Toyota Prius Complaints (2005)

1,051 consumer complaints on file.

#10207429October 30, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE BEING SERVICED AT THE DEALER, THEY NOTICED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS WERE DISTORTED. THE PLATING ON THE INTERNAL PART OF THE HEADLIGHTS WERE OVERHEATING. THERE IS NO WAY TO RELEASE THIS HEAT AND THE CONTACT IS CONCERNED THAT A POSSIBLE FIRE MAY OCCUR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT THEY DID NOT WANT TO BE RESPONSIBLE BECAUSE IT WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 41,000. UPDATED 01-14-08. *KB UPDATED 12/12/07. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10204300September 27, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AUTOMATIC HEADLIGHT LEVELING SYSTEM WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATES INTERMITTENTLY AND REMAINS ON AT RANDOM INTERVALS. THE FAILURE WAS NOTICED WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, BUT OCCURS EACH TIME THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN. HE SPOKE WITH TOYOTA AND THEY STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND THE CONTACT WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIR. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 50,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 43,000. UPDATED 10/31/07. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10203270September 17, 2007
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL:AUTOMATIC (ASC)
THE TRACTION CONTROL ON MY 2005 PRIUS IS DANGEROUS. THIS IS A WELL-DOCUMENTED PROBLEM (WWW.PRIUSCHAT.COM) . TOYOTA WILL NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM IS THAT WHEN THE CAR HITS EVEN A SMALL PATCH OF WATER AND THE TIRES SLIP, THE ENGINE SHUTS DOWN FOR WAY TOO LONG. SO, WHEN ACCELERATING RAPIDLY FROM A STOP, FOR EXAMPLE, IF THE TIRES HAPPEN TO SPIN, THE CAR JUST COASTS FOR WAY TOO LONG. THIS IS ESPECIALLY DANGEROUS WHEN ACCELERATING RAPIDLY ONTO A FREEWAY FROM A STOP, WHICH I HAVE TO DO FREQUENTLY. MY ENTRANCE ONTO THE 101 IN HOLLYWOOD REQUIRES THIS TYPE OF ACCELERATION, AND I DREAD IT EVERY TIME I DO IT. I OWN A 2005 PRIUS. DO A SEARCH ON WWW.PRIUSCHAT.COM USING THE TERM "TRACTION CONTROL" TO SEE MANY OTHER SIMILAR COMPLAINTS. THIS IS THE FIRST COMPLAINT I HAVE EVER FILED, AND I REALLY HOPE SOMETHING CAN BE DONE ABOUT IT. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10202939September 13, 2007
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
2005 TOYOTA PRIUS HID LAMP BURN OUT. REPLACE OF LAMP IS APPROX. $400.00 EACH.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10202499September 11, 2007
STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:SUPPORT DEVICE/STRUT
1) DAILY USE OF THE LIFTGATE. 2) INTERMITTANT FAILURE OF SHOCK SYSTEM. THE LIFTGATE CAME DOWN ON MY HEAD AFTER I HAD OPENED THE LIFTGATE AND REACHED INSIDE TO OBTAIN GROCERIES. 3)MY CAR WAS STILL UNDER THE 36,000 MILE WARRANTY. THE DEALER SAID THEY WOULD NOT REPLACE THE SHOCKS UNLESS THERE WAS COMPLETE FAILURE. I CONTACTED TOYOTA CORPORATE ONLY TO BE REDIRECTED TO THE DEALER. WHERE AFTER THEY DISCUSSED THE ISSUE THEY FINALLY DECIDED TO REPLACE THE SHOCKS WITHOUT ADMITTING THAT THE PART FAILED. THE SHOCKS WILL BE REPLACED 9/13/2007. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10194952June 29, 2007
STEERING:LINKAGES
2005 PRIUS TOTALED. WHEEL SUDDENLY JERKED TO RIGHT AND PULLED VEHICLE OFF ROAD. NO APPARENT REASON FOR THIS, AS NOTHING HIT, POLICE REPORT TAKEN BY HIGHWAY PATROL, WITNESSES FROM BOTH DIRECTION TO PHYSICAL ACCIDENT. NO ONE HURT. VEHICLE CONSIDERED TOTAL. INSURANCE SPECIAL INVESTIGATOR TO CHECK IT OUT. CASE ALSO FILED WITH TOYOTA, WHO IS SENDING PERSON TO CHECK OUT VEHICLE. ALSO, COMPLAINT ON THIS WEDSITE, AS COULDN'T FIGURE OUT HOW TO GET IN AND GET BULLETIN ON RECALL RELATED TO FAULTY STEERING FOR PRIUS.*AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10191331May 21, 2007
VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES:INTERIOR
ACCIDENT IN RALEIGH N.C. ON US-1. HEADING NORTH ON US-1 AND MAKING LEFT ACROSS 3-LANES OF SOUTH BOUND TRAFFIC BROADSIDED ANOTHER VEHICLE , CAUSING IT TO TURN OVER. I WAS DRIVING A 2005 PRIUS. AFTER MUCH INTENSE THOUGHT AS TO WHY I DID NOT SEE THE OTHER VEHICLE AFTER I OBSERVED ALL LANES TO BE CLEAR I REALIZED THAT THE VEHICLE THAT WAS TRAVELING IN THE 3RD LANE FURTHER SET FROM ME MUST HAVE BEEN HIDDEN BEHIND THE REAR VIEW MIRROR OF THE PRIUS. THE WINDSHIELD WAS VERY SLOPED ,AND THE REAR VIEW MIRROR SET LOW, ESPECIALLY FOR A TALL PERSON SUCH AS MYSELF. LOOKING TOWARD THE RIGHT PUT THE MIRROR AT AN EVEN LOWER LEVEL THAT TENDED S TO HIDE A PORTION OF THE LANE. THIS COULD BE A REAL TRAGIC PROBLEM IF NOT KNOWN TO THE DRIVER THAT THIS WAS A POSSIBILITY IN A SIMILAR SITUATION. *AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10186688April 2, 2007
STEERING
WE OWN 2 TOYOTA PRIUSES. ONE IS A 2003 (THE OLDER STYLE) AND A 2005. IN 2004, I WAS DRIVING THE 2003 ON THE FREEWAY. A PANEL TRUCK WAS TO MY RIGHT. IT STARTED TO COME INTO MY LANE SO I SWERVED TO AVOID GETTING HIT. THE CAR STARTED TO SKID AND SLIDE. THE CAR FIRST FISHTAILED, THEN WENT TO THE HARD RIGHT (I THINK) , THE LEFT AND THEN I LOST TOTAL CONTROL OF THE CAR. THE CAR DID A 180 IN THE MIDDLE OF THE FREEWAY. WHEN IT CAME TO A STOP, I WAS ABLE TO TURN THE CAR AROUND AND CONTINUE DOWN THE FREEWAY. LUCKILY THE ENGINE DID NOT SHUT OFF SO I WAS ABLE TO GET OUT OF THIS PRECARIOUS POSITION. I ALSO LUCKED OUT B/C THE FREEWAY WAS NOT BUSY AND THE OTHER CARS WERE ABLE TO AVOID ME. YESTERDAY, OUR ENTIRE FAMILY WAS IN THE 2005 PRIUS. WE WERE ON TWO LANE HIGHWAY IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA. WE WERE IN THE FAST LANE. A POLICE CAR CAME UP BEHIND US WITH LIGHTS FLASHING. BY THE TIME MY HUSBAND SAW HIM FAST APPROACHING, THERE WAS NO WHERE TO GO. THERE WAS A CAR TO OUR RIGHT. MY HUSBAND TRIED TO GO ONTO THE SHOULDER (PROBABLY HIT SOME GRAVEL) AND THE CAR WENT OUT OF CONTROL. IT WAS VERY SIMILAR TO MY EXPERIENCE. THE CAR STARTED SHAKING AND FISHTAILING , THEN I THINK WE WENT TO THE RIGHT, THEN LEFT AND THEN SLAMMED INTO THE GUARDRAIL. BOTH AIRBAGS DEPLOYED AND INJURIES WERE EXTREMELY MINOR (BUMPS AND BRUISES). I AM CONCERNED B/C BOTH CARS QUICKLY WENT OUT OF CONTROL WHEN SUDDEN MOVES WERE EXECUTED. I HAVE NEVER HAD A CAR DO THIS BEFORE. I HOPE IT IS JUST A COINCIDENCE BECAUSE WE LOVE THESE CARS. *JB
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10186185March 26, 2007
VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR
WE WERE DRIVING DOWN A QUIET RURAL ROAD THE TEMPERATURE WAS 50 DEGREES, TIME 11:40PM, WEATHER WAS CLEAR AND DRY. THERE WERE NO TREE OVERHANGS. THE RIGHT FRONT PASSENGER WINDOW SUDDENLY SHATTERED IN ITS ENTIRETY. MY PASSENGER RIGHT FRONT WAS NOT INJURED. NO FOREIGN OBJECT WAS FOUND WITHIN THE VEHICLE, AND NONE WAS FOUND A DAY AND A HALF LATER ON THE ROAD. MARKS ON THE DOOR EXTERIOR SHOWED SOME MOVING OBJECTS, BUT THEY INDICATE MULTIPLE OBJECTS FALLING DOWNWARDS, AND MAY BE MARKS FROM THE GLASS FALLING.*AK WHILE THIS INCIDENT COULD HAVE RESULTED FROM A COLLISION WITH SOME OBJECT, THAT CERTAINLY WASN'T OUR IMPRESSION AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT. I WONDER WHETHER THIS INCIDENT WAS CAUSED BY AN ANNELAING DEFECT WITHIN THE GLASS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10184918March 12, 2007
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
2005 TOYOTA PRIUS, 10 MONTHS OLD, 14,000 MILES. MY WIFE EXPERIENCED AN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION WHILE COASTING DOWN INTERSTATE AT 65 MPH WITH FEET OFF PEDALS. VEHICLE SURGED TO 90 MPH EVEN THOUGH SHE APPLIED BOTH REGULAR AND EMERGENCY BRAKE DURING ACCELERATION. SHE CHECKED BOTH FEET ON BRAKES NOT OBSTRUCTED. SHE EXITED INTERSTATE AND CAREENED THROUGH SMALL TOWN EVENTUALLY DITCHING VEHICLE THROUGH FOREST, ENDING UP IN A RIVER AFTER SOMERSAULTING END OVER END 3 TIMES, CLIPPING OFF TREES 10 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND. STATE PATROL INVESTIGATION CONCLUDES ACCELERATOR CAUSED ACCIDENT. NUMEROUS CONTACTS WITH TOYOTA BEGINNING DAY OF ACCIDENT. NO ACTION BY TOYOTA AS OF MARCH 2007. *JB **12/10/09 CW ** UPDATED 12/14/09
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10184075March 2, 2007
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DRUM:SHOES/LININGS
MARCH 2, 2007 5:01 PM ON SEPTEMBER 7, 2006 IT RAINED AND MY CAR HAD BEEN IN THE PARKING LOT ALL MORNING DURING THE RAIN. I DROVE IT FROM WORK TO A BUS STOP WITH CLIENTS IN THE BACK SEAT. WHEN I DEPRESSED THE BRAKES, THE CAR SLOWED AND AT APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH, THE BRAKES GRABBED AND ALL OCCUPANTS WERE JOLTED FORWARD. I HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED THIS BEFORE. THIS HAS HAPPENED REPEATEDLY WHEN THE BRAKES ARE WET FROM RAIN. AFTER DISCUSSING WITH TOYOTA I EXPLAINED THE PROBLEM TO THE TOYOTA TEAM LEADER AT MY DEALER. BEFORE TEST DRIVING THE CAR, HE SAID HE WOULD TAKE IT INSIDE AND PULL THE TIRES AND INSPECT THE BRAKES. I WAS THEN ADVISED BY SERVICE MANAGER THAT THE REAR BRAKES (DRUM) WERE FILLED WITH BRAKE DUST. I FIND IT INCONSISTENT THAT THE LARGE ACCUMULATION OF BRAKE DUST DID NOT EXIST ABOUT 8,000 MILES AGO WHEN THE GRABBING CONDITION FIRST PRESENTED AFTER I HAD DRIVEN WITHOUT THE PROBLEM FOR ABOUT 21,000 MILES. (CAR NOW HAS ABOUT 30,000 MILES.) I FIND IT VERY STRANGE THAT THE "LARGE ACCUMULATION OF BRAKE DUST" WAS NOT FOUND WHEN THE BRAKES WERE INSPECTED BY MORRISTOWN TOYOTA ON 2/16/07 WHEN THE WARRANTY WORK WAS DONE AND THE BRAKE ISSUE WAS PRESENTED. AFTER LEAVING MORRISTOWN TOYOTA I PHONED MY MECHANIC. HE SAID THAT THERE WAS NO BUILDUP OF DUST AT ANY TIME THE BRAKES WERE PULLED. I WATCHED HIM PERFORM BOTH SERVICES IN SEPTEMBER AND 500 MILES AGO (I HAVE THE NEXT CHANGE STICKER IN MY CAR SET FOR 5,000 MILES AND ONLY 500 MILES HAVE ELAPSED SINCE THE LAST CHANGE). I CHANGE THE OIL EVERY TIME THE COMPUTER INDICATES THAT THE CAR IS DUE FOR SERVICE AND, SINCE SEPTEMBER, IT WAS DURING THOSE OIL CHANGES THAT THE MECHANIC WOULD PULL THE WHEELS, CHECK THE BRAKES, CLEAN THE BRAKES (IN SEPTEMBER) AND ROTATE THE TIRES. I BELIEVE THE BRAKES ARE DEFECTIVE AND DANGEROUS. IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE REAR DRUMS SUDDENLY BEING FILLED WITH BRAKE DUST (WHICH, BASED ON THE FACT THAT THE BRAKES WERE CHECKED ON FEBRUARY 16TH BY MORRISTOWN TOYOTA, WAS GENERATED IN 2 WEEKS). *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10182553February 14, 2007
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
EVERY TIME OUR 2005 PRIUS IS OPERATED IN RAIN SNOW SLUSH THE REAR BRAKES ARE SO GRABBY THAT IT MAKES THE CAR UNSTABLE. ON DRY DAYS BRAKES ARE FINE WHEN YOU START OUT ON WET DAYS THE ANTILOCK BRAKES ACT NORMAL AS TIME GOES ON THEY GET MORE AND MORE GRABBY TO WHERE IT IS UNSAFE. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10182509February 13, 2007
STEERING
I OWN A 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS. I RECEIVED A NOTICE OF A POSSIBLE STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT DEFECT LAST SPRING, ABOUT THE TIME I BROKE MY RIGHT FOOT. I WAS UNABLE TO DRIVE FOR 8 WEEKS. WHEN I THEN CALLED MY DEALER TO HAVE THE REPAIR DONE, I WAS TOLD THAT THE NECESSARY PARTS WERE BACK-ORDERED. I KEPT CHECKING. THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE UNTIL JANUARY 2007, MUCH LONGER THAN IS ACCEPTABLE FOR A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10181489February 3, 2007
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
IN 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS, EVEN SLIGHT WHEEL SLIPPAGE ENGAGES THE VEHICLE CONTROL SYSTEM AND CUTS POWER TO THE WHEELS. WHEN IT IS SOMETIMES NECESSARY TO ACCELERATE QUICKLY INTO TRAFFIC, ACCELERATION CUTS OFF COMPLETELY AND LEAVES ONE IN A DANGEROUS SITUATION. EVEN IF I BACK OFF THE ACCELERATOR IT TAKES SEVERAL MOMENTS FOR THE VSC TO CUT OUT BEFORE ACCELERATION CAN RESUME. THE VSC CANNOT BE TURNED OFF AS IT CAN IN MOST OTHER CARS. IT IS MOST LIKELY TO OCCUR WHEN ENTERING A HIGHLY TRAVELED HIGHWAY FROM A SIDE STREET AND I HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO ACCELERATE QUICKLY. TOYOTA PROVIDES NO WARNING RE: THIS DANGEROUS FEATURE. I BELIEVE IT CAUSES ACCIDENTS.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10179158January 19, 2007
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS AIMED HIGH AND TOYOTA SAYS THEY CAN NOT BE ADJUSTED LOWER. ON COMING CARS FLASH HIGH BEAM WHEN TOYOTA HEADLIGHTS ARE ON LOW BEAM SETTING. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10177684January 3, 2007
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
TL* - THE CONTACT HAS A 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS, WITH AN ODOMETER READING OF 18000 MILES COMPLAINED ABOUT A A MASSIVE BRAKE FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ON 12-4-06, UNDER DRY CONDITIONS, WHILE DRIVING AT 25 MPH, SHE TRIED TO APPLY THE BRAKES WHICH FAILED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO USE THE EMERGENCE BRAKE TO STOP THE VEHICLE WITHOUT A CRASH. THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER., SHE HAD TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES BECAUSE THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHT KEPT TURNING ON WHILE SHE WAS DRIVING. THE DEALER TOLD HER THAT SHE DID NOT HAVE A PROBLEM WITH HER BRAKING SYSTEM. THE DEALER HAD THE REGIONAL TOYOTA REPRESENTATIVE CHECK THE VEHICLE, WHO WAS UNABLE TO FIND A PROBLEM AS WELL. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT WHEN THE BRAKE LIGHT TURNED ON THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS INOPERABLE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10176761December 21, 2006
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
WE KEPT HEARING A SOUND WHICH APPEARED TO BE COMING FROM THE DRIVERS SIDE AND SOUNDED LIKE A LIGHT HORN OR ALARM SOUND. IT SEEMED TO BE CONNECTED WITH BRAKING AND YET AT OTHER TIMES MY FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE AND THE SOUND WOULD OCCUR OVER AND OVER. WE TOOK THE CAR TO THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP WHO DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS A BRAKE ACTUATOR AND HAS INFORMED US THAT IT WILL COST APPROXIMATELY $2500 TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM. THIS SEEMS EXCESSIVE. IT WOULD BE NICE TO KNOW IF ANYONE ELSE HAS EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM. THIS IS A 2005 PRIUS. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10176526December 19, 2006
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
ON DECEMBER 14TH, 2006, I WAS DRIVING MY 2005 TOYTOTA PRIUS FROM BERKELEY, CA TO MONTEREY, CA. AT 18 MILES OUTSIDE OF MONTEREY. CA, AND WHILE STILL ON THE FREEWAY TRAVELING AT 65 MPH, A CONTINUOUS LOUD AND HIGH FREQUENCY BUZZER WENT ON AND THE PANEL WARNING LIGHTS WENT ON INCLUDING THE RED BRAKE LIGHT ON THE PANEL. I PULLED OFF A FREEWAY EXIT NEAR CASTROVILLE, CA AND STEPPED ON MY BRAKES TO SLOW INTO THE EXIT, THE BRAKES DID NOT WORK UNTIL I STOMPED ON THEM WITH MUCH PRESSURE. I TURNED OFF THE ENGINE, WAITED A FEW MINUTES AND TURNED THE ENGINE BACK ON. I DROVE BACK ONTO THE FREEWAY TO MONTEREY, CA AT APPROXIMATELY 35-40 MPH, WHEN I DROVE INTO TOWN ONCE AGAIN THE BUZZER AND RED BRAKE LIGHTS WENT ON.I PULLED OVER TO THE CURB AND HAD TO STOMP ON THE BRAKE AGAIN. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO A TOYOTA DEALERSHIP IN SEASIDE CA. THE VEHICLE WAS TESTED AND I WAS SHOWN A TEST FORM INDICATING THAT THERE WAS A COMPUTER MALFUNCTION LISTED AS CM1300. THE CONCLUSION OF THE MECHANIC WAS THAT IT WAS POSSIBLE THAT A REPLACEMENT PART MAY BE NEEDED WHICH WOULD TAKE A FEW DAYS AND THAT THERE WAS SOME REFERENCE TO MY USE OF SKID CONTROL AT THE TIME OF THE MALFUNCTIONS THAT I EXPERIENCED. I WAS TOLD THAT I COULD DRIVE THE CAR HOME AND THAT I SHOULD STOP EVERY 15 MILES TO STOP AND REBOOT THE CAR AGAIN TO PREVENT THE MALFUNCTION FROM OCCURRING AGAIN. I WAS TOLD THAT IF THE MALFUNCTION OCCURRED AGAIN THAT I SHOULD STOMP ON THE BRAKE REALLY HARD AND THE SKID CONTROL WOULD SOMEHOW BE ACTIVATED. I MADE IT HOME SAFELY AND DROVE AS ADVISED TO. I TOOK THE CAR THE NEXT MORNING TO BERKELEY, TOYOTA AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE TEST DRIVE AND THEIR TESTING SHOWED NO MALFUNCTION AND THAT I SHOULD TAKE THE CAR HOME, BUT THE MALFUNCTION MIGHT OCCUR AGAIN. I FIND THIS AN UNSATISFACTORY RESPONSE. I AM EXTREMELY FEARFUL OF DRIVING THE CAR WITHOUT AN EXPLANATION TO WHY THE CAR MALFUNCTIONED IN A VERY DANGEROUS WAY WHERE IT WAS DIFFICULT TO USE MY BRAKES!! *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10174509November 28, 2006
EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL:ACCESSORY SCISSOR/SCREW/BOTTLE JACK/LIFT
MY FRONT PASSENGER-SIDE TIRE SIDEWALL BLEW OUT ON NOVEMBER 24, 2006 WHEN A NAIL PENETRATED THE TREAD AREA. AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT, I CHANGED TO THE PONY SPARE. THIS WAS ACCOMPLISHED WITH GREAT DIFFICULTY DUE TO A WOEFULLY INADEQUATE JACK SUPPLIED BY TOYOTA WITH MY 2005 PRIUS. THE JACK BENT WHILE TRYING TO LIFT THE AUTOMOBILE. LIFTING THE CAR WAS ATTEMPTED THREE TIMES BY SLIGHTLY REPOSITIONING THE BASE OF THE JACK. IT WAS FINALLY NECESSARY TO BRACE THE JACK WITH PIECES OF WOOD IN ORDER TO LIFT THE AUTOMOBILE HIGH ENOUGH TO REMOVE THE DAMAGED TIRE. THE PONY SPARE HAD TO BE DEFLATED TO GET IT INTO PLACE IN ORDER TO APPLY THE LUG NUTS DUE TO THE INABILITY OF THE JACK TO LIFT THE CAR FOR ADEQUATE CLEARANCE. LUCKILY I HAD AN ELECTRIC AIR PUMP ON BOARD TO RE-INFLATE THE PONY SPARE. THE ENTIRE OPERATION TOOK 1 HOUR 45 MINUTES. SEVERAL POINTS SHOULD BE MADE. I AM NOT AN IDIOT. I HAVE CHANGED FLATS PREVIOUSLY. THE JACK WAS NEW AS SUPPLIED WITH THE PRIUS PURCHASED IN LATE 2004; IT HAD NEVER BEEN USED. THE TIRE CHANGE OCCURRED ON AN ALMOST COMPLETELY FLAT SURFACE. THE BASE OF THE JACK WAS RESTING ON CEMENT. THE WEATHER WAS GOOD; NO ICE, SNOW, WIND OR RAIN. MY LIGHTING WAS GOOD. I LIFTED THE PRIUS WHERE INDICATED. I HAD BLOCKED THE REAR TIRES WITH BRICKS PRIOR TO ATTEMPTING TO LIFT THE CAR. THE CAR WAS NOT LOADED WITH ADDITIONAL WEIGHT. I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED ABOUT THE QUALITY OF THE JACK THAT WAS SUPPLIED WITH THE PRIUS. AS A CONSUMER, ONE WOULD NOT THINK OF INSPECTING SUCH BASIC SAFETY EQUIPMENT PRIOR TO DECIDING ON AN AUTOMOBILE. THE AUTOMOBILE COULD HAVE EASILY SLIPPED FROM THE JACK DURING THE TIRE CHANGING OPERATION. SEVERE INJURY COULD OCCUR TO THE INDIVIDUAL(S) OR THE VEHICLE ITSELF. MY FATHER RECENTLY BOUGHT A PRIUS AT MY SUGGESTION PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT. I NOW FEAR FOR HIS SAFETY KNOWING HOW INADEQUATE THE JACK IS THAT IS SUPPLIED WITH THIS VEHICLE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10173984November 21, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH UNDER NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THERE WERE NO WARNINGS PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE SERVICE DEALER, WHO WAS NOT ABLE TO IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM. UPDATED 12/18/2006 -*NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

← Back to Toyota Prius