3.5% of complaints about the 2006 Toyota Prius came in the first year, which is unremarkable for a 2006 vehicle — around the middle of the 250 model-years on record. The median complaint arrives at 4.0 yr in service. The most-reported system is exterior lighting (883 complaints), typically at 3.7 yr or about 49,000 miles.
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.
Over time, the splines may wear and eventually fail resulting in a loss of steering ability, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
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.
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.
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.
A DRIVER MAY OVERLOAD A VEHICLE WHICH MAY INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.
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.
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.
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.
THIS COULD RESULT IN A LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE.
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.
THIS MAY INCREASE THE RISK OF INJURY TO THE OCCUPANT IN THE INVOLVED SEATING POSITION IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH.
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
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
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY, THE SUN VISORS WERE TOO SMALL AND WOULD NOT PROVIDE FLEXIBILITY TO ADJUST AND REFLECT THE SUN. THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE PULLED OVER TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND DETERMINED THEY WERE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM WHICH WOULD BE REFERRED TO THEIR ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT AND COULD BE REMEDIED IN FUTURE MODELS.
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