Toyota Prius Complaints (2007)

2,004 consumer complaints on file.

#10473653September 3, 2012
STRUCTURE:BODY, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE RUBBER COVERING ON THE REAR HATCH OPENING MECHANISM IS MELTING. I HAVE TWO OTHER MODEL YEAR PRIUS VEHICLES (2004 AND 2006) AND THIS HAS NOT OCCURRED ON THOSE - ONLY ON THIS 2007 CAR. IT IS BECOMING DIFFICULT TO OPEN THE HATCH AND IT WILL PROBABLY FAIL COMPLETELY SOON. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10473214August 31, 2012
POWER TRAIN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE GEAR SHIFTER FAILED. AS A RESULT, WHENEVER HE ATTEMPTED TO SHIFT INTO REVERSE THE VEHICLE WOULD SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL INDEPENDENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10473135August 31, 2012
AIR BAGS, STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS:UNDERBODY SHIELDS
THE CAR WAS INVOLVED IN A COLLISION NORTH OF SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS. THE COLLISION ENDED UP BEING A TOTAL LOSE OF THE VEHICLE DUE TO THE FRAME BEING SPLIT, FIREWALL BENT AND A BROKEN WINDSHIELD. MY CONCERN IS THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE AIRBAGS NOT DEPLOYING WITH AN IMPACT OF THIS NATURE COULD INCREASE THE LIKELIHOOD OF INJURIES. I BELIEVE A FAILURE OF SAFETY EQUIPMENT OF THIS NATURE SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED TO PREVENT POSSIBLE FUTURE INJURIES OR FATALITIES. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10472879August 29, 2012
STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE
THE HATCH RELEASE ON THE HATCHBACK MELTED MAKING THE HATCHBACK NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO OPEN. AS SAFETY EQUIPMENT SUCH AS FLARES, SPARE TIRES, AND FLAGS ARE KEPT IN THE HATCH UNDER THE FLOORING, NOT BEING ABLE TO ACCESS THEM IN AN EMERGENCY IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10472383August 24, 2012
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
WHILE DRIVING, THE CAR'S HEADLIGHTS SUDDENLY TURN OFF WHETHER IT BE THE RIGHT OR LEFT LIGHT. THE ONLY WAY TO MAKE THE LIGHT TURN ON AGAIN IS TO FLIP YOUR HEADLIGHTS OFF THEN ON AGAIN. AND EVEN THEN, THE LIGHTS WOULD SEEM TO DO THE SAME THING BUT IN SHORTER INTERVALS OF TIME. I HAPPENED TO RECEIVE A TICKET FOR "DRIVING WITHOUT HEADLIGHTS" WHEN IN FACT THEY JUST TURNED OFF WITHOUT MY KNOWLEDGE. I HAVE BROUGHT MY CAR INTO TOYOTA WITH THIS BEING A POPULAR MANUFACTURING DEFECT AMONGST OTHER 2006-07 PRIUS MODELS, BUT TO MY SURPRISE, THE COST FOR BULB REPAIR WOULD BE APPROXIMATELY $660. EVEN AFTER SUCH PAYMENT WAS GIVEN AND REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED, THAT WOULD NOT FULLY GUARANTEE A FULL FIX ON THE PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10471387August 18, 2012
STRUCTURE
THE TRUNK HANDLE HAD MELTED OFF, MAKING ACCESS TO THE SPARE TIRE IMPOSSIBLE IN THE HEAT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10471163August 16, 2012
STRUCTURE:BODY
THE SWITCH SUB-ASSEMBLY, LUG (PART# 84905-47010) PART FOR THE REAR DOOR HANDLE STARTED TO MELT. BLACK TAR LIKE MATERIAL WOULD GET ON YOUR HANDS AND UNDER THE FINGERNAILS. THE ENTIRE PART WAS DECOMPOSING AND THE DOOR LOCK WOULD NOT WORK AS IT SHOULD. SEARCHED THE INTERNET AND FOUND MANY OTHER 2007 PRIUS CARS DOING THE SAME THING. CALLED TOYOTA, AND THEY SAID DURING PRODUCTION THEY USED AN ADHESIVE FOR INSULATION. THIS ADHESIVE, WHEN EXPOSED TO HEAT (NORMAL SUMMER CONDITIONS), WOULD EMIT CHEMICALS THAT WOULD CAUSE THE RUBBER TO MELT, OR DECOMPOSE. TOYOTA SAID THAT THEY WOULD DO NOTHING, AND OFFERED TO CLEAN THE RUBBER. I TOLD THEM IT IS LIKE TAR NOT RUBBER! THIS IS NOT A COSMETIC PROBLEM, IT COULD LEAD TO MORE DAMAGE TO THE CAR. I PURCHASED A NEW PART FOR $84.31, AND WILL INSTALL IT. ALSO CONTACTING THE BBB. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10470522August 14, 2012
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS BURNING OUT CONSISTENTLY AFTER A VERY SHORT TIME. LAST ONE ONLY LASTED ABOUT 3 WEEKS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10470255August 11, 2012
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
HEADLIGHTS (LEFT, RIGHT AND/OR BOTH) INTERMITTENTLY GO OFF AND ON WHILE DRIVING. THIS HAS HAPPENED BEFORE AND TOYOTA REPLACED THE BULBS (I THINK) AS A DEFECT. SEVERAL BLOGS REPORT THIS PROBLEM. IT IS DANGEROUS AND COULD RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT AT WORST AND A TICKET AT BEST. TOYOTA SHOULD RECALL AND CORRECT THE PROBLEM PERMANENTLY AND NOT REQUIRE OWNERS TO PAY FOR WHAT IS AN OBVIOUS DESIGN DEFECT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10469591August 7, 2012
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
I WAS ISSUED A WARNING TICKET FOR HAVING ONE HEADLIGHT OUT. WHEN I TRIED TO INVESTIGATE THE FAILED HEADLIGHT, I COULD NOT REPLICATE THE PROBLEM... EVERY TIME I LOOKED AT MY HEADLIGHTS THEY WERE BOTH ON AND FULLY FUNCTIONAL. ONE WEEK LATER I WAS DRIVING IN THE DESERT ON A ROAD WITH NO STREET LIGHTS AND BOTH HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT WHILE I WAS DRIVING OVER 45 MPH WHILE HEADING INTO A CURVE. FORTUNATELY I WAS ABLE TO KEEP THE CAR UNDER CONTROL AND ARRIVE SAFELY AT A STOP, AS IT WAS PITCH BLACK OUTSIDE. I WAS ABLE TO TURN THE LIGHTS OFF AND BACK ON TO RESTORE LIGHTING, BUT IT HAPPENED AGAIN 5 MINUTES LATER. WEATHER CONDITION WAS MID-70'S AND A CLEAR DRY NIGHT. WHEN I BROUGHT THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP THEY SAID THEY SAW ONE HEADLIGHT GOING BAD AFTER LEAVING THE LIGHTS ON FOR TEN MINUTES, BUT WOULDN'T DEAL WITH THE OTHER HEADLIGHT OR INVESTIGATE ANY PROBLEM THAT MAY HAVE LED TO THE INCIDENT. THEY INSISTED THAT THERE WAS NO PROBLEM AND THAT THE ONLY WAY THEY COULD TEST IT IS IF I PURCHASED AND PAID FOR INSTALLATION OF 2 NEW HID LAMPS... OVER $800. THEY SAID TOYOTA'S OFFICIAL POSITION WAS TO NOT TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR IT AND THAT BOTH LAMPS MUST BE REPLACED. THEY WOULD NOT ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS PERTAINING TO TESTING THE BALLAST, NOR WOULD THEY ADDRESS WHY BOTH HEADLIGHTS FAILED WITHIN LESS THAN A WEEK OF ONE ANOTHER. ULTIMATELY, THE DEALER'S SOLUTION WAS TO TELL ME TO JUST TURN MY LIGHTS ON AND OFF REAL QUICKLY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10468456July 31, 2012
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
HEAD KEEPS GOING OUT - WE'VE REPLACED IT AND NOW WERE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM AGAIN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10468005July 27, 2012
STRUCTURE:BODY:TAILGATE
THE TAILGATE SWITCH HAD A RUBBER COVER THAT IS MELTING AND BECOME NONFUNCTIONAL AT TIMES. ACCORDING TO TOYOTA SERVICE DEPARTMENT, THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM ON MANY PRIUS. THE BREAKDOWN STARTS AFTER WARRANTY RUNS OUT IN MANY CARS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10466314July 17, 2012
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
DRIVERS SIDE HEADLIGHT AND PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT WILL GO OUT RANDOMLY AT ANYTIME BUT SO FAR BOTH HAVEN'T GONE OUT AT ONCE... HAVE BEEN STOPPED BY THE POLICE NUMEROUS TIMES FOR THIS. WHEN I TURN THE HEADLIGHTS OFF AND BACK ON AGAIN THEN THEY COME BACK ON. THIS HAS HAPPENED IN THE WINTER AND AGAIN THIS SUMMER. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AS IT IS VERY ANNOYING AND DANGEROUS ESPECIALLY AT NIGHT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10465546July 13, 2012
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
THIS IS A WELL PUBLICIZED PROBLEM. THIS PROBLEM NOW OCCURS MULTIPLE TIMES EVERY DAY> I TOOK POSSESSION OF THIS VEHICLE IN MARCH, 2011 AT ABOUT 40,000 MILES. IT IS NOT POSSIBLE FOR ME TO VERIFY THAT THE PROBLEM WAS OR WAS NOT OCCURRING FROM THE FIRST DAY I HAD THE VEHICLE.. I FIRST NOTICED THE RANDOM AND VARIABLE HEADLIGHT FAILURE ABOUT FOUR MONTHS AGO... IT OCCURS ON A REGULAR BASIS NOW.... AND IS TEMPORARILY "FIXED" BY CYCLING THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH.... IT IS NOT ALWAYS THE SAME HEADLIGHT THAT FAILS, WHICH SHOULD TELL YOU IT IS NOT THE BULB... WHICH SO MANY DEALERS ARE HAPPILY CHARGING TO REPLACE. MY VEHICLE NOW HAS OVER 84000 MILES ON IT AND THE PROBLEM PERSISTS.... SO WHOEVER DECIDED THAT 50,000 MILES IS A REASONABLE CUT-OFF FOR TOYOTA'S RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE PROBLEM.... I DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY WERE THINKING... THOUSANDS OF CARS DO NOT FAIL OVER 5 MODEL YEARS STARTING AT AS LOW AS 20,000 MILES FROM "NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR AGING AND FAILURE".... THIS IS A SERIOUS AND INEXCUSABLE DESIGN FLAW WHICH SHOULD HAVE BEEN ADDED TO THE LONG LIST OF RECALLS WHICH TODAY'S TOYOTA IS COMING TO BE KNOWN FOR.... THEY RESISTED A RECALL BECAUSE EVEN PEOPLE WHO HAVE SPENT ALMOST $2,000 FOR THE DEALER TO FIX THIS ISSUE HAVE REPORTED THAT IT RECURS AFTER THE SO-CALLED "FIX". TOYOTA MUST KNOW THAT THERE IS NO EASY FIX, AND IS NOT WILLING TO TAKE THE HIT FOR CORRECTING THEIR DEFECTIVE DESIGN. I GUESS IT WILL TAKE SEVERAL WRONGFUL DEATHS DUE TO HEADLIGHT FAILURE BEFORE THIS ISSUE CAN BE RAISED TO A NEW LEVEL OF INTERVENTION.... THE CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT WAS AN EXERCISE IN MORONIC IRRESPONSIBILITY... MOSTLY BY THE COURTS FOR ALLOWING SUCH A PITIFUL AND INEFFECTIVE RULING. ONE MORE EXHIBIT TO DEMONSTRATE THAT CORPORATIONS RUN THE WORLD TODAY.... NOT GOVERNMENTS..... PATHETIC...... *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10465600July 13, 2012
SERVICE BRAKES, STRUCTURE:BODY
I WAS DRIVING IN HEAVY TRAFFIC ABOUT 20 OR 25 MPH THE CARS IN FRONT OF ME STOPPED, WHEN I APPLIED THE BRAKE NOTHING HAPPENED, MY CAR CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. THE TIME WAS ABOUT 2:30PM JULY 10/2012 THE CAR HAD JUST BEEN SERVICED BY A TOYOTA DEALER ON JUNE 28TH/2012 FOR THE 30,000 MILE CHECK UP. WE LIVE IN WEST LOS ANGELES. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10465476July 12, 2012
ENGINE
THE 2007 PRIUS ENGINE AND SAFETY WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON WHILE DRIVING AND THE CAR STALLED ON THE HIGHWAY. THIS HAS OCCURRED 4 TO 5 TIMES IN THE LAST 4 MONTHS. WE HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP, WHERE THEY HAVE DRIVEN IT, KEPT IT OVERNIGHT, AND COULD NOT DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. THE THIRD TIME, THE DEALER SAID IT WAS THE 12 VOLT BATTERY, WHICH WE REPLACED FOR $348.85. THE CAR STALLED AGAIN - SAME SAFETY CONCERNS - STALLED WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. LUCKILY THE CAR BEHIND ME DID NOT HIT ME AND I WAS ABLE TO COAST TO A SIDE STREET. THERE WAS NOT ANY POWER. THE WINDOWS AND AIR CONDITIONING WERE NOT WORKING AS WELL. I SAT IN THE ARIZONA HEAT FOR SEVERAL MINUTES AND THAN GOT IT TO START BY PUTTING THE CAR IN PARK OVER AND OVER. ALL SAFETY WARNING LIGHTS WERE ON, AS I DROVE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP. I WAS SHAKING AND IN TEARS, FEARFUL FOR MY LIFE AND THE LIFE OF OTHERS AS I DROVE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP LESS THAN TWO MONTHS SINCE THE 12 VOLT BATTERY HAD BEEN REPLACED. I HAVE GOTTEN THE CAR SERVICED AT THE DEALERSHIP AS STATED IN THE MANUAL - EVERYTIME. THE STALLING OF THE ENGINE WHILE DRIVING AND THE LACK OF THE DEALER TO FIX THE PROBLEM IS OF GRAVE CONCERN. I AM VERY LUCKY THAT I HAVE NOT BEEN REAR-ENDED OR KILLED WHEN THE CAR HAS STALLED. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY CONCERN AND IT APPEARS THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED IN MANY PRIUS VEHICLES. THE DEALERSHIP KEEPS SAYING THAT THEY DO NOT KNOW WHAT IS THE PROBLEM. SOMETHING NEEDS TO HAPPEN TO PROTECT AMERICANS THAT DRIVE THESE CARS FOR ENVIRONMENTAL REASONS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10465173July 11, 2012
AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THE AIR BAG WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE DRIVERS SEAT AIR BAG FAILED AS A RESULT AND THE AIR BAG NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE BUT DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 33,623 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 33,724. ...UPDATED 08-10-12 *BF UPDATED 08/14/2012 *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10464829July 10, 2012
STRUCTURE
ON THE TRUNK IS A DOOR LATCH WITH A PLASTIC COVER. THE PLASTIC COVER HAS MELTED OR IS DISINTEGRATING. THERE ARE MANY POSTS ON GOOGLE IF YOU SEARCH FOR THE TERMS "PRIUS TRUNK LATCH MELT". CONSIDERING I DON'T DRIVE VERY OFTEN MY CAR IS ALMOST ALWAYS COVERED IN THE GARAGE. PLUS I LIVE IN HAWAII SO HEAT SHOULDN'T BE TOO MUCH OF AN ISSUE LIKE OTHER STATES. THIS ISN'T MY PICTURE BUT IT SHOWS WHAT MINES LOOKS LIKE. HTTP://PRIUSCHAT.COM/ATTACHMENTS/P1000894-JPG.22615/. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10464647July 9, 2012
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
WHEN DRIVING I NOTICED MY HEADLIGHT TURNED OFF FOR NO APPARENT REASON. I TURNED THE HEAD LIGHT SWITCH OFF AND BACK ON AGAIN AND ABOUT 20 MINS LATER MY LEFT HEAD LIGHT TURNED OFF. BY TURNING MY HEADLIGHT SWITCH OFF AND ON AGAIN WILL FIX THE PROBLEM BUT ONLY FOR A SHORT WHILE. I HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM BEFORE AND TOOK MY CAR TO THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP WHERE I BOUGHT THE CAR. THEY REPLACED THE HEADLIGHT, ONE ON 12/16/2008 AND THE OPPOSITE HEADLIGHT ON 6/13/2009. NOW THE PROBLEM HAS STARTED ALL OVER AGAIN. BACK IN 2008 I LOGGED MY COMPLAINT HERE ABOUT THE HEADLIGHTS AND JUST WANTED TO LET ALL THE PRIUS OWNERS THAT IT MAY HAPPEN AGAIN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10464376July 6, 2012
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
SUFFERING FROM THE COMMONLY REPORTED HID HEADLIGHT INTERMITTENT OUTAGES. IT IS OUTRAGEOUS THAT THE COST OF REPLACING A SINGLE HEADLIGHT IS OVER $400 AT THE LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER. THE VEHICLE AGE DOES NOT EXCEED THE NORMAL MTBF FOR THE BULB. I HAVE ALREADY REPLACED THE LEFT HEADLIGHT AND NOW THE RIGHT ONE HAS GONE OUT. I REPLACED 1 HEADLIGHT IN 45 YEARS OF DRIVING BEFORE I BOUGHT THIS PRIUS. NOW 2 HEADIGHTS GO OUT. THIS IS A DESIGN DEFECT. AND CAN GO OUT WHILE DRIVING. THE FAILURE MODE IS INTERMITTENT BEFORE TOTAL FAILURE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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