2005 Toyota Prius Electrical System Problems
- 156
- 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 156 stored complaint records:
- 3 indicate a crash
- 4 indicate injury
- 2 indicate fire
What owners report
- combination meter · 12 records
- instrument panel · 9 records
- come back · 9 records
- both headlights · 9 records
- failure mileage · 7 records
- safety issue · 6 records
Mileage in stored records
| Band | Records |
|---|---|
| 100–150k mi | 36 |
| 150–400k mi | 32 |
| 1–30k mi | 30 |
| 60–100k mi | 23 |
| 30–60k mi | 14 |
Complaint records
Owner-submitted complaint content, presented as stored.
Electrical System
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 toyota prius. The contact noticed that the odometer gauge was not functioning. The gauge remained at 299,000 miles. The dealer informed the contact that the odometer gauge needed to be replaced and also stated that the gauge was designed to stop at 299,000 miles. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and indicated that they had not received any complaints concerning the odometer…
ODI 10864830
Electrical System
Dash goes completely blank while in motion and car will not turn off
ODI 10837300
Electrical System · Exterior Lighting · Service Brakes
Digital dashboard sometimes is completely blank for extended periods so that i can't see my speed, fuel levels, odometer, and other info. When i start up it happens and continues the whole time i am driving. It is causing other problems related to the hydrolic braking sometimes as well when this happens.
ODI 10820021
Electrical System
The car kept slipping into neutral when wanting to drive. Parking button didn't work.the vehicle was parked and i was trying to drive it.
ODI 10789827
Electrical System
Our daughter drove the vehicle to school. She parked the vehicle and found that the vehicle would not turn off. We took the vehicle to the dealership and was told by the service advisor that the cause of this problem was a part called the combination meter. He advised that the part was recalled and we should have been contacted by toyota. He provided me with a phone number for the toyota corporations recall…
ODI 10765186
Electrical System · Power Train
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…
1 injury
ODI 10758925
Electrical System · Power Train
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,…
ODI 10758945
Electrical System · Engine · Structure · Vehicle Speed Control
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 toyota prius. While washing the vehicle, the contact noticed 2-3 drops of water entering the front passenger side window. The window was closed at the time of the failure. Additionally, when the vehicle was started, the contact noticed that the instrument panel failed and would not illuminate. The contact engaged the push-to-start button with the brakes applied to shut off the vehicle,…
1 injury
ODI 10750176
Electrical System · Service Brakes
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 toyota prius. The contact stated that while driving the vehicle, the combination meter would intermittently fail causing the instrument panel gauges to stop functioning. In addition. The parking brake did not function. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who diagnosed that combination meter would need to be replaced. The manufacturer was notified of the failures. The failure mileage was…
ODI 10782829
Electrical System
Just purchased this car. There is a pungent odor in car resulting in dizziness and nauseous and it leaves a strong chemical odor on the hair and clothing for hours after being in the vehicle. It is a strong, plastics odor. I googled this and found it is a common issue. There was one post that explained very clearly what the issue is. Toyota has ignored the problem but it can cause physical harm due to the toxins in…
ODI 10723561
Electrical System
I am currently experiencing troubles with my front passenger headlight. The problem first occurred about a year ago (jan. 2014) when i purchased the car used from a car dealer in tysons corner va. I took the car back within days of noticing the light kept going out and asked them to repair the issue since i had just purchased the car. They did so and said that it was most likely a faulty light and replaced it. It is…
ODI 10716047
Electrical System · Fuel/Propulsion System · Power Train
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.…
ODI 10711889
Electrical System
While driving at night, headlights turned off (failed). Stopped vehicle and waited a couple of minutes and turned light switch off and back on. Lights functioned ok. One week later, same failure occurred. *tr
ODI 10692849
Electrical System · Exterior Lighting
Left headlight will intermittently go off. There have been a couple of instances where both lights have gone off on the highway at night. *tr
ODI 10692385
Electrical System
Driving after dark, temp 12 f, dashboard light went black on area behind steering wheel. Upon arriving at destination, vehicle took several attempts before it turned off. Car was taken to toyota dealer. I suggested this problem may be on a recall for the multi system light in the dash. After 2 hours toyota did not address the "recall" issue and diagnosed loose batter cable. Car performed normally. Next morning the…
ODI 10671760
Electrical System · Vehicle Speed Control
Car when in park or stopped (at a stop sign or light) will automatically shift into neutral about a second after i try to put it in reverse or drive. It began happening about a month ago and now happens every time i start the car. It also began happening at stoplights and almost caused an accident when i was trying to accelerate onto a fast highway from a stoplight last week. It takes up to 10 attempts to keep it in…
ODI 10667912
Electrical System
On start up the combination meter failed to operate. Since the combination meter presents bulk of the critical vehicle information it present a hazard to the operation of the vehicle. It is a known intermittent problem and was first observed on my 2005 prius approximately three years ago, however, the problem can clear itself. When it first occurred i brought it to the sun toyota service department, 3001 u.s. 19…
ODI 10660813
Electrical System · Exterior Lighting · Visibility/Wiper
The right side headlight goes out multiple times for no apparent reason. I have to turn the lights off- then back on--it will come back on--only till it goes out again. *tr
ODI 10653517
Electrical System · Exterior Lighting
My left head light goes out intermittently. The light goes back on when i turn the lights off and then on again. This seems to be a problem that prius owners are regularly experiencing. *tr
ODI 10658721
Electrical System
Today, when our 2005 prius was turned on, the dashboard lights, including the odometer and speedometer, and all of the dashboard warning lights, did not illuminate. Additionally,the prius would not turn off by pushing the button on the dash. A google search revealed a known problem with the combination meter display that controls the dashboard lights, including all of the safety warning lights, that prompted toyota…
ODI 10640955
Electrical System
Hybrid battery exploded in car, i thought someone shot at me or bomb went off in car. Later i realized there was a problem with the hybrid system. I couldn't get a hold of toyota or representative of toyota, i took battery out so there wouldn't be a fire. When i opened casing up i saw the damage where a cell or two exploded inside hybrid battery pack. When i finally got to talk to someone from toyota 4 days later…
2 injuries
ODI 10630672
Electrical System · Service Brakes
I went from a stationary driving position, to driving off at 20 mph down a 3 lane highway, suddenly a few seconds after, all these lights came on: flashing warning light, brake lights, abs light and a loud beeping noise. I had no power, no brakes?.. Fortunately there was nobody in front of me or close behind and i could veer into the side of the road. I turned the car off totally. And then tried to turn it back on…
ODI 10628441
Electrical System
Purchased this vehicle used as a means of fuel efficient transportation while i am in college. I began experiencing headlight failure on the vehicle about a week after purchasing it from the dealership. When i brought it to their attention, i was informed that the headlights were under recall and would be replaced. A few months later the passenger side headlight began flickering again and went out again. The…
ODI 10693448
Air Bags · Electrical System
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 toyota prius. While driving at approximately 25 mph, the air bag warning light illuminated on and off. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic. The technician diagnosed that the main wiring harness needed to be replaced and not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 65,000.
ODI 10749889
Electrical System · Electronic Stability Control · Service Brakes
In 2007, we purchased a certified used toyota prius 2005 with 13,298 miles. We have owned this car ever since. We currently have about 81,000 miles on this vehicle. Brake failure incident on june 30, 2014, i was driving the 2005 prius slowly (10-15 mph) along a roadway located in a tecumseh, mi city park: as the car approached a local street, i braked for a stop before making a right-hand turn. As i engaged the…
ODI 10609883