2005 Toyota Prius Complaint Log

OUR SON WAS KILLED ON OCT 22ND IN A SINGLE CAR CRASH WHILE DRIVING A 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS( THE POLICE REPORT STATES THAT HE LOST CONTROL, JUMPED THE CURB AND DIED IN THE ENSUING CRASH) WHILE NEGOTIATING A CURVE WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ENTER THE FREEWAY IN TUCSON AZ. WE STRONGLY BELIEVE THAT THIS MAY HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY SUDDEN ACCELERATION AND OR BRAKE PROBLEMS. I KNOW THIS IS AN OLDER MODEL, BUT IN LIGHT OF TOYOTA'S LIES AND COVER-UPS TIME WILL ONLY TELL. UPDATED 02/19/10 *BF *CN UPDATED 03/10/10 *BF UPDATED IVOQ 09/02/10*JB UPDATE 9/19/2011*CW

I WAS DRIVING TO WORK AND WITH 3 BARS OF FUEL SHOWING ON THE FUEL GAUGE, THE GAS ENGINE STOPPED AND I CONTINUED TO A SAFE STREET TO PARK WITH THE ELECTRIC MOTOR (WHICH HAS ABOUT A 1 MILE RANGE). I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE NEAREST TOYOTA DEALER. THERE INSPECTION REVEALED MULTIPLE FAILURE CODES BUT THAT IT BASICALLY RAN OUT OF GAS. THEY RESET/RECALIBRATED THE ECMS AND I PICKED UP THE CAR 2 DAYS LATER. I CONTACTED TOYOTA ABOUT THIS ISSUE AND THEY DENIED ANY RESPONSIBILITY AND ADVISED THAT I SHOULD NOT RUN BELOW 25% OF THE TANKS CAPACITY. THE 2010 PRIUS USES A RIGID GAS TANK VERSUS THE FLEXIBLE GAS TANK IN MY VEHICLE (I BELIEVE THEY KNOW IT IS A PROBLEM BUT ARE DOING NOTHING BUT ADVISE PEOPLE TO NOT GO BELOW 25% FUEL CAPACITY. SINCE THE TANK MAY BE FROM 10 TO 11.9 GALLONS THIS IS NOT THAT CLEAR). THE TOYOTA CASE NUMBER IS 0910135219 WHICH IS ALREADY CLOSED (DENIED). *TR

I HAVE A 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS WITH 255K MILES. I SERVICE MY CAR REGULARLY (ABOUT EVERY 5 WEEKS). WHEN I STARTED MY CAR AFTER WORK, NONE OF THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS CAME ON. I PUT MY CAR IN DRIVE AND THE CAR MOVED FORWARD. I DROVE MY CAR ABOUT 60 MILES AND STOPPED BY THE STORE. I BECAME ALARMED WHEN THE CAR WOULDN'T SHUT OFF. I PRESSED THE "POWER" BUTTON SEVERAL TIMES BUT THE CAR WOULD NOT TURN OFF. I DROVE THE CAR TO THE STAFFORD TOYOTA AT APPROXIMATELY 7:30PM AND REQUESTED ASSISTANCE FROM THE SALES MANAGER (SINCE THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT WAS CLOSED). THE SALES MANAGER CONFIRMED THAT THE CAR WAS NOT SUPPOSED TO OPERATE WITHOUT THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS BECAUSE THERE WAS NO WAY TO DETERMINE IF THE CAR WAS ON AND WHETHER THE CAR WAS IN PARK, REVERSE OR DRIVE. AFTER NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS OF HOLDING DOWN THE "POWER" BUTTON, THE CAR FINALLY SHUT OFF. WHEN I RESTARTED IT, THE LIGHTS STILL DID NOT WORK. *TR

I HAVE A 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS I HAVE THE SAME BRAKING ISSUE THAT THE 2010 PRIUS HAS WITH BRAKING ON UNEVEN SURFACES AND HITTING POT HOLDS MY BRAKES HAVE MEMORY LOSS THEY HIT THE UNEVEN SURFACE THE CAR CONTINUES TO MOVE, IT FEELS LIKE IT GETS AIR BORNE ALSO WHEN THE WEATHER IS WET THE BRAKES LOCK UP, I BARELY TOUCH THEM THEN BRAKES LOCK THROWING EVERYTHING FORWARD. I HAVE TAKEN MY CAR INTO THE DEALERSHIP FOR BRAKE ISSUES THE LAST TIME WAS ABOUT 10/09 THEY FOUND NO TROUBLE, BOTH PROBLEM ARE CURRENT ISSUES. THE DEALERSHIP CONTINUES TO TELL ME THERE IS NO PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKES. *TR

MY HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT ON MY 2005 PRIUS WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY AT NIGHT IN A STORM... THE ONLY MEANS I HAD TO FIND MY WAY TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WAS LISTENING TO THE SOUND OF THE BUMPS ON THE SIDE. I PULLED OVER AND SAT IN THE DARKNESS WONDERING IF A CAR WOULD COME AROUND THE CORNER AND HIT ME. I TURNED OFF MY CAR AND RESTARTED IT. THE LIGHTS CAME ON AGAIN AND I WAS ABLE TO GET TO SAFELY. I WENT INTO THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP AND JUST FOUND OUT THAT THE LIGHTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT ABOUT $1,000.00. THAT IS RIDICULOUS. THIS IS A DANGEROUS PROBLEM. I HAVE HAD FULL CARE ON MY VEHICLE AS RECOMMENDED BY THE TOYOTA COMPANY THROUGH MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP. I FEEL THAT THIS PROBLEM IS POTENTIALLY LIFE THREATENING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! MY HEART STILL RACES EVERYTIME I THINK ABOUT HOW THAT FELT TO BE IN THE DARK WITHOUT KNOWING WHERE I WAS ON THE ROAD!!!!! PLEASE DO SOMETHING TO HELP THE NEXT VICTIM, WHO MAY NOT BE SO LUCKY. *TR

I WAS TRAVELING DOWN A RESIDENTIAL STREET AND APPROACHING A PEDESTRIAN INTERSECTION WHEN A PEDESTRIAN ON HER MORNING EXERCISE RUN SUDDENLY RAN ACROSS MY PATH. I IMMEDIATELY TRIED TO STOP, BUT THE EDGE OF THE SOLE OF MY DRESS SHOES WERE CAUGHT BEHIND THE BRAKE PEDAL, AND I WAS UNABLE TO MOVE MY FOOT ONTO THE PEDAL TO DEPRESS IT. ONLY BY STEERING AWAY FROM THE PEDESTRIAN, AND HER ACTION TO STOP, DID I AVOID A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. THE CAUSE OF THIS INCIDENT IS THE FACT THAT THE ACCELERATOR AND BRAKE PEDALS ARE DISPLACED BY SEVERAL INCHES, THAT IS, THE BRAKE PEDAL IS CLOSER TO THE DRIVER THAN WHAT THE ACCELERATOR IS. THIS REQUIRES ONE TO LIFT YOUR FOOT BY 6 INCHES OR SO BEFORE MOVING IT OVER TO THE BRAKE PEDAL TO DEPRESS IT. IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION YOUR REFLEXIVE REACTION IS TO TRY TO MOVE YOUR FOOT OVER AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE. HOWEVER, THE DISPLACEMENT OF THE BRAKE PEDAL CREATES AN OBSTACLE THAN, IN THE BEST CASE, RESULTS IN A DELAY, AND IN THE WORST CASE RESULTS IN AN INABILITY TO OPERATE THE BRAKE PEDAL IN TIME TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT. *TR

ABOUT 6 MONTHS AGO, I WAS ON I-95 IN FT. LAUDERDALE, JUST EXITING: I TOUCHED THE BRAKES TO SLOW -- AND THEY FIRMLY LOCKED. I TOUCHED THEM AGAIN AND, FORTUNATELY THEY WORKED NORMALLY. HAD THIS HAPPENED WHILE I WAS STILL ON I-95, THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN A HORRIBLE ACCIDENT. I REPORTED THIS TO TOYOTA, AT THEIR NYC HEADQUARTERS, WHEN THEIR OTHER PROBLEMS BECAME PUBLIC. THIS HAS NOT HAPPENED AGAIN, HOWEVER, I NO LONGER TAKE ANY PASSENGERS, AND I DRIVE MUCH MORE CAUTIOUSLY! *TR

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

PULLING AWAY FROM THE CURB, ON A SLOPE, MY 2005 PRIUS DID NOT RESPOND TO THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. AT THE BOTTOM OF THE SLOPE (HUNDREDS OF FEET), THE BRAKE STOPPED THE CAR JUST AT A VERY BUSY, FAST MOVING INTERSECTION. I TOLD THIS TO THE FLOOR MAT RECALL DESK (AS MY FLOOR MAT WAS FINE) AND THEY INSISTED I CALL A DIFFERENT NUMBER, WHICH I NEGLECTED TO DO. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED ALL DAY UNTIL THE DRIVER PUSHED THE POWER BUTTON AND THERE WAS NO POWER IN THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR DIAGNOSTIC AND TESTING. IT TOOK THE DEALER TWO WEEKS TO PERFORM A DIAGNOSTIC TEST ON THE VEHICLE. THE TECHNICAL SUPPORT TEAM HAD TO REPLACE THE POWER E.C.U. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD CONTINUE TO LOSE POWER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 93,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 98,000 MILES.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 TO 70 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS WHEN SUDDENLY, THERE WAS A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO COAST THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WITH CAUTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE FUEL TANK CONTAINED NO FUEL. THE FUEL GAUGE AND INDICATION SENSORS WERE RESET. THERE WAS ALSO A RECOMMENDATION TO TO FILL CAR WITH GAS THE GAUGE DISPLAYED THREE BARS. ONE MONTH LATER, THE FUEL GAUGE READING WAS INACCURATE. THE FUEL LEVEL DISPLAYED THREE BARS LEVEL AND ABRUPTLY THE GAUGE DISPLAYED "FULL". THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED FOR THE MALFUNCTION AT THIS TIME. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 56,313. UPDATED 3/30/2010 UPDATED 06/04/10.*JB

I HAVE A 2005 PRIUS I PURCHASED IN 10-2004. MY PROBLEM IS THE SAME AS THE 338 PLUS PREVIOUSLY REPORTED PROBLEMS WITH THE HID HEADLIGHTS GOING OUT. THE PASSENGER LIGHT STARTED GOING OUT AT AROUND 50,000 MILES. IT WAS AT THE TIME EASILY CORRECTED BY TURNING THE HEADLIGHTS OFF AND ON AGAIN. WHEN DRIVING IN TOWN IT IS SOMETIMES HARD TO TELL IF THE HEADLIGHT HAS GONE OUT WITHOUT LEANING FORWARD OR WATCHING FOR THE HEADLIGHTS REFLECTING OFF A CAR IN FRONT OF ME. THIS HAS BEEN MOSTLY ANNOYING UNTIL THE DRIVER'S SIDE HEADLIGHT STARTED DOING THE SAME THING. NOW IT IS DANGEROUS. I DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING MY CAR AT NIGHT BECAUSE AT ANY TIME NOT KNOWING THE RIGHT LIGHT IS OUT THE DRIVER SIDE LIGHT WILL GO OUT AND I AM DRIVING WITH NO HEADLIGHTS. THE FIRST TIME THIS OCCURRED WAS RETURNING FROM A LONG TRIP, DRIVING 65 MPH, 12:30 AM. ALL OF A SUDDEN I HAD NO HEADLIGHTS. LUCKILY THIS HAD NOT OCCURRED 40 MILES EARLIER IN MY TRAVELS. I WOULD HAVE BEEN DRIVING ON INTERSTATE, 65 MPH THROUGH TWO WAY ROAD CONSTRUCTION, PERHAPS AROUND A CURVE. I HAD THREE TEENAGE PASSENGERS WITH ME. IT COULD HAVE BEEN DISASTROUS. AT TIMES IT NOW TAKES TWO OR THREE ATTEMPTS TO GET THE HEADLIGHTS BACK ON. THE COST TO REPAIR, PER MY LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER IS $300.00 EACH FOR THE PART THAT CONTROLS THE HEADLIGHT. THIS DOES NOT INCLUDE REPLACEMENT COST. *TR

BOTH HID HEADLIGHTS WILL TURN OFF WITHOUT NOTICE WHILE DRIVING. TURNING LIGHTS OFF AND BACK ON WILL GENERALLY GET THESE TO GO BACK ON BUT THAT IS DANGEROUS. ALSO, HID LEVELING SYSTEM FAILS INTERMITTENTLY CAUSING HEADLIGHTS TO CHANGE POSITION DRASTICALLY. *TR

ON MY 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS, THE PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT STARTED TURNING PINK WHEN I TURNED ON THE LIGHTS. NOW IT DOESN'T TURN PINK ANYMORE BUT IS QUITE DIM -- ABOUT 30 PERCENT OF THE BRIGHTNESS OF THE OTHER HEADLIGHT. MY TOYOTA DEALERSHIP SAID TO BRING IT IN FOR REPAIR BUT IT WOULD COST AT LEAST $400-$500. *TR

HEADLIGHTS ON 2005 PRIUS GO OUT. I HAVE REPLACED THEM TWICE AND THEY INTERMITTENTLY GO OUT STILL. TOO MUCH MOISTURE IN THE AIR THEY GO OUT. SOMETIMES THEY WILL COME BACK ON IF I TURN THEM ON AND OFF. THE DRIVERS SIDE HEADLIGHT GOES OUT AND STAYS OUT FOR WEEKS. *TR

THE HID HEADLIGHTS ON MY 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS STARTED BLINKING ON AND OFF AND THEN FAILED. ONLY ONE LIGHT WENT OUT BUT I WAS AFRAID BOTH WOULD GO. TOYOTA WANTS $380 FOR THE BULB, WHICH IS ONLY $80 FROM SYLVANIA AND THEY WANT $125 FOR LABOR. TO REPLACE. I FOUND OUT ONLINE THAT THE BULBS KEEP GOING OUT OR BLINKING SO I DON'T WANT TO SPEND THAT MUCH MONEY OVER AND OVER. BULBS ARE A SAFETY ISSUE AND IF THEY ARE DEFECTIVE OR THE SYSTEM IS DEFECTIVE THEY SHOULD BE RECALLED. *TR

I OWN A 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS, AND THE HEADLIGHTS HAVE BOTH GONE OUT. THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO LAST 10 YEARS. FOR A WHILE, WHEN I TURNED OFF THE HEADLIGHTS AND TURNED THEM BACK ON, THEY WOULD WORK. HOWEVER, THEY DO GO OUT WHEN I AM ON THE ROAD QUITE OFTEN. I HAVE BEEN QUOTED BY THE DEALERSHIP THAT REPLACING A SINGLE LIGHTBULB WILL COST OVER $400 INCLUDING PARTS AND LABOR. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE I DRIVE TO WORK IN THE EARLY IN THE MORNING AND LATE AT NIGHT, AND MY HEADLIGHTS DO NOT FUNCTION RELIABLY. I HAVE HEARD THIS COMPLAINT FROM OTHER PRIUS OWNERS, WHO ARE OTHERWISE HAPPY WITH THEIR VEHICLES. FOR A LIGHTBULB THAT IS SUPPOSED TO LAST 10 YEARS, THIS IS DEFINITELY A FAULTY AND DANGEROUS PART ISSUE. *TR

I HAVE A 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS. AT FIRST THE LH HEADLIGHT WOULD INTERNITTENTLY GO OUT. IT WOULD ALSO COME ON DURING MY DRIVE ALSO. THEN MY RH HEADLIGHT WOULD DO THE SAME. I HAVE HAD FOUR INSTANCES WHERE BOTH HEADLIGHTS HAVE GONE OUT COMPLETELY LEAVING ME IN A SERIOUS SITUATION SINCE I LIVE IN A RURAL AREA WITH NO STREET LIGHTING AND CURVEY ROADS. I HAVE READ ONLINE OF THE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE BLOGGING AND COMPLAINING OF THEIR SAME PROBLEMS. I WAS TOLD BY LANCASTER, CA. DEALERSHIP IT NEEDS HEADLAMPS REPLACED. ONLINE PEOPLE ALL STATE THEY HAVED HAD THEM REPLACED AND THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. MINE GOES OUT SOMETIMES MINUTES AFTER TURNING ON THE CAR. OTHER TIMES IT GOES FOR ABOUT 20 MINUTES BEFORE SHUTTING OFF. IT IS RANDOM AND SEEMS TO HAVE NO PATTERN. I DO NOT BELIEVE IT IS ONLY THE HEADLAMPS BECAUSE OF WHAT THE NUMEROUS PEOPLE ONLINE HAVE SAID IS THE RESULT AFTER THEIR HEADLIGHTS BEING CHANGED. IT STILL GOES OUT ON THEM, JUST EVERY 30 MINUTES NOT EVERY 20 SECONDS THEY WRITE. THIS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE. I HAVE ALSO TRIED LIKE THE ONLINE PEOPLE SUGGEST BY TURNING ON THE SWITCH BACK AND FORTH. IT WORKS SO HOW COULD IT BE THE LAMP ONLY? THE DEALERSHIP WANTS $600. TO CHANGE THE LIGHTS. I SAY THEY NEED TO ADDRESS THIS. *CN

FRONT PASSENGER HEADLIGHT GOES ON AND OFF. IT IS A 2005 PRIUS. GETTING MORE SO THAT IT IS OFF MORE THAN ON. *TR

ABS SYSTEM FAILURE WHILE PREPARING TO STOP FROM 40 MPH IN 05 TOYOTA PRIUS LAST SEPTEMBER. HAD AT LEAST THREE OCCURRENCES DURING THE SUMMER OF THE BRAKE PEDAL GOING QUICKLY AND EASILY TO THE FLOOR, MAKING A "THUNK" NOISE, SOUNDING AND FEELING LIKE METAL ON METAL, BUT THIS WOULD NOT HAPPEN AGAIN WHEN I STEPPED ON THE BRAKES AGAIN IMMEDIATELY, AND CERTAINLY DIDN'T HAPPEN FOR MY MECHANIC TO HEAR. TOYOTA DIAGNOSED A COMPUTER FAILURE THAT COST ME $2000 TO REPLACE. *TR

AFTER CHANGING LANES FROM THE LEFT RIGHT LANE TO THE LEFT LANE NEAR DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES, A CAR SUDDENLY STOPPED ON A YELLOW LIGHT. I QUICKLY HIT THE BRAKES WHICH SEEMED TO SLOWLY ENGAGE AND WAS HIT THE CAR FROM BEHIND. *TR

MY 2005 PRIUS HEADLIGHTS ARE BRAND NEW AND THE LIGHTS GO ON AND OFF. I WENT TO THE DEALER AND HE TOLD ME THAT THEY COULD NOT DETECT WHETHER IT IS THE HIB HEADLIGHTS OR THE ECU TO GIVES IT POWER. THEY TOLD ME THAT IT WILL COST ME A THOUSAND DOLLARS TO GET BOTH DONE. THE LIGHTS GO OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF DRIVING AND PRESENT A HAZARD IN DARKNESS AND INCLIMATE WEATHER.

WHILE DRIVING OUR VEHICLE (2005 TOYOTA PRIUS) THE DRIVER'S SIDE HEADLIGHT JUST GOES OFF WITHOUT NOTICE. UNABLE TO REPAIR DUE TO IT COSTING APPROX $800.00 TO REPLACE BULB. TONIGHT THE PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT ALSO WENT OUT. IT WILL GO BACK ON IF WE TURN OFF THE HEADLIGHTS THEN TURN THEM BACK ON. WE LIVE OUTSIDE OF CITY LIMITS. IMAGINE DRIVING IN THE DARK AND YOUR HEADLIGHTS GO OUT. *TR

STEERING WHEEL STARTED SHAKING WHILE DRIVING. HAD WHEEL ALIGNMENT CHECKED, NO PROBLEM. TOOK IT TO THE VENTURA TOYOTA, THEY CHARGED US OVER $200 AND SAID THE PROBLEM WAS LOOSE SCREWS IN THE STEERING COLUMN. THIS WAS QUITE SCARY AND EVEN THOUGH WE HAD PURCHASED BUMPER TO BUMPER 100,000 MILE WARRANTY, THIS WAS NOT COVERED. THEY SAID IT WAS ONLY LOOSE SCREWS. WE FELT THIS WAS DEFINITELY A SAFETY ISSUE AND IF IT HADN'T BEEN TAKEN CARE OF, WE WOULD HAVE HAD STEERING FAILURE RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT. *JB

I WAS STOPPED AT A STOP LIGHT IN MY CAR, A 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHEN THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN I TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE. THIS IS WHEN MY CAR QUICKLY ACCELERATED INTO THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME WHILE MY FOOT WAS NOT ON THE GAS OR THE BRAKE. AFTER THE INITIAL IMPACT MY CAR DROVE INTO THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME AGAIN. WHILE THIS WAS HAPPENING I APPLIED THE BRAKE BUT NOTHING HAPPENED. THE CAR STOPPED MOVING AFTER THE SECOND IMPACT AND CAME TO REST ON THE FRONT CAR'S BUMPER. THE DAMAGE TO THE CAR I HIT WAS $1000, THE DAMAGE TO MY PRIUS WAS $7000. TOYOTA HAD CONTACTED ME IN A FORM OF A RECALL ABOUT FLOOR MATS BEING THE CAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM. WHEN I CALLED TOYOTA OF ORANGE TELL THEM WHAT HAPPENED THEY LOOKED UP MY VIN NUMBER AND ASSURED ME MY CAR WAS NOT A PART OF ANY RECALL. THEY SAID I COULD BRING MY VEHICLE IN HOWEVER NOTHING WOULD BE DONE IF THEY COULD NOT RECREATE THE PROBLEM. SINCE THE INITIAL CRASH MY PRIUS HAS MIMICKED THIS SAME SITUATION A HANDFUL OF TIMES. NONE OF THE TIMES AFTER RESULTED IN A SECOND CRASH. I HAVE NOT TAKEN MY PRIUS TO A DEALER TO HAVE THE PROBLEM LOOKED INTO. I DO NOT HAVE ANY OTHER MODE OF TRANSPORTATION AND TOYOTA DOES NOT OFFER LOANER CARS. *TR

HID FRONT LEFT BULB -- FAILURE TO LIGHT CONSISTENTLY. *TR

LEFT HIGHBEAM INTERMITTENT ON MY 2005 PRIUS. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING 20 TO 30 MPH THE BRAKES STARTED TO FAIL CAUSE THE CONTACT TO USE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO SLOW DOWN THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER HAS STATED THAT THE SKID CONTROL ECU NEEDS TO BE REPLACE ON THE VEHICLE. CONTACT FEELS THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIRS BECAUSE THE BRAKE FAILURE CAN CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO CRASH. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 63,174.

BRAKES STOPPED WORKING. *JB

TL*THE CONTACT HAS A 2005 TOYOTA PRUIS. SHE STATED WHILE DRIVING HOME ALL WARNING LIGHTS ON THE DASH BOARD ILLUMINATED AND WITHIN EIGHT MINUTES THERE WAS BRAKE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER . THE DEALER HAD THE VEHICLE FOR A WEEK BUT WAS NOT ABLE TO LOCATE THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.

ACCELERATOR ON 2005 PRIUS STUCK

THE HID HEADLAMPS IN MY 2005 PRIUS ARE POINTING DOWNWARD. I'VE READ ONLINE OF OTHER COMPLAINTS AND AN INVESTIGATION AND WANTED TO ADD MY INSTANCE OF THE ISSUE AS WELL. *TR

WE HAVE A 2005 PRIUS. THE PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT STARTED TO FLICKER ABOUT A MONTH AGO. FINALLY FAILED COMPLETELY. ESTIMATE FOR REPLACING BOTH BULBS 105.00 LABOR 376.00 FOR EACH BULB. TOTAL OF $850.00. THIS IS CRAZY AND UNSAFE. I AM FORCED TO DRIVE AROUND WITH ONE HEADLIGHT OUT, WAITING FOR THE OTHER TO FAIL, BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE $850.00. THE CAR ONLY HAS 53,000 MILES ON IT. THIS IS JUST WRONG. TOYOTA NEEDS TO DO SOMETHING TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING AT SPEEDS OF 45 MPH, THE ABS WARNING LIGHT AND MASTER WARNING LIGHT INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE WARNING PANEL. THE DRIVER EXPERIENCED TOTAL BRAKE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR POSSIBLE REPAIRS. THE DEALER REPLACED THE BATTERY IN AN ATTEMPT TO CORRECT THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED THE SAME ISSUE AGAIN AFTER THE REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 71,000 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 67,079. UPDATED 05/11/10. *LJ UPDATED 06/03/10*BF UPDATED 06/04/10.*JB

BRAKE ACTUATOR ASSEMBLY FAILURE THIS SYSTEM FAILED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED BY OWNER OF PRIUS. OWNER WAS DRIVING CAR AND THE BRAKES STOPPED WORKING ALMOST CAUSING A CRASH. TOYOTA RECENTLY (2016) OFFERED WARRANTY COVERAGE FOR REPAIRS IN 2005. BUT HAVING TO TAKE THEM TO SMALL CLAIMS BECAUSE WAS DENIED ON A TECHNICALITY. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS HYBRID. WHILE PARKED IN THE GARAGE, THE VEHICLE EXPLODED AND BURNED. THE BATTERY COULD BE THE POSSIBLE CAUSE OF THE EXPLOSION. THE FIRE BURNED THE GARAGE AND ANOTHER VEHICLE THAT WAS PARKED IN THE GARAGE. BOTH A FIRE AND A POLICE REPORT WERE FILED. REPORT NUMBER 0907135396 WAS FILED WITH THE MANUFACTURER AND THEY STATED THAT THEY WOULD CALL THE CONTACT BACK. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 90,000.

THE BRAKES BEGAN TO NOTICEABLY GRAB THEN RELEASE AT LOW SPEEDS, BUT IT WAS INTERMITTENT. MY SON WAS DRIVING, SLOWED FOR A STOP LIGHT AND HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF HIM WHEN THE BRAKES RELEASED. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER, THEY COULD NOT RECREATE THE PROBLEM AND TOLD ME NO FAULT WAS DETECTED. THREE WEEKS LATER, DRIVING BACK FROM WASHINGTON, THROUGH OREGON, WE PULLED INTO A GAS STATION, THE CAR SLOWED AT FIRST, THEN THE BREAKS LET GO AND MY HUSBAND HAD THE STOMP ON THE PEDAL. HE TURNED OFF THE CAR, FILLED IT WITH GAS, AND WHEN HE TURNED IT BACK ON ALL THE WARNING LIGHTS WENT OFF, SIGNALING BRAKE FAILURE. WE HAD IT TOWED TO A DEALER IN ROSEBURG, AND THE BRAKE SENSOR HAD FAULTED. BUT THEY TOLD US WE COULD PROBABLY DRIVE BACK TO SACRAMENTO. WE DECIDED TO HAVE IT REPLACED THERE AND NOT RISK DRIVING IT ANY FURTHER. *TR

FAILURE OF HID FRONT LEFT LIGHTBULB IN 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS; $420+ QUOTE TO REPLACE IT AT DEALER. *TR

I AM WRITING ABOUT AN INCIDENT WITH MY 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS. ON JULY 20, 2009 AS MY WIFE WAS DRIVING OUR PRIUS THE ENGINE LIGHT WENT ON. SHE IMMEDIATELY DROVE INTO THE PARKING LOT OF A SMALL BUSINESS AND STOPPED THE CAR. WE HAD IT TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP. THE MECHANICS THERE DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM. THE INVERTER PUMP THAT SUPPLIES COOLANT TO ALL THE ENGINE PARTS HAD MALFUNCTIONED. THE MECHANICS TOLD US THAT THE TOYOTA COMPANY WAS AWARE THAT THIS PROBLEM COULD OCCUR ON OUR 05 PRIUS. IF WE HAD THE CAR TOWED TO A TOYOTA DEALER THE DEFECTIVE INVERTER PUMP WOULD BE REPLACED WITH A MORE RECENT MODEL FREE OF CHARGE. THE NEXT DAY WE HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. THEY EXAMINED THE CAR AND VERIFIED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS A DEFECTIVE INVERTER PUMP. THEIR CODES AS PRINTED ON THEIR INVOICE NUMBER 524093 [21 JULY 2009] ARE "34352 PULLED CODE POA93, SUB CODE 346-INVERTER COOLING SYSTEM PERFORMANCE. FOUND TSB EG001-07 TO CORRECT THIS CONCERN. REPLACED INVERTER WATER PUMP AS PER STB." THIS CATASTROPHIC MALFUNCTION OCCURRED WITHOUT ANY PRIOR WARNING. WE HAVE MAINTAINED THE CAR WITH REGULAR MAINTENANCE AS PER THE SCHEDULE IN THE OWNERS MANUAL. WE WERE VERY LUCKY THAT THE MALFUNCTION OCCURRED WHILE WE WERE IN TOWN. SINCE WE LIVE IN NEW MEXICO THE MALFUNCTION COULD HAVE OCCURRED OUT IN ONE OF OUR DESERTS OR ON ONE OF OUR MOUNTAINS. WE ARE BOTH 73 YEARS OF AGE AND BOTH CANCER SURVIVORS. THE LAST THING THAT WE NEEDED WAS TO BE STRANDED SOMEWHERE OR TO HAVE THE ENGINE COMPLETELY DESTROYED IF WE WERE NOT ABLE TO IMMEDIATELY STOP THE CAR. I DO HOPE THAT TOYOTA WILL BE REQUIRED TO PERFORM A RECALL ON THE PRIUS MODELS THAT HAVE THIS TYPE IF INVERTER PUMP SO THAT OWNERS CAN CONTINUE TO DRIVE THEIR CARS SAFELY. *TR

DURING A DRIVE ON US224 IN OHIO, MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING MY 2005 TOYOTA ON CRUISE CONTROL. AFTER PASSING A VEHICLE, HE ATTEMPTED TO SLOW DOWN BY BRAKING BUT THE CAR WAS STILL TRYING TO ACCELERATE. IT TOOK FOUR ITERATIONS OF PUSHING ON THE BRAKE TO FINALLY MAKE THE CAR SLOW DOWN. WE WERE ABLE TO PULL OFF OF THE HIGHWAY AND STOP. DURING THE INCIDENT, WE COULD FEEL THE PULL OF ACCELERATION EVEN WHEN HE WAS DEPRESSING THE BRAKE. IF HE LET OFF OF THE BRAKE THE CAR WOULD BEGIN ACCELERATING AGAIN. WE DID HAVE AN AFTERMARKET FLOOR MAT ON THE DRIVER SIDE, HOWEVER IT IS A VERY HEAVY, THICK MAT THAT DOES NOT MOVE. WE ARE 100% CONVINCED THAT THE FLOOR MAT WAS NOT ON TOP OF THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL DURING THIS INCIDENT (AS PROVEN BY THE CAR FINALLY SLOWING DOWN AND STOPPING WITH OUT THE FLOOR MAT BEING ADJUSTED).

JUST PURCHASED CERTIFIED USED TOYOTA PRIUS, 2005 - DRIVING AT NIGHT LAST WEEK AND DRIVERS HEAD LIGHT WENT OUT. NEXT DAY THEY BOTH WORKED BUT AFTER A FEW MILES NOTICED IN BACK OF ANOTHER CAR IT WENT OUT AGAIN, NOW IT'S GOT MY ATTENTION AND I NOTICE IT ALL THE TIME RANDOMLY. GOOGLED IT AND FOUND ITS LIKE THAT ON 2005-2008 PRIUS' WITH HID LIGHTS AND THAT I SHOULD FILE A CLAIM. CALLED TOYOTA TODAY THEY ARE GOING TO HAVE SOMEONE CALL ME BACK TOMORROW. *TR

PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT AND PARKING LIGHT STOPPED WORKING. HAD A NEW HEADLIGHT BULB PUT IN ABOUT 8 WEEKS BEFORE THE LIGHTS STOPPED WORKING. *TR

AFTER ONLY ABOUT 3 YEARS USE, THE RUBBER COVER ON THE HATCH RELEASE HANDLE (THE EXTERIOR HANDLE OF THE REAR HATCH) OF OUR 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS, MELTED INTO A STICKY TARRY BLACK RUBBERY GOOEY MESS. I CAN BEST DESCRIBE IT AS BEING A VISCOUS BLACK GLOB LIKE ROOFING TAR. TO OPEN THE HATCH, YOU HAVE TO TOUCH THIS BLACK GOO EACH TIME, WHICH MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO OPERATE THE HATCH RELEASE. WE BELIEVE THIS MELTING PROCESS STARTED AT ABOUT THE 2 YR. MARK. I THOUGHT THAT THIS MIGHT BE A SINGULAR ISSUE, BUT HAVE FOUND THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED TO SEVERAL CAR OWNERS, . TOYOTA KNOWS ABOUT THIS, AND IS SELLING THE ENTIRE WIRING HARNESS FOR $96 PLUS REPAIR COSTS, AND HAS DONE NOTHING ABOUT RECALLING THIS. FROM A SAFETY PERSPECTIVE, THIS MEANS YOU CAN EXPERIENCE EXTREME DIFFICULTY OPENING THE REAR HATCH (A LIFE SAFETY ACCESS POINT), AND WILL GET STICKY BLACK TAR ON YOU FROM THE MELTED DOWN RUBBER COVER OF THE EXTERIOR HATCH RELEASE HANDLE. TO ME, THIS IS BOTH A SERIOUS LIFE SAFETY ISSUE AND A SERIOUS QUALITY DEFECT THAT TOYOTA IS OPTING TO IGNORE AND ONLY FIXING ON VEHICLES WITH EXTENDED WARRANTIES, SINCE THE FAILURE APPEARS TO OCCUR AT AROUND THE 3 YEAR MARK (IE AFTER 3 YEARS OF EXPOSURE TO THE BRIGHT SUN IN NORTH CAROLINA FOR EXAMPLE). I AM AWARE OF THE OUTSTANDING WORK DONE BY NHTSA ON OTHER SAFETY ISSUES, INCLUDING THE PROBLEM WITH RUSTY FRAMES ON 02 ISUZU AXIOMS, AND I FIND THIS PROBLEM TO BE SIMILAR IN NATURE, SO I AM ASKING FOR YOUR AGENCY TO TAKE A LOOK AT THESE INSTANCES AND ALSO TO INQUIRE FROM TOYOTA WHY THEY ARE NOT RECALLING THESE HANDLES THAT ARE MELTING IN THE SUN!!! IT'S OUTRAGEOUS. I THINK A DOOR HANDLE OR HATCH HANDLE SHOULD BE MADE TO LAST MORE THAN 3 YEARS. *TR

I HAVE A 2005 PRIUS THAT HAS EXPERIENCED BRAKE ISSUES INCLUDING SURGING FORWARD WHEN BRAKE IS DEPRESSED. I BROUGHT THIS TO THE ATTENTION OF MY DEALER AND WAS TOLD THIS IS NORMAL. IT DOESN'T HAPPEN ALL THE TIME BUT IS A BIT SCARY. I PLAN TO BRING IT UP TO THE DEALER AGAIN WHEN I GO FOR MY 45,000 MILE TUNE UP, PROBABLY NEXT WEEK. *TR

IN 2009 WAS THE FIRST TIME THE WARNING LIGHT WAS DISPLAYED REGARDING THE HEADLIGHT LEVELER SENSOR. CONTACTED TOYOTA AND BECAUSE IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY, THEY WOULD NOT REPAIR UNLESS WE PAID IN FULL FOR REPAIRS. ADVISED THE SENSOR ALONE WAS APPROX. $400, PLUS WHATEVER LABOR IS INVOLVED. HAVE LIVED WITH THE INTERMITTENT WARNING LIGHT COMING ON AND GOING OFF EVER SINCE. IN DECEMBER OF 2011, BEGAN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE PASSANGER SIDE HEADLIGHT GOING OFF FOR NO REASON. REPLACED THE BULB AND IT STILL GOES OFF INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING. IF THE HEADLAMP SWITCH IS TURNED OFF AND BACK ON FROM INSIDE THE CAR, THE HEADLIGHT COMES BACK ON. I SEE THAT THERE WAS A RECALL FOR SIMILAR ISSUES RECENTLY; HOWEVER, IT ONLY COVERED TOYOTA PRIUS VEHICLES YEAR 2006 AND NEWER. I'VE GONE ON SEVERAL PRIUS CHAT SITES, AND APPARENTLY OTHER 2005 PRIUS OWNERS HAVE THE SAME ISSUES. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHY OTHER YEAR PRIUS WERE NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECENT RECALL. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS. HE EXPERIENCED THE IDENTICAL FAILURE AS THE 2010 PRIUS WHEN HE ATTEMPT TO ENGAGE THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE BRAKES BEGAN FUNCTIONING NORMALLY WHENEVER HE WASN'T DRIVING OVER A BUMP IN THE ROAD. HE HAS ALWAYS EXPERIENCED THE FAILURE BUT HE THOUGHT IT WAS NORMAL. WHEN HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR ROUTINE SERVICE AND MENTIONED THE BRAKE FAILURE; THE DEALER TOLD HIM THERE WAS NOTHING TO BE WORRIED ABOUT IT WAS A NORMAL FUNCTION FOR THE PRIUS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120, 00 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 143,000.

I HAVE A 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS WITH ABOUT 80K MILES. WHEN BRAKING, THE CAR JERKED FORWARD INTO AN INTERSECTION ALMOST HITTING ANOTHER CAR. THERE WERE NO SPECIAL WEATHER CONDITIONS TO REPORT WHEN THIS HAPPENED AND I WAS DRIVING AT A NORMAL SPEED BEFORE BRAKING. THIS HAS HAPPENED ABOUT THREE TIMES. *TR

I HAVE 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS THAT WAS BOUGHT ON DEC 2004. WHILE DRIVING TO MY WORK ON JUNE 30TH 2009, MY PRIUS CAR SPEED REDUCED SLOWLY FROM 45MPH AND DID NOT GO FASTER THAN 30 MPH ON RTE 28 NORTH FROM MANASSAS,VA TO CENTERVILLE VA. SINCE I CANNOT DRIVE MORE THAN 20 MILES PER HOUR, I PARKED THE CAR ON LOCAL ROADS AND ASKED AAA TO TOW MY VEHICLE TO OURISMAN TOYOTA DEALER, CHANTILLY. DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM AND GAVE CAR BACK. I BELIEVE, THIS IS DUE TO COMPUTER SYSTEM FAILURE. BUT DEALER COULD NOT IDENTIFY. IT HAPPENED ONLY ONE TIME FROM DEC 2004 SO FOR. BUT I AM SCARED OF DRIVING THE CAR TO LONG TRAVEL AND USING ONLY FOR LOCAL DRIVE. *TR

HID HEADLIGHT AUTOMATIC LEVELING SYSTEM FAILURE CAUSING HEADLIGHTS TO GO TO FIXED DOWNWARD POSITION. AS A RESULT, HEADLIGHTS DON'T SAFELY ILLUMINATE THE ROAD. I HAVE HAD NO ACCIDENTS AS A RESULT. *TR

OUR 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS SURGES WHEN WE ARE BRAKING, COMING TO A STOP AND PASS OVER A MOUND OR POTHOLE, THAT IS, ANY IRREGULARITY IN THE ROAD'S SURFACE. THIS HAS HAPPENED MANY TIMES, AND LUCKILY, NO COLLISION HAS YET OCCURRED. *TR