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2001 Toyota Prius

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2001 Toyota Prius do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 164.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

106 reports with mileage · 59 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 45 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 27 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Tires. Review the 27 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

13 crash reports3 fire reports6 injury reports

Equipment complaints

3 reports
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Mileage unknown · Nov 5, 2006
EquipmentFuel System, Gasoline

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 …

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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

NHTSA ODI #10172651

70,000 miles · Jun 28, 2005
Electrical SystemEquipment

I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH MY 2001 PEIUS FOR THE PAST YEAR WITH THE ENGINE STOPING AT FREEWAY AND LOCAL HIGHWAY SPEEDS. MY CAR HAS NOW SET AT STANGER TOYOTA IN ST. GEORGE FOR THE PAST MONTH WITH NO CURE FOR THE PROBLEM. THE DEALERSHIP HAS INSTALLED A NEW INVERTER, TRACED ALL WIRING, RESET CODES AND STILL WE HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM…

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I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH MY 2001 PEIUS FOR THE PAST YEAR WITH THE ENGINE STOPING AT FREEWAY AND LOCAL HIGHWAY SPEEDS. MY CAR HAS NOW SET AT STANGER TOYOTA IN ST. GEORGE FOR THE PAST MONTH WITH NO CURE FOR THE PROBLEM. THE DEALERSHIP HAS INSTALLED A NEW INVERTER, TRACED ALL WIRING, RESET CODES AND STILL WE HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM OF THE CAR QUITING OR GOING INTO STELTH MODE. THE CAR IS NO LONGER RELIABLE ON TRIPS OVER ONE HOUR. THE PROBLEM HAS HAPPENED IN HIGH AND LOW TEMP. CONDITIONS. MY DEALERSHIP SAYS THEIR IS NOTHING LEFT FOR THEM TO DO AND I WILL JUST HAVE TO KEEP DRIVING THE CAR AND BRINGING IT BACK TO RESET THE WARNING LIGHTS. THIS IS NUTS! TOYOTA SHOULD RECALL THIS CAR AT ONCE, IT IS UNSAFE, UNREALIABLE AND A DISGRACE TO OWN. I HAVE BEEN A TOYOTA OWNER FOR THE PAST 30 YEARS AND HAVE ALWAYS "LOVED MY TOYOTAS" BUT THE PRIUS IS A NIGHTMARE, AND I HOPE THE NHTS WILL INVESTIGATE THIS ON GOING MATTER WITH THE PRIUS AND PUSH TOYOTA FOR A RECALL TO FIX THIS PROBLEM ONCE AND FOR ALL.

NHTSA ODI #10126948

35,974 miles · Aug 5, 2003
EquipmentFuel System, GasolineTiresCrashInjury

EXTREME TIRE BLOW OUT(ONLY SHREDS LEFT)HESITATION RESULTING IN LOSS OF POWER IN TRAFFIC/GAS PEDAL SENSOR?*AK

NHTSA ODI #10030856

Official recalls

3

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.

06V266000 · Engine And Engine Cooling

Jul 19, 2006

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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: 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: 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.

00V285000 · Steering:gear Box (other Than Rack And Pinion)

Sep 21, 2000

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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: 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: DEALERS WILL REPAIR THE ELECTRIC STEERING GEAR BOX.

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.