Problems · NHTSA complaints

2004 Toyota Prius problems

Owners filed 610 complaints about the 2004 Toyota Prius with NHTSA between Dec 2003 and Sep 2025. The most-cited component is exterior lighting (184).

Complaints
610
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
38
Reported by owners
Fires
2
Reported by owners
Injuries
29
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Exterior lighting184
  2. Electrical system177
  3. Engine and engine cooling89
  4. Vehicle speed control52
  5. Service brakes, hydraulic39
  6. Power train34
  7. Service brakes21
  8. Air bags18
  9. Equipment13
  10. Service brakes, electric13
  11. Steering10
  12. Engine9
  13. Visibility9
  14. Electronic stability control (esc)6

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 4, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
20032
200413
2005172
200620
200718
200826
200967
2010106
201128
201237
201321
201414
201522
20169
201712
201818
201910
20206
20212
20225
20230
20240
20252

Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Exterior lighting

184 reports1 related recall
“ALL THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER LIGHTS CONTINUE TO GO OUT ON MY 04 PRIUS. I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH FUEL I HAVE THIS COULD BE A SAFETY ISSUE. I DON'T KNOW HOW FAST I'M GOING THIS COULD DEFINITELY BE A SAFETY ISSUE. AND ZERO WARNING LIGHTS COME ON THIS IS DEFINITELY A SAFETY ISSUE. BY LOOKING ON THE INTERNET I CAN TELL THOUSANDS OF PRIUSES HAVE THIS EXACT SAME ISSUE WITH THE INSTRUMENT PANEL CLUSTER GOING OUT. THIS SHOULD DEFINITELY BE A RECALL.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 8, 2020Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Unknown or otherODI 11373705

Electrical system

177 reports4 crashes2 fires
“The odometer on my 2004 Prius stops at 299,999. This is a known problem in the 04-05 models that was corrected in 2006. Leaves me unable to track miles for maintenance and other uses. This also has the problem with the entire digital dash going dark which means no speedometer or gas gauge. Making the vehicle almost unable to be driven safely at this point. I have reached out to Toyota and they verify that it was an issue with this year range but because I have owned it too long they don't do anything about it”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 21, 2025Electrical systemODI 11674939

Engine and engine cooling

89 reports1 crash1 related recall
“I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AT ABOUT 63 MILES PER HOUR, I HAD BEEN DRIVING FOR ABOUT 20 MINUTES WHEN MY ENGINE CUT OUT, ALL THE LIGHTS ON MY DASH TURNED ON INCLUDING THE CHECK ENGINE AND RED TRIANGLE WARNING LIGHT. I DRIFTED TO THE SHOULDER AND POWERED THE CAR OFF. I TRIED TO START IT 2 MORE TIMES, BOTH TIMES THE ENGINE DID NOT START AND THE RED TRIANGLE AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS CAME ON AGAIN. I WAITED LONGER AND TRIED TO POWER UP THE ENGINE AGAIN, IT STARTED WITH THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP 3 DAYS LATER (THEY COULD NOT SEE ME SOONER), RAN THE CODES AND IT ONLY CAME UP WITH THE CODE POAOF, WHICH MEANS THAT THE ENGINE DID NOT START. THEY HAD NO EXPLANATION OF WHAT HAPPENED AND DID NOT SEEM TO SHARE MY CONCERN THAT THIS COULD HAPPEN AGAIN. THE DID RECALL WORK FOR ME AND SENT ME HOME. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 9, 2011Engine and engine coolingODI 10389615

Vehicle speed control

52 reports10 crashes1 related recall
“I need your help to get Toyota to fix 2 items: -ABS Accumulator: I understand Toyota at one time had a recall on the ‘ABS Accumulator’, that may have expired. At that time, I did not have any issue, nor was I aware of the recall. Now the ‘ABS Accumulator’ has gone out and is really hurting the braking. I had to get new brakes & they get locked because of the ABS malfunction. It is an expensive item – more than the cost of the car. I intend to keep the car for a long time, if Toyota can help me get the ABS Accumulator fixed? -MFD: The Multi-Functional Display (MFD) in the middle of the dashboard, has gone blank. It used to just partially blank out before, but now the whole screen is blank all the time, making it very hazardous to drive. Obviously, there is nothing I have done & it is a manufacturing defect, because it should last the life of the car. Please have Toyota fix the 2 problems (ABS & MFD). All requests to Toyota have gone unfulfilled. Your help is needed & will be greatly appreciated.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 2, 2022Vehicle speed control, Unknown or otherODI 11459332

Service brakes, hydraulic

39 reports8 crashes
“MY 24 YR. OLD CHILD WAS DRIVING OUT OF A DRIVEWAY AT 5 MPH WHEN THE CAR STOPPED AND ALL WARNING LIGHTS INCLUDING BRAKES AND ENGINE AND TRIANGLE WENT ON. IT WOULD NOT RESTART. IT WOULD NOT TAKE A BATTERY JUMP. HAD IT TOWED TO TOYOTA SERVICE AND THEY DISCOVERED CODE P0335 PRESENT AND VERIFIED A FAULTY CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR, REPLACED IT, AND CLEANED THROTTLE BODY. THE CAR WORKS NOW. COST FOR DIAGNOSIS AND SERVICE WAS $367.07. THIS FAULTY PART WAS A PART OF A RECALL DATED IN 2006 FOR 2001 AND 2002 PRIUSES. WE WISH TO ADVISE THE AGENCY THAT WE BELIEVE THE YEAR 2004 AND PERHAPS OTHER YEARS OUGHT TO BE CONSIDERED FOR THE SAME RECALL AS THE 2001 AND 2002 PRIUS MODELS WITH RESPECT TO A FAULTY CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR. WE BELIEVE OUR CAR HAD A FAULTY SENSOR AND THAT WE SHOULD BE A PART OF THE EARLIER RECALL, AND ALSO OBTAIN A FULL REIMBURSEMENT FOR CHARGES. THIS SUDDEN STOPPING BY THE VEHICLE POSES A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION FOR ANY DRIVER. OUR CHILD WOULD HAVE BEEN ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY JUST A FEW MINUTES LATER AND COULD HAVE BEEN THE VICTIM OF A HORRENDOUS ACCIDENT. WE URGE YOUR AGENCY TO BE PROACTIVE IN INVESTIGATING THIS MATTER. THANK YOU. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 24, 2012Service brakes, hydraulic, EngineODI 10482058

Power train

34 reports3 crashes
“SHIFTER STICKING IN DRIVE POSITION AS OPPOSED TO RETURNING TO ITS HOME POSITION. WHEN THIS SHIFTER STICKS, THE PARK BUTTON BECOMES DISABLED AND VEHICLE REMAINS IN DRIVE EVEN THOUGH PARK BUTTON IS ENGAGED”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 1, 2018Power trainODI 11144776
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 4, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.