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.
I had just had my oil changed and when I was leaving I started the car but the dashboard lights didn't come on. I drove on and still nothing. When I was at a stop light, the lights came on with the error message that my brakes were engaged. I tried multiple times to depress and release the emergency brake, but the same message. I couldn't move the vehicle because the front brakes were locked. I had it towed to the dealership and they said they had to get Toyota involved but it sounds like three computers are fried. This is very frustrating since I got the vehicle because it had such wonderful reviews (yes this was some years ago) how do computers just "up and fry" without any warning. I am hopeful that Toyota will do the right thing and step up and take the necessary steps to make sure this doesn't happen to anyone else. Also, whatever they could do for me would be greatly appreciated since I was a die hard Prius fan.....until now"?"
Digital dashboard display is, from time to time, so dim as to be almost invisible. Sometimes it appears to be about 90% of brightness, other times at about 5% or less. This makes it almost impossible to read such information as speed, warning lights, etc. When it is visible, it is a major distraction, taking considerable time and effort. Toyota has extended the warranty for this problem, but my Toyota dealer refuses to perform the repair, claiming that as long as they can see the display at any level, regardless of how dim, there is not a correctable problem.since the problem is intermittent, they may not see it at its worst.
Both hid headlights went out at the same time. I can toggle the light switch off and on and one or both lights came back on. Then went out again within a few seconds to a minute, over and over. Makes no difference if car is not moving at all or going 70 mph. I was able to drive the 15 miles home at night without incident. Went to dealer next day and they say all that is wrong is that the headlights are burned out. Estimate to replace both is $474.31. I do not believe that they would burn out at exactly the same time. And if they are burned out then why do they come back on and off. I have done research and found the class action settlement for 2006-2009 models. I also found that you have had hundreds of complaints about the 2005 model yet you have not considered this a safety matter. I disagree. Even if you don't help me, I want my complaint included in your database.
On my 2005 Toyota Prius the hid lights were replaced with Toyota parts. Within a couple of weeks they started to go off and on at random. The dealer replaced them with aftermarket hid bulbs. After about 18 months one of the lights would go off and on at random. The dealer no longer carries aftermarket hid bulbs. They told me they could install the Toyota bulbs which have issues or I could get aftermarket bulbs and they would install them. Well the new D2R hid sylvania bulbs were installed by the dealer. Within 2 weeks one of the new bulbs went off and on at random. Now a week later the other new hid bulb is doing the same thing. I have read that this issue has been going on for years. This is a safety issue and also an expensive repair. When will this safety problem be addressed"???"
- Fontana, CA, USA
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The multi information display no longer shows the vehicle speed and other specs such as fuel gauge, warning lights, and such. The vehicle sometimes couldn't turn off, and it would require me to press and hold the power button for more than 5 seconds in order to turn off the vehicle. Driving is quite dangerous as I not even sure if the car is even "ready" or not, and what gear (D, N, R) it is in. Toyota is charging me 400 for the repair even though the service bulletin stated that this is cause the manufacturer defect on the circuit board. My sister who owns a 2006 Toyota Prius (16X, xxx) did receive the notice of recall for the multi information display, but I didn't any notice at all. This repair should be covered by Toyota. This is outrageous!
Dashboard information suddenly turns blank -- no fuel level, speed, etc., but headlights work (although no indicator on instrument panel) as well as turn signals, air-conditioning, and radio. I drove straight to the dealer thinking that it was probably a fuse. The service department reports that although they have rarely seen this, it's a problem with a component behind the power switch. The part is in short supply and may take as long as four weeks to arrive. They said it would be covered under warranty and the dealer will be paying for the cost of a rental car in the interim. The service from the dealer is superior and...I love my Prius..
The driver side headlight intermittently goes on and off without warning. This began over a year ago, but we cannot name the specific time. We initially thought it was just a light bulb, however, we learned that it can be reactivated by briefly turning the headlight switch off and on. This is a safety hazard if driving at night. It can happen several times during one trip or not at all. We have taken it to a few Toyota dealers and they have indicated that it could cost 400-800+ to repair the problem, which we believe to be excessive so for now we are tolerating the problem.
Front right headlight is intermittently going out. I can get it to go back on if I turn switch off and back on but it may fail again within 10 or 80 minutes. Replaced bulb, but still have problem. Dealer said it was the bulb but replacing it has not fixed the issue.
I started up the car this morning, put it into reverse, and a second or two later, it shifted itself into neutral. The shift lever felt like there was more resistance to it than usual. This happened several times and also happened when I tried to put the car into drive. After about 15 minutes of turning the car on and off and trying to shift several times, the car finally stayed in gear. The problem is the same as described in this thread: www.toyotanation.com/forum/62-Prius-forum/343977-08-Prius-wont-stay-gear.html, with the only difference being that it was a rather cold day (0 degrees F) while most of the posts in the thread mention the problem occurring on a hot day. While the malfunction on my car was problematic but not life-threatening, I am concerned that the car could shift itself into neutral while I am driving (as described by several posters in the above thread), which would be a dangerous situation.
Since about the fall of last year or so, we've been noticing that the headlights have been going off intermittently. The right went out and then came back on. Then another time the left went out and came back on. I've read about this occurring on many other Prius' and that there was a class action suit? anyway, I need to figure out how to get this fixed as it is a serious safety issue.
The headlamps repeatedly burn out, which repair people have said indicates an underlying electrical problem. I now have to replace one of the headlamps for the fourth time in just over a year.
The contact owns a 2005 Toyota Prius. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to start. In order to start the vehicle, the emergency brake had to be engaged. The contact also stated that the headlights failed intermittently but would function normally after attempting to activated them several times. In addition while driving at various speeds, the transmission would erroneously shift into neutral and all of the contact's attempts to shift back into drive failed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer but the failure could not be diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted about the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 56,000. The current mileage was approximately 57,000.
Outside temperature approx 32 degrees F. gear shifter on dashboard would not electrically seal-in or stay in position after going into reverse, the first time. Backed car out of driveway and shifted into drive, it immediately went back into neutral position and would not stay in drive - electrically. The only way to keep the car in gear was to physically hold the gear shifter into desired position. Physically held shifter in drive position and pulled back into driveway. Once in driveway, tested shifter and found it would not go into any gear and "stay". after work, temperature was 60 degrees F and shifter then functioned properly. Drove to Toyota dealer and left car. They stated a technical bulletin was issued by Toyota on this item as described. Ticket # 490621; part number 33560-47023 "lever assy. Shift, was replaced. Part cost $164.93 and labor was $416.14 for a subtotal of $581.07 plus tax of $34.33 for grand total of $615.40 usd. This is obviously a cold weather and age related issue. Plus, this is not the first Toyota electrical system design flaw issue I've encountered, but the first related to drivability and possible safety issue.
My 22-year-old son had a scary incident in which our 2005 Prius stalled spontaneously on the bronx river parkway (valhalla, NY) with several dashboard warnings lighting up. The hybrid shifted to battery mode in traffic. Luckily he was able to get off highway. Car was towed to dealer. We're very concerned because the car never had problems and because, on an internet search, we see the failure was precisely like the one described in NHTSA report that resulted in a Toyota action to service many cars in 2005: J.mp/nhtsaprius05problem.
I am sure that you won't believe this is true. On Oct 25th 2012, I got home and turned off the car after work. I took the bag contained the key and left in the family room which is about 40 feet away from garage. After the dinner, I went to garage to throw trash. I smelled gas and heard music and car engine was on. Suddenly, it reminds me, in the morning when I turn off the car and left, the car started by itself and all electronic system was re-set. I specifically paid attention to turning off the car and locking the door in the evening because of what happened in the morning. The car was turned on by itself again and had been running in the garage for more than 2.5 hrs based on the clock re-set information. I could not turn it off and the car showed error message that the key was not in the car. Of course, since the key was in the family room at that time. I brought the key in the car and still could not turn it off. I tried to insert the key and still no luck. I called aaa and they sent a technician and a toll truck to my house. He could not turn off either initially and eventually turned it off after move the wheel, step on breaks really hard and shook the car. I sent the car to Toyota dealer right away. The service center could not identify any issue and Toyota refuse to acknowledge there is anything wrong with the car. I was scared and also glad that I went garage to throw garbage today. Otherwise, I don't know what is going to happen! we have furnace with igniter light on in the garage. The house can be on fire with a reason no one will expect and believe! the carbon monoxide could filled the garage and emerge in the house! I called in the customer care center (case # [xxx]) and they told me there is anything they can do about it. What is really upset me is that Toyota does not even acknowledge there is anything wrong with the car! information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
While driving on the highway at 70 mph, the following symptoms occurred on my 2005 Toyota Prius: (1) car would not accelerate, (2) engine light came on, (3) problem light came on, (4) battery went red, (5) car stalled and would not accelerate/drive any further. After turning off the car and restarting it, I was able to drive it back and the battery recharged itself to green. After taking it to the dealership and having this problem "fixed", the exact same situation happened two more times, again 6 months later and then 2 weeks after that. The second time I was driving again on the highway at 70 mph, the third time I was driving at night at 40 mph.
My Prius dash keeps going black, the car won't shut off. Also had it in park engine revved and started to drive away. I jumped in and it wouldn't shut off I had to rip the key out. The rear taillights go out all the time. The doors and hatch locks won't unlock half the time. I had a new battery put in but it still happens.
The hid headlights fail and turn-off without warning. This leads to dangerous driving conditions especially at night. This is related to a hid headlight leveling sensor failure. Toyota reports this issue in their "technical service bulletin" number EL004-06, dated 28th April 2006. Toyota recognizes the problem in the oem part and is providing replacement only on failed parts under 36months, 36,000 miles warranty. However, my vehicle experienced this "safety issue" past the warranty period and hence is not replaced by Toyota. Nevertheless, Toyota has generated a customer program to replace this defective module in 2006-2009 models even if not under the warranty. My 2005 model experiences the exact same problem but Toyota will not cover this safety issue. Furthermore, the 2006-2009 models are covered under the "class action lawsuit" for the exact same problem as my 2005; however my 2005 model is not covered. Please do the needful to include 2005 model Prius (with hid headlights) in the safety issues addressed in 2006-2009 models. Thank you.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Garland, TX, USA