2007 Toyota Prius complaints

NO ONE INJURED. MINOR PROBLEM, BUT TOYOTA REFUSES SUGGESTIONS "FOR LEGAL REASONS", SO I HAVE TO REPORT IT TO YOU, AND HOPE THAT YOU WILL RELAY TO TOYOTA. GOOD CAR, GOOD DASH LIGHTING SYSTEM, NICE RHEOSTAT TO DIM THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS AT NIGHT, TO ASSIST IN NIGHT ROAD VISIBILITY. THE PROBLEM IS THAT AS YOU DIM THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS, THE LIGHTED SYMBOL FOR THE EMERGENCY FLASHER LIGHT SWITCH GOES COMPLETELY DARK BEFORE THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS DO. SO, ON A DARK NIGHT, YOU DIM THE LIGHTS TO MAKE THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS JUST BRIGHT ENOUGH TO READ, WITHOUT EXCESS REFLECTION OR DISTRACTION, AND THE EMERGENCY FLASHER SWITCH BECOMES INVISIBLE BECAUSE ITS LIGHT WENT COMPLETELY OUT BEFORE THE OTHER INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS DID. THIS INCREASES DISTRACTION AND REDUCES REACTION TIME WHEN YOU NEED TO FIND AND TURN ON THE EMERGENCY FLASHER LIGHT SWITCH. I DOUBT THIS PROBLEM IS LIMITED TO JUST MY CAR. THE SIMPLE SOLUTION (EVERYTHING SEEMS SIMPLE TO THE GUY NOT DOING THE WORK) WOULD BE TO DESIGN AND WIRE THE DASH PANEL LIGHTS SO THAT THE EMERGENCY FLASHER SWITCH LIGHT STAYS A LITTLE BRIGHTER THAN ALL THE OTHER LIGHTS, AS THEY ALL DIM. THAT WAY, THE SWITCH YOU MIGHT MOST NEED IN A HURRY WILL BE VISIBLE, EVEN IF YOU HAVE DIMMED YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS. QUICKER TURN-ON OF THE EMERGENCY FLASHER ALERTS FOLLOWING DRIVERS SOONER, INCREASING THEIR SAFETY, AND MINE. THANKS FOR WORKING TO KEEP US ALL SAFER ON THE ROAD, AND TO IMPROVE THE VEHICLES WE DRIVE. *TR

CARLOS COLLADO, ET. AL. ON BEHALF OF THEMSELVES AND ALL OTHERS SIMILARLY SITUATED VS. TOYOTA MOTOR SALES, U.S.A.. INC..A CALIFORNIA CORPORATION: CASE# CV10-3113-R & #CV-10-3124-R. *TGW THE CONSUMER OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CASE INVOLVED 2006-2009 TOYOTA PRIUS VEHICLE OWNERS LOSING ONE OR BOTH HEADLAMPS WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT. *JB

MY 2007 PRIUS HAS HAD THE PROBLEM OF HAVING IT'S HID LIGHTS TURN OFF AT RANDOM SINCE APPROXIMATELY 55,000 MILES. EITHER THE PASSENGER OR DRIVERS SIDE CAN TURN OFF AT WILL. AT LEAST ONE LIGHT WILL STAY ON AT ALL TIMES. AS WELL, THERE ARE DIMMING ISSUES WHEN THEY DO STAY ON. I HAVE REPLACED THE BULBS, BUT NOTHING HAS CHANGED. THE PROBLEM CONTINUED UNABATED. SINCE I AM OUTSIDE 50,000 MILES, TOYOTA STATES THEY CAN DO NOTHING. THERE WAS A SETTLEMENT IN THIS REGARD. JUST DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, ONE CAN OTHER SECOND GENERATION PRIUS OWNERS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. VISITS TO PRIUSCHAT FORUMS REVEAL THOUSANDS HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. MOST OWNERS ARE OUT OF THE WARRANTY PERIOD WHEN THIS PROBLEM SURFACES. DEALERSHIPS QUOTE VERY HIGH AMOUNTS TO FIX A PROBLEM THAT IS CLEARLY PART OF TOYOTA'S FAULTY DESIGN. BULBS GO OUT ALL THE TIME ON ALL VEHICLES, BUT AN OWNER SHOULD NOT BE EXPECTED TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE LIGHTING SYSTEM AFTER 50,000 MILES. THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW THAT SHOULD WARRANT A RECALL. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACTED STATED THAT ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS, THE LIGHTS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER BUT THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 67,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 69,500.

RIGHT SIDE HEADLIGHT TURNS OFF WHEN LIGHTS ARE ON. WILL TURN BACK ON WHEN LIGHTS ARE TURN OFF AND BACK ON. REPLACED LIGHT WITH NEW BULB BUT DID NOT SOLVE PROBLEM. *TR

I STARTED TO NOTICE THE BACK HATCH HANDLE GETTING STICKY NEAR THE 3 YEAR MARK, WHICH WAS ABOUT A YEAR AGO. IT HAS BECOME PROGRESSIVELY WORSE WHERE THE BLACK STICKY TAR WILL GET HOT & MARK MY HANDS SO I DECIDED TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP. THEY SAID THAT IT WOULD COST AROUND $330 TO FIX. AFTER SEARCHING AROUND IT SEEMS THAT THIS IS A VERY RECURRENT PROBLEM THAT IF MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO OPEN THE HATCH BACK, WHICH MIGHT RESULT IN INJURY OR EVEN DEATH. I HOPE THAT TOYOTA RECALLS THIS KNOWN ISSUE OF THEIRS SOON. *TR

FRONT LEFT HID HEADLIGHT FAILED COMPLETELY, RESULTING IN UNSAFE DRIVING SITUATION. PLEASE URGE TOYOTA TO RECALL THE HEADLIGHTS ON THIS VEHICLE. THANK YOU. *TR

THE BACK DOOR OPENER (HATCH BACK) COMPLETELY MELTED STARTING IN JULY. THE BACK TARRY SUBSTANCE GETS ON MY HANDS WHEN I'M TRYING TO OPEN THE DOOR.. IN ADDITION, I CANNOT CONSISTENTLY OPEN THE BACK HATCH - ANOTHER DOOR NEEDS TO BE OPEN FOR THE BACK HATCH TO OPEN.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE UPPER COATING OF THE REAR HATCH MELTED AND THE HATCH WAS UNABLE TO BE OPENED. IN ADDITION, THE ELECTRICAL SWITCH FOR THE DOOR HATCH MALFUNCTIONED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT DID NOT HAVE THE ELECTRIC SWITCH REPLACED. THE CONTACT STATED VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE BECAUSE THE REAR HATCH COULD NOT OPEN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 87,000. UPDATED 11/16/11*LJ UPDATED 11/30/11

2007 PRIUS TOURING WAS STEERING AT LOW SPEED TO PARK WHEN THE STEERING COLUMN SHAFT CONNECTION TO THE GEARBOX STEERING RACK FAILED AND THE CAR STEERING WHEEL TURNED FREELY BUT NO LONGER CONTROLLED THE FRONT WHEELS. CAR COULD NOT BE STEERED. ELECTRICAL WARNING LIGHTS INDICATING STEERING SLIDE THEN VEHICLE POWERED DOWN AND COULD NOT BE MOVED. HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO TOYOTA DEALERSHIP. TECH INFORMED ME THE STEERING RACK WAS DAMAGED ALONG WITH THE AIR BAG CABLE COIL ASSEMBLY. UPON DISSASSEMBLY TECH FOUND THAT THE STEERING SHAFT CONNECTING THE COLUMN TO THE STEERING RACK GEAR BOX HAD STRIPPED AND ALSO NEEDED REPLACEMENT. TOTAL COST OF REPAIRS. $2302.65. OUT OF WARRANTY. 59,980 MILES. *TT *KB

HEADLIGHTS RANDOMLY GOES OUT WHILE DRIVING. WHEN HEADLIGHTS OUT, INTERIOR LIGHTS (LIGHTING OF DASHBOARD, ETC.) CONTINUE. IF YOU TURN LIGHTS OFF, THEN ON AGAIN, HEADLIGHTS WORK. DOES NOT HAPPEN EVERY TIME. *KB

I HAVE BROUGHT THIS VEHICLE TO THE TOYOTA DEALER FOUR TIMES IN THIS PAST YEAR FOR INTERMITTENTLY WORKING HEADLIGHTS. ONE OR THE OTHER FRONT HEADLIGHT TURN OFF WITHOUT WARNING. WHEN THE HEADLIGHTS ARE (BOTH) TURNED OFF THEN ON, THEY USUALLY, BUT NOT ALWAYS, BOTH COME BACK ON. THE DEALER IS CLUELESS EVEN WHEN PROBLEM IS DEMONSTRATED TO THE HEAD OF THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT. BASED ON A REVIEW OF INTERNET CHAT GROUPS, THIS SEEMS TO BE A WELL KNOWN AND DOCUMENTED PROBLEM, INCLUDING A CLASS ACTION LAW SUIT FILED EARLIER THIS YEAR (COLLADO ET AL V. TOYOTA MOTOR SALES). *KB

THE REAR DOOR LATCH RUBBER COVER HAS TURNED TO A GOO, AND MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO OPEN THE REAR HATCH DOOR. *KB

HATCHDOOR HANDLE RELEASE PLATE MELTING. JUST LIKE THE MULTIPLE REPORTS OF THIS SAME PROBLEM ALREADY REPORTED AT THIS WEBSITE. MAJORITY OF MY CAR MILES WERE ACCUMULATED IN MICHIGAN; MELTING OCCURRED JUST RECENTLY IN TEXAS. WHEN CALLING THE DEALERSHIP PARTS DEPT THEY IMMEDIATELY GUESSED THE PROBLEM. MELTING. DUE TO PREVIOUS CUSTOMER COMPLAINTS. ESTIMATED PART ($97) AND INSTALLATION ($100). GUESS I SHOULD BE THANKFUL MY TIRES AND OTHER CAR PARTS AREN'T MELTING! *KB

THE HATCHBACK HANDLE ON MY 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS HAS MELTED OVER TIME. THIS CAUSES THE LATCHING MECHANISM TO FAIL, WHICH IS A POTENTIAL SAFETY HAZARD IN THAT IT LEAVES THIS DOOR VIRTUALLY INACCESSIBLE DURING AN EMERGENCY. EACH TIME I TRY TO OPEN THE REAR DOOR, MELTED RUBBER STICKS TO MY HAND. THIS CAR HAS PERFORMED SATISFACTORILY OTHERWISE, BUT THE HANDLE FAILURE CONSTITUTES A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. *TR

HID HEADLIGHTS GO OFF AT RANDOM TIMES. THE PASSENGERS SIDE WAS FIRST TO START ,NOW THE DRIVER SIDE AS WELL AS BOTH GO OFF. THE PROBLEM IS OCCURRING MORE FREQUENTLY. WHEN YOU SWITCH THE HEADLIGHTS FROM OFF TO ON THEY TURN ON. THE VEHICLE HAS 100K MILES. NO WARRANTY,DEALERS REPAIR COST IS APPROXIMATELY $550.00. I AM SHOCKED WHEN I GOOGLE MY PROBLEM TO SEE HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE AFFECTED AND MORE SO THE CLASS ACTION LAW SUITS THAT ARE THERE. THIS IS FAR MORE THAN A BURNT LIGHT BULB,IT HAS TO BE LOOKED INTO. I AM A LOYAL TOYOTA CUSTOMER OF 31 YEARS. PLEASE HELP! I'M WORRIED ABOUT THE SAFETY FOR MY WIFE DRIVING AT NIGHT. *TR

THE RUBBER COVER ON THE REAR EXTERIOR HATCH LATCH MELTED AND IS LIKE TAR. BIG STICKY MESS EVERY TIME I USE THE HATCH WHICH IS OFTEN.THE LATCH NOW ALSO STICKS SOMETIMES. DEALER WANTS $260 TO FIX IT. WHY ISN'T TOYOTA COVERING THIS OBVIOUS DEFECT? *TR

IT WAS LAST FRIDAY EVENING,SEP 16,2011,WHEN MY CAR HAD AROUND 51270 MILES,I DISCOVERED THAT THE HID BULBS IN PRIUS IS GOING OFF WHILE DRIVING,SOMETIMES FIRST ON THE PASSENGER SIDE AND SOME TIMES ON DRIVER, AND AFTER SOMETIME IT COULD GO OFF ON BOTH SIDES.I AM LESS THAN 5 YEARS IN MY CAR.AFTER DOING RESEARCH IN THE INTERNET,I CAME TO KNOW ABOUT TOYOTA HID BULB HEAD LIGHT PROBLEMS,EXPERIENCED BY OTHER PRIUS OWNERS, AND THE CLASS ACTION LAW SUIT REGARDING THIS,AND THE FACT THAT THE TOYOTA HAS EXTENDED THE WARRANTY TILL 5 YR/50K MILES. I MOSTLY USE THE CAR DURING THE DAY TIME TO WORK(8 MILES ONE WAY),AND SINCE ALL MY FRIENDS/AMENITIES/SHOPPING ARE WITH IN 5 MILE RADIUS,I DONT GET MUCH CHANCE TO DRIVE FOR A LONGER TIME DURING THE NIGHT.ALL MY NIGHT DRIVES ARE RARE AND IS MOSTLY LESS THAN 10-15 MINS.I ALSO HAVE FOG LIGHTS IN MY CAR WHICH GIVES SOME DECENT LIGHT,AND WHEN THERE ARE OTHER CARS IN THE ROAD,OR WHEN THE ROAD IS WELL LIT,IT IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO DIAGNOSE THIS PROBLEM,WHEN THE FIRST HEADLIGHT GOES OFF.EVEN WHEN THE SECOND HEADLIGHT GOES OFF,UNDER GOOD ROAD CONDITIONS,IT IS VERY DIFFICULT. IT APPEARS AS SOME LIGHT DIMMING GOING ON FROM INSIDE THE CAR,WHEN ONLY ONE HEAD LIGHT GOES OFF.FURTHER I DID MY 50K MILES SERVICE LESS THAN A MONTH AGO. I CALLED TOYOTA,OPENED A CASE(NUMBER:1109191158)AND TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER.THE DEALER DIAGNOSED IT AND CONFIRMED THAT IT WAS DUE TO HID BULBS,COVERED BY THE CLASS ACTION SETTLEMENT.HE ALSO UPDATED MY CASE WITH TOYOTA.THE TOYOTA AGR

I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM AS MOST WITH THE PRIUS HID HEADLIGHTS. WHILE DRIVING IN DARK OR LOW LIGHT TIMES THE HEADLIGHTS WILL FAIL NEARLY CAUSING ACCIDENTS. USUALLY IT IS ONE HEADLIGHT, BUT THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL TIMES IN WHICH BOTH HEADLIGHTS HAVE FAILED (SERIOUS ISSUE). BY TURNING THE HEADLIGHTS OFF AND BACK ON TEMPORARY FIXES THE PROBLEM, YET THE PROBLEM KEEPS OCCURRING DAILY. IN JAN. 2010 TOYOTA SETTLED A CLASS ACTION LAW SUIT WHICH ONLY HELPED THOSE PERSONNEL WHOSE MILEAGE WAS FEWER THAN 50,000. WHAT ABOUT THE REST OF THE OWNERS OUT THERE THAT ARE STILL LEFT WITH THIS ENORMOUS SAFETY ISSUE. A SAFETY RECALL NEEDS TO BE DONE TO PROTECT ALL OWNERS SAFETY, NOT JUST THOSE WHOSE VEHICLE MILEAGE IS UNDER 50,000. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE HEADLIGHTS WOULD TURN OFF SPORADICALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS WERE DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 93,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 107,000.

AFTER ONLY ABOUT 3 YEARS USE, THE RUBBER COVER ON THE HATCH RELEASE HANDLE (THE EXTERIOR HANDLE OF THE REAR HATCH) OF OUR 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS, MELTED INTO A STICKY TARRY BLACK RUBBERY GOOEY MESS. I CAN BEST DESCRIBE IT AS BEING A VISCOUS BLACK GLOB LIKE ROOFING TAR. TO OPEN THE HATCH, YOU HAVE TO TOUCH THIS BLACK GOO EACH TIME, WHICH MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO OPERATE THE HATCH RELEASE. WE BELIEVE THIS MELTING PROCESS STARTED AT ABOUT THE 2 YR. MARK. I THOUGHT THAT THIS MIGHT BE A SINGULAR ISSUE, BUT HAVE FOUND THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED TO SEVERAL CAR OWNERS, PARTICULARLY IN CALIFORNIA. TOYOTA KNOWS ABOUT THIS, AND IS SELLING THE ENTIRE WIRING HARNESS FOR $200 PLUS REPAIR COSTS, AND HAS DONE NOTHING ABOUT RECALLING THIS. FROM A SAFETY PERSPECTIVE, THIS MEANS YOU CAN EXPERIENCE EXTREME DIFFICULTY OPENING THE REAR HATCH (A LIFE SAFETY ACCESS POINT), AND WILL GET STICKY BLACK TAR ON YOU FROM THE MELTED DOWN RUBBER COVER OF THE EXTERIOR HATCH RELEASE HANDLE. TO ME, THIS IS BOTH A SERIOUS LIFE SAFETY ISSUE AND A SERIOUS QUALITY DEFECT THAT TOYOTA IS OPTING TO IGNORE AND ONLY FIXING ON VEHICLES WITH EXTENDED WARRANTIES, SINCE THE FAILURE APPEARS TO OCCUR AT AROUND THE 3 YEAR MARK (IE AFTER 3 YEARS OF EXPOSURE TO THE BRIGHT SUN IN CALIFORNIA FOR EXAMPLE). *TR

HEADLIGHTS GO OFF FOR NO REASON WHILE DRIVING. THIS HAPPENS SEVERAL TIMES A WEEK. *TR

BOTH HID HEADLIGHTS FAILED ON A WINDING COUNTRY ROAD. I QUICKLY TURNED THE HEADLIGHTS OFF, THEN ON THEN WAS ABLE TO SWERVE THE CAR TO PREVENT GOING OFF THE ROAD. I HAD INTERMITTENT PROBLEMS WITH ONE LIGHT FAILING. THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME BOTH LIGHTS FAILED AT THE SAME TIME. I SPENT OVER $400 TO REPLACE THE LIGHTS. THERE IS A CLASS ACTION CASE AGAINST TOYOTA THAT COVERS PRIUS WITH UNDER 50K MILES. SINCE I HAD OVER 70K MILES ON MY PRIUS, I WAS HESITANT TO MAKE THE REPAIR, BECAUSE OF THE COST UNTIL BOTH LIGHTS FAILED. THIS IS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM THAT GETS WORSE AS TIME GOES BY AND SHOULD BE RECALLED BEFORE SOMEONE IS KILLED. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE HEADLIGHTS WOULD INTERMITTENTLY FAIL OR ACTIVATE INDEPENDENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THEY REPLACED THE BULBS YET THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO EXPERIENCE THE HEADLIGHT FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT FURTHER REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 10,000. UPDATED 09/28/11*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED ONE OF THE HEADLIGHTS WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. AFTER THE WARRANTY EXPIRED, THE OTHER HEADLIGHT STARTED TO FAIL. UPDATED 10/07/11

DRIVING PASSENGER VEHICLE AT APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH ON A TOLLROAD. NORMAL CLEAR DAYLIGHT CONDITIONS AT ABOUT 80 DEGREES. THERE WAS A LOAD NOISE, THEN SMOKE AND LOSS OF VEHICLE STABILITY. PASSENGER SIDE REAR TIRE HAD A BLOWOUT. APPROXIMATELY ONE HALF OF THE TIRE IN THE SIDE WALL AREA WAS TORN APART. TIRE WAS REPLACED. *TR

2007 PRIUS HEADLIGHT FAILURE - PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT GOES OUT FREQUENTLY. BY TURNING LIGHTS OFF AND BACK ON IT STAYS ON FOR A WHILE. I CAN'T REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM WHEN I WANT TO. LOOKING AT CONSUMER COMPLAINTS IT SEEMS TO BE A WIDE SPREAD PROBLEM AND VERY EXPENSIVE TO REPLACE BULB WHICH DOESN'T HELP THE PROBLEM. MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE AT LEAST THAT TOYOTA IS JUST BRUSHING ASIDE. I AM NOT A SATISFIED TOYOTA CUSTOMER BY ALL MEANS. *TT

EVERYTHING ABOUT MY 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS IS GREAT EXCEPT FOR THE LATCH FOR THE BACK HATCH. THERE IS A RUBBER COVER FOR THE LATCH THAT YOU HAVE TO PUSH TO OPEN THE REAR HATCH. THIS RUBBER HAS MELTED. IT MAKES IF DIFFICULT TO OPEN THE REAR HATCH IN ANY KIND OF AN EMERGENCY. RIGHT NOW, IF YOU TOUCH THE LATCH YOU GET A THICK COATING OF MELTED RUBBER ON YOUR HAND. SOMETIMES THE LATCH FAILS TO OPEN AT ALL. YOU STILL GET THE BLACK MELTED RUBBER ON YOUR HAND. THIS SHOULD NOT HAPPEN TO A 4 YEAR OLD VEHICLE. I LIVE IN A HOT PART OF THE COUNTRY - THE MISSISSIPPI GULF COAST - AND RUBBER COVERS FOR HATCH LATCHES SHOULD BE ABLE TO WITHSTAND SUMMER HEAT DOWN HERE. *TR

2007 PRIUS HATCH HANDLE MELT DOWN. *TR

THE LATCH HANDLE ON MY 2007 PRIUS HAS BEGUN TO MELT AND IS WORSENING OVER TIME. I HAVE TO OPEN THE REAR HATCH WITH A TOWEL. IT IS DIFFICULT TO OPEN AND IF I USE MY HANDS THEY BECOME ALL BLACKENED AND MY FINGERS STICK IMPEDING THE OPENING ESP IN AN EMERGENCY. BOTH PROBLEMS INTERFERE WITH A QUICK RELEASE. *TR

AFTER ONLY ABOUT 3 YEARS USE, THE RUBBER COVER ON THE HATCH RELEASE HANDLE (THE EXTERIOR HANDLE OF THE REAR HATCH) OF OUR 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS, MELTED INTO A STICKY TARRY BLACK RUBBERY GOOEY MESS. I CAN BEST DESCRIBE IT AS BEING A VISCOUS BLACK GLOB LIKE ROOFING TAR. TO OPEN THE HATCH, YOU HAVE TO TOUCH THIS BLACK GOO EACH TIME, WHICH MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO OPERATE THE HATCH RELEASE. I THOUGHT THAT THIS MIGHT BE A SINGULAR ISSUE, BUT HAVE FOUND THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED TO SEVERAL CAR OWNERS, TOYOTA KNOWS ABOUT THIS, AND IS SELLING THE ENTIRE WIRING HARNESS FOR $96 PLUS REPAIR COSTS, AND HAS DONE NOTHING ABOUT RECALLING THIS. FROM A SAFETY PERSPECTIVE, THIS MEANS YOU CAN EXPERIENCE EXTREME DIFFICULTY OPENING THE REAR HATCH (A LIFE SAFETY ACCESS POINT), AND WILL GET STICKY BLACK TAR ON YOU FROM THE MELTED DOWN RUBBER COVER OF THE EXTERIOR HATCH RELEASE HANDLE. TO ME, THIS IS BOTH A SERIOUS LIFE SAFETY ISSUE AND A SERIOUS QUALITY DEFECT THAT TOYOTA IS OPTING TO IGNORE AND ONLY FIXING ON VEHICLES WITH EXTENDED WARRANTIES, SINCE THE FAILURE APPEARS TO OCCUR AT AROUND THE 3 YEAR MARK (IE AFTER 3 YEARS OF EXPOSURE TO THE BRIGHT SUN ). I AM AWARE OF THE OUTSTANDING WORK DONE BY NHTSA ON OTHER SAFETY ISSUES, INCLUDING THE PROBLEM WITH RUSTY FRAMES ON 02 ISUZU AXIOMS, AND I FIND THIS PROBLEM TO BE SIMILAR IN NATURE, SO I AM ASKING FOR YOUR AGENCY TO TAKE A LOOK AT THESE INSTANCES AND ALSO TO INQUIRE FROM TOYOTA WHY THEY ARE NOT RECALLING THESE HANDLES THAT ARE MELTING IN THE SUN!!! IT'S OUTR

2007 PRIUS REAR HATCH SWITCH COVERED BY A RUBBER STRIP. RUBBER STRIP HAS MELTED AND IS NOW MORE LIKE TAR THAN RUBBER. *TR

AT ONLY 4 YEARS OF USE AND UNDER 34,000 MILES, THE RUBBER COVER ON THE HATCH RELEASE HANDLE OF MY 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS HAS MELTED INTO A STICKY, BLACK TAR SUBSTANCE. IN ORDER TO OPERATE THE HATCH, YOU HAVE TO PUSH A BUTTON WHICH IS LOCATED UNDER THE BLACK TAR SUBSTANCE, WHICH MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO OPERATE THE HATCH RELEASE. AS I HAVE LOOKED INTO THIS ISSUE, IT SEEMS THAT THERE ARE SEVERAL OTHER TOYOTA PRIUS OWNERS, NATIONWIDE, WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS SAME SPECIFIC ISSUE. TOYOTA KNOWS TOLD ME THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE RUBBER SWITCH MELTING AS WELL, AND IS SELLING THE ENTIRE WIRING HARNESS FOR $153.23 PLUS REPAIR COSTS, AND HAD NO RECALLS CONCERNING THE RUBBER SWITCH. FROM A SAFETY PERSPECTIVE, THIS IS BOTH A SERIOUS LIFE SAFETY ISSUE AND A SERIOUS QUALITY DEFECT THAT TOYOTA IS OPTING TO IGNORE AND ONLY FIXING ON VEHICLES WITH EXTENDED WARRANTIES. I AM ASKING FOR YOUR AGENCY TO TAKE A LOOK AT THESE INSTANCES AND ALSO TO INQUIRE FROM TOYOTA WHY THEY ARE NOT RECALLING THESE HANDLES THAT ARE MELTING IN THE SUN, LET ALONE ANY EXTREME WEATHER CONDITIONS! IT'S OUTRAGEOUS TO THINK A DOOR HANDLE OR HATCH HANDLE WAS MADE TO ONLY ENDURE 3-4 YEARS OF TYPICAL WEATHER CONDITIONS. *TR

MY 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS HEADLIGHTS KEEP GOING OUT. SOME LIGHT MANUFACTURERS TELL ME THAT THIS CAR IS THE PROBLEM, NOT THE BULBS. I HAD THE FIRST SET OF BULBS REPLACED WITH SOME OTHER WORK AT ABOUT 20K MILES. THE NEXT SET WAS REPLACED AT ABOUT 60K MILES 2 YRS LATER. NOW THEY ARE OUT AGAIN AT 76K AND 14 MONTHS LATER. TOYOTA ISSUED A RECALL FOR A REFUND, BUT THE FIRST ONE WAS COVERED UNDER INSURANCE, THESE NEXT TWO AREN'T, YET IT APPEARS THAT I'M GOING TO HAVE TO REPLACE THESE BULBS EVERY 1 - 2 YEARS, WHICH IS ABSURD. THEY JUST GO OUT, NO FLICKERING OR DIMMING, BUT JUST GO OUT WITH NO NOTICE. TOYOTA SHOULD HAVE TO RECALL THIS ISSUE, MAKE THESE CARS SAFE, AND MAKE IT SO THE BULBS DON'T HAVE TO BE REPLACED EVERY YEAR OR TWO. *TR

2007 TOYOTA PRIUS REAR HATCH HANDLE MELTED. NOTICED ABOUT A 3 MONTHS AGO JUST THOUGH THAT IT WAS REALLY HOT OUT. THEN THOUGH THIS HANDLE SHOULD NOT MELT TO HIGH HEAT THERE HAS TO BE A PROBLEM. WENT TO DEALER TO HAVE OIL CHANGE AND INSPECTION, HAD SERVICE MGR. OPEN HATCH AND HE STATED THERE IS A PROBLEM. HE STATED THAT BECAUSE CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY HE CAN NOT DO ANYTHING AND THAT IT WILL COST 58.84 FOR HANDLE AND 97.00 FOR LABOR. HE GAVE ME TOYOTA CARE NUMBER TO CALL, I CALLED TODAY AND THEY STATE THE SAME THING OUT OF WARRANTY...........I KNEW THAT WAS COMING..... THIS HANDLE SHOULD NOT MELT, THERE HAS TO BE A PROBLEM WITH THE WIRING OVER HEATING. THE BUTTONS ON THE DOORS TO LOCK THE CAR ARE MADE OUT OF THE SAME MATERIAL. TOYOTA WILL NOT DO ANYTHING UNTIL SOMEONE HAS A FIRE AND SOMEONE DIES. *TR

2007 TOYOTA PRIUS REAR HATCH HANDLE HAS MELTED LIKE HOT TAR. HARD TO OPEN HATCH AND TOYOTA WANTS CLOSE TO $250.00 TO REPAIR. I REALIZE THERE IS WEAR AND TEAR ON VEHICLES BUT THIS IS NOT ONE OD THEM. THIS IS DEFINITELY A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. I LIKE MY PRIUS BUT THIS HAS BEEN THE ONLY TOYOTA I HAVE BOUGHT AND DID SO FOR THE GREAT REPUTATION BUT THIS CAR HAS BEEN RECALLED SEVERAL TIMES, WHICH I'M HAPPY THEY DID, BUT IT'S THE FIRST CAR I'VE OWNED THAT'S BEEN RECALLED. *TT

THE RUBBER TAILGATE RELEASE HANDLE ABOVE THE LICENSE PLATE HAS STARTED TO MELT AND HAS BECOME A STICKY, GOOEY MESS. THIS BLACK GOO COMES OFF ON YOUR HANDS WHENEVER YOU OPEN THE TAILGATE. I FEAR THIS SUBSTANCE COULD BE HAZARDOUS TO A PERSONS HEALTH, SUCH AS CAUSING CANCER. I ALSO FEAR THAT BECAUSE OF ITS CONDITION THE HANDLE MAY BECOME INOPERABLE IN A LIFE-THREATENING SITUATION. I BELIEVE THIS IS A SERIOUS PART DEFECT THAT TOYOTA SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR FIXING REGARDLESS OF WHETHER THE CAR IS UNDER WARRANTY OR NOT. THANK YOU.

TOYOTA PRIUS HEADLIGHTS INTERMITTENTLY WORKING. *TT

AFTER 20K MILES THE HEADLIGHTS NEED TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF OVER $600.00. HEADLIGHTS INTERMITTENTLY GO OUT AND COME BACK ON. SOMETIMES PASSENGER SIDE ONLY, SOMETIMES BOTH LIGHTS DIM THEN COME BACK UP. TURNING THE HEADLIGHTS ON AND OFF SEEMS TO CORRECT THE ISSUE. *KB

MY 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS WILL NOT STAY IN GEAR OFF AN ON. IT WILL GO INTO REVERSE OR DRIVE FOR A FEW SECONDS THEN POP INTO NEUTRAL. THIS HAS HAPPENED 9 TIMES IN THE LAST 2 WEEKS AND ALWAYS ON A HOT DAY AFTER BEING PARKED AT WORK. I HAVE TO DRIVE HOME WHILE HOLDING THE SHIFT LEVER IN GEAR. SOMETIMES IF THIS HAPPENS AND I TURN OFF THE AIR CONDITIONING IT WILL STAY IN GEAR, BUT NOT ALWAYS. IS THIS A GEAR SHIFT LEVER PROBLEM? *TR

HEADLIGHTS FOR 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS HYBRID 4DR KEEP GOING OUT; THE DEALERS ARE CHARGING UP TO $800 TO CHANGE THE BAD HEADLIGHTS. I HAVE REPLACED THREE DRIVERS SIDE HEADLIGHTS AND NOW THE PASSENGER SIDE GO OUT. THIS IS SAFETY CONCERNS AS WASHINGTON STATE POOR DRIVING CONDITIONS WITH RAIN AND SEASONAL SNOW, EARLY NIGHT FALL. *TR

THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM. MY HEADLIGHTS FAIL RANDOMLY LEFT, RIGHT, OR BOTH. IF I TURN OFF THE LIGHT SWITCH THEN TURN IT BACK ON THE LIGHTS WILL COME BACK. I BELIEVE TOYOTA SHOULD ACKNOWLEDGE THIS AS A DESIGN PROBLEM AND FIX IT. THIS CAN CAUSE A DANGEROUS SITUATION AT NIGHT.

HEADLAMPS FOR MY 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS FAIL AT NIGHT. BULBS ARE NOT BURNT OUT, BUT THE POWER TO THEM WILL JUST SHUT OFF. THEY WILL WORK AGAIN FOR A SHORT TIME IF YOU SHUT THEM OFF AND BACK ON AGAIN. HAPPENS ON BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE. VERY DANGEROUS, BOTH LIGHTS HAVE GONE OUT AT TEH SAME TIME. MANUFACTURER SAYS COST OF REPAIR IS $300. *TR

BOTH 2007 PRIUS HEADLIGHTS FAIL AT ONCE LEAVING ME IN DARK WHILE DRIVING. MANY OTHER COMPLAINTS FROM PRIUS OWNERS. GO BACK ON WHEN SWITCHED OFF THEN ON. INTERMITTENT ELECTRICAL DEFECT. NOT QUALIFY FOR. CLASS ACTION. 60,000 MI. REQUESTING REOPEN INVESTIGATION. FOR RECALL. URGENT SAFETY MATTER. *TR

2007 TOYOTA PRIUS, BACK HATCH RELEASE, RUBBER PIECE. THIS PIECE HAS DETERIORATED AND IT DIFFICULT TO OPEN BACK HATCH. I HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM FOR ABOUT 1 YEAR. I HAVE DONE RESEARCH AND SEE THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM IN THESE 2007 TOYOTA VEHICLES. I BELIEVE THIS TO BE A HAZARD AND WOULD THINK TOYOTA WOULD HAVE RECALLED THIS PIECE AS THERE ARE SO MANY COMPLAINTS. *TR

HEADLAMP BULBS BURN OUT VERY QUICKLY LEADING TO REPEATED CHANGE OF THE BULBS AT $250 A PIECE. *TR

AFTER ONLY ABOUT 4 YEARS USE, THE RUBBER COVER ON THE HATCH RELEASE HANDLE (THE EXTERIOR HANDLE OF THE REAR HATCH) OF OUR 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS, MELTED INTO A STICKY TARRY BLACK RUBBERY GOOEY MESS. I CAN BEST DESCRIBE IT AS BEING A VISCOUS BLACK GLOB LIKE ROOFING TAR. TO OPEN THE HATCH, YOU HAVE TO TOUCH THIS BLACK GOO EACH TIME, WHICH MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO OPERATE THE HATCH RELEASE. WE BELIEVE THIS MELTING PROCESS STARTED AT ABOUT THE 2 YR. MARK. I THOUGHT THAT THIS MIGHT BE A SINGULAR ISSUE, BUT HAVE FOUND THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED TO SEVERAL CAR OWNERS IN TEXAS. TOYOTA KNOWS ABOUT THIS, AND IS SELLING THE ENTIRE WIRING HARNESS FOR $96 PLUS REPAIR COSTS, AND HAS DONE NOTHING ABOUT RECALLING THIS. FROM A SAFETY PERSPECTIVE, THIS MEANS YOU CAN EXPERIENCE EXTREME DIFFICULTY OPENING THE REAR HATCH (A LIFE SAFETY ACCESS POINT), AND WILL GET STICKY BLACK TAR ON YOU FROM THE MELTED DOWN RUBBER COVER OF THE EXTERIOR HATCH RELEASE HANDLE. TO ME, THIS IS BOTH A SERIOUS LIFE SAFETY ISSUE AND A SERIOUS QUALITY DEFECT THAT TOYOTA IS OPTING TO IGNORE AND ONLY FIXING ON VEHICLES WITH EXTENDED WARRANTIES, SINCE THE FAILURE APPEARS TO OCCUR AT AROUND THE 3 YEAR MARK I AM AWARE OF THE OUTSTANDING WORK DONE BY NHTSA ON OTHER SAFETY ISSUES, INCLUDING THE PROBLEM WITH RUSTY FRAMES ON 02 ISUZU AXIOMS, AND I FIND THIS PROBLEM TO BE SIMILAR IN NATURE, SO I AM ASKING FOR YOUR AGENCY TO TAKE A LOOK AT THESE INSTANCES AND ALSO TO INQUIRE FROM TOYOTA WHY THEY ARE NOT RECALLING THESE HANDLES THAT ARE MELTING

AFTER ONLY ABOUT 3 YEARS USE, THE RUBBER COVER ON THE HATCH RELEASE HANDLE (THE EXTERIOR HANDLE OF THE REAR HATCH) OF OUR 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS, MELTED INTO A STICKY TARRY BLACK RUBBERY GOOEY MESS. TO OPEN THE HATCH, YOU HAVE TO TOUCH THIS BLACK GOO EACH TIME, WHICH MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO OPERATE THE HATCH RELEASE. WE BELIEVE THIS MELTING PROCESS STARTED AT ABOUT THE 2 YR. MARK. I THOUGHT THAT THIS WAS JUST STICKY AT FIRST, BUT HAVE FOUND THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED TO SEVERAL CAR OWNERS, PARTICULARLY IN FLORIDA. WE ALSO LIVE IN FLORIDA. TOYOTA KNOWS ABOUT THIS, AND IS SELLING THE ENTIRE WIRING HARNESS FOR $96 PLUS REPAIR COSTS, AND HAS DONE NOTHING ABOUT RECALLING THIS. FROM A SAFETY PERSPECTIVE, THIS MEANS YOU CAN EXPERIENCE EXTREME DIFFICULTY OPENING THE REAR HATCH (A LIFE SAFETY ACCESS POINT), AND WILL GET STICKY BLACK TAR ON YOU FROM THE MELTED DOWN RUBBER COVER OF THE EXTERIOR HATCH RELEASE HANDLE. THIS IS BOTH A SERIOUS LIFE SAFETY ISSUE AND A SERIOUS QUALITY DEFECT THAT TOYOTA IS OPTING TO IGNORE AND ONLY FIXING ON VEHICLES WITH EXTENDED WARRANTIES, SINCE THE FAILURE APPEARS TO OCCUR AT AROUND THE 3 YEAR MARK (IE AFTER 3 YEARS OF EXPOSURE TO THE BRIGHT SUN IN FLORIDA FOR EXAMPLE). I AM AWARE OF THE OUTSTANDING WORK DONE BY NHTSA ON OTHER SAFETY ISSUES, AND I FIND THIS PROBLEM TO BE VERY SERIOUS IN NATURE, SO I AM ASKING FOR YOUR AGENCY TO TAKE A LOOK AT THESE INSTANCES AND ALSO TO INQUIRE FROM TOYOTA WHY THEY ARE NOT RECALLING THESE HANDLES THAT ARE MELTING IN THE SUN!!! IT'S O

2007 TOYOTA PRIUS TOURING EDITION HID HEADLIGHTS TURN OFF RANDOMLY WHILE DRIVING WITH THE HEADLIGHTS ON. I TURN OFF THE HEADLIGHTS AND TURN THEM BACK ON AND THEY COME BACK ON FOR A VARIABLE TIME BEFORE GOING OFF AGAIN. *TT

I USE MY CRUISE CONTROL AS OFTEN AS POSSIBLE, SO I BELIEVE THAT IF THE LEVER IS FLEXED EVEN A LITTLE BIT 20-30 TIMES A DAY THE STRESS WILL EVENTUALLY BREAK IT. MINE DIDN'T JUST SNAP, IT REFUSED TO FUNCTION FOR A DAY OR TWO WHEN THE AMOUNT OF FLEX IN THE NEARLY BROKEN LEVER DIDN'T MAKE THE CANCEL SWITCH ENGAGE. IT BROKE COMPLETELY WHILE ENGAGING IT. I FOUND OUT THAT OTHERS ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE BY DOING A SIMPLE SEARCH ON THE WEB.

I AM OWNER OF A 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS. LESS THAN 3 YEARS SINCE PURCHASING THE VEHICLE NEW FROM TOYOTA, A RUBBER WEATHER SEAL COMPONENT IN THE REAR HATCH HANDLE HAS PROGRESSIVELY MELTED. WITH THE SEAL NOW COMPROMISED, I FEAR THE HATCH HANDLE WILL EVENTUALLY FAIL OR MALFUNCTION RESULTING IN CORROSION OR WORSE STILL, ACCIDENTAL OPENING OF THE REAR HATCH WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION. I HAVE CONTACTED TOYOTA ABOUT THE DEFECT AND THEY ADVISE IT WOULD BE A $150 REPAIR AND ALL COSTS WOULD BE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE OWNER. AS THIS IS CLEARLY A MANUFACTURER DEFECT AND ONE THAT COULD POTENTIALLY LEAD TO SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH, I WOULD EXPECT TOYOTA TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM AT THEIR OWN COST. *TR