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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.

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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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38,000 miles · Nov 15, 2009
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting

2008 TOYOTA PRIUS HEADLAMP KEEPS GOING OUT. REPLACED BOTH HID HEADLAMPS AS TOYOTA CORPORATE TOLD ME TO DO AND PROBLEM CONSISTS. SAFETY HAZARD WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT WITH CHILDREN IN CAR AND BUSY PEDESTRIANS ON DARK ROADS WITH STROLLERS AND BABIES NOT COUNTING DEER OR OTHER ANIMALS. TOYOTA HAS REFUSED TO RECALL ISSUE. IM TIRED!…

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2008 TOYOTA PRIUS HEADLAMP KEEPS GOING OUT. REPLACED BOTH HID HEADLAMPS AS TOYOTA CORPORATE TOLD ME TO DO AND PROBLEM CONSISTS. SAFETY HAZARD WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT WITH CHILDREN IN CAR AND BUSY PEDESTRIANS ON DARK ROADS WITH STROLLERS AND BABIES NOT COUNTING DEER OR OTHER ANIMALS. TOYOTA HAS REFUSED TO RECALL ISSUE. IM TIRED! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10292212

23,210 miles · Nov 8, 2009
Exterior Lighting

DRIVER'S SIDE HID HEADLIGHT SPONTANEOUSLY FAILED, BOTH HIGH AND LOW BEAMS, WAS ABLE TO CONTINUE DRIVING WITH ONLY PASSENGER-SIDE HEADLIGHTS BUT WAS CONCERNED THEY MIGHT FAIL AS WELL. CAR IS LESS THAN 2 YEARS OLD; DEALER COVERED REPLACEMENT UNDER STANDARD TOYOTA PRIUS WARRANTY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10291387

16,000 miles · Nov 8, 2009
Exterior Lighting

A RECALL IS NECESSARY ON THIS PRIUS HEADLIGHT ISSUE. THEY ARE CONTINUING TO FAIL RIGHT AND LEFT AND THE DEALERSHIPS ARE RIPPING PEOPLE OFF TO THE TUNE OF OVER $300 TO CHANGE A HEADLAMP. THEY FAIL AT LESS THEN 16K MILES EITHER TOTALLY OR BY INTERMITTENTLY GOING ON AND OFF. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10291385

15,000 miles · Nov 5, 2009
Exterior Lighting

HID HEADLIGHTS ON 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS BEGAN TO DIM SUDDENLY AND STAY DIM. FLASHING LIGHTS ON AND OFF TEMPORARILY BRIGHTEN THE LIGHTS BUT THEY BECOME DIM AGAIN. HAPPENS CONSTANTLY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10291140

56,000 miles · Nov 4, 2009
Exterior Lighting

BOTH HEADLIGHTS ON OUR 2008 PRIUS BEGAN FLICKERING ON AND OFF, AND ULTIMATELY WOULD FLICKER OFF AT NIGHT LEAVING US WITH NO LIGHTS. IF WE TURNED THE LIGHTS OFF AND THEN ON AGAIN, THE LIGHTS WOULD WORK FOR A FEW MINUTES THEN TURN OFF AGAIN. THE CAR WAS ONLY TWO YEARS OLD. WHEN WE TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP, WE WERE TOLD WE WO…

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BOTH HEADLIGHTS ON OUR 2008 PRIUS BEGAN FLICKERING ON AND OFF, AND ULTIMATELY WOULD FLICKER OFF AT NIGHT LEAVING US WITH NO LIGHTS. IF WE TURNED THE LIGHTS OFF AND THEN ON AGAIN, THE LIGHTS WOULD WORK FOR A FEW MINUTES THEN TURN OFF AGAIN. THE CAR WAS ONLY TWO YEARS OLD. WHEN WE TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP, WE WERE TOLD WE WOULD NEED TO REPLACE BOTH BULBS AT A COST TO US OF OVER 600 DOLLARS. TOYOTA DEALERSHIP REPLACED BOTH LIGHTS, THE NEXT DAY THE PASSENGER HID HEADLIGHT WAS ALREADY OUT AGAIN, SO WE TOOK THE CAR BACK, AND THEY SAID THE BRAND NEW BULB MUST HAVE BEEN DEFECTIVE. I DON'T BELIEVE THEM, IT SEEMS OBVIOUS THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THESE HID LIGHTS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10290924

42,000 miles · Nov 2, 2009
Exterior Lighting

LEFT FRONT HEADLIGHT ON 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS KEEPS GOING OFF. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10290725

56,000 miles · Nov 1, 2009
Exterior Lighting

BOTH HEADLIGHTS ON OUR 2008 PRIUS BEGAN FLICKERING ON AND OFF, AND ULTIMATELY WOULD FLICKER OFF AT NIGHT LEAVING US WITH NO LIGHTS. IF WE TURNED THE LIGHTS OFF AND THEN ON AGAIN, THE LIGHTS WOULD WORK FOR A FEW MINUTES THEN TURN OFF AGAIN. THE CAR WAS ONLY TWO YEARS OLD. WHEN WE TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP, WE WERE TOLD WE WO…

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BOTH HEADLIGHTS ON OUR 2008 PRIUS BEGAN FLICKERING ON AND OFF, AND ULTIMATELY WOULD FLICKER OFF AT NIGHT LEAVING US WITH NO LIGHTS. IF WE TURNED THE LIGHTS OFF AND THEN ON AGAIN, THE LIGHTS WOULD WORK FOR A FEW MINUTES THEN TURN OFF AGAIN. THE CAR WAS ONLY TWO YEARS OLD. WHEN WE TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP, WE WERE TOLD WE WOULD NEED TO REPLACE BOTH BULBS AT A COST TO US OF OVER 600 DOLLARS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10290522

47,000 miles · Oct 30, 2009
Exterior Lighting

I HAD A HEADLIGHT GO OUT. BEFORE I COULD GET IT FIXED I NOTICED THAT IT WOULD COME ON WHEN I TURNED THE LIGHTS ON AND THEN FADE OUT. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE OTHER HEADLIGHT WENT OUT WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, AT NIGHT. I TURNED OFF THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH AND THEN TURNED IT BACK ON AND THE ONE LIGHT CAME BACK ON. I TOOK IT TO THE D…

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I HAD A HEADLIGHT GO OUT. BEFORE I COULD GET IT FIXED I NOTICED THAT IT WOULD COME ON WHEN I TURNED THE LIGHTS ON AND THEN FADE OUT. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE OTHER HEADLIGHT WENT OUT WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, AT NIGHT. I TURNED OFF THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH AND THEN TURNED IT BACK ON AND THE ONE LIGHT CAME BACK ON. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY REPLACED ONE BULB. IT LASTED A WEEK AND THEN DRIVING AT NIGHT THE LIGHTS WENT OUT AGAIN. I AGAIN TURNED THE LGITHTS OFF AND ON AND THE CAME BACK ON. I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS PROBLEM ONLINE. HTTP://WWW.GOOGLE.COM/SEARCH?SOURCEID=NAVCLIENT&AQ=2H&OQ=&IE=UTF-8&RLZ=1T4GGIK_ENUS283US283&Q=PRIUS+HEADLIGHT+PROBLEMS. THIS IS A CLEAR SAFETY ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. WHO IS TO SAY THAT SOMEONE HASN'T BEEN KILLED ALREADY. ARE THERE ANY UNEXPLAINED PRIUS ACCIDENTS RUNNING OFF THE ROAD FOR NO REASON? *TR

NHTSA ODI #10290370

60,000 miles · Oct 28, 2009
Exterior Lighting

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. ON OCTOBER 28, 2009 BOTH HEADLIGHTS FAILED. HE TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF FOR A FEW MINUTES, AND THEN THE HEAD-LIGHTS TURNED BACK ON. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED. HE WILL CONTACT THE MANUFACTURER. THE CURRENT AND THE FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 60,000. THE VIN WAS NOT …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. ON OCTOBER 28, 2009 BOTH HEADLIGHTS FAILED. HE TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF FOR A FEW MINUTES, AND THEN THE HEAD-LIGHTS TURNED BACK ON. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED. HE WILL CONTACT THE MANUFACTURER. THE CURRENT AND THE FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 60,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #10290088

41,000 miles · Oct 27, 2009
Exterior Lighting

MY RIGHT HEADLIGHT GOES OFF AND SOMETIMES IT WILL COME BACK ON WITH ME TURNING OFF THE ON THE HEADLIGHT. MY WIFE TODAY HAD THE LIGHT TURN OFF AND THE MAINTENANCE LIGHT CAME ON. I TRIED TO TURN OFF THEN ON BUT THE LIGHT STAYED OFF. I AM GOING TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED 55 MILES TO THE TOYOTA DEALER IN REDDING CA. UPON READING THE …

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MY RIGHT HEADLIGHT GOES OFF AND SOMETIMES IT WILL COME BACK ON WITH ME TURNING OFF THE ON THE HEADLIGHT. MY WIFE TODAY HAD THE LIGHT TURN OFF AND THE MAINTENANCE LIGHT CAME ON. I TRIED TO TURN OFF THEN ON BUT THE LIGHT STAYED OFF. I AM GOING TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED 55 MILES TO THE TOYOTA DEALER IN REDDING CA. UPON READING THE PRIUS CHAT SITE I HAVE FOUND OUT THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH PRIUS'S WITH HID LIGHTS. THIS I FEEL IS A FACTORY PROBLEM AND SHOULD NOT COST ME ANYTHING TO FIX. THANKS DENNIS SWOPE *TR

NHTSA ODI #10289924

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