2007 Toyota Prius Complaint Log

THE HID HEADLIGHTS INTERMITTENTLY FLICKER ON AND OFF, SOMETIMES STAYING OFF FOR THE MAJORITY OF A DRIVE. AT TIMES, BOTH FAIL. I SEE THERE WAS A SUCCESSFUL TOYOTA PRIUS HID HEADLIGHT CLASS ACTION SETTLEMENT THAT COVERS OWNERS OF PRIUS MADE 2006-2009 WITH AN EXTENDED WARRANTY. BUT I JUST PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE A MONTH AGO AND WAS NOT INFORMED BY THE DEALERSHIP OF THE PROBLEM AND AM BEYOND THE 50,000 MILES OR 5 YEAR PERIOD OF THE EXTENDED WARRANTY. IS THERE ANY WAY I CAN STILL HAVE TOYOTA FIX THIS IN MY VEHICLE? *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT AIR BAG FAILED TO ACTIVATE WHEN THE SEAT WAS OCCUPIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 153,000.

MY RIGHT HEADLAMP HAS BEEN INTERMITTENT FOR A COUPLE YEARS. IT WOULD RESOLVE IF I TURNED HEADLIGHTS ON AND OFF, IT HAS BECOME MUCH MORE OF A PROBLEM IN FREQUENCY. I LIVE RURAL WITHOUT STREET LAMPS AND IT IS BECOMING MORE DANGEROUS. I WAS DRIVING ON A COUNTRY ROAD AND HIT A DEER.

THE RUBBER HANDLE OF THE REAR LIFTGATE LATCH HAS "MELTED" INTO THE OPERATING PART OF THE LATCH, MAKING IT TOTALLY INOPERABLE IN THE WINTER, AND COOLER MONTHS. THIS IS NOT DUE TO EXPOSURE TO HEAT EXTREMES - THE CAR HAS ALWAYS BEEN GARAGED IN A NORTHERN PART OF THE US, WHERE SUMMER TEMPERATURES RARELY EXCEED 80 DEGREES. IN AN EMERGENCY IN THE WINTER, THERE IS NO WAY TO MAKE USE OF THE HATCHBACK. THE OPERATION IS PROBLEMATIC IN THE SUMMER - SOMETIMES IT CAN BE FORCED OPEN, SOMETIMES NOT. IT HAS TAKEN A FEW YEARS FOR THE LATCH TO BECOME INOPERATIVE; IT BECAME INCREASINGLY DIFFICULT TO OPEN OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS, AND STICKY BLACK RESIDUE TRANSFERRED TO HANDS TOUCHING IT FOR THOSE YEARS. THIS IS NOT NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR; CLEARLY DEFECTIVE RUBBER WAS USED.

ON SUNDAY MORNING, DEC. 21ST, I LEFT THE HOUSE AROUND 7AM WITH DOG IN BACK SEAT TO DRIVE TO A HIKING TRAIL. EVERYTHING WAS NORMAL AS I DROVE SOUTH ON OREGON EXPRESSWAY. AFTER DRIVING ABOUT 0.5 MI AND DESCENDING THE UNDERPASS AT ALMA ST., AT AROUND 35 MPH, WITHOUT WARNING THE RED TRIANGLE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON WITH BEEP AND INDICATORS: BRAKE, ABS, AIRBAG ON AND CHECK ENGINE. I ALSO NOTICED THE WORDS "TRANSMISSION FAILURE "ON THE MAIN DISPLAY. WHILE DRIVING UP THE OTHER SIDE OF THE UNDERPASS I REALIZED THE CAR WAS LOSING POWER. I DECIDED TO TAKE THE NEXT TURN-OFF AT ASH ST. BY NOW THE CAR HAD SLOWED TO 20-25 MPH BY THE TIME I APPROACHED ASH ST. AS I INITIATED THE TURN I REALIZED THAT I NO LONGER HAD POWER STEERING SO I TOUCHED THE BRAKES AND DISCOVERED THAT I ALSO DIDN'T HAVE POWER BRAKES. I PUSHED HARD ON THE BRAKES AND MOMENTARILY LOCKED UP THE WHEELS. BY NOW THE CAR HAD SLOWED ENOUGH THAT I WAS ABLE TO CRANK THE STEERING WHEEL HARD TO COMPLETE THE TURN. FORTUNATELY THERE WERE NO OTHER CARS ON ASH ST. SINCE I ENDED UP MAKING A RATHER WIDE TURN; THE CAR FORTUNATELY REMAINED ON THE PAVEMENT. THE CAR COASTED TO A STOP AT ASH AND SHERIDAN AND I WAS LEFT STUCK IN THE INTERSECTION WITH NO POWER. I PUSHED THE CAR TO A PARKING SPOT. IF I RECALL THE MAIN DISPLAY HAD GONE COMPLETELY DARK BY THIS TIME; IT MAY HAVE GONE DARK AROUND THE TIME I INITIATED THE TURN ONTO ASH - I CAN'T REMEMBER EXACTLY. WHILE CONSIDERING MY OPTIONS, I EVENTUALLY POWERED THE CAR OFF AND POWERED BACK ON (START BUTTON). AT THIS POINT NO INDICATORS WERE ON AND EVERYTHING APPEARED NORMAL. I TOOK THE CAR HOME AND RESOLVED TO BRING IT FOR SERVICE FIRST THING MONDAY. FORTUNATELY DRIVING TO THE DEALER DOESN'T REQUIRE DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY OR EXPRESSWAY. I'VE DRIVEN THIS CAR SINCE 2007 AND NEVER HAD A SIMILAR ISSUE. LOSING ALL POWER ON THE EXPRESSWAY WAS VERY DISCONCERTING. *TR

THE RUBBER EXTERNAL TRUNK LATCH COVER ON A 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS HAS MELTED TO THE POINT WHERE IT IS EITHER GOOEY TO THE TOUCH IN WARM WEATHER OR FROZEN SOLID AND IMMOVABLE IN COLDER TEMPERATURES. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD BECAUSE OF THE LOCATION OF THE BATTERY IS IN REAR COMPARTMENT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE AND IF THERE WAS A NEED TO DISCONNECT THE BATTERY, IT WOULD BE NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO GET AT, DUE TO THE INFLEXIBILITY OF THE RUBBER I AM UNABLE TO OPEN THE TRUNK AND, THUS, ACCESS THE SPARE TIRE AND ANY OF MY REPAIR TOOLS, JUMPERS, ETC. THERE IS NO ALTERNATIVE INTERNAL METHOD FOR OPENING THE HATCHBACK/TRUNK. TOYOTA NEEDS A RECALL OF THIS DEFECTIVE PART AND REPLACE AT THEIR COST, AS THE COST TO REPAIR IT IS EXORBITANT AND IT IS A FAULTY DESIGN. *TR

DRIVING TO MY JOB AND WENT TO PARK. I PUT MY FOOT ON THE BRAKES TO SLOWLY ENTER THE SPACE ABOUT 10 FEET AWAY TRAVELING ABOUT 2 TO 5 MPH AND NEVER TAKING MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE, THE CAR ACCELERATOR WENT INTO FULL THROTTLE AND I HIT THE WALL DAMAGING THE FRONT END. IS THIS A COMMON OCCURRENCE? . *TR

THIS CAR LEAKS OIL . I HAVE TO PUT A QUART IN EACH TIME BEFORE OIL CHANGE IS DUE. *TR

THE REAR LIFT GATE LATCH ON MY TOYOTA PRIUS HAS STOPPED FUNCTIONING. IN 65 DEGREE WEATHER TODAY THE EXTERIOR RUBBER OVER THE LATCH MECHANISM HAS MELTED AND WILL NO LONGER FUNCTION TO OPEN THE LIFT GATE. IN COLD WEATHER THE LATCH HAS BEEN VERY DIFFICULT TO OPEN AND NOW THE MELTED RUBBER MESS HAS CEASED TO PERFORM. I CAN NO LONGER OPEN THE TRUNK OF MY CAR. THE RUBBER HAS MELTED OUT ONTO THE METAL PART OF THE LIFT GATE AND OVER THE SCREWS THAT HOLD IT IN PLACE. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD AS I CAN NOT ACCESS THE REAR HATCH OF MY CAR IN AN EMERGENCY OR IN ANY TYPICAL SITUATION (I WOULD HAVE TO CRAWL INTO THE TRUNK FROM THE BACK SEAT AND REMOVE THE INTERIOR PLASTIC PANEL TO OPEN THE HATCH FROM INSIDE THE CAR IF I NEEDED TO OPEN THE HATCH DOOR.) *TR

VEHICLE DOES NOT PROPERLY START-UP AND ENDS UP IN A STATE WHERE IT CANNOT BE TURNED OFF. I PUSHED THE IGNITION BUTTON, WHICH NORMALLY QUICKLY TURNS GREEN AND NORMALLY THE CAR WOULD START. INSTEAD, THE CAR GOES INTO A STATE WHERE THE DASHBOARD ILLUMINATES, AN ERROR ICON IS DISPLAYED, AND THE POWER CANNOT BE TURNED OFF. I HOLD DOWN THE POWER BUTTON FOR OVER 5 MINUTES BEFORE THE CAR FINALLY TURNS OFF. DURING THIS TIME, THE POWER BUTTON IS AMBER, THE DASHBOARD DOES NOT SHOW THE CAR IS IN ANY GEAR, AND THE GREEN LIGHT ON THE PARK BUTTON IS ON. THE POWER BUTTON ABSOLUTELY DOES NOT FUNCTION, NOR DOES THE GEAR SELECTOR. MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT HOLDING DOWN THE POWER BUTTON FOR 5 SECONDS SHOULD ABSOLUTELY TURN IT OFF, THIS IS NOT THE CASE. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON THREE OCCASIONS IN THE PAST WEEK. *TR

PASSENGER AIRBAG SENSOR DOES NOT DETECT THE PRESENCE OF A PASSENGER IN THE VEHICLE, REGARDLESS OF WEIGHT. PASSENGER AIRBAG SENSOR CONSTANTLY READS "PASSENGER OFF". *TR

THE RUBBER BACK HATCH RELEASE MECHANISM HAS MELTED AND BECOME MUSHY THIS SUMMER. THIS WINTER THE RUBBER MECHANISM HAS FROZEN MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO OPEN THE REAR HATCH. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE I CANNOT GET TO MY SPARE TIRE OR EMERGENCY WARNING DEVICES. MY RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET HAS PROVEN THAT THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED INCIDENT BUT VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE. *JS

WHILE RETURNING HOME THE LIGHTS (BOTH) FLICKERED AND THE LEFT HEADLIGHT WENT OUT. AFTER A STOP FOR GROCERIES AND PREPARING TO LEAVE BOTH HEADLIGHTS WERE WORKING. AS WE NEARED OUR HOME THE LEFT LIGHT WENT OUT AGAIN. BOTH SITUATIONS HAPPENED AROUND 8:00 AND 8:30 PM. SINCE THE FIRST INCIDENT WE HAVE HAD THE LEFT, RIGHT AND BOTH LIGHTS FAIL ON AT LEAST A DOZEN SEPARATE OCCASIONS. WE HAVE DISCOVERED THIS PROBLEM HAS AFFECTED HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF PRIUS'. TOYOTA IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS KNOWN PROBLEM AND MUST FIX THESE FAILURES.

MY AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY WHEN I HAD AN ACCIDENT. WHAT'S THE LEGAL ADVICE TO FILE THE COMPLAINT TO TOYOTA?.....UPDATED 12/15/15 *BF *TR UPDATED 9/7/2017*CN

AS THE WEATHER GETS COLDER AND COLDER IN THE PITTSBURGH AREA THIS FALL, THE BACK HATCH IS BECOMING HARDER AND HARDER TO OPEN. TODAY IS THE COLDEST DAY AND THE BACK HATCH WON'T OPEN AT ALL. I SAW THAT OTHER OWNERS HAVE THIS ISSUE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HATCHBACK SPRING WAS CORRODED. THE EXTERIOR LATCH WOULD NOT OPEN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER OR INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

HEADLIGHTS GO OUT INTERMITTENTLY, RANDOM MALFUNCTION. WILL COME BACK ON IF YOU TURN THE HEADLIGHTS OFF AND BACK ON. THEY WORK NORMALLY SOME OF THE TIME AND THEN WILL SHUT OFF AS YOU ARE DRIVING. *TR

FREQUENTLY THE BRAKES WOULD FEEL HARD AND FAIL TO FULLY ENGAGE ONCE PUTTING THE CAR IN DRIVE AND RELEASING THE PARKING BRAKE. THIS WAS MOST APPARENT WHEN PARKED ON A HILL. ONCE THE PARKING BRAKE WAS RELEASED, WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL FULLY PRESSED, THE CAR WOULD ROLL FORWARD A COUPLE OF FEET BEFORE STOPPING UNFORTUNATELY IT HAS NOW DONE THE SAME THING TO ME IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION AND AS A RESULT I REAR ENDED ANOTHER CAR. I WAS WAFFLING ABOUT GOING BECAUSE I WAS TURNING LEFT. I REMEMBER PRESSING LIGHTLY ON THE GAS, THEN BRAKE, THEN GAS WHEN THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME STOPPED. I SLAMMED THE BRAKES AND NOTHING HAPPENED. THE PEDAL WAS HARD BUT THE CAR DID NOT SLOW DOWN SO I HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. *TR

HEADLIGHT HID LIGHTS GOES OFF WITHOUT ANY REASON. PROBLEM HAS BEEN FOUND IN VARIOUS VEHICLES AS PER THE ONLINE FORUMS. *TR

ON A REGULAR BASIS, ONE HEADLIGHT WILL GO OUT OR SOMETIMES BOTH WILL SHUT OFF AT THE SAME TIME WHILE I'M DRIVING. THEY WILL USUALLY COME BACK ON AFTER TURNING OFF AND ON BUT IT IS AN EXTREME HAZARD AS THERE ARE MANY DARK ROADS IN TEXAS. IT HAS BEEN HAPPENING SINCE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN 2014.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER TO HAVE FOUR TIRES INSTALLED BUT AFTER THE REPAIR THE TPMS WARNING LIGHT INTERMITTENTLY ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER, WHO INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS DAMAGED DURING THE TPMS SENSOR INSTALLATION AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKED, THERE WAS FIRE COMING FROM THE CONSOLE TO THE REAR SEATS. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE AND STATED THAT THE FIRE MIGHT BE DUE TO AN ELECTRICAL FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000.

HID HEADLAMP ON PASSENGER SIDE WENT OUT. FLASHED REPEATEDLY AND IS NOW FUNCTIONAL AGAIN. *TR

I WAS DRIVING HOME LAST NIGHT AND VARIOUS WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON. WITHIN A SHORT TIME THE VEHICLE LOST ALL POWER (ENTERED A FAILSAFE MODE) AND THE HYBRID SYSTEM SHUT DOWN WHILE I WAS DRIVING. THE RESULT WAS A COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER AND THE VEHICLE CAME TO A STOP IN TRAFFIC. I WAS CLOSE TO THE CURB AND TURNED ON MY EMERGENCY FLASHERS. CALLED A TOW TRUCK AND WILL TAKE THIS TO THE DEALER. I CALLED TOYOTA CUSTOMER SERVICE TO SEE IF OTHERS HAD EXPERIENCED ANYTHING SIMILAR AND THEY HAD NO ACCESS TO ANY INFORMATION ABOUT OTHER CUSTOMER'S EXPERIENCES. THEY DID SAY THAT THERE ARE NO ACTIVE RECALLS FOR THIS MAKE AND MODEL YEAR. A RECALL FOR THE 2010 - 2014 TOYOTA PRIUS WAS ISSUED IN FEBRUARY 2014 FOR WHAT SOUNDS LIKE A SIMILAR PROBLEM. WHILE THIS WASN'T A LIFE THREATENING ISSUE FOR ME LAST NIGHT, IN A PRESS RELEASE DRIVERS WHO'VE EXPERIENCED SIMILAR ISSUES WERE WARNED TO GET OUT OF THEIR VEHICLES BECAUSE THEY COULD BE IN DANGER FROM BEING REAR ENDED. *TR

THIS IS THE RESOLUTION TO AN EARLIER COMPLAINT I FILED. MY NHTSA COMPLAINT CONFIRMATION NUMBER (ODI NUMBER) IS: 10644563. THERE DIDN'T APPEAR TO BE A WAY TO AMEND THAT FILING. TO RECAP. ALL THE EMERGENCY LIGHTS CAME ON AND MY PRIUS LOST ALL POWER WHILE I WAS DRIVING. IT CAME TO A HALT. IT WOULD NOT RESTART. MY PASSENGERS EVENTUALLY EXITED THE CAR AND I REMAINED IN THE CAR WITH THE FLASHERS AND DEPRESSED THE BRAKES TO FURTHER ALERT ONCOMING DRIVERS. I WAS TOWED HOME AND THE NEXT DAY TO A DEALER. THEY PERFORMED A WARRANTY SERVICE FOR THE SENSOR CRANK (CODE POA90) WHICH WAS THE SUBJECT OF A JULY 18TH 2006 "SPECIAL SERVICE CAMPAIGN WITH THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION" (READ: A VOLUNTARY RECALL) OF THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR ON SOME 2001-2002 TOYOTA ECHO AND PRIUS MODELS. IN THE NOTICE TO ITS DEALERS [XXX] , VICE PRESIDENT, PRODUCT QUALITY AND SERVICE, WARNED THAT THIS "COULD CAUSE A CRASH." THE CODE # THAT WAS ON MY JOB TICKET DIDN'T MATCH THAT GIVEN TO THIS RECALL -- P0340 - CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSOR 'A' CIRCUIT MALFUNCTION. I DON'T KNOW WHAT ACCOUNTS FOR THAT DISCREPANCY. IT WAS CALLED "AN IMPORTANT SAFETY RECALL." RESEARCHING THIS ISSUE ONLINE I'VE DISCOVERED THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY PRIUS OWNER TO EXPERIENCE THIS POTENTIALLY LIFE THREATENING PROBLEM SINCE THAT INITIAL RECALL. I WAS LUCKY ENOUGH THAT NO ONE WAS HARMED AND THAT THE REPAIR WAS COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. OTHERS HAVE HAD TO PAY HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS TO FIX THIS PROBLEM AND IT'S TAKEN SOME NUMEROUS TRIPS TO THE DEALERSHIP. I WOULD SUGGEST THAT NHTSA EXPLORE WHETHER ANOTHER RECALL IS WARRANTED THAT WOULD INCLUDE LATER MODELS AND THOSE OUTSIDE THE CURRENT TOYOTA WARRANTY COVERAGE. THOSE OWNERS WHO HAVE PAID FOR THEIR REPAIRS SHOULD BE NOTIFIED AND REIMBURSED. *TR

I PURCHASED A TOYOTA PRIUS FROM TOYOTA SUNNYVALE, ADDRESS: 898 W EL CAMINO REAL, SUNNYVALE, CA 94087 PHONE: (408) 469-4907. INTERMITTENTLY THE DRIVERS DASH DISPLAY DOESN'T TURN ON AND IT IS DIFFICULT TO TURN OFF THE CAR. THE SPEEDOMETER, GAS INDICATOR, WARNING INDICATORS DO NOT LIGHT UP. THE FIRST FAILURE OCCURRED IN 2014, AAA REPLACED THE BATTERY, DISCONNECTING THE ACCESSORY 12 VOLT BATTERY CAUSES A RESET AND CLEARS THE INTERMITTENT FAILURE. SINCE THEN THE PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED 5-6 TIMES. I CONTACTED TOYOTA AMERICA AND WAS GIVEN A CASE #1612 272 228, IN DECEMBER 2016. I ALSO SEARCHED ONLINE AND FOUND OUT THIS IS A KNOWN TOYOTA PROBLEM AND IS THE PART CALLED A COMBINATION METER. TOYOTA PROVIDED AN EXTENDED 9 YEAR WARRANTY ON THIS PROBLEM, FURTHER TOYOTA MOTOR SALES, USA SENT A LETTER TO DEALERS (COPY ATTACHED) TO NOTIFY TOYOTA CUSTOMERS THAT THERE MIGHT BE THIS INTERMITTENT PROBLEM, I NEVER RECEIVED A MAILED LETTER. I ALSO PURCHASED MAINTENANCE AT THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS NEVER TOLD OF THIS INTERMITTENT PROBLEM. SINCE MY INITIAL CALL TO TOYOTA MOTOR SALES, USA, I'VE BEEN IN CONTACT WITH SAMANTHA ELKINS (408-716-1881) AT THE DEALERSHIP AND I HAVE SEEMED TO REACHED AN IMPASSE, THE DEALERSHIP REQUIRES THAT THEIR TECHNICIANS DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM AND FURTHER WANT TO CHARGE ME FOR THE DIAGNOSIS LABOR (1 OR MORE HOURS AT $175/HOUR). IF IT WAS AN OBVIOUS PROBLEM THE MAINTENANCE VISITS SHOULD HAVE SHOWED IT. AS IT'S AN KNOW INTERMITTENT FAILURE, IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE TO TAKE THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND PAY $200 OR MORE DOLLARS FOR A DIAGNOSIS OF NO PROBLEM FOUND. FROM MY RESEARCH ONLINE IT APPEARS THAT AS MANY AS 5% OF THE PRIUS CARS, IDENTIFIED BY VIN, CAN SUFFER FROM THIS PROBLEM. IS OFFERING AN EXTENDED WARRANTY, BUT NOT NOTIFYING THEIR CUSTOMER AN EFFORT TO AVOID A RECALL? WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED I HAD TO DRIVE WITHOUT INSTRUMENTS AT NIGHT. IS THIS A SAFETY ISSUE.

AT APPROXIMATELY 65MPH A RED TRIANGLE WARNING LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASH PANEL ACCOMPANIED BY A YELLOW CIRCLE. THE PARKING BUTTON WAS FLASHING AND A PINK CARTOON CAR APPEARED ON THE DISPLAY. THE CAR WAS RUNNING FINE SO I CONTINUED TILL I REACHED MY FREEWAY EXIT. AT THE BOTTOM OF THE EXIT I HAD TO STOP FOR A RED LIGHT. THE EXIT IS DARK AND HAS A SHARP CURVE. UPON STOPPING THE CAR THE TRANSMISSION LOCKED AND THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN. I WAS UNABLE TO START THE ENGINE AND THE CAR COULD NOT BE PUSHED OUT OF THE WAY DUE TO THE TRANSMISSION LOCK. FRANTICALLY I HAD TO GET A FLASHLIGHT AND WAVE OFF ONCOMING TRAFFIC. IT WAS VERY DANGEROUS. AFTER A FEW MINUTES I RETRIED THE ENGINE AND IT STARTED ALLOWING ME TO GET OFF THE RAMP AND GET HOME. THE WARNING LIGHTS STAYED ON. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER THE NEXT DAY AND AFTER THEY TESTED EVERYTHING THEY SAID THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG. NEXT TIME I MIGHT NOT BE SO LUCKY. *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

THE HIGH INTENSITY HEADLIGHTS (HID) BULBS (RIGHT AND LEFT) ARE KEEP GOING OUT. I REPLACED 4 TIMES AND KEEPS HAPPENING. I RESEARCHED ONLINE AND FOUND OUT THAT THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE ON TOYOTA PRIUS MODEL 2004-2007. MANY PEOPLE HAVE SHARED ABOUT THIS SPECIFIC PROBLEM. *JS

2007 PRIUS DASHBOARD LIGHTS MALFUNCTION - COMPLETELY DARK. SEE NHTSA # 10544698 AND MANY OTHER COMPLAINTS REGARDING DASHBOARD LIGHTS/CLUSTER GOING COMPLETELY DARK AND ENGINE WILL NOT SHUT OFF. THIS IS AN EXTREMELY SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE AND DEALERSHIPS WILL NOT REPAIR FOR FREE. THE PART NEEDED IS A COMBINATION METER/CLUSTER THAT COSTS AROUND $1000 TO REPAIR FROM THE DEALER. PLEASE EVERYONE - PUSH FOR NATIONAL RECALL AS THIS IS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

REAR TAIL LIGHTS DEFECTIVE WIRING. CAUSING INTERMITTENT LIGHTING. ALMOST REAR ENDED BY SEMI TRUCK AT NIGHT. BULBS FINE WIRING DEFECT. VERY COMMON ON INTERNET. *TR

THE COVER TO THE BACK HATCH LATCH HAS MELTED INTO A GOOEY BLACK MASS THIS MAKES IT DIFFICULT (AT BEST) TO OPEN THE BACK HATCH. THERE IS NO ALTERNATIVE INTERNAL METHOD FOR OPENING THE HATCHBACK/TRUNK,. SINCE THE SPARE TIRE AND TIRE CHANGING GEAR (JACK, WRENCH, ETC.) ARE STORED IN THE BACK, THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD. THIS IS AN OBVIOUS DEFECT IN THE MATERIAL USED FOR THE LATCH COVER - THE DETERIORATION OF THIS PART CAN IN NO WAY BE ATTRIBUTABLE TO NEGLECT OR ABUSE ON THE PART OF THE DRIVER/OWNER OF THE VEHICLE. SHOULD BE RECALLED AND REPLACED BY TOYOTA. *TR

BACK HATCH LATCH OR OPENER IS STICKY AND RUBBERY AND FAILING. SEEMS LIKE MELTING. *TR

THE RUBBER HANDLE ON MY 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS MELTS IN THE SUMMER AND FREEZES IN THE WINTER. IF IT'S COLD OUTSIDE IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO GET INTO THE CAR THROUGH THE TAILGATE WHICH COULD PRESENT A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE SHOULD THE REST OF THE DOORS BE UNUSABLE IN AN EMERGENCY. IN THE SUMMER, I'M ABLE TO GET INTO THE DRUNK BUT IT LEAVES A BLACK RESIDUE ON MY HANDS THAT TAKES A FEW DAYS TO CLEAN OFF ENTIRELY AND IT CAN BE VERY HOT TO THE TOUCH IF LEFT OUTSIDE ON A HOT DAY. *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

WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, BOTH HEADLIGHTS SHUT OFF. THIS CAUSED A NEAR ACCIDENT WITH OTHER MOTORISTS ON THE HIGHWAY. BY RAPIDLY TOGGLING THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH ON AND OFF, THE HEADLIGHTS TURNED BACK ON. THIS HAS BEEN A PERSISTENT ISSUE EVEN THOUGH I HAVE HAD THE BULBS REPLACED AT A GREAT EXPENSE. *TR

TRACTION CONTROL FUNCTION CANNOT BE DEACTIVATED ON THE 2007 PRIUS AND SHOULD BE CONSIDERED A HAZARDOUS FUNCTION. IN SLIPPERY CONDITIONS WHILE MAKING TURNS FROM A FULL STOP (IF SOMEWHAT AGGRESSIVE ACCELERATION IS APPLIED) THE TRACTION CONTROL IS ACTIVATED AND THE POWER (ACCELERATION) GOES TO ZERO. IT'S THE EQUIVALENT OF RELEASING THE ACCELERATOR (ACCELERATOR IS UNRESPONSIVE). THE VEHICLE IS COASTING INTO TRAFFIC AND CAN TAKE UP TO 2 SECONDS TO REGAIN ACCELERATION CAPABILITY. *TR

THE HEADLIGHTS HAVE STARTED WORKING INTERMITTENTLY. FIRST ONE AT A TIME AND NOW BOTH. IF THEY GO OUT, TURNING THE SWITCH OFF AND THEN ON AGAIN WILL MAKE THEM COME BACK ON. THE REPAIR COST FOR THE HEADLIGHTS TO BE REPLACED IS $350 + IT IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS TO HAVE HEADLIGHTS THAT DO NOT WORK RELIABLY. THE FACT THAT THE REPAIR COST IS SO EXTREME WILL LEAD TO MANY OF THESE CARS TO NOT BE FIXED. TOYOTA SHOULD TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE DEFECTIVE LIGHTS AND ISSUE A RECALL. *TR

THE RUBBER ON THE HANDLE / LATCH ON THE BACK HATCH OF MY 2007 PRIUS HAS DEGRADED TO THE POINT OF MELTING / FALLING OFF. STICKY TACKY RUBBER HAS BEEN A PROBLEM FOR A WHILE, BUT NOW THE PIECE JUST MELTED ONTO THE BUMPER. IT IS NOT A PARTICULARLY HOT DAY COMPARATIVELY, SO MUST HAVE JUST FINALLY DEGRADED TO THE POINT OF FALLING OFF WHILE I WAS PARKED. THIS APPEARS TO BE A COMMON DEFECT, AND I WOULD LIKE TOYOTA / DEALERSHIP TO COVER FIXING THIS: HTTP://WWW.MEYERSONSTRATEGY.COM/2013/09/TOYOTAS-STICKY-2007-PRIUS-HATCH-PROBLEM.HTML. *TR

COVER OVER HATCH HAS TURNED TO GOO AND HATCH RELEASE NO LONGER FUNCTIONS. THIS APPEARS TO BE A POTENTIAL SAFETY ISSUE SINCE THE DOOR CAN NOT BE OPERATED. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN KEPT IN A GARAGE WHEN NOT IN USE SINCE PURCHASE, SO WEATHER WOULD NOT BE A FACTOR. AM WONDERING WHETHER THIS WAS A FACTOR IN THE EARLY DEMISE OF THE 12V BATTERY. *TR

EXTERIOR REAR HATCH LATCH HANDLE STICKY/MELTING. COVERED WITH TAPE TO AVOID TOUCHING THE MESS WHEN USING THE DOOR. LATCH AND LOCK OPERATION HAS BECOME UNRELIABLE AND HATCH MUST BE SLAMMED TO ENSURE CLOSURE. PRACTICALLY IDENTICAL TO COMPLAINT ID 10632829. *TR

MY PRIUSES HID HEADLIGHTS WILL INTERMITTENTLY TURN OFF WHILE DRIVING. INITIALLY, WHEN STARTING THE CAR, THEY WILL BOTH WORK, BUT WILL OFTEN TURN OFF OR BE VERY DIM. IT IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE THE ROAD WHEN IT IS DARK AND RAINING. WE HAVE EVEN BEEN PULLED OVER ONE OF THEM BEING TURNED OFF AND RECEIVED A TICKET. I HAVE REPLACED BOTH BULBS ($175/EA) AT THE AUTO STORE AND THIS DID NOT CORRECT THE ISSUE. *TR

EXTERIOR REAR HATCH LATCH HANDLE STICKY/MELTING. MUST USE RAG TO AVOID TOUCHING THE MESS WHEN USING THE DOOR. LATCH AND LOCK OPERATION HAS BECOME UNRELIABLE AND HATCH MUST BE SLAMMED TO ENSURE CLOSURE. PRACTICALLY IDENTICAL TO COMPLAINT ID 10632829. *TR

WHILE DRIVING THE CAR, THE DASH SYMBOLS VSC, ABS AND THE (!) TURNED ON AND THE CAR STARTED TO BEEP INSIDE. ALARMED AT WHAT WAS HAPPENING, I HIT THE BRAKES TO FIND THAT THEY WERE NOT WORKING AND THERE WAS NO RESISTANCE WHEN PUSHING DOWN ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. I WAS IN A PARKING LOT WHEN THIS HAPPENED AND HAD TO SWERVE TO AVOID HITTING PEOPLE WALKING AROUND. AFTER A MINUTE OR 2 OF COASTING I WAS APPROACHING A DEAD END AND CHOSE TO LITERALLY STAND ON MY BRAKES WHICH DIDN'T IMMEDIATELY STOP THE CAR. AFTER STANDING ON THE BRAKES WITH MY FULL WEIGHT, THE CAR SLOWLY CAME TO A ROLLING STOP WHERE I PROCEEDED TO PUT THE CAR IN PARK AND TURN IT OFF. *TR

"TAKATA RECALL" IN AUG 2014 I WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD ON COLLISION WHERE MY AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. ONE OF THE INJURIES SUSTAINED WAS A FRACTURE TO MY RIGHT FIFTH METACARPAL BONE CAUSED BY PROJECTILE SHRAPNEL, MOST LIKELY FROM THE DEPLOYED AIR BAG. THE SHRAPNEL WAS 2MM X 10MM, BLACK AND APPEARED TO BE PLASTIC PER THE OPERATIVE REPORT BY THE SURGEON WHO REMOVED IT. FOR SUCH A LIGHT PIECE OF PLASTIC TO CAUSE THIS EXTENSIVE A COMMINUTED FRACTURE, THE PROJECTILE MUST HAVE BEEN TRAVELING AT A VERY HIGH VELOCITY MOST LIKELY CAUSED BY THE AIR BAG'S EXPLOSIVE FOR [XXX] 'INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).'

DURING A CAR ACCIDENT ON A HIGHWAY, AND AFTER THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED, A PROJECTILE AT HIGH VELOCITY ENTERED MY RIGHT HAND AND FRACTURED THE 5TH METACARPAL BONE. PER THE HAND SURGEON THAT REMOVED THE FOREIGN BODY, IT APPEARED TO BE A BLACK PIECE OF PLASTIC 1 CM LONG.

THE DRIVERS SIDE HEADLIGHT GOES OUT ON ITS OWN, A FEW MINUTES LATER THE PASSENGER SIDE LIGHT WILL GO OUT ON ITS OWN. LEAVING NO LIGHTS, IF I TURN THEM OFF AND ON AGAIN THE HEADLIGHTS WILL WORK AGAIN BUT NOT FOR LONG PERIODS OF TIME. I HAVE REPLACED THE BULBS IN BOTH AND THEY WILL WORK FOR A FEW MONTHS WITH NO ISSUE AND IT STARTS ALL OVER AGAIN. THIS HAS HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIMES SINCE I PURCHASED THE CAR AND NOW I LEARN THEY GOT OUT OF RECALLING BECAUSE BOTH LIGHTS DON'T GO OUT AT THE SAME TIME, WELL MINE DO.

THE HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT BY THEMSELVES. I TURNED THE SWITCH OFF AND THEN BACK ON AND THE LIGHTS CAME BACK ON BUT THIS PROBLEM REPEATED ITSELF MULTIPLE TIMES (20+) ON MY WAY HOME. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE CONTACT CRASHED THE VEHICLE INTO A PICKUP TRUCK. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A CONCUSSION AND WAS HOSPITALIZED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 133,000.

FOR THE PAST YEAR, ONE OF MY FRONT HEADLIGHTS GOES ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY. I'VE HAD TOYOTA LOOK AT IT TWICE AND THEY CAN'T FIGURE IT OUT. THEY'VE TRIED REPLICATING IT AND NOTHING. THIS IS A SAFETY PROBLEM THAT I'VE LEARNED IS COMMON AMONG PRIUS BETWEEN THE YEARS 2006- AND 2009. TOYOTA NEEDS TO FIGURE THIS OUT AND SHOULD HAVE A RECALL. *TR

HEADLAMPS AND TAIL LIGHTS SUBJECT TO INTERMITTENT PERIODS OF FAILURE TO STAY LIT WHILE DRIVING. NOT REGULAR, NOR CONSISTENT TO ONE LIGHT AND NOT THE OTHER. GENERAL UNRELIABILITY OF ELECTRICAL ROAD ILLUMINATION SYSTEM. CREATES A HIGH POTENTIAL FOR DANGEROUS ACCIDENTS WITH ONCOMING VEHICLES FAILING TO RECOGNIZE MY VEHICLE PROFILE ACCURATELY WHEN APPROACHING ON NARROW ROADWAYS.