2007 Toyota Prius complaints

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 12V536000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM). THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE WATER PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WATER PUMP WAS REPAIRED PREVIOUSLY UNDER A MANUFACTURER'S RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 121,568.

THE COVER TO THE BACK HATCH LATCH HAS MELTED INTO A GOOEY BLACK MASS THIS MAKES IT DIFFICULT (AT BEST) TO OPEN THE BACK HATCH. THERE IS NO ALTERNATIVE INTERNAL METHOD FOR OPENING THE HATCHBACK/TRUNK,. SINCE THE SPARE TIRE AND TIRE CHANGING GEAR (JACK, WRENCH, ETC.) ARE STORED IN THE BACK, THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD. THIS IS AN OBVIOUS DEFECT IN THE MATERIAL USED FOR THE LATCH COVER - THE DETERIORATION OF THIS PART CAN IN NO WAY BE ATTRIBUTABLE TO NEGLECT OR ABUSE ON THE PART OF THE DRIVER/OWNER OF THE VEHICLE. SHOULD BE RECALLED AND REPLACED BY TOYOTA. *TR

REAR TAIL LIGHTS DEFECTIVE WIRING. CAUSING INTERMITTENT LIGHTING. ALMOST REAR ENDED BY SEMI TRUCK AT NIGHT. BULBS FINE WIRING DEFECT. VERY COMMON ON INTERNET. *TR

BACK HATCH LATCH OR OPENER IS STICKY AND RUBBERY AND FAILING. SEEMS LIKE MELTING. *TR

THE BACK HATCH DOOR GRIP HANDLE ON THE HATCH OF MY 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS NO LONGER FUNCTIONS PROPERLY. THE RUBBER GRIP HAS DEGRADED AND IS SOFT AND STICKY DURING WARM WEATHER AND IN COLD WEATHER BECOMES NEARLY IMMOVABLE. THE BACK HATCH DOOR GRIP HANDLE FREQUENTLY JAMS RENDERING THE CAR INACCESSIBLE THROUGH THE REAR COMPARTMENT. THIS IS A MAJOR CAUSE FOR CONCERN AND IS A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD. THERE HAVE BEEN MULTIPLE CASES OF THIS COMPLAINT REPORTED. THIS RUBBER GRIP IS CLEARLY A MATERIAL OF POOR QUALITY AND GIVEN THE PAST HISTORY OF ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS TOYOTA HAS HAD WITH THE PRIUS IT IS HIGHLY PROBABLE THAT THIS IS ONE MORE. BEFORE SOMEONE IS INJURED OR DIES AS A RESULT OF NOT HAVING EGRESS FROM THIS VEHICLE TOYOTA NEEDS TO BE MADE TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY AND PROVIDE REPAIRS AT NO COST. *TR

THE VINYL(?) MATERIAL THAT COVERS THE LATCH TO OPEN THE BACK HATCH IS MELTING AND STICKY. LIKE SO MANY OTHER 2007 PRIUS OWNERS I LOVE MY PRIUS BUT AM DISAPPOINTED WITH TOYOTA FOR NOT TAKING CARE OF THIS PROBLEM. THE DEALERSHIP STATES THAT IT IS NOT UNDER WARRANTY AND THE COST FOR THE REPLACEMENT SWITCH (I WAS TOLD THE FIX IS TO REPLACE THE WHOLE SWITCH BECAUSE THEY DON'T SELL A REPLACEMENT PIECE OF VINYL ONLY) IS $70, THIS IS THE COST FOR THE PART ONLY, NOT INCLUDING LABOR. AFTER THE HASSLE OF MULTIPLE RECALLS ON THIS CAR IT IS UNFORTUNATE THAT TOYOTA REFUSES TO TAKE CARE OF A PROBLEM THAT SO MANY OWNERS ARE EXPERIENCING. *TR

VEHICLE WILL NOT STAY IN DRIVE, ESPECIALLY AFTER SITTING IN THE HOT SUN FOR SEVERAL HOURS. THIS IS A WELL DOCUMENTED ISSUE ON MANY FORUMS SUCH AS HTTP://WWW.TOYOTANATION.COM/FORUM/62-PRIUS-FORUM/343977-08-PRIUS-WON-T-STAY-GEAR-3.HTML. PEOPLE HAVE EVEN MENTIONED CLAIMS OF THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTING TO NEUTRAL WHILE THEY ARE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. I CALLED MY LOCAL TOYOTA DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THEY HAVE HEARD ISSUES AND IT'S A SHIFTER KNOB REPLACEMENT TO RESOLVE. AT FIRST I WAS PLEASED UNTIL I LEARNED THE SHIFTER IS $400 + $100 FOR LABOR. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE TOYOTA - I HAVE BEEN A LONG TIME TOYOTA CUSTOMER DUE TO THE RELIABILITY. THIS LOOKS LIKE AN UNADDRESSED RECALL ISSUE TO ME. THANKS FOR INVESTIGATING THIS NHTSA. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, BOTH HEADLIGHTS SHUT OFF. THIS CAUSED A NEAR ACCIDENT WITH OTHER MOTORISTS ON THE HIGHWAY. BY RAPIDLY TOGGLING THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH ON AND OFF, THE HEADLIGHTS TURNED BACK ON. THIS HAS BEEN A PERSISTENT ISSUE EVEN THOUGH I HAVE HAD THE BULBS REPLACED AT A GREAT EXPENSE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS RANDOMLY SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BY THE DEALER, BUT THE SPECIFIC REPAIRS WERE UNKNOWN AND THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS FAILED TO OPERATE SPORADICALLY. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE LIGHT BULBS ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,000.

IN FEBRUARY 2014 MY DRIVER'S SIDE HEADLIGHT WENT OUT. I HAD IT FIXED. THE VERY NEXT DAY MY PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT WENT OUT. IN SEPTEMBER 2014 THE DRIVER'S SIDE LIGHT WENT OUT AGAIN. HAD IT FIXED AND AGAIN, THE VERY NEXT DAY, THE PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT WENT OUT. MY HEADLIGHTS ARE PREMATURELY EXPIRING. THIS REPRESENTS A SAFETY CONCERN. *TR

THE RUBBER HANDLE ON MY 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS MELTS IN THE SUMMER AND FREEZES IN THE WINTER. IF IT'S COLD OUTSIDE IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO GET INTO THE CAR THROUGH THE TAILGATE WHICH COULD PRESENT A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE SHOULD THE REST OF THE DOORS BE UNUSABLE IN AN EMERGENCY. IN THE SUMMER, I'M ABLE TO GET INTO THE DRUNK BUT IT LEAVES A BLACK RESIDUE ON MY HANDS THAT TAKES A FEW DAYS TO CLEAN OFF ENTIRELY AND IT CAN BE VERY HOT TO THE TOUCH IF LEFT OUTSIDE ON A HOT DAY. *TR

MY PRIUSES HID HEADLIGHTS WILL INTERMITTENTLY TURN OFF WHILE DRIVING. INITIALLY, WHEN STARTING THE CAR, THEY WILL BOTH WORK, BUT WILL OFTEN TURN OFF OR BE VERY DIM. IT IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE THE ROAD WHEN IT IS DARK AND RAINING. WE HAVE EVEN BEEN PULLED OVER ONE OF THEM BEING TURNED OFF AND RECEIVED A TICKET. I HAVE REPLACED BOTH BULBS ($175/EA) AT THE AUTO STORE AND THIS DID NOT CORRECT THE ISSUE. *TR

FOR THE PAST YEAR, ONE OF MY FRONT HEADLIGHTS GOES ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY. I'VE HAD TOYOTA LOOK AT IT TWICE AND THEY CAN'T FIGURE IT OUT. THEY'VE TRIED REPLICATING IT AND NOTHING. THIS IS A SAFETY PROBLEM THAT I'VE LEARNED IS COMMON AMONG PRIUS BETWEEN THE YEARS 2006- AND 2009. TOYOTA NEEDS TO FIGURE THIS OUT AND SHOULD HAVE A RECALL. *TR

THE BACK LATCH OF MY 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS HAS DEGRADED ("MELTED" ALMOST). IT NO LONGER FUNCTIONS PROPERLY, AND I AM UNABLE TO OPEN THE BACK HATCH DOOR EASILY. SOMETIMES IT REQUIRES CONSIDERABLE EFFORT AND PERSEVERANCE TO GET IT OPEN. I AM CONCERNED THAT IN THE CASE OF AN EMERGENCY, I WILL NOT BE ABLE TO GET THE DOOR OPEN. THIS IS A MAJOR CAUSE FOR CONCERN AND IT IS A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RUBBER ON THE HATCHBACK WAS MELTED AND, WHEN OPENED, WOULD COVER HER IN BLACK TAR. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE HATCH HANDLE COVER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 38,000.

TRACTION CONTROL FUNCTION CANNOT BE DEACTIVATED ON THE 2007 PRIUS AND SHOULD BE CONSIDERED A HAZARDOUS FUNCTION. IN SLIPPERY CONDITIONS WHILE MAKING TURNS FROM A FULL STOP (IF SOMEWHAT AGGRESSIVE ACCELERATION IS APPLIED) THE TRACTION CONTROL IS ACTIVATED AND THE POWER (ACCELERATION) GOES TO ZERO. IT'S THE EQUIVALENT OF RELEASING THE ACCELERATOR (ACCELERATOR IS UNRESPONSIVE). THE VEHICLE IS COASTING INTO TRAFFIC AND CAN TAKE UP TO 2 SECONDS TO REGAIN ACCELERATION CAPABILITY. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RUBBER ON THE TRUNK MELTED AND LEFT A BLACK TAR SUBSTANCE ON HIS HAND WHENEVER THE TRUNK WAS OPENED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED DAILY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.

WHILE DRIVING THE CAR, THE DASH SYMBOLS VSC, ABS AND THE (!) TURNED ON AND THE CAR STARTED TO BEEP INSIDE. ALARMED AT WHAT WAS HAPPENING, I HIT THE BRAKES TO FIND THAT THEY WERE NOT WORKING AND THERE WAS NO RESISTANCE WHEN PUSHING DOWN ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. I WAS IN A PARKING LOT WHEN THIS HAPPENED AND HAD TO SWERVE TO AVOID HITTING PEOPLE WALKING AROUND. AFTER A MINUTE OR 2 OF COASTING I WAS APPROACHING A DEAD END AND CHOSE TO LITERALLY STAND ON MY BRAKES WHICH DIDN'T IMMEDIATELY STOP THE CAR. AFTER STANDING ON THE BRAKES WITH MY FULL WEIGHT, THE CAR SLOWLY CAME TO A ROLLING STOP WHERE I PROCEEDED TO PUT THE CAR IN PARK AND TURN IT OFF. *TR

THE PRIUS WILL SHIFT ITSELF OUT OF DRIVE AND INTO NEUTRAL WHEN THE CAR HAS BEEN SITTING IN THE HOT SUN AND THE INTERIOR HEATS UP. THIS HAS HAPPENED AT LEAST 10 TIMES OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS. I HAVE TO MANUALLY HOLD THE GEAR SHIFT INTO DRIVE IN ORDER TO DRIVE THE CAR. I DROVE IT TO THE DEALER AND SHOWED THEM THE PROBLEM AND THEY HAD NO IDEA WHY IT DID THAT AND SAID THEY HAD NEVER HEARD OF THIS PROBLEM BEFORE. AFTER THE CAR COOLS DOWN IT RESUMES NORMAL FUNCTION. I HAVE HAD TO LEARN TO LEAVE THE WINDOWS PARTIALLY OPENED DURING THE SUMMER IN ORDER TO AVOID THIS PROBLEM. IF THE SERVICE PERSONNEL AT THE DEALER DO NOT KNOW HOW TO FIX THIS PROBLEM, WHO DOES? *TR

THE HEADLAMP ON MY PRIUS PERIODICALLY TURNS OFF WHILE DRIVING. IT COMES BACK ON AFTER TURNING THE LIGHTS OFF AND ON AGAIN, BUT WILL STILL PERIODICALLY TURN OFF AFTER THIS RESET. *TR

THE RUBBER ON THE HANDLE / LATCH ON THE BACK HATCH OF MY 2007 PRIUS HAS DEGRADED TO THE POINT OF MELTING / FALLING OFF. STICKY TACKY RUBBER HAS BEEN A PROBLEM FOR A WHILE, BUT NOW THE PIECE JUST MELTED ONTO THE BUMPER. IT IS NOT A PARTICULARLY HOT DAY COMPARATIVELY, SO MUST HAVE JUST FINALLY DEGRADED TO THE POINT OF FALLING OFF WHILE I WAS PARKED. THIS APPEARS TO BE A COMMON DEFECT, AND I WOULD LIKE TOYOTA / DEALERSHIP TO COVER FIXING THIS: HTTP://WWW.MEYERSONSTRATEGY.COM/2013/09/TOYOTAS-STICKY-2007-PRIUS-HATCH-PROBLEM.HTML. *TR

MY TOYOTA PRIUS HAS A RUBBER HATCH LATCH COVERING THAT HAS MELTED AND HAS TURNED TO A GOOEY SUBSTANCE THAT ATTACHES TO YOUR FINGERS WHEN BEING OPENED. IT APPEARS TO HAVE IMPACTED THE EASE OF OPENING THE HATCH. THIS APPEARS TO BE A SAFETY CONCERN BECAUSE OF THE DIFFICULTY TO OPEN THE HATCH. FOR EXAMPLE IF THE TIRE IS NEEDING TO BE CHANGED I AM AFRAID THAT THE ENTRY MAY BE HINDERED DUE TO THE APPARENTLY DEFECTIVE LATCH COVER. WHAT I WOULD LIKE IS FOR NHTSA TO FOLLOW UP WITH TOYOTA ON WHY THIS PART HAS NOT BEEN RECALLED. THE RUBBER COVER ON THE HATCH RELEASE HANDLE OF MY 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS HAS MELTED INTO A STICKY, BLACK TAR SUBSTANCE. IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO OPEN. PLEASE HELP. *TR

THE HEAD LIGHTS, TURN SIGNALS AND FOG LIGHTS TURN-OFF RANDOMLY. *VERY DANGEROUS! I'VE REPLACED THE EXPENSIVE HID BULBS, BUT THE PROBLEM PERSISTS. I'VE TAKEN THE CAR FOR REPAIR TO THE LOCAL, "THURSTON" TOYOTA DEALER, BUT THEY WILL NOT REPAIR IT UNDER WARRANTY OR RECALL. *TR

COVER OVER HATCH HAS TURNED TO GOO AND HATCH RELEASE NO LONGER FUNCTIONS. THIS APPEARS TO BE A POTENTIAL SAFETY ISSUE SINCE THE DOOR CAN NOT BE OPERATED. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN KEPT IN A GARAGE WHEN NOT IN USE SINCE PURCHASE, SO WEATHER WOULD NOT BE A FACTOR. AM WONDERING WHETHER THIS WAS A FACTOR IN THE EARLY DEMISE OF THE 12V BATTERY. *TR

THE RUBBER ON THE REAR HATCH LATCH WAS DEFECTIVE AND DEGENERATED INTO A PILE OF GOO, MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO OPEN THE REAR HATCH DOOR. THIS IS A WELL-KNOWN DEFECT FOR THIS MODEL AND YEAR, BUT TOYOTA HAS SO FAR NOT MADE AN EXTENDED WARRANTY TO HAVE THE PROBLEM REPAIRED AT NO CHARGE TO THE OWNER OF THE VEHICLE. *TR

THE RUBBER COVER OF THE EXTERNAL TRUNK LATCH HAS MELTED. ON MANY OCCASIONS, THE LATCH OPENS ONLY AFTER MANY ATTEMPTS. A WEB SEARCH FOUND MANY OTHER OWNERS WHO COMPLAIN ABOUT THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR

THE HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT BY THEMSELVES. I TURNED THE SWITCH OFF AND THEN BACK ON AND THE LIGHTS CAME BACK ON BUT THIS PROBLEM REPEATED ITSELF MULTIPLE TIMES (20+) ON MY WAY HOME. *TR

THE COMBINATION METER DISPLAY ( SPEEDOMETER) WILL NOT ILLUMINATE. TOYOTA KNOWS OF THIS ISSUE. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AS DRIVER ARE UNABLE TO KNOW THE SPEED OF THEIR VEHICLE. TOYOTA ISSUE A EXTENDED WARRANTY BUT IN MOST CASES REFUSES TO REPLACE THE PART AS IT IS DIFFICULT TO REPRODUCE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE CONTACT CRASHED THE VEHICLE INTO A PICKUP TRUCK. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A CONCUSSION AND WAS HOSPITALIZED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 133,000.

REAR HATCH RELEASE LATCH RUBBER IS DISSOLVING AND WILL ONLY WORK WITH DIFFICULTY OR NOT AT ALL. I WAS UNAWARE THAT THIS IS A FREQUENTLY REPORTED PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR AND HAD NOT CHECKED WITH THIS WEB SITE. THE DISINTEGRATING RUBBER APPEARS TO BE INTERFERING WITH THE ACTION OF THE SWITCH THAT RELEASES THE HATCH. MY LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER SAID NOTHING ABOUT THIS BEING A COMMON PROBLEM AND REPLACED THE REAR HATCH SWITCH ASSEMBLY FOR A COST OF $167 PLUS TAX. THIS COMPLAINT WAS MADE AUG. 6, 2014. *TR

THE BUTTONS ON THE STEERING WHEEL BEGAN TO STOP WORKING. ONE BY ONE, EACH BEGAN TO FAIL. I WASN'T TOO WORRIED SINCE THEY'RE SIMPLY THE CLIMATE AND STEREO CONTROLS, HOWEVER, AS I BEGAN RESEARCHING ALL SIGNS POINTED TO THIS BEING THE "CLOCK SPRING" ASSEMBLY. THIS ALSO CONTROLS THE AIRBAG AND IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE. I WENT TO THE DEALER WHO CONFIRMED AND SAID THIS WOULD COST $500 TO REPAIR. WHEN I ASKED ABOUT THE AIRBAG THEY SAID THEY DO NOT RECOMMEND THAT I DRIVE THE CAR BECAUSE THE AIRBAG "MIGHT NOT WORK" ANYMORE. AFTER SEEING A SUFFICIENT AMOUNT OF POSTS HERE, I WANTED TO ALSO ADD MY FEEDBACK AS IT APPEARS THIS IS FAR MORE WIDESPREAD THAN JUST AN ISOLATED INCIDENT. I HAVE DRIVE 4 OTHER (NON-TOYOTA) VEHICLES FOR WELL ABOVE 200,000 MILES AND NEVER HAD THIS ISSUE. MY FATHER (AUTOMOTIVE MECHANIC FOR ANOTHER CAR BRAND) SAID HE'S NEVER HAD ANYONE COME IN WITH THIS ISSUE BEFORE. CONSIDERING THAT TOYTA PRIDES THEMSELVES AS HAVING SAFE VEHICLES, I WOULD HOPE THAT THEY CONSIDER A RECALL ON THIS LIFE-THREATENING PART FAILURE. *TR

TRANSAXLE FAILURE RESULTING IN REPAIR BILL OF $4948. PLEASE SEE DETAILS UNDER FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM CATEGORY AS I DIDN'T SELECT THE PROPER "AFFECTED PART" CLASSIFICATION WHEN I MADE THE COMPLAINT. ODI # 10616528. WHILE DOING RESEARCH TODAY I FOUND A SIMILAR COMPLAINT MADE 4/27/14 ID # 10586065. *TR

REAR HATCH RELEASE LATCH HAS BEEN GETTING STICK TO THE TOUCH AND INCREASINGLY DIFFICULT TO OPEN. TRIED CLEANING THE LATCH AND DISCOVERED THAT THE RUBBER COVERING THE LATCH SEEMS TO BE MELTING. CHECKED ONLINE AND DISCOVERED THAT THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM AND, IF NOT CORRECTED, WILL LIKELY RESULT IN LATCH RELEASE SWITCH FAILURE. THE LOCATION OF THE RUBBER LATCH RELEASE COVER PROTECTS IT FROM DIRECT SUNLIGHT AND THERE SEEMS TO BE NO REASONABLE EXPLANATION FOR THE FAILURE OF THIS PART OTHER THAN A DEFECT IN MANUFACTURE. *TR

DRIVING DOWN DARK MOUNTAIN ROAD AND BOTH LIGHTS WENT OFF. TERRIFYING AS I TRIED TO KEEP CAR FROM DRIVING OFF MOUNTAIN IN DARK. SCREAMED WITH GRANDCHILDREN IN CAR & THOUGHT WE WOULD CRASH. MINUTE LATER PARKING LIGHTS CAME ON & I HAD TO TRY TO GET DOWN STEEP CURVY MOUNTAIN WITH PARKING LIGHTS *JS

MY RIGHT HEADLIGHT WENT COMPLETELY OUT. I WENT AND PURCHASED A NEW SET TO REPLACE BOTH LIGHTS AND HAD THEM PROFESSIONALLY INSTALLED. NOT EVEN 3 MONTHS LATER MY DRIVER SIDE HEADLIGHT WENT OUT. WITHIN 2 WEEKS OF THIS HAPPENING MY PASSENGER SIDE JUST WENT OUT AGAIN. I HAD NOTHING AT THAT POINT AND HAD TO DRIVE WITH HIGH BEAMS ON TO MAKE IT HOME. I HAVE ONLY OWNED THIS VEHICLE FOR 4 MONTHS AND FEEL THIS IS GOING TO BE A CONSTANT SITUATION TO DEAL WITH. *JS

MASTER WARNING LIGHT, BRAKE WARNING LIGHT (YELLOW) AND VEHICLE STABILITY CONTROL WARNING LIGHT CAME ON WITH ONE BEEP WHEN VEHICLE STOPPED AT TRAFFIC LIGHT. PROCEEDED TO FRIEND'S HOUSE (APPROXIMATELY 2 MILES) AND MADE APPOINTMENT WITH TOYOTA DEALER FOR FOLLOWING MORNING. IN MORNING CAR WOULD START BUT NOT GO INTO DRIVE. READY LIGHT NOT ON. CAR TOWED TO DEALER. CODE CHECKER SCAN CODES P0AA6, 526 AND 613. "TRANSAXLE FAILURE." TRANSAXLE (PART 30900-47040) REPLACED WITH COST OF $4948.04. I AM CONCERNED THAT ON A BUSY FREEWAY THIS COULD OCCUR WITH LOSS OF BRAKING, STEERING AND STABILITY CONTROL AND RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT OR INJURY (INCLUDING DEATH). TOYOTA STATES THAT THIS IS NOT A COMMON PROBLEM. GENERAL WARRANTY EXPIRED IN OCT. 2013. *TR

2007 PRIUS LIFTBACK BLACK RUBBER SWITCH-HANDLE IS MELTING AND BLACK RUBBER TAR IS ALL OVER HANDS WHEN TOUCHING THE SWITCH-HANDLE. REPORTED FOR YEARS BY OTHER OWNERS ON PRIUSCHAT BLOG: HTTP://PRIUSCHAT.COM/THREADS/2007-PRIUS-TRUNK-HATCH-RELEASE-RUBBER-PIECE-MELTED.71647/PAGE-3 SHOULD BE A RECALL FOR THIS DEFECTIVE MELTING RUBBER HANDLE WHICH IS ON HANDS WHENEVER YOU TOUCH IT. VERY HOT TO TOUCH DURING SUMMER WEATHER TOO. PART NUMBERS FOR 2007 PRIUS (BUT ALWAYS DOUBLE CHECK THEM!): 84905-47010 - FOR MODELS WITH SMART ENTRY. 84840-47020 - FOR MODELS WITHOUT SMART ENTRY. LOCAL DEALER ACKNOWLEDGES THE DEFECTIVE PART IS COMMON, BUT WOULD NOT REPLACE/REPAIR FOR FREE. THE BLOG ABOVE SHOWS COUNTLESS NUMBERS OF SIMILAR CASES COSTING AS MUCH AS >$300 TO REPLACE. THIS IS ALSO HAPPENING IN OUR 2009 PRIUS TOO. *TR

REAR HATCH RELEASE IS DISSOLVING AND HATCH WILL ONLY OPEN WITH DIFFICULTY OR NOT AT ALL. MANY SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ON LINE ABOUT THIS ISSUE FOR THIS PRIUS MODEL YEAR. *TR

COMPONENTS: EQUIPMENT LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES THE BACK LATCH OF MY 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS HAS DEGRADED (MELTED ALMOST) IT NO LONGER FUNCTIONS PROPERLY AND I AM UNABLE TO OPEN THE BACK HATCH DOOR EASILY. AND THEREFORE ACCESS THE SPARE, ANY OF MY REPAIR TOOLS OR MY EARTHQUAKE KIT, FLARES, JUMPERS, ETC. THERE IS NO ALTERNATIVE INTERNAL METHOD FOR OPENING THE HATCHBACK/TRUNK. TOYOTA NEEDS A RECALL OF THIS DEFECTIVE PART. THE QUOTE TO REPAIR WAS $291 PLUS LABOR. NHTSAID HAS HAD OTHER COMPLAINTS #10533059, 10511408, 10504366, 10496197, ETC. ETC. I AM 80 YEARS OF AGE AND THIS IS PRESENTING A DEFINITE SAFETY DEFECT. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LATCH TO OPEN THE TRUNK BECAME MELTED AND THE TRUNK OF THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE OPENED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 180,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

LATCH ON MY 2007 PRIUS IS MELTING AND STICKY, LEAVING BLACK RESIDUE ON MY FINGERS WHEN I OPEN IT. IT IS DIFFICULT TO OPEN AT TIMES IN ADDITION. *TR

ON OUR 2007 PRIUS, THE RUBBER COVER FOR THE REAR TRUNK HATCH HAS MELTED INTO BLACK GOO. THIS DEGRADATION DOESN'T APPEAR TO BE DUE TO HEAT, SINCE THE CAR HAS BEEN KEPT IN A COOL GARAGE. THE RUBBER ITSELF EFFECTIVELY TURNED INTO TAR, COMING OFF ON OUR HANDS AND DRIPPING ONTO THE BUMPER AT TIMES. THE MELTING HAS ALSO MADE IT DIFFICULT TO OPEN THE REAR TRUNK, AS THE GOOEY RUBBERY MESS APPEARS TO BE INTERFERING WITH THE ACTION OF THE SWITCH THAT RELEASES THE HATCH. *TR

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AND BOTH HEADLIGHTS SUDDENLY WENT OUT. THE FOG LIGHTS REMAINED ON. WHEN WE WENT INSIDE A STORE AND CAME BACK OUT TO CONTINUE DRIVING, THEY CAME BACK ON AGAIN. THEY THEN FAILED AGAIN, BOTH HEADLIGHTS, IN A SEPARATE INSTANCE, TURNING THEMSELVES COMPLETELY OFF WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE, IN AN AREA WITH NO LIGHTS, LEAVING ME IN THE DARK. I WAS ABLE TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE THIS TIME BY TURNING THE LIGHT SWITCH OFF AND THEN BACK ON AGAIN, BUT I AM CONCERNED THIS WILL CONTINUE TO HAPPEN. I HAVE DONE SOME RESEARCH, AND IT SEEMS THIS IS AN ONGOING ISSUE WITH PRIUS' WITHIN THE SAME YEAR (AND SURROUNDING YEARS) AS MINE, AND SOMETHING THE COMPANY PROBABLY NEEDS TO DEAL WITH. *TR

THE TAIL LIGHTS INTERMITTENTLY GO OUT WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT, WHILE THE BRAKE LIGHTS ARE FINE. IT IS RELATED TO A PROBLEM WITH POOR QUALITY TAIL LIGHT SOCKETS ON THIS MODEL AND YEAR. REPLACEMENT BULBS DO NOT ADDRESS THE PROBLEM. THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM, NOT UNIQUE TO MY VEHICLE ONLY. *TR

I WAS TRAVELING AT 50MPH WHEN AN ALARM SOUNDED IN THE CAR AND 4 LIGHTS LIT UP ON THE DASHBOARD ? THE BRAKE SYSTEM WARNING LIGHT, MASTER WARNING LIGHT, VSC AND MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A TOYOTA DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY ADVISED THE HYBRID WATER PUMP NEEDED REPLACING. I THEN DISCOVERED THERE IS A RECALL ON THE HYBRID WATER PUMPS BUT WAS ADVISED MY VEHICLE WAS NOT ON THE LIST FOR THE RECALL. THE DETAILS OF MY MISHAP CORRELATE TO THE TOYOTA RECALL NOTICE THAT TOYOTA PUT OUT REGARDING THE HYBRID WATER PUMPS. I BELIEVE MY VEHICLE SHOULD HAVE BEEN ON THE RECALL LIST TO HAVE THIS SAFETY ISSUE ADDRESSED AND THAT THE RECALL NOTICE DOES NOT ADEQUATELY COVER ALL TOYOTA VEHICLES WITH THIS POSSIBLE ISSUE. *TR

WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT, ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS, EITHER ONE OR BOTH HEADLIGHTS CEASE TO FUNCTION. BY TURNING THEM OFF AND BACK ON AGAIN, THEY WORK FOR AWHILE, BUT THEN MAY OR MAY NOT GO OUT AGAIN DEPENDING ON WHO KNOWS WHAT. MY RIGHT HEADLIGHT WAS REPLACED AT 15,000 MILES AND THE LEFT ONE WAS REPLACED AT 20,000 MILES - BOTH UNDER WARRANTY. I WAS TOLD AT THE TIME THAT IT WOULD HAVE COST ME OVER $200 EACH IF IT WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY. JUST LOOKING AT COMPLAINTS FOR THE 2007 PRIUS CARS FOR THIS YEAR ALONE, 23 OUT OF THE 60 COMPLAINTS ON THIS WEBSITE SOUND EXACTLY LIKE MINE. I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS HAS BEEN AN ISSUE WITH ALL THE 2006-2009 TOYOTA PRIUS CARS AND THAT TOYOTA SOMEHOW FIXED THIS PROBLEM WHEN THEY REVAMPED THE CAR IN 2010. MY DEALER SAID TO BRING IT IN TO SEE IF IT WAS A BALLAST PROBLEM OR FAULTY LIGHTS--ALL VERY EXPENSIVE TO FIX AND THERE IS NO GUARANTEE I WON'T HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM AGAIN IN THE NEAR FUTURE. (SEE TOYOTA CHAT LINE WHERE FOLKS HAVE BEEN CHARGED UP TO $2500 ONLY TO HAVE THEIR LIGHTS GO OUT AGAIN IN A FEW MONTHS) I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY TOYOTA DOESN'T HAVE A RECALL TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. NOT ONLY IS THIS A WASTE OF TIME AND MONEY TO THE OWNER OF THIS CAR, IT IS A SAFETY HAZARD. NO WARNING LIGHT GOES ON IN THE CAR TO SAY THE HEADLIGHTS ARE NOT FUNCTIONING, AND IT ISN'T ALWAYS EASY TO TELL THE LIGHTS HAVE GONE OUT, DEPENDING ON HOW WELL THE ROADS ARE LIT. WHAT IS TOYOTA WAITING FOR? DOES SOMEONE HAVE TO DIE BECAUSE THEIR HEADLIGHTS UNEXPECTEDLY GO OUT WHILE DRIV

THE HID HEADLIGHTS ON MY 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS APPEAR TO BE DEFECTIVE. WHEN I TURN THE LIGHTS ON INITIALLY, THEY BOTH ILLUMINATE, BUT THE LIGHTS DIM PROGRESSIVELY, AND AFTER SEVERAL MINUTES THE LIGHTS ARE ESSENTIALLY DARK. THIS OCCURS IN BOTH HEADLIGHTS AND STARTED ONLY THIS MONTH. THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY ISSUE, AS IT IS VERY DANGEROUS TO DRIVE WITHOUT WORKING HEADLIGHTS (PARTICULARLY WHEN ONE ASSUMES THAT THE HEADLIGHTS ARE WORKING SINCE THEY TURNED ON INITIALLY). IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THE ISSUE IS BEYOND REPLACING THE HID HEADLIGHT BULBS; ACCORDING TO THE REPAIR SHOP I VISITED, THERE MAY BE A DEFECT WITH THE HID ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNITS (ECUS). I UNDERSTAND AS WELL THAT THIS IS A DEFECT THAT HAS OCCURRED IN NUMEROUS TOYOTA PRIUS VEHICLES AND THAT TOYOTA IN 2011 AGREED TO A SETTLEMENT OF A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT THAT PROVIDED SOME REPAIR COVERAGE FOR CERTAIN OWNERS. *TR

THE PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT WENT OUT A FEW WEEKS AGO. IT CAME BACK ON INTERMITTENTLY, AND THEN BOTH HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT. *TR

THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT FOR THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM ILLUMINATED. I CONTACTED A-1 TOYOTA DEALER AND THEY DIAGNOSED LEAK ON REAR WINDOW. HEARD WATER SLOSHING IN THE CAR. WATER LEAKED INTO CARGO AREA. THE WEATHER STRIP WAS REPLACED.