2004 Toyota Prius Electrical System Problems
- 149
- Owner complaint records in our dataset
Records are owner complaints, not a measured failure rate.
Owner complaint recordsComplaint records reflect reports in our dataset and do not measure how frequently the problem occurs across all vehicles.
Among these 149 stored complaint records:
- 4 indicate a crash
- 1 indicate injury
- 2 indicate fire
What owners report
- 12v/24v/48v Battery · 2 records
- Instrument Cluster/Panel · 2 records
Mileage in stored records
| Band | Records |
|---|---|
| 1–30k mi | 58 |
| 30–60k mi | 19 |
| 100–150k mi | 19 |
| 150–400k mi | 17 |
| 60–100k mi | 10 |
Complaint records
Owner-submitted complaint content, presented as stored.
Electrical System
I am having the same problem described here: the multi-function display (mfd) failed. (cross reference nhtsa complaint #10173892). This is a known design defect (cross reference analysis on web: http://techno-fandom.org/~hobbit/cars/mfd/compare.html and http://techno-fandom.org/~hobbit/cars/mfd/). Toyota issued a technical service bulletin (either el-002-04 or el-002-05 - conflicting info on this) on jan 10, 2005.…
ODI 10276364
Electrical System · Exterior Lighting
On my 2004 toyota prius, the lights go out randomly. Of course, at night. I took it to two toyota dealerships, and the first couldn't replicate the problem. The second dealership said the fix for one light would be an astonishing $850 because it's a defective electronic controller. Since my lights worked intermittently or after being turned on and off...and after searching the internet and discovering this defect is…
ODI 10272696
Electrical System
Tl*the contact owns a 2004 toyota prius. While driving between 65-70 mph, the vehicle suddenly stalled and shut off completely. The electronics of the vehicle were still operating, but the vehicle itself could not be restarted. The vehicle then shifted itself into park. The hazard lights in the vehicle began running off the auxiliary battery, which is a low power battery. In addition, the hazard lights turned off.…
Fire reported
ODI 10264455
Electrical System
The digital dashboard which includes the speedometer, odometer/tripmeter, shift indicator and fuel gauge goes blank. This creates a safety hazard especially during night or poor weather driving, and when shifting. My local toyota service department manager acknowledged that toyota knows this is a common problem, but refused to fix it at no cost. The service manager also told me that he must impound my car until the…
ODI 10257962
Electrical · Electrical System
Multi-function monitor display intermittent blank out. No display for multi-function display unit. It occurs very often since january 2008. *tr
ODI 10258787
Electrical System · Exterior Lighting
I was quoted $466 just for the price of my bulb for the headlight of my toyota prius. For a non luxury car it so expensive that a lot of people will choose to make due with their flickering one. It is outrageous that toyota did not give a more affordable choice. It is going to be more dangerous out there. *tr
ODI 10245227
Electrical System · Exterior Lighting
Hid headlights go off intermittently while driving. Headlights can be reset by turning headlight switch to off and back on again. A search of the nhtsa and other websites demonstrate that this same problem is widespread for several year models of prius autos. The dealer estimates to replace the headlight bulbs is about $1000 per headlight, making this a serious problem because people will seek lower cost remedies…
ODI 10435235
Electrical System · Exterior Lighting
High intensity discharge headlights intermittently going out. No rhyme or reason as to when the outage occurs but turning the circuit off and back on again will re-illuminate the hid headlight...but for how long?? *tr
ODI 10257733
Electrical System · Exterior Lighting
The hid headlight leveling sensor part# 89408-47010 failed. Big red exclamation on the dash and car won't pass inspection. Toyota says it costs $600 to replace. *tr
ODI 10445658
Electrical System
The multi-function display (mfd) failed. (cross reference nhtsa complaint #10173892). This is a known design defect (cross reference analysis on web: http://techno-fandom.org/~hobbit/cars/mfd/compare.html and http://techno-fandom.org/~hobbit/cars/mfd/). Toyota issued a technical service bulletin (either el-002-04 or el-002-05 - conflicting info on this) on jan 10, 2005. When the mfd fails, one cannot control the…
ODI 10249360
Electrical System
Erratic loss of pc use, touch screen, audio deactivated, no picture at all dealer wants $980 to replace with refurbished and $4000 for new. Worried about all the other dot troubled listings of total electrical power loss. *tr
ODI 10229840
Electrical System
2004 toyota prius with computer problem. Started getting an error message that air conditioner wasn't working. Then the computer would not give the gas mileage. Then the temp wouldn't show. Then couldn't use the radio (it would come one but you couldn't see what the station was), now it is all blank. It does not work at all. Then it works for 5 minutes about once a quarter. Can't control air/heat, radio, can't see…
ODI 10308123
Electrical System · Exterior Lighting
I own a toyota prius 2004 and the headlights go on/off whenever they feel like it. When they go off if you turn the switch they go back on. Are there any other complaints on this issue? *tr
ODI 10265701
Electrical System · Visibility
Multifunction touch screen display (mfd) malfunction disables the windshield defogger. One must wipe the windshield by hand. If the windshield fogs while driving on a narrow and winding road or busy highway, the driver and passengers are at high risk. There is a website that shows what the problem is and how to fix it (http://techno-fandom.org/~hobbit/cars/mfd/). A multi-pin connector has a faulty pin. The soldering…
ODI 10316825
Electrical System
On december 25, 2007 when i started my car it locked up with a christmas tree like effect all of the lights came on and i could not shut the car off. All of the gears were engaged according to the display and the car was in slooooow motion forwards. Not even a crawling speed. Imperceptibly slow forwards. It would not shut off nor would it do anything that would allow me to control the motion of the car except use…
ODI 10218551
Control Module (Tcm, Pcm) · Electrical System · Instrument Cluster/Panel
While driving prius on major highway in dfw metroplex during evening rush hour the warning light came on, then a couple seconds later, entire dash board information screen and all warning lights flashed. Car engine continued to run, and would not turn off, but no power was available to steering or brakes. This problem occurred at the apex of a bridge. However, was able to coast the car into the median between the…
ODI 10190212
Electrical System
My multi function display has failed on me for the past three years. This is a very common problem for toyota prius owners. This means i have had no navigation, air condition/heating, radio/cd and more due to this defective device. There is no physical damage to the screen, and these screens seem to fail only a few years after manufactured. It appears to be the same exact solder joint breaking in every single case…
ODI 10329920
Electrical System · Frontal
2004 toyota prius having problems starting.**cc the consumer stated after several tries, the vehicle started, however when he shifted into the drive, the engine raced and the vehicle lurched forward rapidly, even though the accelerator had not been applied. The consumer was unable to stop the vehicle by using the brakes. The vehicle continued forward about 25 feet and crashed into a garage. The consumer received…
Crash reported · 1 injury
ODI 10181607
Electrical System
Dt*: the contact stated the vehicle did not start after being parked overnight. There was no response from either the engine or electrical system. The vehicle was jump-started and taken to a service dealer, where the vehicle failed again. The dealer was unable to determine the problem. The manufacturer was notified, who stated that the failure was due to driver error.
ODI 10174656
Electrical System · Instrument Cluster/Panel
Touch screen on 2004 toyota prius is defective and fails to work which leaves me with no heat at times and inability to see if my battery is operating properly, this is an ongoing toyota problem with complaints all over the web by prius owners. *jb
ODI 10173892
Electrical System
My 2004 toyota prius electrical display (touch screen) has 'shorted out' with a loud ticking noise through the speakers. It has been in the springfield, va toyota shop twice, and it is continuing to happen. The screen goes dark, and then there is no access to the defroster, gps, etc. They all become non-functional. *jb
ODI 10169682
Electrical System
2004 toyota prius electrical problems. I have been experiencing severe electrical problems with my 2004 toyota prius and they have gotten more severe after the toyota dealer uploaded new code that was supposed to fix a recall. Problems include loss of display, loss of control of climate system, radio turns itself off, and occasionally there is loss of power at low speeds which is sometimes fixed by a reboot of the…
ODI 10167620
Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip · Electrical System · Vehicle Speed Control
I turned left into driveway of a home- driveway has an incline. I turned off power and two children exited car. One passenger returned within five min and sat in front. I placed foot on brake. Brake felt "locked" with no give. I pressed power button with foot on brake, and placed gear in reverse. I let foot off brake to roll slowly out of driveway. When i attempted to brake to slow exit, my foot went all the way to…
ODI 10167393
Electrical System · Hydraulic Power Assist System
I have a 2004 toyota prius i purchased used last feb (06). Starting the car does not immediately bring up the dash display. It remains blank, however i can shift into gear. The power steering is off as well. I restart and restart and eventually the dash will pop on. The car is drivable but all the warning lights are not. Not at once though. The red triangle with the ! In between is always present but sometimes it is…
ODI 10167001
Electrical System
Dt*: the contact stated while driving 35mph, the master warning and check engine light illuminated followed by the vehicle operating at a reduced speed. The vehicle continued operation for about a mile before eventually stalling. The vehicle would not restart, but remained in electric mode. The vehicle was towed to a dealer where it is currently awaiting inspection. *ak contact requested to delete the complaint from…
ODI 10154389