2007 Toyota Prius Complaint Log

DRIVERS SIDE HEADLIGHT NOT WORKING AND WORKING SOMETIMES ON MY 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS. DEALER IS REPLACING IT AT 28,000 MILES.

THE NEW TIRES WE GOT ON A NEW VEHICLE PURCHASE LASTED ONLY ABOUT 10,000 MILES, WHICH WAS MUCH LOWER THAN EXPECTED AND LOWER THAN WHAT THE DEALERSHIP SAID WE SHOULD HAVE GOTTEN. *TR

DRIVER SIDE HID HEADLIGHT WAS LIGHTED BUT FAILED DURING DRIVING. DRIVER SIDE HID HEADLIGHT WOULD RE-IGNITE AFTER TURNING HEADLIGHT SWITCH OFF THEN ON. *TR

PASSENGER SIDE HID HEADLIGHT GOES OUT AND STAYS OUT UNTIL ENTIRE HEADLIGHT SYSTEM IS TURNED OFF AND THEN TURNED BACK ON. VERY UNSAFE. *TR

THE PASSENGER HEADLIGHT GOES ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY CAUSING A SAFETY ISSUE WHEN DRIVING. THIS STARTED OCCURRING DURING THE FIRST YEAR OF OWNERSHIP. I HAVE BEEN PULLED OVER BY THE POLICE TWICE FOR HAVING A LIGHT OUT. THIS IS A BIG SAFETY CONCERN FOR DRIVING AT NIGHT. WHEN THE CAR WAS BROUGHT IN FOR SERVICE, THE DEALER QUOTED $700 REPAIR AND IT WOULD NOT BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. THE SERVICE MANAGER ACTED AS THOUGH HE HAD NEVER SEEN THIS BEFORE ALTHOUGH EVERY PRIUS OWNER WHO OWNS A COMPUTER, CAN READ AND HAD THIS PROBLEM IS AWARE OF THIS DEFECTIVE COMPONENT AND TOYOTA'S UNWILLINGNESS TO ADDRESS THIS SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

INTERMITTENT HEADLIGHTS - HEADLIGHTS (1 OR BOTH) MAY FAIL AT ANY TIME, COME BACK ON IF SWITCHED OFF AND BACK ON, LIKELY WILL GO OUT AGAIN. HAVE BEEN WARNED BY POLICE ABOUT FAILED HEADLIGHT. TOYOTA OFFERS NO REMEDY, INSTEAD CHARGES $200 OR MORE EACH TO REPLACE BULB, WHICH MAY OR MAY NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. *TR

HID LAMPS FAILING WITHIN 17 MONTHS AND 20 MONTHS. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO PARK THE VEHICLE INTO THE RESIDENCE GARAGE, DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 2 MPH. SUDDENLY, THERE WAS AN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. THE BRAKES WERE ENGAGED AND THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO CRASH INTO A CLOSET IN THE GARAGE. THE CONTACT SUFFERED INJURY TO THE NECK AREA. THE VEHICLE FRONT BUMPER SUSTAINED DAMAGES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE IDENTICAL FAILURES OCCURRED ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS WITH NO INJURIES. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED MALFUNCTIONS WITH THE AUTOMATIC IGNITION SWITCH, WINDSHIELD WIPERS, AND THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE AUTOMATIC WINDOW MECHANISM. THE FAILURES OCCURRED SPORADICALLY. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 18,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT WILL FLICKER, THEN GO OUT. BUT IF I TURN OFF THE HEADLIGHTS, AND THEN TURN THEM BACK ON, ALL HEADLIGHTS WILL WORK FOR A SHORT PERIOD, THEN THE LEFT ONE WILL GO OUT AGAIN. *TR

HID HEADLIGHTS GO OUT. *TR

AN FYI FOR PRIUS OWNERS, I HAVE A 2007 PRIUS AND HAD THE FOLLOWING HAPPEN TO ME, AS I WAS DRIVING MY NAVIGATION DISPLAY SUDDENLY BEGAN DISPLAYING A VIEW OUT OF MY BACKUP CAMERA, WHICH WAS VERY DISORIENTATING AS MY EYE WAS DRAWN TO THE IMAGE OF THE ROAD DISAPPEARING BEHIND ME. I PULLED OVER AND POWERED DOWN AND THEN REBOOTED MY CARS COMPUTER SYSTEM AND IT HAS BEEN FINE SINCE. THIS DOES BRING TO MIND THAT IF THE CAR IS ABLE TO THINK ITS IN REVERSE WHEN DRIVING FORWARD THEN ANY NUMBER OF THINGS COULD BE MISINTERPRETED BY THE COMPUTER SYSTEM.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 45-50 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS AT NIGHT, THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS WERE ACTIVATED. SUDDENLY, THE PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT FAILED WITHOUT WARNING AND DECREASED VISIBILITY. IN ADDITION, THE DRIVER'S SIDE HEADLIGHT WAS NONFUNCTIONAL. THE FAILURES OCCUR SPORADICALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING, BUT THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED OF THE SAFETY RISK INVOLVED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 64,000. UPDATED 03-27-09 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED BOTH HEADLIGHTS KEPT GOING OUT. HE HAD TO TURN THE SWITCH OFF THEN ON AGAIN. UPDATED 03/31/09. *JB

SEVERAL MONTHS AGO ABOUT JUNE MY HEADLAMP INTERMITTENTLY WOULD GO OUT. WHEN I WOULD STOP TO TRY AND FIX IT OR SEE WHAT WAS WRONG IT WOULD BE WORKING AGAIN. I WOULD BE THINKING IT WAS WORKING UNTIL A POLICE MAN WOULD STOP ME TO TELL ME MY HEADLAMP WAS OUT. I FINALLY TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY CLAIMED THE BULB WAS BLOWN. I KNOW IT WAS NOT BECAUSE IT WAS WORKING INTERMITTENTLY. THEY REPLACED THE BULB AT A COST OF 400 DOLLARS. I THEN HEARD FROM A FRIEND WHO OWNS A PRIUS THEY HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. I DECIDED TO LOOK ONLINE AND SEE IF ANYONE ELSE HAS HAD THIS PROBLEM AND IT SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH PRIUS OWNERS. *TR

ONE OR BOTH HEADLIGHTS WILL TURN OFF INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING, IF THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH IS TURNED OFF AND THEN ON AGAIN THE LIGHTS WILL COME BACK ON BUT MAY SHUT OFF AGAIN AFTER A FEW MINUTES. HEADLIGHTS ALSO WILL STAY ON BUT BECOME SO DIM AS TO NOT BE ABLE TO SEE WHILE DRIVING IN THE DARK. *TR

THE DRIVER SIDE HEADLIGHT HAS BEEN REPLACED THREE TIMES ON A CAR LESS THAN TWO YEARS OLD, AND IT IS STILL NOT WORKING ALL OF THE TIME. *TR

WHEN BRAKING & GOING OVER A BUMP IN MY 2007 PRIUS, IT FEELS LIKE THE BRAKES DISENGAGE FOR A SECOND & CAR GOES FASTER. IF THERE WAS A CAR IN FRONT OF ME I WOULD HIT IT & IF I HAD TO STOP SUDDENLY THEN I'M NOT CONFIDENT I COULD. IT IS DISTURBING. FEELS LIKE THE BRAKES ARE FAILING. *TR

WE HAVE HAD MULTIPLE INTERMITTENT PROBLEMS WITH THE HID HEADLAMPS ON OUR 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS. BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT HAVE BEEN REPLACED ONCE. (AT LESS THAN 25,000 MILES.) THEY HAD BEEN SUDDENLY FAILING WHILE DRIVING. VERY SCARY SITUATION!!! NOW OUT OF WARRANTY, RIGHT LAMP INTERMITTENTLY FAILS. IT SEEMS TO WORK ON AND OFF WITHOUT ANY CLEAR REASON. DEALER DOES NOT SEEM TO HAVE CLEAR IDEA WHAT CAUSE MAY BE, BUT SAYS FIRST THING TO TRY IS TO REPLACE LAMP (>$400), IF THAT DOES NOT RESOLVE ISSUE, IT MAY BE A "CONTROL" MODULE AT >$1000. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE BOTH HIGH INTENSITY HEADLIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED THEY WOULD SHUT ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY. THE DEALER REPLACED BOTH HEADLIGHTS, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED WITHIN 10,000 MILES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 38,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 100,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

2007 HEADLIGHT ON PASSENGER SIDE GOES OFF INTERMITTENTLY. WHEN I START THE CAR AGAIN, THE LIGHT WILL GO ON. DEALER WANTS TO REPLACE LIGHT AT A COST OF #300. PLUS. JUST OUT OF WARRANTY. *TR

MAY 22, 2008 TOYOTA MOTOR SALES, U.S.A., INC. 19001 SOUTH WESTERN AVE. DEPT. WC11 TORRANCE, CA 90501 DEAR SIRS: I HAVE BEEN A LONG-TIME TOYOTA CUSTOMER AND LAST YEAR PURCHASED A 2007 PRIUS. I AM ALSO A SUBSCRIBER TO CONSUMER REPORTS MAGAZINE. ALTHOUGH I AM DELIGHTED WITH THE COMFORT, HEADROOM, GAS MILEAGE, CONVENIENCE, QUIET AND APPEARANCE OF THE CAR, THERE IS A REAL SAFETY ISSUE. WHEN I WAS INITIALLY RESEARCHING A NEW AUTOMOBILE, I DISMISSED SOME PEOPLES' REPORTS OF 'SUDDEN ACCELERATION' AS BEING INACCURATE. HOWEVER, IT IS REAL, AND I HAVE FIGURED OUT UNDER WHAT SPECIFIC CIRCUMSTANCES IT OCCURS. AT THE END OF DECELERATION FOR A STOP LIGHT, STOP SIGN, OR JUST BEFORE A TURN, WHEN THE CAR IS TRAVELING 5-10 MPH, MORE COMMONLY ON A DOWNHILL INCLINE, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, WHEN THE PAVEMENT IS IRREGULAR OR BUMPY, MY PRIUS WILL TRANSITION FROM ELECTRIC TO GASOLINE POWER AND MAKE A SUDDEN FORWARD LUNGE FORWARD LASTING 1-2 SECONDS. ON MOST OCCASIONS, THE LUNGE IS MILD, REQUIRE A LITTLE EXTRA BRAKE PRESSURE. BUT SOME TIMES, THE LUNGE IS MORE SEVERE, REQUIRING FIRM BRAKE PRESSURE TO AVOID STRIKING THE AUTOMOBILE IN FRONT OF ME. I REPORTED THIS TO MY LOCAL DEALER, HUNTINGTON TOYOTA, IN HUNTINGTON, NEW YORK, AT MY LAST MAINTENANCE VISIT. THE TECHNICIAN WROTE THAT THE CAR WAS 'OPERATING NORMALLY,' ALTHOUGH I IMAGINE IT IS DIFFICULT TO TEST THESE EXACT CIRCUMSTANCES. I WOULD APPRECIATE YOUR REPLY AND INVESTIGATION INTO THIS SAFETY ISSUE. SINCERELY, PAUL L. KRAWITZ CC: NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION CONSUMERS UNION. *TR

1. DRIVER'S SIDE HEADLIGHT BEGAN TO SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING. 2. FREQUENCY OF THE HEADLIGHT SHUT OFF GRADUALLY GOT WORSE OVER A 6 MONTH PERIOD. LIGHT WOULD TURN BACK ON WHEN LIGHTS WERE TURNED OFF AND BACK ON AGAIN. NOW DRIVER'S SIDE HEADLIGHT WILL SHUT OFF ON EVERY TRIP, EVEN AFTER LESS THAN A MILE. 3. WENT TO THE DEALER IN DECEMBER, THEY COULD NOT REPLICATE THE PROBLEM AND CHARGED A DIAGNOSTIC FEE. PROBLEM HAS GRADUALLY BECOME WORSE, AND DEALER REFUSES TO COVER THE PROBLEM AS A WARRANTY ISSUE. *TR

UNEXPLAINED SPONTANEOUS ACCELERATION IN 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS. IN MID-MAY OF LAST YEAR I WAS DRIVING ALONE ON THE HOLLYWOOD FREEWAY IN APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH TRAFFIC. SUDDENLY THE CAR ACCELERATED DRAMATICALLY, AS IF I HAD PUNCHED THE ACCELERATOR, OR THE CRUISE CONTROL SUDDENLY KICKED IN BUT AT FULL SPEED (THE CRUISE WAS NOT ON). I WAS SHOCKED AND SCARED, AND I HIT THEBRAKES, NOTHING HAPPENED, AND THE CAR KEPT ACCELERATING. I THOUGHT ABOUT THE MAT AND HOOKED MY FOOT AROUND THE PEDAL TO SEE BUT THE PEDAL WAS UP. I KEPT HITTING THE BRAKES AGAIN, AND ALSO PUMPED THE ACCELERATOR TO MAKE SURE IT WASN'T STUCK AND THEN THE CAR STOPPED ACCELERATING. THE WHOLE THING LASTED LESS THAN 10 SECONDS, BUT WAS PRETTY SCARY AS I GOT PRETTY CLOSE TO TRAFFIC IN FRONT OF ME. IT IMMEDIATELY OCCURRED TO ME THAT IT COULD HAVE BEEN THE MAT AS THAT HAD HAPPENED IN ANOTHER CAR, BUT THE MAT WAS CLIPPED TO THE FLOOR, AND WAS NOT IN ANY WAY INTERFERING WITH THE GAS PEDAL. ALSO, BEAR IN MIND, AS I'M WRITING ABOUT THIS IT SOUNDS AS IF I WAS ANALYTICAL AND METHODICAL, BUT ACTUALLY I WAS PRETTY FRANTIC AND MY FEET WERE FLYING ON THE PEDALS.... I TOLD MY PARTNER MARK ABOUT IT, TOLD HIM TO WATCH OUT FOR IT, BUT THEN IN JUNE WE BOUGHT ANOTHER CAR AND MARK PRIMARILY DROVE THE PRIUS AFTER THAT. I THEN I FORGOT ABOUT IT, AS I THOUGHT IT WAS JUST AN ANOMALY AND BASED ON WHAT WE PAID FOR THE CAR AND TOYOTA'S REPUTATION FOR SAFETY. I HAD NOT HEARD OF ANY ACCELERATION ISSUES AT THE TIME, AND IN FACT DIDN'T UNTIL MUCH LATER AFTER THE CHP OFFICER'S CRASH IN THE LEXUS. I'M ACTUALLY NOW PRETTY FREAKED OUT ABOUT IT IN HINDSIGHT, AND WE HAVE GONE OVER THE DRILL REPEATEDLY TO MAKE SURE MARK KNOWS WHAT TO DO IF IT HAPPENS AGAIN. I SINCERELY DOUBT IT HAD ANYTHING TO DO WITH THE PEDAL OR THE MAT, AND IN MY GUT I SUSPECT IT IS ELECTRONIC IN NATURE. I AM PRETTY NERVOUS ABOUT IT. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, ANOTHER DRIVER ADVISED HIMT HAT THE REAR LIGHTS WERE NOT FUNCTIONING. WHEN HE INSPECTED, HE ALSO NOTICED THAT THE LEFT FRONT HEADLIGHT WAS NOT WORKING ALONG WITH THE REAR LIGHTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOUR TIMES BUT THE DEALER COULD NOT FIND THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE DEALER SUGGESTED THAT THE LEFT FRONT HEADLIGHT BULB BE REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 18,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 30,000.

PASSENGER HEADLAMP, TURNS OFF AND HAVE TO TURN LIGHTS OFF AND ON TO GET IT TO COME BACK ON. THIS HAPPENS CONSTANTLY. THE DRIVER ONE DID THE SAME THING WAS REPLACED BECAUSE OF WARRANTY BUT NOW MY WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED. OBVIOUSLY THIS IS A DEFECT BUT THEY WANT $300. TO REPLACE BULB. RIDICULOUS PRICE SOUND BE COVERED BECAUSE THEY SAID FIRST ONE WAS A FAULTY BULB AND NOW THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE OTHER ONE. I HAVE VEHICLES 10 YRS OLD AND NOT CHANGED ANY OF THE HEADLAMPS. CLEARLY THIS IS NOT NORMAL. *TR

APPLIED BRAKE WHILE RUNNING LESS THAN 5 MPH IN FLAT PARKING LOT WITH FLAT SURFACE ROAD; I WAS FEELING LIKE FLOATING OR LIKE EARTH QUAKE WHILE INSIDE THE CAR. IT HAPPENED TWO TIMES WITHIN 3 MINUTES TIME FRAME. WHEN MY CAR WAS ABOUT 40K MILE (NOW MY CAR IS 75K MILES), AND ONLY HAPPENED TWO TIMES IN THE PAST HAS NOT OCCURRED AGAIN YET. *JB

BOTH HEADLIGHTS LEFT AND RIGHT, LOW AND HIGH BEAMS WILL GO OUT WHILE DRIVING. HAPPENS ABOUT ONCE PER DAY. HEADLIGHT BULBS, CONTROL UNITS REPLACED BY TOYOTA DEALER. *TR

ONE OR BOTH HEADLIGHTS WILL GO OUT INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE THE CONTACT'S WIFE WAS DRIVING 20 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE RAN A STOP SIGN AND STRUCK HER FRONT PASSENGER SIDE DOOR. THE SEAT BELT FAILED TO RESTRAIN THE CONTACT'S WIFE, AND SHE STRUCK THE STEERING WHEEL. SHE SUSTAINED INJURIES TO HER NECK, BACK, AND SHOULDER. THE MANUFACTURER CONCLUDED THAT THE SEAT BELT WAS WORKING PROPERLY. THE SAN DIEGO POLICE DEPARTMENT FILED REPORT NUMBER 804127. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 10,000. UPDATED 12/17/08.*JB

WHEN IT IS HUMID AND/OR RAINING, THE REAR BRAKES OF MY 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS SEIZE UP AS I COME TO A STOP. JUST BEFORE A STOP (IE AT A STOP SIGN OR STOP LIGHT) THE BRAKES WILL SEEM TO GRAB REALLY HARD IN THE BACK AND THE CAR WILL SORT OF LURCH OR JERK FORWARD BUT BE ABRUPTLY HELD IN PLACE BY THE REAR. THERE IS A LOUD NOISE FROM THE BACK LIKE A RUBBING NOISE WHEN THIS HAPPENS. THE CAR HAS BEEN TO TWO TOYOTA DEALERSHIPS BOTH OF WHICH DENY THAT THIS COULD BE OCCURRING. I INSISTED THAT IT BE LOOKED AT AND TEST DRIVEN AND THE MECHANIC CLAIMS THERE IS NOTHING WRONG. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON SINCE I FIRST BOUGHT THE CAR IN MAY, 2008. PASSENGERS HAVE WITNESSED THIS IN THE CAR. IT ONLY HAPPENS WHEN IT IS SERIOUSLY HUMID (IE ON THE VERGE OF RAINING) OR WHEN IT IS RAINING....EVERY TIME I APPROACH A STOP, WITHOUT EXCEPTION. IT'S LIKE THE REAR OF THE CAR IS SUDDENLY SUPERGLUED TO THE ROAD AND THE BODY OF THE CAR/SHELL OF THE CAR CONTINUES WITH THE FORWARD MOMENTUM/MOTION. FOR THE CATEGORY OF PROBLEM I CHECKED SERVICE BRAKE, HYDRAULIC, BECAUSE THAT WAS THE ONLY "BRAKE" OPTION I SAW BESIDES PARKING BRAKE. I HAVE NO IDEA IF THIS IS THE CORRECT CATEGORY. *TR

THIS INCIDENT INVOLVES MY 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS HYBRID THAT I HAVE OWNED FOR ALMOST A YEAR. AS I WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH AND PUT MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE AS I APPROACHED A RED LIGHT, THE RED BRAKE WARNING CAME ON THE DASH AS DID THE ABS WARNING LIGHT. MY FOOT WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR AND I HAD NO BRAKES. LUCKILY I HAD A RIGHT TURNING LANE THAT I COULD VEER INTO AND NOT HIT THE STOPPED VEHICLES IN FRONT OF ME. AS I CONTINUED TO PUSH THE BRAKE TO THE FLOOR AND MANEUVER THE VEHICLE OUT OF TRAFFIC, IT SEEMED TO CATCH A LITTLE AND I WAS ABLE TO SLOW THE VEHICLE EVENTUALLY TO A STOP. I PUT THE VEHICLE IN PARK AS IT WAS STILL RUNNING, AND PULLED OUT THE OWNER'S MANUAL. THE MANUAL SPECIFICALLY STATED THAT IF THESE TWO WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON AT THE SAME TIME, YOU WERE TO "STOP IMMEDIATELY AND CONTACT YOUR TOYOTA DEALERSHIP". THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT I DID. I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED INTO THEIR FACILITY THAT EVENING. THE NEXT DAY I WAS INTERROGATED BY THE MECHANIC AFTER A DIAGNOSTIC REPORT WAS DONE ON MY CAR. HE WANTED TO KNOW WHEN I LET THE CAR RUN OUT OF GAS. I HAVE NEVER LET MY CAR RUN OUT OF GAS, AND IN FACT THAT JUST FILLED THE TAKE THE DAY BEFORE THIS INCIDENT OCCURRED. THE MECHANIC COULDN'T TELL ME WHAT WAS WRONG AND CONTACTED TOYOTA'S CORPORATE OFFICE. TWO DAYS LATER, I WAS ADVISED THAT THE REASON THE BRAKES DIDN'T WORK WAS BECAUSE I "LET THE CAR RUN OUT OF GAS "AND THIS CAUSED THE ENGINE TO SHUT OFF. I ARGUED THAT THE CAR HAD NEVER RUN OUT OF GAS AND THE ENGINE DIDN'T SHUT OFF, THE BRAKES WENT OUT. THE SERVICE MANAGER PULLED OUT THE DIAGNOSTIC TEST SHOWING THAT "AT SOME POINT" THE CAR HAD RUN OUT OF GAS----THIS TEST DOESN'T GIVE A DATE OF WHEN THIS MAY HAVE HAPPENED. I ADVISED THE SERVICE MANAGER THAT THE CAR HAD 223 MILES ON IT WHEN I PURCHASED IT-- THIS TEST RESULT COULD HAVE HAPPENED WHEN THE CAR WAS STILL AT THE DEALERSHIP, NOT IN MY POSSESSION. THE SERVICE MANAGER ADVISED ME THAT HIS "HANDS WERE TIED" AND THAT TOYOTA HAD MADE THEIR DECISION. *TR

THE HID HEADLIGHTS IN THE NEWER MODEL PRIUS HAVE PROBLEMS WHERE THEY COME OFF AND ON. SOMETIMES NEITHER WILL COME ON. I KNOW THE BULBS ARE OK BECAUSE THEY COME ON AND THEN FADE OUT. IT IS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM BUT IT IS A REAL SAFETY ISSUE AT NIGHT WHEN YOU NEED THE LIGHTS. *TR

BEFORE THE 36K MILES THE DRIVER SIDE HID WENT OUT THEN IT WOULD COME BACK UP, I MENTIONED IT TO THE DEALER THEY REPLACED IT. I ALSO MENTIONED THAT THEIR IS A CLASS ACTION RELATING TO THE PRIUS HIDS. AT 40K THE PASSENGER SIDE HID STARTING ACTING UP ALSO THE DEALER REFUSED TO REPLACE IT EVEN THOUGH I HAD EXTENDED WARRANTY. THIS IS AN ONGOING ISSUE WITH ALL PRIUS' AND IT SHOULD BE RECALLED. IT CAN CAUSE A MAJOR ACCIDENT. TW*

DRIVER SIDE HID HEADLIGHT WOULD INTERMITTENTLY TURN OFF & IF MANUALLY TURNED OFF & ON AGAIN SOMETIMES WOULD TURN ON AGAIN. I DIDN'T REALIZE THE CAR HAD THIS PROBLEM FOR SOME TIME BUT WHEN I DID, I BROUGHT TO DEALER ON 4/30/08 & THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE CONCERN. BROUGHT BACK TO DEALER ON 5/7/08 & THEY KEPT GUESSING (THEY CLAIM BALLAST$269, BULB$323.95 & LABOR$85) AS TO WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS. ON 5/9/08, I BROUGHT TO AN OUTSIDE MECHANIC WHO CHANGED HID MODULE FOR $$200 + $250 LABOR. NOW ON 3/02/09 I HARDLY REALIZED LIGHT WAS OUT INTERMITTENTLY AGAIN. BROUGHT TO ANOTHER MECHANIC ON 4/2/09 CHANGED LIGHT BULB FOR $166.95 + $48.74 LABOR AFTER HAVING TO CUSTOM FABRICATE LIGHT BECAUSE BULB ORDERED ACCORDING TO VIN# FROM DEALER HAD A DIFFERENT CONNECTION. I HAVE A DANGEROUS CONDITION THAT I'M NOT SURE HAS BEEN CORRECTED YET AFTER INCURRING BIG EXPENSES. I ALMOST GOT A TICKET BY A POLICE OFFICER FOR THE LIGHT BEING OUT. *TR

I HAVE HAD TWO TAILLIGHTS FAIL AND TWO HID HEADLAMPS FAIL IN THE FIRST 17 MONTHS OF OWNING MY 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS. *TR

HID HEADLIGHTS ON MY 2007 PRIUS - THE RIGHT LIGHT WILL GO DIM AND EVENTUALLY TURN OFF COMPLETELY. THE LEFT SIDE WILL NOTICEABLY DIM AS WELL. I WILL TURN OFF THE LIGHTS, THEN TURN THEM BACK ON - AND THE RIGHT SIDE AND LEFT SIDE WILL RETURN TO "NORMAL" BRIGHTNESS FOR A TIME - AND THEN THE SAME THING HAPPENS AGAIN. I CONSIDER THIS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE - I NOTICED THIS PROBLEM ON A MAJOR VACATION I JUST HAD AND DIDN'T WANT TO DRIVE ON THE INTERSTATE AT NIGHT BECAUSE OF THIS SAFETY PROBLEM. *TR

2007 TOYOTA PRIUS, CID HEADLIGHTS SIMPLY GO OUT FOR NO REASON. TURNING THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH ON AND OFF A FEW TIMES TURN THE HEADLIGHTS BACK ON. BUT THERE IS NO WAY TO TELL IF THE LIGHT IS OFF WHILE DRIVING. NUMEROUS INTERNET FORUMS SHOW THIS AS BEING A WIDESPREAD AND COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE PRIUS. *TR

WHILE APPROACHING INTERSECTION, OUR 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS FAILED TO STOP. WHILE BRAKING, THE CAR CONTINUED TO ROLL - INTO THE SIDE OF A TRUCK. THE CAR WAS TOTALED. AT THE TIME, WE EXPLAINED THAT THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED, BUT THE CAR FAILED TO STOP. WE ASKED THE INSURANCE COMPANY AND TOYOTA IF THERE WERE ANY REPORTS OF PROBLEMS WITH THE PRIUS, AND WE WERE TOLD "NO REPORTED PROBLEMS" WITH THE CAR. PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT WE HAD JUST HAD THE 25,000 MILE MAINTENANCE DONE SO WE KNEW IT WAS NOT THE BRAKES. ABOUT A YEAR LATER, WE WERE INFORMED OF THE CAR MAT PROBLEM, AND NOW THERE IS TALK OF POSSIBLE ACCELERATOR/ELECTRONIC PROBLEMS. WE NOW HAVE A 2008 PRIUS, AND EXPERIENCE A MOMENTARY LOSS OF THE ELECTRONIC SYSTEM WHEN THE CAR HITS A BUMP. WE CONTACTED TOYOTA LAST WEEK, AND WERE PROMISED A CALLBACK IN TWO DAYS, BUT SO FAR WE HAVE NOT HEARD ANYTHING. SO UNTIL WE GET ASSURANCE THAT OUR CAR IS SAFE, WE HAVE DECIDED TO STOP DRIVING THE PRIUS. SUBSEQUENT TO THE ACCIDENT, MY BACK PAIN WENT FROM MANAGEABLE TO UNBEARABLE, WHICH LED TO SPINE SURGERY IN 1/09. MY PHYSICIANS BELIEVED THAT THE ACCIDENT MIGHT HAVE AGGRAVATED THE SYMPTOMS TO THE POINT THAT I REQUIRED SURGERY - POSSIBLY FROM THE IMPACT FROM THE AIRBAGS. *TR

HID HEAD LIGHT ON PRIUS GOES ON AND OFF . DEALER SAID IT WAS BULB, AFTER SEARCHING INTERNET MANY PEOPLE WITH SAME PROBLEM, AND HIGH COST OF FIX. *TR

2007 PRIUS FOR THE PAST FEW MONTHS, THE HEADLIGHTS WILL GO OUT, NOT AT THE SAME TIME BUT ONE AT A TIME. THE ONLY WAY TO GET IT TO GO BACK ON IS TO TURN THE LIGHTS OFF AND ON. THIS KEEPS THEM GOING FOR A WHILE AND THEN THE SITUATION REPEATS ITSELF. THE PROBLEM IS THAT I CAN'T TELL WHEN IT'S HAPPENING ALL THE TIME. I WAS TOLD LAST NIGHT BY A FRIEND OF MINE ONE OF MY HEADLIGHTS WAS OUT. THE OTHER TIME I NOTICED IT WHEN MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING HOME FROM AN ERRAND. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A SERIOUS DEFECT IN THE CAR AND IT SHOULD BE TAKEN CARE OF BY TOYOTA. *TR

NO REAL EVENTS LEADING UP TO THIS FAILURE, BUT ALL OF A SUDDEN THE FRONT PASSENGER HID HEADLAMP ON MY 2007 PRIUS (67,000 MILES OR SO) HAS STARTED FLICKERING AND NOW NOT FUNCTIONING AT ALL. I UNDERSTAND THESE FAILURES ARE NOT SUPPOSED TO OCCUR, ESPECIALLY THIS SOON, AND THE REPLACEMENT COST IS EXORBITANT. *TR

PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT KEPT GOING OUT WHILE DRIVING THE CAR. IT WAS HARD TO NOTICE UNLESS YOU SAW THE CAR'S REFLECTION. IF WE TURNED THE LIGHTS OFF AND ON AGAIN, THE LIGHT WOULD SLOWLY COME BACK ON. THIS WOULD HAPPEN ON BOTH SHORT AND LONG TRIPS. WE TOOK IT TO THE DEALER ON APRIL 11, 2008, AND THEY REPLACED THE ENTIRE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY UNDER WARRANTY. *TR

I HAVE A 2007 PRIUS PACKAGE 6 WHICH HAS A FAULTY HEADLIGHT. I HAVE SEARCHED SEVERAL FORUMS, MOST NOTABLY (HTTP://PRIUSCHAT.COM/FORUMS/CARE-MAINTENANCE-TROUBLESHOOTING/34584-HEADLIGHT-PROBLEM-2.HTML) WHERE THERE ARE OVER 100 ENTRIES OF PEOPLE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE. HID HEADLIGHTS FAILING FOR NO APPARENT REASON. TOYOTA SAYS IT IS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY WHICH IS ABSURD. I JUST GOT A TRAFFIC TICKET BECAUSE OF THIS. *TR

LOSS OF BRAKING CAPABILITY WHILE TRAVELING OVER AN UNEVEN ROAD SURFACE, POTHOLE OR BUMP THE ABS SYSTEM IS APPARENTLY THE CULPRIT. 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS. *TR

ON A 2007 PRIUS GAS GAUGE SHOWED 2 BARS AND WAS DRIVING ACROSS A BRIDGE IN CALIFORNIA WHEN THE GAS ENGINE STOPPED. LOOKED AT THE GAS GAUGE AND IT STILL SHOWED 2 BARS. WAS FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO BE ON A SECTION OF THE BRIDGE WITH A BREAKDOWN LANE. 1/2 MILE FURTHER ON AND WE WOULD HAVE BEEN STUCK IN ONE OF THE TRAFFIC LANES. THE VSC, CHECK ENGINE, AND HYBRID SYSTEM FAILURE INDICATORS WHERE ON - BUT NOT THE LOW FUEL!!! GOT TOWED TO A DEALER. SERVICE MANAGER TOLD US THAT THE CAR WAS OUT OF GAS AND THAT THE "GAS GAUGE WAS STUCK" THAT'S WHY IT DIDN'T SHOW EMPTY. HE BLAMED IT ON THE BLADDER DESIGN OF THE FUEL TANK AND SAID IT WAS "A DESIGN DEFECT" THAT TOYOTA NEW ABOUT. THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY ISSUE - WE COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT IS EXPERIENCING FAILURE WITH THE HIGH INTENSITY HEADLIGHT SYSTEM. WHILE DRIVING, THE HEADLIGHTS WOULD SHUT OFF UNEXPECTEDLY AND CAUSE DANGEROUS DRIVING CONDITIONS. INITIALLY, AFTER ACTIVATING THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH, THE HEADLIGHTS WOULD ILLUMINATE AGAIN. HOWEVER, AFTER TWO MONTHS, THE HEADLIGHTS STOPPED WORKING COMPLETELY. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER NUMEROUS TIMES. THE FIRST TIME, THE DEALER COULD NOT FIND ANY FAILURES. EVENTUALLY, THE DEALER WAS ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE LIGHT BULBS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE FAILURE HAS BEEN REPAIRED AND THE CONTACT HAS FOUND NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS REGARDING THE SAME FAILURE AND FEELS THAT THE ISSUE NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED BY THE MANUFACTURER. THE REPAIRS WERE NOT COVERED IN HIS WARRANTY; THEREFORE, THE MANUFACTURER DID NOT HOLD THEMSELVES RESPONSIBLE FOR THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 42,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE IS 53,790. UPDATED 12/4/08 *CN UPDATED 12/05/08. *JB

I OWN A 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS WITH HID HEADLIGHTS. THE VEHICLE CURRENTLY HAS 55K+ MILES ON IT. STARTING AT APPROXIMATELY 30K+ MILES THE DRIVER'S SIDE HEADLIGHT STARTED TURNING OFF AT RANDOM TIMES WHILE DRIVING. I FIRST NOTICED THIS WHEN PULLING INTO MY GARAGE AND SEEING THAT ONLY ONE HEADLIGHT WAS SHINING ON THE GARAGE WALL. I MADE AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE THE BULB REPLACED, BUT THE NEXT TIME I OPERATED THE VEHICLE THE HEADLIGHT WORKED NORMALLY. I CANCELED MY SERVICE APPOINTMENT ACCORDINGLY. OVER THE FOLLOWING 12 MONTHS, THROUGH TO NOW, THE DRIVER'S SIDE HEADLIGHT WILL OCCASIONALLY TURN OFF WHILE DRIVING. IF I TURN THE HEADLIGHTS OFF AND THEN BACK ON, THE DRIVER'S SIDE HEADLIGHT WILL START WORKING AGAIN, ALTHOUGH SOMETIMES DIMMER THAN NORMAL. AS THE PROBLEM HAPPENS INCONSISTENTLY AND THERE IS NO PARTICULAR EVENT THAT I CAN DO TO CAUSE THE PROBLEM, I HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO RECREATE THE FAILURE FOR TOYOTA SERVICE. *TR

2007 PRIUS - HID HEADLIGHT PROBLEM, BOTH COME ON WHEN TURNED ON THEN AS I'M DRIVING THE DRIVERS SIDE GOES OUT. IF YOU TURN OFF AND BACK ON BOTH HEADLIGHTS RELIGHT, ONLY TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM REPEATED. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUES WHICH NEED TO BE RECTIFIED. THIS IS A REPORTED PROBLEM BY MANY PRIUS OWNERS AND MANY ARE BEING CHARGED HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS FOR WHAT IS AN APPARENT DEFECT OFTEN NOT GETTING THE PROBLEM SOLVED. *TR

DRIVER'S SIDE HEADLAMP STARTED GOING OFF SPORADICALLY ON 2007 PRIUS. TURNING OFF THE LIGHTS AND TURNING THEM BACK ON FIXED THE PROBLEM, BUT THEY WOULD PERIODICALLY FLICKER AND CHANGE BRIGHTNESS. CAR WAS UNDER WARRANTY AND I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER. DEALER REPLACED THE HID COMPUTER 2 TIMES BEFORE THE PROBLEM SEEMED TO BE FIXED. NOW I AM PAST MY WARRANTY, AND NOW BOTH HEADLIGHTS GO OUT WHILE DRIVING. I LEAVE MY FOG LIGHTS ON SO THAT I AM NOT SUDDENLY IN THE DARK. IF I TURN OFF MY HEADLIGHTS AND TURN THEM BACK ON, THEY COME BACK ON. IT IS VERY DANGEROUS, AND I HAVE TRIED TO HAVE THIS FIXED TWO TIMES. IT DOESN'T HAPPEN EVERY TIME I DRIVE THE CAR, BUT IT SEEMS TO HAPPEN MORE OFTEN THAN NOT. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE HEADLIGHTS FAILED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY WOULD NOT REPAIR THE VEHICLE UNDER WARRANTY, WHICH WOULD COST SEVERAL HUNDRED DOLLARS TO REPAIR. THE DEALER BANGED ON THE HEADLIGHTS AND THEY ILLUMINATED AGAIN. THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT IF SHE BANGED ON THE HEADLIGHTS, THEY WOULD FUNCTION CORRECTLY. THE FAILURE WAS NOT DUE TO THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. IN ADDITION, THE TWO BRAKE LIGHTS ALSO FAILED. SHE CONTINUED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE BECAUSE THE FAILURE DID NOT RECUR FOR SOME TIME. IN NOVEMBER OF 2008, WHILE DRIVING AND ENTERING THE HIGHWAY, THE PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT DIMMED AGAIN. ALMOST IMMEDIATELY, THE CONTACT WAS PULLED OVER BY THE POLICE AND GIVEN A WARNING ABOUT THE HEADLIGHTS. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY WOULD INSPECT THE FAILURE AND, IF THE BANGING WORKED, THIS WOULD REMEDY THE ISSUE UNLESS THE CONTACT CHOSE TO REPAIR THE ISSUE AT HER OWN EXPENSE. SHE SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE DEALER, BUT HAD TO CANCEL. IN DECEMBER OF 2008, WHILE DRIVING WITH ONE HEADLIGHT, THE OTHER HEADLIGHT FAILED. AS A RESULT, NEITHER HEADLIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED. WHILE READING OTHER COMPLAINTS ON THE ISSUE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT ONE CONSUMER STATED THAT WHEN THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH WAS TURNED OFF AND THEN ON AGAIN, THEY WORKED PROPERLY. THIS REMEDY WAS SUCCESSFUL IN ALLEVIATING THE CONTACT'S FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 53,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 40,000.

2007 PRIUS HEADLIGHT GOES OFF BUT COMES BACK ON IF YOU TURN LIGHTS OFF THEN BACK ON THIS IS MY 2ND LIGHT FIRST PASSENGER NOW DRIVER SIDE LIGHT COST 393.00. *TR