2005 Toyota Prius Engine Problems

CAR STOPPED ACCELERATING/ ENGINE DIED WHILE DRIVING AT 20-30 MPH EXITING HOLLAND TUNNEL. COASTED, THEN BRAKED TO STOP, PULLING OVER TO SHOULDER. TURNED AC OFF. RED WARNING LIGHT ON. AC WARNING LIGHT? PRESSED PARK BUTTON. PRESS POWER BUTTON TO TURN OFF CAR. WAITED 5 SEC AND THEN PRESSED POWER BUTTON, KEEPING AC OFF , AND RESUMED ACCELERATING.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, SEVERAL UNKNOWN WARNING INDICATORS BEGAN FLASHING AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL AS OTHER UNKNOWN WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT COASTED THE VEHICLE TO A STOP AND RESTARTED THE ENGINE. THE CONTACT THEN DROVE THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED WITH INVERTED COOLING FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT THE CONTACT WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 223,000.

2005 TOYOTA PRIUS. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO RED AND WHITE SERVICE LIGHT INDICATOR. *LD THE CONSUMER INQUIRED ABOUT AN AD TO HAVE TO THE VEHICLE BE AT NO COST. *JS

THIS IS THE FIRST CAR WE EVER OWNED THAT ATE OIL. WE ARE METICULOUS ABOUT SERVICING THE CAR AS RECOMMENDED EVERY 5000 MILES. AT THE SERVICE FOR 100,000 MILES WHICH WE DID AT 99,400 MILES, THERE WAS NO OIL ON THE DIPSTICK. AT 103,000 MILES THE ALARMS WENT OFF 3 TIMES TO INDICATE THERE WAS NO OIL. WE PUT IN 2 QUARTS AND TOOK IT TO THE SHOP FOR A DIAGNOSTIC. GOOGLING SHOWED MANY OTHER PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM - NO OIL LEAK ANYWHERE, BUT NO OIL IN THE CAR EITHER. TOYOTA APPARENTLY KNOWS OF THE PROBLEM AND HAS INFORMED SERVICE PROVIDERS BUT WILL NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THIS PROBLEM TO THE CAR OWNERS. WE NOW CARRY OIL IN THE CAR AND CHECK EVERY TIME WE PUT IN GAS TO MAKE SURE WE ALSO HAVE OIL. THE SERVICE SHOP SUGGESTS A $3500+ REBUILD OF THE ENGINE. WE CAN AFFORD TO CHECK OIL AND ADD IT AS NECESSARY INSTEAD OF REBUILDING AN ENGINE THAT WILL END UP WITH THE SAME ISSUE. IT IS UNACCEPTABLE THAT THE EXPECTATION IS TO ADD OIL BETWEEN EVERY 5000 MILES, AS RECOMMENDED BY MANUFACTURER, INSTEAD OF THE ASSURANCE THAT THE CAR WILL BE ABLE TO MAKE IT TO EACH 5000 MILE INTERVAL WITHOUT ADDING ADDITIONAL OIL. WE ALSO CANNOT AFFORD TO HAVE THE ENGINE SEIZE UP IN WHAT IS MARKETED AS A VERY DEPENDABLE CAR FROM A VERY DEPENDABLE MANUFACTURER. APPARENTLY TOYOTA DOESN'T MAKE CARS THAT EXCEED A LIFETIME OF 100,000 MILES AND ARE ALSO A VERY UNDEPENDABLE MANUFACTURER OF CARS.

FAILURE OF ENGINE THROTTLE CONTROLS: SUDDEN RAPID ACCELERATION, UN-COMMANDED, WHICH TERMINATED QUICKLY AFTER APPLYING THE BRAKES.

THE THREE WAY COOLANT CONTROL VALVE FAILED. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND EVERY WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT ALLOWED THE VEHICLE TO SIT FOR A FEW MINUTES. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AS IT FUNCTIONED NORMALLY FOR SEVERAL MINUTES BEFORE THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION BUT THEY COULD NOT DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED BUT PROVIDED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 97,000.

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

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

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

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.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS AWAITING DIAGNOSTIC TESTING TO DETERMINE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 164,000.

ENGINE SHUT DOWN WHILE ENTERING HIGHWAY. CHARGED FOR ECM UPDATE WHEN PROBLEM HAS BEEN KNOWN. CNN REPORTED, "A SOFTWARE PROBLEM IS CAUSING SOME TOYOTA PRIUS GAS-ELECTRIC HYBRID CARS TO STALL OR SHUT DOWN WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS." A TOYOTA PRESS RELEASE STATES: "TOYOTA MOTOR SALES (TMS), U.S.A., INC., WILL LAUNCH A SPECIAL SERVICE CAMPAIGN INVOLVING CERTAIN 2004 AND EARLY 2005 MODEL YEAR PRIUS SOLD IN THE U.S. ON THE INVOLVED VEHICLES, AN ISSUE WITH THE PROGRAM LOGIC IN THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE (ECM) SYSTEM MAY CAUSE SOME OR ALL OF THE FOLLOWING WARNING LIGHTS TO ILLUMINATE: MASTER, HYBRID SYSTEM, ENGINE, VEHICLE STABILITY CONTROL, AND BRAKE. IF THIS OCCURS, THE VEHICLE WILL ENTER A "FAIL-SAFE" MODE WHICH ALLOWS LIMITED OPERATION VIA THE ELECTRIC MOTOR. HOWEVER, THE ELECTRICALLY-POWERED BRAKE AND STEERING OPERATION WILL CONTINUE TO FUNCTION NORMALLY IF THIS CONDITION OCCURS. THE ELECTRIC MOTOR WILL ALSO PROVIDE ENOUGH POWER TO ALLOW THE DRIVER TO PULL THE VEHICLE OVER AND AWAY FROM TRAFFIC. ONCE THE VEHICLE IS STOPPED, THE DRIVER MAY BE ABLE TO RESTART THE GASOLINE ENGINE IN THE VEHICLE BY PUSHING THE START BUTTON. APPROXIMATELY 75,000 2004 AND 2005 MODEL YEAR PRIUS VEHICLES MAY BE AFFECTED BY THIS CONDITION. TOYOTA IS PROACTIVELY CONDUCTING A CAMPAIGN IN THE INTEREST OF ITS CUSTOMERS." *TR

INCIDENT = ON 1/19/11 MY 2005 PRIUS BEGAN TO SHAKE WHILE DRIVING ON SURFACE STREETS. I PULLED OVER CHECKED THE CAR BUT SAW NOTHING THAT WOULD CAUSE THE SHAKING. I THEN STARTED THE CAR AND BEGAN TO DRIVE. THE SHAKING STARTED AGAIN LIKE AN UNBALANCED WASHER. I TOOK THE CAR TO HOLLYWOOD TOYOTA. TOYOTA CHECKED THE CAR AND INDICATED THAT 2 SPARK PLUGS HAD GONE BAD AND THAT 2 IGNITION COILS HAD SHORTED OUT. AS A RESULT THE ENGINE HAD CARBON DEPOSITS AND NEEDED EXTENSIVE CLEANING. I HAVE DONE ALL SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE TO TOYOTA SPECIFICATION. AS A RESULT I CONTACTED TOYOTA'S OFFICES TO VOICE SAFETY CONCERNS. WERE THERE ANY OTHER SIMILAR REPORTED INCIDENTS AND DO THEY CONSIDER ANY SAFETY ISSUES. DIDN'T GET A CLEAR ANSWER AT ALL FROM THEM. TOYOTA ONCE AGAIN IS IN DENIAL WITH PRIUS PROBLEMS. DAMAGE RESULTING = COST WAS $989.81. I FEEL THAT TOYOTA NEEDS TO REIMBURSE ME FOR THESE REPAIRS. HAD THIS HAPPENED ON THE FREEWAY RESULTS COULD HAVE BEEN DIFFERENT. I COMPLAINED TO TOYOTA AND THEY HAVE OFFERED ME $348.10 OFF THE TOTAL WORK. ITS NOT JUST A MONEY ISSUE ITS A SAFETY ISSUE AS WELL. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25-30 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE ABNORMALLY VIOLENT. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE BUT COULD NOT LOCATE A CAUSE FOR THE FAILURE YET THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT TWO SPARK PLUGS HAD FAILED, TWO OF THE IGNITION COILS HAD SHORTED OUT AND THAT CARBON WAS BUILT UP ON THE ENGINE AS A RESULT OF THE FAILURE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE SPARK PLUGS, IGNITION COILS AND CLEANED THE CARBON FROM THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 78,646 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 78,746. UPDATED 03/02/11 *BF

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY SHUT OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACTS RESIDENCE. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO ADVISED HIM TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED OR REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 187,000.

2005 TOYOTA PRIUS STALLED ON AN OVERPASS WITH NO SHOULDERS. THE TRANSMISSION BECAME STUCK IN PARK, AND THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE PUSHED SINCE THE FRONT WHEELS WERE LOCKED UP. THE CAR WAS EVENTUALLY TOWED, AND IT HAD TO BE DRAGGED ONTO THE FLATBED WRECKER SINCE THE FRONT WHEELS WOULD NOT ROLL. THE PROBLEM WAS DETERMINED TO BE A FAILED PUMP FOR COOLING THE INVERTER. THE PUMP FAILED SUCH THAT IT BLEW A FUSE THAT ALSO CONTROLLED THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTER, PREVENTING THE CAR FROM BEING PUT INTO NEUTRAL SO THAT IT COULD BE PUSHED OUT OF TRAFFIC LANES. THIS IS A VERY UNSAFE FAILURE MODE. *TR

2005 PRIUS STALLING PROBLEM!! I NEVER RECEIVED ANY NOTIFICATION ON THIS ISSUE. AS THE ARTICLE SAID"TOYOTA MOTOR SALES (TMS), U.S.A., INC., WILL LAUNCH A SPECIAL SERVICE CAMPAIGN INVOLVING CERTAIN 2004 AND EARLY 2005 MODEL YEAR PRIUS SOLD IN THE U.S. ON THE INVOLVED VEHICLES, AN ISSUE WITH THE PROGRAM LOGIC IN THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE (ECM) SYSTEM MAY CAUSE SOME OR ALL OF THE FOLLOWING WARNING LIGHTS TO ILLUMINATE: MASTER, HYBRID SYSTEM, ENGINE, VEHICLE STABILITY CONTROL, AND BRAKE. IF THIS OCCURS, THE VEHICLE WILL ENTER A "FAIL-SAFE" MODE WHICH ALLOWS LIMITED OPERATION VIA THE ELECTRIC MOTOR. HOWEVER, THE ELECTRICALLY-POWERED BRAKE AND STEERING OPERATION WILL CONTINUE TO FUNCTION NORMALLY IF THIS CONDITION OCCURS. THE ELECTRIC MOTOR WILL ALSO PROVIDE ENOUGH POWER TO ALLOW THE DRIVER TO PULL THE VEHICLE OVER AND AWAY FROM TRAFFIC. ONCE THE VEHICLE IS STOPPED, THE DRIVER MAY BE ABLE TO RESTART THE GASOLINE ENGINE IN THE VEHICLE BY PUSHING THE START BUTTON.TOYOTA IS PROACTIVELY CONDUCTING A CAMPAIGN IN THE INTEREST OF ITS CUSTOMERS. TOYOTA WILL INFORM OWNERS OF THE INVOLVED VEHICLES WITH A SPECIAL SERVICE CAMPAIGN NOTIFICATION LETTER SENT VIA FIRST CLASS MAIL BEGINNING IN LATE-OCTOBER. OWNERS ARE REQUESTED TO CONTACT THEIR LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS AND REPAIR UPON RECEIVING THEIR NOTIFICATION. TOYOTA WILL REPROGRAM THE ECM SYSTEM AT NO CHARGE TO THE OWNERS OF THE VEHICLE." NHTSA ACTION NUMBER : PE05029 NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN NUMBER : N/A COMPONENT : ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE UNKNOWN OR OTHER MY CAR HAVE THIS SAME ISSUE WHILE I WAS ON A FREEWAY. I CALLED TOYOTA DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THAT I WOULD HAVE TO PAYS AROUND $100 TO GET ANALYSIS. WHAT CAN I DO TO GET TOYOTA TO CORRECT THIS WHEN THEY NEVER SENT ME A NOTICE FOR THIS PROBLEM. I BOUGHT THIS CAR BRAND NEW FROM TOYOTA AROUND SUMMER OF 2005. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INVERTER COOLING WATER PUMP FAILED. WHILE DRIVING 72 MPH WITH THE VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL ENGAGED, THERE WERE SEVERAL WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATING CAUSING THE VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL TO LOSE POWER. HE DROVE ONTO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, TURNED THE ENGINE OFF AND ALLOWED THE VEHICLE TO COOL DOWN AND IT BEGAN TO FUNCTION NORMALLY. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AND DRIVE SAFELY TO HIS RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THE FAILURE AS THE WATER PUMP WHICH LISTED ERROR CODE P0A93. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED SINCE THE PARTS WERE ON BACK ORDER UNTIL SEPTEMBER 16, 2010. HE THEN CONTACTED THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WHO ALSO INFORMED HIM THAT THE PARTS WERE ON CRITICAL BACK ORDER UNTIL SEPTEMBER 16, 2010. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 41,000.

2005 TOYOTA PRIUS. CONSUMER STATES PROBLEM WITH VEHICLE OVERHEATING *TGW IT WAS DETERMINED THE WATER PUMP WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO REPLACED. *JB