2022 Toyota Prius Prime

The defect

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2022 Prius and Prius Prime vehicles. The Engine Control Unit (ECU) software may falsely detect an error and shut down the hybrid system, causing a loss of drive power.

The risk

A loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash.

The remedy

Dealers will update the ECU software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 18, 2021. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is 21TB07/21TA07.

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing · up to 8,411 vehicles across all model years covered

Closed defect petition · opened January 27, 2023 · closed August 7, 2023 · led to recall 22V063000

the electrical system

NHTSA received a petition on or about July 18, 2022, requesting that Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 141 be applied to all electric and hybrid vehicles operating in the United States. The petition can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under ODI Number 11486072. FMVSS 141 establishes performance requirements for pedestrian alert sounds for motor vehicles. The standard applies to hybrid and electric vehicles that have a gross vehicle weight rating of 4,536 KG or less or are defined as low-speed vehicles. The standard became fully applicable to all such vehicles manufactured on or after March 1, 2021.On January 27, 2023, NHTSA opened Defect Petition (DP) 22-005 to evaluate the subject matter described in the petition. On June 24, 2023 and as supplemented on June 25, 2023, the petitioner notified NHTSA he was withdrawing his petition. The petitioner indicated that, based on his review of data, there is no justification for asserting potential benefits that could be derived from actions sought by my petition. Based on the petitioner's withdrawal, DP22-005 is closed. Closure of this DP does not represent a determination by NHTSA regarding the subject matter of the petition.

crash · towed

On June 28, 2022 at around 20:10 PM, while on vacation at a resort in the Laurentian Mountains in Quebec, Canada, I went down to charge the car at the only charging station at the resort. It was being used, so I returned to our cabin in the D building. As I approached the building, I pulled up to clear a car so that I could park beside it. I slowed and before I could put the car in reverse, the car rolled forward a few inches. My foot was already on the brake so I pressed it harder. But the car continued to roll forward. It wouldn’t stop. When it finally came to a stop on the edge of a rock wall, it slowly rolled off the edge and dropped about 20 feet and rolled over coming to rest upright. …

NHTSA complaint 11473301, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

crash

The vehicle went into drive from neutral after being placed on a moving track (car wash). The forward collision system activated and the automatic brake deployed when the vehicle sensed moving parts in the car wash. From there, the car automatically went out of neutral and into drive with no action from the driver. The vehicle drove forward and struck another vehicle.

NHTSA complaint 11464686. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

crash

Prior to making a turn into a residential driveway, the vehicle throttled up and there was no response from the vehicle when the brakes were applied. The vehicle would not stop in motion. Based on my experience of this event, it is my firm belief that the vehicle shut down completely as a result to correct the throttle event, and the vehicle was not responsive to application of brake to bring the car to a stop. The safety and the safety of other was put at risk because the car would not come to a stop and the vehicle did not respond. If there would have been someone in the driveway, or this would have occurred on roadway, this would have caused catastrophic property damage, injury or death. …

NHTSA complaint 11476065, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

12,000 miles

The contact owns a 2022 Toyota Prius Prime. The contact stated while depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. The contact stated multiple unknown warning lights had been temporarily illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer however, the cause of the failure could not be determined. Upon further investigation, the contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V734000 (Engine and Engine Cooling, Hybrid Propulsion System) however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 12,000.

NHTSA complaint 11596391. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

700 miles

The contact owns a 2022 Toyota Prius Prime. The contact stated while driving at approximately 25 MPH, the vehicle suddenly experienced unintended acceleration, and the vehicle accelerated to 50 MPH before the contact was able to stop the vehicle by depressing the brake pedal. The contact stated that the failure reoccurred the following day. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The manufacturer and local dealer were notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 700.

NHTSA complaint 11544053. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

When adaptive cruise control is engaged and a car cuts in front of you the car will accelerate rapidly at first nearly hitting the car before it slows.

NHTSA complaint 11482812. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.