2019 Toyota Prius Prime Problems, Recalls & Reliability
Verdict
BestComplaint Index
0/100
#8 most-complained of 8 Prius Prime years
The 2019 Toyota Prius Prime ranks 8th out of 8 model years, with a complaint index of 0 and only 8 complaints, earning a "Best" verdict relative to other Prius Prime years. It has one brake booster recall and no crashes, fires, injuries, or deaths reported.
- Complaints
- 8
- Recalls
- 1
- Crashes / fires
- 0 / 0
- Injuries / deaths
- 0 / 0
- NHTSA overall rating
- Not rated
- EPA combined MPG
- 54
- 55 city / 53 hwy
Top 2019 Toyota Prius Prime problems
NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires4 (50%)
- Brakes2 (25%)
- Electrical System1 (13%)
- Other1 (13%)
- Steering1 (13%)
- Structure & Body1 (13%)
What owners report
- Owners report tire blowouts, including tread separating from the sidewall, sometimes with no low-pressure warning from the tire pressure system.
- Some drivers describe a rear or passenger tire losing pressure repeatedly before eventually blowing out on the highway.
- One owner reported the vehicle feeling unstable, drifting left and right, shortly after purchase, tied to a brake complaint.
- Another owner described brake rotors developing heat marks and deep grooves twice within six weeks, at 20,000 total miles.
- One owner reported the doors locking on their own while the vehicle was charging, with no diagnosis performed.
- An owner noted the Prius Prime does not include a spare tire, which complicated a roadside flat-tire situation.
2019 Toyota Prius Prime recalls
1 NHTSA recall campaign list this model year.
- NHTSA 19V544000Jul 24, 2019Brakes6,925 vehicles
Service brakes
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."
Risk: 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.
2019 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.
2019 compared with other Prius Prime years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2019 Toyota Prius Prime reliable?
- Compared to other Prius Prime model years, 2019 ranks best, with a complaint index of 0 and just 8 complaints logged with NHTSA. No crashes, fires, injuries, or deaths were reported.
- What is the top problem area for the 2019 Prius Prime?
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires is the top problem area, accounting for 4 of 8 complaints (50%), with a median failure mileage of 14,298.5 miles.
- Does the 2019 Toyota Prius Prime have any recalls?
- Yes, one recall (campaign 19V544000) covers the brake booster pump, which Toyota dealers inspect and replace free of charge if needed. It is not a do-not-drive recall.
- How does 2019 compare to other Prius Prime years?
- The 2019 model year has a complaint index of 0, the lowest among the years listed, compared to 100 for 2017 and 86 for 2024, which are flagged as "Avoid" years.
- What is the fuel economy of the 2019 Toyota Prius Prime?
- EPA rates it at 54 mpg combined (55 city / 53 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $1,200.