DRIVER'S SIDE HEADLIGHT GOES OFF AFTER DRIVING A FEW MINUTES. TURNING OFF THE LIGHTS AND TURNING THEM BACK ON RESETS THE HEADLIGHT BACK ON, FOR A SHORT TIME, AND THEN GOES OFF AGAIN. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD AND TOYOTA SHOULD FESS UP TO THE DESIGN FLAW AND RECALL ALL THE AFFECTED CARS AND FIX THE PROBLEM.
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
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.
Exterior Lighting complaints
579 reportsDRIVER SIDE HEADLIGHT RANDOMLY SHUTS OFF WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION. HAVE REPLACED THE BULB AND FUSES, BUT THE PROBLEM PERSISTS.
MY MOTHER HAS A 2008 PRIUS THAT HAS TWO SERIOUS ISSUES THAT TOYOTA HAS ACKNOWLEDGED AND EVEN OFFERED TO FIX UNDER WHAT THEY CALL A SUPPORT PROGRAM. SOUNDS GREAT RIGHT? HERE'S THE PROBLEM. 1. SHE NEVER RECEIVED A LETTER NOTIFYING HER OF THE PROBLEM AND THAT IT NEEDED TO BE FIXED (AND ONLY NOW THAT THE ISSUES HAVE BECOME HER ISSUE…
Read full complaint
MY MOTHER HAS A 2008 PRIUS THAT HAS TWO SERIOUS ISSUES THAT TOYOTA HAS ACKNOWLEDGED AND EVEN OFFERED TO FIX UNDER WHAT THEY CALL A SUPPORT PROGRAM. SOUNDS GREAT RIGHT? HERE'S THE PROBLEM. 1. SHE NEVER RECEIVED A LETTER NOTIFYING HER OF THE PROBLEM AND THAT IT NEEDED TO BE FIXED (AND ONLY NOW THAT THE ISSUES HAVE BECOME HER ISSUES IS SHE AWARE THERE WAS A RECALL AND 2. TOYOTA SET A TIME FRAME TO FIX THESE ISSUES WHICH SHE IS NOW PAST. AGAIN, SOUNDS LIKE THEY TRIED TO DO THE RIGHT THING? THE FIRST ISSUE IS AN INTERNAL LEAK CAUSING HER BRAKE BOOSTER TO MALFUNCTION (WHICH IS A TOYOTA ISSUE, NOT AN AGE OR WEAR AND TEAR ISSUE) AND THE SECOND ISSUE IS THAT THERE ARE NO LIGHTS ON HER DASH BOARD(COMBINATION METER) WHICH MEANS THAT FOR A PRIUS, THERE IS NO WAY TO TELL YOUR SPEED OR GAS LEVELS. SO TAKE THAT IN. SHE HAS A CAR, THAT HAS TWO MAJOR ISSUES, ONE OF WHICH TOYOTA FIXED UP UNTIL DEC OF 2017 AND THE OTHER DEC OF 2016 AND ARE CAUSED BY FAULTY PARTS AND LABOR BY TOYOTA, AND THEY WILL NO LONGER FIX THESE. THE BREAK ISSUE COST $2400 AND THE DASH $800. FOR AN ISSUE THAT IS CAUSED BY TOYOTA NOT THE DRIVER OR WEAR AND TEAR AND IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. THIS IS THE KIND OF COMPANY TOYOTA REALLY IS. SEVERAL YEARS AGO MY MOM RECEIVED ABOUT 14 LETTERS STATING SHE NEEDED TO COME IN AND REPLACE HER FLOOR MATTS BECAUSE THEY WERE PART OF A RECALL. FLOOR MATS! SHE'S RECEIVED RECALL ISSUES ON HER DOOR LOCK AMONG OTHER THINGS THAT SHE PROMPTLY HAD FIXED. SHE TOOK HER CAR TO THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP MANY TIMES AND NO ONE EVER MENTIONED THESE ISSUES OR "SUPPORT PROGRAMS". BUT BREAKS AND DASHBOARDS AREN'T AS IMPORTANT AS FLOOR MATS OR DOOR LOCKS. I WOULD LOVE FOR TOYOTA TO EXPLAIN TO ME AND EVERYONE ELSE, HOW SOMETHING THEY ACKNOWLEDGE IS A TOYOTA ISSUE, HAS AN EXPIRATION DATE TO GET FIXED BY THEM.
MY HEADLIGHTS ARE CONSTANTLY GOING OUT USUALLY THE DRIVER SIDE BUT I'M REPLACING HEADLIGHTS EVERY SIX MONTHS ABOUT. AFTER THE SECOND TIME REPLACING THE HEADLIGHTS I'VE BEEN VERY CAREFUL ONLY USING AT NIGHT. THE LIGHTS AT NOT LAST BUT A FRACTION OF THE TIME THEY SHOULD BE LAST I G AND I'VE BEEN BUYING THE BEST ON THE MARKET INSUI…
Read full complaint
MY HEADLIGHTS ARE CONSTANTLY GOING OUT USUALLY THE DRIVER SIDE BUT I'M REPLACING HEADLIGHTS EVERY SIX MONTHS ABOUT. AFTER THE SECOND TIME REPLACING THE HEADLIGHTS I'VE BEEN VERY CAREFUL ONLY USING AT NIGHT. THE LIGHTS AT NOT LAST BUT A FRACTION OF THE TIME THEY SHOULD BE LAST I G AND I'VE BEEN BUYING THE BEST ON THE MARKET INSUING I GET A QUALITY PRODUCT WITH THE BEST VISIBILITY. I FEEL THERE'S SOME FAULTY WIRING OR SOMETHING CAUSING A SURGE PROMPTING THE HEADLIGHTS TO FAIL PREMATURELY. I'VE SEEN SEVERAL OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT HEADLIGHTS LETTING ME KNOW THIS IS NOT A ONE OFF ISSUE.
HEADLIGHT WILL UNEXPECTEDLY TURN OFF, DESPITE WORKING BULB. THIS HAPPENS WITHOUT WARNING WHEN DRIVING. BOTH HEADLIGHTS WILL WORK FINE FOR A WHILE AND THEN ONE WILL TURN OFF, EVEN THOUGH THE HEADLIGHT BULBS ARE OK. WE BOUGHT THE CAR USED AROUND 2014 AND HAS HAPPENED ABOUT 4 TIMES A YEAR SINCE THEN. NO OTHER PROBLEMS WITH CAR.
BOTH HEADLAMPS WILL INTERMITTENTLY SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING. FIRST STARTED WITH THE RIGHT SIDE HEADLAMP TURNING OFF THEN PROGRESSIVELY BOTH ARE NOW TURNING OFF WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT CREATING AN UNSAFE DRIVING SITUATION.
HEADLIGHT HIGH BEAMS AND LOW BEAMS SPORADICALLY STOP FUNCTIONING WHILE DRIVING. TOYOTA HAS KNOWN ABOUT THIS PROBLEM FOR YEARS AND FAILED TO REMEDIATE PROBLEM OR NOTIFY OWNERS. PROBLEM STEMS FROM A FAULTY BALLAST IN HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY.
THE RIGHT HEADLIGHT GOES OFF WHILE I AM RIDING. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY CAN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG. WHEN THE LIGHT GOES OUT AND I TURN THE LIGHT SWITCH OFF AND THEN TURN IT BACK ON. THE LIGHT COMES ON. THEN IT WILL GO OUT AGAIN AFTER DRIVING FOR A WHILE. I HAVE BEEN STOPPED BY THE POLICE. I EXPLAINED TO THE OFFICER AND H…
Read full complaint
THE RIGHT HEADLIGHT GOES OFF WHILE I AM RIDING. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY CAN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG. WHEN THE LIGHT GOES OUT AND I TURN THE LIGHT SWITCH OFF AND THEN TURN IT BACK ON. THE LIGHT COMES ON. THEN IT WILL GO OUT AGAIN AFTER DRIVING FOR A WHILE. I HAVE BEEN STOPPED BY THE POLICE. I EXPLAINED TO THE OFFICER AND HE TOLD ME THAT I HAD TO GET IT FIXED OR DON'T DRIVE THE CAR AT NIGHT. I CAN'T TELL IF THE LIGHT IS ON OR OFF WHILE DRIVING UNLESS I COME UP BEHIND ANOTHER CAR AND SEE THE REFLECTION. I ALWAYS CHECK THE LIGHT WHEN I START MY TRIPS AND IT IS ALWAYS ON. I HEARD THAT ONE GENTLEMAN PAID UP TO $2600.00 FOR REPAIRS DO TO THE SAME THING. HE STILL HAS THE PROBLEM. CAN SOME ONE PLEASE HELP ME AND OTHER TOYOTA OWNERS. I CAN'T AFFORD TO PAY AA DEALER TO EXPERIMENT WITH THE CAR AND I CAN'T AFFORD ANOTHER CAR AT THIS TIME. I'M 71 YEARS OLD AND RETIRED ON A FIXED INCOME.
HEADLIGHTS INTERMITTENTLY GO OUT WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT. THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION ON AN INTERSTATE OR EVEN A 2 WAY HIGHWAY. I AM ABLE TO USE LIGHT SWITCH TO TURN OFF AND TURN ON AGAIN, BUT WILL HAPPEN AGAIN WHILE DRIVING. HAVE NOT REPAIRED AS OF YET, BUT HAVE READ ABOUT SEVERAL ISSUES OF THIS SORT WITH THIS MODEL. HAVE STOPPED DR…
Read full complaint
HEADLIGHTS INTERMITTENTLY GO OUT WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT. THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION ON AN INTERSTATE OR EVEN A 2 WAY HIGHWAY. I AM ABLE TO USE LIGHT SWITCH TO TURN OFF AND TURN ON AGAIN, BUT WILL HAPPEN AGAIN WHILE DRIVING. HAVE NOT REPAIRED AS OF YET, BUT HAVE READ ABOUT SEVERAL ISSUES OF THIS SORT WITH THIS MODEL. HAVE STOPPED DRIVING AT NIGHT BECAUSE OF THESE ISSUES. THIS HAS BEEN GETTING WORSE EVERY TIME I DRIVE THIS VEHICLE. STARTED WITH 1 HEADLIGHT, NOW IT IS BOTH.
I HAVE THREE MAJOR PROBLEMS WITH MY 2008 PRIUS. #1 THE ENGINE INTERMITTENTLY, WILL NOT TURN OFF WHEN PARKING THE CAR. #2 THE DASH LIGHTS ALSO INTERMITTENTLY WILL NOT COME ON, AFFECTING MY ABILITY TO SEE HOW FAST I AM GOING ON THE HIGHWAY OR STREETS, IT ALSO PREVENTS ME FROM SEEING HOW MUCH GAS IS LEFT IN THE TANK. #3 THE OUTSIDE…
Read full complaint
I HAVE THREE MAJOR PROBLEMS WITH MY 2008 PRIUS. #1 THE ENGINE INTERMITTENTLY, WILL NOT TURN OFF WHEN PARKING THE CAR. #2 THE DASH LIGHTS ALSO INTERMITTENTLY WILL NOT COME ON, AFFECTING MY ABILITY TO SEE HOW FAST I AM GOING ON THE HIGHWAY OR STREETS, IT ALSO PREVENTS ME FROM SEEING HOW MUCH GAS IS LEFT IN THE TANK. #3 THE OUTSIDE AIR AND AIR CONDITIONER, ALSO WILL NOT WORK, INTERMITTENTLY.
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
Illustration