Toyota Prius Complaints (2007)

2,004 consumer complaints on file.

#10411234July 5, 2011
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
THE TRUNK LATCH FOR OUR 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS STARTED MELTING INTO A GOOEY MESS ABOUT 3 YEARS AFTER WE PURCHASED IT. IT SEEMS THAT MANY OTHER OWNERS OF THE 2007 PRIUS HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME THING. TOYOTA WILL NOT REPLACE IT AS DEFECTIVE EQUIPMENT; HOWEVER, IT IS OBVIOUS THAT DOOR HANDLES ARE NOT SUPPOSED TO MELT, EVEN IF YOU LIVE IN A WARM CLIMATE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10410295July 2, 2011
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10410326July 2, 2011
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
FAILURE OF TOYOTA PRIUS HID HEADLAMPS,LEFT ME "DRIVING IN THE DARK." *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10410132June 30, 2011
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES, STRUCTURE
THE REAR HATCH RELEASE ON MY 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS HAS BEGUN TO DECOMPOSE AND TURN INTO A RUBBERY, GOOEY MESS. IT INTERFERES WITH THE USE OF THE HATCH AS THE GOO NOT ONLY GETS ON THE FINGERS BUT APPEARS TO BE BLOCKING THE RELEASE MECHANISM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10409002June 27, 2011
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
THE LATCH ON THE HATCH OF MY 2007 PRIUS HAS MELTED INTO A GOOEY MESS. IT INTERFERES WITH THE OPERATION OF THE LATCH MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO OPEN THE HATCH. I STARTED NOTICING THIS AT THE 3-3.5 YEAR MARK, NOW IT IS A BLACK GLOB THAT COMES OFF ON MY HAND WHENEVER I ACCESS THE LATCH. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10408966June 26, 2011
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
AFTER ONLY ABOUT 3 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 2 YR. MARK. I THOUGHT THAT THIS MIGHT BE A SINGULAR ISSUE, BUT HAVE FOUND THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED TO SEVERAL CAR OWNERS, PARTICULARLY IN FLORIDA. WE ALSO LIVE IN FLORIDA. 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. 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). 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. PLEASE REVIEW THESE FORUM COMMENTS OF OTHER INCIDENTS: *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10407697June 21, 2011
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
2007 TOYOTA PRIUS REAR LID RELEASE BUTTON. THIS BUTTON RELEASE HAS BEGUN 'MELTING' INTO A GOOEY PLASTIC THAT BINDS THE RELEASE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10407759June 21, 2011
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT FAILED. THE PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT WOULD FAIL INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS OR REPAIRS. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10407307June 17, 2011
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE BOTH HIGH INTENSITY HEADLIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED THEY WOULD SHUT ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY. THE DEALER REPLACED BOTH HEADLIGHTS, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED WITHIN 10,000 MILES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 38,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 100,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10404282June 3, 2011
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
TOYOTA HAS FAILED TO RECALL THE ELECTRIC WATER PUMP IN THE SECOND GENERATION PRIUS. TOYOTA HAS RECALLED THE FIRST GENERATION PRIUS FOR A FAULTY ELECTRICAL WATER PUMP, WHICH IS THE SAME PUMP FOUND IN THE SECOND GENERATION. WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM WORK, MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TURNED ON AND I HAD TO GO TO THE TOYOTA SERVICE TO GET IT CHECKED. AFTER BEING TOLD THAT IT WAS RECALLED ON THE FIRST GENERATION, I LOOKED UP INFORMATION ONLINE ON IF THIS WAS THE SAME WATER PUMP. I THEN CAME ACROSS NUMEROUS ARTICLES AND RECALLS ON OTHER TOYOTA WEBSITES (IN DIFFERENT COUNTRIES) STATING THAT THE PUMP HAS BEEN RECALLED. TOYOTA HOWEVER HAS NOT RECALLED ANY OF THESE CARS IN THE USA. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10404018June 1, 2011
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
TWO YEARS AGO THE HID HEADLIGHTS IN MY 2007 PRIUS BEGAN TO FAIL INTERMITTENTLY. FIRST IT WAS THE DRIVER SIDE LIGHT ONLY. I FOUND THAT IF I TURNED THE LIGHT OFF AND ON AGAIN THE LIGHT WOULD WORK. MORE RECENTLY, BOTH LIGHTS BEGAN FAILING. RECENTLY I WAS ON A CURVY BACK ROAD. BOTH LIGHTS FAILED. EVERYTHING WENT TOTALLY BLACK. I MANAGED TO TURN THE LIGHTS OFF AND ON AGAIN AND SWERVE JUST IN TIME TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT. I HAD BOTH LIGHTS REPLACED BY TOYOTA AT MY OWN EXPENSE SINCE I HAD MORE THAN 50,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. I CALLED TOYOTA AND TOLD THEM ABOUT THE INCIDENT AND THAT IT SHOULD BE HANDLED AS A SAFETY RECALL BEFORE SOMEONE IS SERIOUSLY INJURED OR KILLED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10403789May 31, 2011
STRUCTURE, LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
I BOUGHT A SCION IN '06, MY FIRST CAR I'VE EVER BOUGHT. IT WAS WONDERFUL, EXCEPT THAT I LIVE IN FLORIDA AND THE RUBBER PIECE ON MY TRUNK HANDLE MELTED. IT MELTED SO MUCH THAT, TO THIS DAY, THERE IS A HUGE GLOB OF RUBBER ON MY LICENSE PLATE. WELL, YESTERDAY I TRADED IN MY SCION FOR A PRIUS. I AM HAVING THE SAME ISSUE WITH THE HANDLE! EVERY TIME I OPEN MY TRUNK, I GET BLACK GUNK ON MY HANDS. UPON RESEARCH, I FOUND THAT A LARGE NUMBER OF PEOPLE ARE EXPERIENCING THIS PROBLEM WITH THEIR TOYOTAS. I EMAILED TOYOTA AND ADDRESSED THEM WITH THE ISSUE. THEY WROTE IT OFF AS GREASE DRIPPING FROM THE HANDLE, WHEN IF YOU LOOK AT MY CAR, IT IS CLEAR THAT THERE ARE GLOBS OF MELTED RUBBER EVERYWHERE. THEY TOLD ME IT COULD EASILY BE WIPED OFF AND I CAN'T EVEN SCRAPE IT OFF OR WASH IT OFF WITH SOAP AND WATER! I EVEN SENT THEM LINKS TO FORUMS WITH PAGE AND PAGES OF COMPLAINTS WITH THE SAME ISSUE AND THEY STILL WON'T ADDRESS IT. THEREFORE, I DECIDED TO REPORT IT HERE. THIS COULD POTENTIALLY TURN INTO A SAFETY ISSUE, IF THE RUBBER CONTINUES TO MELT CAUSING THE TRUNK TO BE INOPERABLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10402779May 26, 2011
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
I AM EXPERIENCING INTERMITTENT HEADLIGHT PROBLEMS. THE HEADLIGHTS WOULD TAKE TURNS GOING OUT. THIS WOULD HAPPEN WHILE DRIVING. FIRST, THE PASSENGER SIDE, THEN THE DRIVER SIDE, AND SOMETIMES BOTH. IF I TURNED THE LIGHT SWITCH OFF & BACK ON, THE HEADLIGHTS WOULD COME BACK ON. THE PROBLEM WAS VERY INTERMITTENT AT FIRST (STARTING AT 41000 MILES) BUT BECAME A REAL NUISANCE AT 49000 MILES. I TOOK THE CAR INTO THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP AT AROUND 52000 MILES. THEY SAID THAT IT WAS THE BULBS. I HAVE REPLACED BOTH BULBS AND THE PROBLEM STILL CONTINUES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10402377May 23, 2011
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
DRIVING LATE AT NIGHT ON THE INTERSTATE AND BOTH HEADLIGHTS FAILED. COULDN'T SEE ANYTHING. QUICKLY TURNED HEADLIGHT SWITCH OFF AND THEN BACK ON AND THE LIGHTS CAME BACK ON. FAILED AGAIN EVERY FEW MINUTES. IF FLIPPING THE SWITCH ON/OFF DIDN'T WORK WE MOST LIKELY WOULD HAVE ALL BEEN DEAD AS IT WAS SO DARK OUT YOU COULDN'T SEE THE ROAD OR ANYTHING ELSE TO STOP SAFELY. HAD TO PULL OVER FOR THE NIGHT AND STAYED AT A HOTEL. REPLACED THE LIGHTS AT THE DEALERSHIP. TO AFRAID TO DRIVE AT NIGHT SO DON'T KNOW IF THE PROBLEM STILL PERSISTS. SO DON'T KNOW FOR SURE IF IT WAS THE HEADLIGHTS OR AN ELECTRICAL SWITCH MALFUNCTION. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10399401May 6, 2011
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
AFTER ONLY ABOUT 3 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. I THOUGHT THAT THIS MIGHT BE A SINGULAR ISSUE, BUT HAVE FOUND THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED TO SEVERAL CAR OWNERS, PARTICULARLY IN FLORIDA. WE PURCHASED THE CAR IN FLORIDA. TOYOTA KNOWS ABOUT THIS, AND IS SELLING THE ENTIRE WIRING HARNESS FOR $96 PLUS REPAIR COSTS, AND HAS DONE NOTHING ABOUT RECALLING THIS. THE DEALER STATED THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM ON NUMEROUS MAKES AND THEY SEE THIS REGULARLY. 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. 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. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10397890April 26, 2011
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED IN DECELERATION AND THE VEHICLE HITS A BUMP OR POTHOLE, THE BRAKES RELEASE FOR A SECOND, THEN GRAB AGAIN, EVEN THOUGH FOOT PRESSURE HAS NOT CHANGED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10396892April 20, 2011
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
THE HID HEADLIGHTS GOING OFF WHILE DRIVING WITH NO WARNING, BUT IF THE SWITCH IS TURNED FROM ON TO OFF THE LIGHT WORK AGAIN MOMENTARILY UNTIL THEY GO OUT AGAIN. VERY UNSAFE DRIVING CONDITIONS, COULD LEAD TO INJURIES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10396752April 19, 2011
TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM
MY 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS ACCELERATES WHILE BRAKING AFTER HITTING BUMPS ON THE ROAD. I WAS BRAKING TO COME TO A STOP, THE CAR PROPELLED FORWARD 2-3 TIMES, THE TRACTION LIGHT FLASHED TWICE ALL WHY I HAD FULL PRESSURE APPLIED TO THE BRAKE PEDAL. LUCKILY THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME HAD NOT STOPPED COMPLETELY OTHERWISE THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN AN IMPACT AS I HAD NO METHOD OF MAKING THE CAR STOP MOVING FORWARD. THE CAR WILL ALSO PROPEL FORWARD WHEN GOING OVER RAIL ROAD TRACKS OR OTHER BUMPS/POTHOLES IN THE ROAD. FROM A DRIVER STANDPOINT, IF THE CAR LOSES CONTACT WITH THE ROAD THERE IS SOMETHING ELECTRONIC THAT CAUSES IT TO ACCELERATE EVEN IF THE BRAKE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10396850April 19, 2011
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
ON 10/16/2010 MY HUSBAND AND I ATTENDED A WEDDING RECEPTION AT A LODGE IN THE SIERRA MOUNTAINS NORTHEAST OF LAKE TAHOE. THE LODGE WAS REACHED BY DRIVING OUR 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS FROM OUR HOTEL AT LAKE TAHOE NORTHEAST ON NEVADA STATE HIGHWAY 431, A STEEP, WINDING TWO-LANE ROAD OVER THE SUMMIT OF MT. ROSE AT AN ALTITUDE OF 7,100 FEET ABOVE SEA LEVEL. AFTER THE RECEPTION WAS OVER WE LEFT TO RETURN TO OUR HOTEL. WHEN WE LEFT THE LODGE IT WAS EARLY EVENING AND THE SUN HAD SET, SO WE DROVE WITH OUR HEADLIGHTS TURNED ON. APPROXIMATELY ONE MILE DOWN THE ROAD BOTH HEADLIGHTS SUDDENLY WENT OUT, PLUNGING US INTO COMPLETE DARKNESS. SINCE WE COULD NOT SEE THE ROAD, WHICH HAD NO SHOULDER, A HILLSIDE ON THE RIGHT AND A STEEP DROP-OFF ON THE LEFT WE HAD NO CHOICE BUT TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP. AT THIS POINT WE FEARED THAT WE MIGHT FALL VICTIM TO A VEHICLE RAMMING US FROM BEHIND SINCE WE HAD NO LIGHTS ON OUR CAR. I DESPERATELY TURNED THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH ON AND OFF TRYING BOTH THE REGULAR AND HIGH-BEAM SETTINGS AND, FINALLY, TURNING THE CAR OFF AND ON. THIS SEEMED TO WORK AND THE HEADLIGHTS CAME BACK ON. BUT AFTER DRIVING ABOUT ANOTHER MILE THE HEADLIGHTS AGAIN WENT OUT. AGAIN, BY MANIPULATING THE SWITCH AND TURNING THE ENGINE OFF AND THEN ON, WE MANAGED TO TURN THE LIGHTS BACK ON. WE THEN PROCEEDED SAFELY TO OUR HOTEL WITHOUT ANY FURTHER INCIDENTS. WE EXPERIENCED NO ADDITIONAL PROBLEMS UNTIL DECEMBER, 2010, WHEN WE NOTICED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS SEEMED TO BE DIMMER THAN THEY SHOULD BE. THEN IN JANUARY, 2011, ONE OF THE HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT PERMANENTLY AND WE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A TOYOTA DEALER FOR SERVICE. I WISH TO POINT OUT THAT WE HAD NO PRIOR INDICATION THAT THE HID HEADLIGHTS WERE DIMMING OR OTHERWISE MALFUNCTIONING. NEITHER HAD WE RECEIVED ANY COMMUNICATION FROM TOYOTA THAT THERE COULD BE A PROBLEM WITH THE HEADLIGHTS OR WITH THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT. OUR EXPERIENCE ON OCTOBER 16, 2010, WAS A LIFE-THREATENING SITUATION WHICH COULD HAVE RESULTED IN A MAJOR TRAGEDY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10396630April 18, 2011
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
DRIVER'S SIDE HID LIGHT BULB TURNS OFF INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING. TURNS BACK ON WHEN HEADLIGHTS ARE SHUT OFF AND TURNED BACK ON, BUT IS SIGNIFICANTLY DIMMER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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