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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.

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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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9,500 miles · Jan 18, 2009
Electrical SystemInterior Lighting

INTERIOR INSTRUMENT FAILURE. TEMPERATURE APP. 23 DEG. F. CAR STARTED NORMALLY MFD CAME UP FINE. MAIN DASH INSTRUMENTS FAILED TO COME ON. NO SPEEDOMETER, GEARSHIFT INDICATOR, FUEL GAUGE, OR ODOMETER. ALL EXTERIOR LIGHTING WORKED FINE. VEHICLE SHIFTED INTO REVERSE AND DROVE NORMALLY FOR ABOUT 15-20 MIN. WHEN I PARKED AND TRIE…

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INTERIOR INSTRUMENT FAILURE. TEMPERATURE APP. 23 DEG. F. CAR STARTED NORMALLY MFD CAME UP FINE. MAIN DASH INSTRUMENTS FAILED TO COME ON. NO SPEEDOMETER, GEARSHIFT INDICATOR, FUEL GAUGE, OR ODOMETER. ALL EXTERIOR LIGHTING WORKED FINE. VEHICLE SHIFTED INTO REVERSE AND DROVE NORMALLY FOR ABOUT 15-20 MIN. WHEN I PARKED AND TRIED TO TURN OFF THE CAR BY PRESSING THE POWER BUTTON THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SHUT DOWN. CONTACTED TOYOTA USA AND WAS INFORMED THAT THEY RELY ON THEIR DEALERSHIPS FOR TECH SUPPORT. WENT THROUGH MANUAL DRIVETRAIN SHUTDOWN BY PRESSING AND HOLDING THE POWER BUTTON. SHUTTING DOWN ALL ACCESSORIES TO LIMIT ACCESSORY BATTERY. COULD NOT LOCK VEHICLE. APPROXIMATELY 30 MINUTES LATER WENT OUT TO THE CAR AND VEHICLE POWERED UP AS THOUGH NOTHING HAD HAPPENED. I BELIEVE THAT THE TEMPERATURE WAS THE ISSUE AND THERE IS SOME SOFTWARE ISSUE THAT IS NOT IN THE OWNERS MANUAL. ANYTIME YOU CANNOT TURN OFF A VEHICLE THERE IS A RISK FOR AN ACCIDENT AND OR INJURY FROM AN UNOCCUPIED VEHICLE. THE DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPT. THEORIZED THAT THE ACCESSORY BATTERY MAY BE LOW. BUT THIS WOULD RESULT IN THE CAR NOT BRINGING THE MAIN BATTERY ONLINE. TOYOTA SHOULD ADDRESS THIS ISSUE . *TR

NHTSA ODI #10255506

11,000 miles · Jan 9, 2009
Electrical SystemInterior LightingLatches/locks/linkages

TODAY, I WENT TO WORK DRIVING MY PRIUS (2008 WITH 11000 MILES) WITHOUT ANY DASH BOARD LIGHTS. THE DASHBOARD UNDER THE WINDSHIELD IS A REFLECTIVE TYPE WITH A WHOLE ARRAY OF OPERATING INDICATING LIGHTS ACROSS TO THE PASSENGERS SIDE. ONLY THE AIRBAG INDICATOR LIGHT WORKED FOR THE PASSENGER SIDE. THE CRUISE CONTROL DID NOT WORK. I…

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TODAY, I WENT TO WORK DRIVING MY PRIUS (2008 WITH 11000 MILES) WITHOUT ANY DASH BOARD LIGHTS. THE DASHBOARD UNDER THE WINDSHIELD IS A REFLECTIVE TYPE WITH A WHOLE ARRAY OF OPERATING INDICATING LIGHTS ACROSS TO THE PASSENGERS SIDE. ONLY THE AIRBAG INDICATOR LIGHT WORKED FOR THE PASSENGER SIDE. THE CRUISE CONTROL DID NOT WORK. I TRIED VARIOUS POWER ON/OFF BRAKE ON/OFF COMBINATIONS TO GET THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS WORKING. I PRESSED THE POWER BUTTON WITH OR WITHOUT THE BRAKES ENGAGED DURING STARTUP. THE ENGINE STILL RAN AND THE HEADLIGHTS, TURN INDICATORS, BRAKE LIGHTS, RADIO AND FUEL CONSUMPTION GAUGE WORKED. I HAD NO IDEA OF MY DRIVING SPEED OTHER THAN WHAT OTHER CAR SPEED AROUND ME WERE DOING. I HAD TO DRIVE UNDER THE RISK OF BRAKING THE LAW AS WELL AS THE DISTRACTING NO LIGHTING. THEN A WORSE PROBLEM DEVELOPED. I COULD NOT TURN THE SHUT CAR OFF AND I COULD NOT LOCK IT AFTER I GOT OUT. IT GAVE ME THE USUAL BEEP THAT IT WAS STILL RUNNING. I TRIED PRESSING THE POWER BUTTON NUMEROUS TIMES. I TRIED LOCKING THE CAR WITH THE MECHANICAL KEY AND IT ELECTRONICALLY KEPT OPENING. I TRIED VARIOUS COMBINATIONS OF BRAKING WHILE SITTING, WALKING A GREATER DISTANCE FROM THE CAR, USING THE EMERGENCY BRAKE AND SLAMMING ON THE DASHBOARD HOPING IT WAS A LOOSE WIRE. NOTHING WORKED. THE CAR IS SITTING IN THE PARKING LOT RIGHT NOW STILL RUNNING WITHOUT A KEY. I COULD NOT LOCK IT. AS I WALKED AWAY, I PRESSED THE ELECTRONIC KEY NUMEROUS TIMES. THE LITTLE RED LIGHT INDICATED IT WAS WORKING. WHAT ELSE CAN I DO. L WAS LATE FOR WORK AND I START AT 6 AM. THE DEALER, (TOYOTA HEARTLAND OF BREMERTON), DOESN'T OPEN UNTIL 7:00 AM AND ITS 6:25 AM. I MANUALLY TURNED OFF THE DISPLAY AND RADIO SO THE MINIMUM AMOUNT OF LIGHTING WAS SHOWING. AS FAR AS I KNOW, THE CAR IS STILL IN THE PARKING LOT RUNNING AND EASY TO STEAL. THE ENGINE WOULD NOT POWER DOWN NOR WOULD THE CAR LOCK. THE DASHBOARD (BELOW THE WINDSHIELD) NOT LIGHTING WAS SAME PROBLEM I HAD A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10254348

14,500 miles · Oct 22, 2008
Electrical SystemTires

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE WENT FLAT. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE TIRE WITH A SPARE. THE VEHICLE THEN BEGAN EXPERIENCING NUMEROUS FAILURES. THE INSTRUMENT PANEL GAUGES ILLUMINATED AND THE ODOMETER BEGAN TO FAIL. THE DEALER STATED THAT IT WOULD TAKE A FEW DAYS TO …

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE WENT FLAT. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE TIRE WITH A SPARE. THE VEHICLE THEN BEGAN EXPERIENCING NUMEROUS FAILURES. THE INSTRUMENT PANEL GAUGES ILLUMINATED AND THE ODOMETER BEGAN TO FAIL. THE DEALER STATED THAT IT WOULD TAKE A FEW DAYS TO DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. DAYS LATER, THE MECHANIC EXPLAINED THAT THERE WAS AN ISSUE WITH THE COMPUTER SYSTEM NOT RECOGNIZING THE OVERSIZED TIRES. THE MECHANIC PLACED THE REGULAR SIZE TIRE BACK ON THE VEHICLE, WHICH CORRECTED THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT IS CONCERNED THAT THE SPARE TIRE COULD CAUSE DANGEROUS DRIVING CONDITIONS IF IT EVER NEEDED TO BE USED AGAIN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 14,500. UPDATED 11/14/08. *LJ UPDATED 11/18/08.*JB

NHTSA ODI #10246388

5,000 miles · Jun 10, 2008
Electrical SystemFuel System, Gasoline

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE PLACING FUEL IN THE VEHICLE, IT WILL NOT FILL TO ITS FULL CAPACITY. THIS IS A CONTINUOUS FAILURE THAT OCCURS IN ALL WEATHER CONDITIONS AND TEMPERATURES. THERE IS A MALFUNCTION WITH THE FUEL GAUGE DEVICE. THE INACCURATE READINGS OF THE FUEL GAUGE CAUSES DISCOMFORT WHEN DRIVING. …

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE PLACING FUEL IN THE VEHICLE, IT WILL NOT FILL TO ITS FULL CAPACITY. THIS IS A CONTINUOUS FAILURE THAT OCCURS IN ALL WEATHER CONDITIONS AND TEMPERATURES. THERE IS A MALFUNCTION WITH THE FUEL GAUGE DEVICE. THE INACCURATE READINGS OF THE FUEL GAUGE CAUSES DISCOMFORT WHEN DRIVING. THE TOYOTA MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD ONLY CONSUME 6-7 GALLONS OF GASOLINE, EVEN THOUGH THE FUEL TANK CAPACITY WAS 11.9 GALLONS. THE MANUFACTURER IS AWARE OF THE FAILURE, BUT THE FUEL TANK CANNOT BE REPLACED IN THESE VEHICLES. THE TANK WOULD NEED TO BE REDESIGNED. THE CONTACT RECENTLY TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE FUEL TANK FAILURE WAS RELATED TO THE BLADDER SYSTEM. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY BEING REPAIRED FOR THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 9,000. UPDATED 07/07/08. *LJ UPDATED *JB

NHTSA ODI #10230515

7,700 miles · Jun 5, 2008
Electrical SystemFuel System, Gasoline

SUMMARY: PRIUS LOW FUEL WARNING LIGHT/BUZZER CAME ON, AND ONLY 5 MILES LATER CAR RAN OUT OF GAS, IN A BAD PLACE AT NIGHT ON HIGHWAY. THE MANUAL STATES THAT WHEN LOW LIGHT COMES ON YOU HAVE THREE GALLONS OR LESS. WITH THE PRIUS, EVEN TREATING THIS CONSERVATIVELY AS ONLY 1 1/2 GALLONS, THAT SHOULD STILL BE OVER 60 MILES. I HA…

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SUMMARY: PRIUS LOW FUEL WARNING LIGHT/BUZZER CAME ON, AND ONLY 5 MILES LATER CAR RAN OUT OF GAS, IN A BAD PLACE AT NIGHT ON HIGHWAY. THE MANUAL STATES THAT WHEN LOW LIGHT COMES ON YOU HAVE THREE GALLONS OR LESS. WITH THE PRIUS, EVEN TREATING THIS CONSERVATIVELY AS ONLY 1 1/2 GALLONS, THAT SHOULD STILL BE OVER 60 MILES. I HAD DRIVEN THE VEHICLE BETWEEN 30 AND 50 MILES WITH LOW LIGHT ON MULTIPLE TIMES PREVIOUSLY. THIS USUALLY WORKS OCCASIONALLY FAILS FUEL WARNING IS CLEARLY DANGEROUS. AND FROM INTERNET RESEARCHING, IT IS CLEARLY A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM, AND TOYOTA NOT ONLY IS COMPLETELY IGNORING IT, THEY DENIED TO ME HAVING RECEIVED ANY COMPLAINTS ON THIS (THERE ARE PREVIOUS COMPLAINTS ON THIS EVEN RIGHT ON THIS NHTSA WEBSITE). DRIVING FROM COLORADO TO KANSAS CITY ON I-70, A LITTLE AFTER PASSING THE SIGN THAT SAID "TOPEKA 27 MILES", JUST AFTER 10 AT NIGHT, THE LOW FUEL LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND WARNING SOUNDED. WE PLANNED TO STOP AT THE NEXT FUEL STOP, WHICH WE EXPECTED TO BE WITHIN 20 MILES AT THE MOST. ABOUT 5 MILES AFTER THE LIGHT ILLUMINATED, THE CAR SUDDENLY LOST POWER, THE GAS ENGINE CLEARLY HAD QUIT, THE RED TRIANGLE WARNING ILLUMINATED, ALONG WITH ANOTHER WARNING. AFTER THE INITIAL SCARE, I PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER, SLOWLY, UNDER BATTERY POWER, NOT KNOWING WHAT HAD HAPPENED. IN THE MANUAL WE FOUND THAT THE SECOND WARNING INDICATED "HYBRID SYSTEM MALFUNCTION", AND NOT TO ATTEMPT TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. SOME 10-15 MINUTES LATER, AS WE WERE TRYING TO GET EMERGENCY HELP, THAT WARNING DISAPPEARED, AND A NEW MESSAGE CAME UP, "ADD FUEL". EVENTUALLY WE BORROWED GAS FROM A FAMILY THAT STOPPED TO HELP US IN THIS RURAL AREA, AND GOT HELP FROM A HIGHWAY PATROLMAN. TOYOTA CHECKED VEHICLE, DENIES PROBLEMS, DENIES RECEIVING COMPLAINTS, REFUSES TO SEND WARNINGS TO PRIUS OWNERS. NHTSA, THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE, LIKE YOUR RECALL 00V384. *TR 6/19/08 ADD **CW THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THAT THE LOW FUEL WARNING LIGHT WAS DEFECTIVE.

NHTSA ODI #10230023

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