2007 Toyota Prius complaints

HEADLIGHT AND TAILLIGHTS GO OUT AND THEN COME BACK ON. ALSO, WHEN ON THEY SEEM TO BE VERY WEAK. *TR

REAR HATCH HANDLE LIQUEFIED. *TR

THE HATCHBACK HANDLE/LOCK HAS MELTED. NOW WHEN IT'S VERY COLD YOU CANNOT OPEN IT WITHOUT CONSIDERABLE FORCE. MY 16 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER IS DRIVING THE CAR AND SHE CAN'T GET IT OPEN. *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

RIGHT HEADLIGHT FLICKERS AND GOES OUT, LEAVING ONLY LEFT HEADLIGHT ON. TURNING HEADLIGHTS OFF AND ON CAUSES BOTH HEADLIGHTS TO WORK AGAIN. PROBLEM REPEATS RANDOMLY IN ABOUT 10 MINUTES. I ALSO NOTED THAT ONCE BOTH HEADLIGHTS WENT OFF. *TR

REAR HATCH HANDLE HAS MELTED AND MAKING ACCESSIBILITY TO THE REAR HATCH LIFT GATE IS VERY STICKY AND SOFT. SOMETIMES THE HATCH DOES NOT RESPOND WHEN ATTEMPTING TO OPEN THE REAR HATCH. THE PIECE WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY IN 2009 AND IS NOW MALFUNCTIONING AGAIN. *TR

I TOO AM A VICTIM OF THE MELTING REAR HATCH COVER. THE RUBBER COVER TO THE EXTERNAL TRUNK LATCH HAS DETERIORATED TO THE POINT WHERE IT IS EITHER GOOEY TO THE TOUCH IN WARM WEATHER OR FROZEN SOLID TO THE POINT WHERE IT IS IMMOVABLE IN COLDER TEMPERATURES. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD SINCE I AM UNABLE TO ACCESS THE SPARE TIRE. THE RUBBER APPEARS TO BE BLOCKING THE RELEASE MECHANISM. THE DETERIORATION STARTED DURING THE SUMMER OF 2013. THIS ISSUE HAS WORSENED AND BEGINNING DECEMBER 29, I HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO OPEN THE REAR HATCH. IT IS CLEARLY A MANUFACTURER DEFECT AND IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF TOYOTA TO REPLACE THIS HANDLE AT NO EXPENSE TO THE CONSUMER. HOWEVER, THEY ARE NOT WILLING TO DO SO. *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 (FROZEN SOLID AND IMMOVABLE IN COLDER TEMPERATURES). 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. ALSO, AT TIMES, DUE TO THE INFLEXIBILITY OF THE RUBBER I AM UNABLE TO OPEN THE TRUNK AND, THUS, ACCESS THE SPARE, ANY OF MY REPAIR TOOLS, EMERGENCY SAFETY KIT, FLARES, JUMPERS, ETC. THERE IS NO ALTERNATIVE INTERNAL METHOD FOR OPENING THE HATCHBACK/TRUNK.THIS IS A MAJOR CAUSE FOR CONCERN AND IT IS A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD. *TR

THE HANDLE TO THE REAR DOOR IS BARELY FUNCTIONING. IT HAS BEEN STICKING FOR A LONG TIME BUT NOW IT IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO OPEN THE REAR DOOR ALTOGETHER. THE RUBBER OF THE HANDLE LOOKS MELTED. *TR

I HAVE A 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS AND THE RUBBER HAS "DECOMPOSED" OFF THE LATCH AND HAS MADE IT NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO GAIN ACCESS TO THE REAR COMPARTMENT OF MY VEHICLE. THE RUBBER DEGRADATION HAS MADE THE SENSITIVITY OF THE HATCH DOOR LATCH ERRATIC AND NOT WORKING MOSTLY. ITS CAUSE ME TO TRY TO YANK THE HATCH DOOR A COUPLE OF TIMES WHICH HAS CAUSE THE LATCH DOOR HANDLE TO COME LOOSE. TOYOTA PLS ADDRESS THIS ISSUE. THANKS *TR

BOTH HEADLIGHTS SUDDENLY WENT OUT WHILE DRIVING ON AN UNLIT MOUNTAIN HIGHWAY. HAPPENED AGAIN THE NEXT NIGHT WHILE DRIVING ON ANOTHER HIGHWAY. TURNING THE LIGHT SWITCH OFF AND ON AGAIN BROUGHT THE HEADLIGHTS BACK ON. PREVIOUSLY, DRIVER'S SIDE HEADLIGHT WOULD SUDDENLY GO OUT INTERMITTENTLY. THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME BOTH HEADLAMPS WENT DIM AT THE SAME TIME. VERY SCARING AND DANGEROUS SITUATION AS THERE WAS NO VISIBILITY AS SOON AS THE LIGHTS WENT OUT. *TR

LIKE SO MANY OTHERS WITH A 2007 PRIUS, MY HATCH BACK RUBBER LATCH STARTED GETTING STICKY AND THEN SLOWLY STARTED DETERIORATING TO THE POINT WHERE I COULDN'T OPEN THE HATCH DOOR. I TOOK IT TO MAITA TOYOTA IN SACRAMENTO AND ASKED IF THEY WOULD FIX IT, BUT THEY CHARGED ME. I'M SEEING THAT SOME PEOPLE COMPLAINED TO TOYOTA AND GOT THIS PAID FOR. I'M GOING TO SEE IF I CAN GET REIMBURSED FOR THIS. I'M GLAD PEOPLE PUT THEIR COMPLAINTS HERE TO SEE. *TR

HID HEADLIGHT WILL GO OUT WHILE DRIVING AND THIS HAS HAPPENED 4 TIMES WITH THE MOST RECENT 2 DAYS AGO. ALL OF THE TIMES THIS HAS HAPPENED, THE BULB AND COMPUTER ARE REPLACED AT A COST OF $700.00+. VERY EXPENSIVE ON GOING PROBLEM. *TR

I HAVE A 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS AND THE RUBBER HAS "MELTED" OFF IF THE LATCH AND HAS MADE IT NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO GAIN ACCESS TO THE REAR COMPARTMENT OF MY VEHICLE. IT BEGAN WITH NUMEROUS BLACK AND STICKY FINGERS THEN PROGRESSED TO CHUNKS OF GOOEY OF WHAT I THINK WAS PLASTIC COMING OFF INTO MY HANDS AND HAS ENDED UP BEING AN ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TASK TO GAIN ACCESS VIA THE BACK END OF MY CAR. FROM A VERY QUICK SEARCH OF THE INTERNET, THIS APPEARS TO BE A WIDE SPREAD PROBLEM AND EVERYONE IS GETTING THE SAME ANSWER I AM GETTING FROM TOYOTA....PAY UP!! THIS HAS TO BE A MFG DEFECT. I LIVE IN NORTH TEXAS SO YES, IT DOES GET HOT HERE BUT MELT THE PLASTIC OFF YOUR CAR HOT, I THINK NOT! PLEASE HELP US! *TR

MY LHEADLIGHTS FLICKER, AND GO OUT ALL THE TIME...I HAVE 2 TEEN DAUGHTERS THAT ARE OF DRIVING AGE AND THEY CANNOT DRIVE AT NIGHT DUE TO THE LIGHTING ISSUE...I HAVE BEEN ON THE FREEWAY GOING UPWARDS OF 75 MILE PER HOUR ON HIGHWAY AND BOTH HEADLIGHTS HAVE WENT COMPLETELY OUT...I ASSUMED TOYOTA WAS A GOOD BRAND IT IS SOO DANGEROUS TO DRIVE MY CAR AT NIGHT!! *TR

I NOTICED OVER THE SUMMER THAT THE HATCHBACK BUTTON BECAME EXTREMELY SOFT AND FOR LACK OF A BETTER TERM, GOOEY. ONCE THE WEATHER COOLED DOWN THE BUTTON SEEMED TO HAVE RESHAPED/MELTED SO THAT I AM NO LONGER ABLE TO OPEN THE HATCH OF MY CAR. I HAVE CONTACTED TOYOTA WITH THIS CONCERN BUT WAS TOLD THAT BECAUSE I HAVE EXCEEDED THE MILEAGE AND WARRANTY COVERAGE IT IS MY RESPONSIBILITY. I STRONGLY BELIEVE THAT THIS IS THE CAUSE OF FAULTY MANUFACTURING. I CANNOT ACCESS MY SPARE TIRE IS KEPT UNDER COVER IN THE REAR HATCH. TOYOTA NEEDS TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS AND ISSUE A RECALL IMMEDIATELY. *TR

REAR HATCH LATCH IS INOPERABLE AND PREVENTS ACCESS TO SPARE TIRE. RUBBER COVERING OF LATCH MECHANISM DEGRADED 'MELTED,' EVEN THOUGH CAR IS GARAGE STORED IN THE HEAT OF SUMMER, M-F. *TR

THE RUBBER COVERING THE EXTERNAL HATCH LATCH AT THE REAR OF MY 2007 PRIUS HAS DEGRADED TO THE EXTENT THAT THE LATCH NO LONGER FUNCTIONS PROPERLY. THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW FOR THE 2007 PRIUS AND VERY DANGEROUS AS IT WILL NOT ALLOW ACCESS INTO THE TRUNK AREA IN CASE OF EMERGENCY. BECAUSE OF THE MELTED/DEGRADED RUBBER MY WIFE CAN NO LONGER GET INTO THE TRUNK AND I CAN ONLY GET INTO THE TRUNK AT RANDOM INTERVALS WITH SEVERE PRESSURE PLACED ON THE RUBBER/SWITCH AREA. IT COULD BE IMPOSSIBLE FOR ME TO REACH THE SPARE IN AN EMERGENCY. IT COULD ALSO DAMAGE THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WITH THE PRESSURE NEEDED TO MAKE IT WORK. THIS IS CLEARLY A TOYOTA DESIGN AND MATERIALS PROBLEM AND SHOULD BE FIXED BY TOYOTA BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT. *TR

THE REAR HATCH BECAME STICKY AND LEFT BLACK RESIDUE ON MY FINGERS. THE HATCH TOOK SEVERAL TRIES UNTIL IT UNLOCKED. NOW THAT IT IS COLD IN PENNSYLVANIA THE HATCH WILL EITHER NOT OPEN AT ALL OR IT TAKES NUMEROUS TRIES UNTIL IT UNLOCKS. THIS IS VERY INCONVENIENT AS ACCESS TO THE REAR IS NOT GAINED SOMETIMES AND ITEMS MUST BE PLACED IN THE BACKSEAT AS A RESULT. ALSO IF I AM UNLUCKY ENOUGH TO GET A FLAT TIRE I CANNOT GET TO THE SPARE. THE REAR HATCH AREA IS WHERE MY EMERGENCY KIT AND JUMPER CABLES ARE KEPT. OUR FAMILY OWNS THREE TOYOTA'S AND BEING LOYAL CUSTOMERS OF TOYOTA I WOULD THINK THAT TOYOTA WOULD BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO DO THE RIGHT THING AND FIX THIS PROBLEM FOR FREE SINCE THIS APPEARS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM! *TR

THE HATCH HANDLE MADE OF RUBBER IS DETERIORATING AND NOW MOISTURE GETS IN THE SWITCH AND WHEN IT GETS BELOW FREEZING YOU CAN OPEN THE HATCH. THIS RUBBER PIECE SHOULD NOT BE COMING APART LIKE THIS . MANY COMPLAINTS HAVE SURFACED CONCERNING THIS ISSUE. IF YOU NEEDED TO CHANGE A TIRE YOU COULD NOT GET THE HATCH OPEN TO GET THE TIRE OR EMERGENCY EQUIPMENT. *TR

ALMOST EVERY TIME I USE THE HEADLIGHTS, ONE OR BOTH WILL EXTINGUISH AT SOME POINT. IF I TURN THEM OFF AND BACK ON, THEY WILL COME BACK ON AS IF NOTHING HAD HAPPENED. THE OCCURRENCE IS RANDOM, BUT HAPPENS MOST OF THE TIME I USE THEM. SOMETIMES I CAN SEE WHEN ONE GOES OUT, BUT FREQUENTLY, I DON'T KNOW UNTIL I EITHER GET ON A VERY DARK ROAD OR AM STOPPED BEHIND ANOTHER VEHICLE AND SEE THE REFLECTION IN THEIR CAR. I THINK THIS IS DANGEROUS ON AT LEAST TWO LEVELS - THEY WILL GO OUT WHEN I REALLY NEED THEM OR ONCOMING TRAFFIC WON'T SEE ME PROPERLY. *TR

TRUNK LATCH HAS BECOME MELTED/STICKY LEAVING A RESIDUE ON HANDS DURING SUMMER AND FROZEN AND NON-WORKING DURING COLDER MONTHS. THIS CAUSES ISSUES DUE TO INABILITY TO ACCESS TRUNK FOR SPARE TIRE AND SAFETY EQUIPMENT. *TR

RUBBER HATCH LATCH COVER HAS DETERIORATED AND IT HAS BECOME DIFFICULT TO OPEN THE HATCH, AND VERY DIFFICULT IN COLD WEATHER (MY WIFE CANNOT OPEN IT AND IT IS HER CAR). I CONSIDER THIS A SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

IN THE BEGINNING WE WOULD BE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD THE LEFT HEADLIGHT WOULD GO OUT THEN THE RIGHT SIDE STARTING GOING OUT. IF WE TURNED THEM OFF AND RIGHT BACK ON THE WOULD COME ON AND SOMETIMES STAY ON AND SOMETIMES NOT. THEN OCCASIONALLY THE Y WILL BOTH GO OUT AT THE SAME TIME LEAVING TOTALLY IN THE DARK. WE REPLACED THE BULBS AND THAT HELPED FOR A WHILE BUT THEY STARTED AGAIN. I THEN REPLACED THE BALLASTS. THAT DID NO GOOD. THIS IS NOT ONLY ANNOYING BUT A BIG SAFETY HAZARD. *TR

THE RUBBER ON THE REAR HATCH RELEASE HAS DETERIORATED CAUSING DIFFICULTY OR IMPOSSIBILITY OF OPENING THE REAR HATCH. THIS COULD POSE A SAFETY ISSUE IN AN EMERGENCY. *TR

THE RIGHT HEADLIGHT GOES OUT INTERMITTENTLY. YOU THEN HAVE TO SWITCH THE LIGHT SWITCH OFF AND THEN ON AGAIN AND IT COMES BACK ON. A PARTICULAR PROBLEM BECAUSE OUR LEFT LIGHT WENT OUT AND THEN WE HAD TO DEPEND ON THE RIGHT HEADLIGHT ONLY UNTIL THE LEFT ONE COULD BE FIXED. WE HAD NO HEADLIGHTS SEVERAL TIMES DURING THIS TIME. THE RIGHT HEADLIGHT JUST GOES OFF WHENEVER AND YOU HAVE TO CLICK IT BACK ON. VERY SCARY AND DANGEROUS AT NIGHT. I'VE TALKED TO DOZENS OF OTHER PRIUS OWNERS AND THEY HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. IT SEEMS TO BE A MANUFACTURING DEFECT AND SHOULD BE RECALLED FOR THE FIX. *TR

REAR LATCH ASSEMBLY ON MY PRIUS HAS STARTED TO MELT AND BLOCK THE OPENING OF THE REAR LATCH. THIS SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM WITH MANY OF THE 2007 PRIUS. I HAVE NEVER HAD A CAR WHERE THE PLASTIC MELTED FOR NO APPARENT REASON. *TR

FOR THE PAST YEAR, THE RUBBER SURFACE OF THE REAR HATCH RELEASE HAS BEEN GOOEY, LEAVING BLACK MARKS ON MY HANDS. THE FUNCTION OF THE RELEASE HAS BEEN ERRATIC. OFTEN, I CAN'T RELEASE IT AT ALL. IT SEEMS PARTICULARLY BAD IN COOLER WEATHER. I'VE READ THAT THIS HAS BEEN A PRETTY COMMON PROBLEM AND FIND IT SURPRISING THAT TOYOTA HAS NOT RECALLED THESE VEHICLES TO REPLACE THE ASSEMBLY. *TR

I'VE ALSO BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE REAR HATCH ON MY 2007 PRIUS FOR SOME TIME. THE RUBBER HAS SOFTENED AND PARTIALLY MELTED IN WARM WEATHER, MAKING IT EXTREMELY HARD TO GRIP AND DEPRESS THE RELEASE BUTTON, PARTICULARLY FOR A WOMAN WITH WEAK FINGER JOINTS. SEVERAL TIMES IT HURT MY HANDS TO GRIP AND PRESS THE RELEASE. NOT TO MENTION THE GOOEY MESS IT MADE ON MY FINGERS WHEN I'D TRY TO OPEN IT. THEN ONCE THE WEATHER TURNED COLDER, IT SEEMS THE RUBBER SOLIDIFIED IN AN ABNORMAL SHAPE AND RECENTLY IT HAS BECOME IMPOSSIBLE FOR EVEN A MAN WITH STRONG HANDS TO DEPRESS AND OPEN THE HATCH. I FEAR IT WOULD BE IMPOSSIBLE FOR ANYONE TO WRESTLE THE SPARE TIRE OUT OF THE TRUNK WITHOUT BEING ABLE TO OPEN THE HATCH. SURE, YOU CAN GAIN ACCESS TO THE HATCH AREA BY FOLDING DOWN THE SEATS, BUT HOW COULD YOU OPEN THE COVER FOR THE TIRE WELL AND PULL OUT THE SPARE TIRE? AND IN AN EMERGENCY, THERE WOULD BE NO WAY TO OPEN THE TRUNK TO ASSIST SOMEONE. WE'VE OWNED FOUR PRIUS CARS, INCLUDING A 2008 MODEL, AND THIS IS THE ONLY ONE WITH THIS PROBLEM. TOYOTA REALLY SHOULD RECALL THESE MODELS AND FIX THIS ISSUE. PLEASE HELP. *TR

HEADLIGHT RANDOMLY GOES OUT. IF LIGHTS ARE TURNED OFF THEN ON, IT COMES BACK ON. LIGHT GOES OUT APPROXIMATELY EVERY 5-10 MINUTES WHILE DRIVING. I'VE READ OTHER REPORTS ON THIS ISSUE AND BELIEVE TOYOTA NEEDS TO DEVELOP A FIX FOR THIS PROBLEM. *TR

THE RUBBER TRUNK RELEASE MELTED THIS SUMMER, CREATING A STICKY MESS AND MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO OPEN THE TRUNK. HAD TO TRY NUMEROUS TIMES WITH GREAT FORCE TO OPEN THE TRUNK. NOW THAT THE TEMPERATURE HAS DROPPED, THE RUBBER BAR IS FROZEN HARD AND I CANNOT DEPRESS IT TO OPEN THE TRUNK. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE IN THE EVENT OF AN EMERGENCY. *TR

I AM REPORTING A DEFECTIVE 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS TRUNK HATCH RELEASE. THE MATERIAL APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN DEFECTIVE. IT APPEARS TO BE A GENERAL ISSUE DUE TO POOR QUALITY CONTROL AND FAULTY DESIGN BY TOYOTA. THE REPAIR COST FOR THIS CRUCIAL FUNCTION IS OBSCENELY HIGH (AROUND $500). *TR

HATCHBACK LATCH DOES NOT RESPOND TO SMART KEY AND WILL NOT OPEN TO TOUCH AS IT IS SUPPOSED TO. THIS PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY FOR ABOUT TEN MONTHS. ALSO, THE RUBBER LATCH COVERING HAS DETERIORATED INTO A SOFT, STICKY BLACK SUBSTANCE THAT STAINS MY FINGERS WHEN I TRY TO OPEN THE LATCH. THE DETERIORATION PROBLEM PRECEDED THE HATCHBACK OPERATIONAL PROBLEM BY FOUR OR FIVE MONTHS AS BEST I CAN RECALL. I WAS ABLE TO TOLERATE THE MESSY PROBLEM BUT CANNOT PUT UP WITH A HATCHBACK THAT IS INOPERABLE BECAUSE IT PREVENTS ME FROM ACCESSING THE SPARE AND SAFETY EQUIPMENT, AND MAKES IT IMPOSSIBLE TO USE THE CARGO AREA. I THINK TOYOTA SHOULD NOTIFY CUSTOMERS OF THIS DEFECT AND PROVIDE A FREE REPAIR. *TR

THE REAR HATCH RELEASE ON MY 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS HAS DETERIORATED AND HAS BECOME MORE AND MORE DIFFICULT TO OPEN THE HATCH. TONIGHT IT IS VERY COLD OUT AND THE MECHANISM STUCK AGAIN AND WOULD NOT OPEN. I TRIED UNLOCKING TO MAKE SURE IT DIDN'T RE-LOCK THE DOORS AND PULLED AGAIN ON THE LATCH AND THE WHOLE BACK PART BROKE OFF IN MY HAND. THE COMBINATION OF THE STICKING AND THE COLD MADE THE PLASTIC PIECE THAT IS ALL THAT IT IS HOLDING THE LATCH BRITTLE TO THE POINT OF SIMPLY BREAKING WHILE TRYING TO OPEN THE HATCH. *TR

I AM ONE OF THE MANY VICTIMS OF THE DEFECTIVE PRIUS 2007 HATCH OPENING SWITCH. AFTER 4 YEARS THE RUBBER COVER TURNED TO TAR FOR MY 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS. ESSENTIALLY THE RUBBER COVER MELTS INTO THE ELECTRONIC SWITCH MAKING IT INOPERABLE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRUNK DOOR FAILED TO OPEN. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE MATERIAL THAT LATCHED THE DOOR WITH THE TRUNK WAS MELTED AND THE TRUNK COULD NOT BE ACCESSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 69,000.

AT AN INTERSECTION, THE PRIUS WAS STRUCK ON THE DRIVER SIDE BY A 1999 DODGE CARAVAN. THE FRONT AIRBAGS IN THE DODGE DEPLOYED AND THE DRIVER WAS NOT INJURED. THE PRIUS' CURTAIN AND SIDE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE PRIUS DRIVER SUFFERED HEAD AND BRAIN INJURY, INJURIES TO NECK, UPPER TORSO AND EXTREMITIES. INFORMATION WAS SUPPLIED BY LEGAL REPRESENTATIVE. *TR

THE RUBBER LATCH THAT PROVIDES ACCESS TO THE TRUNK AREA OF MY 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS HAS ESSENTIALLY MELTED. WHEN I TOUCH IT MY HAND COMES AWAY WITH A BLACK GOOEY SUBSTANCE. IN THE SUMMERTIME THIS IS MORE OF AN ANNOYANCE THAN ANYTHING (I HAVE TO CARRY AROUND WET-WIPES, AND I OFTEN PUT GROCERIES ETC. IN THE PASSENGER CABIN JUST TO AVOID ACCESSING THE TRUNK), BUT IN THE WINTER IT CAN BE QUITE DANGEROUS, AS THE MELTED LATCH FREEZES, MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO OPEN THE HATCHBACK. THIS MEANS THAT I CANNOT ACCESS MY TOOLS, SPARE TIRE, SNOW EQUIPMENT, OR ANYTHING ELSE BACK THERE. THE DEGRADATION OF THE HANDLE LATCH ACTUALLY BEGAN SOME TIME AGO (IT PROBABLY BEGAN AFTER I HAD OWNED THE CAR FOR ABOUT 4 YEARS) BUT IT HAS GOTTEN WORSE OVER TIME SO I FINALLY DECIDED TO TRY TO GET IT FIXED. MY TOYOTA DEALER WANTED TO CHARGE ME OVER $300 TO REPLACE THE PART. THIS STRUCK ME AS ABSOLUTELY OUTRAGEOUS GIVEN THAT IT APPEARS TO BE A DESIGN DEFECT THAT CREATES A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD. *TR

2007 TOYOTA PRIUS REAR HATCH HANDLE FAILURE. RUBBER COVER MELTS INTO ELECTRIC SWITCH MAKING IT INOPERABLE. *TR

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE AT NIGHT, NOTICED THAT PASSENGER SIDE HEAD LAMP TURNED OFF. VEHICLE WAS STOPPED ON THE CURB AND TRIED TO TURN THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH ON OFF AGAIN, BUT COULD NOT TURN ON ONE HEAD LIGHT. I WAS AFRAID TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE WITH ONE LAMP, SINCE LOCAL TOWNSHIP POLICE CAN GIVE ME A VIOLATION TICKET. THE HIGH BEAM WORKS BUT NOT THE LOW BEAM. TOYOTA NEEDS TO FIX THIS ISSUE VIA PRODUCT RECALL. *TR

LEFT HEADLIGHT COMES ON FOR A FEW MINUTES THEN GOES TO. I HAVE REPLACED THE BULB AND BALLAST AND LIGHT STILL NOT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY. I BOUGHT EXTENDED WARRANTY WITH CAR BUT W/ 100 DOLLAR DEDUCTIBLE BUT THEY SAY HEADLIGHT ISN'T COVERED.[XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

HEADLAMPS WILL GO OUT WHILE DRIVING. THEY WILL WORK AND THEN SUDDENLY THEY ARE OFF. YOU CAN USUALLY TURN THE LIGHTS OFF AND BACK ON AND THEY WILL WORK AGAIN. HAS DONE THIS OVER THE TIME WE HAVE OWNED THE CAR. *TR

LEFT FRONT HEADLIGHT. IT GOES OUT AFTER 5 MINUTES OF DRIVING. I REPLACED THE BULB AND IT STILL GOES OUT. THE COST OF BULBS ARE VERY EXPENSIVE AND TOYOTA SHOULD BE MADE TO REPLACE THIS ITEM AND HAVE ALL 2007 PRIUS RECALLED. ONE ACCIDENT COULD CAUSE A MAJOR CATASTROPHE ON THE ROADS BECAUSE LIGHTS TURNING OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF A DRIVE IS UNNERVING AND DANGEROUS. *TR

I LOVE MY PRIUS BUT MY HEADLIGHT SITUATION IS TERRIBLE. I DRIVE 56 MILE ONE WAY TO WORK. I LEAVE AT 5:00 SO I DO A GOOD BIT OF NIGHT DRIVING. MY HEADLIGHTS GO OUT AVERAGING 10 TIMES PER TRIP. ALL I HAVE TO DO IS TURN THEM OFF AND THEN BACK ON. BUT WHEN YOU ARE GOING 70MPH IT MAKES YOU NERVOUS. WORSE IS ON COUNTRY ROADS WITH NO STREETLIGHTS, WHEN THEY BOTH GO OFF SIMULTANEOUSLY IT SCARES THE DODO OUT OF ME AND THE WIFE. USUALLY ONE GOES OUT AT A TIME BUT OCCASIONALLY BOTH AT ONCE. TOYOTA REPLACED BOTH BULBS TWICE AND THE COMPUTER BOARD THAT CONTROLS EACH LIGHT INDEPENDENTLY ONCE, WHILE IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY. BUT THE OLDER THE CAR GETS THE MORE THIS HAPPENS. *TR

WHILE DRIVING TO WORK ONE HEADLIGHT WENT OUT AND STAYED OUT UNTIL I STOPPED THE CAR TURNED OFF THE LIGHTS AND THEN TURNED THEM BACK ON. THIS WENT ON FOR A WEEK AND WE TOOK THE CAR INTO TOYOTA DEALERSHIP WHERE THE REPLACED THE BULBS AT NO CHARGE CAUSE WE WERE UNDER WARRANTY. HOWEVER, THIS PROBLEM HAS CONTINUED TO HAPPEN OVER THE LAST 80000 MILES. NOW WE ARE SEEING BOTH HEADLIGHTS GO OUT AT THE SAME TIME AND OR ONE OR THE OTHER. WE ARE TIRED OF PURCHASING NEW HEADLIGHTS OVER AND OVER AGAIN. . *TR

TOYOTA PRIUS DASHBOARD FAILED IN IDLE AND WHILE DRIVING POSING A DEATH RISK DUE TO MILEAGE PER HOUR NOT DISPLAYING AND THE INABILITY TO SHUT OFF YOUR CAR WHEN STOPPED THIS IS A SERIOUS MATTER AND TOYOTA NEEDS TO RECALL THE WHOLE TOYOTA PRIUS AND GIVE EVERYONE THERE MONEY BACK FOR OVER PAYING FOR THIS CAR IN 2007. *TR

THE HATCHBACK HANDLE/RELEASE IS SOFT AND GOOEY, AND AT TIMES THE RELEASE TO OPEN THE HATCHBACK WILL NOT WORK. GOOEY BLACK SUBSTANCE GETS ALL OVER HANDS AND FINGERS WHEN YOU TRY TO "POP" THE HATCHBACK. UNABLE TO GET THE TRUNK TO OPEN ON A COUPLE OF OCCASIONS. THERE IS NO INTERNAL RELEASE SWITCH INSIDE THE CAR. SINCE THE SPARE TIRE IS IN THE TRUNK, THERE COULD POTENTIALLY BE NO ACCESS TO THE TIRE. THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON COMPLAINT ON THIS SITE, INCLUDING NHTSA ID NUMBERS: 10541882, 10541772, AND 1053526. *TR

AFTER THE CAR HAS BEEN PARKED FOR AWHILE, THE DASHBOARD WAS COMPLETELY BLACK. THE CAR POWERED ON, BUT THERE WAS NO SPEEDOMETER, NO FUEL DISPLAY, AND NO ODOMETER. THE CAR WILL DRIVE AND GAS ENGINE AND HYBRID SYSTEM WORKS AS USUAL, BUT THERE ARE NO POWER STEERING, THE TURN SIGNALS DO NOT WORK, AND THE WIPER DOES NOT WORK. AFTER DRIVING FOR 5 TO 15 MINUTES, THE DASH WOULD LIGHT UP AND CAR DRIVES LIKE NORMAL AGAIN AND THE PROBLEMS MENTIONED GO AWAY. BASED ON INTERNET RESEARCH, THIS SEEMS TO A COMMON PROBLEM. THERE ARE ALMOST IDENTICAL COMPLAINTS ON THIS SITE INCLUDING NHTSA ID NUMBER 10544698. SIGNIFICANT SAFETY CONCERNS EXIST DUE TO THE TEMPORARY LOST OF POWER STEERING, NO TURN SIGNALS, AND NO WIPER DURING A RAIN. *TR

MY 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS HAS A REAR HATCH RELEASE THAT HAS STOPPED WORKING AS IT HAS GOTTEN VERY SOFT AFTER ABOUT THREE YEARS. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM AS I SEARCH THE MANY FORUMS AND REPLACEMENT IS NOT INEXPENSIVE. THIS IS VERY AGGRAVATING AND I FEEL TOYOTA SHOULD REPLACE THIS DEFECTIVE DEVICE. I HAVE SERIOUS BACK ISSUES AND GETTING THIS HATCH OPEN IS MORE THAN A CHALLENGE FOR ME, IT IS AT TIMES IMPOSSIBLE. *TR

DURING COLD WEATHER I LOSE ALL ODOMETER SPEEDOMETER BACKUP LIGHT GAS GAUGE . BACK UP LIGHTS HAVE CAUSED A LOT OF CLOSE CALL WHEN I'M BACKING UP ONE TIME I GOT CLOSE TO HITTING A PEDESTRIAN BECAUSE THEY DID NOT KNOW I WAS BAKING UP I HAVE RAN OUT OF FUEL ON THE FREEWAY AND I NEVER KNOW HOW FAST I'M GOING. THIS PROBLEM IS WELL DOCUMENTED AND TOYOTA KNOWS A BOUT THE PROBLEM BUT WILL NOT ISSUE A RECALL. *TR