Toyota Prius Reliability Problems

Prius owners have made 1,379 complaints over 22 model years. Using our PainRank™ system we've ranked it 26th in overall reliability out of 33 Toyota models, with real lights and engine concerns.

7 Common Toyota Prius Problems

A list of some of the most common issues Prius owners have to deal with.

  1. Bluetooth Echos During Calls

    What's the point of hands-free calling if you can't have a conversation without an annoying echo getting in the way? That's the position many 2016-2019 Toyota owners find themselves in as they struggle with their car's bluetooth connection.

    Continue reading article "Bluetooth Echos During Calls"

  3. Unintended Acceleration

    Toyota believes the problems are caused by stuck gas pedals or misplaced floor mats that trapped the gas pedals. Independent testing by NASA and other outside laboratories agreed with Toyota and concluded driver error was also a contributin…

    Continue reading article "Unintended Acceleration"

  4. Rodents Chew Soy-Coated Wires

    Somewhere in the mid-2000's there was an industry-wide push by automakers to replace plastic and glass-based wiring insulation with a more eco-friendly soy-based coating. It's biodegradable, commendable, and a complete disaster for owners. …

    Continue reading article "Rodents Chew Soy-Coated Wires"

  5. Prius Headlight Problems

    Prius owners are up in arms about the performance of their high-intensity headlights. Known formally as high-intensity discharge (HID) lights, they either work intermittently -- making nighttime driving a lot more 'exciting' -- or fail enti…

    Continue reading article "Prius Headlight Problems"

  6. Prius Brake Defects

    There is growing concern about the calibration of the brake system in the 3rd-generation Prius. More and more owners are starting to report that they're unhappy with the braking performance of their Prius, some even going so far as to say t…

    Continue reading article "Prius Brake Defects"

  7. Toyota Excessive Oil Consumption

    An increasing number of Toyota vehicles are experiencing excessive oil consumption which may be the result of defective piston rings. Toyota, in all their 'deny-til-we-die' splendor, is reportedly denying warranty coverage on many oil consu…

    Continue reading article "Toyota Excessive Oil Consumption"

What Prius Owners Complain About

Sometimes it helps just to tally up the complaints and see where the biggest stacks are. Use this information to learn about troublespots or to run for the hills.

Worst Issues

What Breaks the Most

Years to Avoid

Full Lists on CarComplaints.com

Prius Generations

The Prius has 4 generations, each with their own issues. Using the same PainRank™ system we've determined that you're better off avoiding the 3rd generation (2010–2015).

Prius Key Numbers

  1. 1,379 complaints

    Running tally of owner grievances filed to CarComplaints.com.

  2. 881 service bulletins

    Documenting the process of troubleshooting common problems.

  3. 29 recall campaigns

    Time-sensitive, free repairs for widespread safety problems.

Prius Class-Action Lawsuits

The Prius has been named as a class vehicle in the following lawsuits.

  • Adam B. Lawler Law Firm, LLC, et al., v. Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc., et al.

    3:21-CV-00354

    1. Case Filed

      A Toyota Bluetooth echo class action lawsuit has been filed by an Illinois law firm which alleges the hands-free phone systems are defective in multiple Toyota models that were not initially equipped with Apple CarPlay and have not had a head unit replaced by Toyota.

    Problem
    Bluetooth Echos During Calls
    Class Vehicles
    • 4Runner
    • Avalon
    • Avalon HV
    • Camry
    • Camry HV
    • Highlander
    • Highlander HV
    • Prius
    • Prius V
    • Sequoia
    • Sienna
    • Tacoma
    • Tundra
    • Yaris
    Class Members
    Illinois Residents
    Location
    Illinois

  • Freeman, et al., v. Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc. et al.

    1. Case Filed

      Toyota Bluetooth echo problems have caused a class action lawsuit that alleges when the driver of the Toyota uses the hands-free phone system to make or receive a call, the person on the other end of the call hears an echo of their own words.

    Problem
    Bluetooth Echos During Calls
    Class Vehicles
    • 2017-2018 4Runner
    • 2017-2018 Avalon
    • 2017-2018 Avalon Hybrid
    • 2016-2018 Highlander
    • 2016-2018 Highlander Hybrid
    • 2016-2018 Prius
    • 2016-2018 Prius V
    • 2016-2018 Sequoia
    • 2016-2018 Sienna
    • 2016-2018 Tacoma
    • 2016-2018 Tundra
    • 2018 Yaris
    Location
    Missouri

Recent Prius News

There's a lot of news out there, but not all of it matters. We try to boil down it to the most important bits about things that actually help you with your car problem. Interested in getting these stories in an email? Signup for free email alerts over at CarComplaints.com.

  1. A lawsuit wonders how Toyota can keep calling their bluetooth implementation "hands-free" when owners very much need to use their hands to prevent echos on each and every call.

    For years owners have complained about this issue, but Toyota's only suggestion has been to pickup the phone and turn it's volume all the way up after the call has been initiated. Oh, and also make sure the radio volume is below level 45. Sorta defeats the point, don't you think?…

    keep reading article "Illinois Lawsuit Says Toyota's Hands-Free Calling is Unusable"

  2. Toyota is recalling 2.4 million Prius and Prius v vehicles worldwide to fix a problem with the hybrid system’s “limp home” mode.

    The Prius and Prius v are designed to enter limp mode, also called fail-safe mode, when the hybrid systems have faults. Toyota says the recall is necessary because the cars can fail to enter limp mode as intended when the hybrid systems have problems. Instead of limping home the cars will suddenly lose power and stall out. Toyota insists that power steering and braking will still work, but even with those systems on a stall at high speeds can be very dangerous.

    If “limp home” problems sound familiar, you may be thinking of recalls made in 2014 and 2015 for similar problems. Toyota says previous recalls did not anticipate this new condition remedied with this recall. Geez. The fix is a simple software update. Let’s hope it’s the last one needed.

    keep reading article "Prius Recalled for Stalling Out Instead of Limping Home"

  3. The threat of electrical fires has led Toyota to recall a million Prius cars worldwide

    , with 192,000 of those vehicles in the United States. An exposed portion of one of the engine’s wiring harnesses is likely to wear down and short-circuit in the 2016-2018 model years. A short circuit can create a spark → a spark can create a flame → a flame can created a charred mass where your Prius once stood.…

    keep reading article "Prius Recalled Worldwide Over Threat of Electrical Fires"

  5. Toyota has blamed a musty A/C smell on microbes [i.e., mold] growing o the evaporator surface and now a lawsuit wants them to do something about it.

    The plaintiffs claim the vehicles have defective heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems that cause smells and health problems from mold that collects on the evaporators. Numerous complaints have allegedly been filed with the government, Toyota and Lexus dealerships nationwide since at least 1999.

    This isn't the first time Toyota has been sued for musty A/C units.

    keep reading article "Air Conditioner Lawsuit Complains About Mold Smell From Toyota HVAC"

  8. When Toyota switched away from using plastic or glass-based inulation in favor of soy, it invited in some very unwelcome Toyota loyalisits.

    According to the plaintiff, she learned the hard way about the soy wiring when her Avalon wouldn't start and a look under the hood showed wires chewed, so she had the car towed to a dealer. Toyota told her rodents had caused the damage and it would be no problem to repair the problems as long as she could cough up $6,000 to cover the bill.

    The soy-based wiring is allegedly attracting in rodents, who love to chew it up and use it for nesting material. The lawsuit, Heidi Browder vs. Toyota Motor Corporation, et al. follows a similar lawsuit filed against Honda earlier this year.

    keep reading article "Lawsuit Says Toyota’s Use of Soy-Based Wiring is Attracting Rodent Damage"

See All Prius News

Other Toyota Models