RecallMyCar

2003 Toyota Prius Recalls, Complaints & Specs

1 safety recall lists the 2003 Toyota Prius, and owners have filed 99 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.

1
safety recall
99
owner complaints to NHTSA
5 / 0
complaints citing a crash / fire
41
MPG combined (EPA)

1 safety recall for the 2003 Toyota Prius

Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.

  1. Electric power assist system (steering)

    NHTSA 11V304000 Reported 52,377 vehicles potentially affected Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing

    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.

    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.

99 owner complaints filed with NHTSA

Owners of the 2003 Toyota Prius have filed 99 complaints with NHTSA; 5 describe a crash. Reports cite 5 injuries and 0 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 76,567 miles. Complaints peaked in 2010 with 23 filed that year.

Most-reported components

What owners are reporting

“The contact owns a 2003 Toyota Prius. The contact stated that while driving at 65 MPH, the steering wheel began to vibrate with an unknown message displayed on the instrument panel. As the failure per”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, October 26, 2022 · Steering

“Occasionally, when braking, the car will begin to brake, then lurch forward a little, and then brake again properly. It's disconcerting at best and scary and dangerous at worst. I've had this brake pr”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, August 31, 2020 · Service brakes

Fuel economy and specs

EPA ratings for the 2003 Toyota Prius. Ranges cover every tested configuration.

Combined41 mpg
City / Highway42 / 41
FuelRegular
EPA classCompact Cars
Engine4 cyl, 1.5 L
TransmissionAutomatic (variable gear ratios)

Compare Toyota Prius model years

Recall and complaint counts for every Toyota Prius model year in NHTSA's database.

Model yearRecallsComplaints
2000 Toyota Prius04
2001 Toyota Prius3165
2002 Toyota Prius2167
2003 Toyota Prius199
2004 Toyota Prius6610
2005 Toyota Prius61,051
2006 Toyota Prius61,439
2007 Toyota Prius42,003
2008 Toyota Prius41,497
2009 Toyota Prius6502
2010 Toyota Prius102,823
2011 Toyota Prius6521
2012 Toyota Prius6424
2013 Toyota Prius3411
2014 Toyota Prius3208
2015 Toyota Prius1166
2016 Toyota Prius5155
2017 Toyota Prius391
2018 Toyota Prius137
2019 Toyota Prius330
2020 Toyota Prius014
2021 Toyota Prius06
2022 Toyota Prius124
2023 Toyota Prius420
2024 Toyota Prius427
2025 Toyota Prius216
2026 Toyota Prius16

Checking a specific 2003 Toyota Prius

How do I know if my 2003 Toyota Prius has an open recall?

Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 1 campaign currently lists the 2003 Toyota Prius; your car may already have been repaired under it.

Is the recall repair free?

Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Toyota dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 11V304000).

What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?

A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.

Other Toyota models

Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.