Toyota Prius Complaints (2005)

1,051 consumer complaints on file.

#10376766January 15, 2011
SEATS, SEAT BELTS
VEHICLE STRUCK FROM BEHIND AT APPROXIMATELY 20MPH AND PUSHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. DRIVER SEAT BELT DID NOT LOCK AND DRIVER'S HEAD STRUCK THE TOP OF THE STEERING WHEEL. THE DRIVER SEAT BACK ALSO BROKE AND THE DRIVER FELL BACKWARD UNTIL THE SEAT BACK WAS STOPPED BY THE CUSHION OF THE REAR SEATS. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10375453January 10, 2011
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
I WAS DRIVING AT NIGHT ON I-75N AND ANOTHER CAR PULLED UP BESIDE ME AND GESTURED THAT SOMETHING WAS WRONG. WE BOTH PULLED OFF THE INTERSTATE AND THEY TOLD ME THAT I HAD NO TAIL LIGHTS AND NO LICENSE PLATE LIGHT. THEY WERE AFRAID THAT SOMEONE WOULD RAM ME SINCE I HAD NO REAR END RUNNING LIGHTS. I ALSO NOTICED THAT MY GLOVE COMPARTMENT LIGHT WAS OUT. I OPENED THE HATCH AND THEN SLAMMED IT AND THE RIGHT TAIL LIGHT AND LICENSE PLATE LIGHTS CAME BACK ON. I PROCEED HOME UNDER FLASHERS IN THE RIGHT HAND LANE OF THE INTERSTATE. THE NEXT DAY I TOOK IT TO THE COBB COUNTY TOYOTA DEALER AND THEY SAID THAT ALL THE BULBS WERE BURNED OUT. I ASKED HOW COULD ALL THOSE LIGHTS GO OUT AT ONCE AND THEY SAID IT HAPPENS. I AUTHORIZED THEM TO REPLACE ALL THE BULBS. THEY LATER CONTACTED ME AND SAID THAT THEY DID NOT HAVE A REPLACEMENT BULB FOR THE GLOVE COMPARTMENT AND I TOLD THEM TO FORGET ABOUT THAT AND WE COULD REPLACE IT LATER. THE LIGHTS ARE WORKING FINE BUT STRANGELY THE GLOVE COMPARTMENT LIGHT STARTED WORKING AFTER THEY REPLACED ALL THE OTHER REAR LIGHTS AND THAT LIGHT HAS FAITHFULLY WORKED TO THIS DAY EVEN THOUGH IT WAS NOT REPLACED DURING THE SAME SERVICE CALL TO REPLACED THE "BURNED OUT" TAIL LIGHTS AND LICENSE PLATE LIGHT THE BRAKE LIGHTS, TURN SIGNAL AND FLASHERS ALL WORKED ON THE EVENING OF 12/20/10 DURING THE TIME THAT THE TAIL AND LICENSE PLATE LIGHTS WENT OUT. HAVING HAD THIS HAPPEN AT HIGH SPEEDS ON A BUSY INTERSTATE AT NIGHT WAS MOST UPSETTING AND TO HAVE ALL THESE LIGHTS GO OUT AT ONCE SEEMS SUSPICIOUS, PARTICULARLY WHEN THE GLOVE COMPARTMENT LIGHT WAS DECLARED AS "BURNED OUT" BY DEALER, NOT REPLACED AND NOW WORKS PERFECTLY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10374092January 4, 2011
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC
DURING WET WEATHER, THE BRAKES GRAB. THIS USUALLY OCCURS DURING THE FIRST 10 MINS. OF DRIVING. BASED ON THE RECENT RECALLS, I DECIDED TO DO SOME RESEARCH ONLINE TO DETERMINE IF OTHERS OWNERS HAD SIMILAR PROBLEMS. I HAVE NOT TAKEN THE CAR IN TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE BRAKES HAVE BEEN THIS WAY SINCE I'VE OWNED THE CAR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10373672January 1, 2011
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
WHILE DRIVING, THE LOW AND HI BEAM HEADLAMPS REPEATEDLY TURN COMPLETELY OFF. IT SEEMS TO OCCUR RANDOMLY EVERY SINGLE DAY, SOMETIMES ALTERNATING BETWEEN EITHER HEADLAMP GOING OUT AND SOMETIMES BOTH HEADLAMPS TURNING OFF AT THE SAME TIME. AT NIGHT THIS IS QUITE CONCERNING. ONCE THE HEADLAMPS TURN OFF, I MUST QUICKLY TURN OFF THE AND ON THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH UNTIL THE LIGHTS COME BACK ON. IF ONLY ONE HEADLAMP IS OFF, IT IMMEDIATELY COMES ON AFTER TURNING OFF THEN ON THE HEADLAMPS. IF BOTH HEADLAMPS TURN OFF, IT SOMETIMES TAKES MANY ATTEMPTS TO GET THEM BACK ON. IT MAY BE WORTH NOTING THAT I HAVE THE HID HEADLAMPS FROM THE FACTORY. I AM IN THE PROCESS OF TAKING THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE THE PROBLEM CORRECTED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10373439December 30, 2010
AIR BAGS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS. A VEHICLE TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH CRASHED INTO THE CONTACTS VEHICLE HEAD ON. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE WAS FILED AND 2 INJURIES WERE REPORTED. THE CONTACT AND A PASSENGER WERE TRANSPORTED VIA AMBULANCE TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED TO AN INSURANCE COMPANY LOT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT EXAMINED FOR THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 105,000.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
2
Deaths:
0
#10373553December 30, 2010
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HE WAS ADDING FUEL TO HIS VEHICLE, THE GASOLINE PUMP CLICKED NOTIFYING THAT THE VEHICLE WAS FULL; HOWEVER, WHEN HE REMOVED THE PUMP FROM THE VEHICLE GASOLINE STARTED FLOWING ONTO THE GROUND. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 56340.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10373377December 29, 2010
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
DRIVER'S SIDE HID HEADLIGHT ON MY 2005 PRIUS GOES OUT INTERMITTENTLY. IF I TURN THE HEADLIGHTS OFF AND THEN BACK ON, THE BULB STAYS LIT FOR A LITTLE WHILE, UNTIL IT HAPPENS AGAIN. FROM WHAT I'M READING ON THE INTERNET, THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM THAT TOYOTA IS AWARE OF BUT WILL NOT RESOLVE. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE - IT'S DIFFICULT TO SEE WITH ONLY ONE FUNCTIONAL HEADLIGHT. I PAID GOOD MONEY TO GET THE UPGRADED HEADLIGHTS, TOYOTA SHOULD STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCTS AND FIX THE PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10373386December 29, 2010
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
IN DECEMBER 2010, 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS WAS TAKEN TO DEALER FOR PEDAL MODIFICATION AS PART OF THE FLOOR MAT ACCELERATOR PEDAL ENTRAPMENT RECALL. THE DEALER DID NOT EXPLAIN THAT PEDAL WAS ACTUALLY BEING SHORTENED BY CUTTING OFF 1/4 INCH AT THE BOTTOM. AFTER THE RECALL MODIFICATION WAS COMPLETED, ACCELERATOR PEDAL BECAME STUCK ON AFTER-MARKET FLOOR MAT THAT HAD BEEN IN PLACE IN THE VEHICLE SINCE DECEMBER 2005. DEALER DID NOT MENTION THIS POSSIBILITY AT THE TIME OF THE RECALL FIX. (PRIOR TO MODIFICATION, VEHICLE OWNER HAD CHECKED TO MAKE SURE THAT FLOOR MAT WAS PROPERLY ANCHORED AND THAT THERE WAS NO WAY FOR ACCELERATOR TO BECOME TRAPPED.) IN THIS CASE, THE MODIFICATION INTENDED TO PREVENT FLOOR MAT ENTRAPMENT ACTUALLY CAUSED THE PEDAL TO BECOME STUCK. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10370809December 15, 2010
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH AND TRYING TO DECELERATE THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT COME TO A STOP. SHE CRASHED INTO THE REAR END OF A VEHICLE DUE TO THE FAILURE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. NO ONE WAS INJURED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE POLICE WERE CALLED, BUT DID NOT ARRIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND SHE HAD NOT RECEIVED A CALL FROM THE MECHANIC. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 36,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10369618December 8, 2010
EXTERIOR LIGHTING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
WE ARE HAVE A PROBLEM WITH OUR 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE HEADLIGHTS (ONE OR BOTH) GOES OUT WITHOUT WARNING. THE IS A KNOWN SAFETY PROBLEM WITH HEADLIGHTS ON THE PRIUS. TOYOTA WILL NOT ISSUE A RECALL BECAUSE THEY HAVE NOT BEEN DIRECTED TO BY THE GOVERNMENT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10369146December 3, 2010
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
DRIVER'S SIDE HEADLAMP TURNS OFF INTERMITTENTLY. NO PATTERN IDENTIFIED. NO SOLUTION EXCEPT CYCLING HEADLAMP SWITCH SOMETIMES WORKS, SOMETIMES NOT. THIS BEGAN AFTER HEADLAMP WAS REPLACED AFTER IT BEGAN DIMMING NOTICEABLY AND PRODUCING LIGHT OF A PINKISH COLOR. NO FURTHER REPAIRS ATTEMPTED BECAUSE CAN'T REPRODUCE PROBLEM RELIABLY E.G. WHEN IN REPAIR SHOP. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10367163November 22, 2010
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
TOYOTA PRIUS HEADLIGHTS- THE REPLACEMENT COST FOR ONE BULB IS RIDICULOUSLY HIGH- ABOUT $199 PLUS LABOR ($110). THE NEW LIGHTBULB OVERHEATS AFTER TWO MINUTES AND TURNS OFF. IF I TURN THE LIGHTS ON AND OFF AGAIN THE BULB WILL COME BACK ON--FOR TWO MINUTES AT A TIME. THIS IS INCREDIBLY DANGEROUS. I HEAR A NEW BULB IS COMING OUT TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM, BUT SINCE MINE WAS "USED" I CANNOT RETURN IT FOR AN EXCHANGE WHEN THE NEW BULBS COME IN. BECAUSE IT IS HALOGEN, THEY WILL ONLY GUARANTEE THE BULB IF THEY INSTALL IT. IT'S A MONOPOLY. WE ARE STUCK PAYING THEIR HIGH PRICES FOR THE BULB-- AND ARE REQUIRED TO GO TO THE DEALERSHIP TO CHANGE A SIMPLE HEADLIGHT. (ALTHOUGH I DARE NOT MENTION THE INSTALLATION PROCESS, WHICH IS ANYTHING BUT SIMPLE-- INCLUDING REMOVING THE BUMPER!) *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10367654November 22, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
WE HAVE NOTICED REPEATEDLY (A DOZEN OR MORE TIMES) OVER THREE YEARS OF OWNING THIS CAR AND 100K MILES, THAT AS WE BRAKE GOING OVER A BUMPY SECTION OF ROAD, THE BRAKING SYSTEM FAILS AND THE CAR ACTUALLY ACCELERATES FOR ONE OR TWO SECONDS. THIS IS ESPECIALLY ALARMING WHEN WE NEED TO BRAKE SUDDENLY IN A CURVE ON A BUMPY ROAD AS IT SEEMS WE WILL LOSE CONTROL OF THE CAR. I ALWAYS BRAKE WITH MY RIGHT FOOT AND MY RIGHT FOOT REMAINS OFF THE ACCELERATOR AND ON THE BRAKE THROUGHOUT THESE EPISODES. OUR CAR IS EQUIPPED WITH THE VEHICLE STABILITY SYSTEM AND THE PASSENGER NOTICES THAT THE STABILITY SYSTEM WARNING LIGHT COMES ON DURING THESE EPISODES. IT IS NOT SIMPLY THAT THE CAR COASTS WHEN THE BRAKING FAILS, THE ENGINE ACTUALLY SOUNDS LIKE IT IS REVVING UP AND THE CAR NOTICEABLY SPEEDS UP. ONCE THE BUMPY SECTION HAS BEEN PASSED, NORMAL BRAKING RESUMES. THIS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE FLOOR MAT. THIS SITUATION SHOULD BE REPRODUCIBLE THRU TESTING.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10365795November 15, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO DECELERATE, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP AND THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT RECEIVED INJURIES TO THE NECK AND CHEST. THE DRIVER OF THE OTHER VEHICLE WAS NOT INJURED. THE CONTACT WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL VIA AMBULANCE. A POLICE REPORT WAS AVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000. UPDATED 01/24/11 *CN UPDATED 04/18/11
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10365356November 11, 2010
POWER TRAIN, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
2005 TOYOTA PRIUS STALLED ON AN OVERPASS WITH NO SHOULDERS. THE TRANSMISSION BECAME STUCK IN PARK, AND THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE PUSHED SINCE THE FRONT WHEELS WERE LOCKED UP. THE CAR WAS EVENTUALLY TOWED, AND IT HAD TO BE DRAGGED ONTO THE FLATBED WRECKER SINCE THE FRONT WHEELS WOULD NOT ROLL. THE PROBLEM WAS DETERMINED TO BE A FAILED PUMP FOR COOLING THE INVERTER. THE PUMP FAILED SUCH THAT IT BLEW A FUSE THAT ALSO CONTROLLED THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTER, PREVENTING THE CAR FROM BEING PUT INTO NEUTRAL SO THAT IT COULD BE PUSHED OUT OF TRAFFIC LANES. THIS IS A VERY UNSAFE FAILURE MODE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10365260November 10, 2010
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY SHUT OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACTS RESIDENCE. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO ADVISED HIM TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED OR REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 187,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10364368November 7, 2010
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
MY HEADLIGHT ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF MY PRIUS GOES OUT INTERMITTENTLY, THEN WHEN I CYCLE THE SWITCH (NOT SAFE TO DO AT NIGHT) IT TURNS BACK ON. I HAVE HAD IT IN TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIR, AT A LARGE COST, WITH NO IMPROVEMENT. ONLINE FORUMS TELL ME THIS IS A PROBLEM NOT SOLVED BY LIGHT REPLACEMENT OR BY REPLACING THE COMPUTER BOARD THAT CONTROLS THE LIGHTS. THIS IS A PROBLEM FOR MULTIPLE CARS ON THE ROAD, AND ACCORDING TO THE ONLINE FORUMS IS STARTING TO SHOW IN OTHER TOYOTAS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10363737November 2, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
MY CAR, A 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS, WAS STATIONARY AT A STOPLIGHT ON A CLEAR, SUNNY DAY. MY FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE AND THE BRAKE WAS FULLY DEPRESSED. I COULD FEEL A SUDDEN PRESSURE CHANGE IN THE BRAKE, AND WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON. I DROVE THE SHORT DISTANCE TO WORK, BUT THE CAR WAS HANDLING BADLY (WOBBLY) AND THE BRAKE WAS VERY SOFT AND ONLY PARTIALLY EFFECTIVE. AFTER WORK, A FEW HOURS LATER, THE CAR SEEMED TO BE HANDLING NORMALLY AND BRAKING NORMALLY, BUT I DROVE TO THE CLOSEST DEALER AS A PRECAUTION. THEY CHECKED THE COMPUTER AND FOUND CODE C1357 (DECREASING PRESSURE SOLENOID MALFUNCTION). THEY REPLACED THE BRAKE ACTUATOR ASSEMBLY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10363188October 27, 2010
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
2005 TOYOTA PRIUS. S10 APPROPRIATE HANDLING- LETTER FROM REGARDING TOYOTA PROBLEMS *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED AS SHE SLOWED DOWN TO MAKE A TURN IN HER GATED HER COMMUNITY, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND CRASHED INTO THE BRICK COLUMN WHICH SUPPORTED THE GATE. SHE SUFFERED A SEVERE INJURY TO HER BOTTOM LIP WHEN HER FACE HIT THE STEERING WHEEL, AS WELL AS CONTUSIONS TO HER LEG AND OTHER BRUISING. THE CONSUMER STATED SHE HAD NO MORE PROBLEMS UNTIL NOVEMBER 16, 2009. AS SHE SLOWED DOWN AND PULLED INTO A PARKING SPACE, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND HIT A WALL. SHE RECEIVED SOME BRUISING FROM THE SEAT BELT HOLDING HER INTO PLACE. TWO WEEKS LATER, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AGAIN AND CRASHED INTO A BRICK WALL. THE CONSUMER HAS SINCE TRADED THE VEHICLE. *JB
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10362410October 26, 2010
EXTERIOR LIGHTING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
2005 TOYOTA PRIUS, REPEATED HEADLIGHT FAILURE. I HAVE BEEN ISSUED THREE POLICE SUMMONSES FOR HEADLIGHT FAILURE AND HAVE ONLY OWNED THIS VEHICLE FOR TWO YEARS. I REPLACED BOTH HEADLIGHTS THREE WEEKS AGO AND THE PASSENGER HEADLIGHT IS OUT AGAIN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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