Recall 12V536 affects 350,662 2004-2011 Toyota Prius and Fchv-Adv vehicles for electric water pump coil corrosion. Repair is free at any franchised Toyota dealer.
Toyota is recalling 350,662 2004-2011 Prius and Fchv-Adv vehicles because a scratched coil wire inside the electrically driven water pump can corrode. If the wire breaks or shorts, the hybrid system can enter a stall-like condition while driving, and crash risk goes up; the Toyota dealer repair will be free once available.
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What's wrong?
The affected part is the electrically driven water pump in the hybrid cooling system on 2004-2011 Toyota Prius and Fchv-Adv vehicles. This pump moves coolant through the inverter area, which helps manage heat in the hybrid propulsion system while the vehicle is running. The pump depends on an internal coil wire to keep the electric motor operating.
During manufacturing, a scratch occurred inside affected pumps at the coil wire. That scratched area can corrode over time. Once corrosion reaches the wire, the pump loses the electrical path it needs to run, and coolant no longer moves through that part of the hybrid cooling system as designed.
There is no warning sign before failure. Owners should not expect a sound, smell, or dashboard message before the scratched wire corrodes enough to affect pump operation.
Who's affected?
Covers Prius model years 2004 through 2009 and Fchv-Adv model years 2009 through 2011, with inverter and engine-cooling components listed for each.
| 2005 Toyota Prius | Inverter |
|---|---|
| 2005 Toyota Prius | Engine and engine cooling |
| 2011 Toyota Fchv-Adv | Inverter |
| 2011 Toyota Fchv-Adv | Engine and engine cooling |
| 2009 Toyota Fchv-Adv | Inverter |
| 2009 Toyota Fchv-Adv | Engine and engine cooling |
| 2004 Toyota Prius | Inverter |
| 2004 Toyota Prius | Engine and engine cooling |
| 2010 Toyota Fchv-Adv | Inverter |
| 2010 Toyota Fchv-Adv | Engine and engine cooling |
| 2009 Toyota Prius | Inverter |
| 2009 Toyota Prius | Engine and engine cooling |
| 2008 Toyota Prius | Inverter |
| 2008 Toyota Prius | Engine and engine cooling |
| 2006 Toyota Prius | Inverter |
| 2006 Toyota Prius | Engine and engine cooling |
| 2007 Toyota Prius | Inverter |
| 2007 Toyota Prius | Engine and engine cooling |
| Units affected | 350,662 |
The year and model narrow the scope, but the VIN decides. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific vehicle is included.
What's the safety risk?
A corroded coil wire in the electric water pump can break or short, cause an open fuse, and create a stall condition in the hybrid system while driving. That loss of hybrid system operation increases the risk of a crash. Schedule the recall repair soon and use caution if the vehicle loses power. Repair will be free at any franchised Toyota dealer once available.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2004-2011 Toyota Prius or Fchv-Adv is included in this recall.
- Contact a franchised Toyota dealer to ask whether the free electric water pump replacement is open for your VIN.
- Reference recall number 12V536 when you call, and bring the recall notice if Toyota mailed one.
- Drive cautiously until the repair is complete; pull over safely if the hybrid system acts like it is stalling.
What happens at the repair
At the dealer, a Toyota technician replaces the electric water pump covered by recall 12V536. That pump moves coolant through the system; the recall remedy is replacement, not an owner adjustment. Toyota covers the replacement part and labor under the recall. The record does not give a service-time estimate, so ask the service desk how long the appointment will take.
Timeline
| November 14, 2012 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| January 17, 2013 | Owner notification mailed |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 12V536?
Recall 12V536 covers 350,662 2004-2011 Toyota Prius and Fchv-Adv vehicles with an electric water pump defect. A scratched coil wire can corrode, break, stop the pump, or open a fuse, creating a hybrid-system stall-like condition while driving. Toyota dealers replace the electric water pump for free.
What should I do if my 2004-2011 Toyota Prius or Fchv-Adv is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific vehicle is included in recall 12V536. If it is, contact a franchised Toyota dealer to schedule the electric water pump replacement. Reference recall number 12V536000 when you call. The dealer repair is free.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires manufacturers to repair safety defects at no cost, and Toyota's remedy says dealers will replace the electric water pump free of charge. You can also contact Toyota Customer Experience Center at 1-800-331-4331 with the recall number.
What is the safety risk for this Toyota recall?
The safety risk is a stall-like condition in the hybrid system while the vehicle is being driven. The corroded coil wire can break and stop the water pump, or create a short circuit that opens a fuse. Toyota links that failure to increased crash risk.
What if I bought my Toyota Prius or Fchv-Adv used?
The free recall repair still applies. Federal recall law requires manufacturers to honor the recall regardless of ownership history. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific Toyota is included, then call a franchised Toyota dealer and reference recall number 12V536000.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/12V536000 |
|---|---|
| Toyota customer service | 1-800-331-4331 |
| NHTSA recall # | 12V536 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 12V536000 |
Source documents
-
Download Recall Investigation Document (PDF) (PDF) - Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Owner Notification Letter (PDF)
- Download Owner Notice (PDF)
- Download Defect / Noncompliance Notice (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Recall Acknowledgement (PDF)
This article is generated from NHTSA's primary recall filings and reviewed against the source on June 2, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →