2005 Toyota Prius Problems, Recalls & Reliability
1,298 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 2005 Toyota Prius, alongside 6 recall campaigns and 3 defect investigations. It scores 42/100 on the trouble index — a below-average year for this model. Electrical leads the reports, typically around 101,000 miles.
Below average
Where 2005 sits among all Prius years
What owners report
“While drivin both headlight turn of intermittently while i can turn off and back on they come on to one or the other or both going back off sometimes and sometimes they work perfectly this is very dangerous as you only use headlights at night.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2005 Prius
“The abs actuator/pump has failed. Brakes lost hydraulic pressure and do not function. This happened while driving on a major city roadway. Audio alarm with warning lights for brake, abs, & vsc.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2005 Prius
“My 2005 toyota prius arbitrarily lost braking ability as i approached a ramp to enter another highway. Many lights went on including the red triangle with an exclamation point. I used the emergency brake to stop the car. I have been told that the skid control unit is broken and needs to be…”— owner report to NHTSA, 2005 Prius
“1) sudden unexpected acceleration 2) steering shaft severed 3) drivers side air bag inoperative along with all steering wheel mounted controls”— owner report to NHTSA, 2005 Prius
“2005 toyota prius, when coasting at high speeds, the engine cuts out so it is impossible to accelerate.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2005 Prius
“Air bag light started staying on though intermittent. Noticed it went away if steering wheel was turned. I just had the dealership confirm it is the clockspring.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2005 Prius
Mileage when trouble shows up
Among the 1,028 reports that include an odometer reading, problems most often appear around 81,000 miles. Half of those reports fall between 43,021 and 130,000 miles — a useful range to weigh against the mileage of the exact car you're looking at.
Recalls (6)
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…
Fix: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the extension shaft and replace it if it is one with insufficient hardness, free of charge. The recall began during December 2012. Owners may…
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…
Fix: Toyota will notify its owners, and dealers will replace the electric water pump, free of charge. The recall began on January 17, 2013. Owners may contact their Toyota dealer or the Toyota Customer…
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…
Fix: DEALERS WILL MAIL TO CONSUMERS THE CORRECTED LABEL OR THE CUSTOMER WILL HAVE THE OPTION FOR DEALERS TO INSTALL THE LABEL FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 27, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT…
TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2004-2010 PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL CAN GET STUCK IN THE WIDE OPEN POSITION DUE TO ITS BEING TRAPPED BY AN UNSECURED OR INCOMPATIBLE DRIVER'S FLOOR MAT.
Fix: TOYOTA FILED AN AMENDED DEFECT REPORT ON NOVEMBER 25, 2009, STATING THAT DEALERS WILL MODIFY THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND, ON CERTAIN VEHICLES, ALTER THE SHAPE OF THE FLOOR SURFACE UNDER THE PEDAL.…
THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT AND SLIDING YOKE IN THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING SYSTEM CAN CRACK WHEN LARGE FORCES ARE APPLIED AND THE CONNECTION MAY SEPARATE OR THE SLEEVE MAY FRACTURE.
Fix: TOYOTA WILL REPLACE THE STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT AND INSPECT THE SLIDING YOKE AND REPLACE IT IF NECESSARY. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 9, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331.
ON CERTAIN VEHICLES, DUE TO IMPROPER ASSEMBLY OF THE AIR BAG INFLATOR, WHICH IS USED IN THE SIDE AIR BAG, THE CURTAIN SHIELD AIR BAG, AND THE KNEE AIR BAG ASSEMBLY, SOME INFLATORS WERE PRODUCED WITH AN INSUFFICIENT AMOUNT OF THE HEATING AGENTS NECESSARY FOR…
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE SPECIFIC SRS AIR BAG. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 6, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-888-270-9371, SCION AT 1-866-548-1851, OR LEXUS AT 1-800-255-3987.
Federal defect investigations
Led to recall campaign 22V063000.
Technical service bulletins
222 manufacturer communications — service bulletins, the biggest share on electrical and engine — are on file for the 2005 Toyota Prius. A TSB is factory repair guidance, not a recall — the repair is not automatically free.
Complaint history for this model year
When owners filed their reports — a long tail means problems kept surfacing for years.
Questions buyers ask
Is the 2005 Toyota Prius reliable?
The 2005 Toyota Prius drew 1,298 complaints in federal safety records — a below-average year for this model. Its trouble index is 42/100, scored against the model's worst year (2010).
What are the most common 2005 Toyota Prius problems?
The top reported problems for the 2005 Toyota Prius are electrical (528 complaints), brakes & stability (219), and other (154).
At what mileage do 2005 Toyota Prius problems show up?
Owners most often report 2005 Toyota Prius problems around 81,000 miles. Half of all reports that include an odometer reading fall between 43,021 and 130,000 miles.
Does the 2005 Toyota Prius have recalls?
6 recall campaigns apply to the 2005 Toyota Prius. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer.
Every number on this page is a count of records in the federal complaint, recall, and investigation files published by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. Check any specific vehicle's open recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.