2007 Toyota Prius complaints

EITHER ONE OF MY HEADLIGHTS WILL STOP WORKING AT RANDOM TIMES, PROGRESSIVELY GETTING WORSE. LAST WEEK, WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT, ONE STOPPED WORKING AND SUDDENLY THE SECOND ONE STOPPED WORKING. THAT IS THE FIRST TIME BOTH HAVE STOPPED. IN TOTAL DARKNESS I PANICKED AND HAD TO SWERVE TO PREVENT AN ACCIDENT. *TR

2007 PRIUS HEADLIGHTS ONE OR BOTH GO OUT IN DURING DRIVE. *TR

LEFT FRONT HEADLIGHT FLICKERED INTERMITTENTLY FOR ONE MONTH. BOTH HEADLIGHTS FAILED AT NIGHT WHILE DRIVING ON DARK COUNTRY ROAD ON WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 11. THE LIGHTS RESUMED WORKING AFTER TURNING HEADLIGHT SWITCH ON AND OFF REPEATEDLY. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS. HE STATED THAT WHEN HE APPROACHED A STOP LIGHT AND ENGAGED THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND CRASHED INTO A TREE. THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED; HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER TO BE REPAIRED. THE DEALER CONFIRMED THAT THE FAILURE COULD HAVE BEEN DUE TO THE FLOOR MATS. THE VEHICLE IS BEING REPAIRED AND THE INSURANCE COMPANY WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIR COST. THE CONTACT IS VERY CONCERNED OF THE SAFETY RISK AND THE POSSIBILITY THAT THE FAILURE COULD REOCCUR. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 15000.

OUR 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS HAS A DEFECT IN THE HEADLIGHT CIRCUITRY. WHEN DRIVING WITH THE LIGHTS ON THE HEAD LIGHTS WILL SHUT DOWN SOMETIMES ONE AT A TIME AND MORE FRIGHTENED BOTH WILL CUT OFF 2 TO 3 TIMES DURING MY COMMUTE HOME. THIS HAPPENED YESTERDAY 3 TIMES ON THE WAY HOME. TO GET THE LIGHTS TO TURN ON I HAVE TO TURN THE SWITCH OFF AND THEN BACK ON. THE LIGHTS WILL USUALLY STAY ON FOR 20 TO 30 MINUTES BUT WILL THEN SHUT OFF AGAIN AT SOME POINT . WE DRIVE A VERY DANGEROUS FREEWAY ( CALIFORNIA 60 BETWEEN MORENO VALLEY, CA AND THE JUNCTION OF INTERSTATE 10) AND ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS THE LIGHTS HAVE CUT OUT TOTALLY CAUSING AN UNSAFE CONDITION AS I WAS DRIVING A VERY WINDY ROAD, IN THE DARK AND SEARCHING FOR THE LIGHT SWITCH TO FLICK IT OFF AND ON. I NOW DRIVE WITH MY HAND ON THE LIGHT SWITCH THROUGH THE BADLANDS SECTION OF CALIFORNIA 60 WHEN MY HAND SHOULD BE ON THE STEERING WHEEL. WE WERE PULLED OVER BY A RIVERSIDE COUNTY SHERIFFS OFFICER AFTER SHE NOTICED THE LIGHTS ERRATICALLY BLINKING ON AND OFF. WE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT CREATE THE PROBLEM BUT THAT THERE IS A COMPUTER CIRCUIT THAT CONTROLS THE LIGHTS AND THAT IT WOULD COST APPROXIMATELY $800. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE AND SHOULD BE REPAIRED AS A SAFETY HAZARD. I HAVE OWNED MANY VEHICLES AND HAVE NEVER HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE LIGHTS OTHER THAN A BURNED OUT BULB. I HAVE GONE ONLINE AND THERE ARE OTHER DRIVERS COMPLAINING OF THE SAME ISSUE. PLEASE ASSIST ME BY ADVOCATING ON MY BEHALF WITH

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS SUDDENLY, THE HEADLIGHTS FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE DRIVER EXPERIENCED EXTREMELY LIMITED VISIBILITY. THE HEADLIGHTS BEGAN TO FUNCTION WHEN THE CONTROL SWITCH WAS TURNED TO THE "OFF" AND "ON" POSITION. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE IS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING INSPECTED AND REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 74,000.

HID HEADLAMPS GO IN AND OUT WITH NO WARNING ON MY 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS. RESEARCH ON LINE SHOWS SEVERAL PEOPLE WITH THE SAME ISSUE. *TR

2007 TOYOTA PRIUS HEADLIGHT PROBLEM. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF HIM MADE A SUDDEN STOP; HOWEVER, AFTER ENGAGING THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND CRASHED INTO HIT THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF HIM. THE VEHICLE HE CRASHED INTO ALSO CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE CONTACTS INSURANCE RATE WILL DOUBLE DUE TO THE CRASH. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 29,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 31,500. UPDATED 12/7/09 *CN UPDATED 12/08/09.*JB

STARTING AT APPROXIMATELY ONE YEAR OLD, THE TOYOTA PRIUS HID DRIVERS SIDE HEADLIGHT STARTED TO FLICKER OCCASIONALLY. IT WAS MENTIONED TO THE DEALER HOWEVER IT NEVER SEEMED TO BE FAILING WHEN AT THE DEALER. THEN AT ABOUT TWO YEARS OF AGE, THE HEADLIGHT WOULD BLINK COMPLETELY OUT OCCASIONALLY, AGAIN MENTIONED TO THE DEALER BUT WOULD NOT DUPLICATE AT THE DEALERSHIP. IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT JUST CYCLING THE SWITCH OFF AND BACK ON WOULD RESTORE THE HEADLIGHT. IT IS NOW FAILING ON A MORE REGULAR BASIS BUT NOT WHEN AT THE DEALER. THE PASSENGER SIDE IS NOW DOING THIS AS WELL AND I HAVE A REAL FEAR OF BOTH LIGHTS FAILING AT THE SAME TIME AND CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. AS OF TODAY, NO REPAIR HAS BEEN MADE BUT TOYOTA HAS ISSUED A CASE NUMBER BUT REMAINS FIRM THAT AN EXPENSIVE DIAGNOSIS SHOULD BE MADE WITHOUT ACKNOWLEDGING RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS FAILURE. I WILL BE GETTING IT REPAIRED AND THIS HEADLIGHT ISSUE COULD AMOUNT TO $1000 OR MORE. THIS IS A BADLY DESIGNED BULB AND ASSEMBLY. CONSIDERATION SHOULD HAVE BEEN MADE TO REPLACE THIS BULB WITH EASE CONSIDERING THE FAILURE RATE IT IS EXPERIENCING. THE MOST RECENT DATE IS THE ONE LISTED BELOW. *TR

2007 PRIUS HID HEADLIGHTS GO OUT INTERMITTENTLY WITH NO OBSERVABLE PATTERN. WHILE DRIVING, ONE CANNOT TELL WHEN THIS HAPPENS THUS DRIVING WITH ONLY ONE HEADLIGHT. ONLY TIME I CAN TELL IS WHEN I COME UP BEHIND A VEHICLE AND MY LIGHTS SHINE ON IT. UPON OBSERVING THE INTERNET IT APPEARS THERE ARE MANY OTHERS WITH THIS SAME PROBLEM WITH THEIR PRIUS'. (DON'T WANT TO GET A TICKET OR IN AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE OF IT! IT IS REPORTED THAT $1100 TO $2600 TO GET THIS REPAIRED, HOPEFULLY. *TR

THE HEADLIGHT ON MY 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS SHUTS ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY WHILE I AM DRIVING. WHEN I TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, THEY SAY THEY CANNOT FIND THE PROBLEM BECAUSE IT HAPPENS TO BE WORKING WHEN IT IS THERE. I FIND THIS HARD TO BELIEVE SINCE THIS IS A WELL-KNOWN DEFECT AMONG 2007 PRIUS OWNERS. *TR

THE PASSENGER SIDE HID HEADLIGHT ON MY 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS IS MALFUNCTIONING. THE LIGHT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE WILL FREQUENTLY GO OUT, LEAVING ME WITH ONE HEADLAMP. IF I CYCLE THE HEADLIGHTS OFF AND BACK ON, THE PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT WILL COME BACK ON FOR A WHILE, AND THEN REPEAT. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE, DRIVING WITH ONE (OR NO) HEADLIGHT. MY CAR HAS ABOUT 65,000 MILES, THOUGH IT IS ONLY 2 AND A HALF YEARS OLD. THIS APPEARS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE 2007 AND 2006 PRIUS MODELS WITH THE HID HEADLIGHTS. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS. DURING BRAKE APPLICATION AT 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. AFTER SHE WAS ABLE TO DECELERATE, THE VEHICLE WOULD NO LONGER ACCELERATE TO THE INTENDED SPEED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 500. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 18,000.

HID HEADLIGHTS ON 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS FAIL INTERMITTENTLY. TURNING LIGHT SWITCH OFF/ON SOMETIMES MAKES LIGHT(S) COME BACK ON. DRIVING COUNTRY ROADS AFTER DARK WITH NO HEADLIGHTS IS VERY DANGEROUS. TOYOTA ACKNOWLEDGES THE PROBLEM, BUT STILL WANTS AN ARM AND LEG TO REPAIR PROBLEM. APPARENTLY HEADLIGHTS, AND COMPUTER BOARD WITH BALLASTS NEED REPLACED TO COMPLETELY FIX THE PROBLEM. *TR

HID LAMP INTERMITTENT OUTAGE IN MY 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS. *TR

I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK ON THE MORNING OF AUGUST 16TH, 2008 WHEN MY 2007 PRIUS BEGAN TO HYDROPLANE. I STRUCK THE LEFT GUARDRAIL , SPUN RIGHT AND THEN THE CAR CATAPULTED ACROSS THE INTERSTATE. I HIT A CONCRETE BARRIER AND THE CAR THEN ROLLED ONTO ITS LEFT DRIVER SIDE AND SKIDDED MAYBE 100'. I CHALKED IT UP TO THE ROADS BEING WET BUT THE ODD THING WAS THAT THE CAR ACCELERATED ONCE I HIT THE LEFT GUARD RAIL AND STARTED TO CROSS OVER THE INTERSTATE. AT THIS POINT, THE BRAKES AND STEERING WOULD NOT WORK. I CRASHED HEAD ON INTO THE CONCRETE BARRIER ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE INTERSTATE. MY STORY SOUNDS VERY MUCH LIKE SOME OF THE POSTS I HAVE READ. IT IS FRIGHTENING THAT SO MANY PEOPLE HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME ORDEAL AND THAT TOYOTA CONTINUES TO DENY IT AND BLAME IT ON THE FLOOR MATS! *TR

I HAVE A 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS AND MY HEADLIGHTS KEEP GOING ON AND OFF. QUOTED FROM 150 TO 800 TO REPLACE. I THINK THIS IS A FACTORY DEFECT. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE PARKING HER VEHICLE, IT BEGAN TO ACCELERATE RAPIDLY. THE VEHICLE DROVE OVER THE CEMENT CURB AND THEN CRASHED INTO A STORE-FRONT. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURIES TO HER NECK AND SHOULDERS. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED THROUGH HER INSURANCE COMPANY. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE UNKNOWN

THE PASSENGER HEADLIGHT GOES ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY CAUSING A SAFETY ISSUE WHEN DRIVING. THIS STARTED OCCURRING DURING THE FIRST YEAR OF OWNERSHIP. I HAVE BEEN PULLED OVER BY THE POLICE TWICE FOR HAVING A LIGHT OUT. THIS IS A BIG SAFETY CONCERN FOR DRIVING AT NIGHT. WHEN THE CAR WAS BROUGHT IN FOR SERVICE, THE DEALER QUOTED $700 REPAIR AND IT WOULD NOT BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. THE SERVICE MANAGER ACTED AS THOUGH HE HAD NEVER SEEN THIS BEFORE ALTHOUGH EVERY PRIUS OWNER WHO OWNS A COMPUTER, CAN READ AND HAD THIS PROBLEM IS AWARE OF THIS DEFECTIVE COMPONENT AND TOYOTA'S UNWILLINGNESS TO ADDRESS THIS SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

MY 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING PREMATURE FAILURE OF THE HID HEADLIGHTS FOR THE PAST MONTH. THEY ALTERNATELY GO ON AND OFF BY THEMSELVES SOMETIMES BOTH TOGETHER. ONE INCIDENT INVOLVED THEM BOTH TURNING OFF ONE NIGHT ON A DARK COUNTRY ROAD WITHOUT ANY ILLUMINATION. THIS THREW ME INTO IMMEDIATE PANIC AS EVERYTHING WENT COMPLETELY BLACK. IT WAS ONLY BY LUCK THAT I WAS ALERT ENOUGH TO HAVE A MENTAL PICTURE OF THE ROAD THAT I WAS ON AND WAS ABLE TO QUICKLY SLOW DOWN WHILE NAVIGATING AWAY FROM KNOWN OBSTACLES. ONCE STOPPED I TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF AND ON AND THE LIGHTS RETURNED AND REMAINED ON FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE TRIP. QUITE A DANGEROUS EVENT. LAST NIGHT I WAS TRAVELING ON AN ILLUMINATED HIGHWAY AND WAS SUBSEQUENTLY STOPPED BY A STATE LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER. WHEN ASKED IF I KNEW WHY I WAS STOPPED AND I REPLIED NO, HE STATED THAT IT WAS DUE TO MY DRIVERS SIDE HEADLIGHT BEING OUT. WHEN I INQUIRED TOYOTA FOR A PRICE TO HAVE THIS SITUATION CORRECTED I WAS TOLD $1000+ FOR THE COST OF MATERIALS AND LABOR AND IT WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. THIS SITUATION TRULY IS A SAFETY HAZARD THAT NEEDS TO BE CORRECTED IMMEDIATELY AT NO COST TO THE CONSUMER UNDER AN OFFICIAL RECALL. I HAVE TO THINK THAT THERE ARE OTHERS OUT THERE WITH A SIMILAR PROBLEM. *TR

WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT MY WIFE TOLD ME HER RIGHT HEAD LIGHT WOULD GO OUT. WHEN I CHECK THE CAR IT WAS WORKING!! SO AFTER SEVERAL MONTHS OF THIS OF HER TELLING ME THIS STORY WE STARTED LEAVING THE LIGHTS ON DURING THE DAY AND CHECKING TO SEE WHAT WAS GOING ON. FINALLY WE NOTICED THAT NOT ONLY DOES THE RIGHT HEAD LIGHT GO OUT BUT THEY BOTH GO OUT.SO I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER WITH THE LIGHTS ON AND BY THE TIME I GOT THERE BOTH HEAD LIGHTS FAILED. MY CAR HAS 34,890 MILES ON IT AND IT IS 2YEARS INTO THE BASIC 3 YEAR WARRANTY. THE DEALER REPLACED BOTH BULBS AND TOLD ME TO COME BACK IF IT HAPPENS AGAIN AND THEY WILL REPLACE SOME OTHER ELECTRONIC PART. THEY SEEM TO KNOW THERE IS A PROBLEM OR DEFECT IN LIGHTING SYSTEM IN THE CAR. *TR

2007 TOYOTA PRIUS - THE HEADLIGHTS GO OFF INTERMITTENTLY WITH NO WARNING, RHYME OR REASON. TURNING THE SWITCH OFF AND THEN ON TEMPORARILY FIXES THE PROBLEM BUT NOT COMPLETELY. TOYOTA DEALER SAYS THE BULBS ARE BURNED OUT AND WANTS $1000 TO REPLACE THEM. IF THE BULBS WERE BURNED OUT, WHY DO THEY COME BACK ON? *TR

HID LIGHTS ON 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS ARE GOING OUT. *TR

MY 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS HID HEADLIGHTS WOULD GO DIM AND FINALLY WITHOUT WARMING SHUT OFF AND BECOME DARK. I WOULD NEED TO SHUT OFF THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH AND TURN THEM BACK ON. THIS "WINKING" OF HEADLIGHTS WOULD OCCUR CONTINUOUSLY. *TR

I OWN A 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS. I HAVE OBSERVED THAT ONE OF MY HEADLIGHTS FLICKERS AND DIES SPORADICALLY, BUT RELIGHTS WHEN THE HEADLIGHTS ARE SWITCHED OFF AND THEN BACK ON. AFTER RELIGHTING, A SINGLE HEADLIGHT AGAIN EVENTUALLY FLICKERS AND DIES. ACCORDING TO INTERNET RESEARCH, THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH TOYOTA HIGH INTENSITY DISCHARGE HEADLIGHTS, AND A CASE BY YOUR OFFICE HAS BEEN OPENED (AND CLOSED) UNDER CASE NUMBER: PE09019. I STRONGLY BELIEVE THIS CASE SHOULD BE REOPENED. *TR

I BOUGHT A 2007 PRIUS FROM COPELAND TOYOTA-SCION DEALERSHIP. FROM THE BEGINNING, I NOTICED THAT IT ACCELERATES ON ITS OWN DURING THE DRIVE. FOR EXAMPLE, WHILE GOING AT 55 MPH, SUDDENLY, IT TRAVELS AT A HIGHER SPEED WITHOUT MY INTERVENTION. I FEEL LIKE BEING HYDROPLANING, LEAPING OR SHOOTING BY A FEW YARDS, AND THEN IT WOULD BE BACK TO NORMAL. INITIALLY, I DID NOT PAY ATTENTION TO IT, BUT I BROUGHT IT TO YOUR DEALERSHIP AND SPOKE ONE OF THEIR COUNSELORS NEARLY TWO YEARS AGO. I WAS TOLD THAT ONE OF YOUR TECHNICIANS WILL HAVE TO RIDE AND DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM AND SINCE IT HAPPENS RANDOMLY, THERE IS NO WAY ANYONE ONE CAN DETECT. FIRST, I NOTICED THIS PROBLEM IN DECEMBER 2006. SINCE THEN, IT HAS BEEN HAPPENING ONCE IN A WAY. THE AVERAGE FREQUENCY CAN BE 3-5 TIMES A MONTH, AND IT COULD BE MORE BASED ON THE HIGHWAY USAGE. I WAS UNAWARE OF THE RAMIFICATIONS UNTIL THE RECENT RECALL NOTICE. I WANTED TO SEND THIS INFORMATION IN SEPTEMBER WHEN THE RECALL ON FLOOR MATS WAS ANNOUNCED. I AM MORE AND MORE CONCERNED ABOUT THIS UNPREDICTABLE SPEEDING ON ITS OWN WHICH COULD BE VERY DANGEROUS AS IT HAPPENED WITH SEVERAL CRASHES REPORTED (TODAY, I SAW A NEWS SEGMENT ON THE NBC TV INVOLVING A PRIUS). A CREEPING FLOOR MAT CAN GET THE GAS PEDAL STUCK, BUT WOULD NOT CAUSE SUDDEN ACCELERATION. SUDDEN ACCELERATION MAY BE MORE SEVERE IN THE CASES OF CRASHES, WHILE MINE IS LESS SEVERE, AT LEAST THUS FAR. IF THERE IS A FIX FOR THIS, I RATHER HAVE IT DONE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, BEFORE IT GETS ANY WORSE. THANK

RIGHT HEADLIGHT WILL NOT STAY LIT. GOES ON AN OFF RANDOMLY. TURNING OFF THE SWITCH AND BACK ON WILL TURN THE LIGHT ON FOR A RANDOM AMOUNT OF TIME. NOTHING DONE YET TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. TOYOTA IMPLIES THAT I AM RESPONSIBLE FOR THE COST TO GET IT FIXED. MANY REPORTS ON WEB INDICATE THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH MODEL YEAR 2007 AND 2008 PRIUS. IT MAY BE AN OVER HEATING OF THE COMPUTER THAT CONTROLS THE LIGHTS AND TYPICALLY COST $1500 TO $2000 TO GET IT FIXED. LAST NIGHT IT WAS 46% AND IT STAYED LIT FOR THE 27 MILE TRIP HOME FROM WORK. SUMMER MONTHS IT FADES OUT AFTER THE FIRST 5 MINUTES OF DRIVING. *TR

2007 TOYOTA PRIUS - PASSENGER SIDE HEAD-LIGHT HAS STOPPED WORKING WITH ONLY 42,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. CHECKED THE INTERNET AND FIND THAT THIS IS NOT A UNIQUE ISSUE, THERE ARE QUITE A FEW OTHERS WITH THE SAME CONCERN. THIS IS THE THIRD TOYOTA I HAVE OWNED AND I'VE NEVER HAD A COMPLAINT ABOUT ANY OF MY PREVIOUS AUTOMOBILES. *TR

I WAS "T-BONED" ON MY DRIVERS' SIDE ON JULY 3, 2009 IN MY 2007 PRIUS. THE CAR HAD EXTENSIVE DAMAGE AND THE ELECTRIC MOTOR WAS DISMANTLED AND REPLACED (SAME ONE) AS PART OF THE REPAIR. AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT IT WAS FINE AND I AVERAGED ABOUT 48-52 MPG. IT WAS IN THE TOYOTA REPAIR SHOP FROM JULY 7TH THROUGH LATE AUGUST AND WASN'T RETURNED UNTIL MID-SEPTEMBER. I HAVE NOT BEEN DRIVING IT SINCE I LAST PICKED IT UP BECAUSE I DID NOT FEEL SAFE IT . THE PROBLEM WAS NEVER FOUND AND I WAS TOLD "...IF WE CAN'T FIND THE PROBLEM, WE CAN'T FIX IT...IF IT HAPPENS AGAIN, BRING IT BACK, IT'S UNDER WARRANTY." YESTERDAY (NOVEMBER 4, 2009) I HAD TO DRIVE IT TO WORK (DOWNTOWN) BECAUSE MY HUSBAND HAD OUR VAN AND I FOUND THAT IT IS STILL ACCELERATING IN ODD WAYS LIKE IT DID WHEN WE GOT IT BACK IN SEPTEMBER. WHILE IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC AT A LOW SPEED WHEN I WENT TO ACCELERATE TO A HIGHER SPEED (APPX. 50 MPH) IT WASN'T ACCELERATING PROPERLY, THEN SUDDENLY "KICKED INTO" ACCELERATION THEN I HAD TO SLOW IT DOWN WITH THE BRAKES. THE TOYOTA HYBRID ENGINE DISMANTLING MANUAL (I FOUND ONLINE WHEN I WAS TOLD TOYOTA COULD NOT FIND THE PROBLEM) ON PAGE 1 #1-5 SHOWS HOW THE VEHICLE SHOULD BE OPERATING. AS I'VE DESCRIBED SINCE AUGUST, THE DAY I FIRST PICKED IT UP, THIS IS NOT HOW IT'S FUNCTIONING. IN LIGHT OF THE NEWS YESTERDAY, THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION FOUND NO DEFECT EXISTS IN VEHICLES WITH PROPERLY INSTALLED FLOOR MATS. AND IN FACT, THE NHTSA SAID, TOYOTA VEHICLES HAVE A VERY SER

2007 PRIUS WITH 36K MILES, HID HEADLIGHTS. STOPPED BY POLICE WHO TOLD US THAT WE HAD BOTH A HEADLIGHT AND A TAIL-LIGHT OUT. THIS WAS ONLY A COUPLE OF WEEKS AFTER THE CAR PASSED STATE INSPECTION. UPON RETURNING HOME, FOUND THAT BOTH HEADLIGHTS WERE WORKING BUT THAT TAILLIGHT WAS OUT. MY WIFE MENTIONED THAT OTHER PEOPLE HAD BEEN TELLING HER FOR A COUPLE OF MONTHS THAT THERE WAS A TAILLIGHT OUT ON THE CAR, BUT IT WAS ALWAYS WORKING WHEN WE CHECKED. THE NEXT DAY AFTER THE POLICE STOPPED US, I NOTED THAT ALL LIGHTS ON THE CAR WERE WORKING. TOOK CAR TO DEALER, WHERE THEY CLAIMED THAT THEY THOUGHT IT WAS A BULB ISSUE AND COULD REPLACE IF I WANTED. I COUNTERED THAT A BULB SHOULD EITHER WORK OR NOT, AND THAT THIS INTERMITTENT OPERATION SEEMED TO INDICATE AN ELECTRICAL OR WIRING PROBLEM, BUT THE DEALER DIDN'T AGREE. THE DEALER CHECKED ALL THE LIGHTS, AND FOUND THEM ALL TO BE WORKING. JUST AFTER RETURNING FROM THE DEALER, I DISCOVERED THAT THE PASSENGER HEADLIGHT WAS OUT. *TR

MY TOYOTA PRIUS ACCELERATED AT EXTREMELY HIGH SPEED AS I PULLED INTO MY DRIVEWAY. I CRASHED THROUGH THE GARAGE DOOR INTO THE BOXES AND FURNITURE STORED IN THE GARAGE. I HAD MY FOOT PRESSED ALL THE WAY DOWN ON THE BRAKE BUT COULD NOT SLOW DOWN OR STOP BUT ACCELERATED TO A VERY HIGH SPEED. THERE WAS SIGNIFICANT PROPERTY DAMAGE AND CAR DAMAGE. IT WAS REPORTED TO ALLSTATE. NO OTHER VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED. THE AIRBAG DID NOT ACTIVATE! I DO NOT KNOW THE EXACT SPEED OTHER THAN TO SAY IT WAS EXTREMELY FAST AND VERY, VERY TERRIFYING! *TR

I HAVE OWNED A 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS SINCE NEW (3 YEARS). I NOTICED ABOUT 3 MONTHS AGO THAT, WHEN I TURNED ON MY HEADLIGHTS, THE RIGHT LAMP WAS STARTING OUT AT FULL BRIGHTNESS BUT GRADUALLY DIMMING UNTIL IT COMPLETELY WENT OUT ALTOGETHER. SWITCHING THE LIGHTS OFF AND ON AGAIN WOULD RESTORE THE LIGHT TO FULL BRIGHTNESS, BUT THEN THE LIGHT WOULD GRADUALLY BEGIN TO DIM AGAIN. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE, AS I DO NOT KNOW THAT THE LIGHT HAS GONE OUT WHILE I AM DRIVING (AS I SAID, IT IS VERY GRADUAL AND OBVIOUSLY CANNOT BE SEEN FROM THE DRIVERS SEAT). THE DEALERSHIP RECOMMENDS CHANGING BOTH HID BULBS, WITH A QUOTED COST OF $553 INCLUDING PARTS AND LABOR. APPARENTLY LIGHTBULBS ARE NOT COVERED, EVEN UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY. AFTER RESEARCHING THIS ISSUE FURTHER, I HAVE LEARNED THAT THIS IS AN EXTREMELY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE 2007 PRIUS. IN LIGHT OF THAT FACT, TOYOTA SHOULD ABSOLUTELY CONDUCT A RECALL OF WHAT IS OBVIOUSLY A SIGNIFICANT DEFECT, AND A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE AS WELL. IT IS EXTREMELY UNFAIR TO SELL US A FAULTY PRODUCT AND THEN ASK US TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS, OR ELSE ENDANGER OUR SAFETY BY DRIVING WITH FAULTY HEADLIGHTS. *TR

RANDOM FAILURE OF EITHER OR BOTH HEADLIGHTS. HEADLIGHTS GO OFF AND WILL COME BACK ON WHEN THE SWITCH IS TURNED OFF AND BACK ON, BUT LIKELY WILL GO OFF AGAIN. THIS IS A WELL KNOWN DEFECT ON THE 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS, TOYOTA WILL NOT PAY TO FIX THIS PROBLEM, INSTEAD CHOOSING TO CHARGE 200 TO 1000 DOLLARS TO REPAIR WITH NO GUARANTEE THAT IT WILL NOT RECUR. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH AT NIGHT, THE HEADLIGHTS FAILED WITHOUT ANY PRIOR WARNINGS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR INSPECTION; HOWEVER, THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 23,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 25,000. UPDATE 12/14/09 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE HEADLIGHTS WERE REPLACED. UPDATED 12/16/09*JB

I OWN A 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS (TOURING EDITION) WITH HID HEADLIGHTS. MY HEADLIGHTS CONTINUE TO FLICKER AS IF THEY ARE GOING OUT, AND QUITE OFTEN I NOTICE THAT ONE OR THE OTHER BULBS ISN'T WORKING. ONCE I EVEN HAD BOTH HEADLIGHTS GO OUT WITHOUT ANY NOTICE ON THE DASH BOARD, AND ONLY NOTICED THEY WERE BOTH OFF WHEN ENTERING AN UNLIT STREET. *TR

HEADLIGHTS, BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDES FAIL. CAN BE CORRECTED TEMPORARILY BY TURNING OFF AND THEN TURNING BACK ON. ALREADY STOPPED BY POLICE WITH A WARNING. HAS BEEN OCCURRING FOR A MONTH OR MORE. HAPPENS IN ALL CONDITIONS, SUN, RAIN, CLOUDY, ETC. *TR

I OWN A 2007 PRIUS TOURING VEHICLE. THE HID HEADLAMPS FREQUENTLY FAIL. TYPICALLY WHAT HAPPENS IS THAT I AM DRIVING AND NOTICE ONE OF THE HEADLAMPS FLICKER QUICKLY THEN TURN OFF. OFTEN TIMES THE REMEDY IS TO SIMPLY TURN THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH OFF, THEN TURN IT BACK ON. TYPICALLY, THE HEADLIGHT WILL STAY ON A FEW MINUTES TO MANY HOURS. I HAVE CONTACTED MY DEALER ON THE ISSUE, BUT THE TOTAL FIX COSTS NEARLY $1000. AFTER READING ABOUT COMPLAINTS, MANY OWNERS EXPERIENCE THE SAME ISSUE MONTHS OR YEARS AFTER THE FIX. I FEEL TOYOTA SHOULD TAKE ON THE RESPONSIBILITY TO FIX THIS ISSUE BECAUSE THEY ARE AWARE THAT MANY OF THEIR VEHICLES WITH HID HEADLAMPS EXPERIENCE THE SAME PROBLEMS. IT IS NOT DUE TO OVERUSE, NEGLECT, OR ABUSE ON MY PART. IT IS A DEFECT MY PRIUS WAS LIKELY TO EXPERIENCE THE MOMENT THEY SOLD THE VEHICLE TO ME. *TR

I WAS DRIVING UNDER NORMAL CONDITIONS AND SUDDENLY MY 2007 PRIUS "BRAKE" LIGHT, "VSC", "ABS", CIRCLE-EXCLAMATION POINT LIGHTS ALL LIT UP ON THE DASH. TOYOTA MANUAL STATES THAT THE USER SHOULD DRIVE IMMEDIATELY TO A DEALER. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, AND AFTER A DAY'S EXAMINATION, THEY EXPLAINED THAT THEY CANNOT LOCATE ANY ISSUES, THE LIGHTS ARE NO LONGER ON, AND IT IS SAFE TO DRIVE. A COUPLE OF DAYS LATER, AGAIN UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS, ALL OF THE LIGHT ILLUMINATE AGAIN. I IMMEDIATELY TAKE IT TO A DIFFERENT TOYOTA DEALER, AND THEY INDICATE THAT THE BRAKE ACTUATOR ASSEMBLY HAS FAILED. THEY EXPLAINED THAT IT IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE, AND THE REPLACEMENT PART ALONE IS $1900 +LABOR. *TR

BOTH HEADLIGHTS ON OUR 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS HAVE BEGUN EITHER TO FLICKER AND DIM, OR ELSE FAIL COMPLETELY, AND APPARENTLY AT RANDOM, WHILST THE VEHICLE IS IN OPERATION. THE PASSENGER-SIDE HAS SUFFERED THE PROBLEM FOR THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS, AGAIN SPORADICALLY, BUT ONLY RECENTLY HAS THE DRIVER-SIDE BEGUN TO SHOW SIMILAR TROUBLES. IT HAS PROVED VERY DIFFICULT TO OPERATE THE VEHICLE AT NIGHT, WHEN THE LAMPS CAN SUDDENLY AND UNEXPECTEDLY FAIL, AND LEAVE THE DRIVER ENTIRELY AT THE MERCY OF HIS OWN, UNILLUMINATED, SIGHT. THE DEALERSHIP HAS QUOTED A REPLACEMENT COST OF OVER $800 FOR BOTH LIGHTS, AND CLAIMS THEM NOT COVERED UNDER THE COMPANY WARRANTY. *TR

THE HID BULBS ON MY 2007 PRIUS HAVE BEEN FAILING SINCE LAST FALL AND CONTINUE TO DO SO AT SOME POINT ALMOST EVERY TIME I DRIVE THE CAR AT NIGHT. IF I TURN THE LIGHTS COMPLETELY OFF, THEN BACK ON, THIS SEEMS TO "REBOOT" THE LIGHTS. *TR

A SECOND INCIDENCE OF THE SAME PROBLEM. SEE ODI NUMBER 10285154. ON THE ORIGINAL COMPLAINT, THE DRIVER'S SIDE HEADLAMP ON A 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS WAS INTERMITTENT.(DATE OF INCIDENCE WAS 9/16/09). THE HEADLAMP WAS REPLACED. ON 10/27/09, THE SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED WITH THE PASSENGER SIDE HEADLAMP. THE LAMP GOES OFF. TO REACTIVATE, THE HEADLAMP SWITCH IS TURNED OFF AND THEN TURNED BACK ON. HEADLAMP IS TO BE REPLACED ON 10/30/09. NHTSA CLOSED ACTION WITH TOYOTA A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO ON THIS PROBLEM BECAUSE IT WAS STATED THAT BOTH BULBS WOULD NOT GO OUT AT THE SAME TIME. AS A FORMER AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY PROFESSIONAL, I SAY THAT THIS SECOND OCCURRENCE INDICATES THAT BOTH BULBS COULD GO OUT SIMULTANEOUSLY AND THAT THIS CASE WITH TOYOTA SHOULD BE REOPENED. SINCE I DO NOT KNOW THE ROOT CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM, I DO NOT KNOW IF THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN SOLVED ON THE REPLACEMENT LAMPS. *TR

THE HEADLIGHT IS PHYSICALLY GOING OUT. I NOTICED IT WHEN I PULLED INTO MY DRIVEWAY LAST NIGHT AND HAD ONLY THE DRIVER'S SIDE HEADLIGHT SHINING AGAINST THE GARAGE DOOR. I DID THE SAME THING I HAVE DONE BEFORE, I TURNED THE LIGHTS OFF THEN BACK ON AGAIN AND IT AGAIN CAME ON. THIS IS TYPICALLY HOW I HAVE NOTICED THE LIGHT HAS GONE OUT, WITH WHAT SHOULD BE TWO LIGHTS SHINING AGAINST THE BACK OF AN SUV, VAN, TRUCK, GARAGE DOOR ETC.. LIKE LAST NIGHT, LAST WEEK IT WAS DOING IT FREQUENTLY ENOUGH THAT I WOULD SEE THE LIGHT POP OFF WHILE DRIVING IN THE RAIN. OTHERWISE IT HASN'T BEEN VERY NOTICEABLE WHEN IT HAS HAPPENED WHILE I'M DRIVING IT. ALWAYS WHEN I PULL UP TO SOMETHING. *TR

I OWN A 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS AND THE HID HEADLIGHTS WILL UNEXPECTEDLY SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING. *TR

2007 TOYOTA PRIUS HEADLAMPS CUT OFF WHILE DRIVING. FIRST THE PASSENGER SIDE. NOW RECENTLY BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER HEADLAMPS CUT OFF. TURNING LIGHT OFF THEN BACK ON MAKES HEADLAMPS WORK FOR A PERIOD OF TIME. CUTS OFF ABOUT 5-10 MINUTES INTO RUNNING THE CAR. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS. HER PASSENGER SIDE HD HEADLIGHTS FAILED, WHICH SUBSEQUENTLY REDUCED HER VISIBILITY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, AND A TECHNICIAN CONCLUDED THAT BOTH HEAD-LIGHTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT AN EXPENSE OF $400.00. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED, BECAUSE SHE BELIEVES THAT THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 52000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 57000. UPDATED12/11/09 *BF UPDATED 12/11/09. *JB

FOR SOME TIME THE HEADLIGHTS ON OUR 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS HAVE BEEN BEHAVING STRANGELY, WITH ONE OR THE OTHER GOING OUT INTERMITTENTLY, THEN LATER COMING BACK ON. LAST WEEKEND WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT ON DARK, NARROW, TWISTY MOUNTAIN ROADS, THEY BOTH SUDDENLY WENT OUT. THE CAR CAN NOT BE DRIVEN AT NIGHT DUE TO THE RISK OF HEADLAMP FAILURE AND CRASH. TOYOTA DEALERS QUOTE $1000-PLUS COST TO REPAIR AN OBVIOUS DESIGN FLAW WITH SERIOUS SAFETY IMPLICATIONS. *TR

ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS I HAVE TAKEN MY 2007 BACK TO THE DEALER FOR INTERMITTENT HEADLIGHT FAILURE, WHILE DRIVING! ONE LIGHT WOULD GO OUT, OR BOTH WOULD GO TO WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE CREATING A POTENTIAL LIFE THREATENING SITUATION. THE DEALER COULD NOT IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM, THEN ON OCTOBER 23 2009, THEY WERE FINALLY ABLE TO REPLICATE THE PROBLEM AND SAID I NEEDED TWO NEW HEADLIGHT UNITS AT THE COST OF $400 EACH (PARTS AND LABOR). I DECIDED TO DOCUMENT THIS POTENTIAL LIFE THREATENING PROBLEM TO THE NHTSA, SO YOU COULD ADD MY COMPLAINT TO THE COMPLAINTS THAT YOU HAVE ALREADY RECEIVED IN ORDER TO PRESSURE TOYOTA MOTORS TO TAKE CORRECTIVE ACTION. *TR

HEADLIGHTS RANDOMLY FAIL WHILE DRIVING. THE ISSUE IS NOT THE BULB AS THE HEADLIGHTS WILL TURN BACK ON IF YOU FLICK THE LIGHTS OFF AND ON AGAIN. TOYOTA DEALERSHIP CLAIMS IT'S JUST THE BULB, WANTS $800 TO REPAIR. THIS IS CLEARLY A SAFETY DEFECT SINCE HID BULBS ARE SUPPOSED TO LAST SIGNIFICANTLY LONGER THAN REGULAR BULBS AND SINCE THE BULBS CAN FAIL AT RANDOM TIMES, YET WORK FINE AT RANDOM TIMES AS WELL. *TR

WHEN DRIVING WITH THE HEADLAMPS ON, ONE HEADLAMP (USUALLY THE DRIVER'S SIDE BUT IT HAS OCCURRED WHICH THE PASSENGER SIDE AS WELL) WILL GO OUT. IF I TURN THE LIGHTS OFF AND TURN THEM BACK ON THE BOTH LIGHTS WILL WORK AGAIN. THIS IS INTERMITTENT AND I CAN'T MAKE IT HAPPEN. AT MY LAST SERVICE THEY COULD NOT REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM AND LOOKED AT ME LIKE I WAS NUTS. I LIVE IN THE COUNTRY AND DO A LOT OF NIGHT DRIVING. I AM BEGINNING TO NOTICE THIS HAPPENING ON A WEEKLY BASIS. *TR