Toyota Prius Complaints (2005)

1,051 consumer complaints on file.

#10318783March 11, 2010
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
I NOTICED VERY SOON AFTER I BOUGHT MY TOYOTA PRIUS THERE WAS A LITTLE SERGE WHILE IN PARK AS WELL AS WHILE IN DRIVE. THE SURGE WOULD ACTUALLY MAKE THE CAR JUMP FORWARD A LITTLE BUT I JUST WROTE IT OFF AS A STRONG LITTLE CAR AND DIDN'T CONSIDER THAT IT COULD BE DANGEROUS. I STILL OWN THE CAR BUT DON'T DRIVE IT ANYMORE. NOW I AM VERY WORRIED FOR THE PEOPLE WHO DO DRIVE THE CAR. I HAVE NOT BEEN NOTIFIED ABOUT ANY RECALLS. JUST A NOTICE OF TWO THAT THEY MIGHT WANT TO CHANGE TO FLOOR MAT AND THEY WOULD LET ME KNOW, BUT THAT DAY NEVER CAME. MY MATS WERE NOT HITTING MY PEDAL WHEN I FELT THE CAR LUNGE WHILE IN PARK! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10318585March 10, 2010
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
ON 11/24/09 I WAS PARKED IN A SAN FRANCISCO SHOPPING MALL PARKING LOT AND STARTED MY VEHICLE, PUT IT REVERSE, RELEASED THE BRAKE AND IT, IMMEDIATELY, ACCELERATED OUT OF THE ANGLED PARKING SPACE, ACROSS THE ONE-WAY SINGLE LANE AND CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF A CAR SIMILARLY PARKED ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE TRAFFIC LANE. I FRANTICALLY HIT BRAKES BUT THE CAR DID NOT STOP AND, IN FACT, SEEMED TO SPEED UP. I AM ABSOLUTELY CONVINCED THAT THE CAUSE OF THE ACCIDENT WAS A FAULT IN THE ACCELERATOR MECHANISM. I, AT FIRST,THOUGHT IT WAS MY FAULT AND SAID SO TO MY INSURANCE COMPANY WITHIN AN HOUR OF THE ACCIDENT. BUT ON REFLECTION, I DECIDED IT WAS THE CAR ITSELF AND THE FOLLOWING DAY I CALLED MY INSURANCE COMPANY AND TOLD THEM THAT IT WAS A FAULT WITH THE CAR THAT WAS THE CAUSE. I HAVE TRIED TO CONTACT TOYOTA CORP. NUMEROUS TIMES BY EMAIL AND HAVE NOT BEEN SUCCESSFUL. FINALLY I CONTACTED THE LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER WHO WAS GOOD ENOUGH TO RELAY MY EMAIL TO TOYOTA CORP. THE LOCAL DEALER SENT ME AN EMAIL THE FOLLOWING DAY TELLING ME THAT I HAD TO GET AN OFFICIAL CASE OPENED WITH TOYOTA,S CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE CENTER AND TO CONTACT THEM AT 1(800)331-4331 TO GET A CASE NUMBER. I HAVE BEEN PHONING THEM FOR WEEKS AND I AM NOT ABLE TO GET ANYTHING BUT A RECORDED MESSAGE. TRYING THE LOCAL DEALER AGAIN, HE CALLED DIRECT AND ASKED THEM TO CALL ME BUT THEY TOLD HIM THAT THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO DO SO BECAUSE OF THEIR LONG WAITING LIST. SO I AM NOW TRYING THE NHTSA. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10318713March 10, 2010
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
MY TOYOTA PRIUS (2005) GAS PEDAL STUCK. I WAS TAKING MY WIFE TO THE HOSPITAL WITH A HEART ATTACK.WE WERE GOING DOWN A RAMP AND IT STUCK WIDE OPEN. I KEPT PUSHING THE START BUTTTON AND IT QUIT. I CALLED THE TOYOTA DEALER AND HE TOLD ME TO REMOVE MY FLOOR MATS. I DO NOT THINK MY FLOOR MAT HAD ANYTHING TO DO WITH IT. IT HAS NOT STUCK SINCE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10317979March 9, 2010
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
1. NOTICED THAT THE LEFT HEADLAMP IS HAVING INTERMITTENT DIFFICULTY STAYING ON THIS PAST WEEK. 2.ONCE THE HEADLAMPS ARE TURNED ON, THE LEFT HEADLAMP STARTS TO DIM AND THE LIGHT APPEARS TO HAVE A PINK TINT. AFTER A FEW MINUTES (3 ' 7) THE LEFT HEADLAMP GOES COMPLETELY OUT. TURNING THE LIGHTS OFF AND THEN ON AGAIN STARTS THE CYCLE ALL OVER AGAIN. I HAVE BEEN PULLED OVER BECAUSE THE LIGHT WAS OUT. HAVING TO DRIVE WITH ONLY 1 FUNCTIONAL HEADLAMP IS A SAFETY CONCERN. 3.THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP WANTS $375.79 FOR ONE HID LIGHT BULB. MILEAGE IS 67575 I CANNOT AFFORD THE LIGHT BULB NOR THE HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS REQUIRED FOR THE LABOR COSTS TO REPLACE IT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10317605March 9, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
2005 TOYOTA PRIUS MAKES A LOUD NOISE CAUSED BY ANTI-LOCK BRAKE PROBLEMS.*TS THE CONSUMER STATED THE NOISE WAS HEARD WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. UPON DIAGNOSIS, THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED IT WOULD COST $2,300 TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THE SERVICE REP STATED A TSB HAD BEEN ISSUED REGARDING THE PROBLEM, BUT THERE WAS NO SAFETY ISSUE INVOLVED. THE SERVICE REP IT WAS NOT NECESSARY TO HAVE THE UNIT REPAIRED. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10318038March 9, 2010
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
I'M CONSTANTLY REPLACING THE HEADLIGHTS IN MY 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS (NON-HID BULBS) AS THEY HAVE STOPPED WORKING 6 TIMES IN THE LAST 35K MILES. I'VE REPLACED THEM WITH DIFFERENT MANUFACTURER'S BULBS, DIFFERING MODELS, AND EVEN OEM BULBS, BUT THEY KEEP GOING OUT. THE FIRST TIME THEY ACTUALLY WENT OUT WITH BOTH HEADLIGHTS TOGETHER AT EXACTLY 100,000 MILES. I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS PLANNED OBSOLENCE OR SOMETHING ELSE, BUT BOTH HEADLIGHTS GOING OUT WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT IS FAR FROM SAFE. GIVEN THE FACT THAT THE DEALERSHIP WANTS ALMOST $300 PER BULB CHANGE, THIS IS GETTING PRETTY RIDICULOUS, AND I'M NOT THRILLED ABOUT THE CONCEPT OF GETTING TICKETS DUE TO BULBS BURNING OUT EVERY COUPLE OF WEEKS. ASIDE FROM THE INCONVENIENCE AND COST, I'M REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY ASPECTS OF THIS RECURRING PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10318259March 9, 2010
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
I DROVE A 2005 PRIUS AND WAS BEHIND A SEMI-TRAILER. WHEN I ACCELERATED TO GO, THE CAR LUNGED FORWARD CRUSHING INTO THE SEMI'S TRAILER. I DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH TIME TO REACT BECAUSE OF THE CLOSE DISTANCE, HOWEVER THE BRAKES WERE NOT STRONG ENOUGH TO OVERCOME THE ACCELERATION POWER. THE PRIUS RAN INTO THE SEMI FOR A GOOD 25 SECONDS WHILE I TRIED TO BRAKE AND I THEN PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL AND TURNED OFF THE CAR. THERE WERE 3 OTHER PASSENGERS INSIDE THE CAR DURING THE INCIDENT. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10318281March 9, 2010
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
OVER THE PAST SEVERAL I'VE NOTICED AT LEAST TWICE THAT AFTER FILLING UP MY CAR WITH GASOLINE THAT THE GAUGE REFLECTING GASOLINE STATUS DOES NOT RESET CORRECTLY, E.G., IT TANK WAS HALF FULL, FILLING UP DOES NOT CAUSE IT TO RESET TO "FULL". I SUSPECT THAT THIS IS DUE TO SOME TYPE OF ELECTRONICS ERROR. IN OVER 50 YEARS OF DRIVING I'VE NEVER HAD A CAR THAT DIDN'T CORRECTLY RESET TO "FULL" UPON "FILLING UP". LAST INCIDENT DATE WAS IN FEBRUARY 2010. PRIOR OCCASION WAS APPROXIMATELY 5-6 MONTHS EARLIER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10317716March 8, 2010
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
I PREVIOUSLY REPORTED THIS PROBLEM UNDER ODI # 10304339. I INCORRECTLY REPORTED THAT "I FELT A BIG THUMP LIKE I WAS HIT FROM BEHIND". HOWEVER, I NOW BELIEVE THAT THIS ACTIVITY COULD HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY "THE SUDDEN ACCELERATION" THAT HAS BEEN FREQUENTLY MENTIONED BY THE MEDIA. ALTHOUGH WHAT I FELT SEEMED LIKE A HIT FROM BEHIND, IT COULD HAVE BEEN A SHORT ACCELERATION BURST LASTING ONLY A COUPLE OF SECONDS. THERE HAVE NOT BEEN ANY FURTHER INCIDENCES OF THIS NATURE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10317443March 7, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
ALTHOUGH I HAVE NEVER HAD AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE OF IT, MY PRIUS (2005) HAS A HABIT OF LURCHING FORWARD WHEN I HIT THE BRAKE THE STOP AT A LIGHT, FOR EXAMPLE. RATHER THAN DECELERATING THE CAR SUDDENLY SPEEDS UP BEFORE COMING TO A STOP. THIS HAPPENS ABOUT ONCE A WEEK. SOMETIMES IT DOES NOT HAPPEN FOR A COUPLE OF WEEKS AND OTHER TIMES IT HAPPENS A COUPLE OF DAYS IN A ROW. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10317322March 6, 2010
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
2005 PRIUS - INTERMITTENT ACCELERATION PROBLEM. ON FIVE OCCASIONS, BUT NONE IN THE LAST YEAR, WHEN WANTING TO SLOW DOWN BY TAKING FOOT OFF ACCELERATOR TO STEP ON BRAKE, THE CAR ACCELERATED BRIEFLY, FOR LESS THAN HALF A SECOND. BUT THE BRAKE WORKED NORMALLY AND THERE WAS NO PROBLEM STOPPING. DATE GIVEN IS APPROXIMATE FOR LAST TIME IT HAPPENED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10316978March 5, 2010
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
THE FRONT RIGHT HEADLIGHT AND REAR RIGHT TAILLIGHT RANDOMLY TURN OFF. I HAVE SEEN NO PATTERN AS TO WHEN IT GOES OUT, BUT IT WILL STAY OUT UNTIL THE VEHICLE IS TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED. 95% OF THE TIME, THIS RESOLVES THE PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10317053March 5, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC
OUR 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS HAS EXHIBITED THE SAME BRAKING PROBLEMS AS DESCRIBED IN THE NEWS. WHEN YOU ARE APPLYING THE BRAKES AND HIT A BUMP OR POTHOLE THE CAR FEELS LIKE IT LURCHES FORWARD. I NOW UNDERSTAND THAT WHAT I WAS EXPERIENCING AS A "LURCH" OR "SKIDDING" SENSATION WAS PROBABLY CAUSED BY THE MOMENTARY SPLIT SECOND FAILURE OF THE BRAKES. THESE BRAKES ARE ALSO EXTREMELY TOUCHY WHEN IT RAINS. THEY GRAB AS IF YOU HAD SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES. IT IS HARD TO DEAL WITH AND WE HAVE NOT FOUND A WAY TO AVOID THE PROBLEM BY SOMEHOW ALTERING OUR BRAKING. I MENTIONED THESE TWO PROBLEMS TO THE TOYOTA DEALER AFTER WE BOUGHT THE CAR AND THEN AGAIN WHEN ALL THIS WAS ON THE NEWS. THEY SAID THEY'D HAD NO COMPLAINTS AND DISMISSED MY CONCERNS. HOWEVER, WHEN I LOOKED ONLINE THERE ARE OTHER 2005 PRIUS OWNERS WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEMS. I FEEL IT IS UNSAFE FOR THE CAR TO DO THIS. I THINK THE EARLIER PRIUS MODELS NEED TO BE INCLUDED IN THE INVESTIGATION AND FIXED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10317162March 5, 2010
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
UNEXPECTED ACCELERATION OCCURRED TWICE IN MY TOYOTA PRIUS 2005 CAR. BOTH TIMES I WAS IN THE DRIVEWAY GOING SLOWLY INTO THE GARAGE AND STOPPED THE VEHICLE BY SLAMMING ON THE BRAKES. NO DAMAGE OCCURRED. THIS WAS WHEN IT WAS FAIRLY NEW AND I DID NOT REPORT IT THINKING I HAD DONE SOMETHING WRONG. NOW THAT ALL THE NEWS HAS COME OUT ABOUT THESE PROBLEMS I REALIZE IT WASN'T ME. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10317147March 5, 2010
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE DOES NOT GO INTO READY MODE TO START THE ENGINE. THIS HAS HAPPEN TWICE AND ALL THE THE SYMBOLS ILLUMINATE ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THEY CANNOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN CALLED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10316624March 4, 2010
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
I HAVE A 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS WITH DEFECTIVE HID HEADLIGHTS. THESE LIGHTS ARE VERY EXPENSIVE TO REPLACE ($650+/-EACH) AND BURN OUT ABOUT EVERY YEAR. MY HEADLIGHTS HAVE GONE OUT ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, INCLUDING ON THE FREEWAY AT 8:30PM IN THE DARK. EVERYONE I KNOW WHO OWNS A PRIUS HAS HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. TOYOTA FREELY ADMITS THE HEADLIGHTS ARE DEFECTIVE, AND BECAUSE OF THAT THEY ARE NOT EVEN AN OPTION ON THE 2010 PRIUS, BUT DENIES THAT THE BAD HEADLIGHTS ARE A SAFETY CONCERN. I DISAGREE. HAVING MY HEADLIGHTS SUDDENLY TURN OFF AT 65MPH ON A DARK FREEWAY IS CERTAINLY A SAFETY CONCERN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10316683March 4, 2010
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS [XXX] WHEN BRAKING ON UNEVEN/BUMPY ROAD (EVEN FREEWAY LANE DIVIDER BUMPS), SKID LIGHT COME ON AND BRAKING FORCE IS REDUCED. HAS HAPPENED AT BOTH LOW AND HIGH SPEEDS. NO ISSUE ON SMOOTH ROADS. HAS OCCURED SEVERAL TIMES, OVER SEVERAL YEARS, HAVE NEVER HAD THE BRAKES SERVICED. LAST OCCURED 3/3/2010. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10316832March 4, 2010
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS. IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED ON IT LUNGED FORWARD WHILE HIS FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. WHEN HE APPLIED PRESSURE TO THE BRAKES AGAIN IT STOPPED ACCELERATING AND BEGAN TO PERFORM NORMALLY. THE FAILURE HAS OCCURRED FOUR ADDITIONAL TIMES. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY STATED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED AND NO REPAIRS WERE MADE TO THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 28000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 34000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10316869March 4, 2010
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
I WAS TRAVELING DOWN A RESIDENTIAL STREET AND APPROACHING A PEDESTRIAN INTERSECTION WHEN A PEDESTRIAN ON HER MORNING EXERCISE RUN SUDDENLY RAN ACROSS MY PATH. I IMMEDIATELY TRIED TO STOP, BUT THE EDGE OF THE SOLE OF MY DRESS SHOES WERE CAUGHT BEHIND THE BRAKE PEDAL, AND I WAS UNABLE TO MOVE MY FOOT ONTO THE PEDAL TO DEPRESS IT. ONLY BY STEERING AWAY FROM THE PEDESTRIAN, AND HER ACTION TO STOP, DID I AVOID A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. THE CAUSE OF THIS INCIDENT IS THE FACT THAT THE ACCELERATOR AND BRAKE PEDALS ARE DISPLACED BY SEVERAL INCHES, THAT IS, THE BRAKE PEDAL IS CLOSER TO THE DRIVER THAN WHAT THE ACCELERATOR IS. THIS REQUIRES ONE TO LIFT YOUR FOOT BY 6 INCHES OR SO BEFORE MOVING IT OVER TO THE BRAKE PEDAL TO DEPRESS IT. IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION YOUR REFLEXIVE REACTION IS TO TRY TO MOVE YOUR FOOT OVER AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE. HOWEVER, THE DISPLACEMENT OF THE BRAKE PEDAL CREATES AN OBSTACLE THAN, IN THE BEST CASE, RESULTS IN A DELAY, AND IN THE WORST CASE RESULTS IN AN INABILITY TO OPERATE THE BRAKE PEDAL IN TIME TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10316923March 4, 2010
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
LAST EVENING 3/3 MY 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS EXPERIENCED A STUCK GAS PEDAL CAUSING ME TO GO IN AND OUT A DITCH THEN ACROSS THE ROAD AND HIT A SIGN PRIOR TO MY FINALLY BEING ABLE TO GET IT INTO NEUTRAL. SINCE NEITHER TOYOTA TOTAL CARE/ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE OR THE TOYOTA OF BOWIE DEALERSHIP WOULD TOW IT TO THE DEALERSHIP I PLACED A CLAIM WITH MY INSURANCE COMPANY USAA. WHEN I GOT TO THE DEALERSHIP THEY WERE EXTREMELY UNHELPFUL SAYING I HAD TO MAKE A COMPLAINT WITH TOYOTA AS THEY WERE NOT TOYOTA BUT AN INDEPENDENT DEALERSHIP. THEY DID NOT WANT TO LOOK AT IT SINCE IT LOOKED FINE ON ONE SIDE BUT THEY DIDN'T EVEN WANT TO HEAR ABOUT THE UNDER CARRIAGE. THE CAR IS THERE WAITING FOR MY INSURANCE ADJUSTER TO LOOK AT IT. THEY ALSO ADVISED THAT I NEEDED TO COMPLAIN TO NHTSA.GOV SINCE THERE'S NOTHING WRONG -- WITHOUT EVEN LOOKING AT IT THEY SAID THIS. I JUST HAD THE CAR IN THE 90K AND THEN FOR ELECTRONICS PROBLEM SINCE OVER 7 TIMES IF YOU DROVE THE CAR THEN SHUT IT OFF THEN TRY TO RESTART IT 5 MINUTES LATER ALL THE LIGHTS WOULD COME ON BUT YOU COULDN'T START THE ENGINE OR DO ANYTHING UNTIL THE ELECTRONICS UNFROZE. THEY SAID IT WAS THE BATTERY AND THE REMOTE BUT I DISAGREE SINCE THEY SAID TO MAKE SURE EVERYTHING IS OFF BEFORE YOU TURN IT OFF. I ASK WHY AND THEY JUST SAID THAT?S HOW TOYOTA SAYS TO DO IT. TODAY ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS THEY ASKED WAS IF THE DEFROSTER WAS ON OR OTHER ELECTRONICS. AS YOU CAN IMAGINE I AM EXTREMELY UPSET!!! TO ASK ME TO DRIVE IT TO SEE IT DOES IT AGAIN WAS AN EXTREMELY INAPPROPRIATE RESPONSE TO MY SITUATION. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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