2004 Toyota Prius complaints

I WAS DRIVING AT NIGHT ON A NARROW COUNTRY ROAD, LINED WITH TREES, AT 55 MPH. SUDDENLY , BOTH HEAD LAMPS SHUT OFF. IT IS A MIRACLE THAT I DIDN'T WRECK, I COULD NOT SEE A THING, AND BRAKED BLINDLY. AS I WAS COMING TO A STOP I TURNED THE LIGHT SWITCH ON AND OFF AND THE LIGHTS CAME BACK ON. BEFORE I COULD GET HOME, THE LIGHTS WENT OFF 2 MORE TIMES! *TR

INTERMITTENT HEADLIGHT PROBLEM. I PURCHASED THE CAR WITH 111,500 MILES ON IT, AND ALMOST IMMEDIATELY NOTICED THAT THE PASSENGER'S SIDE HEADLIGHT IS INTERMITTENT WHEN VIEWING MY REFLECTION IN THE BUMPER OF THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. SOMETIMES IT RUNS FINE FOR OVER AN HOUR, OTHER TIMES IT DOESN'T LAST 5 MINUTES. TURNING THE HEADLIGHTS OFF, AND IMMEDIATELY BACK ON RELIGHTS THE HEADLIGHT. THIS IS NOT ONLY HAPPENING AT NIGHT, BUT ALSO DURING THE DAY WHEN THEY ARE USED AS DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS. I MADE A VIDEO OF IT HAPPENING: HTTP://TINYURL.COM/INTERMITTENTPRIUSHID I AM NOT THE ONLY PERSON HAVING THIS PROBLEM WITH THEIR PRIUS. OTHERS HAVE REPORTED THIS PROBLEM WITH 25,000 TO 40,000 MILES. IT IS VERY HARD TO NOTICE BECAUSE THE HID HEADLIGHTS ARE SO BRIGHT IT IS HARD TO TELL WHEN ONE IS NOT WORKING, WHICH ACTUALLY MEANS THIS PROBLEM MAY HAVE EXISTED ON MY PRIUS FOR A LONG TIME WITHOUT THE PREVIOUS OWNER NOTICING. TO ILLUSTRATE MY POINT, THIS PRIUSCHAT THREAD HAS OVER 870 RESPONSES TO DATE REGARDING THIS HID HEADLIGHT PROBLEM: HTTP://PRIUSCHAT.COM/FORUMS/GEN-II-PRIUS-CARE-MAINTENANCE-TROUBLESHOOTING/34584-HEADLIGHT-PROBLEM-17.HTML THUS FAR I HAVE NOT NOTICED THIS PROBLEM IN MY DRIVER'S SIDE. THIS IS A VERY REAL SAFETY CONCERN. *TR

2004 TOYOTA PRIUS. CONSUMER STATES UNINTENDED ACCELERATION *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE SUDDEN ACCELERATION HAPPENED THREE TIMES, OVER A SIX YEAR SPAN. HE MANAGED TO PUT THE VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL, COAST TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, AND TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF. ONCE THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED, ALL WORKED FINE. THE CONSUMER STATED A FEW WEEKS AGO HIS VEHICLE WAS ABOUT TO REACH 300,000 MILES, AS HE REACHED FOR HIS CAMERA, HE REALIZED THE ODOMETER NEVER WENT PAST 299,999 MILES. HOWEVER, WITHIN FIVE MILES, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY LOST POWER BRAKES, THE AIR CONDITION STOPPED WORKING, THE HYBRID DRIVE SHUT OFF AND THE FAN FOR THE HYBRID BATTERY CAME ON, AS WELL AS YELLOW AND RED LIGHTS APPEARED ON THE DASH. ALSO, TWO WARNING GRAPHICS APPEARED ON THE NAVIGATION SCREEN, ONE INDICATING TROUBLE. THE CONSUMER PULLED OVER, AND SHUT THE ENGINE OFF. HE THEN RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AND EVERYTHING WENT BACK TO NORMAL. IT APPEARED THAT BY SHUTTING OFF THE ENGINE AND RESTARTING IT, CAUSED THE MAIN COMPUTER REBOOT. THE CONSUMER STATED IT CONTINUED SEVERAL MORE TIMES, UNTIL HE ARRIVED HOME. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THE VEHICLE WAS A LARGE COMPUTER, AND WHEN ONE COMPONENT STOPS WORKING, SUCH AS THE ODOMETER, OTHER COMPONENTS CEASE TOO. THE DEALER EXPLAINED AN ODOMETER LIMIT WAS PLACED ON THE VEHICLE BY THE FACTORY. *JB

HEADLIGHTS DONT WORK, OVERHEATING BULBS $800 TO REPLACE, YOU GO TOYOTA YOUR CAR SUCKS. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 35 MPH WHEN BOTH HEADLIGHTS FAILED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO CONFIRMED THAT THE BALLAST FAILED FOR THE HEADLIGHTS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 96,000.

THE HID HEADLIGHT LEVELING SENSOR PART# 89408-47010 FAILED. BIG RED EXCLAMATION ON THE DASH AND CAR WON'T PASS INSPECTION. TOYOTA SAYS IT COSTS $600 TO REPLACE. *TR

WHEN AMBIENT TEMPERATURE IS COLD, SOMETIMES DASHBOARD LIGHTS AND SPEEDOMETER DO NOT COME ON WHEN THE CAR IS STARTED. CAR RUNS BUT WITH NO INSTRUMENT PANEL. SOMETIMES WHEN THE CAR IS IN THIS STATE THE CAR CANNOT BE TURNED OFF BY PRESSING THE START BUTTON. CAR CAN ONLY BE TURNED OFF BY PRESSING AND HOLDING THE START BUTTON DOWN FOR SEVERAL SECONDS, AND EVEN THIS DOES NOT ALWAYS WORK. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN GETTING WORSE OVER TIME. TOYOTA DEALERSHIP REFUSES TO INVESTIGATE THE PROBLEM, BUT IT IS DOCUMENTED IN THEIR WARRANTY REPAIR T-SB-0172-09 COMBINATION METER INTERMITTENT DISPLAY BULLETIN. INSTEAD, THE DEALERSHIP TRIES TO SELL US A NEW CAR! *TT

THE MULTI FUNCTION DISPLAY REGISTERED THE ERROR CODE: CHECK CONNECTION OF AIR CONDITIONER. A DIAGNOSTIC TEST AT PAPPAS TOYOTA ON 12/2/11 SHOWED A DEFECTIVE MFD. A NEW REPLACEMENT WOULD COST $4300. A REFURBISHED ONE WAS TO BE LOCATED BUT A CALL WAS NOT RECEIVED AS TO THIS HAVING HAPPENED. TOYOTA WAS AWARE OF THIS POSSIBILITY AT LEAST BY 1/10/2005 WHEN A SERVICE BULLETIN WAS ISSUED. SINCE THE DEFECT IN THE PART WAS KNOWN TO TOYOTA AND INVOLVES A SAFETY ISSUE A REQUEST FOR WARRANTY REPLACEMENT WAS MADE. THIS REQUEST WAS DENIED. ON 12/23/11, AFTER HAVING BEEN TOLD A WEEK WOULD BE NEEDED TO FIND THE PART, I E-MAILED PAPPAS AND ASKED THAT ONE BE LOCATED. I MADE AN APPT. AT THAT TIME TO HAVE IT INSTALLED ON 1/3/12. I HAD NOT RECEIVED ANY INFORMATION BY 1/2/12 SO I CALLED AGAIN AND LEARNED THE PART WAS TO BE ORDERED ON 1/2/12 AS TOYOTA WAS CLOSED FOR THE HOLIDAY PERIOD. THE MFD ACTIVATES THE FRONT AND REAR DEFROSTERS. THIS IS CRITICAL AS THE INABILITY TO DO SO IS A SAFETY ISSUE IN MISSOURI WITH SNOW AND ICE BEING A POSSIBILITY. ON 1/4/12 A MESSAGE WAS RECEIVED FROM THE DEALERSHIP, THE ESSENCE OF WHICH WAS: THOSE DISPLAYS ARE ON BACK ORDER STATUS AT THIS TIME; THE MFD HOLDS THE MEMORY FOR THE MILEAGE ODOMETER SO WHEN IT IS ORDERED THE VEHICLE CAN NOT BE DRIVEN SO THAT THE ACTUAL ODOMETER MILEAGE REMAINS THE SAME; AND UNTIL I HEAR FROM YOU I HAVE PLACED YOUR ORDER ON HOLD; THERE ARE CURRENTLY TWO ORDERS AHEAD OF YOURS AND THEY WILL BE FILLED FIRST; THEY ARE NOT ABLE TO GIVE US A TIMETA

2004 TOYOTA PRIUS FRONTAL IMPACT CRASH INTO REAR OF VEHICLE 2, 2002 HONDA CRV, ON TUESDAY NOVEMBER 22, 2011, 4:33PM EST. BUMPER IMPACT AT APPROX SPEED 25MPH IN CLEAR CONDITIONS TOTALED SUBJECT VEHICLE INCLUDING COMPLETE FOLDING OF HOOD, DISPLACEMENT OF STRUCTURAL BUMPER, FAN ASSEMBLIES, RADIATOR & CONDENSER ASSEMBLIES INTO ENGINE WITH STRUCTURAL BUMPER PUSHED BACK 24" AT CENTER AND 18" TO LEFT & RIGHT SIDES. INSURANCE ADJUSTER STATED THAT BENDING OCCURRED AT FRONT OF VEHICLE FRAME. FRONT FENDERS CRUMPLED AND OBSTRUCTED FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER DOORS, ENTRAPPING OCCUPANTS, BOTH SEAT-BELTED INTO FRONT SEATS. DESPITE DISPLACEMENT FRONT STRUCTURAL BUMPER ASSEMBLY, BODY AND FRONT MECHANICALS, AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. SUBJECT AUTOMOBILE WAS HIGHER-MILEAGE VEHICLE WITH 193,000 MILES BUT IMMACULATELY MAINTAINED, RELIABLE, MECHANICALLY EXCELLENT, DISPLAYING NO SYSTEM WARNING LIGHTS AND HAVING NEWER MICHELIN RADIAL TIRES WITH 25% WEAR. OWNER HAS FULL SET OF PHOTOGRAPHS. EXTERIOR & INTERIOR, ATTESTING CLEAN CONDITION OF CAR AND FULL SET OF VEHICLE MAINTENANCE RECORDS. CRASH RESULTED IN MODERATE INJURY TO OCCUPANTS, MAINLY BRUISING, CONTUSIONS, BACK & NECK PAIN. BOTH WERE ADMITTED TO HOSPITAL ER AND DISCHARGED SAME DAY. FOLLOW UP MEDICAL CARE ONGOING. CONCERNED ABOUT AIRBAG-NON-DEPLOYMENT. BELIEVING THIS TO BE A FAILURE OF THE CAR'S SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT SYSTEM. MY DAUGHTER AND WIFE'S INJURIES ARE NOT CRIPPLING OR DISFIGURING BUT IN SIMILAR CRASHES, WOULD OTHERS FAIR AS WELL? INCIDENT

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WOULD SHIFT FROM DRIVE TO NEUTRAL WHEN ACCELERATING. THERE WAS NO WARNING PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 80,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE GEAR SHIFTED FROM DRIVE INTO NEUTRAL SEVERAL TIMES INDEPENDENTLY. THE CONTACT HAD TO HOLD THE GEAR FOR IT TO REMAIN IN DRIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC. THE FAILURE WAS LOCATED AT THE GEAR SHIFTER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE, BUT DENIED ASSISTANCE WITH THE REPAIR. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 87,691.

THE DRIVER'S SIDE HEADLIGHT WENT OUT WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED. TURNING THE LIGHTS OFF AND THEN ON RESTORED THE HEADLIGHTS. IT HAPPENED A COUPLE TIMES IN 2 HOURS OF DRIVING. AT THE END OF THE TRIP IT WAS HAPPENING ABOUT EVERY MILE. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP AND THEY REPLACED THE DRIVER'S SIDE LAMP. LAST NIGHT 1/2 HOUR INTO A 2 HOUR NIGHT TRIP THE HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT. IT APPEARED THAT BOTH LIGHTS WENT OUT THIS TIME. THE LIGHTS WENT OUT EVERY 30 SECONDS THEREAFTER. UPON ARRIVING AT THE DESTINATION, I LEFT THE CAR RUNNING AND CHECKED OUT THE LIGHT SITUATION. THE DRIVER'S SIDE HEADLIGHT WOULD GO OUT AND THE PASSENGER SIDE APPEARED TO DIM. THE RUNNING LIGHTS REMAINED ON. IT APPEARS THAT OTHER PRIUS OWNERS HAVE EXPERIENCED SIMILAR PROBLEMS. IT ALSO SEEMS THAT REPLACING THE LAMP IS NOT THE SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM. IT MAY BE AN ELECTRICAL OR COMPUTER PROBLEM. I SHALL TAKE THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP NEXT WEEK. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE DURING NIGHT DRIVING. *TR

HID HEADLIGHTS GO OFF INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING. HEADLIGHTS CAN BE RESET BY TURNING HEADLIGHT SWITCH TO OFF AND BACK ON AGAIN. A SEARCH OF THE NHTSA AND OTHER WEBSITES DEMONSTRATE THAT THIS SAME PROBLEM IS WIDESPREAD FOR SEVERAL YEAR MODELS OF PRIUS AUTOS. THE DEALER ESTIMATES TO REPLACE THE HEADLIGHT BULBS IS ABOUT $1000 PER HEADLIGHT, MAKING THIS A SERIOUS PROBLEM BECAUSE PEOPLE WILL SEEK LOWER COST REMEDIES WHICH ARE NOT SAFE. TOYOTA THUS FAR HAS NOT OFFICIALLY RECOGNIZED OR ATTEMPTED TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE. SINCE A TOTAL LOSS OF LIGHTING CAN OCCUR AT ANYTIME WITH SERIOUS CONSEQUENCES, A RECALL SHOULD BE PERFORMED TO CORRECT THIS ISSUE BEFORE FATALITIES OCCUR. *TR

THE DRIVER'S SIDE HID HEADLIGHT, INTERMITTENTLY, UNPREDICTABLY AND INEXPLICABLY SHUTS OFF. IT WILL OCCASIONALLY RETURN TO SERVICE ON ITS OWN, BUT USUALLY REQUIRES A CYCLING OF THE LIGHT'S POWER SWITCH BEFORE FULL FUNCTION IS RESTORED. AFTER WHICH, THE LENGTH OF TIME BEFORE THE LIGHT SHUTS OFF AGAIN VARIES FROM A FEW SECONDS TO NOT AT ALL. AFTER RESEARCHING THIS ISSUE, IT SEEMS TO BE A RATHER SYSTEMIC PROBLEM WITH THE 2004-2009 PRIUS. OBVIOUSLY, THE SITUATION THIS CONDITION CREATES IS UNSAFE AT BEST, CAN PLACE ME PERSONALLY IN AN UNEXPECTED ILLEGAL POSITION - AND (SHOULD BOTH LIGHTS GO OUT TOGETHER, AS SOME HAVE REPORTED) COULD QUITE POSSIBLY BE LIFE THREATENING. FOR THE SAFETY OF THE DRIVING PUBLIC, I WOULD STRONGLY URGE NHTSA TO INVESTIGATE THIS ISSUE. TOYOTA MUST TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR DESIGN FLAW, AND ENGINEER A RESOLUTION TO THIS PROBLEM. *TT

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION CONTROL PROBLEMS. THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL LEVER BECAME WORN. SOMETIMES THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO THE ROLL WITH THIS DEFECT. THE INTERNAL SPRING THAT MOVES THE TRANSMISSION LEVER BACK TO THE PREVIOUS POSITION BECAME WORN AND NOW IT DOESN'T RETURN TO IT'S NORMAL POSITION WHEN PUTTING IT IN REVERSE OR DRIVE. THE SHIFTER LEVER WAS STICKING IN DRIVE OR REVERSE. *TR

WHILE DRIVING SLOWLY IN TRAFFIC, AFTER A PARTICULARLY ROUGH TRANSMISSION SHIFT, THE LARGE RED EXCLAMATION MARK WARNING INSIDE A TRIANGLE LIT UP ON THE DASHBOARD, ALONG WITH THE YELLOW "CHECK ENGINE" AND "VSC" (VEHICLE STABILITY CONTROL) WARNINGS. THE CAR WAS PULLED OVER TO A SAFE LOCATION AND STOPPED. THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF AND ON A FEW TIMES AND THE WARNINGS CONTINUED. ON THE FOURTH OR FIFTH TURN-ON, THE PROBLEM CLEARED ITSELF AND HAS NOT RECURRED. THIS IS THE SECOND ELECTRONIC GLITCH THAT HAS OCCURRED ON THIS VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING. THE FIRST WAS REPORTED AS ODI ID NUMBER 10407518. BOTH TIMES, THE PROBLEMS, WHICH HAD DIFFERENT SYMPTOMS, CORRECTED THEMSELVES AFTER TURNING THE ENGINE OFF AND ON A FEW TIMES. SINCE THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM IN THE FIRST CASE, THE DEALER HAS NOT YET BEEN INFORMED IN THIS CASE. IT HAS BEEN EXCEEDINGLY FORTUNATE THAT BOTH OF THESE ELECTRONIC GLITCHES, NEITHER OF WHICH WERE RELATED TO FLOORMATS BY THE WAY, WERE NOT OF THE SUDDEN-UNWANTED-ACCELERATION VARIETY. THE RANDOMNESS OF BOTH THE TIMING AND THE SYMPTOMS OF THESE ELECTRONIC GLITCHES SUGGEST THAT SUDDEN UNWANTED ACCELERATION COULD EASILY HAVE BEEN THE RESULT. *TR

THE DASHBOARD COMPUTER IN MY 2004 PRIUS MALFUNCTIONS. THE ENERGY MONITOR DOES NOT SHOW ANY OF THE ARROWS OR CURRENT GAS MILEAGE. I CAN'T ACCESS ANY OF THE MENUS: CLIMATE, AUDIO, ETC. THIS MEANS THAT I CAN NOT TURN ON THE DEFROST HEAT IN THE MORNING WHEN THE WINDSHIELD IS FROZEN. SOMETIMES THE TELEPHONE MENU IS INACCESSIBLE. THE STEREO SKIPS AND TURNS ITSELF OFF. WITHIN A FEW MINUTES OF TURNING ON THE CAR, THE COMPUTER WILL RIGHT ITSELF AND START WORKING. BUT SOMETIMES THE COMPUTER WILL SPONTANEOUSLY MALFUNCTION IN THE MIDDLE OF DRIVING THE CAR. THERE IS NO WAY TO TELL WHAT CAUSES THE MALFUNCTIONS AND THERE'S NO WAY TO KNOW WHEN IT WILL HAPPEN. *TR

FRONT LIGHTS WENT DIM. ABLE TO TURN BACK ON WITH SWITCH. FRONT LIGHTS CONTINUE TO GO OUT OR GET DIM INTERMITTENTLY AND I MUST TURN SWITCH ON AND OFF TO GET THEM BACK ON. I HAVE PAID TOYOTA FOR SEVERAL NEW BULBS AND DIAGNOSTICS WITH NO FIX.

TOYOTA PRIUS 2004 GENERATION 2, SPEEDOMETER INTERMITTENT DISPLAY PROBLEMS. THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS GO OFF AND ON VERY FREQUENTLY FOR NO REASON. NO DISPLAY OF SPEED AND FUEL GAUGE AND ALSO THE ODOMETER. *TR

THE MULTIFUNCTIONAL DISPLAY (MFD) FAILED FOLLOWING DEALER REPLACEMENT OF THE 12V BATTERY. THE DEALER IS NOW RECOMMENDED $5,000 REPLACEMENT OF THE MFD. MFD FAILURE IN THE PRIUS SEEMS TO BE AN INCREASING EVENT BASED ON ON-LINE CHATTER ON BLOGS. THIS APPEARS TO BE A BASIC DESIGN FLAW IN THE PRIUS MFD SYSTEM THAT CAUSES LOSS OF COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE RADIO AND CLIMATE CONTROL SYSTEMS. IT ALSO CAUSES THE DISPLAY TO BE TOTALLY INEFFECTIVE FOR DISPLAY OF KEY HYBRID ENGINE PERFORMANCE. *TR

DURING NORMAL SERVICE AT DEALER SERVICE ADVISOR INDICATED THAT STEERING YOKE SUB ASSEMBLE AND SHAFT ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE OF BINDING. DEALER INDICATED THAT THEY HAD DONE THE STEERING RECALL " NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 06V188000 " IN 2006 ON THIS CAR. IS THE CURRENT ISSUE (WHICH WE HAD REPAIRED AT A COST OF ALMOST $1000) ASSOCIATED/OR AS A RESULT OF THE PRIOR RECALL?

THE HEADLAMPS KEEP SWITCHING OFF INTERMITTENTLY ON MY 2004 TOYOTA PRIUS. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING FAIRLY REGULARLY OVER THE LAST YEAR, BUT LAST NIGHT (8-2-2011) BOTH HEADLAMPS FAILED AT THE SAME TIME WHEN ON A DARK, WINDY ROAD CAUSING ME TO ALMOST CRASH INTO A TREE (I COULDN'T SEE ANYTHING WITHOUT THE LIGHTS). WHEN I SWITCH THE HEADLAMP CONTROL ON AND OFF, THE HEADLAMPS COME ON AGAIN, SO IT IS UNLIKELY TO BE THE BULBS. SOMETIMES ONLY ONE LAMP GOES OUT, SOMETIMES BOTH; BUT THEY ARE FAILING VERY FREQUENTLY AND CAUSING ME A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN. I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS ISSUE ONLINE AND THERE SEEM TO BE MANY CONSUMERS THAT HAVE THE SAME ISSUE. PLEASE HELP. *KB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STARTED THE VEHICLE AND THE ABS WARNING LIGHT BEGAN TO ILLUMINATE. THE BRAKE PEDAL TRAVELED TO THE FLOOR UPON APPLICATION. THE CONTACT PROCEEDED TO DRIVE, ALTHOUGH THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP UNLESS THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS APPLIED REPEATEDLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THEY REPLACED THE ABS ACTUATOR. TWO WEEKS AFTER THE REPAIR WAS PERFORMED, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THE DEFECT COULD POSSIBLY BE RELATED TO THE SKID CONTROL UNIT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND RECOMMENDED THE VEHICLE BE TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 94,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

MY 2004 PRIUS WITH 36,600 TOTAL MILES HAS A FAILING RIGHT HEADLIGHT. TOYOTA SERVICE IN HONOLULU ESTIMATE COST OF PARTS & LABOR TOTALING $500. TO REPLACE THE FAILING HEADLIGHT AND $700 TO REPLACE BOTH HEADLIGHTS, WHICH TOYOTA RECOMMENDS. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO SLIDE BACKWARD AS A RESULT FROM A POSSIBLE BLOW OUT IN THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE TIRE. THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKES AND THE VEHICLE SPUN OUT OF CONTROL, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO CROSS OVER A FIVE LANE HIGHWAY. THE CONTACT THEN CRASHED INTO A FREEWAY SIGN POST ON THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO SLIDE BACKWARD AND CRASHED INTO A TREE HEAD-ON YET THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACTS RESIDENCE BUT WAS NOT INSPECTED FOR THE FAILURE. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 168,000.

WHILE DRIVIMG UNDER CRUISE CONTROL AT APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, A CONTINUOUS LOUD BEEP OCCURRED, ACCOMPANIED WITH THE FOLLOWING WARNINGS ON THE DASHBOARD: RED "BRAKE" WARNING AND YELLOW "((!))", "ABS" (ANTILOCK BRAKE SYSTEM), AND "VSC" (VEHICLE STABILITY CONTROL) WARNINGS. ATTEMPTING TO PULL OVER AND STOP, THE BRAKES HAD NO POWER ASSISTANCE BUT, FORTUNATELY, COULD BE OPERATED UNDER HEAVY FOOT PRESSURE. AFTER PULLING OVER AND STOPPING AND RESTARTING THE ENGINE, ALL THE WARNINGS AND THE BEEP WERE STILL THERE WHILE THE CAR WAS DRIVEN TO A SAFER LOCATION AT A GAS STATION. BRAKING WAS STILL ENTIRELY UNDER FOOT PRESSURE ONLY. AS THIS WAS IN CANADA, DRIVER TURNED OFF THE ENGINE WHILE TRYING TO DECIDE THE NEXT COURSE OF ACTION. AFTER A FEW MINUTES, THE ENGINE WAS AGAIN STARTED IN ORDER TO MOVE THE CAR SLIGHTLY IN THE PARKING LOT (TO GET AWAY FROM A PUDDLE) AND ALL SYSTEMS, INCLUDING BRAKE POWER ASSISTANCE, WERE NOW OPERATING NORMALLY WITH ALL THE WARNINGS OFF. THE PROBLEM HAS NOT RECURRED. THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER ABOUT TWO WEEKS LATER AND THE DIAGNOSTIC REPORT STATES, "COULD NOT DUPLICATE CUSTOMER'S COMPLAINT". THUS, NO REPAIR WAS DONE NOR FURTHER ACTION WAS TAKEN BY THE DEALER. *TT

2004 TOYOTA PRIUS HAS 160,000 MILES. THE LEFT HEADLIGHT HAS BEEN FAILING INTERMITTENTLY FOR ABOUT A WEEK. TWO NIGHTS AGO, ON A DARK ROAD, THE ENTIRE SET OF FRONT HEADLIGHTS, FOG LAMPS, ALL SUDDENLY WENT OFF. I AM HAPPY TO SAY THE HAZARDS WERE FUNCTIONAL, BECAUSE NO AMOUNT OF TURNING THE SWITCH AT THE STALK WOULD BRING THE LIGHTS BACK. I PULLED CAR OVER AND TURNED IT OFF. I HAD DRIVEN APPROXIMATELY 50 MILES WITH THEM ON PRIOR TO THE EVENT. I LET THE VEHICLE REST WITH POWER OFF FOR APPROX 5 MINUTES AND THE LIGHTS WERE WORKING NORMALLY, AND CONTINUED WITHOUT FURTHER PROBLEMS FOR THE LAST 25 MILES OF MY DRIVE HOME. THERE ARE A GREAT MANY REGISTERED COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS PARTICULAR ISSUE. I FEEL IT IS INDEED A SAFETY ISSUE AND WOULD APPRECIATE SOME HELP IN GETTING TOYOTA TO TAKE A LOOK AT THE ROOT OF THIS PROBLEM. PLEASE. *TR

I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AT ABOUT 63 MILES PER HOUR, I HAD BEEN DRIVING FOR ABOUT 20 MINUTES WHEN MY ENGINE CUT OUT, ALL THE LIGHTS ON MY DASH TURNED ON INCLUDING THE CHECK ENGINE AND RED TRIANGLE WARNING LIGHT. I DRIFTED TO THE SHOULDER AND POWERED THE CAR OFF. I TRIED TO START IT 2 MORE TIMES, BOTH TIMES THE ENGINE DID NOT START AND THE RED TRIANGLE AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS CAME ON AGAIN. I WAITED LONGER AND TRIED TO POWER UP THE ENGINE AGAIN, IT STARTED WITH THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP 3 DAYS LATER (THEY COULD NOT SEE ME SOONER), RAN THE CODES AND IT ONLY CAME UP WITH THE CODE POAOF, WHICH MEANS THAT THE ENGINE DID NOT START. THEY HAD NO EXPLANATION OF WHAT HAPPENED AND DID NOT SEEM TO SHARE MY CONCERN THAT THIS COULD HAPPEN AGAIN. THE DID RECALL WORK FOR ME AND SENT ME HOME. *TR

I HAVE A 2004 TOYOTA PRIUS. SINCE 2004, MY HEADLIGHTS HAVE GONE OUT 5 TIMES. THE RIGHT HEADLIGHT HAS GONE OUT 3 TIMES AND THE LEFT 2 TIMES. THE LAST TIME I REPLACED THE RIGHT HEADLIGHT, IT DID NOT LAST 12 MONTHS. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN. THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A CONCRETE DIVIDER ON THE HIGHWAY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE AFTER THE CRASH. THE DRIVER AND THE PASSENGERS SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THEIR BACK AND NECK AND WERE UNDER GOING THERAPY FOR THEIR INJURIES. THERE WAS NO POLICE REPORT FILED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CRASH CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE FRONT BUMPER AND THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE DOOR WHICH WOULD NOT OPEN. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT AN INSPECTOR WOULD INSPECT THE VEHICLE. THE INSPECTOR STATED THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE ABS BRAKES. THE CONTACT RECEIVED THE REPORT FROM THE MANUFACTURER AND THEY DID NOT INDICATE THAT THERE WAS A SAFETY FAILURE AND WERE UNABLE TO PROVIDE FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE BODY DAMAGE WAS REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE DID NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AFTER THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

TRACTION CONTROL DISABLES CAR WHEN SLIPPERY... ENGINE TOTALLY SHUTS OFF. CAN HAPPEN PASSING THROUGH AN INTERSECTION WHEN ICY/SNOWY, ETC. ALSO MAKES ASCENDING HILLS NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE APPLIED THE BRAKES AND DEPRESSED THE SHIFT BUTTON TO SHIFT INTO PARK. AS HE REMOVED HIS FOOT FROM THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE VEHICLE THEN ROLLED FORWARD UNTIL PRESSURE WAS REAPPLIED TO THE BRAKES. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THERE WAS A MALFUNCTION IN WHICH THE VEHICLE WAS NOT ACTUALLY SHIFTED INTO PARK AFTER HE ENGAGED THE PARK BUTTON. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO HAVE THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED OR THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 52,700.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2004 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING THE GEAR SHIFT BECAME STUCK BETWEEN DRIVE AND NEUTRAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND WHERE THE SHIFT LEVER ASSEMBLY WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY TOLD HIM THEY WERE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,500 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 50,656.

THE SMART KEY ON MY 2004 TOYOTA PRIUS LOCKED THE DOORS ON ITS OWN, EVEN WHILE IN THE CAR. I UNLOCKED THE DOORS WITH THE SMART KEY, PLACED MY BABY IN HIS CARSEAT, BUCKLED HIM IN, PLACED HIS DIAPER BAG ON THE FLOOR IN THE BACKSEAT AS ALWAYS, WITH THE SMART KEY IN A POCKET OF THE DIAPER BAG, AND AS I WAS CLOSING THE BACK DOOR SO THAT I COULD GET IN THE DRIVER SEAT, ALL OF THE DOORS LOCKED ON THEIR OWN. THE SMART KEY WAS IN THE DIAPER BAG INSIDE THE CAR, AS WAS MY BABY, AND I COULD NOT GET INTO THE CAR. I HAD TO CALL MY WIFE AND HAVE HER BRING THE SECOND SMART KEY TO UNLOCK THE DOOR. LUCKILY MY BABY WAS NOT FREAKING OUT, AND IT WAS NOT A HOT DAY. IT WAS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND SCARY SITUATION. *TR

HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT ON MY 2004 TOYOTA PRIUS WHILE DRIVING DOWN I84 IN NEW YORK. AT NIGHT! FLIPPED SWITCHES AND TURNED ON AND OFF AND THEY WENT BACK ON. HAD I BEEN ON A DARK BACK ROAD WHO KNOWS WHAT COULD HAVE HAPPENED. WHY! *TR

I WAS COMING OFF OF AN ONRAMP AND INTENDING TO TURN RIGHT AT THE LIGHT. I NEEDED TO GET INTO THE LEFT LANE AS I WAS TURNING LEFT AT THE NEXT BLOCK. I APPLIED THE BRAKES TO SLOW DOWN AND MAKE THE TURN AND NOTHING HAPPENED WHEN I PRESSED ON THE BRAKES. I ENDED UP GOING UP OVER THE CURB AND THE PLANTS STOPPED THE CAR. THE ENGINE WAS OFF WHEN I CAME TO A STOP, THOUGH I DIDN'T TURN IT OFF. IF THERE HADN'T BEEN A MERIDIAN IN BETWEEN THE CROSS TRAFFIC, I WOULD HAVE GONE INTO THE LANES AHEAD OF ME. VERY SCARY. I HAD MY CAR TOWED TO TOYOTA TO CHECK IT OUT FIRST, BUT THERE LOOKS TO BE THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS OF DAMAGE TO MY PRIUS. THE WHOLE LOWER FRONT IS SMASHED AND CRUNCHED, THE TWO LEFT SIDE TIRES ARE FLAT AND THE RIM IS PARTIALLY TORN OFF ON THE FRONT TIRE. *TR

INTERMITTENT HID BULB GOES OUT. THERE IS NO PARTICULAR EVENT THAT TAKES PLACE WHEN THE LIGHTS STOP WORKING. WHEN TURNED ON THEY ALWAYS COME ON AND AT SOME POINT THEY WILL SOMETIMES STOP WORKING. WHEN I SEE THEY HAVE STOPPED I WILL TURN THE LIGHTS OFF AND BACK ON AND THEY WORK AND WILL USUALLY STAY WORKING THE REST OF THE TRIP, BUT NOT ALWAYS. I HAVE BEEN LOOKING ONLINE AND THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM. I WAS JUST AT MY TOYOTA DEALER AND THEY SAID IT IS PROBABLY THE BULB AND THEN UNDER HIS BREATH HE UNOFFICIALLY SAID IT IS A CRAP SHOOT FOR SOLVING THE PROBLEM. *TR

HEADLIGHTS WOULD GO OUT, BUT COME BACK ON. AT FIRST, IT WAS ONLY ONE HEADLIGHT, BUT ONE EVENING, WHEN ONE HEADLIGHT WENT OUT, I SWITCHED TO HIGH BEAMS AND BOTH WENT OUT. I PULLED OFF THE ROAD, TURNED THE CAR OFF AND BACK ON AND THE LIGHTS WORKED FOR ABOUT TWENTY MINUTES. DEALER HAD REPLACED BULBS PREVIOUSLY. ON AUGUST 19, DEALER REPLACED HEADLAMP SYSTEMS AT A VERY HIGH COST. MANUFACTURER SENT ME A CHECK TO REPAY PART OF THIS, WHEN I COMPLAINED. NOW, TONIGHT, DECEMBER 22, 2010, DRIVER SIDE HEADLIGHT DOES NOT COME ON, EXCEPT FOR A BRIEF FLASH WHEN LOCKING OR UNLOCKING THE DOORS.

1. EVENTS LEADING TO FAILURE DRIVING IN 1 - 2 INCHES OF SNOW, I ATTEMPTED LEFT TURN, ENCOUNTERING A SOMEWHAT DEEPER (APPROXIMATELY 4-INCH, AND HEAVILY TRACKED FROM PREVIOUS VEHICLES) BERM OF SNOW AT THE ENTRANCE OF THE SIDE STREET ONTO WHICH I WAS TURNING. 2. THE FAILURE, HOW OFTEN IT OCCURS, ITS CONSEQUENCES THE TRACTION CONTROL SEIZED ALL MOTION OF FRONT (TRACTION) TIRES, THOUGH SNOW WAS NOT DEEP ENOUGH OTHERWISE TO PREVENT MOVEMENT. THIS LEFT ME IN THE PATH OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC APPROACHING DOWNHILL ON SLIPPERY ROAD. THE TRACTION CONTROL COMPLETELY DISABLED CAR, LEADING TO VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. ALSO, CONTINUED APPLICATION OF ACCELERATOR PEDAL TO GET THE CAR TO MOVE QUICKLY CREATED SMELL OF HOT TRANSMISSION. THERE IS NO QUESTION THAT, EVEN WITH THE OPEN DIFFERENTIAL, THE CAR WOULD HAVE PROGRESSED THROUGH THE SNOW BUT FOR THE TRACTION CONTROL. AND, OF COURSE, THERE IS NO QUESTION THAT THIS PROBLEM IS INHERENT TO THE TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM AND WOULD OCCUR WHENEVER CONDITIONS OCCUR THAT CROSS THE THRESHOLD OF SLIPPERINESS AND RESISTANCE I ENCOUNTERED. 3. THE DEFECT REMAINS UNCORRECTED. THE ESSENTIAL CORRECTION IS REDESIGN AND REPLACEMENT OF THE TRACTION AND/OR ADDING A DISABLING SWITCH. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TOUCH SCREEN MODULE WHICH INCLUDED THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE, THE FUEL GAUGE, THE ODOMETER, ETC FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY THE DEALER WHO INFORMED HIM THAT THE DISPLAY SCREEN WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE WAS APPROXIMATELY 120,000.

DRIVER SIDE HEADLIGHT FAILURE. SPONTANEOUSLY GOES OUT. WILL COME BACK WHEN SWITCH OFF AND ON. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BY AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 155,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 150,000.

2004 TOYOTA PRIUS. CONSUMER WRITES REGARDING RECALL ACCELERATOR PEDAL INTERFERENCE *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED HE HAS RECEIVED TWO RECALL LETTERS. HE STATED HE IS PLEASED WITH HIS VEHICLE AND IS SKEPTICAL ABOUT LETTING THE DEALER WORK ON HIS VEHICLE. *JB THE CONSUMER STATED THE GAS GAUGE WAS INOPERATIVE, TO THE POINT WHERE GAS WOULD LEAK OUT AFTER FILLING THE TANK. THE DEALER INFORMED HIM, THEY SIMPLY DID NOT KNOW HOW TO FIX THE PROBLEM. UPDATED 12/01/11. *JB

MULTI FUNCTION DISPLAY (MFD) FAILURE IN 2004 PRIUS. THIS FAILURE IT INTERMITTENT AND CAUSES THE RADIO TO TURN OFF, PREVENTS THE USE OF CLIMATE/RADIO CONTROLS LOCATED IN/ON THE MFD UNIT, PREVENTS ONE FROM KNOWING WHETHER THE BATTERY IS CHARGING. THE STEERING WHEEL CONTROLS SEEM TO WORK FOR THE CLIMATE CONTROL (THOUGH ONE CANNOT SEE THE TEMPERATURE SETTING) BUT THE AUDIO SYSTEM IS USELESS WITHOUT THE MFD UNIT WORKING PROPERLY. THIS IS A $3000 (NOT INCLUDING LABOR) REPAIR ... AND THAT IS FOR A USED REFURBISHED PART! TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE IF YOU ASK ME. BECAUSE THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM IMPACTING THOUSANDS OF PRIUS OWNERS, TOYOTA SHOULD BE FORCED TO REPLACE THESE DEFECTIVE UNITS WITH NEW UNITS AT NO COST TO THE OWNER. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS WOULD SHUT OFF INDEPENDENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CENTER CONSOLE ON THE DASHBOARD FAILED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND FILED A COMPLAINT BUT NO ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 108,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 113,000.

2004 TOYOTA PRIUS. CONSUMER ASSERTS THAT VEHICLE ACCIDENT WAS CAUSED BY A COMPUTER MALFUNCTION *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT, ON ONE OCCASION, THE VEHICLE BOLTED AND JERKED SLIGHTLY AS SHE STOPPED THE VEHICLE. WHEN SHE ATTEMPTED TO TAKE OFF, THE VEHICLE RESPONDED SLUGGISHLY AND THEN ACCELERATED QUICKLY. THE DAY OF THE ACCIDENT, AS THE CONSUMER APPROACHED THE STOP SIGN, THE VEHICLE STARTED BUCKING AND JERKING VIOLENTLY. AFTER SHE PULLED OFF FROM THE STOP SIGN, SHE CRASHED INTO A LARGE SUV. THE CONSUMER STATED SHE SAW THE SUV PASS, SO SHE PURPOSELY WAITED SO SHE COULD MAKE A LEFT TURN, BUT ENDED CAUSING SEVERE DAMAGE TO HER VEHICLE. *JB

HEADLIGHT ON 2004 PRIES CONTROLLER BROKEN. MAY BE DUE TO OXIDE LEVELS IN CONTACTS. SMART KEY OXIDATION CAUSES POOR USE. ALARM GOES OFF INTERMITTENTLY. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS AND THE DRIVER SIDE AUTOMATIC HEADLIGHT WOULD FLICKER INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THEY INFORMED THAT THE HEADLIGHT WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 108,000. UPDATED 01/13/11*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED BOTH HEAD LIGHTS WERE REPLACED. HOWEVER, THE FLICKERING CONTINUED UNTIL THE HEAD LIGHT STARTED WAS REPLACED. UPDATED 03/31/11

HAVE A 2004 PRIUS. HEAD LIGHT ON RIGHT SIDE KEEPS GOING OUT. AFTER I TURN THE HEADLIGHTS OFF AND BACK ON, IT COMES BACK ON FOR A SHOT TIME. WAITING FOR BOTH LIGHTS TO GO OUT WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT. *TR

INTERMITTENT FAILURE OF HEADLIGHTS. *TR