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2006 Toyota Prius
6 recall campaigns and 1,385 complaints are on NHTSA's register for the 2006 Toyota Prius; the recalls concern steering, hybrid propulsion system and equipment.
The component named most often is exterior lighting: 579.4 of every 1,000 component mentions for this year, above the 44.1 per 1,000 across all 2006 model-year vehicles and against 265.1 per 1,000 for the Toyota Prius line as a whole.
That is more than the average of 416.7 complaints per model year across the 25 Toyota Prius model years on this register; 76 complaints reported a crash and 4 a fire.
Complaints were received in the largest number in 2009 (396); the most recent in the file is dated 3 May 2019.
NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation has opened 3 investigations naming this model year.
Complaints are consumer reports and have not been verified by NHTSA. Recall text is the manufacturer's Part 573 report as filed with NHTSA. Complaint file through 15 May 2019; recall file through 29 Sep 2026.
Recalls by model year:
Recall campaigns
Defect, as filed: 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.
Filed by Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing; components: steering:gear box:shaft sector; steering.
Defect, as filed: 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.
Filed by Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing; components: hybrid propulsion system: inverter; engine and engine cooling.
Defect, as filed: 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.
Filed by SOUTHEAST TOYOTA DISTRIBUTORS, LLC.
Defect, as filed: 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.
Filed by TOYOTA MOTOR NORTH AMERICA, INC. (manufacturer campaign 90L(TOYOTA)/90LG(LEX).
Defect, as filed: 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.
Filed by TOYOTA MOTOR NORTH AMERICA, INC. (manufacturer campaign 60C).
Defect, as filed: 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.
Filed by TOYOTA MOTOR NORTH AMERICA, INC. (manufacturer campaign 60B 6LB).
Each entry links to the NHTSA record. NHTSA states that safety recall repairs are free of charge at an authorised dealer; check a specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Complaints by component
Component mentions per 1,000 for the 2006 Toyota Prius (black) against all 2006 model-year vehicles in the file (yellow). A complaint can name more than one component.
| Per 1,000 component mentions | 2006 | Prius line | All 2006 vehicles |
|---|---|---|---|
| Exterior Lighting | 579.4 | 265.1 | 44.1 |
| Electrical System | 85.6 | 100.5 | 109.5 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 61.4 | 125.2 | 28 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 50.9 | 75.3 | 45.5 |
| Service Brakes | 31 | 66.8 | 27.4 |
| Service Brakes, Electric | 27.9 | 63.9 | 2.6 |
| Component | Mentions | Per 1,000 | Line | All 2006 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Exterior Lighting | 934 | 579.4 | 265.1 | 44.1 |
| Electrical System | 138 | 85.6 | 100.5 | 109.5 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 99 | 61.4 | 125.2 | 28 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 82 | 50.9 | 75.3 | 45.5 |
| Service Brakes | 50 | 31 | 66.8 | 27.4 |
| Service Brakes, Electric | 45 | 27.9 | 63.9 | 2.6 |
| Air Bags | 31 | 19.2 | 27.7 | 108.7 |
| Unknown or Other | 23 | 14.3 | 26.6 | 24.2 |
| Power Train | 21 | 13 | 28.2 | 96.1 |
| Steering | 20 | 12.4 | 26.5 | 95.4 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 19 | 11.8 | 23.1 | 51.5 |
| Traction Control System | 19 | 11.8 | 13.8 | 1.9 |
| Engine | 18 | 11.2 | 24.3 | 57.3 |
| Equipment | 16 | 9.9 | 6.1 | 9.2 |
| Structure | 15 | 9.3 | 30.3 | 48.5 |
| Electronic Stability Control (ESC) | 14 | 8.7 | 15.2 | 12 |
| Tires | 10 | 6.2 | 10.7 | 15.1 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 9 | 5.6 | 7.8 | 52 |
| Visibility | 9 | 5.6 | 7.2 | 31.1 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 9 | 5.6 | 9.1 | 35.1 |
| Seat Belts | 7 | 4.3 | 5.6 | 12 |
| Latches/Locks/Linkages | 6 | 3.7 | 5.3 | 11.5 |
| Suspension | 4 | 2.5 | 5.4 | 37.4 |
| Visibility/Wiper | 4 | 2.5 | 9.8 | 7.5 |
| Equipment Adaptive/Mobility | 2 | 1.2 | 2.1 | 1.3 |
| Wheels | 2 | 1.2 | 3.6 | 9.2 |
| Seats | 2 | 1.2 | 3 | 13.8 |
| Fuel System, Other | 1 | 0.6 | 2.7 | 5.1 |
| Interior Lighting | 1 | 0.6 | 0.8 | 1.2 |
| Service Brakes, Air | 1 | 0.6 | 2.3 | 0.6 |
| Parking Brake | 1 | 0.6 | 1.3 | 1.3 |
1,385 unique complaints, 1,612 component mentions; 43 injuries and 1 deaths reported by complainants. Complaint narratives are not republished.
Complaints by year received
Investigations
| Action | Type | Subject | Component | Opened | Closed | Recall |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DP22005 | Defect petition | Pedestrian alert sounds | electrical system:propulsion system | 27 Jan 2023 | 7 Aug 2023 | 22V063000 |
| DP13001 | Defect petition | Intermediate Steering Shaft Separation | steering:column | 21 Feb 2013 | 8 Apr 2020 | — |
| PE09019 | Preliminary evaluation | HEADLIGHT FAILURE | exterior lighting:headlights | 17 Apr 2009 | 27 Aug 2009 | — |
Other Toyota Prius model years
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints | Units in campaigns |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 NHTSA | 0 | 4 | — |
| 2001 | 3 | 163 | 88,920 |
| 2002 | 2 | 159 | 87,148 |
| 2003 | 1 | 94 | 52,377 |
| 2004 | 6 | 591 | 5,819,502 |
| 2005 | 6 | 1,002 | 5,789,830 |
| 2006 | 6 | 1,385 | 5,789,830 |
| 2007 | 4 | 1,894 | 5,618,841 |
| 2008 | 4 | 1,349 | 5,618,841 |
| 2009 | 6 | 437 | 5,893,493 |
| 2010 | 10 | 2,396 | 2,662,449 |
| 2011 | 6 | 304 | 2,002,005 |
| 2012 | 6 | 213 | 2,006,297 |
| 2013 | 3 | 138 | 1,772,424 |
| 2014 | 3 | 85 | 1,772,424 |
| 2015 | 1 | 46 | 266,638 |
| 2016 | 5 | 95 | 340,427 |
| 2017 | 3 | 52 | 284,341 |
| 2018 NHTSA | 1 | 10 | 192,347 |
| 2019 | 3 | 0 | 14,310 |
| 2022 NHTSA | 1 | 0 | 8,411 |
| 2023 | 4 | 0 | 1,255,231 |
| 2024 | 4 | 0 | 1,255,231 |
| 2025 | 2 | 0 | 1,165,693 |
| 2026 NHTSA | 1 | 0 | 141,286 |
Model years with a single campaign and fewer than 25 complaints have no page here; the NHTSA link opens the agency's record for that year.
All Toyota Prius model years · Toyota: 65 model lines
Questions and answers
How many recalls does the 2006 Toyota Prius have?
6 NHTSA recall campaigns name this model year; the most recent, 12V537000, was reported to NHTSA on 14 Nov 2012 and concerns steering:gear box:shaft sector. Across all model years the Toyota Prius line has 35 campaigns.
Is there an open NHTSA investigation into the 2006 Toyota Prius?
NHTSA's investigation file lists 3 actions naming this model year; the table above shows each action's opening and closing dates. An action with no closing date was still open when the file was produced.
What component do owners of the 2006 Toyota Prius complain about most?
Exterior Lighting: 934 of 1612 component mentions (579.4 per 1,000). Next is electrical system with 138. Complaints are consumer reports and have not been verified by NHTSA.
How do I get a recall repaired?
NHTSA states that safety recall repairs are performed free of charge by the manufacturer's authorised dealers. Each campaign's remedy text above is the manufacturer's statement as filed with NHTSA. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether a specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.
Where does this data come from?
NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation recall, complaint and investigation flat files, public domain, downloaded 29 Sep 2026. Complaint counts are unique complaint numbers per make, model and model year; component figures count each component a complaint names. The NHTSA record linked from each campaign is authoritative.
Provenance
Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Office of Defects Investigation flat files (recalls, complaints, investigations), public domain, files dated 29 Sep 2026 (recalls) and 15 May 2019 (complaints). Complaints since 1 Jan 1995. Counts are unique complaint numbers per make, model and model year; per-1,000 rates divide a component's mentions by all mentions for the same group. Errors in processing are corrected at the next daily build; see corrections and the methodology.