NHTSA ID Number: 10246818
Incident Date: 2008-09-07
Manufacturer's Name: Toyota
Motor Corporation
Vehicle/Equipment Make: TOYOTA
Vehicle/Equipment Model: PRIUS
Model Year: 2005
9999 If Unknown Or N/A
Vehicle Identification Number: JTDKB20U153
Vehicle Mileage At Failure: 25258
Vehicle Speed: 20
Number Of Occurrences: 1
Was Vehicle Towed: No
Consumer Location: PANAMA, NY
Summary of Complaint
OUR 2005 PRIUS RECENTLY DEVELOPED A PROBLEM WITH THE AUTOMATIC-LEVELING HEADLIGHTS. WARNING SYMBOLS APPEARED ON THE DASH. AS WE WERE DRIVING, WE NOTICED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS WERE AIMED MUCH HIGHER THAN USUAL, SO THAT THE LOW BEAMS APPEARED MORE LIKE HIGH BEAMS. IN THE COURSE OF THIS TRIP, WE STOPPED BRIEFLY AND TURNED OFF THE CAR. WHEN WE RESUMED OUR TRIP, WE NOTICED THE HEADLIGHTS WERE NOW VERY LOW, SO LOW THAT WE DARED NOT GO OVER ABOUT 20 MPH. WE SCHEDULED A VISIT TO OUR TOYOTA SERVICE DEPARTMENT; BUT WHILE THE WARNING LIGHTS WERE STILL ON, THE HEADLIGHTS WERE NOW AIMED NORMALLY. PRIOR TO THIS SERVICE VISIT, AN INTERNET SEARCH REVEALED THAT A NUMBER OF 2004-2005 PRIUSES HAVE EXPERIENCED A PROBLEM WITH THE SENSOR IN THE REAR OF THE CAR, IN THE VICINITY OF THE LEFT REAR TIRE WELL, THAT MEASURES THE LOAD ON THE REAR END AND ADJUSTS THE HEADLIGHTS ACCORDINGLY. TOYOTA HAS PUBLISHED A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN ON THE PROBLEM. IT APPEARS THAT IN A NUMBER OF PRIUSES, THE SENSOR IS DEFECTIVE, BUT THE PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT AND DIFFICULT TO DETECT. I SHARED WITH THE DEALER WHAT I KNEW ABOUT THE PROBLEM, E-MAILED (AT THEIR REQUEST) THE TSB, AND ASKED THAT EVEN THOUGH OUR CAR WAS RECENTLY OUT OF WARRANTY, SINCE IT HAD ONLY 25,000 MILES ON IT AND THE PROBLEM WAS CLEARLY A SYSTEMATIC MANUFACTURING DEFECT AS WELL AS A POTENTIAL SAFETY HAZARD, THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD REMEDY THE PROBLEM AT NO CHARGE. DURING MY DISCUSSION WITH THE SERVICE ADVISER, HE ADMITTED THAT WHILE NO FAULT CODE COULD BE DETECTED, THE ONLY POSSIBLE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM HAD TO BE THE SENSOR. THE SERVICE ADVISOR SAID THERE WAS NO WAY TOYOTA WOULD COVER THE REPAIR; THAT ALREADY IN THE PAST MONTH, 15 OF THESE UNITS HAD TO BE REPLACED IN THE REGION AND NONE OF THEM HAD BEEN COVERED BY WARRANTY. HOWEVER, THE SERVICE ADVISOR INDICATED THE DEALERSHIP ITSELF WOULD COVER THE PART ($470) IF I AGREED TO PAY FOR THE INSTALLATION ($200). I DID SO AND THE PROBLEM HAS NOW BEEN REMEDIED. *TR
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Complaint 10246818 Documents
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CRASH: No
WAS VEHICLE INVOLVED IN A CRASH
FIRE: No
WAS VEHICLE INVOLVED IN A FIRE
INJURIES: 0
NUMBER OF PERSONS INJURED
DEATHS: 0
NUMBER OF FATALITIES
Was Medical Attention Required: No
Was Incident Reported To Police: No
Date Of Incident: 2008-09-07
(YYYY-MM-DD)
Date Added To File: 2008-10-27
(YYYY-MM-DD)
Date Complaint Received By NHTSA: 2008-10-27
(YYYY-MM-DD)
Date Purchased:
(YYYY-MM-DD)
Was Original Owner: No
Product Type: Vehicle
V = Vehicle T = Tires E = Equipment C = Child Restraint
Specific Component's Description: EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Anti-Lock Brakes: No
Cruise Control: No
Number Of Cylinders:
Drive Train Type:
[AWD, 4WD, FWD, RWD]
Fuel System:
FI = Fuel Injection TB = Turbo
Fuel Type:
BF = BiFuel CN = CNG/LPG DS = Diesel GS = Gas HR = HybridElectric
Vehicle Transmission Type [Auto, Man]:
(DOT) Department Of Transportation Tire Identifier:
Tire Size:
Location Of Tire:
FSW = Driver Side Front DSR = Driver Side Rear FTR = Passenger Side Front PSR = Passenger Side Rear SPR = Spare
Type Of Tire Failure:
BST = Blister BLW = Blowout TTL = Crack OFR = Out Of Round TSW = Puncture TTR = Road Hazard TSP = Tread Separation
Was Defective Tire Repaired:
Was Part Original Equipment:
Date Of Manufacture:
(YYYYMMDD)
Type Of Child Seat:
B = Booster C = Convertible I = Infant IN = Integrated TD = Toddler
Installation System:
A = Vehicle Safety Belt B = Latch System
Dealer's Name:
Dealer's Telephone Number:
Dealer's City:
Dealer's State:
Dealer's Zipcode:
SOURCE OF COMPLAINT CODE:
CAG = Consumer Action Group CON = Forwarded From A Congressional Office DP = Defect Petition,result Of A Defect Petition EVOQ = Hotline VOQ EWR = EARLY WARNING REPORTING INS = Insurance Company IVOQ = NHTSA Web Site LETR = Consumer Letter MAVQ = NHTSA Mobile APP MIVQ = NHTSA Mobile APP MVOQ = Optical Marked VOQ RC = Recall Complaint, Result Of A Recall Investigation RP = Recall Petition, Result Of A Recall Petition SVOQ = Portable Safety Complaint Form (PDF) VOQ = NHTSA Vehicle Owners Questionnaire
Incident State Code:
Vehicle Operator's Name:
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