2006 Toyota Prius problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Exterior Lighting (804) · Exterior Lighting:headlights (118) · Vehicle Speed Control (80)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Toyota Prius model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
🛣️ Complaints by mileage
1,250 NHTSA complaints that reported an odometer reading.
Safety recalls (3)
Hybrid Propulsion System: Inverter 2012-11-14 · campaign 12V536000 · 350,662 vehicles
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.
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.
Fix: 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.
Steering:gear Box:shaft Sector 2012-11-14 · campaign 12V537000 · 669,705 vehicles
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.
Risk: Over time, the splines may wear and eventually fail resulting in a loss of steering ability, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
Fix: 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.
Equipment:other:labels 2010-02-03 · campaign 10V036000 · 153,418 vehicles
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.
Risk: A DRIVER MAY OVERLOAD A VEHICLE WHICH MAY INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Fix: 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.
Service bulletins (210)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Engine 2026-02-13 · T-SB-0009-26 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this bulletin includes basic procedures for performing a rescue charge on ni-mh high voltage (hv) batteries. this bulletin should be used in conjunction with the applicable model and model year repair manual while performing a rescue charge. the grx-5100 should be used wherever the repair manual ref
Engine 2026-02-13 · T-SB-0119-15 Rev2 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
obsolete notice february 13, 2026: this bulletin is now obsolete. please see t-sb-0009-26.
Unknown Or Other 2026-01-07 · T-SB-0055-24 Rev2 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
some 2005 – 2026 toyota vehicles that have undergone water intrusion may exhibit a condition in which a musty odor is present. follow the procedures in this bulletin to remediate the odor and address this condition. the purpose of this service bulletin is to provide general guidelines and procedures
Structure:body 2024-12-06 · T-SB-0039-24 Rev2 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
the condition known as acid rain is caused by airborne chemicals or particles in the atmosphere, which mix with rainwater, nighttime dew, or high humidity to form acidic compounds. if these contaminants settle and remain on a painted vehicle surface, especially the horizonal areas of the hood, roof,
Structure:body 2024-12-06 · T-SB-0038-24 Rev2 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
to prevent brake rotor rust from forming during transportation and storage, wheel film will be used instead of a cardboard type of anti-rust cover. the purpose of the wheel film is to shield the disc brake rotor from weather elements and initial rust before the vehicle is delivered to the customer.
Structure:body 2024-12-06 · T-SB-0035-24 Rev2 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
acid rain results from rainwater or other airborne moisture that become acidic due to industrial chemical impurities in the atmosphere. if these acidic compounds settle on an exposed vehicle, especially the horizontal areas such as the hood, roof, and decklid, significant damage to the painted surfa
Showing the 6 most recent of 210 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2026-10-27 · Electrical System“the contact owns a 2006 toyota prius. the contact stated that the vehicle failed to turn off intermittently, requiring that the power button to be pressed continuously until the vehicle turned off. in addition, the instrument cluster was inoperable often. the contact stated that a chime failed to engage while reversing. a triangle warning light wa…”
2026-05-07 · Service Brakes · 💥 crash“i was involved in an auto accident on 4/20/2026 @ 6:23 pm. i was driving a 2006 prius and the vehicle in front of me stopped to make a left turn. i applied my brakes, which grabbed slightly and then released. i then had to hit the brakes hard and they did the same thing again. i ended up rear-ending the vehicle in front of me and had to go to the h…”
2026-03-13 · Service Brakes“i am looking to receive a little bit more assistance regarding my daughter's first car that she worked very hard for. it is a 2006 toyota prius. it was garage-kept and owned by an older couple who only put 85,000 miles on it. it is really a gem of a car. soon after we registered the car, my daughter was out driving with her father. while going thr…”
2025-10-06 · Air Bags · 150,000 mi · 💥 crash“the contact owned a 2006 toyota prius. the contact stated that while slowly driving into an intersection and turning left at less than 3 mph, the owner of a ford f-150 coming from the driver's side of the vehicle at 35 mph crashed into their driver's side door. the crash caused the vehicle to slide to a complete stop. none of the air bags deployed…”
2025-01-02 · Service Brakes“the following describes a near total failure of the brake system that accompanies and is triggered by routine aging of the battery. i believe this applies to multiple model years and editions of the prius, based on reports by other owners on owners' discussion groups. i believe this should have the highest severity level. here is what happen…”
2024-12-26 · Wheels“the light up display for the odometer, fuel gauge, and speedometer does not always light up. when it is not lit, the cruise control and any warning and informative alarms/lights also do not work. this is a well-known issue among owners of these cars, related to the capacitors on the circuit board for the display being defective, and there is extens…”
2024-08-28 · Exterior Lighting“the right or left headlight will rabdomly turn off, and tyrn back there 8s no ryme or readon to it,and while driving at night it is cery dangerous, aparebtly its not just this car, this is a common issue and it needs to be fixed…”
2024-07-27 · Service Brakes“the actuator failed. the car is no longer safe to drive. this is a known issue. the company refused to fix the issue or recall the car. the warning lights and a loud beep are present if the vehicle is started.…”
2024-07-17 · Vehicle Speed Control · 77,000 mi · 💥 crash“the contact owns a 2006 toyota prius. the contact stated that while driving approximately 35 mph, the steering wheel erroneously steered to the left direction on its own. the contact used force to maneuver the vehicle however the steering wheel independently veered again to the left, right, left, and then back to the right. the vehicle crashed into…”
2024-04-02 · Exterior Lighting“one afternoon, in the summer of 23, i entered my toyota prius to run some errands. once i proceeded to power on the car, none of the dashboard lights illuminated. this included the gas gauge, speedometer & transmission indicator. fortunately, i was only driving a few blocks down the road from my residence as i live in a small rural town with little…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.