2004 Toyota Prius Seat belts Problems
- Complaints
- 5about this part
- Share
- 1%of 610 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 42,250miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 5 complaints about the seat belts of the 2004 Toyota Prius, 1% of the 610 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 42,250 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.
“While traveling 25 MPH consumer's vehicle proceeded to strike another vehicle . Upon impact, air bags did not deploy. Also, driver's side seat belt tightened so much that consumer could not breath. After finally releasing the seat belt consumer could breath.”
NHTSA complaint #10106613, filed 2005-01, 8,500 miles“The child was trapped in the seat belt. The latch would not release the child. The belt had to be cut off. The child was taken to the doctor for an exam.”
NHTSA complaint #10096965, filed 2004-10, 4,000 miles“1) the vehicle is a 2004 Toyota Prius, 3 1/2 years old and approx 76k miles on it. It has only been used for carrying passengers. 2) both rear passenger seat belts tore within a week of each other. The right side completely and the left side is approximately 90% torn. The only person to use the rear seats, on a fairly regular basis, is my 14 year old son. Two weeks ago he got into the right side and noticed that the belt was completely broken. Last week he got into the left side and mentioned that it was also torn. As it is right now, the only seat he can now use is the middle lap only belt. …”
NHTSA complaint #10183181, filed 2007-02, 76,000 miles“The contact owns a 2004 Toyota Prius. The contact was driving 20 MPH and crashed into the rear of another vehicle. The contact stated that the seat belt did not properly restrain, causing her chest to be thrown into the steering wheel. In addition, the air bags did not deploy. The police were contacted and a police report was filed. The vehicle was ruled as destroyed by the contact's insurance company. The manufacturer was notified of the incident who assigned her a case manager who would return her call in the near future. The failure mileage was 134,000.”
NHTSA complaint #10460157, filed 2012-05, 134,000 miles“On the Toyota 2004 Prius the left rear and center rear seat belt buckels are interchanged. The left rear buckel is positioned in a vertical position between the left and center seats. The center rear seat belt buckel (marked center) is on a fabric strap that emerges between the left rear seat cushion and the left rear back cushion approximately two inches from the right edge of the leftrear seat cushion (if you are not careful you will sit on it when you use the left rear seat). As a result it is difficult to fasten the seat belts since they cross over and interfere with each other. …”
NHTSA complaint #10051359, filed 2003-12Related service bulletins
- 10051865Jan 3, 2013Toyota: in a collision, to help reduce injuries, with seat belt pre=tensioners and supplemental restraint systems (srs), its possible that the devices may or may not perform as…
Seat belts: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 2 | 7% |
| 2023 | 1 | 5% |
| 2022 | 1 | 4% |
| 2019 | 1 | 3% |
| 2017 | 1 | 1% |
| 2016 | 2 | 1% |
| 2015 | 2 | 1% |
| 2014 | 2 | 1% |
| 2013 | 6 | 1% |
| 2012 | 11 | 3% |
| 2011 | 4 | 1% |
| 2010 | 16 | 1% |
| 2009 | 1 | 0% |
| 2008 | 9 | 1% |
| 2007 | 11 | 1% |
| 2006 | 7 | 0% |
| 2005 | 7 | 1% |
| 2004 | 5 | 1% |
| 2003 | 1 | 1% |
| 2002 | 1 | 1% |
Other parts of the 2004 Toyota Prius
184 complaintsElectrical system
177 complaintsEngine cooling
89 complaintsBrakes
76 complaintsVehicle speed control
52 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
34 complaintsAir bags
18 complaintsOther or unknown
18 complaintsFuel system
13 complaintsSteering
10 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
10 complaintsEngine
9 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2004 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