Toyota Prius Complaints (2005)

1,051 consumer complaints on file.

#10808765December 7, 2015
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
LAST NIGHT WHILE DRIVE 1.5 HOURS HOME, THE DRIVER'S SIDE HEADLIGHT WOULD SHUT OFF, AND IF I NOTICED AND FLIPPED THE LIGHTS OFF THEN ON, IT WOULD COME BACK ON. IF I DIDN'T NOTICE, THEN THE PASSENGER LIGHT WOULD ALSO GO OUT LEAVING ME IN DARKNESS. I BEGAN TIMING THE INTERVAL, AND IT CAME OUT TO BE INTERMITTENT BETWEEN ONE AND TWO MINUTES, REGARDLESS OF TERRAIN, SPEED OF VEHICLE, SMOOTH OR BUMPY ROADS, STRAIGHT OR CURVY ROADS, ETC.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10808873December 7, 2015
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
ME AND MY FAMILY TRAVELING DOWN THE INTERSTATE AT 70 MPH IN THE DARK WHEN A TRACTOR TRAILER ALL OF A SUDDEN STARTED TO CHANGE LANES WHEN WE WERE DIRECTLY TO THE LEFT OF IT. LUCKILY THE LANE TO OUR LEFT WAS OPEN AND WE WERE ABLE TO QUICKLY CHANGE LANES TO AVOID COLLISION. IT TURNS OUT OUR 2005 PRIUS HEADLIGHTS WERE NOT WORKING AND THE TRUCK DID NOT SEE US. HAD TO TURN LIGHTS OFF THEN ON AGAIN TO GET THEM TO WORK. THE REST OF THE WAY HOME ONE LIGHT WOULD GO OUT, THEN THE OTHER WOULD GO OUT. HAD TO TURN SWITCH OFF THEN ON AGAIN TO GET THEM TO TURN ON AGAIN. THIS IS DEFINITELY A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE WITH THIS CAR. WHY IS THERE NOT A RECALL.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10808642December 6, 2015
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT IS INTERMITTENT. THIS HAS HAPPENED AT LEAST TWICE BEFORE AND I BELIEVE THE BULB AND SOME OTHER ELECTRONICS HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER CHARGES A HUGE AMOUNT FOR THIS REPAIR.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10808545December 5, 2015
SERVICE BRAKES
HIGH PITCHED, STEADY TONE COMES ON AFTER SEVERAL MINUTES OF DRIVING AT START OF DRIVING DAY AND DOES NOT STOP UNLESS/UNTIL BRAKES ARE DEPRESSED FULLY FOR AT LEAST 10SEC., WHICH CAUSES TONE TO STOP. STARTS UP AGAIN AFTER SEVERAL MINUTES OF DRIVING, SOMETIMES LESS AND RECYCLES. REGULAR BRAKING SEEMS TO WORK, BUT NOT ABS AND ABS LIGHT, VSC ! LIGHTS ARE CONTINUOUSLY ON.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10808124December 3, 2015
STEERING
I WAS PULLING OUT OF A PARKING SPOT AND MY STEERING COMPLETELY GAVE OUT. I COULD TURN MY STEERING WHEEL TO THE LEFT AND TO THE RIGHT, BUT MY WHEELS WERE NOT RESPONDING TO THE MOVEMENT. THERE WAS A ROUGH NOISE AS I TRIED TO CORRECT THE STEERING BUT THERE WAS NO FOREWARNING OF THIS (I HAD BEEN DRIVING AROUND TOWN EARLIER THAT DAY JUST FINE - ON BUSY ROADS WITH HIGHER SPEED LIMITS). IT WAS VERY SCARY AND THANKFULLY, I WAS ONLY GOING 5MPH SO I JUST STOPPED THE VEHICLE AND PLACED IT IN PARK. MY CAR IS CURRENTLY AT AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP IN AUSTIN, TX AND THEY SAID THE SPLINES BROKE WHICH DISABLED THE STEERING (AND THAT I NEED TO REPLACE THE STEERING RACK AND YOLK). I'M GETTING A SECOND OPINION AT A TOYOTA DEALERSHIP TO SEE WHAT THEY SAY, BUT THIS MAJOR FAILURE WAS EXTREMELY ALARMING. MY PRIUS HAS APPROX 92,000 MILES ON IT, AND I TAKE VERY GOOD CARE OF IT FROM A MAINTENANCE STANDPOINT. I'VE NEVER HEARD OF A PROBLEM LIKE THIS BEFORE. I HAVE PLENTY OF FRIENDS WITH OLDER CARS WITH MORE MILEAGE AND NONE OF THEM HAVE EXPERIENCED A COMPLETE FAILURE OF STEERING WHILE THE CAR IS IN MOTION. ADDITIONALLY, MY FATHER SPOKE TO A FRIEND WHO OWNS A TOYOTA DEALERSHIP AT HOME AND HAS SOLD MANY PRIUS VEHICLES - HE SAID THIS WAS VERY SERIOUS AND UNCOMMON. ....UPDATED 12/30/15 *BF PLEASE LET ME KNOW WHAT OTHER INFORMATION YOU NEED TO ADEQUATELY LOOK INTO THIS. *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10794395November 17, 2015
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
WHILE DRIVING IN ANY DIRECTION IN ALL CONDITIONS, THE LEFT HEADLIGHT BEGAN FLICKERING IN MAY 2015, SHORTLY AFTER LEFT HEADLIGHT BEGAN FLICKERING. THEY DO NOT WORK AT ALL NOW.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10789827November 11, 2015
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE CAR KEPT SLIPPING INTO NEUTRAL WHEN WANTING TO DRIVE. PARKING BUTTON DIDN'T WORK.THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND I WAS TRYING TO DRIVE IT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10789419November 9, 2015
AIR BAGS
I'M CONCERNED BECAUSE MY VEHICLE'S AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY DURING A CRASH WHEREIN I COLLIDED WITH A CAR TURNING LEFT IN FRONT OF ME AT APPROXIMATELY 35-40 MPH. THE FRONT END CRUMPLED AND MY DRIVER AND PASSENGER DOORS DO NOT FULLY OPEN DUE TO THE DAMAGE TO THE FRAME OF THE CAR. THE CAR IS CURRENTLY BEING INSPECTED WITH REGARD TO DETERMINATION OF A LIKELY TOTAL LOSS. WHILE I UNDERSTAND AIRBAGS DON'T ALWAYS DEPLOY, I FELT THAT THIS MIGHT BE A CASE WHERE THEY SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10789124November 8, 2015
SERVICE BRAKES
THE BRAKE BOOSTER PUMP ASSEMBLY IS MAKING A SOUND EVERY TIME THE CAR IS OPERATIONAL. THERE IS A STRUCTURAL DEFLECT IN THE BRAKE BOOSTER PUMP ASSEMBLY CAUSING GAS TO LEAKED INTO THE BRAKE FLUID WHICH CAN CAUSE LOSS OF BRAKING. THE 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS SHOULD BE RECALLED TO FIX THIS BRAKE BOOSTER PUMP. BASED ON RESEARCH SUBSEQUENT PRIUS MODELS (E.G. 2010) HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM AND WERE RECALLED. THEREFORE, THIS IS A URGENT REQUEST TO PLEASE RECALL ALL 2005 PRIUS AND ANY OTHER APPLICABLE YEARS. SEE YOU TUBE WEB SITE TITLED "TOYOTA - D0H - BRAKE BOOSTER PUMP ASSEMBLY": HTTPS://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=QN_A_HALZ1C
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10787708November 2, 2015
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
WE WERE ON THE OVERPASS GOING FROM HIGHWAY 87 TO US 101 NORTH IN SAN JOSE GOING ABOUT 70 MPH HEADING TO THE SAN FRANSISCO AIRPORT. IT WAS 8PM, AND VERY DARK. THE HEADLIGHTS JUST SHUT OFF, WHILE THE DASHBOARD INDICATOR SAID THAT THE LIGHTS WERE STILL ON. WE TRIED FRANTICALLY TRIED TURNING THE LIGHTS ON AND OFF AGAIN TO SEE IF THEY WOULD COME ON, AND THEY DIDN'T. WE TOOK THE NEXT EXIT AND STOPPED IN FRONT OF A HOTEL WERE WE COULD SEE THE HEADLIGHTS IN THE WINDOW, AND THEY WERE OFF. WE TURNED THE CAR OFF, COUNTED TO 10, THEN TURNED THE CAR BACK ON. THE LIGHTS CAME BACK ON. WE TURNED ON THE FOGLIGHTS IN CASE THE HEADLIGHTS TURNED OFF AGAIN. THEY STAYED ON ALL THE WAY TO THE AIRPORT AND ALMOST ALL THE WAY HOME. THEY TURNED OFF FOR ABOUT 1 MILE, AND THEN TURNED BACK ON.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10782829October 16, 2015
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE, THE COMBINATION METER WOULD INTERMITTENTLY FAIL CAUSING THE INSTRUMENT PANEL GAUGES TO STOP FUNCTIONING. IN ADDITION. THE PARKING BRAKE DID NOT FUNCTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT COMBINATION METER WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 159,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10782584October 15, 2015
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT WILL NOT STAY ON, IT WILL STAY ON ABOUT 5 MINUTES AND THEN IT GOES OUT ! WHAT IS THE PROBLEM ???
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10781324October 11, 2015
SERVICE BRAKES
WHEN I AM GOING SLOW AND BRAKING, THE CAR LUNGES FORWARD WHEN THERE IS UNEVEN PAVEMENT, A POTHOLE,ETC. OFTEN IT WILL HAPPEN AT THE SAME STOP SIGNS AROUND MY HOME. THIS HAS HAPPENED SINCE I PURCHASED THIS USED CAR IN JULY OF 2014. IT HAS HAPPENED MORE THAN 50 TIMES IN THE YEAR AND HALF THAT I HAVE OWNED IT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10779485October 3, 2015
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
HEAD LIGHT WILL INTERMITTENTLY GO OFF. I CAN TURN THE LIGHT SWITCH TO OFF AND THEN BACK ON AND THE HEADLIGHT WILL COME BACK ON. USUALLY THIS HAPPENED ON A STREET OR HIGHWAY WHEN THE CAR IS IN MOTION AND LIGHTS ARE SWITCH ON. THIS HAPPENS OFF AND ON WHEN THE CAR IS BEING DRIVEN. USUALLY IT IS THE LEFT HEADLIGHT, BUT OCCASIONALLY THE RIGHT HEADLIGHT GOES OFF AS WELL. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR SEVERAL MONTHS. THE TOYOTA DEALER QUOTES $500.00 TO MAKE REPAIRS! I DID RESEARCH ON INTERNET AND FOUND THAT THIS PROBLEM IS PRETTY COMMON FOR CERTAIN YEARS OF THE TOYOTA PRIUS AUTOMOBILES, 2005 INCLUDED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10765186September 18, 2015
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
OUR DAUGHTER DROVE THE VEHICLE TO SCHOOL. SHE PARKED THE VEHICLE AND FOUND THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT TURN OFF. WE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD BY THE SERVICE ADVISOR THAT THE CAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM WAS A PART CALLED THE COMBINATION METER. HE ADVISED THAT THE PART WAS RECALLED AND WE SHOULD HAVE BEEN CONTACTED BY TOYOTA. HE PROVIDED ME WITH A PHONE NUMBER FOR THE TOYOTA CORPORATIONS RECALL DEPARTMENT. I TELEPHONED TOYOTA AND THEY ADVISED ME THAT I WAS MISINFORMED BY THE SERVICE ADVISOR AND THAT THE PART WAS NOT RECALLED, BUT THERE WAS AN EXTENDED WARRANTY ISSUED ON THE PART IN 2012. I ASKED WHY THE VEHICLE WAS NOT RECALLED AND WAS TOLD BECAUSE IT WASN'T A SAFET MY CONCERN IS THAT THIS VEHICLE IS UNSAFE IF THIS PART FAILS. BY SURFING THE INTERNET, I FOUND THAT THERE HAVE BEEN MANY COMPLAINTS BY OTHERS REGARDING THE SAME PROBLEM. IF MY DAUGHTER WOULD HAVE DRIVEN THIS VEHICLE HOME, PARKED THE VEHICLE IN THE GARAGE AS SHE USUALLY DOES. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT HAVE TURNED OFF. THE VEHICLE IS A HYBRID AND WHEN THE BATTERY POWER WAS DEPLETED, THE GASOLINE ENGINE WOULD HAVE KICKED ON. THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED A DANGER, DUE TO CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING TO ANY OCCUPANTS WITHIN THE HOUSE. ADDITIONALLY, IF THE ANTI LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM NO LONGER WORKS WHEN THIS PART FAILS, THE BRAKING DISTANCE INCREASES IN AN EMERGENCY BRAKING SITUATION. WHEN THIS PART FAILS THE DASH GOES COMPLETELY BLACK, THE DRIVER IS UNAWARE THAT THE ABS BRAKING SYSTEM IS NO LONGER WORKING. THE DRIVER IS ALSO UNABLE TO SEE THE SPEEDOMETER OR ANY OTHER GAUGES IN THE DASH. DUE TO RECENT DEATHS, DUE TO CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING CAUSED BY VEHICLES NOT TURNING OFF. I FEEL THAT TOYOTA IS NEGLIGENT FOR NOT TAKING MY CONCERNS MORE SERIOUSLY. TOYOTA IS AWARE THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THIS PART, THEY ISSUED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY IN 2012.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10760155August 29, 2015
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
SINCE SEPTEMBER OF 2014 I HAVE HAD ISSUES WITH THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS. THEY HAVE BECOME DIMMER AND DIMMER. THEN DURING THE WEEK OF 8/24/15, I STARTED MY CAR AND THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS CAME ON, BUT WHEN I TURNED ON THE HEADLIGHTS, ALL DASHBOARD LIGHTS WENT BLACK. I HAD TURN SIGNAL LIGHTS, BUT NOTHING ELSE UNLESS I TURNED OFF THE HEADLIGHTS. THIS WAS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AS I WAS DRIVING HOME AFTER DARK. I HAD NO IDEA HOW FAST I WAS GOING, WHAT GEAR I WAS IN, IF I HAD ENOUGH GAS TO GET HOME, ETC., ETC. THE NEXT MORNING I TOOK A 20-MILE DRIVE AND WHEN I STOPPED, I COULD NOT GET THE CAR TO SHUT OFF BY PUSHING THE IGNITION BUTTON. I TRIED MULTIPLE TIMES AND THE ENGINE FINALLY TURNED OFF, BUT THE DISPLAY PANEL WAS STILL DIMLY LIT. I THEN DROVE DIRECTLY TO THE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE WHATEVER WAS WRONG REPAIRED. AFTER A MECHANIC CHECKED IT OUT, IT WAS DETERMINED THE COMPUTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND THEY HAD TO ORDER THE PART. THIS IS NOT AN ITEM THAT IS NORMALLY SERVICED AND I HAVE NO CLUE IF THE DEALERSHIP CHECKS IT DURING A SERVICING OF THE CAR. SO I WONDERED IF THERE WAS A RECALL ON IT. IN CHECKING ON THIS WEBSITE I FIND I AM NOT THE ONLY PERSON WHO HAS HAD THIS PROBLEM AND THAT I THOUGHT THERE WOULD BE A RECALL ON IT. WHEN I PICKED UP MY CAR I ASKED ABOUT THE RECALL AND I WAS GIVEN PAPERWORK STATING IT WAS A "WARRANTY ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM" FOR "9 YEARS WITH NO MILEAGE LIMITATION FROM THE DATE OF FIRST USE OR BEFORE SEPTEMBER 30, 2013". LETTERS WERE SENT OUT TO PRIUS OWNERS OF CARS FROM 2004 TO CERTAIN 2009 MODELS. I NEVER RECEIVED A LETTER AND AM VERY CONCERNED IF TOYOTA KNEW THERE WAS A PROBLEM WHY DIDN'T THEY NOT DO JUST A "WARRANTY ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM" BUT A RECALL? THEY WOULD THAT EVENTUALLY ALL CARS WOULD HAVE THIS PROBLEM AND IT SHOULD BE REPLACED. THIS IS AN EXTREME SAFETY ISSUE!
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10759805August 27, 2015
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, SERVICE BRAKES, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING SOME PROBLEMS WITH MY HEADLIGHTS. I CHANGED THE BULB AND A MONTH LATER THE LIGHT STOPPED WORKING AGAIN. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP THEY BLAMED IT ON THE BULB, I TRIED TO RETURN THE BULB TO THE STORE AND THEY TESTED IT AND SAID EVERYTHING WAS OK WITH THE BULB SO IT HAD TO BE THE HEADLIGHTS. I'M ALSO HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS. THE SPEEDOMETER AND GAS GAGE COMPLETELY FAILED. AT THE SAME TIME I WAS TOLD MY ABS BRAKE SYSTEM NEEDS TO BE REPLACED! THIS IS TOO MUCH HAPPENING AT THE SAME TIME AND I HAVE TO PAY FOR ALL OF IT OUT OF POCKET.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10759306August 25, 2015
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, STEERING, AIR BAGS
1) SUDDEN UNEXPECTED ACCELERATION 2) STEERING SHAFT SEVERED 3) DRIVERS SIDE AIR BAG INOPERATIVE ALONG WITH ALL STEERING WHEEL MOUNTED CONTROLS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10758881August 24, 2015
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
HEADLIGHT ON THE DRIVER SIDE KEEPS TURNING OFF EVERY COUPLE OF MINUTES. THE ONLY WAY TO TURN IT BACK ON IS TO FLIP THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH. IT LOOKS LIKE THIS IS A DEFECT IN MANY TOYOTA PRIUS 2005 MODELS. I WOULD LIKE THE DEALER TO FIX THE ISSUE EVEN IF TYE CAR IS BEYOND THE MANUFACTURER WARRANTY AS THIS IS CLEARLY A MANUFACTURING DEFECT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10758925August 24, 2015
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, POWER TRAIN
THE CAR JUMPS OUT OF GEAR, OR IT WON'T GO INTO PARK. BUT IT STARTED TO DRIVES AWAY AFTER I GOT OUT OF THE CAR, OR AS I WAS GETTING OUT. THIS HAPPEN TWICE, ONCE AT THE DEALER. THE DISPLAY FOR TRANSMISSION POSITION WAS BROKEN. THE SAME DISPLAY THAT SHOWS SPEED, FUEL LEVEL AND OTHER ITEMS WAS NOT WORKING. ALSO, I COULD NOT SHUT OFF THE CAR OR REMOVE THE KEY. THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPEN WAS 8/19/2015 AT A CAR WASH. THE DISPLAY WENT DEAD DURING THE WASH. WILE TRYING TO FIX THE PROBLEM, THE CAR DROVE AWAY IN REVERSE AND KNOCKED ME OVER. I HAD MINOR INJURIES. I MIGHT HAVE SOME OTHER PROBLEMS AS A RESULT OF THAT ACCIDENT. THE NEXT DAY I WANT TO THE DEALER. WITHOUT LOOKING AT THE CAR (NO COMPUTER ANALYSIS), THE SERVICE MAN TOLD ME THE DISPLAY AND COMPUTER WAS BAD. HE SAID IT HAPPENS A LOT. HE ALSO QUOTED ME A PRICE OF AROUND $700. I WENT BACK TO MY DAUGHTER HOUSE TO LOOK FOR ANOTHER DEALER AND TO RESEARCH THE ISSUE. (I WAS VISITING FROM CA). AT HER HOUSE, I NOTICED THE CAR WOULD NOT SHUT OFF AND I COULD NOT GET THE KEY OUT (THE DEALER REP TOLD ME TO PUT THE KEY IN THE SLOT). SO I JUST WENT BACK TO THE DEALER TO HAVE THEM FIX IT AND PAY THE PRICE. (IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT THE DEALER AND ITS EMPLOYEES NEVER GAVE ME THE SAME INFORMATION AND THEY WANTED ME TO GET SO FRUSTRATED, THAT I WOULD LEAVE WITH THE CAR NOT REPAIRED. THEY SUGGESTED THAT I TAKE IT SOMEWHERE ELSE. AT ONE POINT, THEY CLAIMED THAT I TOLD THEM I WAS GOING TO TAKE THE CAR AWAY WITHOUT THE REPAIR. I NEVER SAID THAT! THEY DID EVERYTHING THEY COULD TO MAKE ME MAD AND SO WOULD NOT FIX THE CAR). WHEN I WENT BACK TO THE DEALERS, THE CAR DRIVE AWAY, AGAIN IN REVERSE. I HAD TO HOP ON ONE LEG TO KEEP UP AND GET BACK IN TO STOP IT. IN ETHER CASE, I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. NO DISPLAY, CAN'T SHUT IT OFF AND IT JUMPS INTO GEAR!! THAT IS A SAFETY ISSUE! LIFE AND DEATH ISSUE IT IS!
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0

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