2005 Toyota Prius electrical system problems
Owners reported electrical system problems in 179 complaints for the 2005 Toyota Prius, 14% of the complaints on file. It is the 3rd most reported problem area for this model year.
At a glance
- Complaints
- 179 14% of this year's complaints
- Typical mileage
- 99,000 miles 154 complaints with mileage
- Crashes and fires
- 4 and 3
- Injuries and deaths
- 8 and 0
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
When electrical system problems show up
View the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 0k to 20k miles | 31 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 10 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 11 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 17 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 8 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 15 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 11 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 19 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 9 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 3 |
| 200k+ miles | 20 |
What the data shows
Of the 154 electrical system complaints that report mileage, the median is about 99,000 miles, and 34% were reported before 60,000 miles.
These complaints mention 4 crashes, 3 fires, 8 injuries.
What owners wrote
On 2/27/09, my 2005 toyota prius' brakes completely failed. I was going downhill in an highly transited urban road (rte 123 in va, close to tysons corner). Thankfully I was only going about 40MPH when the light changed to red. The 2 vehicles in front of me stopped. I pressed the brake pedal and my car accelerated initially, and then nothing. Brakes are meant to work. Always. I kept pumping the pedal hoping to engage the breaks, but they did not engage. What stopped me was the rear of a BMW x5.
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 toyota prius. The contact stated that the instrument panel failed to illuminate after the vehicle operated. The contact also stated that the reverse lights failed to illuminate. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the instrument panel unit needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 230,000.
Other problems reported for the 2005 Toyota Prius
- Lighting 349 complaints
- Brakes 285 complaints
- Cruise control 109 complaints
- Engine 73 complaints
- Air bags 45 complaints
- Steering 40 complaints
- Drivetrain & axles 31 complaints
- Fuel system 28 complaints