2006 TOYOTA Prius

HID light intermittently goes out multiple time per trip. Turning light switch off and back on temporarily solves the problem.

EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION!

Went to get my car checked and found that it had no oil in it. Was told this is a common problem with Prius and that if I didn\'t get a new engine I would have to put oil in between oil changes. I could have been stranded miles from anywhere. This has never happened with any car I have ever had at such low mileage.

Drivers side intermittent headlight

Right headlight was off according to the AZ DPS officer. No problems before nor since with the headlights. We get the repair tomorrow. We were NEVER notified by Toyota about the class action lawsuit on headlights. The vehicle was in for service this last Spring with NO notice provided about headlight failures.

Headlamps in my Prius turn off intermittently. Sometimes they both turn off at the same time. I can usually get them to come back on by turning the switch off and on. It is very dangerous when I am driving at night and loose both headlights.

Almost overnight my Prius dashboard has developed oily patches. If you touch it your finger sticks, if you wipe it the cloth sticks. The dash cannot be cleaned. I worry about the off-gassing and any other health threat from the dash material decomposing, including decomposition inside the ac and heating vents. I worry about the decomposing dash affecting other elements of the car\'s dash, lighting, computer electrical, and other systems. The only known cure is to replace the dashboard which is an unexpected and unwelcome financial burden.

Left front headlight will not stay on. Problem first occurred in around 2010 at about 50,000 miles. Several repairs and replacements have not remedied the problem. The problem may well have contributed to a collision with a deer on the driver\'s side in 2017.

The right headlight will spontaneously turn off randomly. Difficult to reproduce, will happen as the car is driving along. I have not yet repaired this but I have seen estimates of $400.00 to $1200.00 in repair costs

This was the first duel failure of the headlights on this car in the year that I have owned it.

I noticed in the past month that the headlights turn off unexpectedly. First the driver side then both headlights then the passenger side. They go back on when I turn the switch off and then on and the problem is unexpected and not reproducible. I was told at the dealer that the headlights needed to be replaced. They would not acknowledge there is any known issue with the headlights turning off by themselves. I replaced both headlights 2 days ago and will monitor the situation.

Intermittent headlight failure

HEADLIGHTS GO ON AND OFF , FLICKER AND FAIL MOST WHEN YOU NEED THEM

The passenger side headlight flickers off after anywhere from a few seconds to several minutes of driving. It is happening more often now and the driver\'s side light has also started going out. If I turn the lights on and off, they go back on for a few seconds or several minutes.

FOR OVER A YEAR, MY FRONT HEADLIGHTS HAVE BEEN TURNING OFF. FIRST IT WAS ONE, THEN IT WAS BOTH. I HAVE BEEN STOPPED AT LEAST 10 TIMES BY THE POLICE AT NIGHT FOR THIS. I HAVE TAKEN TO AVOIDING DRIVING AT NIGHT FOR THIS PAST YEAR IF AT ALL POSSIBLE. IN JUNE, I WAS STOPPED 2 NIGHTS IN A ROW FOR THIS PROBLEM. I HAVE A CITATION FROM THE POLICE FOR THIS DATED JUNE 23, 2016.

MY MECHANIC PUT IN 2 NEW FRONT HEADLIGHTS ON JULY 6, 2016 AND IT COST ME $430.36.

For the past 16 months my vehicles head lamps have been going off while driving down the interstate. I have had the bulbs replaced, had a mechanic check for loose connection or shorts, car checked out fine. Headlamps continued to go pitch black while driving.

Headlight Failure

HEADLIGHT CONTINUES TO SHUT OFF SUDDENLY. THE PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT THE LIGHT COMES BACK ON AFTER TURNING OFF/ON THE LIGHTS AGAIN.

The driver’s side front headlight goes off randomly. The problem is usually “fixed” by turning the light off and then back on, but that one light goes out again, sometimes 30 seconds later, sometimes an hour later.

Both Head lights will randomly turn off while driving. The only way to get the lights back on is to turn the car off and then back on which means you have to stop. This has happened twice to me the first time nothing was found to be wrong the second time I was told $500 -$2000 in repairs and that they could not guarantee that would fix the problem since they were not sure what the problem was. Both times this has happened I was on the freeway in more rural areas (very dark). I had to make emergency stops because I could not see where I was going. The last time this happened I hit some debris on the side of the highway as I was pulling over and it damaged the cars bumper, undercarriage and now the car whistles as it goes down the road. I am installing aftermarket lights this weekend that I will leave on constantly as I can no longer trust my toyota to have functioning head lights. I called corporate Toyota and they said it was wear and tear and that I needed to first try new bulbs and then new ballast and controllers. This is an obvious safety issue with the car and not a wear and tear issue.

Sporadic headlight failure of one or both headlights. Function returns after turning off then on again. Will affect one headlight usually, but sometimes the other light fails instead. Dealer is unable to replicate problem but this problem has been described exactly by other Prius owners of my model year

On a dark night my headlight went out when I was driving 65 and I almost wrecked. This is a common issue with this year and model. My friend owned a 2006 also bought brand new and her head lights would go out also. Doe someone have to die to get this recall going?

My right headlight went out and took it to toyota dealers to get it replaced and they told me there was a short and to bring it in when it happened. I only know it is now both headlights doing this now and I can’t drive at night because when they go out I get stopped by the police. I can turn them off and on and they start working again. I only know when a light goes out at night and I can’t take the car in then because dealership is closed. I have tried other places and have been told bring car in when light goes out. I love my car but am getting scared to drive it, I’m afraid lights might go out and I could crash into someone and hurt them or myself. I’m a 68 year old widow who needs her car and feel Toyota needs to fix this problem before someone loses their life or is seriously hurt by this problem. I haven’t been able to drive my car at night in over a year because of this and have had to cancel two doctor appointments last week because it was raining. Might as well not have a car for all the good it’s doing me.

For the past two years my car has been doing this thing where the headlights will shut off randomly while I am driving, the solution I have found is to flip the switch on and off again and they turn back on, but this only works temporarily and they soon shut off again. This can be very dangerous especially when driving on a dark road at night along a curve.

Driver side headlight began turning on and off randomly. When taken to repair shop, replacement of the bulb did not fix the problem ( $240). I later learned that Toyota has been aware of this problem for years but only covers repairs when the problem occurs at

I BOUGHT THE CAR USED IN 2009, AND THE HEADLIGHTS HAVE ALWAYS INTERMITTENTLY GONE OFF. IF I TURN THEM OFF AND BACK ON, THEY COME BACK ON FOR A FEW MINUTES AND THEN, SAME THING HAPPENS. THE DEALER SAYS NOTHING IS WRONG

Went in for 90k service. Was told left headlight was out. Replace. Left headlight goes out intermittently. Need to turn lights on-off to have headlight return back on.

Since about November 2013 the headlights have been going out intermittently. The Toyota garage was not able to reproduce the problem so did not try to fix anything. It got worse but since I do not drive much at night I tried to ignore it, up until now. On two occasions I noticed that both headlights went out at the same time. The last time was during a severe rain shower on the highway. Quickly turning the handle back and forth (lights off and back on) helped in that one of the lights came back on again. That is all I can remember about the circumstances, besides how scary it was.

Headlights repeatedly burn out or go off intermittently. This has happened 5 times to this vehicle.

Headlights randomly fail without warning. Car must be turned off and restarted to get lights to come back on. This is a danger when traveling high speeds on dark highways/roads/interstates! We just purchased this vehicle 3 weeks ago. I have had both headlights go out together as well. While the problem began with just one light, and that light would typically come back on when I pulled over and restarted the vehicle. I have had subsequent experiences where both headlamps will go out while I am driving. This has occurred while driving early morning (pre-dawn) hours on back unlit 2 lane roads and is extremely worrisome. The only thing I can do is pull the vehicle over and turn it off, let it sit and attempt to recycle the engine. So far at least one headlamp has typically returned allowing me to drive to safety.

As I was driving my 2006 Toyota Prius at night, I noticed the road seemed “dim” on the right side. I turned the lights OFF then back ON and it was brighter. Later I noticed the same thing and pulled off the road to find the right headlight was not on, but it came back on after turning the switch off and on again. This has happened SEVERAL times over the past couple of months, sometimes affecting the left headlight as well. Once, last month, as I was driving down the highway, BOTH headlights turned off! Fortunately I was able to quickly flip the headlight switch off and on to remedy the situation. The headlight bulbs have been checked and do not seem to be the problem. HELP!

Since 2008 both headlights would randomly go out usually one at a time but sometimes both. By turning them off and back on would get them working again. The frequency kept increasing till 2013 when I called Toyota corp. # and told them the problem. They said to have the bulbs replaced at my own expense because I was out of warranty . 142000 miles. I called Toyota dealer to have this done and got a price of $550.00. Wow.
With a lot of research I purchased 2 headlights that were exactly the same on line for $90.00 and replaced them myself (not an easy task). At this point I’m not happy but can live with it.
Now for my real complaint!!! 2 weeks after the bulb replacement my lights are doing the same thing. Sometimes one then the other or the real excitement when both go same time. Turn them off and back on and they always come back on, maybe for a minute or two. Toyota assured me before I replaced them that that would solve the problem. Was at dealer yesterday and they had no input. To me it sure seems there is another problem other then the bulbs that Toyota will not admit.

HIV headlights go dim the fail. Cost of one light bulb is $130.00 from store or $175.00 from dealer. Install of this bulb requires to remove bumper the pay $200.00 just to install. $350.00 for a single bulb should be done by the owner for only $30.00. Too expensive and a safety hazard while driving at night especially for on coming traffic passing me with my left headlight out.

I can no longer drive my Prius at night. Sometimes one headlight will go out, sometimes the other, sometimes both. The bulbs themselves are not bad. I have to turn the lights off then back on to reset them approximately every 25 seconds. When I took it to the dealer they said “We can not re-create the problem”. I left, in the rain and had to reset them 6 times before I was a mile down the road. Toyota knows about this problem, they need to fix this problem. Our extended family owns 4 Prius vehicles, we will never own another since Toyota is not standing up to fix this problem.

Inverter failed, car stopped in middle of highway with bright red warning lights saying to stop and do not attempt to drive call a tow for service.
I had to replace hybrid inverter unit. Originally quoted $7000 but managed to negotiate down to $4000. I hear this is a common issue with 2006-2007 hybrids from Toyota and the repair price is now $9000. There should be a recall to replace the inverter so that a serious accident does not happen. I own a 2006 Toyota Highlander Hybrid with 83000 miles and hope this doesn’t happen again.

People ask me if we like our 2006 Prius. I say we love it. They ask if we have had any problems with the battery. I say no. They ask if we have had any problems with it. I say none EXCEPT:

1. It is not raccoon proof. It is so low to the ground, when I hit a raccoon on the highway it caused over $2000 + in damage. Even knocked the a/c unit off its mount on the frame under the hood.

2. MORE RELEVANT We have had a constant problem with headlights going out from the beginning, one light after another left and right has gone out (usually off and on) from the first year we bought it. The right light has been going off again the last 8 months. We have not taken it in to get fixed again because it never gets fixed. Sometimes the light stays on while at the shop, giving them nothing to fix. Then when we take it home, it goes out again. But, we actually like our Dealers repair dept very much! They just don’t get help from Toyota. They have tried everything from new sockets to many new bulbs. We have spent a lot with them on this issue, but I know they have also donated a lot of time and money too. They are ashamed to charge because they know it is a recurring problem. They just can’t fix it. I worry about my wife driving at night. She has been picked up by highway patrolmen 3 or 4 times because of the headlight being out. Our dealer even gave her a letter to show to the patrol that we have tried to fix it. So far no fines.

Headlight failure

The exterior light suddenly went out while driving on the freeway at night. I am uncertain if rear lights went out but I think they did since a tractor trailer almost hit me. If I had not immediately pulled over I probably would have been killed. It was obvious to me that he could not see me. In my franctic state of panic, I turned the lights on and off repeatedly. They did not come back on so I turned the vehicle off and restarted it and then the lights came back on. The headlights went out and would not come back on after several attempts to turn them on. I was scared to death!.  My fear was that I would not be able to make it home. To my amazement, the lighted panel remained lighted when the lights went out. I went to the dealer where I purchased the car and was informed it is no longer under warranty! I filed a complaint with corporate office and am waiting for a response.

A month ago while driving about 45MPH on slightly wet roads, approaced traffic light which had gone from green to amber. Attempted to brake, but brakes did not engage, could not stop car. I had given my self plenty of time to stop for this light, let off the brake and tried again, but the brakes still did not engage and ended up going through the red light. While driving on I95 on the evening of Sept. 8th at about 65 MPH, my dashboard lit up. Hybrid system malfunction light, the computer display bar graphs ceased to work, the check engine light, warning brake icon and the red triangle with exclamation light all lit up. I called Toyota dealership next morning and was told to have car towed to dealership and not to drive the car. The service dept. called and said it was the "decreasing brake pressure solenoid" had malfunctioned. They said it was a major component of the braking system. The dealership said this part costs $2,000. and labor is $1,000. For a car with less than 50,000 miles? They said they would call Toyota about the problem and get back to me if they could accommodate me in some manner. They offered to cover 2/3 of the cost. I intend to get the part number/serial number for this part in case there is a class action suit so I can recoup any money I had to lay out in towing and labor to replace a part that Toyota may or not have shipped the dealership "free of charge" if in fact it was found to be defective from the beginning.

Breaks, ibs and other lights came on during a road trip. breaks siengsged and i had to press harder and “pump” in order to break. took to mr. tire to check -and replaced breaks and flush. lights still on. took to the dealer- ibs actuator assembly failure. quoted repair over $2400. apparently, some owners of this model received letter for warranty and extended warranty for actuator assembly. dealer did not mention this option at all. https://attachments.priuschat.com/attachment-files/2017/12/136422_prius_2nd_gen_-_brake_actuator_warranty_extension.pdf

Both of my headlights went out at the same time the other day now the fact that both of them went out at the exact same time already tells me that its not the bulb,ballest or anything other then an electrical issue because everyone is having this problem and they have changed both ballasts and bulbs and the same thing happened over and over again, please make this a recall because it is very unsafe

Passenger head light not work some times at night.

Head lights fail , flicker most when you need them

The headlights turn off after anywhere from a few seconds to several minutes of driving. when i turn them off and on, they come on again. this has been happening for years. now i learn that it is a common problem with priuses from 2006-2009. would like toyota to recall these.

The headlights flicker and then go out. it is necessary to turn off all lights and then turn them back on. the same thing happens after a short period of time. this happens when the car is moving and i have been pulled over because i was unaware that the lights were out while driving in the city.

Car was brought to toyota of hollywood, florida for a new battery. when it was returned none of the dashboard was working: no speedometer, no gear shift indicator, no fuel gauge, no engine warning lights, no backup indicator beeper. additionally it takes many tries over minutes to turn the car off and it locks the rear hatch which cannot be opened with the inside door unlock button. obviously this is a dangerous and hazardous situation which i expected that the dealer and manufacturer, toyota, would take care of immediately. they claim that the car is out of warranty and won't fix it. it should be part of a vehicle safety recall.

While driving the right headlight will flicker and turn off. it can be turned back on by turning off and on the headlights. i got pulled over last night because i couldn't tell it had turned off while driving in town at night. i can tell when it goes off while driving in the country and get it to turn back on. i have read many online forums that dealerships will replace many expensive things trying to fix it but it still does not fix it.

For aproximadamentely two years the brakes ave not been working properly and we took it to get evaluated and we were told it was the brake actuator. now i was told that this is a security problem toyota dealership sells the part fo a little over $1,700 i was also told it should be your responsibility since it should be considered a recall because of this being a security problem. i run the rick to run out of brakes at any moment and i can not deive my vehicle like this.

The computerized throttle control on the prius can get you into trouble. a prius will not reverse up a steep driveway. no matter how far you depress the accelerator, the engine will not go above about 1000 rpm, and the car will not move. now, if based on sound of the engine, you place the transmission in forward without first removing foot from accelerator, the car will rocket forward (and likely crash). it is quite easy to do this, as the engine is stuck at idle, then furiously revving with no change of driver input. father-in-law, and various pedestrians, were miraculously uninjured, but a very near thing indeed.

Car i purchased for my daughter, had its headlights go out last night in the rain as she was taking an exit off road. fortunately no one was hurt but she is very shaken up. she said the lights just went out leaving here in almost complete darkness.

Tl* the contact owned a 2006 toyota prius. while driving approximately 30 mph, another vehicle suddenly stopped in front of the contact's vehicle. the contact depressed the brake pedal to the floorboard, but the vehicle failed to stop. the contact's vehicle crashed into a road sign. the air bags failed to deploy. the contact coasted to the side of the road and the engine failed. the contact was not injured and a police report was filed. the vehicle was towed to a dealer and an insurance lot. the vehicle was destroyed. the manufacturer was made aware of the failure. the approximate failure mileage was 196,000.

Engine failure; driving on roadways, highways the main warning light on dash lights up, followed by sudden engine failure seconds or minutes there after. toyota professionals have failed to properly diagnose this danger/malfunction, or recommend a proper solution. i have been caught on the interstate in very dangerous areas with total engine loss. this represents a major malfunction and could lead to serious injury, accidents and death nationwide. please alert others. *tr

Travelling 30-35 mph. tried to stop-brake pedal went to the floor and car accelerated. hit a steel sign which totalled the car. airbags failed to actvate even though the force of hitting the sign drove the engine back to the dashboard.city street.

Afternoon 07/11/17 while driving downhill @ 50 mph my 2006 toyota prius turned off- no steering, exterior lights, dash/computer lights, radio- except for front interior dome light. no warning lights prior to or after car turned off. i was able to brake (very stiff brakes) & pull over. replaced 2015 12v battery hoping for quick fix. car still would not turn on, could not be towed on flat bad for fear of damaging transmission. car was towed to closest mechanic. on 07/12/17 independent mechanic said both coolant pumps failed and the leaking shorted a fuse and turned off the car. every time they attempted to replace fuse it would pop fuse again. mechanic replaced water pump (including coolant/antifreeze) & inverter electric pump (including inverter cooler water) & changed auto transmission fluid & filter ($1,115). early morning 07/14/17 dash display would not light up when car was turned on- no speedometer, odometer, gas gauge, reverse camera. (happened couple of times in past but could not duplicate for dealer.) while driving to toyota dealer i noticed computer screen stuck @ 48 mpg & 61 miles driven, but never increased miles as i drove 18 miles or updated mpg calculation. refused to turn off car until someone from toyota dealer looked @ dash to verify condition. toyota dealer says combo meter (combination meter) failure, which is not recall but "campaign" that expired & repair costs $1,111. motherboard part can take up to 3 weeks but car cannot be driven while toyota "burns" my computer's information into new computer part. toyota dealer provided loaner car until repair is completed. on 07/14/17 called toyota & filed complaint about water pump & combo meter. toyota says hybrid electric water pump campaign did not affect my vin, which i do not believe. toyota says combination meter campaign expired for my vin. pending call back from toyota at this time.

Purchased 2006 toyota prius used on aug 17, 2013 (61,500 miles). within a month i was pulled over by police for passenger side headlight out while driving at night, but when headlamps are turned off and on again the headlight came back on, and the police officer thought he was crazy so he just issued a warning. the headlight continued to go out intermittently and i replaced the bulbs myself in november 2013 (philips hid headlight bulbs $95). the headlight still went out intermittently and i finally replaced both headlight assemblies in july 2016 by an independent mechanic (approximately $1000 at 143,000 miles). passenger side headlight still goes out intermittently. nhtsa launched a probe in april 2009, but then dropped the investigation after toyota said it would initiate a "consumer service campaign" to address the issue. then there was a class action settlement in 2011, all of which the previous car owner missed. toyota uses "campaigns" to avoid recalls. toyota's website (https://www.toyota.com/recall) does not list previous "campaigns" related to the vin so buying the car used i had no way of knowing of previous "campaigns" that still needed to be addressed. upon purchasing in august 2013 i took the car to a toyota dealership in san marcos, tx for a steering wheel recall but was not alerted to any other recalls or "campaigns" at that time.

The passenger side headlight intermittently turns off and on. the lightbulb is still functional. this will happen wether i'm driving or stationary.

From the time i purchased it new in 2006, while in park/stationary, it's normal for a prius to shut off their gas engine while in idle.. however, when the gas engine comes back on to help charge the battery while in idle, it causes the car to jerk forward 1-2 inches. one time this bumped a person crossing the street that walked near my idling car. it happens every time. so the date below should have an option for everyday.

2006 prius multifunction display defects, manufactuer wants $8,000.00 to repair. the mfd controls ac distribution. it affects my health. i have a skin condition, that requires cooling of my legs. the air will come on, but only from dash area, there is no other control method, because touch screen does not work. also window defroster is inopperalble, from screen. there is a defroster button on steering wheel, it works only part of the time. i have had car into dealership 3 seprate times (at 2 different locations) they can not find the problem with steering wheel defrost buttom. i was told, there is no diagnostics for the electrical on this vehicle, the other dealership, just said " the tech found out defroster problem, is somewhere under here" as he reached under the dash area. the touch doesn't work at anytime, parked or going down the road. $8,000.00 dollars for this repair is way out of my reach. from what i understand it is a widespread problem, or a bad design. the defrost comtrol on steering wheel will come on/off when i hit a bump in the road or a rough railroad crossing. driving without proper defrosting is very dangerous.

Driving down the freeway, the shift lever jumped from drive to neutral at 65mph. very dangerous.

For the last 8 years i have had the headlights intermittently go off independently of each other. now they are going off or dimming more consistently. they have been replaced thinking that it was a bulb or headlight issue but it has become clear that it is a wiring issue. the replacement headlight is more than $600 each and i know that replacing another one will not fix the issue. there needs to be a recall because problems are all over the internet with this issue. this happens while driving at any time or sitting in the driveway with or without the motor running. *tr

Toyota prius 2006 right headlight will spontaneously and at random turn off. it happens when you are driving the vehicle. often the car will illuminate both headlights and it is only after driving several minutes, the right headlight will turn off. very difficult to reproduce. i feel this is a significant safety issue. cost estimates from research have been shown to be $400.00 to $1200.00. toyota has still not issued a recall for this problem

Tl* the contact owns a 2006 toyota prius. while driving 20 mph, the headlights malfunctioned. the contact could not see the road in front of him due to the malfunctioning headlight adjuster. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was made aware of the failure. the failure mileage was 105,000. the vin was not available.

While driving on a dark unlit windy road, the headlights seemed to be getting dimmer, then both spontaneously turned off. i had absolutely zero visibility of the road and i instinctively slammed the brakes. i was approaching a sharp turn with a guard rail and a steep ravine into a river. the car came to rest about 8 inches from the guard rail. upon cycling the headlights on and off, they both lit up again. i turned in the fog lights as a back up and continued my drive, slowly. since then, i have observed the lights fading and then turning off, usually only one light at a time, but sometimes both. *tr

I noticed in the past month that the headlights turn off unexpectedly while driving. first the driver side then both headlights then the passenger side. they go back on when i turn the switch off and then on and the problem is unexpected and not reproducible. i was told at the dealer that the headlights needed to be replaced. they would not acknowledge there is any known issue with the headlights turning off by themselves. i replaced both headlights 2 days ago and will monitor the situation. *tr

The temperature was in the 50s here in fl. my prius was parked in the garage overnight. the car started but the dash was black. the only indicator on the dash was for "airbags". i backed out and drove with extreme trepidation and caution to my child’s school. cruise control did not work. only turn signals/flashers worked. the center computer screen was dim, brightness control did not affect that or the black dash. i drove with no indication of my speed, fuel amount, mileage, or systems failures/warnings! i called my independent mechanic. he said i was the 4th person to call him today with this same problem: combination meter failure! he said a cold spell triggers the failure. then i was not able to shut the car off. he talked me through a way to shut the car off. when i returned to the car my fob would not open the door locks. i had to use the metal key from the fob to unlock the driver's door. i put the fob back together and started the car. the dash was working again, but very dim and hard to see. my mechanic advised me that i could try to reset the 12 volt battery to reset the failed meter, but that in trying to reset the battery, i would not be able to get into the hatch during a meter failure. he said the combination meter will continue to fail until it is repaired. he advised me that toyota covered this repair for 9 years, but i am in the year 10 and not covered. this is not a simple warranty issue. this is a safety issue. the car is not safe to drive with no indication of my speed, fuel amount, mileage, or systems failures/warnings and without an ability to shut the car off! this is a known, predictable failure that toyota acknowledged with an extension of the original warranty. the problem doesn't go away after 9 years. combination meter failure renders a car unsafe and undriveable. toyota needs to repair combination meters whenever they fail.

Three times in the last 12 months the headlights have failed on this car.

This was the first of three headlight failures in the the year that i have owned this car.

This is the second failure of the headlights on this car since i bought it in late 2015.

Tl* the contact owns a 2006 toyota prius. while driving 55 mph, the contact rear ended another vehicle. the air bags failed to deploy. a police report was filed and there were no injuries. the vehicle was towed. the manufacturer was not notified. the failure mileage was 135,000.

Tl* the contact owns a 2006 toyota prius. the contact stated that the instrumen panel failed causing the contact to be able to view the reading levels. the vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the combo meter failed. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer advised that the instrument panel warrenty repair had expired and that the repairs would be at the contacts expense. the failure mileage was 150,000.

The seat belts in the back seat are totally inoperable. they do not retract , so if you use them they are expanded to their largest size and will not retract. we have children that have carseats and we are unable to use the back seat of our vehicle

While driving the right passenger side headlight flickers on and off and then turns off completely a few minutes after starting the vehicle. this occurs every time the vehicle is driven.

The seat belts in the backseat are not functional. the dealer is telling us that it will be $650 to make them functional again. i have had many cars , makes and models and have never had all my seat belts fail like this. they do not retract anymore. it seems to me that the manufacturer should have some responsibility in fixing this issue,

My 2006 toyota prius i just bought recently is having intermittent headlight problems were the headlights frequently turn off while driving at night. so far turning them off on and on again works, but it can be a safety hazard going down the highway. what can be done about this?

Tl* the contact owns a 2006 toyota prius. the contact stated that the exterior trunk latch deteriorated, which made the hatch unable to open half of the time. the vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the latch needed to be replaced. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was notified of the failure. the approximate failure mileage was 110,000.

Tl* the contact owns a 2006 toyota prius. while operating the vehicle, the power steering suddenly malfunctioned and caused the steering wheel to become very difficult to turn. the vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the power steering ecu was faulty and needed to be replaced. the vehicle was repaired. also, while driving the vehicle, it suddenly stalled and would not restart. the vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the throttle body was faulty. the failure was repaired. the contact also indicated that the air conditioner blower stopped operating and the front windshield could not be defrosted. the manufacturer was notified of the failures. the failure mileage was 200,500. *dt*jb

My 2006 toyota prius drivers side headlight goes out completely. it turns on when first engaging the light switch and turns off when in transit. it will relight after i turn the lights off and then back on again. my dealership has stated there is no issue with my headlights and provided me an inspection sticker for the vehicle. i need this issue to be fixed.

I owe a 06 toyota prius both of my headlight keep turning off .....if i turn my switch on and off they work but then it'll do it again

While vehicle was in motion on a city street, and also upon back roads, the brakes in my 2006 toyota prius seemed to grab. there was also a loud noise upon braking. this issue worsened and the dash lights lit up. i took to local toyota dealership and it was determined that the brake actuator needs to be replaced due to safety issue of brakes going out in the future. (not if but when). i was told when the brakes go out, i am to push the emergency brake and the vehicle would coast to a stop. this is an unsafe condition and could happen while braking for a red light or braking to avoid hitting a deer. the cost to fix this brake actuator issue will be appx $3000. upon further research, toyota knew of the issue and offered an extended warranty that expired dec 2017. there are several other complaints of this same issue with other '06 prius owners of this happening before and after the warranty expired in dec of 2017. this is a safety issue which could cause injury or death when the brakes do stop working and needs to be a recall, not an extended warranty through toyota that expires.

Owner began noticing braking problem in november 2017. brake pedal would go to floor with minimal braking. problem continued to get worse. owner took vehicle to toyota dealership after holiday period on 02/09/18 for diagnostics. toyota advised owner of failure of the brake actuator assembly, $2500.00 repair, and dangerous to drive vehicle without repair performed. toyota was aware of this serious brake defect in their vehicles and issued a warranty enhancement program zg1 to correct at no cost to owners. the enhancement program ended 31 december, 2017. my vehicle was diagnosed with exact brake failure problem 2 months later on 09 february, 2018. toyota refuses to correct this catastrophic brake failure. request nhtsa to issue new direction for toyota to correct this catastrophic brake failure for prius vehicles beyond the 31 december, 2017 date.

The brake booster is making lots of chirping noise when the brake pedal is depressed. while i am not getting any visual indicators of failure at this moment i believe (due to my own research) that when i do there is a high chance of me getting into a car accident. i have read on priuschat.com that several people had brake failure due to the faulty pump which caused a car wreck. this is a dangerous predicament to be in and toyota should extend their warranty to cover the faulty equipment they have installed on these vehicles before someone gets seriously hurt or dies.

Known problem with combination meter - found it searching online once i realized this was the problem. i bought my car used and since it is no longer covered by toyota, it didn't come up in search. having issues with there being no display on the dash and vehicle not shutting off for the entire time i have had the car. it only happens intermittently. this is a safety issue for sure! can't see speed, gas, gears...anything about car whether car stationary or moving.

According to the toyota dealership where i have my car maintained, my 2006 prius is in need of a new motherboard. apparently there was a recall on this prior to so many miles on the vehicle but i have missed this deadline as my car did not show these symptoms prior to the cutoff.. my prius when turned on does not turn on the dash board features so i have no idea how fast i am driving. once i reach my destination i am unable to turn my car off. the power button does not respond, usually for several hours. in these cases i usually leave my car on in the parking lot where i am and return over the next several hours to check on it. it tends to turn off after taking the car for a long drive several hours later. this occurs about twice a month now.

Tl* the contact owns a 2006 toyota prius. the contact stated that while driving at approximately 64 mph, the vehicle stalled without warning. the vehicle was unable to restart. the vehicle was towed to hartford toyota superstore located at (135 w service rd, hartford, ct 06120) where it was diagnosed that the battery and two ignition coils needed to be replaced. the vehicle was repaired however, the failure persisted while the check engine warning light and the esp fault warning light illuminated. the vehicle was towed to lynch toyota located at (179 tolland turnpike, manchester, ct 06042) where it was diagnosed that inverter water pump needed to be replaced. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was notified of the failure. the approximate failure mileage was 237,000.

Abs warning light are now on. feel car is losing break capability. no accident but do not feel confident with the brake capacity. today i took the car to the dealer and they stated that the abs actuator assembly (code c1391) need to be replace. looking in the internet and it looks a very common defect for prius. this is a prius 2006 with 163.000 miles. toyota know about this, extended warranty, but i am out out this extension. but this system should property work for the life of the car.

I was driving on a highway 95 south, almost to delaware, at night in the rain, after 4 hours on the road, everything stopped working. i couldn't accelerate, i had no brakes, and eventually even my lights went out. the entire electrical system was out. i was in heavy traffic, and don't even know how i got off the highway, and to a gas station. the tow truck driver couldn't even jump the battery enough to get the car in neutral, and had a difficult time getting it up on the flatbed to tow it home. i couldn't even lock the doors. i had a new key made at the dealership on 10/17/19 and i was using that key for hours driving to ct and a couple of days later i was half way home when everything in the car stopped working. i was towed to my home in md because i needed to be able to unpack my car and computer before taking it to the dealership. when the second tow came the next day, i handed him the key by the front door, which was my old key, and he was able to get the car in neutral right away, and at the dealership the car worked just fine. the only difference was the new key. the technician found that "the immobilizer ecu has an intermittent open circuit failure, causing the key to be seen as unauthorized and stall the engine." from jim coleman toyota. apparently there is a part of the computer system that shuts off all systems if it detects an "unauthorized" key--i.e. if it believes the car is being stolen. it seems to me that this is a very dangerous program in this car. i had been using that new key for several days, and had no problem, but for it to decide in the middle of the highway after hours on the road that the key was a fake, i could have been killed or i could have killed someone else. i would much prefer that my car be stollen than that someone might get killed but shutting off everything while it was on the road.

Headlights constantly go out. research online proves prius vehicles with hid bulb systems have ballast issues causing constant blowing of either bulbs or ballast failure. not only is safety constantly compromised, but it is illegal when a headlight goes out driving down the road.

While the vehicle was in motion on side street traffic at maximum 40 mph the right headlight turned off and i was pulled over for a traffic violation. the headlights were both working when i left my house 10 minutes earlier. they were both working when i left work later that day. the lights have had this problem before on and off frequently on the highway and side streets, but every time i check after pulling over and turning the car back on both lights are working.

Loss of vehicle steering control while driving. luckily the vehicle was just going down the driveway at low speed so no one was injured.*dt*jb

The water pump went out causing the hybrid battery to die. pressing the break is supposed to recharge the battery but the battery is now completely gone

The right side head light on my 2006 toyota prius will turn off on its own. it will work again if i shut all the lights off and turn it on again. it doesn't seem to happen while the car is stationary, but will turn off soon after the car starts moving. it doesn't matter if it is on a bumpy road, moving slowly, or on a highway. it will turn off within seconds to several minutes. i took it into the dealership around july 8th, 2019 when i first noticed the problem. they said there was no signs of any damage and said there wasn't anything that needed to be done. since then i have just been switching the lights off and back on when it happens. but then last night on november 7, 2019 both lights went out while i was driving on a public road. it happened as i accelerated after a full break.thankfully turning the lights off and on again worked. the right side turned back off again that night, but both did not shut off again after the incident.

The hid headlights are both out, after being on maybe 5 minutes. from everything i have read online and from my mechanic, this is a known issue with my model of car, that has been going on for years. the ballast is faulty, and would need to be tested prior to replacing a hid light. this has been happening for months, and i simply do not drive at night as a result. with the time change, this is to difficult.

Poa93 code . check engine light came on while i was driving

Head lights randomly go out without warning. turn switch of then on and they go back on for awhile. sometimes one headlight. sometimes other or both. not safe when driving in dark and lights disappear in mountains on vacation at night!!!

While i was driving on the highway cruising at highway speed i suddenly received a loud continuous beep and my abs , brake , and (!) illuminated. i attempted to stop and i had no brakes except when the pedal was all the way to the floor it felt as is it was just pulling the rear drums. it took a while to stop and i side swiped the median barrier to avoid a collision with the vehicle in front of me as traffic was building. i assume it was the brake actuator that there was an extended warranty for almost a decade later but no recall. for something so dangerous i can’t imagine how that isn’t a recall.

Both of my headlights went out at the same time the other day now the fact that both of them went out at the exact same time already tells me that its not the bulb,ballest or anything other then an electrical issue because everyone is having this problem and they have changed both ballasts and bulbs and the same thing happened over and over again, please make this a recall because it is very unsafe

Right front headlight occasionally goes out. sometimes it works when i switch the lights on and off and on again but mostly it has me driving down the street at night with only the left headlight visible. i’m scared to drive at night, knowing that my right headlight will most likely act up again. i even took everything apart trying to get to this headlight to change the bulb but found that the current bulb was working fine. please do something!!! i cannot stress how important it is to have working headlights and i definitely don’t want to get pulled over by a cop and issued a ticket!!

Driving at night all lights go out and the driver cannot see anything. very dangerious! this happened traveling 60 miles per hour at night.

On moving cat, i keep getting intermittent break alarm with push back of break pedel and inability to apply break. it's scary. i took it to toyota of tampa bay on, and they didn't find any problem.

When driving my 2006 prius i am unable to stop properly. the brakes go all the way down but it hesitates to stop i get a loud peeping and the abs lights are coming on. i almost hit another car while driving and the brakes are good. i was told that there was a warranty on this vehicle that deals with the abs system. the warranty has expired and toyota is price gauging to fix it, can someone look into this because it is a safety concern and toyota knows about this issue but wont work with people to fix it?

Abs actuator failure. there was a recall that was good until 2017 and 150k miles. my vehicle has 192k miles. i was backing out of my driveway and the three abs ligths came on and my brakes failed. i scanned the computer using an obd and it indicated failure.

My car overheated suddenly, showed multiple warning lights, and was diagnosed as having a failure of the electric water pump --symptoms exactly identical to those described in !2v536000. my car did not stall but had the secondary conditions shown when toyota engineers tested the likely results of failure of the faulty coil wire.

Abs brake actuator. the abs and brake light suddenly came on while driving, despite regular toyota maintenance and a recent passed multipoint brake inspection by toyota. when car was taken in to have a diagnostic, the toyota mechanic reported the brake actuator went out and it would be almost $3000 to repair. this is a major safety concern, luckily my brakes did not go out while i was driving and cause an accident. the warranty extendention did not cover my vehicle anymore and does not resolve the fact that it is a safety issue. this part should be recalled before anyone ends up in a accident. it is a liability and is unacceptable.

We are going to be injured or die due to failure of the brake actuator assembly. this exact failure was covered under a warranty enhancement program zg1 which has expired. we cannot afford this repair exceeding $2500. toyota is non responsive. we are seniors with no hope of resolution. please intervene. we do not want to die from this brake failure. thank you and may god bless us all.

Failure if the abs brake actuator after 105,000 mile in february 2019. the actuator would run every few seconds while the vehicle was on causing the the rotors and brake pads and trims to heat up excessively. this is a well known and documented problem with generation 2 prius

Toyota refuses to replace the combination meter in my vehicle although it only has 110k miles on it. they have acknowledged my vehicle was included with the batch of models that have this known issue under 2004-2009 toyota prius combination meter warranty extension ztv, but will not cover. this is not right for a consumer to be on the hook for toyota's quality issue. this is a significant safety issue and should be under a formal recall.

Tl* the contact owns a 2006 toyota prius. while driving, a whistling noise was heard coming from the engine. in addition, the check engine, abs reqd, air bag, and brake warning indicators illuminated. the vehicle was not taken to a dealer or an independent mechanic for diagnostic testing. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was not notified of the failure. the approximate failure mileage was 232,000.

Known problem with combination meter - found it searching online once i realized this was the problem. i bought my car used and since it is no longer covered by toyota, it didn't come up in search. having issues with there being no display on the dash and vehicle not shutting off for the entire time i have had the car. it only happens intermittently. this is a safety issue for sure! can't see speed, gas, gears...anything about car whether car stationary or moving.

I have two cars toyota prius. the first year of 2006. the second car of 2010. the second complaint is no. but with the first car toyota prius 2006. many claims. in the first control. when turning the car at speed. the car is set aside. i remind the rest of the cars that i driving the car. such cases were not observed. they are perfectly controlled in the corners of the road. secondly, in cold weather in autumn or winter. car windows are very foggy. from 30 minutes to an hour. while the car is warm and the interior too. unable to enter the car, can not see anything.

My hv battery has a problem. the red triangle showed when the car millage was only 118000m. i checked with servco and replaced one cell of the hv battery. however, the red triangle showed again, and code reader found another damaged cell. that would be a possibility that the whole hv battery was damaged.

Right front headlight randomly quits while driving, it has been doing this for the last 2 years

The brake actuator and accumulator have failed! our understand is that this is the part that stores power for breaking when it's operating under battery power vs. the engine. researching on the internet and taking it to the dealership both revealed that this is a very common problem. if you do an internet search you will find abundant complaints on this issue. apparently, toyota had a "silent recall" on the repair, but that ended 12/31/17. now they no longer cover the $2700 cost of the repair. there are several internet reports of people getting into accidents due to the failure. the car drives fine, it just doesn't stop well at all, intermittently (when under battery operation vs. powered by engine, and we would estimate the breaking function when under battery operation to currently be at 20% of normal. https://priuschat.com/threads/brake-actuator-warranty-extension-from-toyota.168243/

Tl* the contact owns a 2006 toyota prius. while driving 65 mph, the gear unexpectedly shifted into neutral. the contact mentioned that the gear needed to be held in the drive position in order to drive the vehicle. the vehicle was not taken to a dealer for diagnostic testing or repairs. the manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. the vin was not available. the failure mileage was 220,000.

As i was reversing and my foot was on the gas pedal a loud beep came on, all of the dashboard warning lights lit up including the brake light. i checked to see if my parking brake was on and it was not. i put the car on park and turned the car off and on. my car worked i drove a few minutes and as i was approaching the freeway i luckily came to a stop on a red light. suddenly the same loud beep, warning lights, and break light came on and this time because my foot was on the brake pedal i felt the brake extremely hard/stiff. because i was at a red light i quickly put my car on park turned the car off and then on again and made a right turn to avoid going on the freeway. i decided to carefully drive to a family member’s house close by going no more than 25 mph with my emergency lights on i did not want to risk my brakes stiffening up and failing but i was in a congested area with no parking. i was fortunate enough not to get on the freeway and i was fortunate enough that this failure happened on occasions where i was either going very slow or already stopped. i don’t know what could happen if i had to come to a stop and could not because my brakes were stiff. toyota will not cover this manufacturers abs actuator defect that they know about because the deadline was dec. 2017. this is dangerous and can lead to accidents and even death.

Luckily, i was waiting at a stop light when i heard a click/tsst sound. i felt my break pedal push upwards. i took my foot off of the pedal and realize that my braking power was very minimal. the car was only coasting to a stop regardless of the pressure applying and i had to fight to apply pressure to the brake pedal, at this time the car was stationary. i then creeped into the turn lane, giving my car about 7-10mph. when i applied my brakes, my car was not slowing down, i then slammed my breaks and my car speed up and slammed into a gas station.

My vehicle has a defective abs actuator, a part previously under recall by the manufacturer-toyota. (2006 toyota prius abs part, actuator complete assembly, id 44510-47050) warning lights: master warning abs brake system: codes: p0571, c1256, c1391. this defective braking component makes my vehicle extremely unsafe to drive along with thousands of other toyota vehicles on the road today. this abs actuator can fail at any time and at any speed. toyota previously launched an extended warranty campaign for this same part on a percentage of vehicles, but purposefully excluded thousands of vulnerable drivers from getting necessary repairs. toyota has refused to replace this part in thousands of unsafe vehicles even while they acknowledge it was manufactured with known defects. this part is worth nearly the trade-in amount of my vehicle. toyota is deliberately keeping unsafe vehicles on the road, with a known issue.

Abs actuator/ accumulator failing. unsafe to drive the car. afraid to drive the car

The abs actuator runs continuously trying to keep the system running. my mechanic says its just a matter of time before it fails, the cost is $2900 to fix, toyota,s warranty enhancement zg-1 expired dec 2017 and will not replace the abs actuator.

Failure of abs actuator. i received notification of a " warranty enhancement " program that extended the warranty for my vehicle on the brake actuator assembly. the extension portion of the warranty for my vehicle expired on december 31, 2017. i purchased the car new in 2006 and have faithfully had it serviced by the toyota dealership every 5000 miles. toward the end of 2017 i noticed the car making some noises after i parked it in the garage. i attributed it to the noise that the car often made when first turned off. i had the car in for service at the toyota dealer in oct and nov 2017 and again in jan 2018 and no problem was identified with the actuator. the noise continued and became more noticeable so when i took the car in for its routine service in march 2018 i asked them to check what was causing the noise. when i went to pickup the car they told me they did not hear the noise. when i got back into the car i immediately heard the noise and accompanied them back to the car to hear the noise. the mechanic took the car back to the shop and when he finished i was told it was the brake actuator assembly going bad and was quoted $2700 to have it replaced. i was advised that i would know know when it failed completely when several of the warning lights illuminated. yesterday while driving 55mph on a 4 lane highway all of the related warning lights came on. fortunately the brakes still worked and i was able to make it home safely. after exploring the internet i found this is a fairly common dangerous failure and thought it was interesting that toyota has stopped providing replacement when this part fails especially as they are aware of the issue.

Prius making buzzing sound every 15-20 seconds dues to faulty abs actuator pump while driving and when the car turned off. that means it is leaking breaking system pressure. now it's getting worse as abs pressure does not stay and car rolls when switching from park to reverse or drive mode. have to keep applying breaks for car to stop. the rolling occurs good 3 to 4 seconds and that's enough to cover 3 feet or so. it's dangerous when reversing from park with slope surface.

When in motion the left front hid light goes out. turning the light switch off and back on (dangerous on the road at night) brings the light back on. may happen several times in one trip or maybe not at all. weather irrelevant. has been happening past several months.

My brakes failed 4/3/18 while i was in traffic. i was driving on a city street during rush hour. the car in front of me braked in traffic and i had plenty of brake distance but as my car slowed almost to a complete stop it suddenly felt as if the engine revved and propelled the car forward even though the brake was fully engaged. the only thing that stopped the car was that it ran into the car in front of me causing damage to both cars. i told the two officers that arrived about the problem with my brakes but they ignored me and issued a $165 ticket for "following too closely". the accident became a lawsuit and a rep from my insurance contacted me for details. i also told her about the problem with the brakes and once again was ignored. this past saturday (4/14/18 about 2 weeks after the first brake failure) i decided to go to the grocery store. after shopping i got into my car, hit the power button and put the car into reverse, my intent being to leave my parking space. i kept my foot on the brake since i saw a car approaching from my right in the parking lot. my car was stationary, but i had my foot on the brake and my car started to move in reverse, even though i had the brake pedal fully depressed. it just drove itself, in reverse, out into oncoming parking lot traffic. this time i was better prepared and since the car was moving from a complete stop, it wasn't going very fast so i pumped the brake pedal and that seemed to "reset" it and the brakes came back. this time i was able to stop the car before colliding with anyone. i have always loved this car but now i no longer feel safe driving it and unfortunately, i cannot afford to buy a new car. the stress alone is causing me to lose sleep and focus throughout my day. every time i have to get behind the wheel and the worry that i may end up hurting someone else. this is a serious safety hazard.

The problem first started in winter of 2016, only when temperatures were below 30 degrees. the trunk hatch release switch would not fully release, causing me to have to work the switch several times and pull up hard on the hatch in order to open it. the problem slowly got worse and weather no longer played a role in affecting it. it stopped working completely and no longer would open the hatch so it needed to be replaced.

While driving, the brakes just quit working properly. i had very little stopping power. a lot of lights on the dash came on vsc, abs, skid, etc... after researching, i see this was covered under an extended warranty period up until december 31, 2017. toyota is not covering fix and told me to fix car for $3000 or park it, it is not safe to drive. this is a safety issue and i almost got into an accident. please help. never received a letter from toyota even talking about the recall.

I have had too many headlight issues throughout the time i’ve had my prius. i’ve had the entire assembly replaced once, repaired once, replaced countless overpriced bulbs, and still consistently is a problem. at this time, i’m currently experiencing electrical issues. my passenger headlight went out again. i replaced the bulb and nothing. not even a buzz noise. but when i disconnect the bulb and turn on the headlight, i can hear the buzz sound on both headlights. i am beyond fed up with this prius and toyota in general. it’s been one problem after the other. the service department is a joke, every time. i had to fight them for an entire year about a warranty repair that i was repeatedly denied by several managers until i finally went to corporate and complained and that’s when they finally agreed to fix it. at this point, my passenger side headlight doesn’t work, and now the drivers side headlight goes out several times per drive, doesn’t matter if i’m on a city street or a freeway. some nights it occurs more often and the light blinks, even if stopped at a light. i’m almost afraid to attempt to change the bulb, what if that one decides to stop working as well even with a new bulb. toyota wants an astronomically rediculous amount to fix just the passenger side, at almost $1200. that doesn’t even include the drivers side headlight issue. i will never get another prius ever again

Takata recall - the complete failure of the brake actuator system. the vehicle is not safe to drive. during routing trip to nearby grocery store, the following warning lights came "on," brake, abs, vsc, check engine. while driving the vehicle home on a public street, the brakes malfunctioned and in order to stop the car, i ran it into the curb. the brake pedal pressure dropped and it seems the back brakes may still be functioning but front brakes are not working at all.

Combination meter is going out on the car. this controls the dashboard lights, meaning that i cannot see how fast i am going or if there are any gauges or sensors lit up alerting me to a problem with the vehicle. toyota had an extended warranty on this but it has now expired and they want $1000 to fix it.

The operation of my hid lights are malfunctioning and the current right head light will occasionally turn off on it's own. after turning them on and off a few times, they then work again. obviously dangerous for night time driving or resulting in potential tickets.

I had this car for 4 year and it had been more in the shop getting fix and on the road, repairs are very expensive but one wants to take care of the environment that i could say almost got me kill i was driving in the freeway at 60 when the car with no warning stop, that was really scary, i got it fix i would say a month after the samething happen but thank god this time i was in a freeway. although my 3 kids were with me and got really scare.

Abs actuator fail. brake system doesn't work properly and will endanger my and family safety. the car fail to stop. abs and vsc lights are on. toyota issued this problem before with the break actuator warranty extension gz1 but wasn't a official recall.

Will randomly refuse to stop on demand. very loud whining noise coming from brake actuator when brakes are pressed. cannot drive this car anymore. over $1500 to replace!!

Abs and brake warning lights on. actuator making noise.

I have a 2006 and 2012 toyota prius. both show a malfunction with the abs actuator hydro boost pump. this appears to be a common problem with the toyota prius' as shown on you tube and the toyota prius forum. dash lights lights include brake light, abs light, trac. toyota dealer says they are not aware of the problem.

The brake actuator started making frequent noise. the abs warning light and beeps immediately after starting the car. the clanking or humming noise during braking

The brake actuator has failed and toyota wants $3000 to repair it and i see hundreds of people with the same issue. i only have 137000 on the vehicle.

Total loss of brakes while driving on highway. passed through red light near miss situation. towed to shop and cost of repair exceeds $2000 for this involved repair as this is a complicated braking system. part of the abs system called the accumulator is defective in these cars and can result in spontanious brake failure. you are always supposed to have some braking even if the assisted brakes malfunction. suddenly, our car had no brakes at all. my wife was driving the car when the brakes failed. she had zero brakes from the pedal and the peddle style emergency-brake had locked up and or wasnt enough to stop the vehicle. she nearly had an accident. braking system should not give out on a vehicle that gets very little wear to the brakes due to the extra regenerative braking system. our brake pads and shoes have lots of life still. this is purely a design flaw in the braking system and i believe these vehicles are a hazard on the road. i have loved the car until i experienced this brake failure.

Brake actuator assembly failed. *dt *jb

Headlight intermittently shuts off. it will later come back on again. same with a tail-light. there are lots of complaints about this please come up with a solution. it seems to be an extremely expensive fix at a dealership due to defective parts.

Smell of fuel after getting out of vehicle. also sometimes with ac or windows open. dealer says deterioration of connections in engine compartment. could possibly be fire and injury if this got worse. consider this for recall. other toyota models probably with similar systems are recalled. why not this model?

Tl* the contact owns a 2006 toyota prius. when the brake pedal was depressed, an abnormal noise was heard. the vehicle was taken to autonation toyota gulf freeway (12111 gulf freeway, b, houston, tx) and they diagnosed that the brake actuator was defective and needed to be replaced. the manufacturer was notified. the failure mileage was approximately 154,000.

Feb 8, 2018 my prius brake warning lights came on. toyota says this is due to failure of the brake actuator assembly at a repair cost of $2900. this exact failure was covered under a warranty enhancement program zg1 up to 10 years old and 150,000 miles. my 2006 prius is just over 11 years old with 136,000 miles. please help! is another extension of this warranty upcoming? toyota should pay for this failure.

Headlight, drivers side, will go out occasionally while driving. it will come on again if the headlight switch is turned off then on.

Drivers side headlight intermittent

Brake actuator - zg1 -toyota had extended warranty for defective brake actuators up to 150,000 miles or december 31, 2017 as part of their zg1 warranty extension program for the 2006-2009 toyota prius. many catastrophic brake failures are still occurring as a result of this defective part for vehicles as young as 6 years old that are now outside this warranty. the failure may result is accidental injury or death. this defect now effects my personnel vehicle.

The headlights on my prius sometimes don't come on or may come on and turn off while i'm driving. it's usually the driver's side, but the passenger's side has done it once. if i notice it, i can usually turn off the lights and turn them back on and then they both work. it has happened both when i first turn on the lights (while stationary) and also when i have been driving for a few minutes. the problem is becoming more frequent. hitting bumps or pressing connectors has no effect. it does not appear to be a loose connection. the bulbs work fine after cycling the switch. this has happened multiple times.

Clock spring failure. controls on the right side of the steering column are not working. concerned that this clock spring failure will also cause the driver's airbag to fail to deploy in a crash.

Combination meter stopped working in cold weather. know problem for toyota and a very dangerous one. they did one repair and warranty extension but vehicles now hitting higher miliage are having issues and it is documented by toyota in a warranty bullentin no. pol12-05 from toyota

Car has no brake when first start up. put car in drive after start up and would have no brake. almost hit parents and kids in the morning at school or even in grocery parking lot.

I have milestar ms 932 sport tires 185/65r15 on my prius toyota06 vehicle i recently had one of these tires separate on me ,the( steel belt). it had a large lump in the tread area which most definitely would have exploded if i didn’t stop and get it replaced. two months later i experienced the same thing with another tire one the same vehicle . all tires were purchased from the same company at first thought i suspected just a bad tire but this happening twice to me shows that it must be a greater defect problem the tires have approximately 27000 on them . they are supposed to be 60000 tires these are well cared for tires and have not been subjected to abuse or any repairs. id number on the first tire that failed is 04ch514a124

Problem with intermittent hid headlight operation failure, drivers side failure even on high beam when driving, turning off/back on light comes back on but may fail again. passenger front headlight works fine.

Have had an issue with headlights turning on and off for several years although we have replaced the very expensive headlights many times. it has left us in a bad situation many times (at night on a dark road with no lights)! we just try not to use it at nighttime. but now my son has night classes an hour away and we live sort of remote so i am scared.

Engine noise is excessive in last few months. took to dealer who stated no diagnostic concerns found. check engine light on dash will not go off, and since vehicle will not pass state mandated inspection with indicator light illuminated the car is considered a safety violation by the state and not safe to drive. please help me correct this issue.

The right headlight intermittently goes out. it has happened upon start up, and while driving. it is usually noticed when sitting behind another vehicle (seeing headlight reflection in front vehicle’s rear), someone tells me, or, i remember to check. when it’s realized, turning the switch off, and on again, makes the light come back on. it doesn’t appear to be any particular weather, situation, or length of drive that causes it. it started at least 1 and 1/2 years ago. it was first noticed 12/16/16.

I was driving normally and suddenly a continuos beep was there,i tried to stop a no brakes.i was able to steer my car to a safe place.then used a toll service and took it to my toyota dealer.in a short time they told me they told me the computerized brake system was defective and the job will cost me $2250.00 i can not afford. i tolled the car back to my house .later i found that there had been a recall from toyota.i was never notified although i took my car there for regular checkups. note: my car was in motion and previous to incident i had descended a steep hill. i consider myself lucky on that date,three minutes earlier i would have been in great distress trying to stop my toyota prius.

Sometimes as i drive the vehicle, after a while, either one of the headlights turns off randomly. i don't always notice when it happens, other than when pulling up behind another vehicle at a stop light and notice that there is only 1 headlight reflection coming from my vehicle. they both work normally if i turn them off and on again.

The drivers side intermittent headlight has long been a problem with this vehicle. this was a reported safety issue that was widely ignored which violates california law. i finally took it myself to get replaced after not getting any help with my reporting. i would like to receive a refund for the problem that is a recall issue.

The abs actuator is failing to prime causing the anti-lock brakes to slip and the brakes not to engage. this has happened multiple times while both stationary and driving. i see that toyota had extended warranty related to this issue however that expired 12/31/2017. my issue started in january of 2018. i have attached a copy of the warranty enhancement for reference.

The headlamps on my prius go out intermittently while driving. sometimes one goes out and sometimes both. it is very dangerous when they both go out while driving at night. i can usually turn the switch off and on to get it back on, but that is uncomfortable when driving down a dark road and have to get the lights back on. this is an ongoing problem and happens regularly.

Almost overnight my prius dashboard has developed oily patches. if you touch it your finger sticks, if you wipe it the cloth sticks. the dash cannot be cleaned. i worry about the off-gassing and any other health threat from the dash material decomposing, including decomposition inside the ac and heating vents. i worry about the decomposing dash affecting other elements of the car's dash, lighting, computer electrical, and other systems. the only known cure is to replace the dashboard which is an unexpected and unwelcome financial burden.

Was going to church thurs evening and fast driver ahead of me in busy intersection. stayed far away from her but when she slammed on her brakes, i hit mine as well knowing i had plenty of time to stop but the brakes did not work, even though i pumped them and then slammed them on again. (i have had other people tell me they have had the same problem with their o6 prius'. i ended up hitting her car and my car was totaled even though we were not going fast (red light up ahead). i am going to see if my acceleration was fixed because truly i could not stop the car. in fact a man who helped at the scene told me to 'take foot off the brake, the car will not go anywhere' but i was so scared that if i did the car would move again.

My car (06 toyota prius) had hit a pothole while on my way to church on 11/16/17. there was a lot of traffic and though i was far behind the person in front of me, my brake did not stop and my car went under the car in front of me. the vehicle was going maybe 5-10 mph as we inched up to the light. lots of traffic, i was double and triple checking to see my foot on the brake and it was but car would not stop, in fact it felt like it revved up.it was terrifying as i saw my car plow into another when there was nothing i could do. i know the 2010 models were recalled for this but it happened to me on my 2006 prius. no recall but a warrant enhancement notification was sent to my relative who had a 2007 but i never received it. it is all about the brakes and the not stopping properly. toyota also did a weird buy back thing and wanted my car. i think it is because they wanted to hide the problem instead of having a recall. i have never had a company try to buy back my car. toyota is at fault and i want to make sure no one else is killed or hurt by this. it also shows up in the technical service bulletin but again, not a recall but it needs to be recalled! my car had about 65k on it.

When fueling my car the pump cuts off not allowing me to fill the vehicle. if i am down to one dot that will require me to fill the tank the pump cuts off after only filling to 5 or 6 gallons, not allowing me to fill the tank and get full gas mileage benefits from this vehicle. i have tried various methods and different gas facilities and the results are the same the pump cuts off while fueling the car and will not let me fill the tank. i have read online that other owners are having the same problem and was advised by a car maintenance center to contact nhtsa to file a report. i have tried contacting my local dealership and they have not returned my call.

When vehicle is started no dash lights for fuel gage, speedometer, odometer inoperable due to faulty combination meter. no recall just extended warranty that toyota will not replace.

I believe its a glitch in the car's computer. at unpredictable and intermittent intervals the electronic heads up display does not operate. this leaves me with no speedomoeter, no fuel level indicator, no bright or dim indicator for the headlights, and the cruise control does not work. during the incidents the car also might not respond to the power off button, so it keeps running. this problem might last for a day or two and then it starts to work again.

Baught the car off a private sale. car is a complete bad condition fron the suspension tonthe motor makes strange noises air conditioner wont work tires fall from allighments seat beats are off burning a pil change in less then a week.no accidents no changes as is and have been using it for work.

The headlights on my 2006 prius have been going on and off sporadically since appx. 2010. first, only one headlight on the driver's side would go and off. i asked my toyota dealership multiple times about the problem, but they could never correctly diagnose or fix the problem. i was stopped more than once by the police for having a headlight out. usually if i turned the headlights off and then on again, both lights would turn on. in 2014 i had both headlights replaced by my dealership, which cost over $1,000. in june of this year (2017), both headlights starting going out at the same time, and i took it in to my toyota dealership. they said they could not get the problem to "repeat" while they had it in for service and offered other help or explanation for solving the problem. this is a very dangerous problem because the lights will often go out unexpectedly when i am driving at night.

I used a uhual tow dolly to move my car about 30 miles. when i turned on the car to remove it from the dolly the vsc, brake & abs lights were on. i confirmed that my abs do not currently work.

Tl* the contact owns a 2006 toyota prius. while driving 45 mph, the driver side low beam headlamp failed to illuminate without warning. the failure was rectified by turning the light switch off and on. the failure recurred intermittently. the vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed, but the cause of the failure was not found. the vehicle was not repaired. in addition, both the driver and passenger side headlamps failed to illuminate without warning. the manufacturer was made aware of the failure. the failure mileage was 110,000.

Trunk latch rubber melts when the weather is hot. happens repeatedly every summer, until the trunk latch is unusable. the trunk will not open.

Tl* the contact owns a 2006 toyota prius. while driving 45 mph, all the gauges, meters, and lights on the instrument cluster failed to function. the failure recurred on numerous occasions. the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. the manufacturer was notified of the failure. the failure mileage was 142,000.

I was in a 2006 toyota prius car accident on the freeway when the steering wheel started jerking (to the point of no control), the brakes stopped working and the car kept accelerating. car lost control.*dt*jb car was totaled, two witnesses and a police report. i was sent the emergency room. no responsibility was assumed by toyota, which completed their "inspection" on march 9th, 2012. then eight months later on november 14, 2012 they come out with two recalls: a steering recall & an engine and engine cooling, hybrid propulsion system recall, probably as part of what they saw happened to me. i was never notified after about these recalls that my car potentially could've been defective from and part of.

Dry,clear day. driving on a city street.red lightwith bus in front of me and a car next to me. speed limit was 45mph. i applied the brakes and nothing happened.. it felt as though the car accelerated slightly.i tried to apply the emergency brake and the one on the dash.again to no effect. i managed to avoid the bus by driving on the median strip and missed a large palm tree. the motor stopped and i coasted about 150 feet. this is the second time i have had a problem with the brakes. the first time the brake pedal did not move at all and the engine accelerated. managed to avoid all vehicles. took the car to toyota and was told that the prius had a little glitch in all of them and my car is ok now. did not want to check the computer or any part of my car.obviously, there is a defect in the computer system hit a heavy information traffic sign on a steel pole.

Tl* the contact owns a 2006 toyota prius. while the vehicle was at the dealer, it was placed in the drive position and independently moved to the neutral position. the contact also stated that the vehicle was placed in the reverse position and independently moved to the neutral position. the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. the manufacturer was not notified of the failure. the approximate failure mileage was 189,930.

Letter from senator murphy on behalf of constituent regarding his 2006 toyota prius warranty coverage (attn: katie agati). *smd the consumer stated work needs to be performed on the hybrid battery pack. toyota refused to cover the work under warranty, because the vehicle is out of the country.*jb

Trunk latch to open trunk while stationary now seriously reduced function. rubber has melted. now the trunk is very difficult to open. sometimes, especially when it is cold out, trunk cannot be opened at all.

Without warning the dashboard stopped working. the car was stopped and power button was pushed at the time when fact occurred in a very isolated place with no cell phone service an little chance of any other car passing by. the car does not display anymore speed, mileage, fuel level and gearbox position, although the car was otherwise driveable. warning lights are not working anymore also. backup camera and lights also stopped working. car also does not turn off most of time (the power button might work at random with some insistence). according to information gathered this could have been caused by a faulty combination meter, which toyota was servicing for free for some time owing to a high failure rate.

Dashboard is melting in the sun, it is sticky and shiny creating a very reflective surface that creates glare and my be releasing toxic fumes.

Passenger side headlight failure

When i driving on a decline and hit uneven ground or a pot hole, while braking, the car will lurch forward and the braking is suspended for a second. this is a recurring event and can be easily replicated with high probability. i have listed the most recent time this error has happened.

Tl* the contact owns a 2006 toyota prius. while driving 20 mph, the check engine warning light illuminated and the vehicle stalled. the contact was able to restart the vehicle; however, the failure recurred six times. the vehicle was not taken to be diagnosed nor repaired. the vehicle was not included in nhtsa campaign number: 12v536000 (engine and engine cooling, hybrid propulsion system). the manufacturer was not notified of the failure. the failure mileage was 106,082.

The rubber cover to the external trunk latch on my 2006 toyota prius has melted and the switch to open the hatch does not function properly. i am unable to adequately open the trunk hatch to access the spare tire and emergency equipment. there is no safe alternative is to open the trunk in the event of an emergency.

On very cold mornings the combination meter (speedometer and dash lights) fail to come on. this first began in december 2014 shortly after having the ice replaced at the dealer, but it has been very intermittent. a few tries and the problem usually corrects itself. it is rarely very cold here so getting it to repeat the problem is difficult. toyota issued an extended warranty on the known defect but it expired 4 months ago and i was never notified of the warranty extension. toyota is aware that there is a defect. when this happens, the car will drive but there is no speedometer or fuel gauge and the odometer ceases to work. i did not take the car to the dealer last winter because for one thing i couldn't make it repeat the problem and also because i suffered a grand mal seizure and was unable to drive the car for a year. now i can drive again and everything has been fine until now that it is winter again. toyota claims they notified me of this warranty extension but i never received a letter from them. i think it is a dangerous and known defect that should be repaired by toyota. i do not like driving without instruments!

Toyota is aware of a widespread issue regarding the electric dashboard going out. they have refused to replace mine due to it being past the "time window". this should be a safety recall. drivers are unable to determine if there are any warning lights, what the fuel tank reads, mileage, or any other information. this affects more than just the 2006 model, as well.

While driving at night one or both headlights will go off.by turning lights off then back on works for a very short time i con not believe toyota has not taken care of this very dangerous problem

While driving into a parking lot, the brake and the exclamation lights came on followed by a continuous beep. the brakes suddenly failed and i had to apply excessive force with my foot in order to stop the car. i turned off the car and went to do some errands, like 10 minutes later, i turned on the car. the brake and exclamation lights were off and the car was able to brake normally. the next day, while returning home from college, after a 25 minute drive in the highway i went through a secondary road, the same problem showed again, lights and no braking power without any prior symptoms. once i applied excessive force to stop the car the wheels locked. i pulled the car to the side of the road, turn it off and the on and the car continued to drive normally. i stopped using the car after this. probably a brake actuator is defective but there were no symptoms prior this problem, the car just suddenly does'nt have brake power.

While driving, the instrument panel combination meter that displays the vehicle speed and other information went blank. after pulling over car, i tried to turn it off using the power button but it would not turn off. after a few tries, i held down power button for 5 seconds and it finally did go to accessory mode, but did not turn off altogether. it took several presses of the button to finally get the car to shut off. i talked to my local toyota service center who told me that this is a known issue and toyota extended the warranty for the combination meter to 9 years (t-sb-0172-09). unfortunately, i was 4 months past the 9 year mark, so it would cost me $1500 to replace the part. i have since talked to two other people i know who have the same model prius and they have had the same issue in the past year, one of which was replaced under warranty as he had the problem before the 9 year mark. the other was in the same situation as me as it happened after the 9 year mark. an online search shows that this is becoming a very common issue and happening to many just after the 9 year warranty expires, resulting in a lot of upset owners. i did check my files and see that a warranty enhancement notice was sent to me a couple of years ago that states that this issue has been reported by a limited number of owners and that if it does has happened to my car, i did not need to take action at this time. in hindsight, i should not have followed the instructions and instead took my car in and insisted on a warranty repair. i believe that this is a serious safety issue that should be handled as a recall rather than with a warranty enhancement with a limited warranty period. the car has less than 34000 miles on it.

The combination meter on my 2006 prius has an intermittent electrical short. this results in the dashboard lights going out while the car is moving. this problem with the electrical system on the prius can result in the brakes on the car failing. in addition the car often continues to stay on after we turn it off. this is also a safety hazard. toyota has refused our request to replace the defective combination meter, even though this is a widespread problem.

While driving 20 m/h vehicle suddenly eccelerated and i hit the guard rail when experiencing unintended acceleratition

The car was at a stop light when all the dashboard lights went out (nightime). when i tried to turn the vehicle off, the car would not shut down. this is a known problem to toyota especially on high mileage vehicles. the car has 217,000 miles (original owner). toyota issued t-sb-0172-09 as a "warranty enhancement program" in order to avoid an official recall of the problem. unfortunately, i missed the deadline by 3 months.

The insturment cluster ( speedometer, backup camera, etc) failed one night. a system reset restored things the next day, but now it has started to fail routinely. this is a safety issue y incapacitating the speedometer and the backup comera. toyota states they have extended the warranty once and will not fix it, even though this car has never had this issue before. the car has 60,000 miles. the car also fails to turn off leaving a major potential for an unavoidable accident.

Dash board disabled .caint see totally black.

Hid lights fail while driving , at night it is very dangerous and can cause an accident. where do i go to get them repaired / replaced without paying for the manufactures defective equipment ? i live in san jose, ca. 95111

Water pump was replaced in 2011 and again 2015. my car has 160,000 miles at this time in nov 2015.

The driver's side front headlight goes off randomly. the problem is usually "fixed" by turning the light off and then back on, but that one light goes out again, sometimes 30 seconds later, sometimes an hour later.

The headlight continues to turn off on it's own while driving. recurrent intermittent problem for months. the light comes back on after turning the switch on/off

Tl* the contact owns a 2006 toyota prius. the contact stated while starting the vehicle, the reverse light, the indicator light and the odometer and speedometer lights did not illuminate. the failure recurred numerous times. the vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the combination meter needed to be repaired. the manufacturer was not notified of the failure. the approximate failure mileage was 160,000.

Tl* the contact owns a 2006 toyota prius. the contact stated that the combination meter failed and the instrument panel became inoperable. the failure occurred once. after several attempts, the vehicle shut down. the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. the manufacturer was notified of the failure. the failure mileage was approximately 130,000.

The combo meter on my car went dark this morning. i called toyota and was told that my warranty expired 2 months ago. this is not safe because there is no indication on what the vehicle is doing. also this feature causes the car to not shut off.

Headlights, one or both, randomly go out while i am driving. i had the dealer look at it a year ago and they said there was nothing wrong. it continues to happen and is really scary when i discover that i am driving without lights on a busy highway. i am now taking to an independent mechanic to fix the problem. this is clearly a safety issue!

Tl* the contact owns a 2006 toyota prius. upon starting the vehicle and turning on the headlights, the contact noticed that the passenger side low beam headlight would not illuminate. the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, but the failure could not be duplicated. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. the failure mileage was 70,000.

Headlight goes out without warning!!!!

My wife [xxx] had a serious accident in the parking lot of the victorian on main st in santa monica on wednesday september 2. from standstill, her 2006 prius suddenly accelerated to a very high rate on its own and the car's brakes were completely non-responsive. in this relatively confined parking area, after a frightening period of trying to regain control of the vehicle, she made a split-second decision to crash into a tree at a relatively high speed in order to avoid steering the car onto main st. and causing a much more serious accident that would have impacted many people, automobiles and public and private property and possibly resulted in multiple deaths and multiple serious injuries. she sustained a broken foot. her passenger sustained bruising. both were taken by ambulance to st. john's hospital. both airbags deployed. the 2 occupants were wearing seat belts. as a result, and only because of [xxx] quick thinking and potentially sacrificial action, [xxx], her passenger and many other non-suspecting people are alive today. it is apparently well-established that the prius can accelerate in this manner. in this case, the circumstances would appear to be straight forward: a car parked in a parking lot and started suddenly accelerates on it's own and refuses to allow the driver control. information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6). *tr

One of the headlights worked sporadically. it happened the same day i purchased the car used from a toyota dealership, but i didn't notice it right away because it was daytime. the next day i went to the service department and they said i needed to replace the hid bulb which costs $300!!!!! after complaining to the dealership they replaced it at no charge, but i am concerned that this might be a recurring problem. i don't know if they replaced any associated parts or not, since the invoice they gave me just listed "engine elecrical concern" without an itemized list.

On the morning of may,04,2015 upon entering the car and starting it up the instrument panel fails to display. not certain what the issue was i performed various check including the the accessory battery and attempted multiple times starting and stopping the car to no avail. i left the car where it was and a few hours later when i returned everything worked fine for a few more weeks then the issue occurred again. however, i have noticed that the issue is occurring now more frequently including when driving (stopped then go). furthermore, whenever this issue occurs it becomes almost impossible to power the engine off and since their is no cluster display to let you know vital safety information, including speed, gas, mileage, gear (d-r-n) this creates an unsafe and hazardous condition for operators of this vehicle. toyota motor corp. is very much aware of this hazard which results from a manufacture defective combination meter.

Tl* the contact owns a 2006 toyota prius. while driving approximately 55 mph, the instrument panel seized without warning. the vehicle resumed normal operation the next morning. the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who was unable to diagnose the failure. the manufacturer was not notified of the failure. the failure mileage was 147,000.

Ran out of gas with indicator light reading approximately 1/4 tank remaining

My headlights keep going off while driving. i have to turn them off then on again to get them to work. sometimes one, sometimes both, not always at the same moment. you know about this! nhtsa: i am going to hold you responsible if i am injured!! issue a recall now!! nhtsa action number : pe09019

I was driving my husband to work when i noticed the instrument panel was completely dark. tried turning the car off and then on again with no effect -- panel was still dark. it's particularly worrisome that i had no speedometer to tell how fast i was going, nor would any of the other indicator lights come on. when i tried to turn the car off a second time, it wouldn't power down, and i couldn't extract the key. i couldn't even lock the car so i could leave it there to seek aid. in doing research, i found that this is a known fault with the combination meter and toyota knows this is a problem and issued a warranty extension. however, their warranty only covered cars currently experiencing the problem when the letter went out and during a specified date range, irregardless of mileage. they would not have replaced the part during the warranty extension because i had not yet experienced the problem, and now they refuse to replace the defective part because my experience happened 4 months after their arbitrary cut-off date. a faulty part is a faulty part and should be replaced when they know it's a problem. this is a serious safety issue that should not have a time limit. the car is not safe to drive if you don't know how fast you are driving, how much gas you have, etc. and you can't shut it down or lock it either....updated 08/25/15 *bf updated 12/3/2015 *js

Driving along and the headlights just go out in he middle of the night. faulty headlights.

Power train over-engagement: when attempting to slow enough to make a 90 degree right turn, after letting off accelerator before applying the brake, the power train continued to engage, even during braking, for a few seconds causing extra inertia entering corner with definite loss of traction.* *there is no warning, very disconcerting, causing mild to severe anxiety. * this has happened at least 50 times in last 7 years of ownership. *happens in many stopping conditions: slow, fast (usually under 30mph) *irrespective of straight or changing direction *if other vehicle had been present, a collision would have been eminent. *in icy condition vehicle could have ended off road.

This is my second prius and both have been excellent except for the headlights on this one. it is a 2006 with hid lights. the driver's side headlight always comes on in the morning when i leave for work, but it started going off after several miles (maybe 20-30, or so). this first started happening about october, 2013. it has progressively gotten worse until the headlight now goes off in only a few miles (5 - 10). interestingly, the headlight seemed to stay on longer during the colder weather (around zero degrees) this winter. other than checking for a loose connection, i have not tried to have the headlight repaired or replaced. it certainly needs to be because driving in the winter darkness is a safety concern. thank you.

Parked car at night in colorado in february, 2015. outside temperature was approx 25 degrees farenheit. we ate dinner at a restaurant, came out and started the 2006 prius. instrument cluster panel showeing the fuel gauge, odometer, shift position and speedometer failed to come on. turned car off and on numerous times - no instrument cluster panel lights. the following morning, the instrument cluster panel worked fine. this has happened occasionally since the first incident in february. this is a safety concern; one is unable to tell which gear the vehicle is in, the speed of the vehicle, or how much fuel the vehicle has. after contacting toyota, they told me the extended warranty had expired in december 2014. as a safety defect, toyota should still be covering a known problem.

Tl-the contact owns a 2006 toyota prius. the contact stated that while driving at 20 mph, the contact heard a warning whistle as well as well as an overheated plastic odor. in addition, the contact had to apply excessive force to the brake pedal, in order to stop the vehicle. the general emergency, abs and brake warning lights illuminated. the failure recurred on numerous occasions. the vehicle was taken to a dealer. the technician diagnosed that the relays, front brake rotors, brake pads and brake actuators needed to be replaced. the vehicle was repaired. the manufacturer was notified of the failure. the failure mileage was 128,000. oo

The headlights of the 2006 prius intermittently fail suddenly. this will affect either headlight, although, on occasion, both headlights unexpectedly failed while the car is in motion. the problem is temporarily fixed by turning the headlight off then on again. several prius owners describe this exact problem. they also describe that replacing the headlights themselves does not fix the problem. *tr

I have been having problems with the hid headlights since i bought this car. it's not the bulbs, there is some computer problem that is recurring. i think they need to recall this car and fix the problem. *tr

The right side headlight turns off intermittently. i can make it work again by turning the light switch off, then on again. i have tried to get it fixed, but the problem will not replicate at the mechanics. therefore, i cannot get it fixed. if it was the headlight, it would not turn back on. however, i believe my car has high intensity bulbs, so i am not sure. *tr

The right headlight turned off while the vehicle was in use and now the fog lights aren't working. sometimes it would turn on and sometimes it wouldn't work at all. you just don't know when it will happen. *tr

Right headlight went out while driving at night, reducing visibility to only nearly 20%-30%. this is very annoying and dangerous as the vehicle may be taken for a motorcycle especially in parking lot as others might mistake the vehicle width and resulting in collision. however, the light is restored by flickering on and off. this also occurred while driving on the freeway at high speed. flickering maybe be a hassle while driving at such speed. *tr

Headlights quit working about once a year. (each at different times) seals have been checked; no moisture getting in. *tr

During the steering intermediate e shaft recall in 2013 the clockspring was damaged. after a few months the certain steering wheel buttons (info, front and rear defroster, and the recirculate air) worked intermittently at first. then, about a year after the recall, they only functioned when the wheel was turned sideways. now they do not work at all. i'm concerned the air bag will be affected by this error. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2006 toyota prius. while driving at an unknown speed, the vehicle suddenly shut off without warning. the contact discovered that the vehicle was out of fuel although the fuel gauge indicated that 1/4 tank of fuel was in the fuel tank. the vehicle was towed to the dealer, who diagnosed that a faulty fuel bladder caused a false fuel gauge reading. the computer was reset, but the vehicle continued to experience the failure. the manufacturer was notified of the failure. the vin was not available. the failure mileage was 100,000.

Combination meter failed leaving the vehicle without instrument cluster information. there is a manufacturer warranty extension which does not cover vehicles on the road over 9 years. this represents a hazard to the public which has a documented solution and replacement components. *tr

Automatic transmission selector shifted from drive (d) into neutral (n). this could be temporarily corrected by manually re-selecting d, but in about 3 seconds, it shifted back to n. we drove by keeping one hand on the lever to keep it in d. after we stopped, the same problem occurred in reverse (r) -- the selector shifted into n after a couple of seconds. again, we were able to move the vehicle by maintaining pressure in the direction of the r selection. i've found several references to this problem on websites. it appears to be solved by installing a new selector assembly. *tr

I purchased a new 12v battery at about 30k miles. at about 59k miles the 12v was discharging at random times. at first i thought it was because i was leaving lights on, but it began happening more frequently. i did some research and learned that when the key is in smart mode and it is within 10 feet of the car it can discharge the 12v. i turned off the smart key but the 12v discharged again a few more times until i could no longer get a charge when i jumped it. i had it towed to a local mechanic who installed a new 12v and 2 fuses ($500!!), but there were 4 or 5 warning lights that couldn't be reset so i drove it to the toyota dealer. for some reason the toyota service rep asked if i had all the recalls serviced. i was told i could not drive the car because it needed a new electronic converter unit ($5800!!!) and there was a real danger the car would die while i was driving. however, the mileage is only 62000! i called another shop that is hybrid certified and their expert said he sees the ecu going at 100,000 but not at low miles. all hybrid owners are aware of the potential risk of needing to replace the hybrid battery toward the end of the life of the vehicle, but that is nothing compared to the major expense and potential danger of the ecu failing. why was i not told about this? i wonder why toyota's first question was to ask if i had all the service recalls, is there a recall coming on the ecu? *tr

My 2006 toyota prius headlight goes off when driving. it flickers first and then goes off. sometimes one light goes off and sometimes both of them. when i turn the light off and turn it back on headlights work again. but after a while they turn off again. they stay on steady after i drive for more than an hour in long trips and after turning it off and then on again several times. *tr

Passenger side headlight goes out after being on for five minutes and can not be repaired.

My 2006 toyota prius headlight goes out when driving. somrtimes, one light goes off and sometimes both goes off. when i turn the light off and turn it back on they re-light. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2006 toyota prius. while driving 55 mph over a pothole, the contact lost control of the vehicle. the vehicle went airborne and the seat belt disengaged and caused the contact to be ejected from the vehicle. additionally, the front driver side tire detached from the vehicle and the contact crashed into a ditch. the air bags failed to deploy. a police report was not filed and the contact sustained unknown injuries that required medical attention. the vehicle was towed to a dealer, but was not diagnosed or repaired. the manufacturer was notified of the failure. the approximate failure mileage was 220,000. updated 2/24/15*cn updated 03/02/15*jb

Left headlight goes out. i have to turn both headlights off, and then turn them back on for left one to work again. i had this problem years ago, and the dealership replaced lamp for $600, but now i'm noticing the problem again. very dangerous ! dps thinks it's dangerous, too, judging from warnings i'm collecting. *tr

We have owned this 2006 prius since new. we have replaced the headlights many times. this last incident was similar to the rest. the headlight on the right would go out but it was an intermittent loss. there was an ability to get it on again by flicking the headlights on and off. after a week of this, the second headlight started to do the same resulting in total headlight failure. this could also be remedied by flicking the headlights on and off. *tr

Was driving on very dark street. my headlights seemed very dim so i switched them to bright. both immediately went off. my service dealer stated that they both went out and wanted to charge more than $300 to replace. after much discussion replaced for cost of labor. i subsequently received a letter informing me of a recall or possible problem with the lights and toyota would replace. i submitted my invoice and received a refund. however, once again they are not operating properly. sometimes they are on, others they are off or one will be out and the other working. condensation has built up and changing the bulb has not helped. i have now been told it will cost me about $1000 to have lights repaired. *tr

Toyota prius recall on airbags exploding went to get replaced and toyota mall of ga had no replacements. updated 8/17/2015*js

I was unable to open the rear hatch because the rubber/plastic covering had hardened to the point that i couldn't cause it to make contact and open. since then, i have been unable to open the hatch when the weather is cold and have been able to open it when the weather is warm. a dealer in tennessee told me that it would cost $300 to replace the whole part. i believe that this is a safety hazard because it is impossible to access the spare tire, first aid kit, or to open the hatch in emergencies to allow passengers to escape if other doors are inoperable. *tr

Right passenger headlight went out. was able to get it back on by turning the lights off and on. on the drive to the dealer to get it fixed, left driver side headlight went out. again able to get it back on by turning it off and on. dealer checked over the car and only replaced the right passenger side headlight even though i told them both had been out. they said there was nothing wrong with the left drivers side headlight. drove away from dealer and the left drivers side headlight went out after i drove less than 1 mile. went back to the dealer, but did not turn the lights off and on. he could not believe it, but the light was out. had the left drivers side headlight replaced. is this some kind of electrical problem? this could be very dangerous if both went out while driving! *tr

While pressing on brake while going low speed to stop at a red light, the car accelerated before braking. a few minutes later, i was attempting to park in a parking garage. while pulling into the parking spot i applied the brake to come to a complete stop. instead of decelerating, the car aggressively accelerated into the cement barrier at the head of the parking spot. *tr

Driving down a dark road both my headlight went out. i almost wrecked. i then turned them on an off and they came back on. this is the second 2006 toyota prius we have owned with the same issue. there should be a recall....does someone need to die over this common issue? *tr

We were exiting 66 at exit 55 (fairfax co. parkway) northern va. we were going 3 mph, a heavy delivery truck hit us going 40 mph pushing us with considerable force into the van in front of us. our air bags did not deploy, none of them deployed. my husband sustained head injuries from hitting the steering wheel and i was bounced back and forth a few times injuring my head, neck and back. my doctors think my injuries were made worse by the fact that the airbags did not prevent me from being thrown so far forward. we called toyota and they did not want to investigate the issue. *tr

Rubber cover to the rear hatch switch (handle) has deteriorated over time (car was 4 years old when this first became noticeable). it is now 8 years old with 81,000 miles and the deterioration is so drastic to the point where it is often difficult to open the rear hatch, or vice-versa sometimes the hatch will not latch close. sticky gooey tar always gets on the fingers upon every attempt to open the hatch. numerous other people have noted this problem. i have only hand-washed the car with plain water, and i live in a very mild climate (san diego). obviously this is a defective batch of rubber used by toyota. this presents a safety problem in that it could be impossible to access the spare tire and tools to change a flat tire in an emergency. there is an internal mechanical release switch, but this could be impossible to access if there are large items stored in the trunk. *tr

On july 20,2014, i noticed my passenger side headlight is out. i started the car and put the light on, it came on fine.. while driving on high way at night all the sudden the light went out again passenger side. i pulled it on the side and inspect driver side light was working fine but the passenger side was out. i turn the light off and on again it came back on. at this time i am scratching my head that what is going on. i take my car to the mechanic he tells me the bulb is fuse. it cost me $300. to change the bulb. after few days after the bulb goes out again. i take it back to the mechanic he checks every thing is fine, tell me the bulb went out again. scratching my head again "bulb went out again after few weeks" i went to amazon and bought another bulb.. and it went out again. i was pulled over september 20, 2014 buy cops to fix my headlight. headlight are still going out and i have to keep buying the headlight bulb. *tr

The headlights will shut off randomly while i am driving, the solution i have found is to flip the switch on and off again and they turn back on, but this only works temporarily and they soon shut off again. this can be very dangerous especially when driving on a dark road at night along a curve. the toyota specialists recommended that i replace the bulbs but that did not fix the problem. *tr

For the last two years my prius' passenger side headlight turns off and on indiscriminately. i've replace bulbs, i've replaced fuses, and even the whole light assembly at a total cost of close to $3000. i still have the problem to this day. i get pulled over about every two weeks or so from police and for my job the car does not pass the internal inspection of my company. i have read on many sites that this is a common problem with this model of prius justifying a recall. thank you *tr

On occasion, when i step on the brake to stop my car (usually when driving under 30 mph), it feels as though the vehicle tries to accelerate. it seems as though the electronic portion of the vehicle is trying to engage and briefly accelerates when i am trying to stop the vehicle. *tr

Passenger headlight goes on and off intermittently. *tr

My wife and i purchased a used 2006 toyota prius. after about 6 months one headlight would go out. we could cycle the switch and the headlight would work again. after replacing the bulb with a original bulb. both headlight have gone out. i took the vehicle to our local toyota dealership. they quoted a repair of $3800. i began looking for a lees expensive shop to do the repairs, when the owner of a shop[ informed me that toyota had settled a class action lawsuit concerning the hid ( high intensity display) units. that settlement has now passed the date to submit a claim. all claims had to be submitted by may 30th 2011. we had not purchased our vehicle at that time. why has there not been a recall done on these vehicles? obviously toyota is aware that there is a problem with in the system or they would not of settled the class action suit. we now have a vehicle that we paid $15000 for that can not be driven at night or when it is raining out, because the faulty headlight installed by the manufacture. how can the government allow a major vehicle manufacture to allow these cars to stay on the road, and risk serious injury?

I begin to notice black marks on my fingers. it took me awhile to learn that the latch cover was disintegrating. i asked our local mechanic to look into getting it replaced. he reported back that he called two toyota dealerships. one dealer wanted $500 for the defective part and another dealer said the part was being change to plastic because of this problem and wanted $230 for the part. since this seems to be a defect in the material used, i believe toyota should recall the car and pay for the replacement. can you assist with my request? [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6). *tr

As i was driving my 2006 toyota prius at night, i noticed the road seemed "dim" on the right side. i turned the lights off then back on and it was brighter. later i noticed the same thing and pulled off the road to find the right headlight was not on, but it came back on after turning the switch off and on again. this has happened several times over the past couple of months, sometimes affecting the left headlight as well. once, last month, as i was driving down the highway, both headlights turned off! fortunately i was able to quickly flip the headlight switch off and on to remedy the situation. the headlight bulbs have been checked and do not seem to be the problem. help! *tr

On 05/22/2009, my husband and his [xxx] had a car accident. my husband's car was hit from behind when he was driving a toyota prius with his friend sitting in the front passage seat. the backs of the chairs of the driver seat and front passage seat were move and broken.the seat back shaft damage failure. my husband and his friend both got hurt, and my husband was hospitalized for 6 days. information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6). *tr

I was driving on interstate highway 5 north to los angeles late evening around 9:00pm. the steering column began making a grinding noise and vibrating. each time i turned the steering wheel either to the left or to the right the car made a vibration and grinding noise and felt stiff. the jarring was felt in the acceleration pad and in the brake pads each time i either accelerated or braked. i took the car to the dealer where i service my car on july 5th 2014. the service department was able to duplicate the exact complaint i had. the service department gave me an invoice informing me that the charges to fix the steering column and the electric motor inside would cost me over $2000.00. i called toyota on 14th july to ask if they would take care of this issue. i was informed by toyota on july 18th, that they would not cover this because it was out of warranty, and the car had 148,000 miles, and the recall work had been done in 2012 on this vehicle. as a peace offering they said they could give me 700$ to fix it or buy a new vehicle. the dealer, where i went to get the problem resolved, said they could not do anything because this was a different issue from the recall???? i now have a vehicle that is not safe to drive which i am being told is not covered by the company. i have never heard of a steering column failing. i was not aware that my vehicle even had a recall. i had no intimation from anyone. and no i did not realize that in late 2012 the dealer had done some work on the recall. what is there to show that the work was done correctly and that this is a common failure problem in all vehicles?? i have had vehicles that i have used for over 200,000 miles with no mishaps including a saab and an acura. *tr

My headlight goes out. i alerted the dealer when purchasing the car. they said it just needed replaced. they didn't tell me this was common problem, nor did they offer to correct it. i found other complaints of this problem on this website. no notification was given to consumer. *tr

This complaint has not been qc’d. the contact submitted an email and requested that the official ivoq be written verbatim to the email. kmj i have multiple situations with my toyota prius 2006 in the beginning of may 2014 i a loud beeping noise filled the car. the system had multiple lights displaying showing including the emergency brake light ( while i was driving), abs,vsc, a red triangle with an exclamation point in the middle, etc. as, this was happening car immediately started slowing down and i was forced to pull it to the side of the street. this same thing happened to me three other times while i was on the freeway. one time i was driving home from work and my car again started decelerating while i had multiple cars around me on the freeway. all of the lights were displaying, i put my hazards on and was forced to move to the side of the road while i was almost hit by the car behind me because my car was rapidly slowing down. i took the car to the dealership service center and they didn't know what the problem was. they did a diagnostic test, multiple test drives, but at that time they didn't know. so they told me to drive the car home and come back if it happens again. within the week i was exiting off of the freeway with my children when i start hearing the loud beeping noise, all the lamp lights came on, and as i am waiting in line to exit the freeway onto a busy street the car stops. i panicked, put on the hazards, the car wouldn't allow me to shift it into drive it had moved to neutral on its own. i turned off the car, turned it back on and was slowly able to move the car. this time i took pictures of the lamp display to show the service members as well. my children, myself, and other drivers could have been seriously hurt! the toyota service center told us we have a bad computer, the problem is with the ecu, and the car went into a fail safe mode. *tr

After long drive up mountains, vehicle lost power when going uphill, pressing on the gas pedal resulted in jerky movement of a few feet. vehicle stopped. checked battery and it was low but had two blue bars. no warning signs were lit on the dashboard. managed to turn vehicle around and it coasted downhill with no subsequent problems. the loss of power occurred on a road with a blind curve. turning back was a potentially dangerous situation. there was no warning of any problems. dealer was not helpful in solving this potential problem.

I am requesting that nhtsa investigate expanding/adding-to the recall of toyota prius coolant inverter pump failures* to include coolant storage pump failures blowing a main fuse causing dangerous loss of all power and control. *tr on may 31st, 2014, while traveling at about 60mph, without any warning, the car instantly shut down: no drive power, no power steering, no power brakes, no front panel display. this was a dangerous situation. after diagnosis, the toyota dealer with assistance from toyota corporate concluded that the "coolant storage pump" (not the coolant inverter pump as in the recall) was the cause of this blown "am-2" 15-amp fuse which shut down the hybrid system, power steering, brakes, etc. they indicated that the coolant storage pump fault was a known cause. this car is well-maintained, dealer maintained. it had all the recent recall updates installed. it was a mild day ~75deg. we'd been driving about 10 mins after a 30 minute stop. vehicle load was not a factor -- two slim adults, no cargo load. no electrical charging loads. i am very concerned with the safety implications of immediately losing all power, power brakes, power steering, without warning, because of a single coolant pump fault. can you please investigate this. i hope they fixed my vehicle. and i hope if anyone else has this problem its not deadly. thank you, * recall of inverter coolant pump 12v536000: "...open fuse, creating a stall-like condition of the hybrid system while the vehicle is being driven. this may increase the risk of a vehicle crash." ps i found another complaint that might be related (..shut off in traffic, similar vin, nhtsa id number: 10567158). though this complaint seems to be focused on the costs replacing additional pumps.

Sudden extinguishing of one headlight, then the other. *tr

Both of my hid headlights went out (turned off) during normal highway driving. since then, the lights have continued to turn off randomly during normal driving. when i turn the switch off and then back on, the lights operate fine for a while, then go back off. this is a very dangerous issue and i see it is a common issue. *tr

The prius was being driven up a hill when it suddenly stalled and the gasoline engine died. it was very difficult to safely move the vehicle out of traffic, since the electric mode was not capable of moving the vehicle forward up the hill. the vehicle's fuel meter on the dash displayed 3 bars remaining (indicating there should have been over 1/4 tank of fuel remaining). the vehicle was towed to a toyota dealer, who said a software reload and cleaning the throttle bottle fixed it. a little over a week later, the vehicle was being driven on interstate, and the driver was passing a semi-trailer. while in the passing lane, the vehicle stalled again, and caused great danger as it had very little electric power to limp to safety. the gas engine would not run or start again, with the exact same symptoms as before. again the fuel meter showed 3 bars remaining. however, it was found that it took over 11 gallons of gasoline to then fill the tank, and the total tank capacity is in the 11 gallon range. a search of the internet resulted in other similar complaints, with one entry citing a toyota technical manual that included the statement regarding the fuel gauge, "the inclinometer must be reset if the customer complains that they can only pump a few gallons of gas into their tank or that they run out of gas with three or four bars left on the fuel meter." it is very concerning & frustrating that toyota apparently is aware that their vehicles can run out of gas unexpectedly due to a faulty fuel gauge, and it can place the operator and passengers in great danger. i have contacted the toyota dealer about the expensive repair bill ($300) that did nothing to address the cause of the problem. they are willing to look at the car again, now that they understand it is likely a bad fuel gauge system, but this is a very dangerous situation that toyota has apparently known about. *tr

My headlights flicker or fail with no warning, usually just one but sometimes both. if i flip the switch on and off they usually come back on but sometimes it takes some time. i run them during the day for safety, so i cannot tell when one will randomly cut off. this also puts me at risk of a traffic violation. *js

In 2006 we bought a toyota prius car $ 28000.on 05/22/2009, my husband and his friend [xxx] had a car accident. my husband's car was hit from behind when he was driving a toyota prius with his friend sitting in the front passage seat. the backs of the chairs of the driver seat and front passage seat were move and broken. my husband and his friend both got hurt, and my husband was hospitalized for 6 days. information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6). *tr

The assisted hydraulic brake pump seems to not be working correctly, there's a pump noise that keeps coming on in the cabin, like the brake pump cannot keep pressure. it's a rattling noise that is coming on and it's every few seconds. like it's trying to build pressure to assist braking. *tr

While driving at night a headlight went out making it difficult to see. after restarting the car it came back on. this has happened several times. once when a headlight was out the second headlight went out making it extremely unsafe and difficult to pull off the road safely, just missed another vehicle. upon restarting one of the lights came back on. this is an extremely unsafe situation, it is life threatening. i has happened several times and continues to happen. i filed a complaint with toyota and they said i had to come in when it was malfunctioning. they later said that it was out of warranty. they are well aware of the problem and how many lives have to be lost until they do something about it besides sweep it under the rug. *tr

Headlights, go on and off on their own. sometimes only one will go off, sometimes both. happens with high beams as well. lights come back on if i switch them completely off and then on again. may stay on for 30 minutes, may only stay on for a couple minutes. very dangerous as the lights have gone off at night time causing loss of visibility. *tr

I was rear ended at by a car goin almost full speed in a speed limit zone of 45 at a red light, while i was slowing down. while approaching the line of cars in front of me i started slowing down pumping my brakes to let to drivers behind know i was slowing down. i was then rear ended and shot into the car in front of me, lifting up the front of my car and smashing into another vechile. my firewall was completely bent in as well as half of the front bumper and frame torn off. i had no airbags deploy on either the passenger or driver side. it makes me concerned that if i would have been stopped at the red light, i could have obtained severe injuries compared to the whiplash and shoulder pains i currently have. *tr

Went to dealer for 90k service. was told left headlight was out. replaced. headlight goes out intermittently. need to turn lights on-off to have headlight turn back on. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2006 toyota prius hb. the contact stated that while attempting to start the vehicle, she noticed that the emergency brake light would not disengage after releasing the brake. the contact continued to drive the vehicle however she noticed there was an increase in braking time when applied. the vehicle was towed to the dealer, who stated that the stroke sensor retention logic failed and the speed control ecu would need to be replaced. the manufacture was not contacted. the vehicle was repaired. the failure mileage was 48,219.

While traveling in the dark at 6:00am on i64e my headlights went completely out. i had to move off the highway, turn my vehicle off and restart the vehicle. when i restarted it, the lights turned back on. *tr

Tl- the contact owns 2006 toyota prius. the contact stated that the headlights would sporadically fail. the vehicle was taken to the dealer, who stated that the bolts would need to be replaced. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was alerted of the failure. the failure mileage was 219,600. kmj

Intermittently when the car is shifted into reverse it will start for a moment then go into neutral. when this occurs it will not allow you to put the car into park and only if the gear shift is held in reverse or constantly shifted into reverse will it allow you to do so. it will then only go into park when you turn off the car. i have researched this issue and found it occurring in many priuses of varying years and also occurs shifting into drive, and can occur while the car is in motion at high speeds. i have found this technical service bulletin from toyota that seems to be referring to this issue. however it is only covered by them if the car is under 3 years or 36k miles. the issue didn't even begin for me until the car was 7 years old. it should be a recall item. i am unable to attach the file so below is a link to the site that has the attachment. http://priuschat.com/threads/shifter-slips-into-n-replace-shifter-t-sb-0142-11.98016/. *tr

When driving at night, the dashboard displays some of the dashboard on the front windshield, which causes you to avoid that area of your windshield. this is a defect in all 2006-2009 toyota prius cars. what happens is that you start looking at this reflection and it creates a safety concern. you also do not have a clear view through the reflection. it is extremely distracting. when you are on a country rode late at night, where there may not be any street lights, it is even worse. this problem was fixed in the 2010 models and beyond with a longer edge on the dashboard at the top. i have talked to toyota about this, but have gotten nowhere. i feel this is a big safety concern that must be addressed and i am turning to you for help. i could have gotten lawyers involved in a class action lawsuit, but i wanted to try and resolve this professionally. i am not looking to get rich or make money off this problem. i just want my car and everyone else's prius fixed. this issue has always been around. i have noticed it more lately with cloud cover and driving on back country roads at night. it is scary. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2006 toyota prius. the contact stated that while traveling various speeds, the vehicle suddenly lost acceleration power. the vehicle was taken to a private mechanic where the failure could not be replicated. the manufacturer was contacted about the failure. the failure mileage was approximately 118,000. *tr

Since 2008 both headlights would randomly go out usually one at a time but sometimes both. by turning them off and back on would get them working again. the frequency kept increasing till 2013 when i called toyota corp. # and told them the problem. they said to have the bulbs replaced at my own expense because i was out of warranty . 142000 miles. i called toyota dealer to have this done and got a price of $550.00. wow. with a lot of research i purchased 2 headlights that were exactly the same on line for $90.00 and replaced them myself (not an easy task). at this point i'm not happy but can live with it. now for my real complaint!!! 2 weeks after the bulb replacement my lights are doing the same thing. sometimes one then the other or the real excitement when both go same time. turn them off and back on and they always come back on, maybe for a minute or two. toyota assured me before i replaced them that that would solve the problem. i was at a dealer yesterday and they had no input. to me it sure seems there is another problem other then the bulbs that toyota will not admit. we try to not drive this vehicle at night but at times we have to. i wouldn't feel right selling the vehicle either, it's not safe!!!! kinda stuck with no solution or help from toyota. any feedback would be greatly appreciated. thank you in advance. *tr

Both hid headlights go on and off randomly. the dealer wants more than $1000. to repair each one. *tr

The right hid headlight randomly turns on and off. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2006 toyota prius hybrid. the contact stated that while waiting at a traffic light, a red triangle warning lamp illuminated as the vehicle stalled. the vehicle was towed to the dealer however, the technician was unable to diagnose the failure. the manufacturer was made aware of the failure. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure and current mileage was 96,000. updated 02/25/14*lj

Tl* the contact owns a 2007 toyota prius. the contact stated that while driving 35 mph, the vehicle stalled. the contact was able to restart the engine and had the vehicle towed to a dealer where a diagnostic test was performed. the dealer stated that the battery was dead and replaced the battery. the failure mileage was 160,000. the vin was not available.

This is my 10th headlamp replacement. the dealers did most of them over the time i have owned the car. i am also an owner of a 2011 toyota prius. no problems with that one. *tr

I became ill while driving through a road construction area, becoming nauseous and dizzy. my head banged against the steering wheel and i lost consciousness, the vehicle leaving the road. i understand from reports that the vehicle rolled and, from looking at it after the fact, i believe this to be accurate. however, none of the air bags went off...there were four: two in the front and one on each side. none of them deployed. i sustained minor injury to my face (swelling and bruising to my right eye from impact with steering wheel and probably shift knob as well) and a concussion. local police filed an accident report. i have notified toyota of this. they said at least the side bags should have deployed, if not all of them. they said they would conduct an investigation checking at least the vehicle's recording device within 30 days and get back to me. i provided them with the name, address and phone number of the wrecking service that towed my vehicle and was in current possession of it. i had been the owner of this car only since 12 september 2013, having purchased it from a carmax dealer in virginia beach, va. *tr

Tl - the contact owns a 2006 toyota prius. the contact stated that while driving 30 mph, the driver became ill causing her to loose control of the vehicle. the contact mentioned that vehicle rolled over and all the air bags failed to deployed. a police report was filed. the driver sustained injuries to her head, concussion, and minor bruising and lacerations to the face. the vehicle was not taken to the dealer. the manufacturer was made aware of the failure. the vehicle was destroyed. the failure and current mileage was 70,000. pm

I have the problem with hid headlight 1.5 year ago and replaced it based on the dealer's suggesting. laterally, it went out so often but not complete out because i can turn off/on headlight switch. i do not know when it will be out or where it will be out. on the highway or in the remote country road. i am worry about my own safety as well as other safety. *tr

The rear hatchback latch of my 2006 toyota prius has deteriorated over time. it started back in february 2012 with a difficulty opening the hatchback even with considerable effort. now, when i touch the latch release it is gummy and will not open at all about 90% of the time. this is a safety hazard as i can't access any of the equipment (spare tire, emergency tools etc) that are located under the floor of the hatch. i found out that to fix it it will cost me over $300. this is unacceptable that a door handle should fail so quickly. the rest of the car works beautifully. i believe there is a manufacturer defect in this latch release and it should be recalled. there is no way to open the hatch from the interior as an alternative (unlike a side door).

My wife almost hit a trio of pedestrians who were walking in the road, and who were very poorly lit by the 2006 prius headlights. these headlights (low beams) are always extremely dim and in my opinion are unsafe to drive with at night. high beams seem to light the road adequately. this problem is not caused by intermittent operation of the headlights (a problem we've also dealt with), but is caused by the fact that the headlights do not provide adequate illumination of the road. we also drive a 2005 acura tl and a 2004 toyota sienna and both of these vehicles provide good illumination of the road at night. a vehicle driving behind our 2006 prius will often cast a shadow of our car in the area in front of the car, in the area that's supposed to be illuminated by the headlights. i'm surprised that there's no recall on this vehicle and that toyota hasn't rectified this problem, which in my opinion makes the vehicle extremely unsafe to drive at night. *tr

I bought my 2006 prius in october of 2012 and ever since buying it i've noticed that the headlight on the driver's side goes out by itself. i actually went into the dealer within a week and told them my headlight was out but when i got there and i turned them on it was working. i was baffled. they didn't say a thing to me that this was a commonly reported problem that toyota wasn't going to be addressing. anyway, i left and the headlight problem has been happening ever since. i decided to just live with it because when i turn the lights off and back on, the headlight comes back on - at least for a while. i'm very worried that the same thing might happen to the other headlight at the same time. i've read online about the cost of replacing the bulb ($330) which is ridiculous since this is obviously a mfg flaw that toyota just doesn't want to pay for. please issue a recall on this before someone gets killed!! *tr

The center console simply turned black. i have no access to any of the controls. this includes everything from heating and cooling, to back up camera, to gps mapps, to radio channell selection. the entire center console touch screen turned black and useless. i have been quoted $3,000 to fix the problem. after 4 years of un/deremployment, i simply cannot afford such a costly fix.

The first time i noticed the problem, my car was parked in the driveway after returning from shopping, still running, when my son noticed the right headlight was out. for some reason, i reached in and turned the light switch off, and then back on, and the light was fine. i figured it was an anomaly. from then, one or the other headlight would disappear every couple of months or so, but always reappear with a toggle of the light switched. i was severely underemployed, and simply could/can not afford the $500 parts & labor the toyota dealer wanted to replace both headlights. i just kept toggling and hoping for the best. i recently returned to full-time work, but with a commute of 1.25 hours each way. it was fine during daylight savings time, but now, i am toggling constantly, and both headlights are going out at the same time. i am traveling dark, country, roads, from fresno, ca to coalinga, ca to work at the pleasant valley state prison. i don't want to become a highway fatality statistic simply because nhtsa doesn't have the "[xxx]" to force toyota to recall these dangerous headlights. i was unemployed or underemployed for 4 years following a lay off in the summer of 2009. i simply cannot afford to pay the $500 out of pocket, and i really don't have any credit left. your inaction, nhtsa and toyota, puts my life on the line twice a day. you both will probably have my blood on your hands. [xxx] you! information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6). *tr

I notice occasionally the driver's side headlight will go out requiring me to turn the lights off then on again. most recently both headlights will go out. i can get them on again by turning them off then back on but it is unnerving and occurs every day now whenever i use the lights. i checked for a loose wire and found nothing. these are the original hid headlights.i can reproduce the problem every time i drive the car. *tr

I have hid headlights. my headlights go on and off intermittently. sometime one head light goes out; sometimes both go out. if they go out, i can usually get them to go back on by turning them off and then turning them back on. i have to constantly check my car's reflection in the back of other cars to make sure both lights are on. my mechanic made me aware that this problem has been a constant complaint for this model and replacing the headlight will not help. accordingly, the problem is caused by a defective module that ceases to work when it heats up. my research indicates that the fhtsa has had several complaints about this exact problem, and that toyota settled a class action suit (for which i was never notified) regarding the exact problem. toyota now refuses to repair the problem for cars out of warranty. this is potentially a very dangerous problem effecting thousands of cars. i have not had an accident yet, but if you don't make toyota do a recall, i expect there will be several accidents across the country due to this defect. *tr

I was driving at night. there happened to be a little fog in the air. my speed was 45 mph on a dark country road. my passenger side hid headlight went out, followed by the driver side headlight within 20 seconds. i was able to turn the light control off then back on. i did this as i was slowing down and keeping straight. i managed to stay on the road and did not have any further problems that night. all in all it was a pretty scary experience. *tr

On multiple occasions now, while driving my prius both headlights spontaneously go out. i notice it when i'm driving at night. it is not safe. there is nothing wrong with either bulb - they just don't work. i have to turn the lights off and then on again for both lights to work again. sometimes it happens again within minutes of it happening a first time. *tr

On tuesday, september 10, 2013 at about 8:10 a.m., i was driving on holcombe in houston. there was traffic. at one point, i needed to stop from a fairly low speed (perhaps 10 mph), as the car in front of me had stopped for a light. i brake using the floor pedal. but the brakes did not engage at all; it was as though i had not even touched the brake. the car didn't hesitate or die; it just continued moving until it hit the car ahead of me. fortunately i was not traveling at a high speed and neither the driver of the car i hit nor i have apparently been injured. but had this happened at a higher speed the outcome could have been quite different. my prius has been the subject of several safety recalls, all of which i've had performed. and only a few days before the accident, the car had passed its annual state safety inspection. from this and because it was clear that the brakes did not engage at all when i braked before the accident, it appears to me that this accident was a function of a brake defect in the prius, perhaps a short somewhere in the system. *tr

The passenger side headlight went out. next time i drove it the light was back on. maybe a week later the driver's side headlight went out. again, next time i used the lights they were both on. this went on for awhile. the escalation was when both low beams shut off leaving just the running lights on. high beams seemed to be unaffected so i drove home with high beams on. currently, any of the lights can go out at any time. turning them off and on again brings them back. on a half hour ride home tonight, to keep both lights on i had to shut them off and turn them on 7 times. i googled this and was very disappointed to find this problem has been reported, reviewed and dismissed as not a safety issue. it does not feel very safe to be driving at night and discover oneself suddenly in the dark. it seems this will be a recurring problem for me as replacing the headlights is likely to fix the problem for a short time (3 m seems to be common) before i will have to replace them again. sounds like a recall should be in place. *tr

R headlight cut out intermittently. bought replacement bulbs and had them replaced by an independent mechanic. now at 65,000 miles, both headlights cut out intermittently and are dim when they are on. high beams are anemic. if both lights ever go out simultaneously at night, an accident could happen. *tr

Climate control buttons failure when steering wheel is straight; spiral cable/ clock spring failure. *tr

I was driving on a highway and the car on the right started to move to my lane without turning on turn signal, he probably didn't notice me as he was moving on me, i started to brake but brake pedal started to work at once, it started to work only after delay and after it started working i lost control over the car, abs signal turned on and i started to move to the left. i tried to prevent it but car was totally out of control and this caused the accident. the same happened to my wife in february when she was driving my car on highway. she just couldn't stop even though the distance to the next car was long enough. brake pedal started to work with the delay and she bumped into the next car. *tr

I can no longer drive my prius at night. sometimes one headlight will go out, sometimes the other, sometimes both. the bulbs themselves are not bad. i have to turn the lights off then back on to reset them approximately every 25 seconds. when i took it to the dealer they said "we can not re-create the problem". i left, in the rain and had to reset them 6 times before i was a mile down the road. toyota knows about this problem, they need to fix this problem. our extended family owns 4 prius vehicles, we will never own another since toyota is not standing up to fix this problem. *tr

Gear pops back to neutral from driving or reversing as i started my toyota prius 2006 car from my driveway, i put it in reverse and it came halfway to the road and then stopped. i noticed that the gear shift lever had, on its own, shifted back to neutral. i then put the car in drive and tried to accelerate back into the driveway of my home. the car's gear shift lever again moved to neutral. the only way i could move the car back to the driveway was by holding the lever in the drive position manually. i tried the car on my street's small block, but found that the gear kept shifting back to neutral, everytime i let go of the drive or reverse position. in other words, i had to keep the gear in d position manually with one hand to drive around. i feel this is a dangerous situation where the attention is diverted from the road to the gear shift lever every few seconds to see if the gear is in the drive position. i called toyota today and informed them of this situation. *tr

Headlight goes off spontaneously while driving. i turn off lights and turn them back on again and headlight goes back on. i have been researching this and cannot believe this is not considered a defect. there should be a class action against the us government for not doing its job. *tr

I was driving down a dark unlit road when both headlights went out without warning. luckily there were no cars behind me as i braked as fast as i could without being able to see anything. it was the same as if i had all of a sudden just closed my eyes and tried to navigate to a safe stop somewhere on the side of the road without hitting something. i would say that this was the scariest moment i have had driving in 30 years of driving. the lights came back on after turning the light switch off and back on again, so this is definitely a control problem of some sort. i love my prius, but this is just an unacceptable design problem. of course i would much rather just have standard light bulbs that were not at risk of failing rather than this supposed upgrade. *tr

There is an intermittent power loss to the headlights. this is a safety issue. the problem is random and the dealer has not been able to see the issue. while the car is running, the headlights turn off. if i turn the headlights off and then back on, they come on for a period of time. this happens with both headlights. sometimes at the same time and sometimes only one will turn off. i have researched several websites for prius owners and this problem seems to be fairly common. as you cannot pass vehicle inspection with defective headlights and you can be pulled over by the police for having lights out, this is a serious safety issue and toyota should be forced to recall this issue. i am the second owner of this vehicle and the previous owner reported to the dealer the same issues. *tr

The passenger side airbag light showed that the air bag is "off" when someone was sitting in the seat. the vehicle had never been involved in an accident where the airbag had been deployed. the toyota dealer said it was a software glitch and repaired the problem, but he charged an $85 diagnostic fee, plus tax because the vehicle has more than 35,000 miles. i was under the impression that safety devices were not subject to warranty limitations. *tr

Our 2006 toyota prius has a head light that goes off and on at random intervals which we consider to be a safety hazard. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2006 toyota prius. the contact stated that the driver's side headlight failed and the illumination became dim. when the headlight switch was turned on and off several times, the headlights would regain illumination power. the failure was experienced numerous times. the vehicle was taken to the dealer, who advised that the light bulbs needed to be replaced. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was not made ware of the failure. the failure mileage was 50,000 and the current mileage was 68,000.

Tl* the contact owns a 2006 toyota prius. the contact stated while approaching an exit from the highway at 30 mph the steering wheel could not be turned to the right or left; however, the failure only occurred for a brief moment. the steering wheel began to function normally within a few minutes. the vehicle was taken to the dealer a diagnostic test that was unable to locate a failure code. the dealer also test drove the vehicle but the failure did not recur. the vin was not available. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure and current mileage was 75,000.

Both the right and the left headlights keep turning off during driving. the right one is more common than the left. i noticed this problem almost 1 year ago and thought that this is a temporary glitch, but the frequency of this increased over time. i constantly need to turn off the light and turn them on, but again in few more minutes one or both of them gets out. this is a serious problem. especially in the city, when there are street lights on or during dawn or dusk, you are never sure if the lights are working or not. on top of risking an accident, there is always a worry that a cop might pull you over for non working head light, while in fact your lights appear to have been working when you started, but turns off some time later and it is difficult to notice in low light situations. toyota charges huge amount of money to fix this problem. i hope that toyota will take care of the problem sooner than later. i know that my car is more than 5 years old but that shouldn't be a matter for them to fix it. because this light situation is a problem because of defective parts to begin with. *tr

Ever since i bought this car the headlights have been problematic. i have had either light go out intermittently and flicking them off/on fixes them until the next day. i have even had both lights go out at the same time. replacing the bulbs fixes the problem for about a year but the problem returns. i am now preparing to replace my 5th bulb for what is sure to be a temporary fix. toyota's offer to replace the bulbs several years ago was not an actual fix for the problem. *tr

The vehicle unexpectedly shutdown while driving. there was no power and the brakes were boggy. the red triangle warning light came as well as the abs and engine warning lights. after pulling over the car restarted and drove fine but the red triangle remained on. the next day it was working fine. toyota was unable to find anything except a low voltage warning. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2006 toyota prius. the contact stated while driving various speeds at night the headlights were activated and unexpectedly failed to illuminate. the headlight on/off switch was engaged intermittently in order for the headlights to function. the vehicle failure was not diagnosed or repaired. the manufacturer was not notified of the defect. the approximate failure mileage was 70,000.

Tl* the contact owns a 2006 toyota prius. the contact stated that while driving approximately 1 mph, the headlights stopped illuminating. the vehicle was taken to the dealer for diagnosis. the technician stated the headlight would have to be replaced. the vehicle was not repaired. the vin was not available. the approximate failure mileage was 100,000. *tr

My 16 year old daughter was driving at approximately 10:00 on a steep, curvy country road when both headlights went out! it is a miracle she's alive. took the car to the local dealership today and was told it would cost nearly $500 to replace the bulbs. after doing research, it has come to my attention that this is a common problem with this vehicle yet there has been no recall. this is a serious safety issue and should be investigated (again) immediately! *tr

The cooling system in my car is defective. the water pump is apparently leaking when i have committed no precursive action to cause it. this issue is related to the same issue in my other similar toyota priuses, where defective electric water pumps unexpectedly stop working. the other cars are consequently recalled and i believe mine should be as well. http://news.consumerreports.org/safety/2012/11/toyota-prius-and-other-vehicles-recalled-due-to-water-pump-and-steering-issues.html thanks. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2006 toyota prius equipped with yokohama avid tires, size: 185/65r/15. the contact stated that while driving approximately 35 mph, the rear passenger's side tire blew due to a road hazard. the vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was advised to the contact that the tire tread was cracked. the contact mentioned that the failure occurred on three different occasions. the manufacturer was made aware of the failure. the vehicle was repaired. the approximate failure mileage was 70,000 and the current mileage was 80,000. *tr

Customer states while driving at night, with low-beams, left light went out. customer switched to hi-beams and all the headlights went out. customer reports this is the second time the car has done this. *tr on first inspection unable to verify complaint, all lights functioning as they should. inspected fuses and wiring and all good. while inspecting lights, lights failed after being on only 10 minutes, and turned off. this was a double light failure with both hi & low beam failure, on both left & right lights! located a technical service bulletin related to this condition. performed all tests outlined in technical service bulletin and located both front headlamps defective with swollen center fogged over causing lights to overheat and ecm for headlights going into fail safe mode and shutting headlights off. replaced both front headlight bulbs and verified repairs. after repairs, ran headlights for 30 minutes with no furhter failure. returned vehicle to customer.

I pulled into my garage after picking up the car from the dealer after purchase to find that the left front headlight was out. i turned the lights off and on again and both lights lit. the left front headlight continued intermittently to be non-operative over the next four weeks. i took it back to the dealer on 1/23/13 and they found that the left front headlamp ecu needed to be replaced. i later found out that a class action lawsuit had been brought against toyota for this same issue, however due to the age and mileage on my vehicle, i was not entitled to compensation under the settlement. this is a serious safety problem and a known common problem on hid equipped prius models, yet i was forced to pay $288.81 to have the problem repaired. i have filed a case with toyota customer experience center, #1301220397. headlights that shut off while driving is clearly a safety issue. it appears that hid headlight equipped prius models contain a design defect. it is for this reason i am reporting to the nhtsa in order to force toyota to conduct a recall on all such equipped models. *tr

I bought my prius new in 2006, and the srs light has turned on intermittently since the first year. i first took the car into the dealer where i purchased it and they told me it was an anomaly and was nothing to be concerned about. this condition continued periodically over the life of the car with the same results each time. after the car was out of warranty, with a code toyota informed me that the wiring assembly would need to be replaced on one or both sides of the vehicle. the code is b1821 and the part number is 82161-47310. they suggest that i have the driver's side wiring assembly replaced first, then they can determine whether the passenger side wiring assembly needs to be replaced, as well. the cost for the drivers side alone is $2415.34. after i complained to toyota customer care, they offered to reimburse $737.75 for the part, if i have the work performed by a toyota dealer. i would still have to pay $1,612 for labor (13 hours) plus shop charges and tax. if i have to have the passenger side wiring harness replaced as well, they will extend the same offer. i argued that this error has been happening prior to the expiration of my warranty and they told me that there was no action recommended until after the warranty expired. i also argued that there is no way that i could have done anything to cause this to happen, and that it is unreasonable to expect that wiring inside my vehicle that is covered, not exposed to sunlight or weather, should fail after 6 years. i asked toyota to pay for 100% of the cost of the repair, but they refused. meanwhile, one or both of my airbags are not working and will provide no protection in the event of a front-end collision. *tr

We have had several head lights on our pruis stop working. usually you have to turn the lights on and off to get them to go back on when they turn off on their own. we have replaced the headlights approx. 4 times over the years and again we are having the same problem. they are extremely expensive headlights. *tr the consumer stated she experienced sudden acceleration on three separate occasions.

We have experienced intermitment headlight issues on the driver side going off and having to pull over and turnoff headlights and turn back on to get light back on. we have complain many times to the toyota dealer. finally driver side headlight was replaced, then weeks later on the passenger headlight started doing the same i.e., headlight going off and having to turn off and turn back on light control. to this day this not resolved please advise. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2006 toyota prius. the contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the driver's side headlight intermittently failed. the vehicle was taken to the dealer where the failure was unable to be duplicated. the contact mentioned that the vehicle was taken to the dealer for the same failure on numerous occasions and on one occasion the driver's side headlight was replaced. the manufacturer was made aware of the failure. the failure was not corrected. the approximate failure mileage was 29,580 and the current mileage was 132,855. *tr

This is 2nd time for the hid head lamps intermittently flickering/failing on my 2006 toyota prius. the 1st was in aug 2009 at about 86k miles. thankfully the local koons toyota dealership in westminster md replaced both bulbs at no expense thanks to the koons toyota dealership in annapolis md where i had originally purchased the car arranging approval through the regional office. now about another 3 years and 145k miles, the same problem. toyota u.s.a. acknowledged the problem and that in some cases the hid headlight control ecu may have been replaced but was unnecessary, needing only bulb replacement and reducing the pricing to $150/bulb. while most vehicles today operate with headlights on automatically, i've only used my daytime running lights to preserve headlight life but these bulbs are still a problem. headlights are absolutely critical vehicle equipment and must be reliable. headlamps that fail every 3 years do not meet the reliability test in my view. please look into this ongoing issue. i'm asking toyota to work with me on replacement cost and the type of hid bulb they're using. i'm told by maintenance technicians that visual inspection will show a small bubble somewhere in the base that indicates it's going bad. that tells me that something about the bulb is not right and therefore not reliable/safe. thank you. *tr

I was driving at night when oncoming traffic started honking me. i was curious why, until i realized that my front lamps were turned off even though the dashboard indicator showed them on. as it was a serious safety issue, i took them to nearest autozone and they told me that the lights are absolutely fine. i was baffled by it, so i called the dealership and they said it is a known issue just turn them off and back on when you notice them go out and have it checked during your next service. during the service, they told me that they are going to charge me for diagnostics (even though it is a known issue) and asked me that it is going to cost me over $500 to fix it. when i did some more research i found out that there was an extended warranty (5 years or 50, 000 miles) but no one at the dealership mentioned that to me back in january when i called them and now i was over 50,000 approx at 53, 000 miles and ineligible for free replacement. my whole point is that this is a serious enough issue to qualify for a recall and not just extended warranty as someone could get killed because of toyota's negligence. before registering this complaint i called the toyota customer service explaining them everything but got no help from them. *tr

2006 toyota prius. consumer writes in regards to steering recall notice. *smd the consumer stated he received an urgent recall notice in the mail. however, when she called the dealer to schedule an appointment, she was informed the part was not available and they were not sure, when it would arrive.

Just purchased this vehicle. when driving, for no apparent reason the left headlight has intermittently turned off about 8 times. when i turn the headlight switch off and on, the left headlight works again. it has been occurring more frequently over the last two weeks. more recently (twice this week), both headlights suddenly went off for no reason while driving at night. when i turn the headlight switch off and on, the headlights work again. *tr

Headlights spontaneously turn off. must turn off and back on then the lights turn back on. could be either light that turns off and sometimes both lights. this is very dangerous. *tr

Car's engine would not shut off. additionally, the digital dashboard (which shows the speedometer, odometer, gas gauge, etc.) would not light up. toyota dealer says it is due to a failed combination meter. the part is on national backorder. it has been more than two weeks and my car is still awaiting the part. *tr

Have had consistent issues with a headlight going off while i'm driving. i have to turn the lights off and back on again to regain both headlights. eventually the bulb burns out. i replaced the left headlight for $300 in september 2010. i replaced the right headlight for $175 in october 2012. then, january 2013, the right headlight only came on when i hit the light with my fist. now, still january 2013, the right headlight will not come on at all. headlights that go on and off is a serious safety concern. *tr

The headlights flicker and then go completely out. the beam can usually be restored briefly by turning it on and off again but the lamp will then stay illuminated for an unpredictable length of time (seconds to minutes). this is a recurring problem and both headlights have been "repaired" at the dealership multiple times. before the repairs, there was an occasion where both headlights went out simultaneously while driving on an interstate tollway. after the repairs, the problem has recurred in only one light (so far). these are toyota's hid lights. *tr

Driving along a country road at night and the headlights went out. very scary. went off the road a bit and the car got scratched. restarted car and headlights went on for a short time, then dim, then off. this a huge safety problem that nhtsa has failed to do its duty with. toyota says thought luck, you are past the extended warranty. light suddenly going out while driving at night is clearly a safety issue. is nhtsa simply going to wait until there are enough fatalities to take meaningful action. toyota clearly doesn't want to take any responsibility for their clearly defective and dangerous product. *tr

The electronic display inside my husband's car has blacked out twice now. both times it was taken to the dealer. the first time, they were not able to locate the problem; the second time they were able to discover what was wrong, told him that it was a common problem in that model car (approx. 2004-2010), that there was no recall for it, and it would cost $700 to repair. if this is happening to other owners, why isn't there are recall? when it happens, the speedometer is gone. warning lights, fuel gauge, back-up camera, etc. are all out. this makes the car unsafe to drive. *tr

Hid headlights on this vehicle and taillights go out on there own sometimes just one or sometimes all lights go out. problem is fixed when you turn the lights all the way off and all the way back on and they stay on for the duration of my drive or go out a few minutes later. have been pulled over by police multiple times for having lights out. have seen many toyota prius complaints about this same exact problem. *tr

The headlights on my toyota prius 2006 intermittently go off while driving. it seems to affect only one of the headlights right now. i do not see any issues with the bulbs as such since they do come back on. but this happens very often while driving and while coming to a stop sometimes. *tr

The right headlight went out and then went on. the problem has recurred. now the left headlight went out and then went on. we read that this is a common problem with the 2006 toyota. will there be a recall? *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2006 toyota prius. the contact stated that water was leaking from the ceiling area near the front windshield. the vehicle was taken to the dealer for inspection but was not diagnosed fro the failure. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was not notified. the failure mileage was 60,000. .. updated 02-07-13 *bf the consumer requested to drop the complaint. it was advised that the windshield was replaced prior to the failure and was not installed correctly. updated 02/13/2013 *js

I have been having problems with my headlights going out for several years now. this is the same problem described by other drivers when the lights go out and can be reset by turning them off and back on again. for the first few years, the only bulb to go out was the right side. the bulb appears to have no bearing on the problem. i have put in new bulbs and had the same problem. i even tried switching the non-working bulb with the one that was working on the left side. the left side worked fine like this and the right side continued to fail. now, several years later, the left side appears to be failing also. even though i have gotten other recall notices, toyota never notified me of a settlement in this case. and, by the time that i found out about it, the settlement had expired. *tr

The passenger side headlight would intermittently go off. if i turned the lights off and then on again the lights would both come on but while driving the passenger side headlight would go off again. i drive 20 miles to work. when i would first start the car when leaving work to go home, both headlights would be on but by the time i would get home the passenger side would be out again. i brought the car to the dealer and they said it was the ballast that caused the problem and charged almost 1000.00 to fix the problem. fortunately i did not have to pay the full amount due to the fact i had and extended warranty. however, just 2 days after having this fixed the same thing is happening to the driver?s side headlight. i will be bringing the car to the dealer again. i have read online that this is happening to quite a few prius owners, particularly with the 2006 model. it also seems from my research that it happens to 2005,2007 and 2008 models also. this seems to be a manufacturer defect and i find it a bit ridiculous that replacing headlights should cost so much money. it cost me 227.00 to fix one headlight and 2 taillights due to ballast issues and it is more than likely going to cost another 200.00. so all in all to repair headlights will cost me over 425.00 and without the extended warranty would have cost near 2000.00. if this is happening to so may cars there is obviously an issue which consumers should not have to pay for. my year prius has had several recalls and obviously has its fair share of manufacturer problems. the affected parts involved were/are the ballast , headlights and tail lights thank you *tr

Driver headlamp turned off. after realizing something was wrong. i pulled over to the shoulder of the road, and turned the vehicle and headlamps off. i turned the vehicle back on and the headlamps as well. both headlamps worked again. the driver headlamp continued with this behavior and the passenger headlamp started to exhibit the same behavior about a month later. i found out that this type of behavior is common among my model and the 2006-2009 years with the hid headlamp package. many others have also experienced this same occurrence with the headlamps ballast. it is not the hid bulbs themselves, but a design flaw in the vehicles electrical system. i have been in some situations where both of the headlamps have turned off by themselves at night and almost was involved in an accident due to the flaw of this known problem. if i can not see when driving at night and other drivers can not see me, the vehicle is not safe. *tr

Passenger side headlight went out. later learned that headlamp sometimes dims without going completely out and that turning the headlamps off and on will temporarily turn the lamp back on. happens nearly every time in about 20 minute drive when dark. dealer was unable to reproduce problem and recommended no action. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2006 toyota prius. the contact stated that the driver fell asleep while driving and crashed into a road barrier. the air bags failed to deploy. the driver sustained head injuries and the vehicle was destroyed. the police were contacted and a report was filed. the vehicle was towed to a local repair shop. the manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. the vin was unavailable. the failure and current mileages were 71,000.

The front and back lights on the right side (passenger) side failure sporadically. at first i thought it was only my rear light. now i'm starting to notice that it is my right side front headlight too. tonight i noticed that both the front and rear lights on the right side were out. when my front headlight fails, i can turn the light switch off and back on. when i turn it back on, the light works again, but i'm not sure for how long. this is a safety issue. i've read online forums and this does not look to be an isolated incident. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2006 toyota prius. the contact stated that while reversing at 5 mph, the power steering assist failed and the steering wheel could not be moved in either direction. the vehicle was taken to the dealer who advised that the spiral cable, steering shaft, the connecting yoke, and the steering column shaft extension needed to be replaced. there was a recall for the steering failure under nhtsa campaign id number: 06v188000: (steering: electric power assist system) however, the vehicle was repaired by the contact. the manufacturer was notified of the failure who filed a complaint and offered no other assistance. the failure mileage was 77,000. updated 10/19/12 *cn updated 10/23/2012 *js updated 11/19/12 *bf updated 11/20/2012 *js *dt *tp

Hid headlights go out randomly while driving. each one goes out separately, but sometimes they will both happen to be out at the same time. while driving, this is corrected by turning headlights off and then back on. same thing happens with the yellow running lights, one may turn off randomly. this began happening in fall of 2011, however new bulbs (hid and running lights) were purchased and the problem stopped temporarily, but within 1 year the same problems are occurring again. similar problem with the rear license plate lights; one will be off randomly, but shutting the trunk hard seems to appease the problem. this may be a wiring problem, but the front lights should not be turning off randomly. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2006 toyota prius. the contact stated that while starting the vehicle, the instrument panel went blank and the vehicle erroneously accelerated. the vehicle was driven to the dealer where the failure could not be replicated. the manufacturer was contacted about the issue. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure mileage was unavailable. the vin was unavailable.

2006 toyota prius with hid headlights with 55,000 miles is used as a taxi cab. on july 11th, 2012 and progressing, the passenger side hid headlight would flicker and then turn off completely after 5-15 minutes of operation. headlights must be turned off and then on to resume normal service. hid bulb replacement did not resolve the issue. toyota dealership only offered to replace the headlight without any explanation to what might be causing the issue. *tr

I found that there is malfunction on the buttons on steering wheel, especially info button and buttons for climate. i researched the problem on internet and i found the problem is caused by a bad clock spring. also, i found the clock spring is related with air bag module. there are a lot of owners have the same problem (such as priuschat.com). i think that it could be a recall issue. and i experienced another problem. the accelerator pedal of my car was repaired by the recall service before. but when i release the accelerator pedal and try to push brake pedal, there is difference of height between both pedals. the height of brake pedal is higher than the accelerator pedal, even if i released the accelerator pedal. so it is dangerous to operate both pedals. when i tried to push the brake pedal after i released the accelerator pedal, my right feet was stuck with the brake pedal. i think the recall service for the accelerator pedal of my car was not successful. or there is another problem on the brake pedal of prius. *tr

Both exterior lights and all interior lights went out late at night while driving on an old country road. very scary and dangerous! by turning the light switch completely off and back on we got our lights back. we had already spent over $250 for headlamps before this so it was not the bulbs. it's continuing to have a problem however we usually get some flickering of the lights just before one or both lights go out so we drive with one hand on the light switch to be ready to turn off and on the lights. we have been told by toyota that we have to bring it while it is having a problem which is a problem since the shop is not open at night and while happening fairly frequently now is not predictable enough to show the repairman. please recall this vehicle. we are not alone and still love our prius. *tr

Ice water pump failure at 51,000 miles. 13 months out of warranty. dealer and corporate office would not cover any part of repair. *tr

Passanger side headlight dims and then turns off at random times - light will sometimes come back on when you turn the headlights off and then on again. problem has returned within minutes of turning them off then on again. *tr

While my 16 year old son was practicing driving maneuverability with my wife in a parking lot, the steering shaft completely failed and the vehicle could not be controlled or steered. they parked the car safely and got a ride home. it was found that the splines on one of the intermediate steering shafts completely failed. the upper parts of the steering mechanism could turn without turning the lower parts. toyota had a recall on some 2004-2006 vehicles with this exact description of parts but my vin is not included in the recall. my failure is exactly as described: low speed with the steering turned at the end of travel. searching the prius forums on line, this is a common problem. even cars that have had their steering mechanisms replaced have failed a second time. the issue is a defective design of the steering shaft. first, the electric power steering places forces on the steering shaft that would not exist in hydraulic power steering. the spline now has the force of the driver plus the boost of the power steering. at the end of travel, the power steering is forcing the linkage to turn even though the driver is just slightly turning the wheel. the rack and pinion and the associated shaft and link were designed for non boosted forces. the second design defect is the fact that this safety critical part doesn't include some type of redundancy for failed splines. in state of the art designs available since the 1970s, the clamping bolt provides a secondary fail- safe for loosing the spline interface. if the splines fail, the bolt interferes with the shaft after a few degrees of movement. this gives the driver a sloppy but safe way to drive the vehicle. unlike the prius failure, this system can keep the driver in control. my toyota dealer did nothing for me because the vehicle is outside of the warranty. toyota customer line did nothing. *tr..updated 06/28/13 *bf updated 07/1/2013 *js

One of headlights (passenger side) suddenly shuts off. then i completely turn them all the way off, then it works again for a few minutes. so far we have changed: headlight assembly, lights computer controller, and numerous lights bulbs. so far this issue has cost us over $3000 but toyota does not take any responsibility for this issue. this is apparently an issue with everyone that owns a 2006 prius from what it looks like on line with other users. *tr

I own a 2006 prius 2006. one of the headlights keeps going out and i have now received a fix-it ticket from the local police. the problem is that i already took it to the dealer to get it checked out and they couldn't find any problem. also, i can't really tell when or how the head light goes out since i can't see it. i can only tell when i see the reflection in the back of another car or when in front of a store/wall etc. if i turn them all the way off and back on couple of times then the light comes back. sometimes it will stay on the whole time, sometimes it won't. sometimes it will go out, sometimes it won't. it is not an event i can make happen and as i mentioned before i took it to the dealer (toyota of orange) and they can't make it happen either. i have also come across a blog where many prius owners are experiencing the exact same issue. http://priuschat.com/threads/headlight-problem.34584/ *tr

The driver side hid headlamp went out while driving. this was out for about a day then turned back on while driving again. i have now noticed this happens every few days and only while in motion. *tr

Upon arriving home, i was informed the left hand headlight was not working. by switching the light off and then on, i was able to get the light to work. this has happened intermittently on numerous occasions since that time, although not just the left light. the right hand side will also flicker off and then the headlight stalk has to be turned off and on to get the light to illuminate again. this issue cannot be duplicated by me, as the lights seem to have a life of their own. what frightens me is that the lights will also go through this erratic behavior while i am driving the vehicle at night, not only when the car is stationary. i did receive info on getting toyota to assist in the cost of bulb replacement, but since i work constantly in real estate sales, i did not have an opportunity to bring the vehicle to my dealer, and had not used an outside mechanic to make repairs. also i had been able to get the headlights to work with the re-switching process. because the situation has escalated and i find it occurring more frequently, i visited the dealer this morning only to be told they had no liability after the extended 50000 mile limit, and my car now has 85000 miles! it seems to me toyota knows they have an issue with the ecu which controls this headlight function, but are not going to rectify the situation until the nhtsa forces them. this is a very dangerous problem and i do not want to end up trying to drive with no lights in the dark!! *tr

On numerous occasions both headlights have spontaneously gone dark while driving at night, either singly or in tandem. other times they fail to come on at the start of a trip, but one or both will be on at the destination. it only seems to affect the main headlamps, not the amber lights or the small round lights below them. when it first happened we replaced the bulb in one headlamp, but that had no effect on the problem. it's frightening when driving home from work at midnight. *tr

I am the original owner of a 2006 toyota prius. last week, at 86,000 miles, while driving on the highway in traffic, a large red triangle warning light showed up on my dash with the low tire pressure light. i pulled off the road to check the manual and turned the car off. when i turned it back on many warning lights came on and i was unable to get the car out of park. called the dealer. they told me to get towed to the dealer, which i did. after 2 days they determined that it needed a new hybrid transaxle for $5,000+ plus miscellaneous other repairs totaling $7,723. toyota says the transaxle is covered under the powertrain warranty (60,000 miles) not the hybrid warranty (100,000 miles). there is a tsb for this repair, t-sb-0306-08 that states that it is covered under the california emission warranty in certain states, depending on model year, up to 150,000 miles. there seems to be new information that transmission fluid should be flushed at 30,000 miles. my dealer had only suggested this 2 weeks prior to the problem, when i was in for an oil change before a trip. i planned on doing it at my next service. i have a few questions? is this a common enough problem that it could be a ?defect?? i read somewhere that if 4% of cars have the problem then it is a defect. is that right? over what time period if so? if not, how does that get determined? how can i find out how many transaxles have needed to be replaced before 100,000 miles on 2004-2008 model prius?s? is this repair covered in carb states or not? i believe that maryland is a carb state now. would this warranty be retroactive to my car? is toyota responsible for not suggesting i get the transmission fluid flushed prior to this? *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2006 toyota prius. the contact stated that the brakes failed, causing the contact to crash into another vehicle. the contact was reported injured however a police report was not filed of the incident. the contact had the vehicle towed to a repair shop for inspection but the cause of the failure was unknown. the manufacturer was notified but advised the contact to speak with his insurance company. the failure mileage was 122,000.

Tl* the contact owns a 2006 toyota prius. the contact stated that the driver was reversing into a parking space when the vehicle unexpectedly stopped reversing. the vehicle operated as normal once it was shut down and restarted. the failure had since recurred intermittently. the contact stated that he eventually noticed that the vehicle was unexpectedly shifting into neutral during the failures. the contact also stated that the failures occurred during very hot weather. the vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer and the contact was informed that the gear shift needed to be replaced. the manufacturer offered no assistance. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure mileage was 65,000.

I was driving home on suburban surface streets at dusk, following a friend to my home. my cell phone rang, and i answered using the bluetooth feature of the vehicle. it was my friend, calling to let me know that my left headlight was out. it had been flickering and having issues over the past few weeks, and we thought the bulb might be loose. we took the car to our mechanic on june 19th, 2012 to have the serpentine belt replaced and the headlight looked at. he indicated it was the bulb, and that it would cost $350 to replace. coincidentally, a relative saw a news story the other day about many similar complaints made to your organization and to the toyota company, so i did some online research. i was very disheartened to read an investigation made by kctv5 out of kansas city which explained your failure thus far to demand a recall, despite ample evidence that the system flaw has been corrected in the 2010 and newer prius models. please demand a recall before someone is injured or killed! as the daughter of a retired highway patrol officer, i understand the need for on-the-road safety. at this point, i am afraid to drive my vehicle at night, and it is my family's only vehicle. please do something! *tr

I needed to wait for a service person to arrive and open the door to their business. after several minutes, while gear was set in park outside a building with the motor running and radio on, the car suddenly jumped ahead by several inches. it stopped just as suddenly. very scary. i have left the car in park with the motor running a few more times to see if it would do it again. no repeat incident so far. it moved a short distance, but would have been enough to hit a curb, person, or container who/that was near the car. *tr

Both headlights go out on a random basis while driving. this may occur 30 - 50 times in 5 mile trip.

The first incident happened as i was driving the highway both of my headlights completely failed. the headlights would come back on after turning them off and back on. first toyota told me it was caused by a bad auxiliary battery and charged me over $200 for the battery. but that very night i had the same issue again,toyota tried to tell me that the bulbs are just burnt out. i am not an idiot, light bulbs do not burnout at the exact same time and a burntout lightbulb does not come back on. after fighting with toyota and them wanting to charge me almost $2000 to fix this issue (i have a 100,000 mile warranty) they repaired it free. now 2 years and 24,000 miles later they are going out again. i have five days left on my warranty that i had to fight to get to cover it before. it is extremely dangerous driving at night and having both your headlights go out on you! *js

I bought 4 new pirelli cinturato p5 tires for my 2006 toyota prius in june of 2009 from discount tire. i was told that these tires would last for 85,000 miles before having to replace them. since then i regularly rotated and balanced them. when i went to get my tires rotated and balanced again 6/2009, i was told that two of the tires are already worn out and i would be better off to get two new tires to keep me safe while driving. i informed the sales personnel that these tires are just 3 years old and with 40,400 miles since purchased. he mentioned to me that tires many a times do not give the mileage they are rated for. in my case, i got less than one-half the rated mileage. with my driving pattern (13,000 miles/year), i would have expected these tires to last for about six years as i take good care (rotating, balancing, and alignment) of them. *tr

My headlights keep going out with no warning. i am driving and lights will go out -- dashboard signal indicates lights are on. i have been stopped twice by police for driving without lights (sometimes hard to detect when driving in well lit area). if i turn lights on and off they come back on. i first started seeing this problem over a year ago but it has been more pronounced in past few months. i have brought the car to dealer and they have not seen a problem although now i am reading that there is an issue with the nih lights. no lights, no warning that there are no lights ... this is a safety issue. *tr

Owner entered vehicle and attempted to latch driver side seatbelt. upon placing tab into buckle, buckle shot a spring into the car and would not latch. there were no other incidents with this belt prior to this date. the local toyota dealership was notified and is ordering a new seatbelt latch for purchase and replacement by owner. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2006 toyota prius. the contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the rear window shattered without warning. the vehicle was not taken to the dealer. the manufacturer was contacted. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure mileage was 54,000 and the current mileage was 54,500.

The check engine light comes on whenever outside temperature is above 45f or so. took it to toyota dealership and they said it was a faulty coolant flow control valve that was resulting in code p1121. the dealer said this was a safety issue since coolant can leak out, and recommended it be fixed asap at a cost of nearly $1000. this is not an uncommon problem for prius's and an online search showed that toyota did cover this under warranty (extension) for some model years up to 35k miles. i wrote to toyota motor sales to ask if they would cover or assist with the repair cost, and if there was a hidden recall or warranty extension on this issue, and they responded that i should just try to negotiate a better price with the dealer. i think toyota should cover this, it is a safety issue and should have been a recall. *tr

Upon purchase of vehicle from a used car lot, i immediately noticed the headlights would be work at times but at other times they would be very dim to non-existent. turning the light on and off would seem to temporarily fix this problem. upon researching this issue through the internet, it was reviled this was a common issue among prius owners in model years 2006-2009 where toyota choose to use hid light bulbs. not only was this common, but for some owners, the issue appear to re-occur and the life expectancy of hid bulbs appears to be very low and inferior to virtually any other type of bulb. fortunately, the dealer extended a helping hand and provided the labor to install these hard to get to bulbs. due to poor design, the lights are very hard to get to without taking the bumper off. i am very disappointed in the life expectancy and design that toyota chose in this model of prius. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2006 toyota prius. the contact stated that the headlights would intermittently fail. the vehicle was taken to the dealer who was unable to duplicate the failure but replaced the headlights. the remedy failed to repair the problem. the manufacturer was made aware of the failure who did not offer any assistance. the vehicle was not further repaired. the failure mileage was 52,000 and the current mileage was 57,000.

Cpsc#i1230059. 2006 toyota pruis computer assembly. consumer stated the hid head lamps and associated controller computer used on the toyota pruis have a design flaw that makes them itermittently, and without warning, quit working. *ln the consumer stated he experienced the failure three times while driving at night

I am writing to you about a problem with my 2006 toyota prius. in july 2008, the driver's side electronic door lock actuator failed and was replaced by my local toyota dealer - i had extended warranty so it was covered. now, the driver's side door lock actuator has once again failed. i have not contacted my toyota dealership because in 2008 if i didn't have the warranty it was going to cost me well over $1,000. the failure of this actuator happening twice is unbelievable. i've noticed similar complaints by other individuals. *tr

The headlights are defective. this seems to be an issue with second generation prius and there is a lot of internet chatter from affected individuals. the headlights are showing intermittent on/off. the headlights go off automatically. they start working again after switching them off and then back on. however, this needs to be done every few minutes. *tr

At approximately 40,000 miles the passenger side hid headlight goes out intermittently & comes back on after turning headlights off and back on. i have been pulled over three times & received a warning ticket. dealer service convinced us that it was the bulb & that the cost of bulb replacement was entirely ours even though headlights were covered to 100,000 miles. this of course, did not fix the problem and it continues. this creates a safety hazard on poorly lit roads & during reduced visibility conditions. dealer offers no assistance or guidance. *tr

My prius has always had issues with the brakes making a clicking sound when stopped at a light, etc. i have complained from day one and always been told it was normal. by 2008 the brakes were not working well at times and the pedal would go almost to the floor at times and not at others. the dealership checked this and told me there were no problems. in feb 2008 the brakes completely failed while i was driving on a city street and the pedal went all the way to the floor and i hit the car in front of me. the dealership again said that there were no problems and that the brakes were fine. i have had numerous incidents since with the pedal going almost to the floor at times and not at others. if i hit potholes or am on really rough streets the traction control light comes on and i lose complete control of the vehicle for a few seconds with the inability to brake. the dealership has repeatable said there are no issues when they check the car. this week, on monday, the battery died and i took it to the dealership for a replacement. as always, i asked them to check the brakes and now they say there is a major issue with the brake actuator that could cause intermittent loss of braking ability and that the car is not safe to drive. since the car isn't under warranty now (but was when the accident occurred) they don't want to pay for the repair. they put me in a rental car for the past three days since they said my car wasn't safe to drive. today they decided they weren't paying for the repair, after talking with "corporate", and that the car is safe to drive without the repair! when i check the nhtsa site i see lots of similar complaints about the 2006 prius and am even more concerned than ever. if you have experienced a similar problem, please take the time to file a complaint to force an investigation of yet a new issue with toyota and safety issues! *tr

Multiple hid headlight failures started appearing after 5.5 years and 110000 miles. dealer wanted $500 per bulb (frontier toyota) to replace the bulbs with no guarantee that would fix the problem. after researching bulb changing procedures i found the front end does not require removal if you have small enough hands and some patience. i purchased 2 new aftermarket hid bulbs for $55 and replaced the "old" bulbs. the new bulbs lasted about 3 commutes before one, then the other started turning off on me. now the headlights act the same as before, headlights randomly turning off after 2-5 minutes on the dark road. re-cycling the headlight switch brings them back to life for another 3-5 minutes. now i am faced with replacing one or both ballast units that drive the bulbs. this will required removing both headlight assemblies to access the ballast boxes which are mounted to the sides of the assemblies facing outward towards the fenders ! this will require bumper facia removal to remove the light assys. lovely & expensive. if after replacing both ballast assemblies doesn't work, i will be forced to replace the vehicle's ecu, or brain ! another expensive checklist item. good thing i am capable of doing this myself as i can save the greedy labor charges, but its not right that toyota gets off scott free. they should recall all prius' no matter the mileage or age. this is a highway safety matter and the latest olive branch from the judge was nothing more than a wrist slap. *tr

The headlights will turn off automatically without any operation. when headlights turned off and on, it will go back working for a while before it turns off again. *tr

One headlight goes off after 1-2 min of staying on. switching it off and then on brings it on. the cycle repeats. *tr

"!", abs, and vsc lights come on and brakes stop working - while driving. must coast to side of road, turn off vehicle, and restart. then brakes work for a while until problem recurs. replaced brake stroke sensor. fixed problem for 17 months - 20,000 miles. again, brakes fail while driving. getting code dtc 1247 - fault in stroke sensor. told part is out of warranty and must be replaced again. vehicle shouldn't have a part that fails every 20,000 miles resulting in complete loss of braking while driving. *tr

Headlight bulbs intermittently on and off starting around 48,000 miles and then 52,000 miles for other bulb. i can usually get the light to turn back on by turning the headlights fully off and then on. driver side bulb died first, passenger bulb shortly thereafter. toyota replaced the 1st bulb under our 5 year warranty but refused to replace the other bulb at 5 yrs 3 months & 52k miles. *tr

Driver side airbag did not deploy with head on impact with concrete median. prius was traveling at 70 mph and was hit from behind at high rate of speed, sending it into three, 360 degree spins ending with head first impact into median. no airbags deployed. airbags checked by insurance company inspector. inspector said the airbag sensors were impacted and should have deployed the airbags if they were working properly. *tr

Both headlights intermittently go off, usually one at a time, but once, both went off at the same time at night. if i turn them off and back on, they work for a few minutes, and then same thing happens. the dealer says nothing is wrong. *tt

Tl* the contact owns a 2006 toyota prius. the contact was attempting a right turn at 25 mph when the anti-lock brake light illuminated. the contact stated that the brake would not engage when applied. the vehicle was taken to the dealer numerous times for the failure. the dealer was unable to duplicate the failure and the vehicle was not repaired. the failure mileage was 15,000 and the current mileage was 117,000. ..updated 01/04/12 *bf the consumer stated the failure has happened numerous times and the replication at the dealership has been unsuccessful. on a recent rainy day, the abs light illuminated at each brake application and the brakes would not apply for 1-2 seconds. effectively, leaving the vehicle with no brakes. the abs related brake failure would also occur on bumpy roads at low speeds with dry pavement. updated 01/11/12

I was driving home last night when all of the sudden my headlight went out! at first i thought i just blew a lamp. but much to my surprise when i went out the next morning both headlights were working. i checked the connection behind the headlamp to make sure everything was tight and there was no loose or damaged wires- everything was in perfect condition. upon further research to see if anyone else has had this problem, i find numerous complaints all over the country stating that people are having the same problem- headlights randomly go out without any kind of rhyme or reason. this is a serious safety hazard! what if i was driving in the rain at night- i need all the light i can get! what if i was pulled over and given a citation because my headlight was out, and it's not even my fault! i see that toyota recalled prius models from 06-09 for this exact issue, but why not the 05's!? we're having this problem too! whether this is a balast issue or a hid controller issue headlamps should not randomly shut off and then back on for no reason. safety! *tr

Driving at night and headlight completely failed. took it in to dealer but was working then and dealer refused to document. this same thing occurred several times since then, both headlights failing at one time or another resulting in dangerously poor visibility. problem is intermittent and continuing with a failure just days ago. toyota acknowledges the problem but refuses to take responsibility saying the current mileage is too high. problem first occurred when mileage was considerably under 45000. feel it is unsafe to drive the car at night. *tr

Combination meter failed, there was no dash display, no speed display, and vehicle would not shut down. fortunately we were not out of town so we drove the vehicle to our regular toyota dealer,ourisman fairfax toyota, fairfax, va, and left it there. *tr

Hid headlights fail intermittently. lights will work again if turned off and back on. lights will go out again with no apparent cause. *tr

I have drive a 2006 toyota prius, package 7 with hid headlamps. i have noticed over the last few years that my headlamps inconsistently fail. sometimes when i turn my car on and switch on my headlamps, only one or the other side will illuminate. other times, both headlamp sides will turn on, but after some time, one or both will turn off. all of this with the dash indicator showing that the headlights are on. while driving, i have remedied this problem by flipping the on-off switch to re-illuminate the lights. however, in the course of a drive they will fail again and i periodically have to flip the on-off headlight switch to have my lights work. i do feel this is unsafe and am uncomfortable driving at night or in dark places. *kb

We have had intermittent problems with the hid headlights on our 2006 toyota prius for years. one light will just go out intermittently. usually, just turning the lights off and then back on will cause the headlight that is out to come back on. this is a well known problem with this model and has been well documented all over the internet. in july of 2008, we finally decided to fix the driver's side headlight after being stopped by police multiple times because it was out intermittently. the dealer charged us $427.99 to change one hid bulb!!! i wrote to toyota motor sales, usa to complain. a few weeks later, i received a "goodwill reimbursement" from them for the full amount of $427.99! now we have been stopped by police several times because our passenger side headlight has been going off intermittently for a while now. after being stopped by police while out of state last week, we decided to call to see if toyota was fixing this problem since there was a class action lawsuit about this very issue that toyota settled. we were told that the price to change the light bulb would now be $254.85! since this is definitely a defect that toyota knows about, why haven't they been made to recall the car and fix the problem? *tt

The standard engine water pump was found to be leaking and had to be replaced on 10/1/11 at 32553 mi. the electric hybrid water pump was replaced under recall on 04/02/11 at 30222 mi. *tr

While driving to work at 4 a.m. on a back road, both hid headlamps failed. trying to use high beams didn't work. only turning lights off and back on would get them to work again. this happened several times. there needs to be a safety recall on these headlamps, no exceptions or limits on time/mileage. this is dangerous and if you check the web, toyota knows all about it. talking to toyota they told me it was my problem. really? basic safety on a vehicle should be the responsibility of the manufacturer. this wasn't a one light failed and then months later another failed. they both quit at the exact same time. i guess someone needs to be killed before toyota takes responsibility. their website spews how committed they are to safety. sure, as long as the consumer has to pay thousands for it (the cost of this repair can be over a thousand dollars), they are committed. if they have to pay for their design flaw...well...then they aren't so helpful. apparently this is a recurring theme with toyota and they need to be fined heavily and forced to fix this. take action now before someone dies, please! *tr

2006 toyota prius. letter from re onstar fmv defect *tgw the consumer stated the system light failed to light, except when one was talking to the onstar advisor. then it flashed green on and off as advertised. however, when the system was on and presumably ready for use, the green light did not illuminate. so far, the consumer was to connect to the onstar advisor when the light was off. the consumer received several answer as to why the system was not working as advertised. the consumer stated the unit is malfunctioning and may not work in an emergency situation. *jb the consumer received a call from onstar stating the problem he was having, was due to improper installation, because of an internal battery that required a connection before use. the problem has since been resolved. updated 10/19/11. *jb the consumer stated the onstar device malfunctioned again. updated 08/15/12.*jb updated 09/06/12. *jb updated 09/18/12 *jb updated 02/11/13. *jb the consumer stated a defect manifested itself by a partial loss of information on the center console display and there was a complete loss of the digital information displayed above the dashboard. the information included the speed, etc. the consumer stated when defect occurred, the power button became inoperative, which resulted in the inability to turn the vehicle power off or remove the electronic key. updated 06/22/15.*jb updated 07/08/15. *jb

Bought the the 2006 toyota prius new. the hid headlight bulbs have already been replaced twice and they need replaced again. toyota helped with the first replacement. each bulb started out at $300.00 a piece, toyota has since lowered the cost to $150.00 each plus labor. the design requires the front bumper to be removed to install the lamps. to do this is at least another $100.00 labor. looking at the internet, i am one of the thousands who have had this problem. a recall on this problem needs to happen. *tr

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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.

Tl* the contact owns a 2006 toyota prius. while driving approximately 60 mph, the contact noticed the passenger side headlight failed. the contact replaced the bulb and the headlight failed three more times on both the driver and passenger sides. the failure recurred intermittently. the vehicle was not repaired. the approximate failure mileage was unknown.

Ever since i got my 2006 prius, the brakes have briefly stopped working when i try to stop quickly or on a hill when it is wet or icy outside. on february 24, it was very icy, and the car completely locked up when i was going down a hill. i was going very slowly when i started going downhill, but nothing happened when i tried to steer or push down the brakes and i got in an accident. i contacted toyota, but they only tested it when it was dry outside, and i have never had any trouble when it was dry. they told me nothing was wrong. since then, i have had increased trouble stopping at stoplights when it is wet. the whole car seems to lock up and i slide toward the light for a few seconds before the brakes re-engage. i am trading the car in, as i am afraid for the safety of my children in this car.

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.

Prius under engine dust cover keeps tearing away from bolts on body. part replaced for the 5th time. car low to ground. comes in contact with parking bumpers, etc. toyota denies responsibility. a design flaw with front edge of cover exposed to low lying objects causing it to be pushed back from anchor bolts. can be easily resolved by designing cover to fit inside lip of frame rather than outside. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2006 toyota prius. the contact stated that the driver was operating the vehicle approximately 35 mph. as she applied the brakes, the vehicle would not stop until crashing into another vehicle. a police report was filed, but no injuries were reported. the vehicle was towed to an independent repair shop where the failure was not diagnosed. the vehicle was in the process of having the body damages repaired. the failure and current mileage was 90,000. updated 07/26/11*lj

Toyota 2006 prius. both hid head lamps intermittently go off, but usually not at the same time. currently have 75k mi on car. problem started when car had approx 55k miles on it. *tr

We have a 2006 toyota prius that the dealer wants $900.00 to replace the headlights. the headlights cost $150.00 each and the rest of the labor charge is do to the design of the car which requires the front bumper to be removed to change a light bulb. this is not only a bad design, but a rip off for the american consumer. *tr

I have two smart keys for 2006 toyota prius. one of them lose smart function and remote function. when a button is pressed, red light is not on at all. i have tested fob battery and it is ok. i believe that the smart key is defective. *tr

The right headlight for our 2006 toyota prius goes out intermittently. when the lights are turned completely off, then back on, the headlight begins to work again. this is a regular daily occurrence and has caused us to avoid using the vehicle at night for safety reasons. the headlight controller was replaced in 2008, when we first had the issue, but the problem has resurfaced. toyota has said that there is no problem with the parts and has refused to correct the problem under warranty. *tr

The drivers side headlight keeps going out. when first turned on, it glows and after awhile it goes out. when i turn the lights out and back on, it glows again; but for only a very short time. it refuses to stay on when needed during inclement weather or night driving. this is very dangerous to say the least! it is only a matter of time before i am pulled over by police for this defect. i've seen this problem has been reported by many other 2006 prius owners and i feel it is my responsibility to report this malfunction/defect myself. toyota should be held fully responsible for this defect and should be required to fix this very dangerous safety-related defect. i hope you can help with in requiring toyota to recall these vehicles and fix this very dangerous and definitely safety-related situation/defect/malfunction. i hope we won't have to wait until some people are killed or injured as a result of this safety-related defect before appropriate action is taken to resolve it.

While driving in the dark in the middle of the night, the headlights spontaneously went out without warning. i drove in pitch black darkness until i could stop the car. then i took it to a toyota dealer service department and the mechanic told me the lights were overheating and then failing. *tr

Within 6 months i had a headlight from my 2006 toyota prius go out from both sides. cost $300+ to fix each one. *tr

Intermittent headlight failure. pulled over on 03/01/2010 by a sheriff deputy with a warning that one headlight was out. five minutes later after a stop, headlight worked fine. various times over the past year one or both headlights have gone out only to come back on later.

My 2006 toyota prius has had an ongoing problem with their hid headlights. while driving one or both headlights will go off. a quick temporary fix will be to flick the lights off then on again which actually deteriorate the hid bulb leading to shortened life span. however you really have no choice when driving at night. sometimes you don't even realize they're both off. this can be very dangerous as other drivers wouldn't be able to see your car. replaced the bulbs and the problem persists. there exists a class action settlement girardgibbs.com, and was told by the dealer that the problem is the ecu. they only addressed this concern to me after i brought them information about the settlement about a month ago. in the past they've only been either saying they can't reproduce the problem or that i need to replace the bulb. i can tell you right now these are my third pair of bulbs and its definitely not the bulbs as the problem persists just days after the new bulbs are installed. i found out that the settlement extended the warranty to 5 years and 50,000 miles however my car falls outside the mileage range. they won't pay for the ecu because the dealers have never specifically addressed the ecu as being the problem with my car within the extended warranty range even though there were numerous times i would complain about the lights within that range. toyota needs to recall the ecu for 2006-2009 prius models. it is not the bulbs. *tr

Combination meter of 2006 toyota prius suddenly stopped working. thankfully, priuschat members have posted similar issues. my mechanic removed the combination meter. i sent board to company in ca to re-do the solders and update the transistor on the chip. *tr

2006 toyota prius. headlights keep burning out. i have replaced the headlights twice now and they burn out within three months. there has to be some problem with the wiring for these headlights. *tr

Drivers side head light intermittantly turns on and off

Purchased a used 2006 toyota prius in december 2009. current mileage is 98k. received a notice last week about a class action settlement which would pay for past headlight replacement costs, and extend the new vehicle limited warranty through the earlier of 5 years or 50,000 miles. two days ago, after driving 30 minutes in rain with the headlights on, i found the left headlight was out. turned off the vehicle, and ten minutes later drove one mile and stopped, and found the right headlight was out. upon returning home, the right headlight was out and the left headlight was flickering; i recorded this with video on my phone...and within 20 seconds the flickering bulb also went out. i have teenage drivers - this is a safety issue, not just a maintenance issue! both lights could burn out on a dark unlit road without warning and the driver -- especially an inexperienced driver -- could have a very serious accident. i have no idea if the previous owner experienced this problem when the car had less than 50,000 miles or not. but the bottom line is that this is an unpredictable safety issue which can occur at any time and at any speed....and the class action settlement does not ensure that this unsafe situation will be corrected for all prius with hid headlights! nhtsa - we request your help with this situation. *tr

2006 toyota prius. consumer states brake actuator issues *tgw the consumer stated noises started to occur while the vehicle was in motion, when parked and after the engine was turned off.

I own a 2006 toyota prius with hid headlights. the right headlight is intermittent. this is a safety hazard especially driving down a dark road at night. *tr

Problem with intermittent hid headlight operation

I own a 2006 toyota prius with hid headlights. the headlights turn off by themselves intermittently. sometimes one, sometimes both. you can't always tell when they are off because, in general, the headlights do a very poor job of illuminating the road in front of the vehicle. i have complained to the dealer since i have owned the car but have been consistently told that there is nothing wrong, just that maybe the car needs to have the headlights replaced. this has been happening off and on since i purchased the vehicle in august 2006. *tr

Service visit for our 2006 prius was completed on feb 5, 2011 and upon driving home the car steered differently. a second service visit was initiated at our request and the dealer inspected the car and found no problem. on february 25, 2011 a third service visit was initiated at our request and the service department provided a written estimate for replacing a "failing steering motor assembly" for an out of warranty cost of $1950.00 plus tax and installation. i asked if this was a recall item and they indicated no and a call to toyota on case number 1102251605 arrived at the same conclusion. out of warranty and no recall at this time. the response to a question "is this car safe to drive" to the dealer service employees was responded to with yes the car is safe to drive. i have read on the internet that if this unit fails or partially fails, even worse, an un-commanded veer or turn could occur. an out of lane event is likely with a correction force to overcome the servo turn, and additional correcting force to return correct direction will need to be applied. now i understand this, well enough to know that i will not let my wife drive the car and she will drive mine now. if an accident occurs and i am unable to provide additional information, please use this information to hold toyota accountable and responsible. i drove the prius yesterday several hundred miles and the steering problem made me a nervous person by the time i had returned home. clearly this is not a wear and tear item. steering is a lifetime critical item and computer controlled systems like this are normally designed with the intent to last the life of the vehicle unless physical damage has altered the system. this needs to be investigated quickly and openly before lives are lost. this is your chance to prevent loss, i call it mitigation because you now know of the hazard and some of the risks. action is required. i currently have very limited resources. *tr

I own a 2006 toyota prius with original hid headlights. the headlight on the driver side keeps flickering and going out. i have to turn off the lights and then turn them back on to make the light come back on. *tr

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- i've got a package 6 2006 prius. one of the headlights keeps going out. i can't really tell when or how it goes out since i can't see it. if i turn the bright lights on and off it has no effect, but when i turn them all the way off and back on the light comes back. sometimes on long trips it will stay on the whole time, sometimes it won't. sometimes on short trips it will go out, sometimes it won't. i've read that this is a common problem with the model. *tr

Automobile accident where the car rolled over on the drivers side and ended up on the roof. the car has front and side air bags, none of them deployed.

Headlights have failed repeatedly on 2006 toyota prius. owner replaced headlamps three times; dealer has replaced two headlamps. in one case, headlight ceased working then later worked. this began in august 2010 and has continued ever since with latest headlight outage occurring 02/12/2011. *tr

Toyota is charging over $250 for replacement of one hid light buld. this makes it very difficult to replace a piece of required safety equipment on the 2006 prius. *ln

The hid headlights on this vehicle are intermittent. either or both headlights fail without warning, and re illuminate by cycling the headlight switch. so far one dealer repair attempt has not been successful in fixing the problem. repairs for this headlight system are very expensive, and not always successful.

My 2006 toyota prius was parked in a driveway. i powered it on then tried to put it in drive. the shift kept bouncing out of drive without my moving it, into n, r and finally back into drive at which point i released the hand brake, then eased my foot off the brake pedal. i did not pushed the accelerator pedal in order to turn onto the road slowly. but the car suddenly accelerated really fast. as it did so the red triangle 'problem - check engine' symbol came up on the dashboard. the car went across the road and into a neighbor's front yard where there was a lot of snow and a snowdrift by the road, and ran straight into the snowdrift which stopped it. i was then able to turn off the power. the foot brake had no effect. the car was heading on a line at right angles to the house and had there not been that snowdrift there, would have hit the house head-on. this was not driver error, but 'uncontrolled acceleration'. there may be a connection to the following battery failure: on 1/11/11 a recently installed start-motor battery (installed 1/3/11) went dead, after 1636 miles, and had itself to be replaced. the car is now being checked by the local toyota service and dealership. *tr

Hid headlamps go out without warning. sometimes just one, more recently both, so driver loses ability to see at night. turning light switch off and then on again restores the lights, but they go out again after a while. the one-light failure has been happening intermittently over the last several weeks; in last two weeks both lights have gone out at once, and the problem has become frequent and hazardous. *tr

Tl*the contact owns a 2006 toyota prius. the contact stated that while driving 25 mph, both the front and passenger headlight failed simultaneously. the contact received a ticket because of the failure. the vehicle had not been inspected or repaired. the manufacturer had not been notified. the failure mileage was 85,000.

If you use the brakes and happen to go over a bump, pothole, slippery spot, etc., the brakes stop functioning for a few seconds. this has happened ever since i bought the car in 2006. because it is a hybrid, i thought it was just something peculiar to the car (the date given is an estimate only). however, when they mentioned the brake fix for the 2010 prius, the problem seemed to be the same as i was experiencing. i told the dealer and they said the fix would be different for my model because the computers are different and they had gotten no information regarding earlier cars, only 2010s. i might be able to understand the wheel going over the problem spot in the road not functioning, but the other three should not stop working, and that is exactly how it feels. i have since heard of at least one other person with an earlier model that has the same problem.

Tl*the contact owns a 2006 toyota prius. while driving approximately 35 mph a deer crossed in front of the vehicle. the contact was able to avoid hitting the deer but crashed into a tree. the air bags did not deploy. the contact suffered a mild concussion, bruised ribs, and a bloody nose. the vehicle was towed to the dealer where the insurance company declared it destroyed. the manufacturer was contacted and stated that they wanted photographs of the damage. the approximate failure mileage was 30,000.

While driving on normal, dry straight roads, the skid control activates and the brakes engage. this began happening 1 week ago after the tires were rotated at the dealer. car is 4 years old. dealer states that ecu must be replaced. *tr

2006 toyota prius left headlight goes off at random. only way to get it to work is to turn the headlight off & turn back on. it occurs almost everytime the headlights are used. *tr

2006 prius hid headlights and taillights failed. the lights quality is very bad. we were forced to stop by the policeman. it was very dangerous on highway. toyota is losing its reputation. the company should pay all the price for changing the bulbs. (labor + bulbs) our 2002 hyundai's lights have never been in this situation. *tr

My front headlights (hid) are unreliable. while driving, they go off spontaneously. by turning the on/off switch "off" and then "on," the lights go back on. sometimes the lights go out within minutes of turning the headlights on, sometimes it happens after 5-10 minutes of driving, sometimes it doesn't happen at all. it is most frequently the driver side light that goes out, but the passenger light goes out as well, and on at least two occasions, both lights went out at the same time. often, because the roads are lit with street lamps well enough for me to see the road, i don't even realize my light(s) are out. this is extremely dangerous as my visibility to other, oncoming, cars is seriously reduced. i took the car to the dealer who suggested replacing both headlamps (at a cost of $172/each + $234 labor) but wouldn't guarantee that would solve the problem. the bulbs themselves are fine (and could conceivably continue working for another 5 years), so replacing them does not seem prudent as the problem would likely re-occur with new bulbs. i initially noticed this about 6 months ago, but it is happening more frequently now (several times a week vs. once or twice a month six months ago). *tr

Headlights on 2006 toyota prius keep going on and off for no apparent reason. complaint has been made to toyota and all they have done is to reduce the price of the hid bulbs. *tr

The headlamp of prius 2006 intermittently goes off while driving. the problem goes away if the car is completely shut off and then restarted. many others are reporting the same problem with prius and replacement of headlight does not rectify the problem. the problem is creating dangerous situation for driving, particularly during rain or snow because others cant see the car and the drivers visibility becomes greatly affected. *tr

Driver side head lamp flickered, then went off causing limited visibility. has happened several times. *tr

2006 toyota prius. faulty headlights. replaced both headlights in aug 2010 only to have one fail jan. 3 and the other failed jan 8 2011. added daytime running lights by dealer in 2007 so do not have the ability to turn them off and on. do not understand how one can have both lights fail as stated in so many other complaints. *tr

I own a 2006 toyota prius. i purchased the vehicle new. it has approximately 57,000 miles. for the past six months, the front headlights will randomly stop working - sometimes the driver's side, sometimes the passenger side, sometimes both headlights. if i turn the headlight switch off and back on the lights will come back on. it is my understanding that over 1,000 prius owners have reported this same problem to nhtsa. please add my report to this database. *ln

2006 toyota prius hid headlights intermittently fail. initially the problem would occur once out of every 5 times when using the headlights... now the failure occurs every time and switches between passenger & drivers headlight failing -- have not had both fail at the same time. passenger side is usual culprit. system resets and can last for hours of nighttime driving just by turning lights off then on again. vehicle has not been involved in any accidents and i have followed the routine toyota service schedule. toyota expects owners to fork out large sums of cash to replace bulbs but are not addressing the underlying safety issue that intermittent headline failure causes. safety recall is in order! *tr

I own a toyota prius 2006 touring model. headlight of this vehicle keeps going out. i have already replaced the headlight of this vehicle twice. and the other bulbs in the car (non headlight) more than 4 times. all of them were replaced at toyota authorized dealer. *tr

Purchased brand new fully loaded toyota prius in june 2006, the head lights are hid d4r and they keep turning off multiple times even during short drives, i have tried changing bulbs multiple times but to no avail, got it checked at the koons tysons dealership and they say nothing is wrong with ballast, the car has now crossed 100,000 miles everything else works except for the lights. *tr

While driving from arizona to texas via interstate 20, the headlamps on my uncle's toyota prius just shut off. it was nighttime and i was driving at about 60 mph. this is dangerous. my uncle knew immediately that the prius does this. i didn't. i had to pull over to the side of the road, shut the engine off and wait for some time before turning the car back on and getting the lights back. fortunately, no cars came from either direction during this time. we could have been hit because it was very dark when this happened. it turns out that toyota is aware of this problem. my uncle found several complaints online and notices about the problem from consumers. this problem needs to be fixed. people could get hurt. *tr

Toyota prius 2006: headlamps go off intermittently, creating a very unsafe condition while driving. *tr

Tl*the contact owns a 2006 toyota prius. the contact stated that while driving approximately 5 mph and trying to park her vehicle it suddenly accelerated forward and crashed into steel cables. the vehicle then shifted into reverse and crashed into the steel cables again. the contact was not injured from the crash. the vehicle was towed away from the scene. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure mileage was approximately 99,000. the vin was unavailable.

2006 toyota prius hid headlamp failure. lights have been flickering for approximately 4 months and have finally gone out. *tr

I've had a problem with my 2006 toyota prius, where my right headlight goes out intermittently. it will go out, and if i turn the headlights off and back on, it will come back on. then, after a period of minutes, it will go back out again. it started about a month ago (at 77,000 miles), and has slowly gotten worse - the amount of time the right headlight stays on has become less and less (averages a couple minutes now). i replaced both headlight bulbs, and the problem persists, so it doesn't seem to be a bulb issue. *tr

2006 prius headlights are intermittent, especially the driver's side. when you turn on the headlights they both go on, but the driver's side lights go out--at first others would tell us, then we would discover it ourselves. we reported this to the toyota dealership at about 35,000 miles and were told the bulbs cost about $300 apiece, that it wasn't covered under the warranty. we've since found out that other prius owners have experienced this same problem, that some have paid a high price to replace the lights and continue to have the same problem, which seems to indicate the problem isn't the bulbs! also there is controversy about the dealerships saying they have to remove the front bumper assembly to change the bulbs, when they can easily be replaced in about 10 minutes without removing the bumper! this headlight problem constitutes a very dangerous condition for which is seems bulb replacement isn't the answer. toyota needs to admit there is a manufacturing problem for which they should supply the remedy. there should be an indicator light on the instrument panel that indicates if either headlight fails to operate. *tr

2006 toyota prius headlamps go out randomly while driving at night. usually just one of them turns off but sometimes they both go out. the problem can be temporarily fixed by flipping them off and then on but this solution only lasts for about 10 min. *tr

Intermittent headlight failure. can be either headlamp. usually the passenger side. they may come back on after turning the headlamps on and off. lights are sometimes dim. problem is intermittent, unpredictable. sometimes the light goes out when i'm driving at any speed. the dealer says the part is $150 and requires removal of the bumper to replace. *tr

The front right headlight turns off occasionally during operation, but will turn back on when the lights are turned off and on again. *tr

We have a toyota prius 2006 after approximately 6 mos the left headlight started to turn off while lights were in use. since the automobile was under warranty i return to the dealer to report the on going problem. each time they tested it was working fine, however this not the case it keeps shutting down for no reason. i have repeated complain to the dealer with each service and regular maintenance. i would like to know if i any recourse to have to it repaired?? or issue a recall i have seen many complaints on the internet on this problem. *tr

Tl*the contact owns a 2006 toyota prius. the contact stated that the headlights turned off. they were replaced october 2010 but failed again. the dealer stated that the problem was that the bulbs were defective. the contact believed the failure to be within the circuit board. the failure mileage was approximately 50,000 and the current mileage was approximately 52,000.

Tl*the contact owns a 2006 toyota prius. whenever the contact was driving at any speed, the headlights turned off suddenly without any warning. the vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer where the contact was informed that the headlights needed to be replaced. the vehicle had not been repaired. the current and failure mileages were approximately 29,000.

The hid headlights on my toyota prius intermittently turn off at night. *tr

Tl*the contact owns a 2006 toyota prius. the contact stated that the headlights would intermittently turn off. the contact would turn the lights off and turn them on again but they would turn back off suddenly. the vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer but the dealer could not duplicate the failure. the failure continued. the vehicle was taken back to the dealer where the vehicle was repaired (the contact was unsure of the details of the repair). the failure occurred again 30,000 miles after the repair. the contact called the manufacturer who offered no assistance. the vehicle had not been repaired. the current mileage was approximately 67,000. the failure mileage was approximately 35,000.

2006 toyota prius. consumer states unintended acceleration *tgw the consumer stated the vehicle was on cruise control, when the engine suddenly revved. he noticed the speed had increased from 72 mph to 74 mph. he released the cruise control and the engine stopped revving. he then set the cruise control again, and it happened again. the consumer also stated he noticed the lcd screen had froze and it was giving false information. the consumer has since sold the vehicle. *jb

Both passenger and driver side headlights flicker and go out intermittently, creating safety situation. toyota dealer asking $400+ to fix for a product defect that has been extensively reported. toyota head office gave short shrift. problem began ca. 45k miles. *tr

2006 prius purchase cpo with 59,000 miles. noticed headlights not functioning within 15 minutes of driving off the lot. at least thee occurrences of headlight failure that evening, including, at one time both headlights went out at the same time. after 600+ complaints, why has no recall been compelled? *tr

Hid headlight goes out intermittently. when starting the car both headlights are on, but on multiple occasions after returning home i notice from the reflection on a wall/item in front of the parked car that the driver-side headlight is completely out. i've also noticed a couple of times while driving that the driver headlight is out. it can't just be the bulb since the light comes on and goes off. *tr

Faulty hid lightbulb about a year ago, i replaced the driver side hid lightbulb and now i have to replace the passenger side hid lightbulb. similar symptoms leading up to both replacements: the light sometimes works and sometimes does not. if i notice that the light is not working and switch the lights off and back on, sometimes the faulty light will work and other times it will not. the light never seems fully burned out as it works intermittently. at night, this can pose a safety issue. toyota has not been able to explain this issue and has only recommended replacing the lightbulb, which is quite expensive. *tr

I have a 2006 toyota prius and my drivers side headlight just turns off while i am driving. when i turn it completely off and then on, it comes back on for a little while and repeats the whole process again. i am lucky that one headlight is still on. if both headlights start behaving the same way, the driver will not know it and this could be a recipe for accidents and even death. i seriously think toyota should recall affected models and fix the issue before it starts killing people. *tr

Toyota prius 2006 headlight goes on and off intermittently toyota needs to recall these affected vehicles. major safety issue. *tr

Passenger side headlight or ("hid") will turn off for not apparent reason while headlights are activated. the light will turn off periodically during a drive over all surface types. correction: turn lights off then on again. passenger light will turn back on for a time, and then off. *tr

I bought a 2006 toyota prius new, with all the options, in may 2006. i live in southern california, where it's been mostly warm and dry (i.e., a drought) since before i bought the car. at about 64,000 in 2-3 days of misty weather, my right front headlight started going off and back on. at about 91,000 miles, the problem got much worse, but unpredictable. at 97,000 even worse. having to take the car to the dealer for other reasons, i asked the dealer to look at this, but they said that they could not duplicate the front right headlight going out. a little after 99,000 miles, the headlight ceased to stay on for more than a few seconds. i replaced it with a good mail-order hid bulb, but had the same result = it stays on for only several seconds before turning off. my wife refuses to drive this car at night or when it might be raining, and i won't risk her driving this car like that. if something happened to her, i suppose that i could sue toyota, but that wouldn't undo any harm to my wife. can someone do something about this?!? the toyota dealerships are incredibly defensive about this, and not at all helpful. there hasn't been an accident, yet. but, driving with just one headlight is not safe !!! *tr

My 2006 toyota prius had a problem with the headlights whereby one would go off and on intermittently. there was no apparent pattern as to when this would happen, although it seemed to occur after the headlights had been on for more than 10 minutes.; *tr

I have an 2006 toyota prius with hid headlights. about 6 months ago, one light started going out shortly after ignition. it could be either one. after i turn the lights off and back on, both will stay on for the duration of the trip. this has been consistent over last 6 months or so. *tr

For the second time in the last several months, the braking system on my 2006 toyota prius completely failed to function, despite the pedal being fully engaged, and i rolled into the car ahead of me at low speed. the first incident took place in stop and go traffic on the freeway, the second while approaching an intersection, again, in heavy traffic. on both occasions my front bumper was seriously mangled - costing me several thousand dollars to repair and increasing my insurance rates considerably - while the other vehicle suffered little to no damage. my neck is extremely stiff and i no longer feel safe driving my car. *tr

My 2006 toyota prius headlights has manufacturer defect that toyota won't take responsibility. in early 2010, the front passenger headlight will go off intermittently. but if it were turn off then on, it will stay on for a while before turn off again. now the front passenger headlight is doing the same. i called toyota dealer in atlanta and it cost $400 to fix. i called toyota customer service and was surprised to know they knew about this issue but won't pay for the repair. i received a traffic ticket for front passenger headlight malfunction. it cost me $265 for the ticket. toyota just lost my confidence. *tr

Intermittent functioning of passenger-side hid headlamp on 2006 toyota prius after <20,000 miles, followed by complete failure after a few months. bulb replaced by toyota dealer in 2009 at cost >$200. now, driver-side bulb experiencing same issue of intermittent function at <30k miles. *tr

2006 toyota prius driver side headlamp is faulty--goes out intermittently. (lightbulb is not burned out, as light will come back on if the light switch is turned off and then turned back on.) *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2006 toyota prius. the contact stated the passenger side headlight would illuminate intermittently when the automatic headlights were in activation. the vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer where they stated that the headlight assembly would need to be replaced. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure mileage was approximately 40,000.

My 2006 prius has a "winking" right headlight --- sometimes on, sometimes not. it is a high intensity discharge type. the car now has 70,000 miles on it but this behavior has been going on intermittently for over a year. i base that on the several times in the past year someone has told me the light was out but, when i went to look at the light, it was on! recently, i have witnessed it myself. i understand i am not alone with this problem. hopefully, replacing the bulb will fix it but even that is an expensive proposition and the bulb may not be the culprit. *tr

The headlights on my toyota prius 2006 have been going out for the past month, more than once a day. i took the car to be inspected and was told i would need high resolution hid lights that would cost over $500. i went online and found out that tons of other people are having the same issue as me. *tr

2006 toyota prius headlights come on and off. when they go off, you can turn off and on and they will come on. 2 years toyota replaced left headlight for $300. this seemed to fix that, but they did not replace right at the time, which i wanted them to do. now right does it. i can't afford $300.00 to replace bulb. instructions for doing it yourself does not help. unable to do according to directions, toyota said they had to take off front end to it that is why so expensive. *tr

Tl* the contact owns 2006 toyota prius. the contact stated was driving 30 mph when the headlights failed. the headlights would fail intermittently and the manufacturer advised that the bulb failure was random. the vehicle was taken to the dealer where the light bulb was replaced. the failure mileage was 79,000 and the current mileage was 86,000.

I have a headlight that goes on and off intermittently on a 2006 prius. it cost me $273.13 to fix at the dealer. $273.13 for a light bulb!!!!!! *tr

2006 prius drivers side headlight intermittently stops working. if i shut off and restart from the switch they start up again. *tr

Vehicle: 2006 toyota prius hid headlights (usually passenger side) intermittent. *tr

1. normal highway driving after approximately two hours in hot weather. 2. engine stalls (quits). engine will not restart until after 15 minutes "rest". has happened twice - only on long trip. 3. two different toyota dealers were unable to diagnose the problem. *tr

My 4 year old toyota prius lost engine power on the freeway on two separate occasions. driving in stop and go traffic on freeway i heard one beep as the car lost engine power slowed down and went to battery. a long row of warning symbols, starting with the triangle, lit up. i slowly exited freeway on battery power then turned car off. i restarted car about 15 min. later and engine started, only warning lights illuminated were red triangle and check engine light. dealer replaced inverter pump assembly and flushed the inverter system. 5 days after repair, while exiting freeway during normal traffic, beep sounded and engine shut off and the above order of events happened again. this time dealer replaced inverter assy (assembly?). *tr

The hid headlamps of my 2006 toyota prius, simultaneously shut off. turning them off and then on again restores them. toyota's answer was to replace the bulbs as they will reportedly do this when they are on the verge of expiring. i have replaced both bulbs, and the problem was not solved, in fact it worse than ever, rendering my vehicle unsafe to operate after daylight hours. i replaced both bulbs with high quality oem bulbs, and the first time i drove the car after replacement, the lights shut off more than 10 times during a 13 mile trip. please reconsider your finding from this case: pe09019 as these cars age, more and more people are reporting both headlamps shutting off - with the only solution being turning them off/on. *tr

As a follow up to odi 10354506 - toyota pulled the information off the event data recorder and it indicated that the throttle and the brake were both engaged at the same time. that is true, but my foot was only on the brake. i only use my right foot to accelerate and to brake. as soon as the car started accelerating, i moved my foot over to slam on the brakes. it makes sense that the event data recorder would show the throttle and brake engaged at the same time, but my foot was only on the brake. something else was engaging the throttle, and apparently toyota has no way to figure out what that could be. the dealer, while sympathetic, had no fix that he could apply. *tr

In november of 2007, i was driving my wife's 2006 toyota prius to take the family to lunch. i approached the intersection, i was on the cel phone, and the brakes failed to work and i crashed into a truck who was out in the intersection, causing damage to the front end of the prius. my wife had been complaining for months that the prius had brake failure incidents once a month. i would test drive the car, and could not get the brakes to fail. that is until the incident mentioned above happened. i immediately drove the car to the toyota dealer. i informed them that the brakes failed. i informed them that they would need to drive the car every day for a month before they could get the brakes to fail. they kept the car for a month, but did not test it as i recommended......and informed me that they could not see any problem, forcing me to pay out of pocket for the damages to the car $1,566.57....as well as for the $1,440.38 rental car bill. i immediately picked up the car and drove it to another manufacturers dealership and traded it in on honda accord. there was no way i was going to risk my families lives, driving that car another day. state farm claim number #[xxx] information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6). *tr

Vehicle: 2006 toyota prius headlights (passenger) intermittent or sometimes completely out for over an hour. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2006 toyota prius. the contact was driving approximately 45 mph when the driver side headlamp would no longer illuminate. after approximately twenty minutes, the headlamp resumed normal operation before repeating the failure. the failure occurred intermittently. the vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer for inspection where the technician informed that the failure was caused by the headlamp wiring overheating and blowing out the bulb. the failure recurred. the bulb was replaced. the failure mileage was 137,000. updated 12/01/10. *lj updated 12/09/10*jb

2006 toyota prius. passenger side hid headlight extinguishes intermittently since about 40k miles. dealers want upward of $700 to replace one light. at purchase the headlight was represented to last twice as long as standard headlights. toyota engineering made it very difficult for a layman to replace the bulb. if/when the other headlight dies at night it could be tragic. *tr

2006 toyota prius with hid headlights. after 4 years of ownership both hid lamps have failed at 72,000 miles. the lights were working when i leave the garage however when i returned home they were dark. turning the headlight switch off and back on seemed to correct the problem. i do not know how long they were off or how often this has happened but it is not acceptable to have both hid lamps to hail intermittently and unexpectedly after only 4 years. this style lamp should last years and years. cost to replace lamps at dealer over $1,000. *tr

After exiting an interstate, i was stopped at a traffic light. i accelerated when the light turned green, to approximately 40 mph. after about 200 feet, as i approached a merge point, i took my foot off the gas, but the car kept accelerating. i immediately stepped on the brake, and the car slowed. i removed my foot from the brake, and felt the car continue to accelerate on its own. i didn't have another car in front of me, so i stepped on the gas pedal briefly, and then on the brake again, and then it seemed to operate normally again. remembering about the floor mat recall, i immediately looked down to check to see if the gas pedal was clear of the mat. it was. after i had parked the car, i noticed that the mat was still secured in its proper place. there wasn't anything else that could have interfered with the pedal. later that same day, i was driving my 13yr old daughter home from school. i was stopped at a stop sign. i made a left turn onto a busy street during rush hour. after accelerating through the turn, i took my foot off the gas because there were cars ahead of me stopped for another light. the car continued to accelerate. i stepped on the brake, which was stiffer than usual, and i could hear the engine continuing to rev in the background. the car slowed. i had a little space in front of me, so i eased up off the brake, but the car continued to accelerate on its own. i pressed down on the brake again, all the while feeling the continued acceleration, and moved off to the side of the road, where i braked until i came to a stop. this was a two lane road with no shoulder, so i just moved over as far as i could and put my hazards on. i was still part way on the road. i put the car in park, pushed the on/off ignition switch, and shut down the car. i sat there for a few minutes, re-started the car and drove home without further event. *tr

I was pulling into a parking space at a very low rate of speed (less than 5 mph) and the car suddenly shot forward. i stood on the brakes and the car responded as expected - it stopped. i turned off the power. about 10 minutes later, i turned the car on and it drove normally. there was no floor mat - i had removed it months ago. my foot was on the accelerator, easing into the parking space and i didn't feel the accelerator move at all. it was like the car accelerated without any input from the accelerator at all. i've taken the car to the dealer, but i'm afraid to drive it now, and i'm afraid to take my children anywhere in it. *tr

Front wheel bearing making huge noise when steering wheel. *tr

Headlamps needed replacement a total of 4 times- 2 each side. passenger side replaced 9/2008, 8/2010; driver's side replaced just under 1 year apart: 1/2009, 1/2010. *tr

Failure of the passenger side headlight. *tr

2006 toyota prius hid headlights stops working (turns off) will driving. started out with the right side (passenger side). now both sides of the cars will turn off randomly. problem is at night, you must turn off & on headlight switch for the hid headlights to come back on. this has been an on going problem, have replaced the hid headlights bulbs twice and the ecu headlight computer and the problem still persist. *tr

I'm among the many who have defective high intensity headlights in my 2006 prius. around 20k miles i started having problems with flickering and intermittent outage. the dealer wouldn't replace them for free and i couldn't afford the $1000 it would have cost to replace. while driving at night on a treacherous country road i almost went off the road when the lights went out completely while attempting to turn on the brights. *tr

Driving at night with headlights on. left headlight flickers, a few seconds later the right headlight goes dark. less than a minute later, the left headlight goes dark. no headlights while driving on hwy 85 in san jose. i slowed and then checked to see if the light switch worked. i turned the headlight switch to off, then back on and the headlights came back on. after less than a minute, the lights repeated their failure process again. i repeated the switch off/on, multiple times until i reached my destination. i cannot operate the vehicle when it is dark. *tr

I own a 2006 toyota prius. the headlights have been shutting off, sometimes seconds after turning them on. sometimes the drivers headlight and others the passengers headlight. i've even been pulled over by an officer , told him about the ongoing issue with trying to get toyota to own up to it, and was told that he had run across this before. he let me go without as much as a warning. this problem is all over the internet. toyota refuses to take responsibility. help. [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6). *tr

The headlamp in the 2006 toyota prius worked intermittently. i am unsure of the duration of this but suspect it lasted for approximately six months before taking it to a dealer. the headlamp appeared to dim while driving but stopping and checking revealed that the headlamp was working properly. when the vehicle was turned off and immediately back on, the headlamp worked. it went out while driving and, just as suddenly, came back on. i took it to the dealer and was told that the hid needed to be replaced. because of the high labor cost to remove the bumper (approximately $300) for headlamp replacement, both lamps were replaced at a cost of about $700. i did not ask for the replaced part and the dealer did not offer it. (the trip to the dealer was delayed until all other possibilities had been explored because the cost involved.) the unsafe condition of driving with one functional headlamp and one intermittently function headlamp was necessary until the money for repairs could be obtained. *tr

On my 2006 toyota prius, the headlights randomly switch off, sometimes one at a time, sometimes both. the lights will both turn back on if i switch the lights off and back on. the lights switch off again anywhere from a few minutes to a few days after this 'reset.' the car had been driven for only 20,000 miles when the first incident occurred. *tr

Twice in one week, on the highway, with one led segment remaining on the fuel gauge, the car quit dead and rolled out luckily to the side of the road. out of fuel. low level light came on each time. genuine hassles getting to a gas station on foot on the interstate to get a container of gas to get running again. two different toyota service managers insisted nothing is wrong with the measuring system and that one should never trust a gauge or allow the level to get near zero. not even one segment low! never, in all my years of driving have i had a car run out of gas with fuel indicated on the gauge. we additionally own another prius (2005) which can run safely and not quit shortly after the low fuel warning comes on or all segments vanish. this is unsafe as one is forced to do emergency evasive action to the side of the road, then risk life walking on the interstate. our solution the last few year is never do we let fuel level get below 2 led segments since. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2006 toyota prius. while driving at 65 mph, the contact noticed that the driver side headlight was slightly dimmer than the passenger side headlight. the driver side headlight then failed. after turning the light switch on and off, the headlights resumed normal operation. the vehicle was not diagnosed by the dealer or repaired. the failure mileage was 42,000 and the current mileage was 45,000.

Tl* the contact owns a 2006 toyota prius. while driving at 50 mph, the vehicle stalled without warning. the failure occurred an additional time and the vehicle was taken to the dealer. the dealer was unable to diagnose or repair the vehicle. the vin was not available. the failure and current mileages were not available.

Tl* the contact owns a 2006 toyota prius. while the vehicle was parked, the contact attempted to activate the headlights. however, the headlights failed to operate. the contact replaced the driver side headlamp. the failure occurred on three separate occasions which included the replacement of the driver and passenger side headlamps. the vehicle had not been diagnosed at the time of the complaint. the failure mileage was approximately 35,000. the system rejected the vin which will be update upon receipt of the complaint.

The hid headlights on our 2006 prius will flicker or completely turn off while driving. it happens seemingly randomly,, one side will go out the other will stay on and visa versa or both will go out at the same time. there doesn't seem to be any condition that causes it to happen. if i turn the light switch off and then back on the lights will come back on again, sometimes seconds or minutes will pass and the lights will fail again. *tr

I have continued to have recurring headlight issues on my 2006 toyota prius. i am on my third headlight and i have replaced two headlight assemblies. on each occasion, we were made aware of the defective headlight by another party as we were driving. it leads to a dangerous situation because it reduces the lighted path at night and could potentially impair another driver's ability to see my vehicle. i had to pay out of pocket for the repair since the extended warranty that i purchased did not cover "burnt bulbs". this is obviously an inherent issue that toyota has not addressed. each repair is in excess of $200. *tr

On my toyota prius 2006, the passenger side headlight intermittently goes out for a period of time. sometimes for an extended period, and sometimes for a short period. the dealership can't find a problem with the headlamp, because,even leaving the lights on all day, the light won't shut off. i can't determine the pattern for the light shutting off, and i often only know about the problem when someone alerts me to a dark headlight. this is a major safety issue because of the intermittent nature, and inability to detect the outage. *tr

Problem with the hid headlights on toyota prius 2006 1. headlights go off intermittently while driving without me doing anything 2. both headlights turned off by itself while driving at night on the freeway this happened on numerous occasions. *tr

I have a toyota prius 06-when applying the brakes, especially over rough roads, they seem to momentarily fail before slowing the vehicle. *tr

Headlights on my 2006 prius all of a sudden went kaput ; left one yesterday and the right one today. *tr

I own a 2006 toyota prius. when i apply the brake when going over rough terrain or potholes, it feels like the car speeds up momentarily before the braking kicks in. i have talked to my dealer about this, but he the mechanic says it is normal for hybrids. *tr

2006 toyota prius driver side headlight failure. occurred twice. dealer states it will cost approximately $600.00 to correct. *tr

I was driving to a place a short distance from my home when i heard a noise and the car veered to the right. i pulled over immediately and got out of the car. the tire on the right front was blown out at the sidewall and i saw two holes at the inside of the sidewall one above the other. the rim was also destroyed. *tr

Our family met with an accident n toyota prius. the other car came and hit the driver door and the side airbag never deployed. the car door is completely damaged and the windows shattered. *tr

My 2006 toyota prius has a major safety issue. the left headlight has been intermittently going out for over two years now. turning the light on to high or low beam does not change the status of the light at all, but usually it comes on again when the lights are turned off and immediately turned back on. within the last two weeks the right headlight has done it twice. i was first aware of the left headlight problem during the spring of 2008 likely at that time with about 25,000 ? 27,000 miles. i do not leave the headlights on during daytime driving so there has not been high usage the dealership acts like they have never heard of this problem before, and it might be a light going bad which will cost $300 per light bulb plus installation. but it has been doing it for over two years off and on a long time for a bad lightbulb to last. totally frustrated after i once again gave the service representative a detailed description of the problem and had a different service rep come out and tell me there was no problem with my headlights, i googled this problem and i see repeated references to exactly the same headlight issues by other 2006 pries owners. now that i see that this is not just my pries, but many priuses i am doubly concerned. it is not an event i am able to reproduce. the dealership says that they can't diagnose the problem if the lights are working and can?t reproduce it. i said i would gladly bring the car in at any time at night when it was doing it so they could diagnose it, but they can't accommodate me when the problem arises at night because they are closed nor can they suggest any place to take the car to have it tested at that time. having two working headlights is a legal safety issue or the police would not stop and ticket or warm cars with this problem. toyota needs to find a fix for this safety issue. *tr

My wife and i were driving on i-25 in colorado and both of our headlights shut off on our 2006 toyota prius, fortunately i have reading about this problem so i turned them off and on again. i've been to three toyota dealers with no help in sight. i would appreciate any help on this matter. *tr

I own a 2006 toyota prius. the left front hid headlight intermittently goes out. i have to turn the lights off and then back on to get the light to go back on. this seems to be a common problem after researching it online. nhtsa needs to continue the investigation it started on this matter and require a recall for this dangerous condition. *tr

Whenever brake is being applied at the time i go over railroad tracks or rough road such as potholes, the anti-lock brake light comes on and it feels like the brakes disengage for a short time on my 2006 toyota prius purchased new in 2006.. my husband's suburu forester does not give this unsettling feeling, as if losing control, when in anti-lock braking mode. this has been occurring since i bought the car, on an occasional basis. i reported it to my toyota car dealer's service department before my warranty was up and was told "the anti-lock brakes are supposed to do that." i suspect it may be related to the regeneration of the electric battery while braking since this is a difference from other vehicles. *tr

I own a 2006 prius and my headlights keeps going out randomly. i took it to the dealer and it was working fine the whole time. they checked it and couldn't find any problem. the technician told me this has been an issue for lots of prius cars and told me if it stops working again, to hit it a little bit. this is safety issue and i just want to report this issue . *tr

I have 2006 prius,the driver side head light goes out and then as i am driving. it is unpredictable. if i turn the lights off and then back on, the light works again. i changed both head lights in city toyota cost $560.72 on dec.8,2008 and now may 27,2010, the passenger side headlight is not working. it only last 1-1/2 year, this is not acceptable. *tr

When i go over a bump or uneven surface or grate or slippery surface while braking in my 2006 toyota prius, the abs (antilock brake system) and/or vehicle stability control/traction control activates. the problem is that when these systems do so, it feels like i lose all braking power and it seems as though the car accelerates. it is most apparent when it is wet out, but i've had this happen even in dry conditions. toyota dealership says that this is normal operation for the abs, but they seem to be correcting this same problem for 2010 priuses through a software change--but not any other year models. *tr

While braking harder or more suddenly than normal (usually on downhill) the skid control system kicks in, but for a second or two the brakes feel like the disengage and then go on again. for a split second every time it happens it makes me have a flush of panic. *tr

Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6) i have a 2006 toyota prius that has the same braking problem reported for the 2010 model year. the local toyota garage said they don't know anything about a problem with the 2006 model. they told me to call toyota but i haven't been able to get through. the vin number for the car is [xxx] *tr

Frequently when the anti-lock brakes engage there seems to be uneven application that causes a slippage and the indicator light comes on. the vehicle seems to shudder and shimmy a bit making the braking seem like it is failing and increasing the braking distance. the vehicle has done this from day one and the dealer has assured me that it is normal. i have never had this happen with any other car i have had with anti-lock brakes. *tr

Whenever the brakes are being applied at the time i go over railroad tracks or rough road such as potholes, the brakes feels like they disengage for a short time on my 2006 toyota prius (purchased new in 2006). sometimes the anti-lock brake light comes on momentarily but not always. this has been occurring since i bought the car in 2006. i reported it to my toyota car dealer's service department and was told "the anti-lock brakes are supposed to do that." not in any of my other cars that have anti lock brakes. too bad toyota just cant tell the truth ever. this is abnormal braking behavior. *tr

2006 prius hid left headlight goes off , you need to turn them completely off and on again to see if it will come on . it might stay on or might go off again . i have been stopped twice and giving a warning . i live in the white mtns of nh and can't afford to be without both lights working because of moose and other wild animals dashing into the road . please help me deal with [xxx] toyota . my dealer irwin toyota is a only interested in selling cars not customer happiness . [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6). *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2006 toyota prius. the contact stated that the vehicle was equipped with hid bulbs for the headlights which burned out prematurely. the vehicle was taken to an authorized dealership where the bulbs were placed on four different occasions since owning the vehicle. the dealer told him to avoid driving with the headlights on unless conditions called for it. the contact called the manufacturer and filed a complaint; the manufacturer also paid some of the costs to replace the bulbs. as of may 9, 2010, another bulb had blown out and the vehicle had not been repaired at the time of the complaint. the current mileage was approximately 104,000. the failure mileage was approximately 37,000.

Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6) since the toyota recall of their prius cars my family and i have been worried about our safety in our prius 2006. we did not want to wait until something happens. we would rather take care of the problem before anything happens but we cannot do that because toyota dealers are not doing any repairs to my 2006 prius and their employees lied to me and maybe to all other customers. on 03/29/2010 i took my 2006 toyota prius to mike calvert toyota located at 2333 s. loop west houston tx 77054 for regular service. they finished servicing my prius about 12:24:20 pm. i asked the cashier how was toyota takeing care of the prius recalls. she answered that she did not know anything about it and if i had any questions to ask my service men. my service men, noel butler was present and he said that the recall was only on prius 2010. my service men kept on talking to the cashier while he was exiting the door and saying "he just want to capitalize on the recall because his car has over 82000 miles and is a prius 2006. the cashier and noel butler lied to me because everybody knows about toyota recalls. the recall has been on the news all over the world. on monday, may 03 2010 i received a letter from toyota stating that "toyota has decided that a defect which relates to motor vehicle safety exists in 2004 through 2009 model year prius vehicles." therefore, neither toyota dealers nor employees are being honest with the consumers because they are not honoring any promised repairs. i will never buy a toyota because they are a bunch of liars. [xxx] *tr

I own a 2006 toyota prius. the headlights go out intermittently. when the lights are turned off and then back on, it seems to fix the problem. took it to the dealer and they said since they were working at the time there was nothing that they would do. this is a huge safety issue. this has happened on several occasions now, going back a few months. *tr

Re: toyota prius 2006 hid headlights problem - intermittent on and off for the past 10,000 miles solution: dealer wants $600 labor to replace a bulb. not covered under extended warranty. dealer does not know if bulb is the problem, or starter, or other. problem could costs thousands of dollars to troubleshoot! poor design means i cannot change it myself. other prius owners reporting similar experience. *tr

Driving in good weather on a local road and car skid light went on and wheels locked to the right. steering was not responsive. the lack of steering caused the accident. however, the airbags did not deploy.

Tl*the contact owns a 2006 toyota prius. while traveling at approximately 20 mph, the contact depressed the brake pedal but the vehicle did not slow down. the vehicle then crashed into the rear of another vehicle and continued to lunge into the other vehicle until the engine stalled. a police report was filed. the vehicle was at the dealership but repairs had not been performed at the time of the complaint. the current and failure mileages were approximately 130,000.

2006 toyota prius brake failure when exiting freeway (101) onto off ramp at rengsdorff ave., in mountain view. roadway was slightly moist from light morning drizzle and accumulated oils on road but otherwise nothing unusual about road conditions... exited freeway at approximately 30-35 mph and applied brakes but brakes did not engage and car skidded off the off ramp into a swale... car became stuck in swale and suffered body damage to left side of car...a tow truck had to be called to drag it out of the swale...the brake problem was reported to dealer who did not acknowledge the problem and stonewalled me...also reported brake problem to toyota corporate headquarters (carlos a. garcia) in torrance, ca and he would not acknowledge the existence of a brake problem in the 2006 prius. total cost of repair, rental car, towing , etc. was approximately $5,400.00. *tr

This happens on a 2006 toyota prius. the head lamps fail, this failure takes place every 3-4 months. this has happened 20 times since the car was purchased 2006 march. the failure does not happen simultaneously, but the driver's side lamp will fail and then the passenger side lamp will fail. it is always the low beam filament that fails. this was reported to the dealership and at 90k mile check up, the dealership was asked to check the resistance, the voltage and the amps in each circuit for each head lamp. the stated there was no problem in this area. there is another electrical issue, but is seems to be not related. the horn will sound softly when stopped with the engine electrical or gas or both running. thanks. *tr

Both headlights (hid) on a 2006 toyota prius failed 3 times last night. turning off and on the headlights ( at highway speed!!!) corrected the problem. toyota has previously sent out a letter noting the "payback of replacement hid" cost but for both to fail out of the blue is very suspicious. *tr

Passenger headlight cuts out without warning for no apparent reason. the only remedy is to turn the headlights off and then back on. this causes the head light to begin functioning for a short period of time. *tr

I am writing to you about an unresolved problem with my 2006 toyota prius. in may 2008, the driver's side electronic door lock actuator failed and was replaced by my local toyota dealer. now, the driver¿s side door lock actuator has once again failed, along with the passenger¿s side actuator. my local toyota dealer informed me that the estimated repair cost would total $1,300. i indicated that in view of the extremely high repair cost and the prior replacement of the driver¿s side actuator, toyota should assume a share of the repair cost, and the dealership submitted the matter to their regional representative. the dealership subsequently informed me that the regional representative was offering to assume $300 of the repair cost as a customer goodwill gesture. i indicated that toyota should assume a greater portion of the overall expense for the current repair, and the dealership once again agreed to convey that point to the regional representative. however, the dealership subsequently informed me that, rather than offering any further adjustment, the regional representative¿s response was to withdraw its previous offer altogether, leaving me with the entire financial liability for the repair! i then contacted the national toyota customer experience center in torrance, california, to complain about the regional representative¿s summary retraction of the adjustment that it had already offered. a representative at the center subsequently informed me that he concurred with the regional representative¿s actions and was unwilling to reverse them. against the recent backdrop of widespread and serious mechanical problems with its products, the toyota corporation has publicly pledged a renewed emphasis on quality and customer service. however, the way in which it has chosen to handle my complaint has left me feeling bewildered, disrespected, and abandoned. accordingly, i'm writing to your agency to ascertain what other remedies may be available to me. thank you. *tr

Toyota prius complete electrical failure causing the car to lose the steering, brakes all instrument displays including no hazard lights. dead stick driving. incident occurred unexpectedly while driving on crowded highway 5 north 1 hour from downtown la. i'm lucky to live through this. *tr

2006 toyota prius loses all traction when encountering conditions where only one wheel loses traction. this failure occurs on roads with sand on them. most commonly it occurs when attempting to turn right at an intersection, from the right or turn lane. when to accelerator is pressed, the car starts to move, usually a little way into the intersection, and then stalls because the right front wheel starts to slip in the sand along the curb. this is especially dangerous when executing a "right on red" turn. the car has moved part way into the intersection and is stalled by the lack of any traction. toyota calls this "traction control". i don't think this is an accurate description. it's really computer controlled traction loss. the occurrence reported is only the latest. it has been going on for almost 4 years. complaints to toyota have been fruitless, because they say the system is operating within design limits. i have been told that the system was designed to prevent over-revving of engine components and stressing them. *tr

Failure of hid headlights headlights failed at 50,000 miles, i feel that toyota used a poor quality light bulb for their hid lighting. the coast is expensive to replace the bulb. toyota should recall the hid light bulb. *tr

I own a 2006 toyota prius i that has hid headlight system i have replaced the computer once and at least 2 bulbs which go out intermittently. i had one go out again and if the other side goes out before i can get it serviced i won't be able to drive it at night at all. *tr

Tl*the contact owns a 2006 toyota prius. while driving approximately 40 mph at night, the headlights suddenly shut off. the contact turned the light switch off and on and the headlights began functioning normally. the vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer but the vehicle had not been repaired when the complaint was filed. the failure and current mileages were approximately 53,000.

Hid headlight on toyota prius 2006 will not stay on!! when i went to the dealer the headlight happened to be on and they could do nothing. when it went off last night i almost ran into a retaining wall. very close call and it scared the hell out of us!! it has occurred a couple of times. judging from the prius chat site this is a common occurrence which toyota should be able to fix, but evidently a lot of people have spent thousands of dollars with no appreciable effect. i'll take it in again, but i ahven't too much faith in their ability to resolve the problem permanently!!

Bought a used 2006 toyota prius on march 29, 2010, with 50,000 miles. the first time i drove it at night, the right headlight went out, followed shortly by the left headlight. i turned on my fog lights and proceeded to drive the 25 miles to my home. i turned off the headlights and turned them back on and they both worked. this time the left headlight went out, and i turned off my fog lights and turned on the high beams, then all the lights went out and i turned the fog lights back on. this occurred four times before i finally made it home on one headlight. dealer replaced the bulbs. toyota said they were high intensity bulbs that heated up and burned out, and suggested not using them except at night. the bulbs cost $150 or $350 and cost an additional $150 to install. was told if it happens again, to let them know and they'll swap the bulbs to see if it's the headlight computer that has the problem. no idea what that would cost to replace. wasn't happy with the situation, traded up to a 2008 prius with 25,000 miles and tonight, april 6, 2010, the same thing has happened. there is something wrong with this scenario. one the headlight bulbs shouldn't consistently blow, and, two, no headlight bulb should cost $150 or more. back to the dealer tomorrow or the next day to see what they'll do. *tr

The hid headlights on my 2006 toyota prius (40k miles) go out whenever the car accelerates (braking, speeding up, turning, go over a speed bump). the lights turn back on if i flip the headlight switch on and off. this appears to be a widespread issue affecting thousands of toyota prius owners.

Tl*the contact owns a 2006 toyota prius. while driving at approximately 70 mph, the contact stated that the accelerator pedal went down to the floorboard when depressed. he engaged the brake pedal, turned the vehicle off and then restarted it which seemed to correct the problem. the contact stated that this failure was the second occurrence of the problem. he called the manufacturer and was told that they would get back with him when they were ready to repair the problem. the vin was unavailable. the failure mileage was unknown. the current mileage was approximately 104,000.

Toyota prius floor mat and sustained acceleration

Hid headlamp goes out while driving after it becomes hot. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2006 toyota prius. while driving at approximate speeds of 50 mph, the passengers side front tire traveled over a small patch of ice. the vehicle began to skid from side to side and the rear of the vehicle spun toward the front so that the contact was then facing oncoming traffic. the vehicle proceeded sliding and crashed into a guard rail. the contact sustained injuries and a police report was filed accordingly. the vehicle was taken to an authorized collision repair shop, where repairs were made to the structural damages caused by the crash. the failure mileage was 40,000 and the current mileage was 41,000.

Headlight on driver's side occasionally turns off while driving. *tr

1996 toyota prius - (3) things i have noticed when operating car. (1) when braking and going over rough pavement, car will behave as though it is hydroplaneing - the brakes not slowing the car for a brief period until car settles down. this can happen when going as slow as 5 mph. the faster one is going when hitting the rough pavement, the farther the car will travel before braking sensation re-appears. i believe this occurs everytime i travel rough pavement (la city streets, not back country or 4 wheeling). note that warning light on dashboard does light suggesting loss of control. i called dealer service center and described problem, they assured me that no safety warnings or recalls had been made. 2) when turning off cruise control, car will accelerate slightly for approximately 1-2 seconds. this is most noticeable when trying to exit carpool lane in heavy traffic and spacing is limited. again called dealership and assured no safety notices or recalls. i now cover brake when turning off speed control. 3) car just eats up hid headlight (9 in 80k miles + 2 original installed) and taillight bulbs (11 + 2 originally installed). again no safety notices or recalls. i replace them as i notice them. i have never had both headlights go out at once as described on your website. note that other than the above issues/concerns, this car has been a great car with no service except for gas, oil changes, and replace the bulbs when they go out. *tr

My hid light on my 2006 prius burnt out on driver's left side. took it in for a replacement and they told me that i have to replace both for a price of $500 and will only warranty for 1 year. i was told the average span for a bulb is 2.5-4 years. this is a ridiculous price for a light bulb. you should put pressure on the company to bring the cost for this safety repair down to a reasonable level. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2006 toyota prius. the contact stated that while driving at speeds of 30 mph and attempting to make a turn, the vehicle abnormally accelerated. simultaneously, the power steering failed causing inhibited control of the vehicle. the vehicle proceeded to make a 180 degree turn, and crashed into a pole. the manufacturer was contacted and stated that the process would take a matter of time before they could provide any assistance. the vin, current, and failure mileages were not available when the complaint was filed.

My prius has 60, 000 miles and has hi definition headlights. last week one of the lights went out so i went to a toyota dealer to have it changes. when they turned on the headlights to check the problem the light worked. the tech said toyota had a problem with headlights getting overheated and going out and coming back on. the problems was not resolved. *dt

Tl*the contact owns a 2006 toyota prius. when the brake was applied, the abs light came on. the contact stated that while driving approximately 15 mph on uneven pavement or wet roads there was a delay when the brakes were applied. the vehicle was taken to the dealer who stated that the vehicle was not experiencing any failures. the contact also stated that there was an accident involving the vehicle. the contact stated the vehicle was destroyed. the vin was not available. the current and failure miles were not available.

My headlights are intermittently failing on my 2006 prius. the dealership has replaced both the left and right (as a pair) headlights at ~20,000 miles and again at ~48,000 miles. and now at 55,000 miles, they are replacing another front headlight hid bulb. there were two additional times that i requested the toyota service department check the lights as i had been told by a police officer that front and/or back lights were out, but the dealership said all of the lights were functioning. my lights appear to work intermittently. i may have both headlights working for a week or a month or more, then one of both may go out, and then one or both may start functioning again. it's completely variable. i never know if one of both headlights will work at any given time. it's frustrating and scary- as i don't know what to do to fundamentally resolve the issue and ensure that i have functioning headlights! approximate dates: jan 2008 - police officer told me a light was out, dealer could not reproduce april 2008 - both headlights replaced september 2009- both headlights replaced february 2009- police officer told me lights were out (1 front, 1 back) march 2010- headlight replaced *dt

Tl*the contact owns a 2006 toyota prius. the contact was driving approximately 45 mph with the headlights activated. suddenly, the driver side headlight became inoperable without assistance. the headlight functioned after engaging the headlight switch. the failure occurred at any given speed. the vehicle was taken to the dealer and repaired for the malfunction. the identical failure occurred on a separate occasion. the vehicle has not been repaired at this time. the manufacturer was notified and informed that the service repair would be at the owners expense. the failure mileage was 49,000. the current mileage was 74,000.

Returning home at 10 p.m i drove up to my garage door and attempted to turn off the motor. instead the car lurched forward, hitting the door with some force. i slammed on the brakes and put the car in reverse. but instead of stopping it backed rapidly out of the driveway, across the roadway, and into my neighbor's cadillac. when i put it back in drive it still moved rapidly, this time back across the road and into my garage, causing terrible damage. this happened 4 days ago . never before. i'm now waiting for a settlement so i can buy a less risky car. *cn

Our 2006 toyota prius with hid headlights intermittently and suddenly turn off, mostly on the driver side, but can happen on the passenger side. it is sometimes difficult to know when a bulb goes out, so this is clearly a safety issue since oncoming traffic can misjudge my car's position with only one headlight, not to mention reduced visibility for my car. when i went to the city toyota dealership in daly city, ca near my house in 2008, i was shocked to find out the toyota parts department was charging $300 for one bulb. i read online that turning the headlights off and then on can revive the bulb, and i found this method to work, but often the bulb would then randomly turn off again. this make-shift temporary solution, plus the very high price for a bulb as well as unclear instructions from toyota whether it was the expensive electronics unit or the bulb discouraged me from doing anything. then i read that even after bulbs were replaced with oem bulbs some prius owners had recurring issues. was i going to spend $300 per bulb only to find out it didn't work? no way. i consider this issue to be a reliability and safety issue that toyota should rectify at their cost 100%. all i received in the mail from toyota was a letter saying they would reimburse me if i had performed headlight issue service with them. i am frustrated this issue is still not being officially dealt with by toyota in a responsible manner. my post to this site is in an attempt for the proper government authorities to force toyota's hand to do the right thing, and that is to face up to an obvious design/quality issue.

The 2006 toyota prius was being driven up a hill (private road which we have access t)., when the car hit aan aea of loose dirt & gravel. this car, a base model prius, has anti-skid control, but not traction control. the base model in 2006 was the only one designed like this. what happens, is when the anti-skid kicks in, it cuts all power to the wheels. since the car ws heading up a steep incline, when all power to the wheels was cut, the car rolled back down and off the road ito the woods and trees/rocks. i just found out from my insurance company the the car is a total loss from all the damage to various parts. this problem never affected us except when trying to get out of the driveway on snowy/icy days. now, whewn this incident happened, it is apparent the car should never have been sold or designed in this way

This is about a 2006 toyota prius with 37,000 miles on it. the driver's side headlight goes on and off. it happens frequently, perhaps every day, and it has been like this for 4 months now. a lot of people are having the same problem and i know from them that replacing the bulb will not fix it.

2006 prius (45,000 miles) hid failure. both passenger and driver's side hid headlamp turn off after running car for about 10 minutes. dealer quotes extremely expensive to remedy problem, considering it is a major safety issue for night driving. *cn

Toyota prius 2006. rt. front (passenger side) headlight goes out for no reason. after this is will not come back on, even if i switch from low to high beam. i turn the lights off and on that corrects the problem for about 3 to 15 minutes, then it goes off again. toyota said it was the bulb and replaced it at about 34,000 miles under warranty, but it did not change anything. then the next chance i had to bring it in it was out of warranty, so they will not cover. i thought it may be the igniter or transformer so i replaced that, but it still does the same thing. i see many prius' around town with their right front light out, so it seems to be quite common. i read on the internet that lots of prius people are having the same exact problem, but of course toyota denies that there is one. toyota simply charges $300. to replace the bulb, or $600 to replace the igniter, or $1,100 to replace the whole headlight assemble. replacing the bulb does not fix it, neither does the igniter, not sure about the whole assembly. the light goes off whether the car is parked or driving down the road, so vibration is not the problem. this is a huge safety hazard. toyota is producing lemons, then simply replacing the bulbs and hoping your warranty runs out. toyota is making a ton of money off of this defect at $1,100 per light assembly, and even then i am not sure the problem is being repaired. this problem seems to be more common on 2006 and 2007 models. i just drove to the airport and back (45 min each way) and my light went out probably 30 times. many owners don't seem to know that their light is out. i notice, but i still feel like i am a huge road hazard. i would repair it if i knew what the actual problem was. the toyota factory surely knows what the problem is and how to correct it, but if they bring the problem to the surface they know that they will be forced to pay for another recall, meanwhile they make a ton of profit off parts and repairs. *tr

Headlights of 2006 prius go on and off at will. i reported this to toyota dealer and was told that they had to change both bulbs. the intensity of the bulbs are normal when they come back on and i have never owned a car where the bulbs recover on their own. it appears to be a wiring problem of some kind and toyota's solution of changing the bulbs does not seem to be a reasonable solution. also the one year guarantee of an expensive repair does not seem reasonable. the toyota website shows hundreds of complaints for the same condition. *tr

For the past several weeks my 2006 toyota prius temporarily accelerates after crossing minor road bumps. i do not have a floor mat in the driver's side as toyota had issued a recall for this model several months ago saying there was a problem with the floor mat causing accelerator problems. this acceleration problem has occurred without the presence of a floor mat. *tr

Tl*the contact owns a 2006 toyota prius. while driving at various unknown speeds, the headlights would fail to illuminate intermittently. the vehicle was taken to the dealer however they were unable to duplicate the failure. the manufacturer was contacted but would take no liability claiming a defect did not exist in the vehicle. the failure and current mileages were 53,945.

Tl* the contact owns a 2006 toyota prius. while traveling at speeds of 70 mph with the cruise control activated, the vehicle began to abnormally accelerate. the vehicle then decreased speeds far below the speed in which the cruise control was set, without driver intent. the cruise control was shut off and reset. the vehicle began to exhibit the exact same failure. the failure mileage was 47,000 and the current was 48,000.

Both headlights on 2006 prius turned off after less than 5 minutes on road. may have exhibited flashing before total failure of both headlights. confirmed headlight on light was present during failure. one car coming towards flashed their lights to convey my headlights were off. i then slowed down and turn lights off then back on. both came back on and stayed on since then. i have been checking each time i get in or out of car than headlights are on and functioning normal at beginning and end of trip. fyi, i do not use headlights as daylight running lights. *tr

2006 prius hid headlights go out intermittently. there doesn't seem to be a fix that toyota can provide. this is very upsetting, even more so if you drive at night a lot. toyota doesn't admit there is a problem and states the only course of action is to replace the headlight. why am i to pay an extreme amount of money to replace a headlight when the headlight works? it's just faulty and intermittent (be it wiring, a computer glitch, or something else). this problem with the hid headlights occurs multiple times each time i drive the car. furthermore, it is hard to determine when the headlights are working properly. i have taken my prius to a toyota dealership and they refuse that the lights are faulty and ask that you replace them. it is scary to drive my prius at night and it is no fun explaining this strange situation to a police officer who doesn't care and still gives you a citation. i just want toyota to acknowledge and fix the problem. *tr

Brakes failed temporarily and momentarily when braking over potholes while approaching an interstate on-ramp. this is not at all the first time this happened. when braking while going over railroad tracks, especially double sets of tracks, it has been common that it would feel as if i was sailing over the tracks -- definitely not slowing down (even though i had my foot on the brakes) but maybe even speeding up. that too was the feeling i had, albeit momentarily, last week when i was braking over potholes. *tr

Driver side hid headlight fails intermittedly. *tr

Tl*the contact owns a 2006 toyota prius. the contact stated that on three separate occasions, she had experienced instances of unintended acceleration. she was advised to remove the floor mats from the vehicle but the failure persisted. she confirmed when attempting to pass another vehicle, the vehicle would abnormally accelerate without her intent. the approximate failure mileage was 25 mph. the dealer could not duplicate the failure. the failure mileage was 56,000 and the current was unknown.

Reference your case pe09019, closed in august 2009. i also own a 2006 toyota prius on which the headlamps fail daily. as stated in the report it usually starts with only one lamp failing but it often ends with both lamps out. i will not drive without my fog lamps on for fear i will be in total darkness at a crucial time such as a sharp curve or turn in the road. i have been waiting for someone to take action and force a recall as it is extremely expensive to replace these headlamps. in light of the current findings against toyota, you should reopen the investigation. i am not certain by any means but i had heard your organization had over 500 complaints regarding this issue. why did you only interview 40 owners? do we have to wait for someone's death, perhaps mine or one of my family members, before we take this situation serious enough to force action on toyota's part? how could something as serious as headlamp failure be dismissed so casually? *tr

When i go over a rough patch on the pavement while braking in my 2006 prius, the skid light comes on briefly on the dash and the car lurches forward even though my foot is on the brake. it feels like the computer is perceiving the possibility of a skid and is compensating by accelerating until the pavement is smooth. fortunately no one has been in front of me when this happens and i haven't hit anyone. but it has happened repeatedly and it takes a time before the car responds to my own handling and brakes again. this is more than just what you might expect and want from electronic stability control. *tr

The hid headlights on my 2006 toyota prius intermittently go out one at a time. once they go out they stay out unless i manually turn them off and then on i cannot determine when one of the headlights goes out. the problem is when driving with only 1 headlamp i have had several instances when the other headlamp has gone out as well leaving me with no headlights at night. if i hadn't known to turn them on/off i would have been driving on a road at night with no headlamps. *tr

Tl*the contact owns a 2006 toyota prius. when the contact first drove the vehicle, he noticed smoke emitting from the dashboard area. the vehicle was taken to the dealer where they advised him that there was nothing wrong with the vehicle and no repairs were made. on approximately twelve occasions afterward, while utilizing the cruise control mechanism, the vehicle would abnormally accelerate without warning. the acceleration would usually occur on a small decline or incline. the vehicle would downshift on its own and accelerate up to 80 or 90 mph. he had to completely disengage the cruise control to prevent the vehicle from accelerating. he did not contact the dealer or manufacturer in regards to the vehicle accelerating. during inclement weather, he attempted to pass another vehicle at speeds of approximately 40 mph. as the vehicle glided over wet snow and ice, the vehicle slid sideways and crashed into a nearby guardrail. the vehicle was destroyed. there were no injuries; however, a police report was filed. the current mileage was approximately 60,000 and the failure mileage was 600.

My 2006 toyota prius headlights are malfunctioning. my headlights go off intermittently. mainly the right headlights but both lights have this problem. if i turn off and then turn on the lights then they will work ok for a little while. i am worried that both lights may go off and will put my family at risk at night.*tr

In 2009 i purchased a 2006 toyota prius. immediately after purchase the head lights randomly shut off. sometimes one at time and sometimes both at the same time. recently i was driving over a dark mountain pass in the snow and the headlights both went out at the same time. it took me three times, turning them off and on for them to come back on. we could have been hurt or killed. this happens often, at least five to six times when we are driving our car at night and my son has been pulled over and ticketed twice. we called the dealer and even though we bought the full extended used car warranty, toyota does not cover the headlight issues and are telling us it's going to cost between $500 - $1500 to have the headlights replaced. it's obviously an electrical problem, but toyota said they issued a statement saying it was not. the lights even go out when you turn on your blinkers, off course randomly. i even went for a night time drive with my salesperson right after i purchased the vehicle and he saw the lights go off. he said i would just have to replace them at my cost even though it was obvious they were going on and off when we hit even the slightest bump in road and even though it was supposedly a certified used car. toyota knows there is a problem because it's issued a statement and there are blogs all over the internet about it, yet they refuse to help their customers maintain a safe operating vehicle. i've again called the dealer and have another appointment about this issue in a couple of days. we are hoping they acknowledge that we've purchases three toyotas from them in the last three years and that they will fix the headlights for us before someone gets hurt or killed. all three cars we purchased from toyota are also involved in their current recalls. we are very unhappy with our toyotas and feel very unsafe driving them with family members and children in our vehicles. *tr

Accelerator sticking on a 2006 toyota prius. it is not catching on the floor mat, which is the recall for that year. the car has 89,000 miles. this problem just started in the past month. i will start to accelerate, and it will just take off without warning. so far, it has popped loose and returned to normal. most recent date is listed below. *tr

I own a 2006 toyota prius. i have had a problem with my passenger headlight working intermittently. i thought the light was failing until one night i was driving home and all the lights turned off and it was pure darkness. i quickly corrected the immediate danger by turning the light switch off then on and they came back on. this has happened two other times. i received what i thought was a recall notice on the hid lights. when i took the notice to my local dealer, they informed me that the recall was on the price of the hid bulbs and not on the actual bulbs. they had reduced the price from $300 to $150. now, after looking into it further, it seems that i am not the only one experiencing this same problem. *tr

2006 prius. within first 18 months of owning the car (i am original owner - took possession of car in march of 2006) experienced headlights going off by themselves. took the car in for service thinking headlight needed replacement. was told by service rep (at greentree toyota in danbury, ct) that it was not the headlight but a problem with connection that toyota recognized but was not sure how they would address. i waited for solution. as time goes on, more frequent incidence of headlight spontaneously turning off. i received a notice from toyota company approx. 4 months ago stating the problem was a defect/connection problem. my toyota dealership/service dept. told me it was not and refused to fix the connection problem. both headlights will go out at exactly the same time, leaving me in complete darkness. if i quickly switch the headlights off then back on again they will illuminate. the headlights going off at the same time happens at least once every 20 minutes. *tr

Headlight (driver's side only) sometimes turns off while driving. if i turn the lights switch off and back on, the light will turn on and work properly for a while. *tr

I drive a 2006 toyota prius. on november 13, 2009, for about 10 days, the dashboard would not light up on a cold start in the morning. it would light up after i hit a pothole or bump. the problem inexplicably stopped. my toyota dealership said they had received no complaints about this and could not diagnose/fix the problem since it no longer occurred. *tr

Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6) 1, 2. moving slowly into parking space at launderland ([xxx]), our toyota prius 2006 leaped out of control, though my foot was hovering over the brake and not touching the accelerator. it hit a wall and damaged the car. two weeks earlier, the car had also jumped suddenly at low speed but hit nothing. car repairs to bumper and underlying structures totaled $3135; repairs to the wall totaled $750. (3) nothing was done by toyota to inspect the accelerator or to insure us that the car was now safe to drive. the car has been sitting on the dealer's lot for about two weeks. *tr

Prius hid bulb failed before its estimated lifetime. these bulbs are very expensive (us$ 300.00) plus labor (us$ 200.00) and they failing over and over again. this item should have been recalled by toyota and replaced for free, since customers paid premium price up front for security benefits of the accessory in question. *tr

2006 toyota prius electrical system*cw the consumer stated when she turned on her vehicle all of the electrical components on the entire dashboard were out. no displays, no navigation and no camera. when she arrived home, the vehicle would not turn off. the consumer contacted the toyota hotline and was advised the only way to shut off the vehicle, was to disconnect the battery. about an hour later, the vehicle shut off. the next day, the consumer took it the dealer where they kept it all day, but was unable to find anything wrong. the consumer noticed that she was filling the gas tank more often than usual. she discovered there was another electrical malfunction; the bars on the fuel gauge were not matching the amount of gas that was being pun into the vehicle. *jb updated 03/30/10.*jb

We own a 2006 toyota prius. the right (passenger side) front headlight works intermittently. it will turn off without warning. if you turn the lights off and then on again, it comes back on as if nothing is wrong. it will then blink out again at a later time without warning. this is a dangerous product defect. it is impossible to tell if the light is on or off unless someone tells you. we have been stopped by the police for this problem, but not ticketed yet because we can make the light come back on by turning the lights off and then on again. toyota refuses to recall or fix the problem. instead, they charge$500 to replace the lights, without addressing the mechanical defect. many many other prius owners/drivers have voiced the same complaint. *tr

Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6) to:[email protected] from:[xxx] subject:2006 prius brakes comments: i have a 2006 prius and have had intermittent brake problems(i bought the car new from the toyota dealer in 2007). the brakes do not always engage immediately when pressing the brake pedal. it feels as if the brakes are slipping before actually stopping the car. in light of the recent toyota brake recalls, i now have concerns that my car may also have brakes that may fail. [xxx] *tr

Headlights intermittently go off when placed in the on position. sometimes one, sometimes both. does not matter if it is low or hi beam. this problem is ongoing since incident date. toyota sent letter describing how hid bulbs reach the end of their life by intermittently going out and states that you should minimize turning them on and off which can't be prevented if they go out while you're driving. i don't accept this to be fact, i think it's an electrical problem . *tr

Sudden acceleration while driving around a curve on interstate 40 - stopped driving on interstate to avoid problem. *tr

2006 toyota prius - my hid headlights have been randomly, unpredictably flickered on and off, sometimes the left, sometimes the right and sometimes both completely unexpectedly. the light switch must be flicked on and off multiple times to bring them back. within minutes - or even seconds - they may fail again repeatedly. i do not drive at night very often but others who do are at great risk. can you imagine the reaction of the cars in front of me while i a flicking my headlights at them repeatedly! potentially volatile. the repair is replacement of hid lights at almost $600.00 and is not covered by their warranty, which is wrong! this has been going on for a couple years and mechanics have not been able to trace issue other than faulty headlights or faulty computer controls. there are tens of thousands of prius owners affected. check the online blogs like priuschat and you will see. this is a significant safety issue which while i have had not accidents i have had numerous incidents of concern and need for quick sudden evasive action when the lights would fail unexpectedly. we who have been forced to spend hundreds for repair should be reimbursed and a full scale recall must be instigated for the safety of prius drivers and our companions in other vehicles on the road. *tr

2006 toyota prius with the hid headlights. the headlights randomly turn off. at first i thought i was seeing other things, like neighboring cars switching in and out of lanes, causing the amount of light to diminish. so far, it is either one or the other headlight, not both simultaneously. through the random process, which would be initiated each time the lights are turned on, it is only a matter of "time" before both lights extinguish at the wrong time, at highway speeds. *tr

Defective headlights. *tr

Intermittent failure of hid headlamps on 2006 toyota prius. *tr

Approaching state hwy. in cruise, assumed stop area would be slippery as it sometimes is in the winter..tapped brakes to disable cruise, applied brakes, kept right on going & ended in the ditch across the hwy. was lucky that there was no collision.. can't remember if the motor was racing at the time. *tr

When driving over a bumpy road or a pothole while braking there is a sudden loss of braking feel before it returns, seems to be a slightly less than a second delay where the brakes just cut out. this sounds to be related to the issue toyota and nhtsa are investigating with the 2010 prius, but mine is a 2006 and seems to experience the same symptoms. *tr

Intermittent and frequent failure of hid headlights in 2006 toyota prius. one light or the other and sometimes both will go out. turning the light switch from on to off and back on will relight the bulb but at lower brightness. frequently must do this several times as the bulb may stay on for a few minutes to 1/2 hour. toyota refuses to acknowledge design / faulty components in hid control / power module. *tr

I have 2006 prius and i have brake failure frequently if i hit a bump, pot hole, manhole cover, railroad track etc. it is un-nerving as i feel as if i am airborne for a while as i know i have no contact with the road. *tr

Received notice from manufacturer that i should remove the driver's side floormat from my car as it might cause the accelerator to stick. said they would send more information later. i removed it promptly but am concerned about my safety because other toyotas were advised of the same thing but their accelerators stuck anyway and it wasn't due to the floormat. spoke with the dealership about this and was advised that my "06 was not being recalled. since toyota has lied and evaded issues repeatedly i do not feel safe in my car. i am a realtor and carry clients in my vehicle which creates additional liability for me. i would like to trade cars but the value of my car is less due to toyota's problems. *tr

Intermittent failure of hid headlight in my 2006 toyota prius. *tr

Almost immediately after purchasing the vehicle, i went over a pothole and the car lurched forward briefly. unsure if an acceleration issue or a braking issue. it has happened numerous times, but has been minor. i have reported this to toyota, but they ignored most of my emails to my surprise and disappointment. today, i turned the corner and hit a small pothole. i felt it lurch, but the brakes did not work. i pumped them and no brakes. i pushed the on/off button and held it for the 3 seconds they recommend and it did not turn off the car. it took over 5 seconds before finally turning off and i coasted to a stop. it was terrifying!!! once i calmed down and tried to start the car, it would not turn on and then once it did, it would not go into drive ... only neutral. this happened 4 or 5 times before i was finally able to get it into drive to get home. i immediately called toyota on amherst dr. in springfield, va and spoke. he said it was not under warranty and that i would have to pay for a rental car. i let him know how displeased i was and he was kind and said he'll talk to his boss in the morning. i have told toyota that i am afraid of my car ........ upgrade that to terrified! this was a very scary event. the 2010 car owners should not be more important than those of use with an earlier model of this car. it's not the floor mats. it's not the sticky accelerator pedal. it's their computer system and i need to have toyota respect my safety too and support this dangerous car that i'm stuck with. i would appreciate your help. *tr

I received notification from toyota some months ago of a floormat/accelerator problem indicating they would contact me when a solution was available. it has now been months with no word. recently, i contacted them only to get a response concerning a 2010 prius braking problem. my vehicle is a 2006 prius. *tr

Headlights failed on my 2006 toyota prius. one about 36,000 miles, second one about 37,000. it cost over $500 to replace them. now one of the new ones has failed again. i wrote toyota for help and they had an extended warranty salesperson call me saying "you need to protect yourself against what may happen in the future." i asked if headlights were covered and he said yes, but that i needed to wait 30 days after buying the policy. wrote toyota again saying that was unacceptable. no response. i know many other prius owners have had this problem. since my light has gone out right away i'm wondering if it is an electrical or computer problem with the car. *tr

We have a 2006 prius and have had several times that the brakes feel that they give out when a bump is hit. our dealer says that toyota says to push harder on the pedal. this has happen about 8 or 10 times in the last year. the car does stop but your aren't sure it will. *tr

I am a rural mail carrier with well over 350,000 miles driven on my route without incident. i drive in all road conditions on gravel and paved roads. i was driving my 2006 prius on a wet but not muddy gravel road at about 38 mph. the back end began to slide a little. i let up on the gas with no response. i pressed the brake pedal with no response. i went into a deep ditch filled with 3 ft tall grass. i steered to drive the center of the ditch and continued with the brake fully depressed for about 15-20 ft, ripping the tall grass out by the root as i went. the car traveled over a driveway approach, still at 35 mph, striking the approach with the left front corner with enough force to bend the frame and do other serious damage, but with no airbag deployment. i continued over the approach and down the ditch, still at 35 mph, for another 30 or more feet. i was pressing and holding the brake and lifting the gas pedal with my toe. the gas pedal was not stuck and the engine's rpms were low. only when i put the car in neutral did it slow to stop. it took several attempts to get the car out of this ditch as the traction control kept lurching and stalling. i was able to drive the car out and home without incident. it had to be towed to a dealership for over $4000 in repairs. this was in mid-2008 and i don't know if any corrections made or were even known at that time. this was an absolutely terrifying situation. the car did not respond to any action i took. i had no control what so ever. the car is no longer driven.. *tr

My toyota prius 2006 accelerated on its own. i called service and was told to drive to nearest dealer. but acceleration was scary out of my control other than by fierce braking. i have no idea how fast i was going, but had to put something in the box so i put 80mph. i stopped as soon as i could safely and where i could get signal to call (being in the country). as soon as i stopped the brake pads burnt up. i had to tick something on the "complaint type" but none of the categories quite fit. i was told that this occurred because of oem battery failure causing this problem.. it was time for service but otherwise had no indication the battery was low. i accepted this and paid the $903.42 bill for new battery, brakes. this probably also included a regular basic service and oil change. now i wonder if this is a part of a larger picture. and what indication could there be so this doesn't happen again. i was very fortunate that this was all that happened and that i was on an empty country road at the time. thanks for listening. *tr

Tailgate struts are rusting and will fail soon. *tr

2006 prius acceleration while under cruise control in curves - several occasions. *tr

My 2006 prius has on at least 3 occasions has accelerated inexplicably on at least three separate occasions. the first two incidents occurred during my first year of ownership and were reported to the dealer. i was told there was no problem. the most recent event was in december 2009. i was driving down the highway when the car began accelerating rapidly, even after i removed my foot from the gas pedal.. i was able to slow the car down and pull over safely. please note that at this time, i had already removed the floor mat as suggested by toyota. again, i was told by the dealer that nothing was wrong with my car, a response that did nothing to reassure me. i was told in a follow up call to the dealer that toyota would be doing nothing to assist with this problem. *tr

Headlights turn of intermittently on both my daughters 2006 & 2007 toyota prius. mostly the right one sometimes both. if you turn the headlights off then back on the headlights come back on for a while then you have to do the same thing again. also i notice many other priuses that have the same problem. please look into this problem. thank you. *tr

2006 prius. 62k miles. one headlight started going out intermittently about 3 weeks ago (jan.2010) now a minute or so after the first one goes out the second one goes too leaving me in total darkness. the fix is to turn the switch on and off. a bulletin i received last year says you can kill the hid by turning off and on while still hot. this the only way to keep the lights going! i got a ticket last week for a light out and of course i made it come back on for the officer but he wasn't impressed. now i have to get it fixed and i have read all the blogs and clearly replacing the bulb is not way to correct this. *tr

I was driving at about 65 m/hr on i-95 and noticed my car veering first to the left then to the right. i was puzzled by this and looked over to notice that trees were not moving, i.e., it did not feel windy outside. this was a very peculiar incident that has happened to my car about 3-4 times in the past 3 years. i later heard on the news the recall of corollas for the same type of issue. they actually showed a test model simulation and it looked exactly like what i have been experiencing. i don't know if this is my imagination but it certainly did not feel that way when the incident occurred. *tr

2006 toyota prius with hid headlights fail intermittently. *tr

While driving with my prius the headlights turn on and off at their own will. sometimes it's the right headlight, then the left headlight. this morning i was driving to work and both headlights went out and i had to pull over. turned the car off then back on and the headlights were on again. a few moments later, the right headlight went out. this is very unsafe for me as i drive mostly early in the morning and late at night when headlights are required. toyota should cover this as a warranty item . *tr

2006 toyota prius with hid headlights. one or both headlights fail repeatedly. dealership claims "unable to duplicate concern," and adds "working as designed." an investigation into this matter was precipitously closed before the company had even fully answered the complaint, on the grounds that only one headlight was failing which would allow customers to reach a service facility. both headlights regularly fail, often concurrently, and others obviously have this problem as well. clearly had this information been available to investigators, the investigation would not have been closed for this reason. toyota has lowered the price on replacement, but took the position with investigators that this was an item that would require regular replacement. the literature on the product however, indicates that these products should last for the life of the vehicle, which considering that portions are warrantied for 100,000 miles, is a milestone we have obviously not reached. this problem is continuing, so the date and mileage are taken from the invoice when the headlight problem was reported to royal palm toyota, royal palm beach, fl. i pray the nhtsa will reopen its investigation in light of new evidence. *tr

Tl*the contact owns a 2006 toyota prius which was purchased in september 2006. he stated that while driving at speeds of less than 40 mph approaching a stop sign he removed his foot from the accelerator pedal, instead of slowing down the vehicle maintained the speed it was traveling. he then depressed the brake pedal and the brakes would not respond. there was no resistance in the brake pedal and it then it extended to the floorboard. the speed decreased slowly and he continued to push the brake pedal into the floorboard until the vehicle eventually came to a stop. the dealer advised him that there was nothing wrong with the pedal or the brakes and that he should remove the floor mats from the vehicle. the floor mats were not close enough to the brake or accelerator pedal when the failure occurred. no repairs have been made to the vehicle. on two additional occasions, the contact experienced the same failure. he also received a letter from toyota in regards to a recall campaign id number: 09v388000, vehicle speed control accelerator pedal, however, he was not aware if his vehicle was included in the recall or not. the vin was not accepted. the failure mileage was unknown and the current mileage was approximately 70,000.

1) steering wheel/shaft appears to be improperly supported; feels loose when turning lock to lock since new. have brought to the attention of four (4) toyota dealers when service performed (have taken to toyota for all service work since new), all have advised that there is "nothing wrong" with the vehicle. it is the only vehicle we have ever owned that has this sense of disconnect and potential for a much more serious issue were there ever a steering failure. 2) over rough roads (when vehicle was driven in seattle and bellevue, wa) when stopping, the abs system seems to activate prematurely and increase stopping distances. we have other vehicles with abs brakes which do not activate so readily and stop so slowly. as it relates to incident date(s): since new, vehicle purchased november 2005. *tr

Tl*the contact owns a 2006 toyota prius which was purchased brand new. while driving at various speeds more than 5 mph over rumble strips in the road, if the brakes were depressed, they would not respond immediately. the failure would also occur during rainy weather conditions. an unknown warning symbol briefly illuminated on the instrument control panel, the contact assumed that this was a normal occurrence for her braking system. neither the dealer nor manufacturer were contacted to report the failures. there were no repairs made to the vehicle. the failure and current mileages were approximately 35,700.

I drive a 2006 toyota prius. i have experienced odd skid-like behavior while applying the brakes on bumpy roads or loose gravel. most notably this happens at low and decelerating velocities (maybe 15 mph?) when the vehicle encounters broken pavement or loose gravel. it is often associated with the prius' 'slippery surface' icon on the dash being lit. when this occurs it feels like the brakes do not function for a brief period. i have not had an accident as a result, but the experience has occurred at least 4 times over the four months i've owned it. also, the front hid headlamps flicker on and off periodically making it dangerous to drive at night. i will report these problems to toyota and based on the high volume of identical complaints i believe they should cover the cost of fixing these problems. *tr

In 2006 i purchased a 2006 toyota prius package 6 which includes hid (high intensity discharge) headlamps. starting approx. 1 year ago, i noticed a headlamp out while i was driving. when i took it to the dealer i was told it would cost $400+ to repair 1 headlamp. after doing some research on the internet, i found many complaints about prius hid headlamps. i also found out that if you turn the light switch off and then on, they would work again temporarily, so i decided to tolerate a headlamp that is periodically out and would work again if i turned the switch off and on. sometimes the driver side light would be out and sometimes the passenger side light would be out. approx. 6 months ago, i discovered that both headlamps would be periodically out while i'm driving, a real safety problem. i stopped driving at night. approx. 2 weeks ago, i received a letter from toyota that they recognize the problem and will discount the headlamp bulbs from $300 each to $150 each plus labor. even $150 is totally outrageous but i needed to drive that vehicle at night so i had both lights replaced for a total of $504.87. there should have been a recall from toyota and they should fix that safety problem for free. *tr

Nhtsa id: 193333 i understand that the japanese government is investigating a braking issue on 2010 priuses -- involving slipping or surging forward when the brakes are applied. this is not unique to the 2010 model; our 2006 prius slips in the same way, under the same circumstances: when the driver brakes at slow speeds on a wet surface like a light rail track, or goes over bumps or into potholes while braking. it feels as if there are no brakes, and the car lurches forward. this has happened only on flat streets -- never on hills. the problem occurs about twice a month. in conversations about this problem, the toyota dealer tells me any vehicle will do this, but the anomaly is one i have never experienced in any other car i've owned, including 2 toyotas. in other words, nothing has been done to address this situation, because the dealers say there is no defect. "approximate incident date" question below makes no sense, because this is a recurring problem. also, "mileage" information is useless, since this has happened dozens of times. *tr

2006 toyota prius - hid headlamps go out at random intervals and come back on when turned off and then back on. thousands of reports on www.mycarstats.com. unsafe at night, especially in rural areas where deer roam the highways. my passenger side headlamp was replaced for free by toyota rep and dealer after showing them the mycarstats.com complaint reports. toyota also reduced price of hid lamps by one-half in a letter received about three months ago. many have had to pay $400 to $1200 for repair and replacements. prius front bumper has to be removed to replace headlamp. *tr

My 2006 toyota prius loses braking when trying to brake on uneven surfaces. the dash will light up the icon which displays uneven ground and when i apply brakes there is a momentarily lapse when the brake pedal does not respond. also my left headlight and left taillight go on and off periodically. *tr

When driving on roads that are curved, when changing lanes, or on streets that are wet, the car feels unbalanced, and requires a quick steering adjustment to regain normal operation. incidents like these occur too frequently, at least three times a week, and when they occur, the vehicle's red skid light is illuminated (i suppose it is related to this model's anti-skid and/or traction control feature that was not standard equipment). traction control was an optional feature that the dealerships offered in more expensive packages of the 2006 prius bundled together with other items that were not related to driving safety, which made the packages unnecessarily expensive, and was a factor in my decision to not opt for this upgrade. however, given the frequency of occurrence, i felt the need to report this in case other drivers are experiencing similar issues. the date i have selected corresponds to the purchase date of the vehicle, not to any particular incident or accident, as this is a recurring problem. fyi, tires, brakes, steering, and alignment have all been checked and maintained as per toyota's suggested guidelines. *tr

I have a 2006 prius with hid headlights. a little over a year ago i noticed that one or sometimes both headlights would go out intermittently. we live on a street without streetlamps and i had some scary moments several times when both lights went out. when i told my dealer about it, they said they could do nothing as the lights were working when they examined them. finally, i got a letter from toyota (attached), which said they would lower the replacement price of the headlights (but not warning of the problems i had been having). i had my dealer repair the lights at a cost of $559.25. the dealer told me that if i complained to toyota, they would reimburse me. a case manager at toyota said they would pay for the parts (about $300). i have now read of hundreds of other people with my model car who have had identical problems. i feel that toyota should issue a recall for a dangerous problem like this, or at least notify the dealers so when owners complain of the problem it is repaired under warranty. *tr

On a number of occasions, when i have applied the brakes while driving on a bumpy stretch of road, the brakes have not applied properly on my 2006 prius. the dashboard light indicating a skid would come on and the car would not handle properly. i have reported this to the dealer, who said it was a common feature of abs systems. i have compensated by not applying the brakes when hitting a bump or pothole, but it seems like the brakes should work in any such situation. this has happened on a number of occasions, most recently several weeks ago. in each case, the road surfaces were not wet, just bumpy. *tr

Brakes seem to fade or release upon stopping at a stop sign. it feels like the brake just gives up for a second. this has happened numerous times. i originally thought the road was slick but it has happened 20 times. i used the yesterdays date since. *tr

I have a 2006 toyota prius. if i hit a pothole while i am braking, it feels like the brakes slip for a second and i lose my ability to brake while the car lurches forward. a second later everything is back to normal. the vsa light flashes concurrently with the incident. the first couple of times it happened, it really scared me, and i could have easily been in an accident. now i make sure to leave more than the normal space between me and the car in front of me in case this happens. i just assumed this was something the car did that i would have to get used to, but now that the 2010 prius recall has been publicized, the issue being described there seems very similar to the problem my car has always had. *tr

Tl*the contact owns a 2006 toyota prius. while driving 30 mph the vehicle unexpectedly accelerated. the floor mats were removed prior to the failure. the contact filed a claim with the toyota manufacturer who stated that no others complaints have been filed regarding the acceleration. the manufacturer also advised her to take the vehicle to the dealer who was unable to diagnose or duplicate the failure. the dealer performed routine maintenance on the vehicle prior to the failure. the failure mileage was 50,000. updated 4/13/10 *cn updated 06/25/10.*jb

2006 toyota prius headlights go off while driving then come back on. intermittent and totally unpredictable. *tr

2006 prius was arriving at work and pulling into a parking space. my foot was removed from gas, but accelerator stuck open. the car bounced over the concrete curb, over a snow bank and over a second curb into the university driveway. car sustained $3800+ in body damage and another $370 in service repairs for brakes, tires, suspension and dash warning systems that erupted. vehicle was recently repaired. local dealer would not accept any responsibility or acknowledge any problems with the car. final repair invoice states the vehicle floor-mats, abs and pedal stroke sensors were all working properly. claim was made to our insurance company [erie insurance]. *tr

Headlights went out while driving at night on #5 fwy in ta hone pass on 2/7/10. now headlights are intermittent. i paid $837 to dealer on 1/10/08 for replacement of headlamps. dealer now wants $1024 to replace them again. *tr

2006 toyota prius headlamp failure. headlights can flicker out and can potentially cost thousands of dollars to replace. *tr

I have a 2006 toyota prius and for years i've had the same problem described in the news. at times when i drive over bumpy terrain, the car will lurch forward with sudden acceleration and the abs light will come on. i can re-gain control by hitting the brakes hard and/or pumping the brakes depending on the circumstance. this has happened many times since i bought the car new in january 2006. in these circumstances, my foot was off the gas pedal. i'm not sure if the brakes were being applied or not, but if they were, they were applied lightly. this happens regularly. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2006 toyota prius. the contact stated that in extremely cold weather conditions (20 degrees below), the automatic transmission would begin to slip and not shift. it would make a noise and not engage the engine. he noticed the issue everytime the weather was extremely cold. he took the vehicle to the dealership and the vehicle was test driven with the dealer. the problem was duplicated and he was told that he would have to let the vehicle warm for at least 5 minutes before driving. he had not spoken with the manufacturer to-date. the current mileage was approximately 95,000. the failure mileage was approximately 15,000.

Accident occurred in 2007. i was driving in moderate traffic on a two lane road. a car, two cars ahead of me, slammed on their brakes, and forced everyone else to quickly brake. i also slammed on my brakes, to avoid a collision. my brakes failed to respond in time, and resulted in my rear ending an suv in front of me. the accident caused several thousands of dollars worth of damage to the front end of the car. no air bags were deployed. *tr

I own a 2006 toyota prius with hid headlights. in may 2008, around 45k, i noticed that my headlights were dimming and at times turning off at random intervals. i was only able to correct this by turning off my headlights and then turning them back on. i took the car to toyota where they replaced the bulbs and some other items. this lasted for a while and the problem re-occurred. again, i replaced both bulbs but the problem continues. the bulbs are very expensive and to replace them one has to completely remove the front bumper of the car, which is also very expensive. i recently searched the web and found that there are many prius owners experiencing this same problem. this is a very dangerous condition. just last night, while traveling on highway 270 in gaithersburg, md, both my headlights went out at the same time. the dealership tells me that there are "no" known problems and that toyota has "no" recalls or bulletins on this issue. this is quite troubling considering the number of complaints. some have spent a lot of money and have yet to resolve this life threatening problem. *tr

There is a class action suit against toyota due to intermittent headlight failure. please check this link to see if a recall should be imposed. thanks http://www.lemonlawclaims.com/toyota_prius_headlight_failure.htm. *tr

Intermittent failure of lights. car had 20,000 miles on it when headlight starting failing intermittently. after about another year the other side started failing intermittently. i and others on yahoo prius group have the same problem with the headlight going off intermittently. could cause an accident, as at times they both go off. after turning them off and then back on they burn but you never know if one or both will go off. toyota knows there is a problem with the headlights on the second generation prius but has made no attempt to recall or repair the problem. we are all left on our own to solve the problem. *tr

The abs has caused the brakes on my car to disengage when they should be engaged. i notified the toyota dealer a number of times over the past few years and they advised me that it was not a problem. in light of recent information that has come to the public awareness, i thought that it would be important to look further back into the origin of this problem. *tr

Tl*the contact owns a 2006 toyota prius. while driving approximately 35 mph the vehicle lost complete power, shut off and she had no control over the vehicle; however, she was able to restart it within five minutes. she took the vehicle to the dealer and was told that the vehicle needed a new battery which she purchased and installed. two weeks later, the failure occurred again. she took the vehicle to a second dealer who performed a diagnostics test which a code produced cited that a brake problem occurred. she called the manufacturer and a representative stated that they would notify her. on 3 occasions, when the vehicle was parked, the lights would flash on and off then the horn would honk for about a minute. the vehicle had not been repaired to-date. the current mileage was approximately 57,000. the failure mileage was approximately 55,000.

Toyota prius exterior lights shut down. this happens all of the time the car is driven. hid headlights turn off without the driver knowing and then keeps on driving until they are struck or hit something. other cars may not see this. this has occurred over 5000 times... *tr

I own a 2006 prius with the high-intensity-discharge (hid) lamp option and have made an online report to you previously with no reply. when i asked the local toyota dealer they said they had no recall or safety issue bulletins regarding the issue. i had a friend ask another friend who is a northeast toyota dealer if he had heard anything about the issue. he sent toyota document titled "2006 to 2009 model year toyota hid headlight customer support program." last week toyota sent me the same document. the document places the blame on the hid head lamps, recommends turning the lights off during day time operation, etc. i am highly suspicious of their document and believe there is a more serious and potentially dangerous electrical problem involving the head lamps, etc. on a number of occasions the lighting system shut down completely (both head lamps mind you- not one) if the car was shut-off and again powered up the system restarted and the lights would come back on. toyota claims it is a lamp issue. i don't believe it and think there is more serious electrical problem. it has happened to both my wife and i and in both cases we were placed in dangerous situations on the road. when it happened to me i heard a distinct click and all the lights went out. i happened to be on the interstate and took the first exit which to my dismay was not lit and i was totally in the dark. i had to open the door to see the white line marking the edge of the road and drive off the shoulder. fortunately there was no traffic taking the same exit or there could have been an accident. a car did take the same exit at about 65 mph minutes after i got off the shoulder. i can only imagine the outcome had i not been able to quickly find the white line marking the shoulder. this has happened twice, and toyota claims it is how the bulb act when they are at the end of their life. if it has just been one of the lamps and the rest of the system didn't shut down their version might be believable *tw

1. brakes on my 2006 prius momentarily failed to respond, after a 1 - 2 sec delay they activated. at same time,the traction light flashes, but the car is not losing traction. this happened 4 x, one almost resulted in a crash. it is more likely to happen when braking while going over a bump in the road. there have been other times when the traction light flashes on unexpectedly, but effect on brakes is unknown: not braking then. 3 different toyota dealers told me they couldn't find anything wrong. at one dealer, i went for a test drive with a mechanic. during the test drive, i was able to make the traction light go on when there was no loss of traction. the invoice stated "test drove and checked operations. at this time could not duplicate customer's concerns." i wrote on the invoice "i was able to make the traction light go on when there was no loss of traction. i am not satisfied that the problem has been found and repaired." & on the signature line "not satisfied, (signature)" i wanted them to change the computer, but they said if they couldn't duplicate the problem, they couldn't change the computer. i insisted that they replace one component, and if the problem didn't reoccur, i'd know they found the solution. they bled the brakes, which was unlikely to be cause of the problem. when i went to pick up my invoice up 2nd time, the copy on which i had written my comments was returned to me, and a freshly printed copy- without my comments - was given to me & kept for their records. 2. same car: headlight go out at unexpected times. 2 toyota dealers told me that the bulb would cost $300, and installation would be well over $100 because they "had to take off the bumper to change the bulb!" i replaced the bulb myself (without taking off the bumper) but now, 9 months later, it is starting to go again. toyota sent a letter saying it was how hid bulbs burned out & not a pblm w/ controller. if true, how is it that new bulb is also burning out? *tr

2006 toyota prius hid headlamps turn off while driving. this occurs all of the time; first one headlight goes out, then the second one... in order to remedy for short time you need to turn off headlight and turn back on. toyota denies any wrong doing and it will cost $1000 to fix which is not fair as i have brought the car in numerous times to be repaired and nothing was done to it. very dangerous for those that cannot tell if their headlamps goes out. accidents. *tr

I read about the issue with momentary brake problems on the 2010 prius on bumpy roads. have you investigated earlier model years? i have a 2006 prius and have experienced similar issues. *tw

I was driving in slick conditions at roughly 15 mph approaching an intersection two stopped cars in front of me, and when i hit my brakes there was no response for the brakes. i tried to pump the brakes and still no response after about 20 seconds my brakes returned. in order to avoid the stopped audi in front of me i turned my wheel to the right and drove up on the sidewalk, my brakes returned and i was able to stop the vehicle without having to go too far on the sidewalk. this was not a normal slide from slick conditions i have no response from my brakes at all not abs pump at all, nothing. *tr

Driving 2006 prius 6/27/07 on rural 2 lane highway, crossed rough rail road crossing. within 1/4 mile moved out to pass cyclists and as i cut back into my lane the car suddenly accelerated from 40 to 60 mph in 3 seconds. burned up brakes and started car fire getting car stopped. towed to toyota in wasau wisc. brakes replaced but toyota said it(sudden uncontrollable acceleration) had never happened before. toyota wouldn't pay even though car was under warranty. insurance paid. it has not happened again but we found numerous incidents had occurred back to 05. we still have old brake parts. *tr

If i hit a pot hole or bump while slowing down the brakes feel like the car is sliding. *tr

I have a 2006 prius. when i drive over a wet/icy spot or a road grate (like a metal drain) my car seems to skid and the rough road light comes on. this does not happen while i am braking, but while i am accelerating or driving normally. i have purchased better tires, which helps a little, but i still experience this issue. i have always assumed it was a design flaw and i try not to drive my car in any bad weather. toyota has issued many recalls for similar issues, but my car doesn't seem to be covered. *tr

I have a 2006 prius. the hid lights flicker and turn off about two times a day while i am driving. these lights are supposed to last ten times longer than regular lights. the light failure is particularly dangerous at night when the lights can suddenly turn off. *tr

My 2006 toyota prius exhibits the same loss of braking on rough surfaces that has been reported for the 2010 prius. i have noticed this on many occasions, when braking a low, city-driving speeds. when i hit a bump, there is a loss of braking. it feels like the car "slips" forward for a moment. i have not experienced this at higher speeds, nor has it resulted in a dangerous driving situation, so i have not thought to report it previously. however, with the announcement of the 2010 prius recall, i am concerned that there has been absolutely no mention of the braking problem in prior year models. i am sure that there many other owners of the 2006 prius who have experienced the same lack of braking. *tr

This is about the 2006 prius. if i am braking and hit a bump, the car momentarily losing braking power and does not slow down until the brakes kick in again. i have described this problem to two other generation ii prius owners and they have said they experience the same thing, one an elderly gentleman yesterday. i will put today's date because i can make it happen every day coming down a hill with some old roadwork on it. i reported this to the dealer first in 2007. nothing was done. *tr

My concern is with the braking capacity in my 2006 prius. i have noticed since i purchased the car (i am the original owner), that when i go over bumps, rough roads (including ice /snow), and my foot is applied to the brake, there is a jerking sensation and the car fails to stop. in fact, it lurches forward. i have discussed this phenomenon with other prius owners, but not until the latest safety recall for the 2010 prius, have i taken action. thank goodness there was never a car or a pedestrian in front of me when this occured. i am putting yesterdays date as the date of incident, however this happens on a regular basis. *cn

My second generation toyota prius (2006) has always experienced the same brake slippage that is being reported for 3rd generation prius'. whenever i go over a bump or pothole, i temporarily lose control over the brakes and a warning light appears on the dashboard.

Unintended acceleration in my 2006 toyota prius. lasted less than 30 seconds. responded to repeated braking and hitting and pulling with my foot on the gas pedal. it happened when i floored the gas pedal to pass another vehicle.the pedal was not stuck to the floor mat. i could not reproduce the event after it occurred by flooring the gas pedal again. *cn

Premature failure of hid headlights in 2006 toyota prius. *tr

Lose brakes momentarily when they are applied on an uneven surface such as railroad tracks, pot holes etc. abs light flashes then braking returns as long as brake pedal stays depressed. this has occurred from the time i bought my car and i thought it was just a function of abs brakes until i saw the description of the 2010 prius recall. *tr

You need to look at more than just the 2010 toyota prius in terms of braking problems. i have a 2006 prius with the same issue - loss of braking ability over uneven surfaces. problem has occurred since purchase but i have never reported as i thought it was related to the abs/hybrid battery relationship. *tw

2006 toyota prius. when driving over pothole or bumps, antilock breaks are triggered, and brakes do not work (temporarily). i have listened to the reports on the 2010 prius and would like to report that the exact issue has happened several times in my 2nd generation prius. this issue is not isolated to the 3rd generation model. *cn

I own a second generationprius (2006), and it has the same brake symptoms that are being described by the owners of the 3rd generation model. when i apply the brakes while going over a rough surface, the brakes do not engage for a second or two. this has been the case since i purchased the car new, and i thought it was just a quirky characteristic of the hybrid, so i have learned to compensate by giving myself an unusually large distance between me and the car ahead of me. this doesn't always work, as people cut in front of me when the gap is large. i have not been in an accident, but there have been several near-misses with me almost rear-ending the person in front of me due to this brake problem. i hope the nhtsa is looking at all models of the prius for this defect. in my form below, i checked air and hydraulic brakes because there is not an option for anti-lock brakes on the drop down box. *cn

We own a 2006 toyota prius and have experienced the same loss of braking problems that are the subject of the model year 2010 recall. on february 8th, my wife (with our infant in the back seat) was proceeding through a bumpy intersection and for a split second lost brakes on the vehicle. this is scary. i experienced the same condition more than once last year during snowy/slushy conditions. *tr

I have a 2006 toyota prius that when applying the brakes if i hit a bump, the car feels like it "speeds up" and looses control. this is a consistent problem i've had since we purchased our prius in 2006. i've also filed a complaint with toyota itself. *tr

I drive a 2006 toyota prius. i have experienced odd skid-like behavior while applying the brakes on bumpy roads or loose gravel. most notably this happens at low and decelerating velocities (maybe 15 mph?) when the vehicle encounters broken pavement or loose gravel. it is often associated with the prius' 'slippery surface' icon on the dash being lit. when this occurs it feels like the brakes do not function for a brief period. i have not had an accident as a result, but the experience has occurred at least 4-5 times over the year i've owned it. most of the times that it has happened have been at the same intersection. *tr

On my 2006 toyota prius left headlight intermittently keeps going out. when i turn them all the way off and back on the light comes back. *tr

My 2006 toyota prius has experienced intermittent hid headlight operation for almost a year. this is not so bad on the open highways with other cars still lighting up the road, but it's downright scary on dark country roads. at all times, while driving at night, the headlights get progressively dimmer to the point where i can actually outrun my field of vision.....again very unnerving. my solution has been to drive one of my other cars when possible. i guess the good news is i've never experienced the brake & gas pedal issues that are on the news.........still, i think the hid headlight issue is serious. i've never bothered to complain to the dealer because i've heard they will give me the runaround and charge over $800 to replace the bulbs & the problem only goes away for a few months at best. *cn *tr

I experience surging when braking. *tr

When i drive over pot holes or uneven surfaces and apply my brakes, they disengage for a second or two before re-engaging, causing my vehicle to surge forward momentarily. this has happened since i bought the car new, and occurs at all speeds. i asked the toyota service department to fix it, but they said they couldn't recreate the problem, so had no way of fixing it (even though i explained in detail what was happening). again, this problem happens on a daily basis, and was reported to toyota.

Whenever i drive over rough surfaces the brakes won't engage for a few seconds. on several occasions i almost hit the car in front of me or i drove into an intersection and was almost in an accident. i asked a mechanic at the dealership about it and he said that is just how the car is, so nothing was done. it has been an on-going problem since i bought the car in 2006, so the approximate incident date below is irrelevant. *tr

I own a 2006 toyota prius. i have experienced the same problem as described in the 2010 toyota prius brake recall on multiple occasions. "the anti-lock braking causes the car to have an "inconsistent brake feel" during slow and steady application of the brakes on rough or slippery surfaces. the abs is operating as it's supposed to." i have not been in a situation where it has caused or almost caused an accident, but it would only take one time. please look into addressing this issue. *tr

I have a 2006 prius. i have experienced the braking problem that is reported for the 2010 prius for the entire time i have had this car (since 2006). occasionally the brakes will fail for a fraction of a second when braking over an uneven surface (train tracks etc). by now i am used to the problem though it does seem to occur more frequently over time. this problem is obviously not confined to the 2010 model. i reported the incident date below, but this is a frequently recurring problem. *tr

On august 25, 2009 my daughter was involved in an accident with our 2006 toyota prius. this car had low mileage and a new set of tires. my daughter was probably going the speed limit of 45 mph when an emergency vehicle brought traffic to a halt, my daughter put on brakes but still ending up hitting the vehicle in front of her resulting in totaling the prius. thankfully, she was not injured, but the people she hit have a claim in for injuries, though none visible at the time of the accident. my biggest problem with this is that although she hit the car in front square on completely demolishing the front end none of her air bags deployed, none. on calling julissa at toyota headquarters i was told that they were designed not to deploy in this type of accident. i was dumbfounded, when were they supposed to deploy if not during a front end collision at about 35 mph. after i stopped shaking my head from disbelief i called back and spoke to a supervisor who in turn explained that the air bags reacted as designed, i suggested at that point that perhaps there may be a design flaw. i am not a rocket scientist but i have a pretty good idea what air bags are designed for, afterall i did pay all that money for them. needless to say i was not happy and am still upset that they would think the public is so stupid. as i mentioned the car was totaled and at the time was valued at $17,000. i received a full pay off for the car but feel they owe me something for the equity that was lost when the vehicle was totaled. i have photos and recorded conversations regarding the car and toyota representatives. *tr

2006 prius gasoline tanks has erratic behavior, based on temperature. fill up capacity ranges from 6 to 10 gallons, on a 10.9 gallons tank. *tr

I have experienced the same braking issue described in the media on my 2006 toyota prius. the brake system appears to fail momentarily when slowing and braking on uneven surfaces. this occurs routinely (weekly) when turning a specific corner in my neighborhood, where the road is uneven. the incident date listed below is the most recent date. *tr

I have a 2006 toyota prius hybrid and i want to officially note that the breaking problem being discussed in the media is not limited to the 2010 model. i have experienced this problem consistently since i purchased the car new. i have informed the dealership several times as i brought my car in for service and each time they simply noted that the breaks should be working fine. the issue is that at slow speeds and traveling over uneven or bumpy surfaces, the prius does not break as it should. instead, the car seems to jerk and move forward with a sudden acceleration.

1. driving on the highway with the cruise control on. 2. we could not get the cruise control to disengage. neither tapping the brake or the cruise control switch would turn the cruise control off. we had to slam the brakes to disengage. 3. we turned the car off and restarted it. that fixed the problem, but we have not used the cruise control since. the toyota dealer could not find anything wrong. *tr

When i gently apply the brake to stop and the car lurches forward. in surprise, i apply greater force and the car comes to a stop. there is some problem with the electronics in the hybrid drive train that does not fully disconnect the drive when stopping. this occurs intermittently and i reported it to the dealer several years ago, thy could not duplicate or find any problem. they would not report or escalate it further, just dismissed the problem. *tr

Over the past 1 1/2 years i've taken my prius to the toyota service with concern over my braking system three times. twice the head of service mechanics has driven with me seeing nothing unusual, the third time the service manager took the car out with me. they all vowed nothing was wrong. the reason i've been so concerned was due to the fact that the braking system didn't respond fast enough and more often than not, with wet pavement or raining, pressing the brakes with authority, the car will go into a slight skid with the dash skid light coming on. this entire senario has caused me to be overly cautious when braking anytime and in any situation. if a quick action is needed for speedy braking i question what would happen. it appears the people at toyota have just tried to appease me not believing nor understanding what's been in error. i don't feel so inadequate now that all the current information has come to light. was beginning to think i was the complainer without cause. i love my car - but am now even more hesitant about it's safety. must admit, i'm far more careful than ever, being on the lookout for possible braking situations in advance. *cn

The driver's side hid headlight in my 2006 prius has been malfunctioning for nearly two years now. when i drive, the left headlamp will turn off and stop working after a short while, and if i turn the lights off and then back on again, it works again for a while. i've had it fixed twice now. the first time, it worked normally for a while, but it started failing again after a few months. the second time it was fixed, it actually worsened. at this point, i'll have to cycle my headlights every ten minutes or so. impaired vision at night due to headlight failure is a safety issue. i was told by friends in the toyota service department that it's a "known issue" with the prius equipped with high-intensity discharge (xenon) headlamps. if it's "known", why isn't it recalled? it's hazardous to drivers. *tr

Passenger side hid headlight went out. later it came back on. the vehicle, a 2006 prius, only has 45,000 miles. toyota sent us a letter stating the cost of a new bulb was reduced from $300 to $150 plus labor/tax. also, the letter stated that hid bulbs are prone to deterioration due to use and advises that we use our headlamps only when necessary. i feel this issue is safety related and the fix is very expensive for a relatively new car. toyota's advice to consider using the lights less is also misguided and not in the best interest of safely. i'm also concerned about possible electrical issues that may be causing this failure. *tr

Moving off from traffic light vehicle toyota prius model 2006 began to accelerate uncontrollably and break did not slow vehicle down immediately; vehicle was accelerating for sometime before break began to slow vehicle down; fortunately there were not vehicles immediately in from of my vehicle. this experience was very scary. *cn

When applying the brakes gently, on a modest downgrade, braking effects stops for a second or two then kicks in hard. the anti-skid braking light flickers on the instrument panel. this happens to me consistently at the same location near our home: northbound, right-lane, on 10th ave e, approaching e. roanoke st in seattle. i have come to expect it now, and take measures to be extra cautious etc. it should not happen. it is a safety defect. it is more likely to happen if i hit a bumpy patch of pavement at the time. *cn

I experience momentary loss of braking capability while traveling over an uneven road surface, pothole or bump with an earlier model toyota prius. my prius is a 2006 model (2nd wave). this occurs every time i go over one particular spot in my usual commute, and any other spot where the road is rough. *tr

I currently drive a 2006 toyota prius and have had numerous instances of brake slippage when going over a bump/pothole during deceleration or acceleration. upon further research at priuschat.com, an online community of prius owners, community members advised that this was "by design" since the vehicle's computer thought that loss of traction when going over an obstacle was considered as a stability issue hence dis-engaging the brakes (abs). i have had several fender benders without the air-bag deploying though. *tr

Starting up my toyota prius coming out of a car wash the engine stuck with high revs. i confirmed it was not the car mat because i had been in the car wash and that was my thought. could not get the engine to stop over revving (was consistently high). never went into high speed. was able to control it by putting it in low gear and neutral at the intersections. in less than 1 mile i turned off the car and did not have any follow-on problems. not the car mats. *tr

Abs or traction control engages unnecessarily when braking on uneven road surfaces, potholes, bump in road, or on wet surfaces. *tr

Tl*the contact owns a 2006 toyota prius. whenever the contact would attempt to apply the brakes while driving approximately 15 mph over a slippery road surface, the brakes would not fully engage which also increased the stopping distance. the vehicle has not been diagnosed by the dealer. the contact has noticed the failure since the day the vehicle was purchased. the current and failure mileages were 50000. updated 03/09/10. *lj updated 05/13/10.*jb

When pulling into a parking space in a parking garage, my car surged forward and crashed into the concrete wall causing over $8,000.00 worth of damage and hurting my neck. a few months ago, i got a letter from toyota stating that the floor mat was the problem, so i removed the mat. however, last week while i was pulling into a driveway the car surged forward again. i was going slow and pushed on the brake hard and was able to stop before i hit anything. the car actually feels and sounds like it is accelerating. also, about 3 years ago when i first brought the prius in for routine maintenance i informed the toyota dealer at 5727 s 27th st. milwaukee wisconsin, that the car feels like it is skidding when i apply the brakes while driving on a bumpy road. the skid light in the dash actually comes on. they said that there was no recall for this problem so they didn't even look at it. this is an ongoing occurrence. i haven't had an accident yet from this problem but i think that you should look into this also since i see that they are saying that only the 2010 priuses have this problem. my car is a 2006 toyota prius . *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2006 toyota prius. while the contact was driving 40 mph the vehicle had suddenly began to accelerate on its own. the contact was able to apply enough braking pressure to slow the vehicle, which allowed the contact to park the vehicle and shut it off. the vehicle was taken to the dealership where the contact was informed to remove the driver side floor mat. there were no prior warnings and the current mileages is 23000 and the failure mileage was 13153. updated 4/7/2010 *cn updated 05/06/10.*jb

I have a 2006 prius and didn't make the connection until the news stories came out. i drove over railroad tracks and was going to make a right turn into a parking light right after the tracks. the light indicating rough road conditions came on and i pressed the brake peddle to slow down to make the turn into the parking lot and there was a delay in the brakes taking hold. it startled me, but i thought it was a characteristic of the car - this was the first time that i hit rough road and tried to brake immediately after since i bought the car. my reaction was to avoid that scenario by adjusting my driving, but now i'm wondering if this problem with the brakes isn't just limited to the 2010 prius. i haven't tried to repeat that sequence, but i do think other prius models should be tested. i recently had to have the abs cable replaced because the cable was damaged. the repair shop thought the damage may have been the result of driving off-road, but i've never driven the car off-road. only on pavement. i don't know if the problem that occurred could have been related to the abs cable or not. i still have the damaged cable. *tr

2 brake problems: (1) brakes do not work well on snow. i have slid through 3 stop signs since purchased car in 2006. brake applied but no or very slow response. i try to avoid driving during snowstorms as a result. (2) when braking on wet or uneven (broken pavement, potholes, manhole covers, etc.) roadway, yellow light blinks on dash and car momentarily -- for 1/2 or 1 second -- does not respond to brake pedal. car feels like it is flying, like you are totally out of control of the vehicle. this has happened at least one dozen times since i have owned the car. *jb

Brakes on my 2006 prius do not work immediately when applying the brakes when the anti-skid feature is activated. i noticed this shortly after purchasing the car in september 2006. when i read in the newspaper today that the 2010 prius was exhibiting this same behavior i decided to make sure nhtsa knew this was also a problem with my 2006 prius since it was brand new. it has happened repeatedly and consistently whenever the anti-skid feature is activated and i apply the brakes. i just thought it was something i had to get used to but now i know it may be a defect. the incident date i provided below is just the most recent incident of the situation. *jb

After going over significant bumps or potholes, occasionally brakes hesitate to catch. began within a month of purchasing vehicle. reported to dealer, test drove for approx. 5 minutes and could not repeat so they ignored my complaint. problem persists, but to date have not had vehicle fail to stop. have over 80,000 miles on prius. *tr

While driving on a smooth dry road and gently and steadily braking, the braking ceases for a second, resulting in what seems like a surge forward, but it might be a cessation of the deceleration that results from the braking. feels like a car is pushing my car from behind. this has happened about 10 or 15 times over the last few years. no accidents have occurred, but it's scary. i never reported it to the toyota dealer since i knew i could not reproduce the problem. *tr

Loss of braking capability when slowing over potholes and loose pavement. this has been reported in the 2010 prius - i'm here to tell you, it's not a new problem. i have a 2006 prius and it's done this since i bought it new. at first it alarmed me, now i'm used to it - hasn't bothered me enough to quit driving it or take it back to the dealer for this. happens 5-10 times per week. *tr

Tl*the contact owns a 2006 toyota prius. while driving 65 mph he stepped on the brake pedal, the vehicle accelerated, and crashed into the vehicle in front of him. there were no injuries. the police were not notified. after the contact turned the vehicle on and off, it reset itself. the vehicle was able to be driven from the scene. a toyota manufacturer representative inspected the vehicle and stated that there were no defects. the vin was unknown. the failure mileage was 42,000.

Toyota 2006 prius brake problem...i have always had the problem that jessica yellin outlined on cnn. as an engineer myself let me describe what the issue is. the short answer is that the anti-lock brake system conflicts with the traction control system on bumps and slippery surfaces. if you are braking and hit a pot hole or series of bumps (causing a wheel to spin slower than the rest) the anti-lock brake system kicks in and disables the brakes in an unacceptable manner. a yellow "traction" light on the dashboard flashes during this even, which lasts about a second unless further slipping occurs. i understand the goal of anti-lock brakes, the implementation on this car is just plain poor and unsafe. i have tapped other's bumpers in situations that i should have been able to stop in. at first i complained to the dealer, but after driving other's prius cars i found out they all do the same thing. (at least 2005 and 2007 models.) i have driven this car since september 30, 2006...and have over 40,000 miles. i am sure that this issue could be addressed by upgrading the firmware in the vehicle. or, disable anti-lock brake system so they work when i step on them! i have had no accelerator problems. *jb

The brake problems with the toyota prius go beyond jus the 2010 model. i have a 2006 prius and it does the same thing re: the brakes seeming to "slip" when you hit a bump or a slick surface. also, when you tap the brakes, and then hit the accelerator (as when avoiding another car that is doing something stupid) it sort-of "stalls" for a few seconds before it will accelerate. *tr

I have now had three separate incidents of the brake failing on my car: march 15, 2007; december 4, 2008; and january 16, 2010. on march 15, 2007: ¿ i was in stop and go traffic on the freeway, traveling about 15 mph. ¿ i was rolling, with my foot off the brake and accelerator. ¿ the car in front of me (about 3 car lengths) put on brakes. ¿ i applied my brake, and it felt normal, but the car did not stop. ¿ i kept my foot on the brake and tried to press harder (pressing on the brake and getting no response was very disorienting; i actually checked to see if my foot was on the brake.) ¿ it was the car in front of me that stopped me, not my brakes. ¿ after i was stopped by the collision, my brakes worked again. i filed an accident report with my insurance company, and i had the car towed to the service department of the toyota dealership in carlsbad ca where i bought the car. the car was ¿quarantined¿ by your company. i was without a car for several days until a toyota inspector came to the dealership to inspect my car. the inspector found nothing wrong and the car was returned to me. on december 4, 2008, similar circumstances: ¿ i was in stop and go traffic, traveling about 10-15 mph. ¿ i was coming to a rolling stop as i approached a red light. there was one car in front of me. ¿ i applied the brake, but the car did not stop. ¿ i took my foot completely off the brake and slammed it back down onto the brake.the car stopped, but i very nearly bumped into the car in front of me. ¿ i took the car to the toyota carlsbad service department again. ¿ they inspected the brake system and checked the codes, and couldn¿t find anything wrong. the third brake failure happened on january 16, 2010. the brake failed when i was parallel parking. i took my foot all the way off the brake and pressed down again. the brake worked on the 2nd attempt. luckily, i did not hit the car in front of me. i did not take the car back to the dealership svc dept; i knew it would do no good. *tr

I own a 2006 toyota prius. i read today's news about prius brake issues and i would like to point out that the same has happened to me several times in the past. i never thought this would be a defect, and did not file a complaint. when i brake, and there is a bump or pothole on the road, the cars tires seem to skid for a second or two. the vehicle skid indicator light comes on a while the car jerks forward. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2006 toyota prius. the contact was driving approximately 30 mph on normal road conditions. there was pressure applied to the accelerator pedal, followed by an unintended increase in acceleration. the driver applied pressure to the brake pedal and the vehicle failed to slow down. the gear shift failed to operate in the "neutral" position. in addition, the entire gear indicators illuminated at the same time. the vehicle was driven into a barrier of dirt as a result of the vehicle coming to a complete stop. the failures occurred on four separate occasions. the vehicle was towed to an authorized dealer. the technician was unable to duplicate the failure. the vehicle has not been repaired for the malfunctions. the failure mileage was 41,404.

2006 toyota prius. braking behavior identical to what has been described in the 2010 prius models. when traveling over a rough patch of pavement or potholes at low or moderate speed, the vehicle braking seems to release. the best way to characterize this is that as the vehicle bounces over the rough pavement during breaking and the weight is applied and released from the wheels due to the up/down motion, the brakes release and re-apply inconsistent with the steady pressure i apply on the brake pedal. this is beyond the behavior expected by the abs. no accident or damage has yet occurred, but the behavior is disturbing. not meaning to pile on with the ongoing troubles with toyota, but the description of the braking in my 2006 vehicle is identical to what is described in the 2010 prius model. *jb

I own a 2006 toyota prius. i have experienced dramatic changes in braking deceleration with the brake pedal at constant pressure, but when driving over bumpy roads or potholes (such as those on my home street). the sudden decrease of deceleration is accompanied by an indicator on the dashboard telling me i'm going over bumpy terrain, the braking change lasts on the order of a second. this phenomenon has occurred repeatedly during my ownership of the car, always under similar circumstances. it occurs both at low speeds (e.g. on my street) and high speeds (e.g. on a potholed freeway). your reporting system asks for a specific date, mileage, and speed at which the failure occurs. i have entered arbitrary values. i emphasize that (1) this phenomenon has occurred repeatedly since just after my purchase of the new car and continued to the present (the car has 50k miles at present), and (2) has occurred at various speeds. *jb

The car indicates a wheel slide warning in best of conditions at random times. loss of power to car and difficulty in retaining control. *tr

I drive a toyota prius 2006. it has not been the subject of any official recalls other than the map recall. however, i am writing that this car suffers from the same brake defect which has been recently reported on in the newer prius models. that is, whenever i drive over a pothole or a slippery surface, the brakes disengage as a result of the stabilization system. it occurs frequently, but i have become relatively use to it, such that it doesn't bother me anymore, though i know it is a serious problem. so far i have not done anything to repair the problem, primarily because there has been no official problem with it declared. i hope this changes. *tr

I own a 2006 toyota prius- i have had several incidences where i put my foot on the brake at low speed and the brakes took a very long second to engage- it has occurred when i have been turning the wheel and also when moving in a forward direction i have put one date below - however it has happened many times since i have owned the car. *jb

My 2006 prius also feels like the brakes aren't working correctly when i go over a pothole, similar to what has been described in the 2010 prius in today's news report. i suspect the problem is not confined to just the 2010 prius, but all years. *jb

I would like to make the agency aware of my experience with the traction control system on my 2006 toyota prius. i understand that it is being investigated for the 2010 model but i have very similar issues with my 2006. this is an ongoing issue and occurs regularly from time to time (and has since i purchased the vehicle new). when passing over road surfaces that cause the traction control system on the vehicle to activate (wet road, gravel, pot hole, snow, etc.), braking and acceleration control is temporarily lost. this loss of control persists for 1-5 seconds when braking, and indefinitely when trying to accelerate (i.e. when on snow). braking distance is clearly increased, as the vehicle does not apply the brakes at all. i have had several incidents where i had maintained a safe following distance, but nearly ran into cars stopping in front of me (due to my vehicle not braking appropriately). merging is also an issue at times, as is accelerating (into traffic or out of a hazardous situation on snowy/wet roads). i feel that the best solution would be the ability to deactivate the traction control system. unfortunately toyota is not currently offering a way to do this. *tr

Tl*the contact owns a 2006 toyota prius. while driving at slow speeds including 10 mph over potholes and making a left or right turn, the brakes lost traction. the dealer was unable to diagnose the failure. the dealer also stated that the failure was not related to the floor mats. the failure mileage was 99 and the current mileage was 50,000. updated 04/01/10 *bf the consumer stated it felt as though the vehicle was accelerating when making a turn at a slow speed or driving over rough pavement. updated 06/28/10*jb

Brake failure in prius 2006 model. car did not stop near a signal light, and would have hit another car infront of mine. finally ended up driving into another lane fortunately there was no opposition traffic. in the second incident car did not stop for 15 ft near a stop sign, where there was a little snow until abs acted. in both cases we got lucky. this needs to be investigated not only for 2010 model prius but also for previous models. *tr

I am an owner of a 2006 toyota prius. i don't have a specific date since this type of failure has occurred several times. i construed this to be a part of the prius and did not think of lodging a complaint. but based on today's (2/3/10) report on prius' brake issues from japan, i feel compelled to point out that: there has been a typically recurring problem of the tires skidding as the brakes loose their grip when i have hit the brake as i am crossing a pothole or a road expansion joint or minor bump (not speed bumps) or just a wet spot. this condition has been noted regardless of the condition of the tires - meaning even on brand new tires. the vsc lights comes on when the car glides/skids over and moves past the point where i had wanted to slow down. i am not sure of the type of brake in this vehicle so i will be checking off all 3 kinds. *tr

Tl*the contact owns a 2006 toyota prius. whenever the contact attempted to apply the brakes while driving 30 mph, she noticed that the vehicle suddenly surged forward causing the contact to increase braking pressure in order to stop the vehicle. the dealer informed the contact that the vehicle was working properly. the contact noticed the failure immediately after the vehicle was purchased. the current and failure mileages were 14000.

I have a 2006 toyota prius. several times--possibly as many as 20--over the course of owning the car in the last four years, i have had the following experience. when applying the brake after letting my foot off the accelerator, the car will have a sudden surge forward--either as if the break isn't working or the acceleration was actually increasing rather than staying the same or decreasing. each time it has happened, the car monitor light for "slippery road" flashes on the dashboard. i have twice asked a toyota dealer about this. they say it is a common feature of the prius when it switches between the gas and electric components of the engine. this doesn't seem like a satisfactory explanation. it could easily result in an accident if someone happens to be in front of me the next time it occurs. this has occurred even after i removed the driver floor mat, as recommended by toyota. i do not believe it has anything to do with either the gas pedal or the floor mat. i think it's electrical. *tr

I have a 2006 prius. twice in 60,000 miles, when in cruise control, driving at highway speeds, and having to brake suddenly, the cruise control disengaged, as it should,. i brake, the car slows, as it should. then the car starts to surge up to the original cruise control set speed. i am able to brake and stop it, but at highway speeds, and approaching a near emergency stop situation- this has scared me. it has only happened twice...but memorable in the surprise it even happened. i reported it to a local toyota dealer, who couldn't recreate the problem, then also called the toyota corporation customer service, which said they had no reports of that happening. *tr

I am contacting you to tell you what happened to me in my 2006 prius on september 14, 2007. i drove home and stopped at my mailbox to get the mail. the car shifted off of gas and onto electric. i was going approximately 3 to 4 miles per hour to make a y-turn to back into our driveway and when i pushed down on the brake the car thrusted forward while on electric with great force through the neighbor's six foot wooden fence where the car stopped (i don't know if it stopped on it's own or got hung up in fence and also stuck from hill decline.) i never had a chance to try pushing down on the brake a second time due to the fact it happened that fast and force full. the car was running on electric and barely moving. my gas pedal was not stuck and the mat had nothing to do with it. my husband checked the mat and actually kicked at the mat to see if it would move and it did not. our mat was not even under the gas pedal. it was suggested that maybe my high heels made the gas pedal stick. i do not wear high heels and my foot was not on the gas pedal. it thrusted forward when i put my foot on the brake. it is clear to me that you have more of an electrical malfunction of some type. we contacted toyota who sent a representative who checked our car out while at the body shop and the repair guy said he was in the car for over an hour the computer appeared to be cleared. toyota told us there was no problem? we hope that you can figure this out and reassure us that our vehicle is safe. i am thankful that this incident happened at home due to the fact the day this incident took place i was at a local college campus and could of run over a group of young adults. someone could of been injured or killed that day! it scares me that my car might do this again! *tr

When my 2006 toyota prius hits a bump or hole in the road while braking the car will surge forward. i have on many occasions almost collided with vehicles that have stopped in front of me after these "surge" episodes. it occurs at least once a day from or to work. *tr

My wife and i own a 2006 prius that we purchased new. our prius has the exact same braking problem that i read about today involving the 2010 prius that you are starting to investigate. applying the brakes while driving over bumps will cause repeated momentary lose of braking. i never reported it to the dealer. i just thought that was the way it was and was careful about braking on rough roads. *tr

Three separate times i had the gas pedal of my 2006 toyota prius stick to the floor when i was accelerating on the highway. *tr

You need to broaden the investigation of the 2010 prius braking issue to include at least the gen ii prius (2004-2009). what's been described in the press (since several months ago) regarding reports of braking problems on the 2010 prius has been a problem for me with my 2006 prius since i got it. i checked and posted to priuschat.com on it years ago, and found many others have experienced the same problem. note that the common wisdom on the site is that the issue is actually "traction control" that aggressively disengages the drivetrain when the wheels spin at a significant differential, in order to protect the drivetrain. this action disengages regenerative braking. the switch to conventional friction braking has a delay, and causes the (quite startling and scary) absence of braking for a brief period. this explanation is consistent with the fact that an analogous problem happens for acceleration, when hitting uneven pavement, potholes, etc. i.e., acceleration is momentarily disengaged. (this, itself, can be quite startling if one is pulling out into traffic, and suddenly loses power.) i marked the incident date as the approximate time i purchased this vehicle. as i said, it has been a problem since the outset. before i became acclimated to the behavior, i probably experienced a startling loss of braking roughly once per week or so. once i came to recognize what was happening, i learned to ease off the brake pedal myself, as i approached a problem feature in the road (like a pothole or manhole cover) in order to avoid it. since then, i only rarely miss something, and experience the loss of braking problem perhaps once every few months. the matter would definitely be perceived as serious by typical drivers -- it's a heart skips a beat, worry that you're going to hit the car in front of you kind of feeling. *jb

2006 toyota prius. if it encounters bumpy road while turning and braking, then stability indicator will light up and brakes will stop working for about a second. it feels like the car is being driven on ice. it can be reproduced at will. just bumpy road surface and turning/braking at the same time. did not take it to a dealer to have it looked at it though. learned to live with it. *tr

This is in response to what i read in the nytimes: "in the united states, the national highway traffic safety administration has logged at least 136 complaints about the brakes on the 2010 prius. many are from drivers who say the vehicle surged forward or temporarily lost braking after driving over a pothole or other uneven surface, and many say it is a recurring problem." until i read this, i thought that it had been my imagination, because it was temporary, mildly disturbing, but didn't result in any damage. i own a 2006 toyota prius and my husband and i have experienced this sporadically since we bought the car march 15, 2006, probably no more than a dozen times in more than 100,000 miles logged. *tr

I read news coverage of prius brakes problems. i own a 2006 prius, and have noticed this problem throughout the last 4 years that we've owned it. so it is not only a 2010 problem. i did not report it in the past, because it never put me in danger (yet). however, whenever the car goes over a pothole or an uneven surface or a slippery patch, it seems to accelerate momentarily - it's sort of a "flying" sensation - not very pleasant, but short enough, so that control is quickly regained. i am not positive if my foot is on the brake every time it happens. i can follow up and pay more attention if there is follow-up with this complaining. thanks. *tr

I read the article today regarding prius brakes and i definitely have that issue all the time in my 2006 toyota prius. whenever i hit a pothole or a slippery service and apply the brake, it feels like the brake stops working and the cars moves forward more quickly. then, it feels like the car re-engages the brakes. i have not yet had an accident relating to this, but it is most definitely something i have experienced many times. i have not approached toyota or my dealer about it (in part because i am not nearby to my dealer). *tr

In 10/06, i had an incident where the brakes and steering of my 2006 prius ceased to function briefly, as i tried to brake at an intersection. i took the car in to my toyota dealer shortly after -- they checked it but found nothing wrong, so nothing was done. the day in question was drizzly and the roads wet. it was daytime, and i was driving with my children in boston, approaching the forest hills intersection. there were trolley tracks in the road (since removed), which i try to avoid, since i know they can be slippery. as i approached the intersection, going about 20 mph, i put my foot to the brake. at that point, it seemed to me that both the brakes and the steering ceased to function or froze up, so that i couldn't stop the car or keep it going straight. thus the car kept going, veering to the right, with one wheel banging into and up onto a curb, before the car stopped. the whole thing took only a few seconds. i turned the car off and sat there in disbelief, since i'd experienced nothing like this in 30 years of driving. fortunately, there were no other cars close by, so i didn't cause an accident, and i had been going slow enough so that neither i nor my two boys were hurt. i have come to know the car better, and have learned that often when the road is slippery or rough, yellow warning lights will flash, and the brakes will seem briefly less crisp. it is possible that the wet conditions and the trolley tracks on the day of the incident contributed to what happened. however, i want to emphasize the qualitative difference of the 2006 incident. i¿m not a car expert, but it felt to me like the car¿s electronic system had seized up, not like there was some mechanical problem. it felt as though there was a brief but complete severing of the connection between my actions with my feet and hands and how the car behaved. it was very frightening. *tr

The prius brake failure has occurred several times since i bought the car in late 06. if i am on a wet road or a gravel road, it seems that when pushing the brakes, they not only fail but the car lurches. when this occurs a light in the dashboard goes off simultaneously. i contacted my dealer about it 2 years ago and was told it was not a brake failure but was just the way the technology for the brakes worked and that the car was fine. i was involved in a 6 car pileup almost one year ago, in which i was the 2nd car in line. the light went off during the accident itself and i believe that the braking might have been the cause of the wreck, now that i am aware of all of this. it felt almost exactly the same. i just assumed the car behind me was pushing me forward, but no at fault party could ever be determined. i called the dealer again today asking (since my car is still under warranty) if this could be repaired since it was now acknowledged and was told that until a recall occurred, toyota corporate had not informed them of a fix so nothing could or would be done. i find this unacceptable, as i am driving a vehicle i am paying a lot (for my income anyway) and it is so unsafe. i carry my newborn around in this thing! not only are the brakes a concern to me but the prius is also part of the floormat recall so you couple the two issues with brake and acceleration and you are asking for extreme risk when driving. i am very concerned that the car i am paying so much for is so risky to drive and would like to have toyota recall the car and repair this problem. *tr

Momentary brake slippage at slow speeds when we hit something slippery like a wet manhole--much as has been described elsewhere. it has *not* yet been a major problem. *tr

I own a 2006 toyota prius. before i heard of any complaints of the engine revving at high speeds, this occurred to me when the car was only 1 year old, while it was in park. the engine suddenly started revving at high speed shortly after i pressed the power bottom. i thought the engine may have been cold. i was still in park when i turned the engine off, waited about 2 minutes, then pushed the start button again with the engine returning to normal. around this time i had heard of a problem with the cruise control causing this problem, but it has not occurred since. *tr

This is a complaint about the brakes and/or traction control system on my 2006 toyota prius. this is an ongoing issue and has been ongoing as long as i have owned the vehicle. i am the first owner. the fault is as follows: when passing over road surfaces that cause the traction control system on the vehicle to activate (gravel, pot hole, snow, standing water, etc.), braking and acceleration control is temporarily lost. this loss of control persists for 1-3 seconds. of particular concern are instances in which a yielding situation accompanying a merging or turning maneuver present themselves. in these situations, if the car passes over a road surface which causes an activation of the traction control system, i am unable to stop the car or to accelerate out of danger. i fear that i will find myself in the situation where i am trying to slow down to yield to a vehicle while making a right turn on a red light and will be able to do so due to the loss of braking/acceleration control accompanying the activation of the traction control system. in such a situation, i would be unable to avoid a high-speed collision on the driver's side of the vehicle. i have lived with this danger for the last 4+ years, but in the light of recent developments, i feel it is appropriate to raise this issue through this complaint system. *tr

2006 prius brake pedal slowly moves to floor when foot held on brake pedal, i.e., at a stop sign. toyota service tech said this is normal and that brake would hold even when pedal is fully depressed. i this true? *tr

If i hit a bump while braking in my 2006 prius, the brakes give-out and i have re-brake. it only happens at slow speeds,and only when i hit a bump or pot-hole. when i mentioned it to the dealership 2 years ago, they said they were aware of the issue, and i should just re-apply the brakes. it still happens today. *tr

Tl*the contact owns a 2006 toyota prius. while driving 30 mph over a speed bump and engaging the brake pedal the vehicle surged and lunged forward; yet, the brakes began operating normally after driving over a bump in the road. the failure has occurred on two occasions. the dealer stated that the failure was caused by a software malfunction within the vehicle. they also stated that they were unable to duplicate the failure. no repairs were made to the vehicle. the failure mileage was unknown. the current mileage was 38800.

Purchased 2006 prius in jan 09 immediately had the driver side headlamp go out and then fix itself. this has been a continuing problem of flickering since i have been driving it for a year. at night this is scary especially on mountain roads where there is no light from street lights. i am no longer driving in the rain or at night until toyota addresses this problem. dealer wants $489.38 to replace them both will not replace one alone. the news has reported that thousands have a complaint with toyota about this problem but toyota will not address this issue eventhough i believe it is a safety issue and i have an extended warranty which does not cover this even though it is bumper to bumper warranty. the cost of $489.38 is way too high for a car that only has 32,397 miles on it and much to expensive for a senior citizen who is on a limited income. *tr

My 2006 toyota prius has several issues with acceleration, braking, turning car off and on alarm goes off constantly and terrible gas mileage around 30 miles per gallon. *tr

Tl*the contact owns a 2006 toyota prius. while driving approximately 25 mph on an uneven and winding road the vehicle accelerated to a high speed. she was forced to change direction and crashed into a ditch which caused the tires to blow out. the under carriage was destroyed the vehicle was destroyed. toyota replaced gave the contact a 2007 toyota prius since the 2006 prius was destroyed. the contact sustained injuries. since the crash involved one vehicle a police report was not filed. toyota towed the vehicle to the closest dealer. the vin number was unknown. the failure mileage was 17,000.

My 2006 toyota prius completely loses braking when i run over rough road. this has happened since i purchased the vehicle new in march of 2006. i have always thought the front of the car was light and my wheels were actually jumping off the ground, but with the safety recall of new 2010 priuses for the same problem under the same conditions, i realized this is a system problem. *tr

I have a 2006 toyota prius. when i am braking on a bumpy road, or over a pothole, the brake will cut out for a brief period, leading to a sensation of sliding. this has happened repeatedly. the incident date is just an approximation of the last time it happened. it has happened since the car was new. *tr

I have a 2006 toyota prius that seems to have the same braking problem as described for the 2010 models, when i apply brakes on a bumpy or rough road. i notice it most at an intersection in my town - i hit the brake pedal to begin slowing for a red light, the car starts to slow, i hit a patch of rough road, the car feels like it's accelerating (its rate of slowing is less, so it feels like it's accelerating), then the brakes "kick in" again and slow the car. very surprising the first few times it happened but in three years it's happened so often i hardly even notice it. i didn't associate it with bumpy roads until reading recent articles on the 2010 prius brake issue. no accidents yet but i hesitate to let others drive my prius. this problem is not limited to 2010 models! i put jan 1 2009 as "approximate incident date" because you won't accept this form without a single specific date, but it's been an ongoing problem with this car since at least march 2006 through january 2010. i have no idea if the car has electric or hydraulic brakes so i picked "service brakes hydraulic". very unclear category names for "vehicle information - details". *tr

Brakes momentarily stop working while braking on uneven surfaces such as hitting a crack or bump in the road, braking over a manhole cover, etc. i will loose breaking for about 1 full second. i have almost hit multiple people because of this issue, but so far have stopped just in time. this has happened since the car was new. toyota ignores my complaints, as they say it is part of the antilock brakes and how they operate, or they haven't been able to duplicate the issue when they test it. it is not normal operation of the antilock brakes!!!! i know how antilock brakes work and they don't let the car go with out brake for a full second or more. *tr

2006 toyota prius brake failure - car suddenly accelerates forward when braking and running over a discontinuity in the road or wet pavement. *tr

I have a 2006 prius. when going over bumps, i experience a total loss of power for 1 or three seconds -generally. a yellow light also comes on the dash board. it often happens daily. i have only had one or two experiences when the power didn't return so quickly and then i was afraid because i had no brakes and was just skidding. i believe that i have seen this problem discussed by other prius owners of chat sites. it can occur at any mileage speed but i was only able to put a mileage number in the box can it be fixed? *tr

I'm filing this as it may relate to your current investigation of the toyota prius braking system. i have a 2006 toyota prius with electronic stability control (esc). i've noticed that, at times when the esc is activated by a bumpy/slippery road, that attempting to activate the brakes (via the pedal) at that moment (shortly after the esc has activated, per the dashboard light) will sometimes "fail". the "failure" being that the brake pedal will depress to the floor (often with a 'clunk' noise - maybe the brake pedal hitting the floor?) without activating the brakes. i've found, every time, that releasing and re-depressing the pedal activates the brakes without fail. this has happened on numerous occasions so the "approximate incident date" i've entered is a best guess of the most recent occurrence. *tr

I have noticed that while driving my 2006 prius, that while traveling over an uneven road surface or pothole, there are times where the traction control light will come on, on the dash, while simultaneously, it feels as if the car is uncontrollable. its a similar feeling as driving on a snow covered surface. not sure if its just a flaw in the traction control system (may include a braking issue as well). i did contact my local dealer, who was not familiar with this issue, yet if you were to do a search online, you will see that other prius owners have experienced this as well. *tr

Headlights go off without warning while driving. one light bulb going off is common, however, both lights have gone off at the same time repeatedly during driving, leaving me without any lighting. lights come back on after turning the switch off and then on again. *tr

Both hid headlights went out at the same time. fortunately it was just before mid-night, there was no traffic, and i was slowing down for a red light. i turned the lights and ignition on and off several times and eventually the lights come on and i drove about 200 yards to my apartment. i took the car to my dealer. the service manager was aware of the problem. he treated it as though it were fairly common. he replaced both bulbs at no charge to me under warranty. i not aware of any subsequent problems. *tr

2006 toyota prius one or both headlights turn off suddenly while driving. *tr

Tl*the contact owns a 2006 toyota prius. while applying the brakes at speeds of less than 15 mph, the vehicle performed as if it were temporarily losing braking control. within moments, the brakes would reset and function normally. the dealer stated that the loss of control and the brake pedal malfunction was caused by the electronic stability control. the dealer also stated that the abs system was functioning properly for his year, make and model vehicle. the failure was recurred frequently. there were no related recalls or repairs made to the vehicle. the failure mileage was 5,000 and the current mileage was 71,423.

1) toyota prius, 15mph, engaged brakes, hit small bump in road and anti-locking mechanism disengaged brakes. 2) failure is braking mechanism in toyota prius will disengage. seems to be due to how the antilock system works. it causes the brakes to quit functioning. 3) nothing. toyota would not admit to issue with braking. on 02/03/2010 toyota admitted to brake issues with toyota prius from my year. this is the reason for my complaint. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2006 toyota prius. the contact stated while driving up and down a hill at 3 to 5 mph in the snow the vehicle begins to fish-tail and the vsc (vehicle speed control) light would flash and the brakes would lock-up. the contact stated this almost caused 5 crashes while the contact was driving home. the contact had to have the vehicle towed home because the contact felt the vehicle was unsafe to drive. the contact has not taken the vehicle to a dealer at this time but saw the news story televised and felt this was a safety issue. the failure mileage was 130,000.

2006 prius with high intensity discharge headlight. headlight has been failing over the past few months. *tr

Back in 2009, i experienced runaway acceleration in my 2006 toyota prius. the cruise control had been engaged for between 5 and 15 minutes. all of a sudden, the vehicle started to race. i was traveling in the 70's (mph), and it shot up to nearly 100 before i got it under control. the dealer claimed he had no such other complaints and could not replicate my problem. i brought it back again a few months. later because the cruise control intermittently failed to set. i brought it back a third time, again, a few mos. later. this time, they had a fix, which was a new cruise control module. the first 2 trips were under warranty. they wanted to charge me the 3rd time because it was then beyond the 3 years of warranty. i fought this because the condition was obviously pre-existing. yesterday, steve wozniak received television and press attention when he reported the same problem, a problem that toyota told me they had never experienced before. as far as i am concerned, this company is scamming the public. they are playing with people's lives. it's got to stop. it's more than just brake pedals and carpet; it's apparently a way of life for this company. (i no longer have the vehicle. dates and mileage are approx.) *tr

Several weeks ago, i noticed that the hi headlights on my 2006 toyota prius were intermittently cutting out while driving. both headlights have had this happen but not at the same time. turning the lights off and on again seems to correct the problem. problem happens occasionally (once or twice a week). vehicle at dealership now for diagnostic and headlight replacement. this has been reported to toyota. case number with them is 1001131933. *tr

Issue relating to prius brakes. i have a 2006 prius and have experienced the brake issue ever since i've owned the car. i don't think it is entirely brakes, because i've also experienced it while accelerating and one of the wheels loses traction. i think it is the traction control system / abs. anyway, i've learned to cope with it, the dropout is only for less than a second, and there's never been an accident (or even near accident) because of it. this latest event was slowing down for a turn and one of the wheels went over a manhole cover. that wheel locked up and the abs light came on, and the brakes cut out and then back in. *tr

2006 toyota prius. first my passenger side headlight flickers and goes out. i get it fixed at the dealer and then the drivers side headlight does the same thing. about a year later and again my passenger side light is out (yes if i turn the light off and back on, it comes back on again, but only for a few minutes). then again sometimes it goes out completely. the car was under warranty the first two times... now it's not! yes i got the notice about the price change for the headlight.... but i think this is a defective equipment issue and has to be a safety issue! i know other owners have reported the same type problem! *tr

Same intermittent problem as expressed by countless others on this site and beyond: 2006 prius hid headlights blink out randomly. turning switch off and on again restores light until next occurrence. history: driver's side headlight intermittent after 30,000 miles. repeated complaints to dealer, finally replaced bulb at 38,000 miles. handled under warranty. passenger side headlight intermittent around 50,000 miles. after repeated complaints to dealer, "starter bulb" was replaced at 54,000 miles - also handled under warranty. moved to new address - so new dealer. received lame toyota letter that pretends to address the situation by lowering the cost of the part, while not addressing that this part should not be failing in this way or as quickly as it is! present situation: driver's side headlight again intermittent - around 80,000 miles. asked dealer to investigate at last service (87,000). "no problem found" "bring it back when it's totally out" "if headlight is the same one that falls into special category of lights, it'll be $150 plus labor" "but it could be 1 of 2 different lights which will be $300+ or $600+ - we won't know until we pull it apart." even though i purchased extended warranty coverage, the headlights are excluded. even though previously-replaced bulb is only slightly older than original problem. problem is that toyota is not taking real responsibility for the level of problem that this is. they should be covering labor costs, extending warranties and providing a new replacement light that actually works! i believe new prius uses leds. charging less money on an already exorbitantly overpriced part and requiring customers to pay more out-of-pocket for a part that doesn't work properly to begin with is outrageous! the investigation must be continued. toyota is not serving their customers and it is unsafe and at an unreasonable cost. there is absolutely no excuse for this behavior. do not let them get away with this. *tr

2006 prius headlights fail while driving. first just one, then the other. do i have to have an accident before i can report this absurd safety failure. it happens every day when i'm driving in or driving home. *tr

Recently both headlights on my prius began winking off at random. turning the lights off and then back on again will result in both headlights being but moments (sometimes seconds) later one of them will turn off. (so far neither have both turned off at the same time.) i took my car to the toyota dealership after being told by my usual mechanic that they did not have the tools to "get to" the prius headlight to replace it. the toyota dealership informed me that the cost of replacing both front headlights (only) if $475. $170 per light and the rest of that is for the labor as they have to remove the front bumper, etc. after doing a little research online i see that this same issue (the headlight "winking") seems pretty common and so i'm reporting my experience. *tr

2006 toyota prius with hid headlights. i have had problems with the headlamps going out intermittently. my wife was stopped by the police because the left headlight went out the other night. the dealer replaced the bulb on the right side in june 2009. now i just had to replace the left side bulb, the toyota dealer will not cover under warranty due to the vehicle being out of warranty by 5 months. there are many,many prius owners with headlight problems. this is a safety issue that toyota knows about but refuses to help once the warranty expires. i request that nhtsa investigate the toyota headlight problem. we prius owners feel this is a defect and a very important safety issue that toyota should correct or reimburse prius owners that have paid for repairs after the 3 year/36,000 mile warranty period. *tr

Tl*the contact owns a 2006 toyota prius. he stated that he was driving 45 mph when he hit the brake pedal and all of a sudden the vehicle surged forward without a warning while still having his foot on the brake pedal. the failure occurred approximately 15 times over the last couple of years. the dealer has not been contacted yet since they would not be able to duplicate the problem. no repairs were made to the vehicle. the failure mileage was 10000 and the current mileage was 60000. updated 03/09/10. *lj updated 05/13/10.*jb

On 1/30/2010 at or about 9:00am. my daughter's 2005 toyota prius brakes failed enroute to mammouth. no snow or rain was on roadway. we have been unable to reach he since, but our sending this complaint to document this incident in the event an accident occurs. *tr

We own a 2006 toyota prius. the car was purchased new,has been dealer maintained and is our primary vehicle. on january 26, 2010 at 2:05 pm my wife experience uncontrollable acceleration and despite attempting the strategies recommended by toyota was involved in a crash causing her and others injury. the weather was clear, the road was dry and straight and my wife was approaching an intersection with plenty of unobstucted visibility. we had followed the initial recall instructions and had been in contact with the local dealer about any follow-up instructions pertaining to our vehicle. after the accident i contact, in person, the service manager at performance toyota in lincoln, ne. he stated our vehicle was not part of the most recent recall involving faulty gas pedals. i advised him i understood that however my wife experienced uncontrolled acceleration and despite attempting to employ the recommended strategies was involved in a crash resulting to injuries to her and others. i asked the service manager how to proceed and he advised me to call the "toyota customer experience line" and speak to them. when i stated i had tried many times and was unable to reach a person he insisted that was the appropriate manner to deal with the situation. i left the dealership feeling extremely frustrated due to the fact the recorded message on the "toyota customer experience line" advised if you had experienced and accelerator/acceleration problem contact your dealer immediately. we are aware that many toyota owners have experience this issue with their vehicles and in more models and years than are involved in the latest recall. it is not possible for an individual middle class citizen to challenge a major automaker to first admit and then correct a defect in an automobile they produced and sold . we request you investigate this incident in addition to the many more that have been reported. we will be available and cooperative in any fact finding you may wish to do. *tr

Braking effectiveness is reduced or non existent when hitting a bump, pothole or uneven road surface at slower speeds as reported by 2010 prius owners. this has been occurring since i took delivery of the new vehicle in june 2006 and have been told by various dealers that "this is how abs works in the prius, just keep applying steady pressure to the brakes, they will eventually catch again and you'll stop". until hearing news reports today of other owners with similar issues i though this was normal (though somewhat unnerving behavior) for a hybrid with regenerative braking systems. *tr

Insufficient braking when a pot hole or a puddle is hit. also the car "slips" when driving over wet surfaces. *tr

Tl*the contact owns a 2006 toyota prius. the contact stated that the front headlights shut off intermittently; however, after the switch was turned on and off they remained on. the dealer stated that the contact would be responsible for paying $300 per bulb to repair the vehicle and $200 in labor.. there were no related recalls. the contact is concerned about the safety risk while driving at night. the failure mileage was 70,000. updated 03/01/10. *lj the consumer stated both lights go out at the same time while driving at night. the dealer could not guarantee the consumer it wouldn't not happen again. updated 06/15/10.*jb

Hid lighting giving problems on 2006 prius. they will occasionally blink or go off entirely. less than 20k miles on the car. *tr

Passenger side headlight goes off intermittently. if i notice the headlight is out i can turn my lights off then back on and the headlight that was out will come back on. i noticed it for the first time a couple of days ago. *tr updated 02/13/10 *bf updated 02/16/10 updated 03/18/10 *bf updated 09/21/10

Both headlights were going off intermittently. this is the 2nd time in less than 13 months that both lights had to be replace at previously a cost of $500 each and now at a reduce cost of approximately $300 each. *tr

Both hid headlights failed simultaneously on 2006 toyota prius with 43k miles while driving. headlights had been on for about 5 minutes at the time they shut off. i pulled off into a parking lot, stopped the car, got out to verify that both headlights were off, and verified that the headlight switch was on. i turned the headlight switch off and back on, and the headlights re-illuminated. driver's side headlight continues to fail randomly. it re-illuminates when the switch is turned off and back on again. prior to both headlights failing simultaneously, the headlights had not flickered, turned off, or given any other sign of failure. *tr

Driver side headlight intermittently goes out. *tr

My driver side headlight automatically turns off randomly. and it is getting more frequent. both headlights turned off when i was driving on a freeway the other night. if i turn off the headlight on and off, it will work normally for a while. *tr

Every couple of weeks, the front passenger side headlight goes out on my 2006 prius. sometimes both lights go out. this is terrifying at night and is a serious safety hazard. i found many similar complaints online and am very concerned and anxiously awaiting your response and action on this problem. *tr

I understand there is a study and possible recall about the braking system on the 2010 toyota prius. i am an owner of a 2006 toyota prius. i think every model year of the toyota prius line should be investigated. i too have a problem when the vehicle goes over a bump or railroad tracks when braking. the brakes disengage for several seconds and you continue to maintain speed. an indicator light comes on, on the dashboard like you are sliding. it is very disconcerting. this event occurs almost every time you go over a bump when braking. i am the only owner of the vehicle which was purchased in march of 2006. i would highly, highly, highly recommend that the nhtsa investigate all toyota prius brakes in every year manufactured. with total sincerity - thank you. (ps - this form requires me to put in an incident date - there are multiple with no specific date, so i am putting today's date). *tr

I noticed that my right hid headlamp on my 2006 toyota prius was not working when i parked my car. i cycled the lights and the lamp came on, but it did appear to be dimmer than the left headlamp. i made an appointment for jan 2nd, 2010 at my local toyota dealership. note that i had the same problem with my left headlamp in feb of 2008. the dealership replaced the bulb under warranty, but indicated that the replacement would have cost $500+ if not for the warranty. i did not file a complaint with nhtsa on the first failure. *tr

The factory installed hid headlights periodically turn off. the first incident occurred two years ago, and i thought i had imagined it. i noticed dim lights and corrected the problem by quickly switching to bright lights. i was later told one head light was out while driving, but when i checked by exiting the vehicle both lights were on. the problem was very intermittent for two years primarily because i rarely drive at night. the problem is much more frequent now occurring multiple times per trip. i discovered that i can temporarily resolve the problem by cycling the head light switch ? not a safe tactic. an internet search today revealed this to be a common problem. surprisingly, we have not received a notice from toyota. this is clearly a dangerous factory defect. if toyota will not issue a recall, please demand that they at least acknowledge the problem and issue a notice listing the parts needed to correct the problem. please take immediate action before the problem causes serious accidents. *tr