2005 Toyota Prius Complaint Log

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING IN RAINY CONDITIONS, THE REAR BRAKES ENGAGED WITH A GRABBING FORCE. THE FAILURE WAS EXPERIENCED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE REAR BRAKE DRUMS WERE CLEANED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE WAS NOT CORRECTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

HEADLIGHTS TURN OFF UNEXPECTEDLY. TURNING SWITCH OFF AND THEN BACK ON TEMPORARILY RESETS AND THEY WORK FOR 5 TO 10 MINUTES THEN GO OFF AGAIN. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS FOUND THAT THE INVERTER CONVERTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT REPAIRS COMPLETED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 12V536000 (HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM: INVERTER) MAY HAVE CAUSED THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND OFFERED TO PAY FOR A PORTION OF THE REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 116,000...UPDATED 01/14/13 *BF..UPDATED 01/16/2013 *BF UPDATED 1/18/2013 *JS THE CONSUMER IS STILL WITHOUT THE VEHICLE. UPDATED 1/28/2013*JS

WE BOUGHT OUR TOYOTA PRIUS ON JUNE 2006. RECENTLY MY WIFE, WHO IS THE PRINCIPLE DRIVER, COMPLAINED TO ME THAT THERE WAS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE STEERING OF THE PRIUS. I DROVE IT AND NOTICED THAT WHEN I MADE A TURN EITHER LEFT OR RIGHT THAT I HEARD AND FELT A CLANKING SOUND COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. I ALSO NOTICED THAT WITH THE ENGINE OFF AND THE CAR NOT IN MOTION, THERE WAS QUITE A BIT OF MOVEMENT FROM THE STEERING WHEEL WHENEVER I WOULD PUSH IT UP AND DOWN. I TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC AND HE SAID THAT THE STEERING SHAFT ASSEMBLY WAS DEFECTIVE. HE REPLACED THE STEERING SHAFT ASSY PART # 45260-47052. I AM NOT SURE WHETHER THIS HAS BEEN A RECALL ITEM OR NOT BUT IF IT WAS I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED OR MADE AWARE BY TOYOTA. IT COST US $371 PARTS AND LABOR FOR THIS REPAIR. *TR

OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE APPROX 32 DEGREES F. GEAR SHIFTER ON DASHBOARD WOULD NOT ELECTRICALLY SEAL-IN OR STAY IN POSITION AFTER GOING INTO REVERSE, THE FIRST TIME. BACKED CAR OUT OF DRIVEWAY AND SHIFTED INTO DRIVE, IT IMMEDIATELY WENT BACK INTO NEUTRAL POSITION AND WOULD NOT STAY IN DRIVE - ELECTRICALLY. THE ONLY WAY TO KEEP THE CAR IN GEAR WAS TO PHYSICALLY HOLD THE GEAR SHIFTER INTO DESIRED POSITION. PHYSICALLY HELD SHIFTER IN DRIVE POSITION AND PULLED BACK INTO DRIVEWAY. ONCE IN DRIVEWAY, TESTED SHIFTER AND FOUND IT WOULD NOT GO INTO ANY GEAR AND "STAY". AFTER WORK, TEMPERATURE WAS 60 DEGREES F AND SHIFTER THEN FUNCTIONED PROPERLY. DROVE TO TOYOTA DEALER AND LEFT CAR. THEY STATED A TECHNICAL BULLETIN WAS ISSUED BY TOYOTA ON THIS ITEM AS DESCRIBED. TICKET # 490621; PART NUMBER 33560-47023 "LEVER ASSY. SHIFT, WAS REPLACED. PART COST 164.93 AND LABOR WAS 416.14 FOR A SUBTOTAL OF 581.07 PLUS TAX OF 34.33 FOR GRAND TOTAL OF 615.40 USD. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A COLD WEATHER AND AGE RELATED ISSUE. PLUS, THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TOYOTA ELECTRICAL SYSTEM DESIGN FLAW ISSUE I'VE ENCOUNTERED, BUT THE FIRST RELATED TO DRIVABILITY AND POSSIBLE SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

FRONT PASSENGER HEADLAMP GOES OUT BY ITSELF. WILL COME BACK ON IF HEADLAMP SWITCH IS TURNED OFF AND ON. DOES NOT OCCUR WITH HITTING A BUMP IN THE ROAD OR DEPENDING UPON WEATHER. VERY UNPREDICTABLE. ONCE DRIVER SIDE HEADLAMP DID THE SAME. REGULARLY THE PASSENGER HEADLAMP FAILS!! ALSO, REAR PASSENGER BRAKE LAMP WORKS SOMETIMES AND DOESN'T WORK OTHER TIMES. UNPREDICTABLE. *TR

WHILE DRIVING AT 6:35 PM IN PASO ROBLES ON HWY 46 BOTH HEADLIGHTS WENT DARK. I ROTATED THE LIGHT SWITCH SEVERAL TIMES, THEN BOTH HEADLIGHTS LIT. WITHIN 5 MINUTES, IT HAPPENED AGAIN. 2 MINUTES LATER, IT HAPPENED AGAIN. THEREAFTER IT HAPPENED ABOUT EVERY 2 MINUTES UNTIL WE GOT TO THE HOSPITAL EMERGENCY ROOM TO WHICH I WAS TAKING MY WIFE. SHE DIED THERE ABOUT 10PM OF A HEART ATTACK. AT ABOUT 2 A.M. ON MY RETURN HOME WITH MY DAUGHTER, THE SAME THING HAPPENED WITHIN 5 MINUTES. WHEN IT HAPPENED NEXT IN ABOUT 2 MINUTES, I FLIPPED THE LIGHT SWITCH AND ONE HEADLIGHT LIT. DESPITE FLIPPING THE SWITCH SEVERAL TIMES, ONLY ONE LIGHT (THE LEFT ONE) LIT. HAVE NOT USED THE CAR AT NIGHT SINCE THEN. *TR

MY PASSENGERS SIDE HEAD LIGHT WENT OUT. IT CAME BACK ON WHEN I TURNED THE SWITCH OFF AND BACK ON AGAIN. IT HAS HAPPENED THREE MORE TIMES SINCE, TWO OF WHICH WERE THIS MORNING ALONE (12/28/2012). *TR

WHILE CRUISING AT 35 MPH, EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ONSET OF HIGH PITCH NOISE ALONG WITH THE RED WARNING LIGHT AND ABS LIGHT BEING ILLUMINATED ON CONSOLE. WHEN ATTEMPTING TO BRAKE, NOTICED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL FELT VERY STIFF AND NOT DEPRESS. FORTUNATELY, THERE WERE NO CARS IN FRONT, AND WAS ABLE TO GRADUALLY STOP THE VEHICLE BY PRESSING ON THE BRAKE AS HARD AS POSSIBLE. THE BRAKING DISTANCE FELT A LOT FURTHER THAN USUAL. AFTER COMING TO A STOP AND WAITING A FEW MINUTES, STOPPED AND RESTARTED THE ENGINE. THE HIGH PITCH NOISE STOPPED ONCE THE ENGINE TURNED OFF. ONCE THE ENGINE WAS BACK ON, THE BRAKE PEDAL FELT NORMAL AGAIN, AND WHILE THE ABS LIGHT WAS NO LONGER ILLUMINATED, THE RED WARNING LIGHT REMAINED ON. TOOK THE CAR IMMEDIATELY TO THE TOYOTA DEALER WHERE MY CAR IS NORMALLY SERVICED, AND THEY INDICATED THERE WAS A FAULT CODE C1300 AND RECOMMENDED REPLACING THE SKID CONTROL ECU (PART# 89540-47130). LOOKS LIKE THERE IS AT LEAST ONE OTHER INCIDENT REPORTED ON THIS (ODI ID# 10320472). THIS SEEMS TO BE A MAJOR SAFETY HAZARD DUE TO POTENTIAL LOSS OF BRAKING POWER IF THIS COMPONENT GOES OUT. REQUEST INVESTIGATION AND SAFETY RECALL AS APPROPRIATE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND EVERY WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT ALLOWED THE VEHICLE TO SIT FOR A FEW MINUTES. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AS IT FUNCTIONED NORMALLY FOR SEVERAL MINUTES BEFORE THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION BUT THEY COULD NOT DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED BUT PROVIDED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 97,000.

LEFT SIDE HEADLIGHT QUITS WORKING THEN YOU HAVE TO TURN OFF HEADLIGHTS AND TURN BACK ON THEN IT COMES BACK ON. AFTER A WHILE IT GOES OUT AGAIN THEN SAME PROCEDURE HAS TO BE REPEATED AGAIN. I BELIEVE THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND NEEDS TO BE RECALLED. WHAT IF THE LIGHT ON THE RIGHT SIDE DECIDES TO GO OUT ESPECIALLY IN THE DARK WHERE THERE IS NO STREET LIGHTS? I ASK YOU NICELY PLEASE RECALL THE CAR AND FIX THE ISSUE WHAT MAY BE CAUSING IT. *TR

MY 22-YEAR-OLD SON HAD A SCARY INCIDENT IN WHICH OUR 2005 PRIUS STALLED SPONTANEOUSLY ON THE BRONX RIVER PARKWAY (VALHALLA, NY) WITH SEVERAL DASHBOARD WARNINGS LIGHTING UP. THE HYBRID SHIFTED TO BATTERY MODE IN TRAFFIC. LUCKILY HE WAS ABLE TO GET OFF HIGHWAY. CAR WAS TOWED TO DEALER. WE'RE VERY CONCERNED BECAUSE THE CAR NEVER HAD PROBLEMS AND BECAUSE, ON AN INTERNET SEARCH, WE SEE THE FAILURE WAS PRECISELY LIKE THE ONE DESCRIBED IN NHTSA REPORT THAT RESULTED IN A TOYOTA ACTION TO SERVICE MANY CARS IN 2005: HTTP://J.MP/NHTSAPRIUS05PROBLEM. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY SHIFTED FROM DRIVE TO NEUTRAL. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE BUT DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALLS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 148,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 150,000.

MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING OUR RECENTLY PURCHASED PRIUS AND WAS PULLED OVER BY A POLICE OFFICER. ONE OF HIS HEADLIGHTS WAS NOT WORKING. FOLLOWING THAT EVENT, THE OTHER LIGHT HAS GONE OUT AS WELL. BOTH HEADLIGHTS GO ON OFF WHEN IN USE. THIS IS DISTURBING TO US BECAUSE IT'S A SAFETY ISSUE WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT. AFTER DOING RESEARCH, WE DISCOVERED THAT THIS CAN BE AN ISSUE IN 05-08 TOYOTA PRIUS. *TR

SEQUENTIAL FAILURE OF 4 GOODYEAR ASSURANCE TIRES PLACED ON VEHICLE IN OCTOBER 2004. SINCE OCTOBER OF 2012 THE TIRES HAVE BEEN BLOWING OUT AT THE RATE OF ONE EVERY 6-8 WEEKS. I PLAN ON REPLACING THE ONE REMAINING OF THOSE 2004 TIRES BEFORE IT IMPLODES ALSO WHILE DRIVING. *TR

HEADLIGHTS (ONE OR BOTH) WILL RANDOMLY TURN OFF WHILE DRIVING. TURNING THE SWITCH OFF AND BACK ON WILL TURN THEM BACK ON. *TR

IN MID JUNE 2012, WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY I NOTICED THE LEFT SIDE HEADLIGHT WAS NOT ON, INITIALLY I THOUGHT THE BULB WAS BAD SINCE I HAD ALREADY HAD TO REPLACE THE RIGHT ONE. I HAD PLANED TO TAKE THE CAR TO ELMORE TOYOTA OF HUNTINGTON BEACH, CA TO HAVE THE BULB REPLACED BUT THE FOLLOWING DAY THE LIGHT WAS WORKING. AFTER A FEW DAYS IT STARTED HAPPENING AGAIN. I FOUND THAT IF I TURNED THE LIGHTS ON AND OFF THE HEADLIGHT WOULD COME BACK ON, I HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM FOR OVER A YEAR NOW. TODAY I DECIDED TO TAKE THE CAR TO THE DEALER'S SERVICE DEPARTMENT, NOW THEY CAN'T SEEM TO TELL ME WHAT IS THE TRUE NATURE OF THE PROBLEM, ALL THEY WANT TO DO IS SELL ME A NEW BULB. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH ON MY OWN I NOW UNDERSTAND THAT THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM SINCE 2007 AND THAT THE NHTSA HAS INVESTIGATED THIS AND HAS DECIDED THAT THIS IS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IF THE PERSONS RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS DECISION WOULD LIKE TO GO ON A LONG NIGHT DRIVE WITH ME ON A MOUNTAIN ROAD. RIGHT NOW I WANT TO OFFICIALLY FILE A COMPLAINT ABOUT THIS PROBLEM, MY 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE BECAUSE THE HEADLIGHTS ARE NOT DEPENDABLE AND THERE IS NO TELLING WHEN THEY WILL STOP WORKING. *TR

I AM SURE THAT YOU WON'T BELIEVE THIS IS TRUE. ON OCT 25TH 2012, I GOT HOME AND TURNED OFF THE CAR AFTER WORK. I TOOK THE BAG CONTAINED THE KEY AND LEFT IN THE FAMILY ROOM WHICH IS ABOUT 40 FEET AWAY FROM GARAGE. AFTER THE DINNER, I WENT TO GARAGE TO THROW TRASH. I SMELLED GAS AND HEARD MUSIC AND CAR ENGINE WAS ON. SUDDENLY, IT REMINDS ME, IN THE MORNING WHEN I TURN OFF THE CAR AND LEFT, THE CAR STARTED BY ITSELF AND ALL ELECTRONIC SYSTEM WAS RE-SET. I SPECIFICALLY PAID ATTENTION TO TURNING OFF THE CAR AND LOCKING THE DOOR IN THE EVENING BECAUSE OF WHAT HAPPENED IN THE MORNING. THE CAR WAS TURNED ON BY ITSELF AGAIN AND HAD BEEN RUNNING IN THE GARAGE FOR MORE THAN 2.5 HRS BASED ON THE CLOCK RE-SET INFORMATION. I COULD NOT TURN IT OFF AND THE CAR SHOWED ERROR MESSAGE THAT THE KEY WAS NOT IN THE CAR. OF COURSE, SINCE THE KEY WAS IN THE FAMILY ROOM AT THAT TIME. I BROUGHT THE KEY IN THE CAR AND STILL COULD NOT TURN IT OFF. I TRIED TO INSERT THE KEY AND STILL NO LUCK. I CALLED AAA AND THEY SENT A TECHNICIAN AND A TOLL TRUCK TO MY HOUSE. HE COULD NOT TURN OFF EITHER INITIALLY AND EVENTUALLY TURNED IT OFF AFTER MOVE THE WHEEL, STEP ON BREAKS REALLY HARD AND SHOOK THE CAR. I SENT THE CAR TO TOYOTA DEALER RIGHT AWAY. THE SERVICE CENTER COULD NOT IDENTIFY ANY ISSUE AND TOYOTA REFUSE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THERE IS ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR. I WAS SCARED AND ALSO GLAD THAT I WENT GARAGE TO THROW GARBAGE TODAY. OTHERWISE, I DON'T KNOW WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN! WE HAVE FURNACE WITH IGNITER LIGHT ON IN THE GARAGE. THE HOUSE CAN BE ON FIRE WITH A REASON NO ONE WILL EXPECT AND BELIEVE! THE CARBON MONOXIDE COULD FILLED THE GARAGE AND EMERGE IN THE HOUSE! I CALLED IN THE CUSTOMER CARE CENTER (CASE # [XXX]) AND THEY TOLD ME THERE IS ANYTHING THEY CAN DO ABOUT IT. WHAT IS REALLY UPSET ME IS THAT TOYOTA DOES NOT EVEN ACKNOWLEDGE THERE IS ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR! INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

FIRST MY LEFT HEADLIGHT WENT OUT. WITHIN A MINUTE MY RIGHT HEADLIGHT WENT OUT AS WELL. I TURNED THE LIGHT SWITCH OFF, THEN ON AGAIN, AND THEY BOTH RE-LIT. THIS HAPPENED FOUR TIMES IN THE COURSE OF 20 MILES. THE IS A REGULAR OCCURRENCE NOW. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TURNING, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL VIBRATION FROM THE STEERING WHEEL WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL REMAINED LOOSE AFTER THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY SERVICED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 12V537000 (STEERING) BUT DID NOT RECTIFY THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 116,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 131,000. UPDATED 03/31/14*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE MANUFACTURER OFFERED TO PAY 50% OF THE REPAIRS. THE CONSUMER BELIEVES THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD PAY FOR 100% OF THE REPAIRS. UPDATED 04/01/2014 *JS

LAST SEPTEMBER WE NOTICED THE DRIVER SIDE HEADLIGHT WAS OUT. WHEN WE TURNED THE CAR OFF AND ON, THE LAMP CAME BACK ON. WE TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER WHO COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. WE HAVE SEEN A LOT OF SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ON THE INTERNET WITH NO RESOLUTION. OTHERS HAVE SPEND BIG $$$ TO FIX, HOWEVER AFTER SPENDING THE MONEY, THE PROBLEM REMAINED. PLEASE ADVISE. *TR

FRONT RIGHT LIGHT FLICKERS OFF/ON OCCASIONALLY. TOYOTA SAYS I NEED TO REPLACE BOTH BULBS AT APPROXIMATELY $540 IN TOTAL COST. *TR

MY PRIUS DASH KEEPS GOING BLACK, THE CAR WON'T SHUT OFF . ALSO HAD IT IN PARK ENGINE REVVED AND STARTED TO DRIVE AWAY. I JUMPED IN AND IT WOULDN'T SHUT OFF I HAD TO RIP THE KEY OUT. THE REAR TAILLIGHTS GO OUT ALL THE TIME. THE DOORS AND HATCH LOCKS WON'T UNLOCK HALF THE TIME. I HAD A NEW BATTERY PUT IN BUT IT STILL HAPPENS. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. IN ORDER TO START THE VEHICLE, THE EMERGENCY BRAKE HAD TO BE ENGAGED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS FAILED INTERMITTENTLY BUT WOULD FUNCTION NORMALLY AFTER ATTEMPTING TO ACTIVATED THEM SEVERAL TIMES. IN ADDITION WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE TRANSMISSION WOULD ERRONEOUSLY SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL AND ALL OF THE CONTACT'S ATTEMPTS TO SHIFT BACK INTO DRIVE FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 56,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 57,000.

THE LEFT HEADLIGHT UNEXPECTEDLY GOES OUT. IF I TURN THE LIGHTS OFF AND ON AGAIN, THE HEADLIGHT COMES BACK ON, BUT SOON REPEATS GOING OUT. *TR

MY WIFE WAS DRIVING OUR 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS TODAY AND THE ACCELERATOR LOCKED TO THE FLOOR. THE CAR CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE EVEN THOUGH SHE WAS BRAKING. SHE WAS EVENTUALLY ABLE TO GET THE VEHICLE TO STOP. THE ACCELERATOR WAS NOT STUCK UNDER THE FLOOR MATS. SHE HAD TO PRY THE ACCELERATOR FROM THE FLOOR. *TR

I WAS MAKING A TURN AT LOW SPEED AND THE STEERING FAILED. THE STEERING WHEEL KEPT TURNING BUT THE WHEELS DID NOT. I TOOK THE CAR IN FOR SERVICE AND FOUND OUT THAT THE STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT SPLINES WERE WORN. AS A SECONDARY ISSUE, THE FAILURE OF THE SHAFT SPLINES CAUSED UNIMPEDED ROTATION OF THE STEERING WHEEL WHICH SUBSEQUENTLY DAMAGED THE STEERING CLOCK SPRING. THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT REPLACEMENT WAS COVERED IN TOYOTA SAFETY RECALL SSC-60C AND MY VEHICLE HAD (ACCORDING TO TOYOTA) THE NECESSARY WORK RECALL WORK DONE IN 2006. APPARENTLY THE RECALL WORK DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. TOYOTA ARGUES THAT THIS PART IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY AND THEREFORE, NOT THEIR RESPONSIBILITY. I ARGUE THAT (A) IT WAS A RECALLED PART AND THE RECALL CLEARLY DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM AND (B) THE FAILURE OF THE STEERING SHAFT IS A MAJOR, AND UNACCEPTABLE FAILURE OF THE VEHICLE. I THINK THAT IS IMPORTANT THAT (A) THE PUBLIC BE NOTIFIED OF THE INEFFICACY OF THE RECALL AND (B) THAT TOYOTA BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR THE FAILURE OF THIS PART. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TURNING RIGHT AT 35MPH THE STEERING BECAME HARD TO CONTROL WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE SWERVED TO THE LEFT. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND CRASHED INTO A TREE. THE CONTACT SUFFERED BRUISES AND BROKE THE RIGHT THUMB. THE PASSENGER IN THE FRONT SEAT SUFFERED BRUISES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 82,500. ..UPDATED 12/05/12 *BF UPDATED12/07/2012 *JS*DT UPDATED 4/21/20*JB

RIGHT HID INTERMIITENTLY GOES ON AND OFF. UNABLE TO SEE THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ROAD AT NIGHT. *TR

BOTH HEADLIGHTS TURNED OFF SIMULTANEOUSLY. TURNING THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH OFF, AND BACK ON RESTORED ILLUMINATION. THIS HAPPENED TWICE WITHIN 45 MINUTES. *TR

I WAS DRIVING IN INTERSTATE I-270 IN COMMERCE CITY CO. WHEN SUDDENLY THE HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT AND WOULD NOT COME BACK ON UNTIL I WAS COMPLETELY STOPPED,SO I TURN THEM OFF THEN ON AND THEY COME BACK ON,?? IT HAS KEPT ON HAPPENING EVER SINCE, THEY ARE THE HID'S AND IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING AM NOT THE ONLY ONE HAVING THIS PROBLEM. *TR

I AM THE FIRST OWNER OF THIS 2005 PRIUS AND HAVE KEPT UP WITH ALL MAINTENANCE AND RECALL ISSUES. THIS IS MY FIRST COMPLAINT. ON A PERFECTLY FINE WEATHER DAY, I WAS DRIVING MY USUAL ROUTE HOME COMING TO A LINE OF STOPPED CARS IN THE LEFT TURN LANE ON A RELATIVELY FLAT, UNBUMPY SURFACE STREET AND WAS ABOUT 1 CAR LENGTH FROM THE STOPPED CAR IN FRONT OF ME WHEN I APPLIED MY BRAKE. TO MY ASTONISHMENT, WITH THE BRAKE FULLY ENGAGED, MY CAR KEPT GOING FORWARD AS IF I HAD NO BRAKES AND REAR ENDED THE CAR AHEAD OF ME. LUCKILY NEITHER OF US WERE HURT AS I HAD ALREADY SLOWED DOWN FOR THE STOP. THERE WAS NO DAMAGE TO MY CAR (MY LICENSE PLATE HOLDER HIT HER BUMPER AND CAUSED A COUPLE OF PAINT CHIPS ON HERS, WHICH WILL PROBABLY COST ME THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TO REPAIR) BUT I CAN TELL YOU I WAS THOROUGHLY SHAKEN UP. NO EMERGENCY LIGHTS OR CODE LIGHTS WENT ON INSIDE THE CAR. FROM READING OTHER COMPLAINTS ON THIS SITE, I SEE THIS IS NOT A NEW PROBLEM. I WILL BE REPORTING THIS TO MY TOYOTA DEALER AND TO TOYOTA. *TR

THIS VEHICLE WAS FLIPPED END OVER END TWICE AND SLIDE ON ITS RIGHT SIDE BUT LANDED UPRIGHT ON ALL FOUR TIRES. THE AIR BAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY AND THE RIGHT CORNER IN THE FRONT TOOK A BLUNT FORCE WHILE FLIPPING. THIS COULD HAVE EASILY RESULTED IN A DEATH DUE TO LACK OF DEPLOYMENT. THE CAR WAS A TOTAL LOSS. THIS WARRANTS COMPENSATION FOR MALFUNCTIONING AIR BAGS. THE DRIVER RECEIVED MINOR BRUISING AND SORENESS BUT NO MAJOR PROBLEMS AROSE FROM THIS INCIDENT. IT IS MY CONCERN FOR OTHER OPPORTUNITIES OF A FATALITY DUE TO THE LACK OF FUNCTIONING AIR BAGS. I FEEL I SHOULD BE COMPENSATED BECAUSE THE DRIVER COULD HAVE SO EASILY DIED THAT NIGHT. THANK YOU IN ADVANCE FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION WITH THIS MATTER. *TR

DRIVER SIDE HEADLIGHT KEEPS SHUTTING OFF. IF I TURN OFF LIGHTS AND TURN BACK ON, IT COMES BACK ON FOR A LITTLE WHILE. SHUTS OFF ABOUT 6 TIMES IN 25 MILES. *TR

SINCE JUNE.. I HAVE HAD ONE OR BOTH HEADLIGHTS GO OFF. I HAVE TO FLICK THEM ON AND OFF TO GET THEM TO GO BACK ON. I HAVE RUN OFF THE ROAD. I HAVE BEEN PULLED OVER BY POLICE ONLY TO THEN FIND MY HEADLIGHT WAS ON. SOMETIMES WHEN THEY BOTH GO OFF IT WILL TAKES MANY ON OFF OF THE SWITCH TO GET THEM TO FINALLY GO BACK ON, AND I USUALLY HAVE TO MAKE MY WAY OF THE ROAD. THIS IS A TERRIBLY DANGEROUS SITUATION. I HAVE HAD MANY VEHICLES AND NOT EVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS!! I TRULY BELIEVE THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL. I LOOKED ON LINE AND NOW KNOW IT IS NOT JUST ME, BUT MANY PRIUS ARE HAVING THE VERY SAME ISSUE. THERE IS A GUY I SAW INTERVIEWED THAT SAID HE DOES NOT BELIEVE THAT THEY BOTH GO OFF SIMULTANEOUSLY. I CAN ASSURE YOU THAT THEY DO, AND IT HAPPENS QUITE FREQUENTLY. I HAVE BECOME VERY SCARED TO DRIVE AT NIGHT. I DO NOT DO IT UNLESS I JUST HAVE TO.. *TR

WHILE DRIVING A CANYON ROAD AT NIGHT, VEHICLE HEADLIGHTS SUDDENLY WENT OFF. NEAR COLLISION OCCURRED WHEN ANOTHER CAR TURNING IN FRONT OF AFFECTED VEHICLE BECAUSE IT WAS NOT VISIBLE IN THE DARK. LATER DISCOVERED TURNING THE HEADLIGHTS OFF AND THEN ON AGAIN CAUSED THE HEADLAMPS TO RELIGHT. SINCE THEN, ONE OR BOTH HEAD LAMPS INTERMITTENTLY AND SUDDENLY TURN OFF. RESET RELIGHTS. ON JUNE 22, 2012, VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO NORTHRIDGE TOYOTA FOR REPAIR. NORTHRIDGE TOYOTA CHARGED OVER $500 TO REPLACE HEADLAMPS. SOME TIME AFTER REPAIR, THE ISSUE RETURNED WITH SAME SYMPTOMS. *TR

INTERMITTENT HEADLIGHT OUTAGE - FRONT RIGHT SIDE. *TR

MY DRIVERS SIDE HEADLIGHT FLICKERS THEN GOES OUT. I WAS ABLE TO GET IT ON AGAIN BY MANUALLY TURNING THE SWITCH ON AND OFF. THEN IT WILL HAPPEN AGAIN. I REPLACED THE HEADLIGHT ($175 FOR THE PART ALONE) IN MAY OF 2012. IT IS NOW MARCH OF 2014 AND THE SAME LIGHT BEGAN DOING IT AGAIN, FLICKERING. I WAS ABLE TO GET IT TO GO ON BY MANUALLY SWITCHING IT ON. NOW IT IS OUT AGAIN. *TR

THE HID HEADLIGHTS FAIL AND TURN-OFF WITHOUT WARNING. THIS LEADS TO DANGEROUS DRIVING CONDITIONS ESPECIALLY AT NIGHT. THIS IS RELATED TO A HID HEADLIGHT LEVELING SENSOR FAILURE. TOYOTA REPORTS THIS ISSUE IN THEIR "TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN" NUMBER EL004-06, DATED 28TH APRIL 2006. TOYOTA RECOGNIZES THE PROBLEM IN THE OEM PART AND IS PROVIDING REPLACEMENT ONLY ON FAILED PARTS UNDER 36MONTHS, 36,000 MILES WARRANTY. HOWEVER, MY VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THIS "SAFETY ISSUE" PAST THE WARRANTY PERIOD AND HENCE IS NOT REPLACED BY TOYOTA. NEVERTHELESS, TOYOTA HAS GENERATED A CUSTOMER PROGRAM TO REPLACE THIS DEFECTIVE MODULE IN 2006-2009 MODELS EVEN IF NOT UNDER THE WARRANTY. MY 2005 MODEL EXPERIENCES THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM BUT TOYOTA WILL NOT COVER THIS SAFETY ISSUE. FURTHERMORE, THE 2006-2009 MODELS ARE COVERED UNDER THE "CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT" FOR THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM AS MY 2005; HOWEVER MY 2005 MODEL IS NOT COVERED. PLEASE DO THE NEEDFUL TO INCLUDE 2005 MODEL PRIUS (WITH HID HEADLIGHTS) IN THE SAFETY ISSUES ADDRESSED IN 2006-2009 MODELS. THANK YOU. *TR

I WAS ON THE FREEWAY FAR RIGHT LANE MOVING ONTO AN INTERCHANGE TO ANOTHER FREEWAY WHEN TRAFFIC SUDDENLY STOPPED AHEAD. I SLOWED IN PREPARATION TO STOP WITH PLENTY ROOM TO DO SO. THE CAR BEHIND ME WAS TOO CLOSE AND REAR ENDED MY CAR. AFTER THE IMPACT, MY BRAKES FAILED AND I RAN INTO THE CAR AHEAD EVEN THOUGH I SHOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO STOP IN TIME, CAUSING SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO THE FRONT OF MY CAR IN ADDITION TO THE REAR DAMAGE. *TR *JS

THE HID HEADLIGHT ARE UNEXPECTEDLY SHUTTING OFF. THIS IS A CLEARLY A SAFETY ISSUE. IT DOES APPEAR THAT THE HID HEADLIGHT EQUIPPED PRIUS INDEED CONTAINS A DESIGN DEFECT. TOYOTA DEALER IS CHARGING ME $750 FOR THE REPAIR. THE PRIUS WAS BOUGHT IN THE USA AND MOVED WITH US WHEN WE MOVED TO CANADA IN 2010. *TR

WHILE DRIVING IN THE DARK BOTH OF MY HEAD LAMPS FAILED AGAIN. I AM HAVING INTERMITTENT FAILURE OF ONE HEAD LAMP. THE FAILURE IS USUALLY IN THE LEFT LAMP, BUT OCCASIONALLY THE RIGHT AS WELL. BOTH OF HEAD LAMPS FAILED AGAIN SINCE THIS INCIDENT AS WELL. THE SECOND INCIDENT OCCURRED ON THURSDAY FEB 16TH 2012 AT 610 PM. I HAVE HAD THIS TROUBLE BEFORE AND REPORTED IT TO SAFECAR.GOV. I BOUGHT THE CAR USED AT AUBURN TOYOTA IN AUBURN CALIFORNIA AND THE LEFT HEAD LAMP FAILED IMMEDIATELY. THEY REPLACED IT. SINCE THEN I HAVE HAD CONSTANT TROUBLE WITH THE LIGHTS AND HAVE COMPLAINED TO BOTH ROSEVILLE TOYOTA AND AUBURN TOYOTA. THEY HAVE BOTH TOLD ME THAT THE HEAD LAMPS ARE LIKELY BAD. SINCE THEY WORK A GOOD PORTION OF THE TIME, I DOUBT THIS IS THE CASE. I AM FRUSTRATED THAT I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO GET THIS RESOLVED THROUGH TOYOTA, SO I AM LODGING ANOTHER COMPLAINT. HAVING YOUR LIGHTS GO OUT WHILE YOU ARE DRIVING IS SCARY AND EXTREMELY DANGEROUS,

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, A GRINDING NOISE WAS HEARD FROM THE REAR END OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING WHERE THE TECHNICIANS ADVISED THAT THE FAILURE WAS UNDETECTED. THE TECHNICIAN ALSO STATED THAT THERE WERE OTHER VEHICLES WITH THE SAME FAILURE AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS WORKING ON A REMEDY. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS FOR THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALLS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 2,122.

I HAVE REPLACED MY HEADLIGHTS 6 TIMES IN THE PAST 2 YEARS. THE HEADLIGHTS GO OUT WITH NO WARNING. THE FIRST FEW TIMES I THOUGHT IT WAS POSSIBLY BAD AFTERMARKET BULBS BUT THERE IS OBVIOUSLY A PROBLEM. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE SINCE THERE IS NO WARNING AS TO WHEN THEY GO OUT. *TR

HEADLAMPS STAY ON FOR 5 MINUTES THEN ONE GOES OUT COMPLETELY AND THE OTHER GOES DIM. CAN'T SEE UNLESS I TURN THEM OFF AND THEN BACK ON AGAIN... THEN I GET SOME LIGHT FOR ANOTHER 5 MINUTES. I REPLACED THE LAMPS WHICH WERE VERY EXPENSIVE, HOWEVER, THE LAMPS ARE NOT THE PROBLEM. *TR

THE HEADLIGHT OPERATION BECAME ERRATIC. SOMETIMES ONE WOULD WORK AND SOMETIMES THE OTHER ONE WOULD BE THE ONLY ONE TO FUNCTION. SOMETIMES NEITHER HEADLIGHT WOULD COME ON. REPEATED OPERATION OF THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH EVENTUALLY WOULD GET ONE OR BOTH HEADLIGHTS TURNED ON. THE LIGHT BULBS WERE REPLACED IN 2012 AND AGAIN IN 2013. THERE WAS LITTLE OR NO CHANGE IN PERFORMANCE. WHEN I HAVE ASKED MY TOYOTA DEALER'S SERVICE DEPARTMENT ABOUT IT, THEY SIMPLY SAID THEY WEREN'T AWARE OF ANY PROBLEM. I CANNOT BELIEVE THAT IS TRUE. THIS IS A MUCH DISCUSSED AND NOT UNCOMMON PROBLEM. WE ARE ALWAYS CONCERNED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS MIGHT FAIL WHILE WE WERE DRIVING. THIS HAS NOT HAPPENED YET, BUT I HAVE NO CONFIDENCE IN THE HEADLIGHT RELIABILITY. *TR

WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 70 MPH, THE FOLLOWING SYMPTOMS OCCURRED ON MY 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS: (1) CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE, (2) ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, (3) PROBLEM LIGHT CAME ON, (4) BATTERY WENT RED, (5) CAR STALLED AND WOULD NOT ACCELERATE/DRIVE ANY FURTHER. AFTER TURNING OFF THE CAR AND RESTARTING IT, I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE IT BACK AND THE BATTERY RECHARGED ITSELF TO GREEN. AFTER TAKING IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND HAVING THIS PROBLEM "FIXED", THE EXACT SAME SITUATION HAPPENED TWO MORE TIMES, AGAIN 6 MONTHS LATER AND THEN 2 WEEKS AFTER THAT. THE SECOND TIME I WAS DRIVING AGAIN ON THE HIGHWAY AT 70 MPH, THE THIRD TIME I WAS DRIVING AT NIGHT AT 40 MPH. *TR

BOTH HEADLIGHTS INTERMITTENTLY GO OFF, THEY LIT FOR A MINUTE AND THEN GO OFF. I HAVE BEEN READING IN FORUMS THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEMS TOYOTA PRIUS OWNERS EXPERIENCE. THEY SHOULD MAKE A RECALL, SOMETIMES WHEN I GO TO WORK AT NIGHT I AM OUT OF LIGHTS AND THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SINCE I USE EXPRESS WAYS A LOT. *TR

STARTING OVER A YEAR AGO AND OCCURRING EVERY TIME NEEDED,THE HEADLIGHT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE SPORADICALLY GOES OUT. IT CAN HAPPEN ZERO TO MULTIPLE TIMES DURING A SINGLE USE OF THE CAR, SOMETIMES UP TO EVERY MINUTE AND A HALF WHILE DRIVING. TURNING THE HEADLIGHTS OFF AND BACK ON AGAIN CAUSE BOTH HEADLIGHTS TO COME BACK ON. AS FAR AS WE KNOW, THIS DID NOT START HAPPENING UNTIL AFTER A MAINTENANCE VISIT AND WAS STOPPED BY A STATE PATROL OFFICER. CONVERSATIONS WITH OTHER PRIUS OWNERS, REPLACING THE HEADLIGHT DOES NOT SEEM TO RESOLVE THIS ISSUE. AT +$350 TO CHANGE THE HEADLIGHT AT THE DEALER, I AM HESITANT TO SPEND MONEY ON SOMETHING THAT WILL NOT RESOLVE THE ISSUE. WHILE WE HAVE HAD NO OTHER TROUBLES WITH THIS CAR AND LOVE THE CAR, THIS RECURRING ISSUE HAS CAUSED US TO HESITATE DRIVING THE CAR AT NIGHT.

MY CAR LIGHTS KEEPS GOING OFF WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT. *TR