2006 TOYOTA PRIUS Complaints

THIS IS A FOLLOW UP TO NHTSA CASE # PE09019. THE NHTSA CLOSED THIS CASE AS A NON-SAFETY, NON-RECALL CASE, BECAUSE ONLY ONE HEADLIGHT WAS FAILING, GIVING THE DRIVER TIME TO GET TO A SERVICE CENTER. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM IS DEGENERATIVE...THOUGH NO CASES OF DUAL-HEADLIGHT FAILURE HAD BEEN SEEN BY THE NHTSA AT THE TIME, IN THE PAST FEW MONTHS THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL CASES REPORTED ON PRIUS OWNER WEBSITES. ALL ARE CASES THAT BEGAN WITH ONE INTERMITTENT LIGHT AND PROGRESSED TO BOTH. I WOULD LIKE MY CASE RECORDED BY THE NHTSA AND INCLUDED IN ANY FUTURE CLASS-ACTION SUIT THAT I MAY BE ELIGIBLE FOR. I HAVE A 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS WITH HID HEADLIGHTS. THEY BEGAN TO FAIL INTERMITTENTLY IN 2009, WHEN MY CAR HAD APP. 35,000 MILES LOGGED. I NEVER RECEIVED NOTICE OF THE OPEN NHTSA CASE, OR OF THE CLASS ACTION SUIT THAT TOYOTA SETTLED BY EXTENDING WARRANTIES AND/OR REIMBURSING REPAIRS. I GOT 1 WARNING TICKET FOR WHICH I ATTEMPTED TO GET THEM FIXED, BUT THIS TIME AND OTHER TIMES I WENT FOR SERVICE THE PROBLEM WAS NOT EVIDENT (NO LOOSE WIRES, BULBS WORKED FINE, ETC.) AND I WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS NOTHING TO FIX. LAST WEEK BOTH OF MY HEADLIGHTS FAILED SIMULTANEOUSLY, AS DID THE PARKING LIGHTS AND HIGH BEAMS WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AT NIGHT. FORTUNATELY I DIDN'T HAVE AN ACCIDENT, AND I QUICKLY TOGGLED THE CONTROL STICK TO RESET THE LIGHTS, AND THOUGHT I'D RECOVERED DIM HEADLIGHTS AND DROVE HOME, WHERE I DISCOVERED THAT I HAD DRIVEN OVER 200 MILES WITH ONLY MY PARKING LIGHTS ON. THE NEXT DAY, THE LEFT HEADLIGHT BULB WORKED AGAIN, THE PARKING LIGHTS WORK, BUT THE HIGH BEAMS STILL WILL NOT TURN ON. I HAVE AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE THE BULBS CHANGED (THE ONLY RECOMMENDED PROCEDURE QUOTED TO ME BY TOYOTA SERVICE). HOWEVER, I'VE READ REPORTS ONLINE OF OTHERS WHO DID THIS FIX AND EVEN MORE, YET HAD THE HEADLIGHTS FAIL AGAIN SOMETIME LATER. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED SHE STOPPED SUDDENLY AND A VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF HER VEHICLE CAUSING HER TO CRASH INTO THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF HER. THE SEAT BELT DID NOT RESTRAIN HER NOR DID THE AIR BAGS DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED NECK AND BACK INJURIES. THERE WERE NO PASSENGER IN THE VEHICLE. THE FRONT AND REAR END HAD EXTENSIVE DAMAGE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE INSURANCE COMPANY WAS NOTIFIED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 88,900. UPDATED 10/14/11 *BF UPDATED 11/07/11

ONE OF OUR HID HEADLAMPS TURNS OFF INTERMITTENTLY. SOMETIMES IT IS OFF, AND SOMETIMES IT IS ON, NO WAY TO PREDICT. WE HAD THE LIGHT BULB REPLACED BY OUR LOCAL MECHANIC WITH AN AFTER-MARKET PRODUCT, BUT THE PROBLEM PERSISTED. SO WE WENT TO THE DEALER, WHO ALSO REPLACED THE LIGHT BULB (MUCH MORE EXPENSIVELY), BUT IT STILL TURNED OFF WHENEVER. NOW THE INTERMITTENT TURN-OFF HAS STARTED TO OCCUR ON THE OTHER SIDE. SO FAR THEY HAVE NOT BOTH BEEN OUT AT THE SAME TIME, BUT IF THAT HAPPENED, IT WOULD BE A REAL SAFETY ISSUE. THE DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT DOESN'T SEEM TO KNOW WHY IT IS DOING THIS, AND CAN ONLY SUGGEST THAT WE REPLACE THE LIGHTBULB AGAIN. IT IS NOT AN ACCEPTABLE SOLUTION TO US TO KEEP REPLACING $150-$300 LIGHTBULBS. WE NEED TO KNOW THE UNDERLYING CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM, WHETHER IT IS IN THE HEADLAMP ASSEMBLY, OR SOME OTHER PART THAT CONTROLS THE LIGHT. IN SUMMARY, A PRODUCT THAT FAILS INTERMITTENTLY, EVEN AFTER BEING REPLACED HAS A DEFECT THAT NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED. AND ALSO, THE DEALER/MAKER SHOULD KNOW WHY THIS IS HAPPENING AND DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. *TR

THE EXTERIOR HANDLE OF THE REAR HATCH ON OUR 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS, MELTED INTO A STICKY TARRY, RUBBERY, GOOEY SUBSTANCE. IT'S LIKE A VISCOUS BLACK GLOB LIKE ROOFING TAR. WHEN OPENING THE HATCH, IT IS SOFT AND GETS UNDER MY FINGERNAILS. I BELIEVE THIS MELTING PROCESS STARTED A COUPLE YEARS AGO, BUT IT'S BEEN WORSE THIS YEAR WITH THE TRIPLE-DIGIT TEMPS. MY DEALER, LOU FUSZ TOYOTA (IN MISSOURI) SAID THEY HAVE NOT HEARD OF THIS HAPPENING BEFORE, BUT WHEN I RESEARCH IT ON-LINE, I FOUND THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED TO SEVERAL CAR OWNERS. TOYOTA KNOWS ABOUT THIS, AND IS SELLING THE ENTIRE WIRING HARNESS FOR $250 PLUS REPAIR COSTS, AND HAS DONE NOTHING ABOUT RECALLING THIS. FROM A SAFETY PERSPECTIVE, THIS MEANS YOU CAN EXPERIENCE DIFFICULTY OPENING THE REAR HATCH (A LIFE SAFETY ACCESS POINT), AND WILL GET STICKY BLACK TAR ON YOU FROM THE MELTED DOWN RUBBER COVER OF THE EXTERIOR HATCH RELEASE HANDLE. TO ME, THIS IS BOTH A LIFE SAFETY ISSUE AND A QUALITY DEFECT THAT TOYOTA IS OPTING TO IGNORE, AND ONLY FIXING ON VEHICLES WITH EXTENDED WARRANTIES, SINCE THE FAILURE APPEARS TO OCCUR AT AROUND THE 4 YEAR MARK. I AM AWARE OF THE OUTSTANDING WORK DONE BY NHTSA ON OTHER SAFETY ISSUES, INCLUDING THE PROBLEM WITH RUSTY FRAMES ON 02 ISUZU AXIOMS, AND I FIND THIS PROBLEM TO BE SIMILAR IN NATURE, SO I AM ASKING FOR YOUR AGENCY TO TAKE A LOOK AT THESE INSTANCES AND ALSO TO INQUIRE FROM TOYOTA WHY THEY ARE NOT RECALLING THESE HANDLES THAT ARE MELTING IN THE SUN. I THINK A DOOR HANDLE OR HATCH HANDLE SHOULD BE MADE TO LAST MORE THAN 4 YEARS! *TR

AFTER ONLY ABOUT 4 YEARS USE, THE RUBBER COVER ON THE HATCH RELEASE HANDLE (THE EXTERIOR HANDLE OF THE REAR HATCH) OF OUR 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS, MELTED INTO A STICKY TARRY BLACK RUBBERY GOOEY MESS. I CAN BEST DESCRIBE IT AS BEING A VISCOUS BLACK GLOB LIKE ROOFING TAR. TO OPEN THE HATCH, YOU HAVE TO TOUCH THIS BLACK GOO EACH TIME, WHICH MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO OPERATE THE HATCH RELEASE. WE BELIEVE THIS MELTING PROCESS STARTED AT ABOUT THE 2 YR. MARK. I THOUGHT THAT THIS MIGHT BE A SINGULAR ISSUE, BUT HAVE FOUND THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED TO SEVERAL CAR OWNERS, PARTICULARLY IN FLORIDA. WE ALSO LIVE IN FLORIDA. TOYOTA KNOWS ABOUT THIS, AND IS SELLING THE ENTIRE WIRING HARNESS FOR $96 PLUS REPAIR COSTS(200.00), AND HAS DONE NOTHING ABOUT RECALLING THIS. FROM A SAFETY PERSPECTIVE, THIS MEANS YOU CAN EXPERIENCE EXTREME DIFFICULTY OPENING THE REAR HATCH (A LIFE SAFETY ACCESS POINT), AND WILL GET STICKY BLACK TAR ON YOU FROM THE MELTED DOWN RUBBER COVER OF THE EXTERIOR HATCH RELEASE HANDLE. TO ME, THIS IS BOTH A SERIOUS LIFE SAFETY ISSUE AND A SERIOUS QUALITY DEFECT THAT TOYOTA IS OPTING TO IGNORE AND ONLY FIXING ON VEHICLES WITH EXTENDED WARRANTIES, SINCE THE FAILURE APPEARS TO OCCUR AT AROUND THE 3 YEAR MARK (IE AFTER 3 YEARS OF EXPOSURE TO THE BRIGHT SUN IN FLORIDA FOR EXAMPLE). I AM AWARE OF THE OUTSTANDING WORK DONE BY NHTSA ON OTHER SAFETY ISSUES, INCLUDING THE PROBLEM WITH RUSTY FRAMES ON 02 ISUZU AXIOMS, AND I FIND THIS PROBLEM TO BE SIMILAR IN NATURE, SO I AM ASKING FOR YOUR AGENCY TO TAKE A LOOK AT THESE INSTANCES AND ALSO TO INQUIRE FROM TOYOTA WHY THEY ARE NOT RECALLING THESE HANDLES THAT ARE MELTING IN THE SUN!!! IT'S OUTRAGEOUS. I THINK A DOOR HANDLE OR HATCH HANDLE SHOULD BE MADE TO LAST MORE THAN 3 YEARS. PLEASE REVIEW THESE FORUM COMMENTS OF OTHER INCIDENTS: *TR

AFTER ONLY ABOUT 2 YEARS USE, THE RUBBER COVER ON THE HATCH RELEASE HANDLE (THE EXTERIOR HANDLE OF THE REAR HATCH) OF OUR 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS, STARTED TO BE STICKY. NOW, AFTER NEARLY 5 YEARS AFTER PURCHASE, I NOTICE THAT IT HAS MELTED INTO A STICKY TARRY BLACK RUBBERY GOOEY MESS WHICH HAS SPREAD OVER A MUCH LARGER AREA. I CAN BEST DESCRIBE IT AS BEING A VISCOUS BLACK GLOB LIKE ROOFING TAR. TO OPEN THE HATCH, YOU HAVE TO TOUCH THIS BLACK GOO EACH TIME (IT TAKES 2-3 DAYS TO REMOVE THE STAIN COMPLETELY FROM FINGERS/NAILS), WHICH MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO OPERATE THE HATCH RELEASE. IT IS OBVIOUS THAT THIS MELTING PROCESS STARTED WHEN I NOTICED THE STICKY FEEL. I THOUGHT THAT THIS MIGHT BE A SINGULAR ISSUE, BUT HAVE FOUND THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED TO SEVERAL CAR OWNERS, PARTICULARLY IN THE SOUTH. WE LIVE IN MOBILE, ALABAMA. IT SEEMS THAT TOYOTA KNOWS ABOUT THIS FAULTY MATERIAL, AND HAS DONE NOTHING ABOUT RECALLING THIS. FROM A SAFETY PERSPECTIVE, THIS MEANS YOU CAN EXPERIENCE EXTREME DIFFICULTY OPENING THE REAR HATCH (A LIFE SAFETY ACCESS POINT), AND WILL GET STICKY BLACK TAR ON YOU FROM THE MELTED DOWN RUBBER COVER OF THE EXTERIOR HATCH RELEASE HANDLE. TO ME, THIS IS BOTH A SERIOUS LIFE SAFETY ISSUE AND A SERIOUS QUALITY DEFECT THAT TOYOTA IS OPTING TO IGNORE AND ONLY FIXING ON VEHICLES WITH EXTENDED WARRANTIES, SINCE THE FAILURE APPEARS TO OCCUR AT AROUND THE 3 YEAR MARK. I AM AWARE OF THE OUTSTANDING WORK DONE BY NHTSA ON OTHER SAFETY ISSUES, INCLUDING THE PROBLEM WITH RUSTY FRAMES ON 02 ISUZU AXIOMS, AND I FIND THIS PROBLEM TO BE SIMILAR IN NATURE, SO I AM ASKING FOR YOUR AGENCY TO TAKE A LOOK AT THESE INSTANCES AND ALSO TO INQUIRE FROM TOYOTA WHY THEY ARE NOT RECALLING THESE HANDLES THAT ARE MELTING (IT IS OUTRAGEOUS). I THINK A DOOR HANDLE OR HATCH HANDLE SHOULD BE MADE TO LAST MORE THAN 3 YEARS. PLEASE REVIEW THIS. *TR

IN ADDITION TO MY COMPLAINT, ODI ID #10400072, WHEN I TURN MY HEADLIGHTS ON, THE LIGHTING IN MY CONSOLE LOSES IT BRIGHTNESS--ALOT. DURING THE DAYTIME, IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO SEE THE ODOMETER/SPEEDOMETER AND ALL OTHER INFORMATION PROVIDED ON MY CONSOLE... THIS INCLUDES THE BUILT-IN GPS/INFO SCREEN. THIS IS DEFINITELY A DESIGN FLAW THAT TOYOTA CREATED AND APPROVED FOR SALE HERE IN THE U.S. I CANNOT UNDERSTAND WHY TOYOTA IS NOT HELD FULLY ACCOUNTABLE FOR THESE VERY SERIOUS FLAWS AND ARE REQUIRED TO CORRECT THESE VERY SERIOUS FLAWS AT NO COST THE THE INNOCENT CONSUMER THAT ARE VICTIMS FOR PURCHASING THESE VEHICLES FULLY TRUSTING THAT TOYOTA FULLY BACKED UP THEIR VEHICLES AND REPUTATION. WHAT WILL IT TAKE TO REQUIRE TOYOTA TO MAKE THE NECESSARY REPAIRS TO RECTIFY THESE VERY OBVIOUS FLAWS IN THEIR VEHICLES? A DEATH AS A RESULT OF AN INNOCENT DRIVER AND HIS FAMILY TRUSTING THE TOYOTA BRAND NAME? I SURE HOPE NOT.

MOMENTARY LOSS OF BRAKING WHILE DRIVING OVER A BUMPY SURFACE, OVER SMALL POTHOLES, ROUGH PATCHES ETC., THE CAR LUNGES FORWARD AT THE SAME TIME MY TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT WILL FLASH ON AND OFF UNTIL THE ROAD SMOOTHS OUT.

WHEN BRAKING QUICKLY USUALLY ON ROUGH SURFACES, WET ROADS, SLOPES BRAKES TEMPORARILY FAIL AS IF NO CONTROL OVER THE CAR GIVING ME AN ADRENALINE RUSH. I HAVE BEEN DRIVING LIKE THIS FOR 4 YEARS THINKING IS THE CHARACTERISTIC OF PRIUS. JUNE 30TH 2011, I STEERED INTO THE PARKING LOT AND WAS PARKING ON THE FIRST SPOT AT THE RIGHT IMMEDIATELY AFTER ENTRY TO PARKING LOT AT THE SPEED OF 5 MPH. APPROXIMATELY HALF WAY TO CURB I WITHDREW MY FOOT OFF THE GAS PEDAL AND PUT ON THE BRAKES SLOWLY. I WAS EXPECTING THE CAR TO HALT PRIOR TO THE CURB LINE AS USUAL. BUT IT DID NOT STOP ON THE CONTRARY IT ACCELERATED AND WENT OVER THE CURB AND RIGHT ON THE FENCE. THE FENCE WAS APPROXIMATELY 2 FEET FROM CURB; BEFORE IT WENT ON FENCE I LOOKED AT MY FEET AND MADE SURE IT WAS ON THE BRAKES AS COULD NOT BELIEVE WHAT WAS HAPPENING TO THE CAR AND YES I AM 100% SURE IT WAS ON BRAKES. I ALSO APPLIED PARKING BRAKES AND PUT CAR IN NEUTRAL AND SHUT OFF THE POWER, WHEN IT STOPPED OVER THE FENCE. I HAVE REPORTED THIS TO DEALER AS THE CAR HAD BEEN SERVICED 4 WEEKS PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT AT 32,431 MILES. THE DEALER DID HEALTH CHECK SCAN TWICE TAKING 6 HOURS FOR EACH SCAN. AFTER FIRST SCAN I WAS TOLD THE CAR HAD FRONT SPEED SENSORS CODES AND A LOW OR ABNORMAL HIGH BATTERY VOLTAGE. AND ADVISED TO DETECT SENSORS IN DETAILS AND REPLACE THEM AT NEXT APPOINTMENT. SECOND DAY AFTER THE MANAGER DID ANOTHER HEALTH CHECK FOR 6 HOURS, I DON'T KNOW WHY ANOTHER SCAN; AND REPORTED CODES FOR LOW BATTERY AND SPEED SENSORS AND ECU. NONE HAVE POTENTIAL TO CAUSE CUSTOMER CONCERN. THEY FINALLY BLAMED THE FLOOR MAT WHICH WAS DEFINITELY NOT THE PROBLEM. SURPRISINGLY WHEN I ASKED HOW DID THEY TAKE CARE OF THE CODES? IF SENSORS NEED TO BE REPLACED, THEY TOLD ME THE CODES ARE GONE NOW. THERE WERE NO DETAILS PROVIDED INSPITE OF ME ASKING SEVERAL TIMES WHY THE CAR MOVES AFTER APPLYING BRAKES. BEING A DOCTOR I AM CONCERNED WITH SAFETY AND PREVENTION MORE THAN ANYTHING. *TR

LIKE MANY OTHER PRIUS OWNERS, I BEGAN TO EXPERIENCE HEADLAMP PROBLEMS AFTER ABOUT 4 OTHERWISE VERY SATISFACTORY YEARS OF DRIVING MY 2006 PRIUS. ONE OF THE LAMPS (THE RIGHT SO FAR) GOES OFF IRREGULARLY DURING OPERATION, AND I CAN'T TELL WHEN IT HAS GONE. THIS CONDITION CREATES A SAFETY HAZARD FOR OTHER DRIVERS BECAUSE (1) IN THE DARK A "ONE-EYED" CAR COULD BE LOOMING ON EITHER SIDE OF THE ONE VISIBLE LIGHT, AND (2) TO REDUCE THE RISK (I THINK!) I ROUTINELY DRIVE WITH BRIGHTS ON WHICH BLINDS ON-COMING DRIVERS. BLOGS ON THIS SUBJECT MAKE A FIX SOUND TOO UNCERTAIN AND EXPENSIVE TO ENTRUST TO A DEALER OR DO MYSELF. NHTSA SHOULD TAKE ANOTHER LOOK.