Toyota Prius Complaints (2007)

2,004 consumer complaints on file.

#10543541September 13, 2013
EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY, STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS
THE HATCHBACK RELEASE LATCH OF MY 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS HAS DEGRADED ("MELTED" ALMOST). IT NO LONGER FUNCTIONS PROPERLY, AND I AM UNABLE TO OPEN THE BACK HATCH DOOR EASILY. SOMETIMES IT REQUIRES CONSIDERABLE EFFORT TO GET IT OPEN. I AM CONCERNED THAT IN THE CASE OF AN EMERGENCY, I WILL NOT BE ABLE TO GET THE DOOR OPEN. THIS IS A MAJOR CAUSE FOR CONCERN AND IT IS A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10543242September 12, 2013
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
PASSENGER HEADLIGHT WOULD GO OUT INTERMITTENTLY. DRIVER'S SIDE HEADLIGHT WOULD GO OUT INTERMITTENTLY. DRIVER'S SIDE HEADLIGHT WENT OUT PERMANENTLY. TOOK CAR TO DEALER WHERE DRIVER'S SIDE HEADLIGHT WAS REPLACED. THREE DAYS LATER PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT WENT OUT. BOUGHT AN HID HEADLIGHT FROM AMAZON AT ONE THIRD THE PRICE AND REPLACED PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT. ONE WEEK LATE DRIVER'S SIDE HEADLIGHT WENT OUT PERMANENTLY THIRTY DAYS AFTER BEING REPLACED BY THE DEALER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10542722September 9, 2013
STEERING
THE TRAFFIC REPORT SAID I LOST CONTROL ON A CURVE. I WAS KNOCKED UNCONSCIOUS AND DO NOT KNOW. SIX DAYS BEFORE THE ACCIDENT MY HUSBAND TOOK THE CAR TO TOYOTA TO REPLACE THE HEADLAMP FOR THE THIRD TIME. HE SAID THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE STEERING PART ?? AND THEY WERE GOING TO REPLACE IT. THEY GAVE US A RECITE THAT THEY HAD REPLACED THE PART WITH THE PART NUMBER. MY HUSBAND SAID THEY ONLY HAD IT BACK THERE FOR LESS THAN 15 MINUTES. SIX DAYS LATER I HAD AN ACCIDENT STATING 'I LOST CONTROL'. *TR*DT*JB
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10542426September 7, 2013
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I WAS DRIVING ON A DARK COUNTRY ROAD WHEN BOTH HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT. I TURNED THE HEADLIGHT CONTROL OFF AND THEN ON AND THEN THE LIGHTS CAME ON AGAIN. THE CAR HAS A LONG HISTORY OF THE PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT GOING OUT INTERMITTENTLY. WHEN IT WAS JUST ONE LIGHT INTERMITTENTLY GOING OUT, I HAD REPORTED THIS TO THE DEALER AND LATER TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. I WAS TOLD THAT THEY DIDN'T FIND A PROBLEM. AFTER THIS MOST RECENT EXPERIENCE WITH BOTH LIGHTS GOING OUT AT THE SAME TIME, MY MECHANIC AGAIN SAID THAT IT WAS NOT HAPPENING WHEN HE TEST DROVE THE CAR. I ASKED HIM TO KEEP IT LONGER FOR MORE TESTING SINCE I WAS AFRAID NOW TO DRIVE THE CAR AT NIGHT. HE KEPT IT LONGER AND DID EXPERIENCE THE DRIVER SIDE HEADLIGHT GOING OUT. HE RECOMMENDED REPLACING BOTH BULBS FOR A TOTAL PRICE OF $548. I CALLED THE TOYOTA DEALER TO ASK WHAT THEY COULD DO FOR ME. SINCE THE CAR IS PAST 50,000 MILES THEY SAID THEY WOULD HAVE TO CHARGE $475 TO CHANGE BOTH HEADLIGHTS. I RESEARCHED ONLINE AND DISCOVERED THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM IN THE PRIUS. IN MY OPINION IT IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE AND NOT A NORMAL PART MAINTENANCE ISSUE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10541882September 4, 2013
SERVICE BRAKES, STRUCTURE:BODY
BRAKE SYSTEM: ABS WARNING MALFUNCTION LIGHT WILL ILLUMINATE WHEN BRAKE IS TAPPED, BUT THERE IS NO MALFUNCTION OR ISSUE. HAVE TO TURN OFF VEHICLE TO RESET IT. HANDLE ON REAR DOOR/HATCHBACK DOOR: HANDLE MELTED INTO A BLACK GOOEY MESS, HATCHBACK COULD NOT BE OPENED. WENT TO DEALERSHIP, THEY WOULD NOT FIX WITHOUT CHARGING ME EVEN THOUGH THEY ADMITTED IT WAS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THE VEHICLES. THE FIRST QUOTE WE GOT WAS ALMOST $300 TO FIX, WAITED A COUPLE OF MONTHS, DEALER FINALLY DROPPED TO $138 TO FIX IT. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A KNOWN DEFECTIVE ISSUE--NO ONE SHOULD BE CHARGED ANYTHING. IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE AS THE DOOR CANNOT BE OPENED IN AN EMERGENCY. WHY TOYOTA WILL NOT FIX THIS WITHOUT CAUSING THEIR CUSTOMER'S POTENTIAL DANGER/HARM SPEAKS VOLUMES TO THEM NOT CARING ABOUT THE CUSTOMER. DASHBOARD WARPING: DASHBOARD ON DRIVER SIDE BUCKLES UP WHERE IT MEETS THE EDGE OF THE WINDSHIELD, WAS TOLD IT WAS IN ISSUE WITH THE MATERIAL THAT THE DASHBOARD WAS MADE FROM. VERY POOR QUALITY TO HAVE THIS HAPPEN. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10541772September 4, 2013
STRUCTURE
THE HATCHBACK HANDLE/RELEASE IS SOFT AND GOOEY AND AT TIMES THE RELEASE TO OPEN THE HATCHBACK WILL NOT WORK. GOOEY BLACK SUBSTANCE GETS ALL OVER HANDS AND FINGERS WHEN YOU TRY TO "POP" THE HATCHBACK. UNABLE TO GET THE TRUNK TO OPEN ON A COUPLE OF OCCASIONS. THERE IS NO INTERNAL RELEASE SWITCH INSIDE THE CAR. SINCE THE SPARE TIRE IS IN THE TRUNK, THERE COULD POTENTIALLY BE NO ACCESS TO THE TIRE. IT WAS DISCOVERED THE DAY AFTER WE BOUGHT THE CAR (USED). CONTACTED DEALER, WHO QUOTED US $300+ TO REPAIR. HAVE NOT HAD IT REPAIRED YET. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10541724September 3, 2013
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
I HAVE A 2007 PRIUS. THE CAR WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT ON AUGUST 30, 2013 BECAUSE "NO BRAKE". IT WAS IN A STOP AND GO SITUATION TRAVELING AT ABOUT 20 MILES PER HOUR. THE CAR IN FRONT STOPPED, I SLAMMED ON THE BRAKE AND TOTAL BRAKE FAILURE. MY 16 YEARS OLD SON SITTING IN THE CAR OBSERVED THE "NO BRAKE" SCENARIO. THERE WAS A 25 POUND OF RICE IN THE TRUCK DID NOT EVEN MOVE. NO SKIP MARK... NOTHING. TOOK MY CAR TO LONGO TOYOTA AND FOUND NOTHING WITH THE BRAKE SYSTEM, OTHER THAN THE FRONT PAD WAS THIN, TIRES WERE MARGINAL ETC. NONE OF THE FINDINGS EXPLAINED THE NO BRAKE SCENARIO. FOR SOME REASON I CANNOT MAKE THIS NO BRAKE TO APPEAR AGAIN. I WANT PEOPLE TO AWARE OF THIS AND GATHER INFORMATION. IT APPEARS TO ME THE PRIUS CANNOT RESPONSE TO A QUICK STOP AT SLOW SPEED. SOMEHOW, THE CAR TAKES MORE THAN A SECOND FOR THE BRAKING TO KICK IN - THE REACTION DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE INSTANTANEOUS. AND IF YOU ARE TOO CLOSE, THAT EXTRA ONE SECOND WAIT WILL CAUSE A COLLISION.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10538394September 2, 2013
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
REAR HATCH HANDLE HAS BEEN LEAKING ALMOST FROM THE TIME WE ACQUIRED IT IN 2011. RUBBER HAS DECAYED, LEAKING GOO OR OTHER BLACK STICKY STUFF EVERY TIME IT'S TOUCHED. SINCE THIS IS THE ONLY WAY TO OPEN THE HATCH, IT'S A PROBLEM. THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON ISSUE WITH THIS MODEL, WITNESS YOUR OWN INDEX OF COMPLAINTS, APPENDED BELOW. LET'S GET TOYOTA TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. [XXXX] [XXXX] [XXXX] FROM THE NHTSA WEBSITE: DATE COMPLAINT FILED: 08/01/2013 COMPONENT(S): EQUIPMENT , LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES DATE OF INCIDENT: 07/25/2013 NHTSA ID NUMBER: 10533059 ALL PRODUCTS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS COMPLAINT EXPAND DETAILS CLOSE 0 ASSOCIATED DOCUMENTS CRASH:NO FIRE:NO NUMBER OF INJURIES:0 NUMBER OF DEATHS:0 MANUFACTURER: TOYOTA MOTOR CORPORATION VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NO. (VIN): NOT AVAILABLE SUMMARY: THE BACK LATCH OF MY 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS HAS DEGRADED ("MELTED" ALMOST). IT NO LONGER FUNCTIONS PROPERLY, AND I AM UNABLE TO OPEN THE BACK HATCH DOOR EASILY. SOMETIMES IT REQUIRES CONSIDERABLE EFFORT AND PERSEVERANCE TO GET IT OPEN. I AM CONCERNED THAT IN THE CASE OF AN EMERGENCY, I WILL NOT BE ABLE TO GET THE DOOR OPEN. THIS IS A MAJOR CAUSE FOR CONCERN AND IT IS A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD. REQUEST RESEARCH HELP DATE COMPLAINT FILED: 05/10/2013 COMPONENT(S): LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES , STRUCTURE DATE OF INCIDENT: 10/05/2012 NHTSA ID NUMBER: 10511408 (... AND MANY MORE, BUT YOUR FORM WON'T LET ME INCLUDE MORE THAN THIS TEXT ...) *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10537863August 29, 2013
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
THE RH (PASSENGER) HEADLIGHT TURNED OFF. THIS WAS NOT A BURNT OUT BULB, BECAUSE AFTER TURNING THE HEADLIGHTS OFF FOR A FEW SECONDS AND TURNING THEM BACK ON THE HEADLIGHT WOULD COME BACK ON. AFTER DRIVING A LITTLE WHILE IT WOULD HAPPEN AGAIN. THIS HAPPENED MANY TIMES UNTIL THE HID BULB WAS REPLACED, BUT THEN AFTER HAVING A NEW BULB FOR ABOUT A MONTH THE PROBLEM CAME BACK, BUT THIS TIME TURNING THE HEADLIGHTS OFF THEN BACK ON WOULD NOT TURN THE RH HEADLIGHT BACK ON. THE RH (PASSENGER) HEADLIGHT WILL NOT TURN ON AT ALL NOW.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10537978August 29, 2013
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE STOPPING THE VEHICLE, THE HEADLIGHTS FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS WHERE IT WAS STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10537262August 26, 2013
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
DRIVERS SIDE OPTIONAL ALL-RUBBER FLOOR MATTES HAVE DEFECT OF WORKMANSHIP OR DESIGN WHICH CAUSES EYELET FOR LEFT HAND FLOOR MATTE HOOK TO BECOME TORN STRETCHING THE HOLE OUT/BREAKING THE HOLE AND SHIFTING THE FRONT EDGE OF FLOOR MATTE TOWARDS THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10537027August 24, 2013
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
TOYOTA SOLD ME A BRAND NEW PRIUS WITH A HEADLAMP NOT WORKING. AFTER I SIGNED ALL THE PURCHASE PAPERS, THEY POINTED OUT THAT THE RIGHT HEADLAMP WAS NOT WORKING AND TOLD ME THAT IT WAS ALRIGHT TO DRIVE HOME AND RETURN THE NEXT DAYS FOR REPAIR. AFTER FOUR OR FIVE TRIPS TO THE TOYOTA SERVICE DEPARTMENT, THEY REPLACED THE DEFECTIVE CONTROL UNIT. AT A LATER DATE WHEN THE CAR HAD ABOUT 50,000 MILES, I WAS DRIVING ON A FREEWAY FROM LOS ANGELES TO MENIFEE, CA, AT NIGHT IN THE HOV LANE. I SEEMED TO HAVE DIFFICULTY SEEING THE ROAD AND THOUGHT SOMETHING WAS WRONG WITH MY EYES. SO I SWITCHED LANES TO THE SLOW LANE WHERE, WITH LESS GLARE FROM THE ONCOMING CARS, I REALIZED THAT BOTH HEADLAMPS WERE NOT WORKING. THIS WAS A DANGEROUS SITUATION ON THE HIGH SPEED CROWDED FREEWAY, SO I PULLED OFF THE ROAD AT THE NEXT EXIT. TOYOTA REPLACED THE HEADLAMPS, AND I WAS COMPENSATED FOR THE COST OF REPAIR UPON THE OUTCOME OF A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT. RECENTLY I NOTICED THAT THE HEADLAMPS WERE FAILING AGAIN AT AROUND 115,000 MILES. IMMEDIATELY I HAD TOYOTA REPAIR BOTH HEADLAMPS, AS I DIDN'T WANT TO EXPERIENCE THE HAZARD OF BOTH HEADLAMPS FAILING AGAIN. FROM MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCES, THERE IS A DANGEROUS DESIGN FLAW IN THE PRIUS THAT MUST BE ADDRESSED ESPECIALLY BEFORE BOTH HEADLAMPS FAIL AGAIN. I AM CONCERNED THE NEXT TIME THE HEADLAMPS FAIL I WILL HAVE NO ADVANCED SYMPTOMS AND BOTH MIGHT FAIL AGAIN SIMULTANEOUSLY WHILE I'M ON THE ROAD AT NIGHT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10536685August 22, 2013
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
I PURCHASED MY 07 PRIUS FROM A DEALERSHIP IN SEPTEMBER OF 2012. THERE WAS ONLY 1 PREVIOUS OWNER & AT THAT TIME MY CAR'S MILEAGE WAS AROUND 55K. I COMMUTE 1 HR AND 20 MINUTES TO WORK (ONE WAY) & MY FIRST INCIDENT OCCURRED AFTER DROPPING MY SON OFF AT DAYCARE EARLY IN THE MORNING, ALMOST A MONTH AFTER PURCHASING MY CAR. I NOTICED MY RIGHT HEADLIGHT WAS OUT. WHEN I GOT INTO MY CAR, I TURNED THE HEADLIGHTS OFF AND BACK ON. BOTH MY HEADLIGHTS CAME BACK ON SO I DIDN'T THINK TWICE ABOUT IT. AFTERWARDS, ALMOST EVERY MONTH I NOTICED MY RIGHT HEADLIGHT TURNED OFF, WHICH STARTED TO CONCERN ME, BUT AFTER GETTING QUOTES ON HOW MUCH THE REPAIRS WOULD BE I KNEW IT WOULD TAKE SOME TIME FOR ME TO BUDGET THE COSTS INTO MY MONTHLY EXPENSES. AFTER ANOTHER MONTH OR SO, I FOUND MYSELF DRIVING ON HIGHWAY 55 WESTBOUND (CARY, NC) AT AROUND 9PM AT NIGHT & BOTH OF MY HEADLIGHTS SUDDENLY SHUT OFF. HIGHWAY 55 DOES NOT HAVE MUCH LIGHTING IN THE FIRST PLACE & I AM VERY LUCKY THAT MY 2 YEAR OLD SON WAS NOT WITH ME. I PANICKED BUT QUICKLY TURNED MY HEADLIGHTS OFF & ON AGAIN. FORTUNATELY, THEY TURNED BACK ON. NOW ALMOST EVERY MONTH, & ASIDE FROM ONE OF MY HEADLIGHTS FAILING NEARLY EVERY 2 DAYS, BOTH OF MY HEADLIGHTS RANDOMLY SHUT OFF. IN FACT, MY HEADLIGHTS SHUT OFF AGAIN THIS MORNING AT AROUND 5:45AM DURING MY COMMUTE TO WORK ON HIGHWAY 55. I DID SOME RESEARCH BUT FOUND TOYOTA HAS ONLY AGREED TO PAY FOR REPAIRS FOR '04-'09 MODELS (WITH THE SAME HID HEADLIGHT ISSUE) THROUGH THE EARLIER OF 5 YEARS WARRANTY AND 50,000 MILES OR REIMBURSE DRIVERS WHO HAVE ALREADY PAID TO HAVE THE PROBLEM CORRECTED. I'VE ALREADY CONTACTED TOYOTA AT 1800-331-4331 AND FILED A COMPLAINT BUT I WAS TOLD THAT MY CAR (AT 102K MILES) WAS NOW INELIGIBLE FOR THIS PROGRAM. THIS ISSUE SHOULD BE AN OFFICIAL RECALL TO AVOID ANY SEVERE ACCIDENTS IT CAN CAUSE FOR OWNERS WHO CANNOT AFFORD UPFRONT REPAIRS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10536225August 20, 2013
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
RUBBERIZED FLOOR MATS FOR CAR DRIVERS SIDE HAVE FLAWS IN WORKMANSHIP SO THAT THEY TEAR WHERE THE RETENTION HOOK IS ON LEFT SIDE. THE EFFECT IS THE MATTE COMES LOOSE AND JAMS THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. EVEN THOUGH THIS IS SIMILAR TO PREVIOUS FLOOR MATTE RECALLS ON THIS MODEL, THE DEALERSHIP WILL NOT HONOR THE RUBBERIZED MATTES WITH THESE FLAWS UNDER THE PREVIOUS RECALL. ANOTHER RECALL LOOKS TO BE IN ORDER FOR THIS SAME KIND OF PROBLEM AGAIN.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10535266August 14, 2013
STRUCTURE:BODY
REAR HATCH LATCH RELEASE BUTTON IS RUBBER. IT HAS DETERIORATED RELEASING BLACK SUBSTANCE ONTO FINGERS, IT IS STICKY AND BUTTON DOES NOT RELEASE AS WELL AS BEFORE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10535177August 13, 2013
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
PASSENGER-SIDE HIGH INTENSITY HEADLIGHT STARTED INTERMITTENTLY FAILING. THE LIGHT GOES OUT RANDOMLY AND UNEXPECTEDLY. TURNING BOTH HEADLIGHTS OFF AND BACK ON AGAIN TEMPORARILY FIXES THE ISSUE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10534437August 9, 2013
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, AIR BAGS
AFTER TAKING THE VEHICLE IN FOR A RECALL FOR A STEERING COLUMN ISSUE, 3 OF THE BUTTONS ON THE STEERING COLUMN FAIL TO OPERATE ONCE THE RECALL REPAIR WAS COMPLETE. THE DEALER SAYS IT'S AN ISSUE WITH THE CLOCKSPRING CABLE AND ARE NOT WILLING TO REPAIR IT AT NO COST. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10533971August 7, 2013
STRUCTURE:BODY
I CANNOT OPEN THE HATCH OF MY PRIUS. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN. IN ALL PRIUS BASE MODELS THAT I KNOW OF THE HANDLE LITERALLY MELTS OFF OF THE CAR MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO OPEN THE HATCH. THIS IS A SERIOUS ISSUE IN THE CASE OF AN EMERGENCY. THE DEALERSHIP CHARGES UP TO $300.00 TO FIX THIS ISSUE WHEN IT IS QUITE OBVIOUS IT SHOULD BE A RECALL. IT IS COMPLETELY INSANE THAT THEY ARE MAKING PRIUS OWNERS PAY THIS AND ARE MAKING AN INSANE AMOUNT OF MONEY OFF OF ITS CONSUMERS WHEN WE WERE SOLD A FAULTY PART. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10533474August 4, 2013
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
MY PASSENGER HEADLIGHT WENT OUT AFTER REPLACING IT 6 MONTHS PRIOR. I AM AWARE NOW THAT OTHER PRIUS OWNERS HAVE SIMILAR ISSUES WITH HEADLIGHTS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10533059August 1, 2013
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES, EQUIPMENT
THE BACK LATCH OF MY 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS HAS DEGRADED ("MELTED" ALMOST). IT NO LONGER FUNCTIONS PROPERLY, AND I AM UNABLE TO OPEN THE BACK HATCH DOOR EASILY. SOMETIMES IT REQUIRES CONSIDERABLE EFFORT AND PERSEVERANCE TO GET IT OPEN. I AM CONCERNED THAT IN THE CASE OF AN EMERGENCY, I WILL NOT BE ABLE TO GET THE DOOR OPEN. THIS IS A MAJOR CAUSE FOR CONCERN AND IT IS A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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