2005 Toyota Prius Owner Complaints

Eingen faliur acording to dealership Toyota of Anthioc the veicle is on there lot for now but there diagnostic was engine faliure

NHTSA ID

11718280

Incident

Feb 14, 2026

ABS actuator failed and had little to no braking action while merging on the freeway. Had to swerve to avoid collision on interstate

NHTSA ID

11710245

Incident

Jan 11, 2026

The contact owns a 2005 Toyota Prius. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the left turn signal was activated, however, the left turn signal failed to function as intended. In addition, the contact stated that the four-way flashers failed to function as intended. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed with a computer failure. The contact was informed that an unknown part needed to be replaced, or an unknown software update was needed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but provided no assistance. The contact referenced an unknown recall with a similar failure description; however, the VIN was not under recall. The failure mileage was approximately 143,500.

NHTSA ID

11698556

Incident

Sep 10, 2025

Mileage

143,500 mi

The contact owns a 2005 Toyota Prius. The contact stated that while replacing the instrument cluster, the contact discovered that the turn signals were inoperable. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who determined that an unknown part needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 143,500.

NHTSA ID

11698502

Incident

Oct 15, 2025

Mileage

143,500 mi

Vehicle: 2005 Toyota Prius VIN: [XXX] Date of Incident: April 2024 Location: Citrus Heights, California Incident Summary: In April 2024, I was involved in a front-end collision while driving my 2005 Toyota Prius. I rear-ended another vehicle at moderate to high speed. Despite the severity of the impact, the driver-side airbag failed to deploy. As a result, I was thrown forward and hit my head on the windshield, suffering lacerations and head trauma. After being evaluated by emergency responders and undergoing a hospital visit (MRI included), I was told I had not sustained any life-threatening injuries. However, since the crash, I have experienced severe cognitive symptoms, including confusion, chronic fatigue, sudden drowsiness, memory loss, and extreme mood swings. These symptoms are ongoing and have made daily life extremely difficult. I had brought the vehicle to Roseville Toyota in Roseville, CA, for a full pre-purchase inspection prior to the crash. They provided a CARFAX vehicle history report, but they did not inform me that the airbag had failed to deploy in a previous incident listed in the report. I was unaware the airbag system might be defective, and if I had known, I would not have driven or purchased the vehicle. To this day, there has been no recall issued for airbags on this vehicle, and I believe this is a dangerous and potentially fatal defect that must be investigated by NHTSA. I am asking for an investigation into why the airbag system failed, and whether other Toyota Prius models from these years have similar undisclosed issues. Supporting Info: •The vehicle had dealership service history. •Toyota has documentation showing the vehicle was inspected and that I received the CARFAX, but they failed to alert me to the airbag defect. •I was paid out for the vehicle’s value and partial medical expenses through insurance, but no accountability has been taken for the **failed airbag INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11658429

Incident

Apr 27, 2025

i had brake warning lights pop up on my dash..my brake actuator fail on my 05 prius.. this is a known issue with toyota prius. the brake actuator is a very important part of the braking system and vehicle is deemed unsafe with a failed actuator/module.. the dealer quoted over 3000 in repairs.. they were covering them for a while and now they are not.. the cost of the repair exceeds the value of vehicle due to the brake actuator being very expensive.. this is something that should have been recalled..

NHTSA ID

11648968

Incident

Feb 25, 2025

Brake actuator going bad. Safety is put at risk as brakes are slow to work and sometimes don't work at all for a couple of seconds, making sudden stops impossible. Has not been confirmed by dealer. Has not been inspected. ABS and TPMS light would briefly pop up for a couple of seconds on car startup before shutting off.

NHTSA ID

11608878

Incident

Aug 10, 2024

The contact owns a 2005 Toyota Prius. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the brakes seized. In addition, the contact heard a squealing sound and the ABS warning light illuminated. The contact used the parking brake to stop the vehicle. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or the dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The contact stated that the odometer was inoperable and failed to display the correct mileage. The contact stated that the odometer was stuck on 299,999.

NHTSA ID

11596913

Incident

Jun 26, 2024

Mileage

299,999 mi

This has been an on going issue with all of toyota hybrids, the abs actuator which control the brakes isn't safe to drive around when not functioning right. Dealership will not replace im suprise that this has no been a recall as its a safety hazard on the road not only for the driver but putting others in danger. My brakes sometimes is floored to the ground with minimal stoppage.

NHTSA ID

11593182

Incident

May 30, 2024

Prius have a LONG known problem w/ braking systems (over 15 years) defaulting to SOFT brake pedal that (will) kill any driver. Toyota decided to avoid a recall by paying off a few repair jobs, during warranty. They have created a new part to resolve the issue. $4000 to replace a brake pump. Most fail at 150k miles. . [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11582441

Incident

Mar 8, 2024

I had lost functionality for some buttons on the steering wheel that didn't directly impact safety. On replacing the clockspring mechanism inside the whweel I decided to inspect the old unit. Four of the lines in the flex cable are impacted by corrosion, three have already failed. The fourth line is one of the airbag's electrical lines. I'm filing an issue report because the airbag would be next impacted by this failure and I believe there's a fair chance the corroded line could fail during the vehicle's attempt to fire the airbag on the wheel.

NHTSA ID

11547686

Incident

Oct 1, 2023

11 months ago I had a brand new Toyota ABS brake actuator installed on my 2005 Prius. Less than a year later, it is failing again. Since I've driven the car more than 12,000 miles Toyota will not replace the part under warranty. Toyota charges $1800 for the part alone. I had an abs brake actuator fail on a previous 2007 Prius as well. Toyota forums imply this is a too common problem.

NHTSA ID

11544891

Incident

Sep 15, 2023

The red triangle keeps coming on with engine repair light when ever I'm driving from Los Angeles. My mechanic said that there's a recall from 2004 for the water pump. Please advise. Thank you, [XXX] [XXX] INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

NHTSA ID

11521924

Incident

May 11, 2023

We purchased our 2005 Prius in 2014, and after 7 years of learning to drive with the bizarre behavior of this Gen 3 Prius, and reporting it to the dealer (who said that's just how they are designed), I just read dozens of reports on NHTSA, all from Gen3 Prius owners, all reporting identical issues with the antilock braking and traction control systems. It is as if Toyota intentionally designed them to operate exactly the opposite of how they should. With traction control, anytime the front drive wheels loose traction - gravel, railroad tracks, even as simple as painted road stripes or damp surfaces - traction control kicks in; however, on this car, traction control immediately cuts all motive power to the drive wheels, leaving the driver vulnerable to getting hit from behind; it cuts in and out until the car decides it has enough traction to proceed. It's dangerous and idiotic. The anti-lock brakes do much the same; if one encounters a situation requiring emergency braking, when the anti-lock system initiates, the brakes simply cut out, and the car jumps ahead, until they grab, then loose again immediately, with multiple lurches, and sometimes just no brakes at all available. It is dangerous and, from the Toyota dealer where we get it serviced regularly, a constant complaint from owners. And, Toyota does nothing. There needs to be a class action addressing both of these dangerous propensities. It's an awful design. Just awful.

NHTSA ID

11509394

Incident

Feb 22, 2023

While driving in a heavy trafficed area, my car eccellerated on its own. When i stepped on the brake the car did not respond but simply kept driving at around 20 miles per hour. Magically i was able to navigated the traffic and there was no crash, but there certainly could have been and several people could have been badly hurt. I have scheduled a mechanics assessment for tomorrow.

NHTSA ID

11506504

Incident

Feb 8, 2023

Fuel pump malfunctioned. The vehicle stalled at low speeds while driving on an incline and gave a large red exclamation error sign on the dashboard. It stopped accelerating and came to a stop. Afterwards the engine will not start anymore. The car was towed to a garage and they found the fuel pump to be faulty.

NHTSA ID

11479695

Incident

Aug 7, 2022

When driving the vehicle multiple lights came on (ABS, VSC, & brake)! Brakes became hard to push at times and didn’t feel normal. Took it to shop and had both ABS speed sensors replaced. Warning lights went away and brakes were normal again. After a day, the lights came back on and a constant alarm started sounding! The brake system failed and the vehicle was super hard to stop! Came very close to having a major accident on the interstate when this happened!!! It took pumping of the brakes and full force on the pedal to bring it to a stop!! Went back to the shop and was told that the ABS control module/actuator went bad and needs to be replaced. Was also told that this system is a known problem in Toyota Prius’s for a long time!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

NHTSA ID

11458514

Incident

Mar 22, 2022

The contact owns a 2005 Toyota Prius. The contact stated when the vehicle was started, the instrument panel was inoperable. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer however, the mechanic was unable to determine the cause of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted or informed of the failure. The VIN was not available. The approximate failure mileage was 25,000.

NHTSA ID

11457000

Incident

Mar 16, 2016

Mileage

25,000 mi

The contact owns a 2005 Toyota Prius. The contact stated while starting the vehicle, the instrument panel failed to light up or show any electrical functions. The contact restarted the vehicle however, the failure persisted. The contact was concerned with not knowing the speed, mileage, fuel level, or engine performance while driving. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 129,000.

NHTSA ID

11439482

Incident

May 10, 2021

Mileage

129,000 mi

On 9/12/21, I was driving 25-30mph when the SUV in front of me stopped on the freeway interchange suddenly and unexpectedly (other cars were not around us). I hit the breaks very hard and fast but could not stop and collided with the SUV. The front end of the Prius lodged under the back end of the SUV and the impact was enough to wreck the Prius. During that collision, the driver side seatbelt engaged, but the passenger side seatbelt did not. My preteen hit his forehead on the dashboard very hard. Additionally, the airbags failed to deploy. I could smell an odor from the dust from the airbags. The car is at a repair shop waiting for insurance adjuster to inspect. There were no warning lamps or other messages of the problem prior to the failure.

NHTSA ID

11432759

Incident

Sep 12, 2021

I NEVER RECEIVED ANY NOTIFICATION OF NEED TO CHANGE OUT THE ACTUATOR ON MY BRAKE SYSTEM. MY CAR HAS BEEN MAINTAINED METICULOUSLY. YESTERDAY WHILE DRIVING ON INTERSTATE, THE ABS, BRAKE, AND VSC LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. MY MECHANIC SAYS $2500 REPAIR. I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED OF THIS LIFE THREATENING ISSUE BY TOYOTA. THE 'EXTENDED WARRANTY' OF COURSE WAS TIME LIMITED, EXPIRING IN 2017. SHOULD HAVE BEEN A RECALL

NHTSA ID

11414753

Incident

Apr 30, 2021

Mileage

150,000 mi

CAR STOPPED ACCELERATING/ ENGINE DIED WHILE DRIVING AT 20-30 MPH EXITING HOLLAND TUNNEL. COASTED, THEN BRAKED TO STOP, PULLING OVER TO SHOULDER. TURNED AC OFF. RED WARNING LIGHT ON. AC WARNING LIGHT? PRESSED PARK BUTTON. PRESS POWER BUTTON TO TURN OFF CAR. WAITED 5 SEC AND THEN PRESSED POWER BUTTON, KEEPING AC OFF , AND RESUMED ACCELERATING.

NHTSA ID

11406976

Incident

Apr 1, 2021

Mileage

257,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED IN ANTICIPATION TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MIKE CALVERT TOYOTA (2333 S LOOP W, HOUSTON, TX 77054) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED WITH THE BRAKE ACTUATOR NEEDING TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT RELATED THE FAILURE TO AN UNKNOWN RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE RECALL HAD ENDED IN 2017. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

NHTSA ID

11404857

Incident

May 13, 2013

Mileage

100,000 mi

DURING COLD WEATHER TRYING TO DRIVE THE CAR IT WILL NOT STAY IN THE GEAR I HAVE TO HOLD IT DOWN EVEN WHEN I BACK OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY OR WHEN I GO ANYWHERE IT STARTS TO WARM UP THEN THE CAR MAY SOMETIMES STAY IN GEAR.

NHTSA ID

11398512

Incident

Dec 1, 2009

VEHICLE IN MOTION AT LOWER SPEEDS USUALLY BELOW 10 MILES PER HOUR, WHICH IS WHEN THE FRICTION BRAKES KICK IN AS YOU COMING TO A STOP. THE ISSUE IS THAT THE FRICTION BRAKES COME IN AND LOCK UP WAY TOO HARD EVEN THOUGH THE PRESSURE ON THE PEDAL HAS NOT CHANGED. THIS CAUSES THE CAR TO SKID AND/OR BUCK, NOT STOPPING AS EFFECTIVELY, MAKING IT MORE LIKELY TO CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. THE ISSUE SEEMS TO BE MORE PREVALENT WITH THE REAR DRUM BRAKES BUT THE FRONT DISK BRAKES ALSO CONTRIBUTE TO IT.

NHTSA ID

11396384

Incident

Feb 14, 2021

Mileage

110,000 mi