2001 Toyota Prius

These are unverified consumer reports filed with NHTSA, shown as submitted.

• 12/22/2000· TIRES

  TIRE IS LOW-PROFILE DESIGN STANDARD ON PRIUS. EXPLOSIVE SEPARATION OCCURRED ON DRY ROADWAY WITHOUT DEBRIS. OUTSIDE AIR TEMPERATURE WAS APPROXIMATELY 78 DEGREES. THANK GOODNESS THAT THE TIRE WAS ON THE REAR. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO INITIATE A CONTROLLED STOP FROM THE NUMBER ONE LANE TO THE RIGHT SHOULDER. THE SEPARATION CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE LEFT REAR QUARTER-PANEL, THE ALLOY RIM AND OF COURSE THE TIRE. BRIDGESTONE CUSTOMER CARE WAS CONTACTED AT 800-847-3272 AND I WAS ADVISED THAT THEY WOULD SEND A CLAIM PACKAGE WITHIN 5 DAYS. THERE IS NO REFERENCE NUMBER ASSIGNED. THEY INDICATED THAT THEY WOULD PAY FOR REPAIRS. SERIAL NUMBER FOR ALL 4 TIRES IS: CHA3700. IT IS LIKELY THAT THIS LOT OF TIRES IS ON ALL OF THE PRIUS VEHICLES SITTING AT THE LONG BEACH, CALIFORNIA STORAGE FACILITY. THE TIRE PRESSURE ON THE VEHICLE WAS CHECKED THE DAY BEFORE THE INCIDENT AND ALL TIRES WERE INFLATED ACCORDING TO SPECIFICATIONS. *AK (DOT NUMBER: EL9P TIRESIZE: P17565 R14)

• 12/13/2012· ENGINE

  IF THE PRIUS ENGINE DOES NOT START IMMEDIATELY WHEN THE COMPUTER TELLS IT TO, THE COMPUTER STOPS TRYING TO START IT AND LEAVES YOU WITH ONLY THE BATTERY POWER...VERY DANGEROUS WHEN THIS HAPPENS IN FAST TRAFFIC OR ON AN ON-RAMP. IT CAN BE RESTARTED IF ONE PULLS OFF THE ROAD AND SHUTS OFF THE CAR AND RESTARTS IT. AFTER NUMEROUS INCIDENTS AND ATTEMPTS TO DETERMINE THE REASON FOR THE OCCASIONAL NON-STARTS, IT TURNED OUT THAT THE AIR INTAKE FLAP IN THE ENGINE CAN GET DIRTY AND STICK, WHICH CAUSES THE ENGINE TO SOMETIMES TAKE SEVERAL TRIES TO RESTART. (THIS WAS INITIALLY MISDIAGNOSED AS A COMPUTER PROBLEM, HOWEVER THAT WAS NOT THE CAUSE.) BESIDES MAKING THE FLAP CLEANING PART OF MAINTENANCE, THE COMPUTER SHOULD ALSO BE FIXED SO THAT IT WILL ATTEMPT TO RESTART THE ENGINE WHILE THE VEHICLE IS BEING DRIVEN, SINCE THINGS COULD CAUSE THE ENGINE TO NOT START ON THE FIRST TRY (SUCH AS SLOSHING FROM LOW GAS.) I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS STILL A PROBLEM ON NEWER PRIUSES, HOWEVER AS MORE OF THEM HAVE HIGH MILEAGE, THIS CAN BE EXPECTED TO BE MORE OF A PROBLEM. *TR

• 12/12/2019· STEERINGCrash

  I WAS GETTING OFF THE FREEWAY AND DRIVING 40 MPH ON THE OFF RAMP, WHEN THE 2001 TOYOTA PRIUS DID A UNWANTED LEFT TURN OF THE STEERING WHEEL, I TRIED TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL BACK TO CORRECT THE CAR ANGLE, BUT HE STEERING FORCE WAS TOO STRONG FOR ME TO CORRECT BACK TO STRAIGHT AHEAD, THE LEFT FRONT CAR THE CONCRETE BARRIER, AND THE CAR TURN 360 DEGREE AROUND. THE REAR RIGHT BUMPER HIT THE CONCRETE BARRIER. LUCKY THERE WAS NO OTHER CARS AROUND ME.

• 12/10/2003· TIRES

  WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT 35MPH, THE FRONT PASSENGER TIRE BLEW OUT. (SIZE # P175/65R14) (DOT # UNKNOWN.) THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *PH TIRES WERE ROTATED WHEN THE OIL WAS CHANGED. DEALER STATED TIRES FAILED DUE TO LACK OF ROTATION. ON ONE OCCASION, CONSUMER THOROUGHLY CHECKED THE TIRE BEFORE DRIVING. TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY FOUND A WORM NAIL AFTER LOOKING FOR OVER AN HOUR. CONSUMER HAS THE TIRES. AFTER THE FIRST FAILURE, THE CONSUMER CONTACTED WENT TO FIRESTONE FOR REPLACEMENT TIRES. FIRESTONE STATED THEY COULD ANOTHER TIRE AND GET THE SAME EFFECT SINCE THEY DIDN'T HAVE IT IN STOCK. TOYOTA STATED DIFFERENTLY AND NOR DID THEY HAVE THE TIRE IN STOCK. AFTER DAYS OF THREATS, TOYOTA HAD THE SAME EXACT TIRE AVAILABLE FOR THE CONSUMER. *PH

• 12/08/2009· STEERING

  I HAVE A 2001 TOYOTA PRIUS. SPORADICALLY, THE STEERING WILL SHAKE VIOLENTLY. IT SEEMS TO HAPPEN WHEN I TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. MECHANICS CANNOT FIGURE OUT WHAT IS WRONG. THIS PAST WEEKEND THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT WHEN ON AND I LOST POWER STEERING. IT CAME BACK ON WHEN I STOPPED THE CAR SO IT MAY BE A COMPUTER GLITCH. THE SHAKING IS GETTING WORSE. *TR

• 12/04/2001· TIRES

  EXPERIENCED FOUR BLOWOUTS ON ORGINAL EQUIPMENT BRIDGESTONE TIRES, SIZE P17565R14. FRONT SIDE AND REAR PASSENGER SIDE TIRES HAD TWO OF THE FOUR BLOWOUTS. THIRD BLOWOUT OCCURED WHILE VEHICLE WAS BEING TEST DRIVEN AT DEALERSHIP. ALL BLOWOUTS HAVE OCCURRED AT LOW SPEEDS, EXCEPT FOR BLOWOUT AT THE DEALERSHIP. *AK *SLC

• 12/02/2010· STEERING

  TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, AN UNKNOWN WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE STEERING WHEEL IMMEDIATELY BECAME STIFF AND HARD TO CONTROL. THE FAILURE WOULD OCCUR INTERMITTENTLY AND WHEN DOING SO, THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD ALSO SHAKE ABNORMALLY. THE CONTACT WOULD SHUT OFF THE VEHICLE AND WHEN RESTARTING, THE STEERING WOULD RESUME NORMAL OPERATION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 00V285000 (STEERING: GEAR BOX -OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION) THEREFORE THEY WOULD NOT ASSIST WITH THE REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 205,000.

• 11/25/2008· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,STEERING

  LTR FROM SENATOR BROWN ON BEHALF OF CONSTITUENT, RE PROBLEMS WITH HIS 2001 PRIUS. *NJ A SAFETY ALERT WAS ISSUED FOR THE FAILURE OF THE MAIN COMPUTER, WHICH RESULTED IN THE ENGINE SHUTTING ITSELF OFF. THE CONSUMER STATED THE COMPUTER FAILED ON HIS VEHICLE AFTER 1 YEAR OF SERVICE. IT TOOK TOYOTA 18 MONTHS TO IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM. AFTER A COSTLY REPLACEMENT OF THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, THE ECM WAS FINALLY REPLACED. THE CONSUMER DISCOVERED A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN HAD BEEN ISSUED REGARDING THE REPLACEMENT OF THE ECM. THE CONSUMER STATED THE ECM WAS DEFECTIVE WHEN IT LEFT THE FACTORY, HOWEVER TOYOTA WAS NOT WILLING TO TAKE ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE REPAIRS, BECAUSE THE CAR WAS TOO OLD. THE POWER STEERING HAD TO BE REPLACED TWICE. *JB

• 11/16/2015· STEERING

  TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME STIFF WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN AND THE POWER STEERING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 11V304000 (STEERING). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 13,620.

• 11/11/2001· TIRES

  AT 30,000 MILE SERVICE I WAS TOLD MY CAR WAS "NOT SAFE TO DRIVE." THE TIRES WERE WORN TO THE CORDS. TOYOTA REPLACED THEM FOR FREE, BUT I WAS TOLD THAT THE PRIUS WAS KNOWN FOR HAVING "PROBLEMS" WITH THEIR TIRES. HAD I NOT BEEN TOLD ABOUT THE CONDITION OF MY TIRES, I MIGHT HAVE HAD AN ACCIDENT. OTHER PRIUS OWNERS SHOULD BE NOTIFIED OF THIS.*AK (TIRESIZE: P175/65R14)

• 11/10/2006· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,POWER TRAIN

  2001 TOYOTA PRIUS SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS THREE INCIDENTS LATE AUG 2006 FIRST WEEK OCT 2006 SECOND WEEK OCT 2006 IN ALL CASES VEHICLE WILL NOT START FOR 15 MINUTES BUT THEN RUNS NORMALLY. BROUGHT TO DEALER AFTER FIRST INCIDENT AND THEY COMPLETED A RECALL REPLACEMENT OF CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR. BROUGHT TO DEALER AFTER THIRD INCIDENT THEY HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO DIAGNOSES PROBLEM OR REPRODUCE AFTER 90 MILES TEST DRIVING. CALL TO TOYOTA CUSTOMER SERVICE LINE REVEALED TOYOTA HAS NO CENTRAL POINT TO COLLECT VEHICLE SAFETY PROBLEMS WHEN SPECIFICALLY ASKED IF TOYOTA WAS INTERESTED IN DISCOVERING THE SAFETY PROBLEM IN MY VEHICLE, THE ANSWER WAS "NO" I HAVE BEEN REASSURED BY TOYOTA THAT THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR REPLACEMENT WAS PERFORMED PROPERLY THERE IS NO SOFTWARE PROBLEM WITH 2001 PRIUS SIMILAR TO THE 2004 PRIUS PROBLEM WHICH RESULTED KIN SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER AND LEAD TO RECALL ACTION. THEY ARE UNAWARE OF ANY PROBLEM SIMILAR TO MINE WITH 2001 PRIUS. *JB

• 11/07/2005· ELECTRICAL SYSTEMFire

  MY CAR (2001 PRIUS) WAS AT A DEALERSHIP (MARINA DEL REY TOYOTA) FOR SERVICE. WHILE PARKED, WITH NO ONE INSIDE AND THE IGNITION OFF, THE MAIN PROPULSION BATTERY CAUGHT FIRE AND BURNED THROUGH THE VEHICLE INTERIOR, CAUSING A TOTAL LOSS. TOYOTA BLAMES THE FIRE ON A BATTERY DEFECT. *JB

• 11/06/2008· FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

  ACCELERATOR PEDAL ON 2001 TOYOTA PRIUS FAILED. TOYOTA KNOWS ABOUT THE PROBLEM AND REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE. THEY HAVE HAD ENOUGH FIXES THAT THEY HAD TO GO BACK AND FIX THE REPAIR MANUAL. THEY CHOSE TO IGNORE THE ISSUE AND SAY IT'S NOT A PROBLEM. LUCKILY I WAS DRIVING ON A NON MAJOR ROAD AND WAS NOT KILLED.*TR

• 11/05/2006· FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE,EQUIPMENT

  REPEATED INCIDENTS OF STALLING OF THE GASOLINE ENGINE. BATTERY CONTINUES TO FUEL VEHICLE AT LOW SPEED. WILL RESTART AFTER SHUTTING THE ENGINE OFF. CONTINUES TO DO THIS AT ANY AND ALL SPEEDS. HAVE HAD VEHICLE GAS TANK BLADDER REPLACED AT OUR EXPENSE (OVER 600.00) COMPUTERS REPLACED (MULTIPLE) ON RECALLS. NOT ONLY A NUISANCE BUT VERY DANGEROUS. DEALER HAS GIVEN NO HELP IN FINDING THE CAUSE. *NM

• 11/03/2005· POWER TRAIN

  DT: THE CONTACT STATES VEHICLE HAD A DEFECTIVE CLUTCH. THE CLUTCH HAS REPEATEDLY MALFUNCTIONED. HE CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE CLUTCH TWICE WITHIN THREE YEARS. ALSO, CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER, AND THEY DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. NO FURTHER CORRECTIONS HAVE BEEN MADE AT THIS TIME. *AK

• 10/30/2002· TIRES

  THE FRONT TIRES WORE OUT UNEVENLY. THE OUTSIDE OF THE TIRES WORE TO THE POINT THAT AIR WAS LEAKING OUT. CONSUMER TIRES WERE NOT APART OF A RECALL TOYOTA ISSUED ACCORDING TO THE VIN OF THE VEHICLE. THE TIRES ARE BRIDGESTONE POTENZA RE 92, TUBELESS STEEL BELTED RADIAL M+S. P175/65 R14 84S. DOT # EL 9P T9902, JDH 2301 E92Z. CONSUMER REQUEST RECALL INFORMATION ON THESE TIRES STATED ABOVE. *JG

• 10/30/2002· VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

  THE CONSUMER STATES THAT THE VEHICLE HAD GONE OUT OF CONTROL. THE CONSUMER WAS COASTING INTO THE DRIVEWAY, WHEN SHE PLACED HER FOOT ON THE BRAKE, THE VEHICLE SURGED INTO THE GARAGE AND DAMAGED ITEMS. THE CONSUMER NO LONGER WANTS THE VEHICLE BECAUSE SHE FEELS UNSAFE. THE CONSUMER SAID THAT TOYOTA DIDN'T WANT TO EXCEPT RESPONSIBILTY, EVEN THOUGH THE SERVICE MANAGER DID REPORT THAT THE GAS ENGINE SURGE COULD OCCUR IN ORDER TO CHARGE THE BATTERY. *SCC *DT

• 10/28/2008· POWER TRAIN

  MY WIFE'S 2001 TOYOTA PRIUS WITH 108K MILES STOPPED BEING ABLE TO BE DRIVEN WHEN SHE WAS DRIVING IT HOME. IT STOPPED ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY AND MORE WARNING LIGHTS THAN I'D EVER SEEN CAME ON. IT WOULD NOT DRIVE MORE THAN A FEW MPH AND WOULD SHAKE AND RUN ROUGHLY. IT HAD TO BE TOWED APPROX 81 MILES TO A TOYOTA DEALER NEAR OUR HOME. THEY TOLD US THE TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED FOR ABOUT $7000 INCLUDING LABOR. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH ONLINE, I FOUND THAT THIS IS A SOMEWHAT COMMON PROBLEM WITH OTHER OWNERS (PRIUSCHAT.COM). ALSO, THAT THERE WERE SEVERAL REFERENCES TO TOYOTA COVERING PART OR MOST OF THE BILL, EVEN ON VEHICLES NOT UNDER WARRANTY. IF THAT'S NOT ADMITTING A DEFECT, I DON'T KNOW WHAT IS. *TR

• 10/28/2003· STEERING,TIRES

  SUSPECTED QUALITY ISSUE RESULTING IN PREMATURE WEAR OF FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE, LEADING TO POTENTIALLY UNSAFE DRIVING/HANDLING SITUATIONS.*AK

• 10/27/2008· FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

  I OWN A 2001 PRIUS. MY CAR HAS THE SAME PROBLEM FOR WHICH THE NHTSA ISSUED A SAFETY ALERT IN 2005, FAILURE OF THE MAIN COMPUTER, RESULTING IN THE GASOLINE ENGINE'S SHUTTING ITSELF OFF. THE COMPUTER FAILED AFTER ONE YEAR OF SERVICE. IT TOOK TOYOTA 18 MONTHS TO IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM. I HAVE INVOICES DOCUMENTING ALL THE EVENTS THAT OCCURRED. THE DEALER HAD ME REPLACE THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL ASSEMBLY AT MY COST OF $450 AND REPLACED THE WRONG COMPUTER (THE ONE CONTROLLING THE POWER STEERING). THIS MONTH I GAVE UP AND HAD A COMPETENT DEALER REPLACE THE ECM. THE DOCUMENTS I RECEIVED INCLUDED TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN OF JUNE 12, 2003. THE BULLETIN STATES THAT FOR THE ECM IN THE 2001-2003 MODEL YEAR PRIUS THE ECM PART NUMBER HAS BEEN REVISED. THE RELEVANT INFORMATION TABLE IS LABELED "PRODUCTION CHANGE INFORMATION." IN OTHER WORDS THE ECM IN MY CAR WAS DEFECTIVE FROM THE TIME THE CAR LEFT THE FACTORY BUT TOYOTA IS REFUSING TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS BECAUSE NOW THE CAR IS TOO OLD. THIS CAR IS A LEMON. IT IS ONE OF THE FIRST PRIUS GENERATION MARKETED IN THE U.S. THE POWER STEERING HAD TO BE REPLACED TWICE. THERE WERE 2 OR 3 OTHER RECALLS AS WELL. HOWEVER, I AM A RETIRED PROFESSOR AND NOW THAT I HAVE FIXED THE PROBLEM AT MY EXPENSE I NEED TO KEEP THE CAR IN ORDER TO GET TO MY PART-TIME TEACHING JOB. THE REPAIRS TO THE ECM ALONE HAVE COST ME $1848.19. I WANT TOYOTA TO REIMBURSE ME. THANK YOU IN ADVANCE FOR ANY HELP YOU CAN PROVIDE. BY THE WAY, A SAFETY ALERT ON THESE MODELS AS USED PURCHASES MIGHT BE A GOOD IDEA. G.JAY WEINROTH *TR

• 10/22/2016· STEERING

  PS WARNING LIGHT DISPLAY, CAR WILL NOT START. PARKED IN HOME DRIVE WAY.

• 10/22/2002· UNKNOWN OR OTHER

  CONSUMER STATES HE CAN NOT SEE ANY OF THE INSTRUMENTS ON THE PANEL IN THE DAYLIGHT FROM THE CRUISE CONTOL LIGHT, TO THE DIRECTIONAL SIGNAL, AS WELL AS NOT BEING ABLE TO HEAR THE DIRECTIONAL SIGNALS, AND THE SPEEDOMETER READING CAN'T BE READ AS WELL, CONSUMER CAN'T NOT SEE THE PRE SET READING FOR THE RADIO UNLESS IT IS NIGHT TIME, ALSO THE GAS LEVEL BAR NO LONGER LIGHTS UP TO WARN THE CONSUMER THAT THE FUEL IS LOW.*JB

• 10/21/2005· VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

  (1) NORMAL DRIVING, NO ABNORMALITIES WHATSOEVER (2) AT FREEWAY SPEED, IN BUSY TRAFFIC, WITHOUT WARNING: THE CAR LOST ALL MOTIVE POWER (NEITHER GAS NOR ELECTRIC WORKING); THE HYBRID SYSTEM WARNING ICON DISPLAYED ON THE MULTI-FUNCTION DISPLAY. LUCKILY, IN BOTH INSTANCES, WE WERE ABLE TO MOVE TO THE SHOULDER WHILE DECELERATING. AFTER COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP, WE REFERRED TO THE OWNER'S MANUAL WHICH SUGGESTED TURNING THE IGNITION KEY COMPLETELY OFF AND THEN ATTEMPTING A RESTART. IN BOTH CASES THE CAR STARTED UP AGAIN AND WAS DRIVABLE (ALTHOUGH IN THE FIRST CASE THE WARNING ICON REMAINED DISPLAYED FOR APPROXIMATELY 10 MILES). (3) TOOK CAR TO TOYOTA DEALER WHO VERIFIED FAILURE CODE(S) STORED IN ONBOARD MEMORY; DEALER REPLACED ACCELERATOR PEDAL/POSITION SENSOR ASSEMBLY. *JB

• 10/19/2002· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  AFTER SITTING FOR AS MANY AS 2 DAYS WITHOUT DRIVING, THERE IS A BATTERY FAILURE. THIS HAS OCCURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS (8-10 TIMES), AND THE DEALER HAS SENT A TOW TRUCK OUT TO EITHER START THE CAR OR TOW THE CAR INTO THE DEALERSHIP. AT ONE POINT, THE CAR WAS IN THE DEALERSHIP FOR 3 WEEKS WHILE THEY WORKED ON SOLVING THE PROBLEM. THEY HAVE PUT IN SEVERAL NEW BATTERIES, BUT THE PROBLEM CONTINUES. THE LATEST OCCASION WAS THIS PAST WEEK (OCTOBER, 2002). I WAS WITHOUT THE CAR FOR 3 DAYS. NO PROBLEMS WERE FOUND AT THE DEALERSHIP EXCEPT FOR BATTERY FAILURE. IN THE PAST THE DEALERSHIP HAS PROVIDED ME WITH A BATTERY CHARGER, BUT THE BATTERY CHARGER IS CURRENTLY NOT WORKING PROPERLY. DT

• 10/17/2005· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  THE FOLLOWING HAS HAPPENED ON 4 DIFFERENT OCCASIONS, 3 TIMES I HAVE BEEN DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE SEVERAL HUNDRED MILES FROM HOME AT SPEEDS OF 65 TO 70 MILES PER HOUR. ON THESE OCCASIONS THE DASHBOARD WARNING LIGHTS HAVE COME ON AND THE GASOLINE ENGINE SHUTS DOWN. THE VEHICLE'S ELECTRIC MOTOR WILL CONTINUE OPERATING IN A LIMITED CAPACITY, SO I CAN STEER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE ENGINE WILL START WORKING AGAIN WHEN I TRY TO RESTART THE VEHICLE, BUT NOT FOR A CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF TIME, THIS HAS BEEN VERY FRIGHTENING, AS I AM USUALLY ALONE IN THE CAR. THE LAST TIME THIS HAPPENED I HAD TO WAIT APPROXIMATELY 30 MINUTES ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AT DUSK BEFORE THE CAR STARTED AGAIN. I HAD CALLED SEVERAL TOW TRUCKS, BUT THEY TOLD ME THEY COULD NOT COME FOR ANOTHER 45 MINUTES TO 2 HOURS AS THEY WERE THAT BUSY. I HAVE HAD MY CAR INTO THE TOYOTA SHOP EVERY TIME THIS HAPPENED AND THEY KEEP TELLING ME NOTHING IS WRONG. WELL, SOMETHING IS WRONG...I CAN'T BELIEVE I AM THE ONLY PERSON HAVING THIS TROUBLE. IS THERE ANYTHING THAT CAN BE DONE TO MAKE THEM FIX THIS PROBLEM. I BOUGHT THIS CAR USED AND IN GOOD FAITH, OBVIOUSLY BECAUSE OF GAS PRICES. BUT NOW I GUESS I KNOW WHY IT WAS TRADED IN AFTER ONLY 2 YEARS. THE LAST TIME THIS HAPPENED WAS OCTOBER 10TH, 2005. *JB

• 10/15/2007· FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

  2001 PRIUS FUEL TANK WAS DISCOVERED TO HAVE A PIN LEAK AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. PRIOR TO FINDING RIGHT AFTER 100,000 MILES THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STARTED COMING ON. *JB

• 10/15/2005· VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

  2001 TOYOTA PRIUS: ACCELERATOR SENSOR FAILURE FOR SEVERAL WEEKS LEADING UP TO THE FAILURE, THERE WAS A SLIGHT (BUT DEFINITE) SENSATION OF DECELERATION WHEN TRYING TO MAINTAIN STEADY SPEED. AT THE TIME OF FAILURE, THE VEHICLE HESITATED/STALLED AND THE "MASTER WARNING LIGHT" CAME ON. LOCAL DEALER (355 TOYOTA, ROCKVILLE, MD) REPLACED THE PART AT A COST OF $700.00. SHOULD A PART THIS EXPENSIVE (AND SO CRITICAL TO VEHICLE FUNCTION) BE FAILING AT 4 YEARS? *NM

• 10/14/2010· SUSPENSION

  PREMATURE WEAR AND CROWNING OF TIRES DUE TO MANUFACTURING DEFECT OF REAR AXLE. CAN ONLY BE CORRECTED BY AFTER MARKET PLASTIC SHIMS INSTALLED AT AN EXPENSE OF APPROXIMATELY $500 OR OVER INFLATE TIRES TO 50 PSI AND LOOSE ROAD TRACTION OR INFLATE TIRES TO TOYOTA SPECIFICATIONS FOR PREMATURE WEAR DUE TO TOE OUT DEFECT. *TR

• 10/13/2005· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  MY 2001 TOYOTA PRIUS HAS STALLED TWICE AT HIGH SPEEDS (~75 MPH) WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY. IN BOTH INCIDENCES IT WAS ONLY DUE TO GOOD DRIVING AND TO LUCK THAT I WAS ABLE TO GET OFF OR TO THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY. I HAVE CONTACTED MY DEALER AND IN BOTH CASES THEY LOOKED AT THE ENGINE AND CLAIMED THAT THEY HAD NEVER SEEM THE PROBLEM WITH ANY OTHER VEHICLES. I WAS TO BRING THE CAR BACK IF IT HAPPENED AGAIN. *JB

• 10/13/2005· STEERING

  DT: THE CONTACT STATED THAT 2001 TOYOTA PRIUS WAS HAVING TROUBLE WITH THE STEERING WHEEL. WHEN THE WHEEL WAS IN CERTAIN POSITION IT SHUTTERED VIOLENTLY. THE PROBLEM WAS INTERMITTENT. THIS HAPPENED JUST A FEW TIMES SINCE 2001, AND IN THE LAST WEEK, IT WAS HAPPENING DAILY. THE CONTACT HAD NOT TAKEN THE CAR TO THE REPAIR SHOP PRIOR TO THIS WEEK. THE CONTACT WAS TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR A CHECK UP ON THE STEERING. THERE HAS BEEN NO SUCCESS IN CONTACTING TOYOTA AS OF NOW. SHE WILL CONTACT TOYOTA SOON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS VERY UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THERE HAS BEEN NO NEAR MISSES, BUT THIS CONDITION WAS VERY SCARY.*AK UPDATED 12/27/05. *JB

• 10/06/2001· STRUCTURE

  ALTHOUGH THE TIRES ON THIS VEHICLE WERE SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED FOR IT BY BRIGESTONE, THE TREAD COMPOUND IS TOO WEAK TO CARRY THE HIGH WEIGHT OF THE VEHICLE WITHOUT FAILING.

• 10/04/2011· STEERING

  2001 TOYOTA PRIUS. CONSUMER STATES PROBLEM WITH THE RACK AND PINION *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED NOT LONG AFTER SHE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. SHE EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH THE RACK AND PINION STEERING SYSTEM, INCLUDING STEERING WHEEL SHAKING AND LOSS OF POWER STEERING. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE IN FOR SERVICE AND WAS INFORMED THE ENTIRE RACK AND PINION ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THE REPAIR MAY BE RELATED TO THE PINION SHAFT PROBLEM THAT WAS JUST RECENTLY IDENTIFIED UNDER A RECALL. THE CONSUMER IS SEEKING REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE PREVIOUS REPAIR. *JB UPDATED 12/28/11. *JB THE CONSUMER STATED SHE BEGAN TO EXPERIENCE THE SAME PROBLEM, AS SHE DID IN 2006 WITH THE VEHICLE LOOSING POWER STEERING INTERMITTENTLY. THE DEALER ADJUSTED THE TORQUE SENSOR AND RECOMMENDED A REPLACEMENT OF THE SENSOR AND THE RACK AND PINION ASSEMBLY, IF THE PROBLEM RETURNED AGAIN. A FEW DAYS AFTER THE SENSOR ADJUSTMENT, THE POWER STEERING PROBLEM DID RESUME AGAIN, AND IT CONTINUES TO GO OUT INTERMITTENTLY. UPDATED 04/16/14*JB

• 10/01/2010· STEERING

  MY 2001 TOYOTA PRIUS STEERING 'GROANS' WHEN THE WHEELS ARE TURNED FAR LEFT OR RIGHT. THIS DEFECT OCCURS MORE OFTEN IN WARM WEATHER AND AFTER THE CAR HAS BEEN DRIVEN. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN IN ANY ACCIDENTS. *TR

• 09/28/2004· SERVICE BRAKES, AIR

  WHILE PARKING THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE ACCELERATED SUDDENLY. *NM THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE HIT AN ELECTRIC BOX AS A RESULT OF THE UNEXPECTED ACCELERATION WHILE TRYING TO PARK. A SECOND OCCURANCE OF THIS PROBLEM HAPPENED IN A MALL PARKING LOT. *TC

• 09/25/2006· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  MY FRIEND WAS DRIVING MY 2001 TOYOTA PRIUS ON THE HIGHWAY, GOING 65 MPH. I WAS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. A WARNING SYMBOL WITH THE TRIANGLE/EXCLAMATION MARK APPEARED ON MY SCREEN. THE ENGINE IMMEDIATELY DIED. WE TRIED TO GET OFF OF THE ROAD. MACK TRUCKS WERE SWERVING INTO THE EXIT LANES TO GET OUT OF THE WAY. <P> WE WERE ABLE TO PULL OFF ONTO THE SHOULDER. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS FOR ME, MY PASSENGERS AND OTHER DRIVERS ON THE HIGHWAY. <P> YOUR AGENCY HAS INVESTIGATED THIS EXACT PROBLEM, WHICH LED TO A RECALL BY TOYOTA. TOYOTA BLAMED THE PROBLEM ON A "SOFTWARE GLITCH." THE PROBLEM IS GOES MUCH DEEPER THAN A ''SOFTWARE GLITCH'' -'' IT REMAINS UNRESOLVED. I HAD MY CAR SERVICED FOR THIS ''SOFTWARE GLITCH'' RECALL (ENGINE'S COMPUTER (ECM) REPLACED AND CIRCUIT OPEN RELAY CHECKED), BUT THE PROBLEM STILL PERSISTS. THE ENGINE STILL CUTS OUT AT HIGH SPEEDS. MY CAR HAS HAD THIS EXACT PROBLEM BEFORE AND AFTER GETTING IT SERVICED BASED ON THE RECALL ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS. THIS LIFE AND DEATH DEFECT NEEDS A BETTER SOLUTION THAN SIMPLY ATTRIBUTING IT TO A "SOFTWARE GLITCH." *JB

• 09/24/2002· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  CONSUMER STATES DROVE HIS NEW AUTO APPROX 300 MILES AND HAD IT PARKED, WHEN HE WENT TO GET HIS AUTO THE PANEL LIGHTS WERE LIT, WARNING THAT SOMETHING WAS WRONG. AFTER CALLING A DEALER AND DRIVING HIS AUTO, HE WAS TOLD THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE AUTO. CONSUMER STATES THAT THIS SAME PROBLEM IS ON OUR WEB SITE. NLM

• 09/23/2003· STEERING

  CONSUMER STATED WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND WITH NO WARNING THE STEERING BOLTS BECAME LOOSE AND CAUSED THE STEERING WHEEL TO JUMP AROUND, WHICH MADE THE VEHICLE DIFFICULT TO STEER. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK VEHICLE PULLED SIGNIFICANTLY WHILE DRIVING. THE TIRES WERE INSPECTED AT 15,536 MILES, BUT AT 18,800 MILES ONE OF THE TIRE BLEW REVEALING THE TIRES WERE BALD. LATER, IT WAS DISCOVERED THE ALIGNMENT WAS OUT AND TIRE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. *PH *JB

• 09/18/2017· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,SERVICE BRAKES,ENGINECrash

  TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOST COMPLETE POWER AND BRAKING ABILITY WITHOUT WARNING. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT DROVE OVER THE MEDIAN AAND CRASHED INTO A POLE. THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE LOCAL DEALER (TITUS-WILL TOYOTA, 3506 S SPRAGUE AVE, TACOMA, WA 98409). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DECLARED DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND VIN WERE UNKNOWN.

• 09/17/2002· STEERING

  HYBRID ELECTRIC VEHICLE; STEERING RACK FAILED CAUSING VEHICLE TO PULL FROM SIDE TO SIDE. *AK *NLM

• 09/14/2004· TIRES

  CONSUMER INSPECTED THE TIRES AND THE BELTS WORE INTO THE STEEL. TIRES WERE REPLACED ON THE FRONT FOUR TIMES. VEHICLE WAS ALIGNED SEVERAL TIMES BUT THE TIRES CONTINUED TO WEAR. THEY WERE REPLACED WITH THE SAME MAKE/MODEL TIRE.*AK

• 09/12/2007· STEERING

  TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 2-5 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD INTERMITTENTLY SHAKE. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 26,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 27,000. UPDATED 01/11/08. *LJ THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD HE WOULD BE CHARGED FOR REPLACING THE STEERING RACK. UPDATED *JB

• 09/12/2003· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,EXTERIOR LIGHTING

  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. DEALERS WILL REPAIR THE ELECTRIC STEERING GEAR BOX.*AK RIGHT TURN SIGNAL DOES NOT CANCEL AFTER A HARD RIGHT TURN. VEHICLE WOULD PULL OUT IN FRONT OF THE CONSUMER BECAUSE THEY THINK HE'S GOING TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN. *PH *JB

• 09/11/2018· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

  MY CAR IS EXPERIENCING WHAT IS KNOWN ONLLINE AS "THE BIG HAND SYNDROM". WHILE DRIVING, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL CHANGES RESISTANCE AND IT FEELS LIKE SOMEONE GRABS THE CAR AND IT DRAMATICALLY SLOWS. YOU THEN HAVE TO PRESS HARDER ON THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL TO MAINTAIN SPEED. WELL ONE DAY, THE CAR STOPPED WORKING, NO MATTER HOW HARD I PRESSED ON THE PEDAL IT WOULD NO ACCELERATE. I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY. I TOOK MY CAR IN TO THE LOCAL AUTHORIZED TOYOTA DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS BAD AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. WE REPLACED THE PEDAL AND EXPERIENCED THE SAME ISSUES, AND REPLACED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AGAIN. I'M STILL EXPERIENCING THE SAME ISSUSES AND THE TOYOTA DEALER SAID THERES NOTHING THEY CAN DO EXCEPT KEEP REPLACING THE PEDAL CAUSE THATS THE CODE IT IS THROWING UP. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE FOR MY VEHICLE AS I CAN AND DO LOSE ACCELERATION AT ANY GIVEN TIME. IT DOESNT SEEM TO MATTER HOW FAST IM GOING OR THE DRIVING CONDITIONS. IT IS COMPLETELY RANDOM, AND CANNOT BE REPLICATED ON COMAND. THE DATE LISTED IS THE FIRST INSTANCE, AND IT HAS HAPPENED TOO MANY TIMES TO COUNT OR MAKE RECORD.

• 09/11/2003· VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

  I OWN A 2001 TOYOTA PRIUS. SEVERAL TIMES IN THE LAST FEW MONTHS I HAVE EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF POWER COMBINED WITH MY DASH WARNING LIGHTS. I HAD ONE SIMILAR INCIDENT LAST YEAR. THE DEALERSHIP CLAIMS THEIR DIAGNOSTICS FIND NO PROBLEM (NO CODES = NO PROBLEM). THEREFORE NOTHING IS RESOLVED AND THE CAR REMAINS PRONE TO LOSS OF POWER, A DANGEROUS CONDITION WHEN TRAVELING ON ANY FREEWAY. BY LOOKING AT THE CHAT BOARDS (YAHOO IN PARTICULAR) IT'S EVEDINT AI AM NOT AN ISOLATED CASE. I BELIEVE TOYOTA HAS AN OBLIGATION TO ADDRESS AND CORRECT THIS ISSUE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. RICHARD TOROK

• 09/10/2019· STEERING

  STEERING RECALL I CALLED TOYOTA THEY SAID THEY COULDN'T DO IT AND IT SAYS ONLINE IT'S GOOD FOR 10 YEARS AFTER RECALL DATE.

• 09/10/2014· SERVICE BRAKES

  COMPLETE BRAKE FAILURE, SHOP SAID IT WAS THE TURBO BRAKE BOOSTER. *TR

• 09/06/2006· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  ENGINE STALLING OCCURRING RANDOMLY WHILE CRUISING AT HIGHWAY SPEED BETWEEN APPROX. 54 TO 64 MPH CAUSING VEHICLE TO SLOW DOWN ON THE FREEWAY. THIS PROBLEM IS POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS BECAUSE ENGINE STALLS AT FREEWAY SPEED WHICH COULD RESULT IN REAR END CRASH FROM ON-COMING VEHICLES TRAVELING BEHIND AT FREEWAY SPEEDS --- FURTHERMORE THE VEHICLE MUST BE STOPPED AT THE FREEWAY EDGE TO BE RESTARTED BEFORE PROBLEM IS CORRECTED. RESTARTING VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY CORRECTS PROBLEM. HOWEVER, THIS PROBLEM SHOULD BE MADE A MANDATORY RECALL ITEM. [PRIUS SCANNER SHOWS DTC CODE P1120 FOR ACCELERATOR PEDAL ASSEMBLY PROBLEM AND THERE IS A MANUFACTURER TSB CONCERNING THIS PROBLEM (TSB EG018-02)]. THIS VEHICLE HAS HAD THE CRANKSHAFT SENSOR REPLACED PURSUANT TO THE RECENT RECALL NOTICE AND THE CRANKSHAFT SENSOR HAD BEEN LEAKING OIL PRIOR TO REPLACEMENT. ALSO DRIVERS REAR AXLE HUB BEARING FAILED PREMATURELY AND WAS RECENTLY REPLACED. *JB

• 09/04/2001· TIRES

  I WAS ADVISED DURING A ROUTINE OIL CHANGE THAT MY TIRES WERE UNSAFE TO DRIVE ON. I WAS ALSO ADVISED THAT TIYOTA KNOWS THAT THESE UNIQUE TORES FAIL AT ABOUT 10,000 MILES. TOYOTA SAYS THAT THESE TIRES ARE THE ONLY TYPE ACCEPTABLE FOR USE ON THIS VEHICLE AND TO USE ANOTHER MANUFACTURER WILL VOID THE WARRANTY. THERE ARE NO REPLACEMENT TIRES AVAILABLE AND THEY (THE DEALER) ESTIMATES AT LEAST ONE MONTH WAIT. *AK (TIRESIZE: P175/65R14)

• 09/02/2010· STEERING

  TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN AT APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH SHE NOTICED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WAS EASY TO TURN TO THE LEFT AND SHE HAD TO APPLY EXTREME PRESSURE IN ORDER TO GET THE STEERING WHEEL TO RETURN TO THE CENTER POSITION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE SHE WAS INFORMED OF A STEERING RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER INFORMED HER THAT HER VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 00V285000, STEERING:GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 103,000.

• 09/01/2003· TIRES

  BRIDGESTONE POTENZA TIRES, P175/65R14- ON JULY 28, 2003 HAD TO REPLACE TIRES ON THE 2001 TOYOTA PRIUS. ONE TIRE WAS FLAT. I NOTICED THAT THE TIRE HAD A BIG CRACK AND THE CORDS WERE VISIBLE. I LOOKED AT IT CLOSER AND NOTICED THAT THERE WERE CRACKS HALFWAY AROUND THE TIRE. I LOOKED AT THE OTHER 3 TIRES AND NOTICED THAT THEY HAD CRACKS ALSO. THE TIRES LOOKED LIKED THEY WERE VERY OLD. *AK