Toyota Prius Complaints (2007)

2,004 consumer complaints on file.

#10681325February 4, 2015
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
TOYOTA PRIUSES, COVERING MULTIPLE MODEL YEARS, HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THEIR MULTIFUNCTION DISPLAYS IN THE RANGE OF 85000-95000 MILES. THE PROBLEM MANIFESTS ITSELF WITH A DISPLAY THAT WILL START TO GO OUT AND HAVE PROBLEMS WITH A FUZZY DISPLAY OR LINES THROUGH THE PICTURE, OR WILL JUST FAIL OUTRIGHT. THIS CAN CAUSE PROBLEMS WITH SUCH AS THE INABILITY TO CONTROL THE CAR'S CLIMATE (INCLUDING SAFETY-RELATED FRONT AND REAR WINDOW DEFOG), BLUETOOTH HANDS-FREE, GPS MAPPING AND OTHER IMPORTANT CAR FUNCTIONS. ONLINE THIRD-PARTY REPAIR COMPANIES SUGGEST THE PROBLEM MAY HAVE TO DO WITH BAD SOLDERING POINTS ON THE DISPLAY UNIT. TOYOTA SERVICE BULLETIN EL002-05 IS PURPORTED TO THE ISSUE. SOME SITES THAT DISCUSS THE ISSUE: HTTP://REPAIRPAL.COM/THE-CENTER-MULTI-FUNCTION-DISPLAY-MAY-FAIL-491 HTTP://BOBCOWART.BLOGSPOT.COM/2007/12/PRIUS-BROKEN-MULTI-FUNCTION-DISPLAY.HTML HTTP://WWW.PRIUSONLINE.COM/8-PRIUS-GENERAL/16987-PROBLEM-PRIUS-MULTI-FUNCTION-DISPLAY-MFD-3.HTML HTTP://PRIUSCHAT.COM/THREADS/MFD-ISSUES-ON-04-05-PRIUS.33923 HTTP://ARTSAUTOMOTIVE.COM/PUBLICATIONS/7-HYBRID/117-PRIUS-2ND-GEN-REPAIRING-THE-MULTI-FUNCTION-DISPLAY/ TOYOTA DOES NOT ACKNOWLEDGE A WIDE-SPREAD PROBLEM AND WILL NOT FULLY-COVER REPLACEMENT/REPAIR ON AN OUT-OF-WARRANTY VEHICLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10680790February 3, 2015
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
THE HEADLIGHTS HAVE STARTED WORKING INTERMITTENTLY. FIRST ONE AT A TIME AND NOW BOTH. IF THEY GO OUT, TURNING THE SWITCH OFF AND THEN ON AGAIN WILL MAKE THEM COME BACK ON. THE REPAIR COST FOR THE HEADLIGHTS TO BE REPLACED IS $350 + IT IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS TO HAVE HEADLIGHTS THAT DO NOT WORK RELIABLY. THE FACT THAT THE REPAIR COST IS SO EXTREME WILL LEAD TO MANY OF THESE CARS TO NOT BE FIXED. TOYOTA SHOULD TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE DEFECTIVE LIGHTS AND ISSUE A RECALL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10680400February 1, 2015
STRUCTURE:BODY
TRUNK/HATCHBACK OPENER/LATCH MELTED. LATCH IS NOW STICKY AND VERY DIFFICULT TO OPEN. THIS IS A HAZARD AS SOMEONE COULD BE TRAPPED IN THE CAR BECAUSE THE REAR HATCH WILL NOT OPEN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10680156January 31, 2015
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
HEADLIGHTS GO OUT INTERMITTENTLY, RANDOM MALFUNCTION. WILL COME BACK ON IF YOU TURN THE HEADLIGHTS OFF AND BACK ON. THEY WORK NORMALLY SOME OF THE TIME AND THEN WILL SHUT OFF AS YOU ARE DRIVING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10680255January 31, 2015
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
FOR THE LAST YEAR OR SO, I'VE HAD TROUBLE WITH THE HEADLIGHTS ON MY PRIUS. I FIRST NOTICED IT LAST SPRING - I WAS DRIVING BACK HOME ALONG THE HIGHWAY AND SUDDENLY NOTICED MY HEADLIGHTS WERE OUT. I FLIPPED THEM OFF AND THEN TRIED TO TURN THEM BACK ON AGAIN AND THEY CAME BACK ON. OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL MONTHS IT HAPPENED AGAIN - BUT IT WAS HARD TO NOTICE BECAUSE I DID NOT DO MUCH DRIVING AT NIGHT AND WHEN I DID, IT WAS IN WELL-LIT AREAS. WHEN I MOVED FOR A NEW JOB, I NOTICED THIS HAPPENING MORE FREQUENTLY - THOUGH I SUSPECT I'M JUST MORE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM BECAUSE I'M DOING MORE NIGHTTIME DRIVING AND IN MORE RURAL AREAS. THE DISTURBING PART IS THAT NOW BOTH HEADLIGHTS WILL GO OUT - PARTICULARLY AFTER MAKING A LEFT-HAND TURN. AGAIN, BY FLIPPING OFF THE LIGHTS AND THEN TURNING THEM BACK ON, THE LIGHTS WILL THEN WORK. BUT ON A LEAST A FEW OCCASIONS, THEY WILL GO OUT AGAIN WITHIN A FEW MINUTES. NOW, I'M NOTICING THAT ONE HEADLIGHT WILL OFTEN GO OUT - THOUGH NOT THE SAME SIDE. I'VE HAD MECHANICS LOOK AT IT WHO ARE UNABLE TO DO ANYTHING OTHER THAN REPLACE THE BULB; BUT THEY DON'T BELIEVE THAT THE BULB IS THE ISSUE. MY PRELIMINARY RESEARCH ONLINE HAS SHOWN ME THAT MY MODEL PRIUS HAS A HISTORY OF HEADLIGHT ISSUES THAT SOUND IDENTICAL TO MINE. ANY ASSISTANCE WOULD BE APPRECIATED - I AM A TEACHER IN A RURAL AREA WITH LIMITED FUNDS WHO CANNOT AVOID DRIVING AT NIGHT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10679972January 30, 2015
STRUCTURE
RUBBER HANDLE ON REAR TRUNK OPENER/RELEASE MELTED RESULTING IN FROZEN LATCH (UNABLE TO OPEN TRUCK). VEHICLE HAS NO ALTERNATIVE WAY OF OPENING (NO INSIDE VEHICLE RELEASE). TO ACCESS TRUNK AREA I MUST REMOVE EITHER OF 2 CHILDREN SITTING IN REAR SEAT STRAPPED INTO CHILD SAFETY SEAT AND LEAN OVER BACK SEAT. THIS REMOVAL OF CHILD OPENS THE POSSIBILITY THAT THEY COULD GET HIT IN PARKING LOT OR ALONG THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WHEN ACCESS IS A NECESSITY. TOYOTA REFUSES TO REPAIR. HAVE HAD DIFFICULTY OVER A NUMBER OF YEARS THAT HAS BEEN ESCALATING BUT AT THIS TIME THE TRUCK WILL NOT OPEN AT ALL USING THE HAND RELEASE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10679303January 27, 2015
STRUCTURE:BODY
THE TRUNK LATCH HAS MELTED MAKING IT VERY STICKY/GOOEY IN HOT WEATHER AND FROZEN SOLID (IMMOVABLE) IN COLD WEATHER MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO OPEN THE HATCH. THE SITUATION CONTINUED TO WORSEN TO THE POINT OF WHILE ATTEMPTING TO OPEN THE TRUNK YESTERDAY THE ENTIRE BACK PIECE FELL OFF THE CAR. I CAN NO LONGER OPEN THE HATCH AT ALL. THIS IS BOTH A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE (A LIFE SAVING ACCESS POINT) AND A SERIOUS QUALITY DEFECT THAT TOYOTA HAS CHOSEN TO IGNORE. IN ADDITION, THE COST TOYOTA IS CHARGING FOR REPAIR IS EXORBITANT (OVER $500). ALSO, I'VE NOTICED THAT THERE ARE NO COMPLAINTS ON LATER MODEL PRIUS', SO IT APPEARS THAT TOYOTA HAS FIXED THE PROBLEM AT THE EXPENSE OF MANY. I DO HOPE THAT NHTSA WILL LOOK INTO THIS ISSUE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10678817January 26, 2015
SERVICE BRAKES
GOING AROUND A CORNER AT A REASONABLE SPEED, TRACTION DASH LIGHT LIT UP AND ALARM SOUNDED. BRAKES FAILED TO ENGAGE. LET OFF ACCELERATOR AND SLOWED. PULLED CAR OFF ROAD. CAR MAKES CLICKS AND NOISES OF A SMALL ELECTRICAL MOTOR ENGAGING WHENEVER VEHICLE IS AT REST WITH FOOT ON BRAKE. BRAKE SYSTEM WAS BLED - DID NOT RESOLVE THE ISSUE. ANY TIME A SMALL BUMP IN THE ROAD IS ENCOUNTERED, DASH WARNING LIGHT AND ALARM COMES ON BRAKES DO NOT RESPOND FOR A SHORT TIME AFTERWARD. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10678743January 25, 2015
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
MY 2007 PRIUS HAS THE HID (HIGH INTENSITY) HEADLIGHTS. SOMETIMES BOTH HEADLIGHTS GO OUT AT THE SAME TIME AND SOMETIMES JUST THE PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT GOES OUT. I ORIGINALLY THOUGHT THAT THE PROBLEM WAS THE BULBS SO I REPLACED BOTH BULBS JUST A FEW WEEKS AGO WITH NEW BULBS, BUT THE PROBLEM IS STILL OCCURRING. SOMETIMES WHEN I TURN THE LIGHT SWITCH OFF AND THEN ON AGAIN THE HEADLIGHTS COME ON AGAIN. IT SEEMS TO BE A RANDOM OCCURRENCE BUT IT IS HAPPENING MORE AND MORE FREQUENTLY. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION ESPECIALLY WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10678583January 23, 2015
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
MY HEADLIGHTS RANDOMLY QUIT WORKING, SOMETIMES THE LEFT, SOMETIMES THE RIGHT, SOMETIMES BOTH. I CAN RESTART THE HEADLIGHTS BY TURNING THE SWITCH OFF AND BACK ON. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR 3 OR 4 YEARS. THE DEALER CAN'T REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM (THEY ALWAYS WORK THERE), AND THERE IS NO SUGGESTED FIX. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10678284January 22, 2015
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
WHILE DRIVING THE LEFT HEADLIGHT WENT OUT I TURNED OFF THE LIGHTS AND BACK ON, THE HEADLIGHT CAME BACK ON. SINCE THIS FIRST INCIDENT THE RIGHT HEADLIGHT DONE THE SAME WHILE DRIVING. BOTH HEADLIGHTS HAVE TURNED OFF AT THE SAME TIME WHILE DRIVING. IT SEEMS LIKE THIS IS A WIDE SPREAD ISSUE WITH THIS YEAR OF PRIUS. THE DEALERSHIP WILL CURRENTLY ONLY REPLACE THE BULBS AT A COST TO ME OF $1250.00. THE BULBS DON'T SEEM TO BE THE PROBLEM, CONSIDERING THEY WORK MOST OF THE TIME. IF YOU CAN TURN THE LIGHTS OFF AND BACK ON AGAIN AND THE LIGHT(S) RETURN TO WORKING STATE, ITS SEEMS TO BE AN ELECTRICAL CONTROLLER BOARD PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10676561January 20, 2015
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
ON MY WAY HOME FROM WORK, MY DRIVERS SIDE HEADLIGHT WENT COMPLETELY OUT. THE AREA I WORK IN IS EXTREMELY FOGGY AND ADEQUATE HEAD AND FOG LIGHTS ARE REQUIRED. DRIVING WITHOUT MY HEADLIGHTS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. TOYOTA NEEDS TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY AND REPLACE THE FAULTY ELECTRONICS IN THE HEADLIGHTS OF THE SECOND GENERATION PRIUS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10672157January 13, 2015
AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT AIR BAG FAILED TO ACTIVATE WHEN THE SEAT WAS OCCUPIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 153,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10671709January 12, 2015
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
I JUST PURCHASED THIS CAR LESS THAN A MONTH AGO USED FROM A TOYOTA DEALERSHIP. WHILE ENTERING A FREEWAY ONRAMP, MY DRIVERS SIDE HEADLIGHT WENT OUT COMPLETELY. I HAD TO PULL OVER AND TURN THE LIGHTS OFF AND BACK ON THEN THE LIGHT FUNCTIONED PROPERLY FOR THE REST OF MY DRIVE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10671916January 12, 2015
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
THE HID HEADLIGHTS INTERMITTENTLY FLICKER ON AND OFF, SOMETIMES STAYING OFF FOR THE MAJORITY OF A DRIVE. AT TIMES, BOTH FAIL. I SEE THERE WAS A SUCCESSFUL TOYOTA PRIUS HID HEADLIGHT CLASS ACTION SETTLEMENT THAT COVERS OWNERS OF PRIUS MADE 2006-2009 WITH AN EXTENDED WARRANTY. BUT I JUST PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE A MONTH AGO AND WAS NOT INFORMED BY THE DEALERSHIP OF THE PROBLEM AND AM BEYOND THE 50,000 MILES OR 5 YEAR PERIOD OF THE EXTENDED WARRANTY. IS THERE ANY WAY I CAN STILL HAVE TOYOTA FIX THIS IN MY VEHICLE? *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10671959January 12, 2015
STRUCTURE:BODY
LIFTGATE LATCH RUBBER HANDLE IS DISINTEGRATING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10671597January 10, 2015
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I'M IN NJ ON 1/8/15 I WAS SHOPPING AT COSTCO. IT WAS SUB ZERO TEMEPERTURE AND I HAD A FULL CART. I INJURED MY FINGERS AND GOT FROSTBITE WHILE TRYING TO OPEN HATCH. IT WAS STUCK. THE WEATHER WAS COLD AND WINDY . I GOT VERY SICK FROM THE INCIDENT BECAUSE OF THE STUPID HATCH, THE RUBBER PART IS LIKE STUCK AND CAN'T FEEL LATCH IT DOESNT OPEN. I'M REALLY REALLY UPSET. . OMG *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10670321January 5, 2015
STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE
THE REAR HATCH IS POORLY DESIGNED WITH NO INDOOR RELEASE. I KEEP INJURING MY HAND AND NECK TO GET IT OPEN, OFTEN HAVING TO TAKE PAIN PILLS, GET THERAPY THE NEXT DAY AFTER STRAINING MY NECK TRYING TO LIFT UP ON THE TINY LITTLE GRIP AREA WITH MY HAND. THE LATCH WILL NOT RELEASE ON THE FIRST TRY AND WHEN THE TEMPS ARE BELOW FREEZING I OFTEN CANNOT GET IT TO OPEN AT ALL. HOW IS ONE SUPPOSED TO GET A SPARE TIRE OUT? WHEN IS IT ZERO DEGREES OUT ONE SHOULD BE ABLE TO GET THEIR REAR DOOR OPEN WITHOUT TAKING OFF ONE'S GLOVE. THIS HATCH WILL NEVER OPERATE WITH A GLOVED HAND ATTEMPTING TO OPEN IT. IT IS ALSO NOT SAFE TO HAVE TO FUMBLE AROUND IN PARKING LOTS ATTEMPTING TO SQUEEZE BETWEEN PARKING PLACES TO LOAD ITEMS PURCHASED WHEN ONE SHOULD BE ABLE TO EASILY DEPOSIT ITEMS IN THE BACK OF THE VEHICLE. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND NEEDS TO BE CORRECTED BY TOYOTA. I HAVE SEEN MANY PEOPLE COMPLAIN ABOUT THIS ONLINE BUT NOBODY HAS MENTIONED BEING ABLE TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM, NOR HAVE DEALERS BEEN ABLE TO FIX THIS WITHOUT CHARGING THE CUSTOMERS $100'S OF DOLLARS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10669497January 1, 2015
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
THE HIGH INTENSITY HEADLIGHTS (HID) BULBS (RIGHT AND LEFT) ARE KEEP GOING OUT. I REPLACED 4 TIMES AND KEEPS HAPPENING. I RESEARCHED ONLINE AND FOUND OUT THAT THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE ON TOYOTA PRIUS MODEL 2004-2007. MANY PEOPLE HAVE SHARED ABOUT THIS SPECIFIC PROBLEM. *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10668358December 26, 2014
STRUCTURE
IN JULY OF 2014, I BOUGHT A 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS FROM A FAMILY MEMBER IN NEVADA, A WARM STATE; I LIVE IN MINNESOTA, A COLD STATE. THE HATCH RELEASE RUBBER SEAL HAD DETERIORATED, AND IT WAS TACKY TO THE TOUCH, BUT THE HATCH RELEASED AND OPENED. WHEN NOVEMBER CAME, THE HATCH RELEASE WOULD NOT WORK; IT WAS A COOL NOVEMBER. I BELIEVE IT IS A DANGER TO NOT BE ABLE TO OPEN THE BACK HATCH IN CASE OF AN ACCIDENT. THE MAPLEWOOD TOYOTA DEALERSHIP SERVICE PERSON INSPECTED THE HATCH RELEASE SEAL AND SAID THAT SOMEONE MUST HAVE PUT A CHEMICAL ON IT TO DAMAGE IT. TOYOTA DOES NOT BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A DEFECTIVE PART; I BELIEVE THE PART IS DEFECTIVE. I AM GOING TO HAVE THE PART FIXED, BUT I BELIEVE TOYOTA HAS CREATED A DANGEROUS SITUATION, ESPECIALLY IF SOMEONE WITH A DEFECTIVE HATCH RELEASE SEAL TRAVELS TO A COOLER CLIMATE THAN THE CAR HAS EXPERIENCED IN THE PAST. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

← Back to Toyota Prius