2005 Toyota Prius: won't start

Filed Aug 17, 2022 · Fuel system · CA

Fuel pump malfunctioned. The vehicle stalled at low speeds while driving on an incline and gave a large red exclamation error sign on the dashboard. It stopped accelerating and came to a stop. Afterwards the engine will not start anymore. The car was towed to a garage and they found the fuel pump to be faulty.

Filed Nov 16, 2019 · Electrical, Fuel system · 100,000 miles · TX

My vehicle will not go but about 30 or 40 maybe 50 on highway after very slow exelaration I'm almost killed every time I get on the highway highway and reg streets to excearate it very very slow to start then I have to pull over and kill it start over not using het or air now it just won't start have not had it checked can't afford it

Filed Aug 8, 2016 · 65,000 miles · NM

Car will not start, I have replaced the battery, it is not a battery issue. If you slam the car door, or hood of car, the car may start. The horn will work, witch indicates it is not the battery. May sometimes start with a jump start. This usually is while the car is not in motion.

Filed Sep 4, 2014 · Electrical · 203,000 miles · NY · 2 injuries

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 and told them I removed the pack so it wouldn't start a fire in car and for the authorities to inspect battery, they started yelling at me for driving the car and removing the battery. I said this is a safety issue, it can happen to anyone. It has affected me, my child and dogs hearing as a result and negligence of toyota. I was scared and frightened by toyota's response and the call back after I yelled at the and hung up. I got a call back from them where I was threatened by a man. I thought toyota cared about customers, not to threaten them, and to tamper with evidence and hide a safety issue.

Filed Aug 30, 2013 · Lights · WA

Starting over a year ago and occurring every time needed,the headlight on the passenger side sporadically goes out. It can happen zero to multiple times during a single use of the car, sometimes up to every minute and a half while driving. Turning the headlights off and back on again cause both headlights to come back on. As far as we know, this did not start happening until after a maintenance visit and was stopped by a state patrol officer. Conversations with other prius owners, replacing the headlight does not seem to resolve this issue. At +$350 to change the headlight at the dealer, I am hesitant to spend money on something that will not resolve the issue. While we have had no other troubles with this car and love the car, this recurring issue has caused us to hesitate driving the car at night.

Filed Aug 23, 2013 · Lights · 103,000 miles · OR

Starting in approximately march and occurring daily through present day, one or both headlights sporadically go out. We started noticing this in march when driving at night. Our own tests indicate that it can happen when the car is at a complete standstill or at any speed. It can happen zero to multiple times during a single use of the car, sometimes up to every minute and a half while driving. Turning the headlights off and back on again cause both headlights to come back on. As far as we know, this did not start happening until this last march. We have had no other troubles with this car and love the car, aside from this issue. This has caused us to stop driving the car at night, which is extremely inconvenient.

Filed Feb 13, 2011 · Electrical · 50,000 miles · VA

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.

Filed Feb 17, 2010 · Electrical · 33,000 miles · CA

In march of '09 I drove my car to a local shopping center. When I returned to my car 10 minutes or so later, I tried to start the engine by pushing on the start button. The entire dashboard display lighted up, including all of the warning lights, but the car wouldn't start and I wasn't able to turn to turn off. I am not sure if the engine actually came on. I also wasn't able to put the car in gear.. At some point, all the display lights, including the gear shift box, started flashing.. After trying for about 5 minutes, I called my toyota i10 dealer in indio, ca who said he had never heard of this happening. While talking to him I kept pushing buttons and finally, I was able to turn the car off and then back on and everything worked from that point on. I was not told by the toyota technician to bring the car in and I didn't. The second time it happened on 4/3/09 the same problem happened again. The car was parked in my garage and when I went to start the car, all of the above happened again, but I believe I was able to turn off the ignition. I called aaa, they jumped my 12v battery , and I immediately drove the car to my toyota dealer. They recharged the battery and said that the battery tested high after the recharging. That battery did not have to replaced until 10/22/09. I have another complaint which may or my not be connected to this complaint,. On approximately 1/6/10 while driving my car the lights displaying my speed and fuel gauge went out. I thought it might be a blown fuse so had that checked. The fuse had not been blown. I continued to drive the car for about another week or so before calling to make an appointment with my toyota dealer for the next day. On that day, 1/20/10 I called I drive my car to do several errands, one of which was quite near the area when I first had the trouble with the car starting. In this case, as I was leaving the area, my display lights came on and I have not had any trouble with them since.

Filed Feb 4, 2010 · Engine · 49,500 miles · NJ

2005 toyota prius stalled while driving and in motion. I own a 2005 toyota prius that I had just driven on highway about 25 miles and then was on local road. The vehicle stalled without any warning and all lights came on. The car was not responsive to gas and engine was shut. So I had to pull over. The car will not start and had to be towed to the dealer. Fortunately, it was during off peak time and I was on local road. If it had been during peak time and on highway, the consequences would have been significantly different. The dealer had no technical details as to why this happened. He said it was software issue.

Filed Jun 7, 2008 · Electrical · 33,000 miles · MI

Five no starting concerns after two years of ownership.

Filed May 2, 2006 · Electrical · 23,845 miles · VA

The 2005 prius we own will not start at scattered times (after driving for some time and then stopping and turning the engine off). The screen on the dashboard panel lights up partially and not always the same on repeated tries. Other strange electrical events occur such as the automatic windows going down when the car is turned off after trying to start it unsuccessfully. The car will start at some time - up to 20 minutes after letting car sit. These events are similar to those that occurred in days prior to the march 29,2005 when the car stalled at 45 MPH on a highway in the outer banks of north carolinas and was serviced with what became a recall later for prius's. The most recent problems occurred on march 17th and may 1, 2006. We have taken the car to lustine toyota in woodbridge, va and they have tested the car and say that everything checks out ok and their is no service bulletin from toyota. They are looking at the car again today. We are concerned that the problem could continue and place us in a dangerous situation either from another stalling incident or leaving us in a dangerous place with a car that will not start.

Filed Dec 31, 2005 · Electrical · MD · crash

I have a 2005 toyota prius. I got my car 8-23-2005 and on 10-13-2005 I was hit on the passenger side while making a left hand turn. The intersections was just after a traffic circle, signs was missing, it was raining, dusk and the person who hit me did not have her lights on and was driving too fast for conditions. My car stopped, and could not be restarted. It was towed. I called my insurance company and was sent to a repair facility. After several days they got my car, but because it would not start, towed it to a toyota shop. It sat there for 10 days, until I called, then it was sent back to the repair shop. It took 6 more weeks for the car to be repaired. One delay was in getting the seat-belt, which was supposed to come with the seat, but did not. It had to be shipped from japan (I was told). After the repair was done, 9 weeks after the accident, the car would not start. It was towed to another toyota dealership. Two weeks later, I am told that a wiring harness was the problem. This has to be shipped from japan, and the expected date of arrival is 1-11-2006. Meanwhile, I have not had my car for nearly 3 months. My insurance paid for 30 days of a rental car (I waited a week to get the rental car), then I paid for another 4 weeks. I have notified toyota 2 times about this situation. I have called the dealership, where I have a "special" customer convenience card. This card only seems to be good for purchases, and not for actual assistance. I think prius owners need to know that their cars can only be repaired at a few locations, and most dealerships can not repair them properly. Additionally, I think the car has a significant blinds pot, as I am frequently surprised by other cars suddenly appearing.