Toyota Prius Complaints (2005)

1,051 consumer complaints on file.

#10876875June 27, 2016
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
HEAD LIGHTS TURN OFF AFTER BEING ON FOR A WHILE. TURNING OFF HEADLIGHT SWITCH AND TURNING IT BACK ON TURNS THE LIGHT BACK ON. HIGH BEAM STITCH DOES NOT AFFECT THE LIGHT WHICH IS OFF. THIS HAPPENS WHILE IN MOTION ON BOTH HIGHWAYS AND CITY STREETS. THIS OCCURS FREQUENTLY
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10874485June 15, 2016
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE STEERING WHEEL FELT LOOSE AND THE VEHICLE WAS UNSTABLE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FAILURE WAS NOT A RECALL ISSUE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND RESTATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 193,000. *DT*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10872295June 3, 2016
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
HEADLIGHTS GO OFF, ONE AT A TIME, INTERMITTENTLY, WHILE DRIVING ON ANY ROAD. IF I TURN THE LIGHTS ALL THE WAY OFF AND THEN BACK ON AGAIN THEY WILL USUALLY STAY ON FOR 15 MINUTES BEFORE GOING OFF AGAIN. I AM NOT AWARE THAT THEY HAVE BOTH GONE OFF AT ONCE, BUT I HAVE NOT DRIVEN THE CAR AT NIGHT YET
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10870021May 20, 2016
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
I WAS DRIVING THROUGH NEVADA AT 11 PM AT NIGHT TOWARDS RENO (APPROX. 180 MILES AWAY) ON I-80 AT 75 MPH WHEN SUDDENLY MY HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT. I IMMEDIATELY TRIED TURNING THE LIGHTS OFF AND ON MANUALLY WITH MY LEFT HAND, AND THE LIGHTS CAME ON AGAIN (I COULDN'T SEE ANYTHING IN THE DARK, SCARED OUT OF MY MIND). THEN, ABOUT 2 MINUTES LATER THE SAME THING HAPPENED (I WAS DRIVING SLOWER THIS TIME). I DID THE SAME TURNING OFF AND ON AGAIN, AND THE LIGHTS CAME BACK ON AGAIN, ALTHOUGH SOMEWHAT DIMMER. A FEW MINUTES LATER (5 MINUTES?) I WAS PASSED BY A VEHICLE, THAT THEN SLOWED DOWN AND CAME IN BEHIND ME, AND THEN TURNED ON THE POLICE LIGHTS AND I IMMEDIATELY PULLED IN AN EXIT RAMP (FORTUNATELY THERE WAS ONE RIGHT THERE). AFTER THE POLICEMAN CHECKED MY LICENSE AND REGISTRATION, HE INFORMED ME THAT ONE OF MY HEADLIGHTS WAS OUT. HE ASKED ME TO TRY AND FLICK ON AND OFF THE LIGHTS A COUPLE OF TIMES, AND TO TRY THE BRIGHTS, BUT NONE OF THIS BROUGHT IT BACK INTO WORKING ORDER. HE THEN OUT OF THE BLUE MENTIONED TO ME (WITHOUT ME BRINGING THIS UP) THAT THE PRIUS' WERE NOTORIOUS FOR HAVING INTERMITTENT ISSUES WITH THE HEADLIGHTS, ESPECIALLY ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE CAR (WHICH IS THE SIDE THAT WAS OUT, COINCIDENTLY). HE LET ME PROCEED USING ONE HEADLIGHT WITHOUT TICKETING ME. A FEW MILES LATER I PULLED INTO A REST AREA AND TURNED OFF THE CAR FOR A FEW MINUTES WHILE I WENT TO THE BATHROOM, AND WHEN I GOT BACK INTO THE CAR AND TURNED ON THE HEADLIGHTS THEY BOTH CAME ON, BUT WITHIN 20 SECONDS THE PASSENGER SIDE LIGHT WENT OUT AGAIN. WHEN I GOT HOME THE NEXT DAY AND TURNED ON THE HEADLIGHTS THEY WERE BOTH WORKING AGAIN. THIS INTERMITTENT FAILURE OF THE PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT HAS OCCURRED A FEW TIMES IN THE PAST, AND I HAVE HAD THE TOYOTO DEALER LOOK INTO IT AND THEY CLAIMED THAT IT WAS FIXED. HOWEVER, THIS TIME IT WAS LIFE THREATENING.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10864830May 13, 2016
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE ODOMETER GAUGE WAS NOT FUNCTIONING. THE GAUGE REMAINED AT 299,000 MILES. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE ODOMETER GAUGE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND ALSO STATED THAT THE GAUGE WAS DESIGNED TO STOP AT 299,000 MILES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND INDICATED THAT THEY HAD NOT RECEIVED ANY COMPLAINTS CONCERNING THE ODOMETER GAUGE FAILING TO WORK AFTER A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF MILES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 299,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10864070May 10, 2016
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
LEFT AND RIGHT HEADLIGHTS SPORADICALLY TURN OFF WHICH IS EXTREMELY HAZARDOUS WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT IN ROADS WITHOUT STREET LIGHTS. DEFINITELY A SAFETY ISSUE WHICH TOYOTA MUST ISSUE A RECALL. LIGHT BULBS ARE NOT THE ISSUE. THE ISSUE IS IN THE COMPUTER OR BALAST THAT CONTROLS THE LIGHTS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10861259April 25, 2016
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY AND THE HYBRID BATTERY WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE HYBRID BATTERY FAILED AND CAUSED THE RPMS TO REV AND THE BATTERY NEEDED TO THE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10854801April 11, 2016
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
HEADLIGHTS WILL RANDOMLY GO OUT WHILE DRIVING. MOST OF THE TIME IT IS ONLY ONE HEADLIGHT BUT SOMETIMES BOTH GO OUT. TO "RE-LIGHT" THEM YOU HAVE TO TURN THE HEADLIGHTS OFF AND THEN BACK ON. REPLACING THE BULBS DOES NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM. AT NIGHT THIS HAS ALMOST LED TO DISASTROUS EFFECTS AND, FROM A RISK MANAGEMENT PERSPECTIVE, IT IS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE SOMETHING BAD DOES HAPPEN AS A RESULT OF LOSING YOUR EXTERNAL HEADLIGHTS WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT. IT HAPPENS WHETHER THE CAR IS STATIONARY OR IN MOTION. SOME ELEMENT OF THIS HAPPENS EVERY TIME I DRIVE THE CAR (MULTIPLE TIMES PER DAY).
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10854617April 10, 2016
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
WHILE DRIVIN BOTH HEADLIGHT TURN OF INTERMITTENTLY WHILE I CAN TURN OFF AND BACK ON THEY COME ON TO ONE OR THE OTHER OR BOTH GOING BACK OFF SOMETIMES AND SOMETIMES THEY WORK PERFECTLY THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AS YOU ONLY USE HEADLIGHTS AT NIGHT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10854586April 9, 2016
ENGINE
THIS IS THE FIRST CAR WE EVER OWNED THAT ATE OIL. WE ARE METICULOUS ABOUT SERVICING THE CAR AS RECOMMENDED EVERY 5000 MILES. AT THE SERVICE FOR 100,000 MILES WHICH WE DID AT 99,400 MILES, THERE WAS NO OIL ON THE DIPSTICK. AT 103,000 MILES THE ALARMS WENT OFF 3 TIMES TO INDICATE THERE WAS NO OIL. WE PUT IN 2 QUARTS AND TOOK IT TO THE SHOP FOR A DIAGNOSTIC. GOOGLING SHOWED MANY OTHER PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM - NO OIL LEAK ANYWHERE, BUT NO OIL IN THE CAR EITHER. TOYOTA APPARENTLY KNOWS OF THE PROBLEM AND HAS INFORMED SERVICE PROVIDERS BUT WILL NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THIS PROBLEM TO THE CAR OWNERS. WE NOW CARRY OIL IN THE CAR AND CHECK EVERY TIME WE PUT IN GAS TO MAKE SURE WE ALSO HAVE OIL. THE SERVICE SHOP SUGGESTS A $3500+ REBUILD OF THE ENGINE. WE CAN AFFORD TO CHECK OIL AND ADD IT AS NECESSARY INSTEAD OF REBUILDING AN ENGINE THAT WILL END UP WITH THE SAME ISSUE. IT IS UNACCEPTABLE THAT THE EXPECTATION IS TO ADD OIL BETWEEN EVERY 5000 MILES, AS RECOMMENDED BY MANUFACTURER, INSTEAD OF THE ASSURANCE THAT THE CAR WILL BE ABLE TO MAKE IT TO EACH 5000 MILE INTERVAL WITHOUT ADDING ADDITIONAL OIL. WE ALSO CANNOT AFFORD TO HAVE THE ENGINE SEIZE UP IN WHAT IS MARKETED AS A VERY DEPENDABLE CAR FROM A VERY DEPENDABLE MANUFACTURER. APPARENTLY TOYOTA DOESN'T MAKE CARS THAT EXCEED A LIFETIME OF 100,000 MILES AND ARE ALSO A VERY UNDEPENDABLE MANUFACTURER OF CARS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10851885March 28, 2016
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
DRIVER'S SIDE HEADLIGHT WENT OUT IN 2015 AND WAS REPLACED BY LOCAL MECHANIC. BEFORE IT WENT OUT IT HAD FLICKERED BUT CAME BACK ON. I WAS DRIVING AT NIGHT WHEN IT WENT OUT AND WAS PULLED OVER BY POLICE. FORTUNATELY I ONLY GOT A WARNING. MARCH 2016 THE HEADLIGHT WENT OUT AGAIN (I NOTICED IT IN MY DRIVEWAY) AND WAS REPLACED AT A TOYOTA DEALERSHIP ON 21 MARCH 2016. THAT VERY DAY, THE HEADLIGHT WENT OUT AGAIN (NOTICED IT IN MY DRIVEWAY). IT WOULD COME ON PERIODICALLY BUT KEPT GOING OUT. 25 MARCH 2016 THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE "COMPUTER SUB-ASSY, H" FOR $458.52. 28 MARCH 2016, THE HEADLIGHT IS OUT AGAIN (NOTICED IT AGAIN IN MY DRIVEWAY).
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10851551March 25, 2016
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
THE HEADLIGHTS (HID) STOP FUNCTIONING INTERMITTENTLY. ONE OR THE OTHER OR BOTH WILL RANDOMLY SHUT OFF. THE LIGHTS WILL COME BACK ON IF THEY ARE TURNED OFF THEN ON AGAIN. THE ISSUE HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR SEVERAL MONTHS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10850620March 20, 2016
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
WHILE DRIVING THE PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT WENT OUT, I REPLACED THE BULB AND THE PROBLEM CONTINUED. IT TURNS OFF SHORTLY AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE WETHER IT IS DRIVING OR SITTING, WHEN I TURN LIGHTS OFF AND ON AGAIN LIGHT WILL TURN BACK ON FOR A MOMENT AND TURN OFF AGAIN, THIS HAPPENS WHILE I AM DRIVING AND I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE IT AND BE PULLED OVER FOR NOT HAVING WORKING HEADLIGHTS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10838803February 27, 2016
STEERING
TAKATA RECALL, DASH (SOUNDS LIKE SOMETHING IS LOSSE) WHEN DRIVING OVER BUMP OR AT HIGHER SPEEDS. THEN I TOKE IT TO THE DEALER THEY SAID THAT'S STEERING COLUMN PROBLEM.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10837300February 20, 2016
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
DASH GOES COMPLETELY BLANK WHILE IN MOTION AND CAR WILL NOT TURN OFF
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10821024January 19, 2016
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
I WAS DRIVING AT NIGHT ON THE FREEWAY 280 AND SUDDENLY BOTH HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT, IT WAS SO BLACK YOU COULDN'T SEE ANYTHING ON THE ROAD. TALK ABOUT SCARY, TRY DRIVING AT 65 MPH ON A ROAD THAT CURVES WHEN YOU ALL YO CAN SEE IS BLACK. I WAS ABLE TO JIGGLE THE SWITCH THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH OFF AND ON SEVERAL TIMES AND THE LIGHTS FINALLY CAME BACK ON. WITH MY HEART POUNDING I CONTINUED TO DRIVE HOME ONLY TO HAVE BOTH HEADLIGHTS AGAIN GO OUT TOGETHER. THIS HAPPENED 6-7MORE TIMES UNTIL I REACHED HOME. I WAS ACTUALLY SHAKING BY THE TIME I GOT OUT OF MY CAR. WHY WERE BOTH HEADLIGHTS MALFUNCTIONING AT THE EXACT SAME TIMES? I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERS THE NEXT DAY AND AFTER INSPECTION THEY TOLD ME I SIMPLY NEEDED NEW HEADLIGHTS. I THOUGHT IT WAS AN ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTION, BUT THEY INSISTED THAT IT WAS JUST THE HEADLIGHTS GOING OUT AND THAT THIS HAPPENED ALL THE TIME. WHY WOULD THEY BE USING HEADLIGHTS THAT THEY KNOW BOTH GO OUT AT THE SAME TIME??THIS IS HIGHLY DANGEROUS. PEOPLE COULD HAVE A HEART ATTACK IF NOT AN ACCIDENT! I SPENT $500 TO REPLACE THE TWO HEADLIGHTS. HOWEVER, I JUST RECENTLY EXPERIENCE THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM OF BOTH HEAD LIGHTS GOING OUT. MY CAR IS AT THE DEALERS THIS VERY MOMENT FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. I HOPE MY 2005 PRIUS GETS RECALLED FOR THIS HEADLIGHT PROBLEM SO OTHER PEOPLE TO NOT HAVE TO EXPERIENCE THIS TRAMA AND DANGEROUS SITUATION. I WAS SURPRISED TO LEARN THAT THIS HEADLIGHT PROBLEM IS COMMON TO THE PRIUS. OUTSIDE OF THIS DANGEROUS HEADLIGHT PROBLEM I LOVE MY PRIUS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10820021January 13, 2016
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
DIGITAL DASHBOARD SOMETIMES IS COMPLETELY BLANK FOR EXTENDED PERIODS SO THAT I CAN'T SEE MY SPEED, FUEL LEVELS, ODOMETER, AND OTHER INFO. WHEN I START UP IT HAPPENS AND CONTINUES THE WHOLE TIME I AM DRIVING. IT IS CAUSING OTHER PROBLEMS RELATED TO THE HYDROLIC BRAKING SOMETIMES AS WELL WHEN THIS HAPPENS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10819749January 12, 2016
SERVICE BRAKES
THE VEHICLE BRAKES FAILED TO APPLY COMPLETELY DURING MORNING START UP AND BACK UP FROM PARKING SPACE. THE DASH WARNING LIGHTS ON INCLUDED BRAKE, TRIANGLE WITH EXCLAMATION, AND ABS. DURING DRIVE TO DEALER, PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. TOYOTA DEALER FOUND BRAKE ACTUATOR ASSEMBLY FAILURE. PAID FOR REPAIR AND CONTACTED TOYOTA WITH CONCERN. FOUND INTERNET INFORMATION ON SIMILAR FAILURE WITH LATER 2010 MODEL.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10819430January 11, 2016
SERVICE BRAKES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING IN RAINY CONDITIONS, THE REAR BRAKES ENGAGED WITH A GRABBING FORCE. THE FAILURE WAS EXPERIENCED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE REAR BRAKE DRUMS WERE CLEANED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE WAS NOT CORRECTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10816310December 27, 2015
SERVICE BRAKES
EVEN MINOR TREPIDATION CAUSED BY ANY UNEVENNESS IN THE SURFACE OF THE ROAD WHILE SLOWING DOWN AND APPLYING THE BRAKES WILL DISENGAGE THE BRAKES MOMENTARILY CAUSING A DANGEROUS SITUATION AND RISK OF CRASH INTO VEHICLE IN FRONT. I OBSERVED THIS PROBLEM CONSISTENTLY IN SEVERAL PRIUS RANGING FROM 2005 TO 2010 SINCE I PURCHASED MINE IN APRIL 2012. I HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT THIS TO A COUPLE OF DEALERSHIPS BUT WAS TOLD "IT IS A DRIVER'S FAULT" ...!! ALL MY FRIENDS OWNERS OF PRIUS HAVE OBSERVED THE SAME PROBLEM IN THEIR CARS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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