Toyota Prius Complaints (2007)

2,004 consumer complaints on file.

#10318962March 11, 2010
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, PROCEEDING TO A TRAFFIC LIGHT. WHILE COMING FROM A COMPLETE STOP WITH THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL DEPRESSED; THE PEDAL WAS NON RESPONSIVE. THE CONSUMER TURNED THE ENGINE OFF AND THEN RESTARTED IT. THE VEHICLE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BECAME OPERABLE. IN ADDITION, ON A SEPARATE OCCASION TRAVELING AT 45 MPH THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO DECREASE IN SPEED. THE IDENTICAL FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS, AND HE ADVISED HER TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE AUTHORIZED DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE OR DETECT ANY DIAGNOSTIC CODES. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED FOR THE MALFUNCTION. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,000. THE CURRENT WAS 15,500. UPDATED 08/03/10. *LJ THE CONSUMER STATED SHE HAS EXPERIENCED A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER WHILE DRIVING. WHEN SHE APPLIED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL THERE WAS NO RESPONSE. SHE TRIED SHIFTING INTO DRIVE SEVERAL TIMES, AND THERE WAS STILL NO RESPONSE. UPDATED 09/02/10*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10318979March 11, 2010
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH AT NIGHT, AND OBSERVED THAT BOTH HEADLIGHTS FUNCTIONED ONE AT A TIME INTERMITTENTLY. THE FAILURE RESULTED TO LIMITED VISIBILITY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON SEVERAL SEPARATE OCCASIONS FOR THE IDENTICAL FAILURE. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE BULBS REQUIRED REPLACEMENT WHICH INVOLVED THE REMOVAL OF THE FRONT BUMPER TO INSTALL THE BULBS. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THIS TIME. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 59,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10318991March 11, 2010
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, APPROACHING A TRAFFIC LIGHT. WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS ENGAGED, THE BRAKES FAILED TO RESPOND IN A TIMELY MANNER. ADDITIONALLY, THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING REPAIRED WHEN THE COMPLAINT WAS FILED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 23,406. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 30,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10319003March 11, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
CONSTANT PECULIAR NOISES FROM BRAKE SYSTEM, PREMATURE BRAKE WEAR COMPUTER SYSTEM HAD TO BE RE-INITIALIZED AT 15,000 MILES. BRAKES PADS HAD TO BE REPLACED AND ROTORS RESURFACED AT SAME MILEAGE. BRAKE PEDAL DEPRESSED TO THE FLOOR BEFORE VEHICLE STOPPED, IT WAS AN EMERGENCY STOP. THESE PROBLEMS HAVE PERSISTED FOR ALMOST 3 YEARS AND THE DEALER AND FACTORY REP. SAYS IT IS NORMAL. ARBITRATION IN FAVOR OF TOYOTA. I HAVE NEVER HEARD THESE NOISES IN ANY OTHER VEHICLE I HAVE DRIVEN IN 62 YEARS. THESE NOISES COULD BE A PROBLEM WAITING TO HAPPEN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10319080March 11, 2010
TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
I AM WRITING TO EXPLAIN TWO PROBLEMS I HAVE HAD WITH MY TOYOTA PRIUS. I WANT TO HAVE A DOCUMENTED OF REPORT OF THESE PROBLEMS IN THE EVENT THAT THEY RESULT IN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT, AS I FEAR THEY MIGHT. I HAVE EXPERIENCED THESE PROBLEMS ON A NUMBER OF OCCASIONS. THE FIRST PROBLEM OCCURS WHENEVER I DRIVE OVER ROUGH OR UNEVEN PAYMENT. WHEN THE TRACTION CONTROL KICKS IN, IT FEELS AS IF THE CAR IS SURGING AND IT IS NECESSARY TO STEP ON THE BRAKE, SOMETIMES WITH BOTH FEET, VERY HARD IN ORDER TO GET THE CAR TO SLOW DOWN OR STOP. I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR IN FOR THIS PROBLEM A COUPLE OF TIMES. I HAVE DRIVEN CARS WITH TRACTION CONTROL IN THE PAST AND NEVER FELT THE SURGING THAT OCCURS WITH THE PRIUS, WHEN DRIVING OTHER CARS USING OTHER TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEMS. THE OTHER ISSUE WITH THE CAR IS THAT OCCASIONALLY, WHEN ACCELERATING, MY NORMALLY SILENT PRIUS MAKES A LOUD REVVING NOISE. WHENEVER I HEAR THIS NOISE, I IMMEDIATELY TAKE MY FOOT OFF THE GAS. THANKFULLY, SO FAR, THE NOISE STOPS AND THE CAR SLOWS DOWN. THE NOISE DOES NOT OCCUR EVERY TIME I ACCELERATE, BUT IT SEEMS TO BE HAPPENING WITH INCREASING FREQUENCY. I AM NOT SURE IF OTHER PRIUS OWNERS, ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN ACCIDENTS, HAVE REPORTED THIS ISSUE OR NOTICED THE REVVING NOISE PRIOR TO THEIR ACCIDENTS. BUT, I THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE AN IMPORTANT PIECE OF THE PUZZLE THAT SHOULD BE REPORTED. I HOPE THIS INFORMATION IS USEFUL. QUITE HONESTLY, I AM A CONCERNED EACH AND EVERY TIME I GET INTO MY CAR. BUT, WITH A YEAR REMAINING ON MY LEASE I HAVE LITTLE CHOICE BUT TO ENGAGE IN WHAT I FEEL IS INCREASINGLY A GAME OF TOYOTA OWNER RUSSIAN ROULETTE TO GET TO SCHOOL AND DO ALL THE THINGS I NEED TO DO. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10319084March 11, 2010
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
MY 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS HAS A SAFETY RELATED DEFECT WITH THE HID LIGHTS. THESE LIGHTS WILL GO OUT SPORADICALLY WHILE DRIVING. OFTEN TIMES IT TAKES LESS THAN 10 SECONDS FOR BOTH LIGHTS TO BE OFF WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT. I HAVE REPLACED BOTH LIGHTS, TWICE WITH AFTERMARKET BULBS AND THE PROBLEM REMAINS. TOYOTA IS CHARGING $450 TO REPLACE THE BULBS A THIRD TIME, WITH NO WARRANTY IF THEY FAIL. THIS SAME REPAIR CAN BE DONE ONLINE WITH IDENTICAL BULBS FOR $50. ADDING TO THE DIFFICULTY IS THAT THE BULB HOUSING IS LARGELY INACCESSIBLE FOR A NORMAL USER. MANY OWNERS, BASED ON HUNDREDS OF DESCRIPTIONS ON THE INTERNET, HAVE TAKEN TO REMOVING THE ENTIRE BUMPER JUST TO REPLACE THE HEADLIGHT BULB (WHICH IS WHAT I HAVE TO DO SINCE MY HANDS AREN'T TINY). THIS DESIGN FLAW EXACERBATES THE REPAIR OF A SAFETY RELATED DEFECT. THE HID LIGHTBULBS IN QUESTION ARE DENSO D4R'S, WHICH ACCORDING TO JD POWER SHOULD HAVE AN AVERAGE LIFESPAN OF 90,000 MILES FOR AN AVERAGE USER. MOST USERS ARE EXPERIENCING HALF OF THIS VALUE. INDICATING THE ECU OR BALLAST IS AT FAULT DESPITE THE INITIAL RESEARCH DONE ON THIS PARTICULAR TOPIC BY NHTSA, MY HEADLIGHTS DO BOTH FAIL WITHIN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME OF ONE ANOTHER - CONSTITUTING A LEGITIMATE SAFETY CONCERN. ONE WILL FAIL UPON TURNING THE CAR ON WITHIN A FEW SECONDS, LEAVING THE 2ND TO EITHER FAIL SHORTLY AFTER, OR AT ANY PERIOD OF TIME AFTER THIS POINT. THIS IS WITH NEW BULBS THAT ARE AT SPEC FOR THE CAR ACCORDING TO THE MANUAL. I HAVE NO COURSE OF RESOLUTION FOR THIS MATTER, AND TOYOTA IS UNWILLING TO HELP. I AM CONCERNED ABOUT MY SAFETY WHILE DRIVING THIS CAR, ESPECIALLY IN THE RAIN, OR AT NIGHT. I WOULD HOPE THAT THE NHTSA TAKES LIGHT FAILURES AS SERIOUSLY AS THEY DO BRAKE AND ACCELERATOR FAILURES, AS THEY'RE ALSO LIKELY TO LEAD TO ACCIDENTS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10318435March 10, 2010
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
THE HEADLAMPS ON MY 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS INTERMITTENTLY FAIL. THEY PERIODICALLY FLICKER. THE HEADLAMPS OPERATE AFTER BEING TURNED OFF FOR SOME TIME. NO CRASH YET! DANGEROUS SITUATION! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10318495March 10, 2010
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I OWN A 2007 PRIUS AND NOTICED THIS PROBLEM FOR SEVERAL MONTHS ALREADY. MARCH 7, 2010 WAS A RAINING DAY IN SAN DIEGO. AT ABOUT NOON, I DROVE MY WIFE TO THE MARKET WITH THE PRIUS. I NEEDED TO TURN ON THE WARM AIR TO DEFROST THE WINDSHIELD FOR BETTER VISIBILITY. WHAT I GOT WAS THE COLD AIR FROM THE A/C. I CHECKED THE A/C INDICATOR AND IT WASN'T ON. I TOUCHED THE INDICATOR TO TURN IT ON THEN OFF BUT NOTHING CHANGED. THE AIR WAS STILL COLD. AFTER SHOPPING AT THE MARKET, WE STARTED THE PRIUS AGAIN TO DRIVE HOME. THE AIR THEN CHANGED TO WARM. WHAT WE LEARNED WAS ONLY A TOTAL TURN OFF COULD CHANGE THE 'STUCK' CONDITION IN THE PRIUS. THIS WAS NOT A DANGEROUS INCIDENT BUT IT COULD RELATE TO THE ELECTRONICS MALFUNCTION IN ANOTHER SERIOUS ACCIDENT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10318497March 10, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
CAR SEEMS TO LOSE BRAKE POWER FOR A FRACTION OF A SECOND WHEN DRIVING OVER POTHOLES, ON BUMPY PAVEMENT, OR ON WET SLIPPERY DIRT ROADS. OCCURS EACH TIME WHEN BRAKING UNDER SAID CONDITIONS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10318357March 10, 2010
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC), SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
JUST COMPLETED A LEFT TURN BEHIND ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE OTHER VEHICLE THEN SLOWED TO MAKE AN IMMEDIATE LEFT TURN INTO A GAS STATION ACROSS THE ROAD. I WAS GENTLY APPLYING THE BRAKES TO KEEP MY FOLLOWING DISTANCE (10FT, TRAVELING ABOUT 8MPH). THE OTHER CAR SUDDENLY APPLIED THE BRAKES HARDER TO TURN, WHEN I PRESSED HARDER THERE WAS NO REACTION UNTIL I HIT THE OTHER CAR, AT WHICH POINT THE BRAKES ENGAGED AND I STOPPED. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10318404March 10, 2010
EXTERIOR LIGHTING, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, SEATS
1. WIFE IS LEARY OF DRIVING OUR 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS BECAUSE OF PROBLEM BRAKES. WE NEED A BETTER DESCRIPTION OF WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE TRY TO TURN OFF THE ENGINE GOING 100 MPH. 2. LIGHTS ARE POOR. WE CANNOT SEE VERY FAR AHEAD IN THIS DEER INFESTED ENVIRONMENT. I HAVE BETTER LIGHTS ON MY 1997 HYUNDAI 3. ONE OR THE OTHER HEADLIGHT FLICKERS AND GOES OUT FOR NO UNDERSTANDABLE REASON. WE TURN THE LIGHTS OFF AND TURN THEM ON AGAIN AND IT WORKS OK. THIS COULD BE A SAFETY HAZARD. WHAT IS BEING DONE TO FIX IT. 4. SEATING. MY FIRST ENCOUNTER WITH THE TOYOTA COMPLAINT SYSTEM CAM ABOUT AS I WAS TRYING TO GET THE DRIVER SEAT MOVED BACK BECAUSE I HAVE LONG LEGS. THE DEALER SAID THEY HAVE NO WAY OF FIXING THIS BUT THAT I SHOULD GO TO THE AFTER MARKET. I ASKED IF TOYOTA WOULD ACCEPT AN AFTERMARKET SOLUTION. THE DEALER SAID THAT THEY WILL EVALUATE IT AFTER IT IS INSTALLED TO TELL US IF IT MEETS SAFETY SPECIFICATIONS NO AFTERMARKET SUPPLIER WILL TRY TO FIX THIS BECAUSE THEY HAVE NOT ASSURANCE THAT IT WILL BE ACCEPTED BY TOYOTA. YET TOYOTA GIVES NO TECHNICAL INFORMATION ABOUT WHAT IS ACCEPTABLE. I COMPLAINED FORMALLY TO THE DEALER AND GOT NOWHERE. I THEN SENT A FORMAL COMPLAINT TO NATIONAL TOYOTA. THEY PASSED THE COMPLAINT BACK TO THE DEALER FOR RESPONSE. FOR ME THIS IS A MAJOR FLAW IN THE TOYOTA COMPLAINT HANDLING SYSTEM. THEY HAVE A CLOSED LOOP WHEN IT COMES TO COMPLAINTS. 5. I LIKE THE CAR AND IT GETS THE MILEAGE I EXPECTED. I AM NOT SURE I WILL EVER GET ANOTHER TOYOTA IF THERE ARE REASONABLE ALTERNATIVE THAT GET GOOD MILEAGE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10318412March 10, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE TRAVELING AT A SPEED OF 25 MPH OVER A ROUGH SURFACE THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SKID AND IT BECAME DIFFICULT TO CONTROL, THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT ALSO APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND SENT A REPRESENTATIVE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT DIDN'T PROVIDE ANY DETAILED INFORMATION REGARDING THE DIAGNOSIS THAT THE REPRESENTATIVE FOUND. THE CONTACT ALSO NOTICED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 27,000. UPDATED 05/14/10. *LJ
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10317936March 9, 2010
TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM
INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). I OWN A 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS, I HAVE BEEN HAVING THE SAME ISSUES OTHER DRIVERS ARE REPORTING IN THAT THE VEHICLE WILL INCREASE SPEED WHEN GOING OVER BUMPS, OR ON A SLIPPERY ROAD. I ALWAYS ASSUMED IT WAS SOME TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM AND IT WAS NORMAL, HOWEVER THE RECENT NEWS STORIES HAVE MADE ME AWARE THAT MY SITUATION WITH MY VEHICLE IS NOT NORMAL. I HAVE CONTACTED TOYOTA ABOUT THIS MAJOR ISSUE, HOWEVER THEY ADVISED ME THAT BECAUSE THE VEHICLE IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY THAT THEY ARE NOT HELD LIABLE FOR THE VEHICLE. THEY ALSO STATED THAT DUE TO NO RECALL BEING ISSUED FOR THIS MODEL AND YEAR THAT NOTHING CAN BE DONE, UNLESS I AM WILLING TO PAY TO HAVE THE ISSUE AT HAND RESOLVED. I DO FEEL THAT THE BRAKING ISSUE IS IDENTICAL TO THE 2010 ISSUES. NOT SURE WHAT TO DO, AND THEREFORE I AM WRITING TO YOU. THE INCIDENT DATE WOULD BE WHEN EVER I DRIVE MY VEHICLE, NO CRASH HAS HAPPENED YET HOWEVER. [XXX] *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10317948March 9, 2010
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
I OWN A 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS. ABOUT A YEAR AGO, MY ACCELERATOR MALFUNCTIONED WHILE I WAS DRIVING. MY CAR SUDDENLY WANTED TO DRAMATICALLY INCREASE SPEED AND I HAD NO CONTROL OVER IT. I ALMOST GOT INTO A REALLY BAD CAR ACCIDENT. NOW I'M HEARING THAT THIS EXACT THING IS HAPPENING TO OTHER PEOPLE WITH THE SAME CAR AS ME. I HAVE TRIED CALLING MY LOCAL TOYOTA DEALERSHIP, AND THEY JUST TELL ME THAT THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO ABOUT IT UNTIL I GET A RECALL IN THE MAIL. I HAVE TRIED CALLING CUSTOMER SERVICE, AND NO ONE EVER PICKS UP THE PHONE. I HAVE EMAILED TOYOTA EXPRESSING MY VERY STRONG FEELINGS ABOUT THIS, AND I HAVE YET TO RECEIVED AN EMAIL BACK. I AM VERY UPSET ABOUT THIS. I AM VERY SCARED TO DRIVE MY OWN CAR, AND I DO A LOT OF DRIVING. I CAN'T PAY TO GET MY CAR FIXED BECAUSE I AM A STUDENT. I FEEL LIKE TOYOTA IS JUST TELLING PEOPLE THAT THEY ARE DOING EVERYTHING THEY CAN TO HELP THEIR CUSTOMERS, BUT I FEEL THAT THEY HAVE TREATED ME WITH THE EXACT OPPOSITE ATTITUDE. I ALSO FEEL LIKE THEY AREN'T GOING TO TAKE THIS PROBLEM SERIOUSLY UNTIL THERE IS A TRAGEDY FROM THIS MALFUNCTION. I REALLY NEED MY CAR FIXED BEFORE I GET INTO A BAD CAR ACCIDENT, BUT TOYOTA DOESN'T SEEM TO CARE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10318014March 9, 2010
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
I HAVE A 2007 PRIUS. I HAVE EXPERIENCED INTERMITTENT PROBLEMS WITH BOTH HEAD LIGHTS TURNING OFF. SOMETIMES THEY BOTH GO OUT AT THE SAME TIME. THE FIRST TIME I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP THEY SAID THEY COULD NOT RECREATE THE PROBLEM. I TOOK IT IN YESTERDAY AND ONE BULB WAS REPLACED FOR $275. I UNDERSTAND I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE WHO HAS HAD THIS PROBLEM. I AM CONCERNED ABOUT DRIVING AT NIGHT, BECAUSE BOTH LIGHTS HAVE GONE OFF AT SAME TIME. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10318035March 9, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
MY 2008 PRIUS HAS A TRANSMISSION-RELATED PROBLEM RECENTLY, AND I BELIEVE IT MAY BE CONNECTED TO THE SUDDEN ACCELERATOR ISSUES. THE TRANSMISSION STOPPED OPERATING PROPERLY ABOUT THREE MONTHS AGO, AND THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP CHECKED IT AND COULD FIND NO PROBLEM. HOWEVER, MY GAS MILEAGE HAS DROPPED ABOUT TEN MPG, AND THE TRANSMISSIONS VACILLATES BETWEEN BEING SLUGGISH (BARLEY GOING UP NORMAL HILLS, ) OR THE ENGINE SOMETIMES RACING. I WONDER IF THE CAR IS SAFE, AND IF THE COMPUTER RUNNING THE TRANSMISSION IS THE PROBLEM ON OTHER VEHICLES, THE ONES WHOSE "ACCELERATORS STICK" MAYBE IT THIS THE ELECTRONIC PROGRAM ON THE TRANSMISSION, NOT THE ACCELERATOR. I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE MINE NOW - AM USING MY TEN YEAR OLD FARM TRUCK INSTEAD ON MANY OCCASIONS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10318087March 9, 2010
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
THE PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT BULB ON MY WIFE'S 2007 PRIUS GOES OUT INTERMITTENTLY, AFTER IT'S BEEN TURNED ON AT DUSK. TURNING THE LIGHTS OFF AND THEN ON AGAIN MAKES THE LIGHT WORK FOR A SHORT WHILE UNTIL IT GOES OUT AGAIN. NOT SOMETHING WE SHOULD BE DOING WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. THE DEALER TOLD HER TO WAIT UNTIL THE LIGHT GOES COMPLETELY OUT BEFORE BRINGING IT IN TO BE REPLACED. I TRIED TO REPLACE IT FOR HER BUT FOUND IT REQUIRED QUITE A BIT OF SKILL AND QUITE A BIT OF TIME. THIS HAS BEEN AN ON-GOING PROBLEM, SINCE CHRISTMAS, 2009. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10318091March 9, 2010
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
SINCE EARLY DECEMBER 2009, MY 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS HAS HAD A SAFETY PROBLEM WITH THE HID HEADLIGHTS GOING OUT INTERMITTENTLY, USUALLY ONLY ONE SIDE AT A TIME, BUT SEVERAL TIMES BOTH HAVE GONE OUT AT THE SAME TIME. I LIVE JUST OFF A DARK, WINDING ROAD, AND TWICE BOTH OF THE LIGHTS WENT OUT AT THE SAME TIME, LEAVING ME TOTALLY IN THE DARK. I WAS ABLE TO FLIP THEN OFF AND BACK ON TO NARROWLY AVOID A POTENTIAL FATAL ACCIDENT. I HAVE BEEN STOPPED BY THE GA HIGHWAY PATROL AND GIVEN A WARNING DUE TO THE DRIVER SIDE HEADLIGHT NOT WORKING AT DUSK ONCE. HAD IT BEEN DARK ALREADY, THE OFFICER WOULD HAVE TICKETED ME HE SAID. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE THAT REQUIRES THE NHTSA TO INVESTIGATE THOROUGHLY WITH PRIUS OWNERS. THERE ARE SEVERAL BLOGS ON THE INTERNET REPORTING THIS PROBLEM AND COMPLAINING ABOUT THE EXORBITANT COST THAT TOYOTA DEALERSHIPS CHARGE TO "FIX" THE PROBLEM (FROM $800 TO $1800), ONLY TO FIND THAT THE PROBLEM IS REPEATED WITHIN A YEAR OR TWO. THE LOCAL TOYOTA DEALERSHIP SAID THAT MY "REPAIR" WOULD BE ABOUT $1,100, BUT I DECLINED BECAUSE I FEEL THAT THIS IS AN INHERENT DEFECT IN THE HEADLIGHTS THEMSELVES, THE WIRING HARNESS, OR THE COMPUTER MODULE (OR POSSIBLY ALL OF THEM) THAT MAY OR MAY NOT BE FIXED BY THROWING MONEY AT IT NOW. I BEG YOU TO INVESTIGATE THIS ISSUE AND CONSIDER MAKING TOYOTA ISSUE A GENERAL RECALL DUE TO THE HEADLIGHTS ISSUE. SOMEONE IS GOING TO BE KILLED ONE DAY, IF IT HASN'T ALREADY HAPPENED. IT PROBABLY ALREADY HAS. THIS CAR WAS PURCHASED NEW, NOT DRIVEN HARD OR OVER BAD ROADS, ROUTINE MAINTENANCE HAS BEEN KEPT UP, AND IT HAS LESS THAN 39,000 MILES ON IT (ABOUT 37,000 AT THE TIME THE PROBLEM BEGAN). I AM IN THE PROCESS OF CONTACTING TOYOTA MOTORS NOW TO COMPLAIN ABOUT THIS SAFETY ISSUE AND DEFECTIVE PARTS TO SEE WHAT THEY WILL DO TO HELP ME. THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME TO INVESTIGATE THIS SERIOUS ISSUE AND I HOPE THAT YOU WILL BE ABLE TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE TO SAVE LIVES BECAUSE OF IT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10318253March 9, 2010
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
MY 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS ACCELERATED UNINTENTIONALLY DURING A LANE CHANGE. I HIT THE BRAKES AND THIS REMEDIED. THE FLOOR MAT WAS NOT INVOLVED. I MIGHT HAVE HAD THE CRUISE CONTROL ON, BUT I DON'T REMEMBER FOR SURE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10318244March 9, 2010
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC
VEHICLE WAS SB IN LANE 2 OF 2 WHEN IT IS REPORTED THAT THE DRIVER LOST CONTROL STRUCK A GUARD RAIL ON THE RIGHT THEN TRAVELED ACROSS TWO LANES CROSSING ONTO A SHOULDER WHERE IT EVENTUALLY STRUCK A TREE. EYE WITNESSES SAW NO BRAKE LIGHTS AT ANY POINT. AUTOPSY CONCLUDED THAT THE DRIVER DIED FROM TRAUMA CAUSED BY IMPACT WITH THE TREE. THE VEHICLE WAS A 07 PRIUS. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
1

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