2017 Toyota Prius Prime Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls
Avoid The 2017 Toyota Prius Prime ranks worst among 8 model years tracked, with a complaint index of 100 and 42 complaints, rank 1 of 8 worst. Windshield cracking and electrical issues dominate owner reports, though no recalls have been issued for this year.
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
YearToAvoid Scorecard
- Complaint Index
- 100/100
- #1 of 8 Prius Prime years
- Verdict
- Avoid
- vs. other years of this model
- Complaints
- 42
- unique NHTSA reports
- Recalls
- 0
- distinct NHTSA campaigns
- Crashes
- 5
- reported in complaints
- Fires
- 0
- Injuries
- 3
- Top issue
- Visibility & Wipers
- NHTSA overall rating
- Not rated
- EPA combined MPG
- 54
- 55 city / 53 hwy
- Injuries / deaths
- 3 / 0
Top 2017 Toyota Prius Prime problems
Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Visibility & Wipers9 (21%)
- Electrical System8 (19%)
- Other6 (14%)
- Brakes5 (12%)
- Structure & Body5 (12%)
- Engine4 (10%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires4 (10%)
- Transmission & Powertrain4 (10%)
- Collision Avoidance & Cameras3 (7%)
- Airbags2 (5%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
What owners report
- Windshields crack or develop spreading spider cracks after small rock impacts on the highway, sometimes within days.
- Some owners report the windshield cracking issue happened within the first few thousand miles or months of ownership.
- One owner described the vehicle accelerating on its own in reverse after being parked, resulting in a crash into trees.
- Toyota Safety Sense cameras and sensors reportedly failed to prevent low-speed rear-end and head-on collisions in some incidents.
- An electric driver's seat rail became inoperable after a rear-end collision, with the seat gear reportedly destroyed.
- LED headlights were described as excessively bright, causing glare for oncoming drivers.
2017 Toyota Prius Prime recalls
No safety recalls on record for this model year.
2017 Toyota Prius Prime fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 55 MPG
- Highway
- 53 MPG
- Combined
- 54 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $1,200
- 15,000 mi/yr
- Fuel
- Regular Gas and Electricity
- Current regular gas
- $4.32/gal
- national avg.
EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.
2017 compared with other Prius Prime years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2017 Toyota Prius Prime reliable?
- Among the 8 Prius Prime model years with data, 2017 has the highest complaint index (100) and ranks worst overall, with 42 complaints, 5 crashes, and 3 injuries reported to NHTSA.
- What is the most common problem with the 2017 Toyota Prius Prime?
- Visibility & Wipers issues, mainly windshield cracking, are the top problem area, accounting for 9 of 42 complaints (21%), with a median mileage at failure of 7,000.
- Does the 2017 Toyota Prius Prime have any recalls?
- NHTSA lists no recalls for the 2017 Prius Prime, unlike several later model years such as 2019, 2020, 2022, 2023, and 2024.
- How does the 2017 Prius Prime compare to other years?
- The 2017 model has a complaint index of 100 and an Avoid verdict, while 2019 and 2023 score much lower (0 and 14) and carry a Best verdict.
- What is the fuel economy of the 2017 Toyota Prius Prime?
- EPA rates the 2017 Prius Prime at 54 mpg combined (55 city/53 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $1,200.