Toyota Prius Complaints (2005)

1,051 consumer complaints on file.

#10291977November 12, 2009
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS. INTERMITTENTLY THE HEAD-LAMPS FAIL WITHOUT WARNINGS. USUALLY THE HEAD LIGHTS RESUME NORMAL OPERATION AFTER DRIVING FOR SEVERAL MINUTES. THE MANUFACTURER WILL ONLY COVER THE COST OF THE PARTS NOT THE LABOR. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 45,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10292020November 12, 2009
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
I HAVE A 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE HEADLIGHTS WILL GO OUT, SOMETIMES BOTH, SOMETIMES ONE OR THE OTHER. HOWEVER, THEY COME BACK ON WHEN I TURN THEM COMPLETELY OFF AND BACK ON. THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN FOR OBVIOUS REASONS, AND CAN CAUSE MY VEHICLE TO NOT PASS INSPECTION. THERE IS NO SPECIFIC EVENT THAT MAKES THE HEADLIGHTS GO OFF. IT HAPPENS INTERMITTENTLY AND UNEXPECTEDLY. ADDING TO THE SAFETY ISSUE...I LIVE IN THE COUNTRY WHERE THERE OFTEN ARE NO SHOULDERS ON THE HIGHWAYS OR COUNTY ROADS, AND NO STREET LIGHTS. THERE ARE LOTS OF STEEP DITCHES AND CREEKS. WHEN I FIRST STARTED HAVING THE PROBLEM AND WOULD COMPLETELY TURN OFF THE LIGHTS AND THEN TURN THEM BACK ON, THEY WOULD STAY ON FOR A LONG TIME, SOMETIMES SEVERAL HOURS BEFORE GOING OFF AGAIN. NOW, THEY STAY ON ONLY A FEW SECONDS TO A FEW MINUTES. I'VE GOT TWO THEORIES, ONE IS THAT IT COULD BE A SHORT??? -AND THE OTHER THAT THE COOLER TEMPERATURES SEEM TO AFFECT IT SLIGHTLY, THOUGH NEITHER OF THESE SEEM TO MAKE LOGICAL SENSE. PLEASE CHECK INTO THIS AS OTHER PRIUS OWNERS HAVE HAD THE SAME UNRESOLVED PROBLEM. WE CAN'T ALL JUST GO REPLACING THE COMPUTERS AND LIGHT BULBS AT THE HIGH COST YOU SELL THEM FOR, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT DOESN'T FIX THE PROBLEM...UNLESS TOYOTA WANTS TO PAY FOR IT, OF COURSE, AND THEN THAT'S TIME WITHOUT TRANSPORTATION. THANKS FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION ON THIS MATTER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10291549November 9, 2009
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING THE DRIVER SIDE FLOOR MAT SHIFTED UNDER THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. CONSEQUENTLY SHE COULD NOT DECELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR INSPECTION. SHE WAS ADVISED THAT THE FLOOR MAT HOOKS NEEDED TO BE REPOSITIONED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 37000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10291378November 8, 2009
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
2005 PRIUS WITH THE SAME HEADLIGHT ISSUES AS STATED IN PE09019. I UNDERSTAND THIS INVESTIGATION HAS BEEN CLOSED, BUT I WANTED TO REGISTER ANOTHER PRIUS USER WITH A SIMILAR ISSUE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10291408November 8, 2009
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
WHILE DRIVING OUR 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS, MY WIFE WAS TRAVELING AT 65MPH, AT NIGHT WHEN THE RIGHT HEADLIGHT WENT OUT. A MOMENT LATER, ALL FORWARD LIGHTING FAILED. SHE CYCLED THE HEADLIGHT "ON-OFF" SWITCH AND THE GOOD LEFT HEADLIGHT RELIT. A FEW MINUTES LATER ALL WENT DARK AGAIN. SHE TURNED THE HEADLIGHT "ON-OFF " SWITCH OFF THEN ON, AND THE LEFT HEADLIGHT RELIT. THIS REPEATED SEVERAL TIMES UNTIL SHE GOT HOME. ON MONDAY, 10-2-09 WE TOOK THE CAR TO SAN LUIS OBISPO TOYOTA FOR REPAIR. THEY HAD IT TILL 10-5-09,REPLACING THE RIGHT HEADLIGHT, AT A COST OF $528.82. ON 10-20-09 WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON US101 AT 65 MPH IN THE DARK, THE LEFT HEADLIGHT WENT OUT. A MOMENT LATER ALL FORWARD LIGHTS WENT OUT. DUE TO MY WIFE'S PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE, I CYCLED THE HEADLIGHT "ON-OFF" SWITCH AND GOT THE RIGHT HEADLIGHT TO RELIGHT. THIS SUDDEN LOSS OF LIGHTING RECURRED 2 MORE TIMES PRIOR TO THE SUN RISING ENOUGH SO THAT I DID NOT NEED THE HEADLIGHTS. ON 10-28-09, AFTER RETURNING FROM A TRIP, I HAD THE LEFT HEADLIGHT REPLACED AT MILLER TOYOTA IN ANAHEIM AT A COST OF $362.31. ON BOTH OCCASIONS OF THE LIGHTING FAILURE THE VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING AT 65MPH, OR APPROX. 100 FEET PER SECOND. IT TOOK APPROX. 5 TO 10 SECONDS TO RECOGNIZE THE DEFECT AND MAKE A CORRECTION THAT RELIT THE LIGHTS. THE VEHICLE TRAVELED FROM 500 FEET TO 1000 FEET PER INCIDENT. FORTUNATELY THERE WAS NO COLLISION. AT NEITHER TOYOTA DEALER, WERE WE ADVISED THAT THIS WAS A RECURRING PROBLEM ON PRIUS'S, WHICH I FOUND OUT ON-LINE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10291071November 5, 2009
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
THE LEFT HEADLIGHT ON MY 2005 PRIUS DOESN'T STAY LIT, BUT IT WILL COME BACK ON IF LIGHTS ARE TURNED OFF AND THEN BACK ON. THE LIGHT WILL GOT OUT INTERMITTENTLY, STAYING ON FOR ABOUT 5 MINUTES AND THEN GOING OUT AGAIN. THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN. I HAVE READ OTHER SIMILAR COMPLAINTS, INCLUDING ON THIS WEBSITE. I CONSIDER THIS TO BE VERY DANGEROUS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10291160November 5, 2009
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
DRIVER'S AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY IN 2005 PRIUS THAT REAR ENDED AN SUV AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10290440October 31, 2009
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
LEFT HEADLAMP WILL NOT STAY LIT. TURNING LIGHTS OFF AND BACK ON AGAIN RE-LIGHTS IT. REPLACING BULB HAS NOT HELPED. FOUND ON THE INTERNET THAT OTHERS ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. FEEL THAT TOYOTA SHOULD RECALL THE VEHICLES TO FIX THE PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10290367October 30, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
I AM WRITING ABOUT AN INCIDENT WITH MY 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS. ON JULY 20, 2009 AS MY WIFE WAS DRIVING OUR PRIUS THE ENGINE LIGHT WENT ON. SHE IMMEDIATELY DROVE INTO THE PARKING LOT OF A SMALL BUSINESS AND STOPPED THE CAR. WE HAD IT TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP. THE MECHANICS THERE DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM. THE INVERTER PUMP THAT SUPPLIES COOLANT TO ALL THE ENGINE PARTS HAD MALFUNCTIONED. THE MECHANICS TOLD US THAT THE TOYOTA COMPANY WAS AWARE THAT THIS PROBLEM COULD OCCUR ON OUR 05 PRIUS. IF WE HAD THE CAR TOWED TO A TOYOTA DEALER THE DEFECTIVE INVERTER PUMP WOULD BE REPLACED WITH A MORE RECENT MODEL FREE OF CHARGE. THE NEXT DAY WE HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. THEY EXAMINED THE CAR AND VERIFIED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS A DEFECTIVE INVERTER PUMP. THEIR CODES AS PRINTED ON THEIR INVOICE NUMBER 524093 [21 JULY 2009] ARE "34352 PULLED CODE POA93, SUB CODE 346-INVERTER COOLING SYSTEM PERFORMANCE. FOUND TSB EG001-07 TO CORRECT THIS CONCERN. REPLACED INVERTER WATER PUMP AS PER STB." THIS CATASTROPHIC MALFUNCTION OCCURRED WITHOUT ANY PRIOR WARNING. WE HAVE MAINTAINED THE CAR WITH REGULAR MAINTENANCE AS PER THE SCHEDULE IN THE OWNERS MANUAL. WE WERE VERY LUCKY THAT THE MALFUNCTION OCCURRED WHILE WE WERE IN TOWN. SINCE WE LIVE IN NEW MEXICO THE MALFUNCTION COULD HAVE OCCURRED OUT IN ONE OF OUR DESERTS OR ON ONE OF OUR MOUNTAINS. WE ARE BOTH 73 YEARS OF AGE AND BOTH CANCER SURVIVORS. THE LAST THING THAT WE NEEDED WAS TO BE STRANDED SOMEWHERE OR TO HAVE THE ENGINE COMPLETELY DESTROYED IF WE WERE NOT ABLE TO IMMEDIATELY STOP THE CAR. I DO HOPE THAT TOYOTA WILL BE REQUIRED TO PERFORM A RECALL ON THE PRIUS MODELS THAT HAVE THIS TYPE IF INVERTER PUMP SO THAT OWNERS CAN CONTINUE TO DRIVE THEIR CARS SAFELY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10290274October 29, 2009
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH AT NIGHT THE DRIVER-SIDE HEAD-LIGHT FAILED. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO CONTINUE VEHICLE OPERATION. THE FOLLOWING DAY THE PASSENGER HEADLIGHT BECAME INOPERATIVE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THIS TIME FOR THE MALFUNCTION. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 125,000. THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS UNAVAILABLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10289519October 23, 2009
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
I WAS DRIVING TO WORK AND WITH 3 BARS OF FUEL SHOWING ON THE FUEL GAUGE, THE GAS ENGINE STOPPED AND I CONTINUED TO A SAFE STREET TO PARK WITH THE ELECTRIC MOTOR (WHICH HAS ABOUT A 1 MILE RANGE). I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE NEAREST TOYOTA DEALER. THERE INSPECTION REVEALED MULTIPLE FAILURE CODES BUT THAT IT BASICALLY RAN OUT OF GAS. THEY RESET/RECALIBRATED THE ECMS AND I PICKED UP THE CAR 2 DAYS LATER. I CONTACTED TOYOTA ABOUT THIS ISSUE AND THEY DENIED ANY RESPONSIBILITY AND ADVISED THAT I SHOULD NOT RUN BELOW 25% OF THE TANKS CAPACITY. THE 2010 PRIUS USES A RIGID GAS TANK VERSUS THE FLEXIBLE GAS TANK IN MY VEHICLE (I BELIEVE THEY KNOW IT IS A PROBLEM BUT ARE DOING NOTHING BUT ADVISE PEOPLE TO NOT GO BELOW 25% FUEL CAPACITY. SINCE THE TANK MAY BE FROM 10 TO 11.9 GALLONS THIS IS NOT THAT CLEAR). THE TOYOTA CASE NUMBER IS 0910135219 WHICH IS ALREADY CLOSED (DENIED). *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10289632October 23, 2009
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
MY HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT ON MY 2005 PRIUS WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY AT NIGHT IN A STORM... THE ONLY MEANS I HAD TO FIND MY WAY TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WAS LISTENING TO THE SOUND OF THE BUMPS ON THE SIDE. I PULLED OVER AND SAT IN THE DARKNESS WONDERING IF A CAR WOULD COME AROUND THE CORNER AND HIT ME. I TURNED OFF MY CAR AND RESTARTED IT. THE LIGHTS CAME ON AGAIN AND I WAS ABLE TO GET TO SAFELY. I WENT INTO THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP AND JUST FOUND OUT THAT THE LIGHTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT ABOUT $1,000.00. THAT IS RIDICULOUS. THIS IS A DANGEROUS PROBLEM. I HAVE HAD FULL CARE ON MY VEHICLE AS RECOMMENDED BY THE TOYOTA COMPANY THROUGH MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP. I FEEL THAT THIS PROBLEM IS POTENTIALLY LIFE THREATENING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! MY HEART STILL RACES EVERYTIME I THINK ABOUT HOW THAT FELT TO BE IN THE DARK WITHOUT KNOWING WHERE I WAS ON THE ROAD!!!!! PLEASE DO SOMETHING TO HELP THE NEXT VICTIM, WHO MAY NOT BE SO LUCKY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10289187October 20, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
I HAVE A 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS WITH 255K MILES. I SERVICE MY CAR REGULARLY (ABOUT EVERY 5 WEEKS). WHEN I STARTED MY CAR AFTER WORK, NONE OF THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS CAME ON. I PUT MY CAR IN DRIVE AND THE CAR MOVED FORWARD. I DROVE MY CAR ABOUT 60 MILES AND STOPPED BY THE STORE. I BECAME ALARMED WHEN THE CAR WOULDN'T SHUT OFF. I PRESSED THE "POWER" BUTTON SEVERAL TIMES BUT THE CAR WOULD NOT TURN OFF. I DROVE THE CAR TO THE STAFFORD TOYOTA AT APPROXIMATELY 7:30PM AND REQUESTED ASSISTANCE FROM THE SALES MANAGER (SINCE THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT WAS CLOSED). THE SALES MANAGER CONFIRMED THAT THE CAR WAS NOT SUPPOSED TO OPERATE WITHOUT THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS BECAUSE THERE WAS NO WAY TO DETERMINE IF THE CAR WAS ON AND WHETHER THE CAR WAS IN PARK, REVERSE OR DRIVE. AFTER NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS OF HOLDING DOWN THE "POWER" BUTTON, THE CAR FINALLY SHUT OFF. WHEN I RESTARTED IT, THE LIGHTS STILL DID NOT WORK. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10288846October 18, 2009
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
THE HID HEADLIGHTS ON MY 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS STARTED BLINKING ON AND OFF AND THEN FAILED. ONLY ONE LIGHT WENT OUT BUT I WAS AFRAID BOTH WOULD GO. TOYOTA WANTS $380 FOR THE BULB, WHICH IS ONLY $80 FROM SYLVANIA AND THEY WANT $125 FOR LABOR. TO REPLACE. I FOUND OUT ONLINE THAT THE BULBS KEEP GOING OUT OR BLINKING SO I DON'T WANT TO SPEND THAT MUCH MONEY OVER AND OVER. BULBS ARE A SAFETY ISSUE AND IF THEY ARE DEFECTIVE OR THE SYSTEM IS DEFECTIVE THEY SHOULD BE RECALLED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10288745October 17, 2009
EXTERIOR LIGHTING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I OWN A 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS, AND THE HEADLIGHTS HAVE BOTH GONE OUT. THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO LAST 10 YEARS. FOR A WHILE, WHEN I TURNED OFF THE HEADLIGHTS AND TURNED THEM BACK ON, THEY WOULD WORK. HOWEVER, THEY DO GO OUT WHEN I AM ON THE ROAD QUITE OFTEN. I HAVE BEEN QUOTED BY THE DEALERSHIP THAT REPLACING A SINGLE LIGHTBULB WILL COST OVER $400 INCLUDING PARTS AND LABOR. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE I DRIVE TO WORK IN THE EARLY IN THE MORNING AND LATE AT NIGHT, AND MY HEADLIGHTS DO NOT FUNCTION RELIABLY. I HAVE HEARD THIS COMPLAINT FROM OTHER PRIUS OWNERS, WHO ARE OTHERWISE HAPPY WITH THEIR VEHICLES. FOR A LIGHTBULB THAT IS SUPPOSED TO LAST 10 YEARS, THIS IS DEFINITELY A FAULTY AND DANGEROUS PART ISSUE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10287312October 13, 2009
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
HEADLIGHT ON 2005 PRIUS INTERMITTENTLY FAILS. SPORADIC, BUT SOMETIMES RECURS EVERY FEW MINUTES. TURNING THE LIGHTS OFF AND ON QUICKLY CORRECTS PROBLEM ESSENTIALLY 100% OF THE TIME. ESTIMATE TO REPLACE BULB EXCEEDED $400, AND NO GUARANTEE THE PROBLEM WOULD BE CORRECTED. ONLINE SEARCHES SHOWS THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED PROBLEM. OTHERS DESCRIBE BOTH LIGHTS GOING OUT SIMULTANEOUSLY, AN OBVIOUS HAZARD. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10286775October 8, 2009
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
HID HEADLIGHTS FAIL INTERMITTENTLY. THEY EITHER FAIL TO LIGHT UP OR GO OUT WHILE DRIVING. SOMETIMES THEY OPERATE NORMALLY, OTHER TIMES THEY FAIL. NO PATTERN TO IT -- IT SEEMS RANDOM. DEALER SAID TOYOTA IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM BUT HAS NO FIX. THEY ADVISED ME TO SIMPLY TURN SWITCH OFF, THEN ON AGAIN UNTIL THEY LIGHT UP. THIS DOES NOT ALWAYS WORK. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10286578October 6, 2009
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
I HAVE A 2005 PRIUS I PURCHASED IN 10-2004. MY PROBLEM IS THE SAME AS THE 338 PLUS PREVIOUSLY REPORTED PROBLEMS WITH THE HID HEADLIGHTS GOING OUT. THE PASSENGER LIGHT STARTED GOING OUT AT AROUND 50,000 MILES. IT WAS AT THE TIME EASILY CORRECTED BY TURNING THE HEADLIGHTS OFF AND ON AGAIN. WHEN DRIVING IN TOWN IT IS SOMETIMES HARD TO TELL IF THE HEADLIGHT HAS GONE OUT WITHOUT LEANING FORWARD OR WATCHING FOR THE HEADLIGHTS REFLECTING OFF A CAR IN FRONT OF ME. THIS HAS BEEN MOSTLY ANNOYING UNTIL THE DRIVER'S SIDE HEADLIGHT STARTED DOING THE SAME THING. NOW IT IS DANGEROUS. I DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING MY CAR AT NIGHT BECAUSE AT ANY TIME NOT KNOWING THE RIGHT LIGHT IS OUT THE DRIVER SIDE LIGHT WILL GO OUT AND I AM DRIVING WITH NO HEADLIGHTS. THE FIRST TIME THIS OCCURRED WAS RETURNING FROM A LONG TRIP, DRIVING 65 MPH, 12:30 AM. ALL OF A SUDDEN I HAD NO HEADLIGHTS. LUCKILY THIS HAD NOT OCCURRED 40 MILES EARLIER IN MY TRAVELS. I WOULD HAVE BEEN DRIVING ON INTERSTATE, 65 MPH THROUGH TWO WAY ROAD CONSTRUCTION, PERHAPS AROUND A CURVE. I HAD THREE TEENAGE PASSENGERS WITH ME. IT COULD HAVE BEEN DISASTROUS. AT TIMES IT NOW TAKES TWO OR THREE ATTEMPTS TO GET THE HEADLIGHTS BACK ON. THE COST TO REPAIR, PER MY LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER IS $300.00 EACH FOR THE PART THAT CONTROLS THE HEADLIGHT. THIS DOES NOT INCLUDE REPLACEMENT COST. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10286152October 2, 2009
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
HEADLIGHTS ON 2005 PRIUS GO OUT. I HAVE REPLACED THEM TWICE AND THEY INTERMITTENTLY GO OUT STILL. TOO MUCH MOISTURE IN THE AIR THEY GO OUT. SOMETIMES THEY WILL COME BACK ON IF I TURN THEM ON AND OFF. THE DRIVERS SIDE HEADLIGHT GOES OUT AND STAYS OUT FOR WEEKS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10285920October 1, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING THE FAMILY CAR A 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS ON A NJ COUNTY ROAD ON A LOW TRAFFIC SUNDAY MORNING IN APRIL 2009. THE CAR UNEXPECTEDLY SURGED CAUSING HER TO LOOSE CONTROL, HIT A TELEPHONE POLE AND CAUSE PROPERTY AND PHYSICAL DAMAGE. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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