KnownCarProblems2003 Toyota Prius Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 99 complaints with NHTSA about the 2003 Toyota Prius, most often about the steering (39% of complaints, typically around 84,500 miles). It is 16th of 27 Prius model years by number of complaints and has 1 recall.
Most common 2003 Toyota Prius problems
Steering
39 complaints · 39%Half of these problems showed up before 84,500 miles. Parts named most often: electric power assist system, rack and pinion, hydraulic power assist system.
2003 Toyota Prius, steering wheel shakes when making left turns. Car has had scheduled services. Shaking started as a rattle/grinding sound at the steering column. Shaking now happens when turning left or right, at startup or while driving on interstate. Most recently steering was un responsive at 50+MPH. The vehicle…
The contact owns a 2003 Toyota Prius hybrid. The contact stated that she had experienced several failures within the vehicle since purchasing three months ago. The transmission was replaced, the left front tire had a leak and the inverter was replaced because several lights on the instrumental panel remained…
Electrical
13 complaints · 13%Half of these problems showed up before 108,000 miles. Parts named most often: 12v/24v/48v battery, horn.
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…
Tl 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…
Brakes
13 complaints · 13%Half of these problems showed up before 60,500 miles. Parts named most often: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip.
The vehicle would not come to a stop when the brakes were applied. An alarm/light indicator came on for ABS brakes at the same time. I had to apply the emergency brakes for the vehicle to come to a stop. I was able to avoid two vehicles and came to a stop in the bus stop area. The vehicle was towed for repair but the…
A number of times when I brake on uneven roads, the brakes on my 2003 Prius feel as if they aren't working. They have always caught almost immediately, so that I haven't thought of reporting the problem until the recent reports on the newest Prius model. Incident date is the most recent, even though the problem has…
Wheels and tires
11 complaints · 11%Half of these problems showed up before 10,500 miles. Parts named most often: sidewall, tread/belt, pressure monitoring and regulating systems.
Driving home on july 22, 2003 at about 4:30pm, traveling north on the 57 freeway traveling at approximately 68 MPH had blow out on right rear tire. Tire had complete blow out if side wall, vehicle had only approximately 10,700 miles. I had checked tire pressure the prior day and had 33 psi in front and 36 psi in rear…
We purchased a 2003 Prius. The cars original equipment included bridgestone extra load tires p175/65r14. In less than 25,000 miles we had to replace the tires with a second set. After about 10,000 wear on both sets the noise from the tires has been so loud it was uncomfortable to ride in the car. While this is not a…
Engine
11 complaints · 11%Half of these problems showed up before 75,000 miles. Parts named most often: engine.
: the contact stated while traveling various speeds, the vehicle intermittently stalled and lost power. The warning lights illuminated occasionally. The vehicle was taken to the dealership numerous times, but the problem persisted. The dealership replaced the hybrid engine computer, the mass air flow meter, fuel tank…
Reference investigation # pe05029: my Toyota Prius 2003 [] gasoline/ electric hybrid vehicles that can be operated in gasoline or electric mode. On 4 separate occasions, the gasoline engine shut down suddenly without warning. Each time I was driving with the speed of highway traffic. The three previous times the…
Speed control
5 complaints · 5%Parts named most often: cruise control.
Consumer was traveling at 70mph on highway with cruise control engaged. When depressing brake pedal to disengage cruise control the vehicle spun out and stopped facing the oncoming traffic.
Dt:while driving at 25-30 MPH vehicle lost power and stalled due to electronic throttle module failure. Updated 12/6/2005 - the dealer replaced the fuel relay.
Transmission
5 complaints · 5%Half of these problems showed up before 85,000 miles. Parts named most often: automatic transmission.
The contact owns a 2003 Toyota Prius hybrid. The contact stated that she had experienced several failures within the vehicle since purchasing three months ago. The transmission was replaced, the left front tire had a leak and the inverter was replaced because several lights on the instrumental panel remained…
2003 Toyota Prius - developed rattle and took to the dealer. After a long examination, dealer determined the problem was with the power steering rack. Dealer acknowledged that there had been no accident and could not determine a cause. The repair cost quoted was $3,500, one half of the resale value of the car. I…
Fuel system
4 complaints · 4%Parts named most often: storage.
Dt:while driving at 25-30 MPH vehicle lost power and stalled due to electronic throttle module failure. Updated 12/6/2005 - the dealer replaced the fuel relay.
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…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2003 Toyota Prius recalls
Steering: electric power assist system
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.
Full defect summary
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.
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
NHTSA defect investigations
Pedestrian alert sounds
Summary
Nhtsa 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 NHTSA.gov 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, NHTSA opened defect petition (dp) 22-005 to evaluate the subject matt
Questions about the 2003 Toyota Prius
- What are the most common problems with the 2003 Toyota Prius?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: steering (39 complaints, typically around 84,500 miles); electrical (13 complaints, typically around 108,000 miles); brakes (13 complaints, typically around 60,500 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2003 Toyota Prius have?
- 1 recall listed by NHTSA, the latest from June 1, 2011 (steering). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2003 a bad year for the Toyota Prius?
- It is 16th of 27 Prius model years by number of complaints, with 99 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.