Worst 2004 Toyota Prius Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
Headlight/Taillight Failures
Electrical Faults
Unintended Acceleration
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All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2004 Toyota Prius.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Headlight/Taillight Failures | 164 | — | — | 117,219 mi | |
| Electrical Faults | 153 | 4 | 2 | 68,579 mi | |
| Unintended Acceleration | 48 | 10 | — | 66,304 mi | |
| Engine & Cooling | 45 | — | — | 27,719 mi | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 29 | 1 | — | 12,354 mi | |
| Hydraulic Brakes | 24 | 4 | — | 57,165 mi | |
| Brakes | 21 | 2 | — | 141,478 mi | |
| Transmission / Drivetrain | 18 | 2 | — | 92,548 mi | |
| Exterior Lighting:Headlights | 17 | — | — | 84,100 mi | |
| Airbags | 16 | 14 | — | 102,835 mi | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 15 | — | — | 15,857 mi | |
| Service Brakes, Electric | 13 | 1 | — | 84,541 mi | |
| Automatic Transmission | 12 | 1 | — | 48,183 mi | |
| Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery | 11 | — | — | 13,691 mi | |
| Instrument Cluster | 10 | — | — | 48,660 mi | |
| Engine Problems | 9 | — | — | 120,453 mi | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 9 | 3 | — | 42,752 mi | |
| Steering Defects | 9 | 1 | — | 136,916 mi | |
| Electronic Stability Control | 6 | — | — | 50,742 mi | |
| Visibility | 6 | — | — | 67,551 mi | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System | 5 | — | — | 115,196 mi | |
| Other Equipment | 5 | — | — | 19,250 mi | |
| Gasoline Fuel System | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Fuel System | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Traction Control System | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Vehicle Speed Control:Accelerator Pedal | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Parking-Brake Issues | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Seat Belts:Rear/Other | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 2 | 2 | — | — |
Search Owner Complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2004 Toyota Prius. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
Recalls for 2004 Toyota Prius
2 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting ~1,020,367 vehicles.
Toyota is recalling certain model year 2004-2009 Prius vehicles manufactured August 6, 2003, through March 30, 2009 and FCHV-adv vehicles manufactured December 12, 2008, through September 13, 2011. During manufacturing, a scratch may have occurred inside of the electrically driven water pump at the coil wire. The coil wire may corrode at the scratched portion.
Toyota is recalling certain model year 2004-2009 Prius vehicles manufactured August 5, 2003, through March 30, 2009. The affected vehicles have a steering intermediate extension shaft assembly built with metal splines that complete the connection from the steering wheel to the steering gear. These splines may have been manufactured with an insufficient hardness.
Other Toyota Prius Years
2004 Toyota Prius — FAQ
Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.
Is the 2004 Toyota Prius reliable?
What are common problems with the 2004 Toyota Prius?
At what mileage do problems start on the 2004 Toyota Prius?
How safe is the 2004 Toyota Prius?
Does the 2004 Toyota Prius have any recalls?
Should I buy a 2004 Toyota Prius?
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 2004 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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