IllustrationHYBRID ELECTRIC VEHICLE; STEERING RACK FAILED CAUSING VEHICLE TO PULL FROM SIDE TO SIDE. *AK *NLM
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.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Prius years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
110–25K
3425–50K
2150–75K
875–100K
19100–150K
13150K+
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
Steering complaints
45 reportsTHE POWER STEERING CUTS OUT AT RANDOM TIMES. THE DEALER SAYS I NEED A NEW STEERING RACK, BUT IT HAS BEEN WEEKS AND NO RACK HAS SHOWN UP. NOW I'M HEARING FROM OTHER PRIUS OWNERS THAT THIS PROBLEM IS WIDESPREAD AND TOYOTA IS REDESIGNING THE WHOLE STEERING SYSTEM. MEANWHILE I'M STUCK WITH A CAR WHERE THE POWER STEERING CAN CUT OUT …
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THE POWER STEERING CUTS OUT AT RANDOM TIMES. THE DEALER SAYS I NEED A NEW STEERING RACK, BUT IT HAS BEEN WEEKS AND NO RACK HAS SHOWN UP. NOW I'M HEARING FROM OTHER PRIUS OWNERS THAT THIS PROBLEM IS WIDESPREAD AND TOYOTA IS REDESIGNING THE WHOLE STEERING SYSTEM. MEANWHILE I'M STUCK WITH A CAR WHERE THE POWER STEERING CAN CUT OUT AT ANY TIME.
DEALER INFORMS THAT 2 OTHER VEHICLES ARE IN FOR REPAIR FOR THE SAME FAILURE. ALL THREE VEHICLES CAME IN WITHIN A 2 WEEK PERIOD. I HAVE BEEN GIVEN AN ESTIMATE OF TIME TO REPAIR RANGING FROM 2 TO 4 WEEKS BECAUSE OF UNAVAILABILITY OF PARTS. DEALER'S SERVICE DEPARTMENT FEELS THAT THE CAR IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. STEERING WHEEL EXPERI…
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DEALER INFORMS THAT 2 OTHER VEHICLES ARE IN FOR REPAIR FOR THE SAME FAILURE. ALL THREE VEHICLES CAME IN WITHIN A 2 WEEK PERIOD. I HAVE BEEN GIVEN AN ESTIMATE OF TIME TO REPAIR RANGING FROM 2 TO 4 WEEKS BECAUSE OF UNAVAILABILITY OF PARTS. DEALER'S SERVICE DEPARTMENT FEELS THAT THE CAR IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. STEERING WHEEL EXPERIENCES "MINOR JERKS OR TICS". SERVICE WRITTER SAYS THIS IS BECAUSE OF ERRANT ELECTRICAL SIGNALS BEING SENT TO POWER ASSIST.*AK
CONSUMER STATED TIRES HAD TO BE REPLACED AT LESS THAN 15,000 MILES, THE RIGHT FRONT AND LEFT FRONT TIRE FAILED FROM EXCESSIVE WEAR, CONSUMER STATED TIRES ON A NEW VEHICLE SHOULD NOT SHOW SIGNS OF EXCESSIVE WEAR IN 15,000, THE DEALER INFLATED THE TIRE PRESSURE TO 32PSI, HOWEVER CONSUMER WAS LATER INFORMED THAT TIRE NEEDED TO BE I…
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CONSUMER STATED TIRES HAD TO BE REPLACED AT LESS THAN 15,000 MILES, THE RIGHT FRONT AND LEFT FRONT TIRE FAILED FROM EXCESSIVE WEAR, CONSUMER STATED TIRES ON A NEW VEHICLE SHOULD NOT SHOW SIGNS OF EXCESSIVE WEAR IN 15,000, THE DEALER INFLATED THE TIRE PRESSURE TO 32PSI, HOWEVER CONSUMER WAS LATER INFORMED THAT TIRE NEEDED TO BE INFLATED BETWEEN 45 AND 50 PSI, CONSUMER IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT SINCE ORIGINALLY THE DEALER UNDER INFLATED THE TIRES.*JB
STEERING HAS PROBLEM OF POOR RETURN REQUIRES CONSTANT INPUT TO THE STEERING WHEEL TO KEEP THE CAR ON THE ROAD. *AK
Official recalls
311V304000 · 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
1DP22005 · 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.