NHTSA lists 6 safety recalls and 1,440 owner complaints for the 2006 Toyota Prius. Most complaints involve exterior lighting (941) and electrical system (153). The EPA rates it 46 mpg combined.
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.
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.
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.
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.
Complaints for each Prius model year we’ve synced.
| Model year | NHTSA complaints |
|---|---|
| 2001 | 170 |
| 2002 | 193 |
| 2003 | 111 |
| 2004 | 610 |
| 2005 | 1,051 |
| 2006 | 1,440 |
| 2007 | 2,004 |
| 2008 | 1,497 |
| 2009 | 502 |
| 2010 | 2,823 |
| 2011 | 523 |
| 2012 | 688 |
| 2013 | 414 |
| 2014 | 241 |
| 2015 | 166 |
| 2016 | 181 |
| 2017 | 91 |
| 2018 | 38 |
| 2019 | 30 |
| 2020 | 14 |
| 2021 | 6 |
| 2022 | 24 |
| 2023 | 21 |
| 2024 | 27 |
| 2025 | 16 |
“The right or left headlight will rabdomly turn off, and tyrn back there 8s no ryme or readon to it,and while driving at night it is cery dangerous, aparebtly its not just this car, this is a common issue and it needs to be fixed”
“The contact owns a 2006 Toyota Prius. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to turn off intermittently, requiring that the power button to be pressed continuously until the vehicle turned off. In addition, the instrument cluster was inoperable often. The contact stated that a chime failed to engage while reversing. A triangle warning light was previously illuminated. The message "Tire Pressure Maintenance Needed" was displayed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the failure was primarily associated with the instrument cluster. The dealer determined that the instrument cluster and other unknown components needed to be replaced.”
“The contact owns a 2006 Toyota Prius. The contact stated while getting into the vehicle, there was a loud buzzing sound coming from the brakes. The contact stated that the brake, anti-slip regulation, ABS, and vehicle stability control warning lights were illuminated on the instrument panel. The contact stated that the brake was inoperable. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and diagnosed with an accumulator failure. The part was replaced; however, the failure recurred consistently. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 243,000.”
Towing, payload and dimensions aren’t in the EPA or NHTSA data, so we don’t list them.
| Version | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel / yr | CO₂ g/mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prius Auto (variable gear ratios), 4 cyl, 1.5 L · Front-Wheel Drive | 48 | 45 | 46 | $1,400 | 193 |
| Item | Miles | Time | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine oil & filter | 5,000–10,000 mi | 6–12 months | Follow the oil-life monitor if fitted |
| Tire rotation | 5,000–7,500 mi | Every oil change | Check pressure monthly |
| Engine air filter | 15,000–30,000 mi | 1–2 years | Sooner in dusty areas |
| Cabin air filter | 15,000–25,000 mi | 1–2 years | |
| Brake fluid | — | 2–3 years | Absorbs moisture over time |
| Coolant | 60,000–100,000 mi | 5–10 years | Long-life coolants last longer |
| Spark plugs | 60,000–100,000 mi | — | Iridium/platinum plugs at the long end |
| 12V battery | — | 3–5 years | Heat shortens battery life |
6 safety recalls as of Nov 4, 2026, according to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at a dealer. Check your VIN to see whether your car is included and whether the repair was done.
Owners filed 1,440 complaints with NHTSA. The most-cited components are exterior lighting (941), electrical system (153), service brakes, hydraulic (94). Complaints are unverified owner reports and aren't adjusted for how many cars were sold.
The EPA rates the 2006 Toyota Prius at 46 mpg combined, depending on engine and drivetrain (1 version rated).