IllustrationTIRE THREAD SEPARATION OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING AT ABOUT 60-70 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY CAUSING VEHICLE TO WEAVE NEARLY OUT OF CONTROL. A COLLISION WAS AVOIDED BY THE DRIVER. DAMAGE TO THE FENDER, BUMPER AND SIDE MARKER LIGHTS ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE. TIRE BRAND WAS BRIDGESTONE INSIGNIA 175/65R14 DOT IC8I E20 1604 EQ8R. *TR
2002 Toyota Prius
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 2002 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
250–25K
2525–50K
1850–75K
2075–100K
30100–150K
12150K+
130 reports with mileage · 37 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 80 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 18 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Tires. Review the 18 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
12 crash reports4 fire reports7 injury reports
Tires complaints
18 reportsI GOT THIS VEHICLE IN 2005 FROM MY FATHER. I HAVE SINCE THEN HAD TO REPLACE THE TIRES OF THIS CAR MANY TIMES AND I HAVE ALWAYS REPLACED THEM WITH THE TIRES RECOMMENDED FOR THE CAR. SINCE THIS CAR IS A HYBRID, THE CAR REQUIRES TIRES MADE TO WITHSTAND THE WEIGHT OF THE CAR BATTERY AND THEREFORE THEY COST 100 DOLLARS OR MORE PER …
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I GOT THIS VEHICLE IN 2005 FROM MY FATHER. I HAVE SINCE THEN HAD TO REPLACE THE TIRES OF THIS CAR MANY TIMES AND I HAVE ALWAYS REPLACED THEM WITH THE TIRES RECOMMENDED FOR THE CAR. SINCE THIS CAR IS A HYBRID, THE CAR REQUIRES TIRES MADE TO WITHSTAND THE WEIGHT OF THE CAR BATTERY AND THEREFORE THEY COST 100 DOLLARS OR MORE PER TIRE DEPENDING ON WHERE YOU PURCHASE THEM FROM. THE INCIDENT DATE LISTED IS MY MOST RECENT TIRE FAILURE. *TR
2002 PRIUS HAS HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH TIRES HAVING TO BE REPLACED OR REPAIRED. *TS THE CONSUMER HAS HAD TO REPLACED 6 TIRES AND HAS HAD 3 TIRES REPAIRED. THE TIRE ON THE VEHICLE ARE SPECIAL TIRE AND CAN ONLY BE PURCHASED AT A TOYOTA DEALER. *NM
EXCESSIVE TIRE WEAR ON BRIDGESTONE POTENZA RE92 TIRES. TIRES REPLACED ON MY 2002 TOYOTA PRIUS MAY 2004 AT 23,555 MILES. SERVICE MANAGER ADVISED THAT ORIGINAL TIRES WERE UNSAFE AND CONTINUED USE COULD RESULT IN A BLOW OUT. CURRENTLY, THE SECOND SET OF TIRES ARE AGAIN WORN (44,000 MILES) AND UNSAFE. *AK
CONSUMER HAS A 2002 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE VEHICLE WAS BOUGHT BRAND NEW BUT NOW HAS 16000 MILES ON IT. IT IS EQUIPPED WITH BRIDGESTONE TIRES. ALREADY THE FRONT TIRES THREADS ARE LITERALLY COMING APART. THERE WAS NO RESULTING INJURY. *NM *JB
MODEL: TOYOTA PRIUS 2002 PURCHASE FROM : PUTNAM TOYOTA, CERTIFIED UNIT, JUNE 2004 FAILURE TYPE : TIRE BURST ON SIDE WALL OF THE TIRE, TWICE IN 5 MONTHS. FAILURE ROOT CAUSE : DRIVE OVER PARKING CURB, AT LESS THAN 2 MPH. FAILURE LOGIC : WHY THE TIRE BURST IN SUCH A MANNER, ESPECIALLY TOYOTA CLAIM, THIS IS A SPECIAL DESIGN OVER…
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MODEL: TOYOTA PRIUS 2002 PURCHASE FROM : PUTNAM TOYOTA, CERTIFIED UNIT, JUNE 2004 FAILURE TYPE : TIRE BURST ON SIDE WALL OF THE TIRE, TWICE IN 5 MONTHS. FAILURE ROOT CAUSE : DRIVE OVER PARKING CURB, AT LESS THAN 2 MPH. FAILURE LOGIC : WHY THE TIRE BURST IN SUCH A MANNER, ESPECIALLY TOYOTA CLAIM, THIS IS A SPECIAL DESIGN OVERLOAD PRESSURE TIRE. PART REPLACE/SERVICE: BOTH TIRES WERE REPLACE AT CAPITOL TOYOTA DEALERSHIP. COST PER INCIDENT: TIRE =$79.00, LABOR = $60.81, TIRE ONLY AVAILABLE AT TOYOTA DEALERSHIP. CONCERN: WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF I DRIVE 60 MPH ON FREEWAY, AND HIT A BUMPER UNEVEN PATH ON THE HIGHWAY, WOULD IT BURST AS WELL ! *JB
THE TIRES WERE DEFECTIVE. AFTER TAKING THE VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR SERVICE IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT CHUNKS ERE MISSING FROM THE INSIDE OF THE TIRES. MANUFACTURER OFFERED REIMBURSEMENT.*AK
IN NOVEMBER OF 2003 I HAD A TIRE BLOWOUT WHILE ON THE FREEWAY. THE CAR HANDLED WELL AND I WAS ABLE TO GET OFF THE FREEWAY AND PUT ON THE SPARE. WHEN REPLACING THE TIRE I FOUND THAT I HAD TO PURCHASE A "SUPER HEAVY DUTY" TIRE BECAUSE OF THE WEIGHT OF MY CAR. THE TIRE WAS INFLATED TO THE SPECIFICATIONS IN MY OWNER'S MANUAL (35…
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IN NOVEMBER OF 2003 I HAD A TIRE BLOWOUT WHILE ON THE FREEWAY. THE CAR HANDLED WELL AND I WAS ABLE TO GET OFF THE FREEWAY AND PUT ON THE SPARE. WHEN REPLACING THE TIRE I FOUND THAT I HAD TO PURCHASE A "SUPER HEAVY DUTY" TIRE BECAUSE OF THE WEIGHT OF MY CAR. THE TIRE WAS INFLATED TO THE SPECIFICATIONS IN MY OWNER'S MANUAL (35LBS). IN APRIL I HAD A SECOND BLOW-OUT AND REPLACED THE TIRE AT MY TOYOTA DEALERSHIP. AT THAT TIME I WAS INFORMED THAT TOYOTA FOUND THAT INFLATING THE TIRES TO 45LBS SEEMED TO BE WORKING BETTER. I HAVE NOW REPLACED ALL FOUR TIRES AND INFLATED THEM TO THE RECOMMENDED 45LBS. IF TOYOTA HAD NOTIFIED ME AS AN OWNER THAT THE MANUAL WAS NOT CORRECT AND THAT THE TIRES SHOULD HAVE BEEN INFLATED TO 45LBS I WOULD HAVE GOTTEN TWICE AS MUCH USAGE OUT OF MY TIRES AND I WOULD NOT HAVE EXPERIENCED TWO BLOWOUTS AND A WHELL REALIGNMENT COST. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL, NOTICE TO OWNERS AND A RPLACEMENT OF TIRES AT TOYOTA'S COST.*AK
SEVERAL MONTHS AGO I HAD A BLOW OUT ON MY LEFT REAR TIRE. THOSE THINGS HAPPEN- SO I REPLACED THE TIRE, GLAD THAT THERE WERE NO INJURIES OR DAMAGE. TWO WEEKS AGO THE SAME THING HAPPENED ON THE LEFT FRONT. WHN I WENT TO THE DEALER I WAS ADVISED TO KEEP THE TIRES INFLATED TO 45LBS THOUGH THE OWNER'S MANUAL (ON MY 2002 PRIUS) ADV…
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SEVERAL MONTHS AGO I HAD A BLOW OUT ON MY LEFT REAR TIRE. THOSE THINGS HAPPEN- SO I REPLACED THE TIRE, GLAD THAT THERE WERE NO INJURIES OR DAMAGE. TWO WEEKS AGO THE SAME THING HAPPENED ON THE LEFT FRONT. WHN I WENT TO THE DEALER I WAS ADVISED TO KEEP THE TIRES INFLATED TO 45LBS THOUGH THE OWNER'S MANUAL (ON MY 2002 PRIUS) ADVISED INFLATING TO ONLY 35LBS. THE DEALER SAID THAT THEY FOUND THAT 45LBS ALLOWED BETTER WEAR AND AVOIDED THE BLOW-OUTS. OWNERS SHOULD BE ADVISED OF THIS AND GIVEN REPLACEMENT TIRES WITH AN ADJUSTMENT FOR WEAR. I WAS OUTRAGED THAT TOYOTA HAD THIS INFORMATION AND ESSENTIALLY SAT ON IT. ON THE 2004 PRIUS (WHICH WE ALSO OWN) THE TIRE IS LARGER AND THUS THE "PROBLEM" HAS BEEN CORRECTED BY TOYOTA...EXCEPT THAT OWNERS OF 2002 PRIUS'S ARE DRIVING AROUND ON TIRE THAT LITERALLY BLOW UP.
FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE HAD TO BE REPLACED 3 TIMES BECAUSE OF CRACKS IN THE SIDEWALL. CONSUMER FELT THAT THE TIRE DEALERSHIP DIDN'T WANT TO CLAIM LIABILITY, SO THEY WERE BLAMING THE CRACKS ON ROAD HAZARDS. *AK
Official recalls
211V304000 · 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.
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.