2002 TOYOTA PRIUS
201 complaints filed with NHTSA.
Complaints by Component
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| STEERING | 57 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 13 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC | 13 |
| TIRES | 12 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 10 |
| STEERING:RACK AND PINION | 8 |
| STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM | 8 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY | 5 |
| SUSPENSION | 5 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE | 4 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | 4 |
| SERVICE BRAKES | 4 |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 3 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 3 |
| AIR BAGS | 3 |
Recalls (2)
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
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 SEN
STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
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.
Recent Complaints
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
Mileage: 65,395
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
Mileage: 65,395
MY STEERING WHEEL STARTS SHAKING VIOLENTLY WHEN DRIVING UNDER 32 DEGREES OUTSIDE AND LOCKS UP THE ABILITY TO STEER WHICH CAN BE DEADLY ON THE HIGHWAY WHICH I DON'T DRIVE MUCH LUCKILY AND TOYOTA HAS NO OPEN RECALLS EVEN THOUGH I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THIS. I'VE HAS TO HURT MY HANDS WRESTLING WITH IT TO PULL OVER WHICH IS DANGEROUS ON SOME ROADS!!!! VERY DANGEROUS FAULT IN A CAR THIS IS THE 1 PART I RELY ON TO SAVE ME! CAN'T BELIEVE TOYOTA WON'T FIX IT!!! ALSO THIS HAPPENS A FEW TIMES EVERY WEEK
Mileage: 112,000
ON DEC 18, 2015, DRIVING AT ABOUT 20 MPH ON A NEIGHBORHOOD STREET WHICH CURVED LEFT, THE STEERING WHEEL ON MY 2002 PRIUS BEGAN SHAKING VIOLENTLY. I LOST CONTROL OF THE CAR AND STRUCK A LARGE LANDSCAPING ROCK. THE CAR HAD $2233 IN DAMAGES TO THE RIGHT FRONT BUMPER, FENDER, WHEEL AND TIE ROD. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. AFTER REPAIR, THE MECHANIC COULD NOT REPLICATE THE SHAKING. PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT, THE PRIUS ON RARE OCCASION HAD BRIEF EPISODES OF STEERING WHEEL SHAKING, ONLY WHILE BACKING OUT OF TH
Mileage: 100,060
I WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE UNDER SPEED LIMIT WHEN MY STEERING WHEEL BECAME STIFF. I WAS DRIVING WHEN MY STEERING WHEEL BECAME STIFF AND AFTER FEW SECONDS I WAS AT A CURVE AND WAS NOT ABLE TO TURN LEFT AND WENT OFF THE ROAD INTO A DITCH AND COLLIDING WITH AN OBJECT. THE CAR GOT HUGE DAMAGE AND WAS NOT DRIVABLE AND STILL IN MY YARD. *TR
Mileage: 241,000
I WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE UNDER SPEED LIMIT WHEN MY STEERING WHEEL BECAME STIFF. I WAS DRIVING WHEN MY STEERING WHEEL BECAME STIFF AND AFTER FEW SECONDS I WAS AT A CURVE AND WAS NOT ABLE TO TURN LEFT AND WENT OFF THE ROAD INTO A DITCH AND COLLIDING WITH AN OBJECT. THE CAR GOT HUGE DAMAGE AND WAS NOT DRIVABLE AND STILL IN MY YARD. *TR
Mileage: 241,000
WHEN DRIVING IN TRAFFIC HYBRID BATTERY COMPLETELY DISCHARGES CAUSING CAR TO LURCH WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE. ONCE THE CAR IS OUT OF TRAFFIC THE BATTERY OVER CHARGES CAUSING THE BATTERY TO OVER HEAT AND CAUSE THE CABIN TO FILL WITH A SCARY SMELL OF BURNING. THE HYBRID BATTERY FAN IS ON. TOOK TO TOYOTA DEALERSHIP PAID NEARLY $300 FOR DIAGNOSTIC AND THEY COULD FIND NO ERROR CODES RELATED TO THE PROBLEM. CALL CHP TO ASSIST IN TOW TO DEALERSHIP. *TR
Mileage: 157,600
2002 TOYOTA PRIUS. CONSUMER WRITES REGARDING A FATAL COLLISION INVOLVING A TOYOTA VEHICLE *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE TOYOTA PRIUS CROSSED OVER A GRASS MEDIAN BETWEEN A DIVIDED EXPRESSWAY AND STRUCK A CHEVROLET BLAZER.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA PRIUS. SHE STATED WHILE PULLING OUT FROM A DRIVEWAY AND APPLYING THE BRAKES, THE BRAKES DID NOT ENGAGE AND CAUSED HER TO CRASH INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED EXTENSIVE DAMAGES TO THE ENTIRE FRONT STRUCTURE AND WAS TOWED FROM THE SCENE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND A COMPLAINT FILED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 24,000.
Mileage: 24,000
2002 TOYOTA PRIUS ACCIDENT *GR THE CONSUMER STATED SHE WAS LEAVING A MEETING WHEN SHE ATTEMPTED TO RELEASE HER EMERGENCY BRAKE. SHE WAS PARKED ON AN INCLINE AND HAS PARKED THERE ONCE A MONTH FOR OVER A YEAR. BEFORE SHE KNEW WHAT WAS HAPPENING, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO ROLL BACKWARDS AT SUCH HIGH SPEED THAT SHE WAS UNABLE TO CONTROL IT BY BRAKING. THEREFORE, SHE SIDE SWIPED ANOTHER VEHICLE AND CAUSED OVER $10,500 WORTH OF DAMAGE TO BOTH CARS. *JB
2002 TOYOTA PRIUS ACCIDENT *GR THE CONSUMER STATED SHE WAS LEAVING A MEETING WHEN SHE ATTEMPTED TO RELEASE HER EMERGENCY BRAKE. SHE WAS PARKED ON AN INCLINE AND HAS PARKED THERE ONCE A MONTH FOR OVER A YEAR. BEFORE SHE KNEW WHAT WAS HAPPENING, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO ROLL BACKWARDS AT SUCH HIGH SPEED THAT SHE WAS UNABLE TO CONTROL IT BY BRAKING. THEREFORE, SHE SIDE SWIPED ANOTHER VEHICLE AND CAUSED OVER $10,500 WORTH OF DAMAGE TO BOTH CARS. *JB
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH THE RPM'S INCREASED EXCESSIVELY CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO ACCELERATE AND CRASH INTO A BUILDING. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND NO ONE WAS INJURED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKES FAILED TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT IS CONCERNED THAT THE LATE MODEL TOYOTAS HAVE NOT BEEN INVESTIGATED REGARDING THE ACCELERATION. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. JO
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY BETWEEN 65-75 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS WHEN ALL OF THE WARNING LIGHT INDICATORS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. SUDDENLY, A STRONG BURNING ODOR CIRCULATED INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE AND THE ENGINE BEGAN TO OVERHEAT. THE WARNING INDICATOR REMAINED ILLUMINATED UNTIL THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. THE CRUISE CONTROL, POWER WINDOWS SYSTEM AND CELLULAR PHONE POWER OUTLET BECAME INOPERATIVE. THE DRIVER PULLED OVER TO THE
Mileage: 68,500
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY BETWEEN 65-75 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS WHEN ALL OF THE WARNING LIGHT INDICATORS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. SUDDENLY, A STRONG BURNING ODOR CIRCULATED INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE AND THE ENGINE BEGAN TO OVERHEAT. THE WARNING INDICATOR REMAINED ILLUMINATED UNTIL THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. THE CRUISE CONTROL, POWER WINDOWS SYSTEM AND CELLULAR PHONE POWER OUTLET BECAME INOPERATIVE. THE DRIVER PULLED OVER TO THE
Mileage: 68,500
I DRIVE A USED 2002 TOYOTA PRIUS, WHICH NOW HAS ABOUT 86,000 MILES ON IT. IN NOVEMBER 2009 I WAS PARKING WHEN THE CAR SPONTANEOUSLY ACCELERATED. MY SPEED WAS LESS THAN 2MPH, MY FOOT WAS CONTINUOUSLY ON THE BRAKE WHILE EASING INTO THE PARKING SPACE, PRIOR TO THE UNCONTROLLABLE ACCELERATION. SUDDENLY WITHOUT WARNING I HEARD THE ENGINE RACE AND THE CAR BOLTED FORWARD, UNRESPONSIVE TO MY BRAKING. I ONLY STOPPED WHEN MY CAR COLLIDED HEAD ON WITH A PARKED CAR, WHICH WAS MOVED ABOUT TWO FEET BY OUR
Mileage: 86,000
2002 PRIUS SUDDENLY SPEEDED UP JUST BEFORE I GOT TO WAIST HIGH BACK DECK OF OUR HOUSE. I HIT THE CLIP ON SUNVISOR. HAD 25 STITCHES IN SCALP. HAVE NOT SEEN THIS MODEL IN RECALL. CAR WAS TOTALED. DID NOT HAVE ON SEATBELT AS I WAS ONLY GETTING THE PAPER AT THE END OF LONG DRIVEWAY EARLY IN THE AM.*JB
Mileage: 49,000
WHILE DRIVING I SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING IN THE CAR, I SHUT OFF THE AIR CONDITIONER. I THEN TURN ON THE AIR AND NOTHING HAPPENED. FINDING LATER THAT THE BLOWER MOTOR WIRING CONNECTOR UNDER THE DASH HAD BURNED UP, ALMOST CAUSING A FIRE. (I HAVE PICTURES WHAT HAPPENED). *TR
Mileage: 129,441
I HAD JUST LEFT ONE AREA OF A PARKING LOT AND WAS TRAVELING TO ANOTHER AT A LOW RATE OF SPEED (5 TO 15 MPH) SO MY 2002 TOYOTA PRIUS WAS RUNNING UNDER ELECTRICAL POWER. I TURNED RIGHT TO PULL INTO A PARKING SPACE BETWEEN TWO SUVS, COASTING IN WITH MY FOOT OVER THE BREAK PEDAL. WHEN I WAS MORE THAN HALFWAY INTO THE PARKING SPACE, THE CAR SUDDENLY SHOT FORWARD JUMPING THE CURB AND STOPPING ONLY WHEN IT HIT A STONE PILLAR. WHEN I LOOKED DOWN (AFTER CHECKING TO SEE IF MY 13 YEAR OLD SON WAS ALRIGHT
Mileage: 42,240
WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE IN THE TRUNK WHERE THE BATTERY WAS LOCATED. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO PULL THE VEHICLE OFF THE ROAD. THE LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED AND EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE WAS DETERMINED TO BE AN ELECTRICAL SHORT. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED.*AK THE HYBRID BATTERY PACK CAUGHT ON FIRE. *NM
Mileage: 36,000
MY HUSBAND NEEDED TO TAKE HIS CAR TO THE REPAIR SHOP AND I WAS FOLLOWING HIM. WE ARRIVED AT OUR DESTINATION AND HE PARKED HIS CAR IN A PARKING SPACE. I HAD OUR DOG IN MY CAR AND DECIDED TO PARK THE CAR IN A SHADED PARKING SPACE. AS I WAS ENTERING THE PARKING SPACE, MY CAR FELTLIKE IT WAS ACCERLERATING EVEN THOUGH MY FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE. THE AIRBAGS THEN EXPLODED AND THE CAR CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE AIRBAGS BURNED MY ARM AND THE NOISE FROM THE BAGS FRIGHTENED MY DOG AND HE JUMPED FROM T
Mileage: 29,719