The best Prius years to buy are 2018 and 2019. Be careful with the 2012: the older Prius drew about 2.5 times the average complaints, mostly a brake booster pump that can fail and is costly to replace.
Best years: 20182019 Years to avoid: 2012
Every Prius year compared
Owner complaints per 100,000 cars sold. Lower is better. The newest years have had less time to collect complaints, so they are marked too new to judge.
Known Prius problems
Year by year
| Year | Complaints | Per 100k sold | Recalls | Top issue | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 43 | - | 4 | Other | Too new to judge |
| 2023 | 28 | - | 4 | Electrical | Too new to judge |
| 2022 | 32 | 87 | 1 | Electrical | Average |
| 2021 | 16 | 27 | 0 | Electrical | Few reports |
| 2020 | 30 | 69 | 1 | Brakes | Good year |
| 2019 | 39 | 56 | 3 | Brakes | Good buy |
| 2018 | 52 | 59 | 1 | Other | Good buy |
| 2017 | 145 | 133 | 3 | Visibility and wipers | Average |
| 2016 | 181 | 132 | 5 | Visibility and wipers | Average |
| 2015 | 171 | 93 | 2 | Brakes | Average |
| 2014 | 254 | 122 | 4 | Brakes | Average |
| 2013 | 426 | 182 | 4 | Brakes | Watch out |
| 2012 | 713 | 301 | 6 | Brakes | Watch out |
About the Prius
The Prius is one of the cheapest cars to run, and the current generation (2016 on) has very few complaints. Older third-generation cars from 2012 and 2013 have a known brake booster and actuator weak point, plus inverter recalls. Hybrid batteries usually last 150,000 miles or more.
- 2012-2015: Third generation. Brake booster failures and inverter recalls on 2012-2013; head gasket and oil use at high mileage.
- 2016-2022: Fourth generation. Very low complaints.
- 2023 on: Fifth generation. Too new to judge.
Prius warranty extensions and special coverage
Carmakers sometimes extend the warranty on a part that fails too often, or pay for a fix outside a recall. These notices come from the dealer bulletins Toyota files with NHTSA. 1,010 Prius bulletins are on file in total.
Warranty Enhancement Program: Toyota has received reports indicating various brake system related warning lamps illuminate due to internal malfunctions.
FAQ: In our continuing efforts to ensure the best in customer satisfaction, Toyota is announcing a Customer Support Program to extend the coverage for repairs related to failure of the Intelligent Power Module (IPM).
Dealer letter: in these vehicles, Toyota has received some reports where the intelligent power module (ipm) located inside the inverter assembly of the hybrid system may fail.
Electronic Communication: In our continuing efforts to ensure the best in customer satisfaction, Toyota is announcing a Warranty Enhancement Program to extend the warranty coverage for repairs related to failure of the Intellig...
Dealer Letter: In our continuing efforts to ensure the best in customer satisfaction, Toyota is announcing a Warranty Enhancement Program to extend the warranty coverage for repairs related failure of the Intelligent Power Modu...
Region Letter: In our continuing efforts to ensure the best in customer satisfaction, Toyota is announcing a Warranty Enhancement Program to extend the warranty coverage for repairs related to failure of the Intelligent Power M...
Warranty Dealer Package: Warranty Enhancement Program to extend the warranty coverage for repairs related failure of the Intelligent Power Module (IPM).
Ask a dealer to check a specific car by VIN. Extensions usually have a time or mileage limit.
Government investigations into the Prius
NHTSA opens an investigation when complaints point to a possible safety defect. Some end in a recall and some close without one.
Defect petition DP23005 · 2012–2015 · opened Nov 2023
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) has received a petition dated September 19, 2023 from the owner of a 2012 Toyota Prius V requesting that ODI reevaluate its decision to deny DP19-004.
Defect petition DP22005 · 2012–2022 · opened Jan 2023, closed Aug 2023 · led to recall 22V063000
NHTSA received a petition on or about July 18, 2022, requesting that Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 141 be applied to all electric and hybrid vehicles operating in the United States.
Defect petition DP19004 · 2012–2015 · opened Sep 2019, closed Jan 2021
On September 19, 2019, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) received a defect petition from Mr.
Questions
What is the best year for the Toyota Prius?
2018 and 2019. The best Prius years to buy are 2018 and 2019. Be careful with the 2012: the older Prius drew about 2.5 times the average complaints, mostly a brake booster pump that can fail and is costly to replace.
Which Toyota Prius years should I avoid?
2012. These drew far more owner complaints per car sold than the Toyota Prius average.
Based on 2,130 complaints filed by owners with U.S. safety regulators for model years 2012 to 2024, and U.S. sales by calendar year. How we score.