2007 Toyota Prius Complaint Log

FOR THE LAST YEAR OR SO, I'VE HAD TROUBLE WITH THE HEADLIGHTS ON MY PRIUS. I FIRST NOTICED IT LAST SPRING - I WAS DRIVING BACK HOME ALONG THE HIGHWAY AND SUDDENLY NOTICED MY HEADLIGHTS WERE OUT. I FLIPPED THEM OFF AND THEN TRIED TO TURN THEM BACK ON AGAIN AND THEY CAME BACK ON. OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL MONTHS IT HAPPENED AGAIN - BUT IT WAS HARD TO NOTICE BECAUSE I DID NOT DO MUCH DRIVING AT NIGHT AND WHEN I DID, IT WAS IN WELL-LIT AREAS. WHEN I MOVED FOR A NEW JOB, I NOTICED THIS HAPPENING MORE FREQUENTLY - THOUGH I SUSPECT I'M JUST MORE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM BECAUSE I'M DOING MORE NIGHTTIME DRIVING AND IN MORE RURAL AREAS. THE DISTURBING PART IS THAT NOW BOTH HEADLIGHTS WILL GO OUT - PARTICULARLY AFTER MAKING A LEFT-HAND TURN. AGAIN, BY FLIPPING OFF THE LIGHTS AND THEN TURNING THEM BACK ON, THE LIGHTS WILL THEN WORK. BUT ON A LEAST A FEW OCCASIONS, THEY WILL GO OUT AGAIN WITHIN A FEW MINUTES. NOW, I'M NOTICING THAT ONE HEADLIGHT WILL OFTEN GO OUT - THOUGH NOT THE SAME SIDE. I'VE HAD MECHANICS LOOK AT IT WHO ARE UNABLE TO DO ANYTHING OTHER THAN REPLACE THE BULB; BUT THEY DON'T BELIEVE THAT THE BULB IS THE ISSUE. MY PRELIMINARY RESEARCH ONLINE HAS SHOWN ME THAT MY MODEL PRIUS HAS A HISTORY OF HEADLIGHT ISSUES THAT SOUND IDENTICAL TO MINE. ANY ASSISTANCE WOULD BE APPRECIATED - I AM A TEACHER IN A RURAL AREA WITH LIMITED FUNDS WHO CANNOT AVOID DRIVING AT NIGHT. *TR

I WAS RETURNING HOME FROM A TRIP WITH A FRIEND AND DRIVING ON MAJOR FREEWAY LATE AT NIGHT, VERY DARK WITH LITTLE VISIBILITY IN A RURAL, UNLIT AREA. .ALL LIGHTS IN VEHICLE SHUT DOWN WHILE DRIVING 70-75 MPH. WE COULD NOT SEE ANYTHING EVEN THE ROAD, WAS LIKE DRIVING BLIND AND VERY FRIGHTENING TRYING TO NAVIGATE THE PRIUS OFF THE ROAD SAFELY WITHOUT GETTING HIT BY OTHER VEHICLES. ONCE I STOPPED THE VEHICLE OFF THE SIDE OF THE ROAD IN THE FAR LEFT LANE WE TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF, BUT LEFT THE HAZARD LIGHTS ON AND LET THE VEHICLE SIT FOR A FEW MINUTES. WE STARTED AGAIN, LIGHTS CAME ON, AND I DROVE THE VEHICLE ANOTHER 100 MILES WITHOUT ANY INCIDENT UNTIL WE ENTERED THE CITY. I HAD A SIMILAR PROBLEM DRIVING THE 12 REMAINING MILES HOME, BUT THE FRONT YELLOW LIGHTS WORKED AND I HAD THE HAZARD AND BRAKE LIGHTS WORKING. THE CITY LIGHTS IMPROVED VISIBILITY. I TOOK THE VEHICLE IN AND THE ONLY PROBLEM THEY COULD FIND WAS WITH ONE OF THE HEADLIGHTS. I WAS TOLD I NEEDED TO REPLACE BOTH. I CAN'T EMPHASIZE HOW DANGEROUS AND FRIGHTENING THIS EXPERIENCE WAS FOR MY FRIEND AND I, STILL UNSURE HOW WE AVOIDED A TRAGEDY. I WOULD LIKE THE NHTSA TO INVESTIGATE AND MAKE A RECOMMENDATION TO HAVE SOME TYPE OF WARNING IN THE VEHICLE. *TR

DRIVING ALONG INTERSTATE 70 AT NIGHT, HEADLIGHT INTENSITY SUDDENLY DROPPED. STOPPED IN A SAFE PLACE ON THE NEXT EXIT RAMP AND DETERMINED THAT BOTH HIGH BEAM AND LOW BEAM OF THE LEFT HEADLIGHT HAD GONE OUT. RESUMED THE REST OF THE TRIP AT A SAFER SPEED. NEXT MORNING, TESTED THE HEADLIGHTS AND THEY ALL WORKED OK, BUT LATER IN THE WEEK THE SAME THING HAPPENED. *TR

BRAKE (RED COLOR) WARNING LIGHTS APPEAR WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH; YELLOW COLOR INDICATOR ON ABS, VSC. ONCE THESE WARNING LIGHTS APPEAR, I SOMEHOW LOSE 25-50% OF MY BRAKING POWER. NOT SURE WHAT IS WRONG DESPITE GETTING BRAND NEW WHEELS, REPLACED ALL-NEW ROTORS, BRAKE PADS, OIL AND FILTER CHANGE. THIS IS THE 5TH TIME IT HAS HAPPENED IN THE LAST FEW WEEKS. TOYOTA SHOULD BE HELD LIABLE AND TO REPLACE THE FULL COST OF ANY NECESSARY FIXES TO THE HYDRAULIC BRAKES OR RUN A DIAGNOSTIC OF THE ENTIRE VEHICLE'S ELECTRICAL OR BRAKES SYSTEM OR ANYTHING THAT LEADS TO THE DASHBOARD WARNING LIGHTS AT 100%. THIS WILL BE A SERIOUS ISSUE BECAUSE IT CAN LEAD TO SERIOUS ACCIDENTS IF OWNERS OF THIS VEHICLE EXPERIENCE THE SAME ISSUES. *TR

THE HEADLIGHT WENT OFF WHILE I WAS DRIVING. I FOUND OUT THAT HEADLIGHTS CAN ONLY BE CHANGED BY THE DEALERSHIP. THE EARLIEST APPOINTMENT TO CHANGE A LIGHTBULB IS THE FOLLOWING WEDNESDAY (MORE THEN A WEEK LATER), AND THE ESTIMATED COST FOR THE CHANGE IS OVER $500. THIS CAUSES INCREDIBLE HARDSHIP - THIS IS SOMETHING THE BUYER SHOULD HAVE BEEN TOLD OF BEFORE BUYING THE VEHICLE. *TR

DATE AND MILEAGE ARE APPROXIMATE. WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT MY HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT COMPLETELY. SINCE THEN, THEY CONTINUALLY GO OUT RANDOMLY. SOMETIMES IT WILL BEGIN WITH ONE OR THE OTHER GOING OUT AND THEN BOTH. AT THIS POINT, I AM ABLE TO TURN THEM OFF AND ON AGAIN AND THEY COME BACK ON FOR AWHILE....I AM QUITE CONCERNED ABOUT THIS AS SUDDEN DARKNESS WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT IS A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD. DOES AN ACCIDENT AND/OR DEATH NEED TO HAPPEN BEFORE ACTION IS TAKEN?... I AM ALSO QUITE CONFUSED THAT THERE HAS NOT BEEN A RECALL AS THIS PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE QUITE COMMON.......UPDATED 08/20/15 *BF UPDATED 12/10/15 *JS

FOR THE SECOND TIME IN A YEAR, THE ELECTRONIC DISPLAY PANEL ON MY 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS HAS GONE COMPLETELY DARK I.E, INOPERATIVE WHEN I STARTED THE VEHICLE. THIS PANEL DISPLAYS THE VEHICLE SPEED, GAS GAUGE AND VARIOUS STATUS & WARNING LIGHTS. THE CAR STILL IS ABLE TO BE DRIVEN EVEN THOUGH THE DISPLAY PANEL DOES NOT WORK, WHICH IS A HAZARD. THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED I HAD THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP'S SERVICE DEPT. LOOK AT THE CAR AND THEY COULD NOT REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM. THIS TIME I NOTICED THAT THE INTERIOR DOOR LIGHT WAS LIT. HOWEVER NO DOOR WAS OPEN. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS POWERED, I OPEN AND CLOSED EVERY DOOR INCLUDING THE REAR HATCH. THE DOOR LIGHT REMAINED LIT. I THEN HIT THE POWER BUTTON TO POWER THE CAR OFF AND THEN BACK ON. THE INTERIOR DOOR LIGHT WENT OUT AND THE DISPLAY PANEL CAME ON, RESOLVING THE ISSUE. I'VE TRIED TO REPLICATE THE PROBLEM BY OPENING A DOOR AND POWERING UP THE CAR WITHOUT SUCCESS. THERE HAS TO BE ANOTHER FACTOR INVOLVED THAT CAUSES THE DISPLAY TO FAIL TO OPERATE. *TR

HYBRID BATTERY FAILED. THE BATTERY IS HYPED AS LASTING THE LIFETIME OF YOUR CAR. 7 YEARS AND 131K IS NOT A LIFETIME IN MY OPINION. IF I LIVED OR BOUGHT MY CAR IN CA, IT WOULD BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. BECAUSE I LIVE IN ALABAMA, IT IS NOT. WARRANTY SHOULD BE STANDARDIZED. *TR

THE DISPLAY SCREEN IN THE CENTER OF THE DASH IN COMPLETELY BLACK. IT WON'T TURN ON. *TR

RIGHT HEADLIGHT WILL GO OFF. RECYCLING THE SWITCH WILL USUALLY RELIGHT THE LAMP. *TR

TODAY (AND MANY OTHER DAYS) ONE OR BOTH OF MY HEADLIGHTS AND/OR TAILLIGHTS HAVE EXTINGUISHED COMPLETELY ON THEIR OWN WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE AT LOW AND HIGH SPEEDS. THIS IS ESPECIALLY FRIGHTENING WHEN BOTH HEADLIGHTS EXTINGUISH WHERE WE LIVE (OUT IN THE COUNTRY WHERE STREETLIGHTS DO NOT EXIST). ON SEVERAL OTHER OCCASIONS, I HAVE BEEN PULLED OVER ON THE WAY TO WORK BY VARIOUS LAW ENFORCEMENT ORGANIZATIONS (LOCAL POLICE, SHERIFF, HIGHWAY PATROL) DUE TO MY HEADLIGHTS AND/OR TAILLIGHTS BEING OUT. TURNING THEM OFF AND THEN ON, OR TAPPING THE TAILLIGHT WITH MY HAND (OBVIOUSLY IMPOSSIBLE TO ACCOMPLISH WHILE DRIVING) SOLVES THE PROBLEM FOR A FEW MINUTES AT A TIME. EVERY DAY, AT LEAST 5 OF MY COWORKERS INFORM ME THAT I HAVE A HEADLIGHT AND/OR TAILLIGHT BULB WHICH NEEDS REPLACING. I DRIVE THIS CAR AS A COMMUTER TO WORK AND TO DRIVE MY CHILDREN. IT CONCERNS ME GREATLY THAT TOYOTA IGNORES THIS PROBLEM! *TR

THE BULBS TURN OFF INTERMITTENTLY FOR NO REASON. I ALREADY REPLACED THE BULBS BUT THE PROBLEM DID NOT GO AWAY. THIS IS VERY UNSAFE. I MADE MY RESEARCH AND THERE ARE MANY COMPLAINTS OF THIS KIND OF PROBLEM WITH THE 2007 PRIUS. TOYOTA SHOULD RECALL AND FIX THIS PROBLEM. THIS IS VERY UNSAFE. *TR

WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT, BOTH HEADLIGHTS SIMULTANEOUSLY TURNED OFF, WITHOUT WARNING. SOME PANIC,BUT, TURNED LIGHT SWITCH OFF/ON (PURE LUCK ON MY PART) AND LIGHTS AGAIN CAME ON -- PROBABLY WITHIN 10 SECONDS OF HAVING AN ACCIDENT OR GOING OFF THE ROAD. NO EMERGENCY PULL-OFF LANE, OR AREA WAS AVAILABLE. *TR

DURING THE SUMMER OF 2011, WE NOTICED THE TRUNK LATCH MECHANISM TO BE STICKY AND MELTING, LEAVING BLACK STUFF ON OUR HANDS. WE LIVE IN SOUTHWEST OHIO, SO TEMPERATURES ARE USUALLY IN THE 80S-90S IN THE PEAK OF SUMMER. AT TIMES, THIS WOULD CAUSE THE TRUNK LATCH NOT TO WORK, AND WE COULDN'T OPEN THE TRUNK. DURING THE FALL MONTHS, THINGS IMPROVED, AND IT WASN'T AS MUCH OF AN ISSUE. ONCE THE COLDER WINTER MONTHS BEGAN, THE TRUNK LATCH BEGAN TO STICK AND WOULDN'T OPEN WHEN IT WAS COLD. I CAN RECALL SEVERAL TIMES TRYING TO OPEN THE TRUNK UNSUCCESSFULLY. AGAIN, THINGS IMPROVED ONCE TEMPERATURES WARMED UP IN SPRING. THE WHOLE CYCLE STARTED AGAIN IN THE SUMMER AND REPEATED OVER AND OVER. OVER TIME, THE PART THAT THE LATCH IS CONNECTED TO BEGAN TO FEEL LOOSE. I ASKED ABOUT IT DURING MY ROUTINE 80K MILE SERVICE, AND THEY SAID THAT THE WHOLE PART WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED, NOT JUST THE LATCH. ALTHOUGH WE HAVE THE EXTENDED WARRANTY COVERAGE, APPARENTLY IT WAS NOT COVERED AND WE COULD NOT AFFORD TO REPLACE IT AT THAT TIME. WELL, THIS FEBRUARY, THE TRUNK LATCH WAS ONCE AGAIN MALFUNCTIONING AND WOULD NOT OPEN WHILE RUNNING ERRANDS. AT ONE LOCATION, I TRIED OPENING THE TRUNK, SQUEEZING THE MELTED BUTTON, AND THE ENTIRE PART THAT THE SWITCH IS ATTACHED TO (INCLUDING THE PUSH BUTTON LOCK, THE BACK-UP CAMERA, ETC.) BROKE OFF OF THE CAR. I AM 30SOMETHING WOMAN WITH AVERAGE STRENGTH, AND I DON'T FEEL I WAS BEING OVERLY AGGRESSIVE ON TRYING TO OPEN THE CAR. I BELIEVE THIS WAS DUE TO THE PART NOT FUNCTIONING AND OVER TIME, THE CONNECTIONS WERE JUST TOO WEAK. THIS SHOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED FROM NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR, AND IT IS CLEARLY A DEFECT BY THE MANUFACTURER. I HAVE READ ONLINE THAT THIS ISSUE HAS OCCURRED ON MANY OTHER TOYOTA PRIUS VEHICLES OF THE SAME AGE. I BELIEVE THAT TOYOTA NEEDS TO ISSUE A RECALL AND REFUND THE $312.03 I HAD TO SPEND TO REPAIR A DEFECTIVE PART. *TR

I CANNOT OPEN MY HATCHBACK IN COLD WEATHER. THE RUBBER PIECE IS VERY HARD IN COLD WEATHER NOT ALLOWING ME TO ENGAGE MECHANISM FOR OPENING HATCHBACK. IF IT WAS MADE OF A PLIABLE MATERIAL IN COLD WEATHER I THINK IT WOULD OPEN. PLEASE GET TOYOTA TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE VEHICLE WOULD SUDDENLY SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF FUEL ALTHOUGH THE FUEL GAUGE INDICATED THAT 1/2 TANK OF FUEL WAS PRESENT. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE FAILURE HAD OCCURRED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

IN FEBRUARY 2014 MY DRIVER'S SIDE HEADLIGHT WENT OUT. I HAD IT FIXED. THE VERY NEXT DAY MY PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT WENT OUT. IN SEPTEMBER 2014 THE DRIVER'S SIDE LIGHT WENT OUT AGAIN. HAD IT FIXED AND AGAIN, THE VERY NEXT DAY, THE PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT WENT OUT. MY HEADLIGHTS ARE PREMATURELY EXPIRING. THIS REPRESENTS A SAFETY CONCERN. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RUBBER ON THE HATCHBACK WAS MELTED AND, WHEN OPENED, WOULD COVER HER IN BLACK TAR. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE HATCH HANDLE COVER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 38,000.

PARKING MY PRIUS, MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, I HIT A VERY SMALL PATCH OF BLACK ICE WITH THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL. THE CAR SLANTED BRIEFLY TO THE LEFT--THEN THERE WAS A SUDDEN SURGE OF ENGINE POWER. THE CAR RUSHED OVER A MOUND OF ICE AND SNOW, JUMPED THE CURB, RUSHED FORWARD BETWEEN A WALL AND A TREE, NARROWLY MISSING IT, AND CRASHED INTO A PARKED TOYOTA TRUCK FACING OUTWARD FROM THE CURB. MY PRIUS HIT THE HEAVY TRUCK WITH ENOUGH FORCE TO KNOCK IT SIX FEET FOR THEIR NORTH AND THREE FEET TO THE WEST. AFTER IMPACT, THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO MAKE A LOT OF NOISE, A SOUND I'VE NEVER HEARD BEFORE IN SEVEN YEARS OF DRIVING THE CAR. IT WAS ATTEMPTING TO SURGE PAST THE TRUCK, WHICH I BELIEVE CAUSED THE MOST DAMAGE TO THE FRONT LEFT BUMPER OF THE CAR. I WAS STUNNED AND DIDN'T THINK TO TURN OFF THE IGNITION BEFORE IT QUIT ON ITS OWN AFTER PERHAPS TEN SECONDS. THE BODY WAS SHEARED BACK, STRIPS OF BLUE PAINT HANGING IN SHREDS. I CRAWLED OUT THE PASSENGER SIDE UNHURT. (THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY.) *JS

THE REAR LIFT GATE LATCH ON MY TOYOTA PRIUS HAS STOPPED FUNCTIONING. THE EXTERIOR RUBBER OVER THE LATCH MECHANISM/SWITCH HAS MELTED, TURNED GUMMY AND WILL NO LONGER FUNCTION TO OPEN THE LIFT GATE. IN COLD WEATHER THE LATCH HAS BEEN EVEN MORE DIFFICULT TO OPEN AND THE TRIM PIECE CONTAINING THE TRUNK HATCH LATCH FRACTURED IN SUB-FREEZING WEATHER WHILE TRYING TO GET THE LATCH TO RELEASE. THE CAR WAS PARKED WITH LIGHT SNOW FALLING. I CAN NO LONGER OPEN THE TRUNK OF MY CAR FROM THE OUTSIDE. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD AS I CAN NOT ACCESS THE REAR HATCH OF MY CAR IN AN EMERGENCY AND DEFEATS THE PRIMARY PURPOSE OF A HATCHBACK CAR WHICH IS ACCESS TO THE CAR'S INTERIOR. THE CAR JACK AND EMERGENCY SPARE TIRE LOCATED JUST BEHIND THE FAILED HATCH LATCH. I HAD TO PAY OVER $500+ TO HAVE TOYOTA REPLACE THE FAILED HATCH LATCH SWITCH AND SURROUNDING TRIM PIECE.

REAR HATCH RELEASE LATCH RUBBER IS DISSOLVING AND WILL ONLY WORK WITH DIFFICULTY OR NOT AT ALL. I WAS UNAWARE THAT THIS IS A FREQUENTLY REPORTED PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR AND HAD NOT CHECKED WITH THIS WEB SITE. THE DISINTEGRATING RUBBER APPEARS TO BE INTERFERING WITH THE ACTION OF THE SWITCH THAT RELEASES THE HATCH. MY LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER SAID NOTHING ABOUT THIS BEING A COMMON PROBLEM AND REPLACED THE REAR HATCH SWITCH ASSEMBLY FOR A COST OF $167 PLUS TAX. THIS COMPLAINT WAS MADE AUG. 6, 2014. *TR

REAR HATCH HANDLE HAS MELTED AND MAKING ACCESSIBILITY TO THE REAR HATCH LIFT GATE IS VERY STICKY AND SOFT. SOMETIMES THE HATCH DOES NOT RESPOND WHEN ATTEMPTING TO OPEN THE REAR HATCH. THE PIECE WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY IN 2009 AND IS NOW MALFUNCTIONING AGAIN. *TR

RIGHT HEADLIGHT FLICKERS AND GOES OUT, LEAVING ONLY LEFT HEADLIGHT ON. TURNING HEADLIGHTS OFF AND ON CAUSES BOTH HEADLIGHTS TO WORK AGAIN. PROBLEM REPEATS RANDOMLY IN ABOUT 10 MINUTES. I ALSO NOTED THAT ONCE BOTH HEADLIGHTS WENT OFF. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A HIGH PITCH SCREECHING SOUND AS ALL THE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE BRAKES AND THE ENGINE WAS SHUT OFF. THE VEHICLE STILL HAD NO BRAKES. THE FAILURE LATER RECURRED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WAS AN ERROR IN THE MOTHER BOARD THAT THEY REPAIRED. HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE THE DEALER THEN STATED THAT THE ACTUATOR WOULD NEED REPLACING. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURE WAS CONTACTED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000. UPDATED 3/12/14*CN

TRUNK/HATCHBACK OPENER/LATCH MELTED. LATCH IS NOW STICKY AND VERY DIFFICULT TO OPEN. THIS IS A HAZARD AS SOMEONE COULD BE TRAPPED IN THE CAR BECAUSE THE REAR HATCH WILL NOT OPEN. *TR

THE HANDLE TO THE REAR DOOR IS BARELY FUNCTIONING. IT HAS BEEN STICKING FOR A LONG TIME BUT NOW IT IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO OPEN THE REAR DOOR ALTOGETHER. THE RUBBER OF THE HANDLE LOOKS MELTED. *TR

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. SOMETIMES IT REQUIRES CONSIDERABLE EFFORT AND PERSEVERANCE TO GET IT OPEN. IF IT'S COLD OUT IT WILL NOT OPEN AT ALL. 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. I CAN NOT GET TO SPARE TIRE OR TOOLS DURING COLD WEATHER. I AM UNABLE TO GET TO THE CHILD CAR SEAT STRAP THAT LATCHES BEHIND SEAT TO TAKE CAR SEAT OUT. THE PART IS VERY EXPENSIVE TO REPLACE AND I HAS SEEN NUMEROUS POSTINGS ON THIS SITE OF THE SAME ISSUES ACROSS THE UNITED STATES. TIME TO MAKE TOYOTA OWN UP AND REPLACE IT. *TR

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 (FROZEN SOLID AND IMMOVABLE IN COLDER TEMPERATURES). SOMETIMES IT REQUIRES CONSIDERABLE EFFORT AND PERSEVERANCE TO GET IT OPEN. I AM CONCERNED THAT IN THE CASE OF AN EMERGENCY, I WILL NOT BE ABLE TO GET THE DOOR OPEN. ALSO, AT TIMES, DUE TO THE INFLEXIBILITY OF THE RUBBER I AM UNABLE TO OPEN THE TRUNK AND, THUS, ACCESS THE SPARE, ANY OF MY REPAIR TOOLS, EMERGENCY SAFETY KIT, FLARES, JUMPERS, ETC. THERE IS NO ALTERNATIVE INTERNAL METHOD FOR OPENING THE HATCHBACK/TRUNK.THIS IS A MAJOR CAUSE FOR CONCERN AND IT IS A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD. *TR

THE REAR HATCH LATCH IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO OPEN. THE EXTERIOR HANDLE RUBBER HAS BEEN SOFTENING, ALMOST MELTING, FOR SEVERAL YEARS. IT IS NOW CONSISTENTLY AFFECTING THE OPERATION OF THE LATCH. I ASKED THE DEALER IF THERE WAS A BULLETIN OR RECALL AND HE SAID, NO. HE DID SAY THEY GET A LOT OF COMPLAINTS/REPAIRS ON THE 2007 HATCH LATCH.

I AM UNABLE TO OPEN MY REAR HOOD LATCH. THERE IS A COVERING ON THE LATCH THAT IS STICKY, GOOEY AND IMPOSSIBLE TO OPEN MANIPULATE AND USE. I HAVE FOUND NUMEROUS OTHER COMPLAINTS ON THE WEB (SEE, FOR EXAMPLE: HTTP://WWW.MEYERSONSTRATEGY.COM/2013/09/TOYOTAS-STICKY-2007-PRIUS-HATCH-PROBLEM.HTML). IT HAS GOTTEN WORSE OVER TIME. GIVEN THE WIDESPREAD NATURE OF THIS PROBLEM, I BELIEVE THAT TOYOTA INSTALLED A FAULTY LATCH AND SHOULD REPLACE THE LATCH AT NO CHARGE. *TR

I TOO AM A VICTIM OF THE MELTING REAR HATCH COVER. THE RUBBER COVER TO THE EXTERNAL TRUNK LATCH HAS DETERIORATED TO THE POINT WHERE IT IS EITHER GOOEY TO THE TOUCH IN WARM WEATHER OR FROZEN SOLID TO THE POINT WHERE IT IS IMMOVABLE IN COLDER TEMPERATURES. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD SINCE I AM UNABLE TO ACCESS THE SPARE TIRE. THE RUBBER APPEARS TO BE BLOCKING THE RELEASE MECHANISM. THE DETERIORATION STARTED DURING THE SUMMER OF 2013. THIS ISSUE HAS WORSENED AND BEGINNING DECEMBER 29, I HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO OPEN THE REAR HATCH. IT IS CLEARLY A MANUFACTURER DEFECT AND IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF TOYOTA TO REPLACE THIS HANDLE AT NO EXPENSE TO THE CONSUMER. HOWEVER, THEY ARE NOT WILLING TO DO SO. *TR

BOTH HEADLIGHTS SUDDENLY WENT OUT WHILE DRIVING ON AN UNLIT MOUNTAIN HIGHWAY. HAPPENED AGAIN THE NEXT NIGHT WHILE DRIVING ON ANOTHER HIGHWAY. TURNING THE LIGHT SWITCH OFF AND ON AGAIN BROUGHT THE HEADLIGHTS BACK ON. PREVIOUSLY, DRIVER'S SIDE HEADLIGHT WOULD SUDDENLY GO OUT INTERMITTENTLY. THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME BOTH HEADLAMPS WENT DIM AT THE SAME TIME. VERY SCARING AND DANGEROUS SITUATION AS THERE WAS NO VISIBILITY AS SOON AS THE LIGHTS WENT OUT. *TR

I HAVE A 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS AND THE RUBBER HAS "MELTED" OFF IF THE LATCH AND HAS MADE IT NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO GAIN ACCESS TO THE REAR COMPARTMENT OF MY VEHICLE. IT BEGAN WITH NUMEROUS BLACK AND STICKY FINGERS THEN PROGRESSED TO CHUNKS OF GOOEY OF WHAT I THINK WAS PLASTIC COMING OFF INTO MY HANDS AND HAS ENDED UP BEING AN ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TASK TO GAIN ACCESS VIA THE BACK END OF MY CAR. FROM A VERY QUICK SEARCH OF THE INTERNET, THIS APPEARS TO BE A WIDE SPREAD PROBLEM AND EVERYONE IS GETTING THE SAME ANSWER I AM GETTING FROM TOYOTA....PAY UP!! THIS HAS TO BE A MFG DEFECT. I LIVE IN NORTH TEXAS SO YES, IT DOES GET HOT HERE BUT MELT THE PLASTIC OFF YOUR CAR HOT, I THINK NOT! PLEASE HELP US! *TR

12/18/13 IS THE FIRST OF MANY INCIDENTS WHEN THE HEADLAMPS SUDDENLY GO DARK. THE PROBLEM IS RANDOM AND INTERMITTENT, SOMETIMES THE LEFT, SOMETIMES THE RIGHT, SOMETIMES BOTH GO DARK AT ONCE. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. REPLACING THE HEADLAMP DOES NOT CORRECT THE DEFECT. *TR

I NOTICED OVER THE SUMMER THAT THE HATCHBACK BUTTON BECAME EXTREMELY SOFT AND FOR LACK OF A BETTER TERM, GOOEY. ONCE THE WEATHER COOLED DOWN THE BUTTON SEEMED TO HAVE RESHAPED/MELTED SO THAT I AM NO LONGER ABLE TO OPEN THE HATCH OF MY CAR. I HAVE CONTACTED TOYOTA WITH THIS CONCERN BUT WAS TOLD THAT BECAUSE I HAVE EXCEEDED THE MILEAGE AND WARRANTY COVERAGE IT IS MY RESPONSIBILITY. I STRONGLY BELIEVE THAT THIS IS THE CAUSE OF FAULTY MANUFACTURING. I CANNOT ACCESS MY SPARE TIRE IS KEPT UNDER COVER IN THE REAR HATCH. TOYOTA NEEDS TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS AND ISSUE A RECALL IMMEDIATELY. *TR

THE HATCH HANDLE MADE OF RUBBER IS DETERIORATING AND NOW MOISTURE GETS IN THE SWITCH AND WHEN IT GETS BELOW FREEZING YOU CAN OPEN THE HATCH. THIS RUBBER PIECE SHOULD NOT BE COMING APART LIKE THIS . MANY COMPLAINTS HAVE SURFACED CONCERNING THIS ISSUE. IF YOU NEEDED TO CHANGE A TIRE YOU COULD NOT GET THE HATCH OPEN TO GET THE TIRE OR EMERGENCY EQUIPMENT. *TR

STARTING IN 2014 OUR PRIUS HEADLIGHTS USUALLY ONE SIDE OR THE OTHER SIDE WOULD SPORADICALLY GO OFF. AND MOST DANGEROUS THEY BOTH GO OFF. THIS IS ESPECIALLY DANGEROUS WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT AT HIGH SPEEDS. I'VE HAD BOTH LIGHTS CHECKED ON AND THEY ARE WORKING NO BULB ISSUE. MY MECHANIC SAID THIS IS AN ISSUE WITH THIS YEAR AND MODEL CAR. *TR

TOYOTA PRIUSES, COVERING MULTIPLE MODEL YEARS, HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THEIR MULTIFUNCTION DISPLAYS IN THE RANGE OF 85000-95000 MILES. THE PROBLEM MANIFESTS ITSELF WITH A DISPLAY THAT WILL START TO GO OUT AND HAVE PROBLEMS WITH A FUZZY DISPLAY OR LINES THROUGH THE PICTURE, OR WILL JUST FAIL OUTRIGHT. THIS CAN CAUSE PROBLEMS WITH SUCH AS THE INABILITY TO CONTROL THE CAR'S CLIMATE (INCLUDING SAFETY-RELATED FRONT AND REAR WINDOW DEFOG), BLUETOOTH HANDS-FREE, GPS MAPPING AND OTHER IMPORTANT CAR FUNCTIONS. ONLINE THIRD-PARTY REPAIR COMPANIES SUGGEST THE PROBLEM MAY HAVE TO DO WITH BAD SOLDERING POINTS ON THE DISPLAY UNIT. TOYOTA SERVICE BULLETIN EL002-05 IS PURPORTED TO THE ISSUE. SOME SITES THAT DISCUSS THE ISSUE: HTTP://REPAIRPAL.COM/THE-CENTER-MULTI-FUNCTION-DISPLAY-MAY-FAIL-491 HTTP://BOBCOWART.BLOGSPOT.COM/2007/12/PRIUS-BROKEN-MULTI-FUNCTION-DISPLAY.HTML HTTP://WWW.PRIUSONLINE.COM/8-PRIUS-GENERAL/16987-PROBLEM-PRIUS-MULTI-FUNCTION-DISPLAY-MFD-3.HTML HTTP://PRIUSCHAT.COM/THREADS/MFD-ISSUES-ON-04-05-PRIUS.33923 HTTP://ARTSAUTOMOTIVE.COM/PUBLICATIONS/7-HYBRID/117-PRIUS-2ND-GEN-REPAIRING-THE-MULTI-FUNCTION-DISPLAY/ TOYOTA DOES NOT ACKNOWLEDGE A WIDE-SPREAD PROBLEM AND WILL NOT FULLY-COVER REPLACEMENT/REPAIR ON AN OUT-OF-WARRANTY VEHICLE. *TR

I HAVE A 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS AND THE RUBBER HAS "DECOMPOSED" OFF THE LATCH AND HAS MADE IT NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO GAIN ACCESS TO THE REAR COMPARTMENT OF MY VEHICLE. THE RUBBER DEGRADATION HAS MADE THE SENSITIVITY OF THE HATCH DOOR LATCH ERRATIC AND NOT WORKING MOSTLY. ITS CAUSE ME TO TRY TO YANK THE HATCH DOOR A COUPLE OF TIMES WHICH HAS CAUSE THE LATCH DOOR HANDLE TO COME LOOSE. TOYOTA PLS ADDRESS THIS ISSUE. THANKS *TR

THE BACK LATCH OF MY TOYOTA PRIUS 2007 HAS DEGRADED. IN THE PAST I HAVE RARELY USED THE TRUNK OF MY CAR AND THEREFORE DID NOT REALIZE THE EXTENT OF THE PROBLEM. I AM NOW ALMOST 9 MONTHS PREGNANT. A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO (AROUND NOVEMBER 2013) I TRIED TO OPEN THE TRUNK. WHILE IT WAS DIFFICULT, AFTER A LOT OF PRESSING AND MANEUVERING I WAS ABLE TO OPEN IT. MOST RECENTLY FOR THE PAST 3 WEEKS, I AM COMPLETELY UNABLE TO OPEN THE TRUNK. NOW THAT THE TRUNK IS COMPLETELY UNABLE TO BE OPENED, I AM EXTREMELY CONCERNED FOR THE SAFETY OF MY NEWBORN THAT WILL BE RIDING IN THE CAR. IN THE EVENT OF AN EMERGENCY, BEING ABLE TO OPEN THE TRUNK TO POTENTIALLY REMOVE MY BABY OUT OF THE CAR IS A MUST. THEREFORE, I BELIEVE THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD. I AM REQUESTING THAT TOYOTA CORRECT THIS PROBLEM ON MY CAR. *TR

THE REAR HATCH RELEASE ON MY 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS HAS DETERIORATED AND HAS BECOME MORE AND MORE DIFFICULT TO OPEN THE HATCH. TONIGHT IT IS VERY COLD OUT AND THE MECHANISM STUCK AGAIN AND WOULD NOT OPEN. I TRIED UNLOCKING TO MAKE SURE IT DIDN'T RE-LOCK THE DOORS AND PULLED AGAIN ON THE LATCH AND THE WHOLE BACK PART BROKE OFF IN MY HAND. THE COMBINATION OF THE STICKING AND THE COLD MADE THE PLASTIC PIECE THAT IS ALL THAT IT IS HOLDING THE LATCH BRITTLE TO THE POINT OF SIMPLY BREAKING WHILE TRYING TO OPEN THE HATCH. *TR

I AM REPORTING A DEFECTIVE 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS TRUNK HATCH RELEASE. THE MATERIAL APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN DEFECTIVE. IT APPEARS TO BE A GENERAL ISSUE DUE TO POOR QUALITY CONTROL AND FAULTY DESIGN BY TOYOTA. THE REPAIR COST FOR THIS CRUCIAL FUNCTION IS OBSCENELY HIGH (AROUND $500). *TR

HEADLIGHT RANDOMLY GOES OUT. IF LIGHTS ARE TURNED OFF THEN ON, IT COMES BACK ON. LIGHT GOES OUT APPROXIMATELY EVERY 5-10 MINUTES WHILE DRIVING. I'VE READ OTHER REPORTS ON THIS ISSUE AND BELIEVE TOYOTA NEEDS TO DEVELOP A FIX FOR THIS PROBLEM. *TR

REAR HATCH LATCH IS INOPERABLE AND PREVENTS ACCESS TO SPARE TIRE. RUBBER COVERING OF LATCH MECHANISM DEGRADED 'MELTED,' EVEN THOUGH CAR IS GARAGE STORED IN THE HEAT OF SUMMER, M-F. *TR

THE RUBBER LATCH THAT PROVIDES ACCESS TO THE TRUNK AREA OF MY 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS HAS ESSENTIALLY MELTED. WHEN I TOUCH IT MY HAND COMES AWAY WITH A BLACK GOOEY SUBSTANCE. IN THE SUMMERTIME THIS IS MORE OF AN ANNOYANCE THAN ANYTHING (I HAVE TO CARRY AROUND WET-WIPES, AND I OFTEN PUT GROCERIES ETC. IN THE PASSENGER CABIN JUST TO AVOID ACCESSING THE TRUNK), BUT IN THE WINTER IT CAN BE QUITE DANGEROUS, AS THE MELTED LATCH FREEZES, MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO OPEN THE HATCHBACK. THIS MEANS THAT I CANNOT ACCESS MY TOOLS, SPARE TIRE, SNOW EQUIPMENT, OR ANYTHING ELSE BACK THERE. THE DEGRADATION OF THE HANDLE LATCH ACTUALLY BEGAN SOME TIME AGO (IT PROBABLY BEGAN AFTER I HAD OWNED THE CAR FOR ABOUT 4 YEARS) BUT IT HAS GOTTEN WORSE OVER TIME SO I FINALLY DECIDED TO TRY TO GET IT FIXED. MY TOYOTA DEALER WANTED TO CHARGE ME OVER $300 TO REPLACE THE PART. THIS STRUCK ME AS ABSOLUTELY OUTRAGEOUS GIVEN THAT IT APPEARS TO BE A DESIGN DEFECT THAT CREATES A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD. *TR

STOP AND GO TRAFFIC ON THE FREEWAY, ACCELERATING WHEN THE TRAFFIC STARTED PICKING UP BUT VEHICLES IN FRONT SUDDENLY STOP AND AS I HIT THE BRAKES ON THE BUMPING FREEWAY THE VEHICLE DOES A BRIEF LURCH FORWARD AS ESP LIGHT BLINKS. VEHICLE DOES NOT STOP UNDER THIS BRAKING CONDITION AND FEELS MOMENTARILY LIKE THERE IS NO BRAKE PRESSURE. AS A RESULT, VEHICLE DOESN'T STOP IN TIME AND HITS THE VEHICLE IN FRONT EVEN THOUGH IT COULD'VE BEEN AVOIDED HAD THE BRAKES WORKED AS THEY SHOULD'VE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRUNK DOOR FAILED TO OPEN. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE MATERIAL THAT LATCHED THE DOOR WITH THE TRUNK WAS MELTED AND THE TRUNK COULD NOT BE ACCESSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 69,000.

2007 TOYOTA PRIUS REAR HATCH HANDLE FAILURE. RUBBER COVER MELTS INTO ELECTRIC SWITCH MAKING IT INOPERABLE. *TR

THE RUBBER COVER OVER THE REAR HATCH LATCH GOT SOFT AND WOULD STICK ONTO MY HANDS. I HAD TO PAY TO HAVE IT REPLACED. ALSO MY BREAKS GRAB ESPECIALLY WHEN THE WEATHER IS DAMP.

THE LIFT GATE LATCH ON THE 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS IS INOPERATIVE BECAUSE OF THE MELTING OF THE RUBBERIZED SUBSTANCE THAT COVERS THE LIFTGATE MECHANISM. I BELIEVE THIS IS A DEFECT THAT MANY 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS OWNERS HAVE EXPERIENCED. *TR