Is the 2005 Toyota Prius a bad year?
1,051 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Prius years.
Keep it
Engine and transmission complaints for the 2005 Toyota Prius are in line with other Prius years. Exterior lighting, brakes and electrical system stand out for this year: see below.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2005 Prius owners report, by mileage
Each system owners named in five or more complaints, with the mileage range where the middle half of those complaints were filed. Read at 101,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Exterior lightingSTANDS OUT | 346 (33%) | 70k–140k miles · around this mileage | — |
| BrakesSTANDS OUT | 280 (27%) | 38k–122k miles · around this mileage | Brake pad replacement (one axle) $115–$390 · Brake pads and rotors replacement (one axle) $200–$1,084 |
| Electrical systemSTANDS OUT | 178 (17%) | 38k–150k miles · around this mileage | 12-volt battery replacement $100–$400 · Starter motor replacement $350–$1,200 |
| Engine | 72 (7%) | 7k–103k miles · around this mileage | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| Air bags | 44 (4%) | 48k–126k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Transmission and drivetrain | 41 (4%) | 29k–130k miles · around this mileage | CV axle / CV joint replacement (one side) $300–$1,500 · Automatic transmission replacement $2,500–$7,000 |
| Steering | 39 (4%) | 40k–111k miles · around this mileage | Steering rack and pinion replacement $700–$2,100 |
| Fuel system | 28 (3%) | 52k–106k miles · around this mileage | Fuel pump replacement $220–$1,500 · Fuel injector replacement (one injector) $300–$1,200 |
| Body structure | 11 (1%) | 40k–105k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Speed controlSTANDS OUT | 109 (10%) | 20k–80k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Stability control | 20 (2%) | 42k–90k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Traction control | 19 (2%) | 15k–94k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Visibility and wipers | 15 (1%) | 34k–94k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Equipment | 8 (1%) | 24k–61k miles · mostly behind | — |
Bills are typical US ranges from the sources named in the tool (J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, CarParts.com and others), printed only for systems that stand out or sit at or ahead of 101,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 1,051 complaints: 102 mention a crash · 4 mention a fire · 46 report an injury · 9 say the car was towed.
4 complaints were filed in the last 12 months, the newest in Feb 2026.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
In owners' own words
This is the first car we ever owned that ate oil. We are meticulous about servicing the car as recommended every 5000 miles.
I am writing about an incident with my 2005 Toyota prius. On july 20, 2009 as my wife was driving our Prius the engine light went on.
I have a 2005 Toyota Prius, purchased new in oct 2004. I was driving on I-57 in illinois at 65 mph. Temperature outside was 91F.
Unedited excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, chosen by mileage (nearest 101,000 miles), not by content. Unverified.
Recalls for the 2005 Toyota Prius: 6
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. Over time, the splines may wear and eventually fail resulting in a loss of steering ability, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
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. The corroded coil wire may break and the water pump could stop.
These vehicles were sold without the requisite load carrying capacity modification labels. A driver may overload a vehicle which may increase the risk of a crash.
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. A stuck open accelerator pedal may result in very high vehicle speeds and make it difficult to stop the vehicle, which could cause a crash, serious injury or death.
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. This could result in a loss of steering control of the vehicle.
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 proper air bag deployment. This may increase the risk of injury to the occupant in the involved seating position in the event of a crash.
A recall may cover only some cars of a model year; the campaign size counts every model and year it lists. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls: dealers fix open recalls free.
Service bulletins from Toyota: 96
Repair instructions Toyota sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2005 Toyota Prius. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
Some vehicles may exhibit a MIL ON condition with Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTCs) P0A80/P1AC000 and/or P0A7F/P1A8000 stored due to dust or debris buildup…
The vehicle may be difficult to start or have an abnormally low or rough idle after the battery has been disconnected or power to the Engine ECM has been…
TechTip: Condition - The vehicle may be difficult to start or have an abnormally low or rough idle after the battery has been disconnected or power…
Low battery voltage can contribute to a MIL "ON" condition for P0335 (Crankshaft Position Sensor Circuit) and/or P0340…
NHTSA defect investigations: 3
Pedestrian alert sounds
Intermediate Steering Shaft Separation
Engine stalling
Neighbouring years
2004 Prius: 610 complaints, keep it, but watch the engine · 2006 Prius: 1,440 complaints, keep it.
Every Toyota Prius year
2000 · 2001 · 2002 · 2003 · 2004 · 2005 · 2006 · 2007 · 2008 · 2009 · 2010 · 2011 · 2012 · 2013 · 2014 · 2015 · 2016 · 2017 · 2018 · 2019 · 2020 · 2021 · 2022 · 2023 · 2024 · 2025 · 2026 · All Prius years side by side
Other Toyota models: Toyota 4Runner · Toyota Avalon · Toyota C-HR · Toyota Camry · Toyota Camry Hybrid · Toyota Camry Solara · Toyota Celica · Toyota Corolla · Toyota Corolla Cross · Toyota Corolla Matrix · Toyota Echo · Toyota FJ Cruiser · Toyota Grand Highlander · Toyota Highlander · Toyota Highlander Hybrid · Toyota Matrix · Toyota Prius c · Toyota Prius v · Toyota RAV4 · Toyota RAV4 Hybrid · Toyota RAV4 Prime · Toyota Sequoia · Toyota Sienna · Toyota Sienna Hybrid · Toyota Tacoma · Toyota Tundra · Toyota Venza · Toyota Venza Hybrid · Toyota Yaris. All makes and models.
Questions
Is the 2005 Toyota Prius a bad year?
1,051 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Prius years. At 101,000 miles the tool says: Keep it.
What are the most common problems with the 2005 Toyota Prius?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: exterior lighting (346), brakes (280), electrical system (178), engine (72), air bags (44).
How many recalls does the 2005 Toyota Prius have?
6 recall campaigns list this model year: Steering (NHTSA 12V-537), Hybrid system (NHTSA 12V-536), Equipment (NHTSA 10V-036), Speed control (NHTSA 09V-388) and more. A recall may cover only some cars; check by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Method: counts of unverified owner complaints filed with NHTSA, compared only with other years of the same model (sales volumes are unknown, so no failure rate is computed). A system stands out at 40+ complaints and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share across every vehicle of that model year. The mileage range is the 25th to 75th percentile of the mileages owners reported. Data received by NHTSA through November 5, 2026. Repair prices are typical US ranges from named sources, not quotes. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Check this car at your own mileage.