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2009 Toyota Prius
The 2009 Toyota Prius appears in 6 NHTSA recall campaigns (seats, steering and hybrid propulsion system) and in 437 consumer complaints filed with the agency.
The component named most often is exterior lighting: 187.1 of every 1,000 component mentions for this year, above the 30 per 1,000 across all 2009 model-year vehicles and against 265.1 per 1,000 for the Toyota Prius line as a whole.
That is about the same as the average of 416.7 complaints per model year across the 25 Toyota Prius model years on this register; 60 complaints reported a crash and 4 a fire.
Complaints were received in the largest number in 2010 (198); the most recent in the file is dated 6 May 2019.
NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation has opened 2 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: Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain models interspersed through model years 2009 through 2013 as follows: model year 2009-2012 Tacoma, 4Runner, Camry, Camry Hybrid, Prius, and RAV4; model year 2009-2010 Avalon, FJ Cruiser, and Highlander Hybrid; model year 2010-2013 model year Corolla, Sienna and Tundra; model year 2009-2013 Highlander and Venza; model year 2012 Prius V; and model year 2010-2012 Sequoia. During modification by SET to include accessories such as leather seat covers, seat heaters or headrest DVD systems, these vehicles may not have had the passenger seat occupant sensing system calibration tested. Without passing the calibration test, the occupant sensing system may not operate as designed.
Consequence: If the front passenger seat occupant sensing system is out of calibration, the front passenger airbags may not deploy or they may deploy inappropriately for the passenger's size and position. This could increase the risk of personal injury during the event of a vehicle crash necessitating airbag deployment.
Remedy: Southeast Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will test the sensitivity of the occupant detection sensors, and recalibrate them as necessary. The recall began on March 21, 2013. Owners may contact Southeast Toyota at 1-800-301-6859.
Filed by Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC; components: seats; air bags:frontal:sensor/control module-inactive.
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: Gulf states toyota is recalling certain model year 2005-2010 vehicles for failing to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 110, "tire selection and rims." these vehicles were sold between september 1, 2005 and june 2, 2008 without the requisite load carrying capacity modification labels.
Consequence: This does not meet the standard requirements.
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. Dealers will also correct the owner's manual. The safety recall began on may 27, 2010. Owners may contact gulf states toyota at 713-580-3300.
Filed by GULF STATES TOYOTA, INC..
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).
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 2009 Toyota Prius (black) against all 2009 model-year vehicles in the file (yellow). A complaint can name more than one component.
| Per 1,000 component mentions | 2009 | Prius line | All 2009 vehicles |
|---|---|---|---|
| Exterior Lighting | 187.1 | 265.1 | 30 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 172.7 | 125.2 | 30.2 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 124.1 | 75.3 | 53 |
| Electrical System | 89.9 | 100.5 | 132.2 |
| Service Brakes, Electric | 79.1 | 63.9 | 3.5 |
| Service Brakes | 48.6 | 66.8 | 53.4 |
| Component | Mentions | Per 1,000 | Line | All 2009 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Exterior Lighting | 104 | 187.1 | 265.1 | 30 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 96 | 172.7 | 125.2 | 30.2 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 69 | 124.1 | 75.3 | 53 |
| Electrical System | 50 | 89.9 | 100.5 | 132.2 |
| Service Brakes, Electric | 44 | 79.1 | 63.9 | 3.5 |
| Service Brakes | 27 | 48.6 | 66.8 | 53.4 |
| Power Train | 20 | 36 | 28.2 | 67.5 |
| Structure | 16 | 28.8 | 30.3 | 41.5 |
| Air Bags | 15 | 27 | 27.7 | 143.3 |
| Traction Control System | 15 | 27 | 13.8 | 3.2 |
| Engine | 15 | 27 | 24.3 | 71.2 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 14 | 25.2 | 7.8 | 16.1 |
| Unknown or Other | 13 | 23.4 | 26.6 | 37.6 |
| Steering | 12 | 21.6 | 26.5 | 114 |
| Electronic Stability Control (ESC) | 11 | 19.8 | 15.2 | 24.6 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 8 | 14.4 | 23.1 | 23.4 |
| Suspension | 5 | 9 | 5.4 | 28.7 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 5 | 9 | 9.1 | 32.2 |
| Equipment Adaptive/Mobility | 4 | 7.2 | 2.1 | 1.6 |
| Equipment | 3 | 5.4 | 6.1 | 5.1 |
| Fuel System, Other | 3 | 5.4 | 2.7 | 1.2 |
| Tires | 2 | 3.6 | 10.7 | 18.4 |
| Visibility/Wiper | 2 | 3.6 | 9.8 | 8.5 |
| Seats | 2 | 3.6 | 3 | 9.3 |
| Seat Belts | 1 | 1.8 | 5.6 | 8.4 |
437 unique complaints, 556 component mentions; 24 injuries and 2 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 | — |
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 2009 Toyota Prius have?
6 NHTSA recall campaigns name this model year; the most recent, 13V014000, was reported to NHTSA on 16 Jan 2013 and concerns seats. Across all model years the Toyota Prius line has 35 campaigns.
Is there an open NHTSA investigation into the 2009 Toyota Prius?
NHTSA's investigation file lists 2 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 2009 Toyota Prius complain about most?
Exterior Lighting: 104 of 556 component mentions (187.1 per 1,000). Next is service brakes, hydraulic with 96. 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.