Toyota Prius Complaints (2007)

2,004 consumer complaints on file.

#10290900November 4, 2009
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
2007 PRIUS WITH 36K MILES, HID HEADLIGHTS. STOPPED BY POLICE WHO TOLD US THAT WE HAD BOTH A HEADLIGHT AND A TAIL-LIGHT OUT. THIS WAS ONLY A COUPLE OF WEEKS AFTER THE CAR PASSED STATE INSPECTION. UPON RETURNING HOME, FOUND THAT BOTH HEADLIGHTS WERE WORKING BUT THAT TAILLIGHT WAS OUT. MY WIFE MENTIONED THAT OTHER PEOPLE HAD BEEN TELLING HER FOR A COUPLE OF MONTHS THAT THERE WAS A TAILLIGHT OUT ON THE CAR, BUT IT WAS ALWAYS WORKING WHEN WE CHECKED. THE NEXT DAY AFTER THE POLICE STOPPED US, I NOTED THAT ALL LIGHTS ON THE CAR WERE WORKING. TOOK CAR TO DEALER, WHERE THEY CLAIMED THAT THEY THOUGHT IT WAS A BULB ISSUE AND COULD REPLACE IF I WANTED. I COUNTERED THAT A BULB SHOULD EITHER WORK OR NOT, AND THAT THIS INTERMITTENT OPERATION SEEMED TO INDICATE AN ELECTRICAL OR WIRING PROBLEM, BUT THE DEALER DIDN'T AGREE. THE DEALER CHECKED ALL THE LIGHTS, AND FOUND THEM ALL TO BE WORKING. JUST AFTER RETURNING FROM THE DEALER, I DISCOVERED THAT THE PASSENGER HEADLIGHT WAS OUT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10290934November 4, 2009
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, AIR BAGS
MY TOYOTA PRIUS ACCELERATED AT EXTREMELY HIGH SPEED AS I PULLED INTO MY DRIVEWAY. I CRASHED THROUGH THE GARAGE DOOR INTO THE BOXES AND FURNITURE STORED IN THE GARAGE. I HAD MY FOOT PRESSED ALL THE WAY DOWN ON THE BRAKE BUT COULD NOT SLOW DOWN OR STOP BUT ACCELERATED TO A VERY HIGH SPEED. THERE WAS SIGNIFICANT PROPERTY DAMAGE AND CAR DAMAGE. IT WAS REPORTED TO ALLSTATE. NO OTHER VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED. THE AIRBAG DID NOT ACTIVATE! I DO NOT KNOW THE EXACT SPEED OTHER THAN TO SAY IT WAS EXTREMELY FAST AND VERY, VERY TERRIFYING! *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10290988November 4, 2009
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
I HAVE OWNED A 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS SINCE NEW (3 YEARS). I NOTICED ABOUT 3 MONTHS AGO THAT, WHEN I TURNED ON MY HEADLIGHTS, THE RIGHT LAMP WAS STARTING OUT AT FULL BRIGHTNESS BUT GRADUALLY DIMMING UNTIL IT COMPLETELY WENT OUT ALTOGETHER. SWITCHING THE LIGHTS OFF AND ON AGAIN WOULD RESTORE THE LIGHT TO FULL BRIGHTNESS, BUT THEN THE LIGHT WOULD GRADUALLY BEGIN TO DIM AGAIN. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE, AS I DO NOT KNOW THAT THE LIGHT HAS GONE OUT WHILE I AM DRIVING (AS I SAID, IT IS VERY GRADUAL AND OBVIOUSLY CANNOT BE SEEN FROM THE DRIVERS SEAT). THE DEALERSHIP RECOMMENDS CHANGING BOTH HID BULBS, WITH A QUOTED COST OF $553 INCLUDING PARTS AND LABOR. APPARENTLY LIGHTBULBS ARE NOT COVERED, EVEN UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY. AFTER RESEARCHING THIS ISSUE FURTHER, I HAVE LEARNED THAT THIS IS AN EXTREMELY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE 2007 PRIUS. IN LIGHT OF THAT FACT, TOYOTA SHOULD ABSOLUTELY CONDUCT A RECALL OF WHAT IS OBVIOUSLY A SIGNIFICANT DEFECT, AND A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE AS WELL. IT IS EXTREMELY UNFAIR TO SELL US A FAULTY PRODUCT AND THEN ASK US TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS, OR ELSE ENDANGER OUR SAFETY BY DRIVING WITH FAULTY HEADLIGHTS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10291004November 4, 2009
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
RANDOM FAILURE OF EITHER OR BOTH HEADLIGHTS. HEADLIGHTS GO OFF AND WILL COME BACK ON WHEN THE SWITCH IS TURNED OFF AND BACK ON, BUT LIKELY WILL GO OFF AGAIN. THIS IS A WELL KNOWN DEFECT ON THE 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS, TOYOTA WILL NOT PAY TO FIX THIS PROBLEM, INSTEAD CHOOSING TO CHARGE 200 TO 1000 DOLLARS TO REPAIR WITH NO GUARANTEE THAT IT WILL NOT RECUR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10290803November 3, 2009
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH AT NIGHT, THE HEADLIGHTS FAILED WITHOUT ANY PRIOR WARNINGS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR INSPECTION; HOWEVER, THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 23,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 25,000. UPDATE 12/14/09 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE HEADLIGHTS WERE REPLACED. UPDATED 12/16/09*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10290831November 3, 2009
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
I OWN A 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS (TOURING EDITION) WITH HID HEADLIGHTS. MY HEADLIGHTS CONTINUE TO FLICKER AS IF THEY ARE GOING OUT, AND QUITE OFTEN I NOTICE THAT ONE OR THE OTHER BULBS ISN'T WORKING. ONCE I EVEN HAD BOTH HEADLIGHTS GO OUT WITHOUT ANY NOTICE ON THE DASH BOARD, AND ONLY NOTICED THEY WERE BOTH OFF WHEN ENTERING AN UNLIT STREET. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10290567November 2, 2009
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
HEADLIGHTS, BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDES FAIL. CAN BE CORRECTED TEMPORARILY BY TURNING OFF AND THEN TURNING BACK ON. ALREADY STOPPED BY POLICE WITH A WARNING. HAS BEEN OCCURRING FOR A MONTH OR MORE. HAPPENS IN ALL CONDITIONS, SUN, RAIN, CLOUDY, ETC. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10290601November 2, 2009
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
I OWN A 2007 PRIUS TOURING VEHICLE. THE HID HEADLAMPS FREQUENTLY FAIL. TYPICALLY WHAT HAPPENS IS THAT I AM DRIVING AND NOTICE ONE OF THE HEADLAMPS FLICKER QUICKLY THEN TURN OFF. OFTEN TIMES THE REMEDY IS TO SIMPLY TURN THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH OFF, THEN TURN IT BACK ON. TYPICALLY, THE HEADLIGHT WILL STAY ON A FEW MINUTES TO MANY HOURS. I HAVE CONTACTED MY DEALER ON THE ISSUE, BUT THE TOTAL FIX COSTS NEARLY $1000. AFTER READING ABOUT COMPLAINTS, MANY OWNERS EXPERIENCE THE SAME ISSUE MONTHS OR YEARS AFTER THE FIX. I FEEL TOYOTA SHOULD TAKE ON THE RESPONSIBILITY TO FIX THIS ISSUE BECAUSE THEY ARE AWARE THAT MANY OF THEIR VEHICLES WITH HID HEADLAMPS EXPERIENCE THE SAME PROBLEMS. IT IS NOT DUE TO OVERUSE, NEGLECT, OR ABUSE ON MY PART. IT IS A DEFECT MY PRIUS WAS LIKELY TO EXPERIENCE THE MOMENT THEY SOLD THE VEHICLE TO ME. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10290737November 2, 2009
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC
I WAS DRIVING UNDER NORMAL CONDITIONS AND SUDDENLY MY 2007 PRIUS "BRAKE" LIGHT, "VSC", "ABS", CIRCLE-EXCLAMATION POINT LIGHTS ALL LIT UP ON THE DASH. TOYOTA MANUAL STATES THAT THE USER SHOULD DRIVE IMMEDIATELY TO A DEALER. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, AND AFTER A DAY'S EXAMINATION, THEY EXPLAINED THAT THEY CANNOT LOCATE ANY ISSUES, THE LIGHTS ARE NO LONGER ON, AND IT IS SAFE TO DRIVE. A COUPLE OF DAYS LATER, AGAIN UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS, ALL OF THE LIGHT ILLUMINATE AGAIN. I IMMEDIATELY TAKE IT TO A DIFFERENT TOYOTA DEALER, AND THEY INDICATE THAT THE BRAKE ACTUATOR ASSEMBLY HAS FAILED. THEY EXPLAINED THAT IT IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE, AND THE REPLACEMENT PART ALONE IS $1900 +LABOR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10290451October 31, 2009
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
BOTH HEADLIGHTS ON OUR 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS HAVE BEGUN EITHER TO FLICKER AND DIM, OR ELSE FAIL COMPLETELY, AND APPARENTLY AT RANDOM, WHILST THE VEHICLE IS IN OPERATION. THE PASSENGER-SIDE HAS SUFFERED THE PROBLEM FOR THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS, AGAIN SPORADICALLY, BUT ONLY RECENTLY HAS THE DRIVER-SIDE BEGUN TO SHOW SIMILAR TROUBLES. IT HAS PROVED VERY DIFFICULT TO OPERATE THE VEHICLE AT NIGHT, WHEN THE LAMPS CAN SUDDENLY AND UNEXPECTEDLY FAIL, AND LEAVE THE DRIVER ENTIRELY AT THE MERCY OF HIS OWN, UNILLUMINATED, SIGHT. THE DEALERSHIP HAS QUOTED A REPLACEMENT COST OF OVER $800 FOR BOTH LIGHTS, AND CLAIMS THEM NOT COVERED UNDER THE COMPANY WARRANTY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10290395October 30, 2009
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
THE HID BULBS ON MY 2007 PRIUS HAVE BEEN FAILING SINCE LAST FALL AND CONTINUE TO DO SO AT SOME POINT ALMOST EVERY TIME I DRIVE THE CAR AT NIGHT. IF I TURN THE LIGHTS COMPLETELY OFF, THEN BACK ON, THIS SEEMS TO "REBOOT" THE LIGHTS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10290206October 29, 2009
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
A SECOND INCIDENCE OF THE SAME PROBLEM. SEE ODI NUMBER 10285154. ON THE ORIGINAL COMPLAINT, THE DRIVER'S SIDE HEADLAMP ON A 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS WAS INTERMITTENT.(DATE OF INCIDENCE WAS 9/16/09). THE HEADLAMP WAS REPLACED. ON 10/27/09, THE SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED WITH THE PASSENGER SIDE HEADLAMP. THE LAMP GOES OFF. TO REACTIVATE, THE HEADLAMP SWITCH IS TURNED OFF AND THEN TURNED BACK ON. HEADLAMP IS TO BE REPLACED ON 10/30/09. NHTSA CLOSED ACTION WITH TOYOTA A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO ON THIS PROBLEM BECAUSE IT WAS STATED THAT BOTH BULBS WOULD NOT GO OUT AT THE SAME TIME. AS A FORMER AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY PROFESSIONAL, I SAY THAT THIS SECOND OCCURRENCE INDICATES THAT BOTH BULBS COULD GO OUT SIMULTANEOUSLY AND THAT THIS CASE WITH TOYOTA SHOULD BE REOPENED. SINCE I DO NOT KNOW THE ROOT CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM, I DO NOT KNOW IF THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN SOLVED ON THE REPLACEMENT LAMPS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10290224October 29, 2009
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
THE HEADLIGHT IS PHYSICALLY GOING OUT. I NOTICED IT WHEN I PULLED INTO MY DRIVEWAY LAST NIGHT AND HAD ONLY THE DRIVER'S SIDE HEADLIGHT SHINING AGAINST THE GARAGE DOOR. I DID THE SAME THING I HAVE DONE BEFORE, I TURNED THE LIGHTS OFF THEN BACK ON AGAIN AND IT AGAIN CAME ON. THIS IS TYPICALLY HOW I HAVE NOTICED THE LIGHT HAS GONE OUT, WITH WHAT SHOULD BE TWO LIGHTS SHINING AGAINST THE BACK OF AN SUV, VAN, TRUCK, GARAGE DOOR ETC.. LIKE LAST NIGHT, LAST WEEK IT WAS DOING IT FREQUENTLY ENOUGH THAT I WOULD SEE THE LIGHT POP OFF WHILE DRIVING IN THE RAIN. OTHERWISE IT HASN'T BEEN VERY NOTICEABLE WHEN IT HAS HAPPENED WHILE I'M DRIVING IT. ALWAYS WHEN I PULL UP TO SOMETHING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10289941October 27, 2009
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
I OWN A 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS AND THE HID HEADLIGHTS WILL UNEXPECTEDLY SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10289981October 27, 2009
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
2007 TOYOTA PRIUS HEADLAMPS CUT OFF WHILE DRIVING. FIRST THE PASSENGER SIDE. NOW RECENTLY BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER HEADLAMPS CUT OFF. TURNING LIGHT OFF THEN BACK ON MAKES HEADLAMPS WORK FOR A PERIOD OF TIME. CUTS OFF ABOUT 5-10 MINUTES INTO RUNNING THE CAR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10290023October 27, 2009
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS. HER PASSENGER SIDE HD HEADLIGHTS FAILED, WHICH SUBSEQUENTLY REDUCED HER VISIBILITY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, AND A TECHNICIAN CONCLUDED THAT BOTH HEAD-LIGHTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT AN EXPENSE OF $400.00. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED, BECAUSE SHE BELIEVES THAT THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 52000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 57000. UPDATED12/11/09 *BF UPDATED 12/11/09. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10289650October 24, 2009
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
FOR SOME TIME THE HEADLIGHTS ON OUR 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS HAVE BEEN BEHAVING STRANGELY, WITH ONE OR THE OTHER GOING OUT INTERMITTENTLY, THEN LATER COMING BACK ON. LAST WEEKEND WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT ON DARK, NARROW, TWISTY MOUNTAIN ROADS, THEY BOTH SUDDENLY WENT OUT. THE CAR CAN NOT BE DRIVEN AT NIGHT DUE TO THE RISK OF HEADLAMP FAILURE AND CRASH. TOYOTA DEALERS QUOTE $1000-PLUS COST TO REPAIR AN OBVIOUS DESIGN FLAW WITH SERIOUS SAFETY IMPLICATIONS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10289656October 24, 2009
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS I HAVE TAKEN MY 2007 BACK TO THE DEALER FOR INTERMITTENT HEADLIGHT FAILURE, WHILE DRIVING! ONE LIGHT WOULD GO OUT, OR BOTH WOULD GO TO WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE CREATING A POTENTIAL LIFE THREATENING SITUATION. THE DEALER COULD NOT IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM, THEN ON OCTOBER 23 2009, THEY WERE FINALLY ABLE TO REPLICATE THE PROBLEM AND SAID I NEEDED TWO NEW HEADLIGHT UNITS AT THE COST OF $400 EACH (PARTS AND LABOR). I DECIDED TO DOCUMENT THIS POTENTIAL LIFE THREATENING PROBLEM TO THE NHTSA, SO YOU COULD ADD MY COMPLAINT TO THE COMPLAINTS THAT YOU HAVE ALREADY RECEIVED IN ORDER TO PRESSURE TOYOTA MOTORS TO TAKE CORRECTIVE ACTION. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10289682October 24, 2009
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
HEADLIGHTS RANDOMLY FAIL WHILE DRIVING. THE ISSUE IS NOT THE BULB AS THE HEADLIGHTS WILL TURN BACK ON IF YOU FLICK THE LIGHTS OFF AND ON AGAIN. TOYOTA DEALERSHIP CLAIMS IT'S JUST THE BULB, WANTS $800 TO REPAIR. THIS IS CLEARLY A SAFETY DEFECT SINCE HID BULBS ARE SUPPOSED TO LAST SIGNIFICANTLY LONGER THAN REGULAR BULBS AND SINCE THE BULBS CAN FAIL AT RANDOM TIMES, YET WORK FINE AT RANDOM TIMES AS WELL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10289448October 23, 2009
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
WHEN DRIVING WITH THE HEADLAMPS ON, ONE HEADLAMP (USUALLY THE DRIVER'S SIDE BUT IT HAS OCCURRED WHICH THE PASSENGER SIDE AS WELL) WILL GO OUT. IF I TURN THE LIGHTS OFF AND TURN THEM BACK ON THE BOTH LIGHTS WILL WORK AGAIN. THIS IS INTERMITTENT AND I CAN'T MAKE IT HAPPEN. AT MY LAST SERVICE THEY COULD NOT REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM AND LOOKED AT ME LIKE I WAS NUTS. I LIVE IN THE COUNTRY AND DO A LOT OF NIGHT DRIVING. I AM BEGINNING TO NOTICE THIS HAPPENING ON A WEEKLY BASIS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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