2005 Toyota Prius Complaint Log

THE DRIVER SIDE HEADLIGHT INTERMITTENTLY GOES ON AND OFF WITHOUT WARNING. THIS BEGAN OVER A YEAR AGO, BUT WE CANNOT NAME THE SPECIFIC TIME. WE INITIALLY THOUGHT IT WAS JUST A LIGHT BULB, HOWEVER, WE LEARNED THAT IT CAN BE REACTIVATED BY BRIEFLY TURNING THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH OFF AND ON. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD IF DRIVING AT NIGHT. IT CAN HAPPEN SEVERAL TIMES DURING ONE TRIP OR NOT AT ALL. WE HAVE TAKEN IT TO A FEW TOYOTA DEALERS AND THEY HAVE INDICATED THAT IT COULD COST 400-800+ TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM, WHICH WE BELIEVE TO BE EXCESSIVE SO FOR NOW WE ARE TOLERATING THE PROBLEM. *TR

THE HID HEADLIGHTS WILL OCCASIONALLY GO OUT. OVER TIME I REALIZED THAT BY TURNING THE LIGHTS OFF AND ON, THE LIGHTS CAME BACK ON. WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT, THIS EVENT CAN HAPPEN AS OFTEN AS EVERY COUPLE MINUTES. SOMETIMES IT MAY NOT OCCUR FOR AN HOUR. BUT THERE IS NO RHYME OR REASON AS TO THE FREQUENCY OF LOSING THE LIGHT. MAYBE 3 OR 4 TIMES OVER THE LAST 2 YEARS BOTH HEADLIGHTS TURNED OFF AT ONCE. HAD I BEEN ON AN INTERSTATE AT THE TIME OR IN INCLEMENT WEATHER, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN MUCH MORE DANGEROUS AND LIFE THREATENING. LOSING THE LIGHT FROM A BULB CAN OCCUR TO EITHER HEADLIGHT. ALTHOUGH IT SEEMS TO OCCUR WITH ONE BULB OR THE OTHER FOR A PERIOD OF TIME. IN OTHER WORDS, ON A NIGHT'S DRIVE, IT'S USUALLY ONE BULB THAT WILL OFTEN GO OUT ON THAT NIGHT. THE NEXT EVENING IT MAY BE THE OTHER HEADLIGHT. THE LOCAL TOYOTA SERVICE GARAGE CHARGES ABOUT $175 EACH FOR THE HID LIGHTBULBS AND ANOTHER $95 FOR THE INSTALLATION. LOOKING AT OPINIONS ON LINE CONCERNING THIS PRIUS HEADLIGHT PROBLEM, IS THE VIEW THAT REPLACING THE BULB IS NOT THE ISSUE. THE PROBLEM IS WITHIN THE COMPUTER SYSTEM OF THE CAR. THE PRICE OF REPLACING THE BULBS COMBINED WITH THE POSSIBILITY THAT LIGHT REPLACEMENT MAY NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM, KEEPS ME FROM SPENDING THE MONEY AND INSTEAD KEEPS ME FLICKING THE LIGHTS OFF AND ON WHEN NEEDED. GIVEN THE EXTREME POTENTIAL DANGER OF THIS DEFECT, IT SEEMS THAT TOYOTA OWES IT TO THEIR CUSTOMERS TO GET TO THE BOTTOM OF THIS PROBLEM. AND CREATE A FIX. *TR

THE LEFT HEADLIGHT WENT OUT AND THE OPERATOR TURNED THE LIGHTSWITCH OFF THEN BACK ON AND THE LEFT HEADLIGHT RESTARTED. THIS HAPPENED INTERMITTENTLY AT NO PARTICULAR TIME INTERVAL UP UNTIL SEPTEMBER 29, 2012 WHEN BOTH HEADLIGHTS BEGAN TO GO OUT AND THE OPERATOR NOW HAS SAFETY CONCERNS. *TR

I THOUGHT MY HEADLIGHTS NEEDED TO BE ADJUSTED, SO I TOOK THE CAR TO HAVE IT DONE. THE SHOP TOLD ME THAT THE PROBLEM COULDN'T BE FIXED BECAUSE IT WAS THE AUTO LEVELING SENSOR IN THE REAR OF THE CAR. AFTER A FEW MORE WEEKS OF DRIVING LIKE THAT, A WARNING LIGHT CAME ON THE DASH BOARD AND THE DISPLAY IN THE CONSOLE. I ORDERED THE PART AND HAD IT REPLACED. IT SOME WHAT RESOLVED THE PROBLEM, BUT THE LIGHTS STILL NEED ADJUSTING. THEY ARE STILL NOT POINTING HIGH ENOUGH TO LIGHT THE ROAD APPROPRIATELY. THE SHOP SAYS THAT THERE IS NO WAY TO ADJUST THE LIGHTS FURTHER THAN WHAT THE SENSOR DOES. *TR

WE WERE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT NIGHT AND SUDDENLY, WITHOUT WARNING, THE ENGINE STALLED COMPLETELY, THE CAR DIED, AND ALL OF THE WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON, INCLUDING A RED TRIANGLE, CHECK ENGINE, BRAKE, AND SOME OTHERS. THE PRIUS LOST POWER AND I HAD TO TURN ON THE HAZARD LIGHTS AND COAST TO THE SHOULDER. WE CALLED THE AAA TOWING SERVICE AND 911 (AS THE SHOULDER WAS VERY NARROW AND WE COULD NOT GET OUT OF THE CAR). THE OFFICER AND THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER CHECKED FOR ALL POSSIBLE DRIVER ERRORS, INCLUDING GAS, BUT DID NOT FIND ANYTHING OUT OF THE ORDINARY (THE GAS GAUGE SHOWED 5/8 FULL). THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP IN SUNNYVALE WHO ARE WORKING TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE. THIS WAS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION AS WE WERE DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY, WITH A CHILD IN THE CAR, AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AT NIGHT AND THE CAR SUDDENLY DIED. IT HAS LEFT US SHAKEN AND WE WILL BE CONTACTING TOYOTA TO SEE IF THEY HAVE A FIX FOR THIS. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AT ENGINE STARTUP, THE SRS WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL NEEDED A REPLACEMENT SPIRAL CABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 109,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 109,500. UPDATED 03/06/12 *BF

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE HEADLIGHTS INTERMITTENTLY FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHERE THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000.

1) SUDDEN UNEXPECTED ACCELERATION 2) STEERING SHAFT SEVERED 3) DRIVERS SIDE AIR BAG INOPERATIVE ALONG WITH ALL STEERING WHEEL MOUNTED CONTROLS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ACTIVATED, HE APPLIED THE BRAKE PEDAL IN AN ATTEMPT TO DEACTIVATE THE CRUISE CONTROL. THE CRUISE CONTROL WOULD NOT DEACTIVATE AND THE CONTACT HAD TO MANUALLY DEACTIVATE THE CRUISE CONTROL SYSTEM. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT HE HEARD A SNAPPING SOUND COMING FROM THE STEERING WHEEL WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PARK AT 5 MPH. THIS FAILURE OCCURRED THE DAY AFTER THE CRUISE CONTROL FAILURE. THE STEERING WHEEL THEN BECAME LOOSE AND THE CONTACT COMPLETELY UNABLE TO STEER THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 27,773 UPDATED 12/12/11 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE SRS AND ALL THE STEERING WHEEL MOUNTED CONTROLS WERE DISABLED. UPDATED 05/31/12 THE CONSUMER CONTACTED AN AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS ANALYSIS COMPANY, WHO INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND DETERMINED THE STEERING ISSUE WAS CAUSED BY A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF THE UPPER STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT. THE UPPER STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT WAS DECOUPLED FROM THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING COLUMN OUTPUT SPLINE. A CAREFUL EXAMINATION OF THE DECOUPLED COMPONENTS REVEALED THAT FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME, THE UPPER STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT HAD NOT BEEN PROPERLY INSTALLED ON THE SPLINE OUTPUT OF THE POWER ASSIST COLUMN, WHICH ALLOWED A METALLURGICAL FAILURE ON THE INTERIOR OF THE UPPER STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT, WHICH CONSEQUENTLY ALLOWED SEPARATION OF THE SHAFT FROM THE ELECTRICAL STEERING POWER ASSIST COLUMN. UPDATED 05/13/13*DT*JB

PRIOR TO THIS MAJOR PROBLEM, MY DRIVER'S SIDE HEADLIGHT WOULD GO OUT INTERMITTENTLY AND THE COME BACK ON. ON 11/19/2011, BOTH HEADLIGHTS WENT OFF AFTER BEING ON FOR ABOUT 10 MINUTES. WHEN I TRIED TO PUT THE HIGH BEAMS ON ALL FRONT END LIGHTS WENT OUT. I MADE IT SAFELY TO MY DESTINATION. THE NEXT DAY I CHECK THE HEADLIGHTS AND THEY BOTH WORKED FINE. I CHECKED THE FUSES AND ALL WERE FINE. I USUALLY DRIVE WITH MY HEADLIGHTS ALWAYS ON, BUT DECIDED TO LEAVE THEM OFF ALL DAY IN HOPES THAT THE PROBLEM WOULDN'T REPEAT ON MY 6 HOUR DRIVE HOME. FOUR HOURS INTO MY DRIVE HOME, IT WAS GETTING DARK SO I TURNED MY HEADLIGHTS ON AND THEY WORKED, BUT WITHIN AN HOUR THEY BOTH WENT OFF. I TURNED THEM OFF AND THEN BACK ON AND THEY CAME ON AGAIN. OVER THE NEXT HOUR THE BOTH HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT MULTIPLE TIMES AND I WAS ABLE TO GET THEM BACK ON BY TURNING THEM OFF AND THEN BACK ON. FOR THE LAST HOUR OF MY DRIVE THE HEADLIGHTS STAYED ON AND WORKED FINE. I'VE HEARD OF OTHER PRIUS OWNERS HAVING SIMILAR PROBLEMS AND I BELIEVE THAT SINCE NON-WORKING HEADLIGHTS ARE A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE THAT TOYOTA SHOULD RECALL THE PRIUS AND FIX THIS ISSUE. *TR

HEADLIGHTS GOES OFF ALL THE TIME WHILE DRIVING. I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING THE PROBLEM WITH HEADLIGHTS FOR ALMOST THREE YEARS. *TR

THE HEADLAMPS REPEATEDLY BURN OUT, WHICH REPAIR PEOPLE HAVE SAID INDICATES AN UNDERLYING ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. I NOW HAVE TO REPLACE ONE OF THE HEADLAMPS FOR THE FOURTH TIME IN JUST OVER A YEAR. *TR

I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN MY VEHICLE'S CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. SHORTLY AFTER I SAW A LARGE AMOUNT OF SMOKE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. I PULLED OVER AND SHUT OFF THE CAR. CAR SMELLED LIKE BURNED PLASTIC AND SMOKE. I WAS WORRIED THAT THE CAR COULD CATCH ON FIRE OR BLOW UP! I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO MY NEAREST TOYOTA DEALERSHIP.TOYOTA CLAIMED THAT THE THREE WAY COOLANT CONTROL VALVE HAD FAILED AND THE STEAM CAME FROM A RUPTURED LINE IN THE COOLANT SYSTEM. THE JOB COST ME $422.32. I DIDN'T MIND PAYING THE SERVICE BUT AFTER CAREFUL RESEARCH INTO THE PROBLEM WITH THE 3-WAY CONTROL VALVE ON THE PRIUS I HAD LEARNED THAT THIS IS A WIDE SPREAD PROBLEM.APPARENTLY THE VALVE TENDS TO STICK CAUSING NO FLOW OF THE COOLANT FLUID. I FEEL TOYOTA SHOULD FIX THIS PROBLEM BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT EITHER BY GETTING BURNED FROM A RUPTURED LINE OR THE CAR CATCHES ON FIRE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED FORWARD AND CRASHED INTO TWO VEHICLES AND A WALL. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DESTROYED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

HID LEFT SIDE WOULD GO OUT THEN BACK ON . WILL WORK GOOD FOR SEVERAL WEEKS THEN INTERMITTENTLY WILL HAPPEN AGAIN. PRESENTLY ITS IS WORKING, LAST WEEK FRIDAY WAS THE LAST INCIDENT. *TR

HEADLAMP WOULD GO OUT AT RANDOM INTERVALS. ALWAYS CAME ON WHEN FIRST SWITCHED ON BUT WOULD GO OFF WHILE DRIVING. WOULD REPRODUCIBLY COME BACK ON WHEN THE SWITCHED WAS FLIPPED TO OFF AND BACK ON AGAIN. WOULD THEN GO OFF AGAIN AT LATER TIME. NO WAY TO TELL WHETHER OPERATIONAL WHILE DRIVING. *TR

SINCE ABOUT THE FALL OF LAST YEAR OR SO, WE'VE BEEN NOTICING THAT THE HEADLIGHTS HAVE BEEN GOING OFF INTERMITTENTLY. THE RIGHT WENT OUT AND THEN CAME BACK ON. THEN ANOTHER TIME THE LEFT WENT OUT AND CAME BACK ON. I'VE READ ABOUT THIS OCCURRING ON MANY OTHER PRIUS' AND THAT THERE WAS A CLASS ACTION SUIT? ANYWAY, I NEED TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO GET THIS FIXED AS IT IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

ONE HEADLIGHT GOES OUT - THIS HAPPENS SEVERAL TIMES A WEEK. CHANGING THE BULBS ONLY SOLVES THE PROBLEM FOR A FEW MONTHS. THIS IS A COMMON COMPLAINT IN SECOND GENERATION PRIUS MODELS. *JS

I WAS DRIVING WITH MY TWO CHILDREN ON THE 405 NORTH FREEWAY JUST SOUTH OF THE 10 FREEWAY AT 9PM IN MY TOYOTA PRIUS 2005. I HAD ISSUES WITH ONE OF THE HEADLIGHTS ALREADY. IT WOULD FLICKER AND THEN TURN OFF WITHOUT WARNING. LAST SUNDAY, HOWEVER, BOTH HEADLIGHTS FAILED, INCLUDING ALL INTERIOR LIGHTS, AS I WAS SPEEDING DOWN ON OF THE BUSIEST FREEWAYS IN THE COUNTRY AT NIGHTTIME. IT WAS PRETTY TERRIFYING. *TR

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE, THE SUN VISOR ON THE DRIVERS SIDE FLIPS DOWN, BLOCKING THE DRIVERS VIEW. THE VISOR CAN BE RETURNED TO THE UP (OUT OF THE WAY) POSITION. HOWEVER IT REPEATEDLY AND SPONTANEOUSLY SLIPS DOWN, BOTH BLOCKING THE DRIVERS VIEW AND CREATING A CONSTANT DISTRACTION FOR THE DRIVER. THIS IS DANGEROUS AND A SEVERE DRIVING HAZARD. *TR

I BELIEVE THERE IS A SERIOUS AND UNDISCLOSED FLAW IN THE TOYOTA PRIUS HID HEADLAMP SYSTEM. I HAVE NOTICED THE HEADLAMPS WILL EXTINGUISH INDIVIDUALLY AND UNEXPECTED IN AN INTERMITTENT MANNER, CAUSING A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY HAZARD TO DRIVER AS WELL AS OTHER VEHICLES. I HAVE CONTACTED TOYOTA ABOUT THIS, AND ALTHOUGH THEY HAVE EXTENDED THE WARRANTY WITH THIS OBVIOUSLY FLAWED DESIGN, THEY REFUSE TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE DESIGN AND REPAIR THE SYSTEMS. I HAVE OWNED SEVERAL OTHER VEHICLES WITH HID HEADLAMPS, NEVER HAVE THEY BECOME INTERMITTENT, WHICH IS INDICATIVE OF A DESIGN FLAW OR A SERIOUS MATERIALS PROBLEM WITH THE IGNITER SYSTEM FOR THE HID HEADLAMPS. I BELIEVE THAT TOYOTA SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE AND RECALL THE HID HEADLAMP SYSTEMS AND TAKE THE NECESSARY CORRECTIVE ACTION. *TR

PASSENGER HEADLIGHT KEEPS GOING OFF...WHEN IT GOES OFF, I CAN TURN THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH OFF AND THEN ON AGAIN AND THE HEADLIGHT COMES BASK ON. AS OF 11.29.11 AFTER MANY INCIDENTS, THE HEADLIGHT IS NOW DIMMING MORE AND MORE.

ENGINE SHUT OFF AT APPROXIMATELY 8500 FEET ABOVE SEA LEVEL (CARSON PASS, HIGHWAY 88). DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35-40MPH. CLEAR DAY 70 DEGREES. NO WARNING LIGHT FOR OVERHEATING, BUT AUX FAN TURNED ON IN REAR SEAT.. TOWED CAR APPROXIMATELY 50 MILES TO CARSON CITY. INSPECTED BY TOYOTA DEALER IN CONSULTATION WITH TOYOTA SERVICE CONSULTANTS. REPLACED HYBRID CONTROL ECU. NO CHARGE TO ME AND TOYOTA REIMBURSED FOR 2 DAYS EXPENSES. TRIP HOME , AUX FAN TURNED ON AT 8500 FEET REMAINED ON UNTIL APPROX. 7000 FEET ELEVATION. CONSULTED TOYOTA, REFERRED ME TO TOYOTA DEALER NEAR HOME. THEY CONSULTED WITH TOYOTA HQ. HQ RECOMMEND ANOTHER TEST COSTING $500. DEALER COULD FIND NO FAULT. I ASKED TOYOTA FOR REIMBURSEMENT OF $500 AND TO INVESTIGATE ENGINE SHUT OFF AS A POTENTIALLY VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION.TOYOTA REFERRED ME BACK TO LOCAL DEALER. MAINTENANCE MANAGER THERE TOLD ME THEY HAD ALREADY PERFORMED TESTS:NOTHING MORE TO BE DONE. HAVE NOT HEARD BACK FROM TOYOTA ABOUT REIMBURSEMENT OR FURTHER EVALUATION OF THE PROBLEM. *TR

HEADLIGHTS GO OUT WHILE DRIVING. DRIVER HEADLIGHT WENT OUT WHILE DRIVING 55MPH. PULLED OVER & NOTED DRIVER HEADLIGHT OUT. TURNED CAR OFF & THEN RESTARTED & BOTH HEADLIGHTS WENT ON. DROVE A COUPLE MILES & NOTED HEADLIGHT OUT & THIS TIME IT WAS THE PASSENGER HEADLIGHT THAT WAS OUT. THIS HAS HAPPENED A FEW TIMES IN THE YEAR @ 1/2. WE ALSO HAD A PROBLEM IN THE PAST WITH THE HEADLIGHTS BEING AIMED TOO LOW IN FRONT OF THE CAR CAUSING TROUBLE SEEING. IT TURNED OUT TO BE THE AUTO AIMING COMPUTER WAS MALFUNCTIONING & IT WAS REPLACED BY WARRANTY. WE ALSO HAD TO HAVE THE SKID CONTROL BRAKE COMPUTER ($2500.) REPLACED 12/06/2012 DUE TO BRAKE MALFUNCTIONING (BRAKES WOULD HARDLY STOP THE CAR). *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH WITH THE HEADLIGHTS ACTIVATED AND SUDDENLY THE DRIVER'S SIDE HEADLIGHT CHANGED TO AN ORANGE ILLUMINATION AND THEN BECAME INOPERATIVE WHICH RESULTED IN THE REDUCTION IN VISIBILITY. WHEN THE LIGHT SWITCH WAS TURNED ON AND OFF REPEATEDLY THE DRIVER'S SIDE HEADLIGHTS BEGAN TO ILLUMINATE PROPERLY FOR A BRIEF MOMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED NOR WAS THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 69,000.

THE HEADLIGHTS WENT OFF SUDDENLY (OF COURSE I WAS NIGHT DRIVING); I STOPPED, TURNED THE LIGHTS OFF AND BACK ON AND THEY WORKED FOR ABOUT 15 MINUTES. THE DRIVER SIDE LIGHT THEN WENT OUT AND I HAD TO PULL OVER, TURN THEM OFF, BACK ON AND THE LIGHT CAME BACK ON. THIS IS CURRENTLY AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM BUT ONE THAT NEEDS RESOLUTION. *TR

WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE UP, NO SPEEDOMETER DISPLAY IS ILLUMINATED. THE DISPLAY FOR THE VEHICLE ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROLS (MILES PER GALLON/ENERGY USE) STILL WORKS. ALONG WITH THE SPEEDOMETER DISPLAY, THE REAR HATCHBACK DOOR DOES NOT WORK. I TRIED TO ADJUST THE INSIDE LIGHT DISPLAY TO SEE IF THE LIGHT LEVEL WAS TURNED OFF. THIS WAS NOT PROBLEM. I TURNED THE LIGHT ADJUSTMENT KNOB IN BOTH DIRECTIONS, AND STILL NO SPEEDOMETER DISPLAY. UPON TRYING TO TURN OFF THE ENGINE, IT WILL NOT TURN OFF. I WAS ABLE TO SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF BY DISCONNECTING THE CAR BATTERY IN THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR HATCH BACK AREA. NOTE THAT BECAUSE THE REAR HATCH BACK DOOR DOES NOT WORK, ALL THE VEHICLE PARTS WHICH LEADS TO THE REAR BATTERY HAS TO BE TAKEN OUT FROM THE REAR SEAT OF THE VEHICLE. ONE PARTICULAR TIME I DISCONNECTED THE CAR BATTERY ON THE BLACK PORTION OF THE BATTERY,AND THE VEHICLE DID NOT SHUT OFF. I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP SEVERAL TIMES, AND BECAUSE THIS PROBLEM HAPPENS INTERMITTENTLY. TOYOTA WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE IT. HOWEVER, ONE DAY WHEN IT WAS NOT WORKING, I BROUGHT IT IN TO THEM. THEY LATER CLAIMED THAT IT WAS A "COLD START" PROBLEM TO THE COMPUTER THAT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE SPEEDOMETER DISPLAY (BESIDES OTHER THINGS, REAR HATCH BACK DOOR, CRUISE CONTROL, ETC.). TOYOTA CLAIMED THEY FOUND THE PROBLEM ON THE INTERNET, AND IT WAS NOT A RECALLED PART. THIS PARTICULAR PART (COMPUTER) NORMALLY HAPPENS ONLY IN THE STATES THAT ARE VERY COLD. *TR

WHEN DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, ONE OR BOTH OF THE HID HEADLIGHTS WILL GO OUT. IF I TURN THEM ALL THE WAY OFF, THEN BACK ON, THEY WILL LIGHT UP, BUT MAY GO OUT AGAIN OR MAY STAY LIT. THE VEHICLE IS A 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS WITH HID HEADLIGHTS. NOTE: THE HEADLIGHTS WILL NOT RELIGHT ON THEIR OWN; THEY MUST BE TURNED OFF THEN BACK ON. *TR

THE HEADLIGHT LEVELING CONTROL WARNING SIGNAL CAME ONE, THE CAR HAS ONLY 36000 MILES. THIS IS A VERY EXPENSIVE FIX AND HAS SAFETY ISSUES, AND APPEARS TO BE A DEFECT ON MANY SIMILAR MODELS. *TR

WHILE DRIVING MY 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS ON AN EXPRESSWAY AT NIGHT THE PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT WENT OUT. THERE WAS NO LIGHTS ON THE EXPRESSWAY AND I NEARLY HIT A PARKED CAR ON THE SIDE OF THE EXPRESSWAY. I PULLED OVER AT THE NEXT EXIT AND CHECKED THE HEADLIGHTS. THE PASSENGER HEADLIGHT WAS INDEED OUT. I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND WENT INTO THE RESTROOM. WHEN I CAME OUT AND RESTARTED THE CAR THE HEADLIGHT WAS ON. FIVE MINUTES LATER THE HEADLIGHT WENT OUT AGAIN. I TURNED THE LIGHTS OFF, THEN ON AGAIN AND IT CAME BACK ON. THIS HAPPENED AT LEAST TWENTY TIMES DURING THE FOUR HOUR TRIP HOME. SCARY AND DANGEROUS IN MY BOOK. *KB

ON 7/31/11 I NOTICED MY CRUISE CONTROL WOULD NOT SET. THE LIGHT CAME ON INDICATING THE CRUISE WAS ON, BUT I COULD NOT GET THE SPEED TO HOLD. THE NEXT DAY, THE CRUISE CONTROL WORKED. MIDDAY ON 8/1/11 WHILE PARKED, I SHIFTED TO THE D POSITION, BUT THE LIGHT INDICATED I WAS IN N. I SHIFTED BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN R AND D SEVERAL TIMES, BUT THE LIGHT INDICATED N. I TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE AND THE CAR MOVED BACKWARD. THE LIGHT INDICATED N AND THE KNOB WAS IN THE D POSITION. IT DID THIS SEVERAL TIMES. I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND BACK ON AND EVERYTHING WORKED LIKE IT IS SUPPOSED TO. ON 8/1/11 AT APPROXIMATELY 10:30 P.M. I WAS DRIVING HOME ON A NARROW, TWO-LANE RURAL HIGHWAY. ON A BLIND CURVE, BOTH OF MY HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT. I COULD NOT SEE ANYTHING. I TRIED CYCLING MY HEADLIGHTS OFF AND ON AND NOTHING HAPPENED. I APPLIED MY BRAKES AND STOPPED. I OPENED MY DOOR TO SEE WHERE I WAS IN THE ROADWAY AND DETERMINED I WAS ON THE FOG LINE ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND THERE WAS A HILLSIDE LESS THAN 5' FROM ME. I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE TO THE SHOULDER ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ROAD BY USING THE LIGHT FROM MY DOOR. I WAS EXTREMELY LUCKY NO CARS PASSED BY WHILE MY LIGHTS WERE OUT. I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED OR CAUSED A CATASTROPHE. I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND BACK ON AND BOTH HEADLIGHTS CAME BACK ON. A MOTORIST STOPPED TO ASSIST. I WAS ABLE TO FOLLOW HIM TO A STORE WHERE A FRIEND MET ME AND I FOLLOWED HIM HOME. DURING THE DRIVE HOME ONE OF MY HEADLIGHTS KEPT TURNING OFF. BOTH DID NOT GO OFF TOGETHER AGAIN. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER ON 8/3/11 AND WAS TOLD I NEED A NEW AUXILIARY BATTERY AND TWO NEW HEADLIGHTS. COST IS GOING TO BE AROUND $700. I READ ABOUT A CLASS ACTION SUIT REGARDING 2006-2009 PRIUS' HEADLIGHTS AND THAT TOYOTA KNOWS THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THEM. I BELIEVE THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL BECAUSE OF MY HARROWING EXPERIENCE AND THOSE OF MANY OTHERS.

BRAKES ON 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS STARTED INTERMITTENTLY ACTING UP ABOUT A YEAR AGO, AFTER SIX YEARS OF NO PROBLEMS. OBSERVED SYMPTOMS WERE EXTREME JERKINESS OF BRAKE OPERATION DESPITE CONSTANT PRESSURE ON BRAKE PEDAL. SYMPTOMS OBSERVED AT ANY SPEED, BUT ESPECIALLY NOTICEABLE AT SLOW SPEEDS (COMING TO A FINAL STOP, SUCH AS AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, OR IN REVERSE BACKING OUT OF DRIVEWAY). WHEN APPLYING BRAKES AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, JERKINESS FELT LIKE ALTERNATE OVER BRAKING / UNDER BRAKING. SYMPTOMS WERE QUITE SCARY THE FIRST TIMES IT HAPPENED. HAD PERSONAL MECHANIC CHECK OUT BRAKES. TEST DRIVE CONFIRMED PROBLEM, BUT HE WAS UNABLE TO FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH HYDRAULIC BRAKE SYSTEM. SINCE PROBLEM WAS INTERMITTENT, WE DECIDED TO SEE WHAT HAPPENED. PROBLEM CONTINUED INTERMITTENTLY, GRADUALLY INCREASING IN FREQUENCY TO THE POINT IN THE LAST MONTH WHERE IT WAS HAPPENING MUCH MORE OFTEN THAN NOT. TOOK CAR TO TOYOTA DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. PROBLEM WAS NOT EVIDENT ON DAY OF SERVICE. THEY CHECKED COMPUTER FOR STORED ERROR CODES, AND FOUND NONE. REAR BRAKE DRUMS SHOWED SLIGHT WEAR AND WERE OUT OF ADJUSTMENT, SO DRUMS WERE CLEANED AND TURNED AND BRAKES ADJUSTED. NO DIFFERENCE IN OBSERVED BEHAVIOR; BY END OF THE NEXT DAY, JERKY BEHAVIOR NOTED AS BAD AS IT HAD EVER BEEN. TOOK CAR BACK TO DEALER. THEY REPLACED THE STROKE SENSOR EVEN THOUGH THERE WAS NO STORED ERROR CODE. THIS APPEARS TO HAVE FIXED THE PROBLEM, SINCE THERE HAS BEEN NO RECURRENCE OF PROBLEM IN A WEEK OR DRIVING SINCE REPAIR. BRAKES FEEL TOTALLY NORMAL AGAIN, FOR THE FIRST TIME IN A YEAR. NOTE ON DIAGNOSIS PROCEDURE: THE DEALER SEEMED TO INITIALLY DISCOUNT MY DETAILED, WRITTEN DESCRIPTION OF THE PROBLEM, AND REACTED ONLY TO THEIR OBSERVATIONS. WHILE UNDERSTANDABLE, IT IS FRUSTRATING TO THE OWNER AND COULD LEAD TO A SERIOUS PROBLEM NOT GETTING FIXED. I FEEL THAT THE SYMPTOMS AS DESCRIBED TO THEM POINTED DIRECTLY TO THE STROKE SENSOR AND IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN REPLACED ON THAT BASIS. *TT

GAUGE CLUSTER ON MY 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS IS COMPLETELY DEAD. I CANNOT SEE ANY INFORMATION SUCH AS SPEED, TEMP, FUEL, ETC. ALSO, THE CAR DOES NOT TURN OFF WHEN I PUSH THE ON/OFF BUTTON. DEALER SAYS THAT IT WILL COST $1000 TO DIAGNOSE AND FIX. I AM VERY CONCERNED, AS THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE! *TR

I HAVE A 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS WITH HID HEADLIGHTS. THEY BEGAN FAILING, FIRST IT WAS ONLY THE DRIVERS SIDE LIGHT, AND INFREQUENTLY. I FOUND THAT WHEN I TURNED THE LIGHTS OFF AND ON AGAIN, THE HEADLIGHT WORKED AGAIN. BECAUSE OF THE HIGH COST OF REPLACEMENT, I LIVED WITH THE PROBLEM. RECENTLY, BOTH LIGHTS FAILED ON A BACK COUNTRY CURVY ROAD. FOR AN INSTANT EVERYTHING WAS TOTALLY BLACK. I QUICKLY TURNED THE LIGHTS OFF AND ON AND WAS ABLE TO SWERVE TO GET BACK ON THE ROAD. AS A RESULT, I AM GOING TO HAVE TO PAY NEARLY $1,000 TO HAVE BOTH HEADLIGHTS REPLACED AT MY EXPENSE, SINCE I HAD MORE THAN 50,000 MILES ON MY PRIUS. TOYOTA CUSTOMER CARE TOLD ME THAT I WOULD NOT BE COVERED BY A CLASS ACTION CASE FOR THE HID BULB REPLACEMENT BECAUSE MY CAR IS A 2005 AND IS NOT COVERED IN THE CASE. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND SHOULD BE A RECALL. *TR

THE MASTER WARNING LIGHT AND ANOTHER LIGHT CAME ON WARNING OF A POSSIBLE MISALIGNMENT OF THE HID HEADLAMPS ON 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS. THIS COULD LEAD TO BLINDING ONCOMING TRAFFIC IF THE LAMPS ARE MISALIGNED. TOYOTA DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT CLAIMED THAT EVEN THOUGH IT WAS A COMMON PROBLEM, REPAIRS WOULD COST ~$600 FOR A NEW HEADLIGHT LEVELING SENSOR (LOAD LEVELING SENSOR) AND INSTALLATION. *TT

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 60 MPH WHEN THE AUTOMATIC HEADLIGHT SENSOR FAILED DUE TO A DESIGN FLAW AND CORROSION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE COULD POTENTIALLY CAUSE THE HEADLIGHTS TO BLIND THE DRIVERS OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC. THE MANUFACTURE WAS CONTACTED AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

THE RIGHT HEADLAMP WORKS INTERMITTENTLY AND HAS BEEN FOR SOME TIME AND LATELY THE LEFT IS JOINING IN. I HAVE ASKED ABOUT THIS NUMEROUS TIMES OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS WHEN IN THE DEALERSHIP FOR OTHER SERVICES. IT ISN'T A PROBLEM ANY TIME I HAVE BEEN IN THEIR PRESENCE; BUT THEY NOTED IT IN MY FILE. LIKEWISE, AS I CROSS MY FINGERS YEARLY, THEY HAVE BOTH BEEN WORKING DURING INSPECTION. THOUGHT I WAS CRAZY UNTIL I SEE TONS OF COMPLAINTS ON THE INTERNET AS WELL AS INFO THAT YOU HAD AN INVESTIGATION BUT CLOSED IT SAYING THIS ISN'T A SAFETY ISSUE. JUST WANT IT TO GO ON RECORD WITH YOU AS WELL BECAUSE IF SOMETHING HAPPENS, YOU AND TOYOTA WILL BE SUED. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A PROBLEM WITH UPWARDS OF 2K PEOPLE (THAT YOU KNOW OF) AND SEE NO SAFETY ISSUE IN SOMETHING AS IMPORTANT AS LIGHTING? CARS DO NOT PASS INSPECTION WITH INADEQUATE LIGHTING AND REQUIRE REPLACEMENT; BUT, YOU SEE NO VALIDITY IN A LIGHTING ISSUE THAT THE CONSUMER IS UNABLE TO SOLVE BY REPLACEMENT OF THE LIGHTING UNIT?? JUST LIKE THE GOVERNMENT, MAKES NO SENSE! *TR

I HAVE A 2005 (01/01/05) MANUFACTURE DATE PRIUS. I DON'T REMEMBER THE TRIM PACKAGE. I NOTICED THE DRIVERS SIDE HEAD LIGHT WOULD INTERMITTENTLY FAIL CYCLING THE LIGHT OFF AND ON WOULD RESUME OPERATION. ONE WEEK LATER WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT BOTH HEADLIGHTS COMPLETELY FAILED AGAIN CYCLING THEM OFF AND ON RESUMED OPERATION. I WAS ISSUED A WARNING WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM WORK BY THE POLICE AND DEMONSTRATED THIS FACT. I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TO THE DEALER WHO TOLD ME BOTH HEADLIGHTS NEEDED REPLACED AND CHARGED ME 607.25 TO REPLACE. *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

DRIVING NORTH ON I75 AT APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH. THE GAS GAUGE HAD 3 BARS ILLUMINATED. THE VSC WARNING LIGHT AND THE RED TRIANGLE WITH THE EXCLAMATION POINT CAME ON. I LOST THE ABILITY TO ACCELERATE AND THE CAR SUDDENLY WENT DEAD. LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO MAKE TO RELATIVE SAFETY ON THE SIDE TO INTERSTATE. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHO SAID THE CAR RAN OUT GAS! THEY ALSO SAID THAT THE "FUEL REGISTER UNIT WAS OPERATING AS DESIGNED." HOW WAS THAT POSSIBLE? THE CHARGE? OVER $1200! ACCORDING TO TOYOTA CORPORATE AND THE DEALERSHIP, REPEATED UNSUCCESSFUL ATTEMPTS TO START THE CAR WILL, BY DESIGN, CAUSE IRREPARABLE DAMAGE TO THE ECU CODE ID BOX WHICH CAN COST $1200 - $1800 TO REPLACE. THIS "DESIGN" IS APPARENTLY IN THE NAME OF ANTI-THEFT PROTECTION. (WHY NOT JUST IMMOBILIZE THE CAR INSTEAD OF PARTIAL SELF-DESTRUCTION?) EVEN GIVEN THE HIGH EXTENT AND DOCUMENTED HISTORY OF GAS GAUGE DISPLAY MALFUNCTIONS AND MANY OTHER RELATED ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS, TOYOTA CORPORATE WOULD OFFER NO FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE, NO REIMBURSEMENT OF ANY PORTION OF THE REPAIR. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THE CAR HAS LOST ALL POWER IN THE MIDDLE OF HEAVY TRAFFIC. THAT TIME, 08/09/10, THE WATER PUMP FAILED. SUBSEQUENT TO THAT, I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE TO REPLACE THE WATER PUMP.

(1). I SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES, BUT THERE WAS NO POWER BRAKES. THE 2005 PRIUS SLOWED, BUT DID NOT STOP UNTIL IT CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. I WAS GOING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, AND I TRAVELED 3 CAR LENGTHS BEFORE COLLIDING WITH THE OTHER VEHICLE. (2). LOSS OF POWER ASSIST HAD PREVIOUSLY OCCURRED WHILE BACKING UP, BUT THIS WAS THE FIRST FAILURE GOING FORWARD. (3). TOTAL LOSS(TOTALED,, $7,000 DAMAGE). THE 2005 PRIUS IS NOW AT AN AUTOMOBILE RECYCLING YARD. )4) I NOTIFIED TOYOTA. BUT I HAD TO CALL THEM BACK SEVERAL TIMES, AND AFTER 15 DAYS, SOMEONE FINALLY ANSWERED, INSTEAD OF ME GETTING THEIR VOICE MAIL. IF THE POWER BRAKES HAD FAILED AT AN INTERSECTION, IT COULD HAVE BEEN A FATAL CRASH. *KB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS HE NOTICED THE ENGINE LIGHT, THE ABS, AND THE BRAKE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE THEN STARTED TO MAKE A LOUD CLUNKING NOISE AND THEN WHEN DECELERATING HE NOTICED THAT THE ABS STARTING TO KICK IN WHEN IT SHOULDN'T. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO A DEALER AND THEY ADVISED HIM THAT THE COMPUTER HAD MALFUNCTIONED ON THE ABS SYSTEM AND THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL HAD LOCKED UP. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY ADVISED HIM THEY WILL ESCALATE THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 110,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEAD LAMP LEVELING SYSTEM WAS CORRODED, CAUSING THE HEADLIGHT TO MOVE UP AND DOWN ABNORMALLY. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE HEAD LAMPS AT THE OWNERS EXPENSE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 18,206 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 19,421.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT SPOKE WITH THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE BULBS MOST LIKELY CAUSED THE FAILURE. THE HEADLIGHT BULBS WERE REPLACED BUT TO NO AVAIL. THE CONTACT SPOKE WITH THE MANUFACTURER A SECOND TIME AND WAS TOLD THAT THE COMPUTER WHICH OPERATED EACH HEADLIGHT COULD POSSIBLY NEED REPLACING. THAT VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 158,000.

STEERING FAILURE ON 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS. 2007- SERVICE CAMPAIGN 60C PERFORMED ON THIS PRIUS TO INSPECT/REPLACE STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT AND COMPONENTS. MAY 6, 2011- NOTICED WOBBLE IN STEERING WHEN DRIVING ON SMOOTH HIGHWAY AT 70 MPH. MAY 20, 2011 - TOOK PRIUS IN TO DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT FOR: 1] SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE,(OIL/LUBE, ALIGN FRONT SUSPENSION, CLEAN/ADJUST BRAKES, ETC), 2] SNOW TIRE CHANGE-OUT 3] REQUESTED INVESTIGATION OF PROBLEM WITH STEERING WOBBLE. ITEMS 1 AND 2 WERE COMPLETED. ON ITEM 3, DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT REPORTED THAT THEY DID NOT FIND A PROBLEM AND STATED IT COULD BE RELATED TO SNOW TIRES OUT OF BALANCE. MAY 26, 2011-COMPLETE STEERING FAILURE OCCURRED WHILE TURNING SLIGHTLY TO THE RIGHT AT ABOUT 15 MPH ON A SMOOTH CITY STREET. THE STEERING WHEEL SPUN UNLIMITED NUMBER OF TIMES TO LEFT AND RIGHT WITH NO EFFECT ON THE WHEELS. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO DEALER. MAY 28, 2011 -DEALER COMPLETED REPAIRS. THE INVOICE SAYS THEY REPLACED: 1 04005-72147 SHAFT KIT, STEERING 1 84306-0E010 CABLE SUB-ASSY SPIR, AND PERFORMED ALIGN FRONT SUSPENSION FOR A TOTAL COST OF $798.22. THE SERVICE ADVISOR REPORTED THE SPLINES AT THE END OF THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT WERE WORN AND THAT THE TECHNICIAN HAD ONLY SEEN THIS ONCE OR TWICE BEFORE. A COMPLAINT REGARDING SAFETY AND COST HAS BEEN FILED WITH "TOYOTA HELP" (TOYOTA USA). TOYOTA STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT SUPPLY ANY INFORMATION ABOUT INCIDENTS OF THIS TYPE ON OTHER PRIUSES. NEITHER THE SAFETY NOR THE COST COMPLAINT HAS BEEN RESOLVED AT THIS TIME. REPORTED JUNE 20, 2011 *INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) *TT

I ROLLED SLOWLY (<1 MPH) UPHILL TO THE PARKING SLOT (L.A. CODE, 2%GRADE DOWN AWAY FROM BUILDINGS) UP TO THE PARKING CEMENT STOP, AND WAS READY TO SHUT IT DOWN. THE ENGINE STARTED TO RACE, ABOUT TO GO OVER THE CEMENT STOP WHEN I PUT MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE. THE CAR CONTINUED OVER THE CEMENT STOP. I PUSHED HARDER ON THE BRAKE AND THE CAR STARTED TO DRIVE OVER THE SIDEWALK. THEN THE CAR DROVE THROUGH THE PLATE GLASS OF THE STUDIO AND THEN CAME TO A STOP INSIDE. I PUT THE CAR INTO NEUTRAL AND TRIED TO TURN THE CAR 'OFF'. THE CAR'S ENGINE WAS STILL ON AFTER SEVERAL TRIES TO TURN IT OFF AND I HAD MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE AND ON THE FLOOR. THEN THE CAR TOOK A TURN TO THE LEFT AND DROVE THROUGH THE WALL (MY FOOT WAS STILL ON THE FLOOR). I GOT OUT OF THE CAR WITHOUT TAKING IT OUT OF NEUTRAL AND IT WAS STILL "ON". I TOOK THE KEY WITH ME TO THE MIDDLE OF THE ROOM (I USED THE KEYLESS IGNITION) SO THE CAR SHOULD HAVE "CHIMED" BECAUSE; THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR WAS OPEN, I WAS OUT OF THE CAR, AND THE CAR WAS STILL LEFT "ON". HOWEVER, THE CAR DID NOT CHIME (INDICATING IT DID NOT DETECT I WAS 12 FEET AWAY). MY TEACHER CAME UP TO THE SHATTERED GLASS WINDOW OF THE STUDIO AT THE SAME TIME THE SECURITY OFFICER FOR THE MINI MALL A FEW MINUTES AFTER I GOT OUT OF THE CAR. I WAS LOOKING FOR MY INSURANCE CARD IN MY PURSE WHEN THE THREE OF US WITNESSED THE CAR "REV" AGAIN AND THE WALL BEGAN TO SHATTER WITH PLASTER AND WOODEN STUDS FALLING AROUND THE CAR WITH NO ONE DRIVING (THE CAR WAS IN NEUTRAL). BECAUSE OF THE MOVEMENT OF THE CAR, WITHOUT A DRIVER AND IN THE WALL, THE SECURITY GUARD TRIED TO GET PEOPLE OUT OF THE BUILDING. THE TOWING COMPANY COULD NOT 'PULL' THE VEHICLE OUT OF THE WALL WITH THEIR TOW TRUCK FOR MORE THEN 20 MINUTES SO, I GAVE MY CAR KEY TO THE POLICE OFFICER AND HE GAVE IT TO THE TOWING COMPANY. THE MAN FROM THE TOWING COMPANY DROVE THE CAR OUT OF THE WALL AND OUT OF THE STUDIO.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED WHEN THE VEHICLE STALLED ALL OF THE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT STATED THE DEALER REPROGRAMMED THE COMPUTER, BUT THE VEHICLE ONLY FUNCTIONED NORMALLY FOR ONE MONTH. THE CONTACT STATED THE FAILURE WAS BEING DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER FOR ONE WEEK. THE FUEL PRESSURE WAS ALSO BEING CHECKED TO SEE IF IT MET SPECIFICATIONS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN, BUT THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 75,500.

I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF MY PRIUS AND IT HAS WORKED WONDERFULLY EXCEPT FOR HAVING TO REPLACE THE HEADLIGHTS. ABOUT 4 YEARS AGO I HAD AN ACCIDENT AND THE FRONT BUMPER AND DRIVER SIDE HEADLIGHT WAS REPLACED. IT IS NOW FLICKERING AND TURNS OFF. THE PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT WAS ALSO REPLACED 4-5 YEARS AGO AND IT DIED ABOUT 6 MONTHS AGO. THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM SINCE THE HEAD LIGHT FLICKERS AND DIES WHILE DRIVING. I ALMOST DROVE OFF THE ROAD ON A SIDE STREET BECAUSE I COULD NOT SEE. *TR

FOR QUITE SOME TIME IT LOOKED LIKE MY HEADLIGHTS COULD BARELY SHINE INTO THE DISTANCE BECAUSE THEY POINTED DOWN SO MUCH. MONTHS LATER, I RECEIVED A WARNING SIGN SAYING THAT THE "HEADLIGHT AUTO LEVEL" MECHANISM WAS BROKEN. AFTER RESEARCHING THIS ISSUE ONLINE AND SPEAKING TO SEVERAL MECHANICS, IT BECAME CLEAR THAT THE PROBLEM WAS CAUSED BY THE PART USED BY TOYOTA. THE PART TOYOTA USES IN ITS OLDER CARS WAS NOT SEALED, MEANING SALT CAN GET IN AND CORRODE THE WIRING. THIS IS SUCH A CLEAR OVERSIGHT THAT I ASKED TOYOTA TO FIX IT AND/OR ISSUE A RECALL, BUT ALL THEY OFFERED TO DO WAS NOTE THE PROBLEM EVEN THOUGH THEY HAD HEARD OF SIMILAR COMPLAINTS.

THE RIGHT, PASSENGER HEADLIGHT GOES OUT AND BY TURNING THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH OFF AND BACK ON, THE HEADLIGHT COMES BACK ON. IT WILL GO OFF AGAIN AND I WILL HAVE TO PERFORM THE SAME PROCEDURE TO GET IT TO COME ON AGAIN. *KB THIS HAPPENS REPEATEDLY DURING ANY GIVEN TRIP.