2007 Toyota Prius Airbags Problems

The lights spontaneously turned off while driving on a cloudy night on an unlit section of interstate. While slowing the car down, it went onto gravel, semi-circled around and flipped over onto the lower median. No air bag deployed. No protection from shoulder seat belt. Head hit steering wheel, and I briefly lost consciousness. Tests showed skull and cervical fractures. The car was "totaled." I was planning a move. Now I consider myself to be lucky to be alive. I am rewriting because of previous a NHTSA computer malfunction changing a serious injury to "NO" injury on the questionnaire.

NHTSA ID

11554493

Incident

Oct 12, 2023

Both headlights failed, one earlier, then the second, on a cloudy night on an unlit, deserted rural stretch of interstate highway. Driver started slowing down from 60 mph, looking for a place to pull over. An accident resulted--only the defective car was involved. No airbag was deployed. The driver was injured. (Full recovery--months.) The car was totaled.

NHTSA ID

11550528

Incident

Oct 12, 2023

The contact owned a 2007 Toyota Prius. The contact stated while driving approximately 30-35 MPH, the vehicle in front of her slammed on the brakes, causing her vehicle to crash into its rear end. The air bags failed to deploy. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact sustained a severe whiplash. The contact was able to exit the vehicle through the front passenger side window. The contact stated that her son transported her to the hospital, where she was informed that she had sustained a concussion and neck abrasion injuries. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a collision shop, where it was totaled. The dealer was not notified of the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but did not provide any assistance. The failure mileage was approximately a 180,000. The VIN was not not available.

NHTSA ID

11456025

Incident

Mar 18, 2021

Mileage

180,000 mi

Abs vsc brake light on

NHTSA ID

11423302

Incident

Jul 2, 2021

STEERING WHEEL DEFROSTER CONTROL PANEL STOPPED WORKING, ALL THE REST OF THE CONTROLS ARE OPERATIONAL EXCEPT THE DEFROSTER PORTION. SEEMS THE CLOCKSPRING IS MALFUNCTIONING. AS THE SAME PART IS PROVIDING SIGNAL FOR ALL THE STEERING WHEEL CONTROLS AND POSSIBLY THE AIRBAG, THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN TO ME.

NHTSA ID

11279512

Incident

Nov 11, 2019

Mileage

120,000 mi

TAKA INFLATOR, I WAS IN A CAR ACCIDENT AND NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. IT WAS HEAD ON ACCIDENT. ALSO MY CAR JUST STARTED TO SPEED UP. I ENDED UP HITTING A BILLBOARD.

NHTSA ID

11221550

Incident

Jun 17, 2019

Mileage

168,000 mi

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD GOING ROUGHLY 40-35 MILES PER HOUR WHEN THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME SLAMMED ON THEIR BREAKS. I COLLIDED WITH THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME, WE CAME TO AN ABRUPT STOP. THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, CAUSING MY FACE TO SLAM AGAINST THE STEERING WHEEL. LEADING TO FACIAL AND TEETH INJURIES. MY CAR FRAME WAS BENT, IT IS TOTALED.

NHTSA ID

11114376

Incident

Jul 18, 2018

Mileage

164,000 mi

2007 TOYOTA PRIUS COMPLAINT. WE HAVE A 2007 PRIUS AND THE AIRBAG LIGHT WILL NOT SHUT OFF AT ALL. IT WAS NOT IN AN ACCIDENT OR ANYTHING. I REFUSE TO TAKE IT TO THE DEAL WHERE THEY WILL CHARGE FOR DIAGNOSIS AND THEN REPAIR WHICH COULD TURN OUT TO BE $400.00, I CALLED THEM EARLIER THIS WEEK TO GET AN IDEA ABOUT THE COST.

NHTSA ID

11090423

Incident

Apr 2, 2018

Mileage

105,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT DROVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER (MIKE JOHNSON'S HICKORY TOYOTA, 435 HWY 70, HICKORY, NC 28602) WHERE THE TECHNICIAN INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE AIR BAG WAS WORN OUT AND WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED AT THE CONTACT'S EXPENSE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000. *TT *JS

NHTSA ID

11079109

Incident

Jun 1, 2014

Mileage

100,000 mi

DURING A CAR ACCIDENT ON A HIGHWAY, AND AFTER THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED, A PROJECTILE AT HIGH VELOCITY ENTERED MY RIGHT HAND AND FRACTURED THE 5TH METACARPAL BONE. PER THE HAND SURGEON THAT REMOVED THE FOREIGN BODY, IT APPEARED TO BE A BLACK PIECE OF PLASTIC 1 CM LONG.

NHTSA ID

11012509

Incident

Aug 28, 2014

Mileage

130,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT'S DAUGHTER OWNED A 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE THE CONTACT'S DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING 55 MPH, SHE SUDDENLY DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL; HOWEVER, THE BRAKES FAILED TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT'S DAUGHTER ATTEMPTED TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL SEVERAL TIMES, BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED AN INJURY TO THE RIGHT EYE, WHICH CAUSED SWELLING. THE CONTACT'S BOYFRIEND SUSTAINED BRUISES TO THE CHEST AREA. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS REQUIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AUTONATION FORD GULF FREEWAY (12227 GULF FWY, HOUSTON, TX 77034, (713) 489-2089), BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 123,000.

NHTSA ID

11003660

Incident

Aug 15, 2016

Mileage

123,000 mi

TRAVELING STRAIGHT AHEAD, ~30MPH ON CITY STREET , FRONT TIRE (MICHELIN DT008-35670-MI, 185/65R15) BLEW FOR UNKNOWN REASON. CAR SWERVED TO RIGHT INTO UTILITY POLE, REMOVING RIGHT FRONT WHEEL, WHEEL CONNECTIONS, FENDER, HEADLIGHT. (CAR "TOTALED" BY INSURER.) STEERING WHEEL AIRBAG ACTIVATED. DRIVER (SOLE OCCUPANT) SUFFERED FRACTURES OF RIGHT HAND, WRIST, 3 RIBS AND STERNUM, APPARENTLY DUE TO IMPACT OF AIRBAG. DRIVER WAS WEARING BELT/HARNESS.

NHTSA ID

10969898

Incident

Feb 6, 2017

Mileage

148,000 mi

I WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT IN WHICH I REAR-ENDED THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME ON A ALMOST EMPTY CITY STREET. THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME STOPPED ABRUPTLY AND WAS STATIONARY AT THE TIME OF THE COLLISION. I WAS GOING APPROXIMATELY 25-30 MPH AT THE TIME OF IMPACT, AS I DID NOT HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BRAKE EFFECTIVELY. MY CAR WAS TOTALED IN THE COLLISION. I SUFFERED BRUISING TO MY STERNUM AND KNEES AS WELL AS SEVERE BRUISING ON MY KNEES AND HIP. MY AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, AND THIS WAS REMARKED UPON BY THE FIREFIGHTERS, PARAMEDICS AND POLICE THAT RESPONDED TO THE ACCIDENT. I AM CONCERNED BECAUSE THIS IS THE SECOND TOYOTA I HAVE BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT WITH IN WHICH THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE LAST ACCIDENT WAS IN A 1996 TOYOTA COROLLA IN A HIGH SPEED ACCIDENT ON THE FREEWAY IN WHICH MY CAR HAD LOCKED ONTO THE CAR THAT HAD HIT ME AND WE SPUN OUT ON THE FREEWAY. AGAIN MY CAR WAS TOTALED AND NO AIRBAG DEPLOYED. AFTER DOING RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET, IT WOULD SEEM THIS IS A CONTINUING PROBLEM WITH TOYOTAS, WHICH SHOULD BE REMEDIED AS A MATTER OF PUBLIC SAFETY.

NHTSA ID

10949679

Incident

Jan 31, 2017

Mileage

44,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, A WARNING CHIME WAS HEARD AND THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED TO THE RIGHT. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A SIGN. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 90,000. *DT*JB

NHTSA ID

10916427

Incident

Oct 16, 2016

Mileage

90,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING UP A MOUNTAIN AT 20 MPH, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TIRES LOST TRACTION AND THE VEHICLE SLID OFF A MOUNTAIN CURVE AND CRASHED INTO A DITCH. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE HEAD AND SOME DEEP TISSUE BRUISING. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS REQUIRED. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. DUE TO THE FORCE OF THE CRASH, THE SEAT BELT REMAINED BUCKLED, BUT FAILED TO RESTRAIN THE CONTACT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 52,800.

NHTSA ID

10898521

Incident

Aug 11, 2016

Mileage

52,800 mi

"TAKATA RECALL" IN AUG 2014 I WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD ON COLLISION WHERE MY AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. ONE OF THE INJURIES SUSTAINED WAS A FRACTURE TO MY RIGHT FIFTH METACARPAL BONE CAUSED BY PROJECTILE SHRAPNEL, MOST LIKELY FROM THE DEPLOYED AIR BAG. THE SHRAPNEL WAS 2MM X 10MM, BLACK AND APPEARED TO BE PLASTIC PER THE OPERATIVE REPORT BY THE SURGEON WHO REMOVED IT. FOR SUCH A LIGHT PIECE OF PLASTIC TO CAUSE THIS EXTENSIVE A COMMINUTED FRACTURE, THE PROJECTILE MUST HAVE BEEN TRAVELING AT A VERY HIGH VELOCITY MOST LIKELY CAUSED BY THE AIR BAG'S EXPLOSIVE FOR [XXX] 'INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).'

NHTSA ID

10820846

Incident

Aug 28, 2014

Mileage

160,000 mi

I BOUGHT A USED AND REGULARLY SERVICED 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS IN SEPTEMBER 2014 WITH 69,000 MILES. THIS WEEK OF APRIL 5TH, THE AIRBAG SYMBOL SHOWED UP ON THE DASH ALONG WITH THE HEADLIGHTS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. WHEN I TOOK THE VEHICLE IN TO THE LOCAL TOYOTA DEALERSHIP, I WAS TOLD THAT THE STEERING WHEEL SPIRAL COIL WAS BROKEN AND ;THAT MY AIRBAG SYSTEM WAS DISABLED. THIS HAPPENED AT 85,000 MILES. IT COST ME ALMOST $500 TO HAVE THIS COIL REPLACED. THE SERVICE MANAGER SAID THIS WAS SIMPLY DUE TO NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. I ALSO HAVE OUTSIDE HATCH RUBBER OPENER THAT IS GOOIE AND STICKY AND THE HATCHBACK DOOR OFTEN WILL NOT OPEN. UPDATED 10/31/2017*JS

NHTSA ID

10705068

Incident

Apr 10, 2015

MY CAR WAS HIT AT BY AN SUV AT HIGH SPEED ON THE PASSENGER SIDE WHILE CROSSING AN INTERSECTION (THE SUV HAD RUN A RED LIGHT). MY CAR WAS THEN PROPELLED FRONT-FIRST INTO THE POLE HOLDING THE STREET LIGHTS. NONE OF MY AIRBAGS DEPLOYED, ALTHOUGH FIREFIGHTERS AND POLICE SAID THAT THE SENSORS HAD BEEN TRIGGERED. I SUSTAINED CONSIDERABLE CONTUSIONS TO MY RIBS, ELBOW, KNEES, AND ANKLES. I HAVE A TORN TENDON IN MY RIGHT ANKLE, AND WHIPLASH SEVERE ENOUGH TO REQUIRE PHYSICAL THERAPY. FIREFIGHTERS SAID THE CRASH WAS SEVERE ENOUGH THAT IF THERE HAD BEEN A PASSENGER, THEY WOULD LIKELY HAVE DIED GIVEN THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. UPDATED 04/13/15*BF

NHTSA ID

10703673

Incident

Mar 26, 2015

Mileage

80,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER BECOMING STUCK ON THE RAILROAD TRACKS, A TRAIN CRASHED INTO THE VEHICLE AND THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED TO THE OWNERS HOME. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 180,000...UPDATED 02/20/150 *BF UPDATED 04/06/15*LJ UPDATED 04/14/15

NHTSA ID

10682472

Incident

Feb 1, 2015

Mileage

180,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT AIR BAG FAILED TO ACTIVATE WHEN THE SEAT WAS OCCUPIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 153,000.

NHTSA ID

10672157

Incident

Jan 1, 2015

Mileage

153,000 mi

PASSENGER AIRBAG SENSOR DOES NOT DETECT THE PRESENCE OF A PASSENGER IN THE VEHICLE, REGARDLESS OF WEIGHT. PASSENGER AIRBAG SENSOR CONSTANTLY READS "PASSENGER OFF". *TR

NHTSA ID

10662852

Incident

Dec 8, 2014

Mileage

248,000 mi

MY AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY WHEN I HAD AN ACCIDENT. WHAT'S THE LEGAL ADVICE TO FILE THE COMPLAINT TO TOYOTA?.....UPDATED 12/15/15 *BF *TR UPDATED 9/7/2017*CN

NHTSA ID

10662724

Incident

Nov 19, 2014

Mileage

200,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE CONTACT CRASHED THE VEHICLE INTO A PICKUP TRUCK. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A CONCUSSION AND WAS HOSPITALIZED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 133,000.

NHTSA ID

10622068

Incident

Aug 10, 2014

Mileage

133,000 mi

I HAVE SEEN THE RECENT RECALL RELATED TO MANY MAKES AND MODELS OF TOYOTA'S FOR THE CLOCK-SPRINGS OR SPIRAL CABLES IN THE STEERING WHEEL. THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT PART OF THE CAR WHICH PROVIDES THE ELECTRICAL CONNECTION FOR MANY COMPONENTS SUCH AS THE STEERING WHEEL CONTROLS, HORN, AND AIR BAGS. I HAVE HEARD OF OTHERS WITH THE SAME ISSUES IN THEIR GENERATION II PRIUS (2004-2009). MY SPIRAL CABLE HAS RECENTLY STOPPED WORKING AS WELL AND SEEING AS THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE I BELIEVE TOYOTA SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR CORRECTING IT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10593300

Incident

May 15, 2014

Mileage

90,352 mi

PARKING MY PRIUS, MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, I HIT A VERY SMALL PATCH OF BLACK ICE WITH THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL. THE CAR SLANTED BRIEFLY TO THE LEFT--THEN THERE WAS A SUDDEN SURGE OF ENGINE POWER. THE CAR RUSHED OVER A MOUND OF ICE AND SNOW, JUMPED THE CURB, RUSHED FORWARD BETWEEN A WALL AND A TREE, NARROWLY MISSING IT, AND CRASHED INTO A PARKED TOYOTA TRUCK FACING OUTWARD FROM THE CURB. MY PRIUS HIT THE HEAVY TRUCK WITH ENOUGH FORCE TO KNOCK IT SIX FEET FOR THEIR NORTH AND THREE FEET TO THE WEST. AFTER IMPACT, THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO MAKE A LOT OF NOISE, A SOUND I'VE NEVER HEARD BEFORE IN SEVEN YEARS OF DRIVING THE CAR. IT WAS ATTEMPTING TO SURGE PAST THE TRUCK, WHICH I BELIEVE CAUSED THE MOST DAMAGE TO THE FRONT LEFT BUMPER OF THE CAR. I WAS STUNNED AND DIDN'T THINK TO TURN OFF THE IGNITION BEFORE IT QUIT ON ITS OWN AFTER PERHAPS TEN SECONDS. THE BODY WAS SHEARED BACK, STRIPS OF BLUE PAINT HANGING IN SHREDS. I CRAWLED OUT THE PASSENGER SIDE UNHURT. (THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY.) *JS

NHTSA ID

10579214

Incident

Jan 11, 2014

Mileage

41,604 mi