2006 Toyota Prius acceleration problems

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

The light up display for the odometer, fuel gauge, and speedometer does not always light up. When it is not lit, the cruise control and any warning and informative alarms/lights also do not work. This is a well-known issue among owners of these cars, related to the capacitors on the circuit board for the display being defective, and there is extensive documentation of it online. It may also have had a technical service bulletin released for the issue, but I'm not entirely sure. The light goes out intermittently and is not always consistently out. I did mention it to the service personnel when I took it in to get recalls repaired recently, and they didn't seem surprised or unaware of the issue. I did not ask them to diagnose or fix it, as I know I can get it done for a better deal elsewhere.

NHTSA complaint #11632471 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

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

NHTSA complaint #11055524 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

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.

NHTSA complaint #11031475 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

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.

NHTSA complaint #11019826 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

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.

NHTSA complaint #10966412 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

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.

NHTSA complaint #10746364 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

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.

NHTSA complaint #10684156 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

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.

NHTSA complaint #10681114 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

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.

NHTSA complaint #10568888 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

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.

NHTSA complaint #10501462 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

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.

NHTSA complaint #10496527 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

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.

NHTSA complaint #10480610 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

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.

NHTSA complaint #10478646 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

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.

NHTSA complaint #10464271 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

"!", 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.

NHTSA complaint #10445195 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

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.

NHTSA complaint #10434430 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

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.

NHTSA complaint #10364642 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

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.

NHTSA complaint #10354711 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

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.

NHTSA complaint #10354389 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

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.

NHTSA complaint #10354506 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

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.

NHTSA complaint #10334776 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

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]

NHTSA complaint #10328673 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

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.

NHTSA complaint #10323527 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.