2003 Toyota PRIUS: complaints, problems and recalls
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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10021324 · 2003-06-10 (June 10, 2003)
THE SIDE WALL BLEW OUT AT 75 MPH ON THE FIRST 100 + DEGREE DAY. BRIDGESTONES REP CLAIMED THAT THERE WAS MAYBE AN INDICATION OF NAIL DAMAGE; HOWEVER THE TIRE WAS TOO BADLY DAMAGED TO BE SURE. NEXT, IT HAD BEEN RUN FLAT, HOWEVER THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN QUICKLY APPARENT IN THE ENGINE NOISE WITH THE CV TRANS. THEY FAILED TO HONOR THEIR WARRANTY, ADMITTING THAT DOING SO WOULD RAISE A RED FLAG AT THE NHTSA. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10021324 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10023202 · 2003-06-16 (June 16, 2003)
UNUSUAL TIRE WEAR: FRONT OEM TIRES WORN TO CORDS AT 5000 MILES. PRESSURE KEPT AT SPECIFIED PSI. ALIGNMENT CHECKED AND ADJUSTED AT 1,500 MILES. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. 5,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10023202 at NHTSA ↗
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 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 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 10045308 · 2003-11-02 (November 2, 2003)
DRIVING HOME ON JULY 22, 2003 AT ABOUT 4:30PM, TRAVELING NORTH ON THE 57 FREEWAY TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 68 MPH HAD BLOW OUT ON RIGHT REAR TIRE. TIRE HAD COMPLETE BLOW OUT IF SIDE WALL, VEHICLE HAD ONLY APPROXIMATELY 10,700 MILES. I HAD CHECKED TIRE PRESSURE THE PRIOR DAY AND HAD 33 PSI IN FRONT AND 36 PSI IN REAR AS THE SPECIFICATIONS ARE WRITTEN IN THE OWNERS HANDBOOK. *LA
Owner-reported narrative. 10,719 miles reported. Look up ODI 10045308 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10046756 · 2003-11-12 (November 12, 2003)
SINCE THE FIRST MONTH AFTER BUYING THE CAR, GAS MILEAGE HAS BEEN NO MORE THAN 30 MILES PER GALLON, WHICH IS AT LEAST 20 MILES LESS THAN ADVERTISED... ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION THE CAR HAS JERKED FORWARD IN TRAFFIC ALMOST CAUSING ACCIDENTS AND WHEN DRIVING MORE THAN 60 MPH THE CAR LOSES CONTROL, ALSO THE CAR HAS SHUT OFF NUMEROUS TIMES WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH ALMOST CAUSING MORE ACCIDENTS. *LA
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10046756 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 ↗
Recall history
1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
11V304000 · Steering:Electric Power Assist System
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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗