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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

Exterior Lighting complaints

579 reports
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75,000 miles · Sep 10, 2013
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting

MY HEADLIGHT KEEPS GOING OUT. I KNOW ITS A KNOWN PROBLEM BUT THERE HAS NOT BEEN RECALL AND IT DID NOT OCCUR UNTIL RECENTLY, SO IT DOES NOT FIT IN WITH THE TOYOTA 50,000 MILES AND UNDER RULE. HOWEVER, I HAVE BEEN STOPPED A COUPLE TIMES AND ITS HAPPENING MORE AND MORE EVERY DAY. THIS SHOULD BE RECALLED! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10542824

94,000 miles · Aug 11, 2013
Exterior Lighting

I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN BOTH MY LIGHTS STARTED TO FLICKER AND THEN BOTH WENT OUT. THEN AFTER TURNING THE HEADLIGHTS OFF THEN MY RIGHT HEADLIGHT STAYED OFF AND MY LEFT HEADLIGHT CAME BACK ON AND I CONTINUED ON THE ROAD, AFTER ABOUT 5 MINS DOWN THE ROAD THE LEFT WENT OUT AGAIN BUT CAME BACK ON. AND DIDN'T HAVE PROBLEMS W…

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I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN BOTH MY LIGHTS STARTED TO FLICKER AND THEN BOTH WENT OUT. THEN AFTER TURNING THE HEADLIGHTS OFF THEN MY RIGHT HEADLIGHT STAYED OFF AND MY LEFT HEADLIGHT CAME BACK ON AND I CONTINUED ON THE ROAD, AFTER ABOUT 5 MINS DOWN THE ROAD THE LEFT WENT OUT AGAIN BUT CAME BACK ON. AND DIDN'T HAVE PROBLEMS WITH IT AGAIN. THEN 3 WEEKS AGO I GOT MY RIGHT BULB REPLACED AND IT WORKED WITH NO PROBLEMS. THEN AFTER 2 WEEKS MY BULB BLEW AGAIN. THEN LAST NIGHT I WAS COMING HOME ON MY WAY FROM MY BARN AND THE LEFT HEADLIGHT FLICKERED 1 TIME AND THEN I HAD NO HEADLIGHTS AND TOOK MY CAR DOWN INTO A FIELD BECAUSE I COULDN'T SEE AFTER I CAME TO A STOP MY LIGHTS CAME BACK ON WITH ME TURNING THE LIGHTS ON AND OFF. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10534723

83,000 miles · Jul 24, 2013
Exterior Lighting

THIS HAS HAPPENED A NUMBER OF TIMES BEFORE. WE WERE DRIVING AT NIGHT ABOUT 11:00 P.M. AND THE HEADLIGHTS WERE WORKING FINE. SUDDENLY, BOTH HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT. I SLOWED THE CAR AND TURNED THE HEADLIGHTS OFF AND TURNED THEM BACK ON AGAIN VERY QUICKLY. NO PROBLEM THE REST OF THE WAY HOME. SOMETIMES THE LIGHTS WOULD DIM AND I …

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THIS HAS HAPPENED A NUMBER OF TIMES BEFORE. WE WERE DRIVING AT NIGHT ABOUT 11:00 P.M. AND THE HEADLIGHTS WERE WORKING FINE. SUDDENLY, BOTH HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT. I SLOWED THE CAR AND TURNED THE HEADLIGHTS OFF AND TURNED THEM BACK ON AGAIN VERY QUICKLY. NO PROBLEM THE REST OF THE WAY HOME. SOMETIMES THE LIGHTS WOULD DIM AND I WAS NOT SURE IF THEY WERE ON OR NOT AND WOULD SHUT THEM OFF AGAIN AND THEN ON AGAIN. SOMETIMES OTHER DRIVERS WOULD SIGNAL ME THAT THE HEADLIGHTS WERE NOT WORKING AND I WOULD TURN THEM OFF AND THEN ON AGAIN AND THEY WOULD BOTH BE LIT. BUT OFTEN WHEN THERE IS STILL AMBIENT LIGHT AS ON A CITY STREET OR LOTS OF OTHER CARS, I WOULD NOT BE AWARE THAT THEY WERE OFF UNTIL I HIT A DARK SECTION OF ROAD. I WENT TO TOYOTA YESTERDAY AND THE REPLACED BOTH BULBS. THIS HAPPENED A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO AND I BECAME AWARE OF IT BECAUSE I WAS FOLLOWING MY SON IN LAW IN HIS CAR AND HE SAID THAT I HAD NO LIGHTS. VERY SCARY. I DID THE SAME THING THEN AND TURNED THEM OFF AND ON AGAIN. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10531714

58,800 miles · Jul 19, 2013
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting

WHILE DRIVING HOME, FRIENDS WHO WERE FOLLOWING ME PASSED ME THEN CALLEDTO LET ME KNOW THAT MY CAR'S RIGHT FRONT LIGHT AND LEFT REAR LIGHT WAS NOT WORKING. FOR THE LAST WEEK OR SO PEOPLE COMING TOWARDS ME BLINKED THEIR LIGHTS .. I HAVE REGULAR CHECKUPS AT THE TOYOTA PLACE, SO I IGNORED IT. LOOKING BACK ON IT, THEY WERE PROBABL…

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WHILE DRIVING HOME, FRIENDS WHO WERE FOLLOWING ME PASSED ME THEN CALLEDTO LET ME KNOW THAT MY CAR'S RIGHT FRONT LIGHT AND LEFT REAR LIGHT WAS NOT WORKING. FOR THE LAST WEEK OR SO PEOPLE COMING TOWARDS ME BLINKED THEIR LIGHTS .. I HAVE REGULAR CHECKUPS AT THE TOYOTA PLACE, SO I IGNORED IT. LOOKING BACK ON IT, THEY WERE PROBABLY TRYING TO TELL ME ABOUT THE HEADLIGHT. I TOOK MY 2008 PRIUS TO THE TOYOTA DEALER TO REPLACE THE BULBS. THE REPAIR REPRESENTATIVE SAID THAT THE FRONT LIGHTS WERE WORKING BUT THE LEFT REAR LIGHT WASN'T . WHEN I TOLD HIM BOTH LIGHTS WERE DEFINITELY NOT WORKING THE PREVIOUS NIGHT, HE SAID IF I WANTED, THEY COULD REPLACE THE REAR LIGHT WITH A BULB, BUT THE RIGHT HEADLIGHT WAS MORE DIFFICULT DUE TO REMOVING THE BUMPER AND CHANGING THE LIGHT ASSEMBLY (NOT JUST A BULB!). THIS WOULD COST ME ABOUT $300. I THOUGHT THAT A BULB REPLACEMENT WOULD DO IT BUT NOT SO, THIS CAR HAS BLUE LIGHTS THAT REQUIRE BUMPER REMOVAL TO EVEN GET TO THE LIGHT. SINCE THE LIGHT WAS WORKING AT THAT TIME AND $300 IS A LOT FOR A RETIRED SINGLE WOMAN , I TOLD HIM I WOULD THINK ABOUT IT. NOT KNOWING IF THE LIGHT WILL WORK OR NOT, I QUIT DRIVING AFTER DARK. HOWEVER, UNEXPECTED RAIN STORMS FORCED ME TO TURN THE LIGHTS ON A COUPLE DAYS AGO. IT WORKED. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM IS I AM NOT SURE IF THEY WILL COME ON OR NOT. MAYBE THE LEFT HEADLIGHT IS DOING THE SAME THING: GOING OFF AND ON WHEN I HAVE NO INDICATION THAT THIS IS HAPPENING. I BOUGHT THE PRIUS TO SAVE MONEY ON GAS AND CALLED IT MY "LAST" CAR AND HAVE TAKEN CARE OF IT AS PRESCRIBED. NOW I DON'T FEEL SAFE TO DRIVE IT AT NIGHT OR WHEN IT RAINS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10525814

Mileage unknown · Jun 27, 2013
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting

LEFT HID HEADLIGHT FLICKERS ON AND OFF, THEN TURNS OFF. IF I TURN THE HEADLIGHTS OFF AND THEN BACK ON AGAIN, THE LIGHT WILL STAY ON FOR A BIT, BUT THEN WILL EVENTUALLY FLICKER OUT AGAIN. ALSO, THE BULB IS VERY DIFFICULT TO ACCESS AND REPLACE, AND TOYOTA REPORTEDLY CHARGES A LOT TO REPLACE AND INSTALL THESE BULBS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10522065

65,000 miles · Jun 26, 2013
Exterior Lighting

THERE IS CONDENSATION IN DRIVER SIDE HEADLIGHT. TOYOTA AND ALSO THEIR EXTRA CARE PLATINUM POLICY ARE NOT WILLING TO TAKE CARE OF PROBLEM. TOYOTA DEALER SAID "IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR PRIUS" , BUT THERE IS NO REPAIR SEALING, THEY SAY THE ENTIRE HOUSING NEEDS TO BE CHANGED, MOISTURE IS A DANGER TO THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM! THEY SA…

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THERE IS CONDENSATION IN DRIVER SIDE HEADLIGHT. TOYOTA AND ALSO THEIR EXTRA CARE PLATINUM POLICY ARE NOT WILLING TO TAKE CARE OF PROBLEM. TOYOTA DEALER SAID "IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR PRIUS" , BUT THERE IS NO REPAIR SEALING, THEY SAY THE ENTIRE HOUSING NEEDS TO BE CHANGED, MOISTURE IS A DANGER TO THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM! THEY SAY, TOTAL PRICE AROUND $600. WHY SHOULD I BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR MANUFACTURING DEFECT, AND ALSO BE IN DANGER IF LIGHTS WOULD GO OFF WHEN DRIVING. I AM A 67 YEAR OLD FEMALE KEEP MY CAR IN PERFECT ORDER AND IT WOULD BE VERY DANGEROUS FOR ME IF ANY LIGHT FAILURE WAS TO HAPPEN WHEN I AM DRIVING AT NIGHT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10521815

55,000 miles · Jun 18, 2013
Exterior Lighting

THE HEADLIGHT WILL GO OUT,I TURN MY LIGHTS OFF THAN ON AGAIN THE LIGHT WILL COME ON AGAIN. THIS KEEPS HAPPENING OVER AND OVER AGAIN

NHTSA ODI #10521328

64,000 miles · Jun 15, 2013
Exterior Lighting

LIGHT WILL TURN OFF, I WILL TURN THE SWITCH AND THEY COME BACK ON BUT DON'T STAY ON, I HAVE BEEN USING THE HIGH BEAMS BUT NOW THEY WILL NOT WORK. THE REGULAR BEAMS ARE STAYING ON A LITTLE LONGER BUT HAVE TO DO THE SAME THING, TURN THE SWITCH AND ON AGAIN, THE DEALER CAN'T SEEM TO FIND THE PROBLEM AT A COST OF $1100, AND NOW RE…

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LIGHT WILL TURN OFF, I WILL TURN THE SWITCH AND THEY COME BACK ON BUT DON'T STAY ON, I HAVE BEEN USING THE HIGH BEAMS BUT NOW THEY WILL NOT WORK. THE REGULAR BEAMS ARE STAYING ON A LITTLE LONGER BUT HAVE TO DO THE SAME THING, TURN THE SWITCH AND ON AGAIN, THE DEALER CAN'T SEEM TO FIND THE PROBLEM AT A COST OF $1100, AND NOW REPLACING THE LIGHT BULBS AT $350 IS A BIT MUCH. I DO A LOT OF DRIVING DURING DAWN HOURS AND NIGHT. WHY IS TOYOTA NOT COVER THE COST OF THIS PROBLEM. THIS IS AN ISSUE WITH MANY OF THE PRIUS FROM 2005 TO 2008 IT SHOULD BE A RECALL TO HAVE THE CONTROL MODULE REPLACED ON ALL HID LIGHTS D2R. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10519924

64,355 miles · Jun 14, 2013
Exterior Lighting

I WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE WHEN THE DRIVER SIDE HEADLIGHT WENT OUT. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO DRIVE FINE, WHILE ON THE FREEWAY ALL THE LIGHTS TURNED OFF. I WAS ABLE TO TURN THE SWITCH OFF AND THEN ON AGAIN. WHEN DOING SO THE PASSENGER SIDE LIGHT TURNED BACK ON. APPROXIMATELY 7-10 MINUTES LATER THE LIGHTS WENT OUT AGAIN. AGAIN I F…

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I WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE WHEN THE DRIVER SIDE HEADLIGHT WENT OUT. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO DRIVE FINE, WHILE ON THE FREEWAY ALL THE LIGHTS TURNED OFF. I WAS ABLE TO TURN THE SWITCH OFF AND THEN ON AGAIN. WHEN DOING SO THE PASSENGER SIDE LIGHT TURNED BACK ON. APPROXIMATELY 7-10 MINUTES LATER THE LIGHTS WENT OUT AGAIN. AGAIN I FLIPPED THE SWITCH OFF THEN ON AGAIN AND THE LIGHTS TURNED BACK ON. THIS HAPPENED ABOUT 3-4 TIMES OVER A 32 MINUTE DRIVE. WHEN I GOT HOME, I TURNED THE LIGHTS ON IN MY DRIVEWAY AND THEY WERE BOTH WORKING. AS I BACKED OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY THE LEFT HEAD LIGHT WENT OUT AGAIN. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10519759

101,000 miles · Jun 4, 2013
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting

ALL LIGHTS SUDDENLY WENT BLACK, FRONT, BACK EVERYTHING. I WAS GOING 50 MPH ON A MOUNTAIN ROAD AND WAS ON A STRAIGHT ROAD SECTION OUT OF THE CURVES WHEN EVERYTHING WENT BLACK. IT WAS NIGHT-TIME AT ABOUT 9:30 PM SO VERY DARK. I WENT INTO SHOCK IMMEDIATELY SLAMMED ON BRAKES, JUST GLAD NO ONE IN BACK OF ME AND CAREFULLY TRIED TO …

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ALL LIGHTS SUDDENLY WENT BLACK, FRONT, BACK EVERYTHING. I WAS GOING 50 MPH ON A MOUNTAIN ROAD AND WAS ON A STRAIGHT ROAD SECTION OUT OF THE CURVES WHEN EVERYTHING WENT BLACK. IT WAS NIGHT-TIME AT ABOUT 9:30 PM SO VERY DARK. I WENT INTO SHOCK IMMEDIATELY SLAMMED ON BRAKES, JUST GLAD NO ONE IN BACK OF ME AND CAREFULLY TRIED TO FEEL TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THIS IS A ROAD WITH ALOT OF 18 WHEELERS AS IT IS A MAJOR ROUTE. ALSO VERY CURVY, AND I WAS LUCKY NOT TO GET KILLED!!!!! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10515077

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