2006 Toyota Prius complaints

HEADLIGHTS, GO ON AND OFF ON THEIR OWN. SOMETIMES ONLY ONE WILL GO OFF, SOMETIMES BOTH. HAPPENS WITH HIGH BEAMS AS WELL. LIGHTS COME BACK ON IF I SWITCH THEM COMPLETELY OFF AND THEN ON AGAIN. MAY STAY ON FOR 30 MINUTES, MAY ONLY STAY ON FOR A COUPLE MINUTES. VERY DANGEROUS AS THE LIGHTS HAVE GONE OFF AT NIGHT TIME CAUSING LOSS OF VISIBILITY. *TR

WHILE TRAVELING IN THE DARK AT 6:00AM ON I64E MY HEADLIGHTS WENT COMPLETELY OUT. I HAD TO MOVE OFF THE HIGHWAY, TURN MY VEHICLE OFF AND RESTART THE VEHICLE. WHEN I RESTARTED IT, THE LIGHTS TURNED BACK ON. *TR

WENT TO DEALER FOR 90K SERVICE. WAS TOLD LEFT HEADLIGHT WAS OUT. REPLACED. HEADLIGHT GOES OUT INTERMITTENTLY. NEED TO TURN LIGHTS ON-OFF TO HAVE HEADLIGHT TURN BACK ON. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS WOULD SPORADICALLY FAIL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO STATED THAT THE BOLTS WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 219,600.

I WAS REAR ENDED AT BY A CAR GOIN ALMOST FULL SPEED IN A SPEED LIMIT ZONE OF 45 AT A RED LIGHT, WHILE I WAS SLOWING DOWN. WHILE APPROACHING THE LINE OF CARS IN FRONT OF ME I STARTED SLOWING DOWN PUMPING MY BRAKES TO LET TO DRIVERS BEHIND KNOW I WAS SLOWING DOWN. I WAS THEN REAR ENDED AND SHOT INTO THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME, LIFTING UP THE FRONT OF MY CAR AND SMASHING INTO ANOTHER VECHILE. MY FIREWALL WAS COMPLETELY BENT IN AS WELL AS HALF OF THE FRONT BUMPER AND FRAME TORN OFF. I HAD NO AIRBAGS DEPLOY ON EITHER THE PASSENGER OR DRIVER SIDE. IT MAKES ME CONCERNED THAT IF I WOULD HAVE BEEN STOPPED AT THE RED LIGHT, I COULD HAVE OBTAINED SEVERE INJURIES COMPARED TO THE WHIPLASH AND SHOULDER PAINS I CURRENTLY HAVE. *TR

INTERMITTENTLY WHEN THE CAR IS SHIFTED INTO REVERSE IT WILL START FOR A MOMENT THEN GO INTO NEUTRAL. WHEN THIS OCCURS IT WILL NOT ALLOW YOU TO PUT THE CAR INTO PARK AND ONLY IF THE GEAR SHIFT IS HELD IN REVERSE OR CONSTANTLY SHIFTED INTO REVERSE WILL IT ALLOW YOU TO DO SO. IT WILL THEN ONLY GO INTO PARK WHEN YOU TURN OFF THE CAR. I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS ISSUE AND FOUND IT OCCURRING IN MANY PRIUSES OF VARYING YEARS AND ALSO OCCURS SHIFTING INTO DRIVE, AND CAN OCCUR WHILE THE CAR IS IN MOTION AT HIGH SPEEDS. I HAVE FOUND THIS TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN FROM TOYOTA THAT SEEMS TO BE REFERRING TO THIS ISSUE. HOWEVER IT IS ONLY COVERED BY THEM IF THE CAR IS UNDER 3 YEARS OR 36K MILES. THE ISSUE DIDN'T EVEN BEGIN FOR ME UNTIL THE CAR WAS 7 YEARS OLD. IT SHOULD BE A RECALL ITEM. I AM UNABLE TO ATTACH THE FILE SO BELOW IS A LINK TO THE SITE THAT HAS THE ATTACHMENT. HTTP://PRIUSCHAT.COM/THREADS/SHIFTER-SLIPS-INTO-N-REPLACE-SHIFTER-T-SB-0142-11.98016/. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS HB. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, SHE NOTICED THAT THE EMERGENCY BRAKE LIGHT WOULD NOT DISENGAGE AFTER RELEASING THE BRAKE. THE CONTACT CONTINUED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE HOWEVER SHE NOTICED THERE WAS AN INCREASE IN BRAKING TIME WHEN APPLIED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, WHO STATED THAT THE STROKE SENSOR RETENTION LOGIC FAILED AND THE SPEED CONTROL ECU WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURE WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 48,219.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY LOST ACCELERATION POWER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHERE THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE REPLICATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 118,000. *TR

WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT, THE DASHBOARD DISPLAYS SOME OF THE DASHBOARD ON THE FRONT WINDSHIELD, WHICH CAUSES YOU TO AVOID THAT AREA OF YOUR WINDSHIELD. THIS IS A DEFECT IN ALL 2006-2009 TOYOTA PRIUS CARS. WHAT HAPPENS IS THAT YOU START LOOKING AT THIS REFLECTION AND IT CREATES A SAFETY CONCERN. YOU ALSO DO NOT HAVE A CLEAR VIEW THROUGH THE REFLECTION. IT IS EXTREMELY DISTRACTING. WHEN YOU ARE ON A COUNTRY RODE LATE AT NIGHT, WHERE THERE MAY NOT BE ANY STREET LIGHTS, IT IS EVEN WORSE. THIS PROBLEM WAS FIXED IN THE 2010 MODELS AND BEYOND WITH A LONGER EDGE ON THE DASHBOARD AT THE TOP. I HAVE TALKED TO TOYOTA ABOUT THIS, BUT HAVE GOTTEN NOWHERE. I FEEL THIS IS A BIG SAFETY CONCERN THAT MUST BE ADDRESSED AND I AM TURNING TO YOU FOR HELP. I COULD HAVE GOTTEN LAWYERS INVOLVED IN A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT, BUT I WANTED TO TRY AND RESOLVE THIS PROFESSIONALLY. I AM NOT LOOKING TO GET RICH OR MAKE MONEY OFF THIS PROBLEM. I JUST WANT MY CAR AND EVERYONE ELSE'S PRIUS FIXED. THIS ISSUE HAS ALWAYS BEEN AROUND. I HAVE NOTICED IT MORE LATELY WITH CLOUD COVER AND DRIVING ON BACK COUNTRY ROADS AT NIGHT. IT IS SCARY. *TR

SINCE 2008 BOTH HEADLIGHTS WOULD RANDOMLY GO OUT USUALLY ONE AT A TIME BUT SOMETIMES BOTH. BY TURNING THEM OFF AND BACK ON WOULD GET THEM WORKING AGAIN. THE FREQUENCY KEPT INCREASING TILL 2013 WHEN I CALLED TOYOTA CORP. # AND TOLD THEM THE PROBLEM. THEY SAID TO HAVE THE BULBS REPLACED AT MY OWN EXPENSE BECAUSE I WAS OUT OF WARRANTY . 142000 MILES. I CALLED TOYOTA DEALER TO HAVE THIS DONE AND GOT A PRICE OF $550.00. WOW. WITH A LOT OF RESEARCH I PURCHASED 2 HEADLIGHTS THAT WERE EXACTLY THE SAME ON LINE FOR $90.00 AND REPLACED THEM MYSELF (NOT AN EASY TASK). AT THIS POINT I'M NOT HAPPY BUT CAN LIVE WITH IT. NOW FOR MY REAL COMPLAINT!!! 2 WEEKS AFTER THE BULB REPLACEMENT MY LIGHTS ARE DOING THE SAME THING. SOMETIMES ONE THEN THE OTHER OR THE REAL EXCITEMENT WHEN BOTH GO SAME TIME. TURN THEM OFF AND BACK ON AND THEY ALWAYS COME BACK ON, MAYBE FOR A MINUTE OR TWO. TOYOTA ASSURED ME BEFORE I REPLACED THEM THAT THAT WOULD SOLVE THE PROBLEM. I WAS AT A DEALER YESTERDAY AND THEY HAD NO INPUT. TO ME IT SURE SEEMS THERE IS ANOTHER PROBLEM OTHER THEN THE BULBS THAT TOYOTA WILL NOT ADMIT. WE TRY TO NOT DRIVE THIS VEHICLE AT NIGHT BUT AT TIMES WE HAVE TO. I WOULDN'T FEEL RIGHT SELLING THE VEHICLE EITHER, IT'S NOT SAFE!!!! KINDA STUCK WITH NO SOLUTION OR HELP FROM TOYOTA. ANY FEEDBACK WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. THANK YOU IN ADVANCE. *TR

BOTH HID HEADLIGHTS GO ON AND OFF RANDOMLY. THE DEALER WANTS MORE THAN $1000. TO REPAIR EACH ONE. *TR

THE RIGHT HID HEADLIGHT RANDOMLY TURNS ON AND OFF. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE ENGINE AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE A DIAGNOSTIC TEST WAS PERFORMED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE BATTERY WAS DEAD AND REPLACED THE BATTERY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE WAITING AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, A RED TRIANGLE WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATED AS THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER HOWEVER, THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 96,000. UPDATED 02/25/14*LJ

MY WIFE ALMOST HIT A TRIO OF PEDESTRIANS WHO WERE WALKING IN THE ROAD, AND WHO WERE VERY POORLY LIT BY THE 2006 PRIUS HEADLIGHTS. THESE HEADLIGHTS (LOW BEAMS) ARE ALWAYS EXTREMELY DIM AND IN MY OPINION ARE UNSAFE TO DRIVE WITH AT NIGHT. HIGH BEAMS SEEM TO LIGHT THE ROAD ADEQUATELY. THIS PROBLEM IS NOT CAUSED BY INTERMITTENT OPERATION OF THE HEADLIGHTS (A PROBLEM WE'VE ALSO DEALT WITH), BUT IS CAUSED BY THE FACT THAT THE HEADLIGHTS DO NOT PROVIDE ADEQUATE ILLUMINATION OF THE ROAD. WE ALSO DRIVE A 2005 ACURA TL AND A 2004 TOYOTA SIENNA AND BOTH OF THESE VEHICLES PROVIDE GOOD ILLUMINATION OF THE ROAD AT NIGHT. A VEHICLE DRIVING BEHIND OUR 2006 PRIUS WILL OFTEN CAST A SHADOW OF OUR CAR IN THE AREA IN FRONT OF THE CAR, IN THE AREA THAT'S SUPPOSED TO BE ILLUMINATED BY THE HEADLIGHTS. I'M SURPRISED THAT THERE'S NO RECALL ON THIS VEHICLE AND THAT TOYOTA HASN'T RECTIFIED THIS PROBLEM, WHICH IN MY OPINION MAKES THE VEHICLE EXTREMELY UNSAFE TO DRIVE AT NIGHT. *TR

TL - THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE DRIVER BECAME ILL CAUSING HER TO LOOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT VEHICLE ROLLED OVER AND ALL THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURIES TO HER HEAD, CONCUSSION, AND MINOR BRUISING AND LACERATIONS TO THE FACE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 70,000. PM

I BECAME ILL WHILE DRIVING THROUGH A ROAD CONSTRUCTION AREA, BECOMING NAUSEOUS AND DIZZY. MY HEAD BANGED AGAINST THE STEERING WHEEL AND I LOST CONSCIOUSNESS, THE VEHICLE LEAVING THE ROAD. I UNDERSTAND FROM REPORTS THAT THE VEHICLE ROLLED AND, FROM LOOKING AT IT AFTER THE FACT, I BELIEVE THIS TO BE ACCURATE. HOWEVER, NONE OF THE AIR BAGS WENT OFF...THERE WERE FOUR: TWO IN THE FRONT AND ONE ON EACH SIDE. NONE OF THEM DEPLOYED. I SUSTAINED MINOR INJURY TO MY FACE (SWELLING AND BRUISING TO MY RIGHT EYE FROM IMPACT WITH STEERING WHEEL AND PROBABLY SHIFT KNOB AS WELL) AND A CONCUSSION. LOCAL POLICE FILED AN ACCIDENT REPORT. I HAVE NOTIFIED TOYOTA OF THIS. THEY SAID AT LEAST THE SIDE BAGS SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED, IF NOT ALL OF THEM. THEY SAID THEY WOULD CONDUCT AN INVESTIGATION CHECKING AT LEAST THE VEHICLE'S RECORDING DEVICE WITHIN 30 DAYS AND GET BACK TO ME. I PROVIDED THEM WITH THE NAME, ADDRESS AND PHONE NUMBER OF THE WRECKING SERVICE THAT TOWED MY VEHICLE AND WAS IN CURRENT POSSESSION OF IT. I HAD BEEN THE OWNER OF THIS CAR ONLY SINCE 12 SEPTEMBER 2013, HAVING PURCHASED IT FROM A CARMAX DEALER IN VIRGINIA BEACH, VA. *TR

THIS IS MY 10TH HEADLAMP REPLACEMENT. THE DEALERS DID MOST OF THEM OVER THE TIME I HAVE OWNED THE CAR. I AM ALSO AN OWNER OF A 2011 TOYOTA PRIUS. NO PROBLEMS WITH THAT ONE. *TR

I HAVE THE PROBLEM WITH HID HEADLIGHT 1.5 YEAR AGO AND REPLACED IT BASED ON THE DEALER'S SUGGESTING. LATERALLY, IT WENT OUT SO OFTEN BUT NOT COMPLETE OUT BECAUSE I CAN TURN OFF/ON HEADLIGHT SWITCH. I DO NOT KNOW WHEN IT WILL BE OUT OR WHERE IT WILL BE OUT. ON THE HIGHWAY OR IN THE REMOTE COUNTRY ROAD. I AM WORRY ABOUT MY OWN SAFETY AS WELL AS OTHER SAFETY. *TR

THE REAR HATCHBACK LATCH OF MY 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS HAS DETERIORATED OVER TIME. IT STARTED BACK IN FEBRUARY 2012 WITH A DIFFICULTY OPENING THE HATCHBACK EVEN WITH CONSIDERABLE EFFORT. NOW, WHEN I TOUCH THE LATCH RELEASE IT IS GUMMY AND WILL NOT OPEN AT ALL ABOUT 90% OF THE TIME. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD AS I CAN'T ACCESS ANY OF THE EQUIPMENT (SPARE TIRE, EMERGENCY TOOLS ETC) THAT ARE LOCATED UNDER THE FLOOR OF THE HATCH. I FOUND OUT THAT TO FIX IT WILL COST ME OVER $300. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE THAT A DOOR HANDLE SHOULD FAIL SO QUICKLY. THE REST OF THE CAR WORKS BEAUTIFULLY. I BELIEVE THERE IS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT IN THIS LATCH RELEASE AND IT SHOULD BE RECALLED. THERE IS NO WAY TO OPEN THE HATCH FROM THE INTERIOR AS AN ALTERNATIVE (UNLIKE A SIDE DOOR). *TR

THE FIRST TIME I NOTICED THE PROBLEM, MY CAR WAS PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY AFTER RETURNING FROM SHOPPING, STILL RUNNING, WHEN MY SON NOTICED THE RIGHT HEADLIGHT WAS OUT. FOR SOME REASON, I REACHED IN AND TURNED THE LIGHT SWITCH OFF, AND THEN BACK ON, AND THE LIGHT WAS FINE. I FIGURED IT WAS AN ANOMALY. FROM THEN, ONE OR THE OTHER HEADLIGHT WOULD DISAPPEAR EVERY COUPLE OF MONTHS OR SO, BUT ALWAYS REAPPEAR WITH A TOGGLE OF THE LIGHT SWITCHED. I WAS SEVERELY UNDEREMPLOYED, AND SIMPLY COULD/CAN NOT AFFORD THE $500 PARTS & LABOR THE TOYOTA DEALER WANTED TO REPLACE BOTH HEADLIGHTS. I JUST KEPT TOGGLING AND HOPING FOR THE BEST. I RECENTLY RETURNED TO FULL-TIME WORK, BUT WITH A COMMUTE OF 1.25 HOURS EACH WAY. IT WAS FINE DURING DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME, BUT NOW, I AM TOGGLING CONSTANTLY, AND BOTH HEADLIGHTS ARE GOING OUT AT THE SAME TIME. I AM TRAVELING DARK, COUNTRY, ROADS, FROM FRESNO, CA TO COALINGA, CA TO WORK AT THE PLEASANT VALLEY STATE PRISON. I DON'T WANT TO BECOME A HIGHWAY FATALITY STATISTIC SIMPLY BECAUSE NHTSA DOESN'T HAVE THE "[XXX]" TO FORCE TOYOTA TO RECALL THESE DANGEROUS HEADLIGHTS. I WAS UNEMPLOYED OR UNDEREMPLOYED FOR 4 YEARS FOLLOWING A LAY OFF IN THE SUMMER OF 2009. I SIMPLY CANNOT AFFORD TO PAY THE $500 OUT OF POCKET, AND I REALLY DON'T HAVE ANY CREDIT LEFT. YOUR INACTION, NHTSA AND TOYOTA, PUTS MY LIFE ON THE LINE TWICE A DAY. YOU BOTH WILL PROBABLY HAVE MY BLOOD ON YOUR HANDS. [XXX] YOU! INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C

THE CENTER CONSOLE SIMPLY TURNED BLACK. I HAVE NO ACCESS TO ANY OF THE CONTROLS. THIS INCLUDES EVERYTHING FROM HEATING AND COOLING, TO BACK UP CAMERA, TO GPS MAPPS, TO RADIO CHANNELL SELECTION. THE ENTIRE CENTER CONSOLE TOUCH SCREEN TURNED BLACK AND USELESS. I HAVE BEEN QUOTED $3,000 TO FIX THE PROBLEM. AFTER 4 YEARS OF UN/DEREMPLOYMENT, I SIMPLY CANNOT AFFORD SUCH A COSTLY FIX. *TR

I BOUGHT MY 2006 PRIUS IN OCTOBER OF 2012 AND EVER SINCE BUYING IT I'VE NOTICED THAT THE HEADLIGHT ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE GOES OUT BY ITSELF. I ACTUALLY WENT INTO THE DEALER WITHIN A WEEK AND TOLD THEM MY HEADLIGHT WAS OUT BUT WHEN I GOT THERE AND I TURNED THEM ON IT WAS WORKING. I WAS BAFFLED. THEY DIDN'T SAY A THING TO ME THAT THIS WAS A COMMONLY REPORTED PROBLEM THAT TOYOTA WASN'T GOING TO BE ADDRESSING. ANYWAY, I LEFT AND THE HEADLIGHT PROBLEM HAS BEEN HAPPENING EVER SINCE. I DECIDED TO JUST LIVE WITH IT BECAUSE WHEN I TURN THE LIGHTS OFF AND BACK ON, THE HEADLIGHT COMES BACK ON - AT LEAST FOR A WHILE. I'M VERY WORRIED THAT THE SAME THING MIGHT HAPPEN TO THE OTHER HEADLIGHT AT THE SAME TIME. I'VE READ ONLINE ABOUT THE COST OF REPLACING THE BULB ($330) WHICH IS RIDICULOUS SINCE THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A MFG FLAW THAT TOYOTA JUST DOESN'T WANT TO PAY FOR. PLEASE ISSUE A RECALL ON THIS BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED!! *TR

I NOTICE OCCASIONALLY THE DRIVER'S SIDE HEADLIGHT WILL GO OUT REQUIRING ME TO TURN THE LIGHTS OFF THEN ON AGAIN. MOST RECENTLY BOTH HEADLIGHTS WILL GO OUT. I CAN GET THEM ON AGAIN BY TURNING THEM OFF THEN BACK ON BUT IT IS UNNERVING AND OCCURS EVERY DAY NOW WHENEVER I USE THE LIGHTS. I CHECKED FOR A LOOSE WIRE AND FOUND NOTHING. THESE ARE THE ORIGINAL HID HEADLIGHTS.I CAN REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM EVERY TIME I DRIVE THE CAR. *TR

I WAS DRIVING AT NIGHT. THERE HAPPENED TO BE A LITTLE FOG IN THE AIR. MY SPEED WAS 45 MPH ON A DARK COUNTRY ROAD. MY PASSENGER SIDE HID HEADLIGHT WENT OUT, FOLLOWED BY THE DRIVER SIDE HEADLIGHT WITHIN 20 SECONDS. I WAS ABLE TO TURN THE LIGHT CONTROL OFF THEN BACK ON. I DID THIS AS I WAS SLOWING DOWN AND KEEPING STRAIGHT. I MANAGED TO STAY ON THE ROAD AND DID NOT HAVE ANY FURTHER PROBLEMS THAT NIGHT. ALL IN ALL IT WAS A PRETTY SCARY EXPERIENCE. *TR

I HAVE HID HEADLIGHTS. MY HEADLIGHTS GO ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY. SOMETIME ONE HEAD LIGHT GOES OUT; SOMETIMES BOTH GO OUT. IF THEY GO OUT, I CAN USUALLY GET THEM TO GO BACK ON BY TURNING THEM OFF AND THEN TURNING THEM BACK ON. I HAVE TO CONSTANTLY CHECK MY CAR'S REFLECTION IN THE BACK OF OTHER CARS TO MAKE SURE BOTH LIGHTS ARE ON. MY MECHANIC MADE ME AWARE THAT THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN A CONSTANT COMPLAINT FOR THIS MODEL AND REPLACING THE HEADLIGHT WILL NOT HELP. ACCORDINGLY, THE PROBLEM IS CAUSED BY A DEFECTIVE MODULE THAT CEASES TO WORK WHEN IT HEATS UP. MY RESEARCH INDICATES THAT THE FHTSA HAS HAD SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS EXACT PROBLEM, AND THAT TOYOTA SETTLED A CLASS ACTION SUIT (FOR WHICH I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED) REGARDING THE EXACT PROBLEM. TOYOTA NOW REFUSES TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM FOR CARS OUT OF WARRANTY. THIS IS POTENTIALLY A VERY DANGEROUS PROBLEM EFFECTING THOUSANDS OF CARS. I HAVE NOT HAD AN ACCIDENT YET, BUT IF YOU DON'T MAKE TOYOTA DO A RECALL, I EXPECT THERE WILL BE SEVERAL ACCIDENTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY DUE TO THIS DEFECT. *TR

ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS NOW, WHILE DRIVING MY PRIUS BOTH HEADLIGHTS SPONTANEOUSLY GO OUT. I NOTICE IT WHEN I'M DRIVING AT NIGHT. IT IS NOT SAFE. THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH EITHER BULB - THEY JUST DON'T WORK. I HAVE TO TURN THE LIGHTS OFF AND THEN ON AGAIN FOR BOTH LIGHTS TO WORK AGAIN. SOMETIMES IT HAPPENS AGAIN WITHIN MINUTES OF IT HAPPENING A FIRST TIME. *TR

THE PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT WENT OUT. NEXT TIME I DROVE IT THE LIGHT WAS BACK ON. MAYBE A WEEK LATER THE DRIVER'S SIDE HEADLIGHT WENT OUT. AGAIN, NEXT TIME I USED THE LIGHTS THEY WERE BOTH ON. THIS WENT ON FOR AWHILE. THE ESCALATION WAS WHEN BOTH LOW BEAMS SHUT OFF LEAVING JUST THE RUNNING LIGHTS ON. HIGH BEAMS SEEMED TO BE UNAFFECTED SO I DROVE HOME WITH HIGH BEAMS ON. CURRENTLY, ANY OF THE LIGHTS CAN GO OUT AT ANY TIME. TURNING THEM OFF AND ON AGAIN BRINGS THEM BACK. ON A HALF HOUR RIDE HOME TONIGHT, TO KEEP BOTH LIGHTS ON I HAD TO SHUT THEM OFF AND TURN THEM ON 7 TIMES. I GOOGLED THIS AND WAS VERY DISAPPOINTED TO FIND THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN REPORTED, REVIEWED AND DISMISSED AS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE. IT DOES NOT FEEL VERY SAFE TO BE DRIVING AT NIGHT AND DISCOVER ONESELF SUDDENLY IN THE DARK. IT SEEMS THIS WILL BE A RECURRING PROBLEM FOR ME AS REPLACING THE HEADLIGHTS IS LIKELY TO FIX THE PROBLEM FOR A SHORT TIME (3 M SEEMS TO BE COMMON) BEFORE I WILL HAVE TO REPLACE THEM AGAIN. SOUNDS LIKE A RECALL SHOULD BE IN PLACE. *TR

R HEADLIGHT CUT OUT INTERMITTENTLY. BOUGHT REPLACEMENT BULBS AND HAD THEM REPLACED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. NOW AT 65,000 MILES, BOTH HEADLIGHTS CUT OUT INTERMITTENTLY AND ARE DIM WHEN THEY ARE ON. HIGH BEAMS ARE ANEMIC. IF BOTH LIGHTS EVER GO OUT SIMULTANEOUSLY AT NIGHT, AN ACCIDENT COULD HAPPEN. *TR

ON TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2013 AT ABOUT 8:10 A.M., I WAS DRIVING ON HOLCOMBE IN HOUSTON. THERE WAS TRAFFIC. AT ONE POINT, I NEEDED TO STOP FROM A FAIRLY LOW SPEED (PERHAPS 10 MPH), AS THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME HAD STOPPED FOR A LIGHT. I BRAKE USING THE FLOOR PEDAL. BUT THE BRAKES DID NOT ENGAGE AT ALL; IT WAS AS THOUGH I HAD NOT EVEN TOUCHED THE BRAKE. THE CAR DIDN'T HESITATE OR DIE; IT JUST CONTINUED MOVING UNTIL IT HIT THE CAR AHEAD OF ME. FORTUNATELY I WAS NOT TRAVELING AT A HIGH SPEED AND NEITHER THE DRIVER OF THE CAR I HIT NOR I HAVE APPARENTLY BEEN INJURED. BUT HAD THIS HAPPENED AT A HIGHER SPEED THE OUTCOME COULD HAVE BEEN QUITE DIFFERENT. MY PRIUS HAS BEEN THE SUBJECT OF SEVERAL SAFETY RECALLS, ALL OF WHICH I'VE HAD PERFORMED. AND ONLY A FEW DAYS BEFORE THE ACCIDENT, THE CAR HAD PASSED ITS ANNUAL STATE SAFETY INSPECTION. FROM THIS AND BECAUSE IT WAS CLEAR THAT THE BRAKES DID NOT ENGAGE AT ALL WHEN I BRAKED BEFORE THE ACCIDENT, IT APPEARS TO ME THAT THIS ACCIDENT WAS A FUNCTION OF A BRAKE DEFECT IN THE PRIUS, PERHAPS A SHORT SOMEWHERE IN THE SYSTEM. *TR

CLIMATE CONTROL BUTTONS FAILURE WHEN STEERING WHEEL IS STRAIGHT; SPIRAL CABLE/ CLOCK SPRING FAILURE. *TR

GEAR POPS BACK TO NEUTRAL FROM DRIVING OR REVERSING AS I STARTED MY TOYOTA PRIUS 2006 CAR FROM MY DRIVEWAY, I PUT IT IN REVERSE AND IT CAME HALFWAY TO THE ROAD AND THEN STOPPED. I NOTICED THAT THE GEAR SHIFT LEVER HAD, ON ITS OWN, SHIFTED BACK TO NEUTRAL. I THEN PUT THE CAR IN DRIVE AND TRIED TO ACCELERATE BACK INTO THE DRIVEWAY OF MY HOME. THE CAR'S GEAR SHIFT LEVER AGAIN MOVED TO NEUTRAL. THE ONLY WAY I COULD MOVE THE CAR BACK TO THE DRIVEWAY WAS BY HOLDING THE LEVER IN THE DRIVE POSITION MANUALLY. I TRIED THE CAR ON MY STREET'S SMALL BLOCK, BUT FOUND THAT THE GEAR KEPT SHIFTING BACK TO NEUTRAL, EVERYTIME I LET GO OF THE DRIVE OR REVERSE POSITION. IN OTHER WORDS, I HAD TO KEEP THE GEAR IN D POSITION MANUALLY WITH ONE HAND TO DRIVE AROUND. I FEEL THIS IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION WHERE THE ATTENTION IS DIVERTED FROM THE ROAD TO THE GEAR SHIFT LEVER EVERY FEW SECONDS TO SEE IF THE GEAR IS IN THE DRIVE POSITION. I CALLED TOYOTA TODAY AND INFORMED THEM OF THIS SITUATION. *TR

HEADLIGHT GOES OFF SPONTANEOUSLY WHILE DRIVING. I TURN OFF LIGHTS AND TURN THEM BACK ON AGAIN AND HEADLIGHT GOES BACK ON. I HAVE BEEN RESEARCHING THIS AND CANNOT BELIEVE THIS IS NOT CONSIDERED A DEFECT. THERE SHOULD BE A CLASS ACTION AGAINST THE US GOVERNMENT FOR NOT DOING ITS JOB. *TR

I CAN NO LONGER DRIVE MY PRIUS AT NIGHT. SOMETIMES ONE HEADLIGHT WILL GO OUT, SOMETIMES THE OTHER, SOMETIMES BOTH. THE BULBS THEMSELVES ARE NOT BAD. I HAVE TO TURN THE LIGHTS OFF THEN BACK ON TO RESET THEM APPROXIMATELY EVERY 25 SECONDS. WHEN I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER THEY SAID "WE CAN NOT RE-CREATE THE PROBLEM". I LEFT, IN THE RAIN AND HAD TO RESET THEM 6 TIMES BEFORE I WAS A MILE DOWN THE ROAD. TOYOTA KNOWS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM, THEY NEED TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. OUR EXTENDED FAMILY OWNS 4 PRIUS VEHICLES, WE WILL NEVER OWN ANOTHER SINCE TOYOTA IS NOT STANDING UP TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. *TR

I WAS DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY AND THE CAR ON THE RIGHT STARTED TO MOVE TO MY LANE WITHOUT TURNING ON TURN SIGNAL, HE PROBABLY DIDN'T NOTICE ME AS HE WAS MOVING ON ME, I STARTED TO BRAKE BUT BRAKE PEDAL STARTED TO WORK AT ONCE, IT STARTED TO WORK ONLY AFTER DELAY AND AFTER IT STARTED WORKING I LOST CONTROL OVER THE CAR, ABS SIGNAL TURNED ON AND I STARTED TO MOVE TO THE LEFT. I TRIED TO PREVENT IT BUT CAR WAS TOTALLY OUT OF CONTROL AND THIS CAUSED THE ACCIDENT. THE SAME HAPPENED TO MY WIFE IN FEBRUARY WHEN SHE WAS DRIVING MY CAR ON HIGHWAY. SHE JUST COULDN'T STOP EVEN THOUGH THE DISTANCE TO THE NEXT CAR WAS LONG ENOUGH. BRAKE PEDAL STARTED TO WORK WITH THE DELAY AND SHE BUMPED INTO THE NEXT CAR. *TR

THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG LIGHT SHOWED THAT THE AIR BAG IS "OFF" WHEN SOMEONE WAS SITTING IN THE SEAT. THE VEHICLE HAD NEVER BEEN INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT WHERE THE AIRBAG HAD BEEN DEPLOYED. THE TOYOTA DEALER SAID IT WAS A SOFTWARE GLITCH AND REPAIRED THE PROBLEM, BUT HE CHARGED AN $85 DIAGNOSTIC FEE, PLUS TAX BECAUSE THE VEHICLE HAS MORE THAN 35,000 MILES. I WAS UNDER THE IMPRESSION THAT SAFETY DEVICES WERE NOT SUBJECT TO WARRANTY LIMITATIONS. *TR

THERE IS AN INTERMITTENT POWER LOSS TO THE HEADLIGHTS. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. THE PROBLEM IS RANDOM AND THE DEALER HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO SEE THE ISSUE. WHILE THE CAR IS RUNNING, THE HEADLIGHTS TURN OFF. IF I TURN THE HEADLIGHTS OFF AND THEN BACK ON, THEY COME ON FOR A PERIOD OF TIME. THIS HAPPENS WITH BOTH HEADLIGHTS. SOMETIMES AT THE SAME TIME AND SOMETIMES ONLY ONE WILL TURN OFF. I HAVE RESEARCHED SEVERAL WEBSITES FOR PRIUS OWNERS AND THIS PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE FAIRLY COMMON. AS YOU CANNOT PASS VEHICLE INSPECTION WITH DEFECTIVE HEADLIGHTS AND YOU CAN BE PULLED OVER BY THE POLICE FOR HAVING LIGHTS OUT, THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE AND TOYOTA SHOULD BE FORCED TO RECALL THIS ISSUE. I AM THE SECOND OWNER OF THIS VEHICLE AND THE PREVIOUS OWNER REPORTED TO THE DEALER THE SAME ISSUES. *TR

I WAS DRIVING DOWN A DARK UNLIT ROAD WHEN BOTH HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT WITHOUT WARNING. LUCKILY THERE WERE NO CARS BEHIND ME AS I BRAKED AS FAST AS I COULD WITHOUT BEING ABLE TO SEE ANYTHING. IT WAS THE SAME AS IF I HAD ALL OF A SUDDEN JUST CLOSED MY EYES AND TRIED TO NAVIGATE TO A SAFE STOP SOMEWHERE ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WITHOUT HITTING SOMETHING. I WOULD SAY THAT THIS WAS THE SCARIEST MOMENT I HAVE HAD DRIVING IN 30 YEARS OF DRIVING. THE LIGHTS CAME BACK ON AFTER TURNING THE LIGHT SWITCH OFF AND BACK ON AGAIN, SO THIS IS DEFINITELY A CONTROL PROBLEM OF SOME SORT. I LOVE MY PRIUS, BUT THIS IS JUST AN UNACCEPTABLE DESIGN PROBLEM. OF COURSE I WOULD MUCH RATHER JUST HAVE STANDARD LIGHT BULBS THAT WERE NOT AT RISK OF FAILING RATHER THAN THIS SUPPOSED UPGRADE. *TR

OUR 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS HAS A HEAD LIGHT THAT GOES OFF AND ON AT RANDOM INTERVALS WHICH WE CONSIDER TO BE A SAFETY HAZARD. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE HEADLIGHT FAILED AND THE ILLUMINATION BECAME DIM. WHEN THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH WAS TURNED ON AND OFF SEVERAL TIMES, THE HEADLIGHTS WOULD REGAIN ILLUMINATION POWER. THE FAILURE WAS EXPERIENCED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO ADVISED THAT THE LIGHT BULBS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE WARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 68,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE APPROACHING AN EXIT FROM THE HIGHWAY AT 30 MPH THE STEERING WHEEL COULD NOT BE TURNED TO THE RIGHT OR LEFT; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE ONLY OCCURRED FOR A BRIEF MOMENT. THE STEERING WHEEL BEGAN TO FUNCTION NORMALLY WITHIN A FEW MINUTES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER A DIAGNOSTIC TEST THAT WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE A FAILURE CODE. THE DEALER ALSO TEST DROVE THE VEHICLE BUT THE FAILURE DID NOT RECUR. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 75,000.

BOTH THE RIGHT AND THE LEFT HEADLIGHTS KEEP TURNING OFF DURING DRIVING. THE RIGHT ONE IS MORE COMMON THAN THE LEFT. I NOTICED THIS PROBLEM ALMOST 1 YEAR AGO AND THOUGHT THAT THIS IS A TEMPORARY GLITCH, BUT THE FREQUENCY OF THIS INCREASED OVER TIME. I CONSTANTLY NEED TO TURN OFF THE LIGHT AND TURN THEM ON, BUT AGAIN IN FEW MORE MINUTES ONE OR BOTH OF THEM GETS OUT. THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM. ESPECIALLY IN THE CITY, WHEN THERE ARE STREET LIGHTS ON OR DURING DAWN OR DUSK, YOU ARE NEVER SURE IF THE LIGHTS ARE WORKING OR NOT. ON TOP OF RISKING AN ACCIDENT, THERE IS ALWAYS A WORRY THAT A COP MIGHT PULL YOU OVER FOR NON WORKING HEAD LIGHT, WHILE IN FACT YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR TO HAVE BEEN WORKING WHEN YOU STARTED, BUT TURNS OFF SOME TIME LATER AND IT IS DIFFICULT TO NOTICE IN LOW LIGHT SITUATIONS. TOYOTA CHARGES HUGE AMOUNT OF MONEY TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. I HOPE THAT TOYOTA WILL TAKE CARE OF THE PROBLEM SOONER THAN LATER. I KNOW THAT MY CAR IS MORE THAN 5 YEARS OLD BUT THAT SHOULDN'T BE A MATTER FOR THEM TO FIX IT. BECAUSE THIS LIGHT SITUATION IS A PROBLEM BECAUSE OF DEFECTIVE PARTS TO BEGIN WITH. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS AT NIGHT THE HEADLIGHTS WERE ACTIVATED AND UNEXPECTEDLY FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. THE HEADLIGHT ON/OFF SWITCH WAS ENGAGED INTERMITTENTLY IN ORDER FOR THE HEADLIGHTS TO FUNCTION. THE VEHICLE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.

THE VEHICLE UNEXPECTEDLY SHUTDOWN WHILE DRIVING. THERE WAS NO POWER AND THE BRAKES WERE BOGGY. THE RED TRIANGLE WARNING LIGHT CAME AS WELL AS THE ABS AND ENGINE WARNING LIGHTS. AFTER PULLING OVER THE CAR RESTARTED AND DROVE FINE BUT THE RED TRIANGLE REMAINED ON. THE NEXT DAY IT WAS WORKING FINE. TOYOTA WAS UNABLE TO FIND ANYTHING EXCEPT A LOW VOLTAGE WARNING. *TR

EVER SINCE I BOUGHT THIS CAR THE HEADLIGHTS HAVE BEEN PROBLEMATIC. I HAVE HAD EITHER LIGHT GO OUT INTERMITTENTLY AND FLICKING THEM OFF/ON FIXES THEM UNTIL THE NEXT DAY. I HAVE EVEN HAD BOTH LIGHTS GO OUT AT THE SAME TIME. REPLACING THE BULBS FIXES THE PROBLEM FOR ABOUT A YEAR BUT THE PROBLEM RETURNS. I AM NOW PREPARING TO REPLACE MY 5TH BULB FOR WHAT IS SURE TO BE A TEMPORARY FIX. TOYOTA'S OFFER TO REPLACE THE BULBS SEVERAL YEARS AGO WAS NOT AN ACTUAL FIX FOR THE PROBLEM. *TR

MY 16 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 10:00 ON A STEEP, CURVY COUNTRY ROAD WHEN BOTH HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT! IT IS A MIRACLE SHE'S ALIVE. TOOK THE CAR TO THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP TODAY AND WAS TOLD IT WOULD COST NEARLY $500 TO REPLACE THE BULBS. AFTER DOING RESEARCH, IT HAS COME TO MY ATTENTION THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE YET THERE HAS BEEN NO RECALL. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE AND SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED (AGAIN) IMMEDIATELY! *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 1 MPH, THE HEADLIGHTS STOPPED ILLUMINATING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THE HEADLIGHT WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000. *TR

THE COOLING SYSTEM IN MY CAR IS DEFECTIVE. THE WATER PUMP IS APPARENTLY LEAKING WHEN I HAVE COMMITTED NO PRECURSIVE ACTION TO CAUSE IT. THIS ISSUE IS RELATED TO THE SAME ISSUE IN MY OTHER SIMILAR TOYOTA PRIUSES, WHERE DEFECTIVE ELECTRIC WATER PUMPS UNEXPECTEDLY STOP WORKING. THE OTHER CARS ARE CONSEQUENTLY RECALLED AND I BELIEVE MINE SHOULD BE AS WELL. HTTP://NEWS.CONSUMERREPORTS.ORG/SAFETY/2012/11/TOYOTA-PRIUS-AND-OTHER-VEHICLES-RECALLED-DUE-TO-WATER-PUMP-AND-STEERING-ISSUES.HTML THANKS. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS EQUIPPED WITH YOKOHAMA AVID TIRES, SIZE: 185/65R/15. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE REAR PASSENGER'S SIDE TIRE BLEW DUE TO A ROAD HAZARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS ADVISED TO THE CONTACT THAT THE TIRE TREAD WAS CRACKED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON THREE DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 80,000. *TR

I PULLED INTO MY GARAGE AFTER PICKING UP THE CAR FROM THE DEALER AFTER PURCHASE TO FIND THAT THE LEFT FRONT HEADLIGHT WAS OUT. I TURNED THE LIGHTS OFF AND ON AGAIN AND BOTH LIGHTS LIT. THE LEFT FRONT HEADLIGHT CONTINUED INTERMITTENTLY TO BE NON-OPERATIVE OVER THE NEXT FOUR WEEKS. I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER ON 1/23/13 AND THEY FOUND THAT THE LEFT FRONT HEADLAMP ECU NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I LATER FOUND OUT THAT A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT HAD BEEN BROUGHT AGAINST TOYOTA FOR THIS SAME ISSUE, HOWEVER DUE TO THE AGE AND MILEAGE ON MY VEHICLE, I WAS NOT ENTITLED TO COMPENSATION UNDER THE SETTLEMENT. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY PROBLEM AND A KNOWN COMMON PROBLEM ON HID EQUIPPED PRIUS MODELS, YET I WAS FORCED TO PAY $288.81 TO HAVE THE PROBLEM REPAIRED. I HAVE FILED A CASE WITH TOYOTA CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE CENTER, #1301220397. HEADLIGHTS THAT SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING IS CLEARLY A SAFETY ISSUE. IT APPEARS THAT HID HEADLIGHT EQUIPPED PRIUS MODELS CONTAIN A DESIGN DEFECT. IT IS FOR THIS REASON I AM REPORTING TO THE NHTSA IN ORDER TO FORCE TOYOTA TO CONDUCT A RECALL ON ALL SUCH EQUIPPED MODELS. *TR