Toyota Prius Complaints (2005)

1,051 consumer complaints on file.

#10310248February 13, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
CAR ALWAYS SURGES WHEN I HIT A SLIPPERY PATCH. IT HAS DONE THIS FOR YEARS AND I HAVE COMPLAINED TO TOYOTA SEVERAL TIMES OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS. (LOCAL SERVICE AT DEALER), BUT AM ALWAYS TOLD IT'S NORMAL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10308894February 12, 2010
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
HEADLIGHT HEIGHT CONTROL SENSOR FAILED ON MY 2005 PRIUS. STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS IN 2008 WHILE IT WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. WHEN I TOOK IT TO DEALER, BECAUSE PROBLEM WAS ON AGAIN/OFF AGAIN, HE COULDN'T FIND IT. BY THE TIME DEALER FINALLY FIGURED OUT WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS - IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10310062February 12, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
AFTER LISTENING TO PUBLICITY ABOUT THE 2010 PRIUS PROBLEM I REALIZE THAT I HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM OF BRAKE FADE IN MY 2005 PRIUS. THERE IS A BRIDGE SECTION THAT I DRIVE OVER SEVERAL TIMES A MONTH. THIS BRIDGE SECTION IS 1 INCH HIGHER THAN THE ASPHALT ROAD AND ON A STEEP HILL IMMEDIATELY BEFORE A STOP SIGN. SO IF I AM BRAKING AS I HIT THE BRIDGE SECTION, I NOTICE AN IMMEDIATE BRAKE FADE. SO FOR ALL THESE YEARS, I ASSUMED IT WAS AN ABS PECULIARITY WITH CAR UNWEIGHTING. I'VE LEARNED TO BRAKE HARD IMMEDIATELY BEFORE I ENTER THE BRIDGE SECTION, RELEASE THE BRAKES AS I HIT THE EDGE OF THE BRIDGE SECTION, BRAKE HARD ON THE BRIDGE SECTION AND RELEASE AS I DROP OFF THE SECTION, THEN BRAKE TO THE STOP SIGN. I HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCE THIS PROBLEM IN OTHER SITUATIONS BUT I AM AWARE OF THE BRAKE FADE AND MIGHT BE ANTICIPATING THE PROBLEM. IT HAS BEEN OCCURRING SINCE I PURCHASED THE CAR IN 2005. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10310110February 12, 2010
EXTERIOR LIGHTING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
MY 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS HAS A PROBLEM WITH THE HEADLIGHTS GOING OUT,IT STARTED IN DECEMBER 2009 AND AS OF TODAY THEY GO OUT ABOUT EVERY 5-10 MINUTES ... I CALLED TOYOTAS CUSTOMER SERVICE AND THEY IMPLIED THERE WAS NO WIDE SPREAD PROBLEM WITH THE HEADLIGHTS ON THE 2005 PRIUS ... I HAVE AN ASSOCIATED PRESS ARTICLE IN FRONT OF ME THAT SAYS (THE PRIUS IS A HIGHLY COMPUTERIZED CAR AND HAS HAD MANY PROBLEMS IN THE PAST ... IN 2005 TOYOTA REPAIRED 75,000 PRIUS THAT HAD A SOFTWARE PROBLEM THAT CAUSED THE CAR TO STALL AND THE PRIUS ALSO HAS HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE HEADLIGHTS GOING OUT SINCE 2001 ) IS THERE A FIX THAT THEY WOULD NOT TELL ME ABOUT ... THANKS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10308724February 11, 2010
TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
MY WIFE AND I RECENTLY BOUGHT A USED 2005 PRIUS FROM WILDE TOYOTA IN WEST ALLIS, WI. IN THE LAST FEW MONTHS WE HAVE EXPERIENCED BRAKING ISSUES WITH THE VEHICLE ON ICY ROADS, SLICK ROADS, AND SNOW COVERED ROADS. WE HAVE HAD THREE BRAKE FAILURES. THE FIRST WAS WHEN I WAS DRIVING ON A SIDE-STREET. I WAS GOING SLOW, LESS THEN 15 MILES PER HOUR, AND STEPPED ON THE BRAKES TO MAKE A TURN. THE BRAKES WERE UNRESPONSIVE FOR APROX. 2 SECONDS CAUSING ME TO ROLL BEFORE THE BRAKES ENGAGE. THE SECOND OCCURED WHEN MY WIFE WAS DRIVING AT A LOW SPEED, UNDER 40 MILES AN HOUR, ON A MAIN ROAD. AS SHE APPROACHED THE STOPLIGHT SHE STEPPED ON THE BRAKES, WHICH ALSO FAILED TO ENGAGE. DUE TO HER HIGHER SPEED SHE ROLLED OVER 10 FEET AND CAME CLOSE TO HITTING THE CAR STOPPED IN FRONT OF HER BEFORE THE BRAKES FINALLY ENGAGED. THE FINAL OCCURANCE ALSO OCCURED WHEN MY WIFE WAS DRIVING, THIS TIME AT A HIGHER SPEED BETWEEN 40 AND 50 MILES PER HOUR, WHEN PRESSING ON THE BRAKES ON AN OVERPASS THE BRAKES FAILED TO ENGAGE AND THE CAR PHYSICALLY SEEMED TO SHAKE A BIT. AFTER BEING UNABLE TO STOP FOR SEVERAL FEET THE BRAKES FINALLY ENGAGED. WE BELIEVE THESE OCCURANCES ARE DUE TO AN ERROR WITH OUR ABS SYSTEM. IN EACH OCCURANCE THE "SLIPPERY ROAD" WARNING HAS APPEARED. WE TOOK IT TO WILDE TAYOTA THIS MORNING. AFTER SOFTWARE TESTING AS WELL AS ROAD TESTING ON THEIR SNOW COVERED LOT THEY FAILED TO REPLICATE THE PROBLEM. NO SYSTEM ERRORS WERE PRESENT AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO TAKE ANY FURTHER ACTION. WE ARE, HOWEVER, STILL CONVINCED THAT A PROBLEM EXISTS. IF IT OCCURS AGAIN WE WILL ONCE AGAIN TAKE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND TRY TO REPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10308814February 11, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC
EASILY REPLICATED, UNEXPECTED BRAKE RELEASE ON 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS. 1) DRIVE OVER ROUGH PART OF ROAD, OR SLICK SPOT 2) APPLY BRAKES 3) NO RESPONSE FROM BRAKES FOR A SECOND OR SO. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10308386February 10, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC
I HAVE A 2005 AND 2010 PRIUS. I HAVE NOTICED A SENSE OF"SURGE" WHEN BRAKING SLOWLY OVER IRREGULAR PAVEMENT WITH BOTH CARS. I ALWAYS JUST CONSIDERED IT A QUIRK OF THE CAR. THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO QUESTION IN MY MIND THAT THIS BRAKING PROBLEM IS AT LEAST PRESENT IN THE 2005 PRIUSES. I HAVE NOT HAD ANY ACCIDENTS RELATING TO THIS. NOTHING YET HAS BEEN DONE TO CORRECT THIS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10308398February 10, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC
MY 2005 MODEL PRIUS LOST BRAKE MOMENTARILY AND ACCELERATED ON A BUMPY STRETCH OF ROAD. IT HAPPENS ALWAYS I PASS OVER THE SAME STRETCH JUST ON A STOP SIGNAL. IT STOPPED VERY CLOSE TO THE OTHER VEHICLE IN FRONT AFTER REGAINING THE BRAKE LUCKILY AVOIDING ACCIDENT. THIS IS THE SAME PROBLEM REPORTED ON THE 2010 PRIUS AND IS BEING RECALLED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10308438February 10, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
ABS SYSTEM FAILURE WHILE PREPARING TO STOP FROM 40 MPH IN 05 TOYOTA PRIUS LAST SEPTEMBER. HAD AT LEAST THREE OCCURRENCES DURING THE SUMMER OF THE BRAKE PEDAL GOING QUICKLY AND EASILY TO THE FLOOR, MAKING A "THUNK" NOISE, SOUNDING AND FEELING LIKE METAL ON METAL, BUT THIS WOULD NOT HAPPEN AGAIN WHEN I STEPPED ON THE BRAKES AGAIN IMMEDIATELY, AND CERTAINLY DIDN'T HAPPEN FOR MY MECHANIC TO HEAR. TOYOTA DIAGNOSED A COMPUTER FAILURE THAT COST ME $2000 TO REPLACE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10308430February 10, 2010
TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
I OWN A 2005 PRIUS, BOUGHT NEW. I NOW HAVE 130,000 MILES ON IT. IT HAS BEEN SERVICED AND MAINTAINED AT SCHEDULED INTERVALS, MOSTLY BY A TOYOTA DEALER. #1: I HAVE COMPLAINED TO THE DEALER SINCE THE FIRST WINTER THAT I BOUGHT THE CAR THAT THE "TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM" IS DANGEROUS IN BAD WEATHER CONDITIONS. WHENEVER THE ROAD IS SLIPPERY, IF THE CAR SENSES WHEELSPIN, IT CUTS POWER TO THE ENGINE. THIS IS SCARY IF YOU'RE PULLING OUT INTO TRAFFIC ON A RAINY DAY, AS THE CAR WILL SOMETIMES JUST QUIT RUNNING FOR A SECOND, LEAVING YOU VULNERABLE TO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. SNOW IS FAR WORSE. I LIVE ON A HILLY ROAD. IF IT'S SNOWY THE CAR WILL SLOW DOWN, AND SIMPLY STOP TRYING TO MOVE FORWARD ON THE FIRST STEEP SLOPE I COME TO. IT DOESN'T MATTER HOW HARD I MASH ON THE ACCELERATOR, OR IF I BACK OFF AND TRY AGAIN, THE CAR WILL NOT ATTEMPT TO MOVE. ONCE THE CAR STOPS MOVING FORWARD IT BEGINS TO SLIDE BACKWARDS, AND CONTROL IS TOTALLY LOST. I WAS NEARLY KILLED THE FIRST TIME THIS HAPPENED (IN ABOUT ONE INCH OF SNOW) AS MY CAR EVENTUALLY SLIPPED SIDEWAYS ACROSS THE ONCOMING TRAFFIC LANE. AN SUV CAME DOWN THE HILL AND NEARLY BROADSIDED ME BEFORE I WAS ABLE TO GET MY CAR TURNED BACK DOWN THE HILL. (MY CAR WAS EQUIPPED WITH AGGRESSIVE SNOW TIRES AT THE TIME.) EVER SINCE THEN, IF I'M COMING HOME FROM WORK IN THE SNOW, I LEAVE MY CAR IN THE SHOPPING CENTER AT THE BOTTOM OF THE HILL AND CALL MY HUSBAND, WHO PICKS ME UP WITH HIS FORD BRONCO. # 2: ANTI-LOCK BRAKING. THE 2010 PRIUS'S AREN'T THE ONLY ONES WITH PROBLEMS; MINE DOES THE SAME THING. IF I'M BRAKING ON A BUMPY STRETCH OF ROAD OR OVER A MANHOLE COVER IN THE RAIN, THE CAR WILL CUT POWER TO THE BRAKES, CAUSING THE CAR TO FEEL LIKE IT'S SURGING FORWARD. AGAIN THIS PROBLEM IS MUCH WORSE IN THE SNOW. GOING DOWNHILL ON A SNOWY, SLIPPERY HILL THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES REPEATEDLY CUT BRAKING POWER, WHICH ACTUALLY CAUSES THE CAR TO ACCELERATE TO UNSAFE SPEEDS. MY DEALER TELLS ME THAT THIS IS HOW THE CAR WORKS, AND NOTHING CAN BE DOME TO CORRECT IT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10308277February 10, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC
WE HAVE A 2005 PRIUS HYBRID. IT HAS, EVER SINCE WE PURCHASED IT, OCCASIONALLY ACCELERATED WHEN WE HAVE PUT ON BRAKES. IT STOPS AFTER A SECOND OR TWO, AND HAS NEVER CAUSED AN ACCIDENT, THOUGH IT IS SCARY WHEN IT HAPPENS. I BELIEVE THE ONLY RECALL THAT APPLIES TO THIS MODEL YEAR IS THE FLOOR MAT PROBLEM, WHICH IS NOT THE ISSUE. WHAT I'VE READ IS THAT THE OLDER PRIUS'S DON'T HAVE THE BRAKING/ACCELERATION PROBLEM. BUT OURS CERTAINLY DOES. WE LOVE THE CAR OTHERWISE, BUT WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THERE IS SOME ACTION WE SHOULD TAKE REGARDING THIS, AND IF OTHER PEOPLE HAVE REPORTED IT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10307699February 9, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
I HAVE BEEN COMPLAINING TO THE DEALER SINCE I HAVE HAD MY 2005 PRIUS (I BOUGHT IT NEW) THAT AT SLOW SPEEDS ON OCCASION WHEN I JUST VERY LIGHTLY TOUCH THE BRAKE MY PRIUS WILL SUDDENLY STOP AS IF I HAD SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES. THEY INSIST THAT THEY HAVE TO SEE THE PROBLEM BEFORE THEY CAN DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. NATURALLY THE CAR DOESN'T DO IT WHEN THEY HAVE IT FOR SERVICE. I SELECTED "SERVICE BRAKES HYDRAULIC" BELOW BECAUSE, YOU DON'T HAVE A SELECTION FOR JUST "BRAKES". *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10307704February 9, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
BRAKING ON 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHEN SLOWING TO A STOP AND YOU HIT A BUMPY SURFACE OR MANHOLE COVER THE ANTILOCK BRAKES GO OFF AND THE BRAKES RELEASE FOR APPROXIMATELY 1-2 SECONDS AND YOU FEEL AS IF YOU ARE SKIDDING ON ICE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10307724February 9, 2010
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
ABOUT 1-2 TIMES PER MONTH, I'VE NOTICED WHAT FEELS LIKE A VERY SMALL MOMENTARY ACCELERATION WHILE BRAKING, IF I HIT A BUMP/POTHOLE AT THE SAME TIME. I'VE ONLY NOTICED THE ISSUE WITHIN THE LAST YEAR, SINCE TRANSFERRING AND USING A DIFFERENT ROUTE TO GET TO/FROM WORK. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10307725February 9, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
2005 TOYOTA PRIUS - I HAVE HAD BRAKING PROBLEM. NEAR WHERE I LIVE THERE IS A SMALL POTHOLE NEAR AN INTERSECTION WITH A STOP SIGH. WHEN TRYING TO STOP IF I HIT THE POTHOLE THE CAR'S BRAKES JUST SEEM TO DISAPPEAR FOR A SECOND. ALMOST RAN OUT THROUGH STOP SIGN. THIS HAS HAPPENED A COUPLE OF TIMES SO I AM NOW VERY CAREFUL TO AVOID THE HOLE BY NEARLY RUNNING OFF THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ROAD. NOW I HEAR THERE IS A RECALL FOR THE SAME THING WITH THE 2010 PRIUS. I'VE ALREADY HAD THE "FLOOR MAT" RECALL. THIS CONCERNS ME BECAUSE I WONDER IF IT IS REALLY THE FLOOR MATS OR THE RUN AWAY GAS PEDAL PROBLEM. I'M GOING ON VACATION AND SERIOUSLY CONSIDERING RENTING A CAR BECAUSE I'M ALMOST AFRAID TO DRIVE MY CAR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10307741February 9, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC
FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS I'VE NOTICED A STRANGE SENSATION WHEN GOING OVER A BUMP OR RIPPLES IN THE ROAD WHILE BRAKING IN MY 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS BUT DIDN'T THINK TOO MUCH ABOUT IT BECAUSE IT IS A RARE OCCURRENCE. AFTER READING ABOUT TOYOTA'S RECENT RECALL OF THE 2010 PRIUS I REALIZED THAT WHAT WAS HAPPENING IS THE BRAKES WERE RELEASING WHILE GOING OVER THE BUMPS. RECENTLY WHILE DRIVING ONE OF THE FEW TIMES IN THE SNOW, I HAD THE SENSATION THAT THE ANTI-LOCK FUNCTION RELEASED THE BRAKES FOR ABOUT 2 SECONDS DURING WHICH I COULD NOT STOP THE CAR AND THERE WAS NO SENSATION OF PULSING OR SKID MARKS. THERE IS A RIPPLED SPOT ON A NEARBY ROAD THAT I CAN ALWAYS REPRODUCE THE BRAKE RELEASE ISSUE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10307781February 9, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC
I HAVE A 2005 (EARLY 2ND GENERATION) PRIUS AND I EXPERIENCED THE LATEST REPORTED "DESIGN FLAW" IN THE BRAKING SYSTEM FROM DAY 1 IN 2005. THE BEST DESCRIPTION I'VE HEARD OF IT IS "INCONSISTENT BRAKING OVER ROUGH SURFACES". THAT IS, WHEN DRIVING OVER A POTHOLE OR BUMP WHEN APPLYING THE (REGENERATIVE) BRAKES, THE BUMP SEEMS TO PUSH BACK, MOMENTARILY DISENGAGING THE BRAKES. THE EFFECT IS AT BEST, UNNERVING, AND AT WORST, SCARY, DEPENDING ON WHAT YOU'RE TRYING TO DO WHEN IT HAPPENS (IE, SLOWING VS TRYING TO STOP). I BROUGHT THIS EXPERIENCE TO THE ATTENTION OF MY DEALER SERVICE PERSONNEL A COUPLE TIMES OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS AND WAS MET WITH THE EQUIVALENT OF BLANK STARES AND THE SOUND OF CRICKETS. BOTTOM LINE, THIS IS NOT A NEW PROBLEM IN 2010 MODEL PRIUS ONLY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10307747February 9, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC
I HAVE A 2005 PRIUS THAT HAS EXPERIENCED BRAKE ISSUES INCLUDING SURGING FORWARD WHEN BRAKE IS DEPRESSED. I BROUGHT THIS TO THE ATTENTION OF MY DEALER AND WAS TOLD THIS IS NORMAL. IT DOESN'T HAPPEN ALL THE TIME BUT IS A BIT SCARY. I PLAN TO BRING IT UP TO THE DEALER AGAIN WHEN I GO FOR MY 45,000 MILE TUNE UP, PROBABLY NEXT WEEK. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10307777February 9, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
I CONSISTENTLY EXPERIENCE THE FEELING OF MY BRAKES MOMENTARILY RELEASING WHEN GOING OVER A POT HOLE OR TRAIN TRACKS WHILE DRIVING IN NORMAL CONDITIONS (USUALLY AT LOW SPEED). WHEN I GLANCE TO SEE IF THE ANTI SKID LIGHT IS ON , ON THESE OCCURRENCES IT IS NOT. I HAVE BECOME ACCUSTOMED TO THE ODD FEELING AND THE SITUATION IS ALWAYS ONLY MOMENTARY SO I CAME TO THINK NOTHING OF IT. HOWEVER, WITH ALL THE INFORMATION ABOUT PRIUS BRAKES FAILING COMPLETELY, I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT THIS IS ALSO OCCURRING ON MY 2005 MODEL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10307778February 9, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
I HAVE A 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS. I AM HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM WITH BRAKING. IT HAPPENS MOSTLY IN WET WEATHER WHEN GOING OVER A BUMP. IT ALWAYS BRAKES AFTER SO I HAVEN'T DONE ANYTHING ABOUT IT. THEY SHOULD KNOW IT IS NOT JUST 2010 CARS, IT HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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