2005 Toyota Prius Electrical system Problems
- Complaints
- 178about this part
- Share
- 17%of 1,051 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 100,000miles
- Trend
- RisingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% higher than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 178 complaints about the electrical system of the 2005 Toyota Prius, 17% of the 1,051 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 100,000 miles. 4 of these say a crash was involved and 3 a fire, according to the filers.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“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”
NHTSA complaint #11280513, filed 2019-11, 100,000 miles“The dashboard lighting system quit turning on in july 2019. I could not tell how fast or how slow I was driving. The anti lock brake system light turned on while the car was running on sep 23 2019 and the brakes failed to operate while on the road outside my house”
NHTSA complaint #11258444, filed 2019-09, 220,000 miles“Digital dashboard sometimes is completely blank for extended periods so that I can't see my speed, fuel levels, odometer, and other info. When I start up it happens and continues the whole time I am driving. It is causing other problems related to the hydrolic braking sometimes as well when this happens.”
NHTSA complaint #10820021, filed 2016-01, 211,000 miles“Since about the fall of last year or so, we've been noticing that the headlights have been going off intermittently. The right went out and then came back on. Then another time the left went out and came back on. I've read about this occurring on many other Prius' and that there was a class action suit? Anyway, I need to figure out how to get this fixed as it is a serious safety issue.”
NHTSA complaint #10493535, filed 2013-01, 135,000 miles“My Prius dash keeps going black, the car won't shut off . Also had it in park engine revved and started to drive away. I jumped in and it wouldn't shut off I had to rip the key out. The rear taillights go out all the time. The doors and hatch locks won't unlock half the time. I had a new battery put in but it still happens.”
NHTSA complaint #10473291, filed 2012-09, 163,000 milesRelated service bulletins
- 10238157May 30, 2023TSB: The Immobilizer and Smart Key Reset is a feature that allows the registration of new keys when all master keys are lost. Once the system is reset, all previously registered…
- 10213902May 31, 2022TSB: This bulletin includes basic procedures for performing a rescue charge on Ni-MH high voltage (HV) batteries. This bulletin should be used in conjunction with the applicable…
- 10182983Oct 12, 2020TT: Some customers may encounter Bluetooth® connectivity concerns such as: ?Difficulty to pair the phone. ?Intermittent Bluetooth® failure to connect to the vehicle when first…
- 10179764Aug 11, 2020TSB: OBSOLETE NOTICE August 11, 2020: This bulletin is no longer applicable and is now obsolete.
- 10179720Aug 11, 2020TSB: OBSOLETE NOTICE August 11, 2020: This bulletin is no longer applicable and is now obsolete.
- 10179703Aug 8, 2020TSB: OBSOLETE NOTICE August 08, 2020: This bulletin is no longer applicable and is now obsolete.
- 10179698Aug 5, 2020TSB: Some 2003 ? 2020 model year Prius, Prius C, Prius V; 2006 ? 2019 model year Highlander Hybrid Vehicle; 2007 ? 2020 Camry Hybrid Vehicle; 2013 ? 2020 model year Avalon Hybrid…
- 10179602Aug 5, 2020TSB: Some 2003 ? 2020 model year Prius, Prius C, Prius V; 2006 ? 2019 model year Highlander Hybrid Vehicle; 2007 ? 2020 Camry Hybrid Vehicle; 2013 ? 2020 model year Avalon Hybrid…
- 10177773Jun 18, 2020TSB: Some 2004 ? 2020 model year Hybrid vehicles may exhibit an excessive buildup of dust, lint, or debris in the HV battery intake filter or cooling fan. The condition could…
- 10176284May 1, 2020TT: This bulletin includes basic procedures for performing a rescue charge on Ni-MH high voltage (HV) batteries. This bulletin should be used in conjunction with the applicable…
Electrical system: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 2 | 33% |
| 2025 | 6 | 38% |
| 2024 | 4 | 15% |
| 2023 | 5 | 24% |
| 2022 | 6 | 25% |
| 2021 | 1 | 17% |
| 2020 | 2 | 14% |
| 2019 | 4 | 13% |
| 2018 | 2 | 5% |
| 2017 | 11 | 12% |
| 2016 | 20 | 13% |
| 2015 | 27 | 16% |
| 2014 | 33 | 16% |
| 2013 | 52 | 13% |
| 2012 | 52 | 12% |
| 2011 | 68 | 13% |
| 2010 | 192 | 7% |
| 2009 | 60 | 12% |
| 2008 | 235 | 16% |
| 2007 | 248 | 12% |
| 2006 | 152 | 11% |
| 2005 | 178 | 17% |
| 2004 | 177 | 29% |
| 2003 | 13 | 13% |
| 2002 | 18 | 11% |
| 2001 | 27 | 16% |
Other parts of the 2005 Toyota Prius
346 complaintsBrakes
282 complaintsVehicle speed control
109 complaintsEngine cooling
64 complaintsOther or unknown
56 complaintsAir bags
44 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
41 complaintsSteering
39 complaintsFuel system
28 complaintsElectronic stability control
20 complaintsEngine
15 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
15 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2005 Toyota Prius
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 29, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology