2005 Toyota Prius complaints

I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN MY VEHICLE'S CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. SHORTLY AFTER I SAW A LARGE AMOUNT OF SMOKE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. I PULLED OVER AND SHUT OFF THE CAR. CAR SMELLED LIKE BURNED PLASTIC AND SMOKE. I WAS WORRIED THAT THE CAR COULD CATCH ON FIRE OR BLOW UP! I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO MY NEAREST TOYOTA DEALERSHIP.TOYOTA CLAIMED THAT THE THREE WAY COOLANT CONTROL VALVE HAD FAILED AND THE STEAM CAME FROM A RUPTURED LINE IN THE COOLANT SYSTEM. THE JOB COST ME $422.32. I DIDN'T MIND PAYING THE SERVICE BUT AFTER CAREFUL RESEARCH INTO THE PROBLEM WITH THE 3-WAY CONTROL VALVE ON THE PRIUS I HAD LEARNED THAT THIS IS A WIDE SPREAD PROBLEM.APPARENTLY THE VALVE TENDS TO STICK CAUSING NO FLOW OF THE COOLANT FLUID. I FEEL TOYOTA SHOULD FIX THIS PROBLEM BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT EITHER BY GETTING BURNED FROM A RUPTURED LINE OR THE CAR CATCHES ON FIRE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEAD LAMP LEVELING SYSTEM WAS CORRODED, CAUSING THE HEADLIGHT TO MOVE UP AND DOWN ABNORMALLY. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE HEAD LAMPS AT THE OWNERS EXPENSE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 18,206 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 19,421.

HEADLAMP WOULD GO OUT AT RANDOM INTERVALS. ALWAYS CAME ON WHEN FIRST SWITCHED ON BUT WOULD GO OFF WHILE DRIVING. WOULD REPRODUCIBLY COME BACK ON WHEN THE SWITCHED WAS FLIPPED TO OFF AND BACK ON AGAIN. WOULD THEN GO OFF AGAIN AT LATER TIME. NO WAY TO TELL WHETHER OPERATIONAL WHILE DRIVING. *TR

2005 TOYOTA PRIUS WITH HID HEADLIGHTS WHICH HAS SELF LEVELING FEATURE. HAVE NOTICED FOR A WHILE THE HEADLIGHTS ARE SHINING LOW, CAN'T SEE SUFFICIENTLY AHEAD OF CAR. HEADLIGHTS CAN NOT BE MANUALLY ADJUSTED. FOUND ONLINE SEVERAL REPORTS INDICATING THE CONTROL MODULE THAT SENDS THE LEVELING MESSAGE TO CONTROL THE HEADLIGHTS WHICH IS MOUNTED ON THE DRIVER SIDE REAR AXLE FAILS WHEN WATER ENTERS THE DEVICE AND CORRODES THE UNIT. POOR CONTRUCTION OF THIS UNIT LEAD TO WATER INFILTRATION AND HAS RESULTED IN A DANGEROUS SITUATION DUE TO THE POOR HEADLIGHT PERFORMANCE. TOYOTA HAS BEEN CONTACTED AND THEY HAVE NOT ANSWERED IF A RECALL IS WARRENTED EVEN THOUGH APPARENTLY THE MALFUNCIONING UNIT HAS BEEN REDESIGNED TO STOP WATER INFILTRATION NOR WILL THEY PROVIDE THE NECESSARY REPAIR WITHOUT CHARGING FOR IT. *TT

I WAS DRIVING WITH MY TWO CHILDREN ON THE 405 NORTH FREEWAY JUST SOUTH OF THE 10 FREEWAY AT 9PM IN MY TOYOTA PRIUS 2005. I HAD ISSUES WITH ONE OF THE HEADLIGHTS ALREADY. IT WOULD FLICKER AND THEN TURN OFF WITHOUT WARNING. LAST SUNDAY, HOWEVER, BOTH HEADLIGHTS FAILED, INCLUDING ALL INTERIOR LIGHTS, AS I WAS SPEEDING DOWN ON OF THE BUSIEST FREEWAYS IN THE COUNTRY AT NIGHTTIME. IT WAS PRETTY TERRIFYING. *TR

WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE UP, NO SPEEDOMETER DISPLAY IS ILLUMINATED. THE DISPLAY FOR THE VEHICLE ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROLS (MILES PER GALLON/ENERGY USE) STILL WORKS. ALONG WITH THE SPEEDOMETER DISPLAY, THE REAR HATCHBACK DOOR DOES NOT WORK. I TRIED TO ADJUST THE INSIDE LIGHT DISPLAY TO SEE IF THE LIGHT LEVEL WAS TURNED OFF. THIS WAS NOT PROBLEM. I TURNED THE LIGHT ADJUSTMENT KNOB IN BOTH DIRECTIONS, AND STILL NO SPEEDOMETER DISPLAY. UPON TRYING TO TURN OFF THE ENGINE, IT WILL NOT TURN OFF. I WAS ABLE TO SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF BY DISCONNECTING THE CAR BATTERY IN THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR HATCH BACK AREA. NOTE THAT BECAUSE THE REAR HATCH BACK DOOR DOES NOT WORK, ALL THE VEHICLE PARTS WHICH LEADS TO THE REAR BATTERY HAS TO BE TAKEN OUT FROM THE REAR SEAT OF THE VEHICLE. ONE PARTICULAR TIME I DISCONNECTED THE CAR BATTERY ON THE BLACK PORTION OF THE BATTERY,AND THE VEHICLE DID NOT SHUT OFF. I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP SEVERAL TIMES, AND BECAUSE THIS PROBLEM HAPPENS INTERMITTENTLY. TOYOTA WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE IT. HOWEVER, ONE DAY WHEN IT WAS NOT WORKING, I BROUGHT IT IN TO THEM. THEY LATER CLAIMED THAT IT WAS A "COLD START" PROBLEM TO THE COMPUTER THAT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE SPEEDOMETER DISPLAY (BESIDES OTHER THINGS, REAR HATCH BACK DOOR, CRUISE CONTROL, ETC.). TOYOTA CLAIMED THEY FOUND THE PROBLEM ON THE INTERNET, AND IT WAS NOT A RECALLED PART. THIS PARTICULAR PART (COMPUTER) NORMALLY HAPPENS ONLY IN THE STATES THAT ARE VERY COLD. *TR

THE HEADLIGHTS WENT OFF SUDDENLY (OF COURSE I WAS NIGHT DRIVING); I STOPPED, TURNED THE LIGHTS OFF AND BACK ON AND THEY WORKED FOR ABOUT 15 MINUTES. THE DRIVER SIDE LIGHT THEN WENT OUT AND I HAD TO PULL OVER, TURN THEM OFF, BACK ON AND THE LIGHT CAME BACK ON. THIS IS CURRENTLY AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM BUT ONE THAT NEEDS RESOLUTION. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH WITH THE HEADLIGHTS ACTIVATED AND SUDDENLY THE DRIVER'S SIDE HEADLIGHT CHANGED TO AN ORANGE ILLUMINATION AND THEN BECAME INOPERATIVE WHICH RESULTED IN THE REDUCTION IN VISIBILITY. WHEN THE LIGHT SWITCH WAS TURNED ON AND OFF REPEATEDLY THE DRIVER'S SIDE HEADLIGHTS BEGAN TO ILLUMINATE PROPERLY FOR A BRIEF MOMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED NOR WAS THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 69,000.

DRIVERS SIDE HID HEADLIGHT INTERMITTANT OPERATION. HEADLAMP GOES ON AND OFF AT VARIOUS TIMES IN TRAFFIC AT NIGHT. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT SPOKE WITH THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE BULBS MOST LIKELY CAUSED THE FAILURE. THE HEADLIGHT BULBS WERE REPLACED BUT TO NO AVAIL. THE CONTACT SPOKE WITH THE MANUFACTURER A SECOND TIME AND WAS TOLD THAT THE COMPUTER WHICH OPERATED EACH HEADLIGHT COULD POSSIBLY NEED REPLACING. THAT VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 158,000.

WHEN DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, ONE OR BOTH OF THE HID HEADLIGHTS WILL GO OUT. IF I TURN THEM ALL THE WAY OFF, THEN BACK ON, THEY WILL LIGHT UP, BUT MAY GO OUT AGAIN OR MAY STAY LIT. THE VEHICLE IS A 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS WITH HID HEADLIGHTS. NOTE: THE HEADLIGHTS WILL NOT RELIGHT ON THEIR OWN; THEY MUST BE TURNED OFF THEN BACK ON. *TR

THE HEADLIGHT LEVELING CONTROL WARNING SIGNAL CAME ONE, THE CAR HAS ONLY 36000 MILES. THIS IS A VERY EXPENSIVE FIX AND HAS SAFETY ISSUES, AND APPEARS TO BE A DEFECT ON MANY SIMILAR MODELS. *TR

WHILE DRIVING MY 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS ON AN EXPRESSWAY AT NIGHT THE PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT WENT OUT. THERE WAS NO LIGHTS ON THE EXPRESSWAY AND I NEARLY HIT A PARKED CAR ON THE SIDE OF THE EXPRESSWAY. I PULLED OVER AT THE NEXT EXIT AND CHECKED THE HEADLIGHTS. THE PASSENGER HEADLIGHT WAS INDEED OUT. I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND WENT INTO THE RESTROOM. WHEN I CAME OUT AND RESTARTED THE CAR THE HEADLIGHT WAS ON. FIVE MINUTES LATER THE HEADLIGHT WENT OUT AGAIN. I TURNED THE LIGHTS OFF, THEN ON AGAIN AND IT CAME BACK ON. THIS HAPPENED AT LEAST TWENTY TIMES DURING THE FOUR HOUR TRIP HOME. SCARY AND DANGEROUS IN MY BOOK. *KB

GAUGE CLUSTER ON MY 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS IS COMPLETELY DEAD. I CANNOT SEE ANY INFORMATION SUCH AS SPEED, TEMP, FUEL, ETC. ALSO, THE CAR DOES NOT TURN OFF WHEN I PUSH THE ON/OFF BUTTON. DEALER SAYS THAT IT WILL COST $1000 TO DIAGNOSE AND FIX. I AM VERY CONCERNED, AS THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE! *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA PRUIS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A RECURRING FAILURE WITH THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES FOR THE FAILURE WHERE THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT WAS REPLACED TWICE BUT TO NO AVAIL. THE DEALER THEN CLEARED THE ERROR CODES BUT THAT ALSO DID NOT CORRECT THE FAILURE. NEXT, THE WIRING HARNESS AND MAIN COMPUTER WERE REPLACED YET THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE CONTACT BELIEVED THE FAILURE TO BE A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 107,000.

BRAKES ON 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS STARTED INTERMITTENTLY ACTING UP ABOUT A YEAR AGO, AFTER SIX YEARS OF NO PROBLEMS. OBSERVED SYMPTOMS WERE EXTREME JERKINESS OF BRAKE OPERATION DESPITE CONSTANT PRESSURE ON BRAKE PEDAL. SYMPTOMS OBSERVED AT ANY SPEED, BUT ESPECIALLY NOTICEABLE AT SLOW SPEEDS (COMING TO A FINAL STOP, SUCH AS AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, OR IN REVERSE BACKING OUT OF DRIVEWAY). WHEN APPLYING BRAKES AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, JERKINESS FELT LIKE ALTERNATE OVER BRAKING / UNDER BRAKING. SYMPTOMS WERE QUITE SCARY THE FIRST TIMES IT HAPPENED. HAD PERSONAL MECHANIC CHECK OUT BRAKES. TEST DRIVE CONFIRMED PROBLEM, BUT HE WAS UNABLE TO FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH HYDRAULIC BRAKE SYSTEM. SINCE PROBLEM WAS INTERMITTENT, WE DECIDED TO SEE WHAT HAPPENED. PROBLEM CONTINUED INTERMITTENTLY, GRADUALLY INCREASING IN FREQUENCY TO THE POINT IN THE LAST MONTH WHERE IT WAS HAPPENING MUCH MORE OFTEN THAN NOT. TOOK CAR TO TOYOTA DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. PROBLEM WAS NOT EVIDENT ON DAY OF SERVICE. THEY CHECKED COMPUTER FOR STORED ERROR CODES, AND FOUND NONE. REAR BRAKE DRUMS SHOWED SLIGHT WEAR AND WERE OUT OF ADJUSTMENT, SO DRUMS WERE CLEANED AND TURNED AND BRAKES ADJUSTED. NO DIFFERENCE IN OBSERVED BEHAVIOR; BY END OF THE NEXT DAY, JERKY BEHAVIOR NOTED AS BAD AS IT HAD EVER BEEN. TOOK CAR BACK TO DEALER. THEY REPLACED THE STROKE SENSOR EVEN THOUGH THERE WAS NO STORED ERROR CODE. THIS APPEARS TO HAVE FIXED THE PROBLEM, SINCE THERE HAS BEEN NO RECURRENCE OF PROBLEM IN A WEEK OR DRIVING SINCE REPAIR. BRAKES FEEL TOTALL

ON 7/31/11 I NOTICED MY CRUISE CONTROL WOULD NOT SET. THE LIGHT CAME ON INDICATING THE CRUISE WAS ON, BUT I COULD NOT GET THE SPEED TO HOLD. THE NEXT DAY, THE CRUISE CONTROL WORKED. MIDDAY ON 8/1/11 WHILE PARKED, I SHIFTED TO THE D POSITION, BUT THE LIGHT INDICATED I WAS IN N. I SHIFTED BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN R AND D SEVERAL TIMES, BUT THE LIGHT INDICATED N. I TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE AND THE CAR MOVED BACKWARD. THE LIGHT INDICATED N AND THE KNOB WAS IN THE D POSITION. IT DID THIS SEVERAL TIMES. I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND BACK ON AND EVERYTHING WORKED LIKE IT IS SUPPOSED TO. ON 8/1/11 AT APPROXIMATELY 10:30 P.M. I WAS DRIVING HOME ON A NARROW, TWO-LANE RURAL HIGHWAY. ON A BLIND CURVE, BOTH OF MY HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT. I COULD NOT SEE ANYTHING. I TRIED CYCLING MY HEADLIGHTS OFF AND ON AND NOTHING HAPPENED. I APPLIED MY BRAKES AND STOPPED. I OPENED MY DOOR TO SEE WHERE I WAS IN THE ROADWAY AND DETERMINED I WAS ON THE FOG LINE ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND THERE WAS A HILLSIDE LESS THAN 5' FROM ME. I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE TO THE SHOULDER ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ROAD BY USING THE LIGHT FROM MY DOOR. I WAS EXTREMELY LUCKY NO CARS PASSED BY WHILE MY LIGHTS WERE OUT. I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED OR CAUSED A CATASTROPHE. I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND BACK ON AND BOTH HEADLIGHTS CAME BACK ON. A MOTORIST STOPPED TO ASSIST. I WAS ABLE TO FOLLOW HIM TO A STORE WHERE A FRIEND MET ME AND I FOLLOWED HIM HOME. DURING THE DRIVE HOME ONE OF MY HEADLIGHTS KEPT TURNING OFF. BOTH DID NOT GO OFF TOGETHER

I HAVE A 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS WITH HID HEADLIGHTS. THEY BEGAN FAILING, FIRST IT WAS ONLY THE DRIVERS SIDE LIGHT, AND INFREQUENTLY. I FOUND THAT WHEN I TURNED THE LIGHTS OFF AND ON AGAIN, THE HEADLIGHT WORKED AGAIN. BECAUSE OF THE HIGH COST OF REPLACEMENT, I LIVED WITH THE PROBLEM. RECENTLY, BOTH LIGHTS FAILED ON A BACK COUNTRY CURVY ROAD. FOR AN INSTANT EVERYTHING WAS TOTALLY BLACK. I QUICKLY TURNED THE LIGHTS OFF AND ON AND WAS ABLE TO SWERVE TO GET BACK ON THE ROAD. AS A RESULT, I AM GOING TO HAVE TO PAY NEARLY $1,000 TO HAVE BOTH HEADLIGHTS REPLACED AT MY EXPENSE, SINCE I HAD MORE THAN 50,000 MILES ON MY PRIUS. TOYOTA CUSTOMER CARE TOLD ME THAT I WOULD NOT BE COVERED BY A CLASS ACTION CASE FOR THE HID BULB REPLACEMENT BECAUSE MY CAR IS A 2005 AND IS NOT COVERED IN THE CASE. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND SHOULD BE A RECALL. *TR

PASSENGER FRONT HID HEADLIGHT WAS INTERMEDIATELY OPERATIONAL FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. EVENTUALLY IT WOULD NOT COME BACK ON. TOYOTA DEALER QUOTED $350+ FOR PART AND $150+ FOR LABOR, PER HEADLIGHT. ACCORDING TO OTHER PRIUS OWNERS AND INTERNET ARTICLES, THIS ISSUE IS APPARENT TO BE A MANUFACTURER DEFECT; BUT TOYOTA REFUSES TO ADMIT IN ORDER TO PREVENT A RECALL. UNWILLING TO PAID FOR TOYOTA'S MISTAKES, THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN WITH ONLY ONE HEADLIGHT FOR SOME TIME. UNTIL RECENTLY STOPPED BY POLICE AND ISSUED A TRAFFIC VIOLATION WARNING. FOR SAFETY REASONS AND TO PREVENT FUTURE VIOLATIONS , REPLACED THE BURNT HID BULB ($50+ FROM AMAZON.COM) PERSONALLY (FOLLOWED PROPER PROCEDURES). A WEEK LATER, THAT SAME BULB WENT OUT. MORE EVIDENT INDICATING THE ISSUE IS NOT WITH THE BULB; BUT WITH THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM AND TOYOTA IS NOT WILLING TO PAID FOR THEIR OWN MISTAKES. SHAME ON TOYOTA!!! *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED WHEN THE VEHICLE STALLED ALL OF THE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT STATED THE DEALER REPROGRAMMED THE COMPUTER, BUT THE VEHICLE ONLY FUNCTIONED NORMALLY FOR ONE MONTH. THE CONTACT STATED THE FAILURE WAS BEING DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER FOR ONE WEEK. THE FUEL PRESSURE WAS ALSO BEING CHECKED TO SEE IF IT MET SPECIFICATIONS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN, BUT THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 75,500.

THE MASTER WARNING LIGHT AND ANOTHER LIGHT CAME ON WARNING OF A POSSIBLE MISALIGNMENT OF THE HID HEADLAMPS ON 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS. THIS COULD LEAD TO BLINDING ONCOMING TRAFFIC IF THE LAMPS ARE MISALIGNED. TOYOTA DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT CLAIMED THAT EVEN THOUGH IT WAS A COMMON PROBLEM, REPAIRS WOULD COST ~$600 FOR A NEW HEADLIGHT LEVELING SENSOR (LOAD LEVELING SENSOR) AND INSTALLATION. *TT

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVERS SIDE HEADLIGHT WOULD INTERMITTENTLY STOP ILLUMINATING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE WOULD HAVE TO TURN THE HEADLIGHTS ON AND OFF SEVERAL TIMES IN ORDER TO KEEP THE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE LIGHTS FIXTURE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER ALSO STATED THAT THIS WAS A WIDESPREAD ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 96,000.

(1). I SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES, BUT THERE WAS NO POWER BRAKES. THE 2005 PRIUS SLOWED, BUT DID NOT STOP UNTIL IT CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. I WAS GOING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, AND I TRAVELED 3 CAR LENGTHS BEFORE COLLIDING WITH THE OTHER VEHICLE. (2). LOSS OF POWER ASSIST HAD PREVIOUSLY OCCURRED WHILE BACKING UP, BUT THIS WAS THE FIRST FAILURE GOING FORWARD. (3). TOTAL LOSS(TOTALED,, $7,000 DAMAGE). THE 2005 PRIUS IS NOW AT AN AUTOMOBILE RECYCLING YARD. )4) I NOTIFIED TOYOTA. BUT I HAD TO CALL THEM BACK SEVERAL TIMES, AND AFTER 15 DAYS, SOMEONE FINALLY ANSWERED, INSTEAD OF ME GETTING THEIR VOICE MAIL. IF THE POWER BRAKES HAD FAILED AT AN INTERSECTION, IT COULD HAVE BEEN A FATAL CRASH. *KB

RIGHT FRONT HEADLIGHT WOULD GO OFF WHILE DRIVING. REQUIRED THAT I SWITCH LIGHTS OFF AND BACK ON TO GET THE LIGHT TO WORK AGAIN. I HAD THE FRONT RIGHT HEADLIGHT REPLACED AND THREE WEEKS LATER THE LEFT FRONT HEADLIGHT FOLLOWED THE SAME SEQUENCE OF EVENTS. I PURCHASED A NEW HEADLIGHT AND HAD TWO DIFFERENT AUTO MECHANICS REPLACE IT AND THE LEFT FRONT HEADLIGHT WILL NOT WORK. I AM SCHEDULED TO TAKE THE CAR BACK TO THE LAST MECHANIC NEXT WEEK. VERY UNSAFE TO HAVE THIS HAPPEN WHILE OPERATING THE CAR AT NIGHT AND ANNOYING AND FRUSTRATING THAT THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP WANTS $300+ TO REPLACE THEIR OBVIOUS MANUFACTURING MALFUNCTION. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 60 MPH WHEN THE AUTOMATIC HEADLIGHT SENSOR FAILED DUE TO A DESIGN FLAW AND CORROSION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE COULD POTENTIALLY CAUSE THE HEADLIGHTS TO BLIND THE DRIVERS OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC. THE MANUFACTURE WAS CONTACTED AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

I HAVE A 2005 (01/01/05) MANUFACTURE DATE PRIUS. I DON'T REMEMBER THE TRIM PACKAGE. I NOTICED THE DRIVERS SIDE HEAD LIGHT WOULD INTERMITTENTLY FAIL CYCLING THE LIGHT OFF AND ON WOULD RESUME OPERATION. ONE WEEK LATER WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT BOTH HEADLIGHTS COMPLETELY FAILED AGAIN CYCLING THEM OFF AND ON RESUMED OPERATION. I WAS ISSUED A WARNING WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM WORK BY THE POLICE AND DEMONSTRATED THIS FACT. I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TO THE DEALER WHO TOLD ME BOTH HEADLIGHTS NEEDED REPLACED AND CHARGED ME 607.25 TO REPLACE. *TR

DRIVING NORTH ON I75 AT APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH. THE GAS GAUGE HAD 3 BARS ILLUMINATED. THE VSC WARNING LIGHT AND THE RED TRIANGLE WITH THE EXCLAMATION POINT CAME ON. I LOST THE ABILITY TO ACCELERATE AND THE CAR SUDDENLY WENT DEAD. LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO MAKE TO RELATIVE SAFETY ON THE SIDE TO INTERSTATE. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHO SAID THE CAR RAN OUT GAS! THEY ALSO SAID THAT THE "FUEL REGISTER UNIT WAS OPERATING AS DESIGNED." HOW WAS THAT POSSIBLE? THE CHARGE? OVER $1200! ACCORDING TO TOYOTA CORPORATE AND THE DEALERSHIP, REPEATED UNSUCCESSFUL ATTEMPTS TO START THE CAR WILL, BY DESIGN, CAUSE IRREPARABLE DAMAGE TO THE ECU CODE ID BOX WHICH CAN COST $1200 - $1800 TO REPLACE. THIS "DESIGN" IS APPARENTLY IN THE NAME OF ANTI-THEFT PROTECTION. (WHY NOT JUST IMMOBILIZE THE CAR INSTEAD OF PARTIAL SELF-DESTRUCTION?) EVEN GIVEN THE HIGH EXTENT AND DOCUMENTED HISTORY OF GAS GAUGE DISPLAY MALFUNCTIONS AND MANY OTHER RELATED ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS, TOYOTA CORPORATE WOULD OFFER NO FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE, NO REIMBURSEMENT OF ANY PORTION OF THE REPAIR. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THE CAR HAS LOST ALL POWER IN THE MIDDLE OF HEAVY TRAFFIC. THAT TIME, 08/09/10, THE WATER PUMP FAILED. SUBSEQUENT TO THAT, I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE TO REPLACE THE WATER PUMP.

DAUGHTER AND SON-IN-LAW WERE DRIVING MY 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS. A JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE HIT THEM HEAD ON GOING 32-35 MPH. MY S-N-L WAS DRIVING SLOWING DOWN TO A STOP SIGN AND SAW THE JEEP COMING AT THEM ON THEIR SIDE OF THE ROAD SO HE WAS BRAKING HOPING THE JEEP WOULD EITHER STOP OR SWERVE AROUND THEM. THE DRIVER OF THE JEEP DIDN'T EVEN BRAKE. HIT THEM HEAD ON MORE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE PUSHING THEM BACK ABOUT 10-15 FT. THE JEEPS AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. THE AIRBAGS ON MY PRIUS DIDN'T. THE DAMAGE TO THE JEEP WAS A SCREWED UP BUMPER AND A BENT LICENSE PLATE. THE DAMAGE TO MY TOYOTA PRIUS WAS TOTALED. ENGINE FLATTENED AND PUSHED IN OVER A FOOT ALMOST UNDER THE DASHBOARD OF CAR. PASSENGER DOOR COULDN'T OPEN UNTIL FIREFIGHTERS PRIED IT OPEN. CALLED TOYOTA, FILED A CLAIM ON DEFECTIVE AIRBAG. MY RESPONSE WAS THEY WEREN'T GOING FAST ENOUGH(ONLY OVER 30 MPH) FOR THE AIRBAGS TO DEPLOY, THEY WEREN'T HIT HARD ENOUGH AND THE DASHBOARD MUST NOT HAVE LOOSENED FROM THE CAR OR ELSE AIRBAGS WOULD HAVE DEPLOYED. MY DAUGHTER TOOK THE BLUNT OF IT. BODY FLEW FORWARD (SHE HAD A SEATBELT ON) HAND HIT DASHBOARD, KNEES HIT GLOVE COMPARTMENT SO HARD THAT IT POPPED OPEN. HOW BAD DOES AN ACCIDENT HAVE TO BE FOR AIRBAGS TO GO OFF. WE PAY FOR SAFETY. THE DRIVER THAT CAUSED THIS WAS DRUNK, WIFE DRUNK AND THEY HAD A 3 YR OLD IN THE CAR AT 10:45 IN THE MORNING. THEY HAD NO INJURIES, THEIR AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. FORGOT TO MENTION DAUGHTERS SISTER-IN-LAW IN SEAT BEHIND HER, WHIPLASH, BRUISES ON LEGS AND BACK IS TWEAKED, BUT THE

STEERING FAILURE ON 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS. 2007- SERVICE CAMPAIGN 60C PERFORMED ON THIS PRIUS TO INSPECT/REPLACE STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT AND COMPONENTS. MAY 6, 2011- NOTICED WOBBLE IN STEERING WHEN DRIVING ON SMOOTH HIGHWAY AT 70 MPH. MAY 20, 2011 - TOOK PRIUS IN TO DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT FOR: 1] SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE,(OIL/LUBE, ALIGN FRONT SUSPENSION, CLEAN/ADJUST BRAKES, ETC), 2] SNOW TIRE CHANGE-OUT 3] REQUESTED INVESTIGATION OF PROBLEM WITH STEERING WOBBLE. ITEMS 1 AND 2 WERE COMPLETED. ON ITEM 3, DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT REPORTED THAT THEY DID NOT FIND A PROBLEM AND STATED IT COULD BE RELATED TO SNOW TIRES OUT OF BALANCE. MAY 26, 2011-COMPLETE STEERING FAILURE OCCURRED WHILE TURNING SLIGHTLY TO THE RIGHT AT ABOUT 15 MPH ON A SMOOTH CITY STREET. THE STEERING WHEEL SPUN UNLIMITED NUMBER OF TIMES TO LEFT AND RIGHT WITH NO EFFECT ON THE WHEELS. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO DEALER. MAY 28, 2011 -DEALER COMPLETED REPAIRS. THE INVOICE SAYS THEY REPLACED: 1 04005-72147 SHAFT KIT, STEERING 1 84306-0E010 CABLE SUB-ASSY SPIR, AND PERFORMED ALIGN FRONT SUSPENSION FOR A TOTAL COST OF $798.22. THE SERVICE ADVISOR REPORTED THE SPLINES AT THE END OF THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT WERE WORN AND THAT THE TECHNICIAN HAD ONLY SEEN THIS ONCE OR TWICE BEFORE. A COMPLAINT REGARDING SAFETY AND COST HAS BEEN FILED WITH "TOYOTA HELP" (TOYOTA USA). TOYOTA STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT SUPPLY ANY INFORMATION ABOUT INCIDENTS OF THIS TYPE ON OTHER PRIUSES. NEITHER THE SAFETY NOR THE COST COMPLAINT HAS BEEN RESOLVED

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS HE NOTICED THE ENGINE LIGHT, THE ABS, AND THE BRAKE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE THEN STARTED TO MAKE A LOUD CLUNKING NOISE AND THEN WHEN DECELERATING HE NOTICED THAT THE ABS STARTING TO KICK IN WHEN IT SHOULDN'T. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO A DEALER AND THEY ADVISED HIM THAT THE COMPUTER HAD MALFUNCTIONED ON THE ABS SYSTEM AND THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL HAD LOCKED UP. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY ADVISED HIM THEY WILL ESCALATE THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 110,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

2005 TOYOTA PRIUS. CONSUMER STATES PROBLEM WITH VEHICLE OVERHEATING *TGW IT WAS DETERMINED THE WATER PUMP WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO REPLACED. *JB

WERE DRIVING A 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS, WHEN THE BRAKES SUDDENLY STARTED BEHAVING ERRATICALLY, WOULD NOT DEPRESS WHEN PRESSURE WAS APPLIED. ALL ABS /VSC LIGHTS CAME ON, DROVE TO THE NEAREST DEALERSHIP (GLENDALE, CA TOYOTA). THEY SAID THAT THE BRAKES HAD SHORT CIRCUITED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. ($2500 PART), SUBSEQUENTLY THEY SAID THAT THE SKID CONTROL ECU WAS ALSO GONE AND HAD TO BE FIXED. THIS WAS ANOTHER $1500 PART. ON READING OTHER COMPLAINTS, THIS SOUNDS LIKE A MAJOR AND COMMON ISSUE, DOES NOT APPEAR THAT TOYOTA IS ADDRESSING OR EVEN REVIEWING THE PROBLEM. THIS IS A SINGLE OWNER CAR, ALL MAINTENANCE SERVICE FOLLOWED AND WITH ONLY 62,000 MILES ON THE CAR. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHENEVER THE RADIO WAS IN USE, IT WOULD NOT TRANSMIT A CLEAR RECEPTION. THE RADIO DEFECT OCCURRED ON THE PURCHASE DATE OF THE VEHICLE AND CONTINUED OVER THE YEARS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO PROVIDE A REMEDY FOR THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 14. UPDATED 05/26/11

GENERALLY SPEAKING, THOUSANDS OF PRIUS OWNERS COMPLAIN ABOUT THEIR RADIO RECEPTION TO TOYOTA TO NO AVAIL (I HAVE WRITTEN THE CEO 2-3 TIMES ALREADY AND HAD PHONE CONVERSATIONS WITH CUSTOMER SERVICE AS WELL AS AN EXCHANGE OF EMAILS) ONLY TO BE TOLD TO CONTACT THE DEALERSHIP - WHICH HAS NO WAY OF ASSISTING WITH THIS PROBLEM). POKING AROUND ON THE INTERNET, IT SEEMS TO BE A "GROUNDING" PROBLEM - WHICH HAS NOW BEEN FIXED I UNDERSTAND IN SUBSEQUENT MODELS. THIS POINTS TO THE FACT THEY KNEW IT WAS A PROBLEM. I CONTEND IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE IF YOU ARE NOT ABLE TO HEAR YOUR RADIO IN CASE OF EMERGENCY - ESPECIALLY IN A RURAL AREA SUCH AS OURS (OLYMPIC PENINSULA) WHERE HEARING EMERGENCY WARNINGS WHILE DRIVING COULD BE CONSIDERED LIFE AND DEATH IN CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES. AS YOU WILL SEE IN THIS WEBSITE, THERE ARE PLENTY OF PEOPLE WHO WOULD BE INTERESTED IN A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT: HTTP://WWW.SOULTEK.COM/BLOG/2005/11/TOYOTA-PRIUS-HYBRID-CAR-RADIO-PROBLEMS.HTML FOR MORE INFO.

BODY SHEET METAL FATIGUE - CRACK NEAR TOP OF BODY DIRECTLY ABOVE THE REAR RIGHT-SIDE SHOCK ABSORBER TOWER. *TR

NOTE: THE DATE ABOVE DOES NOT REFLECT FIRST DATE OF OCCURANCE. THIS IS THE EVENT DATE THAT LED TO TOYOTA ADMITTING SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH THE CAR. PLEASE READ NARRATIVE: ON THREE OCCASIONS THE CAR HAS DIED WHILE BEING PARKED AT WORK AND AT HOME. ON ONE OCCASION THE CAR DIED IN MY GARAGE. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS JUMPED IT SEEMED FINE. NO LIGHTS WERE LEFT ON NOR WERE ANY ELECTRICAL DEVICES PLUGGED INTO THE ACCESSORIES. WHEN IT STARTED UP THE CAR STATED THAT THE PARKING BRAKE WAS NOT PROPERLY ENGAGED AND THE VEHICLE NEEDED TO BE MOVED TO A LEVEL SURFACE. IT WAS IN MY DRIVEWAY. ANOTHER TIME THE CAR DID THE SAME THING, DYING AT WORK IN THE AIRPORT EMPLOYEE PARKING LOT. THE CAR REQUIRED BEING JUMP STARTED AND AGAIN IT GAVE THE SAME MESSAGE. A CO-WORKER STATED THAT THEY HAD HEARD THE CAR ALARM GO OFF AT ONE POINT ABOUT AN HOUR PRIOR TO SHIFT CHANGE. BOTH TIMES THE VEHICLE WAS CHECKED AND THE REPORT WAS NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE CAR. MOST RECENTLY ON 3/27/2011 THE SAME THING OCCURRED. THIS TIME WHEN JUMP STARTING THE BATTERY THE CARS ENGINE STARTED AND THE CAR LUNGED FORWARD AT ME WITH LIGHTS AND ALARM SOUNDING. I WAS UNABLE TO SHUT DOWN THE ALARM AND WENT INTO THE CAR AND PRESSED THE POWER BUTTON TO SHUT THE ENGINE DOWN. WHEN I POWERED THE ENGINE BACK UP THE CAR ALARM WAS AGAIN SOUNDING AND ALL THE LIGHTS ON THE DASH WERE ILLUMINATED. POWERED IT DOWN AND UP AGAIN AND THIS TIME NO AUDIBLE ALARM BUT THE EXCLAMATION MARK IN THE TRIANGLE WAS ILLUMINATED AS WELL AS THE MESSAGE ABOUT THE

2005 TOYOTA PRIUS. CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE JOLTED AND SPRINTED FORWARD ON ITS OWN WHILE ENTERING A PARKING LOT *TGW

STARTING IN LATE WINTER, EARLY SPRING OF 2010, WE NOTICED INTERMITTENT OCCASIONAL FAILURE OF ONE OR THE OTHER OF OUR HID HEADLAMPS ON OUR 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS (WHICH WE WERE TOLD BY THE TOYOTA SALESMAN WERE LIFETIME HEADLIGHTS). THIS SITUATION COULD BE IMMEDIATELY RECTIFIED BY QUICKLY TURNING OFF AND ON AGAIN THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH AT THE STEERING WHEEL STALK. THEN, ON JULY 24, 2010, WHILE ON A REMOTE AND STEEP WINDING MOUNTAIN PASS ROAD IN CALIFORNIA, (SONORA PASS ROAD) IN PITCH DARK, BOTH HEADLAMPS FAILED SIMULTANEOUSLY AND COULD NOT BE RECTIFIED WITH A QUICK FLICK OF THE HEADLAMP SWITCH OFF AND ON. I BRAKED HEAVILY, KEEPING IN MY MIND A VISION OF THE CURVE IN THE ROAD I HAD JUST SEEN AHEAD OF ME. BRAKING HEAVILY AND TRYING TO STEER IN THE DARK, I PUT THE FLASHERS ON SO I WOULDN'T BE REAR-ENDED. THIS ENDED UP BEING A FORTUITOUS DECISION, BECAUSE IT WAS SO DARK THAT THE MOMENTARY FLASHES OF THE FORWARD FLASHERS ALLOWED ME TO SEE JUST ENOUGH ROAD IN BRIEF SNIPPETS SO THAT I COULD STEER MY VEHICLE SAFELY AROUND THE CURVE AND GET IT OFF THE ROAD. I FIGURED OUT THAT WITH BOTH LAMPS OUT, A MUCH SLOWER OFF/ON AGAIN CYCLE OF THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH WOULD BRING THEM BACK ON, AND I LIMPED THE VEHICLE HOME. HAVING DRIVEN OVER A MILLION MILES IN MY ADULT LIFE, LUCKILY I HAD THE EXPERIENCE AND THE CALM TO HANDLE THIS SITUATION WITHOUT CATASTROPHIC RESULT. HAD MY WIFE OR MY DAUGHTER BEEN DRIVING, WE CERTAINLY WOULD HAVE GONE OFF THE ROAD AND CRASHED THE VEHICLE. IMMEDIATELY THE FOLLOWING DAY I S

THURSDAY, MARCH 10, 2011 MORNING BETWEEN 5:40 ' 5:45 A.M. EST AT WORK DRIVING THROUGH PARKING LOT TOWARDS PARKING GARAGE, DUE TO BAD WEATHER ROAD LINES WERE NOT VISIBLE AND MY CAR END UP INTO A CONCRETE BLOCK. I WAS IN SHOCK FOR A WHILE, FRONT BUMPER, RADIATOR, BOTH FRONT LIGHTS, WINDSHIELD AND ALL FLUID HOLDING BROKE AND ENGINE CAVED IN. I HAVE NECK SOFT TISSUE INJURIOUS IN MY NECK. PAIN LOWER NECK AND UPPER NECK WHERE SCALP AND NECK MEET. MY 2005 PRIUS HAD DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAGS AND FRONT SIDE AND REAR SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAGS ON SIDE, BUT NONE OF THEM DEPLOYED, BUT MY CAR GOT TOTAL. I BOUGHT BRAND NEW FULLY LOADED PRIUS, AND I WAS THINKING MY CAR IS VERY SAFE. DEFINITELY IF I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WHERE SPEED LIMIT IS 55, I AM SURE I WAS DEAD IN THIS CAR. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING BETWEEN 35-40 MPH WHEN THE HEADLIGHTS FAILED. THE CONTACT ENGAGED THE EMERGENCY HAZARD LIGHTS UNTIL SHE WAS ABLE TO DRIVE TO A SAFE LOCATION. THE HEADLIGHTS BEGAN TO FUNCTION AFTER THE CONTACT ABRUPTLY JOLTED THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH HOWEVER, THE DRIVER SIDE HEADLIGHT WOULD ONLY ILLUMINATE SPORADICALLY. AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE DRIVER SIDE HEADLIGHT WAS PREVIOUSLY REPLACED BUT NOT RECENTLY. THE FAILURE HAD NOT RECURRED SINCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 138,500. UPDATED 4/4/11 *CN UPDATED 04/06/11

WE OWN TWO 2005 TOYOTA PRUIS. WE BOUGHT THE FIRST AT SUNRISE TOYOTA AND SIX MONTHS LATER WE BOUGHT THE SECOND AT A TOYOTA DEALERSHIP IN VIRGINIA. THE FORMER PRUIS (CAR #1) HAD 96,000 MILES ON IT WHEN THE LEVER TO CHANGE THE GEARS BEGAN TO SLIP FROM THE DRIVE OR REVERSE MODE INTO NEUTRAL REPEATEDLY. FORTUNATELY WE WERE STOPPED WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING WHEN THIS FIRST OCCURRED. ON THE LATTER PRIUS (CAR # 2), WITH 64,000 MILES, WE HAD NOT USED THE CAR FOR A FEW DAYS, WENT INTO THE CAR STARTED THE ENGINE ALLOWING IT TO RUN FOR FEW MINUTES AS IT WAS COLD OUTSIDE AND ATTEMPTED TO SHIFT. LIKE THE FORMER PRIUS (CAR #1) THE LEVER KEPT MOVING FROM THE DRIVE OR REVERSE POSITION TO THE NEUTRAL POSITION CONSISTENTLY. I WENT TO SUNRISE TOYOTA WITH CAR #1. THEY REPAIRED IT WITHOUT CHARGE AS I HAD EXTENDED WARRANTY INSURANCE ON THAT CAR. WHEN I SPOKE WITH THEM ABOUT CAR # 2) THEY SAID THEY WOULD NEED TO DO A DIAGNOSTIC BEFORE THE REPAIR, REPAIR IT AND THEN CHARGE ME. I RETURNED HOME TO CALL TOYOTA CORPORATION SAYING THAT I BOUGHT TWO PRIUS' MONTHS APART BUT THE SAME YEAR CAR, FROM TWO DIFFERENT DEALERSHIPS AND AM EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM WITH BOTH CARS JUST A FEW WEEKS APART. I MENTIONED MY CONCERN THAT THE CAR MIGHT SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL WHILE DRIVEN ON THE HIGHWAY CAUSING A DANGEROUS SITUATION. I ASKED IF OTHER DRIVERS HAVE REPORTED SIMILAR PROBLEMS AND WHAT IF ANY ASSISTANCE THEY COULD GIVE. THEY STATED THAT THEY DO NOT HAVE A RECORD OF THIS PROBLEM AND WILL NOT BE RECALLING THE CARS AT

INTERMITTENT HEADLIGHT PROBLEM PASSENGER HEADLIGHT TURNS OFF INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING WHEN I TURN THE LIGHTS ALL THE WAY OFF THEN BACK ON AGAIN THE LIGHT WILL WORK AGAIN FOR A WHILE. I HAVE BEEN STOPPED BY POLICE TWICE SO FAR. *TR

INCIDENT = ON 1/19/11 MY 2005 PRIUS BEGAN TO SHAKE WHILE DRIVING ON SURFACE STREETS. I PULLED OVER CHECKED THE CAR BUT SAW NOTHING THAT WOULD CAUSE THE SHAKING. I THEN STARTED THE CAR AND BEGAN TO DRIVE. THE SHAKING STARTED AGAIN LIKE AN UNBALANCED WASHER. I TOOK THE CAR TO HOLLYWOOD TOYOTA. TOYOTA CHECKED THE CAR AND INDICATED THAT 2 SPARK PLUGS HAD GONE BAD AND THAT 2 IGNITION COILS HAD SHORTED OUT. AS A RESULT THE ENGINE HAD CARBON DEPOSITS AND NEEDED EXTENSIVE CLEANING. I HAVE DONE ALL SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE TO TOYOTA SPECIFICATION. AS A RESULT I CONTACTED TOYOTA'S OFFICES TO VOICE SAFETY CONCERNS. WERE THERE ANY OTHER SIMILAR REPORTED INCIDENTS AND DO THEY CONSIDER ANY SAFETY ISSUES. DIDN'T GET A CLEAR ANSWER AT ALL FROM THEM. TOYOTA ONCE AGAIN IS IN DENIAL WITH PRIUS PROBLEMS. DAMAGE RESULTING = COST WAS $989.81. I FEEL THAT TOYOTA NEEDS TO REIMBURSE ME FOR THESE REPAIRS. HAD THIS HAPPENED ON THE FREEWAY RESULTS COULD HAVE BEEN DIFFERENT. I COMPLAINED TO TOYOTA AND THEY HAVE OFFERED ME $348.10 OFF THE TOTAL WORK. ITS NOT JUST A MONEY ISSUE ITS A SAFETY ISSUE AS WELL. *TR

AT RANDOM, THE CAR DOES NOT START. THERE IS NOTHING DIFFERENT ABOUT EVENTS LEADING UP TO THE FAILURE FROM ONE DAY TO THE NEXT. MY NEIGHBOR HAS THE SAME PROBLEM, AND SO DID A FRIEND OF MINE. AAA TOLD ME THAT IN THE WINTER THE CAR IS PARTICULARLY PRONE TO HAVING TROUBLE STARTING. *TR

THE HEADLIGHT LEVEL SWITCH FAILURE (WATER-RUST IN SWITCH) IS CAUSING REAL DANGER. WHEN LOCATED IN UP WHILE IN DIM - ONCOMING TRAFFIC IMPAIRED. WHEN LEVEL SWITCH ENDS DOWN, THE LINE OF SIGHT IS ONLY SEVERAL FEET IN FRONT OF VEHICLE. A SHORTER PERSON (WIFE) IS UNABLE TO SEE ANY LIGHTED ROAD. DRIVING REALLY BECOMES BAD WITH THE BRIGHT SWITCHED ON. ONCOMING TRAFFIC BECOMES IMPAIRED CAUSING DANGER. THE WIFE ACTUALLY REFUSES TO DRIVE AT NIGHT. JUST UNABLE TO SEE PROPERLY. I HAVE TRIED UNSUCCESSFULLY TO CONTACT DIRECTLY TO TOYOTA WITH THIS SITUATION. SERVICE GARAGES WANT JUST UNDER $ 500.00 TO CORRECT PROBLEM. I FEEL THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL ITEM BECAUSE OF QUALITY, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY THE DRIVING DANGER. THE ACTUAL SWITCH SHOULD BE PURCHASED MUCH LOWER COST. THE VALUE OF SWITCH ALONE WITHOUT THE BRACKETS.WE FEEL THE DANGER ON HIGHWAY TO BE A REAL CONCERN. I HAVE SPOKE WITH OTHER 05 PRIUS OWNERS AND EACH HAS EXPRESS THE PROBLEM. MOST HAVE JUST HAD IT REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY.

MY TOYOTA PRIUS 2005 MODEL HAD REPEATED AND TOTAL FAILURES WHEN THE 12 VOLT SLI BATTERY WAS LOW, OR IN COLD WEATHER. THE DESIGNING LOGIC IS VERY BAD: WHEN THE SLI BATTERY FAILS, THE BACK DOORS AND TRUNK COULD NOT BE UNLOCKED, SO I COULD NOT GET MY JUMPER CABLES OUT SINCE ALL ELECTRICAL CONTROLS FAILED. THE CAR COULD NOT BE TOWED FROM BEHIND WHEN PARKED, NOT TO DAMAGE THE SYNERGY DRIVE (APPARENTLY). I WAS TOLD TO BUY A TRICKLE CHARGER SINCE THE SLI BATTERY DIED A FEW TIMES WHILE THE PRIUS WAS GARAGED FOR MORE THAN A WEEK. THE TOYOTA SLI BATTERY IS SPECIALIZED, SMALL AND THE CONTACTS ARE TOO SMALL TO GRAB WITH NORMAL JUMPER CABLES. THERE ARE TOO MANY SINGLE POINT FAILURES INITIATED BY A DISCHARGED BATTERY. WHEN MY REMOTE KEY BATTERY DIED, I WAS TOTALLY LOCKED OUT OF THE CAR. MECHANICAL BACKUP OPTIONS ARE NEEDED FOR ALL THESE ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONIC CONTROLS. *TR

EITHER OR BOTH HIGH-INTENSITY HEADLIGHTS TURN OFF WHILE DRIVING WITHOUT DRIVER INPUT. THIS IS THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM DESCRIBED IN THE CLASS ACTION SETTLEMENT FOR 2006-2009 PRIUS VEHICLES. ACCORDING TO THE LAWSUIT, THE HEADLIGHTS PREMATURELY FAIL BY FLICKERING OR TURNING OFF INTERMITTENTLY, OFTEN REQUIRING COSTLY REPAIRS. ALTHOUGH TOYOTA HAS DENIED THESE CLAIMS, GIRARD GIBBS LLP IS PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE THAT THE PARTIES REACHED A PROPOSED SETTLEMENT THAT HAS BEEN GRANTED PRELIMINARY COURT APPROVAL. AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE SETTLEMENT WILL PROVIDE: ' A FREE WARRANTY EXTENSION FOR HID HEADLIGHT BULB AND ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNITS (THROUGH THE EARLIER OF 5 YEARS AND 50,000 MILES); AND ' CASH REIMBURSEMENTS TO MANY CLASS MEMBERS WHO PAID FOR HEADLIGHT REPAIRS. UNFORTUNATELY, MY VEHICLE YEAR WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE CLASS. HOWEVER, AS PREVIOUSLY STATED, THE PROBLEM WITH MY VEHICLE IS IDENTICAL TO THOSE IN THE SUIT. THE REPAIR COST ME $593.75. I CONTACTED TOYOTA AND ASKED THEM TO REIMBURSE ME FOR THE REPAIR. THEIR RESPONSE WAS THAT MY VEHICLE IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY AND MY VEHICLE YEAR IS NOT PART OF THE CLASS ACTION SUIT. THEY WILL NOT REIMBURSE ME FOR THE REPAIR. HOWEVER, THE VEHICLES IN THE CLASS ACTION SUIT WERE NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. UPDATED 05/04/11

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS AWAITING DIAGNOSTIC TESTING TO DETERMINE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 164,000.

THE PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT WOULD SOMETIMES GO OUT AND THEN COME BACK ON AFTER TURNING THE CAR OFF/ON. EVENTUALLY BOTH OF THE HEADLIGHTS HAD THIS PROBLEM ALONG WITH THEM TURNING PINK IN COLOR AND BACK TO WHITE WHILE DRIVING. I TOOK THE PRIUS INTO THE DEALERSHIP AND SINCE I PURCHASED THE EXTENDED WARRANTY OF 100,000 MILES THE HID ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNITS (ECUS) WILL BE REPLACED FREE OF CHARGE BUT THE HID LIGHT BULBS ARE COSTING $350 TO REPLACE. I SEE THAT TOYOTA HAS EXTENDED THE WARRANTY OF THE LIGHT BULBS TO A FIVE YEAR/50,000 FOR THE 2006-2009 PRIUS STARTING FEB 9TH 2011, TOMORROW. THE MECHANICS SAY THESE BULBS SHOULD LAST OVER A 100,000 MILES BUT THE ECUS ARE MAKING THEM GO BAD EARLY. I HAD A "WONDERFUL" CONVERSATION WITH TOYOTA EXTRA CARE REPRESENTATIVE ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. HE BASICALLY TOLD ME ANYTHING THAT ANYTHING THAT BREAKS THAT IS NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY (HEADLIGHTS) BECAUSE AN ITEM THAT IS UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY(ECU), IS NOT COVERED. AND THEN HE WENT ON TO EXPLAIN THIS BY TALKING ABOUT WHAT CAME FIRST, CHICKEN OR THE EGG. I WAS HOPING TO GET INTO MORE IN-DEPTH EVOLUTION DISCUSSION WITH HIM, BUT I RAN OUT OF TIME AND PATIENCE. I STILL LOVE OUR PRIUS, 78000 MILES. *TR

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