2004 Toyota Prius Reliability
The 2004 Toyota Prius has 610 owner complaints and 6 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about exterior lighting and electrical system. Compared with nearby Prius model years (2002–2006), it rates as a caution year: complaints run above the Prius's typical year, while the 2003 has a cleaner record.
By CarWhere Research · Updated 2026-11-04 · Source: NHTSA
610
NHTSA owner complaints
6
Recall campaigns
38
Complaints citing a crash
2
Complaints citing a fire
2004 Toyota Prius complaints by component
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2004 model year, filed between 2003 and 2025. A complaint can name more than one component.
| Component | Complaints | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Exterior lighting | 184 | 30% |
| Electrical system | 177 | 29% |
| Engine & cooling | 89 | 15% |
| Service brakes | 73 | 12% |
| Speed control / throttle | 52 | 9% |
| Powertrain / transmission | 34 | 6% |
| Air bags | 18 | 3% |
| Unknown or other | 14 | 2% |
2004 Toyota Prius recalls
6 recall campaigns on NHTSA record for the 2004 model year, by the date NHTSA received the manufacturer's report. Recall repairs are free at a dealer.
| NHTSA campaign | Date | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 04V558000 | Nov 22, 2004 | Exterior lighting — brake lights / switch | 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. |
| 06V096000 | Apr 3, 2006 | Air bags | 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… |
| 06V188000 | May 31, 2006 | Steering — electric power assist system | 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. |
| 09V388000 | Oct 5, 2009 | Speed control / throttle — accelerator pedal | Toyota is recalling certain model year 2004-2010 passenger vehicles. 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. |
| 12V537000 | Nov 14, 2012 | Steering | Toyota is recalling certain model year 2004-2009 Prius vehicles manufactured August 5, 2003, through March 30, 2009. The affected vehicles have a steering intermediate extension shaft assembly built with metal splines that complete the connection from the… |
| 12V536000 | Nov 14, 2012 | Engine & cooling | Toyota is recalling certain model year 2004-2009 Prius vehicles manufactured August 6, 2003, through March 30, 2009 and FCHV-adv vehicles manufactured December 12, 2008, through September 13, 2011. During manufacturing, a scratch may have occurred inside of… |
How the 2004 compares with nearby Prius years
Verdicts come from CarWhere's year-by-year Prius analysis where it covers the year, otherwise from the years shown here.
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Most-reported area | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | 193 | 2 | Steering | Better year |
| 2003 | 111 | 1 | Steering | Better year |
| 2004 (this page) | 610 | 6 | Exterior lighting | Caution |
| 2005 | 1,051 | 6 | Exterior lighting | Avoid |
| 2006 | 1,440 | 6 | Exterior lighting | Avoid |
Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA and are not adjusted for how many of each year were sold, so they compare years of the same model rather than different models.
What to check on a used 2004 Toyota Prius
- Lights: check headlights (low and high), brake lights and turn signals; condensation inside the housings is worth noting.
- Electrical: test every light, window, lock, the infotainment screen and the charging system; scan for stored fault codes.
- Engine & cooling: look for coolant leaks or low coolant, watch the temperature gauge on a long test drive, and check for overheating history.
- Brakes: check pedal feel, pulling and grinding, and look at rotor and pad wear; ask when the brake fluid was last changed.
- Recalls: confirm each of the 6 campaigns above was completed on this VIN; open recalls are repaired free at a dealer.
- History: run the VIN for salvage, theft and odometer records, and have an independent mechanic inspect the car before you pay.
Check this exact car
Any 2004 Toyota Prius can be better or worse than its model year. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015. Free preview first; the full report is $12.99, one time.
2004 Toyota Prius reliability FAQ
Is the 2004 Toyota Prius reliable?
The 2004 Toyota Prius has 610 owner complaints and 6 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about exterior lighting and electrical system. Compared with nearby Prius model years (2002–2006), it rates as a caution year: complaints run above the Prius's typical year, while the 2003 has a cleaner record.
What are the most common 2004 Toyota Prius problems?
The most-reported problem areas in NHTSA owner complaints for the 2004 Toyota Prius are exterior lighting (184), electrical system (177), engine & cooling (89), service brakes (73). One complaint can name more than one component.
Does the 2004 Toyota Prius have recalls?
NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns for the 2004 Toyota Prius, including 04V558000 (exterior lighting — brake lights / switch) and 06V096000 (air bags). Recall repairs are free at a dealer, and whether one was done is tracked by VIN.
How does the 2004 Toyota Prius compare with the 2003 and 2005 models?
By NHTSA records, the 2003 has 111 complaints and 1 recall (better year); the 2005 has 1,051 complaints and 6 recalls (avoid). The 2004 has 610 complaints and 6 recalls.
How do I check a specific used 2004 Toyota Prius?
Run its VIN. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015, with a free preview first and the full report at $12.99, one time. Pair it with an independent pre-purchase inspection.
More Toyota Prius research
Other Toyota Prius model years:
Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation owner complaints (all body-style listings for the 2004 Prius, de-duplicated by complaint number) and NHTSA recall campaigns, retrieved 2026-11-04.