2005 Toyota Prius Complaint Log

WE PURCHASED A TOYOTA 2005 PRIUS IN AUGUST OF THIS YEAR. IT HAD 92,000 MILES ON IT BUT WAS IN EXCEPTIONAL CONDITION. JUST THIS WEEK OCTOBER 15 THE PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT STARTED BLINKING AND ONE DAY LATER WENT OUT. *TR

2005 TOYOTA PRIUS DRIVING DISPLAY WENT OUT WHEN DRIVING.*TR

TOYOTA PRIUS HEADLIGHTS- THE REPLACEMENT COST FOR ONE BULB IS RIDICULOUSLY HIGH- ABOUT $199 PLUS LABOR ($110). THE NEW LIGHTBULB OVERHEATS AFTER TWO MINUTES AND TURNS OFF. IF I TURN THE LIGHTS ON AND OFF AGAIN THE BULB WILL COME BACK ON--FOR TWO MINUTES AT A TIME. THIS IS INCREDIBLY DANGEROUS. I HEAR A NEW BULB IS COMING OUT TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM, BUT SINCE MINE WAS "USED" I CANNOT RETURN IT FOR AN EXCHANGE WHEN THE NEW BULBS COME IN. BECAUSE IT IS HALOGEN, THEY WILL ONLY GUARANTEE THE BULB IF THEY INSTALL IT. IT'S A MONOPOLY. WE ARE STUCK PAYING THEIR HIGH PRICES FOR THE BULB-- AND ARE REQUIRED TO GO TO THE DEALERSHIP TO CHANGE A SIMPLE HEADLIGHT. (ALTHOUGH I DARE NOT MENTION THE INSTALLATION PROCESS, WHICH IS ANYTHING BUT SIMPLE-- INCLUDING REMOVING THE BUMPER!) *TR

2005 TOYOTA PRIUS STALLED ON AN OVERPASS WITH NO SHOULDERS. THE TRANSMISSION BECAME STUCK IN PARK, AND THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE PUSHED SINCE THE FRONT WHEELS WERE LOCKED UP. THE CAR WAS EVENTUALLY TOWED, AND IT HAD TO BE DRAGGED ONTO THE FLATBED WRECKER SINCE THE FRONT WHEELS WOULD NOT ROLL. THE PROBLEM WAS DETERMINED TO BE A FAILED PUMP FOR COOLING THE INVERTER. THE PUMP FAILED SUCH THAT IT BLEW A FUSE THAT ALSO CONTROLLED THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTER, PREVENTING THE CAR FROM BEING PUT INTO NEUTRAL SO THAT IT COULD BE PUSHED OUT OF TRAFFIC LANES. THIS IS A VERY UNSAFE FAILURE MODE. *TR

2005 TOYOTA PRIUS. CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE JOLTED AND SPRINTED FORWARD ON ITS OWN WHILE ENTERING A PARKING LOT *TGW

2005 TOYOTA PRIUS WITH HID HEADLIGHTS WHICH HAS SELF LEVELING FEATURE. HAVE NOTICED FOR A WHILE THE HEADLIGHTS ARE SHINING LOW, CAN'T SEE SUFFICIENTLY AHEAD OF CAR. HEADLIGHTS CAN NOT BE MANUALLY ADJUSTED. FOUND ONLINE SEVERAL REPORTS INDICATING THE CONTROL MODULE THAT SENDS THE LEVELING MESSAGE TO CONTROL THE HEADLIGHTS WHICH IS MOUNTED ON THE DRIVER SIDE REAR AXLE FAILS WHEN WATER ENTERS THE DEVICE AND CORRODES THE UNIT. POOR CONTRUCTION OF THIS UNIT LEAD TO WATER INFILTRATION AND HAS RESULTED IN A DANGEROUS SITUATION DUE TO THE POOR HEADLIGHT PERFORMANCE. TOYOTA HAS BEEN CONTACTED AND THEY HAVE NOT ANSWERED IF A RECALL IS WARRENTED EVEN THOUGH APPARENTLY THE MALFUNCIONING UNIT HAS BEEN REDESIGNED TO STOP WATER INFILTRATION NOR WILL THEY PROVIDE THE NECESSARY REPAIR WITHOUT CHARGING FOR IT. *TT

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS FAILED AND WOULD NOT ILLUMINATE. THE CONTACT BECAME AWARE OF THE HEADLIGHT FAILURE WHEN SHE WAS PULLED OVER BY A POLICE OFFICER. THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH HAD TO BE MOVED TO ON AND OFF POSITION SEVERAL TIMES FOR THE HEADLIGHTS TO ILLUMINATE. ONE HEADLIGHT WAS REPLACED, HOWEVER THE FAILURE WAS NOT CORRECTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 103,754 .

DRIVER'S SIDE HID HEADLIGHT ON MY 2005 PRIUS GOES OUT INTERMITTENTLY. IF I TURN THE HEADLIGHTS OFF AND THEN BACK ON, THE BULB STAYS LIT FOR A LITTLE WHILE, UNTIL IT HAPPENS AGAIN. FROM WHAT I'M READING ON THE INTERNET, THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM THAT TOYOTA IS AWARE OF BUT WILL NOT RESOLVE. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE - IT'S DIFFICULT TO SEE WITH ONLY ONE FUNCTIONAL HEADLIGHT. I PAID GOOD MONEY TO GET THE UPGRADED HEADLIGHTS, TOYOTA SHOULD STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCTS AND FIX THE PROBLEM. *TR

2005 TOYOTA PRIUS: HEADLIGHTS TURN OFF INTERMITTENTLY. HAPPENS EACH TIME VEHICLE IS DRIVEN, EVEN ON VERY SHORT DRIVES. IT IS NECESSARY TO TURN HEADLIGHTS OFF, AND ON TO GET LAMPS TO WORK AGAIN. OCCASIONALLY, BOTH LAMPS GO OUT AT THE SAME TIME. VERY DANGEROUS! I HAVE CHILDREN, AND AM FEARFUL OF DRIVING WITH THEM IN THIS VEHICLE AT NIGHT BECAUSE OF THIS ISSUE. I HAVE TOLD MY TOYOTA DEALERSHIP ABOUT THIS ISSUE, AND WAS TOLD THEY ARE AWARE OF THE ISSUE, AND I SHOULD TURN THEM OFF AND ON TO RESOLVE. THEY ALSO TOLD ME TO REPLACE WOULD BE OVER $400/EACH. ADDITIONALLY, I'M FEARFUL I WILL GET A MOVING VIOLATION WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT. *TR

I PULLED INTO A PARKING PLACE.I NOTICED MY CAR WAS NOT STRAIGHT AND I STARTED TO RELEASE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STRAIGHTEN IT. THOUGH I STILL HAD MY FOOT ON THE EMERGENCY BRAKE AND HAD NOT STARTED TO ACCELERATE, THE CAR LUNGED FORWARD. I SLAMMED DOWN ON THE EMERGENCY BRAKE AND THE REGULAR BRAKE; AT SOME POINT I REMEMBER THAT MY LEFT FOOT WAS ON THE REGULAR BRAKE PUSHING WITH ALL MY MIGHT. WITHOUT HESITATION MY CAR SMASHED INTO THE CAR PARKED AHEAD OF ME. MY CAR KNOCKED THE OTHER CAR INTO THE STOP SIGN AHEAD OF IT, THEN EXPLODED INTO THE INTERSECTION AND CONTINUED A SHORT WAY DOWN THE BLOCK BEFORE SLOWING DOWN. I WAITED FOR TRAFFIC AND THEN TURNED AROUND. I CAME BACK AND PARKED ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE STREET FACING THE OTHER WAY. I CROSSED THE STREET TO THE SCENE OF THE ACCIDENT AND TOLD THE PARKING METER LADY THAT I HAD HIT THE OTHER CAR. I WAS VERY SHAKEN. THE DRIVER OF THE OTHER CAR HAD JUST ARRIVED WITH HIS FARMER'S MARKET BAGS. HE SAID HE WOULD TAKE PICTURES SO I WENT BACK TO MY CAR TO GET MY CAMERA TO TAKE PICTURES TOO. I NOTICED THAT IT WAS MY RIGHT FRONT BUMPER THAT HAD HIT THE OTHER CAR'S LEFT BACK BUMPER BECAUSE, TRYING TO AVOID HITTING THE OTHER CAR, I HAD TURNED TOWARD THE STREET. I TOOK PICTURES OF HIS CAR. THE OFFICER ARRIVED (CALLED BY THE METER PERSON) AND I GAVE MY REPORT. THE OFFICER ASKED ME IF I COULD DRIVE MY CAR HOME. I SAID I WASN'T SURE, I WOULD CALL THE INSURANCE COMPANY. IN ANY CASE I WOULD NOT TRY TO DRIVE RIGHT AWAY AS I WAS TOO SHAKEN. THE OTHER DRIVER DROVE AWAY. WHEN THE OFFICER LEFT, I SAT IN MY CAR PASSENGER SIDE WITH MY FEET ON THE SIDEWALK STILL IN SHOCK. I WAS AFRAID OF DRIVING THE CAR. I CALLED MY SON TO COME TO GET ME. I CALLED THE INSURANCE COMPANY AND FOLLOWED THEIR DIRECTIONS. INTENT ON STOPPING THE CAR, I HAD BRAKED AS HARD AS I COULD WITH MY LEFT FOOT. WHEN WAITING TO TURN THE CAR AROUND I SAW THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS ON. *TR

2005 PRIUS STALLING PROBLEM!! I NEVER RECEIVED ANY NOTIFICATION ON THIS ISSUE. AS THE ARTICLE SAID"TOYOTA MOTOR SALES (TMS), U.S.A., INC., WILL LAUNCH A SPECIAL SERVICE CAMPAIGN INVOLVING CERTAIN 2004 AND EARLY 2005 MODEL YEAR PRIUS SOLD IN THE U.S. ON THE INVOLVED VEHICLES, AN ISSUE WITH THE PROGRAM LOGIC IN THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE (ECM) SYSTEM MAY CAUSE SOME OR ALL OF THE FOLLOWING WARNING LIGHTS TO ILLUMINATE: MASTER, HYBRID SYSTEM, ENGINE, VEHICLE STABILITY CONTROL, AND BRAKE. IF THIS OCCURS, THE VEHICLE WILL ENTER A "FAIL-SAFE" MODE WHICH ALLOWS LIMITED OPERATION VIA THE ELECTRIC MOTOR. HOWEVER, THE ELECTRICALLY-POWERED BRAKE AND STEERING OPERATION WILL CONTINUE TO FUNCTION NORMALLY IF THIS CONDITION OCCURS. THE ELECTRIC MOTOR WILL ALSO PROVIDE ENOUGH POWER TO ALLOW THE DRIVER TO PULL THE VEHICLE OVER AND AWAY FROM TRAFFIC. ONCE THE VEHICLE IS STOPPED, THE DRIVER MAY BE ABLE TO RESTART THE GASOLINE ENGINE IN THE VEHICLE BY PUSHING THE START BUTTON.TOYOTA IS PROACTIVELY CONDUCTING A CAMPAIGN IN THE INTEREST OF ITS CUSTOMERS. TOYOTA WILL INFORM OWNERS OF THE INVOLVED VEHICLES WITH A SPECIAL SERVICE CAMPAIGN NOTIFICATION LETTER SENT VIA FIRST CLASS MAIL BEGINNING IN LATE-OCTOBER. OWNERS ARE REQUESTED TO CONTACT THEIR LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS AND REPAIR UPON RECEIVING THEIR NOTIFICATION. TOYOTA WILL REPROGRAM THE ECM SYSTEM AT NO CHARGE TO THE OWNERS OF THE VEHICLE." NHTSA ACTION NUMBER : PE05029 NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN NUMBER : N/A COMPONENT : ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE UNKNOWN OR OTHER MY CAR HAVE THIS SAME ISSUE WHILE I WAS ON A FREEWAY. I CALLED TOYOTA DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THAT I WOULD HAVE TO PAYS AROUND $100 TO GET ANALYSIS. WHAT CAN I DO TO GET TOYOTA TO CORRECT THIS WHEN THEY NEVER SENT ME A NOTICE FOR THIS PROBLEM. I BOUGHT THIS CAR BRAND NEW FROM TOYOTA AROUND SUMMER OF 2005. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

2005 TOYOTA PRIUS EXPERIENCED HEADLAMP FAILURE AT 90,000 MILES. SINCE BOTH HEADLAMPS FAILED AT THE SAME TIME, AND N BOTH REGULAR AND HIGH-BEAM MODES, THE PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE WITH THE ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT FOR THE HEADLAMPS. DEALER QUOTES $1200 TO FIX. SEEMS LIKE A RIP-OFF. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INVERTER COOLING WATER PUMP FAILED. WHILE DRIVING 72 MPH WITH THE VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL ENGAGED, THERE WERE SEVERAL WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATING CAUSING THE VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL TO LOSE POWER. HE DROVE ONTO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, TURNED THE ENGINE OFF AND ALLOWED THE VEHICLE TO COOL DOWN AND IT BEGAN TO FUNCTION NORMALLY. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AND DRIVE SAFELY TO HIS RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THE FAILURE AS THE WATER PUMP WHICH LISTED ERROR CODE P0A93. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED SINCE THE PARTS WERE ON BACK ORDER UNTIL SEPTEMBER 16, 2010. HE THEN CONTACTED THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WHO ALSO INFORMED HIM THAT THE PARTS WERE ON CRITICAL BACK ORDER UNTIL SEPTEMBER 16, 2010. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 41,000.

THE HEADLIGHTS ON OUR 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS TURN OFF WHILE WE ARE DRIVING. SOMETIMES IT IS THE RIGHT HEADLIGHT, SOMETIMES THE LEFT, AND ONCE IN AWHILE BOTH TURN OFF. IF I TURN OFF THE LIGHTS AND THEN TURN THEM BACK ON THEY BOTH WORK, FOR A WHILE. THE PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT; THERE IS NO PREDICTING WHEN THE LIGHTS WILL MALFUNCTION. SOMETIMES IT'S WHILE DRIVING AND THEN SOMETIMES WHILE STUCK IN TRAFFIC. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 25 MPH WHEN SHE CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE CRASHED FROM THE FRONT END AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO HER NECK, HEAD AND SHOULDERS. SHE WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL VIA AMBULANCE. A POLICE REPORT WAS AVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A BODY REPAIR FACILITY WHERE THE MECHANIC ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 48,000.

2005 TOYOTA PRIUS. CONSUMER STATES PROBLEM WITH VEHICLE OVERHEATING *TGW IT WAS DETERMINED THE WATER PUMP WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO REPLACED. *JB

2005 PRIUS. LIGHTS GO OFF WITHOUT WARNING. WHEN LIGHTS ARE TURNED OFF AND THEN ON AGAIN THEY COME BACK ON. *TR

AT ABOUT 104K MILES THE HID HEADLIGHTS, ALONG WITH THE DASH DASHBOARD LIGHTS, WENT OUT WHILE MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING ON A COUNTRY ROAD AT NIGHT. THE SUDDEN DARKNESS RESULTED IN A COLLISION WITH A GUARD RAIL WHILE BRAKING. AFTER PUTTING THE CAR IN PARK, TURNING OFF THE POWER BUTTON AND RESTARTING THE CAR EVERYTHING CAME BACK ON. WHILE WE WERE SHAKEN UP, NO ONE WAS HURT. THE CAR SUSTAINED $2K DAMAGE TO THE BODY, BUT NOT TO THE HEADLIGHTS. THE LOCAL DEALER DIDN'T EXPRESS ANY KNOWLEDGE OF HEADLIGHT FAILURES IN PRIUSES, INSPECTED THE LIGHTING SYSTEM AND PRONOUNCED EVERYTHING FINE. I DID HAVE TO PAY FOR THE INSPECTION AS THE LIGHTS WEREN'T DAMAGED AND NOT COVERED BY THE COLLISION CLAIM. INTERNET RESEARCH HAS BROUGHT UP MANY SIMILAR CASES OF THIS OCCURRING WITH OTHER PRIUSES; WITH NO ACKNOWLEDGEMENT BY TOYOTA. MY DAUGHTER IS NOW TERRIFIED OF DRIVING THIS CAR. I ALSO OWN A 2007 PRIUS WITH HID LIGHTS AND 55K MILES. I'M MONITORING IT'S HEADLIGHTS WHENEVER POSSIBLE AS IT IS DRIVEN MOSTLY DURING THE DAY WITH THE HEADLIGHTS ON. *TR

AUGUST 4, 2010 AROUND 8:36PM I WAS ON I4 HEADING EASTBOUND ABOUT 13 MILES FROM MY HOUSE GOING AROUND 66MPH. THE DRIVING CONDITIONS WERE HOT WITH NO RAIN. WHEN MY EMERGENCY LIGHT, EXPLANATION MARK LIGHT AND THE VSC LIGHT ALL CAME ON AT THE SAME TIME AND MY CAR EXPERIENCE A JERKING LIKING MOTION. I CALLED MY FATHER IMMEDIATELY TOLD HIM WHAT'S HAPPENING, HE TOLD ME TO TURN AROUND AND GET THE CAR HOME. I TURNED AROUND AND AS I WAS ON MY WAY HOME AFTER EXITING I4 ON SAND LAKE RD MY BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON WITH A LOUD CONTINUOUS BEEPING NOISE THAT LASTED ABOUT 20 SECONDS EVERY 2 MINUTES. WHEN THIS LOUD BEEPING NOISE OCCURRED THE BRAKES WOULD STOP WORKING FOR ABOUT 10 SECONDS THAN START AGAIN. I MADE IT HOME AT 8:52PM AND PARKED THE CAR IN THE GARAGE. *TR

MY CAR, A 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS, WAS STATIONARY AT A STOPLIGHT ON A CLEAR, SUNNY DAY. MY FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE AND THE BRAKE WAS FULLY DEPRESSED. I COULD FEEL A SUDDEN PRESSURE CHANGE IN THE BRAKE, AND WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON. I DROVE THE SHORT DISTANCE TO WORK, BUT THE CAR WAS HANDLING BADLY (WOBBLY) AND THE BRAKE WAS VERY SOFT AND ONLY PARTIALLY EFFECTIVE. AFTER WORK, A FEW HOURS LATER, THE CAR SEEMED TO BE HANDLING NORMALLY AND BRAKING NORMALLY, BUT I DROVE TO THE CLOSEST DEALER AS A PRECAUTION. THEY CHECKED THE COMPUTER AND FOUND CODE C1357 (DECREASING PRESSURE SOLENOID MALFUNCTION). THEY REPLACED THE BRAKE ACTUATOR ASSEMBLY. *TR

THE PASSENGER FRONT HEADLIGHT GOES OUT. TOYOTA HAS REPLACED VARIOUS PARTS 4 TIMES AND IT STILL DOESN'T WORK. *TR

WE RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR OUR TOYOTA PRIUS. I WROTE THEM A LETTER ASKING THEM TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THEY WERE GOING TO DO ONLY THE MECHANICAL MODIFICATIONS THEY DESCRIBED AND NOT ANY WORK WITH THE COMPUTER OR ELECTRONICS. THEIR RESPONSE WAS TO ASSIGN A SUBORDINATE TO CALL ME BACK AND SIMPLY READ MY LETTER BACK TO ME. I WANT THE COURTESY OF A WRITTEN REPLY TO THE POINTS I MADE IN MY LETTER BEFORE WE LEAVE OUR CAR IN THEIR HANDS. THE CALIFORNIA DEPT. OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS BUREAU OF AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR PUT ME ON HOLD FOR 20 MINUTES AND THEN TOLD ME TO CONTACT YOU. THE CAR IS REGISTERED IN MY WIFE'S NAME. *TR UPDATED 01/31/11

STARTING IN LATE WINTER, EARLY SPRING OF 2010, WE NOTICED INTERMITTENT OCCASIONAL FAILURE OF ONE OR THE OTHER OF OUR HID HEADLAMPS ON OUR 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS (WHICH WE WERE TOLD BY THE TOYOTA SALESMAN WERE LIFETIME HEADLIGHTS). THIS SITUATION COULD BE IMMEDIATELY RECTIFIED BY QUICKLY TURNING OFF AND ON AGAIN THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH AT THE STEERING WHEEL STALK. THEN, ON JULY 24, 2010, WHILE ON A REMOTE AND STEEP WINDING MOUNTAIN PASS ROAD IN CALIFORNIA, (SONORA PASS ROAD) IN PITCH DARK, BOTH HEADLAMPS FAILED SIMULTANEOUSLY AND COULD NOT BE RECTIFIED WITH A QUICK FLICK OF THE HEADLAMP SWITCH OFF AND ON. I BRAKED HEAVILY, KEEPING IN MY MIND A VISION OF THE CURVE IN THE ROAD I HAD JUST SEEN AHEAD OF ME. BRAKING HEAVILY AND TRYING TO STEER IN THE DARK, I PUT THE FLASHERS ON SO I WOULDN'T BE REAR-ENDED. THIS ENDED UP BEING A FORTUITOUS DECISION, BECAUSE IT WAS SO DARK THAT THE MOMENTARY FLASHES OF THE FORWARD FLASHERS ALLOWED ME TO SEE JUST ENOUGH ROAD IN BRIEF SNIPPETS SO THAT I COULD STEER MY VEHICLE SAFELY AROUND THE CURVE AND GET IT OFF THE ROAD. I FIGURED OUT THAT WITH BOTH LAMPS OUT, A MUCH SLOWER OFF/ON AGAIN CYCLE OF THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH WOULD BRING THEM BACK ON, AND I LIMPED THE VEHICLE HOME. HAVING DRIVEN OVER A MILLION MILES IN MY ADULT LIFE, LUCKILY I HAD THE EXPERIENCE AND THE CALM TO HANDLE THIS SITUATION WITHOUT CATASTROPHIC RESULT. HAD MY WIFE OR MY DAUGHTER BEEN DRIVING, WE CERTAINLY WOULD HAVE GONE OFF THE ROAD AND CRASHED THE VEHICLE. IMMEDIATELY THE FOLLOWING DAY I SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT WITH A TOYOTA DEALERSHIP SERVICE CENTER; END RESULT OF WHICH THEY WANT ME TO PAY NEARLY $900 TO REPLACE THESE DEFECTIVE HEADLAMPS. I CALLED TOYOTA, AND UPON INITIAL CONTACT, WON'T DO ANYTHING FOR US. NEEDLESS TO SAY IN THIS ECONOMY, WE DO NOT HAVE THE MONEY, AND WE HAVE BEEN RELEGATED TO DRIVING OUR PRIUS MOSTLY DAYTIMES, AND CERTAINLY NOT ON MOUNTAIN PASS ROADS AT NIGHT. READING ONLINE TOYOTA FORUMS, I AM VERY OBVIOUSLY NOT THE ONLY PERSON WHO HAS THIS PROBLEM. *TR

THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AND WOULD NOT GO OFF ABOUT 3 OR 4 YEARS AGO, SO I TOOK IT TO THE TOYOTA DEALER WHO DID SOMETHING AND RESET IT. IT STAYED OFF FOR ABOUT A YEAR OR SO THEN CAME BACK ON. I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER AGAIN WHO SAID THE DIAGNOSTIC SAID IT WAS MALFUNCTIONING AND THAT I NEEDED TO BRING IT BACK TO REPLACE SOME EXPENSIVE PART. I WAS ON THE WAY BACK TO THE DEALER, WHEN THE LIGHT WENT OUT. THE TECH DID THE DIAGNOSTIC AGAIN AND SAID THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH IT. THE LIGHT STAYED OUT FOR ABOUT ANOTHER YEAR OR SO AND CAME ON AGAIN A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO AND WON'T GO OUT . THIS TIME HOWEVER, I HAVE ALSO NOTICED THAT THE TOP OF THE DASH ON THE PASSENGER SIDE HAS BEEN PUSHED UPWARD UNDER THE "SRS AIR BAG" PHRASE. THIS IS CONCERNING SINCE THE SAME THING HAS HAPPENED IN THE EXACT SAME PLACE ON THE OTHER 2005 PRIUS THAT I OWN . I CONTACTED TOYOTA CORPORATE WHO RESPONDED THAT THERE ARE NO RECALLS ON MY CARS AND THAT FOR THE MOST PART, MY CARS WERE OUT OF WARRANTY. THE REP SAID THAT SHE WOULD DOCUMENT MY REPORT AND THAT I SHOULD TAKE THEM BACK TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THIS IS THE SAME DEALER THAT HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO FIGURE OUT WHAT IS WRONG WITH THIS CAR THE FIRST TWO TIMES. MEANWHILE, I AM DRIVING AROUND IN A CAR THAT MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE WORKING AIRBAGS BECAUSE I NEED TO GET TO WORK. *TR

2005 PRIUS WITH ABS/VSC AND CAUTION LIGHT ON. REDUCED BRAKING POWER TRACED TO BAD ANTI-SKID COMPUTER. ORDERED PART AND WAS CAUTIONED TO LIMIT DRIVING. LATER THAT DAY, EXITED FAST-FOOD DRIVE-THRU AND SAILED INTO STREET. NO BRAKING POWER WHATSOEVER EVEN WITH STANDING ON PEDAL. STOPPED VEHICLE BY PLOWING INTO CURB. VEHICLE THEN TOWED TO SHOP AWAITING PARTS. *TR

AT AROUND 10PM THIS FRIDAY NIGHT I WAS DRIVING HOME ON THE COUNTRY ROAD 3 MILES FROM MY HOUSE. IT IS A 2 LANE ROAD WITH NO STREET LAMPS. I WAS TRAVELING AT 50MPH AND COMING AROUND A GENTLE CURVE WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN EVERY LIGHT IN THE CAR WENT OUT...HEADLIGHTS, TAILLIGHTS, DASHBOARD, HAZARDS, EVEN THE NAVIGATION SYSTEM DISPLAY. A MONTH AGO I HAD MY CAR IN FOR ITS SAFETY INSPECTION AND 150K MILEAGE SERVICE AND WAS TOLD THE CAR WAS "FINE" BUT I'VE HAD INTERMITTENT ISSUES WITH THE HID LAMP ON THE DRIVER SIDE GOING OUT. WHEN THIS HAPPENS IF I CYCLE THE LIGHT SWITCH OFF THEN BACK ON AGAIN IT FIXES THE ISSUE. WHEN ALL MY LIGHTS WENT OUT ON FRIDAY, I WAS ONLY ABLE TO AVOID DRIVING OFF THE ROAD AND GETTING IN AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE IT WAS A ROAD I AM VERY FAMILIAR WITH AND KNEW WHERE THE TURN WAS COMING UP. I WAS ABLE TO SLOW MY CAR TO A STOP. AFTER SITTING IN THE DARK A MINUTE (THE ENGINE WAS STILL RUNNING JUST FINE) I WAS WORRIED A CAR MIGHT COME DOWN THE ROAD BEHIND ME AND NOT SEE ME AND HIT ME. I THEN DECIDED TO TRY CYCLING THE LIGHT SWITCH OFF AND ON BECAUSE THAT HAD WORKED FOR THE HEADLAMP ISSUE. I CYCLED IT ONCE BUT THE LIGHTS REMAINED OFF, BUT AFTER THE SECOND TIME I CYCLED THE LIGHT SWITCH ALL THE LIGHTS IN THE CAR CAME BACK ON AND I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE HOME. I TOOK THE CAR TO TOYOTA OF WARRENTON AND TOLD THEM WHAT HAPPENED. THEY "RAN A DIAGNOSTIC" AND CHECKED THE VEHICLE BUT SAID THEY COULDN'T DUPLICATE THE ISSUE AND THEN SENT ME HOME. I AM NOW AFRAID TO DRIVE MY CAR AT NIGHT IN CASE THIS HAPPENS AGAIN. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THE HEADLIGHTS WOULD INTERMITTENTLY FLICKER ON AND OFF AND THERE WAS LIMITED ILLUMINATION. THE DEALER PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC ON THE VEHICLE AND ADVISED THAT THE AUTOMATIC FLASHING HEADLIGHT LEVELER REMAINED ON AND CAUSED THE HEADLIGHTS TO INTERMITTENTLY FAIL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS ALSO AN UNKNOWN LIGHT THAT REMAINED ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 77,000.

I DRIVE A 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS AND THE HEADLIGHTS HAVE STARTED GOING OFF INTERMITTENTLY WITHOUT WARNING. WHEN I START THE CAR (LIGHT SWITCH IS ALWAYS IN THE ON POSITION), SOMETIMES BOTH LIGHTS ARE ON, SOMETIMES ONE, SOMETIMES NONE. WHILE DRIVING THE CAR, THE LIGHTS WILL SUDDENLY GO OUT, USUALLY ONE OR THE OTHER, BUT THERE HAVE BEEN TIMES WHERE BOTH WENT OUT. I HAVE RESEARCHED THE PROBLEM AND THERE DOESN'T APPEAR TO BE A KNOWN SOLUTION. I PLAN TO PURCHASE A REPLACEMENT BULB TO SEE IF THAT SOLVES THE PROBLEM. *TR

ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS( 1ST IN JULY, 2ND IN OCTOBER) AFTER HEAVY RAIN, LEAKAGE INTO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT OF MY 2005 PRIUS RESULTED IN FOWLING OF SPARK PLUGS AND COILS. THE MOISTURE DAMAGE CREATED MISFIRING AND STALLING WHILE IN TRAFFIC. TOYOTA SUPPOSEDLY REPAIRED THE LEAK CAUSED BY A SEAL ISSUE IN THE COWL AFTER THE FIRST INCIDENT IN JULY BUT HAD TO FOLLOWUP WITH A SECOND REPAIR IN OCTOBER- RESEALING THE COWL. I AM NOT CONCERNED THAT THE PROBLEM IS COMPLETELY RESOLVED AND I AM TRYING TO GET ACCURATE INFORMATION FROM TOYOTA, UNFORTUNATELY THEY HAVE NOT BEEN FORTHCOMING. *TR

THE FRONT HEADLIGHTS WILL RANDOMLY FLICKER OUT, USUALLY ONE AT A TIME BUT SOMETIMES BOTH AT THE SAME TIME. ONE CAN GET IT BACK ON BY TOGGLING THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH ON AND OFF, BUT EXTREMELY DANGEROUS WHEN ON AN INTERSTATE AT NIGHT. A TON OF OWNERS ARE HAVING THIS SAME PROBLEM, BUT APPARENTLY THERE IS AS OF YET NO RECALL. YOU CAN SWITCH OUT THE EXPENSIVE BULB, BUT THAT ALSO APPARENTLY DOESN'T FIX THE PROBLEM. *TR

WITH LESS THAN 45,000 MILES OF EASY DRIVING (AND ALL MAINTENANCE PERFORMED ON A TIMELY BASIS AT THE DEALERSHIP) ON A SINGLE-OWNER TOYOTA 2005 PRIUS, THE WARNING LIGHTS ON THE CAR'S DASHBOARD SUDDENLY ILLUMINATED, WHICH AN OUT-OF-TOWN DEALERSHIP INTERPRETED TO MEAN FAILURE OF THE "SKID CONTROL ECU". THIS PART CONTROLS ALL MAJOR BRAKING FUNCTIONS, INCLUDING CONVENTIONAL BRAKE CONTROL, REGENERATIVE BRAKE COOPERATIVE CONTROL, ABS, ENHANCED VSC AND HANDLES SENSOR INFORMATION EPS ECU AND HV ECU. IF OCCURRING ON A MAJOR CA HIGHWAY, LIKE US HIGHWAY 5 AND THE "GRAPEVINE", THIS WARNING AND FAILURE CAN BE A VERY SERIOUS AND UNEXPECTED DRIVING HAZARD. REPAIRS COSTS NEARLY $2,000 AND THIS PART MUST BE "ORDERED" BY A DEALERSHIP AND TAKE 4 -5 HOURS TO REPAIR ONCE THE PART IS DELIVERED OVERNIGHT OR LONGER. TOYOTA ALREADY IS RECALLING THIS "SKID CONTROL ECU" PART ON ALL 2002 -2003 SEQUOIA PASSENGER VEHICLES. TOYOTA DOES NOT CONSIDER THIS A DEFECT ON THE PRIUS, AND OFFERS NO RECALL OR HELP TO ANY OF ITS PRIUS CUSTOMERS; TO THEM IT IS SIMPLY A "(BAD) LUCK OF THE DRAW" SITUATION, TOUGH LUCK FOR THE PRIUS DRIVER-OWNER WITH THIS DEFECT. *TR

2005 PRIUS: WHEN I BRAKE AS I DRIVE OVER ANY KIND OF VARIATION IN THE ROAD (WHICH IS QUITE OFTEN), MY VEHICLE LURCHES FORWARD AND I AM UNABLE TO COME TO A STOP RIGHT AWAY. I HAVE TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE QUITE HARD TO MAKE IT STOP AND IT IS VERY DANGEROUS. I HAVE TAKEN MY VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR THIS ISSUE TWICE AND THEY HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE ISSUE. I HAVE ALSO CALLED TOYOTA AND OPENED A CASE WITH THEM WHICH THEY CLOSED WITHOUT INSPECTING MY VEHICLE. *TR

I'M WRITING ABOUT AN DEFECTIVE INVERTER COOLING PUMP IN MY 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS. I WAS DRIVING WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN MY CAR LOSES THE ABILITY TO ACCELERATE. NUMEROUS WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON AS I COASTED TO A STOP IN A NEARBY NEIGHBORHOOD. THE CAR WOULD NOT SHUT OFF AT FIRST. AFTER I FINALLY GOT THE CAR TO TURN OFF, IT WOULD NOT TURN ON AGAIN. THE DISPLAY IN THE CENTER OF THE DASHBOARD WOULD COME ON FINE, BUT WHEN IT CAME TIME FOR THE MAIN ENGINE TO TURN ON (WHEN PUSHING THE START BUTTON), IT WOULD BLINK AND SHUT OFF IMMEDIATELY. WHEN I TOOK A LOOK UNDER THE HOOD, I COULD SMELL SOMETHING ELECTRICAL BURNING. I FINALLY GOT THE CAR TOWED TO A LOCAL SHOP THAT WAS TOYOTA/LEXUS CERTIFIED. THEY FIGURED OUT THAT THE INVERTER COOLING PUMP WAS DEFECTIVE AND IT WAS BLOWING FUSES (HENCE THE SMELL OF SOMETHING ELECTRICAL BURNING). TOTAL COST WAS ALMOST $500 FOR THE REPAIR: PARTS AND LABOR. I TRIED CALLING TOYOTA TO SEE IF I COULD GET ANY TYPE OF REIMBURSEMENT, BUT I GOT MANY REASONS WHY I SHOULD NOT GET ONE: - THE WARRANTY WAS FOR 60,000 OR 8 YEARS. I WAS IN THE 8 YEARS, THE MILEAGE WAS 62,000. (I GUESS CUSTOMER SERVICE DOES NOT MEAN MUCH - PREVIOUSLY I OWN A 94 TOYOTA COROLLA - 16 YEARS WITH A TOYOTA CAR) - I DID NOT GET IT REPAIRED AT A TOYOTA "DEALERSHIP" (EVEN THOUGH THEY WERE "TOYOTA" CERTIFIED) - I DID NOT BUY THE CAR NEW. (SO IF YOU BUY A USED TOYOTA, APPARENTLY THAT DOES NOT MAKE THE CAR A TOYOTA ANYMORE.) BOTTOM LINE, AFTER BEING FIXED THE CAR RUNS EVEN BETTER THEN BEFORE THE INVERTER COOLING PUMP FAILURE: BETTER GAS MILEAGE AND NO MORE PHANTOM STEERING WHEEL MOVEMENTS WHEN DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY (HAPPENED WHEN THE ENGINE WOULD SWITCH OVER TO BATTERY AND VICE VERSA). *TR

DEAR NHTSA: 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS. HEADLIGHTS. THE CAR IS EQUIPPED WITH A HEADLIGHT LEVELING DEVICE. AT PRESENT MY LOW BEAMS ONLY SHOW ABOUT 14 FEET IN FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. WHEN THE HIGH BEAMS ARE ON THEY SHINE WHERE THE NORMAL LOW BEAMS WOULD SHINE. I HAVE CONTACTED MY DEALER, THIS IS A $500.00 DOLLAR FIX. THE CAR HAS 48K MILES . THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD. I AM NOT SAFE DRIVING THIS VEHICLE AT NIGHT. THIS IS A SERIOUS CONDITION AND AFFECTS LOTS OF TOYOTA PRIUS AS I HAVE FOUND OUT ON THE BLOGS. APPRECIATE YOU GUYS LOOKING INTO THIS PROBLEM, THE DEVICE SHOULD BE REPLACED BY TOYOTA AS IT HAS FAILED THROUGH NORMAL USE AND NOT FROM ABUSE. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

SUDDEN WARNING LIGHT INDICATING HEADLIGHT LEVELING FAILURE. OCCURS INTERMITTENTLY UNDER VARIOUS CIRCUMSTANCES. CONSEQUENCES: HEADLIGHTS EITHER AIMED TOO HIGH BLINDING ONCOMING DRIVERS OR SLANTED DOWNWARD MAKING CAR IMPOSSIBLE TO DRIVE AT NIGHT. PART HAS NOT BEEN REPLACED AND CAR IS NOT DRIVEN AT NIGHT. OLD PART STILL AVAILABLE. THERE WAS A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN IN EARLY 2006 INDICATING THAT THE HEADLIGHT LEVELING SENSOR WAS NOT WATERTIGHT AND PRONE TO FAILURE DUE TO WATER ENTERING THE SYSTEM AND CORRODING THE ELECTRICAL CONTACTS. TOYOTA IMPROVED THE INTEGRITY OF THE UNIT AND SOLD IT USING THE SAME PART NUMBER WITH THE ADDED SUFFIX "G". WHILE TOYOTA WILL COVER THE REPLACEMENT COST OF THE SENSOR UNDER THE 3 YR/36,000 MILE WARRANTY THERE IS NO COVERAGE FOR VEHICLES OUT OF WARRANTY. A RECALL WAS NEVER ISSUED. AGAIN, THIS IS ONLY A PROBLEM THAT OCCURS WITH THE HID HEADLIGHT SYSTEM IN THE EARLIER GENERATION II PRIUS (2004 - 2005). SERVICE BULLETIN:00406 NHTSA ITEM NUMBER:10019992 MY CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY AND I WAS UNAWARE THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE SYSTEM WHEN IT COULD HAVE BEEN REMEDIED WHILE THE CAR WAS UNDER WARRANTY. MILEAGE AT FAILURE 72,000. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND A RECALL SHOULD BE ISSUED ! COST OF PART $370.00 + TAX. LABOR IS ANOTHER 210.00 + TAX. *TR

THE HEADLIGHTS ON MY 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS GO OUT INTERMITTENTLY WITHOUT WARNING, ONE AT A TIME. THE BULBS WILL COME BACK ON AFTER THE FIRST OR SECOND TIME OF RESTARTING THE CAR. THIS MAY BE HAPPENING MORE OFTEN THAN I'M AWARE. THE FIRST TIME WAS ABOUT 7 MONTHS AGO WHEN A CHP OFFICER PULLED ME OVER AND GAVE ME A FIXIT TICKET FOR THE HEADLIGHT BEING OUT. IT WAS TOO LATE AT NIGHT TO BUY ANOTHER BULB ANYWHERE. I PULLED INTO A LIGHTED PARKING LOT TO SEE IF THERE MIGHT BE A LOOSE CONNECTION. I TURNED OFF THE CAR, OPENED THE HOOD, REMOVED SOME PARTS THAT WERE IN THE WAY OF ACCESSING THE BACK OF THE PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT, AND JIGGLED THE CONNECTION TO THE BULB. I TURNED THE CAR BACK ON AND THE LIGHT WORKED. THE NEXT TIME I WAS AT A SERVICE APPOINTMENT AT THE DEALER I ASKED THEM IF THEY WERE AWARE OF ANY PROBLEMS WITH THE HEADLIGHTS GOING OUT INTERMITTENTLY. THE SERVICE REP SAID THEY DO THAT OCCASIONALLY, BUT SINCE THEY WERE EXPENSIVE TO REPAIR, TO JUST KEEP DRIVING UNTIL IT GOES OUT ALTOGETHER. ABOUT 3 OR 4 MONTHS AGO, MY DRIVER SIDE HEADLIGHT DID THE SAME THING THAT TIME, I WASN'T ABLE TO REMOVE THE BACK OF THE HEADLIGHT. I WAS IN A REMOTE LOCATION LATE AT NIGHT ABOUT 50 MILES ALONG A WINDING 2-LANE ROAD AWAY FROM MY DESTINATION. I STARTED THE CAR BACK UP AND THE DRIVER SIDE HEADLIGHT WAS STILL OUT. I DECIDED TO CONTINUE ON TO MY DESTINATION WITH JUST ONE HEADLIGHT, TAKING A CHANCE THE OTHER WOULDN'T GO OUT. THE NEXT DAY WHEN I STARTED THE CAR, BOTH HEADLIGHTS WERE WORKING FINE. LAST NIGHT, THE PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT WENT OUT FOR THE SECOND TIME (THAT I'M AWARE). I WAS ON A 3-HOUR DRIVE HOME AFTER WORKING OUT OF TOWN ALL WEEK. I STOPPED FOR SOME COFFEE AND WHEN I TURNED THE CAR BACK ON, BOTH HEADLIGHTS WERE WORKING FINE. AFTER ABOUT 10 MINUTES DRIVING, THOUGH, THE PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT WENT OUT AGAIN AND STAYED OUT ALL THE REST OF THE TRIP HOME. TODAY I GOOGLED THE PROBLEM; SEVERAL OTHERS HAVE HAD SIMILAR PROBLEMS WITH PRIUS HEADLIGHTS. *TR

THE RIGHT HEADLIGHT GOES OUT A MINUTES AFTER DRIVING THE CAR. BOTH HEADLIGHTS COME ON INITIALLY, BUT AFTER DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD FOR A FEW MINUTES, THE RIGHT HEADLIGHT STOPS WORKING. THIS SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM WITH THE HID MODULE MALFUNCTIONING. *TR

WHEN I GO OVER A BUMP OR HIT A POTHOLE IN MY 2005 PRIUS AND I AM BRAKING IT FEELS LIKE MY BRAKES DISENGAGE FOR JUST A SECOND AND THE CAR SEEMS TO GO FASTER. I HAVE NEVER FELT COMFORTABLE WITH THIS SITUATION BUT SINCE I DON'T KNOW A WHILE LOT ABOUT CARS I THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE NORMAL UNTIL I SAW AN ARTICLE IN THE NEWSPAPER FROM ANOTHER PRIUS OWNER WITH THE SAME COMPLAINT. THIS ARTICLE SUGGESTED A COMPLAINT BE FILED WITH NHTSA. I AM FILING THIS WITH THE DATE OF THE NEWSPAPER ARTICLE ALTHOUGH THE STRANGE BRAKING FEELING HAS BEEN ONGOING SINCE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN JUNE 2005. *TR

2005 TOYOTA PRIUS WITH HEADLIGHTS DRIVER'S SIDE HEADLIGHT THAT GOES ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY. THE DEALERSHIP IS CHARGING $350 FOR THIS ONE LIGHT BULB, TO REPLACE IT. THERE ARE MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS PROBLEM WITH THE PRIUS, ON MULTIPLE WEB SITES, ALL WITH THE SAME CONCERN. IT IS OBVIOUSLY A DEFECTIVE PART, AND THE HEADLIGHTS SHOULD BE RECALLED BY TOYOTA. THEY GO OFF AT VERY DANGEROUS TIMES, LIKE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE. *TR

PASSENGER FRONT HID HEADLIGHT WAS INTERMEDIATELY OPERATIONAL FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. EVENTUALLY IT WOULD NOT COME BACK ON. TOYOTA DEALER QUOTED $350+ FOR PART AND $150+ FOR LABOR, PER HEADLIGHT. ACCORDING TO OTHER PRIUS OWNERS AND INTERNET ARTICLES, THIS ISSUE IS APPARENT TO BE A MANUFACTURER DEFECT; BUT TOYOTA REFUSES TO ADMIT IN ORDER TO PREVENT A RECALL. UNWILLING TO PAID FOR TOYOTA'S MISTAKES, THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN WITH ONLY ONE HEADLIGHT FOR SOME TIME. UNTIL RECENTLY STOPPED BY POLICE AND ISSUED A TRAFFIC VIOLATION WARNING. FOR SAFETY REASONS AND TO PREVENT FUTURE VIOLATIONS , REPLACED THE BURNT HID BULB ($50+ FROM AMAZON.COM) PERSONALLY (FOLLOWED PROPER PROCEDURES). A WEEK LATER, THAT SAME BULB WENT OUT. MORE EVIDENT INDICATING THE ISSUE IS NOT WITH THE BULB; BUT WITH THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM AND TOYOTA IS NOT WILLING TO PAID FOR THEIR OWN MISTAKES. SHAME ON TOYOTA!!! *TR

MOMENTARY LOSS OF BRAKES WHEN LIGHTLY BRAKING OVER A BUMPY SURFACE. IT HAS HAPPENED THROUGHOUT THE 3 YEARS I'VE OWNED THIS CAR. *TR

THE HID HEADLIGHTS ON MY 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS WENT OUT SEVERAL NIGHTS AGO. THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO TOYOTA, AND THIS PROBLEM IS COMMON ON THE 2004-2008 PRIUS, WHICH A SIMPLE GOOGLE SEARCH PROVED. THESE TYPE OF BULBS OVERHEAT (SINCE THEY'RE HALOGEN). NEVERTHELESS, THEY CHARGED $1150 FOR TWO HEADLIGHTS WHICH CANNOT BE BOUGHT ANYWHERE EXCEPT THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP. THEY WERE ONLY 2 YEARS OLD. WHEN I CALLED TOYOTA, THE PERSON I TALKED TO UNDERSTOOD, SAYING IT HAD HAPPENED TO HIM TOO, BUT THERE WAS NOTHING HE COULD DO SINCE THE CAR HAD OVER 136,000 MILES ON IT. APPARENTLY TOYOTA ONLY WARRANTIES ITS PARTS FOR ONE YEAR. SHAMEFUL. *TR

I HAVE A 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS AND HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT ITS BRAKING SYSTEM. THIS HAS BEEN A CONSTANT OCCURRENCE THAT, TO DATE HAS NOT CAUSED A CRASH. WHEN BRAKING ON A BUMPY ROAD IT FEELS LIKE THE BRAKING SYSTEM DOES NOT ENGAGE FOR ABOUT A SECOND AND THE CAR SURGES FORWARD. THIS IS ONLY WHEN THERE IS A BUMP IN THE ROAD AND DOES NOT OCCUR WHEN BRAKING ON A SMOOTH SURFACE. EVEN WHEN I APPLY MY BRAKES SLOWLY THIS OCCURS WHEN THERE IS A BUMP IN THE ROAD. *TR

I DRIVE A 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS. MY CAR HAS 26,000 MILES ON IT; WHICH IS VERY LOW MILEAGES. WHILE I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY, MY CAR`S LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD STARTS TO FLASH. THE BRAKE SYSTEM WARNING LIGHT AND BUZZER COMES ON ALONG WITH THE ABS WARNING LIGHT AND THE MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP. I HAD NOWHERE TO PULL ASIDE. AFTER TWO MINUTES THE WARNING SIGNS SHUT OFF SO I KEPT DRIVING. FIVE MINUTES LATER, ALL THE WARNING LIGHTS COME ON SO I DECIDE TO GET OFF THE HIGHWAY TO TAKE IT TO THE KNOXVILLE TOYOTA DEALER. AS I`M EXITING THE HIGHWAY, I IMMEDIATELY REALIZED THAT I HAD NO BREAKS (WHEN I PRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL WITH MY FOOT IT AUTOMATICALLY TOUCHED THE GROUND)! I REMEMBERED THAT MY DAD ALWAYS TOLD ME THAT IN CASE OF A BRAKE EMERGENCY TO PUMP THE PADDLE UNTIL THE BREAKS WORK. I ALMOST CRASHED INTO ANOTHER CAR; THE EXIT RAMP WAS VERY STEEP. I WAS GOING ABOUT 50 MILES PER HR BY THEN; LUCKILY I MANAGED TO STOP WHILE I KEPT PUMPING MY BREAKS. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER RIGHT AWAY. THEY CHECKED MY CAR AND REPLACED: PUMP ASSY. WATER, SUPER LONG LIFE C, INVERTER COOLANT PUMP, SLIDING YOKE, REFLASHED ENGINE AND HV ECU AND SHAFT KIT. STEERI. I FOUND MY CASE VERY DANGEROUS AND MY LIFE WAS AT RISK. NOT ONLY WAS MY LIFE AT RISK BUT AS WELL AS OTHER INDIVIDUALS. I WOULD HATE FOR THIS TO HAPPEN TO SOMEONE ELSE! IT WAS SCARY AND I FELT LIKE MY LIFE MIGHT HAVE BEEN OVER. *TR

THE BRAKES ON MY 2005 PRIUS APPEAR NOT TO GRAB IMMEDIATELY WHEN I AM DRIVING OVER A ROUGH SURFACE. THIS HAS HAPPENED SINCE I HAVE OWNED THE CAR BUT ON AN IRREGULAR BASIS. SINCE IT OCCURRED GENERALLY WHEN I WAS MOVING VERY SLOWLY I DIDN'T VIEW IT AS A SAFETY PROBLEM BUT A COUPLE OF TIMES RECENTLY I HAVE BEEN DRIVING OVER A VERY ROUGH ROAD AT HIGHER SPEED AND THE SAME LACK OF BRAKING OCCURRED. IT IS AS IF THERE IS A PAUSE BEFORE THE BRAKING SYSTEM KICKS IN. *TR

I DROVE A 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS VIN#[XXX] UNTIL 5/13/2010. AT AROUND 10AM I WAS DRIVING ON THE HWY IN THE LFT LANE. WITH CRUISE CONTROL ON GOING 75MPH. I HAD A GPS ON AND NAVIGATING. AND I HAD MY BLUE TOOTH EARPIECE ON. THEN ALL AT THE SAME TIME MY BLUE TOOTH SHUT DOWN. MY GPS SHUT DOWN. AND EVERY WARNING LITE CAME UP IN THE CAR. EVEN THE DISPLAY THAT USUALLY SHOWS HOW THE HYBRID SYSTEMS WORKS WAS BLINKING PROBLEM!! PROBLEM!! SO I LET OFF THE GAS AND STARTED TO MOVE TO THE RT SIDE OF THE ROAD. THATS WHEN I REALIZED THAT I HAD NO POWER STEERING. THERE WAS AN EXIT COMING UP SO I LET THE CAR SLOW DOWN TO ABOUT 50MPH. AS I STARTED TO EXIT I PUT MY FT ON THE BRAKES. THATS WHEN I NOTICED THAT THE PEDAL WAS VERY STIFF AND VIBRATING. I WAS COMING TO A BLIND INTERSECTION AND I HAD THE RED LITE. SO I PUSHED ON MY BRAKES. INSTANTLY I COULD HEAR SCREACHING TIRES. SO I LOOKED IN MY SIDE MIRROR. AND TO MY SUPRISE IM LOOKING AT A LARGE AMOUNT OF SMOKE COMING FROM ME! MY REAR TIRES HAD LOCKED UP AND MY FRONT TIRES WERENT DOING ANYTHING. SO I STARTED FISHTAIL BACK AND FORTH LIKE I HAD MY EBRAKE ON. I PUT ALL MY WT ON THE PEDAL CAUSE THE INTERSECTION WAS REALLY GETTING CLOSE. AND WITHOUT POWER STEERING IT WAS VERY HARD TO KEEP THE CAR FROM CRASHING. I CAME TO A STOP JUST BEFORE THE LIGHT. THEN DROVE MY CAR TO THE NEAREST DEALER AT IN BERKELEY CA AT 10MPH. I TOLD THEM EVERYTHING. EVEN ABOUT MY BLUE TOOTH AND GARMIN. THEY GOT ME A RENTAL CAR THEN 4DAY LATER THEY SAID IF I GIVE THEM $2000 FOR A PART AND $1000 IN LABOR IT MIGHT FIX IT BUT THERE NOT SURE CAUSE THEY NEVER SAW THIS PROBLEM BEFORE. AND THEY WERENT GOING TO PAY FOR MY RENTAL CAUSE THE PART WAS OUT OF WARRENTY AFTER 36000MILES. I HAVE HAD EVERY SVC DONE AT TOYOTA. AND IF THERES A COMPUTER PT THAT TOYOTA KNOWS CAN BRAKE EASILY. WHICH THEY DO. THATS WHY ITS ONLY WARRENTY TO 36000MILES. IT SHOULDNT RESULT IN THE LOSS OF YOUR BRAKES AND POWER STEERING. VERY DANGEROUS!! I COULD OF DIED. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) *TR

I HAVE A 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS AND THE LIGHTS GO OFF WHILE I AM DRIVING. IF I TURN OFF THE LIGHTS COMPLETELY THEY WILL COME BACK ON. THE DEALER DOES NOT KNOW WHAT TO DO IN FIXING IT. THE LIGHTS GO OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF DRIVING AT NIGHT. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. THIS INCIDENT HAPPENS DAY TO DAY. I HAVE BEEN STOPPED BY THE POLICE SEVERAL TIMES NOT KNOWING THAT THE LIGHTS HAVE GONE OUT. THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL TO INVESTIGATE THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. *TR

I HAVE THIS PROBLEM EVER SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR IN 2004. THE SKID LIGHT COMES ON EVERYTIME I HIT AN UNEVEN ROAD SURFACE FEELING LIKE I'M DRIVING IN THE SNOW AND ICY ROAD. ON THE WAY HOME WHILE MAKING A TURN, THE CAR HESITATED WHEN I STEPPED ON THE GAS AND THE WARNING LIGHTS FOR BRAKE, VSC, TRAC, AND ABS CAME ON. I BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THE SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE TOLD ME IT WAS THE WHEEL SENSOR, THAT MY REAR RIGHT TIRE IS NOT BEING SENSED, BUT THE REST WERE. IT DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM OF THE WARNING LIGHTS IN THE DASHBOARD; AND WITH FURTHER DIAGNOSIS, THEY FOUND OUT IT WAS THE SKID CONTROL COMPUTER ASSEMBLY. I FELT ROBBED BY SPENDING MONEY ON THE WHEEL SENSOR THAT WAS REPLACED WHEN ALL THE WHILE IT WAS THE SKID CONTROL ECM WAS THE PROBLEM. *TR

BRAKING MOMENTARILY FAILS AFTER HITTING A BUMP, POTHOLE, OR OTHER ROAD IRREGULARITY. THIS ARTICLE DESCRIBES THE ISSUE PERFECTLY. HTTP://WWW.THEDETROITBUREAU.COM/2009/12/NHTSA-TRACKING-BRAKING-LOSS-ON-PRIUS-HYBRIDS/#MORE-17003 DEALERS SINCE DAY OF PURCHASE HAVE SAID THERE WAS "NOTHING WRONG". *TR

THE TRACTION CONTROL OVERRIDE REPEATEDLY ENGAGES ARBITRARILY UNDER VARIOUS CIRCUMSTANCES, INCLUDING HITTING BUMPS/POTHOLES AT 35 MPH AND ACCELERATING FROM A STOP ON BOTH WET AND DRY ROADS. I HAVE SEEN REPORTS ONLINE OF PEOPLE EXPRESSING THEIR CONCERN ABOUT THIS FEATURE IN SNOW, BUT OUR PRIUS DOES IT FREQUENTLY. ASIDE FROM THE INCONVENIENCE, THIS IS A CLEAR SAFETY HAZARD WHEN ATTEMPTING TO PULL OUT INTO TRAFFIC. WE HAVE BEEN TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT THIS FEATURE CANNOT BE DISABLED, BUT IT WOULD SEEM TO ME THAT IT NEEDS TO BE TO AVOID POTENTIAL COLLISIONS. *TR