2004 Toyota Prius: recalls and complaints

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All updates to the register

• 12V53700014 Nov 2012Steering / Gear Box / Shaft Sector
• 12V53600014 Nov 2012Hybrid Propulsion System / Inverter
• 09V3880005 Oct 2009Vehicle Speed Control / Accelerator Pedal
• 06V18800031 May 2006Steering / Electric Power Assist System
• 06V0960003 Apr 2006Air Bags
• 04V55800022 Nov 2004Exterior Lighting / Brake Lights / Switch

1. 12V537000Received 14 Nov 2012. 669,705 units.

   Steering / Gear Box / Shaft Sector

   Defect, in the NHTSA record

   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, in the NHTSA record

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

   Remedy, in the NHTSA record

   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.

   Report filed by Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing. Owner notification date in the NHTSA record: 20 Dec 2012.

2. 12V536000Received 14 Nov 2012. 350,662 units.

   Hybrid Propulsion System / Inverter

   Defect, in the NHTSA record

   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, in the NHTSA record

   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, in the NHTSA record

   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.

   Report filed by Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing. Owner notification date in the NHTSA record: 17 Jan 2013.

3. 09V388000Received 5 Oct 2009. 4,445,056 units.

   Vehicle Speed Control / Accelerator Pedal

   Defect, in the NHTSA record

   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, in the NHTSA record

   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, in the NHTSA record

   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.

   Report filed by TOYOTA MOTOR NORTH AMERICA, INC.. Manufacturer campaign number 90L(TOYOTA)/90LG(LEX. Owner notification date in the NHTSA record: 31 Dec 2009.

4. 06V188000Received 31 May 2006. 170,856 units.

   Steering / Electric Power Assist System

   Defect, in the NHTSA record

   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, in the NHTSA record

   This could result in a loss of steering control of the vehicle.

   Remedy, in the NHTSA record

   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.

   Report filed by TOYOTA MOTOR NORTH AMERICA, INC.. Manufacturer campaign number 60C. Owner notification date in the NHTSA record: 9 Jun 2006.

5. 06V096000Received 3 Apr 2006. 133 units.

   Air Bags

   Defect, in the NHTSA record

   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, in the NHTSA record

   This may increase the risk of injury to the occupant in the involved seating position in the event of a crash.

   Remedy, in the NHTSA record

   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.

   Report filed by TOYOTA MOTOR NORTH AMERICA, INC.. Manufacturer campaign number 60B 6LB. Owner notification date in the NHTSA record: 6 Apr 2006.

6. 04V558000Received 22 Nov 2004. 183,090 units.

   Exterior Lighting / Brake Lights / Switch

   Defect, in the NHTSA record

   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.

   Consequence, in the NHTSA record

   If the switch is inoperable, the brake lights will not illuminate and can increase the risk of a crash.

   Remedy, in the NHTSA record

   Dealers will replace the brake light switch. The recall began during december 2004. Owners should contact toyota at 1-800-331-4331.

   Report filed by TOYOTA MOTOR NORTH AMERICA, INC.. Manufacturer campaign number SSC 40L/SSC 4LH. Owner notification date in the NHTSA record: 20 Dec 2004.

The campaign number opens the NHTSA record. Each quotation is the text of the NHTSA recall file.

Recall campaign: One recall in the NHTSA recall file, with one campaign number. A campaign can name many makes, models and model years.

Units: The number of vehicles or products that a recall can include. The manufacturer or the firm reports the number to the agency.

A complaint can name more than one component. Each component that a complaint names is one component mention. The figure per 1,000 component mentions shows how many of each 1,000 mentions name the component.

• 2004 Toyota Prius
• All 2004 vehicles

The table shows the 10 components with the most mentions, of 30.

Complaints that report a crash

38

Complaints that report a fire

2

Injuries in the complaints

29

Deaths in the complaints

0

Date of the newest complaint

24 Sep 2025

These figures are the entries of the persons who sent the complaints.

Complaint: A report about a possible safety problem that a person sends to NHTSA. This site shows the number of complaints and not their text.

Investigation: A study of a possible safety defect by the NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. An investigation with no closing date in the NHTSA file is open.

1. 20000
2. 20013
3. 20022
4. 20031
5. 20046
6. 20056
7. 20066
8. 20074
9. 20084
10. 20096
11. 201010
12. 20116
13. 20126
14. 20133
15. 20143
16. 20151
17. 20165
18. 20173
19. 20181
20. 20193
21. 20200
22. 20210
23. 20221
24. 20234
25. 20244
26. 20252
27. 20261

A year without a link has fewer than 2 campaigns and fewer than 25 complaints. It has no page.

• Toyota Prius: all model years
• Toyota: 65 model lines

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• NHTSA VIN lookupNHTSA shows the unrepaired recalls of one vehicle from its VIN or its license plate.
• NHTSA: report a safety problemThe NHTSA form for a complaint about a vehicle, a tire, a child seat or equipment.
• NHTSA page of the 2004 Toyota PriusThe recalls, the complaints and the investigations that NHTSA shows for this model year.

How many units are in the recall campaigns for the 2004 Toyota Prius?

5,819,502 units in 6 campaigns. A campaign can name other models and model years, and its units include them.

How many recall campaigns does the Toyota Prius have for all model years?

NHTSA lists 35 recall campaigns for the Toyota Prius, model years 2000 to 2026. 6 of them name the 2004 model year.

Which component do the complaints about the 2004 Toyota Prius name most often?

Exterior Lighting: 185 of 737 component mentions, or 251 per 1,000. For all 2004 vehicles the figure is 33.1 per 1,000.

Is an NHTSA investigation of the 2004 Toyota Prius open?

No. Each of the 3 investigations that name this model year has a closing date in the NHTSA file.