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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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38,500 miles · Feb 7, 2010
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting

I OWN AT 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. RECENTLY, I WAS DRIVING AT NIGHT ON A DARK STRETCH OF RT. 15 IN PA AND MY HEADLIGHT TURNED OFF. I THOUGHT I MUST HAVE SOMEHOW HIT SOMETHING TO CAUSE IT TO TURN OF, I QUICKLY TURNED THE KNOB AND IT WENT ON AGAIN. IT HAS SINCE HAPPENED A FEW TIMES AND MAY IN FACT HAVE HAPPENED MORE FREQUENTLY BUT I ON…

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I OWN AT 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. RECENTLY, I WAS DRIVING AT NIGHT ON A DARK STRETCH OF RT. 15 IN PA AND MY HEADLIGHT TURNED OFF. I THOUGHT I MUST HAVE SOMEHOW HIT SOMETHING TO CAUSE IT TO TURN OF, I QUICKLY TURNED THE KNOB AND IT WENT ON AGAIN. IT HAS SINCE HAPPENED A FEW TIMES AND MAY IN FACT HAVE HAPPENED MORE FREQUENTLY BUT I ONLY NOTICE IT IF I'M ON A UNLITE OR NOT WELL TRAVELED ROAD. I SEE FROM PRIUS OWNERS' MESSAGE BOARDS THAT IT IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM THAT TOYOTA IS WELL AWARE OF. I SEE FROM A NYT ARTICLE THAT IT HAS BEEN REPORTED TO YOUR AGENCY BUT YOU HAVEN'T TAKEN ACTION. I BELIEVE YOU SHOULD, BECAUSE LOSING A HEADLIGHT IS A DANGER TO THE DRIVER AND TO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. IT SEEMS DOUBLY UNFAIR THAT A DRIVER CAN BE CITED FOR A VIOLATION THAT IS BEYOND HIS/HER CONTROL. I CONTACTED THE DEALER WHO SAID IT WOULD BE $385 TO REPLACE THE LIGHT BULB HAVE NOT GONE IN FOR THE REPAIR, IT'S EXPENSIVE AND FROM WHAT I'VE READ, THE PROBLEM MAY BE ELECTRICAL RATHER THAN A BURNED OUT BULB. *TW THESE HIGH-INTENSITY DISCHARGE (HID) HEADLIGHTS ARE NOT AN OPTION ON THE CAR, IT'S THE ONLY BULB THAT FITS THE PRIUS, BUT IF THE PROBLEM IS ELECTRICAL THEN CHANGING THE BULB FOR $385 WILL NOT STOP THE HEADLIGHT UNIT FROM SHUTTING OFF AGAIN WITHOUT WARNING, SOMETIMES IN DANGEROUS SITUATIONS. PLEASE TAKE TOYOTA TO TASK FOR THIS, THEY KNOW THE PROBLEM EXISTS BUT THEY ARE PASSING THE BUCK TO THE OWNERS WITHOUT GUARANTEEING THAT THE PROBLEM WILL BE SOLVED AND WE'LL BE SAFE DRIVING AT NIGHT. TOYOTA HAS KNOWN ABOUT THE FAULTY BRAKES, THE STICKING GAS PEDAL AND HEADLIGHTS SUDDENLY TURN OFF , WHAT ELSE ARE THEY HIDING FROM CONSUMERS? IT'S TIME FOR NHTSA TO STEP AND FORCE TOYOTA TO FIX OUR HEADLIGHTS BEFORE TRAGIC ACCIDENTS HAPPEN.

NHTSA ODI #10307238

15,000 miles · Jan 24, 2010
Electrical System

I HAVE 2008 PRIUS TOYOTA THAT 3 TIMES IN 2 YEARS I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO TURN THE CAR OFF AND THE DASHBOARD IS NOT LIT UP. AFTER 20 MINUTES THE CAR LIGHTS UP AGAIN AND I CAN TURN THE CAR OFF. FEARFUL THAT I CANNOT TURN CAR OFF EVER, THEN WHAT? I HAVE CALLED TOYOTA CUSTOMER SERVICE AND THEY DENY HEARING ABOUT THIS BEFORE BUT P…

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I HAVE 2008 PRIUS TOYOTA THAT 3 TIMES IN 2 YEARS I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO TURN THE CAR OFF AND THE DASHBOARD IS NOT LIT UP. AFTER 20 MINUTES THE CAR LIGHTS UP AGAIN AND I CAN TURN THE CAR OFF. FEARFUL THAT I CANNOT TURN CAR OFF EVER, THEN WHAT? I HAVE CALLED TOYOTA CUSTOMER SERVICE AND THEY DENY HEARING ABOUT THIS BEFORE BUT PRIUS CHAT FORUM HAS SEVERAL PEOPLE THAT HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. SEEMS COLD WEATHER RELATED AND FOR SOME THE "COMBINATION METER" WAS THE PROBLEM. IT COSTS $800 TO REPLACE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10302099

22,000 miles · Jan 24, 2010
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting

TOYOTA PRIUS HID HEADLIGHT - MY PRIUS HEADLIGHT WENT OUT WHILE DRIVING DOWN A HIGHWAY. SINCE THEN THE LOW AND HIGH BEAMS GO ON AND OFF RANDOMLY. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY TOLD ME THE BULB WAS FINE AND IT WAS A SHORT IN THE ELECTIRCAL THAT THEY COULD NOT FIND. THEY SUGGESTED THAT I JUST DRIVE WITH IT AND KEEP TRYING TO…

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TOYOTA PRIUS HID HEADLIGHT - MY PRIUS HEADLIGHT WENT OUT WHILE DRIVING DOWN A HIGHWAY. SINCE THEN THE LOW AND HIGH BEAMS GO ON AND OFF RANDOMLY. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY TOLD ME THE BULB WAS FINE AND IT WAS A SHORT IN THE ELECTIRCAL THAT THEY COULD NOT FIND. THEY SUGGESTED THAT I JUST DRIVE WITH IT AND KEEP TRYING TO SHAKE THE WIRES AND DETERMINE WHERE THE PROBLEM WAS. NOW (A MONTH LATTER) I GET A LETTER FROM TOYOTA TELLING ME IT IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THE BULB ALL ALONG. THE SOLUTION IS TO AVOID USING MY HEADLIGHTS (THAT WAS THE SUGGESTION IN THE LETTER, ONLY USE THEM WHEN REQUIRED BY LAW) AND IF I HAVE TO USE THEM ALLOW THEM TO COOL BEFORE I TURN THEM ON AGAIN! WHAT A BUNCH OF IDIOTS FOR SUGGESTING NOT USING YOUR HEADLIGHTS! I'M STILL UNDER WARRENTY, BUT WILL NOW HAVE TO PAY ~$200 EACH TIME THIS PROBLEM BULB BURNS OUT - UNLESS I FOLLOW TOYOTA'S ADVICE AND SKIP USING THEM AT ALL :). *TR

NHTSA ODI #10302083

20,000 miles · Dec 25, 2009
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting

WHILE DRIVING, THE DRIVER'S SIDE HEADLIGHT WILL FAIL (TURN OFF) FOR NO APPARENT REASON. TURNING THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH OFF THEN ON WILL RESTORE THE HEADLIGHTS FUNCTIONING. I HAVE BEEN STOPPED BY THE POLICE ONCE FOR THIS, AND HAVE NOTICED IT NOW ON MY OWN MANY TIMES SINCE; ALMOST EVERY TIME I DRIVE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10296952

Mileage unknown · Dec 17, 2009
Air BagsElectrical SystemVehicle Speed ControlCrashInjury

S10 APPROPRIATE HANDLING - LETTER TO THE SECRETARY FROM MRS. JUDY HALEY GIZMO DISPUTING CLAIM BY TOYOTA THAT UNINTENDED ACCELERATION OF TOYOTA VEHICLES DUE TO FAULTY FLOOR MATS. *NJ THE CONSUMER DISPUTED TOYOTA'S CLAIM THAT THE MANY CASES OF UNINTENDED ACCELERATION WERE DUE TO FAULTY FLOOR MATS. THE CONSUMER STATED THE CRASH S…

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S10 APPROPRIATE HANDLING - LETTER TO THE SECRETARY FROM MRS. JUDY HALEY GIZMO DISPUTING CLAIM BY TOYOTA THAT UNINTENDED ACCELERATION OF TOYOTA VEHICLES DUE TO FAULTY FLOOR MATS. *NJ THE CONSUMER DISPUTED TOYOTA'S CLAIM THAT THE MANY CASES OF UNINTENDED ACCELERATION WERE DUE TO FAULTY FLOOR MATS. THE CONSUMER STATED THE CRASH SHE HAD WAS NOT DUE TO FAULTY FLOOR MAT'S WHICH WERE LATCHED DOWN, BUT WAS DUE TO ACCELERATION/BRAKE PROBLEMS IN THE COMPUTER AND ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER STATED SHE BACKED THE VEHICLE OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY, SHE EXITED THE GARAGE AND PRESSED THE BUTTON TO CLOSE THE GARAGE DOOR. AFTER CLOSING THE GARAGE DOOR, SHE SATED SHE WASN'T SURE IF SHE PLACED THE GEAR IN DRIVE OR NEUTRAL, BUT SUDDENLY THE VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD GOING UP TO 15-20 MPH. WITHIN 5 SECONDS THE CONSUMER CRASHED INTO THE GARAGE DOOR, RAMMED INTO THE INSIDE KITCHEN WALL CAUSING EXTENSIVE DAMAGE. THE AIR BAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY. THE CONSUMER SUFFERED INJURIES.

NHTSA ODI #10297030

29,000 miles · Nov 30, 2009
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting

TOYOTA PRIUS 2008, DRIVER'S SIDE HID HEADLIGHT WENT OUT AT 29K MILES <2 YEARS OF USE, DIFFERENT DEALERSHIPS TELL DIFFERENT STORIES ON WHETHER IT'S A WARRANTY REPAIR; BULB PRICING RANGES FROM $30 TO $350; SANDY SPRINGS TOYOTA SOLD US THE WRONG PART; OWNER'S MANUAL GIVES WRONG INSTRUCTIONS: THE LIGHT BULB CASING LOOKS NOTHING LIKE…

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TOYOTA PRIUS 2008, DRIVER'S SIDE HID HEADLIGHT WENT OUT AT 29K MILES <2 YEARS OF USE, DIFFERENT DEALERSHIPS TELL DIFFERENT STORIES ON WHETHER IT'S A WARRANTY REPAIR; BULB PRICING RANGES FROM $30 TO $350; SANDY SPRINGS TOYOTA SOLD US THE WRONG PART; OWNER'S MANUAL GIVES WRONG INSTRUCTIONS: THE LIGHT BULB CASING LOOKS NOTHING LIKE THE DIAGRAM; SOME ONLINE SOURCES CITE A TOTAL COST + LABOR $1700; SOME DON'T RECOMMEND DOWNGRADING TO A NON-HID BULB; SOME SAY THAT THE VOLTAGE IS VERY HIGH AND POSES RISK OF ELECTROCUTION WHEN REPLACING AT HOME; *TR

NHTSA ODI #10293988

38,000 miles · Nov 15, 2009
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting

2008 TOYOTA PRIUS HEADLAMP KEEPS GOING OUT. REPLACED BOTH HID HEADLAMPS AS TOYOTA CORPORATE TOLD ME TO DO AND PROBLEM CONSISTS. SAFETY HAZARD WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT WITH CHILDREN IN CAR AND BUSY PEDESTRIANS ON DARK ROADS WITH STROLLERS AND BABIES NOT COUNTING DEER OR OTHER ANIMALS. TOYOTA HAS REFUSED TO RECALL ISSUE. IM TIRED!…

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2008 TOYOTA PRIUS HEADLAMP KEEPS GOING OUT. REPLACED BOTH HID HEADLAMPS AS TOYOTA CORPORATE TOLD ME TO DO AND PROBLEM CONSISTS. SAFETY HAZARD WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT WITH CHILDREN IN CAR AND BUSY PEDESTRIANS ON DARK ROADS WITH STROLLERS AND BABIES NOT COUNTING DEER OR OTHER ANIMALS. TOYOTA HAS REFUSED TO RECALL ISSUE. IM TIRED! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10292212

Mileage unknown · Oct 12, 2009
Electrical System

2008 TOYOTA PRIUS OWNED TWO OF SAME YEAR AND MODEL. BOTH CARS HAD HEADLIGHT DEFECTS AFTER 30,000 MILES. SAFETY ISSUE AND DEALER STATES THE LIGHTS ARE KNOWN TO GO OUT. I HAVE NEVER HAD A CAR HEAD LIGHTS FAIL BEFORE 200,000 MILES. I WOULD LIKE THIS PROBLEM INVESTIGATED BECAUSE OF THE SAFETY ISSUE AND MANY OTHER PRIUS OWNERS AR…

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2008 TOYOTA PRIUS OWNED TWO OF SAME YEAR AND MODEL. BOTH CARS HAD HEADLIGHT DEFECTS AFTER 30,000 MILES. SAFETY ISSUE AND DEALER STATES THE LIGHTS ARE KNOWN TO GO OUT. I HAVE NEVER HAD A CAR HEAD LIGHTS FAIL BEFORE 200,000 MILES. I WOULD LIKE THIS PROBLEM INVESTIGATED BECAUSE OF THE SAFETY ISSUE AND MANY OTHER PRIUS OWNERS ARE ALSO HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM AS PER ON LINE RESEARCH. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10287111

25,916 miles · Oct 1, 2009
Electrical System

WHILE DRIVING MY 2008 PRIUS RANDOMLY STALLS. THIS HAS HAPPENED MORE THAN 6 TIMES IN THE LAST 30 DAYS. THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS ALL GO ON AND A CONSTANT TONE IS EMITTED. AT THAT POINT I HAVE GREATLY REDUCED ABILITY TO OPERATE THE VEHICLE (APPARENTLY ON ELECTRIC POWER BUT VERY SLOW). SINCE THIS OCCURS WHILE DRIVING THERE IS A SERIOU…

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WHILE DRIVING MY 2008 PRIUS RANDOMLY STALLS. THIS HAS HAPPENED MORE THAN 6 TIMES IN THE LAST 30 DAYS. THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS ALL GO ON AND A CONSTANT TONE IS EMITTED. AT THAT POINT I HAVE GREATLY REDUCED ABILITY TO OPERATE THE VEHICLE (APPARENTLY ON ELECTRIC POWER BUT VERY SLOW). SINCE THIS OCCURS WHILE DRIVING THERE IS A SERIOUS POSSIBILITY OF ACCIDENT AS THERE IS VERY LIMITED CONTROL. TO RESET THE PROBLEM YOU MUST PULL OVER AND PUT THE CAR IN PARK AND SHUT IT OFF. TURNING IT BACK ON CORRECTS THE ISSUE. TOOK IT TO A DEALER. THEY HAD IT FOR A 8 DAYS AND CLAIMED: 1. THE ON BOARD COMPUTER DID NOT RECORD ANYTHING UNUSUAL 2. THEY COULD NOT REPRO THIS DURING THEIR TEST DRIVES 3. THEY RETURNED THE CAR BACK TO ME - 20 MINUTES LATER ON MY WAY HOME THE CAR STALLED AGAIN. 4. AT THIS TIME THEY HAVE NO FIX FOR THIS PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10285901

42,088 miles · Sep 11, 2009
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting

2008 TOYOTA PRIUS PKG 6...LOST POWER AT 65MPH...ENGINE SHUT DOWN AND I LOST CONTROL OF CAR...PULLED OVER...LIGHTS SAID THERE WAS NO FUEL BUT I HAD REFUELED EARLIER THAT MORNING. TOOK TO DEALER...COULD NOT FIND A PROBLEM. ALSO, HID HEADLIGHTS INTERMITTENTLY DON'T WORK...VERY UNSAFE...HAS CAUSED TROUBLE WITH POLICE...I AM BEYO…

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2008 TOYOTA PRIUS PKG 6...LOST POWER AT 65MPH...ENGINE SHUT DOWN AND I LOST CONTROL OF CAR...PULLED OVER...LIGHTS SAID THERE WAS NO FUEL BUT I HAD REFUELED EARLIER THAT MORNING. TOOK TO DEALER...COULD NOT FIND A PROBLEM. ALSO, HID HEADLIGHTS INTERMITTENTLY DON'T WORK...VERY UNSAFE...HAS CAUSED TROUBLE WITH POLICE...I AM BEYOND IRRITATED WITH TOYOTA. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10283718

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