2005 Toyota Prius Reliability
The 2005 Toyota Prius has 1,051 owner complaints and 6 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about exterior lighting and service brakes. Compared with nearby Prius model years (2003–2007), it rates as a year to avoid: its complaint rate runs well above the Prius's typical year, while the 2003 has a cleaner record.
By CarWhere Research · Updated 2026-11-04 · Source: NHTSA
1,051
NHTSA owner complaints
6
Recall campaigns
102
Complaints citing a crash
4
Complaints citing a fire
2005 Toyota Prius complaints by component
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2005 model year, filed between 2005 and 2026. A complaint can name more than one component.
| Component | Complaints | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Exterior lighting | 346 | 33% |
| Service brakes | 280 | 27% |
| Electrical system | 178 | 17% |
| Speed control / throttle | 109 | 10% |
| Engine & cooling | 64 | 6% |
| Air bags | 44 | 4% |
| Powertrain / transmission | 41 | 4% |
| Steering | 39 | 4% |
2005 Toyota Prius recalls
6 recall campaigns on NHTSA record for the 2005 model year, by the date NHTSA received the manufacturer's report. Recall repairs are free at a dealer.
| NHTSA campaign | Date | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 06V096000 | Apr 3, 2006 | Air bags | 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… |
| 06V188000 | May 31, 2006 | Steering — electric power assist system | 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. |
| 09V388000 | Oct 5, 2009 | Speed control / throttle — accelerator pedal | 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. |
| 10V036000 | Feb 3, 2010 | Equipment — other / labels | 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… |
| 12V537000 | Nov 14, 2012 | Steering | 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… |
| 12V536000 | Nov 14, 2012 | Engine & cooling | 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… |
How the 2005 compares with nearby Prius years
Verdicts come from CarWhere's year-by-year Prius analysis where it covers the year, otherwise from the years shown here.
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Most-reported area | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | 111 | 1 | Steering | Better year |
| 2004 | 610 | 6 | Exterior lighting | Caution |
| 2005 (this page) | 1,051 | 6 | Exterior lighting | Avoid |
| 2006 | 1,440 | 6 | Exterior lighting | Avoid |
| 2007 | 2,004 | 4 | Exterior lighting | Avoid |
Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA and are not adjusted for how many of each year were sold, so they compare years of the same model rather than different models.
What to check on a used 2005 Toyota Prius
- Lights: check headlights (low and high), brake lights and turn signals; condensation inside the housings is worth noting.
- Brakes: check pedal feel, pulling and grinding, and look at rotor and pad wear; ask when the brake fluid was last changed.
- Electrical: test every light, window, lock, the infotainment screen and the charging system; scan for stored fault codes.
- Throttle and speed control: check for surging, hesitation or a reduced-power warning, and test cruise control.
- Recalls: confirm each of the 6 campaigns above was completed on this VIN; open recalls are repaired free at a dealer.
- History: run the VIN for salvage, theft and odometer records, and have an independent mechanic inspect the car before you pay.
Check this exact car
Any 2005 Toyota Prius can be better or worse than its model year. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015. Free preview first; the full report is $12.99, one time.
2005 Toyota Prius reliability FAQ
Is the 2005 Toyota Prius reliable?
The 2005 Toyota Prius has 1,051 owner complaints and 6 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about exterior lighting and service brakes. Compared with nearby Prius model years (2003–2007), it rates as a year to avoid: its complaint rate runs well above the Prius's typical year, while the 2003 has a cleaner record.
What are the most common 2005 Toyota Prius problems?
The most-reported problem areas in NHTSA owner complaints for the 2005 Toyota Prius are exterior lighting (346), service brakes (280), electrical system (178), speed control / throttle (109). One complaint can name more than one component.
Does the 2005 Toyota Prius have recalls?
NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns for the 2005 Toyota Prius, including 06V096000 (air bags) and 06V188000 (steering — electric power assist system). Recall repairs are free at a dealer, and whether one was done is tracked by VIN.
How does the 2005 Toyota Prius compare with the 2004 and 2006 models?
By NHTSA records, the 2004 has 610 complaints and 6 recalls (caution); the 2006 has 1,440 complaints and 6 recalls (avoid). The 2005 has 1,051 complaints and 6 recalls.
How do I check a specific used 2005 Toyota Prius?
Run its VIN. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015, with a free preview first and the full report at $12.99, one time. Pair it with an independent pre-purchase inspection.
More Toyota Prius research
Other Toyota Prius model years:
Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation owner complaints (all body-style listings for the 2005 Prius, de-duplicated by complaint number) and NHTSA recall campaigns, retrieved 2026-11-04.