2001 Toyota Prius recalls and problems

The 2001 Toyota Prius has 3 safety recalls and 165 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at any Toyota dealer.

Recalls
3
Complaints
165
Crashes / fires
13 / 3
Injuries / deaths
6 / 0

Recalls may cover only some 2001 Toyota Prius vehicles. Check your VIN at NHTSA ↗ to see open recalls for your exact car.

2001 Toyota Prius recalls

Recall 11V-304: Steering

Reported Jun 1, 2011 · 52,377 vehicles affected · Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing

Problem: 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.

Risk: Loss of power steering, particularly when an operator is actively intending to steer the vehicle, may increase the risk of a crash.

Fix: Toyota will notify owners and dealers will replace the nuts in the steering linkage free of charge. The safety recall began on july 8, 2011. Owners may contact toyota at 1-800-331-4331.

Recall 06V-266: Engine and Engine Cooling

Reported Jul 19, 2006 · 34,771 vehicles affected · TOYOTA MOTOR NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Problem: On certain passenger vehicles, due to improper molding of the resin body of the crankshaft position senor installed on the engine block, engine oil may penetrate the seal and enter the sensor wiring connector. The wire harness connector may not be sufficiently attached to the locking tab of the sensor wiring connector.

Risk: Engine oil inside the sensor wiring connector could cause expansion due to the heat of the engine and could deform the sensor wiring connector. The connector may become disconnected, which could cause the engine to stall while driving and not be able to be restarted increasing the risk of a crash.

Fix: Dealers will replace the crankshaft position sensor free of charge. The recall began on july 26, 2006. Owners may contact toyota at 1-800-331-4331.

Recall 00V-285: Steering

Reported Sep 21, 2000 · 1,772 vehicles affected · TOYOTA MOTOR NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Problem: Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. Insufficient electrical contact can occur in the torque sensor that controls the power assist operation of the electric power steering gear box. The torque sensor could send improper electrical signals.

Risk: If this occurs, the power steering warning icon will be displayed on the center panel, and the driver could experience higher than normal steering effort depending upon vehicle speed.

Fix: Dealers will repair the electric steering gear box.

2001 Toyota Prius problems reported by owners

Problem areaReports
Steering49
Tires28
Electrical System28
Vehicle Speed Control25
Engine and Engine Cooling18
Suspension9
Fuel System, Gasoline9
Service Brakes, Hydraulic8
Power Train5
Unknown or Other5
Service Brakes5
Structure4

Most reported parts

  • Steering › Rack and Pinion — 7
  • Vehicle Speed Control › Accelerator Pedal — 7
  • Suspension › Front — 6
  • Tires › Tread/Belt — 5
  • Steering › Rack and Pinion › Rack — 5
  • Steering › Gear Box (Other Than Rack and Pinion) — 5
  • Electrical System › 12v/24v/48v Battery — 4
  • Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine — 4

Typical mileage at the time of the problem: 60,649 miles (median of owner reports).

Problems that are not covered by a recall are paid repairs; labor rates follow local mechanic pay — see what auto mechanics earn in each state.

Recent 2001 Toyota Prius complaints

Owner reports filed with NHTSA, as written (personal details removed). Complaints are not verified by NHTSA.

Steering · at 165,000 miles · reported Dec 12, 2019
I was getting off the freeway and driving 40 MPH on the off ramp, when the 2001 toyota prius did a unwanted left turn of the steering wheel, I tried to turn the steering wheel back to correct the car angle, but he steering force was too strong for me to correct back to straight ahead, the left front car the concrete barrier, and the car turn 360 degree around. The rear right bumper hit the concrete barrier. Lucky there was no other cars around me.
Steering · reported Sep 10, 2019
Steering recall I called toyota they said they couldn't do it and it says online it's good for 10 years after recall date.
Vehicle Speed Control · reported Jan 5, 2019
The car accelerated without warning at high speed on it's own in a parking lot and rammed itself into the wall deploying airbags. My mother was driving and was sent to the e.r. She was slowly backing up when the car accelerated first in reverse hitting a wall and then switched in drive on it's own with high acceleration running into the opposite wall which deployed the bags. After reading online about these vehicles, the acceleration surging is a common problem.
Electrical System · at 189,000 miles · reported Sep 11, 2018
My car is experiencing what is known onlline as "the big hand syndrom". While driving, the accelerator pedal changes resistance and it feels like someone grabs the car and it dramatically slows. You then have to press harder on the accelerator pedal to maintain speed. Well one day, the car stopped working, no matter how hard I pressed on the pedal it would no accelerate. I was on the highway. I took my car in to the local authorized toyota dealer and was told that the accelerator pedal was bad and needed to be replaced. We replaced the pedal and experienced the same issues, and replaced the…
Service Brakes · reported Sep 18, 2017
The contact owns a 2001 toyota prius. While driving 20 MPH, the vehicle lost complete power and braking ability without warning. As a result, the contact drove over the median aand crashed into a pole. The air bags deployed. A police report was filed. There were no injuries. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer (Titus-will toyota, 3506 s sprague ave, tacoma, wa 98409). The vehicle was not declared destroyed. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage and VIN were unknown.

Other Toyota Prius years

Compare all Toyota Prius years · All Toyota models

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2001 Toyota Prius have any recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 3 recalls for the 2001 Toyota Prius: 11V-304 (steering), 06V-266 (engine and engine cooling), 00V-285 (steering). Not every vehicle is affected, so check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What is the most common problem with the 2001 Toyota Prius?

Owners report steering problems most often (49 reports), followed by tires (28). The typical mileage when problems were reported is about 60,649 miles.

Are Toyota recall repairs free?

Yes. Safety recall repairs are free at authorized Toyota dealers, whether you are the first owner or bought the car used.