2022 Toyota Prius

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

My husband and I rented a car from Avis on June 19, 2023. THe car they we selected was not available so they picked a prius out of the lot and gave it to us. On the morning of June 20, I was slowly turning into the driveway at [XXX] , my foot on the brake the whole time to slow to a stop so I could park parallel to my realtor's car. My realtor, [XXX] , witnessed the slow speed, as did many of the neighbors, as it was a quiet residential street. I continued to depress the brake but instead of stopping, our rental car, a Toyota Prius, suddenly lurched forward through the garage door! At no time did I lift my foot from the brake from the time I slowed the vehicle to enter the driveway. My …

NHTSA complaint 11545375, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

crash · towed · 25,000 miles

The contact owned a 2022 Toyota Prius. The contact stated that while idled forward into a parking space at the local car wash, the brake pedal was depressed to stop but the vehicle erroneously accelerated forward and crashed into a brick wall where it came to a stop. During the crash, the air bags did deploy and no injuries were reported. The vehicle was destroyed and later towed to an undisclosed location. No police report was filed. The cause of the failure was not determined. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The local dealer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 25,000.

NHTSA complaint 11637566. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

crash · towed

Brake

NHTSA complaint 11749255. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

121,000 miles

The contact owns a 2022 Toyota Prius. The contact stated that while driving, depressed the brakes, brake pedal became stiff and had to apply extra force to apply the brakes. The issue occurred multiple times. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it bent brake pedal and the bracket was bent. The vehicle was not repaired at the time of the report. The manufacturer was notified of the issue. The approximate failure mileage was 121,000.

NHTSA complaint 11741774. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

173,000 miles

Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2022 Toyota Prius. It was discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy. The vehicle was a private sale. At the time of purchase, the vehicle mileage was 29,909. At the time of the registration, it was discovered that the mileage was 173,000.

NHTSA complaint 11723906. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

34,600 miles

The contact owns a 2022 Toyota Prius. The contact stated that while attempting to use the front driver's side seat belt, the lap belt and the anchor bolt detached, rendering the seat belt unusable. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the lap belt was reattached to the seat. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and advised the contact that a representative would return a call back. The failure mileage was approximately 34,600.

NHTSA complaint 11714567. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

55,000 miles

The contact owns a 2022 Toyota Prius. While attempting to start the vehicle using the Push to Start feature, the vehicle made a loud screeching sound. The contact drove the vehicle to a dealer, where the failure was diagnosed as a failure with the Data Control Unit (DCU). The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 55,000.

NHTSA complaint 11712974. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

The contact owns a 2022 Toyota Prius. The contact purchased the vehicle from a private seller online. The contact stated that the sales advertisement indicated that the odometer mileage was 63,000. The contact stated that when he went to the local Department of Motor Vehicles to register the vehicle, the contact was informed that there was no current odometer information for the VIN. In addition, the contact was informed that there was never any odometer information reported for the VIN. The contact was informed that the first owner purchased the vehicle brand new in 2022. The contact then purchased a Bumper VIN report, which indicated that the odometer was last reported at 209,000 miles. …

NHTSA complaint 11704569, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.