Recalls ·2004 Toyota Prius

2004 Toyota Prius recalls and complaints

NHTSA lists 6 recalls for the 2004 Toyota Prius; the most frequently affected component is steering. Owners filed 610 complaints, most often about service brakes. Among the 26 model years of this model in the database, 2004 ranks #2 for number of recalls.

Recalls6
Complaints610
Crashes reported2in stored complaints

Check your own vehicle by VIN at NHTSA →

Recalls (6)

SteeringCampaign 12V537000 · 14 Nov 2012

Problem: 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.

Risk: 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.

Engine and engine coolingCampaign 12V536000 · 14 Nov 2012

Problem: 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.

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.

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.

Vehicle speed control — Accelerator pedalCampaign 09V388000 · 05 Oct 2009

Problem: 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.

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.

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.

Steering — Electric power assist systemCampaign 06V188000 · 31 May 2006

Problem: 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.

Risk: 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.

Air bagsCampaign 06V096000 · 03 Apr 2006

Problem: 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.

Risk: 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.

Exterior lighting — SwitchCampaign 04V558000 · 22 Nov 2004

Problem: 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.

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

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

What owners complain about

Share of the 40 most recent complaints stored for this model year, by component. Owners can list more than one component.

Service brakes15 · 38%
Electrical system12 · 30%
Exterior lighting7 · 18%
Steering5 · 12%
Unknown or other4 · 10%
Vehicle speed control3 · 8%
Engine3 · 8%
Electronic stability control (esc)3 · 8%

When complaints were filed

201815
201910
20206
20212
20225
20252

From owner complaints

Combination meter is black 90% of the time. Restarting engine or disconnecting battery only works on occasion. Have safety concerns.

Electrical system · Dec 2019 · NHTSA complaint record

Toyota has issued time-limited 'Warranty enhancement program ZG1' instead of working with the NHSTA to issue a comprehensive BRAKE ACTUATOR ASSEMBLY RECALL. ZG1 was explicitly in place only from April 2016 to Dec 2017, requiring dealer verification of an actual system failure prior to 31 Dec 2017. My failure occurred…

Service brakes · Nov 2021 · NHTSA complaint record

During a hot period of summer, my drive selector decided to not stay in the drive position unless I held it there. I could make the initial selection of drive and then stop on the gas, but it would not stay unless I physically held the lever down in the drive position. I never had an issue with the reverse position;…

Electrical system · Dec 2022 · NHTSA complaint record

All the instrument cluster lights continue to go out on my 04 prius. I don't know how much fuel i have this could be a safety issue. I don't know how fast i'm going this could definitely be a safety issue. And zero warning lights come on this is definitely a safety issue. By looking on the internet i can tell…

Electrical system · Aug 2020 · NHTSA complaint record

How this year compares

Recalls per model year for this model.

Related pages

Source

Recall and complaint records from the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). A recall listed here may not apply to every vehicle of this model year — always check your VIN with NHTSA or a dealer.