Toyota Prius Complaints (2007)

2,004 consumer complaints on file.

#10226800May 6, 2008
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD AND INCREASED IN SPEED. THE BRAKES DID NOT HOLD. THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A TREE AND THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. HER RIGHT KNEE WAS CRUSHED AND THE LEFT KNEE WAS FRACTURED. SHE RECEIVED LACERATIONS FROM THE SEAT BELT ON HER NECK AND HER RIBS WERE BRUISED. THE PASSENGER SUSTAINED BROKEN RIBS, A PUNCTURED LUNG, INTERNAL BLEEDING, OPTICAL NERVE DAMAGE, A TRACHEOTOMY, AND SPINAL INJURY. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND PICTURES ARE AVAILABLE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE ALMOST 10,000.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
2
Deaths:
0
#10226652May 5, 2008
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
THE HID HEADLIGHTS IN THE NEWER MODEL PRIUS HAVE PROBLEMS WHERE THEY COME OFF AND ON. SOMETIMES NEITHER WILL COME ON. I KNOW THE BULBS ARE OK BECAUSE THEY COME ON AND THEN FADE OUT. IT IS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM BUT IT IS A REAL SAFETY ISSUE AT NIGHT WHEN YOU NEED THE LIGHTS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10225669April 25, 2008
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS, EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS
I HAVE HAD TWO TAILLIGHTS FAIL AND TWO HID HEADLAMPS FAIL IN THE FIRST 17 MONTHS OF OWNING MY 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10225582April 24, 2008
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
HID HEADLIGHTS ON MY 2007 PRIUS - THE RIGHT LIGHT WILL GO DIM AND EVENTUALLY TURN OFF COMPLETELY. THE LEFT SIDE WILL NOTICEABLY DIM AS WELL. I WILL TURN OFF THE LIGHTS, THEN TURN THEM BACK ON - AND THE RIGHT SIDE AND LEFT SIDE WILL RETURN TO "NORMAL" BRIGHTNESS FOR A TIME - AND THEN THE SAME THING HAPPENS AGAIN. I CONSIDER THIS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE - I NOTICED THIS PROBLEM ON A MAJOR VACATION I JUST HAD AND DIDN'T WANT TO DRIVE ON THE INTERSTATE AT NIGHT BECAUSE OF THIS SAFETY PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10224967April 18, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE, FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:STORAGE:FUEL GAUGE SYSTEM
VEHICLE DOES NOT ACHIEVE ADVERTISED FUEL CONSUMPTION PERFORMANCE. I HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT THIS SINCE THE FIRST SERVICE VISIT. TODAY A FACTORY TECHNICIAN GOT UNACHIEVABLE RESULTS SUGGESTING THAT OUR REAL WORLD EXPERIENCE AFTER 29,000 MILES WITH THE VEHICLE IS NORMAL. HE CLAIMED TO HAVE GOTTEN 66.984 MPG AFTER A 42.2 MILES OF 55 MPH HIGHWAY AND "IN TOWN" DRIVING, NOTING ONLY THAT AN OUT OF FUEL FAULT HAD NEVER BEEN CLEARED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10224037April 9, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
ON A 2007 PRIUS GAS GAUGE SHOWED 2 BARS AND WAS DRIVING ACROSS A BRIDGE IN CALIFORNIA WHEN THE GAS ENGINE STOPPED. LOOKED AT THE GAS GAUGE AND IT STILL SHOWED 2 BARS. WAS FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO BE ON A SECTION OF THE BRIDGE WITH A BREAKDOWN LANE. 1/2 MILE FURTHER ON AND WE WOULD HAVE BEEN STUCK IN ONE OF THE TRAFFIC LANES. THE VSC, CHECK ENGINE, AND HYBRID SYSTEM FAILURE INDICATORS WHERE ON - BUT NOT THE LOW FUEL!!! GOT TOWED TO A DEALER. SERVICE MANAGER TOLD US THAT THE CAR WAS OUT OF GAS AND THAT THE "GAS GAUGE WAS STUCK" THAT'S WHY IT DIDN'T SHOW EMPTY. HE BLAMED IT ON THE BLADDER DESIGN OF THE FUEL TANK AND SAID IT WAS "A DESIGN DEFECT" THAT TOYOTA NEW ABOUT. THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY ISSUE - WE COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10222055March 23, 2008
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
2007 PRIUS - HID HEADLIGHT PROBLEM, BOTH COME ON WHEN TURNED ON THEN AS I'M DRIVING THE DRIVERS SIDE GOES OUT. IF YOU TURN OFF AND BACK ON BOTH HEADLIGHTS RELIGHT, ONLY TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM REPEATED. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUES WHICH NEED TO BE RECTIFIED. THIS IS A REPORTED PROBLEM BY MANY PRIUS OWNERS AND MANY ARE BEING CHARGED HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS FOR WHAT IS AN APPARENT DEFECT OFTEN NOT GETTING THE PROBLEM SOLVED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10220683March 10, 2008
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE APPROACHING A RED LIGHT AT 2-3 MPH, THE VEHICLE AUTOMATICALLY ACCELERATED. THE CONTACT BROADSIDED THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. HER VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 4,500. UPDATED 4/8/08 *CN STATE OF CALIFORNIA TRAFFIC REPORT. UPDATED 04/08/08 *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10220139March 5, 2008
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
TO:[email protected] SUBJECT:TOYOTA PRIUS 2007 MODEL COMMENTS: ALTHOUGH MY DEALER HAS RUN A COMPLETE BATTERY OF COMPUTER TESTS, NO EXPLANATION IS APPARENT FOR THE VEHICLE ACCELERATING ON ITS OWN AT HIGH SPEED ON THE HIGHWAY. IT HAS HAPPENED TO ME TWICE AND IT IS TERRIFYING. THE TWO INSTANCES WERE A COUPLE OF MONTHS APART. BOTH TIMES, I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY AND HAD DRIVEN 10-20 MILES WITHOUT A PROBLEM. ONCE THE GAS PEDAL WAS PHYSICALLY JOLTED UP, THE PROBLEM WAS CORRECTED. WHEN IT IS OCCURRING, THE BRAKES DO NOT SLOW IT DOWN BY MORE THAN 3-4 MPH. MY DEALER IS A-1 TOYOTA IN NEW HAVEN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10220053March 4, 2008
FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:STORAGE
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE OWNER'S MANUAL STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SHOULD HOLD 11.9 GALLONS OF FUEL, BUT IT ONLY HOLDS 6.4 GALLONS. THE DEALER STATED THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. THE RESET BUTTON IS CONSTANTLY PRESSED; THEREFORE, NO ONE CAN DETECT WHEN THE GAS TANK IS NEAR EMPTY. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 11,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10218571February 19, 2008
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
TOYOTA PRIUS 2007 HEADLIGHT WORKS INTERMITTENTLY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10217766February 11, 2008
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
RANDOM, INTERMITTENT FAILURE OF EITHER HID HEADLAMP. STARTED AROUND 48,000 MILES. TURNING THE HEADLAMP SWITCH OFF AND ON AGAIN REIGNITES THE FAILED LIGHT, UNTIL THE NEXT RANDOM FAILURE. THE DEALER IS REPLACING THE COMPUTER(S) THAT CONTROL THE LIGHTS. THEY WANT TO REPLACE THE LAMPS, BUT THEY COST $400, AND ARE NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10217285February 6, 2008
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, EITHER THE LEFT, RIGHT, OR BOTH HEADLIGHTS WOULD FAIL. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS THE CONTACT'S RESPONSIBILITY. THE TOYOTA MANUFACTURER AGREED TO PAY FOR THE PARTS, BUT NOT THE LABOR. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 42,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10216335January 28, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS. HE STATED THAT HE WAS UNABLE TO START THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE BATTERY DIED BECAUSE THE VEHICLE SAT FOR MORE THAN TEN DAYS. THE DEALER CHARGED THE BATTERY AND THERE HAD BEEN NO FURTHER OCCURRENCES. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE BATTERY CABLES SHOULD BE DISCONNECTED WHEN THE VEHICLE SITS FOR 7-10 DAYS IN ORDER TO PREVENT THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT FELT THAT THE REMEDY WAS UNSAFE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 5,800.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10214364January 9, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHEN SWITCHING FROM CRUISE CONTROL TO APPLYING THE BRAKES AND BACK TO CRUISE CONTROL, THE ENGINE REVVED FOR NO APPARENT REASON. THE FAILURE USUALLY OCCURRED WHEN THE CONTACT APPLIED THE BRAKES RAPIDLY AND TRANSITIONED BACK TO THE CRUISE CONTROL WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH. THE VIN, ENGINE SIZE, NUMBER OF CYLINDERS, AND POWERTRAIN WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 7,500 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 6,500.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10213569January 3, 2008
AIR BAGS, SEAT BELTS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE COLLIDED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE WHEN SHE DEPRESSED THE BRAKE. AS A RESULT, THE SEAT BELTS DISENGAGED WHICH ALLOWED THE DRIVER HIT THE STEERING COLUMN. IN ADDITION, THE CRASH DESTROYED THE VEHICLE AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. AS OF JANUARY 3, 2008, THE DEALER OR MANUFACTURER HAD NOT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 13,000. A POLICE REPORT IS AVAILABLE.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10213170December 29, 2007
FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
THE FLEXIBLE GAS TANK ON THE PRIUS OFTEN FAILS TO FILL UP ALL OF THE WAY TO FULL. IN COLD WEATHER THE TANK OFTEN FILLS ONLY 8 GALLONS(WHEN COMPLETELY EMPTY) AND SOMETIMES CLICKS OFF AT 3 GALLONS OR LESS AND KEEPS CLICKING OFF UNTIL MORE GAS IS FORCED INTO THE TANK. THE PRIUS WAS BROUGHT IN TO THE DEALER AND THEY LOOKED INTO THE TANK ISSUE AND FOUND NOTHING. THERE RECOMMENDATION WAS TO FILL UP ON THE SLOWEST LEVEL AND TO TILT THE GAS NOZZLE TO SIDE OR UPSIDE DOWN TO FORCE MORE GAS INTO THE TANK. THIS DID NOT RECTIFY THE SITUATION AND THE DEALER COULD NOT OFFER ANY FURTHER REMEDY. THE DEALER WILL NOT DO ANYTHING FURTHER TO FIX THE SITUATION. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10213036December 28, 2007
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
STARTING IN NOVEMBER 2007, ONE OF THE HID HEADLIGHTS OCCASIONALLY GOES OUT. TURNING THEM OFF AND BACK ON FIXES THE PROBLEM. SOMETIMES IT HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES ON ONE TRIP (LESS THAN ONE HOUR). I LOOKED ON PRIUS ONLINE THEN HERE. WHEN I SAW OTHER INCIDENTS I DECIDED TO MAKE A COMPLAINT. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER. LIGHT WAS FIXED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10211277December 9, 2007
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER
WHILE BACKING OUT OF MY PARKING SPACE AT WORK, MY BRAKES WENT TO THE FLOOR AND BARELY STOPPED THE VEHICLE. ALARM WAS GOING OFF, SO I PULLED FORWARD JUST ENOUGH TO SEE IF THE BRAKES WERE WORKING AT ALL AND THEY WERE PROBABLY 98% GONE. I PARKED, GOT TOWED TO DEALER NEAR MY HOME WITH AAA. I LATER FOUND OUT THAT A PAIR OF ABS SKID CONTROL RELAYS (2 88263-21010) CAUSED THE PROBLEM. NOTHING MECHANICAL FAILED. THESE RELAYS CAUSED MY ENTIRE BRAKING ABILITY TO BE LOST. I BELIEVE THIS IS AN UNSAFE DESIGN AS THERE IS NO MECHANICAL CONNECTION AVAILABLE AT THE PEDAL IF YOU HAVE THIS ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. SOME MECHANICAL BRAKES SHOULD BE AVAILABLE. THE EMERGENCY BRAKE IS ON / OFF ONLY AND NO IN BETWEEN. I WOULD LIKE TO FIND WHAT LEGAL REMEDIES ARE AVAILABLE TO ME AS I AM CONSIDERING CHANGING TO A SAFER VEHICLE DUE TO THIS DESIGN FLAW. AS IN POWER BRAKES, IF YOU LOSE THE POWER BRAKES, YOU CAN STILL STOP THE VEHICLE, THOUGH DIFFICULT SINCE THERE IS STILL A MECHANICAL HYDRAULIC SYSTEM IN PLACE EVEN WITH A FAILED POWER BOOSTER. *TR THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THE MASTER CYLINDER FAILED. UPDATED
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10210171November 28, 2007
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
STARTING IN NOVEMBER 2007, ONE OF THE HID HEADLIGHTS OCCASIONALLY GOES OUT. I THINK IT CAN BE EITHER ONE. THE FIRST COUPLE OF TIMES I THOUGHT IT WAS THE PASSENGER'S SIDE BUT I DID NOT STOP TO FIND OUT. THE LAST TIME IT WAS THE DRIVER'S SIDE FOR CERTAIN. TURNING THEM OFF AND BACK ON FIXES THE PROBLEM. SOMETIMES IT HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES ON ONE TRIP (LESS THAN ONE HOUR). I LOOKED ON PRIUS ONLINE THEN HERE. WHEN I SAW OTHER INCIDENTS I DECIDED TO MAKE A COMPLAINT. I WILL TAKE THE CAR TO THE DEALER IN THE NEXT MONTH FOR SERVICE. *TR THE DEALER SERVICE MANAGER CONTACTED TOYOTA BEFORE DOING ANY WORK ON MY VEHICLE. THE TOLD HIM TO REPLACE BOTH HID BULBS, WHICH HE DID. HE WAS TOLD THAT THE BULBS OVERHEAT AND CUT OUT. THE PROBLEM NOLONGER OCCURS, BUT AS OF THIS WRITING IT HAS ONLY BEEN A MONTH.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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