Toyota Prius Complaints (2005)

1,051 consumer complaints on file.

#11161788December 16, 2018
SERVICE BRAKES
I HAD RECEIVED A LETTER ABOUT A RECALL INVOLVING THE BRAKE ACTUATOR. HOWEVER, IF I WASN'T EXPERIENCING ANY OF THE ISSUES DESCRIBED IN THE RECALL, I COULD IGNORE THE RECALL. THAT RECALL EXPIRED ON DECEMBER 31, 2017. IN JULY OF 2018, THE 'BRAKE' LIGHT, VSC, ABS, AND BRAKE SYMBOL ILLUMINATED INDICATING ISSUES WITH THE BRAKE ACTUATOR. I WOULD LIKE TO REQUEST TOYOTA REPLACE THE BRAKE ACTUATOR AS IT AFFECTS THE SAFE OPERATION OF THE VEHICLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11160767December 11, 2018
STEERING
THE STEERING ON MY 2005 PRIUS WITH ROUGHLY 119,000 MILES FAILED. FORTUNATELY IT WAS AT A LOW SPEED AND ON A SIDE STREET BUT WITHOUT ANY ABILITY TO STEER THE CAR, IT COULD HAVE BEEN REALLY BAD IF ON A MAIN ROAD OR AT A HIGHER SPEED! THE CAR IS CURRENTLY WITH A TOYOTA DEALER AND THE CAUSE IS YET TO BE DETERMINED. TOYOTA STATED THERE IS NO RECALL OUTSTANDING ON THE CAR AND IT WOULD BE OUT OF POCKET. THERE WAS, HOWEVER, A PRIOR RECALL FOR STEERING ISSUES. WHEN IT FAILED, I WAS ABLE TO MOVE IT BACK AND FORTH BUT THE WHEELS WOULD NOT TURN AT ALL.*DT*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11160849December 11, 2018
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
COMBINATION METER INTERMITTENTLY NOT FUNCTIONING. WHEN TURNING THE CAR ON, SOMETIMES THE DASH METER WORKS, SOMETIMES IT'S JUST BLACK AND CONTINUES THE ENTIRE TIME THE CAR IS RUNNING. THEN WHEN TRYING TO TURN THE CAR OFF, IT WILL NOT TURN OFF, WHICH IS A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN. WHEN THIS OCCURS, THERE ARE NO DASH LIGHTS AT ALL TO INDICATE FUEL AMOUNT, ODOMETER READING, DOOR OPEN SIGNAL, CHECK ENGINE, MAINTENANCE REQUIRED AND SO ON. THE SPEED BEING DRIVEN IS NOT SHOWING EITHER WHICH IS ANOTHER MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE. CRUISE CONTROL ALSO DOES NOT FUNCTION, THE CENTER TOUCHSCREEN DOES NOT DISPLAY HYBRID MOTOR INFORMATION OR MPG. THE BEEPING WHEN BACKING UP DOES NOT FUNCTION. ALSO THE REAR HATCH WILL NOT OPEN WHILE CAR IS RUNNING WHICH IS ALSO A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE IN ADDITION TO ALL OF THE OTHER FUNCTIONS NOT AVAILABLE. THE ODOMETER IS NOT RECORDING MILEAGE DURING THESE TIMES WHICH MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO DO PROPER MAINTENANCE THAT GOES BY MILEAGE, SUCH AS OIL CHANGES.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11156768December 7, 2018
SERVICE BRAKES
DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH NOTICED A BURNING SMELL. AFTER DRIVING FOR ANOTHER 5 MINUTES AN ALARM WENT OFF AND ABS WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. THE BRAKE ACTUATOR ON THIS CAR HAS BEGUN TO FAIL. THIS IS COMMON ON THE 2004 - 2009 PRIUS. VERY EXPENSIVE TO FIX. OVER $3000 AT THE DEALER. THE ALARM CAN BE RESET AND THE CAR DRIVEN AGAIN LEADING TO A DANGEROUS BRAKE FAILURE WHILE DRIVING
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11156797December 7, 2018
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE HEADLIGHTS WILL INTERMITTENTLY GO OUT. I WILL TURN THE LIGHTS OFF AND ON, IT WILL COME BACK ON. THEN SHUTS OFF AGAIN AFTER A FEW MINUTES. YOU HAVE TO CONTINUE SWITCHING IT OFF AND ON, OFF AND ON. TAKEN IT TO TOYOTA SEVERAL TIMES FOR THIS PROBLEM. THE LAST TIME I TOOK IT WAS IN AUGUST 2018 AND WAS TOLD THAT THE ONLY REMEDY WAS TO REPLACE BOTH HEADLIGHTS. THE ESTIMATE TOTAL WAS $318.62 FOR ONE HEADLIGHT. TOYOTA IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM BUT WANTS NO LIABILITY OR RECALL FOR THIS MODEL YEAR. IT IS VERY DANGEROUS FOR NIGHT DRIVING AS THE HEADLIGHT WILL JUST SUDDENLY SHUT OFF.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11156042December 4, 2018
SERVICE BRAKES
ABS ACTUATOR WENT OUT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11151953November 16, 2018
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
EVERY TIME I'D TRY TO SHIFT MY CAR INTO DRIVE OR REVERSE, IT WOULD SHIFT BACK INTO NEUTRAL ON ITS OWN, MAKING DRIVING IMPOSSIBLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11140487October 15, 2018
SERVICE BRAKES
THE ABS BRAKE ACTUATOR FAILED SUDDENLY WITHOUT WARNING AND MADE BRAKING VERY DIFFICULT. A CAR STOPPED AND WHEN I PRESSED MY BRAKE, THERE WAS NO POWER BRAKE. MY POWER BRAKES JUST FAILED AND THE PEDAL WAS VERY STIFF. TOYOTA NEEDS TO ISSUE A RECALL BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT. THERE WAS AN EXTENDED WARRANTY THAT ENDED IN 2017, BUT THIS SHOULD NOT BE A WARRANTY ISSUE. IT SHOULD BE A SAFETY RECALL. LIVES ARE AT STAKE!!
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11133527October 5, 2018
SERVICE BRAKES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP IN A TIMELY MANNER WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT HAD TO APPLY FORCE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT HAD THE BRAKE PADS REPLACED FOUR TIMES BY TWO DIFFERENT INDEPENDENT MECHANICS, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THE BRAKE ACTUATOR WARRANTED REPAIR HAD EXPIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11132073September 28, 2018
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
HEADLIGHT FAILURE.....WHILE DRIVING. I START OUT WITH MY LIGHTS ON, AND RANDOMLY DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD ONE HEADLIGHT, OR THE OTHER, WILL GO OUT, OR BOTH WILL GO OUT. I REPLACED THE BULBS, HAVE HAD MECHANICS GO OVER THE CAR......BEFORE I JOINED A PRIUS CHAT AND LEARNED THIS IS A "KNOWN ISSUE".....BUT STILL NO RECALL? I'VE BEEN PULLED OVER BY VARIOUS LAW ENFORCEMENT 4 TIMES IN THE LAST 4 MONTHS! ..........BELOW IT ASKS FOR A DATE ON THE INCIDENT...IT HAPPENS FREQUENTLY. IT'S BEEN HAPPENING FOR AT LEAST A YEAR.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11128159September 7, 2018
SERVICE BRAKES
ABS LIGHTS STAY ON; TOOK TO DEALER. TOLD ACTUATOR PROBLEM AND BRAKES COULD GO OUT AT ANY TIME BUT OUT OF WARRANTY AND NEVER RECALLED DESPITE KNOWN PROBLEM. COST OF REPAIRS NEARLY EXCEEDS AUTO VALUE. NO ACCIDENT OR INJURY AS YET.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11122877August 27, 2018
SERVICE BRAKES
THE BRAKE PRESSURE DECREASED AND BRAKE SUDDENLY LOST POWER WHILE COMING TO A STOP. THE VEHICLE STOPPED SUDDENLY WITH A HARD JERK AND THE ABS LIGHT AND RED BRAKE WARNING LIGHT TURNED ON AFTERWARDS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11118833August 9, 2018
SERVICE BRAKES
ABS SYSTEM FAILED WHILE MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING ALONE ON RURAL BUT HEAVILY TRAVELED STREETS. LUCKILY SHE WAS NOT IN AN ACCIDENT AND INJURED. WITH A CATASTROPHIC BRAKE FAILURE HOW IS IT THAT TOYOTA HAS PLAYED THIS BET AND WON? 130,000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. TOYOTA NEVER INFORMED ME OF THIS ISSUE THOUGH IT IS A KNOWN FAILURE - NOT UNCOMMON. WHY HASN'T THIS ORGANIZATION (NHTSA) ACTED ON A KNOWN BRAKE FAILURE ISSUE??? TOYOTA QUIETLY EXTENDED THE WARRANTIES WITHOUT INFORMING THE OWNERS OF THE SAFETY ISSUE - THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE. OF COURSE THE WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED ON MY VEHICLE. NOW I HAVE AN UNSAFE/UNUSABLE VEHICLE AND TOYOTA WANTS $2,500 TO REPAIR IT - MORE THAN WHAT THE CAR IS CURRENTLY WORTH. AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED THE NHTSA HAS FALLEN SHORT ON THIS PROBLEM AND REALLY SHOULD GET INVOLVED LIKE THEY DID WITH THE ACCELERATOR PROBLEM. THERE ARE REPORTS THAT TWO PEOPLE HAVE BEEN INJURED OUT OF FOUR ACCIDENTS RELATED TO THIS PROBLEM. THE NUMBER COULD EASILY BE MUCH HIGHER THAN THAT AND SIMPLY UNREPORTED OR UNDER-REPORTED, OR UNDIAGNOSED. UNBELIEVABLE!!! A KNOWN BRAKE SYSTEM FAILURE WITH NO ACTION OTHER THAN A MINOR EXTENSION OF THE WARRANTY - IS THAT ALL THAT TOYOTA CAN DO? IS THAT ALL THE NHTSA CAN DO?
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11118540August 8, 2018
SERVICE BRAKES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, AN ABNORMAL NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE BRAKE PEDAL. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AUTONATION TOYOTA ARAPAHOE (10531 E ARAPAHOE RD, CENTENNIAL, CO 80112, (303) 578-6111) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM ACTUATOR FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED DUE TO THE REPAIR FEES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND OPENED CASE NUMBER: 1808071132. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 114,600. *TT ABS & BRAKE LIGHTS CAME ON 8/11/18 TOOK VEHICLE IN FOR REPAIR ON 8/24/18 UPDATED 10/2/18*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11114438July 29, 2018
SERVICE BRAKES
THE 2005 TOYOTA HAS A KNOWN BRAKE ACTUATOR PROBLEM. TOYOTA ISSUED A TSB/EXTENDED WARRANTY WHICH ENDED IN DEC 2017, BUT DID NOT NOTIFY OWNERS AND DID NOT DO A RECALL. IT IS EXPENSIVE AND ONLY THE DEALERS CAN DO THE WORK. OWNERS ARE LEFT WITH THE DILEMMA OF SPENDING ABOUT 2/3 THE VALUE OF THE VEHICLE TO KEEP IT SAFE TO USE, LOSE A LOT OF MONEY BY JUNKING THE VEHICLE, OR CONTINUING TO USE THE VEHICLE WHEN THE BRAKES MAY FAIL AT ANY TIME.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11111878July 17, 2018
SERVICE BRAKES, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
TOYOTA HAS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH BRAKE ACTUATOR FAILURE. THERE WAS NO NOTICE SENT TO LET OWNERS OF THESE VEHICLES KNOW THAT THEIR VEHICLE COULD BE SUBJECT TO THESE FAILURES. MY VEHICLE'S INSTRUMENT PANEL REVEALED THIS ISSUE WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM CHURCH. VEHICLE STILL OPERATIONAL, BUT COULD LOSE THE ABILITY TO APPLY BRAKES AT ANY TIME.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11105301July 3, 2018
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
HEADLIGHTS GO OUT WHILE DRIVING, IT TAKES TURNING THEM ON AND OFF A FEW TIMES TO TURN THEM BACK ON. IT IS RANDOM, SOMETIMES PASSENGER SIDE, SOMETIMES DRIVERS SIDE, SOMETIMES BOTH. TOYOTA SETTLED A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT WITH 2006 - 2009 PRIUS, MINE IS 2005, BUT THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. WHEN BOTH HEADLIGHTS GO OUT, IT MAY TAKE SEVERAL TRIES TO GET THEM TO COME BACK ON, LEAVING ME WITHOUT HEADLIGHTS AS I'M DRIVING MY KIDS TO SCHOOL EARLY IN THE MORNING IN THE DARK, GOING 65MPH DOWN THE HIGHWAY. CURRENTLY SAVING TO GET FIXED(CAR WAS A GIFT). I CALLED TOYOTA FOR AN ESTIMATE ON THIS KNOWN PROBLEM AND THEY SAID THEY I WOULD HAVE TO BRING IT IN AND THEY WOULD CHARGE ME $85 FOR THEM TO DIAGNOSIS THE PROBLEM. TOYOTA IS NOT TAKING ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS PROBLEM, WHICH CLEARLY THEY ARE AWARE OF AND SOMEHOW SKIRTED OUT OF A RECALL OR ANY LIABILITY FOR ALL MODELS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11103337June 22, 2018
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC), ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
I STARTED THE CAR AND THE SPEED INDICATOR DIDN'T ILLUMINATE. I THOUGHT IT WAS A LIGHTBULB OR SOMETHING THAT THAT HAD GONE OUT SINCE THE CAR DROVE LIKE NORMAL. WHEN I GOT TO MY DESTINATION I TRIED TO TURN OFF THE CAR BUT IT DIDN'T TURN OFF. I CALLED THE CAMPUS CAR SERVICE, BY THE TIME THEY GOT TO ME (ABOUT 30 MINUTES) THE CAR HAD TURNED OFF BY ITSELF. THIS HAS HAPPENED ABOUT 8 TIMES SINCE. THERE WAS A RECALL ON THIS VERY ISSUE WHERE TOYOTA ADMITTED THAT HIGH MILAGE PRIUS' WERE EXPERIENCING THIS PROBLEM. THE RECALL ENDED IN 2013. I JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW A KNOW ISSUE IS NO LONGER BEING FIXED WHEN THEY CLEARLY STATED THAT IT AFFECTS HIGH MILEAGE CARS. SO PEOPLE LIKE ME WHO'S CARS HAVEN'T REACHED A 'HIGH MILEAGE" DURING THEIR RECALL PERIOD ARE BASICALLY TOLD TO GUESS HOW FAST THE CAR IS TRAVELING?
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11098749May 30, 2018
SERVICE BRAKES
BRAKE ACTUATOR FAILURE. NEVER RECALLED , YET TOYOTA ISSUED EXTENDED WARANTEE INSTEAD, SO WHEN BUYING A USED PRIUS, AS NEW OWNER DID NOT KNOW OF SERIOUS PROBLEM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11094151May 16, 2018
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
HEADLIGHTS COME ON INTERMITTENTLY. USUALLY THEY WORK FINE, BUT EVERY SO OFTEN SINCE MY FRIEND FIRST TOLD ME MY LIGHTS WERE OUT LAST WEEK, THEY DON'T TURN ON WHETHER THE CAR IS RUNNING OR NOT. IT CAN HAPPEN TO ONE OR BOTH LIGHTS AT A TIME, AND IS UNPREDICTABLE, MAKING ME AFRAID TO DRIVE AT NIGHT. I TOOK IT TO THE MECHANIC'S TODAY, BUT THE LIGHTS WERE WORKING AND HE COULDN'T DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. THE BULBS ARE FINE, AS LONG AS THEY ARE ABLE TO TURN ON, AND THE MECHANIC AGREED THE BULBS DO NOT NEED REPLACEMENT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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