Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (fuel pump, injectors, fuel tank, hybrid and EV propulsion).
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 at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost power and immediately regained power. Approximately 24 hours later the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the hybrid water pump was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The local dealer was contacted and informed the contact that the vehicle was not included in the NHTSA campaign number 12V536000 (Engine and Engine Cooling, Hybrid Propulsion System). The contact indicated that the vehicle experienced the failure listed in the recall. The failure mileage was 167,000.
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. …
Parked car at night in colorado in February, 2015. Outside temperature was approx 25 degrees farenheit. We ate dinner at a restaurant, came out and started the 2006 Prius. Instrument cluster panel showeing the fuel gauge, odometer, shift position and speedometer failed to come on. Turned car off and on numerous times - no instrument cluster panel lights. The following morning, the instrument cluster panel worked fine. This has happened occasionally since the first incident in February. This is a safety concern; one is unable to tell which gear the vehicle is in, the speed of the vehicle, or how much fuel the vehicle has. After contacting Toyota, they told me the extended warranty had expired in December 2014. As a safety defect, Toyota should still be covering a known problem.
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].
Tl* the contact owns a 2006 Toyota Prius. While driving at an unknown speed, the vehicle suddenly shut off without warning. The contact discovered that the vehicle was out of fuel although the fuel gauge indicated that 1/4 tank of fuel was in the fuel tank. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, who diagnosed that a faulty fuel bladder caused a false fuel gauge reading. The computer was reset, but the vehicle continued to experience the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The VIN was not available. The failure mileage was 100,000.
Engine failure; driving on roadways, highways the main warning light on dash lights up, followed by sudden engine failure seconds or minutes there after. Toyota professionals have failed to properly diagnose this danger/malfunction, or recommend a proper solution. I have been caught on the interstate in very dangerous areas with total engine loss. This represents a major malfunction and could lead to serious injury, accidents and death nationwide. Please alert others.
Smell of fuel after getting out of vehicle. Also sometimes with ac or windows open. Dealer says deterioration of connections in engine compartment. Could possibly be fire and injury if this got worse. Consider this for recall. Other Toyota models probably with similar systems are recalled. Why not this model?
On September 23, 2007, I was traveling on I-70 returning from bloomington indiana to webster groves missouri. As I was driving the add fuel light came on. Based on my previous experience, I knew I had at least 40 miles. All of a sudden, all of the warning lights came on and the car lost power. Luckily I was able to maneuver to the shoulder. I got the car to go a little further before it died on the ramp of the next exit. The total miles traveled from the time the add fuel light came on until the car completely died was 18 miles. I notified Toyota and their response was that I ran out of gas. They told me I should have 50 miles or so from when the add fuel light came on before running out of gas. They could not explain why I only got 18 miles. …
Twice in one week, on the highway, with one LED segment remaining on the fuel gauge, the car quit dead and rolled out luckily to the side of the road. Out of fuel. Low level light came on each time. Genuine hassles getting to a gas station on foot on the interstate to get a container of gas to get running again. Two different Toyota service managers insisted nothing is wrong with the measuring system and that one should never trust a gauge or allow the level to get near zero. Not even one segment low! Never, in all my years of driving have I had a car run out of gas with fuel indicated on the gauge. We additionally own another Prius (2005) which can run safely and not quit shortly after the low fuel warning comes on or all segments vanish. This is unsafe as one is forced to do emergency evasive action to the side of the road, then risk life walking on the interstate. …
A gasoline and or oil smell in the car that permeates everything in the car. My clothes, computer bag, papers, just everything that comes in contact with the inside of the car. I also get sick from the odor ie headaches, nausea, blurred vision, dizziness. I also have a burning taste in my mouth, throat and eyes. I have been to the doctors and they there is no other reason for me to be feeling the way I do and that it is the environment of my car that is producing this very serious irritant . The dealer service center said it is from the broken bearing that was replaced, broken and not my fault. This must also be a recall problem because they said it happens alot.
Related recalls
Hybrid propulsion system › Inverter
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.
Remedy: Toyota will notify its owners, and dealers will replace the electric water pump, free of charge. The recall began on January 17, 2013.
Fuel System complaints in other Prius years
Frequently asked questions
How common are fuel system problems on the 2006 Toyota Prius?
NHTSA has 21 complaints about the fuel & propulsion system of the 2006 Toyota Prius, 1% of the model year's 1,439 complaints. The component named most often is delivery › fuel pump (1 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2006 Toyota Prius fuel system problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 12V-536 (inverter, Nov 14, 2012). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2006 Toyota Prius fuel system problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 100,000 miles, and 27% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 2 crashes, 0 fires and 2 injuries to fuel & propulsion system 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.