2002 Toyota Prius problems
Owners have filed 201 complaints with NHTSA about the 2002 Toyota Prius. Steering is the most reported problem area, at 40% of complaints. After that come brakes (11%) and electrical system (10%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 201 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Steering 40% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 16 and 5
- Injuries and deaths
- 13 and 5
- Typical mileage
- 65,000 miles 153 complaints with mileage
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
Where the complaints are
Share of this model year's complaints by the part of the car involved. One complaint can name more than one part, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
When problems show up
View the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 0k to 20k miles | 20 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 31 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 21 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 16 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 19 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 14 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 9 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 12 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 4 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 2 |
| 200k+ miles | 5 |
What the data shows
Among the 153 complaints that report mileage, the typical (median) problem appeared at about 65,000 miles. For steering specifically, the median reported mileage is about 90,000 miles (72 complaints with mileage).
Safety-related details: 16 complaints mention a crash; 5 complaints mention a fire; 13 injuries reported; 5 deaths reported.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 2002 ranks 15th most-complained-about out of 23 model years of the Toyota Prius with enough data (95 complaints in that window). It is also covered by 2 safety recall campaigns.
What owners wrote
A few complaints as filed, shortened and with personal details removed. The first ones are among the most serious reports for this model year; the rest are typical.
2002 toyota prius. Consumer writes regarding a fatal collision involving a toyota vehicle *tgw the consumer stated the toyota prius crossed over a grass median between a divided expressway and struck a chevrolet blazer.
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.
Tl*the contact owns a 2002 toyota prius. The contact stated that the brake indicator on the instrument panel remains illuminated, regardless if the brakes are engaged or not. The vehicle has been to the dealer three times and they discovered a leak in the brakes. Brake fluid was added to remedy the failure, but the indicator illuminated again a few days later. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer and they informed him not to worry about the failure. There was no attempt to repair the failure.
The electronic power steering assembly malfunctions and stops providing assistance to the driver on a 2002 toyota prius, on one instance the gasoline motor stopped working and I was left driving at low speed with the assistance of the electric motor only. The latest incident occurred on may 31st, 2010 while driving at about 65 MPH on a freeway, the car lost the power steering operation, multiple warning lights came on the screen, the gas motor shut down and the speed of the car dropped to around 23 MPH.