2005 Toyota Prius Air Bags & Restraints Problems

Vehicle: 2005 Toyota Prius VIN: [XXX] Date of Incident: April 2024 Location: Citrus Heights, California Incident Summary: In April 2024, I was involved in a front-end collision while driving my 2005 Toyota Prius. I rear-ended another vehicle at moderate to high speed. Despite the severity of the impact, the driver-side airbag failed to deploy. As a result, I was thrown forward and hit my head on the windshield, suffering lacerations and head trauma. After being evaluated by emergency responders and undergoing a hospital visit (MRI included), I was told I had not sustained any life-threatening injuries. However, since the crash, I have experienced severe cognitive symptoms, including confusion, chronic fatigue, sudden drowsiness, memory loss, and extreme mood swings. These symptoms are ongoing and have made daily life extremely difficult. I had brought the vehicle to Roseville Toyota in Roseville, CA, for a full pre-purchase inspection prior to the crash. They provided a CARFAX vehicle history report, but they did not inform me that the airbag had failed to deploy in a previous incident listed in the report. I was unaware the airbag system might be defective, and if I had known, I would not have driven or purchased the vehicle. To this day, there has been no recall issued for airbags on this vehicle, and I believe this is a dangerous and potentially fatal defect that must be investigated by NHTSA. I am asking for an investigation into why the airbag system failed, and whether other Toyota Prius models from these years have similar undisclosed issues. Supporting Info: •The vehicle had dealership service history. •Toyota has documentation showing the vehicle was inspected and that I received the CARFAX, but they failed to alert me to the airbag defect. •I was paid out for the vehicle’s value and partial medical expenses through insurance, but no accountability has been taken for the **failed airbag INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

On 9/12/21, I was driving 25-30mph when the SUV in front of me stopped on the freeway interchange suddenly and unexpectedly (other cars were not around us). I hit the breaks very hard and fast but could not stop and collided with the SUV. The front end of the Prius lodged under the back end of the SUV and the impact was enough to wreck the Prius. During that collision, the driver side seatbelt engaged, but the passenger side seatbelt did not. My preteen hit his forehead on the dashboard very hard. Additionally, the airbags failed to deploy. I could smell an odor from the dust from the airbags. The car is at a repair shop waiting for insurance adjuster to inspect. There were no warning lamps or other messages of the problem prior to the failure.

WHEN I GO TO HIT THE BRAKES THE CAR WON'T STOP AND THE REAR END MAKES NOISE AND RAISES UP. THE ABS AND BRAKE LIGHTS ARE ONE AS WELL AS MAINTENANCE REQUIRED AND SRS AIRBAG LIGHT. THE MASTER ALARM BUZZER IS ON AND WON'T GO OFF. BRAKES ENGAGED WITHOUT HITTING THE BRAKE CAUSES RIM TO OVERHEAT AND BRAKE FLUID GETS EXTREMELY HOT. ALSO SOMETIMES WHEN TAP ON THE BRAKES THEY WILL LOCK UP AND YOU WILL GO SLIDING SIDEWAYS OR TAP THE BRAKES AND THEY STRAIGHT TO THE FLOOR. ALSO THE BRAKE ACTUATOR STARTS WHINING NOISE AND WON'T GO OFF EVEN IF THE CAR IS TURNED OFF. DON'T HAVE DOCUMENTATION FROM A MECHANIC BUT CAN SEND VIDEO OF DRIVING IT. *TR

TAKARA RECALL - CURRENTLY HAVE AN AIRBAG LIGHT ONON MY INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. BRAKE ACTUATOR RECALL - THE 'BRAKE' LIGHT, VSC, ABS, AND BRAKE SYMBOL LIGHTS ARE ALL ON INDICATING AN ISSUE WITH THE BRAKE ACTUATOR. I DID RECEIVE A RECALL NOTICE ABOUT THIS ISSUE IN THE PAST, BUT THE RECALL SAID IF I WASN'T EXPERIENCING ANY ISSUES TO IGNORE THE RECALL. THAT RECALL EXPIRED ON DECEMBER 31, 2017. AS THIS AFFECTS THE SAFE OPERATION OF THE CAR, I FEEL THIS SHOULD BE ADDRESSED BY TOYOTA AS WELL AS THE AIR BAG ISSUE.

THE AIRBAG WIRING HARNESS LOCATED UNDER THE SEAT FAILED. THIS WAS A COSTLY REPAIR AND A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS SITUATION WHILE DRIVING THE CAR WITHOUT FUNCTIONING AIRBAGS.

AIR BAG LIGHT STARTED STAYING ON THOUGH INTERMITTENT. NOTICED IT WENT AWAY IF STEERING WHEEL WAS TURNED. I JUST HAD THE DEALERSHIP CONFIRM IT IS THE CLOCKSPRING.

I'M CONCERNED BECAUSE MY VEHICLE'S AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY DURING A CRASH WHEREIN I COLLIDED WITH A CAR TURNING LEFT IN FRONT OF ME AT APPROXIMATELY 35-40 MPH. THE FRONT END CRUMPLED AND MY DRIVER AND PASSENGER DOORS DO NOT FULLY OPEN DUE TO THE DAMAGE TO THE FRAME OF THE CAR. THE CAR IS CURRENTLY BEING INSPECTED WITH REGARD TO DETERMINATION OF A LIKELY TOTAL LOSS. WHILE I UNDERSTAND AIRBAGS DON'T ALWAYS DEPLOY, I FELT THAT THIS MIGHT BE A CASE WHERE THEY SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND TURNED OFF, IT SUDDENLY ACCELERATED TO 65 MPH WITHOUT WARNING AND CRASHED INTO A RETENTION WALL. THE FRONT AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED AND A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 280,000.

THE AIRBAG INDICATOR LIGHT ON THE DASHBOARD OF MY PRIUS CAME ON AND WOULD NOT GO OFF. ON 3/14/2015, I TOOK THE PRIUS TO A DEALERSHIP FOR A DIAGNOSTIC CHECK. I WAS TOLD BY THE TECHNICIAN THAT BOTH THE DRIVERS AND PASSENGER SIDE SQUIB AIRBAG HARNESS WOULD NEED REPLACEMENT AT A COST OF $4,373.07. THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT OR ANY OUTSIDE FORCE TO CAUSE THE PROBLEM. IT APPEARED OUT OF THE BLUE WHEN I STARTED THE CAR ON THE MORNING OF 3/11/2015. THE CAR IS OTHERWISE IN NEAR PERFECT CONDITION. *TR

STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN. PULLED INTO INTERSECTION OF ARTERIAL. DIDN'T SEE CROSSING TRAFFIC. COLLIDED WITH CROSSING VEHICLE. ENTIRE FRONT END OF PRIUS HIT REAR QUARTER PANEL OF PICKUP TRUCK. THE FRONT END OF THE PRIUS WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED. ANY AND ALL AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY IN PRIUS.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED HEAD-ON INTO HIS VEHICLE AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE SUSTAINED A LACERATION TO THE FOREHEAD AND THE PASSENGER SUSTAINED SEVERED CHEST BRUISING. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 126,000.

THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON WHILE DRIVING. WE TOOK THE CAR IN TO CHECK FOR THE CAUSE AND THEY TOLD US THE WIRING HARNESS WAS BAD AND IT WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED AND THAT THE AIR BAGS WOULD NOT WORK BECAUSE OF A PROBLEM (OF WHICH THEY WERE ALREADY AWARE) WITH THE WIRING HARNESS. A DEFECT IN THE WIRING HARNESS - THEIR WORDS- WOULD COST ABOUT $2000.00 TO REPLACE. THEY ARE AWARE THAT THIS HAS BEEN OCCURRING IN THESE VEHICLES, BUT AS OF YET THERE HAS BEEN NO RECALL OR OFFER TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. IF THIS ISN'T A SAFETY ISSUE, I DON'T KNOW WHAT WOULD BE. PLEASE ADDRESS THIS ISSUE. *TR

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

DAUGHTER AND SON-IN-LAW WERE DRIVING MY 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS. A JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE HIT THEM HEAD ON GOING 32-35 MPH. MY S-N-L WAS DRIVING SLOWING DOWN TO A STOP SIGN AND SAW THE JEEP COMING AT THEM ON THEIR SIDE OF THE ROAD SO HE WAS BRAKING HOPING THE JEEP WOULD EITHER STOP OR SWERVE AROUND THEM. THE DRIVER OF THE JEEP DIDN'T EVEN BRAKE. HIT THEM HEAD ON MORE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE PUSHING THEM BACK ABOUT 10-15 FT. THE JEEPS AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. THE AIRBAGS ON MY PRIUS DIDN'T. THE DAMAGE TO THE JEEP WAS A SCREWED UP BUMPER AND A BENT LICENSE PLATE. THE DAMAGE TO MY TOYOTA PRIUS WAS TOTALED. ENGINE FLATTENED AND PUSHED IN OVER A FOOT ALMOST UNDER THE DASHBOARD OF CAR. PASSENGER DOOR COULDN'T OPEN UNTIL FIREFIGHTERS PRIED IT OPEN. CALLED TOYOTA, FILED A CLAIM ON DEFECTIVE AIRBAG. MY RESPONSE WAS THEY WEREN'T GOING FAST ENOUGH(ONLY OVER 30 MPH) FOR THE AIRBAGS TO DEPLOY, THEY WEREN'T HIT HARD ENOUGH AND THE DASHBOARD MUST NOT HAVE LOOSENED FROM THE CAR OR ELSE AIRBAGS WOULD HAVE DEPLOYED. MY DAUGHTER TOOK THE BLUNT OF IT. BODY FLEW FORWARD (SHE HAD A SEATBELT ON) HAND HIT DASHBOARD, KNEES HIT GLOVE COMPARTMENT SO HARD THAT IT POPPED OPEN. HOW BAD DOES AN ACCIDENT HAVE TO BE FOR AIRBAGS TO GO OFF. WE PAY FOR SAFETY. THE DRIVER THAT CAUSED THIS WAS DRUNK, WIFE DRUNK AND THEY HAD A 3 YR OLD IN THE CAR AT 10:45 IN THE MORNING. THEY HAD NO INJURIES, THEIR AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. FORGOT TO MENTION DAUGHTERS SISTER-IN-LAW IN SEAT BEHIND HER, WHIPLASH, BRUISES ON LEGS AND BACK IS TWEAKED, BUT THEY WEREN'T HIT HARD ENOUGH. TOYOTA USE TO BE GREAT ON SAFETY AND NOW THEY ARE REALLY BAD AND WON'T FESS UP TO ERRORS. SEARCH TOYOTA AIRBAG DEFECTS AND SEE ALL THE OTHERS THAT HAVE HAD PROBLEMS. SOMEONE WILL HAVE TO DIE PROBABLY HUNDREDS BEFORE SOMETHING IS DONE. *TR

THURSDAY, MARCH 10, 2011 MORNING BETWEEN 5:40 ' 5:45 A.M. EST AT WORK DRIVING THROUGH PARKING LOT TOWARDS PARKING GARAGE, DUE TO BAD WEATHER ROAD LINES WERE NOT VISIBLE AND MY CAR END UP INTO A CONCRETE BLOCK. I WAS IN SHOCK FOR A WHILE, FRONT BUMPER, RADIATOR, BOTH FRONT LIGHTS, WINDSHIELD AND ALL FLUID HOLDING BROKE AND ENGINE CAVED IN. I HAVE NECK SOFT TISSUE INJURIOUS IN MY NECK. PAIN LOWER NECK AND UPPER NECK WHERE SCALP AND NECK MEET. MY 2005 PRIUS HAD DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAGS AND FRONT SIDE AND REAR SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAGS ON SIDE, BUT NONE OF THEM DEPLOYED, BUT MY CAR GOT TOTAL. I BOUGHT BRAND NEW FULLY LOADED PRIUS, AND I WAS THINKING MY CAR IS VERY SAFE. DEFINITELY IF I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WHERE SPEED LIMIT IS 55, I AM SURE I WAS DEAD IN THIS CAR. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS. A VEHICLE TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH CRASHED INTO THE CONTACTS VEHICLE HEAD ON. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE WAS FILED AND 2 INJURIES WERE REPORTED. THE CONTACT AND A PASSENGER WERE TRANSPORTED VIA AMBULANCE TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED TO AN INSURANCE COMPANY LOT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT EXAMINED FOR THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 105,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 25 MPH WHEN SHE CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE CRASHED FROM THE FRONT END AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO HER NECK, HEAD AND SHOULDERS. SHE WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL VIA AMBULANCE. A POLICE REPORT WAS AVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A BODY REPAIR FACILITY WHERE THE MECHANIC ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 48,000.

THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AND WOULD NOT GO OFF ABOUT 3 OR 4 YEARS AGO, SO I TOOK IT TO THE TOYOTA DEALER WHO DID SOMETHING AND RESET IT. IT STAYED OFF FOR ABOUT A YEAR OR SO THEN CAME BACK ON. I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER AGAIN WHO SAID THE DIAGNOSTIC SAID IT WAS MALFUNCTIONING AND THAT I NEEDED TO BRING IT BACK TO REPLACE SOME EXPENSIVE PART. I WAS ON THE WAY BACK TO THE DEALER, WHEN THE LIGHT WENT OUT. THE TECH DID THE DIAGNOSTIC AGAIN AND SAID THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH IT. THE LIGHT STAYED OUT FOR ABOUT ANOTHER YEAR OR SO AND CAME ON AGAIN A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO AND WON'T GO OUT . THIS TIME HOWEVER, I HAVE ALSO NOTICED THAT THE TOP OF THE DASH ON THE PASSENGER SIDE HAS BEEN PUSHED UPWARD UNDER THE "SRS AIR BAG" PHRASE. THIS IS CONCERNING SINCE THE SAME THING HAS HAPPENED IN THE EXACT SAME PLACE ON THE OTHER 2005 PRIUS THAT I OWN . I CONTACTED TOYOTA CORPORATE WHO RESPONDED THAT THERE ARE NO RECALLS ON MY CARS AND THAT FOR THE MOST PART, MY CARS WERE OUT OF WARRANTY. THE REP SAID THAT SHE WOULD DOCUMENT MY REPORT AND THAT I SHOULD TAKE THEM BACK TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THIS IS THE SAME DEALER THAT HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO FIGURE OUT WHAT IS WRONG WITH THIS CAR THE FIRST TWO TIMES. MEANWHILE, I AM DRIVING AROUND IN A CAR THAT MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE WORKING AIRBAGS BECAUSE I NEED TO GET TO WORK. *TR

VEHICLE STRUCK FROM BEHIND AT APPROXIMATELY 20MPH AND PUSHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. DRIVER SEAT BELT DID NOT LOCK AND DRIVER'S HEAD STRUCK THE TOP OF THE STEERING WHEEL. THE DRIVER SEAT BACK ALSO BROKE AND THE DRIVER FELL BACKWARD UNTIL THE SEAT BACK WAS STOPPED BY THE CUSHION OF THE REAR SEATS. *TR

DRIVER'S AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY IN 2005 PRIUS THAT REAR ENDED AN SUV AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH. *TR