2001 Toyota Prius recalls and problems

The 2001 Toyota Prius has 3 recalls and 165 owner complaints on file with NHTSA; the most reported problem area is steering.

How the 2001 compares

Average

Fewest complaintsMost complaints

Average complaint count among 27 Prius model years — 14th most.

3recalls

165complaints

13crashes

3fires

6injuries

60,649median miles

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not verified and not adjusted for sales. Ranking compares this model's own years only.

Does your car have an open recall?
Recalls apply to specific vehicles. Only a VIN lookup on NHTSA's official site shows whether yours is affected and still unrepaired.

Check your VIN →

3 recalls

Steering

Jun 1, 2011 · NHTSA campaign 11V304000 · 52,377 vehicles

Problem: 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.

Original NHTSA wording

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.

Risk: Loss of power steering, particularly when an operator is actively intending to steer the vehicle, May increase the risk of a crash.

Original NHTSA wording

LOSS OF POWER STEERING, PARTICULARLY WHEN AN OPERATOR IS ACTIVELY INTENDING TO STEER THE VEHICLE, MAY INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy & notes

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.

Owners May also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's vehicle safety hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (tty 1-800-424-9153), or go to <a href=http://www.safercar.gov>http://www.safercar.gov</a> .

Engine

Jul 19, 2006 · NHTSA campaign 06V266000 · 34,771 vehicles

Problem: 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.

Original NHTSA wording

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.

Risk: 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.

Original NHTSA wording

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 & notes

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.

Toyota recall no. Ssc 60G.customers May also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's vehicle safety hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (tty 1-800-424-9153), or go to http://www.safercar.gov.

Steering

Sep 21, 2000 · NHTSA campaign 00V285000 · 1,772 vehicles

Problem: 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.

Original NHTSA wording

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.

Risk: 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.

Original NHTSA wording

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 & notes

Dealers will repair the electric steering gear box.

Owner notification began October 27, 2000.owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact Toyota at 1-800-331-4331.also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's auto safety hotline at 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).

Recall text as published by NHTSA and the manufacturer.

What owners complain about

Steering45

Electrical System27

Tires27

Vehicle Speed Control25

Engine20

Unknown or other5

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA; one complaint can name several areas. Not verified by NHTSA.

Complaints by year filed

NHTSA investigations

Pedestrian alert sounds

DP22005 · opened Jan 27, 2023 · closed Aug 7, 2023 · led to recall 22V063000

Summary

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 vs. other Toyota Prius years

Owner complaints by model year; the darker bar is the 2001. Click a bar to switch year.

Questions

Does the 2001 Toyota Prius have recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns covering the 2001 Toyota Prius, the latest from Jun 1, 2011 (steering). A recall applies to specific vehicles: enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether yours is affected and still open.

What are the most common problems with the 2001 Toyota Prius?

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA most often mention steering (45), electrical system (27), tires (27). Complaints are consumer reports and are not verified by NHTSA.