MY CAR'S BRAKE ACTUATOR FAILED WHILE I WAS ON HIGHWAY. GLADLY NOTHING DANGEROUS HAPPENED BUT I AM CONCERNED OTHERS WILL FACE THE SIMILAR SITUATION WITH WORST SCENARIO. TOYOTA TOLD ME THE WARRANTY EXPIRED AND QUOTED ME $2600. PLEASE ASK TOYOTA TO EXTEND THE WARRANTY.

12/31/2019 · NHTSA ODI #11292275.0

2009 Prius · engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING AT UNKNOWN SPEEDS, THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE INCREASED TO HIGH AND COOLANT NEEDED TO BE ADDED TO THE VEHICLE. ALL OF THE INDICATORS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WERE ILLUMINATED. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS…

12/31/2018 · NHTSA ODI #11164244.0

2009 Prius · powertrain

WHILE ENGINE RUNNING AND IN PARKED MODE, ENGINE SUDDENLY RACED AS IF GAS PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD A FEW INCHES. *TR

12/31/2012 · NHTSA ODI #10490598.0

2009 Prius · cruise control

MY PRIUS NOW HAS ALL THOSE DASH LIGHTS ON: !, ABS, VCS. I WAS DRIVING YESTERDAY, ON A CITY STREET AND THE LIGHTS CAME ON, AND THE BRAKES SUDDENLY DID NOT WORK-HARD TO PUSH. FOR MONTHS, WHEN I WOULD DRIVE OVER ROUGH TERRAIN, I HAD THE LOSS OF BRAKING, ACCELERATING, AND THE SLICK…

12/30/2018 · NHTSA ODI #11164066.0

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Active recalls showing 1 of 1

severe NHTSA 12V537000 14/11/2012

Toyota is recalling certain model year 2004-2009 Prius vehicles manufactured August 5, 2003, through March 30, 2009

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.

Common questions

Is the 2009 Toyota Prius reliable?

It's got known weak points. With a reliability score of 6.8 out of 10 based on 500 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2009 Toyota Prius has a higher-than-average rate of reported issues. The areas to watch are listed above. Whether it's worth owning depends on price, condition, and how much repair exposure you can absorb.

What's the most common problem on the 2009 Toyota Prius?

Based on NHTSA records, the most-reported issue is brakes, with 174 complaints filed. Average repair cost runs about $450 at an independent shop.

What's the most expensive thing that goes wrong?

The brakes is one of the costlier repair items. Average repair cost runs about $450 at an independent shop. Catching early warning signs can sometimes extend life by 20–30,000 miles.

How do I check if my Toyota Prius has open recalls?

Paste your VIN into the decoder at the top of this page. We pull live from NHTSA, so you'll see exactly which campaigns apply to your vehicle and whether the dealer has logged the fix. Recall repairs are always free regardless of mileage or warranty status.

Is an extended warranty worth it on a 2009 Toyota Prius?

Math is straightforward: a quality service contract runs $1,800–3,500 over 3 years. With 500 complaints on file and the costliest repair averaging $450, one major failure more than pays for it. The catch is reading the contract — many providers exclude wear items and require pre-authorization, so cheaper plans aren't always better value.

Related vehicles

Recall and complaint data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) public records database, last synced 1 day ago. Editorial commentary written by ProblemsByVin contributors and reviewed by ASE-certified mechanics. We are not affiliated with Toyota. Some links on this page are affiliate links and we may earn a commission if you complete a quote or purchase.