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 · Exterior Lighting
The headlamps repeatedly burn out, which repair people have said indicates an underlying electrical problem. I now have to replace one of the headlamps for the fourth time in just over a year. *tr
ODI 10492214
Electrical System · Engine And Engine Cooling
I was driving on the highway when my vehicle's check engine light came on. Shortly after i saw a large amount of smoke coming from the engine. I pulled over and shut off the car. Car smelled like burned plastic and smoke. I was worried that the car could catch on fire or blow up! I had the car towed to my nearest toyota dealership.toyota claimed that the three way coolant control valve had failed and the steam came…
ODI 10435124
Electrical System · Exterior Lighting · Unknown Or Other
Since about the fall of last year or so, we've been noticing that the headlights have been going off intermittently. The right went out and then came back on. Then another time the left went out and came back on. I've read about this occurring on many other prius' and that there was a class action suit? Anyway, i need to figure out how to get this fixed as it is a serious safety issue. *tr
ODI 10493535
Electrical System · Exterior Lighting
Headlamp would go out at random intervals. Always came on when first switched on but would go off while driving. Would reproducibly come back on when the switched was flipped to off and back on again. Would then go off again at later time. No way to tell whether operational while driving. *tr
ODI 10434033
Electrical System · Exterior Lighting
I was driving with my two children on the 405 north freeway just south of the 10 freeway at 9pm in my toyota prius 2005. I had issues with one of the headlights already. It would flicker and then turn off without warning. Last sunday, however, both headlights failed, including all interior lights, as i was speeding down on of the busiest freeways in the country at nighttime. It was pretty terrifying. *tr
ODI 10430228
Electrical System · Vehicle Speed Control
When starting the vehicle up, no speedometer display is illuminated. The display for the vehicle environmental controls (miles per gallon/energy use) still works. Along with the speedometer display, the rear hatchback door does not work. I tried to adjust the inside light display to see if the light level was turned off. This was not problem. I turned the light adjustment knob in both directions, and still no…
ODI 10430062
Electrical System
Gauge cluster on my 2005 toyota prius is completely dead. I cannot see any information such as speed, temp, fuel, etc. Also, the car does not turn off when i push the on/off button. Dealer says that it will cost $1000 to diagnose and fix. I am very concerned, as this is a safety issue! *tr
ODI 10419274
Electrical System · Fuel System, Gasoline
Driving north on i75 at approximately 65 mph. The gas gauge had 3 bars illuminated. The vsc warning light and the red triangle with the exclamation point came on. I lost the ability to accelerate and the car suddenly went dead. Luckily i was able to make to relative safety on the side to interstate. The car was towed to a dealer who said the car ran out gas! They also said that the "fuel register unit was operating…
ODI 10411085
Electrical System · Power Train · Service Brakes, Hydraulic
I rolled slowly (<1 mph) uphill to the parking slot (l.a. Code, 2%grade down away from buildings) up to the parking cement stop, and was ready to shut it down. The engine started to race, about to go over the cement stop when i put my foot on the brake. The car continued over the cement stop. I pushed harder on the brake and the car started to drive over the sidewalk. Then the car drove through the plate glass of…
ODI 10444425
Electrical System · Exterior Lighting · Headlights
The right, passenger headlight goes out and by turning the headlight switch off and back on, the headlight comes back on. It will go off again and i will have to perform the same procedure to get it to come on again. *kb this happens repeatedly during any given trip.
ODI 10441657
Electrical System · Service Brakes, Hydraulic
Note: the date above does not reflect first date of occurance. This is the event date that led to toyota admitting something is wrong with the car. Please read narrative: on three occasions the car has died while being parked at work and at home. On one occasion the car died in my garage. After the vehicle was jumped it seemed fine. No lights were left on nor were any electrical devices plugged into the accessories.…
ODI 10394848
Electrical System · Equipment
At random, the car does not start. There is nothing different about events leading up to the failure from one day to the next. My neighbor has the same problem, and so did a friend of mine. Aaa told me that in the winter the car is particularly prone to having trouble starting. *tr
ODI 10381750
Electrical System
My toyota prius 2005 model had repeated and total failures when the 12 volt sli battery was low, or in cold weather. The designing logic is very bad: when the sli battery fails, the back doors and trunk could not be unlocked, so i could not get my jumper cables out since all electrical controls failed. The car could not be towed from behind when parked, not to damage the synergy drive (apparently). I was told to buy…
ODI 10381238
Electrical System · Power Train · Vehicle Speed Control
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…
Crash reported
ODI 10380708
Electrical System · Exterior Lighting
The passenger side headlight would sometimes go out and then come back on after turning the car off/on. Eventually both of the headlights had this problem along with them turning pink in color and back to white while driving. I took the prius into the dealership and since i purchased the extended warranty of 100,000 miles the hid electronic control units (ecus) will be replaced free of charge but the hid light bulbs…
ODI 10381137
Electrical System · Exterior Lighting
We are have a problem with our 2005 toyota prius. The headlights (one or both) goes out without warning. The is a known safety problem with headlights on the prius. Toyota will not issue a recall because they have not been directed to by the government. *tr
ODI 10369618
Electrical System · Exterior Lighting
2005 toyota prius, repeated headlight failure. I have been issued three police summonses for headlight failure and have only owned this vehicle for two years. I replaced both headlights three weeks ago and the passenger headlight is out again. *tr
ODI 10362410
Electrical System · Exterior Lighting
My 2005 prius' right headlight (hid) turns off. After turning the lights off and back on, it lights up again. It's very strange because if the bulb was dead, it wouldn't come back on. Just recently, someone made me aware of the issue. But, who knows how long it has been going on. There is no pattern or unique incident that causes the bulb to turn off and on. It happens multiple times on trip between 2-4 miles…
ODI 10361492
Electrical System · Exterior Lighting
We purchased a toyota 2005 prius in august of this year. It had 92,000 miles on it but was in exceptional condition. Just this week october 15 the passenger side headlight started blinking and one day later went out. *tr
ODI 10360851
Cooling System · Electrical System · Power Train
2005 toyota prius stalled on an overpass with no shoulders. The transmission became stuck in park, and the vehicle could not be pushed since the front wheels were locked up. The car was eventually towed, and it had to be dragged onto the flatbed wrecker since the front wheels would not roll. The problem was determined to be a failed pump for cooling the inverter. The pump failed such that it blew a fuse that also…
ODI 10365356
Electrical System · Headlights
2005 toyota prius with hid headlights which has self leveling feature. Have noticed for a while the headlights are shining low, can't see sufficiently ahead of car. Headlights can not be manually adjusted. Found online several reports indicating the control module that sends the leveling message to control the headlights which is mounted on the driver side rear axle fails when water enters the device and corrodes…
ODI 10433030
Electrical System
At around 10pm this friday night i was driving home on the country road 3 miles from my house. It is a [redacted] with no street lamps. I was traveling at 50mph and coming around a gentle curve when all of a sudden every light in the car went out...headlights, taillights, dashboard, hazards, even the navigation system display. A month ago i had my car in for its safety inspection and 150k mileage service and was…
ODI 10344293
Electrical System · Exterior Lighting
Sudden warning light indicating headlight leveling failure. Occurs intermittently under various circumstances. Consequences: headlights either aimed too high blinding oncoming drivers or slanted downward making car impossible to drive at night. Part has not been replaced and car is not driven at night. Old part still available. There was a technical service bulletin in early 2006 indicating that the headlight…
ODI 10346404
Electrical System · Exterior Lighting
Passenger front hid headlight was intermediately operational for a short period of time. Eventually it would not come back on. Toyota dealer quoted $350+ for part and $150+ for labor, per headlight. According to other prius owners and internet articles, this issue is apparent to be a manufacturer defect; but toyota refuses to admit in order to prevent a recall. Unwilling to paid for toyota's mistakes, the vehicle…
ODI 10415147
Electrical System · Service Brakes, Electric · Steering · Vehicle Speed Control
I drove a 2005 toyota prius vin#[xxx] until 5/13/2010. At around 10am i was driving on the hwy in the lft lane. With cruise control on going 75mph. I had a gps on and navigating. And i had my blue tooth earpiece on. Then all at the same time my blue tooth shut down. My gps shut down. And every warning lite came up in the car. Even the display that usually shows how the hybrid systems works was blinking problem!!…
ODI 10335057