Worst 2003 Toyota Prius Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
STEERING
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TIRES
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All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2003 Toyota Prius.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| STEERING | 32 | — | — | 86,081 mi | |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 12 | — | — | 102,582 mi | |
| TIRES | 8 | 1 | — | 28,852 mi | |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC | 6 | — | — | 44,551 mi | |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | 5 | — | — | 90,298 mi | |
| SERVICE BRAKES | 5 | — | — | 105,581 mi | |
| STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM | 5 | 1 | — | 99,990 mi | |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE | 4 | — | — | 74,249 mi | |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 4 | — | — | 122,914 mi | |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 3 | — | — | 109,335 mi | |
| SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC | 3 | — | — | 94,876 mi | |
| STEERING:RACK AND PINION | 3 | — | — | 56,000 mi | |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 3 | — | — | 63,744 mi | |
| ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) | 2 | — | — | 105,117 mi | |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE | 2 | — | — | 43,912 mi | |
| EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY | 2 | — | — | 115,000 mi | |
| POWER TRAIN | 2 | — | — | 73,358 mi | |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE | 2 | — | — | 54,550 mi | |
| AIR BAGS | 1 | 1 | — | 160,000 mi | |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY | 1 | — | — | — | |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN | 1 | — | — | — | |
| EQUIPMENT | 1 | — | — | 66,627 mi | |
| EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL:ACCESSORY SCISSOR/SCREW/BOTTLE JACK/LIFT | 1 | — | — | — | |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING | 1 | — | — | 68,000 mi | |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE | 1 | — | — | 43,745 mi | |
| FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER | 1 | — | — | — | |
| FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:STORAGE:FUEL GAUGE SYSTEM | 1 | — | — | — | |
| FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | 1 | — | — | 123,200 mi | |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:FLOOR SHIFT | 1 | — | — | 30,000 mi | |
| SEAT BELTS | 1 | 1 | — | — |
Search Owner Complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2003 Toyota Prius. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
Recalls for 2003 Toyota Prius
1 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting ~52,377 vehicles.
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
Wider context: See the full Toyota Prius reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.
Check Your Specific 2003 Toyota Prius
Real owner complaints tell you about the model. The VIN tells you about your specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud.
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