RoadVitals

2001 Toyota Prius Tires & wheels Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the tire or wheel system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Tires & wheels reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
27
Latest Mar 13, 2010
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
16%
of 165 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
3
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
2

What this page shows

Reports naming tires, wheels, hubs, or the tire-pressure monitoring system. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2001 Toyota Prius submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 27 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming tire or wheel

The 25 most recent of 27, in the owner's own words

Tires & wheels
Filed Mar 13, 2010
Crash reported

MY 2001 TOYOTA PRIUS CONSISTENTLY WORE OUT THE FRONT TIRES ON THE INSIDE PART OF THE TREAD, NOT EASILY VISIBLE FROM THE STREET. THE TIRES WORE DOWN TO THE CORDS IN LESS THAN 10,000 MILES. MY WIFE HAD AN ACCIDENT WHERE SHE COULD NOT STOP THE CAR IN TIME TO AVOID IT. MY YOUNG DAUGHTER WAS IN THE CAR AT THE TIME. THESE CARS ARE STILL ON THE ROAD. I COMPLAINED TO TOYOTA BUT THE COMPLAINT FELL ON DEAF EARS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10319401
Incident
Jan 11, 2006
SuspensionTires & wheels
Filed Feb 4, 2006
Crash reported

TIRES ON VEHICLE ARE COMING APART ON THE INSIDE TREAD LINE AFTER APPROXIMATELY 5,000 MILES OF USE. WE HAD ONE CRASH WHERE CAR COULD NOT BE STOPPED IN TIME. DID NOT PUT THE CRASH TOGETHER WITH THE TIRE PROBLEM UNTIL RECENTLY. *NM

NHTSA ID
10149453
Incident
Jul 11, 2002
SuspensionTires & wheels
Filed May 16, 2005

I HAVE SERIOUS AND REPEATING PROBLEMS WITH SUSPENSION/ TIRES ON MY TOYOTA PRIUS 2001 CAR (MANUFACTURED 06/01). THREE TIMES THE FRONT TIRES WHERE ABNORMALLY AND SIGNIFICANTLY WORN (DURING APPROX 7,500 MILES) WITH, WITH SIDE AND TOP SCARS ETC. TOYOTA ALREADY CHANGED THE TIRES FOUR TIMES BUT THEY ARE UNABLE TO SOLVE PROBLEM. HOWEVER, THE SAME PROBLEM IS LIKELY REPEAT ITSELF AGAIN AND AGAIN, AND CHANGING THE TIRES IS NOT A SOLUTION. I DO NOT LIKE DRIVING ON SUCH DANGEROUSLY WORN TIRES; MOREOVER, IT IS AGAINST THE LAW TO DRIVE ON TIRES IN SUCH CONDITION). CAR WAS REGULARLY IN SCHEDULED TOYOTA SERVICE (INCLUDING TIRES ROTATION, PRESSURE CHECK ETC.).

NHTSA ID
10121100
Incident
Apr 29, 2005
Mileage
60,000 mi
Tires & wheels
Filed Sep 14, 2004

CONSUMER INSPECTED THE TIRES AND THE BELTS WORE INTO THE STEEL. TIRES WERE REPLACED ON THE FRONT FOUR TIMES. VEHICLE WAS ALIGNED SEVERAL TIMES BUT THE TIRES CONTINUED TO WEAR. THEY WERE REPLACED WITH THE SAME MAKE/MODEL TIRE.*AK

NHTSA ID
10087883
Incident
Aug 11, 2004
Mileage
68,362 mi
Tires & wheels
Filed Jan 15, 2004

THIS IS THE 3RD SET OF TIRES I HAVE HAD TO PUT ON THE CAR DUE TO UNEVEN WEAR. I ONLY HAVE 48000 MILES ON THE CAR. THE TIRES WEAR AS THOUGH THEY ARE UNDER INFLATED, BUT I AM CAREFUL TO BE SURE THAT I AM FOLLOWING THE MANUFACTURERS RECOMMENDATION FOR TIRE INFLATION. SINCE THIS IS THE ONLY TIRE USEABLE ON THIS CAR, I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED IN TOYOTA'S RESPONSE TO THE PROBLEM. SINCE TOYOTA PROBABLY GAVE THE SPECS TO BRIDGESTONE TO MANUFACTURE THE TIRE, IT IS TOYOTA'S RESPONSIBILITY TO ASSURE THAT THE TIRE WAS DESIGNED TO BE TO HAVE A NORMAL TREAD LIFE AS WELL AS HELP THE CAR FUNCTION EFFICIENTLY. IT IS REALLY TOUGH TO HAVE TO PAY $80.00 A TIRE AND HAVE IT ONLY LAST 25000 MILES. YES I HAVE HAD THE DEALER SERVICING THE CAR AND ROTATING THE TIRES AND THE ALIGNMENT IS FINE. THE PROBLEM IS THE TIRE THAT TOYOTA REQUIRES TO BE USED ON THE PRIUS.

NHTSA ID
10070475
Incident
Jun 15, 2003
Mileage
26,000 mi
Tires & wheels
Filed Dec 10, 2003

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT 35MPH, THE FRONT PASSENGER TIRE BLEW OUT. (SIZE # P175/65R14) (DOT # UNKNOWN.) THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *PH TIRES WERE ROTATED WHEN THE OIL WAS CHANGED. DEALER STATED TIRES FAILED DUE TO LACK OF ROTATION. ON ONE OCCASION, CONSUMER THOROUGHLY CHECKED THE TIRE BEFORE DRIVING. TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY FOUND A WORM NAIL AFTER LOOKING FOR OVER AN HOUR. CONSUMER HAS THE TIRES. AFTER THE FIRST FAILURE, THE CONSUMER CONTACTED WENT TO FIRESTONE FOR REPLACEMENT TIRES. FIRESTONE STATED THEY COULD ANOTHER TIRE AND GET THE SAME EFFECT SINCE THEY DIDN'T HAVE IT IN STOCK. TOYOTA STATED DIFFERENTLY AND NOR DID THEY HAVE THE TIRE IN STOCK. AFTER DAYS OF THREATS, TOYOTA HAD THE SAME EXACT TIRE AVAILABLE FOR THE CONSUMER. *PH

NHTSA ID
10047749
Incident
Oct 22, 2003
Mileage
33,987 mi
SteeringTires & wheels
Filed Oct 28, 2003

SUSPECTED QUALITY ISSUE RESULTING IN PREMATURE WEAR OF FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE, LEADING TO POTENTIALLY UNSAFE DRIVING/HANDLING SITUATIONS.*AK

NHTSA ID
10043788
Incident
Jul 9, 2002
Tires & wheels
Filed Sep 1, 2003

BRIDGESTONE POTENZA TIRES, P175/65R14- ON JULY 28, 2003 HAD TO REPLACE TIRES ON THE 2001 TOYOTA PRIUS. ONE TIRE WAS FLAT. I NOTICED THAT THE TIRE HAD A BIG CRACK AND THE CORDS WERE VISIBLE. I LOOKED AT IT CLOSER AND NOTICED THAT THERE WERE CRACKS HALFWAY AROUND THE TIRE. I LOOKED AT THE OTHER 3 TIRES AND NOTICED THAT THEY HAD CRACKS ALSO. THE TIRES LOOKED LIKED THEY WERE VERY OLD. *AK

NHTSA ID
10036983
Incident
Jul 28, 2003
Mileage
32,000 mi
Tires & wheels
Filed Aug 25, 2003

WITHIN 9 MONTHS OF VEHICLE PURCHASE I HAD THREE FLAT TIRES AND REPLACED THE BRIDGESTONE POTENZA TIRES WITH A DIFFERENT BRAND RATHER THAN RIST ADDITIONAL FAILURES. *AK

NHTSA ID
10033437
Incident
Dec 31, 2001
Fuel systemOther / unspecifiedTires & wheels
Filed Aug 5, 2003
Crash reported1 injury reported

EXTREME TIRE BLOW OUT(ONLY SHREDS LEFT)HESITATION RESULTING IN LOSS OF POWER IN TRAFFIC/GAS PEDAL SENSOR?*AK

NHTSA ID
10030856
Incident
Aug 3, 2003
Mileage
35,974 mi
Tires & wheels
Filed Aug 2, 2003

6/2001 PRIUS; MILEAGE ~20,000; BRIDGESTONE POTENZA 175/65/R14RX ORIGINAL TIRES; WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH ON SURFACE STREETS, REAR RIGHT PASSENGER TREAD SEPARATED FROM THE TIRE. DEALER RECOMMENDED GOING TO TIRE VENDOR FOR WARRANTEE REPLACEMENT. PLAN TO PURSUE ISSUE WITH TOYOTA.*AK

NHTSA ID
10030620
Incident
Aug 1, 2003
Mileage
25,600 mi
Tires & wheels
Filed Jul 12, 2003

PREMATURE TIRE WEAR ON TOYOTA PRIUS. *AK

NHTSA ID
10025944
Incident
Jun 20, 2003
Mileage
18,000 mi
Tires & wheels
Filed Jul 11, 2003

THERE IS A TIRE SEPARATION PROBLEM WITH THE LATEST SET OF BRIDGESTONE TIRES THAT WE RECEIVED FROM THE TOYOTA DEALER FOR OUR PRIUS. THE ORIGINAL TIRES WERE RECALLED DUE TO PREMATURE WEAR. THE REAR LEFT TIRE SEPARATED AND MY DAUGHTER LUCKILY WAS ABLE TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE ON THE FREEWAY AT UNDER 55 MPH. SHE NOTICED THE PROBLEM IMMEDIATELY WHEN SHE GOT ON THE FREEWAY OR SHE MIGHT HAVE LOST CONTROL. FOR AN EXAMPLE OF THE SEPARATION, SEE: HTTP://WWW.FIRESTONE-TIRE-RECALL.COM/PAGES/ADVOCATE/11-13.HTML WE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE LEFT REAR AND SAME NEW CONDITION AS LINK ABOVE.*AK

NHTSA ID
10025859
Incident
Jul 11, 2003
Tires & wheels
Filed Jul 7, 2003

WHILE TRAVELING ABOUT 70MPH ON THE HIGHWAY WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT TREAD SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE TIRE BRIDGESTONE POTENXA RE92 175/65R14. DEALER IS AWARE OF PROBLEM. THIS IS THE CORRECT TIRE 175/65R14 XL845. *AK

NHTSA ID
10026662
Incident
Jul 7, 2003
Tires & wheels
Filed Jun 23, 2003

THE TIRES ON OUR 2001 PRIUS CONTINUALLY FAIL AFTER ABOUT 15,000 MILES. WE HAVE HAD STATE INSPECTIONS FAIL BECAUSE OF TREAD WEAR, REFUSED SERVICE AT BRIDGESTONE DEALERS BECAUSE OF TREAD WEAR. WITH LESS THAN 50K MILES WE ARE WORKING ON THE THIRD SET OF TIRES. WE CHECK PRESSURE AND ROTATE OUR TIRES REGULARLY. SINCE TOYOTA CLAIMS THERE ARE NO REPLACEMENTS AND NO TREAD WEAR WARRANTIES, WE THINK THE CAR SHOULD NO LONGER BE ALLOWED ON THE US MARKET. *NLM

NHTSA ID
10023582
Incident
May 29, 2003
Mileage
47,000 mi
Tires & wheels
Filed Mar 25, 2003

THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED A FLAT TIRE. THE CONSUMER NOTICED THE TIRE WAS WORN BADLY ON THE INSIDE. THE MANUFACTURER OFFERED A SUPPLEMENTAL TIRE WARRANTY, IN WHICH THE CONSUMER DID QUALIFY, DUE TO THE FACT THE TIRES WEREN'T ROTATED. SCC

NHTSA ID
10009888
Incident
Nov 4, 2002
Mileage
20,000 mi
Tires & wheels
Filed Oct 30, 2002

THE FRONT TIRES WORE OUT UNEVENLY. THE OUTSIDE OF THE TIRES WORE TO THE POINT THAT AIR WAS LEAKING OUT. CONSUMER TIRES WERE NOT APART OF A RECALL TOYOTA ISSUED ACCORDING TO THE VIN OF THE VEHICLE. THE TIRES ARE BRIDGESTONE POTENZA RE 92, TUBELESS STEEL BELTED RADIAL M+S. P175/65 R14 84S. DOT # EL 9P T9902, JDH 2301 E92Z. CONSUMER REQUEST RECALL INFORMATION ON THESE TIRES STATED ABOVE. *JG

NHTSA ID
567990
Incident
Sep 21, 2002
Tires & wheels
Filed Jun 27, 2002

ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT HAD WORN DOWN TO THE TREAD. WHILE DRIVING AT 50 MPH IN A 2001 TOYOTA, PRIUS LEFT REAR TIRE HAD A BLOWOUT. REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT TIRE SIZE P175/65R14, DOT# EL9PJDH0102. BRIDGESTONE AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFED. *AK CONSUMER BELIEVES VEHICLE IS TOO HEAVY FOR TIRES. *TT

NHTSA ID
8012772
Incident
Jun 26, 2002
ElectricalSuspensionTires & wheels
Filed Jun 14, 2002

CONTINUED EXCESSIVE TIRE WEAR POSSIBLE CAUSE VEHICLE WEIGHT AND ALIGNMENT PROBLEM. I AM ON MY THIRD SET OF TIRES IN 30,000 MILES AND THE TIRES THAT ARE NOW ON THE CAR ARE WEARING POORLY AFTER LESS THEN 5,000 MILES. TOYOTA IS REFUSING TO HELP ME WITH THIS PROBLEM ANY FURTHER THEN THEY HAVE. THE CAR WONDERS IN SLIGHTLY WINDY CONDITIONS AND FREEWAY DRIVING WHICH FELLS UNSAFE. TOYOTA HAS HAD TO REPLACE THE COMPUTER AND DO A VALVE JOB DUE TO THE LOSS OF POWER I EXPERIENCED, WHICH COULD HAVE BEEN A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION.*AK

NHTSA ID
763062
Incident
Sep 14, 2001
Tires & wheels
Filed May 23, 2002
1 injury reported

WE HAD A TIRE SEPARATE AT 75MPH IN THE REAR. A COUPLE WEEKS LATER THE FRONT RIGHT TIRE SEPARATED AT 70MPH. THE CAR HAD APPROX. 20000 ON IT. WHEN TOYTOTA RAISED THE CAR THEY FOUND A THIRD FRONT LEFT TIRE HAD BEGUN TO SEPERATE. I SAID I DID NOT TRUST THESE BRIDGESTONE/FIRESTONE TIRES SO THEY PUT ON MICHELIN TIRES. THE DEALER THEN CALLED AND SAID NO OTHER TIRE COULD SUPPORT THE WEIGHT OF THE PRIUS. THEY HAD ALREADY PUT THE MICHELINS ON. I CALLED ALL THE TIRE MANUFACTURES TO FIND OUT THAT ONLY THE FACTORY BRIDGESTONE/FIRESTONE TIRES COULD SUPPORT THE WEIGHT OF THE HYBRID PRIUS. I PHONED TOYOTA AND FIRESTONE. BOTH SAID THEY WOULD CALL ME BACK WITHIN THREE WEEKS. NO ONE HAD CALLED. TOYOTA SAID IT IS A TIRE MANUFACTURER PROBLEM, BUT THEY USE THEIR TIRES. I WENT TO THE DEALER TO BE TOLD SINCE I TOOK THE CAR IN THEY HAD THREE OTHER PRIUS'S COME IN WITH BLOWN TIRES ALL WITH ABOUT 20000 MILES ON THEM. I WENT TO SEARS IN SAN BERNARDINO AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY TOO HAD TWO PRIUS'S WITH BLOWN TIRES. I HAVE LOST OVER $2000.00 AND SPENT THREE WEEKS WITH A PAINFUL KNEE AND TOYOTA DOESN'T CARE. I GOT THREE FRIENDS TO BUY TOYOTA PRIUSS AND I NOW WORRY ABOUT THEIR TIRES. SINCE THIS STARTED TOYOTA EMAIL ME AND SAID DO NOT DRIVE THE CAR OVER 85 MPH FOR THE TIRES CAN NOT SUPPORT THE CAR AND SPEED. WHY WEREN'T WE TOLD THIS AT TIME OF PURCHASE? NO OTHER TIRE IS MADE FOR THE CAR AND THE BRIDGESTONE/FIRESTONE TIRES ARE NOT UP TO SUPPORTING THE CAR SAFELY EVER. I WILL TAKE MY CHANCES WITH THE MICHELINS. OTHER PRIUS OWNERS HAVE TOLD ME THEY WILL TAKE THEIR CHANCES WITH OTHER BRANDS EVEN IF THEY ARE NOT RATED FOR CAR. *AK *JB

NHTSA ID
762189
Incident
Aug 2, 2001
Tires & wheels
Filed Mar 22, 2002

TIRES ON 2001, TOYOTA, PRIUS, ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT, TIRE SIZE P175/65R14, DOT# EL 9P CHA 2700 AND EL 9P CHA 2800 ARE WEARING UNUSUALLY. MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. *AK *YH

NHTSA ID
8006206
Incident
Jan 15, 2002
SteeringTires & wheels
Filed Feb 20, 2002

CONSUMER STATED THE STEERING RACK WAS REPLACED.*JB

NHTSA ID
564397
Tires & wheels
Filed Dec 4, 2001

EXPERIENCED FOUR BLOWOUTS ON ORGINAL EQUIPMENT BRIDGESTONE TIRES, SIZE P17565R14. FRONT SIDE AND REAR PASSENGER SIDE TIRES HAD TWO OF THE FOUR BLOWOUTS. THIRD BLOWOUT OCCURED WHILE VEHICLE WAS BEING TEST DRIVEN AT DEALERSHIP. ALL BLOWOUTS HAVE OCCURRED AT LOW SPEEDS, EXCEPT FOR BLOWOUT AT THE DEALERSHIP. *AK *SLC

NHTSA ID
899809
Incident
Dec 1, 2001
Tires & wheels
Filed Nov 11, 2001

AT 30,000 MILE SERVICE I WAS TOLD MY CAR WAS "NOT SAFE TO DRIVE." THE TIRES WERE WORN TO THE CORDS. TOYOTA REPLACED THEM FOR FREE, BUT I WAS TOLD THAT THE PRIUS WAS KNOWN FOR HAVING "PROBLEMS" WITH THEIR TIRES. HAD I NOT BEEN TOLD ABOUT THE CONDITION OF MY TIRES, I MIGHT HAVE HAD AN ACCIDENT. OTHER PRIUS OWNERS SHOULD BE NOTIFIED OF THIS.*AK (TIRESIZE: P175/65R14)

NHTSA ID
754400
Incident
Nov 10, 2001
Tires & wheels
Filed Sep 4, 2001

I WAS ADVISED DURING A ROUTINE OIL CHANGE THAT MY TIRES WERE UNSAFE TO DRIVE ON. I WAS ALSO ADVISED THAT TIYOTA KNOWS THAT THESE UNIQUE TORES FAIL AT ABOUT 10,000 MILES. TOYOTA SAYS THAT THESE TIRES ARE THE ONLY TYPE ACCEPTABLE FOR USE ON THIS VEHICLE AND TO USE ANOTHER MANUFACTURER WILL VOID THE WARRANTY. THERE ARE NO REPLACEMENT TIRES AVAILABLE AND THEY (THE DEALER) ESTIMATES AT LEAST ONE MONTH WAIT. *AK (TIRESIZE: P175/65R14)

NHTSA ID
751635
Incident
Aug 28, 2001

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

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Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .