2005 Toyota Prius complaints

NEW VEHICLE HAD MASTER FAULT, CHECK ENGINE AND OTHER WARNING LIGHTS AT ODO READING 50, "REPAIRED" FAULTED AGAIN. REPLACEMENT PARTS INCLUDE CAM SENSORS, COMPUTER BOARDS, WIRING HARNESS AND NOW "MASTER COMPUTER BOARD". *NM

2005 TOYOTA PRIUS HAS A DEFECTIVE OUTSIDE REAR VIEW MIRROR.*MR WHEN THE CONSUMERS HUSBAND BUMPED THE DRIVER'S SIDE MIRROR, IT FELL OFF. THE MIRROR WAS CONNECTED TO THE VEHICLE VIA A PLASTIC PIN THAT SNAPPED ON THE ARM EXTENDING OUT FROM THE VEHICLE. THE PLASTIC PIN SNAPPED WHICH LEFT THE MIRROR HANGING DOWN, BUT STILL CONNECTED TO THE VEHICLE VIA THE ELECTRICAL WIRES. THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THE PIN HOLDING THE MIRROR ON THE ARM WAS DEFECTIVE AND IT SHOULD NOT HAVE BROKEN WITH A MILD BUMP. *JB

I WAS DRIVING MY TOYOTA PRIUS ON THE FREEWAY AND THE VEHICLE DIED AT 55 MPH. THE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THERE WAS NO POWER TO THE ACCELERATOR. FORTUNATELY, TRAFFIC WAS LIGHT AND I WAS ABLE TO COAST TO A SECURE SPOT ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THIS HAPPENED ON THE APPROACH TO THE BAY BRIDGE, WHICH WOULD HAVE BEEN A POTENTIAL DISASTER HAD IT DIED ON THE BRIDGE ITSELF. THE CAR DID NOT START AGAIN ON MY FIRST ATTEMPT, BUT IT DID START 5 MINUTES LATER. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE TOYOTA DEALER AND THEY SAID THEY INSTALLED NEW INFORMATION INTO THE COMPUTER. I WANT TO KNOW WHY, IF THEY KNOW IT NEEDS NEW INFORMATION, DID I NOT RECEIVE A LETTER ASKING ME TO COME IN FOR SERVICE? THIS COULD HAVE BEEN REALLY DISASTROUS, AND I FEAR THAT IT WILL BE FOR SOMEONE ELSE. *JB

CONSUMER'S TOYOTA PRIUS LOST POWER SUDDENLY WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE.*MR *NM

DT: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH VEHICLE STALLED AND LOST POWER.

2005 TOYOTA PRIUS, WHEN COASTING AT HIGH SPEEDS, THE ENGINE CUTS OUT SO IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO ACCELERATE.

DT: WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 68 MPH THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO LOOSE SPEED. THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO PULL THE VEHICLE OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND PARK. NO WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED INDICATING THERE WAS A PROBLEM. THE CONSUMER HAD BEEN DRIVING FOR ABOUT AN HOUR AT 68 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO LOSE POWER. AFTER THE VEHICLE SAT FOR ABOUT 1 1/2 MINUTES THE VEHICLE OPERATED AS IF NOTHING HAD HAPPENED. *AK THE CONSUMER HEARD ONE BEEP, THEN THE VEHICLE LOST ALL POWER. THE CONSUMER PRESSED THE ACCELERATOR BUT IT DID NOT RESPOND. THE SERVICE DEALER COULD NOT FIND A PROBLEM. *SC *JB

THE PRIUS SHUT DOWN, STOPPED USING GASOLINE POWER, WHILE I WAS IN THE PASSING LANE AND TRAVELING 70 MILES PER HOUR IN MODERATE TRAFFIC ON INTERSTATE 40 IN NASHVILLE, TN. THE RED TRIANGLE, CHECK ENGINE, VSC AND A FEW OTHER WARNING SIGNALS ILLUMINATED. I MANAGED TO AVOID BEING REAR-ENDED , PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD USING BATTERY POWER, SHUT THE BATTERY POWER OFF, AND CONSULTED THE OWNER'S MANUAL. APPROXIMATELY 10-15 MINUTES PRIOR, THE ADD FUEL LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE FUEL INDICATOR DISPLAYED A SINGLE BAR. HAVING DRIVEN THE VEHICLE FOR THE PAST 8300 MILES, MY WIFE INFORMED ME THAT WE HAD ABOUT 2 GALLONS OF GAS, AND COULD EASILY TRAVEL ANOTHER FIFTY MILES. THE TEMPERATURE WAS NEAR 90 DEGREES. I STARTED THE VEHICLE AND CHOSE TO DRIVE IT OFF THE INTERSTATE. WE TRAVELED 2.5 MILES AND COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AS THE BATTERY DEPLETED. I MANAGED TO SLOWLY DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO A GAS STATION AND REFUELED. THE FUEL TANK COULD ONLY ACCOMMODATE 8.1 GALLONS OF FUEL; IT HOLDS 11.7. ONCE REFUELED, THE WARNING SIGNALS DISAPPEARED AFTER 30 SECONDS, AND WE DROVE HOME. MY WIFE TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER, JOE HEITZ TOYOTA IN CLARKSVILLE, TN, THE NEXT DAY FOR AN EVALUATION. THE MECHANIC SAID THAT THE COMPUTER INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE RAN OUT OF FUEL. SINCE THERE OBVIOUSLY WAS FUEL IN THE TANK, I PRESSED THE SERVICE MANAGER FOR ANSWERS. BY THE END OF THE DAY AND AFTER CONSULTING WITH PRIUS TECHNICAL FOLKS IN CALIFORNIA, THE SERVICE MANAGER SAID THAT THE FUEL BLADDER MAY HAVE COLLAPSED

DRIVING 65 MPH ON THE FREEWAY, THE LOW-FUEL INDICATOR LIGHT STARTED BLINKING. APPROXIMATELY 15 MILES LATER, STILL DRIVING 65 MPH, THE ENGINE SHUT OFF. DASHBOARD WARNING LIGHT AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. "CONSUMPTION" WAS HIGHLIGHTED IN RED. THE CAR CONTINUED TO DRIVE IN ELECTRIC MODE AT 52 MPH FOR ABOUT 1.5 MILES. WHEN THE BATTERY WAS DRAINED, THE CAR CAME TO A STOP. AFTER 5 MINUTES, I HIT THE POWER BUTTON TO TURN OFF THE CAR, THEN AGAIN TO TURN ON THE CAR. THE ENGINE STARTED AND WE DROVE TO THE NEXT GAS STATION, 4 MILES AWAY. TOYOTA (1-800-331-4331) SAID TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALER. THE TOYOTA DEALER SAID THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO AND TOYOTA HAS NOT ADVISED THEM ON A REMEDY. DEALER REFUSED TO PROVIDE ME WITH THIS AGENCY'S NAME (NHTSA). I LEFT A MESSAGE WITH "THE PRIUS TEAM" AT TOYOTA 3 DAYS AGO AND THEY HAVE NOT RETURNED MY CALL.

(1) DRIVING AT SPEEDS BETWEEN 60-75MPH ON SMOOTH FLAT ROADS (2) VEHICLE SWAYS OR "FLOATS" SIDE TO SIDE, ESPECIALLY DURING CROSSWIND CONDITIONS (3) REPORT TO DEALER, NO REPAIR WAS DONE BY DEALER AS THEY THINK IT WAS CAUSED BY GROOVES IN THE ROAD

THE CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE FOR 2 WEEKS AND HAD AN EPISODE WHERE THE ENGINE STALLED ON THE HIGHWAY. THE CONSUMER BELIEVED IT MAY HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY A MOMENTARY EVENT TO SHIFT IT INCORRECTLY FROM THE BRAKING MODE. WHEN THE CONSUMER FIRST ATTEMPTED TO PUT IT IN REVERSE, IT WOULDN'T TAKE THEN, AND IT WOULD NOT TAKE INTO THE PROPER DRIVE MODE EITHER. THE ENGINE HAD STALLED, AND WOULD NOT GO INTO DRIVE. THE CONSUMER STOPPED THE VEHICLE, AND WAS ABLE TO RESTART IT. THE CONSUMER HAD NOT EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS SINCE THEN. THE CONSUMER CALLED AND REPORTED THE PROBLEM TO TOYOTA. *AK GASOLINE ENGINE ON HYBRID VEHICLE FAILED TO KICK IN OR STALLED. *SC *JB

DT: CONSUMER'S VEHICLE STALLED WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE, AND PUT HIS LIFE AT RISK. THE CAR WOULD NOT RESTART. CONSUMER BOUGHT AN EXTENDED WARRANTY FROM TOYOTA, AND THEY HAD NO RECORD OF THAT WHEN CALLING THEM. *AK PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT VEHICLE'S CONSUMER COMPUTER INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS LOW ON GAS BY A FLASHING GREEN LIGHT, AND THE COMPUTER WAS INDICATING THAT THE VEHICLE WAS GETTING ITS POWER FROM BOTH THE GAS AND ELECTRIC ENGINES. THE VEHICLE'S COMPUTER SYSTEM DID NOT RECOGNIZE ANY COMMANDS. PRIOR INCIDENTS THE CAR DIESELED AT STOP LIGHTS SOMETIMES FOR MINUTE AND CONSUMER GOT 28MPG IN THE CITY, WHERE THE GAS ENGINE SEEMED TO BE RUNNING EVEN ON DOWNHILL STRETCHES AND WHEN STOPPED.*SB *NM

DT: A. HOW LONG AND AT WHAT SPEED WAS THE CONSUMER DRIVING BEFORE THE VEHICLE LOST POWER? APPROXIMATELY 20 MINUTES: 35 MPH. B. WAS THE CONSUMER ACCELERATING, DECELERATING, OR DRIVING AT A STEADY- STATE WHEN THE VEHICLE LOST POWER? ACCELERATING C. AFTER THE VEHICLE LOST POWER, WAS THE DRIVER ABLE TO CONTINUE DRIVING THE VEHICLE? IF SO, HOW LONG AND AT WHAT SPEED? NO D.DID ANY WARNING LIGHTS APPEAR BEFORE AND/OR AFTER THE INCIDENT OCCURRED? YES IF SO, DESCRIBE THE LIGHTS THAT WERE LIT. ENGINE INDICATOR AND EXCLAMATION MARK E. DID THE VEHICLE EVENTUALLY STALL AND COME TO A STOP? HOW LONG DID THIS OCCUR AFTER THE WARNING LIGHTS WERE LIT? NO; IMMEDIATLEY F. WAS THE DRIVER ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE RIGHT AFTER IT STALLED? IF SO, HOW LONG DID IT TAKE (# OF ATTEMPTS AND/ OR TIME '' EX: 3-4 TIMES OR 2-3 MINUTES)? NO G. WAS THE DRIVER ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AFTER LETTING IT SIT AWHILE? IF SO, HOW LONG WAS THIS AFTER THE VEHICLE STALLED? NO H. WAS THE VEHICLE TOWED? NO I. WHAT DID THE DEALER SAY WAS WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE? THE WIRING WOULD PULLED FROM THE VEHICLE J. DID THE DEALER REPROGRAM THE ECU (ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT) OR ANY SOFTWARE? DON''T KNOW K. HAS THE VEHICLE HAD SPECIAL SERVICE CAMPAIGNS 40A OR 40 D PERFORMED ON IT PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT? (NOTE: THE CONSUMER WOULD HAVE RECEIVED A LETTER IN THE MAIL NOTIFYING THEM TO BRING HIS OR HER VEHICLE IN FOR REPAIR. CAMPAIGN 40A OR 40D ADDRESSED SOFTWARE ISSUES WITH THE PRIUS HYBRID VEHICLE ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT.) NO L. HAS TH

I PURCHASED A 2005 PRIUS IN JANUARY 2005. AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT IT HAD ABOUT 8500 MILES ON IT. IT HAD BEEN PERFORMING WELL AND I HAD BEEN GETTING EXCELLENT GAS MILEAGE AND THE INTERNAL MILEAGE INDICATORS HAS PROVEN TO BE VERY ACCURATE. WHILE DRIVING ON SC HIGHWAY 31 AT ABOUT 60-65 MILES PER HOUR THE GASOLINE ENGINE QUIT SLOWING ME TO ABOUT 40 MILES PER HOUR. THE DASHBOARD LIT UP WITH WITH WARNING SIGNALS INCLUDING THE RED TRIANGLE, CHECK ENGINE, VSC, BREAKING SYSTEM AND I DON'T REMEMBER WHAT ELSE. A FEW MILES BEFORE THIS HAPPENED, MY FUEL INDICATOR STARTED TO BLINK, BUT WAS SURE THAT THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE GAS SINCE I HAVE OFTEN GONE MANY MILES BEFORE FINDING GAS IN SIMILAR SITUATION AND KNEW FROM PAST EXPERIENCE, MY MILEGE,AND FUEL USAGE INDICATOR THAT I HAD ABOUT TWO GALLONS LEFT IN THE VEHICLE. THIS WAS AN UNFAMILIAR ROAD TO ME SO I CONTINUED TO TRAVEL USING THE BATTERY HOPING THAT AN EXIT WOULD APPEAR. THE BATTERY QUICKLY BECAME SO DEPLETED THAT I PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I TRIED TO TURN THE VEHICLE OFF AND FOUND IT UNRESPONSIVE. AFTER A FEW TRIES IT DID POWER DOWN. I CALLED AAA FOR ASSISTANCE. DURING MY WAIT, I WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE ENGINE, BUT IT AGAIN FAILED WITHIN A COUPLE OF MILES, BUT I WAS ABLE TO REACH AN EXIT AND PULL OFF. AFTER THE SECOND FAILURE, I TRIED TO RESTART AGAIN AND THIS TIME ONLY GOT THE RED TRIANGLE AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. AAA DID ADD GASOLINE TO THE CAR, BUT THE FUEL INDICATOR CONTINUED TO BLINK AND THE BAR NEVER ROSE. THE CAR WAS T

I HAVE A 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS, PURCHASED NEW IN OCT 2004. I WAS DRIVING ON I-57 IN ILLINOIS AT 65 MPH. TEMPERATURE OUTSIDE WAS 91F. LOW FUEL WARNING SIGNAL BEGAN TO FLASH. SINCE I PLANNED TO GAS UP ABOUT 25 MILES AWAY, I CONTINUED DRIVING. SHOULD HAVE HAD APPROXIMATELY 2 GALLONS OF FUEL LEFT. ABOUT 5 MINUTES LATER AT 65 MPH, THE ENGINE SUDDENLY STOPPED RUNNING. THE "RED TRIANGLE OF DEATH" AND THE YELLOW "CHECK ENGINE" WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON. REALIZED THAT THE ELECTRIC MOTOR DRIVE SYSTEM WAS STILL WORKING. NOTICED THAT I WAS APPROXIMATELY 1.5 MILES FROM AN EXIT. SLOWED TO ABOUT 45 MPH AND CONTINUED TO DRIVE USING THE PRIUS' BATTERIES AND ELECTRIC MOTORS. PULLED INTO A SHELL STATION AND TURNED THE CAR OFF. BEGAN TO REFUEL. AFTER ABOUT 4 GALLONS, THE PUMP CLICKED OFF. TRIED AGAIN - IT CLICKED OFF. TRIED AGAIN AND WAS ABLE TO REFUEL NORMALLY. IN ALL, I ADDED 9.767 GALLONS. IF THE CAR HAS 11.9 GALLON TANK, THERE SHOULD HAVE BEEN 2.1 GALLONS LEFT WHEN THE ENGINE SHUT OFF. UPON RESTART, SAME ENGINE WARNING LIGHTS WERE ON, BUT WITHIN A FEW SECONDS THEY WENT OFF. DIGITAL FUEL GAUGE INCREASED, ONE BLOCK AT A TIME, UNTIL IT INDICATED FULL. CAR SEEMED TO BE OPERATING NORMALLY. RESUMED 65 MPH. CAR HAS CONTINUED TO OPERATE NORMALLY SINCE. THE SHUTTING OFF OF THE ENGINE WAS ABRUPT AND WOULD HAVE BEEN A SAFETY PROBLEM HAD SOMEONE BEEN FOLLOWING ME TOO CLOSELY, OR IF I HAD NEEDED FULL POWER TO AVOID TRAFFIC OR AN OBSTACLE. HAD READ ABOUT THIS HAPPENING TO OTHER PRIUS OWNERS AND THAT SOME HAD REP

DEAR NHSTA, ON MAY 20 OF 2005 I WAS DRIVING MY 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE GAS ENGINE STOPPED WORKING AND 4 DASH WARNING/FAULTS LIGHTS CAME ON (RED TRIANGLE; CHECK ENGINE; BRAKE FAULT; VEHICLE STABILITY CONTROL FAULT). I CONTINUED DRIVING FOR 3 MILES ON THE ELECTRIC MOTOR UNTIL THE BATTERY CHARGE LIGHT INDICATED NEAR COMPLETE BATTERY DISCHARGE. I TURNED OFF THE CAR, WAITED 30 SECONDS AND TURNED THE CAR BACK ON. IMMEDIATELY THE GASOLINE ENGINE STARTED AND THE BATTERY BEGAN TO CHARGE. AT THIS POINT ONLY THE CHECK ENGINE AND RED TRIANGLE LIGHTS CAME ON. I DROVE TO THE TOYOTA DEALER WHO SAID THAT MY PROBLEM SOUNDED LIKE THE STALLING PROBLEMS WITH THE 33 REPORTED CASES OF 2004/05 PRIUS STALLING. TOYOTA UPGRADED THE ENGINE ECU AND THE CAR HAS BEEN FINE EVER SINCE. HOWEVER, I WANTED TO LET NHSTA KNOW SO THAT THEY KNOW THAT THIS PRIUS STALLING PROBLEM AFFECTS MORE THAN JUST 33 PRIUS OWNERS. ALSO, I WORRY THAT TOYOTA DOES NOT KNOW FOR CERTAIN THAT THE PROBLEM IS FIXED PREMANENTLY. THANKS, GARY BEAUPRE

DRIVING 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS (POV) IN TRAFFIC WHEN HYBRID SYSTEM SUDDENLY AND UNEXPECTEDLY SHUT DOWN. WAS UNABLE TO RESTART VEHICLE FOR APPROXIMATELY 5 MINS. WHEN WAS ABLE TO RESTART "CHECK ENGINE" WARNING LIGHT REMAINED ON. NO PROPERTY DAMAGE OR INJURIES OCCURED AS A RESULT OF FAILURE.

I WAS DRIVING 20MPH WHEN A RED ALERT LIGHT CAME ON THE SCREEN ON MY PRIUS; IT SAID GPS UNDERNEATH IT SO I IGNORED IT, THINKING I WOULD BE OK SINCE I DID NOT NEED MY GPS SYSTEM. I SPED UP TO ABOUT 30MPH AND SUDDENLY WAS NOT ABLE TO ACCELERATE ALTHOUGH I WAS PRESSING DOWN ON MY ACCELERATOR. I CAME TO A STOP AT THE TRAFFIC LIGHT ON A GREEN; LUCKILY THERE WAS NO COLLISION. THE ELECTRIC MODE REMAINED INTACT FOR THE NEXT 2.5HRS UNTLI THE CAR WAS TOWED SO I COULD STILL TURN THE CAR ON.

WITH APPROXIMATELY 7100 MILES ON MY CAR ON FRIDAY MARCH 25, 2005 I WAS DRIVING ON LOCAL ROADS BETWEEN 20 TO 40 MILES PER HOUR WHEN THE CAR BEGAN BUCKING VERY BADLY .. SHORTLY THEREAFTER THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TURNED ON. WORRIED THAT THE VEHICLE MAY COMPLETELY STALL AND QUIT ON THE OPEN ROAD I RETURNED HOME AND CALLED MY LOCAL ARLINGTON TOYOTA DEALER. I BROUGHT THE CAR IN THE FOLLOWING MORNING (SATURDAY MARCH 26,2005) TO CHECK OUT THE PROBLEM.THEY HAD THE CAR ALL DAY AND STILL COULD NOT IDENTIFY WHY THE CAR WAS STALLING. SINCE I WAS SCHEDULE TO BE AWAY THE FOLLOWING WEEK (TRIP TO LAS VEGAS). I GAVE PERMISSION FOR TECHS TO KEEP CAR ALL WEEK IF NECESSARY. ON MONDAY OF THE FOLLOWING WEEK, I RECIEVED A CALL FROM TECH AT MY HOTEL THAT THEY HAD FIXED THE PROBLEM. HE CLAIMED IT WAS A MISFIRE IN #1 CYCLINDER. SO THEY REPLACED SPARK PLUG #1. HOWEVER, HE ALSO TOLD ME NOT GET THE CAR ENGINE WET. HE WARNED THAT IF I EVER RETURNED THE CAR WITH A WET ENGINE AGAIN THAT MY WARRANTY WOULD BE VOIDED. I TOLD HIM THAT I NEVER OPEN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND THAT I WOULD NEVER INTENTIONALLY PUT WATER DIRECTLY ON THE ENGINE. PARTICULLARY ON SUCH A SOPHISTICATED CAR SUCH AS A HYBRID. IN THE PAST 10,000 MILES THAT I HAVE OWNED THE VEHICLE I HAVE TAKEN IT THROUGH THE CAR WASH A TOTAL OF THREE TIMES.I PICKED UP THE CAR UPON MY RETURN FROM LAS VEGAS ON FRIDAY APRIL 1,2005. I AM HAPPY TO REPORT THAT THE CAR HAS BEEN RUNNING FINE EVER SINCE. HOWEVER, SINCE THE RECENT RASH OF NEWS REPORTS OF COMPLAINTS FIL

2005 TOYOTA PRIUS -- FLOORMAT BECOMES LODGED BETWEEN PEDALS. -- WHILE DRIVING AT HIGH SPEEDS (60-70 MPH) ON THE FREEWAY, I NOTICED A LOSS OF SENSITIVITY ON BOTH THE BRAKE AND GAS PEDALS. I HAD TO PRESS VERY HARD TO GET A REACTION FROM EITHER PEDAL. AS A RESULT I WAS UNABLE TO KEEP DRIVING AT THE SAME SPEED AS THE SURROUNDING CARS. EVERYTHING ELSE SEEMED TO BE OPERATING NORMALLY. THE SENSATION CONTINUED FOR A FEW MINUTES UNTIL I COULD SAFELY PULL OFF OF THE FREEWAY. UPON INVESTIGATION, I REALIZED THAT THE FLOORMAT HAD COME UNHOOKED FROM ITS RESTRAINTS AND STUCK BETWEEN THE PEDALS AND THE FLOOR. I SECURED THE FLOORMAT TO ITS HOOKS ONCE AGAIN AND CONTINUED DRIVING WITHOUT TROUBLE. THIS HAS HAPPENED A COUPLE TIMES SINCE, BUT I RECOGNIZE THE SYMPTOMS AND FIX IT PROMPTLY. HOWEVER, I FEAR THAT ANOTHER OWNER MIGHT EXPERIENCE THIS WHEN THEY NEED TO BRAKE OR ACCELERATE SUDDENLY TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT. (I NOTICED ANOTHER POSTING THAT DESCRIBED THE SAME PROBLEM). PERHAPS TOYOTA SHOULD INSTALL LOCKING HOOKS RATHER THAN THE CURRENT ONES THAT EASILY TWIST AND UNHOOK FROM THE MATS.

REPORTED INCIDENT TO TOYOTA CUSTOMER SUPPORT -- INCIDENT: 050412-000111 RESPONSES RECEIVED FROM TOYOTA WAS THAT THE COMPUTER WAS FIXED BASED ON A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN. NO RECURRENCE SINCE THE FIX. TO: TOYOTA CUSTOMER SUPPORT SIR OR MADAM: I BOUGHT MY 2005 PRIUS NEW FROM MECHANICSVILLE TOYOTA ON DECEMBER 1, 2004 AND GENERALLY WAS QUITE SATISFIED WITH THE CAR AND THE GREAT GAS MILEAGE IT PROVIDES. HOWEVER, LAST THURSDAY, 4/7/05, WITH 4738 MILES ON THE ODOMETER, WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM WORK, ALL THE LIGHTS ON THE DASH WENT ON INCLUDING THE MASTER WARNING LIGHT, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, VSC LIGHT, AND THE MULTI INFORMATION DISPLAY IS SHOWING THE RED HYBRID SYSTEM WARNING LIGHT. THE CAR LOST POWER AND I HAD TO LIMP IT HOME. THE ENERGY CONSUMPTION DISPLAY FOR THE BATTERY PACK SHOWED ONE RED BAR AND THE FUEL GAUGE HAD TWO BARS LEFT. I CALLED TOYOTA ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE WHICH PROMPTLY DISPATCHED A TOW TRUCK AND DELIVERED THE CAR TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER DID A DIAGNOSTIC TEST THE FOLLOWING MORNING, FRIDAY, 4/8/05, AND COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. THE ONLY EXPLANATION I GOT WAS THAT THIS IS A KNOWN ISSSUE WITH 2 BARS OF FUEL LEFT AND THE CAUSE WAS THAT THE ENGINE SUCKED IN AIR WITH STOPS OR TURNS. IS THERE A FURTHER EXPLANATION OR FIX FOR THIS PROBLEM? I FEEL THAT THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. I CROSS RAILROAD TRACKS TO AND FROM WORK DAILY AND DEFINITELY WILL NOT WANT THIS CAR TO STALL ON THE TRACKS OR ANYWHERE ON THE ROAD. MY WIFE AND I ARE A MULTIPLE TOYOTA OWNERS: 95 CAMRY WAGON AND 93

MY 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS FAILED WITH ENGINE SHUTDOWN AT 65 MPH ON FLORIDA TURNPIKE. AFTER RESTARTING ON SHOULDER, VEHICLE WOULD ONLY ACHIEVE 52 MPH, THEN FAILED AGAIN.

DT: CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING HER VEHICLE LOST POWER. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OFF THE ROAD, AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS SHUT OFF, AND IT STARTED BACK. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT STATES THE COMPUTER DID NOT REGISTER THE EVENT, SO THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. THE LOCAL SERVICE DEPARTMENT SAID THIS WAS THE FIRST COMPLAINT THEY HAD RECEIVED. *TT

I DID NOT HAVE A FAILURE, BUT I HAD AN EXPERIENCE THAT I THINK WOULD BE HELPFUL TO YOU AND TOYOTA. MY EXPERIENCE WAS ACCIDENTLY HITTING MY RIGHT KNEE LIGHTLY UPWARD AGAINST THE LEVER THAT IS USED TO PUT THE CAR IN DRIVE, PARK, REFERSE AND BATTERY. I WAS TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY AND WAS SHIFTING MY WEIGHT SLIGHTLY TO GET MORE COMFORTABLE AFTER I HAD BEEN DRIVING SEVERAL HOURS. WITHIN A FEW MINUTES, LOOKING AT THE DASHBOARD, I NOTICED THE CAR WAS IN THE "B" MODE WHICH I GUESS IS CALLED BATTERY. I SHIFTED BACK INTO DRIVE WITH NO PROBLEM. HOWEVER MY THINKING IS THAT IF SOMEONE DID WHAT I DID (IN THE WAY OF ACCIDENTLY TAPPING THE SHIFT LEVER WITH THEIR KNEE) AND DID NOT NOTICE THAT THE CAR HAD SHIFTED TO BATTERY, AFTER DRIVING FOR SOME TIME (X HOURS OR MINUTES) THE BATTERIES THAT DRIVE THE ELECTRIC MOTOR/ENGINE WOULD RUN DOWN TO THE POINT WHERE THE CAR WOULD STOP RUNNING AND COULD NOT BE RESTARTED BECAUSE THE BATTERIES WERE SO RUN DOWN. ALSO THE ENGINE WOULD NOT START AGAIN BECAUSE THE BATTERIES RUNNING THE ELECTRIC MOTOR WERE NOT ASSISTING IN THE DRIVE OF THE CAR AS DESIGNED. I NOTICED A NOTE ON A WEB SITE THIS EVENING THAT INDICATED THE CAR WOULD NOT RUN WHEN THE BATTERIES WERE BELOW A 20% CHARGE. IF THIS IS CORRECT, IT WOULD FIT IN WITH MY THEORY. THE SHIFT LEVER NEEDS TO BE HARDER TO MOVE SO THAT ACCIDENTAL CHANGES SUCH AS I EXPERIENCED WOULD BE PREVENTED. IF THIS IS TOO EXPENSIVE, MAYBE A CHEAPER WAY TO FIX TGHE PROBLEM WOULD BE FOR AN ALARM LIGHT OR AUDIBLE SIGNAL TO GO ON W

WHILE DRIVING MY 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS ON HIGHWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE GASOLINE ENGINE COMPLETELY STALLED BUT THE ELECTRIC MOTOR CONTINUED TO RUN ALLOWING ME TO EXIT THE HIGHWAY, ALBEIT AT A REDUCED SPEED. I MANAGED TO DRIVE APPROXIMATELY 1 MILE TO 1.5 MILES UNTIL THE ELECTRIC MOTOR BATTERY WAS CONMPLETELY DEPLETED. THE VEHILCE WOULD NOT RESTART AND I ARRANGED TO HAVE IT TOWED. WHILE WAITING FOR THE TOW SERVICE I TRIED TO RESTART IT A NUMBER OF TIMES AND AFTER 35 - 40 MINUTES IT STARTED AND SINCE THEN HAS HAD NO ISSUES. I BELIEVE THAT WHEN IT STALLED ON THE HIGHWAY THE CRUSIE CONTROL WAS SET AND THERE WERE BETWEEN 1.6 AND 2 GALLONS OF GASOLINE REMAINING IN THE TANK. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A DISASTER IF I WAS IN HEAVY TRAFFIC IN THE FAST LANE AS THE CAR WENT FROM 65 MPH TO 35 - 40 MPH IN SECONDS! I ALSO BARELY MADE IT OFF OF THE HIGHWAY AND WAS ACTUALLY STICKING INTO THE TRAVEL LANE SOMEWHAT WHEN THE ELCTRIC MOTOR ALSO COMPLETLY DIED. I NOTIFIED TOYOTA OF THE PROBLEM BUT NO CORRECTIVE ACTIONS WERE TAKEN AND THEY DID NOT INFORM ME OF ANY ISSUES.

I WAS TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 75 MPH ON HWY 41 IN FRESNO, CA WHEN MY 2005 PRIUS HAD IT'S INCIDENT. ALL THE DASH WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED, AND I SAW THAT I WAS ONLY RUNNINGL ON MY ELECTRIC MOTOR. LLUCKILY I WAS IN THE RIGHT HAND LANE GETTING READY TO MERGE ONTO ANOTHER FREEWAY, SO I PUT MY HAZARD WARNING LIGHTS ON, AND ALMOST GOT REAR ENDED BECAUSE I REDUCED MY SPEED AND THE HONDA BEHIND ME WAS IMPATIENT AND RIDING MY BUMBER. I PULLED OFF THE FREEWAY, CALLED AAA, AND BEFORE THEY GOT OUT, I TRIED TO START THE VEHICLE AFTER ABOUT 15 MINUTES BECAUSE WHERE IT FINALLY DIED WAS A BAD SPOT- AND THE ENGINE KICKED RIGHT ON! I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED! THE FOLLOWING MONDAY I CALLED MY LOCAL TOYOTA DEALERSHIP (MICHAEL TOYOTA) AND THEY CHECKED FOR ANY RECALLS AND SAID THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH MY CAR "DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT". THEN I HAVE BEEN HEARING ABOUT THESE OTHER CASES COMING LATELY AND IT SOUNDS LIKE I HAVE A BIGGER PROBLEM. I RETURNED TO MY TOYOTA DEALER AND THEY SAID THAT THE 4 HOURS THEY HAD LEFT IN THE DAY WASN'T ENOUGH TIME, SO I NEED TO TAKE A DAY OFF OF WORK SO THAT I CAN DRIVE THE HOUR IT TAKES TO GET THERE AND WAIT FOR MY VEHICLE.

DT: WHILE DRIVING 2005, TOYOTA PRIUS HYBRID AT SPEEDS BETWEEN 15-20 MPH ON A 2 LANE ROAD THE ENGINE DIED. AFTER A SHORT TIME IT DID RESTART. *AK

WAS DRIVING HOME (APPROX 35 MPH) WHEN MASTER WARNING LIGHT AND VEHICLE STABILITY CONTROL SYSTEM WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. VEHICLE WOULD NOT RUN ON GASOLINE POWER AND BATTERY QUICKY RAN DOWN SO CAR WAS NOT DRIVEABLE. VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED TO DEALERSHIP. DEALERSHIP ADVISED IT WAS A "COMPUTER PROBLEM"

I WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE TO A GAS STATION ON A MAJOR ROAD WHEN THE ENGINE DIED AND THE VEHICLE SHIFTED TO BATTERY POWER. I WAS ABLE TO GET TO THE GAS STATION AND IT WAS CLEAR I HAD NOT RUN OUT OF GAS. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN FINE SINCE SO I DIDN'T THINK ABOUT IT UNTIL THE MEDIA REPORTS CAME OUT.

WHILE DRIVING MY 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS AT ABOUT 40 MPHIN LEFT LANE ON ROUTE 158 IN KITTY HAWK, NC, THE ACCELARATORL QUIT WORKING, BUT NEITHER ENGINE QUIT. WAS ABLE TO LET CAR GO INTO SHOPPING CENTER LOT (THIS WAS DANGEROUS SITUATION AND MY 8 YEAR OLD GRANDAUGHTER WAS IN THE CAR). ELECTIRC ENGINE PROVIDED THE POWER WITH OUT ACCELERATOR ASSISTANCE. HAD CAR TOWED TO ELIXABETH CITY TOYOTA DEALER. MECHANIC TOOK TWO DAYS TO FIND A WASY TO GET ACCELERATOR WORKING. HE SAID THATIN CONJUNTION WITH TOYOTA CORPORATE ENGINEERSOVER TELEPHONE HE RAN TESTS AND MANY ERRORS SHOWED UP NOT RELATED TO THE ACCELERATOR. THE PROBLEMS SOUNDED TO ME LIKE IT WAS IN THE COMPUTER'S SYSTEM. MECHANIC WAS EVENTUALLY TOLD TO SHUT DOWN ALL COMPUTERS AND RE-BOOT THEM ONE BY ONE. I ASKED HIM ABOUT THE CAUSE AND HE SAID NONE WAS DISCOVERED. CAR HAS NOT REPEASTED PROBLEM, BUT I REMAIN CONCERNED. RELATED THIS PROBLEM TO MY PURCAHSE DEALER (LUSTINE TOYOTA IN WOODBRIDGE VA) ASSISTANT SERVICE MANAGER. I WAS TOLD THEY COULD NOT DO ANYTHING UNLESSS THE PROBLEM OCCURRED AGAIN - THIS IS NOT REASSURING. AND I AAPEARED TO KNOW MORE ABOUT THE PROBLEM THAT THEY DID OR WAS WILLING TO ADMIT. I EVEN GAVE THEM A COPY OF AN ARTILCE (THE JAPAN TIMES - 5/16/2005) THAT I FOUND ON THE WEB REFERRED TO A WALL STREET JOURNAL ARTICLE ABOUT THE PROBLEM. IT SAID THA TTOYOTA CORP HAD SENT LETTERS TO PRIUS OWNERS TELLING THEM TO TAKE THIER CARS IN FOR A SOFTWARE UPGRADE COMPUTER. NO LETTER WA SEVER SENT TO ME! AND DEALER DID NOT REACT TO LETTER.

GAS MOTOR STALLED WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AT 55 MPH. ELECTRIC MOTOR CONTINUED TO OPERATE UNTIL THE BATTERY WAS DEPLETED, ABOUT 1 OR 2 MILES. I WAS UNABLE TO PULL THE CAR OVER BECAUSE I WAS IN A CONSTRUCTION ZONE. IT WAS DIFFICULT TO TURN THE CAR OFF, BECAUSE OF THE LACK OF A KEY, BUT ONCE I DID RESTART IT, IT WORKED FINE.

WHILE TEST DRIVING A NEW '05 TOYOTA PRIUS I CAME TO THE CONCLUSION THAT ITS BRAKING SYSTEM IS INADEQUATE. EMERGENCY BRAKING WHILE TURNING EASILY INDUCES UNDER-STEER BECAUSE OF THE REGENERATIVE BRAKING. AS THE AGGRESSIVE BRAKE-ASSIST TAKES OVER THERE IS "SNAP" OVER-STEER AND FRONT WHEEL LOCKUP. FOR AVERAGE DRIVERS THIS CAN RESULT IN COMPLETE LOSS OF CONTROL.

DT: WITHOUT WARNING THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON. CONSUMER HAS TAKEN CAR TO DEALER FOUR TIMES FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. DEALER REPLACED DIFFERENT PARTS AND THE PROBLEM WAS THERE AFTER THREE ATTEMPTS TO FIX IT. CONSUMER JUST GOT VEHICLE BACK FOR THE FOURTH TIME. MANUFACTURER WILL BE CALLED TODAY. CONSUMER WAS TOLD THEY HAVE NEVER SEEN THIS PROBLEM IN ANY OTHER CAR. *TT

OUR PRIUS HYBRID CAR ENGINE SUDDENLY STOPPED WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE. WE COULD NOT GET IT STARTED AND HAD TO BE TOWED TO A TOYOTA DEALER TO HAVE OUR CAR REPROGRAMED.

I WAS TRAVELING AT ABOUT 70 MPH ON THE INTERSTATE, WHEN THE ENGINE STALLED. I WAS CLOSE TO AN OFF-RAMP AND WAS ABLE TO COAST OFF OF THE EXIT. AT THE BOTTOM ON THE EXIT I WAS ABLE TO START UP AGAIN BY SHIFTING INTO DRIVE.

THE SHIFT-BY-WIRE TRANSMISSION SELECTOR IN MY 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS IGNORES MY SHIFT IF I MOVE THE SHIFT LEVER TOO QUICKLY. THIS HAS ALMOST LED TO SEVERAL ACCIDENTS. ON MY FIRST DAY DRIVING MY PRIUS, I WAS PARKED IN A DIAGONAL, ON-STREET SPACE. MY VIEW OF APPROACHING TRAFFIC WAS BLOCKED BY THE VEHICLE BESIDE ME. WHEN I BACKED OUT FAR ENOUGH INTO THE TRAFFIC LANE, I REALIZED THAT TRAFFIC WAS COMING. I NEEDED TO MOVE FORWARD QUICKLY TO AVOID GETTING HIT. I QUICKLY MOVED THE SHIFT LEVER TO D AND ACCELERATED. THE CAR LURCHED BACKWARDS INSTEAD OF FORWARDS. I HIT THE BRAKE AND QUICKLY BUT CAREFULLY SHIFTED TO D AGAIN. APPROACHING TRAFFIC WAS NOW ALMOST AT MY LOCATION. I ACCELERATED AGAIN BUT THE CAR LURCHED BACKWARDS, NOT FORWARDS, AGAIN. THE CAR HAD IGNORED BOTH INPUTS FROM ME AND REMAINED IN REVERSE. LUCKILY THE APPROACHING TRAFFIC SLOWED TO AVOID CRASHING INTO ME, GIVING ME TIME TO SLOWLY AND DELIBERATELY MOVE THE SHIFT LEVER TO D. THIS TIME THE CAR MOVED FORWARD. I CAN EASILY SHIFT THE LEVER TOO QUICKLY, WHICH RESULTS IN NO GEAR CHANGE. TOYOTA SAID THIS DANGEROUS CONDITION IS NORMAL FOR THE PRIUS. ALSO, THERE IS A COLUMN-MOUNTED STALK TOO CLOSE TO THE DASH-MOUNTED GEAR SHIFT LEVER. IT IS EASY TO MOMENTARILY PUT YOUR HAND ON THE WRONG STALK WHEN TRYING TO SHIFT GEARS. FINALLY, THE CAR LOUDLY BEEPS WHENEVER REVERSE IS SELECTED. THIS IS INSIDE, NOT OUTSIDE I ASSUME TO LET YOU KNOW THAT YOU ARE IN REVERSE. THAT LOUD, DISTRACTING INTERIOR BEEPER IS A SAFETY HAZARD. I WAS NOT AWARE OF HE

1) I RECEIVED A NOTICE FROM TOYOTA ABOUT A NAVIGATION SYSTEM SOFTWARE UPDATE. THE CAR WAS BROUGHT TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THE UPDATE WAS PERFORMED. 2)AFTER LEAVING THE DEALERSHIP, IN LESS THAN 2 MILES, THE CAR ENGINE STALLED AS I WAS DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR. I PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. 3) MY CAR HAS THE SMARTKEY SYSTEM, SO AT THE TIME, THE KEY WAS NOT INSERTED. AFTER INSERTING THE KEY, I WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE CAR. THIS OCCURRED AGAIN AFEW DAYS LATER, AND THE CAR WAS RESTARTED ONLY AFTER INSERTING THE KAY.

ON MY 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS, THE ENGINE SUDDENLY STALLED WHEN LEAVING THE DEALERSHIP IN FRESNO, CALIFORNIA. THE ELECTRIC ENGINE CONTINUED FOR A SHORT TIME TO GET BACK TO THE DEALER, THEN EVERYTHING WAS DEAD. AFTER WORKING ON IT FOR SEVERAL HOURS THE DEALER COULD NOT FIND THE SOURCE OF THE PROBLEM, BUT DID GET IT OPERATING AGAIN AND I CONTINUED THE TRIP WITH INCIDENT.

DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS. HE STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING EVERY WARNING LIGHT IN THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO FLASH, THEN THE CAR DIED. HE TURNED THE VEHICLE ON AGAIN AND IT DONE THE SAME THING. AFTER THIS THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. HE CALLED TOYOTA ,THEY SENT SOMEONE WITH GAS BECAUSE THE ADD FUEL LIGHT WAS FLASHING, AND THEY PUT GAS IN THE VEHICLE. IT STILL WOULD NOT START. TOWED TO TOYOTA DEALERSHIP, THEY LOOKED AT THE CAR AND COULD NOT GET IT TO START. SOMEONE KEPT PRESSING BUTTONS AND GOT THE CAR TO START, THEN, IT STARTED EVERY TIME. THE NEXT TIME WHILE DRIVING WITH A FULL TANK OF GAS IT WENT FROM THREE QUARTERS TANK TO GAS DOWN TO EMPTY INSTANTLY. HE IMMEDIATELY PULLED INTO A GAS STATION TO GET GAS AND THE MAINTENANCE LIGHT WAS FLASHING. HE CALLED TOYOTA BACK, AND THEY WOULD TOW HIM TO THE NEAREST TOYOTA DEALERSHIP. INSTEAD HE DROVE THE VEHICLE HOME. DEALERSHIP SAID THEY DID CHECKED THE FUEL LINES AND IT SHOULD BE FINE. TOYOTA DENIED ALL PROBLEMS WITH THE CARS, THE INDIVIDUAL WHO TOWED CONSUMER'S VEHICLE TOLD HIM THAT THEY HAD SEVERAL PEOPLE WITH THIS SAME PROBLEM. HE DECIDED TO TRADE IN THE VEHICLE BECAUSE HE DID NOT FEEL SAFE. IT HAD SEVERAL ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS SUCH AS, HIGH BEAMS CAME ON BY THEMSELVES, AND DOOR LOCKS WOULD NOT OPEN OCCASIONALLY. THESE INCIDENTS OCCURRED ON MAY 1, 2005 ,AND HE TRADED THE VEHICLE IN ON MAY 16, 2005 . IT WAS IN THE SHOP THREE TIMES.*AK

I HAD BEEN DRIVING MY 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS AT 40MPH WHEN I ACCELERATED TO PASS A CAR AND THEN HAD TO STOP BRIEFLY AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT. WHEN I PULLED AWAY FROM THE LIGHT I NOTICED THAT THE CAR FELT VERY SLUGGISH AND WOULDN'T ACCELERATE OVER 40 MPH. I THEN REALIZED THAT I WAS DRIVING ON THE HYBRID SYSTEM ONLY AND THAT THE ENGINE HAD STALLED. A BIG RED EXCLAMATION POINT LIT UP ON THE DASH AND I WAS ABLE TO COAST INTO A PARKING PLACE OFF THE HIGHWAY. WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE CAR IT DID NOTHING. I CALLED TOYOTA SERVICE AND EXPLAINED MY PROBLEM AND HE ARRANGED A TOW TRUCK PICK UP MY CAR BUT TOLD ME THAT SINCE IT WAS 5PM THEY WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO LOOK AT IT UNTIL THE MORNING. THE NEXT MORNING THEY TOLD ME THAT THE CAR STARTED WITHOUT INCIDENT AND ALTHOUGH THEY RAN EXTENSIVE TESTING THEY COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG. THEY WANTED ME TO COME AND PICK IT UP BUT I REFUSED STATING THAT THERE DEFINETLY WAS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THIS CAR AND THAT I WAS JUST GLAD THAT IT DIDN'T HAPPEN EARLIER IN THE DAY WHEN I WAS ON I-95 GOING 80 MPH WITH A SEMI IN BACK OF ME. I ALSO TOLD THEM THAT I HAD DONE SOME RESEARCH ON MY OWN AT PRIUSONLINE AND YAHOO PRIUS FORUM AND FOUND THAT THERE WERE MORE PEOPLE WHO HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AND IN MOST CASES IT WAS FOUND TO BE DUE TO A FEW CODES THAT NEEDED TO BE UPDATED IN THE CARS COMPUTER. I THEN ASKED THEM TO CHECK THESE SPECIFIC CODES. WHEN I CALLED BACK THE NEXT DAY THEY SAID THAT THEY RAN THE CODES AND FOUND NOTHING AND HAD TAKEN THE CAR FOR A LONG DRIVE BUT HAD

WHILE CAR WAS GOING ABOUT 25 MPH, IT WENT FROM "DRIVE" TO "PARK". IT STOPPED ABRUPTLY. COULD NOT GET CAR BACK IN DRIVE EXCEPT MOMENTARILY. THE CAR'S ELECTRIC SYSTEM CYCLED ON AND OFF ON A 16 TO 20 SECOND PERIOD. THAT IS, IT WOULD BE ON AND IN PARK AND THEN SHUT OFF MOMENTARILY EVERY 18 SECONDS. IT CONTINUTED DOING THIS FOR ABOUT 10 MINUTES WHEN I STOPPED MONORITING IT. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO A TOYOTA DEALER. WHEN IT WAS EXAMINED ABOUT 2 HOURS AFTER THE INCIDENT, IT WORKED FINE AND THERE WAS NO COMPUTER FEEDBACK ON THE PROBLEM. THEY DIDN'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED OR WHAT TO DO. THEY SAID TO BRING IT BACK WHEN THE PROBLEM HAPPENED AGAIN. THIS COULD BE A LIFE THREATENING GLITCH IF IT OCCURED AT FREEWAY SPEEDS IN TRAFFIC. I BELIEVE TOYOTA SHOULD PUT ALL CARS THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ON THE SIDELINES UNTIL THEY FIND OUT WHAT THE PROBLEM IS AND THEN COME UP WITH A FIX. BECAUSE OF THE REAL POSSIBILITY OF INJURIES, NHTSA SHOULD START AN INVESTIGATION AND START PUSHING TOYOTA TO TAKE THIS SERIOUSLY.

CAR WAS BEING DRIVEN ON MULTI-LANE CITY ARTERIAL IN MODERATE TRAFFIC. TO TRY TO QUICKLY AVOID AN OBSTRUCTING VEHICLE AHEAD, DRIVER RAPIDLY DEPRESSED ACCELERATOR PEDAL TO FULLEST EXTENT WHILE STEERING. CAR THEN IMMEDIATELY, AND WITHOUT WARNING, LOST ALL ENGINE POWER AND ROLLED TO A STOP. TWO GENERAL WARNING LIGHTS ON DASHBOARD ILLUMINATED. REPEATEDLY DEPRESSING ACCELERATOR PEDAL PRODUCED NO MOTION OR OTHER RESULT. AFTER ENGAGING EMERGENCY FLASHERS, ONLY WAY TO REGAIN ENGINE POWER WAS TO SHUT OFF IGNITION, WHICH REQUIRED ENGAGING PARKING CIRCUIT AND DEPRESSING POWER ON/OFF BUTTON, THEN AFTER SHUTDOWN PROCEDURE WAS COMPLETE, AGAIN PRESSING POWER ON/OFF BUTTON AND WAITING FOR HYBRID SYSTEM TO ENERGIZE. WARNING LIGHTS AGAIN CAME ON BUT CAR NOW RESPONDED TO ACCELERATOR AND DRIVER WAS ABLE TO MOVE TO PARKING LANE. THIS WAS THE THIRD TIME IN THE EIGHT MONTHS OF OWNING THIS NEW CAR THAT SUCH A SUDDEN SHUTDOWN OCCURRED. AFTER THE FIRST TWO TIMES IN LATE NOVEMBER-EARLY DECEMBER 2004, CAR HAD BEEN TAKEN TO DEALER FOR SERVICE AND WAS RETURNED TO OWNERS REPORTED AS FIXED BY REPLACING FAULTY ACCELERATOR SENSOR.

ON MARCH 26,2005, I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM TEMPLE. SUDDENLY, MY CAR LOSE POWER. ALL PANEL LIGHTS LIGHTED UP. I PUSHED THE GAS PADDLE, BUT THE ENGINE WOULD NOT RESPOND. I TURNED OFF THE POWER THEN TURNED BACK ON, BUT I CAN ONLY SHIFT TO NEUTRAL. ALL PANEL LIGHTS STAY ON. I USE MY INSURANCE TO CALL A TOW TRUCK TO TOW MY CAR TO WONDERIE TOYOTA. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT TOLD ME THAT THEY REPROGRAMED THE COMPUTER. THE CAR WORKS AFTER REPROGRAM AND THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT. ON APRIL 6,2005 IN THE MORNING, I TURN ON THE POWER. ALL THE PANEL LIGHTS STAY ON AND I CAN'T SHIFT. I CAN ONLY SHIFT TO NEUTRAL. AFTER ABOUT 15 MINUTES, I GOT OFF THE CAR AND OPEN THE CAR HOOD. I CAN'T SEE ANYTHING. I REMOVED MY HAND WHICH HOLDING THE HOOD SO THE HOOD DROP HARD ON TO THE CAR. I WENT BACK IN THE CAR. THE CAR START COULD RUN AGAIN. I DON'T KNOW IF THE HOOD DROP HARD ON THE CAR HAS ANYTHING TO DO WITH IT OR NOT. I TOOK MY CAR BACK TO WONDERIE TOYOTA, THE SERVICE REPRESENTIVE DID NOT WANT TO TAKE MY CAR IN. I TOLD HIM THAT I WON'T TAKE MY CAR BACK WITHOUT CHECKING. I READ THE COMMENTS ON THE RECEIPT AFTER I PICK UP MY CAR. THE MECHANIC DID NOT KNOW WHAT WAS WRONG WITH MY CAR. HE DID NOT DO ANYHTING.

BOUGHT A 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS ON 5/16/05. ON THE SECOND DAY IT LOST POWER ON THE HIGHWAY AT 60+MPH. ENGINE LIGHT AND ! LIGHT ON. CAR RAN WELL ENOUGH TO TAKE TO DEALER AFTER RE-STARTING A FEW TIMES. LIGHTS REMAINED ON UNTIL RE-STARTED AT DEALER. CAR REMAINS AT DEALER.

1. I BOUGHT A NEW PRIUS IN EARLY MARCH OF 2005. I WAS COASTING TO STOP (AROUND 8-10 MPH) FOR A YIELD SIGN AND WHEN I HIT THE FOOT ON THE BRAKE, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO ACCELERATE. FUNNY, BUT THIS PROBLEM HAPPENS ONLY OCCANSIONALLY! 2. STIMES THE VEHICLES SEEMS TO COME TO A STALL, AT LOW SPEEDS WHILE MAKING A TURN OR BEFORE COMING TO AN DEAD STOP. I PERSONALLY HAVE FELT THE VEHICLE GOING OFF THE POWER DURING A TURN, AT LOW SPEEDS <10 MPH. 3. I TRIED TO FIND ANY RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE, BUT WAS UNSUCESSFULL.

DT CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING HIS VEHICLE, IT COMPLETELY STALLED IN TRAFFIC. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ALONG WITH A FEW OTHER LIGHTS ON THE DASH ILLUMINATED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STALLING. *TT *EH

MY WIFE AND I BOUGHT A NEW PRIUS IN EARLY MARCH OF 2005. MY WIFE WAS COASTING TO STOP (AROUND 5 MPH) FOR A STOP SIGN AND WHEN SHE PUT HER FOOT ON THE BRAKE THE CAR STARTED TO ACCELERATE. SHE CAME TO A STOP AFTER HITTING ANOTHER CAR HEAD ON. BEFORE SHE HIT THE CAR (SHE ALSO SIDESWIPED ANOTHER CAR) SHE WAS ABLE TO LOOK AT HER FEET TO CONFIRM THAT SHE WAS INDEED PRESSING ON THE BRAKE PEDAL.

I WAS DRIVING MY 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS AT ABOUT 45 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE WENT DEAD. THE BATTERY CHARGE INDICATOR WENT TO ZERO, THE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT CAME ON, THE MASTER WARNING LIGHT CAME ON, THE VEHICLE STABILITY CONTROL WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. I PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. AT FIRST THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHUT OFF. AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS THE VEHICLE SHUT DOWN. I RESTARTED THE VEHICLE, AND WITH THE ENGINE SERVICE LIGHT ON WAS ABLE TO GET IT FIRST HOME, THEN TO A TOYOTA DEALER. THE DEALER SAID THE VEHICLE NEEDED AN "UPGRADE" TO ITS SOFTWARE AND REPROGRAMMED THE ECU. ( AT NO CHARGE TO ME AS THE VEHICLE IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY). IF AN UPGRADE WAS AVAILABLE AND REQUIRED, I FEEL I SHOULD HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED SO THAT I AND MY WIFE WERE NOT PUT AT RISK. *NM

EXTREME SENSITIVITY & INSTABILITY IN STRONG CROSSWINDS. THE STANDARD INTEGRITY TIRES THAT COME WITH THE CAR ARE A JOKE! *AK

PRIUS HAD EXTEMELY POOR STABILITY AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS WITH 25 MPH GUSTY CROSSWIND. DIRECTIONAL STABILITY WAS *EXTREMELY* POOR - WIND GUST WOULD SHIFT DIRECTION OF THE CAR 10-15 DEGREES. LITTLE ROAD FEEDBACK IN STEERING WHEEL, REQUIRED GREAT ATTENTION FROM DIRVER TO CONTROL CAR @ 60MPH. LESS CAPABLE DRIVER (I.E. OLDER) PROBABLY WOULD END UP IN A WRECK.*AK