Toyota Prius Complaints (2007)

2,004 consumer complaints on file.

#10464399July 6, 2012
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
MY 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS HEADLIGHTS KEEP BURNING OUT AT RANDOM AND MUCH FASTER THAN ANY HEADLIGHT SHOULD, AND HAVE ALSO DONE SO WHILE I'M DRIVING. MY FIRST HEADLIGHT BURNED OUT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE LAST OCTOBER, WHICH TO ME SEEMED NORMAL, THE CAR WAS THEN 5 YEARS OLD. I BOUGHT AND REPLACED THE HEADLIGHT THE NEXT DAY. SINCE OCTOBER 2011 TO PRESENT DAY (9 MONTHS) I HAVE NOW HAD TO REPLACE BOTH PASSENGER SIDE AND DRIVER SIDE HEADLIGHTS 7 TIMES COMBINED. I HAVE TRIED NUMEROUS DIFFERENT BRANDS OF LIGHTS, AND ALSO HAD A DEALERSHIP CHECK OUT MY WIRING TO BE SURE THERE WERE NO SHORTS OR ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE SETUP, AND THEY CONCLUDED THERE WAS NONE. THE LIGHTS GO OUT AT COMPLETELY RANDOM INTERVALS, ON 2 OCCASIONS THE LIGHT WENT OUT WHILE I WAS DRIVING. AS BOTH PASSENGER AND DRIVER SIDE LIGHTS ARE GOING OUT THIS IS A CLEAR SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE WHILE THEY HAVE NOT YET GONE OUT SIMULTANEOUSLY, THE TIMINGS ARE SO OFTEN AND RANDOM THAT I FEAR THEY WILL BOTH GO OUT BEFORE I AM ABLE TO REPLACE THE ONE THAT IS OUT. AS I HAVE USED EVERY BRAND OF LIGHT THAT IS AVAILABLE, AND HAD A TOYOTA DEALER CONFIRM THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH HOW I INSTALLED THE LIGHTS OR THE WIRING, ITS VERY CLEAR THERE IS SOME KIND OF ISSUE WITH THE PRIUS LIGHTING SYSTEM ITSELF CAUSING THE LIGHTS TO GO OUT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10463899July 1, 2012
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
LIGHTING: 1) HEADLIGHTS: THIS IS THE DATE OF THE FIRST TIME FAILURE OF MY HIGH-INTENSITY HEADLIGHTS. DRIVING UP A REMOTE CURVY MOUNTAIN ROAD ONE HEADLIGHT, MY DRIVERS HEADLIGHT, FAILED AS I WAS NEGOTIATING A HAIRPIN CORNER AND I ALMOST CRA SHED AS I INSTINCTIVELY TOOK MY HAND OFF THE WHEEL TO TURN ON AND OFF MY LIGHTS. THE DEFECTIVE LIGHT TURNED BACK ON USING THIS METHOD. NOW, BOTH HEADLIGHTS ARE FAILING, SOMETIMES BOTH AT THE SAME TIME. I USE THE SAME METHOD TO RESTART THEM, ONLY NOW, THEY ARE NOLONGER FUNCTIONAL SO I CANNOT DRIVE AT NIGHT, OR ON ROADS DURING THE DAY THAT REQUIRE HEADLIGHTS ON. DEALER WOULD NOT WARRANTY THEM AT FIRST FAILURE BECAUSE I WAS 300 MILES OVER WARRANTY PERIOD. 2) TAILLIGHTS: HAVE HAD TO REPLACE BOTH AS THEY BURNED OUT PRIOR TO 36,000 MILES. 3) FRONT RUNNING LIGHTS: ALSO FROM ABOUT 30,000 MILES ON, I HAVE REPLACED THEM EACH, 5 TIMES AS THEY BURNED OUT. NOW THE FUSE BLOWS ANYTIME I INSTALL A NEW FRONT RUNNING LIGHT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10463383June 28, 2012
AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THERE WAS A DISTRACTION THAT CAUSED THE CONTRACT TO CRASH INTO THE REAR OF A TRUCK. THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE NECK. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 85,000.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10463399June 28, 2012
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
EITHER ONE OF THE TWO HEADLIGHTS WILL RANDOMLY TURN OFF WHILE DRIVING. THEY WILL SOMETIMES COME BACK ON BY THEMSELVES, OR I CAN RESET THEM BY SWITCHING THE HEADLIGHTS OFF AND ON AGAIN. THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED WAS PROBABLY MORE THAN A YEAR, AGO, BUT IT HAS BEEN GETTING WORSE. I AM NO LONGER DRIVING MY CAR AT NIGHT, FOR FEAR OF GETTING INTO A WRECK, UNTIL I CAN GET IT FIXED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10463321June 27, 2012
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I WAS DRIVING ON FREEWAY (US 101 SOUTHBOUND IN MARIN COUNTY CAAT 8:30 AM), DRY WEATHER 60 DEG F. ENTIRE DASHBOARD WENT BLACK (SPEEDOMETER, FUEL GAUGE AND OTHER INDICATOR LIGHTS ALL QUIT PROVIDING READINGS) AND THE ENERGY MONITOR SCREEN PANEL, WHILE STILL LIT, QUIT PROVIDING DATA (THE MILES SHOWN ON THIS PANEL WERE STUCK AT 107). THEREFORE, NO SPEEDOMETER READINGS WERE AVAILABLE. MORE IMPORTANTLY, I HAD EXTREME DIFFICULTY TURNING THE PRIUS OFF WHEN I REACHED MY DESTINATION--DEPRESSED AND HELD POWER BUTTON SEVERAL TIMES, WITH FOOT ON BRAKE AND AUTO IN "PARK". RADIO AND AIR CONDITIONING KEPT RUNNING, DOOR WOULD NOT LOCK AND THE ENERGY MONITOR STILL SHOWED BACKGROUND INFORMATION. OTHERWISE, PRIUS DROVE NORMALLY. THIS WAS THE SECOND TIME THIS HAPPENED IN LAST TWO WEEKS. AFTER SEVERAL TRIES, HOLDING POWER BUTTON DOWN FOR SEVERAL SECONDS, I FINALLY DID GET THE PRIUS TO SHUT OFF. AND, WHEN RESTARTED, THE DASHBOARD APPEARED TO OPERATE NORMALLY. NOT HAVING DASHBOARD INDICATORS WHILE DRIVING IS DISTURBING, BUT AUTO COULD BE OPERATED. NOT BEING ABLE TO TURN VEHICLE OFF IS MORE PROBLEMATIC BECAUSE IT IS DIFFICULT TO TELL PRIUS WAS NOT SHUT DOWN (THE FAN CONTINUES RUNNING WHEN THE CAR SHUTS DOWN NORMALLY AND ELECTRIC MOTOR IS ALMOST SILENT)--MY INDICATION WAS THAT THE RADIO WAS STILL ON AND AIR CONDITIONING WAS STILL RUNNING. IF THE CAR HAD BEEN IN DRIVE, IT COULD HAVE TAKEN OFF AS ELECTRIC MOTOR WAS STILL ON (I TESTED WHEN I THOUGHT IT WAS PECULIAR THAT RADIO WAS STILL ON). *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10463215June 26, 2012
STRUCTURE:BODY, AIR BAGS
ON MY WAY HOME FROM WORK ON THE FRONTAGE ROAD ALONG I-5. MY TIRES HIT THE GRAVEL AND I LOST CONTROL. I WENT THROUGH THE GRASS ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD DOWN A DIP AND LANDED ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE CAR ON THE RAILROAD TRACKS. I BEGAN TO ROLL AND ROLLED THE CAR FROM SIDE TO SIDE AT LEAST 15 TIMES. A ROW OF TREES IS WHAT STOPPED ME. THE ENGINE WAS STILL RUNNING AND I WAS STILL BUCKLED IN THE DRIVERS SEAT. I HAD TO KICK OUT THE WINDSHIELD IN ORDER TO GET OUT OF THE CAR. I WENT TO EMERGENCY THAT NIGHT WHERE I WAS X-RAYED AND CHECKED OUT. I ENDED UP WITH ONLY MAJOR BRUISING ON THE LEFT SIDE OF MY BODY, THE CHP THAT RESPONDED WAS SURE I WAS DEAD. THEY TOLD ME THEY EXPECTED TO SEE A DEAD BODY IN THE CAR. I BARELY ESCAPED WITH MY LIFE AND THE AIR BAGS NEVER DEPLOYED IN THE CAR. *JB
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10461677June 13, 2012
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
PURCHASED THE CAR USED AND IMMEDIATELY NOTICED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT WOULD GO OUT INTERMITTENTLY WITH NO WARNING OR APPARENT REASON. TURNING THE LIGHTS OFF AND BACK ON WOULD BRING BOTH LIGHTS BACK ON. NOW - A YEAR LATER - THE SAME THING IS HAPPENING WITH BOTH HEADLIGHTS. VERY SCARY. HAVE BEEN ADVISED BY A TOYOTA DEALER THAT THE PROBLEM IS BULB BURNOUT. HOW CAN THAT BE WHEN THEY COME ON INITIALLY AND WORK INTERMITTENTLY??? THE COST TO REPLACE BOTH BULBS IS $527! THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN. CAN'T AFFORD A FIX. WHAT TO DO?? *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10461535June 7, 2012
AIR BAGS
MY SON WAS ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A U-TURN AND WAS HIT BY A CAR GOING THE SAME DIRECTION. HIS HEAD BROKE THE DRIVER SIDE WINDOW AND THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. THE AIR BAG IN THE OTHER CAR DID OPEN.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10459956May 29, 2012
STRUCTURE
MY 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS' REAR HATCHBACK LATCH RUBBER COVERING HAS MELTED INTO BLACK GOO. EVERY TIME I OPEN THE HATCH IT GETS ALL OVER MY FINGERS. I ASKED MY DEALER IF TOYOTA HAD RECALLED THE LATCH AND WAS TOLD NO. I DIDN'T HAVE IT REPLACED THEN BECAUSE IT IS VERY EXPENSIVE. HOWEVER I CAN'T TAKE IT ANYMORE AND AM GOING TO GET IT REPLACED BEFORE THE LATCH FAILS TO OPEN. IT IS GOING TO COST $257! THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND A DEFECT ISSUE, NOT A NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR ITEM. TOYOTA HAS KNOWN ABOUT THIS AND DONE NOTHING TO FIX IT BY ISSUING A RECALL. SHAMEFUL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10459611May 25, 2012
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
THE HEAD LIGHTS JUST GO OFF WHILE YOU ARE DRIVING AND YOU MUST TURN THEM OFF AND BACK ON AGAIN TO GET THEM TO WORK .I ALREADY HAD THIS REPAIRED AND IT IS HAPPENING AGAIN AND TO MY KNOWLEDGE THERE HAS NOT BEEN A RECALL AND OBVIOUSLY ITS A SAFETY HAZARD. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10458870May 17, 2012
STRUCTURE:BODY:TRUNK LID
THE TRUNK HINGE HAS MELTED, IT LOOKS LIKE THE PLASTIC ON THE HINGE HAS COME APART THUS NOT ALLOWING THE TRUNK TO CLOSE. I'VE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER TWICE NOW WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10458681May 16, 2012
STRUCTURE:BODY, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
AFTER ONLY ABOUT 4 YEARS USE, THE RUBBER COVER ON THE HATCH RELEASE HANDLE (THE EXTERIOR HANDLE OF THE REAR HATCH) OF OUR 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS, MELTED INTO A STICKY TARRY BLACK RUBBERY GOOEY MESS. I CAN BEST DESCRIBE IT AS BEING A VISCOUS BLACK GLOB LIKE ROOFING TAR. TO OPEN THE HATCH, YOU HAVE TO TOUCH THIS BLACK GOO EACH TIME, WHICH MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO OPERATE THE HATCH RELEASE. WE BELIEVE THIS MELTING PROCESS STARTED AT ABOUT THE 3 YR. MARK. WE LIVE IN TEXAS WHERE TEMPERATURES WERE EXTREMELY WARM LAST SUMMER. APPARENTLY TOYOTA KNOWS ABOUT THIS, AND IS SELLING THE ENTIRE WIRING HARNESS FOR $96 PLUS REPAIR COSTS, AND HAS DONE NOTHING ABOUT RECALLING THIS. FROM A SAFETY PERSPECTIVE, THIS MEANS YOU CAN EXPERIENCE EXTREME DIFFICULTY OPENING THE REAR HATCH (A LIFE SAFETY ACCESS POINT), AND WILL GET STICKY BLACK TAR ON YOU FROM THE MELTED DOWN RUBBER COVER OF THE EXTERIOR HATCH RELEASE HANDLE. I HAVE HAD SEVERAL INSTANCES WHERE I WAS NOT ABLE TO GET THE HATCH OPEN ON AN EXTREMELY HOT DAY. TO ME, THIS IS BOTH A SERIOUS LIFE SAFETY ISSUE AND A SERIOUS QUALITY DEFECT THAT TOYOTA IS OPTING TO IGNORE AND ONLY FIXING ON VEHICLES WITH EXTENDED WARRANTIES, SINCE THE FAILURE APPEARS TO OCCUR AT AROUND THE 3 YEAR MARK (IE AFTER 3 YEARS OF EXPOSURE TO THE BRIGHT SUN IN FLORIDA FOR EXAMPLE). I AM AWARE OF THE OUTSTANDING WORK DONE BY NHTSA ON OTHER SAFETY ISSUES, INCLUDING THE PROBLEM WITH RUSTY FRAMES ON 02 ISUZU AXIOMS, AND I FIND THIS PROBLEM TO BE SIMILAR IN NATURE, SO I AM ASKING FOR YOUR AGENCY TO TAKE A LOOK AT THESE INSTANCES AND ALSO TO INQUIRE FROM TOYOTA WHY THEY ARE NOT RECALLING THESE HANDLES THAT ARE MELTING IN THE SUN!!! IT'S OUTRAGEOUS. I THINK A DOOR HANDLE OR HATCH HANDLE SHOULD BE MADE TO LAST MORE THAN 3 YEARS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10458547May 15, 2012
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
WHILE DRIVING THE HEADLIGHTS WILL SHUT OFF. SOMETIMES THE DRIVERS SIDE WOULD GO OUT. SOMETIMES THE PASSENGER SIDE WOULD GO OUT. SOMETIMES BOTH HEADLIGHTS WILL GO OUT. IF YOU TURN OFF THE HEADLIGHTS AND TURN THEM BACK ON THEY WILL WORK FOR VARIOUS AMOUNTS OF TIME. DEALER MECHANIC STATES THIS IS AN EXTREMLY COMMON OCCURANCE WITH THIS VEHICLE. REPAIR COST WAS QUOTED AT APPROX $600 TO REPLACE THE HEADLIGHTS AND THAT POSSIBLY THIS COULD NOT FIX THE PROBLEM AND COULD NEED FURTHER REPAIRS BUT THIS IS WHERE THEY START WITH THIS KNOWN ISSUE. *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10457932May 9, 2012
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
WHEN I STARTED MY PRIUS AND THE DASH LIGHTS DID NOT COME ON (FUEL GAUGE, MILEAGE, SPEEDOMETER ETC). I PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE AND THE BACKUP CAMERA PICTURE DID NOT APPEAR ON THE SCREEN. THE SCREEN WAS ON BUT CONTINUED TO SHOW THE CONSUMPTION SCREEN. I THEN PUT THE CAR IN PARK AND HIT THE POWER BUTTON AND THE CAR WOULD NOT TURN POWER OFF. I PUT THE CAR IN DRIVE THEN PARK AND REVERSE THEN PARK SEVERAL TIMES HITTING THE POWER BUTTON AFTER EACH TRY AND THE CAR EVENTUALLY POWERED OFF. I STARTED THE CAR AGAIN AND HEADED TO THE GOLF COURSE AND CALLED TOYOTA AND MADE AN APPOINTMENT FOR THE SAME DAY. THE NEXT TIME I GOT IN THE CAR (ABOUT 4 HOURS LATER) THE DASH LIGHTS CAME ON AND I DROVE HOME AND THE CAR POWERED OFF NORMALLY. I CANCELLED THE APPOINTMENT AT TOYOTA FOR NOW AND WILL SEE WHAT HAPPENS. THE SERVICE PERSON AT THE DEALERSHIP SAID THAT SHE HAD NOT HEARD OF THIS PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10457541May 4, 2012
EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL, STRUCTURE:BODY:TAILGATE
2007 TOYOTA PRIUS - TAILGATE SWITCH MELTED AND MAKES OPENING THE TAILGATE DIFFICULT AND MESSY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10456817April 29, 2012
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
HEADLAMPS TURN OFF ON THEIR OWN INTERMITTENTLY. THE LEFT LIGHT WILL GO OFF MORE THAN THE RIGHT. I USUALLY CORRECT THE SITUATION BY TURNING OFF THE LIGHTS THEN BACK ON. THIS PROBLEM HAS INCREASED IN FREQUENCY. I READ IN AN ONLINE FORUM (PRIUSCHAT) THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10455310April 15, 2012
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
PASSENGER HEADLAMP WENT OUT AFTER APPROXIMATELY 30,000 MILES. REPLACED IT ALONG WITH DRIVER SIDE BULB. NOW BOTH SIDES ARE OUT (LOW BEAMS ONLY) AS WELL AS PASSENGER SIDE TAILLIGHT. ALL OTHER LIGHTS ARE WORKING FINE. THE FUSES ARE INTACT. TURNING OFF AND ON HASN'T HELPED. CAR STILL HAS JUST OVER 45,000 MILES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10454340April 6, 2012
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
HID HEADLIGHTS FAILED, GO ON AND OFF AT RANDOM TIMES. IT STARTED AT 45,000 MILES AND THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THEM AT NO COST TO ME AND NOW THE LIGHTS ARE FAILING AGAIN AT 109,000. I WAS TOLD NOT TO TURN THEM ON DURING DAYLIGHT TO HELP THEM LAST LONGER. I USE THEM DURING THE DAY, DEPENDING ON WHAT ROAD I AM ON FOR SAFETY REASONS. I DON'T BELIEVE THAT LIGHTS SHOULD FAIL SO FREQUENTLY.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10453540March 30, 2012
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER WAS TRAVELING 40 MPH WHEN THE HEADLIGHTS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 68,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 68,500.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10453469March 29, 2012
STEERING
WHILE DRIVING THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT SUDDENLY CAUSING A TOTAL LOSS OF ASSISTED STEERING. WHICH CAUSED AN ABRUPT CHANGE IN STEERING ABILITY ALMOST CAUSING ME TO HIT A CAR WHILE TURNING. THE DEALER DETERMINED IT WAS THE ECM AND NEEDED A NEW ONE AT AN ASTRONOMICAL COST OF OVER $1000 TO FIX. *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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