MyCarTSB

2002 Toyota Prius Electrical Problems

11 owner-reported electrical complaints from NHTSA data

11
Complaints
1
Crashes
2
Fires
Jan 2007Nov 2010
Date Range

Data sourced from NHTSA public database. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified mechanic.

Owner Complaints (11)

highELECTRICAL SYSTEM,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Filed: Oct 2016

Your hybrid circulation pump failed, which caused three warning lights to appear on your dashboard. The circulation pump is responsible for moving coolant through your hybrid system to keep it operating at the right temperature. Fixing this will likely require replacing the failed pump and possibly flushing the cooling system.

NHTSA #: 10917169
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Filed: Jan 2013

THIS VEHICLE HAS A PROBLEM WITH THE HYBRID BATTERY CAUSES A LOT OF PROBLEM IN MANY OF THE SYSTEMS, ENGINE, COMPUTER ETC AND DON'T EVEN HAS A 100,000 MILES IT SUPPOSE TO HAVE A LONG LIFE , THE DEALER IS CHARGING BIG BUCKS IN ORDER TO FIX IT AND I DON'T SEE WHY IT GOES DAMAGE WITH SUCH A LOW MILES. *TR

NHTSA #: 10490855
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
CrashFiled: Oct 2012

I WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE UNDER SPEED LIMIT WHEN MY STEERING WHEEL BECAME STIFF. I WAS DRIVING WHEN MY STEERING WHEEL BECAME STIFF AND AFTER FEW SECONDS I WAS AT A CURVE AND WAS NOT ABLE TO TURN LEFT AND WENT OFF THE ROAD INTO A DITCH AND COLLIDING WITH AN OBJECT. THE CAR GOT HUGE DAMAGE AND WAS NOT DRIVABLE AND STILL IN MY YARD. *TR

NHTSA #: 10478896
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM
FireFiled: Nov 2010

WHEN DRIVING IN TRAFFIC HYBRID BATTERY COMPLETELY DISCHARGES CAUSING CAR TO LURCH WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE. ONCE THE CAR IS OUT OF TRAFFIC THE BATTERY OVER CHARGES CAUSING THE BATTERY TO OVER HEAT AND CAUSE THE CABIN TO FILL WITH A SCARY SMELL OF BURNING. THE HYBRID BATTERY FAN IS ON. TOOK TO TOYOTA DEALERSHIP PAID NEARLY $300 FOR DIAGNOSTIC AND THEY COULD FIND NO ERROR CODES RELATED TO THE PROBLEM. CALL CHP TO ASSIST IN TOW TO DEALERSHIP. *TR

NHTSA #: 10365308
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Filed: Feb 2009

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR CONTINUES TO ILLUMINATE ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE LARGE BATTERY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS ALSO OUT OF WARRANTY. THE MANUFACTURER REFERRED THE CONTACT TO THE OUT-OF-WARRANTY DIVISION, BUT THEY COULD NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 108,000.

NHTSA #: 10259448
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Filed: Jan 2007

INCIDENT: CAR ENGINE ON 2002 PRIUS HAVING TROUBLE STARTING AND DYING AFTER HAVING BEEN STARTED. WE WERE TOLD THAT THE "ENGINE CONTROL UNIT" WAS SHOWING AN ERROR AND DUE TO A MANUFACTURING OR SOFTWARE PROBLEM, COULD NOT BE REPROGRAMMED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. *JB

NHTSA #: 10177550
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Filed: Jun 2005

MY TOYOTA PRIUS HAS HAD MULTIPLE AUTOMATIC FAILURES SINCE IT'S PURCHACE. YOU WILL BE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AT ANY SPEED AND IT SHUTS STALLS. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON THE HIGHWAY IN MA., ON THE ROAD IN NM, ON THE HIGHWAY IN NM AND ON THE HIGHWAY IN TX. I HAVE BEEN LUCKY SO FAR THAT I HAVE NOT BEEN KILLED. I HAVE COMPLAINED TO DEALERS IN MA, NM, AND TX AND THEY CLAIM THAT THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH MY CAR. MY CAR SLOWS DOWN TO 40 MPH GOING UP HILL WHICH IS ALSO A DANGER WHEN YOU ARE IN A 60 MPH ZONE ON THE HIGHWAY. THE MILEAGE HAS BEEN POOR AROUND 30 MILES PER GALLON. MANY PARTS HAVE BEEN REPLACEDUT THEY ALWAYS SAY IT IS IN MY HEAD THAT THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH MY CAR. I PICKED IT UP FROM A DEALER IN NM AND DROVE IT LESS THAN 2 MILES AND IT STALLED WHILE DRIVING ON A BUSY ROAD AND I AGAIN WAS ALMOST KILLED. THEY MECHANIC TOLD ME THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH MY CAR AND THAT HE WAS GOING TO PUSH IT OUT INTO THE ROAD AFTER HE PULLED OUT SOME PARTS I REFUSED TO PAY FOR AS I WANTED TO WAIT A DAY UNTIL I COULD TALK TO THE TOYOTA 1 800 COMPLAINT LINE. THIS IS A REAL PROBLEM THAT TOYOTA IS NOT ADDRESSING AND HAS TAUGHT THEIR MECHANICS TO BE CONDECENDING AND RUDE TO FEMALE CONSUMERS.

NHTSA #: 10123865
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM
FireFiled: Mar 2005

WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE IN THE TRUNK WHERE THE BATTERY WAS LOCATED. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO PULL THE VEHICLE OFF THE ROAD. THE LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED AND EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE WAS DETERMINED TO BE AN ELECTRICAL SHORT. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED.*AK THE HYBRID BATTERY PACK CAUGHT ON FIRE. *NM

NHTSA #: 10111792
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Filed: Jan 2003

I JUNE OF 2202 I BOUGHT TOYOTA PRIUS. I WAS GETTING 44MPG ON THE HIGHWAY AND 49 IN THE CITY. THEN THE COLD WEATHER COMES AND NOW I GET ONLY 35MPG IN THE CITY THAT IS A DROP OF OVER 28%. I HAVE TAKEN IT BACK TWICE TO THE DEALER AND THEY SUPPOSELY SCOPE IT AND SAID THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG AND THAT THE COLD WEATHER WAS THE PROBLEM. I TOLD THEM THAT THEIR EXCUSE WAS LAME AND THAT WAS NOT EXCEPTABLE. IF A CARS GAS MILEAGE DROPS THAT DRAMACTICLY THERE HAS TO BE A PROBLEM OR THEIR IS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. THERE SHOULD NOT BE A 28% DROP OFF IN A CAR PERFORMANCE IN COLD WEATHER. THERE ADVERTISEMENT PITCH WAS THAT THE CAR WILL GET BETTER MILEAGE IN THE CITY THAN THE HIGHWAY BECAUSE OF THEIR HYBRID SYSTEM, IT DID NOT SAY THAT THE SYSTEM ONLY WORK IN WARM WEATHER

NHTSA #: 10000827
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Filed: Jul 2002

CONSUMER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STOPPED WHILE PULLING OUT OF A PARKING LOT DUE TO FAULTY BATTERY.*JB

NHTSA #: 786031
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Filed: Jun 2002

VEHICLE REFUSES TO START. TOWED VEHICLE . REPLACED BATTERY , PROBLEM RE0CCURRED. A

NHTSA #: 8012973

Other 2002 Toyota Prius Issues