2004 Toyota Prius complaints

RETURNING FROM WORK APPROX 1700 DRIVING MY 2004 TOYOTA PRIUS IN THE GREATER WASHINGTON D.C. METRO AREA. IT WAS THE FIRST DAY OF FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OFFICE OPENINGS SINCE THE BLIZZARD OF 2010 HAD STARTED. MY RESIDENCE IS APPROXIMATELY 1.5 MILES FROM A MAJOR PRIMARY ROAD (VA HWY 7 IN LOUDOUN COUNTY). THE ROAD IS SECONDARY STATE ROAD VADOT OWNED AND MAINTAINED DIRT (PACKED GRAVEL) ROAD FOR APPROXIMATELY 1.25 MILES, PROCEEDING INTO OUR MY DEVELOPMENT THE ROAD IS PAVED ASPHALT FRO THE REMAINING .25 MILES. ON THE SECONDARY ROAD THE CONDITIONS OF THE ROAD WAS PACKED SNOW WITH SMALL RUNS OF LOOSE SNOW. THE ROAD IS VERY WINDING WITH SLIGHT INCLINES AND DECLINES THROUGHOUT. EVERY TIME MY CAR WOULD BREAK TRACTION I WOULD LOSE POWER LEAVING ME WITH NO CORRECTION CAPABILITY TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OVER THE VEHICLE. I ALMOST RAN INTO EMBANKMENTS AND OVER THE SOFT SHOULDER SEVERAL TIMES DESPITE SLOWING DOWN TO A CRAWL. ONCE ENTERING INTO THE NEIGHBORHOOD THE CAR SEEMED TO STABLE OUT UNTIL I BEGAN DRIVING ON AN UPHILL PORTION OF THE ROAD. THIS IS A STEPPER HILL THAN ON THE SECONDARY ROAD. WHEN MY TIRES BROKE TRACTION ALL POWER FROM THE CAR WAS LOST LEAVING ME IN AN UNCONTROLLED SITUATION OF SLIDING AROUND ON THE ROAD EVENTUALLY INTO THE SOFT SHOULDER OF A DOWNHILL CLIFF. I WAS ATTEMPTED TO START MOVING FORWARD GET MYSELF AWAY FROM THE SHOULDER AND THE CAR WOULD NOT MOVE OR PUT ANY SORT OF POWER TO THE WHEELS. I WAS TERRIFIED AND STUCK. I MADE SEVERAL ATTEMPTS FINDING NEW LINES (PATHS) FINALLY REA

2004 PRIUS: AFTER DRIVING AT 10MPH ON GRAVEL ROAD WITH POTHOLES AND THEN TURNING ON TO SMOOTH PAVED ROAD ENGINE SPEED AND SPEEDOMETER STARTED TO VARY WILDLY WITH SPEEDOMETER GOING UP TO 45MPH DOWN AND BACK UP AGAIN FOR A 5 MINUTE PERIOD WHILE DRIVING ON THE PAVED ROAD AT ABOUT 30MPH. THIS CONTINUED BUT CAR ITSELF DID NOT ACCELERATE ABNORMALLY DESPITE CHANGE IN ENGINE SPEED AND WILD SPEEDOMETER. *TR

ON 23 JAN 2010, WHILE DRIVING I-85N IN THE SOUTH CAROLINA MOUNTAINS THE CAR STALLED AT 70MPH. AN AUDIBLE ALERT SOUNDED, THE CAR JERKED AND THREE WARNING LIGHTS WENT OFF. I COASTED THE CAR TO THE SHOULDER AND SHUT THE CAR DOWN. I RESTARTED THE CAR -- THE WARNING LIGHTS CLEARED -- AND CONTINUED DRIVING. ABOUT 30 MINUTES LATER, STILL IN THE MOUNTAINS, THE SAME THINGS OCCURRED (STALL WHILE DRIVING 70MPH ON THE INTERSTATE.) WHEN I RESTARTED THE CAR A YELLOW "!" WARNING REMAINED ON. I CONTINUED THE TRIP TO VIRGINIA WITH NO FURTHER PROBLEMS. THE WARNING LIGHT WENT OUT. ON 5 FEB 2010, WHILE DRIVING ON I-95S IN THE SOUTH CAROLINA MOUNTAINS THE CAR STALLED, WARNING LIGHTS AND AUDIBLE ALARM SOUNDED. UPON RESTART THE "!" STAYED ON. THIS HAPPENED TWO MORE TIMES; ONCE ON I-95 AND ONCE ON I-20. THE LAST TWO TIMES THE RED TRIANGLE WARNING LIGHT STAYED ON ALSO. ON 6 FEB 2010, I TOOK THE CAR TO TOYOTA CENTER IN COLUMBIA SC. THE SERVICE MANAGER TOLD ME THE WATER PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED ($384) BECAUSE AIR GOT INTO THE SYSTEM. I ASKED IF THAT WAS WHY I COULD HEAR "SLOSHING" FROM THE ENGINE WHEN DRIVING; HE SAID YES. I EXPLAINED THAT I WAS CONFUSED SINCE THE COOLANT RECOVERY TANK NEVER WENT BELOW THE LOW LINE. HIS RESPONSE WAS THAT AIR IN THE SYSTEM WAS A KNOWN PROBLEM FOR THE PRIUS AND THAT I SHOULD KEEP THE COOLANT LEVEL HIGHER THAN MARKED. ALSO THAT DRIVING IN THE SOUTH CAROLINA MOUNTAINS -- BOTH THE HEAT OF THE ENGINE AND THE ANGLE OF ASCENT AND DESCENT -- IS PROBABLY WHAT TRIGGERED THE PRO

HEADLIGHTS, ONE OR BOTH, TURN OFF WITHOUT WARNING AND THE ONLY WAY TO GET THEM TO COME BACK ON IS TO TURN THEM OFF AND THEN BACK ON. *TR

REGARDING MY 2004 TOYOTA PRIUS: THE 'MULTI-INFORMATION DISPLAY, I.E., COMPUTER DISPLAY, DOES NOT FUNCTION FREQUENTLY, AT WHICH TIME A MESSAGE SAYING THE AIR CONDITIONER IS DISCONNECTED. SIMULTANEOUSLY, WHEN THIS MESSAGE APPEARS, THE RADIO INSTANTLY TURNS OFF. WHEN THIS OCCURS ACCESS TO THE COMPUTER IS IMPOSSIBLE, CONTROLS OF THE AIR CONDITIONER SYSTEM ARE UNAVAILABLE EXCEPT THROUGH THOSE ON THE STEERING WHEEL WHICH CONTINUE TO FUNCTION. THE COMPUTER FUNCTION LATER RANDOMLY IS RESTORED FOR BRIEF TO LONG PERIODS BUT REMAINS SUBJECT TO RANDOM FAILURE AGAIN. THIS FAILURE HAS EXISTED FOR YEARS. DEALERSHIPS REFUSED TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR REPAIR OR REPLACEMENT OF THE EQUIPMENT. THIS DEFECT IS A MAJOR DISTRACTION TO SAFE OPERATION OF THE VEHICLE. FOR EXAMPLE, DURING COMPUTER SHUTDOWN PERIODS, IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO ALTER AIR CONDITIONER FAN SPEED DURING FREEZING AMBIENT WEATHER. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH ON A ROAD COVERED WITH THREE INCHES OF SNOW. THE VEHICLE BEGAN BEGAN TO SKID. THE SKID CONTROL WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM ACTIVATED AND CAUSED THE ENGINE TO BECOME INOPERATIVE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED DURING ACTIVATION OF THE TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT WAS A MANUFACTURER DESIGN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,000.

I HAVE A 2004 TOYOTA PRIUS. ON OCTOBER 19, 2009, THE CAR ACCELERATED BY ITSELF TO 65 MPH. I WAS ABLE TO PRESS ON THE BRAKE, SLOW DOWN THE CAR AND PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I HAD THE CAR TOLLED TO THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THEY COULD NOT "DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM." THEY TOLD ME TO TAKE THE FLOOR MAT OUT. IN THE MEANTIME, THEY CHARGED ME $1400 TO REPLACE A WATER PUMP AND PERFORM OTHER MAINTENANCE SERVICES. THE RECENT ACCELERATION RECALL BY TOYOTA DOES NOT INCLUDE MY CAR ALTHOUGH I HAD THE ACCELERATION PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR. WHEN I CALLED THE COMPANY TO INQUIRE THE REASON FOR THIS, THEY TOLD ME THAT THIS MODEL WAS MADE IN JAPAN WITH A DIFFERENT PART MANUFACTURE, THUS IT IS NOT UNDER THE ACCELERATION RECALL, JUST THE FLOOR MAT RECALL. *TR

I HAVE A 2004 TOYOTA PRIUS. I FIND THAT WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES ON A ROAD SURFACE WITH BUMPS, THERE APPEARS TO BE A LAG BEFORE THE BRAKES ENGAGE. THIS IS ESPECIALLY NOTICEABLE WHEN DRIVING DOWN A HILL. THE BRAKES DO NOT HESITATE TO ENGAGE ON LEVEL ROAD SURFACES. I ALWAYS ATTRIBUTED THIS TO THE ABS SYSTEM ENGAGING, BUT AFTER THE RECENT RECALL OF THE 2010 PRIUS FOR A SIMILAR COMPLAINT, I FELT IT WAS IMPORTANT TO AT LEAST ADVISE OF THIS SITUATION. *TR

TWICE WHILE DRIVING MY 2004 TOYOTA PRIUS, I ENCOUNTERED A SMALL SLICK PATCH ON THE ROADWAY SURFACE, FELT MY FRONT TIRES SLIP MOMENTARILY, THEN GRAB, THE WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON LIGHTING UP THE DASH. IT SAID I SHOULDN'T DRIVE IT. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER. THE FIRST TIME THEY SAID IT WAS THE SMALL BATTERY AND REPLACED IT FOR THE THIRD TIME. THE SECOND TIME, THEY SAID IT WAS THE COMPUTER AND REPLACED THAT. *TR

I HAVE A 2004 TOYOTA PRIUS AND THE HEADLIGHTS GO OFF WITHOUT WARNING AND THIS HAPPENS A LOT. IF I TURN THE SWITCH TO OFF AND THEN BACK ON THE LIGHTS WILL WORK AGAIN BUT SOMETIMES THEY GO OFF AGAIN AFTER A FEW MINUTES. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS. *TR

THE FUEL TANK CAN NOT BE FILLED UP WITHOUT SPILLING LARGE AMOUNT OF GAS, WHICH IS A GREAT FIRE HAZARD. IT SEEMS THAT THE FUEL TANK GETS TOO MUCH AIR INSIDE WHEN FILLING UP AND THE AIR PUSHES THE GAS GASHING OUT. *TR

WHEN THE CAR IS COLD, THE GEAR SHIFTER WON'T STAY IN FORWARD OR REVERSE WITHOUT BEING HELD DOWN MANUALLY. IT GOES INTO NEUTRAL. *TR

THIS IS AN UPDATE TO THE COMPLAINT I FILED ON 2008/10/14, ODI 10253642 ABOUT PRIUS HID HEADLIGHT FAILURE. SINCE THAT INCIDENT I HAVE HAD THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE BULBS REPLACED FOUR TIMES AND SWAPPED LEFT-FOR-RIGHT FOR DIAGNOSIS TWICE. EVEN WITH THOSE NEW BULBS, WHICH MY DUBLIN, CA, TOYOTA DEALER SWEARS ARE THE NEWER, "GOOD" BULBS, THE HEADLIGHTS ALWAYS HAVE FAILED AGAIN WITHIN ONE TO FOUR WEEKS. ACTUALLY, THOSE ARE THE INTERVALS AT WHICH I HAVE *NOTICED* THE FAILURES, BUT I'M SURE THE BULBS FAILED SOONER THAN THAT, BECAUSE SOMETIMES IT'S HARD TO TELL WHILE DRIVING, AND THE LIGHTS ALWAYS RELIGHT WHEN SWITCHED OFF AND ON. THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN EVEN MORE REPLACEMENTS AND FAILURES, BUT I HAVE DELAYED TAKING THE CAR IN FOR REPAIR UNTIL I COULD DRIVE INTO THE DEALERSHIP WHILE THE LIGHT WAS OUT, AS PROOF THAT IT HAS FAILED. IT'S OBVIOUS TO ME AND EVERY OTHER PRIUS OWNER THAT THE BULBS ARE EITHER NOT THE PROBLEM OR AT LEAST NOT THE ONLY PROBLEM--THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE UNDOUBTEDLY ALSO OR INSTEAD IS FAULTY. TOYOTA CORPORATE CONTINUES TO REFUSE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE SEVERITY, PERSISTENCE, AND BREADTH OF THE PROBLEM. YESTERDAY THE DEALER REPEATED THE LEFT-FOR-RIGHT SWAP BECAUSE "TOYOTA CORPORATE DEMANDS THAT DIAGNOSTIC PROCEDURE." BUT THE DEALER ADMITTED THAT NO MORE INFORMATION WILL BE GAINED THAN WAS GAINED THE LAST TIME THEY SWAPPED LEFT FOR RIGHT, WHEN THE LIGHT WORKED THERE AT THE DEALER, BUT FAILED ON ME SUBSEQUENTLY (THE SAME-SIDE HEADLIGHT WITH THE SWAPPED BULB). THEY

DRIVER-SIDE HID HEADLIGHT TURNS ITSELF OFF AT BRIEF INTERVALS. TURNING HEADLIGHT SWITCH OFF AND ON RESTORES IT, WITHOUT FAIL. SITUATION REMAINED STABLE FOR OVER A YEAR, NOV. 2008 TO JAN. 2010. LIGHT TURNS OUT WHETHER VEHICLE IS MOVING OR STATIONARY. REPLACING LAMP DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM -- IN FACT, NEW BULB TURNS OFF MORE THAN ONCE A MINUTE, WHILE OLD BULB TURNED OFF ABOUT EVERY 10 MINUTES. *TR

THE BRAKES SUDDENLY SEIZE WHEN ATTEMPTING TO SLOW AT TIMES AFTER GOING THROUGH A PUDDLE OR WHEN THE ROAD IS WET FROM RAIN. THIS POSES A RISK AS I FEAR THAT IF ANOTHER CAR WERE CLOSE BEHIND I COULD GET REAR-ENDED AS THE CAR RAPIDLY SLOWS AS IF ONE WERE SLAMMING ON THE BRAKES. THE BRAKES "LET GO" AFTER TAKING MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE PEDAL, BUT THIS OCCURS UNPREDICTABLY, EXCEPT THAT IT HAPPENS ON WET ROADS. *TR

I COMPLAINED ABOUT A YEAR AGO TO TOYOTA ABOUT MY CAR LOSING BRAKING ON THE ICE. I DRIVE A 2004 TOYOTA PRIUS. I READ THEY ARE RECALLING THE 2010 MODEL AND I BELIEVE THE PROBLEM GOES MUCH FURTHER BACK AND NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS 2004 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING DOWNHILL OUT OF HER DRIVEWAY, SHE DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE BRAKES WOULD NOT ENGAGE. THE VEHICLE PROCEEDED TO CRASH INTO A NEARBY TREE AT UNKNOWN SPEEDS AND CONTINUED TO PUSH THE TREE FURTHER INTO THE STREET. THE CONTACT'S FOOT REMAINED ON THE BRAKE PEDAL; HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE POLICE ARRIVED AND A REPORT WAS FILED. THE POLICE OBSERVED SKID AND BRAKE MARKS IN THE DRIVEWAY, CONFIRMING SHE WAS ATTEMPTING TO BRAKE AT THE TIME OF THE CRASH. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE TO DATE. THE CONTACT WAS UNAWARE IF THE VEHICLE WAS UNDER RECALL AT THE TIME. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 50,000.

2004 TOYOTA PRIUS WITH COMPUTER PROBLEM. STARTED GETTING AN ERROR MESSAGE THAT AIR CONDITIONER WASN'T WORKING. THEN THE COMPUTER WOULD NOT GIVE THE GAS MILEAGE. THEN THE TEMP WOULDN'T SHOW. THEN COULDN'T USE THE RADIO (IT WOULD COME ONE BUT YOU COULDN'T SEE WHAT THE STATION WAS), NOW IT IS ALL BLANK. IT DOES NOT WORK AT ALL. THEN IT WORKS FOR 5 MINUTES ABOUT ONCE A QUARTER. CAN'T CONTROL AIR/HEAT, RADIO, CAN'T SEE MILEAGE, CAN'T SEE THE TEMP. TOOK IT TO DEALER AND THEY SAID THAT IT WOULD COST HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS TO DIAGNOSE IT. READ ON TOYOTA BOARD ONLINE THAT THIS IS COMMON PROBLEM THAT TOYOTA DOES NOT STAND BEHIND. I HAVE OWNED TOYOTAS SINCE 1980S AND HAVE 5 NOW (KIDS, WORK, ADULTS). I AM SATISFIED WITH ALL BUT THE 2004. I HAVE A 2005 PRIUS ALSO BUT NO PROBLEMS (SO FAR). *TR

MAY 29, 2006 - I WAS PULLING INTO A SCHOOL PARKING SPACE WHEN THE PRIUS ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN, AND ALTHOUGH I HIT THE BRAKES, THE ENGINE STARTED TO ROAR, AND THE CAR JUMPED A CONCRETE PARKING LOT CURB, WENT INTO A DRAINAGE SWALE, AND STOPPED ONLY WHEN IT HIT AN IRON FENCE AROUND THE SCHOOL WHERE I WORKED. I TOOK IT TO TOYOTA TO BE FIXED. TOLD THEM WHAT HAPPENED. THEY PUT IT DOWN AS "CAR JUMPED CURB." I WROTE TO TOYOTA ON OCTOBER 11, 2009, DESCRIBING THE INCIDENT AND ENCLOSING DOCUMENTATION FOR THE REPAIRS. THEY SAID THEY WERE SORRY ABOUT THE INCIDENT "HOWEVER, AS WE WERE NOT PROVIDED THE OPPORTUNITY TO INSPECT YOUR VEHICLE AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT, WE HAVE NO WAY OF ADDRESSING YOUR SPECIFIC CLAIM AND ARE UNABLE TO OFFER FURTHER ASSISTANCE TO YOU IN THIS MATTER." TOYOTA WANTED ME TO HAVE THEM INSPECT MY CAR FOR A PROBLEM THAT THEY DIDN'T KNOW EXISTED. *TR

I HAVE A 2004 TOYOTA PRIUS WITH HID HEADLIGHTS. A FEW MONTHS AGO I WAS DRIVING AT NIGHT AND THE HEADLIGHTS CUT OFF COMPLETELY. IT WAS 11:30PM ON A FOGGY, DRIZZLY NIGHT, AND SUDDENLY I WAS DRIVING 70 MPH IN PITCH DARKNESS. I WAS ABLE TO GET THEM TO COME BACK ON AND DRIVE HOME SLOWLY. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE TOYOTA DEALER, WHERE THEY REPLACED THE HEADLIGHTS FOR $990. A FEW WEEKS LATER THE SAME THING HAPPENED, HEADLIGHTS CUT OUT AT NIGHT. I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALER, WHERE THEY KEPT IT FOR SEVERAL DAYS. THEY THEN RETURNED THE CAR, ASSURING ME THAT THE PROBLEM WAS SOLVED. SINCE THAT TIME THE DRIVER'S SIDE HEADLIGHT HAS GONE OUT SEVERAL TIMES.

I HAVE A 2004 TOYOTA PRIUS THAT EXPERIENCES BRAKING PROBLEMS WHEN TRAVELING OVER BUMPY SURFACES, RAILROAD TRACKS, POTHOLES, ETC. I CAN FEEL THE CAR LOSE BRAKING POWER AND THE CAR SEEMS TO SKIP/ LUNGE FORWARD AND THEN SUDDENLY SEIZE TO A STOP. FOR YEARS I JUST THOUGHT IT WAS AN ISSUE WITH ANTI-LOCK BRAKES IN GENERAL BUT NOW THAT I'VE HEARD DESCRIPTIONS OF THE PROBLEM IDENTIFIED WITH THE '10 MODELS, I KNOW THAT'S WHAT MY CAR DOES. I'VE LEARNED TO ANTICIPATE AND COMPENSATE WHEN APPROACHING ROAD SURFACES WHERE THIS OCCURS AND SO I BRAKE IN ADVANCE TO AVOID DANGER.

MY HID HEADLAMP FOR MY 2004 PRIUS IS NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO CHANGE ON MY OWN AND IT COSTS $600 (!?) TO CHANGE AT THE DEALER. HOW IS A $600 REPAIR FOR A MINOR THING LIKE A HEADLIGHT NOT ILLEGAL FROM AN AUTO SAFETY STANDPOINT? DO YOU KNOW IF THERE IS A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT ABOUT THIS ISSUE?

WHEN GOING OVER UNEVEN PAVEMENT, OR HITTING DEBRIS OR DRIVING OVER A POTHOLE, WHEN PRESSING ON THE BRAKES, THE PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR, WITH NO BRAKING POWER. THIS HAS HAPPENED EVER SINCE WE GOT THE CAR, MANY TIMES. THE DEALER TOLD US IT WAS THE ANTI-SKIDDING SYSTEM AND THAT THERE WAS NOTHING TO BE DONE. *CN

REPEATED BRAKING AT SLOW SPEEDS RESULTED IN BOTH ABS AND BRAKE ON SIGNALS, OWNER'S MANUAL SAYS STOP DRIVING AND CONTACT DEALER IMMEDIATELY. DROVE SLOWLY TO DEALER WHO RAN DIAGNOSTICS.($98)TOLD TO REPLACE COMPUTER ($2000) NOT IN STOCK. TOLD OK TO DRIVE UNTIL REPLACEMENT. ADJUSTED SOMETHING. WARNING LIGHTS OPERATED AS EXPECTED. SITUATION RECURRED TWICE. OWNER'S MANUAL INDICATED KNOWLEDGE OF POSSIBLE FAILURE. ALSO "PARKING BRAKE ABNORMAL STATUS HAS APPEARED TWICE. NO EXPLANATION IN MANUAL *TW

PROBLEM WITH ANTI-LOCK BRAKES NOT WORKING WHEN HITTING ROUGH SURFACES SUCH AS POTHOLES. *TR

MY 2004 PRIUS HAS THE SAME BRAKING PROBLEM THAT HAS BEEN REPORTED FOR THE 2010 PRIUS, THAT IS, WHEN I AM SLOWING DOWN AND HIT A BUMP OR HOLE, THERE IS A MOMENTARY ACCELERATION. I REPORTED THIS TO TOYOTA IN 2004 AND REGIONAL TOYOTA REP CAME OUT AND LOOKED AT THE CAR AND SAID IT WAS NORMAL. SO...THIS PROBLEM IS NOT LIMITED TO 2010 PRIUS. *TR

HID HEADLAMPS REPEATEDLY FLICKER, THEN GO OUT. SWITCHING OFF LIGHTS AND SWITCHING BACK ON BRINGS THEM BACK ON FOR AN INTERMITTENT PERIOD OF TIME, THEN THEY GO OUT AGAIN. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE BOTH FRONT HEADLAMPS AT CONSIDERABLE EXPENSE. THE MOST RECENT COST $436 FOR THE LAMP ALONE AND $137 IN LABOR. *TR

ON THE 2004 TOYOTA PRIUS WHEN DRIVING FROM A STOP ACROSS A ROUGH ROAD OR POT HOLES THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES/ANTI-SKID SYSTEM ENGAGES AND MAKES THE CAR SKID ON WET SURFACES. IN WINTER ON ICY ROADS THE (PROPER - NON-PUMPING) APPLICATION OF THE BRAKES ON MODERATELY ICY OR WET ROAD SURFACES CAUSES THE BRAKES TO LOCK UP AND THE CAR SKIDS UNCONTROLLABLY. THE LATER OCCURRED TODAY WHILE THE SECOND ISSUE HAS BEEN GOING ON SINCE I PURCHASED THE PRIUS BUT I NEVER THOUGHT THAT IT MIGHT BE A DEFECT. *TR

2004 TOYOTA PRIUS COST $449 (INCLUDES LABOR) TO REPLACE PASSENGER SIDE HEAD LIGHT. *TR

ODD BRAKING BEHAVIOR IN 2004 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHEN CAR IS IN ITS FIRST FEW MINUTES OF OPERATION AFTER SITTING OVERNIGHT, THIS ODD BEHAVIOR OCCURS: THE FIRST OR SECOND TIME I APPLY THE BRAKES, THEY GRAB AS THOUGH THE PEDAL HAS BEEN PRESSED VERY HARD. THE CAR LURCHES TO A STOP. I RELEASE THE BRAKE PEDAL TO GO FORWARD AGAIN, APPLYING PRESSURE TO THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THEN I APPLY PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE GRABBING HAPPENS AGAIN. USUALLY BY THE THIRD BRAKING ACTION THE 'GRABBY' BEHAVIOR STOPS. THIS HAS NOT HAPPENED AT HIGH SPEEDS, PRESUMABLY BECAUSE THE CAR GETS IT 'OUT OF ITS SYSTEM' BY THE TIME IT IS WARMED UP. I USED TO BE A MECHANIC AND THIS IS DEFINITELY SOMETHING I HAVE NEVER FELT BEFORE, SUCH AS CONDENSATION ON THE DISC ROTORS. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING SINCE THE CAR WA NEW IN 2004. I WORKED AROUND IT. BUT NOW WITH THE NEWS ABOUT BRAKING PROBLEMS ON NEW PRIUSES, I THOUGHT I SHOULD REPORT IT. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE AT A COMPLETE STOP, THE RPMS SUDDENLY INCREASED AND THE VEHICLE ATTEMPTED TO MOVE FORWARD WHILE THE CONTACT'S FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND HE WAS AWAITING A RESPONSE. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE TO DATE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 103,690.

MY 2004 TOYOTA PRIUS DOES HAVE AN ACCELERATION ISSUE. JUST WANTED TO BRING TO NOTICE THAT THE ACCELERATION ISSUE DOES NOT ONLY EFFECT THE 2010 MODEL. WHEN EVER TRAVELING AROUND 40 MPH AND YOU BRAKE -- THERE IS A SUDDEN ACCELERATION FOR LEST THAN 30 SECONDS -- THIS IS VERY MUCH INTERMITTENT. THIS STARTED HAPPENING IN DEC 15TH 2008. THE CAR ALWAYS STOP WITH NO OTHER ISSUES. I HAVE LEARNED TO BE CAUTIOUS AND SLOW DOWN WELL AHEAD. *TR

I HAVE A 2004 PRIUS WHICH I BOUGHT USED ABOUT A YEAR AGO AND WHEN I READ THE LINE THAT I CUT AND PASTED RIGHT FROM YOUR NEWS RELEASE, I COULDN'T BELIEVE IT BECAUSE IT DESCRIBES EXACTLY WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO ME NUMEROUS TIMES. "ALLEGATIONS OF MOMENTARY LOSS OF BRAKING CAPABILITY WHILE TRAVELING OVER AN UNEVEN ROAD SURFACE, POTHOLE OR BUMP," BUT THIS PROBLEM WHICH HAS HAPPENED REPEATEDLY (USUALLY ON THE SAME POTHOLE ON THE SAME STREET) HAS NEVER CAUSED ME TO LOOSE CONTROL OF THE CAR FOR MORE THAN A SPLIT SECOND. SO UNTIL I READ THIS PASSAGE I THOUGHT I MIGHT JUST BE IMAGINING THIS PROBLEM. IF IT HAPPENED FOR EVEN MORE THAN A SPLIT SECOND I COULD SEE HOW IT WOULD CAUSE ME TO LOSE CONTROL AND POSSIBLY GET IN AN ACCIDENT. BUT THAT HASN'T HAPPENED YET. *TR

TWICE MY TOYOTA PRIUS HAS "SURGED" UNEXPECTEDLY. I WAS COASTING INTO A PARKING SPACE BOTH TIMES, SO WAS ABLE TO STOMP ON THE BRAKE AND STOP THE CAR. WHEN THE FIRST RECALL WAS ISSUED I KNEW IT WASN'T THE FLOOR MAT. MINE WAS THE ORIGINAL ONE AND WAS FIRMLY ATTACHED. IT DID NOT MOVE AND "ENTRAP" THE PEDAL AND I DID NOT HAVE MY FOOT ON THE GAS WHEN THE SURGES HAPPENED. I DID NOT BOTHER TO REPORT IT AT THE TIME, AS I AM AN OLDER FEMALE AND HAVE BEEN TREATED LIKE AN IDIOT AT THE DEALERSHIP WHEN I SPOKE WITH THE SERVICE PEOPLE. THE CAR HAS BEEN FINE IN EVERY OTHER WAY. I BELIEVE THIS IS A THROTTLE OR COMPUTER/ELECTRONIC PROBLEM AND I BELIEVE THAT THEY KNOW IT. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA PRUIS . THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING HE ATTEMPTED TO SLOW DOWN BY APPLYING THE BRAKE, BUT THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN . THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY ADVISED THE CONTACT TO BRING THE VEHICLE IN TO HAVE IT DIAGNOSED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE AND THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT BELIEVES THAT THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE BRAKING SYSTEM. THERE HAVE BEEN NO REPAIRS TO THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE IS AT THE DEALER. THE CONTACT DOES NOT WANT TO PICK THE VEHICLE UP DUE TO THE SAFETY RISK. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 52000. UPDATED 03/04/10 *BF UPDATED 07/23/10*JB

DRIVING APPROX 35 MPH. APPLIED BRAKES LIGHTLY TO SLOW BEFORE A SHARP RIGHT TURN. BRAKES "FROZE" AND REQUIRED EXTREME PRESSURE TO SLOW AND THEN STOP THE CAR BEFORE REACHING AN INTERSECTION APPROX. 100 FEET BEYOND THE CURVE. THE CAR STALLED AND LOST POWER DURING THIS MANEUVER, WHICH WAS ACCOMPANIED BY VERY STRONG SMELL OF BURNING RUBBER AND MULTIPLE WARNING LIGHTS. UPON RESTARTING THE CAR, IT FELT AS IF THE BRAKES HAD SEIZED SUCH THAT IT WAS DIFFICULT TO PROCEED THROUGH THE INTERSECTION TO A SAFE PLACE TO PULL OVER. I THEN TURNED THE CAR OFF AND ON REPEATEDLY UNTIL THE WARNING LIGHTS EXTINGUISHED AND NORMAL OPERATION RESUMED. MY LOCAL SHOP (NOT A TOYOTA DEALER) SAID THERE WAS A CODE FOR COMMUNICATION FAILURE WITH THE BRAKE SYSTEM BUT NO INDICATION OF DAMAGE TO THE BRAKES OR WHEELS. THIS WAS THE FIRST INSTANCE FOR THIS PROBLEM, WHICH HAS NOT OCCURRED SUBSEQUENTLY. *TR

HID HEADLIGHTS ON 2004 TOYOTA PRIUS GO OUT INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING WITHOUT ANY WARNING. TURNING SWITCH ON/OFF WILL TURN THEM BACK ON. BOTH HAVE GONE OUT CREATING EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SITUATION.*CW

LESS THAN NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR; ONLY HAVE 32K MILES ON MY 2004 PRIUS. THE PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT BLINKS OFF OR DOESN'T LIGHT IN THE FIRST PLACE EVERY TIME I DRIVE IT. NOTHING DONE TO REPAIR IT SINCE THIS PARTICULAR COMPONENT ISN'T NOT UNDER WARRANTY THAT I'M AWARE OF. *TR

THIS IS A SERIOUS DEFECT! LIGHTS CAN GO OUT AT ANYTIME. WE CURRENTLY DO NOT DRIVE THIS CAR AT NIGHT. THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM FOR SEVEN MONTHS. MULTIPLE INTERMITTENT HEADLIGHT FAILURES LEADING UP TO HEADLIGHT REPLACEMENTS FOR PASSENGER AND DRIVERSIDE. THE PASSENGER SIDE FAILED FIRST (01/2009) AND ON AVERAGE WOULD FAIL 1-2 TIMES PER WEEK. DRIVER SIDE FAILED FOR THE FIRST TIME THIS MONTH (01/2010) AND HAS ONLY FAILED ONE TIME TO DATE 01/16/2010. NOW ONE YEAR LATER THE PASSENGER SIDE HAS STATED TO FAIL AGAIN. ALL FAILURES ARE SIMILAR IN NATURE IN THAT THEY WILL COME BACK ON TYPICALLY AFTER THE CAR HAS BEEN TURNED OFF FOR A PERIOD OF TIME. HOWEVER ON OCCASION THEY MAY COME BACK ON BY THEMSELVES. MY BROTHER AND I HAVE REPLACED THE PASSENGER SIDE (2 HOUR PROCESS) AND AM IN THE PROCESS OF PURCHASING TWO NEW BULBS FROM A LOCAL AUTO PARTS STORE. $150 EA VS TOYOTA $325 EA AND DOES NOT INCLUDE INSTALLATION LABOR. THE AVERAGE GUY SHOULD NOT ATTEMPT THIS BULB REPLACEMENT IT IS DIFFICULT. I STILL HAVE THE FACTORY ORIGINAL BULB THAT WE REPLACED. D2R 35W HID MY PLATINUM EXT WARRANTY ($1400 FROM DEALER) DOES NOT COVER LIGHT BULBS. *TR

I OWN A 2004 TOYOTA PRIUS. JUST LAST WEEK THE TOUCH SCREEN THAT CONTROLS THE HEATING / AIR CONDITIONING, THE RADIO, THE CURRENT MPG INFORMATION AND CONDITION OF THE NI-METAL HYDRIDE BATTERY AND THE GAS ENGINE INTERCONNECTIONS, BEGAN TO FAIL. SOMETIMES IT WORKS FOR A WHILE, THEN IT STOPS FOR SOME TIME THEN IT MIGHT OR MIGHT START WORKING AGAIN BEFORE I GET WHERE I AM GOING. IT IS EXTREMELY INTERMITTENT IN ITS CORRECT OPERATION. I HAVE READ ON THE INTERNET THAT MANY OTHER 2004 AND EARLY 2005 PRIUS OWNERS HAVE ENCOUNTERED THIS PROBLEM, BUT THAT TOYOTA IS REFUSING TO ISSUE A RECALL. THE NEW PART IS VERY EXPENSIVE (~$4,000). REFURBISHED PARTS ARE NOT READILY AVAILABLE FOR THE PRIUS, I SUPPOSE BECAUSE IT IS A RELATIVE NEW MODEL TO TOYOTA. I WANTED TO REPORT THIS TO YOU, IN THE HOPES THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE SOME WAY OF LETTING TOYOTAL KNOW THAT ONE MORE OWNER IS HAVING THIS PROBLEM. I DID NOT KNOW IF YOU CAN FORCE A MANUFACTURER TO ISSUE A RECALL WHEN A CERTAIN NUMBER OF OWNERS COMPLAIN, OR IF THIS IS ONLY THE CASE WHERE SAFETY IS INVOLVED. *TR REGARDS, DALE W. HOWARD

HEADLIGHTS ON MY 2004 TOYOTA PRIUS GO OFF WHILE DRIVING. THEY COME BACK ON WHEN I NOTICE AND TURN THEM OFF AND ON AGAIN. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD. *TR

2004 TOYOTA PRIUS HEADLIGHT PROBLEM - THIS IS CLEARLY A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE. WHEN DRIVING, MY HEADLIGHT (BOTH) SHUT OFF INTERMITTENTLY. SOMETIMES, ONE. SOMETIMES THE OTHER. SOMETIMES BOTH. NO INCIDENT YET BUT SURELY THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE. I CAME VERY CLOSE TO AN AUTO ACCIDENT ON 1/3/2010 DUE TO THIS ISSUE! I CALLED THE DEALER TO HAVE THE HEADLIGHTS REPLACED AND THEY ARE WANTING $870 DOLLARS TO REPLACE THE BULBS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! $375 PER BULB AND $60 PER HEADLIGHT FOR SERVICE!!!!!!!! *TR

BOTH 2004 TOYOTA PRIUS HID HEADLIGHTS GO OUT, IT BEGAN WITH THE DRIVERS THEN PASSENGERS GOING OUT INDIVIDUALLY, AND BY TURNING THEM OFF THEN ON AGAIN WOULD BRING THE LIGHTS BACK ON FOR SEVERAL MINUTES, NOW BOTH GO OUT AND DO NOT COME BACK ON EVEN AFTER CYCLING THEM. TOYOTA SAYS ITS A REPLACEMENT ISSUE NOT A DEFECT. SEEMS TO ME THAT ALL THE CHATTER ONLINE AND TOYOTAS INDIFFERENCE IS COMING TO A HEAD. I SHOULDN'T HAVE TO PAY TO REPLACE THESE DEFECTIVE LIGHTS. *TR

THE PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT ON MY 2004 TOYOTA PRIUS WENT OUT AT ABOUT 83K MILES. IT WAS AN INTERMITTENT OUTAGE, AND COULD BE RESET BY TURNING HEADLIGHTS ON AND OFF. THIS IS DANGEROUS AT NIGHT! TOYOTA WANTED TO CHANGE BOTH HEADLIGHTS AND BALLASTS FOR A TOTAL COST OF $1086. HEADLIGHTS ARE SAFETY-RELATED AND I SEE THAT THIS PROBLEM IS COMMONLY COMPLAINED ABOUT ONLINE. TOYOTA NATIONAL OFC. OFFERED TO REIMBURSE ME 1/2 AFTER I FRONTED THE TOTAL MONEY TO THE LOCAL DEALER REPAIR SHOP. *TR

HID HEADLIGHT ON 2004 TOYOTA PRIUS IS INTERMITTENT. GOES OFF AT RANDOM TIMES WHEN SELECTED ON. COMES BACK ON BY SWITCHING HEADLIGHTS OFF AND BACK ON. HEADLIGHT WENT OFF 7 TIMES IN A 30 MILE TRIP. *TR

I PURCHASED A 2004 TOYOTA PRIUS NEW IN JUNE OF 2004. IN THE LAST MONTH I HAVE HAD 3 INCIDENTS WHERE THE BRAKES FAILED WHILE DRIVING. SUDDENLY THE BRAKES GO TO THE FLOOR, THE CAR LOSES POWER AND THE WARNING LIGHTS GO ON. THE LAST INCIDENT ALSO INCLUDED A HIGH PITCHED TONE WHICH PERSISTED UNTIL THE CAR WAS SHUT OFF. THE FIRST INCIDENT HAPPENED ON NOV.19, 2009. I WAS DRIVING AT A LOW RATE OF SPEED AND NOTICED A SLIGHT HICCUP IN THE ENGINE WHILE TURNING A CORNER, THEN ABOUT 500 FT. LATER, THE WARNING LIGHTS WENT ON AND THE BRAKES WENT TO THE FLOOR. I SHUT OFF THE ENGINE, THEN TURNED IT BACK ON AND DROVE SLOWLY TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WITH THE WARNING LIGHTS ON AND CALLED MY DEALER, WHO TOLD ME TO HAVE IT TOWED IN. THEY HAD THE CAR FOR 3 DAYS, AND REPLACED THE ABS ECU WITH ACTUATOR, THE ACTUATOR ASSEMBLY AND BRAKE FOR A TOTAL REPAIR BILL OF $3383.69. ON DECEMBER 22, 2009 THE SAME SEQUENCE OF EVENTS OCCURRED IN THE MORNING. I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE CAR HOME AT A LOW RATE OF SPEED WITH THE WARNING LIGHTS ON, THEN TOOK IT TO THE DEALER, WHO COULD NOT FIND THE PROBLEM AND TOLD ME TO BRING THE CAR BACK NEXT WEEK. LATER THAT DAY, THE CAR EXPERIENCED THE SAME BRAKE FAILURE WHILE DRIVING AT A LOW RATE OF SPEED. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALER. THEY NOW TELL ME THEY CANNOT FIND THE PROBLEM AND THE CAR IS NOT DISPLAYING THE WARNING LIGHTS AT THIS TIME. THEY PLAN TO KEEP THE CAR FOR A WEEK OR SO TO SEE IF THEY CAN DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. I HAVE A 50 MILE ROUND TRIP COMMUTE TO WORK ON THE FRE

BOTH HID HEADLIGHTS FAILED REPEATEDLY ON MY VEHICLE. IT TOOK SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO RESTART THE LIGHTS BY TURNING THEM OFF AND ON. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 40-45 MPH THE GASOLINE MOTOR WOULD FAIL, AND THEN CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO STALL WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER TWICE. THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED FIRST, AND THEN THE FUEL SYSTEM WAS FLUSHED. THE SECOND REPAIR CORRECTED THE PROBLEM, BUT THE PROBLEM OF THE VEHICLE LOCKING IN PARK WAS NOT ADDRESSED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 32,100. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 31,999. UPDATED 01/12/10 *BF ALL OF THE ALARM LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD HAD ILLUMINATED WHEN ACCELERATING. WHEN THE CONSUMER STOPPED THE VEHICLE AND SWITCHED TO PARK, HE WAS UNABLE TO SHIFT THE VEHICLE INTO NEUTRAL. AFTER ABOUT 15 MINUTES, THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO SHIFT TO NEUTRAL. THE INSTRUMENTAL PANEL DID NOT DISPLAY A CLEAR EXPLANATION THAT THE INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE WAS NOT STARTING AND THAT THE VEHICLE WAS RUNNING ON THE BATTERY ONLY. UPDATED 01/15/10.*JB

INTERMITTENT FAILURES OF RIGHT SIDE HIGH INTENSITY DISCHARGE (HID) HEADLIGHT AFTER 15 TO 20 MINUTES OF USE. HEADLIGHT SIMPLY SHUTS OFF WITHOUT WARNING, AND WITHOUT ANY INDICATION ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. REPLACEMENT/REPAIR COSTS AT TOYOTA DEALER WERE $998. AFTER MANY MONTHS OF COMPLAINT, TO INCLUDE POINTING OUT THE USA TODAY ARTICLE ON THIS SUBJECT, TOYOTA USA AUTHORIZED REPAIR AT HALF PRICE. TOYOTA USA THEN REIMBURSED US VIA CHECK FOR OUR TOTAL COST CITING A "SUPPLIER PROBLEM." *TR

FAILURE OF DASHBOARD MULTI-DISPLAY, ALONG WITH ALL ITS FUNCTIONS, INCLUDING NAV, CLIMATE, RADIO, FAULT NOTIFICATIONS. AND BLUETOOTH PHONE OPERATION. ON THE LATTER, THE PHONE WILL CONNECT, BUT NOT OPERATE, MAKING THIS A SAFETY ISSUE. THERE IS A TSB ON THIS ISSUE. DISPLAY WAS REPLACED BY DEALER UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY. REPLACEMENT TOOK ABOUT 4 WEEKS TO ARRIVE. DEALER SAID TOYOTA WAS SWITCHING TO A "OUT-OF-WARRANTY EXCHANGE" POLICY FOR THIS REPAIR, MEANING THAT THE OWNER WOULD HAVE TO PUT UP WITH A BIG HOLE IN THE DASHBOARD WITH LOOSE CONNECTORS WHILE THE UNIT WAS BEING REPAIRED. *TR