Toyota Prius Complaints (2005)

1,051 consumer complaints on file.

#10694473March 16, 2015
AIR BAGS
THE AIRBAG INDICATOR LIGHT ON THE DASHBOARD OF MY PRIUS CAME ON AND WOULD NOT GO OFF. ON 3/14/2015, I TOOK THE PRIUS TO A DEALERSHIP FOR A DIAGNOSTIC CHECK. I WAS TOLD BY THE TECHNICIAN THAT BOTH THE DRIVERS AND PASSENGER SIDE SQUIB AIRBAG HARNESS WOULD NEED REPLACEMENT AT A COST OF $4,373.07. THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT OR ANY OUTSIDE FORCE TO CAUSE THE PROBLEM. IT APPEARED OUT OF THE BLUE WHEN I STARTED THE CAR ON THE MORNING OF 3/11/2015. THE CAR IS OTHERWISE IN NEAR PERFECT CONDITION. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10693448March 11, 2015
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE USED AS A MEANS OF FUEL EFFICIENT TRANSPORTATION WHILE I AM IN COLLEGE. I BEGAN EXPERIENCING HEADLIGHT FAILURE ON THE VEHICLE ABOUT A WEEK AFTER PURCHASING IT FROM THE DEALERSHIP. WHEN I BROUGHT IT TO THEIR ATTENTION, I WAS INFORMED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS WERE UNDER RECALL AND WOULD BE REPLACED. A FEW MONTHS LATER THE PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT BEGAN FLICKERING AGAIN AND WENT OUT AGAIN. THE HEADLIGHT COMES ON INITIALLY BEFORE FLICKERING (SOMETIMES VIOLENTLY) AND GOING OUT AGAIN. I SUSPECT THAT IT IS A POWER SUPPLY ISSUE AND NOT A HEADLIGHT ISSUE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10692849March 8, 2015
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT, HEADLIGHTS TURNED OFF (FAILED). STOPPED VEHICLE AND WAITED A COUPLE OF MINUTES AND TURNED LIGHT SWITCH OFF AND BACK ON. LIGHTS FUNCTIONED OK. ONE WEEK LATER, SAME FAILURE OCCURRED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10692385March 5, 2015
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
LEFT HEADLIGHT WILL INTERMITTENTLY GO OFF. THERE HAVE BEEN A COUPLE OF INSTANCES WHERE BOTH LIGHTS HAVE GONE OFF ON THE HIGHWAY AT NIGHT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10690257February 24, 2015
POWER TRAIN
CAR WOULD NOT STAY IN DRIVE. WHEN I PUT THE CAR INTO DRIVE, IT WOULD IMMEDIATELY REVERT TO NEUTRAL. THE CAR MIGHT ONLY ADVANCE A COUPLE OF FEET AND THEN IT WOULD POP BACK INTO NEUTRAL. SOMETIMES IT WOULD IMMEDIATELY POP BACK, NEVER REALLY STAYING IN DRIVE. HOLDING THE SIFTER IN DRIVE WOULD ALLOW THE CAR TO DRIVE. AFTER THE CAR WOULD POP BACK INTO THE NEUTRAL POSITION, THE CAR COULD NOT PUT IT INTO PARK AS WELL. I COULD REVERSE. ONLY AFTER PUTTING IT IN REVERSE, WOULD THE CAR GO INTO PARK. THE CAR SEEMED TO HAVE RESOLVED ITSELF WHEN NEXT CHECKED, NEAR AN HOUR LATER. WEATHER WAS VERY COLD, IN THE SINGLE DIGITS, NOW IT IS 15.6 F AND THE CAR SEEMS OK. *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10683120February 12, 2015
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC), SERVICE BRAKES, STEERING
THE AUTOMATIC BRAKING SYSTEM (ABS), VEHICLE STABILITY CONTROL (VSC), BRAKE LIGHT, AND BRAKE SYSTEM WARNING LIGHTS (4) ON THE PRIUS ALL CAME ON AND VEHICLE BECAME VERY UNSTABLE WHILE OUT OF TOWN. THE OWNER'S MANUAL INDICATED THAT THE DEALERSHIP SHOULD BE CONTACTED AND CAR SHOULD BE TAKEN IN IMMEDIATELY FOR SERVICE. SINCE NO DEALERSHIP WAS AVAILABLE AT THE IMMEDIATE LOCATION, THE CAR WAS DRIVEN HOME (60 MILES) IN VERY UNSTABLE CONDITIONS. UPON BRINGING IT TO THE DEALERSHIP I WAS TOLD IT WAS A MIRACLE NOTHING BAD HAD HAPPENED BECAUSE THE "COMPUTER SKID ASSEMBLY" NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $1570.97 FOR JUST THE PART!!! I FOUND IT VERY INTERESTING THAT THE PART WAS READILY AVAILABLE AS IF I WERE REPLACING AN OIL OR AIR FILTER. AFTER CONFIRMING THE COST WITH OTHER DEALERSHIPS, I CONSENTED TO THE WORK TO BE PERFORMED. IS THIS JUST ANOTHER "BUILT IN OBSOLESCENCE" FEATURE? THERE APPEARS TO BE NOTHING I COULD HAVE DONE TO PROPERLY MAINTAIN THIS NEW PIECE OF TECHNOLOGY AND THE SUDDEN FAILURE OF THE PART POSSES A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY CONCERN TO CONSUMERS. IN ADDITION, HOW CAN ANY REASONABLE CONSUMER BE CERTAIN THAT THIS PART FAILURE WAS NOT INPUT BY THE MANUFACTURER INTO THE CAR'S CONTROL SYSTEM. MAKES ME LONG FOR THE DAYS OF MANUAL VEHICLES AND SHADE TREE MECHANICS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10682004February 8, 2015
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
FRONT LEFT HEADLIGHT TURNING OFF AND ON INTERMITTANTLY. *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10680167January 31, 2015
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
I TESTED FUEL TANK CAPACITY SINCE DRIVING RANGE HAS SUBSTANTIALLY DECREASED FROM NEW CAR STATUS. FUEL CAPACITY NOW 9.2 GAL, VERSUS 12.4 AT PURCHASE. THE FUEL BLADDER HAS SHRUNK, SUBSTANTIALLY REDUCING DRIVING RANGE. THIS SHRINKAGE OCCURRED BETWEEN 10/15/2005 AND 2/24/2011 WHEN I TESTED IT. I AM INFORMED BY TOYOTA THAT REPLACEMENT FUEL BLADDERS WILL ALSO GRADUALLY SHRINK. NO METAL FUEL TANK IS AVAILABLE AS A REPLACEMENT. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10672057January 13, 2015
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF MY PRIUS AND IT HAS WORKED WONDERFULLY EXCEPT FOR HAVING TO REPLACE THE HEADLIGHTS. ABOUT 4 YEARS AGO I HAD AN ACCIDENT AND THE FRONT BUMPER AND DRIVER SIDE HEADLIGHT WAS REPLACED. IT IS NOW FLICKERING AND TURNS OFF. THE PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT WAS ALSO REPLACED 4-5 YEARS AGO AND IT DIED ABOUT 6 MONTHS AGO. THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM SINCE THE HEAD LIGHT FLICKERS AND DIES WHILE DRIVING. I ALMOST DROVE OFF THE ROAD ON A SIDE STREET BECAUSE I COULD NOT SEE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10671760January 12, 2015
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
DRIVING AFTER DARK, TEMP 12 F, DASHBOARD LIGHT WENT BLACK ON AREA BEHIND STEERING WHEEL. UPON ARRIVING AT DESTINATION, VEHICLE TOOK SEVERAL ATTEMPTS BEFORE IT TURNED OFF. CAR WAS TAKEN TO TOYOTA DEALER. I SUGGESTED THIS PROBLEM MAY BE ON A RECALL FOR THE MULTI SYSTEM LIGHT IN THE DASH. AFTER 2 HOURS TOYOTA DID NOT ADDRESS THE "RECALL" ISSUE AND DIAGNOSED LOOSE BATTER CABLE. CAR PERFORMED NORMALLY. NEXT MORNING THE CAR STARTED AND DASHBOARD LIGHTING CAME ON AS PER USUAL. END OF DAY WHEN TEMP DROPPED DASHBOARD WENT BLACK AGAIN AND THE CAR WAS DIFFICULT TO TURN OFF AT END DESTINATION. TOYOTA DEALER WAS CALLED IMMEDIATELY (SUNDAY) LEFT MESSAGE. CALLED AGAIN NEXT MORNING AFTER 10AM NO CALL RECEIVED FROM DEALERSHIP. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10670427January 6, 2015
AIR BAGS, STRUCTURE:BODY
STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN. PULLED INTO INTERSECTION OF ARTERIAL. DIDN'T SEE CROSSING TRAFFIC. COLLIDED WITH CROSSING VEHICLE. ENTIRE FRONT END OF PRIUS HIT REAR QUARTER PANEL OF PICKUP TRUCK. THE FRONT END OF THE PRIUS WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED. ANY AND ALL AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY IN PRIUS.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10670298January 5, 2015
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, VISIBILITY/WIPER, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
INTERMITTENT FAILURE OF HEADLIGHT (LEFT AND RIGHT, THOUGH NOT SIMULTANEOUSLY). PROBLEM CAN BE TEMPORARILY CORRECTED BY TURNING HEADLIGHTS OFF, THEN ON. THIS ISSUE OCCURS WHILE DRIVING (TWICE WITHIN A ONE HOUR DRIVE) AND WHEN THE CAR HAS JUST BEEN STARTED. FUSES HAVE BEEN CHECKED AND HEADLIGHT BULBS HAVE BEEN REPLACED WITH NO RESOLUTION. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10668580December 28, 2014
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
2005 PRIUS HID HEADLIGHTS GO OUT WHILE DRIVING AND CONTINUE TO GO OUT INTERMITTENTLY AS THEY WILL RELIGHT IF CYCLED ON AND OFF. REPLACED BULB AND ISSUE CONTINUES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10667912December 23, 2014
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
CAR WHEN IN PARK OR STOPPED (AT A STOP SIGN OR LIGHT) WILL AUTOMATICALLY SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL ABOUT A SECOND AFTER I TRY TO PUT IT IN REVERSE OR DRIVE. IT BEGAN HAPPENING ABOUT A MONTH AGO AND NOW HAPPENS EVERY TIME I START THE CAR. IT ALSO BEGAN HAPPENING AT STOPLIGHTS AND ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT WHEN I WAS TRYING TO ACCELERATE ONTO A FAST HIGHWAY FROM A STOPLIGHT LAST WEEK. IT TAKES UP TO 10 ATTEMPTS TO KEEP IT IN DRIVE OR REVERSE NOW FROM A STOPPED POSITION, AND I NEVER KNOW WHEN OR FOR HOW LONG IT WILL HAPPEN. OTHER THAN THIS, MY CAR IS IN GOOD CONDITION AND HAS NOT HAD ANY PROBLEMS. I LOOKED UP THE ISSUE ONLINE, AND FROM WHAT A LOT OF OTHER PRIUS DRIVERS SAY, IT SOUNDS LIKE A MAJOR ISSUE WITH THE SHIFT LEVER ASSEMBLY (SEE BELOW FOR LINKS TO FORUMS WHERE MANY OTHERS HAVE THE SAME ISSUE). THIS FIX COSTS A FEW HUNDRED DOLLARS, AND IT SEEMS COMMON IN THE 2004-2009 PRIUS. IT HAS A TSB OUT ON IT (SEE LINK BELOW), SO THE ISSUE IS KNOWN?BUT THIS PART SHOULD BE ISSUED A RECALL FOR THOSE HAVING ISSUES!! IT IS A DANGEROUS AND NOT-UNCOMMON DEFECT, AND I AM AFRAID FOR MY SAFETY WHEN DRIVING THIS CAR NOW! HTTP://WWW.TOYOTANATION.COM/FORUM/62-PRIUS-FORUM/343977-08-PRIUS-WON-T-STAY-GEAR.HTML HTTP://WWW.JUSTANSWER.COM/TOYOTA/6WCTJ-TOYOTA-PRIUS-PRIUS-2008-WILL-NOT-STAY-REVERSE-DRIVE.HTML HTTP://PRIUSCHAT.COM/THREADS/2008-PRIUS-SHIFTS-BACK-TO-NEUTRAL-WONT-STAY-IN-DRIVE-REVPOSTED-WED-AUG-12-2009-7-04-AM.67254/#AXZZ3MFYFAU2J. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10660813November 25, 2014
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
ON START UP THE COMBINATION METER FAILED TO OPERATE. SINCE THE COMBINATION METER PRESENTS BULK OF THE CRITICAL VEHICLE INFORMATION IT PRESENT A HAZARD TO THE OPERATION OF THE VEHICLE. IT IS A KNOWN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM AND WAS FIRST OBSERVED ON MY 2005 PRIUS APPROXIMATELY THREE YEARS AGO, HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM CAN CLEAR ITSELF. WHEN IT FIRST OCCURRED I BROUGHT IT TO THE SUN TOYOTA SERVICE DEPARTMENT, 3001 U.S. 19 HOLIDAY, FL (727) 478-0070 FOR SERVICE. THE SERVICE PERSONAL NOTICED THE PROBLEM, RECYCLED THE POWER ON THE VEHICLE, THEN THE PROBLEM CLEARED ITSELF. THEY SAID AT THAT TIME THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM UNLESS IT HARD FAILS. SINCE THAT TIME I HAVE HAD IT INTERMITTENTLY FAIL AND CORRECT ITSELF. I DISCOVERED THAT THIS WAS A KNOWN DESIGN DEFECT AND THAT A WARRANTY EXTENSION HAD BEEN ISSUED BY TOYOTA MOTOR SALE, USA WHICH WOULD COVER REPAIR OF THE VEHICLE. I EXPERIENCED THE FAILURE AGAIN ON 11/18/2014. I IMMEDIATELY DROVE IT TO SUN TOYOTA. THEY EXAMINED THE PROBLEM, I POINTED OUT THE EXTENDED WARRANTY, BUT THEY SAID THE VEHICLE WAS NOW OUTSIDE OF THE EXTENDED WARRANTY AND COULD NOT BE REPAIRED. I DROVE THE VEHICLE TO CLEARWATER TOYOTA, 21799 US HIGHWAY 19 N, CLEARWATER, FL 33765 (727) 799-1234, AND THEY TOO SAID IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. AS A LAST RECOURSE I CALLED THE TOYOTA CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE CENTER. THEY ASSIGNED A CASE TO ME BUT THEY TOO SAID THE PROBLEM IS OUT OF WARRANTY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10660155November 21, 2014
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
THE FIRST TIME HAPPENED ABOUT A YEAR AGO AND THE ISSUE GETS WORSE. I TOOK THE CAR INTO THE SHOP TO REPLACE A HEADLIGHT AS I THOUGHT IT HAD BURNT OUT. WHEN I ARRIVED, THE PASSENGER SIDE LIGHT WAS WORKING AGAIN. THE ISSUE HAS BEEN SO BAD NOW THAT BOTH HEADLIGHTS MAY TURN OFF WITH NO WARNING AND CAUSE COMPLETE DARKNESS WHILE ON THE ROAD. FROM WHAT THE SHOP TOLD ME IS THAT I WILL HAVE TO POSSIBLY REPLACE THE HID HEADLAMP CPU IN ORDER TO ENSURE NO FURTHER ISSUES. THIS IS A SEVERE SAFETY ISSUE THAT SEEMS TO PLAGUE THE MAKE AND MODEL OF TOYOTAS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10659004November 18, 2014
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
MY FRONT PASSENGERS-SIDE HEADLIGHT KEEPS GOING OUT EVERY 5-10 MINUTES BUT WILL TURN BACK ON IF I TURN THE HEADLIGHTS LIGHTS OFF AND BACK ON AGAIN. THIS HAS CAUSED ME TO GET PULLED OVER & NOBODY SEEMS TO KNOW HOW TO FIX IT... *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10655351November 17, 2014
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
WHILE DRIVING A HEADLAMP WILL EXTINGUISH AND I CAN TURN ON/OFF QUICKLY AND WILL COME BACK ON. SOMETIMES THIS HAPPENS EVERY COUPLE MILES AND CAN ALTERNATE BETWEEN HEADLAMPS AND SOMETIMES BOTH FAIL AT THE SAME TIME. ALSO IF TRYING TO DRIVE ON ONE, THE OTHER CAN FAIL ALSO REQUIRING A TURN ON/OFF RESET. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10658721November 17, 2014
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
MY LEFT HEAD LIGHT GOES OUT INTERMITTENTLY. THE LIGHT GOES BACK ON WHEN I TURN THE LIGHTS OFF AND THEN ON AGAIN. THIS SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM THAT PRIUS OWNERS ARE REGULARLY EXPERIENCING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10653517November 7, 2014
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, VISIBILITY/WIPER, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
THE RIGHT SIDE HEADLIGHT GOES OUT MULTIPLE TIMES FOR NO APPARENT REASON. I HAVE TO TURN THE LIGHTS OFF- THEN BACK ON--IT WILL COME BACK ON--ONLY TILL IT GOES OUT AGAIN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

← Back to Toyota Prius