2020 Toyota PRIUS PRIME: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
16 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
9,250 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2020 model year. Data snapshot: . 12 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Visibility/Wiper is the most frequently named component, appearing in 5 of 16 complaints (31.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 2 | 12.5% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 6.3% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 6.3% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Visibility/Wiper | 5 |
| Electrical System | 3 |
| Power Train | 3 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 3 |
| Tires | 2 |
| Air Bags | 1 |
| Back Over Prevention: Warnings | 1 |
| Exterior Lighting | 1 |
Visibility/Wiper: 5; Electrical System: 3; Power Train: 3; Vehicle Speed Control: 3; Tires: 2; Air Bags: 1; Back Over Prevention: Warnings: 1; Exterior Lighting: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 10 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 2 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 10; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 2; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (10). 4 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 |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 5 |
| 2021 | 3 |
| 2022 | 3 |
| 2023 | 1 |
| 2024 | 2 |
| 2025 | 2 |
2020: 5; 2021: 3; 2022: 3; 2023: 1; 2024: 2; 2025: 2
Pattern summary
Visibility/Wiper leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 2 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 1 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 1 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 11307961 · 2020-02-08 (February 8, 2020)
ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS, FROST DEVELOPING ON THE INSIDE OF THE WINDSHIELD WHILE VEHICLE PARKED IN THE PARKING LOT AT WORK 2 TIMES(JAN 17TH AND THE 30TH AT HOME AND AT WORK IN THE MORNING AND AFTER WORK) AND ANOTHER TIME WHILE VEHICLE PARKED AT HOME IN THE DRIVEWAY. IT TAKES 20 OR MORE MINUTES TO DEFROST THE WINDSHIELD.THE WIPERS CAUSE VISIBILITY PROBLEMS DUE TO THE WATER AND SNOW TURNING TO ICE.
Owner-reported narrative. 900 miles reported. Look up ODI 11307961 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11307964 · 2020-02-08 (February 8, 2020)
FROST DEVELOPING ON THE INSIDE OF WINDSHIELD ON MULTIPLE DAYS IN DIFFERENT LOCATIONS. AT HOME AND AT WORK DURING THE DAY TIME AND AT NIGHT. TAKES 20 MINUTES OR MORE TO DEFROST.
Owner-reported narrative. 900 miles reported. Look up ODI 11307964 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11366541 · 2020-10-26 (October 26, 2020)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2020 TOYOTA PRIUS PRIME. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE PURCHASED AND INSTALLED A DASHBOARD COVER IN THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE REVERSING, THE DASHBOARD COVER SHIFTED AND BLOCKED THE SENSOR FOR THE BACK OVER PREVENTION CAMERA, ALLOWING THE DISPLAY SCREEN TO GO DARK, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO CRASH INTO A PARKED VEHICLE AT APPROXIMATELY 2 MPH. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SENSOR WAS USED TO DISTINGUISH BETWEEN DAYTIME AND NIGHTTIME DRIVING AND WOULD DIM OR BRIGHTEN THE DISPLAY SCREEN AS NEEDED. A POLICE REPORT WAS …
Owner-reported narrative. 12,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11366541 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11374192 · 2020-11-11 (November 11, 2020)
MICE CHEWED THROUGH WIRES AND AIR FILTER, CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE HYBRID SYSTEM. THE CHECK HYBRID SYSTEM WARNING SIGN CAME ON AND THE CAR RUNNING ROUGH. TOYOTA DEALER CHARGED $13066.81 FOR THE DAMAGE.
Owner-reported narrative. 6,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 11374192 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11376393 · 2020-11-25 (November 25, 2020)
I WAS GOING TO PARK MY CAR IN PARKING LOT OF MY APARTMENT. I PUSHED THE BAKER, THE CAR DIDN'T DECREASE THE SPEED OR STOP, BUT ACCELERATED. IT WAS JUST OUT OF CONTROL AND CRASHED TO THE WALL. THE SENSOR SYSTEM DIDN'T DO ANY JOB, NOT EVEN A WARNING.
Owner-reported narrative. 2,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11376393 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11394408 · 2021-02-03 (February 3, 2021)
THE DISPLAY ON THE MEDIA-CONTROL UNIT WOULD SOMETIMES GO BLANK, IN PART OR ENTIRELY. THE TOUCHSCREEN ISSUES INTERFERED WITH DRIVERS' ABILITY TO USE HEAT, AIR CONDITIONING, DEFROST AND DEFOGGING SYSTEMS. THIS HAS HAPPENED AT LEAST 30 TIMES DURING THE PAST YEAR. THE LAST INCIDENT OCCURRED ON 01/13/2021. THIS HAPPENS WHILE IN MOTION. IT ALSO HAPPENED ON MY 2017 PRIUS PRIME MANY TIMES. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN REPORTED TO TOYOTA BY MANY OWNERS. NO SOLUTION HAS BEEN FORTHCOMING. THIS IS THE SAME ISSUE THAT PROMPTED THE CURRENT TESLA RECALL. THE PRIUS C…
Owner-reported narrative. 18,930 miles reported. Look up ODI 11394408 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11395976 · 2021-02-12 (February 12, 2021)
THE OUTER SIDE OF MY R FRONT PASSENGER TIRE BLEW OUT IN TWO PLACES,(NOT NEAR THE TREAD AREA) WHILE DRIVING ON A GOOD HIGHWAY ROAD SURFACE APPROX 50 MPH. 3400 MILES TOTAL ON THE ODOMETER. NO BUMP WHEN I HEARD THE TIRE POP.
Owner-reported narrative. 3,400 miles reported. Look up ODI 11395976 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11396870 · 2021-02-18 (February 18, 2021)
I WAS DRIVING TO WORK INTO THE GARAGE. THE ENTRANCE OF THE GARAGE HAS A MILD INCLINE WITH A NARROW ENTRANCE AND I NORMALLY WILL SLOW DOWN SO I CAN STEEL THE CAR SLOWLY. I WAS GOING AT ABOUT 10 TO 15 MILE SPEED AND FELT A STALL FIRST AND THEN THE CAR WENT INTO ACCELERATED MODE ON ITS OWN. I FELT THE CAR WAS SHIFT TO A DIFFERENT GEAR ON ITS OWN UP TO 80 TO 100 MILES. I AM LUCKY THERE IS A CEMENT POLE IN FRONT OF ME AND THE CAR WENT RIGHT INTO THE POLE SMASHING THE LEFT SIDE(DRIVER SIDE OF THE CAR ) I HAVE TO STEP ON THE BREAK TO STOP THE CAR. IT …
Owner-reported narrative. 15,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 11396870 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
19V544000 · Service Brakes | Electronic Stability Control (Esc)
Reported: 2019-07-24 (July 24, 2019)
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2019 Lexus LS500, LC500, ES300h, UX250h, LS500h, Toyota Prius, RAV4 HV, 2019-2020 Toyota Prius Prime, and 2020 Corolla HV vehicles. The brake booster pump may fail causing a deactivation of the Vehicle Stability Control system and a loss of braking assist. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 126, "Electronic Stability Control Systems."
Consequence: Deactivation of the vehicle stability control system or a loss of braking assist increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the brake booster pump, free of charge. The recall began September 20, 2019. Toyota owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371 and Lexus owners may contact Lexus customer service at 1-800-255-3987. Toyota's numbers for this recall are K1L/K0L. Lexus' numbers for this recall are K2F/KLF.
NHTSA campaign record ↗