Toyota Prius Complaints (2005)

1,051 consumer complaints on file.

#10505358April 2, 2013
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
LAST SEPTEMBER WE NOTICED THE DRIVER SIDE HEADLIGHT WAS OUT. WHEN WE TURNED THE CAR OFF AND ON, THE LAMP CAME BACK ON. WE TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER WHO COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. WE HAVE SEEN A LOT OF SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ON THE INTERNET WITH NO RESOLUTION. OTHERS HAVE SPEND BIG $$$ TO FIX, HOWEVER AFTER SPENDING THE MONEY, THE PROBLEM REMAINED. PLEASE ADVISE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10503116March 15, 2013
POWER TRAIN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE ATTEMPTED TO SHIFT INTO PARK BUT THE GEAR SHIFTER FAILED. THE CONTACT HAD TO TURN THE VEHICLE OFF IN ORDER TO SHIFT INTO PARK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND THEY STATED THAT THE GEAR SHIFT UNIT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10502602March 13, 2013
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE MULTI INFORMATION DISPLAY NO LONGER SHOWS THE VEHICLE SPEED AND OTHER SPECS SUCH AS FUEL GAUGE, WARNING LIGHTS, AND SUCH. THE VEHICLE SOMETIMES COULDN'T TURN OFF, AND IT WOULD REQUIRE ME TO PRESS AND HOLD THE POWER BUTTON FOR MORE THAN 5 SECONDS IN ORDER TO TURN OFF THE VEHICLE. DRIVING IS QUITE DANGEROUS AS I NOT EVEN SURE IF THE CAR IS EVEN "READY" OR NOT, AND WHAT GEAR (D, N, R) IT IS IN. TOYOTA IS CHARGING ME 400 FOR THE REPAIR EVEN THOUGH THE SERVICE BULLETIN STATED THAT THIS IS CAUSE THE MANUFACTURER DEFECT ON THE CIRCUIT BOARD. MY SISTER WHO OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS (16X,XXX) DID RECEIVE THE NOTICE OF RECALL FOR THE MULTI INFORMATION DISPLAY, BUT I DIDN'T ANY NOTICE AT ALL. THIS REPAIR SHOULD BE COVERED BY TOYOTA. THIS IS OUTRAGEOUS! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10502260March 10, 2013
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
DASHBOARD INFORMATION SUDDENLY TURNS BLANK -- NO FUEL LEVEL, SPEED, ETC. , BUT HEADLIGHTS WORK (ALTHOUGH NO INDICATOR ON INSTRUMENT PANEL) AS WELL AS TURN SIGNALS, AIR-CONDITIONING, AND RADIO. I DROVE STRAIGHT TO THE DEALER THINKING THAT IT WAS PROBABLY A FUSE. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT REPORTS THAT ALTHOUGH THEY HAVE RARELY SEEN THIS, IT'S A PROBLEM WITH A COMPONENT BEHIND THE POWER SWITCH. THE PART IS IN SHORT SUPPLY AND MAY TAKE AS LONG AS FOUR WEEKS TO ARRIVE. THEY SAID IT WOULD BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY AND THE DEALER WILL BE PAYING FOR THE COST OF A RENTAL CAR IN THE INTERIM. THE SERVICE FROM THE DEALER IS SUPERIOR AND...I LOVE MY PRIUS.. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10502148March 8, 2013
ENGINE
THE THREE WAY COOLANT CONTROL VALVE FAILED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10501889March 6, 2013
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
THE HEADLIGHT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE JUST TURNS OFF FOR NO REASON. I SAW IT OFF WHEN STOPPED. IT HAS DONE IT SEVERAL TIMES AFTER ABOUT A HALF HOUR OF DRIVING. IT GOES BACK ON, BUT I KEEP THE FOG LIGHTS ON JUST IN CASE IT HAPPENS IN THE DARK. I THINK IT COULD EFFECT BOTH HEAD LIGHTS AND CAUSE A SAFETY PROBLEM AT NIGHT. I DRIVE ON UNLIT STREETS AT NIGHT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10501333March 5, 2013
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
HEADLIGHTS WILL RANDOMLY TURN OFF AND ON. SOMETIMES THE LEFT HEADLIGHT WILL GO OUT, SOMETIMES THE RIGHT, AND OCCASIONALLY BOTH LIGHTS WILL GO OUT AT THE SAME TIME. THE HID BULBS ARE NOT TO BLAME. THESE BULBS, WHEN THEY DO GO OUT, THEY BURN OUT AND NEVER COME BACK. THIS ISSUE IS A CONTROL PROBLEM/DESIGN FLAW OF THE VEHICLE. IF THE NHTSA WOULD LOOK IN ITS DATABASE IT WOULD SEE THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED INCIDENT. IF YOU ARE WAITING ON A BODY COUNT YOU WILL NOT HAVE TO WAIT LONG. MY WIFE WAS DRIVING ON HWY 66 AT 7:30 PM ON MARCH 4TH WHEN A LOOSE COW ENTERED THE ROAD, THEN THE LIGHTS BLINKED OUT. A 2,000 LBS ANIMAL AND A 2,600 LBS CAR DO NOT INTERACT WELL TOGETHER. I SUSPECT YOU WILL KEEP IGNORING THIS AND BE A PATSY FOR TOYOTA. I PLAN ON FILING A SMALL CLAIMS AGAINST TOYOTA AND, IF I CAN FIND A LAWYER WHO WILL TAKE YOU ON, SUE THE NHTSA FOR NOT DOING THEIR JOBS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10500627February 27, 2013
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
DRIVER SIDE HEADLIGHT KEEPS SHUTTING OFF. IF I TURN OFF LIGHTS AND TURN BACK ON, IT COMES BACK ON FOR A LITTLE WHILE. SHUTS OFF ABOUT 6 TIMES IN 25 MILES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10499870February 24, 2013
TIRES, TIRES:SIDEWALL
SEQUENTIAL FAILURE OF 4 GOODYEAR ASSURANCE TIRES PLACED ON VEHICLE IN OCTOBER 2004. SINCE OCTOBER OF 2012 THE TIRES HAVE BEEN BLOWING OUT AT THE RATE OF ONE EVERY 6-8 WEEKS. I PLAN ON REPLACING THE ONE REMAINING OF THOSE 2004 TIRES BEFORE IT IMPLODES ALSO WHILE DRIVING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10499804February 23, 2013
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
THE DRIVER SIDE HEADLIGHT INTERMITTENTLY GOES ON AND OFF WITHOUT WARNING. THIS BEGAN OVER A YEAR AGO, BUT WE CANNOT NAME THE SPECIFIC TIME. WE INITIALLY THOUGHT IT WAS JUST A LIGHT BULB, HOWEVER, WE LEARNED THAT IT CAN BE REACTIVATED BY BRIEFLY TURNING THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH OFF AND ON. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD IF DRIVING AT NIGHT. IT CAN HAPPEN SEVERAL TIMES DURING ONE TRIP OR NOT AT ALL. WE HAVE TAKEN IT TO A FEW TOYOTA DEALERS AND THEY HAVE INDICATED THAT IT COULD COST 400-800+ TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM, WHICH WE BELIEVE TO BE EXCESSIVE SO FOR NOW WE ARE TOLERATING THE PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10499654February 22, 2013
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
WHILE DRIVING, BOTH HEADLIGHTS WOULD GO OFF. THEY WOULD COME BACK ON WHEN TURNING THE LIGHT CONTROL OFF THEN BACK ON. A FEW MINUTES LATER, THEY WOULD GO OFF AGAIN AND TO GET THEM BACK ON I HAD TO SWITCH OFF/ THEN BACK ON. IT DID NOT SEEM TO BE DEPENDENT ON FAST I WAS DRIVING OR IF A BUMP IN THE ROAD CAUSED THE HEADLIGHTS TO GO OFF. WE TOOK CAR TO DEALER AND WAS TOLD EVERYTHING CHECKED OUT AND BOTH HEADLIGHT BULBS NEEDED TO BE REPLACE @ $175.00 EACH FOR PARTS PLUS LABOR TO DROP FONT BUMPER SO HEADLIGHTS COULD BE INSTALLED. TOTAL BILL CAME TO $485.00 TO REPLACE TWO HEADLIGHTS THAT WORKED INTERMITTENTLY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10499627February 21, 2013
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
I WAS DRIVING ON THIS PARTICULAR DAY AND BOTH HEADLIGHTS JUST SHUT OFF. I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY GOING ABOUT 70 MILES AN HOUR. I SLOWED DOWN AS MUCH AS I COULD. ONLY ONE CAR WAS BEHIND ME AND BY CHANCE HE HAD SEEN MY LIGHTS GO OFF AND STARTED TO FLICKER HIS LIGHTS AS HE PASSED ME. LUCKILY THEIR WASN'T ANY CARS ON SITE BECAUSE IT WAS ABOUT 2 AM IN THE MORNING AND THEIR WASN'T ANY TRAFFIC. I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER UNDER A HIGHWAY STREET LAMP ON THE SHOULDER. I TURNED OFF THE LIGHT AND BACK ON REPEATEDLY UNTIL ABOUT THE 7TH OR 9TH TRY THEY CAME BACK ON. SINCE THEN I HAVE INTERMITTENT LIGHT TURNING OFF ON EITHER HEADLIGHT AT RANDOM TIME. THE DIMMING CAN GO FOR WEEKS WITHOUT SHUTTING OFF AND CAN ALSO GO ON FOR A FULL WEEK WITH THE HEADLIGHTS DAILY. I KNOW THIS IS HAZARD BECAUSE THE TIME WHERE BOTH HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT IT COULD HAVE ENDED IN A DIFFERENT WAY OTHER THEN PULLING OVER SAFELY ON THE SHOULDER. ALSO THE INTERMITTENT LIGHT TURNING OFF OF THE LIGHTS IS ALSO A HAZARD BECAUSE IT DECREASES VISIBILITY BOTH FOR ME TO SEE THE ROAD AND OTHER DRIVERS TO SEE ME. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10499628February 21, 2013
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
THE BRAKE LIGHT WENT OUT ON THE DRIVER SIDE. LUCKILY I WAS PULLED OVER BY A POLICE OFFICER WHO WAS COURTEOUS TO LET ME KNOW THE REAR DRIVER-SIDE BRAKE LIGHT WAS OUT. I BELIEVE THIS A HAZARD THAT TOYOTA HAS FAILED TO CORRECT BECAUSE THE LED BRAKE LIGHT BULBS ARE NOT REPAIRABLE/REPLACEABLE, AN SINCE THE LED HAD FAILED AND THE DRIVER-SIDE TAILLIGHT ASSEMBLY IS NOW USELESS AND NON-FUNCTIONAL. I WENT TO THE TOYOTA DEALER AND THEY QUOTED MY 800 DOLLARS TO REPLACE THE TAILLIGHT INCLUDING LABOR. I DON'T LIKE HOW THE LED BRAKE LIGHT IS INTENDED FOR OVER 100,000 HOURS OF LIFE BUT HADN'T LASTED MORE THAN FOUR AND A HALF YEARS OF USE. AND THE WORST PART OF THE SITUATION IS THAT THE LED BULBS ARE NOT REPLACEABLE/REPAIRABLE AND THUS A GREATER DIFFICULTY TO REPAIR AND BRING BACK TO SAFE OPERATING CONDITION. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10497683February 10, 2013
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
FRONT RIGHT HEADLIGHT IS INTERMITTENTLY GOING OUT. I CAN GET IT TO GO BACK ON IF I TURN SWITCH OFF AND BACK ON BUT IT MAY FAIL AGAIN WITHIN 10 OR 80 MINUTES. REPLACED BULB, BUT STILL HAVE PROBLEM. DEALER SAID IT WAS THE BULB BUT REPLACING IT HAS NOT FIXED THE ISSUE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10495921February 6, 2013
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL, STEERING
PETITION FOR AN INVESTIGATION INTO DEFECT CONDITIONS IN UPPER IMMEDIATE STEERING EXTENSION SHAFT #2 MANUFACTURING DEFECT IN THE 2004-2009 TOYOTA PRIUS VEHICLES W/RESPECT TO RECALL 12V-537. *SMD AN INSPECTION REVEALED THAT THE CURRENT LOSS OF STEERING ISSUE WAS CAUSED BY A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF THE UPPER STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT. THE UPPER STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT WAS DECOUPLED FROM THE ELECTRIC- POWER- ASSIST COLUMN OUTPUT SPLINE. A CAREFUL EXAMINATION OF THE DECOUPLED COMPONENTS REVEALED THAT FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME, THE UPPER STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT HAD NOT BEEN PROPERLY INSTALLED ON THE SPLINE OUTPUT OF THE POWER ASSIST COLUMN. THIS ALLOWED A METALLURGICAL FAILURE ON THE INTERIOR OF THE UPPER STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT, WHICH CONSEQUENTLY ALLOWED SEPARATION OF THAT SHAFT FROM THE ELECTRICAL STEERING POWER ASSIST COLUMN. AN EXAMINATION OF THE SHAFT SPLINE SHOWED A LONG TERM DETERIORATION OF THE UPPER INTERMEDIATE SHAFT #2 INSIDE SPLINE AS EVIDENCE BY METALLURGICAL SHARDS OF DETERIORATED SPLINE METAL STILL RESIDING IN THE UPPER INTERMEDIATE SHAFT CAVITY. ALSO, THE CRUISE CONTROL WOULD CANCEL AND NOT RE-ENGAGE, THEN THERE WERE TIMES, WHERE THE CRUISE CONTROL WOULD NOT DIS-ENGAGE AT ALL. THE VEHICLE WOULD DRIFT OFF COURSE WHENEVER THE CONSUMER TOOK HIS EYES OFF THE ROAD, FOR EVEN A MOMENT. THE CONSUMER WOULD HAVE TO STEER THE VEHICLE CONSTANTLY OR IT WOULD DRIFT INTO ANOTHER LANE. APPARENTLY, IT WAS DUE TO A COMPUTER ALGORITHM THAT WOULD ATTEMPT TO CORRECT FOR WIND AND ROAD SURFACE ANOMALIES.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10496047February 1, 2013
POWER TRAIN, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I STARTED UP THE CAR THIS MORNING, PUT IT INTO REVERSE, AND A SECOND OR TWO LATER, IT SHIFTED ITSELF INTO NEUTRAL. THE SHIFT LEVER FELT LIKE THERE WAS MORE RESISTANCE TO IT THAN USUAL. THIS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES AND ALSO HAPPENED WHEN I TRIED TO PUT THE CAR INTO DRIVE. AFTER ABOUT 15 MINUTES OF TURNING THE CAR ON AND OFF AND TRYING TO SHIFT SEVERAL TIMES, THE CAR FINALLY STAYED IN GEAR. THE PROBLEM IS THE SAME AS DESCRIBED IN THIS THREAD: HTTP://WWW.TOYOTANATION.COM/FORUM/62-PRIUS-FORUM/343977-08-PRIUS-WONT-STAY-GEAR.HTML, WITH THE ONLY DIFFERENCE BEING THAT IT WAS A RATHER COLD DAY (0 DEGREES F) WHILE MOST OF THE POSTS IN THE THREAD MENTION THE PROBLEM OCCURRING ON A HOT DAY. WHILE THE MALFUNCTION ON MY CAR WAS PROBLEMATIC BUT NOT LIFE-THREATENING, I AM CONCERNED THAT THE CAR COULD SHIFT ITSELF INTO NEUTRAL WHILE I AM DRIVING (AS DESCRIBED BY SEVERAL POSTERS IN THE ABOVE THREAD), WHICH WOULD BE A DANGEROUS SITUATION. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10494821January 26, 2013
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
THE HEADLIGHTS STARTED GOING ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY. BOTH BULBS WERE REPLACED RECENTLY. THE CAR HAS AN HID HEADLIGHT SYSTEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10494421January 23, 2013
POWER TRAIN
THE ELECTRONIC(?) SHIFT MECHANISM IN THE CAR MALFUNCTIONS/DOES NOT STAY ENGAGED IN TEMPERATURES APPROXIMATELY 28 DEGREES FAREHEIT & BELOW WHEN CAR HAS SAT IDLE FOR PERIODS OF TIME. THE NIGHT OF THIS INCIDENT I WAS RETURNING FROM A BUSINESS TRIP WHERE MY CAR HAD BEEN SITTING OUT IN THE WEATHER FOR APPROXIMATELY 28-30 HOURS. THE TEMPERATURE THIS PARTICULAR DAY WAS 9 DEGREES; HOWEVER, I HAVE HAD THIS HAPPEN IN THE PAST WITH TEMPERATURES RANGING INTO THE MID TO UPPER 20'S. {DUE TO OUR MILD WINTER LAST YEAR I DON'T RECALL IT HAPPENING MUCH IF AT ALL-- IT DID HOWEVER OCCUR THE WINTER YEAR PRIOR [2010-2011] AND I REPORTED IT TO MY TOYOTA DEALER. THEY LOOKED AT ME AND TOLD ME THEY WERE UNAWARE OF ANY SUCH PROBLEM.} WHEN I POSITION MY SHIFT SELECT FROM THE CENTER POSITION & SELECT EITHER DRIVE OR REVERSE, THE CAR TRANSMISSION DISENGAGES UPON PRESSING THE GAS. THE OTHER NIGHT I HAD PREVIOUSLY MENTIONED I HAD TO PHYSICALLY HOLD THE DRIVE SELECTOR IN THE "D"/DRIVE POSITION FOR 28 MINUTES BEFORE THE SELECTOR REMAINED ENGAGED. (IN PAST INCIDENTS I HAVE HAD TO HOLD THE SELECTOR IN POSITION FROM 5-10 MINUTES- THE PROBLEM SEEMS TO GET WORSE IN RLATION TO LOWER TEMPS. ARE THERE ANY OTHER REPORTS OF SUCH A PROBLEM? *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10493830January 22, 2013
SERVICE BRAKES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, A GRINDING NOISE WAS HEARD FROM THE REAR END OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING WHERE THE TECHNICIANS ADVISED THAT THE FAILURE WAS UNDETECTED. THE TECHNICIAN ALSO STATED THAT THERE WERE OTHER VEHICLES WITH THE SAME FAILURE AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS WORKING ON A REMEDY. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS FOR THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALLS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 2,122.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10493535January 20, 2013
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, UNKNOWN OR OTHER, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
SINCE ABOUT THE FALL OF LAST YEAR OR SO, WE'VE BEEN NOTICING THAT THE HEADLIGHTS HAVE BEEN GOING OFF INTERMITTENTLY. THE RIGHT WENT OUT AND THEN CAME BACK ON. THEN ANOTHER TIME THE LEFT WENT OUT AND CAME BACK ON. I'VE READ ABOUT THIS OCCURRING ON MANY OTHER PRIUS' AND THAT THERE WAS A CLASS ACTION SUIT? ANYWAY, I NEED TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO GET THIS FIXED AS IT IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

← Back to Toyota Prius