Toyota Prius Complaints (2007)

2,004 consumer complaints on file.

#10321590March 23, 2010
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
2007 TOYOTA PRIUS HEADLIGHTS ISSUE. AS I AM DRIVING THE LIGHTS WILL RANDOMLY TURN OFF. I CONTACTED THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THAT YOU CAN REPLACE THE LIGHT BULB. THIS DID NOT FIX THE SITUATION. THE LIGHTS STILL CONTINUE TO RANDOMLY TURN OFF.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10321193March 20, 2010
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
INTERMITTENT FAILURE OF DRIVERS SIDE HID HEADLIGHT. TURNING THE HEADLIGHTS OFF THEN BACK ON TYPICALLY RESTORES NORMAL OPERATION FOR SEVERAL DAYS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10321196March 20, 2010
TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM
I NOTICED IN THE LAST FEW MONTHS THAT THE "SLIPPERY" SIGN ON MY PRIUS 2007 CAME ON MANY TIMES EVEN UNDER VERY SAFE ROAD CONDITIONS. FOR EXAMPLE, WHEN I DID A RIGHT TURN SLOWLY, THE "SLIPPERY" SIGN WOULD COME ON. ON FEBRUARY 26, 2010. I WAS DRIVING MY CAR WHEN IT STARTED TO SLEET. ALL OF A SUDDEN, MY CAR LOST CONTROL AND STARTED TO SPIN UNTIL IT HIT THE SNOW BANK ON THE ROAD SIDE. IN THE FOLLOWING WEEK, THE CAR SLIPPED TWICE WHEN I APPROACHED STOP SIGNS SLOWLY AND APPLIED BRAKE LIGHTLY. WE EXAMINED THE REAR TIRES WHICH WERE THE ORIGINAL TIRES WITH 48,000 MILES ON AND THE MARKINGS WERE MOSTLY WORN OUT. I WOULD ALSO WANT TO POINT OUT THAT THESE OLD TIRES PASSED INSPECTION ON THE SAME DAY OF THE ACCIDENT AND WE JUST CHANGED THE TIRES HOPING TO IMPROVE THE TRACTION. AFTER THE TIRES WERE CHANGED ON MARCH 6, 2010, IT SLIPPED ONCE IN THE FOLLOWING TWO WEEKS UNDER THE SAME SITUATION WHEN I APPROACHED A STOP SIGN SLOWLY AND APPLIED BRAKE LIGHTLY. THE ROAD CONDITIONS WERE ALL PERFECT WHEN THESE 3 SLIPPAGES HAPPENED AFTER FEB. 26, 2010. I HAVE READ SOME ARTICLES(CONSUMERAFFAIRS.COM) AND CHAT ROOMS(PRIUSCHAT.COM) ONLINE AND FOUND QUITE A FEW SIMILAR EXPERIENCES FROM OTHER PRIUS DRIVERS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10321068March 19, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC
THIS IS AN INCIDENT INVOLVING THE BRAKE STABILITY SYSTEM OF OUR PRIUS (2007). IT DID NOT RESULT IN A CRASH OR INJURY. MY WIFE HAD BEEN GOING TO DIFFERENT STORES AND ON LEAVING A STORE, SUDDENLY THE BRAKE SYSTEM ACTED VERY STRANGE. THE VSC ICON WAS ON AND THE RED PARKING BRAKE LIGHT REMAINED ON. MY WIFE COULD BARELY DRIVE THE CAR HOME. WE READ THE INSTRUCTION BOOK AND LEARNED THAT SHE SHOULD NOT HAVE DRIVEN THE CAR. BUT THIS INFORMATION IS BURIED IN A VERY LARGE INSTRUCTION MANUAL. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO OUR TOYOTA DEALER YESTERDAY (MARCH 18TH). WORKING ON IT TODAY, THEY STILL HAVE NOT FOUND THE PROBLEM. THE SERVICE ADVISOR IS JOE AND HIS PHONE NUMBER IS 540 382 2981 EXT 6326. WE THOUGHT OUR EXPERIENCE MIGHT PROVIDE A CLUE TO THE PROBLEMS THAT OTHERS ARE ENCOUNTERING WITH TOYOTA BRAKES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10320410March 17, 2010
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE TRAVELING AT SPEEDS OF 10 MPH ATTEMPTING TO PARK IN HER GARAGE, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ABNORMALLY ACCELERATE. THE BRAKE PEDAL FELL ONTO THE FLOOR BOARD AND WOULD NOT ENGAGE. THE VEHICLE PROCEEDED TO CRASH INTO THE GARAGE DOOR. THE DEALER ADVISED STATED THAT THERE WERE NO UNUSUAL FAILURES IN THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER CONFIRMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS UNDER RECALL FOR DEFECTIVE FLOOR MATS BUT NOT FOR HER ACCELERATOR PEDAL. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE TO THE VEHICLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 26,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 27,000.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10320469March 17, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC
I CURRENTLY OWN A 2010 PRIUS AND HAVE HAD THE BRAKE RECALL WORK DONE. PREVIOUSLY WHEN I WAS LIVING IN BELGIUM, I LEASED A 2007 PRIUS. I COMPLAINED TO THE TOYOTA DEALER ABOUT THE LURCHING FORWARD OF THE CAR WHEN I BRAKED IF THERE WAS EVEN MILDLY ROUGH OR DAMP PAVEMENT. THEY TOLD ME THAT IT WASN'T A PROBLEM. MY HUSBAND AND I WERE IN AN ACCIDENT IN BELGIUM DUE TO THIS PROBLEM. A STOP LIGHT TURNED RED AND WHEN WE TRIED TO STOP, THE CAR KEPT GOING AND WE RAN INTO A MOTORCYCLIST. THANKFULLY HE WASN'T INJURED BUT WE HAD ABOUT $1,000 WORTH OF DAMAGE TO THE FRONT END OF OUR CAR THAT WE HAD TO PAY FOR. THE DEALER CONTINUED TO CLAIM THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE BRAKES. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10320552March 17, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC
TWO MONTHS AGO, I PURCHASED A USED 2007 PRIUS AND HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING SOME ODD INCIDENTS WITH THE BRAKES. FOR INSTANCE, WHEN I WAS EXITING THE FREEWAY LAST WEEK, I RAN OVER A SMALL POTHOLE AND THE CAR LUNGED FORWARD EVEN THOUGH I WAS BRAKING THE WHOLE TIME. ALSO, WHEN I DRIVE AT SPEEDS HIGHER THAN 60 MPH AND PRESS ON THE BRAKE, IT ALWAYS FEELS LIKE THERE IS A SLIGHT DELAY BEFORE THE BRAKES ACTUALLY TAKE HOLD. IT FEELS AS IF THE BRAKE PADS ON THE TIRES ARE MOMENTARILY DISCONNECTED (FOR LESS THAN A SECOND). I ASKED THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP IF THE 2007 MODEL HAS BEEN AFFECTED BY ALL OF THE RECENT RECALLS, BUT THEY REASSURED ME THAT MY PRIUS IS FINE. NONETHELESS, I WANTED TO REPORT THESE INCIDENTS TO THE NHTSA IN CASE OTHERS ARE EXPERIENCING SIMILAR PROBLEMS. THANK YOU. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10320167March 16, 2010
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
MY 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS WITH HID HEADLIGHTS HAS HAD INTERMITTENT HEADLIGHT FAILURE 7 TIMES SINCE THE FIRST OCCURRENCE IN JANUARY 2007. I TOOK MY CAR TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT OF DEALER FROM WHOM I BOUGHT THE CAR NEW. THE SERVICE WRITER TOLD ME THAT SINCE THE PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT AND THE HEADLIGHTS ARE CURRENTLY WORKING IT IS LIKELY THAT THEY MIGHT NOT FIND THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. SO, I DID NOT LEAVE MY CAR WITH THE SERVICE WRITER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10320298March 16, 2010
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
I BEGAN A 70 MILE TRIP ON THE INTERSTATE AT DUSK IN MY 2007 PRIUS WITH THE HEADLIGHTS ON, OR SO I THOUGHT. IT SEEMED THEY WERE NOT ILLUMINATING THE ROAD AS WELL AS USUAL. I TURNED MY BRIGHTS ON TO BETTER SEE THE CURVE ON AN INTERCHANGE AND THE LIGHTS WENT COMPLETELY OFF. I TURNED THE BRIGHTS OFF AND THE LIGHTS CAME BACK ON, BUT I HAD DRIFTED NEAR A CONCRETE BARRIER. I AVERTED A CRASH, BUT WAS CLOSE ENOUGH TO THE BARRIER TO SEE THAT I HAD FOGLAMPS ON, BUT NO HEADLIGHTS. NORMALLY THIS ARRANGEMENT IS NOT POSSIBLE. YOU CAN HAVE HEADLIGHTS ON WITHOUT FOGLAMPS, BUT NOT FOGLAMPS WITHOUT HEADLIGHTS. TURNING THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH OFF, THEN ON DID NOT HELP. WHEN I STOPPED, LEAVING THE CAR TURNED ON. I WAS ABLE TO REPRODUCE THE BRIGHT SWITCH TURNING OFF ALL THE LIGHTS. THE HEADLIGHTS WOULD NOT TURN ON. I TURNED OFF THE CAR, WHEN I TURNED IT BACK ON, THE HEADLIGHTS WORKED NORMALLY. IN JULY, 2009, MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING THIS PRIUS AND WAS STOPPED FOR HAVING ONE HEADLIGHT OUT. IT WORKED WHEN I TOOK IT TO THE TOYOTA DEALER THE NEXT DAY. THEN FOR SEVERAL DAYS, ONE HEADLIGHT OR THE OTHER WAS OUT INTERMITTENTLY BUT NOT REPRODUCE-ABLY. THEN THE PROBLEM CLEARED UP UNTIL THIS INCIDENT IN MARCH, 2010. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10320292March 16, 2010
TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM
I HAVE MULTIPLE TIMES EXPERIENCED A DANGEROUS OVER-SENSITIVITY OF THE TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM ON MY CAR. IT CONSISTENTLY HAPPENS IN THE FOLLOWING SCENARIOS: A) IF I AM DRIVING AT A LOW SPEED, SAY 20 MPH, ON A SMOOTH, DRY PAVED ROAD AND THEN "PANIC BREAK" THE TRAC SYSTEM KICKS IN AND TEMPORARILY CUTS POWER TO MY CAR, RESULTING IN A MOMENTARY LOSS OF BRAKING. B) IF I AM WAITING AT A STOP LIGHT IN THE RIGHT HAND LANE, ABOUT TO MAKE A RIGHT HAND TURN, AND THERE IS EVEN A MODERATE AMOUNT OF GRAVEL ON THE ROAD OR THE ROAD IS WET, THEN I ACCELERATE TO MAKE MY RIGHT TURN, THE TRAC SYSTEM AGAIN KICKS IN, RESULTING IN A MOMENTARY LOSS OF ACCELERATION. I HAVE BEEN COMPENSATING FOR THESE OCCURRENCES, HOWEVER I FEEL VERY UNSAFE IN THIS CAR YET NO ONE SEEMS TO WANT TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. WHEN I TOOK MY CAR TO THE DEALER, THEY LITERALLY JUST SAID THAT THE CAR WAS "OPERATING AS IT WAS DESIGNED TO." WELL THEN MAYBE IT IS THE DESIGN THAT NEEDS TO BE RE ASSESSED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10319961March 15, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC
FOR THE LAST 10 MONTHS STARTING AFTER OWNERSHIP OF THE CAR FOR APPROX 15 MONTHS, AFTER BRAKING AND WHILE AT A STOP WITH FOOT ON BRAKE PEDAL, MY 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS MAKES A LOUD SOUND LIKE A LARGE METAL COIL BEING TIGHTENED. TOYOTA HAS ATTEMPTED REPAIR THREE TIMES OVER THE LAST 10 MONTHS TO NO AVAIL. TOYOTA HAS REPEATEDLY STATED THAT HAVE NO KNOWLEDGE OF THE CAUSE BUT ARE ATTEMPTING TO DETERMINE A "FIX". AFTER THE THIRD REPAIR ATTEMPT, THE DEALER DECLARED MY CAR A "LEMON" AND SUGGESTED I CONTACT THEIR THIRD PART ARBITRATION CENTER WHO HAS NOW TURNED DOWN MY CASE BECAUSE ALTHOUGH THE DEFECT WAS REPORTED WHILE THE CAR WAS UNDER WARRANTY, THE CAR NO LONGER IS UNDER WARRANTY. MY STATE'S LEMON LAWS DO NOT SUPPORT CARS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY EITHER. I HAVE A CAR THAT COULD NOT BE SOLD TO ANYONE DUE TO THE LOUD AND FRIGHTENING NOISE. IN ADDITION, THE SITUATION WORSENED CONSIDERABLY AFTER THE LAST ATTEMPT AT REPAIR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10319984March 15, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC
I DRIVE A 2007 PRIUS. WHILE GOING OVER ROUGH PATCHES, POTHOLES, ETC., MY CAR SEEMS TO LURCH FORWARD AND MOMENTARILY LOSE BRAKING CONTROL. THE VSA LIGHT FLASHES AS WELL. IT IS DEFINITELY WORSE IN THE RAIN, AND IF I AM TURNING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10319536March 14, 2010
EXTERIOR LIGHTING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
WHEN THE CAR IS FIRST STARTED, THE DRIVER SIDE HEADLIGHT USUALLY GOES OUT WITHIN THE FIRST FEW MINUTES OF DRIVING. IT IS ALMOST ALWAYS THE DRIVER SIDE BUT IT HAS HAPPENED A FEW TIMES WITH THE PASSENGER SIDE. WHEN I TURN THE HEADLIGHTS OFF AND THEN BACK ON BOTH HEADLIGHTS FUNCTION, ALTHOUGH THE LIGHT THAT HAD BEEN OUT INITIALLY IS NOT AS BRIGHT AS THE OTHER. THIS HAPPENS INTERMITTENTLY FOR THE FIRST 10-20 MINUTES OF DRIVING AND THEN BOTH HEADLIGHTS SEEM TO FUNCTION PROPERLY. I RECENTLY DROVE AT NIGHT FOR NEARLY 5 HOURS AND ONLY HAD THIS PROBLEM DURING THE FIRST 20 MINUTES OF DRIVING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10319421March 13, 2010
EXTERIOR LIGHTING, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
I HAVE BEEN DRIVING A 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS SINCE JULY 2007. THE HID HEADLIGHTS SWITCH OFF AUTOMATICALLY WHILE DRIVING. SOMETIMES THE LEFT HID SWITCHES OFF BUT THE RIGHT HEADLIGHTS STAYS ON. THE HEADLIGHTS TURN OFF BUT THE DISPLAY FROM THE INSIDE SAYS THAT HEADLIGHTS ARE TURNED ON. THE HEADLIGHTS COME ON IF I TURN THE HEADLIGHTS OFF AND TURN THEM BACK ON THEN BOTH OF THEM ARE WORKING TILL THEY SWITCH OFF AGAIN DURING DRIVING. ALMOST GOT IN A T-BONE ACCIDENT WHEN THE OTHER DRIVER DID NOT SEE ME. IF I AM DRIVING USING CRUISE-CONTROL, THE CAR SEEM TO SPEED UP A BIT JUST FOR A SEC A OR TWO WHEN YOU INITIALLY APPLY BRAKES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10319160March 12, 2010
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
2007 TOYOTA PRIUS ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10319239March 12, 2010
TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
THIS EVENT HAS OCCURED ON A NUMBER OF OCCASIONS WITH MY 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHEN I AM APPLYING THE BRAKES AND GO OVER A BUMP OR POTHOLE, THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT APPEARS AND THE BRAKES WEAKEN FOR A MOMENT. THE LIGHT WILL GO OFF AND THE BREAKS FEEL LIKE THEY GO BACK TO FULL STRENGTH. I AM AWARE OF THIS ISSUE AND HAVE MODIFIED MY DRIVING BECASUE OF IT. RECENTLY WHILE APPROACHING AN INTERSECTION I HAD TO SLOW VERY QUICKLY AND HIT A POTHOLE WHILE THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. I TRAVELED SEVERAL FEET FURTHER BECAUSE THE BRAKES WERE NOT REACTING AT FULL STRENGTH WHEN THE LIGHT WAS ON. I HAVE HEARD OF OTHER 2007 OWNERS COMPLAINING BUT WHEN I CONTACTED MY TOYOTA DEALER THEY SAID THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO UNTIL THERE IS A RECALL. THAT WAS THE ONLY TIME I CONTACTED MY DEALER BECAUSE IT MADE ME SO UPSET. IT IS SAFE TO SAY THAT FROM THE MOMENT I HAVE PURCHASED THE CAR (WITHIN THE FIRST WEEK) TO CURRENT, IF I AM BREAKING AND HITTING A BUMP OR POTHOLE OF SIGNIFICANT DISRUPTANCE AT THE SAME TIME - THIS SITUATION REPLAYS ITSELF. THE DATE OF INCIDENT IS AROUND THE FIRST DATE OF THE FIRST OCCURANCE. IT HAS HAPPENED NEARLY 100+ TIMES SINCE THEN.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10318792March 11, 2010
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
MY 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS WAS IN PARK, ENGINE RUNNING. I THEN PUSHED ON THE GAS AND THE PEDAL STUCK. I TURNED THE CAR OFF, AND THE ENGINE STOPPED REVVING. I THEN TURNED THE CAR BACK ON AND THE CAR RAN FINE. I AM PRESENTLY IN S. CAROLINA AND WILL DRIVE TO CANADA NEXT WEEK WITH MY TWO CHILDREN, SO AM VERY CONCERNED ABOUT GETTING IN THE CAR. WHAT SHOULD I DO? *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10318825March 11, 2010
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
DRIVERSIDE FRONT HEADLIGHT INTERMITTENTLY WENT OUT. TOOK MY AUTOMOBILE TO ORIGINAL DEALER ON MARCH 9, 2010 AND IT WAS REPLACED. DURING MY CONVERSATION WITH THE SERVICE ADVISOR, HE INDICATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT MIGHT EXPERIENCE THE SAME PROBLEM. HE WAS CORRECT. ON MARCH 10, 2007 THE PASSENGER SIDE BEGAN HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS IS THE SAME PROBLEM DESCRIBED IN NHTSA -PE09019. I AM CONCERNED FOR MY SAFETY AND OTHERS WHO WILL BE AFFECTED. IN ADDITION I HAVE NO ASSURANCE THAT THIS REPLACEMENT WILL NOT BE REQUIRED OVER AND OVER AT A VERY HIGH DOLLAR COST. PLEASE ADVISE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10318828March 11, 2010
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
1) TWO TIMES MY CAR HAS ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN, AND I HAD TO FEATHER THE GAS PEDAL TO GET IT TO STOP ACCELERATING, WHICH TOOK UNDER A MINUTE TO CORRECT. 2)WHEN BRAKING THE CAR, IF YOU HIT SAND OR A BUMP WHICH CAUSES THE SLIPPERY LIGHT TO COME ON, THE CAR TRANSISTIONS FROM GENERATING POWER, TO ALL BRAKES, AT WHICH POINT THE CAR ACCELERATES AS THERE IS AN INTERRUPTION AND A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME WHERE THERE IS NO BREAKS. 3)WHEN YOU ARE COMING TO A STOP SUCH AS AT A BANK DRIVE-THRU,WHEN PLACING THE CAR IN PARK WHILE ONLY THE ELECTRIC SYSTEM WAS RUNNING,IF THE MOTOR TURNS ON WHILE STILL IN PARK, THE ENTIRE CAR LAUNCHES FORWARD 1-2 FEET, EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10318886March 11, 2010
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
I'VE GOT A PACKAGE 2 2007 PRIUS. ONE OF THE HEADLIGHTS KEEPS GOING OUT. I CAN'T REALLY TELL WHEN OR HOW IT GOES OUT SINCE I CAN'T SEE IT. I'LL NOTICE IT WHEN I SEE THE REFLECTION IN THE BACK OF ANOTHER CAR. IF I TURN THE BRIGHT LIGHTS ON AND OFF IT HAS NO EFFECT, BUT WHEN I TURN THEM ALL THE WAY OFF AND BACK ON THE LIGHT COMES BACK. SOMETIMES ON LONG TRIPS IT WILL STAY ON THE WHOLE TIME, SOMETIMES IT WON'T. SOMETIMES ON SHORT TRIPS IT WILL GO OUT, SOMETIMES IT WON'T. IT IS NOT AN EVENT I CAN MAKE HAPPEN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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