Toyota Prius Complaints (2007)

2,004 consumer complaints on file.

#10429968October 12, 2011
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
I HAVE BROUGHT THIS VEHICLE TO THE TOYOTA DEALER FOUR TIMES IN THIS PAST YEAR FOR INTERMITTENTLY WORKING HEADLIGHTS. ONE OR THE OTHER FRONT HEADLIGHT TURN OFF WITHOUT WARNING. WHEN THE HEADLIGHTS ARE (BOTH) TURNED OFF THEN ON, THEY USUALLY, BUT NOT ALWAYS, BOTH COME BACK ON. THE DEALER IS CLUELESS EVEN WHEN PROBLEM IS DEMONSTRATED TO THE HEAD OF THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT. BASED ON A REVIEW OF INTERNET CHAT GROUPS, THIS SEEMS TO BE A WELL KNOWN AND DOCUMENTED PROBLEM, INCLUDING A CLASS ACTION LAW SUIT FILED EARLIER THIS YEAR (COLLADO ET AL V. TOYOTA MOTOR SALES). *KB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10429551October 12, 2011
STEERING
2007 PRIUS TOURING WAS STEERING AT LOW SPEED TO PARK WHEN THE STEERING COLUMN SHAFT CONNECTION TO THE GEARBOX STEERING RACK FAILED AND THE CAR STEERING WHEEL TURNED FREELY BUT NO LONGER CONTROLLED THE FRONT WHEELS. CAR COULD NOT BE STEERED. ELECTRICAL WARNING LIGHTS INDICATING STEERING SLIDE THEN VEHICLE POWERED DOWN AND COULD NOT BE MOVED. HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO TOYOTA DEALERSHIP. TECH INFORMED ME THE STEERING RACK WAS DAMAGED ALONG WITH THE AIR BAG CABLE COIL ASSEMBLY. UPON DISSASSEMBLY TECH FOUND THAT THE STEERING SHAFT CONNECTING THE COLUMN TO THE STEERING RACK GEAR BOX HAD STRIPPED AND ALSO NEEDED REPLACEMENT. TOTAL COST OF REPAIRS. $2302.65. OUT OF WARRANTY. 59,980 MILES. *TT *KB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10429509October 11, 2011
STRUCTURE:BODY, STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
THE REAR DOOR LATCH RUBBER COVER HAS TURNED TO A GOO, AND MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO OPEN THE REAR HATCH DOOR. *KB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10429319October 10, 2011
STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE
HATCHDOOR HANDLE RELEASE PLATE MELTING. JUST LIKE THE MULTIPLE REPORTS OF THIS SAME PROBLEM ALREADY REPORTED AT THIS WEBSITE. MAJORITY OF MY CAR MILES WERE ACCUMULATED IN MICHIGAN; MELTING OCCURRED JUST RECENTLY IN TEXAS. WHEN CALLING THE DEALERSHIP PARTS DEPT THEY IMMEDIATELY GUESSED THE PROBLEM. MELTING. DUE TO PREVIOUS CUSTOMER COMPLAINTS. ESTIMATED PART ($97) AND INSTALLATION ($100). GUESS I SHOULD BE THANKFUL MY TIRES AND OTHER CAR PARTS AREN'T MELTING! *KB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10428380October 3, 2011
STRUCTURE:BODY
THE HATCHBACK HANDLE ON MY 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS HAS MELTED OVER TIME. THIS CAUSES THE LATCHING MECHANISM TO FAIL, WHICH IS A POTENTIAL SAFETY HAZARD IN THAT IT LEAVES THIS DOOR VIRTUALLY INACCESSIBLE DURING AN EMERGENCY. EACH TIME I TRY TO OPEN THE REAR DOOR, MELTED RUBBER STICKS TO MY HAND. THIS CAR HAS PERFORMED SATISFACTORILY OTHERWISE, BUT THE HANDLE FAILURE CONSTITUTES A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10427048September 24, 2011
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
HID HEADLIGHTS GO OFF AT RANDOM TIMES. THE PASSENGERS SIDE WAS FIRST TO START ,NOW THE DRIVER SIDE AS WELL AS BOTH GO OFF. THE PROBLEM IS OCCURRING MORE FREQUENTLY. WHEN YOU SWITCH THE HEADLIGHTS FROM OFF TO ON THEY TURN ON. THE VEHICLE HAS 100K MILES. NO WARRANTY,DEALERS REPAIR COST IS APPROXIMATELY $550.00. I AM SHOCKED WHEN I GOOGLE MY PROBLEM TO SEE HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE AFFECTED AND MORE SO THE CLASS ACTION LAW SUITS THAT ARE THERE. THIS IS FAR MORE THAN A BURNT LIGHT BULB,IT HAS TO BE LOOKED INTO. I AM A LOYAL TOYOTA CUSTOMER OF 31 YEARS. PLEASE HELP! I'M WORRIED ABOUT THE SAFETY FOR MY WIFE DRIVING AT NIGHT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10426922September 23, 2011
STRUCTURE
THE RUBBER COVER ON THE REAR EXTERIOR HATCH LATCH MELTED AND IS LIKE TAR. BIG STICKY MESS EVERY TIME I USE THE HATCH WHICH IS OFTEN.THE LATCH NOW ALSO STICKS SOMETIMES. DEALER WANTS $260 TO FIX IT. WHY ISN'T TOYOTA COVERING THIS OBVIOUS DEFECT? *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10426844September 22, 2011
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
IT WAS LAST FRIDAY EVENING,SEP 16,2011,WHEN MY CAR HAD AROUND 51270 MILES,I DISCOVERED THAT THE HID BULBS IN PRIUS IS GOING OFF WHILE DRIVING,SOMETIMES FIRST ON THE PASSENGER SIDE AND SOME TIMES ON DRIVER, AND AFTER SOMETIME IT COULD GO OFF ON BOTH SIDES.I AM LESS THAN 5 YEARS IN MY CAR.AFTER DOING RESEARCH IN THE INTERNET,I CAME TO KNOW ABOUT TOYOTA HID BULB HEAD LIGHT PROBLEMS,EXPERIENCED BY OTHER PRIUS OWNERS, AND THE CLASS ACTION LAW SUIT REGARDING THIS,AND THE FACT THAT THE TOYOTA HAS EXTENDED THE WARRANTY TILL 5 YR/50K MILES. I MOSTLY USE THE CAR DURING THE DAY TIME TO WORK(8 MILES ONE WAY),AND SINCE ALL MY FRIENDS/AMENITIES/SHOPPING ARE WITH IN 5 MILE RADIUS,I DONT GET MUCH CHANCE TO DRIVE FOR A LONGER TIME DURING THE NIGHT.ALL MY NIGHT DRIVES ARE RARE AND IS MOSTLY LESS THAN 10-15 MINS.I ALSO HAVE FOG LIGHTS IN MY CAR WHICH GIVES SOME DECENT LIGHT,AND WHEN THERE ARE OTHER CARS IN THE ROAD,OR WHEN THE ROAD IS WELL LIT,IT IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO DIAGNOSE THIS PROBLEM,WHEN THE FIRST HEADLIGHT GOES OFF.EVEN WHEN THE SECOND HEADLIGHT GOES OFF,UNDER GOOD ROAD CONDITIONS,IT IS VERY DIFFICULT. IT APPEARS AS SOME LIGHT DIMMING GOING ON FROM INSIDE THE CAR,WHEN ONLY ONE HEAD LIGHT GOES OFF.FURTHER I DID MY 50K MILES SERVICE LESS THAN A MONTH AGO. I CALLED TOYOTA,OPENED A CASE(NUMBER:1109191158)AND TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER.THE DEALER DIAGNOSED IT AND CONFIRMED THAT IT WAS DUE TO HID BULBS,COVERED BY THE CLASS ACTION SETTLEMENT.HE ALSO UPDATED MY CASE WITH TOYOTA.THE TOYOTA AGREED TO COVER THE COST OF THE BULB BUT NOT THE LABOR.I TRIED TO ESCALATE THE SITUATION WITH TOYOTA, BUT THEY WERE FIRM ON THEIR DECISION.THEY WERE MORE TALKING BY THE RULE BOOK, ABOUT THE EXPIRATION OF WARRANTY, THAN TRYING TO HELP ME WITH MY PROBLEM.CLEARLY THEY HAVE DEFECTIVE PART,AND THEY WERE UNWILLING TO COVER THE COMPLETE COST. IT WOULD ONLY BE FAIR,IF THEY REFUND THE $112 LABOR COST. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10426567September 21, 2011
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM AS MOST WITH THE PRIUS HID HEADLIGHTS. WHILE DRIVING IN DARK OR LOW LIGHT TIMES THE HEADLIGHTS WILL FAIL NEARLY CAUSING ACCIDENTS. USUALLY IT IS ONE HEADLIGHT, BUT THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL TIMES IN WHICH BOTH HEADLIGHTS HAVE FAILED (SERIOUS ISSUE). BY TURNING THE HEADLIGHTS OFF AND BACK ON TEMPORARY FIXES THE PROBLEM, YET THE PROBLEM KEEPS OCCURRING DAILY. IN JAN. 2010 TOYOTA SETTLED A CLASS ACTION LAW SUIT WHICH ONLY HELPED THOSE PERSONNEL WHOSE MILEAGE WAS FEWER THAN 50,000. WHAT ABOUT THE REST OF THE OWNERS OUT THERE THAT ARE STILL LEFT WITH THIS ENORMOUS SAFETY ISSUE. A SAFETY RECALL NEEDS TO BE DONE TO PROTECT ALL OWNERS SAFETY, NOT JUST THOSE WHOSE VEHICLE MILEAGE IS UNDER 50,000. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10426669September 21, 2011
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE HEADLIGHTS WOULD TURN OFF SPORADICALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS WERE DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 93,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 107,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10425330September 13, 2011
EQUIPMENT, STRUCTURE
AFTER ONLY ABOUT 3 YEARS USE, THE RUBBER COVER ON THE HATCH RELEASE HANDLE (THE EXTERIOR HANDLE OF THE REAR HATCH) OF OUR 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS, MELTED INTO A STICKY TARRY BLACK RUBBERY GOOEY MESS. I CAN BEST DESCRIBE IT AS BEING A VISCOUS BLACK GLOB LIKE ROOFING TAR. TO OPEN THE HATCH, YOU HAVE TO TOUCH THIS BLACK GOO EACH TIME, WHICH MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO OPERATE THE HATCH RELEASE. WE BELIEVE THIS MELTING PROCESS STARTED AT ABOUT THE 2 YR. MARK. I THOUGHT THAT THIS MIGHT BE A SINGULAR ISSUE, BUT HAVE FOUND THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED TO SEVERAL CAR OWNERS, PARTICULARLY IN CALIFORNIA. TOYOTA KNOWS ABOUT THIS, AND IS SELLING THE ENTIRE WIRING HARNESS FOR $200 PLUS REPAIR COSTS, AND HAS DONE NOTHING ABOUT RECALLING THIS. FROM A SAFETY PERSPECTIVE, THIS MEANS YOU CAN EXPERIENCE EXTREME DIFFICULTY OPENING THE REAR HATCH (A LIFE SAFETY ACCESS POINT), AND WILL GET STICKY BLACK TAR ON YOU FROM THE MELTED DOWN RUBBER COVER OF THE EXTERIOR HATCH RELEASE HANDLE. TO ME, THIS IS BOTH A SERIOUS LIFE SAFETY ISSUE AND A SERIOUS QUALITY DEFECT THAT TOYOTA IS OPTING TO IGNORE AND ONLY FIXING ON VEHICLES WITH EXTENDED WARRANTIES, SINCE THE FAILURE APPEARS TO OCCUR AT AROUND THE 3 YEAR MARK (IE AFTER 3 YEARS OF EXPOSURE TO THE BRIGHT SUN IN CALIFORNIA FOR EXAMPLE). *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10424299September 8, 2011
EXTERIOR LIGHTING, VISIBILITY
HEADLIGHTS GO OFF FOR NO REASON WHILE DRIVING. THIS HAPPENS SEVERAL TIMES A WEEK. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10424061September 7, 2011
EXTERIOR LIGHTING, VISIBILITY
BOTH HID HEADLIGHTS FAILED ON A WINDING COUNTRY ROAD. I QUICKLY TURNED THE HEADLIGHTS OFF, THEN ON THEN WAS ABLE TO SWERVE THE CAR TO PREVENT GOING OFF THE ROAD. I HAD INTERMITTENT PROBLEMS WITH ONE LIGHT FAILING. THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME BOTH LIGHTS FAILED AT THE SAME TIME. I SPENT OVER $400 TO REPLACE THE LIGHTS. THERE IS A CLASS ACTION CASE AGAINST TOYOTA THAT COVERS PRIUS WITH UNDER 50K MILES. SINCE I HAD OVER 70K MILES ON MY PRIUS, I WAS HESITANT TO MAKE THE REPAIR, BECAUSE OF THE COST UNTIL BOTH LIGHTS FAILED. THIS IS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM THAT GETS WORSE AS TIME GOES BY AND SHOULD BE RECALLED BEFORE SOMEONE IS KILLED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10423049September 2, 2011
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE HEADLIGHTS WOULD INTERMITTENTLY FAIL OR ACTIVATE INDEPENDENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THEY REPLACED THE BULBS YET THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO EXPERIENCE THE HEADLIGHT FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT FURTHER REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 10,000. UPDATED 09/28/11*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED ONE OF THE HEADLIGHTS WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. AFTER THE WARRANTY EXPIRED, THE OTHER HEADLIGHT STARTED TO FAIL. UPDATED 10/07/11
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10422709August 31, 2011
TIRES
DRIVING PASSENGER VEHICLE AT APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH ON A TOLLROAD. NORMAL CLEAR DAYLIGHT CONDITIONS AT ABOUT 80 DEGREES. THERE WAS A LOAD NOISE, THEN SMOKE AND LOSS OF VEHICLE STABILITY. PASSENGER SIDE REAR TIRE HAD A BLOWOUT. APPROXIMATELY ONE HALF OF THE TIRE IN THE SIDE WALL AREA WAS TORN APART. TIRE WAS REPLACED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10421648August 26, 2011
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
2007 PRIUS HEADLIGHT FAILURE - PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT GOES OUT FREQUENTLY. BY TURNING LIGHTS OFF AND BACK ON IT STAYS ON FOR A WHILE. I CAN'T REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM WHEN I WANT TO. LOOKING AT CONSUMER COMPLAINTS IT SEEMS TO BE A WIDE SPREAD PROBLEM AND VERY EXPENSIVE TO REPLACE BULB WHICH DOESN'T HELP THE PROBLEM. MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE AT LEAST THAT TOYOTA IS JUST BRUSHING ASIDE. I AM NOT A SATISFIED TOYOTA CUSTOMER BY ALL MEANS. *TT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10421482August 25, 2011
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
EVERYTHING ABOUT MY 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS IS GREAT EXCEPT FOR THE LATCH FOR THE BACK HATCH. THERE IS A RUBBER COVER FOR THE LATCH THAT YOU HAVE TO PUSH TO OPEN THE REAR HATCH. THIS RUBBER HAS MELTED. IT MAKES IF DIFFICULT TO OPEN THE REAR HATCH IN ANY KIND OF AN EMERGENCY. RIGHT NOW, IF YOU TOUCH THE LATCH YOU GET A THICK COATING OF MELTED RUBBER ON YOUR HAND. SOMETIMES THE LATCH FAILS TO OPEN AT ALL. YOU STILL GET THE BLACK MELTED RUBBER ON YOUR HAND. THIS SHOULD NOT HAPPEN TO A 4 YEAR OLD VEHICLE. I LIVE IN A HOT PART OF THE COUNTRY - THE MISSISSIPPI GULF COAST - AND RUBBER COVERS FOR HATCH LATCHES SHOULD BE ABLE TO WITHSTAND SUMMER HEAT DOWN HERE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10421410August 24, 2011
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
2007 PRIUS HATCH HANDLE MELT DOWN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10421069August 22, 2011
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
THE LATCH HANDLE ON MY 2007 PRIUS HAS BEGUN TO MELT AND IS WORSENING OVER TIME. I HAVE TO OPEN THE REAR HATCH WITH A TOWEL. IT IS DIFFICULT TO OPEN AND IF I USE MY HANDS THEY BECOME ALL BLACKENED AND MY FINGERS STICK IMPEDING THE OPENING ESP IN AN EMERGENCY. BOTH PROBLEMS INTERFERE WITH A QUICK RELEASE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10420855August 21, 2011
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
AFTER ONLY ABOUT 3 YEARS USE, THE RUBBER COVER ON THE HATCH RELEASE HANDLE (THE EXTERIOR HANDLE OF THE REAR HATCH) OF OUR 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS, MELTED INTO A STICKY TARRY BLACK RUBBERY GOOEY MESS. I CAN BEST DESCRIBE IT AS BEING A VISCOUS BLACK GLOB LIKE ROOFING TAR. TO OPEN THE HATCH, YOU HAVE TO TOUCH THIS BLACK GOO EACH TIME, WHICH MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO OPERATE THE HATCH RELEASE. I THOUGHT THAT THIS MIGHT BE A SINGULAR ISSUE, BUT HAVE FOUND THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED TO SEVERAL CAR OWNERS, TOYOTA KNOWS ABOUT THIS, AND IS SELLING THE ENTIRE WIRING HARNESS FOR $96 PLUS REPAIR COSTS, AND HAS DONE NOTHING ABOUT RECALLING THIS. FROM A SAFETY PERSPECTIVE, THIS MEANS YOU CAN EXPERIENCE EXTREME DIFFICULTY OPENING THE REAR HATCH (A LIFE SAFETY ACCESS POINT), AND WILL GET STICKY BLACK TAR ON YOU FROM THE MELTED DOWN RUBBER COVER OF THE EXTERIOR HATCH RELEASE HANDLE. TO ME, THIS IS BOTH A SERIOUS LIFE SAFETY ISSUE AND A SERIOUS QUALITY DEFECT THAT TOYOTA IS OPTING TO IGNORE AND ONLY FIXING ON VEHICLES WITH EXTENDED WARRANTIES, SINCE THE FAILURE APPEARS TO OCCUR AT AROUND THE 3 YEAR MARK (IE AFTER 3 YEARS OF EXPOSURE TO THE BRIGHT SUN ). I AM AWARE OF THE OUTSTANDING WORK DONE BY NHTSA ON OTHER SAFETY ISSUES, INCLUDING THE PROBLEM WITH RUSTY FRAMES ON 02 ISUZU AXIOMS, AND I FIND THIS PROBLEM TO BE SIMILAR IN NATURE, SO I AM ASKING FOR YOUR AGENCY TO TAKE A LOOK AT THESE INSTANCES AND ALSO TO INQUIRE FROM TOYOTA WHY THEY ARE NOT RECALLING THESE HANDLES THAT ARE MELTING IN THE SUN!!! IT'S OUTRAGEOUS. I THINK A DOOR HANDLE OR HATCH HANDLE SHOULD BE MADE TO LAST MORE THAN 3 YEARS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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