Toyota Prius Complaints (2005)

1,051 consumer complaints on file.

#10310736February 16, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
OWNED A PRIUS AND HAD A BRAKE FAILURE.. COMING OF THE HIGHWAY SLOWING TO A STOPLIGHT BY TAKING FOOT OFF GAS, WHEN I STARTED TO GET CLOSE TO THE CAR INFRONT I HIT THE BRAKES TO COMPLETE MY STOP WHEN I DID NOTHING HAPPENED.. I ENDED UP REAR ENDING THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME.. I HAD MY CAR REPAIRED AND I REPORTED THE PROBLEM TO TOYOTA DEALER (WHO DID THE REPAIRS) THEY SAID THEY CHECKED THE BRAKES BUT DIDN'T SEE ANY ISSUES.. THE BRAKING PROBLEM HAPPENED AFTER THAT TOO.. BUT THEY JUST IGNORED MY CLAIMS.. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10310805February 16, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN DRIVING SLOWLY, 5-15 MPH, THE BRAKES WOULD FAIL TO ENGAGE WHEN SHE DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL.THE SKID LIGHT AND CHIME WOULD FLASH ON THE DASHBOARD. AFTER THAT, THE VEHICLE WOULD OPERATE NORMALLY. SHE NOTICED THE PROBLEM THREE TIMES. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THE DEALER TOLD HER THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO ABOUT IT. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. SHE HAD NOT SPOKEN WITH THE MANUFACTURER TO-DATE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 45,600. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 30,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10310928February 16, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC
MY 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS' BRAKING SYSTEM ACTS THE SAME WAY AS THE 2010'S WITH THE RECALL. WHEN APPROACHING A STOP, WITH THE BRAKES DEPRESSED, IF YOU HIT A BUMP IN THE ROAD THE BRAKES DISENGAGE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10310995February 16, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
VEHICLE: 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS, CURRENTLY NOT COVERED BY BRAKE RECALL. WHEN I APPLY THE BRAKES AND DRIVE OVER A BUMP OR POTHOLE, I EXPERIENCE A MOMENTARY LOSS OF BRAKING POWER. THIS HAPPENS CONSISTENTLY - THERE IS ONE PARTICULAR POT HOLE THAT ALWAYS CAUSES THIS TO HAPPEN, SO IT HAPPENS AT LEAST THREE TIMES A WEEK. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE IT FIXED, AND THEY TOLD ME TO CALL TOYOTA DIRECTLY. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING SINCE 6-28-09, TWO DAYS AFTER I BOUGHT THE CAR, AND HAPPENED AGAIN AS RECENTLY AS THIS MORNING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10311122February 16, 2010
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC), SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
I HAVE A 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS AND MY BRAKES SLIP WHENEVER A FRONT TIRE DROPS ONTO AN UNEVEN SURFACE. IT SEEMS TO BE THE EXACT PROBLEM DESCRIBED AS HAPPENING TO THE 2010 MODELS. I HAVE HAD IT HAPPEN SEVERAL TIMES AS I LIVE ON A GRAVEL ROAD AND WHEN I TURN ONTO MY ROAD IT IS AN UNEVEN SURFACE. IT HAS HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIMES, TO THE POINT THAT I ANTICIPATE THE OCCURRENCE WHEN ON AN UNEVEN SURFACE. I THINK THAT I COULD RECREATE THE OCCURRENCE IF NEEDED. (THE DATE LISTED BELOW IS JUST ONE OF SEVERAL) ALSO, THE LIGHT SHOWING THAT VEHICLE STABILIZATION IS ON LIGHTS UP WHENEVER THIS HAPPENS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10311149February 16, 2010
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
I LOVE MY PRIUS BUT A DIFFERENT STORY HERE, I THINK. I BOUGHT A NEW 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHEN IT WAS APPROXIMATELY 2 YEARS OLD WITH APPROXIMATELY 40 THOUSAND MILES ON IT (3 YEARS AGO) THE GAS PEDAL STUCK AND IT WAS NOT RELATED TO A FLOOR MAT. I WAS ACCELERATING GETTING UP TO THE 55MPH SPEED LIMIT WHILE ALSO CLIMBING A HILL GOING OUT OF TOWN INTO THE MOUNTAINS. WHEN I CRESTED THE HILL AND LET UP OFF THE GAS IT JUST KEPT GOING. IT WAS QUITE LUCKY THAT IT HAPPENED ON A STRAIGHTAWAY JUST BEFORE THE MOUNTAIN CURVES AND DROP OFFS. AS A LIFELONG PROFESSIONAL DRIVER WITH EXPERIENCE OPERATING JUST ABOUT ANYTHING MY FIRST LEARNED REACTION WAS TO DIG MY HEELS IN AND PULL THE FLOOR MAT BACK, IT'S HAPPENED TO ME IN OTHER VEHICLES. I GLANCED DOWN AND THERE WERE NO OBSTRUCTIONS AT THE PEDAL. MY SEVERELY DISABLED SON WAS WITH ME. AUTOMATICALLY, I STARTED KICKING THE GAS PEDAL. AFTER SEVERAL KICKS IT SLOWED. NO PROBLEM SINCE. NEVER REPORTED THE INCIDENT. JUST FIGURED A WEIRD GLITCH. HAD NOT TRIED BRAKES YET, NOR NEUTRAL, IT'S A DIFFERENT KIND OF CAR, A BIT SCARED TO TRY TO TURN IT OFF WHILE GOING DOWN THE ROAD. I HAD ALREADY SPOTTED A DECENT PLACE TO DITCH THE CAR WITH MINIMAL DAMAGE. I HAD REACHED 75 TO 80 MPH WHEN KICKING THE PEDAL STOPPED IT. IT'S A COMPUTER THING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10310485February 15, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
2005 PRIUS BRAKING ISSUE: MY BRAKES DELAYED TO ENGAGE WHEN I TRIED TO BRAKE ON AN UNEVEN ROAD SURFACE. I ENDED UP GOING THRU A CURB AT A HIGHER RATE OF SPEED AND JUST MISSED BEING IN AN CRASH. I NOW AVOID ENGAGING THE BRAKE IF THE ROAD IS UNEVEN (WHERE POSSIBLE) TO AVOID THIS TYPE OF RESPONSE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10310524February 15, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
WE ORDERED A 2005 PRIUS IN THE FALL OF 2004 AND RECEIVED DELIVERY IN MAY 2005. MY WIFE DRIVES THE CAR MORE OFTEN THAN I DO AND SHE INFORMED ME THAT DURING TIMES OF WET OR RAINY CONDITIONS THE BRAKES "GRAB' WHEN APPLIED. THIS BRAKING PROBLEM WAS NOT APPARENT DURING THE FIRST YEAR. I'VE EXPERIENCE THE BRAKE "GRAB" EVERTIME I DRIVE IT IN WET WEATHER, AND EVEN THOUGH I TRY TO AVOID IT BY GENTLY APPLYING THE BRAKES, THEY THEY STILL "GRAB" THIS IS JUST NOT A "ONE TIME" OCCURENCE...I HAVE READ THE REPORTS FROM OTHER PRIUS OWNERS ABOUT THE BRAKES. IF THERE IS A FIX, AND THERE SHOULD BE, TOYOTA SHOULD TAKE CARE OF THIS AND NOT BE IN DENIAL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10310579February 15, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
BRAKES APPEAR TO NOT ENGAGE PROPERLY OR MOMENTARILY RELEASE WHEN APPLYING BRAKES OVER ROUGH PAVEMENT OR POTHOLES. SEEMS TO LAST FOR ABOUT A SECOND. THIS OCCURS FREQUENTLY AND I NOTICED THIS TWO YEARS AGO... ASSUMED IT WAS NORMAL... ODD, BUT NORMAL. THIS CAN BE EASILY REPLICATED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10310564February 15, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC
IF THE CAR DRIVES OVER AN UNLEVEL SURFACE (E.G. STEEL PLATE, MANHOLE COVER, TRANSITION FROM ASPHALT TO CEMENT ROAD) AND THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED, THE CAR ACCELERATES MOMENTARILY. THIS DOES NOT OCCUR ON A CONSISTENT BASIS, BUT IS MORE RANDOM. I HAVE REPEATEDLY BROUGHT THIS TO THE ATTENTION OF THE DEALER (RUSSEL TOYOTA IN BALTIMORE MD 21228) WHO KEEPS SAYING THIS IS NORMAL AND EXPECTED FOR PRIUSES. I HAVE REPEATEDLY TOLD THEM THAT THIS IS NOT NORMAL. WHEN I HIT THE BRAKES IN MY OTHER CARS, IT NEVER ACCELERATES. THEY HAVE ADVISED THAT I CONTACT TOYOTA, BUT HAVE REQUESTED THAT I NOT REPORT THIS TO NHTSA. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10310600February 15, 2010
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHEN I AM BRAKING AT ABOUT 30 MPH AND HIT A POT HOLE OR SOME OTHER ROAD DEFECT, MY CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATES/BRAKING DOES NOT FUNCTION FOR ABOUT 1/2 A SECOND. IF I HIT 2 POTHOLES CONSECUTIVELY, THE PROBLEM WILL OCCUR EACH TIME. I HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT THIS PROBLEM TO TOYOTA DEALERSHIPS SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR AS IT OCCURS FREQUENTLY. THE DEALERSHIPS COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR, BUT IT SOUNDS EXACTLY LIKE THE PROBLEM WITH THE 2010 PRIUS RECALL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10310602February 15, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC
I HAVE A 2005 PRIUS AND HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING TEMPORARY BRAKE FAILURES SINCE THE FIRST WINTER IN 2005, OFTEN ON RAINY OR SNOWY DAYS, DRIVING DOWN HILL WHILE TRYING TO STOP AT THE BOTTOM OF THE HILL AT A STOP SIGN. I HAVE HAD 4 NEAR-MISSES, TWICE WITH THE CAR COMING INTO THE MIDDLE OF BUSY STREET AND WOULD HAVE GOTTEN INTO SERIOUS ACCIDENTS HAD THERE BEEN ONCOMING TRAFFIC. I HAVE BROUGHT THE CAR INTO THE DEALERSHIP 4 TIMES, EACH TIME BEING TOLD THAT THE CAR IS PERFORMING TO SPEC, AND HYBRIDS TAKE LONGER TO BRAKE. I DO NOT BUY THIS ARGUMENT SINCE IT DOES NOT CONSISTENTLY BEHAVE THIS WAY, AND IF THE BRAKE CANNOT BE ENGAGED IN TIME, THEN THE DESIGN OF THE BRAKE SYSTEM IS DEFECTIVE TO BEGIN WITH. PERFORMING TO SPECIFICATION BRINGS OUR FAMILIES NO COMFORT WHEN WE LIE DEAD AT THE BOTTOM OF THE HILL. THIS SAME PROBLEM IS BEING INVESTIGATED AND ADDRESSED IN THE 2010 PRIUS MODEL. IT'S OBVIOUS THAT TOYOTA WILL CONTINUE TO REFUSE ACKNOWLEDGING AND ADDRESSING THIS FATAL DEFECT UNTIL NHTSA PRESSURES THEM TO. PLEASE BROADEN THE PRIUS BRAKE FAILURE INVESTIGATION TO INCLUDE GEN 2 PRIUS ALSO, FROM YEARS 2004 THROUGH 2009. A QUICK GOOGLE WILL DEMONSTRATE HOW WIDE-SPREAD THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN AMONG MANY UNHAPPY PRIUS OWNERS.*TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10310604February 15, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC
I HAVE A 2005 PRIUS AND HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING TEMPORARY BRAKE FAILURES SINCE THE FIRST WINTER IN 2005, OFTEN ON RAINY OR SNOWY DAYS, DRIVING DOWN HILL WHILE TRYING TO STOP AT THE BOTTOM OF THE HILL AT A STOP SIGN. INSTEAD OF RESPONDING TO THE BRAKE, THE CAR WILL APPEAR TO TEMPORARILY SURGE FORWARD. I HAVE HAD 4 NEAR-MISSES, TWICE WITH THE CAR COMING INTO THE MIDDLE OF BUSY STREET AND WOULD HAVE GOTTEN INTO SERIOUS ACCIDENTS HAD THERE BEEN ONCOMING TRAFFIC. I HAVE BROUGHT THE CAR INTO THE DEALERSHIP 4 TIMES, EACH TIME BEING TOLD THAT THE CAR IS PERFORMING TO SPEC, AND HYBRIDS TAKE LONGER TO BRAKE. I DO NOT BUY THIS ARGUMENT SINCE IT DOES NOT CONSISTENTLY BEHAVE THIS WAY, AND IF THE BRAKE CANNOT BE ENGAGED IN TIME, THEN THE DESIGN OF THE BRAKE SYSTEM IS DEFECTIVE TO BEGIN WITH. PERFORMING TO SPECIFICATION BRINGS OUR FAMILIES NO COMFORT WHEN WE LIE DEAD AT THE BOTTOM OF THE HILL. THIS SAME PROBLEM IS BEING INVESTIGATED AND ADDRESSED IN THE 2010 PRIUS MODEL. IT'S OBVIOUS THAT TOYOTA WILL CONTINUE TO REFUSE ACKNOWLEDGING AND ADDRESSING THIS FATAL DEFECT UNTIL NHTSA PRESSURES THEM TO. PLEASE BROADEN THE PRIUS BRAKE FAILURE INVESTIGATION TO INCLUDE GEN 2 PRIUS ALSO, FROM YEARS 2004 THROUGH 2009. A QUICK GOOGLE WILL DEMONSTRATE HOW WIDE-SPREAD THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN AMONG MANY UNHAPPY PRIUS OWNERS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10310704February 15, 2010
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
I WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT WITH MY 2005 PRIUS ON 3/29/2006. THE CAUSE OF THE ACCIDENT REMAINS A MYSTERY. I WAS SITTING AT AN INTERSECTION, WAITING FOR TRAFFIC TO CLEAR. WITNESSES REPORTED THAT I PULLED OUT INTO THE ONCOMING TRAFFIC, RESULTING IN A COLLISION WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE. DUE TO THE INJURIES I SUFFERED (A MINOR CONCUSSION RESULTING IN RETROGRADE AMNESIA), I HAD NO RECOLLECTION OF THE PERIOD PRIOR TO ARRIVING AT THE INTERSECTION UP UNTIL THE PARAMEDICS REMOVED ME FROM THE VEHICLE. AS SUCH, I CAN'T EXPLAIN EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED. WHILE I HAVE NO PROOF OF THIS, IT SEEMS THAT A POSSIBILITY WOULD BE AN ISSUE WITH THE STUCK ACCELERATOR THAT'S BEING REPORTED RELATING TO THE PRIUS. I'VE BEEN AT A LOSS TO EXPLAIN WHY I WOULD HAVE PULLED OUT IN FRONT OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC AT AN INTERSECTION THAT I WAS VERY FAMILIAR WITH. WHEN I HEARD OF THE ACCELERATION ISSUES WITH THE PRIUS, I WONDERED IF THAT COULD HAVE BEEN THE CAUSE. SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED, IT'S NO LONGER AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION. I THOUGHT I'D SUBMIT THIS REPORT TO ADD TO THE SUSPECTED CASES OF ACCELERATOR ISSUES. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
2
Deaths:
0
#10310697February 15, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
MY 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS HAS THE SAME BRAKE/ACCELERATION PROBLEM THAT HAS BEEN REPORTED IN THE MEDIA. SOMETIMES WHEN I APPLY THE BRAKES ON BUMPY SURFACES, THE CAR TENDS TO ACCELERATE - OR EVEN LIFT UP SLIGHTLY - UNTIL THE WHEELS TOUCH DOWN AND REGAIN CONTACT WITH A FLAT SURFACE. I NEVER PUMP THE BRAKES, BUT WHEN THIS HAPPENS, MY CONTROL OVER THE VEHICLE IS MOMENTARILY INTERRUPTED. THIS PROBLEM HAS RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR A FEW YEARS AGO, BUT I IGNORED IT. HOWEVER, WHEN I READ A DESCRIPTION OF THIS BRAKING PROBLEM BEING REPORTED ON 2010 MODELS, I IMMEDIATELY RECOGNIZED IT AS SOMETHING THAT I HAVE EXPERIENCED FROM TIME TO TIME. NOTE: THE "INCIDENT DATE" IS MERELY AN ESTIMATE OF THE FIRST TIME I EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10310144February 13, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:GEAR POSITION INDICATION (PRNDL)
MY 2005 PRIUS SHOWS THE FOLLOWING MESSAGE "CAUTION: THE TRANSMISSION P LOCK MECHANISM IS ABNORMAL. PARK YOUR CAR AT A FLAT PLACE, AND APPLY PARKING BRAKE COMPLETELY". IF I TURN OFF THE POWER AND TURN IT ON EVERYTHING IS OK. DEALER WANTS 57 USD TO TELL ME WHAT IS WRONG. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10310150February 13, 2010
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
CONTINUATION TO INCIDENT# 10310144, THE PROBLEM SHOWED UP AT THE DEALER'S SERVICE BAY. THE SERVICE TECHNICAL PEOPLE SAW THAT BUT STILL WANTED A SEPARATE DIAGNOSTIC FEE OF $57 TO TELL ME THE REAL ISSUE. I AM SURE THEY WOULD HAVE SEEN THIS BEFORE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10310208February 13, 2010
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I HAVE A 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS. IT HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT OR HAD ANY DAMAGE. FOR THE PAST COUPLE YEARS, I'VE BEEN NOTICING A PROBLEM WITH THE GEAR SHIFTER. USUALLY IN COLD WEATHER (BELOW ABOUT 40 DEGREES F), THE GEAR SHIFTER DOES NOT CHANGE GEARS. FOR EXAMPLE, I'LL PUT IT IN DRIVE, RELEASE THE GEAR SHIFT, AND IT IMMEDIATELY REVERTS TO NEUTRAL. SAME THING HAPPENS WHEN I PUT IT IN REVERSE. TO GO ANYWHERE, I HAVE TO HOLD THE GEAR SHIFT IN THE GEAR I NEED. SOMETIMES, IF I HOLD IT IN DRIVE FOR ABOUT A MINUTE, IT FINALLY STAYS IN DRIVE WHEN I RELEASE IT. SO FAR IT HASN'T JUMPED GEARS WHILE DRIVING - ONLY WHEN I FIRST TURN THE CAR ON. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER TODAY AND HE SAID HE'S SEEN SEVERAL CARS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM, AND SAID I HAVE TO GET THE ENTIRE GEAR SHIFT MECHANISM REPLACED, WHICH COSTS ~$700. I'M NERVOUS THAT IF I DON'T GET IT REPLACED, THE GEARS COULD JUMP WHILE DRIVING AND CAUSE A SAFETY HAZARD. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10310214February 13, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC
AFTER ACCELERATING FROM A RED LIGHT BEHIND A VAN, THE VAN ABRUPTLY STOPPED. I HIT THE BRAKES IN AN ATTEMPT TO STOP. THE BRAKES DID NOT ENABLE RIGHT AWAY AND THE CAR I WAS DRIVING REAR-ENDED THE VAN. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10310216February 13, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC
AFTER CHANGING LANES FROM THE LEFT RIGHT LANE TO THE LEFT LANE NEAR DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES, A CAR SUDDENLY STOPPED ON A YELLOW LIGHT. I QUICKLY HIT THE BRAKES WHICH SEEMED TO SLOWLY ENGAGE AND WAS HIT THE CAR FROM BEHIND. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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