Toyota Prius Complaints (2005)

1,051 consumer complaints on file.

#10349278August 13, 2010
EXTERIOR LIGHTING, INTERIOR LIGHTING
AT ABOUT 104K MILES THE HID HEADLIGHTS, ALONG WITH THE DASH DASHBOARD LIGHTS, WENT OUT WHILE MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING ON A COUNTRY ROAD AT NIGHT. THE SUDDEN DARKNESS RESULTED IN A COLLISION WITH A GUARD RAIL WHILE BRAKING. AFTER PUTTING THE CAR IN PARK, TURNING OFF THE POWER BUTTON AND RESTARTING THE CAR EVERYTHING CAME BACK ON. WHILE WE WERE SHAKEN UP, NO ONE WAS HURT. THE CAR SUSTAINED $2K DAMAGE TO THE BODY, BUT NOT TO THE HEADLIGHTS. THE LOCAL DEALER DIDN'T EXPRESS ANY KNOWLEDGE OF HEADLIGHT FAILURES IN PRIUSES, INSPECTED THE LIGHTING SYSTEM AND PRONOUNCED EVERYTHING FINE. I DID HAVE TO PAY FOR THE INSPECTION AS THE LIGHTS WEREN'T DAMAGED AND NOT COVERED BY THE COLLISION CLAIM. INTERNET RESEARCH HAS BROUGHT UP MANY SIMILAR CASES OF THIS OCCURRING WITH OTHER PRIUSES; WITH NO ACKNOWLEDGEMENT BY TOYOTA. MY DAUGHTER IS NOW TERRIFIED OF DRIVING THIS CAR. I ALSO OWN A 2007 PRIUS WITH HID LIGHTS AND 55K MILES. I'M MONITORING IT'S HEADLIGHTS WHENEVER POSSIBLE AS IT IS DRIVEN MOSTLY DURING THE DAY WITH THE HEADLIGHTS ON. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10348319August 9, 2010
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
2005 PRIUS. LIGHTS GO OFF WITHOUT WARNING. WHEN LIGHTS ARE TURNED OFF AND THEN ON AGAIN THEY COME BACK ON. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10347468August 5, 2010
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC), SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC
AUGUST 4, 2010 AROUND 8:36PM I WAS ON I4 HEADING EASTBOUND ABOUT 13 MILES FROM MY HOUSE GOING AROUND 66MPH. THE DRIVING CONDITIONS WERE HOT WITH NO RAIN. WHEN MY EMERGENCY LIGHT, EXPLANATION MARK LIGHT AND THE VSC LIGHT ALL CAME ON AT THE SAME TIME AND MY CAR EXPERIENCE A JERKING LIKING MOTION. I CALLED MY FATHER IMMEDIATELY TOLD HIM WHAT'S HAPPENING, HE TOLD ME TO TURN AROUND AND GET THE CAR HOME. I TURNED AROUND AND AS I WAS ON MY WAY HOME AFTER EXITING I4 ON SAND LAKE RD MY BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON WITH A LOUD CONTINUOUS BEEPING NOISE THAT LASTED ABOUT 20 SECONDS EVERY 2 MINUTES. WHEN THIS LOUD BEEPING NOISE OCCURRED THE BRAKES WOULD STOP WORKING FOR ABOUT 10 SECONDS THAN START AGAIN. I MADE IT HOME AT 8:52PM AND PARKED THE CAR IN THE GARAGE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10346826August 2, 2010
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
TOYOTA PRIUS HEADLIGHT LEVELING SENSOR WHEN IT FAILS, HEADLIGHT CAN POINT DOWNWARD LIMITING VISIBILITY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10346825August 2, 2010
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE HEADLIGHT LEVELING SENSOR MESSAGE ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD TWICE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS WOULD INTERMITTENTLY AIM DOWNWARD, PROVIDING LIMITED LONG DISTANCE ILLUMINATION OF THE ROADWAY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS AWAITING A DIAGNOSIS OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 44,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 48,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10346439July 31, 2010
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
WE RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR OUR TOYOTA PRIUS. I WROTE THEM A LETTER ASKING THEM TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THEY WERE GOING TO DO ONLY THE MECHANICAL MODIFICATIONS THEY DESCRIBED AND NOT ANY WORK WITH THE COMPUTER OR ELECTRONICS. THEIR RESPONSE WAS TO ASSIGN A SUBORDINATE TO CALL ME BACK AND SIMPLY READ MY LETTER BACK TO ME. I WANT THE COURTESY OF A WRITTEN REPLY TO THE POINTS I MADE IN MY LETTER BEFORE WE LEAVE OUR CAR IN THEIR HANDS. THE CALIFORNIA DEPT. OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS BUREAU OF AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR PUT ME ON HOLD FOR 20 MINUTES AND THEN TOLD ME TO CONTACT YOU. THE CAR IS REGISTERED IN MY WIFE'S NAME. *TR UPDATED 01/31/11
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10346404July 30, 2010
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
SUDDEN WARNING LIGHT INDICATING HEADLIGHT LEVELING FAILURE. OCCURS INTERMITTENTLY UNDER VARIOUS CIRCUMSTANCES. CONSEQUENCES: HEADLIGHTS EITHER AIMED TOO HIGH BLINDING ONCOMING DRIVERS OR SLANTED DOWNWARD MAKING CAR IMPOSSIBLE TO DRIVE AT NIGHT. PART HAS NOT BEEN REPLACED AND CAR IS NOT DRIVEN AT NIGHT. OLD PART STILL AVAILABLE. THERE WAS A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN IN EARLY 2006 INDICATING THAT THE HEADLIGHT LEVELING SENSOR WAS NOT WATERTIGHT AND PRONE TO FAILURE DUE TO WATER ENTERING THE SYSTEM AND CORRODING THE ELECTRICAL CONTACTS. TOYOTA IMPROVED THE INTEGRITY OF THE UNIT AND SOLD IT USING THE SAME PART NUMBER WITH THE ADDED SUFFIX "G". WHILE TOYOTA WILL COVER THE REPLACEMENT COST OF THE SENSOR UNDER THE 3 YR/36,000 MILE WARRANTY THERE IS NO COVERAGE FOR VEHICLES OUT OF WARRANTY. A RECALL WAS NEVER ISSUED. AGAIN, THIS IS ONLY A PROBLEM THAT OCCURS WITH THE HID HEADLIGHT SYSTEM IN THE EARLIER GENERATION II PRIUS (2004 - 2005). SERVICE BULLETIN:00406 NHTSA ITEM NUMBER:10019992 MY CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY AND I WAS UNAWARE THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE SYSTEM WHEN IT COULD HAVE BEEN REMEDIED WHILE THE CAR WAS UNDER WARRANTY. MILEAGE AT FAILURE 72,000. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND A RECALL SHOULD BE ISSUED ! COST OF PART $370.00 + TAX. LABOR IS ANOTHER 210.00 + TAX. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10345306July 26, 2010
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
TOYOTA PRIUS 2005 HEADLIGHT LEVELING CONTROL SENSOR FAILS DUE TO CORROSION IN THE SENSOR. RESULT IS INADEQUATE NIGHT DRIVE DUE TO IMPROPERLY POSITIONED HEADLIGHTS. SAFETY ISSUE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10345355July 26, 2010
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THE HEADLIGHTS WOULD INTERMITTENTLY FLICKER ON AND OFF AND THERE WAS LIMITED ILLUMINATION. THE DEALER PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC ON THE VEHICLE AND ADVISED THAT THE AUTOMATIC FLASHING HEADLIGHT LEVELER REMAINED ON AND CAUSED THE HEADLIGHTS TO INTERMITTENTLY FAIL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS ALSO AN UNKNOWN LIGHT THAT REMAINED ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 77,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10345411July 26, 2010
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
THE PASSENGER FRONT HEADLIGHT GOES OUT. TOYOTA HAS REPLACED VARIOUS PARTS 4 TIMES AND IT STILL DOESN'T WORK. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10344605July 21, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
2005 PRIUS WITH ABS/VSC AND CAUTION LIGHT ON. REDUCED BRAKING POWER TRACED TO BAD ANTI-SKID COMPUTER. ORDERED PART AND WAS CAUTIONED TO LIMIT DRIVING. LATER THAT DAY, EXITED FAST-FOOD DRIVE-THRU AND SAILED INTO STREET. NO BRAKING POWER WHATSOEVER EVEN WITH STANDING ON PEDAL. STOPPED VEHICLE BY PLOWING INTO CURB. VEHICLE THEN TOWED TO SHOP AWAITING PARTS. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10344293July 20, 2010
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
AT AROUND 10PM THIS FRIDAY NIGHT I WAS DRIVING HOME ON THE COUNTRY ROAD 3 MILES FROM MY HOUSE. IT IS A 2 LANE ROAD WITH NO STREET LAMPS. I WAS TRAVELING AT 50MPH AND COMING AROUND A GENTLE CURVE WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN EVERY LIGHT IN THE CAR WENT OUT...HEADLIGHTS, TAILLIGHTS, DASHBOARD, HAZARDS, EVEN THE NAVIGATION SYSTEM DISPLAY. A MONTH AGO I HAD MY CAR IN FOR ITS SAFETY INSPECTION AND 150K MILEAGE SERVICE AND WAS TOLD THE CAR WAS "FINE" BUT I'VE HAD INTERMITTENT ISSUES WITH THE HID LAMP ON THE DRIVER SIDE GOING OUT. WHEN THIS HAPPENS IF I CYCLE THE LIGHT SWITCH OFF THEN BACK ON AGAIN IT FIXES THE ISSUE. WHEN ALL MY LIGHTS WENT OUT ON FRIDAY, I WAS ONLY ABLE TO AVOID DRIVING OFF THE ROAD AND GETTING IN AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE IT WAS A ROAD I AM VERY FAMILIAR WITH AND KNEW WHERE THE TURN WAS COMING UP. I WAS ABLE TO SLOW MY CAR TO A STOP. AFTER SITTING IN THE DARK A MINUTE (THE ENGINE WAS STILL RUNNING JUST FINE) I WAS WORRIED A CAR MIGHT COME DOWN THE ROAD BEHIND ME AND NOT SEE ME AND HIT ME. I THEN DECIDED TO TRY CYCLING THE LIGHT SWITCH OFF AND ON BECAUSE THAT HAD WORKED FOR THE HEADLAMP ISSUE. I CYCLED IT ONCE BUT THE LIGHTS REMAINED OFF, BUT AFTER THE SECOND TIME I CYCLED THE LIGHT SWITCH ALL THE LIGHTS IN THE CAR CAME BACK ON AND I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE HOME. I TOOK THE CAR TO TOYOTA OF WARRENTON AND TOLD THEM WHAT HAPPENED. THEY "RAN A DIAGNOSTIC" AND CHECKED THE VEHICLE BUT SAID THEY COULDN'T DUPLICATE THE ISSUE AND THEN SENT ME HOME. I AM NOW AFRAID TO DRIVE MY CAR AT NIGHT IN CASE THIS HAPPENS AGAIN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10343680July 16, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC
WITH LESS THAN 45,000 MILES OF EASY DRIVING (AND ALL MAINTENANCE PERFORMED ON A TIMELY BASIS AT THE DEALERSHIP) ON A SINGLE-OWNER TOYOTA 2005 PRIUS, THE WARNING LIGHTS ON THE CAR'S DASHBOARD SUDDENLY ILLUMINATED, WHICH AN OUT-OF-TOWN DEALERSHIP INTERPRETED TO MEAN FAILURE OF THE "SKID CONTROL ECU". THIS PART CONTROLS ALL MAJOR BRAKING FUNCTIONS, INCLUDING CONVENTIONAL BRAKE CONTROL, REGENERATIVE BRAKE COOPERATIVE CONTROL, ABS, ENHANCED VSC AND HANDLES SENSOR INFORMATION EPS ECU AND HV ECU. IF OCCURRING ON A MAJOR CA HIGHWAY, LIKE US HIGHWAY 5 AND THE "GRAPEVINE", THIS WARNING AND FAILURE CAN BE A VERY SERIOUS AND UNEXPECTED DRIVING HAZARD. REPAIRS COSTS NEARLY $2,000 AND THIS PART MUST BE "ORDERED" BY A DEALERSHIP AND TAKE 4 -5 HOURS TO REPAIR ONCE THE PART IS DELIVERED OVERNIGHT OR LONGER. TOYOTA ALREADY IS RECALLING THIS "SKID CONTROL ECU" PART ON ALL 2002 -2003 SEQUOIA PASSENGER VEHICLES. TOYOTA DOES NOT CONSIDER THIS A DEFECT ON THE PRIUS, AND OFFERS NO RECALL OR HELP TO ANY OF ITS PRIUS CUSTOMERS; TO THEM IT IS SIMPLY A "(BAD) LUCK OF THE DRAW" SITUATION, TOUGH LUCK FOR THE PRIUS DRIVER-OWNER WITH THIS DEFECT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10342218July 12, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
2005 TOYOTA PRIUS. CONSUMER STATES BRAKE PROBLEMS *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED WITHIN A MONTH OF PURCHASING THE VEHICLE, SHE NOTICED THE BRAKES WOULD ENGAGE, THEN FAIL, THEN ENGAGE AGAIN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT, BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10342481July 11, 2010
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
DEAR NHTSA: 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS. HEADLIGHTS. THE CAR IS EQUIPPED WITH A HEADLIGHT LEVELING DEVICE. AT PRESENT MY LOW BEAMS ONLY SHOW ABOUT 14 FEET IN FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. WHEN THE HIGH BEAMS ARE ON THEY SHINE WHERE THE NORMAL LOW BEAMS WOULD SHINE. I HAVE CONTACTED MY DEALER, THIS IS A $500.00 DOLLAR FIX. THE CAR HAS 48K MILES . THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD. I AM NOT SAFE DRIVING THIS VEHICLE AT NIGHT. THIS IS A SERIOUS CONDITION AND AFFECTS LOTS OF TOYOTA PRIUS AS I HAVE FOUND OUT ON THE BLOGS. APPRECIATE YOU GUYS LOOKING INTO THIS PROBLEM, THE DEVICE SHOULD BE REPLACED BY TOYOTA AS IT HAS FAILED THROUGH NORMAL USE AND NOT FROM ABUSE. [XXX] 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
#10342411July 10, 2010
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHILE DRIVING IN A SNOWSTORM IN MY 2005 PRIUS, I STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT ON A BUSY STREET, THE ROADS STARTING TO BECOME SLIPPERY WITH SNOW. AS THE LIGHT CHANGED TO GREEN, I STEPPED ON THE GAS, AND THE"SLIPPERY" LIGHT CAME ON MY DASHBOARD. WHEN THIS HAPPENS, THE FRONT WHEELS WILL NOT SPIN AT ALL. I COULD NOT MOVE THE CAR AT ALL, SINCE THE COMPUTER DETERMINED I WAS ON A "SLIPPERY" SPOT. I SAW CARS AND TRUCKS BARRELING TOWARD ME IN MY REAR VIEW MIRROR, UNABLE TO MOVE, AND VISIBILITY GREATLY REDUCED, DUE TO THE FALLING SNOW. I PUT MY BLINKERS ON, AND THANKFULLY ON COMING TRAFFIC WAS ABLE TO AVOID ME. I WAS STUCK AT THIS INTERSECTION FOR FOUR LIGHT CHANGES, SLIGHTLY PANICKED. I FINALLY PUT THE CAR INTO REVERSE, AND GOT JUST ENOUGH MOVEMENT OUT OF THE CAR TO FIND A DRY PATCH AND GET ME MOVING AGAIN. WHEN I REPORTED THIS TO BOTH TOYOTA, AND MY LOCAL DEALER, THEY TOLD ME THIS IS A "SAFETY" FEATURE. IT'S A SAFETY FEATURE THAT WILL SURELY GET SOMEONE KILLED. THE FRONT WHEELS SIMPLY WILL NOT SPIN IN THE LEAST IF THE CAR DETERMINES IT IS SLIPPERY, WHICH LEFT ME NO WHERE TO GO AT THAT INTERSECTION. I LATER GOOGLED THE PROBLEM, AND FOUND THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH PRIUS OWNERS. A FEW PEOPLE LEFT THE COMMENT THAT SNOW TIRES ARE NECESSARY TO AVOID THIS PROBLEM. NOT KNOWING WHAT ELSE TO DO, I WENT OUT AND BOUGHT 4 NEW SNOWTIRES. IT DID MAKE A HUGE DIFFERENCE, BUT I'M AFRAID THAT FOR SOMEONE ELSE, THEY MAY FIND OUT TOO LATE. THIS SAFETY FEATURE IS AN UNACCEPTABLE DEATH TRAP WAITING TO HAPPEN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10342155July 9, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
2005 PRIUS: WHEN I BRAKE AS I DRIVE OVER ANY KIND OF VARIATION IN THE ROAD (WHICH IS QUITE OFTEN), MY VEHICLE LURCHES FORWARD AND I AM UNABLE TO COME TO A STOP RIGHT AWAY. I HAVE TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE QUITE HARD TO MAKE IT STOP AND IT IS VERY DANGEROUS. I HAVE TAKEN MY VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR THIS ISSUE TWICE AND THEY HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE ISSUE. I HAVE ALSO CALLED TOYOTA AND OPENED A CASE WITH THEM WHICH THEY CLOSED WITHOUT INSPECTING MY VEHICLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10341448July 5, 2010
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
OVER THE PAST TWO MONTHS, MY 2005 PRIUS HAS DEVELOPED AN INTERMITTENT HEADLIGHT FAILURE. THE HEADLIGHT IN QUESTION IS ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. TURNING OFF THE HEADLIGHTS AND TURNING THEM BACK ON RESOLVES THE ISSUE, THUS THE BULB IS NOT THE ISSUE. THIS DEFECT MAKES THE VEHICLE LESS SAFE TO OPERATE AND HOLDS ME CIVILLY RESPONSIBLE FOR "FIX IT" DAMAGES. THE "FIX" FOR THIS DEFECT IS A REPLACEMENT SHOULD NOT BE MY RESPONSIBILITY FOR IT IS NOT A FAILURE OF OBSOLESCENCE. I WILL CHEERFULLY ACCEPT THE BULB ENDING LIFE, BUT FOR THE SENSORS, SWITCHES, AND COMPUTING BEHIND THE HEADLAMP SWITCH TO HAVE THIS LEVEL OF DEPENDABILITY IS NOT MY PROBLEM TO FIX. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10340175June 26, 2010
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
2005 PRIUS DRIVER'S HID LIGHTBULB FAILED WITH LESS THAN 80,,000 MILES. COST TO REPLACE BULB QUOTED AT $400 PLUS $300 FOR LABOR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10340051June 23, 2010
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
2005 TOYOTA PRIUS. CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE LOSS STEERING, BRAKES, CRUISE CONTROL ON THE HIGHWAY, WHEN APPLYING BRAKE AT A FULL STOP VIBRATION IS FELT *TGW THE POWER STEERING, BRAKE AND ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONSUMER STATED HE NOTICED WHEN THE PROBLEM OCCURRED, HE WAS USING HIS BLUETOOTH HEADSET. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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