2006 Toyota Prius: adaptive cruise control problems

Filed Dec 26, 2024 · Acceleration, Electrical · ID

The light up display for the odometer, fuel gauge, and speedometer does not always light up. When it is not lit, the cruise control and any warning and informative alarms/lights also do not work. This is a well-known issue among owners of these cars, related to the capacitors on the circuit board for the display being defective, and there is extensive documentation of it online. It may also have had a technical service bulletin released for the issue, but I'm not entirely sure. The light goes out intermittently and is not always consistently out. I did mention it to the service personnel when I took it in to get recalls repaired recently, and they didn't seem surprised or unaware of the issue. I did not ask them to diagnose or fix it, as I know I can get it done for a better deal elsewhere.

Filed Aug 26, 2017 · Acceleration, Electrical · 140,000 miles · AK

I believe its a glitch in the car's computer. At unpredictable and intermittent intervals the electronic heads up display does not operate. This leaves me with no speedomoeter, no fuel level indicator, no bright or dim indicator for the headlights, and the cruise control does not work. During the incidents the car also might not respond to the power off button, so it keeps running. This problem might last for a day or two and then it starts to work again.

Filed Dec 9, 2016 · 158,250 miles · FL

The temperature was in the 50s here in fl. My prius was parked in the garage overnight. The car started but the dash was black. The only indicator on the dash was for "airbags". I backed out and drove with extreme trepidation and caution to my child's school. Cruise control did not work. Only turn signals/flashers worked. The center computer screen was dim, brightness control did not affect that or the black dash. I drove with no indication of my speed, fuel amount, mileage, or systems failures/warnings! I called my independent mechanic. He said I was the 4th person to call him today with this same problem: combination meter failure! He said a cold spell triggers the failure. Then I was not able to shut the car off. He talked me through a way to shut the car off. When I returned to the car my fob would not open the door locks. I had to use the metal key from the fob to unlock the driver's door. I put the fob back together and started the car. The dash was working again, but very dim and hard to see. My mechanic advised me that I could try to reset the 12 volt battery to reset the failed meter, but that in trying to reset the battery, I would not be able to get into the hatch during a meter failure. He said the combination meter will continue to fail until it is repaired. He advised me that toyota covered this repair for 9 years, but I am in the year 10 and not covered. This is not a simple warranty issue. This is a safety issue. The car is not safe to drive with no indication of my speed, fuel amount, mileage, or systems failures/warnings and without an ability to shut the car off! This is a known, predictable failure that toyota acknowledged with an extension of the original warranty. The problem doesn't go away after 9 years. Combination meter failure renders a car unsafe and undriveable. Toyota needs to repair combination meters whenever they fail.

Filed Nov 3, 2010 · Acceleration, Electrical · 182,000 miles · NY

2006 toyota prius. Consumer states unintended acceleration *tgw the consumer stated the vehicle was on cruise control, when the engine suddenly revved. He noticed the speed had increased from 72 MPH to 74 MPH. He released the cruise control and the engine stopped revving. He then set the cruise control again, and it happened again. The consumer also stated he noticed the lcd screen had froze and it was giving false information. The consumer has since sold the vehicle.

Filed Mar 18, 2010 · Acceleration, Brakes · 80,000 miles · CA

1996 toyota prius - (3) things I have noticed when operating car. (1) when braking and going over rough pavement, car will behave as though it is hydroplaneing - the brakes not slowing the car for a brief period until car settles down. This can happen when going as slow as 5 MPH. The faster one is going when hitting the rough pavement, the farther the car will travel before braking sensation re-appears. I believe this occurs everytime I travel rough pavement (la city streets, not back country or 4 wheeling). Note that warning light on dashboard does light suggesting loss of control. I called dealer service center and described problem, they assured me that no safety warnings or recalls had been made. 2) when turning off cruise control, car will accelerate slightly for approximately 1-2 seconds. This is most noticeable when trying to exit carpool lane in heavy traffic and spacing is limited. Again called dealership and assured no safety notices or recalls. I now cover brake when turning off speed control. 3) car just eats up hid headlight (9 in 80k miles + 2 original installed) and taillight bulbs (11 + 2 originally installed). Again no safety notices or recalls. I replace them as I notice them. I have never had both headlights go out at once as described on your website. Note that other than the above issues/concerns, this car has been a great car with no service except for gas, oil changes, and replace the bulbs when they go out.

Filed Mar 11, 2010 · Acceleration · 600 miles · MI · crash · fire

Tl*the contact owns a 2006 toyota prius. When the contact first drove the vehicle, he noticed smoke emitting from the dashboard area. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where they advised him that there was nothing wrong with the vehicle and no repairs were made. On approximately twelve occasions afterward, while utilizing the cruise control mechanism, the vehicle would abnormally accelerate without warning. The acceleration would usually occur on a small decline or incline. The vehicle would downshift on its own and accelerate up to 80 or 90 MPH. He had to completely disengage the cruise control to prevent the vehicle from accelerating. He did not contact the dealer or manufacturer in regards to the vehicle accelerating. During inclement weather, he attempted to pass another vehicle at speeds of approximately 40 MPH. As the vehicle glided over wet snow and ice, the vehicle slid sideways and crashed into a nearby guardrail. The vehicle was destroyed. There were no injuries; however, a police report was filed. The current mileage was approximately 60,000 and the failure mileage was 600.

Filed Mar 9, 2010 · Acceleration · 47,000 miles · CA

Tl* the contact owns a 2006 toyota prius. While traveling at speeds of 70 MPH with the cruise control activated, the vehicle began to abnormally accelerate. The vehicle then decreased speeds far below the speed in which the cruise control was set, without driver intent. The cruise control was shut off and reset. The vehicle began to exhibit the exact same failure. The failure mileage was 47,000 and the current was 48,000.

Filed Feb 27, 2010 · Acceleration · AR

2006 prius acceleration while under cruise control in curves - several occasions.

Filed Feb 16, 2010 · Acceleration · 5,000 miles · SC

I have experienced extreme acceleration when using my cruise control on my 2006 prius. I have not determined how fast it would continue to go for safety reasons so when it has started to accelerate extremely fast, I would turn off the cruise control so as not to continue to accelerate that fast. I would turn it off as soon as I began to feel out of control with the car.

Filed Feb 9, 2010 · Acceleration · 25,000 miles · PA

1. Driving on the highway with the cruise control on. 2. We could not get the cruise control to disengage. Neither tapping the brake or the cruise control switch would turn the cruise control off. We had to slam the brakes to disengage. 3. We turned the car off and restarted it. That fixed the problem, but we have not used the cruise control since. The toyota dealer could not find anything wrong.

Filed Feb 3, 2010 · Acceleration · 50,000 miles · FL

I have a 2006 prius. Twice in 60,000 miles, when in cruise control, driving at highway speeds, and having to brake suddenly, the cruise control disengaged, as it should,. I brake, the car slows, as it should. Then the car starts to surge up to the original cruise control set speed. I am able to brake and stop it, but at highway speeds, and approaching a near emergency stop situation- this has scared me. It has only happened twice...but memorable in the surprise it even happened. I reported it to a local toyota dealer, who couldn't recreate the problem, then also called the toyota corporation customer service, which said they had no reports of that happening.

Filed Feb 3, 2010 · Acceleration · 23,000 miles · CA

Back in 2009, I experienced runaway acceleration in my 2006 toyota prius. The cruise control had been engaged for between 5 and 15 minutes. All of a sudden, the vehicle started to race. I was traveling in the 70's (MPH), and it shot up to nearly 100 before I got it under control. The dealer claimed he had no such other complaints and could not replicate my problem. I brought it back again a few months. Later because the cruise control intermittently failed to set. I brought it back a third time, again, a few mos. Later. This time, they had a fix, which was a new cruise control module. The first 2 trips were under warranty. They wanted to charge me the 3rd time because it was then beyond the 3 years of warranty. I fought this because the condition was obviously pre-existing. Yesterday, steve wozniak received television and press attention when he reported the same problem, a problem that toyota told me they had never experienced before. As far as I am concerned, this company is scamming the public. They are playing with people's lives. It's got to stop. It's more than just brake pedals and carpet; it's apparently a way of life for this company. (I no longer have the vehicle. Dates and mileage are approx.)