Toyota Prius Complaints (2005)

1,051 consumer complaints on file.

#10305672February 4, 2010
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
I REALIZE YOU'VE JUST OPENED AN INVESTIGATION INTO 2010 PRIUS' SURGING FORWARD ON THEIR OWN, BUT YOU NEED TO KNOW IT HAPPENS WITH EARLIER MODELS. I'VE BEEN KEEPING A CLOSE EYE ON THE TOYOTA PROBLEMS BECAUSE I HAVE A 2005 PRIUS. AND I HAVE THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM WITH SURGES THAT'S BEEN REPORTED AS 'ONLY' A 2010 MODEL PROBLEM. IT'S NOT. WHENEVER I GO OVER A POTHOLE, OR BUMPS IN THE ROAD, OR EVEN SOMETIMES, A WET SURFACE (IF IT'S RAINING) MY CAR WILL SURGE FORWARD WITHOUT ME HAVING USED THE GAS. I KEPT WAITING FOR SOMETHING LIKE THIS TO BE MENTIONED IN THE REPORTS BUT TODAY IS THE FIRST TIME I'VE HEARD IT. IT COULD EASILY BE REPLICATED IN MY CAR, IF TESTED. IT DOES IT EVERYTIME. I'VE NEVER HIT ANYONE, THOUGH I'VE BEEN CLOSE TO REAR-ENDING OTHER CARS BEFORE. IT HAPPENS WITHOUT MY FOOT BEING ON THE GAS OR EVEN THE BRAKE. THEN ONCE I SLAM ON THE BRAKE IT WILL STOP. HOWEVER, THE CAR DOES THIS SURGE ALL ON IT'S OWN. I'M GROWING MORE CONCERNED ABOUT IT AND AM GROWING SCARED ABOUT DRIVING MY PRIUS. I USED TO LOVE IT-- NOW I WANT TO TRADE IT IN FOR A FORD! PLEASE HELP. THE LATEST INCIDENT WAS A FEW WEEKS AGO-- DURING SOME RAIN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10305667February 4, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
PLEASE BE ADVISED THAT THE BRAKING PROBLEM IN THE TOYOTA PRIUS IS NOT A 2010 MODEL PROBLEM ONLY. I COMPLAINED TO MY DEALER AT LEAST 3 YEARS AGO THAT MY 2005 PRIUS LURCHED FORWARD WHEN BRAKING ON BUMP OR EVEN A MANHOLE COVER. THEY DID NOT CONSIDER IT A SERIOUS PROBLEM AT THE TIME. YOUR INVESTIGATION NEEDS TO GO BACK TO EARLIER MODELS! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10305712February 4, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
MY 2005 PRIUS HAS THE SAME BRAKING PROBLEM THAT HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED IN THE NEWS AS ONLY OCCURRING IN THE 2010 MODEL. ANYTIME I AM BRAKING AND HIT AN UNEVEN ROAD SURFACE I FEEL A LOSS OF MY ABILITY TO BRAKE. IT SEEMS LIKE THE CAR STOPS BRAKING IF YOU HIT A POTHOLE OR BUMP WHILE YOU ARE PRESSING THE BRAKE. IT ONLY LASTS FOR A FEW SECONDS THEN THE CAR STARTS TO BRAKE AGAIN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10305655February 4, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
I HAVE A 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING MY PRIUS AT A LOW RATE OF SPEED, UNDER 5 MILES PER HOUR, IN THE RAIN, I WAS UNABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE BRAKES CEASED TO WORK. I GLIDED INTO THE BACK OF A VERY LARGE SUV. WHILE HIS CAR WAS NOT DAMAGE AND NEITHER OF US WERE INJURED MY CAR CRUMPLED. THERE WAS NO REASON FOR THIS ACCIDENT TO OCCUR OTHER THAN THE BRAKES NOT ENGAGING. I AM VERY VERY CONCERNED ABOUT DRIVING MY CAR IN THE RAIN IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC. THE DEALERSHIP HAS TOLD ME REPEATEDLY THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE PRIUS BRAKING SYSTEM. I HAVE SEEN DISCUSSION BOARDS WERE MANY PEOPLE WERE COMPLAINING ABOUT THIS EXACT SAME ISSUE. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10305643February 4, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH HE WAS GOING OVER A RIDGED ROADS WITH HER FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL THE WOULD VEHICLE ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN. THE FAILURE HAS OCCURRED EVERYDAY FOR APPROXIMATELY 2 YEARS . THE DEALER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED. NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 99,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10305711February 4, 2010
TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM, SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC
MY TOYOTA PRIUS 2005 HAS THE SAME BRAKING ISSUE AS DESCRIBED IN THE MEDIA TODAY FOR THE 2010 MODEL. IN ADDITION, THE SKID CONTROL CAUSES A SUDDEN POWER LOSS DURING ACCELERATION IN SIMILAR SITUATIONS TO THE PROBLEMS DESCRIBED WITH BRAKING FAILURES IN THE 2010 MODEL (POTHOLES, EVEN SMALL BUMPS IN THE ROAD, RAPID ACCELERATION AROUND CURVES, IN ADDITION TO WHEN THERE IS ICE ON THE ROAD) THAT REPORTEDLY HAS BEEN FIXED. ALTHOUGH THE COMPLETE POWER LOSS LASTS LESS THAN A SECOND RECOVERY OF POWER IS SLOW ENOUGH TO HAVE STRANDED ME IN FRONT OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC WAITING FOR ACCELERATION IN A NUMBER SITUATIONS WHERE THERE WAS NO RISK ASSOCIATED WITH LOSS OF TRACTION. I CONTACTED TOYOTA SEVERAL YEARS AGO AND TRIED FILED A COMPLAINT (I WAS REALLY PERSISTENT), BUT THEY REFUSED TO RECOGNIZE THIS AS A DESIGN FLAW SAYING ONLY THAT THE VEHICLE WAS FUNCTIONING AS DESIGNED. WHEN I POINTED OUT THAT THE VEHICLE, AS DESIGNED, WAS DANGEROUS, THEY ONLY REITERATED THAT IT WAS FUNCTIONING PROPERLY AND REFUSED TO TAKE FURTHER ACTION. IT FELT TO ME THAT THEY WERE CONCERNED THAT ADMITTING THE PROBLEM COULD AVALANCHE INTO A PROBLEM SIMILAR TO WHAT THEY HAVE NOW. PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS IS A RECURRING AND PERSISTENT ISSUE THAT HAS OCCURRED NUMEROUS TIMES SINCE I HAVE OWNED THE CAR (FOUR PLUS YEARS). *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10305758February 4, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC
JUST HEARD A REPORT ABOUT BRAKE ISSUES WITH THE 2010 PRIUS. MY 2005 PRIUS DOES THE EXACT SAME THING - SOMETIMES ACCELERATES WHEN PUSHING THE BRAKE PEDAL ON BUMPY ROADS OR STREETS WITH POTHOLES. THIS IS AN ONGOING ISSUE THAT HAS HAPPENED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10305884February 4, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC
WHEN BRAKING ON BUMPY ROADS OR POTHOLES MY PRIUS LURCHES FORWARD BEFORE THE BRAKE FINALLY ENGAGES. I PUT TODAY'S DATE AS THE "INCIDENT DATE" BUT THIS HAS HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIMES SINCE I'VE OWNED THE CAR. THERE IS A BUMPY ROAD NEAR MY HOME WHERE I FREQUENTLY EXPERIENCE THIS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10306001February 4, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
BRAKES STOPPED WORKING. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10305995February 4, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
BRAKES STOPPED WORKING. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10305998February 4, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
BRAKES STOPPED WORKING. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10305987February 4, 2010
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
2005 PRIUS WITH ABOUT 50K MILES. DRIVING IN NV. TEMP ABOUT 33F. ACCELERATED FROM ABOUT 60 MPH TO 70 MPH TO PASS. THROTTLE STUCK WIDE OPEN. ACCELERATED UP TO ABOUT 85 MPH. AFTER ABOUT 15 SECS, THE ENGINE THROTTLED BACK TO NORMAL. I CHECKED IMMEDIATELY FOR A BUNCHED UP FLOOR MAT OR CARPET OR ANYTHING UNDER THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THERE WAS NOTHING AT ALL. THIS HAS ONLY OCCURRED ONCE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10306041February 4, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
FEB. 4, 2010 -- SIMILAR TO WHAT IS BEING SAID ABOUT THE ABS BRAKES IN A 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS NOT WORKING PROPERLY IF THE VEHICLE HAS HIT A POTHOLE OR IS GOING OVER WASH-BOARD TYPE SURFACES, I HAVE NOTICED THAT MY 2005 PRIUS HAS DONE THE SAME THING WHEN I GO OVER VERY ROUGH/CHOPPY ROAD SURFACES. THIS HAS HAPPENED SINCE I BOUGHT IT BRAND NEW IN DEC. 2004. I NEVER THOUGHT MUCH ABOUT IT UNTIL THE RECENT REPORTS OF THE 2010 MODEL. I JUST CHALKED IT UP TO THE WHEELS BOUNCING IN REACTION TO THE SURFACE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10306083February 4, 2010
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
THE RIGHT HID HEADLIGHT ON OUR 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS EXTINGUISHES RANDOMLY, SEVERAL TIMES A WEEK, AND SOMETIMES COMES BACK ON WHEN THE HEADLIGHTS ARE POWER-CYCLED. THE LEFT HEADLIGHT HAS BEEN REPLACED ONCE, WHICH WE FEEL IS NORMAL, WHILE THE RIGHT HEADLIGHT HAS BEEN REPLACED THREE TIMES, TWO OF WHICH WERE PROBABLY UNNECESSARY. WE HAVE BEEN STOPPED AND WARNED BY POLICE SEVERAL TIMES, AND WE MAY NOT BE NOTICING ALL OF THE FAILURES THAT OCCUR DURING DAYLIGHT. THE DEALER SAYS THE PROBLEM COULD BE THE BALLAST ($800) OR THE COMPUTER ($1,000) BUT WOULD NOT REPLACE EITHER UNDER WARRANTY (STRINGING US ALONG WITH LAMP CHANGES UNTIL IT EXPIRED) AND WILL NOT GUARANTEE THAT EITHER OR BOTH FIXES WILL ELIMINATE THE PROBLEM. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10306118February 4, 2010
STEERING
STEERING WHEEL STARTED SHAKING WHILE DRIVING. HAD WHEEL ALIGNMENT CHECKED, NO PROBLEM. TOOK IT TO THE VENTURA TOYOTA, THEY CHARGED US OVER $200 AND SAID THE PROBLEM WAS LOOSE SCREWS IN THE STEERING COLUMN. THIS WAS QUITE SCARY AND EVEN THOUGH WE HAD PURCHASED BUMPER TO BUMPER 100,000 MILE WARRANTY, THIS WAS NOT COVERED. THEY SAID IT WAS ONLY LOOSE SCREWS. WE FELT THIS WAS DEFINITELY A SAFETY ISSUE AND IF IT HADN'T BEEN TAKEN CARE OF, WE WOULD HAVE HAD STEERING FAILURE RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10305058February 4, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
I DRIVE A 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS. I RECENTLY HEARD ABOUT TOYOTA ADMITTING THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKING SYSTEM. I HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM IN MY DRIVING. WHEN I EITHER BEGIN BRAKING OR HAVE BEEN BRAKING AND HIT A POTHOLE OR ROUGH PAVEMENT, IT FEELS LIKE THE PRIUS STOPS BRAKING MOMENTARILY AND THEN QUICKLY RESUMES. THE DURATION IS MAYBE A SECOND, BUT A LOT CAN HAPPEN IN A SECOND. LUCKILY THIS LAPSE IN BRAKING HASN'T HAPPENED WHEN THERE HAS BEEN A CAR RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME. I THINK IF IT DID, I WOULD HIT THE CAR BECAUSE I HAVE NO CONTROL OF THIS BRAKING LAPSE. I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THIS AND IF THIS IS A DEFECT THAT COULD BE FIXED, WHY WOULDN'T IT BE FIXED. THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING ISSUE FROM WHEN I FIRST BOUGHT THE PRIUS IN 2008. I DIDN'T THINK ABOUT COMPLAINING UNTIL I JUST READ THE NEWS ARTICLE RECENTLY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10304107February 3, 2010
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
2005 TOYOTA PRIUS THERE HAVE BEEN MULTIPLE OCCASIONS WHEN AS I HAVE NEARED AN INTERSECTION AT THE SAME TIME AS HITTING A DEPRESSION OR POTHOLE IN THE ROAD, MY CAR, WHILE MY FOOT IF ON THE BRAKE BRINGING THE CAR TO A STOP HAS JUMPED FORWARD. THERE IS ONE PLACE ON MY WAY TO WORK WHERE THIS HAS HAPPENED MANY TIMES. SINCE MY FOOT IS ALREADY ON THE BRAKE I PRESS HARDER AND THE ACCELERATION STOPS. FORTUNATELY THIS HAS NEVER HAPPENED WHEN THERE WAS A CAR OR PEDESTRIAN DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF ME. I AM CONCERNED THOUGH THAT IT COULD CAUSE HARM IN THE FUTURE OR THAT IT COULD GET WORSE OR TOTALLY OUT OF CONTROL. I SEE NO EVIDENCE THAT THIS HAS ANYTHING TO DO WITH THE GAS PEDAL. I NEVER DID ANYTHING ABOUT IT BECAUSE IT WAS SO MOMENTARY, I WAS ALWAYS ABLE TO STOP IT. AND IT NEVER OCCURRED TO ME THAT IT COULD GET WORSE OR TOTALLY OUT OF CONTROL.. BASED, HOWEVER, ON WHAT I'VE READ, IT DOESN'T SOUND LIKE TOYOTA WOULD DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT EVEN IF I DID BRING IT THERE FOR REPAIR. PUTTING SOMETHING UNDER THE GAS PEDAL IS NOT GOING TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10304210February 3, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
BRAKES HAVE BEGUN TO EXHIBIT UNUSUAL BEHAVIOR: INCONSISTENT PRESSURE TO ACHIEVE THE SAME STOPPING DISTANCE. SOMETIMES, INEXPLICABLY, THE BRAKES ARE EXTREMELY SENSITIVE...AN EXTREMELY SLIGHT PRESSURE LEADS TO A SUDDEN STOP, ALMOST LIKE THE BRAKES ARE JAMMING OR GRABBING SOMETHING INSIDE. IT'S A BIT SCARY WHEN IT HAPPENS, BECAUSE THE WHEELS FEEL LIKE THEY ARE GOING TO LOCK UP, AND IT'S HARD TO CONTROL EXACTLY WHERE THE CAR STOPS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10304214February 3, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC
MY 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS, EXHIBITS THE SAME SYMPTOMS OF ACCELERATION, SKIDDING EFFECT WHEN HITTING A BUMP AND BRAKING, AS TODAY'S REPORT OF THE 2010 PRIUS DOING THE SAME THING. I THOUGHT IT HAS BEEN THE ANTI-SKIDDING MECHANISM ALL THESE YEARS, BUT THE DESCRIPTION OF THIS MALADY IN THE 2010 PRIUS SOUNDS LIKE MY 2005. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10304203February 3, 2010
TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM
2005 TOYOTA PRIUS LOSS OF CONTROL OVER VEHICLE AFTER SKIDDING OVER ICE OR SNOW, TRAVELING ON LOCAL ROAD. THE CAR WENT OVER SNOW THAT HAD BEEN SHOVELED TO THAT AREA, OR FALLEN FROM A TRUCK. THE CAR IMMEDIATELY TURN SHARPLY TO THE LEFT AND THEN RIGHT, REPEATING THIS WEIRD ACTION ABOUT 4 TIMES, GATHERING MORE SPEED WITH EACH MOVEMENT. FINALLY, I APPLIED THE BRAKE WITH FORCE AND NARROWLY MISSED A TREE BY ABOUT 6 INCHES, AND A PARKED VAN. I LANDED ON TOP OF A HEAP OF SOFT SNOW, THAT MUST HAVE BEEN PLOWED INTO THAT SPOT, WHICH KEPT THE CAR FROM MOVING BECAUSE THE WHEELS HAD NOTHING TO GRIP . UP TO NOW THE VEHICLE HAD PERFORMED WELL, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE SMALL BATTERY THAT FAILED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS ONLY A FEW MONTHS. I HAD TO PAY OUT POCKET FOR THE REPLACEMENT. THE VEHICLE NOW HAS 119,000 MILES. AND NOW I WILL GO SHOPPING FOR ANOTHER BRAND. I AM A FLEET ADMINISTRATOR, I KNOW THIS PROBLEM IS VERY SERIOUS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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