2007 Toyota Prius complaints

WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT, THE HEADLAMPS WILL SUDDENLY GO OUT.

I WAS DRIVING HOME YESTERDAY EVENING WHEN BOTH OF MY HEADLIGHTS WENT OFF. UNFORTUNATELY FOR ME I WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF GOING THROUGH A LONG CURVE IN THE ROAD. I QUICKLY TURNED OFF THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH AND THEN BACK ON AGAIN. THEY DID COME BACK ON BUT I NEARLY DROVE OFF THE ROAD GOING 45MPH! COULD HAVE HAD A SERIOUS ACCIDENT DUE TO THE HEADLIGHT FAILURE. I CAN NO LONGER TAKE THE RISK OF DRIVING LATE AT NIGHT WHEN I NEED TO DUE TO THIS SAFETY HAZARD!

IN SEPTEMBER 2014 I TURNED ON THE IGNITION AND THE DASH DID NOT COME ON. THE CAR WOULD DRIVE BUT IT DID NOT INDICATE SPEED, GEAR SELECTOR ETC. UPON PARKING THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT TURN OFF. BY MOVING FORWARD AND BACKWARD AND TRYING TO TURN IT OFF REPEATEDLY IT EVENTUALLY TURNED OFF. THIS DID NOT REOCCUR UNTIL THE FOLLOWING YEAR WHEN THE WEATHER GOT WET IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA. IT WOULD HAPPEN OCCASIONALLY ON COLD DAMP MORNINGS AND THEN EVERYTHING WOULD BE FUNCTIONAL THE NEXT TIME I DROVE IT. IT STARTED HAPPENING OFTEN AND FOR MULTIPLE DAYS IN 2016. IT BECAME SO DIFFICULT TO TURN THE CAR OFF (AND IF THE CAR DOES TURN OFF THERE IS LITTLE INDICATION SO I HAD A CLOSE CALL WHEN I EXITED THE VEHICLE AND IT BEGAN TO ROLL AWAY) THAT I WENT ONLINE TO SEE IF ANYONE ELSE HAD HAD THIS PROBLEM. APPARENTLY IT IS VERY COMMON AND TOYOTA IS AWARE OF THE DESIGN FLAW, SO THEY WILL REPAIR IT UNDER WARRANTY FOR 9 YEARS FROM THE NEW VEHICLE PURCHASE DATE. I CALLED TOYOTA AND THEY SAID THAT THE CAR WAS 9 YEARS AND 4 MONTHS OLD AND THEY WOULD NOT COVER IT AND IT WOULD BE ~$1500 TO FIX. I EXPLAINED THAT IT HAD BEEN GOING ON FOR 2+ YEARS AND THEY SAID THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. I ASKED WHY THEY HAD NOT NOTIFIED OWNERS AND THEY SAID THAT IT WAS NOT A "RECALL" SO THEY DIDN'T HAVE TO. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND AN ACKNOWLEDGED DESIGN FLAW THAT POSES A SAFETY HAZARD TO THE PUBLIC. WHEN THE PRIUS "COMBINATION METER" IS NOT FUNCTIONING THE VEHICLE CAN NOT BE TURNED OFF QUICKLY AND THE VEHICLE MAY DRIVE O

THE INSTRUMENT PANEL COMBINATION METER ON MY 2007 PRIUS CAUSES THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS TO FAIL TO ILLUMINATE WHEN STARTING .THIS HAPPENS HAPHAZARDLY WITH LIGHTS NOT FUNCTIONING FOR MULTIPLE STARTUPS AND THEN SUDDENLY FUNCTIONING AS NORMAL. THE LIGHTS WORK ONE MINUTE THEN THEN THEY DON'T. THE LIGHTS WILL FAIL AT THE STARTING OF THE CAR AND REMAIN OFF FOR THE ENTIRE DRIVE DURING EACH OCCURRENCE. WHILE IN THIS DISCONNECT MODE THE CAR WILL FAIL TO SHUT OFF WHEN STOPPED AND THE START/OFF BUTTON IS PUSHED.YOU MUST HOLD BUTTON DOWN FOR A FEW SECONDS AS YOU WOULD WITH A COMPUTER THAT WOULDN'T SHUT OFF NORMALLY AND IT WILL SHUT THE ENGINE OFF WHILE STILL LEAVING YOU IN ACCESSORY MODE THEN YOU MUST TAP TWICE QUICKLY TO SHUT OFF COMPLETELY AND THAT SOME TIMES WON'T WORK SO I 'LL NEED TO LEAVE THE CAR FOR AS SHORT A PERIOD AS I CAN AND PRAY NOBODY STEALS IT. I KNOW THIS PROBLEM IS COMMON WITH SOME PRIUS YEARS AND THERE HAS BEEN AN EXTENDED WARRANTEE OF 9 YEARS ESTABLISHED TO HELP SOMEWHAT WITH THIS PROBLEM. I BELIEVE THIS WAS INITIATED BY TOYOTA TO STAVE OFF A POSSIBLE AND MORE COSTLY RECALL. WHY HASN'T THERE BEEN A RECALL FOR SUCH A DANGEROUS FAULTY PART AS THE COMBINATION METER? THE DANGERS ARE APPARENT : DRIVING WITH NO SPEEDOMETER OR WARNING LIGHTS , AUTOMOBILE FAILING TO TURN OFF CORRECTLY.CORRECTING THIS PROBLEM IS VERY COSTLY REPAIR $800 PLUS. THE 9 YEAR WARRANTEE HELPS SOME AND I BELIEVE A CALCULATED MOVE TO AVOID HELPING OTHERS SUCH AS MYSELF . WHEN I REPORTED MY PROBLEM I H

I WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT IN WHICH I REAR-ENDED THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME ON A ALMOST EMPTY CITY STREET. THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME STOPPED ABRUPTLY AND WAS STATIONARY AT THE TIME OF THE COLLISION. I WAS GOING APPROXIMATELY 25-30 MPH AT THE TIME OF IMPACT, AS I DID NOT HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BRAKE EFFECTIVELY. MY CAR WAS TOTALED IN THE COLLISION. I SUFFERED BRUISING TO MY STERNUM AND KNEES AS WELL AS SEVERE BRUISING ON MY KNEES AND HIP. MY AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, AND THIS WAS REMARKED UPON BY THE FIREFIGHTERS, PARAMEDICS AND POLICE THAT RESPONDED TO THE ACCIDENT. I AM CONCERNED BECAUSE THIS IS THE SECOND TOYOTA I HAVE BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT WITH IN WHICH THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE LAST ACCIDENT WAS IN A 1996 TOYOTA COROLLA IN A HIGH SPEED ACCIDENT ON THE FREEWAY IN WHICH MY CAR HAD LOCKED ONTO THE CAR THAT HAD HIT ME AND WE SPUN OUT ON THE FREEWAY. AGAIN MY CAR WAS TOTALED AND NO AIRBAG DEPLOYED. AFTER DOING RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET, IT WOULD SEEM THIS IS A CONTINUING PROBLEM WITH TOYOTAS, WHICH SHOULD BE REMEDIED AS A MATTER OF PUBLIC SAFETY.

THE BACK LATCH OF MY 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS HAS DEGRADED ("MELTED" ALMOST). IT NO LONGER FUNCTIONS PROPERLY, AND I AM UNABLE TO OPEN THE BACK HATCH DOOR EASILY. SOMETIMES IT REQUIRES CONSIDERABLE EFFORT AND PERSEVERANCE TO GET IT OPEN. I AM CONCERNED THAT IN THE CASE OF AN EMERGENCY, I WILL NOT BE ABLE TO GET THE DOOR OPEN. THIS IS A MAJOR CAUSE FOR CONCERN AND IT IS A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD.

PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT GOES OUT WHILE DRIVING. MUST TURN LIGHTS OFF AND BACK ON TO GET IT TO WORK AGAIN. STATED IT'S THE BULB, ASSEMBLY, AND COMPUTER CAUSING THE ISSUE. IT'S A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THESE VEHICLES WITH HID LIGHTING SYSTEMS. *TR

MY DASHBOARD WENT DARKING INCLUDING THE SPEEDOMETER AND IT APPEARS TO ALSO DISABLE THE ODOMETER WHEN THIS HAPPENS. THIS HAPPENED AFTER STOPPING TO FILL UP FOR GAS. AFTER RESTARTING THE CAR THE DASHBOARD WILL NO LONGER LIGHT UP. IT LOOKS LIKE YOU CAN TEMPORALLY RESET THE FAULTY PART BY DISCONNECTING IT FROM THE BATTERY AND RECONNECTING IT. THIS ISSUE IS REGARDING A PROBLEM THAT IS KNOWN TO TOYOTA, THEY HAVE EXTENDED THE WARRANTY FOR THIS PART TO 9 YEARS/UNLIMITED MILES. MY PRIUS WAS EFFECTED AFTER 9 1/2 YEARS PUTTING ME PAST THE WARRANTY THEY EXTENDED. THE PROBLEM IS WITH THE "COMBINATION METER", IT APPEARS TO BE CAUSED BY A BAD SOLDER DURING THE MANUFACTURING PROCESS. RESEARCH SHOWS ME THIS EFFECTS 2004-2009 PRIUS MODELS AND IT LOOKS LIKE MOST PRIUS WILL RUN INTO THE ISSUE AT SOME POINT. I'M NOT SURE WHY THIS HASN'T BEEN A RECALL AS NO SPEEDOMETER IS OBVIOUSLY A SAFETY ISSUE, THE PROBLEM IS WIDESPREAD AND TOYOTA SEEMS TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM WITH THEIR WARRANTY EXTENSION. I IMAGINE IT TOOK ME MORE THAN NINE YEARS AS WE ONLY HAVE 90,000 MILES AFTER NEARLY 10 YEARS OF OWNERSHIP. A GOOGLE SEARCH ON TOYOTA PRIUS COMBINATION METER PROBLEM WILL BRING UP A LOT OF INFORMATION ON THIS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME, [XXX] INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

THE RUBBER EXTERIOR OF THE BACK LATCH HANDLE HAS MELTED COMPLETELY MAKING THE BACK HATCH COMPLETELY INOPERABLE. I CAN NO LONGER PRESS THE BUTTON THAT IS SUPPOSED TO OPEN THE HATCH AS THE RUBBER THAT COATED IT HAS MELTED INTO A GOOEY MASS AND THEN HARDENED. THIS HAS OCCURED OVER THE SUMMER WHILE THE CAR WAS PARKED AND THE TEMPURATURES WERE IN THE 100'S.

THE TRUNK LATCH ON MY '07 PRIUS HAS "MELTED" AND IS NO LONGER WORKING. SINCE THE LATCH IS NO LONGER WORKING, THE TRUNK IS UNABLE TO OPEN, AND ALSO UNABLE TO REMAIN IN A FULLY LATCHED, CLOSED POSITION. BECAUSE OF THIS, I AM UNABLE TO LOCK THE DOORS. SOMETIMES, I CAN GIVE THE TRUNK DOOR AN EXTRA PUSH TO TURN OFF THE "DOOR OPEN" SENSOR TO LOCK THE VEHICLE, BUT BECAUSE IT IS NOT FULLY LATCHING AND THE VEHICLE IS BEING LOCKED FROM THE OUTSIDE, THE ANTI-THEFT ALARM WILL GO OFF.

THE HEADLIGHTS (SINGLE OR BOTH) TURN OFF WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT . I TURN THEM BACK ON AND BOTH SEEM TO WORK FOR A FEW MINUTES AND AFTER A FEW MINUTES THE PROBLEM OCCURS AGAIN, WHEN 1 OR BOTH LIGHTS GO OFF. *TR

HATCHBACK WILL NOT UNLOCK. THE RUBBER THAT COVERS THE LATCH HAS DEGRADED TO THE POINT WHERE IT IS STICKY IN THE WARM WEATHER AND ROCK SOLID IN THE COLD WEATHER WHERE YOU CAN NO LONGER PRESS IT TO OPEN THE TRUCK.

THE HANDLE ON THE HATCHBACK HAS BECOME STICKY AND WILL NOT LET ME OPEN THE HATCH. THIS IS A SAFETY PROBLEM BECAUSE IF I NEEDED TO GET AT MY SPARE TIRE, I WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO DO SO. TOYOTA WANTS $250.00 TO REPAIR IT. I THINK TOYOTA SHOULD REPAIR IT AT NO CHARGE.

THE RUBBER COVER OF THE REAR LIFT GATE SWITCH HAS DETERIORATED TO THE POINT WHERE THE SWITCH WON'T WORK ANY MORE. I AM UNABLE TO ACCESS THE SPARE TIRE AND OTHER IMPORTANT THINGS IN THE BACK OF THE CAR.

HEADLIGHTS SPORADICALLY TURN OFF WHILE IN MOTION. SOMETIMES IT IS JUST ONE HEADLIGHT, SOMETIMES IT IS BOTH!

HATCHBACK DOOR DOES NOT OPEN IN COLD WEATHER.

REAR HATCH DOOR LATCH FAILURE, STARTING WITH SOFTENING AND THEN COMPLETE MELTING OF THE RUBBER COVER AND FINALLY TO LATCH NOT OPERATING AT ALL, ESPECIALLY IN COLD WEATHER.

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

RIGHT HEADLIGHT RANDOMLY GOES OUT. AS OF RECENTLY, BOTH STARTED GOING OUT RANDOMLY. SEEM TO TURN BACK ON WHEN TURNED OFF AND ON AGAIN.

MY VEHICLE SEEMED TO BE HAVING A RECURRENT PROBLEMS WITH HEADLIGHTS. INITIALLY IT STARTED WITH RANDOMLY TURNING OFF . I TRIED TO GET THIS INVESTIGATED BY THE DEALERSHIP BUT WAS TOLD THAT THESE ARE SOMETIMES DRIVEN BY WEATHER CONDITIONS AND COULD HAPPEN. HOWEVER LATER ON I HAPPEN TO UNDERSTAND THAT THERE WAS A HID RECALL. UNFORTUNATELY I NEVER RECEIVED THE LETTER NOR TOYOTA DEALERSHIP DID THEIR DUE DILIGENCE BY VALIDATING ACTIVE RECALLS AND TAKING CARE OF THIS FOR ME. I AM DEEPLY DISAPPOINTED WITH TOYOTA AND THE DEALERSHIP BOTH FOR THEIR LAXITY IN BEING RESPONSIBLE AS TOYOTA TO TAKE CARE OF THIS FOR A CUSTOMER . AS I NEVER RECEIVED THE LETTER I NEVER GOT AN OPPORTUNITY TO RESPOND TO THE CAMPAIGN FOR THE HID ISSUE WITH TOYOTA PRIUS 2006 - 2009 MODELS. *TR

THREE TIMES WITHIN THE LAST WEEK, WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT, THE HEADLIGHTS SUDDENLY WENT OUT. ALTHOUGH I WAS ABLE TO TURN THEM BACK ON RIGHT AWAY, THIS IS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SITUATION TO BE IN WHEN DRIVING ON A DARK ROAD. *TR

WHILE I WAS DRIVING, THE CAR SUDDENLY MADE A VERY LOUD SOUND, THAT DID NOT GO AWAY. ALONG WITH THAT, THE LIGHTS ON THE DASH LIT UP, THE BRAKE LIGHT, THE RED HAZARD EXCLAMATION TRIANGLE LIGHT, THE ABS AND VSC LIGHT. IT FELT THE BRAKES WERE NOT WORKING AND I WOULD NEED TO PRESS IT DOWN HARD FOR IT TO SLOW DOWN. THIS HAS HAPPENED THREE TIMES! AND EACH TIME I TOOK IT IN TO TOYOTA, THEIR DIAGNOSTIC TESTS SHOWED NOTHING. THEY THINK IT COULD BE THE BATTERY BUT THEY DID NOT SUGGEST CHANGING IT. THE THREE EPISODES THAT HAPPENED, LUCKILY NO INJURIES OR CRASHES. BUT IT IS VERY CONCERNING AS I FEEL THIS WILL HAPPEN AGAIN AND THEY HAVE NOT FIGURED OUT WHAT THE PROBLEM IS.

THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS... HEADLIGHTS ON MY PRIUS GO OUT INTERMITTENTLY POSING A SAFETY HAZARD WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT. EITHER ONE HEADLIGHT GOES OUT OR THE OTHER. YOU HAVE TO TURN HEADLIGHTS OFF AND ON TO CORRECT. THERE WERE 2 OCCASIONS WHEN BOTH HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT AT THE SAME TIME. I WAS DRIVING HOME ON THE FREEWAY LATE AT NIGHT AND COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. MY MECHANIC INFORMED ME TO REPLACE THE LEFT AND RIGHT FRONT HEADLIGHT BALLASTS AND BULBS. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY HAZARD AND TOYOTA SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE!.

THIS 07 TOYOTA PRIUS DASH INSTRUMENT LIGHTS WILL GO OUT WHETHER STATIONARY OR IN MOTION AND OR NOT COME ON AT THE START OF THE VEHICLE. THE CAR CAN BE DRIVEN BUT THERE IS NO WAY TO REFERENCE THE SPEED OR VITAL FUNCTIONS OF THE VEHICLE WHEN THIS OCCURS. ALSO THE VEHICLE WILL NOT TURN OFF WHEN THE POWER BUTTON IS PUSHED WHEN THE DASH IS INOPERATIVE UNLESS YOU HOLD THE POWER BUTTON DOWN FOR AN EXTENDED AMOUNT OF TIME. TOYOTA KNOWS ABOUT THIS ISSUE BUT THE TIME LIMIT ON THE UNPUBLISHED EXTENDED WARRANTY THAT I WAS TOLD HAS EXPIRED. WE BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE NEW IN 07.THIS VEHICLE STARTED DOING THIS RECENTLY. THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN A RECALL ITEM ON THIS VEHICLE DUE TO THE POTENTIAL SAFETY ISSUE.

DASHBOARD DISPLAY (INCLUDING BACKUP DISPLAY) INTERMITTENTLY FUNCTIONS. THIS HAPPENS WHEN STATIONARY, IN MOTION, ON A CITY STREET OR HIGHWAY, TURNING, DRIVING STRAIGHT, OR BREAKING. THE FOLLOWING UNSAFE CONDITIONS RESULTED: NO SPEEDOMETER, NO GAS GAUGE, NO TIRE PRESSURE GAUGE, NO ODOMETER, NO CRUISE CONTROL, NO BACKUP DISPLAY, ETC.

PROBLEM WITH LIGHTING TURNING OFF AT NIGHT WITHOUT WARNING. BOTH LIGHTS TURN OFF AT DIFFERENT TIMES. UPON TURNING OFF AND BACK ON THEY TURN ON BUT TURN OFF SOON THEREAFTER. APPARENTLY KNOWN SAFETY ISSUE SUBJECT OF LAWSUIT AND SETTLEMENT FOR LOW MILEAGE CAR. NHTSA SHOULD COMPEL MANUFACTURER TO FIX THE PROBLEM.

AS I WAS COMING BACK FROM LIVERMORE TO SAN JOSE DOWN THE SUNOL GRANDE LAST WEEKEND, MY DASH LIGHTS SUDDENLY WENT OUT MEANING I HAD NO SPEEDOMETER OR WAIT TO TELL HOW MUCH GAS I HAD AND THE ABS AND STABILITY CONTROL WENT OUT WHILE GOING 65 MILES AN HOUR DOWN A STEEP HILL.LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO GET HOME AND DON'T ASK ME HOW I FIGURED OUT TO GET THE CAR TO TURN OFF. I CALLED THE ONE 800 TOYOTA NUMBER AND IT TURNS OUT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH SOMETHING CALLED THE COMBO METER ON THESE CARS AND IT HAD AN EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR A TOTAL OF NINE YEARS. MY WARRANTY EXPIRED THEY SAID APRIL 2016. THIS SEEMS LIKE A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE THAT TOYOTA SHOULD COVER IF THEY ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THEIR CUSTOMERS SAFETY.

SEATBELT TENSIONER RETRACTS SLOWLY ON DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE OF MY 07 PRIUS. CALLED TOYOTA 1-800 NUMBER, THE GIRL TOLD ME TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALER AND GET A PRICE AND THEN CALL THEM. SHE SAID IT WAS A SAFETY RELATED ISSUE. INTERESTING BECAUSE EVERY OTHER TIME I HAVE CALLED ON A TOYOTA SEATBELT OF THE SAME ISSUE THEY NEVER SAY IT SAFETY RELATED WHEN I KNOW WHAT IS. I HAVE NOT HAD IT FIXED IT IS TOO MUCH WORK RIGHT NOW TO GET THEM A PRICE ON SOMETHING THEY MIGHT DO. WHY HAVEN'T TOYOTA SEATBELTS BEEN RECALLEDOVER THERE OBVIOUS TENSIONER ISSUES. I HAVE EIGHT TOYOTA IS BETWEEN 00 AND 07 BETWEEN MY GIRLFRIEND MY PARENTS AND I AND THEY ALL HAVE THE SAME RETRACTOR ISSUES

DRIVING ON A RAINY DAY, ABS AND VSC LIGHTS ON DASH CAME ON. MY CAR VIOLENTLY FISHTAILED ALMOST 180 DEGREES, BACK AND FORTH 6 TIMES ON A CURVE GETTING OFF A FREEWAY (ABOUT 45 MPH) NEARLY CRASHED. I PROCEEDED VERY SLOWLY TO SIDE STREET. CAR SHIMMIED TO RIGHT MAKING A LEFT TURN. FELT LIKE I WAS DRIVING ON ICE. CALLED A TOW TRUCK. DEALERSHIP FOUND RODENT DAMAGE TO WIRES TO WHEEL SPEED SENSOR. I DISCOVERED MANUFACTURERS USING SOY OIL ON WIRING. $1300 REPAIR. *TR

TAKATA RECALL. MY CAR WON'T SHUT OFF. THEY SAY THE INSTRUMENT PANEL CLUSTER NEEDS REPLACED. IT HAS BEEN ON BACK ORDER FOR 13 DAYS SO MY CAR IS USELESS. I CAN'T DRIVE IT. I PAID EITHER 23,000 OR 28,000 FOR IT AND HAVE KEPT IT MAINTAINED. THE TOYOTA PLACE SAYS THEY HAVE ANOTHER LADY THAT'S BEEN WAITING 3 DAYS LESS THAN MINE. I CALLED CALIFORNIA TOYOTA. THEY CAN'T TELL ME ANYTHING - BUT TODAY TOLD ME IT MIGHT BE ON BACK ORDER. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. A CAR THAT WON'T SHUT OFF IS A DANGER. IT COULD KICK INTO GEAR. IT COULD DAMAGE THE MOTOR. A CAR THAT YOU CAN'T TELL HOW MUCH GAS IS IN IT CAN BE A PROBLEM AS WELL. I CAN'T DRIVE IT. THE SPEEDOMETER WON'T WORK. THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH SAFETY AS IF YOU CAN'T TELL WHAT SPEED YOU ARE GOING YOU RISK TICKETS. THE TOYOTA PLACE IN BIRMINGHAM HAS REPLACED 30 OF THESE INSTRUMENT CLUSTERS. IF THAT IS REPRESENTATIVE NATIONWIDE THERE IS A BIG PROBLEM AND THESE CARS SHOULD BE RECALLED. I ONLY HAVE 150,000 MILES APPROX. ON MY CAR. THE SALESMAN TOLD ME IT WOULD LAST AT LEAST 300,000 MILES. I HAD TO REPLACE THE 4800.00 BATTERY AT 103000 MILES. MY OTHER GRIPE IS THEY DIDN'T TELL ME UNTIL 13 DAYS LATER IT WAS "PROBABLY" ON BACK ORDER. I WOULDN'T HAVE RENTED A CAR FOR 13 DAYS HAD I KNOWN IT WAS "PROBABLY" ON BACK ORDER.

TOYOTA RECALL 2007 PRIUS' DUE TO FAULTY HIGH-DENSITY DISCHARGE HEADLIGHTS. HEADLIGHTS ARE A SAFETY HAZARD AND GO OFF AND ON WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT. AT TIMES BOTH HEADLIGHTS HAVE GONE OFF. TOYOTA SHOULD TAKE RESPONSIBILITY AND REPAIR. IT IS THEIR FAULT! NOT MINE. I CANNOT DRIVE AT NIGHT DUE TO THIS PROBLEM. *TR

WHEN I DRIVE MY CAR WITH THE LIGHTS ON THEY RANDOMLY TURN OFF. WE HAVE TRIED TWICE ALREADY TO TRY TO TIGHTEN THIS AND IT STILL TURNS OFF WHILE DRIVING. THE BULBS ARE IN GOOD CONDITION. I HAVE KIDS AND FEEL THIS UNSAFE TO BE DRIVING. *TR

STEERING WHEEL CONTROL ON RIGHT SIDE ONLY WORKS INTERMITTENTLY. UNABLE TO CONTROL DEFROSTER OR CONTROL AIR CONDITIONER VENT.

THE TRUNK OPENER SWITCH ON MY 2007 PRIUS NO LONGER WORKS RELIABLY BECAUSE IT IS MADE OF A DEFECTIVE RUBBER WHICH HAS AT THIS POINT MELTED INTO A GOOPY MESS. THIS MEANS THAT THE OPENER SWITCH CAN BECOME STUCK IN THE CLOSED POSITION, RENDERING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO OPEN THE TRUNK UNTIL THE RELEASE MECHANISM OF THE SWITCH OVERCOMES THE TENSILE STRENGTH OF THE GOOP. AS A CURSORY GOOGLE SEARCH SHOWS, THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WHICH TOYOTA ROUTINELY REFUSES TO REPAIR. IT IS A POTENTIAL SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE A PET OR CHILD COULD BE DIFFICULT TO RETRIEVE FROM THE TRUNK AREA IF THE TRUNK CANNOT BE OPENED. AN UNEXPECTED HAZARD SUCH AS A LEAKING PROPANE TANK OR A BATTERY FIRE IN THE TRUNK AREA COULD SIMILARLY BE DIFFICULT TO MITIGATE.

COMBINATION METER FAILURE WHILE DRIVING. UNABLE TO VIEW SPEEDOMETER OR DASH LIGHTS. CAR SOMETIMES LOCKS UP, UNABLE TO VIEW ABS SIGNAL BECAUSE DASHLIGHTS BECOME INOPERABLE. UNABLE TO TURN CAR OFF DURING DASHBOARD/COMBINATION METER FAILURE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, A WARNING CHIME WAS HEARD AND THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED TO THE RIGHT. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A SIGN. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 90,000. *DT*JB

THE HEADLIGHTS COME ON TOGETHER BUT THE PASSENGER SIDE WILL RANDOMLY GO OFF WHILE DRIVING. USUALLY THEY COME BACK ON WHEN I TURN THEM OFF AND BACK ON. ONE TIME THEY BOTH WENT OFF WHILE ON A HIGHWAY AND I COULD NOT GET THEM TO COME BACK ON. I DROVE TO THE HOTEL WITH OUT THE HEADLIGHTS, THE NEXT DAY THEY WORKED.

THE HEADLIGHTS OF MY 2007 PRIUS GO OFF UNEXPECTEDLY WHILE DRIVING. I HAVE LEARNED THAT IF I THEN TURN THE SWITCH OFF AND ON AGAIN THEY WILL COME BACK ON, BUT ONLY FOR A SHORT TIME. THIS HAS OCCURRED AS MANY AS EIGHT TIMES DURING A 45 MINUTE DRIVE. AT NIGHT ON DARK ROADS THIS IS DANGEROUS. I HAVE HAD THREE NEAR-MISSES AS A RESULT. TOYOTA HAD ISSUED AN "ENHANCED WARRANTY" (5 YEAR 50K MILES) BECAUSE OF THE MANY COMPLAINTS FILED AROUND THIS SITUATION, BUT I PURCHASED MY PRIUS USED, OLDER THAN 5 YEARS, AND MORE THAN 50K MILES. I HAVE SPOKEN TO TOYOTA NORTH AMERICA, OBTAINED CASE #1609193626, BUT THEY REFUSE TO COVER THE COST OF REPAIR. LOCAL TOYOTA SERVICE CENTERS ALSO REFUSE TO DO THE REPAIR WORK UNLESS I PAY FULL COST OUT OF POCKET. AT THIS POINT I SEEM TO HAVE NO OPTIONS BUT TO PAY THE COST MYSELF, WHICH I UNDERSTAND CAN BE AS MUCH AS $1,500!

BRAKE PUMP FAILED JUST ST LIKE 2010 MODEL, KNOWN ISSUE WITH 2007 MODELS.

MY HEADLIGHTS BEGAN FLICKERING INTERMITTENTLY ABOUT TWO YEARS AGO. DEALER SAID NOTHING IS WRONG BECAUSE THEY WORKED WHEN I WAS THERE. 18 MOS AGO THE DRIVER SIDE WENT OUT. BOUGHT TWO BULBS BUT BEFORE I COULD REPLACE THE DRIVER SIDE CAME BACK ON AGAIN AND THE PASSENGER SIDE WENT OUT. THEN THEY WENT BACK TO BEING INTERMITTENT - AS THEY ARE NOW. BASICALLY THEY FLICKER OR GO ON AND OFF. RIDICULOUS.

HEADLIGHTS GO OUT WHILE DRIVING, AND COME BACK ON WHEN HEADLIGHTS ARE SWITCHED FROM ON TO OFF THEN BACK ON AGAIN. THIS CAN HAPPEN 1 TIME DURING A TRIP OR MULTIPLE TIMES. DIAG OF ISSUE IS NOT EASY AND USUALLY MULTIPLE PARTS ARE REPLACED TRYING TO FIX THE ISSUE.

THE ELECTRONIC DASH (HEADS UP INSTRUMENT DISPLAY) ON OUR 2007 PRIUS HAS INTERMITTENTLY FAILED TO LIGHT OVER THE LAST YEAR. YESTERDAY, IT FAILED AND ALSO WOULDN'T TURN OFF. WE ALWAYS USE THE REMOTE (KEYLESS) IGNITION SYSTEM. BUT, AFTER THE FAILURES YESTERDAY I PUT THE ELECTRONIC KEY FOB INTO THE HOLE IN THE DASH THINKING THAT MIGHT HELP. INSTEAD, I COULDN'T REMOVE IT. I TRIED EVERY COMBINATION OF PRESSING BUTTONS (THE PARK AND POWER BUTTONS) AND OTHER CONTROLS, BRAKES PEDAL, SHIFTER AND IT STILL WOULDN'T SHUT OFF OR LIGHT UP THE DISPLAY. AFTER HOLDING THE POWER BUTTON IN FOR AN EXTENDED AMOUNT OF TIME, IT TURNED OFF AND EJECTED THE KEY FOB. BUT THEN THE CAR WOULDN'T LIGHT UP THE INSTRUMENT DISPLAY OR START. THIS MORNING, AGAIN, IT WOULD NOT START. I WAS TOLD BY AN EXPERIENCED PRIUS MECHANIC (ALSO AN OWNER) THAT THESE WERE CLASSIC SYMPTOMS OF A FAILING POWER AMPLIFIER FOR THE DISPLAY AND THAT IT WAS A "SECRET WARRANTY," A VOLUNTARY REPAIR TO AVOID A GOVERNMENT RECALL, BUT THAT TOYOTA WOULD ONLY DO IT FOR 10 YEARS. THE DEALER REFUSED TO DO IT UNDER WARRANTY EVEN THOUGH THE SYMPTOMS BEGAN BEFORE THE CAR WAS 10 YEARS OLD. THEY TOLD ME THE RECALL WAS ONLY GOOD FOR NINE YEARS. THEY WANT $765 FOR THE REPAIR. IT STRIKES ME THAT THIS IS A SAFETY FAILURE AND SHOULD BE COVERED, PERIOD. WITH NO INDICATION OF SPEED OR OTHER FUNCTIONS (ABS FUNCTION, TRACTION CONTROL, ETC.), OR TO TURN THE VEHICLE OFF, IT IS UNSAFE TO OPERATE THE VEHICLE. THE VARIOUS FAILURES, INCLUDING LOSS OF CRUISE CONTRO

ONE OR BOTH OF THE PRIUS HEADLIGHTS WILL SWITCH OFF ON ITS OWN AND I HAVE TO TURN OFF THE LIGHTS AND TURN THEM ON SEVERAL TIMES IN ORDER FOR THE HEADLIGHTS TO STAY CONSISTENTLY ON. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE WHEN I AM TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AT NIGHT AND LOSE MY HEADLIGHTS AND THEN HAVE TO SWITCH THEM ON AND OFF TO MAKE THEM WORK.

HEADLIGHT BURNED OUT; THEY WANT $ 450 TO FIX. RESEARCHING, WE FIND THAT THIS IS A KNOWN SAFETY ISSUE, SUBJECT TO MULTIPLE LEGAL ACTIONS, INCLUDING CLASS ACTION. THEIR CURRENT "CUSTOMER SERVICE" SOLUTION? "SUE US!!"

THE BALLISTS INSIDE THE TWO FRONT HEADLIGHTS INTERMITTENTLY TURN ON/OFF. BOTH LIGHTS WENT OUT AT THE SAME TIME WHILE NIGHT DRIVING, CAUSING A SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. THE VEHICLE HAS 120,000 MILES AND BOTH LIGHTS RANDOMLY TURNING OFF/ON IS NOT SAFE AND TOYOTA SHOULD INCUR A RECALL.

BOUGHT 2007 PRIUS USED AND EVERYTHING WORKED. NOW THE DRIVER SIDE HEADLIGHT WONT WORK AFTER SEVERAL NEW LIGHTBULBS AND A BALLAST HAVE BEEN CHANGED. IT HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT TO MY KNOWLEDGE, I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF TOYOTA WILL FIX THEIR PROBLEMATIC VEHICLE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING UP A MOUNTAIN AT 20 MPH, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TIRES LOST TRACTION AND THE VEHICLE SLID OFF A MOUNTAIN CURVE AND CRASHED INTO A DITCH. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE HEAD AND SOME DEEP TISSUE BRUISING. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS REQUIRED. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. DUE TO THE FORCE OF THE CRASH, THE SEAT BELT REMAINED BUCKLED, BUT FAILED TO RESTRAIN THE CONTACT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 52,800.

ONE OR BOTH HEADLIGHTS WILL RANDOMLY TURN OFF WHILE DRIVING. MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO FIND A PROBLEM TO FIX. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS WHEN TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY AT HIGH SPEEDS. TOYOTA NEEDS TO RECALL THIS VEHICLE AND FIX THE PROBLEM!

THE REAR LIFT GATE LATCH ON MY TOYOTA PRIUS HAS STOPPED FUNCTIONING. THE EXTERIOR RUBBER OVER THE LATCH MECHANISM/SWITCH HAS MELTED, TURNED GUMMY AND WILL NO LONGER FUNCTION TO OPEN THE LIFT GATE. IN COLD WEATHER THE LATCH HAS BEEN EVEN MORE DIFFICULT TO OPEN AND THE TRIM PIECE CONTAINING THE TRUNK HATCH LATCH FRACTURED IN SUB-FREEZING WEATHER WHILE TRYING TO GET THE LATCH TO RELEASE. THE CAR WAS PARKED WITH LIGHT SNOW FALLING. I CAN NO LONGER OPEN THE TRUNK OF MY CAR FROM THE OUTSIDE. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD AS I CAN NOT ACCESS THE REAR HATCH OF MY CAR IN AN EMERGENCY AND DEFEATS THE PRIMARY PURPOSE OF A HATCHBACK CAR WHICH IS ACCESS TO THE CAR'S INTERIOR. THE CAR JACK AND EMERGENCY SPARE TIRE LOCATED JUST BEHIND THE FAILED HATCH LATCH. I HAD TO PAY OVER $500+ TO HAVE TOYOTA REPLACE THE FAILED HATCH LATCH SWITCH AND SURROUNDING TRIM PIECE.

THE RIGHT HEADLAMP LOW BEAM WORKS INTERMITTENTLY, I TURN IT ON AND OFF AND IT USUALLY WORKS AGAIN, MY ONLINE RESEARCH INDICATES THIS HAPPENS TO MANY OTHER PRIUS OWNERS AND NO RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED AS OF YET