2002 Toyota PRIUS: complaints, problems and recalls

I JUNE OF 2202 I BOUGHT TOYOTA PRIUS. I WAS GETTING 44MPG ON THE HIGHWAY AND 49 IN THE CITY. THEN THE COLD WEATHER COMES AND NOW I GET ONLY 35MPG IN THE CITY THAT IS A DROP OF OVER 28%. I HAVE TAKEN IT BACK TWICE TO THE DEALER AND THEY SUPPOSELY SCOPE IT AND SAID THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG AND THAT THE COLD WEATHER WAS THE PROBLEM. I TOLD THEM THAT THEIR EXCUSE WAS LAME AND THAT WAS NOT EXCEPTABLE. IF A CARS GAS MILEAGE DROPS THAT DRAMACTICLY THERE HAS TO BE A PROBLEM OR THEIR IS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. THERE SHOULD NOT BE A 28% DR…

Owner-reported narrative. 7,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10000827 at NHTSA ↗

TWO BRIDGESTONE POTENZA RE92 [P175/65 R14 84S, DOT EL(PJDH4801] TIRES FAILED ON MY 2002 PRIUS WITHIN ONE WEEK. THESE ARE THE TIRES INSTALLED ON THE VEHICLE WHEN WE BOUGHT IT. OUR VEHICLE CURRENTLY HAS SLIGHTLY LESS THAN 25,000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER AND IS DRIVEN PRIMARILY FOR COMMUTING ON FREEWAYS. WE DISCOVERED THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE EXTREMELY LOW ON AIR WHEN RETURNING TO A PARKING GARAGE ON 4/12/03. AS WE WERE UNABLE TO LOCATE A GAS STATION MY HUSBAND CHANGED THE FAILED TIRE WITH THE TEMPORARY TIRE AND HAD THE THE FAILED TIRE REPAIRED THE NEXT …

Owner-reported narrative. 23,600 miles reported. Look up ODI 10014314 at NHTSA ↗

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 ↗

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 ↗

PREMATURE TIRE WEAR. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10023675 at NHTSA ↗

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 ↗

THE STEERING WHEEL SHAKES AND SHUTTERS DURING LOW SPEED DRIVING, ESPECIALLY IN REVERSE, ON MY 2002 TOYOTA PRIUS.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10030871 at NHTSA ↗

TWO FRONT TIRES WORE OUT PREMATURELY. DEALER SAYS THE REMEDY FOR THIS PROBLEM IS TO ROTATE THE TIRES AND KEEP THE APPROPRIATE TIRE PRESSURE. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. 20,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10034551 at NHTSA ↗

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.