2001 Toyota PRIUS: complaints, problems and recalls

THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED A FLAT TIRE. THE CONSUMER NOTICED THE TIRE WAS WORN BADLY ON THE INSIDE. THE MANUFACTURER OFFERED A SUPPLEMENTAL TIRE WARRANTY, IN WHICH THE CONSUMER DID QUALIFY, DUE TO THE FACT THE TIRES WEREN'T ROTATED. SCC

Owner-reported narrative. 20,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10009888 at NHTSA ↗

THE VEHICLE LOST POWER WHEN THE CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE. *AK ALSO THE VEHICLE PULLED TO THE RIGHT THE TIRES WERE REPLACED SEVERAL TIMES AND THE VEHICLE HAD NUMEROUS ALIGNMENTS. THE RACK AND PINION WAS REPLACED AND THE FUEL TANK ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACE. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 48,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10022058 at NHTSA ↗

THE TIRES ON OUR 2001 PRIUS CONTINUALLY FAIL AFTER ABOUT 15,000 MILES. WE HAVE HAD STATE INSPECTIONS FAIL BECAUSE OF TREAD WEAR, REFUSED SERVICE AT BRIDGESTONE DEALERS BECAUSE OF TREAD WEAR. WITH LESS THAN 50K MILES WE ARE WORKING ON THE THIRD SET OF TIRES. WE CHECK PRESSURE AND ROTATE OUR TIRES REGULARLY. SINCE TOYOTA CLAIMS THERE ARE NO REPLACEMENTS AND NO TREAD WEAR WARRANTIES, WE THINK THE CAR SHOULD NO LONGER BE ALLOWED ON THE US MARKET. *NLM

Owner-reported narrative. 47,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10023582 at NHTSA ↗

STEERING RACK PROBLEM.....NEEDS REPLACEMENT DUE TO A BROKEN ITEM IN THE STEERING RACK. CAUSES HIGH PITCHED NOISE WHENEVER STEERING WHEEL IS TURNED. TOYOTA AGREED TO REPLACE PART, BUT REQUIRES US TO PAY FOR THE LABOR TO REPLACE THE PART. ($500). *AK

Owner-reported narrative. 47,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10025654 at NHTSA ↗

THERE IS A TIRE SEPARATION PROBLEM WITH THE LATEST SET OF BRIDGESTONE TIRES THAT WE RECEIVED FROM THE TOYOTA DEALER FOR OUR PRIUS. THE ORIGINAL TIRES WERE RECALLED DUE TO PREMATURE WEAR. THE REAR LEFT TIRE SEPARATED AND MY DAUGHTER LUCKILY WAS ABLE TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE ON THE FREEWAY AT UNDER 55 MPH. SHE NOTICED THE PROBLEM IMMEDIATELY WHEN SHE GOT ON THE FREEWAY OR SHE MIGHT HAVE LOST CONTROL. FOR AN EXAMPLE OF THE SEPARATION, SEE: HTTP://WWW.FIRESTONE-TIRE-RECALL.COM/PAGES/ADVOCATE/11-13.HTML WE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE LEFT RE…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10025859 at NHTSA ↗

PREMATURE TIRE WEAR ON TOYOTA PRIUS. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. 18,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10025944 at NHTSA ↗

WHILE TRAVELING ABOUT 70MPH ON THE HIGHWAY WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT TREAD SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE TIRE BRIDGESTONE POTENXA RE92 175/65R14. DEALER IS AWARE OF PROBLEM. THIS IS THE CORRECT TIRE 175/65R14 XL845. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10026662 at NHTSA ↗

POTENZA 175/65/R14XL (OEM TIRES) WHICH ARE SPECIFICALLY MADE FOR THE PRIUS, WEAR QUICKLY AND ON THE EDGES. THIS RESULTED IN MY TIRE TREAD HAVING A 1/32 RATING, WHILE THE MIDDLE OF THE TIRE STILL HAD A LONG LIFE LEFT.*AK WHEN MAKING SHARP TURNS AT LOW SPEEDS (ESPECIALLY WHEN THE CAR IS COLD), THE STEERING WHEEL WILL VIBRATE (SOMETIMES AUDIBLY, SOMETIMES NOT). WERE THIS TO HAPPEN AT EVEN A SLIGHTLY HIGHER SPEED, ACCIDENTS MAY OCCUR. THIS PROBLEM HAS BECOME MORE FREQUENT IN THE LAST FEW WEEKS. IT NOW OCCURS AT LEAST EVERY OTHER DAY.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10029003 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2000-09-21 (September 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: 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.

Reported: 2006-07-19 (July 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: 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.

Reported: 2011-06-01 (June 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: 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.