2004 Toyota PRIUS NHTSA Investigations
Defect Investigations
The following investigations on the Toyota PRIUS have been announced by the ODI. Interested in how this information is collected? Read more about investigations by the NHTSA.
Recent 2004 PRIUS Investigations
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ENGINE STALLING Defect Investigation for the 2004 PRIUS
Vehicle Component: Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine*
Summary: ODI opened PE05-029 based on 33 reports of alleged gasoline engine stalling on the subject vehicles. The subject vehicles are gasoline/ electric hybrid vehicles that can be operated in gasoline or electric modes, or a combination of both depending on the power demand. All reports allege that the gasoline engine shut down suddenly without warning. Some of the complainants reported that the vehicle continued to operate using the electric mode for a period of time after the gas engine stalled and some reported that the vehicle shut down at the same time that they felt the gas engine stalled. Some consumers reported that they were able to restart the vehicle either immediately or after allowing the vehicle sit for a short time, whereas others reported that they had their vehicle towed. During PE05-029, additional failure data was identified as noted in the failure report summary above. The complaint data represents incidents where engine stalling was alleged or where the vehicle was alleged to have one of the various conditions that causes the gas engine to stall. In its August 26, 2005 response to ODI's information request, Toyota identified various conditions that could cause the subject vehicles to experience a gas engine stall. If this happens, the driver is alerted by an audible sound and various warning lights. The vehicle will continue to operate in the electric mode and the electrically-powered brake and steering operation will continue to function normally. Analysis of the warranty data indicated that over 97% of vehicles experiencing a gas engine stall resulted from an issue with the program logic in the electronic control module (ECM) system, which may cause the ECM system to not start the gas engine when required. As a result, the vehicle will enter the limited operation mode described above. The majority of the ODI complaints also indicated that the driver experienced this condition in conjunction with the engine stall. During October 2005, Toyota informed ODI that it would initiate a special service campaign (ssc) to reprogram the ECM software on approximately 75,000 MY 2004 and early 2005 subject vehicles to address the gas engine stalling condition. During this ssc, dealers will also apply special dielectric grease to a transaxle connector to prevent water intrusion which may also cause similar limited operation conditions. Based on ODI's analysis, this remedy should address most of the incidents resulting in a limited operation mode. Given these circumstances, further use of the Agency resources in this matter does not appear to be warranted. Accordingly, this investigation is closed. The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that a safety-related defect does not exist. The Agency will continue to monitor complaints and other information relating to the alleged defect in the subject vehicles and take further action in the future if warranted.
More Details: For detailed information & supporting documents, see the official NHTSA page concerning investigation #PE05029 »
Status of Investigation: This investigation was closed on October 12 2005 and no recall was issued.
* This defect investigation is filed under 3 related vehicle components.
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UNINTENDED ACCELERATION Defect Investigation for the 2004 PRIUS
Vehicle Component: Vehicle Speed Control*
Summary: On September 26, 2007, Toyota filed a defect information report and notified NHTSA that some of its model year (MY) 2007 and 2008 Lexus E350 and Toyota Camry vehicles could experience unintended and uncontrolled acceleration due to interference between the optional all weather floor mat offered on those vehicles and the vehicles' accelerator pedal. This decision was influenced by an Office Of Defects Investigation (ODI) engineering analysis. This recall was designated 07E082. Two years later, on October 5, 2009, Toyota filed a defect information report and notified NHTSA that a number of its MY 2004-2009 Lexus and Toyota vehicles may also experience unintended and uncontrolled acceleration due to interference between the accelerator pedal and the driver's floor mat. This recall was designated 09V388. Several months later, on January 27, 2010, Toyota filed an amended, or supplemental, defect information report and expanded the population of vehicles to include additional MY 2008-2010 Toyota and Lexus vehicles. Since this expansiontook place in a different calendar year, this recall was designated 10V023. Separately on January 21, 2010, Toyota filed a defect information report and notified NHTSA that certain Toyota vehicles and certain Pontiac vibe vehicles contained a safety defect in the accelerator pedal assembly that may cause the accelerator pedal to become harder to depress, slower to return, or in the worse case, mechanically stuck in a partially depressed position. NHTSA designated this recall 10V017. In total, the four recalls cover over 7.6 million Toyota and Lexus vehicles as well as the Pontiac vibe product made by new united motor manufacturing, Inc., a Venture of Toyota and General Motors corporation. NHTSA requires additional information from Toyota to more fully understand and evaluate, among other things, whether the scope of the recalls identified above (makes, models and model years) is sufficiently broad. The Agency is seeking to determine whether Toyota viewed the underlying defects too narrowly as interference between the accelerator pedal and the driver¿S side floor mat, or as a lever design (including materials) or performance problem giving rise to a sticking accelerator pedal, without fully considering the broader issue of unintended acceleration and any associated safety-related defects that warrant recalls. For purposes of this investigation, "unintended acceleration" refers to unintended, unrequested, uncontrollable, and/or unexplained acceleration of a subject vehicle, and to the failure of a vehicle's engine to return to idle when the driver takes his or her foot off of the accelerator pedal or raises his or her foot to a position where the engine ordinarily would return to idle, regardless of the alleged or determined cause of the acceleration or failure to decelerate or return to idle and regardless of the speed at which the event allegedly took place. Unintended acceleration thus is broader than interference between the accelerator pedal and driver¿S side floor mat and sticking accelerator pedals with levers made of a particular plastic(s). NHTSA is seeking information about how Toyota viewed complaints and other reports to Toyota and how Toyota assessed potential electromagnetic interference. The Agency also requires information from Toyota on why some models of vehicles with electronic throttle control were not included in the recalls. This investigation does not duplicate TQ10-001 or TQ10-002.
More Details: For detailed information & supporting documents, see the official NHTSA page concerning investigation #RQ10003 »
Status of Investigation: and there is a possible recall.
* This defect investigation is filed under 4 related vehicle components.