2002 Toyota PRIUS problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
167 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
70,200 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2002 model year. Data snapshot: . 130 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Steering is the most frequently named component, appearing in 57 of 167 complaints (34.1%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 83 | 49.7% |
| Braking behavior | 28 | 16.8% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 14 | 8.4% |
| Engine operation | 12 | 7.2% |
| Transmission and shifting | 5 | 3.0% |
| Fuel system concerns | 5 | 3.0% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Steering | 57 |
| Electrical System | 13 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 13 |
| Tires | 12 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 10 |
| Steering:Electric Power Assist System | 8 |
| Steering:Rack And Pinion | 8 |
| Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery | 5 |
Steering: 57; Electrical System: 13; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 13; Tires: 12; Vehicle Speed Control: 10; Steering:Electric Power Assist System: 8; Steering:Rack And Pinion: 8; Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery: 5
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 25 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 25 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 18 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 20 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 30 |
| 150,000 and above | 12 |
Under 25,000: 25; 25,000 to 49,999: 25; 50,000 to 74,999: 18; 75,000 to 99,999: 20; 100,000 to 149,999: 30; 150,000 and above: 12
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (30). 37 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2002 | 10 |
| 2003 | 14 |
| 2004 | 12 |
| 2005 | 11 |
| 2006 | 11 |
| 2007 | 9 |
| 2008 | 6 |
| 2009 | 11 |
| 2010 | 33 |
| 2011 | 7 |
| 2012 | 4 |
| 2013 | 13 |
| 2014 | 5 |
| 2015 | 5 |
| 2016 | 4 |
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2019 | 4 |
| 2020 | 4 |
| 2022 | 1 |
| 2023 | 1 |
2002: 10; 2003: 14; 2004: 12; 2005: 11; 2006: 11; 2007: 9; 2008: 6; 2009: 11; 2010: 33; 2011: 7; 2012: 4; 2013: 13; 2014: 5; 2015: 5; 2016: 4; 2017: 1; 2018: 1; 2019: 4; 2020: 4; 2022: 1; 2023: 1
Pattern summary
Steering leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 83 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 28 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 14 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10021367 · 2003-06-10 (June 10, 2003)
POWER STEERING GEAR ASSEMBLY (RACK AND PENION) IS FAILING. CAR SHAKES WHEN TURNING AND BACKING UP.EXTENDED WARRANTY COMPANY REFUSES TO COVER UNTIL SYSTEM COMPLETELY FAILS OR IT BECAMES A "SAFETY ISSUE".*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 36,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10021367 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10029432 · 2003-07-16 (July 16, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING AND TURNING EITHER WAY LEFT O RIGHT STEERING SHAKING VIOLENTLY. DEALER HAS INSPECTED AND COULD NOT DUPLICATE OR CORRECT THE PROBLEM.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10029432 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10036941 · 2003-08-31 (August 31, 2003)
2002 TOYOTA PRIUS HAVE HAD FIVE TIRES REPLACED ON THIS CAR AND ONLY HAVE 28,000 MILES ON IT. THE TIRES WEAR UNEVEN, AND THE SIDEWALLS BREAK DOWN TO CAUSE FLAT. THE TREAD COMES OFF IN CHUNKS. STEEL WIRES SHOWING. EVERY TIRE HAS HAD A DIFFERENT THING HAPPEN TO IT. I HAVE 3 TIRES REPLACED BY THE DEALERSHIP IN ONE DAY. THE 1ST TIRE WENT FLAT FROM THE SIDEWALL BRAKING DOWN AND BEING WEAK. THE ONE I HAD REPLACED ON 8-28-03 WAS WEARING UNEVENLY AND JUST HAD THE CAR IN FOR MAINT. THESE TIRES ARE UNSAFE TO DRIVE ON AND I WOULD HOPE FOR A RECALL. *AK…
Owner-reported narrative. 19,038 miles reported. Look up ODI 10036941 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10086711 · 2004-08-12 (August 12, 2004)
MY HUSBAND NEEDED TO TAKE HIS CAR TO THE REPAIR SHOP AND I WAS FOLLOWING HIM. WE ARRIVED AT OUR DESTINATION AND HE PARKED HIS CAR IN A PARKING SPACE. I HAD OUR DOG IN MY CAR AND DECIDED TO PARK THE CAR IN A SHADED PARKING SPACE. AS I WAS ENTERING THE PARKING SPACE, MY CAR FELTLIKE IT WAS ACCERLERATING EVEN THOUGH MY FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE. THE AIRBAGS THEN EXPLODED AND THE CAR CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE AIRBAGS BURNED MY ARM AND THE NOISE FROM THE BAGS FRIGHTENED MY DOG AND HE JUMPED FROM THE CAR. I WAS ENTERING THE PARKING SPACE AT ABOUT…
Owner-reported narrative. 29,719 miles reported. Look up ODI 10086711 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10111792 · 2005-03-23 (March 23, 2005)
WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE IN THE TRUNK WHERE THE BATTERY WAS LOCATED. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO PULL THE VEHICLE OFF THE ROAD. THE LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED AND EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE WAS DETERMINED TO BE AN ELECTRICAL SHORT. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED.*AK THE HYBRID BATTERY PACK CAUGHT ON FIRE. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 36,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10111792 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10123765 · 2005-06-01 (June 1, 2005)
I PURCHASED A 2002 TOYOTA PRIUS IN APRIL 2002 AND WITHIN THE FIRST TWO MONTHS THE VEHICLE STOPPED WHILE ON THE FREEWAY AT 65+ MPH AND THE GAS ENGINE WOULD NOT WORK, I HAD TO DRIVE ON THE ELECTRICAL MOTOR. IT WAS REPAIRED AT THE TOYOTA DEALER IN CARLSBAD, CA. THIS IS THE SAME ISSUE THAT WAS REPORTED IN THE PRESS TODAY.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10123765 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10019719 · 2003-06-26 (June 26, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE STALLED. IT WAS DIFFICULT TO GET THE VEHICLE RESTARTED. *NLM ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, THE VEHICLE STALLED OUT. VEHICLE STALLED OUT FOUR TIMES, AND THE LAST TIME IT CAUSED AN ACCIDENT AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *TT *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 11,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10019719 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10065050 · 2004-03-26 (March 26, 2004)
AFTER PARKING VEHICLE AND RETURNING BACK TO IT LATER VEHICLE STARTED UP, BUT THEN STALLED. AFTER STALLING VEHICLE DID NOT RESTART UNTIL THE NEXT DAY. DEALER HAS EXAMINED THE VEHICLE FIVE TIMES AND WAS NOT ABLE TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. ALSO, GAS TANK AND STEERING LINKS HAD BEEN REPLACED. *AK *LA
Owner-reported narrative. 27,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10065050 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10162368 · 2006-07-14 (July 14, 2006)
CONTINUATION OF COMPLAINT (ODI NUMBER) 10162367 THE STEERING WAS EACH TIME FROZEN IN THE CENTER POSITION WITH NO POSSIBILITY OF TURNING TO THE RIGHT OR LEFT. THE EARLIER PROBLEM WAS NOT DEMONSTRABLE TO THE TOYOTA SERVICE MANAGER WHEN THE CAR HAD BEEN BROUGHT IN FOR SERVICING IN OCTOBER 26, 2005 AND MARCH 2, 2006 (DURING A ONE WEEK VISIT), BUT BECAUSE I HAD MORE TIME IN JULY, I HAD SCHEDULED A TOTAL INSPECTION FOR THE STEERING MECHANISM ON TUESDAY, JULY 11TH. AFTER THIS CATASTROPHIC FAILURE, HOWEVER, I HAD THE CAR IMMEDIATELY TOWED TO BI AUTO…
Owner-reported narrative. 47,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10162368 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10187099 · 2007-04-05 (April 5, 2007)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL JERKED VIOLENTLY WHEN MAKING SHARP RIGHT AND LEFT TURNS. DURING THIS FAILURE THE POWER STEERING INDICATOR DIMMED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE TORQUE CONVERTER SENSOR PROVIDED ABNORMAL READINGS. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 103,000, AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,000.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 98,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10187099 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10117706 · 2005-04-04 (April 4, 2005)
2002 PRIUS HAS PROBLEMS WITH GAS TANK LINING DECAYING.*MR THE CONSUMER THE PROBLEM COULD HAVE RESTRICTED OR BLOCKED FUEL FROM GOING TO THE ENGINE. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10117706 at NHTSA ↗