2007 Toyota Prius complaints

INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) [XXX]I OWN A 2007 PRIUS THAT I BOUGHT NEW IN 2007. IT'S BEEN A GOOD CAR EXCEPT FOR ONE DANGEROUS SAFETY PROBLEM. BACKGROUND: I AM 57 YEARS OLD AND A 20 YEAR + CAR SALESMAN AND THAT HAPPENS TO BE A CERTIFIED TOYOTA CONSULTANT. MY BACKGROUND ALSO INCLUDES 5 YEARS AS A SERVICE MANAGER FOR A DOMESTIC. THE 2007 PRIUS HAS AN AUTOMATIC CVVT TRANSMISSION WITH A TRACTION CONTROL FEATURE. PROBLEM: THE DANGER IS THE MOMENT TRACTION CONTROL IS TRIGGERED A LOST OF TRACTION BY A SIGNAL FROM THE WHEEL AREA IT "POWERS DOWN" THE ENGINE TO NO POWER FOR 1-2 SECONDS IT TAKES THE SYSTEM TO RECOVER. HITTING A MANHOLE COVER OR A POTHOLE GOING DOWN BROADWAY AT 30 MPG CAN SET IT OFF BUT THE MOST DANGEROUS SITUATION IS PULLING ONTO A BUSY ROAD. THE SECONDS IT TAKES TO RECOVER SEEMS A LOT LONGER WHEN YOU ARE IN TRAFFIC. THE SENSORS IN THE WHEEL AREAS THAT ACTIVATE THE TRACTION CONTROL FEATURE ARE SET UP TOO SENSITIVE. THE TOYOTA ADVISORS KNOW OF NO REPROGRAMMING FIX EITHER. TOYOTA OFFERS NO SHUT OFF FOR THIS FEATURE. IT IS HORRID TRYING TO GET UP THE SLIGHTEST SNOWY INCLINE. I'M NO ENGINEER BUT SUSPECT IT'S A FEATURE SELECTED BY TOYOTA TO PROTECT THE CVVT TRANSMISSION AGAINST THE ENORMOUS TORQUE PRODUCED BY THE HYBRID MOTOR'S ALMOST 300 FOOT LBS. I WOULD BE HAPPY TO SHOW YOU. THE TOYOTA SERVICE ADVISORS DID NOT NEED TO DRIVE IT. THEY ARE AWARE OF THE COMPLAINT. I CONTACTED THE SERVICE DEPARTMENTS AT BOTH GROOVE T

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS HYBRID. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY BETWEEN 60-65 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD. THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BEGAN TO STICK. THE DRIVER SIDE FLOOR MAT WAS ENTRAPPED UNDERNEATH THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO REMOVE THE FLOOR MAT WHILE PRESSURE WAS BEING APPLIED TO THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO SLOW DOWN. THE IDENTICAL FAILURE OCCURRED ON A SEPARATE OCCASION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.

I BOUGHT A NEW PRIUS 2007 IN DECEMBER 2006 FROM LIBERTY TOYOTA IN NEW JERSEY. THE CAR IS GARAGED, SERVICED REGULARLY, AND HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT. THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKS UP SOMETIMES. WE COMPLAINED ABOUT IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AT EVERY SERVICE, AND WE WERE TOLD THAT THEY WERE UNABLE TO GET AN ERROR CODE, AND HENCE COULD NOT FIND THE PROBLEM AND CORRECT IT. UNLESS TOYOTA ACKNOWLEDGES THE PROBLEM, AND CODES THE SYSTEM FOR SUCH ERRORS, OF COURSE THE DEALERSHIP WILL NOT GET A CODE. I ALSO POINTED OUT TO THE DEALERSHIP THAT WE KNEW SOMEONE WHO HAD AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE HER STEERING IN HER PRIUS 2006 LOCKED-UP AND THAT THE 2006 PRIUS HAD BEEN RECALLED FOR FAULTY AIR BAGS (RECALL ID FROM NHTSA: 06V096000) AND ELECTRIC STEERING POWER ASSIST SYSTEM (RECALL ID FROM NHTSA: 06V188000). WE WERE THEN TOLD THAT THE 2007 MODEL COULD NOT HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM AS THE 2006 MODEL BECAUSE TOYOTA WOULD HAVE FIXED IT. THE RECALL ON 2006 MODEL STEERING WAS MADE ON MAY 31, 2006. IT WAS MUCH TOO LATE FOR THE 2007 MODELS. THEY WERE ALREADY SHIPPED OUT OF JAPAN. FRUSTRATED BY THE UNRESPONSIVENESS OF THE DEALERSHIP, I CALLED TOYOTA'S CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE NUMBER AND I WAS TOLD BY AN AUTOMATED MESSAGE THAT I SHOULD CALL THE DEALERSHIP. IF I WANTED TO CALL THE DEALERSHIP, I WOULD NOT BE CALLING TOYOTA. I THEN SENT AN EMAIL COMPLAINING, NOW OVER A YEAR AGO, THROUGH THEIR WEBSITE, BUT NEVER HEARD FROM TOYOTA. . EVER SINCE THE STEERING PROBLEMS SURFACED, WE HAVE STOPPED USING THE CAR EXCEPT FOR VERY SHORT R

I OWN A 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHEN THE CAR WAS LESS THAN A YEAR OLD, THE LIGHTS BEGAN TO GO OFF AND ON. DUE TO MY MILEAGE THE DEALERSHIP REFUSED REPAIR. FILED A FORMAL COMPLAINT WITH TOYOTA 7/2009, AGAIN REPAIR REFUSED. BY FLIPPING THE SWITCH THEY WOULD COME BACK ON AND WORK SPORADICALLY. THE FLICKERING CAUSES THE BULBS TO BLOW. AS OF TODAY, BOTH HEADLIGHTS STOPPED WORKING AT THE SAME TIME, CAUSING ME TO HAVE TO STOP DRIVING. REPLACING THE BULB DOES NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. PREVIOUS DEALERSHIP IN JOHNSON CITY, TN ACKNOWLEDGE DEFECT BUT ONLY OFFERED TO PAY $400 TOWARDS REPAIR. SEEMS THIS ISSUE WON'T BE ADDRESSED UNTIL A DEATH OR ACCIDENT OCCURS. CAR IS VERY UNSAFE AT NIGHT WITHOUT WORKING LIGHTS! *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS. SHE EXPERIENCED BREAK FAILURE WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH IN INCLEMENT WEATHER. HER FIRST FAILURE OCCURRED WHEN SHE WAS UNABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED WITH A VEHICLE IN FRONT OF HER. SHE WAS FORCED TO MAKE A LEFT TURN TO AVOID CRASHING INTO A VEHICLE. SHE HAS EXPERIENCED THE FAILURE FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS AND THOUGHT THAT IT WAS DRIVERS ERROR. SHE HAS NOT TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 12,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 38,000.

2007 TOYOTA PRIUS WITH HIGH-INTENSITY-DISCHARGE HEADLIGHT FAILURE. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE HEADLIGHTS BEGIN TO FLICKER OR HAVE INTERMITTENT FAILURE. *KB THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THE PARTS WOULD BE FREE OF CHARGE, BUT HE WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE LABOR. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THE LABOR WAS $204.00. UPDATED 06/08/10.*JB

I OWN A 2007 PRIUS WITH 35,000 MILES ON IT. WE HAVE BEEN A 2 PRIUS FAMILY FOR 6 YEARS, SO I AM HIGHLY FAMILIAR WITH DRIVING ONE. I HAVE HAD THREE VERY FRIGHTENING INCIDENTS HAPPEN IN ABOUT THE LAST 4 MONTHS IN MY CAR. EACH HAS HAPPENED IN EXACTLY THE SAME SPOT DURING A COMMUTE THAT I DO SEVERAL TIMES A WEEK. I HAVE BEEN EXITING FROM A FREEWAY, GOING 65 MPH, DOWN A GENTLE DOWNSLOPE. WHEN I EXIT (CONTINUING THE DOWNSLOPE) THE ENGINE STARTS REVVING AT A SPEED THAT I NEVER HAVE HEARD DURING ANY NORMAL DRIVING CIRCUMSTANCE. THIS IS WHILE I AM BRAKING TO STOP AT A LIGHT AT THE BOTTOM OF THE EXIT. I HAVE HAD A CAR NEXT TO ME ROLL DOWN THE WINDOW AND THE DRIVER ASK IF I NEEDED HELP. OVER THE LAST 15 YEARS I HAD DONE THIS EXACT EXIT THOUSANDS OF TIMES, IN MANY DIFFERENT VEHICLES, AND HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED ANYTHING REMOTELY LIKE THIS. EACH OF THE THREE TIMES I SHIFTED THE CAR INTO NEUTRAL, BUT THE HIGH REV CONTINUED. THE ONLY THING THAT STOPPED IT WAS TO PULL OVER AND TO TURN THE CAR OFF AND RESTART. I IMMEDIATELY CHECKED THE FLOOR MAT EACH TIME AND IT WAS MOUNTED SECURELY EXACTLY IN PLACE HOOKED ON THE MOUNTS. THIS HAS HAPPENED THREE TIMES, COMPLETELY RANDOMLY. I TOOK THE CAR IN TO BE SERVICED AT TOYOTA OF BERKELEY ON 2/2/10 AND WAS TOLD THAT UNTIL THE CAR DID THIS ON A "FREQUENT" BASIS THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THAT TOYOTA COULD DO. HE CHECKED THE LOG FOR WARNING LIGHTS AND THERE WERE NO ENTRIES (I CHECKED THE DASH EACH TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED, AND NO LIGHTS WARNING LIGHTS WERE ON.) *TR

MY NEAR DEATH EXPERIENCE DRIVE MY 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS ON AUGUST 30, 2007** **WHILE DRIVING MY 2007 PRIUS BEHIND A 16-WHEELER AND AT AN AVERAGE SPEED OF 60MPH, SUDDENLY MY PRIUS' ENGINE & MOTORS ROARED AND THE SPEED SURGED SO STRONGLY THAT IF I DIDN'T RIDE THE BRAKES, I SAW MYSELF RAMMING INTO THE BACK OF THE 16-WHEELER IN FRONT OF ME. ALSO AT THIS TIME, A CADILLAC SUV WAS FOLLOWING ME TO CLOSE ON THIS GEORGIA SECONDARY-HIGHWAY#121 WHEREBY I VISUALIZE A TRAGIC ACCIDENT ABOUT TO OCCUR. AFTER ABOUT A HALF-MILE RIDING THE BRAKES AND FEELING THE PULLING TORQUE OF THOSE POWERFUL ELECTRIC MOTORS ON THE FRONT WHEELS, I SAW MY CHANCE TO EXIT AHEAD WHERE TWO TRASH DUMPSTERS APPEARED. AS I STOPPED THE PRIUS, I NOTICE SMOKE COMING OVER THE HOOD. SO I JUMP OUT OF THE PRIUS. I SAW FLAMES ROUND THE FRONT WHEEL WELL THAT SOON FLAMED OUT. I CONTACTED AAA AUTO CLUB SOUTH AND HAD THE PRIUS TOWED 45 MILES BACK TO THE ANN TAYLOR TOYOTA DEALERSHIP/SERVICE CENTER WHERE I ORIGINALLY PURCHASED THE 2007 PRIUS. FIVE DAYS LATER, I WAS NOTIFIED BY THE SERVICE CENTER THAT A PIECE OF FLEXIBLE "CARPET MAT" SUDDENLY "RIGGED" ENOUGH IN ORDER TO BECOME WEDGED ONTO THE ACCELERATOR AND NO ADDITIONAL SERVICES REQUIRED. (INVOICE#TOCS368561 DATED 09/05/07) NOW IN DISBELIEF AND SCARED, I HAD MY 2007 PRIUS RE-INSPECTED AT PRECISION TUNE AUTO CARE (INVOICE#165110 DATED 09/06/07). THIS INSPECTED YIELDED EVIDENCE OF A PREVIOUS FIRE AND BURNED ROTORS! I CONTACTED BY PHONE TOYOTA CORP CUSTOMER SERVICE AND USAA AUTO INSURANC

2007 TOYOTA PRIUS - BRAKING ISSUE ON RAINY OR SLICK SURFACE. UPON NORMAL BRAKING ON A SLICK OR WET SURFACE THE CAR BECOMES UNSTABLE, THE ABS BRAKING BECOMES IRREGULAR AND THE CAR GOES INTO A SKID AND DOES NOT STOP IN A NORMAL FASHION OR WITHIN A NORMAL BRAKING DISTANCE. THE SAME BRAKING RESPONSE OCCURS IF I HIT A POTHOLE WHILE BRAKING. THE TOYOTA DEALER TELLS ME THAT THIS IS NORMAL. IT IS NOT NORMAL AS I CANNOT DRIVE THE CAR UNDER WET OR SNOWY CONDITIONS FOR FEAR OF AN ACCIDENT. THE BRAKING ISSUES NOTED IN THE 2010 PRIUS MAKE ME WONDER IF A SIMILAR CONDITION EXISTS FOR THE 2007 MODEL YEAR. I SUSPECT THAT IT IS THE ECU WHICH IS FAULTY. *TR

HEADLIGHT(S) GO OFF AND PEOPLE HAVE STOPPED TO TELL US THAT ONE OF LIGHTS MUST BE BURNED OUT. PREVIOUSLY WE HAD NOTICED OTHERS BLINKING THEIR LIGHTS AT US BUT WE JUST THOUGHT IT WAS BECAUSE OUR LIGHTS WERE ON, NOT THAT ONE OR BOTH WEREN'T ON. THERE IS A PERIOD OF TIME, USUALLY 1 OR TWO WEEKS, AND IT WILL HAPPEN AGAIN. WE HAVE FOUND THAT IF WE TURN OFF THE CAR AND TURN IT BACK ON THAT THE LIGHT(S) WORK..............BUT FOR HOW LONG? IT'S IS VERY SCARY AT NIGHT BUT SO FAR WE HAVE BEEN LUCKY AND WE VERY SELDOM DRIVE AT NIGHT. *TR

THIS HAS HAPPENED DOZENS OF TIMES, TO MYSELF AND MY WIFE. WE ARE BRAKING, AND WHILST BRAKING DRIVE OVER A POTHOLE OR DRAIN. THE TRACTION CONTROL COMES ON, AND THE CAR DISENGAGES THE BRAKES AND THE CAR LURCHES FORWARD. AFTER CLEARING THE POTHOLE, THE TRACTION CONTROL THEN DISENGAGES, AND THE BRAKES RE-ENGAGE. SEVERAL TIMES, I HAVE COME CLOSE TO HITTING THE CAR IN FRONT. CONDITIONS: CLEAR, SUNNY, DRY ROADS. CAR: TOYOTA PRIUS, YEAR 2007. *TR

I OWN A 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS SPORT EDITION. ONE EVENING ON MY WAY HOME I GOT PULLED OVER FOR HAVING A HEADLIGHT OUT. THAT EVENING AFTER GOING HOME, I GOT IN MY CAR TO HEAD BACK OUT AND MY WIFE FOLLOWED ME INTO THE GARAGE AND NOTICED AS I WAS PULLING OUT THAT MY HEADLIGHTS WERE BOTH ON. THAT IS WHAT ALERTED ME TO THE PROBLEM WHICH IS THAT MY HEADLIGHTS GO OFF RANDOMLY. SOMETIMES IT IS THE PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT, SOMETIMES THE DRIVER'S SIDE. WHEN ONE GOES OUT I CAN USUALLY GET IT TO COME BACK ON BY TURNING MY LIGHTS OFF AND THEN BACK ON. THE WORST CASE OF THIS IS THAT ONE EVENING AFTER LEAVING MY IN-LAWS HOUSE I HAD TO TURN ON MY BRIGHT LIGHTS BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE STREETLIGHTS IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD. AS SOON AS I TURNED ON MY BRIGHTS, BOTH LIGHTS WENT OUT COMPLETELY. IT WAS INSTANTLY DARK AND I HAD TO SLAM ON BREAKS. IT TOOK ME A SECOND TO REALIZE WHAT WAS GOING ON. I TURNED MY LIGHTS OFF AND BACK ON AND THEY WORKED LONG ENOUGH FOR ME TO GET HOME. IT IS NOT UNUSUAL FOR ONE OF MY LIGHTS TO GO OUT ON A DAILY BASIS. I BEGAN RESEARCHING THIS AND FOUND NUMEROUS OTHER COMPLAINTS JUST LIKE MINE FROM OTHER PRIUS OWNERS (HTTP://TINYURL.COM/YECDLAE) I TOOK MY CAR TO THE TOYOTA DEALER AND THE GUY THERE BASICALLY TOLD ME ASIDE THAT I COULD GET THE BULB REPLACED BUT JUST BETWEEN US THAT WASN'T GOING TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM. HE SAID MY BEST BET WAS TO FILE A COMPLAINT AND HOPE FOR A RECALL. *TR

I HAVE A 2007 PRIUS. THE LAST 3 MONTHS MY HEADLIGHTS HAVE INTERMITTENTLY FLICKERED, AND GONE OUT. I REC'D A LETTER FROM TOYOTA STATING THAT THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH 2006-2009 PRIUS'. REPLACING THEM WILL COST $300 +, I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS PROBLEM ON THIS WEBSITE, AND THE PROBLEM IS CONSISTENT! IF THIS IS A TOYOTA DEFECT, WHY ARE WE PAYING FOR THESE BULBS? THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE! *TR

WHILE DRIVING MY 2007 PRIUS TO SONOMA FOR THE WEEKEND BOTH OF MY HEADLIGHTS FAILED TO WORK SIMULTANEOUSLY!! THIS LEFT ME DRIVING IN COMPLETE DARKNESS AT 60MPH AND MY 5 YEAR OLD IN THE BACK SEAT! IT WAS TERRIFYING FOR THAT SECOND IN WHICH I HAD NO LIGHT SOURCE WHATSOEVER. NO STREETLIGHTS, NO HEADLIGHTS, NOT EVEN ANY MOONLIGHT! THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED A SERIOUS CRASH AS I WAS ON UNFAMILIAR ROADS AND I HAD TO TURN MY LIGHTS ALL THE WAY OFF AND THEN ON AGAIN TO GET ANY SOURCE OF LIGHT! I HOPE SOMEONE AT THIS AGENCY IS PLANNING ON DOING SOMETHING ABOUT THIS BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED! I KNOW I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THIS PROBLEM OUT THERE! *TR

WHEN I DRIVE MY 2007 PRIUS TO WORK, I PASS BY 101 SOUTH TO 110 SOUTH FREEWAY. AT THAT CURVE, THERE IS A LITTLE BUMP, WHEN I DRIVE ABOUT 30 MPH AT THAT BUMPY SPOT, I EXPERIENCED FOUR TIMES LOST MY BREAKING SYSTEM FOR A SECOND OR TWO. (WHENEVER I LOOSE BRAKING SYSTEM BRAKE LIGHT COME ON FOR A SECOND OR TWO) ONE TINE I HAD NEARLY MISS THE CAR IN FRONT. WHENEVER I DRIVE THAT SPOT I AM SLOWING DOWN TO 20 MPH. 2007 PRIUS DEFINITELY HAS BRAKING PROBLEMS. I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE MY PRIUS. I NEED HELP. *TR

PRIUS 2007, FAILED TO STOP AT VERY LOW SPEED. WITH A GUEST INSIDE MY CAR, I DROVE OVER A RAILROAD TRACK. THERE WAS A STREET LIGHT UP FRONT, AND A COUPLE OF CARS AHEAD OF MINE. AS I PRESSED MY BRAKES, THE CAR DID NOT STOP. MY CAR REAR ENDED THE FRONT CAR, AND MY INSURANCE WAS CHARGED FOR IT. INDEED, I HAD NO IDEA THE PRIUS COULD HAVE A BRAKE PROBLEM. TO MAKE IT LESS EXPENSIVE FOR MY FUTURE INSURANCE, I DID NOT HAD MY FRONT BUMPER REPLACED, AND THE DRIVER SIDE OUTSIDE MIRROR PLASTIC COVER, THINKING THAT PERHAPS THE INSURANCE WOULD NOT GO UP. NOW I HAVE A DOUBLED CAR INSURANCE PAYMENT. THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED ON MAY 21, 2009. I TOOK MY CAR ON THE 26 MAY 2009 FOR A 40 MILES MAINTENANCE PAID IN ADVANCE WHEN I BOUGHT THE CAR. THE BRAKES WERE ALSO CHECKED AND NO PROBLEMS FOUND BY THE TOYOTA DEALER. I TOOK MY CAR AGAIN FEB 20, 2010, AGAIN, NO PROBLEMS FOUND. TODAY I AM RELUCTANT, ON MY MIND, IF THE PRIUS WILL STOP OR NOT WHEN BRAKES A PRESSED. CAR WAS PURCHASE ON FEBRUARY 2007. *TR

ABS, VSC, BRAKE FAILURE. *TR

MY 2007 PRIUS HID HEADLIGHT GOES OUT RANDOMLY. THIS PROBLEM WAS FIRST OBSERVED ON PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT AT APPROXIMATELY 30,000 MILES AND NOW FAILING ON DRIVER SIDE AS WELL. THE VEHICLE IS NOW AT 54,000 MILES. I TURN THE SWITCH OFF THEN ON AGAIN; IT WOULD WORK FOR AWHILE BUT WOULD GO OUT AGAIN. THIS OCCURS EVERY TIME I USE THE HEADLIGHTS AND THE FAILURE FREQUENCY IS INCREASING. THESE EXPANSIVE HID HEADLIGHTS ARE NOT RELIABLE AND PUT OCCUPANTS AT EXTREME RISK WHILE DRIVING ON DARK ROADWAYS. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY PROBLEM. I CANNOT AFFORD TO SPEND OVER $600 TO REPLACE THE HEADLIGHTS THAT WILL FAIL AGAIN SHORTLY. STANDARD, INEXPENSIVE HALOGEN HEADLIGHTS ARE MORE RELIABLE AND HAVE LONGER LIFE. THESE HID HEADLIGHTS ARE DEFECTIVE AND NEED TO BE RECALLED BY TOYOTA AND REPLACED WITH DEPENDABLE HID HEADLIGHTS. *TR

2007 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE HID LIGHTS JUST TURN OFF FOR NO REASON. IT IS RANDOM. IT IS A GREAT DANGER WHEN IT IS DARK AND THE LIGHTS JUST GO OFF. WE ARE IN A RURAL AREA SO THERE ARE NO LIGHTS NEAR THE ROAD WHEN IT HAPPENS. AT THIS POINT IF I TURN THE LIGHTS OFF AND BACK ON THEY COME BACK. THIS HAS BEEN AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM FOR A FEW MONTHS. THE BIGGER ISSUE IS THAT THE DEALER DOES NOT KNOW WHAT CAUSES THIS AND WANTS TO SPEND OVER $1000.00 IN TRIAL FIXES.*TR

1. SAFETY ' WHILE DRIVING ON A BUMPY ROAD IN DARIEN (WEST AVENUE NEAR THE TRAIN STATION) LAST YEAR THE PRIUS BRAKES DID NOT STOP THE CAR. ALTHOUGH THE SPEED WAS LOW (ABOUT 5MPH), THE RESULTANT ACCIDENT DAMAGED ITS FRONT END AND THE CAR IN FRONT OF US. 2. DRIVABILITY AND SAFETY ' THE CRUISE CONTROL HOLDS THE MINIMUM SPEED BUT ALLOWS OVER SPEED CONDITIONS. WHILE RETURNING FROM DANBURY ON ROUTE 7 THE CRUISE CONTROL HOLDS 40MPH UNTIL GOING DOWNHILL. ON DOWNHILL SLOPES THE SPEED INCREASES AND INTERVENTION IS REQUIRED TO TURN OFF THE CRUISE CONTROL AND APPLY THE BRAKES. 3. DRIVABILITY ' DURING COLD WEATHER THE MAIN BATTERY ACCEPTS A CHARGE BUT DOES NOT RETURN MUCH ENERGY TO THE DRIVE SYSTEM. THE MILEAGE DECREASES BY 10-15MPG. TOYOTA OF STAMFORD REFUSED TO DO A FREE SAFETY INSPECTION. *TR

I HAVE OWED BOTH A 2005 AND 2007 PRIUS AND HAVE EXPERIENCED TWO PROBLEMS WITH BOTH VEHICLES THAT ARE A SAFETY CONCERN, ALTHOUGH NO ACCIDENT HAS RESULTED FROM THESE PROBLEMS. 1) IN SNOWY CONDITIONS, WHEN TRAVELING UP AN INCLINE, THE TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM CAN TURN OFF POWER TO BOTH DRIVE WHEELS WITH THE RESULT THAT THE CAR CAN NOT MAKE IT UP THE HILL. GRANTED THIS CAN HAPPEN EVEN TO A MORE CONVENTIONAL CAR, BUT THE PRIUS DOES THIS UNDER CIRCUMSTANCES WHEN OTHER CARS HAVE NO PROBLEM NEGOTIATING THE HILL. THE OWNERS MANUAL CLAIMS THAT THIS IS TO PROTECT THE ELECTRIC ENGINE, HOWEVER, IT SEEMS THAT THERE SHOULD BE AN OVERRIDE OF SOME SORT THAT ALLOWS THE INTERNAL COMBUSTION MOTOR TO TURN THE WHEELS WHEN TRACTION IS POOR. THIS SYSTEM HAS ALSO LED TO CIRCUMSTANCES IN PARKING LOTS DURING SNOW, WHERE IT BECOMES IMPOSSIBLE TO MOVE THE CAR EVEN THOUGH OTHER CONVENTIONAL CARS ARE ABLE TO NEGOTIATE THE SNOW WITHOUT A PROBLEM. 2) IN CIRCUMSTANCES WHERE THE PRIUS MUST MERGE QUICKLY INTO TRAFFIC FOR INSTANCE WHEN TURNING INTO BUSY TRAFFIC AT AN INTERSECTION, IF YOU FLOOR THE GAS PEDAL THE CAR INITIAL ACCELERATES, BUT THEN THE ACCELERATION FADES DRAMATICALLY, BEFORE IT RESURGES. THIS CAN BE CIRCUMVENTED BY NOT PRESSING THE GAS PEDAL SO HARD, HOWEVER, THE INSTINCT IS TO STEP ON THE GAS AS HARD AS POSSIBLE. THIS IS NOT ONLY HAIR-RAISING WHEN IT HAPPENS, BUT ALSO COULD LEAD ON AN ACCIDENT. *TR

THE HEADLIGHTS ON OUR 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS GO OUT AT RANDOM INTERVALS -- IT APPEARS TO BE RELATED TO THE BALLAST CONTROLLING THE LIGHTS. THE FAILURE HAPPENS CONSTANTLY -- PROBABLY AT LEAST EVERY FEW MINUTES WHILE DRIVING. SOMETIMES ONE HEADLIGHT, SOMETIMES BOTH. IT CAN BE "FIXED" TEMPORARILY BY TURNING THE LIGHTS OFF AND ON, ONLY TO REPEAT ITSELF SHORTLY THEREAFTER. THE REPLACEMENT COSTS OF THE SYSTEM ARE EXTREMELY PROHIBITIVE ($1,000), AND OBVIOUSLY, THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT. I HAVE BEEN DRIVING AND HAD BOTH LIGHTS GO OUT SIMULTANEOUSLY ON A DARKENED HIGHWAY, WHICH IS TERRIFYING. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING OVER ANY POTHOLES IN THE ROAD AT SPEEDS OF OVER 10 MPH, THE TRACTION WARNING LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE ALSO MADE A LOUD GRINDING NOISE WHILE DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THEY WOULD NOT ENGAGE. THE CONTACT CONFIRMED THAT THE BRAKES FELT AS IF THEY WERE "LOCKING." THE MANUFACTURER AND A LOCAL DEALER WERE CONTACTED, BOTH OF WHICH WERE NOT WILLING TO OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE TO THE VEHICLE. ON A SEPARATE OCCASION, THE HEADLIGHTS INTERMITTENTLY FAILED TO OPERATE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE BULBS IN BOTH HEADLIGHTS. THERE WERE NO RECALLS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNDER 1,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 20,400. UPDATED 03/04/10. *LJ UPDATED 05/10/10

I AM EXPERIENCING MOMENTARY BRAKE FAILURE WHILE DRIVING OVER BUMPY ROADS IN MY 2007 PRIUS SIMILAR TO THAT DESCRIBED BY OWNERS OF SOME 2010 PRIUSES (HTTP://WWW.CBSNEWS.COM/HTDOCS/PDF/020410_TOYOTA.PDF). I HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR NEW AND HAVE TREATED IT AS A QUIRK OF THAT PARTICULAR CAR. AFTER HEARING ABOUT THE RECALL AND SOFTWARE FIX FOR 2010 MODELS, I INQUIRED OF MY LOCAL DEALER ABOUT A SOFTWARE FIX FOR MY '07 MODEL. THEY SAID THERE WAS NO RECALL OF THE '07S AND THEREFORE THE REPAIR WOULD BE AT MY OWN EXPENSE. I LIVE ATOP A HILL, AND THE ROAD COMING DOWN IT IS OFTEN BUMPY, CAUSING THE MOMENTARY LOSS OF BRAKING. BUT WE ARE USED TO IT BY NOW AND KNOW TO BEGIN BRAKING EXTRA EARLY ON THIS STRETCH OF ROAD, BUT IF THERE IS AN AVAILABLE FIX FOR THIS PROBLEM, I WANT TOYOTA TO PROVIDE IT SOONEST. *TR

ACCELERATING FROM A STOP LIGHT, AT ABOUT 30 MPH THE PRIUS ENGINE FELT AND SOUNDED LIKE IT BEGAN TO ACCELERATE AT MAXIMUM RATE. BRAKING HAD NO EFFECT ON SLOWING THE VEHICLE RESULTING IN RUNNING THROUGH A MAJOR INTERSECTION AT A RED LIGHT. THE CAR WAS STOPPED BY SHIFTING INTO NEUTRAL, COASTING TO A STOP, AND PUSHING THE POWER BUTTON. AFTER WAITING 2 MINUTES, THE CAR WAS RESTARTED AND RAN WITH A PROBLEM. THIS OCCURRED ONCE IN SEPTEMBER 2009. TOYOTA'S REMEDY IS TO REPLACE THE FLOOR MATS, HOWEVER, THE FLOOR MAT WAS SECURED TO THE CARPET AND WAS VERIFIED AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT THAT IT WAS FAR FROM INTERFERING WITH THE GAS PEDAL. *TR

WHEN BRAKING WHILE DRIVING OVER POTHOLES, SPEED BUMPS, MANHOLE COVERS, OR ANY KIND OF BUMP IN THE ROAD, CAR LURCHES FORWARD, AND BRAKES DO NOT WORK AT THAT MOMENT, IN ADDITION, THE TRACTION WARNING LIGHT FLASHES TELLING DRIVER CAR HAS LOST TRACTION WITH ROAD. IT OCCURS EVERY SINGLE TIME THE BRAKES ARE DEPRESSED WHILE DRIVING OVER A BUMP, POTHOLE, MANHOLE COVER, OR ANY KIND OF BUMP IN THE ROAD. HAVE COME EXTREMELY CLOSE TO REAR-ENDING AN INDIVIDUAL IN FRONT OF ME AT AN INTERSECTION BECAUSE THERE WAS A BUMP AS I APPROACHED THE INTERSECTION, AND WAS BRAKING TO SLOW DOWN. HAVE TAKEN TO DEALER ONCE AND TOLD BRAKES ARE FINE, UNABLE TO DUPLICATE PROBLEM. TAKING BACK AGAIN TO HAVE SERVICE TECHNICIAN RIDE WITH US SO WE CAN DEMONSTRATE PROBLEM. *TR

I AM AWARE THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKES ON THE TOYOTA PRIUS. NEWS REPORTS INDICATE THAT THE PROBLEM IS CONFINED TO THE 2010 MODEL, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO REPORT A BRAKE FAILURE INCIDENT WITH OUR 2007 MODEL PRIUS. IN JUNE OF 2009 MY WIFE AND I WERE DRIVING OUR PRIUS DOWN A HILL APPROACHING A STOP LIGHT. IT HAD BEEN RAINING AND THE PAVEMENT WAS WET, BUT THERE WAS NO STANDING WATER ON THE ROAD SURFACE. THE LIGHT TURNED YELLOW AS WE APPROACHED THE INTERSECTION AT A SPEED OF ABOUT 35 MPH. I APPLIED THE BRAKES BUT THE CAR CONTINUED TO MOVE FORWARD DOWN THE HILL WITH NO BRAKING ACTION AND NO DECELERATION. I HAD NO ALTERNATIVE BUT TO SPEED UP TO TRY GET THROUGH THE INTERSECTION BEFORE THE LIGHT TURNED RED. THE LIGHT DID TURN RED JUST BEFORE WE ENTERED THE INTERSECTION, BUT WE WERE ABLE TO MAKE IT THROUGH BEFORE ANY OPPOSING TRAFFIC ENTERED THE INTERSECTION. IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT DURING THIS INCIDENT THE CAR SHOWED NO EVIDENCE OF BEING IN A SKID - - IT SIMPLY MOVED FORWARD WITHOUT ANY SWERVING. FURTHERMORE, THERE WAS NO VIBRATION IN THE BRAKE PEDAL NOR ANY SOUNDS THAT MIGHT BE ASSOCIATED WITH ANTI-LOCK BRAKE ACTION. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE TOYOTA DEALER AND ASKED THE SERVICE MANAGER IF THERE COULD BE SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE ANTI-LOCK SYSTEM. I WAS TOLD THAT THEY HAD NO WAY TO CHECK THAT. WE HAVE HAD NO FURTHER PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKES, BUT I AM CONCERNED THAT THIS BEHAVIOR MAY RECUR BECAUSE OF THE CURRENT BRAKING ISSUE. *TR

MY WIFE HAS A 2007 PRIUS, ON WHICH WE RUN DUNLOP GRASPICS SNOW TIRES, 185/65R15, IN THE WINTER, ON ALL 4 CORNERS. WE HAVE RUN THE GRASPICS ON A DODGE CARAVAN, FORD MUSTANG, AND ACURA RSX, WITH GOOD RESULTS, ON SNOWY / ICY ROADS. ANYWAY, WE WERE IN CANADA, DECEMBER 6, 2008, BEAUTIFUL SUNNY DAY, TEMP ABOUT 6 DEG. F. ROADS IN THE CITY HAD 1 - 2 INCHES OF SNOW, WITH ENOUGH SALT TO MAKE A NICE GREASY MIXTURE, (TOO COLD TO MELT THE SNOW). I STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN BEFORE MAKING A LEFT TURN. FROM FULL STOP, AND THERE WERE SOME ON COMING CARS BUT A DISTANCE AWAY, I GENTLY STEPPED ON THE GAS TO MAKE THE TURN - NOTHING - OKAY THE TRAFFIC A LITTLE CLOSER, BUT STILL A LONG WAYS AWAY. I GIVE IT A LITTLE MORE GAS, AND MAYBE WE ARE MOVING. FINALLY IT IS CREEPING ACROSS, AND WE COMPLETE THE LEFT TURN WITH NO BENT SHEET METAL. AFTER THIS EXPERIENCE, AND WITH NO ONE ELSE IN THE PRIUS, I DID SOME EXPERIMENTING. THE TRACTION CONTROL APPEARS TO WORK TOO WELL. IT SEEMS TO ALLOW NO SLIPPAGE, AND THERE IS NO FEELING OF FORWARD PROGRESS, OR THAT THE TIRES ARE EVEN TRYING. I DID FIND SOME SIMILAR COMMENTS ON THE INTERNET. I CALLED TOYOTA AND THEY ARE SO CONCERNED ABOUT DAMAGE TO THE PRIUS DRIVETRAIN THAT THE TRACTION CONTROL IS DESIGNED TO ALLOW NO SLIPPAGE. THE PERSON ON THE PHONE AT TOYOTA SAID THAT IF THE TIRES SPUN AND THEN GOT TRACTION, THERE MAY BE DAMAGE RESULTING IN A $6000 REPAIR BILL. I SAID, %$#@ THE $6000; I HAD 4 PEOPLE IN A CAR THAT WAS VERY DANGEROUS AT SNOWY INTERSECTIONS. I ASKED TO TA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH ON AN UNEVEN ROAD SURFACE. WHILE BRAKING THE VEHICLE LOSS SLIGHT CONTROL AND SKIDDED. SUDDENLY, THE SKID CONTROL WARNING LIGHT INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO GAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURES OCCURRED WHENEVER ENCOUNTERING UNEVEN ROAD SURFACES, AND POTHOLES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 6,000.

I HAVE A 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS. I TURNED IT OFF AND WENT IN THE HOUSE. WHEN I CAME OUT IT HAD GONE INTO MY GARAGE DOOR AND DAMAGED THE FRONT END AND THE GARAGE DOOR. OBVIOUSLY ACCELERATED AFTER BEING SHUT DOWN. *TR

THE DRIVER SIDE HID HEADLIGHTS WERE FAILING INTERMITTENTLY. AT ONE POINT ALL OF THE HEADLIGHTS FAILED WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT ON THE HIGHWAY. FOG LAMPS WERE STILL WORKING. REPLACED THE DRIVER SIDE HEADLIGHT. 2 MONTHS LATER PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT STARTED WORKING INTERMITTENTLY. DIDN'T WAIT FOR A COMPLETE FAILURE TO HAPPEN WHILE I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY AGAIN. REPLACED PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT. *TR

FIRST TIME THE PRIUS SURGED THE CAR HAD JUST LEFT THE FREEWAY AND THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS STILL ENGAGED. THE PRIUS SURGED AT 55 MILES AN HOUR FOR A HUNDRED FEET TILL WE GAINED CONTROL. THE SECOND TIME SEVERAL MONTHS LATER WE LEFT THE FREEWAY WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL STILL ENGAGED AND COULD NOT SLOW THE CAR. WE RACED THROUGH HOOD RIVER, OR AT SPEEDS IN EXCESS OF 60 MILES AN HOUR RIDING THE BRAKE THROUGH TRAFFIC AND PEDESTRIAN CROSSWALKS- OUR BRAKES SMOKING. FINALLY THE DRIVER FOUND A PARALLEL PARKING PLACE TO SLIDE INTO AND WERE ABLE TO PUNCH THE BUTTON AND TURN OFF THE CAR. THE DRIVER HAVING THE CAR IN PARK TURNED THE CAR ON AGAIN . THE MOTOR WAS STILL IN FULL THROTTLE. THE DRIVER LEFT THE CAR TO FIND A RESTROOM. I STAYED IN THE CAR WITH THE ENGINE OFF. I REACHED DOWN TO THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND WITH LIGHT PRESSURE PULLED THE PEDAL UP. WHEN THE DRIVER RETURNED AND STARTED THE MOTOR IT WAS AT NORMAL SPEED. WE TOOK THE CAR TO GRIFFITH MOTORS IN THE DALLES ,OR ON THE DEC. 10, 2009. THE FACTORY REP DROVE THE CAR ( W/ 21,690 MILES ON IT AFTER HE DROVE IT) AND ON HIS REPORT WROTE "NO PROBLEM FOUND". *TR

TOYOTA PRIUS 2007: WE OWN THIS VEHICLE WHICH HAS LESS THEN 80K MILES ON IT AND THE HEADLIGHTS TURN OFF WHEN IN USE. THEY DO NOT BOTH GO OUT, IT IS USUALLY FIRST THE PASSENGER SIDE, THEN I WILL HAVE TO TURN THEM OFF AND BACK ON TO GET IT WORKING AGAIN. THEN, AFTER A FEW MINUTES, THE DRIVER'S SIDE LIGHT TURNS OFF. WHO HAS EVER HEARD OF HEADLIGHTS DYING OUT SO EARLY? I READ THAT THERE WAS A SIMILAR PROBLEM ON THE 2005 MODEL SO I CALLED MY LOCAL LANSING, MI TOYOTA DEALERSHIPS SERVICE DEPARTMENT. THEY SAID THAT IT IS LIKELY THAT THEY ARE JUST GOING OUT. I INFORMED HIM OF THE MILEAGE AND HIS RESPONSE WAS "WELL, THEY ARE UP TO FOUR YEARS OLD." AGAIN, I ASKED WHO HAS EVER HEARD OF BUYING A NEW VEHICLE SUCH AS WE DID WITH THIS ONE, AND THEN THE HEADLIGHTS LASTING ONLY A FEW YEARS, WELL UNDER 100K, NOT TO MENTION THE PRIOR RECALL? THEY SAID WELL IF IT IS A COMPUTER SOFTWARE PROBLEM, INSTEAD OF JUST REPLACING THE BULBS YOU ARE LOOKING AT A THOUSAND PLUS DOLLARS FOR REPAIR. I BELIEVE THIS IS JUST A WAY FOR THEM TO NOT LOSE MONEY AS THERE ARE OTHER DANGEROUS PROBLEMS WITH THESE MODELS. I HAVE CHILDREN AND I DO NOT WANT TO BE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD IN THE EVENING AND THEN I SUDDENLY LOSE THE ABILITY TO HAVE HEADLIGHTS ALTOGETHER! IS THAT WHAT IT WILL TAKE FOR A RECALL TO HAPPEN? I HOPE YOU CAN HELP. *TR

DRIVERS SIDE HEADLAMP GOES OUT AND COMES BACK ON - GETS DIMMER AND GOES OUT AGAIN. 2007 PRIUS. *TR

TWO INSTANCES OF RUNAWAY ACCELERATION WITHIN THE FIRST MONTH I OWNED MY 2007 PRIUS (OCTOBER - NOVEMBER 2006) POO POOED BY THE DEALER. SAID THEY KNEW NOTHING ABOUT ANY SUCH PROBLEM. GOOGLED IT AND IT WAS ALL OVER THE NET EVEN THEN. STILL BLAMING IT ON THE FLOOR MATS WHICH THEY SOLD TO ME SPECIFICALLY FOR MY CAR THAT WERE INCLUDED IN THE PURCHASE PRICE. GLAD THIS IS NOW GETTING MEDIA ATTENTION. *TR

I HAVE A TOYOTA PRIUS 2007. I HAVE 2 SAFETY ISSUES THAT I HAVE COMPLAINED TO THE DEALER ABOUT BUT THEY ARE UNABLE TO FIX SO THEY IGNORED MY CONCERNS AFTER REALIZING THEY COULD NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. FIRST PROBLEM IS THE HEAD LIGHTS. WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT THE HIGH BEAMS DO NOT SHINE ON THE ROAD BUT SHINE INTO THE TREES. THEY SAY THERE IS NO ADJUSTMENTS FOR IT. ALSO PEOPLE THINK I AM SHINING MY HIGH BEAMS AT THEM WHEN I AM NOT. THEY ARE JUST TOO HIGH....ALSO THE HEADLIGHTS DO NO ILLUMINATE THE SIDES OF THE CAR AND ROAD SO WHEN MAKING TURNS AT NIGHT YOU CANNOT SEE WHERE YOU ARE TURNING. I HAVE TO APPROACH TURNS VERY VERY SLOWLY BECAUSE I CANNOT SEE THE ROADS WHEN TURNING. EVERYONE THAT DRIVES MY CAR COMPLAINS ABOUT THIS NOTICEABLE PROBLEM HOWEVER TOYOTA WONT ADDRESS IT BECAUSE THEY SAY THERE IS NO ADJUSTMENT. 2ND PROBLEM THEIR SLIP DIFFERENTIAL. WHETHER THERE IS SNOW ON THE GROUND OR NOT WHEN THE TIRES START TO SLIP THEY LOOSE ALL POWER TO THE WHEELS. I HAVE BEEN IN INTERSECTIONS WHEN THIS HAS OCCURRED AND WAS ALMOST HIT. EVEN WHEN TRYING TO DRIVE OVER THE STOP IN THE CAR WASH...SOMETIMES I AM UNABLE TO POWER OVER THE BUMP. I GET STUCK OFTEN. AGAIN TOYOTA SAYS THIS IS A NORMAL FUNCTION OF THE CAR. NOT SOMETHING I WOULD EXPECT FROM A $24,000 CAR. OUR VALUES HAVE PLUMMETED AND THERE IS NO RECOURSE FOR IT. *TR

APPROXIMATELY 7 MONTHS AGO MY 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS BEGAN ACCELERATING DURING USE OF THE CRUISE CONTROL. I REPORTED THE PROBLEM TO THE DEALERSHIP WHO SAID THEY HAVE NO FIX FOR IT. I CAN'T USE THE CRUISE CONTROL IN MY CAR FOR FEAR THE CAR WILL NOT STOP ACCELERATING. *TR

2007 PRIUS, WITH HID HEADLIGHTS. BOTH LIGHTS GO OUT AT THE SAME TIME, LEAVING YOU IN TOTAL DARKNESS. WHEN YOU TRY TO TURN THE HIGH-BEAMS ON IN THIS CONDITION THE ENTIRE DASH LIGHTING SYSTEM BLACKS OUT. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS BEFORE WE ACTUALLY UNDERSTOOD THEY PROBLEM. IT WAS VERY INFREQUENT AT FIRST, STARTING ON THANKSGIVING 2009. IT HAS HAPPENED TWICE THIS PAST WEEKEND. I HAVE CALLED A TOYOTA DEALER AND THEY TELL ME WE NEED TO REPLACE THE HEAD LAMPS. I FIND IT EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO BELIEVE THAT THE ENTIRE LIGHTING FAILS, BECAUSE OF A BAD HEADLIGHT, LET ALONE ADD IN THE ATTEMPT TO SWITCH ON THE HIGH BEAMS AND THE ENTIRE DASH LIGHTS GO OUT. WE HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO GET THE CAR TO A DEALERSHIP YET DUE TO SCHEDULING. *TR

I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF A 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS. MY BRAKES SEEM TO FAIL MOMENTARILY WHEN I AM TRYING TO STOP AT A BUMPY INTERSECTION. THIS HAS HAPPENED MORE ONE TIME. ALTHOUGH I HAVE NOT HAD AN ACCIDENT AS A RESULT IT IS A VERY UNCOMFORTABLE FEELING, BECAUSE YOU JUST DON'T KNOW IF THEY ARE GOING TO BRING YOU TO A STOP. I HAVE REPORTED THIS PROBLEM TO THE TOYOTA DEALER (SMART TOYOTA - MADISON, WI) AND THEIR ANALYSIS AT THE TIME I TOOK IT IN ON MAY 14, 2009 WAS THAT IT COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED AND ESSENTIALLY FOUND NOTHING WRONG. *TR

TOYOTA PRIUS 2007 PASSENGER HID (HEADLAMP) GOES OFF AND ON. LAMP OR CONTROLLER? NO KNOWN EVENT HAS CAUSED THIS. BECAUSE IT CORRECTS FOR NO APPARENT REASON WE ARE CONFUSED. *TR

MY HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT TWICE THIS WEEK ON MY 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS. *TR

TOYOTA PRIUS 2007. WILL NOT MOVE WHEN ON ANY SLIPPERY SURFACE. THE TRACTION CONTROL HAS NO OVERRIDE. THIS COULD GET SOMEONE KILLED WHEN THEY ARE TRYING TO MERGE INTO TRAFFIC AND THE TRACTION CONTROL SHUTS THE POWER TO THE WHEELS WHEN IT IS SEVERELY NEEDED. THIS ONLY HAPPENED IN MY DRIVEWAY, MY OTHER VEHICLES WENT THROUGH THE SNOW WITH NO PROBLEM, THE PRIUS KEPT LOSING POWER AND THERE WAS NO WAY TO SHUT IT OFF. SOME ONE IS GOING TO GET KILLED WHEN THE TRACTION CONTROL DOESN'T KNOW WHAT TO DO AND SITS THERE WHILE THE VEHICLE IS SMASHED BY THE ONCOMING VEHICLE. TO REITERATE ONCE THE TRACTION CONTROL TAKES OVER THE DRIVER HAS NO CONTROL OVER THE VEHICLE. *TR

TRACTION CONTROL STABILITY CONTROL VSC CUTS POWER INSTEAD OF GENTLY BRAKING ONE WHEEL. *TR

I READ ABOUT THE RECALL OF THE 2010 PRIUS CONCERNING THE ABS SOFTWARE. MY 2007 PRIUS EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEMS RECENTLY WHEN I RAN OVER A CURB AT LOW SPEED AND THE CAR LURCHED FORWARD AT HIGH SPEED AFTER I APPLIED THE BRAKES AND I HIT A WALL ABOUT 5 FEET AWAY. DAMAGE TO MY CAR WAS A CRACKED BUMPER, SLIGHTLY DENTED HOOD, CRACKED HEAD LIGHT. I USED TO GET 50 TO 60 MILES PER GALLON AND I CAN NOT GET OVER 41 MILES PER GALLON NOW. I BOUGHT NEW TIRES AND HAD THEM BALANCED AND ALIGNED BUT THE MILEAGE HAD NOT IMPROVED. DAMAGES TO THE EXTERIOR OF THE CAR WILL AMOUNT TO ABOUT 2 TO 3 THOUSAND DOLLARS. MY TOYOTA DEALER SAYS THAT MY 2007 MODEL IS NOT PART OF THE RECALL. I HAVE READ BLOGS WHERE PEOPLE WITH MY MODEL TOYOTA HAVE HAD SIMILAR EXPERIENCES. I BELIEVE THAT THE ABS SOFTWARE IS FAULTY IN MORE THAN THE 2010 PRIUSES. *TR

DRIVING ON ICY ROAD. SLOWLY APPROACHED RED LIGHT. BRAKES DID NOT WORK, NO PUMPING OR SLOWING. THIS OCCURRED TWICE. ABLE TO AVOID ACCIDENT. TOOK TO DEALER WHO SAID BRAKES CHECKED OUT OK. WHY DID THEY FAIL? *TR

PRIUS BRAKING BEHAVIOR I OWNED A NEW 2007 PRIUS WHICH I LEASED AND DROVE FOR THE FIRST 2 YEARS OF THE LEASE AND THEN TRADED FOR A VEHICLE WITH A LARGER INTERIOR. THIS VEHICLE WAS LEASED IN FEBRUARY 2007 DURING THE PRESIDENT'S DAY SALE AT KARL MALONE TOYOTA IN ALBUQUERQUE. THIS VEHICLE CONSISTENTLY "PAUSED" BRAKING FOR MOST OF A SECOND WHEN ONE OF THE FRONT WHEELS PASSED THRU A SMALL POTHOLE ON PAVED ROADS. IT MAY HAVE ALSO HAD THIS BEHAVIOR IN OTHER SITUATIONS, BUT I DIDN'T ENCOUNTER ANY OTHER CASES. I EXPECTED MORE BRAKING MISBEHAVIOR WHEN ALBUQUERQUE INSTALLED SOME REDLIGHT CAMERAS BECAUSE THEY ALSO INSTALLED WARNING STRIPS IN THE PAVEMENT APPROACHING THESE INTERSECTIONS. IN SOME CASES THEY DIDN'T INSTALL STRIPS IN THE FOUR GROOVES CUT IN THE PAVEMENT PERPENDICULAR TO VEHICLE TRAVEL, BUT NEITHER THE GROOVES OR THE STRIPS BOTHERED MY PRIUS DURING BRAKING. MAYBE THAT WAS BECAUSE BOTH WHEELS SAW THE SAME TRANSIENTS. I DIDN'T REPORT THIS TO THE DEALER/MANUFACTURER/GOVERNMENT BECAUSE I CHALKED IT UP TO MORE NONSENSE FROM MODERN ANTI-LOCKING BRAKING SYSTEMS, AND BECAUSE THE BEHAVIOR WAS CONSISTENT/PREDICTABLE AND MOST ANTI-LOCKING SYSTEMS ANNOY ME WITH THEIR BEHAVIOR. WE'VE CONTINUE TO "IMPROVE" ANTI-LOCKING BRAKE SYSTEMS, BUT DIMINISHING MARGINAL RETURNS HAS CAUSED THE IMPROVEMENTS TO ACTUALLY REDUCE THE VALUE OF THESE BRAKING SYSTEMS TO DRIVERS. FOR EXAMPLE, BRAKING DISTANCES IN TYPICAL (I.E. MOST) CONDITIONS ARE LENGTHENED BY THE PREVENTABLE. OVERLY CAUTIOUS ACTIONS OF THESE S

I OWN A TOYOTA PRIUS 2007 WHICH IT WAS PERFORMING EXCELLENT UNTIL 3 MONTHS AGO THAT THE FUEL ECONOMIC WENT DOWN DRAMATICALLY TO HALF OF IT"S USUALLY FUEL CONSUMPTION AN AVERAGE NOW I GETTING AROUND 200 MILES FOR TANK WHEN I USE TO GET AT LEAST 400 PER TANK NOW THAT'S IT IS A BIG DIFFERENCE. I WAS THINKING ON CONTACT THE TOYOTA DEALER BUT MY CAR IT IS BEEN OUT OF THE WARRANTY BECAUSE IT ONLY HAVE 3YEARS OR 36,000 MILES SO I AM AFRAID THEY WANT TO CHARGE ME FOR CHECKING MY CAR IT IS VERY SUSPICIOUS THAT I START W/ THIS ISSUE AFTER MY WARRANTY EXPIRE BESIDES THAT THE CAR IT IS WORKING EXCELLENT BUT I PAY A LOT MORE TO SAVE ON GAS AN NOW IT IS PERFORMING LIKE ANY REGULAR BECAUSE THE MOST MILEAGE I AM GETTING NOW IT IS 35 MILES PER GALLON.VERY DISAPPOINT ABOUT THIS AND HOPE YOU GUYS LOOK INTO THIS ISSUE BECAUSE IT IS VERY SERIOUS. *TR

SUDDEN ACCELERATION IN 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS WHEN USING CRUISE CONTROL TO INCREASE SPEED IN SMALL INCREMENTS. CANCELING CRUISE CONTROL AND RESUMING MANUAL CONTROL REGAINED CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THIS HAPPENED TWICE. I HAVE NOT USED THE CRUISE CONTROL SINCE THIS INCIDENT AND HAVE TOLD MY WIFE NOT TO USE IT EITHER. *TR

I HAVE AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH MY 2007 PRIUS WITH BRAKING AND TRACTION CONTROL IN SLIPPERY CONDITIONS (RAIN, SNOW, ICE), AND ON SLIPPERY OR UNEVEN SURFACES (RAILROAD/TROLLEY TRACKS, MANHOLE COVERS, ETC.). I HAVE REPORTED IT TO THE TOYOTA DEALER SEVERAL TIMES STARTING IN THE SUMMER OF 2007 AND HAVE BEEN TOLD THERE IS NO PROBLEM. THE CAR SEEMS TO LURCH OR SLIDE UNDER THESE CONDITIONS WHICH IS ALARMING EVEN AT VERY LOW SPEEDS. THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT FLASHES, AND THERE IS A MOMENTARY INABILITY TO BRAKE OR STOP THE CAR. *TR

I'VE OWNED A 2007 PRIUS SINCE IT WAS NEW AND THE PROBLEM THAT I SEE WRITTEN ABOUT FOR THE 2010 MODEL, MOMENTARY LOSS OF BRAKES WHEN HITTING A POTHOLE OR ROUGH ROAD, IS EXACTLY WHAT I FEEL IN MY 2007 AND HAVE SEEN REPORTED BY OTHER DRIVERS FOR VARIOUS YEAR PRIUS'S. THIS PROBLEM IS NOT A 2010 PROBLEM ONLY!!! THIS SYMPTOM HAS BEEN PRESENT SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR. *TR