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.

In the market for a new car? Check out the U.S. News rankings of this year’s best cars as well as this month’s best car deals. Also, be sure to check us out on Twitter.

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Fuel efficient cars are all the rage these days, and the 2011 Toyota Prius is leading the pack. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) says that with EPA ratings of 51/48 mpg in the city and on the highway, it’s the most fuel efficient car available in the United States.

Three Ford vehicles come in second. “The 2011 Ford Fusion Hybrid, Mercury Milan Hybrid and the Lincoln MKZ Hybrid (which all carry the same running gear) took the number two spot,” says egmCarTech. “All deliver an EPA estimated fuel-economy of 41/36 mpg.”

A number of other popular hybrids followed suit. “Beyond the Prius, the list of fuel economy leaders is rounded out with the usual cast of characters, including the … Honda Civic Hybrid, Lexus HS 250h and more,” says Autoblog. “You won’t find Volkswagen’s oil-burning Golf TDI or Jetta TDI on the list, though, even though their 30/42 mpg is immensely respectable.” The Civic Hybrid and Honda Insight have ratings of 40/43 mpg city/highway, and the Lexus HS 250h nets 35/34 mpg city/highway.

You might be wondering where new eco-cars like the Chevrolet Volt and the Nissan Leaf fit into this picture. The EPA explains their absence: “2011 model year electric or plug-in hybrid electric vehicles have completed testing as of publication of this list.” The agency didn’t state if they will be included in the 2012 Fuel Economy Guide.

The Prius’ high fuel economy rating is great news for consumers. Gas prices are increasing, and buying a hybrid is one of the best ways to save money at the pump. While the Prius is one of the most eco-friendly cars on the market, it is not the cheapest. Toyota hasn’t released pricing for the 2011 model, but the 2010 model started at $22,800. If that’s too much, you can still save money and get high fuel economy ratings by driving cars like the Ford Fiesta and Honda Fit. They run on gasoline and won’t top 29/38 mpg city/highway, but they’re your best bet if price is a priority.

If you want to see how your vehicle does in comparison to the rest, you can check out the EPA’s 2011 Fuel Economy Guide.

In the market for a new car? Check out the U.S. News rankings of this year’s best cars as well as this month’s best car deals. Also, be sure to check us out on Twitter.

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