IllustrationAnti-lock brake failure. Failing to pressurize.
2002 Toyota Prius
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 2002 Toyota Prius do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 164.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Prius years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
250–25K
2525–50K
1850–75K
2075–100K
30100–150K
12150K+
130 reports with mileage · 37 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 80 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 18 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Tires. Review the 18 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
12 crash reports4 fire reports7 injury reports
Service Brakes complaints
4 reportsDRIVING SPEED LESS THAN 25MPH ON FAMILIAR SURFACE STREET WITH NEED TO STOP FOR A CAR ABOUT 75 FEET (ESTIMATE) IN FRONT; SHOULD HAVE BEEN AN EASY STOP; APPLIED BRAKES BUT CAR ACCELERATED (I THINK ONLY ELECTRIC MOTOR); FURTHER BRAKE PRESSURE DID NOT STOP THE CAR, CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE (ESTIMATE 30 MPH); FENDER BENDER CRASH OF DR…
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DRIVING SPEED LESS THAN 25MPH ON FAMILIAR SURFACE STREET WITH NEED TO STOP FOR A CAR ABOUT 75 FEET (ESTIMATE) IN FRONT; SHOULD HAVE BEEN AN EASY STOP; APPLIED BRAKES BUT CAR ACCELERATED (I THINK ONLY ELECTRIC MOTOR); FURTHER BRAKE PRESSURE DID NOT STOP THE CAR, CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE (ESTIMATE 30 MPH); FENDER BENDER CRASH OF DRIVER SIDE FRONT FENDER INTO PASSENGER REAR FENDER AND SIDE BUMPER. VERY FAMILIAR WITH CAR (19 YEARS DRIVING IT) AND VERY FAMILIAR STREET NEAR MY HOME; CONFUSION WAS NOT A FACTOR; NO AIRBAGS ON EITHER CAR ACTIVATED; I WAS ABLE TO STOP WHEN I WAS BEYOND THE STRUCK VEHICLE. I PLAN ON NOT DRIVING CAR FURTHER AND HAVE ASKED TOYOTA DEALER TO TAKE IT BACK FOR JUNK WITHOUT A DEFINITE REPLY SO FAR
I HAVE ALWAYS HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKES ON THE PRIUS, BUT THE DEALER KEEPS TELLING ME THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH IT. YET YOU FIRST HIT THE BRAKES ON THEY ARE OK, BUT IF YOU HAVE TO HIT THEM HARD - NO BRAKES...YET THE DEALER CAN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT. "THE COMPUTER DOESN'T SHOW ANYTHING WRONG" I GUESS I WILL HAVE T…
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I HAVE ALWAYS HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKES ON THE PRIUS, BUT THE DEALER KEEPS TELLING ME THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH IT. YET YOU FIRST HIT THE BRAKES ON THEY ARE OK, BUT IF YOU HAVE TO HIT THEM HARD - NO BRAKES...YET THE DEALER CAN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT. "THE COMPUTER DOESN'T SHOW ANYTHING WRONG" I GUESS I WILL HAVE TO KILL SOMEONE BEFORE I CAN GET THEM TO LISTEN AND FIX THE PROBLEM. THE LAST 12 YEARS HAVE BEEN A NIGHTMARE......WHY CAN'T WE GET THEM TO RECALL THIS? I SEEN SO MANY PEOPLE YOU COMPLAIN ABOUT THE SAME THING YET NOTHING IS DONE? *TR
WHILE DECELERATING AND DRIVING OVER SPEED BUMP/RAISED CROSS WALK, BRAKES FEEL LIKE THEY RELEASE AND THE CAR SURGES FORWARD. HAS HAPPENED ON A REGULAR BASIS WHEN SIMILAR CONDITIONS EXIST (POT HOLES, OR ANYTHING THAT MIGHT CAUSE LOSS OF TRACTION ON 1 WHEEL). DEALER INSISTS THAT THIS IS "NORMAL" FOR ANIT-LOCK BRAKES. REALLY JUST…
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WHILE DECELERATING AND DRIVING OVER SPEED BUMP/RAISED CROSS WALK, BRAKES FEEL LIKE THEY RELEASE AND THE CAR SURGES FORWARD. HAS HAPPENED ON A REGULAR BASIS WHEN SIMILAR CONDITIONS EXIST (POT HOLES, OR ANYTHING THAT MIGHT CAUSE LOSS OF TRACTION ON 1 WHEEL). DEALER INSISTS THAT THIS IS "NORMAL" FOR ANIT-LOCK BRAKES. REALLY JUST A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE IT RESULTS IN REAR-ENDING SOMEONE DUE TO UNEXPECTED SURGE. *TR
Official recalls
211V304000 · Steering:electric Power Assist System
Jun 1, 2011
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.
06V266000 · Engine And Engine Cooling
Jul 19, 2006
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.
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
1DP22005 · 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.