If you own one of Toyota's popular hybrid vehicles, it's a good idea to stay informed about any Prius global recall events. Find out whether your vehicle is affected, and learn how to handle a recall of your hybrid car.
About the Prius
Launched in North America in 2001, the Toyota Prius helped popularize hybrid cars with American consumers. From the beginning, the Prius has been a hot seller. In 2007, one of the best years on record for the auto industry, more than 281,000 Prius hybrid cars were sold worldwide. In the early part of 2010, a total of more than 1.6 million Prius vehicles had been produced and sold to car consumers around the world. American car buyers have purchased more than half of these cars.
Prius Global Recalls of 2009 and 2010
In 2009 and 2010, Toyota Motor Company began issuing major recalls for some of its vehicles, including the Prius. Over the past few decades, Toyota has gained a reputation for producing reliable, fuel-efficient cars and trucks. In late 2009 and early 2010, the Japanese carmaker recalled more than 9 million vehicles, seriously damaging its reputation with American car buyers.
2009 Prius Recall
In the fall of 2009, Toyota recalled several models, including Prius hybrid cars made between 2004 and 2009. These vehicles were recalled because the accelerator pedal could become wedged under the driver's floor mat. This design problem could result in a crash.
If you own a Prius affected by this recall, you can bring your car to a Toyota dealer for a modification to the accelerator pedal. Toyota will also replace your floor mats if they are implicated in the problem.
2010 Prius Recall
In 2010, Toyota issued a recall that affected 148,549 Toyota Prius and Lexus HS cars. These vehicles had a problem with the antilock braking system (ABS). Customers reported longer stopping distances and inconsistent braking.The fix for this problem involves rewriting the programming for the vehicle's ABS control unit. The reprogramming is free for owners.
Stay Informed About Recalls
Wondering if your car is affected by one of these events or another Prius global recall? While owners can typically expect the vehicle manufacturer to notify them about recalls, it's a good idea to take a proactive approach in these matters. There are a few ways you can find out for sure whether your car is affected by a Toyota recall:
- Call your local Toyota dealer. You'll want to have your vehicle identification number (VIN) handy when you call. You can find your VIN on your vehicle's driver's side doorframe.
- Check with Toyota directly. You can visit the Toyota Recall Information website or call Toyota at 1-800-331-4331. Once again, you will need to know your VIN.
- Use the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Office of Defects Investigation website to look up your vehicle. You can sort by year, make, and model. You can also call the NHTSA vehicle safety hotline at 1-888-327-4236.
Final Words
Vehicle recalls are not unique to Toyota. Other car companies, such as General Motors, Ford, Chrysler, and Honda, have issued major recalls in recent years. These recalls help protect consumers from known safety problems, so if your car is affected, it's important to get the problem fixed right away.
