2006 Toyota Prius complaints

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT SPEEDS OF 30 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A TURN, THE VEHICLE ABNORMALLY ACCELERATED. SIMULTANEOUSLY, THE POWER STEERING FAILED CAUSING INHIBITED CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE PROCEEDED TO MAKE A 180 DEGREE TURN, AND CRASHED INTO A POLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THE PROCESS WOULD TAKE A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE THEY COULD PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VIN, CURRENT, AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE NOT AVAILABLE WHEN THE COMPLAINT WAS FILED.

MY 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS HEADLIGHTS ARE MALFUNCTIONING. MY HEADLIGHTS GO OFF INTERMITTENTLY. MAINLY THE RIGHT HEADLIGHTS BUT BOTH LIGHTS HAVE THIS PROBLEM. IF I TURN OFF AND THEN TURN ON THE LIGHTS THEN THEY WILL WORK OK FOR A LITTLE WHILE. I AM WORRIED THAT BOTH LIGHTS MAY GO OFF AND WILL PUT MY FAMILY AT RISK AT NIGHT.*TR

TOYOTA PRIUS 2006. RT. FRONT (PASSENGER SIDE) HEADLIGHT GOES OUT FOR NO REASON. AFTER THIS IS WILL NOT COME BACK ON, EVEN IF I SWITCH FROM LOW TO HIGH BEAM. I TURN THE LIGHTS OFF AND ON THAT CORRECTS THE PROBLEM FOR ABOUT 3 TO 15 MINUTES, THEN IT GOES OFF AGAIN. TOYOTA SAID IT WAS THE BULB AND REPLACED IT AT ABOUT 34,000 MILES UNDER WARRANTY, BUT IT DID NOT CHANGE ANYTHING. THEN THE NEXT CHANCE I HAD TO BRING IT IN IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY, SO THEY WILL NOT COVER. I THOUGHT IT MAY BE THE IGNITER OR TRANSFORMER SO I REPLACED THAT, BUT IT STILL DOES THE SAME THING. I SEE MANY PRIUS' AROUND TOWN WITH THEIR RIGHT FRONT LIGHT OUT, SO IT SEEMS TO BE QUITE COMMON. I READ ON THE INTERNET THAT LOTS OF PRIUS PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM, BUT OF COURSE TOYOTA DENIES THAT THERE IS ONE. TOYOTA SIMPLY CHARGES $300. TO REPLACE THE BULB, OR $600 TO REPLACE THE IGNITER, OR $1,100 TO REPLACE THE WHOLE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLE. REPLACING THE BULB DOES NOT FIX IT, NEITHER DOES THE IGNITER, NOT SURE ABOUT THE WHOLE ASSEMBLY. THE LIGHT GOES OFF WHETHER THE CAR IS PARKED OR DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, SO VIBRATION IS NOT THE PROBLEM. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY HAZARD. TOYOTA IS PRODUCING LEMONS, THEN SIMPLY REPLACING THE BULBS AND HOPING YOUR WARRANTY RUNS OUT. TOYOTA IS MAKING A TON OF MONEY OFF OF THIS DEFECT AT $1,100 PER LIGHT ASSEMBLY, AND EVEN THEN I AM NOT SURE THE PROBLEM IS BEING REPAIRED. THIS PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE MORE COMMON ON 2006 AND 2007 MODELS. I JUST DROVE TO THE AIRPORT AND BACK (45 MIN

IN 2009 I PURCHASED A 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS. IMMEDIATELY AFTER PURCHASE THE HEAD LIGHTS RANDOMLY SHUT OFF. SOMETIMES ONE AT TIME AND SOMETIMES BOTH AT THE SAME TIME. RECENTLY I WAS DRIVING OVER A DARK MOUNTAIN PASS IN THE SNOW AND THE HEADLIGHTS BOTH WENT OUT AT THE SAME TIME. IT TOOK ME THREE TIMES, TURNING THEM OFF AND ON FOR THEM TO COME BACK ON. WE COULD HAVE BEEN HURT OR KILLED. THIS HAPPENS OFTEN, AT LEAST FIVE TO SIX TIMES WHEN WE ARE DRIVING OUR CAR AT NIGHT AND MY SON HAS BEEN PULLED OVER AND TICKETED TWICE. WE CALLED THE DEALER AND EVEN THOUGH WE BOUGHT THE FULL EXTENDED USED CAR WARRANTY, TOYOTA DOES NOT COVER THE HEADLIGHT ISSUES AND ARE TELLING US IT'S GOING TO COST BETWEEN $500 - $1500 TO HAVE THE HEADLIGHTS REPLACED. IT'S OBVIOUSLY AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM, BUT TOYOTA SAID THEY ISSUED A STATEMENT SAYING IT WAS NOT. THE LIGHTS EVEN GO OUT WHEN YOU TURN ON YOUR BLINKERS, OFF COURSE RANDOMLY. I EVEN WENT FOR A NIGHT TIME DRIVE WITH MY SALESPERSON RIGHT AFTER I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE AND HE SAW THE LIGHTS GO OFF. HE SAID I WOULD JUST HAVE TO REPLACE THEM AT MY COST EVEN THOUGH IT WAS OBVIOUS THEY WERE GOING ON AND OFF WHEN WE HIT EVEN THE SLIGHTEST BUMP IN ROAD AND EVEN THOUGH IT WAS SUPPOSEDLY A CERTIFIED USED CAR. TOYOTA KNOWS THERE IS A PROBLEM BECAUSE IT'S ISSUED A STATEMENT AND THERE ARE BLOGS ALL OVER THE INTERNET ABOUT IT, YET THEY REFUSE TO HELP THEIR CUSTOMERS MAINTAIN A SAFE OPERATING VEHICLE. I'VE AGAIN CALLED THE DEALER AND HAVE ANOTHER APPOINTMENT ABOUT THIS I

DRIVER SIDE HID HEADLIGHT FAILS INTERMITTEDLY. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS, SHE HAD EXPERIENCED INSTANCES OF UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. SHE WAS ADVISED TO REMOVE THE FLOOR MATS FROM THE VEHICLE BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTED. SHE CONFIRMED WHEN ATTEMPTING TO PASS ANOTHER VEHICLE, THE VEHICLE WOULD ABNORMALLY ACCELERATE WITHOUT HER INTENT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 25 MPH. THE DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 56,000 AND THE CURRENT WAS UNKNOWN.

ACCELERATOR STICKING ON A 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS. IT IS NOT CATCHING ON THE FLOOR MAT, WHICH IS THE RECALL FOR THAT YEAR. THE CAR HAS 89,000 MILES. THIS PROBLEM JUST STARTED IN THE PAST MONTH. I WILL START TO ACCELERATE, AND IT WILL JUST TAKE OFF WITHOUT WARNING. SO FAR, IT HAS POPPED LOOSE AND RETURNED TO NORMAL. MOST RECENT DATE IS LISTED BELOW. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHEN THE CONTACT FIRST DROVE THE VEHICLE, HE NOTICED SMOKE EMITTING FROM THE DASHBOARD AREA. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY ADVISED HIM THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE AND NO REPAIRS WERE MADE. ON APPROXIMATELY TWELVE OCCASIONS AFTERWARD, WHILE UTILIZING THE CRUISE CONTROL MECHANISM, THE VEHICLE WOULD ABNORMALLY ACCELERATE WITHOUT WARNING. THE ACCELERATION WOULD USUALLY OCCUR ON A SMALL DECLINE OR INCLINE. THE VEHICLE WOULD DOWNSHIFT ON ITS OWN AND ACCELERATE UP TO 80 OR 90 MPH. HE HAD TO COMPLETELY DISENGAGE THE CRUISE CONTROL TO PREVENT THE VEHICLE FROM ACCELERATING. HE DID NOT CONTACT THE DEALER OR MANUFACTURER IN REGARDS TO THE VEHICLE ACCELERATING. DURING INCLEMENT WEATHER, HE ATTEMPTED TO PASS ANOTHER VEHICLE AT SPEEDS OF APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH. AS THE VEHICLE GLIDED OVER WET SNOW AND ICE, THE VEHICLE SLID SIDEWAYS AND CRASHED INTO A NEARBY GUARDRAIL. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES; HOWEVER, A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 60,000 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 600.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS UNKNOWN SPEEDS, THE HEADLIGHTS WOULD FAIL TO ILLUMINATE INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER HOWEVER THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BUT WOULD TAKE NO LIABILITY CLAIMING A DEFECT DID NOT EXIST IN THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 53,945.

REFERENCE YOUR CASE PE09019, CLOSED IN AUGUST 2009. I ALSO OWN A 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS ON WHICH THE HEADLAMPS FAIL DAILY. AS STATED IN THE REPORT IT USUALLY STARTS WITH ONLY ONE LAMP FAILING BUT IT OFTEN ENDS WITH BOTH LAMPS OUT. I WILL NOT DRIVE WITHOUT MY FOG LAMPS ON FOR FEAR I WILL BE IN TOTAL DARKNESS AT A CRUCIAL TIME SUCH AS A SHARP CURVE OR TURN IN THE ROAD. I HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR SOMEONE TO TAKE ACTION AND FORCE A RECALL AS IT IS EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE TO REPLACE THESE HEADLAMPS. IN LIGHT OF THE CURRENT FINDINGS AGAINST TOYOTA, YOU SHOULD REOPEN THE INVESTIGATION. I AM NOT CERTAIN BY ANY MEANS BUT I HAD HEARD YOUR ORGANIZATION HAD OVER 500 COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS ISSUE. WHY DID YOU ONLY INTERVIEW 40 OWNERS? DO WE HAVE TO WAIT FOR SOMEONE'S DEATH, PERHAPS MINE OR ONE OF MY FAMILY MEMBERS, BEFORE WE TAKE THIS SITUATION SERIOUS ENOUGH TO FORCE ACTION ON TOYOTA'S PART? HOW COULD SOMETHING AS SERIOUS AS HEADLAMP FAILURE BE DISMISSED SO CASUALLY? *TR

THE HID HEADLIGHTS ON MY 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS INTERMITTENTLY GO OUT ONE AT A TIME. ONCE THEY GO OUT THEY STAY OUT UNLESS I MANUALLY TURN THEM OFF AND THEN ON I CANNOT DETERMINE WHEN ONE OF THE HEADLIGHTS GOES OUT. THE PROBLEM IS WHEN DRIVING WITH ONLY 1 HEADLAMP I HAVE HAD SEVERAL INSTANCES WHEN THE OTHER HEADLAMP HAS GONE OUT AS WELL LEAVING ME WITH NO HEADLIGHTS AT NIGHT. IF I HADN'T KNOWN TO TURN THEM ON/OFF I WOULD HAVE BEEN DRIVING ON A ROAD AT NIGHT WITH NO HEADLAMPS. *TR

BRAKES FAILED TEMPORARILY AND MOMENTARILY WHEN BRAKING OVER POTHOLES WHILE APPROACHING AN INTERSTATE ON-RAMP. THIS IS NOT AT ALL THE FIRST TIME THIS HAPPENED. WHEN BRAKING WHILE GOING OVER RAILROAD TRACKS, ESPECIALLY DOUBLE SETS OF TRACKS, IT HAS BEEN COMMON THAT IT WOULD FEEL AS IF I WAS SAILING OVER THE TRACKS -- DEFINITELY NOT SLOWING DOWN (EVEN THOUGH I HAD MY FOOT ON THE BRAKES) BUT MAYBE EVEN SPEEDING UP. THAT TOO WAS THE FEELING I HAD, ALBEIT MOMENTARILY, LAST WEEK WHEN I WAS BRAKING OVER POTHOLES. *TR

BOTH HEADLIGHTS ON 2006 PRIUS TURNED OFF AFTER LESS THAN 5 MINUTES ON ROAD. MAY HAVE EXHIBITED FLASHING BEFORE TOTAL FAILURE OF BOTH HEADLIGHTS. CONFIRMED HEADLIGHT ON LIGHT WAS PRESENT DURING FAILURE. ONE CAR COMING TOWARDS FLASHED THEIR LIGHTS TO CONVEY MY HEADLIGHTS WERE OFF. I THEN SLOWED DOWN AND TURN LIGHTS OFF THEN BACK ON. BOTH CAME BACK ON AND STAYED ON SINCE THEN. I HAVE BEEN CHECKING EACH TIME I GET IN OR OUT OF CAR THAN HEADLIGHTS ARE ON AND FUNCTIONING NORMAL AT BEGINNING AND END OF TRIP. FYI, I DO NOT USE HEADLIGHTS AS DAYLIGHT RUNNING LIGHTS. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE TRAVELING AT SPEEDS OF 70 MPH WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ACTIVATED, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO ABNORMALLY ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE THEN DECREASED SPEEDS FAR BELOW THE SPEED IN WHICH THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS SET, WITHOUT DRIVER INTENT. THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS SHUT OFF AND RESET. THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO EXHIBIT THE EXACT SAME FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 47,000 AND THE CURRENT WAS 48,000.

I OWN A 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS. I HAVE HAD A PROBLEM WITH MY PASSENGER HEADLIGHT WORKING INTERMITTENTLY. I THOUGHT THE LIGHT WAS FAILING UNTIL ONE NIGHT I WAS DRIVING HOME AND ALL THE LIGHTS TURNED OFF AND IT WAS PURE DARKNESS. I QUICKLY CORRECTED THE IMMEDIATE DANGER BY TURNING THE LIGHT SWITCH OFF THEN ON AND THEY CAME BACK ON. THIS HAS HAPPENED TWO OTHER TIMES. I RECEIVED WHAT I THOUGHT WAS A RECALL NOTICE ON THE HID LIGHTS. WHEN I TOOK THE NOTICE TO MY LOCAL DEALER, THEY INFORMED ME THAT THE RECALL WAS ON THE PRICE OF THE HID BULBS AND NOT ON THE ACTUAL BULBS. THEY HAD REDUCED THE PRICE FROM $300 TO $150. NOW, AFTER LOOKING INTO IT FURTHER, IT SEEMS THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE EXPERIENCING THIS SAME PROBLEM. *TR

2006 PRIUS HID HEADLIGHTS GO OUT INTERMITTENTLY. THERE DOESN'T SEEM TO BE A FIX THAT TOYOTA CAN PROVIDE. THIS IS VERY UPSETTING, EVEN MORE SO IF YOU DRIVE AT NIGHT A LOT. TOYOTA DOESN'T ADMIT THERE IS A PROBLEM AND STATES THE ONLY COURSE OF ACTION IS TO REPLACE THE HEADLIGHT. WHY AM I TO PAY AN EXTREME AMOUNT OF MONEY TO REPLACE A HEADLIGHT WHEN THE HEADLIGHT WORKS? IT'S JUST FAULTY AND INTERMITTENT (BE IT WIRING, A COMPUTER GLITCH, OR SOMETHING ELSE). THIS PROBLEM WITH THE HID HEADLIGHTS OCCURS MULTIPLE TIMES EACH TIME I DRIVE THE CAR. FURTHERMORE, IT IS HARD TO DETERMINE WHEN THE HEADLIGHTS ARE WORKING PROPERLY. I HAVE TAKEN MY PRIUS TO A TOYOTA DEALERSHIP AND THEY REFUSE THAT THE LIGHTS ARE FAULTY AND ASK THAT YOU REPLACE THEM. IT IS SCARY TO DRIVE MY PRIUS AT NIGHT AND IT IS NO FUN EXPLAINING THIS STRANGE SITUATION TO A POLICE OFFICER WHO DOESN'T CARE AND STILL GIVES YOU A CITATION. I JUST WANT TOYOTA TO ACKNOWLEDGE AND FIX THE PROBLEM. *TR

WHEN I GO OVER A ROUGH PATCH ON THE PAVEMENT WHILE BRAKING IN MY 2006 PRIUS, THE SKID LIGHT COMES ON BRIEFLY ON THE DASH AND THE CAR LURCHES FORWARD EVEN THOUGH MY FOOT IS ON THE BRAKE. IT FEELS LIKE THE COMPUTER IS PERCEIVING THE POSSIBILITY OF A SKID AND IS COMPENSATING BY ACCELERATING UNTIL THE PAVEMENT IS SMOOTH. FORTUNATELY NO ONE HAS BEEN IN FRONT OF ME WHEN THIS HAPPENS AND I HAVEN'T HIT ANYONE. BUT IT HAS HAPPENED REPEATEDLY AND IT TAKES A TIME BEFORE THE CAR RESPONDS TO MY OWN HANDLING AND BRAKES AGAIN. THIS IS MORE THAN JUST WHAT YOU MIGHT EXPECT AND WANT FROM ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL. *TR

FOR THE PAST SEVERAL WEEKS MY 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS TEMPORARILY ACCELERATES AFTER CROSSING MINOR ROAD BUMPS. I DO NOT HAVE A FLOOR MAT IN THE DRIVER'S SIDE AS TOYOTA HAD ISSUED A RECALL FOR THIS MODEL SEVERAL MONTHS AGO SAYING THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE FLOOR MAT CAUSING ACCELERATOR PROBLEMS. THIS ACCELERATION PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED WITHOUT THE PRESENCE OF A FLOOR MAT. *TR

HEADLIGHTS OF 2006 PRIUS GO ON AND OFF AT WILL. I REPORTED THIS TO TOYOTA DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY HAD TO CHANGE BOTH BULBS. THE INTENSITY OF THE BULBS ARE NORMAL WHEN THEY COME BACK ON AND I HAVE NEVER OWNED A CAR WHERE THE BULBS RECOVER ON THEIR OWN. IT APPEARS TO BE A WIRING PROBLEM OF SOME KIND AND TOYOTA'S SOLUTION OF CHANGING THE BULBS DOES NOT SEEM TO BE A REASONABLE SOLUTION. ALSO THE ONE YEAR GUARANTEE OF AN EXPENSIVE REPAIR DOES NOT SEEM REASONABLE. THE TOYOTA WEBSITE SHOWS HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS FOR THE SAME CONDITION. *TR

2006 TOYOTA PRIUS - MY HID HEADLIGHTS HAVE BEEN RANDOMLY, UNPREDICTABLY FLICKERED ON AND OFF, SOMETIMES THE LEFT, SOMETIMES THE RIGHT AND SOMETIMES BOTH COMPLETELY UNEXPECTEDLY. THE LIGHT SWITCH MUST BE FLICKED ON AND OFF MULTIPLE TIMES TO BRING THEM BACK. WITHIN MINUTES - OR EVEN SECONDS - THEY MAY FAIL AGAIN REPEATEDLY. I DO NOT DRIVE AT NIGHT VERY OFTEN BUT OTHERS WHO DO ARE AT GREAT RISK. CAN YOU IMAGINE THE REACTION OF THE CARS IN FRONT OF ME WHILE I A FLICKING MY HEADLIGHTS AT THEM REPEATEDLY! POTENTIALLY VOLATILE. THE REPAIR IS REPLACEMENT OF HID LIGHTS AT ALMOST $600.00 AND IS NOT COVERED BY THEIR WARRANTY, WHICH IS WRONG! THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR A COUPLE YEARS AND MECHANICS HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO TRACE ISSUE OTHER THAN FAULTY HEADLIGHTS OR FAULTY COMPUTER CONTROLS. THERE ARE TENS OF THOUSANDS OF PRIUS OWNERS AFFECTED. CHECK THE ONLINE BLOGS LIKE PRIUSCHAT AND YOU WILL SEE. THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY ISSUE WHICH WHILE I HAVE HAD NOT ACCIDENTS I HAVE HAD NUMEROUS INCIDENTS OF CONCERN AND NEED FOR QUICK SUDDEN EVASIVE ACTION WHEN THE LIGHTS WOULD FAIL UNEXPECTEDLY. WE WHO HAVE BEEN FORCED TO SPEND HUNDREDS FOR REPAIR SHOULD BE REIMBURSED AND A FULL SCALE RECALL MUST BE INSTIGATED FOR THE SAFETY OF PRIUS DRIVERS AND OUR COMPANIONS IN OTHER VEHICLES ON THE ROAD. *TR

SUDDEN ACCELERATION WHILE DRIVING AROUND A CURVE ON INTERSTATE 40 - STOPPED DRIVING ON INTERSTATE TO AVOID PROBLEM. *TR

2006 TOYOTA PRIUS WITH THE HID HEADLIGHTS. THE HEADLIGHTS RANDOMLY TURN OFF. AT FIRST I THOUGHT I WAS SEEING OTHER THINGS, LIKE NEIGHBORING CARS SWITCHING IN AND OUT OF LANES, CAUSING THE AMOUNT OF LIGHT TO DIMINISH. SO FAR, IT IS EITHER ONE OR THE OTHER HEADLIGHT, NOT BOTH SIMULTANEOUSLY. THROUGH THE RANDOM PROCESS, WHICH WOULD BE INITIATED EACH TIME THE LIGHTS ARE TURNED ON, IT IS ONLY A MATTER OF "TIME" BEFORE BOTH LIGHTS EXTINGUISH AT THE WRONG TIME, AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. *TR

2006 TOYOTA PRIUS ELECTRICAL SYSTEM*CW THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN SHE TURNED ON HER VEHICLE ALL OF THE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS ON THE ENTIRE DASHBOARD WERE OUT. NO DISPLAYS, NO NAVIGATION AND NO CAMERA. WHEN SHE ARRIVED HOME, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT TURN OFF. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE TOYOTA HOTLINE AND WAS ADVISED THE ONLY WAY TO SHUT OFF THE VEHICLE, WAS TO DISCONNECT THE BATTERY. ABOUT AN HOUR LATER, THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF. THE NEXT DAY, THE CONSUMER TOOK IT THE DEALER WHERE THEY KEPT IT ALL DAY, BUT WAS UNABLE TO FIND ANYTHING WRONG. THE CONSUMER NOTICED THAT SHE WAS FILLING THE GAS TANK MORE OFTEN THAN USUAL. SHE DISCOVERED THERE WAS ANOTHER ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTION; THE BARS ON THE FUEL GAUGE WERE NOT MATCHING THE AMOUNT OF GAS THAT WAS BEING PUN INTO THE VEHICLE. *JB UPDATED 03/30/10.*JB

2006 PRIUS. WITHIN FIRST 18 MONTHS OF OWNING THE CAR (I AM ORIGINAL OWNER - TOOK POSSESSION OF CAR IN MARCH OF 2006) EXPERIENCED HEADLIGHTS GOING OFF BY THEMSELVES. TOOK THE CAR IN FOR SERVICE THINKING HEADLIGHT NEEDED REPLACEMENT. WAS TOLD BY SERVICE REP (AT GREENTREE TOYOTA IN DANBURY, CT) THAT IT WAS NOT THE HEADLIGHT BUT A PROBLEM WITH CONNECTION THAT TOYOTA RECOGNIZED BUT WAS NOT SURE HOW THEY WOULD ADDRESS. I WAITED FOR SOLUTION. AS TIME GOES ON, MORE FREQUENT INCIDENCE OF HEADLIGHT SPONTANEOUSLY TURNING OFF. I RECEIVED A NOTICE FROM TOYOTA COMPANY APPROX. 4 MONTHS AGO STATING THE PROBLEM WAS A DEFECT/CONNECTION PROBLEM. MY TOYOTA DEALERSHIP/SERVICE DEPT. TOLD ME IT WAS NOT AND REFUSED TO FIX THE CONNECTION PROBLEM. BOTH HEADLIGHTS WILL GO OUT AT EXACTLY THE SAME TIME, LEAVING ME IN COMPLETE DARKNESS. IF I QUICKLY SWITCH THE HEADLIGHTS OFF THEN BACK ON AGAIN THEY WILL ILLUMINATE. THE HEADLIGHTS GOING OFF AT THE SAME TIME HAPPENS AT LEAST ONCE EVERY 20 MINUTES. *TR

I DRIVE A 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS. ON NOVEMBER 13, 2009, FOR ABOUT 10 DAYS, THE DASHBOARD WOULD NOT LIGHT UP ON A COLD START IN THE MORNING. IT WOULD LIGHT UP AFTER I HIT A POTHOLE OR BUMP. THE PROBLEM INEXPLICABLY STOPPED. MY TOYOTA DEALERSHIP SAID THEY HAD RECEIVED NO COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS AND COULD NOT DIAGNOSE/FIX THE PROBLEM SINCE IT NO LONGER OCCURRED. *TR

DEFECTIVE HEADLIGHTS. *TR

WE OWN A 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE RIGHT (PASSENGER SIDE) FRONT HEADLIGHT WORKS INTERMITTENTLY. IT WILL TURN OFF WITHOUT WARNING. IF YOU TURN THE LIGHTS OFF AND THEN ON AGAIN, IT COMES BACK ON AS IF NOTHING IS WRONG. IT WILL THEN BLINK OUT AGAIN AT A LATER TIME WITHOUT WARNING. THIS IS A DANGEROUS PRODUCT DEFECT. IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO TELL IF THE LIGHT IS ON OR OFF UNLESS SOMEONE TELLS YOU. WE HAVE BEEN STOPPED BY THE POLICE FOR THIS PROBLEM, BUT NOT TICKETED YET BECAUSE WE CAN MAKE THE LIGHT COME BACK ON BY TURNING THE LIGHTS OFF AND THEN ON AGAIN. TOYOTA REFUSES TO RECALL OR FIX THE PROBLEM. INSTEAD, THEY CHARGE$500 TO REPLACE THE LIGHTS, WITHOUT ADDRESSING THE MECHANICAL DEFECT. MANY MANY OTHER PRIUS OWNERS/DRIVERS HAVE VOICED THE SAME COMPLAINT. *TR

INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) 1, 2. MOVING SLOWLY INTO PARKING SPACE AT LAUNDERLAND ([XXX]), OUR TOYOTA PRIUS 2006 LEAPED OUT OF CONTROL, THOUGH MY FOOT WAS HOVERING OVER THE BRAKE AND NOT TOUCHING THE ACCELERATOR. IT HIT A WALL AND DAMAGED THE CAR. TWO WEEKS EARLIER, THE CAR HAD ALSO JUMPED SUDDENLY AT LOW SPEED BUT HIT NOTHING. CAR REPAIRS TO BUMPER AND UNDERLYING STRUCTURES TOTALED $3135; REPAIRS TO THE WALL TOTALED $750. (3) NOTHING WAS DONE BY TOYOTA TO INSPECT THE ACCELERATOR OR TO INSURE US THAT THE CAR WAS NOW SAFE TO DRIVE. THE CAR HAS BEEN SITTING ON THE DEALER'S LOT FOR ABOUT TWO WEEKS. *TR

HEADLIGHTS INTERMITTENTLY GO OFF WHEN PLACED IN THE ON POSITION. SOMETIMES ONE, SOMETIMES BOTH. DOES NOT MATTER IF IT IS LOW OR HI BEAM. THIS PROBLEM IS ONGOING SINCE INCIDENT DATE. TOYOTA SENT LETTER DESCRIBING HOW HID BULBS REACH THE END OF THEIR LIFE BY INTERMITTENTLY GOING OUT AND STATES THAT YOU SHOULD MINIMIZE TURNING THEM ON AND OFF WHICH CAN'T BE PREVENTED IF THEY GO OUT WHILE YOU'RE DRIVING. I DON'T ACCEPT THIS TO BE FACT, I THINK IT'S AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM . *TR

HEADLIGHT (DRIVER'S SIDE ONLY) SOMETIMES TURNS OFF WHILE DRIVING. IF I TURN THE LIGHTS SWITCH OFF AND BACK ON, THE LIGHT WILL TURN ON AND WORK PROPERLY FOR A WHILE. *TR

INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) TO:[email protected] FROM:[XXX] SUBJECT:2006 PRIUS BRAKES COMMENTS: I HAVE A 2006 PRIUS AND HAVE HAD INTERMITTENT BRAKE PROBLEMS(I BOUGHT THE CAR NEW FROM THE TOYOTA DEALER IN 2007). THE BRAKES DO NOT ALWAYS ENGAGE IMMEDIATELY WHEN PRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL. IT FEELS AS IF THE BRAKES ARE SLIPPING BEFORE ACTUALLY STOPPING THE CAR. IN LIGHT OF THE RECENT TOYOTA BRAKE RECALLS, I NOW HAVE CONCERNS THAT MY CAR MAY ALSO HAVE BRAKES THAT MAY FAIL. [XXX] *TR

PRIUS HID BULB FAILED BEFORE ITS ESTIMATED LIFETIME. THESE BULBS ARE VERY EXPENSIVE (US$ 300.00) PLUS LABOR (US$ 200.00) AND THEY FAILING OVER AND OVER AGAIN. THIS ITEM SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED BY TOYOTA AND REPLACED FOR FREE, SINCE CUSTOMERS PAID PREMIUM PRICE UP FRONT FOR SECURITY BENEFITS OF THE ACCESSORY IN QUESTION. *TR

2006 PRIUS ACCELERATION WHILE UNDER CRUISE CONTROL IN CURVES - SEVERAL OCCASIONS. *TR

TAILGATE STRUTS ARE RUSTING AND WILL FAIL SOON. *TR

I HAVE 2006 PRIUS AND I HAVE BRAKE FAILURE FREQUENTLY IF I HIT A BUMP, POT HOLE, MANHOLE COVER, RAILROAD TRACK ETC. IT IS UN-NERVING AS I FEEL AS IF I AM AIRBORNE FOR A WHILE AS I KNOW I HAVE NO CONTACT WITH THE ROAD. *TR

I AM A RURAL MAIL CARRIER WITH WELL OVER 350,000 MILES DRIVEN ON MY ROUTE WITHOUT INCIDENT. I DRIVE IN ALL ROAD CONDITIONS ON GRAVEL AND PAVED ROADS. I WAS DRIVING MY 2006 PRIUS ON A WET BUT NOT MUDDY GRAVEL ROAD AT ABOUT 38 MPH. THE BACK END BEGAN TO SLIDE A LITTLE. I LET UP ON THE GAS WITH NO RESPONSE. I PRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL WITH NO RESPONSE. I WENT INTO A DEEP DITCH FILLED WITH 3 FT TALL GRASS. I STEERED TO DRIVE THE CENTER OF THE DITCH AND CONTINUED WITH THE BRAKE FULLY DEPRESSED FOR ABOUT 15-20 FT, RIPPING THE TALL GRASS OUT BY THE ROOT AS I WENT. THE CAR TRAVELED OVER A DRIVEWAY APPROACH, STILL AT 35 MPH, STRIKING THE APPROACH WITH THE LEFT FRONT CORNER WITH ENOUGH FORCE TO BEND THE FRAME AND DO OTHER SERIOUS DAMAGE, BUT WITH NO AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT. I CONTINUED OVER THE APPROACH AND DOWN THE DITCH, STILL AT 35 MPH, FOR ANOTHER 30 OR MORE FEET. I WAS PRESSING AND HOLDING THE BRAKE AND LIFTING THE GAS PEDAL WITH MY TOE. THE GAS PEDAL WAS NOT STUCK AND THE ENGINE'S RPMS WERE LOW. ONLY WHEN I PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL DID IT SLOW TO STOP. IT TOOK SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO GET THE CAR OUT OF THIS DITCH AS THE TRACTION CONTROL KEPT LURCHING AND STALLING. I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE CAR OUT AND HOME WITHOUT INCIDENT. IT HAD TO BE TOWED TO A DEALERSHIP FOR OVER $4000 IN REPAIRS. THIS WAS IN MID-2008 AND I DON'T KNOW IF ANY CORRECTIONS MADE OR WERE EVEN KNOWN AT THAT TIME. THIS WAS AN ABSOLUTELY TERRIFYING SITUATION. THE CAR DID NOT RESPOND TO ANY ACTION I TOOK. I HAD NO CONTROL WHAT SO EVE

ALMOST IMMEDIATELY AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE, I WENT OVER A POTHOLE AND THE CAR LURCHED FORWARD BRIEFLY. UNSURE IF AN ACCELERATION ISSUE OR A BRAKING ISSUE. IT HAS HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIMES, BUT HAS BEEN MINOR. I HAVE REPORTED THIS TO TOYOTA, BUT THEY IGNORED MOST OF MY EMAILS TO MY SURPRISE AND DISAPPOINTMENT. TODAY, I TURNED THE CORNER AND HIT A SMALL POTHOLE. I FELT IT LURCH, BUT THE BRAKES DID NOT WORK. I PUMPED THEM AND NO BRAKES. I PUSHED THE ON/OFF BUTTON AND HELD IT FOR THE 3 SECONDS THEY RECOMMEND AND IT DID NOT TURN OFF THE CAR. IT TOOK OVER 5 SECONDS BEFORE FINALLY TURNING OFF AND I COASTED TO A STOP. IT WAS TERRIFYING!!! ONCE I CALMED DOWN AND TRIED TO START THE CAR, IT WOULD NOT TURN ON AND THEN ONCE IT DID, IT WOULD NOT GO INTO DRIVE ... ONLY NEUTRAL. THIS HAPPENED 4 OR 5 TIMES BEFORE I WAS FINALLY ABLE TO GET IT INTO DRIVE TO GET HOME. I IMMEDIATELY CALLED TOYOTA ON AMHERST DR. IN SPRINGFIELD, VA AND SPOKE. HE SAID IT WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY AND THAT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR A RENTAL CAR. I LET HIM KNOW HOW DISPLEASED I WAS AND HE WAS KIND AND SAID HE'LL TALK TO HIS BOSS IN THE MORNING. I HAVE TOLD TOYOTA THAT I AM AFRAID OF MY CAR ........ UPGRADE THAT TO TERRIFIED! THIS WAS A VERY SCARY EVENT. THE 2010 CAR OWNERS SHOULD NOT BE MORE IMPORTANT THAN THOSE OF USE WITH AN EARLIER MODEL OF THIS CAR. IT'S NOT THE FLOOR MATS. IT'S NOT THE STICKY ACCELERATOR PEDAL. IT'S THEIR COMPUTER SYSTEM AND I NEED TO HAVE TOYOTA RESPECT MY SAFETY TOO AND SUPPORT THIS DANGEROUS CAR

HEADLIGHTS FAILED ON MY 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS. ONE ABOUT 36,000 MILES, SECOND ONE ABOUT 37,000. IT COST OVER $500 TO REPLACE THEM. NOW ONE OF THE NEW ONES HAS FAILED AGAIN. I WROTE TOYOTA FOR HELP AND THEY HAD AN EXTENDED WARRANTY SALESPERSON CALL ME SAYING "YOU NEED TO PROTECT YOURSELF AGAINST WHAT MAY HAPPEN IN THE FUTURE." I ASKED IF HEADLIGHTS WERE COVERED AND HE SAID YES, BUT THAT I NEEDED TO WAIT 30 DAYS AFTER BUYING THE POLICY. WROTE TOYOTA AGAIN SAYING THAT WAS UNACCEPTABLE. NO RESPONSE. I KNOW MANY OTHER PRIUS OWNERS HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM. SINCE MY LIGHT HAS GONE OUT RIGHT AWAY I'M WONDERING IF IT IS AN ELECTRICAL OR COMPUTER PROBLEM WITH THE CAR. *TR

INTERMITTENT FAILURE OF HID HEADLAMPS ON 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS. *TR

RECEIVED NOTICE FROM MANUFACTURER THAT I SHOULD REMOVE THE DRIVER'S SIDE FLOORMAT FROM MY CAR AS IT MIGHT CAUSE THE ACCELERATOR TO STICK. SAID THEY WOULD SEND MORE INFORMATION LATER. I REMOVED IT PROMPTLY BUT AM CONCERNED ABOUT MY SAFETY BECAUSE OTHER TOYOTAS WERE ADVISED OF THE SAME THING BUT THEIR ACCELERATORS STUCK ANYWAY AND IT WASN'T DUE TO THE FLOORMAT. SPOKE WITH THE DEALERSHIP ABOUT THIS AND WAS ADVISED THAT MY "06 WAS NOT BEING RECALLED. SINCE TOYOTA HAS LIED AND EVADED ISSUES REPEATEDLY I DO NOT FEEL SAFE IN MY CAR. I AM A REALTOR AND CARRY CLIENTS IN MY VEHICLE WHICH CREATES ADDITIONAL LIABILITY FOR ME. I WOULD LIKE TO TRADE CARS BUT THE VALUE OF MY CAR IS LESS DUE TO TOYOTA'S PROBLEMS. *TR

WHEN DRIVING OVER A BUMPY ROAD OR A POTHOLE WHILE BRAKING THERE IS A SUDDEN LOSS OF BRAKING FEEL BEFORE IT RETURNS, SEEMS TO BE A SLIGHTLY LESS THAN A SECOND DELAY WHERE THE BRAKES JUST CUT OUT. THIS SOUNDS TO BE RELATED TO THE ISSUE TOYOTA AND NHTSA ARE INVESTIGATING WITH THE 2010 PRIUS, BUT MINE IS A 2006 AND SEEMS TO EXPERIENCE THE SAME SYMPTOMS. *TR

APPROACHING STATE HWY. IN CRUISE, ASSUMED STOP AREA WOULD BE SLIPPERY AS IT SOMETIMES IS IN THE WINTER..TAPPED BRAKES TO DISABLE CRUISE, APPLIED BRAKES, KEPT RIGHT ON GOING & ENDED IN THE DITCH ACROSS THE HWY. WAS LUCKY THAT THERE WAS NO COLLISION.. CAN'T REMEMBER IF THE MOTOR WAS RACING AT THE TIME. *TR

INTERMITTENT FAILURE OF HID HEADLIGHT IN MY 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT IN EXTREMELY COLD WEATHER CONDITIONS (20 DEGREES BELOW), THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WOULD BEGIN TO SLIP AND NOT SHIFT. IT WOULD MAKE A NOISE AND NOT ENGAGE THE ENGINE. HE NOTICED THE ISSUE EVERYTIME THE WEATHER WAS EXTREMELY COLD. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THE VEHICLE WAS TEST DRIVEN WITH THE DEALER. THE PROBLEM WAS DUPLICATED AND HE WAS TOLD THAT HE WOULD HAVE TO LET THE VEHICLE WARM FOR AT LEAST 5 MINUTES BEFORE DRIVING. HE HAD NOT SPOKEN WITH THE MANUFACTURER TO-DATE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 95,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 15,000.

MY TOYOTA PRIUS 2006 ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN. I CALLED SERVICE AND WAS TOLD TO DRIVE TO NEAREST DEALER. BUT ACCELERATION WAS SCARY OUT OF MY CONTROL OTHER THAN BY FIERCE BRAKING. I HAVE NO IDEA HOW FAST I WAS GOING, BUT HAD TO PUT SOMETHING IN THE BOX SO I PUT 80MPH. I STOPPED AS SOON AS I COULD SAFELY AND WHERE I COULD GET SIGNAL TO CALL (BEING IN THE COUNTRY). AS SOON AS I STOPPED THE BRAKE PADS BURNT UP. I HAD TO TICK SOMETHING ON THE "COMPLAINT TYPE" BUT NONE OF THE CATEGORIES QUITE FIT. I WAS TOLD THAT THIS OCCURRED BECAUSE OF OEM BATTERY FAILURE CAUSING THIS PROBLEM.. IT WAS TIME FOR SERVICE BUT OTHERWISE HAD NO INDICATION THE BATTERY WAS LOW. I ACCEPTED THIS AND PAID THE $903.42 BILL FOR NEW BATTERY, BRAKES. THIS PROBABLY ALSO INCLUDED A REGULAR BASIC SERVICE AND OIL CHANGE. NOW I WONDER IF THIS IS A PART OF A LARGER PICTURE. AND WHAT INDICATION COULD THERE BE SO THIS DOESN'T HAPPEN AGAIN. I WAS VERY FORTUNATE THAT THIS WAS ALL THAT HAPPENED AND THAT I WAS ON AN EMPTY COUNTRY ROAD AT THE TIME. THANKS FOR LISTENING. *TR

I RECEIVED NOTIFICATION FROM TOYOTA SOME MONTHS AGO OF A FLOORMAT/ACCELERATOR PROBLEM INDICATING THEY WOULD CONTACT ME WHEN A SOLUTION WAS AVAILABLE. IT HAS NOW BEEN MONTHS WITH NO WORD. RECENTLY, I CONTACTED THEM ONLY TO GET A RESPONSE CONCERNING A 2010 PRIUS BRAKING PROBLEM. MY VEHICLE IS A 2006 PRIUS. *TR

MY 2006 PRIUS HAS ON AT LEAST 3 OCCASIONS HAS ACCELERATED INEXPLICABLY ON AT LEAST THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS. THE FIRST TWO INCIDENTS OCCURRED DURING MY FIRST YEAR OF OWNERSHIP AND WERE REPORTED TO THE DEALER. I WAS TOLD THERE WAS NO PROBLEM. THE MOST RECENT EVENT WAS IN DECEMBER 2009. I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY WHEN THE CAR BEGAN ACCELERATING RAPIDLY, EVEN AFTER I REMOVED MY FOOT FROM THE GAS PEDAL.. I WAS ABLE TO SLOW THE CAR DOWN AND PULL OVER SAFELY. PLEASE NOTE THAT AT THIS TIME, I HAD ALREADY REMOVED THE FLOOR MAT AS SUGGESTED BY TOYOTA. AGAIN, I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH MY CAR, A RESPONSE THAT DID NOTHING TO REASSURE ME. I WAS TOLD IN A FOLLOW UP CALL TO THE DEALER THAT TOYOTA WOULD BE DOING NOTHING TO ASSIST WITH THIS PROBLEM. *TR

WE HAVE A 2006 PRIUS AND HAVE HAD SEVERAL TIMES THAT THE BRAKES FEEL THAT THEY GIVE OUT WHEN A BUMP IS HIT. OUR DEALER SAYS THAT TOYOTA SAYS TO PUSH HARDER ON THE PEDAL. THIS HAS HAPPEN ABOUT 8 OR 10 TIMES IN THE LAST YEAR. THE CAR DOES STOP BUT YOUR AREN'T SURE IT WILL. *TR

INTERMITTENT AND FREQUENT FAILURE OF HID HEADLIGHTS IN 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS. ONE LIGHT OR THE OTHER AND SOMETIMES BOTH WILL GO OUT. TURNING THE LIGHT SWITCH FROM ON TO OFF AND BACK ON WILL RELIGHT THE BULB BUT AT LOWER BRIGHTNESS. FREQUENTLY MUST DO THIS SEVERAL TIMES AS THE BULB MAY STAY ON FOR A FEW MINUTES TO 1/2 HOUR. TOYOTA REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE DESIGN / FAULTY COMPONENTS IN HID CONTROL / POWER MODULE. *TR

I OWN A 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS WITH HID HEADLIGHTS. IN MAY 2008, AROUND 45K, I NOTICED THAT MY HEADLIGHTS WERE DIMMING AND AT TIMES TURNING OFF AT RANDOM INTERVALS. I WAS ONLY ABLE TO CORRECT THIS BY TURNING OFF MY HEADLIGHTS AND THEN TURNING THEM BACK ON. I TOOK THE CAR TO TOYOTA WHERE THEY REPLACED THE BULBS AND SOME OTHER ITEMS. THIS LASTED FOR A WHILE AND THE PROBLEM RE-OCCURRED. AGAIN, I REPLACED BOTH BULBS BUT THE PROBLEM CONTINUES. THE BULBS ARE VERY EXPENSIVE AND TO REPLACE THEM ONE HAS TO COMPLETELY REMOVE THE FRONT BUMPER OF THE CAR, WHICH IS ALSO VERY EXPENSIVE. I RECENTLY SEARCHED THE WEB AND FOUND THAT THERE ARE MANY PRIUS OWNERS EXPERIENCING THIS SAME PROBLEM. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS CONDITION. JUST LAST NIGHT, WHILE TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY 270 IN GAITHERSBURG, MD, BOTH MY HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT AT THE SAME TIME. THE DEALERSHIP TELLS ME THAT THERE ARE "NO" KNOWN PROBLEMS AND THAT TOYOTA HAS "NO" RECALLS OR BULLETINS ON THIS ISSUE. THIS IS QUITE TROUBLING CONSIDERING THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS. SOME HAVE SPENT A LOT OF MONEY AND HAVE YET TO RESOLVE THIS LIFE THREATENING PROBLEM. *TR