2008 Toyota Prius recalls

NHTSA lists 4 safety recall campaigns for the 2008 Toyota Prius. Between them they involve steering, engine and cooling, equipment and speed control. The most recent was received on November 14, 2012.

November 14, 2012Steering

Steering Intermediate Extension Shaft may Fail

NHTSA campaign 12V-537 · 669,705 vehicles potentially affected · Steering

The defect: 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.

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

The 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.
November 14, 2012Engine and cooling

Water Pump may Fail Causing a Vehicle Stall

NHTSA campaign 12V-536 · 350,662 vehicles potentially affected · Engine and engine cooling

The defect: 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 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.

The 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.
February 3, 2010Equipment

Load carrying capacity modification labels

NHTSA campaign 10V-036 · 153,418 vehicles potentially affected · Equipment

The defect: 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.

The risk: A driver may overload a vehicle which may increase the risk of a crash.

The 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.
October 5, 2009Speed control

Pedal entrapment

NHTSA campaign 09V-388 · 4,445,056 vehicles potentially affected · Vehicle speed control

The defect: 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.

The 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.

The 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…

Check by VIN

A campaign rarely covers every Prius built in 2008. Enter your 17-character VIN to find the recall campaigns filed for your make, model and model year. The VIN is on the driver’s side of the dashboard (visible through the windshield), on the door-jamb label, and on your registration and insurance documents.

Is a recall still open on your vehicle? Only NHTSA’s official VIN check can say whether a campaign applies to your exact vehicle and whether the repair has already been done.

Your VIN is decoded with NHTSA’s public vPIC service to identify the make, model and year. It is not stored and is not added to any page address.

What 2008 Toyota Prius owners should do

Check your VIN on NHTSA’s lookup to see which of these campaigns apply to your vehicle and whether any are still open.
Call a Toyota dealer and book the repair, quoting the campaign numbers (12V-537, 12V-536, 10V-036, 09V-388).
If you have bought the vehicle used, the recall still applies: the repair is free whoever owns the vehicle now.
Make sure your current address is on file with the manufacturer so the owner letters reach you.

Other Toyota Prius model years

Common questions

Does the 2008 Toyota Prius have any recalls?

Yes. NHTSA lists 4 campaigns for the 2008 Toyota Prius: 12V-537 (Steering Intermediate Extension Shaft may Fail); 12V-536 (Water Pump may Fail Causing a Vehicle Stall); 10V-036 (Load carrying capacity modification labels); 09V-388 (Pedal entrapment).

How do I know if my 2008 Toyota Prius has an open recall?

Enter your VIN in NHTSA’s recall lookup. Most campaigns cover only part of a model year’s production, and the lookup also shows whether the repair has already been done on your vehicle.

Will the dealer charge to fix the 2008 Toyota Prius?

No. Safety recall repairs are done free of charge by Toyota dealers. Quote the NHTSA campaign number when you book.