IllustrationHID GOING ON AND OFF CONSTANTLY.
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 →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Prius years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
2880–25K
31125–50K
22150–75K
13675–100K
169100–150K
123150K+
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
Exterior Lighting complaints
579 reportsI 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.
TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN, I AM WRITING TO FILE A COMPLAINT ABOUT THE SHORT LIFESPAN OF THE HID HEADLIGHTS OF MY 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. AFTER LESS THAN A LITTLE OVER TWO YEARS BOTH HEADLIGHTS REQUIRE REPLACEMENT AS THEY HAVE BEEN SHUTTING OFF WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE/SURFACE STREETS RESULTING IN BEING PULLED OVER BY THE HIG…
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TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN, I AM WRITING TO FILE A COMPLAINT ABOUT THE SHORT LIFESPAN OF THE HID HEADLIGHTS OF MY 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. AFTER LESS THAN A LITTLE OVER TWO YEARS BOTH HEADLIGHTS REQUIRE REPLACEMENT AS THEY HAVE BEEN SHUTTING OFF WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE/SURFACE STREETS RESULTING IN BEING PULLED OVER BY THE HIGHWAY PATROL AND LOCAL POLICE DEPARTMENTS. THE FAILURE OF THE HID HEADLIGHTS REPRESENTS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE FOR BOTH MYSELF/PASSENGERS IN MY VEHICLE AND SURROUNDING CARS DRIVING NEXT TO ME ON THE ROAD. FOR SUCH AN EXPENSIVE VEHICLE (OVER 28K STICKER) - THE HEADLIGHTS SHOULD HAVE A LONGER LIFESPAN THAN A LITTLE OVER TWO YEARS. I HAVE BROUGHT MY VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP AND HAVE BEEN INFORMED THAT EACH HEADLIGHT COSTS NEAR $200/EACH AND WOULD REQUIRE AN HOUR AND A HALF LABOR TO REPLACE THEM AS THE FRONT BUMPER NEEDS TO BE REMOVED TO REPLACE THE HEADLIGHTS BRINGING THE TOTAL REPLACEMENT COST TO NEAR $600. FOR A COMPANY THAT TOUTS HAVING SUCH HIGH QUALITY AND BEING SO ECO-FRIENDLY - YOU WOULD THINK THAT THEY WOULD USE PARTS THAT LASTED MUCH LONGER AND WERE NOT SO EXPENSIVE TO REPLACE? IT IS NONSENSICAL THAT TOYOTA HAS DESIGNED A CAR WITH HEADLIGHTS THAT REQUIRE PROFESSIONAL INSTALLATION AND COST NEAR $600 TO REPLACE. THE SHORT LIFESPAN AND EXPENSE OF THE HID HEADLIGHT REPLACEMENT SHOULD BE ENOUGH TO WARRANT AN INVESTIGATION. ANY ASSISTANCE THAT YOU CAN PROVIDE IS GREATLY APPRECIATED. THANK YOU. *TW
MY 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS, TOURING EDITION WITH HID HEADLIGHTS: THE PASSENGER-SIDE HEADLAMP GOES OUT INTERMITTENTLY AFTER INITIAL IGNITION AT START. TURNING OFF THE HEADLAMPS MOMENTARILY WILL RESTORE ILLUMINATION, BUT IT WILL AGAIN MALFUNCTION AFTER 20 MINUTES OR SO. OTHER EXTERIOR LAMPS WILL ALSO SHUT OFF MOMENTARILY WITHOUT INDI…
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MY 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS, TOURING EDITION WITH HID HEADLIGHTS: THE PASSENGER-SIDE HEADLAMP GOES OUT INTERMITTENTLY AFTER INITIAL IGNITION AT START. TURNING OFF THE HEADLAMPS MOMENTARILY WILL RESTORE ILLUMINATION, BUT IT WILL AGAIN MALFUNCTION AFTER 20 MINUTES OR SO. OTHER EXTERIOR LAMPS WILL ALSO SHUT OFF MOMENTARILY WITHOUT INDICATION OR REASON. TOYOTA REFUSES TO ADMIT THEIR DEFECT, WHICH COULD PROVE VERY DANGEROUS. *CN
I PURCHASED A NEW 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS IN OCT. 2007 WITH HID HEADLIGHTS. IT IS CURRENTLY 28 MONTHS OLD AND HAS 51K MILES. THE HID PASSENGER HEADLIGHT JUST PREMATURELY BURNED OUT AND I MUST HAVE IT REPAIRED IN ORDER TO SAFELY (AND LEGALLY) DRIVE AT NIGHT. THIS IS A KNOWN TOYOTA DEFECT THAT NEEDS ACTION TO CORRECT. *TR
I PURCHASED A NEW 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS IN JUNE 2008 AND HAD SEVERAL MAJOR ISSUES WITH THE AUTO. CURRENTLY, I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH MY HEADLIGHTS. THEY FLICKER AND NOW THE DRIVER SIDE HEADLIGHT DOES NOT STAY LIT. INITIALLY, TOYOTA SAID THAT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR BECAUSE ALTHOUGH I HAVE ONLY HAD THE CAR FOR APPROX 19 MO…
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I PURCHASED A NEW 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS IN JUNE 2008 AND HAD SEVERAL MAJOR ISSUES WITH THE AUTO. CURRENTLY, I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH MY HEADLIGHTS. THEY FLICKER AND NOW THE DRIVER SIDE HEADLIGHT DOES NOT STAY LIT. INITIALLY, TOYOTA SAID THAT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR BECAUSE ALTHOUGH I HAVE ONLY HAD THE CAR FOR APPROX 19 MONTHS, I HAVE EXCEEDED THE 36000 MILE WARRANTY. THEY WANTED ALMOST $300 TO CHANGE A LIGHT BULB! I COMPLAINED AND WAS TOLD TO CALL THEIR 800 NUMBER BY A REPAIR TECH AT THE DEALERSHIP. I DID. MEANWHILE, THE DEALER OFFERED TO DO THE JOB FOR 1/2 PRICE. I SAID THAT I WOULD LIKE TO THINK ABOUT IT AND WAS THEN CONTACTED BY TOYOTA OF N.A. CONCERNING MY CALL MADE TO THEM. THEY KNEW ABOUT THE DEALER OFFER AND ASKED IF I WAS HAPPY WITH THAT OFFER. I TOLD THEM THAT I BELIEVED THE REPAIR S/B DONE FOR FREE. THEY THEN TOLD ME THAT THE 1/2 PRICE OFFER 'COULD' BE RETRACTED IF I WASN'T HAPPY WITH IT. TOYOTA WASN'T GOING TO WASTE "GOOD WILL" MONEY ON A CUSTOMER THAT STILL WASN'T HAPPY WITH THEIR OFFER. I INDICATED AT THAT TIME THAT I WANTED TO THINK ABOUT IT BUT WHEN I CALLED THE DEALER THE NEXT DAY, I WAS TOLD THAT THE OFFER HAD BEEN RETRACTED DUE TO A CALL FROM TOYOTA N.A.. I NEVER INDICATED TO THEM THAT I WASN'T GOING TO TAKE THE OFFER BUT I DO BELIEVE TOYOTA HAS A SERIOUS DEFECT WITH THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM ON 2006 ' 2009 PRIUS CARS. I HAVE RESEARCHED THE ISSUE AND FOUND NUMEROUS OWNERS WITH THE SAME DEFECT! I ALSO HAVE DIRECT KNOWLEDGE OF A PRIUS CAR WITH DEFECTIVE HEADLIGHTS THAT HAVE FAILED TWICE IN THE 1ST TWO YEARS OF OWNERSHIP WITH AS LITTLE AS 45,000 MILES ON THE CAR! THAT PRIUS IS ON IT THIRD SET OF HEADLIGHTS! *TR
I OWN A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. GIVEN THE ALREADY MANY COMPLAINTS, I WOULD LIKE TO ADD MY COMMENTS ON THIS PRIUS. FIRST THIS CAR IS VERY UNSAFE DUE TO POOR VISIBILITY. YOU CAN NOT SEE OUT OF THIS CAR. SECOND, I HAD THE HEADLIGHT FAILURES THAT THESE CARS HAVE. I HAVE HAD BOTH HEADLIGHTS REPLACED IN THIS CAR. THE HEADLIGHTS WOULD…
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I OWN A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. GIVEN THE ALREADY MANY COMPLAINTS, I WOULD LIKE TO ADD MY COMMENTS ON THIS PRIUS. FIRST THIS CAR IS VERY UNSAFE DUE TO POOR VISIBILITY. YOU CAN NOT SEE OUT OF THIS CAR. SECOND, I HAD THE HEADLIGHT FAILURES THAT THESE CARS HAVE. I HAVE HAD BOTH HEADLIGHTS REPLACED IN THIS CAR. THE HEADLIGHTS WOULD GO OUT WHILE DRIVING IN THE DARK. MANY TIMES I HAD TO TURN THE SWITCH OFF AND BACK ON WHILE DRIVING IN THE DARK TO GET THE HEADLIGHTS TO COME BACK ON. THIS IS NOT SAFE AND MANY, MANY PRIUS'S HAVE THIS PROBLEM. THE DEALER REPLACED THE HEADLIGHTS BUT NOT WITHOUT A STRUGGLE ON MY PART. LAST POINT I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE IS THAT THIS 2008 PRIUS HAS THE SAME EXACT ISSUES WITH BRAKES AND STOPPING THAT THE 2010 DOES ACCORDING THE ACCOUNTS I HAVE READ. FOR EXAMPLE, I WENT OVER A RAILROAD TRACK RECENTLY WHICH WHEN IT HITS AN UNEVEN SURFACE IT IS VERY HARD TO STOP! I ALMOST HIT A CAR THAT WAS TURNING JUST PAST THESE TRACKS BECAUSE IT FEELS LIKE THE CAR DOES NOT HAVE A GOOD "GRIP" TO THE ROAD. IT HAPPENS ALSO WITH EVEN A SMALL CLUSTER OF SMALL POT HOLES. THIS CAR IS NOT SAFE IN MY OPINION. I DO NOT UNDERSTAND HOW THE HEADLIGHTS ALONE DID NOT MAKE A RECALL. IT IS AN ONGOING UNSAFE SITUATION. THE CAR NOT STOPPING HOWEVER IS SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO BE RECALLED AND NOT JUST LIMITED TO THE 2010 PRIUS. *TR
HEADLIGHTS ON TOYOTA PRIUS 2008 STARTED DIMMING AND GOING OUT INTERMITTENTLY AT 50,000 MILES. LIGHTS WILL GO BACK ON WHEN TURNED OFF AND THEN BACK ON AGAIN. I HAVE BEEN STOPPED 3 TIMES BY THE POLICE FOR A HEADLIGHT OUT AND BEEN LET GO WITH A WARNING. IN ADDITION, THE ABS SYSTEM ACTIVATES FOR NO REASON ON DRY ROADS AND BRAKES ARE…
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HEADLIGHTS ON TOYOTA PRIUS 2008 STARTED DIMMING AND GOING OUT INTERMITTENTLY AT 50,000 MILES. LIGHTS WILL GO BACK ON WHEN TURNED OFF AND THEN BACK ON AGAIN. I HAVE BEEN STOPPED 3 TIMES BY THE POLICE FOR A HEADLIGHT OUT AND BEEN LET GO WITH A WARNING. IN ADDITION, THE ABS SYSTEM ACTIVATES FOR NO REASON ON DRY ROADS AND BRAKES ARE SLOW TO ENGAGE. *TR
THE HID LAMPS IN MY 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS BEGAN FLICKERING ABOUT 4 MONTHS AGO. AFTER BEING PULLED OVER BY AN OFFICER FOR AN OUT HEADLIGHT, I NOTICED THE HEADLIGHT WOULD SHUT OFF AT RANDOM TIMES. THE PROBLEM HAS ONLY INCREASED IN FREQUENCY. ONE OF THE HEADLIGHTS NOW GOES OUT ABOUT EVERY 20 MINUTES; A COUPLE OF TIMES THEY BOTH HAVE SH…
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THE HID LAMPS IN MY 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS BEGAN FLICKERING ABOUT 4 MONTHS AGO. AFTER BEING PULLED OVER BY AN OFFICER FOR AN OUT HEADLIGHT, I NOTICED THE HEADLIGHT WOULD SHUT OFF AT RANDOM TIMES. THE PROBLEM HAS ONLY INCREASED IN FREQUENCY. ONE OF THE HEADLIGHTS NOW GOES OUT ABOUT EVERY 20 MINUTES; A COUPLE OF TIMES THEY BOTH HAVE SHUT OFF AT THE SAME TIME. I KEEP MY LIGHTS OFF DURING THE DAY, BUT THIS HAS NOT HELPED THE PROBLEM. I WAS LUCKY TO NOT GET A TICKET FROM THE OFFICER, AND EVEN LUCKIER TO NOT WRECK ON THE PITCH BLACK ROAD WHEN THEY BOTH SHUT OFF AT THE SAME TIME. *TR
2008 TOYOTA PRIUS WITH HID HEADLAMPS THAT FLICKER AND IMPOSSIBLE TO REPLACE. THE COST TO REPLACE IS PROHIBITIVELY EXPENSIVE. THE OWNERS MANUAL INCORRECTLY DEPICT HEADLAMP REPLACEMENT. GENERALLY THIS IS A MAJOR REPAIR AND NOT A MAINTENANCE ISSUE.*CW
Official recalls
412V536000 · 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
2DP22005 · 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