Toyota Prius 2001–2026
Summary
- 26 model years in 5 generations, 12,589 owner complaints in total.
- Within their own generation, 2007, 2008, 2010 and 2012 drew the most complaints in the first three years.
- 2005 drew the fewest complaints of their generation over the same span.
- These are complaint counts, not failure rates: they are not divided by how many cars were sold, because no public source reports U.S. sales by model year.
- Half of the complaints that give a mileage were filed by 45,000 miles (9,756 of them give one).
- Owners reported 1,014 crashes, 69 fires, 536 injuries and 23 deaths across these model years.
- 36 recalls and 7 federal investigations cover these model years; 1 investigation is still open.
2001–2003
Each year is counted over the same span: complaints received up to two calendar years after its model year. A year is compared only when that span is over and it holds at least 50 complaints. Fewer than three years of this generation are comparable, so no year is named.
| Model year | All complaints | First three years | Most reported system | Note |
|---|
| 2001 | 165 | 45 | Steering | not compared |
| 2002 | 167 | 36 | Steering | not compared |
| 2003 | 99 | 20 | Steering | not compared |
2004–2009
Each year is counted over the same span: complaints received up to two calendar years after its model year. A year is compared only when that span is over and it holds at least 50 complaints. Median of the comparable years: 258.
| Model year | All complaints | First three years | Most reported system | Note |
|---|
| 2004 | 610 | 207 | Lighting | |
| 2005 | 1,051 | 135 | Lighting | fewest complaints |
| 2006 | 1,439 | 270 | Lighting | |
| 2007 | 2,004 | 509 | Lighting | most complaints |
| 2008 | 1,497 | 653 | Lighting | most complaints |
| 2009 | 502 | 246 | Brakes | |
Lighting is the largest group in 5 of the 6 compared years.
2010–2015
Each year is counted over the same span: complaints received up to two calendar years after its model year. A year is compared only when that span is over and it holds at least 50 complaints. Median of the comparable years: 68.
| Model year | All complaints | First three years | Most reported system | Note |
|---|
| 2010 | 2,829 | 1,682 | Brakes | most complaints |
| 2011 | 523 | 67 | Brakes | |
| 2012 | 449 | 104 | Brakes | most complaints |
| 2013 | 426 | 68 | Brakes | |
| 2014 | 223 | 52 | Brakes | |
| 2015 | 171 | 35 | Brakes | not compared |
Brakes is the largest group in 5 of the 5 compared years.
2016–2022
Each year is counted over the same span: complaints received up to two calendar years after its model year. A year is compared only when that span is over and it holds at least 50 complaints. Fewer than three years of this generation are comparable, so no year is named.
| Model year | All complaints | First three years | Most reported system | Note |
|---|
| 2016 | 155 | 93 | Windows, Wipers & Visibility | |
| 2017 | 91 | 64 | Windows, Wipers & Visibility | |
| 2018 | 38 | 21 | Windows, Wipers & Visibility | not compared |
| 2019 | 30 | 9 | Brakes | not compared |
| 2020 | 14 | 9 | Brakes | not compared |
| 2021 | 6 | 4 | Engine | not compared |
| 2022 | 24 | 14 | Electrical System | not compared |
2023–2026
Each year is counted over the same span: complaints received up to two calendar years after its model year. A year is compared only when that span is over and it holds at least 50 complaints. Fewer than three years of this generation are comparable, so no year is named.
| Model year | All complaints | First three years | Most reported system | Note |
|---|
| 2023 | 21 | 13 | Electrical System | not compared |
| 2024 | 27 | 27 | Wheels & Tires | not compared |
| 2025 | 18 | 18 | Electrical System | not compared |
| 2026 | 10 | 10 | Electrical System | not compared |
Every model year
A model year gets its own page when four sources cover it, it holds at least 50 complaints, and it either compares with the other years of its generation or shows one system in 40% or more of the complaints that name a component. The rest are listed here with their figures.
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Investigations | Bulletins | Combined MPG | Page |
|---|
| 2001 | 165 | 3 | 1 | 154 | 41 | listed here |
| 2002 | 167 | 2 | 1 | 136 | 41 | yes |
| 2003 | 99 | 1 | 1 | 133 | 41 | yes |
| 2004 | 610 | 6 | 3 | 226 | 46 | yes |
| 2005 | 1,051 | 6 | 3 | 222 | 46 | yes |
| 2006 | 1,439 | 6 | 3 | 210 | 46 | yes |
| 2007 | 2,004 | 4 | 3 | 219 | 46 | yes |
| 2008 | 1,497 | 4 | 2 | 222 | 46 | yes |
| 2009 | 502 | 6 | 2 | 225 | 46 | yes |
| 2010 | 2,829 | 10 | 4 | 456 | 50 | yes |
| 2011 | 523 | 6 | 3 | 544 | 48 | yes |
| 2012 | 449 | 7 | 3 | 554 | 48–50 | yes |
| 2013 | 426 | 4 | 3 | 543 | 48–50 | yes |
| 2014 | 223 | 4 | 3 | 506 | 48–50 | yes |
| 2015 | 171 | 2 | 3 | 403 | 48–50 | yes |
| 2016 | 155 | 5 | 1 | 302 | 52–56 | listed here |
| 2017 | 91 | 3 | 1 | 246 | 52–56 | listed here |
| 2018 | 38 | 1 | 1 | 351 | 52–56 | listed here |
| 2019 | 30 | 3 | 1 | 140 | 50–56 | listed here |
| 2020 | 14 | 0 | 1 | 147 | 46–56 | listed here |
| 2021 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 118 | 49–56 | listed here |
| 2022 | 24 | 1 | 1 | 131 | 49–56 | listed here |
| 2023 | 21 | 4 | 0 | 118 | 49–57 | listed here |
| 2024 | 27 | 4 | 0 | 101 | 49–57 | listed here |
| 2025 | 18 | 2 | 0 | 60 | 48–57 | listed here |
| 2026 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 52 | 49–57 | listed here |
What owners report across all years
| System | Complaints | Share | Median mileage |
|---|
| Brakes | 4,498 | 37% | 16,000 mi |
| Lighting | 3,513 | 29% | 56,000 mi |
| Electrical System | 1,609 | 13% | 68,000 mi |
| Accelerator & Cruise Control | 1,055 | 9% | 20,000 mi |
| Engine | 783 | 6% | 75,000 mi |
Shares are over complaints that name a component; a complaint naming several systems is counted under each.
Brakes
Owner report The Toyota Prius, models through 2010 - 2015 have a known issue with the Brake Booster (actuator) and ABS Pump where the parts will degrade and break at or around 100,000mi. Toyota issued a bulletin and had a replacement program that covered the part that has since elapsed but has not corrected the issue with existing …
Owner report On XXX, at approximately 152,570 miles, the brake, ABS, and traction-control warning lights illuminated at the same time on my 2013 Toyota Prius. The brakes felt spongy, and I heard a recurring buzzing sound approximately every 3 seconds. Because of the change in brake-pedal feel and concerns about braking safety, I st…
Lighting
Owner report The low-beam headlight bulbs on my 2010 Toyota Prius keep burning out, about every [6 months or less]. Since I have owned the vehicle I have replaced them too many times to count, on both sides, but twice as often on the drivers side. The most recent failure was on XXX, my driver low beam failed while I was driving at …
Owner report Description of Safety Defect: I am reporting an uncorrected factory design defect in the 5th-generation Toyota Prius (2024 model) that constitutes an immediate and ongoing daytime driving hazard. Under standard operation, whenever the vehicle's headlights are activated during daytime hours—conditions legally mandated b…
Electrical System
Owner report The contact owns a 2013 Toyota Prius. The contact stated that while driving and pulling into a parking lot, there was a burning odor coming from the vehicle. The contact exited the vehicle but saw no fault with the vehicle. The contact was then notified by another person that the vehicle had caught on fire. The fire de…
Owner report My safety and the safety of 6,031 passengers/riders were put at risk when Lyft's Flex Drive rented this vehicle to me as a rideshare driver for one year. They admitted yesterday upon confronting them in person that they were aware of the recall and decided to not inform me. The company deflected responsibility onto me …
Largest recalls
| Campaign | Component | Filed | Vehicles |
|---|
| 09V388000 | VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL | 2009-10-05 | 4,445,056 |
| 25V744000 | BACK OVER PREVENTION:DISPLAY FUNCTION | 2025-10-30 | 1,024,407 |
| 18V684000 | HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM | 2018-10-04 | 807,329 |
| 14V053000 | HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM: INVERTER | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE | 2014-02-12 | 698,457 |
| 12V537000 | STEERING:GEAR BOX:SHAFT SECTOR | 2012-11-14 | 669,705 |
Whether a recall has been done on a specific car depends on its VIN; check it at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Open investigations
| Action | Component | Opened | Subject |
|---|
| DP23005 | SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS | 2023-11-22 | Brake Actuator Valve Wear |
Service bulletins
Toyota issued 6,519 service bulletins covering these model years, most often about equipment.
A bulletin tells dealers how to fix a known condition. It is not a recall and not a defect finding. Most bulletins cover several model years at once, so a bulletin listed here may not be specific to one year. The number of bulletins tracks how long and how widely a model was sold, so it is not a measure of reliability.
| Date | Component | Summary |
|---|
| 2026-09-08 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | An electrical connection for the rear window defogger may not have been installed correctly during vehicle assembly. Overtime, this can cause the rear window defogger to become inoperable, which could reduce visibility through the rear wind… |
| 2026-09-08 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | TECHNICAL INSTRUCTIONS FOR SPECIAL SERVICE CAMPAIGN 26TC01 POWER DISTRIBUTION BOX CERTAIN 2024 – 2025 MODEL YEAR PRIUS 2024 MODEL YEAR PRIUS PHV |
| 2026-08-20 | ENGINE | This bulletin includes basic procedures for performing a rescue charge at battery on high voltage (HV) Ni-MH and Li-ion batteries. |
| 2026-08-20 | ENGINE | OBSOLETE NOTICE August 20, 2026: This bulletin is now obsolete. Please see T-SB-0051-26. |
| 2026-06-25 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 2026 model year Toyota vehicles are equipped with driver side floor mat retainers to secure the floor mat in the correct position. In addition, some models may also utilize retainers for passenger side and rear seat floor mats. During Pre-D… |
| 2026-06-10 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | Long-term or off-site storage requires special care to maintain vehicle condition. The following guidelines should be performed to minimize vehicle component/part degradation due to extendedvehicle storage conditions. Long-term storage can … |
| 2026-05-27 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | Pre-Delivery Service (PDS) is a critical step in satisfying our new car customers. Customer feedback indicates the following areas deserve special attention when performing PDS: • Careful inspection for paint chips/scratches and body dents… |
| 2026-04-16 | ENGINE | Some Customers for the above vehicles may have complaint of the following: unable to charge the vehicle using the supplied level 1 or 2 charger. Additionally, most will indicate one or more of the LEDs on the charger will illuminate at the… |
| 2026-03-06 | ENGINE | Some Customers for the listed vehicles may have complaint of the following: unable to charge the vehicle using the supplied level 1 or 2 charger. Additionally, most will indicate one or more of the LEDs on the charger will illuminate at the… |
| 2026-02-27 | ENGINE | OBSOLETE NOTICE February 27, 2026: This bulletin is no longer applicable and is now obsolete. |
How to read this page
Complaint counts are not failure rates. A model that sells more cars draws more complaints, and owners file more after news coverage or a recall. That is why years are compared only with other years of the same generation, over the same span, and never with other models.
Sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation: complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer communications (data as of 2026-10-28).
- U.S. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov: engines and fuel economy.
This page summarises public records; it is not a mechanical inspection.