2005 Toyota Prius Complaint Log

DT: WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 68 MPH THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO LOOSE SPEED. THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO PULL THE VEHICLE OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND PARK. NO WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED INDICATING THERE WAS A PROBLEM. THE CONSUMER HAD BEEN DRIVING FOR ABOUT AN HOUR AT 68 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO LOSE POWER. AFTER THE VEHICLE SAT FOR ABOUT 1 1/2 MINUTES THE VEHICLE OPERATED AS IF NOTHING HAD HAPPENED. *AK THE CONSUMER HEARD ONE BEEP, THEN THE VEHICLE LOST ALL POWER. THE CONSUMER PRESSED THE ACCELERATOR BUT IT DID NOT RESPOND. THE SERVICE DEALER COULD NOT FIND A PROBLEM. *SC *JB

CAR WAS BEING DRIVEN ON MULTI-LANE CITY ARTERIAL IN MODERATE TRAFFIC. TO TRY TO QUICKLY AVOID AN OBSTRUCTING VEHICLE AHEAD, DRIVER RAPIDLY DEPRESSED ACCELERATOR PEDAL TO FULLEST EXTENT WHILE STEERING. CAR THEN IMMEDIATELY, AND WITHOUT WARNING, LOST ALL ENGINE POWER AND ROLLED TO A STOP. TWO GENERAL WARNING LIGHTS ON DASHBOARD ILLUMINATED. REPEATEDLY DEPRESSING ACCELERATOR PEDAL PRODUCED NO MOTION OR OTHER RESULT. AFTER ENGAGING EMERGENCY FLASHERS, ONLY WAY TO REGAIN ENGINE POWER WAS TO SHUT OFF IGNITION, WHICH REQUIRED ENGAGING PARKING CIRCUIT AND DEPRESSING POWER ON/OFF BUTTON, THEN AFTER SHUTDOWN PROCEDURE WAS COMPLETE, AGAIN PRESSING POWER ON/OFF BUTTON AND WAITING FOR HYBRID SYSTEM TO ENERGIZE. WARNING LIGHTS AGAIN CAME ON BUT CAR NOW RESPONDED TO ACCELERATOR AND DRIVER WAS ABLE TO MOVE TO PARKING LANE. THIS WAS THE THIRD TIME IN THE EIGHT MONTHS OF OWNING THIS NEW CAR THAT SUCH A SUDDEN SHUTDOWN OCCURRED. AFTER THE FIRST TWO TIMES IN LATE NOVEMBER-EARLY DECEMBER 2004, CAR HAD BEEN TAKEN TO DEALER FOR SERVICE AND WAS RETURNED TO OWNERS REPORTED AS FIXED BY REPLACING FAULTY ACCELERATOR SENSOR.

DT: CONSUMER WAS DRIVING ABOUT 45 MINUTES / 65 MPH WHEN VEHICLE LOST POWER/STALLED. ALL WARNING LIGHTS WERE ON. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO RESTART VEHICLE AFTER IT STALLED BY LETTING IT SIT FOR A WHILE. VEHICLE HAD A HISTORY OF ACCELERATING AND STALLING. *AK *NM

DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS. HE STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING EVERY WARNING LIGHT IN THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO FLASH, THEN THE CAR DIED. HE TURNED THE VEHICLE ON AGAIN AND IT DONE THE SAME THING. AFTER THIS THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. HE CALLED TOYOTA ,THEY SENT SOMEONE WITH GAS BECAUSE THE ADD FUEL LIGHT WAS FLASHING, AND THEY PUT GAS IN THE VEHICLE. IT STILL WOULD NOT START. TOWED TO TOYOTA DEALERSHIP, THEY LOOKED AT THE CAR AND COULD NOT GET IT TO START. SOMEONE KEPT PRESSING BUTTONS AND GOT THE CAR TO START, THEN, IT STARTED EVERY TIME. THE NEXT TIME WHILE DRIVING WITH A FULL TANK OF GAS IT WENT FROM THREE QUARTERS TANK TO GAS DOWN TO EMPTY INSTANTLY. HE IMMEDIATELY PULLED INTO A GAS STATION TO GET GAS AND THE MAINTENANCE LIGHT WAS FLASHING. HE CALLED TOYOTA BACK, AND THEY WOULD TOW HIM TO THE NEAREST TOYOTA DEALERSHIP. INSTEAD HE DROVE THE VEHICLE HOME. DEALERSHIP SAID THEY DID CHECKED THE FUEL LINES AND IT SHOULD BE FINE. TOYOTA DENIED ALL PROBLEMS WITH THE CARS, THE INDIVIDUAL WHO TOWED CONSUMER'S VEHICLE TOLD HIM THAT THEY HAD SEVERAL PEOPLE WITH THIS SAME PROBLEM. HE DECIDED TO TRADE IN THE VEHICLE BECAUSE HE DID NOT FEEL SAFE. IT HAD SEVERAL ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS SUCH AS, HIGH BEAMS CAME ON BY THEMSELVES, AND DOOR LOCKS WOULD NOT OPEN OCCASIONALLY. THESE INCIDENTS OCCURRED ON MAY 1, 2005 ,AND HE TRADED THE VEHICLE IN ON MAY 16, 2005 . IT WAS IN THE SHOP THREE TIMES.*AK

EASILY REPLICATED, UNEXPECTED BRAKE RELEASE ON 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS. 1) DRIVE OVER ROUGH PART OF ROAD, OR SLICK SPOT 2) APPLY BRAKES 3) NO RESPONSE FROM BRAKES FOR A SECOND OR SO. *TR

2005 TOYOTA PRIUS--EXPERIENCES BRAKING AND HANDLING FAILURES WHEN BRAKING ON UNEVEN OR WET SURFACES. WHEN WE ARE BRAKING AND HIT A POTHOLE, GRAVEL, RAILROAD TRACKS OR WET SURFACES, THE CAR FEELS AS IF WE ARE LOSING CONTROL OF IT, AND BRAKING SEEMS TO TEMPORARILY STOP. THE "SKID DANGER" LIGHT COMES ON, EVEN AT VERY LOW SPEEDS. THIS HAPPENS NEARLY EVERY TIME WE BRAKE UNDER THESE CONDITIONS. ALSO, AT IDLE (IE. STOPLIGHTS), THE CAR WILL FREQUENTLY LURCH FORWARD SLIGHTLY, EVEN WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL FULLY DEPRESSED, ESPECIALLY WHEN ENGINE TRANSFERS FROM ELECTRIC TO GAS. WE WERE TOLD EARLY IN OUR OWNERSHIP THAT THIS IS NORMAL "DIESELING". THESE HAVE BEEN ON-GOING PROBLEMS, SINCE WE PURCHASED THE CAR IN 2005 (NEW), THAT WE THOUGHT WE WERE "IMAGINING" UNTIL HEARING ALL OF THE REPORTS OF SIMILAR PROBLEMS.TOYOTA CLAIMS THAT THE PRIUS BRAKING ISSUES ONLY AFFECT THE 2010 PRIUS, BUT WE SEE IT FIRSTHAND ON AN ON-GOING BASIS. *TR

I HAD BEEN DRIVING MY 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS AT 40MPH WHEN I ACCELERATED TO PASS A CAR AND THEN HAD TO STOP BRIEFLY AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT. WHEN I PULLED AWAY FROM THE LIGHT I NOTICED THAT THE CAR FELT VERY SLUGGISH AND WOULDN'T ACCELERATE OVER 40 MPH. I THEN REALIZED THAT I WAS DRIVING ON THE HYBRID SYSTEM ONLY AND THAT THE ENGINE HAD STALLED. A BIG RED EXCLAMATION POINT LIT UP ON THE DASH AND I WAS ABLE TO COAST INTO A PARKING PLACE OFF THE HIGHWAY. WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE CAR IT DID NOTHING. I CALLED TOYOTA SERVICE AND EXPLAINED MY PROBLEM AND HE ARRANGED A TOW TRUCK PICK UP MY CAR BUT TOLD ME THAT SINCE IT WAS 5PM THEY WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO LOOK AT IT UNTIL THE MORNING. THE NEXT MORNING THEY TOLD ME THAT THE CAR STARTED WITHOUT INCIDENT AND ALTHOUGH THEY RAN EXTENSIVE TESTING THEY COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG. THEY WANTED ME TO COME AND PICK IT UP BUT I REFUSED STATING THAT THERE DEFINETLY WAS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THIS CAR AND THAT I WAS JUST GLAD THAT IT DIDN'T HAPPEN EARLIER IN THE DAY WHEN I WAS ON I-95 GOING 80 MPH WITH A SEMI IN BACK OF ME. I ALSO TOLD THEM THAT I HAD DONE SOME RESEARCH ON MY OWN AT PRIUSONLINE AND YAHOO PRIUS FORUM AND FOUND THAT THERE WERE MORE PEOPLE WHO HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AND IN MOST CASES IT WAS FOUND TO BE DUE TO A FEW CODES THAT NEEDED TO BE UPDATED IN THE CARS COMPUTER. I THEN ASKED THEM TO CHECK THESE SPECIFIC CODES. WHEN I CALLED BACK THE NEXT DAY THEY SAID THAT THEY RAN THE CODES AND FOUND NOTHING AND HAD TAKEN THE CAR FOR A LONG DRIVE BUT HAD NO PROBLEMS. THEY RELEASED IT TO ME AND IT HAS DRIVEN JUST AS PERFECTLY FOR ME AS IT DID UP UNTIL THE 1 SECOND BEFORE IT'S ENGINE QUIT WITHOUT WARNING. I KNOW THAT SOMETHING POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS HAPPENED TO MY CAR THAT DAY AND THAT THERE IS JUST AS MUCH CHANCE THAT IT WILL HAPPEN AGAIN SINCE NOTHING WAS FIXED. I HOPE THAT YOU CAN HELP TO AVOID SOMETHING POTENTIALY TRAGIC HAPPENING TO ME OR SOMEONE ELSE.

1. I BOUGHT A NEW PRIUS IN EARLY MARCH OF 2005. I WAS COASTING TO STOP (AROUND 8-10 MPH) FOR A YIELD SIGN AND WHEN I HIT THE FOOT ON THE BRAKE, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO ACCELERATE. FUNNY, BUT THIS PROBLEM HAPPENS ONLY OCCANSIONALLY! 2. STIMES THE VEHICLES SEEMS TO COME TO A STALL, AT LOW SPEEDS WHILE MAKING A TURN OR BEFORE COMING TO AN DEAD STOP. I PERSONALLY HAVE FELT THE VEHICLE GOING OFF THE POWER DURING A TURN, AT LOW SPEEDS <10 MPH. 3. I TRIED TO FIND ANY RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE, BUT WAS UNSUCESSFULL.

2005 TOYOTA PRIUS -- FLOORMAT BECOMES LODGED BETWEEN PEDALS. -- WHILE DRIVING AT HIGH SPEEDS (60-70 MPH) ON THE FREEWAY, I NOTICED A LOSS OF SENSITIVITY ON BOTH THE BRAKE AND GAS PEDALS. I HAD TO PRESS VERY HARD TO GET A REACTION FROM EITHER PEDAL. AS A RESULT I WAS UNABLE TO KEEP DRIVING AT THE SAME SPEED AS THE SURROUNDING CARS. EVERYTHING ELSE SEEMED TO BE OPERATING NORMALLY. THE SENSATION CONTINUED FOR A FEW MINUTES UNTIL I COULD SAFELY PULL OFF OF THE FREEWAY. UPON INVESTIGATION, I REALIZED THAT THE FLOORMAT HAD COME UNHOOKED FROM ITS RESTRAINTS AND STUCK BETWEEN THE PEDALS AND THE FLOOR. I SECURED THE FLOORMAT TO ITS HOOKS ONCE AGAIN AND CONTINUED DRIVING WITHOUT TROUBLE. THIS HAS HAPPENED A COUPLE TIMES SINCE, BUT I RECOGNIZE THE SYMPTOMS AND FIX IT PROMPTLY. HOWEVER, I FEAR THAT ANOTHER OWNER MIGHT EXPERIENCE THIS WHEN THEY NEED TO BRAKE OR ACCELERATE SUDDENLY TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT. (I NOTICED ANOTHER POSTING THAT DESCRIBED THE SAME PROBLEM). PERHAPS TOYOTA SHOULD INSTALL LOCKING HOOKS RATHER THAN THE CURRENT ONES THAT EASILY TWIST AND UNHOOK FROM THE MATS.

DT: WITHOUT WARNING THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON. CONSUMER HAS TAKEN CAR TO DEALER FOUR TIMES FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. DEALER REPLACED DIFFERENT PARTS AND THE PROBLEM WAS THERE AFTER THREE ATTEMPTS TO FIX IT. CONSUMER JUST GOT VEHICLE BACK FOR THE FOURTH TIME. MANUFACTURER WILL BE CALLED TODAY. CONSUMER WAS TOLD THEY HAVE NEVER SEEN THIS PROBLEM IN ANY OTHER CAR. *TT

WAS DRIVING HOME (APPROX 35 MPH) WHEN MASTER WARNING LIGHT AND VEHICLE STABILITY CONTROL SYSTEM WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. VEHICLE WOULD NOT RUN ON GASOLINE POWER AND BATTERY QUICKY RAN DOWN SO CAR WAS NOT DRIVEABLE. VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED TO DEALERSHIP. DEALERSHIP ADVISED IT WAS A "COMPUTER PROBLEM"

I WAS DRIVING MY 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS AT ABOUT 45 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE WENT DEAD. THE BATTERY CHARGE INDICATOR WENT TO ZERO, THE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT CAME ON, THE MASTER WARNING LIGHT CAME ON, THE VEHICLE STABILITY CONTROL WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. I PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. AT FIRST THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHUT OFF. AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS THE VEHICLE SHUT DOWN. I RESTARTED THE VEHICLE, AND WITH THE ENGINE SERVICE LIGHT ON WAS ABLE TO GET IT FIRST HOME, THEN TO A TOYOTA DEALER. THE DEALER SAID THE VEHICLE NEEDED AN "UPGRADE" TO ITS SOFTWARE AND REPROGRAMMED THE ECU. ( AT NO CHARGE TO ME AS THE VEHICLE IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY). IF AN UPGRADE WAS AVAILABLE AND REQUIRED, I FEEL I SHOULD HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED SO THAT I AND MY WIFE WERE NOT PUT AT RISK. *NM

GAS MOTOR STALLED WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AT 55 MPH. ELECTRIC MOTOR CONTINUED TO OPERATE UNTIL THE BATTERY WAS DEPLETED, ABOUT 1 OR 2 MILES. I WAS UNABLE TO PULL THE CAR OVER BECAUSE I WAS IN A CONSTRUCTION ZONE. IT WAS DIFFICULT TO TURN THE CAR OFF, BECAUSE OF THE LACK OF A KEY, BUT ONCE I DID RESTART IT, IT WORKED FINE.

DT: THE CALLER BELIEVES THE HEADLIGHT LEVELING SENSOR TO CORRECT THE DIRECTION OF THE HEADLIGHTS IS FAULTY. THE HEADLIGHTS WILL TILT DOWN WITHOUT WARNING. SHE SAID WHEN DRIVING UP OR DOWN HILLS THE HEADLIGHTS DID NOT SHINE WHERE THEY WERE SUPPOSE TO. CALLER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER THREE TIMES. DEALER SAID THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. MANUFACTURER TOLD DEALER THEY WILL BE REDESIGNING THE SENSOR. *AK

I DID NOT HAVE A FAILURE, BUT I HAD AN EXPERIENCE THAT I THINK WOULD BE HELPFUL TO YOU AND TOYOTA. MY EXPERIENCE WAS ACCIDENTLY HITTING MY RIGHT KNEE LIGHTLY UPWARD AGAINST THE LEVER THAT IS USED TO PUT THE CAR IN DRIVE, PARK, REFERSE AND BATTERY. I WAS TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY AND WAS SHIFTING MY WEIGHT SLIGHTLY TO GET MORE COMFORTABLE AFTER I HAD BEEN DRIVING SEVERAL HOURS. WITHIN A FEW MINUTES, LOOKING AT THE DASHBOARD, I NOTICED THE CAR WAS IN THE "B" MODE WHICH I GUESS IS CALLED BATTERY. I SHIFTED BACK INTO DRIVE WITH NO PROBLEM. HOWEVER MY THINKING IS THAT IF SOMEONE DID WHAT I DID (IN THE WAY OF ACCIDENTLY TAPPING THE SHIFT LEVER WITH THEIR KNEE) AND DID NOT NOTICE THAT THE CAR HAD SHIFTED TO BATTERY, AFTER DRIVING FOR SOME TIME (X HOURS OR MINUTES) THE BATTERIES THAT DRIVE THE ELECTRIC MOTOR/ENGINE WOULD RUN DOWN TO THE POINT WHERE THE CAR WOULD STOP RUNNING AND COULD NOT BE RESTARTED BECAUSE THE BATTERIES WERE SO RUN DOWN. ALSO THE ENGINE WOULD NOT START AGAIN BECAUSE THE BATTERIES RUNNING THE ELECTRIC MOTOR WERE NOT ASSISTING IN THE DRIVE OF THE CAR AS DESIGNED. I NOTICED A NOTE ON A WEB SITE THIS EVENING THAT INDICATED THE CAR WOULD NOT RUN WHEN THE BATTERIES WERE BELOW A 20% CHARGE. IF THIS IS CORRECT, IT WOULD FIT IN WITH MY THEORY. THE SHIFT LEVER NEEDS TO BE HARDER TO MOVE SO THAT ACCIDENTAL CHANGES SUCH AS I EXPERIENCED WOULD BE PREVENTED. IF THIS IS TOO EXPENSIVE, MAYBE A CHEAPER WAY TO FIX TGHE PROBLEM WOULD BE FOR AN ALARM LIGHT OR AUDIBLE SIGNAL TO GO ON WHEN THE BATTERY PROPULSION HAD BEEN GOING ON TOO LONG UNASSISTED BY THE GASOLINE MOTOR. MAYBE I'M ALL WET, BUT I THOUGHT IT WOULDN'T HURT TO LET YOU KNOW MY THOUGHTS.

MY WIFE AND I BOUGHT A NEW PRIUS IN EARLY MARCH OF 2005. MY WIFE WAS COASTING TO STOP (AROUND 5 MPH) FOR A STOP SIGN AND WHEN SHE PUT HER FOOT ON THE BRAKE THE CAR STARTED TO ACCELERATE. SHE CAME TO A STOP AFTER HITTING ANOTHER CAR HEAD ON. BEFORE SHE HIT THE CAR (SHE ALSO SIDESWIPED ANOTHER CAR) SHE WAS ABLE TO LOOK AT HER FEET TO CONFIRM THAT SHE WAS INDEED PRESSING ON THE BRAKE PEDAL.

REPORTED INCIDENT TO TOYOTA CUSTOMER SUPPORT -- INCIDENT: 050412-000111 RESPONSES RECEIVED FROM TOYOTA WAS THAT THE COMPUTER WAS FIXED BASED ON A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN. NO RECURRENCE SINCE THE FIX. TO: TOYOTA CUSTOMER SUPPORT SIR OR MADAM: I BOUGHT MY 2005 PRIUS NEW FROM MECHANICSVILLE TOYOTA ON DECEMBER 1, 2004 AND GENERALLY WAS QUITE SATISFIED WITH THE CAR AND THE GREAT GAS MILEAGE IT PROVIDES. HOWEVER, LAST THURSDAY, 4/7/05, WITH 4738 MILES ON THE ODOMETER, WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM WORK, ALL THE LIGHTS ON THE DASH WENT ON INCLUDING THE MASTER WARNING LIGHT, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, VSC LIGHT, AND THE MULTI INFORMATION DISPLAY IS SHOWING THE RED HYBRID SYSTEM WARNING LIGHT. THE CAR LOST POWER AND I HAD TO LIMP IT HOME. THE ENERGY CONSUMPTION DISPLAY FOR THE BATTERY PACK SHOWED ONE RED BAR AND THE FUEL GAUGE HAD TWO BARS LEFT. I CALLED TOYOTA ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE WHICH PROMPTLY DISPATCHED A TOW TRUCK AND DELIVERED THE CAR TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER DID A DIAGNOSTIC TEST THE FOLLOWING MORNING, FRIDAY, 4/8/05, AND COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. THE ONLY EXPLANATION I GOT WAS THAT THIS IS A KNOWN ISSSUE WITH 2 BARS OF FUEL LEFT AND THE CAUSE WAS THAT THE ENGINE SUCKED IN AIR WITH STOPS OR TURNS. IS THERE A FURTHER EXPLANATION OR FIX FOR THIS PROBLEM? I FEEL THAT THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. I CROSS RAILROAD TRACKS TO AND FROM WORK DAILY AND DEFINITELY WILL NOT WANT THIS CAR TO STALL ON THE TRACKS OR ANYWHERE ON THE ROAD. MY WIFE AND I ARE A MULTIPLE TOYOTA OWNERS: 95 CAMRY WAGON AND 93 PREVIA. I USED TO OWN AN 83 TERCEL AND MY WIFE AND STEP DAUGHTER HAVE AND STILL OWN A 96 TERCEL. THESE CARS HAVE BEEN EXTREMELY RELIABLE SO THAT MY EXPERIENCE WITH THE PRIUS COMES AS A SHOCK. I LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING FROM YOU ON THIS SAFETY ISSUE. SINCERELY, APOLINAR ILOG GLEN ALLEN, VA EMAIL: PILOG@COMCAST.NET

PRIUS HAD EXTEMELY POOR STABILITY AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS WITH 25 MPH GUSTY CROSSWIND. DIRECTIONAL STABILITY WAS *EXTREMELY* POOR - WIND GUST WOULD SHIFT DIRECTION OF THE CAR 10-15 DEGREES. LITTLE ROAD FEEDBACK IN STEERING WHEEL, REQUIRED GREAT ATTENTION FROM DIRVER TO CONTROL CAR @ 60MPH. LESS CAPABLE DRIVER (I.E. OLDER) PROBABLY WOULD END UP IN A WRECK.*AK

2005 PRIUS THAT I PURCHASED NEW LOSES BRAKING MOMENTARILY WHEN GOING OVER A BUMP OR A POTHOLE. I NOTICED THIS SOON AFTER I TOOK POSSESSION OF THE CAR. I HAVE NEVER CONTACTED THE DEALER REGARDING THIS BUT FEEL IT IS IMPORTANT TO MENTION IT AFTER HEARING ABOUT THE PROBLEM WITH THE 2010 PRIUS. THIS PROBLEM PERSISTS. *TR

WHILE DRIVING MY 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS AT ABOUT 40 MPHIN LEFT LANE ON ROUTE 158 IN KITTY HAWK, NC, THE ACCELARATORL QUIT WORKING, BUT NEITHER ENGINE QUIT. WAS ABLE TO LET CAR GO INTO SHOPPING CENTER LOT (THIS WAS DANGEROUS SITUATION AND MY 8 YEAR OLD GRANDAUGHTER WAS IN THE CAR). ELECTIRC ENGINE PROVIDED THE POWER WITH OUT ACCELERATOR ASSISTANCE. HAD CAR TOWED TO ELIXABETH CITY TOYOTA DEALER. MECHANIC TOOK TWO DAYS TO FIND A WASY TO GET ACCELERATOR WORKING. HE SAID THATIN CONJUNTION WITH TOYOTA CORPORATE ENGINEERSOVER TELEPHONE HE RAN TESTS AND MANY ERRORS SHOWED UP NOT RELATED TO THE ACCELERATOR. THE PROBLEMS SOUNDED TO ME LIKE IT WAS IN THE COMPUTER'S SYSTEM. MECHANIC WAS EVENTUALLY TOLD TO SHUT DOWN ALL COMPUTERS AND RE-BOOT THEM ONE BY ONE. I ASKED HIM ABOUT THE CAUSE AND HE SAID NONE WAS DISCOVERED. CAR HAS NOT REPEASTED PROBLEM, BUT I REMAIN CONCERNED. RELATED THIS PROBLEM TO MY PURCAHSE DEALER (LUSTINE TOYOTA IN WOODBRIDGE VA) ASSISTANT SERVICE MANAGER. I WAS TOLD THEY COULD NOT DO ANYTHING UNLESSS THE PROBLEM OCCURRED AGAIN - THIS IS NOT REASSURING. AND I AAPEARED TO KNOW MORE ABOUT THE PROBLEM THAT THEY DID OR WAS WILLING TO ADMIT. I EVEN GAVE THEM A COPY OF AN ARTILCE (THE JAPAN TIMES - 5/16/2005) THAT I FOUND ON THE WEB REFERRED TO A WALL STREET JOURNAL ARTICLE ABOUT THE PROBLEM. IT SAID THA TTOYOTA CORP HAD SENT LETTERS TO PRIUS OWNERS TELLING THEM TO TAKE THIER CARS IN FOR A SOFTWARE UPGRADE COMPUTER. NO LETTER WA SEVER SENT TO ME! AND DEALER DID NOT REACT TO LETTER.

ON MARCH 26,2005, I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM TEMPLE. SUDDENLY, MY CAR LOSE POWER. ALL PANEL LIGHTS LIGHTED UP. I PUSHED THE GAS PADDLE, BUT THE ENGINE WOULD NOT RESPOND. I TURNED OFF THE POWER THEN TURNED BACK ON, BUT I CAN ONLY SHIFT TO NEUTRAL. ALL PANEL LIGHTS STAY ON. I USE MY INSURANCE TO CALL A TOW TRUCK TO TOW MY CAR TO WONDERIE TOYOTA. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT TOLD ME THAT THEY REPROGRAMED THE COMPUTER. THE CAR WORKS AFTER REPROGRAM AND THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT. ON APRIL 6,2005 IN THE MORNING, I TURN ON THE POWER. ALL THE PANEL LIGHTS STAY ON AND I CAN'T SHIFT. I CAN ONLY SHIFT TO NEUTRAL. AFTER ABOUT 15 MINUTES, I GOT OFF THE CAR AND OPEN THE CAR HOOD. I CAN'T SEE ANYTHING. I REMOVED MY HAND WHICH HOLDING THE HOOD SO THE HOOD DROP HARD ON TO THE CAR. I WENT BACK IN THE CAR. THE CAR START COULD RUN AGAIN. I DON'T KNOW IF THE HOOD DROP HARD ON THE CAR HAS ANYTHING TO DO WITH IT OR NOT. I TOOK MY CAR BACK TO WONDERIE TOYOTA, THE SERVICE REPRESENTIVE DID NOT WANT TO TAKE MY CAR IN. I TOLD HIM THAT I WON'T TAKE MY CAR BACK WITHOUT CHECKING. I READ THE COMMENTS ON THE RECEIPT AFTER I PICK UP MY CAR. THE MECHANIC DID NOT KNOW WHAT WAS WRONG WITH MY CAR. HE DID NOT DO ANYHTING.

WITH APPROXIMATELY 7100 MILES ON MY CAR ON FRIDAY MARCH 25, 2005 I WAS DRIVING ON LOCAL ROADS BETWEEN 20 TO 40 MILES PER HOUR WHEN THE CAR BEGAN BUCKING VERY BADLY .. SHORTLY THEREAFTER THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TURNED ON. WORRIED THAT THE VEHICLE MAY COMPLETELY STALL AND QUIT ON THE OPEN ROAD I RETURNED HOME AND CALLED MY LOCAL ARLINGTON TOYOTA DEALER. I BROUGHT THE CAR IN THE FOLLOWING MORNING (SATURDAY MARCH 26,2005) TO CHECK OUT THE PROBLEM.THEY HAD THE CAR ALL DAY AND STILL COULD NOT IDENTIFY WHY THE CAR WAS STALLING. SINCE I WAS SCHEDULE TO BE AWAY THE FOLLOWING WEEK (TRIP TO LAS VEGAS). I GAVE PERMISSION FOR TECHS TO KEEP CAR ALL WEEK IF NECESSARY. ON MONDAY OF THE FOLLOWING WEEK, I RECIEVED A CALL FROM TECH AT MY HOTEL THAT THEY HAD FIXED THE PROBLEM. HE CLAIMED IT WAS A MISFIRE IN #1 CYCLINDER. SO THEY REPLACED SPARK PLUG #1. HOWEVER, HE ALSO TOLD ME NOT GET THE CAR ENGINE WET. HE WARNED THAT IF I EVER RETURNED THE CAR WITH A WET ENGINE AGAIN THAT MY WARRANTY WOULD BE VOIDED. I TOLD HIM THAT I NEVER OPEN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND THAT I WOULD NEVER INTENTIONALLY PUT WATER DIRECTLY ON THE ENGINE. PARTICULLARY ON SUCH A SOPHISTICATED CAR SUCH AS A HYBRID. IN THE PAST 10,000 MILES THAT I HAVE OWNED THE VEHICLE I HAVE TAKEN IT THROUGH THE CAR WASH A TOTAL OF THREE TIMES.I PICKED UP THE CAR UPON MY RETURN FROM LAS VEGAS ON FRIDAY APRIL 1,2005. I AM HAPPY TO REPORT THAT THE CAR HAS BEEN RUNNING FINE EVER SINCE. HOWEVER, SINCE THE RECENT RASH OF NEWS REPORTS OF COMPLAINTS FILED AROUND THE COUNTRY OF THE PRIUS STALLING I AM WONDERING IF THE TECH AT ARLINGTON TOYOTA HAD MISDIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM I EXPERIENCE THIS PAST MARCH.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH THE BRAKE LIGHT, ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM AND STABILITY CONTROL WARNING LIGHT INDICATORS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ONE TIME. AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED; AND THE CONTACT WAS DISPLEASED WITH THE LACK OF RESPONSE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 61,800. UPDATED 05/10/10 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED TOYOTA HAS TAKEN CARE OF THE PROBLEM FREE OF CHARGE. UPDATED 05/12/10.*JB

EXTREME SENSITIVITY & INSTABILITY IN STRONG CROSSWINDS. THE STANDARD INTEGRITY TIRES THAT COME WITH THE CAR ARE A JOKE! *AK

ON MY 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS, THE ENGINE SUDDENLY STALLED WHEN LEAVING THE DEALERSHIP IN FRESNO, CALIFORNIA. THE ELECTRIC ENGINE CONTINUED FOR A SHORT TIME TO GET BACK TO THE DEALER, THEN EVERYTHING WAS DEAD. AFTER WORKING ON IT FOR SEVERAL HOURS THE DEALER COULD NOT FIND THE SOURCE OF THE PROBLEM, BUT DID GET IT OPERATING AGAIN AND I CONTINUED THE TRIP WITH INCIDENT.

I READ LOTS OF NEWS REPORTS YESTERDAY THAT THE 2010 PRIUS HAS A BRAKING ISSUE WHEN RUN OVER SPEED BUMPS. MY 2005 PRIUS HAS A SIMILAR BEHAVIOR WHICH SEMI-KNOWN CAUSE WHICH MIGHT EXPLAIN THIS, WHILE BEING SLIGHTLY DANGEROUS IN ANOTHER WAY. WHEN ONE DRIVES A 2005 PRIUS TOO FAST OVER A SPEED BUMP, OR THROUGH ANOTHER SITUATION WHICH CAUSES THE CAR TO THINK ONE OF ITS WHEELS IS SLIPPING OR SPINNING AT A DIFFERENT RATE THAN THE OTHERS, THE CAR TEMPORARILY (AS I BELIEVE IS IN THE INSTRUCTION MANUAL) FLASHES A BRIEFLY APPEARING INDICATOR LIGHT ON THE FRONT PANEL INDICATING IT IS SLIPPING, AND TEMPORARILY CUTS BACK ON ENGINE POWER. AVOIDING THIS REQUIRES KNOWING THE DRIVING BEHAVIOR OF THE PRIUS, AND I WONDER IF THIS IS THE BEHAVIOR CERTAIN 2010 PRIUS OWNERS MAY BE NOTING. {IF ONE IS LOOKING AT THE ROAD AND SCARED BY THE SUDDEN DROP IN ENGINE POWER, ONE MAY NEVER LOOK DOWN AT THE DASH TO SEE THE INDICATOR FLASH FOR 1-2 SECONDS EITHER.} NORMALLY THIS IS MIGHT SEEM LIKE REASONABLE, BUT THIS BECOMES POTENTIALLY EXTREMELY HAZARDOUS SHOULD ONE TRY TO MAKE A SHARP RIGHT TURN ONTO A HIGHER-SPEED MAIN ROAD (40 MPH+) FROM A DEAD STOP ON A SIDE ROAD WITH A HIGH RATE OF ACCELERATION TO ATTEMPT MERGE INTO HIGH-VOLUME, FAST-MOVING TRAFFIC. IN SUCH CASES (ESPECIALLY IF WATER IS PRESENT, BUT EVEN IF THE ROAD IS DRY), I HAVE HAD THE ANTI-SKID FEATURE KICK IN AND CUT BACK ON ENGINE POWER FOR A HALF-SECOND OR SO, WHICH RISKS STALLING THE CAR TEMPORARILY IN FRONT OF AN ONCOMING VEHICLE. AS A RESULT, I TRY NOT TO DO ANY MANEUVERS LIKE THIS, EVEN THOUGH OTHER CARS OFTEN CAN "BURN RUBBER" A BIT AND DO THIS. NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO ATTEMPT TO CORRECT THE ISSUE, AS IT IS PRESUMED TO BE NORMAL BEHAVIOR FOR THE CAR, AND I NEVER HAD A CAR WITH ANTI-SKID ABILITIES BEFORE. SEEING THIS WAS COMMON FOR ME AT FIRST, BUT IS NOW SOMEWHAT RARE (LESS THAN ONCE/MONTH) DUE TO CHANGING MY DRIVING HABITS. (MY2005 PRIUS LACKS VEHICLE STABILITY CONTROL; BUT HAS THE STANDARD ANTI-SKID SAFETY FEATURE.) *TR

(1) DRIVING AT SPEEDS BETWEEN 60-75MPH ON SMOOTH FLAT ROADS (2) VEHICLE SWAYS OR "FLOATS" SIDE TO SIDE, ESPECIALLY DURING CROSSWIND CONDITIONS (3) REPORT TO DEALER, NO REPAIR WAS DONE BY DEALER AS THEY THINK IT WAS CAUSED BY GROOVES IN THE ROAD

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE TRACTION CONTROL ENGAGED, THE BRAKES WOULD RELEASE FOR A SECOND. HE NOTICED THE ISSUE ON A BUMPY ROAD AND HE SAW THE TRACTION CONTROL ENGAGE WHEN THE LIGHT ON THE DASHBOARD ILLUMINATED. THE PROBLEM OCCURRED WHENEVER HE HAD TO BRAKE ON A BUMPY SURFACE (1-2 TIMES A MONTH). HE HAD NOT TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP OR CALLED THE MANUFACTURER TO-DATE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 98,100. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 2500.

THIS COMPLAINT RELATED TO THE BRAKE SYSTEM. EVER SINCE THE CAR WAS TAKEN OF THE DEALER SHIP, THE BRAKES ACT IN A SUDDEN, JERKY MANNER APPROACHING A STOP. THE BRAKES FUNCTION NORMALLY AT NORMAL SPEEDS, BUT AS I APPROACH A STOP, IT FEELS LIKE (FOR COMPARISON PURPOSES)AS IF YOU WHERE PULLING THE EMERGENCY BRAKE ON A NORMAL CAR WHILE THE CAR IS MOVING SLOW. ALONG WITH THIS, WHEN I PRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL HARD A NOISE IS GENERATED FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE ABOVE DESCRIPTION HAS BEEN EXHIBITED EVER SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR BRAND NEW AT TRIANGLE DEALER AT KENNEDY AVE (CARR#2) IN SAN JUAN, PUERTO RICO. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP APPROXIMATELY ON JAN 28, 2005 (I BOUGHT IT OCTOBER 16, 2004) TO HAVE THE BREAKS CHECKED AND THE SERVICE EMPLOYEE TOLD ME THAT BECAUSE IT WAS A HYBRID CAR, THAT WAS NORMAL BEHAVIOR. FOR THE TIME BEING THE CAR ALWAYS EXHIBITED THE BRAKE STRANGE BEHAVIORS AND RECENTLY A BRAKE LIGHT LIT ON FOR THE ABS AND BRAKE WARNING LIGHT. MY CAR IS NOW 130,000MILES AND OVER 8 YEARS. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY INDICATED THAT THE BRAKE ACTUATOR ASSEMBLY WAS DAMAGED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $2500. IM SURE THIS IS A DESIGN ISSUE THAT TOYOTA HAS NOT CLAIMED RESPONSIBILITY FOR. IM SURE THAT DUE TO THE EXPENSE OF IT. I JUST WANT MY EXPERIENCE TO BE ACCOUNTED FOR. THANKS! *TR

2005 TOYOTA PRIUS BRAKE FAILURE OVER BUMPY OR ICY ROADS REPORTED TO NHTSA IN 2005 WITH NO RESPONSE. TOYOTA DENIED FAILURE AND WE WERE TOLD TO SUE. *TR

BRAKING ON 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHEN SLOWING TO A STOP AND YOU HIT A BUMPY SURFACE OR MANHOLE COVER THE ANTILOCK BRAKES GO OFF AND THE BRAKES RELEASE FOR APPROXIMATELY 1-2 SECONDS AND YOU FEEL AS IF YOU ARE SKIDDING ON ICE. *TR

PLEASE NOTE THIS IS MY SECOND COMPLAINT ABOUT MY PRIUS'S BRAKES, BUT IT IS NOT A DUPLICATE COMPLAINT. MY CAR HAS TWO PROBLEMS WITH IT'S BRAKES WHICH SEEM TO ME TO BE UNRELATED. MY PRIUS BRAKES VERY ODDLY WHEN DRIVING IN THE RAIN, OR IN THE EARLY MORNING WHEN THERE IS APPRECIABLE DEW/CONDENSATION. WHEN GENTLY DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL AT A CONSTANT PRESSURE, THE CAR DECELERATES SLOWLY, THEN ABRUPTLY TRANSITIONS TO VERY RAPID DECELERATION, AS THOUGH I HAD SLAMMED THE BRAKE PEDAL DOWN HARD. IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO MODULATE THE BRAKING. THIS HAPPENS SEVERAL TIMES, THEN SEEMS TO EASE UP AS THE VEHICLE IS OPERATED FOR AROUND 15 MINUTES. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS I HAVE REPORTED THIS TO THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP. THEY HAVE SOMETIMES DISMISSED THE COMPLAINT OUT OF HAND, AND ONCE ATTEMPTED IN VAIN TO REPLICATE THE DEFECT, UNSUCCESSFULLY. IN ANY EVENT, I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN TOLD MY BRAKES WERE OPERATING NORMALLY. PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS IS NOT THE SAME PROBLEM AS THE BRAKE FAILURE WHICH OCCURS WHEN BRAKING WHILE RIDING OVER A ROUGH OR UNEVEN SURFACE, WHICH MY VEHICLE ALSO DOES. AT LEAST, I ASSUME THE TWO PROBLEMS ARE UNRELATED. I HAVE FILED A SEPARATE COMPLAINT FORM FOR THAT PROBLEM. *TR

1) I RECEIVED A NOTICE FROM TOYOTA ABOUT A NAVIGATION SYSTEM SOFTWARE UPDATE. THE CAR WAS BROUGHT TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THE UPDATE WAS PERFORMED. 2)AFTER LEAVING THE DEALERSHIP, IN LESS THAN 2 MILES, THE CAR ENGINE STALLED AS I WAS DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR. I PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. 3) MY CAR HAS THE SMARTKEY SYSTEM, SO AT THE TIME, THE KEY WAS NOT INSERTED. AFTER INSERTING THE KEY, I WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE CAR. THIS OCCURRED AGAIN AFEW DAYS LATER, AND THE CAR WAS RESTARTED ONLY AFTER INSERTING THE KAY.

THE AUTOMATIC DIMMING REAR-VIEW MIRROR IN MY 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS DIMS RANDOMLY. IT HAS SUPPOSEDLY BEEN REPLACED BY THE DEALER WITH NO NOTICEABLE IMPROVEMENT. IT RESPONDS TO BLUE-TINTED (WHITER) HEADLIGHTS, BUT DOES NOT DIM WHEN A STANDARD YELLOWISH HEADLIGHT IS SHINING INTO THE MIRROR. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND DISTRACTING. *JB

FEB. 4, 2010 -- SIMILAR TO WHAT IS BEING SAID ABOUT THE ABS BRAKES IN A 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS NOT WORKING PROPERLY IF THE VEHICLE HAS HIT A POTHOLE OR IS GOING OVER WASH-BOARD TYPE SURFACES, I HAVE NOTICED THAT MY 2005 PRIUS HAS DONE THE SAME THING WHEN I GO OVER VERY ROUGH/CHOPPY ROAD SURFACES. THIS HAS HAPPENED SINCE I BOUGHT IT BRAND NEW IN DEC. 2004. I NEVER THOUGHT MUCH ABOUT IT UNTIL THE RECENT REPORTS OF THE 2010 MODEL. I JUST CHALKED IT UP TO THE WHEELS BOUNCING IN REACTION TO THE SURFACE. *JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS. SEVERAL MONTHS AGO SHE RECEIVED A LETTER FROM THE MANUFACTURER TO TAKE THE FLOOR MATS OUT OF HER VEHICLE AND WHAT TO DO IF THE VEHICLE ACCELERATES. THE CONTACT HAS EXPERIENCED THE VEHICLE ACCELERATING MULTIPLE TIMES. THE CONTACT THEN TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHO INFORMED HER THAT THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE REPAIRED AT HER OWN EXPENSE. SHE THEN CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER AND THEY STATED THAT SINCE THEY DID NOT RECALL HER VEHICLE THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. THE RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FROM THE MANUFACTURER AND THEY REFUSE TO MAKE THE FREE RECALL REPAIR. HER STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL WAS NOTIFIED AND THEY INFORMED HER THAT THEY WERE GOING TO MAIL HER A COMPLAINT FORM. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 31000. UPDATED 04/05/10 *BF UPDATED 05/17/10 *JB

DT: THE VEHICLE INTERMITTENTLY STALLED AND DECELERATED WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH DUE TO COMPUTER FAILURE. *AK THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY. THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT HAD COME ON BEFORE AND REMAINED ON AFTER THE VEHICLE FAILED. *SC

I HAVE AN EARLY 2005 PRIUS WHICH HAS "STALLED" I.E. LOST AL ENGINE POWER ON TWO OCCASIONS. I BELIEVE THE "STALLING" IS INTENTIONALLY DESIGNED INTO THE SOFTWARE TO PROTECT THE TRANSMISSION. I THINK A DESIGN DECISION INTENDED TO PROTECT THE CAR IS PUTTING MY LIFE AT RISK. MY EARLY 2005 PRIUS HAS "STALLED" TWICE: ONCE ON THE FREEWAY AT 80 MPH WHEN I HAD TO JAM ON THE BRAKES (SOMEONE CUT ME OFF) AND AGAIN ON SURFACE STREETS AT 30 MPH WHEN I FLOORED IT TO ACCELERATE SUDDENLY. IN EACH CASE THE TRANSMISSION'S INTERNAL COMPONENTS WOULD BE UNDER TREMENDOUS STRAIN UNLESS IT DISENGAGED. IN EACH CASE ALL LIGHTS, HEADLIGHTS, INDICATORS STAYED ON, THE "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT CAME ON, THE CAR CONTINUED COASTING (AS IF PUT IN NEUTRAL), AND THE CAR WAS UNRESPONSIVE TO THE THROTTLE AND THE GEAR SHIFT. (IN NEITHER CASE DID I HIT THE GEAR SHIFT NOR POWER BUTTON BEFORE THE "STALL"). IN BOTH CASES I COASTED TO A SAFE SPOT (TRY CROSSING FIVE LANES OF 70+ MPH FREEWAY TRAFFIC AT NIGHT WHILE COASTING). ONLY AFTER PARKING, TURNING OFF POWER, AND RESTARTING POWER WOULD THE CAR OPERATE...AT WHICH POINT IT OPERATED FINE. DEALER COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG...IN FACT THE SECOND INCIDENT WAS TWO DAYS AFTER MY 30,000 MILE SERVICE! THEY APPARENTLY TOOK NO ACTION REGARDING THE CONCERN I EXPRESSED TO THE SERVICE REP WITH RESPECT TO STALLING...HE ASSURED ME THEY WOULD CHECK FOR ALL AVAILABLE SOFTWARE UPDATES, BUT CORPORATE TOLD ME TODAY THERE IS AT LEAST ONE UPDATE (RELATING TO THE NAVIGATION SYSTEM) WHICH WAS NOT DOWNLOADED, SO APPARENTLY THE DEALER IS NOT RESPONDING TO THIS LIFE-THREATENING CONCERN. I CALLED CORPORATE TODAY TO START A "CASE" AND WAS TOLD THEY ARE UNAWARE THAT THIS IS A RECURRENT ISSUE. THIS DESPITE DISCUSSIONS IN THE PRESS AND ON HYBRIDCARS.COM. I AM CONTACTING YOU IN CASE I AM KILLED OR INJURED BEFORE TOYOTA FIGURES OUT THAT THIS IS A SERIOUS AND RECURRENT ISSUE. THE FIRST INCIDENT WAS AROUND JANUARY OR FEBRUARY 2005, AND THE MOST RECENT WAS MONDAY SEPT 19 2005. *JB

THE PRIUS BRAKING PROBLEM IS NOT LIMITED TO 2010 MODELS. I HAVE A 2005 PRIUS AND HAVE NOTICED THAT AFTER APPLYING THE BRAKES, IF THE CAR MOVES OVER AN UNEVEN OR SLICK SURFACE, THE BRAKES SEEM TO DISENGAGE FOR A MOMENT. AN EXAMPLE IS APPLYING THE BRAKES WHILE TRAVELING OVER A CROSSWALK STRIPE THAT HAS BEEN MOISTENED BY FOG OR RAIN. THE CAR SEEMS TO LURCH FORWARD AS THE BRAKES SEEM TO DISENGAGE AND THE SLIP INDICATOR LIGHT COMES ON. THEN THE BRAKES COME BACK ON. THIS CAN BE SOMEWHAT DISCONCERTING AND COULD BE HAZARDOUS IF THERE WERE AN OBSTACLE OR PEDESTRIAN IMMEDIATELY AHEAD. *TR

I SENT AN E-MAIL TO NHTSA ON 2/8/10 DESCRIBING THIS COMPLAINT. MY HUSBAND AND I ARE THE OWNERS OF A 2005 PRIUS WHICH WE BOUGHT NEW. EVER SINCE WE'VE OWNED IT WE HAVE ALWAYS HAD THE FOLLOWING PROBLEM: WHEN WE GO OVER A BUMP, POTHOLE, OR UNEVEN SURFACE WE EXPERIENCE A MOMENTARY LOSS OF BRAKING ABILITY-WE HAVE ALWAYS FELT THIS WAS DUE TO THE NATURE OF THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES AND NEVER CONSIDERED THAT IT MIGHT BE A DEFECT OR FLAW, UNTIL NOW. THIS SITUATION IS ONLY MOMENTARY, AND BECAUSE IT LASTS ONLY BRIEFLY WE NEVER FELT OUR SAFETY WAS COMPROMISED. THIS SITUATION IS ON-GOING. WE HAVE HAD OUR FLOOR MATS MODIFIED BY TOYOTA LAST MONTH. *TR

I WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE TO A GAS STATION ON A MAJOR ROAD WHEN THE ENGINE DIED AND THE VEHICLE SHIFTED TO BATTERY POWER. I WAS ABLE TO GET TO THE GAS STATION AND IT WAS CLEAR I HAD NOT RUN OUT OF GAS. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN FINE SINCE SO I DIDN'T THINK ABOUT IT UNTIL THE MEDIA REPORTS CAME OUT.

THE VEHICLE'S GAS NEEDLE INDICATED THAT THE TANK WAS HALF FULL. WHEN THE CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO REFUEL THE VEHICLE, THE PUMP SHUT OFF AFTER ONLY DEPOSITING 1.1 GALLONS OF FUEL INTO THE TANK. *NM THE CONSUMER STOPPED A SECOND TIME TO TRY TO FILL THE FUEL TANK AND INSERTED THE PUMP INTO THE TANK. AFTER THE ATTEMPT TO FILL THE TANK, THE CONSUMER REMOVED THE PUMP FROM THE TANK AND FUEL SHOT OUT OF THE TANK ALL OVER THE CONSUMER. THE FUEL GAUGE STILL SHOWED HALF OF A TANK. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THE PART NEEDED WOULD BE A COUPLE WEEKS AND WAS FORCED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. AFTER DRIVING THE VEHICLE THE CONSUMER NOTICED THAT FUEL GAUGE STILL IN THE SAME PLACE. THE DEALER FIXED THE PROBLEM STATING THAT WATER SOMEHOW GOT INTO THE FUEL CUT OFF VALVE AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE NOT TO ACCEPT FUEL. IN DRIVING HOME THE CONSUMER STOPPED AGAIN TO GET FUEL AND THE SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED. *TC *JB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT UNKNOWN SPEEDS, THE BRAKES WOULD NOT ENGAGE WHEN DEPRESSED. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED THE FAILURE WOULD OCCUR INTERMITTENTLY FOR YEARS. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 427 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 50,000.

THE SHIFT-BY-WIRE TRANSMISSION SELECTOR IN MY 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS IGNORES MY SHIFT IF I MOVE THE SHIFT LEVER TOO QUICKLY. THIS HAS ALMOST LED TO SEVERAL ACCIDENTS. ON MY FIRST DAY DRIVING MY PRIUS, I WAS PARKED IN A DIAGONAL, ON-STREET SPACE. MY VIEW OF APPROACHING TRAFFIC WAS BLOCKED BY THE VEHICLE BESIDE ME. WHEN I BACKED OUT FAR ENOUGH INTO THE TRAFFIC LANE, I REALIZED THAT TRAFFIC WAS COMING. I NEEDED TO MOVE FORWARD QUICKLY TO AVOID GETTING HIT. I QUICKLY MOVED THE SHIFT LEVER TO D AND ACCELERATED. THE CAR LURCHED BACKWARDS INSTEAD OF FORWARDS. I HIT THE BRAKE AND QUICKLY BUT CAREFULLY SHIFTED TO D AGAIN. APPROACHING TRAFFIC WAS NOW ALMOST AT MY LOCATION. I ACCELERATED AGAIN BUT THE CAR LURCHED BACKWARDS, NOT FORWARDS, AGAIN. THE CAR HAD IGNORED BOTH INPUTS FROM ME AND REMAINED IN REVERSE. LUCKILY THE APPROACHING TRAFFIC SLOWED TO AVOID CRASHING INTO ME, GIVING ME TIME TO SLOWLY AND DELIBERATELY MOVE THE SHIFT LEVER TO D. THIS TIME THE CAR MOVED FORWARD. I CAN EASILY SHIFT THE LEVER TOO QUICKLY, WHICH RESULTS IN NO GEAR CHANGE. TOYOTA SAID THIS DANGEROUS CONDITION IS NORMAL FOR THE PRIUS. ALSO, THERE IS A COLUMN-MOUNTED STALK TOO CLOSE TO THE DASH-MOUNTED GEAR SHIFT LEVER. IT IS EASY TO MOMENTARILY PUT YOUR HAND ON THE WRONG STALK WHEN TRYING TO SHIFT GEARS. FINALLY, THE CAR LOUDLY BEEPS WHENEVER REVERSE IS SELECTED. THIS IS INSIDE, NOT OUTSIDE I ASSUME TO LET YOU KNOW THAT YOU ARE IN REVERSE. THAT LOUD, DISTRACTING INTERIOR BEEPER IS A SAFETY HAZARD. I WAS NOT AWARE OF HEARING IT WHEN I HAD THE BACKING INCIDENTS DESCRIBED ABOVE BUT I AM VERY AWARE OF IT WHEN I AM CAREFULLY BACKING UP AND TRYING TO WATCH AND LISTEN FOR PEDESTRIANS, CARS, ETC. BEHIND ME. MY TOYOTA DEALER TOLD ME THAT IT CANNOT BE DISCONNECTED. ALL DRIVERS FROM OWNERS TO VALETS, EXPECT THE GEARS TO CHANGE WHEN THEY SHIFT. THE PUBLIC SHOULD BE WARNED ABOUT THE PRIUS UNTIL TOYOTA MAKES A TRANSMISSION FIX SUCH AS RETROFITTING THE CARS WITH A CONVENTIONAL SHIFT MECHANISM.

I HAVE AN UNRESOLVED SAFETY ISSUE WITH MY 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS. THIS HAPPENED TO ME ON THE FIRST DAY THAT I DROVE MY THEN-BRAND NEW CAR. I STILL REMEMBER THIS DANGEROUS EVENT VERY CLEARLY. I CAN EASILY REPLICATE THE PROBLEM FOR YOU. I WAS ABOUT TO BACK MY PRIUS OUT OF ITS DIAGONAL PARKING SPACE ON A BUSY MAIN STREET IN DOWNTOWN EL CAJON, CA. IT WAS DAYTIME. VEHICLES WERE PARKED ON EITHER SIDE OF ME, WHICH PREVENTED ME FROM SEEING WHETHER OR NOT THERE WAS TRAFFIC APPROACHING. I CAREFULLY BACKED OUT OF THE PARKING SPACE UNTIL I COULD SEE WHETHER OR NOT THERE WAS TRAFFIC APPROACHING. I SAW THAT THERE WAS AND IT WAS APPROACHING QUICKLY, SO WITH THE INTENTION OF STOPPING MY CAR'S BACKWARDS MOVEMENT AND, INSTEAD, GOING FORWARD INTO MY PARKING SPACE, I HIT THE BRAKES AND QUICKLY MOVED THE GEARSHIFT LEVER OVER TO THE LEFT AND FULLY DOWN INTO THE DRIVE GATE TO THE STOP POSITION, BEFORE I RELEASED THE SPRING-LOADED SHIFT LEVER (WHICH SENDS IT BACK TO ITS 'HOME' POSITION). I THEN QUICKLY PRESSED THE GAS PEDAL, INTENDING FOR THE CAR TO MOVE FORWARD SO THAT I COULD DRIVE BACK INTO MY PARKING SPACE. TO MY SHOCK, MY CAR JUMPED FURTHER BACKWARDS INTO THE TRAFFIC LANE, INSTEAD OF FORWARDS INTO MY PARKING SPACE. HAVING GOOD REFLEXES, AND IN SOMEWHAT OF A PANIC NOW, I ONCE AGAIN SHOVED THE GEARSHIFT LEVER FULLY INTO THE DRIVE GATE AND FULLY DOWN UNTIL IT CONTACTED THE STOP, BEFORE LETTING GO OF IT. ONCE AGAIN I PUNCHED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND ONCE AGAIN THE CAR JUMPED -- BACKWARDS! I FULLY APPLIED THE BRAKES AND HOPED THAT THE ONCOMING VEHICLES WOULD NOT HIT ME. FORTUNATELY, THEY DID NOT. THE PROBLEM IS THAT IF THE GEARSHIFT LEVER ON THE 2005 PRIUS IS MOVED TOO QUICKLY, THERE WILL BE NO GEAR CHANGE. THIS COULD BE CORRECTED IF THE GEAR SELECTOR REMAINED IN THE APPROPRIATE GEAR'S GATE, GIVING THE ELECTRONICS TIME TO MAKE THE SHIFT. THIS FLAW COULD CAUSE ACCIDENTS AND BE FALSELY ATTRIBUTED TO DRIVER ERROR. IN THE INTERESTS OF SAFETY, IT SHOULD BE FIXED. *TR

CONSUMER'S TOYOTA PRIUS LOST POWER SUDDENLY WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE.*MR *NM

CONSUMER COMPLAINT CONCERNING 2005 PRIUS ENGINE STALLING. *TS *JB

2005 TOYOTA PRIUS MAKES A LOUD NOISE CAUSED BY ANTI-LOCK BRAKE PROBLEMS.*TS THE CONSUMER STATED THE NOISE WAS HEARD WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. UPON DIAGNOSIS, THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED IT WOULD COST $2,300 TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THE SERVICE REP STATED A TSB HAD BEEN ISSUED REGARDING THE PROBLEM, BUT THERE WAS NO SAFETY ISSUE INVOLVED. THE SERVICE REP IT WAS NOT NECESSARY TO HAVE THE UNIT REPAIRED. *JB

2005 TOYOTA PRIUS. CONSUMER EXPRESSES DISCONTENT WITH DEALER RESPONSE AND RECALL *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS, WHEN ACCELERATING TO PASS AND MERGE, THE BRAKE DID NOT DEACTIVATE THE CRUISE CONTROL. THE CONSUMER STATED IF FELT WA THOUGH THE VEHICLE WAS ACCELERATING ON ITS OWN. THE CONSUMER STATED HE DID RECEIVE A RECALL NOTICE IN THE MAIL REGARDING AN ACCELERATOR PROBLEM. *JB

2005 TOYOTA PRIUS. CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE LOSS STEERING, BRAKES, CRUISE CONTROL ON THE HIGHWAY, WHEN APPLYING BRAKE AT A FULL STOP VIBRATION IS FELT *TGW THE POWER STEERING, BRAKE AND ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONSUMER STATED HE NOTICED WHEN THE PROBLEM OCCURRED, HE WAS USING HIS BLUETOOTH HEADSET. *JB