Is the 2004 Toyota Prius a bad year?
610 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine complaints: 98, 9.8× a quiet Prius year.
Keep it, but watch the engine
Half of the engine complaints for this year were filed at 9k–41k miles, where you are now.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2004 Prius owners report, by mileage
Each system owners named in five or more complaints, with the mileage range where the middle half of those complaints were filed. Read at 16,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical systemSTANDS OUT | 177 (29%) | 9k–108k miles · around this mileage | 12-volt battery replacement $100–$400 · Starter motor replacement $350–$1,200 |
| EngineSTANDS OUT | 94 (15%) | 9k–34k miles · around this mileage | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| Exterior lightingSTANDS OUT | 184 (30%) | 82k–143k miles · ahead | — |
| BrakesSTANDS OUT | 73 (12%) | 52k–110k miles · ahead | Brake pad replacement (one axle) $115–$390 · Brake pads and rotors replacement (one axle) $200–$1,084 |
| Speed controlSTANDS OUT | 52 (9%) | 17k–91k miles · ahead | — |
| Transmission and drivetrain | 34 (6%) | 39k–104k miles · ahead | CV axle / CV joint replacement (one side) $300–$1,500 · Automatic transmission replacement $2,500–$7,000 |
| Air bags | 18 (3%) | 50k–131k miles · ahead | — |
| Fuel system | 13 (2%) | 39k–106k miles · ahead | Fuel pump replacement $220–$1,500 · Fuel injector replacement (one injector) $300–$1,200 |
| Steering | 10 (2%) | 63k–116k miles · ahead | Steering rack and pinion replacement $700–$2,100 |
| Stability control | 8 (1%) | 50k–90k miles · ahead | — |
| Equipment | 13 (2%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Visibility and wipers | 10 (2%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Engine and cooling | 6 (1%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Seat belts | 5 (1%) | too few with a mileage | — |
Bills are typical US ranges from the sources named in the tool (J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, CarParts.com and others), printed only for systems that stand out or sit at or ahead of 16,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 610 complaints: 38 mention a crash · 2 mention a fire · 21 report an injury · 6 say the car was towed.
No complaints in the last 12 months; the newest was filed in Sep 2025.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
In owners' own words
I own a 2004 Prius and also experienced a complete system shutdown while driving on the highway about 3 months ago.
(1) engine stalled when accelerating from stoplight. Weather was cool (LOW-50S) and rainy.
I pulled out of a parking space into traffic and the car immediately stalled. I couldn't turn it off, and I couldn't get it into drive.
Unedited excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, chosen by mileage (nearest 16,000 miles), not by content. Unverified.
Recalls for the 2004 Toyota Prius: 6
The affected vehicles have a steering intermediate extension shaft assembly built with metal splines that complete the connection from the steering wheel to the steering gear. These splines may have been manufactured with an insufficient hardness. Over time, the splines may wear and eventually fail resulting in a loss of steering ability, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
During manufacturing, a scratch may have occurred inside of the electrically driven water pump at the coil wire. The coil wire may corrode at the scratched portion. The corroded coil wire may break and the water pump could stop.
The accelerator pedal can get stuck in the wide open position due to its being trapped by an unsecured or incompatible driver's floor mat. A stuck open accelerator pedal may result in very high vehicle speeds and make it difficult to stop the vehicle, which could cause a crash, serious injury or death.
The intermediate shaft and sliding yoke in the electric power steering system can crack when large forces are applied and the connection may separate or the sleeve may fracture. This could result in a loss of steering control of the vehicle.
On certain vehicles, due to improper assembly of the air bag inflator, which is used in the side air bag, the curtain shield air bag, and the knee air bag assembly, some inflators were produced with an insufficient amount of the heating agents necessary for proper air bag deployment. This may increase the risk of injury to the occupant in the involved seating position in the event of a crash.
Certain passenger vehicles may be equipped with an improperly designed brake light switch. A silicon oxide build-up occurs on the contacts inside the brake light switch, which can make it inoperable. If the switch is inoperable, the brake lights will not illuminate and can increase the risk of a crash.
A recall may cover only some cars of a model year; the campaign size counts every model and year it lists. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls: dealers fix open recalls free.
Service bulletins from Toyota: 94
Repair instructions Toyota sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2004 Toyota Prius. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
Some vehicles may exhibit a MIL ON condition with Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTCs) P0A80/P1AC000 and/or P0A7F/P1A8000 stored due to dust or debris buildup…
The vehicle may be difficult to start or have an abnormally low or rough idle after the battery has been disconnected or power to the Engine ECM has been…
TechTip: Condition - The vehicle may be difficult to start or have an abnormally low or rough idle after the battery has been disconnected or power…
Low battery voltage can contribute to a MIL "ON" condition for P0335 (Crankshaft Position Sensor Circuit) and/or P0340…
NHTSA defect investigations: 3
Pedestrian alert sounds
Intermediate Steering Shaft Separation
Engine stalling
Neighbouring years
2003 Prius: 99 complaints, keep it · 2005 Prius: 1,051 complaints, keep it.
Every Toyota Prius year
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Questions
Is the 2004 Toyota Prius a bad year?
610 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine complaints: 98, 9.8× a quiet Prius year. At 16,000 miles the tool says: Keep it, but watch the engine. Half of the engine complaints for this year were filed at 9k–41k miles, where you are now.
What are the most common problems with the 2004 Toyota Prius?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: electrical system (177), engine (94), exterior lighting (184), brakes (73), speed control (52). Half of the engine complaints were filed between 9k–41k miles.
How many recalls does the 2004 Toyota Prius have?
6 recall campaigns list this model year: Steering (NHTSA 12V-537), Hybrid system (NHTSA 12V-536), Speed control (NHTSA 09V-388), Steering (NHTSA 06V-188) and more. A recall may cover only some cars; check by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Method: counts of unverified owner complaints filed with NHTSA, compared only with other years of the same model (sales volumes are unknown, so no failure rate is computed). A system stands out at 40+ complaints and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share across every vehicle of that model year. The mileage range is the 25th to 75th percentile of the mileages owners reported. Data received by NHTSA through November 5, 2026. Repair prices are typical US ranges from named sources, not quotes. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Check this car at your own mileage.