The Lemon Index
20021st generation
Avoid · most complaints: tires
53 owner complaints, first 3 years 41 mpg combined, EPA
Similar cars, same year
2001 Chevrolet Cavalier 642001 Volkswagen Jetta 2512001 Ford Focus 353
Lemon Index: 100 = the average car, lower is better.
What breaks most on the 2001 Toyota Prius
- Engine stalling22 complaintsmostly at 26,000–74,000 miles (42,000–119,000 km)
- Steering rack / power steering16 complaintsmostly at 47,000–91,000 miles (76,000–146,000 km)
- Throttle body / loss of power12 complaintsmostly at 38,000–74,000 miles (61,000–119,000 km)
Specific parts named in the 165 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2001 Toyota Prius (all dates). Miles = the odometer owners typed in (middle half); cost = the repair bills owners wrote in those same complaints, in U.S. dollars. Owners' reports, not confirmed defects.
When problems show up
Only 18 complaints listed a mileage: too few to say when problems show up.
Questions to ask the seller
- Were recalls 11V304000 (steering), 06V266000 (engine) and 00V285000 (steering) done? Ask for the dealer printout, or check the VIN.
- Any steering noise, wander or power-steering warning? Has the steering rack or pump been replaced?
- Do all the lights, screens and power features work? Has the battery, alternator or any wiring been replaced?
- Toyota sent dealers 154 repair notes for this car. Was this one done: “Nformation on avoiding damage to the power steering (ps) main shaft lower dust seal when…”?
From this year's own recalls, top problems, top repair bills and Toyota's repair notes. Recall repairs are free at any dealer.
How serious. Out of all 53 owner complaints filed so far (every year since it was sold, not just the first 3), owners reported:
“Average car” = what the same number of complaints would include at the rate across every model year we track. Owners report these themselves; NHTSA doesn't confirm the cause.
What owners complain about most. From owner complaints to the government.
Share of this year's owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not the share of cars that break. One complaint can name more than one area.
Check engine light on? Look up any code →
When owners reported problems. From owner complaints to the government.
Most owners who filed a complaint with NHTSA had 25K to 47K miles (41K to 76K km) on the car (18 of all 53 complaints filed so far listed the miles). This shows when people who had a problem reported it, not the odds that your car will have it.
In owners' words
Suspected quality issue resulting in premature wear of front driver's side tire, leading to potentially unsafe driving/handling situations.
2001 Toyota Prius owner · NHTSA complaint 10043788
More owner reports
Potenza 175/65/r14xl (oem tires) which are specifically made for the Prius, wear quickly and on the edges. This resulted in my tire tread having a 1/32 rating, while the middle of the tire still had a long life left.
NHTSA complaint 10029003
Extreme tire blow out(only shreds left)hesitation resulting in loss of power in traffic/gas pedal sensor?
NHTSA complaint 10030856
Fixes owners look up most.
From 200 YouTube videos · 1.8M views · 2001–2003 Toyota Prius
Most-watched topics
- Infotainment, battery & electrical198K views
Removing Toyota Prius 2001-2003 HV batteryTim Razumovsky · 120K views · 8 videos - Intake, EGR & engine sensors91K views
How To Replace a MAF Sensor on a 2003 Toyota Prius ( P3191 Code)sam1174 · 49K views · 2 videos - Fuel pump, filter & tank73K views
Toyota Prius 2001, Master Warning Light / Check Engine Light fuel pump problem ODB Code P3191John .Mitch · 66K views · 3 videos - Cooling system35K views
DIY How to change Prius Inverter Coolant Pump! On my Gen1 2003 Toyota Prius.RacecarAndChill · 20K views · 3 videos
Show 1 more
- Brakes & ABS17K views
2002 Prius brake pad and rotor repairWisco464 · 12K views · 2 videos
Before you buy, watch
2002 Toyota Prius Review, Walk Around, Start Up & Rev, Test Drivexoquixxoqafxo · 50K views
2002 Toyota Prius Hybrid Gas & Electric ReviewAuto Ad Builder · 50K views
2001 Toyota Prius review.Austin Kinser · 42K viewsViews show how many people looked up each fix, not how often it breaks. Videos belong to their creators; we link to them. The 2001 is the same generation.
Costs are the middle (median) of the dollar amounts people say out loud in these videos, so one wild number can't swing it. They aren't verified bills or sales; real prices depend on year, miles, condition and where you live. Tap Hear it to jump to the moment.
Problems Toyota told dealers about
Toyota sent dealers 154 repair notes for this car. The ones about its biggest problems:
- Nformation on avoiding damage to the power steering (ps) main shaft lower dust seal when…
- Cd player adapter harness improperly installed, causing the cassette eject button to be…
Ask a seller or mechanic if these were done. Some are free under warranty or a special program.
Recalls 3
- Steering · recall issued 2011
TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2001 THROUGH 2003 PRIUS PASSENGER CARS MANUFACTURED FROM JANUARY 28, 2000, THROUGH MAY 30, 2003.
- Engine · recall issued 2006
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.
- Steering · recall issued 2000
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES.
Recall repairs are free at any dealer. A recall only matters if it's still open on that exact car, so check its VIN.
Canada? See recalls at Transport Canada
Government investigations
- ClosedPedestrian alert sounds2023
NHTSA looks into a problem when enough owners report it. Many end in a recall.
Safety
Crash stars (older test): front ★★★☆☆ · side — · rollover ★★★★☆
Fuel cost and engines
About $1,550 (USD) a year in fuel (EPA estimate at U.S. prices, 15,000 miles or 24,000 km a year). Engines: 1.5L 4-cyl.
Every Toyota Prius year. 2001 is highlighted. Lower is better.
Newest year first. Red = worse than average, gray = about average, too new (2023+: a partial score, marked “partial”) or too few complaints to score. #1, #2… = that year's YouTube rank among the 24 Toyota Prius years with enough videos (#1 = the year owners and reviewers talk about most positively). It is not a reliability rank.
Embed this chart
Put this chart on your site, blog or forum. Free, with the credit line built in; the 2001 bar is highlighted.
<iframe src="https://lemonindex.com/embed/cars/toyota-prius/?y=2001" title="Toyota Prius reliability by model year (The Lemon Index)" width="100%" height="767" style="border:0;max-width:720px" loading="lazy"></iframe><p style="font-size:13px;margin:4px 0 0">Data: <a href="https://lemonindex.com/cars/toyota-prius/2001/">Lemon Index</a> (2001 Toyota Prius reliability)</p>Quick answers
Is the 2001 Toyota Prius reliable?
No, it is one of the worst by government complaints. It drew about twice the average car's complaints filed with NHTSA in its first 3 years, per car sold (Lemon Index 236; 100 is average, lower is better). The Toyota Prius year with the fewest complaints per car sold since 2010 is 2021.
What are the most common 2001 Toyota Prius problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are tires (45%), steering (21%) and electrical (11%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2001 Toyota Prius have?
3 safety recalls (latest: steering). Recall repairs are free at any dealer; check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2001 Toyota Prius get?
41 mpg combined, depending on the engine (EPA estimate).
Does the 2001 Toyota Prius have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues aren't among its top 5 complaint areas.
How much does the 2001 Toyota Prius cost in fuel a year?
About $1,550 a year, by the EPA's current estimate.
What engines does the 2001 Toyota Prius have?
1.5L 4-cyl.
What Toyota Prius year is better than the 2001?
No year within 3 model years of it drew fewer complaints. Across every year, 2021 drew the fewest (less than a sixth as many complaints as the average car).
The Lemon Index counts owner complaints filed with the U.S. government (NHTSA) in a car's first 3 years, per car sold, against the average car of the same model years (100 = average, lower is better). It measures complaints, not crash safety. A complaint is an owner's report, not a confirmed defect. How it works