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2004 Toyota Prius

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most Prius years

Owner complaints for the 2004 Toyota Prius are substantially higher than the model-year median of 164.

About this comparison →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

503 reports with mileage · 107 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 184 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 177 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 89 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

38 crash reports2 fire reports21 injury reports

What owners actually said

610 reports
Mileage unknown · Jun 20, 2015
Exterior Lighting

PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT BEGAN TO TURN OFF INTERMITTENTLY AND HAS CONTINUED SINCE.

NHTSA ODI #10726337

285,000 miles · May 23, 2015
Exterior Lighting

HEADLAMP FAILS INTERMITTENTLY. USUALLY CORRECTED BY SWITCHING THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH OFF AND THEN BACK ON. SOMETIMES THIS DOES NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM.

NHTSA ODI #10721148

156,654 miles · Mar 20, 2015
Electrical System

THE DASHBOARD DISPLAY FAILED TO LIGHT UP, BUT THE CAR TURNED ON. IT DID GO INTO DRIVE, SO I DROVE MY DAUGHTER TO SCHOOL, THEN STOPPED TO CALL COGGIN TOYOTA AT THE AVENUES TO REPORT THE PROBLEM, BUT THE CAR WOULD NOT TURN OFF. THEY SAID IT WAS THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER, A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THE PRIUS AND FOR WHICH THERE WAS A TECHNI…

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THE DASHBOARD DISPLAY FAILED TO LIGHT UP, BUT THE CAR TURNED ON. IT DID GO INTO DRIVE, SO I DROVE MY DAUGHTER TO SCHOOL, THEN STOPPED TO CALL COGGIN TOYOTA AT THE AVENUES TO REPORT THE PROBLEM, BUT THE CAR WOULD NOT TURN OFF. THEY SAID IT WAS THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER, A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THE PRIUS AND FOR WHICH THERE WAS A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN AND A WARRANTY ENHANCEMENT, ALTHOUGH THAT "ENHANCEMENT" ENDED 9 YEARS AFTER THE VEHICLE WENT INTO SERVICE. I BROUGHT THE CAR IN RIGHT AWAY SINCE I COULDN'T TURN IT OFF. MY CAR IS 10 YEARS OLD. I CALLED TOYOTA TO COMPLAIN THAT I HAD NOT BEEN TOLD ABOUT THIS WHEN IT WAS STILL UNDER THE ENHANCED WARRANTY PERIOD (ALTHOUGH THEY HAVE RECORDS SAYING THEY MAILED SOMETHING) AND THAT IF I HAD KNOWN ABOUT THIS (AND APPARENTLY DOZENS OF OTHER PROBLEMS LOOMING OUT THERE FOR WHICH THERE ARE TSBS) ONE WEEK EARLIER WHEN I PAID OVER $3,000 TO HAVE THE HYBRID BATTERY ARRAY REPLACED, I MIGHT HAVE MADE A DIFFERENT CHOICE. MY BIGGEST COMPLAIN CENTERS ON BEING TOLD WHAT I BELIEVE WAS A LIE BY THE TOYOTA CUSTOMER SERVICE REP --[XXX] -- WHEN I PRESSED FOR WHY, IF THE MANUFACTURER KNOWS THE PART HAS A HIGH FAILURE RATE THAT IT'S WILLING TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR, DOES THAT ENHANCED WARRANTY PERIOD END? SHE TOLD ME THE GOVERNMENT OF CALIFORNIA AND OTHER STATES LIMITS THAT PERIOD TO 9 YEARS. SHE COULD NOT PROVIDE DOCUMENTATION OF THAT GOVERNMENT REGULATION, AND IT DOESN'T SOUND RIGHT THAT REGULATIONS IN CALIFORNIA (OR OTHER STATES) WOULD LIMIT THE TIME IT WOULD ALLOW A COMPANY TO OFFER REPAIRS TO ITS PRODUCT WITH AN ENHANCED WARRANTY. HAS THIS HAPPENED TO ANYONE ELSE AND WHAT CAN BE DONE ABOUT IT? INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI #10700735

260,000 miles · Feb 12, 2015
Exterior Lighting

LEFT HEADLIGHT TURNED OFF INTERMITTENTLY. IF I TURNED THE LIGHT OFF AND BACK ON THE HEADLIGHT WOULD BRIEFLY WORK BUT THEN TURN OFF AGAIN. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10682886

Mileage unknown · Jan 31, 2015
Power Train

VEHICLE SLIPS INTO NEUTRAL AND/OR WILL NOT REVERT BACK TO DRIVE OR REVERSE. THE PROBLEM IS MOST PREVALENT WHEN WEATHER GETS EXTREMELY HOT (99 DEGREES +). THE ONLY WAY I WAS ABLE TO GET MOVING WAS TO PHYSICALLY HOLD MY SHIFTER IN DRIVE POSITION; THE SECOND I LET IT GO, THE VEHICLE AUTOMATICALLY REVERTED BACK TO NEUTRAL. I HAD …

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VEHICLE SLIPS INTO NEUTRAL AND/OR WILL NOT REVERT BACK TO DRIVE OR REVERSE. THE PROBLEM IS MOST PREVALENT WHEN WEATHER GETS EXTREMELY HOT (99 DEGREES +). THE ONLY WAY I WAS ABLE TO GET MOVING WAS TO PHYSICALLY HOLD MY SHIFTER IN DRIVE POSITION; THE SECOND I LET IT GO, THE VEHICLE AUTOMATICALLY REVERTED BACK TO NEUTRAL. I HAD MY VEHICLE OVER TO A LOCAL TOYOTA DEALERSHIP ABOUT THIS ISSUE. THE TECHNICIAN AT THAT TIME DID ACKNOWLEDGE THIS WAS STRANGE AND WITNESSED THE PROBLEM ON SITE. AFTER DIAGNOSING THE VEHICLE, HE COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG; I WAS TOLD TO LEAVE THE CAR WITH THE DEALERSHIP FOR A FEW DAYS TO TRY TO REPLICATE THE PROBLEM; NO OTHER MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION WAS OFFERED. I FELT IT WOULD HAVE BEEN AN UNFAIR EXPENSE TO RENT A CAR FOR AN UNDETERMINED AMOUNT OF TIME WHILE TOYOTA DIAGNOSED MY VEHICLE FOR SEVERAL DAYS; THAT SAID, I DID NOT RETURN TO THE SAME DEALERSHIP FOR THIS SPECIFIC MATTER. GIVEN THAT THIS SEEMS TO OCCUR ONLY IN EXTREME HOT WEATHER, YOU WOULD HAVE TO REPLICATE THE SAME ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS TO DIAGNOSE IT. MOREOVER, GIVEN THE SPONTANEITY OF THIS ISSUE IT COULD TAKE A VERY LONG TIME TO DIAGNOSE IT. THIS IS TRULY A SAFETY CONCERN ESPECIALLY WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION. I HAVE ATTACHED TWO YOUTUBE VIDEO LINKS THAT DEMONSTRATE THIS PROBLEM OTHER OWNERS ARE EXHIBITING WITH THIS SAME ISSUE THAT DEMONSTRATE THAT I'M NOT JUST AN ISOLATED CONSUMER WITH THIS ISSUE. HTTP://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=QFXEEUC761E HTTP://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=HWT-HVN5EH8. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10680271

105,000 miles · Jan 29, 2015
Electrical System

I HAVE BEEN HAVING A PROBLEM WITH MY PRIUS COMBINATION DISPLAY (DIGITAL DISPLAY THAT SHOWS THE SPEED, MILEAGE, FUEL LEVEL, CURRENT GEAR SELECTION, ETC.). SOMETIMES WHEN I TURN ON MY CAR, THE COMBINATION DISPLAY IS BLANK AND WILL NOT TURN ON. THE REST OF THE CAR TURNS ON, BUT THAT DISPLAY REMAINS BLANK. I CAN DRIVE THE CAR, BU…

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I HAVE BEEN HAVING A PROBLEM WITH MY PRIUS COMBINATION DISPLAY (DIGITAL DISPLAY THAT SHOWS THE SPEED, MILEAGE, FUEL LEVEL, CURRENT GEAR SELECTION, ETC.). SOMETIMES WHEN I TURN ON MY CAR, THE COMBINATION DISPLAY IS BLANK AND WILL NOT TURN ON. THE REST OF THE CAR TURNS ON, BUT THAT DISPLAY REMAINS BLANK. I CAN DRIVE THE CAR, BUT I CAN'T SEE MY SPEED, MILEAGE, OR WHAT GEAR THE CAR IS IN. THIS USUALLY HAPPENS WHEN IT IS COLD OUTSIDE (BELOW 50 DEGREES OR SO). WHEN THE PROBLEM FIRST CAME UP IN 2012, I WOULD TURN OFF THE CAR AND TURN IT BACK ON AND THE DISPLAY WOULD THEN WORK FINE. IT WAS VERY HARD TO REPEAT THE PROBLEM AND IT WAS QUITE INTERMITTENT. THIS WINTER (2014-2015) THE PROBLEM HAS COME BACK, BUT NOW THE DISPLAY WILL OFTEN NOT TURN BACK ON EVEN IF I POWER CYCLE THE CAR. THERE IS ANOTHER NEW RELATED PROBLEM. WHENEVER THE CAR SHOWS THIS DISPLAY PROBLEM, I THEN CANNOT TURN OFF THE CAR. I PRESS THE POWER BUTTON AND NOTHING HAPPENS. I EVEN TRIED TO HOLD IT DOWN FOR 3-10 SECONDS. THE CAR WILL NOT SHUT OFF. I HAVE TO USUALLY DISCONNECT THE BATTERY TO GET IT TO POWER DOWN. THIS PROBLEM HAS ME CONCERNED. NOT BEING ABLE TO SEE MY SPEED IS MY BIGGEST CONCERN. ALSO SINCE THE GEAR SHIFT LEVER ALWAYS RETURNS TO A RESET SPOT (IT DOESN'T STAY IN THE GEAR POSITION AFTER YOU SELECT YOUR GEAR) IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE WHAT GEAR THE VEHICLE IS IN. ALSO VERY CONCERNING. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY CONFIRMED THE PROBLEM/DEFECT. IT APPEARS THAT MANY OTHER OWNERS HAVE THIS SAME PROBLEM. I BELIEVE THERE IS A DEFECT IN THE MANUFACTURING OF THE DISPLAY/CIRCUIT BOARD. TOYOTA DID INITIALLY OFFER TO FIX THE PROBLEM, BUT BY THE TIME I COULD ACTUALLY REPEAT THE PROBLEM TO SHOW TO THE DEALER, THE OFFER HAD EXPIRED FOR ME TO GET IT REPAIRED. IT'S A SERIOUS ISSUE THAT I WANTED TO REPORT TO THE NHTSA. THANK YOU. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10679735

280,000 miles · Dec 30, 2014
Electrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA PRIUS. AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL FAILED TO ILLUMINATE AND THE GAUGES WERE DIFFICULT TO READ. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED, THE KEY FAILED TO BE REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION AND THE VEHICLE FAILED TO TURN OFF. THE V…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA PRIUS. AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL FAILED TO ILLUMINATE AND THE GAUGES WERE DIFFICULT TO READ. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED, THE KEY FAILED TO BE REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION AND THE VEHICLE FAILED TO TURN OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE COMBINATION METER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 280,000.

NHTSA ODI #10668948

155,000 miles · Dec 4, 2014
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting

THE RIGHT HEADLIGHT KEEPS GOING OUT AND AFTER WE TURN THE SWITCH BACK AND FORTH IT GOES BACK ON. THIS PAST WEEKEND IN A DRIVING RAIN STORM AT NIGHT, THE LIGHTS WENT COMPLETELY OUT ON A WINDY MOUNTAIN ROAD. I FLICKED THEM ON AND OFF SEVERAL TIMES AND THEY WOULD GO ON AND THEN GO OUT SHORTLY AFTERWARDS. NEITHER DIM OR BRIGHT WOULD…

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THE RIGHT HEADLIGHT KEEPS GOING OUT AND AFTER WE TURN THE SWITCH BACK AND FORTH IT GOES BACK ON. THIS PAST WEEKEND IN A DRIVING RAIN STORM AT NIGHT, THE LIGHTS WENT COMPLETELY OUT ON A WINDY MOUNTAIN ROAD. I FLICKED THEM ON AND OFF SEVERAL TIMES AND THEY WOULD GO ON AND THEN GO OUT SHORTLY AFTERWARDS. NEITHER DIM OR BRIGHT WOULD WORK. I ENDED UP HAVING TO PULL THE BRIGHT SIGNAL ON THE COLUMN BACK MANUALLY AND HOLD IT WHILE DRIVING THE LAST 45 MINUTES TO HOME. IT WAS VERY DANGEROUS FOR ABOUT 20 MILES IN THE RAIN AT NIGHT THE LIGHTS GOING IN AND OUT ON CURVES OR AGAINST ON COMING TRAFFIC, A HEAD-ON COULD HAVE OCCURRED EASILY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10662185

113,700 miles · Nov 23, 2014
Steering

MY DAUGHTER BORROWED MY PRIUS FOR A DRIVE FROM LAYTON, UTAH TO SEATTLE. WITHIN AN HOUR OF LEAVING MY HOME IN LAYTON, UTAH SHE CALLED CONCERNED ABOUT A VIBRATION IN THE FRONT END OF MY PRIUS AS SHE APPROACHED 80MPH. WHEN SHE RETURNED TO UTAH, I HAD THE TIRES CHECKED, REBALANCED, AND THE FRONT END REALIGNED. SOON AFTER THAT, MY …

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MY DAUGHTER BORROWED MY PRIUS FOR A DRIVE FROM LAYTON, UTAH TO SEATTLE. WITHIN AN HOUR OF LEAVING MY HOME IN LAYTON, UTAH SHE CALLED CONCERNED ABOUT A VIBRATION IN THE FRONT END OF MY PRIUS AS SHE APPROACHED 80MPH. WHEN SHE RETURNED TO UTAH, I HAD THE TIRES CHECKED, REBALANCED, AND THE FRONT END REALIGNED. SOON AFTER THAT, MY HUSBAND AND I LEFT FOR THE TAHOE AREA. WE EXPERIENCED A VIBRATION WHENEVER WE EASED THE STEERING FROM EITHER A LEFT OR RIGHT PRESSURE TO NEUTRAL. THEN AT LOW SPEED GOING OVER A ROUGH ROAD WITH POTHOLES, IT SOUNDED AS IF THE STEERING COLUMN WAS GOING TO FALL APART. I HAVE A RECORDING OF THE RATTLING NOISE IT MADE. I RETURNED TO THE DEALERSHIP I PURCHASED MY PRIUS FROM. THEY FOUND THAT THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT WAS LOOSE AND RECOMMENDED REPLACING IT. PARTS #45260,45209, AND 45221 WERE REPLACED. THE VIBRATION AND RATTLING NOISE HAVE BEEN ELIMINATED. THE COST TO ME WAS $1003.84. ACCORDING TO MY VIN NUMBER, THERE HAS BEEN NO RECALL FOR THE PARTS USED TO ASSEMBLE MY PRIUS. I URGE YOU TO LOOK FURTHER INTO THE QUALITY OF THE PARTS USED TO ASSEMBLE THE STEERING MECHANISM IN MY PRIUS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10660398

93,268 miles · Nov 16, 2014
Service Brakes

BRAKE LIGHT AND ABS LIGHT STILL ON AFTER RELEASE THE BRAKE PEDAL . *TR

NHTSA ODI #10655311

Official recalls

6

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.

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.

06V188000 · Steering:electric Power Assist System

May 31, 2006

THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT AND SLIDING YOKE IN THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING SYSTEM CAN CRACK WHEN LARGE FORCES ARE APPLIED AND THE CONNECTION MAY SEPARATE OR THE SLEEVE MAY FRACTURE.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS COULD RESULT IN A LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE.

Remedy: TOYOTA WILL REPLACE THE STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT AND INSPECT THE SLIDING YOKE AND REPLACE IT IF NECESSARY. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 9, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331.

06V096000 · Air Bags

Apr 3, 2006

ON CERTAIN VEHICLES, DUE TO IMPROPER ASSEMBLY OF THE AIR BAG INFLATOR, WHICH IS USED IN THE SIDE AIR BAG, THE CURTAIN SHIELD AIR BAG, AND THE KNEE AIR BAG ASSEMBLY, SOME INFLATORS WERE PRODUCED WITH AN INSUFFICIENT AMOUNT OF THE HEATING AGENTS NECESSARY FOR PROPER AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT. IN THIS CONDITION, THE EXPANSION FORCE OF THE GAS MAY BE INSUFFICIENT TO PROPERLY INFLATE THE AIR BAG WHEN THE SRS SYSTEM IS ACTIVATED DURING A CRASH.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS MAY INCREASE THE RISK OF INJURY TO THE OCCUPANT IN THE INVOLVED SEATING POSITION IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE SPECIFIC SRS AIR BAG. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 6, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-888-270-9371, SCION AT 1-866-548-1851, OR LEXUS AT 1-800-255-3987.

04V558000 · Exterior Lighting:brake Lights:switch

Nov 22, 2004

CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES MAY BE EQUIPPED WITH AN IMPROPERLY DESIGNED BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH. A SILICON OXIDE BUILD-UP OCCURS ON THE CONTACTS INSIDE THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH, WHICH CAN MAKE IT INOPERABLE.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF THE SWITCH IS INOPERABLE, THE BRAKE LIGHTS WILL NOT ILLUMINATE AND CAN INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH. THE RECALL BEGAN DURING DECEMBER 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331.

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

3

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

PE05029 · Engine Stalling

Opened May 31, 2005 · Closed Oct 12, 2005

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine And Engine Cooling; Engine And Engine Cooling:engine; Unknown Or Other

ODI OPENED PE05-029 BASED ON 33 REPORTS OF ALLEGED GASOLINE ENGINE STALLING ON THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.THE SUBJECT VEHICLES ARE GASOLINE/ ELECTRIC HYBRID VEHICLES THAT CAN BE OPERATED IN GASOLINE OR ELECTRIC MODES, OR A COMBINATION OF BOTH DEPENDING ON THE POWER DEMAND.ALL REPORTS ALLEGE THAT THE GASOLINE ENGINE SHUT DOWN SUDDENLY WITHOUT WARNING.SOME OF THE COMPLAINANTS REPORTED THAT THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO OPERATE USING THE ELECTRIC MODE FOR A PERIOD OF TIME AFTER THE GAS ENGINE STALLED AND SOME REPORTED THAT THE VEHICLE SHUT DOWN AT THE SAME TIME THAT THEY FELT THE GAS ENGINE STALLED.SOME CONSUMERS REPORTED THAT THEY WERE ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE EITHER IMMEDIATELY OR AFTER ALLOWING THE VEHICLE SIT FOR A SHORT TIME, WHEREAS OTHERS REPORTED THAT THEY HAD THEIR VEHICLE TOWED.DURING PE05-029, ADDITIONAL FAILURE DATA WAS IDENTIFIED AS NOTED IN THE FAILURE REPORT SUMMARY ABOVE.THE COMPLAINT DATA REPRESENTS INCIDENTS WHERE ENGINE STALLING WAS ALLEGED OR WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS ALLEGED TO HAVE ONE OF THE VARIOUS CONDITIONS THAT CAUSES THE GAS ENGINE TO STALL.IN ITS AUGUST 26, 2005 RESPONSE TO ODI'S INFORMATION REQUEST, TOYOTA IDENTIFIED VARIOUS CONDITIONS THAT COULD CAUSE THE SUBJECT VEHICLES TO EXPERIENCE A GAS ENGINE STALL.IF THIS HAPPENS, THE DRIVER IS ALERTED BY AN AUDIBLE SOUND AND VARIOUS WARNING LIGHTS.THE VEHICLE WILL CONTINUE TO OPERATE IN THE ELECTRIC MODE AND THE ELECTRICALLY-POWERED BRAKE AND STEERING OPERATION WILL CONTINUE TO FUNCTION NORMALLY. ANALYSIS OF THE WARRANTY DATA INDICATED THAT OVER 97% OF VEHICLES EXPERIENCING A GAS ENGINE STALL RESULTED FROM AN ISSUE WITH THE PROGRAM LOGIC IN THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE (ECM) SYSTEM, WHICH MAY CAUSE THE ECM SYSTEM TO NOT START THE GAS ENGINE WHEN REQUIRED.AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE WILL ENTER THE LIMITED OPERATION MODE DESCRIBED ABOVE.THE MAJORITY OF THE ODI COMPLAINTS ALSO INDICATED THAT THE DRIVER EXPERIENCED THIS CONDITION IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE ENGINE STALL. DURING OCTOBER 2005, TOYOTA INFORMED ODI THAT IT WOULD INITIATE A SPECIAL SERVICE CAMPAIGN (SSC) TO REPROGRAM THE ECM SOFTWARE ON APPROXIMATELY 75,000 MY 2004 AND EARLY 2005 SUBJECT VEHICLES TO ADDRESS THE GAS ENGINE STALLING CONDITION.DURING THIS SSC, DEALERS WILL ALSO APPLY SPECIAL DIELECTRIC GREASE TO A TRANSAXLE CONNECTOR TO PREVENT WATER INTRUSION WHICH MAY ALSO CAUSE SIMILAR LIMITED OPERATION CONDITIONS.BASED ON ODI'S ANALYSIS, THIS REMEDY SHOULD ADDRESS MOST OF THE INCIDENTS RESULTING IN A LIMITED OPERATION MODE.GIVEN THESE CIRCUMSTANCES, FURTHER USE OF THE AGENCY RESOURCES IN THIS MATTER DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE WARRANTED.ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT DOES NOT EXIST.THE AGENCY WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR COMPLAINTS AND OTHER INFORMATION RELATING TO THE ALLEGED DEFECT IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES AND TAKE FURTHER ACTION IN THE FUTURE IF WARRANTED.

Additional source detail variants (3)

Engine And Engine Cooling:engine

ODI OPENED PE05-029 BASED ON 33 REPORTS OF ALLEGED GASOLINE ENGINE STALLING ON THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.THE SUBJECT VEHICLES ARE GASOLINE/ ELECTRIC HYBRID VEHICLES THAT CAN BE OPERATED IN GASOLINE OR ELECTRIC MODES, OR A COMBINATION OF BOTH DEPENDING ON THE POWER DEMAND.ALL REPORTS ALLEGE THAT THE GASOLINE ENGINE SHUT DOWN SUDDENLY WITHOUT WARNING.SOME OF THE COMPLAINANTS REPORTED THAT THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO OPERATE USING THE ELECTRIC MODE FOR A PERIOD OF TIME AFTER THE GAS ENGINE STALLED AND SOME REPORTED THAT THE VEHICLE SHUT DOWN AT THE SAME TIME THAT THEY FELT THE GAS ENGINE STALLED.SOME CONSUMERS REPORTED THAT THEY WERE ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE EITHER IMMEDIATELY OR AFTER ALLOWING THE VEHICLE SIT FOR A SHORT TIME, WHEREAS OTHERS REPORTED THAT THEY HAD THEIR VEHICLE TOWED.DURING PE05-029, ADDITIONAL FAILURE DATA WAS IDENTIFIED AS NOTED IN THE FAILURE REPORT SUMMARY ABOVE.THE COMPLAINT DATA REPRESENTS INCIDENTS WHERE ENGINE STALLING WAS ALLEGED OR WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS ALLEGED TO HAVE ONE OF THE VARIOUS CONDITIONS THAT CAUSES THE GAS ENGINE TO STALL.IN ITS AUGUST 26, 2005 RESPONSE TO ODI'S INFORMATION REQUEST, TOYOTA IDENTIFIED VARIOUS CONDITIONS THAT COULD CAUSE THE SUBJECT VEHICLES TO EXPERIENCE A GAS ENGINE STALL.IF THIS HAPPENS, THE DRIVER IS ALERTED BY AN AUDIBLE SOUND AND VARIOUS WARNING LIGHTS.THE VEHICLE WILL CONTINUE TO OPERATE IN THE ELECTRIC MODE AND THE ELECTRICALLY-POWERED BRAKE AND STEERING OPERATION WILL CONTINUE TO FUNCTION NORMALLY. ANALYSIS OF THE WARRANTY DATA INDICATED THAT OVER 97% OF VEHICLES EXPERIENCING A GAS ENGINE STALL RESULTED FROM AN ISSUE WITH THE PROGRAM LOGIC IN THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE (ECM) SYSTEM, WHICH MAY CAUSE THE ECM SYSTEM TO NOT START THE GAS ENGINE WHEN REQUIRED.AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE WILL ENTER THE LIMITED OPERATION MODE DESCRIBED ABOVE.THE MAJORITY OF THE ODI COMPLAINTS ALSO INDICATED THAT THE DRIVER EXPERIENCED THIS CONDITION IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE ENGINE STALL. DURING OCTOBER 2005, TOYOTA INFORMED ODI THAT IT WOULD INITIATE A SPECIAL SERVICE CAMPAIGN (SSC) TO REPROGRAM THE ECM SOFTWARE ON APPROXIMATELY 75,000 MY 2004 AND EARLY 2005 SUBJECT VEHICLES TO ADDRESS THE GAS ENGINE STALLING CONDITION.DURING THIS SSC, DEALERS WILL ALSO APPLY SPECIAL DIELECTRIC GREASE TO A TRANSAXLE CONNECTOR TO PREVENT WATER INTRUSION WHICH MAY ALSO CAUSE SIMILAR LIMITED OPERATION CONDITIONS.BASED ON ODI'S ANALYSIS, THIS REMEDY SHOULD ADDRESS MOST OF THE INCIDENTS RESULTING IN A LIMITED OPERATION MODE.GIVEN THESE CIRCUMSTANCES, FURTHER USE OF THE AGENCY RESOURCES IN THIS MATTER DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE WARRANTED.ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT DOES NOT EXIST.THE AGENCY WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR COMPLAINTS AND OTHER INFORMATION RELATING TO THE ALLEGED DEFECT IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES AND TAKE FURTHER ACTION IN THE FUTURE IF WARRANTED.

Engine And Engine Cooling

ODI OPENED PE05-029 BASED ON 33 REPORTS OF ALLEGED GASOLINE ENGINE STALLING ON THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.THE SUBJECT VEHICLES ARE GASOLINE/ ELECTRIC HYBRID VEHICLES THAT CAN BE OPERATED IN GASOLINE OR ELECTRIC MODES, OR A COMBINATION OF BOTH DEPENDING ON THE POWER DEMAND.ALL REPORTS ALLEGE THAT THE GASOLINE ENGINE SHUT DOWN SUDDENLY WITHOUT WARNING.SOME OF THE COMPLAINANTS REPORTED THAT THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO OPERATE USING THE ELECTRIC MODE FOR A PERIOD OF TIME AFTER THE GAS ENGINE STALLED AND SOME REPORTED THAT THE VEHICLE SHUT DOWN AT THE SAME TIME THAT THEY FELT THE GAS ENGINE STALLED.SOME CONSUMERS REPORTED THAT THEY WERE ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE EITHER IMMEDIATELY OR AFTER ALLOWING THE VEHICLE SIT FOR A SHORT TIME, WHEREAS OTHERS REPORTED THAT THEY HAD THEIR VEHICLE TOWED.DURING PE05-029, ADDITIONAL FAILURE DATA WAS IDENTIFIED AS NOTED IN THE FAILURE REPORT SUMMARY ABOVE.THE COMPLAINT DATA REPRESENTS INCIDENTS WHERE ENGINE STALLING WAS ALLEGED OR WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS ALLEGED TO HAVE ONE OF THE VARIOUS CONDITIONS THAT CAUSES THE GAS ENGINE TO STALL.IN ITS AUGUST 26, 2005 RESPONSE TO ODI'S INFORMATION REQUEST, TOYOTA IDENTIFIED VARIOUS CONDITIONS THAT COULD CAUSE THE SUBJECT VEHICLES TO EXPERIENCE A GAS ENGINE STALL.IF THIS HAPPENS, THE DRIVER IS ALERTED BY AN AUDIBLE SOUND AND VARIOUS WARNING LIGHTS.THE VEHICLE WILL CONTINUE TO OPERATE IN THE ELECTRIC MODE AND THE ELECTRICALLY-POWERED BRAKE AND STEERING OPERATION WILL CONTINUE TO FUNCTION NORMALLY. ANALYSIS OF THE WARRANTY DATA INDICATED THAT OVER 97% OF VEHICLES EXPERIENCING A GAS ENGINE STALL RESULTED FROM AN ISSUE WITH THE PROGRAM LOGIC IN THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE (ECM) SYSTEM, WHICH MAY CAUSE THE ECM SYSTEM TO NOT START THE GAS ENGINE WHEN REQUIRED.AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE WILL ENTER THE LIMITED OPERATION MODE DESCRIBED ABOVE.THE MAJORITY OF THE ODI COMPLAINTS ALSO INDICATED THAT THE DRIVER EXPERIENCED THIS CONDITION IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE ENGINE STALL. DURING OCTOBER 2005, TOYOTA INFORMED ODI THAT IT WOULD INITIATE A SPECIAL SERVICE CAMPAIGN (SSC) TO REPROGRAM THE ECM SOFTWARE ON APPROXIMATELY 75,000 MY 2004 AND EARLY 2005 SUBJECT VEHICLES TO ADDRESS THE GAS ENGINE STALLING CONDITION.DURING THIS SSC, DEALERS WILL ALSO APPLY SPECIAL DIELECTRIC GREASE TO A TRANSAXLE CONNECTOR TO PREVENT WATER INTRUSION WHICH MAY ALSO CAUSE SIMILAR LIMITED OPERATION CONDITIONS.BASED ON ODI'S ANALYSIS, THIS REMEDY SHOULD ADDRESS MOST OF THE INCIDENTS RESULTING IN A LIMITED OPERATION MODE.GIVEN THESE CIRCUMSTANCES, FURTHER USE OF THE AGENCY RESOURCES IN THIS MATTER DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE WARRANTED.ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT DOES NOT EXIST.THE AGENCY WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR COMPLAINTS AND OTHER INFORMATION RELATING TO THE ALLEGED DEFECT IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES AND TAKE FURTHER ACTION IN THE FUTURE IF WARRANTED.

Unknown Or Other

ODI OPENED PE05-029 BASED ON 33 REPORTS OF ALLEGED GASOLINE ENGINE STALLING ON THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.THE SUBJECT VEHICLES ARE GASOLINE/ ELECTRIC HYBRID VEHICLES THAT CAN BE OPERATED IN GASOLINE OR ELECTRIC MODES, OR A COMBINATION OF BOTH DEPENDING ON THE POWER DEMAND.ALL REPORTS ALLEGE THAT THE GASOLINE ENGINE SHUT DOWN SUDDENLY WITHOUT WARNING.SOME OF THE COMPLAINANTS REPORTED THAT THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO OPERATE USING THE ELECTRIC MODE FOR A PERIOD OF TIME AFTER THE GAS ENGINE STALLED AND SOME REPORTED THAT THE VEHICLE SHUT DOWN AT THE SAME TIME THAT THEY FELT THE GAS ENGINE STALLED.SOME CONSUMERS REPORTED THAT THEY WERE ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE EITHER IMMEDIATELY OR AFTER ALLOWING THE VEHICLE SIT FOR A SHORT TIME, WHEREAS OTHERS REPORTED THAT THEY HAD THEIR VEHICLE TOWED.DURING PE05-029, ADDITIONAL FAILURE DATA WAS IDENTIFIED AS NOTED IN THE FAILURE REPORT SUMMARY ABOVE.THE COMPLAINT DATA REPRESENTS INCIDENTS WHERE ENGINE STALLING WAS ALLEGED OR WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS ALLEGED TO HAVE ONE OF THE VARIOUS CONDITIONS THAT CAUSES THE GAS ENGINE TO STALL.IN ITS AUGUST 26, 2005 RESPONSE TO ODI'S INFORMATION REQUEST, TOYOTA IDENTIFIED VARIOUS CONDITIONS THAT COULD CAUSE THE SUBJECT VEHICLES TO EXPERIENCE A GAS ENGINE STALL.IF THIS HAPPENS, THE DRIVER IS ALERTED BY AN AUDIBLE SOUND AND VARIOUS WARNING LIGHTS.THE VEHICLE WILL CONTINUE TO OPERATE IN THE ELECTRIC MODE AND THE ELECTRICALLY-POWERED BRAKE AND STEERING OPERATION WILL CONTINUE TO FUNCTION NORMALLY. ANALYSIS OF THE WARRANTY DATA INDICATED THAT OVER 97% OF VEHICLES EXPERIENCING A GAS ENGINE STALL RESULTED FROM AN ISSUE WITH THE PROGRAM LOGIC IN THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE (ECM) SYSTEM, WHICH MAY CAUSE THE ECM SYSTEM TO NOT START THE GAS ENGINE WHEN REQUIRED.AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE WILL ENTER THE LIMITED OPERATION MODE DESCRIBED ABOVE.THE MAJORITY OF THE ODI COMPLAINTS ALSO INDICATED THAT THE DRIVER EXPERIENCED THIS CONDITION IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE ENGINE STALL. DURING OCTOBER 2005, TOYOTA INFORMED ODI THAT IT WOULD INITIATE A SPECIAL SERVICE CAMPAIGN (SSC) TO REPROGRAM THE ECM SOFTWARE ON APPROXIMATELY 75,000 MY 2004 AND EARLY 2005 SUBJECT VEHICLES TO ADDRESS THE GAS ENGINE STALLING CONDITION.DURING THIS SSC, DEALERS WILL ALSO APPLY SPECIAL DIELECTRIC GREASE TO A TRANSAXLE CONNECTOR TO PREVENT WATER INTRUSION WHICH MAY ALSO CAUSE SIMILAR LIMITED OPERATION CONDITIONS.BASED ON ODI'S ANALYSIS, THIS REMEDY SHOULD ADDRESS MOST OF THE INCIDENTS RESULTING IN A LIMITED OPERATION MODE.GIVEN THESE CIRCUMSTANCES, FURTHER USE OF THE AGENCY RESOURCES IN THIS MATTER DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE WARRANTED.ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT DOES NOT EXIST.THE AGENCY WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR COMPLAINTS AND OTHER INFORMATION RELATING TO THE ALLEGED DEFECT IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES AND TAKE FURTHER ACTION IN THE FUTURE IF WARRANTED.