2002 Toyota Prius Problems

Below Average Complaints

Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 2002 Toyota Prius.

20012003
Complaints
201
Crashes
16
Fires
5
Injuries
13
Fatalities
5
Recalls
1

Worst 2002 Toyota Prius Problems

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

#157 complaints

Steering Defects

Avg mileage:104,998 mi
Crash-related:1
#213 complaints

Electrical Faults

Avg mileage:98,740 mi
Crash-related:1
Fires:2
#313 complaints

Hydraulic Brakes

Avg mileage:48,746 mi
Crash-related:2
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All Problems by Category

Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2002 Toyota Prius.

Steering Defects
57
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
104,998
Electrical Faults
13
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
2
Avg Miles
98,740
Hydraulic Brakes
13
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
—
Avg Miles
48,746
Tire Defects
12
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
42,601
Unintended Acceleration
10
complaints
Crashes
6
Fires
—
Avg Miles
54,579
Steering:Electric Power Assist System
8
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
56,214
Steering:Rack And Pinion
8
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
87,307
Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery
5
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
25,000
Suspension Failures
5
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
30,558
Engine & Cooling
4
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
4
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Brakes
4
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Airbags
3
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Automatic Transmission
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Power Train:Axle Assembly
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
—
Service Brakes, Electric
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Tires:Tread/Belt
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Headlight/Taillight Failures
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Steering:Hydraulic Power Assist System
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Steering:Rack And Pinion:Rack
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Tires:Sidewall
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Traction Control System
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:Ignition
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:Ignition:Module
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electronic Stability Control
1
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline:Belts And Associated Pulleys
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control:Catalytic Convertor
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—

Search Owner Complaints

Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2002 Toyota Prius. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.

Recalls for 2002 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

2002 Toyota Prius — FAQ

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

Is the 2002 Toyota Prius reliable?
Verdict: Below Average Complaints. The 2002 Toyota Prius has 201 NHTSA complaints, 16 crash-related, and 1 recall campaign. The most common issue is Steering Defects with 57 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 2002 Toyota Prius?
Top reported problems: Steering Defects (57 complaints, avg 104,998 mi); Electrical Faults (13 complaints, avg 98,740 mi); Hydraulic Brakes (13 complaints, avg 48,746 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 2002 Toyota Prius?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 79,276 miles. Some components fail earlier, some later — check the "All Problems by Category" table above for per-issue averages.
How safe is the 2002 Toyota Prius?
NHTSA complaints for the 2002 Toyota Prius include 16 crash-related reports, 5 fire reports, 13 injuries, and 5 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 2002 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 2002 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.

Check Your Specific 2002 Toyota Prius

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