2007 Toyota Prius Complaint Log

THE RUBBER COVERING THE EXTERNAL HATCH LATCH AT THE REAR OF MY 2007 PRIUS HAS DEGRADED TO THE EXTENT THAT THE LATCH NO LONGER FUNCTIONS PROPERLY. THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW FOR THE 2007 PRIUS AND VERY DANGEROUS AS IT WILL NOT ALLOW ACCESS INTO THE TRUNK AREA IN CASE OF EMERGENCY. BECAUSE OF THE MELTED/DEGRADED RUBBER MY WIFE CAN NO LONGER GET INTO THE TRUNK AND I CAN ONLY GET INTO THE TRUNK AT RANDOM INTERVALS WITH SEVERE PRESSURE PLACED ON THE RUBBER/SWITCH AREA. IT COULD BE IMPOSSIBLE FOR ME TO REACH THE SPARE IN AN EMERGENCY. IT COULD ALSO DAMAGE THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WITH THE PRESSURE NEEDED TO MAKE IT WORK. THIS IS CLEARLY A TOYOTA DESIGN AND MATERIALS PROBLEM AND SHOULD BE FIXED BY TOYOTA BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT. *TR

I LOVE MY PRIUS BUT MY HEADLIGHT SITUATION IS TERRIBLE. I DRIVE 56 MILE ONE WAY TO WORK. I LEAVE AT 5:00 SO I DO A GOOD BIT OF NIGHT DRIVING. MY HEADLIGHTS GO OUT AVERAGING 10 TIMES PER TRIP. ALL I HAVE TO DO IS TURN THEM OFF AND THEN BACK ON. BUT WHEN YOU ARE GOING 70MPH IT MAKES YOU NERVOUS. WORSE IS ON COUNTRY ROADS WITH NO STREETLIGHTS, WHEN THEY BOTH GO OFF SIMULTANEOUSLY IT SCARES THE DODO OUT OF ME AND THE WIFE. USUALLY ONE GOES OUT AT A TIME BUT OCCASIONALLY BOTH AT ONCE. TOYOTA REPLACED BOTH BULBS TWICE AND THE COMPUTER BOARD THAT CONTROLS EACH LIGHT INDEPENDENTLY ONCE, WHILE IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY. BUT THE OLDER THE CAR GETS THE MORE THIS HAPPENS. *TR

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE AT NIGHT, NOTICED THAT PASSENGER SIDE HEAD LAMP TURNED OFF. VEHICLE WAS STOPPED ON THE CURB AND TRIED TO TURN THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH ON OFF AGAIN, BUT COULD NOT TURN ON ONE HEAD LIGHT. I WAS AFRAID TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE WITH ONE LAMP, SINCE LOCAL TOWNSHIP POLICE CAN GIVE ME A VIOLATION TICKET. THE HIGH BEAM WORKS BUT NOT THE LOW BEAM. TOYOTA NEEDS TO FIX THIS ISSUE VIA PRODUCT RECALL. *TR

LEFT FRONT HEADLIGHT. IT GOES OUT AFTER 5 MINUTES OF DRIVING. I REPLACED THE BULB AND IT STILL GOES OUT. THE COST OF BULBS ARE VERY EXPENSIVE AND TOYOTA SHOULD BE MADE TO REPLACE THIS ITEM AND HAVE ALL 2007 PRIUS RECALLED. ONE ACCIDENT COULD CAUSE A MAJOR CATASTROPHE ON THE ROADS BECAUSE LIGHTS TURNING OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF A DRIVE IS UNNERVING AND DANGEROUS. *TR

I HAVE A 2007 TOURING PRIUS WITH HID HEADLAMPS AND 1 OF THE HEADLAMP ASSEMBLY STARTED LEAKING WATER AND TOYOTA OF KINGSPORT, TN. REPLACED IT ON OCT. 28TH 2013 AND CHARGED ME $342.30 AFTER DISCOUNT. NOW THE NEW HEADLIGHT AND THE OTHER ONE IS GOING OFF WHILE DRIVING AND THIS HAPPENED ON MAY 29TH 2014. THERE IS NO WAY A HEADLIGHT SHOULD FAIL IN 6 OR 7 MONTHS. THANK YOU FOR LISTENING TO MY COMPLAINT, AS I CAN'T AFFORD TO KEEP REPLACING THESE VERY EXPENSIVE HEADLAMPS. I WENT ONLINE AND IT SEEMS I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THIS PROBLEM AND CAN YOU GET TOYOTA TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS? I WOULD APPRECIATE ANY HELP YOU CAN GIVE US PRIUS OWNERS WITH THE HID HEADLAMP SYSTEM. *TR

AFTER THE CAR HAS BEEN PARKED FOR AWHILE, THE DASHBOARD WAS COMPLETELY BLACK. THE CAR POWERED ON, BUT THERE WAS NO SPEEDOMETER, NO FUEL DISPLAY, AND NO ODOMETER. THE CAR WILL DRIVE AND GAS ENGINE AND HYBRID SYSTEM WORKS AS USUAL, BUT THERE ARE NO POWER STEERING, THE TURN SIGNALS DO NOT WORK, AND THE WIPER DOES NOT WORK. AFTER DRIVING FOR 5 TO 15 MINUTES, THE DASH WOULD LIGHT UP AND CAR DRIVES LIKE NORMAL AGAIN AND THE PROBLEMS MENTIONED GO AWAY. BASED ON INTERNET RESEARCH, THIS SEEMS TO A COMMON PROBLEM. THERE ARE ALMOST IDENTICAL COMPLAINTS ON THIS SITE INCLUDING NHTSA ID NUMBER 10544698. SIGNIFICANT SAFETY CONCERNS EXIST DUE TO THE TEMPORARY LOST OF POWER STEERING, NO TURN SIGNALS, AND NO WIPER DURING A RAIN. *TR

THE HATCHBACK HANDLE/LOCK HAS MELTED. NOW WHEN IT'S VERY COLD YOU CANNOT OPEN IT WITHOUT CONSIDERABLE FORCE. MY 16 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER IS DRIVING THE CAR AND SHE CAN'T GET IT OPEN. *TR

REAR HATCH HANDLE LIQUEFIED. *TR

THE HATCH RUBBER PANEL HAS BEEN DETERIORATING. IN WINTER THE RUBBER PANEL IS HARD AS A ROCK. IN SUMMER, THE PANEL IS MELTING AND LOSING ITS FORM. IT MAKES THE OPENING OF THE TRUNK CHALLENGING. IN SUMMER MONTHS, THE PANEL IS GOOEY AND MAKES FINGERS DIRTY. I AM CONCERNED THAT I CANNOT OPEN HATCH IN CASE OF EMERGENCY. *TR

I BOUGHT THIS CAR NEW. IN 6 YEARS, 88K MILES WITH REGULAR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE, I AM ON RIGHT HEADLAMP NUMBER THREE. IT TURNS OFF OF IT'S OWN ACCORD, WITH NO WARNING LIGHT OR DIMMING. IT JUST GOES COMPLETELY DARK. AT FIRST, YOU COULD TURN THE LIGHTS OFF AND BACK ON AND IT WOULD WORK AGAIN FOR A LITTLE WHILE, BUT THAT ULTIMATELY FAILED. BECAUSE THESE ARE MONODIRECTIONAL HDL LAMPS, THEY RETAIL AROUND $125 --- TO REPLACE ONE AT THE DEALER HAS BEEN ESTIMATED AT AROUND $550. I REPLACED THE FIRST ONE MYSELF, AND HAD THE SECOND ONE REPLACED AT A LOCAL GARAGE. NOW ON THE THIRD BULB WHICH IS FAILING. IT IS A SAFETY HAZARD, NOT TO MENTION IT MAKES MY VEHICLE ILLEGAL AND UNSAFE TO DRIVE AT NIGHT. I NEVER KNOW WHEN IT'S GOING TO GO OUT; I HAVE BEEN PULLED OVER BUT NOT CITED BY LOCAL POLICE FOR HAVING THE LIGHT OUT. I KNOW THAT THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE FOR PRIUS VEHICLES IN '05 THROUGH '07 - THE DEALER ACKNOWLEDGED AS MUCH. HOWEVER, BECAUSE I AM OUT OF THE WARRANTY PERIOD, THE ONUS TO PAY FOR THIS DEFECT FALLS TO ME. IRONICALLY I PURCHASED THE CAR TO SAVE MONEY AND GAS AND NOW AM HAVING TO SHELL OUT $500 EVERY 18 MONTHS OR SO BECAUSE OF THIS CONTINUALLY FAILING RIGHT HEAD LAMP. I HAVE READ IT MAY BE A HOUSING IN THE LAMP ASSEMBLY; THAT WAS ESTIMATED TO COST AROUND $2000 TO REPLACE. SERIOUSLY. TOYOTA DOES NOTHING - NO RECALL, NO WARNING, NOTHING. IT'S WRONG AND IT'S NEGLIGENT NOT TO ADDRESS THIS. *JS

WHEN THE CAR WAS TURNED ON IN THE MORNING AFTER SITTING OVERNIGHT, THE DASHBOARD WAS COMPLETELY BLACK. THE CAR POWERED ON, BUT THERE WAS NO SPEEDOMETER, NO FUEL DISPLAY, NO ODOMETER, AND NO BACK-UP CAMERA WHEN PUT INTO REVERSE. WHEN I GOT TO MY DESTINATION, APPROXIMATELY 15 MINUTES DRIVE TIME, I WAS UNABLE TO POWER OFF THE CAR AFTER REPEATED ATTEMPTS. THE CAR FINALLY POWERED DOWN AFTER I HELD THE POWER BUTTON FOR SEVERAL SECONDS. WHEN THE CAR WAS TURNED BACK ON AFTER ABOUT 11 HOURS, THE DASHBOARD WAS WORKING AGAIN, ALSO POWERING DOWN WORKED AS NORMAL. *TR

PASSENGER HEADLIGHT WOULD GO OUT INTERMITTENTLY. DRIVER'S SIDE HEADLIGHT WOULD GO OUT INTERMITTENTLY. DRIVER'S SIDE HEADLIGHT WENT OUT PERMANENTLY. TOOK CAR TO DEALER WHERE DRIVER'S SIDE HEADLIGHT WAS REPLACED. THREE DAYS LATER PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT WENT OUT. BOUGHT AN HID HEADLIGHT FROM AMAZON AT ONE THIRD THE PRICE AND REPLACED PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT. ONE WEEK LATE DRIVER'S SIDE HEADLIGHT WENT OUT PERMANENTLY THIRTY DAYS AFTER BEING REPLACED BY THE DEALER. *TR

DRIVER SIDE HEADLAMP WENT OUT AND PASSENGER SIDE HEADLAMP FLICKERED. THIS MADE IT VERY DIFFICULT TO SEE. AFTER TURNING THE LIGHTS OFF AND ON AGAIN THE LIGHTS CAME BACK ON...BUT CONTINUED TO ACT UP. I SENT AN EMAIL TO TOYOTA BELOW IS THE EMAIL THREAD OF THEIR RESPONSE. I AM SHOCKED BY THE RESPONSE!! THEY TOLD ME THE HID HEADLAMPS ARE DESIGNED TO TURN OFF TO PREVENT OVERHEATING! SEE BELOW. FROM: "ASK TOYOTA" <TOYOTA_CARES@TOYOTA.COM> TO:[XXX] SENT: SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2013 6:09:08 PM SUBJECT: HEADLAMP/BALLAST PROBLEM [INCIDENT: 130913-000071] THANK YOU FOR CONTACTING TOYOTA MOTOR SALES, U.S.A., INC. WE APOLOGIZE FOR THE ISSUES YOU ARE EXPERIENCING WITH THE HID HEADLIGHTS ON YOUR 2007 PRIUS. BY DESIGN, HID BULBS WILL TURN OFF IF THE BULB IS STARTING TO OVERHEAT IN ORDER TO PROTECT THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT. THERE ARE TIMES BY SIMPLY TURNING OFF THE HEADLIGHTS AND THEN BACK ON; THE HID BULBS WILL TURN BACK ON. WE ARE NOT AWARE OF ANY PART UPDATES REGARDING THE HID HEADLIGHT SYSTEM FOR THE PRIUS. WE CAN'T GUARANTEE THAT A DESIGN CHANGE WOULD BE MADE, BUT YOUR HONEST FEEDBACK MAY HELP US TO EVALUATE DIFFERENT ALTERNATIVES. YOUR EMAIL HAS BEEN DOCUMENTED AT OUR NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS UNDER FILE #1309140862. IF WE CAN BE OF FURTHER ASSISTANCE, PLEASE UTILIZE THE FOLLOWING LINK TO FIND A VARIETY OF AVENUES TO CONTACT OUR OFFICES, HTTP://WWW.TOYOTA.COM/SUPPORT/CONTACT.HTML. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

THE RIGHT HEADLIGHT HAD TO BE REPLACED. IT WOULD TURN OFF AND IF I TURNED THE LEVER ON AND OFF WHILE I WAS DRIVING IT WOULD COME ON FOR A WHILE. ON A DARK NIGHT IT WAS DANGEROUS. I REPLACED THE RIGHT HEADLIGHT AND IT COST A TOTAL OF $229.55 WHICH I THOUGHT WAS OUTRAGEOUS. NOW THE DRIVER'S SIDE HEADLIGHT HAS GONE OUT TOO. I MIGHT HAVE TO DRIVE IT ONLY IN DAYLIGHT UNLESS I CAN FIND A CHEAPER WAY TO REPLACE THE HEADLIGHT. I WAS STOPPED BY THE POLICE FOR THE FIRST HEADLIGHT OUT, BUT GIVEN A WARNING. I BOUGHT THE CAR TO SAVE MONEY BUT HEADLIGHT REPLACEMENT COSTS ARE WAY TOO MUCH IN MY ESTIMATION. *TR

MY HEADLIGHT ON DRIVERS SIDE KEEPS GOING OUT. I TURN THE LIGHTS OFF THEN ON AGAIN BUT NOW THE LIGHT IS ALMOST BURNED OUT. I WAS TOLD I NEED ABOUT 350 FOR THE WHOLE ASSEMBLY. THAT'S TO MUCH! NO NORMAL PERSON HAS THAT JUST LAYING AROUND AND I'VE BEEN PULLED OVER FOR IT TWICE NOW. IF I WOULD OF KNOW THE MAINTENANCE ON THIS CAR WAS SO EXPENSIVE I WOULDN'T OF BOUGHT IT! *TR

REAR LATCH ASSEMBLY ON MY PRIUS HAS STARTED TO MELT AND BLOCK THE OPENING OF THE REAR LATCH. THIS SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM WITH MANY OF THE 2007 PRIUS. I HAVE NEVER HAD A CAR WHERE THE PLASTIC MELTED FOR NO APPARENT REASON. *TR

I HAVE A 2007 PRIUS. THE CAR WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT ON AUGUST 30, 2013 BECAUSE "NO BRAKE". IT WAS IN A STOP AND GO SITUATION TRAVELING AT ABOUT 20 MILES PER HOUR. THE CAR IN FRONT STOPPED, I SLAMMED ON THE BRAKE AND TOTAL BRAKE FAILURE. MY 16 YEARS OLD SON SITTING IN THE CAR OBSERVED THE "NO BRAKE" SCENARIO. THERE WAS A 25 POUND OF RICE IN THE TRUCK DID NOT EVEN MOVE. NO SKIP MARK... NOTHING. TOOK MY CAR TO LONGO TOYOTA AND FOUND NOTHING WITH THE BRAKE SYSTEM, OTHER THAN THE FRONT PAD WAS THIN, TIRES WERE MARGINAL ETC. NONE OF THE FINDINGS EXPLAINED THE NO BRAKE SCENARIO. FOR SOME REASON I CANNOT MAKE THIS NO BRAKE TO APPEAR AGAIN. I WANT PEOPLE TO AWARE OF THIS AND GATHER INFORMATION. IT APPEARS TO ME THE PRIUS CANNOT RESPONSE TO A QUICK STOP AT SLOW SPEED. SOMEHOW, THE CAR TAKES MORE THAN A SECOND FOR THE BRAKING TO KICK IN - THE REACTION DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE INSTANTANEOUS. AND IF YOU ARE TOO CLOSE, THAT EXTRA ONE SECOND WAIT WILL CAUSE A COLLISION.

I WAS DRIVING ON A DARK COUNTRY ROAD WHEN BOTH HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT. I TURNED THE HEADLIGHT CONTROL OFF AND THEN ON AND THEN THE LIGHTS CAME ON AGAIN. THE CAR HAS A LONG HISTORY OF THE PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT GOING OUT INTERMITTENTLY. WHEN IT WAS JUST ONE LIGHT INTERMITTENTLY GOING OUT, I HAD REPORTED THIS TO THE DEALER AND LATER TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. I WAS TOLD THAT THEY DIDN'T FIND A PROBLEM. AFTER THIS MOST RECENT EXPERIENCE WITH BOTH LIGHTS GOING OUT AT THE SAME TIME, MY MECHANIC AGAIN SAID THAT IT WAS NOT HAPPENING WHEN HE TEST DROVE THE CAR. I ASKED HIM TO KEEP IT LONGER FOR MORE TESTING SINCE I WAS AFRAID NOW TO DRIVE THE CAR AT NIGHT. HE KEPT IT LONGER AND DID EXPERIENCE THE DRIVER SIDE HEADLIGHT GOING OUT. HE RECOMMENDED REPLACING BOTH BULBS FOR A TOTAL PRICE OF $548. I CALLED THE TOYOTA DEALER TO ASK WHAT THEY COULD DO FOR ME. SINCE THE CAR IS PAST 50,000 MILES THEY SAID THEY WOULD HAVE TO CHARGE $475 TO CHANGE BOTH HEADLIGHTS. I RESEARCHED ONLINE AND DISCOVERED THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM IN THE PRIUS. IN MY OPINION IT IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE AND NOT A NORMAL PART MAINTENANCE ISSUE.

RUBBER HATCH LATCH COVER HAS DETERIORATED AND IT HAS BECOME DIFFICULT TO OPEN THE HATCH, AND VERY DIFFICULT IN COLD WEATHER (MY WIFE CANNOT OPEN IT AND IT IS HER CAR). I CONSIDER THIS A SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

THE TRAFFIC REPORT SAID I LOST CONTROL ON A CURVE. I WAS KNOCKED UNCONSCIOUS AND DO NOT KNOW. SIX DAYS BEFORE THE ACCIDENT MY HUSBAND TOOK THE CAR TO TOYOTA TO REPLACE THE HEADLAMP FOR THE THIRD TIME. HE SAID THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE STEERING PART ?? AND THEY WERE GOING TO REPLACE IT. THEY GAVE US A RECITE THAT THEY HAD REPLACED THE PART WITH THE PART NUMBER. MY HUSBAND SAID THEY ONLY HAD IT BACK THERE FOR LESS THAN 15 MINUTES. SIX DAYS LATER I HAD AN ACCIDENT STATING 'I LOST CONTROL'. *TR*DT*JB

THE HATCHBACK HANDLE/RELEASE IS SOFT AND GOOEY AND AT TIMES THE RELEASE TO OPEN THE HATCHBACK WILL NOT WORK. GOOEY BLACK SUBSTANCE GETS ALL OVER HANDS AND FINGERS WHEN YOU TRY TO "POP" THE HATCHBACK. UNABLE TO GET THE TRUNK TO OPEN ON A COUPLE OF OCCASIONS. THERE IS NO INTERNAL RELEASE SWITCH INSIDE THE CAR. SINCE THE SPARE TIRE IS IN THE TRUNK, THERE COULD POTENTIALLY BE NO ACCESS TO THE TIRE. IT WAS DISCOVERED THE DAY AFTER WE BOUGHT THE CAR (USED). CONTACTED DEALER, WHO QUOTED US $300+ TO REPAIR. HAVE NOT HAD IT REPAIRED YET. *JB

THE RUBBER ON THE REAR HATCH LATCH WAS DEFECTIVE AND DEGENERATED INTO A PILE OF GOO, MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO OPEN THE REAR HATCH DOOR. THIS IS A WELL-KNOWN DEFECT FOR THIS MODEL AND YEAR, BUT TOYOTA HAS SO FAR NOT MADE AN EXTENDED WARRANTY TO HAVE THE PROBLEM REPAIRED AT NO CHARGE TO THE OWNER OF THE VEHICLE. *TR

REAR HATCH LATCH RELEASE BUTTON IS RUBBER. IT HAS DETERIORATED RELEASING BLACK SUBSTANCE ONTO FINGERS, IT IS STICKY AND BUTTON DOES NOT RELEASE AS WELL AS BEFORE. *TR

IN ORDER TO START, THE BRAKES MUST BE DEPRESSED. THE ELECTRICAL SWITCH THAT DETECTS THE BRAKE PEDAL BEING DEPRESSED ALSO CONTROLS THE BRAKE LIGHT INDICATORS. THIS SWITCH HAS STARTED TO FAIL, OPERATING INTERMITTENTLY. THE SYMPTOMS ARE INABILITY TO START THE VEHICLE TO "READY" MODE FOR DRIVING AND THE BRAKE LIGHTS NOT OPERATING WHICH IS EXTREMELY UNSAFE. ONCE THE CAR HAS STARTED TO "READY" AND CAN DRIVE, THE BRAKE LIGHTS MAY OR MAY NOT OPERATE DURING DRIVING. *JS

2007 PRIUS LIFTBACK BLACK RUBBER SWITCH-HANDLE IS MELTING AND BLACK RUBBER TAR IS ALL OVER HANDS WHEN TOUCHING THE SWITCH-HANDLE. REPORTED FOR YEARS BY OTHER OWNERS ON PRIUSCHAT BLOG: HTTP://PRIUSCHAT.COM/THREADS/2007-PRIUS-TRUNK-HATCH-RELEASE-RUBBER-PIECE-MELTED.71647/PAGE-3 SHOULD BE A RECALL FOR THIS DEFECTIVE MELTING RUBBER HANDLE WHICH IS ON HANDS WHENEVER YOU TOUCH IT. VERY HOT TO TOUCH DURING SUMMER WEATHER TOO. PART NUMBERS FOR 2007 PRIUS (BUT ALWAYS DOUBLE CHECK THEM!): 84905-47010 - FOR MODELS WITH SMART ENTRY. 84840-47020 - FOR MODELS WITHOUT SMART ENTRY. LOCAL DEALER ACKNOWLEDGES THE DEFECTIVE PART IS COMMON, BUT WOULD NOT REPLACE/REPAIR FOR FREE. THE BLOG ABOVE SHOWS COUNTLESS NUMBERS OF SIMILAR CASES COSTING AS MUCH AS >$300 TO REPLACE. THIS IS ALSO HAPPENING IN OUR 2009 PRIUS TOO. *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. 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. *TR

PASSENGER-SIDE HIGH INTENSITY HEADLIGHT STARTED INTERMITTENTLY FAILING. THE LIGHT GOES OUT RANDOMLY AND UNEXPECTEDLY. TURNING BOTH HEADLIGHTS OFF AND BACK ON AGAIN TEMPORARILY FIXES THE ISSUE. *TR

THE RUBBER COVER ON THE HATCH RELEASE HANDLE (THE EXTERIOR HANDLE OF THE REAR HATCH) ON MY 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS HAS MELTED MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO OPEN THE REAR HATCH. I CAN BEST DESCRIBE IT AS BEING A VISCOUS BLACK GLOB LIKE ROOFING TAR. THE VEHICLE'S SMART KEY LOCKING SYSTEM HAS ALSO BEEN AFFECTED BY THE MELTED SWITCH. IT NOW TAKES SEVERAL SECONDS TO FIND THE SENSOR DUE TO A LOSS IN SENSITIVITY IN THE SWITCH, CAUSED BY THE MELTING OF THE RUBBER COVER. I THOUGHT THAT THIS MIGHT BE A SINGULAR ISSUE, BUT HAVE READ NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ONLINE FROM OTHER CAR OWNERS. FROM A SAFETY PERSPECTIVE, THIS MEANS YOU CAN EXPERIENCE EXTREME DIFFICULTY OPENING THE REAR HATCH (A LIFE SAFETY ACCESS POINT) TO ME, THIS IS BOTH A SERIOUS LIFE SAFETY ISSUE AND A SERIOUS QUALITY DEFECT THAT TOYOTA IS OPTING TO IGNORE AND ONLY FIXING ON VEHICLES WITH EXTENDED WARRANTIES, SINCE THE FAILURE APPEARS TO OCCUR AT AROUND THE 3 YEAR MARK (IE AFTER 3 YEARS OF EXPOSURE TO THE HEAT). I THINK A DOOR HANDLE OR HATCH HANDLE SHOULD BE MADE TO LAST MORE THAN 3 YEARS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE. *TR

DRIVER SIDE HEADLIGHT, KEEPS GOING OUT.SWITCH OFF THE LIGHTS THEN BACK ON IT WORKS FOR A LITTLE WHILE, BUT STILLS GO OUT. *TR

RIGHT HEADLIGHT FLICKERS WHEN STARTING CAR, THEN GOES OUT INTERMITTENTLY. KNOWN ISSUE WITH 2005-2007 PRIUS. *TR

THE RUBBER TRUNK RELEASE MELTED THIS SUMMER, CREATING A STICKY MESS AND MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO OPEN THE TRUNK. HAD TO TRY NUMEROUS TIMES WITH GREAT FORCE TO OPEN THE TRUNK. NOW THAT THE TEMPERATURE HAS DROPPED, THE RUBBER BAR IS FROZEN HARD AND I CANNOT DEPRESS IT TO OPEN THE TRUNK. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE IN THE EVENT OF AN EMERGENCY. *TR

REAR HATCH RELEASE IS DISSOLVING AND HATCH WILL ONLY OPEN WITH DIFFICULTY OR NOT AT ALL. MANY SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ON LINE ABOUT THIS ISSUE FOR THIS PRIUS MODEL YEAR. *TR

I HAVE PREVIOUSLY FILED A COMPLAINT REGARDING THIS VEHICLE # 10520690. NOW THIS VEHICLE CAN NO LONGER BE DRIVEN AT NIGHT AS BOTH HEADLIGHTS GO OUT WHILE DRIVING. THIS IS EXTREMELY UNSAFE AND SCARY. IF THIS WERE THE ONLY VEHICLE I HAD TO DRIVE I WOULD HAVE A REAL PROBLEM BECAUSE I CAN NOT TRUST TO DRIVE IT AFTER SUNSET. TOYOTA NEEDS TO FIX THIS PROBLEM! *TR

WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 55 MPH, THE POWER WAS LOST AND THE ACCELERATOR DID NOT RESPOND TO BEING DEPRESSED. THE CAR WAS STEERED FROM THE MIDDLE LANE ON A THREE LANE HIGHWAY TO GRADUALLY COAST INTO THE SAFETY LANE OFF THE HIGHWAY WHERE THE BRAKE WAS USED TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE POWER BUTTON WAS THEN DEPRESSED AND THE ENGINE RESTARTED AND WE REENTERED THE HIGHWAY. THIS WAS THE ONLY SUCH INCIDENT IN SEVEN YEARS OF OWNERSHIP OF THIS VEHICLE. THIS INCIDENT HAS NOT RECURRED. *TR

PRIUS SHIFTED ITSELF OUT OF GEAR. I PUT THE CAR INTO 'DRIVE', IT SHIFTED ITSELF INTO NEUTRAL. I PUT THE CAR IN 'REVERSE', IT SHIFTED ITSELF INTO 'NEUTRAL'. I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND ON SEVERAL TIMES AND FINALLY GOT IT TO STAY IN 'REVERSE', BUT EVERY TIME I TRIED TO GET THE CAR INTO 'DRIVE', IT SHIFTED BACK INTO 'NEUTRAL'. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFELY RISK. I'VE RESTARTED SEVERAL TIMES AND STILL CAN'T GET THE CAR TO STAY IN DRIVE. THERE HAVE BEEN A FEW WEIRD INCIDENTS BEFORE - I.E., START THE CAR, PUT IT INTO 'DRIVE' AND IT GOES INTO 'REVERSE', BUT I ATTRIBUTED THIS TO AN ERROR ON MY PART. AFTER TODAY, HOWEVER, THESE ISSUES ARE CLEARLY A PROBLEM WITH THE CAR, AND NOW I BELIEVE THE PRIOR INCIDENTS ARE RELATED. *TR

SINCE ABOUT 3 MONTHS AFTER BUYING THIS, THE HEADLIGHTS WILL RANDOMLY GO OUT ALL THE TIME. I HAVE BEEN PULLED OVER COUNTLESS TIMES. IT'S A COMPLETE SAFETY HAZARD. IT'S NOT THE BULBS. IT'S THE UNDERLYING BALLASTS. WHICH I'M TOLD CAN COST UPWARDS OF $3K TO FIX. IT'S A LOT OF THEM FROM 2006-2009 MODELS. THEY WERE SUED OVER IT BUT THEY NEVER RECALLED IT. I BOUGHT MINE AFTER ALL THAT WAS LONG AND DONE SO I CAN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. IT'S A MANUFACTURER DEFAULT THAT THEY SHOULD FIX!

THE RUBBER ON MY TRUNK RELEASE HAS TURNED TO A TARRY MESS MAKING IT VERY DIFFICULT TO OPEN AND LEAVING BLACK TAR ALL OVER MY FINGERS. WHEN THE RELEASE DOES NOT WORK, I HAVE PULL OUT MY KEYS TO PRESS THE UNLOCK BUTTON OR OPEN THE CAR TO PRESS THE UNLOCK BUTTON WHICH SOMETIMES RELEASES IT BUT NOT ALWAYS. I OPT NOT TO USE MY TRUNK BECAUSE IT IS SO TERRIBLY INCONVENIENT AND FRUSTRATING NOW, ESPECIALLY WHEN I AM JUGGLING PACKAGES AND/OR KIDS. I AM TERRIBLY DISAPPOINTED THAT TOYOTA IS NOT TAKING OWNERSHIP OF THIS PROBLEM AS I SEE MANY POSTS DEALING WITH THIS VERY SAME ISSUE. *TR

WHILE DRIVING HOME LATE AT NIGHT, THE HID HEADLIGHTS STARTED FAILING. FIRST, THE DRIVER'S SIDE WENT OFF, THEN THE PASSENGER SIDE WENT OFF. AFTER DRIVING TO THE SHOULDER IN THE DARK, I TURNED OFF THE LIGHTS AND SWITCHED THEM BACK ON. I WAS ABLE TO MAKE IT HOME WITH THE PASSENGER SIDE LIGHT WORKING FOR THE REST OF THE WAY. DRIVER'S SIDE FAILED AGAIN AFTER 10 MINUTES. I ORDERED REPLACEMENT BULBS ONLINE AND REPLACED BOTH LIGHTBULBS. PASSENGER SIDE SEEMS TO WORK FINE. DRIVER'S SIDE HOWEVER TURNS ITSELF OF ANYWHERE FROM 5 MINUTES TO 1 HOUR. I AM TOLD BY TOYOTA DEALER THAT THE BALLAST MAY BE DEFECTIVE. BALLAST REPLACEMENT IS ABOUT $250 PARTS AND $100 LABOR. MY HEADLIGHTS WERE ALREADY CHANGED UNDER "WARRANTY" AT AROUND 35,000 MILES FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. GOING BY THE COUNTLESS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE PRIUS HID HEADLIGHTS ON THE INTERNET, WHY IS THERE NO RECALL? TOYOTA IS CLEARLY CREATING A SECURITY RISK THAT MAY COST LIVES. IS THE NHTSA GOING TO WAIT UNTIL SOMEONE ACTUALLY GETS KILLED BECAUSE OF FAILING HEADLIGHTS BEFORE MANDATING A RECALL FOR TOYOTA? *TR

I AM ONE OF THE MANY VICTIMS OF THE DEFECTIVE PRIUS 2007 HATCH OPENING SWITCH. AFTER 4 YEARS THE RUBBER COVER TURNED TO TAR FOR MY 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS. ESSENTIALLY THE RUBBER COVER MELTS INTO THE ELECTRONIC SWITCH MAKING IT INOPERABLE. *TR

RUBBERIZED FLOOR MATS FOR CAR DRIVERS SIDE HAVE FLAWS IN WORKMANSHIP SO THAT THEY TEAR WHERE THE RETENTION HOOK IS ON LEFT SIDE. THE EFFECT IS THE MATTE COMES LOOSE AND JAMS THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. EVEN THOUGH THIS IS SIMILAR TO PREVIOUS FLOOR MATTE RECALLS ON THIS MODEL, THE DEALERSHIP WILL NOT HONOR THE RUBBERIZED MATTES WITH THESE FLAWS UNDER THE PREVIOUS RECALL. ANOTHER RECALL LOOKS TO BE IN ORDER FOR THIS SAME KIND OF PROBLEM AGAIN.

THE REAR HATCH BECAME STICKY AND LEFT BLACK RESIDUE ON MY FINGERS. THE HATCH TOOK SEVERAL TRIES UNTIL IT UNLOCKED. NOW THAT IT IS COLD IN PENNSYLVANIA THE HATCH WILL EITHER NOT OPEN AT ALL OR IT TAKES NUMEROUS TRIES UNTIL IT UNLOCKS. THIS IS VERY INCONVENIENT AS ACCESS TO THE REAR IS NOT GAINED SOMETIMES AND ITEMS MUST BE PLACED IN THE BACKSEAT AS A RESULT. ALSO IF I AM UNLUCKY ENOUGH TO GET A FLAT TIRE I CANNOT GET TO THE SPARE. THE REAR HATCH AREA IS WHERE MY EMERGENCY KIT AND JUMPER CABLES ARE KEPT. OUR FAMILY OWNS THREE TOYOTA'S AND BEING LOYAL CUSTOMERS OF TOYOTA I WOULD THINK THAT TOYOTA WOULD BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO DO THE RIGHT THING AND FIX THIS PROBLEM FOR FREE SINCE THIS APPEARS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM! *TR

HEADLIGHT AND TAILLIGHTS GO OUT AND THEN COME BACK ON. ALSO, WHEN ON THEY SEEM TO BE VERY WEAK. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 72 MPH, A BRIGHT RED EXCLAMATION POINT ICON ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AS THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS UNDETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 56,000.

I'VE ALSO BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE REAR HATCH ON MY 2007 PRIUS FOR SOME TIME. THE RUBBER HAS SOFTENED AND PARTIALLY MELTED IN WARM WEATHER, MAKING IT EXTREMELY HARD TO GRIP AND DEPRESS THE RELEASE BUTTON, PARTICULARLY FOR A WOMAN WITH WEAK FINGER JOINTS. SEVERAL TIMES IT HURT MY HANDS TO GRIP AND PRESS THE RELEASE. NOT TO MENTION THE GOOEY MESS IT MADE ON MY FINGERS WHEN I'D TRY TO OPEN IT. THEN ONCE THE WEATHER TURNED COLDER, IT SEEMS THE RUBBER SOLIDIFIED IN AN ABNORMAL SHAPE AND RECENTLY IT HAS BECOME IMPOSSIBLE FOR EVEN A MAN WITH STRONG HANDS TO DEPRESS AND OPEN THE HATCH. I FEAR IT WOULD BE IMPOSSIBLE FOR ANYONE TO WRESTLE THE SPARE TIRE OUT OF THE TRUNK WITHOUT BEING ABLE TO OPEN THE HATCH. SURE, YOU CAN GAIN ACCESS TO THE HATCH AREA BY FOLDING DOWN THE SEATS, BUT HOW COULD YOU OPEN THE COVER FOR THE TIRE WELL AND PULL OUT THE SPARE TIRE? AND IN AN EMERGENCY, THERE WOULD BE NO WAY TO OPEN THE TRUNK TO ASSIST SOMEONE. WE'VE OWNED FOUR PRIUS CARS, INCLUDING A 2008 MODEL, AND THIS IS THE ONLY ONE WITH THIS PROBLEM. TOYOTA REALLY SHOULD RECALL THESE MODELS AND FIX THIS ISSUE. PLEASE HELP. *TR

WITHIN THE HANDLE FOR THE REAR HATCH OF THE 2007 PRIUS THERE IS A STRIP OF RUBBER WHICH I ASSUME IS TO PREVENT MOISTURE FROM PENETRATING INTO THE INTERIOR COMPONENTS AND IT MAY ALSO SHIELD SOME ELECTRICAL WIRING. THIS PIECE OF RUBBER IS BECOMING SOFT AND MELTING. WHENEVER WE OPEN THE HATCH, OUR FINGERS AND HANDS ARE STAINED WITH A BLACK GOOEY SUBSTANCE THAT'S DIFFICULT TO REMOVE FROM OUR HANDS. THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM EVER SINCE WE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN 2011. IT SEEMS TO ME THAT A BODY PART SHOULD LAST MORE THAN 4 YRS AND SINCE WE PURCHASED USED, IT MAY HAVE ALREADY BEEN GOOEY BEFORE WE PURCHASED. *TR

BOTH FRONT HEAD LAMPS SHUTOFF AT THE SAME TIME WHILE MOVING AT ABOUT 25 MPH. TURNING OFF THE HEAD LAMP SWITCH AND TURNING THE SWITCH BACK ON RESTORED THE LIGHTS. *TR

FOR SOME TIME NOW, THE REAR LATCH HAS BEEN STICKING AND HAS BEEN NEEDING SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO RELEASE. FINALLY, NOW IT HAS STOPPED OPERATING ALTOGETHER. THE DEALER SAYS HE IS NOT AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. WITH THE COMPLAINTS I HAVE SEEN ONLINE, I AM SURPRISED AT THE RESPONSE. IT CAN ALSO BE A SAFETY PROBLEM AT THE RIGHT CONDITIONS. I FEEL DISAPPOINTED AT TOYOTA MOTORS. AFTER MANY YEARS OF TROUBLE FREE TOYOTA OWNERSHIP I AM CERTAINLY DISAPPOINTED WITH THE RECENT DEVELOPMENTS WITH THEIR PRODUCTS. *JS

AT APPROXIMATELY 11:20 AM, I WAS WAITING TO HAVE MY CAR WASHED AT A DRIVE THROUGH CAR WASH. A CHEVROLET PICKUP TRUCK HAD COMPLETED BEING WASHED AND WAS STOPPED AT THE EXIT. THE GREEN LIGHT CAME ON AT THE START OF THE CAR WASH FOR ME TO PROCEED. I MOVED FORWARD WHEN SUDDENLY THE CAR LURCHED FORWARD AT WHAT SEEMED TO BE TOP SPEED. I JAMMED MY FOOT OF THE BRAKE PEDAL AND HELD IT DOWN BUT THE CAR CONTINUED SPEEDING. I EASED THE CAR INTO THE LEFT SIDE WALL OF THE CAR WASH TO SLOW DOWN THE MOMENTUM, BUT TO NO AVAIL. I CRASHED INTO THE BACK OF THE TRUCK. THE HOOD OF THE PRIUS WENT UNDER THE TRUCK REAR BUMPER. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE PRIUS HAS BEEN DECLARED AT TOTAL LOSS. *TR THE CONSUMER STATED NEITHER THE LETTER FROM TOYOTA NOR THE BOSCH REPORT INDICATED AN EXAMINATION OF AN ELECTRONIC ACCELERATION SYSTEM. UPDATED 04/28/14

AFTER TAKING THE VEHICLE IN FOR A RECALL FOR A STEERING COLUMN ISSUE, 3 OF THE BUTTONS ON THE STEERING COLUMN FAIL TO OPERATE ONCE THE RECALL REPAIR WAS COMPLETE. THE DEALER SAYS IT'S AN ISSUE WITH THE CLOCKSPRING CABLE AND ARE NOT WILLING TO REPAIR IT AT NO COST. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE WAS DRIVING 2 MPH AND MADE A STOP AT A TRAFFIC STOP WHEN THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THERE WAS ALSO AN ACCOMPANYING BEEP THAT SOUNDED AS THE BRAKES FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED AT A LOCAL DEALER AND THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE BRAKE ACTUATOR FAILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND OFFERED TO COVER 30 PERCENT OF THE REPAIR COSTS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 90,000.