Reliability & 5-year cost of ownership — 2002 Toyota Prius
NHTSA data on file today
The 2002 Toyota Prius has 2 NHTSA recall campaigns and 167 owner complaints on file as of . Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
Recall campaigns on file
- NHTSA #11V304000 ELECTRIC POWER STEERING SYSTEM NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #06V266000 CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR NHTSA notice
Most-cited components in owner complaints
- Steering 80 complaints
- Tires 20 complaints
- Electrical System 18 complaints
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic 14 complaints
- Vehicle Speed Control 12 complaints
- Engine and Engine Cooling 11 complaints
Of the 167 complaints on file, 12 report a crash and 4 a fire; across all 167 complaints, owners report 11 injuries and 5 deaths (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Average
Estimated 5-year repair + maintenance cost: $3,500–$6,500AI estimate — not from NHTSA data
The 2002 Toyota Prius shows average reliability, with primary issues involving the steering system and engine sensors, supported by recall and complaint data. While not catastrophic, these failures can incur notable costs.
Most-common failures
| Part | Typical mileage (AI estimate) | Cost range (AI estimate) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| steering linkage | 50,000–100,000 miles | $250–$600 | common |
| crankshaft position sensor | 60,000–110,000 miles | $200–$450 | common |
AI estimate — not from NHTSA data: the mileage bands and repair-cost ranges above. Get a written repair quote before you budget.
Scheduled maintenance to budget
Routine items every owner should plan for.
- Oil change every 5,000 miles
- Replace air filter every 15,000 miles
- Brake fluid change every 30,000 miles
- Replace spark plugs every 120,000 miles
Warning signs to watch for
Symptoms that signal a major upcoming repair.
- Steering looseness during turns
- Engine warning lights
- Unresponsive acceleration
- Unusual engine noises
- Loss of power steering
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 2002 Toyota Prius at the time. The rating is an AI assessment; cost and mileage figures are AI estimates, not NHTSA data.