2005 Toyota Prius VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.
Complaint Timeline
Chronological view of owner reports
2005 TOYOTA PRIUS. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED AS SHE PULLED INTO PARKING SPACE, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED OUT OF HER CONTROL AND CRASHED INTO A STONE WALL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. THE CONSUMER STATED SHE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. AS SHE BACKED INTO A PARKING SPACE, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED IN REVERSE, OUT OF HER CONTROL. CONSEQUENTLY, SHE JOT A GARAGE DOOR. *JB
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE PARKING, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY. THE BRAKES WERE ENGAGED, BUT FAILED TO STOP THE VEHICLE. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A PARKED VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND NO DAMAGES AND IT WAS UNKNOWN IF A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE COMPUTER IN THE VEHICLE CAUSED THE UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 09V388000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000. UPDATED 5/18/15*CN
WHEN RUN CAR TO LONG DISTANCE AND STOP, THE CAR ACCELERATE THE MOTOR TO HIGH REVOLUTIONS AND NEED PRESS THE BRAKES. THE DEALER TELL ME PAID FOR EVALUATION, BUT THE CAR NOT HAVE INDICATOR LIGHT FOR PROBLEMS. THAT'S IS A SAFETY CONCERNS. PLEASE NEED HELP. I THINKING THE PROBLEM IS THE COMPUTER. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED FORWARD AND CRASHED INTO TWO VEHICLES AND A WALL. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DESTROYED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
2005 TOYOTA PRIUS. CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE JOLTED AND SPRINTED FORWARD ON ITS OWN WHILE ENTERING A PARKING LOT *TGW
IN DECEMBER 2010, 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS WAS TAKEN TO DEALER FOR PEDAL MODIFICATION AS PART OF THE FLOOR MAT ACCELERATOR PEDAL ENTRAPMENT RECALL. THE DEALER DID NOT EXPLAIN THAT PEDAL WAS ACTUALLY BEING SHORTENED BY CUTTING OFF 1/4 INCH AT THE BOTTOM. AFTER THE RECALL MODIFICATION WAS COMPLETED, ACCELERATOR PEDAL BECAME STUCK ON AFTER-MARKET FLOOR MAT THAT HAD BEEN IN PLACE IN THE VEHICLE SINCE DECEMBER 2005. DEALER DID NOT MENTION THIS POSSIBILITY AT THE TIME OF THE RECALL FIX. (PRIOR TO MODIFICATION, VEHICLE OWNER HAD CHECKED TO MAKE SURE THAT FLOOR MAT WAS PROPERLY ANCHORED AND THAT THERE WAS NO WAY FOR ACCELERATOR TO BECOME TRAPPED.) IN THIS CASE, THE MODIFICATION INTENDED TO PREVENT FLOOR MAT ENTRAPMENT ACTUALLY CAUSED THE PEDAL TO BECOME STUCK. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH AND TRYING TO DECELERATE THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT COME TO A STOP. SHE CRASHED INTO THE REAR END OF A VEHICLE DUE TO THE FAILURE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. NO ONE WAS INJURED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE POLICE WERE CALLED, BUT DID NOT ARRIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND SHE HAD NOT RECEIVED A CALL FROM THE MECHANIC. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 36,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH ON A PAVED AND GRASSY SURFACE WITH HIS FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD AND CRASHED INTO A TREE DESTROYING THE VEHICLE. THE POLICE ARRIVED TO THE SCENE AND 3 INJURIES WERE REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT BODY SHOP BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 65,000.
I NOTICED VERY SOON AFTER I BOUGHT MY TOYOTA PRIUS THERE WAS A LITTLE SERGE WHILE IN PARK AS WELL AS WHILE IN DRIVE. THE SURGE WOULD ACTUALLY MAKE THE CAR JUMP FORWARD A LITTLE BUT I JUST WROTE IT OFF AS A STRONG LITTLE CAR AND DIDN'T CONSIDER THAT IT COULD BE DANGEROUS. I STILL OWN THE CAR BUT DON'T DRIVE IT ANYMORE. NOW I AM VERY WORRIED FOR THE PEOPLE WHO DO DRIVE THE CAR. I HAVE NOT BEEN NOTIFIED ABOUT ANY RECALLS. JUST A NOTICE OF TWO THAT THEY MIGHT WANT TO CHANGE TO FLOOR MAT AND THEY WOULD LET ME KNOW, BUT THAT DAY NEVER CAME. MY MATS WERE NOT HITTING MY PEDAL WHEN I FELT THE CAR LUNGE WHILE IN PARK! *TR
2005 TOYOTA PRIUS. S10 APPROPRIATE HANDLING- LETTER FROM REGARDING TOYOTA PROBLEMS *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED AS SHE SLOWED DOWN TO MAKE A TURN IN HER GATED HER COMMUNITY, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND CRASHED INTO THE BRICK COLUMN WHICH SUPPORTED THE GATE. SHE SUFFERED A SEVERE INJURY TO HER BOTTOM LIP WHEN HER FACE HIT THE STEERING WHEEL, AS WELL AS CONTUSIONS TO HER LEG AND OTHER BRUISING. THE CONSUMER STATED SHE HAD NO MORE PROBLEMS UNTIL NOVEMBER 16, 2009. AS SHE SLOWED DOWN AND PULLED INTO A PARKING SPACE, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND HIT A WALL. SHE RECEIVED SOME BRUISING FROM THE SEAT BELT HOLDING HER INTO PLACE. TWO WEEKS LATER, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AGAIN AND CRASHED INTO A BRICK WALL. THE CONSUMER HAS SINCE TRADED THE VEHICLE. *JB
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 60 MPH AND AS SHE ACCELERATED TO PASS ANOTHER VEHICLE, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY. THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL BUT THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. SHE SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL AND DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL UNTIL THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO DECREASE IN SPEED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACTS RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED OR REPAIRED FOR THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 96,000.
ON 11/24/09 I WAS PARKED IN A SAN FRANCISCO SHOPPING MALL PARKING LOT AND STARTED MY VEHICLE, PUT IT REVERSE, RELEASED THE BRAKE AND IT, IMMEDIATELY, ACCELERATED OUT OF THE ANGLED PARKING SPACE, ACROSS THE ONE-WAY SINGLE LANE AND CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF A CAR SIMILARLY PARKED ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE TRAFFIC LANE. I FRANTICALLY HIT BRAKES BUT THE CAR DID NOT STOP AND, IN FACT, SEEMED TO SPEED UP. I AM ABSOLUTELY CONVINCED THAT THE CAUSE OF THE ACCIDENT WAS A FAULT IN THE ACCELERATOR MECHANISM. I, AT FIRST,THOUGHT IT WAS MY FAULT AND SAID SO TO MY INSURANCE COMPANY WITHIN AN HOUR OF THE ACCIDENT. BUT ON REFLECTION, I DECIDED IT WAS THE CAR ITSELF AND THE FOLLOWING DAY I CALLED MY INSURANCE COMPANY AND TOLD THEM THAT IT WAS A FAULT WITH THE CAR THAT WAS THE CAUSE. I HAVE TRIED TO CONTACT TOYOTA CORP. NUMEROUS TIMES BY EMAIL AND HAVE NOT BEEN SUCCESSFUL. FINALLY I CONTACTED THE LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER WHO WAS GOOD ENOUGH TO RELAY MY EMAIL TO TOYOTA CORP. THE LOCAL DEALER SENT ME AN EMAIL THE FOLLOWING DAY TELLING ME THAT I HAD TO GET AN OFFICIAL CASE OPENED WITH TOYOTA,S CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE CENTER AND TO CONTACT THEM AT 1(800)331-4331 TO GET A CASE NUMBER. I HAVE BEEN PHONING THEM FOR WEEKS AND I AM NOT ABLE TO GET ANYTHING BUT A RECORDED MESSAGE. TRYING THE LOCAL DEALER AGAIN, HE CALLED DIRECT AND ASKED THEM TO CALL ME BUT THEY TOLD HIM THAT THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO DO SO BECAUSE OF THEIR LONG WAITING LIST. SO I AM NOW TRYING THE NHTSA. *TR
MY TOYOTA PRIUS (2005) GAS PEDAL STUCK. I WAS TAKING MY WIFE TO THE HOSPITAL WITH A HEART ATTACK.WE WERE GOING DOWN A RAMP AND IT STUCK WIDE OPEN. I KEPT PUSHING THE START BUTTTON AND IT QUIT. I CALLED THE TOYOTA DEALER AND HE TOLD ME TO REMOVE MY FLOOR MATS. I DO NOT THINK MY FLOOR MAT HAD ANYTHING TO DO WITH IT. IT HAS NOT STUCK SINCE. *TR
I DROVE A 2005 PRIUS AND WAS BEHIND A SEMI-TRAILER. WHEN I ACCELERATED TO GO, THE CAR LUNGED FORWARD CRUSHING INTO THE SEMI'S TRAILER. I DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH TIME TO REACT BECAUSE OF THE CLOSE DISTANCE, HOWEVER THE BRAKES WERE NOT STRONG ENOUGH TO OVERCOME THE ACCELERATION POWER. THE PRIUS RAN INTO THE SEMI FOR A GOOD 25 SECONDS WHILE I TRIED TO BRAKE AND I THEN PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL AND TURNED OFF THE CAR. THERE WERE 3 OTHER PASSENGERS INSIDE THE CAR DURING THE INCIDENT. *TR
ABOUT 1-2 TIMES PER MONTH, I'VE NOTICED WHAT FEELS LIKE A VERY SMALL MOMENTARY ACCELERATION WHILE BRAKING, IF I HIT A BUMP/POTHOLE AT THE SAME TIME. I'VE ONLY NOTICED THE ISSUE WITHIN THE LAST YEAR, SINCE TRANSFERRING AND USING A DIFFERENT ROUTE TO GET TO/FROM WORK. *TR
I PULLED INTO A PARKING PLACE.I NOTICED MY CAR WAS NOT STRAIGHT AND I STARTED TO RELEASE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STRAIGHTEN IT. THOUGH I STILL HAD MY FOOT ON THE EMERGENCY BRAKE AND HAD NOT STARTED TO ACCELERATE, THE CAR LUNGED FORWARD. I SLAMMED DOWN ON THE EMERGENCY BRAKE AND THE REGULAR BRAKE; AT SOME POINT I REMEMBER THAT MY LEFT FOOT WAS ON THE REGULAR BRAKE PUSHING WITH ALL MY MIGHT. WITHOUT HESITATION MY CAR SMASHED INTO THE CAR PARKED AHEAD OF ME. MY CAR KNOCKED THE OTHER CAR INTO THE STOP SIGN AHEAD OF IT, THEN EXPLODED INTO THE INTERSECTION AND CONTINUED A SHORT WAY DOWN THE BLOCK BEFORE SLOWING DOWN. I WAITED FOR TRAFFIC AND THEN TURNED AROUND. I CAME BACK AND PARKED ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE STREET FACING THE OTHER WAY. I CROSSED THE STREET TO THE SCENE OF THE ACCIDENT AND TOLD THE PARKING METER LADY THAT I HAD HIT THE OTHER CAR. I WAS VERY SHAKEN. THE DRIVER OF THE OTHER CAR HAD JUST ARRIVED WITH HIS FARMER'S MARKET BAGS. HE SAID HE WOULD TAKE PICTURES SO I WENT BACK TO MY CAR TO GET MY CAMERA TO TAKE PICTURES TOO. I NOTICED THAT IT WAS MY RIGHT FRONT BUMPER THAT HAD HIT THE OTHER CAR'S LEFT BACK BUMPER BECAUSE, TRYING TO AVOID HITTING THE OTHER CAR, I HAD TURNED TOWARD THE STREET. I TOOK PICTURES OF HIS CAR. THE OFFICER ARRIVED (CALLED BY THE METER PERSON) AND I GAVE MY REPORT. THE OFFICER ASKED ME IF I COULD DRIVE MY CAR HOME. I SAID I WASN'T SURE, I WOULD CALL THE INSURANCE COMPANY. IN ANY CASE I WOULD NOT TRY TO DRIVE RIGHT AWAY AS I WAS TOO SHAKEN. THE OTHER DRIVER DROVE AWAY. WHEN THE OFFICER LEFT, I SAT IN MY CAR PASSENGER SIDE WITH MY FEET ON THE SIDEWALK STILL IN SHOCK. I WAS AFRAID OF DRIVING THE CAR. I CALLED MY SON TO COME TO GET ME. I CALLED THE INSURANCE COMPANY AND FOLLOWED THEIR DIRECTIONS. INTENT ON STOPPING THE CAR, I HAD BRAKED AS HARD AS I COULD WITH MY LEFT FOOT. WHEN WAITING TO TURN THE CAR AROUND I SAW THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS ON. *TR
I PREVIOUSLY REPORTED THIS PROBLEM UNDER ODI # 10304339. I INCORRECTLY REPORTED THAT "I FELT A BIG THUMP LIKE I WAS HIT FROM BEHIND". HOWEVER, I NOW BELIEVE THAT THIS ACTIVITY COULD HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY "THE SUDDEN ACCELERATION" THAT HAS BEEN FREQUENTLY MENTIONED BY THE MEDIA. ALTHOUGH WHAT I FELT SEEMED LIKE A HIT FROM BEHIND, IT COULD HAVE BEEN A SHORT ACCELERATION BURST LASTING ONLY A COUPLE OF SECONDS. THERE HAVE NOT BEEN ANY FURTHER INCIDENCES OF THIS NATURE. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH MINIMAL PRESSURE WAS APPLIED TO THE BRAKE PEDAL WHICH SUDDENLY TRAVELED TO THE FLOOR AND REMAINED IN A STUCK POSITION. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL AND WAS UNABLE TO PROVIDE FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED WHEN THE COMPLAINT WAS FILED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 28,800.
2005 PRIUS - INTERMITTENT ACCELERATION PROBLEM. ON FIVE OCCASIONS, BUT NONE IN THE LAST YEAR, WHEN WANTING TO SLOW DOWN BY TAKING FOOT OFF ACCELERATOR TO STEP ON BRAKE, THE CAR ACCELERATED BRIEFLY, FOR LESS THAN HALF A SECOND. BUT THE BRAKE WORKED NORMALLY AND THERE WAS NO PROBLEM STOPPING. DATE GIVEN IS APPROXIMATE FOR LAST TIME IT HAPPENED. *TR
OUR SON WAS KILLED ON OCT 22ND IN A SINGLE CAR CRASH WHILE DRIVING A 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS( THE POLICE REPORT STATES THAT HE LOST CONTROL, JUMPED THE CURB AND DIED IN THE ENSUING CRASH) WHILE NEGOTIATING A CURVE WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ENTER THE FREEWAY IN TUCSON AZ. WE STRONGLY BELIEVE THAT THIS MAY HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY SUDDEN ACCELERATION AND OR BRAKE PROBLEMS. I KNOW THIS IS AN OLDER MODEL, BUT IN LIGHT OF TOYOTA'S LIES AND COVER-UPS TIME WILL ONLY TELL. UPDATED 02/19/10 *BF *CN UPDATED 03/10/10 *BF UPDATED IVOQ 09/02/10*JB UPDATE 9/19/2011*CW
2005 TOYOTA PRIUS. CONSUMER EXPRESSES DISCONTENT WITH DEALER RESPONSE AND RECALL *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS, WHEN ACCELERATING TO PASS AND MERGE, THE BRAKE DID NOT DEACTIVATE THE CRUISE CONTROL. THE CONSUMER STATED IF FELT WA THOUGH THE VEHICLE WAS ACCELERATING ON ITS OWN. THE CONSUMER STATED HE DID RECEIVE A RECALL NOTICE IN THE MAIL REGARDING AN ACCELERATOR PROBLEM. *JB
I OWN A 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES ON A SURFACE WITH A POT HOLE OR DEEP INDENTATION, THE CAR SPEEDS UP AND GIVES THE FEELING THAT IT IS NOT GOING TO STOP IN TIME. I TRY TO LEAVE A GREATER STOPPING DISTANCE BUT THEN NEVER KNOW WHEN THIS TYPE OF SURFACE WILL SUDDENLY APPEAR AND RAISE THE POSSIBILITY OF A CRASH. THIS IS NOT A ONE-TIME OCCURRENCE. OTHER THAN, "IT'S NOT ON THE RECALL LIST" TOYOTA NEVER HAS ANY COMMENT ON THIS CONCERN. *TR
UNEXPECTED ACCELERATION OCCURRED TWICE IN MY TOYOTA PRIUS 2005 CAR. BOTH TIMES I WAS IN THE DRIVEWAY GOING SLOWLY INTO THE GARAGE AND STOPPED THE VEHICLE BY SLAMMING ON THE BRAKES. NO DAMAGE OCCURRED. THIS WAS WHEN IT WAS FAIRLY NEW AND I DID NOT REPORT IT THINKING I HAD DONE SOMETHING WRONG. NOW THAT ALL THE NEWS HAS COME OUT ABOUT THESE PROBLEMS I REALIZE IT WASN'T ME. *TR
I HAVE 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS THAT WAS BOUGHT ON DEC 2004. WHILE DRIVING TO MY WORK ON JUNE 30TH 2009, MY PRIUS CAR SPEED REDUCED SLOWLY FROM 45MPH AND DID NOT GO FASTER THAN 30 MPH ON RTE 28 NORTH FROM MANASSAS,VA TO CENTERVILLE VA. SINCE I CANNOT DRIVE MORE THAN 20 MILES PER HOUR, I PARKED THE CAR ON LOCAL ROADS AND ASKED AAA TO TOW MY VEHICLE TO OURISMAN TOYOTA DEALER, CHANTILLY. DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM AND GAVE CAR BACK. I BELIEVE, THIS IS DUE TO COMPUTER SYSTEM FAILURE. BUT DEALER COULD NOT IDENTIFY. IT HAPPENED ONLY ONE TIME FROM DEC 2004 SO FOR. BUT I AM SCARED OF DRIVING THE CAR TO LONG TRAVEL AND USING ONLY FOR LOCAL DRIVE. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS. IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED ON IT LUNGED FORWARD WHILE HIS FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. WHEN HE APPLIED PRESSURE TO THE BRAKES AGAIN IT STOPPED ACCELERATING AND BEGAN TO PERFORM NORMALLY. THE FAILURE HAS OCCURRED FOUR ADDITIONAL TIMES. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY STATED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED AND NO REPAIRS WERE MADE TO THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 28000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 34000.
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Quick Summary
The 2005 Toyota Prius has 68 VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL complaints on file. 26 crashes have been reported. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.