YearToAvoid

2009 Toyota Prius Fuel System Problems

NHTSA has 24 owner complaints about fuel system problems in the 2009 Toyota Prius, 5% of all 502 complaints for this model year. That is #5 highest fuel system complaint count among 21 Prius model years. These complaints report 1 crash and 1 fire. Median mileage at failure: 20,250 miles.

Fuel System complaints
24
5% of 502
Crashes reported
1
Fires reported
1
Injuries reported
0
Median mileage
20,250 mi
Related recalls
1

When 2009 Toyota Prius fuel system complaints were filed

First complaint Dec 29, 2008, latest Jul 18, 2022.

2009 Toyota Prius fuel system complaints: complaints filed per month3Dec 2008May 2009Jan 2010Jul 2010Jan 2013Apr 2014Feb 2021
24 complaints filed with NHTSA from Dec 2008 to Jul 2022; peak Mar 2010 (3).

Fuel System recalls for the 2009 Toyota Prius

  1. NHTSA 12V536000Nov 14, 2012Fuel System350,662 vehicles

    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. The coil wire may corrode at the scratched portion.

    Risk: The corroded coil wire may break and the water pump could stop. The corroded coil wire could cause a short circuit between coil wires and a possible open fuse, creating a stall-like condition of the hybrid system while the vehicle is being driven. This may increase the risk of a vehicle crash.

    Remedy: Toyota will notify its owners, and dealers will replace the electric water pump, free of charge. The recall began on January 17, 2013. Owners may contact their Toyota dealer or the Toyota Customer Experience Center at 1-800-331-4331.

Fuel System complaints by Prius model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 200531 (3%)
  2. 200621 (1%)
  3. 200730 (1%)
  4. 200858 (4%)
  5. 200924 (5%)
  6. 201099 (4%)
  7. 201121 (4%)
  8. 201217 (4%)
  9. 201324 (6%)
  10. 201410 (5%)
  11. 20159 (5%)
  12. 20166 (4%)
  13. 201712 (13%)
  14. 20182 (6%)
  15. 20191 (3%)
  16. 20201 (7%)
  17. 20212 (33%)
  18. 20221 (4%)
  19. 20230 (0%)
  20. 20240 (0%)
  21. 20251 (6%)

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2009 Toyota Prius have fuel system problems?
NHTSA has 24 owner complaints about the fuel system in the 2009 Toyota Prius, 5% of all complaints for this model year, including 1 that report a crash. Median mileage at failure is 20,250 miles.
Which Toyota Prius year has the most fuel system complaints?
The 2010 Toyota Prius has the most fuel system complaints (99), compared with 24 for the 2009.
Is there a fuel system recall for the 2009 Toyota Prius?
Yes — 1 NHTSA recall campaign for the 2009 Toyota Prius concerns the fuel system: 12V536000.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.