Toyota Prius Complaints (2005)

1,051 consumer complaints on file.

#10143783November 28, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
I WAS DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AT 70 MPH AND VEHICLE STALLED. I COASTED OVER TO ROAD SHOULDER, TURNED OFF VEHICLE POWER AND RESTARTED VEHICLE WITHOUT ISSUE. CALLED TOYOTA DEALER AND WAS TOLD MY VIN WAS NOT PART OF THE SOFTWARE RECALL FOR SOFTWARE PROBLEM FOR STALLING ENGINES. THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED A SERIOUS PROBLEM IF I WAS NOT IN THE RIGHT LANE AND ABLE TO MOVE TO SHOULDER, CLEARING TRAFFIC IMMEDIATELY. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10142634November 14, 2005
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:FOG LIGHTS
THE FOG LIGHTS ON MY 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS ARE CRACKED. THEY DO NOT APPEAR TO BE FROM ANY IMPACT. UPON INVESTIGATING FURTHER, IT SEEMS THAT A GREAT DEAL OF PRIUS OWNERS ARE EXPERIENCING THIS PROBLEM WHEN THERE ARE SEVERE COLD TEMPERATURES. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10142413November 10, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
DT: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE STOPPING THE BRAKES RELEASED. THE PARKING BRAKE WAS USED TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP, BUT THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THERE HAVE BEEN NO REPAIRS MADE AT THIS TIME.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10141700November 3, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
AFTER TOYOTA'S RECALLING 75,000 PRIUS IN U.S., I TOOK MY 2005 PRIUS INTO TORRANCE TOYOTA(310-325-75000) TO HAVE THE SOFTWARE"GLITCH"REPAIRED. MICHAEL GALLAGHER(SERVICE ADVISOR) TOLD ME THERE IS ADDITIONAL GLITCHES AND NOW MY CAR IS INOPERABLE AND HE HAS BEEN ASK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10141535November 2, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TOYOTA PRIUS; DRIVING ON INTERSTATE 287 IN NEW JERSEY WHEN THE ENGINE CUT OUT AND WOULD NOT RESTART. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10140577October 24, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
APPEARS TO BE A TEMPORARY ENGINE STALL AT 68 MILES PER HOUR IN CARPOOL LANE, WARNING LIGHT CAME ON BUT DISAPPEARED RIGHT AWAY AND THE CAR WAS FINE AGAIN. BUT LOTS OF CAR VIBRATIONS AND JOLTING FELT AT THE TIME. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10140213October 19, 2005
POWER TRAIN, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
PURCHASED 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS - VIN # JTD KB2 OU1 530 793 29 ON JULY 20, 2005 -REGISTERED IT TO MY WIFE KRISTA GOTTLIEB. ON JULY 22, 2005 WHEN THIS CAR HAD ABOUT 80 MILES ON IT, I WAS DRIVING IT ON THE HIGHWAY IN TRAFFIC AT ABOUT 50 MPH - WHEN SUDDENLY I LOST COMPLETE POWER. BY THAT, I MEAN THAT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS COMPLETELY UNRESPONSIVE. I AM NOT AWARE OF WHAT THE INSTRUMENTS INDICATED AS I WAS PREOCCUPIED WITH THE TRAFFIC (FOR MORE DETAILS - I SENT A VERY DETAILED E-MAIL ABOUT THE FAILURE TO OUR DEALER CULLIGAN TOYOTA, AMHERST, NY ON JULY 24, 2005 - I HAVE ALSO SENT ADDITIONAL FOLLOW-UP E-MAILS TO CULLIGAN SINCE THAT DATE. ). AS A RESULT OF THE JULY 24 MESSAGE, I ARRANGED TO LEAVE THE CAR WITH CULLIGAN TOYOTA SERVICE ADVISOR STEPHEN DESOTELL ON WEDNESDAY, JULY 27, 2005 TO BE CHECKED OUT. AT ABOUT 3:00 P.M. ON JULY 27 STEPHEN CALLED ME TO TELL ME THAT THEY HAD CHECKED OUT THE CAR AND COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG WITH IT IN ANY WAY '' MECHANICAL OR COMPUTER OR ANYTHING. HE SAID THAT IT HAD THE LATEST SOFTWARE AND THAT THERE WERE NO OUTSTANDING SERVICE BULLETINS OF RECALLS FOR THE CAR AND THAT IN HIS DISCUSSION WITH TOYOTA, IT WAS SUGGESTED TO HIM THAT I MUST HAVE INADVERTENTLY HIT THE ''POWER'' BUTTON ON THE DASHBOARD - OR WORDS TO THAT EFFECT. SUBSEQUENTLY I TESTED THE CAR AND FOUND THAT I COULD NOT TURN OFF OUR PRIUS BY DELIBERATELY PUSHING OR HOLDING THE POWER BUTTON IN. BY CALL TO THE ABOVE SERVICE ADVISOR SINCE THEN, HE LATER CONFIRMED THAT THIS WAS CORRECT - THAT IT WAS NOT POSSIBLE TO ACCIDENTALLY OR DELIBERATELY SHUT ANY PRIUS DOWN BY HITTING THE POWER BUTTON WHILE THE CAR WAS IN MOTION UNDER POWER. WE HAVE HAD NO REPEAT OF THIS EVENT. HOWEVER, THE FAILURE HAPPENED TO US IN HEAVY TRAFFIC WHEN I WAS IN THE PASSING LANE WITH TRAFFIC ON MY RIGHT AND ONCOMING TRAFFIC ON MY LEFT AND A HIGH-SPEED CAR APPROACHING ME FROM THE REAR - AND I HAD NOWHERE TO STEER TO! IT WAS VERY FRIGHTENING AND WE COULD HAVE BEEN HIT FROM BEHIND. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10139822October 16, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
TRAVELING ON NJ TURNPIKE IN HEAVY TRAFFIC WHEN NEW 2005 PRIUS LOST POWER AND WOULD NOT RESPOND TO ATTEMPTS AT ACCELERATION TO KEEP UP WITH TRAFFIC. WAS ABLE TO MOVE OVER 2 LANES OF TRAFFIC AND STOP ON SIDE OF HIGHWAY. TURNED OFF CAR AND RESTARTED AFTER LESS THAN A MINUTE. NO FURTHER INCIDENTS SINCE. TOOK CAR TO TOYOTA DEALERSHIP. THEY COULD FIND NO REASON FOR THE FAILURE AFTER MONITORING THE COMPUTER. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10137217September 21, 2005
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
I HAVE AN EARLY 2005 PRIUS WHICH HAS "STALLED" I.E. LOST AL ENGINE POWER ON TWO OCCASIONS. I BELIEVE THE "STALLING" IS INTENTIONALLY DESIGNED INTO THE SOFTWARE TO PROTECT THE TRANSMISSION. I THINK A DESIGN DECISION INTENDED TO PROTECT THE CAR IS PUTTING MY LIFE AT RISK. MY EARLY 2005 PRIUS HAS "STALLED" TWICE: ONCE ON THE FREEWAY AT 80 MPH WHEN I HAD TO JAM ON THE BRAKES (SOMEONE CUT ME OFF) AND AGAIN ON SURFACE STREETS AT 30 MPH WHEN I FLOORED IT TO ACCELERATE SUDDENLY. IN EACH CASE THE TRANSMISSION'S INTERNAL COMPONENTS WOULD BE UNDER TREMENDOUS STRAIN UNLESS IT DISENGAGED. IN EACH CASE ALL LIGHTS, HEADLIGHTS, INDICATORS STAYED ON, THE "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT CAME ON, THE CAR CONTINUED COASTING (AS IF PUT IN NEUTRAL), AND THE CAR WAS UNRESPONSIVE TO THE THROTTLE AND THE GEAR SHIFT. (IN NEITHER CASE DID I HIT THE GEAR SHIFT NOR POWER BUTTON BEFORE THE "STALL"). IN BOTH CASES I COASTED TO A SAFE SPOT (TRY CROSSING FIVE LANES OF 70+ MPH FREEWAY TRAFFIC AT NIGHT WHILE COASTING). ONLY AFTER PARKING, TURNING OFF POWER, AND RESTARTING POWER WOULD THE CAR OPERATE...AT WHICH POINT IT OPERATED FINE. DEALER COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG...IN FACT THE SECOND INCIDENT WAS TWO DAYS AFTER MY 30,000 MILE SERVICE! THEY APPARENTLY TOOK NO ACTION REGARDING THE CONCERN I EXPRESSED TO THE SERVICE REP WITH RESPECT TO STALLING...HE ASSURED ME THEY WOULD CHECK FOR ALL AVAILABLE SOFTWARE UPDATES, BUT CORPORATE TOLD ME TODAY THERE IS AT LEAST ONE UPDATE (RELATING TO THE NAVIGATION SYSTEM) WHICH WAS NOT DOWNLOADED, SO APPARENTLY THE DEALER IS NOT RESPONDING TO THIS LIFE-THREATENING CONCERN. I CALLED CORPORATE TODAY TO START A "CASE" AND WAS TOLD THEY ARE UNAWARE THAT THIS IS A RECURRENT ISSUE. THIS DESPITE DISCUSSIONS IN THE PRESS AND ON HYBRIDCARS.COM. I AM CONTACTING YOU IN CASE I AM KILLED OR INJURED BEFORE TOYOTA FIGURES OUT THAT THIS IS A SERIOUS AND RECURRENT ISSUE. THE FIRST INCIDENT WAS AROUND JANUARY OR FEBRUARY 2005, AND THE MOST RECENT WAS MONDAY SEPT 19 2005. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10136578September 15, 2005
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
DT: THE CALLER BELIEVES THE HEADLIGHT LEVELING SENSOR TO CORRECT THE DIRECTION OF THE HEADLIGHTS IS FAULTY. THE HEADLIGHTS WILL TILT DOWN WITHOUT WARNING. SHE SAID WHEN DRIVING UP OR DOWN HILLS THE HEADLIGHTS DID NOT SHINE WHERE THEY WERE SUPPOSE TO. CALLER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER THREE TIMES. DEALER SAID THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. MANUFACTURER TOLD DEALER THEY WILL BE REDESIGNING THE SENSOR. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10136269September 12, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
WHILE STOPPED AT A STOP LIGHT, I GOT A RED TRIANGLE WITH ! INSIDE THAT CAME ON. THE VEHICLE ENGINE STOPPED AND THE CAR WAS PUT AUTOMATICALLY IN PARK. I COULD NOT RESTART THE CAR AND HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED. THE ACCESSORIES STILL WORKED, JUST NO ENGINE. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10124806September 9, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
DT: CONSUMER WAS DRIVING ABOUT 45 MINUTES / 65 MPH WHEN VEHICLE LOST POWER/STALLED. ALL WARNING LIGHTS WERE ON. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO RESTART VEHICLE AFTER IT STALLED BY LETTING IT SIT FOR A WHILE. VEHICLE HAD A HISTORY OF ACCELERATING AND STALLING. *AK *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10135847September 8, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
DT: VEHICLE STALLED/DIED AND LOST POWER. THIS HAPPENED ON 08.15/2005. *AK *MR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10136678September 7, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
2005 TOYOTA PRIUS STALLING AT 35-40 MPH.*MR THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESTART AND WAS TOWED TO A REPAIR FACILITY. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THE PROBLEM WAS DUE TO BAD PROGRAMMING AT THE FACTORY. THE COMPUTER WA RESET PER TSB EG047-04. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10135347September 5, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
POSSIBLY RELEVANT TO CURRENT PRIUS SOFTWARE RELIABILITY INVESTIGATION NUMBER : PE05029 I SPOKE TO GILLES LABELLE OF WESTBORO TOYOTA IN WESTBOROUGH MASSACHUSETTS REGARDING THE TOYOTA PRIUS (THIS WAS A PRE-SALES CONVERSATION; I DO NOT AT PRESENT OWN A PRIUS THOUGH UNTIL THIS CONVERSATION I WAS VERY CLOSE BUYING ONE; NOW I FIND MYSELF TAKING A STEP BACK TO ENSURE I'VE DONE MY OWN DUE DILIGENCE). HE MENTIONED THE USE OF A RESET SEQUENCE TO "REBOOT" THE CAR IN THE EVENT OF PROBLEMS AS A WAY TO AVOID THE NEED TO HAVE THE CAR SERVICED; I ASKED HIM HOW OFTEN HE HAD TO REBOOT HIS OWN PRIUS; HE DIDN'T ANSWER DIRECTLY BUT INSTEAD SAID THAT HE HAD HELPED ABOUT 100 CUSTOMERS THROUGH THE REBOOT PROCESS. I AM A OPERATING SYSTEMS SOFTWARE ENGINEER BY PROFESSION AND WAS ALARMED AT THIS "JUST HIT RESET" ATTITUDE TOWARDS SYSTEMS FAILURES; IDEALLY CRASHES IN THE FIELD SHOULD BE RARE ENOUGH THAT EACH ONE CAN BE ROOT-CAUSED, RATHER THAN SHRUGGED OFF. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10135109September 1, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
1 )STALL ON 5/26/05 @1:30 PM AT A SPEED OF 35 MPH + - WITHOUT WARNING. AFTER FEW MINTS I ABLE TO START & GOT THE ENGINE , & RESTARTED & ALSO RE STARTED AC & GOT GOGOING. SAME DAY @ 4:30 PM AC WAS SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING AND SCREEN WAS COMPLETELY BLANK @ SPEED OF 62 MPH + -, PULLED OF TO SHOULDER TURNED OFF ING. 2) SAME THING ON 8/31/05 11:30 AM @ SPEED OF 55 MPH FIRST AC WENT & WITH IN LESS THAN A MILE ENGINE WENT COMPLETELY, DID NOT START IN FIRST FEW MINUTES, AFTER WAITING 10 OR SO MINUTES ENGINE STARTED & AC STARTED. DROVE TO THE DEALER FOR CHECK UP , WAS GIVEN HARD TIME BY SERVICE REP, WILL NOT TAKE IN WITHOUT APPOINTMENT & REFUSED TO PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE OR A LONER CAR. WHEN I TOLD HIM " YOU WANT ME TO GET KILLED OUT IN TRAFFIC" HE REPLIED " NOTHING I CAN DO TO HELP YOU I AM DOING MY JOB WHAT I AM TOLD" I ASKED WANT SEE MANAGER HE REPLIED " HE IS ON VACATION NO ONE IS TAKING HIS PLACE" I WAS VERY UPSET & ANGRY WITH HIS REPLY & ATTITUDE IN THE END HE ADDED " GO GET A LAWYER" I LEFT THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT WITH APPOINTMENT ON 9/2/05 3:PM AND THEN.......................! WENT TO SEE SALES PERSON & SHE WAS VERY HUMBLE & HELP FULL , SHE SET ME UP WITH LONER- RENTAL CAR AT NO CHARGE & I LEFT MY CAR PRIUS 2005 WITH DEALER SHIP FOR FULL CHECK UP. AS OF NOW CAR IS @ DEALERSHIP. BHATIA PS: BLUE TEAM SERVICE REP. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10134227August 25, 2005
VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES:INTERIOR
AUTO-DIMMING REAR VIEW MIRROR DOES NOT DIM ENOUGH. THIS LEFT A LOT OF HEADLIGHT GLARE BEING REFLECTED BACK TO THE DRIVER. IT RESULTED IN INABILITY OF THE DRIVER TO SAFELY SEE ROADWAY. THE DRIVER SLOWED AND STOPPED THE CAR, AND ALLOWED ALL TRAFFIC TO PASS. EVENTUALLY, THROUGH EXPERIMENTATION IT WAS FOUND THAT THE LIGHT SENSOR ON THE FRONT OF THE REAR VIEWING AUTODIM MIRROR APPEARS TO BE DEFECTIVE. IF ONE COVERS THIS LIGHT SENSOR WITH TRANSLUCENT MATERIAL AND/OR ALL TOGETHER COVERS THE LIGHT SENSOR, THEN PROPER AUTODIMMING OCCURS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10134136August 24, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
2004 TOYOTA PRIUS WITH 23915 MILES ON IT. DRIVING TO WORK WEST ON I-90 DURING RUSH HOUR ENGINE STOPPED DEAD. I-90 IS 8 LANES OF TRAFFIC IN SPOKANE, WA. HAD TO HAVE CAR TOWED TO DEALER FOR REPAIRS. PROBLEM WAS A FAILURE IN THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT. ECU HAD TO BE RE-PROGRAMED. CAUSE FOUND BY DEALER: FOUND CODE P3191 & POAOF CODES. FOUND TBS #EG047-04. ACCORDING TO THE SERVICE ADVISOR, TOYOTA ISSUED A TECHNICAL BULLETIN COVERING THIS PROBLEM BUT STATED THERE WERE TOO FEW FAILURES TO WARANT A RECALL. BEING ON AN INTERSTATE DURING RUSH HOUR WITH TRAFFIC DOING 70+ MPH AND HAVING AN ENGINE FAILURE COULD CREATE A LIFE THREATING SITUATION VERY QUICKLY. THE LAST THING I ASKED THE SERVICE ADVISOR IS IF THIS WILL HAPPEN AGAIN? HIS RESPONSE, "IT SHOULDN'T." THAT'S REASSURING.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10129477August 23, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
DT: THE VEHICLE INTERMITTENTLY STALLED AND DECELERATED WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH DUE TO COMPUTER FAILURE. *AK THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY. THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT HAD COME ON BEFORE AND REMAINED ON AFTER THE VEHICLE FAILED. *SC
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10133623August 20, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
2005 TOYOTA PRIUS, NEW NOV. 2004, CURRENT MILEAGE 11,100 MILES, INCIDENT AUG. 13, 2005, 9:10 PM. DRIVING FOR 30 MINUTES AT A STEADY RATE OF 45 MPH ON RTE. 78, 11/12 TANK OF GAS, NO AIR CONDITIONING OR RADIO ON. AUTO HESTITATED. DASHBOARD SYMBOLS INDICATED PROBLEM: BRAKE FAILURE, CHECK ENGINE, HYBRID SYSTEM FAILURE. ANOTHER SYMBOL WAS ON COMPUTER SCREEN - CAR WITH LINE DRAWN VERTICALLY THROUGH IT. BATTERY USAGE INDICATOR WAS DISAPPEARING. THIS ALL OCCURED WITHIN MINUTE OR LESS. PULLED INTO A NOCO GASOLINE STATION. PUT CAR IN PARK BUT COULDN'T GET THE POWER OFF THAT KEPT THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS, HEADLIGHTS, AIR CONDITIONING, HORN ON. COULDN'T RESTART MY CAR. I COULD ONLY PUT MY CAR INTO NUETRAL OR PARK. AUTO TOWED TO THE CLOSED TOYOTA DEALERSHIP. DASHBOARD LIGHTS REMAINED ON. UNABLE TO START THE CAR OR TO LOCK THE DOOR MANUALLY OR WITH THE KEYLESS SYSTEM. SUNDAY, CHECKED THE CARAND THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS WERE OFF BUT I STILL COULDN'T START THE CAR OR LOCK THE DOORS. MONDAY, EXPLAINED MY PROBLEM TO SERVICE MANAGER. THIS IS WHAT WAS DONE: NEW BATTERY INSTALLED. NO REPROGRAMMING OF THE ECU BECAUSE THE COMPUTER MEMORY WAS GONE DUE TO THIS FAILURE. MANAGER DID NOT SEEM TO UNDERSTAND WHAT I MEANT ABOUT REPROGRAMMING THE COMPUTER ALTHOUGH SAID RECEIVED ALL SERVICE BULLETINS FROM TOYOTA. ASKED FOR A COPY OF THE WORK ORDER FOR MY RECORDS BUT HE SAID HE HAD TO STILL FIGURE OUT HOURS AND SO WOULD SEND ME A COPY AT A LATER DATE. . HE EXPLAINED THE REPLACED BATTERY COMMUNICATED WITH THE HYBRID SYSTEM AND WAS SURE THIS WAS THE CAUSE OF THE POWER FAILURE. I HAD HOPED THE ECU WOULD HAVE BEEN REPROGRAMED. IT WASN'T. SPECIAL SERVICE CAMPAIGNS 40A OR 40 D ARE UNKNOWN TO ME. MY VEHICLE HAS SHOWN NO PROBLEMS DURING THE LAST FIVE DAYS. CAN I GET MY COMPUTER REPROGRAMMED? IS IT NECESSARY? RECALL GOING TO BE ISSUED? I'M NOT SAFE!
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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