2004 Toyota Prius Complaint Log

THE PASSENGER SIDE BRAKE LIGHT DOES NOT WORK.

HEADLIGHTS WOULD RANDOMLY GO OUT COMPLETELY AND WOULD VERY QUICKLY HAVE TO TURN THEM OFF AND THEN BACK ON TO GET THEM TO WORK. THIS DID NOT HAPPEN VERY OFTEN BUT THEY DID OCCUR UNEXPECTEDLY AND CAUSED EXTREMELY UNSAFE CONDITIONS WHILE DRIVING.

HEADLIGHTS WOULD RANDOMLY GO OUT COMPLETELY AND WOULD VERY QUICKLY HAVE TO TURN THEM OFF AND THEN BACK ON TO GET THEM TO WORK. THIS DID NOT HAPPEN VERY OFTEN BUT THEY DID OCCUR UNEXPECTEDLY AND CAUSED EXTREMELY UNSAFE CONDITIONS WHILE DRIVING. ADDITIONALLY, THE HEADLIGHTS WOULD BARELY ILLUMINATE THE ROAD AT NIGHT ALL THE TIME WHILE DRIVING IN ALL CONDITIONS AND ON ALL ROADS, AND THE AREA THEY ILLUMINATED WAS ONLY A VERY SHORT DISTANCE IN FRONT OF THE CAR SO THIS ALSO CREATED UNSAFE CONDITIONS AT ALL TIMES. TO COMPENSATE I WOULD TURN ON THE HIGH BEAMS AND THEN THE PROPER AREA OF THE ROAD WOULD BE ILLUMINATED. THIS MADE ME HAVE TO SWITCH FROM LOW TO HIGH BEAM ON A REGULAR BASIS AND WAS EXTREMELY DISTRACTING HAVING TO DO SO WHENEVER AN ONCOMING CAR APPROACHED! I RECENTLY PAID ABOUT $350-375 TO HAVE THEM RELAMPED AND THAT HELPED BUT ONLY A VERY SMALL AMOUNT. THIS IS STILL A BIG PROBLEM AND MAKES ME NOT WANT TO DRIVE THIS CAR AT NIGHT!!! *TR

DESCRIPTION OF THE PROBLEM: THE H.I.D. HEADLIGHTS ON MY 2004 PRIUS FAILS UNEXPECTEDLY (THEY TURN OFF RANDOMLY, ON THEIR OWN). THIS PROBLEM AFFECTS MAINLY THE RIGHT HEADLIGHT. THE RIGHT HEADLIGHT FAILS VERY FREQUENTLY (HUNDREDS OF TIMES DURING THE LAST 12 MONTHS). THE LEFT HEADLIGHT FAILS SPORADICALLY (LESS THAN 10 TIMES DURING THE LAST 6 MONTHS). THIS ISSUE AFFECTS BOTH LOW BEAM AND HIGH BEAM HEADLAMPS SIMULTANEOUSLY. WHEN A HEADLIGHT FAILS, I TURN OFF THE LIGHTS THEN I TURN THEM BACK ON. THIS BRINGS BACK THE LIGHTS. THEN THE FAILURE OCCURS UNEXPECTEDLY AFTER SECONDS, MINUTES, OR HOURS. THIS ISSUE HAS OCCURRED WHILE MY VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY, IN MOTION, ON A CITY STREET OR A HIGHWAY, TURNING, BRAKING, ETC. THIS ISSUE ALSO OCCURS REGARDLESS OF ROAD CONDITIONS (SMOOTH FLAT ROADS & SPEED BUMPS / POTHOLES) OR WEATHER CONDITIONS (SUNNY, RAINY, SNOWY, WARM & COLD OUTSIDE TEMPERATURES). THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN, ESPECIALLY WHEN DRIVING NIGHT TIME ON COMPLETELY UNLIT ROADS.

RIGHT HID HEADLAMP INTERMITTENTLY GOES OUT WHILE DRIVING AND DOES NOT GO BACK ON. HOWEVER, WHEN YOU SWITCH THE HEADLIGHT TOGGLE SWITCH OFF THEN ON AGAIN, RIGHT HID HEADLAMP GOES BACK ON. WHILE DRIVING FOR A DISTANCE OF 120 MILES LAST NIGHT, THIS HAPPENED 6 TIMES ON BOTH CITY AND HIGHWAY AND ROAD CONDITIONS IE. BUMPS ETC IS NOT A FACTOR SINCE IT HAPPENS ON A SMOOTH PAVED HIGHWAY AS WELL. THE OUTAGE CAN OCCUR A FEW MINUTES AFTER TURNING THE TOGGLE HEADLAMP SWITCH ON OR IT CAN STAY ON FOR 20 MILES THEN OUT AGAIN. SINCE THE CAR IS NEVER LEFT IDLING WITH THE HEADLAMPS ON, IT IS UNKNOWN WHETHER RIGHT HEADLAMP WILL GO OUT WHILE PARKED. HAVE READ IN THE PRIUS CHAT SITE THAT MANY OTHER DRIVERS HAVE EXPERIENCED SIMILAR PROBLEM AND DESPITE THE DEALER REPLACING THE HID BULB OR EVEN THE ENTIRE HEADLAMP ASSEMBLY WHICH IS OVER $1,100 THE PROBLEMS WERE NEVER FULLY RESOLVED. PLEASE REFER TO: HTTP://PRIUSCHAT.COM/THREADS/HEADLIGHT-PROBLEM.34584/

EVERY TIME I GET AN OIL CHANGE I MAKE SURE THAT THE RIGHT AMOUNT OF OIL GETS PUT IN THE ENGINE. I USUALLY GET AN OIL CHANGE EVERY 3000 MILES REGARDLESS OF WHAT THE OIL MANUFACTURERS RECOMMEND WHICH IS USUALLY 5-7 THOUSANDS MILES. FOR THE PAST YEAR I STARTED NOTICING (USUALLY BY THE OIL SERVICE TECH) THAT MORE AND MORE I'M RUNNING LOW ON OIL. IT STARTED OUT WITH A HALF TO ONE QUART OF OIL MISSING BETWEEN OIL CHANGES TO NOW 2-3 QUARTS MISSING BETWEEN OIL CHANGES. I UNDERSTAND THAT MY 2004 PRIUS IS APPROACHING 200K MILES BUT I HAVE ALWAYS TAKEN GREAT CARE OF MY CAR AND NOW ALL OF A SUDDEN I'M HAVING TO TOP OFF THE OIL EVERY WEEK. THERE'S ABSOLUTELY NO OIL LEAK AND I DON'T SEE ANY WHITE OR BLACK SMOKE FROM THE EXHAUST. I'M PRETTY DISAPPOINTED BECAUSE I HAVE JUST RECENTLY HAD TO REPLACE MY HYBRID BATTERY ($2800) AND IF THE ENGINE IS GOING TO NEED TO BE REPLACED AS WELL THAN I MIND AS WELL JUST JUNK IT AS IT WON'T BE WORTH IT AT THAT POINT.

FOR THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS THERE IS A CLUNKING SOUND FROM THE STEERING COLUMN WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL FROM SIDE TO SIDE, EITHER STATIONARY OR WHEN MOVING.*DT*JB

THE LEFT HEADLIGHT HAS BEEN GOING OFF WHILE DRIVING. I'VE GOT THE 'SAFETY' PACKAGE #7 WITH SPECIAL HID HEADLIGHTS. WHEN I TURN THE LIGHTS OFF AND ON AGAIN, IT COMES BACK ON FOR AWHILE. TWO NIGHTS AGO BOTH HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT WHILE DRIVING. VERY SCARY! I WAS ON AN ON RAMP AND COULDN'T SEE AT ALL. THEY BOTH CAME BACK ON AFTER I TURNED THE SWITCH OFF AND THEN ON.

WE'VE NOTICED THIS PROBLEM ONLY A FEW TIMES IN THE CAR SINCE WE'VE OWNED IT. THAT'S BEEN ABOUT 3 YEARS. WE SELDOM DRIVE AT NIGHT BUT WHENEVER WE HAVE IT'S ALWAYS BEEN AN ISSUE. USUALLY JUST THE LEFT GOES OUT AND RESETTING THE LIGHTS BROUGHT IT BACK ON. THIS PAST WEEK THE SAME THING STARTED TO HAPPEN AND RESETTING IT WORKED A FEW TIMES BUT THEN BOTH HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT AND RESETTING THE SWITCH DID NOTHING. THANKFULLY DAWN WAS ON THE WAY AND WITH THE FOG LIGHTS ON WE JUST KEPT GOING. ONCE I FELT COMFORTABLE TURNING THE LIGHTS OFF COMPLETELY AND AFTER WAITING 3-5 MINUTES WITH THE SWITCH OFF I TRIED THE LIGHTS AND THEY CAME BACK ON. THERE IS DEFINITELY A PROBLEM WITH SOMETHING; MAYBE AN OVERHEAT ISSUE WITH THE BULBS, WIRING OR CONTROL BOX. THIS IS A HUGE DEAL. IF WE'D BEEN DRIVING INTO THE DARKNESS INSTEAD OF DAWN COULD EASILY HAVE HAD AN ACCIDENT.

HEADLIGHTS TURN OFF WHEN DRIVING FOR ABOUT HALF AN HOUR. I HAVE TO TURN THE HEADLIGHTS OFF THEN BACK ON SO THEY CAN START WORKING AGAIN. I DO SEE THIS TO BE A SAFETY ISSUE SINCE I DRIVE OUT OF TOWN OFTEN AND USE THE FREEWAY MOST OF THE TIME AND IT IS JUST VERY HARD FOR ME TO BE TURNING ON AND OFF THE HEADLIGHTS AT A HIGH SPEED. THIS HAS OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES AND IT'S NOT SAFE AT ALL. THIS HAPPENS AT ANY SPEED USUALLY WITHIN THE FIRST 30 MINUTES AND IT CONTINUOUSLY TURNS OFF.

AT AROUND 145,000 MILES THE RIGHT (PASSENGER) HEADLIGHT STARTED TURNING OFF RANDOMLY. IT WOULD COME BACK ON WHILE DRIVING IF I TURNED MY HEADLIGHTS OFF AND BACK ON. FREQUENCY HAS INCREASED OVER THE LAST 10,000 MILES. RECENTLY, THE LEFT HEADLIGHT WENT OUT WHILE ON THE FREEWAY AND THE RIGHT WAS ALREADY OUT, LEAVING ME WITH NO HEADLIGHTS. I HAD TO FLICK THEM ON AND OFF MULTIPLE TIMES AND FLICK THE BRIGHTS MULTIPLE TIMES TO GET THEM TO TURN BACK ON. I HAD NO HEADLIGHTS FOR AT LEAST 30 SECONDS WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY- THOUGH IN AN URBAN AREA WHERE OTHER LIGHTS ALLOWED ME TO SEE. TWICE, I HAVE BEEN LEFT WITHOUT HEADLIGHTS WHILE ON THE ROAD- ONCE ON THE HIGHWAY AND ONCE AT A STOP LIGHT (TURNING MY CAR OFF AND THEN BACK ON REVIVED THE LIGHTS).

I NOTICED THAT MY PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT WAS OUT WHILE DRIVING HOME AT NIGHT. TWO DAYS LATER, AGAIN WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT, MY PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT WAS WORKING PERFECTLY. I HAVE DONE NOTHING TO REPAIR THE LIGHT.

COOLANT CONTROL VALVE IS FAILING ON MANY PRIUS'S WHICH WERE MADE BETWEEN 2004 TO 2009

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2004 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE DRIVER WAS MAKING A RIGHT TURN AND AN ONCOMING VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE DRIVER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE RESULTING FORCE CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO SPIN AND CRASH INTO AN IDLE TRAIN. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 240,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

I OWN A 2004 TOYOTA PRIUS WHICH I HAVE BEEN DRIVING FOR ABOUT COUPLE YEARS AND RECENTLY COUPLE DAYS AGO I HAD A MAJOR ACCIDENT (SEE ATTACHMENT FOR MORE DETAILS) WHICH DAMAGED MOST OF MY CAR. THE ACCIDENT WAS VERY SEVERE AND DURING WHICH NONE OF THE AIR BAGS ACTIVATED. THE AIR BAGS SHOULD HAVE BEEN ACTIVATED IN THIS TYPE OF ACCIDENT, RECENTLY MY CAR HAD BEEN TO A GENERAL INSPECTION AT A TOYOTA DEALER AND THERE WAS NO ISSUES RECORDED OF THIS SORT.

SOMETIMES MY LEFT FRONT HEADLIGHT WORKS AND SOMETIMES IT DOESN'T. I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO IDENTIFY ANY CONSISTENT CAUSE OF THE INTERMITTENT FAILURE. SOMETIMES IF THE LEFT HEADLIGHT IS OUT AND I FLICK THE HIGH BEAMS ON AND OFF, THEN THE LIGHT WORKS AGAIN, BUT THIS DOESN'T ALWAYS SEEM TO FIX THE PROBLEM.

WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT, MY HEADLIGHTS WILL TURN OFF RANDOMLY. SOMETIMES, IT IS JUST ONE BUT OFTEN IT IS BOTH. IF I TURN THE HEADLIGHTS SWITCH TO OFF AND BACK TO ON, SOMETIMES ONE OR BOTH LIGHTS WILL TURN BACK ON. MORE RECENTLY, THIS TRICK HASN'T BEEN WORKING AS WELL AND I HAVE TO DRIVE JUST USING MY FOG LIGHTS. IT SEEMS TO BE SOMETHING WITH THE COMPUTER THAT CONTROLS THE HEADLIGHTS. IF IT WAS THE BULB IT WOULD ALWAYS BE OUT. IF IT WERE THE WIRING, SIMPLY FLIPPING THE SWITCH ON/OFF WOULDN'T SUDDENLY GET THE WIRING TO CONNECT AGAIN.

HEAD ON COLLISION INTO A HIGHWAY BARRIER. THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY.

THE FRONT RIGHT SIDE HEADLIGHT KEEPS GOING OUT . ALREADY REPLACED IT TWICE AND IT SEEMS THIS IS VERY COMMON WITH THE TOYOTA PRIUS. FUSE ALSO KEEPS BURNING. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION AT NIGHT . DRIVING WITH ONE HEAD LIGHT IS BECOMING TO COMMON FOR THIS TYPE OF VEHICLE .

WARNING TRIANGLE AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS CAME ON WHILE TRAVELING. TOOK VEHICLE TO INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO DIAGNOSED HYBRID WATER PUMP MALFUNCTION; HE NOTED A RECALL, SO I TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER. DEALER CHARGES $130 TO PLUG INTO DIAGNOSTIC SYSTEM, FINDS SAME PROBLEM; WANTS $750 TO REPLACE. PUMP WAS REPLACED @ 30,000 MILES AGO UNDER AON RECALL. MULTIPLE REPORTS ON WEB ABOUT THE SAME REPLACEMENT PART FAILING AFTER SHORT TIME.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE COMBINATION METER FAILED, WHICH CAUSED THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND DASHBOARD LIGHTS TO NOT ILLUMINATE WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS INTERMITTENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO BE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 170,000. ...UPDATED 02/19/16 *BF

SPEEDOMETER & OTHER CONTROL INFORMATION DISPLAY WENT BLANK. PULLED OVER TO SIDE OF ROAD BUT UNABLE TO TURN OFF ENGINE. CONTACTED TOYOTA & WAS TOLD PROBLEM IS KNOWN & WARRANTY EXTEND TO 9 YEARS & UNLIMITED MILES. HOWEVER, MY VEHICLE IS OLDER THAN NINE YEARS, SO I MUST PAY ESTIMATE $1400 TO FIX & CAR WILL BE UNAVAILABLE FOR ESTIMATE 2 WEEKS. THE VEHICLE IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE, PRIOR TO THIS KNOWN PROBLEM OCCURRING CAR WAS OPERATING PERFECTLY ( AVERAGING 50 MPG PER TANK OF GAS, DOCUMENTED). THIS APPEARS TO BE A SAFETY PROBLEM THAT WAS KNOWN BY THE MANUFACTURER, HOWEVER THEY SEEMS TO BE TRYING TO HIDE THIS BY MAKING THE STATISTICAL ESTIMATE THAT BY EXTENDING THE WARRANTY THE MAJORITY OF THESE CARS WOULD BE OFF THE ROAD AND THEIR LAWYERS & LEGAL INSURANCE WOULD COST LESS THAN THE FEW HUMANS KILLS AFTER THIS ARBITRARY 9 YEAR RISK PERIOD. I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED AS A RESULT OF THIS FAILURE! FORTUNATELY I WAS NOT, HOWEVER I AM LEFT WITH A VEHICLE THAT IS UNDRIVEABLE (WITH NO WARNING!) AND CAN ONLY BE REPAIRED BY TOYOTA AT A COST I AM NOT ABLE TO AFFORD!

AS I WAS GOING DOWN A HILL THE ABS VSC BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE BRAKES FAILED. THE PEDAL BECAME MUSH AND I LOST POWER BRAKING. THIS CAUSED ME TO ALMOST HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. I SWERVED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND PULLED OFF THE SHOULDER JUST MISSING THE GUARD RAIL. I HAVE FOUND OUT THAT TOYOTA KNOWS ABOUT THIS FAULTY PROBLEM AND NOW THEY DEALERSHIP WANTS TO CHARGE 3,000 TO FIX IT.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2004 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH AND WHILE ATTEMPTING TO STOP THE VEHICLE BY DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE BRAKES MALFUNCTIONED AND THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF AN SUV. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED MULTIPLE TOE INJURIES ON THE RIGHT FOOT, INCLUDING ONE FRACTURED TOE. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS REQUIRED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 205,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WOULD NOT ILLUMINATE. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT POWER OFF AFTER THE ON/OFF SWITCH WAS DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE MULTI FUNCTIONAL DISPLAY MULTI-METER AND THE POWER SWITCH WERE FAULTY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE EXTENDED WARRANTY NO LONGER APPLIED TO THE VEHICLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA PRUIS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHT ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL INTERMITTENTLY ILLUMINATED. THIS WAS A RECURRING FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 106,000.

THE DASHBOARD DISPLAY FAILED TO LIGHT UP, BUT THE CAR TURNED ON. IT DID GO INTO DRIVE, SO I DROVE MY DAUGHTER TO SCHOOL, THEN STOPPED TO CALL COGGIN TOYOTA AT THE AVENUES TO REPORT THE PROBLEM, BUT THE CAR WOULD NOT TURN OFF. THEY SAID IT WAS THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER, A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THE PRIUS AND FOR WHICH THERE WAS A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN AND A WARRANTY ENHANCEMENT, ALTHOUGH THAT "ENHANCEMENT" ENDED 9 YEARS AFTER THE VEHICLE WENT INTO SERVICE. I BROUGHT THE CAR IN RIGHT AWAY SINCE I COULDN'T TURN IT OFF. MY CAR IS 10 YEARS OLD. I CALLED TOYOTA TO COMPLAIN THAT I HAD NOT BEEN TOLD ABOUT THIS WHEN IT WAS STILL UNDER THE ENHANCED WARRANTY PERIOD (ALTHOUGH THEY HAVE RECORDS SAYING THEY MAILED SOMETHING) AND THAT IF I HAD KNOWN ABOUT THIS (AND APPARENTLY DOZENS OF OTHER PROBLEMS LOOMING OUT THERE FOR WHICH THERE ARE TSBS) ONE WEEK EARLIER WHEN I PAID OVER $3,000 TO HAVE THE HYBRID BATTERY ARRAY REPLACED, I MIGHT HAVE MADE A DIFFERENT CHOICE. MY BIGGEST COMPLAIN CENTERS ON BEING TOLD WHAT I BELIEVE WAS A LIE BY THE TOYOTA CUSTOMER SERVICE REP --[XXX] -- WHEN I PRESSED FOR WHY, IF THE MANUFACTURER KNOWS THE PART HAS A HIGH FAILURE RATE THAT IT'S WILLING TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR, DOES THAT ENHANCED WARRANTY PERIOD END? SHE TOLD ME THE GOVERNMENT OF CALIFORNIA AND OTHER STATES LIMITS THAT PERIOD TO 9 YEARS. SHE COULD NOT PROVIDE DOCUMENTATION OF THAT GOVERNMENT REGULATION, AND IT DOESN'T SOUND RIGHT THAT REGULATIONS IN CALIFORNIA (OR OTHER STATES) WOULD LIMIT THE TIME IT WOULD ALLOW A COMPANY TO OFFER REPAIRS TO ITS PRODUCT WITH AN ENHANCED WARRANTY. HAS THIS HAPPENED TO ANYONE ELSE AND WHAT CAN BE DONE ABOUT IT? INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

HEADLAMP FAILS INTERMITTENTLY. USUALLY CORRECTED BY SWITCHING THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH OFF AND THEN BACK ON. SOMETIMES THIS DOES NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM.

LEFT HEADLIGHT TURNED OFF INTERMITTENTLY. IF I TURNED THE LIGHT OFF AND BACK ON THE HEADLIGHT WOULD BRIEFLY WORK BUT THEN TURN OFF AGAIN. *TR

BRAKE LIGHT AND ABS LIGHT STILL ON AFTER RELEASE THE BRAKE PEDAL . *TR

A DRIVER IN FRONT OF ME TOLD ME ABOUT ONE WEEK AGO THAT MY HEADLIGHTS WERE GOING ON AND OFF WHILE I WAS DRIVING. THEN YESTERDAY WHILE STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, ANOTHER DRIVER GOT OUT OF HIS CAR TO TELL ME THAT MY LIGHTS HAD GONE OFF. I HADN'T NOTICED A CHANGE MYSELF, BUT THEN I PULLED INTO A PARKING LOT AND CUT MY LIGHTS ALL THE WAY OFF AND CUT THEM BACK ON AND THEN THE LIGHT WAS MUCH BRIGHTER. THIS IS NOT A CONSISTENT PROBLEM. SOMETIMES THE LIGHTS STAY ON FINE AND THEN THEY GO OUT RANDOMLY. THERE DOESN'T SEEM TO BE A PATTERN TO WHEN THIS IS HAPPENING. BUT IF I CUT THE LIGHTS OFF AND THEN BACK ON, THE PROBLEM WILL FIX TEMPORARILY. I HAVE SEEN ON SEVERAL FORMS THAT MANY PEOPLE WITH 2004-2006 PRIUSES ARE HAVING THIS PROBLEM. *TR

LOST POWER STEERING CONTROL

MY DAUGHTER BORROWED MY PRIUS FOR A DRIVE FROM LAYTON, UTAH TO SEATTLE. WITHIN AN HOUR OF LEAVING MY HOME IN LAYTON, UTAH SHE CALLED CONCERNED ABOUT A VIBRATION IN THE FRONT END OF MY PRIUS AS SHE APPROACHED 80MPH. WHEN SHE RETURNED TO UTAH, I HAD THE TIRES CHECKED, REBALANCED, AND THE FRONT END REALIGNED. SOON AFTER THAT, MY HUSBAND AND I LEFT FOR THE TAHOE AREA. WE EXPERIENCED A VIBRATION WHENEVER WE EASED THE STEERING FROM EITHER A LEFT OR RIGHT PRESSURE TO NEUTRAL. THEN AT LOW SPEED GOING OVER A ROUGH ROAD WITH POTHOLES, IT SOUNDED AS IF THE STEERING COLUMN WAS GOING TO FALL APART. I HAVE A RECORDING OF THE RATTLING NOISE IT MADE. I RETURNED TO THE DEALERSHIP I PURCHASED MY PRIUS FROM. THEY FOUND THAT THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT WAS LOOSE AND RECOMMENDED REPLACING IT. PARTS #45260,45209, AND 45221 WERE REPLACED. THE VIBRATION AND RATTLING NOISE HAVE BEEN ELIMINATED. THE COST TO ME WAS $1003.84. ACCORDING TO MY VIN NUMBER, THERE HAS BEEN NO RECALL FOR THE PARTS USED TO ASSEMBLE MY PRIUS. I URGE YOU TO LOOK FURTHER INTO THE QUALITY OF THE PARTS USED TO ASSEMBLE THE STEERING MECHANISM IN MY PRIUS. *TR

DRIVER'S SIDE HEADLIGHT WAS INTERMITTENT. I COULD JIGGLE THE SWITCH AND IT WOULD COME ON. THIS OCCURRED STATIONARY AND MOVING. I HAVE REPLACE THE HID BULB TWICE WITH SYLVANIA D2R. THE HEADLIGHT DOES NOT WORK NOW. DEALER WILL CHARGE OVER $500 FOR HEADLIGHT AND BALLAST REPAIRS--HIGHWAY ROBBERY. THIS PROBLEM STARTED AUGUST 2014.

HEADLIGHTS INTERMITTENTLY FLICKER AND SHUT OFF. IF HEADLIGHTS ARE TURNED OFF THEN BACK ON, BOTH HEADLIGHTS WILL WORK AGAIN. PROBLEM HAPPENS WHILE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION, AS WELL AS WHEN PARKED. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT, ON RURAL/POORLY LIT ROADS, AS WELL AS HIGHWAYS. USUALLY IT IS ONE LIGHT OR THE OTHER THAT GOES OFF, BUT ABOUT 5 DIFFERENT TIMES BOTH LIGHTS HAVE GONE OFF AT THE SAME TIME WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT. ONE OF THESE INCIDENTS RESULTED IN A TRAFFIC STOP BY A POLICE OFFICER, WHO PROMPTLY ISSUED ME A TICKET FOR DRIVING WITH NO HEADLIGHTS ON. BOTH HEADLIGHT BULBS HAVE BEEN REPLACED; ALL FUSES HAVE BEEN CHECKED AND/OR REPLACED;12V BATTERY REPLACED - NONE OF WHICH HAS SOLVED THE PROBLEM.

I WAS DRIVING DOWNHILL, CAME AROUND A BLIND CURVE AND CARS WERE BACKED UP REALLY HIGH ON THE STREET. I REAR-ENDED THE CAR THAT WAS AT A DEAD STOP IN FRONT OF ME AS I TURNED THE CORNER. MY CAR CRUNCHED LIKE AN ACCORDION AND IS CONSIDERED A TOTAL LOSS. I HAVE SEVERE WHIPLASH AS WELL AS ALOT OF OTHER BODILY PAIN. MY AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. EVERYONE WHO SEES MY CAR IS SHOCKED THAT THEY DID NOT DEPLOY. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHY AND WOULD LIKE TOYOTA TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR WHAT I CONSIDER A FAULTY PART. *TR

I WAS IN AN AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENT RECENTLY ON APRIL 11, 2014 INVOLVING A DEER AND UNFORTUNATELY FLIPPED AND TOTALED MY 2004 TOYOTA PRIUS. AS I WAS DRIVING DOWN A ROAD SHORTLY AFTER MIDNIGHT, A DEER JUMPED OUT IN FRONT OF THE VEHICLE AND INITIAL INSTINCT WAS TO HIT THE BRAKES AND SWERVE. WHEN I DID SO, THE TIRES CAUGHT LOOSE GRAVEL IN THE ROAD AND SENT MY VEHICLE SLIDING SIDEWAYS, MY INITIAL REACTION WAS TO REGAIN CONTROL SO I ATTEMPTED TO TURN THE WHEEL, WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO HIT AN EMBANKMENT AND FLIP LANDING NOSE DOWN IN THE GROUND. THE VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING 40-45 MPH AND THE FRONT END WAS RIPPED OFF OF THE VEHICLE AND THE SENSOR BARS FOR THE AIRBAGS WERE BROKEN AND THE SHOCK TRIGGER WAS ALSO SET OFF BUT THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE SEAT BELT WAS BUCKLED AND INTACT CAUSING A HARSH BURN AND GASH IN MY NECK AS WELL AS SEVERAL BRUISES TO PROVE AS SUCH. DURING THE ROLLOVER, THE TOP OF THE VEHICLE DID NOT HIT THE GROUND. IN THE PROCESS OF THE ACCIDENT, MY RIGHT HUMERUS RIGHT ABOVE THE ELBOW WAS COMPLETELY SHATTERED AND I HAD TO UNDERGO A FOUR HOUR SURGERY TO HAVE PLATES AND SCREWS PUT ON MY BONE AND 62 STAPLES TO HOLD TOGETHER THE LONG INCISION FROM THE OPERATION. NOW HAVING TO ENDURE PHYSICAL THERAPY 3 TIMES A WEEK FOR MONTHS AS I HAVE LOST MOST MOBILITY IN THAT ARM AND NERVE DAMAGE. *TR

WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE AT NIGHT, BOTH HEADLIGHTS SUDDENLY WENT OUT. NEITHER THE HIGH BEAMS NOR THE LOW BEAMS WORKED. I HAD TO PULL OVER, AND TURN THE CAR OFF. WHEN I TURNED THE CAR BACK ON, BOTH HEADLIGHTS WORKED FINE. THIS INCIDENT OCCURRED ABOUT 4 WEEKS AGO, AND I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE DEALERSHIP COULD NOT FIND A CAUSE, AND I DON'T THINK THAT THEY BELIEVED ME. I HAD NO PROBLEMS WITH THE HEADLIGHTS FOR ALMOST 4 WEEKS. THEN 3 DAYS AGO, THE EXACT SAME THING HAPPENED AGAIN. I WAS DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE AT NIGHT AND BOTH HEADLIGHTS SUDDENLY WENT OUT. AGAIN, I PULLED OVER. WHEN I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND BACK ON, THEY WORKED FINE. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND FRIGHTENING. I HAVE CALLED TWO DEALERSHIPS AND NEITHER OF THEM HAVE HEARD OF SUCH A THING. HOWEVER, IN RESEARCHING THE INTERNET, I EASILY FIND THAT THIS HAS BEEN THE SUBJECT OF A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT INVOLVING PRIUS MODEL YEARS 2006-2009. SO THERE SHOULD BE INFORMATION OUT THERE THAT TOYOTA SHOULD BE TELLING THEIR DEALERS. I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S AN ELECTRICAL OR COMPUTER PROBLEM. *TR

HID HEADLIGHTS INTERMITTENTLY FAILING. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA PRIUS. AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL FAILED TO ILLUMINATE AND THE GAUGES WERE DIFFICULT TO READ. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED, THE KEY FAILED TO BE REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION AND THE VEHICLE FAILED TO TURN OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE COMBINATION METER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 280,000.

PASSENGER HEADLAMP GOES OUT WHILE CAR IS BEING DRIVEN. DRIVER SIDE HEADLAMP REMAINS ON (ILLUMINATED). TURNING HEADLAMP SWITCH OFF AND ON CAUSES PASSENGER AND DRIVER SIDE HEADLAMP TO ILLUMINATE. ON RE-ILLUMINATION, PASSENGER SIDE HEADLAMP SOMETIMES APPEARS NORMAL AND AT OTHER TIMES APPEARS TO BE DIMMER, MORE YELLOWISH. DEALER QUOTED REPLACEMENT HID BULB AND LABOR TO REPLACE WILL COST $225.00 TOTAL. *TR

THE BASIC PROBLEM: THE GEAR SHIFT SELECTOR STICKS IN DRIVE OR "B" (ENGINE BRAKING MODE). IF THE DRIVER STOPS THE VEHICLE, WITH THE BRAKE DEPRESSED, AND THEN PRESSES THE PARK BUTTON TO PUT THE VEHICLE IN PARK, THE VEHICLE REMAINS IN DRIVE MODE. THE VEHICLE WILL MOVE AS SOON AS THE DRIVER LIFTS THEIR FOOT FROM THE BRAKE PEDAL, EVEN THOUGH THE DRIVER BELIEVES THEY HAVE ENGAGED THE PARK MODE. THE DRIVER HAS TO PLACE THE NORMALLY SPRING-ACTIVATED GEARSHIFT LEVER INTO THE HOME POSITION BEFORE THE CAR WILL SHIFT INTO PARK. DANGER TO THE DRIVER AND OTHERS WHO DRIVE THE CAR. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS, AS THE DRIVER GETS VERY USED TO BEING ABLE TO PLACE THE CAR INTO PARK BY PRESSING THE PARK BUTTON. OTHERS WHO DRIVE THE CAR, LIKE PARKING ATTENDANTS OR FRIENDS, WILL NOT SUSPECT A PROBLEM. THE FAILURE OF THE PARK MECHANISM WHEN THIS HAPPENS IS GOING TO CAUSE ACCIDENTS. TOYOTA'S RESPONSE. THE TOYOTA DEALER'S TECHNICIAN SAYS IT IS A BROKEN SPRING IN THE GEARSHIFT MECHANISM, BUT WANTS ME TO PAY FOR IT. TOYOTA'S CUSTOMER CARE CENTER SAYS THEY WILL NOT FIX THIS DESIGN FLAW BECAUSE OF THE AGE AND MILEAGE OF THE VEHICLE, UNLESS I PAY FOR THE $565.00 GEARSHIFT MODULE. ALTHOUGH THE VEHICLE NOW HAS OVER 165,000 MILES, THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE, AND THE DESIGN SEEMS UNREASONABLY DANGEROUS. I HAVE SEEN OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM ON CHAT SITES, AND ANOTHER ON THIS SITE. *TR

ODOMETER STOPS WORKING AT 299,999 MILES. TOYOTA SAYS THERE IS NO FIX. *TR

SAME INTERMITTENT HEADLIGHT PROBLEM POSTED HERE HUNDREDS OF TIMES. WHY IS TOYOTA ONLY FIXING 2006+ MODEL YEARS? THE SAME PROBLEM PLAGUES ALL MODEL YEARS. *TR

2004 & 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO REAR VIEW VISIBILITY AND BRAKING ISSUES IN BOTH VEHICLES. *SMD

MY 2004 TOYOTA PRIUS'S HID LIGHTS ARE GOING OFF INTERMITTENTLY AND COMING BACK ON WHEN I TURNED THEM OFF AND BACK ON AGAIN. THE DRIVER'S SIDE IS GOING OFF AGAIN AND WILL COME BACK ON AGAIN WHEN I TURN IT OFF AND THEN BACK ON. ALSO, MY HEADLIGHT LEVELING SYSTEM WARNING LIGHT IS COMING ON. WHEN I DRIVE ON THE HIGHWAY LIGHT GOES OFF, I FEEL VERY UNSAFE. I HAVE TO TURN THEM OFF AND BACK ON IN SECONDS TO AVOID A POSSIBLE ACCIDENT. DEALER CAN'T FIND THE ISSUE. THEY RECOMMEND TO CHANGE THE BULBS BUT IT DOESN'T SOLVE PROBLEM. *TT

PROBLEM STARTED WITH THE RIGHT HEADLIGHT TURNING OFF INTERMITTENTLY. I REPORTED THE PROBLEM TO THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP ON 8/27/2013 WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED. THE DEALERSHIP INDICATED THAT THEY COULD NOT FIND A PROBLEM BECAUSE THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THEN THE SAME THING STARTED HAPPENING WITH THE LEFT HEADLIGHT. I CAN CORRECT THE PROBLEM BY TURNING OFF & THEN BACK ON THE LIGHT SWITCH BUT THIS CORRECTION DOES NOT LAST LONG AND THE PROBLEM RECURS. I HAVE RESORTED TO DRIVING WITH MY FOG LIGHTS ALSO TURNED ON IN ORDER TO PROVIDE SOME SEMBLANCE OF LIGHT. IT IS DIFFICULT AND DANGEROUS TO DRIVE LIKE THIS IN THE LONG ALASKAN WINTERS WITH SO MUCH ICE AND SNOW ON THE ROADWAYS. I CAN ALSO MAKE THIS PROBLEM OCCUR WHEN WARMING UP MY CAR IN THE DRIVEWAY. *TR

HEADLIGHTS (HID) INTERMITTENTLY GO OUT REGARDLESS OF SPEED OR ROAD CONDITIONS. TURNING THE LIGHT SWITCH THEY COME ON AGAIN AND IT RANDOMLY OCCURS MAKING DRIVING DANGEROUS. I HAVE REPLACED THE HEADLIGHTS YET THE INCIDENT RECURS RANDOMLY MAKING IT NECESSARY TO TURN THE LIGHTS COMPLETELY OUT THEN ON AGAIN. *TR

RECENTLY, VEHICLE HAS STARTED INTERMITTENT OUTAGES OF HID HEADLAMPS. USUALLY ON THE DRIVER SIDE, BUT SOMETIMES ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. APPARENTLY THIS IS THE RESULT OF A COMPUTER CALLED THE HID BALLAST OR SOMETHING. TOYOTA IS QUOTING OUTRAGEOUS SUMS TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THIS VEHICLE SHOULD BE RECALLED AND THE PROBLEM FIXED FOR FREE. *TR

I WAS TRAVELING ON I95 WHEN ALL THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON (ABS, BRAKE, ETC.). I TRIED TO SLOW DOWN THE CAR, BUT THE BRAKES DIDN'T SEEM TO WORK. FINALLY, THE REGEN SYSTEM KICKED IN, AND SLOWED THE CAR. WHEN I JAMMED MY FOOT HARD ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE CAR STOPPED WITH A JERK. THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED. THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED (WHEN ALL THE LIGHTS CAME ON), I BROUGHT THE CAR TO THE DEALER (KENDALL TOYOTA), THEY RESET AND RECALIBRATED THE COMPUTERS IN THE CAR, AND EVERYTHING SEEMED OK. ABOUT 9 MONTHS LATER, THE SAME THING HAPPENED. THIS TIME, THE ABS COMPUTER HAD A HARD FAILURE. THEY REPLACED IT WITH A LOW MILEAGE USED PART, AND EVERYTHING SEEMED FINE FOR ABOUT 3 MONTHS. THEN IT HAPPENED AGAIN LAST THURSDAY. BROUGHT IT INTO KENDALL TOYOTA ON THURSDAY EVENING, AND ON FRIDAY THEY TOLD ME THE I NEEDED A NEW ABS COMPUTER. TURNS OUT TOYOTA KNOWS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND HAS REDESIGNED THE ABS COMPUTER, BUT NEVER SENT OUT ANY NOTICE TO THEIR CUSTOMERS. THIS IS WHY THE USED PART DIDN'T LAST LONG. THIS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION AND I COULD HAVE EASILY BEEN IN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT IF I HAD NOT EXPERIENCED FAULTY BRAKING IN THE PAST (SEE BELOW). A NEW ABS COMPUTER PLUS INSTALLATION FROM TOYOTA COST APPROXIMATELY $3000. THE SYMPTOMS I WAS HAVING WHEN I REPORTED COMPLAINT # 10292409 WERE IDENTICAL TO THOSE ABOVE, EXCEPT THAT NO INDICATOR LIGHTS CAME ON. THEY CAR DID NOT WANT TO STOP (AND EVEN SEEMED TO "RUN AWAY") UNTIL I JAMMED MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE. SEARCHING THE INTERNET, THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH PRIUS. *TR