In-car Electronics
CD or DVD players, radio, speakers, GPS, communication system (e.g., OnStar), display screen freezes or goes blank, phone pairing (e.g. Bluetooth), voice control commands, steering wheel controls, portable music device interface (e.g., iPod/MP3 player), backup or other camera/sensors.
What Owners Say
"GLARE on a sunny day is almost impossible to screen"
Anonymous, TX (2014 Toyota Prius 1.8-L 4 Cyl hybrid)"The Designers must not have considered brigh sunlight and the short glimpses that a driver can give to controls... In short, this care is REALLY defiicent in it's controls visibility"
Jerome D., WA (2014 Toyota Prius Plug-in 1.8-L 4 Cyl plug-in hybrid )"the screen is impossible to see when the sun is shining. The GPS screen is very difficult to see the turn, etc. information. All screens are a major distraction from driving--really ruined t he system in the 2007 model I previously owned"
Marcia B., NY (2014 Toyota Prius Three Hybrid)"Sunlight angle, and use of sunglasses, especially both, make dash and navigation screens unreadable. Got a speeding ticket because mph not visible. Map often difficult to see. Voice navigation often unresponsive"
Anonymous, CA (2014 Toyota Prius Hybrid)"My Toyota dealer replaced the center console under the warranty, and the problem was solved"
Anonymous, CA (2014 Toyota Prius Hybrid)"This seems to be related to the problem with the GPS system. It is most problematic when I am in the middle of backing up in a tricky situation and the back-up camera display suddenly goes blank."
Anonymous, (2014 Toyota Prius Three 1.8-L 4 Cyl hybrid)"does not display phone history"
Anonymous, CT (2014 Toyota Prius Three 1.8-L 4 Cyl hybrid)"Routine problem in Prius and cost $700 to fix"
Carl T., OH (2014 Toyota Prius Three 1.8-L 4 Cyl hybrid)"I hope improved talking on phone through car never works it’s always garbled"
Anonymous, NC (2014 Toyota Prius Three 1.8-L 4 Cyl hybrid)"Poorly designed system hard to read or see or program. I stopped using it and use my GPS on iphone"
Anonymous, AZ (2014 Toyota Prius Four 1.8-L 4 Cyl hybrid)"The whole in-dash system requires that you download an app on your phone and then pair ir with the system. I will not pair, so I just don't use it. Use my smartphone on bluetooth for everything I need in the car."
Anonymous, OH (2014 Toyota Prius Four 1.8-L 4 Cyl hybrid)"The first problem was that the GPS had trouble figuring out where it was. Then it started to go blank intermittently. Over time, this problem got worse and worse so that the system seldom worked. The dealer told me that the only thing they could do was replace the radio unit, which they did ($500 cost to me). Problems recurred within 3 days of this repair. They replaced it a second time at no cost to me. That lasted several months before the intermittent problems began to occur. Over time, as before, the amount of time in which the system worked properly got to be less and less. It has not worked at all for at least the past 6 months (probably longer). I should note that as part of this problem, I am no longer able to use some of the buttons on the display screen, in particular unable to switch between audio modes. I no longer can get access to AM radio, which means unable to tune into posted highway alerts."
Anonymous, (2014 Toyota Prius Three 1.8-L 4 Cyl hybrid)"fdifficulty in turning off sound"
James C., GA (2014 Toyota Prius Four 1.8-L 4 Cyl hybrid)"rainbow lines on screen making it impossible to use GPS, was a problem with updates!"
Anonymous, ON (2014 Toyota Prius Three 1.8-L 4 Cyl hybrid)"The map system requires periodic updates but they are woefully out of date, rendering them unusable. When roads are changed or improved, the system becomes useless. The most recent update (which cost about $200) still does not recognize road changes in the last two or so years"
L B., TX (2014 Toyota Prius Four 1.8-L 4 Cyl hybrid)"Very, very slow, cumbersome and difficult to control. It does not recognize some address that are in the city of Saint Paul and were built in the early 1900's and still in current use. Address database is very incomplete"
Howard G., MN (2014 Toyota Prius Four Plug-in Hybrid)"Very unreliable. Does not provide the most direct way to travel. Takes me way out of my way. Can't depend on it, so have had to quit using it. My iPhone is reliable. When I changed from the 2011 to the 2014, I was told that they had upgraded the"
Anonymous, TX (2014 Toyota Prius Four Hybrid)"Voice guidance is off and I don't know why. Problem not user-friendly to resolve, must find the right instructions in huge manual"
Anonymous, CA (2014 Toyota Prius Hybrid)"The GPS system in the Prius cannot be properly updated with new map data. Several times I’ve to use a separate Garmin GPS in order to find important way points. I’ve also had to pay extra for any updates, which still don’t resolve the problem."
Bruce C., ON (2014 Toyota Prius Four 1.8-L 4 Cyl hybrid)"The infocenter head unit has a short in it that make some of the sysmtems inoperable and other intermittent. In addition to GPS/Navigation system failure, bluetooth doesn't work, satellite radio doesn't work, radio works intermitantly, CD player doesn't work. This is an issue that many other owners have experienced base on internet blogs. My dealer also acknowledges that it occures often enough that he has several repairs a month on this issue. It cost about $900 to replace. Since it occured well after warrenty period Toyota will not pay for it."
Anonymous, WV (2014 Toyota Prius Three 1.8-L 4 Cyl hybrid)"The hard drive of the navigation system failed. The Toyota dealer replaced it under our extended warranty."
Andrew D., FL (2014 Toyota Prius Four 1.8-L 4 Cyl hybrid)"Not accurate."
Anonymous, MT (2014 Toyota Prius Four 1.8-L 4 Cyl hybrid)"Drops phone then very difficult to pair the phone again"
Anonymous, AZ (2014 Toyota Prius Four 1.8-L 4 Cyl hybrid)"The bluetooth does not work, unless the phone is plugged in."
Anonymous, NY (2014 Toyota Prius Unsure 1.8-L 4 Cyl hybrid)"Cannot reliably pair iPhone to play music and hear voice commands using Google GPS."
Anonymous, (2014 Toyota Prius Unsure 1.8-L 4 Cyl hybrid)"frequent stop of service. often unable to start system again"
Anonymous, CA (2014 Toyota Prius Three 1.8-L 4 Cyl hybrid)"Simply would not connect"
Anonymous, NM (2014 Toyota Prius Three 1.8-L 4 Cyl hybrid)"Frequently randomly unpairs while talking"
Anonymous, MD (2014 Toyota Prius Four 1.8-L 4 Cyl hybrid)"Some times it works, sometimes it doesn't!"
David O., IL (2014 Toyota Prius Three 1.8-L 4 Cyl hybrid)"Isn't consistent. ALSO HARD TO SEE IN BRIGHT SUNLIGHT"
Jerome D., WA (2014 Toyota Prius Plug-in 1.8-L 4 Cyl plug-in hybrid )"My Verizon phone would not pair with the Toyota. I have a 2015 Subaru that it paired with perfectly. Toyota said that this phone (along with several others) is not compatible with the Toyota"
Anonymous, WA (2014 Toyota Prius Four Hybrid)"Phone pairing did not work. The display screen was unresponsive. The entire communications/stereo system had to be replaced"
Joseph L., HI (2014 Toyota Prius Three Hybrid)"Totally erratic...works sometimes but only with one of our two phones. Never able to download contacts from 2nd phone. Refuses to recognize 2nd phone even though it shows up on the list of paired devises. A totally unsatisfactory system. Gps input is utterly unfriendly. We use our phones google maps instead."
Rod B., WA (2014 Toyota Prius Four 1.8-L 4 Cyl hybrid)"Already did this!!!"
Rod B., WA (2014 Toyota Prius Four 1.8-L 4 Cyl hybrid)"Flaky,sometimes works sometimes not does not seem to like some phones"
Anonymous, NC (2014 Toyota Prius Three 1.8-L 4 Cyl hybrid)"Sattelite radio module failed"
David A., IN (2014 Toyota Prius Four Hybrid)"Static, not get good reception. My 2004 RAV4 radio was better"
Wayne D., FL (2014 Toyota Prius Two Hybrid)"radio had to be replaced after several attemts to fix it"
Mike G., AZ (2014 Toyota Prius Five Hybrid)"The problem affected the radio, CD player, Bluetooth system, entire display screen for radio, CD player, Bluetooth system and back up camera. The entire system went bad and could not be repaired by the dealer. I had to have the entire unit replaced, which cost me $800. These elements would constantly shut on and then shut off. The controls would not operate the radio on-off switch, volume or station changing features. Sometimes the system would go on for a few seconds and then begin to cycle on and then off. The back up camera might work for a few minutes or a few seconds and then start cycling on and off. I considered selling the car but have decided to keep it for now, since the replacement unit is covered by a 12 month or 12,000 mile warranty."
Robert F., GA (2014 Toyota Prius Two 1.8-L 4 Cyl hybrid)"It is not updated. Viewing screen hard to see due to sunlight. Screen to dim."
Anonymous, FL (2014 Toyota Prius Unsure Unsure)"Recall for Hybrid Software Update"
Anonymous, (2014 Toyota Prius Unsure Unsure)"Periodically, all sound is lost, including the radio and ability to use the car phone, blue tooth, etc. In a day or two, sound returns. I've made two separate appointments wtih the dealer, but by the time I take it in, the problem has disappeared. So the dealership tells me to return when it happens again."
Anonymous, PA (2014 Toyota Prius 1.8-L 4 Cyl hybrid)"press the up or down to change stations and the band changes. AM to FM,etc"
Anonymous, TX (2014 Toyota Prius Three Hybrid)"Cannot use the hands free telephone feature."
Anonymous, (2014 Toyota Prius Unsure 1.8-L 4 Cyl hybrid)"Required a software update to clear up voice quality of phone and response by voice activated devices. Was covered under the extended warranty, but our complaint was the first notice that this was available"
Michelle C., CA (2014 Toyota Prius Five 1.8-L 4 Cyl hybrid)"Very inadequate. Doesn't understand commands. May be partially because of road noise. So frustrating to use that I don't use it any longer"
Anonymous, TX (2014 Toyota Prius Four Hybrid)"Trouble getting it to go to the correct city"
Anonymous, TX (2014 Toyota Prius Three Hybrid)"The system frequently doesn't understand what I've said. Especially when inputting a spoken GPS destination request"
Bradley S., MI (2014 Toyota Prius Hybrid)"Often doesn't recognize voice commands rendering the Navigation system useless. (Pardon? is heard frequently.)"
Michelle C., CA (2014 Toyota Prius Five 1.8-L 4 Cyl hybrid)"Very poor responding to commands. Constantly makes errors"
Anonymous, AR (2014 Toyota Prius Four 1.8-L 4 Cyl hybrid)
"It's very difficult to estimate the distance that the back of the car is from a wall, another vehicle, etc. Objects are much closer than they appear to be on the dashboard screen"
Bradley S., MI (2014 Toyota Prius Hybrid)