2003 Toyota Prius electrical problems

Filed Jul 10, 2020 · Brakes, Electrical · 151,000 miles · IL

For no apparent reason when driving, the emergency brake will engage, without pressing the e brake pedal. Also, intermittent once car is parked and doors locked, alarm will just start going off for nonreason.

Filed Jul 31, 2017 · Electrical, Engine · 123,200 miles · NY · 1 injury

There is no thermostat gauge in a 2003 toyota prius , the car over heats and you don't know until your in the middle of traffic nearly getting killed. Toyota was contacted, but say not a recall and they don't honestly car cause car is old . That's not right , anything you still use from cars or even medicine have later come back to hurt or killed people. There is no hot to cold gauge in the car , 2003 only . I have investigated and see people publish about this but let it slip by . I was driving with no installed gauge and survived through make a left hand turn on a stalled vehicle that over heated and was later check by toyota technicians that said f there was a thermostat gauge problem would of most likely be avoided. Somebody can't keep open and closing the radiator cap cause of this missing gauge . Oil has dipstick you check !!! Safely too. Not going fry my face or burn my hands on keep checking the radiator. Plus with a proper gauge you might know if your car is cooled down or safer to check. Toyota had refused to address or claim any issues. Case# [xxx]. People lives on at stake cause they wanted to a. Save money b. Don't know how forget to install the part for the year on every 2003 prius !! Please help , toyota does not car about my safety or anybody else safety - [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).

Filed Aug 27, 2013 · Driver assistance, Electrical · 115,000 miles · TX

My 2003 prius (first gen, from japan), has been thru a few recalls - 1 was to seal the battery better early on (04ish), then it was given new pinion shaft nuts. Latest issue has been an issue all along, just not diagnosed/fixed til now. Sometimes the 'check engine' light would come on, with the car/! /triangle graphic on touch screen. This time it didn't go away. Long story short, it was the electric water pump that needed to be replaced. Dealer said it wasn't cycling properly, leaking antifreeze; also a big hybrid battery issue was showing up, but they suspected when fixing water pump it might clear up battery issue. Did research, found this has been a big issue for a lot of prius owners. Saw the consumer reports & this story, from a toyota news release. The following is exactly what I've experienced, & my car was part of the pinion shaft nuts/steering column recall, but not water pump recall!: "toyota is recalling 670,000 of their popular prius hybrids in the us to correct two safety issues. They say all of the vehicles will be inspected to see if a part in the steering shaft needs to be replaced due to an issue that could cause excessive wear. 350,000 of these same prius vehicles (from 2001-2010 in japan ) are also being recalled to replace the electric water pump for the hybrid system. Toyota says the pump could fail and cause the hybrid system to stop running. They said its dealers will inspect & replace any defects free of charge. Recall notices will go to owners in dec. 2012. About 2.77m vehicles worldwide are affected."toyota did not pay for my repair, $669; that was with a 15% off coupon! I am keeping my receipt. Toyota needs to include my VIN in the next batch of recalls for this defective water pump, which has been defective since day 1, but a slow diagnosis, that may have affected the overall function of the hybrid system battery permanently. No fun!

Filed Jul 27, 2012 · Brakes, Electrical · 85,377 miles · CA

I took my car in a week before this incident because I needed service and was going on a trip to san diego with my 5 yr old daughter. Keyes toyota in van nuys did everything to it and replaced my front brakes and inspected everything including the other brakes... So yesterday, im on the freeway and suddenly a piercing, long beep happens and 2 warning lights come on. " brake and ABS" ... I'm thinking " what just happened! I just had my car made perfect the other day!!?? .. And then, not two minutes after those warning lights came on, my brakes completely failed!! Pedal to the floor nothing! :-( ... I was soooooo scared.... I put my hazards on and crept over to find a shoulder .... I weaved over without causing an accident thank god so I get to the shoulder thankfully but it's a short shoulder... And im praying as I roll to a stop .. I've been back and forth with the dealership and toyota corporate these past 24 hours because I should not have to pay over $2000 for something that is the manufacturers fault!!... I could have died or killed someone...what if my daughter was in the car and I was at an intersection slowing for a red light!!?? Oh my god!... Something has to be done... I'm fully ready to sue toyota...go to the news outlets...los angeles times...anyone who will make this public... No one should die because they are trying to help the environment.... And no one should die because a corporation won't own up! ..I'm putting a stop order on the repair tomorrow morning....I'm hoping you can help me and others who could potentially be fatally injured (or their children) from an electrical system that just fails! Both the dealership and corporate just said " well, that particular part only has a 3 yr warranty or 36,000 miles and so after that it's the owners responsibility. Really? It's my responsibility if your crazy faulty car kills me or my child? Nuts!

Filed Sep 14, 2011 · Electrical, Steering · MO

2003 toyota prius. Consumer writes in regards to recall notice concerning pinion shaft nuts on the electric power steering *tgw the consumer stated the recall was performed at the dealership on august 10, 2011. Upon leaving the dealership, when the consumer attempted to use the horn, he discovered it was not working. The consumer returned to the dealer, to inform them, the horn had been disconnected or maybe a wire had come off. The dealer stated the recall had nothing to do with the horn. The consumer stated the horn was working prior to arriving at the dealer. The consumer then contacted toyota customer service and they contacted the dealer. The dealer stated it was just a coincidence that the horn broke while performing the recall. According to the service invoice, the horn and cruise control short power spiral cable was bad. *jb the consumer stated the dealer refunded his money. Updated 09/23/11*jb consumer's issue resolved 12/6/11

Filed Feb 17, 2010 · Electrical, Transmission · 150,000 miles · OH

Tl*the contact owns a 2003 toyota prius. While the contact was driving 5 MPH out of a parking lot the vehicle suddenly stopped accelerating after the vehicle traveled over a patch of ice. The vehicle has not been taken to the dealership and there were no prior warnings. The current and failure mileages were 150,000.updated 03/30/10. *lj updated 09/28/10

Filed Feb 10, 2010 · Electrical, Engine · 43,746 miles · NY

Warning light comes on and manual says do not operate vehicle, park immediately. This happened on my 2003 toyota prius in december. Fortunately the dealer was open and when reported said it was not a big deal, the care was drivable and should be brought in for service. In service found master warning light codes p0300, 301, 302, 303, 304, -3191, p33101, c1202 then noted "found warranty enhancement to clean throttle body (eg9016.5 01.99). Was never notified of this issue and was parked in dangerous location while attempting to ascertain what steps to take in light of the "do not operate vehicle" warning in the manual. Same situation arose in our 2002 prius this date and awaiting results of dealer's analysis (although when the light went out they said we could just as easily cancel the service appointment). In both cases service departments seemed familiar with problem (and my service advisor referred to it as a "silent recall".)

Filed Feb 11, 2008 · Electrical, Engine · CA

2003 toyota prius with engine problems. Consumer states that the triangle and engine lights would illuminate upon starting the vehicle. Mechanic stated that there was oil in the air intake and on the sensors. *kb the consumer stated twice while his wife was driving, the vehicle shut off, which left her driving with just the electric motor.

Filed Feb 27, 2007 · Electrical, Engine · 108,000 miles · AZ

2003 toyota prius -- in cold weather the cars computer does not act properly and will shut down the engine.

Filed Feb 21, 2007 · Electrical · GA

2003 toyota prius had 12v battery replaced under toyota tsb el014-03 "battery capacity improvement" instructions were omitted as well as not followed. Car was driven for approx. 2 weeks with battery not vented outside passenger compartment and not protected from damage by heavy objects in trunk. Was corrected by me prior to further operation. Potential for a fire starting in the trunk of the car due to hydrogen gas build up from charging/discharging igniting the trunk lining, passing up the plastic ventilation system for traction battery and fusing high voltage traction battery cables together was there prior to correcting vent situation. Awaiting response from local dealer and would like to know if there are specific regulations about venting lead acid batteries outside passenger compartments other than federal motor safety administration 393.30 battery installation.