2019 Toyota Prius Problems, Recalls & Reliability
Verdict
BestComplaint Index
13/100
#14 most-complained of 16 Prius years
The 2019 Toyota Prius has 30 complaints, 3 recalls, and a Complaint Index of 13, ranking it 14th worst out of 16 model years — a Best verdict relative to other Prius years. Brakes (40% of complaints) and engine issues (33%) are the top concerns.
- Complaints
- 30
- Recalls
- 3
- Crashes / fires
- 7 / 0
- Injuries / deaths
- 2 / 0
- NHTSA overall rating
- 5 / 5 ★
- EPA combined MPG
- 52
- 54 city / 50 hwy
Top 2019 Toyota Prius problems
NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Brakes12 (40%)
- Engine10 (33%)
- Other8 (27%)
- Airbags4 (13%)
- Electrical System4 (13%)
- Collision Avoidance & Cameras4 (13%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires3 (10%)
- Transmission & Powertrain2 (7%)
- Fuel System1 (3%)
- Lane Departure1 (3%)
What owners report
- Owners report sudden unintended acceleration when shifting into reverse or pulling into a parking space, with brakes failing to respond.
- Some describe the BRAKE warning light activating along with a total loss of braking response, forcing gear changes to stop the vehicle.
- Airbags reportedly failed to deploy in multiple crashes, including side-impact and rear-end collisions.
- Several complaints describe the anti-collision braking system failing to engage before a low-speed crash.
- Owners note brake pedal pulsation and rotor issues found during dealer inspection.
- One complaint describes a false parking-assist sensor warning triggered by rain that continues beeping.
2019 Toyota Prius recalls
3 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 19V876000Dec 11, 2019Electrical System3,751 vehicles
Electrical system: instrument cluster/panel
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2019 Prius vehicles. An electrical short circuit in the combination meter could occur, causing the speedometer, the odometer, and the fuel gauge to go blank. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 101, "Controls and Displays."
Risk: A blank main display will not show important information like vehicle speed or fuel level. Driving with an inoperative display can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the flash memory chip (ROM) production date, and if necessary, replace it along with the combination meter circuit board, free of charge. The recall began February 7, 2020. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 19TA21 and 19TB21.
- 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.
- NHTSA 19V244000Mar 27, 2019Other3,634 vehicles
Equipment:other:labels
Gulf States Toyota (GST) is recalling certain 2019 C-HR, 4Runner, Avalon, Avalon Hybrid, Camry, Camry Hybrid, Highlander, Land Cruiser, Prius, RAV4, Sequoia, Tacoma, Sienna, Tundra and Yaris vehicles. The text on the load capacity label may become illegible. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims."
Risk: If the driver cannot read the label, they may unknowingly overload the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: GST will notify owners, and dealers will provide corrected load carrying capacity modification labels, free of charge. The recall began May 24, 2019. Owners may contact GST customer service at 1-800-444-1074. GST's number for this recall is 19R1.
2019 Toyota Prius fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 54 MPG
- Highway
- 50 MPG
- Combined
- 52 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $1,250
- 15,000 mi/yr
- Fuel
- Regular
- 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 years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2019 Toyota Prius reliable?
- Compared to other Prius model years, the 2019 ranks as a Best year, with only 30 complaints and a Complaint Index of 13, placing it 14th worst out of 16 years tracked.
- What are the most common problems with the 2019 Toyota Prius?
- NHTSA data shows brakes account for 40% of complaints and engine issues for 33%, with airbags, electrical system, and collision avoidance/camera issues each at 13%.
- Does the 2019 Toyota Prius have any recalls?
- NHTSA lists 3 recalls for the 2019 Prius, covering the electrical system (combination meter short circuit), brakes (brake booster pump), and a loading label labeling error. None are do-not-drive recalls.
- How does the 2019 Prius compare to other Prius years?
- The 2019 Prius has a Complaint Index of 13 and ranks 14th worst of 16 years, far better than 2010's index of 100, which is the worst-ranked Prius year.
- What is the fuel economy of the 2019 Toyota Prius?
- EPA rates the 2019 Prius at 52 mpg combined (54 city / 50 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $1,250.