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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

Structure complaints

68 reports
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82,000 miles · Sep 16, 2014
Structure

ON MY 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS REAR HATCH LIFTGATE, THE HANDLE HAS MELTED MAKING IT VERY DIFFICULT TO OPEN THE REAR HATCH. THIS IS A SAFETY PROBLEM BECAUSE THERE IS THEN NO SAFE WAY TO REMOVE ITEMS FROM THE REAR. SINCE THE SPARE TIRE IS STORED IN THE HATCH, TOYOTA SHOULD REPAIR THIS PROBLEM. THIS SEEMS TO BE AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH …

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ON MY 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS REAR HATCH LIFTGATE, THE HANDLE HAS MELTED MAKING IT VERY DIFFICULT TO OPEN THE REAR HATCH. THIS IS A SAFETY PROBLEM BECAUSE THERE IS THEN NO SAFE WAY TO REMOVE ITEMS FROM THE REAR. SINCE THE SPARE TIRE IS STORED IN THE HATCH, TOYOTA SHOULD REPAIR THIS PROBLEM. THIS SEEMS TO BE AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH THE 2ND GENERATION PRIUS. I HAVE READ NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS ISSUE ON VARIOUS FORUMS. THE ENTIRE LIFTGATE ASSEMBLY HAS NOW BROKEN FROM THE HATCH, CAUSING THE REAR HATCH NOT TO OPEN OR CLOSE PROPERLY. THE SAFETY ISSUE HAS NOW BECOME WORSE AS I AM WORRIED THAT THE REAR HATCH MAY OPEN WHILE DRIVING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10633636

Mileage unknown · Sep 11, 2014
Structure

RUBBER LIKE MATERIAL THAT MADE THE HATCHBACK LATCH HAS MELTED TO THE PLASTIC/METAL. DIFFICULTY OPENING. ON SOME OCCASIONS, IT WILL NOT OPEN. WILL NOT OPEN IN EXTREME HEAT OR COLD WEATHER. ALL DOORS SHOULD FUNCTION PROPERLY. DEALERSHIP WILL NOT REPLACE EVEN THOUGH IT IS OBVIOUSLY A PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10632560

100,000 miles · Sep 1, 2014
StructureInjury

I AM A MECHANICAL PROFESSIONAL ENGINEER LICENSED IN THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA. I WAS WITH AN INDIVIDUAL AT THE TIME THIS OCCURRED AS THEY ATTEMPTED TO OPEN THE BACK HATCH. UPON TRYING TO LIFT THE TAIL GATE THE INDIVIDUAL HEARD THE CLICK AND THE SLIGHT RELEASE OF THE LOCK FOR THE TAIL GATE. THEY WERE UNAWARE OF THE DEGRADED …

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I AM A MECHANICAL PROFESSIONAL ENGINEER LICENSED IN THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA. I WAS WITH AN INDIVIDUAL AT THE TIME THIS OCCURRED AS THEY ATTEMPTED TO OPEN THE BACK HATCH. UPON TRYING TO LIFT THE TAIL GATE THE INDIVIDUAL HEARD THE CLICK AND THE SLIGHT RELEASE OF THE LOCK FOR THE TAIL GATE. THEY WERE UNAWARE OF THE DEGRADED CONDITION OF THE SWITCHES COVER. UPON TRYING TO LIFT THE HATCH THEY FELT THEIR FINGERS "APPEAR" TO SINK INTO THE SWITCH. AFRAID OF SHOCK OR SUFFERING PHYSICAL ARM THE INDIVIDUAL ATTEMPTED TO PULL HAND AWAY FROM HATCH LATCH. DUE TO THE ADHESIVE NATURE OF THE DEGRADED SWITCH COVER THE FINGERS COULD NOT BE REMOVED IN THE NATURAL EXPECTED MOTION. THE ALTER MOTION RESULTED IN THE BREAKING OF THE LATCH SWITCH COVER AND THE INDIVIDUALS HAND BEING LAUNCHED IN A DIRECTION THAT FORTUNATELY ONLY RESULTED IN A SHOULDER SPRAIN. THIS LEFT THE VEHICLE BACK HATCH WITH A BROKEN COVER AND PREVENT THE USER FROM USING THE BACK HATCH UNTIL THE COVER AND SWITCH WERE /REPAIRED OR REPLACED. IT APPEARS THE RUBBER/GASKET/COVER FOR THE BACK HATCH LATCH SWITCH DEGRADES OVERTIME DUE TO UNKNOWN REASONS. IN THE HEAT IN THIS PARTICULAR CASE THE COVER BEGAN TO MELT AND DRIP OFF THE COVER/SWITCH. THE MATERIAL BECAME TACKY/STICKY ENOUGH TO BECOME ADHESIVE ENOUGH THAT SIGNIFICATION [IMPLYING THAT FORCE WOULD BE ENOUGH TO CAUSE SELF INJURY FOR SOMEONE THAT WAS NOT EXPECTING THE SITUATION TO DEVELOP AS SUCH.] FORCE WAS REQUIRED TO SEPARATE FINGERS FROM THE SWITCH (SEVERAL FT/LBS OF FORCE). *TR

NHTSA ODI #10629854

45,000 miles · Aug 29, 2014
Structure

BLACK HANDLE ON HATCH STARTED MELTING. AFTER ONLY ABOUT 4 YEARS USE, THE RUBBER COVER ON THE HATCH RELEASE HANDLE (THE EXTERIOR HANDLE OF THE REAR HATCH) OF MY 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS, MELTED INTO A STICKY TARRY BLACK RUBBERY GOOEY MESS. IT DRIPS DOWN ON THE REAR BUMPER. I CAN BEST DESCRIBE IT AS BEING A VISCOUS BLACK GLOB LIKE ROO…

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BLACK HANDLE ON HATCH STARTED MELTING. AFTER ONLY ABOUT 4 YEARS USE, THE RUBBER COVER ON THE HATCH RELEASE HANDLE (THE EXTERIOR HANDLE OF THE REAR HATCH) OF MY 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS, MELTED INTO A STICKY TARRY BLACK RUBBERY GOOEY MESS. IT DRIPS DOWN ON THE REAR BUMPER. I CAN BEST DESCRIBE IT AS BEING A VISCOUS BLACK GLOB LIKE ROOFING TAR. TO OPEN THE HATCH, YOU HAVE TO TOUCH THIS BLACK GOO EACH TIME, WHICH MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO OPERATE THE HATCH RELEASE. EVENTUALLY THIS WILL DISABLE THE LATCH FROM OPERATING. I WENT TO TOYOTA DEALER TO COMPLAIN ABOUT IT BUT DID NOT GET ANY ANSWERS AND CHOOSE TO IGNORE IT. I AM ASKING FOR YOUR AGENCY TO TAKE A LOOK AT THESE INSTANCES AND ALSO TO ASK TOYOTA WHY THEY ARE NOT RECALLING THESE HANDLES. THANKS FOR YOUR HELP. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10629349

75,000 miles · Aug 18, 2014
Structure

THE REAR HATCH RELEASE BUTTON/COVER HAS DISINTEGRATED INTO A MUSH OF BLACK GOOEY MATERIAL THAT TURNS MY HANDS BLACK. I HAVE READ THAT MANY OTHER PEOPLE HAVE HAD THIS ISSUE BUT THAT THERE HAS NOT YET BEEN A RECALL. IT DOESN'T SEEM REASONABLE THAT A 6 YEAR OLD CAR SHOULD HAVE THIS HAPPENING TO MANY PEOPLE. CLEARLY IT WAS A DEFE…

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THE REAR HATCH RELEASE BUTTON/COVER HAS DISINTEGRATED INTO A MUSH OF BLACK GOOEY MATERIAL THAT TURNS MY HANDS BLACK. I HAVE READ THAT MANY OTHER PEOPLE HAVE HAD THIS ISSUE BUT THAT THERE HAS NOT YET BEEN A RECALL. IT DOESN'T SEEM REASONABLE THAT A 6 YEAR OLD CAR SHOULD HAVE THIS HAPPENING TO MANY PEOPLE. CLEARLY IT WAS A DEFECTIVE PART TO BEGIN WITH. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10626162

125,000 miles · Aug 15, 2014
Electrical SystemStructure

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

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

NHTSA ODI #10622595

Mileage unknown · Jul 17, 2014
Latches/locks/linkagesStructure

THE LATCH HANDLE ON THE HATCHBACK HAS "MELTED" FOR LACK OF A BETTER WORD. THE HANDLE HAS BECOME GOOEY AND LEAVES A BLACK RESIDUE ON MY FINGERS EVERY TIME I OPEN THE HATCHBACK. BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM, THE HANDLE IS HARDER TO USE, MAKING IT MORE TRYING TO OPEN THE TRUNK. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10611267

70,000 miles · Jul 7, 2014
StructureUnknown Or Other

THE BACK LATCH OF MY 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS HAS DEGRADED ("MELTED" ALMOST). IT NO LONGER FUNCTIONS PROPERLY, AND I AM UNABLE TO OPEN THE BACK HATCH DOOR EASILY. SOMETIMES IT REQUIRES CONSIDERABLE EFFORT AND PERSEVERANCE TO GET IT OPEN. I AM CONCERNED THAT IN THE CASE OF AN EMERGENCY, I WILL NOT BE ABLE TO GET THE DOOR OPEN. THIS IS A…

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THE BACK LATCH OF MY 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS HAS DEGRADED ("MELTED" ALMOST). IT NO LONGER FUNCTIONS PROPERLY, AND I AM UNABLE TO OPEN THE BACK HATCH DOOR EASILY. SOMETIMES IT REQUIRES CONSIDERABLE EFFORT AND PERSEVERANCE TO GET IT OPEN. I AM CONCERNED THAT IN THE CASE OF AN EMERGENCY, I WILL NOT BE ABLE TO GET THE DOOR OPEN. THIS IS A MAJOR CAUSE FOR CONCERN AND IT IS A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD. THE ITEM IN QUESTION IS A RUBBER PAD, ABOUT 1" X 3", LOCATED FACING DOWN ON A HORIZONTAL SURFACE OF THE TRUNK LID, JUST ABOVE THE LICENSE PLATE. IT COVERS A MOMENTARY CONTACT SWITCH. WHEN YOU DEPRESS THE SWITCH, THROUGH THIS RUBBERY PAD, THE COMPUTER CHECKS TO SEE IF THERE'S A KEY IN THE VICINITY. IF THERE IS, THE AUTOMATIC LATCH FOR THE TRUNK IS ACTIVATED AND THE TRUNK OPENS. THE RUBBER PAD DETERIORATION INTERFERES WITH THE FUNCTIONING OF THE LATCH AND TOYOTA REFUSES TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE PROACTIVELY IN SPITE OF NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS RELATED TO THE DEFECTIVE MATERIALS THEY HAVE USED. *JS

NHTSA ODI #10608568

36,318 miles · Feb 15, 2014
Power TrainStructureCrash

ON OCCASION THE VEHICLE WILL POP OUT OF D OR WILL HAVE A PROBLEM GETTING INTO D. THIS DAY I PARKED, LEFT THE VEHICLE RUNNING (ON) SINCE IT WAS COLD IN BOSTON AND MY WIFE WAS SITTING IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. EXISTED THE CAR, RETRIEVED A PACKAGE I WAS DELIVERING FROM THE BACK SEAT AND LEFT. ABOUT 5 MIN LATER, MY WIFE SAID THAT ALL O…

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ON OCCASION THE VEHICLE WILL POP OUT OF D OR WILL HAVE A PROBLEM GETTING INTO D. THIS DAY I PARKED, LEFT THE VEHICLE RUNNING (ON) SINCE IT WAS COLD IN BOSTON AND MY WIFE WAS SITTING IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. EXISTED THE CAR, RETRIEVED A PACKAGE I WAS DELIVERING FROM THE BACK SEAT AND LEFT. ABOUT 5 MIN LATER, MY WIFE SAID THAT ALL OF A SUDDEN SHE FEELS THE CAR MOVING FORWARD AND BEFORE SHE CAN STOP IT THE CAR CRASHED INTO A TRUCK WITH A VERY LARGE TOW HITCH ASSEMBLY. THE CRASH NAILED MY FRONT HOOD VIRTUALLY DEAD CENTER. DEALER COULD NOT REPLICATE BUT SEEMS FROM OTHER ONLINE COMMENTS THAT THIS IS NOT UNKNOWN ABOUT GEAR DIFFICULTY ALTHOUGH POPPING OUT OF P SEEMS LIKE A NEW ADD-ON OR MAYBE FEW OF US EVER LEAVE A CAR RUNNING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10564473

Mileage unknown · Feb 6, 2014
EquipmentStructure

TOYOTA PRIUS (2008) HATCH RELEASE RUBBER COVER PIECE DETACHED AND TORE APART. NOTE THAT MY RX300 SELECTION OF MAKE/PART NUMBER IS BOGUS, AS I HAVE NO WAY OF KNOWING WHO MADE THIS RUBBER COMPONENT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10563215

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