YearToAvoid

2020 Toyota Prius Prime Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Good

Complaint Index

43/100

#5 most-complained of 8 Prius Prime years

The 2020 Toyota Prius Prime has 16 NHTSA complaints, 1 recall, and a complaint index of 43, ranking 5th worst out of 8 model years. It carries a "Good" verdict relative to other Prius Prime years, with Visibility & Wipers as the top problem area.

Complaints
16
Recalls
1
Crashes / fires
5 / 0
Injuries / deaths
0 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
54
55 city / 53 hwy

Top 2020 Toyota Prius Prime problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Visibility & Wipers5 (31%)
  2. Electrical System3 (19%)
  3. Engine3 (19%)
  4. Transmission & Powertrain3 (19%)
  5. Brakes2 (13%)
  6. Suspension, Wheels & Tires2 (13%)
  7. Airbags1 (6%)
  8. Collision Avoidance & Cameras1 (6%)
  9. Structure & Body1 (6%)

What owners report

  • Owners describe unintended acceleration while parking or driving slowly, with the vehicle lurching forward and crashing into objects or other vehicles.
  • Windshield frost forms on the inside of the glass and takes 20 minutes or more to clear, reducing visibility.
  • Some drivers report the brake pedal failing to slow the vehicle, with a vibrating pedal and a sensation like skidding.
  • A backup camera view can be blocked by an obstruction, causing the display to go dark during reversing.
  • One owner reported a side mirror glass detaching and falling off while driving with no prior sign of damage.
2020 Toyota Prius Prime complaints: complaints filed per month4Feb 2020Nov 2020Feb 2022Dec 2022Jan 2024Feb 2025
21 complaints filed with NHTSA from Feb 2020 to Sep 2025; peak Nov 2020 (4).

2020 Toyota Prius Prime recalls

1 NHTSA recall campaign list this model year.

  1. 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.

2020 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.

2020 compared with other Prius Prime years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)025507510020172018201920202021202220232024
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2018Caution5716054
2019Best08154
2020Good4316154
2021Caution7110054
2022Good298154

All Toyota Prius Prime years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2020 Toyota Prius Prime reliable?
NHTSA data shows 16 complaints and a complaint index of 43 for the 2020 Prius Prime, giving it a "Good" verdict compared to other Prius Prime years, with only 1 recall on file.
What is the top problem area for the 2020 Prius Prime?
Visibility & Wipers is the top problem area, accounting for 5 of the 16 complaints (31%), including windshield frost buildup and a detached mirror glass.
Does the 2020 Prius Prime have a recall?
Yes, one recall (campaign 19V544000) covers the brake booster pump on certain 2019-2020 Prius Prime vehicles; it is not a do-not-drive recall.
How does the 2020 Prius Prime compare to other years?
With a complaint index of 43, the 2020 model ranks 5th worst out of 8 years tracked, better than the 2017 (index 100, Avoid) and 2024 (index 86, Avoid) model years.
What is the fuel economy of the 2020 Prius Prime?
The EPA rates the 2020 Prius Prime at 54 mpg combined (55 city / 53 highway), with an annual fuel cost of $1,200.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.