Toyota Prius Complaints (2005)

1,051 consumer complaints on file.

#10484682November 14, 2012
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT HAD TO PLAY AROUND WITH THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH IN ORDER FOR THE LIGHTS TO ILLUMINATE. THE FAILURE HAD OCCURRED PREVIOUSLY BUT WAS ONLY EXHIBITED ON ONE SIDE OF THE HEADLIGHTS AT A TIME. THE RECENT FAILURE WAS EXHIBITED ON BOTH HEADLIGHTS. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHERE HE WAS ADVISED THAT THE CONTROL COULD POSSIBLE BE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN, BUT THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 160,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10484011November 12, 2012
ENGINE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
MY 22-YEAR-OLD SON HAD A SCARY INCIDENT IN WHICH OUR 2005 PRIUS STALLED SPONTANEOUSLY ON THE BRONX RIVER PARKWAY (VALHALLA, NY) WITH SEVERAL DASHBOARD WARNINGS LIGHTING UP. THE HYBRID SHIFTED TO BATTERY MODE IN TRAFFIC. LUCKILY HE WAS ABLE TO GET OFF HIGHWAY. CAR WAS TOWED TO DEALER. WE'RE VERY CONCERNED BECAUSE THE CAR NEVER HAD PROBLEMS AND BECAUSE, ON AN INTERNET SEARCH, WE SEE THE FAILURE WAS PRECISELY LIKE THE ONE DESCRIBED IN NHTSA REPORT THAT RESULTED IN A TOYOTA ACTION TO SERVICE MANY CARS IN 2005: HTTP://J.MP/NHTSAPRIUS05PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10482263October 25, 2012
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING OUR RECENTLY PURCHASED PRIUS AND WAS PULLED OVER BY A POLICE OFFICER. ONE OF HIS HEADLIGHTS WAS NOT WORKING. FOLLOWING THAT EVENT, THE OTHER LIGHT HAS GONE OUT AS WELL. BOTH HEADLIGHTS GO ON OFF WHEN IN USE. THIS IS DISTURBING TO US BECAUSE IT'S A SAFETY ISSUE WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT. AFTER DOING RESEARCH, WE DISCOVERED THAT THIS CAN BE AN ISSUE IN 05-08 TOYOTA PRIUS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10482055October 24, 2012
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS FAILED AND WOULD NOT ILLUMINATE. THE CONTACT BECAME AWARE OF THE HEADLIGHT FAILURE WHEN SHE WAS PULLED OVER BY A POLICE OFFICER. THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH HAD TO BE MOVED TO ON AND OFF POSITION SEVERAL TIMES FOR THE HEADLIGHTS TO ILLUMINATE. ONE HEADLIGHT WAS REPLACED, HOWEVER THE FAILURE WAS NOT CORRECTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 103,754 .
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10479527October 10, 2012
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
WE HAVE REPEATEDLY HAD OUR HEADLIGHTS GO OUT. WE HAVE BEEN REPLACING BULBS THINKING IT WAS THE PROBLEM. WE FOUND IF WE SHUT OFF THE CAR AND STARTED AGAIN OR TURN ON/OFF THE LIGHTS, THE HEADLAMP WOULD WORK AGAIN. IT HAS HAPPENED TO BOTH HEADLIGHTS BUT NOT AT THE SAME TIME. WE'VE BEEN TOLD BY TOYOTA THAT THE LIGHTS NEED REPLACING BUT THERE IS NO WAY THESE LIGHTS NEED TO BE REPLACED THAT OFTEN. IT HAS HAPPENED SPORADICALLY THROUGHOUT THE LAST SIX YEARS. I WAS PULLED OVER BY THE POLICE TWO NIGHTS AGO FOR HAVING A HEADLAMP OUT. THE NEXT TIME I STARTED THE CAR IT WORKED PERFECTLY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10478195October 1, 2012
STEERING
I WAS MAKING A TURN AT LOW SPEED AND THE STEERING FAILED. THE STEERING WHEEL KEPT TURNING BUT THE WHEELS DID NOT. I TOOK THE CAR IN FOR SERVICE AND FOUND OUT THAT THE STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT SPLINES WERE WORN. AS A SECONDARY ISSUE, THE FAILURE OF THE SHAFT SPLINES CAUSED UNIMPEDED ROTATION OF THE STEERING WHEEL WHICH SUBSEQUENTLY DAMAGED THE STEERING CLOCK SPRING. THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT REPLACEMENT WAS COVERED IN TOYOTA SAFETY RECALL SSC-60C AND MY VEHICLE HAD (ACCORDING TO TOYOTA) THE NECESSARY WORK RECALL WORK DONE IN 2006. APPARENTLY THE RECALL WORK DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. TOYOTA ARGUES THAT THIS PART IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY AND THEREFORE, NOT THEIR RESPONSIBILITY. I ARGUE THAT (A) IT WAS A RECALLED PART AND THE RECALL CLEARLY DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM AND (B) THE FAILURE OF THE STEERING SHAFT IS A MAJOR, AND UNACCEPTABLE FAILURE OF THE VEHICLE. I THINK THAT IS IMPORTANT THAT (A) THE PUBLIC BE NOTIFIED OF THE INEFFICACY OF THE RECALL AND (B) THAT TOYOTA BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR THE FAILURE OF THIS PART. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10478219October 1, 2012
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
THE LEFT HEADLIGHT WENT OUT AND THE OPERATOR TURNED THE LIGHTSWITCH OFF THEN BACK ON AND THE LEFT HEADLIGHT RESTARTED. THIS HAPPENED INTERMITTENTLY AT NO PARTICULAR TIME INTERVAL UP UNTIL SEPTEMBER 29, 2012 WHEN BOTH HEADLIGHTS BEGAN TO GO OUT AND THE OPERATOR NOW HAS SAFETY CONCERNS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10477962September 29, 2012
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I AM SURE THAT YOU WON'T BELIEVE THIS IS TRUE. ON OCT 25TH 2012, I GOT HOME AND TURNED OFF THE CAR AFTER WORK. I TOOK THE BAG CONTAINED THE KEY AND LEFT IN THE FAMILY ROOM WHICH IS ABOUT 40 FEET AWAY FROM GARAGE. AFTER THE DINNER, I WENT TO GARAGE TO THROW TRASH. I SMELLED GAS AND HEARD MUSIC AND CAR ENGINE WAS ON. SUDDENLY, IT REMINDS ME, IN THE MORNING WHEN I TURN OFF THE CAR AND LEFT, THE CAR STARTED BY ITSELF AND ALL ELECTRONIC SYSTEM WAS RE-SET. I SPECIFICALLY PAID ATTENTION TO TURNING OFF THE CAR AND LOCKING THE DOOR IN THE EVENING BECAUSE OF WHAT HAPPENED IN THE MORNING. THE CAR WAS TURNED ON BY ITSELF AGAIN AND HAD BEEN RUNNING IN THE GARAGE FOR MORE THAN 2.5 HRS BASED ON THE CLOCK RE-SET INFORMATION. I COULD NOT TURN IT OFF AND THE CAR SHOWED ERROR MESSAGE THAT THE KEY WAS NOT IN THE CAR. OF COURSE, SINCE THE KEY WAS IN THE FAMILY ROOM AT THAT TIME. I BROUGHT THE KEY IN THE CAR AND STILL COULD NOT TURN IT OFF. I TRIED TO INSERT THE KEY AND STILL NO LUCK. I CALLED AAA AND THEY SENT A TECHNICIAN AND A TOLL TRUCK TO MY HOUSE. HE COULD NOT TURN OFF EITHER INITIALLY AND EVENTUALLY TURNED IT OFF AFTER MOVE THE WHEEL, STEP ON BREAKS REALLY HARD AND SHOOK THE CAR. I SENT THE CAR TO TOYOTA DEALER RIGHT AWAY. THE SERVICE CENTER COULD NOT IDENTIFY ANY ISSUE AND TOYOTA REFUSE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THERE IS ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR. I WAS SCARED AND ALSO GLAD THAT I WENT GARAGE TO THROW GARBAGE TODAY. OTHERWISE, I DON'T KNOW WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN! WE HAVE FURNACE WITH IGNITER LIGHT ON IN THE GARAGE. THE HOUSE CAN BE ON FIRE WITH A REASON NO ONE WILL EXPECT AND BELIEVE! THE CARBON MONOXIDE COULD FILLED THE GARAGE AND EMERGE IN THE HOUSE! I CALLED IN THE CUSTOMER CARE CENTER (CASE # [XXX]) AND THEY TOLD ME THERE IS ANYTHING THEY CAN DO ABOUT IT. WHAT IS REALLY UPSET ME IS THAT TOYOTA DOES NOT EVEN ACKNOWLEDGE THERE IS ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR! INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10476671September 21, 2012
VISIBILITY
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE, THE SUN VISOR ON THE DRIVERS SIDE FLIPS DOWN, BLOCKING THE DRIVERS VIEW. THE VISOR CAN BE RETURNED TO THE UP (OUT OF THE WAY) POSITION. HOWEVER IT REPEATEDLY AND SPONTANEOUSLY SLIPS DOWN, BOTH BLOCKING THE DRIVERS VIEW AND CREATING A CONSTANT DISTRACTION FOR THE DRIVER. THIS IS DANGEROUS AND A SEVERE DRIVING HAZARD. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10476570September 20, 2012
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 70 MPH, THE FOLLOWING SYMPTOMS OCCURRED ON MY 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS: (1) CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE, (2) ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, (3) PROBLEM LIGHT CAME ON, (4) BATTERY WENT RED, (5) CAR STALLED AND WOULD NOT ACCELERATE/DRIVE ANY FURTHER. AFTER TURNING OFF THE CAR AND RESTARTING IT, I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE IT BACK AND THE BATTERY RECHARGED ITSELF TO GREEN. AFTER TAKING IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND HAVING THIS PROBLEM "FIXED", THE EXACT SAME SITUATION HAPPENED TWO MORE TIMES, AGAIN 6 MONTHS LATER AND THEN 2 WEEKS AFTER THAT. THE SECOND TIME I WAS DRIVING AGAIN ON THE HIGHWAY AT 70 MPH, THE THIRD TIME I WAS DRIVING AT NIGHT AT 40 MPH. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10475936September 19, 2012
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
FIRST MY LEFT HEADLIGHT WENT OUT. WITHIN A MINUTE MY RIGHT HEADLIGHT WENT OUT AS WELL. I TURNED THE LIGHT SWITCH OFF, THEN ON AGAIN, AND THEY BOTH RE-LIT. THIS HAPPENED FOUR TIMES IN THE COURSE OF 20 MILES. THE IS A REGULAR OCCURRENCE NOW. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10475108September 11, 2012
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
SINCE JUNE.. I HAVE HAD ONE OR BOTH HEADLIGHTS GO OFF. I HAVE TO FLICK THEM ON AND OFF TO GET THEM TO GO BACK ON. I HAVE RUN OFF THE ROAD. I HAVE BEEN PULLED OVER BY POLICE ONLY TO THEN FIND MY HEADLIGHT WAS ON. SOMETIMES WHEN THEY BOTH GO OFF IT WILL TAKES MANY ON OFF OF THE SWITCH TO GET THEM TO FINALLY GO BACK ON, AND I USUALLY HAVE TO MAKE MY WAY OF THE ROAD. THIS IS A TERRIBLY DANGEROUS SITUATION. I HAVE HAD MANY VEHICLES AND NOT EVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS!! I TRULY BELIEVE THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL. I LOOKED ON LINE AND NOW KNOW IT IS NOT JUST ME, BUT MANY PRIUS ARE HAVING THE VERY SAME ISSUE. THERE IS A GUY I SAW INTERVIEWED THAT SAID HE DOES NOT BELIEVE THAT THEY BOTH GO OFF SIMULTANEOUSLY. I CAN ASSURE YOU THAT THEY DO, AND IT HAPPENS QUITE FREQUENTLY. I HAVE BECOME VERY SCARED TO DRIVE AT NIGHT. I DO NOT DO IT UNLESS I JUST HAVE TO.. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10474312September 8, 2012
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
WHILE DRIVING A CANYON ROAD AT NIGHT, VEHICLE HEADLIGHTS SUDDENLY WENT OFF. NEAR COLLISION OCCURRED WHEN ANOTHER CAR TURNING IN FRONT OF AFFECTED VEHICLE BECAUSE IT WAS NOT VISIBLE IN THE DARK. LATER DISCOVERED TURNING THE HEADLIGHTS OFF AND THEN ON AGAIN CAUSED THE HEADLAMPS TO RELIGHT. SINCE THEN, ONE OR BOTH HEAD LAMPS INTERMITTENTLY AND SUDDENLY TURN OFF. RESET RELIGHTS. ON JUNE 22, 2012, VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO NORTHRIDGE TOYOTA FOR REPAIR. NORTHRIDGE TOYOTA CHARGED OVER $500 TO REPLACE HEADLAMPS. SOME TIME AFTER REPAIR, THE ISSUE RETURNED WITH SAME SYMPTOMS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10473291September 2, 2012
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE
MY PRIUS DASH KEEPS GOING BLACK, THE CAR WON'T SHUT OFF . ALSO HAD IT IN PARK ENGINE REVVED AND STARTED TO DRIVE AWAY. I JUMPED IN AND IT WOULDN'T SHUT OFF I HAD TO RIP THE KEY OUT. THE REAR TAILLIGHTS GO OUT ALL THE TIME. THE DOORS AND HATCH LOCKS WON'T UNLOCK HALF THE TIME. I HAD A NEW BATTERY PUT IN BUT IT STILL HAPPENS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10472564August 27, 2012
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
THE RIGHT HEADLIGHT GOES OUT A MINUTES AFTER DRIVING THE CAR. BOTH HEADLIGHTS COME ON INITIALLY, BUT AFTER DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD FOR A FEW MINUTES, THE RIGHT HEADLIGHT STOPS WORKING. THIS SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM WITH THE HID MODULE MALFUNCTIONING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10472409August 24, 2012
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
MY WIFE WAS DRIVING OUR 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS TODAY AND THE ACCELERATOR LOCKED TO THE FLOOR. THE CAR CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE EVEN THOUGH SHE WAS BRAKING. SHE WAS EVENTUALLY ABLE TO GET THE VEHICLE TO STOP. THE ACCELERATOR WAS NOT STUCK UNDER THE FLOOR MATS. SHE HAD TO PRY THE ACCELERATOR FROM THE FLOOR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10470239August 11, 2012
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
RIGHT HID INTERMIITENTLY GOES ON AND OFF. UNABLE TO SEE THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ROAD AT NIGHT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10470025August 9, 2012
AIR BAGS
THIS VEHICLE WAS FLIPPED END OVER END TWICE AND SLIDE ON ITS RIGHT SIDE BUT LANDED UPRIGHT ON ALL FOUR TIRES. THE AIR BAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY AND THE RIGHT CORNER IN THE FRONT TOOK A BLUNT FORCE WHILE FLIPPING. THIS COULD HAVE EASILY RESULTED IN A DEATH DUE TO LACK OF DEPLOYMENT. THE CAR WAS A TOTAL LOSS. THIS WARRANTS COMPENSATION FOR MALFUNCTIONING AIR BAGS. THE DRIVER RECEIVED MINOR BRUISING AND SORENESS BUT NO MAJOR PROBLEMS AROSE FROM THIS INCIDENT. IT IS MY CONCERN FOR OTHER OPPORTUNITIES OF A FATALITY DUE TO THE LACK OF FUNCTIONING AIR BAGS. I FEEL I SHOULD BE COMPENSATED BECAUSE THE DRIVER COULD HAVE SO EASILY DIED THAT NIGHT. THANK YOU IN ADVANCE FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION WITH THIS MATTER. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10466973July 22, 2012
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
I WAS DRIVING IN INTERSTATE I-270 IN COMMERCE CITY CO. WHEN SUDDENLY THE HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT AND WOULD NOT COME BACK ON UNTIL I WAS COMPLETELY STOPPED,SO I TURN THEM OFF THEN ON AND THEY COME BACK ON,?? IT HAS KEPT ON HAPPENING EVER SINCE, THEY ARE THE HID'S AND IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING AM NOT THE ONLY ONE HAVING THIS PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10463568June 29, 2012
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
I AM THE FIRST OWNER OF THIS 2005 PRIUS AND HAVE KEPT UP WITH ALL MAINTENANCE AND RECALL ISSUES. THIS IS MY FIRST COMPLAINT. ON A PERFECTLY FINE WEATHER DAY, I WAS DRIVING MY USUAL ROUTE HOME COMING TO A LINE OF STOPPED CARS IN THE LEFT TURN LANE ON A RELATIVELY FLAT, UNBUMPY SURFACE STREET AND WAS ABOUT 1 CAR LENGTH FROM THE STOPPED CAR IN FRONT OF ME WHEN I APPLIED MY BRAKE. TO MY ASTONISHMENT, WITH THE BRAKE FULLY ENGAGED, MY CAR KEPT GOING FORWARD AS IF I HAD NO BRAKES AND REAR ENDED THE CAR AHEAD OF ME. LUCKILY NEITHER OF US WERE HURT AS I HAD ALREADY SLOWED DOWN FOR THE STOP. THERE WAS NO DAMAGE TO MY CAR (MY LICENSE PLATE HOLDER HIT HER BUMPER AND CAUSED A COUPLE OF PAINT CHIPS ON HERS, WHICH WILL PROBABLY COST ME THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TO REPAIR) BUT I CAN TELL YOU I WAS THOROUGHLY SHAKEN UP. NO EMERGENCY LIGHTS OR CODE LIGHTS WENT ON INSIDE THE CAR. FROM READING OTHER COMPLAINTS ON THIS SITE, I SEE THIS IS NOT A NEW PROBLEM. I WILL BE REPORTING THIS TO MY TOYOTA DEALER AND TO TOYOTA. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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