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2009 Toyota Prius

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most Prius years

Owner complaints for the 2009 Toyota Prius are substantially higher than the model-year median of 164.

About this comparison →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

402 reports with mileage · 100 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 111 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 91 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 71 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

64 crash reports4 fire reports21 injury reports

Exterior Lighting complaints

111 reports
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59,000 miles · Oct 14, 2014
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting

I HAD JUST PURCHASED MY 2009 TOYOTA PRIUS THE EVENING OF FRIDAY DECEMBER 28TH 2012 AND HAD ONLY DRIVEN THAT WEEKEND. THEN ON THE 31ST I NOTICED WHEN I WAS PULLING INTO A GAS STATION I HAD ONLY ONE HEADLIGHT WORKING... DIDN'T THINK TO MUCH ABOUT IT. THEN WHEN I WAS LEAVING NOTICED THAT BOTH LIGHTS WERE ON WORKING. A FEW HOURS …

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I HAD JUST PURCHASED MY 2009 TOYOTA PRIUS THE EVENING OF FRIDAY DECEMBER 28TH 2012 AND HAD ONLY DRIVEN THAT WEEKEND. THEN ON THE 31ST I NOTICED WHEN I WAS PULLING INTO A GAS STATION I HAD ONLY ONE HEADLIGHT WORKING... DIDN'T THINK TO MUCH ABOUT IT. THEN WHEN I WAS LEAVING NOTICED THAT BOTH LIGHTS WERE ON WORKING. A FEW HOURS LATER I NOTICED A FLICKER LIKE A LIGHT WAS GOING OUT. NOTICED AGAIN PASSENGER HEADLIGHT WAS GOING OUT.. I HAD THE CAR BACK AT THE SHOP OVER A BATTERY ISSUE ON JANUARY 2ND AS MY BATTERY HAD SUDDENLY DIED. WHEN I TOOK IT UP TO TOYOTA I MENTIONED THE HEADLIGHT WAS TOLD OH NOTHING THEY CAN SEE. THEN MONTHS LATER IT CONTINUED. THEN AGAIN EVERY NOW AND THEN.. I WOULD FLIP THE LIGHTS ON AND OFF AND SOMETIMES IT WOULDN'T DO IT AGAIN FOR MONTHS... THEN IN SEPT 2013 IT STARTED TO DO IT ON BOTH SIDES. AGAIN CONTACTED TOYOTA NOTHING. THEN MY TEENAGER DAUGHTER HAD THE CAR AND CALLED ME HYSTERICAL SAYING NO HEADLIGHTS WERE ON. SHE HAD JUST GOTTEN HER LICENSE DAYS PRIOR. HER FIRST OUTING WITHOUT ME. THEN AGAIN BATTERY ISSUE WENT BACK TO TOYOTA WAS TOLD NOT A CLUE. NOW READING THE INFO I'VE COME ACROSS WITH 2001-2009 PRIUS HEADLIGHT ISSUES I'M PISSED THAT TOYOTA IS AWARE OF THIS AND LIED AND SAID THEYHAD NOT HEARD OF SUCH A THING. NOW OCTOBER 2014 I AM NO LONGER ABLE TO DRIVE THE CAR IN THE RAIN OR AT NIGHT. AS I NOW HAVE NO HEADLIGHTS. I FIND THIS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE AND CONSIDERING HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE STATED THIS AND THE FACT SOMEONE CAN BE KILLED OR INJURED SERIOUSLY AS ONE OVERLOOKS I THINK IS A MAJOR SERIOUS ISSUE AND CONCERN. I AM NOT PAYING TO HAVE HEADLIGHTS REPLACED OR ELECTRICAL ISSUES AS THIS IS SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO BE RECALLED AND FIXED BY TOYOTA. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10644701

80,000 miles · Aug 30, 2014
Exterior Lighting

THE HID HEADLIGHTS STARTED TO FLICKER AND WENT OFF. REPEATEDLY HAPPENED. FIRST THE PASSENGER SIDE THEN THE DRIVER SIDE. I HAD THE HID HEADLIGHTS REPLACED TWO DAYS AGO. THE PASSENGER HEADLIGHT WAS STILL DIMMED, THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEEMED FINE. TODAY, THE DRIVER'S SIDE WENT OFF AGAIN AND WON'T TURN BACK ON. THE PASSENGER SIDE IS STI…

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THE HID HEADLIGHTS STARTED TO FLICKER AND WENT OFF. REPEATEDLY HAPPENED. FIRST THE PASSENGER SIDE THEN THE DRIVER SIDE. I HAD THE HID HEADLIGHTS REPLACED TWO DAYS AGO. THE PASSENGER HEADLIGHT WAS STILL DIMMED, THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEEMED FINE. TODAY, THE DRIVER'S SIDE WENT OFF AGAIN AND WON'T TURN BACK ON. THE PASSENGER SIDE IS STILL WORKING, BUT DIMMED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10629521

89,761 miles · Aug 23, 2014
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting

THERE HAS BEEN NO INJURIES OR VEHICLE DAMAGE. I LEFT OFF TOTAL REPAIR COST BECAUSE THE REPAIR SHOP HAS NOT FINISHED SOLVING THE PROBLEM. IN 2013 I STARTED HAVE HAVING HEADLIGHT PROBLEMS AND HAVE IT ABOUT THREE MONTHS SINCE. I HAVE REPLACED THE HEADLIGHT BULBS SEVERAL TIMES ON BOTH SIDES. ONE TIME THE HEADLIGHTS WOULD OPERATE OPP…

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THERE HAS BEEN NO INJURIES OR VEHICLE DAMAGE. I LEFT OFF TOTAL REPAIR COST BECAUSE THE REPAIR SHOP HAS NOT FINISHED SOLVING THE PROBLEM. IN 2013 I STARTED HAVE HAVING HEADLIGHT PROBLEMS AND HAVE IT ABOUT THREE MONTHS SINCE. I HAVE REPLACED THE HEADLIGHT BULBS SEVERAL TIMES ON BOTH SIDES. ONE TIME THE HEADLIGHTS WOULD OPERATE OPPOSITE( ONE SIDE WOULD BE HIGH BEAM ONLY AND THE OTHER WOULD BE LOW BEAM ONLY AND WHEN SWITCHING THE SWITCH INSIDE TO HIGH BEAM THE HEADLIGHTS WOULD SWITCH AS TO WHAT THEY DID ONLY. ON WED 8/20/14 THE LOW BEAM QUIT WORKING. I EARLIER PURCHASED A NEW PLUG AND 2 NEW BULBS IN CASE I HAD A PROBLEM. I TOOK THE CAR TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP( MY ONLY TOYOTA DEALER IN MY TOWN CAN NOT BE TRUSTED) WHERE I LIVE. HE INSTALLED THE NEW PLUG AND WE TRIED EACH OF THE TWO NEW BULBS AND THEY EXHIBITED THE SAME PROBLEM - THE LOW BEAM WAS JUST A SPEC OF LIGHT; NOT ENOUGH FOR THE LOW BEAM. HE TESTED THE VOLTAGE IN THE GROUND SIDE OF THE PLUG AND THE FUSE POSITION IN THE FUSE ASSEMBLY AND IT LIT UP HIS VOLTAGE TESTER WITH A SPEC OF LIGHT. HE HAD NO IDEA WHAT SYSTEM SENT THE VOLTAGE TO THE LOW BEAM SIDE FOR THE PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT. I AM TAKING THE CAR BACK ON WED 8/27/14 TO FINISH THE JOB. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10627709

36,117 miles · Aug 4, 2014
Exterior Lighting

LEFT FRONT HEADLIGHT BEGAN TO FLICKER, THEN FAILED COMPLETELY ON HIGHWAY WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT. TAKEN IN FOR REPAIR ON 8/2/14. WAS TOLD THAT ENTIRE HID ASSEMBLY UNIT AND COMPUTER SUB-ASSY HAD TO BE REPLACE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10618676

134,000 miles · Jul 15, 2014
Exterior Lighting

WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT, BOTH HEADLIGHTS, WITHOUT WARNING WENT OUT. IMMEDIATELY, I PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND TURNED THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH TO OFF. THEN, PAUSED A MOMENT BEFORE RELIGHTING THEM, UNFORTUNATELY RELIGHTING THEM NORMALLY FAILED. SO AGAIN, I WORKED WITH THE SWITCH, ONLY TO DISCOVER THAT THESE WOULD RELIGHT IF A…

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WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT, BOTH HEADLIGHTS, WITHOUT WARNING WENT OUT. IMMEDIATELY, I PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND TURNED THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH TO OFF. THEN, PAUSED A MOMENT BEFORE RELIGHTING THEM, UNFORTUNATELY RELIGHTING THEM NORMALLY FAILED. SO AGAIN, I WORKED WITH THE SWITCH, ONLY TO DISCOVER THAT THESE WOULD RELIGHT IF AND ON IF I HELD THE LIGHTS ON USING THE 'DIMMER MODE' TO BRIGHT THE ROAD. UNFORTUNATELY, MINE LIKE OTHERS, IS UNPREDICTABLE AT BEST - SO REPRODUCING THIS INCIDENT 'ON DEMAND' IS DIFFICULT AT BEST. IN READING OTHER CONSUMER COMPLAINTS, THIS SEEMS TO BE AN ONGOING AND COSTLY PROBLEM. AFTER FURTHER REVIEW, I HAVE DISCOVERED THAT THIS HEADLIGHT CHALLENGE HAS BEEN PART OF A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT. SHAME ON TOYOTA FOR NOT ISSUING A RECALL ON THIS MATTER - PRIUS OWNERS, AS WELL AS FELLOW DRIVERS WHOM WE SHARE THE ROAD WITH ARE AT HIGH RISK. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10610654

58,000 miles · Jul 9, 2014
Exterior Lighting

HEADLIGHT ON RIGHT SIDE (PASSENGER) FADES OUT RANDOMLY - GETTING WORSE OVER PAST 6 MONTHS. NOW BOTH LIGHTS GO OUT. TURNING OFF/ON *USUALLY* FIXES, BUT DOESN'T LAST. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10609200

89,546 miles · Jun 30, 2014
Exterior Lighting

HEADLIGHTS EITHER PASSENGER OR DRIVER SIDE WILL GO OUT FOR NO REASON. TURNING THE LIGHTS OFF AND ON WILL RELIGHT BOTH HEADLAMPS, BUT ONLY FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10606926

56,000 miles · Jun 16, 2014
Exterior Lighting

HEADLIGHTS AT FIRST SEEMED TO ONLY FLICKER THEN I HAD A HEADLIGHT GO OUT THEN I NOTICED THAT I COULD FLIP THE LIGHTS ON AND OFF GET IT TO COME ON. NOW ITS TO THE POINT WE CAN NOT USE THIS CAR AT NIGHT. ITS BECOME A SAFETY HAZARD AND I DO T THINK ITS SOMETHING I SHOULD PAY TO REPAIR AND THINK TOYOTA IS STUPID FOR NOT RECALLING. …

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HEADLIGHTS AT FIRST SEEMED TO ONLY FLICKER THEN I HAD A HEADLIGHT GO OUT THEN I NOTICED THAT I COULD FLIP THE LIGHTS ON AND OFF GET IT TO COME ON. NOW ITS TO THE POINT WE CAN NOT USE THIS CAR AT NIGHT. ITS BECOME A SAFETY HAZARD AND I DO T THINK ITS SOMETHING I SHOULD PAY TO REPAIR AND THINK TOYOTA IS STUPID FOR NOT RECALLING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10598423

99,300 miles · Jun 5, 2014
Exterior Lighting

I HAD JUST BOUGHT MY CAR ON FEBRUARY 19, 2014 AND NOTICED A HEADLIGHT OUT ON THE WAY HOME. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THEY WOULD REPLACE IT. I TOOK IT IN ON FEBRUARY 26, 2014 BUT THEY DIDN'T HAVE A REPLACEMENT BULB. THEY WERE GOING TO CALL ME WHEN IT CAME IN. THE DRIVER'S SIDE HEADLIGHT WOULD RANDOMLY SHUT OFF. ON MAR…

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I HAD JUST BOUGHT MY CAR ON FEBRUARY 19, 2014 AND NOTICED A HEADLIGHT OUT ON THE WAY HOME. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THEY WOULD REPLACE IT. I TOOK IT IN ON FEBRUARY 26, 2014 BUT THEY DIDN'T HAVE A REPLACEMENT BULB. THEY WERE GOING TO CALL ME WHEN IT CAME IN. THE DRIVER'S SIDE HEADLIGHT WOULD RANDOMLY SHUT OFF. ON MARCH 10, 2014 ON THE WAY HOME JUST AFTER DUSK THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME SLAMMED ON THEIR BRAKES TO AVOID A DEER. I SLAMMED ON MY BRAKES TO AVOID HITTING THEM AND MY LIGHTS JUST WENT OFF. I COULD NOT TELL HOW CLOSE I WAS TO THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME AND HAD NO CLUE IF ALL MY LIGHTS WERE OFF AND WHETHER THE CAR FOLLOWING ME COULD SEE ME. I WAS SCARED. I MEAN I WAS REALLY SCARED. I TURNED THE LIGHTS OFF AND BACK ON AND THEY WORKED. THE DEALERSHIP CHANGED THE DRIVER'S SIDE HEADLIGHT ON MARCH 13, 2014 AND TOLD ME THAT A SHORT IN IT HAD CAUSED THE HEADLIGHTS TO SHUT OFF. I AM SCARED TO DRIVE AT NIGHT. ON MAY 14, 2014 THE PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT SHUT OFF FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE THE INCIDENT. I AM AFRAID A SHORT IN IT WILL SHUT OFF BOTH LIGHTS SO I ONLY DRIVE AT NIGHT WHEN I ABSOLUTELY CAN'T KEEP FROM IT. THIS CAR IS GOING TO GET ME KILLED IF I DRIVE AT NIGHT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10596473

130,101 miles · Apr 19, 2014
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting

ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS PRIOR TO THE MOST RECENT INCIDENT DATE LISTED, THE PREVIOUSLY MENTIONED 2009 TOYOTA PRIUS HAS HAD INTERMITTENT COMPLETE OR PARTIAL HEADLIGHT FAILURE. ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS THAT SEEM TO BE RANDOM IN NATURE EITHER THE DRIVERS SIDE OR PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT WILL FAIL INDIVIDUAL WHILE THE COUNTERPART (OPPOSI…

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ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS PRIOR TO THE MOST RECENT INCIDENT DATE LISTED, THE PREVIOUSLY MENTIONED 2009 TOYOTA PRIUS HAS HAD INTERMITTENT COMPLETE OR PARTIAL HEADLIGHT FAILURE. ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS THAT SEEM TO BE RANDOM IN NATURE EITHER THE DRIVERS SIDE OR PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT WILL FAIL INDIVIDUAL WHILE THE COUNTERPART (OPPOSITE HEADLIGHT) WILL CONTINUE TO OPERATE. ALSO, AS RANDOM AS ONE INDIVIDUAL HEADLIGHT FAILING BOTH HEADLIGHTS HAVE GONE OUT OR FAILED SIMULTANEOUSLY. THE OPERATOR HAS BEEN ABLE TO RECTIFY THE IMMEDIATE HAZARD BY SIMPLY TURNING THE MAIN ACTIVATION SWITCH FOR THE HEADLIGHT FROM "ON" TO "OFF" AND THEN TO "ON" AGAIN. THIS PROCEDURE WILL, ON MOST OCCASIONS TEMPORARILY RECTIFY THE IMMEDIATE HAZARD BUT THE INTERMITTENT FAILURE HAS AND WILL CONTINUE. OPERATOR CONDUCTED RESEARCH ON THE ISSUE AND DISCOVERED THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM THE 2005-2009 TOYOTA PRIUS IS DISPLAYING. TOYOTA CORPORATE WAS CONTACTED BY THE OPERATOR AND STATED THAT A CUSTOMER CARE INITIATIVE WAS DIRECTED TO ALL TOYOTA SERVICE DEPARTMENTS TO REDUCE THE COST OF REPLACEMENT BULBS. HOWEVER, WHAT IS UNIQUE ABOUT THIS SITUATION IS A HEADLAMP HID BULB ON THE DRIVERS SIDE WAS REPLACED APPROXIMATELY ONE YEAR AGO AND IS THE MORE FREQUENT HEADLAMP FAILURE OCCURRING. THIS SEEMS TO INVALIDATE THE REMEDY THAT TOYOTA CORPORATE HAS DEVISED WHICH IS TO REPLACE THE BULBS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10583646

Official recalls

6

13V014000 · Air Bags:frontal:sensor/control MODULE-INACTIVE ; Seats

Jan 16, 2013

Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain models interspersed through model years 2009 through 2013 as follows: model year 2009-2012 Tacoma, 4Runner, Camry, Camry Hybrid, Prius, and RAV4; model year 2009-2010 Avalon, FJ Cruiser, and Highlander Hybrid; model year 2010-2013 model year Corolla, Sienna and Tundra; model year 2009-2013 Highlander and Venza; model year 2012 Prius V; and model year 2010-2012 Sequoia. During modification by SET to include accessories such as leather seat covers, seat heaters or headrest DVD systems, these vehicles may not have had the passenger seat occupant sensing system calibration tested. Without passing the calibration test, the occupant sensing system may not operate as designed.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the front passenger seat occupant sensing system is out of calibration, the front passenger airbags may not deploy or they may deploy inappropriately for the passenger's size and position. This could increase the risk of personal injury during the event of a vehicle crash necessitating airbag deployment.

Remedy: Southeast Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will test the sensitivity of the occupant detection sensors, and recalibrate them as necessary. The recall began on March 21, 2013. Owners may contact Southeast Toyota at 1-800-301-6859.

Additional source detail variants (2)

Seats

Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain models interspersed through model years 2009 through 2013 as follows: model year 2009-2012 Tacoma, 4Runner, Camry, Camry Hybrid, Prius, and RAV4; model year 2009-2010 Avalon, FJ Cruiser, and Highlander Hybrid; model year 2010-2013 model year Corolla, Sienna and Tundra; model year 2009-2013 Highlander and Venza; model year 2012 Prius V; and model year 2010-2012 Sequoia. During modification by SET to include accessories such as leather seat covers, seat heaters or headrest DVD systems, these vehicles may not have had the passenger seat occupant sensing system calibration tested. Without passing the calibration test, the occupant sensing system may not operate as designed.

Consequence: If the front passenger seat occupant sensing system is out of calibration, the front passenger airbags may not deploy or they may deploy inappropriately for the passenger's size and position. This could increase the risk of personal injury during the event of a vehicle crash necessitating airbag deployment.

Remedy: Southeast Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will test the sensitivity of the occupant detection sensors, and recalibrate them as necessary. The recall began on March 21, 2013. Owners may contact Southeast Toyota at 1-800-301-6859.

Air Bags:frontal:sensor/control MODULE-INACTIVE

Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain models interspersed through model years 2009 through 2013 as follows: model year 2009-2012 Tacoma, 4Runner, Camry, Camry Hybrid, Prius, and RAV4; model year 2009-2010 Avalon, FJ Cruiser, and Highlander Hybrid; model year 2010-2013 model year Corolla, Sienna and Tundra; model year 2009-2013 Highlander and Venza; model year 2012 Prius V; and model year 2010-2012 Sequoia. During modification by SET to include accessories such as leather seat covers, seat heaters or headrest DVD systems, these vehicles may not have had the passenger seat occupant sensing system calibration tested. Without passing the calibration test, the occupant sensing system may not operate as designed.

Consequence: If the front passenger seat occupant sensing system is out of calibration, the front passenger airbags may not deploy or they may deploy inappropriately for the passenger's size and position. This could increase the risk of personal injury during the event of a vehicle crash necessitating airbag deployment.

Remedy: Southeast Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will test the sensitivity of the occupant detection sensors, and recalibrate them as necessary. The recall began on March 21, 2013. Owners may contact Southeast Toyota at 1-800-301-6859.

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.

10V035000 · Equipment:other:labels

Feb 3, 2010

GULF STATES TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2005-2010 VEHICLES FOR FAILING TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 110, "TIRE SELECTION AND RIMS." THESE VEHICLES WERE SOLD BETWEEN SEPTEMBER 1, 2005 AND JUNE 2, 2008 WITHOUT THE REQUISITE LOAD CARRYING CAPACITY MODIFICATION LABELS.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS DOES NOT MEET THE STANDARD REQUIREMENTS.

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. DEALERS WILL ALSO CORRECT THE OWNER'S MANUAL. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 27, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT GULF STATES TOYOTA AT 713-580-3300.

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