P&A Providers & Administrators
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

Toyota to Fix 378,000 Prius Hybrids for Heat Risk

November 30, 2010
2 min to read



DETROIT - Toyota Motor Corp will pay to fix about 378,000 Prius models in the United States for a coolant pump glitch that could cause the top-selling hybrid to overheat and lose power, the automaker said on Monday.


The repair campaign for Prius models built from 2004 to 2007 was detailed in a notice for Toyota's U.S. dealers, Reuters reported.

Ad Loading...


The Japanese automaker said it had not received any reports of accidents or injuries from problems with the pump, which circulates coolant for the hybrid system.


The automaker plans to replace the pumps on the Prius hybrids sold outside of the United States as well, Toyota spokesman John Hanson said.


Major automakers, including Toyota, often conduct repair campaigns that are separate from safety recalls filed with U.S. regulators in cases where they determine that a defect does not present a safety risk.


Toyota said the design of the electric water pump let air bubbles enter the system, slowing coolant circulation and allowing the hybrid's components to heat up.


The heating up of the components could trigger a warning light. If left unattended, the Prius could overheat and drop into a "fail-safe" mode where engine power would be reduced, Toyota said.

Ad Loading...


Toyota said it would begin notifying owners of the Prius repair campaign in early December.


The automaker has used a different pump design on the Prius hybrid since that time and uses a different type of pump for other hybrids, Hanson said.


The largest number of the Prius hybrids up for repair in the United States is in California where about 107,500 of the vehicles are on the road, Toyota told its dealers.


Toyota will cover the cost of the repairs, including more than $100 in labor for each Prius fixed at a U.S. dealership.


The repair campaign on one of the best-known Toyota vehicles comes at the end of a year in which the top global automaker has struggled to distance itself from a damaging series of recalls and concerns about its quality management.

Ad Loading...


Since last November, Toyota has recalled about 14 million vehicles worldwide, including about 11 million in the United States.


More Industry

Photo of gray SUV plugged into public electric-vehicle charger in parking lot
Industryby Hannah MitchellJuly 21, 2026

World EV Adoption Set to Grow

A new report says the segment, despite recent setbacks in some regions, is poised for acceleration as many countries look to reduce pollution.

Read More →
Bar chart of truck and SUV segments' weekly value change
Industryby StaffJuly 21, 2026

Black Book: Weekly Market Update

Wholesale automotive auction business stayed steady last week as bidders encountered lower prices, analysts observed.

Read More →
laptop with blue car on screen on a shopping website, Clear Costs Convert
Industryby Lauren LawrenceJuly 21, 2026

Pricing Transparency Drives Purchase Consideration

An annual study by JD Power found that clear pricing matters to consumers on automaker websites, so much so that it increases their purchase consideration.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Bar graphic of used-car segment weekly change
Industryby StaffJuly 14, 2026

Black Book: Weekly Market Update

Used-vehicle market depreciation was the prevailing story in the wholesale market last week.

Read More →
Light-blue Fiat car parked on a sunny Chicago street
Industryby Hannah MitchellJuly 14, 2026

Smaller Is Looking Better

A growing number of Americans in the market for a new vehicle are opting for more affordable options, not waiting for market stability to bite the bullet.

Read More →
man sitting at desk using calculator with charts in front of him, to-go coffee cup on desk, rising and falling data chart in front
Industryby Lauren LawrenceJuly 14, 2026

U.S. EV Market Slowly Stabilizes

U.S. electric-vehicle interest is slowly stabilizing since a major dip in sales after last year's end of the federal EV tax credit, and hybrids remain the leading electrified power train.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
blue background, map of the world with connecting lights and an electric vehicle emblem in the middle
Industryby Lauren LawrenceJuly 8, 2026

Global EV Market Entering New Phase

Automakers are making investments to lower battery costs and optimize production to meet changing consumer needs.

Read More →
Bar chart showing week-over-week wholesale automotive price change
Industryby StaffJuly 7, 2026

Black Book Weekly Market Update

The holiday weekend, not surprisingly, put a drag on wholesale automotive activity last week, analysts observed.

Read More →
Photo of Honda CR-V SUV on two-lane road next to roadside trees
Industryby Hannah MitchellJuly 1, 2026

Auto Affordability in Context

Cox Automotive points out the complex circumstances that have led to eye-popping vehicle prices.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Line chart of used-vehicle days to turn over past week
Industryby StaffJune 30, 2026

Black Book: Weekly Market Update

Automotive auction inventory increased last week, giving choosy bidders even more leeway.

Read More →