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2008 Toyota Prius

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most Prius years

Owner complaints for the 2008 Toyota Prius are substantially higher than the model-year median of 164.

About this comparison →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

1,248 reports with mileage · 249 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Exterior Lighting. Review the 579 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 235 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 171 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

152 crash reports6 fire reports50 injury reports

Electrical System complaints

235 reports
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101,000 miles · Aug 18, 2014
Electrical SystemExterior LightingVisibility/wiper

BOTH OF MY CARS HEADLIGHTS TURN OFF INTERMITTENTLY AND FOR NO REASON (THE BULBS AND BALLASTS HAVE BEEN REPLACED AND ARE IN WORKING ORDER). I WILL BE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AT NIGHT (INTERSTATE 70MPH) AND OCCASIONALLY BOTH HEADLIGHTS WILL JUST TURN OFF. I HAVE ALMOST GOTTEN IN A WRECK MULTIPLE TIMES DUE TO THE FACT I'M DRIVING AT …

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BOTH OF MY CARS HEADLIGHTS TURN OFF INTERMITTENTLY AND FOR NO REASON (THE BULBS AND BALLASTS HAVE BEEN REPLACED AND ARE IN WORKING ORDER). I WILL BE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AT NIGHT (INTERSTATE 70MPH) AND OCCASIONALLY BOTH HEADLIGHTS WILL JUST TURN OFF. I HAVE ALMOST GOTTEN IN A WRECK MULTIPLE TIMES DUE TO THE FACT I'M DRIVING AT NIGHT AND OUT OF NOWHERE MY LIGHTS GO OUT. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE. WHEN LOOKING THIS UP ONLINE, I'M NOT THE ONLY PERSON WITH MY YEAR/MAKE/MODEL THAT IS HAVING THIS ISSUE. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING ON AND OFF SINCE MY VEHICLE WAS AT 75,000 MILES. LAST NIGHT SPECIFICALLY I ALMOST GOT IN A WRECK GOING 70MPH ON THE INTERSTATE BECAUSE OF IT. MANY TIMES I CAN TURN THE HEADLIGHTS OFF AND BACK ON AGAIN AND ONE OR BOTH WILL WORK AGAIN. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10626183

125,000 miles · Aug 15, 2014
Electrical SystemStructure

ON THE HATCH, THE EXTERIOR SWITCH TO OPEN THE HATCH IS COVERED BY A RUBBER SEAL TO PREVENT MOISTURE. UNFORTUNATELY FOR ME (AND APPARENTLY HUNDREDS OF OTHER CONSUMERS I'VE SPOKEN TO ONLINE), THE RUBBER EVENTUALLY DISSOLVES AND DESTROYS THE SWITCHING MECHANISM, LEADING TO AN INABILITY TO OPEN THE TRUNK/HATCH. THIS HAS POTENTIAL SA…

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ON THE HATCH, THE EXTERIOR SWITCH TO OPEN THE HATCH IS COVERED BY A RUBBER SEAL TO PREVENT MOISTURE. UNFORTUNATELY FOR ME (AND APPARENTLY HUNDREDS OF OTHER CONSUMERS I'VE SPOKEN TO ONLINE), THE RUBBER EVENTUALLY DISSOLVES AND DESTROYS THE SWITCHING MECHANISM, LEADING TO AN INABILITY TO OPEN THE TRUNK/HATCH. THIS HAS POTENTIAL SAFETY IMPLICATIONS AS IF THERE WERE A BATTERY FIRE, I'D HAVE NO WAY TO OPEN THE HATCH TO TRY TO PUT OUT THE FIRE OR RETRIEVE ANYTHING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10622595

126,000 miles · Aug 14, 2014
Electrical SystemEngineFuel/propulsion System

I WAS DRIVING MY 2008 PRIUS ON HIGHWAY AND WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. IN 2 MINUTES ALL POWER GONE AND I HAVE HAD TO TOWED TO THE DEALER. THEY SAID, WATER PUMP FAILED AND BECAUSE OF THAT HYBRID INVERTER FRIED. CAR WAS OUT OF GUARANTY AND THERE WAS NO RECALL ABOUT WATER PUMP. I PAID NEARLY $5.000.00 FOR WATER PUMP AND HYBRID INVERTOR.…

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I WAS DRIVING MY 2008 PRIUS ON HIGHWAY AND WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. IN 2 MINUTES ALL POWER GONE AND I HAVE HAD TO TOWED TO THE DEALER. THEY SAID, WATER PUMP FAILED AND BECAUSE OF THAT HYBRID INVERTER FRIED. CAR WAS OUT OF GUARANTY AND THERE WAS NO RECALL ABOUT WATER PUMP. I PAID NEARLY $5.000.00 FOR WATER PUMP AND HYBRID INVERTOR. I HAVE SEEN THERE IS A RECALL ABOUT WATER PUMP NOW. IS THERE ANY WAY I CAN GET MY MONEY BACK? *TR

NHTSA ODI #10622179

60,000 miles · Jul 16, 2014
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting

LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS HAVE FAILED . DRIVERS RIGHT HEADLIGHT FAILS MOSTLY, BUT LEFT HEADLIGHT FAILS ABOUT 33% OF THE TIME. I HAVE LOST BOTH HEADLIGHTS AFTER A WHILE AND IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AT NIGHT! WE HAVE HAD TO STOP DRIVING AT NIGHT BECAUSE HEADLIGHTS WILL NOT STAY ON PAST 5 MINS. I HAVE LOOKED INTO THE CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT A…

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LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS HAVE FAILED . DRIVERS RIGHT HEADLIGHT FAILS MOSTLY, BUT LEFT HEADLIGHT FAILS ABOUT 33% OF THE TIME. I HAVE LOST BOTH HEADLIGHTS AFTER A WHILE AND IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AT NIGHT! WE HAVE HAD TO STOP DRIVING AT NIGHT BECAUSE HEADLIGHTS WILL NOT STAY ON PAST 5 MINS. I HAVE LOOKED INTO THE CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT AND AT 60000 MILES I DO NOT QUALIFY FOR THE SETTLEMENT. I AM VERY CONCERNED WITH THE SAFETY OF MY FAMILY. I HOPE TOYOTA FINDS A REAL FIX FOR THIS PROBLEM, OR THE 1000+ DOLLAR FIX WILL BE FOR NOTHING. AT THIS POINT I HAVE LOST FAITH IN TOYOTA AND I HOPE THIS ISSUE IS ADDRESSED PROPERLY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10610875

249,000 miles · Jun 5, 2014
Electrical System

THE DASHBOARD LIGHT WILL NOT COME ON AND I COULD NOT READ MILEAGE OR HOW FAST I WAS GOING. EVENTUALLY, CAR SHUTS DOWN IN MOTION. TOOK IT TO KEYES TOYOTA IN VAN NUYS, CA. THEY ACKNOWLEDGED THERE WAS A DEFECT AND RECALL AND WOULD FIX IT AFTER A FEW DAYS THEY ARE TELLING ME I HAVE TO SPEND ABOUT $4000 TO GET IT FIXED BECAUSE THERE …

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THE DASHBOARD LIGHT WILL NOT COME ON AND I COULD NOT READ MILEAGE OR HOW FAST I WAS GOING. EVENTUALLY, CAR SHUTS DOWN IN MOTION. TOOK IT TO KEYES TOYOTA IN VAN NUYS, CA. THEY ACKNOWLEDGED THERE WAS A DEFECT AND RECALL AND WOULD FIX IT AFTER A FEW DAYS THEY ARE TELLING ME I HAVE TO SPEND ABOUT $4000 TO GET IT FIXED BECAUSE THERE ARE FUSES BURNT AND CANNOT DETERMINE WHAT IS CAUSING THIS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10596391

81,600 miles · May 3, 2014
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting

I WAS LEAVING A STORE PARKING LOT WHEN THE DRIVER IN FRONT OF ME STOPPED AND TOLD ME MY DRIVER'S SIDE HEADLIGHT WAS OUT. IT WAS GETTING DARK SO I HAD TO POSTPONE MY PLANS AND GO STRAIGHT HOME. WHEN I ARRIVED HOME THE HEADLIGHTS WERE BOTH ON, BUT THEN ON PARKING IN THE GARAGE I NOTICED THE PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT WAS OFF. THE…

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I WAS LEAVING A STORE PARKING LOT WHEN THE DRIVER IN FRONT OF ME STOPPED AND TOLD ME MY DRIVER'S SIDE HEADLIGHT WAS OUT. IT WAS GETTING DARK SO I HAD TO POSTPONE MY PLANS AND GO STRAIGHT HOME. WHEN I ARRIVED HOME THE HEADLIGHTS WERE BOTH ON, BUT THEN ON PARKING IN THE GARAGE I NOTICED THE PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT WAS OFF. THE NEXT MORNING I DROVE TO MY MECHANIC AND THE HEADLIGHTS WERE BOTH ON WHEN I LEFT, BUT ON ARRIVING THERE THEY WERE BOTH OFF. I AS SHOCKED WHEN MY MECHANIC SAID TO GO TO THE DEALER BECAUSE THIS WAS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH MY VEHICLE AND TOYOTA WAS SUED FOR IT. HE SAID THE DEALER NEEDED TO REPORT IT TO TOYOTA, HOWEVER, THE DEALER DENIED KNOWING ANYTHING ABOUT THE ISSUE OR THAT THERE WAS A LAWSUIT UNTIL I SHOWED IT TO THEM ONLINE AND THEN THEY ADMITTED IT. WHEN I ASKED THEM IF TOYOTA HAS CHANGED ANYTHING ABOUT THE HEADLIGHT PROBLEM THEY SAID "NO!" THE ESTIMATE WAS $485. I CALLED TOYOTA AND COMPLAINED BECAUSE MANY PEOPLE WITH THIS PROBLEM SAID REPLACING THE BULBS DOESN'T FIX THE PROBLEM AND THAT IT MAY RECUR OR MORE EXPENSIVE REPAIRS MIGHT BE NECESSARY. THE TOYOTA CUSTOMER SERVICE SAID THEY WOULD COVER THE COST TO REPLACE THE HEADLAMP BULBS JUST THIS TIME ONLY BECAUSE I'VE BEEN A TOYOTA CUSTOMER FOR 17 YEARS AND NOT BECAUSE OF ANY NEGLIGENCE ON THEIR PART. AND LIKE THE DEALER, BASICALLY LIED AND REFUSED TO ADMIT THEY KNEW ANYTHING ABOUT THE ISSUE OR THE LAWSUIT BUT AT THE SAME TIME MENTIONED THE 50,000 MILE/5 YEAR EXTENDED WARRANTY FROM LAWSUIT FOR SAME ISSUE, WHICH EXCLUDES ME. I DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING THIS CAR ANYMORE. MY HEADLIGHTS COULD GO OFF AGAIN WHILE I'M DRIVING AT NIGHT AND I COULD BE INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. IT'S IRRESPONSIBLE AND TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE TO IGNORE DANGEROUS SAFETY ISSUE LIKE THIS AND LIE TO COVER IT UP, NOT ONLY BY TOYOTA BUT ANY GOVERNMENT AGENCY PAID BY TAXPAYERS TO LOOK OUT FOR THE SAFETY OF THE PUBLIC. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10586359

92,000 miles · May 2, 2014
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting

HEADLIGHT WILL GO OFF WHEN DRIVING, SOMETIMES ONE ONLY. THEN THE OTHER. THERE IS NO SET PATTERN. HEADLIGHTS WILL COME BACK ON WHEN THE ON/OFF SWITCH IS TURNED OFF THEN BACK ON, THEN WILL GO OFF AGAIN. THREE OEM BULBS HAVE BEEN REPLACED IN ONE AND A HALF YEARS. I UNDERSTAND THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY PERSON THAT IS HAVING THIS PRO…

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HEADLIGHT WILL GO OFF WHEN DRIVING, SOMETIMES ONE ONLY. THEN THE OTHER. THERE IS NO SET PATTERN. HEADLIGHTS WILL COME BACK ON WHEN THE ON/OFF SWITCH IS TURNED OFF THEN BACK ON, THEN WILL GO OFF AGAIN. THREE OEM BULBS HAVE BEEN REPLACED IN ONE AND A HALF YEARS. I UNDERSTAND THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY PERSON THAT IS HAVING THIS PROBLEM. TOYOTA DOES NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM. THEY SAY THAT IT IS JUST A BAD BULB AND JUST REPLACE THE BULB ONLY TO HAVE THE SAME THING HAPPEN. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AS WE CANNOT PREDICT WHEN BULBS WILL GO OUT! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10586132

Mileage unknown · Mar 31, 2014
Electrical SystemEngineExterior Lighting

EVERY FEW WEEKS (EVEN SEVERAL TIMES IN THE SAME WEEK), THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS ON THE CAR GO COMPLETELY DARK, WITHOUT WARNING (NO, THE DIMMER SWITCH IS NOT TURNED TO "LOW" OR "OFF"-- THAT IS THE FIRST THING WE TRIED). SIMULTANEOUSLY, OR SOMETIMES AT DIFFERENT TIMES, THE CAR REFUSES TO TURN OFF, EVEN WHEN THE "OFF" SWITCH IS PRESSE…

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EVERY FEW WEEKS (EVEN SEVERAL TIMES IN THE SAME WEEK), THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS ON THE CAR GO COMPLETELY DARK, WITHOUT WARNING (NO, THE DIMMER SWITCH IS NOT TURNED TO "LOW" OR "OFF"-- THAT IS THE FIRST THING WE TRIED). SIMULTANEOUSLY, OR SOMETIMES AT DIFFERENT TIMES, THE CAR REFUSES TO TURN OFF, EVEN WHEN THE "OFF" SWITCH IS PRESSED CONSTANTLY OR INTERMITTENTLY, FOR UP TO A HALF-HOUR. OBVIOUSLY, IT IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS TO LEAVE A CAR RUNNING, SO ONE CANNOT LEAVE THE CAR; WHEN DRIVING, THE LOSS OF ALL THE DASHBOARD INFORMATION IS TERRIFYING, ESPECIALLY AT NIGHT WHEN IT IS SO DISTRACTING AS TO BE POTENTIALLY CRASH-CAUSING. THE TOYOTA DEALER FIRST CLAIMED IT WAS THE 12-VOLT BATTERY, SO WE REPLACED IT. THIS DID NOT FIX IT. AT THE DEALER'S REQUEST, WE LEFT THE CAR WITH THEM FOR A LONG WEEKEND, AND THEY CLAIMED THAT SINCE THEY WEREN'T ABLE TO REENACT THE SITUATION, THEY COULD NOT HELP US. AFTER SOME BACK-AND-FORTH, THEY AGREED TO REPLACE A "COMBINATION METER," WHICH TOYOTA HAD APPARENTLY FOUND TROUBLESOME ENOUGH TO OFFER FREE "OUT-OF-WARRANTY" REPAIRS OF. HOWEVER, THE DEALER FIRST SAID TOYOTA WOULD NOT PAY FOR IT UNLESS THE DEALER WAS ABLE TO INDEPENDENTLY VERIFY THE TROUBLE, AND THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO RECREATE THE DISTRESSING SITUATION. AS IF WE WOULD LIE IN ORDER TO RECEIVE A NEW COMBINATION METER! WE JUST WANT TO CAR TO WORK AND BE SAFE. NOW WE ARE WAITING FIVE-PLUS DAYS FOR THE PART TO COME IN, AND NOT EVEN SURE IF IT WILL FIX OUR PROBLEM. THERE'S PLENTY OF DISCUSSION OF THIS EXACT SAME ISSUE ALL ACROSS THE INTERNET. WHY HAS THE COMPANY NOT FIGURED THIS OUT, AND TRAINED ITS MECHANICS ACCORDINGLY? *TR

NHTSA ODI #10576068

Mileage unknown · Mar 19, 2014
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting

I PURCHASED MY PRIUS NEW. I HAVE HAD A CHRONIC & CONSTANT ISSUE WITH MY HEAD LIGHTS & TAIL LIGHTS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. I HAVE HAD THIS ISSUE CHECKED BY MECHANICS AND HAVE BEEN TOLD THIS IS A "TOYOTA ELECTRICAL ISSUE". THERE IS NO PROBLEM WITH THE BULBS OR COMPONENTS THAT CAN BE FOUND BY MECHANICS. THIS IS A DANGEROUS PROBLE…

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I PURCHASED MY PRIUS NEW. I HAVE HAD A CHRONIC & CONSTANT ISSUE WITH MY HEAD LIGHTS & TAIL LIGHTS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. I HAVE HAD THIS ISSUE CHECKED BY MECHANICS AND HAVE BEEN TOLD THIS IS A "TOYOTA ELECTRICAL ISSUE". THERE IS NO PROBLEM WITH THE BULBS OR COMPONENTS THAT CAN BE FOUND BY MECHANICS. THIS IS A DANGEROUS PROBLEM, AND OCCURS RANDOMLY WITHOUT NOTICE. MY HEAD LIGHTS OR TAIL LIGHTS JUST "GO OUT"...ANY TIME, ANYWHERE! I HAVE SPOKEN WITH OTHER TOYOTA PRIUS OWNERS (OTHER YEARS TOO), AND THEY HAVE THE SAME PROBLEMS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10573487

74,659 miles · Mar 5, 2014
Electrical SystemEngine

THIS IS IN REGARDS TO THE ELECTRICAL FUEL PUMP THAT IS ALREADY BEING RECALLED. I HAD MY VEHICLE SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING IN TRAFFIC. I HAD IT TOWED TO THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP AT THE TIME AND THEY REPLACED THE ELECTRIC WATER PUMP, THE WATER PUMP, AND THE BATTERY. MY INVOICE CAME OUT TO $1213. I SENT THIS TO TOYOTA FOR A REFUND WH…

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THIS IS IN REGARDS TO THE ELECTRICAL FUEL PUMP THAT IS ALREADY BEING RECALLED. I HAD MY VEHICLE SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING IN TRAFFIC. I HAD IT TOWED TO THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP AT THE TIME AND THEY REPLACED THE ELECTRIC WATER PUMP, THE WATER PUMP, AND THE BATTERY. MY INVOICE CAME OUT TO $1213. I SENT THIS TO TOYOTA FOR A REFUND WHEN THE RECALL NOTICE CAME OUT. THEY REFUNDED ME A MERE $428 (THIS IS FOR ONLY THE ELECTRIC WATER PUMP) CLAIMING THAT THEY DO NOT HAVE ANYTHING THAT SHOWS THE BATTERY OR THE OTHER WATER PUMP COULD BE EFFECTED BY THE RECALL CONDITION. IT SEEMS STRANGE THAT I BROUGHT MY VEHICLE IN WHEN I EXPERIENCED EXACTLY THE SAME CONDITION DESCRIBED IN THE RECALL AND ENDED UP NEEDING MULTIPLE PARTS REPLACED WHEN TOYOTA CLAIMS ONLY THE ELECTRICAL WATER PUMP MAY BE EFFECTED. I HAD NO OTHER ISSUES WITH MY VEHICLE LEADING UP TO THIS SO IT SEEMS HIGHLY UNLIKELY THAT THE WATER PUMP AND BATTERY JUST WENT BAD AT THE VERY SAME MOMENT THE ELECTRICAL WATER PUMP STOPPED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10567158

Official recalls

4

12V536000 · Engine And Engine Cooling; Hybrid Propulsion System: Inverter

Nov 14, 2012

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 the electrically driven water pump at the coil wire. The coil wire may corrode at the scratched portion.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: The corroded coil wire may break and the water pump could stop. The corroded coil wire could cause a short circuit between coil wires and a possible open fuse, creating a stall-like condition of the hybrid system while the vehicle is being driven. This may increase the risk of a vehicle crash.

Remedy: 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 Experience Center at 1-800-331-4331.

Additional source detail variants (2)

Hybrid Propulsion System: Inverter

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 the electrically driven water pump at the coil wire. The coil wire may corrode at the scratched portion.

Consequence: The corroded coil wire may break and the water pump could stop. The corroded coil wire could cause a short circuit between coil wires and a possible open fuse, creating a stall-like condition of the hybrid system while the vehicle is being driven. This may increase the risk of a vehicle crash.

Remedy: 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 Experience Center at 1-800-331-4331.

Engine And 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 the electrically driven water pump at the coil wire. The coil wire may corrode at the scratched portion.

Consequence: The corroded coil wire may break and the water pump could stop. The corroded coil wire could cause a short circuit between coil wires and a possible open fuse, creating a stall-like condition of the hybrid system while the vehicle is being driven. This may increase the risk of a vehicle crash.

Remedy: 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 Experience Center at 1-800-331-4331.

12V537000 · Steering; Steering:gear Box:shaft Sector

Nov 14, 2012

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 steering wheel to the steering gear. These splines may have been manufactured with an insufficient hardness.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: Over time, the splines may wear and eventually fail resulting in a loss of steering ability, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.

Remedy: 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 contact their Toyota dealer or the Toyota Customer Experience Center at 1-800-331-4331.

Additional source detail variants (2)

Steering:gear Box:shaft Sector

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 steering wheel to the steering gear. These splines may have been manufactured with an insufficient hardness.

Consequence: Over time, the splines may wear and eventually fail resulting in a loss of steering ability, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.

Remedy: 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 contact their Toyota dealer or the Toyota Customer Experience Center at 1-800-331-4331.

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 steering wheel to the steering gear. These splines may have been manufactured with an insufficient hardness.

Consequence: Over time, the splines may wear and eventually fail resulting in a loss of steering ability, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.

Remedy: 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 contact their Toyota dealer or the Toyota Customer Experience Center at 1-800-331-4331.

10V036000 · Equipment:other:labels

Feb 3, 2010

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 CAPACITY MODIFICATION LABELS.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: A DRIVER MAY OVERLOAD A VEHICLE WHICH MAY INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: 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 SOUTHEAST TOYOTA AT 1-800-301-6859.

09V388000 · Vehicle Speed Control:accelerator Pedal

Oct 5, 2009

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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: 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.

Remedy: 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. THESE CHANGES ADDRESS THE RISK OF PEDAL ENTRAPMENT DUE TO INTERFERENCE WITH THE FLOOR MAT. REDESIGNED ACCELERATOR PEDALS WILL BECOME AVAILABLE BEGINNING IN APRIL 2010 AND DEALERS WILL REPLACE ANY MODIFIED PEDAL WITH THE NEW PEDAL IF DESIRED. ALSO, DEALERS WILL REPLACE ANY GENUINE TOYOTA OR LEXUS ALL-WEATHER FLOOR MATS WITH REDESIGNED ALL-WEATHER MATS, OR REPURCHASE THE PREVIOUS MATS FROM OWNERS WHO DO NOT WANT THE NEW ONES. ADDITIONALLY, SOFTWARE MODIFICATIONS WILL BE INSTALLED ON CAMRY, AVALON AND LEXUS ES 350, IS 350 AND IS 250 MODELS THAT WILL ENSURE THAT THE BRAKE OVERRIDES THE ACCELERATOR IN THE EVENT BOTH BRAKE AND ACCELERATOR PEDALS ARE APPLIED. TOYOTA WILL BEGIN MAILING LETTERS TO OWNERS ON DECEMBER 31, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331, LEXUS AT 1-800-255-3987.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

2

DP22005 · Pedestrian Alert Sounds

Opened Jan 27, 2023 · Closed Aug 7, 2023

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Electrical System:propulsion System

NHTSA received a petition on or about July 18, 2022, requesting that Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 141 be applied to all electric and hybrid vehicles operating in the United States. The petition can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under ODI Number 11486072. FMVSS 141 establishes performance requirements for pedestrian alert sounds for motor vehicles. The standard applies to hybrid and electric vehicles that have a gross vehicle weight rating of 4,536 KG or less or are defined as low-speed vehicles. The standard became fully applicable to all such vehicles manufactured on or after March 1, 2021.On January 27, 2023, NHTSA opened Defect Petition (DP) 22-005 to evaluate the subject matter described in the petition. On June 24, 2023 and as supplemented on June 25, 2023, the petitioner notified NHTSA he was withdrawing his petition. The petitioner indicated that, based on his review of data, there is no justification for asserting potential benefits that could be derived from actions sought by my petition. Based on the petitioner's withdrawal, DP22-005 is closed. Closure of this DP does not represent a determination by NHTSA regarding the subject matter of the petition.

DP13001 · Intermediate Steering Shaft Separation

Opened Feb 21, 2013 · Closed Apr 8, 2020

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Steering; Steering:column; Steering:linkages

The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) received a January 2013 defect petition requesting that it open an investigation on Model Year (MY) 2004-2009 Toyota Prius vehicles to address a possible manufacturing safety defect related to the steering column intermediate shaft.During the defect petition evaluation, ODI: 1.Reviewed the petition and its enclosures; 2.Reviewed the subject steering system layout; 3.Examined the Petition Vehicle?s history, including its repair history; 4.Reviewed and followed-up potentially related consumer complaints; 5.Assessed Safety Recalls 06V-188 and 12V-537; and, 6.Requested and examined complaint, claim, field report, service history, and warranty information from Toyota.ODI's review revealed that the petition vehicle had been recalled (Recall 06V188) to remedy a defect in the system identified in the petition with the remedy taking place prior to the failure that prompted the petition. Circumstances point to incorrect reassembly of the petitioner's vehicle by those who performed the recall remedy.ODI examined the issues raised by this petition to identify any related safety defect trend in the general subject vehicle population.That review identified a low rate of related consumer complaints (twenty-five over a eight year period from a population of over 600,000 vehicles) and no pattern that would identify either a safety defect not already covered by the two existing steering safety recalls by Toyota or a systematic problem with either recall remedy.Based on this evaluation, ODI does not believe that additional investigation will lead to a finding that a defect related to motor vehicle safety exists in the subject vehicles. Therefore, in view of the need to allocate and prioritize NHTSA?s limited resources to best accomplish the agency's safety mission, the petition is denied. The denial of this petition does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that a safety-related defect does not exist. The agency reserves the right to take further action if warranted by the circumstances.For more information, see the Federal Register notice in the public file for this action (https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls#vehicle, select NHTSA ID, enter: DP13001)The ODI reports cited above can be reviewed on-line (https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls#vehicle) under the following NHTSA ID numbers:10407520, 10418710, 10429551, 10473654, 10478195, 10478053, 10437229, 10489425, 10510722, 10639984, 10648277, 10499778, 10712626, 10723196, 10787530, 10808124, 10838803, 11071646, 11098144, 11099507, 11102659, 11160767, 11192607, 11287550, 11287606

Additional source detail variants (3)

Steering:column

The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) received a January 2013 defect petition requesting that it open an investigation on Model Year (MY) 2004-2009 Toyota Prius vehicles to address a possible manufacturing safety defect related to the steering column intermediate shaft.During the defect petition evaluation, ODI: 1.Reviewed the petition and its enclosures; 2.Reviewed the subject steering system layout; 3.Examined the Petition Vehicle?s history, including its repair history; 4.Reviewed and followed-up potentially related consumer complaints; 5.Assessed Safety Recalls 06V-188 and 12V-537; and, 6.Requested and examined complaint, claim, field report, service history, and warranty information from Toyota.ODI's review revealed that the petition vehicle had been recalled (Recall 06V188) to remedy a defect in the system identified in the petition with the remedy taking place prior to the failure that prompted the petition. Circumstances point to incorrect reassembly of the petitioner's vehicle by those who performed the recall remedy.ODI examined the issues raised by this petition to identify any related safety defect trend in the general subject vehicle population.That review identified a low rate of related consumer complaints (twenty-five over a eight year period from a population of over 600,000 vehicles) and no pattern that would identify either a safety defect not already covered by the two existing steering safety recalls by Toyota or a systematic problem with either recall remedy.Based on this evaluation, ODI does not believe that additional investigation will lead to a finding that a defect related to motor vehicle safety exists in the subject vehicles. Therefore, in view of the need to allocate and prioritize NHTSA?s limited resources to best accomplish the agency's safety mission, the petition is denied. The denial of this petition does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that a safety-related defect does not exist. The agency reserves the right to take further action if warranted by the circumstances.For more information, see the Federal Register notice in the public file for this action (https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls#vehicle, select NHTSA ID, enter: DP13001)The ODI reports cited above can be reviewed on-line (https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls#vehicle) under the following NHTSA ID numbers:10407520, 10418710, 10429551, 10473654, 10478195, 10478053, 10437229, 10489425, 10510722, 10639984, 10648277, 10499778, 10712626, 10723196, 10787530, 10808124, 10838803, 11071646, 11098144, 11099507, 11102659, 11160767, 11192607, 11287550, 11287606

Steering:linkages

The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) received a January 2013 defect petition requesting that it open an investigation on Model Year (MY) 2004-2009 Toyota Prius vehicles to address a possible manufacturing safety defect related to the steering column intermediate shaft.During the defect petition evaluation, ODI: 1.Reviewed the petition and its enclosures; 2.Reviewed the subject steering system layout; 3.Examined the Petition Vehicle?s history, including its repair history; 4.Reviewed and followed-up potentially related consumer complaints; 5.Assessed Safety Recalls 06V-188 and 12V-537; and, 6.Requested and examined complaint, claim, field report, service history, and warranty information from Toyota.ODI's review revealed that the petition vehicle had been recalled (Recall 06V188) to remedy a defect in the system identified in the petition with the remedy taking place prior to the failure that prompted the petition. Circumstances point to incorrect reassembly of the petitioner's vehicle by those who performed the recall remedy.ODI examined the issues raised by this petition to identify any related safety defect trend in the general subject vehicle population.That review identified a low rate of related consumer complaints (twenty-five over a eight year period from a population of over 600,000 vehicles) and no pattern that would identify either a safety defect not already covered by the two existing steering safety recalls by Toyota or a systematic problem with either recall remedy.Based on this evaluation, ODI does not believe that additional investigation will lead to a finding that a defect related to motor vehicle safety exists in the subject vehicles. Therefore, in view of the need to allocate and prioritize NHTSA?s limited resources to best accomplish the agency's safety mission, the petition is denied. The denial of this petition does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that a safety-related defect does not exist. The agency reserves the right to take further action if warranted by the circumstances.For more information, see the Federal Register notice in the public file for this action (https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls#vehicle, select NHTSA ID, enter: DP13001)The ODI reports cited above can be reviewed on-line (https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls#vehicle) under the following NHTSA ID numbers:10407520, 10418710, 10429551, 10473654, 10478195, 10478053, 10437229, 10489425, 10510722, 10639984, 10648277, 10499778, 10712626, 10723196, 10787530, 10808124, 10838803, 11071646, 11098144, 11099507, 11102659, 11160767, 11192607, 11287550, 11287606

Steering

The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) received a January 2013 defect petition requesting that it open an investigation on Model Year (MY) 2004-2009 Toyota Prius vehicles to address a possible manufacturing safety defect related to the steering column intermediate shaft.During the defect petition evaluation, ODI: 1.Reviewed the petition and its enclosures; 2.Reviewed the subject steering system layout; 3.Examined the Petition Vehicle?s history, including its repair history; 4.Reviewed and followed-up potentially related consumer complaints; 5.Assessed Safety Recalls 06V-188 and 12V-537; and, 6.Requested and examined complaint, claim, field report, service history, and warranty information from Toyota.ODI's review revealed that the petition vehicle had been recalled (Recall 06V188) to remedy a defect in the system identified in the petition with the remedy taking place prior to the failure that prompted the petition. Circumstances point to incorrect reassembly of the petitioner's vehicle by those who performed the recall remedy.ODI examined the issues raised by this petition to identify any related safety defect trend in the general subject vehicle population.That review identified a low rate of related consumer complaints (twenty-five over a eight year period from a population of over 600,000 vehicles) and no pattern that would identify either a safety defect not already covered by the two existing steering safety recalls by Toyota or a systematic problem with either recall remedy.Based on this evaluation, ODI does not believe that additional investigation will lead to a finding that a defect related to motor vehicle safety exists in the subject vehicles. Therefore, in view of the need to allocate and prioritize NHTSA?s limited resources to best accomplish the agency's safety mission, the petition is denied. The denial of this petition does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that a safety-related defect does not exist. The agency reserves the right to take further action if warranted by the circumstances.For more information, see the Federal Register notice in the public file for this action (https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls#vehicle, select NHTSA ID, enter: DP13001)The ODI reports cited above can be reviewed on-line (https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls#vehicle) under the following NHTSA ID numbers:10407520, 10418710, 10429551, 10473654, 10478195, 10478053, 10437229, 10489425, 10510722, 10639984, 10648277, 10499778, 10712626, 10723196, 10787530, 10808124, 10838803, 11071646, 11098144, 11099507, 11102659, 11160767, 11192607, 11287550, 11287606