2005 Toyota Prius complaints

WHEN RUN CAR TO LONG DISTANCE AND STOP, THE CAR ACCELERATE THE MOTOR TO HIGH REVOLUTIONS AND NEED PRESS THE BRAKES. THE DEALER TELL ME PAID FOR EVALUATION, BUT THE CAR NOT HAVE INDICATOR LIGHT FOR PROBLEMS. THAT'S IS A SAFETY CONCERNS. PLEASE NEED HELP. I THINKING THE PROBLEM IS THE COMPUTER. *TR

WE WERE DRIVING JUST NORTH OF COOS BAY, OREGON WHEN A BIG TRUCK WITH THE LICENSE PLATE NUMBER [XXX] CARRYING A TRAILER WITH THE LICENSE PLATE [XXX] CLIPPED THE BACK DRIVER'S SIDE OF OUR CAR WHILE WE WERE FORCED TO CHANGE LANES BECAUSE OF THE LANE ENDING. I HAD MY BLINKER ON FOR A LONG TIME AND WE WERE AHEAD OF HIM UNTIL HE SPED UP AND CLIPPED US. HE THEN SPED UP AND CUT US OFF AND DROVE AWAY VERY QUICKLY. IT WAS RAINING AND WE WERE ON THE 101 IN OREGON AND HE WAS GOING AT LEAST 80 MPH BECAUSE WE WERE GOING AROUND 65 AND HE WAS PULLING AWAY FAST. SINCE IT WAS A SINGLE LANE HIGHWAY WE STAYED BEHIND HIM LONG ENOUGH TO GIVE HIM A CHANCE TO PULL OVER, BUT THE SECOND HE GOT THE CHANCE, HE CHANGED LANES AND CUT OTHERS OFF IN ORDER TO GET AWAY. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

MY DRIVERS SIDE HEADLIGHT FLICKERS THEN GOES OUT. I WAS ABLE TO GET IT ON AGAIN BY MANUALLY TURNING THE SWITCH ON AND OFF. THEN IT WILL HAPPEN AGAIN. I REPLACED THE HEADLIGHT ($175 FOR THE PART ALONE) IN MAY OF 2012. IT IS NOW MARCH OF 2014 AND THE SAME LIGHT BEGAN DOING IT AGAIN, FLICKERING. I WAS ABLE TO GET IT TO GO ON BY MANUALLY SWITCHING IT ON. NOW IT IS OUT AGAIN. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE AND ABS WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS WHERE UNKNOWN REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED THREE DAYS LATER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKES MALFUNCTIONED AND ADDITIONAL PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS NEEDED TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND NO SOLUTION WAS OFFERED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 92,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

WHILE DRIVING HOME ON THE FAST LANE DRIVING 65 MPH A SUDDEN ALARM CAME UP. THE RED TRIANGLE WITH EXCLAMATION MARK, ABS AND BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON WITH A TONE. WHEN I PRESS THE BRAKE THE CAR, IT WOULD NOT BRAKE. I WAS ABLE TO SLOW DOWN MY CAR BY RELEASING THE THROTTLE OFF. I BROUGHT MY CAR TO THE DEALER ONLY TO FIND THAT WOULD HAVE TO PAY $3000 FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF THE BRAKE ECU AND ACTUATOR. THE OTHER PROBLEM IS IF YOU DRIVE A BIT FAST OVER POTHOLE AND SPEED BUMP. YOU LOSE BRAKING FOR A MOMENT. *TR UPDATED 8/2017*JS

ON 2/27/14 THE SRS INDICATOR LIGHT IN OUR VEHICLE LIT UP CAUSING US TO REVIEW THE OWNER'S MANUAL, WHICH RECOMMENDED IMMEDIATE SERVICE. PER TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN T-SB-0042-11, THIS ISSUE WAS CAUSED BY FAILURE OF THE WIRING HARNESS, WHICH WAS DIAGNOSED WITH SCANNER CODE B1826. ACCORDING TO THE TSB, THE DESIGN/MATERIAL FAULT CAN OCCUR IN 2004-2009 PRIUSES. THE FAULT, ACCORDING TO A TOYOTA SERVICE ADVISOR, RESULTS IN A FAILURE OF THE AIR BAG SYSTEM. TO ADDRESS THE CONDITION, "AN UPDATED WIRE HARNESS MUST BE INSTALLED." THE COST TO REPAIR THIS DESIGN FAULT IS $2,500. AND UP DEPENDING ON IF ONE OR BOTH SIDES OF THE WIRING HARNESS HAS TO BE REPLACED. BECAUSE THIS SAFETY RELATED DEFECT NEEDED TO BE ADDRESSED AT ONCE WE PAID TO HAVE THE VEHICLE REPAIRED BUT EXPRESSED OUR VIEW TO THE TOYOTA PERSONNEL THAT THE DEFECT SHOULD HAVE BEEN COVERED BY TOYOTA. WE FEEL THAT THIS DEFECT SHOULD HAVE BEEN THE SUBJECT OF A RECALL. CALLS TO THE GM OF THE DEALERSHIP HAVE NOT BEEN RETURNED. *TR

FAILURE OF ENGINE THROTTLE CONTROLS: SUDDEN RAPID ACCELERATION, UN-COMMANDED, WHICH TERMINATED QUICKLY AFTER APPLYING THE BRAKES.

TRACTION CONTROL ENGAGED ON A HILL WITH LIGHT SNOW COVER COMPLETELY STOPPING THE WHEELS AND PREVENTING ANY FORWARD MOTION, CREATING A DANGEROUS SITUATION. PEDESTRIANS HAD TO PUSH THE CAR UP THE HILL WHILE THE ACCELERATOR WAS PRESSED TO GET TO THE TOP. BACKING WOULD HAVE PLACED THE CAR IN A DANGEROUS POSITION WITH ONCOMING 50 MPH CROSS TRAFFIC . THERE SHOULD BE AN OVERRIDE FOR SITUATIONS SUCH AS THIS TO ENABLE SOME FORWARD MOTION TO BE MAINTAINED EVEN IF THERE IS SOME WHEEL SLIPPAGE. OCCURRED FRIDAY 14 FEB 2014. THIS HAS OCCURRED IN THE PAST ON GRAVEL DRIVEWAYS AND OTHER ROADS. THIS INSTANCE WAS BY FAR THE MOST TROUBLING SINCE PEDESTRIANS WERE INVOLVED. *TR

DURING THE RECENT RASH OF SNOW STORMS TO HIT THE EASTERN MID-STATES I NOTICED THAT MY WINDSHIELD WASHER FLUID NOZZLE FROZE UP. IT WORKED WHEN I LEFT HOME AND STOPPED WORKING ON RT 32, MD. I DO NOT BELIEVE THERE IS ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE WINDSHIELD WIPER FLUID I USED. I HAD A VERY DIFFICULT TIME SEEING OUT OF MY FRONT WINDSHIELD. THE BACK NOZZLE DID NOT ICE-UP. I NOTICED THAT ALL THE OTHER CARS (EASILY 40-50 CARS) WINDOWS WERE CLEAR, EXCEPT ONE, ANOTHER PRIUS! THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME SEVERAL TIMES RECENTLY AS WELL AS IN THE PAST. IF ASKED, I AM CERTAIN OTHER PRIUS USERS WOULD REPORT THE SAME PROBLEM. MY CAR IS AN '05. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS EQUIPPED WITH BRIDGESTONE/FIRESTONE INSIGNIA SE200 ALL SEASON TIRES, SIZE: P185/65R 15 86T. THE CONTACT STATED SHE WAS DRIVING 30 MPH WHEN SHE HEARD A FLAPPING NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR PASSENGER'S SIDE TIRE. THE CONTACT CHECKED THE TIRE AND DISCOVERED THAT THE TIRE WAS DEFLATED AND THE SIDE WALL WAS SPLIT. THE CONTACT TOOK THE TIRE TO A TIRE SHOP WHERE THEY PROVIDED HER WITH A REPLACEMENT TIRE. THE TIRE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,500. THE VEHICLE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 103,000.

I HAVE REPLACED MY HEADLIGHTS 6 TIMES IN THE PAST 2 YEARS. THE HEADLIGHTS GO OUT WITH NO WARNING. THE FIRST FEW TIMES I THOUGHT IT WAS POSSIBLY BAD AFTERMARKET BULBS BUT THERE IS OBVIOUSLY A PROBLEM. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE SINCE THERE IS NO WARNING AS TO WHEN THEY GO OUT. *TR

CPCS:I1410421A. 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS. CONSUMER STATED THE CAR WAS TAKEN IN FOR A WHEEL ALIGNMENT. APPARENTLY, TOYOTA HAS NOT ALLOWED ANY WAY TO ADJUST THE REAR TOE OR CAMBER ON THE PRIUS, WHICH CAN RESULT IN STEERING ISSUES AND PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH EXCESSIVE OR UNEVEN TIRE WEAR. *LN

12/20/2010 LEFT HEAD LIGHT REPLACED NOT WORKING. 8/30/2011 RIGHT HEADLIGHT REPLACED NOT WORKING. 10/30/12 LEFT HEADLIGHT NOT WORKING. WHEN START CAR LIGHT WOULD TURN ON FLICKER THEN GO OUT, REPLACED HEADLIGHT AT TIME (SECOND REPLACEMENT) WORKED FOR SEVERAL MONTHS THEN WENT TO FLICKER MODE THEN OFF WHEN CAR LIGHTS TURNED ON. LEFT HEADLIGHT STILL NOT WORKING, LIGHT GOES ON WHEN CAR STARTED BUT FLICKS OFF IN 30 SECONDS. 1/14/2014 RIGHT HEADLIGHT NOT WORKING, REPLACED. NEW BULB PLACED LIGHT WORKS 50% TIME. NO FLICKER EITHER IT WILL GO ON OR NOT. BOTH HEADLIGHTS REPLACED TWICE SO FAR. RETURNING TO MECHANIC AGAIN. *TR

AROUND 105,000 WE STARTED GETTING INTERMITTENT HEADLIGHT LOSS. IT USUALLY COMES BACK ON IF WE TURN THE LIGHTS OFF THEN BACK ON. IT ONLY DID IT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE FOR ABOUT A YEAR BUT NOW IT DOES IT ON BOTH SIDES. *TR

MY VEHICLE LIGHTS SPONTANEOUSLY GO OUT. IT USED TO BE ONE HEADLIGHT, THEN I HAD A MECHANIC TAKE IT OUT TO DIAGNOSE AND HE SAID IT MAY BE THE BALLAST. AFTER THAT, IT IS NOW BOTH HEADLIGHTS GO OUT SPONTANEOUSLY, AND THEREFORE SOMETIMES AT THE SAME TIME, LEAVING IN THE DARK AT NIGHT ON THE ROAD. FLICKING THEM OFF AND BACK ON USUALLY FIXES IT ON THE FIRST TRY, BUT SOMETIMES IT TAKES A COUPLE OF TRIES. *TR

FOR SEVERAL MONTHS, THE DRIVER'S SIDE HEAD LIGHT OF MY 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS WOULD SPONTANEOUSLY BLINK OUT. BECAUSE IT WAS BLINKING OUT AND COMING BACK ON, I TOLD THE DEALER I SUSPECTED SOME KIND OF WIRING PROBLEM, BUT WAS ASSURED THAT THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE PRIUS HEAD LAMPS. I WAS THEN TOLD THAT WE HAD THE "SPECIAL" HID LAMPS THAT COST $150 APIECE, PLUS $75+ IN LABOR BECAUSE OF HOW COMPLICATED THEY WERE TO REPLACE. WHEN I ASKED HOW LONG IT WOULD TAKE FOR THIS LABOR INTENSIVE $75+ REPAIR, I WAS TOLD 15 MINUTES (IN OTHER WORDS, I WOULD BE CHARGED $300/HOUR FOR LABOR). AFTER BEING REASSURED AGAIN THAT REPLACING THE HEAD LAMP WOULD SOLVE THE PROBLEM, I AGREED TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE REPAIR. FAST FORWARD 2 WEEKS, AND THE DRIVER'S HEADLAMP WAS ONCE AGAIN BLINKING ON AND OFF. THE DEALERSHIP SEEMED COMPLETELY UNSURPRISED BY THE PERSISTENCE OF THIS PROBLEM, AND AGREED TO A "COURTESY RECHECK." THEY THEN INFORMED ME THAT SINCE THE $225 HEAD LAMP REPAIR THEY TALKED ME INTO DIDN'T SOLVE THE PROBLEM, THE CAUSE OF THE BLINKING WAS "DEFINITELY" THE ECU (THE COMPUTER THAT CONTROLS THE HEAD LAMP), AND IT WOULD COST ~$700 TO REPLACE THIS COMPONENT. AT NO POINT DID THE DEALER ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THE HID LAMPS AND ASSOCIATED ECUS HAVE BEEN DEFECTIVE IN HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF PRIUS CARS, AS I QUICKLY LEARNED ONLINE. *TR

INITIALLY IT WAS THE DRIVERS SIDE HEADLIGHT THAT WENT OUT. TURNING THE SWITCH OFF AND ON RESET THE HEADLIGHT TO ILLUMINATE AGAIN. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO MY MECHANIC TO REPLACE THE DRIVER SIDE HEADLIGHT. THE MECHANIC SAID THE HEADLIGHTS WORKED FINE AND TO CONTINUE TO DRIVE UNTIL IT FAILED OR OTHER ISSUE REPORTED. AFTER A COUPLE WEEKS THE ISSUE PROGRESSED TO BOTH HEADLIGHTS GOING OUT. TURNING OFF AND ON WOULD RESTORE ILLUMINATION. THIS WOULD HAPPEN RANDOMLY SOMETIMES RECURRING AGAIN AFTER 5-10MINUTES. FINALLY THE PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT WENT OUT COMPLETELY AND WOULD NOT ILLUMINATE. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO MY MECHANIC AND HAD THE PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT REPLACE. A FEW DAYS LATER THE DRIVERS SIDE HEADLIGHT STARTED TURNING OFF AGAIN. MY NEXT STEP IS TO TAKE THE VEHICLE INTO THE DEALERSHIP AND SEE IF THEY CAN FIX THE ISSUE. I'VE RESEARCHED THE ISSUE AND HAVE SEEN PLENTY OF COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS ISSUE. I'M CONCERNED THIS IS A PERSISTENT DEFECT, LIGHT SHUTTING OFF RANDOMLY, WILL HAVE A DEVASTATING EFFECT ONCE MY LUCK RUNS OUT. *TR

AFTER A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME HEADLIGHT FLICKERS THEN GOES OUT. HAVE TO TURN OFF THEN ON, ONLY TO LAST A SHORT TIME. BRAND NEW BULBS. *TR

THE HID HEADLIGHTS WILL OCCASIONALLY GO OUT. OVER TIME I REALIZED THAT BY TURNING THE LIGHTS OFF AND ON, THE LIGHTS CAME BACK ON. WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT, THIS EVENT CAN HAPPEN AS OFTEN AS EVERY COUPLE MINUTES. SOMETIMES IT MAY NOT OCCUR FOR AN HOUR. BUT THERE IS NO RHYME OR REASON AS TO THE FREQUENCY OF LOSING THE LIGHT. MAYBE 3 OR 4 TIMES OVER THE LAST 2 YEARS BOTH HEADLIGHTS TURNED OFF AT ONCE. HAD I BEEN ON AN INTERSTATE AT THE TIME OR IN INCLEMENT WEATHER, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN MUCH MORE DANGEROUS AND LIFE THREATENING. LOSING THE LIGHT FROM A BULB CAN OCCUR TO EITHER HEADLIGHT. ALTHOUGH IT SEEMS TO OCCUR WITH ONE BULB OR THE OTHER FOR A PERIOD OF TIME. IN OTHER WORDS, ON A NIGHT'S DRIVE, IT'S USUALLY ONE BULB THAT WILL OFTEN GO OUT ON THAT NIGHT. THE NEXT EVENING IT MAY BE THE OTHER HEADLIGHT. THE LOCAL TOYOTA SERVICE GARAGE CHARGES ABOUT $175 EACH FOR THE HID LIGHTBULBS AND ANOTHER $95 FOR THE INSTALLATION. LOOKING AT OPINIONS ON LINE CONCERNING THIS PRIUS HEADLIGHT PROBLEM, IS THE VIEW THAT REPLACING THE BULB IS NOT THE ISSUE. THE PROBLEM IS WITHIN THE COMPUTER SYSTEM OF THE CAR. THE PRICE OF REPLACING THE BULBS COMBINED WITH THE POSSIBILITY THAT LIGHT REPLACEMENT MAY NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM, KEEPS ME FROM SPENDING THE MONEY AND INSTEAD KEEPS ME FLICKING THE LIGHTS OFF AND ON WHEN NEEDED. GIVEN THE EXTREME POTENTIAL DANGER OF THIS DEFECT, IT SEEMS THAT TOYOTA OWES IT TO THEIR CUSTOMERS TO GET TO THE BOTTOM OF THIS PROBLEM. AND CREATE A FIX. *TR

WHILE CROSSING THE BRIDGE OF THE GODS, CASCADE LOCKS, OREGON AT ABOUT 9PM THE TOLL COLLECTOR TOLD ME MY DRIVERS SIDE HEADLIGHT WAS OUT. I TURNED ON MY HIGH BEAMS AND HAD TWO LIGHTS ON. ON LOW BEAM ONLY ONE LIGHT...DRIVING WITH HIGH BEAMS AT NIGHT IS DANGEROUS TO OTHER DRIVERS ON THE ROAD; DRIVING WITH ONE OR NO HEADLIGHTS AT NIGHT IS ALSO DANGEROUS. THE NEXT DAY I TURNED ON THE LIGHTS (LOW BEAM) AND THEY WERE BOTH ON AGAIN....I CHECKED PRIUSCHAT.COM FORUM AND READ 56 PAGES OF PRIUS OWNERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM...THAT EITHER ONE OR BOTH HEADLIGHTS WILL TURN OFF INTERMITTENTLY AND RANDOMLY, OFTEN AT NIGHT. I CALLED TOYOTA CUSTOMER SERVICE AND [XXX] THE SERVICE REP I TALKED TO LOOKED UP MY CAR AND SAID THERE IS NO REMEDY TOYOTA RECOMMENDS OTHER THAN TAKE IT TO A DEALER AND HAVE IT "REPAIRED" FOR APPROXIMATELY $800-1200 DOLLARS. FURTHER, READING ABOUT THE PRIUS OWNERS HEADLIGHT EXPERIENCES POSTED ON THE FORUM SUGGESTS THAT MORE THAN OFTEN THIS VERY DANGEROUS VEHICLE DEFECT IS NOT "REPAIRED" BY WHAT THE DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT DOES AND THE LIGHTS CONTINUE TO TURN OFF RANDOMLY..AS A RETIRED POLICE OFFICER I CONSIDER THIS PRODUCT DESIGN DEFECT TO BE EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND THAT TOYOTA CORP. WILL NOT STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

DRIVER HEADLAMP TURNING ON AND OFF WHILE DRIVING. LAMP WILL TURN ON IF I SWITCHED CONTROL OFF AND TURNED IT ON AGAIN, BUT WILL TURN OFF AGAIN WITHIN 10 MINUTES. REPLACED BOTH LIGHTS BULBS, THEN PASSENGER HEADLIGHT STARTED DOING THE SAME THING WITH IN A MONTH OF REPLACEMENT. I REPLACED BULB AGAIN IN THE PASSENGER HEADLIGHT AND WITH IN 5 DAYS LIGHT STARTED AGAIN DOING SAME THING. HEADLIGHT TURNS ON IF I SWITCH CONTROL ON AND OFF. FOUND SIMILAR COMPLAINS ABOUT PRIUS 2005 ON LINE. *TR

THE TRACTION CONTROL OVERRIDE REPEATEDLY ENGAGES ARBITRARILY UNDER VARIOUS CIRCUMSTANCES, INCLUDING HITTING BUMPS/POTHOLES AT 35 MPH AND ACCELERATING FROM A STOP ON BOTH WET AND DRY ROADS. I HAVE SEEN REPORTS ONLINE OF PEOPLE EXPRESSING THEIR CONCERN ABOUT THIS FEATURE IN SNOW, BUT OUR PRIUS DOES IT FREQUENTLY. ASIDE FROM THE INCONVENIENCE, THIS IS A CLEAR SAFETY HAZARD WHEN ATTEMPTING TO PULL OUT INTO TRAFFIC. WE HAVE BEEN TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT THIS FEATURE CANNOT BE DISABLED, BUT IT WOULD SEEM TO ME THAT IT NEEDS TO BE TO AVOID POTENTIAL COLLISIONS. *TR

THE DASHBOARD SCREEN GOES BLANK. THIS HAS HAPPENED TWICE IN THE LAST COUPLE OF DAYS. I CAN'T TELL HOW FAST I'M GOING, HOW MUCH GAS IS LEFT, WHAT GEAR I'M IN, HOW MUCH MILEAGE IS ON THE VEHICLE, WHETHER OR NOT THE LIGHTS ARE ON, ETC. TOYOTA HAS A SERVICE NOTICE ABOUT IT, BUT MY VEHICLE IS JUST 2 MONTHS OUT OF WARRANTY. I DIDN'T HAVE THIS PROBLEM BEFORE WHILE IT WAS IN WARRANTY. IT IS EXTREMELY UNSAFE. *TR

WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT I NOTICED THAT MY HEADLIGHTS WERE DIM. I LATER FOUND THAT THE LEFT LIGHT HAD GONE OUT. I FOUND THAT TURNING THE LIGHTS OFF AND ON AGAIN THE LIGHT WENT ON FOR A WHILE. THE PROBLEM PERSISTS AND TOYOTA SAYS THEY CAN DO NOTHING. I MUST PAY FOR A NEW LIGHT $300 +. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE HEADLIGHT INTERMITTENTLY FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

THE RIGHT HEADLAMP WORKS INTERMITTENTLY AND HAS BEEN FOR SOME TIME AND LATELY THE LEFT IS JOINING IN. I HAVE ASKED ABOUT THIS NUMEROUS TIMES OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS WHEN IN THE DEALERSHIP FOR OTHER SERVICES. IT ISN'T A PROBLEM ANY TIME I HAVE BEEN IN THEIR PRESENCE; BUT THEY NOTED IT IN MY FILE. LIKEWISE, AS I CROSS MY FINGERS YEARLY, THEY HAVE BOTH BEEN WORKING DURING INSPECTION. THOUGHT I WAS CRAZY UNTIL I SEE TONS OF COMPLAINTS ON THE INTERNET AS WELL AS INFO THAT YOU HAD AN INVESTIGATION BUT CLOSED IT SAYING THIS ISN'T A SAFETY ISSUE. JUST WANT IT TO GO ON RECORD WITH YOU AS WELL BECAUSE IF SOMETHING HAPPENS, YOU AND TOYOTA WILL BE SUED. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A PROBLEM WITH UPWARDS OF 2K PEOPLE (THAT YOU KNOW OF) AND SEE NO SAFETY ISSUE IN SOMETHING AS IMPORTANT AS LIGHTING? CARS DO NOT PASS INSPECTION WITH INADEQUATE LIGHTING AND REQUIRE REPLACEMENT; BUT, YOU SEE NO VALIDITY IN A LIGHTING ISSUE THAT THE CONSUMER IS UNABLE TO SOLVE BY REPLACEMENT OF THE LIGHTING UNIT?? JUST LIKE THE GOVERNMENT, MAKES NO SENSE! *TR

MY HID HEADLIGHT TURNS OFF, IT CAN BE TURNED BACK ON BY TOGGLING THE LIGHT SWITCH. I HAD PREVIOUSLY REPLACED THE BULB, HOWEVER IT COST OVER $400 TO GET IT FIXED. IT IS DANGEROUS TO DRIVE LIKE THIS, TOYOTA DOES NOT SEEM TO ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY THAT THERE IS A DEFECT. THERE WAS A CASH SUPPORT BUT ONLY FOR 2006 TO 2009 MODELS. THERE SHOULD BE AN INVESTIGATION INTO THIS PROBLEM. *TR

LAST FRIDAY NIGHT BOTH RIGHT AND LEFT HEADLIGHTS BURNED OUT WITHIN FIVE MINUTES OF ONE ANOTHER. THANKFULLY I COULD LIMP HOME WITH THE HELP OF STREET LIGHTS. I DISCOVERED TODAY AT TOYOTA DEALERSHIP THAT THE COST OF TWO NEW HID OSRAM XENARC D2R 35 W 66050 ($ 175/BULB) AND LABOR ($ 113/HR) PLUS SALES TAX WAS $ 467.31. I CHECKED THE COST OF THE HID BULBS ONLINE. AMAZON OFFERS A PAIR OF THESE BULBS FOR $ 159.99 PLUS FREE SHIPPING. TOYOTA'S GENUINE PART MARK UP IS AN ASTOUNDING 217% IN THIS COMPARISON. FURTHER, THE TOYOTA PARTS/SERVICE SAID THAT THEY NEED TO TAKE OFF THE BUMPER - UNLIKE THE OWNER'S MANUAL INSTRUCTIONS FROM THE SIDE OF THE HEADLIGHTS - TO REPLACE THE BULBS. TOYOTA HEADLIGHTS CAN BE DANGEROUS IF THEY BURN OUT SIMULTANEOUSLY AND REPLACEMENT COST IS RIDICULOUS AT THE DEALERSHIP! *TR

FRONT PASSENGER (RIGHT) SIDE MAIN HEADLAMP GOES OUT, IT WILL RELIGHT WHEN LIGHT SWITCH IS TURNED OFF, THEN BACK ON.DATE OF FIRST OCCURRENCE IS UNKNOWN. THIS HAPPENS WHEN AT IDLE OR ANY SPEED. SOMETIMES THE LIGHT WILL STAY ON FOR 30 MINUTES OR MORE, BUT MOST OF THE TIME THE LIGHT WILL GO OUT EVERY 4 MINUTES. I HAVE TO DRIVE AND LOOK AT THE REFLECTION OF MY CAR ON THE SIDE OF ANOTHER CAR TO SEE IF MY LIGHT IS ONE OR NOT. WHEN I RESET THE LIGHT, PEOPLE THINK I AM FLASHING THEM TO PULL OVER. I HAVE BEEN PULLED OVER FOR THE LIGHT OUT AND I WAS ABLE TO DEMONSTRATE TO THE PEACE OFFICER THAT I CAN RESET THE LIGHT BY TURNING IT OFF AND ON, HE TOLD ME TO TAKE CARE OF IT, YET THERE ARE NO ANSWERS OR A FIRM FIX. TOYOTA SHOULD RECALL GEN 2 PRIUS AS THIS IS A DEFECT. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TURNING, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL VIBRATION FROM THE STEERING WHEEL WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL REMAINED LOOSE AFTER THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY SERVICED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 12V537000 (STEERING) BUT DID NOT RECTIFY THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 116,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 131,000. UPDATED 03/31/14*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE MANUFACTURER OFFERED TO PAY 50% OF THE REPAIRS. THE CONSUMER BELIEVES THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD PAY FOR 100% OF THE REPAIRS. UPDATED 04/01/2014 *JS

THE HEADLIGHTS WOULD SHUT OFF AND NOT COME BACK ON DURING VARIOUS SPEEDS. IT WAS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT AT 65MPH A HEADLIGHT ( RANDOMLY LEFT OR RIGHT) WOULD SHUT OFF AT NIGHT). I WOULD HAVE TO PULL OVER AND TURN THE LIGHT SWITCH OFF TO REACTIVATE THE HEADLIGHT!!! THE HEADLIGHT WOULD COME BACK ON ONCE THE SWITCH WAS TURNED OFF AND ON AGAIN, BUT SEVERAL MILES DOWN THE ROAD, A HEADLIGHT WOULD GO OFF AGAIN!!! THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS!! WE BROUGHT IT TO A TOYOTA GARAGE, AND WERE TOLD THERE WAS A RECALL ON THESE HEADLIGHTS BUT NOT FOR OUR 2005 VEHICLE. WE PAID $476.00 TO REPLACE BOTH HEADLIGHTS!! HOW CAN HEADLIGHTS BE RECALLED FOR THIS PROBLEM AND BE COVERED FOR CERTAIN YEARS ONLY??? WITH THE RESEARCH I HAVE DONE IT APPEARS THIS IS A DANGEROUS PROBLEM FOR 2005 MODELS TOO!!! WHY WAIT FOR ACCIDENTS OR DEATHS??? THUS OCCURRED AT ALL SPEEDS!! *TR

SHIFT LEVER PLASTIC SHIELD WARPED, PREVENTING GOING INTO PARK. CAR CAN ROLL FORWARD WHEN YOU THINK PARK IS ENGAGED. *TR

1TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE HAD BEEN AN ABNORMAL RATTLING NOISE FROM THE STEERING SHAFT EVERY SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 12V537000 (STEERING). THE PURCHASED A NEW INTERMEDIATE SHAFT AND WHILE ATTEMPTING TO REPLACE THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT, HE DISCOVERED THAT THERE HAD NOT BEEN A FAILURE BUT THE STEERING SHAFT BOLTS HAD NOT BEEN PROPERLY TIGHTENED, CAUSING THE RATTLING NOISE. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE BOTH ADVISED OF THE FAILED REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 200,000. UPDATED 11-04-13 *BF UPDATED 11/6/2013 *JS

I BROUGHT MY CAR IN FOR A RECALL ON STEERING MECHANISM WHICH RESULTED IN A BOLT REPLACEMENT. THE SERVICE ADVISER ADVISED ME I NEEDED TO REPLACE WATER PUMP. THIS CAR ALREADY HAD ONE PUMP REPLACED ON A RECALL, WHY WAS THE OTHER PUMP NOT RECALLED? *TR

MY PASSENGER HEADLIGHT SHUTS OFF BY ITSELF AFTER A FEW MINUTES. WHEN I SHUT OFF THE LIGHTS AND TURN THEM ON AGAIN, THEY BOTH STAY LIT FOR SEVERAL MORE MINUTES OR SOMETIMES LONGER. WE TOOK IT TO THE DEALER, AND THEY CHARGED OVER $100 TO REPLACE THE BULB AND THERE HAS BEEN NO CHANGE. I NOTICED THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE 2006-2009 MODELS FOR A SIMILAR PROBLEM. I SUSPECT THIS MIGHT EXTEND TO THE 2005 MODEL. AT TIMES BOTH LIGHTS GO OUT IN AN UNPREDICTABLE MANNER. THIS DOES NOT SEEM SAFE TO ME. THANK YOU *TR

DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY AND THE HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT. I FLIPPED THE SWITCH AND THEY TURNED ON. THIS NOW HAPPENS EVERY TIME I DRIVE AND IT REQUIRES NUMEROUS FLIPPING ON AND OFF OF THE LIGHTS TO MAKE THEM COME BACK ON. *TR

DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY 70 MPH BOTH HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT! TURNED THEM OFF AND THEN BACK ON THEY DID NOT WORK. TURNED THEM OFF AND BACK ON ONCE AGAIN AND THEY WORKED. BOTH LIGHTS SHOULD NOT GO OUT AT ONCE! *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED HEAD-ON INTO HIS VEHICLE AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE SUSTAINED A LACERATION TO THE FOREHEAD AND THE PASSENGER SUSTAINED SEVERED CHEST BRUISING. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 126,000.

WHILE DRIVING MY VEHICLE AT NIGHT THE RIGHT HEADLAMP SUDDENLY WENT OUT. I TURNED THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH ON AND OFF AND THE HEADLAMP CAME BACK ON. APPROXIMATELY 7-8 MINUTES LATER BOTH HEADLAMPS WENT OUT. ONCE AGAIN I TURNED THE HEADLAMP SWITCH OFF AND ON AND BOTH HEADLIGHTS CAME BACK ON. THIS CONTINUED TO HAPPEN EVERY FEW MINUTES UNTIL I FINALLY REACHED MY DESTINATION. SINCE THEN IT HAS CONTINUED TO HAPPEN SPORADICALLY. I FEEL THAT THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. I PURCHASED NEW BULBS THINKING THAT THIS WAS THE PROBLEM BUT DISCOVERED THAT THE DESIGN OF THE VEHICLE DOES NOT GIVE ADEQUATE ACCESS TO THE BULBS FOR CHANGING. IT APPEARS THAT IT MUST HAVE TO BE DONE BY THE DEALER. I FEEL THAT THIS IS ALSO SOMETHING THAT NEEDS ATTENTION. *TR

THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON WHILE DRIVING. WE TOOK THE CAR IN TO CHECK FOR THE CAUSE AND THEY TOLD US THE WIRING HARNESS WAS BAD AND IT WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED AND THAT THE AIR BAGS WOULD NOT WORK BECAUSE OF A PROBLEM (OF WHICH THEY WERE ALREADY AWARE) WITH THE WIRING HARNESS. A DEFECT IN THE WIRING HARNESS - THEIR WORDS- WOULD COST ABOUT $2000.00 TO REPLACE. THEY ARE AWARE THAT THIS HAS BEEN OCCURRING IN THESE VEHICLES, BUT AS OF YET THERE HAS BEEN NO RECALL OR OFFER TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. IF THIS ISN'T A SAFETY ISSUE, I DON'T KNOW WHAT WOULD BE. PLEASE ADDRESS THIS ISSUE. *TR

PASSENGER SIDE HID HEADLIGHT GOES OUT SOMETIME AFTER START UP. IF YOU SWITCH THE LIGHTS OFF THEN ON AGAIN IT RUNS FOR A PERIOD (APPROX 4 MIN) THEN GOES OUT AGAIN. REPLACING BULB HAS NO EFFECT. WHEN SEARCHING FOR SOLUTIONS APPEARS TO BE A CHRONIC PROBLEM AMONG 2005/2006 PRIUS. *TR

FRONT PASSENGER HEADLAMP GOES OUT BY ITSELF. WILL COME BACK ON IF HEADLAMP SWITCH IS TURNED OFF AND ON. DOES NOT OCCUR WITH HITTING A BUMP IN THE ROAD OR DEPENDING UPON WEATHER. VERY UNPREDICTABLE. ONCE DRIVER SIDE HEADLAMP DID THE SAME. REGULARLY THE PASSENGER HEADLAMP FAILS!! ALSO, REAR PASSENGER BRAKE LAMP WORKS SOMETIMES AND DOESN'T WORK OTHER TIMES. UNPREDICTABLE. *TR

THE CAR WAS INITIALLY SWERVING (AS IF IN A BAD WHEEL ALIGNMENT). THEN IT TOOK A SHARP RIGHT TURN AND JUMPED OFF OF THE FREEWAY. DESPITE MY ATTEMPTS TO CONTROL IT AND KEEP IT ON FREEWAY, DUE TO THE SPEED AND MOMENTUM, IT DROVE OFF THE SLOPE TO THE RIGHT OF THE ROAD, ROLLED OVER AND EVENTUALLY LANDED RIGHT SIDE UP. INITIALLY I THOUGHT IT COULD BE A BLOWN UP TIRE.. BUT THAT DID NOT SEEM TO BE THE CASE.

I HAD JUST HAD MY OIL CHANGED AND WHEN I WAS LEAVING I STARTED THE CAR BUT THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS DIDN'T COME ON. I DROVE ON AND STILL NOTHING. WHEN I WAS AT A STOP LIGHT, THE LIGHTS CAME ON WITH THE ERROR MESSAGE THAT MY BRAKES WERE ENGAGED. I TRIED MULTIPLE TIMES TO DEPRESS AND RELEASE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE, BUT THE SAME MESSAGE. I COULDN'T MOVE THE VEHICLE BECAUSE THE FRONT BRAKES WERE LOCKED. I HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THEY HAD TO GET TOYOTA INVOLVED BUT IT SOUNDS LIKE THREE COMPUTERS ARE FRIED. THIS IS VERY FRUSTRATING SINCE I GOT THE VEHICLE BECAUSE IT HAD SUCH WONDERFUL REVIEWS (YES THIS WAS SOME YEARS AGO) HOW DO COMPUTERS JUST "UP AND FRY" WITHOUT ANY WARNING. I AM HOPEFUL THAT TOYOTA WILL DO THE RIGHT THING AND STEP UP AND TAKE THE NECESSARY STEPS TO MAKE SURE THIS DOESN'T HAPPEN TO ANYONE ELSE. ALSO, WHATEVER THEY COULD DO FOR ME WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED SINCE I WAS A DIE HARD PRIUS FAN.....UNTIL NOW??? *JB

ONE HEADLIGHT GOES OUT - THIS HAPPENS SEVERAL TIMES A WEEK. CHANGING THE BULBS ONLY SOLVES THE PROBLEM FOR A FEW MONTHS. THIS IS A COMMON COMPLAINT IN SECOND GENERATION PRIUS MODELS. *JS

STARTING OVER A YEAR AGO AND OCCURRING EVERY TIME NEEDED,THE HEADLIGHT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE SPORADICALLY GOES OUT. IT CAN HAPPEN ZERO TO MULTIPLE TIMES DURING A SINGLE USE OF THE CAR, SOMETIMES UP TO EVERY MINUTE AND A HALF WHILE DRIVING. TURNING THE HEADLIGHTS OFF AND BACK ON AGAIN CAUSE BOTH HEADLIGHTS TO COME BACK ON. AS FAR AS WE KNOW, THIS DID NOT START HAPPENING UNTIL AFTER A MAINTENANCE VISIT AND WAS STOPPED BY A STATE PATROL OFFICER. CONVERSATIONS WITH OTHER PRIUS OWNERS, REPLACING THE HEADLIGHT DOES NOT SEEM TO RESOLVE THIS ISSUE. AT +$350 TO CHANGE THE HEADLIGHT AT THE DEALER, I AM HESITANT TO SPEND MONEY ON SOMETHING THAT WILL NOT RESOLVE THE ISSUE. WHILE WE HAVE HAD NO OTHER TROUBLES WITH THIS CAR AND LOVE THE CAR, THIS RECURRING ISSUE HAS CAUSED US TO HESITATE DRIVING THE CAR AT NIGHT.

STARTING IN APPROXIMATELY MARCH AND OCCURRING DAILY THROUGH PRESENT DAY, ONE OR BOTH HEADLIGHTS SPORADICALLY GO OUT. WE STARTED NOTICING THIS IN MARCH WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT. OUR OWN TESTS INDICATE THAT IT CAN HAPPEN WHEN THE CAR IS AT A COMPLETE STANDSTILL OR AT ANY SPEED. IT CAN HAPPEN ZERO TO MULTIPLE TIMES DURING A SINGLE USE OF THE CAR, SOMETIMES UP TO EVERY MINUTE AND A HALF WHILE DRIVING. TURNING THE HEADLIGHTS OFF AND BACK ON AGAIN CAUSE BOTH HEADLIGHTS TO COME BACK ON. AS FAR AS WE KNOW, THIS DID NOT START HAPPENING UNTIL THIS LAST MARCH. WE HAVE HAD NO OTHER TROUBLES WITH THIS CAR AND LOVE THE CAR, ASIDE FROM THIS ISSUE. THIS HAS CAUSED US TO STOP DRIVING THE CAR AT NIGHT, WHICH IS EXTREMELY INCONVENIENT. *TR

DIGITAL DASHBOARD DISPLAY IS, FROM TIME TO TIME, SO DIM AS TO BE ALMOST INVISIBLE. SOMETIMES IT APPEARS TO BE ABOUT 90% OF BRIGHTNESS, OTHER TIMES AT ABOUT 5% OR LESS. THIS MAKES IT ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO READ SUCH INFORMATION AS SPEED, WARNING LIGHTS, ETC. WHEN IT IS VISIBLE, IT IS A MAJOR DISTRACTION, TAKING CONSIDERABLE TIME AND EFFORT. TOYOTA HAS EXTENDED THE WARRANTY FOR THIS PROBLEM, BUT MY TOYOTA DEALER REFUSES TO PERFORM THE REPAIR, CLAIMING THAT AS LONG AS THEY CAN SEE THE DISPLAY AT ANY LEVEL, REGARDLESS OF HOW DIM, THERE IS NOT A CORRECTABLE PROBLEM.SINCE THE PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT, THEY MAY NOT SEE IT AT ITS WORST. *TR

BRAKES DID NOT APPLY INSTANTLY WHEN COMING TO A STOP LIGHT. WE ALMOST HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF US. THANKFULLY WE APPLIED THE BRAKES EARLY, BUT IT SEEMED LIKE THE BRAKES WERE NOT BEING APPLIED AND THAT THE WHEELS JUST KEPT ON MOVING. I HAD TO PUMP THE BRAKE AGAIN TO MAKE SURE IT WOULD APPLY MORE PRESSURE. WE CAME WITHIN A FEW INCHES OF REAR ENDING THE CAR IN FRONT OF US. AND THIS HAS HAPPENED ABOUT 10 TIMES NOW. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL BEFORE A MAJOR ACCIDENT OR DEATH, HEAVEN FORBID, OCCURS. *TR

THE BRAKING SYSTEM FOR MY 2005 PRIUS HAS BEEN MALFUNCTIONING SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR IN THE SUMMER OF 2012. WHILE TRYING TO SLOW DOWN ON A ROUGH ROAD SURFACE THE BRAKES REFUSED TO BRAKE FOR 1 OR 2 SECONDS, CAUSING A HIGHER-THAN-ANTICIPATED SPEED WHEN GOING AROUND A TURN. THIS PROBLEM INCREASES THE DISTANCE THE VEHICLE NEEDS TO STOP AND I CONSIDER THIS A HIGH SAFETY CONCERN AND A MAJOR PRODUCT DEFECT. NO ACCIDENTS OR INJURIES HAVE BEEN SUSTAINED FROM THE PROBLEM ON THIS VEHICLE SO FAR. *TR