2005 Toyota Prius Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors) Problems
- Complaints
- 15about this part
- Share
- 1%of 1,051 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 74,250miles
- Trend
- StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 15 complaints about the visibility of the 2005 Toyota Prius, 1% of the 1,051 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 74,250 miles. 2 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“The 2005 Toyota Prius that I drive, has a failure of the manufactures hid headlight bulb; the bulb is intermittent and is an expensive flawed system. The Toyota dealership in huntington beach quoted me $432 for the bulb and $250 to remove the front bumper to get to the bulb to replace it!!!”
NHTSA complaint #10298550, filed 2010-01, 96,232 miles“During the recent rash of snow storms to hit the eastern mid-states I noticed that my windshield washer fluid nozzle froze up. It worked when I left home and stopped working on rt 32, md. I do not believe there is anything wrong with the windshield wiper fluid I used. I had a very difficult time seeing out of my front windshield. The back nozzle did not ice-up. I noticed that all the other cars (easily 40-50 cars) windows were clear, except one, another Prius! This has happened to me several times recently as well as in the past. …”
NHTSA complaint #10564494, filed 2014-02, 186,000 miles“I have a 2005 Toyota Prius and the lights go off while I am driving. If I turn off the lights completely they will come back on. The dealer does not know what to do in fixing it. The lights go off in the middle of driving at night. This is a safety hazard that needs to be addressed. This incident happens day to day. I have been stopped by the police several times not knowing that the lights have gone out. There needs to be a recall to investigate the electrical system.”
NHTSA complaint #10330566, filed 2010-05, 95,000 miles“We were driving down a quiet rural road the temperature was 50 degrees, time 11:40pm, weather was clear and dry. There were no tree overhangs. The right front passenger window suddenly shattered in its entirety. My passenger right front was not injured. No foreign object was found within the vehicle, and none was found a day and a half later on the road. Marks on the door exterior showed some moving objects, but they indicate multiple objects falling downwards, and may be marks from the glass falling. …”
NHTSA complaint #10186185, filed 2007-03, 23,000 miles“About 3 months ago my headlights on my 2005 Prius started to go out then come back on. At first I assumed it was a headlight that needed to be replaced but when I was going to buy the headlights I was told if it was a dead headlight...it would never come back on. My warranty was about to expire. I took it into the dealer in wisconsin and they said they had fixed it. However I could see up against the wall that it was not. I told them I would not leave till they fixed it. They gave me back the car and the headlights worked for a few days then started the on off thing again. …”
NHTSA complaint #10279259, filed 2009-08, 73,500 milesRelated service bulletins
- 10131993Dec 19, 2013This bulletin is now obsolete. Please see T-SB-0185-13.
- 10131988Dec 19, 2013The following procedures are recommended during routine maintenance or in the event of a customer concern for wiper performance.
- 10132136Oct 23, 2013The appearance of spots in tempered glass (when viewed at certain angles) is the result of the heat treating and quick quenching process during manufacturing.
Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors): other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 1 | 17% |
| 2025 | 1 | 6% |
| 2024 | 1 | 4% |
| 2022 | 2 | 8% |
| 2019 | 1 | 3% |
| 2018 | 6 | 16% |
| 2017 | 17 | 19% |
| 2016 | 41 | 26% |
| 2015 | 5 | 3% |
| 2014 | 12 | 6% |
| 2013 | 8 | 2% |
| 2012 | 30 | 7% |
| 2011 | 13 | 2% |
| 2010 | 21 | 1% |
| 2009 | 2 | 0% |
| 2008 | 15 | 1% |
| 2007 | 27 | 1% |
| 2006 | 14 | 1% |
| 2005 | 15 | 1% |
| 2004 | 10 | 2% |
| 2002 | 1 | 1% |
| 2001 | 1 | 1% |
Other parts of the 2005 Toyota Prius
346 complaintsBrakes
282 complaintsElectrical system
178 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 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