2005 Toyota Prius Driver assistance Problems

COMBINATION METER INTERMITTENTLY NOT FUNCTIONING. WHEN TURNING THE CAR ON, SOMETIMES THE DASH METER WORKS, SOMETIMES IT'S JUST BLACK AND CONTINUES THE ENTIRE TIME THE CAR IS RUNNING. THEN WHEN TRYING TO TURN THE CAR OFF, IT WILL NOT TURN OFF, WHICH IS A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN. WHEN THIS OCCURS, THERE ARE NO DASH LIGHTS AT ALL TO INDICATE FUEL AMOUNT, ODOMETER READING, DOOR OPEN SIGNAL, CHECK ENGINE, MAINTENANCE REQUIRED AND SO ON. THE SPEED BEING DRIVEN IS NOT SHOWING EITHER WHICH IS ANOTHER MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE. CRUISE CONTROL ALSO DOES NOT FUNCTION, THE CENTER TOUCHSCREEN DOES NOT DISPLAY HYBRID MOTOR INFORMATION OR MPG. THE BEEPING WHEN BACKING UP DOES NOT FUNCTION. ALSO THE REAR HATCH WILL NOT OPEN WHILE CAR IS RUNNING WHICH IS ALSO A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE IN ADDITION TO ALL OF THE OTHER FUNCTIONS NOT AVAILABLE. THE ODOMETER IS NOT RECORDING MILEAGE DURING THESE TIMES WHICH MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO DO PROPER MAINTENANCE THAT GOES BY MILEAGE, SUCH AS OIL CHANGES.

NHTSA ID

11160849

Incident

Jun 1, 2018

Mileage

225,000 mi

I STARTED THE CAR AND THE SPEED INDICATOR DIDN'T ILLUMINATE. I THOUGHT IT WAS A LIGHTBULB OR SOMETHING THAT THAT HAD GONE OUT SINCE THE CAR DROVE LIKE NORMAL. WHEN I GOT TO MY DESTINATION I TRIED TO TURN OFF THE CAR BUT IT DIDN'T TURN OFF. I CALLED THE CAMPUS CAR SERVICE, BY THE TIME THEY GOT TO ME (ABOUT 30 MINUTES) THE CAR HAD TURNED OFF BY ITSELF. THIS HAS HAPPENED ABOUT 8 TIMES SINCE. THERE WAS A RECALL ON THIS VERY ISSUE WHERE TOYOTA ADMITTED THAT HIGH MILAGE PRIUS' WERE EXPERIENCING THIS PROBLEM. THE RECALL ENDED IN 2013. I JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW A KNOW ISSUE IS NO LONGER BEING FIXED WHEN THEY CLEARLY STATED THAT IT AFFECTS HIGH MILEAGE CARS. SO PEOPLE LIKE ME WHO'S CARS HAVEN'T REACHED A 'HIGH MILEAGE" DURING THEIR RECALL PERIOD ARE BASICALLY TOLD TO GUESS HOW FAST THE CAR IS TRAVELING?

NHTSA ID

11103337

Incident

Nov 1, 2017

Mileage

140,000 mi

CLOCK CABLE FAILED.. CAUSED THE AIRBAG, HORN AND CRUISE CONTROL TO NOT WORK..

NHTSA ID

10972196

Incident

Apr 13, 2017

Mileage

222,222 mi

BRAKE ACTUATOR ASSEMBLY FAILURE THIS SYSTEM FAILED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED BY OWNER OF PRIUS. OWNER WAS DRIVING CAR AND THE BRAKES STOPPED WORKING ALMOST CAUSING A CRASH. TOYOTA RECENTLY (2016) OFFERED WARRANTY COVERAGE FOR REPAIRS IN 2005. BUT HAVING TO TAKE THEM TO SMALL CLAIMS BECAUSE WAS DENIED ON A TECHNICALITY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10918816

Incident

Jul 27, 2009

Mileage

45,881 mi

MOTOR WONT SHUT OFF

NHTSA ID

10903572

Incident

Sep 4, 2016

Mileage

50,000 mi

2005 TOYOTA PRIUS. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED AS SHE PULLED INTO PARKING SPACE, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED OUT OF HER CONTROL AND CRASHED INTO A STONE WALL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. THE CONSUMER STATED SHE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. AS SHE BACKED INTO A PARKING SPACE, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED IN REVERSE, OUT OF HER CONTROL. CONSEQUENTLY, SHE JOT A GARAGE DOOR. *JB

NHTSA ID

10851596

Incident

Oct 18, 2014

I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING SOME PROBLEMS WITH MY HEADLIGHTS. I CHANGED THE BULB AND A MONTH LATER THE LIGHT STOPPED WORKING AGAIN. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP THEY BLAMED IT ON THE BULB, I TRIED TO RETURN THE BULB TO THE STORE AND THEY TESTED IT AND SAID EVERYTHING WAS OK WITH THE BULB SO IT HAD TO BE THE HEADLIGHTS. I'M ALSO HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS. THE SPEEDOMETER AND GAS GAGE COMPLETELY FAILED. AT THE SAME TIME I WAS TOLD MY ABS BRAKE SYSTEM NEEDS TO BE REPLACED! THIS IS TOO MUCH HAPPENING AT THE SAME TIME AND I HAVE TO PAY FOR ALL OF IT OUT OF POCKET.

NHTSA ID

10759805

Incident

Apr 28, 2010

Mileage

128,000 mi

1) SUDDEN UNEXPECTED ACCELERATION 2) STEERING SHAFT SEVERED 3) DRIVERS SIDE AIR BAG INOPERATIVE ALONG WITH ALL STEERING WHEEL MOUNTED CONTROLS

NHTSA ID

10759306

Incident

Nov 23, 2011

Mileage

27,773 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE WASHING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED 2-3 DROPS OF WATER ENTERING THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW. THE WINDOW WAS CLOSED AT THE TIME OF THE FAILURE. ADDITIONALLY, WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL FAILED AND WOULD NOT ILLUMINATE. THE CONTACT ENGAGED THE PUSH-TO-START BUTTON WITH THE BRAKES APPLIED TO SHUT OFF THE VEHICLE, BUT TO NO AVAIL. THE CONTACT THEN SHIFTED INTO PARK AND ATTEMPTED TO EXIT THE VEHICLE WHEN THE VEHICLE ABNORMALLY ACCELERATED. THE CONTACT WAS KNOCKED TO THE GROUND BY THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR AND SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES. AS A RESULT. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL COMPUTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER FAILED TO PERFORM A DIAGNOSTIC TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE ELECTRICAL FAILURE OR THE ACCELERATION FAILURE. THE DEALER ALSO ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXTENDED A WARRANTY TO COVER THE FAILURE, BUT THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS OVER THE MILEAGE LIMITATION BY 4,000 MILES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 174,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

10750176

Incident

Aug 19, 2015

Mileage

174,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND TURNED OFF, IT SUDDENLY ACCELERATED TO 65 MPH WITHOUT WARNING AND CRASHED INTO A RETENTION WALL. THE FRONT AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED AND A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 280,000.

NHTSA ID

10747890

Incident

Jul 31, 2015

Mileage

280,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE PARKING, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY. THE BRAKES WERE ENGAGED, BUT FAILED TO STOP THE VEHICLE. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A PARKED VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND NO DAMAGES AND IT WAS UNKNOWN IF A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE COMPUTER IN THE VEHICLE CAUSED THE UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 09V388000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000. UPDATED 5/18/15*CN

NHTSA ID

10705531

Incident

Apr 9, 2015

Mileage

120,000 mi

THE AUTOMATIC BRAKING SYSTEM (ABS), VEHICLE STABILITY CONTROL (VSC), BRAKE LIGHT, AND BRAKE SYSTEM WARNING LIGHTS (4) ON THE PRIUS ALL CAME ON AND VEHICLE BECAME VERY UNSTABLE WHILE OUT OF TOWN. THE OWNER'S MANUAL INDICATED THAT THE DEALERSHIP SHOULD BE CONTACTED AND CAR SHOULD BE TAKEN IN IMMEDIATELY FOR SERVICE. SINCE NO DEALERSHIP WAS AVAILABLE AT THE IMMEDIATE LOCATION, THE CAR WAS DRIVEN HOME (60 MILES) IN VERY UNSTABLE CONDITIONS. UPON BRINGING IT TO THE DEALERSHIP I WAS TOLD IT WAS A MIRACLE NOTHING BAD HAD HAPPENED BECAUSE THE "COMPUTER SKID ASSEMBLY" NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $1570.97 FOR JUST THE PART!!! I FOUND IT VERY INTERESTING THAT THE PART WAS READILY AVAILABLE AS IF I WERE REPLACING AN OIL OR AIR FILTER. AFTER CONFIRMING THE COST WITH OTHER DEALERSHIPS, I CONSENTED TO THE WORK TO BE PERFORMED. IS THIS JUST ANOTHER "BUILT IN OBSOLESCENCE" FEATURE? THERE APPEARS TO BE NOTHING I COULD HAVE DONE TO PROPERLY MAINTAIN THIS NEW PIECE OF TECHNOLOGY AND THE SUDDEN FAILURE OF THE PART POSSES A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY CONCERN TO CONSUMERS. IN ADDITION, HOW CAN ANY REASONABLE CONSUMER BE CERTAIN THAT THIS PART FAILURE WAS NOT INPUT BY THE MANUFACTURER INTO THE CAR'S CONTROL SYSTEM. MAKES ME LONG FOR THE DAYS OF MANUAL VEHICLES AND SHADE TREE MECHANICS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10683120

Incident

Feb 1, 2015

Mileage

91,000 mi

CAR WHEN IN PARK OR STOPPED (AT A STOP SIGN OR LIGHT) WILL AUTOMATICALLY SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL ABOUT A SECOND AFTER I TRY TO PUT IT IN REVERSE OR DRIVE. IT BEGAN HAPPENING ABOUT A MONTH AGO AND NOW HAPPENS EVERY TIME I START THE CAR. IT ALSO BEGAN HAPPENING AT STOPLIGHTS AND ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT WHEN I WAS TRYING TO ACCELERATE ONTO A FAST HIGHWAY FROM A STOPLIGHT LAST WEEK. IT TAKES UP TO 10 ATTEMPTS TO KEEP IT IN DRIVE OR REVERSE NOW FROM A STOPPED POSITION, AND I NEVER KNOW WHEN OR FOR HOW LONG IT WILL HAPPEN. OTHER THAN THIS, MY CAR IS IN GOOD CONDITION AND HAS NOT HAD ANY PROBLEMS. I LOOKED UP THE ISSUE ONLINE, AND FROM WHAT A LOT OF OTHER PRIUS DRIVERS SAY, IT SOUNDS LIKE A MAJOR ISSUE WITH THE SHIFT LEVER ASSEMBLY (SEE BELOW FOR LINKS TO FORUMS WHERE MANY OTHERS HAVE THE SAME ISSUE). THIS FIX COSTS A FEW HUNDRED DOLLARS, AND IT SEEMS COMMON IN THE 2004-2009 PRIUS. IT HAS A TSB OUT ON IT (SEE LINK BELOW), SO THE ISSUE IS KNOWN?BUT THIS PART SHOULD BE ISSUED A RECALL FOR THOSE HAVING ISSUES!! IT IS A DANGEROUS AND NOT-UNCOMMON DEFECT, AND I AM AFRAID FOR MY SAFETY WHEN DRIVING THIS CAR NOW! HTTP://WWW.TOYOTANATION.COM/FORUM/62-PRIUS-FORUM/343977-08-PRIUS-WON-T-STAY-GEAR.HTML HTTP://WWW.JUSTANSWER.COM/TOYOTA/6WCTJ-TOYOTA-PRIUS-PRIUS-2008-WILL-NOT-STAY-REVERSE-DRIVE.HTML HTTP://PRIUSCHAT.COM/THREADS/2008-PRIUS-SHIFTS-BACK-TO-NEUTRAL-WONT-STAY-IN-DRIVE-REVPOSTED-WED-AUG-12-2009-7-04-AM.67254/#AXZZ3MFYFAU2J. *TR

NHTSA ID

10667912

Incident

Nov 24, 2014

Mileage

150,000 mi

IN 2007, WE PURCHASED A CERTIFIED USED TOYOTA PRIUS 2005 WITH 13,298 MILES. WE HAVE OWNED THIS CAR EVER SINCE. WE CURRENTLY HAVE ABOUT 81,000 MILES ON THIS VEHICLE. BRAKE FAILURE INCIDENT ON JUNE 30, 2014, I WAS DRIVING THE 2005 PRIUS SLOWLY (10-15 MPH) ALONG A ROADWAY LOCATED IN A TECUMSEH, MI CITY PARK: AS THE CAR APPROACHED A LOCAL STREET, I BRAKED FOR A STOP BEFORE MAKING A RIGHT-HAND TURN. AS I ENGAGED THE BRAKE, THE ABS SYSTEM RED LIGHT APPEARED, THE RED BRAKE LIGHT WAS LIT AND THE RELATED BUZZER WAS ACTIVATED AS WELL. AS I BRAKED, MY RIGHT FOOT WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. I EXPERIENCED COMPLETE AND TOTAL BRAKE FAILURE. I FINALLY STOPPED THE CAR WITH THE EMERGENCY BRAKE. I DROVE THE PRIUS VERY SLOWLY OVER THE TWO MILES HOME, USING THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP AS NEEDED. MY WIFE AND DAUGHTER WERE RIDING WITH ME IN THE CAR AND WITNESSED THE INCIDENT. ON JULY 1, 2014, I CONTACTED AAA AND ARRANGED TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP IN ANN ARBOR, MI ' 30 MILES AWAY. AFTER A WEEK, AT THE REPAIR SHOP I ARRANGED TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE LOCAL TOYOTA SERVICE FACILITY. OVER THE PREVIOUS FIVE MONTHS, I EXPERIENCED ANOTHER CURIOUS PROBLEM THAT MAY BE BRAKE RELATED. WHEN BRAKING ON BUMPY ROADS (WE HAVE HORRIBLE POT HOLES ON MANY MAJOR STREETS AND ROADS) OR CURB CUTS, THE CAR ACCELERATES EVER SO BRIEFLY. THE FEELING OF LOSS OF CONTROL IS VERY DISTURBING. IT REMAINS TO BE SEEN IF THIS PROBLEM IS RELATED TO THE BRAKE FAILURE NOTED ABOVE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AS A RESULT OF THIS BRAKE FAILURE. HOWEVER, I HAD JUST RETURNED HOME FROM BUSINESS IN A NEIGHBORING COMMUNITY 35 MILES AWAY. I OFTEN DRIVE BACKCOUNTRY COUNTY ROADS WITH POSTED SPEEDS OF 55 MPH. IF I HAD EXPERIENCED THE BRAKE FAILURE THEN, I MIGHT WELL HAVE BEEN KILLED ALONG WITH OTHERS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10609883

Incident

Jun 30, 2014

Mileage

80,800 mi

WHEN RUN CAR TO LONG DISTANCE AND STOP, THE CAR ACCELERATE THE MOTOR TO HIGH REVOLUTIONS AND NEED PRESS THE BRAKES. THE DEALER TELL ME PAID FOR EVALUATION, BUT THE CAR NOT HAVE INDICATOR LIGHT FOR PROBLEMS. THAT'S IS A SAFETY CONCERNS. PLEASE NEED HELP. I THINKING THE PROBLEM IS THE COMPUTER. *TR

NHTSA ID

10578799

Incident

Mar 25, 2014

Mileage

143,254 mi

I WAS PRESSING THE BRAKE, BUT INSTEAD OF STOPPING MY PRIUS ACCELERATED,AND JERKED UNDER THE STOPPED VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME.THE BRAKES ACTED LIKE ACCELERATED PEDAL. PRIUS OCCASIONALLY HAD THE ACCELERATING JERKS WITHOUT PEDAL INPUT, BUT AFTER FIXING ALL THE RECALLS, I THOUGHT THE CAR IS FINE. BUT THIS TIME, IT WAS NOT A JERK, IT WAS A FULL LEAP, THAT DESTROYED THE WHOLE FRONT OF THE CAR. IT WAS TOWED FROM THE ACCIDENT AND IT IS BEYOND THE REPAIR. I HAD IT ONLY FOR 9 MONTHS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10507158

Incident

Apr 2, 2013

Mileage

138,000 mi

PETITION FOR AN INVESTIGATION INTO DEFECT CONDITIONS IN UPPER IMMEDIATE STEERING EXTENSION SHAFT #2 MANUFACTURING DEFECT IN THE 2004-2009 TOYOTA PRIUS VEHICLES W/RESPECT TO RECALL 12V-537. *SMD AN INSPECTION REVEALED THAT THE CURRENT LOSS OF STEERING ISSUE WAS CAUSED BY A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF THE UPPER STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT. THE UPPER STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT WAS DECOUPLED FROM THE ELECTRIC- POWER- ASSIST COLUMN OUTPUT SPLINE. A CAREFUL EXAMINATION OF THE DECOUPLED COMPONENTS REVEALED THAT FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME, THE UPPER STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT HAD NOT BEEN PROPERLY INSTALLED ON THE SPLINE OUTPUT OF THE POWER ASSIST COLUMN. THIS ALLOWED A METALLURGICAL FAILURE ON THE INTERIOR OF THE UPPER STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT, WHICH CONSEQUENTLY ALLOWED SEPARATION OF THAT SHAFT FROM THE ELECTRICAL STEERING POWER ASSIST COLUMN. AN EXAMINATION OF THE SHAFT SPLINE SHOWED A LONG TERM DETERIORATION OF THE UPPER INTERMEDIATE SHAFT #2 INSIDE SPLINE AS EVIDENCE BY METALLURGICAL SHARDS OF DETERIORATED SPLINE METAL STILL RESIDING IN THE UPPER INTERMEDIATE SHAFT CAVITY. ALSO, THE CRUISE CONTROL WOULD CANCEL AND NOT RE-ENGAGE, THEN THERE WERE TIMES, WHERE THE CRUISE CONTROL WOULD NOT DIS-ENGAGE AT ALL. THE VEHICLE WOULD DRIFT OFF COURSE WHENEVER THE CONSUMER TOOK HIS EYES OFF THE ROAD, FOR EVEN A MOMENT. THE CONSUMER WOULD HAVE TO STEER THE VEHICLE CONSTANTLY OR IT WOULD DRIFT INTO ANOTHER LANE. APPARENTLY, IT WAS DUE TO A COMPUTER ALGORITHM THAT WOULD ATTEMPT TO CORRECT FOR WIND AND ROAD SURFACE ANOMALIES.

NHTSA ID

10495921

Incident

Feb 1, 2013

Mileage

27,773 mi

MY WIFE WAS DRIVING OUR 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS TODAY AND THE ACCELERATOR LOCKED TO THE FLOOR. THE CAR CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE EVEN THOUGH SHE WAS BRAKING. SHE WAS EVENTUALLY ABLE TO GET THE VEHICLE TO STOP. THE ACCELERATOR WAS NOT STUCK UNDER THE FLOOR MATS. SHE HAD TO PRY THE ACCELERATOR FROM THE FLOOR. *TR

NHTSA ID

10472409

Incident

Aug 24, 2012

Mileage

62,000 mi

I AM THE FIRST OWNER OF THIS 2005 PRIUS AND HAVE KEPT UP WITH ALL MAINTENANCE AND RECALL ISSUES. THIS IS MY FIRST COMPLAINT. ON A PERFECTLY FINE WEATHER DAY, I WAS DRIVING MY USUAL ROUTE HOME COMING TO A LINE OF STOPPED CARS IN THE LEFT TURN LANE ON A RELATIVELY FLAT, UNBUMPY SURFACE STREET AND WAS ABOUT 1 CAR LENGTH FROM THE STOPPED CAR IN FRONT OF ME WHEN I APPLIED MY BRAKE. TO MY ASTONISHMENT, WITH THE BRAKE FULLY ENGAGED, MY CAR KEPT GOING FORWARD AS IF I HAD NO BRAKES AND REAR ENDED THE CAR AHEAD OF ME. LUCKILY NEITHER OF US WERE HURT AS I HAD ALREADY SLOWED DOWN FOR THE STOP. THERE WAS NO DAMAGE TO MY CAR (MY LICENSE PLATE HOLDER HIT HER BUMPER AND CAUSED A COUPLE OF PAINT CHIPS ON HERS, WHICH WILL PROBABLY COST ME THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TO REPAIR) BUT I CAN TELL YOU I WAS THOROUGHLY SHAKEN UP. NO EMERGENCY LIGHTS OR CODE LIGHTS WENT ON INSIDE THE CAR. FROM READING OTHER COMPLAINTS ON THIS SITE, I SEE THIS IS NOT A NEW PROBLEM. I WILL BE REPORTING THIS TO MY TOYOTA DEALER AND TO TOYOTA. *TR

NHTSA ID

10463568

Incident

Jun 28, 2012

Mileage

60,938 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED FORWARD AND CRASHED INTO TWO VEHICLES AND A WALL. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DESTROYED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ID

10439073

Incident

Oct 20, 2011

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ACTIVATED, HE APPLIED THE BRAKE PEDAL IN AN ATTEMPT TO DEACTIVATE THE CRUISE CONTROL. THE CRUISE CONTROL WOULD NOT DEACTIVATE AND THE CONTACT HAD TO MANUALLY DEACTIVATE THE CRUISE CONTROL SYSTEM. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT HE HEARD A SNAPPING SOUND COMING FROM THE STEERING WHEEL WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PARK AT 5 MPH. THIS FAILURE OCCURRED THE DAY AFTER THE CRUISE CONTROL FAILURE. THE STEERING WHEEL THEN BECAME LOOSE AND THE CONTACT COMPLETELY UNABLE TO STEER THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 27,773 UPDATED 12/12/11 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE SRS AND ALL THE STEERING WHEEL MOUNTED CONTROLS WERE DISABLED. UPDATED 05/31/12 THE CONSUMER CONTACTED AN AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS ANALYSIS COMPANY, WHO INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND DETERMINED THE STEERING ISSUE WAS CAUSED BY A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF THE UPPER STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT. THE UPPER STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT WAS DECOUPLED FROM THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING COLUMN OUTPUT SPLINE. A CAREFUL EXAMINATION OF THE DECOUPLED COMPONENTS REVEALED THAT FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME, THE UPPER STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT HAD NOT BEEN PROPERLY INSTALLED ON THE SPLINE OUTPUT OF THE POWER ASSIST COLUMN, WHICH ALLOWED A METALLURGICAL FAILURE ON THE INTERIOR OF THE UPPER STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT, WHICH CONSEQUENTLY ALLOWED SEPARATION OF THE SHAFT FROM THE ELECTRICAL STEERING POWER ASSIST COLUMN. UPDATED 05/13/13*DT*JB

NHTSA ID

10437229

Incident

Nov 22, 2011

Mileage

27,773 mi

WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE UP, NO SPEEDOMETER DISPLAY IS ILLUMINATED. THE DISPLAY FOR THE VEHICLE ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROLS (MILES PER GALLON/ENERGY USE) STILL WORKS. ALONG WITH THE SPEEDOMETER DISPLAY, THE REAR HATCHBACK DOOR DOES NOT WORK. I TRIED TO ADJUST THE INSIDE LIGHT DISPLAY TO SEE IF THE LIGHT LEVEL WAS TURNED OFF. THIS WAS NOT PROBLEM. I TURNED THE LIGHT ADJUSTMENT KNOB IN BOTH DIRECTIONS, AND STILL NO SPEEDOMETER DISPLAY. UPON TRYING TO TURN OFF THE ENGINE, IT WILL NOT TURN OFF. I WAS ABLE TO SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF BY DISCONNECTING THE CAR BATTERY IN THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR HATCH BACK AREA. NOTE THAT BECAUSE THE REAR HATCH BACK DOOR DOES NOT WORK, ALL THE VEHICLE PARTS WHICH LEADS TO THE REAR BATTERY HAS TO BE TAKEN OUT FROM THE REAR SEAT OF THE VEHICLE. ONE PARTICULAR TIME I DISCONNECTED THE CAR BATTERY ON THE BLACK PORTION OF THE BATTERY,AND THE VEHICLE DID NOT SHUT OFF. I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP SEVERAL TIMES, AND BECAUSE THIS PROBLEM HAPPENS INTERMITTENTLY. TOYOTA WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE IT. HOWEVER, ONE DAY WHEN IT WAS NOT WORKING, I BROUGHT IT IN TO THEM. THEY LATER CLAIMED THAT IT WAS A "COLD START" PROBLEM TO THE COMPUTER THAT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE SPEEDOMETER DISPLAY (BESIDES OTHER THINGS, REAR HATCH BACK DOOR, CRUISE CONTROL, ETC.). TOYOTA CLAIMED THEY FOUND THE PROBLEM ON THE INTERNET, AND IT WAS NOT A RECALLED PART. THIS PARTICULAR PART (COMPUTER) NORMALLY HAPPENS ONLY IN THE STATES THAT ARE VERY COLD. *TR

NHTSA ID

10430062

Incident

Aug 25, 2011

Mileage

64,500 mi

ON 7/31/11 I NOTICED MY CRUISE CONTROL WOULD NOT SET. THE LIGHT CAME ON INDICATING THE CRUISE WAS ON, BUT I COULD NOT GET THE SPEED TO HOLD. THE NEXT DAY, THE CRUISE CONTROL WORKED. MIDDAY ON 8/1/11 WHILE PARKED, I SHIFTED TO THE D POSITION, BUT THE LIGHT INDICATED I WAS IN N. I SHIFTED BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN R AND D SEVERAL TIMES, BUT THE LIGHT INDICATED N. I TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE AND THE CAR MOVED BACKWARD. THE LIGHT INDICATED N AND THE KNOB WAS IN THE D POSITION. IT DID THIS SEVERAL TIMES. I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND BACK ON AND EVERYTHING WORKED LIKE IT IS SUPPOSED TO. ON 8/1/11 AT APPROXIMATELY 10:30 P.M. I WAS DRIVING HOME ON A NARROW, TWO-LANE RURAL HIGHWAY. ON A BLIND CURVE, BOTH OF MY HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT. I COULD NOT SEE ANYTHING. I TRIED CYCLING MY HEADLIGHTS OFF AND ON AND NOTHING HAPPENED. I APPLIED MY BRAKES AND STOPPED. I OPENED MY DOOR TO SEE WHERE I WAS IN THE ROADWAY AND DETERMINED I WAS ON THE FOG LINE ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND THERE WAS A HILLSIDE LESS THAN 5' FROM ME. I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE TO THE SHOULDER ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ROAD BY USING THE LIGHT FROM MY DOOR. I WAS EXTREMELY LUCKY NO CARS PASSED BY WHILE MY LIGHTS WERE OUT. I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED OR CAUSED A CATASTROPHE. I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND BACK ON AND BOTH HEADLIGHTS CAME BACK ON. A MOTORIST STOPPED TO ASSIST. I WAS ABLE TO FOLLOW HIM TO A STORE WHERE A FRIEND MET ME AND I FOLLOWED HIM HOME. DURING THE DRIVE HOME ONE OF MY HEADLIGHTS KEPT TURNING OFF. BOTH DID NOT GO OFF TOGETHER AGAIN. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER ON 8/3/11 AND WAS TOLD I NEED A NEW AUXILIARY BATTERY AND TWO NEW HEADLIGHTS. COST IS GOING TO BE AROUND $700. I READ ABOUT A CLASS ACTION SUIT REGARDING 2006-2009 PRIUS' HEADLIGHTS AND THAT TOYOTA KNOWS THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THEM. I BELIEVE THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL BECAUSE OF MY HARROWING EXPERIENCE AND THOSE OF MANY OTHERS.

NHTSA ID

10417568

Incident

Aug 1, 2011

Mileage

85,000 mi

2005 TOYOTA PRIUS. CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE JOLTED AND SPRINTED FORWARD ON ITS OWN WHILE ENTERING A PARKING LOT *TGW

NHTSA ID

10393236

Incident

Oct 6, 2010

WE WERE TRAVELING ALONG A FAMILIAR COUNTRY ROAD ON A WARM SUNNY DAY. WHEN WE ARRIVED AT A RURAL STORE THERE WAS ONLY ONE OTHER CUSTOMER THERE. I SLOWLY EASED INTO THE DESIGNATED PARKING AREA WHICH WAS SITUATED ABOUT 17 INCHES ABOVE THE LAWN BELOW. I WAS PROBABLY TRAVELING LESS THAN ONE MILE AN HOUR. WHEN I BRAKED, THE CAR ACCELERATED AND PROPELLED ITSELF OVER THE BLOCKS AND RAILROAD TIES THAT ARE FOUND IN FRONT OF PARKING SPACES, AND WE LITERALLY FLEW ABOUT 7 FEET OUT AND DOWN ONTO THE GRASS STOPPING JUST A FEW FEET FROM A TREE AND A FENCE. WHILE IN THE AIR, ALL I HAD TIME TO DO WAS PUT MY FOOT DOWN HARD ON THE BRAKE BECAUSE THERE WAS NOT ENOUGH TIME TO TURN OFF THE ENGINE DURING THE 5 SECONDS THIS WAS HAPPENING. OUR FIRST REACTION WAS THAT I MIGHT HAVE HIT THE ACCELERATOR INSTEAD OF THE BRAKE, AND THOUGH I FOUND THIS INCONCEIVABLE BECAUSE I HAD NEVER DONE ANYTHING LIKE THAT BEFORE AND BECAUSE THE TWO PEDALS ARE SO DIFFERENT, I COULD NOT CONSIDER ANOTHER EXPLANATION. HOWEVER, AS TIME PASSED, WE CAME TO THE REALIZATION THAT THIS COULD NOT BEEN THE CASE BECAUSE EVEN IF I HAD PRESSED THE ACCELERATOR BY MISTAKE I WOULD HAVE HAD TO HAVE "FLOORED" IT TO GET THAT KIND OF ACCELERATION IN SUCH A SHORT DISTANCE, AND EVEN MISTAKING IT FOR THE BRAKE I WOULDN'T HAVE "FLOORED" THE BRAKE BECAUSE I WAS ONLY ABOUT 18 INCHES FROM WHERE I WAS TO STOP. EVEN UNDER NORMAL CIRCUMSTANCES, THE PRIUS JUST DOES NOT HAVE THIS IMMEDIATE KIND OF ACCELERATION WE EXPERIENCED. I CANNOT HELP BUT THINK ABOUT THIS EVENT OCCURRING AS I STOPPED AT A CROSSWALK. THIS IS A DANGEROUS AUTOMOBILE THAT I LOVED DRIVING FOR 5 YEARS, AND NOW I WILL NOT DRIVE AGAIN.

NHTSA ID

10380708

Incident

Jan 31, 2011

Mileage

116,002 mi