What Owners Report NHTSA ODI · 2,175,102 complaints · MY1998–2026

2005 Toyota Prius

Typical pattern

9% of complaints about the 2005 Toyota Prius came in the first year, which is unremarkable for a 2005 vehicle — around the middle of the 245 model-years on record. The median complaint arrives at 6.7 yr in service. The most-reported system is exterior lighting (334 complaints), typically at 6.8 yr or about 101,000 miles.

Complaints
1,025
Median age at failure
6.7 yr
Median mileage
90,000 n=870
Crash / fire / tow
10.9% of reports
Safety recalls
6

When each system is reported — middle 50% of complaints

System
0y2y4y6y8y10y12y14y
Exterior lighting
334 reports · 101,000 mi
6.8 yr
0.6%
Electrical system
165 reports · 100,500 mi
7.5 yr
6.1%
Service brakes
82 reports · 136,600 mi
13.7 yr
7.3%
Engine cooling
60 reports · 12,790 mi
1.2 yr
3.3%
Speed control
55 reports · 56,000 mi
5.6 yr
32.7%
Service brakes, hydraulic
50 reports · 60,000 mi
5.2 yr
16%
Air bags
42 reports · 75,000 mi
6.8 yr
64.3%
Steering
38 reports · 90,000 mi
8.3 yr
18.4%
Power train
35 reports · 100,500 mi
6.7 yr
8.6%
Other
25 reports · 90,000 mi
10.9 yr
20%
Service brakes, electric
15 reports · 74,215 mi
5.7 yr
20%
Engine
15 reports · 120,000 mi
10.9 yr
13.3%

Safety recalls — NHTSA campaigns

12V537000 2012-11-14
Steering

Toyota is recalling certain model year 2004-2009 Prius vehicles manufactured August 5, 2003, through March 30, 2009. The affected vehicles have a steering intermediate extension shaft assembly built with metal splines that complete the connection from the steering wheel to the steering gear. These splines may have been manufactured with an insufficient hardness.

Over time, the splines may wear and eventually fail resulting in a loss of steering ability, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.

12V536000 2012-11-14
Engine cooling

Toyota is recalling certain model year 2004-2009 Prius vehicles manufactured August 6, 2003, through March 30, 2009 and FCHV-adv vehicles manufactured December 12, 2008, through September 13, 2011. During manufacturing, a scratch may have occurred inside of the electrically driven water pump at the coil wire. The coil wire may corrode at the scratched portion.

The corroded coil wire may break and the water pump could stop. The corroded coil wire could cause a short circuit between coil wires and a possible 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.

10V036000 2010-02-03
Equipment:other:labels

SOUTHEAST TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2005-2011 PASSENGER VEHICLES FOR FAILING TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 110, "TIRE SELECTION AND RIMS." THESE VEHICLES WERE SOLD WITHOUT THE REQUISITE LOAD CARRYING CAPACITY MODIFICATION LABELS.

A DRIVER MAY OVERLOAD A VEHICLE WHICH MAY INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.

09V388000 2009-10-05
Vehicle speed control:accelerator pedal

TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2004-2010 PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL CAN GET STUCK IN THE WIDE OPEN POSITION DUE TO ITS BEING TRAPPED BY AN UNSECURED OR INCOMPATIBLE DRIVER'S FLOOR MAT.

A STUCK OPEN ACCELERATOR PEDAL MAY RESULT IN VERY HIGH VEHICLE SPEEDS AND MAKE IT DIFFICULT TO STOP THE VEHICLE, WHICH COULD CAUSE A CRASH, SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH.

06V188000 2006-05-31
Steering:electric power assist system

THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT AND SLIDING YOKE IN THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING SYSTEM CAN CRACK WHEN LARGE FORCES ARE APPLIED AND THE CONNECTION MAY SEPARATE OR THE SLEEVE MAY FRACTURE.

THIS COULD RESULT IN A LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE.

06V096000 2006-04-03
Air bags

ON CERTAIN VEHICLES, DUE TO IMPROPER ASSEMBLY OF THE AIR BAG INFLATOR, WHICH IS USED IN THE SIDE AIR BAG, THE CURTAIN SHIELD AIR BAG, AND THE KNEE AIR BAG ASSEMBLY, SOME INFLATORS WERE PRODUCED WITH AN INSUFFICIENT AMOUNT OF THE HEATING AGENTS NECESSARY FOR PROPER AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT. IN THIS CONDITION, THE EXPANSION FORCE OF THE GAS MAY BE INSUFFICIENT TO PROPERLY INFLATE THE AIR BAG WHEN THE SRS SYSTEM IS ACTIVATED DURING A CRASH.

THIS MAY INCREASE THE RISK OF INJURY TO THE OCCUPANT IN THE INVOLVED SEATING POSITION IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH.

In owners’ own words

Electrical system mileage not reported 8 mo in service
DT CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING HIS VEHICLE, IT COMPLETELY STALLED IN TRAFFIC. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ALONG WITH A FEW OTHER LIGHTS ON THE DASH ILLUMINATED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STALLING. *TT *EH
Electrical system 7,213 mi 4 mo in service
1) I RECEIVED A NOTICE FROM TOYOTA ABOUT A NAVIGATION SYSTEM SOFTWARE UPDATE. THE CAR WAS BROUGHT TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THE UPDATE WAS PERFORMED. 2)AFTER LEAVING THE DEALERSHIP, IN LESS THAN 2 MILES, THE CAR ENGINE STALLED AS I WAS DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR. I PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. 3) MY CAR HAS THE SMARTKEY SYSTEM, SO AT THE TIME, THE KEY WAS NOT INSERTED. AFTER INSERTING THE KEY, I WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE CAR. THIS OCCURRED AGAIN AFEW DAYS LATER, AND THE CAR WAS RESTARTED ONLY AFTER INSERTING THE KAY.
Electrical system 19,700 mi 8 mo in service
OUR PRIUS HYBRID CAR ENGINE SUDDENLY STOPPED WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE. WE COULD NOT GET IT STARTED AND HAD TO BE TOWED TO A TOYOTA DEALER TO HAVE OUR CAR REPROGRAMED.
Engine cooling 6,000 mi 7 mo in service
1. I BOUGHT A NEW PRIUS IN EARLY MARCH OF 2005. I WAS COASTING TO STOP (AROUND 8-10 MPH) FOR A YIELD SIGN AND WHEN I HIT THE FOOT ON THE BRAKE, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO ACCELERATE. FUNNY, BUT THIS PROBLEM HAPPENS ONLY OCCANSIONALLY! 2. STIMES THE VEHICLES SEEMS TO COME TO A STALL, AT LOW SPEEDS WHILE MAKING A TURN OR BEFORE COMING TO AN DEAD STOP. I PERSONALLY HAVE FELT THE VEHICLE GOING OFF THE POWER DURING A TURN, AT LOW SPEEDS <10 MPH. 3. I TRIED TO FIND ANY RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE, BUT WAS UNSUCESSFULL.

Other Prius model years

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