Toyota Prius Complaints (2005)

1,051 consumer complaints on file.

#10132945August 15, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
NEW VEHICLE HAD MASTER FAULT, CHECK ENGINE AND OTHER WARNING LIGHTS AT ODO READING 50, "REPAIRED" FAULTED AGAIN. REPLACEMENT PARTS INCLUDE CAM SENSORS, COMPUTER BOARDS, WIRING HARNESS AND NOW "MASTER COMPUTER BOARD". *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10133421August 12, 2005
VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES:EXTERIOR
2005 TOYOTA PRIUS HAS A DEFECTIVE OUTSIDE REAR VIEW MIRROR.*MR WHEN THE CONSUMERS HUSBAND BUMPED THE DRIVER'S SIDE MIRROR, IT FELL OFF. THE MIRROR WAS CONNECTED TO THE VEHICLE VIA A PLASTIC PIN THAT SNAPPED ON THE ARM EXTENDING OUT FROM THE VEHICLE. THE PLASTIC PIN SNAPPED WHICH LEFT THE MIRROR HANGING DOWN, BUT STILL CONNECTED TO THE VEHICLE VIA THE ELECTRICAL WIRES. THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THE PIN HOLDING THE MIRROR ON THE ARM WAS DEFECTIVE AND IT SHOULD NOT HAVE BROKEN WITH A MILD BUMP. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10131618August 4, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
I WAS DRIVING MY TOYOTA PRIUS ON THE FREEWAY AND THE VEHICLE DIED AT 55 MPH. THE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THERE WAS NO POWER TO THE ACCELERATOR. FORTUNATELY, TRAFFIC WAS LIGHT AND I WAS ABLE TO COAST TO A SECURE SPOT ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THIS HAPPENED ON THE APPROACH TO THE BAY BRIDGE, WHICH WOULD HAVE BEEN A POTENTIAL DISASTER HAD IT DIED ON THE BRIDGE ITSELF. THE CAR DID NOT START AGAIN ON MY FIRST ATTEMPT, BUT IT DID START 5 MINUTES LATER. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE TOYOTA DEALER AND THEY SAID THEY INSTALLED NEW INFORMATION INTO THE COMPUTER. I WANT TO KNOW WHY, IF THEY KNOW IT NEEDS NEW INFORMATION, DID I NOT RECEIVE A LETTER ASKING ME TO COME IN FOR SERVICE? THIS COULD HAVE BEEN REALLY DISASTROUS, AND I FEAR THAT IT WILL BE FOR SOMEONE ELSE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10131307August 1, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
CONSUMER'S TOYOTA PRIUS LOST POWER SUDDENLY WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE.*MR *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10129421July 20, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
DT: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH VEHICLE STALLED AND LOST POWER.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10128514July 12, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
2005 TOYOTA PRIUS, WHEN COASTING AT HIGH SPEEDS, THE ENGINE CUTS OUT SO IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO ACCELERATE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10124907July 8, 2005
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
DT: WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 68 MPH THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO LOOSE SPEED. THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO PULL THE VEHICLE OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND PARK. NO WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED INDICATING THERE WAS A PROBLEM. THE CONSUMER HAD BEEN DRIVING FOR ABOUT AN HOUR AT 68 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO LOSE POWER. AFTER THE VEHICLE SAT FOR ABOUT 1 1/2 MINUTES THE VEHICLE OPERATED AS IF NOTHING HAD HAPPENED. *AK THE CONSUMER HEARD ONE BEEP, THEN THE VEHICLE LOST ALL POWER. THE CONSUMER PRESSED THE ACCELERATOR BUT IT DID NOT RESPOND. THE SERVICE DEALER COULD NOT FIND A PROBLEM. *SC *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10127609July 6, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE PRIUS SHUT DOWN, STOPPED USING GASOLINE POWER, WHILE I WAS IN THE PASSING LANE AND TRAVELING 70 MILES PER HOUR IN MODERATE TRAFFIC ON INTERSTATE 40 IN NASHVILLE, TN. THE RED TRIANGLE, CHECK ENGINE, VSC AND A FEW OTHER WARNING SIGNALS ILLUMINATED. I MANAGED TO AVOID BEING REAR-ENDED , PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD USING BATTERY POWER, SHUT THE BATTERY POWER OFF, AND CONSULTED THE OWNER'S MANUAL. APPROXIMATELY 10-15 MINUTES PRIOR, THE ADD FUEL LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE FUEL INDICATOR DISPLAYED A SINGLE BAR. HAVING DRIVEN THE VEHICLE FOR THE PAST 8300 MILES, MY WIFE INFORMED ME THAT WE HAD ABOUT 2 GALLONS OF GAS, AND COULD EASILY TRAVEL ANOTHER FIFTY MILES. THE TEMPERATURE WAS NEAR 90 DEGREES. I STARTED THE VEHICLE AND CHOSE TO DRIVE IT OFF THE INTERSTATE. WE TRAVELED 2.5 MILES AND COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AS THE BATTERY DEPLETED. I MANAGED TO SLOWLY DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO A GAS STATION AND REFUELED. THE FUEL TANK COULD ONLY ACCOMMODATE 8.1 GALLONS OF FUEL; IT HOLDS 11.7. ONCE REFUELED, THE WARNING SIGNALS DISAPPEARED AFTER 30 SECONDS, AND WE DROVE HOME. MY WIFE TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER, JOE HEITZ TOYOTA IN CLARKSVILLE, TN, THE NEXT DAY FOR AN EVALUATION. THE MECHANIC SAID THAT THE COMPUTER INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE RAN OUT OF FUEL. SINCE THERE OBVIOUSLY WAS FUEL IN THE TANK, I PRESSED THE SERVICE MANAGER FOR ANSWERS. BY THE END OF THE DAY AND AFTER CONSULTING WITH PRIUS TECHNICAL FOLKS IN CALIFORNIA, THE SERVICE MANAGER SAID THAT THE FUEL BLADDER MAY HAVE COLLAPSED OVER THE SENDING MODULE THEREBY SIGNALING THE CAR'S COMPUTER THAT IT WAS OUT OF GAS, WHICH CAUSED IT TO SHUT DOWN. HE SAID TOYOTA IS LOOKING INTO THE PROBLEM AND PROVIDED A LAME SOLUTION; REFUEL THE VEHICLE BEFORE IT GETS TOO LOW. THIS IS AN UNACCEPTABLE ANSWER AND I IMPLORE THE NHTSA TO INVESTIGATE THIS POTENTIALLY DEADLY ANOMALY. IT IS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE SOMEONE IS IN A FATAL ACCIDENT BECAUSE THE VEHICLE SHUTS DOWN WHILE TRAVELING AT INTERSTATE SPEEDS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10127229July 1, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
DRIVING 65 MPH ON THE FREEWAY, THE LOW-FUEL INDICATOR LIGHT STARTED BLINKING. APPROXIMATELY 15 MILES LATER, STILL DRIVING 65 MPH, THE ENGINE SHUT OFF. DASHBOARD WARNING LIGHT AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. "CONSUMPTION" WAS HIGHLIGHTED IN RED. THE CAR CONTINUED TO DRIVE IN ELECTRIC MODE AT 52 MPH FOR ABOUT 1.5 MILES. WHEN THE BATTERY WAS DRAINED, THE CAR CAME TO A STOP. AFTER 5 MINUTES, I HIT THE POWER BUTTON TO TURN OFF THE CAR, THEN AGAIN TO TURN ON THE CAR. THE ENGINE STARTED AND WE DROVE TO THE NEXT GAS STATION, 4 MILES AWAY. TOYOTA (1-800-331-4331) SAID TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALER. THE TOYOTA DEALER SAID THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO AND TOYOTA HAS NOT ADVISED THEM ON A REMEDY. DEALER REFUSED TO PROVIDE ME WITH THIS AGENCY'S NAME (NHTSA). I LEFT A MESSAGE WITH "THE PRIUS TEAM" AT TOYOTA 3 DAYS AGO AND THEY HAVE NOT RETURNED MY CALL.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10127181June 30, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK, STEERING
(1) DRIVING AT SPEEDS BETWEEN 60-75MPH ON SMOOTH FLAT ROADS (2) VEHICLE SWAYS OR "FLOATS" SIDE TO SIDE, ESPECIALLY DURING CROSSWIND CONDITIONS (3) REPORT TO DEALER, NO REPAIR WAS DONE BY DEALER AS THEY THINK IT WAS CAUSED BY GROOVES IN THE ROAD
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10123935June 27, 2005
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
THE CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE FOR 2 WEEKS AND HAD AN EPISODE WHERE THE ENGINE STALLED ON THE HIGHWAY. THE CONSUMER BELIEVED IT MAY HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY A MOMENTARY EVENT TO SHIFT IT INCORRECTLY FROM THE BRAKING MODE. WHEN THE CONSUMER FIRST ATTEMPTED TO PUT IT IN REVERSE, IT WOULDN'T TAKE THEN, AND IT WOULD NOT TAKE INTO THE PROPER DRIVE MODE EITHER. THE ENGINE HAD STALLED, AND WOULD NOT GO INTO DRIVE. THE CONSUMER STOPPED THE VEHICLE, AND WAS ABLE TO RESTART IT. THE CONSUMER HAD NOT EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS SINCE THEN. THE CONSUMER CALLED AND REPORTED THE PROBLEM TO TOYOTA. *AK GASOLINE ENGINE ON HYBRID VEHICLE FAILED TO KICK IN OR STALLED. *SC *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10126446June 24, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
DT: A. HOW LONG AND AT WHAT SPEED WAS THE CONSUMER DRIVING BEFORE THE VEHICLE LOST POWER? APPROXIMATELY 20 MINUTES: 35 MPH. B. WAS THE CONSUMER ACCELERATING, DECELERATING, OR DRIVING AT A STEADY- STATE WHEN THE VEHICLE LOST POWER? ACCELERATING C. AFTER THE VEHICLE LOST POWER, WAS THE DRIVER ABLE TO CONTINUE DRIVING THE VEHICLE? IF SO, HOW LONG AND AT WHAT SPEED? NO D.DID ANY WARNING LIGHTS APPEAR BEFORE AND/OR AFTER THE INCIDENT OCCURRED? YES IF SO, DESCRIBE THE LIGHTS THAT WERE LIT. ENGINE INDICATOR AND EXCLAMATION MARK E. DID THE VEHICLE EVENTUALLY STALL AND COME TO A STOP? HOW LONG DID THIS OCCUR AFTER THE WARNING LIGHTS WERE LIT? NO; IMMEDIATLEY F. WAS THE DRIVER ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE RIGHT AFTER IT STALLED? IF SO, HOW LONG DID IT TAKE (# OF ATTEMPTS AND/ OR TIME '' EX: 3-4 TIMES OR 2-3 MINUTES)? NO G. WAS THE DRIVER ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AFTER LETTING IT SIT AWHILE? IF SO, HOW LONG WAS THIS AFTER THE VEHICLE STALLED? NO H. WAS THE VEHICLE TOWED? NO I. WHAT DID THE DEALER SAY WAS WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE? THE WIRING WOULD PULLED FROM THE VEHICLE J. DID THE DEALER REPROGRAM THE ECU (ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT) OR ANY SOFTWARE? DON''T KNOW K. HAS THE VEHICLE HAD SPECIAL SERVICE CAMPAIGNS 40A OR 40 D PERFORMED ON IT PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT? (NOTE: THE CONSUMER WOULD HAVE RECEIVED A LETTER IN THE MAIL NOTIFYING THEM TO BRING HIS OR HER VEHICLE IN FOR REPAIR. CAMPAIGN 40A OR 40D ADDRESSED SOFTWARE ISSUES WITH THE PRIUS HYBRID VEHICLE ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT.) NO L. HAS THE VEHICLE HAD ANY PROBLEMS SINCE THE REPAIR?CONTACT STATES HE HAS EXPERIENCED POWER FAILURE IN HIS 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED YET.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10124554June 24, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
DT: CONSUMER'S VEHICLE STALLED WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE, AND PUT HIS LIFE AT RISK. THE CAR WOULD NOT RESTART. CONSUMER BOUGHT AN EXTENDED WARRANTY FROM TOYOTA, AND THEY HAD NO RECORD OF THAT WHEN CALLING THEM. *AK PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT VEHICLE'S CONSUMER COMPUTER INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS LOW ON GAS BY A FLASHING GREEN LIGHT, AND THE COMPUTER WAS INDICATING THAT THE VEHICLE WAS GETTING ITS POWER FROM BOTH THE GAS AND ELECTRIC ENGINES. THE VEHICLE'S COMPUTER SYSTEM DID NOT RECOGNIZE ANY COMMANDS. PRIOR INCIDENTS THE CAR DIESELED AT STOP LIGHTS SOMETIMES FOR MINUTE AND CONSUMER GOT 28MPG IN THE CITY, WHERE THE GAS ENGINE SEEMED TO BE RUNNING EVEN ON DOWNHILL STRETCHES AND WHEN STOPPED.*SB *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10125932June 20, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
I PURCHASED A 2005 PRIUS IN JANUARY 2005. AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT IT HAD ABOUT 8500 MILES ON IT. IT HAD BEEN PERFORMING WELL AND I HAD BEEN GETTING EXCELLENT GAS MILEAGE AND THE INTERNAL MILEAGE INDICATORS HAS PROVEN TO BE VERY ACCURATE. WHILE DRIVING ON SC HIGHWAY 31 AT ABOUT 60-65 MILES PER HOUR THE GASOLINE ENGINE QUIT SLOWING ME TO ABOUT 40 MILES PER HOUR. THE DASHBOARD LIT UP WITH WITH WARNING SIGNALS INCLUDING THE RED TRIANGLE, CHECK ENGINE, VSC, BREAKING SYSTEM AND I DON'T REMEMBER WHAT ELSE. A FEW MILES BEFORE THIS HAPPENED, MY FUEL INDICATOR STARTED TO BLINK, BUT WAS SURE THAT THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE GAS SINCE I HAVE OFTEN GONE MANY MILES BEFORE FINDING GAS IN SIMILAR SITUATION AND KNEW FROM PAST EXPERIENCE, MY MILEGE,AND FUEL USAGE INDICATOR THAT I HAD ABOUT TWO GALLONS LEFT IN THE VEHICLE. THIS WAS AN UNFAMILIAR ROAD TO ME SO I CONTINUED TO TRAVEL USING THE BATTERY HOPING THAT AN EXIT WOULD APPEAR. THE BATTERY QUICKLY BECAME SO DEPLETED THAT I PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I TRIED TO TURN THE VEHICLE OFF AND FOUND IT UNRESPONSIVE. AFTER A FEW TRIES IT DID POWER DOWN. I CALLED AAA FOR ASSISTANCE. DURING MY WAIT, I WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE ENGINE, BUT IT AGAIN FAILED WITHIN A COUPLE OF MILES, BUT I WAS ABLE TO REACH AN EXIT AND PULL OFF. AFTER THE SECOND FAILURE, I TRIED TO RESTART AGAIN AND THIS TIME ONLY GOT THE RED TRIANGLE AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. AAA DID ADD GASOLINE TO THE CAR, BUT THE FUEL INDICATOR CONTINUED TO BLINK AND THE BAR NEVER ROSE. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO SPARKS TOYOTA IN MYRTLE BEACH, SC WHO CALLED TO SAY THAT THEY BELIEVE THAT THE PROBLEM IS LOW FUEL. I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT IT THE CASE AS THIS HAD NOT HAPPENED BEFORE WHEN THE LOW FUEL INDICATOR CAME ON.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10125683June 17, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
I HAVE A 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS, PURCHASED NEW IN OCT 2004. I WAS DRIVING ON I-57 IN ILLINOIS AT 65 MPH. TEMPERATURE OUTSIDE WAS 91F. LOW FUEL WARNING SIGNAL BEGAN TO FLASH. SINCE I PLANNED TO GAS UP ABOUT 25 MILES AWAY, I CONTINUED DRIVING. SHOULD HAVE HAD APPROXIMATELY 2 GALLONS OF FUEL LEFT. ABOUT 5 MINUTES LATER AT 65 MPH, THE ENGINE SUDDENLY STOPPED RUNNING. THE "RED TRIANGLE OF DEATH" AND THE YELLOW "CHECK ENGINE" WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON. REALIZED THAT THE ELECTRIC MOTOR DRIVE SYSTEM WAS STILL WORKING. NOTICED THAT I WAS APPROXIMATELY 1.5 MILES FROM AN EXIT. SLOWED TO ABOUT 45 MPH AND CONTINUED TO DRIVE USING THE PRIUS' BATTERIES AND ELECTRIC MOTORS. PULLED INTO A SHELL STATION AND TURNED THE CAR OFF. BEGAN TO REFUEL. AFTER ABOUT 4 GALLONS, THE PUMP CLICKED OFF. TRIED AGAIN - IT CLICKED OFF. TRIED AGAIN AND WAS ABLE TO REFUEL NORMALLY. IN ALL, I ADDED 9.767 GALLONS. IF THE CAR HAS 11.9 GALLON TANK, THERE SHOULD HAVE BEEN 2.1 GALLONS LEFT WHEN THE ENGINE SHUT OFF. UPON RESTART, SAME ENGINE WARNING LIGHTS WERE ON, BUT WITHIN A FEW SECONDS THEY WENT OFF. DIGITAL FUEL GAUGE INCREASED, ONE BLOCK AT A TIME, UNTIL IT INDICATED FULL. CAR SEEMED TO BE OPERATING NORMALLY. RESUMED 65 MPH. CAR HAS CONTINUED TO OPERATE NORMALLY SINCE. THE SHUTTING OFF OF THE ENGINE WAS ABRUPT AND WOULD HAVE BEEN A SAFETY PROBLEM HAD SOMEONE BEEN FOLLOWING ME TOO CLOSELY, OR IF I HAD NEEDED FULL POWER TO AVOID TRAFFIC OR AN OBSTACLE. HAD READ ABOUT THIS HAPPENING TO OTHER PRIUS OWNERS AND THAT SOME HAD REPORTED NOT BEING ABLE TO RESTART THE CAR. FOR THAT REASON, I CHOSE NOT TO PULL OFF ON THE SHOULDER AND STOP THE CAR (FOR FEAR THAT I WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO RESTART IT), AND WAS FORTUNATE TO BE ABLE TO DRIVE WITH THE ELECTRIC MOTORS TO A NEARBY EXIT. HAVE NOT YET TAKEN THE CAR TO THE DEALER TO HAVE THE PROBLEM CORRECTED. HAVE NOT HAD ANY PARTS REPLACED OR SOFTWARE UPGRADED. WOULD APPRECIATE ANY ADVICE OR SERVICE INFORMATION YOU MAY KNOW OF.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10125705June 17, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
DEAR NHSTA, ON MAY 20 OF 2005 I WAS DRIVING MY 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE GAS ENGINE STOPPED WORKING AND 4 DASH WARNING/FAULTS LIGHTS CAME ON (RED TRIANGLE; CHECK ENGINE; BRAKE FAULT; VEHICLE STABILITY CONTROL FAULT). I CONTINUED DRIVING FOR 3 MILES ON THE ELECTRIC MOTOR UNTIL THE BATTERY CHARGE LIGHT INDICATED NEAR COMPLETE BATTERY DISCHARGE. I TURNED OFF THE CAR, WAITED 30 SECONDS AND TURNED THE CAR BACK ON. IMMEDIATELY THE GASOLINE ENGINE STARTED AND THE BATTERY BEGAN TO CHARGE. AT THIS POINT ONLY THE CHECK ENGINE AND RED TRIANGLE LIGHTS CAME ON. I DROVE TO THE TOYOTA DEALER WHO SAID THAT MY PROBLEM SOUNDED LIKE THE STALLING PROBLEMS WITH THE 33 REPORTED CASES OF 2004/05 PRIUS STALLING. TOYOTA UPGRADED THE ENGINE ECU AND THE CAR HAS BEEN FINE EVER SINCE. HOWEVER, I WANTED TO LET NHSTA KNOW SO THAT THEY KNOW THAT THIS PRIUS STALLING PROBLEM AFFECTS MORE THAN JUST 33 PRIUS OWNERS. ALSO, I WORRY THAT TOYOTA DOES NOT KNOW FOR CERTAIN THAT THE PROBLEM IS FIXED PREMANENTLY. THANKS, GARY BEAUPRE
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10125517June 16, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
DRIVING 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS (POV) IN TRAFFIC WHEN HYBRID SYSTEM SUDDENLY AND UNEXPECTEDLY SHUT DOWN. WAS UNABLE TO RESTART VEHICLE FOR APPROXIMATELY 5 MINS. WHEN WAS ABLE TO RESTART "CHECK ENGINE" WARNING LIGHT REMAINED ON. NO PROPERTY DAMAGE OR INJURIES OCCURED AS A RESULT OF FAILURE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10124997June 11, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
I WAS DRIVING 20MPH WHEN A RED ALERT LIGHT CAME ON THE SCREEN ON MY PRIUS; IT SAID GPS UNDERNEATH IT SO I IGNORED IT, THINKING I WOULD BE OK SINCE I DID NOT NEED MY GPS SYSTEM. I SPED UP TO ABOUT 30MPH AND SUDDENLY WAS NOT ABLE TO ACCELERATE ALTHOUGH I WAS PRESSING DOWN ON MY ACCELERATOR. I CAME TO A STOP AT THE TRAFFIC LIGHT ON A GREEN; LUCKILY THERE WAS NO COLLISION. THE ELECTRIC MODE REMAINED INTACT FOR THE NEXT 2.5HRS UNTLI THE CAR WAS TOWED SO I COULD STILL TURN THE CAR ON.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10124979June 10, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
WITH APPROXIMATELY 7100 MILES ON MY CAR ON FRIDAY MARCH 25, 2005 I WAS DRIVING ON LOCAL ROADS BETWEEN 20 TO 40 MILES PER HOUR WHEN THE CAR BEGAN BUCKING VERY BADLY .. SHORTLY THEREAFTER THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TURNED ON. WORRIED THAT THE VEHICLE MAY COMPLETELY STALL AND QUIT ON THE OPEN ROAD I RETURNED HOME AND CALLED MY LOCAL ARLINGTON TOYOTA DEALER. I BROUGHT THE CAR IN THE FOLLOWING MORNING (SATURDAY MARCH 26,2005) TO CHECK OUT THE PROBLEM.THEY HAD THE CAR ALL DAY AND STILL COULD NOT IDENTIFY WHY THE CAR WAS STALLING. SINCE I WAS SCHEDULE TO BE AWAY THE FOLLOWING WEEK (TRIP TO LAS VEGAS). I GAVE PERMISSION FOR TECHS TO KEEP CAR ALL WEEK IF NECESSARY. ON MONDAY OF THE FOLLOWING WEEK, I RECIEVED A CALL FROM TECH AT MY HOTEL THAT THEY HAD FIXED THE PROBLEM. HE CLAIMED IT WAS A MISFIRE IN #1 CYCLINDER. SO THEY REPLACED SPARK PLUG #1. HOWEVER, HE ALSO TOLD ME NOT GET THE CAR ENGINE WET. HE WARNED THAT IF I EVER RETURNED THE CAR WITH A WET ENGINE AGAIN THAT MY WARRANTY WOULD BE VOIDED. I TOLD HIM THAT I NEVER OPEN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND THAT I WOULD NEVER INTENTIONALLY PUT WATER DIRECTLY ON THE ENGINE. PARTICULLARY ON SUCH A SOPHISTICATED CAR SUCH AS A HYBRID. IN THE PAST 10,000 MILES THAT I HAVE OWNED THE VEHICLE I HAVE TAKEN IT THROUGH THE CAR WASH A TOTAL OF THREE TIMES.I PICKED UP THE CAR UPON MY RETURN FROM LAS VEGAS ON FRIDAY APRIL 1,2005. I AM HAPPY TO REPORT THAT THE CAR HAS BEEN RUNNING FINE EVER SINCE. HOWEVER, SINCE THE RECENT RASH OF NEWS REPORTS OF COMPLAINTS FILED AROUND THE COUNTRY OF THE PRIUS STALLING I AM WONDERING IF THE TECH AT ARLINGTON TOYOTA HAD MISDIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM I EXPERIENCE THIS PAST MARCH.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10124522June 7, 2005
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL, LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST
2005 TOYOTA PRIUS -- FLOORMAT BECOMES LODGED BETWEEN PEDALS. -- WHILE DRIVING AT HIGH SPEEDS (60-70 MPH) ON THE FREEWAY, I NOTICED A LOSS OF SENSITIVITY ON BOTH THE BRAKE AND GAS PEDALS. I HAD TO PRESS VERY HARD TO GET A REACTION FROM EITHER PEDAL. AS A RESULT I WAS UNABLE TO KEEP DRIVING AT THE SAME SPEED AS THE SURROUNDING CARS. EVERYTHING ELSE SEEMED TO BE OPERATING NORMALLY. THE SENSATION CONTINUED FOR A FEW MINUTES UNTIL I COULD SAFELY PULL OFF OF THE FREEWAY. UPON INVESTIGATION, I REALIZED THAT THE FLOORMAT HAD COME UNHOOKED FROM ITS RESTRAINTS AND STUCK BETWEEN THE PEDALS AND THE FLOOR. I SECURED THE FLOORMAT TO ITS HOOKS ONCE AGAIN AND CONTINUED DRIVING WITHOUT TROUBLE. THIS HAS HAPPENED A COUPLE TIMES SINCE, BUT I RECOGNIZE THE SYMPTOMS AND FIX IT PROMPTLY. HOWEVER, I FEAR THAT ANOTHER OWNER MIGHT EXPERIENCE THIS WHEN THEY NEED TO BRAKE OR ACCELERATE SUDDENLY TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT. (I NOTICED ANOTHER POSTING THAT DESCRIBED THE SAME PROBLEM). PERHAPS TOYOTA SHOULD INSTALL LOCKING HOOKS RATHER THAN THE CURRENT ONES THAT EASILY TWIST AND UNHOOK FROM THE MATS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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