Worst 2005 Toyota Prius Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
Headlight/Taillight Failures
Electrical Faults
Hydraulic Brakes
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All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2005 Toyota Prius.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Headlight/Taillight Failures | 316 | 2 | — | 117,939 mi | |
| Electrical Faults | 161 | 3 | 2 | 103,724 mi | |
| Hydraulic Brakes | 98 | 15 | — | 50,897 mi | |
| Unintended Acceleration | 98 | 29 | 1 | 63,347 mi | |
| Brakes | 82 | 4 | — | 283,035 mi | |
| Service Brakes, Electric | 68 | 10 | — | 49,854 mi | |
| Engine & Cooling | 38 | 1 | 1 | 44,479 mi | |
| Airbags | 36 | 21 | — | 98,791 mi | |
| Steering Defects | 36 | 2 | — | 88,552 mi | |
| Transmission / Drivetrain | 29 | 3 | — | 100,053 mi | |
| Exterior Lighting:Headlights | 27 | — | — | 80,441 mi | |
| Traction Control System | 19 | — | — | 53,044 mi | |
| Electronic Stability Control | 18 | 1 | — | 70,964 mi | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip:Control Unit/Module | 17 | 2 | — | 39,907 mi | |
| Engine Problems | 15 | 1 | — | 141,392 mi | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 13 | 1 | — | 29,263 mi | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 11 | — | — | 42,430 mi | |
| Fuel System | 10 | — | — | 112,176 mi | |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 8 | 8 | — | 62,812 mi | |
| Instrument Cluster | 7 | — | — | 109,295 mi | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System | 7 | — | — | 56,504 mi | |
| Gasoline Fuel System | 7 | — | — | 76,813 mi | |
| Seat Belt Issues | 7 | 6 | — | 47,487 mi | |
| Tire Defects | 7 | — | — | 47,500 mi | |
| Vehicle Speed Control:Accelerator Pedal | 7 | 3 | — | 15,510 mi | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 6 | — | — | 16,725 mi | |
| Automatic Transmission | 6 | 1 | — | 33,079 mi | |
| Visibility | 6 | — | — | 64,949 mi | |
| Body Structure | 5 | 3 | — | 95,611 mi |
Search Owner Complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2005 Toyota Prius. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
Recalls for 2005 Toyota Prius
3 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting ~1,173,785 vehicles.
Toyota is recalling certain model year 2004-2009 Prius vehicles manufactured August 6, 2003, through March 30, 2009 and FCHV-adv vehicles manufactured December 12, 2008, through September 13, 2011. During manufacturing, a scratch may have occurred inside of the electrically driven water pump at the coil wire. The coil wire may corrode at the scratched portion.
Toyota is recalling certain model year 2004-2009 Prius vehicles manufactured August 5, 2003, through March 30, 2009. The affected vehicles have a steering intermediate extension shaft assembly built with metal splines that complete the connection from the steering wheel to the steering gear. These splines may have been manufactured with an insufficient hardness.
SOUTHEAST TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2005-2011 PASSENGER VEHICLES FOR FAILING TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 110, "TIRE SELECTION AND RIMS." THESE VEHICLES WERE SOLD WITHOUT THE REQUISITE LOAD CARRYING CAPACITY MODIFICATION LABELS.
Other Toyota Prius Years
2005 Toyota Prius — FAQ
Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.
Is the 2005 Toyota Prius reliable?
What are common problems with the 2005 Toyota Prius?
At what mileage do problems start on the 2005 Toyota Prius?
How safe is the 2005 Toyota Prius?
Does the 2005 Toyota Prius have any recalls?
Should I buy a 2005 Toyota Prius?
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.
Wider context: See the full Toyota Prius reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.
Check Your Specific 2005 Toyota Prius
Real owner complaints tell you about the model. The VIN tells you about your specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud.
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