Toyota Prius Complaints (2007)

2,004 consumer complaints on file.

#10420881August 21, 2011
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
2007 PRIUS REAR HATCH SWITCH COVERED BY A RUBBER STRIP. RUBBER STRIP HAS MELTED AND IS NOW MORE LIKE TAR THAN RUBBER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10419520August 15, 2011
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
AT ONLY 4 YEARS OF USE AND UNDER 34,000 MILES, THE RUBBER COVER ON THE HATCH RELEASE HANDLE OF MY 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS HAS MELTED INTO A STICKY, BLACK TAR SUBSTANCE. IN ORDER TO OPERATE THE HATCH, YOU HAVE TO PUSH A BUTTON WHICH IS LOCATED UNDER THE BLACK TAR SUBSTANCE, WHICH MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO OPERATE THE HATCH RELEASE. AS I HAVE LOOKED INTO THIS ISSUE, IT SEEMS THAT THERE ARE SEVERAL OTHER TOYOTA PRIUS OWNERS, NATIONWIDE, WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS SAME SPECIFIC ISSUE. TOYOTA KNOWS TOLD ME THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE RUBBER SWITCH MELTING AS WELL, AND IS SELLING THE ENTIRE WIRING HARNESS FOR $153.23 PLUS REPAIR COSTS, AND HAD NO RECALLS CONCERNING THE RUBBER SWITCH. FROM A SAFETY PERSPECTIVE, 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. 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, LET ALONE ANY EXTREME WEATHER CONDITIONS! IT'S OUTRAGEOUS TO THINK A DOOR HANDLE OR HATCH HANDLE WAS MADE TO ONLY ENDURE 3-4 YEARS OF TYPICAL WEATHER CONDITIONS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10419266August 12, 2011
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
MY 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS HEADLIGHTS KEEP GOING OUT. SOME LIGHT MANUFACTURERS TELL ME THAT THIS CAR IS THE PROBLEM, NOT THE BULBS. I HAD THE FIRST SET OF BULBS REPLACED WITH SOME OTHER WORK AT ABOUT 20K MILES. THE NEXT SET WAS REPLACED AT ABOUT 60K MILES 2 YRS LATER. NOW THEY ARE OUT AGAIN AT 76K AND 14 MONTHS LATER. TOYOTA ISSUED A RECALL FOR A REFUND, BUT THE FIRST ONE WAS COVERED UNDER INSURANCE, THESE NEXT TWO AREN'T, YET IT APPEARS THAT I'M GOING TO HAVE TO REPLACE THESE BULBS EVERY 1 - 2 YEARS, WHICH IS ABSURD. THEY JUST GO OUT, NO FLICKERING OR DIMMING, BUT JUST GO OUT WITH NO NOTICE. TOYOTA SHOULD HAVE TO RECALL THIS ISSUE, MAKE THESE CARS SAFE, AND MAKE IT SO THE BULBS DON'T HAVE TO BE REPLACED EVERY YEAR OR TWO. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10418111August 9, 2011
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
2007 TOYOTA PRIUS REAR HATCH HANDLE MELTED. NOTICED ABOUT A 3 MONTHS AGO JUST THOUGH THAT IT WAS REALLY HOT OUT. THEN THOUGH THIS HANDLE SHOULD NOT MELT TO HIGH HEAT THERE HAS TO BE A PROBLEM. WENT TO DEALER TO HAVE OIL CHANGE AND INSPECTION, HAD SERVICE MGR. OPEN HATCH AND HE STATED THERE IS A PROBLEM. HE STATED THAT BECAUSE CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY HE CAN NOT DO ANYTHING AND THAT IT WILL COST 58.84 FOR HANDLE AND 97.00 FOR LABOR. HE GAVE ME TOYOTA CARE NUMBER TO CALL, I CALLED TODAY AND THEY STATE THE SAME THING OUT OF WARRANTY...........I KNEW THAT WAS COMING..... THIS HANDLE SHOULD NOT MELT, THERE HAS TO BE A PROBLEM WITH THE WIRING OVER HEATING. THE BUTTONS ON THE DOORS TO LOCK THE CAR ARE MADE OUT OF THE SAME MATERIAL. TOYOTA WILL NOT DO ANYTHING UNTIL SOMEONE HAS A FIRE AND SOMEONE DIES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10417873August 7, 2011
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
2007 TOYOTA PRIUS REAR HATCH HANDLE HAS MELTED LIKE HOT TAR. HARD TO OPEN HATCH AND TOYOTA WANTS CLOSE TO $250.00 TO REPAIR. I REALIZE THERE IS WEAR AND TEAR ON VEHICLES BUT THIS IS NOT ONE OD THEM. THIS IS DEFINITELY A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. I LIKE MY PRIUS BUT THIS HAS BEEN THE ONLY TOYOTA I HAVE BOUGHT AND DID SO FOR THE GREAT REPUTATION BUT THIS CAR HAS BEEN RECALLED SEVERAL TIMES, WHICH I'M HAPPY THEY DID, BUT IT'S THE FIRST CAR I'VE OWNED THAT'S BEEN RECALLED. *TT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10418668August 6, 2011
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
THE RUBBER TAILGATE RELEASE HANDLE ABOVE THE LICENSE PLATE HAS STARTED TO MELT AND HAS BECOME A STICKY, GOOEY MESS. THIS BLACK GOO COMES OFF ON YOUR HANDS WHENEVER YOU OPEN THE TAILGATE. I FEAR THIS SUBSTANCE COULD BE HAZARDOUS TO A PERSONS HEALTH, SUCH AS CAUSING CANCER. I ALSO FEAR THAT BECAUSE OF ITS CONDITION THE HANDLE MAY BECOME INOPERABLE IN A LIFE-THREATENING SITUATION. I BELIEVE THIS IS A SERIOUS PART DEFECT THAT TOYOTA SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR FIXING REGARDLESS OF WHETHER THE CAR IS UNDER WARRANTY OR NOT. THANK YOU.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10417802August 6, 2011
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
TOYOTA PRIUS HEADLIGHTS INTERMITTENTLY WORKING. *TT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10416940August 3, 2011
EXTERIOR LIGHTING, EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
AFTER 20K MILES THE HEADLIGHTS NEED TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF OVER $600.00. HEADLIGHTS INTERMITTENTLY GO OUT AND COME BACK ON. SOMETIMES PASSENGER SIDE ONLY, SOMETIMES BOTH LIGHTS DIM THEN COME BACK UP. TURNING THE HEADLIGHTS ON AND OFF SEEMS TO CORRECT THE ISSUE. *KB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10416305July 29, 2011
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
MY 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS WILL NOT STAY IN GEAR OFF AN ON. IT WILL GO INTO REVERSE OR DRIVE FOR A FEW SECONDS THEN POP INTO NEUTRAL. THIS HAS HAPPENED 9 TIMES IN THE LAST 2 WEEKS AND ALWAYS ON A HOT DAY AFTER BEING PARKED AT WORK. I HAVE TO DRIVE HOME WHILE HOLDING THE SHIFT LEVER IN GEAR. SOMETIMES IF THIS HAPPENS AND I TURN OFF THE AIR CONDITIONING IT WILL STAY IN GEAR, BUT NOT ALWAYS. IS THIS A GEAR SHIFT LEVER PROBLEM? *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10415133July 26, 2011
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
HEADLIGHTS FOR 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS HYBRID 4DR KEEP GOING OUT; THE DEALERS ARE CHARGING UP TO $800 TO CHANGE THE BAD HEADLIGHTS. I HAVE REPLACED THREE DRIVERS SIDE HEADLIGHTS AND NOW THE PASSENGER SIDE GO OUT. THIS IS SAFETY CONCERNS AS WASHINGTON STATE POOR DRIVING CONDITIONS WITH RAIN AND SEASONAL SNOW, EARLY NIGHT FALL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10415959July 26, 2011
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM. MY HEADLIGHTS FAIL RANDOMLY LEFT, RIGHT, OR BOTH. IF I TURN OFF THE LIGHT SWITCH THEN TURN IT BACK ON THE LIGHTS WILL COME BACK. I BELIEVE TOYOTA SHOULD ACKNOWLEDGE THIS AS A DESIGN PROBLEM AND FIX IT. THIS CAN CAUSE A DANGEROUS SITUATION AT NIGHT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10414959July 25, 2011
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
HEADLAMPS FOR MY 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS FAIL AT NIGHT. BULBS ARE NOT BURNT OUT, BUT THE POWER TO THEM WILL JUST SHUT OFF. THEY WILL WORK AGAIN FOR A SHORT TIME IF YOU SHUT THEM OFF AND BACK ON AGAIN. HAPPENS ON BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE. VERY DANGEROUS, BOTH LIGHTS HAVE GONE OUT AT TEH SAME TIME. MANUFACTURER SAYS COST OF REPAIR IS $300. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10415123July 25, 2011
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
BOTH 2007 PRIUS HEADLIGHTS FAIL AT ONCE LEAVING ME IN DARK WHILE DRIVING. MANY OTHER COMPLAINTS FROM PRIUS OWNERS. GO BACK ON WHEN SWITCHED OFF THEN ON. INTERMITTENT ELECTRICAL DEFECT. NOT QUALIFY FOR. CLASS ACTION. 60,000 MI. REQUESTING REOPEN INVESTIGATION. FOR RECALL. URGENT SAFETY MATTER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10414807July 23, 2011
STRUCTURE
2007 TOYOTA PRIUS, BACK HATCH RELEASE, RUBBER PIECE. THIS PIECE HAS DETERIORATED AND IT DIFFICULT TO OPEN BACK HATCH. I HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM FOR ABOUT 1 YEAR. I HAVE DONE RESEARCH AND SEE THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM IN THESE 2007 TOYOTA VEHICLES. I BELIEVE THIS TO BE A HAZARD AND WOULD THINK TOYOTA WOULD HAVE RECALLED THIS PIECE AS THERE ARE SO MANY COMPLAINTS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10414871July 23, 2011
EXTERIOR LIGHTING, EQUIPMENT
HEADLAMP BULBS BURN OUT VERY QUICKLY LEADING TO REPEATED CHANGE OF THE BULBS AT $250 A PIECE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10413856July 20, 2011
STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE
AFTER ONLY ABOUT 4 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 IN TEXAS. 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 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. PLEASE REVIEW THESE FORUM COMMENTS OF OTHER INCIDENTS: HTTP://PRIUSCHAT.COM/FORUMS/GEN-II-PRIUS-CARE-MAINTENANCE-TROUBLESHOOTING/71647-2007-PRIUS-TRUNK-HATCH-RELEASE-RUBBER-PIECE-MELTED-4.HTML *KB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10413277July 18, 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. 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 WAS JUST STICKY AT FIRST, BUT HAVE FOUND THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED TO SEVERAL CAR OWNERS, PARTICULARLY IN FLORIDA. WE ALSO LIVE IN FLORIDA. 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. 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 FLORIDA FOR EXAMPLE). I AM AWARE OF THE OUTSTANDING WORK DONE BY NHTSA ON OTHER SAFETY ISSUES, AND I FIND THIS PROBLEM TO BE VERY SERIOUS 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. PLEASE REVIEW THESE FORUM COMMENTS OF OTHER INCIDENTS: *KB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10411945July 12, 2011
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
2007 TOYOTA PRIUS TOURING EDITION HID HEADLIGHTS TURN OFF RANDOMLY WHILE DRIVING WITH THE HEADLIGHTS ON. I TURN OFF THE HEADLIGHTS AND TURN THEM BACK ON AND THEY COME BACK ON FOR A VARIABLE TIME BEFORE GOING OFF AGAIN. *TT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10411638July 9, 2011
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
I AM OWNER OF A 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS. LESS THAN 3 YEARS SINCE PURCHASING THE VEHICLE NEW FROM TOYOTA, A RUBBER WEATHER SEAL COMPONENT IN THE REAR HATCH HANDLE HAS PROGRESSIVELY MELTED. WITH THE SEAL NOW COMPROMISED, I FEAR THE HATCH HANDLE WILL EVENTUALLY FAIL OR MALFUNCTION RESULTING IN CORROSION OR WORSE STILL, ACCIDENTAL OPENING OF THE REAR HATCH WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION. I HAVE CONTACTED TOYOTA ABOUT THE DEFECT AND THEY ADVISE IT WOULD BE A $150 REPAIR AND ALL COSTS WOULD BE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE OWNER. AS THIS IS CLEARLY A MANUFACTURER DEFECT AND ONE THAT COULD POTENTIALLY LEAD TO SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH, I WOULD EXPECT TOYOTA TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM AT THEIR OWN COST. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10412510July 9, 2011
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
I USE MY CRUISE CONTROL AS OFTEN AS POSSIBLE, SO I BELIEVE THAT IF THE LEVER IS FLEXED EVEN A LITTLE BIT 20-30 TIMES A DAY THE STRESS WILL EVENTUALLY BREAK IT. MINE DIDN'T JUST SNAP, IT REFUSED TO FUNCTION FOR A DAY OR TWO WHEN THE AMOUNT OF FLEX IN THE NEARLY BROKEN LEVER DIDN'T MAKE THE CANCEL SWITCH ENGAGE. IT BROKE COMPLETELY WHILE ENGAGING IT. I FOUND OUT THAT OTHERS ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE BY DOING A SIMPLE SEARCH ON THE WEB.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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