Toyota Prius Complaints (2007)

2,004 consumer complaints on file.

#10550705November 3, 2013
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
LEFT HEADLIGHT COMES ON FOR A FEW MINUTES THEN GOES TO. I HAVE REPLACED THE BULB AND BALLAST AND LIGHT STILL NOT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY. I BOUGHT EXTENDED WARRANTY WITH CAR BUT W/ 100 DOLLAR DEDUCTIBLE BUT THEY SAY HEADLIGHT ISN'T COVERED.[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
#10550633November 2, 2013
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
HEADLAMPS WILL GO OUT WHILE DRIVING. THEY WILL WORK AND THEN SUDDENLY THEY ARE OFF. YOU CAN USUALLY TURN THE LIGHTS OFF AND BACK ON AND THEY WILL WORK AGAIN. HAS DONE THIS OVER THE TIME WE HAVE OWNED THE CAR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10550575November 1, 2013
EXTERIOR LIGHTING, EQUIPMENT
LEFT FRONT HEADLIGHT. IT GOES OUT AFTER 5 MINUTES OF DRIVING. I REPLACED THE BULB AND IT STILL GOES OUT. THE COST OF BULBS ARE VERY EXPENSIVE AND TOYOTA SHOULD BE MADE TO REPLACE THIS ITEM AND HAVE ALL 2007 PRIUS RECALLED. ONE ACCIDENT COULD CAUSE A MAJOR CATASTROPHE ON THE ROADS BECAUSE LIGHTS TURNING OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF A DRIVE IS UNNERVING AND DANGEROUS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10550085October 30, 2013
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
I LOVE MY PRIUS BUT MY HEADLIGHT SITUATION IS TERRIBLE. I DRIVE 56 MILE ONE WAY TO WORK. I LEAVE AT 5:00 SO I DO A GOOD BIT OF NIGHT DRIVING. MY HEADLIGHTS GO OUT AVERAGING 10 TIMES PER TRIP. ALL I HAVE TO DO IS TURN THEM OFF AND THEN BACK ON. BUT WHEN YOU ARE GOING 70MPH IT MAKES YOU NERVOUS. WORSE IS ON COUNTRY ROADS WITH NO STREETLIGHTS, WHEN THEY BOTH GO OFF SIMULTANEOUSLY IT SCARES THE DODO OUT OF ME AND THE WIFE. USUALLY ONE GOES OUT AT A TIME BUT OCCASIONALLY BOTH AT ONCE. TOYOTA REPLACED BOTH BULBS TWICE AND THE COMPUTER BOARD THAT CONTROLS EACH LIGHT INDEPENDENTLY ONCE, WHILE IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY. BUT THE OLDER THE CAR GETS THE MORE THIS HAPPENS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10550154October 30, 2013
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
WHILE DRIVING TO WORK ONE HEADLIGHT WENT OUT AND STAYED OUT UNTIL I STOPPED THE CAR TURNED OFF THE LIGHTS AND THEN TURNED THEM BACK ON. THIS WENT ON FOR A WEEK AND WE TOOK THE CAR INTO TOYOTA DEALERSHIP WHERE THE REPLACED THE BULBS AT NO CHARGE CAUSE WE WERE UNDER WARRANTY. HOWEVER, THIS PROBLEM HAS CONTINUED TO HAPPEN OVER THE LAST 80000 MILES. NOW WE ARE SEEING BOTH HEADLIGHTS GO OUT AT THE SAME TIME AND OR ONE OR THE OTHER. WE ARE TIRED OF PURCHASING NEW HEADLIGHTS OVER AND OVER AGAIN. . *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10549605October 26, 2013
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
TOYOTA PRIUS DASHBOARD FAILED IN IDLE AND WHILE DRIVING POSING A DEATH RISK DUE TO MILEAGE PER HOUR NOT DISPLAYING AND THE INABILITY TO SHUT OFF YOUR CAR WHEN STOPPED THIS IS A SERIOUS MATTER AND TOYOTA NEEDS TO RECALL THE WHOLE TOYOTA PRIUS AND GIVE EVERYONE THERE MONEY BACK FOR OVER PAYING FOR THIS CAR IN 2007. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10548990October 22, 2013
STRUCTURE
THE HATCHBACK HANDLE/RELEASE IS SOFT AND GOOEY, AND AT TIMES THE RELEASE TO OPEN THE HATCHBACK WILL NOT WORK. GOOEY BLACK SUBSTANCE GETS ALL OVER HANDS AND FINGERS WHEN YOU TRY TO "POP" THE HATCHBACK. UNABLE TO GET THE TRUNK TO OPEN ON A COUPLE OF OCCASIONS. THERE IS NO INTERNAL RELEASE SWITCH INSIDE THE CAR. SINCE THE SPARE TIRE IS IN THE TRUNK, THERE COULD POTENTIALLY BE NO ACCESS TO THE TIRE. THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON COMPLAINT ON THIS SITE, INCLUDING NHTSA ID NUMBERS: 10541882, 10541772, AND 1053526. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10548988October 22, 2013
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, STEERING, VISIBILITY/WIPER
AFTER THE CAR HAS BEEN PARKED FOR AWHILE, THE DASHBOARD WAS COMPLETELY BLACK. THE CAR POWERED ON, BUT THERE WAS NO SPEEDOMETER, NO FUEL DISPLAY, AND NO ODOMETER. THE CAR WILL DRIVE AND GAS ENGINE AND HYBRID SYSTEM WORKS AS USUAL, BUT THERE ARE NO POWER STEERING, THE TURN SIGNALS DO NOT WORK, AND THE WIPER DOES NOT WORK. AFTER DRIVING FOR 5 TO 15 MINUTES, THE DASH WOULD LIGHT UP AND CAR DRIVES LIKE NORMAL AGAIN AND THE PROBLEMS MENTIONED GO AWAY. BASED ON INTERNET RESEARCH, THIS SEEMS TO A COMMON PROBLEM. THERE ARE ALMOST IDENTICAL COMPLAINTS ON THIS SITE INCLUDING NHTSA ID NUMBER 10544698. SIGNIFICANT SAFETY CONCERNS EXIST DUE TO THE TEMPORARY LOST OF POWER STEERING, NO TURN SIGNALS, AND NO WIPER DURING A RAIN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10548205October 17, 2013
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
MY 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS HAS A REAR HATCH RELEASE THAT HAS STOPPED WORKING AS IT HAS GOTTEN VERY SOFT AFTER ABOUT THREE YEARS. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM AS I SEARCH THE MANY FORUMS AND REPLACEMENT IS NOT INEXPENSIVE. THIS IS VERY AGGRAVATING AND I FEEL TOYOTA SHOULD REPLACE THIS DEFECTIVE DEVICE. I HAVE SERIOUS BACK ISSUES AND GETTING THIS HATCH OPEN IS MORE THAN A CHALLENGE FOR ME, IT IS AT TIMES IMPOSSIBLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10547820October 14, 2013
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
DURING COLD WEATHER I LOSE ALL ODOMETER SPEEDOMETER BACKUP LIGHT GAS GAUGE . BACK UP LIGHTS HAVE CAUSED A LOT OF CLOSE CALL WHEN I'M BACKING UP ONE TIME I GOT CLOSE TO HITTING A PEDESTRIAN BECAUSE THEY DID NOT KNOW I WAS BAKING UP I HAVE RAN OUT OF FUEL ON THE FREEWAY AND I NEVER KNOW HOW FAST I'M GOING. THIS PROBLEM IS WELL DOCUMENTED AND TOYOTA KNOWS A BOUT THE PROBLEM BUT WILL NOT ISSUE A RECALL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10546621October 3, 2013
EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS, STRUCTURE:BODY:TAILGATE
2007 TOYOTA PRIUS TAILGATE LATCH RUBBER HAS DEGRADED AND EFFECTIVELY MELTED TO WHERE THE LATCH FAILS TO WORK MOST OF THE TIME, AND DEPOSITS RUBBER GOO RESIDUE WHEN CONTACTING THE LATCH. THE PART IS CLEARLY DEFECTIVE AS INDICATIONS OF THE PROBLEM STARTED WITHIN 3 YEARS OF PURCHASE. CLEARLY SHOULD BE A RECALL OR REPLACEMENT VIA TOYOTA. IF NOT LABOR, AT LEAST COST OF NEW PART. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10546554October 2, 2013
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
WHILE DRIVING HOME LATE AT NIGHT, THE HID HEADLIGHTS STARTED FAILING. FIRST, THE DRIVER'S SIDE WENT OFF, THEN THE PASSENGER SIDE WENT OFF. AFTER DRIVING TO THE SHOULDER IN THE DARK, I TURNED OFF THE LIGHTS AND SWITCHED THEM BACK ON. I WAS ABLE TO MAKE IT HOME WITH THE PASSENGER SIDE LIGHT WORKING FOR THE REST OF THE WAY. DRIVER'S SIDE FAILED AGAIN AFTER 10 MINUTES. I ORDERED REPLACEMENT BULBS ONLINE AND REPLACED BOTH LIGHTBULBS. PASSENGER SIDE SEEMS TO WORK FINE. DRIVER'S SIDE HOWEVER TURNS ITSELF OF ANYWHERE FROM 5 MINUTES TO 1 HOUR. I AM TOLD BY TOYOTA DEALER THAT THE BALLAST MAY BE DEFECTIVE. BALLAST REPLACEMENT IS ABOUT $250 PARTS AND $100 LABOR. MY HEADLIGHTS WERE ALREADY CHANGED UNDER "WARRANTY" AT AROUND 35,000 MILES FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. GOING BY THE COUNTLESS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE PRIUS HID HEADLIGHTS ON THE INTERNET, WHY IS THERE NO RECALL? TOYOTA IS CLEARLY CREATING A SECURITY RISK THAT MAY COST LIVES. IS THE NHTSA GOING TO WAIT UNTIL SOMEONE ACTUALLY GETS KILLED BECAUSE OF FAILING HEADLIGHTS BEFORE MANDATING A RECALL FOR TOYOTA? *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10546107September 29, 2013
EQUIPMENT, LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:LOCK, STRUCTURE
HATCH LATCHES SHOULD NOT MELT DOWN IN 2-3 YEARS, AND ACCESS TO THE HATCH IS A LIFE SAFETY ISSUE. AS WITH MANY OTHER 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS VEHICLES THE RUBBER MATERIAL ON THE HANDLE OF THE REAR HATCH HAS BEEN DETERIORATING ON MY 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS AND IS GETTING MORE DIFFICULT TO USE. WITHOUT AN EXPENSIVE REPLACEMENT BY TOYOTA THE PART WILL FAIL BEYOND THE ABILITY TO OPEN THE REAR HATCH. TOYOTA REFUSES TO RECALL THE PART AND REPLACE IT AS A DEFECTIVE PART. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10545583September 26, 2013
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
I BOUGHT THIS CAR NEW. IN 6 YEARS, 88K MILES WITH REGULAR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE, I AM ON RIGHT HEADLAMP NUMBER THREE. IT TURNS OFF OF IT'S OWN ACCORD, WITH NO WARNING LIGHT OR DIMMING. IT JUST GOES COMPLETELY DARK. AT FIRST, YOU COULD TURN THE LIGHTS OFF AND BACK ON AND IT WOULD WORK AGAIN FOR A LITTLE WHILE, BUT THAT ULTIMATELY FAILED. BECAUSE THESE ARE MONODIRECTIONAL HDL LAMPS, THEY RETAIL AROUND $125 --- TO REPLACE ONE AT THE DEALER HAS BEEN ESTIMATED AT AROUND $550. I REPLACED THE FIRST ONE MYSELF, AND HAD THE SECOND ONE REPLACED AT A LOCAL GARAGE. NOW ON THE THIRD BULB WHICH IS FAILING. IT IS A SAFETY HAZARD, NOT TO MENTION IT MAKES MY VEHICLE ILLEGAL AND UNSAFE TO DRIVE AT NIGHT. I NEVER KNOW WHEN IT'S GOING TO GO OUT; I HAVE BEEN PULLED OVER BUT NOT CITED BY LOCAL POLICE FOR HAVING THE LIGHT OUT. I KNOW THAT THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE FOR PRIUS VEHICLES IN '05 THROUGH '07 - THE DEALER ACKNOWLEDGED AS MUCH. HOWEVER, BECAUSE I AM OUT OF THE WARRANTY PERIOD, THE ONUS TO PAY FOR THIS DEFECT FALLS TO ME. IRONICALLY I PURCHASED THE CAR TO SAVE MONEY AND GAS AND NOW AM HAVING TO SHELL OUT $500 EVERY 18 MONTHS OR SO BECAUSE OF THIS CONTINUALLY FAILING RIGHT HEAD LAMP. I HAVE READ IT MAY BE A HOUSING IN THE LAMP ASSEMBLY; THAT WAS ESTIMATED TO COST AROUND $2000 TO REPLACE. SERIOUSLY. TOYOTA DOES NOTHING - NO RECALL, NO WARNING, NOTHING. IT'S WRONG AND IT'S NEGLIGENT NOT TO ADDRESS THIS. *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10545407September 25, 2013
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS
IN ORDER TO START, THE BRAKES MUST BE DEPRESSED. THE ELECTRICAL SWITCH THAT DETECTS THE BRAKE PEDAL BEING DEPRESSED ALSO CONTROLS THE BRAKE LIGHT INDICATORS. THIS SWITCH HAS STARTED TO FAIL, OPERATING INTERMITTENTLY. THE SYMPTOMS ARE INABILITY TO START THE VEHICLE TO "READY" MODE FOR DRIVING AND THE BRAKE LIGHTS NOT OPERATING WHICH IS EXTREMELY UNSAFE. ONCE THE CAR HAS STARTED TO "READY" AND CAN DRIVE, THE BRAKE LIGHTS MAY OR MAY NOT OPERATE DURING DRIVING. *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10545255September 24, 2013
STRUCTURE
DEAR GENTLEPERSONS: TOYOTA MUST HAVE PURCHASED A BATCH OF DEFECTIVE RUBBER FROM A VENDOR BACK IN 2007 AND 2008 BECAUSE THE RUBBER THAT YOU PUSH AGAINST TO RELEASE THE LOCKING MECHANISM FOR THE TRUNK/HATCHBACK HAS TURNED TO PLAY DOUGH OR SLUDGE ON MY CAR. I CONTACTED TOYOTA IN MAY OF THIS YEAR AND THEY DISCLAIMED ANY AWARENESS OF THE PROBLEM. RECENTLY I WENT ONLINE AND FOUND IT IS WIDELY KNOWN ON SITES INCLUDING PRIUS CHAT, AND WHEN I SPOKE WITH MY SERVICE ADVISOR AT MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP, HE SAID HE WAS WELL AWARE OF IT, THAT THE SAME THING HAPPENED ON HIS 2008 TOYOTA SIENNA, AND THE ONLY RECOURSE IS TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE MECHANISM WHICH COSTS AN ARM AND A LEG. I CONSIDER THIS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE IF THE RUBBER DETERIORATES ENOUGH, MY FINGERS WILL PROTRUDE INTO THE LOCK MECHANISM WHICH I SURMISE WOULD NOT WORK AND PLAY WELL WITH FINGERS, OR MAY HAVE AN ELECTRICAL CURRENT IF I MAKE CONTACT. I FOLLOWED UP LAST WEEK WITH TOYOTA AGAIN, AND THE REP WITH WHOM I FIRST SPOKE, INITIALLY SAID TOYOTA HAD NO COMPLAINTS ABOUT IT, THEN SAID THAT SHE KNEW OF THE ISSUE, AND TOLD ME TO CONTACT MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP TO SEE IF THEY WERE AWARE OF A FIX THAT DID NOT INVOLVE A TOTAL SWITCH REPLACEMENT. AFTER I CALLED MY DEALERSHIP AS SUGGESTED, AND MY OWN SERVICE ADVISOR SHARED HIS PERSONAL EXPERIENCE WITH THE ISSUE, I WAS NOT ABLE TO SPEAK WITH THE ORIGINAL REP AT TOYOTA, AND THE NEXT REP WITH WHOM I SPOKE TOLD ME THEY'D LOOK INTO IT AND I'D HEAR BACK FROM TOYOTA WITHIN TWO BUSINESS DAYS ... THAT HAS COME AND GONE. MY WIFE HAS A 2004 PRIUS AND THE RUBBER ON THE LATCH LOOKS AND FEELS TOTALLY NEW. I DON'T THINK THIS IS A WARRANTY ISSUE (WHICH TOYOTA IS NOW TRYING TO TOSS OUT TO GET RID OF ME), BUT INSTEAD, A MANUFACTURING DEFECT THAT HAS SAFETY CONSIDERATIONS. I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO KNOW IF THERE'S SOMETHING THAT CAN BE DONE. THANK YOU. SINCERELY, [XXXX] *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10544919September 23, 2013
VISIBILITY/WIPER
WHEN DRIVING THE DRIVER SIDE HEADLIGHT WILL GO OUT. WHEN YOU TURN THEM BACK ON THE HEADLIGHT COMES ON JUST FOR A MINUTE OR TWO. THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL PEOPLE COMPLAINING ABOUT THE ISSUE AND IS VERY UNSAFE. TOYOTA NEEDS TO FIX THE PROBLEM BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT ESPECIALLY AT NIGHT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10544530September 20, 2013
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
MY HEADLIGHT ON DRIVERS SIDE KEEPS GOING OUT. I TURN THE LIGHTS OFF THEN ON AGAIN BUT NOW THE LIGHT IS ALMOST BURNED OUT. I WAS TOLD I NEED ABOUT 350 FOR THE WHOLE ASSEMBLY. THAT'S TO MUCH! NO NORMAL PERSON HAS THAT JUST LAYING AROUND AND I'VE BEEN PULLED OVER FOR IT TWICE NOW. IF I WOULD OF KNOW THE MAINTENANCE ON THIS CAR WAS SO EXPENSIVE I WOULDN'T OF BOUGHT IT! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10544698September 20, 2013
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
WHEN THE CAR WAS TURNED ON IN THE MORNING AFTER SITTING OVERNIGHT, THE DASHBOARD WAS COMPLETELY BLACK. THE CAR POWERED ON, BUT THERE WAS NO SPEEDOMETER, NO FUEL DISPLAY, NO ODOMETER, AND NO BACK-UP CAMERA WHEN PUT INTO REVERSE. WHEN I GOT TO MY DESTINATION, APPROXIMATELY 15 MINUTES DRIVE TIME, I WAS UNABLE TO POWER OFF THE CAR AFTER REPEATED ATTEMPTS. THE CAR FINALLY POWERED DOWN AFTER I HELD THE POWER BUTTON FOR SEVERAL SECONDS. WHEN THE CAR WAS TURNED BACK ON AFTER ABOUT 11 HOURS, THE DASHBOARD WAS WORKING AGAIN, ALSO POWERING DOWN WORKED AS NORMAL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10543653September 15, 2013
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
DRIVER SIDE HEADLAMP WENT OUT AND PASSENGER SIDE HEADLAMP FLICKERED. THIS MADE IT VERY DIFFICULT TO SEE. AFTER TURNING THE LIGHTS OFF AND ON AGAIN THE LIGHTS CAME BACK ON...BUT CONTINUED TO ACT UP. I SENT AN EMAIL TO TOYOTA BELOW IS THE EMAIL THREAD OF THEIR RESPONSE. I AM SHOCKED BY THE RESPONSE!! THEY TOLD ME THE HID HEADLAMPS ARE DESIGNED TO TURN OFF TO PREVENT OVERHEATING! SEE BELOW. FROM: "ASK TOYOTA" <[email protected]> TO:[XXX] SENT: SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2013 6:09:08 PM SUBJECT: HEADLAMP/BALLAST PROBLEM [INCIDENT: 130913-000071] THANK YOU FOR CONTACTING TOYOTA MOTOR SALES, U.S.A., INC. WE APOLOGIZE FOR THE ISSUES YOU ARE EXPERIENCING WITH THE HID HEADLIGHTS ON YOUR 2007 PRIUS. BY DESIGN, HID BULBS WILL TURN OFF IF THE BULB IS STARTING TO OVERHEAT IN ORDER TO PROTECT THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT. THERE ARE TIMES BY SIMPLY TURNING OFF THE HEADLIGHTS AND THEN BACK ON; THE HID BULBS WILL TURN BACK ON. WE ARE NOT AWARE OF ANY PART UPDATES REGARDING THE HID HEADLIGHT SYSTEM FOR THE PRIUS. WE CAN'T GUARANTEE THAT A DESIGN CHANGE WOULD BE MADE, BUT YOUR HONEST FEEDBACK MAY HELP US TO EVALUATE DIFFERENT ALTERNATIVES. YOUR EMAIL HAS BEEN DOCUMENTED AT OUR NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS UNDER FILE #1309140862. IF WE CAN BE OF FURTHER ASSISTANCE, PLEASE UTILIZE THE FOLLOWING LINK TO FIND A VARIETY OF AVENUES TO CONTACT OUR OFFICES, HTTP://WWW.TOYOTA.COM/SUPPORT/CONTACT.HTML. [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

← Back to Toyota Prius