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2003 Toyota Prius

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2003 Toyota Prius do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 164.

About this comparison →
99Owner complaints

Model-year median: 164

1Recall campaigns

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1Investigations

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
4
2000165
2001167
200299
2003610
20041,051
20051,439
2006
Compare all Prius years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Steering
39Electrical System
13Engine And Engine Cooling
11Tires
11Service Brakes, Hydraulic
8
All reported categories
Power Train
5Service Brakes
5Vehicle Speed Control
5Service Brakes, Electric
3Unknown Or Other
3Electronic Stability Control (esc)
2Equipment
2Equipment Adaptive/mobility
2Fuel System, Other
2Suspension
2Air Bags
1Exterior Lighting
1Fuel System, Gasoline
1Fuel/propulsion System
1Seat Belts
1Structure
1

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

81 reports with mileage · 18 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 39 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 13 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 11 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

5 crash reports0 fire reports5 injury reports

Exterior Lighting complaints

1 reports
Clear category filter
68,000 miles · Jan 26, 2011
Exterior Lighting

2003 TOYOTA PRIUS--HEADLIGHT LENSES CLOUD UP, RENDERING THE ABILITY TO SEE AT NIGHT NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE. I HAVE TRIED THE DYI KITS TO REMOVE THE CLOUDINESS, BUT THEY ONLY IMPROVE IT SLIGHTLY AND ONLY TEMPORARILY. WITHIN 3 MONTHS, THEY ARE JUST AS BAD AGAIN. NOW I AM TOLD THAT IT WILL NOT PASS STATE INSPECTION AS IT IS. NEW LEN…

Read full complaint

2003 TOYOTA PRIUS--HEADLIGHT LENSES CLOUD UP, RENDERING THE ABILITY TO SEE AT NIGHT NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE. I HAVE TRIED THE DYI KITS TO REMOVE THE CLOUDINESS, BUT THEY ONLY IMPROVE IT SLIGHTLY AND ONLY TEMPORARILY. WITHIN 3 MONTHS, THEY ARE JUST AS BAD AGAIN. NOW I AM TOLD THAT IT WILL NOT PASS STATE INSPECTION AS IT IS. NEW LENSES ARE EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE AS IT IS EVIDENTLY A DEALER ITEM ONLY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10378789

Official recalls

1

11V304000 · 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.

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.