Toyota PRIUS PRIME problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
116 owner complaints analyzed
6 distinct recall campaigns
7,920 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2017 to 2024 model years. Data snapshot: . 57 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 23 of 116 complaints (19.8%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 21 | 18.1% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 15 | 12.9% |
| Steering behavior | 7 | 6.0% |
| Engine operation | 6 | 5.2% |
| Transmission and shifting | 4 | 3.4% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Electrical System | 23 |
| Visibility/Wiper | 17 |
| Unknown Or Other | 13 |
| Power Train | 12 |
| Service Brakes | 10 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 8 |
| Air Bags | 7 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 7 |
Electrical System: 23; Visibility/Wiper: 17; Unknown Or Other: 13; Power Train: 12; Service Brakes: 10; Vehicle Speed Control: 8; Air Bags: 7; Fuel/Propulsion System: 7
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 45 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 6 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 3 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 2 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 45; 25,000 to 49,999: 6; 50,000 to 74,999: 3; 75,000 to 99,999: 2; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 1
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (45). 59 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2017 | 9 |
| 2018 | 9 |
| 2019 | 5 |
| 2020 | 14 |
| 2021 | 15 |
| 2022 | 11 |
| 2023 | 12 |
| 2024 | 14 |
| 2025 | 15 |
| 2026 | 12 |
2017: 9; 2018: 9; 2019: 5; 2020: 14; 2021: 15; 2022: 11; 2023: 12; 2024: 14; 2025: 15; 2026: 12
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 21 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 15 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 7 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 11377239 · 2020-12-01 (December 1, 2020)
JUST FIVE MINUTES AFTER I LEFT THE HOUSE, I WAS DRIVING AT 15 MILES MPH ON A CURVED ROAD AND THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY LOST POWER. THIS INCLUDES BOTH THE ELECTRIC MOTOR AND THE GAS MOTOR. BOTH THE STEERING SYSTEM AND BRAKES MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING THE STEERING WHEEL TO BECOME TOO STIFF TO TURN AND THE BRAKES WERE NOT ABLE TO BE PRESSED DOWN NO MATTER HOW HARD I TRIED. THIS CAUSED THE CAR TO SWERVE OFF THE ROAD AND HIT A LIGHT POLE. NOT ONLY DID THE AUTOMATIC COLLISION PREVENTION SYSTEM FAILED TO WORK, THE AIRBAGS ALSO FAILED TO DEPLOY WITH THE AMOU…
Owner-reported narrative. 70,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11377239 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11426084 · 2021-07-23 (July 23, 2021)
When driving on the interstate, the car lost power steering and power brakes, making the vehicle very difficult to maneuver. Fortunately, there were no cars immediately nearby, otherwise this could have been a very different description. The car was towed to a dealership. They reported that they believe this is due to a faulty cell in the vehicle's auxiliary (12V) battery. There was no warning or symptom of this prior to the loss of power steering and power brakes.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11426084 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11361890 · 2020-09-29 (September 29, 2020)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 TOYOTA PRIUS PRIME. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V579000 (STEERING) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE DEALER EDMARK TOYOTA (15933 N IDAHO CENTER BLVD., NAMPA, ID 83687) WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT PARTS WERE NOT YET AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11361890 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11430966 · 2021-08-30 (August 30, 2021)
Approximately July 19th 2021 at 4 a.m. in the morning on 2021 going Southbound on 210 going towards San Bernardino we will see the flat tire at the very end since the flat tire the hybrid system says offline not available car stalled pulled over tire was blown out. This is the second time that the hybrid system has been reported offline or malfunction. Upon further review the records of the vehicle I have noticed that on January 18th 2021 the previous owner had a similar incident but the dealership in Hemet California failed attempt to repair i…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11430966 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11517150 · 2023-04-14 (April 14, 2023)
Take foot of break, car accelerates under power. Sooner or later, this is going to result in killing a pedestrian. The question has been for the last year, is this a behavior that can be gotten used to. The answer is definitely NO! This resulted in a near collision with a pedestrian today. Toyota believes the behavior is intentional and will not confirm the safety issue. Farmers Insurance is willing to believe the issue exists without inspection but has no idea what to do. You have a problem on your hands. Biden is trying to transition almos…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11517150 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11479277 · 2022-08-15 (August 15, 2022)
I was driving yesterday on Freeway in the 2nd lane ,all of a sudden car went from drive to neutral,I didn't touch transmission gear lever and I put gas And it says it is on neutral N,I was in dangerous situation, the other cars were flying by,I put on hazard lights Slowly changed lanes because it was not on D drive mode,pulled it over to Shoulder applied brakes and shift to D Then proceeded back to freeway, I was very scare in this whole ordeal
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11479277 at NHTSA ↗
Recalls by model year
All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.
Recall campaigns
Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2017 | 0 |
| 2018 | 0 |
| 2019 | 1 |
| 2020 | 1 |
| 2021 | 0 |
| 2022 | 1 |
| 2023 | 4 |
| 2024 | 4 |
2017: 0; 2018: 0; 2019: 1; 2020: 1; 2021: 0; 2022: 1; 2023: 4; 2024: 4