Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
110–25K
3425–50K
2150–75K
875–100K
19100–150K
13150K+
106 reports with mileage · 59 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
Steering. Review the 45 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Electrical System. Review the 27 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Tires. Review the 27 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
13 crash reports3 fire reports6 injury reports
What owners actually said
165 reports
Mileage unknown · Aug 21, 2001
Electrical System
ON FOUR DIFFERENT DATES, 5/01, 8/9/01, 8/10/01, 8/19/01, THE ABOVE MENTIONED PRIUS HAS LOST POWER IN INTERSTATE TRAFFIC CAUSING DRIVER TO MOVE TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD AND PROCEED ON BATTERY POWER TO NEXT EXIT. THIS WOULD BE A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION IN AREAS OF OUR STATE WHERE HIGHWAYS ARE UNDER CONSTRUCTION AND CONCRETE B…
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ON FOUR DIFFERENT DATES, 5/01, 8/9/01, 8/10/01, 8/19/01, THE ABOVE MENTIONED PRIUS HAS LOST POWER IN INTERSTATE TRAFFIC CAUSING DRIVER TO MOVE TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD AND PROCEED ON BATTERY POWER TO NEXT EXIT. THIS WOULD BE A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION IN AREAS OF OUR STATE WHERE HIGHWAYS ARE UNDER CONSTRUCTION AND CONCRETE BARRICADES TAKE THE PLACE OF SHOULDERS. AFTER THE FOURTH INCIDENT THE DEALER IS ORDERING SOME REPLACEMENT COMPUTER PART. WE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE FREQUENCY OF THIS PROBLEM WITH OTHER SIMILAR VEHICILES SINCE THEY ARE NEW TO THE UNITED STATES DRIVING COMMUNITY.*AK
NHTSA ODI #750886
Mileage unknown · Aug 21, 2001
Power TrainVehicle Speed ControlWheelsCrash
AT 45MPH ON DRY PAVEMENT, CLEAR WEATHER CONDITIONS I DISENGAGED CRUISE CONTROL BY TAPPING BRAKES. SO THAT I COULD ACCELERATE INTO TRAFFIC. THE VEHICLE PULLED HARD TO THE LEFT. I THEN FOUND MYSELF IN A COUNTERCLOCKWISE SKID ACROSS THE PAVEMENT AS I LEFT THE PAVEMENT I FELT THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE DROP. NOW SPINNING I BOUNCED O…
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AT 45MPH ON DRY PAVEMENT, CLEAR WEATHER CONDITIONS I DISENGAGED CRUISE CONTROL BY TAPPING BRAKES. SO THAT I COULD ACCELERATE INTO TRAFFIC. THE VEHICLE PULLED HARD TO THE LEFT. I THEN FOUND MYSELF IN A COUNTERCLOCKWISE SKID ACROSS THE PAVEMENT AS I LEFT THE PAVEMENT I FELT THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE DROP. NOW SPINNING I BOUNCED OFF A TREE AND INTO A DRAINAGE DITCH WITH ABOUT 1 AND 1/2 FOOT OF MUD AND WATER. IT WAS THEN I NOTICED THAT ONE OF THE WHEELS (LEFT REAR) HAD SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE AND WAS ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE DITCH. IT ALL HAPPENED SO FAST I HAVE NO IDEA OF THE ACTUAL CAUSE. THE STUDS WHICH HOLD THE WHEEL TO THE AXEL SHEAREDOFF, ANS AXLE SNAPPED, THE UNDERCARRAGE AND SUPPORTS WERE TANGLED. FHP OFFICER AT SITE INDICATED IT COULD HAVE BEEN MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION OF SOME SORT. BECAUSE OF CONDITIONS I CONTACTED TOYOTA AS WELL AS INSURANCE CO (PROGRESSIVE). NO ONE HAS YET EVALUATED THE CAUSE. TOYOTAS FIRST COMMENT WAS "WHAT DO YOU EXPECT FROM AN INVESTIGATION" MY ANSWERWAS " TO PREVENT A SIMILAR EVENT IN THE FUTURE". AS I RELATED THE EVENT TO EVERY ONE I ALSO NOTED THAT THE STEERING DIDNOT LET ME CORRECT THE SKID. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY HELD IN LIMBO BY INSURANCE AND TOYOTA. WHILE I AM WALKING. ALL SAFETY EQUIPMENT FUNCTIONED PROPERLY.*AK
NHTSA ODI #750847
Mileage unknown · Aug 1, 2001
StructureVisibility
EXCESSIVE SENSITIVITY TO WIND AND CROSS WINDS EVEN AT LOW WIND VELOCITY. VEHICLE WANTS TO WANDER DUE TO WIND. VEHICLE SHAKES IN THE WAKE OF A 18 WHEELER AND OTHER TRUCKS. THE SIDEVIEW MIRRORS ARE SET TOO FAR FROM THE BODY OF THE VEHICLE. THIS INCREASES THE EXTENT OF THE BLIND SPOTS.
NHTSA ODI #9002274
Mileage unknown · Jun 27, 2001
Tires
ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT BRIDGESTONE 13INCH TIRES FOR THE 2001, TOYOTA, TIRES HAD TO BE REPLACED 3 TIMES IN A FIVE MONTH PERIOD FOR FRONT PASSENGER AND DRIVER SIDES OF VEHICLE.*AK TIRES CONTINUALLY WEAR ON THE INSIDE TREAD OF THE TIRE, CONSUMER STATES THIS HAPPENS ALMOST EVERY 3000 MILES, WEAR IS PRIMARILY WITH THE LEFT FRONT WHERE …
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ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT BRIDGESTONE 13INCH TIRES FOR THE 2001, TOYOTA, TIRES HAD TO BE REPLACED 3 TIMES IN A FIVE MONTH PERIOD FOR FRONT PASSENGER AND DRIVER SIDES OF VEHICLE.*AK TIRES CONTINUALLY WEAR ON THE INSIDE TREAD OF THE TIRE, CONSUMER STATES THIS HAPPENS ALMOST EVERY 3000 MILES, WEAR IS PRIMARILY WITH THE LEFT FRONT WHERE THE ELECTRIC BATTERY/MOTOR ARE. *SLC
NHTSA ODI #891396
Mileage unknown · Jan 26, 2001
Exterior Lighting
ALL THE LIGHTS CAME ON NOT TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE WHEN I STARTED IT. IT HAS BEEN AT THE TOYOTA DEALER EVER SINCE, OVER A MONTH AGO. *AK
TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2001 THROUGH 2003 PRIUS PASSENGER CARS MANUFACTURED FROM JANUARY 28, 2000, THROUGH MAY 30, 2003. THE STEERING LINKAGE MAY LOOSEN, RESULTING IN REDUCED ELECTRIC STEERING ASSISTANCE WHEN MAKING A LEFT TURN.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: LOSS OF POWER STEERING, PARTICULARLY WHEN AN OPERATOR IS ACTIVELY INTENDING TO STEER THE VEHICLE, MAY INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: TOYOTA WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE NUTS IN THE STEERING LINKAGE FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 8, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331.
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, DUE TO IMPROPER MOLDING OF THE RESIN BODY OF THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENOR INSTALLED ON THE ENGINE BLOCK, ENGINE OIL MAY PENETRATE THE SEAL AND ENTER THE SENSOR WIRING CONNECTOR. THE WIRE HARNESS CONNECTOR MAY NOT BE SUFFICIENTLY ATTACHED TO THE LOCKING TAB OF THE SENSOR WIRING CONNECTOR.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: ENGINE OIL INSIDE THE SENSOR WIRING CONNECTOR COULD CAUSE EXPANSION DUE TO THE HEAT OF THE ENGINE AND COULD DEFORM THE SENSOR WIRING CONNECTOR. THE CONNECTOR MAY BECOME DISCONNECTED, WHICH COULD CAUSE THE ENGINE TO STALL WHILE DRIVING AND NOT BE ABLE TO BE RESTARTED INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 26, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. INSUFFICIENT ELECTRICAL CONTACT CAN OCCUR IN THE TORQUE SENSOR THAT CONTROLS THE POWER ASSIST OPERATION OF THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING GEAR BOX. THE TORQUE SENSOR COULD SEND IMPROPER ELECTRICAL SIGNALS.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THIS OCCURS, THE POWER STEERING WARNING ICON WILL BE DISPLAYED ON THE CENTER PANEL, AND THE DRIVER COULD EXPERIENCE HIGHER THAN NORMAL STEERING EFFORT DEPENDING UPON VEHICLE SPEED.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPAIR THE ELECTRIC STEERING GEAR BOX.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
1
DP22005 · Pedestrian Alert Sounds
Opened Jan 27, 2023 · Closed Aug 7, 2023
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Electrical System:propulsion System
NHTSA received a petition on or about July 18, 2022, requesting that Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 141 be applied to all electric and hybrid vehicles operating in the United States. The petition can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under ODI Number 11486072. FMVSS 141 establishes performance requirements for pedestrian alert sounds for motor vehicles. The standard applies to hybrid and electric vehicles that have a gross vehicle weight rating of 4,536 KG or less or are defined as low-speed vehicles. The standard became fully applicable to all such vehicles manufactured on or after March 1, 2021.On January 27, 2023, NHTSA opened Defect Petition (DP) 22-005 to evaluate the subject matter described in the petition. On June 24, 2023 and as supplemented on June 25, 2023, the petitioner notified NHTSA he was withdrawing his petition. The petitioner indicated that, based on his review of data, there is no justification for asserting potential benefits that could be derived from actions sought by my petition. Based on the petitioner's withdrawal, DP22-005 is closed. Closure of this DP does not represent a determination by NHTSA regarding the subject matter of the petition.
2001 Toyota Prius Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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