8.4% of complaints about the 2001 Toyota Prius came in the first year, which is unremarkable for a 2001 vehicle — around the middle of the 216 model-years on record. The median complaint arrives at 4.8 yr in service. The most-reported system is steering (41 complaints), typically at 6.9 yr or about 69,012 miles.
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.
LOSS OF POWER STEERING, PARTICULARLY WHEN AN OPERATOR IS ACTIVELY INTENDING TO STEER THE VEHICLE, MAY INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.
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.
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.
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.
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.
ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT BRIDGESTONE 13INCH TIRES FOR THE 2001, TOYOTA, TIRES HAD TO BE REPLACED 3 TIMES IN A FIVE MONTH PERIOD FOR FRONT PASSENGER AND DRIVER SIDES OF VEHICLE.*AK TIRES CONTINUALLY WEAR ON THE INSIDE TREAD OF THE TIRE, CONSUMER STATES THIS HAPPENS ALMOST EVERY 3000 MILES, WEAR IS PRIMARILY WITH THE LEFT FRONT WHERE THE ELECTRIC BATTERY/MOTOR ARE. *SLC
CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO A SHOP FOR A ROUTINE CHECK UP AND MECHANIC INSPECTED FRONT TIRES, AND NOTICED THAT ON BOTH TIRES TREAD BEGAN TO SEPARATE. THEY WERE BRIDGE STONE/ FIRESTONE TIRES. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK
I WAS ADVISED DURING A ROUTINE OIL CHANGE THAT MY TIRES WERE UNSAFE TO DRIVE ON. I WAS ALSO ADVISED THAT TIYOTA KNOWS THAT THESE UNIQUE TORES FAIL AT ABOUT 10,000 MILES. TOYOTA SAYS THAT THESE TIRES ARE THE ONLY TYPE ACCEPTABLE FOR USE ON THIS VEHICLE AND TO USE ANOTHER MANUFACTURER WILL VOID THE WARRANTY. THERE ARE NO REPLACEMENT TIRES AVAILABLE AND THEY (THE DEALER) ESTIMATES AT LEAST ONE MONTH WAIT. *AK (TIRESIZE: P175/65R14)
THE CONSUMER STATES THAT THE VEHICLE HAD GONE OUT OF CONTROL. THE CONSUMER WAS COASTING INTO THE DRIVEWAY, WHEN SHE PLACED HER FOOT ON THE BRAKE, THE VEHICLE SURGED INTO THE GARAGE AND DAMAGED ITEMS. THE CONSUMER NO LONGER WANTS THE VEHICLE BECAUSE SHE FEELS UNSAFE. THE CONSUMER SAID THAT TOYOTA DIDN'T WANT TO EXCEPT RESPONSIBILTY, EVEN THOUGH THE SERVICE MANAGER DID REPORT THAT THE GAS ENGINE SURGE COULD OCCUR IN ORDER TO CHARGE THE BATTERY. *SCC *DT