YearToAvoid

2021 Toyota Prius Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Best

Complaint Index

0/100

#16 most-complained of 16 Prius years

The 2021 Toyota Prius has 6 owner complaints and 0 safety recalls on file with NHTSA. Its Complaint Index is 0 out of 100 — #16 highest of 16 Prius model years (verdict: Best). The most reported problem area is engine (3 complaints, 50% of the total). Complaints report 1 crash.

Complaints
6
Recalls
0
Crashes / fires
1 / 0
Injuries / deaths
0 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
5 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
52
54 city / 50 hwy

Top 2021 Toyota Prius problems

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

  1. Engine3 (50%)
  2. Fuel System2 (33%)
  3. Brakes1 (17%)
  4. Electrical System1 (17%)
  5. Collision Avoidance & Cameras1 (17%)
  6. Lane Departure1 (17%)
  7. Other1 (17%)
  8. Suspension, Wheels & Tires1 (17%)
2021 Toyota Prius complaints: complaints filed per month3Mar 2021May 2021Jun 2023Jul 2023Sep 2024Feb 2026
11 complaints filed with NHTSA from Mar 2021 to Feb 2026; peak May 2021 (3).

2021 Toyota Prius recalls

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

2021 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.

2021 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
2019Best1330352
2020Best2014052
2021Best06052
2022Good3324152
2023Good2719453

All Toyota Prius years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2021 Toyota Prius a reliable year?
Judged by NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2021 Toyota Prius ranks #16 of 16 among Prius model years (Complaint Index 0/100, verdict: Best). It has 6 complaints and 0 recalls on file. This reflects reported safety-related problems, not an overall reliability rating.
What are the most common problems with the 2021 Toyota Prius?
The most reported problem areas are engine (3 complaints), fuel system (2 complaints), and brakes (1 complaints). The median mileage at the time of failure in complaints that report it is 5,200 miles.
Does the 2021 Toyota Prius have any recalls?
No safety recall campaigns list the 2021 Toyota Prius in NHTSA’s recall database at the time of the last data update.
What is the fuel economy of the 2021 Toyota Prius?
EPA rates the 2021 Toyota Prius at 52 MPG combined (54 city / 50 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $1,250. Where several configurations exist, the median is shown.

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.