This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.
So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.
The contact owns a 2004 Toyota Prius. After starting the vehicle, the instrument panel failed to illuminate and the gauges were difficult to read. The failure occurred intermittently. The contact mentioned that when the failure occurred, the key failed to be removed from the ignition and the vehicle failed to turn off. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the combination meter needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The VIN was not available. The failure mileage was 280,000.
The right headlight keeps going out and after we turn the switch back and forth it goes back on. This past weekend in a driving rain storm at night, the lights went completely out on a windy mountain road. I flicked them on and off several times and they would go on and then go out shortly afterwards. Neither dim or bright would work. I ended up having to pull the bright signal on the column back manually and hold it while driving the last 45 minutes to home. It was very dangerous for about 20 miles in the rain at night the lights going in and out on curves or against on coming traffic, a head-on could have occurred easily.
I purchased this vehicle in December 2012. Ever since I have had this Prius, I have had issues with the front drivers side headlight turning off randomly. Whenever I turn the car on, both headlights are always on, but while driving, the drivers side headlight turns off. I took it to carfix in garner, nc and they thought that it could be the headlight, so they recommended changing it. I ended up having it changed by a family friend because it was cheaper to do it that way. The headlight was still giving me problems after being changed, so I took it to the leith Toyota dealership in raleigh, nc and they said that the headlight that I purchased from autozone was not the correct type of headlight, so they changed it again. Even after they changed it, the headlight was still going on and off randomly. I took it back to the Toyota dealership today and they said that it sounds like some kind of wiring issue. I have done some research on the issue and have seen recalls for 2005-2009 Prius' for the same issues, but since mine is a 2004 it does not fall into the recall category. I believe that it should based on my issue compared to that as well as the number of other complaints on the internet and blogs that I have found.
Passenger headlamp goes out while car is being driven. Driver side headlamp remains on (illuminated). Turning headlamp switch off and on causes passenger and driver side headlamp to illuminate. On re-illumination, passenger side headlamp sometimes appears normal and at other times appears to be dimmer, more yellowish. Dealer quoted replacement hid bulb and labor to replace will cost $225 total.
Same intermittent headlight problem posted here hundreds of times. Why is Toyota only fixing 2006+ model years? the same problem plagues all model years.
My 2004 Toyota Prius's hid lights are going off intermittently and coming back on when I turned them off and back on again. The driver's side is going off again and will come back on again when I turn it off and then back on. Also, my headlight leveling system warning light is coming on. When I drive on the highway light goes off, I feel very unsafe. I have to turn them off and back on in seconds to avoid a possible accident. Dealer can't find the issue. They recommend to change the bulbs but it doesn't solve problem.
Both headlamps go off and on sporadically, as follows: Approximately thirty (30) days after buying this used car, the left hid headlamp appeared burnt out. Both left and right headlamps were replaced on or about January 8, 2013, as recommended for this type of light. On installation, either light would flash on but then go out again, but turning the headlamp switch off then on agan seemed to rectify the problem. Both headlamps then remained on for approximately two weeks, at which point the left headlamp was sporadically out for approximately two weeks, when it would go on only if the headlamp switch were turned off them back on again. Both headlamps then worked for approximately six weeks, at which point the left headlamp went out for approximately four weeks, but then came on after approximately one month when the police found the right light to be out. They said it needed to be fixed; that it is a safety hazard, at which I explained the history of Toyota Prius headlamp issues and that I would pursue an appropriate remedy for this manufacturing defect. The right headlamp remains out to this date, but did come on for approximately one week in the interim. Turning the headlamp switch off then on again has not helped since the day of installation.
Dash board controls and light went off. I have informed Toyota and the dealers of this issue several times that the dash board lights go off and then the car doesn't shut down for a long time. I finally diagnosed the issue myself (bad combination meter) and informed the dealer. They informed me that although Toyota had an extended warranty on the meter that my car was out of warranty. Eventhough I had complained about this issue before, it was not documented properly and therefore not the dealer or Toyota itself would fix the issue. This is an extremely dangerous issue. As the car drives without any of the dash board lights on. You have no way to know how much gas you have or how fast you are driving. And if you find yourself outside the warranty period they are unwilling to fix the issue. Help !!!! I can die driving this car !!!! I am in the process of selling it but I have to drive it to and from work. This needs to be a forced recall !!!! call me I have details of my conversations with Toyota ! this should be in the news. [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
My 2004 Prius has a touch screen display that controls many functions including climate controls. On a recent morning I started my vehicle and got an error message saying "no external connection to air conditioner" at the same time I could not access heater, defrost, navigation, hybrid monitor or hands free phone. Fortunately, I had a rag in the car and could keep my window clean. After 20 minutes of driving, the radio cut out and then all controls came back. Another 10 minutes of driving and the controls cut back off. This problem now occurs each time I drive the vehicle. When I researched this issue on the internet, I discovered this is a widespread problem with the displays on the 04 and 05 Prius. Toyota issued (tsb) EL002-05 dealing with this issue but offered no recall. The problem lies in the circuit boards that were supplied to Toyota motors. I live in Maine and not having access to my window defroster is a huge safety concern. I have to keep a rag in the car to keep my window clean. Toyota customer service refuses to fix this because I am beyond the 3 yr / 36000 mile warranty. This is a manufacturing defect that causes loss of visibility while driving. Absolutely should be a recall campaign for vehicles manufactured with this defect.
Water intrusion caused corrosion of the main engine wiring harness which caused a fault in the auxiliary 12V battery and has made the vehicle undriveable. Toyota cannot determine the source or cause of the water intrusion even though I have brought in the vehicle for routine maintenance since I purchased it and I have complained about a problem which is related to the auxiliary 12V battery several times in the past. This seems to be a flaw in the 2004 Prius design.
2004 Toyota Prius with hid headlights is used as a taxi cab. On September 25th, 2012 the drivers side headlight would begin to flicker and turn off after around five minutes of operation. The hid bulb replacement did not resolve the matter. Headlights must be turned off and then on again in order to resume their operation.
. 10/09/2012 I went to start my 2004 Prius I hit the power button and the dashboard lights had not work. You did not know the status of the car. Actuated the power switch and the brake peddle numerous times to no avail. I tried to select the gear and the car would move. But dash board display did not light. The lights and turn signals work fine. I drove 15 miles home with on display. I selected the park button and the car parked I went to turn off the power button and the car would not turn off the was in the battery mode. I tried to shut it off by disconnecting the 12 volt battery to no avail. I found a fuse that if I pulled it out the car would shut off. I tried the power numerous times and the car turn on and with the dashboard display working. On the morning of 10/10/2012 I tried go to work and when the power and the brake are pushed the dash board lights would not light. The car would move if selected to drive now the engine was running because the car was cold. I placed the car in park and selected the power button to off now the engine will shut off. Again I tried the power and the brake numerous times to no avail. I tried the fuse trick again it worked the engine stopped. Replaced the fuse and tried the power button it work and the dash display were lighted with numerous lights because I shut the down in unapproved mode. Turned the power switch on & off. Numerous times all light were normal except the check engine was on I drove to the Toyota dealer. I was told that is a normal issue the dashboard displays go bad. I understand the dashboard display can go bad. My issue is the safety problem that when the display fails the power button does not shut car off in the battery mode or the engine mode. That's a big issue.
Upon starting the car one morning I noticed the speedometer, fuel and gear indicator digital readouts were not working. I researched the problem on the internet and narrowed the problem to a faulty combination meter (bad solder). This problem has been occurring with numerous other Prius owners according to forums and such. I purchased the car at a Ford dealership and also purchased their Ford esp base care plan. Clearly the plan stated the speedometer/odometer, electrical or mechanical problems were covered. However the agent at the extended warranty office denied the claim. So my car sits at a Toyota dealership with the dash apart and the appraised value of the car less $2000 according to the sales dept. Because the mileage is unknown. Toyota has yet to declare a recall for the problem which could result in death in some cases if not properly addressed. I have two children and value their lives. I hope and pray that Toyota comes around.
The headlights go out randomly while driving at night. You have to turn them off and then turn them back on for them to work and they only last a minute after that. Huge safety issue!!
Random failure of lights, began with driver?S side and continues to occur randomly with greater frequency. Passenger side also turns off randomly, though with less frequency. Many occasions, I have had both lights turn off while driving.
I need your help! there is a manufacturing defect well documented as a common problem with 2004 Toyota Prius multi-functional display (mfd). The problem is that the 60 pin connector on the printed circuit board of the mfd sometimes develops a play in the connection and hence the sporadic display. I wrote to Toyota customer service. Toyota instructed me to take my car to the dealer and speak to Toyota. Told me that he did talk to the Toyota rep and explained to him that I had been taking very good care of my car and that this mfd problem was not my doing. Told me that it would cost $980.57 to install a remanufactured mfd. And that the Toyota rep is only going to contribute $250. So net out of pocket for me would be a substantial amount of $730.57. It is unfair for Toyota customer service to ask me to pay, since this is a common problem with 2004 Toyota Prius mfds that is well documented to be a common problem. I have already spent a lot of time and money on the problem. Toyota customer service is taking the approach that it is out of warranty and there is no recall so we don't want to do anything. That logic is wrong. If there is a common problem that may have not escalated to a recall status, that does not mean that there is no problem. Recall is if enough people have problems. Meanwhile, you cannot deny for all the people who are stuck with this problem. It has been clearly demonstrated that this is a manufacturing defect that Toyota is responsible. Your high level intervention is needed. Please write to Toyota demanding that it would only be fair since the mfd problem is clearly documented to be a manufacturing defect, that Toyota repair without delay at no cost to the client, since he has already suffered enough. Thanks! information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Left and right headlights failed in November and December of 2009. Headlights were replaced. Left headlight has failed in 2011. I drive 10,000 per year. I do not do much driving with my headlights on.
2004 Toyota Prius. Consumer states unintended acceleration the consumer stated the sudden acceleration happened three times, over a six year span. He managed to put the vehicle in neutral, coast to the side of the road, and turned the vehicle off. Once the vehicle was restarted, all worked fine. The consumer stated a few weeks ago his vehicle was about to reach 300,000 miles, as he reached for his camera, he realized the odometer never went past 299,999 miles. However, within five miles, the vehicle suddenly lost power brakes, the air condition stopped working, the hybrid drive shut off and the fan for the hybrid battery came on, as well as yellow and red lights appeared on the dash. Also, two warning graphics appeared on the navigation screen, one indicating trouble. The consumer pulled over, and shut the engine off. He then restarted the vehicle and everything went back to normal. It appeared that by shutting off the engine and restarting it, caused the main computer reboot. The consumer stated it continued several more times, until he arrived home. The dealer informed the consumer the vehicle was a large computer, and when one component stops working, such as the odometer, other components cease too. The dealer explained an odometer limit was placed on the vehicle by the factory.
The hid headlight leveling sensor part# 89408-47010 failed. Big red exclamation on the dash and car won't pass inspection. Toyota says it costs $600 to replace.
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