Toyota Prius Complaints (2005)

1,051 consumer complaints on file.

#10228772May 23, 2008
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
I HAVE A 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS. ONE OF MY HID HEADLIGHTS BURNED OUT AFTER ONLY 35,000 MILES, JUST 3 MONTHS AFTER MY WARRANTY EXPIRED. TOYOTA CLAIMS ON THEIR WEBSITE THAT HID HEADLIGHTS LAST LONGER THAN HALOGEN BULBS, BUT BY E-MAIL SAID THAT THEY HAD NOT DETERMINED LIFE EXPECTANCY OF PARTS IN MY VEHICLE. LOOKING AT THE MANY PRIUS CHAT ROOMS ON THE WEB, THIS IS NOT AN UNUSUAL PROBLEM. AS THE REPLACEMENT PART ALONE (A SINGLE BULB) RUNS $350, THERE IS A SUBSTANTIAL PROBLEM WITH HAVING TO REPLACE THE BULB SO SOON AFTER THE WARRANTY EXPIRES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10228520May 21, 2008
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC
SPONTANEOUS FAILURE OF REGENERATIVE AND POWER BRAKING SYSTEMS ON PRIUS, RESULTING IN EXTREMELY DIFFICULT BRAKING AND LONG STOPPING DISTANCE; THE 2 OCCURRENCES HAPPENED AT A SPEED OF LESS THAN 30MPH SO I WAS ABLE TO SAFELY COME TO A STOP, BUT AT A HIGHER SPEED IT COULD HAVE BEEN DISASTROUS. THERE WAS NO WARNING, AND IN ONE CASE, THE BRAKES WERE NOT EVEN BEING APPLIED AT THE TIME, IF I REMEMBER CORRECTLY. THE PROBLEM, BRAKE, ABS, AND PS WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATE, AND THERE IS AN AUDIBLE ALARM. THE DEALER DID NOT PERFORM ANY REPAIRS AFTER THE ORIGINAL INCIDENT BUT AFTER A SECOND INCIDENT THEY ARE NOW REPLACING THE ABS ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT AND SEVERAL OTHER ELECTRONIC COMPONENTS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10227959May 15, 2008
FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER
WHEN CAR WAS NEW, I WAS TOLD A WARNING LIGHT WOULD APPEAR FOR LOW FUEL. I RAN THE CAR DRY (WITH ONE BAR SHOWING) AND NO WARNING EVER APPEARED.. THE CAR RAN DRY IN A BAD SECTION OF TOWN AT NIGHT... SUBSEQUENTLY I FOUND THE FUEL GAUGE TO BE GROSSLY INACCURATE. 3 GALLONS WAS REQUIRED TO MOVE THE GAUGE OFF THE LOWEST SETTING ALTHOUGH THE TANK ONLY HOLD 11 GALLONS...WITH HIGH GAS PRICES, ONE CANNOT SHOP WITH A ONE BAR FUEL SETTING (E) SINCE YOU MAY HAVE 4 GALLONS LEFT IN THE TANK..THE FUEL GAUGE IS ESSENTIALLY WORTHLESS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10227624May 13, 2008
AIR BAGS, SEAT BELTS
ON 3/1/08 I WAS INVOLVED IN AN AUTO ACCIDENT WHEREBY I BROADSIDED A PUBLIC BUS AT AN APPROXIMATE ANGLE OF 45 DEGREES. THE WHOLE FRONT OF THE CAR FROM THE CENTER TO THE DRIVER'S SIDE WAS COMPLETELY SMASHED AND NEITHER THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG OR PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. AS A RESULT I, THE DRIVER, INCURRED WHIP LASH INJURIES AND THE FRONT PASSENGER HIT THE FRONT WINDSHIELD AND CRACKED IT AS THE SEATBELT ON THAT SIDE DID NOT WORK EITHER. TOYOTA WAS CONTACTED AND THEIR CLAIM IS THAT THE FRONT SEAT BELT FUNCTIONED PROPERLY BUT THEY COULD NOT EXPLAIN HOW THE FRONT PASSENGER WAS NOT RESTRAINED FROM HITTING THE FRONT WINDSHIELD. AS TO THE AIRBAGS, THEY CLAIM THAT, DESPITE KNOWING THE CAR WAS DOING BETWEEN 40-45 MPH UPON IMPACT, THAT DUE TO THE ANGLE OF THE COLLISION THE AIRBAGS WOULD NOT DEPLOY. COULD YOU PLEASE TELL ME IF THIS IS TRUE. DOES THE LAW ALLOW FOR RESTRAINT SYSTEMS NOT TO DEPLOY IN SUCH ACCIDENTS OR ARE THEY JUST STONE WALLING US? ANY INFO YOU CAN PROVIDE WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. THANK YOU. JOHN E. REARDON *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
3
Deaths:
0
#10227121May 9, 2008
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
2005 TOYOTA PRIUS HID DRIVER'S HEADLIGHT CONTINUES TO INTERMITTENTLY FAIL TO ILLUMINATE. DEALER WANTS >$600 TO REPLACE HEADLIGHT. PROBLEM WELL DOCUMENTED AS RECURRENT ISSUE FOR PRIUS WITH HID HEADLAMPS. THIS SHOULD BE ADDRESSED BY TOYOTA ASAP. IT IS VERY DANGEROUS TO LOSE HEADLIGHTS WHILE DRIVING. IT IS ALSO OUTRAGEOUS TO EXPECT CONSUMERS TO PAY $600 TO REPLACE A LIGHT BULB AND NOT EVEN BE ABLE TO GUARANTEE THAT WILL SOLVE THE PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10222256March 25, 2008
AIR BAGS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE HIS DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING 45-55 MPH, SHE SWERVED ACROSS THE ROAD THEN CRASHED INTO A TREE. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE FLIPPED AND LANDED ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. IN ADDITION, SHE CRASHED INTO TWO OTHER TREES. THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CRASH DESTROYED THE VEHICLE. THE DRIVER WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL AND SUFFERED NUMEROUS INJURIES. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 56,000. UPDATED 04/21/08 *BF
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10219579February 28, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
2005 TOYOTA PRIUS RIGHT HID HEADLAMP FLICKERS AND SOMETIMES TURNS OFF WHILE DRIVING. DEALER WILL NOT COVER EXTENSIVE REPAIR COST. FROM INTERNET INFORMATION THIS SEEMS TO BE A VERY COMMON PROBLEM THAT COULD BE VERY DANGEROUS IF BOTH HEADLIGHTS QUIT SIMULTANEOUSLY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10219030February 24, 2008
STEERING:COLUMN
THIS IS A COMPLAINT ABOUT SOUTER'S IN BARSTOW, CALIFORNIA, NOT HONORING THE RECALL NOTICE ON 2004-2006 TOYOTA PRIUS STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT REPLACEMENT. I TOOK IT IN WHEN I GOT THE FIRST NOTICE AND SINCE I HAVE TO USE HAND CONTROLS TO DRIVE I HAVE THESE CONTROLS INSTALLED IN THIS PRIUS. SOUTAR'S SAID THEY WOULD NOT WORK ON THE DEFECT UNLESS THE CONTROLS WERE REMOVED. OR THEY WOULD CALL A TECHNICIAN TO COME UP FROM LA TO REMOVE THE CONTROLS AND I WOULD HAVE TO PAY. IT WOULD HAVE COST TOO MUCH. THEY SAID THEY WERE SORRY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10218860February 22, 2008
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
MY VEHICLE IS A 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS WITH TRIM PACKAGE #9, INCLUDING HIGH-INTENSITY DISCHARGE (HID) HEADLAMPS - THE ONLY ONES AVAILABLE IN THE ONLY VEHICLE AVAILABLE TO ME, SO THESE WERE NOT AN OPTIONAL PURCHASE. I WAS CONFIDENT IN THE EXPECTED LONG SERVICE LIFE OF HID BULBS BUT HAD ONE FAIL AT 41,000 MILES IN A PATTERN VERY SIMILAR TO OTHERS DESCRIBED ONLINE - INTERMITTENT DIFFICULTY GETTING ONE HEADLIGHT TO TURN ON, FOLLOWED BY DIMMING AND A PINK TINT IN THE LIGHT, AND FINALLY COMPLETE FAILURE. DESPITE THE HISTORY OF PRIUSES HAVING EARLY HID FAILURE, THE DEALER WAS ONLY ABLE TO SUGGEST THAT I PAY FOR A BULB REPLACEMENT, FOR ABOUT $350. GIVEN THAT HID LIGHTING SYSTEMS ARE SUPPOSED TO BE MUCH LONGER LIVED THAN THIS, I MUST SUSPECT THAT THERE IS A FLAW IN THE PRIUS'S HID ELECTRONICS THAT IS CAUSING BULBS AND/OR OTHER COMPONENTS IN THE HID LIGHTING CHAIN TO FAIL MUCH SOONER THAN EVER EXPECTED, IF NOT UNEXPECTEDLY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10218258February 17, 2008
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
I WAS HEADED SOUTH ON 22ND STREET CROSSING 7TH AVENUE SOUTH INTERSECTION. WOMAN RAN A REDLIGHT. I STRUCK HER CAR. I HAVE A 2005 PRIUS. THE FRONT END WENT DOWN AS IT WAS DESIGN, BUT THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10217329February 7, 2008
AIR BAGS, SEAT BELTS
I WAS A PASSENGER IN THE FRONT SEAT OF A TOYOTA PRIUS THAT WAS HEADED EAST BOUND INTO AN INTERSECTION IN JOLIET ILLINOIS WHEN ANOTHER VEHICLE MADE A LEFT TURN IN FRONT OF THE CAR THAT I WAS IN. THE RESULTING FRONT END COLLISION FAILED TO TRIGGER THE AIR BAGS AND THE SEAT BELTS DID NOT HOLD ME IN PLACE. AS A RESULT I HAVE A PERMANENT INJURY TO MY RIGHT SHOULDER THAT LEAVES ME WITH LIMITED MOBILITY IN MY RIGHT ARM. TWO OTHER PEOPLE WERE ALSO INJURED IN THE RESULTING CRASH. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
3
Deaths:
0
#10216552January 30, 2008
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
THE PASSENGER SIDE HID HEADLIGHT ON MY 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS TURNS OFF SPONTANEOUSLY AT RANDOM TIMES. IT WILL TURN ON AGAIN IF I TURN THE LIGHTS OFF AND ON, BUT IT WILL INEVITABLY TURN OFF AFTER 1 TO 10 MINUTES OF DRIVING. THE CAR HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT AND HAS 39,000 MILES ON IT. THE DEALER-TRAINED "MASTER MECHANIC" RAN A DIAGNOSTIC TEST AND CLAIMS THAT THE "HID ECU" (HID ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT, PART NUMBER 8110747150) IS MALFUNCTIONING AND MUST BE REPLACED. IT COSTS $320 IN LABOR TO ACCESS THE HID ECU UNDER THE DASHBOARD, AND $286.99 FOR THE NEW COMPUTER. THERE ARE DOZENS OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE HID LIGHTS TURNING OFF FOR NO APPARENT REASON ON VARIOUS PRIUS BULLETIN BOARDS ON LINE, YET TOYOTA'S CUSTOMER SATISFACTION CENTER CLAIMS TO HAVE NO RECORDS OF THIS PROBLEM, AND CLAIMS THERE IS NO RECALL OR SERVICE BULLETIN. HEADLIGHTS FAILING AT RANDOM DUE TO A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE THAT TOYOTA SHOULD ADDRESS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10216404January 29, 2008
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
HID HEADLAMPS GO OUT RANDOMLY AND INDIVIDUALLY, BUT CAN BE RELIT BY CYCLING THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH ON AND OFF. DEALER IS REPLACING BOTH HID LAMP AND CONTROLLER ASSEMBLIES ON BOTH SIDES; SAYS REPLACING JUST LAMP OR CONTROLLER WILL NOT PERMANENTLY SOLVE PROBLEM. CRASH DANGER DUE TO LAMPS GOING OUT WITHOUT WARNING. *CN
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10216214January 27, 2008
AIR BAGS, SEAT BELTS
ANOTHER DRIVER FAILED TO YIELD TO ME AT AN INTERSECTION. I STRUCK THE OTHER CAR AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT GO OFF NOR DID THE SEAT BELTS LOCK INTO PLACE TO HOLD THE PASSENGERS IN A RESTRAINED POSITION. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
3
Deaths:
0
#10215624January 22, 2008
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
TOYOTA SIENNA ...AT APPROX 36K MILES MY HEADLIGHTS WOULD INTERMITTENTLY GO OFF. BULBS WERE REPLACED AND THE PROBLEM PERSISTED. THE ECU UNIT TO THE HEADLIGHT WAS REPLACED AND WORKED FINE FOR A YEAR. NOW AT 59K THE HEADLIGHTS ARE DOING THE SAME. I AM TOLD AGAIN TO REPLACE THE BULBS(300$) EACH. THE BULBS COME ON BUT JUST GO OUT ON THERE OWN WITHOUT HITTING A BUMP . IT VARIES WHICH LIGHT I WILL HAVE AND I HAVE LOST BOTH WHILE TRAVELING. I THINK THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS. THE DEALERSHIP IS REPLACING BULBS THIS WEE....HOPE IT WORKS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10215270January 17, 2008
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM:INJECTORS
AFTER ONLY 40,000 MILES, FUEL INJECTORS HAVE TO BE REPLACED... $1,000.00. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10211071December 6, 2007
VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR
"BLIND SPOT" ON PASSENGER FRONT SIDE WINDOW IN 2005 PRIUS. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10210426November 30, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE, TIRES
WE HAVE TWO 2005 TOYOTA PRIUSES WHICH HAVE EXHIBITED IDENTICAL STALLING AND SHIFTING PROBLEMS. THE HYBRID SYSTEM WILL STALL OR NOT OPERATE AND WILL NOT ALLOW US TO SHIFT THE VEHICLE INTO GEAR PERIODICALLY. ONE TOYOTA DEALER SAYS WE NEED TO REPLACE THE TRANSAXLE, AND ANOTHER WAS NOT SURE AND SAID THERE BEST "GUESS" WAS TO REFRESH THE ECU AND HYBRID CONTROL MODULE SOFTWARE , HOWEVER AFTER DOING EXTENSIVE RESEARCH ONLINE BELIEVE IT TO BE A COMBINATION OF A SOFTWARE GLITCH ATTRIBUTED TO A LEAK IN WATERPROOFING A GASKET NEAR AN ECU. THE PROBLEM WAS BROUGHT TO THE DEALERS ATTENTION ALMOST A YEAR AGO WHILE THE VEHICLES WERE STILL UNDER WARRANTY. ALL THEY DID WAS SIMPLY "FLASH" OR REFRESH THE MEMORY AND DID NOT ACTUALLY RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. THE PRIUS' HYBRID-RELATED COMPONENTS, INCLUDING THE HYBRID CONTROL MODULE ARE COVERED FOR 8 YEARS/100,000 MILES. WE ALSO MENTIONED TO THE DEALER THE UNUSUAL AND EXCESSIVE TIRE WEAR ON BOTH VEHICLES, SOME OF THE TIRES HAD NO TREAD AND WERE ALREADY BALD AFTER ONLY 12,000 MILES. I AM WONDERING IF THIS COULD BE RELATED TO THE STEERING OR TRACTION CONTROL ISSUES PREVALENT WITH THIS MODEL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10209497November 20, 2007
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
MY 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS ACCELERATED EVEN WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WASN'T DEPRESSED. THE BRAKES WERE BURNED OFF THE CAR IN AN ATTEMPT TO BRING THE VEHICLE TO A STOP. THE CAR CRASHED INTO THE SIDE OF A GAS STATION. THERE WERE NO INJURIES TO PEOPLE, BUT THE CAR WAS DESTROYED BY THE IMPACT AND A FIRE. THE SIDE OF THE GAS STATION WAS DAMAGED. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10207970November 5, 2007
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
I HAVE A 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS, PURCHASED IN SEPTEMBER 2006. EVER SINCE I'VE OWNED MY 2005 PRIUS, I HAVE EXPERIENCED UNINTENDED ACCELERATION ON A REGULAR BASIS. IT MOST OFTEN HAPPENS ON A PARTICULAR STREET IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD WHERE I NEED TO STOP BEFORE ENTERING A MAIN THOROUGHFARE. THERE IS A VERY SLIGHT DECLINE JUST BEFORE THE ROAD TERMINATES AT AN INTERSECTION. I'M ALWAYS TRAVELING AT A RELATIVELY SLOW SPEED (15-20 MPH), COASTING AND NOT DEPRESSING THE GAS PEDDLE WHEN IT OCCURS. JUST AT THE POINT WHERE I BEGIN TO BRAKE, THE CAR SUDDENLY LUNGES FORWARD AND ACCELERATES. I HAVE TO HIT THE BRAKES, AND THE CAR FEELS LIKE IT'S STILL GOING FORWARD, AND THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT ON THE DASHBOARD COMES ON. THIS FIRST TIME IT OCCURRED WAS DURING THE WINTER FOLLOWING PURCHASE OF MY CAR. INITIALLY I THOUGHT THAT THE CAR PERFORMED POORLY IN SNOW BECAUSE THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT WAS COMING ON. BUT THEN AFTER THAT FIRST WINTER PASSED AND THE ROADS WERE COMPLETELY DRY, IT HAPPENED AS WELL AND CONTINUES TO HAPPEN REGULARLY. FORTUNATELY IT ALWAYS HAPPENS UNDER THESE VERY PARTICULAR CIRCUMSTANCES WHEN I'M NOT TRAVELING FAST, OTHERWISE I FEAR NOT BEING ABLE TO STOP THE CAR AND PLOWING INTO A MAIN STREET, OR HITTING A CAR IN FRONT OF ME, OR WORSE HITTING A PEDESTRIAN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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