YearToAvoid

2020 Toyota Prius Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Best

Complaint Index

20/100

#13 most-complained of 16 Prius years

The 2020 Toyota Prius ranks as one of the Best model years, with a Complaint Index of 20 and just 14 complaints, ranking 13th worst out of 16 years tracked. Brakes are the top problem area at 36% of complaints, but there are no recalls for this year.

Complaints
14
Recalls
0
Crashes / fires
6 / 0
Injuries / deaths
6 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
5 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
52
54 city / 50 hwy

Top 2020 Toyota Prius problems

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

  1. Brakes5 (36%)
  2. Other5 (36%)
  3. Suspension, Wheels & Tires3 (21%)
  4. Electrical System2 (14%)
  5. Engine2 (14%)
  6. Collision Avoidance & Cameras2 (14%)
  7. Airbags1 (7%)
  8. Fuel System1 (7%)
  9. Structure & Body1 (7%)
  10. Transmission & Powertrain1 (7%)

What owners report

  • Owners report the brake pedal failing to stop the car during low-speed maneuvers, with the vehicle instead lurching forward or backward unexpectedly.
  • One owner described the car accelerating suddenly while pulling out of a parking lot, followed by a dashboard warning about a malfunction in engine, throttle, or transmission control.
  • A tire sidewall was reported to have blown out or ballooned during normal low-speed turns, with the dealer unable to identify a cause in one case.
  • The multi-information display reportedly stopped showing speed, fuel level, and odometer readings at low mileage.
  • One owner reported the parking sensor and park assist system failing to work after heavy rain.
  • An owner reported the forward collision sensors not activating before a crash, with the airbag also failing to deploy.
2020 Toyota Prius complaints: complaints filed per month3Mar 2020Aug 2020Dec 2020Sep 2021Nov 2022Feb 2024Aug 2025
23 complaints filed with NHTSA from Mar 2020 to Sep 2025; peak Oct 2020 (3).

2020 Toyota Prius recalls

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

2020 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.

2020 compared with other Prius years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2018Best736154
2019Best1330352
2020Best2014052
2021Best06052
2022Good3324152

All Toyota Prius years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2020 Toyota Prius reliable?
Based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2020 Prius is rated Best among Prius model years, with a Complaint Index of 20 and only 14 complaints on file.
What is the biggest problem with the 2020 Toyota Prius?
Brakes are the top problem area, accounting for 36% of complaints, including reports of brake failure during low-speed parking maneuvers.
Does the 2020 Toyota Prius have any recalls?
NHTSA lists no recalls for the 2020 Toyota Prius.
How does the 2020 Prius compare to other Prius years?
The 2020 Prius ranks 13th worst out of 16 model years tracked, far better than the 2010 model year, which has a Complaint Index of 100 and 2,757 complaints.
What is the fuel economy of the 2020 Toyota Prius?
The 2020 Prius gets 52 mpg combined (54 city / 50 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $1,250 according to the EPA.

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.