Why does my 2012 Pruis have a red light that looks like a car with a lock on it come on when car is shut off keys are out of it and car beeps
Could be a light for the trunk, door, or gas door.
Its the cars theft deterrent system. A few weeks ago, someone wrote in asking about it. They had taken it to the dealer, who had run diagnostics and told her the car was ok. They didnt tell them it was normal though, and she was scheduled for more tests! Look in the owners manual, page 107 if I recall correctly. It supposed to scare thieves, not the owners!
It's for the immobilizer system (look it up in your manual), and it's normal. The light flashes after the "Power" button has been turned off to indicate that the system is operating. The immobilizer system is designed to prevent the car from starting if a key hasn't been registered with the car's computer. As someone else wrote, the light is a warning to thieves not to bother. All of this is on page 116 of my 2012 Prius V manual.
I also just noticed the same flashing red car with lock around it and freaked out. I swear I have never seen this before. I am positive it was a subtle blinking blue light showing the car immobiliser was on. Everyone keeps telling me it's normal. The manual shows this same symbol. Am I going insane?????????
I've had my car for YEARS and never seen this lock light before. I sit in my car with it off frequently completing phone calls or catching up on email. And this is the first I've ever seen it!!! I would have seen a blinking red light before now. Why is it JUST starting to be active??
Mine too. I haven't swnn it before. The has been with me for 7 years and I just saw it today 26th Dec 2019. It keeps me, wondering and worried
Same thing..January 7 2020 had the car for two years never seen it blinking..and my car gets bumped all the time and the alarm has never gone off I didn't thing it had one...now if I push the red button on my fob u can make the alarm go off....I'd rather not have the alarm system,I climb on the car to mount my horse all the time
Today is February 18th, 2020 and mine just started blinking today too after I turned the motor. I've had my 2012 Prius since it came out and the immobilizer indicator has never blinked before today. I am OCD about these sort of things and would have noticed before. As everyone above has said, the manual says this is normal, but, why all of a sudden now. And what will happen if I'm away for extended periods of time and dont drive my car? Is there a battery impact? I should think not as cars from decades ago always had the clock flashing when turn off and that didnt impact the battery. This is driving me nuts!!
I have the same issue; the light has abruptly started up and the owner's manual is no help. Anyone know why this is happening?
I can't believe I found this thread, and that I'm not the only one! It's June 15 today, and about a week ago, the security indicator suddenly started flashing, and giving one continuous beep for several seconds, whenever I turn the car off. Also upon entering the vehicle--a 2012 Prius that I've had about two and a half years. Never saw or heard this before a week ago-- why now, right?
I got it! This nuisance of a light was driving me crazy. Every time I turned the car off I would hear a beep and that icon would flash. I unplugged everything that was charging via the cigarette lighter socket and the the light and beeping were gone! Not sure what one has to do with the other but unplugging devices from the cigarette lighter did the trick for me.
This is amazing. I saw it today. Never seen it before. Found it in the manual. Didn’t explain why I’m just noticing now. Had the car since 2009. I was still curious and googled. Found all these people saying first time seeing this!?!?
This flashing light is normal when the car is turned off. We did not notice it until recently, although I have noticed a red light flashing when I've exited and locked the car. People will see nothing if we see it often enough? From the Manual: "The key has a transponder chip that prevents the car from starting if the key has not been previously registered in the vehicle's on-board computer." My 2011 Prius Owner's Manual, on page 110, says this flashing light (lock with a car behind it) "flashes after the "POWER" switch has been turned OFF to indicate that the [security system] is operating. "The indicator light stops flashing after the "POWER" switch has been turned to ACCESSORY or ON mode to indicate that the system has been cancelled."
2013 Prius. Never seen light until today. Googled issue and found this thread. Must be a big that causes it work only intermittently.
*bug
Can confirm this is still happening to 2010 Prius. Been driving this for a couple days only, but have sat in the car for over an hour with it off. Randomly today, when I turn it off the light goes on. I also noticed the light for opening my car door stays on about 5 seconds longer after closing than before.
