Toyota Prius RECALL

[rickaren]

Toyota to Replace Coolant Pumps in 2004-07 Prius Hybrids

Dec 01, 2010

Toyota announced yesterday that it would be replacing coolant pumps on some Toyota Prius models –378,000 of which are in North America. The fix is needed due to, “a possible water-pump condition that could cause coolant to overheat resulting in reduced power output,” says Toyota. Model years 2004 through 2007 need the fix because the car’s hybrid system will shut down to prevent overheating if the coolant pump malfunctions. In these instances, the Prius will run solely on the gasoline engine.

Because the gasoline engine can pick up the slack when the hybrid system might overheat, the fix does not require a recall. But what if you’ve already had to replace the coolant pump in your Prius? “Owners who have already had the problem fixed can get reimbursed by Toyota,” says the New York Times.

So how will you know if a faulty coolant pump is putting a strain on your Prius? According to CNN, “Once sensors in the car detect overheating of the electric drive system, a warning light will come on alerting the driver to the problem,” Additionally, “the car will enter a "safe mode" in which total driving power will be reduced.”

Toyota is giving Prius owners until November 2013 to have the water pump replaced free of charge. However, owners of Prius models built after 2007 do not need to worry about the service, since the fault doesn’t apply to Prius models built after 2007.

LINK: Toyota to Replace Coolant Pumps in 2004-07 Prius Hybrids - U.S. News Rankings and Reviews