2005 Toyota Prius Complaint Log

I WAS SITTING AT A STOP LIGHT WAITING FOR IT TO TURN GREEN WHEN MY BRAKE PEDAL SUDDENLY WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. I ONLY HAD A FEW BLOCKS TO GET TO MY DESTINATION AND THE BRAKES STILL WORKED IF I PUSHED ON THEM REALLY HARD. I GOT IT PARKED AND LEFT IT FOR ABOUT 4 HOURS AND WHEN I STARTED IT BACK UP THEY WORKED FINE AGAIN. IT ONLY HAPPENED ONCE. I HAVE ABS BRAKES. *TR

THE PROBLEM IS ENGINE SURGING WHEN I AM BRAKING. THE REGENERATIVE BRAKES SEEM TO SEND POWER TO THE MOTOR THAT THE COMPUTER DOES NOT HANDLE PROPERLY AND THE ENGINE SURGES, MAKING IT DIFFICULT FOR ME TO SLOW THE CAR DOWN TO MAKE TURNS OR TO STOP. THE CAR FEELS OUT OF CONTROL. THIS PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE RANDOM. I HAVE CONTACTED THE TOYOTA DEALER SEVERAL TIMES ABOUT THE PROBLEM OVER THE YEARS SINCE I PURCHASED THE CAR IN JANUARY OF 2005. THEY SAID THEY HAD RECEIVED NO OTHER COMPLAINTS OF A SIMILAR PROBLEM. IT HAPPENS MORE FREQUENTLY IN THE SUMMER THAN IN THE WINTER. I TALKED TO THE SERVICE MANAGER AT MY TOYOTA DEALER LAST MONTH AND HE AGAIN SAID THAT THERE WERE NO OTHER COMPLAINTS OF A SIMILAR PROBLEM AND THAT IT MIGHT BE THE FAULT OF THE ETHANOL IN THE GASOLINE. I THINK IT IS A PROBLEM OF THE ELECTRONICS AND THAT THE SHIELD PROTECTING THE ELECTRONICS IS NOT CAPABLE OF PROTECTING AGAINST ELECTRO-MAGNETIC PROBLEMS IN THE AREA OR IN MY CAR. *TR

VEHICLE TYPE: TOYOTA PRIUS 2005 [UNCORRECTED BY RECALLS] PROBLEM: WAS DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, ATTEMPTED TO BRAKE IN PREPARATION FOR A TURN AND BRAKE PEDAL WOULD NOT DEPRESS. EXAMINED BRAKE PEDAL AND DISCOVERED FLOOR MAT HAD CREPT UNDER THE PEDAL PREVENTING BRAKING. SHIFTED VEHICLE TO NEUTRAL. ATTEMPTED TO RETRIEVE MAT BUT UNABLE TO BY HAND. USED FOOT TO PULL MAT FROM UNDER BRAKE PEDAL AND WAS ABLE TO BRAKE. REMOVED MATS TO PREVENT FUTURE PROBLEMS. RESOLUTION: NONE. TOYOTA'S RECENT FLOOR MAT RECALL DOESN'T ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM. CONTACT WITH TOYOTA HAS LEFT ME WITH THE FEELING THAT THEY ARE UNAWARE OF THE PROBLEM [OR WORSE, HAVE MISDIAGNOSED THIS PROBLEM AS BEING A STUCK ACCELERATOR PROBLEM WHICH IS ALSO RELATED TO THE FLOOR MAT]. *TR

BOTH THE RIGHT AND LEFT HEADLIGHTS WILL INTERMITTENTLY GO OFF. THE LIGHTS WILL COME BACK ON IF THEY ARE TURNED OFF AND THEN BACK ON. BOTH HEADLIGHTS HAVE NOT WENT OFF AT THE SAME TIME BUT AT DIFFERENT TIMES FROM EACH OTHER. *TR

TOYOTA PRIUS HID HEADLIGHTS BLINK OFF AND ON. SOMETIMES STAY OFF UNTIL SWITCHED OFF, AND BACK ON. REPAIR COST INCLUDING LABOR, BULB AND NEW HID DRIVER "CHIP" EXCESSIVE AT $1,200 PER SIDE. DRIVING WITH UNRELIABLE HEADLIGHTS IS DANGEROUS. *TR

SUDDEN HEADLIGHT FAILURE, IF I TURNED OFF THE HEADLIGHT AND TURNED IT BACK ON AGAIN IT WILL TURN ON AGAIN. BUT IT WILL RANDOMLY TURN OFF AGAIN. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS. INTERMITTENTLY THE HEAD-LAMPS FAIL WITHOUT WARNINGS. USUALLY THE HEAD LIGHTS RESUME NORMAL OPERATION AFTER DRIVING FOR SEVERAL MINUTES. THE MANUFACTURER WILL ONLY COVER THE COST OF THE PARTS NOT THE LABOR. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 45,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVERS SIDE HEADLIGHT WOULD INTERMITTENTLY STOP ILLUMINATING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE WOULD HAVE TO TURN THE HEADLIGHTS ON AND OFF SEVERAL TIMES IN ORDER TO KEEP THE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE LIGHTS FIXTURE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER ALSO STATED THAT THIS WAS A WIDESPREAD ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 96,000.

WHILE DRIVING MY CAR, A 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS, THE HEADLIGHTS WILL JUST STOP WORKING. IT BEGAN WITH THE RIGHT HEADLIGHT, SOMETIMES IT IS BOTH HEADLIGHTS. THE HEADLIGHTS WILL SOMETIMES COME BACK ON IF THEY ARE TURNED OFF AND THEN BACK ON, SOMETIMES THE CAR MUST BE TURNED OFF AND THEN ON AGAIN. THE DEALER HAS SAID THAT IT COULD BE FIXED BY REPLACING THE ENTIRE HEADLIGHT UNIT (NOT JUST THE BULB) AT OVER $300 EACH OR POSSIBLY THE COMPUTER CONTROL BOARD AT OVER $1000. THIS IS A RECURRING ISSUE. BECAUSE IT IS NOW AFFECTING BOTH HEADLIGHTS, THE CAR CANNOT BE DRIVEN AT NIGHT. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH THE MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR FAILED CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SHUT OFF. THE CONTACT TOWED THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TO HAVE THE MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR REPLACED. THE ABS WARNING LIGHTS ALSO FLASHED ON THE DASH BOARD CAUSING THE BRAKES TO FAIL WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH. THE CONTACT DROVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TO HAVE THE ABS BRAKE ACTUATOR REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 18,461. UPDATED 11/10/10 *BF UPDATED 11/18/10

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING 2 MPH BACKING OUT OF HER DRIVE WAY, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED AND IT CRASHED INTO A TELEPHONE POLE. ONE PASSENGER INJURED HER WRIST AND BUMP HER HEAD. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS SEVERELY DAMAGED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BY A LOCAL DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 88,000.

[XXX] , A RESIDENT OF WANTAGH, NY, WAS DRIVING ON THE WANTAGH STATE PARKWAY WHEN SHE WAS HIT FROM BEHIND AND THEN EXPERIENCED THE SUDDEN, UNINTENDED ACCELERATION OF HER 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE ACCELERATION CONTINUED AFTER SHE PRESSED ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. AS A RESULT, [XXX] STRUCK ANOTHER VEHICLE ON THE ROAD AND WAS INVOLVED IN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. MOREOVER, THE SEATBELT IN THE VEHICLE WAS DEFECTIVE IN THAT IT BECAME UNFASTENED AND THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE HAS A VIN# [XXX] AND WAS PURCHASED AT ATLANTIC TOYOTA IN LONG ISLAND. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

FIRE AND TOTAL LOSS OF 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS, 19,300 MILES AFTER RETURNING FROM WORK, THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AS USUAL WITH ENGINE POWER CUT IN THE OWNER'S DRIVEWAY. A FEW MINUTES LATER, SMOKE WAS NOTICED INSIDE THE CAR WITH FLAMES SHOWING FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE ABOUT 10 MINUTES AFTER IT WAS FIRST NOTICED. THE MAIN DAMAGE IS IN THE REAR LEFT (DRIVER'S SIDE) OF THE VEHICLE, WITH THE CARGO COMPARTMENT COMPLETELY DESTROYED, TIRE COMPLETELY MELTED, ALL PLASTIC IN THE AREA MELTED, DOOR BLACKENED, THE REAR BENCH DESTROYED, THE CEILING CARPET DESTROYED AND BIG HEAT MARKS ON THE ROOF OF THE CAR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT MODIFIED AS A "PLUG-IN HYBRID" WHICH HAVE BEEN REPORTED IN AT LEAST ONE INCIDENT OF FIRE. THE EXTERNAL TEMPERATURE WAS MODERATE, AROUND 70-75 DEGREES. *TR UPDATED 06/05/09*JB

ABOUT 3 MONTHS AGO MY HEADLIGHTS ON MY 2005 PRIUS STARTED TO GO OUT THEN COME BACK ON. AT FIRST I ASSUMED IT WAS A HEADLIGHT THAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED BUT WHEN I WAS GOING TO BUY THE HEADLIGHTS I WAS TOLD IF IT WAS A DEAD HEADLIGHT...IT WOULD NEVER COME BACK ON. MY WARRANTY WAS ABOUT TO EXPIRE. I TOOK IT INTO THE DEALER IN WISCONSIN AND THEY SAID THEY HAD FIXED IT. HOWEVER I COULD SEE UP AGAINST THE WALL THAT IT WAS NOT. I TOLD THEM I WOULD NOT LEAVE TILL THEY FIXED IT. THEY GAVE ME BACK THE CAR AND THE HEADLIGHTS WORKED FOR A FEW DAYS THEN STARTED THE ON OFF THING AGAIN. PROBLEM IS YOU ARE NOT SURE WHEN IT HAPPENS...IF THE ROAD IS LIT AT ALL IT'S HARDER TO TELL. BUT I WHEN I HAD TO MAKE A TRIP OUT EAST THERE WERE ROADS WITH NO LIGHT SO ALL THAT WAS SEEN WAS THE PARKING LIGHTS. I THOUGHT I WAS GOING BLIND. I HAVE HEARD FROM OTHERS THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED TO MANY AND I WILL BE JOINING A CLASS ACTION LAW-SUIT. THIS IS LIFE THREATENING AND TOYOTA KNOWS VERY WELL ABOUT IT AND ALL THE DEALERS ARE JUST PRETENDING NOT TO. THERE MUST BE A RECALL RIGHT AWAY!!!! TO ADD INSULT TO INJURY, NOW THE AIR CONDITIONING HEATING IS ALL MESSED UP AND MY WINDOWS FOG UP AND I CAN'T GET THEM TO CLEAR. IT'S A MESS! *TR

THE HEADLIGHTS ON MY TOYOTA PRIUS GO OFF AND ON RANDOMLY. *TR

THE HEADLIGHT ON MY 2005 PRIUS GOES OUT. IF I TURN OFF THE HEAD LIGHT COMPLETELY AND WAIT A WHILE AND THEN TURN IT BACK ON, IT COMES BACK. IT REPEATS THIS ISSUE CONSTANTLY. *TR

I WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH AND BRAKING UPON APPROACHING A CURVE AND A METAL PLATE ON THE ROAD ABOUT 40 FEET BEFORE A STOP SIGN. THE CAR ACCELERATED MOMENTARILY (SURGED) ON THE UNEVEN SURFACE, FOR LESS THAN 1 SECOND. AS I DROVE THIS STRETCH OF ROAD ONCE PER WEEK, I THEN APPROACHED IT MORE SLOWLY. AT LOWER SPEEDS, THE BRAKING PROBLEM DID NOT OCCUR, BUT WEEKS WHEN I FORGOT TO DRIVE MORE SLOWLY, THE BRAKING PROBLEM RECURRED (NOT SURE OF THE HIT RATE - PERHAPS 40% OF THE TIME AT ~35 MPH). I AM UNCERTAIN OF THE DATES: VERY ROUGHLY, APRIL 2009 - SEPTEMBER 2009, WHILE THE METAL PLATE WAS IN PLACE. // I HAVE EXPERIENCED A BRAKING PROBLEM ON ONE OTHER OCCASION ON A STRAIGHT STRETCH OF UNEVEN ROAD, GOING ABOUT 35 MPH AND OVER A POTHOLE. THIS WAS APPROXIMATELY JANUARY 1, 2010. ONCE AGAIN, THE CAR ACCELERATED/SURGED FOR LESS THAN 1 SECOND. *TR

2005 TOYOTA PRIUS - I HAVE HAD BRAKING PROBLEM. NEAR WHERE I LIVE THERE IS A SMALL POTHOLE NEAR AN INTERSECTION WITH A STOP SIGH. WHEN TRYING TO STOP IF I HIT THE POTHOLE THE CAR'S BRAKES JUST SEEM TO DISAPPEAR FOR A SECOND. ALMOST RAN OUT THROUGH STOP SIGN. THIS HAS HAPPENED A COUPLE OF TIMES SO I AM NOW VERY CAREFUL TO AVOID THE HOLE BY NEARLY RUNNING OFF THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ROAD. NOW I HEAR THERE IS A RECALL FOR THE SAME THING WITH THE 2010 PRIUS. I'VE ALREADY HAD THE "FLOOR MAT" RECALL. THIS CONCERNS ME BECAUSE I WONDER IF IT IS REALLY THE FLOOR MATS OR THE RUN AWAY GAS PEDAL PROBLEM. I'M GOING ON VACATION AND SERIOUSLY CONSIDERING RENTING A CAR BECAUSE I'M ALMOST AFRAID TO DRIVE MY CAR. *TR

MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING THE FAMILY CAR A 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS ON A NJ COUNTY ROAD ON A LOW TRAFFIC SUNDAY MORNING IN APRIL 2009. THE CAR UNEXPECTEDLY SURGED CAUSING HER TO LOOSE CONTROL, HIT A TELEPHONE POLE AND CAUSE PROPERTY AND PHYSICAL DAMAGE. *TR

PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT TURNING OFF INTERMITTENTLY. I UNDERSTAND THIS IS A COMMON COMPLAINT WITH PRIUS AND THAT REPAIR COSTS ARE SIGNIFICANT. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE - HEADLIGHTS TURNING THEMSELVES OFF WHILE DRIVING.... *TR

2005 TOYOTA PRIUS WITH MOMENTARY FAILURE IN BRAKING SYSTEM. OCCURRING 3 TIMES IN 2009. *TR

I WAS DRIVING MY 2005 PRIUS ON THE 210 FREEWAY IN LOS ANGELES, CA IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC. THE TRAFFIC SPED UP, THEN THE CAR INFRONT SLAMMED ON THEIR BRAKES. I HIT MY BRAKES HARD, AND THOUGHT "NOTHING'S HAPPENING." I REAR ENDED THE DAR INFRONT OF ME, CAUSING $A TOTAL OF $9,000 DAMAGE TO BOTH CARS. *TR

I WAS BACKING UP FROM A PARKED POSITION, I TURNED THE STEERING WHEEL TO PROCEED FORWARD AND HEARD AND FELT A CRUNCH. I PUT THE CAR IN DRIVE AND HAD TO STOP BEFORE HITTING A PARKED VEHICLE BECAUSE THE CAR WAS NOT GOING IN THE DIRECTION I STEERED. I SOON REALIZED THAT I HAD LOST ALL STEERING CONTROL. I HAD IT TOWED AND MY LOCAL MECHANIC EVALUATED THE STEERING COLUMN AND FOUND WHAT HE THOUGHT WAS A MANUFACTURING OR ASSEMBLY DEFECT. THINKING THAT MY CAR MAY NOT BE THE ONLY ONE AFFECTED I MADE SOME CALLS AND RESEARCHED THE INTERNET. I FOUND THAT THIS CAR HAD A RECALL PUBLISHED 6/2006 FOR THIS VERY PROBLEM. I AM THE 3RD OWNER OF THIS VEHICLE. THE PREVIOUS OWNER BOUGHT IT FROM A REPUTABLE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP, WITH THE LOGO "CERTIFIED USED" ON THE SALES RECEIPT. HE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE FROM THE DEALER AFTER THE RECALL NOTICE HAD BEEN PUBLISHED. IT APPEARS THE DEALERSHIP DID NOT CHECK FOR RECALLS BEFORE "CERTIFYING" THIS VEHICLE. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A CATASTROPHIC EVENT AT HIGH SPEEDS FOR ME, MY FAMILY OR SOMEONE DRIVING BY ME AT THE WRONG TIME. I WILL SUBMIT A SECOND COMPLAINT IF THE DEALERSHIP AND/OR TOYOTA DOES NOT HANDLE THIS APPROPRIATELY. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS HAVE BEEN FAILING WITHOUT WARNING OVER THE LAST TWO MONTHS. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE TWO FRONT HEADLIGHTS FAILED. HE WAS ABLE TO SAFELY MANEUVER THE VEHICLE TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD. WHEN HE TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE, THE HEADLIGHTS ILLUMINATED AGAIN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE HID BULBS WERE FAILING. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE WARRANTY WOULD NOT COVER THE FAILURE; THEREFORE, THE CONTACT WOULD HAVE TO PAY $575 FOR THE REPAIR. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. A REPORT WAS FILED WITH THE MANUFACTURER AND THEY STATED THAT THEY WOULD CALL THE CONTACT BACK. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 82,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 96,000.

LIKE SO MANY OTHER COMPLAINTS I'VE READ TODAY, I AM EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH ONE OF THE HEADLIGHTS TURNING OFF INTERMITTENTLY, WITHOUT REASON (IT HAPPENS WHEN JUST SITTING IDLE). WHEN THE LIGHT GOES OFF, I FLIP THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH OFF AND ON, AND IT COMES BACK ON. IT WILL THEN REMAIN ON FOR A WHILE (COULD BE 30 MINUTES, OR IT COULD BE 2 MINUTES). I WAS TOLD THAT THIS IS UNLIKELY TO BE THE HID BULB OR BALLAST. I HAVE READ MANY COMPLAINTS ON DIFFERENT FORUMS. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN, AND TOYOTA SHOULD FIND THE CAUSE, AND RECALL FOR REPAIRS. *TR

EVENTS LEADING TO FAILURE: ORDINARY DRIVING. THE FAILURE: RIGHT HEADLIGHT STOPS WORKING. FREQUENCY: HARD TO TELL SINCE I CAN'T SEE THE HEADLIGHTS WHILE DRIVING. CAN ONLY GET INDIRECT EVIDENCE SUCH AS LIGHT REFLECTING FROM THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME-IF IT IS CLOSE. WHEN I FIRST NOTICED THIS, ABOUT A YEAR AGO, IT WAS INFREQUENT. THE FREQUENCY HAS INCREASED AS FAR AS I CAN TELL TO THE POINT THAT I BELIEVE IT IS DAILY NOW, ALTHOUGH STILL NOT CONSTANT. NO CONSEQUENCES SO FAR, BUT POTENTIAL FOR WRECKS AT NIGHT IS OBVIOUS, AND DRIVING WITHOUT HEADLIGHTS IS A CRIME, I THINK-CERTAINLY UNWISE. OVER THE LAST YEAR I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR INTO THE DEALER TWICE WHEN I THOUGHT THE HEADLIGHT WAS MALFUNCTIONING, BUT WHEN I GOT TO THE DEALER, IT WAS ON. TODAY WHEN I TOOK IT IN, IT WAS MALFUNCTIONING. AT THE DEALERSHIP OVER THE LAST YEAR, I HAVE BEEN QUOTED REPAIR PRICES BY THE DEALER, FROM $600 TO $1700 (FOR BOTH LIGHTS), THE LATTER BEING RECOMMENDED. THE REQUEST FOR INCIDENT DATE BELOW IS INAPPROPRIATE SINCE THERE HAVE BEEN HUNDREDS OF INCIDENT DATES. I AM COMPLETING IT SINCE THE FORM WILL NOT ALLOW ME TO CONTINUE IF I DON'T SELECT A SINGLE DATE. THE SELECTION OF ONE DATE BELOW IS NOT A WAIVER OF THE MANY OTHER DATES. *TR

PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT FADES THEN GOES OUT. TURNING THE SWITCH OFF/ON WILL TURN THE HEADLIGHT ON AGAIN 'BUT STILL IT GOES OUT. *TR

LEFT HEADLAMP WILL NOT STAY LIT. TURNING LIGHTS OFF AND BACK ON AGAIN RE-LIGHTS IT. REPLACING BULB HAS NOT HELPED. FOUND ON THE INTERNET THAT OTHERS ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. FEEL THAT TOYOTA SHOULD RECALL THE VEHICLES TO FIX THE PROBLEM. *TR

I HAVE A 2005 PRIUS AND HAVE AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM WITH THE HEAD LIGHTS. ONE OF THEM WILL TURN OFF BUT IF I TURN OFF THE LIGHTS AND TURN THEM BACK ON, THE HEADLIGHT COMES ON. I HAVE HEARD OF SIMILAR PROBLEMS WITH OTHER PRIUS, I FEEL THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE, AND POSSIBLE A DESIGN ISSUE/FLAW SINCE THE CONDITION IS INTERMITTENT (NOT RELATED TO LOOSE WIRES PER MY TOYOTA DEALER) AND COULD RESULT IN TOTAL LOSS OF LIGHTS. SO FAR, BOTH HEADLIGHTS HAVE NOT SHUT OFF AT THE SAME TIME, BUT BOTH ARE AFFECTED. *TW

LEFT FRONT HEADLIGHT BURNED OUT. *TR

ABOUT 1-2 TIMES PER MONTH, I'VE NOTICED WHAT FEELS LIKE A VERY SMALL MOMENTARY ACCELERATION WHILE BRAKING, IF I HIT A BUMP/POTHOLE AT THE SAME TIME. I'VE ONLY NOTICED THE ISSUE WITHIN THE LAST YEAR, SINCE TRANSFERRING AND USING A DIFFERENT ROUTE TO GET TO/FROM WORK. *TR

IN MARCH OF '09 I DROVE MY CAR TO A LOCAL SHOPPING CENTER. WHEN I RETURNED TO MY CAR 10 MINUTES OR SO LATER, I TRIED TO START THE ENGINE BY PUSHING ON THE START BUTTON. THE ENTIRE DASHBOARD DISPLAY LIGHTED UP, INCLUDING ALL OF THE WARNING LIGHTS, BUT THE CAR WOULDN'T START AND I WASN'T ABLE TO TURN TO TURN OFF. I AM NOT SURE IF THE ENGINE ACTUALLY CAME ON. I ALSO WASN'T ABLE TO PUT THE CAR IN GEAR.. AT SOME POINT, ALL THE DISPLAY LIGHTS, INCLUDING THE GEAR SHIFT BOX, STARTED FLASHING.. AFTER TRYING FOR ABOUT 5 MINUTES, I CALLED MY TOYOTA I10 DEALER IN INDIO, CA WHO SAID HE HAD NEVER HEARD OF THIS HAPPENING. WHILE TALKING TO HIM I KEPT PUSHING BUTTONS AND FINALLY, I WAS ABLE TO TURN THE CAR OFF AND THEN BACK ON AND EVERYTHING WORKED FROM THAT POINT ON. I WAS NOT TOLD BY THE TOYOTA TECHNICIAN TO BRING THE CAR IN AND I DIDN'T. THE SECOND TIME IT HAPPENED ON 4/3/09 THE SAME PROBLEM HAPPENED AGAIN. THE CAR WAS PARKED IN MY GARAGE AND WHEN I WENT TO START THE CAR, ALL OF THE ABOVE HAPPENED AGAIN, BUT I BELIEVE I WAS ABLE TO TURN OFF THE IGNITION. I CALLED AAA, THEY JUMPED MY 12V BATTERY , AND I IMMEDIATELY DROVE THE CAR TO MY TOYOTA DEALER. THEY RECHARGED THE BATTERY AND SAID THAT THE BATTERY TESTED HIGH AFTER THE RECHARGING. THAT BATTERY DID NOT HAVE TO REPLACED UNTIL 10/22/09. I HAVE ANOTHER COMPLAINT WHICH MAY OR MY NOT BE CONNECTED TO THIS COMPLAINT,. ON APPROXIMATELY 1/6/10 WHILE DRIVING MY CAR THE LIGHTS DISPLAYING MY SPEED AND FUEL GAUGE WENT OUT. I THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE A BLOWN FUSE SO HAD THAT CHECKED. THE FUSE HAD NOT BEEN BLOWN. I CONTINUED TO DRIVE THE CAR FOR ABOUT ANOTHER WEEK OR SO BEFORE CALLING TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT WITH MY TOYOTA DEALER FOR THE NEXT DAY. ON THAT DAY, 1/20/10 I CALLED I DRIVE MY CAR TO DO SEVERAL ERRANDS, ONE OF WHICH WAS QUITE NEAR THE AREA WHEN I FIRST HAD THE TROUBLE WITH THE CAR STARTING. IN THIS CASE, AS I WAS LEAVING THE AREA, MY DISPLAY LIGHTS CAME ON AND I HAVE NOT HAD ANY TROUBLE WITH THEM SINCE. *TR

COMING TO A STOP AT LESS THAN 10MPH I DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL ONLY TO HAVE IT GO TO THE FLOOR WITHOUT ANY RESULTS. I QUICKLY ENGAGED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE BUT NOT BEFORE HITTING A SERVICE TRUCK. THIS RESULTED IN A SMALL DENT IN MY FRONT BUMPER. THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN THE TRUCK MOVED OFF BUT FOR ME TO RELEASE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE I HAD TO REACH WITH MY HAND TO FIND THE RELEASE LEVER. I WENT TO A TOYOTA SERVICE DEPARTMENT IMMEDIATELY. THEY SPENT A COUPLE OF HOURS TRYING TO FIND THE PROBLEM THIS INCLUDED DRIVING MY CAR FOR 30 MINUTES. THEY DID NOT FIND ANYTHING TO EXPLAIN THE PROBLEM. READING IN DISCUSSION FORMATS ONLINE I HAVE FOUND THIS TO BE A PROBLEM OTHERS HAVE EXPERIENCED. MY INCIDENT, AS MANY ONLINE, HAPPENED IN THE RAIN. *TR

I HAVE A 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS (PKG 6) WITH APPR. 18,000 MILES. ABOUT A MONTH AGO, BY DRIVER'S SIDE HEADLIGHT STARTED TO GO OUT (GOING OFF AND ON) UNTIL IT FINALLY WENT OUT COMPLETELY. ON FEBRUARY 27, 2009, I TOOK THE VEHICLE INTO THE DEALER (LONGO TOYOTA IN EL MONTE, CALIFORNIA), WHO TOLD ME I WOULD HAVE TO SPEND $358 (PARTS AND LABOR) FOR JUST THE ONE HEADLIGHT. AFTER MUCH DISCUSSION WITH THE SERVICE REP AT THE DEALER AND THE TOYOTA SALES REP, TOYOTA AGREED TO PAY FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF BOTH HEADLIGHTS WITH ME PAYING FOR THE LABOR OF THE REPLACEMENT. THE TOTAL COST TO ME FOR THE LABOR WAS $201.76. IF TOYOTA HADN'T AGREED TO PAY FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF THE BULBS, I WOULD HAVE BEEN OUT OF POCKET $716.14 (PARTS AND LABOR). AS IT WAS, I STILL HAD TO PAY $201.76 FOR THE LABOR. IT IS MY OPINION THAT A VEHICLE THAT IS ONLY 3-1/2 YEARS OLD SHOULD NOT HAVE TO HAVE IT'S HEADLIGHTS REPLACED. I ALSO UNDERSTAND FROM TALKING TO THE SERVICE REP AND DOING FURTHER RESEARCH THAT THIS IS A COMMON OCCURRENCE EVEN IN MUCH YOUNGER PRIUS'. I FEEL THAT THIS PROBLEM NEEDS TO BE RESEARCHED FURTHER BY THE NHTSA AND A DETERMINATION MADE ON WHETHER THERE NEEDS TO BE AN OFFICIAL RECALL FOR THE HEADLIGHT REPLACEMENT PROBLEM ON PRIUS'. *TR

ON 2/27/09, MY 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS' BRAKES COMPLETELY FAILED. I WAS GOING DOWNHILL IN AN HIGHLY TRANSITED URBAN ROAD (RTE 123 IN VA, CLOSE TO TYSONS CORNER). THANKFULLY I WAS ONLY GOING ABOUT 40MPH WHEN THE LIGHT CHANGED TO RED. THE 2 VEHICLES IN FRONT OF ME STOPPED. I PRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND MY CAR ACCELERATED INITIALLY, AND THEN NOTHING. BRAKES ARE MEANT TO WORK. ALWAYS. I KEPT PUMPING THE PEDAL HOPING TO ENGAGE THE BREAKS, BUT THEY DID NOT ENGAGE. WHAT STOPPED ME WAS THE REAR OF A BMW X5. THANKFULLY I WAS THE ONLY INJURED PARTY, AND MY INJURIES ARE MOSTLY MUSCULAR. I COULD HAVE DIED OR I COULD HAVE KILLED SOMEONE. IN JANUARY, I HAD TAKING MY CAR TO THE DEALER BECAUSE ALL THE ALERT LIGHTS ON THE DASH WOULD SPORADICALLY GO OFF. THEY KEPT THE CAR FOR A WEEK AND CLAIMED THAT THE SECONDARY BATTERY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I GOT MY VEHICLE BACK AND ON 2/23/09 THE ISSUE RESTARTED. I WAS DUE TO TAKE MY CAR BACK TO THE DEALER THE DAY OF THE ACCIDENT. I CALLED A LAWYER TO SEE IF I HAD A CASE, AND WAS TOLD NO. I AM STILL RESEARCHING THE ISSUE BECAUSE SOMEONE SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE AND FUTURE TRAGEDIES SHOULD BE AVOIDED. IF ANYONE HAS STARTED A CLASS ACTION SUIT, PLEASE DO LET ME KNOW AS I WOULD LIKE TO JOIN YOU. *TR

TAIL LIGHT AND BOTH HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT WITHIN A FEW WEEKS OF EACH OTHER. FOLSOM LAKE TOYOTA CHARGED BY $450.00 TO REPLACE THE FIRST BULB THAT I PURCHASED 4 WEEKS LATER FROM NAPA AUTO PARTS FOR $93.00. FOLSOM LAKE TOYOTA CLAIMS THEY RAN A DIAGNOSTIC AND THAT THERE ARE NO ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS FOUR WEEKS BEFORE SECOND HEADLIGHT AND LICENSE PLATE BULB WENT OUT. *TR

THE HEADLIGHTS ON MY 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS RANDOMLY TURN OFF WHILE DRIVING. SOMETIMES ONE GOES OUT, BUT WHEN THEY BOTH GO OUT ALL OF THE LIGHTS INSIDE THE CAR GO OUT TOO. WHEN I TURN THE LIGHTS OFF AND THEN BACK ON THEY WILL WORK FOR A SHORT TIME. ADDITIONALLY, AFTER THIS STARTED THE ELECTRONIC IGNITION BEGAN TO HAVE PROBLEMS. I HAVE REPLACED THE BULBS SEVERAL TIMES. THIS HAS BEEN A REGULAR PROBLEM FOR ABOUT 3 MONTHS. WE HAVE RECEIVED A WARNING TICKET BECAUSE OF A HEADLIGHT OUTAGE. *TR

FEBURARY 13, 2009, MY BREAKS FAILED TO ENGAGE WHEN APPROACHING A BUSY INTERSECTION. NO WARNING LIGHTS FLASHED. MY BREAKS JUST DIDN'T WORK. IN ORDER TO STOP MY VEHICLE FROM SLAMMING INTO CARS WAITING AT THE LIGHT AND PEOPLE CROSSING AT THE CROSS WALK, I APPLIED THE PARKING BREAK AND TURNED OFF MY CAR. THANKFULLY I WAS ABLE TO STOP MY CAR IN TIME. I TURNED MY CAR OFF, THEN BACK ON AND A WARNING LIGHT CAME ON; INDICATING SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE ABS SYSTEM. TOYOTA DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM CITING THE BREAK ACTUATOR AND COMPUTER SKID CONTROL. *CN

I HAVE NOTICED THE ONGOING DISTURBANCE WITH THE BRAKES ON MY 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS, AS DESCRIBED IN MEDIA REPORTS ON THE NEWER PRIUS MODELS. DURING THE BRAKING PROCESS, IF I ENCOUNTER ANY DISTURBANCE IN THE ROAD SUCH AS A POT HOLE OR AN EXPANSION JOINT, I FEEL A MOMENTARY LOSS OF BRAKING. THE CAR WILL REGAIN BRAKING CONTROL IF I CONTINUE TO HOLD THE BRAKES DOWN. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT IT WAS JUST TO BE EXPECTED WITH THE TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM. I HAVE NOTICED THIS ISSUE EVERY SINCE I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE IN MARCH OF 2008.

WHILE I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE STREET, SUDDENLY AN ABS WARNING LIGHT AND A BEEPING SOUND ENGAGED. TO INVESTIGATE THE ABRUPT OCCURRENCE I ATTEMPTED TO PULL OVER. HOWEVER AS I APPLIED MY BRAKES THEY WOULDN'T WORK. MY BRAKES COMPLETELY FAILED. I'M EXTREMELY FORTUNATE THAT I WAS AFFORDED THE DISTANCE TO ALLOW MY CAR TO SLOW DOWN ON ITS OWN. TO MAKE A COMPLETE STOP I APPLIED MY PARKING BAKE. I WAS LUCKY TO AVOID CRASHING INTO THE CAR JUST FEET IN FRONT OF MINE. I CAN ONLY IMAGINE THE DEVASTATION IF THIS WAS TO HAPPEN ON A BUSY INTERSECTION OR A FREEWAY OFF RAMP. THANKFULLY, THERE ARE NO INJURIES TO REPORT. MY CAR IS CURRENTLY AT A DEALER/SERVICE CENTER. THEY SAID THE BRAKE ACTUATOR AND SPEED SENSOR NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. I'VE OPENED A CASE WITH TOYOTA TO INVESTIGATE THE FAILURE. *TR

I HAVE A 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE HEADLIGHTS WILL GO OUT, SOMETIMES BOTH, SOMETIMES ONE OR THE OTHER. HOWEVER, THEY COME BACK ON WHEN I TURN THEM COMPLETELY OFF AND BACK ON. THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN FOR OBVIOUS REASONS, AND CAN CAUSE MY VEHICLE TO NOT PASS INSPECTION. THERE IS NO SPECIFIC EVENT THAT MAKES THE HEADLIGHTS GO OFF. IT HAPPENS INTERMITTENTLY AND UNEXPECTEDLY. ADDING TO THE SAFETY ISSUE...I LIVE IN THE COUNTRY WHERE THERE OFTEN ARE NO SHOULDERS ON THE HIGHWAYS OR COUNTY ROADS, AND NO STREET LIGHTS. THERE ARE LOTS OF STEEP DITCHES AND CREEKS. WHEN I FIRST STARTED HAVING THE PROBLEM AND WOULD COMPLETELY TURN OFF THE LIGHTS AND THEN TURN THEM BACK ON, THEY WOULD STAY ON FOR A LONG TIME, SOMETIMES SEVERAL HOURS BEFORE GOING OFF AGAIN. NOW, THEY STAY ON ONLY A FEW SECONDS TO A FEW MINUTES. I'VE GOT TWO THEORIES, ONE IS THAT IT COULD BE A SHORT??? -AND THE OTHER THAT THE COOLER TEMPERATURES SEEM TO AFFECT IT SLIGHTLY, THOUGH NEITHER OF THESE SEEM TO MAKE LOGICAL SENSE. PLEASE CHECK INTO THIS AS OTHER PRIUS OWNERS HAVE HAD THE SAME UNRESOLVED PROBLEM. WE CAN'T ALL JUST GO REPLACING THE COMPUTERS AND LIGHT BULBS AT THE HIGH COST YOU SELL THEM FOR, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT DOESN'T FIX THE PROBLEM...UNLESS TOYOTA WANTS TO PAY FOR IT, OF COURSE, AND THEN THAT'S TIME WITHOUT TRANSPORTATION. THANKS FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION ON THIS MATTER. *TR

RIGHT HEADLIGHT GOES OUT INTERMITTENTLY. CAN TURN LIGHT SWITCH OFF/ON AND IT WILL RELIGHT FOR A WHILE. BEGAN HAVING PROBLEM AT ABOUT 95,000 MILES. DEALER SAID IT'S A BULB FOR $350. I DECLINED TO HAVE IT REPLACED. NOW THE LEFT HEADLIGHT ALSO GOES OUT,. TURNING SWITCH OFF/ON WILL RELIGHT FOR A TIME. MIGHT HAVE TO TURN OFF/ON 4 OR 5 TIMES IN A 6 MILE TRIP. THE DEALER SUGGESTED THAT A FILAMENT MIGHT BE BROKEN AND MAKING INTERMITTENT CONNECTION. THESE ARE HIGH INTENSITY DISCHARGE LAMPS - I DON'T THINK THEY HAVE FILAMENTS. I AM CURRENTLY SEARCHING ON LINE FOR REPLACEMENT PARTS TO FIX THIS MYSELF. *TR

PASSENGER-SIDE HEADLIGHT GOES OUT WHILE DRIVING. TURNING THE LIGHTS OFF AND THEN ON AGAIN RESOLVES THE ISSUE. I ONLY NOTICE THIS WHEN I SEE THE CAR'S REFLECTION IN THE REAR OF THE CAR IN FRONT. *TR

HEADLIGHTS INTERMITTENTLY TURN ON. LEFT AND RIGHT SIDE SOMETIMES DO NOT TURN ON. THEY LATER TURN ON AFTER MULTIPLE TRIES (TURN ON AND OFF REPEATEDLY). BOTH LIGHTS TURN OFF WHILE DRIVING. INSPECTION AT TOYOTA DEALER FOUND POSSIBLE FAULT WITH ONE HEADLIGHT. COST TO REPLACE HEADLIGHTS ESTIMATED AT $900. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH OVER RAIL ROAD TRACKS THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WHILE HIS FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE FAILURE OCCURRED APPROXIMATELY 12 TIMES LAST YEAR. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 56000. UPDATED 3/8/10 *CN UPDATED 06/04/10.*JB

1. TOYOTA PRIUS HID LIGHT FAULTY. - THE LIGHTS GO OFF AND WHEN TURNED OFF AND ON COME BACK UP. 2. CALLED THE DEALER AND THE DEALER QUOTED - $350 PER BULB AND $300 IN LABOR CHARGES = $1000 TO REPLACE 2 HEAD LAMPS. 3. LOGGED A COMPLAINT WITH TOYOTA. TOYOTA SAID THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE PARTS AND OFFERED A 50% REIMBURSEMENT WHICH STILL ENDS UP TO $500 OUT OF POCKET EXPENSES JUST TO REPLACE 2 HEAD LAMPS. *TR

2005 PRIUS WITH HID HEADLAMPS THAT NEED REPLACING WHICH WILL COST $450.00 EACH. THIS IS AN OUTRAGEOUS SUM OF MONEY TO PAY FOR HEADLAMPS ON A 4 YEAR OLD VEHICLE. *TR

AFTER ACCELERATING FROM A RED LIGHT BEHIND A VAN, THE VAN ABRUPTLY STOPPED. I HIT THE BRAKES IN AN ATTEMPT TO STOP. THE BRAKES DID NOT ENABLE RIGHT AWAY AND THE CAR I WAS DRIVING REAR-ENDED THE VAN. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA PRUIS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A RECURRING FAILURE WITH THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES FOR THE FAILURE WHERE THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT WAS REPLACED TWICE BUT TO NO AVAIL. THE DEALER THEN CLEARED THE ERROR CODES BUT THAT ALSO DID NOT CORRECT THE FAILURE. NEXT, THE WIRING HARNESS AND MAIN COMPUTER WERE REPLACED YET THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE CONTACT BELIEVED THE FAILURE TO BE A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 107,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING BETWEEN 5-19 MPH ON AN ICY ROAD SURFACE WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED AND THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM WAS INACTIVATION AND FAILED TO DEACTIVATE. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SLOW DOWN AND CRASHED INTO A VEHICLE ON THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHENEVER ENCOUNTERING ABNORMAL ROADS INCLUDING ICY ROAD SURFACES. THERE WERE NO INJURES. THE POLICE WAS NOT CALLED TO THE SCENE. BOTH VEHICLES WERE DAMAGED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED FOR THE MALFUNCTION. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 112,000.