2005 Toyota Prius Transmission Problems

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DURING COLD WEATHER TRYING TO DRIVE THE CAR IT WILL NOT STAY IN THE GEAR I HAVE TO HOLD IT DOWN EVEN WHEN I BACK OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY OR WHEN I GO ANYWHERE IT STARTS TO WARM UP THEN THE CAR MAY SOMETIMES STAY IN GEAR.

WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO SHIFT INTO DRIVE OR REVERSE, THE CAR WOULD REVERT BACK TO NEUTRAL UNLESS I HELD DOWN THE GEAR SHIFT IN POSITION. THIS HAPPENED WHEN I HAD THE CAR IN MOTION ON CITY STREETS. PARKING (USING THE BUTTON ON THE PRIUS) WAS ALSO DIFFICULT, AND I HAD TO TRY MULTIPLE TIMES TO PUT THE CAR IN PARK AS IT CONTINUALLY WANTED TO GO BACK TO NEUTRAL.

PRIUS WILL NOT STAY IN GEAR, KEEPS POPPING BACK INTO NEUTRAL. FIRST HAPPENED WHEN STATIONARY --- PRESS POWER BUTTON, "READY" ON THE DASH, GO TO SHIFT INTO DRIVE OR REVERSE AND IT POPS BACK INTO NEUTRAL. THIS OCCURRED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION ON A CITY STREET. FINALLY GOT IT TO WORK (NO IDEA WHY?) THEN WHEN DRIVING, AGAIN, IT POPPED INTO NEUTRAL FROM DRIVE. VERY DANGEROUS!!!

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE GEAR SHIFTER FAILED TO CHANGE FROM DRIVE INTO NEUTRAL. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY SERVICED PER AN UNKNOWN RECALL IN WHICH THE INVERTER WATER PUMP WAS REPLACED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE REPAIR WAS A ONE TIME REMEDY. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 97,000.

THE CAR JUMPS OUT OF GEAR, OR IT WON'T GO INTO PARK. BUT IT STARTED TO DRIVES AWAY AFTER I GOT OUT OF THE CAR, OR AS I WAS GETTING OUT. THIS HAPPEN TWICE, ONCE AT THE DEALER. THE DISPLAY FOR TRANSMISSION POSITION WAS BROKEN. THE SAME DISPLAY THAT SHOWS SPEED, FUEL LEVEL AND OTHER ITEMS WAS NOT WORKING. ALSO, I COULD NOT SHUT OFF THE CAR OR REMOVE THE KEY. THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPEN WAS 8/19/2015 AT A CAR WASH. THE DISPLAY WENT DEAD DURING THE WASH. WILE TRYING TO FIX THE PROBLEM, THE CAR DROVE AWAY IN REVERSE AND KNOCKED ME OVER. I HAD MINOR INJURIES. I MIGHT HAVE SOME OTHER PROBLEMS AS A RESULT OF THAT ACCIDENT. THE NEXT DAY I WANT TO THE DEALER. WITHOUT LOOKING AT THE CAR (NO COMPUTER ANALYSIS), THE SERVICE MAN TOLD ME THE DISPLAY AND COMPUTER WAS BAD. HE SAID IT HAPPENS A LOT. HE ALSO QUOTED ME A PRICE OF AROUND $700. I WENT BACK TO MY DAUGHTER HOUSE TO LOOK FOR ANOTHER DEALER AND TO RESEARCH THE ISSUE. (I WAS VISITING FROM CA). AT HER HOUSE, I NOTICED THE CAR WOULD NOT SHUT OFF AND I COULD NOT GET THE KEY OUT (THE DEALER REP TOLD ME TO PUT THE KEY IN THE SLOT). SO I JUST WENT BACK TO THE DEALER TO HAVE THEM FIX IT AND PAY THE PRICE. (IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT THE DEALER AND ITS EMPLOYEES NEVER GAVE ME THE SAME INFORMATION AND THEY WANTED ME TO GET SO FRUSTRATED, THAT I WOULD LEAVE WITH THE CAR NOT REPAIRED. THEY SUGGESTED THAT I TAKE IT SOMEWHERE ELSE. AT ONE POINT, THEY CLAIMED THAT I TOLD THEM I WAS GOING TO TAKE THE CAR AWAY WITHOUT THE REPAIR. I NEVER SAID THAT! THEY DID EVERYTHING THEY COULD TO MAKE ME MAD AND SO WOULD NOT FIX THE CAR). WHEN I WENT BACK TO THE DEALERS, THE CAR DRIVE AWAY, AGAIN IN REVERSE. I HAD TO HOP ON ONE LEG TO KEEP UP AND GET BACK IN TO STOP IT. IN ETHER CASE, I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. NO DISPLAY, CAN'T SHUT IT OFF AND IT JUMPS INTO GEAR!! THAT IS A SAFETY ISSUE! LIFE AND DEATH ISSUE IT IS!

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS SHIFTED INTO THE PARK POSITION, THE CONTACT EXITED THE VEHICLE AS IT BEGAN TO ROLL AWAY. THE VEHICLE STRUCK THE CONTACT. THE INSTRUMENT PANEL FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES REPORTED. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, WHERE IT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO TURN THE IGNITION TO THE OFF POSITION, BUT THE KEY FAILED TO EJECT FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER, WHERE IT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 174,000.

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? *TR

I PURCHASED MY PRIUS USED IN JUNE 2014 THIS WAS MY FIRST WINTER WITH IT OBVIOUSLY. ANY TIME IT ABOUT 10 BELOW ZERO IN MN THIS WINTER I HAD TO HOLD MY CAR IN DRIVE OR REVERSE, SOMETIMES AS LONG AS 5 MILES+. *TR

CAR WOULD NOT STAY IN DRIVE. WHEN I PUT THE CAR INTO DRIVE, IT WOULD IMMEDIATELY REVERT TO NEUTRAL. THE CAR MIGHT ONLY ADVANCE A COUPLE OF FEET AND THEN IT WOULD POP BACK INTO NEUTRAL. SOMETIMES IT WOULD IMMEDIATELY POP BACK, NEVER REALLY STAYING IN DRIVE. HOLDING THE SIFTER IN DRIVE WOULD ALLOW THE CAR TO DRIVE. AFTER THE CAR WOULD POP BACK INTO THE NEUTRAL POSITION, THE CAR COULD NOT PUT IT INTO PARK AS WELL. I COULD REVERSE. ONLY AFTER PUTTING IT IN REVERSE, WOULD THE CAR GO INTO PARK. THE CAR SEEMED TO HAVE RESOLVED ITSELF WHEN NEXT CHECKED, NEAR AN HOUR LATER. WEATHER WAS VERY COLD, IN THE SINGLE DIGITS, NOW IT IS 15.6 F AND THE CAR SEEMS OK. *JS

THE TRACTION CONTROL OVERRIDE REPEATEDLY ENGAGES ARBITRARILY UNDER VARIOUS CIRCUMSTANCES, INCLUDING HITTING BUMPS/POTHOLES AT 35 MPH AND ACCELERATING FROM A STOP ON BOTH WET AND DRY ROADS. I HAVE SEEN REPORTS ONLINE OF PEOPLE EXPRESSING THEIR CONCERN ABOUT THIS FEATURE IN SNOW, BUT OUR PRIUS DOES IT FREQUENTLY. ASIDE FROM THE INCONVENIENCE, THIS IS A CLEAR SAFETY HAZARD WHEN ATTEMPTING TO PULL OUT INTO TRAFFIC. WE HAVE BEEN TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT THIS FEATURE CANNOT BE DISABLED, BUT IT WOULD SEEM TO ME THAT IT NEEDS TO BE TO AVOID POTENTIAL COLLISIONS. *TR

SHIFT LEVER PLASTIC SHIELD WARPED, PREVENTING GOING INTO PARK. CAR CAN ROLL FORWARD WHEN YOU THINK PARK IS ENGAGED. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE ATTEMPTED TO SHIFT INTO PARK BUT THE GEAR SHIFTER FAILED. THE CONTACT HAD TO TURN THE VEHICLE OFF IN ORDER TO SHIFT INTO PARK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND THEY STATED THAT THE GEAR SHIFT UNIT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.

I STARTED UP THE CAR THIS MORNING, PUT IT INTO REVERSE, AND A SECOND OR TWO LATER, IT SHIFTED ITSELF INTO NEUTRAL. THE SHIFT LEVER FELT LIKE THERE WAS MORE RESISTANCE TO IT THAN USUAL. THIS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES AND ALSO HAPPENED WHEN I TRIED TO PUT THE CAR INTO DRIVE. AFTER ABOUT 15 MINUTES OF TURNING THE CAR ON AND OFF AND TRYING TO SHIFT SEVERAL TIMES, THE CAR FINALLY STAYED IN GEAR. THE PROBLEM IS THE SAME AS DESCRIBED IN THIS THREAD: HTTP://WWW.TOYOTANATION.COM/FORUM/62-PRIUS-FORUM/343977-08-PRIUS-WONT-STAY-GEAR.HTML, WITH THE ONLY DIFFERENCE BEING THAT IT WAS A RATHER COLD DAY (0 DEGREES F) WHILE MOST OF THE POSTS IN THE THREAD MENTION THE PROBLEM OCCURRING ON A HOT DAY. WHILE THE MALFUNCTION ON MY CAR WAS PROBLEMATIC BUT NOT LIFE-THREATENING, I AM CONCERNED THAT THE CAR COULD SHIFT ITSELF INTO NEUTRAL WHILE I AM DRIVING (AS DESCRIBED BY SEVERAL POSTERS IN THE ABOVE THREAD), WHICH WOULD BE A DANGEROUS SITUATION. *TR

THE ELECTRONIC(?) SHIFT MECHANISM IN THE CAR MALFUNCTIONS/DOES NOT STAY ENGAGED IN TEMPERATURES APPROXIMATELY 28 DEGREES FAREHEIT & BELOW WHEN CAR HAS SAT IDLE FOR PERIODS OF TIME. THE NIGHT OF THIS INCIDENT I WAS RETURNING FROM A BUSINESS TRIP WHERE MY CAR HAD BEEN SITTING OUT IN THE WEATHER FOR APPROXIMATELY 28-30 HOURS. THE TEMPERATURE THIS PARTICULAR DAY WAS 9 DEGREES; HOWEVER, I HAVE HAD THIS HAPPEN IN THE PAST WITH TEMPERATURES RANGING INTO THE MID TO UPPER 20'S. {DUE TO OUR MILD WINTER LAST YEAR I DON'T RECALL IT HAPPENING MUCH IF AT ALL-- IT DID HOWEVER OCCUR THE WINTER YEAR PRIOR [2010-2011] AND I REPORTED IT TO MY TOYOTA DEALER. THEY LOOKED AT ME AND TOLD ME THEY WERE UNAWARE OF ANY SUCH PROBLEM.} WHEN I POSITION MY SHIFT SELECT FROM THE CENTER POSITION & SELECT EITHER DRIVE OR REVERSE, THE CAR TRANSMISSION DISENGAGES UPON PRESSING THE GAS. THE OTHER NIGHT I HAD PREVIOUSLY MENTIONED I HAD TO PHYSICALLY HOLD THE DRIVE SELECTOR IN THE "D"/DRIVE POSITION FOR 28 MINUTES BEFORE THE SELECTOR REMAINED ENGAGED. (IN PAST INCIDENTS I HAVE HAD TO HOLD THE SELECTOR IN POSITION FROM 5-10 MINUTES- THE PROBLEM SEEMS TO GET WORSE IN RLATION TO LOWER TEMPS. ARE THERE ANY OTHER REPORTS OF SUCH A PROBLEM? *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. IN ORDER TO START THE VEHICLE, THE EMERGENCY BRAKE HAD TO BE ENGAGED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS FAILED INTERMITTENTLY BUT WOULD FUNCTION NORMALLY AFTER ATTEMPTING TO ACTIVATED THEM SEVERAL TIMES. IN ADDITION WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE TRANSMISSION WOULD ERRONEOUSLY SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL AND ALL OF THE CONTACT'S ATTEMPTS TO SHIFT BACK INTO DRIVE FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 56,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 57,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY SHIFTED FROM DRIVE TO NEUTRAL. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE BUT DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALLS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 148,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 150,000.

OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE APPROX 32 DEGREES F. GEAR SHIFTER ON DASHBOARD WOULD NOT ELECTRICALLY SEAL-IN OR STAY IN POSITION AFTER GOING INTO REVERSE, THE FIRST TIME. BACKED CAR OUT OF DRIVEWAY AND SHIFTED INTO DRIVE, IT IMMEDIATELY WENT BACK INTO NEUTRAL POSITION AND WOULD NOT STAY IN DRIVE - ELECTRICALLY. THE ONLY WAY TO KEEP THE CAR IN GEAR WAS TO PHYSICALLY HOLD THE GEAR SHIFTER INTO DESIRED POSITION. PHYSICALLY HELD SHIFTER IN DRIVE POSITION AND PULLED BACK INTO DRIVEWAY. ONCE IN DRIVEWAY, TESTED SHIFTER AND FOUND IT WOULD NOT GO INTO ANY GEAR AND "STAY". AFTER WORK, TEMPERATURE WAS 60 DEGREES F AND SHIFTER THEN FUNCTIONED PROPERLY. DROVE TO TOYOTA DEALER AND LEFT CAR. THEY STATED A TECHNICAL BULLETIN WAS ISSUED BY TOYOTA ON THIS ITEM AS DESCRIBED. TICKET # 490621; PART NUMBER 33560-47023 "LEVER ASSY. SHIFT, WAS REPLACED. PART COST 164.93 AND LABOR WAS 416.14 FOR A SUBTOTAL OF 581.07 PLUS TAX OF 34.33 FOR GRAND TOTAL OF 615.40 USD. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A COLD WEATHER AND AGE RELATED ISSUE. PLUS, THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TOYOTA ELECTRICAL SYSTEM DESIGN FLAW ISSUE I'VE ENCOUNTERED, BUT THE FIRST RELATED TO DRIVABILITY AND POSSIBLE SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

WE OWN TWO 2005 TOYOTA PRUIS. WE BOUGHT THE FIRST AT SUNRISE TOYOTA AND SIX MONTHS LATER WE BOUGHT THE SECOND AT A TOYOTA DEALERSHIP IN VIRGINIA. THE FORMER PRUIS (CAR #1) HAD 96,000 MILES ON IT WHEN THE LEVER TO CHANGE THE GEARS BEGAN TO SLIP FROM THE DRIVE OR REVERSE MODE INTO NEUTRAL REPEATEDLY. FORTUNATELY WE WERE STOPPED WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING WHEN THIS FIRST OCCURRED. ON THE LATTER PRIUS (CAR # 2), WITH 64,000 MILES, WE HAD NOT USED THE CAR FOR A FEW DAYS, WENT INTO THE CAR STARTED THE ENGINE ALLOWING IT TO RUN FOR FEW MINUTES AS IT WAS COLD OUTSIDE AND ATTEMPTED TO SHIFT. LIKE THE FORMER PRIUS (CAR #1) THE LEVER KEPT MOVING FROM THE DRIVE OR REVERSE POSITION TO THE NEUTRAL POSITION CONSISTENTLY. I WENT TO SUNRISE TOYOTA WITH CAR #1. THEY REPAIRED IT WITHOUT CHARGE AS I HAD EXTENDED WARRANTY INSURANCE ON THAT CAR. WHEN I SPOKE WITH THEM ABOUT CAR # 2) THEY SAID THEY WOULD NEED TO DO A DIAGNOSTIC BEFORE THE REPAIR, REPAIR IT AND THEN CHARGE ME. I RETURNED HOME TO CALL TOYOTA CORPORATION SAYING THAT I BOUGHT TWO PRIUS' MONTHS APART BUT THE SAME YEAR CAR, FROM TWO DIFFERENT DEALERSHIPS AND AM EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM WITH BOTH CARS JUST A FEW WEEKS APART. I MENTIONED MY CONCERN THAT THE CAR MIGHT SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL WHILE DRIVEN ON THE HIGHWAY CAUSING A DANGEROUS SITUATION. I ASKED IF OTHER DRIVERS HAVE REPORTED SIMILAR PROBLEMS AND WHAT IF ANY ASSISTANCE THEY COULD GIVE. THEY STATED THAT THEY DO NOT HAVE A RECORD OF THIS PROBLEM AND WILL NOT BE RECALLING THE CARS AT THIS TIME. I AGAIN STRESSED MY SAFETY CONCERNS. THEY AGAIN STATED THEY DO NOT HAVE ANY IMMEDIATE PLANS FOR RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE. THE COST OF THE REPAIR IS CLOSE TO ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS. MY SAFETY CONCERNS REMAIN AS FAR AS DRIVING THIS CAR FOR MYSELF AND OTHER DRIVERS WHO OWN A PRIUS. I WAS TOLD BY THE COMPANY AND DEALERSHIP THAT MY PROBLEM IS SPECIFIC BUT I DO NOT UNDERSTAND HOW YOU CAN BUY 2 CARS , SAME MAKE AND YEAR AT DIFFERENT DEALERSHIP AND HAVE THE SAME ISSUE. *TR

WE WERE TRAVELING ALONG A FAMILIAR COUNTRY ROAD ON A WARM SUNNY DAY. WHEN WE ARRIVED AT A RURAL STORE THERE WAS ONLY ONE OTHER CUSTOMER THERE. I SLOWLY EASED INTO THE DESIGNATED PARKING AREA WHICH WAS SITUATED ABOUT 17 INCHES ABOVE THE LAWN BELOW. I WAS PROBABLY TRAVELING LESS THAN ONE MILE AN HOUR. WHEN I BRAKED, THE CAR ACCELERATED AND PROPELLED ITSELF OVER THE BLOCKS AND RAILROAD TIES THAT ARE FOUND IN FRONT OF PARKING SPACES, AND WE LITERALLY FLEW ABOUT 7 FEET OUT AND DOWN ONTO THE GRASS STOPPING JUST A FEW FEET FROM A TREE AND A FENCE. WHILE IN THE AIR, ALL I HAD TIME TO DO WAS PUT MY FOOT DOWN HARD ON THE BRAKE BECAUSE THERE WAS NOT ENOUGH TIME TO TURN OFF THE ENGINE DURING THE 5 SECONDS THIS WAS HAPPENING. OUR FIRST REACTION WAS THAT I MIGHT HAVE HIT THE ACCELERATOR INSTEAD OF THE BRAKE, AND THOUGH I FOUND THIS INCONCEIVABLE BECAUSE I HAD NEVER DONE ANYTHING LIKE THAT BEFORE AND BECAUSE THE TWO PEDALS ARE SO DIFFERENT, I COULD NOT CONSIDER ANOTHER EXPLANATION. HOWEVER, AS TIME PASSED, WE CAME TO THE REALIZATION THAT THIS COULD NOT BEEN THE CASE BECAUSE EVEN IF I HAD PRESSED THE ACCELERATOR BY MISTAKE I WOULD HAVE HAD TO HAVE "FLOORED" IT TO GET THAT KIND OF ACCELERATION IN SUCH A SHORT DISTANCE, AND EVEN MISTAKING IT FOR THE BRAKE I WOULDN'T HAVE "FLOORED" THE BRAKE BECAUSE I WAS ONLY ABOUT 18 INCHES FROM WHERE I WAS TO STOP. EVEN UNDER NORMAL CIRCUMSTANCES, THE PRIUS JUST DOES NOT HAVE THIS IMMEDIATE KIND OF ACCELERATION WE EXPERIENCED. I CANNOT HELP BUT THINK ABOUT THIS EVENT OCCURRING AS I STOPPED AT A CROSSWALK. THIS IS A DANGEROUS AUTOMOBILE THAT I LOVED DRIVING FOR 5 YEARS, AND NOW I WILL NOT DRIVE AGAIN.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT ALL THE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER AND TURNED THE VEHILCE OFF. WHEN ATTEMPTING TO RESTART THE VEHICLE, HE NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC TEST WHICH CONCLUDED THAT THERE WAS MOISTURE INTRUSION IN THE TRANS AXLE; THE DEALER REMOVED THE TRANS AXLE AND WATER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED WHO OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE AND STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT PROVIDE HIM WITH A REIMBURSEMENT. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 78,270 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 76,063. UPDATED 3/7/11 *CN UPDATED 07/01/11

WHILE DRIVING IN A SNOWSTORM IN MY 2005 PRIUS, I STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT ON A BUSY STREET, THE ROADS STARTING TO BECOME SLIPPERY WITH SNOW. AS THE LIGHT CHANGED TO GREEN, I STEPPED ON THE GAS, AND THE"SLIPPERY" LIGHT CAME ON MY DASHBOARD. WHEN THIS HAPPENS, THE FRONT WHEELS WILL NOT SPIN AT ALL. I COULD NOT MOVE THE CAR AT ALL, SINCE THE COMPUTER DETERMINED I WAS ON A "SLIPPERY" SPOT. I SAW CARS AND TRUCKS BARRELING TOWARD ME IN MY REAR VIEW MIRROR, UNABLE TO MOVE, AND VISIBILITY GREATLY REDUCED, DUE TO THE FALLING SNOW. I PUT MY BLINKERS ON, AND THANKFULLY ON COMING TRAFFIC WAS ABLE TO AVOID ME. I WAS STUCK AT THIS INTERSECTION FOR FOUR LIGHT CHANGES, SLIGHTLY PANICKED. I FINALLY PUT THE CAR INTO REVERSE, AND GOT JUST ENOUGH MOVEMENT OUT OF THE CAR TO FIND A DRY PATCH AND GET ME MOVING AGAIN. WHEN I REPORTED THIS TO BOTH TOYOTA, AND MY LOCAL DEALER, THEY TOLD ME THIS IS A "SAFETY" FEATURE. IT'S A SAFETY FEATURE THAT WILL SURELY GET SOMEONE KILLED. THE FRONT WHEELS SIMPLY WILL NOT SPIN IN THE LEAST IF THE CAR DETERMINES IT IS SLIPPERY, WHICH LEFT ME NO WHERE TO GO AT THAT INTERSECTION. I LATER GOOGLED THE PROBLEM, AND FOUND THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH PRIUS OWNERS. A FEW PEOPLE LEFT THE COMMENT THAT SNOW TIRES ARE NECESSARY TO AVOID THIS PROBLEM. NOT KNOWING WHAT ELSE TO DO, I WENT OUT AND BOUGHT 4 NEW SNOWTIRES. IT DID MAKE A HUGE DIFFERENCE, BUT I'M AFRAID THAT FOR SOMEONE ELSE, THEY MAY FIND OUT TOO LATE. THIS SAFETY FEATURE IS AN UNACCEPTABLE DEATH TRAP WAITING TO HAPPEN. *TR

2005 TOYOTA PRIUS BRAKE FAILURE OVER BUMPY OR ICY ROADS REPORTED TO NHTSA IN 2005 WITH NO RESPONSE. TOYOTA DENIED FAILURE AND WE WERE TOLD TO SUE. *TR

I HAVE AN UNRESOLVED SAFETY ISSUE WITH MY 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS. THIS HAPPENED TO ME ON THE FIRST DAY THAT I DROVE MY THEN-BRAND NEW CAR. I STILL REMEMBER THIS DANGEROUS EVENT VERY CLEARLY. I CAN EASILY REPLICATE THE PROBLEM FOR YOU. I WAS ABOUT TO BACK MY PRIUS OUT OF ITS DIAGONAL PARKING SPACE ON A BUSY MAIN STREET IN DOWNTOWN EL CAJON, CA. IT WAS DAYTIME. VEHICLES WERE PARKED ON EITHER SIDE OF ME, WHICH PREVENTED ME FROM SEEING WHETHER OR NOT THERE WAS TRAFFIC APPROACHING. I CAREFULLY BACKED OUT OF THE PARKING SPACE UNTIL I COULD SEE WHETHER OR NOT THERE WAS TRAFFIC APPROACHING. I SAW THAT THERE WAS AND IT WAS APPROACHING QUICKLY, SO WITH THE INTENTION OF STOPPING MY CAR'S BACKWARDS MOVEMENT AND, INSTEAD, GOING FORWARD INTO MY PARKING SPACE, I HIT THE BRAKES AND QUICKLY MOVED THE GEARSHIFT LEVER OVER TO THE LEFT AND FULLY DOWN INTO THE DRIVE GATE TO THE STOP POSITION, BEFORE I RELEASED THE SPRING-LOADED SHIFT LEVER (WHICH SENDS IT BACK TO ITS 'HOME' POSITION). I THEN QUICKLY PRESSED THE GAS PEDAL, INTENDING FOR THE CAR TO MOVE FORWARD SO THAT I COULD DRIVE BACK INTO MY PARKING SPACE. TO MY SHOCK, MY CAR JUMPED FURTHER BACKWARDS INTO THE TRAFFIC LANE, INSTEAD OF FORWARDS INTO MY PARKING SPACE. HAVING GOOD REFLEXES, AND IN SOMEWHAT OF A PANIC NOW, I ONCE AGAIN SHOVED THE GEARSHIFT LEVER FULLY INTO THE DRIVE GATE AND FULLY DOWN UNTIL IT CONTACTED THE STOP, BEFORE LETTING GO OF IT. ONCE AGAIN I PUNCHED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND ONCE AGAIN THE CAR JUMPED -- BACKWARDS! I FULLY APPLIED THE BRAKES AND HOPED THAT THE ONCOMING VEHICLES WOULD NOT HIT ME. FORTUNATELY, THEY DID NOT. THE PROBLEM IS THAT IF THE GEARSHIFT LEVER ON THE 2005 PRIUS IS MOVED TOO QUICKLY, THERE WILL BE NO GEAR CHANGE. THIS COULD BE CORRECTED IF THE GEAR SELECTOR REMAINED IN THE APPROPRIATE GEAR'S GATE, GIVING THE ELECTRONICS TIME TO MAKE THE SHIFT. THIS FLAW COULD CAUSE ACCIDENTS AND BE FALSELY ATTRIBUTED TO DRIVER ERROR. IN THE INTERESTS OF SAFETY, IT SHOULD BE FIXED. *TR

GEAR SHIFT SELECTOR STICKS IN DRIVE OR REVERSE. A FEW YEARS AGO, THE ONLY SYMPTOM WAS CLICKING NOISE WHEN LEVER WAS ACTUATED, BUT NOW IT DOES NOT RETURN TO A NEUTRAL POSITION WHEN YOU LET GO. HAPPENS EVERY TIME. CONSEQUENTIALLY, UNLESS YOU CONSCIOUSLY RETURN THE LEVER TO CENTRAL POSITION, PRESSING PARK DOES NOT TAKE THE CAR OUT OF GEAR. IF INATTENTIVE OR A UNFAMILIAR DRIVER OPERATES CAR, IT WILL CONTINUE TO MOVE. I HAVE BEEN TRYING SINCE NOVEMBER 2 TO CONVINCE TOYOTA CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE THAT THIS IS SOMETHING THEY SHOULD REPAIR, IS NOT A NORMAL WEAR ITEM, AND BEGAN EVEN BEFORE MY VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. NO LUCK. DEALER HAS OFFERED A 15% DISCOUNT FROM A $575 REPAIR AND HAS ALREADY CHARGED ME $45 TO "DIAGNOSE". *TR

MY 2005 PRIUS SHOWS THE FOLLOWING MESSAGE "CAUTION: THE TRANSMISSION P LOCK MECHANISM IS ABNORMAL. PARK YOUR CAR AT A FLAT PLACE, AND APPLY PARKING BRAKE COMPLETELY". IF I TURN OFF THE POWER AND TURN IT ON EVERYTHING IS OK. DEALER WANTS 57 USD TO TELL ME WHAT IS WRONG. *TR

I HAVE A 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS. IT HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT OR HAD ANY DAMAGE. FOR THE PAST COUPLE YEARS, I'VE BEEN NOTICING A PROBLEM WITH THE GEAR SHIFTER. USUALLY IN COLD WEATHER (BELOW ABOUT 40 DEGREES F), THE GEAR SHIFTER DOES NOT CHANGE GEARS. FOR EXAMPLE, I'LL PUT IT IN DRIVE, RELEASE THE GEAR SHIFT, AND IT IMMEDIATELY REVERTS TO NEUTRAL. SAME THING HAPPENS WHEN I PUT IT IN REVERSE. TO GO ANYWHERE, I HAVE TO HOLD THE GEAR SHIFT IN THE GEAR I NEED. SOMETIMES, IF I HOLD IT IN DRIVE FOR ABOUT A MINUTE, IT FINALLY STAYS IN DRIVE WHEN I RELEASE IT. SO FAR IT HASN'T JUMPED GEARS WHILE DRIVING - ONLY WHEN I FIRST TURN THE CAR ON. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER TODAY AND HE SAID HE'S SEEN SEVERAL CARS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM, AND SAID I HAVE TO GET THE ENTIRE GEAR SHIFT MECHANISM REPLACED, WHICH COSTS ~$700. I'M NERVOUS THAT IF I DON'T GET IT REPLACED, THE GEARS COULD JUMP WHILE DRIVING AND CAUSE A SAFETY HAZARD. *TR

I HAVE BEEN DRIVING MY 2005 PRIUS FOR 5 YEARS AND HAVE EXPERIENCED THE FOLLOWING NEARLY 20 TIMES, WHEN BRAKING, IF A POTHOLE OR BUMP IN THE ROAD IS HIT, THE CAR SEEMINGLY JERKS FORWARD/ACCELERATES FOR A SPLIT SECOND. AND THE VSC LIGHT ON THE DASH WILL GO ON FOR A SHORT TIME. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS. AFTER PARKING THE VEHICLE, IT ROLLED DOWN-HILL. SHE ATTEMPTED TO RE-ENTER THE VEHICLE TO STOP IT, BUT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. CONSEQUENTLY, THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A POLE. SHE WENT TO THE HOSPITAL FOR KNEE INJURIES AND LACERATIONS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED, BUT NO ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,810. UPDATED 1/5/10 *CN UPDATED 01/06/10*JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE GEAR SHIFTER WOULD LOCK UP, WHICH PREVENTED THE VEHICLE FROM MOVING OR CHANGING GEARS. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ONCE IN A TUNNEL WHILE IN TRAFFIC. THE ROAD CREW HAD TO MOVE THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. IT TOOK TWENTY MINUTES TO RE-ENGAGE THE GEAR SO THAT THE VEHICLE COULD MOVE AGAIN. USUALLY, IT WOULD TAKE TWENTY TO FORTY MINUTES BEFORE IT RE-ENGAGED ITSELF AND FOR THE GEAR TO RETURN TO NORMAL. THE CONTACT HAS CALLED AND SENT LETTERS TO THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER, BUT NO ONE WILL SPEAK WITH HIM. HE HAS NOT TAKEN HIS VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 18,700.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH THE VEHICLE LOST POWER. IT WAS MANEUVERED OFF THE ROAD AND WAS OBSERVED TO BE OUT OF GEAR. THE CONTACT BELIEVES THE PARK BUTTON WAS ACCIDENTALLY DEPRESSED CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO GO OUT OF GEAR. THE DEALER HAS NOT BEEN ALERTED. THE CONSUMER STATED HE BELIVES THE PARKING GEAR IS TOO CLOSE TO THE DASHBOARD. IT ONLY TAKES LITTLE PRESSURE TO PUSH THE PARK SELECTOR. UPDATED 08/08/06. *JB

I WAS TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 75 MPH ON HWY 41 IN FRESNO, CA WHEN MY 2005 PRIUS HAD IT'S INCIDENT. ALL THE DASH WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED, AND I SAW THAT I WAS ONLY RUNNINGL ON MY ELECTRIC MOTOR. LLUCKILY I WAS IN THE RIGHT HAND LANE GETTING READY TO MERGE ONTO ANOTHER FREEWAY, SO I PUT MY HAZARD WARNING LIGHTS ON, AND ALMOST GOT REAR ENDED BECAUSE I REDUCED MY SPEED AND THE HONDA BEHIND ME WAS IMPATIENT AND RIDING MY BUMBER. I PULLED OFF THE FREEWAY, CALLED AAA, AND BEFORE THEY GOT OUT, I TRIED TO START THE VEHICLE AFTER ABOUT 15 MINUTES BECAUSE WHERE IT FINALLY DIED WAS A BAD SPOT- AND THE ENGINE KICKED RIGHT ON! I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED! THE FOLLOWING MONDAY I CALLED MY LOCAL TOYOTA DEALERSHIP (MICHAEL TOYOTA) AND THEY CHECKED FOR ANY RECALLS AND SAID THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH MY CAR "DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT". THEN I HAVE BEEN HEARING ABOUT THESE OTHER CASES COMING LATELY AND IT SOUNDS LIKE I HAVE A BIGGER PROBLEM. I RETURNED TO MY TOYOTA DEALER AND THEY SAID THAT THE 4 HOURS THEY HAD LEFT IN THE DAY WASN'T ENOUGH TIME, SO I NEED TO TAKE A DAY OFF OF WORK SO THAT I CAN DRIVE THE HOUR IT TAKES TO GET THERE AND WAIT FOR MY VEHICLE.

THE SHIFT-BY-WIRE TRANSMISSION SELECTOR IN MY 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS IGNORES MY SHIFT IF I MOVE THE SHIFT LEVER TOO QUICKLY. THIS HAS ALMOST LED TO SEVERAL ACCIDENTS. ON MY FIRST DAY DRIVING MY PRIUS, I WAS PARKED IN A DIAGONAL, ON-STREET SPACE. MY VIEW OF APPROACHING TRAFFIC WAS BLOCKED BY THE VEHICLE BESIDE ME. WHEN I BACKED OUT FAR ENOUGH INTO THE TRAFFIC LANE, I REALIZED THAT TRAFFIC WAS COMING. I NEEDED TO MOVE FORWARD QUICKLY TO AVOID GETTING HIT. I QUICKLY MOVED THE SHIFT LEVER TO D AND ACCELERATED. THE CAR LURCHED BACKWARDS INSTEAD OF FORWARDS. I HIT THE BRAKE AND QUICKLY BUT CAREFULLY SHIFTED TO D AGAIN. APPROACHING TRAFFIC WAS NOW ALMOST AT MY LOCATION. I ACCELERATED AGAIN BUT THE CAR LURCHED BACKWARDS, NOT FORWARDS, AGAIN. THE CAR HAD IGNORED BOTH INPUTS FROM ME AND REMAINED IN REVERSE. LUCKILY THE APPROACHING TRAFFIC SLOWED TO AVOID CRASHING INTO ME, GIVING ME TIME TO SLOWLY AND DELIBERATELY MOVE THE SHIFT LEVER TO D. THIS TIME THE CAR MOVED FORWARD. I CAN EASILY SHIFT THE LEVER TOO QUICKLY, WHICH RESULTS IN NO GEAR CHANGE. TOYOTA SAID THIS DANGEROUS CONDITION IS NORMAL FOR THE PRIUS. ALSO, THERE IS A COLUMN-MOUNTED STALK TOO CLOSE TO THE DASH-MOUNTED GEAR SHIFT LEVER. IT IS EASY TO MOMENTARILY PUT YOUR HAND ON THE WRONG STALK WHEN TRYING TO SHIFT GEARS. FINALLY, THE CAR LOUDLY BEEPS WHENEVER REVERSE IS SELECTED. THIS IS INSIDE, NOT OUTSIDE I ASSUME TO LET YOU KNOW THAT YOU ARE IN REVERSE. THAT LOUD, DISTRACTING INTERIOR BEEPER IS A SAFETY HAZARD. I WAS NOT AWARE OF HEARING IT WHEN I HAD THE BACKING INCIDENTS DESCRIBED ABOVE BUT I AM VERY AWARE OF IT WHEN I AM CAREFULLY BACKING UP AND TRYING TO WATCH AND LISTEN FOR PEDESTRIANS, CARS, ETC. BEHIND ME. MY TOYOTA DEALER TOLD ME THAT IT CANNOT BE DISCONNECTED. ALL DRIVERS FROM OWNERS TO VALETS, EXPECT THE GEARS TO CHANGE WHEN THEY SHIFT. THE PUBLIC SHOULD BE WARNED ABOUT THE PRIUS UNTIL TOYOTA MAKES A TRANSMISSION FIX SUCH AS RETROFITTING THE CARS WITH A CONVENTIONAL SHIFT MECHANISM.