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.
Toyota Prius loss of electical power, loss of steering resulting in crash in May 2009 while driving in a residental neighborhood at low speeds, Prius lost all power resulting in loss of steering and loss of brakes resulting in crash into a high curb. I had Prius towed to Toyota dealership and filed complaint with dealership as well as with main California complaint center. They said that it would take them 4 months to investigate complaint. They recommended my storing car at dealership for four months if I wanted an investigation. They would not investigate otherwise. They told me there was no cause for concern and that the power loss must of resulted after the crash. They said that Toyota had no safety complaints about power loss or steering or brake loss. I went on line and found same year model recall in australia. They told me the products were dissimilar and not a cause for concern. I disagreed. My routine mechanic at merchants tire and auto could find nothing wrong. I repaired the structural damage and sold the car since Toyota assured me there was nothing wrong. Toyota corporation's methodology of investigation appears to be designed to stifle any meaningful determination of baseline safety fault. The requirement to store a car for months at owners expense and for driver to have no access for transportation would appear to discourage any meaningful investigation of safety concern. Given the current finding of brake and other safety defects in Toyota products, I am concerned that the power loss may have been under-reported because of their unethical business practices. I report it to help you determine if there is a pattern of power loss, loss of steering and loss of braking in the Prius.
Within 15000 miles, the passenger side hid headlamp began flickering and would randomly go off. This was replaced by the dealer free of charge. At about 30,000 miles, the drivers side hid headlamp began randomly shutting off. This has become more frequent and is becoming a safety hazard.
Experienced black out on freeway, lights both shut off. At times driver side will turn on off, followed by the passenger side, you have to flicker on the lights to turn them on again. This needs to be recalled by Toyota.
2007 intermittent left headlight failure. I sent it to a Toyota dealer because I have a "bumper-to-bumper warranty" on 23 Dec 09. They told me that it would cost me over $400 to replace two bulbs. I don't believe it's a bulb problem because I can re-cycle the switch to get it back. On 29 Dec it failed again at night during a snow storm, nearly causing a freeway accident.
- Carson City, NV, USA
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Driver's lights intermittently turn off. Passenger light first went out, now both! defective hid lighting system. Reported to dealer, only they simply want to charge me $500 to replace both lights. Toyota refuses to address issue as defect.
My 07 Prius which I rarely drive at night is suffering from spontaneous outage of the hid headlamps with less than 65000 miles on it. Worse, I am told the 100,000 mile platinum warranty will not cover the repair, which might cost me up to $1000 for both lamps. This is absurd. This is a hidden defect, and clearly a safety issue.
2007 Toyota Prius, the headlights dim intermittently, the drivers side headlight started not coming on at all, when I would turn the switch off and back on it would come on, now it is out completely.
We have repeatedly had problems with all of the electronic components on the dash not working especially when it is cold. This is a safety hazard as we have no speedometer, gas gauge or gear indicator when this happens. This happens often when it is cold or raining but there is no predictor other than a cold temperature. It has often happened at night, and we have had to drive home with the interior of the car dark. T has happened repeatedly since we bought the car new. We have had it at the dealer 5 times for repairs and still continue to have the same problem. We have are very unhappy with our Toyota and will not buy another Toyota.
2007 Prius, touring model-right headlamp went out while driving-only 26,000 miles on car so far. Next operation, light working again. Poses very big safety hazard. Told that my platinum certified warranty and extended 100,000 mile warranty would not cover this $400 + repair--and I have only owned the car less than 2 months.
Both headlamps went out in the the middle of a roadtrip at night. Had to pull over right away. Turned the headlight switch off and back on the lights came back on. This has happened several times already. Sometimes this happens with just one headlight and sometime both which is real scary. I never know when this failure is going to happen. Please help with a recall on this dangerous situation. I have a 2007 Toyota Prius which I purchased brand new. Thank you,
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.
I have a 2007 Toyota Prius, and the driver's side headlight has been giving me problems for about the last 20K miles(50-70K). Toyota dealer said it would cost over $400 to replace the bulb, but I can turn the lights on and off to make it light up again. Seems like this is an electrical problem and not the bulb. When searching for a cheaper alternative, I ran across how many of the Prius are having the same problem. I live in a very rural area with curvy winding roads getting home in the evening. When that light cuts out I can hardly see the road. I don't know how this isn't a safety issue, especially when it could happen to both as I read has happened with others.
Intermittent failure of driver's side headlight. The light will come back on if the light switch is turned off and then back on, and will remain on for a an unpredictable period of time, some times as long two weeks before failing again. Toyota has advise me to bring the vehicle to a service facility when the light is out, but the light fails on weekends, holidays, or late at night when the dealership is not open. An internet search disclosed that this headlight failure is a fairly common defect in 2007 Prius.
I bought a 2007 Toyota Prius on August 1, 2007. I didn't have any issues with my car until August of 2008 when I started having issues with my headlights and tail lights (they would go off and then when I turned the lights off and flipped back on, they would come back on again). Twice while driving at night, all of my lights went out (headlights, tail lights and dash board lights)! I brought car into dealer and they didn't know what was wrong but replaced the headlights (to the tune of $1200 a piece). I didn't have trouble with my headlights after than until this year (August of 2009). My passenger headlight is going out and then flipping back on for a bit (although the bulb seems dull) when I turn lights off and then back on again. The problem is they won't stay on and it seems insane to pay $2400 a year for what obviously seems to be a vehicle defect; not to mention the safety issue of only having 1 headlight that works or tail light and dashboard lights going out while driving at night!
The contact owns a 2007 Toyota pruis. The contact stated that intermittently while driving the head lights fail; which reduces visibility. An impairment of visibility while driving increases the risk of vehicle crash. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for inspection. He is in the process of having the head lights replaced at an expense of $800. The failure mileage was 30,000. The current mileage was 53,000. Updated 10/20/09
My head lights in my 2007 Toyota Prius turn off for no reason. Sometimes it is just the right headlight but more recently it is both headlights. The dealer said that the original lights were faulty and that there is a new bulb (2nd generation) that will fix the problem. They want $587 to fix a problem that they admitted that was faulty. I have had it into repair shops that tell me the headlights are not the problem its the computer and the dealer tells me its not the computer. This started in early 2008.
While driving across country boston to seattle in June, the right headlight on my 2007 Prius flickered and went out. The next day it was working ok, but the following day I noticed it went out again, during the day. I stopped in duluth to get an oil change, (kolar todayota invoice 210740) and asked them to check the headlights. They reported "headlights are working at the time." Thereafter the headlight went out several times intermittently. Cycling the power would sometimes bring it back on. When I got back to seattle, I took the car in and had the headlight replaced at a cost of $288 (Toyota of believe invoice ocs561092) at 48,260 miles. Shortly thereafter the left headlight started acting up in the same manner, and I was recently pulled over by the police for driving with one headlight out.
Vehicle has 70,000 miles, 2007 Prius. Both headlights go off at random. Turning them off and back on will correct the problem temporarily until they go out again. Dealer says its the bulb shorting out $600 will correct the problem. I'm waiting to get the car home to keep the lights on while at a stand still to disprove theory of bumps in the road causing short.
I have a 2007 Prius and the headlights are blinking out. The dealership wanted 500+ dollars for the repair, saying they had to take the bumper off. I have since found out its just the bumper cover, not the bumper. The problem is in the electrical system, and this seems to be a prevalent problem with the priuses.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Bethesda , MD, USA