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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

What owners actually said

1,497 reports
92,000 miles · May 28, 2016
Power Train

WHAT'S WRONG WITH TOYOTA AND NHTSA? TODAY IN HOT WEATHER WITH THE AIR CONDITIONER ON MY 2008 PRIUS ONCE AGAIN SUDDENLY DROPPED ITSELF OUT OF DRIVE INTO NEUTRAL WITHOUT WARNING AND IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY. ONE HAS TO HOLD THE SHIFTER IN DRIVE TO GET OUT OFEVERYONE'S WAY. IF THIS ISN'T A LIFE-THREATENING SAFETY HAZARD THEN I …

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WHAT'S WRONG WITH TOYOTA AND NHTSA? TODAY IN HOT WEATHER WITH THE AIR CONDITIONER ON MY 2008 PRIUS ONCE AGAIN SUDDENLY DROPPED ITSELF OUT OF DRIVE INTO NEUTRAL WITHOUT WARNING AND IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY. ONE HAS TO HOLD THE SHIFTER IN DRIVE TO GET OUT OFEVERYONE'S WAY. IF THIS ISN'T A LIFE-THREATENING SAFETY HAZARD THEN I DON'T KNOW WHAT IS. UNLESS YOU WANT A FEW FOLKS TO DIE BEFORE ANYTHING GETS DONE ABOUT THIS. THE INTERNET AND PRIUS FORUMS DOCUMENT THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED DEFECT. THE DEALER THROWS UP ITS HANDS' NOT OUR PROBLEM!!

NHTSA ODI #10871364

107,500 miles · May 25, 2016
Exterior Lighting

WHILE DRIVING DOWN A TWO LANE HIGHWAY AT 55MPH IN A VERY REMOTE AND DARK LOCATION, BOTH HEADLIGHTS FAILED. I WAS ABLE TO AVOID WHAT WOULD LIKELY HAVE BEEN A FATAL COLLISION ONLY BECAUSE I WAS ON A STRAIGHT PORTION OF THE ROAD AT THE TIME - HAD THIS HAPPENED A FEW SECONDS EARLIER, I'D HAVE BEEN TAKING A VERY SHARP CURVE AT SPEED…

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WHILE DRIVING DOWN A TWO LANE HIGHWAY AT 55MPH IN A VERY REMOTE AND DARK LOCATION, BOTH HEADLIGHTS FAILED. I WAS ABLE TO AVOID WHAT WOULD LIKELY HAVE BEEN A FATAL COLLISION ONLY BECAUSE I WAS ON A STRAIGHT PORTION OF THE ROAD AT THE TIME - HAD THIS HAPPENED A FEW SECONDS EARLIER, I'D HAVE BEEN TAKING A VERY SHARP CURVE AT SPEED AND WOULD LIKELY HAVE DRIVEN OFF THE ROAD BEFORE I COULD REACT. I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER AND TOGGLE THE SWITCH TO REACTIVATE THE LIGHTS, BUT I WAS IN AN AREA SO REMOTE THAT CALLING FOR A ROAD SERVICE WAS NOT POSSIBLE, SO I HAD TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE ANOTHER 35 MILES TO REACH MY HOME. I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT IT WAS LIKELY A "FLUKE" - BUT... BOTH HEADLIGHTS FAILED, SIMULTANEOUSLY, A SECOND TIME, A FEW WEEKS LATER. TOYOTA WANTS TO REPLACE THE BULBS BUT WILL NOT GUARANTEE THAT THEY WILL NOT FAIL, SIMULTANEOUSLY, AGAIN. I'VE SINCE LEARNED THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED TO MANY PRIUS OWNERS AND THAT NHTSA INVESTIGATION DETERMINED THAT THIS PROBLEM IS "NOT SERIOUS" BECAUSE SIMULTANEOUS FAILURE OF BOTH HEADLIGHTS IS "RARE" - BUT THIS VERY THING HAS HAPPENED TWICE IN SO MANY MONTHS TO MY VEHICLE. THE PROBLEM IS IN FACT SO COMMON THAT THERE WAS A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT. IT IS NOT POSSIBLE TO SAFELY OR LEGALLY DRIVE A VEHICLE THAT HAS POTENTIALLY FAILING HEADLIGHTS (THAT THE DEALER WILL NOT GUARANTEE CAN BE FIXED), LEAVING ME WITH A BASICALLY USELESS CAR THAT I CANNOT IN GOOD CONSCIENCE RESELL TO ANOTHER MOTORIST. REALLY, IT IS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME UNTIL THIS KNOWN ISSUE RESULTS IN A FATALITY.

NHTSA ODI #10870911

Mileage unknown · May 25, 2016
Exterior Lighting

DRIVING AT NIGHT THE HEAD LIGHTS WENT OUT, COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. HAD TO TURN HEADLIGHTS ON AND OFF FOR THEM TO WORK. TOOK CAR TO DEALER, SAID IT MIGHT COST 1,000S OF DOLLARS TO FIGURE OUT WHAT IS WRONG. SOUNDS LIKE A RECALL, NOW I CAN'T DRIVE MY CAR AT NIGHT!!! : (

NHTSA ODI #10870908

85,000 miles · May 10, 2016
Exterior Lighting

ONE LIGHT RANDOMLY WENT OFF. THEN AS WE WERE DRIVING (AT NIGHT) BOTH FRONT AND BACK LIGHTS WENT OFF, BOTH HIGH AND LOW BEAMS. ONLY THE FLASHERS AND FOG LIGHTS WORKED. WE CALLED FOR A TOW ($120) AND AS THEY WERE UNLOADING THE CAR AT HOME, THE LIGHTS CAME BACK ON AGAIN. SO IT'S NOT A BULB, NOT A FUSE. I FOUND OUT ONLINE THAT THIS…

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ONE LIGHT RANDOMLY WENT OFF. THEN AS WE WERE DRIVING (AT NIGHT) BOTH FRONT AND BACK LIGHTS WENT OFF, BOTH HIGH AND LOW BEAMS. ONLY THE FLASHERS AND FOG LIGHTS WORKED. WE CALLED FOR A TOW ($120) AND AS THEY WERE UNLOADING THE CAR AT HOME, THE LIGHTS CAME BACK ON AGAIN. SO IT'S NOT A BULB, NOT A FUSE. I FOUND OUT ONLINE THAT THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM.

NHTSA ODI #10864107

90,000 miles · Apr 28, 2016
Exterior Lighting

WHILE DRIVING, HIGH INTENSITY HEADLIGHTS ARE UNRELIABLE - EACH SIDE RANDOMLY TURNS OFF. THIS IS A DANGEROUS ISSUE.

NHTSA ODI #10861987

96,000 miles · Apr 20, 2016
Exterior Lighting

I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE 6 HEADLAMPS ON THIS VEHICLE. THE FIRST TWO FAILURES WERE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY BUT THE PROBLEM PERSISTS. I NOW HAVE HAD TO REPLACE 4 OTHER LAMPS AT A COST OF ABOUT $330 FOR EACH LAMP. TOYOTA HAS NOT RESPONDED. THERE ARE MANY COMPLAINTS FROM OTHER PRIUS OWNERS HAVING THE SAME ISSUE.

NHTSA ODI #10860486

173,123 miles · Apr 15, 2016
Service Brakes

ABS ACTUATOR LEAK . IS NOT ONLY MY CAR

NHTSA ODI #10855622

Mileage unknown · Apr 6, 2016
Exterior Lighting

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE HEADLIGHTS FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF TH…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE HEADLIGHTS FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ODI #10853814

85,000 miles · Apr 4, 2016
Structure

THE REAR LATCH ASSEMBLY IS HELD IN PLACE BY PLASTIC BOLTS. OVER TIME, THE PLASTIC DISTINGRATES. WHEN ATTEMPTING TO OPEN THE REAR LATCH OF THE PARKED CAR, THE PLASTIC CRACKED AND THE ASSEMBLY CAME LOOSE.

NHTSA ODI #10853405

53,000 miles · Mar 31, 2016
Service Brakes

WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON WHEN I STARTED IT- AFTER PURCHASING THE CAR USED (BRAKE LIGHT, ABS, VSC, AND ! LIGHTS). WOULD OCCUR INTERMITTENTLY EVERY OTHER DAY. I REPLACED THE 12V BATTERY. TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP- SAID THEY HAD NOT IDEA AND 'RECALIBRATED' IT. THE LIGHT CAME ON THE NEXT DAY. RETURNED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND NOW WE…

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WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON WHEN I STARTED IT- AFTER PURCHASING THE CAR USED (BRAKE LIGHT, ABS, VSC, AND ! LIGHTS). WOULD OCCUR INTERMITTENTLY EVERY OTHER DAY. I REPLACED THE 12V BATTERY. TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP- SAID THEY HAD NOT IDEA AND 'RECALIBRATED' IT. THE LIGHT CAME ON THE NEXT DAY. RETURNED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND NOW WE ARE BEING TOLD IT'S THE 'BRAKE ACTUATOR' AND IT'S A VERY WELL KNOWN ISSUE IN THE GENERATION 2 PRIUS'. SEE ATTACHED PICTURE FOR WARNING LIGHTS.

NHTSA ODI #10852776

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