2002 Toyota Prius Air bags Problems
- Complaints
- 3about this part
- Share
- 2%of 167 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 11,000miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 3 complaints about the air bags of the 2002 Toyota Prius, 2% of the 167 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 11,000 miles. 2 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers.
Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“My husband needed to take his car to the repair shop and I was following him. We arrived at our destination and he parked his car in a parking space. I had our dog in my car and decided to park the car in a shaded parking space. As I was entering the parking space, my car feltlike it was accerlerating even though my foot was on the brake. The airbags then exploded and the car came to a complete stop. The airbags burned my arm and the noise from the bags frightened my dog and he jumped from the car. I was entering the parking space at about one or two miles per hour. I did not hit anything. …”
NHTSA complaint #10086711, filed 2004-08, 29,719 miles“While driving the vehicle stalled. It was difficult to get the vehicle restarted. On several occasions, the vehicle stalled out. Vehicle stalled out four times, and the last time it caused an accident and the air bags did not deploy.”
NHTSA complaint #10019719, filed 2003-06, 11,000 miles“The vehicle was hit at 25 MPH in the front center yet the air bag did not deploy causing minor injuries to the consumer. The dealer has been notified.”
NHTSA complaint #8023657, filed 2002-12, 6,000 milesRelated service bulletins
- 10244113Aug 17, 2023TSB: Replacement certification labels (the vinyl label installed on the driver door or door post) and VIN plates (the metal plate riveted to dashboard) (see Figure 1) for most…
- 10190460Mar 17, 2021Toyota Safety Recall and Service Campaign - Technician Certification Requirements
- 10132410Jul 20, 2017TSB: REVISION NOTICE July 20, 2017 Rev1: Applicability has been updated to exclude 2007 ? 2017 model year Avanza vehicles. Some hazardous material treatment and handling…
- 10131961Jan 14, 2014Toyota vehicles are equipped with Supplemental Restraint Systems (SRS), including various airbags and in some models, seat belt pre-tensioners, to help reduce the risk of injury…
- 10132055Nov 4, 2013Beginning in 1998, Toyota introduced side airbags as optional equipment. Toyota does NOT recommend replacement of original seat covers with non-Toyota leather or other seat cover…
- 10133915Jan 3, 2013Toyota vehicles are equipped with SRS, including various airbags and in some models, seat belt pre-tensioners, to help reduce the risk of injury in a collision. If a customer…
- 10042555Sep 6, 2011Toyota: information provided for replacing the seat covers for vehicles equipped with side airbags.
Air bags: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 1 | 17% |
| 2024 | 3 | 11% |
| 2022 | 3 | 13% |
| 2020 | 1 | 7% |
| 2019 | 4 | 13% |
| 2018 | 3 | 8% |
| 2017 | 3 | 3% |
| 2016 | 7 | 5% |
| 2015 | 6 | 4% |
| 2014 | 14 | 7% |
| 2013 | 18 | 4% |
| 2012 | 28 | 7% |
| 2011 | 46 | 9% |
| 2010 | 84 | 3% |
| 2009 | 17 | 3% |
| 2008 | 41 | 3% |
| 2007 | 50 | 3% |
| 2006 | 30 | 2% |
| 2005 | 44 | 4% |
| 2004 | 18 | 3% |
| 2003 | 1 | 1% |
| 2002 | 3 | 2% |
| 2001 | 1 | 1% |
Other parts of the 2002 Toyota Prius
80 complaintsBrakes
20 complaintsElectrical system
18 complaintsTires
18 complaintsVehicle speed control
12 complaintsEngine cooling
11 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
9 complaintsSuspension
8 complaintsFuel system
5 complaintsOther or unknown
5 complaintsExterior lighting
3 complaintsElectronic stability control
1 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2002 Toyota Prius
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology