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Toyota Prius years to avoid, worst and best years

Owners have filed 12,528 complaints about the Toyota Prius since 2000, and 35 recalls have been issued. The 2010 model year has 2,823 complaints, more than any other year, led by brakes and acceleration problems.

6 years to avoidWorst: 2010
Owner complaints
12,528
Recalls
35
Worst year
2010
Model years
2000-2026

Toyota Prius years to avoid

More than twice the Prius's typical complaint count for a model year.

Best Toyota Prius years

Not enough model years on the road yet to compare.

Toyota Prius complaints by model year

Owner complaints by model year. Newer years have had less time on the road, so expect them to grow.

200020052010201520202026

How we calculate this

Year to avoidFewest complaintsOther years

Most common Toyota Prius problems

All model years combined.

  • Brakes
    4,467
  • Lights
    3,513
  • Electrical
    1,596
  • Acceleration
    1,050
  • Engine
    777
  • Driver assistance
    487
  • Body
    428
  • Airbags
    426
  • Transmission
    415
  • Fuel system
    406
  • Steering
    380
  • Visibility
    244

Most reported problems on the Toyota Prius

Stalling 456Loss of power 273Tire blowout 81

Toyota Prius problems year by year

Tap a year to see its problems, recalls and what owners say.

YearScoreComplaintsTop problemTypical mileageRecallsCrashes
2026-6Electrical12
2025-16Electrical21
2024-27Electrical44
2023-21Electrical41
20228624Electrical34,60014
2021956Engine01
20208514Brakes12,85006
20198630Brakes5,50037
20189037Visibility10,00015
20178091Visibility14,000312
201673156Visibility19,70058
201567166Brakes30,000129
201463211Brakes27,000326
201340414Brakes54,425340Avoid
201235425Brakes50,000646Avoid
201130522Brakes77,000637Avoid
201052,823Brakes6,42310183Avoid
200929502Brakes30,000664Avoid
200851,497Lights51,3004152Avoid
200752,004Lights50,5004124Avoid
200651,440Lights50,000682Avoid
200551,051Lights77,0006102Avoid
200424610Lights72,436638Avoid
20038499Steering71,00015
200271167Steering70,400212
200174165Steering60,649313
2000-4Lights00

Recalls 35

See all 35 recalls for the Toyota Prius

Compare the Prius

Prius vs Toyota Camry HybridPrius vs Ford Fusion HybridPrius vs Honda Accord HybridPrius vs Honda Insight

Questions about the Toyota Prius

What years of the Toyota Prius should you avoid?

2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2010. Each has more than twice the Toyota Prius's typical number of owner complaints for a model year; 2010 alone has 2,823, mostly about brakes and acceleration.

What is the best year for a used Toyota Prius?

There are not enough model years on the road yet to compare.

What is the most common problem with the Toyota Prius?

Brakes, with 4,467 complaints across all years, followed by lights (3,513) and electrical (1,596).

How many recalls does the Toyota Prius have?

35 recalls between 2000 and 2026. The 2010 model year has the most, with 10.

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