2007 Toyota Prius Complaint Log

VEHICLE WILL NOT STAY IN DRIVE, ESPECIALLY AFTER SITTING IN THE HOT SUN FOR SEVERAL HOURS. THIS IS A WELL DOCUMENTED ISSUE ON MANY FORUMS SUCH AS HTTP://WWW.TOYOTANATION.COM/FORUM/62-PRIUS-FORUM/343977-08-PRIUS-WON-T-STAY-GEAR-3.HTML. PEOPLE HAVE EVEN MENTIONED CLAIMS OF THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTING TO NEUTRAL WHILE THEY ARE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. I CALLED MY LOCAL TOYOTA DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THEY HAVE HEARD ISSUES AND IT'S A SHIFTER KNOB REPLACEMENT TO RESOLVE. AT FIRST I WAS PLEASED UNTIL I LEARNED THE SHIFTER IS $400 + $100 FOR LABOR. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE TOYOTA - I HAVE BEEN A LONG TIME TOYOTA CUSTOMER DUE TO THE RELIABILITY. THIS LOOKS LIKE AN UNADDRESSED RECALL ISSUE TO ME. THANKS FOR INVESTIGATING THIS NHTSA. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

THIS VEHICLE HAS AN ISSUE WITH ITS HEADLAMPS. WHILE DRIVING DOWN A MAJOR STREET IN THE DARK , THE PASSENGER HEADLAMP FLICKERED BETWEEN 1-3 SECONDS BEFORE SHUTTING OFF COMPLETELY. WE TRIED TURNING THE HEADLAMPS OFF AND BACK ON AGAIN, BUT THIS DID NOT SEEM TO WORK. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY UNSAFE ESPECIALLY WHEN IT HAPPENS ON THE RURAL ROADS CLOSERS TO HOME. WE HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TO DIFFERENT TOYOTA DEALERS IN WHICH NONE CAN FIND A SOLUTION. WE'VE REPLACED THE COSTLY BULBS IN BOTH LAMPS (BECAUSE WE NOTICED THEY WERE BOTH AFFECTED) AND GOT THE SAME RESULT ON THE SAME DAY OF THE REPLACEMENT. SINCE THEN THE CAR WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT AT NIGHT WHEN A DRIVER DID CLAIMED TO NOT HAVE SEEN THE PRIUS AND THAT THE LIGHTS WERE OFF. FOUR YEARS LATER THE LIGHTS STILL GO OUT AND DON'T SEEM TO STAY ON LONGER THAN 2 MINUTES. THIS CAR WAS PURCHASED TO TRANSPORT OUR CHILDREN, AS OUR OTHER VEHICLE IS A PICKUP TRUCK AND NOT AS SPACIOUS OR FUEL EFFICIENT. HOWEVER, WE WORK IN THE MORNING, WHEN IT'S STILL DARK AND JUST DON'T WANT TO RISK IT. WE ALSO HAVE BEEN CITED BY POLICE BECAUSE THE ONE OR THE OTHER LIGHTS GOES OUT IN THE DARK OR THOSE RANDOM RAINY DAYS. TRUTHFULLY , WE ONLY WANT TO BE ABLE TO SAFELY DRIVE THE CAR WE PAID FOR, BUT DON'T GET TO USE OTHER THAN ON VERY SPECIFIC OCCASION LIKE DAYLIGHT SAVINGS OR OFF DAYS PRIOR TO RAIN OR SUNSET. IF WE DIDN'T HAVE ANOTHER VEHICLE , WE WOULD BE SWAMPED WITH FINES .

REAR HATCH RELEASE LATCH HAS BEEN GETTING STICK TO THE TOUCH AND INCREASINGLY DIFFICULT TO OPEN. TRIED CLEANING THE LATCH AND DISCOVERED THAT THE RUBBER COVERING THE LATCH SEEMS TO BE MELTING. CHECKED ONLINE AND DISCOVERED THAT THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM AND, IF NOT CORRECTED, WILL LIKELY RESULT IN LATCH RELEASE SWITCH FAILURE. THE LOCATION OF THE RUBBER LATCH RELEASE COVER PROTECTS IT FROM DIRECT SUNLIGHT AND THERE SEEMS TO BE NO REASONABLE EXPLANATION FOR THE FAILURE OF THIS PART OTHER THAN A DEFECT IN MANUFACTURE. *TR

2007 TOOYOTA PRIUS. OCCASIONALLY AT NIGHT, THE HEADLIGHTS GO OUT WITHOUT WARNING. *MW THE INCIDENT HAPPENED THREE TIMES. *JB

THE COMBINATION METER DISPLAY ( SPEEDOMETER) WILL NOT ILLUMINATE. TOYOTA KNOWS OF THIS ISSUE. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AS DRIVER ARE UNABLE TO KNOW THE SPEED OF THEIR VEHICLE. TOYOTA ISSUE A EXTENDED WARRANTY BUT IN MOST CASES REFUSES TO REPLACE THE PART AS IT IS DIFFICULT TO REPRODUCE. *TR

DRIVING DOWN DARK MOUNTAIN ROAD AND BOTH LIGHTS WENT OFF. TERRIFYING AS I TRIED TO KEEP CAR FROM DRIVING OFF MOUNTAIN IN DARK. SCREAMED WITH GRANDCHILDREN IN CAR & THOUGHT WE WOULD CRASH. MINUTE LATER PARKING LIGHTS CAME ON & I HAD TO TRY TO GET DOWN STEEP CURVY MOUNTAIN WITH PARKING LIGHTS *JS

MY FAMILY WAS ALMOST KILLED WHEN BOTH HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT AT THE SAME TIME ON A DARK MOUNTAIN ROAD. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALLED ITEM. PEOPLE WILL DIE WHEN BOTH LIGHTS GO OUT AND THEY ARE NOT AS LUCKY AS WE WERE. I PAID OVER $600 TO HAVE BOTH OF THESE LIGHTS REPLACED. I AM SHOCKED THAT THIS ITEM HAS NOT BEEN ISSUED AS A RECALL ITEM. *TR

DRIVER SIDE HEADLIGHT WHEN TURNED ON RANDOMLY GOES OFF I HAVE TO TURN THE LIGHTS OFF AGAIN AND THEN IT TURNS BACK ON BUT A LOT OF TIMES IT'LL KEEP TURNING OFF. IT'S BEEN DOING THIS FOR YEARS. I RARELY DRIVE MY CAR ONLY HAS 35K MILES ON IT.

MASTER WARNING LIGHT, BRAKE WARNING LIGHT (YELLOW) AND VEHICLE STABILITY CONTROL WARNING LIGHT CAME ON WITH ONE BEEP WHEN VEHICLE STOPPED AT TRAFFIC LIGHT. PROCEEDED TO FRIEND'S HOUSE (APPROXIMATELY 2 MILES) AND MADE APPOINTMENT WITH TOYOTA DEALER FOR FOLLOWING MORNING. IN MORNING CAR WOULD START BUT NOT GO INTO DRIVE. READY LIGHT NOT ON. CAR TOWED TO DEALER. CODE CHECKER SCAN CODES P0AA6, 526 AND 613. "TRANSAXLE FAILURE." TRANSAXLE (PART 30900-47040) REPLACED WITH COST OF $4948.04. I AM CONCERNED THAT ON A BUSY FREEWAY THIS COULD OCCUR WITH LOSS OF BRAKING, STEERING AND STABILITY CONTROL AND RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT OR INJURY (INCLUDING DEATH). TOYOTA STATES THAT THIS IS NOT A COMMON PROBLEM. GENERAL WARRANTY EXPIRED IN OCT. 2013. *TR

TRANSAXLE FAILURE RESULTING IN REPAIR BILL OF $4948. PLEASE SEE DETAILS UNDER FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM CATEGORY AS I DIDN'T SELECT THE PROPER "AFFECTED PART" CLASSIFICATION WHEN I MADE THE COMPLAINT. ODI # 10616528. WHILE DOING RESEARCH TODAY I FOUND A SIMILAR COMPLAINT MADE 4/27/14 ID # 10586065. *TR

ON OUR 2007 PRIUS, THE RUBBER COVER FOR THE REAR TRUNK HATCH HAS MELTED INTO BLACK GOO. THIS DEGRADATION DOESN'T APPEAR TO BE DUE TO HEAT, SINCE THE CAR HAS BEEN KEPT IN A COOL GARAGE. THE RUBBER ITSELF EFFECTIVELY TURNED INTO TAR, COMING OFF ON OUR HANDS AND DRIPPING ONTO THE BUMPER AT TIMES. THE MELTING HAS ALSO MADE IT DIFFICULT TO OPEN THE REAR TRUNK, AS THE GOOEY RUBBERY MESS APPEARS TO BE INTERFERING WITH THE ACTION OF THE SWITCH THAT RELEASES THE HATCH. *TR

LATCH ON MY 2007 PRIUS IS MELTING AND STICKY, LEAVING BLACK RESIDUE ON MY FINGERS WHEN I OPEN IT. IT IS DIFFICULT TO OPEN AT TIMES IN ADDITION. *TR

IN JULY OF 2014, I BOUGHT A 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS FROM A FAMILY MEMBER IN NEVADA, A WARM STATE; I LIVE IN MINNESOTA, A COLD STATE. THE HATCH RELEASE RUBBER SEAL HAD DETERIORATED, AND IT WAS TACKY TO THE TOUCH, BUT THE HATCH RELEASED AND OPENED. WHEN NOVEMBER CAME, THE HATCH RELEASE WOULD NOT WORK; IT WAS A COOL NOVEMBER. I BELIEVE IT IS A DANGER TO NOT BE ABLE TO OPEN THE BACK HATCH IN CASE OF AN ACCIDENT. THE MAPLEWOOD TOYOTA DEALERSHIP SERVICE PERSON INSPECTED THE HATCH RELEASE SEAL AND SAID THAT SOMEONE MUST HAVE PUT A CHEMICAL ON IT TO DAMAGE IT. TOYOTA DOES NOT BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A DEFECTIVE PART; I BELIEVE THE PART IS DEFECTIVE. I AM GOING TO HAVE THE PART FIXED, BUT I BELIEVE TOYOTA HAS CREATED A DANGEROUS SITUATION, ESPECIALLY IF SOMEONE WITH A DEFECTIVE HATCH RELEASE SEAL TRAVELS TO A COOLER CLIMATE THAN THE CAR HAS EXPERIENCED IN THE PAST. *TR

THE TAIL LIGHTS INTERMITTENTLY GO OUT WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT, WHILE THE BRAKE LIGHTS ARE FINE. IT IS RELATED TO A PROBLEM WITH POOR QUALITY TAIL LIGHT SOCKETS ON THIS MODEL AND YEAR. REPLACEMENT BULBS DO NOT ADDRESS THE PROBLEM. THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM, NOT UNIQUE TO MY VEHICLE ONLY. *TR

COMPONENTS: EQUIPMENT LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES THE BACK LATCH OF MY 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS HAS DEGRADED (MELTED ALMOST) IT NO LONGER FUNCTIONS PROPERLY AND I AM UNABLE TO OPEN THE BACK HATCH DOOR EASILY. AND THEREFORE ACCESS THE SPARE, ANY OF MY REPAIR TOOLS OR MY EARTHQUAKE KIT, FLARES, JUMPERS, ETC. THERE IS NO ALTERNATIVE INTERNAL METHOD FOR OPENING THE HATCHBACK/TRUNK. TOYOTA NEEDS A RECALL OF THIS DEFECTIVE PART. THE QUOTE TO REPAIR WAS $291 PLUS LABOR. NHTSAID HAS HAD OTHER COMPLAINTS #10533059, 10511408, 10504366, 10496197, ETC. ETC. I AM 80 YEARS OF AGE AND THIS IS PRESENTING A DEFINITE SAFETY DEFECT. *TR

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AND BOTH HEADLIGHTS SUDDENLY WENT OUT. THE FOG LIGHTS REMAINED ON. WHEN WE WENT INSIDE A STORE AND CAME BACK OUT TO CONTINUE DRIVING, THEY CAME BACK ON AGAIN. THEY THEN FAILED AGAIN, BOTH HEADLIGHTS, IN A SEPARATE INSTANCE, TURNING THEMSELVES COMPLETELY OFF WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE, IN AN AREA WITH NO LIGHTS, LEAVING ME IN THE DARK. I WAS ABLE TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE THIS TIME BY TURNING THE LIGHT SWITCH OFF AND THEN BACK ON AGAIN, BUT I AM CONCERNED THIS WILL CONTINUE TO HAPPEN. I HAVE DONE SOME RESEARCH, AND IT SEEMS THIS IS AN ONGOING ISSUE WITH PRIUS' WITHIN THE SAME YEAR (AND SURROUNDING YEARS) AS MINE, AND SOMETHING THE COMPANY PROBABLY NEEDS TO DEAL WITH. *TR

HIT A BUMP IN THE ROAD AND LEAF SPRINGS BROKE ON REAR OF CAR. CAR BECAME SEVERELY SLANTED TO ONE SIDE. *TR

I WAS TRAVELING AT 50MPH WHEN AN ALARM SOUNDED IN THE CAR AND 4 LIGHTS LIT UP ON THE DASHBOARD ? THE BRAKE SYSTEM WARNING LIGHT, MASTER WARNING LIGHT, VSC AND MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A TOYOTA DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY ADVISED THE HYBRID WATER PUMP NEEDED REPLACING. I THEN DISCOVERED THERE IS A RECALL ON THE HYBRID WATER PUMPS BUT WAS ADVISED MY VEHICLE WAS NOT ON THE LIST FOR THE RECALL. THE DETAILS OF MY MISHAP CORRELATE TO THE TOYOTA RECALL NOTICE THAT TOYOTA PUT OUT REGARDING THE HYBRID WATER PUMPS. I BELIEVE MY VEHICLE SHOULD HAVE BEEN ON THE RECALL LIST TO HAVE THIS SAFETY ISSUE ADDRESSED AND THAT THE RECALL NOTICE DOES NOT ADEQUATELY COVER ALL TOYOTA VEHICLES WITH THIS POSSIBLE ISSUE. *TR

WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY, SUDDENLY NOTICED SLIGHT JOLT AND ILLUMINATION OF VARIOUS WARNING LIGHTS IN THE INSTRUMENT PANEL (CHECK ENGINE, LARGE WARNING SIGN, EMERGENCY CAR DANGER SIGN, VSC SIGN). HYBRID SYSTEM CEASED FUNCTIONING, LEADING THE CAR TO DRIVE USING GASOLINE ENGINE ONLY. DEALERSHIP DETERMINED HYBRID ELECTRIC WATER PUMP WAS NO LONGER FUNCTIONING, NEEDED REPLACEMENT AT COST OF $570. *TR

ON JUNE 17, 2014 LONGO TOYOTA SERVICE CONSULTANT STATED THE INVERTER WATER PUMP PART #04000-32528 NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT A PART COST OF $146. THIS SAME INVERTER WATER PUMP WAS REPLACED AT LONGO ON MARCH 6, 2011. *TR

I HAVE BEEN TOLD A FEW TIMES OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS NOW THAT WE HAD A HEADLIGHT OUT IN OUR PRIUS. I WOULD LATER GO BACK AND INVESTIGATE, FLIPPING THE LIGHTS BACK ON TO CHECK. BUT THE LIGHTS WERE ON FULL BLAST, NO PROBLEMS. I DISMISSED THIS AS PEOPLE NOT SEEING THINGS CORRECTLY. OBVIOUSLY THE HEADLIGHTS WERE WORKING, THAT IT UNTIL WE GOT ON THE INTERSTATE LAST NIGHT AND BOTH OF THE HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT WHILE WE WERE DRIVING 70MPH. WE MANAGED TO GET HOME BY THE DIM LIGHT OF OUR FOG LIGHTS, BUT THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS! FOG LIGHTS WERE NOT MEANT FOR NIGHTTIME DRIVING. WHEN WE GOT HOME, WE STARTED PLAYING WITH THE HEADLIGHTS AGAIN, AND LIKE MAGIC, THEY DECIDED THEY WERE GOING TO START WORKING AGAIN. THEY TURNED ON FULL BLAST, NO FLICKERING OR ANYTHING. LOOKING UP OUR ISSUES TODAY, APPARENTLY THIS IS AN ISSUE WITH THE HID HEADLIGHTS AND IS A COMMON KNOWN PROBLEM FOR THE PRIUS. PEOPLE HAVE PAID HUNDREDS OR EVEN THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TO HAVE THEIR HEADLIGHTS REPLACED ONLY TO HAVE THE SAME THING HAPPEN AGAIN. SEEMS LIKE THE GUTS OF THIS CAR ARE FLAWED AND NEED TO BE REPAIRED. PRESENTLY I'M STUCK. I'M NOT GOING TO SPEND HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS TO REPLACE HEADLIGHTS THAT REALLY DON'T NEED REPLACING WHEN PEOPLE ARE SAYING IT DOES NOT GOOD. TOYOTA REALLY NEED TO ADDRESS THIS. CAN'T HAVE HEADLIGHTS GOING OUT WHEN YOU'RE GOING 70 ON THE INTERSTATE. SOMEONE IS GOING TO GET KILLED FROM THIS. *TR

OVER TIME THE BLACK RUBBER ON OUR HATCH HAS MELTED. IT HAS GOTTEN HARDER AND HARDER TO OPEN THE TRUNK. FINALLY WE POPPED THE PLASTIC PART OFF DUE TO THE PRESSURE NEEDED TO OPEN THE TRUNK. IT NO LONGER OPENS. MY HUSBAND HAD A FLAT TIRE ON 6/13/2014. HE COULD NOT GET IN TO THE TRUNK AND HAD TO DRIVE THE CAR TO A TIRE PLACE TO BUY NEW TIRES. THE FACT THAT HE COULDN'T GET IN TO THE TRUNK WAS INCONVENIENT AND EXPENSIVE. MY GREATEST CONCERN IS THAT THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. YOU CAN'T GET IN OR OUT OF THE TRUNK IN CASE OF EMERGENCY. THAT IS PRETTY SCARY, ESPECIALLY SINCE WE ARE TRAVELING WITH 2 SMALL CHILDREN. *JS

THE PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT WENT OUT A FEW WEEKS AGO. IT CAME BACK ON INTERMITTENTLY, AND THEN BOTH HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT. *TR

THE HID HEADLIGHTS ON MY 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS APPEAR TO BE DEFECTIVE. WHEN I TURN THE LIGHTS ON INITIALLY, THEY BOTH ILLUMINATE, BUT THE LIGHTS DIM PROGRESSIVELY, AND AFTER SEVERAL MINUTES THE LIGHTS ARE ESSENTIALLY DARK. THIS OCCURS IN BOTH HEADLIGHTS AND STARTED ONLY THIS MONTH. THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY ISSUE, AS IT IS VERY DANGEROUS TO DRIVE WITHOUT WORKING HEADLIGHTS (PARTICULARLY WHEN ONE ASSUMES THAT THE HEADLIGHTS ARE WORKING SINCE THEY TURNED ON INITIALLY). IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THE ISSUE IS BEYOND REPLACING THE HID HEADLIGHT BULBS; ACCORDING TO THE REPAIR SHOP I VISITED, THERE MAY BE A DEFECT WITH THE HID ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNITS (ECUS). I UNDERSTAND AS WELL THAT THIS IS A DEFECT THAT HAS OCCURRED IN NUMEROUS TOYOTA PRIUS VEHICLES AND THAT TOYOTA IN 2011 AGREED TO A SETTLEMENT OF A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT THAT PROVIDED SOME REPAIR COVERAGE FOR CERTAIN OWNERS. *TR

THE REAR HATCH RELEASE ON MY 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS HAS DETERIORATED AND TURN INTO A RUBBERY AND STICKY BLACK MESS. THIS ISSUE INTERFERES WITH THE USE OF THE HATCH AS THE RUBBER NOT ONLY GETS ON YOUR FINGERS BUT APPEARS TO BE BLOCKING THE RELEASE MECHANISM. THE DETERIORATION STARTED DURING THE SUMMER OF 2014. THE ISSUE HAS WORSENED AND THIS WINTER I HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO OPEN THE REAR HATCH WHATSOEVER. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN AS I CANNOT ACCESS MY SPARE TIRE, JUMPER CABLES, OR ANYTHING ELSE IN MY TRUNK IN ANY OTHER WAY. *TR

TRUNK OPENING SWITCH HAS WORKED INTERMITTENTLY DUE TO DETERIORATION OF RUBBER COVERING. PROBLEM LEAVES GOOEY RESIDUE ON HANDS AND CLOTHES. UNABLE TO ACCESS SAFETY ITEMS IN TRUNK WHEN LOCK FAILS TO WORK

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT DROVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER (MIKE JOHNSON'S HICKORY TOYOTA, 435 HWY 70, HICKORY, NC 28602) WHERE THE TECHNICIAN INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE AIR BAG WAS WORN OUT AND WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED AT THE CONTACT'S EXPENSE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000. *TT *JS

THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT FOR THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM ILLUMINATED. I CONTACTED A-1 TOYOTA DEALER AND THEY DIAGNOSED LEAK ON REAR WINDOW. HEARD WATER SLOSHING IN THE CAR. WATER LEAKED INTO CARGO AREA. THE WEATHER STRIP WAS REPLACED.

THE REAR HATCH RELEASE ON MY 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS HAS BEGUN TO DETERIORATE AND TURN INTO A RUBBERY AND STICKY BLACK MESS. THIS ISSUE INTERFERES WITH THE USE OF THE HATCH AS THE RUBBER NOT ONLY GETS ON YOUR FINGERS BUT APPEARS TO BE BLOCKING THE RELEASE MECHANISM. THE ISSUE FIRST BEGAN THIS PAST SUMMER AND AS OUTSIDE TEMPERATURES ROSE, THE RUBBER MELTED. *TR

THE RUBBER PART TO MY TRUNK LATCH HAS MELTED ALMOST COMPLETELY! IN WARM WEATHER IT TRANSFERS TO MY HANDS. IN WINTER IN COLD WEATHER (BELOW 50 DEGREES) I CAN'T OPEN THE TRUNK AT ALL. NOW THE SURROUNDING PART AROUND MY LATCH HAS LOOSEN. I'M SO FRUSTRATED THAT WHEN I CAN ACTUALLY GET INTO MY TRUNK MY FINGERS ARE COVERED IN TAR. *TR

I HAVE SEEN THE RECENT RECALL RELATED TO MANY MAKES AND MODELS OF TOYOTA'S FOR THE CLOCK-SPRINGS OR SPIRAL CABLES IN THE STEERING WHEEL. THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT PART OF THE CAR WHICH PROVIDES THE ELECTRICAL CONNECTION FOR MANY COMPONENTS SUCH AS THE STEERING WHEEL CONTROLS, HORN, AND AIR BAGS. I HAVE HEARD OF OTHERS WITH THE SAME ISSUES IN THEIR GENERATION II PRIUS (2004-2009). MY SPIRAL CABLE HAS RECENTLY STOPPED WORKING AS WELL AND SEEING AS THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE I BELIEVE TOYOTA SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR CORRECTING IT. *TR

THE HATCH OR TRUNK STICKS WHEN I TRY TO OPEN IT. THE DARK RUBBER IN THE LATCH AREA APPEARS TO HAVE MELTED AND SPREAD. *TR

WITHIN APPROX. 5 MINUTES OF STARTING MY CAR WITH THE HEADLIGHTS THEY AUTOMATICALLY TURN OFF. YOU ARE ABLE TO KEEP CLICKING THEM BACK ON, BUT THEN THEY TURN OFF AGAIN. THUS MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO DRIVE AT NIGHT, FOR FEAR OF CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. HUGE SAFETY FACTOR. *JS

THE VINYL(?) MATERIAL THAT COVERS THE LATCH TO OPEN THE BACK HATCH IS MELTING AND STICKY. LIKE SO MANY OTHER 2007 PRIUS OWNERS I LOVE MY PRIUS BUT AM DISAPPOINTED WITH TOYOTA FOR NOT TAKING CARE OF THIS PROBLEM. THE DEALERSHIP STATES THAT IT IS NOT UNDER WARRANTY AND THE COST FOR THE REPLACEMENT SWITCH (I WAS TOLD THE FIX IS TO REPLACE THE WHOLE SWITCH BECAUSE THEY DON'T SELL A REPLACEMENT PIECE OF VINYL ONLY) IS $70, THIS IS THE COST FOR THE PART ONLY, NOT INCLUDING LABOR. AFTER THE HASSLE OF MULTIPLE RECALLS ON THIS CAR IT IS UNFORTUNATE THAT TOYOTA REFUSES TO TAKE CARE OF A PROBLEM THAT SO MANY OWNERS ARE EXPERIENCING. *TR

I WAS DRIVING AT 5:00 AM ON 5-3-14 TO THE BEACH AND MY HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT IN COMPLETE DARKNESS. LUCKILY THERE WAS NO OTHER TRAFFIC AROUND AND I WAS SCARED TO PROCEED ON MY TRIP. I TURNED THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH AND THE HEADLIGHTS CAME BACK ON. I PROCEEDED ON MY TRIP WITH CAUTION AND WHEN IT GOT LIGHT I DROVE WITHOUT MY HEADLIGHTS AND SAFELY GOT TO THE BEACH. THIS INCIDENT COULD HAVE RESULTED IN A BAD CAR ACCIDENT AND DEATH SINCE I WAS IN COMPLETE DARKNESS. WHAT SHOULD I DO ? *TR

I HAD MY CAR IN FOR 110,000 MILE SERVICE ON APRIL 25. THEY CHANGED THE OIL, ROTATED THE TIRES, INSTALLED A NEW AIR FILTER AND SAID THAT I NEEDED NEW FRONT BRAKES AND THEY CLEANED AND ADJUSTED THE BACK BRAKES. YESTERDAY AFTER BACKING OUT OF THE GARAGE THE BRAKE LIGHT WARNING LIGHT ALONG WITH THE ABS AND VSC LIGHT CAME ON BRIEFLY. ON INTERSTATE 90 NEARING DOWNTOWN CLEVELAND ALL OF THESE LIGHTS CAME ON AGAIN ALONG WITH A NOISE. I CALLED THE TOYOTA DEALER AND TALKED TO THE SERVICE ADVISOR AND ASKED IF IT WAS SAFE TO GO TO CLEVELAND AND BACK AND HE SAID IF THE BRAKES WORK, IT PROBABLY JUST A SWITCH AND IT WOULD BE OK TO BRING IT IN TOMORROW. WHILE I STILL HAD HIM ON THE PHONE, WE LOST ALL POWER TO THE VEHICLE AND IT DECELERATED DOWN TO 30 BEFORE WE WERE ABLE TO REACH AN EXIT RAMP AND STOP THE CAR IN THE GRASS. I WAS INFORMED TODAY THAT THE PROBLEM IS A LOW VOLT BATTERY THAT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED FOR $299. AT NO TIME DID A LOW BATTERY LIGHT COME ON AND I HAVE NOT HAD TROUBLE STARTING THE CAR NOR DO I HAVE DIM LIGHTS. WE WERE FORTUNATE THAT WE WERE NOT KILLED ON INTERSTATE 90 WITHOUT POWER, STEERING OR BRAKES. I THINK THIS IS DEFINITELY A SAFETY ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. *TR

WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT, ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS, EITHER ONE OR BOTH HEADLIGHTS CEASE TO FUNCTION. BY TURNING THEM OFF AND BACK ON AGAIN, THEY WORK FOR AWHILE, BUT THEN MAY OR MAY NOT GO OUT AGAIN DEPENDING ON WHO KNOWS WHAT. MY RIGHT HEADLIGHT WAS REPLACED AT 15,000 MILES AND THE LEFT ONE WAS REPLACED AT 20,000 MILES - BOTH UNDER WARRANTY. I WAS TOLD AT THE TIME THAT IT WOULD HAVE COST ME OVER $200 EACH IF IT WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY. JUST LOOKING AT COMPLAINTS FOR THE 2007 PRIUS CARS FOR THIS YEAR ALONE, 23 OUT OF THE 60 COMPLAINTS ON THIS WEBSITE SOUND EXACTLY LIKE MINE. I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS HAS BEEN AN ISSUE WITH ALL THE 2006-2009 TOYOTA PRIUS CARS AND THAT TOYOTA SOMEHOW FIXED THIS PROBLEM WHEN THEY REVAMPED THE CAR IN 2010. MY DEALER SAID TO BRING IT IN TO SEE IF IT WAS A BALLAST PROBLEM OR FAULTY LIGHTS--ALL VERY EXPENSIVE TO FIX AND THERE IS NO GUARANTEE I WON'T HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM AGAIN IN THE NEAR FUTURE. (SEE TOYOTA CHAT LINE WHERE FOLKS HAVE BEEN CHARGED UP TO $2500 ONLY TO HAVE THEIR LIGHTS GO OUT AGAIN IN A FEW MONTHS) I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY TOYOTA DOESN'T HAVE A RECALL TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. NOT ONLY IS THIS A WASTE OF TIME AND MONEY TO THE OWNER OF THIS CAR, IT IS A SAFETY HAZARD. NO WARNING LIGHT GOES ON IN THE CAR TO SAY THE HEADLIGHTS ARE NOT FUNCTIONING, AND IT ISN'T ALWAYS EASY TO TELL THE LIGHTS HAVE GONE OUT, DEPENDING ON HOW WELL THE ROADS ARE LIT. WHAT IS TOYOTA WAITING FOR? DOES SOMEONE HAVE TO DIE BECAUSE THEIR HEADLIGHTS UNEXPECTEDLY GO OUT WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT BEFORE SOMETHING IS DONE TO FIX THIS ISSUE? I HOPE NOT. *TR

THE BUTTONS ON THE STEERING WHEEL BEGAN TO STOP WORKING. ONE BY ONE, EACH BEGAN TO FAIL. I WASN'T TOO WORRIED SINCE THEY'RE SIMPLY THE CLIMATE AND STEREO CONTROLS, HOWEVER, AS I BEGAN RESEARCHING ALL SIGNS POINTED TO THIS BEING THE "CLOCK SPRING" ASSEMBLY. THIS ALSO CONTROLS THE AIRBAG AND IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE. I WENT TO THE DEALER WHO CONFIRMED AND SAID THIS WOULD COST $500 TO REPAIR. WHEN I ASKED ABOUT THE AIRBAG THEY SAID THEY DO NOT RECOMMEND THAT I DRIVE THE CAR BECAUSE THE AIRBAG "MIGHT NOT WORK" ANYMORE. AFTER SEEING A SUFFICIENT AMOUNT OF POSTS HERE, I WANTED TO ALSO ADD MY FEEDBACK AS IT APPEARS THIS IS FAR MORE WIDESPREAD THAN JUST AN ISOLATED INCIDENT. I HAVE DRIVE 4 OTHER (NON-TOYOTA) VEHICLES FOR WELL ABOVE 200,000 MILES AND NEVER HAD THIS ISSUE. MY FATHER (AUTOMOTIVE MECHANIC FOR ANOTHER CAR BRAND) SAID HE'S NEVER HAD ANYONE COME IN WITH THIS ISSUE BEFORE. CONSIDERING THAT TOYTA PRIDES THEMSELVES AS HAVING SAFE VEHICLES, I WOULD HOPE THAT THEY CONSIDER A RECALL ON THIS LIFE-THREATENING PART FAILURE. *TR

THE HEADLAMP ON MY PRIUS PERIODICALLY TURNS OFF WHILE DRIVING. IT COMES BACK ON AFTER TURNING THE LIGHTS OFF AND ON AGAIN, BUT WILL STILL PERIODICALLY TURN OFF AFTER THIS RESET. *TR

THE REAR DOOR LATCH COVER MATERIAL HAS DETERIORATED AND THE LATCH IS NO LONGER OPERATING AS EXPECTED. THE RUBBER MATERIAL IS A SOFT GUMMY CONSISTENCY AND THE LATCH MECHANISM TO THE HATCHBACK FAILS TO RELEASE ALLOWING ACCESS TO THE REAR STORAGE AREA. THIS AREA CONTAINS THE SPARE TIRE. *TR

LIFTGATE LATCH RUBBER HANDLE IS DISINTEGRATING. *TR

MY RIGHT HEADLIGHT WENT COMPLETELY OUT. I WENT AND PURCHASED A NEW SET TO REPLACE BOTH LIGHTS AND HAD THEM PROFESSIONALLY INSTALLED. NOT EVEN 3 MONTHS LATER MY DRIVER SIDE HEADLIGHT WENT OUT. WITHIN 2 WEEKS OF THIS HAPPENING MY PASSENGER SIDE JUST WENT OUT AGAIN. I HAD NOTHING AT THAT POINT AND HAD TO DRIVE WITH HIGH BEAMS ON TO MAKE IT HOME. I HAVE ONLY OWNED THIS VEHICLE FOR 4 MONTHS AND FEEL THIS IS GOING TO BE A CONSTANT SITUATION TO DEAL WITH. *JS

LAST WEEK MY WIFE WAS DRIVING WHEN OUR CAR LOST POWER, BEGAN MAKING UNUSUAL NOISES, AND MULTIPLE WARNING LIGHTS BECAME ILLUMINATED ON THE DASH. SHE STOPPED THE CAR, TURNED OFF THE POWER, AND RESTARTED THE ENGINE; AGAIN THE WARNING LIGHTS REMAINED LIT. WE IMMEDIATELY TOOK THE CAR TO OUR LOCAL DEALER AND LEFT IT OVERNIGHT. THE NEXT DAY THEY INFORMED ME THE TRANSMISSION HAD FAILED AND CHARGED ME $5400 TO REPAIR IT. THE DAY FOLLOWING THE REPAIR THE "CHECK ENGINE" WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN WHILE DRIVING AND REMAINED LIT. WE IMMEDIATELY RETURNED TO THE DEALER. AFTER EXAMINING THE VEHICLE THE DEALER TOLD US THAT THE WATER RESERVOIR FLOAT HAD BECOME STUCK. HE ALSO STATED THAT THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR HYBRIDS WHICH HAVE UNDERGONE MAJOR ENGINE REPAIR. TODAY THEY FURTHER ADVISED THAT WE CONTINUE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE WITHOUT FURTHER REPAIRS. *TR

WITHOUT WARNING, AFTER STOPPING AND TURNING OFF THE ENGINE, MY PRIUS ENGINE WOULDN'T START AND ALL OF THE WARNING LIGHTS WENT ON WHEN I TRIED TO TURN THE ENGINE OVER.. THANKFULLY, I WAS NOT IN AN INTERSECTION OR ON A ROAD WHEN THIS OCCURRED. THE TOYOTA DEALER I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO, TOLD ME I HAD A POAA6 CODE AND NEED TO REPLACE A TRANSAXLE ASSEMBLY. (REPAIR COSTS ARE OVER $4000.00) AFTER A LITTLE BIT OF RESEARCH, IT APPEARS THAT A LOT OF 2007 PRIUS OWNERS ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME PRODUCT FAILURE. I JUST FOUND OUT THAT TOYOTA HAS A SERVICE BULLETIN ABOUT THE PROBLEM BUT DOES NOT COVER THE FAILURE AFTER 60,000 MILES, EXCEPT IN A FEW STATES, SUCH AS CALIFORNIA, WHICH MADE TOYOTA EXTEND WARRANTY TO 150,000 MILES. . NO TOYOTA MECHANIC EVER ADVISED ME ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. HAD I KNOWN IT'S POTENTIAL, I WOULD HAVE PURCHASED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY. TSB NUMBER: SB-0306-08 REV 2NHTSA NUMBER: 10037588TSB DATE: MARCH 23, 2011DATE ADDED TO FILE: MAY 26, 2011 FAILING COMPONENT: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:BATTERY SUMMARY: TOYOTA: MALFUNCTION LIGHT IS ON WITH TWO INTERNAL TROUBLE CODES. IT IS A PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSAXLE ASSEMBLY. 2004-2008 PRIUS. *JS

WATER COLLECTS IN WHEEL WELL WHEN DRIVING IN WET CONDITIONS. *TR

WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY ABOUT 60MPH, VEHICLE SUDDENLY LOST BRAKES. BRAKE, ABS AND VSC IDIOT LIGHT WENT ON. INSIDE VEHICLE BUZZER SOUNDED. VERY LITTLE HYDRAULIC BRAKING. WAS ONLY ABLE TO STOP VEHICLE BECAUSE I WAS GOING UP HILL. *TR

LEFT HEADLIGHT WOULD SPONTANEOUSLY TURN OFF WHILE DRIVING. BRIEFLY FIXED BY TURNING OFF AND ON AGAIN. *TR

I WAS DRIVING WITHIN THE SPEED LIMIT ON I-40 EAST TOWARD KNOXVILLE ON A FRIDAY EVENING. SUDDENLY ALL THE WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON AND BUZZERS WENT OFF. I PULLED OVER TO THE RIGHT LANE TO PREPARE TO PULL OVER TO THE SHOULDER OR TAKE THE NEAREST EXIT. TRAFFIC WAS VERY HEAVY WITH LOTS OF TRUCKS. I SAW AN EXIT ABOUT A MILE AHEAD AND TOOK IT. I FOUND I HAD VERY LIMITED BRAKING ABILITY. I PRESSED ON THE BRAKES AND SLOWED DOWN JUST BARELY ENOUGH TO MAKE THE TURN OFF THE EXIT RAMP ONTO BUTTERMILK RD. WHERE THERE WERE NO SERVICES, AND NO OPEN BUSINESSES. I CALLED FOR A TOW WHICH ARRIVED WELL AFTER DARK. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE TOYOTA OF KNOXVILLE DEALERSHIP WHICH WAS CLOSED. ON SATURDAY MORNING I FOUND OUT I NEEDED THE BRAKE ACCUMULATOR REPLACED. THEY TOLD ME THAT THE CAR COULD BE DRIVEN BUT THEY DID NOT RECOMMEND IT BECAUSE THE INCIDENT WOULD HAPPEN AGAIN. I AM FROM MARYLAND AND WAS ABOUT A 10-HOUR DRIVE FROM HOME. I DID NOT WANT TO RISK IT. THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE IN THE AREA AND HAD TO BE ORDERED. IT WAS TUESDAY EVENING BEFORE THE CAR WAS FIXED. THIS WAS THE SCARIEST INCIDENT I HAVE EVER HAD WITH ANY CAR. THIS PART HAS BEEN JUST RECALLED IN OTHER MODELS OF PRIUS. WHAT WAS DESCRIBED AS THE REASON FOR THOSE RECALLS IS EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED TO ME. *TR

THE BACK DOOR LATCH OF MY 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS HAS DEGRADED ("MELTED" ALMOST). IT NO LONGER FUNCTIONS PROPERLY, AND I AM UNABLE TO OPEN THE BACK HATCH DOOR. SOMETIMES IT REQUIRED CONSIDERABLE EFFORT AND PERSEVERANCE TO GET IT OPEN. I CANNOT OPEN IT ANYMORE AS THE LATCH BROKE. I AM CONCERNED THAT IN THE CASE OF AN EMERGENCY, I WILL NOT BE ABLE TO GET THE DOOR OPEN. THIS IS A MAJOR CAUSE FOR CONCERN AND IT IS A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD. BLUE 2007 PRIUS IN CUPERTINO, CA. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL, THE HEADLIGHTS, AND THE TAIL LIGHTS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE HEADLIGHTS WERE REPLACED BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,642.