2006 Toyota Prius Problems: Lights (1,419 Complaints)

The most-reported problem on the 2006 Toyota Prius is Lights (63% of 1,419 owner reports). There are 6 safety recalls. Check the VIN and inspect Lights — this is the NHTSA file, not a score.

NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation Snapshot 2026-10-16 1,419 complaints · 6 recalls

What problems show up on the 2006 Toyota Prius?

894 of 1,419 filings named Lights (63% of the file). That is what owners wrote, not a shop diagnosis of the vehicle in the driveway.

Second is Brakes (177 reports).

There are 6 official safety recalls on this year. They were filed about Steering and Cruise / speed control. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov — a campaign on this page can still be open on a specific truck.

The 2005 has 1,043 reports on file; this year has 1,419. Older years collect more reports just by being on the road longer. If you need a fairer comparison, use the equal-time view.

What to check before you buy a 2006 Toyota Prius

A useful visit to this page takes five minutes. YearTell does not score years and cannot see the vehicle in front of you.

  1. Look up the VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov. This year has 6 campaigns on file below.
  2. Lights. Walk around the vehicle: headlights, brake lights and turn signals all working.
  3. Brakes. Have a shop check pads, rotors, fluid and whether the pedal feels firm.
  4. Electrical. Have a shop scan for stored codes and check battery, charging and any warning lights that stay on.
  5. Skim a few owner reports below for Lights. Look for the same symptom repeating.
  6. Take that list to a mechanic. Do not turn the complaint total into a score.

What owners reported

System named most often: Lights 894 complaints · 63.0% of the file
Crashes, fires, injuries and deaths in those filings:
  • Crashes 82
  • Fires 5
  • Injuries 48
  • Deaths 1
All Toyota Prius years →
NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-10-16 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Which systems owners named

Share of owner complaints filed against each vehicle system. These shares are not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold.

Which systems owners named Lights (EXTERIOR LIGHTING) appears in 894 of 1,419 owner complaints (63.0%) in this vehicle snapshot. Lights (EXTERIOR LIGHTING): 894 complaints, 63.0% of reports Lights (EXTERIOR LIGHTING) 5 crash reports 894 · 63.0% Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES): 177 complaints, 12.5% of reports Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES) 29 crash reports 1 fire reports 177 · 12.5% Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM): 83 complaints, 5.8% of reports Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) 2 crash reports 1 fire reports 83 · 5.8% Cruise / speed control (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL): 63 complaints, 4.4% of reports Cruise / speed control (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL) 13 crash reports 2 fire reports 63 · 4.4% Engine (ENGINE): 31 complaints, 2.2% of reports Engine (ENGINE) 31 · 2.2% Airbags (AIR BAGS): 26 complaints, 1.8% of reports Airbags (AIR BAGS) 21 crash reports 26 · 1.8% Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM): 18 complaints, 1.3% of reports Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM) 2 crash reports 18 · 1.3% Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN): 16 complaints, 1.1% of reports Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN) 2 crash reports 16 · 1.1% Steering (STEERING): 12 complaints, 0.9% of reports Steering (STEERING) 1 crash reports 12 · 0.9% Unclassified NHTSA leftover: 334 complaints, 23.5% of reports Unclassified NHTSA leftover 31 crash reports 1 fire reports 334 · 23.5% 0% 25% 50% 75% 100%

“Unclassified NHTSA leftover” is not a car part. It is a filing bucket and always sits last.

View component data as a table
System / Component Complaints Share of Reports Safety Reports (Crashes / Fires)
Lights (EXTERIOR LIGHTING) 894 63.0% 5 crashes · 0 fires
Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES) 177 12.5% 29 crashes · 1 fires
Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) 83 5.8% 2 crashes · 1 fires
Cruise / speed control (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL) 63 4.4% 13 crashes · 2 fires
Engine (ENGINE) 31 2.2% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Airbags (AIR BAGS) 26 1.8% 21 crashes · 0 fires
Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM) 18 1.3% 2 crashes · 0 fires
Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN) 16 1.1% 2 crashes · 0 fires
Steering (STEERING) 12 0.9% 1 crashes · 0 fires
Unclassified NHTSA leftover 334 23.5% 31 crashes · 1 fires
NHTSA Consumer Complaints, NHTSA Safety Recalls, and NHTSA Defect Investigations Snapshot 2026-10-16 Open source record

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

When reports and recalls showed up

When owners filed reports, and when recall campaigns showed up.

When reports and recalls showed up Owner reports in this snapshot begin in Jan 2006; the first recall shown was reported in Apr 2006. 2006-Q1: 3 owner reports 3 2006-Q2: 2 owner reports 2 2006-Q3: 6 owner reports 6 2006-Q4: 4 owner reports 4 2007-Q1: 5 owner reports 5 2007-Q2: 4 owner reports 4 2007-Q3: 3 owner reports 3 2007-Q4: 19 owner reports 19 2008-Q1: 31 owner reports 31 2008-Q2: 41 owner reports 41 2008-Q3: 58 owner reports 58 2008-Q4: 85 owner reports 85 2009-Q1: 81 owner reports 81 2009-Q2: 89 owner reports 89 2009-Q3: 105 owner reports 105 2009-Q4: 117 owner reports 117 2010-Q1: 237 owner reports 237 2010-Q2: 45 owner reports 45 2010-Q3: 26 owner reports 26 2010-Q4: 36 owner reports 36 2011-Q1: 25 owner reports 25 2011-Q2: 14 owner reports 14 2011-Q3: 11 owner reports 11 2011-Q4: 10 owner reports 10 2012-Q1: 15 owner reports 15 2012-Q2: 7 owner reports 7 2012-Q3: 13 owner reports 13 2012-Q4: 17 owner reports 17 2013-Q1: 13 owner reports 13 2013-Q2: 8 owner reports 8 2013-Q3: 14 owner reports 14 2013-Q4: 13 owner reports 13 2014-Q1: 13 owner reports 13 2014-Q2: 11 owner reports 11 2014-Q3: 10 owner reports 10 2014-Q4: 12 owner reports 12 2015-Q1: 11 owner reports 11 2015-Q2: 7 owner reports 7 2015-Q3: 10 owner reports 10 2015-Q4: 16 owner reports 16 2016-Q1: 8 owner reports 8 2016-Q2: 8 owner reports 8 2016-Q3: 7 owner reports 7 2016-Q4: 18 owner reports 18 2017-Q1: 7 owner reports 7 2017-Q2: 5 owner reports 5 2017-Q3: 4 owner reports 4 2017-Q4: 8 owner reports 8 2018-Q1: 13 owner reports 13 2018-Q2: 11 owner reports 11 2018-Q3: 7 owner reports 7 2018-Q4: 7 owner reports 7 2019-Q1: 12 owner reports 12 2019-Q2: 5 owner reports 5 2019-Q3: 6 owner reports 6 2019-Q4: 7 owner reports 7 2020-Q1: 6 owner reports 6 2020-Q3: 4 owner reports 4 2021-Q2: 2 owner reports 2 2021-Q3: 5 owner reports 5 2021-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 2022-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 2022-Q2: 4 owner reports 4 2022-Q3: 2 owner reports 2 2022-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 2023-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 2023-Q2: 2 owner reports 2 2024-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 2024-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 2024-Q3: 3 owner reports 3 2024-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 2025-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 2025-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 2026-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 2026-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 Owner reports Jan 2006 Apr 2026 Recall campaign 06V096000 ◆ Recall campaign 06V096000 Recall campaign 06V188000 ◆ Recall campaign 06V188000 Recall campaign 09V388000 ◆ Recall campaign 09V388000 Recall campaign 10V036000 ◆ Recall campaign 10V036000 Recall campaign 12V536000 ◆ Recall campaign 12V536000 Recall campaign 12V537000 ◆ Recall campaign 12V537000 Investigation PE09019 ● Investigation PE09019 Investigation DP13001 ● Investigation DP13001 Investigation DP22005 ● Investigation DP22005
  • Campaign 09V388000 was reported 1,172 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 10V036000 was reported 1,485 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
View timeline records as a table
Date Record type Count Record identifier
2006-Q1 Owner reports 3
2006-Q2 Owner reports 2
2006-Q3 Owner reports 6
2006-Q4 Owner reports 4
2007-Q1 Owner reports 5
2007-Q2 Owner reports 4
2007-Q3 Owner reports 3
2007-Q4 Owner reports 19
2008-Q1 Owner reports 31
2008-Q2 Owner reports 41
2008-Q3 Owner reports 58
2008-Q4 Owner reports 85
2009-Q1 Owner reports 81
2009-Q2 Owner reports 89
2009-Q3 Owner reports 105
2009-Q4 Owner reports 117
2010-Q1 Owner reports 237
2010-Q2 Owner reports 45
2010-Q3 Owner reports 26
2010-Q4 Owner reports 36
2011-Q1 Owner reports 25
2011-Q2 Owner reports 14
2011-Q3 Owner reports 11
2011-Q4 Owner reports 10
2012-Q1 Owner reports 15
2012-Q2 Owner reports 7
2012-Q3 Owner reports 13
2012-Q4 Owner reports 17
2013-Q1 Owner reports 13
2013-Q2 Owner reports 8
2013-Q3 Owner reports 14
2013-Q4 Owner reports 13
2014-Q1 Owner reports 13
2014-Q2 Owner reports 11
2014-Q3 Owner reports 10
2014-Q4 Owner reports 12
2015-Q1 Owner reports 11
2015-Q2 Owner reports 7
2015-Q3 Owner reports 10
2015-Q4 Owner reports 16
2016-Q1 Owner reports 8
2016-Q2 Owner reports 8
2016-Q3 Owner reports 7
2016-Q4 Owner reports 18
2017-Q1 Owner reports 7
2017-Q2 Owner reports 5
2017-Q3 Owner reports 4
2017-Q4 Owner reports 8
2018-Q1 Owner reports 13
2018-Q2 Owner reports 11
2018-Q3 Owner reports 7
2018-Q4 Owner reports 7
2019-Q1 Owner reports 12
2019-Q2 Owner reports 5
2019-Q3 Owner reports 6
2019-Q4 Owner reports 7
2020-Q1 Owner reports 6
2020-Q3 Owner reports 4
2021-Q2 Owner reports 2
2021-Q3 Owner reports 5
2021-Q4 Owner reports 1
2022-Q1 Owner reports 1
2022-Q2 Owner reports 4
2022-Q3 Owner reports 2
2022-Q4 Owner reports 1
2023-Q1 Owner reports 1
2023-Q2 Owner reports 2
2024-Q1 Owner reports 1
2024-Q2 Owner reports 1
2024-Q3 Owner reports 3
2024-Q4 Owner reports 1
2025-Q1 Owner reports 1
2025-Q4 Owner reports 1
2026-Q1 Owner reports 1
2026-Q2 Owner reports 1
Recall campaign 1 06V096000
Recall campaign 1 06V188000
Recall campaign 1 09V388000
Recall campaign 1 10V036000
Recall campaign 1 12V536000
Recall campaign 1 12V537000
Defect investigation 1 PE09019
Defect investigation 1 DP13001
Defect investigation 1 DP22005
NHTSA Safety Recalls Snapshot 2026-10-16 Open source record

Safety Recalls (6)

Official campaigns. Each one says what could go wrong and what the dealer was told to fix.

In short, these campaigns were filed about Steering and Cruise / speed control.

  1. Recall campaign 06V096000

    Safety recall 06V096000

    Report date
    Component:
    Not available in the source record
    Consequence:
    THIS MAY INCREASE THE RISK OF INJURY TO THE OCCUPANT IN THE INVOLVED SEATING POSITION IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH.
    Remedy:
    DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE SPECIFIC SRS AIR BAG. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 6, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-888-270-9371, SCION AT 1-866-548-1851, OR LEXUS AT 1-800-255-3987.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  2. Recall campaign 06V188000

    Steering

    Report date
    Component:
    Steering (STEERING)
    Consequence:
    THIS COULD RESULT IN A LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE.
    Remedy:
    TOYOTA WILL REPLACE THE STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT AND INSPECT THE SLIDING YOKE AND REPLACE IT IF NECESSARY. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 9, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  3. Recall campaign 09V388000

    Cruise / speed control

    Report date
    Component:
    Cruise / speed control (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL)
    Consequence:
    A STUCK OPEN ACCELERATOR PEDAL MAY RESULT IN VERY HIGH VEHICLE SPEEDS AND MAKE IT DIFFICULT TO STOP THE VEHICLE, WHICH COULD CAUSE A CRASH, SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH.
    Remedy:
    TOYOTA FILED AN AMENDED DEFECT REPORT ON NOVEMBER 25, 2009, STATING THAT DEALERS WILL MODIFY THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND, ON CERTAIN VEHICLES, ALTER THE SHAPE OF THE FLOOR SURFACE UNDER THE PEDAL. THESE CHANGES ADDRESS THE RISK OF PEDAL ENTRAPMENT DUE TO INTERFERENCE WITH THE FLOOR MAT. REDESIGNED ACCELERATOR PEDALS WILL BECOME AVAILABLE BEGINNING IN APRIL 2010 AND DEALERS WILL REPLACE ANY MODIFIED PEDAL WITH THE NEW PEDAL IF DESIRED. ALSO, DEALERS WILL REPLACE ANY GENUINE TOYOTA OR LEXUS ALL-WEATHER FLOOR MATS WITH REDESIGNED ALL-WEATHER MATS, OR REPURCHASE THE PREVIOUS MATS FROM OWNERS WHO DO NOT WANT THE NEW ONES. ADDITIONALLY, SOFTWARE MODIFICATIONS WILL BE INSTALLED ON CAMRY, AVALON AND LEXUS ES 350, IS 350 AND IS 250 MODELS THAT WILL ENSURE THAT THE BRAKE OVERRIDES THE ACCELERATOR IN THE EVENT BOTH BRAKE AND ACCELERATOR PEDALS ARE APPLIED. TOYOTA WILL BEGIN MAILING LETTERS TO OWNERS ON DECEMBER 31, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331, LEXUS AT 1-800-255-3987.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  4. Recall campaign 10V036000

    Safety recall 10V036000

    Report date
    Component:
    Unclassified NHTSA leftover
    Consequence:
    A DRIVER MAY OVERLOAD A VEHICLE WHICH MAY INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.
    Remedy:
    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.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  5. Recall campaign 12V536000

    Safety recall 12V536000

    Report date
    Component:
    Not available in the source record
    Consequence:
    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.
    Remedy:
    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.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  6. Recall campaign 12V537000

    Safety recall 12V537000

    Report date
    Component:
    Not available in the source record
    Consequence:
    Over time, the splines may wear and eventually fail resulting in a loss of steering ability, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
    Remedy:
    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.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →
NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-10-16 Open source record

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

What owners actually wrote

Short excerpts from the public NHTSA file. Look for the same symptom repeating.

Data: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation · snapshot 2026-10-16
Safety incident filters
Showing 3 of 1,419 complaints · page 1 of 57
2026-05-07Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES)
NHTSA ODI 11736448
CrashFireInjuryDeath
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 hospital. I’ve been out of work since the accident, and I feel this was not my fault DUE TO FAULTY BRAKING SYSTEM ON THIS VEHICLE. My vehicle was declared a total loss, by the insurance company After doing my own research I have found many accidents with this type of vehicle that has had rear end accidents with injuries and some fatalities. it also shows not only this 2nd generation with this problem however the 3rd generation Prius as well. I have been out of work since the accident. I'm asking for a complete and thorough investigation into this and a satisfactory resolution to this so that it doesn't happen to anyone else. There were no warning indicators of any kind prior to the accident plus I had paid over 2000 dollars' worth of work and a set of 4 new tires put on this vehicle prior to this incident. Please advise and thank you.
2026-03-13Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES)
NHTSA ODI 11724026
CrashFireInjuryDeath
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 through a 4-way stop, she found that the brakes had failed and she was unable to stop at the intersection. Luckily, she was with her father, and he was able to give her verbal instruction to guide the both of them to safety. Upon further investigation, we learned that there was a recall on the Brake Actuator Assembly in 2016. Which is the part that has failed and almost caused my 16 year old daughter to crash the car she worked hard for. I contacted the Toyota Brand Engagement Center. It was stated to me that the recall has expired, however, I feel that the fact that a recall was issued means that it was recognized by Toyota that the vehicle was sold with a faulty brake system. This, in and of itself, is a hazard and could be fatal. This should be addressed and the brake system should be replaced as it is no fault to any owner regardless of the recall expiry date. We look forward to your timely response on how we can remedy this very serious safety issue. My daughter was super excited as she worked very hard to save up for her first Toyota and get it registered only to find that the brake system fails.
2025-10-06Airbags (AIR BAGS)
NHTSA ODI 11691629
CrashFireInjuryDeath
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. The driver of the Ford F-150 stated that the sun created a glare, preventing them from noticing the red light they had driven through. The contact's vehicle was towed and deemed totaled by their insurance. A police report was filed. The contact received a broken rib, rotator cuff, whiplash, and back injuries. Medical attention was needed. The dealer was not informed of the failure. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 150,000

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems on the 2006 Toyota Prius?

Owners named Lights most often — 894 of 1,419 reports (63%). That is the NHTSA file, not a diagnosis of every vehicle.

Are there recalls for the 2006 Toyota Prius?

NHTSA lists 6 safety recall campaigns. They were filed about Steering and Cruise / speed control. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov; a campaign on this page can still be open on a specific vehicle.

What should I inspect before buying a 2006 Toyota Prius?

Look up the VIN for open recalls. Walk around the vehicle: headlights, brake lights and turn signals all working. Then skim owner filings for the same symptom and take that list to a mechanic.

Does a high complaint count mean I should skip this year?

No. Counts are reports people chose to file and they are not adjusted for sales volume. YearTell does not publish scores or a list of years to skip. Inspect the vehicle.

EPA Fuel Economy Database Snapshot 2026-10-04 Open source record

Estimated Ownership Cost

EPA fuel economy ratings and annual operating cost estimates

Data: US EPA Fuel Economy Guide · snapshot 2026-10-04
Supported range: 1,000–60,000 miles per year
Supported range: $1.50–$10.00 per gallon
55% city45% highway
Estimate unavailable

EPA fuel-economy data is unavailable for this vehicle.

No estimate is shown when required EPA values are unavailable.

 Open Ownership Cost Calculator →

Adjacent Model Years

Immediate preceding and succeeding model year records

NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-10-16 Open source record

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Methodology & Data Integrity

Source: NHTSA ODI / recalls, snapshot 2026-10-16. YearTell is not a government agency.

Read our complete data methodology → Sources