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2001 Toyota Prius problems

The most common problem on the 2001 Toyota Prius is steering, typically around 69,012 miles. Its complaint count is close to a typical Prius model year.

Typical yearClose to a typical year
Year score
74/100
Owner complaints
165
Recalls
3
Service bulletins
154
Worst area
Steering
Fuel economy
41mpg

The worst 2001 Toyota Prius problems

Ranked by number of owner complaints. Mileage and cost come from what owners wrote.

Problems by type

Tap a problem to see which part fails, at what mileage and in which other years.

Specific symptoms reported on the 2001 Toyota Prius

Loss of power 23Stalling 21Tire blowout 10Brake failure 5Check engine light 5Power steering loss 5Sudden acceleration 5

Trouble codes owners of the 2001 Toyota Prius mention

P1120 2

Recalls 3

Steering: electric power assist systemReported June 1, 2011 · 52,377 vehicles affected
What is wrong
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.
Remedy
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 number 11V304000 · Recall details

Engine and engine coolingReported July 19, 2006 · 34,771 vehicles affected
What is wrong
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.
Remedy
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 number 06V266000 · Recall details

Steering: gear box (other than rack and pinion)Reported September 21, 2000 · 1,772 vehicles affected
What is wrong
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.
Remedy
Dealers will repair the electric steering gear box.

Recall number 00V285000 · Recall details

See all 3 recalls for the 2001 Toyota Prius

Defect investigations

Pedestrian alert soundsOpened January 27, 2023, closed August 7, 2023

the federal safety agency received a petition on or about July 18, 2022, requesting that Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 141 be applied to all electric and hybrid vehicles operating in the United States. The petition can be reviewed at under ODI Number 11486072. FMVSS 141 establishes performance requirements for pedestrian alert sounds for motor vehicles. The standard applies to hybrid and electric vehicles that have a gross vehicle weight rating of 4,536 KG or less or are defined as low-speed vehicles. The standard became fully applicable to all such vehicles manufactured on or after March 1, 2021.On January 27, 2023, the federal safety agency opened Defect Petition (DP) 22-005 to evaluate the subject matter described in the petition. On June 24, 2023 and as supplemented on June 25, 2023, the petitioner notified the federal safety agency he was withdrawing his petition. The petitioner indicated that, based on his review of data, there is no justification for asserting potential benefits that could be derived from actions sought by my petition. Based on the petitioner's withdrawal, DP22-005 is closed. Closure of this DP does not represent a determination by the federal safety agency regarding the subject matter of the petition.

DP22005

Technical service bulletins for the 2001 Toyota Prius 154

Bulletins tell dealers how to fix known problems. A warranty extension means the manufacturer pays for that repair for longer.

See all 154 bulletins for the 2001 Toyota Prius

2001 Toyota Prius fuel economy

Official EPA estimates in miles per gallon (MPGe for electric). Ranges cover trims that share the same engine.

EngineDriveCityHighwayCombined
1.5L 4‑cyl HybridFWD424141

What 2001 Toyota Prius owners say

Most recent owner complaints, unedited.

Filed Dec 12, 2019 · Steering · 165,000 miles · WA · crash

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.

Filed Sep 10, 2019 · Steering · MD

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.

Filed Jan 5, 2019 · Acceleration · CA · crash · 1 injury

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.

Filed Sep 11, 2018 · Acceleration, Electrical · 189,000 miles · NE

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 accelerator pedal again. I'm still experiencing the same issuses and the toyota dealer said theres nothing they can do except keep replacing the pedal cause thats the code it is throwing up. This is a major safety issue for my vehicle as I can and do lose acceleration at any given time. It doesnt seem to matter how fast im going or the driving conditions. It is completely random, and cannot be replicated on comand. The date listed is the first instance, and it has happened too many times to count or make record.

Filed Sep 18, 2017 · Brakes, Electrical · WA · crash

Tl* 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.

Filed Feb 10, 2017 · Steering · 143,000 miles · OH

Tl* the contact owns a 2001 toyota prius. While driving 65 MPH, the steering wheel shook violently without warning. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The VIN was invalid. The failure mileage was 143,000.

Filed Oct 22, 2016 · Steering · IL

Ps warning light display, car will not start. Parked in home drive way.

Filed Nov 16, 2015 · Steering · 13,620 miles · TN

Tl* the contact owns a 2001 toyota prius. The contact stated that the steering wheel became stiff while making a left turn and the power steering light illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The VIN was not included in the federal safety agency campaign number: 11v304000 (steering). The failure mileage was approximately 13,620.

Filed Jun 23, 2015 · Acceleration, Fuel system · 159,700 miles · CA

The car suddenly lost power without any warning while driving 65+ MPH on the freeway. The check hybrid warning light came on. The car became dangerously unresponsive, luckily we were near an exit and were able to coast to safety. The hybrid system was expecting information from the accelerator, and when it doesn't receive it, either the gas engine, or the electric engine, or both engines fail to operate. Toyota has service bulletin 2001 toyota prius unknown or other service bulletin 117006 action number: 635861 service bulletin number: 117006... Report date: sep 12, 2002 component: unknown or other.... Summary: some vehicles may exhibit a master, hybrid and malfunction indicator warning light on with diagnostic trouble code p1120. ,,, p1120 toyota description accelerator pedal position sensor is mounted on the throttle body and it has the 2 sensors to detects the accelerator position and a malfunction of the accelerator position. The accelerator pedal position sensor is connected with the accelerator pedal by the accelerator wire. The ECM judges the current opening angle of the accelerator pedal from these sensor signal inputs and it controls the throttle motor based on these signals. If the the p1120 code is stored, the ECM shuts down the power for the throttle motor and the magnetic clutch, and the throttle valve is fully closed by the return spring. However, the opening angle of the throttle valve can be controlled by the accelerator pedal through the throttle cable. I have since learned that the accelerator sensor assembly is probably at fault, which is a high cost item $300 dollars or more which toyota would balk at replacing in a recall. This happened once before, but I don't recall the date.....updated 08/24/15

Filed Jan 23, 2015 · Steering · 230,000 miles · TN

I have started having an intermittent power steering issue. As I am driving the steering wheel begins to shake and I receive an error message that there is an issue with the power steering system. Then the error clears and says the problem is solved. This issue happens intermittent and sometimes lasts longer. I know in the past there was a recall on the power steering unit in the past. I believe the previous owner had the recall service done, but I do not understand that if the service was performed why my vehicle is having this issue with my prius.

Used buying checklistWhat to check on a 2001 Toyota Prius before you buy

Compare the 2001 Toyota Prius

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Other model years

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Questions about the 2001 Toyota Prius

Is the 2001 Toyota Prius reliable?

Owners have filed 165 complaints about the 2001 Toyota Prius, close to a typical Prius model year.

What is the 2001 Toyota Prius year score?

The 2001 Toyota Prius scores 74 out of 100 (average). The score compares it with the other model years of the Toyota Prius: 75 is a typical year, 50 means twice the usual complaints, and serious complaints and recalls lower it.

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

Steering, with 45 complaints, typically around 69,012 miles. Next is electrical (27).

How many recalls does the 2001 Toyota Prius have?

3 recalls, covering steering and engine and engine cooling.

Was there a recall on the 2001 Toyota Prius steering?

Yes, 2 recalls: 11V304000, 00V285000. Check your VIN to see if your car still needs the free repair.

What year does the Toyota Prius have bad steering?

The Toyota Prius model years with the most steering complaints are 2002 (80 complaints), 2001 (45 complaints) and 2003 (39 complaints).

What gas mileage does the 2001 Toyota Prius get?

Official estimates for the 2001 Toyota Prius range from 41 mpg combined. The most efficient version (1.5L 4-cyl hybrid, FWD) gets 42 city and 41 highway.

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