Toyota Prius Complaints (2005)

1,051 consumer complaints on file.

#10492214January 11, 2013
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
THE HEADLAMPS REPEATEDLY BURN OUT, WHICH REPAIR PEOPLE HAVE SAID INDICATES AN UNDERLYING ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. I NOW HAVE TO REPLACE ONE OF THE HEADLAMPS FOR THE FOURTH TIME IN JUST OVER A YEAR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10492017January 9, 2013
SERVICE BRAKES
THIS COMPLAINT RELATED TO THE BRAKE SYSTEM. EVER SINCE THE CAR WAS TAKEN OF THE DEALER SHIP, THE BRAKES ACT IN A SUDDEN, JERKY MANNER APPROACHING A STOP. THE BRAKES FUNCTION NORMALLY AT NORMAL SPEEDS, BUT AS I APPROACH A STOP, IT FEELS LIKE (FOR COMPARISON PURPOSES)AS IF YOU WHERE PULLING THE EMERGENCY BRAKE ON A NORMAL CAR WHILE THE CAR IS MOVING SLOW. ALONG WITH THIS, WHEN I PRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL HARD A NOISE IS GENERATED FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE ABOVE DESCRIPTION HAS BEEN EXHIBITED EVER SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR BRAND NEW AT TRIANGLE DEALER AT KENNEDY AVE (CARR#2) IN SAN JUAN, PUERTO RICO. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP APPROXIMATELY ON JAN 28, 2005 (I BOUGHT IT OCTOBER 16, 2004) TO HAVE THE BREAKS CHECKED AND THE SERVICE EMPLOYEE TOLD ME THAT BECAUSE IT WAS A HYBRID CAR, THAT WAS NORMAL BEHAVIOR. FOR THE TIME BEING THE CAR ALWAYS EXHIBITED THE BRAKE STRANGE BEHAVIORS AND RECENTLY A BRAKE LIGHT LIT ON FOR THE ABS AND BRAKE WARNING LIGHT. MY CAR IS NOW 130,000MILES AND OVER 8 YEARS. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY INDICATED THAT THE BRAKE ACTUATOR ASSEMBLY WAS DAMAGED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $2500. IM SURE THIS IS A DESIGN ISSUE THAT TOYOTA HAS NOT CLAIMED RESPONSIBILITY FOR. IM SURE THAT DUE TO THE EXPENSE OF IT. I JUST WANT MY EXPERIENCE TO BE ACCOUNTED FOR. THANKS! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10491631January 7, 2013
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, POWER TRAIN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. IN ORDER TO START THE VEHICLE, THE EMERGENCY BRAKE HAD TO BE ENGAGED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS FAILED INTERMITTENTLY BUT WOULD FUNCTION NORMALLY AFTER ATTEMPTING TO ACTIVATED THEM SEVERAL TIMES. IN ADDITION WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE TRANSMISSION WOULD ERRONEOUSLY SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL AND ALL OF THE CONTACT'S ATTEMPTS TO SHIFT BACK INTO DRIVE FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 56,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 57,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10490729January 2, 2013
HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM: INVERTER
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS FOUND THAT THE INVERTER CONVERTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT REPAIRS COMPLETED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 12V536000 (HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM: INVERTER) MAY HAVE CAUSED THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND OFFERED TO PAY FOR A PORTION OF THE REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 116,000...UPDATED 01/14/13 *BF..UPDATED 01/16/2013 *BF UPDATED 1/18/2013 *JS THE CONSUMER IS STILL WITHOUT THE VEHICLE. UPDATED 1/28/2013*JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10490308December 28, 2012
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
I THOUGHT MY HEADLIGHTS NEEDED TO BE ADJUSTED, SO I TOOK THE CAR TO HAVE IT DONE. THE SHOP TOLD ME THAT THE PROBLEM COULDN'T BE FIXED BECAUSE IT WAS THE AUTO LEVELING SENSOR IN THE REAR OF THE CAR. AFTER A FEW MORE WEEKS OF DRIVING LIKE THAT, A WARNING LIGHT CAME ON THE DASH BOARD AND THE DISPLAY IN THE CONSOLE. I ORDERED THE PART AND HAD IT REPLACED. IT SOME WHAT RESOLVED THE PROBLEM, BUT THE LIGHTS STILL NEED ADJUSTING. THEY ARE STILL NOT POINTING HIGH ENOUGH TO LIGHT THE ROAD APPROPRIATELY. THE SHOP SAYS THAT THERE IS NO WAY TO ADJUST THE LIGHTS FURTHER THAN WHAT THE SENSOR DOES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10490304December 28, 2012
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
MY PASSENGERS SIDE HEAD LIGHT WENT OUT. IT CAME BACK ON WHEN I TURNED THE SWITCH OFF AND BACK ON AGAIN. IT HAS HAPPENED THREE MORE TIMES SINCE, TWO OF WHICH WERE THIS MORNING ALONE (12/28/2012). *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10490198December 27, 2012
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
HEADLIGHTS TURN OFF UNEXPECTEDLY. TURNING SWITCH OFF AND THEN BACK ON TEMPORARILY RESETS AND THEY WORK FOR 5 TO 10 MINUTES THEN GO OFF AGAIN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10489423December 20, 2012
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE HEADLIGHTS INTERMITTENTLY FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHERE THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10489425December 20, 2012
STEERING
WE BOUGHT OUR TOYOTA PRIUS ON JUNE 2006. RECENTLY MY WIFE, WHO IS THE PRINCIPLE DRIVER, COMPLAINED TO ME THAT THERE WAS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE STEERING OF THE PRIUS. I DROVE IT AND NOTICED THAT WHEN I MADE A TURN EITHER LEFT OR RIGHT THAT I HEARD AND FELT A CLANKING SOUND COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. I ALSO NOTICED THAT WITH THE ENGINE OFF AND THE CAR NOT IN MOTION, THERE WAS QUITE A BIT OF MOVEMENT FROM THE STEERING WHEEL WHENEVER I WOULD PUSH IT UP AND DOWN. I TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC AND HE SAID THAT THE STEERING SHAFT ASSEMBLY WAS DEFECTIVE. HE REPLACED THE STEERING SHAFT ASSY PART # 45260-47052. I AM NOT SURE WHETHER THIS HAS BEEN A RECALL ITEM OR NOT BUT IF IT WAS I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED OR MADE AWARE BY TOYOTA. IT COST US $371 PARTS AND LABOR FOR THIS REPAIR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10489211December 18, 2012
UNKNOWN OR OTHER, WHEELS
MY PRIUS EXHIBITS REMOVAL OF ELECTRICAL AND ENGINE POWER TO THE FRONT WHEELS DURING ACCELERATION WHEN TURNING SHARPLY RIGHT OR LEFT ON A SLIPPERY SURFACE. THIS OCCURS AS SOON AS ONE OF THE FRONT WHEEL SLIPS. ORDINARILY THIS IS ONLY A MINOR AGGRAVATION, AND EASING ON THE THROTTLE USUALLY RESTORES POWER BUT IN ICING CONDITIONS IT'S DANGEROUS. THERE ARE CONDITIONS WHERE I COULD NOT MOVE THE CAR WHEN CROSSING A SMALL BERM OF SNOW (3 INCHES HIGH WHERE ONE WHEEL HAD SIGNIFICANTLY LESS TRACTION THAN THE OTHER. I HAD TO BE PUSHED OVER IT. IT APPEARS TO BE A SOFTWARE ISSUE, BUT MY LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER CLAIMS THEY NEVER HEARD OF IT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10489100December 18, 2012
POWER TRAIN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY SHIFTED FROM DRIVE TO NEUTRAL. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE BUT DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALLS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 148,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 150,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10488865December 15, 2012
POWER TRAIN, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE APPROX 32 DEGREES F. GEAR SHIFTER ON DASHBOARD WOULD NOT ELECTRICALLY SEAL-IN OR STAY IN POSITION AFTER GOING INTO REVERSE, THE FIRST TIME. BACKED CAR OUT OF DRIVEWAY AND SHIFTED INTO DRIVE, IT IMMEDIATELY WENT BACK INTO NEUTRAL POSITION AND WOULD NOT STAY IN DRIVE - ELECTRICALLY. THE ONLY WAY TO KEEP THE CAR IN GEAR WAS TO PHYSICALLY HOLD THE GEAR SHIFTER INTO DESIRED POSITION. PHYSICALLY HELD SHIFTER IN DRIVE POSITION AND PULLED BACK INTO DRIVEWAY. ONCE IN DRIVEWAY, TESTED SHIFTER AND FOUND IT WOULD NOT GO INTO ANY GEAR AND "STAY". AFTER WORK, TEMPERATURE WAS 60 DEGREES F AND SHIFTER THEN FUNCTIONED PROPERLY. DROVE TO TOYOTA DEALER AND LEFT CAR. THEY STATED A TECHNICAL BULLETIN WAS ISSUED BY TOYOTA ON THIS ITEM AS DESCRIBED. TICKET # 490621; PART NUMBER 33560-47023 "LEVER ASSY. SHIFT, WAS REPLACED. PART COST 164.93 AND LABOR WAS 416.14 FOR A SUBTOTAL OF 581.07 PLUS TAX OF 34.33 FOR GRAND TOTAL OF 615.40 USD. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A COLD WEATHER AND AGE RELATED ISSUE. PLUS, THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TOYOTA ELECTRICAL SYSTEM DESIGN FLAW ISSUE I'VE ENCOUNTERED, BUT THE FIRST RELATED TO DRIVABILITY AND POSSIBLE SAFETY ISSUE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10487160December 3, 2012
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
HEADLIGHTS (ONE OR BOTH) WILL RANDOMLY TURN OFF WHILE DRIVING. TURNING THE SWITCH OFF AND BACK ON WILL TURN THEM BACK ON. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10486758December 2, 2012
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
WHILE DRIVING AT 6:35 PM IN PASO ROBLES ON HWY 46 BOTH HEADLIGHTS WENT DARK. I ROTATED THE LIGHT SWITCH SEVERAL TIMES, THEN BOTH HEADLIGHTS LIT. WITHIN 5 MINUTES, IT HAPPENED AGAIN. 2 MINUTES LATER, IT HAPPENED AGAIN. THEREAFTER IT HAPPENED ABOUT EVERY 2 MINUTES UNTIL WE GOT TO THE HOSPITAL EMERGENCY ROOM TO WHICH I WAS TAKING MY WIFE. SHE DIED THERE ABOUT 10PM OF A HEART ATTACK. AT ABOUT 2 A.M. ON MY RETURN HOME WITH MY DAUGHTER, THE SAME THING HAPPENED WITHIN 5 MINUTES. WHEN IT HAPPENED NEXT IN ABOUT 2 MINUTES, I FLIPPED THE LIGHT SWITCH AND ONE HEADLIGHT LIT. DESPITE FLIPPING THE SWITCH SEVERAL TIMES, ONLY ONE LIGHT (THE LEFT ONE) LIT. HAVE NOT USED THE CAR AT NIGHT SINCE THEN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10486268November 27, 2012
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
FRONT RIGHT LIGHT FLICKERS OFF/ON OCCASIONALLY. TOYOTA SAYS I NEED TO REPLACE BOTH BULBS AT APPROXIMATELY $540 IN TOTAL COST. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10485951November 25, 2012
SERVICE BRAKES
WHILE CRUISING AT 35 MPH, EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ONSET OF HIGH PITCH NOISE ALONG WITH THE RED WARNING LIGHT AND ABS LIGHT BEING ILLUMINATED ON CONSOLE. WHEN ATTEMPTING TO BRAKE, NOTICED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL FELT VERY STIFF AND NOT DEPRESS. FORTUNATELY, THERE WERE NO CARS IN FRONT, AND WAS ABLE TO GRADUALLY STOP THE VEHICLE BY PRESSING ON THE BRAKE AS HARD AS POSSIBLE. THE BRAKING DISTANCE FELT A LOT FURTHER THAN USUAL. AFTER COMING TO A STOP AND WAITING A FEW MINUTES, STOPPED AND RESTARTED THE ENGINE. THE HIGH PITCH NOISE STOPPED ONCE THE ENGINE TURNED OFF. ONCE THE ENGINE WAS BACK ON, THE BRAKE PEDAL FELT NORMAL AGAIN, AND WHILE THE ABS LIGHT WAS NO LONGER ILLUMINATED, THE RED WARNING LIGHT REMAINED ON. TOOK THE CAR IMMEDIATELY TO THE TOYOTA DEALER WHERE MY CAR IS NORMALLY SERVICED, AND THEY INDICATED THERE WAS A FAULT CODE C1300 AND RECOMMENDED REPLACING THE SKID CONTROL ECU (PART# 89540-47130). LOOKS LIKE THERE IS AT LEAST ONE OTHER INCIDENT REPORTED ON THIS (ODI ID# 10320472). THIS SEEMS TO BE A MAJOR SAFETY HAZARD DUE TO POTENTIAL LOSS OF BRAKING POWER IF THIS COMPONENT GOES OUT. REQUEST INVESTIGATION AND SAFETY RECALL AS APPROPRIATE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10485987November 25, 2012
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
I BELIEVE THERE IS A SERIOUS AND UNDISCLOSED FLAW IN THE TOYOTA PRIUS HID HEADLAMP SYSTEM. I HAVE NOTICED THE HEADLAMPS WILL EXTINGUISH INDIVIDUALLY AND UNEXPECTED IN AN INTERMITTENT MANNER, CAUSING A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY HAZARD TO DRIVER AS WELL AS OTHER VEHICLES. I HAVE CONTACTED TOYOTA ABOUT THIS, AND ALTHOUGH THEY HAVE EXTENDED THE WARRANTY WITH THIS OBVIOUSLY FLAWED DESIGN, THEY REFUSE TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE DESIGN AND REPAIR THE SYSTEMS. I HAVE OWNED SEVERAL OTHER VEHICLES WITH HID HEADLAMPS, NEVER HAVE THEY BECOME INTERMITTENT, WHICH IS INDICATIVE OF A DESIGN FLAW OR A SERIOUS MATERIALS PROBLEM WITH THE IGNITER SYSTEM FOR THE HID HEADLAMPS. I BELIEVE THAT TOYOTA SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE AND RECALL THE HID HEADLAMP SYSTEMS AND TAKE THE NECESSARY CORRECTIVE ACTION. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10485180November 19, 2012
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND EVERY WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT ALLOWED THE VEHICLE TO SIT FOR A FEW MINUTES. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AS IT FUNCTIONED NORMALLY FOR SEVERAL MINUTES BEFORE THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION BUT THEY COULD NOT DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED BUT PROVIDED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 97,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10484751November 15, 2012
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
LEFT SIDE HEADLIGHT QUITS WORKING THEN YOU HAVE TO TURN OFF HEADLIGHTS AND TURN BACK ON THEN IT COMES BACK ON. AFTER A WHILE IT GOES OUT AGAIN THEN SAME PROCEDURE HAS TO BE REPEATED AGAIN. I BELIEVE THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND NEEDS TO BE RECALLED. WHAT IF THE LIGHT ON THE RIGHT SIDE DECIDES TO GO OUT ESPECIALLY IN THE DARK WHERE THERE IS NO STREET LIGHTS? I ASK YOU NICELY PLEASE RECALL THE CAR AND FIX THE ISSUE WHAT MAY BE CAUSING IT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10484757November 15, 2012
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TURNING RIGHT AT 35MPH THE STEERING BECAME HARD TO CONTROL WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE SWERVED TO THE LEFT. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND CRASHED INTO A TREE. THE CONTACT SUFFERED BRUISES AND BROKE THE RIGHT THUMB. THE PASSENGER IN THE FRONT SEAT SUFFERED BRUISES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 82,500. ..UPDATED 12/05/12 *BF UPDATED12/07/2012 *JS*DT UPDATED 4/21/20*JB
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
2
Deaths:
0

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