bird, probably a crain, that walked on the road and all vehicles slowed down to 15-20 miles speed to save the bird. The bird was saved but the car behind chevy silverado truck did not slow down and hit our car rear end at full speed. Only two cars were involved in the accident and no one was badly injured. Driver of our car was hurt by probably bumping her head with steering, she had a cut on chin, and scratch mark on her neck front, and she complaint of pain in both legs and neck. Her face was swollen and became black and blue in 24 hours. Our complaint is: 1. None of the six air bags opened to protect driver or any passenger to prevent injury from impact. Vehicle inspector confirmed that their are no sensors in back end bumper. It may be good idea to have such sensor in the back at least for the driver seat because any impact affects the driver. 2. Lacerations on the neck probably resulted from seat belt. Wound were not deep. However lack of adjustable fixed end of the seat belt makes belt cut on the neck, especially to a driver with height of around 5 feet and in high impact accident can severe main blood vessel in the neck. Possibility of such injury can be minimized by making a) seat belt adjustable at the point of fixation on the body of the car and b) making wide, soft and sliding shoulder pad on the belt.