Toyota Prius Complaints (2007)

2,004 consumer complaints on file.

#10350326August 18, 2010
AIR BAGS, STEERING, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN ABNORMALLY SLIDING TOWARD THE LEFT. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO STEER THE VEHICLE TOWARD THE RIGHT BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT CHANGE DIRECTION. THE CONTACT THEN ATTEMPTED TO BRAKE BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE WHICH RESULTED IN A SINGLE VEHICLE ROLLOVER CRASH. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE POLICE APPEARED ON THE SCENE AND SPECULATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE BLEW PRIOR TO THE CRASH. A POLICE REPORT WAS AVAILABLE. AN AMBULANCE ALSO APPEARED ON THE SCENE AS THE CONTACT SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED TO AN INSURANCE COMPANY LOT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT EXAMINED FOR THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 43,000.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10350410August 18, 2010
EXTERIOR LIGHTING, EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL
THE LEFT HID HEADLIGHT ON MY TOYOTA 2007 PRIUS WENT OUT AT 63,000 MILES. TOOK TO THE DEALER FOR SERVICE. I WAS TOLD THAT NOT ONLY WOULD THE BULB HAVE TO BE CHANGED BUT THE CHIP IN BACK OF THE BULB WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED ALSO. PRICE TO REPLACE THE BULB/CHIP WAS $490.00. NEITHER WERE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. ALSO ADVISED BY THE DEALER THAT THEY USUALLY SEE THIS HAPPENING IN PAIRS AND COULD EXPECT TO SEE MY RIGHT LIGHT GO OUT AS WELL. THAT WOULD BE AN ADDITIONAL $490 TO REPLACE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10349792August 16, 2010
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
TOYOTA PRIUS 2007 WITH HID LIGHTS. ONE OR THE OTHER HEADLIGHT RANDOMLY TURNS OFF, BUT TO THE DRIVER THEY ARE UNAWARE UNLESS BOTH TURN OFF AT THE SAME TIME. TOYOTA DEALER REPLACED BULB TWICE BUT PROBLEM PERSISTED. FINALLY THE SERVICE MANAGER WHO IS ALSO A FRIEND OF MINE, TOLD ME THE PROBLEM IS IN ONE OF THE CIRCUIT BOARDS AND HE REPLACED IT. THAT WAS 5 MONTHS AGO AND IT HAS BEEN FINE SINCE THEN. TOYOTA, THIS SHOULD BE WIDELY KNOWN BY ALL YOUR DEALERS AND FIXED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10349280August 13, 2010
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
HID HEADLIGHTS FLICKER OUT INTERMITTENTLY AND RANDOMLY. TURNING THE LIGHTS ON AND OFF AGAIN TURNS THE OFFENDING LIGHT BACK ON - THIS ON/OFF PROCEDURE IS REQUIRED 1 TIME EVERY 5-10 MINUTES. SOMETIMES BOTH BULBS GO OUT AT THE SAME TIME. SOMETIMES ONE OR THE OTHER GOES OUT ONLY ONCE DURING A 20 MINUTE TRIP. SOMETIMES THEY GO OUT 10 TIMES DURING A 20 MINUTE TRIP. CHANGING THE LIGHT BULBS DIDN'T SOLVE THE PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10348719August 11, 2010
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
I AM ABOUT TO REPLACE THE SECOND HEADLIGHT ON MY 2007 PRIUS AT A COST OF APPROXIMATELY $600. THE HEADLIGHT, WHICH COSTS APPROXIMATELY $175, HAS REPEATEDLY FAILED WHICH FAILURE IS APPARENTLY CAUSED BY A DEFECT IN THE DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF THE HEADLIGHT. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD WHICH TOYOTA SHOULD REPLACE IMMEDIATELY. IN ADDITION THE CAR IS DESIGNED SO THAT THE FRONT BUMPER HAS TO BE REMOVED IN ORDER TO REPLACE THE HEADLIGHT (A LABOR COST OF APPROXIMATELY $400). THE COST ALONE IS SOMEWHAT OF A DETERRENT TO REPLACING THE HEADLIGHT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10348597August 10, 2010
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
THE THIRD HEADLIGHT BULB HAS JUST FAILED ON MY 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS...I'VE HAD IT! UNDER 60,000 MILES! 3 BULBS? RIDICULOUS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10348201August 9, 2010
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TOYOTA PRIUS 2007 -- WHILE STUCK IN HEAVY TRAFFIC, MY CAR LURCHED FORWARD AND STRUCK THE CAR IN FRONT OF IT, WHICH IN TURN HIT THE CAR IN FRONT. MY FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE SINCE TRAFFIC WAS AT A STANDSTILL. APPLYING THE BRAKE HARDER DID NOT STOP THE CAR IN TIME TO PREVENT THE ACCIDENT. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THIS NEVER OCCURRED BEFORE. THE CAR HAS 19,000 MILES. SPOKE WITH TOYOTA DEALERSHIP (SMITHTOWN TOYOTA). THEY DENIED THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM AND SAID WE HAD A SIMPLE ACCIDENT. TOYOTA SAID THAT THIS PROBLEM DOES NOT AND HAS NEVER EXISTED. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10348182August 9, 2010
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WITHOUT WARNING ALL OF THE WARNING LIGHTS COME ON INCLUDING THE BRAKE LIGHT COMES AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE DEALER WAS NOT ABLE TO DETERMINE WHAT CAUSED THE FAILURE TO OCCUR. TOYOTA STATED THAT THEY WILL HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED IN ORDER TO PERFORM AN INSPECTION. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 38000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10347767August 6, 2010
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
TOYOTA PRIUS HID HEADLIGHTS GO OUT INTERMITTENTLY. IF YOU POWER THEM OFF AND THEN ON AGAIN, SOMETIMES THEY'LL WORK. SINCE THEY GO OUT WITHOUT WARNING AND IRREGULARLY, IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO TELL IF THEY ARE ACTUALLY ON OR OFF WHILE DRIVING. TOYOTA TECHNICIANS REFUSE TO REPLACE HEADLIGHT IF IT IS WORKING WHEN THEY TEST, LEADING TO FALSE SENSE OF SECURITY ON THE PART OF THE DRIVER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10347053August 3, 2010
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
THERE IS A HEADLIGHT SAFETY ISSUE WITH THE TOYOTA PRIUS. IT IS HARD TO IDENTIFY WHEN YOU ARE DRIVING THE VEHICLE BECAUSE THE LIGHTS TURN ON, BUT THEY DO NOT STAY ON. SO WHEN YOU START YOUR CAR AND TURN ON THE LIGHTS THEY BOTH START ON. HOWEVER INTERMITTENTLY THERE IS A TRIGGER THAT CAUSES THE LIGHTS TO GO OUT. SOMETIMES IT IS THE PASSENGER LIGHT, SOMETIMES IT IS BOTH THE PASSENGER AND DRIVER HEADLIGHTS.SOMETIMES THEY DON'T EVER TURN OFF. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR ABOUT A YEAR AND TOOK THIS LONG TO FIGURE OUT. THE PROBLEM IS THERE IS ALWAYS "SOME" LIGHT COMING FROM ANOTHER LIGHT SOURCE AROUND THE HEADLIGHTS SO WHEN DRIVING, YOU SEE THAT THERE IS SOME LIGHT ON THE ROAD, TRICKING YOU INTO THINKING YOU HAVE BOTH HEADLIGHTS WHEN YOU REALLY DON'T. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY PROBLEM, ESPECIALLY DRIVING IN RURAL MOUNTAIN AREAS. WHEN THIS STARTED HAPPENING, SINCE I HAD SOME LIGHT ON THE ROAD, I THOUGHT IT WAS MY EYES OR HEALTH AND WENT TO THE EYE DOCTORS, ETC. NOT MY EYES - IT'S THE CAR. IT IS INTERRMITTENT AND BECAUSE THERE WAS SOME LIGHT ON THE ROAD I THOUGHT IT WAS MY VISION NOT THE HEADLIGHTS. WHEN THE LIGHTS DO THIS YOU HAVE A HARD TIME SEEING CURVES IN THE DARK ETC. IT IS HARDER TO DETECT IN CITY DRIVING WHICH WE DO MOSTLY. WE DID RECEIVE A LETTER FRM TOYOTA ABOUT THE HEADLIGHTS INDICATING SOME PEOPLE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE HEADLIGHTS AND TOYOTA ERRONEOUSLY CHARGED THEM FOR THE SWITCH AND THEY WOULD BE REIMBURSED. HOWEVER, IT DID NOT DESCRIBE THE PROBLEM THE SAME WAY IT HAPPENS SO WE DIDN'T THINK THERE WAS AN ISSUE. THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE ON THE INTERNET REPORTING THIS SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE AND TOYOTA IS CONSIDERING THIS REGULAR MAINTENANCE AND WANTS EVERYONE TO PAY FOR IT THEMSELVES. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL NOTICE DESCRIBING EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENS AND THEY SHOULD PAY TO FIX IT. I'M PUTTING THE APPX DATE IT STARTED, BUT I HAVE BEEN DOCUMENTING THE LIGHT BEHAVIOR IN DETAIL THE LAST FEW DAYS. THERE ARE MORE REPORTS OF THIS PROBLEM ON THE INTERNET. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10346399July 30, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
WHEN BRAKING & GOING OVER A BUMP IN MY 2007 PRIUS, IT FEELS LIKE THE BRAKES DISENGAGE FOR A SECOND & CAR GOES FASTER. IF THERE WAS A CAR IN FRONT OF ME I WOULD HIT IT & IF I HAD TO STOP SUDDENLY THEN I'M NOT CONFIDENT I COULD. IT IS DISTURBING. FEELS LIKE THE BRAKES ARE FAILING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10346230July 29, 2010
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
MY 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS HEADLAMPS ON THE PASSENGER SIDE BURNED OUT AT 50000 MILES THEN A MONTH LATER THE DRIVER SIDE BURNED OUT. AFTER PAYING 275.00 FOR EACH NEW HEADLIGHT TO BE REPLACED THE PASSENGER SIDE HAS BURNT OUT AGAIN WITH ONLY 30000 MILES USAGE. I PURCHASED THE CAR TO SAVE MONEY ON THE FUEL MILEAGE BUT END UP SAVING NOTHING DUE TO SERVICE WORK ON REPLACING HEADLAMPS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10345792July 28, 2010
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
I HAVE A 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS WITH HID HEADLIGHTS, 54,000 MILES. TODAY, (7/26/2010) I HAD THE HEADLIGHT BULBS CHANGED FOR THE 3RD TIME, UNDER WARRANTY. FIRST TIME JAN. '09, 2ND TIME, AUG. '09, AND NOW, JULY '10. FIRST TIME WAS UNDER VEHICLE WARRANTY; DEALER SAID REPLACEMENTS HAD 1 YEAR WARRANTY, SO THE LAST 2 TIMES WERE COVERED. THEY GO OUT AT RANDOM. TODAY, ONE OF THE BULBS WAS SHATTERED. MY OWN OBSERVATION: THESE LIGHTS ARE SO BRIGHT, THAT WHEN ONE GOES OUT, YOU DON'T EVEN NOTICE, (UNTIL YOU GET PULLED OVER BY THE POLICE). THIS IS AN ONGOING TOYOTA PRIUS PROBLEM, IS NOT SAFE, AND A RECALL SHOULD BE INITIATED. THIS IS MY 3RD CONTACT TO NHTSA ON THIS ISSUE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10345887July 28, 2010
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
DRIVER SIDE HID HEADLIGHT REPEATEDLY GOES OUT WHILE DRIVING. HAVE TO STOP VEHICLE AND TURN LIGHTS OFF AND THEN BACK ON TO MAKE THEM WORK AGAIN. DEALER WANTS $700-$1,000 TO REPLACE PARTS WITHOUT KNOWING IF THAT WILL FIX PROBLEM. CAR ONLY HAS 46,627 MILES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10345954July 28, 2010
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
2007 TOYOTA PRIUS ACCELERATED TO 93MPH WHEN TRYING TO ENGAGE CRUISE CONTROL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10344565July 21, 2010
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A GUARD RAIL AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE DRIVER WAS INJURED AND SHE WAS TRANSPORTED BY AMBULANCE TO A HOSPITAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO CONFIRMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE AIR BAGS ONLY DEPLOY WHEN THE WINDSHIELD BREAKS. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 8,000. UPDATED 10/13/10 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED SHE CRASHED HEAD-ON INTO THE GUARD RAIL. THE FROMT OF THE VEHICLE WAS DEMOLISHED AND NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. UPDATED 10/2110*JB
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10344609July 21, 2010
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
THE CAR WAS USED VERY RARELY AND HEADLIGHTS WERE RARELY TURNED ON. THE DRIVER SIDE HEADLIGHT TURNED OFF ON ITS OWN AND COULD BE TURNED ON AGAIN BY FLIPPING HEADLIGHTS SWITCH OFF THEN ON AGAIN. IT WOULD THEN TURN OFF SHORTLY AGAIN THEREAFTER. A NIGHT DRIVE IN YOSEMITE PROVED TO BE QUITE FRIGHTENING WITH THIS HAPPENING OVER AND OVER. I COMPLAINED TO TOYOTA WHILE MY CAR WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY AND THEY DENIED THE PROBLEM BECAUSE THEY COULD NOT REPRODUCE IT. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, THE COMPANY SENT A LETTER TO ALL PRIUS OWNERS CONFIRMING THE PROBLEM. IT'S DISAPPOINTING TO SEE THAT TOYOTA KNEW ABOUT IT YET DENIED IT COMPLETELY. WHEN THE LETTER CAME OUT, MY CAR WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. THE PRODUCT WAS DEFECTIVE BECAUSE IT'S LIFESPAN HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THE AMOUNT OF TIME IT WAS USED. I THINK TO SAY THE HEADLIGHT FLICKERS IS INCORRECT-IT SHUTS OFF COMPLETELY AND SPORADICALLY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10343703July 17, 2010
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
THE HID HEADLIGHT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF MY PRIUS IS STARTING TO FLICKER AND GO ON AND OFF. THE BULB IS SUPPOSED TO LAST 10 YEARS BUT IT'S BEEN ONLY 3 YEARS SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR. THE BULB OR HEADLIGHT ELECTRONICS IS DEFECTIVE BUT I'VE BEEN TOLD IT COULD COST UP TO $1,000 TO REPAIR. IT SEEMS THIS IS HAPPENING TO A LOT OF PRIUS OWNERS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10343187July 14, 2010
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THE HEADLIGHTS WOULD INTERMITTENTLY FAIL WITHOUT WARNING AND WOULD OFTEN FLICKER FROM ON TO OFF REPEATEDLY. THE HEADLIGHTS WERE REPLACED BY THE CONTACT YET THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE CONTACT STATED THE HEADLIGHT WAS REPLACED THREE TIMES WITHIN ONE YEAR. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THERE WAS NOT A RECALL FOR THE FAILURE AND DISREGARDED THE FAILURE AS A SAFETY ISSUE. THE MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 80,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 108,000. UPDATED 10/21/10.*LJ THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THE BRAKE AND TAILLIGHTS FAILED AS WELL. UPDATED 10/25/10 UPDATED 11/15/10 * BF THE CONSUMER STATED SHE WILL BE CONTACTING TOYOTA AGAIN, AS THE HEADLIGHTS ARE NOT PERFORMING AS THEY SHOULD. WHILE ON HER WAY HOME, THE HEADLIGHTS STARTED BLINKING ON AND OFF, UNTIL FINALLY THEY WENT COMPLETELY WENT OUT. UPDATED 11/26/10. *JB UPDATED 01/06/11 *BF UPDATED 03/02/11
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10343211July 14, 2010
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
I OWN A 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS ; FOR THE PAST 6 MONTHS MY HID HEADLAMPS SPONTANEOUSLY TURN OFF, AND I NEED TO TURN THE LIGHT SWITCH TO OFF THEN BACK ON AGAIN, FOR THEM TO RE-LIGHT. THIS WEEK IT HAPPENED ON A DARK COUNTRY ROAD AND I SUDDENLY HAD NO LIGHTS AT ALL. THANK GOODNESS THERE WERE NO CARS OR PEDESTRIANS ON THE ROAD AT THAT TIME AND THERE WAS NO DAMAGE. I BROUGHT IT TO MY LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER TODAY AND THEY SAY MY LAMPS HAVE BURNED OUT AND NEED REPLACEMENT, TO THE TUNE OF $550. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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