2014 Toyota Prius Electrical System
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
SOMETIMES THE CAR NOTHING IN THE CAR WILL LIGHT UP NOR WILL IT START. WE REPLACED THE BATTERY IN THE REAR. WE REPLACED THE FOB BATTERY. SOMETIMES WE OPEN THE DRIVER'S DOOR AND SHUT IT AND IT WILL MAKE THE DASH LIGHTS GO ON AND THE CAR WILL THEN STAT WHEN THE START BUTTON IS PUSHED. THE CAR REMAINS DEAD SOMETIMES NO MATTER HOW MANY TIMES YOU OPEN AND CLOSE THE DRIVERS DOOR. COME BACK 15 MINUTES LATER AND THE LITTLE RED CAR LIGHT ON THE DASH IS BLINKING AND THE CAR THEN WILL START WHEN START BUTTON IS PUSHED. OTHER TIMES THE LITLE RED CAR LIGHT ON THE RIGHTSIDE BOTTOM OF THE DASH LIGHTS REMAINS OFF AND CAR REMAINS DEAD.
THE DRIVER DOOR AND PASSENGER DOOR LOCKS ONLY WORK SOMETIMES AND IT SEEMS TO BE A ELECTRICAL ISSUE BECAUSE I HAVE NOTICED OTHER ODD THINGS WITH THE ELECTRICAL IN THE CAR
CAR BATTERY CEASED FUNCTION FOLLOWING HEAT WAVE - REQUIRED SECONDARY BATTERY REPLACEMENT. VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY AFTER SHORT DRIVE (1 MILE) FOLLOWING 24 HOUR NON OPERATION DURING HIGH HEAT (100+). ATTEMPTED TO TURN CAR ON AND ENGINE WOULD NOT START. REQUIRED A TOW AND FULL BATTERY REPLACEMENT.
ALL FOUR DOOR LOCK ACTUATORS HAVE FAILED ON MY 2014 VEHICLE. TOYOTA DENIES ANY KNOWLEDGE OF THIS AS A COMMON PROBLEM, BUT THE INTERNET SHOWS THAT IT IS A PROBLEM AFTER ONLY 3 OR 4 YEARS OF PURCHASE OF A BRAND NEW VEHICLE. REPAIR COSTS ARE VERY HIGH FOR EACH DOOR FOR THIS PROBLEM. THERE IS ONLY ONE DOOR WITH KEY ENTRY.
ELECTRIC BURNING SMELL EMANATING FROM FRONT OF CAR SMELL COMING QUESTIONABLY THROUGH AIR DUCTS WHICH COMES/GOES AND IS NOTED UPON STARTING CAR AND FOR FIVE MINUTES DURATION AFTER START. INCREASE INCIDENCE OF BURNING SMELL ON DAYS WHEN AMBIENT AIR TEMPERATURE IS 90 OR HIGHER. I WONDER IF I AM INHALING TOXIC FUMES . WILL CONSIDER REPORT OF PROBLEM TO THE EPA. CHECKED BY POHANKA TOYOTA IN EARLY SUMMER "COULD NOT DUPLICATE SMELL PROBLEM" NO FOLLOW-UP. REPORT MADE TO TOYOTA MOTORS PER EMAIL AND TO REPRESENTATIVE AS WELL AT TOYOTA. STATED " WE WILL REPORT YOUR ISSUE TO THE ADMINISTRATION; "NO RECOMMENDED FOLLOW-UP. INTERNET SEARCH INDICATES THERE ARE SEVERAL MODELS OF TOYOTAS WITH SIMILAR COMPLAINTS. IT IS ABOUT TIME THERE WOULD BE A RECALL AND SOMETHING DONE ABOUT THIS BLOCK BELOW ASKING WHEN DID THIS HAPPEN IS FORCED CHOICE FOR DATE(SO NOT ACCURATE REFLECTION OF THE PROBLEM); THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING ON/OFF SINCE MAY 2017 S. I DID INFORM THE TOYOTA REP BY PHONE THAT I WOULD FILE A COMPLAINT WITH MY STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE AND THE BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU.
RODENTS CHEWED ELECTRICAL WIRING MAKING THE VEHICLE UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE ELECTRONIC SENSORS WERE RENDERED INOPERABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN MY GARAGE FOR THE WEEK END. NEVER HAD THIS PROBLEM WITH MY OTHER VEHICLES PARKED IN SAME GARAGE! REPAIR COST,NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY WAS $ 1100.00.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WIRE HARNESS WIRING WAS BEING DAMAGED BY ANIMALS BITING THE WIRING. THE VEHICLE WAS KEPT AT THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING FOR OVER A MONTH, BUT IT WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND PROVIDED NO REMEDY. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 7,000.
DRIVING HOME (APPROXIMATELY 100 MILE JOURNEY) - THE "CHECK HYBRID SYSTEM" LIGHT CAME ON AND CAR WARNINGS INDICATED NEEDED TO STOP DRIVING AND HAVE CAR TAKEN TO SERVICE IMMEDIATELY. HAD CAR TAKEN TO DEALER FOR "WARRANTY" SERVICE - WAS TOLD A RODENT HAD EATEN THE HIGH VOLTAGE WIRING INSULATION - NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY. HAVE HAD NO EVIDENCE OF RODENT ACTIVITY AT OUR LOCATION, AND OTHER VEHICLES PARKED HERE HAVE NOT HAD ANY PROBLEMS. BEING TOLD $2700 REPAIR NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY THAT I NEED TO CLAIM ON MY CAR COMPREHENSIVE COVERAGE. CONCERNED THAT IF IT IS RODENT DAMAGE, IS IT DUE TO MATERIALS USED THAT ARE ATTRACTIVE TO RODENTS (WOULDN'T THIS BE A PROBLEM FOR ALL PRIUS OWNERS), ESPECIALLY IN AREAS THAT HAVE MORE OF A VISIBLE SMALL RODENT POPULATION? ALSO, DON'T KNOW HOW TO PROVE IT WAS MANUFACTURER OR DESIGN DEFECT - ASKING DEALER TO DOCUMENT HOW THEY CAME TO BELIEVE IT IS A RODENT PROBLEM.
WE FLEW TO SEA TAC (SEATTLE WA ) AIRPORT FROM SLC UT. WE PLANNED ON ATTENDING A FAMILY GATHERING AND RENTED A CAR FROM HERTZ. WE HAVE OWNED A 2006 PRIUS AND ASKED IF THEY MIGHT HAVE A NEW MODEL TO RENT FOR COMPARISON ON OUR PART, WHICH THEY DID, HOWEVER IT TURNED OUT TO BE A PRIUS C, WHICH WAS NOT AT ALL LIKE OUR PRIUS. THE TRAFFIC ON THE FREEWAY WAS STOP AND GO SLOW ON A MULTI LANE FREEWAY AND WERE ON AN INNER LANE. ( I - 405 NORTH BOUND ) AS I ROLLED UP TO WHAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN A STOPPING SITUATION THE TRAFFIC STARTED TO MOVE FORWARD, AND AS I STEPPED ON THE PEDAL TO MOVE FORWARD, I NOTICED THAT NOTHING WAS HAPPENING AND THE CAR SOON CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE CAR WAS ABSENT AND VISIBLE POWER, NO VISUAL INFORMATION ON THE MPH SCREEN, THE EMERGENCY LIGHT WOULD NOT WORK, I WAS NERVOUS AND SCARED AND EVERYTHING HAD GONE DARK, I DID NOT WHAT TO DO, I TRIED TO MOVE THE KEY POSITION THE CARS BEHIND ME STARTED TO HONK, AND THEY WERE ALSO TRYING TO GET AROUND ME, JUST AS I WAS STARTING TO CALL 911 FOR SOME HELP THE CAR POWERED BACK UP WITH A MESSAGE TO PUT THE CAR IN PARK AND START THE MOTOR I MOVED OUT OF THE SITUATION AND GOT OFF THE FREEWAY AND TOOK BACKROADS TO REACH THE MOTEL, WITH THE INTENT TO NEVER DRIVE THIS CAR AGAIN, THE NEXT AM I CALLED HERTZ AND THEY MADE ARRANGEMENTS TO TRADE THE CAR OUT AT OUR MOTEL, WHICH THEY DID. THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER INDICATED THAT THE PROBLEM ON THIS SPECIFIC CAR WAS CAUSED BY ITS SOFTWARE AND HE WAS AWARE OF OTHER DRIVERS FACING THE SAME SITUATION, BUT I SHOULD COUNT MY BLESSING THAT I WAS NOT INVOLVED IN A MAJOR ACCIDENT I DO NOT THINK THIS CAR SHOULD EVER BE ALLOWED ON OUR ROADS JUST BASED ON THIS EXPERIENCE. FOR YOUR REVIEW AND VALIDATION - HERTZ RENTAL RECORD [XXX] LIC [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
THIS VEHICLE IS A LITTLE OVER 3 MONTHS OLD AND HAS HAD ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS THROUGH THIS PERIOD. WHEN PUT IN REVERSE ON OCCASION IT FREEZES AND ALL THE LIGHTS ON THE DASH GO ON AND STAY ON (INCLUDING THE YELLOW TRIANGLE) AND THE CAR DOES NOT MOVE. THE PRIUS C NEEDS TO BE SHUT DOWN EVERY TIME THIS HAPPENS AND RESTARTED TO WORK. THIS HAS HAPPENED 5 TIMES IN THE LAST 3 MONTHS SINCE PURCHASED NEW. WORSE YET, THE LAST TIME WHEN IT WAS PUT IN REVERSE (YESTERDAY) ALL THE LIGHTS FROZE ON THE DASH HOWEVER THIS TIME THE CAR LURCHED FORWARD EVEN THOUGH THE GEAR SHIFT WAS IN REVERSE AND THE DASH SAID 'R' FOR REVERSE. THE CAR WAS PURCHASED NEW FROM THE DEALER.
2014 TOYOTA PRIUS. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO PUSH START IGNITION SYSTEM. *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE BELONGS TO HIS PARENTS. HE NOTICED THE ENGINE TURNED ON BY ITSELF. HE WAS ABLE TO OPEN THE DOOR AND NOTICED THE POWER PUSH BUTTON WAS LIT WHICH INDICATED THE ENGINE WAS ON. THE SCREEN ON THE CENTER CONSOLE STATED NO KEY WAS DETECTED. HE PRESSED THE POWER BUTTON TO TURN THE ENGINE OFF. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER, IF HE WALKED AWAY FROM THE VEHICLE WITHOUT TURNING OFF THE IGNITION, THE VEHICLE WOULD STAY ON. THE ENGINE TURNED ON BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS IN BATTERY MODE TO REPLENISH THE BATTERY POWER, WHEN THE SYSTEM DETECTS THE BATTERY CHARGE HAS DROPPED BELOW A CERTAIN LEVEL. *JB
2014 TOYOTA PRIUS. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO ENGINE FAILURE. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED A BROWN COLORED ALARM APPEARED ON THE DASH, WHICH FLASHED ON THEN OFF, AS THE VEHICLE STARTED TO SLOW DOWN. IF HE TRIED TO ACCELERATE, THE LIGHT WOULD COME ON, BUT NO RESPONSE TO INCREASE SPEED. HE MANAGED TO PULL OVER, AND STOPPED THE VEHICLE. AFTER A FEW SECONDS, HE TRIED TO RE-START THE ENGINE AND WAS SUCCESSFUL. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE, THE PROBLEM THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT IT WAS DIFFICULT TO VIEW ANY OF THE GAUGES ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE. ADJUSTING THE DIMMER SWITCH DID NOT REMEDY THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER SEVERAL TIMES, BUT NO REMEDY WAS PROVIDED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200.
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Quick Summary
The 2014 Toyota Prius has 13 Electrical System complaints on file. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.