2006 Toyota PRIUS: complaints, problems and recalls

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED A PIECE OF THE DASHBOARD STICKS OUT, CAUSING A GLARE ON THE WINDSHIELD. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. *AK UPDATED 03/20/06. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10147362 at NHTSA ↗

WHEN COMING TO A STOP THE BRAKES STUTTER OR GRAB. IT IS EXPLAINED IN DETAIL AT THIS THREAD: HTTP://PRIUSCHAT.COM/-T11858.HTML AND HERE: HTTP://PRIUSCHAT.COM/INDEX.PHP?ACT=ST&F=19&T=16922. *NM

Owner-reported narrative. 300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10152925 at NHTSA ↗

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE GPS NAVIGATIONAL SYSTEM DOES NOT ACCEPT ADDRESSES RENDERING IT INOPERABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED. ALTHOUGH THE VEHICLE WAS SEEN BY A DEALER, NO REPAIRS WERE MADE BECAUSE A REMEDY WAS NOT AVAILABLE. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. 1,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10154162 at NHTSA ↗

GAS TANK GAUGE SAYS ITS COMPLETELY FULL NO MATTER HOW MUCH FUEL IS IN THE TANK. AS OF THIS WRITING I HAVE DRIVEN APPROX. 120 MILES ON THIS TANK OF GAS AND THE GAUGE STILL SHOWS THE TANK AS FULL. IT HAS NOT YET BEEN FIXED. *NM

Owner-reported narrative. 2,300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10158657 at NHTSA ↗

I WAS WALKING THROUGH A PARKING LOT WHEN THE PRIUS I WAS BEHIND BACKED UP INTO ME (I MOVED QUICKLY AWAY AND WAS NOT INJURED). I DID NOT KNOW THE CAR WAS ABOUT TO BACK UP BECAUSE IT MADE NO NOISE. I DID NOT EVEN KNOW IT WAS ON. I DON'T KNOW WHY I DIDN'T NOTICE ANY BACKUP LIGHTS, PROBABLY BECAUSE IT WAS A BRIGHT SUNNY DAY. I WOULD LIKE, AS A PEDESTRIAN, TO BE ABLE TO HEAR THAT A CAR IS RUNNING AND ABOUT TO MOVE. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10158842 at NHTSA ↗

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED, WHILE TRAVELING AT 50 MPH,MERGING WITH HIGHWAY TRAFFIC, THE ACCELERATOR WAS DEPRESSED AND THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE UP TO 90 MPH EVEN WHEN PRESSURE WAS TAKEN OFF THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. PRESSURE WAS APPLIED TO THE BRAKES, BUT THE ENGINE DID NOT DISENGAGE. WITH CONTINUED PRESSURE TO THE BRAKES, THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED. HOWEVER, THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO RACE AT AN ALARMING RATE. THE IGNITION WAS TURNED OFF. UPON INSPECTION, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS STILL AGAINST THE FLOORBOARD. AFTER TAPPING THE ACCELERATOR A FEW…

Owner-reported narrative. 2,100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10163068 at NHTSA ↗

ON OUR 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS WE HAVE HAD 3 CATASTROPHIC TIRE FAILURES INVOLVING THE GOODYEAR INTEGRITY TIRE WHICH CAME ON THE CAR. THE FAILURES HAVE ALL BEEN ON I-40 AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS RESULTING IN A MINOR LOSS OF CONTROL. EACH TIME WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GET THE CAR SAFELY OFF THE ROAD. TIRES JUST DISINTEGRATE AT SIDE WALLS. PRESSURES ARE CHECKED REGULARLY BY HUSBAND WHO IS A FFA LICENSED AIRCRAFT MECHANIC. TOYOTA AND GOODYEAR DENY ANY LIKE PROBLEMS. *NM

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10164573 at NHTSA ↗

2006 TOYOTA PRIUS GASOLINE ENGINE SHUT OFF. THE FOLLOWING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASH: MASTER WARNING LIGHT, HYBRID SYSTEM WARNING LIGHT, BRAKE SYSTEM WARNING LIGHT, VEHICLE STABILITY CONTROL SYSTEM WARNING LIGHT AND MALFUNCTION INDICATOR WARNING LIGHT. *KB THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO OPERATE AT A LOW SPEED ON THE ELECTRIC ENGINE AND THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE PULLED ONTO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE CONSUMER SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF THEN AFTER A FEW MINUTES STARTED IT BACK UP. THE VEHICLE OPERATED NORMALLY BUT ALL THE LIGHT WERE STILL ILLUMINATED. …

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10164734 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2006-04-03 (April 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: 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.

Reported: 2006-05-31 (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: 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.

Reported: 2009-10-05 (October 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: 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.

Reported: 2010-02-03 (February 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: 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.

Reported: 2012-11-14 (November 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: 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.

Reported: 2012-11-14 (November 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: 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.