Total Complaints
201 filings
TOYOTA PRIUS · model year
201 NHTSA complaints, 16 crash reports, and 2 active recalls for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 2002TOYOTAPRIUS carries 201 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 16 crashes, 5 fires, 13 injuries, and 5 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2002 PRIUS is steering with 57 filings, followed by electrical system (13) and service brakes, hydraulic (13). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability. This model year has 2 active recall campaigns, which means the manufacturer is obligated to remedy the covered defect at no charge for the life of the vehicle — the full NHTSA campaign numbers are listed below.
NHTSA currently has 51 investigation files overlapping the 2002 PRIUS, and 1 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
Total Complaints
201 filings
Crashes Reported
16 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
| 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 |
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.
I was driving on the 91 freeway west exit ramp to merge into the 57 freeway in Orange County ca. when suddenly I lost all power steering on the car . We managed to get out the freeway on the first exit
Anti-lock brake failure. Failing to pressurize.
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
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 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
Mileage: 65,395
DRIVING UP AND DOWN A SLIGHT INCLINE, POWER STEERING SUDDENLY GOES OUT. ONLY HAPPENED TWICE SO FAR BUT I DON'T KNOW WHAT WOULD PREVENT IT FROM HAPPENING AGAIN. PROBABLY GOING ABOUT 15-20MPH UPHILL AND MAYBE 20-25MPH DOWNHILL. HAPPENED ON A CITY STREET.
Mileage: 145,139
I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND FELT A JERKING AT MY STEERING WHEEL A FEW MONTHS BACK, I THOUGHT OK MAYBE THE STEERING WHEEL LOOSE OR SOMETHING, I WAS GOING AROUND 65 MPH. FAST FORWARD TO TWO WEEKS AGO AND THE STEERING WHEEL COMPLETELY LOCKS UP ON ME DRIVING TO A DR APPOINTMENT I HAD TO GO TO. I WAS GOING AROUND 30 MPH IN TRAFFIC THE STEERING LOCKED UP AND THE TRIANGLE ILLUMINATED ON MY NAVIGATION SCREEN AND THE DREADED TROUBLE SIGN APPEARED. ONCE THIS APPEARED ON MY SCREEN THE STEERING WHEEL FELT LIKE IT HAD NO POWER STEERING. AT FIRST I THOUGHT, I NEED TO CHECK THE POWER STEERING FLUID, I RESEARCHED AND REALIZED THIS PRIUS IS COMPLETELY ELECTRIC POWER STEERING. SO I ARRIVED AT MY DOCTORS AND TURNED THE CAR OFF, WHEN I CAME BACK AND TURNED IT BACK ON TO MY AMAZEMENT THE LIGHT TURNED OFF AND THE POWER STEERING WAS BACK. THEN THE WEEK AFTER SAME PROBLEM HAPPENED, BUT I DIDN'T HAVE MY OBD 2 READER WITH ME, SO AGAIN I SHUT OFF THE CAR AND THE PROBLEM WENT AWAY. I STARTED TO DO RESEARCH A
Mileage: 251,929
THE HEADLIGHT LENSES COVERS REPEATEDLY CLOUDS OVER TO THE POINT I CAN HARDLY SEE THE ROADWAY AT NIGHT. DEALER HAVE CLEANSE THE LENSES HOW HAS LAST FOR ABOUT A MONTH. THE DEALER NOW SAYS THESE NEED TO BE REPLACE AT A COST TO ME FOR $750. I BELIEVE THIS IS MANUFACTURE'S DEFECT AND IT IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE FOR A RECALL. THE DEALER SHOULD DEVELOP A FIX AND REPLACE THESE LENSES WITHOUT CHARGING THE VEHICLE OWNER.
Mileage: 104,000
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 THOUGH OUT THE ENTIRE WINTER! IT HAPPENS WHEN DRIVING ON WINDING ROAD AT 10-35 MPH AND SOMETIMES HAPPENS WHEN TURNING RIGHT OR LEFT! I NEED ADVICE!
Mileage: 112,000
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. ALSO, THE STEERING WHEEL VEERED TO THE RIGHT, WHICH CAUSED THE CONTACT TO DRIVE OVER A CURB. THE CONTACT TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 11V304000 (STEERING); HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED THE SAME FAILURE AS LISTED IN THE RECALL CAMPAIGN. THE DEALER (LARRY H. MILLER LIBERTY TOYOTA COLORADO SPRINGS, 5115 NEW CAR DR, COLORADO SPRINGS, CO 80923, (719) 419-5832) INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS EXCLUDED FROM A WARRANTY CAMPAIGN AND THE STEERING GEAR AND COMPUTER MAY NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE. *AS
WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC THE STEERING WHEEL STARTED TO OSCILLATE BACK AND FORTH IT SUBSIDED HOWEVER A FEW MIN LATER AS FREEWAY SPEEDS WERE APPROACHED THE WHEEL TRIED TURNING HARD LEFT THEN VIBRATED CENTER TO LEFT. IF I HAD BEEN UNAWARE THIS WOULD HAVE RESULTED IN HITTING THE CENTER DIVIDER AT FREEWAY SPEEDS. A BRIEF RESEARCH ONLINE SHOWS THIS IS NOT THE FIRST KNOWN ISSUE.. THIS WAS VERY SIMILAR TO: HTTPS://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=RV-UL1PXJ1U VERY DISTURBING SITUATION TO BE IN - AT FIRST THE PS WARNING INDICATOR CAME ON THEN SAID PROBLEM SOLVED ONLY TO HAPPEN AGAIN (LESS PULL THE 2ND TIME BUT STILL NOTICEABLE.)
Mileage: 140,158
WHEN MAKING A TURN AT SLOW SPEEDS THERE IS VIOLENT BACK AND FORTH UNCONTROLLABLE MOVEMENT IN THE STEERING WHEEL. YOU HAVE TO BRING THE VEHICLE TO A STOP. THE PROBLEM IS YOUR IN THE MIDDLE OF A TURN OR INTERSECTION.VERY DANGEROUS,THERE ARE NO WARNINGS WHEN THIS OCCURS.
Mileage: 85,500
WHILE DRIVING LOST OF STEERING MOMENTARILY FOR SEVERAL MONTHS BUT THOUGHT IT WAS BELT SLIPPAGE. TODAY (9/28/ 2018) TOTAL LOST OF STEERING. WAS ABLE TO GET VEHICLE TO SIDE OF ROAD AND SHUTOFF IGNITION SWITCH. STARTED VEHICLE AGAIN AND HAD NORMAL STEERING CONTROL AGAIN. AFTER REVIEWING RECALLS NOTICED THAT TOYOTA HAD TWO VOLUNTARY RECALLS ON SAME PROBLEM BUT HAVE NOW REMOVED THEM. WHAT CAN BE DONE FOR THIS PROBLEM. (XXXX) PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
Mileage: 200,000
VEHICLE'S STEERING WHEEL BEGINS TO VIBRATE OUT OF CONTROL WHEN ATTEMPTING TURNS. THIS VIOLENT SHAKING POSES SERIOUS DANGERS TO DRIVER WHILE MAKING TURNS, AND CAUSES DRIVER TO PULL OFF OF ROAD AND COMPLETELY TURN CAR OFF. PROBLEM NOTICEABLE FOR APPROXIMATELY 1 MONTH INTERMITTENTLY BEFORE PROBLEM BEGAN OCCURRING WITHOUT FAIL EVERY SINGLE TIME VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN. WHEN TAKEN TO TOYOTA DEALERSHIP IN BLOOMINGTON, IN, MECHANICS SAID ENTIRE RACK NEEDED REPLACING, ESTIMATING A TOTAL MUCH HIGHER THAN VALUE OF CAR ITSELF. NO RECALL FOUND FOR THIS PROBLEM, NO PAPERWORK PROVIDED TO CUSTOMER. ONCE CUSTOMER PAID FOR DIAGNOSTIC CHARGES AND TOOK VEHICLE BACK, POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHTS ARE PERMANENTLY ENABLED AND STEERING ASSIST IS COMPLETELY OFF, CAUSING TURNING TO CONTINUE TO POSE THREAT, ALTHOUGH STEERING WHEEL DOES NOT VIBRATE, YET.
Mileage: 158,000
HYBRID CIRCULATION PUMP FAILED. THREE WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON.
Mileage: 166,914
HYBRID CIRCULATION PUMP FAILED. THREE WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON.
Mileage: 166,914
I HAVE TOYOTA PRIUS 2002 I WAS DRIVING YESTERDAY THE STEERING HAD BEEN MAKING LIKE A RUBBER-SQUEAK NOISE WHEN TURNED TO THE RIGHT AT LOW SPEEDS.I WAS DRIVING, AND THE WHEEL STARTED TO SORT OF PULSE IN MY HANDS LIKE IT WAS GAINING/LOSING POWER ASSIST.ABOUT 10 MINUTES LATER, FAILED. BIG PS BUTTON ON DISPLAY, WITH THE RED TRIANGLE BY THE ODOMETER. THIS MORNING I WAS DRIVING THE CAR WHEN ALMOST HATE SOMEONE BECAUSE A LOST THE CONTROL OF THE CAR AND THE STEERING WAS SHAKING.
Mileage: 5
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 THE DRIVEWAY ON COLD MORNINGS. IN EARLY JAN 2016 THE STEERING VIBRATION OCCURRED AGAIN WHILE DRIVING ON NEIGHBORHOOD STREETS AND COULD BE STOPPED ONLY BY TURNING THE CAR OFF. WE CEASED DRIVING THE CAR. I TALKED TO OUR TOYOTA DEALER AND WERE ADVISED THE PROBABLE CAUSE WAS A DEFECT IN THE ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING SYSTEM AND TO CONTACT TOYOTA. I COMMUNICATED BY PHONE, EMAIL AND LETTER WITH TOYOTA, PROVIDED A VIDEO OF THE SHAKING, AND REQUESTED REPLACEMENT OF THE POWER STEERING SYSTEM. I GOT A CAS
Mileage: 100,060
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL VIBRATED UNCONTROLLABLY AND THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE STEERING RACK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 00V285000 (STEERING). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE WAS INTERMITTENT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 170,000.
Mileage: 170,000
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL SHOOK IN VERY COLD WEATHER, BUT OPERATED NORMALLY ONCE THE VEHICLE WARMED UP. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.
Mileage: 140,000
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN MAKING TURNS OR REVERSING AT A SLOW SPEED, THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD SHAKE VIOLENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 147,000.
Mileage: 147,000
Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.