2002 Toyota Prius Steering Problems
Owners have filed 80 complaints with NHTSA about steering problems on the 2002 Toyota Prius, 48% of all complaints for this model year. Half of the reports with a mileage happened before 90,200 miles. The words owners use most often: “steering rack” (15% of reports).
- 80steering complaints
- 90,200median miles at failure
- 1mention a crash
- 1mention an injury
- 1related recalls
- $4,450typical repair cost reported by owners
- 34%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Steering rack: mentioned in 12 of 80 complaints (15%)
- Torque sensor: mentioned in 6 of 80 complaints (8%)
- Shake violently: mentioned in 6 of 80 complaints (8%)
- Wheel shakes: mentioned in 5 of 80 complaints (6%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical steering repair on the 2002 Toyota Prius at $4,450, and half of them between $3,250 and $5,550.
Based on 10 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2004–2013), converted to 2026 dollars with the U.S. consumer price index. These are owners' own figures, not a quote: they include dealer quotes, and owners who file complaints often faced larger repairs, so they can run higher than typical shop prices. Prices vary by shop, region and warranty coverage. How we calculate this.
At what mileage do steering problems happen?
Based on 71 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 80 complaints, 1 mention a crash, 1 an injury.
Toyota Prius steering complaints by model year
| Model year | Steering complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 Prius | 1 | 5% | — |
| 2017 Prius | 7 | 8% | 22,007 |
| 2016 Prius | 2 | 1% | — |
| 2015 Prius | 3 | 2% | 852 |
| 2014 Prius | 8 | 4% | 14,000 |
| 2013 Prius | 8 | 2% | 24,250 |
| 2012 Prius | 13 | 3% | 40,000 |
| 2011 Prius | 7 | 1% | 117,000 |
| 2010 Prius | 30 | 1% | 26,117 |
| 2009 Prius | 13 | 3% | 68,440 |
| 2008 Prius | 18 | 1% | 53,475 |
| 2007 Prius | 33 | 2% | 51,490 |
| 2006 Prius | 22 | 2% | 81,689 |
| 2005 Prius | 39 | 4% | 87,500 |
| 2004 Prius | 10 | 2% | 127,633 |
| 2003 Prius | 39 | 39% | 84,500 |
| 2002 Prius | 80 | 48% | 90,200 |
| 2001 Prius | 45 | 27% | 67,520 |
| 2000 Prius | 1 | 25% | 57,800 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (1)
Steering:electric power assist system
Problem: 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.
Risk: Loss of power steering, particularly when an operator is actively intending to steer the vehicle, may increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
I was driving on the 91 freeway west exit ramp to merge into the 57 freeway in Orange County ca. when suddenly I lost all power steering on the car . We managed to get out the freeway on the first exit
Driving up and down a slight incline, power steering suddenly goes out. Only happened twice so far but i don't know what would prevent it from happening again. Probably going about 15-20mph uphill and maybe 20-25mph downhill. Happened on a city street.
I was driving on the highway and felt a jerking at my steering wheel a few months back, i thought ok maybe the steering wheel loose or something, i was going around 65 mph. Fast forward to two weeks ago and the steering wheel completely locks up on me driving to a dr appointment i had to go to. I…
Frequently asked questions
Do all 2002 Toyota Priuss have steering problems?
No. NHTSA has 80 owner complaints about steering for the 2002 Toyota Prius (48% of the 167 complaints for this model year). Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the 2002 Toyota Prius steering?
Yes: 1 safety recall list steering. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
At what mileage do steering problems start?
The median reported mileage is 90,200 miles: half of the reports with a mileage came before that.
How much does it cost to fix steering problems on the 2002 Toyota Prius?
Owners report a typical cost of $4,450 (half paid between $3,250 and $5,550), from 10 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about steering problems on the 2002 Toyota Prius?
The most frequent phrase is “steering rack”, in 12 of 80 complaints, followed by “torque sensor” (6).
See all 2002 Toyota Prius problems or steering problems across all Prius years.