Model year record

2008 Toyota Prius

4 recall campaigns on file for this model year. 1,920 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 10V036000

Equipment: other: labels

Component: Equipment: other: labels
Manufacturer: SOUTHEAST TOYOTA DISTRIBUTORS, LLC
Vehicles affected: 153,418
Reported to NHTSA: 2010-02-03
Owners notified: 2010-05-27

Defect description

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.

Safety risk

A DRIVER MAY OVERLOAD A VEHICLE WHICH MAY INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Manufacturer 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.

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.

Owner complaints

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

Component	Complaints	Median mileage
Exterior lighting	553	58,000 mi
Electrical system	232	81,500 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic	157	21,000 mi
Service brakes	155	129,325 mi
Vehicle speed control	144	28,000 mi
Service brakes, electric	77	15,000 mi
Unknown or other	54	98,000 mi
Engine	51	98,357 mi
Electronic stability control (ESC)	43	30,050 mi
Structure: body	42	82,000 mi
Power train	41	79,359 mi
Traction control system	40	20,000 mi
Air bags	34	80,000 mi
Exterior lighting: headlights	29	38,000 mi
Fuel/propulsion system	27	95,000 mi
Fuel system, gasoline	22	22,000 mi
Steering	18	50,050 mi
Structure	18	45,000 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip: control unit/module	14	850 mi
Vehicle speed control: accelerator pedal	13	30,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling	12	14,600 mi
Latches/locks/linkages	12	50,000 mi
Power train: automatic transmission	12	22,000 mi
Seat belts	8	143,000 mi
Tires	8	19,900 mi
Air bags: frontal	7	15,000 mi
Visibility	7	35,000 mi
Visibility/wiper	7	101,000 mi
Electrical system: instrument cluster/panel	6	61,000 mi
Structure: body: hatchback/liftgate	6	32,500 mi
Wheels	6	70,000 mi
Equipment	5	36,000 mi
Suspension	5	18,000 mi
Interior lighting	4	9,500 mi
Forward collision avoidance: automatic emergency braking	3	70,000 mi
Fuel system, gasoline: storage: tank assembly	3	7,700 mi
Fuel system, other	3	650 mi
Seats	3	—
Service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip	3	206,970 mi
Air bags: side/window	2	39,000 mi
Child seat	2	—
Electrical system: instrument panel: speedometer/odometer	2	200,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling: cooling system	2	21,338 mi
Hybrid propulsion system	2	118,989 mi
Power train: automatic transmission: lever and linkage: column shift	2	70,100 mi
Structure: body: hatchback/liftgate: hinge and attachments	2	70,000 mi
Electrical system: 12V/24V/48V battery	1	61,000 mi
Electrical system: wiring: interior/under dash	1	—
Engine and engine cooling: cooling system: pump	1	150,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling: engine	1	—
Equipment adaptive/mobility	1	16,850 mi
Equipment: electrical	1	60,000 mi
Equipment: electrical: navigational system(global positioning system)	1	90,000 mi
Exterior lighting: headlights: concealment devices	1	50,000 mi
Fuel system, gasoline: storage	1	5,000 mi
Hybrid propulsion system: inverter	1	—
Parking brake	1	39,055 mi
Power train: automatic transmission: gear position indication (PRNDL)	1	32,000 mi
Power train: automatic transmission: lever and linkage: floor shift	1	57,700 mi
Seat belts: front	1	—
Service brakes, air	1	30,000 mi
Service brakes, air: antilock	1	60,000 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: pedals and linkages	1	—
Structure: body: hatchback/liftgate: support device/strut	1	75,000 mi
Structure: body: trunk lid	1	—
Suspension: rear	1	15,325 mi
Vehicle speed control: cruise control	1	9,800 mi
Visibility: defroster/defogger/hvac system: rear window	1	55,000 mi

The 2007 model has about half as many complaints as this one. The 2009 model has 3 times 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.