Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (accelerator pedal, throttle, sudden acceleration, cruise control).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2006 Toyota Prius owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owns a 2006 Toyota Prius. The contact stated that while driving approximately 35 MPH, the steering wheel erroneously steered to the left direction on its own. The contact used force to maneuver the vehicle however the steering wheel independently veered again to the left, right, left, and then back to the right. The vehicle crashed into a curb, and violently accelerated across 2 lanes of oncoming traffic where a van crashed into the vehicle head-on. The air bags deployed upon impact. The contact sustained 11 fractured bones (L1 through L5 lower lumbar, pelvic, pelvis, 11th rib, and sacrum) and received medical attention via trauma center where she remained for over 2 weeks. The other driver of the van sustained unknown injuries but did not receive any known medical attention. A police report was not on file for the incident. A dealer was not contacted. …
The light up display for the odometer, fuel gauge, and speedometer does not always light up. When it is not lit, the cruise control and any warning and informative alarms/lights also do not work. This is a well-known issue among owners of these cars, related to the capacitors on the circuit board for the display being defective, and there is extensive documentation of it online. It may also have had a technical service bulletin released for the issue, but I'm not entirely sure. The light goes out intermittently and is not always consistently out. I did mention it to the service personnel when I took it in to get recalls repaired recently, and they didn't seem surprised or unaware of the issue. I did not ask them to diagnose or fix it, as I know I can get it done for a better deal elsewhere.
My wife [redacted] had a serious accident in the parking lot of the victorian on main st in santa monica on Wednesday September 2. From standstill, her 2006 Prius suddenly accelerated to a very high rate on its own and the car's brakes were completely non-responsive. In this relatively confined parking area, after a frightening period of trying to regain control of the vehicle, she made a split-second decision to crash into a tree at a relatively high speed in order to avoid steering the car onto main st. And causing a much more serious accident that would have impacted many people, automobiles and public and private property and possibly resulted in multiple deaths and multiple serious injuries. She sustained a broken foot. Her passenger sustained bruising. Both were taken by ambulance to st. John's hospital. Both airbags deployed. The 2 occupants were wearing seat belts. …
My car (06 Toyota Prius) had hit a pothole while on my way to church on 11/16/17. There was a lot of traffic and though I was far behind the person in front of me, my brake did not stop and my car went under the car in front of me. The vehicle was going maybe 5-10 MPH as we inched up to the light. Lots of traffic, I was double and triple checking to see my foot on the brake and it was but car would not stop, in fact it felt like it revved up.it was terrifying as I saw my car plow into another when there was nothing I could do. I know the 2010 models were recalled for this but it happened to me on my 2006 Prius. No recall but a warrant enhancement notification was sent to my relative who had a 2007 but I never received it. It is all about the brakes and the not stopping properly. Toyota also did a weird buy back thing and wanted my car. …
Tl contact owns a 2006 Toyota Prius. When the contact first drove the vehicle, he noticed smoke emitting from the dashboard area. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where they advised him that there was nothing wrong with the vehicle and no repairs were made. On approximately twelve occasions afterward, while utilizing the cruise control mechanism, the vehicle would abnormally accelerate without warning. The acceleration would usually occur on a small decline or incline. The vehicle would downshift on its own and accelerate up to 80 or 90 MPH. He had to completely disengage the cruise control to prevent the vehicle from accelerating. He did not contact the dealer or manufacturer in regards to the vehicle accelerating. During inclement weather, he attempted to pass another vehicle at speeds of approximately 40 MPH. …
On the morning of May,04,2015 upon entering the car and starting it up the instrument panel fails to display. Not certain what the issue was I performed various check including the the accessory battery and attempted multiple times starting and stopping the car to no avail. I left the car where it was and a few hours later when I returned everything worked fine for a few more weeks then the issue occurred again. However, I have noticed that the issue is occurring now more frequently including when driving (stopped then go). Furthermore, whenever this issue occurs it becomes almost impossible to power the engine off and since their is no cluster display to let you know vital safety information, including speed, gas, mileage, gear (d-r-n) this creates an unsafe and hazardous condition for operators of this vehicle. Toyota motor corp. …
I've a 2006 Toyota Prius. Traffic stopped for a red light and I was behind a cement truck. I slowed to a complete stop about 5 ft. Behind this truck. All of sudden I noticed my car started moving forward with my foot still on the brake. I stood on my brake and couldn't stop the Prius. It contacted the cement truck causing a dent on the right side of the hood and a crack windshield. The consumer stated as traffic began to stop for a red light, he began braking from about 25 MPH which seemed normal. He continued to gradually slow the vehicle down at a distance of about 5 to 10 feet, the consumer estimated his speed was about 3-5 MPH. The brakes locked up and failed to stop the vehicle, consequently the consumer rear ended another vehicle. The brakes felt hard, not spongy and not pulsating. The vehicle lost all braking completely. Updated 01/10/07.
I was in a 2006 Toyota Prius car accident on the freeway when the steering wheel started jerking (to the point of no control), the brakes stopped working and the car kept accelerating. Car lost control. Car was totaled, two witnesses and a police report. I was sent the emergency room. No responsibility was assumed by Toyota, which completed their "inspection" on March 9th, 2012. Then eight months later on November 14, 2012 they come out with two recalls: a steering recall & an engine and engine cooling, hybrid propulsion system recall, probably as part of what they saw happened to me. I was never notified after about these recalls that my car potentially could've been defective from and part of.
1, 2. Moving slowly into parking space at launderland ([redacted]), our Toyota Prius 2006 leaped out of control, though my foot was hovering over the brake and not touching the accelerator. It hit a wall and damaged the car. Two weeks earlier, the car had also jumped suddenly at low speed but hit nothing. Car repairs to bumper and underlying structures totaled $3135; repairs to the wall totaled $750. (3) nothing was done by Toyota to inspect the accelerator or to insure us that the car was now safe to drive. The car has been sitting on the dealer's lot for about two weeks.
2006 Prius was arriving at work and pulling into a parking space. My foot was removed from gas, but accelerator stuck open. The car bounced over the concrete curb, over a snow bank and over a second curb into the university driveway. Car sustained $3800+ in body damage and another $370 in service repairs for brakes, tires, suspension and dash warning systems that erupted. Vehicle was recently repaired. Local dealer would not accept any responsibility or acknowledge any problems with the car. Final repair invoice states the vehicle floor-mats, ABS and pedal stroke sensors were all working properly. Claim was made to our insurance company [erie insurance].
Related recalls
Vehicle speed control › Accelerator pedal
Toyota is recalling certain model year 2004-2010 passenger vehicles. The accelerator pedal can get stuck in the wide open position due to its being trapped by an unsecured or incompatible driver's floor mat.
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.
Acceleration complaints in other Prius years
Frequently asked questions
How common are acceleration problems on the 2006 Toyota Prius?
NHTSA has 84 complaints about the speed control & acceleration of the 2006 Toyota Prius, 6% of the model year's 1,439 complaints. The component named most often is accelerator pedal (2 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2006 Toyota Prius acceleration problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 09V-388 (accelerator pedal, Oct 5, 2009). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2006 Toyota Prius acceleration problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 45,000 miles, and 20% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 18 crashes, 2 fires and 11 injuries to speed control & acceleration problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.