2005 Toyota Prius complaints

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH THE VEHICLE LOST POWER. IT WAS MANEUVERED OFF THE ROAD AND WAS OBSERVED TO BE OUT OF GEAR. THE CONTACT BELIEVES THE PARK BUTTON WAS ACCIDENTALLY DEPRESSED CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO GO OUT OF GEAR. THE DEALER HAS NOT BEEN ALERTED. THE CONSUMER STATED HE BELIVES THE PARKING GEAR IS TOO CLOSE TO THE DASHBOARD. IT ONLY TAKES LITTLE PRESSURE TO PUSH THE PARK SELECTOR. UPDATED 08/08/06. *JB

OUR 2005 PRIUS SHUT DOWN ON 07/15/06 WHILE MY WIFE WAS TRYING TO GET HOME THAT EVENING. SHE WAS 200 MILES FROM THE NEAREST TOYOTA DEALER. THE CAR NEEDED TO BE TOWED FROM ALAMOSA TO PUEBLO. A COMPLETE CAR SHUTDOWN IS A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD ESPECIALLY IF YOU ARE A WOMAN IN A DESOLATE ROAD AT NIGHT. THE CAR HAS LESS THAN 35,000 MILES. TOYOTA FAILED TO COMPLETELY REIMBURSE ALL MY COST. MY WIFE HAD TO STAY IN A MOTEL THAT NIGHT AND I INCURRED THE COST OF GETTING HER HOME AND THEN DRIVING FROM DENVER AGAIN TO RETRIEVE THE CAR. ALONG WITH THE SAFETY ISSUE AND TOYATAS' REFUSAL TO REIMBURSE ALL MY COSTS, HAS LEFT ME TOTALLY APPALLED WITH TOYOTA. THE MASS AIRFLOW SENSOR I AM BEING TOLD IS THE CAUSE OF THE VEHICLE SHUT DOWN. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN INTO THE DEALER FOR A RECALL AND THE RECALL PART WAS UNAVAILABLE. THEREFORE, AN APPOINTMENT WAS SCHEDULED FOR JUNE 29, 2006 FOR THE REMEDY REPAIR. ON THAT DATE, THE VEHICLE WAS DROPPED AT THE DEALER (ABOUT 65 MILES AWAY). WHEN THE CONTACT RETURNED TO PICK UP THE VEHICLE, THE RECALL REMEDY REPAIR HAD NOT BE MADE BECAUSE THE PART WAS STILL UNAVAILALBE AND WOULD NEED TO BE ORDERED. THE CONTACT HAS BEEN INFORMED BY DEALER THAT THE PART IS AVAILABLE HOWEVER THE SERVICE DEPT WILL FOLLOW UP TO RESCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT LATER THAT DAY. THE CONTACT WAITED 6 HOURS AND STILL HAD NOT RECEIVED A CALL BACK FROM THE DEALER'S SERVICE DEPT TO RESCHEDULE THE APPOINTMENT. THE SHAFT THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE REPLACED ACCORDING TO THE RECALL IS NOW BROKEN. THE VEHICLE WILL NOW HAVE TO BE DRIVEN WITH A BROKEN SHAFT.

I WAS DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH. VEHICLE SUDDENLY WENT INTO UNCONTROLLED ACCELERATION WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN OPERATION ON THE HIGHWAY. THE ONLY WAY THAT I WAS ABLE TO SLOW DOWN THE VEHICLE WAS BY RIDING THE BRAKES. I FINALLY SLOW DOWN THE VEHICLE WITH THE BRAKES AND TURNED IT OFF. SMOKE WAS COMING OUT OF THE WHEELS WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. *NM

DT*: THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONSULTED AND DETERMINED THE FUEL TANK WAS OPERATING PROPERLY. UPDATED 6/27/2006 - THE FUEL TANK IN THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE IS FLEXIBLE. EACH TIME THE CONSUMER FILLS THE VEHICLE, THE TANK ACCEPTS 2-4 GALLONS LESS THAN DESIGNED. IF THE CONSUMER SLOW THE FUEL PUMP TO ALLOW THE ADDITIONAL GALLONS IN THE STOP MECHANISM DOES NOT ACTIVATE CAUSING THE FUEL TANK TO OVERFLOW. THE CONSUMER RECEIVES 100-150 MILES LESS PER GALLON. *NM

WHILE STOPPED AT A STOP LIGHT, MY BRAKES FAILED AND PEDAL RELEASED TO THE FLOOR. TOYOTA OF VISALIA SERVICE MANAGER STATED THAT COMPUTER SHOWED CODES C1357 AND DETAIL CODE 28. THEY WERE UNABLE TO DETERMINE CASE OF BRAKE FAILURE, OR DUPLICATE PROBLEM. ALTHOUGH I REQUESTED THEY REPLACE COMPONENTS THAT MAY BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE INCIDENT, GIVEN THE CATASTROPHIC POSSIBILITIES ASSOCIATED WITH BRAKE FAILURE AT HIGH SPEEDS, THEY REFUSED. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS AT THE DEALER FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE, THE MECHANIC NOTICED A TREAD SEPARATION PROBLEM ON THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE TIRE. THE CONTACT WAS REFERRED TO THE TIRE DEALER AND UPON INSPECTION THE TIRE DEALER DETERMINED THE TREAD SEPARATION WAS RELATED TO IMPACT DAMAGE. BUT, THE VEHICLE WAS NEVER INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT OR OTHER TYPE OF IMPACT. THE TIRES HAD BEEN REGULARLY ROTATED EVERY FIVE THOUSAND MILES AS RECOMMENDED BY THE MANUFACTURER. THE TIRE WAS REPLACED WITH A LIKE TIRE BY THE TIRE DEALER. THE FAILED TIRE WAS A GOOD YEAR, INTEGRITY, P185/65/R15.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE STALLED ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS. THE FIRST TIME IT OCCURRED WAS ON APRIL 7TH WHILE DRIVING AT A STEADY SPEED OF 25MPH. THE SECOND TIME IT OCCURRED WAS ON APRIL 21ST WHILE DRIVING AT A STEADY SPEED OF 5-15 MPH. ALL THE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER. ONCE PULLED OVER, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT GO BACK INTO THE DRIVE POSITION. AFTERWARDS, IT STALLED AND WOULD NOT RESTART. THE STALLING OCCURRED 3-5 MINUTES AFTER IT WAS PULLED OVER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP BOTH TIMES. THE FIRST TIME THE DEALER REPLACED THE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION. THE SECOND TIME THE DEALER REPLACED THE INVERTER. ON APRIL 23RD WHILE DRIVING THE DASH BOARD LIGHTS BECAME INOPERABLE INCLUDING THE SPEEDOMETER, AND THE GEAR INDICATOR. THE CONTACT ALERTED THE DEALERSHIP BY PHONE WHO EXPLAINED THE PROBLEM WAS LIKELY THE CIRCUIT BOARD AND IT WAS OKAY TO CONTINUE DRIVING THE VEHICLE. AFTERWARDS, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO BLOW OUT HOT AND COLD AIR AND THE DEALERSHIP WAS ALERTED AGAIN WHICH EXPLAINED IT WAS OKAY TO CONTINUE DRIVING. SHORTLY AFTER IT BEGAN TO RAIN, THE WIPERS WERE TURNED ON, AND THE DASH LIGHTS BECAME INOPERABLE ONCE AGAIN. THE VEHICLE IS SCHEDULED FOR INSPECTION ON MONDAY MAY 8TH.

THE 2005 PRIUS WE OWN WILL NOT START AT SCATTERED TIMES (AFTER DRIVING FOR SOME TIME AND THEN STOPPING AND TURNING THE ENGINE OFF). THE SCREEN ON THE DASHBOARD PANEL LIGHTS UP PARTIALLY AND NOT ALWAYS THE SAME ON REPEATED TRIES. OTHER STRANGE ELECTRICAL EVENTS OCCUR SUCH AS THE AUTOMATIC WINDOWS GOING DOWN WHEN THE CAR IS TURNED OFF AFTER TRYING TO START IT UNSUCCESSFULLY. THE CAR WILL START AT SOME TIME - UP TO 20 MINUTES AFTER LETTING CAR SIT. THESE EVENTS ARE SIMILAR TO THOSE THAT OCCURRED IN DAYS PRIOR TO THE MARCH 29,2005 WHEN THE CAR STALLED AT 45 MPH ON A HIGHWAY IN THE OUTER BANKS OF NORTH CAROLINAS AND WAS SERVICED WITH WHAT BECAME A RECALL LATER FOR PRIUS'S. THE MOST RECENT PROBLEMS OCCURRED ON MARCH 17TH AND MAY 1, 2006. WE HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TO LUSTINE TOYOTA IN WOODBRIDGE, VA AND THEY HAVE TESTED THE CAR AND SAY THAT EVERYTHING CHECKS OUT OK AND THEIR IS NO SERVICE BULLETIN FROM TOYOTA. THEY ARE LOOKING AT THE CAR AGAIN TODAY. WE ARE CONCERNED THAT THE PROBLEM COULD CONTINUE AND PLACE US IN A DANGEROUS SITUATION EITHER FROM ANOTHER STALLING INCIDENT OR LEAVING US IN A DANGEROUS PLACE WITH A CAR THAT WILL NOT START. *NM

BULGES HAVE APPEARED IN THE SIDEWALLS OF TWO OF THE FOUR GOODYEAR POTENZA TIRES ON OUR 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS. I CAN PROVIDE PHOTOS. THE TIRES WERE MAINTAINED BY HAVING THEM ROTATED AND PRESSURE CHECKED AT 5,000-MILE INTERVALS BY THE TOYOTA DEALER. THE CAR HAS BEEN DRIVEN ONLY ON PAVED STREETS AND ROADS. CURRENT MILEAGE ON THE CAR IS 13,000. I HAVE ELECTED TO REPLACE ALL FOUR TIRES WITH MICHELINS. *JB

CONSUMER COMPLAINT CONCERNING 2005 PRIUS ENGINE STALLING. *TS *JB

I WAS INVOLVED IN A LOW-SPEED ACCIDENT IN WHICH THE BRAKES IN MY CAR (2005 TOYOTA PRIUS) DID NOT SLOW OR STOP THE CAR AND CAUSED ME TO RUN INTO THE BACK OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. NO ONE WAS INJURED, THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND THERE WAS NO DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE MY CAR COLLIDED WITH. THE EXTERIOR DAMAGE TO MY CAR WAS ESTIMATED APPROXIMATELY $6700. SOON AFTER, I WAS NOTIFIED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY THAT MY CAR WAS TOTALED DUE TO DAMAGE SUSTAINED TO THE HYBRID SYSTEM. I REQUESTED THAT THE EVENT DATA RECORDER BE DOWNLOADED TO DETERMINE IF THERE HAD BEEN A FAILURE IN THE BRAKE SYSTEM. MY INSURANCE COMPANY REFUSED AND TOYOTA APPEARS TO HAVE IGNORED MY REQUEST. I ALSO FIND IT DISTURBING AND CURIOUS THAT THE FRONT END AND HENCE THE HYBRID SYSTEM WAS DESTROYED BEYOND REPAIR IN AN ACCIDENT SO MINOR THAT THE POLICE WOULD NOT EVEN GIVE IT A REPORT NUMBER. *JB

ENGINE STALLS. *JB

THE AUTOMATIC DIMMING REAR-VIEW MIRROR IN MY 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS DIMS RANDOMLY. IT HAS SUPPOSEDLY BEEN REPLACED BY THE DEALER WITH NO NOTICEABLE IMPROVEMENT. IT RESPONDS TO BLUE-TINTED (WHITER) HEADLIGHTS, BUT DOES NOT DIM WHEN A STANDARD YELLOWISH HEADLIGHT IS SHINING INTO THE MIRROR. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND DISTRACTING. *JB

2005 TOYOTA PRIUS: IN SLIPPERY CONDITIONS, WHEN A FRONT WHEEL SLIPS, BOTH WHEELS STOP ROTATING AND THEN THE WHEEL THAT DID NOT SLIP IS GIVEN POWER. THIS TAKES ABOUT 1 SECOND. DURING THAT TIME THE MOTOR HAS SHUT DOWN, LOSING SUBSTANTIAL FORWARD MOMENTUM. IF THE SECOND WHEEL SLIPS,THE PROCESS IS REPEATED GIVING THE ORIGINAL WHEEL POWER. THE 1 SECOND TIME INTERVAL OCCURS AGAIN AND MORE FORWARD MOMENTUM IS LOST. ON A SLIPPERY HILL, THIS BASICALLY STOPS THE FORWARD MOTION OF THE AUTO VERY QUICKLY. IF BOTH WHEELS CONTINUE TO SLIP,THE AUTO JUST SITS THERE , WITH THE ELECTRIC MOTOR STARTING AND STOPPING AS THE POWER IS SWITCHED BETWEEN FRONT WHEELS. IF THERE ARE CARS BEHIND YOURS, THEN BACKING UP IS IMPOSSIBLE. IF THE WIFE AND KIDS ARE IN A BAD NEIGHBOR HOOD AND THIS HAPPENS,THAT COULD MEAN REAL TROUBLE. THE CONDITION IS TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE. ALL THE PRIUS' SHOULD BE RECALLED AND THE TRACTION CONTROL REPROGRAMMED TO ALLOW REDUCED POWER TO THE SLIPPING WHEEL, NOT ZERO POWER. THIS WILL TEND TO MAINTAIN FORWARD MOMENTUM AND KEEP THE MOTOR FROM SHUTTING DOWN. I SPOKE TO THE ORIGINAL DEALER AND THEY CLAIMED NO KNOWLEDGE OF THE DESIGN FLAW. *NM

MY 2005 PRIUS HAD A FLAT TIRE LAST WEEK, I TOOK IT TO A TIRE SHOP TO FIND OUT ALL FOUR TIRES WERE WORN DUE TO ALIGNMENT PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR. I HAVE HAD IT SERVICED EACH TIME AT THE DEALER WHERE I PURCHASED THE CAR AND THEY ROTATED THE TIRES ONCE, I THOUGHT THEY HAD TWICE. IN ANY EVENT THEY SAID I MUST HAVE HIT A LARGE POTHOLE WITH MY REAR TIRE, BECAUSE IT WAS THE WORST. ALL FOUR TIRES HAD WORN UNEVENLY. THE ORIGINAL TIRE DEALER I TOOK THE CAR TO SAID THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE CAR AND THE SECOND TIRE DEALER WHERE I HAD THE ALIGNMENT DONE AND NEW TIRES PUT ON SAID IT WAS A COMMON PROBLEM. THEY HAVE DEVELOPED A SHIM FOR REAR WHEEL ALIGNMENT AND SAID IT WAS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE PRIUS. THEY ALSO SAID THEY COULD SEE NO EVIDENCE OF AND DAMAGE BY A POTHOLE OR ANYTHING ELSE. I FELT BAD THE DEALER WOULD NOT OWN UP TO THE PROBLEM. I KNOW I DIDN'T ROTATE TIRES AS OFTEN AS I SHOULD HAVE, BUT I HAVE A MERCURY AND FORD THAT HAVE THEIR TIRES ROTATED ABOUT EVER 15,000 MILES. I GET GREAT TIRE WEAR AND HAVE HAD NO PROBLEMS. BY TIME I GOT THE ALIGNMENT AND THE TIRES I WAS INTO IT OVER $500.(THAT'S A LOT OF GAS). THE TIRE DEALERS SAID IT WAS THE CAR MORE THAN THE TIRES. I HAVE HAD TOYOTAS IN THE PAST AND WAS VERY DISSAPOINTED IN THEIR RESPONSE TO THIS ONE. I HAVE SORT OF LOST CONFIDENCE IN THIS CAR AND EVEN DISCUSSED GETTING A DIFFERENT CAR WITH THE DEALER BUT THEY WERE UNWILLING TO DISCUSS THAT. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE CONSOLE SHOWED WHETHER THE VEHICLE WAS RUNNING ON ENGINE POWER OR ELECTRICAL POWER. SINCE PURCHASE THE VEHICLE HAS NOT OPERATED ON ELECTRICAL POWER AT LOW SPEEDS. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE.

2005 TOYOTA PRIUS, WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT THERE IS A GREEN STREAK OF LIGHT ABOUT SEVEN INCHES ACROSS AND ABOUT AN INCH HIGH ON WINDSHIELD. *TS THIS STREAK OBSCURES THE CONSUMER'S VISION. THE CONSUMER BELIEVES THE LIGHT COMES FROM THE LIGHT THAT IS PROJECTED ONTO THE DASH AND THAT THE DASH IS NOT CONFIGURED PROPERLY. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED BOTH THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER AND THEY BOTH INDICATED THAT THE LIGHT WAS NORMAL. *NM UPDATED 03/28/06. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE HIGH BEAM HEADLIGHTS ILLUMINATE THE TREE LIMBS 8 FEET ABOVE THE ROAD, BUT NOT THE ROAD. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THE VEHICLE MET MANUFACTURER SPECIFICATIONS AND NO REPAIRS WERE NECESSARY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP AND IT WAS DETERMINED ADJUSTMENTS CANNOT BE MADE TO THE HEADLIGHTS. UPDATED 2/24/2006 - *NM

MY 2005 PRIUS HAD ENGINE FAILURE WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGH SPEED ON THE HIGHWAY. I PULLED OVER AND HAD TO GET THE CAR TOWED, AND THE COMPUTER RESET. I SOON AFTER LEARNED OF A RECALL, AND NOW I AM TOLD THAT MY CAR DOES NOT QUALIFY FOR THE RECALL. I THINK IT IS UNSAFE, AND I WANT THE COMPUTER PROBLEM REMEDIED. *JB

I WOULD LIKE TO REQUEST A RECALL OF THE 2005, TOYOTA PRIUS. WHEN I AM DRIVING AT NIGHT THERE IS A GREEN STREAK OF LIGHT ABOUT SEVEN INCHES ACROSS AND ABOUT AN INCH HIGH ON WINDSHIELD, DIRECTLY IN MY LINE OF VISION. IT IS DANGEROUS BECAUSE IT OBSCURES SOME OF MY VISION AND IT IS DISTRACTING. THE GREEN STREAK OF LIGHT APPEARS TO COME FROM THE LIGHT THAT IS PROJECTED ONTO THE DASHBOARD TO SHOW THE MPH. APPARENTLY, THE DASHBOARD IS NOT CONFIGURED PROPERLY, AND SOME OF THAT LIGHT SHINES PAST IT ONTO THE WINDSHIELD. I HAVE CONTACTED BOTH O LOCAL TOYOTA DEALERS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. NEITHER WOULD FIX IT. BOTH SAID THE GREEN STREAK OF LIGHT ON THE WINDSHIELD AT NIGHT WAS NORMAL FOR THE TOYOTA PRIUS. SO I CALLED THE MAIN TOYOTA OFFICE IN TORRANCE, CA, AND THEY SAID THE SAME THING. ALSO, THEY STATED IT WAS PART OF THE PRIUS DESIGN, THAT WAS THE WORD THEY USED - DESIGN. THEY FURTHER INDICATED THEY WERE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, AND THEY THERE WAS NO SOLUTION IN PLACE FOR IT. THEY OFFERED NO HELP OR SUGGESTED WHATSOEVER FOR FIXING THIS DANGEROUS PROBLEM. THE GREEN STREAK OF LIGHT PARTIALLY OBSTRUCTS THE DRIVER'S VISION AT NIGHT, MAKING IT A SAFETY HAZARD. *AK

2005 TOYOTA PRIUS WENT INTO A SUDDEN ENGINE STALLING MODE. I DO REALIZE THAT TOYOTA HAS A RECALL ON SUCH VEHICLES, BUT THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP THAT I TOOK IT TO, THE SAME PLACE WHERE I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE, THAT HAD A "PRIUS EXPERT" HAS BEEN DIAGNOSING THIS PROBLEM FOR A DAY WITH NO ANSWERS / ANTICIPATED FIX DATE. THIS IS ANNOYING TO SAY THE LEAST, AS TOYOTA DOES NOT SEEM TO HAVE TAKEN THE TIME TO TRAIN IT'S DEALERSHIPS ON THEIR OWN RECALL INFORMATION. I COULD STEER AND OPERATE THE VEHICLE IN ELECTRIC ONLY MODE. PRESSING THE POWER KEY WOULD NOT POWER OFF THE CAR. HENCE THE BATTERY STARTED TO DRAIN. OPENING THE PASSENGER DOOR AND PRESSING THE POWER KEY, SEEMED TO HAVE BEEN ABLE TO STOP THE CAR, NOT SURE WHETHER THIS WAS TIMING, OR SOME COINCIDENCE. STARTING THE CAR AGAIN, MADE THE GASOLINE ENGINE COME ON FOR THE PURPOSE OF REPLENISHING THE CHARGE FOR THE BATTERY, WITH THE DASH STILL DISPLAYING THE SAME ISSUES. ALSO, PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR AGAIN, DOES NOT RAISE THE RPM OF THE GASOLINE ENGINE. ITS STALLING CONTINUES AFTER A POWER CYCLE. *AK

MONITORED THE FUEL GAUGE ON THE DASHBOARD OF 2005, TOYOTA PRIUS IN ORDER TO KNOW WHEN WAS RUNNING LOW ON FUEL. HAS BEEN KEEPING A LOG OF FUEL CONSUMPTION, MPG AND MILES DRIVEN. TYPICALLY, IHE FILLED UP THE TANK WHEN THE DISPLAY SHOWED ONLY 2 OR 3 BARS REMAINING OUT OF 10 BARS WHEN FULL. BASED ON THE CARS 11.9 GALLON CAPACITY EACH BAR SHOULD INDICATE APPROXIMATELY 1.19 GALLONS OF FUEL. IN THE PAST IT HAS TAKEN 7-8 GALLONS TO FILL UP THE TANK WHEN THE DISPLAY GOT DOWN TO 2 OR 3 BARS. HOWEVER, THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL OCCASIONS WHERE IT HAS ONLY TAKEN 4.5 GALLONS TO FILL IT UP. ALSO THERE WERE 4 INSTANCES WHEN ATTEMPTING TO FILL TANK UP AFTER THE DISPLAY SHOWED 2 BARS REMAINING, AND IT ONLY ALLOWED ME TO PUMP 3 GALLONS OF FUEL BEFORE THE PUMP SHUT OFF. AS MUCH AS I TRIED COULD NOT GET ANY MORE FUEL TO GO INTO THE TANK. WHEN I STARTED THE CAR IT ONLY SHOWED 6 BARS ON THE DISPLAY. I DROVE AROUND THE BLOCK AND PULLED INTO THE SERVICE STATION AGAIN AND ATTEMPTED TO PUT IN MORE FUEL. IT ONLY TOOK ABOUT .2 OF A GALLON, BUT THIS TIME THE DISPLAY SHOWED 10 BARS. IT SEEMED OBVIOUS THAT SOMETHING WAS WRONG WITH THE FUEL TANK SENSOR SYSTEM. A FUEL GAUGE SHOULD PROVIDE AN ACCURATE INDICATION OF THE NUMBER OF GALLONS OF FUEL REMAINING.*AK

GASOLINE PUMP REGULARLY SHUTS OFF SEVERAL GALLONS SHORT OF FULL AND WILL NOT ALLOW CONTINUED FILLING WITHOUT REMOVING THE NOZZLE FROM BEYOND THE RUBBER SEAL. THE ONLY WAY TO KNOW WHEN THE TANK IS FULL IS TO WATCH AND LISTEN. OFTEN WHEN THE TANK APPROACHES FULL AND THE NOZZLE IS SHUT OFF THE GAS OVERFLOWS FROM THE TANK SPILLING A CUP OR PERHAPS MORE OF GAS. *AK

WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AT SPEEDS UP TO 65 MPH PULLED OFF AND WENT THROUGH A SMALL TOWN. AFTER COMING TO A STOP LIGHT STARTED TO PRESS THE GAS PEDAL TO ACCELERATE AND THE RED TRIANGLE WITH AN EXCLAMATION MARK LIT UP ON THE DASHBOARD, AND THEN THE SMALL CAR WITH EXCLAMATION MARK CAME ON THE LCD SCREEN. THE CAR DIDN'T STALL NOR LOOSE POWER, BUT I PULLED OVER TO CHECK AND SEE WHAT THE OWNER'S MANUAL SAID. IT STATED TO CONTACT THE DEALER. HAD THE CAR TOWED. TRIED TO POWER OFF AND ON TWICE BUT THE ICONS STILL REMAINED, AND ON THE LCD STATED A PROBLEM EXISTED. ALSO, IT SEEMED T WHEN I POWERING ON/OFF THE ENGINE DID NOT KICK IN AS USUAL. HOWEVER, I AM NOT SURE , IF I LEFT THE CAR POWERED ON LONG ENOUGH BECAUSE IT USUALLY TOOK 20-30 SECONDS BEFORE ENGINE KICKED IN.*AK

DT: THE CONSUMER STATED THERE WAS NO ALARM TO ALERT HIM THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS ON. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *JB UPDATED 07/03/06. *JB

I TOOK MY PRIUS IN FOR RECALL, NOTED IN PE05029, ON OR ABOUT DECEMBER 9, 2005. I HAD NO PROBLEMS WITH THE PRIUS BEFORE THE RECALL BUT DID THE RECALL BECAUSE OF THE PROBLEMS OTHERS WERE HAVING. I HAD 25,000 MILES WITH NO PROBLEMS BEFORE I TOOK THE CAR TO TOYOTA TO DO THE RECALL. SINCE THEN ON TWO OCCASIONS, ON OR ABOUT JANUARY 14, 2006 AND ON OR ABOUT JANUARY 16, 2006, I HAVE HAD THE ENGINE START TO REV UP WHILE AT A STOP LIGHT WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE. I DRIVE USING ONLY ONE FOOT SO THE GAS PEDAL DID NOT HAVE ANYTHING. THE ENGINE SEEMED TO REV TO ABOUT 2000 RPMS. THIS IS AN ESTIMATE ON MY OWN PART FROM THE SOUND AND NOT A MEASUREMENT. ON THE FIRST OCCASION I TURNED OFF THE CLIMATE CONTROL AS I WAS PROCEEDING TO SHUT DOWN THE CAR AND THE ENGINE RETURNED TO NORMAL IDLE AND THEN TURNED OFF AS IT NORMALLY WOULD AT A STOP LIGHT. I LEFT THE CLIMATE CONTROL OFF AND CONTINUED TO DRIVE WHEN THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN AND HAD NO MORE PROBLEMS THAT DAY. ON THE SECOND OCCASION I EASED UP SLIGHTLY ON THE BRAKE PEDAL TO SEE IF THE ENGINE WAS ACTUALLY PROPELLING THE CAR FORWARD AND THE CAR MOVED FORWARD BUT NO STRONGER THAN IT NORMALLY DOES WITH THE ELECTRIC MOTOR. SO, THE ENGINE ALTHOUGH REVVING UP SEEMED TO BE DISCONNECTED FROM THE DRIVE TRAIN. I BELIEVE I NOTICED ON BOTH OCCASIONS THAT THE BATTERY WAS FULLY CHARGES WITH NO WHITE SPACE AT THE TOP AS USUAL. PROBABLY BECAUSE THE ENGINE RUNS MORE ANYWAY SINCE THE RECALL AS CAN BE NOTED BY THE LOSS IN FUEL ECONOMY. I REPORTED IT TO THE DEALERS S

I TOOK MY TOYOTA PRIUS IN FOR THE RECALL NOTED IN PE05029 AND SINCE HAVE LOST 8 MILES PER GALLON IN PERFORMANCE. I CONTACTED TOYOTA CUSTOMER SERVICE TO LET THEM KNOW AND ASKED IF THEY COULD TELL ME IF OTHER CUSTOMERS WERE EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM. THE REPLY WAS THAT CUSTOMER SERVICE INFORMATION IS PROPRIETARY AND THAT THEY WOULD RECORD MY COMPLAINT BUT COULD GIVE ME NO FURTHER INFORMATION. I AM NOT SURE THE CAR WOULD STILL MEET THE EPA MILEAGE RATING ORIGINALLY GIVEN. *NM

THE CRITICAL SAFETY CONCERN IS NOTED AS FOLLOWS: ON OCTOBER 21, 2005, I WAS TRAVELING WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ACTIVE AT 55 MILES PER HOUR. UPON APPROACHING A SLOWER VEHICLE AND CHECKING TRAFFIC, I PROCEEDED TO ACCELERATE THE VEHICLE IN AN ATTEMPT TO QUICKLY PASS THE VEHICLE DRIVING BEFORE ME. UPON SUCCESSFUL PASSAGE OF THE VEHICLE, I LET OFF THE ACCELERATOR AND PRESSED THE BRAKES SEVERAL TIMES, BUT THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE UNDER FULL POWER. UNDER THE CONDITIONS, I TRIED TO QUICKLY DISRUPT THIS SAFETY CRITICAL ISSUE. TO THE BEST OF MY RECOLLECTION I TRIED TO SLOW THE VEHICLE BY PUSHING THE POWER BUTTON, MANIPULATING THE CRUISE CONTROL LEVER, AND PUTTING THE VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL. ALL ATTEMPTS WERE UNSUCCESSFUL. UNDER CONSIDERABLE DISTRESS, TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 20 MILES OVER THE POSTED SPEED LIMIT AT THIS POINT, AND CONTINUING TO ACCELERATE, I ELECTED TO APPLY FULL BRAKING FORCE TO THE PRIUS WHILE "LABORING" THE VEHICLE TO A STANDSTILL ON THE GRAVEL SHOULDER OF THE ROAD. REGAINING MY COMPOSURE, I PUSHED THE POWER BUTTON, AND THE VEHICLE SHUTDOWN. THE CABIN OF THE MOTOR VEHICLE EXHIBITED A STRONG ODOR REMINISCENT OF ELECTRICAL MOTOR SMELL. NO ROOT CAUSE HAS BEEN FOUND TO DATE. VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN BY DEALER AND ISSUE WAS RE-CREATED DURING INITIAL TEST-DRIVE FROM PORTER. *JB

I HAVE A 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS. I GOT MY CAR 8-23-2005 AND ON 10-13-2005 I WAS HIT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE WHILE MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN. THE INTERSECTIONS WAS JUST AFTER A TRAFFIC CIRCLE, SIGNS WAS MISSING, IT WAS RAINING, DUSK AND THE PERSON WHO HIT ME DID NOT HAVE HER LIGHTS ON AND WAS DRIVING TOO FAST FOR CONDITIONS. MY CAR STOPPED, AND COULD NOT BE RESTARTED. IT WAS TOWED. I CALLED MY INSURANCE COMPANY AND WAS SENT TO A REPAIR FACILITY. AFTER SEVERAL DAYS THEY GOT MY CAR, BUT BECAUSE IT WOULD NOT START, TOWED IT TO A TOYOTA SHOP. IT SAT THERE FOR 10 DAYS, UNTIL I CALLED, THEN IT WAS SENT BACK TO THE REPAIR SHOP. IT TOOK 6 MORE WEEKS FOR THE CAR TO BE REPAIRED. ONE DELAY WAS IN GETTING THE SEAT-BELT, WHICH WAS SUPPOSED TO COME WITH THE SEAT, BUT DID NOT. IT HAD TO BE SHIPPED FROM JAPAN (I WAS TOLD). AFTER THE REPAIR WAS DONE, 9 WEEKS AFTER THE ACCIDENT, THE CAR WOULD NOT START. IT WAS TOWED TO ANOTHER TOYOTA DEALERSHIP. TWO WEEKS LATER, I AM TOLD THAT A WIRING HARNESS WAS THE PROBLEM. THIS HAS TO BE SHIPPED FROM JAPAN, AND THE EXPECTED DATE OF ARRIVAL IS 1-11-2006. MEANWHILE, I HAVE NOT HAD MY CAR FOR NEARLY 3 MONTHS. MY INSURANCE PAID FOR 30 DAYS OF A RENTAL CAR (I WAITED A WEEK TO GET THE RENTAL CAR), THEN I PAID FOR ANOTHER 4 WEEKS. I HAVE NOTIFIED TOYOTA 2 TIMES ABOUT THIS SITUATION. I HAVE CALLED THE DEALERSHIP, WHERE I HAVE A "SPECIAL" CUSTOMER CONVENIENCE CARD. THIS CARD ONLY SEEMS TO BE GOOD FOR PURCHASES, AND NOT FOR ACTUAL ASSISTANCE. I THINK PRIUS OWNERS NEED TO KNOW

I WAS DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AT 70 MPH AND VEHICLE STALLED. I COASTED OVER TO ROAD SHOULDER, TURNED OFF VEHICLE POWER AND RESTARTED VEHICLE WITHOUT ISSUE. CALLED TOYOTA DEALER AND WAS TOLD MY VIN WAS NOT PART OF THE SOFTWARE RECALL FOR SOFTWARE PROBLEM FOR STALLING ENGINES. THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED A SERIOUS PROBLEM IF I WAS NOT IN THE RIGHT LANE AND ABLE TO MOVE TO SHOULDER, CLEARING TRAFFIC IMMEDIATELY. *JB

THE FOG LIGHTS ON MY 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS ARE CRACKED. THEY DO NOT APPEAR TO BE FROM ANY IMPACT. UPON INVESTIGATING FURTHER, IT SEEMS THAT A GREAT DEAL OF PRIUS OWNERS ARE EXPERIENCING THIS PROBLEM WHEN THERE ARE SEVERE COLD TEMPERATURES. *NM

DT: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE STOPPING THE BRAKES RELEASED. THE PARKING BRAKE WAS USED TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP, BUT THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THERE HAVE BEEN NO REPAIRS MADE AT THIS TIME.*AK

AFTER TOYOTA'S RECALLING 75,000 PRIUS IN U.S., I TOOK MY 2005 PRIUS INTO TORRANCE TOYOTA(310-325-75000) TO HAVE THE SOFTWARE"GLITCH"REPAIRED. MICHAEL GALLAGHER(SERVICE ADVISOR) TOLD ME THERE IS ADDITIONAL GLITCHES AND NOW MY CAR IS INOPERABLE AND HE HAS BEEN ASK

TOYOTA PRIUS; DRIVING ON INTERSTATE 287 IN NEW JERSEY WHEN THE ENGINE CUT OUT AND WOULD NOT RESTART. *NM

APPEARS TO BE A TEMPORARY ENGINE STALL AT 68 MILES PER HOUR IN CARPOOL LANE, WARNING LIGHT CAME ON BUT DISAPPEARED RIGHT AWAY AND THE CAR WAS FINE AGAIN. BUT LOTS OF CAR VIBRATIONS AND JOLTING FELT AT THE TIME. *JB

PURCHASED 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS - VIN # JTD KB2 OU1 530 793 29 ON JULY 20, 2005 -REGISTERED IT TO MY WIFE KRISTA GOTTLIEB. ON JULY 22, 2005 WHEN THIS CAR HAD ABOUT 80 MILES ON IT, I WAS DRIVING IT ON THE HIGHWAY IN TRAFFIC AT ABOUT 50 MPH - WHEN SUDDENLY I LOST COMPLETE POWER. BY THAT, I MEAN THAT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS COMPLETELY UNRESPONSIVE. I AM NOT AWARE OF WHAT THE INSTRUMENTS INDICATED AS I WAS PREOCCUPIED WITH THE TRAFFIC (FOR MORE DETAILS - I SENT A VERY DETAILED E-MAIL ABOUT THE FAILURE TO OUR DEALER CULLIGAN TOYOTA, AMHERST, NY ON JULY 24, 2005 - I HAVE ALSO SENT ADDITIONAL FOLLOW-UP E-MAILS TO CULLIGAN SINCE THAT DATE. ). AS A RESULT OF THE JULY 24 MESSAGE, I ARRANGED TO LEAVE THE CAR WITH CULLIGAN TOYOTA SERVICE ADVISOR STEPHEN DESOTELL ON WEDNESDAY, JULY 27, 2005 TO BE CHECKED OUT. AT ABOUT 3:00 P.M. ON JULY 27 STEPHEN CALLED ME TO TELL ME THAT THEY HAD CHECKED OUT THE CAR AND COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG WITH IT IN ANY WAY '' MECHANICAL OR COMPUTER OR ANYTHING. HE SAID THAT IT HAD THE LATEST SOFTWARE AND THAT THERE WERE NO OUTSTANDING SERVICE BULLETINS OF RECALLS FOR THE CAR AND THAT IN HIS DISCUSSION WITH TOYOTA, IT WAS SUGGESTED TO HIM THAT I MUST HAVE INADVERTENTLY HIT THE ''POWER'' BUTTON ON THE DASHBOARD - OR WORDS TO THAT EFFECT. SUBSEQUENTLY I TESTED THE CAR AND FOUND THAT I COULD NOT TURN OFF OUR PRIUS BY DELIBERATELY PUSHING OR HOLDING THE POWER BUTTON IN. BY CALL TO THE ABOVE SERVICE ADVISOR SINCE THEN, HE LATER CONFIRMED THAT THIS WAS CORRECT - THAT IT WA

TRAVELING ON NJ TURNPIKE IN HEAVY TRAFFIC WHEN NEW 2005 PRIUS LOST POWER AND WOULD NOT RESPOND TO ATTEMPTS AT ACCELERATION TO KEEP UP WITH TRAFFIC. WAS ABLE TO MOVE OVER 2 LANES OF TRAFFIC AND STOP ON SIDE OF HIGHWAY. TURNED OFF CAR AND RESTARTED AFTER LESS THAN A MINUTE. NO FURTHER INCIDENTS SINCE. TOOK CAR TO TOYOTA DEALERSHIP. THEY COULD FIND NO REASON FOR THE FAILURE AFTER MONITORING THE COMPUTER. *NM

I HAVE AN EARLY 2005 PRIUS WHICH HAS "STALLED" I.E. LOST AL ENGINE POWER ON TWO OCCASIONS. I BELIEVE THE "STALLING" IS INTENTIONALLY DESIGNED INTO THE SOFTWARE TO PROTECT THE TRANSMISSION. I THINK A DESIGN DECISION INTENDED TO PROTECT THE CAR IS PUTTING MY LIFE AT RISK. MY EARLY 2005 PRIUS HAS "STALLED" TWICE: ONCE ON THE FREEWAY AT 80 MPH WHEN I HAD TO JAM ON THE BRAKES (SOMEONE CUT ME OFF) AND AGAIN ON SURFACE STREETS AT 30 MPH WHEN I FLOORED IT TO ACCELERATE SUDDENLY. IN EACH CASE THE TRANSMISSION'S INTERNAL COMPONENTS WOULD BE UNDER TREMENDOUS STRAIN UNLESS IT DISENGAGED. IN EACH CASE ALL LIGHTS, HEADLIGHTS, INDICATORS STAYED ON, THE "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT CAME ON, THE CAR CONTINUED COASTING (AS IF PUT IN NEUTRAL), AND THE CAR WAS UNRESPONSIVE TO THE THROTTLE AND THE GEAR SHIFT. (IN NEITHER CASE DID I HIT THE GEAR SHIFT NOR POWER BUTTON BEFORE THE "STALL"). IN BOTH CASES I COASTED TO A SAFE SPOT (TRY CROSSING FIVE LANES OF 70+ MPH FREEWAY TRAFFIC AT NIGHT WHILE COASTING). ONLY AFTER PARKING, TURNING OFF POWER, AND RESTARTING POWER WOULD THE CAR OPERATE...AT WHICH POINT IT OPERATED FINE. DEALER COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG...IN FACT THE SECOND INCIDENT WAS TWO DAYS AFTER MY 30,000 MILE SERVICE! THEY APPARENTLY TOOK NO ACTION REGARDING THE CONCERN I EXPRESSED TO THE SERVICE REP WITH RESPECT TO STALLING...HE ASSURED ME THEY WOULD CHECK FOR ALL AVAILABLE SOFTWARE UPDATES, BUT CORPORATE TOLD ME TODAY THERE IS AT LEAST ONE UPDATE (RELATING TO THE NAVIGATION SYSTEM) WHICH WAS NOT

DT: THE CALLER BELIEVES THE HEADLIGHT LEVELING SENSOR TO CORRECT THE DIRECTION OF THE HEADLIGHTS IS FAULTY. THE HEADLIGHTS WILL TILT DOWN WITHOUT WARNING. SHE SAID WHEN DRIVING UP OR DOWN HILLS THE HEADLIGHTS DID NOT SHINE WHERE THEY WERE SUPPOSE TO. CALLER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER THREE TIMES. DEALER SAID THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. MANUFACTURER TOLD DEALER THEY WILL BE REDESIGNING THE SENSOR. *AK

WHILE STOPPED AT A STOP LIGHT, I GOT A RED TRIANGLE WITH ! INSIDE THAT CAME ON. THE VEHICLE ENGINE STOPPED AND THE CAR WAS PUT AUTOMATICALLY IN PARK. I COULD NOT RESTART THE CAR AND HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED. THE ACCESSORIES STILL WORKED, JUST NO ENGINE. *NM

DT: CONSUMER WAS DRIVING ABOUT 45 MINUTES / 65 MPH WHEN VEHICLE LOST POWER/STALLED. ALL WARNING LIGHTS WERE ON. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO RESTART VEHICLE AFTER IT STALLED BY LETTING IT SIT FOR A WHILE. VEHICLE HAD A HISTORY OF ACCELERATING AND STALLING. *AK *NM

DT: VEHICLE STALLED/DIED AND LOST POWER. THIS HAPPENED ON 08.15/2005. *AK *MR

2005 TOYOTA PRIUS STALLING AT 35-40 MPH.*MR THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESTART AND WAS TOWED TO A REPAIR FACILITY. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THE PROBLEM WAS DUE TO BAD PROGRAMMING AT THE FACTORY. THE COMPUTER WA RESET PER TSB EG047-04. *NM

POSSIBLY RELEVANT TO CURRENT PRIUS SOFTWARE RELIABILITY INVESTIGATION NUMBER : PE05029 I SPOKE TO GILLES LABELLE OF WESTBORO TOYOTA IN WESTBOROUGH MASSACHUSETTS REGARDING THE TOYOTA PRIUS (THIS WAS A PRE-SALES CONVERSATION; I DO NOT AT PRESENT OWN A PRIUS THOUGH UNTIL THIS CONVERSATION I WAS VERY CLOSE BUYING ONE; NOW I FIND MYSELF TAKING A STEP BACK TO ENSURE I'VE DONE MY OWN DUE DILIGENCE). HE MENTIONED THE USE OF A RESET SEQUENCE TO "REBOOT" THE CAR IN THE EVENT OF PROBLEMS AS A WAY TO AVOID THE NEED TO HAVE THE CAR SERVICED; I ASKED HIM HOW OFTEN HE HAD TO REBOOT HIS OWN PRIUS; HE DIDN'T ANSWER DIRECTLY BUT INSTEAD SAID THAT HE HAD HELPED ABOUT 100 CUSTOMERS THROUGH THE REBOOT PROCESS. I AM A OPERATING SYSTEMS SOFTWARE ENGINEER BY PROFESSION AND WAS ALARMED AT THIS "JUST HIT RESET" ATTITUDE TOWARDS SYSTEMS FAILURES; IDEALLY CRASHES IN THE FIELD SHOULD BE RARE ENOUGH THAT EACH ONE CAN BE ROOT-CAUSED, RATHER THAN SHRUGGED OFF. *JB

1 )STALL ON 5/26/05 @1:30 PM AT A SPEED OF 35 MPH + - WITHOUT WARNING. AFTER FEW MINTS I ABLE TO START & GOT THE ENGINE , & RESTARTED & ALSO RE STARTED AC & GOT GOGOING. SAME DAY @ 4:30 PM AC WAS SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING AND SCREEN WAS COMPLETELY BLANK @ SPEED OF 62 MPH + -, PULLED OF TO SHOULDER TURNED OFF ING. 2) SAME THING ON 8/31/05 11:30 AM @ SPEED OF 55 MPH FIRST AC WENT & WITH IN LESS THAN A MILE ENGINE WENT COMPLETELY, DID NOT START IN FIRST FEW MINUTES, AFTER WAITING 10 OR SO MINUTES ENGINE STARTED & AC STARTED. DROVE TO THE DEALER FOR CHECK UP , WAS GIVEN HARD TIME BY SERVICE REP, WILL NOT TAKE IN WITHOUT APPOINTMENT & REFUSED TO PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE OR A LONER CAR. WHEN I TOLD HIM " YOU WANT ME TO GET KILLED OUT IN TRAFFIC" HE REPLIED " NOTHING I CAN DO TO HELP YOU I AM DOING MY JOB WHAT I AM TOLD" I ASKED WANT SEE MANAGER HE REPLIED " HE IS ON VACATION NO ONE IS TAKING HIS PLACE" I WAS VERY UPSET & ANGRY WITH HIS REPLY & ATTITUDE IN THE END HE ADDED " GO GET A LAWYER" I LEFT THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT WITH APPOINTMENT ON 9/2/05 3:PM AND THEN.......................! WENT TO SEE SALES PERSON & SHE WAS VERY HUMBLE & HELP FULL , SHE SET ME UP WITH LONER- RENTAL CAR AT NO CHARGE & I LEFT MY CAR PRIUS 2005 WITH DEALER SHIP FOR FULL CHECK UP. AS OF NOW CAR IS @ DEALERSHIP. BHATIA PS: BLUE TEAM SERVICE REP. *NM

AUTO-DIMMING REAR VIEW MIRROR DOES NOT DIM ENOUGH. THIS LEFT A LOT OF HEADLIGHT GLARE BEING REFLECTED BACK TO THE DRIVER. IT RESULTED IN INABILITY OF THE DRIVER TO SAFELY SEE ROADWAY. THE DRIVER SLOWED AND STOPPED THE CAR, AND ALLOWED ALL TRAFFIC TO PASS. EVENTUALLY, THROUGH EXPERIMENTATION IT WAS FOUND THAT THE LIGHT SENSOR ON THE FRONT OF THE REAR VIEWING AUTODIM MIRROR APPEARS TO BE DEFECTIVE. IF ONE COVERS THIS LIGHT SENSOR WITH TRANSLUCENT MATERIAL AND/OR ALL TOGETHER COVERS THE LIGHT SENSOR, THEN PROPER AUTODIMMING OCCURS.

2004 TOYOTA PRIUS WITH 23915 MILES ON IT. DRIVING TO WORK WEST ON I-90 DURING RUSH HOUR ENGINE STOPPED DEAD. I-90 IS 8 LANES OF TRAFFIC IN SPOKANE, WA. HAD TO HAVE CAR TOWED TO DEALER FOR REPAIRS. PROBLEM WAS A FAILURE IN THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT. ECU HAD TO BE RE-PROGRAMED. CAUSE FOUND BY DEALER: FOUND CODE P3191 & POAOF CODES. FOUND TBS #EG047-04. ACCORDING TO THE SERVICE ADVISOR, TOYOTA ISSUED A TECHNICAL BULLETIN COVERING THIS PROBLEM BUT STATED THERE WERE TOO FEW FAILURES TO WARANT A RECALL. BEING ON AN INTERSTATE DURING RUSH HOUR WITH TRAFFIC DOING 70+ MPH AND HAVING AN ENGINE FAILURE COULD CREATE A LIFE THREATING SITUATION VERY QUICKLY. THE LAST THING I ASKED THE SERVICE ADVISOR IS IF THIS WILL HAPPEN AGAIN? HIS RESPONSE, "IT SHOULDN'T." THAT'S REASSURING.

DT: THE VEHICLE INTERMITTENTLY STALLED AND DECELERATED WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH DUE TO COMPUTER FAILURE. *AK THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY. THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT HAD COME ON BEFORE AND REMAINED ON AFTER THE VEHICLE FAILED. *SC

2005 TOYOTA PRIUS, NEW NOV. 2004, CURRENT MILEAGE 11,100 MILES, INCIDENT AUG. 13, 2005, 9:10 PM. DRIVING FOR 30 MINUTES AT A STEADY RATE OF 45 MPH ON RTE. 78, 11/12 TANK OF GAS, NO AIR CONDITIONING OR RADIO ON. AUTO HESTITATED. DASHBOARD SYMBOLS INDICATED PROBLEM: BRAKE FAILURE, CHECK ENGINE, HYBRID SYSTEM FAILURE. ANOTHER SYMBOL WAS ON COMPUTER SCREEN - CAR WITH LINE DRAWN VERTICALLY THROUGH IT. BATTERY USAGE INDICATOR WAS DISAPPEARING. THIS ALL OCCURED WITHIN MINUTE OR LESS. PULLED INTO A NOCO GASOLINE STATION. PUT CAR IN PARK BUT COULDN'T GET THE POWER OFF THAT KEPT THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS, HEADLIGHTS, AIR CONDITIONING, HORN ON. COULDN'T RESTART MY CAR. I COULD ONLY PUT MY CAR INTO NUETRAL OR PARK. AUTO TOWED TO THE CLOSED TOYOTA DEALERSHIP. DASHBOARD LIGHTS REMAINED ON. UNABLE TO START THE CAR OR TO LOCK THE DOOR MANUALLY OR WITH THE KEYLESS SYSTEM. SUNDAY, CHECKED THE CARAND THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS WERE OFF BUT I STILL COULDN'T START THE CAR OR LOCK THE DOORS. MONDAY, EXPLAINED MY PROBLEM TO SERVICE MANAGER. THIS IS WHAT WAS DONE: NEW BATTERY INSTALLED. NO REPROGRAMMING OF THE ECU BECAUSE THE COMPUTER MEMORY WAS GONE DUE TO THIS FAILURE. MANAGER DID NOT SEEM TO UNDERSTAND WHAT I MEANT ABOUT REPROGRAMMING THE COMPUTER ALTHOUGH SAID RECEIVED ALL SERVICE BULLETINS FROM TOYOTA. ASKED FOR A COPY OF THE WORK ORDER FOR MY RECORDS BUT HE SAID HE HAD TO STILL FIGURE OUT HOURS AND SO WOULD SEND ME A COPY AT A LATER DATE. . HE EXPLAINED THE REPLACED BATTERY COMMUNICATED WITH THE HYBRID S