2003 Toyota Prius Toyota Prius 2003

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2003 Toyota Prius repairs by problem area

Engine (52%)

Transmission and Drivetrain (2%)

Brakes and Traction Control (12%)

Suspension and Steering (10%)

Electrical and Air Conditioning (25%)

Paint, Rust, Leaks, Rattles, and Trim (0%)

Other (0%)

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Chart based on 52 repairs.
See TSBs and recalls for the 2003 Toyota Prius.

2003 Toyota Prius engine repair cost distribution

$2500+ (7%)

$1000 - $2499 (11%)

$500 - $999 (22%)

$100 - $499 (22%)

< $100 (37%)

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Chart based on 27 repair trips. The repair cost chart excludes repairs made under warranty, do-it-yourself repairs, and repair trips that include maintenance.

2003 Toyota Prius

Engine not specified

101000 mi

US $3100
Clean throttle from previous overfilling of oil. This was 4th time and they did it for free this time as they acknowledged they had not gotten it all the last two times. Hybrid battery was leaking and past warranty. The warning lights,etc were the same as when the "throttle needing cleaning." Could they not have told me this before it was out of warranty? 

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2003 Toyota Prius 4dr Sedan

70-horsepower 1.5L I4 Hybrid CVT FWD

115340 mi

US $385
replaced waterpump 
160000 mi

US $500
Check engine light. Code 3130. Need new inverter coolant pump. Mechanic says radiator leaks. Cost estimate $1000. 
102000 mi

US $80
Belt on water pump cracked. 
143000 mi

US $953
Invertor cooling pump Throttle body 
152000 mi

US $1310
replace coolant flow control valve replace main 100amp fuse 
47000 mi

US $2200
HCAC bypass valve stuck. Toyota has to replace entire exhaust and catalytic converter because of one small part that rusts shut. 
133000 mi

US $75
Replaced bad module in battery pack. 
134000 mi

US $130
Cat needed holes closed 
101500 mi

US $50
Water pump bearing had been noisy for a couple months. I replaced it. 
117000 mi

US $35
Setting misfire codes, running rough. Suspect bad gas or injector. Won't pass DEQ test. Ran BorgWarner injector cleaner routine (professional system). Checked spark plugs OEM and still good!! New air filter. Cleaned throttle body. Runs great again & passed emission test for tag renewal. YAY! 
59982 mi ECU replaced under warranty. 
90482 mi

C $900
codes: p0440 p0441 p0446 p0300 p0202 p0504. Diagnosed faulty coolant pump. Replaced. Bled. Unknown at to why they did not get this covered under hybrid systems warranty. 
142600 mi

C $70
Engine was missing and running rough. Worse on wet days and when engine was warm. Problem was intermittent. Codes were random misfire on most cylinders. Codes P0300 P0302 P0303 P0304. It turned out to be one bad ignitor. One bolt to replace. 
96000 mi

US $250
Problem was with hybrid battery and systems. Original warranty covered repair. Also replaced water pump (owner expense). 
158000 mi Misfiring cylinder 
174400 mi

US $1200
Catalytic converter 
95000 mi

US $360
Main hybrid battery gone bad. Too expensive to replace relative to value of car. Disposed of car 
138000 mi

US $500
Replaced inverter cooling pump 
160300 mi

US $2500
This car was not running right when i purchased and it's not running at all now. I removed the HV Battery and ordered a rebuilt one. 
133500 mi

US $887
electric pump in cooling system of hybrid/electrical drive system failed. Had to chase the problem, then take front bumper off and left headlight out, to replace this 'coolant pump'. 
161000 mi

US $760
Transmission mount broke, dropping transmission case onto left front axle... REquired new mount and new axle 
164100 mi

US $400
Cells in main battery failed. Replaced 2 cells. problem solved. 
171658 mi

US $350
One bad cell inside main battery. Mechanic replaced it within few hours, for $350 charge. Car again running fine. 
178000 mi

US $1800
had replaced cells in main battery over past two years. but this time, when another cell failed, I decided to replace the main battery. Independent garage owner, with whom I have dealt for several years and serviced the 2003 Prius, ordered a rebuilt main battery, with price of total job.. $1800 installed... very satisfied with his work. 

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2003 Toyota Prius Engine Problems

See our lemon odds and nada odds page to see vehicles with no repairs or vehicles with more than three repairs. To see how frequently 2003 Toyota Prius problems occur, check out our car reliability stats.