31 of the 1,298 complaints about the 2005 Toyota Prius are about the fuel system — 2% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 75,500 miles.
31
Complaints
0
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Fuel pump malfunctioned. The vehicle stalled at low speeds while driving on an incline and gave a large red exclamation error sign on the dashboard. It stopped accelerating and came to a stop. Afterwards the engine will not start anymore. The car was towed to a garage and they found the fuel pump to be faulty.
NHTSA complaint #11479695 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
SHIFTER REVERTS TO NEUTRAL. HAVE TO DRIVE HOLDING IN D OR R.
NHTSA complaint #11286800 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
MY VEHICLE WILL NOT GO BUT ABOUT 30 OR 40 MAYBE 50 ON HIGHWAY AFTER VERY SLOW EXELARATION I'M ALMOST KILLED EVERY TIME I GET ON THE HIGHWAY HIGHWAY AND REG STREETS TO EXCEARATE IT VERY VERY SLOW TO START THEN I HAVE TO PULL OVER AND KILL IT START OVER NOT USING HET OR AIR NOW IT JUST WON'T START HAVE NOT HAD IT CHECKED CAN'T AFFORD IT
NHTSA complaint #11280513 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM: INVERTER
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND ALL THE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED WITH AN INVERTER WATER PUMP FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 12V563000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 160,000.
NHTSA complaint #10990902 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
AS THE HYBRID BATTERY FOR MY 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS BEGAN TO FAIL, I NOTICED A DEGRADATION IN MY BRAKING ABILITY. MY BRAKES WOULD SLIP OUT ON ME UNLESS THE GAS ENGINE WAS RUNNING' IN DRIVING THAT RELIED ON THE BATTERY, I ESSENTIALLY HAD NON WORKING BRAKES. WHEN I HAD THE HYBRID BATTERY REPLACED, A MULTI-POINT INSPECTION REVEALED MY FRONT BRAKE LININGS AT 8.9MM AND MY REAR DRUM LININGS AT 3MM (WHICH IS STILL IN EXCELLENT RANGE). THIS WAS CLEARLY NOT A CASE OF WORN OUT BRAKE PADS; AND REPLACING THE HYBRID BATTERY RESTORED MY BRAKING FUNCTION WHEN RUNNING ON BATTERY POWER.
NHTSA complaint #10966662 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
BOUGHT ONE-OWNER 2005 PRIUS 11-26-2014 AFTER PAYING FOR A PRE-PURCHASE INSPECTION AT A TOYOTA DEALER SHOWING COMPLETE SERVICE RECORD INCLUDING ALL RECALL CAMPAIGNS. 4-19-2015 WITHOUT WARNING ON THE EXPRESSWAY, THE ENTIRE 'COMBINATION METER DISPLAY' SIMPLY TURNED OFF, LEAVING THE CAR RUNNING IN THE BLIND, NO GAUGES/METERS/GUIDANCE OF ANY KIND. THE CAR CONTINUED TO OPERATE AND I DROVE DIRECTLY HOME AND PARKED IT. INTERNET SEARCH REVEALED THAT THIS AS A KNOWN SAFETY ISSUE BY TOYOTA AFFECTING 2004-2009 PRIUS MODELS. TOYOTA ISSUED A 'WARRANTY ENHANCEMENT-ZTV' AND WARRANTY POLICY BULLETIN (BULLETIN NO. POL12-05) TO EFFECT THE NECESSARY SAFETY REPAIRS, BUT ONLY APPLIES IF ONE DISCOVERS (MEANING SUFFER THE PANIC OF HAVING THE ENTIRE PANEL GO BLANK) THE ISSUE BEFORE EITHER '9 YEARS WITH NO MILEAGE LIMITATION OR BEFORE SEPTEMBER 30, 2013', WHICHEVER IS LONGER. IN OUR CASE, IT EXPIRED JUST BEFORE OUR PRE-PURCHASE INSPECTION/PURCHASE OF THE PRIUS AND THE DEALER INDICATED/TOYOTA CONFIRMED THAT THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT A TOYOTA DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT COULD HAVE DISCOVERED THROUGH TOYOTA RECORDS. INSTEAD, THE OWNER HAS TO WAIT FOR THE FAILURE TO OCCUR. IN OUR CASE, TOYOTA CORPORATE, WITH FULL KNOWLEDGE OF THIS SAFETY DEFECT, SAID OUR JOINT 'PLAN OF ACTION' WAS (A) IF THE DISPLAY DOES NOT ILLUMINATE, UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES DRIVE THE CAR, AND HAVE IT TOWED TO THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP FOR NECESSARY REPAIRS, OR (B) IF THE DISPLAY ILLUMINATES, IMMEDIATELY DRIVE IT TO THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP FOR NECESSARY REPAIRS, BUT THAT (C) TOYOTA WOULD 'DECLINE TO FURTHER PARTICIPATE OR CONTRIBUTE' TO THE REPAIR. THIS SHOULD BE A MANDATED, REQUIRED SAFETY RECALL; BY ITS OWN MEASURE, UP TO 669,000 PRIUS MODELS MAY BE AT RISK TO THIS KNOWN DEFECT, YET TOYOTA REFUSES BOTH THE RECALL AND THE REPAIR. HOW MANY OUT THERE ARE TICKING TIME BOMBS?
NHTSA complaint #10711889 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
I TESTED FUEL TANK CAPACITY SINCE DRIVING RANGE HAS SUBSTANTIALLY DECREASED FROM NEW CAR STATUS. FUEL CAPACITY NOW 9.2 GAL, VERSUS 12.4 AT PURCHASE. THE FUEL BLADDER HAS SHRUNK, SUBSTANTIALLY REDUCING DRIVING RANGE. THIS SHRINKAGE OCCURRED BETWEEN 10/15/2005 AND 2/24/2011 WHEN I TESTED IT. I AM INFORMED BY TOYOTA THAT REPLACEMENT FUEL BLADDERS WILL ALSO GRADUALLY SHRINK. NO METAL FUEL TANK IS AVAILABLE AS A REPLACEMENT. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE.
NHTSA complaint #10680167 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
FOR THE PAST COUPLE OF MONTHS I HAVE SMELLED A FUEL ODOR IN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT BUT CAN'T IDENTIFY THE SOURCE.
NHTSA complaint #10649686 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
WHILE DRIVING IN THE RAIN ON THE FREEWAY, THE CAR DE-ACCELERATED SUDDENLY AFTER ALL THE LIGHTS LIT UP ON THE DASH BOARD. I COULD NOT MAKE THE CAR GO. I MANAGED TO MANEUVER IT CLOSE TO AN OFFRAMP(DEC 2013). TOWED TO NORTH HOLLYWOOD TOYOTA, PAID OVER $800 TO FIX ITEMS I WAS TOLD WOULD FIX PROBLEM. IT DID NOT!!! 4 MONTHS LATER ON THE FREEWAY AGAIN, SAME THING HAPPENED. I COST OFF RAMP AND HAD THE CAR TOWED TO ANOTHER DEALER.(MARCH-APRIL 1014) LEFT IT FOR A WEEK, THEY SAID IT RUNS, CANT FIND A THING. LESS THAN 2 MONTHS LATER, ON THE FREEWAY AGAIN, SAME THING HAPPENS, I COAST TO THE SIDE DIFFICULTLY. CALLED FOR A TOW TO MY HOUSE 50 MILES AWAY. WHEN I CALLED BOTH DEALERS, THEY REFUSE TO ACKNOWLEDGE RESPONSIBILITY FOR NOT FIXING THE SAME PROBLEM I HAD IN DECEMBER OF 2013 - THIS IS A MASSIVE SAFETY ISSUE THAT TOYOTA SAYS THEY COULDN'T FIX UNTIL I PAID THEM OVER $1200 FOR A BLOCKED FUEL LINE AND TANK.- SAID THEY MIGHT HAVE FOUND THE PROBLEM OVER 5 MONTHS LATER. I THINK THEY SHOULD TAKE FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE FACT THAT THEY NEVER CAUGHT THE PROBLEM ORIGINALLY IN DECEMBER OF 2013 AND I HAD FEEL UNSAFE AS I WAS STOPPED ON A BUSY SO CAL FREEWAY MORE THAN ONE TIME. IF YOU LOOK AT OTHER TOYOTA BLOGS, PEOPLE HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT THIS ISSUE.- I EVEN WENT TO MAIN TOYOTA OFFICE IN TORRANCE, CA, THEY CANNOT FIND THE DEALERSHIPS IN ERROR, WHICH IS UNBELIEVABLE. WHAT IF I WAS HURT SERIOUSLY ON THOSE FREEWAYS? I HAVE HAD TO PAY FOR RENTALS, TOWS, AND FEAR OF DRIVING ON THE FREEWAYS. FEEL FREE TO CALL ME.
NHTSA complaint #10611356 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM: INVERTER
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ACTIVATED AT 75 MPH, ALL OF THE WARNING INDICATORS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ILLUMINATED IN ADDITION TO THE INVERTER COOLING SYSTEM WARNING MESSAGE DISPLAYING. THE CONTACT SHUT OFF THE ENGINE BUT THE FAILURE WAS STILL PRESENT ONCE RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 12V536000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM) HOWEVER, THE CONTACT WAS NOT ABLE TO HAVE THE VEHICLE REPAIRED BECAUSE THERE WAS NOT A QUALIFIED TECHNICIAN TO PERFORM THE REPAIR AT THE LOCAL DEALER. THE CONTACT RECEIVED THE RECALL NOTIFICATION SIX MONTHS PRIOR AND THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO PROVIDE AN EXPECTED DATE OF WHEN THE VEHICLE COULD BE SERVICED UNDER THE RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 153,000.
NHTSA complaint #10583486 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM: INVERTER
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS FOUND THAT THE INVERTER CONVERTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT REPAIRS COMPLETED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 12V536000 (HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM: INVERTER) MAY HAVE CAUSED THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND OFFERED TO PAY FOR A PORTION OF THE REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 116,000...UPDATED 01/14/13 *BF..UPDATED 01/16/2013 *BF UPDATED 1/18/2013 *JS THE CONSUMER IS STILL WITHOUT THE VEHICLE. UPDATED 1/28/2013
NHTSA complaint #10490729 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 70 MPH, THE FOLLOWING SYMPTOMS OCCURRED ON MY 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS: (1) CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE, (2) ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, (3) PROBLEM LIGHT CAME ON, (4) BATTERY WENT RED, (5) CAR STALLED AND WOULD NOT ACCELERATE/DRIVE ANY FURTHER. AFTER TURNING OFF THE CAR AND RESTARTING IT, I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE IT BACK AND THE BATTERY RECHARGED ITSELF TO GREEN. AFTER TAKING IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND HAVING THIS PROBLEM "FIXED", THE EXACT SAME SITUATION HAPPENED TWO MORE TIMES, AGAIN 6 MONTHS LATER AND THEN 2 WEEKS AFTER THAT. THE SECOND TIME I WAS DRIVING AGAIN ON THE HIGHWAY AT 70 MPH, THE THIRD TIME I WAS DRIVING AT NIGHT AT 40 MPH.
NHTSA complaint #10476570 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
MY WIFE WAS DRIVING OUR 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS TODAY AND THE ACCELERATOR LOCKED TO THE FLOOR. THE CAR CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE EVEN THOUGH SHE WAS BRAKING. SHE WAS EVENTUALLY ABLE TO GET THE VEHICLE TO STOP. THE ACCELERATOR WAS NOT STUCK UNDER THE FLOOR MATS. SHE HAD TO PRY THE ACCELERATOR FROM THE FLOOR.
NHTSA complaint #10472409 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED WHEN THE VEHICLE STALLED ALL OF THE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT STATED THE DEALER REPROGRAMMED THE COMPUTER, BUT THE VEHICLE ONLY FUNCTIONED NORMALLY FOR ONE MONTH. THE CONTACT STATED THE FAILURE WAS BEING DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER FOR ONE WEEK. THE FUEL PRESSURE WAS ALSO BEING CHECKED TO SEE IF IT MET SPECIFICATIONS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN, BUT THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 75,500.
NHTSA complaint #10414960 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
DRIVING NORTH ON I75 AT APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH. THE GAS GAUGE HAD 3 BARS ILLUMINATED. THE VSC WARNING LIGHT AND THE RED TRIANGLE WITH THE EXCLAMATION POINT CAME ON. I LOST THE ABILITY TO ACCELERATE AND THE CAR SUDDENLY WENT DEAD. LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO MAKE TO RELATIVE SAFETY ON THE SIDE TO INTERSTATE. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHO SAID THE CAR RAN OUT GAS! THEY ALSO SAID THAT THE "FUEL REGISTER UNIT WAS OPERATING AS DESIGNED." HOW WAS THAT POSSIBLE? THE CHARGE? OVER $1200! ACCORDING TO TOYOTA CORPORATE AND THE DEALERSHIP, REPEATED UNSUCCESSFUL ATTEMPTS TO START THE CAR WILL, BY DESIGN, CAUSE IRREPARABLE DAMAGE TO THE ECU CODE ID BOX WHICH CAN COST $1200 - $1800 TO REPLACE. THIS "DESIGN" IS APPARENTLY IN THE NAME OF ANTI-THEFT PROTECTION. (WHY NOT JUST IMMOBILIZE THE CAR INSTEAD OF PARTIAL SELF-DESTRUCTION?) EVEN GIVEN THE HIGH EXTENT AND DOCUMENTED HISTORY OF GAS GAUGE DISPLAY MALFUNCTIONS AND MANY OTHER RELATED ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS, TOYOTA CORPORATE WOULD OFFER NO FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE, NO REIMBURSEMENT OF ANY PORTION OF THE REPAIR. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THE CAR HAS LOST ALL POWER IN THE MIDDLE OF HEAVY TRAFFIC. THAT TIME, 08/09/10, THE WATER PUMP FAILED. SUBSEQUENT TO THAT, I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE TO REPLACE THE WATER PUMP.
NHTSA complaint #10411085 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HE WAS ADDING FUEL TO HIS VEHICLE, THE GASOLINE PUMP CLICKED NOTIFYING THAT THE VEHICLE WAS FULL; HOWEVER, WHEN HE REMOVED THE PUMP FROM THE VEHICLE GASOLINE STARTED FLOWING ONTO THE GROUND. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 56340.
NHTSA complaint #10373553 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER
2005 TOYOTA PRIUS--EXPERIENCES BRAKING AND HANDLING FAILURES WHEN BRAKING ON UNEVEN OR WET SURFACES. WHEN WE ARE BRAKING AND HIT A POTHOLE, GRAVEL, RAILROAD TRACKS OR WET SURFACES, THE CAR FEELS AS IF WE ARE LOSING CONTROL OF IT, AND BRAKING SEEMS TO TEMPORARILY STOP. THE "SKID DANGER" LIGHT COMES ON, EVEN AT VERY LOW SPEEDS. THIS HAPPENS NEARLY EVERY TIME WE BRAKE UNDER THESE CONDITIONS. ALSO, AT IDLE (IE. STOPLIGHTS), THE CAR WILL FREQUENTLY LURCH FORWARD SLIGHTLY, EVEN WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL FULLY DEPRESSED, ESPECIALLY WHEN ENGINE TRANSFERS FROM ELECTRIC TO GAS. WE WERE TOLD EARLY IN OUR OWNERSHIP THAT THIS IS NORMAL "DIESELING". THESE HAVE BEEN ON-GOING PROBLEMS, SINCE WE PURCHASED THE CAR IN 2005 (NEW), THAT WE THOUGHT WE WERE "IMAGINING" UNTIL HEARING ALL OF THE REPORTS OF SIMILAR PROBLEMS.TOYOTA CLAIMS THAT THE PRIUS BRAKING ISSUES ONLY AFFECT THE 2010 PRIUS, BUT WE SEE IT FIRSTHAND ON AN ON-GOING BASIS.
NHTSA complaint #10325388 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
OVER THE PAST SEVERAL I'VE NOTICED AT LEAST TWICE THAT AFTER FILLING UP MY CAR WITH GASOLINE THAT THE GAUGE REFLECTING GASOLINE STATUS DOES NOT RESET CORRECTLY, E.G., IT TANK WAS HALF FULL, FILLING UP DOES NOT CAUSE IT TO RESET TO "FULL". I SUSPECT THAT THIS IS DUE TO SOME TYPE OF ELECTRONICS ERROR. IN OVER 50 YEARS OF DRIVING I'VE NEVER HAD A CAR THAT DIDN'T CORRECTLY RESET TO "FULL" UPON "FILLING UP". LAST INCIDENT DATE WAS IN FEBRUARY 2010. PRIOR OCCASION WAS APPROXIMATELY 5-6 MONTHS EARLIER.
NHTSA complaint #10318281 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
THE GAS "BLADDER" ON MY 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS WILL NOT EXPAND CORRECTLY. THIS LIMITS THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF FUEL THAT CAN BE PUT INTO THE CAR TO AS LITTLE AS 7 GAL. IN COLD WEATHER. THE RATED VOLUME IS 11.4 GAL.
NHTSA complaint #10314225 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:STORAGE:FUEL GAUGE SYSTEM
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 TO 70 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS WHEN SUDDENLY, THERE WAS A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO COAST THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WITH CAUTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE FUEL TANK CONTAINED NO FUEL. THE FUEL GAUGE AND INDICATION SENSORS WERE RESET. THERE WAS ALSO A RECOMMENDATION TO TO FILL CAR WITH GAS THE GAUGE DISPLAYED THREE BARS. ONE MONTH LATER, THE FUEL GAUGE READING WAS INACCURATE. THE FUEL LEVEL DISPLAYED THREE BARS LEVEL AND ABRUPTLY THE GAUGE DISPLAYED "FULL". THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED FOR THE MALFUNCTION AT THIS TIME. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 56,313. UPDATED 3/30/2010 UPDATED 06/04/10.
NHTSA complaint #10311475 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
ABOUT 2 YEARS AGO, ON ROUTE 840 IN UTICA, I FLOORED THE GAS PEDAL ON MY 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS TO PASS A CAR. THE PRIUS DOES NOT HAVE A LOT OF POWER, SO FLOORING IT WAS SOMETIMES NECESSARY TO PASS UPHILL. WHEN I TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE GAS PEDAL, THE CAR WAS STILL ACCELERATING. I TOUCHED THE BRAKES. NOTHING. FINALLY, I PUSHED DOWN HARD ON THE BRAKES AND GOT THE CAR TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND TURNED IT OFF. I HAVE RUBBER MATS. I THOUGHT ONE OF THEM HAD GONE UNDER THE PEDAL. "CASE SOLVED" SO I THOUGHT. LAST DECEMBER, AGAIN PASSING A TRUCK UPHILL ON ROUTE 840, I FLOORED THE PRUIS GAS PEDAL. THE SAME THING HAPPENED! THIS TIME I KNEW IT WAS NOT THE MAT BECAUSE I HAD DRILLED HOLES IN IT AND ATTACHED IT TO THE MAT POSTS. IT WAS INCHES AWAY FROM THE GAS PEDAL WHEN THIS HAPPENED. I PUSHED THE BRAKES DOWN HARD AND STRUGGLED THE CAR TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD RIGHT BEFORE THE LANES MERGED AND THE TRUCK WOULD HAVE CUT ME OFF (INTO A SWAMP). THE BRAKES, WITH A BURNING SMELL, FOUGHT THE RACING CAR. I FINALLY GOT IT TURNED OFF. WHEN I TURNED IT BACK ON, THE GAS WAS STILL RACING! I TURNED IT OFF AGAIN. AFTER WAITING,IT STARTED NORMALLY. IT HAS DONE IT EVERY TIME THE PEDAL WAS FLOORED(SELDOM). I WENT TO THE INTERNET AND FOUND THIS HAD BEEN A PROBLEM AND TOYOTA WAS PLANNING A PRIUS RECALL, WITH PARTS TO REPAIR AVAILABLE IN APRIL. I WAS VERY SCARED TO DRIVE THE CAR, BUT CAN'T AFFORD TO SELL IT (WRONG) OR BUY ANOTHER. SO I DECIDED TO WAIT FOR THE RECALL. I HAVE BEEN DRIVING ON PINS AND NEEDLES SINCE. AND NOW THERE IS NO RECALL FOR THE PRIUS GAS PEDAL! I'M GLAD FOR THE BRAKE RECALL BECAUSE MY PRIUS HAS DONE THAT ONCE TOO, BUT FREAKED OUT ABOUT NO STICKING GAS PEDAL RECALL FOR THE PRIUS. I WENT TO THE DEALER TODAY FOR 115,000K SERVICE AND TOLD THEM ABOUT THIS. "TECHNICIAN CAN NOT REPLICATE PROBLEM". JUST LIKE SO MANY STORIES FROM OTHER TOYOTA OWNERS ON THE WEB. THIS WILL BE MANY A PRIUS DRIVER'S EPITAPH WITHOUT GOVERNMENT ACTION. PLEASE MAKE TOYOTA FIX THESE STICKING PRIUS ACCELERATORS
NHTSA complaint #10307058 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:STORAGE:FUEL GAUGE SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHEN DRIVING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE WILL STALL WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, BUT BECAUSE THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED NO REPAIRS WERE MADE. TWO WEEKS LATER THE VEHICLE STALLED AGAIN, BUT WOULD NOT RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED BACK TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THERE WAS NO FUEL PRESENT IN THE FUEL TANK. HOWEVER THE VEHICLE HAD TWO QUARTERS OF FUEL IN THE TANK. ALSO WHEN THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS DISENGAGED THE VEHICLE WOULD BEGIN TO ACCELERATE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 56,000.
NHTSA complaint #10297144 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
I WAS DRIVING TO WORK AND WITH 3 BARS OF FUEL SHOWING ON THE FUEL GAUGE, THE GAS ENGINE STOPPED AND I CONTINUED TO A SAFE STREET TO PARK WITH THE ELECTRIC MOTOR (WHICH HAS ABOUT A 1 MILE RANGE). I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE NEAREST TOYOTA DEALER. THERE INSPECTION REVEALED MULTIPLE FAILURE CODES BUT THAT IT BASICALLY RAN OUT OF GAS. THEY RESET/RECALIBRATED THE ECMS AND I PICKED UP THE CAR 2 DAYS LATER. I CONTACTED TOYOTA ABOUT THIS ISSUE AND THEY DENIED ANY RESPONSIBILITY AND ADVISED THAT I SHOULD NOT RUN BELOW 25% OF THE TANKS CAPACITY. THE 2010 PRIUS USES A RIGID GAS TANK VERSUS THE FLEXIBLE GAS TANK IN MY VEHICLE (I BELIEVE THEY KNOW IT IS A PROBLEM BUT ARE DOING NOTHING BUT ADVISE PEOPLE TO NOT GO BELOW 25% FUEL CAPACITY. SINCE THE TANK MAY BE FROM 10 TO 11.9 GALLONS THIS IS NOT THAT CLEAR). THE TOYOTA CASE NUMBER IS 0910135219 WHICH IS ALREADY CLOSED (DENIED).
NHTSA complaint #10289519 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER
WHEN CAR WAS NEW, I WAS TOLD A WARNING LIGHT WOULD APPEAR FOR LOW FUEL. I RAN THE CAR DRY (WITH ONE BAR SHOWING) AND NO WARNING EVER APPEARED.. THE CAR RAN DRY IN A BAD SECTION OF TOWN AT NIGHT... SUBSEQUENTLY I FOUND THE FUEL GAUGE TO BE GROSSLY INACCURATE. 3 GALLONS WAS REQUIRED TO MOVE THE GAUGE OFF THE LOWEST SETTING ALTHOUGH THE TANK ONLY HOLD 11 GALLONS...WITH HIGH GAS PRICES, ONE CANNOT SHOP WITH A ONE BAR FUEL SETTING (E) SINCE YOU MAY HAVE 4 GALLONS LEFT IN THE TANK..THE FUEL GAUGE IS ESSENTIALLY WORTHLESS.
NHTSA complaint #10227959 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM:INJECTORS
AFTER ONLY 40,000 MILES, FUEL INJECTORS HAVE TO BE REPLACED... $1,000.00.
NHTSA complaint #10215270 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
OUR 2005 PRIUS DEVELOPED A MASSIVE GASOLINE LEAK, WHICH MADE IT AN OBVIOUS FIRE HAZARD. WE DROVE IT HOME, AND THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, WHERE THEY FOUND THAT THE CAR'S PLASTIC FUEL LINES THAT HAD BEEN DAMAGED BY RODENTS. THE FUEL LINES WERE REPLACED BY NEW PLASTIC ONES. HOWEVER, WE LIVE IN THE COUNTRY, WHERE SQUIRRELS AND MICE ABOUND, SO THIS DANGEROUS PROBLEM WILL PROBABLY HAPPEN AGAIN. THERE ARE NO METAL FUEL LINES AVAILABLE FOR THIS VEHICLE; WE CONSIDER THESE PLASTIC, EXPOSED FUEL LINES A SAFETY HAZARD.
NHTSA complaint #10173547 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
DT*: THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONSULTED AND DETERMINED THE FUEL TANK WAS OPERATING PROPERLY. UPDATED 6/27/2006 - THE FUEL TANK IN THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE IS FLEXIBLE. EACH TIME THE CONSUMER FILLS THE VEHICLE, THE TANK ACCEPTS 2-4 GALLONS LESS THAN DESIGNED. IF THE CONSUMER SLOW THE FUEL PUMP TO ALLOW THE ADDITIONAL GALLONS IN THE STOP MECHANISM DOES NOT ACTIVATE CAUSING THE FUEL TANK TO OVERFLOW. THE CONSUMER RECEIVES 100-150 MILES LESS PER GALLON.
NHTSA complaint #10158696 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
MONITORED THE FUEL GAUGE ON THE DASHBOARD OF 2005, TOYOTA PRIUS IN ORDER TO KNOW WHEN WAS RUNNING LOW ON FUEL. HAS BEEN KEEPING A LOG OF FUEL CONSUMPTION, MPG AND MILES DRIVEN. TYPICALLY, IHE FILLED UP THE TANK WHEN THE DISPLAY SHOWED ONLY 2 OR 3 BARS REMAINING OUT OF 10 BARS WHEN FULL. BASED ON THE CARS 11.9 GALLON CAPACITY EACH BAR SHOULD INDICATE APPROXIMATELY 1.19 GALLONS OF FUEL. IN THE PAST IT HAS TAKEN 7-8 GALLONS TO FILL UP THE TANK WHEN THE DISPLAY GOT DOWN TO 2 OR 3 BARS. HOWEVER, THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL OCCASIONS WHERE IT HAS ONLY TAKEN 4.5 GALLONS TO FILL IT UP. ALSO THERE WERE 4 INSTANCES WHEN ATTEMPTING TO FILL TANK UP AFTER THE DISPLAY SHOWED 2 BARS REMAINING, AND IT ONLY ALLOWED ME TO PUMP 3 GALLONS OF FUEL BEFORE THE PUMP SHUT OFF. AS MUCH AS I TRIED COULD NOT GET ANY MORE FUEL TO GO INTO THE TANK. WHEN I STARTED THE CAR IT ONLY SHOWED 6 BARS ON THE DISPLAY. I DROVE AROUND THE BLOCK AND PULLED INTO THE SERVICE STATION AGAIN AND ATTEMPTED TO PUT IN MORE FUEL. IT ONLY TOOK ABOUT .2 OF A GALLON, BUT THIS TIME THE DISPLAY SHOWED 10 BARS. IT SEEMED OBVIOUS THAT SOMETHING WAS WRONG WITH THE FUEL TANK SENSOR SYSTEM. A FUEL GAUGE SHOULD PROVIDE AN ACCURATE INDICATION OF THE NUMBER OF GALLONS OF FUEL REMAINING.
NHTSA complaint #10148574 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:FILLER PIPE AND CAP
GASOLINE PUMP REGULARLY SHUTS OFF SEVERAL GALLONS SHORT OF FULL AND WILL NOT ALLOW CONTINUED FILLING WITHOUT REMOVING THE NOZZLE FROM BEYOND THE RUBBER SEAL. THE ONLY WAY TO KNOW WHEN THE TANK IS FULL IS TO WATCH AND LISTEN. OFTEN WHEN THE TANK APPROACHES FULL AND THE NOZZLE IS SHUT OFF THE GAS OVERFLOWS FROM THE TANK SPILLING A CUP OR PERHAPS MORE OF GAS.
NHTSA complaint #10148728 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY
THE PRIUS SHUT DOWN, STOPPED USING GASOLINE POWER, WHILE I WAS IN THE PASSING LANE AND TRAVELING 70 MILES PER HOUR IN MODERATE TRAFFIC ON INTERSTATE 40 IN NASHVILLE, TN. THE RED TRIANGLE, CHECK ENGINE, VSC AND A FEW OTHER WARNING SIGNALS ILLUMINATED. I MANAGED TO AVOID BEING REAR-ENDED , PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD USING BATTERY POWER, SHUT THE BATTERY POWER OFF, AND CONSULTED THE OWNER'S MANUAL. APPROXIMATELY 10-15 MINUTES PRIOR, THE ADD FUEL LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE FUEL INDICATOR DISPLAYED A SINGLE BAR. HAVING DRIVEN THE VEHICLE FOR THE PAST 8300 MILES, MY WIFE INFORMED ME THAT WE HAD ABOUT 2 GALLONS OF GAS, AND COULD EASILY TRAVEL ANOTHER FIFTY MILES. THE TEMPERATURE WAS NEAR 90 DEGREES. I STARTED THE VEHICLE AND CHOSE TO DRIVE IT OFF THE INTERSTATE. WE TRAVELED 2.5 MILES AND COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AS THE BATTERY DEPLETED. I MANAGED TO SLOWLY DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO A GAS STATION AND REFUELED. THE FUEL TANK COULD ONLY ACCOMMODATE 8.1 GALLONS OF FUEL; IT HOLDS 11.7. ONCE REFUELED, THE WARNING SIGNALS DISAPPEARED AFTER 30 SECONDS, AND WE DROVE HOME. MY WIFE TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER, JOE HEITZ TOYOTA IN CLARKSVILLE, TN, THE NEXT DAY FOR AN EVALUATION. THE MECHANIC SAID THAT THE COMPUTER INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE RAN OUT OF FUEL. SINCE THERE OBVIOUSLY WAS FUEL IN THE TANK, I PRESSED THE SERVICE MANAGER FOR ANSWERS. BY THE END OF THE DAY AND AFTER CONSULTING WITH PRIUS TECHNICAL FOLKS IN CALIFORNIA, THE SERVICE MANAGER SAID THAT THE FUEL BLADDER MAY HAVE COLLAPSED OVER THE SENDING MODULE THEREBY SIGNALING THE CAR'S COMPUTER THAT IT WAS OUT OF GAS, WHICH CAUSED IT TO SHUT DOWN. HE SAID TOYOTA IS LOOKING INTO THE PROBLEM AND PROVIDED A LAME SOLUTION; REFUEL THE VEHICLE BEFORE IT GETS TOO LOW. THIS IS AN UNACCEPTABLE ANSWER AND I IMPLORE THE NHTSA TO INVESTIGATE THIS POTENTIALLY DEADLY ANOMALY. IT IS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE SOMEONE IS IN A FATAL ACCIDENT BECAUSE THE VEHICLE SHUTS DOWN WHILE TRAVELING AT INTERSTATE SPEEDS.
NHTSA complaint #10127609 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.