2001 Toyota Prius Problems

Below Average Complaints

Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 2001 Toyota Prius.

20002002
Complaints
215
Crashes
23
Fires
3
Injuries
10
Fatalities
—
Recalls
1

Worst 2001 Toyota Prius Problems

Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.

#126 complaints

Steering Defects

Avg mileage:97,941 mi
Crash-related:1
#223 complaints

Tire Defects

Avg mileage:32,280 mi
Crash-related:3
#319 complaints

Electrical Faults

Avg mileage:74,200 mi
Crash-related:2
Fires:2
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All Problems by Category

Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2001 Toyota Prius.

Steering Defects
26
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
97,941
Tire Defects
23
complaints
Crashes
3
Fires
—
Avg Miles
32,280
Electrical Faults
19
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
2
Avg Miles
74,200
Unintended Acceleration
18
complaints
Crashes
5
Fires
—
Avg Miles
89,830
Engine & Cooling
12
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
54,806
Hydraulic Brakes
7
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
77,211
Steering:Rack And Pinion
7
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
33,000
Vehicle Speed Control:Accelerator Pedal
7
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
39,401
Suspension:Front
6
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
31,500
Brakes
5
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
—
Avg Miles
138,112
Steering:Gear Box (Other Than Rack And Pinion)
5
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
102,064
Steering:Rack And Pinion:Rack
5
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
58,390
Tires:Tread/Belt
5
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
46,987
Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery
4
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
1
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
4
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Other Equipment
3
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Service Brakes, Electric
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Steering:Electric Power Assist System
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Structural Problems
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:Ignition:Module
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine Problems
2
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control:Catalytic Convertor
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Gasoline Fuel System
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery
2
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Fuel System
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Transmission / Drivetrain
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Steering:Hydraulic Power Assist System
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Suspension Failures
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—

Search Owner Complaints

Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2001 Toyota Prius. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.

Recalls for 2001 Toyota Prius

1 NHTSA recall campaign affecting ~52,377 vehicles.

11V304000Steering:electric Power Assist System
~52,377 affected

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.

Other Toyota Prius Years

200020012002200320042005200620072008200920102011201220132014201520162017201820192020202120222023202420252026

2001 Toyota Prius — FAQ

Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.

Is the 2001 Toyota Prius reliable?
Verdict: Below Average Complaints. The 2001 Toyota Prius has 215 NHTSA complaints, 23 crash-related, and 1 recall campaign. The most common issue is Steering Defects with 26 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 2001 Toyota Prius?
Top reported problems: Steering Defects (26 complaints, avg 97,941 mi); Tire Defects (23 complaints, avg 32,280 mi); Electrical Faults (19 complaints, avg 74,200 mi). Every complaint is filed by an owner with NHTSA — this is raw reported data, not editorial opinion.
At what mileage do problems start on the 2001 Toyota Prius?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 68,534 miles. Some components fail earlier, some later — check the "All Problems by Category" table above for per-issue averages.
How safe is the 2001 Toyota Prius?
NHTSA complaints for the 2001 Toyota Prius include 23 crash-related reports, 3 fire reports, 10 injuries, and 0 fatalities. These are owner-reported incidents, not official crash-test ratings — a complaint being filed doesn't confirm a defect, but clusters around specific components are worth investigating.
Does the 2001 Toyota Prius have any recalls?
Yes — 1 NHTSA recall campaign affecting an estimated 52,377 vehicles. Recalls are free to fix at the dealer. Always verify by VIN whether the specific car you're looking at has had its recalls addressed.
Should I buy a 2001 Toyota Prius?
Fewer complaints than typical for this model. That's a good sign, but every individual car is different — the VIN still tells you what happened to this specific one.

Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.

Wider context: See the full Toyota Prius reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.

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