2007 Toyota Prius complaints

THE TRUNK LATCH FOR OUR 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS STARTED MELTING INTO A GOOEY MESS ABOUT 3 YEARS AFTER WE PURCHASED IT. IT SEEMS THAT MANY OTHER OWNERS OF THE 2007 PRIUS HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME THING. TOYOTA WILL NOT REPLACE IT AS DEFECTIVE EQUIPMENT; HOWEVER, IT IS OBVIOUS THAT DOOR HANDLES ARE NOT SUPPOSED TO MELT, EVEN IF YOU LIVE IN A WARM CLIMATE.

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

FAILURE OF TOYOTA PRIUS HID HEADLAMPS,LEFT ME "DRIVING IN THE DARK." *TR

THE REAR HATCH RELEASE ON MY 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS HAS BEGUN TO DECOMPOSE AND TURN INTO A RUBBERY, GOOEY MESS. IT INTERFERES WITH THE USE OF THE HATCH AS THE GOO NOT ONLY GETS ON THE FINGERS BUT APPEARS TO BE BLOCKING THE RELEASE MECHANISM. *TR

THE LATCH ON THE HATCH OF MY 2007 PRIUS HAS MELTED INTO A GOOEY MESS. IT INTERFERES WITH THE OPERATION OF THE LATCH MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO OPEN THE HATCH. I STARTED NOTICING THIS AT THE 3-3.5 YEAR MARK, NOW IT IS A BLACK GLOB THAT COMES OFF ON MY HAND WHENEVER I ACCESS THE LATCH. *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. 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 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. 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 NO

2007 TOYOTA PRIUS REAR LID RELEASE BUTTON. THIS BUTTON RELEASE HAS BEGUN 'MELTING' INTO A GOOEY PLASTIC THAT BINDS THE RELEASE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT FAILED. THE PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT WOULD FAIL INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS OR REPAIRS. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE BOTH HIGH INTENSITY HEADLIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED THEY WOULD SHUT ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY. THE DEALER REPLACED BOTH HEADLIGHTS, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED WITHIN 10,000 MILES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 38,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 100,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

TOYOTA HAS FAILED TO RECALL THE ELECTRIC WATER PUMP IN THE SECOND GENERATION PRIUS. TOYOTA HAS RECALLED THE FIRST GENERATION PRIUS FOR A FAULTY ELECTRICAL WATER PUMP, WHICH IS THE SAME PUMP FOUND IN THE SECOND GENERATION. WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM WORK, MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TURNED ON AND I HAD TO GO TO THE TOYOTA SERVICE TO GET IT CHECKED. AFTER BEING TOLD THAT IT WAS RECALLED ON THE FIRST GENERATION, I LOOKED UP INFORMATION ONLINE ON IF THIS WAS THE SAME WATER PUMP. I THEN CAME ACROSS NUMEROUS ARTICLES AND RECALLS ON OTHER TOYOTA WEBSITES (IN DIFFERENT COUNTRIES) STATING THAT THE PUMP HAS BEEN RECALLED. TOYOTA HOWEVER HAS NOT RECALLED ANY OF THESE CARS IN THE USA. *TR

TWO YEARS AGO THE HID HEADLIGHTS IN MY 2007 PRIUS BEGAN TO FAIL INTERMITTENTLY. FIRST IT WAS THE DRIVER SIDE LIGHT ONLY. I FOUND THAT IF I TURNED THE LIGHT OFF AND ON AGAIN THE LIGHT WOULD WORK. MORE RECENTLY, BOTH LIGHTS BEGAN FAILING. RECENTLY I WAS ON A CURVY BACK ROAD. BOTH LIGHTS FAILED. EVERYTHING WENT TOTALLY BLACK. I MANAGED TO TURN THE LIGHTS OFF AND ON AGAIN AND SWERVE JUST IN TIME TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT. I HAD BOTH LIGHTS REPLACED BY TOYOTA AT MY OWN EXPENSE SINCE I HAD MORE THAN 50,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. I CALLED TOYOTA AND TOLD THEM ABOUT THE INCIDENT AND THAT IT SHOULD BE HANDLED AS A SAFETY RECALL BEFORE SOMEONE IS SERIOUSLY INJURED OR KILLED. *TR

I BOUGHT A SCION IN '06, MY FIRST CAR I'VE EVER BOUGHT. IT WAS WONDERFUL, EXCEPT THAT I LIVE IN FLORIDA AND THE RUBBER PIECE ON MY TRUNK HANDLE MELTED. IT MELTED SO MUCH THAT, TO THIS DAY, THERE IS A HUGE GLOB OF RUBBER ON MY LICENSE PLATE. WELL, YESTERDAY I TRADED IN MY SCION FOR A PRIUS. I AM HAVING THE SAME ISSUE WITH THE HANDLE! EVERY TIME I OPEN MY TRUNK, I GET BLACK GUNK ON MY HANDS. UPON RESEARCH, I FOUND THAT A LARGE NUMBER OF PEOPLE ARE EXPERIENCING THIS PROBLEM WITH THEIR TOYOTAS. I EMAILED TOYOTA AND ADDRESSED THEM WITH THE ISSUE. THEY WROTE IT OFF AS GREASE DRIPPING FROM THE HANDLE, WHEN IF YOU LOOK AT MY CAR, IT IS CLEAR THAT THERE ARE GLOBS OF MELTED RUBBER EVERYWHERE. THEY TOLD ME IT COULD EASILY BE WIPED OFF AND I CAN'T EVEN SCRAPE IT OFF OR WASH IT OFF WITH SOAP AND WATER! I EVEN SENT THEM LINKS TO FORUMS WITH PAGE AND PAGES OF COMPLAINTS WITH THE SAME ISSUE AND THEY STILL WON'T ADDRESS IT. THEREFORE, I DECIDED TO REPORT IT HERE. THIS COULD POTENTIALLY TURN INTO A SAFETY ISSUE, IF THE RUBBER CONTINUES TO MELT CAUSING THE TRUNK TO BE INOPERABLE. *TR

I AM EXPERIENCING INTERMITTENT HEADLIGHT PROBLEMS. THE HEADLIGHTS WOULD TAKE TURNS GOING OUT. THIS WOULD HAPPEN WHILE DRIVING. FIRST, THE PASSENGER SIDE, THEN THE DRIVER SIDE, AND SOMETIMES BOTH. IF I TURNED THE LIGHT SWITCH OFF & BACK ON, THE HEADLIGHTS WOULD COME BACK ON. THE PROBLEM WAS VERY INTERMITTENT AT FIRST (STARTING AT 41000 MILES) BUT BECAME A REAL NUISANCE AT 49000 MILES. I TOOK THE CAR INTO THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP AT AROUND 52000 MILES. THEY SAID THAT IT WAS THE BULBS. I HAVE REPLACED BOTH BULBS AND THE PROBLEM STILL CONTINUES. *TR

DRIVING LATE AT NIGHT ON THE INTERSTATE AND BOTH HEADLIGHTS FAILED. COULDN'T SEE ANYTHING. QUICKLY TURNED HEADLIGHT SWITCH OFF AND THEN BACK ON AND THE LIGHTS CAME BACK ON. FAILED AGAIN EVERY FEW MINUTES. IF FLIPPING THE SWITCH ON/OFF DIDN'T WORK WE MOST LIKELY WOULD HAVE ALL BEEN DEAD AS IT WAS SO DARK OUT YOU COULDN'T SEE THE ROAD OR ANYTHING ELSE TO STOP SAFELY. HAD TO PULL OVER FOR THE NIGHT AND STAYED AT A HOTEL. REPLACED THE LIGHTS AT THE DEALERSHIP. TO AFRAID TO DRIVE AT NIGHT SO DON'T KNOW IF THE PROBLEM STILL PERSISTS. SO DON'T KNOW FOR SURE IF IT WAS THE HEADLIGHTS OR AN ELECTRICAL SWITCH MALFUNCTION. *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. WE BELIEVE THIS MELTING PROCESS STARTED AT ABOUT THE 3 YR. MARK. I THOUGHT THAT THIS MIGHT BE A SINGULAR ISSUE, BUT HAVE FOUND THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED TO SEVERAL CAR OWNERS, PARTICULARLY IN FLORIDA. WE PURCHASED THE CAR 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. THE DEALER STATED THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM ON NUMEROUS MAKES AND THEY SEE THIS REGULARLY. 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 FLORIDA FOR EXAMPLE). I AM AWARE OF THE OUTSTANDING WORK DONE BY NHTSA ON OTHER SAFETY ISSUES, INCLUDING THE PROBLEM WITH RUSTY FRAMES ON 02 ISUZU AX

WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED IN DECELERATION AND THE VEHICLE HITS A BUMP OR POTHOLE, THE BRAKES RELEASE FOR A SECOND, THEN GRAB AGAIN, EVEN THOUGH FOOT PRESSURE HAS NOT CHANGED.

THE HID HEADLIGHTS GOING OFF WHILE DRIVING WITH NO WARNING, BUT IF THE SWITCH IS TURNED FROM ON TO OFF THE LIGHT WORK AGAIN MOMENTARILY UNTIL THEY GO OUT AGAIN. VERY UNSAFE DRIVING CONDITIONS, COULD LEAD TO INJURIES. *TR

MY 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS ACCELERATES WHILE BRAKING AFTER HITTING BUMPS ON THE ROAD. I WAS BRAKING TO COME TO A STOP, THE CAR PROPELLED FORWARD 2-3 TIMES, THE TRACTION LIGHT FLASHED TWICE ALL WHY I HAD FULL PRESSURE APPLIED TO THE BRAKE PEDAL. LUCKILY THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME HAD NOT STOPPED COMPLETELY OTHERWISE THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN AN IMPACT AS I HAD NO METHOD OF MAKING THE CAR STOP MOVING FORWARD. THE CAR WILL ALSO PROPEL FORWARD WHEN GOING OVER RAIL ROAD TRACKS OR OTHER BUMPS/POTHOLES IN THE ROAD. FROM A DRIVER STANDPOINT, IF THE CAR LOSES CONTACT WITH THE ROAD THERE IS SOMETHING ELECTRONIC THAT CAUSES IT TO ACCELERATE EVEN IF THE BRAKE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED. *TR

ON 10/16/2010 MY HUSBAND AND I ATTENDED A WEDDING RECEPTION AT A LODGE IN THE SIERRA MOUNTAINS NORTHEAST OF LAKE TAHOE. THE LODGE WAS REACHED BY DRIVING OUR 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS FROM OUR HOTEL AT LAKE TAHOE NORTHEAST ON NEVADA STATE HIGHWAY 431, A STEEP, WINDING TWO-LANE ROAD OVER THE SUMMIT OF MT. ROSE AT AN ALTITUDE OF 7,100 FEET ABOVE SEA LEVEL. AFTER THE RECEPTION WAS OVER WE LEFT TO RETURN TO OUR HOTEL. WHEN WE LEFT THE LODGE IT WAS EARLY EVENING AND THE SUN HAD SET, SO WE DROVE WITH OUR HEADLIGHTS TURNED ON. APPROXIMATELY ONE MILE DOWN THE ROAD BOTH HEADLIGHTS SUDDENLY WENT OUT, PLUNGING US INTO COMPLETE DARKNESS. SINCE WE COULD NOT SEE THE ROAD, WHICH HAD NO SHOULDER, A HILLSIDE ON THE RIGHT AND A STEEP DROP-OFF ON THE LEFT WE HAD NO CHOICE BUT TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP. AT THIS POINT WE FEARED THAT WE MIGHT FALL VICTIM TO A VEHICLE RAMMING US FROM BEHIND SINCE WE HAD NO LIGHTS ON OUR CAR. I DESPERATELY TURNED THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH ON AND OFF TRYING BOTH THE REGULAR AND HIGH-BEAM SETTINGS AND, FINALLY, TURNING THE CAR OFF AND ON. THIS SEEMED TO WORK AND THE HEADLIGHTS CAME BACK ON. BUT AFTER DRIVING ABOUT ANOTHER MILE THE HEADLIGHTS AGAIN WENT OUT. AGAIN, BY MANIPULATING THE SWITCH AND TURNING THE ENGINE OFF AND THEN ON, WE MANAGED TO TURN THE LIGHTS BACK ON. WE THEN PROCEEDED SAFELY TO OUR HOTEL WITHOUT ANY FURTHER INCIDENTS. WE EXPERIENCED NO ADDITIONAL PROBLEMS UNTIL DECEMBER, 2010, WHEN WE NOTICED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS SEEMED TO BE DIMMER THAN THEY SHOULD BE. THEN IN JA

DRIVER'S SIDE HID LIGHT BULB TURNS OFF INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING. TURNS BACK ON WHEN HEADLIGHTS ARE SHUT OFF AND TURNED BACK ON, BUT IS SIGNIFICANTLY DIMMER. *TR

BOTH HEADLIGHTS FAILED WHILE DRIVING. ON MY WAY TO AN EVENT, I NOTICED THAT I COULD NOT SEE IN FRONT OF MY VEHICLE. I TURNED ON AND OFF THE HIGH BEAMS, WHICH CAUSED THE NORMAL BEAM HEADLIGHTS TO WORK. AS I DROPPED OFF MY CAR AT VALET PARKING, THE VALET TOLD ME THAT BOTH MY HEADLIGHTS WERE OFF. I TURNED THEM OFF AND ON AND THEY STARTED WORKING. SINCE MY VEHICLE HAS 59,000 MILES, IT DOES NOT APPLY FOR THE CLASS ACTION SETTLEMENT TOYOTA NEGOTIATED A FEW MONTHS AGO. HOWEVER, I BELIEVE MANY 07 TOYOTA PRIUS VEHICLES THAT HAVE MORE MILES THAN THE EXTENDED WARRANTY ALLOWS ARE HAVING THIS PROBLEM. I HAVE REVIEWED THE DATABASE AND NOTICED SEVERAL RECENT COMPLAINTS THAT STATE BOTH HEADLIGHTS HAVE GONE OFF, WHICH IS DIFFERENT FROM THE HID VEHICLE ISSUES IN THE PE09019. BECAUSE OF THAT, I BELIEVE THIS IS A MORE SERIOUS PROBLEM AND DEFECT AND ODI SHOULD INVESTIGATE THIS PROBLEM. *TR

STEERING WHEEL AND COLUMN OF 2007 PRIUS SHAKES VIOLENTLY AND UNCONTROLLABLY, ESPECIALLY AFTER ENGINE IS STARTED FOR THE FIRST TIME OF THE DAY. DEALERSHIP FOUND "C1554 POWER SUPPLY RELAY FAILURE." AFTER CONTACTING TOYOTA ABOUT PROBLEM THEY LEARNED IT HAS BEEN REPORTED AT LEAST 10 TIMES BEFORE. TOYOTA INSTRUCTED DEALERSHIP TO REPLACE ELECTRONIC POWERSTEERING ECU AND 50 AMP FUSE/BLOCK ASSEMBLY. THIS PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE A CLEAR SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT IN THE VEHICLE (2007 PRIUS), EVEN AFTER EARLIER PRIUS MODELS HAD SIMILAR PROBLEM WITH POWER STEERING AND WERE RECALLED. *TR

I HAVE A 2007 PRIUS AND 2-3 YEARS AFTER PURCHASE, THE RUBBER PIECE UNDER THE HATCHBACK MELTED, MAKING SO THAT IT WAS A STICKY BLACK MESS AND IT WOULDN'T OPEN. IT NOW DOESN'T OPEN AT ALL AND I CAN NOT GET INTO MY TRUNK, RECENTLY HAD A BATTERY REPLACED AND MY CAR WAS STRANDED, THE AAA GUY HAD TO CRAWL TO THE BACK W/ SEATS DOWN FROM THE SIDE OF THE CAR. I COULD NOT GET TO MY TRUNK IF I HAVE A FLAT TIRE IN THE FUTURE. I AM OUT OF WARRANTY . MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT TOYOTA IS MAKING OWNERS PAY 300+ TO FIX THIS DESPITE THE FACT THAT IT IS OBVIOUSLY A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. PLEASE ASSIST WITH THIS SAFETY CONCERN ON ALL PRIUS VEHICLES. *TR

INTERMITTENT HEADLIGHT AND BRAKE LIGHT FAILURE. IF I TURN CAR OFF AND ON AGAIN, LIGHTS WORK. WAS PULLED OVER BY A POLICE OFFICER IN JANUARY. I HAVE HEADLIGHT FAILURE ABOUT ONCE A WEEK, AND I LIKELY TO CONTINUE TO GET PULLED OVER AND CITED. I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR INTO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY ARE UNABLE TO FIND A PROBLEM.

COMPLAINT INVOLVES FAILURE OF THE HID HEADLIGHT SYSTEM ON 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS. I HAVE HAD BOTH HID HEADLIGHT BULBS AND ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNITS REPLACED BEFORE 36,000 MILES AND THE HEADLIGHT SYSTEM HAS FAILED AGAIN BEFORE 60,000 MILES. FIXING THE PROBLEM REQUIRES REPLACEMENT OF HID HEADLIGHT SYSTEM BY TOYOTA, COSTING $2,000 AND SEEMS TO LAST LESS THAN 30,000 MILES BEFORE SYSTEM FAILS AGAIN. SYMPTOMS INVOLVE INTERMITTENT FLICKERING OR FAILURE OF ONE OR BOTH HEADLIGHTS. LIGHT RETURNS BRIEFLY IF LIGHT SWITCH IS CYCLED OFF AND THEN ON AGAIN. IF TOYOTA IS UNABLE TO SOLVE THIS OBVIOUS DESIGN FLAW, THEN THEY SHOULD BE FORCED TO REPLACE THESE ITEMS INDEFINITELY AT NO COST TO THE OWNER. *TR

2007 TOYOTA PRIUS. CONSUMER STATES EXPERIENCE OF DIFFICULTIES WITH A LOW BATTERY, RESULTING IN THE DASHBOARD LIGHTING-UP WITH RED FLASHING WARNING LIGHTS; BRAKES, ABS AND VSC, SOUNDING OF A BUZZING INDICATOR AND THE CAR SHUTTING OFF *TGW A DIAGNOSTICS REVEALED MULTIPLE LOW VOLTAGE CODES FOR THE AUXILIARY BATTERY. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THE AUXILIARY BATTERY WAS IMPORTANT FOR THE INITIAL ENGAGEMENT OF THE BRAKES AND TO POWER THE COMPUTER TO START THE VEHICLE. *JB

TRUNK LATCH RUBBER HAS DETERIORATED TO THE POINT OF STICKINESS AND BLACK COMING OFF ON YOUR FINGERS WHEN OPENING. SOMETIMES, IT TAKES A FEW TRIES BEFORE IT WILL OPEN. IN THE WINTER DURING COLD WEATHER, THE RUBBER IS VERY HARD AND YOU CANNOT OPEN THE TRUNK (HATCH) AT ALL. THE ONLY WAY WE WERE ABLE TO OPEN THE HATCH WAS TO FIRST RUN A HAIRDRYER ON IT TO ENABLE US TO OPEN THE DOOR. THIS COULD POTENTIALLY CAUSE A SAFETY HAZARD IF ACCESS TO THE BACK WAS REQUIRED IN AN EMERGENCY. TOYOTA HAS FAILLED TO ISSUE A RECALL FOR THIS DEFECT. OUR CAR HAS ALWAYS BEEN GARAGE KEPT AND NOT LEFT PARKED IN THE SUN. PLUS, WE HAVE OWNED NUMEROUS OTHER CARS, TO INCLUDE TOYOTAS, WHICH HAVE NEVER HAD A PROBLEM WITH A TRUNCK (HATCH) LOCK.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING AT NIGHT APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH WHEN THE HEADLIGHTS BEGAN TO FLASH INTERMITTENTLY MAKING IT DIFFICULTY TO SEE; YET, THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO CONTINUE DRIVING . THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER OFFERED A CUSTOMER SUPPORT PROGRAM WHICH PROVIDED A REMEDY FOR THE HIGH INTENSITY DISCHARGE HEADLIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,500.

MY DRIVER'S SIDE HEADLIGHT HAS FAILED ON AT LEAST THREE DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. IT IS AN HID TYPE LIGHT AND NORMALLY WORKS AND IS WORKING NOW. I CONTACTED A DEALER- SHIP AND WAS TOLD THERE WAS AN EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR THIS PROBLEM AND THEY WOULD COVER IT BUT THAT THE CONDITION HAS TO EXIST AT THE TIME I AM BRINGING THE CAR IN. THIS IS A PROBLEM BECAUSE THE LIGHTS ARE NORMAL WHEN THE CAR IS LATER RE-STARTED. I DON'T KNOW HOW TO DOCUMENT THE FACT IM HAVING AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM NOW FOR A WARRANTY REPAIR AFTER 50,000 MILES. *TR

THE PASSENGERS SIDE HID HEADLIGHT ON MY 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS HAS STARTED TO FAIL INTERMITTENTLY. IT WILL COME BACK ON FOR A WHILE WHEN THE LIGHTS ARE TURNED OFF AND BACK ON. THIS CONSTITUTES A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

2007 TOYOTA PRIUS - REPEATED HID HEADLIGHT FAILURE. PARTS REPLACED 1/2010, ISSUE RECURS SAME HEADLIGHT 2/2011. *TR

INTERMITTENT HID HEADLIGHT FAILURE. DRIVER SIDE HEADLIGHT WILL RANDOMLY NOT TURN ON. DRIVER SIDE HEADLIGHT WILL ALSO RANDOMLY TURN OFF WHILE DRIVING AFTER HAVING BEEN LIT FOR SOME TIME. HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING THIS ISSUE FOR SOME TIME (AT LEAST 6 WEEKS). REPLACED HID BULB ON 3/5/2011. SAME PROBLEM WITH NEW BULB. MANY REPORTS ON INTERNET OF THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM.

I PURCHASED A USED 2007 PRIUS IN MARCH 2010 FROM A TOYOTA DEALERSHIP. MY RIGHT HEADLIGHT DOES NOT WORK SOMETIMES. MY FIRST HEADLIGHT FAILURE OCCURRED LAST FALL. MY RIGHT HEAD LIGHT WAS NOT WORKING WHILE DRIVING HOME (1 HOUR) AT NIGHT FROM WORK. I CALLED THE TOYOTA DEALER THE NEXT DAY WHERE I BOUGHT THE PRIUS. THEY TOLD ME IT IS AN EXPENSIVE FIX ( AROUND $250.00) AND SAID TO TRY TURNING THE POWER ON AND OFF SWITCH A COUPLE OF TIMES. THAT WORKED. THE HEADLIGHT FAILURE HAS HAPPENED A FEW TIMES SINCE LAST FALL. I HAVE ASKED STRANGERS WHILE LEAVING WORK IF BOTH MY HEADLIGHTS ARE ON, GOTTEN OUT OF THE CAR TO CHECK BEFORE DRIVING AT NIGHT, AS WELL AS CHECK TO SEE IF BOTH MY HEADLIGHTS ARE REFLECTED ON THE BACK OF A CAR IN FRONT OF ME WHEN AT A STOP LIGHT. I AM AWARE OF 3 OTHER TIMES THAT THE HEADLIGHT WAS NOT WORKING. I HAVE NOT HAD THE DEALERSHIP REPAIR THE HEADLIGHT YET. *TR

HID HEADLIGHTS DEFECTIVE, GOING ON AND OFF WITH BRAKING, ACCELERATION AND BUMPS IN THE ROAD. HEADLIGHTS ARE SAFETY EQUIPMENT, IT'S DARK WITHOUT THEM!!! *TR

HID HEADLIGHT FAILURE ON THE DRIVER SIDE. THE HEADLIGHT WILL SUDDENLY NOT WORK. HAD REPLACED ON 11/08/2008 BY TOYOTA FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. HAPPENED AGAIN IN 2/2/2011. *TR

THE PRIUS HEADLIGHTS TURN OFF RANDOMLY WHILE DRIVING. SOMETIMES ONE, SOMETIMES BOTH. THERE IS NO PATTERN AND THEY GO BACK ON WHEN THE ON/OFF SWITCH IS ACTIVATED. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON SINCE ABOUT 40,000 MILES. THE BULBS WERE REMOVED AND RESET AND THE RIGHT SIDE WAS FIXED, THE LEFT SIDE FAILS LESS FREQUENTLY. THIS IS A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS SITUATION SINCE THE DEALER DOES NOT SEEM TO BE SURE OF THE CAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM. THE COST TO REPLACE THE BULBS IS OVER $400. THERE IS NO GUARANTEE THAT THIS WILL FIX THE PROBLEM. THE TIRES WEAR OUT VERY QUICKLY; REPLACED ORIGINAL TIRES AT 22,209 MILES AND NOW AT 50,287 MILES THE SECOND SET HAS TO BE REPLACED. THE TIRE PRESSURE LIGHT GOES ON CONTINUOUSLY, REGARDLESS OF PRESSURE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 50 MPH WHEN BOTH HEADLIGHTS FAILED. THE CONTACT ENGAGED THE HEAD LIGHT ON/OFF SWITCH SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE THE HEADLIGHTS WOULD RE-ILLUMINATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS WERE PERFORMING AS DESIGNED. THE CONTACT DISAGREED AND STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS SHOULD NOT SHUT OFF INDEPENDENTLY WITHOUT WARNING. BOTH HEADLIGHTS WERE REPLACED BY THE DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 36,500.

I OWN A 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS. LAST FALL, THE HID LAMP ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE WENT ON AND OFF AND ON AND OFF THEN BURNED OUT. IT WAS COVERED BY WARRANTY AND REPLACED. MY CURRENT MILEAGE: 32, 122. THE HID LAMP ON THE PASSENGER SIDE WENT ON AND OFF, ON AND OFF AND WAS REPLACED 2/23/11 AT CONSIDERABLE COST TO ME. I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE. CONSUMERAFFAIR.COM REPORTS THE SEVERAL COMPLAINTS, AS DOES THE PRIUS CHAT LINE. I CONTACTED TOYOTA'S MAIN OFFICE, FILED A COMPLAINT AND WAS TOLD BY THE CSR THAT HE'S HAD SEVERAL COMPLAINTS FILED. THERE IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE FOR NIGHT DRIVING WITH THESE HID LAMPS. SO MANY FOLKS ARE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM BUT TOYOTA DOESN'T SEEM TO BE CLAIMING ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR THESE - WHAT SEEM TO BE - DEFECTIVE HID LAMPS. PART OF THE SAFETY ISSUE IS THAT THEY GO OFF AND ON SO THE DRIVER MAY HAVE NO IDEA THAT ONE OR BOTH LAMPS ARE DARK UNLESS REFLECTED IN THE REAR OF A CAR IN FRONT OF THE DRIVER. AT WHAT POINT WILL TOYOTA COMMENCE A RECALL FOR THESE HID LAMPS -. *TR

WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM SALT LAKE CITY DURING THE EVENING OUR SECOND HID HEADLIGHT WENT OUT ON US JUST OUTSIDE OF POCATELLO. WE HAD FOG LIGHTS SO USED THOSE TO GET HOME. OUR OTHER HEADLIGHT HAD BEEN OUT FOR A FEW MONTHS. I HAD CONTACTED TOYOTA ABOUT THE FIRST HEADLIGHT SINCE THIS WAS THE THIRD TIME THAT OUR LIGHTS HAD FAILED. THE FIRST TIME THEY REPLACED THE BULB BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT TOYOTA SAID TO DO SINCE THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY WAS A MUCH MORE EXPENSIVE PART AND THEY COULD NOT TELL IF IT WAS A BULB ISSUE OR ASSEMBLY ISSUE. THE SECOND TIME THEY REPLACED THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY. THE THIRD TIME THE SAID IT WAS THE BULB AND THEY WOULD NOT REPLACE IT FOR FREE. THEY WANTED $160.00 FOR THE BULB PLUS 2 HOURS OF LABOR. ABOUT A $400.00 DOLLAR REPAIR. I REMINDED THEM OF THE LAST TIME THIS HAPPENED & SAID HOW DO YOU KNOW IT'S THE BULB THIS TIME. THEY SAID THE ASSEMBLY IS NOT THE ISSUE. I CALLED TOYOTA DIRECT AND COMPLAINED. I THEN RECEIVED A FOLLOW-UP CALL FROM TOYOTA GETTING ALL THE INFORMATION ONCE AGAIN. THEY SAID THEY WOULD BE IN TOUCH WITH OUR LOCAL DEALER. THE LOCAL DEALER FOLLOWED UP AND SAID HE WAS GOING TO CHECK WITH HIS "PARTS" GUY TO SEE IF THEY WOULD GIVE USE THE $160.00 BULB AND ONLY CHARGE US FOR LABOR. TO THIS DATE THEY HAVE NOT FOLLOWED UP. AFTER LOSING MY LIGHTING ON THE INTERSTATE I DID A TON OF ONLINE RESEARCH AND FOUND HOW TO CHANGE THE BULBS MYSELF WITHOUT THE REMOVAL OF THE ENTIRE FRONT BUMPER, AS TOYOTA STATES THIS IS HOW IT NEEDS TO BE DONE WHICH IS RIDICULOUS FO

PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT KEEPS GOING OUT ON 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS. DEALERSHIP HAS REPLACED HEADLIGHT NOW WANTS 1100 FOR WHOLE ASSEMBLY BUT I SEE THIS COMPLAINT ALL OVER THE INTERNET AND THE TOYOTA PEOPLE SAY TOYOTA IS AWARE OF ISSUE BUT HAS DONE NOTHING ABOUT IT. THE CAR IS TO DANGEROUS TO DRIVE I HAVE RECEIVED TWO TICKETS FOR MY LIGHT BEING OUT EVEN THOUGH I SHOW THEM THE SERVICE RECEIPTS. A COP TOLD ME NOT TO DRIVE THE CAR. THE LIGHT WORKS AS SOON AS YOU TURN IT OFF AND BACK ON. VERY DANGEROUS WHILE ON THE INTERSTATE AT NIGHT TO BE TURNING YOUR LIGHTS ON AND OFF. VERY UPSET TOYOTA OWNER AT THE LACK OF REACTION FROM THE MANUFACTURER. *TR

HID HEADLIGHTS SUDDENLY GO OFF WHILE DRIVING RESULTING IN NO ILLUMINATION. IF LIGHT SWITCH IS TURNED OFF THEN ON LIGHTS WILL COME BACK ON FOR A LITTLE WHILE AND THEN SHUT OFF AGAIN. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE AND THESE BULB FAILURES ARE EXTREMELY COMMON WITH THESE VEHICLES EVEN WITH VEHICLES THAT ARE FAIRLY NEW AND WITH VERY LOW MILES. TOYOTA CLAIMS THESE LIGHTS SHOULD LAST MUCH LONGER THAN NORMAL BULBS, BUT THIS HAS NOT BEEN THE CASE. ADDITIONALLY THESE BULBS ARE EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE TO REPLACE. ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF THE POOR QUALITY IN RECENT TOYOTA VEHICLES WHICH HAVE BEEN WELL DOCUMENTED. *TR

2007 PRIUS WITH 28,000 MILES HEADLIGHTS GO ON AND OFF. STARTED WITH THE DRIVERS SIDE NOW BOTH LIGHTS GO OFF. TURN THEM OFF/ON AND THE LIGHTS COME BACK ON FOR A WHILE. TOYOTA DEALER SAID THEY DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT THE CLASS ACTION LAW SUIT. CALLED TOYOTA CORPORATE AND THEY WOULD NOT COMMIT TO REPAIRING THE LIGHTS. *TR

MY 2007 PRIUS HEADLIGHTS KEEP GOING OFF FOR NO REASON. WHEN THEY GO OFF YOU CAN TURN THE LIGHTS SWITCH OFF THEN BACK ON AND THEY BOTH COME BACK ON. THE DRIVERS SIDE HAS DONE IT THREE TIMES AND THEY BOTH HAVE GONE OFF ONCE WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH WITH THE HEADLIGHTS ON WHEN THEY SUDDENLY FAILED TO FUNCTION. THE FAILURE OCCURRED AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE CONTACT REPLACED BOTH HEADLAMP BULBS. THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR AFTER THE REPLACEMENT OF THE BULBS. THE CONTACT STATED THE FAILURE WAS RELATED TO THE HEADLAMP ASSEMBLY. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 60,000.

I OWN A 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS AND THE DRIVER HEADLIGHT INTERMITTENTLY TURN OFF. I CAN TURN THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH OFF AND BACK ON AND IT USUALLY TURNS LIGHT BACK ON FOR AWHILE. THE DEALER COST FOR THE HEADLIGHT WAS $300.00 PLUS. *TR

I WAS DRIVING IN THE RIGHT LANE OF A 4-LANE BOULEVARD. THE VEHICLE AHEAD IN THE LANE TO MY LEFT SLOWED FOR A CAR IN FRONT WAITING TO MAKE A LEFT TURN, THEN SUDDENLY VEERED INTO MY LANE. I HIT THE BRAKES AS HARD AS I COULD, BUT FOR THE FIRST 2-3 SECONDS, MY CAR DIDN'T SLOW DOWN. IT ALSO DIDN'T MAKE ANY SOUNDS I WOULD HAVE EXPECTED FROM URGENT BRAKING - NO SCREECHING TIRES, ETC. I CONTINUED TO PUSH THE BRAKE PEDAL HARD. AFTER 2-3 SECONDS, THE BRAKES FINALLY GRABBED AND MY CAR PULLED TO THE RIGHT. I CONSIDERED MYSELF LUCKY THAT I HAD ENOUGH ROOM TO AVOID HITTING THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME.

AFTER 3 YEARS, MY 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS HATCH RELEASE ( A BLACK RUBBER STRIP ) HAS MELTED TO A GOOEY TAR STRIP. TOYOTA NEEDS TO PUT A RECALL ON THESE HATCH RELEASE BUTTONS. *LN

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH THE VEHICLE STARTED TO OVERHEAT. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER NEARBY AND THEY ADVISED HIM THAT THEY NEEDED TO REPLACE THE INVERTER PUMP. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED FOR THE INVERTER AND WATER PUMP. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 96,400.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 TO 15 MPH SHE APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO SURGE FORWARD CAUSING HER TO CRASH INTO A GATE. THE CONTACT WAS NOT INJURED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHO ADVISED HER THAT THEY COULD NOT DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO HAVE THE SAME FAILURES FOR TWO YEARS ON AN INTERMITTENT BASIS. EACH TIME THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER THEY CONSTANTLY INFORMED HER THAT THEY COULD NOT DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BY MAIL AND REPLIED BY SAYING THEY HAVE INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND FOUND NO KNOWN FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 9,000. UPDATED 3/11/11 *CN UPDATED 1/3/11 *CN

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 HAS BEGUN MELTING. IT IS STICKY TO THE TOUCH AND IT DOES MAKE THE TRUNK RELEASE DIFFICULT TO OPERATE. I JUST DROPPED MY CAR OFF AT THE SERVCO HAWAII DEALERSHIP AND THEY TOLD ME THAT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY $170.00 TO REPLACE THE LATCH SYSTEM. THE SERVICE TECH ASKED ME IF MY CAR HAS BEEN OUT IN THE SUN. WELL, I DO LIVE IN HAWAII, I DO GARAGE MY CAR BUT I HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED A RUBBER PIECE ON ANY CAR TO MELT. FURTHER, THE RUBBER TRUNK RELEASE COVER IS NOT EXPOSED TO DIRECT SUNLIGHT AT ANY TIME BECAUSE THE RUBBER COVER IS ON THE UNDERSIDE OF THE TRUNK/REAR HATCH RELEASE BY DESIGN. PLEASE HAVE TOYOTA TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS DEFECTIVE PART. AFTER A QUICK GOOGLE SEARCH IT APPEARS THAT I AM ONE OF MANY PEOPLE THAT HAVE HAD THIS HAPPEN. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE. *TR