2005 Toyota Prius complaints

2005 PRIUS- HIGH INTENSITY HEADLIGHTS GO OUT INTERMITTENTLY. PROBLEM NOTICED AT 90,000 MILES WHILE CAR WAS UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY- DEALER WOULD NOT ACKNOWLEDGE PROBLEM BECAUSE THE LIGHTS ALWAYS WORKED IN THE SHOP. AT OVER 100,000 DEALER ACKNOWLEDGED PROBLEM BUT TOYOTA COMPANY WOULD PAY FOR ONLY 1/2 THE COST (COST TO REPLACE BULBS AND LABOR IS $1,000!). NOT ONLY IS THIS A SAFETY ISSUE OF HEADLAMPS NOT WORKING, BUT THE COST IS ROBBERY. *TR

RIGHT FRONT HEADLIGHT BURNED OUT. *TR

LEFT FRONT HEADLIGHT BURNED OUT. *TR

PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT TURNING OFF INTERMITTENTLY. I UNDERSTAND THIS IS A COMMON COMPLAINT WITH PRIUS AND THAT REPAIR COSTS ARE SIGNIFICANT. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE - HEADLIGHTS TURNING THEMSELVES OFF WHILE DRIVING.... *TR

I WAS BACKING UP FROM A PARKED POSITION, I TURNED THE STEERING WHEEL TO PROCEED FORWARD AND HEARD AND FELT A CRUNCH. I PUT THE CAR IN DRIVE AND HAD TO STOP BEFORE HITTING A PARKED VEHICLE BECAUSE THE CAR WAS NOT GOING IN THE DIRECTION I STEERED. I SOON REALIZED THAT I HAD LOST ALL STEERING CONTROL. I HAD IT TOWED AND MY LOCAL MECHANIC EVALUATED THE STEERING COLUMN AND FOUND WHAT HE THOUGHT WAS A MANUFACTURING OR ASSEMBLY DEFECT. THINKING THAT MY CAR MAY NOT BE THE ONLY ONE AFFECTED I MADE SOME CALLS AND RESEARCHED THE INTERNET. I FOUND THAT THIS CAR HAD A RECALL PUBLISHED 6/2006 FOR THIS VERY PROBLEM. I AM THE 3RD OWNER OF THIS VEHICLE. THE PREVIOUS OWNER BOUGHT IT FROM A REPUTABLE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP, WITH THE LOGO "CERTIFIED USED" ON THE SALES RECEIPT. HE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE FROM THE DEALER AFTER THE RECALL NOTICE HAD BEEN PUBLISHED. IT APPEARS THE DEALERSHIP DID NOT CHECK FOR RECALLS BEFORE "CERTIFYING" THIS VEHICLE. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A CATASTROPHIC EVENT AT HIGH SPEEDS FOR ME, MY FAMILY OR SOMEONE DRIVING BY ME AT THE WRONG TIME. I WILL SUBMIT A SECOND COMPLAINT IF THE DEALERSHIP AND/OR TOYOTA DOES NOT HANDLE THIS APPROPRIATELY. *TR

ON 2/27/09, MY 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS' BRAKES COMPLETELY FAILED. I WAS GOING DOWNHILL IN AN HIGHLY TRANSITED URBAN ROAD (RTE 123 IN VA, CLOSE TO TYSONS CORNER). THANKFULLY I WAS ONLY GOING ABOUT 40MPH WHEN THE LIGHT CHANGED TO RED. THE 2 VEHICLES IN FRONT OF ME STOPPED. I PRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND MY CAR ACCELERATED INITIALLY, AND THEN NOTHING. BRAKES ARE MEANT TO WORK. ALWAYS. I KEPT PUMPING THE PEDAL HOPING TO ENGAGE THE BREAKS, BUT THEY DID NOT ENGAGE. WHAT STOPPED ME WAS THE REAR OF A BMW X5. THANKFULLY I WAS THE ONLY INJURED PARTY, AND MY INJURIES ARE MOSTLY MUSCULAR. I COULD HAVE DIED OR I COULD HAVE KILLED SOMEONE. IN JANUARY, I HAD TAKING MY CAR TO THE DEALER BECAUSE ALL THE ALERT LIGHTS ON THE DASH WOULD SPORADICALLY GO OFF. THEY KEPT THE CAR FOR A WEEK AND CLAIMED THAT THE SECONDARY BATTERY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I GOT MY VEHICLE BACK AND ON 2/23/09 THE ISSUE RESTARTED. I WAS DUE TO TAKE MY CAR BACK TO THE DEALER THE DAY OF THE ACCIDENT. I CALLED A LAWYER TO SEE IF I HAD A CASE, AND WAS TOLD NO. I AM STILL RESEARCHING THE ISSUE BECAUSE SOMEONE SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE AND FUTURE TRAGEDIES SHOULD BE AVOIDED. IF ANYONE HAS STARTED A CLASS ACTION SUIT, PLEASE DO LET ME KNOW AS I WOULD LIKE TO JOIN YOU. *TR

PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT FADES THEN GOES OUT. TURNING THE SWITCH OFF/ON WILL TURN THE HEADLIGHT ON AGAIN 'BUT STILL IT GOES OUT. *TR

60 K INSPECTION BY STATE LICENSED SERVICE- TOYOTA. AT 62K WATER PUMP HAD TO BE REPLACED BY TOYOTA DEALER, WOULD NOT RECOGNIZE PREVIOUS INSPECTION (NOT A DEALER).DEALER FAILED TO BURP ENGINE CAUSING AIR IN SYSTEM. PERSONALLY ADDED ANTIFREEZE. 2) HEADLIGHT ARE NOW LOCKED IN THE LOWER ELEVATION CAUSING THE DIMS TO BE APPROX 30 FEET IN FRONT OF VEHICLE. OUTRUN LIGHTED AREA VERY RAPIDLY. BELIEVE TO BE A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION 3)SMART KEY (S) QUIT AT SAME TIME. 4) SECOND SET TIRES NEEDING REPLACEMENT JUST OVER 25K MILES 5) AT TIMES THE ENGINE BATTERY JUST GOES DEAD. ALL HAPPENED JUST OVER 60K MILES. DEALER WILL LOOK AT ITEMS FOR A SERVICE CHARGE AND IF PROBLEMS THE SERVICE CHARGE WILL BE DEDUCTED FROM COST. I WAS INFORMED THAT NONE OF THE ITEMS ARE UNDER WARRANTY BECAUSE THE VEHICLE IS PAST THE 60K. IT IS APPARENT THAT THE WATER PUMP CONDITION HAPPENED PRIOR TO THE 60K BY THE BUILD UP OF ANTIFREEZE ON OLD PUMP WHICH I PLAN ON SENDING TO TOYOTA. *TR

TAIL LIGHT AND BOTH HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT WITHIN A FEW WEEKS OF EACH OTHER. FOLSOM LAKE TOYOTA CHARGED BY $450.00 TO REPLACE THE FIRST BULB THAT I PURCHASED 4 WEEKS LATER FROM NAPA AUTO PARTS FOR $93.00. FOLSOM LAKE TOYOTA CLAIMS THEY RAN A DIAGNOSTIC AND THAT THERE ARE NO ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS FOUR WEEKS BEFORE SECOND HEADLIGHT AND LICENSE PLATE BULB WENT OUT. *TR

I HAVE A 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS (PKG 6) WITH APPR. 18,000 MILES. ABOUT A MONTH AGO, BY DRIVER'S SIDE HEADLIGHT STARTED TO GO OUT (GOING OFF AND ON) UNTIL IT FINALLY WENT OUT COMPLETELY. ON FEBRUARY 27, 2009, I TOOK THE VEHICLE INTO THE DEALER (LONGO TOYOTA IN EL MONTE, CALIFORNIA), WHO TOLD ME I WOULD HAVE TO SPEND $358 (PARTS AND LABOR) FOR JUST THE ONE HEADLIGHT. AFTER MUCH DISCUSSION WITH THE SERVICE REP AT THE DEALER AND THE TOYOTA SALES REP, TOYOTA AGREED TO PAY FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF BOTH HEADLIGHTS WITH ME PAYING FOR THE LABOR OF THE REPLACEMENT. THE TOTAL COST TO ME FOR THE LABOR WAS $201.76. IF TOYOTA HADN'T AGREED TO PAY FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF THE BULBS, I WOULD HAVE BEEN OUT OF POCKET $716.14 (PARTS AND LABOR). AS IT WAS, I STILL HAD TO PAY $201.76 FOR THE LABOR. IT IS MY OPINION THAT A VEHICLE THAT IS ONLY 3-1/2 YEARS OLD SHOULD NOT HAVE TO HAVE IT'S HEADLIGHTS REPLACED. I ALSO UNDERSTAND FROM TALKING TO THE SERVICE REP AND DOING FURTHER RESEARCH THAT THIS IS A COMMON OCCURRENCE EVEN IN MUCH YOUNGER PRIUS'. I FEEL THAT THIS PROBLEM NEEDS TO BE RESEARCHED FURTHER BY THE NHTSA AND A DETERMINATION MADE ON WHETHER THERE NEEDS TO BE AN OFFICIAL RECALL FOR THE HEADLIGHT REPLACEMENT PROBLEM ON PRIUS'. *TR

COMING TO A STOP AT LESS THAN 10MPH I DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL ONLY TO HAVE IT GO TO THE FLOOR WITHOUT ANY RESULTS. I QUICKLY ENGAGED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE BUT NOT BEFORE HITTING A SERVICE TRUCK. THIS RESULTED IN A SMALL DENT IN MY FRONT BUMPER. THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN THE TRUCK MOVED OFF BUT FOR ME TO RELEASE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE I HAD TO REACH WITH MY HAND TO FIND THE RELEASE LEVER. I WENT TO A TOYOTA SERVICE DEPARTMENT IMMEDIATELY. THEY SPENT A COUPLE OF HOURS TRYING TO FIND THE PROBLEM THIS INCLUDED DRIVING MY CAR FOR 30 MINUTES. THEY DID NOT FIND ANYTHING TO EXPLAIN THE PROBLEM. READING IN DISCUSSION FORMATS ONLINE I HAVE FOUND THIS TO BE A PROBLEM OTHERS HAVE EXPERIENCED. MY INCIDENT, AS MANY ONLINE, HAPPENED IN THE RAIN. *TR

THE HEADLIGHTS ON MY 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS RANDOMLY TURN OFF WHILE DRIVING. SOMETIMES ONE GOES OUT, BUT WHEN THEY BOTH GO OUT ALL OF THE LIGHTS INSIDE THE CAR GO OUT TOO. WHEN I TURN THE LIGHTS OFF AND THEN BACK ON THEY WILL WORK FOR A SHORT TIME. ADDITIONALLY, AFTER THIS STARTED THE ELECTRONIC IGNITION BEGAN TO HAVE PROBLEMS. I HAVE REPLACED THE BULBS SEVERAL TIMES. THIS HAS BEEN A REGULAR PROBLEM FOR ABOUT 3 MONTHS. WE HAVE RECEIVED A WARNING TICKET BECAUSE OF A HEADLIGHT OUTAGE. *TR

WHILE I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE STREET, SUDDENLY AN ABS WARNING LIGHT AND A BEEPING SOUND ENGAGED. TO INVESTIGATE THE ABRUPT OCCURRENCE I ATTEMPTED TO PULL OVER. HOWEVER AS I APPLIED MY BRAKES THEY WOULDN'T WORK. MY BRAKES COMPLETELY FAILED. I'M EXTREMELY FORTUNATE THAT I WAS AFFORDED THE DISTANCE TO ALLOW MY CAR TO SLOW DOWN ON ITS OWN. TO MAKE A COMPLETE STOP I APPLIED MY PARKING BAKE. I WAS LUCKY TO AVOID CRASHING INTO THE CAR JUST FEET IN FRONT OF MINE. I CAN ONLY IMAGINE THE DEVASTATION IF THIS WAS TO HAPPEN ON A BUSY INTERSECTION OR A FREEWAY OFF RAMP. THANKFULLY, THERE ARE NO INJURIES TO REPORT. MY CAR IS CURRENTLY AT A DEALER/SERVICE CENTER. THEY SAID THE BRAKE ACTUATOR AND SPEED SENSOR NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. I'VE OPENED A CASE WITH TOYOTA TO INVESTIGATE THE FAILURE. *TR

PASSENGER-SIDE HEADLIGHT GOES OUT WHILE DRIVING. TURNING THE LIGHTS OFF AND THEN ON AGAIN RESOLVES THE ISSUE. I ONLY NOTICE THIS WHEN I SEE THE CAR'S REFLECTION IN THE REAR OF THE CAR IN FRONT. *TR

HEADLIGHTS INTERMITTENTLY TURN ON. LEFT AND RIGHT SIDE SOMETIMES DO NOT TURN ON. THEY LATER TURN ON AFTER MULTIPLE TRIES (TURN ON AND OFF REPEATEDLY). BOTH LIGHTS TURN OFF WHILE DRIVING. INSPECTION AT TOYOTA DEALER FOUND POSSIBLE FAULT WITH ONE HEADLIGHT. COST TO REPLACE HEADLIGHTS ESTIMATED AT $900. *TR

2005 PRIUS WITH HID HEADLAMPS THAT NEED REPLACING WHICH WILL COST $450.00 EACH. THIS IS AN OUTRAGEOUS SUM OF MONEY TO PAY FOR HEADLAMPS ON A 4 YEAR OLD VEHICLE. *TR

ABOUT 6 WEEKS AGO I BEGAN EXPERIENCE A RANDOM SHUT DOWN OF MY PS HEAD LIGHT. ONLY BE TURNING MY LIGHTS OFF AND BACK ON RESTORED IT FOR SOME AMOUNT OF TIME.. LAST WEEK THE SAME THING STARTED HAPPENING WITH THE DS HEADLIGHT. NOW ETHER ONE OR BOTH RANDOMLY JUST GOES DARK. WHEN BOTH GO OUR ON A TWO LANE ROAD IT GETS REALLY DARK. I CAN NOT CAUSE IT TO HAPPEN AND CAN NOT FIND ANYTHING THAT LOOKS LOOSE. IT SOMETIMES HAPPENS WHEN THE CAR IS SITTING STILL AT AN INTERSECTION. SOME NIGHTS IT HAPPENS SEVERAL TIME IN A 2 MILE DRIVE TO THE STORE AND OTHER TIMES (RARELY NOW) IT DOES NOT HAPPEN AT ALL. HEAT DOE NOT SEEM TO BE AN ISSUE SINCE IT SOMETIME HAPPENS JUST AFTER THE CAR IS STARTED FROM COLD. WHEN CHECKING THE INTERNET IF FIND THE PRIUS HEADLIGHT PROBLEM PRODUCES SEVERAL BLOG AND OTHER SITES THAT DESCRIBE THE SAME THING WITH PEOPLE SAYING THAT THE DEALERSHIPS DON'T KNOW HOW TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM EVEN THOUGH SOME PEOPLE HAVE SPENT OVER $2500 SWAPPING OUT PARTS.. AS A RESEARCHER, I CONCLUDE THAT THIS IS CLEARLY VEHICLE CLASS PROBLEM THAT SHOULD AT LEAST BE UNDERSTOOD BY THE SERVICE CENTERS. AS A DRIVER, IT IS CLEARLY A DANGEROUS SAFETY ISSUE. PLEASE INVESTIGATE BEFORE I HAVE TO START SPENDING BIG MONEY ON NON-SOLUTIONS OR SELL THE CAR I OTHERWISE LOVE PASSING THE PROBLEM TO SOMEONE ELSE. *TR

THE DRIVER'S SIDE HEADLIGHT ON MY 2005 PRIUS WAS GOING ON AND OFF AND THEN WENT OUT ALL TOGETHER AFTER ABOUT 3 WEEKS. WHEN I TOOK IT TO THE TOYOTA DEALER THEY SAID THE BULB AND LABOR WOULD BE $320 AND THE COMPUTER THAT CONTROLS THAT ONE HEADLIGHT WAS ALSO OUT AND THAT WOULD BE $250 - SO IT WOULD BE ALMOST $600 FOR 1 HEADLIGHT!! I THINK AFTER READING MANY OTHER PRIUS OWNER'S SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ON THE INTERNET THAT THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW AND ALSO AN OUTRAGEOUS, UNFAIR CHARGE TO CONSUMERS FOR AN ITEM THAT MUST HAS TO WORK IN ORDER TO USE THE CAR. I FEEL BEFORE I BOUGHT THE CAR I SHOULD HAVE BEEN INFORMED OF THE COST TO REPAIR A HEADLIGHT AND THAT SOME PRIUS' HAVE REGULAR HEADLIGHTS ON THEM AND I SHOULD HAVE BEEN GIVEN A CHOICE. *TR

ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS MY HEADLAMPS HAVE GONE OUT. EACH TIME IT HAS BEEN THE RIGHT OR LEFT SIDE. THE FOURTH TIME. THE LIGHTS CAME ON USING THE HI-BEAM ONLY. NUMEROUS INCIDENTS HAVE TAKEN PLACE. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME MY WIFE HAS BEEN PULLED OVER FOR THIS. I HAVE REPLACED THESE MYSELF. HOWEVER, THIS LAST TIME IT IS NOT THE BULB. IT IS THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. ACCORDING TO THE FORUM. COSTS HAVE BEEN FROM $300 - 2K. SOME DEALERSHIPS ASSUME SOME RESPONSIBILITY AND OTHERS DON'T. THIS IS A SAFETY AND EXPENSE ISSUE. DRIVING HOME IS VERY DIFFICULT AT NIGHT AND USING THE HI-BEAM IS BLINDING TO ON COMING TRAFFIC AND AGAINST THE LAW IN MOST CIRCUMSTANCES. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE GEAR SHIFTER WOULD LOCK UP, WHICH PREVENTED THE VEHICLE FROM MOVING OR CHANGING GEARS. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ONCE IN A TUNNEL WHILE IN TRAFFIC. THE ROAD CREW HAD TO MOVE THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. IT TOOK TWENTY MINUTES TO RE-ENGAGE THE GEAR SO THAT THE VEHICLE COULD MOVE AGAIN. USUALLY, IT WOULD TAKE TWENTY TO FORTY MINUTES BEFORE IT RE-ENGAGED ITSELF AND FOR THE GEAR TO RETURN TO NORMAL. THE CONTACT HAS CALLED AND SENT LETTERS TO THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER, BUT NO ONE WILL SPEAK WITH HIM. HE HAS NOT TAKEN HIS VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 18,700.

THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN WITHOUT WARNING IN THE MIDDLE OF A BUSY STREET, CREATING AN UNSAFE SITUATION WITH CARS COMING UP BEHIND IN A SINGLE LANE. *TR

NORMAL DRIVING MY 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS, THE DRIVER'S SIDE HEADLIGHT RANDOMLY TURNS OFF. I TURN THE LIGHTS OFF AND THEN BACK ON AND THE LIGHT, MOST OF THE TIME, WILL RETURN FOR A MINUTE OR TWO. HID BULB REPLACEMENT WAS DONE AND PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. HID BULBS ARE NOT CHEAP. I HAVE BEEN PULLED OVER 3 TIMES IN THE LAST 3 WEEKS. IT SEEMS LIKE IT WILL COST APPROXIMATELY $2500 TO HOPEFULLY FIX MY HEADLIGHT. PRETTY EXTREME FOR A HEADLIGHT? DEFINITELY A TRAFFIC AND SAFETY HAZARD ONLY OPERATING WITH ONE HEADLIGHT. *TR

MY 2005 PRIUS HAS XENON HIGH INTENSITY DISCHARGE(HID) HEADLAMPS THAT GO OUT AND STAY OUT UNTIL THE NEXT TIME I TURN ON THE LIGHTS. I HAVE HAD TO CHANGE THE BULBS VERY FREQUENTLY AND THEY DON'T LAST FOR MORE THAN A YEAR. *TR

2005 PRIUS HEADLIGHTS LEVELER CAUSING HEADLIGHTS TO LOCK INTO ONE POSITION. THIS VEHICLE LOCKED IN LOWER POSITION CREATING VERY POOR VISIBILITY. THINKING THAT IF THIS WAS TO LOCK IN UPPER POSITION IT WOULD BE BLINDING DRIVER IN THE ONCOMING VEHICLE. THIS SHOULD BE ALWAYS ON RECALL IF PROBLEM PERSISTS. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PARK THE VEHICLE AT 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT CRASHED THE VEHICLE INTO A GATE. THE VEHICLE EVENTUALLY STOPPED AND NEARLY CRASHED INTO A GARAGE. THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED DAMAGE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A BODY SHOP TO REPAIR THE DAMAGE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 37,000.

LEFT HEADLIGHT KEEPS GOING OUT IN PRIUS. TURN OFF THEN BACK ON TO RESET BOTH HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT ONE NIGHT AND ALMOST CAUSED A WRECK IT RESET ONCE I TURNED IT OFF AND BACK ON. *TR

RIGHT HEADLIGHT GOES OUT AT WILL. FLIPPING THE ON/OFF SWITCH WILL TURN IT BACK ON TEMPORARILY. HARD TO TELL WHEN DRIVING WITHOUT LIGHT. DEALERSHIP SAID TO REPLACE HID BULB, FOR $458. BUT THE BULB ISN'T BURNED OUT. ITS AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM, AND ACCORDING TO OTHERS IT CONTINUES TO HAPPEN, EVEN AFTER BULB CHANGE. THIS IS A VERY BIG PROBLEM IN THE DARK, AND A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE FOR HUNDREDS OF PRIUS OWNERS. *TR

DRIVING DOWN A HILL NEXT TO OUR HOME. THE RED BRAKE LIGHT CAME FOR A SHORT PERIOD AT THE TOP OF THE HILL. WHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED MORE AGGRESSIVELY TOWARDS THE BOTTOM OF THE HILL THEY DID NOT RESPOND. THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS PUSHED TO THE FLOOR (THE ROAD WAS DRY AND THE TEMP. WAS IN THE 60S, THERE WERE NO LEAVES ETC ON THE ROAD) AND THE BRAKES STILL DID NOT RESPOND SUFFICIENTLY TO STOP THE CAR...IT SLOWED US SOME BUT WE WOULD HAVE RUN INTO THE CAR IN FRONT OF US IF WE DID NOT SWERVE SHARPLY TO AVOID IT AND THEN DRIVE INTO AN ADJACENT PARKING LOT. THE CAR WAS TURN OFF AND THEN ON AGAIN. WHEN IT WAS TURNED ON AGAIN, THE BRAKES RESPONDED CORRECTLY. THE CAR WAS IMMEDIATELY BROUGHT TO THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC SAID THAT HE HAD FOUND AN ERROR CODE (THE ABS SYSTEM) IN THE COMMUTER AND THEY TECH'S AT THE DEALERSHIP SAID THAT THEY HAD SEEN THIS HAPPEN WITH A FEW OTHER PRIUS (THIS IS WHAT I FOUND CONCERNING?THERE WERE ALSO SIMILAR INCIDENTS POSTED ON THE WEB). NO MECHANICAL PROBLEM WAS FOUND WITH THE BRAKES. THE MECHANICS SPOKE TO TOYOTA HEAD OFFICE (??) AND THEY WERE TOLD TO RESET THE COMPUTER AND RUN A NUMBER OF TESTS. THE CAR RESPONDED CORRECTLY AFTER THE RESET AND IT WAS GIVEN BACK TO ME NO MECHANIC PROBLEM WAS FOUND.. *TR

1.) EVENTS LEADING UP TO FAILURE: NONE (EXCEPT VEHICLE > 43000 MILES?) 2.) HID HEADLAMP ON 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS HAS INTERMITTENT PROBLEMS WITH ONE OR BOTH HEADLAMPS TURNING ON AND OFF RANDOMLY. TURNING ON/OFF OF HEADLIGHTS WOULD HAPPEN PERHAPS 1 TO 2 TIMES IN A 15 MINUTE DRIVE 3.) NONE YET. OTHERS HAVE REPORTED HID INVERTER FAILURE/ECU FAILURE TO BE CAUSE. *TR

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

OUR 2005 PRIUS RECENTLY DEVELOPED A PROBLEM WITH THE AUTOMATIC-LEVELING HEADLIGHTS. WARNING SYMBOLS APPEARED ON THE DASH. AS WE WERE DRIVING, WE NOTICED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS WERE AIMED MUCH HIGHER THAN USUAL, SO THAT THE LOW BEAMS APPEARED MORE LIKE HIGH BEAMS. IN THE COURSE OF THIS TRIP, WE STOPPED BRIEFLY AND TURNED OFF THE CAR. WHEN WE RESUMED OUR TRIP, WE NOTICED THE HEADLIGHTS WERE NOW VERY LOW, SO LOW THAT WE DARED NOT GO OVER ABOUT 20 MPH. WE SCHEDULED A VISIT TO OUR TOYOTA SERVICE DEPARTMENT; BUT WHILE THE WARNING LIGHTS WERE STILL ON, THE HEADLIGHTS WERE NOW AIMED NORMALLY. PRIOR TO THIS SERVICE VISIT, AN INTERNET SEARCH REVEALED THAT A NUMBER OF 2004-2005 PRIUSES HAVE EXPERIENCED A PROBLEM WITH THE SENSOR IN THE REAR OF THE CAR, IN THE VICINITY OF THE LEFT REAR TIRE WELL, THAT MEASURES THE LOAD ON THE REAR END AND ADJUSTS THE HEADLIGHTS ACCORDINGLY. TOYOTA HAS PUBLISHED A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN ON THE PROBLEM. IT APPEARS THAT IN A NUMBER OF PRIUSES, THE SENSOR IS DEFECTIVE, BUT THE PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT AND DIFFICULT TO DETECT. I SHARED WITH THE DEALER WHAT I KNEW ABOUT THE PROBLEM, E-MAILED (AT THEIR REQUEST) THE TSB, AND ASKED THAT EVEN THOUGH OUR CAR WAS RECENTLY OUT OF WARRANTY, SINCE IT HAD ONLY 25,000 MILES ON IT AND THE PROBLEM WAS CLEARLY A SYSTEMATIC MANUFACTURING DEFECT AS WELL AS A POTENTIAL SAFETY HAZARD, THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD REMEDY THE PROBLEM AT NO CHARGE. DURING MY DISCUSSION WITH THE SERVICE ADVISER, HE ADMITTED THAT WHILE NO FAULT CODE COULD

2005 TOYOTA PRIUS...PURCHASED NEW...HAVE HAD NINE (9) EXTERIOR LIGHTS BURN OUT. I HAVE REPLACED THEM AND THEY SEEM TO BE WORKING BETTER. I BELIEVE THE BULBS USED BY TOYOTA WERE INFERIOR. AFTER 36,000 MILES TOYOTA WOULD NOT REPLACE ANY BULBS. *TR

2005 TOYOTA PRIUS HEADLIGHTS GO OFF SPONTANEOUSLY. USUALLY JUST THE DRIVERS SIDE BUT RECENTLY BOTH AT THE SAME TIME. BEFORE TURNING THE LIGHTS OFF AND BACK ON WOULD FIX IT BUT NOW IT DOES NOT ALWAYS WORK. PREVIOUS OWNER HAD IT CHECKED BY TOYOTA BUT THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS. FOR THE PAST TWO YEARS, THE VEHICLE HAS EMITTED AN ODOR INSIDE THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT, WHICH STICKS TO THE CONTACT'S CLOTHING AND HAIR. THE ODOR HAS BEEN RECOGNIZED BY TOYOTA AS AN ODOR THAT ORIGINATES FROM THE REAR BATTERY WHICH IS FOUND UNDER THE BACK SEAT. THE ODOR IS TRIGGERED BY EXTREME HEAT AND WHILE PULLING HEAVY LOADS. THE CONTACT LIVES IN ARIZONA SO THE VEHICLE IS SUBJECTED TO EXTREME HEAT. TOYOTA STATED THAT THE ODOR WAS NON-TOXIC AND THAT THERE WAS NO CURRENT REMEDY FOR THE DEFECT. THE CONTACT BELIEVES THAT THE CHEMICAL MAY BE TOXIC AND FEELS UNCOMFORTABLE DRIVING THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 13,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 45,000.

DRIVER'S SIDE HEADLIGHT BEGAN GOING OUT INTERMITTENTLY, FIRST RARELY, THEN GRADUALLY MORE FREQUENTLY. SWITCHING THEM OFF AND ON WOULD RESTORE IT TEMPORARILY. THE FIRST TIME I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER THEY COULDN'T REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM. BY THE TIME IT BECAME VERY BAD, THEY DIAGNOSED THAT THE HEADLAMP WAS OVERHEATING, AND REPLACED IT ($360). NOW, LESS THAN TWO MONTHS LATER IT HAS STARTED GOING OUT AGAIN, AT INFREQUENT INTERVALS. THIS IS CLEARLY A SAFETY ISSUE AND NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED. *TR

INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT, HIT BROADSIDED ON DRIVER'S SIDE AND RAMMED INTO GUARD RAIL ON FRONT OF VEHICLE, THE FRONT WINDSHIELD WAS BROKEN AND PART OF THE DOOR HAD TO BE REMOVED TO GET ME OUT.. THE CAR WAS A 2005 PRIUS WITH SIDE, CURTAIN, AND FRONT AIRBAGS, NONE OF WHICH DEPLOYED. THE CAR WAS TOTALED. I SUFFERED NECK, BACK AND SHOULDER TRAMA AND HAVE NOT BE ABLE TO WORK FOR A MONTH AND HALF. *TR

WE NOTICED SHORTLY AFTER WE BOUGHT OUR 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS THAT THE HEADLIGHTS DID NOT SHINE FAR ENOUGH IN ADVANCE OF THE CAR TO PROPERLY ILLUMINATE THE ROAD. WHEN WE COMPLAINED TO THE DEALER, THEY CHECKED IT AND SAID THAT THE LIGHTS WERE SET PROPERLY SO AS NOT TO SHINE IN THE FACE OF APPROACHING CAR. NOW THE AUTOMATIC SENSOR WARNING LIGHT WARNING OF A PROBLEM ILLUMINATES AND INDICATES HEADLIGHT PROBLEMS ANY TIME WE HAVE ANYONE IN THE BACK SEAT OF THE CAR. DESPITE HAVING HIGH INTENSITY HEADLIGHTS OFFERED IN THIS PACKAGE (PACKAGE 4), WE STILL DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING THIS CAR AT NIGHT BECAUSE THE HEADLIGHTS ILLUMINATE ONLY ABOUT 15-20 FEET IN FRONT OF THE CAR, EVEN AT 'HIGH BEAMS.' I DON'T WANT TO BLIND SOMEONE, BUT I DO WANT TO SEE THE ROAD MORE THAN 20 FEET IN FRONT OF ME. I AM INDICATING THE PROBLEM BEGAN IN MAY, 2008 BECAUSE THAT'S WHEN THE SENSOR WARNING LIGHT STARTED TO COME ON, BUT THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR PRETTY MUCH EVER SINCE WE BOUGHT IT. THE DEALER SAYS THERE IS A BULLETIN OUT ABOUT IT, BUT WANTS TO CHARGE US ABOUT $500 TO FIX IT SINCE IT IS 8,000 MILES PAST WARRANTY. HAD I KNOWN THAT OTHERS HAVE IDENTIFIED THIS AS A PROBLEM (WWW.PRIUSCHAT.COM), I WOULD HAVE BEEN MORE INSISTENT BEFORE THE WARRANTY RAN OUT. THIS CAR REALLY IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE AT NIGHT, ESPECIALLY HERE IN RURAL MAINE WHERE WE HAVE MANY LARGE ANIMALS ON THE HIGHWAYS AT NIGHT (INCLUDING MOOSE). *TR

I PURCHASED A 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS AND DROVE IT FOR 12,00 MILES AT WHICH TIME THE TIRES WERE COMPLETELY WORE OUT. WHEN I WENT IN TO TOYOTA AND POINTED THIS OUT THEY REPLACED THE TIRES BECAUSE THE CAR WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. I TAKE MY CAR IN FOR THE SCHEDULED SERVICES RECOMMENDED BY TOYOTA. TO DATE MY CAR HAS 25,000 MILES AND I AM EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEMS WITH THE TIRES. THEREFORE THE TIRES ONLY HAVE 13,000 MILES WEAR. I CALLED TOYOTA AND SPOKE TO THE HEAD MANAGER WHO INDICATED THAT THE PRIUS CARS HAVE THIS PROBLEM BECAUSE OF THE BATTERY AND TOYOTA IS AWARE OF THIS. IF THEY ARE AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM, WHY DO THEY USE THE GOODYEAR TIRES WHICH WEAR OUT SO QUICKLY? I HAVE ALSO READ ON THE INTERNET OF OTHER PRIUS OWNERS EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE TIRES AND HAVING BLOW OUTS ON FREEWAYS, ETC. I THINK THERE SHOULD BE A SAFETY RECALL ON TOYOTA PRIUS TIRES SINCE UPON READING INFORMATION ON THE INTERNET THERE HAVE BEEN A MULTITUDE OF OWNERS WHO HAVE EXPERIENCE THE SAME PROBLEM AS I. THEY SHOULD PUT SAFER TIRES ON THE CAR SINCE THEY ARE AWARE OF THIS SITUATION. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE CRASHED WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE IMPACT CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO TURN OVER ONTO THE DRIVER'S SIDE AND SKID ACROSS THE SHOULDER INTO THE GRASS. THE VEHICLE WENT AIRBORNE DOWN AN EMBANKMENT AND CONTINUED TO ROLL. THE VELOCITY WAS DECREASED BY A BARB WIRE FENCE CATCHING ONTO THE TIRE OF THE VEHICLE, WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO LAND ON ITS TIRES. THE PASSENGER SIDE B-BEAM WAS SEVERELY DAMAGED. NONE OF THE EIGHT AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 55,000.

HEADLIGHTS BEGAN ILLUMINATING VERY SHORT DISTANCE. REPAIR CENTER FOUND FAILED SENSOR. MY CONCERN IS THAT SYSTEM FAILED INTO UNSAFE CONDITION WHEN THE ONBOARD SYSTEMS ARE PERFECTLY CAPABLE OF REMEMBERING THE LAST SAFE CONDITION. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE CONTACT HAD TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL VERY HARD TO AVOID CRASHING INTO THE PRECEDING VEHICLE. THE BRAKES DID NOT RESPOND WHEN THEY WERE APPLIED, WHICH CAUSED THE CONTACT TO REAR END THE VEHICLE ANYWAY. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND THE CONTACT DID NOT NOTICE ANY PRIOR WARNINGS. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 16,000.

MY 2005 PRIUS STARTED TO INTERMITTENTLY DISPLAY A WARNING TRIANGLE SIGN ON THE DASHBOARD. FINALLY IT CAME ON AND STAYED ON. THE DEALER PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC CHECK AND SAYS THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE HEADLIGHT LEVELING SYSTEM - A SHORT OR SOME SUCH GLITCH. COST TO REPAIR $700. I DECLINED TO REPAIR SINCE IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. IT APPEARS THAT THERE ARE OTHER PRIUS PROBLEMS WITH HEADLIGHTS. *TR

TOYOTA'S HID HEADLIGHTS SEEM TO ONLY WORK INTERMITTENTLY. TOYOTA WOULD LIKE US TO REPLACE THE BULBS. LABOR AND THE BULB RUN ABOUT $500. THIS SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM WITH MANY OF TOYOTA'S VEHICLES AND SEEMS LIKE CONSUMER GOUGING ON A FAULTY PRODUCT/DESIGN TO THE NTH DEGREE! *TR

I OWN A 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS. I PURCHASED IT IN MARCH 2005. LAST WEEK, MY MULTIFUNCTIONAL DISPLAY (MFD) CEASED TO OPERATE CORRECTLY. THE MFD INITIALIZED TO THE MPG SCREEN BUT HAD UNUSUAL COLORS. I ATTEMPTED TO CHANGE THE DISPLAY SCREEN BY SELECTING THE AUDIO, CLIMATE, DISPLAY, AND INFO BUTTONS BUT TO NO AVAIL. THE SCREEN WOULD GO BLANK AND THEN SHOW THE ?PRIUS HYBRID? INITIALIZING SCREEN AND THEN RETURN TO THE MPG SCREEN. AS I WAS NEARING MY 80K SERVICE, I CONTACTED MY DEALER AND REPORTED THE PROBLEM. THEY DIAGNOSED THE MFD AS BEING UNSERVICEABLE THAT NEXT SATURDAY. THE SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE MADE THE COMMENT THAT IT WAS COMMON FOR THE MFD TO GO BAD. TO REPLACE THE MFD WITH A NEW ONE, IT IS $4,000.00 PLUS INSTALLATION. THAT IS 19% OF THE COST OF THE VEHICLE WHEN IT WAS BRAND NEW! I BEGAN RESEARCHING AND FOUND THAT TOYOTA HAD ISSUED A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN ON 10 JANUARY 2005 TITLE: MULTI-DISPLAY FUNCTIONS ARE INOPERATIVE; TSB# EL002-05 WHICH IDENTIFIED ISSUES WITH THE MFD. ALSO IN BROWSING THE WEB SPECIFICALLY WWW.PRIUSCHAT.COM AND HTTP://AUTOS.GROUPS.YAHOO.COM/GROUP/PRIUS-2G/ AND SAW THAT I WAS NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THIS PROBLEM. ONE ELECTRONICALLY GIFTED PERSON DISASSEMBLED HIS MFD AND DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS IMPROPER SOLDERING ON THE CIRCUIT CARD (SEE HTTP://TECHNO-FANDOM.ORG/~HOBBIT/CARS/MFD/COMPARE.HTML ). IT SEEMS THAT TOYOTA CORPORATION WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND WERE NOT DISCLOSING IT HOPING THAT THE FAULTY MFD?S WOULD NOT BE DISCOVERED UNTIL THE VEHICLES EXCEEDED

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE BEGAN MAKING UNFAMILIAR NOISES WHILE PARKED. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE NOISE CONTINUED IN INTERVALS. THE SERVICE BRAKE AND THE ABS WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE BRAKE ACTUATOR ASSEMBLY (PART NUMBER 4450047090) NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT AN ESTIMATED COST OF $2,600. THE YEAR BEFORE, THE BRAKE ACTUATOR ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY BY AN AUTHORIZED TOYOTA DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER CONFIRMED THAT THE PART WAS PREVIOUSLY REPLACED IN MAY OF 2007. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 18,799 AND CURRENT MILEAGE IS 32,016. UPDATED 10-07-08 *BF THE TIRE SHOWED UNUSUAL WEAR PATTERNS. THE VEHICLE PULLED TO THE RIGHT. UPDATED 10/07/08. *JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE BEHIND HIM NOTICED A PIECE OF PLASTIC HANGING UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER AND THEY REPLACED THE PLASTIC COVER ON CABLES THAT EXTENDED FROM THE FRONT TO THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 46,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,950. UPDATED 09/16/08. *LJ THE COSUMER STATED THE PLASTIC COVER BROKE DUE TO REOAD DEBRIS. UPDATED 09/18/08. *JB

TOYOTA PRIUS 2005 FAILING BRAKE SYSTEM- FOR THE SECOND TIME (THE FIRST INCIDENT WAS ON 27-JUN-2008) MY BRAKES WERE NOT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY. THE FIRST TIME THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP "RECALIBRATED THE COMPUTER" AND COULD NOT TELL ME WHY IS FAILED OR THAT IT WOULD NOT HAPPEN AGAIN. THE SECOND OCCASION, YESTERDAY, I ACTUALLY REARENDED ANOTHER CAR. NO DAMAGE OTHER THAN A COMPLAINT OF POSSIBLE WHIPLASH AND A WARNING THAT I MAY HEAR FROM HIM IN A FEW DAYS. THE DEALER JUST CALLED ME THIS AFTERNOON TO TELL ME THAT NOW THEY ARE "REPLACING THE COMPUTER." DOES THIS HAPPEN TO PRIUS'S. IT WAS VERY FRIGHTENING AND REALLY MAKES ME FEEL QUITE UNSAFE TO DRIVE MY CAR WHICH PRESENTED NO MAJOR PROBLEMS UNTIL THE PRESENT BRAKING ISSUE. THE ANTI SKID LIGHT COMES ON A FAIR AMOUNT AND MY TIRES SLIP. I HAVE BEEN ON LINE AND THERE SEEMS TO BE A NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS SIMILAR TO MINE AND IN DIFFERENT MODEL YEARS. *TR

I WAS INVOLVED IN A OFF-SET FRONTAL COLLISION IN A 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS EQUIPPED WITH DUAL FRONT AIR BAGS AND SIDE CURTAIN AIR BAGS ON JULY 1, 2008. NONE OF THE FOUR AIR BAG SYSTEMS IN THIS VEHICLE DEPLOYED UPON IMPACT. I WAS TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH AND THE OTHER VEHICLE WAS GOING ~ 30-35 MPH. THE OTHER DRIVER INVOLVED WAS NOT INJURED, BUT I WAS TAKEN BY AMBULANCE TO THE LOCAL ER TRAUMA CENTER WHERE I UNDERWENT OVER 11 HOURS IN A NECK COLLAR AND NUMEROUS CT SCANS, MRIS AND SEVERAL X-RAYS. THANKFULLY I WAS NOT SERIOUSLY INJURED BUT STILL HAVE NECK, BACK, AND ABDOMINAL PAIN FROM THE CRASH. PRIOR TO THIS ACCIDENT, I HAD SURGERY ON JUNE 24, 2008 AND WAS STILL RECOVERING FROM THE SURGERY. THE AUTO ACCIDENT HAS SIGNIFICANTLY AFFECTED THE SPEED OF MY RECOVERY. *TR

UNPROTECTED A/C CONDENSER ON TOYOTA PRIUS VERY VULNERABLE TO MINOR ROAD DEBRIS ALLOWING ESCAPE OF POTENTIALLY HARMFUL TO THE ENVIRONMENT AC FLUID. *TR

FIVE NO STARTING CONCERNS AFTER TWO YEARS OF OWNERSHIP. *TR