2006 Toyota Prius Complaint Log

SERVICE VISIT FOR OUR 2006 PRIUS WAS COMPLETED ON FEB 5, 2011 AND UPON DRIVING HOME THE CAR STEERED DIFFERENTLY. A SECOND SERVICE VISIT WAS INITIATED AT OUR REQUEST AND THE DEALER INSPECTED THE CAR AND FOUND NO PROBLEM. ON FEBRUARY 25, 2011 A THIRD SERVICE VISIT WAS INITIATED AT OUR REQUEST AND THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT PROVIDED A WRITTEN ESTIMATE FOR REPLACING A "FAILING STEERING MOTOR ASSEMBLY" FOR AN OUT OF WARRANTY COST OF $1950.00 PLUS TAX AND INSTALLATION. I ASKED IF THIS WAS A RECALL ITEM AND THEY INDICATED NO AND A CALL TO TOYOTA ON CASE NUMBER 1102251605 ARRIVED AT THE SAME CONCLUSION. OUT OF WARRANTY AND NO RECALL AT THIS TIME. THE RESPONSE TO A QUESTION "IS THIS CAR SAFE TO DRIVE" TO THE DEALER SERVICE EMPLOYEES WAS RESPONDED TO WITH YES THE CAR IS SAFE TO DRIVE. I HAVE READ ON THE INTERNET THAT IF THIS UNIT FAILS OR PARTIALLY FAILS, EVEN WORSE, AN UN-COMMANDED VEER OR TURN COULD OCCUR. AN OUT OF LANE EVENT IS LIKELY WITH A CORRECTION FORCE TO OVERCOME THE SERVO TURN, AND ADDITIONAL CORRECTING FORCE TO RETURN CORRECT DIRECTION WILL NEED TO BE APPLIED. NOW I UNDERSTAND THIS, WELL ENOUGH TO KNOW THAT I WILL NOT LET MY WIFE DRIVE THE CAR AND SHE WILL DRIVE MINE NOW. IF AN ACCIDENT OCCURS AND I AM UNABLE TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, PLEASE USE THIS INFORMATION TO HOLD TOYOTA ACCOUNTABLE AND RESPONSIBLE. I DROVE THE PRIUS YESTERDAY SEVERAL HUNDRED MILES AND THE STEERING PROBLEM MADE ME A NERVOUS PERSON BY THE TIME I HAD RETURNED HOME. CLEARLY THIS IS NOT A WEAR AND TEAR ITEM. STEERING IS A LIFETIME CRITICAL ITEM AND COMPUTER CONTROLLED SYSTEMS LIKE THIS ARE NORMALLY DESIGNED WITH THE INTENT TO LAST THE LIFE OF THE VEHICLE UNLESS PHYSICAL DAMAGE HAS ALTERED THE SYSTEM. THIS NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED QUICKLY AND OPENLY BEFORE LIVES ARE LOST. THIS IS YOUR CHANCE TO PREVENT LOSS, I CALL IT MITIGATION BECAUSE YOU NOW KNOW OF THE HAZARD AND SOME OF THE RISKS. ACTION IS REQUIRED. I CURRENTLY HAVE VERY LIMITED RESOURCES. *TR

I OWN A 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS WITH ORIGINAL HID HEADLIGHTS. THE HEADLIGHT ON THE DRIVER SIDE KEEPS FLICKERING AND GOING OUT. I HAVE TO TURN OFF THE LIGHTS AND THEN TURN THEM BACK ON TO MAKE THE LIGHT COME BACK ON. *TR

PROBLEM WITH INTERMITTENT HID HEADLIGHT OPERATION

ONE OF OUR HID HEADLAMPS TURNS OFF INTERMITTENTLY. SOMETIMES IT IS OFF, AND SOMETIMES IT IS ON, NO WAY TO PREDICT. WE HAD THE LIGHT BULB REPLACED BY OUR LOCAL MECHANIC WITH AN AFTER-MARKET PRODUCT, BUT THE PROBLEM PERSISTED. SO WE WENT TO THE DEALER, WHO ALSO REPLACED THE LIGHT BULB (MUCH MORE EXPENSIVELY), BUT IT STILL TURNED OFF WHENEVER. NOW THE INTERMITTENT TURN-OFF HAS STARTED TO OCCUR ON THE OTHER SIDE. SO FAR THEY HAVE NOT BOTH BEEN OUT AT THE SAME TIME, BUT IF THAT HAPPENED, IT WOULD BE A REAL SAFETY ISSUE. THE DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT DOESN'T SEEM TO KNOW WHY IT IS DOING THIS, AND CAN ONLY SUGGEST THAT WE REPLACE THE LIGHTBULB AGAIN. IT IS NOT AN ACCEPTABLE SOLUTION TO US TO KEEP REPLACING $150-$300 LIGHTBULBS. WE NEED TO KNOW THE UNDERLYING CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM, WHETHER IT IS IN THE HEADLAMP ASSEMBLY, OR SOME OTHER PART THAT CONTROLS THE LIGHT. IN SUMMARY, A PRODUCT THAT FAILS INTERMITTENTLY, EVEN AFTER BEING REPLACED HAS A DEFECT THAT NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED. AND ALSO, THE DEALER/MAKER SHOULD KNOW WHY THIS IS HAPPENING AND DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. *TR

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I'VE GOT A PACKAGE 6 2006 PRIUS. ONE OF THE HEADLIGHTS KEEPS GOING OUT. I CAN'T REALLY TELL WHEN OR HOW IT GOES OUT SINCE I CAN'T SEE IT. IF I TURN THE BRIGHT LIGHTS ON AND OFF IT HAS NO EFFECT, BUT WHEN I TURN THEM ALL THE WAY OFF AND BACK ON THE LIGHT COMES BACK. SOMETIMES ON LONG TRIPS IT WILL STAY ON THE WHOLE TIME, SOMETIMES IT WON'T. SOMETIMES ON SHORT TRIPS IT WILL GO OUT, SOMETIMES IT WON'T. I'VE READ THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE MODEL. *TR

THE HEADLIGHTS WILL TURN OFF AUTOMATICALLY WITHOUT ANY OPERATION. WHEN HEADLIGHTS TURNED OFF AND ON, IT WILL GO BACK WORKING FOR A WHILE BEFORE IT TURNS OFF AGAIN. *TR

MY 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS WAS PARKED IN A DRIVEWAY. I POWERED IT ON THEN TRIED TO PUT IT IN DRIVE. THE SHIFT KEPT BOUNCING OUT OF DRIVE WITHOUT MY MOVING IT, INTO N, R AND FINALLY BACK INTO DRIVE AT WHICH POINT I RELEASED THE HAND BRAKE, THEN EASED MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE PEDAL. I DID NOT PUSHED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL IN ORDER TO TURN ONTO THE ROAD SLOWLY. BUT THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED REALLY FAST. AS IT DID SO THE RED TRIANGLE 'PROBLEM - CHECK ENGINE' SYMBOL CAME UP ON THE DASHBOARD. THE CAR WENT ACROSS THE ROAD AND INTO A NEIGHBOR'S FRONT YARD WHERE THERE WAS A LOT OF SNOW AND A SNOWDRIFT BY THE ROAD, AND RAN STRAIGHT INTO THE SNOWDRIFT WHICH STOPPED IT. I WAS THEN ABLE TO TURN OFF THE POWER. THE FOOT BRAKE HAD NO EFFECT. THE CAR WAS HEADING ON A LINE AT RIGHT ANGLES TO THE HOUSE AND HAD THERE NOT BEEN THAT SNOWDRIFT THERE, WOULD HAVE HIT THE HOUSE HEAD-ON. THIS WAS NOT DRIVER ERROR, BUT 'UNCONTROLLED ACCELERATION'. THERE MAY BE A CONNECTION TO THE FOLLOWING BATTERY FAILURE: ON 1/11/11 A RECENTLY INSTALLED START-MOTOR BATTERY (INSTALLED 1/3/11) WENT DEAD, AFTER 1636 MILES, AND HAD ITSELF TO BE REPLACED. THE CAR IS NOW BEING CHECKED BY THE LOCAL TOYOTA SERVICE AND DEALERSHIP. *TR

2006 TOYOTA PRIUS. FAULTY HEADLIGHTS. REPLACED BOTH HEADLIGHTS IN AUG 2010 ONLY TO HAVE ONE FAIL JAN. 3 AND THE OTHER FAILED JAN 8 2011. ADDED DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS BY DEALER IN 2007 SO DO NOT HAVE THE ABILITY TO TURN THEM OFF AND ON. DO NOT UNDERSTAND HOW ONE CAN HAVE BOTH LIGHTS FAIL AS STATED IN SO MANY OTHER COMPLAINTS. *TR

DRIVER SIDE HEAD LAMP FLICKERED, THEN WENT OFF CAUSING LIMITED VISIBILITY. HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES. *TR

WHILE DRIVING ON NORMAL, DRY STRAIGHT ROADS, THE SKID CONTROL ACTIVATES AND THE BRAKES ENGAGE. THIS BEGAN HAPPENING 1 WEEK AGO AFTER THE TIRES WERE ROTATED AT THE DEALER. CAR IS 4 YEARS OLD. DEALER STATES THAT ECU MUST BE REPLACED. *TR

HEADLIGHTS SPONTANEOUSLY TURN OFF. MUST TURN OFF AND BACK ON THEN THE LIGHTS TURN BACK ON. COULD BE EITHER LIGHT THAT TURNS OFF AND SOMETIMES BOTH LIGHTS. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE HEADLIGHT FAILED AND THE ILLUMINATION BECAME DIM. WHEN THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH WAS TURNED ON AND OFF SEVERAL TIMES, THE HEADLIGHTS WOULD REGAIN ILLUMINATION POWER. THE FAILURE WAS EXPERIENCED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO ADVISED THAT THE LIGHT BULBS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE WARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 68,000.

HID HEADLAMPS GO OUT WITHOUT WARNING. SOMETIMES JUST ONE, MORE RECENTLY BOTH, SO DRIVER LOSES ABILITY TO SEE AT NIGHT. TURNING LIGHT SWITCH OFF AND THEN ON AGAIN RESTORES THE LIGHTS, BUT THEY GO OUT AGAIN AFTER A WHILE. THE ONE-LIGHT FAILURE HAS BEEN HAPPENING INTERMITTENTLY OVER THE LAST SEVERAL WEEKS; IN LAST TWO WEEKS BOTH LIGHTS HAVE GONE OUT AT ONCE, AND THE PROBLEM HAS BECOME FREQUENT AND HAZARDOUS. *TR

AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENT WHERE THE CAR ROLLED OVER ON THE DRIVERS SIDE AND ENDED UP ON THE ROOF. THE CAR HAS FRONT AND SIDE AIR BAGS, NONE OF THEM DEPLOYED.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH AND TRYING TO PARK HER VEHICLE IT SUDDENLY ACCELERATED FORWARD AND CRASHED INTO STEEL CABLES. THE VEHICLE THEN SHIFTED INTO REVERSE AND CRASHED INTO THE STEEL CABLES AGAIN. THE CONTACT WAS NOT INJURED FROM THE CRASH. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AWAY FROM THE SCENE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 99,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

2006 TOYOTA PRIUS HID HEADLIGHTS INTERMITTENTLY FAIL. INITIALLY THE PROBLEM WOULD OCCUR ONCE OUT OF EVERY 5 TIMES WHEN USING THE HEADLIGHTS... NOW THE FAILURE OCCURS EVERY TIME AND SWITCHES BETWEEN PASSENGER & DRIVERS HEADLIGHT FAILING -- HAVE NOT HAD BOTH FAIL AT THE SAME TIME. PASSENGER SIDE IS USUAL CULPRIT. SYSTEM RESETS AND CAN LAST FOR HOURS OF NIGHTTIME DRIVING JUST BY TURNING LIGHTS OFF THEN ON AGAIN. VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN INVOLVED IN ANY ACCIDENTS AND I HAVE FOLLOWED THE ROUTINE TOYOTA SERVICE SCHEDULE. TOYOTA EXPECTS OWNERS TO FORK OUT LARGE SUMS OF CASH TO REPLACE BULBS BUT ARE NOT ADDRESSING THE UNDERLYING SAFETY ISSUE THAT INTERMITTENT HEADLINE FAILURE CAUSES. SAFETY RECALL IS IN ORDER! *TR

2006 PRIUS HID HEADLIGHTS AND TAILLIGHTS FAILED. THE LIGHTS QUALITY IS VERY BAD. WE WERE FORCED TO STOP BY THE POLICEMAN. IT WAS VERY DANGEROUS ON HIGHWAY. TOYOTA IS LOSING ITS REPUTATION. THE COMPANY SHOULD PAY ALL THE PRICE FOR CHANGING THE BULBS. (LABOR + BULBS) OUR 2002 HYUNDAI'S LIGHTS HAVE NEVER BEEN IN THIS SITUATION. *TR

I OWN A TOYOTA PRIUS 2006 TOURING MODEL. HEADLIGHT OF THIS VEHICLE KEEPS GOING OUT. I HAVE ALREADY REPLACED THE HEADLIGHT OF THIS VEHICLE TWICE. AND THE OTHER BULBS IN THE CAR (NON HEADLIGHT) MORE THAN 4 TIMES. ALL OF THEM WERE REPLACED AT TOYOTA AUTHORIZED DEALER. *TR

THE FRONT RIGHT HEADLIGHT TURNS OFF OCCASIONALLY DURING OPERATION, BUT WILL TURN BACK ON WHEN THE LIGHTS ARE TURNED OFF AND ON AGAIN. *TR

WHILE DRIVING FROM ARIZONA TO TEXAS VIA INTERSTATE 20, THE HEADLAMPS ON MY UNCLE'S TOYOTA PRIUS JUST SHUT OFF. IT WAS NIGHTTIME AND I WAS DRIVING AT ABOUT 60 MPH. THIS IS DANGEROUS. MY UNCLE KNEW IMMEDIATELY THAT THE PRIUS DOES THIS. I DIDN'T. I HAD TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, SHUT THE ENGINE OFF AND WAIT FOR SOME TIME BEFORE TURNING THE CAR BACK ON AND GETTING THE LIGHTS BACK. FORTUNATELY, NO CARS CAME FROM EITHER DIRECTION DURING THIS TIME. WE COULD HAVE BEEN HIT BECAUSE IT WAS VERY DARK WHEN THIS HAPPENED. IT TURNS OUT THAT TOYOTA IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM. MY UNCLE FOUND SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ONLINE AND NOTICES ABOUT THE PROBLEM FROM CONSUMERS. THIS PROBLEM NEEDS TO BE FIXED. PEOPLE COULD GET HURT. *TR

INTERMITTENT HEADLIGHT FAILURE. CAN BE EITHER HEADLAMP. USUALLY THE PASSENGER SIDE. THEY MAY COME BACK ON AFTER TURNING THE HEADLAMPS ON AND OFF. LIGHTS ARE SOMETIMES DIM. PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT, UNPREDICTABLE. SOMETIMES THE LIGHT GOES OUT WHEN I'M DRIVING AT ANY SPEED. THE DEALER SAYS THE PART IS $150 AND REQUIRES REMOVAL OF THE BUMPER TO REPLACE. *TR

THE DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT HEADLIGHT GOES OFF RANDOMLY. THE PROBLEM IS USUALLY "FIXED" BY TURNING THE LIGHT OFF AND THEN BACK ON, BUT THAT ONE LIGHT GOES OUT AGAIN, SOMETIMES 30 SECONDS LATER, SOMETIMES AN HOUR LATER.

I HAVE A 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS AND MY DRIVERS SIDE HEADLIGHT JUST TURNS OFF WHILE I AM DRIVING. WHEN I TURN IT COMPLETELY OFF AND THEN ON, IT COMES BACK ON FOR A LITTLE WHILE AND REPEATS THE WHOLE PROCESS AGAIN. I AM LUCKY THAT ONE HEADLIGHT IS STILL ON. IF BOTH HEADLIGHTS START BEHAVING THE SAME WAY, THE DRIVER WILL NOT KNOW IT AND THIS COULD BE A RECIPE FOR ACCIDENTS AND EVEN DEATH. I SERIOUSLY THINK TOYOTA SHOULD RECALL AFFECTED MODELS AND FIX THE ISSUE BEFORE IT STARTS KILLING PEOPLE. *TR

2006 PRIUS PURCHASE CPO WITH 59,000 MILES. NOTICED HEADLIGHTS NOT FUNCTIONING WITHIN 15 MINUTES OF DRIVING OFF THE LOT. AT LEAST THEE OCCURRENCES OF HEADLIGHT FAILURE THAT EVENING, INCLUDING, AT ONE TIME BOTH HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT AT THE SAME TIME. AFTER 600+ COMPLAINTS, WHY HAS NO RECALL BEEN COMPELLED? *TR

HID HEADLIGHT GOES OUT INTERMITTENTLY. WHEN STARTING THE CAR BOTH HEADLIGHTS ARE ON, BUT ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS AFTER RETURNING HOME I NOTICE FROM THE REFLECTION ON A WALL/ITEM IN FRONT OF THE PARKED CAR THAT THE DRIVER-SIDE HEADLIGHT IS COMPLETELY OUT. I'VE ALSO NOTICED A COUPLE OF TIMES WHILE DRIVING THAT THE DRIVER HEADLIGHT IS OUT. IT CAN'T JUST BE THE BULB SINCE THE LIGHT COMES ON AND GOES OFF. *TR

BOTH HEADLIGHTS INTERMITTENTLY GO OFF, USUALLY ONE AT A TIME, BUT ONCE, BOTH WENT OFF AT THE SAME TIME AT NIGHT. IF I TURN THEM OFF AND BACK ON, THEY WORK FOR A FEW MINUTES, AND THEN SAME THING HAPPENS. THE DEALER SAYS NOTHING IS WRONG. *TT

PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT OR ("HID") WILL TURN OFF FOR NOT APPARENT REASON WHILE HEADLIGHTS ARE ACTIVATED. THE LIGHT WILL TURN OFF PERIODICALLY DURING A DRIVE OVER ALL SURFACE TYPES. CORRECTION: TURN LIGHTS OFF THEN ON AGAIN. PASSENGER LIGHT WILL TURN BACK ON FOR A TIME, AND THEN OFF. *TR

I BOUGHT A 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS NEW, WITH ALL THE OPTIONS, IN MAY 2006. I LIVE IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, WHERE IT'S BEEN MOSTLY WARM AND DRY (I.E., A DROUGHT) SINCE BEFORE I BOUGHT THE CAR. AT ABOUT 64,000 IN 2-3 DAYS OF MISTY WEATHER, MY RIGHT FRONT HEADLIGHT STARTED GOING OFF AND BACK ON. AT ABOUT 91,000 MILES, THE PROBLEM GOT MUCH WORSE, BUT UNPREDICTABLE. AT 97,000 EVEN WORSE. HAVING TO TAKE THE CAR TO THE DEALER FOR OTHER REASONS, I ASKED THE DEALER TO LOOK AT THIS, BUT THEY SAID THAT THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FRONT RIGHT HEADLIGHT GOING OUT. A LITTLE AFTER 99,000 MILES, THE HEADLIGHT CEASED TO STAY ON FOR MORE THAN A FEW SECONDS. I REPLACED IT WITH A GOOD MAIL-ORDER HID BULB, BUT HAD THE SAME RESULT = IT STAYS ON FOR ONLY SEVERAL SECONDS BEFORE TURNING OFF. MY WIFE REFUSES TO DRIVE THIS CAR AT NIGHT OR WHEN IT MIGHT BE RAINING, AND I WON'T RISK HER DRIVING THIS CAR LIKE THAT. IF SOMETHING HAPPENED TO HER, I SUPPOSE THAT I COULD SUE TOYOTA, BUT THAT WOULDN'T UNDO ANY HARM TO MY WIFE. CAN SOMEONE DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS?!? THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIPS ARE INCREDIBLY DEFENSIVE ABOUT THIS, AND NOT AT ALL HELPFUL. THERE HASN'T BEEN AN ACCIDENT, YET. BUT, DRIVING WITH JUST ONE HEADLIGHT IS NOT SAFE !!! *TR

FOR THE SECOND TIME IN THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS, THE BRAKING SYSTEM ON MY 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS COMPLETELY FAILED TO FUNCTION, DESPITE THE PEDAL BEING FULLY ENGAGED, AND I ROLLED INTO THE CAR AHEAD OF ME AT LOW SPEED. THE FIRST INCIDENT TOOK PLACE IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC ON THE FREEWAY, THE SECOND WHILE APPROACHING AN INTERSECTION, AGAIN, IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. ON BOTH OCCASIONS MY FRONT BUMPER WAS SERIOUSLY MANGLED - COSTING ME SEVERAL THOUSAND DOLLARS TO REPAIR AND INCREASING MY INSURANCE RATES CONSIDERABLY - WHILE THE OTHER VEHICLE SUFFERED LITTLE TO NO DAMAGE. MY NECK IS EXTREMELY STIFF AND I NO LONGER FEEL SAFE DRIVING MY CAR. *TR

I'VE HAD A PROBLEM WITH MY 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS, WHERE MY RIGHT HEADLIGHT GOES OUT INTERMITTENTLY. IT WILL GO OUT, AND IF I TURN THE HEADLIGHTS OFF AND BACK ON, IT WILL COME BACK ON. THEN, AFTER A PERIOD OF MINUTES, IT WILL GO BACK OUT AGAIN. IT STARTED ABOUT A MONTH AGO (AT 77,000 MILES), AND HAS SLOWLY GOTTEN WORSE - THE AMOUNT OF TIME THE RIGHT HEADLIGHT STAYS ON HAS BECOME LESS AND LESS (AVERAGES A COUPLE MINUTES NOW). I REPLACED BOTH HEADLIGHT BULBS, AND THE PROBLEM PERSISTS, SO IT DOESN'T SEEM TO BE A BULB ISSUE. *TR

MY 2006 PRIUS HAS A "WINKING" RIGHT HEADLIGHT --- SOMETIMES ON, SOMETIMES NOT. IT IS A HIGH INTENSITY DISCHARGE TYPE. THE CAR NOW HAS 70,000 MILES ON IT BUT THIS BEHAVIOR HAS BEEN GOING ON INTERMITTENTLY FOR OVER A YEAR. I BASE THAT ON THE SEVERAL TIMES IN THE PAST YEAR SOMEONE HAS TOLD ME THE LIGHT WAS OUT BUT, WHEN I WENT TO LOOK AT THE LIGHT, IT WAS ON! RECENTLY, I HAVE WITNESSED IT MYSELF. I UNDERSTAND I AM NOT ALONE WITH THIS PROBLEM. HOPEFULLY, REPLACING THE BULB WILL FIX IT BUT EVEN THAT IS AN EXPENSIVE PROPOSITION AND THE BULB MAY NOT BE THE CULPRIT. *TR

THE HID HEADLIGHTS ON MY TOYOTA PRIUS INTERMITTENTLY TURN OFF AT NIGHT. *TR

RUBBER COVER TO THE REAR HATCH SWITCH (HANDLE) HAS DETERIORATED OVER TIME (CAR WAS 4 YEARS OLD WHEN THIS FIRST BECAME NOTICEABLE). IT IS NOW 8 YEARS OLD WITH 81,000 MILES AND THE DETERIORATION IS SO DRASTIC TO THE POINT WHERE IT IS OFTEN DIFFICULT TO OPEN THE REAR HATCH, OR VICE-VERSA SOMETIMES THE HATCH WILL NOT LATCH CLOSE. STICKY GOOEY TAR ALWAYS GETS ON THE FINGERS UPON EVERY ATTEMPT TO OPEN THE HATCH. NUMEROUS OTHER PEOPLE HAVE NOTED THIS PROBLEM. I HAVE ONLY HAND-WASHED THE CAR WITH PLAIN WATER, AND I LIVE IN A VERY MILD CLIMATE (SAN DIEGO). OBVIOUSLY THIS IS A DEFECTIVE BATCH OF RUBBER USED BY TOYOTA. THIS PRESENTS A SAFETY PROBLEM IN THAT IT COULD BE IMPOSSIBLE TO ACCESS THE SPARE TIRE AND TOOLS TO CHANGE A FLAT TIRE IN AN EMERGENCY. THERE IS AN INTERNAL MECHANICAL RELEASE SWITCH, BUT THIS COULD BE IMPOSSIBLE TO ACCESS IF THERE ARE LARGE ITEMS STORED IN THE TRUNK. *TR

2006 TOYOTA PRIUS. CONSUMER STATES UNINTENDED ACCELERATION *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS ON CRUISE CONTROL, WHEN THE ENGINE SUDDENLY REVVED. HE NOTICED THE SPEED HAD INCREASED FROM 72 MPH TO 74 MPH. HE RELEASED THE CRUISE CONTROL AND THE ENGINE STOPPED REVVING. HE THEN SET THE CRUISE CONTROL AGAIN, AND IT HAPPENED AGAIN. THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED HE NOTICED THE LCD SCREEN HAD FROZE AND IT WAS GIVING FALSE INFORMATION. THE CONSUMER HAS SINCE SOLD THE VEHICLE. *JB

2006 TOYOTA PRIUS HEADLIGHTS COME ON AND OFF. WHEN THEY GO OFF, YOU CAN TURN OFF AND ON AND THEY WILL COME ON. 2 YEARS TOYOTA REPLACED LEFT HEADLIGHT FOR $300. THIS SEEMED TO FIX THAT, BUT THEY DID NOT REPLACE RIGHT AT THE TIME, WHICH I WANTED THEM TO DO. NOW RIGHT DOES IT. I CAN'T AFFORD $300.00 TO REPLACE BULB. INSTRUCTIONS FOR DOING IT YOURSELF DOES NOT HELP. UNABLE TO DO ACCORDING TO DIRECTIONS, TOYOTA SAID THEY HAD TO TAKE OFF FRONT END TO IT THAT IS WHY SO EXPENSIVE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS TURNED OFF. THEY WERE REPLACED OCTOBER 2010 BUT FAILED AGAIN. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS THAT THE BULBS WERE DEFECTIVE. THE CONTACT BELIEVED THE FAILURE TO BE WITHIN THE CIRCUIT BOARD. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 50,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 52,000.

2006 PRIUS DRIVERS SIDE HEADLIGHT INTERMITTENTLY STOPS WORKING. IF I SHUT OFF AND RESTART FROM THE SWITCH THEY START UP AGAIN. *TR

I HAVE A HEADLIGHT THAT GOES ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY ON A 2006 PRIUS. IT COST ME $273.13 TO FIX AT THE DEALER. $273.13 FOR A LIGHT BULB!!!!!! *TR

1. NORMAL HIGHWAY DRIVING AFTER APPROXIMATELY TWO HOURS IN HOT WEATHER. 2. ENGINE STALLS (QUITS). ENGINE WILL NOT RESTART UNTIL AFTER 15 MINUTES "REST". HAS HAPPENED TWICE - ONLY ON LONG TRIP. 3. TWO DIFFERENT TOYOTA DEALERS WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. *TR

MY 4 YEAR OLD TOYOTA PRIUS LOST ENGINE POWER ON THE FREEWAY ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS. DRIVING IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC ON FREEWAY I HEARD ONE BEEP AS THE CAR LOST ENGINE POWER SLOWED DOWN AND WENT TO BATTERY. A LONG ROW OF WARNING SYMBOLS, STARTING WITH THE TRIANGLE, LIT UP. I SLOWLY EXITED FREEWAY ON BATTERY POWER THEN TURNED CAR OFF. I RESTARTED CAR ABOUT 15 MIN. LATER AND ENGINE STARTED, ONLY WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED WERE RED TRIANGLE AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. DEALER REPLACED INVERTER PUMP ASSEMBLY AND FLUSHED THE INVERTER SYSTEM. 5 DAYS AFTER REPAIR, WHILE EXITING FREEWAY DURING NORMAL TRAFFIC, BEEP SOUNDED AND ENGINE SHUT OFF AND THE ABOVE ORDER OF EVENTS HAPPENED AGAIN. THIS TIME DEALER REPLACED INVERTER ASSY (ASSEMBLY?). *TR

MY 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS HEADLIGHTS HAS MANUFACTURER DEFECT THAT TOYOTA WON'T TAKE RESPONSIBILITY. IN EARLY 2010, THE FRONT PASSENGER HEADLIGHT WILL GO OFF INTERMITTENTLY. BUT IF IT WERE TURN OFF THEN ON, IT WILL STAY ON FOR A WHILE BEFORE TURN OFF AGAIN. NOW THE FRONT PASSENGER HEADLIGHT IS DOING THE SAME. I CALLED TOYOTA DEALER IN ATLANTA AND IT COST $400 TO FIX. I CALLED TOYOTA CUSTOMER SERVICE AND WAS SURPRISED TO KNOW THEY KNEW ABOUT THIS ISSUE BUT WON'T PAY FOR THE REPAIR. I RECEIVED A TRAFFIC TICKET FOR FRONT PASSENGER HEADLIGHT MALFUNCTION. IT COST ME $265 FOR THE TICKET. TOYOTA JUST LOST MY CONFIDENCE. *TR

I WAS PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE AT A VERY LOW RATE OF SPEED (LESS THAN 5 MPH) AND THE CAR SUDDENLY SHOT FORWARD. I STOOD ON THE BRAKES AND THE CAR RESPONDED AS EXPECTED - IT STOPPED. I TURNED OFF THE POWER. ABOUT 10 MINUTES LATER, I TURNED THE CAR ON AND IT DROVE NORMALLY. THERE WAS NO FLOOR MAT - I HAD REMOVED IT MONTHS AGO. MY FOOT WAS ON THE ACCELERATOR, EASING INTO THE PARKING SPACE AND I DIDN'T FEEL THE ACCELERATOR MOVE AT ALL. IT WAS LIKE THE CAR ACCELERATED WITHOUT ANY INPUT FROM THE ACCELERATOR AT ALL. I'VE TAKEN THE CAR TO THE DEALER, BUT I'M AFRAID TO DRIVE IT NOW, AND I'M AFRAID TO TAKE MY CHILDREN ANYWHERE IN IT. *TR

AFTER EXITING AN INTERSTATE, I WAS STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT. I ACCELERATED WHEN THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN, TO APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH. AFTER ABOUT 200 FEET, AS I APPROACHED A MERGE POINT, I TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE GAS, BUT THE CAR KEPT ACCELERATING. I IMMEDIATELY STEPPED ON THE BRAKE, AND THE CAR SLOWED. I REMOVED MY FOOT FROM THE BRAKE, AND FELT THE CAR CONTINUE TO ACCELERATE ON ITS OWN. I DIDN'T HAVE ANOTHER CAR IN FRONT OF ME, SO I STEPPED ON THE GAS PEDAL BRIEFLY, AND THEN ON THE BRAKE AGAIN, AND THEN IT SEEMED TO OPERATE NORMALLY AGAIN. REMEMBERING ABOUT THE FLOOR MAT RECALL, I IMMEDIATELY LOOKED DOWN TO CHECK TO SEE IF THE GAS PEDAL WAS CLEAR OF THE MAT. IT WAS. AFTER I HAD PARKED THE CAR, I NOTICED THAT THE MAT WAS STILL SECURED IN ITS PROPER PLACE. THERE WASN'T ANYTHING ELSE THAT COULD HAVE INTERFERED WITH THE PEDAL. LATER THAT SAME DAY, I WAS DRIVING MY 13YR OLD DAUGHTER HOME FROM SCHOOL. I WAS STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN. I MADE A LEFT TURN ONTO A BUSY STREET DURING RUSH HOUR. AFTER ACCELERATING THROUGH THE TURN, I TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE GAS BECAUSE THERE WERE CARS AHEAD OF ME STOPPED FOR ANOTHER LIGHT. THE CAR CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. I STEPPED ON THE BRAKE, WHICH WAS STIFFER THAN USUAL, AND I COULD HEAR THE ENGINE CONTINUING TO REV IN THE BACKGROUND. THE CAR SLOWED. I HAD A LITTLE SPACE IN FRONT OF ME, SO I EASED UP OFF THE BRAKE, BUT THE CAR CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE ON ITS OWN. I PRESSED DOWN ON THE BRAKE AGAIN, ALL THE WHILE FEELING THE CONTINUED ACCELERATION, AND MOVED OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, WHERE I BRAKED UNTIL I CAME TO A STOP. THIS WAS A TWO LANE ROAD WITH NO SHOULDER, SO I JUST MOVED OVER AS FAR AS I COULD AND PUT MY HAZARDS ON. I WAS STILL PART WAY ON THE ROAD. I PUT THE CAR IN PARK, PUSHED THE ON/OFF IGNITION SWITCH, AND SHUT DOWN THE CAR. I SAT THERE FOR A FEW MINUTES, RE-STARTED THE CAR AND DROVE HOME WITHOUT FURTHER EVENT. *TR

AS A FOLLOW UP TO ODI 10354506 - TOYOTA PULLED THE INFORMATION OFF THE EVENT DATA RECORDER AND IT INDICATED THAT THE THROTTLE AND THE BRAKE WERE BOTH ENGAGED AT THE SAME TIME. THAT IS TRUE, BUT MY FOOT WAS ONLY ON THE BRAKE. I ONLY USE MY RIGHT FOOT TO ACCELERATE AND TO BRAKE. AS SOON AS THE CAR STARTED ACCELERATING, I MOVED MY FOOT OVER TO SLAM ON THE BRAKES. IT MAKES SENSE THAT THE EVENT DATA RECORDER WOULD SHOW THE THROTTLE AND BRAKE ENGAGED AT THE SAME TIME, BUT MY FOOT WAS ONLY ON THE BRAKE. SOMETHING ELSE WAS ENGAGING THE THROTTLE, AND APPARENTLY TOYOTA HAS NO WAY TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THAT COULD BE. THE DEALER, WHILE SYMPATHETIC, HAD NO FIX THAT HE COULD APPLY. *TR

THE HEADLIGHTS ON MY TOYOTA PRIUS 2006 HAVE BEEN GOING OUT FOR THE PAST MONTH, MORE THAN ONCE A DAY. I TOOK THE CAR TO BE INSPECTED AND WAS TOLD I WOULD NEED HIGH RESOLUTION HID LIGHTS THAT WOULD COST OVER $500. I WENT ONLINE AND FOUND OUT THAT TONS OF OTHER PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE AS ME. *TR

HAVE HAD CONSISTENT ISSUES WITH A HEADLIGHT GOING OFF WHILE I'M DRIVING. I HAVE TO TURN THE LIGHTS OFF AND BACK ON AGAIN TO REGAIN BOTH HEADLIGHTS. EVENTUALLY THE BULB BURNS OUT. I REPLACED THE LEFT HEADLIGHT FOR $300 IN SEPTEMBER 2010. I REPLACED THE RIGHT HEADLIGHT FOR $175 IN OCTOBER 2012. THEN, JANUARY 2013, THE RIGHT HEADLIGHT ONLY CAME ON WHEN I HIT THE LIGHT WITH MY FIST. NOW, STILL JANUARY 2013, THE RIGHT HEADLIGHT WILL NOT COME ON AT ALL. HEADLIGHTS THAT GO ON AND OFF IS A SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN. *TR

VEHICLE: 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS HEADLIGHTS (PASSENGER) INTERMITTENT OR SOMETIMES COMPLETELY OUT FOR OVER AN HOUR. *TR

2006 TOYOTA PRIUS WITH HID HEADLIGHTS. AFTER 4 YEARS OF OWNERSHIP BOTH HID LAMPS HAVE FAILED AT 72,000 MILES. THE LIGHTS WERE WORKING WHEN I LEAVE THE GARAGE HOWEVER WHEN I RETURNED HOME THEY WERE DARK. TURNING THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH OFF AND BACK ON SEEMED TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. I DO NOT KNOW HOW LONG THEY WERE OFF OR HOW OFTEN THIS HAS HAPPENED BUT IT IS NOT ACCEPTABLE TO HAVE BOTH HID LAMPS TO HAIL INTERMITTENTLY AND UNEXPECTEDLY AFTER ONLY 4 YEARS. THIS STYLE LAMP SHOULD LAST YEARS AND YEARS. COST TO REPLACE LAMPS AT DEALER OVER $1,000. *TR

2006 TOYOTA PRIUS HEADLAMPS GO OUT RANDOMLY WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT. USUALLY JUST ONE OF THEM TURNS OFF BUT SOMETIMES THEY BOTH GO OUT. THE PROBLEM CAN BE TEMPORARILY FIXED BY FLIPPING THEM OFF AND THEN ON BUT THIS SOLUTION ONLY LASTS FOR ABOUT 10 MIN. *TR

FRONT WHEEL BEARING MAKING HUGE NOISE WHEN STEERING WHEEL. *TR