2004 Toyota Prius complaints

PASSENGER HEADLAMP GOES OUT WHILE CAR IS BEING DRIVEN. DRIVER SIDE HEADLAMP REMAINS ON (ILLUMINATED). TURNING HEADLAMP SWITCH OFF AND ON CAUSES PASSENGER AND DRIVER SIDE HEADLAMP TO ILLUMINATE. ON RE-ILLUMINATION, PASSENGER SIDE HEADLAMP SOMETIMES APPEARS NORMAL AND AT OTHER TIMES APPEARS TO BE DIMMER, MORE YELLOWISH. DEALER QUOTED REPLACEMENT HID BULB AND LABOR TO REPLACE WILL COST $225.00 TOTAL. *TR

THE BASIC PROBLEM: THE GEAR SHIFT SELECTOR STICKS IN DRIVE OR "B" (ENGINE BRAKING MODE). IF THE DRIVER STOPS THE VEHICLE, WITH THE BRAKE DEPRESSED, AND THEN PRESSES THE PARK BUTTON TO PUT THE VEHICLE IN PARK, THE VEHICLE REMAINS IN DRIVE MODE. THE VEHICLE WILL MOVE AS SOON AS THE DRIVER LIFTS THEIR FOOT FROM THE BRAKE PEDAL, EVEN THOUGH THE DRIVER BELIEVES THEY HAVE ENGAGED THE PARK MODE. THE DRIVER HAS TO PLACE THE NORMALLY SPRING-ACTIVATED GEARSHIFT LEVER INTO THE HOME POSITION BEFORE THE CAR WILL SHIFT INTO PARK. DANGER TO THE DRIVER AND OTHERS WHO DRIVE THE CAR. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS, AS THE DRIVER GETS VERY USED TO BEING ABLE TO PLACE THE CAR INTO PARK BY PRESSING THE PARK BUTTON. OTHERS WHO DRIVE THE CAR, LIKE PARKING ATTENDANTS OR FRIENDS, WILL NOT SUSPECT A PROBLEM. THE FAILURE OF THE PARK MECHANISM WHEN THIS HAPPENS IS GOING TO CAUSE ACCIDENTS. TOYOTA'S RESPONSE. THE TOYOTA DEALER'S TECHNICIAN SAYS IT IS A BROKEN SPRING IN THE GEARSHIFT MECHANISM, BUT WANTS ME TO PAY FOR IT. TOYOTA'S CUSTOMER CARE CENTER SAYS THEY WILL NOT FIX THIS DESIGN FLAW BECAUSE OF THE AGE AND MILEAGE OF THE VEHICLE, UNLESS I PAY FOR THE $565.00 GEARSHIFT MODULE. ALTHOUGH THE VEHICLE NOW HAS OVER 165,000 MILES, THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE, AND THE DESIGN SEEMS UNREASONABLY DANGEROUS. I HAVE SEEN OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM ON CHAT SITES, AND ANOTHER ON THIS SITE. *TR

ODOMETER STOPS WORKING AT 299,999 MILES. TOYOTA SAYS THERE IS NO FIX. *TR

SAME INTERMITTENT HEADLIGHT PROBLEM POSTED HERE HUNDREDS OF TIMES. WHY IS TOYOTA ONLY FIXING 2006+ MODEL YEARS? THE SAME PROBLEM PLAGUES ALL MODEL YEARS. *TR

2004 & 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO REAR VIEW VISIBILITY AND BRAKING ISSUES IN BOTH VEHICLES. *SMD

PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT GOES OFF INTERMITTENTLY. *TT

MY 2004 TOYOTA PRIUS'S HID LIGHTS ARE GOING OFF INTERMITTENTLY AND COMING BACK ON WHEN I TURNED THEM OFF AND BACK ON AGAIN. THE DRIVER'S SIDE IS GOING OFF AGAIN AND WILL COME BACK ON AGAIN WHEN I TURN IT OFF AND THEN BACK ON. ALSO, MY HEADLIGHT LEVELING SYSTEM WARNING LIGHT IS COMING ON. WHEN I DRIVE ON THE HIGHWAY LIGHT GOES OFF, I FEEL VERY UNSAFE. I HAVE TO TURN THEM OFF AND BACK ON IN SECONDS TO AVOID A POSSIBLE ACCIDENT. DEALER CAN'T FIND THE ISSUE. THEY RECOMMEND TO CHANGE THE BULBS BUT IT DOESN'T SOLVE PROBLEM. *TT

HEADLIGHTS (HID) INTERMITTENTLY GO OUT REGARDLESS OF SPEED OR ROAD CONDITIONS. TURNING THE LIGHT SWITCH THEY COME ON AGAIN AND IT RANDOMLY OCCURS MAKING DRIVING DANGEROUS. I HAVE REPLACED THE HEADLIGHTS YET THE INCIDENT RECURS RANDOMLY MAKING IT NECESSARY TO TURN THE LIGHTS COMPLETELY OUT THEN ON AGAIN. *TR

BOTH HEADLAMPS GO OFF AND ON SPORADICALLY, AS FOLLOWS: APPROXIMATELY THIRTY (30) DAYS AFTER BUYING THIS USED CAR, THE LEFT HID HEADLAMP APPEARED BURNT OUT. BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT HEADLAMPS WERE REPLACED ON OR ABOUT JANUARY 8, 2013, AS RECOMMENDED FOR THIS TYPE OF LIGHT. ON INSTALLATION, EITHER LIGHT WOULD FLASH ON BUT THEN GO OUT AGAIN, BUT TURNING THE HEADLAMP SWITCH OFF THEN ON AGAN SEEMED TO RECTIFY THE PROBLEM. BOTH HEADLAMPS THEN REMAINED ON FOR APPROXIMATELY TWO WEEKS, AT WHICH POINT THE LEFT HEADLAMP WAS SPORADICALLY OUT FOR APPROXIMATELY TWO WEEKS, WHEN IT WOULD GO ON ONLY IF THE HEADLAMP SWITCH WERE TURNED OFF THEM BACK ON AGAIN. BOTH HEADLAMPS THEN WORKED FOR APPROXIMATELY SIX WEEKS, AT WHICH POINT THE LEFT HEADLAMP WENT OUT FOR APPROXIMATELY FOUR WEEKS, BUT THEN CAME ON AFTER APPROXIMATELY ONE MONTH WHEN THE POLICE FOUND THE RIGHT LIGHT TO BE OUT. THEY SAID IT NEEDED TO BE FIXED; THAT IT IS A SAFETY HAZARD, AT WHICH I EXPLAINED THE HISTORY OF TOYOTA PRIUS HEADLAMP ISSUES AND THAT I WOULD PURSUE AN APPROPRIATE REMEDY FOR THIS MANUFACTURING DEFECT. THE RIGHT HEADLAMP REMAINS OUT TO THIS DATE, BUT DID COME ON FOR APPROXIMATELY ONE WEEK IN THE INTERIM. TURNING THE HEADLAMP SWITCH OFF THEN ON AGAIN HAS NOT HELPED SINCE THE DAY OF INSTALLATION. *TR

DASH BOARD CONTROLS AND LIGHT WENT OFF. I HAVE INFORMED TOYOTA AND THE DEALERS OF THIS ISSUE SEVERAL TIMES THAT THE DASH BOARD LIGHTS GO OFF AND THEN THE CAR DOESN'T SHUT DOWN FOR A LONG TIME. I FINALLY DIAGNOSED THE ISSUE MYSELF (BAD COMBINATION METER) AND INFORMED THE DEALER. THEY INFORMED ME THAT ALTHOUGH TOYOTA HAD AN EXTENDED WARRANTY ON THE METER THAT MY CAR WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. EVENTHOUGH I HAD COMPLAINED ABOUT THIS ISSUE BEFORE, IT WAS NOT DOCUMENTED PROPERLY AND THEREFORE NOT THE DEALER OR TOYOTA ITSELF WOULD FIX THE ISSUE. THIS IS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS ISSUE. AS THE CAR DRIVES WITHOUT ANY OF THE DASH BOARD LIGHTS ON. YOU HAVE NO WAY TO KNOW HOW MUCH GAS YOU HAVE OR HOW FAST YOU ARE DRIVING. AND IF YOU FIND YOURSELF OUTSIDE THE WARRANTY PERIOD THEY ARE UNWILLING TO FIX THE ISSUE. HELP !!!! I CAN DIE DRIVING THIS CAR !!!! I AM IN THE PROCESS OF SELLING IT BUT I HAVE TO DRIVE IT TO AND FROM WORK. THIS NEEDS TO BE A FORCED RECALL !!!! CALL ME I HAVE DETAILS OF MY CONVERSATIONS WITH TOYOTA ! THIS SHOULD BE IN THE NEWS. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

RECENTLY, VEHICLE HAS STARTED INTERMITTENT OUTAGES OF HID HEADLAMPS. USUALLY ON THE DRIVER SIDE, BUT SOMETIMES ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. APPARENTLY THIS IS THE RESULT OF A COMPUTER CALLED THE HID BALLAST OR SOMETHING. TOYOTA IS QUOTING OUTRAGEOUS SUMS TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THIS VEHICLE SHOULD BE RECALLED AND THE PROBLEM FIXED FOR FREE. *TR

I WAS TRAVELING ON I95 WHEN ALL THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON (ABS, BRAKE, ETC.). I TRIED TO SLOW DOWN THE CAR, BUT THE BRAKES DIDN'T SEEM TO WORK. FINALLY, THE REGEN SYSTEM KICKED IN, AND SLOWED THE CAR. WHEN I JAMMED MY FOOT HARD ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE CAR STOPPED WITH A JERK. THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED. THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED (WHEN ALL THE LIGHTS CAME ON), I BROUGHT THE CAR TO THE DEALER (KENDALL TOYOTA), THEY RESET AND RECALIBRATED THE COMPUTERS IN THE CAR, AND EVERYTHING SEEMED OK. ABOUT 9 MONTHS LATER, THE SAME THING HAPPENED. THIS TIME, THE ABS COMPUTER HAD A HARD FAILURE. THEY REPLACED IT WITH A LOW MILEAGE USED PART, AND EVERYTHING SEEMED FINE FOR ABOUT 3 MONTHS. THEN IT HAPPENED AGAIN LAST THURSDAY. BROUGHT IT INTO KENDALL TOYOTA ON THURSDAY EVENING, AND ON FRIDAY THEY TOLD ME THE I NEEDED A NEW ABS COMPUTER. TURNS OUT TOYOTA KNOWS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND HAS REDESIGNED THE ABS COMPUTER, BUT NEVER SENT OUT ANY NOTICE TO THEIR CUSTOMERS. THIS IS WHY THE USED PART DIDN'T LAST LONG. THIS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION AND I COULD HAVE EASILY BEEN IN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT IF I HAD NOT EXPERIENCED FAULTY BRAKING IN THE PAST (SEE BELOW). A NEW ABS COMPUTER PLUS INSTALLATION FROM TOYOTA COST APPROXIMATELY $3000. THE SYMPTOMS I WAS HAVING WHEN I REPORTED COMPLAINT # 10292409 WERE IDENTICAL TO THOSE ABOVE, EXCEPT THAT NO INDICATOR LIGHTS CAME ON. THEY CAR DID NOT WANT TO STOP (AND EVEN SEEMED TO "RUN AWAY") UNTIL I JAMMED MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE. SEARCHING THE

A COUPLE OF MONTH AGO, I THOUGHT I NOTICED THAT THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE HID HEADLIGHT WAS OFF WHEN THE PASSENGER SIDE WAS ON. I WAS DRIVING IN MY OTHER CAR WHILE A FAMILY MEMBER WAS DRIVING THE PRIUS. WHEN I LOOKED AT THE PRIUS A SHORT TIME LATER, BOTH LIGHT WHERE ON. OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF MONTHS I HAVE NOTICED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE HEADLIGHT HAS BEEN INTERMITTENTLY OFF WHEN IT SHOULD BE ONE. CYCLING THE LIGHTS OFF THEN ON APPEARS TO TURN BOTH HEADLAMPS ON FOR SOME PERIOD OF TIME. THERE IS NO INDICATION IN THE CAR WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURS, AND I AM CONCERNED THAT THIS CREATES AN UNSAFE SITUATION WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT. WHILE TRYING TO DETERMINE IF THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM, I CAME ACROSS OWNER CHAT GROUPS WHERE OTHERS WHERE COMPLAINING ABOUT THE SAME PROBLEM. I ALSO READ THAT THERE MIGHT BE AN NHTSA INVESTIGATION INTO SIMILAR COMPLAINTS. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF AN INVESTIGATION HAS HAPPENED AND IF SO, WHAT WAS THE OUTCOME? *TR

THE PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT GOES OFF EVERY 10 TO 15 MINUTES OF DRIVING. TOYOTA SETTLED A LAWSUIT ON THIS ISSUE FOR 2006+, BUT NOT MY CAR. *TR

DRIVE MODE SHIFTER STICKS IN DRIVE OR REVERSE. IF THE VEHICLE IS STOPPED, WITH THE BRAKE DEPRESSED, AND YOU THEN PRESS THE PARK BUTTON TO PUT THE VEHICLE IN PARK, THE VEHICLE REMAINS IN DRIVE OR REVERSE AND THE VEHICLE WILL MOVE AS SOON AS THE BRAKE PEDAL IS LIFTED, EVEN THOUGH THE DRIVER BELIEVES S/HE HAS ENGAGED THE PARK MODE. COMPLAINT SUBMITTED BY THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF THIS REGULARLY-MAINTAINED VEHICLE.

MY 2004 PRIUS HAS A TOUCH SCREEN DISPLAY THAT CONTROLS MANY FUNCTIONS INCLUDING CLIMATE CONTROLS. ON A RECENT MORNING I STARTED MY VEHICLE AND GOT AN ERROR MESSAGE SAYING "NO EXTERNAL CONNECTION TO AIR CONDITIONER" AT THE SAME TIME I COULD NOT ACCESS HEATER, DEFROST, NAVIGATION, HYBRID MONITOR OR HANDS FREE PHONE. FORTUNATELY, I HAD A RAG IN THE CAR AND COULD KEEP MY WINDOW CLEAN. AFTER 20 MINUTES OF DRIVING, THE RADIO CUT OUT AND THEN ALL CONTROLS CAME BACK. ANOTHER 10 MINUTES OF DRIVING AND THE CONTROLS CUT BACK OFF. THIS PROBLEM NOW OCCURS EACH TIME I DRIVE THE VEHICLE. WHEN I RESEARCHED THIS ISSUE ON THE INTERNET, I DISCOVERED THIS IS A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM WITH THE DISPLAYS ON THE 04 AND 05 PRIUS. TOYOTA ISSUED (TSB) EL002-05 DEALING WITH THIS ISSUE BUT OFFERED NO RECALL. THE PROBLEM LIES IN THE CIRCUIT BOARDS THAT WERE SUPPLIED TO TOYOTA MOTORS. I LIVE IN MAINE AND NOT HAVING ACCESS TO MY WINDOW DEFROSTER IS A HUGE SAFETY CONCERN. I HAVE TO KEEP A RAG IN THE CAR TO KEEP MY WINDOW CLEAN. TOYOTA CUSTOMER SERVICE REFUSES TO FIX THIS BECAUSE I AM BEYOND THE 3 YR / 36000 MILE WARRANTY. THIS IS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT THAT CAUSES LOSS OF VISIBILITY WHILE DRIVING. ABSOLUTELY SHOULD BE A RECALL CAMPAIGN FOR VEHICLES MANUFACTURED WITH THIS DEFECT. *TR

BOTH HEADLIGHTS WOULD CYCLE ON AND OFF. TURNING THE HEADLIGHTS OFF AND ON WITH THE SWITCH WOULD MAKE THEM BOTH COME ON. UNPREDICTABLE HOW LONG BEFORE EACH HEADLIGHT WOULD TURN OFF, BUT THEY ARE NOT IN SYNC TURNING OFF AND ON. *TR

BOTH HEADLIGHTS TURN OFF AND ON INTERMITTENTLY WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING. IT IS VERY DANGEROUS DRIVING IN THE DARK. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE GEAR SHIFTER COULD NOT BE SHIFTED INTO PARK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SHIFTER ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 150,000. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MULTI-DISPLAY MODULE FOR THE HEATER AND DEFROSTER UNITS FAILED, CAUSING THE WINDSHIELD DEFOGGER TO FAIL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO ADVISED THAT THE MULTI-DISPLAY MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 28,000. UPDATED 1/30/13 *CN THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS A MODULE MALFUNCTION WHICH WAS AN INTERNAL SHORT CIRCUIT AND GAVE THE CONSUMER AN ESTIMATE OF $700 TO REPLACE THE MODULE WITH A RECONDITIONED ONE. UPDATED 01/31/13 UPDATED 2/13/13 *CN UPDATED 02/14/13

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, HE DEPRESSED THE BRAKES TO SLOW THE VEHICLE BUT THE VEHICLE TOOK AN EXTENDED AMOUNT OF TIME TO SLOW DOWN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR MECHANIC FOR INSPECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

BOTH HEADLIGHTS SUDDENLY WENT DARK. MY WIFE AND I ARE ABOUT 95% SURE THE ENTIRE DASH WENT DARK AS WELL. WE STOPPED AND TOGGLED THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH, AND EVERYTHING CAME BACK ON. THE DEALERSHIP RECOMMENDED REPLACING THE "HIGH INTENSITY DISCHARGE" HEADLIGHTS, BUT THEY DO NOT KNOW WHY THE DASH WOULD HAVE GONE DARK. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA PRIUS HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HOT AND COLD AIR WAS BEING EMITTED FROM THE VENTILATION SYSTEM WHEN NEITHER THE AIR CONDITIONING UNIT NOR THE HEATER WAS ACTIVATED. ADDITIONALLY, THE WRENCH WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS LATER TOWED TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS WHERE THEY ADVISED HIM THAT THE WATER PUMP FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED FOR THE WATER PUMP. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 12V536000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED PER THE RECALL HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED ONE YEAR LATER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED BY A DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MANUFACTURER WAS LATER CONTACTED AND ADVISED HIM THAT THE DEALER COULD HAVE PREVIOUSLY REPLACED THE WATER PUMP WITH A DEFECTIVE ONE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT FURTHER REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 185,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 194,000.

CONSISTENTLY A SINGLE HEADLIGHT ON MY 2004 TOYOTA PRIUS WOULD FLICKER AND GO OUT. "IT MAY GO OFF AGAIN, IN ANOTHER FIVE OR 10 MINUTES, BUT I COULD GET THEM TO WORK AGAIN BY TURNING THEM OFF AND TURNING ON AGAIN. *TR

MY PASSENGER SIDE HID HEADLIGHT GOES OUT A FEW MINUTES AFTER TURNING ON. WHEN TURNED OFF AND ON AGAIN COMES BACK ON ONLY TO GO OUT A FEW MINUTES LATER. *TR

CAR SHIFTS TO NEUTRAL UPON SHIFTING TO DRIVE OR REVERSE WHEN STARTING CAR (O MPH) CAR SHIFTS BACK TO NEUTRAL WHEN DRIVING (25 MPH) PROB. SEEMS RELATED TO COLD AMBIENT TEMPERATURE. *TR

A COMBINATION OF 2 ISSUES. FOR SEVERAL MONTHS THE GEAR SHIFT SELECTOR HAS BEEN STICKING IN THE D POSITION INSTEAD OF AUTOMATICALLY RETURNING TO THE N POSITION AS IT SHOULD. IT IS DOCUMENTED BY OTHER PRIUS OWNERS THAT THE DUST COVER INSIDE THE SHIFTER CAN BEGIN TO WARP OVER TIME CAUSING THIS STICKING. HTTP://PRIUSCHAT.COM/THREADS/GEAR-SHIFTER-STICKS.38199/ I THOUGHT THIS WAS JUST A NUISANCE ISSUE UNTIL LAST MONTH AND ON ONE OTHER OCCASION WHERE THE SHIFTER STUCK IN THE D POSITION AND I HADN'T NOTICED AND WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO PUT THE CAR INTO "PARK" BY PRESSING THE SEPARATE P BUTTON THE CAR WOULD NOT GO INTO PARK. IT IS NOW APPARENT THAT THIS IS RELATED TO THE SHIFTER STICKING IN THE D POSITION AND PREVENTING THE CAR FROM GOING INTO PARK. THERE IS ONE REPORT OF A NEAR INCIDENT OF THE CAR DRIVING AWAY WHEN THE DRIVER DIDN'T NOTICE THAT THE CAR FAILED TO GO INTO PARK WHICH IS A CLEAR SAFETY PROBLEM: HTTP://PRIUSCHAT.COM/THREADS/2004-PARK-BUTTON-INTERMITTENT-FAILURE.118257/. *TR

ONE OF THE HEADLIGHTS OPERATES INTERMITTENTLY. TURNING THE HEADLIGHTS OFF AND BACK ON CAUSES IT TO LIGHT AGAIN. *TR

HID HEADLIGHTS TURNING OFF REPEATEDLY, WILL GO OUT RANDOMLY HAVING NOTHING TO DO WITH MOVEMENT, ON TIME, THE LIGHT WILL COME BACK ON IF SWITCH IS TURNED OFF THEN ON AGAIN BUT LIGHTS ARE UNRELIABLE. CONDITION IS OBVIOUSLY DANGEROUS DURING NIGHT, FOG OR POOR ROAD CONDITIONS. RANDOM TURNING OFF HAS KEPT RE-OCCURRING UNTIL PRESENT TIME, WHERE LIGHT WILL PERSIST ON FOR ONLY A FEW MINUTES AT A TIME. TOYOTA DEALER WANTS 1,000 OR MORE TO REPAIR, WHILE LIGHT BULB ONLY COSTS LESS THAN 50 DOLLARS ON AMAZON, STATING THE DEFECT MAY HAVE TO DO WITH A FUSE AND OR BALLAST. *TR

WATER INTRUSION CAUSED CORROSION OF THE MAIN ENGINE WIRING HARNESS WHICH CAUSED A FAULT IN THE AUXILIARY 12V BATTERY AND HAS MADE THE VEHICLE UNDRIVEABLE. TOYOTA CANNOT DETERMINE THE SOURCE OR CAUSE OF THE WATER INTRUSION EVEN THOUGH I HAVE BROUGHT IN THE VEHICLE FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE SINCE I PURCHASED IT AND I HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT A PROBLEM WHICH IS RELATED TO THE AUXILIARY 12V BATTERY SEVERAL TIMES IN THE PAST. THIS SEEMS TO BE A FLAW IN THE 2004 PRIUS DESIGN. *TR

WHILE DRIVING MY 2004 TOYOTA PRIUS HOME AT NIGHT ON A DARK, WINDING ROAD, BOTH HEADLIGHTS SUDDENLY WENT OUT!!!! THERE WAS NO LIGHT! PITCH BLACK! CRAZY! I COULDN'T BELIEVE THAT MY LIGHTS WERE OUT. MY BRIGHTS WERE NOT WORKING EITHER. I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED TO THE CAR! I THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO WRECK/CRASH. I WAS ABOUT 18 MILES FROM HOME. AS I DROVE, I TURNED ON MY DOME LIGHTS SO THE ONCOMING TRAFFIC COULD SEE ME. AFTER TURNING THE CAR LIGHTS ON AND OFF, THEY CAME BACK ON, BUT WHAT A NIGHTMARE!!!!! I FOUND OUT THAT OTHER TOYOTA PRIUS OWNERS HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THERE CARS. TOYOTA NEEDS TO FIX THIS PROBLEM!!!!!!!!!!!!!! TOYOTA NEEDS TO RECALL AND REPLACE THESE FAULTY HEADLIGHTS! *TR

MY 24 YR. OLD CHILD WAS DRIVING OUT OF A DRIVEWAY AT 5 MPH WHEN THE CAR STOPPED AND ALL WARNING LIGHTS INCLUDING BRAKES AND ENGINE AND TRIANGLE WENT ON. IT WOULD NOT RESTART. IT WOULD NOT TAKE A BATTERY JUMP. HAD IT TOWED TO TOYOTA SERVICE AND THEY DISCOVERED CODE P0335 PRESENT AND VERIFIED A FAULTY CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR, REPLACED IT, AND CLEANED THROTTLE BODY. THE CAR WORKS NOW. COST FOR DIAGNOSIS AND SERVICE WAS $367.07. THIS FAULTY PART WAS A PART OF A RECALL DATED IN 2006 FOR 2001 AND 2002 PRIUSES. WE WISH TO ADVISE THE AGENCY THAT WE BELIEVE THE YEAR 2004 AND PERHAPS OTHER YEARS OUGHT TO BE CONSIDERED FOR THE SAME RECALL AS THE 2001 AND 2002 PRIUS MODELS WITH RESPECT TO A FAULTY CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR. WE BELIEVE OUR CAR HAD A FAULTY SENSOR AND THAT WE SHOULD BE A PART OF THE EARLIER RECALL, AND ALSO OBTAIN A FULL REIMBURSEMENT FOR CHARGES. THIS SUDDEN STOPPING BY THE VEHICLE POSES A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION FOR ANY DRIVER. OUR CHILD WOULD HAVE BEEN ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY JUST A FEW MINUTES LATER AND COULD HAVE BEEN THE VICTIM OF A HORRENDOUS ACCIDENT. WE URGE YOUR AGENCY TO BE PROACTIVE IN INVESTIGATING THIS MATTER. THANK YOU. *TR

2004 TOYOTA PRIUS WITH HID HEADLIGHTS IS USED AS A TAXI CAB. ON SEPTEMBER 25TH, 2012 THE DRIVERS SIDE HEADLIGHT WOULD BEGIN TO FLICKER AND TURN OFF AFTER AROUND FIVE MINUTES OF OPERATION. THE HID BULB REPLACEMENT DID NOT RESOLVE THE MATTER. HEADLIGHTS MUST BE TURNED OFF AND THEN ON AGAIN IN ORDER TO RESUME THEIR OPERATION. *TR

. 10/09/2012 I WENT TO START MY 2004 PRIUS I HIT THE POWER BUTTON AND THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS HAD NOT WORK. YOU DID NOT KNOW THE STATUS OF THE CAR. ACTUATED THE POWER SWITCH AND THE BRAKE PEDDLE NUMEROUS TIMES TO NO AVAIL. I TRIED TO SELECT THE GEAR AND THE CAR WOULD MOVE. BUT DASH BOARD DISPLAY DID NOT LIGHT. THE LIGHTS AND TURN SIGNALS WORK FINE. I DROVE 15 MILES HOME WITH ON DISPLAY. I SELECTED THE PARK BUTTON AND THE CAR PARKED I WENT TO TURN OFF THE POWER BUTTON AND THE CAR WOULD NOT TURN OFF THE WAS IN THE BATTERY MODE. I TRIED TO SHUT IT OFF BY DISCONNECTING THE 12 VOLT BATTERY TO NO AVAIL. I FOUND A FUSE THAT IF I PULLED IT OUT THE CAR WOULD SHUT OFF. I TRIED THE POWER NUMEROUS TIMES AND THE CAR TURN ON AND WITH THE DASHBOARD DISPLAY WORKING. ON THE MORNING OF 10/10/2012 I TRIED GO TO WORK AND WHEN THE POWER AND THE BRAKE ARE PUSHED THE DASH BOARD LIGHTS WOULD NOT LIGHT. THE CAR WOULD MOVE IF SELECTED TO DRIVE NOW THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING BECAUSE THE CAR WAS COLD. I PLACED THE CAR IN PARK AND SELECTED THE POWER BUTTON TO OFF NOW THE ENGINE WILL SHUT OFF. AGAIN I TRIED THE POWER AND THE BRAKE NUMEROUS TIMES TO NO AVAIL. I TRIED THE FUSE TRICK AGAIN IT WORKED THE ENGINE STOPPED. REPLACED THE FUSE AND TRIED THE POWER BUTTON IT WORK AND THE DASH DISPLAY WERE LIGHTED WITH NUMEROUS LIGHTS BECAUSE I SHUT THE DOWN IN UNAPPROVED MODE. TURNED THE POWER SWITCH ON & OFF. NUMEROUS TIMES ALL LIGHT WERE NORMAL EXCEPT THE CHECK ENGINE WAS ON I DROVE TO THE TOYOTA DEALER. I WAS TOLD THAT I

THE DASH GEAR SELECTOR (COMMON TO 2004 - 2009 G2 PRIUS) BEGAN CLICKING WHEN I CHANGED GEARS (R-D-N) I RESEARCHED THE SUBJECT AND LEARNED THAT THIS CAN LEAD TO THE SHIFTER LOCKING IN D OR R, A HAZARDOUS CONDITION. I ALSO LEARNED THAT SOME DIY OWNERS HAVE DISCOVERED A WARPED DUST PLATE IN THE SHIFTER COMPONENT. IT CAUSES THIS PROBLEM. THEIR SOLUTION IS TO REMOVE THE PLATE, TRIM IT, AND REASSEMBLE THE PART. LINK 1 BELOW IS A GOOGLE SEARCH THAT REVEALS THE OTHER TWO LINKS I INCLUDED. NOT ALL OF THE HITS ARE RELEVANT. THE THIRD LINK HAS A VIDEO WITH CLEAR IMAGES OF THE PROBLEM AND THE DIY 'SOLUTION.' HTTPS://WWW.GOOGLE.COM/SEARCH?NUM=100&HL=EN&SAFE=OFF&COMPLETE=0&SITE=WEBHP&Q=PRIUS+%22GEAR+SHIFT%22+CLICK+STICKING&OQ=PRIUS+%22GEAR+SHIFT%22+CLICK+STICKING&GS_L=SERP.3...2446378.2449925.0.2450814.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0..0.0.LES%3BCPSUGRPQ1..0.0...1.1.IIMLXLK1U2C HTTP://PRIUSCHAT.COM/THREADS/GEAR-SHIFTER-STICKS.38199/PAGE-2 HTTP://PRIUSCHAT.COM/THREADS/HOW-TO-REPLACE-2G-GEARSHIFT-LEVER.65102/ I AM BELIEVE THAT TOYOTA SHOULD BE ASKED TO RECALL THESE CARS TO REPLACE THIS DUST PLATE (OR THE SHIFTER MODULE.) UNFORTUNATELY THE GEAR SHIFT MODULE INCLUDED WITH THE CAR DOES NOT HAVE A LIFETIME CONSISTENT WITH THE 10 YEAR/100,000 MILE WARRANTY ON THE TRACTION BATTERY. IT IS DANGEROUS TO HAVE OWNERS MAKE THIS REPAIR THEMSELVES. THIS COULD BE AVOIDED IF TOYOTA WERE REQUIRED TO DO IT INSTEAD. *TR

UPON STARTING THE CAR ONE MORNING I NOTICED THE SPEEDOMETER, FUEL AND GEAR INDICATOR DIGITAL READOUTS WERE NOT WORKING. I RESEARCHED THE PROBLEM ON THE INTERNET AND NARROWED THE PROBLEM TO A FAULTY COMBINATION METER (BAD SOLDER). THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN OCCURRING WITH NUMEROUS OTHER PRIUS OWNERS ACCORDING TO FORUMS AND SUCH. I PURCHASED THE CAR AT A FORD DEALERSHIP AND ALSO PURCHASED THEIR FORD ESP BASE CARE PLAN. CLEARLY THE PLAN STATED THE SPEEDOMETER/ODOMETER, ELECTRICAL OR MECHANICAL PROBLEMS WERE COVERED. HOWEVER THE AGENT AT THE EXTENDED WARRANTY OFFICE DENIED THE CLAIM. SO MY CAR SITS AT A TOYOTA DEALERSHIP WITH THE DASH APART AND THE APPRAISED VALUE OF THE CAR LESS $2000.00 ACCORDING TO THE SALES DEPT. BECAUSE THE MILEAGE IS UNKNOWN. TOYOTA HAS YET TO DECLARE A RECALL FOR THE PROBLEM WHICH COULD RESULT IN DEATH IN SOME CASES IF NOT PROPERLY ADDRESSED. I HAVE TWO CHILDREN AND VALUE THEIR LIVES. I HOPE AND PRAY THAT TOYOTA COMES AROUND. *TR

THE HEADLIGHTS GO OUT RANDOMLY WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT. YOU HAVE TO TURN THEM OFF AND THEN TURN THEM BACK ON FOR THEM TO WORK AND THEY ONLY LAST A MINUTE AFTER THAT. HUGE SAFETY ISSUE!! *TR

I NEED YOUR HELP! THERE IS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT WELL DOCUMENTED AS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH 2004 TOYOTA PRIUS MULTI-FUNCTIONAL DISPLAY (MFD). THE PROBLEM IS THAT THE 60 PIN CONNECTOR ON THE PRINTED CIRCUIT BOARD OF THE MFD SOMETIMES DEVELOPS A PLAY IN THE CONNECTION AND HENCE THE SPORADIC DISPLAY. I WROTE TO TOYOTA CUSTOMER SERVICE. TOYOTA INSTRUCTED ME TO TAKE MY CAR TO THE DEALER AND SPEAK TO TOYOTA. TOLD ME THAT HE DID TALK TO THE TOYOTA REP AND EXPLAINED TO HIM THAT I HAD BEEN TAKING VERY GOOD CARE OF MY CAR AND THAT THIS MFD PROBLEM WAS NOT MY DOING. TOLD ME THAT IT WOULD COST $980.57 TO INSTALL A REMANUFACTURED MFD. AND THAT THE TOYOTA REP IS ONLY GOING TO CONTRIBUTE $250. SO NET OUT OF POCKET FOR ME WOULD BE A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF $730.57. IT IS UNFAIR FOR TOYOTA CUSTOMER SERVICE TO ASK ME TO PAY, SINCE THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH 2004 TOYOTA PRIUS MFDS THAT IS WELL DOCUMENTED TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM. I HAVE ALREADY SPENT A LOT OF TIME AND MONEY ON THE PROBLEM. TOYOTA CUSTOMER SERVICE IS TAKING THE APPROACH THAT IT IS OUT OF WARRANTY AND THERE IS NO RECALL SO WE DON'T WANT TO DO ANYTHING. THAT LOGIC IS WRONG. IF THERE IS A COMMON PROBLEM THAT MAY HAVE NOT ESCALATED TO A RECALL STATUS, THAT DOES NOT MEAN THAT THERE IS NO PROBLEM. RECALL IS IF ENOUGH PEOPLE HAVE PROBLEMS. MEANWHILE, YOU CANNOT DENY FOR ALL THE PEOPLE WHO ARE STUCK WITH THIS PROBLEM. IT HAS BEEN CLEARLY DEMONSTRATED THAT THIS IS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT THAT TOYOTA IS RESPONSIBLE. YOUR HIGH LEVEL INTERVENT

RANDOM FAILURE OF LIGHTS, BEGAN WITH DRIVER?S SIDE AND CONTINUES TO OCCUR RANDOMLY WITH GREATER FREQUENCY. PASSENGER SIDE ALSO TURNS OFF RANDOMLY, THOUGH WITH LESS FREQUENCY. MANY OCCASIONS, I HAVE HAD BOTH LIGHTS TURN OFF WHILE DRIVING. *TT

HAD THE HID HEADLIGHTS REPLACED 6 MONTHS AGO BECAUSE THEY WERE INTERMITTENTLY GOING ON AND OFF. SAME THING IS HAPPENING AGAIN. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 20 MPH AND CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SEAT BELT DID NOT PROPERLY RESTRAIN, CAUSING HER CHEST TO BE THROWN INTO THE STEERING WHEEL. IN ADDITION, THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE POLICE WERE CONTACTED AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS RULED AS DESTROYED BY THE CONTACT'S INSURANCE COMPANY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE INCIDENT WHO ASSIGNED HER A CASE MANAGER WHO WOULD RETURN HER CALL IN THE NEAR FUTURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 134,000.

TL* THE OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT WAS SITTING AT A TRAFFIC STOP WHEN ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE, CAUSING THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE TO CRASH INTO A THIRD VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT WAS REPORTED INJURED AND THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED.THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE INCIDENT AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE CRASH DID NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE AIRBAG TO DEPLOY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 122,543.

BOTH HEADLIGHTS GO OUT WITHOUT WARNING FREQUENTLY NOW. THE IMMEDIATE REMEDY SEEMS TO BE TO TURN SWITCH OFF AND ON AGAIN TO RESTORE THEM. THIS HAS RECENTLY BECOME A REGULAR PROBLEM AS I DRIVE AT NIGHT. THANKFULLY THE 'FOG LAMPS' ARE FUNCTIONAL AND NOW I AM SURE TO HAVE THEM SWITCHED ON IN ADDITION TO REGULAR HEADLIGHTS SO THAT I AM STILL VISIBLE TO OTHER DRIVERS. *TR

LEFT AND RIGHT HEADLIGHTS FAILED IN NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER OF 2009. HEADLIGHTS WERE REPLACED. LEFT HEADLIGHT HAS FAILED IN 2011. I DRIVE 10,000 PER YEAR. I DO NOT DO MUCH DRIVING WITH MY HEADLIGHTS ON. *TR

SINGLE DRIVERS SIDE HEADLIGHT GOES OFF/ON INTERMITTENTLY - FIXED BY TURNING HEADLIGHTS OFF/ON. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HIGH INTENSITY DISCHARGE (HID) HEADLIGHTS WOULD INTERMITTENTLY FAIL. THE FAILURE RECURRED FOR APPROXIMATELY ONE YEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THEY ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE BALANCES ON THE FRONT HEADLIGHTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

THE PASSENGER HEADLIGHT AND TAILLIGHT STOPPED WORKING. WE REPLACED THE TAIL LIGHT BULB ONLY FOR IT TO STOP WORKING TWO DAYS LATER. WE REPLACED THE TAIL LIGHT BULB ONCE A WEEK FOR A MONTH, AND FOR NOW IT CONTINUES TO WORK. THE HEADLIGHT, HOWEVER, CONTINUED NOT WORKING FOR ABOUT TWO WEEKS, THEN BEGAN WORKING AGAIN ONLY FOR THE DRIVER SIDE HEADLIGHT TO STOP WORKING. AFTER TURNING THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH OFF THEN BACK ON BOTH HEADLIGHTS BEGAN WORKING. HOWEVER, AFTER 10 MINUTES BOTH WENT OUT AGAIN. EVER SINCE THEN, IT IS ALWAYS A GUESS AS TO WHICH HEADLIGHT, IF ANY, WILL WORK AT DUSK. SOMETIMES THEY WILL BOTH WORK FOR ABOUT A WEEK BEFORE QUITTING. I WAS GIVEN AN ODI# OF 10453541. *JS

HEADLIGHTS GO OUT RANDOMLY AND ONLY COME BACK ON BY TURNING LIGHT SWITCH OFF THAN ON. REPLACED BULB AND PROBLEM CONTINUES. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKES MALFUNCTIONED AND THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. NO ONE WAS INJURED DURING THE CRASH AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED TO HAVE THE VEHICLE INSPECTED FOR THE FAULTY BRAKES. THE MANUFACTURER DID NOT INSPECT THE VEHICLE AND NO REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.

BOTH HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT ON NARROW WINDING ROADS AT NIGHT. ALMOST CRASHED INTO TREE. I TURNED THE SWITCH BACK OFF AND THAN ON AND LIGHTS CAME BACK ON. SINCE THAN, THE RIGHT HEADLAMP GOES ON AND OFF AT NIGHT AND SOMETIMES BOTH GO OUT. THE DEALER SAYS IT WILL COST OVER $1000 TO FIX. I HAVE READ MANY COMPLAINTS. AM I ENTITLED TO SOME KIND OF HELP? MY WIFE WILL TAKE THE CAR ON OCCASION AND IT HAS HAPPENED TO HER. IS THERE A RECALL? I DON'T THINK IT IS A LIGHT ISSUE IF THEY GO BACK ON WHAT IS BEING DONE ABOUT THIS? *TR