Toyota Prius Best and Worst Years (2010–2025)
Toyota Prius model years 2010–2013 rank worst on NHTSA complaints and recalls, led by 2010 with 2,757 complaints and a complaint index of 100. Best years are 2018–2021, with complaint indexes from 20 down to 0. Brakes are the top issue across all years, at 59% of the 4,896 total complaints.
Avoid 2010Avoid 2011Avoid 2012Avoid 2013Best 2018Best 2019Best 2020Best 2021
- Model years
- 16
- 2010–2025
- NHTSA complaints
- 4,896
- Recall campaigns
- 26
- Crashes reported
- 406
- Fires reported
- 29
- Top problem area
- Brakes
Prius Complaint Index by year
Higher = more complaints, crashes, fires, injuries, deaths and Do-Not-Drive recalls per year on the road, relative to other years of this model.
Toyota Prius problems and recalls by year
| Year | Verdict | Index | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Recalls | Top issue | MPG | NCAP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Avoid | 100 | 2,757 | 181 | 13 | 10 | Brakes | 50 | — |
| 2011 | Avoid | 93 | 519 | 37 | 7 | 6 | Brakes | 48 | 5★ |
| 2012 | Avoid | 87 | 423 | 46 | 2 | 6 | Brakes | 48 | 5★ |
| 2013 | Avoid | 80 | 409 | 39 | 3 | 3 | Brakes | 48 | 5★ |
| 2014 | Caution | 67 | 207 | 25 | 1 | 3 | Brakes | 48 | 4★ |
| 2015 | Caution | 73 | 165 | 29 | 1 | 1 | Brakes | 48 | 4★ |
| 2016 | Caution | 60 | 154 | 8 | 0 | 5 | Visibility & Wipers | 54 | 5★ |
| 2017 | Caution | 53 | 91 | 12 | 2 | 3 | Engine | 54 | 5★ |
| 2018 | Best | 7 | 36 | 5 | 0 | 1 | Engine | 54 | 5★ |
| 2019 | Best | 13 | 30 | 7 | 0 | 3 | Brakes | 52 | 5★ |
| 2020 | Best | 20 | 14 | 6 | 0 | 0 | Brakes | 52 | 5★ |
| 2021 | Best | 0 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | Engine | 52 | 5★ |
| 2022 | Good | 33 | 24 | 4 | 0 | 1 | Electrical System | 52 | 5★ |
| 2023 | Good | 27 | 19 | 1 | 0 | 4 | Structure & Body | 53 | 5★ |
| 2024 | Good | 47 | 26 | 4 | 0 | 4 | Electrical System | 53 | 5★ |
| 2025 | Good | 40 | 16 | 1 | 0 | 2 | Electrical System | 52 | 5★ |
Prius years to avoid: what went wrong
2010 Toyota Prius Index 100 · 2,757 complaints · 10 recalls
The 2010 Prius has the highest complaint volume of any year, 2,757 complaints, and tops the worst-first ranking with a complaint index of 100. Brakes account for 70% of its complaints, with a median failure mileage of 5,000 miles, suggesting problems showing up early. Owners describe brakes that seem to momentarily stop functioning on rough roads, and some report sudden forward surges while braking. Ten recall campaigns apply to this year, including fixes for the hybrid inverter's Intelligent Power Module and a curtain airbag weld issue. Crashes tied to complaints reached 181, with 13 fires and 2 deaths reported.
2010 brakes problems →2010 engine problems →2010 electrical system problems →
2011 Toyota Prius Index 93 · 519 complaints · 6 recalls
The 2011 Prius logged 519 complaints and carries a complaint index of 93, the second-worst year. Brakes make up 54% of complaints, with a median failure mileage of 80,000 miles, later than 2010's pattern. Electrical system issues follow at 21%, with owners reporting smoke and fire smells from the dashboard area. Airbags account for 9% of complaints, and owners describe cases where airbags failed to deploy in crashes. Six recalls apply to this year, covering the hybrid inverter software and airbag bracket weld.
2011 brakes problems →2011 electrical system problems →2011 engine problems →
2012 Toyota Prius Index 87 · 423 complaints · 6 recalls
The 2012 Prius shows 423 complaints and a complaint index of 87. Brakes are the top concern at 47% of complaints, with a median failure mileage of 95,755 miles. Electrical system problems make up 20%, including reports of smoke and fire in the vehicle. Owners also describe airbags failing to deploy during low-speed crashes. Six recall campaigns cover this year, including inverter software updates and the curtain airbag bracket fix. NHTSA data lists 46 crashes and 2 fires linked to complaints for this year.
2012 brakes problems →2012 electrical system problems →2012 engine problems →
2013 Toyota Prius Index 80 · 409 complaints · 3 recalls
The 2013 Prius has 409 complaints and a complaint index of 80. Brakes dominate at 59% of complaints, with a median failure mileage of 92,000 miles. Owners describe sudden forward lunging while braking at low speed and airbags failing to deploy in collisions. Electrical system issues account for 15% of complaints. Three recall campaigns apply, including two separate fixes for the hybrid inverter's Intelligent Power Module. NHTSA data lists 39 crashes and 3 fires tied to complaints for this year.
2013 brakes problems →2013 electrical system problems →2013 engine problems →
Most common Toyota Prius problems (all years)
Share of NHTSA complaints by component group. A complaint naming two components counts once in each.
- Brakes2,910 (59%)
- Engine742 (15%)
- Electrical System703 (14%)
- Other362 (7%)
- Airbags220 (4%)
- Fuel System206 (4%)
- Transmission & Powertrain178 (4%)
- Structure & Body169 (3%)
- Visibility & Wipers155 (3%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires126 (3%)
Frequently asked questions
- What year Toyota Prius should I avoid?
- Based on NHTSA complaints and recalls, 2010 through 2013 are the Prius years to avoid, with 2010 ranking worst overall at a complaint index of 100 and 2,757 total complaints.
- What are the best Toyota Prius years?
- The 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2021 Prius model years rank best, with complaint indexes of 7, 13, 20, and 0 respectively, based on NHTSA complaint and recall data.
- What is the most common problem with the Toyota Prius?
- Brakes are the most reported issue across all Prius model years, accounting for 2,910 of 4,896 total complaints, or 59%.
- Are there Toyota Prius recalls related to brakes or the hybrid system?
- Toyota issued multiple recalls affecting Prius model years including 2010-2014 and 2013-2015 for excessive voltage in the hybrid inverter's Intelligent Power Module, addressed with software updates.
- Is the 2010 Toyota Prius reliable?
- Relative to other Prius model years, the 2010 is the least reliable based on NHTSA data, with the highest complaint count (2,757) and complaint index (100) of any year covered.