2006 Toyota Prius Complaint Log

HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT ON #5 FWY IN TA HONE PASS ON 2/7/10. NOW HEADLIGHTS ARE INTERMITTENT. I PAID $837 TO DEALER ON 1/10/08 FOR REPLACEMENT OF HEADLAMPS. DEALER NOW WANTS $1024 TO REPLACE THEM AGAIN. *TR

MY 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS HAS EXPERIENCED INTERMITTENT HID HEADLIGHT OPERATION FOR ALMOST A YEAR. THIS IS NOT SO BAD ON THE OPEN HIGHWAYS WITH OTHER CARS STILL LIGHTING UP THE ROAD, BUT IT'S DOWNRIGHT SCARY ON DARK COUNTRY ROADS. AT ALL TIMES, WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT, THE HEADLIGHTS GET PROGRESSIVELY DIMMER TO THE POINT WHERE I CAN ACTUALLY OUTRUN MY FIELD OF VISION.....AGAIN VERY UNNERVING. MY SOLUTION HAS BEEN TO DRIVE ONE OF MY OTHER CARS WHEN POSSIBLE. I GUESS THE GOOD NEWS IS I'VE NEVER EXPERIENCED THE BRAKE & GAS PEDAL ISSUES THAT ARE ON THE NEWS.........STILL, I THINK THE HID HEADLIGHT ISSUE IS SERIOUS. I'VE NEVER BOTHERED TO COMPLAIN TO THE DEALER BECAUSE I'VE HEARD THEY WILL GIVE ME THE RUNAROUND AND CHARGE OVER $800 TO REPLACE THE BULBS & THE PROBLEM ONLY GOES AWAY FOR A FEW MONTHS AT BEST. *CN *TR

YOU NEED TO LOOK AT MORE THAN JUST THE 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS IN TERMS OF BRAKING PROBLEMS. I HAVE A 2006 PRIUS WITH THE SAME ISSUE - LOSS OF BRAKING ABILITY OVER UNEVEN SURFACES. PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED SINCE PURCHASE BUT I HAVE NEVER REPORTED AS I THOUGHT IT WAS RELATED TO THE ABS/HYBRID BATTERY RELATIONSHIP. *TW

IF I HIT A BUMP WHILE BRAKING IN MY 2006 PRIUS, THE BRAKES GIVE-OUT AND I HAVE RE-BRAKE. IT ONLY HAPPENS AT SLOW SPEEDS,AND ONLY WHEN I HIT A BUMP OR POT-HOLE. WHEN I MENTIONED IT TO THE DEALERSHIP 2 YEARS AGO, THEY SAID THEY WERE AWARE OF THE ISSUE, AND I SHOULD JUST RE-APPLY THE BRAKES. IT STILL HAPPENS TODAY. *TR

I OWN A SECOND GENERATIONPRIUS (2006), AND IT HAS THE SAME BRAKE SYMPTOMS THAT ARE BEING DESCRIBED BY THE OWNERS OF THE 3RD GENERATION MODEL. WHEN I APPLY THE BRAKES WHILE GOING OVER A ROUGH SURFACE, THE BRAKES DO NOT ENGAGE FOR A SECOND OR TWO. THIS HAS BEEN THE CASE SINCE I PURCHASED THE CAR NEW, AND I THOUGHT IT WAS JUST A QUIRKY CHARACTERISTIC OF THE HYBRID, SO I HAVE LEARNED TO COMPENSATE BY GIVING MYSELF AN UNUSUALLY LARGE DISTANCE BETWEEN ME AND THE CAR AHEAD OF ME. THIS DOESN'T ALWAYS WORK, AS PEOPLE CUT IN FRONT OF ME WHEN THE GAP IS LARGE. I HAVE NOT BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT, BUT THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL NEAR-MISSES WITH ME ALMOST REAR-ENDING THE PERSON IN FRONT OF ME DUE TO THIS BRAKE PROBLEM. I HOPE THE NHTSA IS LOOKING AT ALL MODELS OF THE PRIUS FOR THIS DEFECT. IN MY FORM BELOW, I CHECKED AIR AND HYDRAULIC BRAKES BECAUSE THERE IS NOT AN OPTION FOR ANTI-LOCK BRAKES ON THE DROP DOWN BOX. *CN

IF I HIT A POT HOLE OR BUMP WHILE SLOWING DOWN THE BRAKES FEEL LIKE THE CAR IS SLIDING. *TR

2006 TOYOTA PRIUS. BRAKING BEHAVIOR IDENTICAL TO WHAT HAS BEEN DESCRIBED IN THE 2010 PRIUS MODELS. WHEN TRAVELING OVER A ROUGH PATCH OF PAVEMENT OR POTHOLES AT LOW OR MODERATE SPEED, THE VEHICLE BRAKING SEEMS TO RELEASE. THE BEST WAY TO CHARACTERIZE THIS IS THAT AS THE VEHICLE BOUNCES OVER THE ROUGH PAVEMENT DURING BREAKING AND THE WEIGHT IS APPLIED AND RELEASED FROM THE WHEELS DUE TO THE UP/DOWN MOTION, THE BRAKES RELEASE AND RE-APPLY INCONSISTENT WITH THE STEADY PRESSURE I APPLY ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. THIS IS BEYOND THE BEHAVIOR EXPECTED BY THE ABS. NO ACCIDENT OR DAMAGE HAS YET OCCURRED, BUT THE BEHAVIOR IS DISTURBING. NOT MEANING TO PILE ON WITH THE ONGOING TROUBLES WITH TOYOTA, BUT THE DESCRIPTION OF THE BRAKING IN MY 2006 VEHICLE IS IDENTICAL TO WHAT IS DESCRIBED IN THE 2010 PRIUS MODEL. *JB

I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE THE AGENCY AWARE OF MY EXPERIENCE WITH THE TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM ON MY 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS. I UNDERSTAND THAT IT IS BEING INVESTIGATED FOR THE 2010 MODEL BUT I HAVE VERY SIMILAR ISSUES WITH MY 2006. THIS IS AN ONGOING ISSUE AND OCCURS REGULARLY FROM TIME TO TIME (AND HAS SINCE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE NEW). WHEN PASSING OVER ROAD SURFACES THAT CAUSE THE TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM ON THE VEHICLE TO ACTIVATE (WET ROAD, GRAVEL, POT HOLE, SNOW, ETC.), BRAKING AND ACCELERATION CONTROL IS TEMPORARILY LOST. THIS LOSS OF CONTROL PERSISTS FOR 1-5 SECONDS WHEN BRAKING, AND INDEFINITELY WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE (I.E. WHEN ON SNOW). BRAKING DISTANCE IS CLEARLY INCREASED, AS THE VEHICLE DOES NOT APPLY THE BRAKES AT ALL. I HAVE HAD SEVERAL INCIDENTS WHERE I HAD MAINTAINED A SAFE FOLLOWING DISTANCE, BUT NEARLY RAN INTO CARS STOPPING IN FRONT OF ME (DUE TO MY VEHICLE NOT BRAKING APPROPRIATELY). MERGING IS ALSO AN ISSUE AT TIMES, AS IS ACCELERATING (INTO TRAFFIC OR OUT OF A HAZARDOUS SITUATION ON SNOWY/WET ROADS). I FEEL THAT THE BEST SOLUTION WOULD BE THE ABILITY TO DEACTIVATE THE TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM. UNFORTUNATELY TOYOTA IS NOT CURRENTLY OFFERING A WAY TO DO THIS. *TR

HEADLIGHTS GO OFF WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING. ONE LIGHT BULB GOING OFF IS COMMON, HOWEVER, BOTH LIGHTS HAVE GONE OFF AT THE SAME TIME REPEATEDLY DURING DRIVING, LEAVING ME WITHOUT ANY LIGHTING. LIGHTS COME BACK ON AFTER TURNING THE SWITCH OFF AND THEN ON AGAIN. *TR

I HAVE A 2006 PRIUS. WHEN GOING OVER BUMPS, I EXPERIENCE A TOTAL LOSS OF POWER FOR 1 OR THREE SECONDS -GENERALLY. A YELLOW LIGHT ALSO COMES ON THE DASH BOARD. IT OFTEN HAPPENS DAILY. I HAVE ONLY HAD ONE OR TWO EXPERIENCES WHEN THE POWER DIDN'T RETURN SO QUICKLY AND THEN I WAS AFRAID BECAUSE I HAD NO BRAKES AND WAS JUST SKIDDING. I BELIEVE THAT I HAVE SEEN THIS PROBLEM DISCUSSED BY OTHER PRIUS OWNERS OF CHAT SITES. IT CAN OCCUR AT ANY MILEAGE SPEED BUT I WAS ONLY ABLE TO PUT A MILEAGE NUMBER IN THE BOX CAN IT BE FIXED? *TR

WHEN MY 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS HITS A BUMP OR HOLE IN THE ROAD WHILE BRAKING THE CAR WILL SURGE FORWARD. I HAVE ON MANY OCCASIONS ALMOST COLLIDED WITH VEHICLES THAT HAVE STOPPED IN FRONT OF ME AFTER THESE "SURGE" EPISODES. IT OCCURS AT LEAST ONCE A DAY FROM OR TO WORK. *TR

I READ NEWS COVERAGE OF PRIUS BRAKES PROBLEMS. I OWN A 2006 PRIUS, AND HAVE NOTICED THIS PROBLEM THROUGHOUT THE LAST 4 YEARS THAT WE'VE OWNED IT. SO IT IS NOT ONLY A 2010 PROBLEM. I DID NOT REPORT IT IN THE PAST, BECAUSE IT NEVER PUT ME IN DANGER (YET). HOWEVER, WHENEVER THE CAR GOES OVER A POTHOLE OR AN UNEVEN SURFACE OR A SLIPPERY PATCH, IT SEEMS TO ACCELERATE MOMENTARILY - IT'S SORT OF A "FLYING" SENSATION - NOT VERY PLEASANT, BUT SHORT ENOUGH, SO THAT CONTROL IS QUICKLY REGAINED. I AM NOT POSITIVE IF MY FOOT IS ON THE BRAKE EVERY TIME IT HAPPENS. I CAN FOLLOW UP AND PAY MORE ATTENTION IF THERE IS FOLLOW-UP WITH THIS COMPLAINING. THANKS. *TR

THIS IS A COMPLAINT ABOUT THE BRAKES AND/OR TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM ON MY 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS. THIS IS AN ONGOING ISSUE AND HAS BEEN ONGOING AS LONG AS I HAVE OWNED THE VEHICLE. I AM THE FIRST OWNER. THE FAULT IS AS FOLLOWS: WHEN PASSING OVER ROAD SURFACES THAT CAUSE THE TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM ON THE VEHICLE TO ACTIVATE (GRAVEL, POT HOLE, SNOW, STANDING WATER, ETC.), BRAKING AND ACCELERATION CONTROL IS TEMPORARILY LOST. THIS LOSS OF CONTROL PERSISTS FOR 1-3 SECONDS. OF PARTICULAR CONCERN ARE INSTANCES IN WHICH A YIELDING SITUATION ACCOMPANYING A MERGING OR TURNING MANEUVER PRESENT THEMSELVES. IN THESE SITUATIONS, IF THE CAR PASSES OVER A ROAD SURFACE WHICH CAUSES AN ACTIVATION OF THE TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM, I AM UNABLE TO STOP THE CAR OR TO ACCELERATE OUT OF DANGER. I FEAR THAT I WILL FIND MYSELF IN THE SITUATION WHERE I AM TRYING TO SLOW DOWN TO YIELD TO A VEHICLE WHILE MAKING A RIGHT TURN ON A RED LIGHT AND WILL BE ABLE TO DO SO DUE TO THE LOSS OF BRAKING/ACCELERATION CONTROL ACCOMPANYING THE ACTIVATION OF THE TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM. IN SUCH A SITUATION, I WOULD BE UNABLE TO AVOID A HIGH-SPEED COLLISION ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. I HAVE LIVED WITH THIS DANGER FOR THE LAST 4+ YEARS, BUT IN THE LIGHT OF RECENT DEVELOPMENTS, I FEEL IT IS APPROPRIATE TO RAISE THIS ISSUE THROUGH THIS COMPLAINT SYSTEM. *TR

BRAKES ON MY 2006 PRIUS DO NOT WORK IMMEDIATELY WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES WHEN THE ANTI-SKID FEATURE IS ACTIVATED. I NOTICED THIS SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASING THE CAR IN SEPTEMBER 2006. WHEN I READ IN THE NEWSPAPER TODAY THAT THE 2010 PRIUS WAS EXHIBITING THIS SAME BEHAVIOR I DECIDED TO MAKE SURE NHTSA KNEW THIS WAS ALSO A PROBLEM WITH MY 2006 PRIUS SINCE IT WAS BRAND NEW. IT HAS HAPPENED REPEATEDLY AND CONSISTENTLY WHENEVER THE ANTI-SKID FEATURE IS ACTIVATED AND I APPLY THE BRAKES. I JUST THOUGHT IT WAS SOMETHING I HAD TO GET USED TO BUT NOW I KNOW IT MAY BE A DEFECT. THE INCIDENT DATE I PROVIDED BELOW IS JUST THE MOST RECENT INCIDENT OF THE SITUATION. *JB

2006 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHEN DRIVING OVER POTHOLE OR BUMPS, ANTILOCK BREAKS ARE TRIGGERED, AND BRAKES DO NOT WORK (TEMPORARILY). I HAVE LISTENED TO THE REPORTS ON THE 2010 PRIUS AND WOULD LIKE TO REPORT THAT THE EXACT ISSUE HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES IN MY 2ND GENERATION PRIUS. THIS ISSUE IS NOT ISOLATED TO THE 3RD GENERATION MODEL. *CN

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING UP AND DOWN A HILL AT 3 TO 5 MPH IN THE SNOW THE VEHICLE BEGINS TO FISH-TAIL AND THE VSC (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL) LIGHT WOULD FLASH AND THE BRAKES WOULD LOCK-UP. THE CONTACT STATED THIS ALMOST CAUSED 5 CRASHES WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING HOME. THE CONTACT HAD TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED HOME BECAUSE THE CONTACT FELT THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE CONTACT HAS NOT TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER AT THIS TIME BUT SAW THE NEWS STORY TELEVISED AND FELT THIS WAS A SAFETY ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.

I WAS DRIVING IN SLICK CONDITIONS AT ROUGHLY 15 MPH APPROACHING AN INTERSECTION TWO STOPPED CARS IN FRONT OF ME, AND WHEN I HIT MY BRAKES THERE WAS NO RESPONSE FOR THE BRAKES. I TRIED TO PUMP THE BRAKES AND STILL NO RESPONSE AFTER ABOUT 20 SECONDS MY BRAKES RETURNED. IN ORDER TO AVOID THE STOPPED AUDI IN FRONT OF ME I TURNED MY WHEEL TO THE RIGHT AND DROVE UP ON THE SIDEWALK, MY BRAKES RETURNED AND I WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE WITHOUT HAVING TO GO TOO FAR ON THE SIDEWALK. THIS WAS NOT A NORMAL SLIDE FROM SLICK CONDITIONS I HAVE NO RESPONSE FROM MY BRAKES AT ALL NOT ABS PUMP AT ALL, NOTHING. *TR

FAILURE OF THE PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT. *TR

BRAKING EFFECTIVENESS IS REDUCED OR NON EXISTENT WHEN HITTING A BUMP, POTHOLE OR UNEVEN ROAD SURFACE AT SLOWER SPEEDS AS REPORTED BY 2010 PRIUS OWNERS. THIS HAS BEEN OCCURRING SINCE I TOOK DELIVERY OF THE NEW VEHICLE IN JUNE 2006 AND HAVE BEEN TOLD BY VARIOUS DEALERS THAT "THIS IS HOW ABS WORKS IN THE PRIUS, JUST KEEP APPLYING STEADY PRESSURE TO THE BRAKES, THEY WILL EVENTUALLY CATCH AGAIN AND YOU'LL STOP". UNTIL HEARING NEWS REPORTS TODAY OF OTHER OWNERS WITH SIMILAR ISSUES I THOUGH THIS WAS NORMAL (THOUGH SOMEWHAT UNNERVING BEHAVIOR) FOR A HYBRID WITH REGENERATIVE BRAKING SYSTEMS. *TR

ISSUE RELATING TO PRIUS BRAKES. I HAVE A 2006 PRIUS AND HAVE EXPERIENCED THE BRAKE ISSUE EVER SINCE I'VE OWNED THE CAR. I DON'T THINK IT IS ENTIRELY BRAKES, BECAUSE I'VE ALSO EXPERIENCED IT WHILE ACCELERATING AND ONE OF THE WHEELS LOSES TRACTION. I THINK IT IS THE TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM / ABS. ANYWAY, I'VE LEARNED TO COPE WITH IT, THE DROPOUT IS ONLY FOR LESS THAN A SECOND, AND THERE'S NEVER BEEN AN ACCIDENT (OR EVEN NEAR ACCIDENT) BECAUSE OF IT. THIS LATEST EVENT WAS SLOWING DOWN FOR A TURN AND ONE OF THE WHEELS WENT OVER A MANHOLE COVER. THAT WHEEL LOCKED UP AND THE ABS LIGHT CAME ON, AND THE BRAKES CUT OUT AND THEN BACK IN. *TR

I OWN A 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS. I HAVE EXPERIENCED DRAMATIC CHANGES IN BRAKING DECELERATION WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL AT CONSTANT PRESSURE, BUT WHEN DRIVING OVER BUMPY ROADS OR POTHOLES (SUCH AS THOSE ON MY HOME STREET). THE SUDDEN DECREASE OF DECELERATION IS ACCOMPANIED BY AN INDICATOR ON THE DASHBOARD TELLING ME I'M GOING OVER BUMPY TERRAIN, THE BRAKING CHANGE LASTS ON THE ORDER OF A SECOND. THIS PHENOMENON HAS OCCURRED REPEATEDLY DURING MY OWNERSHIP OF THE CAR, ALWAYS UNDER SIMILAR CIRCUMSTANCES. IT OCCURS BOTH AT LOW SPEEDS (E.G. ON MY STREET) AND HIGH SPEEDS (E.G. ON A POTHOLED FREEWAY). YOUR REPORTING SYSTEM ASKS FOR A SPECIFIC DATE, MILEAGE, AND SPEED AT WHICH THE FAILURE OCCURS. I HAVE ENTERED ARBITRARY VALUES. I EMPHASIZE THAT (1) THIS PHENOMENON HAS OCCURRED REPEATEDLY SINCE JUST AFTER MY PURCHASE OF THE NEW CAR AND CONTINUED TO THE PRESENT (THE CAR HAS 50K MILES AT PRESENT), AND (2) HAS OCCURRED AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. *JB

MY SECOND GENERATION TOYOTA PRIUS (2006) HAS ALWAYS EXPERIENCED THE SAME BRAKE SLIPPAGE THAT IS BEING REPORTED FOR 3RD GENERATION PRIUS'. WHENEVER I GO OVER A BUMP OR POTHOLE, I TEMPORARILY LOSE CONTROL OVER THE BRAKES AND A WARNING LIGHT APPEARS ON THE DASHBOARD.

INTERMITTENT FAILURE OF HID HEADLAMPS ON 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS. *TR

2006 PRIUS HID HEADLIGHTS GO OUT INTERMITTENTLY. THERE DOESN'T SEEM TO BE A FIX THAT TOYOTA CAN PROVIDE. THIS IS VERY UPSETTING, EVEN MORE SO IF YOU DRIVE AT NIGHT A LOT. TOYOTA DOESN'T ADMIT THERE IS A PROBLEM AND STATES THE ONLY COURSE OF ACTION IS TO REPLACE THE HEADLIGHT. WHY AM I TO PAY AN EXTREME AMOUNT OF MONEY TO REPLACE A HEADLIGHT WHEN THE HEADLIGHT WORKS? IT'S JUST FAULTY AND INTERMITTENT (BE IT WIRING, A COMPUTER GLITCH, OR SOMETHING ELSE). THIS PROBLEM WITH THE HID HEADLIGHTS OCCURS MULTIPLE TIMES EACH TIME I DRIVE THE CAR. FURTHERMORE, IT IS HARD TO DETERMINE WHEN THE HEADLIGHTS ARE WORKING PROPERLY. I HAVE TAKEN MY PRIUS TO A TOYOTA DEALERSHIP AND THEY REFUSE THAT THE LIGHTS ARE FAULTY AND ASK THAT YOU REPLACE THEM. IT IS SCARY TO DRIVE MY PRIUS AT NIGHT AND IT IS NO FUN EXPLAINING THIS STRANGE SITUATION TO A POLICE OFFICER WHO DOESN'T CARE AND STILL GIVES YOU A CITATION. I JUST WANT TOYOTA TO ACKNOWLEDGE AND FIX THE PROBLEM. *TR

PASSENGER HEADLIGHT CUTS OUT WITHOUT WARNING FOR NO APPARENT REASON. THE ONLY REMEDY IS TO TURN THE HEADLIGHTS OFF AND THEN BACK ON. THIS CAUSES THE HEAD LIGHT TO BEGIN FUNCTIONING FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. *TR

I HAVE AN 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS WITH HID HEADLIGHTS. ABOUT 6 MONTHS AGO, ONE LIGHT STARTED GOING OUT SHORTLY AFTER IGNITION. IT COULD BE EITHER ONE. AFTER I TURN THE LIGHTS OFF AND BACK ON, BOTH WILL STAY ON FOR THE DURATION OF THE TRIP. THIS HAS BEEN CONSISTENT OVER LAST 6 MONTHS OR SO. *TR

TOYOTA 2006 PRIUS. BOTH HID HEAD LAMPS INTERMITTENTLY GO OFF, BUT USUALLY NOT AT THE SAME TIME. CURRENTLY HAVE 75K MI ON CAR. PROBLEM STARTED WHEN CAR HAD APPROX 55K MILES ON IT. *TR

I OWN A 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS. I HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM AS DESCRIBED IN THE 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS BRAKE RECALL ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. "THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKING CAUSES THE CAR TO HAVE AN "INCONSISTENT BRAKE FEEL" DURING SLOW AND STEADY APPLICATION OF THE BRAKES ON ROUGH OR SLIPPERY SURFACES. THE ABS IS OPERATING AS IT'S SUPPOSED TO." I HAVE NOT BEEN IN A SITUATION WHERE IT HAS CAUSED OR ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT, BUT IT WOULD ONLY TAKE ONE TIME. PLEASE LOOK INTO ADDRESSING THIS ISSUE. *TR

ON 1/30/2010 AT OR ABOUT 9:00AM. MY DAUGHTER'S 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS BRAKES FAILED ENROUTE TO MAMMOUTH. NO SNOW OR RAIN WAS ON ROADWAY. WE HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO REACH HE SINCE, BUT OUR SENDING THIS COMPLAINT TO DOCUMENT THIS INCIDENT IN THE EVENT AN ACCIDENT OCCURS. *TR

TOYOTA 2006 PRIUS BRAKE PROBLEM...I HAVE ALWAYS HAD THE PROBLEM THAT JESSICA YELLIN OUTLINED ON CNN. AS AN ENGINEER MYSELF LET ME DESCRIBE WHAT THE ISSUE IS. THE SHORT ANSWER IS THAT THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM CONFLICTS WITH THE TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM ON BUMPS AND SLIPPERY SURFACES. IF YOU ARE BRAKING AND HIT A POT HOLE OR SERIES OF BUMPS (CAUSING A WHEEL TO SPIN SLOWER THAN THE REST) THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM KICKS IN AND DISABLES THE BRAKES IN AN UNACCEPTABLE MANNER. A YELLOW "TRACTION" LIGHT ON THE DASHBOARD FLASHES DURING THIS EVEN, WHICH LASTS ABOUT A SECOND UNLESS FURTHER SLIPPING OCCURS. I UNDERSTAND THE GOAL OF ANTI-LOCK BRAKES, THE IMPLEMENTATION ON THIS CAR IS JUST PLAIN POOR AND UNSAFE. I HAVE TAPPED OTHER'S BUMPERS IN SITUATIONS THAT I SHOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO STOP IN. AT FIRST I COMPLAINED TO THE DEALER, BUT AFTER DRIVING OTHER'S PRIUS CARS I FOUND OUT THEY ALL DO THE SAME THING. (AT LEAST 2005 AND 2007 MODELS.) I HAVE DRIVEN THIS CAR SINCE SEPTEMBER 30, 2006...AND HAVE OVER 40,000 MILES. I AM SURE THAT THIS ISSUE COULD BE ADDRESSED BY UPGRADING THE FIRMWARE IN THE VEHICLE. OR, DISABLE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM SO THEY WORK WHEN I STEP ON THEM! I HAVE HAD NO ACCELERATOR PROBLEMS. *JB

I HAVE NOTICED THAT WHILE DRIVING MY 2006 PRIUS, THAT WHILE TRAVELING OVER AN UNEVEN ROAD SURFACE OR POTHOLE, THERE ARE TIMES WHERE THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT WILL COME ON, ON THE DASH, WHILE SIMULTANEOUSLY, IT FEELS AS IF THE CAR IS UNCONTROLLABLE. ITS A SIMILAR FEELING AS DRIVING ON A SNOW COVERED SURFACE. NOT SURE IF ITS JUST A FLAW IN THE TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM (MAY INCLUDE A BRAKING ISSUE AS WELL). I DID CONTACT MY LOCAL DEALER, WHO WAS NOT FAMILIAR WITH THIS ISSUE, YET IF YOU WERE TO DO A SEARCH ONLINE, YOU WILL SEE THAT OTHER PRIUS OWNERS HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS AS WELL. *TR

PASSENGER SIDE HID HEADLIGHT WENT OUT. LATER IT CAME BACK ON. THE VEHICLE, A 2006 PRIUS, ONLY HAS 45,000 MILES. TOYOTA SENT US A LETTER STATING THE COST OF A NEW BULB WAS REDUCED FROM $300 TO $150 PLUS LABOR/TAX. ALSO, THE LETTER STATED THAT HID BULBS ARE PRONE TO DETERIORATION DUE TO USE AND ADVISES THAT WE USE OUR HEADLAMPS ONLY WHEN NECESSARY. I FEEL THIS ISSUE IS SAFETY RELATED AND THE FIX IS VERY EXPENSIVE FOR A RELATIVELY NEW CAR. TOYOTA'S ADVICE TO CONSIDER USING THE LIGHTS LESS IS ALSO MISGUIDED AND NOT IN THE BEST INTEREST OF SAFELY. I'M ALSO CONCERNED ABOUT POSSIBLE ELECTRICAL ISSUES THAT MAY BE CAUSING THIS FAILURE. *TR

I DRIVE A TOYOTA PRIUS 2006. IT HAS NOT BEEN THE SUBJECT OF ANY OFFICIAL RECALLS OTHER THAN THE MAP RECALL. HOWEVER, I AM WRITING THAT THIS CAR SUFFERS FROM THE SAME BRAKE DEFECT WHICH HAS BEEN RECENTLY REPORTED ON IN THE NEWER PRIUS MODELS. THAT IS, WHENEVER I DRIVE OVER A POTHOLE OR A SLIPPERY SURFACE, THE BRAKES DISENGAGE AS A RESULT OF THE STABILIZATION SYSTEM. IT OCCURS FREQUENTLY, BUT I HAVE BECOME RELATIVELY USE TO IT, SUCH THAT IT DOESN'T BOTHER ME ANYMORE, THOUGH I KNOW IT IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM. SO FAR I HAVE NOT DONE ANYTHING TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM, PRIMARILY BECAUSE THERE HAS BEEN NO OFFICIAL PROBLEM WITH IT DECLARED. I HOPE THIS CHANGES. *TR

I HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME BRAKING ISSUE DESCRIBED IN THE MEDIA ON MY 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE BRAKE SYSTEM APPEARS TO FAIL MOMENTARILY WHEN SLOWING AND BRAKING ON UNEVEN SURFACES. THIS OCCURS ROUTINELY (WEEKLY) WHEN TURNING A SPECIFIC CORNER IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD, WHERE THE ROAD IS UNEVEN. THE INCIDENT DATE LISTED BELOW IS THE MOST RECENT DATE. *TR

2006 PRIUS. 62K MILES. ONE HEADLIGHT STARTED GOING OUT INTERMITTENTLY ABOUT 3 WEEKS AGO (JAN.2010) NOW A MINUTE OR SO AFTER THE FIRST ONE GOES OUT THE SECOND ONE GOES TOO LEAVING ME IN TOTAL DARKNESS. THE FIX IS TO TURN THE SWITCH ON AND OFF. A BULLETIN I RECEIVED LAST YEAR SAYS YOU CAN KILL THE HID BY TURNING OFF AND ON WHILE STILL HOT. THIS THE ONLY WAY TO KEEP THE LIGHTS GOING! I GOT A TICKET LAST WEEK FOR A LIGHT OUT AND OF COURSE I MADE IT COME BACK ON FOR THE OFFICER BUT HE WASN'T IMPRESSED. NOW I HAVE TO GET IT FIXED AND I HAVE READ ALL THE BLOGS AND CLEARLY REPLACING THE BULB IS NOT WAY TO CORRECT THIS. *TR

TOYOTA IS CHARGING OVER $250 FOR REPLACEMENT OF ONE HID LIGHT BULD. THIS MAKES IT VERY DIFFICULT TO REPLACE A PIECE OF REQUIRED SAFETY EQUIPMENT ON THE 2006 PRIUS. *LN

2006 TOYOTA PRIUS WITH HID HEADLIGHTS. I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE HEADLAMPS GOING OUT INTERMITTENTLY. MY WIFE WAS STOPPED BY THE POLICE BECAUSE THE LEFT HEADLIGHT WENT OUT THE OTHER NIGHT. THE DEALER REPLACED THE BULB ON THE RIGHT SIDE IN JUNE 2009. NOW I JUST HAD TO REPLACE THE LEFT SIDE BULB, THE TOYOTA DEALER WILL NOT COVER UNDER WARRANTY DUE TO THE VEHICLE BEING OUT OF WARRANTY BY 5 MONTHS. THERE ARE MANY,MANY PRIUS OWNERS WITH HEADLIGHT PROBLEMS. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT TOYOTA KNOWS ABOUT BUT REFUSES TO HELP ONCE THE WARRANTY EXPIRES. I REQUEST THAT NHTSA INVESTIGATE THE TOYOTA HEADLIGHT PROBLEM. WE PRIUS OWNERS FEEL THIS IS A DEFECT AND A VERY IMPORTANT SAFETY ISSUE THAT TOYOTA SHOULD CORRECT OR REIMBURSE PRIUS OWNERS THAT HAVE PAID FOR REPAIRS AFTER THE 3 YEAR/36,000 MILE WARRANTY PERIOD. *TR

RECENTLY BOTH HEADLIGHTS ON MY PRIUS BEGAN WINKING OFF AT RANDOM. TURNING THE LIGHTS OFF AND THEN BACK ON AGAIN WILL RESULT IN BOTH HEADLIGHTS BEING BUT MOMENTS (SOMETIMES SECONDS) LATER ONE OF THEM WILL TURN OFF. (SO FAR NEITHER HAVE BOTH TURNED OFF AT THE SAME TIME.) I TOOK MY CAR TO THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP AFTER BEING TOLD BY MY USUAL MECHANIC THAT THEY DID NOT HAVE THE TOOLS TO "GET TO" THE PRIUS HEADLIGHT TO REPLACE IT. THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP INFORMED ME THAT THE COST OF REPLACING BOTH FRONT HEADLIGHTS (ONLY) IF $475. $170 PER LIGHT AND THE REST OF THAT IS FOR THE LABOR AS THEY HAVE TO REMOVE THE FRONT BUMPER, ETC. AFTER DOING A LITTLE RESEARCH ONLINE I SEE THAT THIS SAME ISSUE (THE HEADLIGHT "WINKING") SEEMS PRETTY COMMON AND SO I'M REPORTING MY EXPERIENCE. *TR

WE OWN A 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CAR WAS PURCHASED NEW,HAS BEEN DEALER MAINTAINED AND IS OUR PRIMARY VEHICLE. ON JANUARY 26, 2010 AT 2:05 PM MY WIFE EXPERIENCE UNCONTROLLABLE ACCELERATION AND DESPITE ATTEMPTING THE STRATEGIES RECOMMENDED BY TOYOTA WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH CAUSING HER AND OTHERS INJURY. THE WEATHER WAS CLEAR, THE ROAD WAS DRY AND STRAIGHT AND MY WIFE WAS APPROACHING AN INTERSECTION WITH PLENTY OF UNOBSTUCTED VISIBILITY. WE HAD FOLLOWED THE INITIAL RECALL INSTRUCTIONS AND HAD BEEN IN CONTACT WITH THE LOCAL DEALER ABOUT ANY FOLLOW-UP INSTRUCTIONS PERTAINING TO OUR VEHICLE. AFTER THE ACCIDENT I CONTACT, IN PERSON, THE SERVICE MANAGER AT PERFORMANCE TOYOTA IN LINCOLN, NE. HE STATED OUR VEHICLE WAS NOT PART OF THE MOST RECENT RECALL INVOLVING FAULTY GAS PEDALS. I ADVISED HIM I UNDERSTOOD THAT HOWEVER MY WIFE EXPERIENCED UNCONTROLLED ACCELERATION AND DESPITE ATTEMPTING TO EMPLOY THE RECOMMENDED STRATEGIES WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH RESULTING TO INJURIES TO HER AND OTHERS. I ASKED THE SERVICE MANAGER HOW TO PROCEED AND HE ADVISED ME TO CALL THE "TOYOTA CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE LINE" AND SPEAK TO THEM. WHEN I STATED I HAD TRIED MANY TIMES AND WAS UNABLE TO REACH A PERSON HE INSISTED THAT WAS THE APPROPRIATE MANNER TO DEAL WITH THE SITUATION. I LEFT THE DEALERSHIP FEELING EXTREMELY FRUSTRATED DUE TO THE FACT THE RECORDED MESSAGE ON THE "TOYOTA CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE LINE" ADVISED IF YOU HAD EXPERIENCED AND ACCELERATOR/ACCELERATION PROBLEM CONTACT YOUR DEALER IMMEDIATELY. WE ARE AWARE THAT MANY TOYOTA OWNERS HAVE EXPERIENCE THIS ISSUE WITH THEIR VEHICLES AND IN MORE MODELS AND YEARS THAN ARE INVOLVED IN THE LATEST RECALL. IT IS NOT POSSIBLE FOR AN INDIVIDUAL MIDDLE CLASS CITIZEN TO CHALLENGE A MAJOR AUTOMAKER TO FIRST ADMIT AND THEN CORRECT A DEFECT IN AN AUTOMOBILE THEY PRODUCED AND SOLD . WE REQUEST YOU INVESTIGATE THIS INCIDENT IN ADDITION TO THE MANY MORE THAT HAVE BEEN REPORTED. WE WILL BE AVAILABLE AND COOPERATIVE IN ANY FACT FINDING YOU MAY WISH TO DO. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH THE VEHICLE LOST COMPLETE POWER, SHUT OFF AND SHE HAD NO CONTROL OVER THE VEHICLE; HOWEVER, SHE WAS ABLE TO RESTART IT WITHIN FIVE MINUTES. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED A NEW BATTERY WHICH SHE PURCHASED AND INSTALLED. TWO WEEKS LATER, THE FAILURE OCCURRED AGAIN. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A SECOND DEALER WHO PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTICS TEST WHICH A CODE PRODUCED CITED THAT A BRAKE PROBLEM OCCURRED. SHE CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND A REPRESENTATIVE STATED THAT THEY WOULD NOTIFY HER. ON 3 OCCASIONS, WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE LIGHTS WOULD FLASH ON AND OFF THEN THE HORN WOULD HONK FOR ABOUT A MINUTE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED TO-DATE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 57,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 55,000.

MY 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS LOSES BRAKING WHEN TRYING TO BRAKE ON UNEVEN SURFACES. THE DASH WILL LIGHT UP THE ICON WHICH DISPLAYS UNEVEN GROUND AND WHEN I APPLY BRAKES THERE IS A MOMENTARILY LAPSE WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL DOES NOT RESPOND. ALSO MY LEFT HEADLIGHT AND LEFT TAILLIGHT GO ON AND OFF PERIODICALLY. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE TRAVELING AT SPEEDS OF 70 MPH WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ACTIVATED, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO ABNORMALLY ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE THEN DECREASED SPEEDS FAR BELOW THE SPEED IN WHICH THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS SET, WITHOUT DRIVER INTENT. THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS SHUT OFF AND RESET. THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO EXHIBIT THE EXACT SAME FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 47,000 AND THE CURRENT WAS 48,000.

2006 PRIUS HEADLIGHTS FAIL WHILE DRIVING. FIRST JUST ONE, THEN THE OTHER. DO I HAVE TO HAVE AN ACCIDENT BEFORE I CAN REPORT THIS ABSURD SAFETY FAILURE. IT HAPPENS EVERY DAY WHEN I'M DRIVING IN OR DRIVING HOME. *TR

APPROACHING STATE HWY. IN CRUISE, ASSUMED STOP AREA WOULD BE SLIPPERY AS IT SOMETIMES IS IN THE WINTER..TAPPED BRAKES TO DISABLE CRUISE, APPLIED BRAKES, KEPT RIGHT ON GOING & ENDED IN THE DITCH ACROSS THE HWY. WAS LUCKY THAT THERE WAS NO COLLISION.. CAN'T REMEMBER IF THE MOTOR WAS RACING AT THE TIME. *TR

2006 TOYOTA PRIUS WITH APPROXIMATELY 46,000 MILES. FOR THE LAST YEAR, THE HEADLIGHT ON THE DRIVER SIDE HAS WORKED INTERMITTENTLY & HAVE TO TURN THE HEADLIGHTS OFF AND BACK ON TO MAKE IT TURN BACK ON AGAIN. THE SAME THING IS NOW OCCURRING ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. IT APPEARS THAT THIS IS A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM THAT TOYOTA IS MORE THAN AWARE ABOUT. *TR

I READ THE ARTICLE TODAY REGARDING PRIUS BRAKES AND I DEFINITELY HAVE THAT ISSUE ALL THE TIME IN MY 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHENEVER I HIT A POTHOLE OR A SLIPPERY SERVICE AND APPLY THE BRAKE, IT FEELS LIKE THE BRAKE STOPS WORKING AND THE CARS MOVES FORWARD MORE QUICKLY. THEN, IT FEELS LIKE THE CAR RE-ENGAGES THE BRAKES. I HAVE NOT YET HAD AN ACCIDENT RELATING TO THIS, BUT IT IS MOST DEFINITELY SOMETHING I HAVE EXPERIENCED MANY TIMES. I HAVE NOT APPROACHED TOYOTA OR MY DEALER ABOUT IT (IN PART BECAUSE I AM NOT NEARBY TO MY DEALER). *TR

I HAVE A 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS AND FOR YEARS I'VE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM DESCRIBED IN THE NEWS. AT TIMES WHEN I DRIVE OVER BUMPY TERRAIN, THE CAR WILL LURCH FORWARD WITH SUDDEN ACCELERATION AND THE ABS LIGHT WILL COME ON. I CAN RE-GAIN CONTROL BY HITTING THE BRAKES HARD AND/OR PUMPING THE BRAKES DEPENDING ON THE CIRCUMSTANCE. THIS HAS HAPPENED MANY TIMES SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR NEW IN JANUARY 2006. IN THESE CIRCUMSTANCES, MY FOOT WAS OFF THE GAS PEDAL. I'M NOT SURE IF THE BRAKES WERE BEING APPLIED OR NOT, BUT IF THEY WERE, THEY WERE APPLIED LIGHTLY. THIS HAPPENS REGULARLY. *TR

INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) 1, 2. MOVING SLOWLY INTO PARKING SPACE AT LAUNDERLAND ([XXX]), OUR TOYOTA PRIUS 2006 LEAPED OUT OF CONTROL, THOUGH MY FOOT WAS HOVERING OVER THE BRAKE AND NOT TOUCHING THE ACCELERATOR. IT HIT A WALL AND DAMAGED THE CAR. TWO WEEKS EARLIER, THE CAR HAD ALSO JUMPED SUDDENLY AT LOW SPEED BUT HIT NOTHING. CAR REPAIRS TO BUMPER AND UNDERLYING STRUCTURES TOTALED $3135; REPAIRS TO THE WALL TOTALED $750. (3) NOTHING WAS DONE BY TOYOTA TO INSPECT THE ACCELERATOR OR TO INSURE US THAT THE CAR WAS NOW SAFE TO DRIVE. THE CAR HAS BEEN SITTING ON THE DEALER'S LOT FOR ABOUT TWO WEEKS. *TR

2006 TOYOTA PRIUS - MY HID HEADLIGHTS HAVE BEEN RANDOMLY, UNPREDICTABLY FLICKERED ON AND OFF, SOMETIMES THE LEFT, SOMETIMES THE RIGHT AND SOMETIMES BOTH COMPLETELY UNEXPECTEDLY. THE LIGHT SWITCH MUST BE FLICKED ON AND OFF MULTIPLE TIMES TO BRING THEM BACK. WITHIN MINUTES - OR EVEN SECONDS - THEY MAY FAIL AGAIN REPEATEDLY. I DO NOT DRIVE AT NIGHT VERY OFTEN BUT OTHERS WHO DO ARE AT GREAT RISK. CAN YOU IMAGINE THE REACTION OF THE CARS IN FRONT OF ME WHILE I A FLICKING MY HEADLIGHTS AT THEM REPEATEDLY! POTENTIALLY VOLATILE. THE REPAIR IS REPLACEMENT OF HID LIGHTS AT ALMOST $600.00 AND IS NOT COVERED BY THEIR WARRANTY, WHICH IS WRONG! THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR A COUPLE YEARS AND MECHANICS HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO TRACE ISSUE OTHER THAN FAULTY HEADLIGHTS OR FAULTY COMPUTER CONTROLS. THERE ARE TENS OF THOUSANDS OF PRIUS OWNERS AFFECTED. CHECK THE ONLINE BLOGS LIKE PRIUSCHAT AND YOU WILL SEE. THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY ISSUE WHICH WHILE I HAVE HAD NOT ACCIDENTS I HAVE HAD NUMEROUS INCIDENTS OF CONCERN AND NEED FOR QUICK SUDDEN EVASIVE ACTION WHEN THE LIGHTS WOULD FAIL UNEXPECTEDLY. WE WHO HAVE BEEN FORCED TO SPEND HUNDREDS FOR REPAIR SHOULD BE REIMBURSED AND A FULL SCALE RECALL MUST BE INSTIGATED FOR THE SAFETY OF PRIUS DRIVERS AND OUR COMPANIONS IN OTHER VEHICLES ON THE ROAD. *TR

I OWN A 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS. I HAVE HAD A PROBLEM WITH MY PASSENGER HEADLIGHT WORKING INTERMITTENTLY. I THOUGHT THE LIGHT WAS FAILING UNTIL ONE NIGHT I WAS DRIVING HOME AND ALL THE LIGHTS TURNED OFF AND IT WAS PURE DARKNESS. I QUICKLY CORRECTED THE IMMEDIATE DANGER BY TURNING THE LIGHT SWITCH OFF THEN ON AND THEY CAME BACK ON. THIS HAS HAPPENED TWO OTHER TIMES. I RECEIVED WHAT I THOUGHT WAS A RECALL NOTICE ON THE HID LIGHTS. WHEN I TOOK THE NOTICE TO MY LOCAL DEALER, THEY INFORMED ME THAT THE RECALL WAS ON THE PRICE OF THE HID BULBS AND NOT ON THE ACTUAL BULBS. THEY HAD REDUCED THE PRICE FROM $300 TO $150. NOW, AFTER LOOKING INTO IT FURTHER, IT SEEMS THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE EXPERIENCING THIS SAME PROBLEM. *TR