2007 Toyota Prius complaints

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE THE CONTACT'S WIFE WAS DRIVING 20 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE RAN A STOP SIGN AND STRUCK HER FRONT PASSENGER SIDE DOOR. THE SEAT BELT FAILED TO RESTRAIN THE CONTACT'S WIFE, AND SHE STRUCK THE STEERING WHEEL. SHE SUSTAINED INJURIES TO HER NECK, BACK, AND SHOULDER. THE MANUFACTURER CONCLUDED THAT THE SEAT BELT WAS WORKING PROPERLY. THE SAN DIEGO POLICE DEPARTMENT FILED REPORT NUMBER 804127. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 10,000. UPDATED 12/17/08.*JB

2007 HEADLIGHT ON PASSENGER SIDE GOES OFF INTERMITTENTLY. WHEN I START THE CAR AGAIN, THE LIGHT WILL GO ON. DEALER WANTS TO REPLACE LIGHT AT A COST OF #300. PLUS. JUST OUT OF WARRANTY. *TR

2007 PRIUS FOR THE PAST FEW MONTHS, THE HEADLIGHTS WILL GO OUT, NOT AT THE SAME TIME BUT ONE AT A TIME. THE ONLY WAY TO GET IT TO GO BACK ON IS TO TURN THE LIGHTS OFF AND ON. THIS KEEPS THEM GOING FOR A WHILE AND THEN THE SITUATION REPEATS ITSELF. THE PROBLEM IS THAT I CAN'T TELL WHEN IT'S HAPPENING ALL THE TIME. I WAS TOLD LAST NIGHT BY A FRIEND OF MINE ONE OF MY HEADLIGHTS WAS OUT. THE OTHER TIME I NOTICED IT WHEN MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING HOME FROM AN ERRAND. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A SERIOUS DEFECT IN THE CAR AND IT SHOULD BE TAKEN CARE OF BY TOYOTA. *TR

2007 TOYOTA PRIUS WITH BRAKE PROBLEMS. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE BRAKES WERE PRESSED AND THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO MOVE BACKWARD SLOWLY. HE ALSO STATES THAT THE VEHICLE DIDN'T STOP WHEN BRAKES WERE DEPRESSED AND CONSEQUENTLY HIT A STOPPED CAR. *KB

2007 TOYOTA PRIUS, CID HEADLIGHTS SIMPLY GO OUT FOR NO REASON. TURNING THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH ON AND OFF A FEW TIMES TURN THE HEADLIGHTS BACK ON. BUT THERE IS NO WAY TO TELL IF THE LIGHT IS OFF WHILE DRIVING. NUMEROUS INTERNET FORUMS SHOW THIS AS BEING A WIDESPREAD AND COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE PRIUS. *TR

WE OWN A 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS 4-D HYBRID HATCHBACK. FOR THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS THE HEADLIGHTS ON THE CAR TURN OFF RANDOMLY AFTER THE CAR IS STARTED. SOMETIMES IT IS ONE LIGHT OR THE OTHER AND SOMETIMES IT IS BOTH. THIS HAPPENS WHETHER ON DIM OR BRIGHT. THE CORRECTION IS TO TURN THE LIGHTS OFF AND THEN BACK ON, WHICH RESOLVES THE ISSUE FOR A LITTLE WHILE. ON A ONE AND HALF HOUR DRIVE (DAILY COMMUTE) THIS TAKES PLACE 3-4 TIMES. THE CONSEQUENCES OF THE LIGHT FAILURE IS EITHER LIMITED VISIBILITY ON THE SIDE THAT IS OUT OR LOSS OF VISIBILITY IF BOTH LIGHTS GO OUT AT THE SAME TIME. THE TOYOTA DEALER WILL ONLY REPLACE THEM IF I PAY FOR THE REPAIR OF THEIR DEFECT. *TR

MAY 22, 2008 TOYOTA MOTOR SALES, U.S.A., INC. 19001 SOUTH WESTERN AVE. DEPT. WC11 TORRANCE, CA 90501 DEAR SIRS: I HAVE BEEN A LONG-TIME TOYOTA CUSTOMER AND LAST YEAR PURCHASED A 2007 PRIUS. I AM ALSO A SUBSCRIBER TO CONSUMER REPORTS MAGAZINE. ALTHOUGH I AM DELIGHTED WITH THE COMFORT, HEADROOM, GAS MILEAGE, CONVENIENCE, QUIET AND APPEARANCE OF THE CAR, THERE IS A REAL SAFETY ISSUE. WHEN I WAS INITIALLY RESEARCHING A NEW AUTOMOBILE, I DISMISSED SOME PEOPLES' REPORTS OF 'SUDDEN ACCELERATION' AS BEING INACCURATE. HOWEVER, IT IS REAL, AND I HAVE FIGURED OUT UNDER WHAT SPECIFIC CIRCUMSTANCES IT OCCURS. AT THE END OF DECELERATION FOR A STOP LIGHT, STOP SIGN, OR JUST BEFORE A TURN, WHEN THE CAR IS TRAVELING 5-10 MPH, MORE COMMONLY ON A DOWNHILL INCLINE, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, WHEN THE PAVEMENT IS IRREGULAR OR BUMPY, MY PRIUS WILL TRANSITION FROM ELECTRIC TO GASOLINE POWER AND MAKE A SUDDEN FORWARD LUNGE FORWARD LASTING 1-2 SECONDS. ON MOST OCCASIONS, THE LUNGE IS MILD, REQUIRE A LITTLE EXTRA BRAKE PRESSURE. BUT SOME TIMES, THE LUNGE IS MORE SEVERE, REQUIRING FIRM BRAKE PRESSURE TO AVOID STRIKING THE AUTOMOBILE IN FRONT OF ME. I REPORTED THIS TO MY LOCAL DEALER, HUNTINGTON TOYOTA, IN HUNTINGTON, NEW YORK, AT MY LAST MAINTENANCE VISIT. THE TECHNICIAN WROTE THAT THE CAR WAS 'OPERATING NORMALLY,' ALTHOUGH I IMAGINE IT IS DIFFICULT TO TEST THESE EXACT CIRCUMSTANCES. I WOULD APPRECIATE YOUR REPLY AND INVESTIGATION INTO THIS SAFETY ISSUE. SINCERELY, PAUL L. KRAWITZ CC: NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFF

BOTH HEADLIGHTS LEFT AND RIGHT, LOW AND HIGH BEAMS WILL GO OUT WHILE DRIVING. HAPPENS ABOUT ONCE PER DAY. HEADLIGHT BULBS, CONTROL UNITS REPLACED BY TOYOTA DEALER. *TR

ONE OR BOTH HEADLIGHTS WILL GO OUT INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING. *TR

THIS INCIDENT INVOLVES MY 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS HYBRID THAT I HAVE OWNED FOR ALMOST A YEAR. AS I WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH AND PUT MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE AS I APPROACHED A RED LIGHT, THE RED BRAKE WARNING CAME ON THE DASH AS DID THE ABS WARNING LIGHT. MY FOOT WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR AND I HAD NO BRAKES. LUCKILY I HAD A RIGHT TURNING LANE THAT I COULD VEER INTO AND NOT HIT THE STOPPED VEHICLES IN FRONT OF ME. AS I CONTINUED TO PUSH THE BRAKE TO THE FLOOR AND MANEUVER THE VEHICLE OUT OF TRAFFIC, IT SEEMED TO CATCH A LITTLE AND I WAS ABLE TO SLOW THE VEHICLE EVENTUALLY TO A STOP. I PUT THE VEHICLE IN PARK AS IT WAS STILL RUNNING, AND PULLED OUT THE OWNER'S MANUAL. THE MANUAL SPECIFICALLY STATED THAT IF THESE TWO WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON AT THE SAME TIME, YOU WERE TO "STOP IMMEDIATELY AND CONTACT YOUR TOYOTA DEALERSHIP". THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT I DID. I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED INTO THEIR FACILITY THAT EVENING. THE NEXT DAY I WAS INTERROGATED BY THE MECHANIC AFTER A DIAGNOSTIC REPORT WAS DONE ON MY CAR. HE WANTED TO KNOW WHEN I LET THE CAR RUN OUT OF GAS. I HAVE NEVER LET MY CAR RUN OUT OF GAS, AND IN FACT THAT JUST FILLED THE TAKE THE DAY BEFORE THIS INCIDENT OCCURRED. THE MECHANIC COULDN'T TELL ME WHAT WAS WRONG AND CONTACTED TOYOTA'S CORPORATE OFFICE. TWO DAYS LATER, I WAS ADVISED THAT THE REASON THE BRAKES DIDN'T WORK WAS BECAUSE I "LET THE CAR RUN OUT OF GAS "AND THIS CAUSED THE ENGINE TO SHUT OFF. I ARGUED THAT THE CAR HAD NEVER RUN OUT OF GAS AND THE ENGINE DIDN'T SHUT OFF,

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD AND INCREASED IN SPEED. THE BRAKES DID NOT HOLD. THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A TREE AND THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. HER RIGHT KNEE WAS CRUSHED AND THE LEFT KNEE WAS FRACTURED. SHE RECEIVED LACERATIONS FROM THE SEAT BELT ON HER NECK AND HER RIBS WERE BRUISED. THE PASSENGER SUSTAINED BROKEN RIBS, A PUNCTURED LUNG, INTERNAL BLEEDING, OPTICAL NERVE DAMAGE, A TRACHEOTOMY, AND SPINAL INJURY. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND PICTURES ARE AVAILABLE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE ALMOST 10,000.

THE HID HEADLIGHTS IN THE NEWER MODEL PRIUS HAVE PROBLEMS WHERE THEY COME OFF AND ON. SOMETIMES NEITHER WILL COME ON. I KNOW THE BULBS ARE OK BECAUSE THEY COME ON AND THEN FADE OUT. IT IS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM BUT IT IS A REAL SAFETY ISSUE AT NIGHT WHEN YOU NEED THE LIGHTS. *TR

I HAVE HAD TWO TAILLIGHTS FAIL AND TWO HID HEADLAMPS FAIL IN THE FIRST 17 MONTHS OF OWNING MY 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS. *TR

HID HEADLIGHTS ON MY 2007 PRIUS - THE RIGHT LIGHT WILL GO DIM AND EVENTUALLY TURN OFF COMPLETELY. THE LEFT SIDE WILL NOTICEABLY DIM AS WELL. I WILL TURN OFF THE LIGHTS, THEN TURN THEM BACK ON - AND THE RIGHT SIDE AND LEFT SIDE WILL RETURN TO "NORMAL" BRIGHTNESS FOR A TIME - AND THEN THE SAME THING HAPPENS AGAIN. I CONSIDER THIS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE - I NOTICED THIS PROBLEM ON A MAJOR VACATION I JUST HAD AND DIDN'T WANT TO DRIVE ON THE INTERSTATE AT NIGHT BECAUSE OF THIS SAFETY PROBLEM. *TR

VEHICLE DOES NOT ACHIEVE ADVERTISED FUEL CONSUMPTION PERFORMANCE. I HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT THIS SINCE THE FIRST SERVICE VISIT. TODAY A FACTORY TECHNICIAN GOT UNACHIEVABLE RESULTS SUGGESTING THAT OUR REAL WORLD EXPERIENCE AFTER 29,000 MILES WITH THE VEHICLE IS NORMAL. HE CLAIMED TO HAVE GOTTEN 66.984 MPG AFTER A 42.2 MILES OF 55 MPH HIGHWAY AND "IN TOWN" DRIVING, NOTING ONLY THAT AN OUT OF FUEL FAULT HAD NEVER BEEN CLEARED. *TR

ON A 2007 PRIUS GAS GAUGE SHOWED 2 BARS AND WAS DRIVING ACROSS A BRIDGE IN CALIFORNIA WHEN THE GAS ENGINE STOPPED. LOOKED AT THE GAS GAUGE AND IT STILL SHOWED 2 BARS. WAS FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO BE ON A SECTION OF THE BRIDGE WITH A BREAKDOWN LANE. 1/2 MILE FURTHER ON AND WE WOULD HAVE BEEN STUCK IN ONE OF THE TRAFFIC LANES. THE VSC, CHECK ENGINE, AND HYBRID SYSTEM FAILURE INDICATORS WHERE ON - BUT NOT THE LOW FUEL!!! GOT TOWED TO A DEALER. SERVICE MANAGER TOLD US THAT THE CAR WAS OUT OF GAS AND THAT THE "GAS GAUGE WAS STUCK" THAT'S WHY IT DIDN'T SHOW EMPTY. HE BLAMED IT ON THE BLADDER DESIGN OF THE FUEL TANK AND SAID IT WAS "A DESIGN DEFECT" THAT TOYOTA NEW ABOUT. THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY ISSUE - WE COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. *TR

2007 PRIUS - HID HEADLIGHT PROBLEM, BOTH COME ON WHEN TURNED ON THEN AS I'M DRIVING THE DRIVERS SIDE GOES OUT. IF YOU TURN OFF AND BACK ON BOTH HEADLIGHTS RELIGHT, ONLY TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM REPEATED. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUES WHICH NEED TO BE RECTIFIED. THIS IS A REPORTED PROBLEM BY MANY PRIUS OWNERS AND MANY ARE BEING CHARGED HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS FOR WHAT IS AN APPARENT DEFECT OFTEN NOT GETTING THE PROBLEM SOLVED. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE APPROACHING A RED LIGHT AT 2-3 MPH, THE VEHICLE AUTOMATICALLY ACCELERATED. THE CONTACT BROADSIDED THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. HER VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 4,500. UPDATED 4/8/08 *CN STATE OF CALIFORNIA TRAFFIC REPORT. UPDATED 04/08/08 *TR

TO:[email protected] SUBJECT:TOYOTA PRIUS 2007 MODEL COMMENTS: ALTHOUGH MY DEALER HAS RUN A COMPLETE BATTERY OF COMPUTER TESTS, NO EXPLANATION IS APPARENT FOR THE VEHICLE ACCELERATING ON ITS OWN AT HIGH SPEED ON THE HIGHWAY. IT HAS HAPPENED TO ME TWICE AND IT IS TERRIFYING. THE TWO INSTANCES WERE A COUPLE OF MONTHS APART. BOTH TIMES, I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY AND HAD DRIVEN 10-20 MILES WITHOUT A PROBLEM. ONCE THE GAS PEDAL WAS PHYSICALLY JOLTED UP, THE PROBLEM WAS CORRECTED. WHEN IT IS OCCURRING, THE BRAKES DO NOT SLOW IT DOWN BY MORE THAN 3-4 MPH. MY DEALER IS A-1 TOYOTA IN NEW HAVEN. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE OWNER'S MANUAL STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SHOULD HOLD 11.9 GALLONS OF FUEL, BUT IT ONLY HOLDS 6.4 GALLONS. THE DEALER STATED THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. THE RESET BUTTON IS CONSTANTLY PRESSED; THEREFORE, NO ONE CAN DETECT WHEN THE GAS TANK IS NEAR EMPTY. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 11,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,000.

TOYOTA PRIUS 2007 HEADLIGHT WORKS INTERMITTENTLY. *TR

RANDOM, INTERMITTENT FAILURE OF EITHER HID HEADLAMP. STARTED AROUND 48,000 MILES. TURNING THE HEADLAMP SWITCH OFF AND ON AGAIN REIGNITES THE FAILED LIGHT, UNTIL THE NEXT RANDOM FAILURE. THE DEALER IS REPLACING THE COMPUTER(S) THAT CONTROL THE LIGHTS. THEY WANT TO REPLACE THE LAMPS, BUT THEY COST $400, AND ARE NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, EITHER THE LEFT, RIGHT, OR BOTH HEADLIGHTS WOULD FAIL. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS THE CONTACT'S RESPONSIBILITY. THE TOYOTA MANUFACTURER AGREED TO PAY FOR THE PARTS, BUT NOT THE LABOR. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 42,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS. HE STATED THAT HE WAS UNABLE TO START THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE BATTERY DIED BECAUSE THE VEHICLE SAT FOR MORE THAN TEN DAYS. THE DEALER CHARGED THE BATTERY AND THERE HAD BEEN NO FURTHER OCCURRENCES. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE BATTERY CABLES SHOULD BE DISCONNECTED WHEN THE VEHICLE SITS FOR 7-10 DAYS IN ORDER TO PREVENT THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT FELT THAT THE REMEDY WAS UNSAFE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 5,800.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHEN SWITCHING FROM CRUISE CONTROL TO APPLYING THE BRAKES AND BACK TO CRUISE CONTROL, THE ENGINE REVVED FOR NO APPARENT REASON. THE FAILURE USUALLY OCCURRED WHEN THE CONTACT APPLIED THE BRAKES RAPIDLY AND TRANSITIONED BACK TO THE CRUISE CONTROL WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH. THE VIN, ENGINE SIZE, NUMBER OF CYLINDERS, AND POWERTRAIN WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 7,500 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 6,500.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE COLLIDED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE WHEN SHE DEPRESSED THE BRAKE. AS A RESULT, THE SEAT BELTS DISENGAGED WHICH ALLOWED THE DRIVER HIT THE STEERING COLUMN. IN ADDITION, THE CRASH DESTROYED THE VEHICLE AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. AS OF JANUARY 3, 2008, THE DEALER OR MANUFACTURER HAD NOT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 13,000. A POLICE REPORT IS AVAILABLE.

THE FLEXIBLE GAS TANK ON THE PRIUS OFTEN FAILS TO FILL UP ALL OF THE WAY TO FULL. IN COLD WEATHER THE TANK OFTEN FILLS ONLY 8 GALLONS(WHEN COMPLETELY EMPTY) AND SOMETIMES CLICKS OFF AT 3 GALLONS OR LESS AND KEEPS CLICKING OFF UNTIL MORE GAS IS FORCED INTO THE TANK. THE PRIUS WAS BROUGHT IN TO THE DEALER AND THEY LOOKED INTO THE TANK ISSUE AND FOUND NOTHING. THERE RECOMMENDATION WAS TO FILL UP ON THE SLOWEST LEVEL AND TO TILT THE GAS NOZZLE TO SIDE OR UPSIDE DOWN TO FORCE MORE GAS INTO THE TANK. THIS DID NOT RECTIFY THE SITUATION AND THE DEALER COULD NOT OFFER ANY FURTHER REMEDY. THE DEALER WILL NOT DO ANYTHING FURTHER TO FIX THE SITUATION. *TR

STARTING IN NOVEMBER 2007, ONE OF THE HID HEADLIGHTS OCCASIONALLY GOES OUT. TURNING THEM OFF AND BACK ON FIXES THE PROBLEM. SOMETIMES IT HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES ON ONE TRIP (LESS THAN ONE HOUR). I LOOKED ON PRIUS ONLINE THEN HERE. WHEN I SAW OTHER INCIDENTS I DECIDED TO MAKE A COMPLAINT. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER. LIGHT WAS FIXED. *TR

WHILE BACKING OUT OF MY PARKING SPACE AT WORK, MY BRAKES WENT TO THE FLOOR AND BARELY STOPPED THE VEHICLE. ALARM WAS GOING OFF, SO I PULLED FORWARD JUST ENOUGH TO SEE IF THE BRAKES WERE WORKING AT ALL AND THEY WERE PROBABLY 98% GONE. I PARKED, GOT TOWED TO DEALER NEAR MY HOME WITH AAA. I LATER FOUND OUT THAT A PAIR OF ABS SKID CONTROL RELAYS (2 88263-21010) CAUSED THE PROBLEM. NOTHING MECHANICAL FAILED. THESE RELAYS CAUSED MY ENTIRE BRAKING ABILITY TO BE LOST. I BELIEVE THIS IS AN UNSAFE DESIGN AS THERE IS NO MECHANICAL CONNECTION AVAILABLE AT THE PEDAL IF YOU HAVE THIS ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. SOME MECHANICAL BRAKES SHOULD BE AVAILABLE. THE EMERGENCY BRAKE IS ON / OFF ONLY AND NO IN BETWEEN. I WOULD LIKE TO FIND WHAT LEGAL REMEDIES ARE AVAILABLE TO ME AS I AM CONSIDERING CHANGING TO A SAFER VEHICLE DUE TO THIS DESIGN FLAW. AS IN POWER BRAKES, IF YOU LOSE THE POWER BRAKES, YOU CAN STILL STOP THE VEHICLE, THOUGH DIFFICULT SINCE THERE IS STILL A MECHANICAL HYDRAULIC SYSTEM IN PLACE EVEN WITH A FAILED POWER BOOSTER. *TR THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THE MASTER CYLINDER FAILED. UPDATED

STARTING IN NOVEMBER 2007, ONE OF THE HID HEADLIGHTS OCCASIONALLY GOES OUT. I THINK IT CAN BE EITHER ONE. THE FIRST COUPLE OF TIMES I THOUGHT IT WAS THE PASSENGER'S SIDE BUT I DID NOT STOP TO FIND OUT. THE LAST TIME IT WAS THE DRIVER'S SIDE FOR CERTAIN. TURNING THEM OFF AND BACK ON FIXES THE PROBLEM. SOMETIMES IT HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES ON ONE TRIP (LESS THAN ONE HOUR). I LOOKED ON PRIUS ONLINE THEN HERE. WHEN I SAW OTHER INCIDENTS I DECIDED TO MAKE A COMPLAINT. I WILL TAKE THE CAR TO THE DEALER IN THE NEXT MONTH FOR SERVICE. *TR THE DEALER SERVICE MANAGER CONTACTED TOYOTA BEFORE DOING ANY WORK ON MY VEHICLE. THE TOLD HIM TO REPLACE BOTH HID BULBS, WHICH HE DID. HE WAS TOLD THAT THE BULBS OVERHEAT AND CUT OUT. THE PROBLEM NOLONGER OCCURS, BUT AS OF THIS WRITING IT HAS ONLY BEEN A MONTH.

MY 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS STALLED WITHOUT WARNING IN HEAVY FREEWAY TRAFFIC ON A BRIDGE WITH NO SHOULDER. THE WA STATE D.O.T. PUSHED ME TO SAFETY. AGAIN, MY 2007 PRIUS STALLED WITHOUT WARNING IN FREEWAY TRAFFIC!!!!!! *TR

1. SITTING IN TRAFFIC ONLY RT. 287 N. THE BATTERY LEVEL DROPPED QUICKLY AND SIGNIFICANTLY TO THE POINT OF MY BEING UNABLE TO ENGAGE THE ELECTRIC ENGINE WHICH IS THE INITIAL METHOD OF SENDING POWER TO THE WHEELS. 2. CONSEQUENCES: BUMPER TO BUMPER TRAFFIC HAD TO BE DIRECTED AROUND ME WHICH CAUSED MORE TRAFFIC AND PUT ME IN DANGER OF BECOMING INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. 3. INVESTIGATED POSSIBLE RECALL BUT NONE WAS DOCUMENTED. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT'S SPOUSE WAS BACKING DOWN A 20 DEGREE SLOPE WITH HER FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED BACKWARDS DOWNHILL AT APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, BUT THEN ACCELERATED TO 35 MPH. THE CONTACT CONTINUED TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE VEHICLE STRUCK A TREE AND THE CONTACT'S HEAD STRUCK THE HEAD REST. HE SUSTAINED A HEAD INJURY AND CAN PROVIDE A POLICE REPORT. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 12,700 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,600.

ALL LATE MODEL TOYOTA GAS ELECTRIC AUTOS. I FIND THEM VERY DANGEROUS IN PARKING LOTS, AS THEY CAN AND DO BACKUP WITH NO NOISE. I WAS ALMOST RUN OVER BY ONE ON A FOGGY DAY LAST WEEK. THE DRIVER NEVER TURNED ON LIGHT AND DIDN'T SEE ME WHEN BACKING OUT OF PARKING SPOT. I WAS ABLE TO GET OUT OF THE WAY THAT TIME. SUPPOSE I HAD BEEN BLIND? NOT A SOUND TO LET ME KNOW THE CAR WAS THERE. I REALLY THINK THE CAR COMPANY SHOULD INSTALL A BACKUP ALARM OF SOME SORT ON ALL THESE AUTOS. *TR

DRIVER SIDE HID HEADLIGHT WAS LIGHTED BUT FAILED DURING DRIVING. DRIVER SIDE HID HEADLIGHT WOULD RE-IGNITE AFTER TURNING HEADLIGHT SWITCH OFF THEN ON. *JB

MUSTY/MOLDY SMELL COMING FROM AIR CONDITIONING. *TR

DRIVING ON A RESIDENTIAL STREET, SPEED LIMIT OF 35MPH, AT 5:20PM IN EVENING COMMUTE TRAFFIC, A NORMAL STOP TRANSITIONED INTO AN EMERGENCY STOP ATTEMPT AND MINOR ACCIDENT. WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, DID NOT SEEM TO SLOW. UPON HARD BRAKING, BRAKE PEDAL ALL THE WAY TO THE BRAKE STOP, NO ABS SHIMMY OR INCREASED SLOWING. (I HAVE NEVER NOTICED BRAKES GOING ALL THE WAY TO THE BRAKE STOP BEFORE, BUT IT HAPPENED THE FOLLOWING DAY WHEN DRIVING TO BODY SHOP FOR ESTIMATE) HIT A 2007 TOYOTA TACOMA WITH TOW PACKAGE. FRONT END DAMAGE OF 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS ESTIMATED AT LEAST $3K. NO DAMAGE TO TACOMA. SAN JOSE PD TOOK REPORT AND WITH NO FLUIDS LEAKING, I DROVE THE CAR HOME AFTER THE ACCIDENT. I REPORTED ACCIDENT TO MY INSURANCE COMPANY AND THEN CONTACT TOYOTA CUSTOMER SERVICE THE FOLLOWING DAY. AS PREVIOUSLY STATED, I DROVE TO LOCAL BODY SHOP FOR REPAIR ESTIMATE AND BRAKES HIT BRAKE STOP AGAIN (GOING LESS THAN 20MPH). TOYOTA CREATED CASE FILE AND TODAY (10/05/07) REGIONAL TOYOTA INSPECTOR IS CURRENTLY INSPECTING MY VEHICLE AT THE LOCAL TOYOTA DEALERSHIP. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DECELERATING FROM 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN ACCELERATING. THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL, HOWEVER, THE ACCELERATION CONTINUED. THE VEHICLE THEN DROVE OVER A CURB, STRUCK SOME BUSHES, DROVE DOWN AN EMBANKMENT, AND CAME TO A STOP WHEN IT BECAME STUCK IN THE MUD. A TOW TRUCK REMOVED THE VEHICLE FROM THE EMBANKMENT AND THE CONTACT DROVE IT TO HER RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WILL BE TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSIS. SHE STATED THAT THE FLOOR MAT WAS LOCKED IN PLACE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND THEY WILL HAVE AN INVESTIGATOR LOOK INTO THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 80,000. THE CONSUMER STATED AFTER THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS DEACTIVATED THE LIGHT STAYED ON. THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THE ACCELERATION HAPPENED DUE TO A GLITCH WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL. UPDATED 12/11/07

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING LESS THAN 1 MPH, THE CD TRACK MENU WILL NOT DISPLAY, HOWEVER, THE DISC CHANGER COULD BE LOADED AND RADIO CHANNELS COULD BE ADJUSTED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VISIBILITY OF THE MENU WAS HIDDEN BECAUSE NHTSA STATED THAT VIEWING THE MENU WHILE DRIVING WAS A SAFETY RISK. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 5,600 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 12. UPDATED 10/24/07 *TR

THE FIRST SIGN OF A PROBLEM WAS A SQUEAKING SOUND COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. THE NEXT COUPLE OF TIMES POWERING ON THE CAR, THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD JERK AS SOON AS THE CAR RECEIVED POWER. THIS JERKING BECAME PROGRESSIVELY WORSE. THE NEXT COUPLE OF STARTS, THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD VIBRATE VIOLENTLY WHEN BACKING UP AND STARTING TO MOVE FORWARD. FINALLY, IT GOT TO A POINT WHERE, AS I WAS DRIVING AWAY, THE POWERING STEERING JUST BECAME DISABLED. I WAS UNABLE TO DRIVE THE CAR AND THE INFO PANEL WAS REPORTING A MAJOR SYSTEM FAILURE IN THE STEERING. I WAS INFORMED AFTER AN INITIAL INSPECTION BY THE DEALERSHIP THAT A FUSE HAD BLOWN. AFTER A LONGER PERIOD OF TIME, I WAS TOLD THAT THE ECU HAD GONE BAD AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *JB

UNINTENDED ACCELERATION RESULTING IN DAMAGE TO MY CAR AS WELL AS TWO OTHERS. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE SMELLED GAS INSIDE THE VEHICLE AFTER DRIVING IT FOR A FEW WEEKS. THE AROMA INTENSIFIED AND HE DISCOVERED A STREAM OF FUEL LEAKING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT A RODENT CHEWED TROUGH ONE OF THE FUEL LINES. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO ANOTHER TOYOTA DEALER AND THEY CONFIRMED THAT A RODENT CAUSED THE FAILURE, HOWEVER, THE CONTACT STILL DID NOT BELIEVE THE DIAGNOSIS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A HONDA DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE SUB ASSEMBLY TUBE WAS IMPROPERLY INSTALLED AND CAME APART. THE TUBE ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY WILL HONOR THE FIRST DEALER'S DIAGNOSIS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 25,065 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 25,100.

2007 TOYOTA PRIUS ONLY HIGH BEAM HEADLIGHTS WORKED. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE SWITCH WORKS AND THE LIGHT ON THE DASHBOARD FOR THE HIGH BEAMS WORK BUT THE HEADLIGHTS WILL NOT SWITCH FROM HIGH TO LOW. *KB THE DEALER STATED THE FUSE BOX NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *JB

I HAVE ONLY HAD THE 2007 PRIUS SINCE 06-22-07 SO LESS THEN A MONTH OLD WHEN I PULLED INTO GARAGE AFTER DRIVING WITH HEADLIGHTS ON AND NOTICED THE DRIVERS SIDE HEADLIGHT WAS OUT. PASSENGERS WORKS FINE. I TURNED SWITCH OFF THEN ON AND IT CAME BACK ON. TOOK IT TO DEALERS THEY SAID THEY TESTED IT AND NO PROBLEMS FOUND. 3 DAYS LATER I PULLED UP IN FRONT OF A REFLECTIVE WINDOW AND LOW AND BEHOLD MY DRIVERS SIDE HEADLIGHT WAS OUT AGAIN. I GO IN WED, TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT, I TOLD THEM I WANT THE WHOLE SOCKET REPLACED. NO INJURY OR TICKET FROM POLICE YET... BUT I LIVE IN DEAR COUNTRY AND I NEED GOOD ILLUMINATION TO SEE WHERE I AM GOING SO PLEASE POST THERE MAY NEED A RECALL ON THIS PART. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE THEN CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF THE PRECEDING VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY AND THE SEAT BELT DID NOT LOCK. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE ROAD CONDITIONS WERE DRY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED, BUT HAS NOT YET BEEN INSPECTED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 3,141. UPDATED 02/01/08 *BF

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HIS COMPLAINT PERTAINS TO THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM ON ALL VEHICLES. HE STATED THAT WHEN DRIVING ON A ROAD THAT IS WET, ICY, OR CONTAINS SNOW, HE HAS TO SLAM ON THE BRAKES AND DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL TO THE FLOOR IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. HE STATED THAT THE TIRES LOCK UP ONE BY ONE, WHICH TAKES ALL CONTROL OF STOPPING THE VEHICLE OUT OF HIS HANDS, AS OPPOSED TO PUMPING THE BRAKES AND MAINTAINING SOME CONTROL OVER THE VEHICLE. WHEN THE ABS IS ACTIVATED, THE VEHICLE SHAKES, BUCKS, WIGGLES, JERKS, AND MAKES A LOT OF NOISE. THE CONTACT DID NOT WANT TO PROVIDE ANY VEHICLE INFORMATION OTHER THAN THE YEAR, MAKE, MODEL, AND MILEAGE INFORMATION. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 4,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,000.

WHEN ATTEMPTING AN EMERGENCY STOP, THE BRAKES FAILED TO OPERATE AS EXPECTED. THERE WAS NO FEELING OF ANY BRAKING, AND THERE WAS NO SURGE TO INDICATE THAT THE ABS WAS OPERATING. THE EXPERIENCE WAS SIMILAR TO THOSE REPORTED ON THE WEB PAGE HTTP://WWW.HYBRIDCARS.COM/FORUMS/BRAKE-FAILURE-2007-T1013.HTML?S=500A78277EA2CB675FAC1F9567000BEE& I HAVE TAKEN IT TO A PRIUS DEALER, AVONDALE TOYOTA, BUT IN THE ABSENCE OF ANY COMPUTER CODES AND THE FACT THAT SUBSEQUENT TESTS OF THE ABS SYSTEM DID NOT INDICATE A PROBLEM THEY WERE UNABLE TO OFFER ANY KIND OF EXPLANATION OR REPAIR. I HAD APPROXIMATELY THREE TO FOUR CAR LENGTHS FROM ME TO THE NEXT CAR AT ABOUT 30 MPH, ENOUGH SPACE THAT I BELIEVE I SHOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO BRAKE WITHOUT COLLISION. WHEN I WENT FROM ACCELERATING TO RAPID BRAKING THERE WAS NO REAL SENSATION OF THE CAR SLOWING DOWN MORE THAN SLIGHT BRAKING. THE OTHER CAR HAD MINIMAL DAMAGE, BUT THE DRIVER OF THE OTHER CAR DID HIT HER HEAD ON HER STEERING WHEEL. I HAD CLOSE TO $3,000 IN DAMAGE TO MY FRONT END (HOOD BUMPER AND LEFT FENDER). *TR THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE BRAKES DESIGN. THE BRAKES ARE ELECTRONICALLY ASSISTED AND THAT THE COMPUTER WILL FIRST ATTEMPT TO USE THE ELECTRIC MOTOR FOR INITIAL BRAKING, THEN ENGAGE THE HYDRAULIC SYSTEM AND FINALLY THE ABS BASED ON FEEDBACK FROM VARIOUS SENSORS. THE MECHANIC DID AGREE, THAT IS POSSIBLE THAT WHILE THE COMPUTER IS EVALUATING THE BRAKING EFFICIENCY, A DELAY BETWEEN THE MOTOR ONLY BRAKING AND

INDICATOR LIGHTS FLASHED. MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP STAYED ON. AT 2,644 MILES, 12 V. BATTERY DEAD & REPLACED. I WAS TOLD TO KEEP THE GAS TANK HALF OR A QUARTER FULL OR THE RESERVE GAS TANK WOULD CAUSE THE CAR TO RUN ON BATTERY. THE BATTERY MIGHT HAVE DIED BECAUSE THE CAR SAT TOO LONG BEFORE IT WAS SOLD/AT 8,879 MILES, I WENT IN. AFTER FILLING THE GAS TANK & TAKING OUT THE NOZZLE, GAS SPEWED & BUBBLED OUT. THE CAR STALLED WHILE DRIVING SLOWLY & WHILE IN PARK. INDICATOR LIGHTS FLASHED. THE MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP AND MASTER WARNING LIGHTS STAYED ON. IT TOOK 5 MIN. TO TURN OFF THE CAR. I STARTED THE CAR. THOSE LIGHTS STAYED ON. I WAS TOLD I LEFT THE "TRUNK DOOR" OPEN & RAN DOWN THE BATTERY. (NOT TRUE.) THERE IS A GASKET AROUND THE ACCESS HOLE AND IF A PERSON "IS A LITTLE BIT OFF," THE GAS WILL REGURGITATE. (I WAS NOT " OFF" & DID NOT TOP OFF THE TANK.) THEY REPROGRAMMED THE COMPUTER. THE GAS TANK HAD NOT BEEN FILLED SO I KNEW THEY DID NOT FILL THE GAS TANK AND TRY TO RECREATE THE SITUATION AS THEY SAID THEY WOULD. I BOUGHT GAS AT A DIFFERENT PUMP. I STOPPED AT A STOP LIGHT. I COULD FEEL A LOSS OF POWER IN THE CAR. WHEN I PUSHED THE GAS PEDAL, THE CAR WOULD NOT MOVE. I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND ON 3 TIMES BEFORE IT WOULD MOVE. IT CREPT SLOWLY THROUGH THE INTERSECTION AS THE TRAFFIC SIGNAL TURNED RED. I TOOK THE CAR IN AT 8,936 MILES. I WAS TOLD IF MY PROBLEM IS ASSOCIATED WITH THE BATTERY THAT WAS TAKEN OUT OF MY CAR, IT IS NOT AT REPAIR PERSON'S RESPONSIBILITY BECAUSE HE DID NO

2007 PRIUS WAS "T-BONED" ON THE DRIVER SIDE. OTHER CAR (HONDA) WAS GOING ~40 MPH, AND PRIUS WAS GOING ~25 MPH. AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY IN THE PRIUS, BUT DID IN THE HONDA. DRIVER OF PRIUS HAD TO BE CUT OUT OF CAR AND SUFFERED MINOR INJURIES. MEDICS ON THE SCENE WERE SURPRISED THAT THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY IN THE PRIUS. SINCE THE PRIUS WAS TOTALED, THE PARTS HAVE NOT BEEN REPAIRED OR REPLACED. *TR

CAUSE: FLAT TIRE IN THE FRONT LEFT OR FRONT RIGHT OF THE VEHICLE. THE FRONT LEFT DEMONSTRATING THE MOST SEVERE HAZARD FAILURE: THE TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM ENGAGES REGULARLY DUE TO A DISCREPANCY BETWEEN THE SPARE AND NORMAL TIRE SIZE. TRACTION CONTROL CUTS POWER TO THE DRIVE WHEELS AND CANNOT BE OVERRIDDEN, CAUSING VEHICLE TO LOSE SPEED IN NON-DETERMINISTIC MANNER. VEHICLE IS NOT RESPONSIVE. CONDITION IS WORST DURING THE FIRST 40 MILES DRIVEN ON THE SPARE TIRE BUT CONSEQUENTLY IMPROVES DUE TO LEARNING INSIDE THE CAR COMPUTER. UNFORTUNATELY, VEHICLE IS MOST DANGEROUS WHEN THE DRIVER HAS THE LEAST CONTROL OVER THE SITUATION. CORRECTION: NONE, THE MANUFACTURER CLAIMS THE VEHICLE IS OPERATING AS DESIGNED. *TR