2006 Toyota Prius Complaint Log

THE DRIVERS SIDE HEADLIGHT KEEPS GOING OUT. WHEN FIRST TURNED ON, IT GLOWS AND AFTER AWHILE IT GOES OUT. WHEN I TURN THE LIGHTS OUT AND BACK ON, IT GLOWS AGAIN; BUT FOR ONLY A VERY SHORT TIME. IT REFUSES TO STAY ON WHEN NEEDED DURING INCLEMENT WEATHER OR NIGHT DRIVING. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS TO SAY THE LEAST! IT IS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE I AM PULLED OVER BY POLICE FOR THIS DEFECT. I'VE SEEN THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN REPORTED BY MANY OTHER 2006 PRIUS OWNERS AND I FEEL IT IS MY RESPONSIBILITY TO REPORT THIS MALFUNCTION/DEFECT MYSELF. TOYOTA SHOULD BE HELD FULLY RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS DEFECT AND SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO FIX THIS VERY DANGEROUS SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT. I HOPE YOU CAN HELP WITH IN REQUIRING TOYOTA TO RECALL THESE VEHICLES AND FIX THIS VERY DANGEROUS AND DEFINITELY SAFETY-RELATED SITUATION/DEFECT/MALFUNCTION. I HOPE WE WON'T HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL SOME PEOPLE ARE KILLED OR INJURED AS A RESULT OF THIS SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT BEFORE APPROPRIATE ACTION IS TAKEN TO RESOLVE IT.

IN ADDITION TO MY COMPLAINT, ODI ID #10400072, WHEN I TURN MY HEADLIGHTS ON, THE LIGHTING IN MY CONSOLE LOSES IT BRIGHTNESS--ALOT. DURING THE DAYTIME, IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO SEE THE ODOMETER/SPEEDOMETER AND ALL OTHER INFORMATION PROVIDED ON MY CONSOLE... THIS INCLUDES THE BUILT-IN GPS/INFO SCREEN. THIS IS DEFINITELY A DESIGN FLAW THAT TOYOTA CREATED AND APPROVED FOR SALE HERE IN THE U.S. I CANNOT UNDERSTAND WHY TOYOTA IS NOT HELD FULLY ACCOUNTABLE FOR THESE VERY SERIOUS FLAWS AND ARE REQUIRED TO CORRECT THESE VERY SERIOUS FLAWS AT NO COST THE THE INNOCENT CONSUMER THAT ARE VICTIMS FOR PURCHASING THESE VEHICLES FULLY TRUSTING THAT TOYOTA FULLY BACKED UP THEIR VEHICLES AND REPUTATION. WHAT WILL IT TAKE TO REQUIRE TOYOTA TO MAKE THE NECESSARY REPAIRS TO RECTIFY THESE VERY OBVIOUS FLAWS IN THEIR VEHICLES? A DEATH AS A RESULT OF AN INNOCENT DRIVER AND HIS FAMILY TRUSTING THE TOYOTA BRAND NAME? I SURE HOPE NOT.

I OWN A 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS- I HAVE HAD SEVERAL INCIDENCES WHERE I PUT MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE AT LOW SPEED AND THE BRAKES TOOK A VERY LONG SECOND TO ENGAGE- IT HAS OCCURRED WHEN I HAVE BEEN TURNING THE WHEEL AND ALSO WHEN MOVING IN A FORWARD DIRECTION I HAVE PUT ONE DATE BELOW - HOWEVER IT HAS HAPPENED MANY TIMES SINCE I HAVE OWNED THE CAR. *JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS, SHE HAD EXPERIENCED INSTANCES OF UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. SHE WAS ADVISED TO REMOVE THE FLOOR MATS FROM THE VEHICLE BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTED. SHE CONFIRMED WHEN ATTEMPTING TO PASS ANOTHER VEHICLE, THE VEHICLE WOULD ABNORMALLY ACCELERATE WITHOUT HER INTENT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 25 MPH. THE DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 56,000 AND THE CURRENT WAS UNKNOWN.

HID HEADLIGHT FAILURE ON 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS. PURCHASED IN JUNE 2006 RIGHT HEADLIGHT AND CONTROL UNIT WERE REPLACED IN JUNE 2007 BY TOYOTA UNDER WARRANTY. RIGHT HEADLIGHT AND CONTROL UNIT FAILED IN DEC. 2009. NOW DRIVING WITH RIGHT HEADLAMP OUT. HID HEADLAMPS ARE SUPPOSED TO HAVE TWICE THE LIFETIME OF NORMAL HEADLAMPS. HEADLAMPS SHOULD NOT COST $500 TO REPLACE. TOYOTA HAS AN OBVIOUS DESIGN PROBLEM WITH THEIR HEADLIGHT SYSTEM. *TR

MY 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS WITH HIGH INTENSITY LIGHTBULBS HAS LESS THAN 40,000 MILES ON IT. ONE BULB HAS ALREADY BEEN REPLACED AND NOW I AM HAVING INTERMITTENT FAILURES ON ANOTHER BULB. I UNDERSTAND NHTSA HAS DECIDED NOT TO TAKE ANY ACTION UNDER PE09019 BUT HAVE TO SAY I DON'T UNDERSTAND YOUR STANCE ON THIS. I CAN BE CITED BY POLICE FOR HAVING DEFECTIVE SAFETY EQUIPMENT WHEN A BULB IS OUT, YET YOU FELT THIS DID NOT WARRANT ACTION. THIS PROBLEM WITH PRIUS HID HEADLIGHTS SEEMS TO BE LIMITED ONLY TO THAT VEHICLE MODEL IT IS OBVIOUSLY A DEFECT IN DESIGN AND IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE. EVER MEET A ONE-LIGHTED CAR OR TRUCK ON A VERY DARK TWO LANE HIGHWAY? HOPE YOU WILL TAKE ACTION TO FORCE TOYOTA TO DO A RECALL AND CORRECT THIS VERY DANGEROUS ISSUE. *TR

PASSENGER SIDE HEAD LIGHT GOES OUT RANDOMLY. WHEN THE LIGHTS ARE TURNED OFF AND THEN BACK ON IT WILL WORK FOR "SOME" PERIOD OF TIME, COULD BE SECONDS OR DAYS. CAR HAS BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP MULTIPLE TIMES FOR DIAGNOSTICS AND ALLEGED REPAIRS YET THE PROBLEM CONTINUES. DEALER HAS REPLACED BULBS & REPLACED SOME MODULE WITHIN THE CIRCUITRY. CONTINUES TO FAIL. *TR

IN OCT 2009 THE YELLOW WARNING LIGHTS FOR THE BRAKES CAME ON IN MY 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS. DEALER SAID THEY RECALIBRATED THE ABS SENSOR. THEN IN DEC 2009, THE CAR WOULD NOT BRAKE PROPERLY AND SEEMED TO SKID FORWARD BEFORE THE BRAKES WOULD ENGAGE. HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIMES IN ONE TRIP AND SO I BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALER THAT DAY. THEY REPRODUCED THE PROBLEM AND SAID THEY MADE SOME TYPE OF FIX TO THE ABS SYSTEM. ALSO SAID IF IT HAPPENED AGAIN THEY WOULD PUT THE MONEY I HAD SPENT THUS FAR (ABOUT $130.00) TOWARDS FUTURE REPAIRS. THE PROBLEM HAS NOT OCCURRED AGAIN SINCE THEN (A MONTH AGO) BUT I AM AFRAID THIS PROBLEM MAY BE RELATED TO PROBLEMS OTHERS ARE HAVING WITH THEIR TOYOTAS NOT STOPPING. *TR

FOR A 2006 PRIUS. TWICE THIS EVENING MY HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT ON THEIR OWN. I WAS DRIVING TO A STORE ABOUT A MILE AND A HALF AWAY, WHEN A HALF MILE FROM MY HOUSE ALL LIGHTS, INCLUDING HEADLIGHTS, WENT OUT. THEY DID NOT COME ON UNTIL I MANUALLY TURNED THEM "OFF" AND THEN ON AGAIN. ON THE WAY HOME FROM THE STORE, THEY WENT OUT AGAIN. *TR

I OWN A 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS AND THE DRIVERS SIDE HEADLIGHT WILL GO ON AND OFF WITHOUT WARNING. I TOOK IT INTO THE DEALER AND IT COST OVER $500.00 TO REPLACE THE HEADLIGHT. THIS A CLEAR SAFETY ISSUE. HEADLIGHTS THAT GO OFF WITHOUT WARNING COULD LEAD TO A VERY DANGEROUS CIRCUMSTANCE. HEADLIGHTS ARE ITEMS LIKE WINDSHIELD WIPERS THAT NEED FREQUENT REPLACEMENT AND SHOULD NOT COST $500.00. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE HEADLIGHTS FAIL WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT. HE HAS TO TURN THE HEADLAMP SWITCH ON AND THEN BACK OFF TO RESUME HEADLIGHT OPERATION. IT COST $1200 TO REPLACE THE BULBS AND THE MODULE. HE HAS TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL REPAIR FACILITY BECAUSE THE AUTHORIZED DEALER IS LOCATED TOO FAR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,000.

I HAVE A 2006 PRIUS AND THE HEADLIGHTS KEEP GOING OFF. ONE OR THE OTHER OR BOTH GO OFF WHILE DRIVING. FLIPPING THE SWITCH GETS THEM BACK ON FOR A WHILE. THE DEALER TELLS ME $420 TO CHANGE THE TWO BULBS. HOW CAN THIS HAPPEN IN A TWO YEAR OLD CAR? *TR

I HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM AS MANY, MANY OTHER PRIUS OWNERS, WITH MY 2006 PRIUS'S HID LIGHTS GOING OUT WHILE DRIVING. WHEN I REALIZE THAT ONE OR BOTH LIGHTS HAVE GONE OUT, I FLIP THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH AND THEY COME BACK ON, ONLY TO GO OUT AGAIN WITHIN SECONDS! TOYOTA SAYS THIS IS A DEALER-ONLY ITEM AND THE HID BULBS COST $300 A PIECE! THESE BULBS ARE NOT AVAILABLE AT AUTO PARTS STORES. THE PRICE IS EXORBITANT AND VERY UNAFFORDABLE FOR MANY PEOPLE. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE! TOYOTA SHOULD RECALL THEIR PRIUSES AND FIX THIS ISSUE ONCE AND FOR ALL INSTEAD OF RIPPING PEOPLE OFF AND PUTTING THEIR LIVES IN DANGER! PLEASE HELP PUT SOME PRESSURE ON TOYOTA TO DO THE RIGHT THING. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED WAS DRIVING 30 MPH WHEN THE HEADLIGHTS FAILED. THE HEADLIGHTS WOULD FAIL INTERMITTENTLY AND THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THAT THE BULB FAILURE WAS RANDOM. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE LIGHT BULB WAS REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 79,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 86,000.

2006 PRIUS HEADLIGHTS ARE INTERMITTENT, ESPECIALLY THE DRIVER'S SIDE. WHEN YOU TURN ON THE HEADLIGHTS THEY BOTH GO ON, BUT THE DRIVER'S SIDE LIGHTS GO OUT--AT FIRST OTHERS WOULD TELL US, THEN WE WOULD DISCOVER IT OURSELVES. WE REPORTED THIS TO THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP AT ABOUT 35,000 MILES AND WERE TOLD THE BULBS COST ABOUT $300 APIECE, THAT IT WASN'T COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY. WE'VE SINCE FOUND OUT THAT OTHER PRIUS OWNERS HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS SAME PROBLEM, THAT SOME HAVE PAID A HIGH PRICE TO REPLACE THE LIGHTS AND CONTINUE TO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM, WHICH SEEMS TO INDICATE THE PROBLEM ISN'T THE BULBS! ALSO THERE IS CONTROVERSY ABOUT THE DEALERSHIPS SAYING THEY HAVE TO REMOVE THE FRONT BUMPER ASSEMBLY TO CHANGE THE BULBS, WHEN THEY CAN EASILY BE REPLACED IN ABOUT 10 MINUTES WITHOUT REMOVING THE BUMPER! THIS HEADLIGHT PROBLEM CONSTITUTES A VERY DANGEROUS CONDITION FOR WHICH IS SEEMS BULB REPLACEMENT ISN'T THE ANSWER. TOYOTA NEEDS TO ADMIT THERE IS A MANUFACTURING PROBLEM FOR WHICH THEY SHOULD SUPPLY THE REMEDY. THERE SHOULD BE AN INDICATOR LIGHT ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL THAT INDICATES IF EITHER HEADLIGHT FAILS TO OPERATE. *TR

2007 TOYOTA PRIUS WITH HID HEADLIGHTS THAT INTERMITTENTLY GO OFF. THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH MANY PRIUS WITH THE HID HEADLIGHTS. WE HAD ONE REPLACED ON 11/28 AT A COST OF $240.00. THE OTHER HAS PROBLEMS ALSO BUT WE COULD NOT AFFORD TO GET IT REPLACED AT THIS TIME. TOYOTA REPAIR SAYS LIGHT SYSTEM OVERHEATS, MAYBE. THEY AREN'T SURE. *TR

2006 PRIUS BRAKE PEDAL SLOWLY MOVES TO FLOOR WHEN FOOT HELD ON BRAKE PEDAL, I.E., AT A STOP SIGN. TOYOTA SERVICE TECH SAID THIS IS NORMAL AND THAT BRAKE WOULD HOLD EVEN WHEN PEDAL IS FULLY DEPRESSED. I THIS TRUE? *TR

HID BULB FLICKERING, WORKS ON AND OFF ALL THE TIME ON MY 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS TOYOTA DEALER ASKS ABOUT 400 DOLLARS TO REPLACE ONE BULB. *TR

APPROX. 50,000 MILES ON ODOMETER. 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS. RIGHT HEADLAMP GO OF AND AN. FINALLY DIED. *TR

THE HID HEADLIGHT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF MY 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS RANDOMLY GOES OFF. SOME TIMES IT COMES BACK ON BY ITSELF WHILE I'M STILL DRIVING SOME TIMES NOT. IT DOESN'T HAPPEN BY ANY PARTICULAR TREND LIKE A BUMP, TURN, OR ANYTHING ELSE. IT JUST GOES OFF. NOTHING I DO SEEMS TO MAKE IT COME BACK ON, IT JUST COMES BACK RANDOMLY. IT'S BEEN DOING THIS FOR A WHILE NOW. WHEN IT GOES OFF MY VISIBILITY AT NIGHT ALONG THE ROADS RIGHTHAND SIDE IS GREATLY REDUCED. IN PARTICULAR, I'M CONCERNED THAT THE REDUCED LIGHT ON THAT SIDE MAY INCREASE MY CHANCE OF NOT SEEING A PEDESTRIAN OR A DEER ALONG SIDE THE ROAD UNTIL IT'S TOO LATE. I TOOK IT TO THE TOYOTA DEALER AND THEY SAID THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT'S WRONG BUT THEY WOULD LIKELY REPLACE SOME HEADLIGHT COMPUTER AND BULB WHICH THEY SAID WOULD COST ABOUT $800! IT SHOULDN'T COST THAT MUCH TO FIX A HEADLIGHT THAT RANDOMLY GOES OFF DUE TO SOME DEFECT IN THE VEHICLE WHICH CAUSES SUCH A SAFETY HAZARD FOR ME AND PEDESTRIANS ON THE ROAD. *TR

2006 PRIUS HIGH-INTENSITY DISCHARGE (HID) LAMPS CUT OUT - TURNING THE LIGHTS OFF AND ON WILL TEMPORARILY FIX THE PROBLEM. FIRST PASSENGER SIDE IN SEPTEMBER 2008 AT AROUND 50K MILES, NOW DRIVER SIDE NOVEMBER 2009 AT 60812 MILES - VEHICLE IS AT DEALERSHIP RIGHT NOW SO I DO NOT HAVE ACCESS TO THE VIN. BOTH TIMES THE DEALER REPLACED AT NO CHARGE (LAWRENCEVILLE TOYOTA, 2871 RT 1, LAWRENCEVILLE, NEW JERSEY 08648 609-883-4200). I JUST WANTED IT REPORTED BECAUSE IT SEEMED A SAFETY HAZARD AND THERE APPEARS TO BE OTHERS EXPERIENCING THIS ISSUE AS WELL. *TR

THE HEADLIGHTS ON MY 06 PRIUS HAVE STARTED GOING OFF AT DIFFERENT TIMES. I REALLY HAVE TO BE CAREFUL WITH MY CAR NOW. *TR

1) TOYOTA PRIUS, 15MPH, ENGAGED BRAKES, HIT SMALL BUMP IN ROAD AND ANTI-LOCKING MECHANISM DISENGAGED BRAKES. 2) FAILURE IS BRAKING MECHANISM IN TOYOTA PRIUS WILL DISENGAGE. SEEMS TO BE DUE TO HOW THE ANTILOCK SYSTEM WORKS. IT CAUSES THE BRAKES TO QUIT FUNCTIONING. 3) NOTHING. TOYOTA WOULD NOT ADMIT TO ISSUE WITH BRAKING. ON 02/03/2010 TOYOTA ADMITTED TO BRAKE ISSUES WITH TOYOTA PRIUS FROM MY YEAR. THIS IS THE REASON FOR MY COMPLAINT. *TR

THIS IS A FOLLOW UP TO NHTSA CASE # PE09019. THE NHTSA CLOSED THIS CASE AS A NON-SAFETY, NON-RECALL CASE, BECAUSE ONLY ONE HEADLIGHT WAS FAILING, GIVING THE DRIVER TIME TO GET TO A SERVICE CENTER. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM IS DEGENERATIVE...THOUGH NO CASES OF DUAL-HEADLIGHT FAILURE HAD BEEN SEEN BY THE NHTSA AT THE TIME, IN THE PAST FEW MONTHS THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL CASES REPORTED ON PRIUS OWNER WEBSITES. ALL ARE CASES THAT BEGAN WITH ONE INTERMITTENT LIGHT AND PROGRESSED TO BOTH. I WOULD LIKE MY CASE RECORDED BY THE NHTSA AND INCLUDED IN ANY FUTURE CLASS-ACTION SUIT THAT I MAY BE ELIGIBLE FOR. I HAVE A 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS WITH HID HEADLIGHTS. THEY BEGAN TO FAIL INTERMITTENTLY IN 2009, WHEN MY CAR HAD APP. 35,000 MILES LOGGED. I NEVER RECEIVED NOTICE OF THE OPEN NHTSA CASE, OR OF THE CLASS ACTION SUIT THAT TOYOTA SETTLED BY EXTENDING WARRANTIES AND/OR REIMBURSING REPAIRS. I GOT 1 WARNING TICKET FOR WHICH I ATTEMPTED TO GET THEM FIXED, BUT THIS TIME AND OTHER TIMES I WENT FOR SERVICE THE PROBLEM WAS NOT EVIDENT (NO LOOSE WIRES, BULBS WORKED FINE, ETC.) AND I WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS NOTHING TO FIX. LAST WEEK BOTH OF MY HEADLIGHTS FAILED SIMULTANEOUSLY, AS DID THE PARKING LIGHTS AND HIGH BEAMS WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AT NIGHT. FORTUNATELY I DIDN'T HAVE AN ACCIDENT, AND I QUICKLY TOGGLED THE CONTROL STICK TO RESET THE LIGHTS, AND THOUGHT I'D RECOVERED DIM HEADLIGHTS AND DROVE HOME, WHERE I DISCOVERED THAT I HAD DRIVEN OVER 200 MILES WITH ONLY MY PARKING LIGHTS ON. THE NEXT DAY, THE LEFT HEADLIGHT BULB WORKED AGAIN, THE PARKING LIGHTS WORK, BUT THE HIGH BEAMS STILL WILL NOT TURN ON. I HAVE AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE THE BULBS CHANGED (THE ONLY RECOMMENDED PROCEDURE QUOTED TO ME BY TOYOTA SERVICE). HOWEVER, I'VE READ REPORTS ONLINE OF OTHERS WHO DID THIS FIX AND EVEN MORE, YET HAD THE HEADLIGHTS FAIL AGAIN SOMETIME LATER. *TR

2006 TOYOTA PRIUS HEADLIGHT PROBLEM. WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT THERE WAS AN OBVIOUS CLICK AND THE HEADLIGHTS SHUT OFF. TURNED THE CAR OFF AND RESTARTED IT AND THE HEADLIGHTS COME BACK ON AND WORK FOR A PERIOD OF TIME (LENGTH UNDETERMINED BUT THIS HAPPENED ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION). ONE OR ANOTHER OF THE HEAD LIGHTS WORK INTERMITTENTLY.WITH NO OBVIOUS PATTERN. LAST NIGHT THE LEFT HEAD LIGHT WAS OUT. I BACKED UP THE VEHICLE AND IT CAME BACK ON. THE SAME THING HAS HAPPENED WITH THE RIGHT HEAD LIGHT ON OCCASION. THERE APPEARS TO BE NO IDENTIFIABLE PATTERN TO THE ISSUE. SINCE THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND MY WEB SEARCH HAS INDICATED OTHERS ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME ISSUE IT WOULD SEEM TO BE AN ITEM OF INTEREST THAT SHOULD BE CORRECTED BY TOYOTA VIA A RECALL. THE SERIOUSNESS OF THE ISSUE CANNOT BE UNDERSTATED. DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AND HAVING THE LIGHTS GO TOTALLY OUT FOR NO IDENTIFIABLE REASON IS DANGEROUS. I CALLED THE TOYOTA DEALER AND THEY SAID THE HEAD LIGHTS NEED TO BE REPLACED. IT SEEMS IMPOSSIBLE FOR ME TO BELIEVE THAT THIS IS THE ISSUE AS THE DASH PANEL LIGHT ALSO WENT OUT. .THIS IS NOT GOING TO BE CORRECTED ONE CUSTOMER AT A TIME DEALING WITH TOYOTA. REPLACING THE HEAD LIGHTS ON THE PRIUS IS A $ 450 JOB. $300 FOR THE BULBS AND $150 LABOR. I WOULD NOT BE CONCERNED ABOUT THE $'S IF I FIRMLY BELIEVED IT WAS A HIGH LIGHT ISSUE. I WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE AND HEARD THE CLICK AND THE LIGHTS GO OUT. I PULLED OF THE INTERSTATE. TURNED THE POWER OFF AND RESTARTED THE CAR AND THE HEADLIGHTS WORKED FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE TRIP (ABOUT 45 MINUTES) WITH NO ISSUES. THIS DOES NOT SOUND LIKE A HEAD LIGHT PROBLEM. *TR

I'M FILING THIS AS IT MAY RELATE TO YOUR CURRENT INVESTIGATION OF THE TOYOTA PRIUS BRAKING SYSTEM. I HAVE A 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS WITH ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC). I'VE NOTICED THAT, AT TIMES WHEN THE ESC IS ACTIVATED BY A BUMPY/SLIPPERY ROAD, THAT ATTEMPTING TO ACTIVATE THE BRAKES (VIA THE PEDAL) AT THAT MOMENT (SHORTLY AFTER THE ESC HAS ACTIVATED, PER THE DASHBOARD LIGHT) WILL SOMETIMES "FAIL". THE "FAILURE" BEING THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL WILL DEPRESS TO THE FLOOR (OFTEN WITH A 'CLUNK' NOISE - MAYBE THE BRAKE PEDAL HITTING THE FLOOR?) WITHOUT ACTIVATING THE BRAKES. I'VE FOUND, EVERY TIME, THAT RELEASING AND RE-DEPRESSING THE PEDAL ACTIVATES THE BRAKES WITHOUT FAIL. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS SO THE "APPROXIMATE INCIDENT DATE" I'VE ENTERED IS A BEST GUESS OF THE MOST RECENT OCCURRENCE. *TR

I RECENTLY BOTH A USED 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS FROM A PRIVATE SELLER AND IN MORE THAN ONE OCCASION, THE HEADLIGHTS WOULD GO OUT INTERMITTENTLY WHILE I'M DRIVING - SOMETIMES ONE AT A TIME, BUT SOMETIMES BOTH WOULD GO OUT. I HAD TO CYCLE THE SWITCH TO TURN THEM BACK ON. OUT OF CURIOSITY, I WENT IN THE INTERNET TO FIND OUT HOW I CAN FIX THIS PROBLEM, AND THAT'S WHEN I FOUND OUT THAT THERE HAD BEEN NUMEROUS CASES OF PRIUS HEADLIGHT PROBLEMS, PARTICULARLY WITH 2005-2008 MODELS. I ALSO FOUND OUT THAT TOYOTA DEALERSHIPS ARE CHARGING ON AVERAGE ANYWHERE FROM $400 TO $1,000 JUST TO REPLACE HEADLIGHT BULBS, AND I'M NOT ABOUT TO FALL FOR THAT. I DON'T BELIEVE THIS IS A LIGHTBULB PROBLEM BECAUSE THE HEADLIGHTS WOULD COME BACK ON AFTER CYCLING THE SWITCH. THIS APPEARS TO BE A DESIGN PROBLEM COMMON TO '05-'08 MODELS - SOMETHING WITH THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. THIS IS DEFINITELY A SAFETY ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED AND RESOLVED BY TOYOTA ASAP. I'M SURPRISED THAT NO RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED YET. IS TOYOTA WAITING FOR SOMEONE TO DIE OR GET BADLY INJURED BEFORE THEY SEND OUT A RECALL? ONE CAN EASILY DRIVE OFF A CLIFF WHILE DRIVING IN THE DARK WITH NO HEADLIGHTS ON. (FYI, THE INCIDENT DATE I HAVE BELOW IS THE MOST RECENT OCCURRENCE OF THIS PROBLEM.) *TR

2006 TOYOTA PRIUS HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT WITHOUT WARNING ABOUT 65,000 MILES. TURNING SWITCH OFF THEN ON AGAIN RESTORED LIGHT FOR A VERY SHORT WHILE. THEN IT WENT OFF AGAIN. HAPPENED FIRST WITH THE RIGHT HEADLIGHT 3 MONTHS AGO NOW RECENTLY LAST TWO WEEKS THE LEFT HEADLIGHT SAME PROBLEM. *TR

BOTH HEADLIGHTS ON MY 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS SHUT OFF WHILE I WAS DRIVING AT NIGHT. *TR

I WAS UNABLE TO OPEN THE REAR HATCH BECAUSE THE RUBBER/PLASTIC COVERING HAD HARDENED TO THE POINT THAT I COULDN'T CAUSE IT TO MAKE CONTACT AND OPEN. SINCE THEN, I HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO OPEN THE HATCH WHEN THE WEATHER IS COLD AND HAVE BEEN ABLE TO OPEN IT WHEN THE WEATHER IS WARM. A DEALER IN TENNESSEE TOLD ME THAT IT WOULD COST $300 TO REPLACE THE WHOLE PART. I BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD BECAUSE IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO ACCESS THE SPARE TIRE, FIRST AID KIT, OR TO OPEN THE HATCH IN EMERGENCIES TO ALLOW PASSENGERS TO ESCAPE IF OTHER DOORS ARE INOPERABLE. *TR

HEADLIGHT STOPS WORKING ALL OF A SUDDEN. WHEN YOU TURN IT ON THEN OFF IT WORKS AGAIN. DOES THIS CONTINUOUSLY, I NEVER KNOW WHEN THEY ARE OUT. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS. AT LOW SPEED BRAKE APPLICATION, THE VEHICLE HAD SUDDENLY SURGED FORWARD WITHOUT WARNING. CONSEQUENTLY SHE STRUCK A DITCH AT 70 MPH. SHE SUFFERED A BROKEN HAND AND A CONCUSSION. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALERSHIP. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 43000.

I PURCHASED A NEW 2006 PRIUS IN JULY 2006. PRIOR TO THE WARRANTY EXPIRING (ABOUT 30,000 MILES), I NOTICED THAT ONE OR THE OTHER HEAD LIGHT WOULD TURN OFF. TURNING THE HEAD LIGHTS OFF AND ON AGAIN CAUSED THE LIGHT TO TURN ON AGAIN. I WAS DRIVING TO WORK AT NIGHT ON A VERY CURVY ROAD AND BOTH LIGHTS TURNED OFF AT THE SAME TIME. TURNING THE LIGHTS SWITCH OFF AND ON CAUSED THE LIGHTS TO COME ONE AGAIN. THE TOYOTA DEALER ADMITTED THAT THERE HAD BEEN A BATCH OF DEFECTIVE BULBS. I HAD THE LIGHTS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. AT 59,000 MILES THE SAME PROBLEM IS STARTING OVER. ONLY ONE LIGHT AT THE MOMENT, BUT I EXPECT THE OTHER ONE TO START DOING THE SAME THING. DRIVING WITH ONE HEAD LIGHT IS VERY DANGEROUS AS WELL AS SUBJECTING YOU TO AN EQUIPMENT VIOLATION TICKET. *TR

2006 TOYOTA PRIUS RIGHT HEADLIGHT BULB KEEPS BLOWING. I AM GETTING READY TO HAVE IT PROFESSIONALLY REPLACED FOR THE THIRD TIME AND I ONLY HAVE 70,000 MILES. I HAVE BEEN TOLD IT MIGHT BE THE CONTROLLER UNIT FOR THE BULB. *TR

I HAVE A 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHEN I AM BRAKING ON A BUMPY ROAD, OR OVER A POTHOLE, THE BRAKE WILL CUT OUT FOR A BRIEF PERIOD, LEADING TO A SENSATION OF SLIDING. THIS HAS HAPPENED REPEATEDLY. THE INCIDENT DATE IS JUST AN APPROXIMATION OF THE LAST TIME IT HAPPENED. IT HAS HAPPENED SINCE THE CAR WAS NEW. *TR

2006 TOYOTA PRIUS HID HEAD LIGHTS TURN OFF ON THEIR OWN WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT. LIGHT BULB DEFECT IS INTERMITTENT. WHEN BROUGHT TO REPAIR FACILITY, BOTH BULBS WORKING FINE. *TR

HEADLIGHT INTERMITTENT FAILURE THEN FULL FAILURE. *TR

STARTING UP MY TOYOTA PRIUS COMING OUT OF A CAR WASH THE ENGINE STUCK WITH HIGH REVS. I CONFIRMED IT WAS NOT THE CAR MAT BECAUSE I HAD BEEN IN THE CAR WASH AND THAT WAS MY THOUGHT. COULD NOT GET THE ENGINE TO STOP OVER REVVING (WAS CONSISTENTLY HIGH). NEVER WENT INTO HIGH SPEED. WAS ABLE TO CONTROL IT BY PUTTING IT IN LOW GEAR AND NEUTRAL AT THE INTERSECTIONS. IN LESS THAN 1 MILE I TURNED OFF THE CAR AND DID NOT HAVE ANY FOLLOW-ON PROBLEMS. NOT THE CAR MATS. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH THE VEHICLE UNEXPECTEDLY ACCELERATED. THE FLOOR MATS WERE REMOVED PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT FILED A CLAIM WITH THE TOYOTA MANUFACTURER WHO STATED THAT NO OTHERS COMPLAINTS HAVE BEEN FILED REGARDING THE ACCELERATION. THE MANUFACTURER ALSO ADVISED HER TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE OR DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE DEALER PERFORMED ROUTINE MAINTENANCE ON THE VEHICLE PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000. UPDATED 4/13/10 *CN UPDATED 06/25/10.*JB

RECEIVED NOTICE FROM MANUFACTURER THAT I SHOULD REMOVE THE DRIVER'S SIDE FLOORMAT FROM MY CAR AS IT MIGHT CAUSE THE ACCELERATOR TO STICK. SAID THEY WOULD SEND MORE INFORMATION LATER. I REMOVED IT PROMPTLY BUT AM CONCERNED ABOUT MY SAFETY BECAUSE OTHER TOYOTAS WERE ADVISED OF THE SAME THING BUT THEIR ACCELERATORS STUCK ANYWAY AND IT WASN'T DUE TO THE FLOORMAT. SPOKE WITH THE DEALERSHIP ABOUT THIS AND WAS ADVISED THAT MY "06 WAS NOT BEING RECALLED. SINCE TOYOTA HAS LIED AND EVADED ISSUES REPEATEDLY I DO NOT FEEL SAFE IN MY CAR. I AM A REALTOR AND CARRY CLIENTS IN MY VEHICLE WHICH CREATES ADDITIONAL LIABILITY FOR ME. I WOULD LIKE TO TRADE CARS BUT THE VALUE OF MY CAR IS LESS DUE TO TOYOTA'S PROBLEMS. *TR

I DRIVE A 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS. ON NOVEMBER 13, 2009, FOR ABOUT 10 DAYS, THE DASHBOARD WOULD NOT LIGHT UP ON A COLD START IN THE MORNING. IT WOULD LIGHT UP AFTER I HIT A POTHOLE OR BUMP. THE PROBLEM INEXPLICABLY STOPPED. MY TOYOTA DEALERSHIP SAID THEY HAD RECEIVED NO COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS AND COULD NOT DIAGNOSE/FIX THE PROBLEM SINCE IT NO LONGER OCCURRED. *TR

AT 42,000 MILES, MY 2006 PRIUS HEADLIGHTS WILL SWITCH OFF WHILE DRIVING. THE DRIVERSIDE HID HEADLIGHT WILL TURN OFF BETWEEN 1:30 - 3:00 MINUTES OF DRIVING. THE ISSUE CAN BE CORRECTED BY SWITCHING THE LIGHTS OFF AND TURNING THEM ON AGAIN; HOWEVER, THE HEADLIGHT WILL TURN OFF AGAIN AFTER A FEW MINUTES. AT ONE POINT, THE DRIVERSIDE HEADLIGHT WENT OUT AND THEN A FEW SECONDS LATER THE PASSENGER HEADLIGHT WENT OUT MEANING I HAD NO RUNNING HEADLIGHTS ON THE INTERSTATE AT NIGHT. TURNING OFF AND TURNING ON THE HEADLIGHTS CORRECTED THE ISSUE - ONLY TO HAVE IT HAPPEN AGAIN. THE HEADLIGHTS WILL TURN OFF AT ANY SPEED - 10-75 MPH. THE DRIVERSIDE HEADLIGHT WAS REPLACED BY THE DEALERSHIP AS PART OF MY USED CAR PURCHASE. THIS DEFECT WAS FOUND 4 DAYS AFTER PURCHASE; THE CAR IS GOING BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR HOPEFUL REPAIR. *TR

I HAVE A 2006 PRIUS WITH HID HEADLIGHTS. I HAVE A RECURRING PROBLEM WHICH SEEMS TO BE GETTING WORSE. WHEN DRIVING WITH HEADLIGHTS ON, A HEADLIGHT (SOMETIMES DRIVER SIDE, OTHER TIMES PASSENGER SIDE) WILL JUST GO OFF. IF I KNOW IT HAS HAPPENED (VERY DARK AREA OR CAN SEE HEADLIGHT REFLECTIONS IN THE REAR OF THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME), I SIMPLY TURN THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH OFF AND THEN BACK TO ON. BOTH LIGHTS TYPICALLY COME BACK ON. IT IS GETTING WORSE AS I FIND IT IS HAPPENING MORE OFTEN. I AM CONCERNED THAT IT WILL HAPPEN TO BOTH LIGHTS AND CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. I UNDERSTAND THE GOV.'T HAD A CASE OPEN ON THIS TOPIC BUT CLOSED IT - FOUND THAT ONLY ONE LIGHT GOING OUT IS NOT A SAFETY PROBLEM. HUNDREDS (POSSIBLY THOUSANDS) OF PRIUS OWNERS ALSO HAVE THIS PROBLEM. TOYOTA SEEMS TO KNOW THERE IS SOME SORT OF ISSUE WITH THE HID ELECTRONICS CONTROL BOARD BUT IS NOT OFFERING TO FIX IT FOR MOST PEOPLE (READ ON LINE THAT THEY DID FIX IT FOR ONE PERSON FREE OF CHARGE). FAULTY HEADLIGHTS SURE SEEMS TO BE A SAFETY ISSUE - IS THE US GOV.'T WAITING UNTIL SEVERAL PEOPLE DIE FROM THIS BEFORE ADMITTING IT IS A SAFETY PROBLEM? IF ONLY ONE HEADLIGHT WORKING IS OK, THEN WHY CAN'T ALL AUTOMAKERS JUST HAVE ONE HEADLIGHT VICE TWO? *TR

INTERMITTENT FAILURE OF HID HEADLIGHT IN MY 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS UNKNOWN SPEEDS, THE HEADLIGHTS WOULD FAIL TO ILLUMINATE INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER HOWEVER THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BUT WOULD TAKE NO LIABILITY CLAIMING A DEFECT DID NOT EXIST IN THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 53,945.

I HAVE A 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS WITH PACKAGE #8 WHICH INCLUDES HIGH INTENSITY DISCHARGE (HID) HEADLAMPS. THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT HEADLAMP KEEPS GOING OUT. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE TOYOTA DEALER TWICE BEFORE AND THE TECH WAS NOT ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. I TOOK PHOTOS OF WHEN THE LIGHT IS OUT AS PROOF. I TOOK IT IN AGAIN TODAY AND THE TECH TELLS ME THAT THE BULB NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AND ITS GOING TO COST $500 FOR ONE LIGHTBULB + INSTALL LABOR!!! I BOUGHT THE PLATINUM EXTENDED WARRANTY WHICH DOESN'T EXPIRE UNTIL FEB 2012 OR 100K MILES. OF COURSE, THE WARRANTY DOES NOT COVER THE ELECTRICAL/LIGHT ISSUE. THE LIGHT SOMETIMES WORKS. THERE IS NO RHYME OR REASON WHY IT DOES SOME OF THE TIME AND NOT OTHERS. THIS APPEARS TO BE A DEFECT WHICH TOYOTA SHOULD DO SOMETHING ABOUT. IT'S A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE. I AM FEARFUL OF DRIVING AT NIGHT BECAUSE IT IS UNSAFE AND I CAN'T RELY ON THE LIGHT TO WORK. I TOOK IT TO ANOTHER TOYOTA DEALER THIS AFTERNOON AND THAT TECH SAYS I NEED TO REPLACE THE HID COMPUTER FOR ~ $1,000. ARE YOU KIDDING ME?? *TR

I OWN A 2006 PRIUS WITH HID HEADLAMPS. ONE OF THE LAMPS HAS BEEN INTERMITTENT FOR OVER WELL OVER 2 YEARS. I HAVE BEEN TO THE DEALER AND HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO RECREATE THE PROBLEM. WHEN I DO FIND OUT THAT THE LIGHT IS NOT OPERATING, I SIMPLY TURN OFF THE LIGHTS AND TURN THEM BACK ON AND THE LAMP WORKS. NOT SURE FOR HOW LONG, BECAUSE I CANNOT SEE WHETHER OR NOT THE LIGHT IS WORKING UNTIL I AM BEHIND A CAR WHERE I CAN SEE THE REFLECTION. *TR

INTERMITTENT FAILURE OF RIGHT HEADLAMP ON 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS. HEADLAMP GOES OUT AND VARIOUS TIMES AND VARIOUS DRIVING CONDITIONS. TURNING OFF HEADLAMPS AND BACK ON RESETS THE HEADLAMP. THE HEADLAMP WILL AGAIN GO OUT AND HAVE TO BE RESET. *TR

HEADLIGHT ON PASSENGER SIDE WORKS INTERMITTENTLY, BEEN RANDOMLY SINCE 5/07, AND FREQUENT FOR PAST FEW MONTHS. *TR

HEADLAMPS FLICKER INTERMITTENTLY UNTIL ONE OR THE OTHER REMAINS OFF. THIS HAPPENS EVERY TIME I DRIVE MY VEHICLE WITH THE LIGHTS ON. 11/6/2009 I WAS PULLED OVER BY LOCAL LEO AND PROVIDED A FORMAL WARNING TO HAVE THE ISSUE RESOLVED. IF I TURN THE HEADLAMPS OFF AND BACK ON, BOTH LIGHTS STAY ON -- FOR A WHILE. DEALER SAYS THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH 2006 PRIUS BUT WILL NOT REPAIR BECAUSE I'M ~2 MONTHS OUT OF WARRANTY.*TR