Toyota Prius Complaints (2007)

2,004 consumer complaints on file.

#10238590August 17, 2008
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT GOES OUT AND ONLY TURNS BACK ON WHEN I TOGGLE LIGHT SWITCH OFF AND THEN ON AGAIN. THIS OCCURS MULTIPLE TIMES THROUGHOUT THE DAY AND IT CAUSES DIFFICULTY VISUALIZING TRAFFIC SIGNS ON THE RIGHT SIDE AT NIGHT. NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO RECTIFY THE PROBLEM AS OF YET. I'M HOPING TO SEE A SAFETY RECALL OF THE PROBLEM CONSIDERING THE QUANTITY OF PRIUS OWNERS AFFECTED BY THIS ISSUE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10238514August 16, 2008
STEERING
NEW 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS TOURING PACKAGE #6 - 11K MILES AT THIS TIME. CAR ALWAYS LEANS TO THE LEFT. STEERING TUGS TO THE LEFT, BUT DEALER SAYS ALIGNMENT IS FINE. DEALER SAID LEFT SIDE IS 1/2" LOWER TO GROUND THAN RIGHT SIDE OF CAR. DEALER SAID THAT IS NORMAL AND ACCEPTABLE. I COMPLAINED THAT WHEN I TURN RIGHT, CAR SEEMS TO ROLL EXCESSIVELY AND FEELS UNSTABLE. WHEN I TURN LEFT, CAR & SUSPENSION FEEL FINE - MINIMAL LEAN OR BODY ROLL. PURCHASED CAR NEW IN JAN. 2007. HAD FRONT END ALIGNMENT WITHIN A MONTH OR TWO, WHICH IMPROVED PULLING TO THE LEFT. HOWEVER, HANDLING STILL FELT AS DESCRIBED ABOVE, SO I HAD DEALER CHECK ALIGNMENT AGAIN. DEALER SAID IT WAS WITHIN SPECS. DEALER ALSO ADVISED ME AT THAT TIME THAT THE LEFT SIDE OF CAR WAS 1/2" LOWER THAN RIGHT SIDE. I'VE MADE SEVERAL RETURN VISITS TO TWO DIFFERENT DEALERS [POWAY TOYOTA AND BOB BRIDGE TOYOTA IN RENTON, WA]; BOTH DEALERS SAY ALIGNMENT IS OK. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10238020August 13, 2008
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
HID HEAD LIGHT ON PRIUS GOES ON AND OFF . DEALER SAID IT WAS BULB, AFTER SEARCHING INTERNET MANY PEOPLE WITH SAME PROBLEM, AND HIGH COST OF FIX. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10236941August 4, 2008
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
HEADLIGHTS SUDDENLY FAIL, THERE IS NO CONSISTENCY, NO WAY TO PREDICT. IT MAY BE THE RIGHT HEADLIGHT, LEFT OR BOTH. FREQUENTLY THEY DIM AND WE ARE SUDDENLY IN THE DARK. SWITCHING THE ON/OFF SWITCH GETS THEM BACK ON, BUT THEY OFTEN POP OFF AGAIN - WITHOUT WARNING. WE BROUGHT THIS TO THE DEALERS ATTENTION THREE TIMES. TWICE THEY SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG. THIS TIME THE TECH SAID THE CAR NEEDED A NEW WIRING ASSEMBLY, BUT THE SERVICE COUNTER GUY TRIED TO SAY IT NEEDED A BULB. FOLLOWING A STRONG MEETING WITH THE SERVICE MANAGER THEY ARE LOOKING AT THE "POSSIBLE PROBLEM". THIS IS LIFE ENDANGERING! HELP US PLEASE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10236421July 30, 2008
PARKING BRAKE
MY SPOUSE OWNS A 2007 PRIUS. ON OR ABOUT 7/18/08, SHE WAS BACKING DOWN OUR DRIVEWAY. SHE STOPPED THE CAR, BELIEVED THAT SHE HAD PLACED IT IN 'PARK', AND BEGAN TO STEP OUT. THE CAR WAS NOT IN PARK, AND TOOK OFF IN REVERSE, RUNNING OVER HER LEG WITH THE FRONT TIRE AND DRAGGING HER ACROSS THE STREET. SHE ESCAPED WITH LARGE SKIN SCRAPES, BRUISES AND A PAINFUL LEG. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10236022July 28, 2008
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
HID BULBS GOING BAD ON 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS IT IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS BECAUSE AS THE BULBS GO BAD THEY STILL GO ON WHEN A DRIVER TURNS THEM ON, BUT AS ONE DRIVES THEY GO OFF UNBEKNOWNST TO THE DRIVER. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A TOYOTA DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THIS WAS NORMAL AND THAT IT WOULD COST 400 DOLLARS PER BULB. I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT ONE CAN DRIVE WITHOUT HEADLIGHTS AND NOT HAVE SOME WARNING DEVICE TO INDICATE THE PROBLEM OR AT MINIMAL HAVE SOME WARNING GIVEN WHEN PURCHASING THE VEHICLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10235366July 22, 2008
STEERING
I WAS DRIVING MY 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS (ONLY 2 1/2 YEARS OLD WITH 10K MILES ON IT) THROUGH A CURVY ROAD WHEN THE VEHICLE STABILITY CONTROL SYSTEM BEGAN TURNING ON AND OFF ERRATICALLY, MUCH MORE THAN WAS CALLED FOR ON AN A MOSTLY SMOOTH ROAD. I COULD TELL SOMETHING WAS WRONG WITH THE SYSTEM AND THAT IT WAS MALFUNCTIONING, SO I PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD TO INVESTIGATE. UNFORTUNATELY IT WAS DARK AND I WAS ON A NARROW, WINDY BUSY ROAD SO I QUICKLY DECIDED THERE WAS NOTHING I COULD DO TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. I GOT BACK IN MY CAR AND CONTINUED DOWN THE ROAD AT A SLIGHTLY DECREASED SPEED 20-25MPH. A COUPLE OF MINUTES LATER I WAS DRIVING INTO A CURVE AND TRIED TO TURN THE WHEEL. I TURNED THE STEERING WHEEL BUT THE WHEELS DIDN'T REACT. THE STEERING WHEEL OFFERED NO RESISTANCE AS I TURNED IT BACK AND FORTH AND I WAS QUICKLY HEADING INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC AND POINTED TOWARDS A STEEP DROPOFF INTO A CANYON. AT THIS TIME THERE WEREN'T ANY WARNING LIGHTS OR INDICATOR LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD TO INDICATE SOMETHING WAS GOING ON, BUT THERE WAS A LOUD WARNING BEEP AT SOME POINT. AFTER ABOUT 2-3 SECONDS THE STEERING RESPONDED AGAIN BUT WHEN IT TURNED BACK ON I WAS TURNING SO HARD ON THE WHEEL THAT MY CAR NOW VEERED SHARPLY TO MY RIGHT TOWARDS A ROCK FACE WALL ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I RECOVERED ON TIME AND PULLED OVER ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I WAS TOO SCARED TO DRIVE THE CAR, SO I HAD IT TOWED TO A TOYOTA DEALER. THEY LOOKED IT OVER AND CLAIMED NOTHING WAS WRONG AND THAT THERE WAS NOTHING MORE THEY CAN DO FOR ME. I COULD HAVE DIED THAT NIGHT AND ALMOST HIT MANY CARS. I AM PETRIFIED TO DRIVE MY CAR EVER AGAIN AND WORRIED THIS COULD HAPPEN TO MORE PEOPLE, SO I WANTED TO WARN YOUR AGENCY. I PLAN ON CONTACTING TOYOTA HEADQUARTERS AS WELL TO COMPLAIN AND INSIST THEY CHECK MY CAR BECAUSE EVEN IF THIS ONLY HAPPENS ONE MORE TIME, IT COULD BE FATAL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10234046July 12, 2008
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
2007 PRIUS FREQUENT FAILURE OF ONE HID HEADLIGHT - MOSTLY THE LEFT. HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER AND HE SAYS HE CANNOT REPEAT THE FAILURE. THIS HAPPENED 2 TIMES A WEEK FOR ABOUT 6 MONTHS, AND IS NOW BECOMING DANGEROUS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10232972July 1, 2008
TIRES
THE NEW TIRES WE GOT ON A NEW VEHICLE PURCHASE LASTED ONLY ABOUT 10,000 MILES, WHICH WAS MUCH LOWER THAN EXPECTED AND LOWER THAN WHAT THE DEALERSHIP SAID WE SHOULD HAVE GOTTEN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10232469June 27, 2008
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
DRIVERS SIDE HEADLIGHT NOT WORKING AND WORKING SOMETIMES ON MY 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS. DEALER IS REPLACING IT AT 28,000 MILES.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10232535June 27, 2008
SEAT BELTS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE THE CONTACT'S WIFE WAS DRIVING 20 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE RAN A STOP SIGN AND STRUCK HER FRONT PASSENGER SIDE DOOR. THE SEAT BELT FAILED TO RESTRAIN THE CONTACT'S WIFE, AND SHE STRUCK THE STEERING WHEEL. SHE SUSTAINED INJURIES TO HER NECK, BACK, AND SHOULDER. THE MANUFACTURER CONCLUDED THAT THE SEAT BELT WAS WORKING PROPERLY. THE SAN DIEGO POLICE DEPARTMENT FILED REPORT NUMBER 804127. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 10,000. UPDATED 12/17/08.*JB
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10231214June 16, 2008
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
2007 HEADLIGHT ON PASSENGER SIDE GOES OFF INTERMITTENTLY. WHEN I START THE CAR AGAIN, THE LIGHT WILL GO ON. DEALER WANTS TO REPLACE LIGHT AT A COST OF #300. PLUS. JUST OUT OF WARRANTY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10231020June 14, 2008
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
2007 PRIUS FOR THE PAST FEW MONTHS, THE HEADLIGHTS WILL GO OUT, NOT AT THE SAME TIME BUT ONE AT A TIME. THE ONLY WAY TO GET IT TO GO BACK ON IS TO TURN THE LIGHTS OFF AND ON. THIS KEEPS THEM GOING FOR A WHILE AND THEN THE SITUATION REPEATS ITSELF. THE PROBLEM IS THAT I CAN'T TELL WHEN IT'S HAPPENING ALL THE TIME. I WAS TOLD LAST NIGHT BY A FRIEND OF MINE ONE OF MY HEADLIGHTS WAS OUT. THE OTHER TIME I NOTICED IT WHEN MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING HOME FROM AN ERRAND. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A SERIOUS DEFECT IN THE CAR AND IT SHOULD BE TAKEN CARE OF BY TOYOTA. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10230691June 9, 2008
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
2007 TOYOTA PRIUS WITH BRAKE PROBLEMS. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE BRAKES WERE PRESSED AND THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO MOVE BACKWARD SLOWLY. HE ALSO STATES THAT THE VEHICLE DIDN'T STOP WHEN BRAKES WERE DEPRESSED AND CONSEQUENTLY HIT A STOPPED CAR. *KB
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10229486June 2, 2008
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
2007 TOYOTA PRIUS, CID HEADLIGHTS SIMPLY GO OUT FOR NO REASON. TURNING THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH ON AND OFF A FEW TIMES TURN THE HEADLIGHTS BACK ON. BUT THERE IS NO WAY TO TELL IF THE LIGHT IS OFF WHILE DRIVING. NUMEROUS INTERNET FORUMS SHOW THIS AS BEING A WIDESPREAD AND COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE PRIUS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10228779May 23, 2008
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
WE OWN A 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS 4-D HYBRID HATCHBACK. FOR THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS THE HEADLIGHTS ON THE CAR TURN OFF RANDOMLY AFTER THE CAR IS STARTED. SOMETIMES IT IS ONE LIGHT OR THE OTHER AND SOMETIMES IT IS BOTH. THIS HAPPENS WHETHER ON DIM OR BRIGHT. THE CORRECTION IS TO TURN THE LIGHTS OFF AND THEN BACK ON, WHICH RESOLVES THE ISSUE FOR A LITTLE WHILE. ON A ONE AND HALF HOUR DRIVE (DAILY COMMUTE) THIS TAKES PLACE 3-4 TIMES. THE CONSEQUENCES OF THE LIGHT FAILURE IS EITHER LIMITED VISIBILITY ON THE SIDE THAT IS OUT OR LOSS OF VISIBILITY IF BOTH LIGHTS GO OUT AT THE SAME TIME. THE TOYOTA DEALER WILL ONLY REPLACE THEM IF I PAY FOR THE REPAIR OF THEIR DEFECT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10228624May 22, 2008
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
MAY 22, 2008 TOYOTA MOTOR SALES, U.S.A., INC. 19001 SOUTH WESTERN AVE. DEPT. WC11 TORRANCE, CA 90501 DEAR SIRS: I HAVE BEEN A LONG-TIME TOYOTA CUSTOMER AND LAST YEAR PURCHASED A 2007 PRIUS. I AM ALSO A SUBSCRIBER TO CONSUMER REPORTS MAGAZINE. ALTHOUGH I AM DELIGHTED WITH THE COMFORT, HEADROOM, GAS MILEAGE, CONVENIENCE, QUIET AND APPEARANCE OF THE CAR, THERE IS A REAL SAFETY ISSUE. WHEN I WAS INITIALLY RESEARCHING A NEW AUTOMOBILE, I DISMISSED SOME PEOPLES' REPORTS OF 'SUDDEN ACCELERATION' AS BEING INACCURATE. HOWEVER, IT IS REAL, AND I HAVE FIGURED OUT UNDER WHAT SPECIFIC CIRCUMSTANCES IT OCCURS. AT THE END OF DECELERATION FOR A STOP LIGHT, STOP SIGN, OR JUST BEFORE A TURN, WHEN THE CAR IS TRAVELING 5-10 MPH, MORE COMMONLY ON A DOWNHILL INCLINE, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, WHEN THE PAVEMENT IS IRREGULAR OR BUMPY, MY PRIUS WILL TRANSITION FROM ELECTRIC TO GASOLINE POWER AND MAKE A SUDDEN FORWARD LUNGE FORWARD LASTING 1-2 SECONDS. ON MOST OCCASIONS, THE LUNGE IS MILD, REQUIRE A LITTLE EXTRA BRAKE PRESSURE. BUT SOME TIMES, THE LUNGE IS MORE SEVERE, REQUIRING FIRM BRAKE PRESSURE TO AVOID STRIKING THE AUTOMOBILE IN FRONT OF ME. I REPORTED THIS TO MY LOCAL DEALER, HUNTINGTON TOYOTA, IN HUNTINGTON, NEW YORK, AT MY LAST MAINTENANCE VISIT. THE TECHNICIAN WROTE THAT THE CAR WAS 'OPERATING NORMALLY,' ALTHOUGH I IMAGINE IT IS DIFFICULT TO TEST THESE EXACT CIRCUMSTANCES. I WOULD APPRECIATE YOUR REPLY AND INVESTIGATION INTO THIS SAFETY ISSUE. SINCERELY, PAUL L. KRAWITZ CC: NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION CONSUMERS UNION. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10227998May 16, 2008
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
BOTH HEADLIGHTS LEFT AND RIGHT, LOW AND HIGH BEAMS WILL GO OUT WHILE DRIVING. HAPPENS ABOUT ONCE PER DAY. HEADLIGHT BULBS, CONTROL UNITS REPLACED BY TOYOTA DEALER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10227735May 14, 2008
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
ONE OR BOTH HEADLIGHTS WILL GO OUT INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10227264May 11, 2008
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
THIS INCIDENT INVOLVES MY 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS HYBRID THAT I HAVE OWNED FOR ALMOST A YEAR. AS I WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH AND PUT MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE AS I APPROACHED A RED LIGHT, THE RED BRAKE WARNING CAME ON THE DASH AS DID THE ABS WARNING LIGHT. MY FOOT WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR AND I HAD NO BRAKES. LUCKILY I HAD A RIGHT TURNING LANE THAT I COULD VEER INTO AND NOT HIT THE STOPPED VEHICLES IN FRONT OF ME. AS I CONTINUED TO PUSH THE BRAKE TO THE FLOOR AND MANEUVER THE VEHICLE OUT OF TRAFFIC, IT SEEMED TO CATCH A LITTLE AND I WAS ABLE TO SLOW THE VEHICLE EVENTUALLY TO A STOP. I PUT THE VEHICLE IN PARK AS IT WAS STILL RUNNING, AND PULLED OUT THE OWNER'S MANUAL. THE MANUAL SPECIFICALLY STATED THAT IF THESE TWO WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON AT THE SAME TIME, YOU WERE TO "STOP IMMEDIATELY AND CONTACT YOUR TOYOTA DEALERSHIP". THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT I DID. I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED INTO THEIR FACILITY THAT EVENING. THE NEXT DAY I WAS INTERROGATED BY THE MECHANIC AFTER A DIAGNOSTIC REPORT WAS DONE ON MY CAR. HE WANTED TO KNOW WHEN I LET THE CAR RUN OUT OF GAS. I HAVE NEVER LET MY CAR RUN OUT OF GAS, AND IN FACT THAT JUST FILLED THE TAKE THE DAY BEFORE THIS INCIDENT OCCURRED. THE MECHANIC COULDN'T TELL ME WHAT WAS WRONG AND CONTACTED TOYOTA'S CORPORATE OFFICE. TWO DAYS LATER, I WAS ADVISED THAT THE REASON THE BRAKES DIDN'T WORK WAS BECAUSE I "LET THE CAR RUN OUT OF GAS "AND THIS CAUSED THE ENGINE TO SHUT OFF. I ARGUED THAT THE CAR HAD NEVER RUN OUT OF GAS AND THE ENGINE DIDN'T SHUT OFF, THE BRAKES WENT OUT. THE SERVICE MANAGER PULLED OUT THE DIAGNOSTIC TEST SHOWING THAT "AT SOME POINT" THE CAR HAD RUN OUT OF GAS----THIS TEST DOESN'T GIVE A DATE OF WHEN THIS MAY HAVE HAPPENED. I ADVISED THE SERVICE MANAGER THAT THE CAR HAD 223 MILES ON IT WHEN I PURCHASED IT-- THIS TEST RESULT COULD HAVE HAPPENED WHEN THE CAR WAS STILL AT THE DEALERSHIP, NOT IN MY POSSESSION. THE SERVICE MANAGER ADVISED ME THAT HIS "HANDS WERE TIED" AND THAT TOYOTA HAD MADE THEIR DECISION. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

← Back to Toyota Prius