Toyota
Prius
Midsize Cars · model years 2010 to 2025
Includes Prius, Prius AWD, Prius AWD XLE/LTD and 3 more as listed by the EPA.
The verdict
Best year: 2021. complaints: 0, below this model's typical 112; recalls: 0, below this model's typical 3.
Worst year: 2010. complaints: 2819, about 50.3x this model's typical 56; recalls: 10, about 3.3x this model's typical 3.
Year by year
| Year | Trims | MPG | Fuel cost | Recalls | Complaints | Investigations | Top complaints | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 1Hybrid | 50 | $1,250 | 10 | 2,819 | 4 (1 open) | SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC 25%, SERVICE BRAKES 17%, SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC 15% | |
Score: 0 of 100, where higher is better. Theft rate: 0.3 per 1,000 produced (federal data, last published for 2014). | ||||||||
| 2011 | 1Hybrid | 48 | $1,300 | 6 | 513 | 3 (1 open) | SERVICE BRAKES 39%, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 10%, EXTERIOR LIGHTING 7% | |
Score: 0 of 100, where higher is better. Theft rate: 0.2 per 1,000 produced (federal data, last published for 2014). | ||||||||
| 2012 | 2Hybrid, Plug-in Hybrid | 49 | $1,275 | 6 | 679 | 3 (1 open) | SERVICE BRAKES 35%, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 10%, ENGINE 8% | |
Score: 0 of 100, where higher is better. Theft rate: 0.3 per 1,000 produced (federal data, last published for 2014). | ||||||||
| 2013 | 2Hybrid, Plug-in Hybrid | 49 | $1,275 | 3 | 395 | 3 (1 open) | SERVICE BRAKES 41%, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 10%, UNKNOWN OR OTHER 9% | |
Score: 12 of 100, where higher is better. Theft rate: 0.3 per 1,000 produced (federal data, last published for 2014). | ||||||||
| 2014 | 2Hybrid, Plug-in Hybrid | 49 | $1,275 | 3 | 230 | 3 (1 open) | SERVICE BRAKES 29%, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 12%, UNKNOWN OR OTHER 10% | |
Score: 21 of 100, where higher is better. Theft rate: 0.4 per 1,000 produced (federal data, last published for 2014). | ||||||||
| 2015 | 2Hybrid, Plug-in Hybrid | 49 | $1,275 | 1 | 155 | 3 (1 open) | SERVICE BRAKES 40%, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 12%, UNKNOWN OR OTHER 7% | |
Score: 18 of 100, where higher is better. | ||||||||
| 2016 | 1Hybrid | 52 | $1,200 | 5 | 178 | 1 | VISIBILITY/WIPER 17%, UNKNOWN OR OTHER 15%, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 11% | |
Score: 9 of 100, where higher is better. | ||||||||
| 2017 | 1Hybrid | 52 | $1,200 | 3 | 101 | 1 | VISIBILITY/WIPER 14%, SERVICE BRAKES 10%, UNKNOWN OR OTHER 10% | |
Score: 39 of 100, where higher is better. | ||||||||
| 2018 | 1Hybrid | 52 | $1,200 | 1 | 34 | 1 | EXTERIOR LIGHTING 11%, UNKNOWN OR OTHER 11%, VISIBILITY/WIPER 11% | |
Score: 81 of 100, where higher is better. | ||||||||
| 2019 | 2Hybrid | 51 | $1,225 | 3 | 28 | 1 | SERVICE BRAKES 18%, UNKNOWN OR OTHER 14%, ENGINE 10% | |
Score: 79 of 100, where higher is better. | ||||||||
| 2020 | 2Hybrid | 51 | $1,225 | 0 | 0 | 1 | no data | |
Score: 95 of 100, where higher is better. | ||||||||
| 2021 | 2Hybrid | 50.5 | $1,225 | 0 | 0 | 1 | no data | |
Score: 95 of 100, where higher is better. | ||||||||
| 2022 | 2Hybrid | 50.5 | $1,225 | 1 | 23 | 1 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 21%, UNKNOWN OR OTHER 18%, SERVICE BRAKES 11% | |
Score: 85 of 100, where higher is better. | ||||||||
| 2023 | 3Hybrid | 54 | $1,150 | 4 | 18 | 0 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 20%, LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES 12%, STRUCTURE 12% | |
Score: 60 of 100, where higher is better. | ||||||||
| 2024 | 3Hybrid | 54 | $1,150 | 4 | 21 | 0 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER 20%, AIR BAGS 10%, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 10% | |
Score: 76 of 100, where higher is better. | ||||||||
| 2025 | 5Hybrid, Plug-in Hybrid | 52 | $1,200 | 2 | 15 | 0 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 19%, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE 12%, UNKNOWN OR OTHER 12% | |
Score: 86 of 100, where higher is better. | ||||||||
How the numbers moved
How we score each year
We compare each year of the Toyota Prius to the model's own typical numbers, not to other cars. A year reads solid when its recalls, owner complaints, and federal investigations sit at or below what is typical for this model, mixed when some of those numbers run above typical, and avoid when they run far above it. Deaths, reported fires, and an NHTSA advisory to park outside count against a year no matter what this model's baseline looks like.
A year is scored only when NHTSA has both complaint and recall counts for it. Complaint data often lags for the newest years, so a recent year can read not enough data even while its recall count already shows in the table. When the history is too thin, we say not enough data instead of guessing. Service bulletins are routine maintenance guidance from the manufacturer and do not lower a year's score.
Scores run 0 to 100, higher is better. Recall, complaint, and investigation figures come from NHTSA records. Fuel economy, fuel cost, and horsepower figures come from the EPA, shown as the median across the year's trims.
Information is gathered on a best-effort basis from public sources, may be incomplete or out of date, and is not purchasing or financial advice. Verify with the manufacturer or dealer before buying.