Model year record

2004 Toyota Prius

6 recall campaigns on file for this model year. 739 owner complaints on file.

Recalls

Recall campaignNHTSA 12V536000

Hybrid propulsion system: inverter

Component: Hybrid propulsion system: inverter
Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing
Vehicles affected: 350,662
Reported to NHTSA: 2012-11-14
Owners notified: 2013-01-17

Defect description

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.

Safety risk

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.

Manufacturer 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.

Recall campaignNHTSA 12V537000

Steering: gear box: shaft sector

Component: Steering: gear box: shaft sector
Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing
Vehicles affected: 669,705
Reported to NHTSA: 2012-11-14
Owners notified: 2012-12-20

Defect description

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.

Safety risk

Over time, the splines may wear and eventually fail resulting in a loss of steering ability, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.

Manufacturer 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.

Recall campaignNHTSA 09V388000

Vehicle speed control: accelerator pedal

Component: Vehicle speed control: accelerator pedal
Manufacturer: TOYOTA MOTOR NORTH AMERICA, INC.
Vehicles affected: 4,445,056
Reported to NHTSA: 2009-10-05
Owners notified: 2009-12-31

Defect description

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.

Safety risk

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.

Manufacturer 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.

Recall campaignNHTSA 06V188000

Steering: electric power assist system

Component: Steering: electric power assist system
Manufacturer: TOYOTA MOTOR NORTH AMERICA, INC.
Vehicles affected: 170,856
Reported to NHTSA: 2006-05-31
Owners notified: 2006-06-09

Defect description

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.

Safety risk

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

Manufacturer 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.

Recall campaignNHTSA 06V096000

Air bags

Component: Air bags
Manufacturer: TOYOTA MOTOR NORTH AMERICA, INC.
Vehicles affected: 133
Reported to NHTSA: 2006-04-03
Owners notified: 2006-04-06

Defect description

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.

Safety risk

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

Manufacturer 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.

Recall campaignNHTSA 04V558000

Exterior lighting: brake lights: switch

Component: Exterior lighting: brake lights: switch
Manufacturer: TOYOTA MOTOR NORTH AMERICA, INC.
Vehicles affected: 183,090
Reported to NHTSA: 2004-11-22
Owners notified: 2004-12-20

Defect description

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.

Safety risk

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

Manufacturer remedy

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

Owner complaints

A complaint is one person's report to a federal agency. It is not a finding.

Component	Complaints	Median mileage
Exterior lighting	164	110,000 mi
Electrical system	154	36,872 mi
Vehicle speed control	48	62,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling	45	12,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling: engine	29	12,000 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic	24	54,000 mi
Service brakes	22	138,000 mi
Power train	18	87,691 mi
Exterior lighting: headlights	17	98,000 mi
Air bags	16	74,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling: engine: gasoline	15	11,000 mi
Unknown or other	14	28,800 mi
Service brakes, electric	13	90,000 mi
Power train: automatic transmission	12	50,000 mi
Electrical system: 12V/24V/48V battery	11	7,000 mi
Electrical system: instrument cluster/panel	10	41,500 mi
Engine	9	105,675 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip	9	33,378 mi
Steering	9	120,000 mi
Electronic stability control (ESC)	6	45,000 mi
Visibility	6	71,132 mi
Engine and engine cooling: cooling system	5	126,000 mi
Equipment	5	17,000 mi
Fuel system, gasoline	4	44,500 mi
Fuel/propulsion system	4	104,000 mi
Traction control system	4	93,000 mi
Vehicle speed control: accelerator pedal	4	56,767 mi
Parking brake	3	50,000 mi
Seat belts: rear/other	3	4,000 mi
Air bags: frontal	2	8,500 mi
Electrical system: alternator/generator/regulator	2	17 mi
Electrical system: ignition	2	7,000 mi
Electrical system: software	2	85,000 mi
Electrical system: wiring	2	2,000 mi
Electronic stability control: automatic (ASC)	2	1,750 mi
Equipment: electrical: navigational system(global positioning system)	2	6,800 mi
Exterior lighting: brake lights: switch	2	68,000 mi
Fuel system, other	2	4,550 mi
Fuel system, other: storage: fuel gauge system	2	10 mi
Power train: automatic transmission: control module (TCM/PCM/TECM)	2	8,000 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip: ABS warning light	2	84,380 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip: control unit/module	2	83,668 mi
Structure	2	140,422 mi
Suspension	2	30,000 mi
Tires	2	—
Electrical system: wiring: front underhood	1	5,396 mi
Electrical system: wiring: interior/under dash	1	3,300 mi
Engine and engine cooling: cooling system: fan	1	68,000 mi
Exterior lighting: brake lights	1	—
Exterior lighting: tail lights	1	50,000 mi
Forward collision avoidance: automatic emergency braking	1	154,079 mi
Fuel system, gasoline: delivery	1	10,000 mi
Fuel system, gasoline: storage: tank assembly	1	—
Latches/locks/linkages	1	75,500 mi
Latches/locks/linkages: hatchback/liftgate: lock	1	—
Power train: automatic transmission: gear position indication (PRNDL)	1	80,845 mi
Power train: manual transmission	1	150,000 mi
Seat belts	1	134,000 mi
Seat belts: front	1	8,500 mi
Seats	1	80,312 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: brake fluid low warning: lamp	1	42,980 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: disc: caliper	1	11,906 mi
Steering: hydraulic power assist system	1	—
Tires: tread/belt	1	—
Visibility/wiper	1	118,000 mi
Visibility: defroster/defogger/hvac system	1	28,000 mi
Visibility: power window devices and controls	1	68,000 mi
Visibility: windshield	1	—
Wheels	1	217,029 mi

The 2003 model has 6 times as many complaints as this one. The 2005 model has about half as many complaints as this one. These figures reflect raw complaint counts, not failure rates. Higher-selling model years naturally receive more complaints.

Safety recall repairs are provided free of charge by franchised dealers, regardless of vehicle age or mileage. This page displays aggregated data for the model year. To check recall status for a specific vehicle, search its VIN at nhtsa.gov.