NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
167 reports106,000 miles · Aug 6, 2013
Vehicle Speed Control
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKING, THE VEHICLE INDECENTLY ACCELERATED TO 115 MPH. THE CONTACT APPLIED THE BRAKES AND SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER HOWEVER, THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS…
Read full complaint
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKING, THE VEHICLE INDECENTLY ACCELERATED TO 115 MPH. THE CONTACT APPLIED THE BRAKES AND SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER HOWEVER, THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 106,000.
NHTSA ODI #10533835
147,800 miles · Jul 16, 2013
Steering
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING A RIGHT TURN, THE POWER STEERING ASSIST FAILED AND THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AS THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE CONTACT SPOKE WITH THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS TOLD THAT ENTIRE POWER STEE…
Read full complaint
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING A RIGHT TURN, THE POWER STEERING ASSIST FAILED AND THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AS THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE CONTACT SPOKE WITH THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS TOLD THAT ENTIRE POWER STEERING AND MOTOR SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 147,800. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10525124
120,000 miles · Apr 3, 2013
Steering
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE POWER STEERING ASSIST FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE POWER STEERING RACK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY SERVI…
Read full complaint
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE POWER STEERING ASSIST FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE POWER STEERING RACK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY SERVICED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 11V304000 (STEERING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.
NHTSA ODI #10505563
58,000 miles · Mar 20, 2013
Steering
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT IMMEDIATELY AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD SHAKE VIOLENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE RACK AND PINION WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE BUT DID…
Read full complaint
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT IMMEDIATELY AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD SHAKE VIOLENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE RACK AND PINION WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE BUT DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 68,000. *TR UPDATED 04/30/13*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN SHE ATTEMPTED TO MAKE A TURN, THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD SHAKE VIOLENTLY. THE DEALER STATED THE THE RACK AND PINION WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONSUMER WAS QUOTED A PRICE OF $ 3,000.
NHTSA ODI #10503828
30,000 miles · Mar 4, 2013
Service Brakes
WHILE DECELERATING AND DRIVING OVER SPEED BUMP/RAISED CROSS WALK, BRAKES FEEL LIKE THEY RELEASE AND THE CAR SURGES FORWARD. HAS HAPPENED ON A REGULAR BASIS WHEN SIMILAR CONDITIONS EXIST (POT HOLES, OR ANYTHING THAT MIGHT CAUSE LOSS OF TRACTION ON 1 WHEEL). DEALER INSISTS THAT THIS IS "NORMAL" FOR ANIT-LOCK BRAKES. REALLY JUST…
Read full complaint
WHILE DECELERATING AND DRIVING OVER SPEED BUMP/RAISED CROSS WALK, BRAKES FEEL LIKE THEY RELEASE AND THE CAR SURGES FORWARD. HAS HAPPENED ON A REGULAR BASIS WHEN SIMILAR CONDITIONS EXIST (POT HOLES, OR ANYTHING THAT MIGHT CAUSE LOSS OF TRACTION ON 1 WHEEL). DEALER INSISTS THAT THIS IS "NORMAL" FOR ANIT-LOCK BRAKES. REALLY JUST A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE IT RESULTS IN REAR-ENDING SOMEONE DUE TO UNEXPECTED SURGE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10501175
100,000 miles · Mar 4, 2013
Steering
VIOLENT SHAKING OF THE STEERING WHEEL WHILE STOPPED OR AT SLOW SPEEDS. PARTICULARLY IN THE WINTER TIME, FIRST THING IN THE MORNING. STOPPING THE VEHICLE AND SOMETIMES SHUTTING OFF AND BACK ON WILL ADDRESS THE ISSUE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10501172
123,099 miles · Jan 4, 2013
Steering
TOYOTA ISSUED A RECALL IN AUGUST 2011 ON GEN. 1 PRIUS FOR A STEERING ISSUE. WE TOOK THE PRIUS INTO LOCAL DEALER AND THEY REPLACED STEERING NUTS PER RECALL. WITHIN A WEEK AFTER RECALL FIX, WE NOTICED A VIOLENT SHAKE TO THE STEERING WHEEL DURING A COLD MORNING START. IT HAD NEVER DONE THAT BEFORE THE RECALL. WE TOOK THE CAR …
Read full complaint
TOYOTA ISSUED A RECALL IN AUGUST 2011 ON GEN. 1 PRIUS FOR A STEERING ISSUE. WE TOOK THE PRIUS INTO LOCAL DEALER AND THEY REPLACED STEERING NUTS PER RECALL. WITHIN A WEEK AFTER RECALL FIX, WE NOTICED A VIOLENT SHAKE TO THE STEERING WHEEL DURING A COLD MORNING START. IT HAD NEVER DONE THAT BEFORE THE RECALL. WE TOOK THE CAR IN AFTER IT OCCURRED AGAIN AND WERE TOLD THAT OUR RACK AND PINION WAS WORE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. DURING THE RECALL WORK, THE DEALERSHIP DID A COMPLETE INSPECTION OF THE CAR AND NOTHING UNUSUAL WAS NOTED. HOW DID THEY DO WORK ON A RACK AND PINION AND NOT NOTICE WEAR ON IT THEN? WE BELIEVE WHEN THEY TORQUED THE NEW NUTS TO THE STEERING PINION, THIS CREATED UNDO STRESS ON THE TORQUE SENSOR AND IS WHY THE AFTERWORK SHAKING IS OCCURRING. TOYOTA NEEDS TO COME CLEAN AND REPLACE THESE RACKS FREE OF CHARGE FOR POSSIBLE DAMAGE TO ALOT OF GEN. 1 PRIUS'S WHEN THEY DID THE NUT RECALL. THERE IS MORE OF A SAFETY ISSUE NOW WITH THE VIOLENT STEERING WHEEL SHAKING OUT OF UNSUSPECTING DRIVERS THAN A NUT THAT'S GOING TO BREAK OFF. NHTSA, FORCE THEM TO DO A RECALL NOW!!!! *TR
NHTSA ODI #10491440
95,000 miles · Jan 3, 2013
Electrical System
THIS VEHICLE HAS A PROBLEM WITH THE HYBRID BATTERY CAUSES A LOT OF PROBLEM IN MANY OF THE SYSTEMS, ENGINE, COMPUTER ETC AND DON'T EVEN HAS A 100,000 MILES IT SUPPOSE TO HAVE A LONG LIFE , THE DEALER IS CHARGING BIG BUCKS IN ORDER TO FIX IT AND I DON'T SEE WHY IT GOES DAMAGE WITH SUCH A LOW MILES. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10490855
95,000 miles · Jan 3, 2013
Steering
THE VEHICLE VIBRATE THE STEERING WHEEL AT LOW SPEED. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10490854
37,000 miles · Nov 15, 2012
Steering
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING SHAKE VIOLENTLY WHILE TURNING, REVERSING, OR IN DRIVE. THE STEERING HAD TO BE HELD WITH BOTH HANDS TO BE ABLE TO KEEP THE VEHICLE IN LANE. THE STEERING WOULD STOP SHAKING WHENEVER THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS RELEASED. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THAT THE …
Read full complaint
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING SHAKE VIOLENTLY WHILE TURNING, REVERSING, OR IN DRIVE. THE STEERING HAD TO BE HELD WITH BOTH HANDS TO BE ABLE TO KEEP THE VEHICLE IN LANE. THE STEERING WOULD STOP SHAKING WHENEVER THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS RELEASED. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 12V537000 (STEERING). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 37,000.
NHTSA ODI #10484748
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.