Recalls (3)
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for the 2001 Toyota Prius. Check whether yours was repaired with NHTSA's free VIN lookup ↗
Only NHTSA and your automaker know whether your specific car was repaired. PlainVIN shows every recall campaign listed for a model year, with the official text and how many cars have been fixed so far.
Check on NHTSA ↗ELECTRIC POWER STEERING SYSTEM
- 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.
- Consequence
- 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.
CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR
- Summary
- 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.
- Consequence
- 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.
TOYOTA/ELECTRIC POWER STEERING
- Summary
- 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.
- Consequence
- 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.
PlainVIN shows public government records for education. It isn't a vehicle inspection or legal advice. Check your own VIN with NHTSA or your dealer.
Owner complaints (165)
165 complaints filed with NHTSA (owner reports, not verified findings). The steering is mentioned most often.
As reported by owners in their complaints. These are reports, not NHTSA findings.
Most-reported components
| Component | Complaints | % of 165 |
|---|---|---|
| Steering | 45 | 27.3% |
| Electrical system | 27 | 16.4% |
| Tires | 27 | 16.4% |
| Vehicle speed control | 25 | 15.2% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 18 | 10.9% |
| Service brakes | 16 | 9.7% |
| Fuel system | 10 | 6.1% |
| Suspension | 9 | 5.5% |
| Power train | 5 | 3% |
| Unknown or other | 5 | 3% |
How 2001 compares with other Prius years
Best and worst Prius years →| Model year | Complaints | Recall campaigns |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 4 | 0 |
| 2001 | 165 | 3 |
| 2002 | 167 | 2 |
| 2003 | 99 | 1 |
| 2004 | 610 | 6 |
| 2005 | 1,051 | 6 |
| 2006 | 1,439 | 6 |
| 2007 | 2,003 | 4 |
| 2008 | 1,497 | 4 |
| 2009 | 502 | 6 |
Counts are owner reports, not failure rates. Higher sales years tend to draw more reports. Owners are still filing reports for recent model years, so these counts will grow. Source: NHTSA ODI, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Fuel economy: up to 41 mpg combined
- EPA annual fuel cost
- $1,650
- CO₂ tailpipe
- 217 g/mi
- EPA class
- Compact Cars
What it costs you to run
Miles ÷ 41 mpg × $4.354 (EIA US average regular, week of Oct 5, 2026, all taxes included). Source: EPA · EIA.
EPA label estimates from lab tests; your mileage will vary.
Specs by configuration
| Engine · transmission | Drive | City / Hwy / Comb | EPA $/yr | CO₂ g/mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.5 L 4-cyl · CVT | Front-Wheel Drive | 42 / 41 / 41 | $1,650 | 217 |
Source: EPA fuel economy data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026. Configurations are listed when EPA and NHTSA records match.
Looking at a 2001 Prius for sale?
Print a one-page buyer's checklist: each recall campaign with a box to tick when the seller shows proof of repair, the top complaint areas to inspect, crash stars, MPG, and a link back to this page.
Where to next
2001 Toyota Prius FAQ
How many recalls does the 2001 Toyota Prius have?
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns: 11V304000 (steering), 06V266000 (engine), 00V285000 (steering). Use NHTSA's VIN lookup to see whether a specific car was repaired.
What are the most common 2001 Toyota Prius problems?
Owners filed 165 complaints with NHTSA. Steering (45), Electrical system (27), Tires (27) are mentioned most. These are owner reports, not verified findings.
What mpg does the 2001 Toyota Prius get?
EPA rates the 1.5 L 4-cyl · CVT version at 42 city, 41 highway and 41 combined mpg.
How does the 2001 Prius compare with other years?
Among the 2000–2009 Toyota Prius model years at least five years old, the 2000 drew the fewest complaints (4) and the 2007 the most (2,003). The 2001 drew 165. Counts are owner reports, not failure rates.
How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes
Data sources
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - US DOT recall completion rates (data.transportation.gov)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA ODI owner complaints
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA NCAP 5-Star Safety Ratings
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EPA fuel economy data (licence confirmation pending)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EIA weekly retail gasoline prices
Weekly, all taxes included
Processing
- Complaints are counted per component. One complaint can list several, so component totals add up to more than the total.
- Fuel cost = miles per year ÷ EPA combined mpg × EIA weekly price for your region.
Limitations
- Complaint counts are owner reports, not verified findings or failure rates. There is no sales denominator.
- Recall campaigns are listed for the model year. Only NHTSA and the automaker know whether a specific car was repaired.
- Recent model years are still collecting reports.
Review
Data compiled automatically from the official files listed here.
Changelog
- 2026-10-06 Data refreshed from the official files.