Worst 2006 Toyota Prius Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
Headlight/Taillight Failures
Electrical Faults
Exterior Lighting:Headlights
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All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2006 Toyota Prius.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Headlight/Taillight Failures | 823 | 5 | — | 58,913 mi | |
| Electrical Faults | 148 | 2 | 2 | 86,727 mi | |
| Exterior Lighting:Headlights | 121 | — | — | 54,928 mi | |
| Hydraulic Brakes | 84 | 8 | — | 43,177 mi | |
| Unintended Acceleration | 81 | 18 | 2 | 59,652 mi | |
| Brakes | 72 | 15 | 1 | 141,203 mi | |
| Service Brakes, Electric | 45 | 7 | — | 41,809 mi | |
| Engine Problems | 25 | 3 | — | 149,279 mi | |
| Airbags | 24 | 18 | — | 99,716 mi | |
| Steering Defects | 21 | 3 | — | 91,024 mi | |
| Traction Control System | 19 | 2 | — | 23,253 mi | |
| Electronic Stability Control | 15 | 1 | — | 70,399 mi | |
| Other Equipment | 15 | — | — | 39,850 mi | |
| Transmission / Drivetrain | 15 | 2 | — | 101,556 mi | |
| Engine & Cooling | 14 | 1 | — | 63,001 mi | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip:Control Unit/Module | 14 | 2 | — | 34,071 mi | |
| Fuel System | 10 | 1 | — | 123,874 mi | |
| Gasoline Fuel System | 8 | 1 | — | 20,628 mi | |
| Structural Problems | 8 | — | — | 198,568 mi | |
| Tire Defects | 7 | — | — | 42,533 mi | |
| Visibility | 7 | — | — | 36,362 mi | |
| Automatic Transmission | 6 | 2 | — | 60,728 mi | |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 5 | 5 | — | 60,225 mi | |
| Body Structure | 5 | 1 | — | 58,012 mi | |
| Wipers & Visibility | 5 | — | — | 127,333 mi | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Latches / Locks | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Seat Belt Issues | 4 | 1 | — | — | |
| Seat-Related Issues | 4 | 3 | 2 | — |
Search Owner Complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2006 Toyota Prius. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
Recalls for 2006 Toyota Prius
3 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting ~1,173,785 vehicles.
Toyota is recalling certain model year 2004-2009 Prius vehicles manufactured August 6, 2003, through March 30, 2009 and FCHV-adv vehicles manufactured December 12, 2008, through September 13, 2011. During manufacturing, a scratch may have occurred inside of the electrically driven water pump at the coil wire. The coil wire may corrode at the scratched portion.
Toyota is recalling certain model year 2004-2009 Prius vehicles manufactured August 5, 2003, through March 30, 2009. The affected vehicles have a steering intermediate extension shaft assembly built with metal splines that complete the connection from the steering wheel to the steering gear. These splines may have been manufactured with an insufficient hardness.
SOUTHEAST TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2005-2011 PASSENGER VEHICLES FOR FAILING TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 110, "TIRE SELECTION AND RIMS." THESE VEHICLES WERE SOLD WITHOUT THE REQUISITE LOAD CARRYING CAPACITY MODIFICATION LABELS.
Other Toyota Prius Years
2006 Toyota Prius — FAQ
Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.
Is the 2006 Toyota Prius reliable?
What are common problems with the 2006 Toyota Prius?
At what mileage do problems start on the 2006 Toyota Prius?
How safe is the 2006 Toyota Prius?
Does the 2006 Toyota Prius have any recalls?
Should I buy a 2006 Toyota Prius?
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.
Wider context: See the full Toyota Prius reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.
Check Your Specific 2006 Toyota Prius
Real owner complaints tell you about the model. The VIN tells you about your specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud.
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