2003 Toyota PRIUS problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
99 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
71,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2003 model year. Data snapshot: . 81 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Steering is the most frequently named component, appearing in 32 of 99 complaints (32.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 43 | 43.4% |
| Braking behavior | 23 | 23.2% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 10 | 10.1% |
| Engine operation | 9 | 9.1% |
| Transmission and shifting | 3 | 3.0% |
| Fuel system concerns | 2 | 2.0% |
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 | 32 |
| Electrical System | 12 |
| Tires | 8 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 6 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 5 |
| Service Brakes | 5 |
| Steering:Electric Power Assist System | 5 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 4 |
Steering: 32; Electrical System: 12; Tires: 8; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 6; Engine And Engine Cooling: 5; Service Brakes: 5; Steering:Electric Power Assist System: 5; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 4
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 17 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 12 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 13 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 11 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 19 |
| 150,000 and above | 9 |
Under 25,000: 17; 25,000 to 49,999: 12; 50,000 to 74,999: 13; 75,000 to 99,999: 11; 100,000 to 149,999: 19; 150,000 and above: 9
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (19). 18 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 |
|---|---|
| 2003 | 7 |
| 2004 | 6 |
| 2005 | 7 |
| 2006 | 3 |
| 2007 | 6 |
| 2008 | 8 |
| 2009 | 5 |
| 2010 | 23 |
| 2011 | 11 |
| 2012 | 3 |
| 2013 | 4 |
| 2014 | 5 |
| 2015 | 2 |
| 2016 | 2 |
| 2017 | 2 |
| 2019 | 1 |
| 2020 | 3 |
| 2022 | 1 |
2003: 7; 2004: 6; 2005: 7; 2006: 3; 2007: 6; 2008: 8; 2009: 5; 2010: 23; 2011: 11; 2012: 3; 2013: 4; 2014: 5; 2015: 2; 2016: 2; 2017: 2; 2019: 1; 2020: 3; 2022: 1
Pattern summary
Steering leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 43 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 23 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 10 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 10024995 · 2003-06-26 (June 26, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH POWER STEERING FAILED 4 TIMES. DEALERSHIP WILL REPLACE THE RACK AND PINION.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10024995 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10064008 · 2004-03-27 (March 27, 2004)
MY TIRES WERE WORN TO THE CORDS, ALL FOUR OF THEM, ON BOTH SIDES, THE INSIDE WAS WORSE. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER (TOYOTA OF GLENDORA) AND ASKED THEM TO CHECK IT AND THE ALIGNMENT, AMONG OTHER THINGS. I HAD JUST 22,667.0 MILES ON IT. THEY CALLED ME AND SAID THE TIRES WERE JUST "WORN OUT" AND THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE ALIGNMENT. I TOOK IT TO FIRESTONE (WHO WARRANTIED THE TIRES) AND WAS TOLD BY 3 DIFFERENT PROFESSIONALS THERE THAT THE TIRES WERE NOT WORN OUT, THAT THE SIDE WALLS WERE DESTROYED DUE TO FAULTY ALIGNMENT. I HAD TO PAY …
Owner-reported narrative. 22,667 miles reported. Look up ODI 10064008 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10026336 · 2003-07-01 (July 1, 2003)
CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING AT 70MPH ON HIGHWAY WITH CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED. WHEN DEPRESSING BRAKE PEDAL TO DISENGAGE CRUISE CONTROL THE VEHICLE SPUN OUT AND STOPPED FACING THE ONCOMING TRAFFIC.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 6,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10026336 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10145014 · 2005-12-12 (December 12, 2005)
REFERENCE INVESTIGATION # PE05029: MY TOYOTA PRIUS 2003 [XXX] GASOLINE/ ELECTRIC HYBRID VEHICLES THAT CAN BE OPERATED IN GASOLINE OR ELECTRIC MODE. ON 4 SEPARATE OCCASIONS, THE GASOLINE ENGINE SHUT DOWN SUDDENLY WITHOUT WARNING. EACH TIME I WAS DRIVING WITH THE SPEED OF HIGHWAY TRAFFIC. THE THREE PREVIOUS TIMES THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO OPERATE USING THE ELECTRIC MODE FOR A PERIOD OF TIME AFTER THE GAS ENGINE STALLED. THIS LAST AND 4TH TIME THE VEHICLE SHUT DOWN AT THE SAME TIME THAT THEY FELT THE GAS ENGINE STALLED. I WAS ABLE TO RESTAR…
Owner-reported narrative. 71,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10145014 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10104352 · 2004-12-22 (December 22, 2004)
BRIDGESTONE TIRES SUPPLIED BY MANUFACTURER HAD BEGAN DELAMINATING ALONG INSIDE RIM BECAUSE REAR ALIGNMENT ON 2003 TOYOTA PRIUS WAS INCORRECT. ONE TIRE WAS NEAR COMPLETE FAILURE WHEN DISCOVERED. THE QUESTION IS: DOES THE WEIGHT OF THE BATTERY PACK (PLACED IMMEDIATELY OVER THE REAR AXLE) CAUSE THE REAR SUSPENSION TO MISALIGN IN NORMAL DAILY DRIVING, WHICH IN TURN PLACES EXTREME WEAR ON THE INSIDE OF THE REAR TIRES? BECAUSE THE WEAR IS ON THE INSIDE OF THE TIRE, THE PROBLEM MAY NOT BE DISCOVERED BEFORE A BLOWOUT OCCURS. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 19,940 miles reported. Look up ODI 10104352 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10139774 · 2005-10-15 (October 15, 2005)
2003 TOYOTA PRIUS GAS ENGINE STALLED, WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON ALL OVER THE SCREEN, AND IT WOULD ONLY DRIVE ON "BATTERY POWER." AFTER STOPPING, I TURNED THE CAR OFF BUT IT WOULD NOT RE-START IMMEDIATELY. AFTER A FEW TRIES AND THEN WAITING, THE GAS ENGINE STARTED WHEN I TURNED THE KEY. DURING THE TIME IT WAS RUNNING ON BATTERY, AIR CONDITIONER WAS BLOWING HOT AIR. AFTER GAS ENGINE RE-STARTED, AIR CONDITIONER BLEW COLD AIR. TOYOTA SERVICE SAID THEY HAD NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE WHAT WAS ON THE SCREEN THEY DIAGNOSED AND SAID IT WAS THE COMPUTER AND…
Owner-reported narrative. 43,912 miles reported. Look up ODI 10139774 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10123811 · 2005-06-01 (June 1, 2005)
TOYOTA PRIUS HYBRID, 2003 ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT PREVIOUS WARNING WHILE DRIVING ON CA HWY 10 IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT, AROUND 12:30 AM. WAS FORCED TO EXIT THE HWY, MADE UNSAFE TURNS IN TRYING TO REACH A GAS STATION WHILE THE CAR WAS STILL MOVING BY INERTIA.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10123811 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10214314 · 2008-01-09 (January 9, 2008)
AFTER A SERIES OF PROBLEMS WITH THE PRIUS ENGINE THE LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER INFORMED ME THAT I NEEDED TO HAVE THE CAR'S TRANSMISSION REPLACED. NATURALLY THE VEHICLE IS NO LONGER COVERED BY ITS WARRANTY. BACK GROUND: 2003 PRIUS, ODOMETER READING 116,289. ON 12/22/2008, I STARTED THE CAR AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT APPEARED. I WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE DEALERSHIP INFORMED ME THAT THE GASOLINE ENGINE SHUT DOWN AND THE BATTERY RAN OUT OF POWER. THE DEALERSHIP COULD NOT REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM. ON 12/27/2008, I STARTED THE CAR AND…
Owner-reported narrative. 116,289 miles reported. Look up ODI 10214314 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10369488 · 2010-12-07 (December 7, 2010)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA PRIUS HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE HAD EXPERIENCED SEVERAL FAILURES WITHIN THE VEHICLE SINCE PURCHASING THREE MONTHS AGO. THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED, THE LEFT FRONT TIRE HAD A LEAK AND THE INVERTER WAS REPLACED BECAUSE SEVERAL LIGHTS ON THE INSTRUMENTAL PANEL REMAINED ILLUMINATED. ON DECEMBER 3, 2010, WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH THE STEERING WHEEL BEGAN TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHO PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC TEST BUT WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE A FAILURE CODE. THE DEA…
Owner-reported narrative. 85,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10369488 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10037945 · 2003-08-29 (August 29, 2003)
VEHICLE WOULD RUN OUT OF GAS, BUT THE FUEL GAUGE INDICATOR WOULD READ THAT THERE WAS STILL ENOUGH FUEL IN THE FUEL TANK. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10037945 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10168885 · 2006-09-21 (September 21, 2006)
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE INTERMITTENTLY STALLED AND LOST POWER. THE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED OCCASIONALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP NUMEROUS TIMES, BUT THE PROBLEM PERSISTED. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE HYBRID ENGINE COMPUTER, THE MASS AIR FLOW METER, FUEL TANK, AND HYBRID BATTERY.
Owner-reported narrative. 75,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10168885 at NHTSA ↗