Owner reports filed with NHTSA about this vehicle, newest first and reproduced as filed. They are unverified accounts: one proves nothing, and a pattern across many is the thing worth reading. Back to the full 2004 record →
2004 TOYOTA PRIUS. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO THE COMBINED SPEEDOMETER/ODOMETER DISPLAY. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN THE INSTRUMENT PANEL INTERMITTENTLY FAILED THE DRIVER WAS UNAWARE OF THE SPEED AND GAS MILEAGE. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED A FULL RECALL WITH NO TIME LIMIT. UPDATED 08/11/2017*JS
HELLO TEAM, ONE OF THE HEADLIGHTS KEEPS GOING OUT. I CAN'T REALLY TELL WHEN OR HOW IT GOES OUT SINCE I CAN'T SEE IT. I'LL NOTICE IT WHEN I SEE THE REFLECTION IN THE BACK OF ANOTHER CAR. IF I TURN THE BRIGHT LIGHTS ON AND OFF IT HAS NO EFFECT, BUT WHEN I TURN THEM ALL THE WAY OFF AND BACK ON THE LIGHT COMES BACK. SOMETIMES ON LONG TRIPS IT WILL STAY ON THE WHOLE TIME, SOMETIMES IT WON'T. SOMETIMES ON SHORT TRIPS IT WILL GO OUT, SOMETIMES IT WON'T. IT IS NOT AN EVENT I CAN MAKE HAPPEN.
2004 TOYOTA PRIUS WITH HID OPTION. ONE OR BOTH HID HEADLIGHTS GO OUT WHILE PARKED OR DRIVING. TURNING THE LIGHT CONTROL ON AND OFF WILL TEMPORARILY SOLVE THE ISSUE. THE ISSUE IS RANDOM IN NATURE. FOR INSTANCE, I NOTICED ONE HEADLIGHT WENT OUT THIS MORNING AND BEFORE I COULD TURN THE SWITCH TO RESET THE OTHER HEADLIGHT WENT OUT, LEAVING ME IN THE DARK ON THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE MAY BE PARK OR IN MOTION. THERE APPEARS TO BE NO DIRECT RELATION TO ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS. EXTREMELY DANGEROUS WHEN DRIVING ON RURAL ROADS WITH NO STREET LIGHTS. IT APPEARS TO ME TO BE A BALLAST ISSUE. THIS REPAIR REQUIRES WORKING WITH HIGH VOLTAGE COMPONENTS AND GOES BEYOND THE SCOPE OF A DIY PROJECT. THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING ISSUE FOR ME, BUT ONLY RECENTLY HAVE BOTH HEADLIGHTS STARTED TO FAIL AT THE SAME TIME. THANK YOU.
HEADLIGHTS WOULD RANDOMLY GO OUT COMPLETELY AND WOULD VERY QUICKLY HAVE TO TURN THEM OFF AND THEN BACK ON TO GET THEM TO WORK. THIS DID NOT HAPPEN VERY OFTEN BUT THEY DID OCCUR UNEXPECTEDLY AND CAUSED EXTREMELY UNSAFE CONDITIONS WHILE DRIVING.
THE PASSENGER SIDE BRAKE LIGHT DOES NOT WORK.
HEADLIGHTS WOULD RANDOMLY GO OUT COMPLETELY AND WOULD VERY QUICKLY HAVE TO TURN THEM OFF AND THEN BACK ON TO GET THEM TO WORK. THIS DID NOT HAPPEN VERY OFTEN BUT THEY DID OCCUR UNEXPECTEDLY AND CAUSED EXTREMELY UNSAFE CONDITIONS WHILE DRIVING. ADDITIONALLY, THE HEADLIGHTS WOULD BARELY ILLUMINATE THE ROAD AT NIGHT ALL THE TIME WHILE DRIVING IN ALL CONDITIONS AND ON ALL ROADS, AND THE AREA THEY ILLUMINATED WAS ONLY A VERY SHORT DISTANCE IN FRONT OF THE CAR SO THIS ALSO CREATED UNSAFE CONDITIONS AT ALL TIMES. TO COMPENSATE I WOULD TURN ON THE HIGH BEAMS AND THEN THE PROPER AREA OF THE ROAD WOULD BE ILLUMINATED. THIS MADE ME HAVE TO SWITCH FROM LOW TO HIGH BEAM ON A REGULAR BASIS AND WAS EXTREMELY DISTRACTING HAVING TO DO SO WHENEVER AN ONCOMING CAR APPROACHED! I RECENTLY PAID ABOUT $350-375 TO HAVE THEM RELAMPED AND THAT HELPED BUT ONLY A VERY SMALL AMOUNT. THIS IS STILL A BIG PROBLEM AND MAKES ME NOT WANT TO DRIVE THIS CAR AT NIGHT!!! *TR
DESCRIPTION OF THE PROBLEM: THE H.I.D. HEADLIGHTS ON MY 2004 PRIUS FAILS UNEXPECTEDLY (THEY TURN OFF RANDOMLY, ON THEIR OWN). THIS PROBLEM AFFECTS MAINLY THE RIGHT HEADLIGHT. THE RIGHT HEADLIGHT FAILS VERY FREQUENTLY (HUNDREDS OF TIMES DURING THE LAST 12 MONTHS). THE LEFT HEADLIGHT FAILS SPORADICALLY (LESS THAN 10 TIMES DURING THE LAST 6 MONTHS). THIS ISSUE AFFECTS BOTH LOW BEAM AND HIGH BEAM HEADLAMPS SIMULTANEOUSLY. WHEN A HEADLIGHT FAILS, I TURN OFF THE LIGHTS THEN I TURN THEM BACK ON. THIS BRINGS BACK THE LIGHTS. THEN THE FAILURE OCCURS UNEXPECTEDLY AFTER SECONDS, MINUTES, OR HOURS. THIS ISSUE HAS OCCURRED WHILE MY VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY, IN MOTION, ON A CITY STREET OR A HIGHWAY, TURNING, BRAKING, ETC. THIS ISSUE ALSO OCCURS REGARDLESS OF ROAD CONDITIONS (SMOOTH FLAT ROADS & SPEED BUMPS / POTHOLES) OR WEATHER CONDITIONS (SUNNY, RAINY, SNOWY, WARM & COLD OUTSIDE TEMPERATURES). THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN, ESPECIALLY WHEN DRIVING NIGHT TIME ON COMPLETELY UNLIT ROADS.
RIGHT HID HEADLAMP INTERMITTENTLY GOES OUT WHILE DRIVING AND DOES NOT GO BACK ON. HOWEVER, WHEN YOU SWITCH THE HEADLIGHT TOGGLE SWITCH OFF THEN ON AGAIN, RIGHT HID HEADLAMP GOES BACK ON. WHILE DRIVING FOR A DISTANCE OF 120 MILES LAST NIGHT, THIS HAPPENED 6 TIMES ON BOTH CITY AND HIGHWAY AND ROAD CONDITIONS IE. BUMPS ETC IS NOT A FACTOR SINCE IT HAPPENS ON A SMOOTH PAVED HIGHWAY AS WELL. THE OUTAGE CAN OCCUR A FEW MINUTES AFTER TURNING THE TOGGLE HEADLAMP SWITCH ON OR IT CAN STAY ON FOR 20 MILES THEN OUT AGAIN. SINCE THE CAR IS NEVER LEFT IDLING WITH THE HEADLAMPS ON, IT IS UNKNOWN WHETHER RIGHT HEADLAMP WILL GO OUT WHILE PARKED. HAVE READ IN THE PRIUS CHAT SITE THAT MANY OTHER DRIVERS HAVE EXPERIENCED SIMILAR PROBLEM AND DESPITE THE DEALER REPLACING THE HID BULB OR EVEN THE ENTIRE HEADLAMP ASSEMBLY WHICH IS OVER $1,100 THE PROBLEMS WERE NEVER FULLY RESOLVED. PLEASE REFER TO: HTTP://PRIUSCHAT.COM/THREADS/HEADLIGHT-PROBLEM.34584/
DRIVER'S SIDE HEADLIGHT WAS INTERMITTENT. I COULD JIGGLE THE SWITCH AND IT WOULD COME ON. THIS OCCURRED STATIONARY AND MOVING. I HAVE REPLACE THE HID BULB TWICE WITH SYLVANIA D2R. THE HEADLIGHT DOES NOT WORK NOW. DEALER WILL CHARGE OVER $500 FOR HEADLIGHT AND BALLAST REPAIRS--HIGHWAY ROBBERY. THIS PROBLEM STARTED AUGUST 2014.
THE LEFT HEADLIGHT HAS BEEN GOING OFF WHILE DRIVING. I'VE GOT THE 'SAFETY' PACKAGE #7 WITH SPECIAL HID HEADLIGHTS. WHEN I TURN THE LIGHTS OFF AND ON AGAIN, IT COMES BACK ON FOR AWHILE. TWO NIGHTS AGO BOTH HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT WHILE DRIVING. VERY SCARY! I WAS ON AN ON RAMP AND COULDN'T SEE AT ALL. THEY BOTH CAME BACK ON AFTER I TURNED THE SWITCH OFF AND THEN ON.
HEADLIGHTS TURN OFF WHEN DRIVING FOR ABOUT HALF AN HOUR. I HAVE TO TURN THE HEADLIGHTS OFF THEN BACK ON SO THEY CAN START WORKING AGAIN. I DO SEE THIS TO BE A SAFETY ISSUE SINCE I DRIVE OUT OF TOWN OFTEN AND USE THE FREEWAY MOST OF THE TIME AND IT IS JUST VERY HARD FOR ME TO BE TURNING ON AND OFF THE HEADLIGHTS AT A HIGH SPEED. THIS HAS OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES AND IT'S NOT SAFE AT ALL. THIS HAPPENS AT ANY SPEED USUALLY WITHIN THE FIRST 30 MINUTES AND IT CONTINUOUSLY TURNS OFF.
WE'VE NOTICED THIS PROBLEM ONLY A FEW TIMES IN THE CAR SINCE WE'VE OWNED IT. THAT'S BEEN ABOUT 3 YEARS. WE SELDOM DRIVE AT NIGHT BUT WHENEVER WE HAVE IT'S ALWAYS BEEN AN ISSUE. USUALLY JUST THE LEFT GOES OUT AND RESETTING THE LIGHTS BROUGHT IT BACK ON. THIS PAST WEEK THE SAME THING STARTED TO HAPPEN AND RESETTING IT WORKED A FEW TIMES BUT THEN BOTH HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT AND RESETTING THE SWITCH DID NOTHING. THANKFULLY DAWN WAS ON THE WAY AND WITH THE FOG LIGHTS ON WE JUST KEPT GOING. ONCE I FELT COMFORTABLE TURNING THE LIGHTS OFF COMPLETELY AND AFTER WAITING 3-5 MINUTES WITH THE SWITCH OFF I TRIED THE LIGHTS AND THEY CAME BACK ON. THERE IS DEFINITELY A PROBLEM WITH SOMETHING; MAYBE AN OVERHEAT ISSUE WITH THE BULBS, WIRING OR CONTROL BOX. THIS IS A HUGE DEAL. IF WE'D BEEN DRIVING INTO THE DARKNESS INSTEAD OF DAWN COULD EASILY HAVE HAD AN ACCIDENT.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE COMBINATION METER FAILED, WHICH CAUSED THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND DASHBOARD LIGHTS TO NOT ILLUMINATE WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS INTERMITTENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO BE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 170,000. ...UPDATED 02/19/16 *BF
AT AROUND 145,000 MILES THE RIGHT (PASSENGER) HEADLIGHT STARTED TURNING OFF RANDOMLY. IT WOULD COME BACK ON WHILE DRIVING IF I TURNED MY HEADLIGHTS OFF AND BACK ON. FREQUENCY HAS INCREASED OVER THE LAST 10,000 MILES. RECENTLY, THE LEFT HEADLIGHT WENT OUT WHILE ON THE FREEWAY AND THE RIGHT WAS ALREADY OUT, LEAVING ME WITH NO HEADLIGHTS. I HAD TO FLICK THEM ON AND OFF MULTIPLE TIMES AND FLICK THE BRIGHTS MULTIPLE TIMES TO GET THEM TO TURN BACK ON. I HAD NO HEADLIGHTS FOR AT LEAST 30 SECONDS WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY- THOUGH IN AN URBAN AREA WHERE OTHER LIGHTS ALLOWED ME TO SEE. TWICE, I HAVE BEEN LEFT WITHOUT HEADLIGHTS WHILE ON THE ROAD- ONCE ON THE HIGHWAY AND ONCE AT A STOP LIGHT (TURNING MY CAR OFF AND THEN BACK ON REVIVED THE LIGHTS).
HEADLIGHTS INTERMITTENTLY FLICKER AND SHUT OFF. IF HEADLIGHTS ARE TURNED OFF THEN BACK ON, BOTH HEADLIGHTS WILL WORK AGAIN. PROBLEM HAPPENS WHILE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION, AS WELL AS WHEN PARKED. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT, ON RURAL/POORLY LIT ROADS, AS WELL AS HIGHWAYS. USUALLY IT IS ONE LIGHT OR THE OTHER THAT GOES OFF, BUT ABOUT 5 DIFFERENT TIMES BOTH LIGHTS HAVE GONE OFF AT THE SAME TIME WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT. ONE OF THESE INCIDENTS RESULTED IN A TRAFFIC STOP BY A POLICE OFFICER, WHO PROMPTLY ISSUED ME A TICKET FOR DRIVING WITH NO HEADLIGHTS ON. BOTH HEADLIGHT BULBS HAVE BEEN REPLACED; ALL FUSES HAVE BEEN CHECKED AND/OR REPLACED;12V BATTERY REPLACED - NONE OF WHICH HAS SOLVED THE PROBLEM.
DRIVER SIDE HEADLIGHT INTERMITTENTLY TURNS OFF WHILE DRIVING. DRIVER IS NOT AWARE HEADLIGHT IS NOT WORKING UNTIL POLICE PULLS HIM OVER OR AFTER RETURNING TO GARAGE AT HOME, HE CAN SEE FROM HEADLIGHT GLARE ON THE WALL THAT ONE LIGHT IS OUT. USUALLY TURNING THE LIGHT OFF, AND THEN BACK ON CORRECTS THE PROBLEM, HOWEVER YOU CANT BE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY FLASHING YOUR LIGHTS EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE TO MAKE SURE THEY ARE ON. IT IS JUST A DANGEROUS SITUATION. THE INTERNET SHOWS THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM AND ITS FRUSTRATING THAT TOYOTA HAS NOT ACKNOWLEDGED OR PROVIDED A FIX.
I NOTICED THAT MY PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT WAS OUT WHILE DRIVING HOME AT NIGHT. TWO DAYS LATER, AGAIN WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT, MY PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT WAS WORKING PERFECTLY. I HAVE DONE NOTHING TO REPAIR THE LIGHT.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2004 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE DRIVER WAS MAKING A RIGHT TURN AND AN ONCOMING VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE DRIVER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE RESULTING FORCE CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO SPIN AND CRASH INTO AN IDLE TRAIN. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 240,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
COOLANT CONTROL VALVE IS FAILING ON MANY PRIUS'S WHICH WERE MADE BETWEEN 2004 TO 2009
I OWN A 2004 TOYOTA PRIUS WHICH I HAVE BEEN DRIVING FOR ABOUT COUPLE YEARS AND RECENTLY COUPLE DAYS AGO I HAD A MAJOR ACCIDENT (SEE ATTACHMENT FOR MORE DETAILS) WHICH DAMAGED MOST OF MY CAR. THE ACCIDENT WAS VERY SEVERE AND DURING WHICH NONE OF THE AIR BAGS ACTIVATED. THE AIR BAGS SHOULD HAVE BEEN ACTIVATED IN THIS TYPE OF ACCIDENT, RECENTLY MY CAR HAD BEEN TO A GENERAL INSPECTION AT A TOYOTA DEALER AND THERE WAS NO ISSUES RECORDED OF THIS SORT.
SOMETIMES MY LEFT FRONT HEADLIGHT WORKS AND SOMETIMES IT DOESN'T. I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO IDENTIFY ANY CONSISTENT CAUSE OF THE INTERMITTENT FAILURE. SOMETIMES IF THE LEFT HEADLIGHT IS OUT AND I FLICK THE HIGH BEAMS ON AND OFF, THEN THE LIGHT WORKS AGAIN, BUT THIS DOESN'T ALWAYS SEEM TO FIX THE PROBLEM.
WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT, MY HEADLIGHTS WILL TURN OFF RANDOMLY. SOMETIMES, IT IS JUST ONE BUT OFTEN IT IS BOTH. IF I TURN THE HEADLIGHTS SWITCH TO OFF AND BACK TO ON, SOMETIMES ONE OR BOTH LIGHTS WILL TURN BACK ON. MORE RECENTLY, THIS TRICK HASN'T BEEN WORKING AS WELL AND I HAVE TO DRIVE JUST USING MY FOG LIGHTS. IT SEEMS TO BE SOMETHING WITH THE COMPUTER THAT CONTROLS THE HEADLIGHTS. IF IT WAS THE BULB IT WOULD ALWAYS BE OUT. IF IT WERE THE WIRING, SIMPLY FLIPPING THE SWITCH ON/OFF WOULDN'T SUDDENLY GET THE WIRING TO CONNECT AGAIN.
HEAD ON COLLISION INTO A HIGHWAY BARRIER. THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY.
THE FRONT RIGHT SIDE HEADLIGHT KEEPS GOING OUT . ALREADY REPLACED IT TWICE AND IT SEEMS THIS IS VERY COMMON WITH THE TOYOTA PRIUS. FUSE ALSO KEEPS BURNING. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION AT NIGHT . DRIVING WITH ONE HEAD LIGHT IS BECOMING TO COMMON FOR THIS TYPE OF VEHICLE .
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA PRUIS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHT ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL INTERMITTENTLY ILLUMINATED. THIS WAS A RECURRING FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 106,000.
WARNING TRIANGLE AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS CAME ON WHILE TRAVELING. TOOK VEHICLE TO INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO DIAGNOSED HYBRID WATER PUMP MALFUNCTION; HE NOTED A RECALL, SO I TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER. DEALER CHARGES $130 TO PLUG INTO DIAGNOSTIC SYSTEM, FINDS SAME PROBLEM; WANTS $750 TO REPLACE. PUMP WAS REPLACED @ 30,000 MILES AGO UNDER AON RECALL. MULTIPLE REPORTS ON WEB ABOUT THE SAME REPLACEMENT PART FAILING AFTER SHORT TIME.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WOULD NOT ILLUMINATE. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT POWER OFF AFTER THE ON/OFF SWITCH WAS DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE MULTI FUNCTIONAL DISPLAY MULTI-METER AND THE POWER SWITCH WERE FAULTY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE EXTENDED WARRANTY NO LONGER APPLIED TO THE VEHICLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2004 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH AND WHILE ATTEMPTING TO STOP THE VEHICLE BY DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE BRAKES MALFUNCTIONED AND THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF AN SUV. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED MULTIPLE TOE INJURIES ON THE RIGHT FOOT, INCLUDING ONE FRACTURED TOE. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS REQUIRED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 205,000.
SPEEDOMETER & OTHER CONTROL INFORMATION DISPLAY WENT BLANK. PULLED OVER TO SIDE OF ROAD BUT UNABLE TO TURN OFF ENGINE. CONTACTED TOYOTA & WAS TOLD PROBLEM IS KNOWN & WARRANTY EXTEND TO 9 YEARS & UNLIMITED MILES. HOWEVER, MY VEHICLE IS OLDER THAN NINE YEARS, SO I MUST PAY ESTIMATE $1400 TO FIX & CAR WILL BE UNAVAILABLE FOR ESTIMATE 2 WEEKS. THE VEHICLE IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE, PRIOR TO THIS KNOWN PROBLEM OCCURRING CAR WAS OPERATING PERFECTLY ( AVERAGING 50 MPG PER TANK OF GAS, DOCUMENTED). THIS APPEARS TO BE A SAFETY PROBLEM THAT WAS KNOWN BY THE MANUFACTURER, HOWEVER THEY SEEMS TO BE TRYING TO HIDE THIS BY MAKING THE STATISTICAL ESTIMATE THAT BY EXTENDING THE WARRANTY THE MAJORITY OF THESE CARS WOULD BE OFF THE ROAD AND THEIR LAWYERS & LEGAL INSURANCE WOULD COST LESS THAN THE FEW HUMANS KILLS AFTER THIS ARBITRARY 9 YEAR RISK PERIOD. I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED AS A RESULT OF THIS FAILURE! FORTUNATELY I WAS NOT, HOWEVER I AM LEFT WITH A VEHICLE THAT IS UNDRIVEABLE (WITH NO WARNING!) AND CAN ONLY BE REPAIRED BY TOYOTA AT A COST I AM NOT ABLE TO AFFORD!
AS I WAS GOING DOWN A HILL THE ABS VSC BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE BRAKES FAILED. THE PEDAL BECAME MUSH AND I LOST POWER BRAKING. THIS CAUSED ME TO ALMOST HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. I SWERVED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND PULLED OFF THE SHOULDER JUST MISSING THE GUARD RAIL. I HAVE FOUND OUT THAT TOYOTA KNOWS ABOUT THIS FAULTY PROBLEM AND NOW THEY DEALERSHIP WANTS TO CHARGE 3,000 TO FIX IT.
PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT BEGAN TO TURN OFF INTERMITTENTLY AND HAS CONTINUED SINCE.
HEADLAMP FAILS INTERMITTENTLY. USUALLY CORRECTED BY SWITCHING THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH OFF AND THEN BACK ON. SOMETIMES THIS DOES NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM.
THE DASHBOARD DISPLAY FAILED TO LIGHT UP, BUT THE CAR TURNED ON. IT DID GO INTO DRIVE, SO I DROVE MY DAUGHTER TO SCHOOL, THEN STOPPED TO CALL COGGIN TOYOTA AT THE AVENUES TO REPORT THE PROBLEM, BUT THE CAR WOULD NOT TURN OFF. THEY SAID IT WAS THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER, A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THE PRIUS AND FOR WHICH THERE WAS A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN AND A WARRANTY ENHANCEMENT, ALTHOUGH THAT "ENHANCEMENT" ENDED 9 YEARS AFTER THE VEHICLE WENT INTO SERVICE. I BROUGHT THE CAR IN RIGHT AWAY SINCE I COULDN'T TURN IT OFF. MY CAR IS 10 YEARS OLD. I CALLED TOYOTA TO COMPLAIN THAT I HAD NOT BEEN TOLD ABOUT THIS WHEN IT WAS STILL UNDER THE ENHANCED WARRANTY PERIOD (ALTHOUGH THEY HAVE RECORDS SAYING THEY MAILED SOMETHING) AND THAT IF I HAD KNOWN ABOUT THIS (AND APPARENTLY DOZENS OF OTHER PROBLEMS LOOMING OUT THERE FOR WHICH THERE ARE TSBS) ONE WEEK EARLIER WHEN I PAID OVER $3,000 TO HAVE THE HYBRID BATTERY ARRAY REPLACED, I MIGHT HAVE MADE A DIFFERENT CHOICE. MY BIGGEST COMPLAIN CENTERS ON BEING TOLD WHAT I BELIEVE WAS A LIE BY THE TOYOTA CUSTOMER SERVICE REP --[XXX] -- WHEN I PRESSED FOR WHY, IF THE MANUFACTURER KNOWS THE PART HAS A HIGH FAILURE RATE THAT IT'S WILLING TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR, DOES THAT ENHANCED WARRANTY PERIOD END? SHE TOLD ME THE GOVERNMENT OF CALIFORNIA AND OTHER STATES LIMITS THAT PERIOD TO 9 YEARS. SHE COULD NOT PROVIDE DOCUMENTATION OF THAT GOVERNMENT REGULATION, AND IT DOESN'T SOUND RIGHT THAT REGULATIONS IN CALIFORNIA (OR OTHER STATES) WOULD LIMIT THE TIME IT W
LEFT HEADLIGHT TURNED OFF INTERMITTENTLY. IF I TURNED THE LIGHT OFF AND BACK ON THE HEADLIGHT WOULD BRIEFLY WORK BUT THEN TURN OFF AGAIN. *TR
VEHICLE SLIPS INTO NEUTRAL AND/OR WILL NOT REVERT BACK TO DRIVE OR REVERSE. THE PROBLEM IS MOST PREVALENT WHEN WEATHER GETS EXTREMELY HOT (99 DEGREES +). THE ONLY WAY I WAS ABLE TO GET MOVING WAS TO PHYSICALLY HOLD MY SHIFTER IN DRIVE POSITION; THE SECOND I LET IT GO, THE VEHICLE AUTOMATICALLY REVERTED BACK TO NEUTRAL. I HAD MY VEHICLE OVER TO A LOCAL TOYOTA DEALERSHIP ABOUT THIS ISSUE. THE TECHNICIAN AT THAT TIME DID ACKNOWLEDGE THIS WAS STRANGE AND WITNESSED THE PROBLEM ON SITE. AFTER DIAGNOSING THE VEHICLE, HE COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG; I WAS TOLD TO LEAVE THE CAR WITH THE DEALERSHIP FOR A FEW DAYS TO TRY TO REPLICATE THE PROBLEM; NO OTHER MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION WAS OFFERED. I FELT IT WOULD HAVE BEEN AN UNFAIR EXPENSE TO RENT A CAR FOR AN UNDETERMINED AMOUNT OF TIME WHILE TOYOTA DIAGNOSED MY VEHICLE FOR SEVERAL DAYS; THAT SAID, I DID NOT RETURN TO THE SAME DEALERSHIP FOR THIS SPECIFIC MATTER. GIVEN THAT THIS SEEMS TO OCCUR ONLY IN EXTREME HOT WEATHER, YOU WOULD HAVE TO REPLICATE THE SAME ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS TO DIAGNOSE IT. MOREOVER, GIVEN THE SPONTANEITY OF THIS ISSUE IT COULD TAKE A VERY LONG TIME TO DIAGNOSE IT. THIS IS TRULY A SAFETY CONCERN ESPECIALLY WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION. I HAVE ATTACHED TWO YOUTUBE VIDEO LINKS THAT DEMONSTRATE THIS PROBLEM OTHER OWNERS ARE EXHIBITING WITH THIS SAME ISSUE THAT DEMONSTRATE THAT I'M NOT JUST AN ISOLATED CONSUMER WITH THIS ISSUE. HTTP://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=QFXEEUC761E HTTP://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=HWT-HVN5EH8. *TR
I HAVE BEEN HAVING A PROBLEM WITH MY PRIUS COMBINATION DISPLAY (DIGITAL DISPLAY THAT SHOWS THE SPEED, MILEAGE, FUEL LEVEL, CURRENT GEAR SELECTION, ETC.). SOMETIMES WHEN I TURN ON MY CAR, THE COMBINATION DISPLAY IS BLANK AND WILL NOT TURN ON. THE REST OF THE CAR TURNS ON, BUT THAT DISPLAY REMAINS BLANK. I CAN DRIVE THE CAR, BUT I CAN'T SEE MY SPEED, MILEAGE, OR WHAT GEAR THE CAR IS IN. THIS USUALLY HAPPENS WHEN IT IS COLD OUTSIDE (BELOW 50 DEGREES OR SO). WHEN THE PROBLEM FIRST CAME UP IN 2012, I WOULD TURN OFF THE CAR AND TURN IT BACK ON AND THE DISPLAY WOULD THEN WORK FINE. IT WAS VERY HARD TO REPEAT THE PROBLEM AND IT WAS QUITE INTERMITTENT. THIS WINTER (2014-2015) THE PROBLEM HAS COME BACK, BUT NOW THE DISPLAY WILL OFTEN NOT TURN BACK ON EVEN IF I POWER CYCLE THE CAR. THERE IS ANOTHER NEW RELATED PROBLEM. WHENEVER THE CAR SHOWS THIS DISPLAY PROBLEM, I THEN CANNOT TURN OFF THE CAR. I PRESS THE POWER BUTTON AND NOTHING HAPPENS. I EVEN TRIED TO HOLD IT DOWN FOR 3-10 SECONDS. THE CAR WILL NOT SHUT OFF. I HAVE TO USUALLY DISCONNECT THE BATTERY TO GET IT TO POWER DOWN. THIS PROBLEM HAS ME CONCERNED. NOT BEING ABLE TO SEE MY SPEED IS MY BIGGEST CONCERN. ALSO SINCE THE GEAR SHIFT LEVER ALWAYS RETURNS TO A RESET SPOT (IT DOESN'T STAY IN THE GEAR POSITION AFTER YOU SELECT YOUR GEAR) IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE WHAT GEAR THE VEHICLE IS IN. ALSO VERY CONCERNING. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY CONFIRMED THE PROBLEM/DEFECT. IT APPEARS THAT MANY OTHER OWNERS HAVE THIS SAME PROBLEM. I BELIEV
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA PRIUS. AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL FAILED TO ILLUMINATE AND THE GAUGES WERE DIFFICULT TO READ. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED, THE KEY FAILED TO BE REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION AND THE VEHICLE FAILED TO TURN OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE COMBINATION METER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 280,000.
THE RIGHT HEADLIGHT KEEPS GOING OUT AND AFTER WE TURN THE SWITCH BACK AND FORTH IT GOES BACK ON. THIS PAST WEEKEND IN A DRIVING RAIN STORM AT NIGHT, THE LIGHTS WENT COMPLETELY OUT ON A WINDY MOUNTAIN ROAD. I FLICKED THEM ON AND OFF SEVERAL TIMES AND THEY WOULD GO ON AND THEN GO OUT SHORTLY AFTERWARDS. NEITHER DIM OR BRIGHT WOULD WORK. I ENDED UP HAVING TO PULL THE BRIGHT SIGNAL ON THE COLUMN BACK MANUALLY AND HOLD IT WHILE DRIVING THE LAST 45 MINUTES TO HOME. IT WAS VERY DANGEROUS FOR ABOUT 20 MILES IN THE RAIN AT NIGHT THE LIGHTS GOING IN AND OUT ON CURVES OR AGAINST ON COMING TRAFFIC, A HEAD-ON COULD HAVE OCCURRED EASILY. *TR
MY DAUGHTER BORROWED MY PRIUS FOR A DRIVE FROM LAYTON, UTAH TO SEATTLE. WITHIN AN HOUR OF LEAVING MY HOME IN LAYTON, UTAH SHE CALLED CONCERNED ABOUT A VIBRATION IN THE FRONT END OF MY PRIUS AS SHE APPROACHED 80MPH. WHEN SHE RETURNED TO UTAH, I HAD THE TIRES CHECKED, REBALANCED, AND THE FRONT END REALIGNED. SOON AFTER THAT, MY HUSBAND AND I LEFT FOR THE TAHOE AREA. WE EXPERIENCED A VIBRATION WHENEVER WE EASED THE STEERING FROM EITHER A LEFT OR RIGHT PRESSURE TO NEUTRAL. THEN AT LOW SPEED GOING OVER A ROUGH ROAD WITH POTHOLES, IT SOUNDED AS IF THE STEERING COLUMN WAS GOING TO FALL APART. I HAVE A RECORDING OF THE RATTLING NOISE IT MADE. I RETURNED TO THE DEALERSHIP I PURCHASED MY PRIUS FROM. THEY FOUND THAT THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT WAS LOOSE AND RECOMMENDED REPLACING IT. PARTS #45260,45209, AND 45221 WERE REPLACED. THE VIBRATION AND RATTLING NOISE HAVE BEEN ELIMINATED. THE COST TO ME WAS $1003.84. ACCORDING TO MY VIN NUMBER, THERE HAS BEEN NO RECALL FOR THE PARTS USED TO ASSEMBLE MY PRIUS. I URGE YOU TO LOOK FURTHER INTO THE QUALITY OF THE PARTS USED TO ASSEMBLE THE STEERING MECHANISM IN MY PRIUS. *TR
BRAKE LIGHT AND ABS LIGHT STILL ON AFTER RELEASE THE BRAKE PEDAL . *TR
BOTH HEADLIGHTS SPONTANEOUSLY WENT OUT AT THE SAME TIME WHILE DRIVING. THIS HAS BEEN AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM SINCE THAT DATE, DESPITE CHANGING THE BULBS. SOMETIMES THE LIGHTS CAN BE RELIT BY TURNING THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH OFF AND BACK ON. SOMETIMES THIS DOES NOT WORK. PARTICULARLY IF THE BRIGHT LIGHTS ARE ON, THE OFF-ON SWITCHING DOES NOT WORK AND THE HEADLIGHTS REMAIN OFF. *TR
A DRIVER IN FRONT OF ME TOLD ME ABOUT ONE WEEK AGO THAT MY HEADLIGHTS WERE GOING ON AND OFF WHILE I WAS DRIVING. THEN YESTERDAY WHILE STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, ANOTHER DRIVER GOT OUT OF HIS CAR TO TELL ME THAT MY LIGHTS HAD GONE OFF. I HADN'T NOTICED A CHANGE MYSELF, BUT THEN I PULLED INTO A PARKING LOT AND CUT MY LIGHTS ALL THE WAY OFF AND CUT THEM BACK ON AND THEN THE LIGHT WAS MUCH BRIGHTER. THIS IS NOT A CONSISTENT PROBLEM. SOMETIMES THE LIGHTS STAY ON FINE AND THEN THEY GO OUT RANDOMLY. THERE DOESN'T SEEM TO BE A PATTERN TO WHEN THIS IS HAPPENING. BUT IF I CUT THE LIGHTS OFF AND THEN BACK ON, THE PROBLEM WILL FIX TEMPORARILY. I HAVE SEEN ON SEVERAL FORMS THAT MANY PEOPLE WITH 2004-2006 PRIUSES ARE HAVING THIS PROBLEM. *TR
LOST POWER STEERING CONTROL
I WAS IN AN AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENT RECENTLY ON APRIL 11, 2014 INVOLVING A DEER AND UNFORTUNATELY FLIPPED AND TOTALED MY 2004 TOYOTA PRIUS. AS I WAS DRIVING DOWN A ROAD SHORTLY AFTER MIDNIGHT, A DEER JUMPED OUT IN FRONT OF THE VEHICLE AND INITIAL INSTINCT WAS TO HIT THE BRAKES AND SWERVE. WHEN I DID SO, THE TIRES CAUGHT LOOSE GRAVEL IN THE ROAD AND SENT MY VEHICLE SLIDING SIDEWAYS, MY INITIAL REACTION WAS TO REGAIN CONTROL SO I ATTEMPTED TO TURN THE WHEEL, WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO HIT AN EMBANKMENT AND FLIP LANDING NOSE DOWN IN THE GROUND. THE VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING 40-45 MPH AND THE FRONT END WAS RIPPED OFF OF THE VEHICLE AND THE SENSOR BARS FOR THE AIRBAGS WERE BROKEN AND THE SHOCK TRIGGER WAS ALSO SET OFF BUT THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE SEAT BELT WAS BUCKLED AND INTACT CAUSING A HARSH BURN AND GASH IN MY NECK AS WELL AS SEVERAL BRUISES TO PROVE AS SUCH. DURING THE ROLLOVER, THE TOP OF THE VEHICLE DID NOT HIT THE GROUND. IN THE PROCESS OF THE ACCIDENT, MY RIGHT HUMERUS RIGHT ABOVE THE ELBOW WAS COMPLETELY SHATTERED AND I HAD TO UNDERGO A FOUR HOUR SURGERY TO HAVE PLATES AND SCREWS PUT ON MY BONE AND 62 STAPLES TO HOLD TOGETHER THE LONG INCISION FROM THE OPERATION. NOW HAVING TO ENDURE PHYSICAL THERAPY 3 TIMES A WEEK FOR MONTHS AS I HAVE LOST MOST MOBILITY IN THAT ARM AND NERVE DAMAGE. *TR
STARTING LAST YEAR MY PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT INTERMITTENTLY TURNS OFF AND WILL TURN BACK ON ONCE I TURN LIGHTS OFF AND ON. PASSENGER SIDE LIGHT CONTINUES TO PERIODICALLY SHUT OFF FOR NO SPECIFIC REASON THROUGHOUT THE DURATION OF THE TRIP. THIS ISSUE HAS CAUSED NUMEROUS LIGHTING SAFETY ISSUES AS WELL AS INSTANCES OF BEING PULLED OVER FOR HEADLIGHT BEING OUT. AFTER EXTENSIVE RESEARCH ON INTERNET I HAVE DISCOVERED THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON ISSUE THAT TOYOTA HAS FAILED TO ADDRESS. I PETITION FOR THE NHTSA TO PLEASE LOOK INTO THE ISSUE DESCRIBED ABOVE. I SEEK A FAVORABLE AND JUST DECISION IN REGARDS TO URGING TOYOTA TO DO THE RIGHT THING AND ADDRESS THE POPULAR DEFECT IN NOT ONLY.2004 MODELS BUT SEVERAL OTHER PRIUS MODEL YEARS. TOYOTA HAS PREVIOUSLY ISSUED A RECALL FOR 2006-2009 TOYOTA PRIUS'. THIS PRECEDENCE INDICATES THAT TOYOTA IS WELL AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM AND HAS NEGLECTED TO TAKE ACCOUNTABILITY AND ACTION IN ESTABLISHING A RECALL. *TR
I WAS DRIVING DOWNHILL, CAME AROUND A BLIND CURVE AND CARS WERE BACKED UP REALLY HIGH ON THE STREET. I REAR-ENDED THE CAR THAT WAS AT A DEAD STOP IN FRONT OF ME AS I TURNED THE CORNER. MY CAR CRUNCHED LIKE AN ACCORDION AND IS CONSIDERED A TOTAL LOSS. I HAVE SEVERE WHIPLASH AS WELL AS ALOT OF OTHER BODILY PAIN. MY AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. EVERYONE WHO SEES MY CAR IS SHOCKED THAT THEY DID NOT DEPLOY. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHY AND WOULD LIKE TOYOTA TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR WHAT I CONSIDER A FAULTY PART. *TR
I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE IN DECEMBER 2012. EVER SINCE I HAVE HAD THIS PRIUS, I HAVE HAD ISSUES WITH THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE HEADLIGHT TURNING OFF RANDOMLY. WHENEVER I TURN THE CAR ON, BOTH HEADLIGHTS ARE ALWAYS ON, BUT WHILE DRIVING, THE DRIVERS SIDE HEADLIGHT TURNS OFF. I TOOK IT TO CARFIX IN GARNER, NC AND THEY THOUGHT THAT IT COULD BE THE HEADLIGHT, SO THEY RECOMMENDED CHANGING IT. I ENDED UP HAVING IT CHANGED BY A FAMILY FRIEND BECAUSE IT WAS CHEAPER TO DO IT THAT WAY. THE HEADLIGHT WAS STILL GIVING ME PROBLEMS AFTER BEING CHANGED, SO I TOOK IT TO THE LEITH TOYOTA DEALERSHIP IN RALEIGH, NC AND THEY SAID THAT THE HEADLIGHT THAT I PURCHASED FROM AUTOZONE WAS NOT THE CORRECT TYPE OF HEADLIGHT, SO THEY CHANGED IT AGAIN. EVEN AFTER THEY CHANGED IT, THE HEADLIGHT WAS STILL GOING ON AND OFF RANDOMLY. I TOOK IT BACK TO THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP TODAY AND THEY SAID THAT IT SOUNDS LIKE SOME KIND OF WIRING ISSUE. I HAVE DONE SOME RESEARCH ON THE ISSUE AND HAVE SEEN RECALLS FOR 2005-2009 PRIUS' FOR THE SAME ISSUES, BUT SINCE MINE IS A 2004 IT DOES NOT FALL INTO THE RECALL CATEGORY. I BELIEVE THAT IT SHOULD BASED ON MY ISSUE COMPARED TO THAT AS WELL AS THE NUMBER OF OTHER COMPLAINTS ON THE INTERNET AND BLOGS THAT I HAVE FOUND. *TR
WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE AT NIGHT, BOTH HEADLIGHTS SUDDENLY WENT OUT. NEITHER THE HIGH BEAMS NOR THE LOW BEAMS WORKED. I HAD TO PULL OVER, AND TURN THE CAR OFF. WHEN I TURNED THE CAR BACK ON, BOTH HEADLIGHTS WORKED FINE. THIS INCIDENT OCCURRED ABOUT 4 WEEKS AGO, AND I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE DEALERSHIP COULD NOT FIND A CAUSE, AND I DON'T THINK THAT THEY BELIEVED ME. I HAD NO PROBLEMS WITH THE HEADLIGHTS FOR ALMOST 4 WEEKS. THEN 3 DAYS AGO, THE EXACT SAME THING HAPPENED AGAIN. I WAS DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE AT NIGHT AND BOTH HEADLIGHTS SUDDENLY WENT OUT. AGAIN, I PULLED OVER. WHEN I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND BACK ON, THEY WORKED FINE. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND FRIGHTENING. I HAVE CALLED TWO DEALERSHIPS AND NEITHER OF THEM HAVE HEARD OF SUCH A THING. HOWEVER, IN RESEARCHING THE INTERNET, I EASILY FIND THAT THIS HAS BEEN THE SUBJECT OF A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT INVOLVING PRIUS MODEL YEARS 2006-2009. SO THERE SHOULD BE INFORMATION OUT THERE THAT TOYOTA SHOULD BE TELLING THEIR DEALERS. I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S AN ELECTRICAL OR COMPUTER PROBLEM. *TR
HID HEADLIGHTS INTERMITTENTLY FAILING. *TR
PROBLEM STARTED WITH THE RIGHT HEADLIGHT TURNING OFF INTERMITTENTLY. I REPORTED THE PROBLEM TO THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP ON 8/27/2013 WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED. THE DEALERSHIP INDICATED THAT THEY COULD NOT FIND A PROBLEM BECAUSE THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THEN THE SAME THING STARTED HAPPENING WITH THE LEFT HEADLIGHT. I CAN CORRECT THE PROBLEM BY TURNING OFF & THEN BACK ON THE LIGHT SWITCH BUT THIS CORRECTION DOES NOT LAST LONG AND THE PROBLEM RECURS. I HAVE RESORTED TO DRIVING WITH MY FOG LIGHTS ALSO TURNED ON IN ORDER TO PROVIDE SOME SEMBLANCE OF LIGHT. IT IS DIFFICULT AND DANGEROUS TO DRIVE LIKE THIS IN THE LONG ALASKAN WINTERS WITH SO MUCH ICE AND SNOW ON THE ROADWAYS. I CAN ALSO MAKE THIS PROBLEM OCCUR WHEN WARMING UP MY CAR IN THE DRIVEWAY. *TR
NHTSA publishes every complaint as the owner wrote it and investigates only a fraction. Spelling, capitalisation and judgement are the filer’s own. What carries weight is repetition: the same component failing the same way across many filings, and whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.
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