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Exterior lightingPart report

2002 Toyota Prius Exterior lighting Problems

Complaints
3about this part
Share
2%of 167 total for the year
Median mileage
83,000miles
Trend
Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.

NHTSA recorded 3 complaints about the exterior lighting of the 2002 Toyota Prius, 2% of the 167 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 83,000 miles.

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.

“The headlight lenses covers repeatedly clouds over to the point I can hardly see the roadway at night. Dealer have cleanse the lenses how has last for about a month. The dealer now says these need to be replace at a cost to me for $750. I believe this is manufacture's defect and it is a serious safety issue for a recall. The dealer should develop a fix and replace these lenses without charging the vehicle owner.”

NHTSA complaint #11301782, filed 2020-01, 104,000 miles

“The contact owns a 2002 Toyota pruis. While driving approximately 55 MPH, the passenger headlight failed without warning. After manipulation of the headlight selector switch the passenger headlight activated. The failure occurred intermittently. The failure mileage was 62,000. The current mileage was 63,000. The vehicle identification number was unavailable.”

NHTSA complaint #10291481, filed 2009-11, 62,000 miles

“Vehicle came equipped with day time running lights, however consumer considers them to be all time running lights, consumer states it is very easy to start the vehicle up at night with the day time driving lights on and drive away without any tail lights, consumer has backed out of the garage and driven without any tail lights, the display and panel are always lit, and consumer does not notice there are no dash lights, the dealer informed conumer that some toyotas automatically turn on the regular lights after dark so there are tail lights, however consumers vehicle has no tail lights.”

NHTSA complaint #565550, filed 2002-05

Exterior lighting: other model years

YearComplaintsShare of year
2026233%
202516%
2024415%
2018514%
201722%
201632%
201574%
201463%
2013123%
2012368%
2011489%
20101495%
200911122%
200857939%
20071,06053%
200694165%
200534633%
200418430%
200311%
200232%
200121%

Other parts of the 2002 Toyota Prius

Steering
80 complaints
Brakes
20 complaints
Electrical system
18 complaints
Tires
18 complaints
Vehicle speed control
12 complaints
Engine cooling
11 complaints
Transmission and drivetrain
9 complaints
Suspension
8 complaints
Fuel system
5 complaints
Other or unknown
5 complaints
Air bags
3 complaints
Electronic 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