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2021 Toyota Prius Prime problems

The most common problem on the 2021 Toyota Prius Prime is electrical system. Its complaint count is close to a typical Prius Prime model year.

Fewer complaintsAmong the best years of this model
Year score
70/100
Owner complaints
10
Recalls
0
Service bulletins
122
Worst area
Electrical
Fuel economy
54mpg

The worst 2021 Toyota Prius Prime problems

Ranked by number of owner complaints. Mileage and cost come from what owners wrote.

  • Electrical
    4
  • Brakes
    3
  • Driver assistance
    2
  • Fuel system
    2
  • Transmission
    2

Problems by type

Tap a problem to see which part fails, at what mileage and in which other years.

  • Electrical
    4
  • Brakes
    3
  • Driver assistance
    2
  • Fuel system
    2
  • Transmission
    2
  • Acceleration
    1
  • Airbags
    1
  • Engine
    1
  • Visibility
    1

Recalls

No recalls on record for this model year.

Defect investigations

Pedestrian alert soundsOpened January 27, 2023, closed August 7, 2023

the federal safety agency 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. The petition can be reviewed at under ODI Number 11486072. FMVSS 141 establishes performance requirements for pedestrian alert sounds for motor vehicles. The standard applies to hybrid and electric vehicles that have a gross vehicle weight rating of 4,536 KG or less or are defined as low-speed vehicles. The standard became fully applicable to all such vehicles manufactured on or after March 1, 2021.On January 27, 2023, the federal safety agency opened Defect Petition (DP) 22-005 to evaluate the subject matter described in the petition. On June 24, 2023 and as supplemented on June 25, 2023, the petitioner notified the federal safety agency he was withdrawing his petition. The petitioner indicated that, based on his review of data, there is no justification for asserting potential benefits that could be derived from actions sought by my petition. Based on the petitioner's withdrawal, DP22-005 is closed. Closure of this DP does not represent a determination by the federal safety agency regarding the subject matter of the petition.

DP22005

Technical service bulletins for the 2021 Toyota Prius Prime 122

Bulletins tell dealers how to fix known problems. A warranty extension means the manufacturer pays for that repair for longer.

See all 122 bulletins for the 2021 Toyota Prius Prime

2021 Toyota Prius Prime fuel economy

Official EPA estimates in miles per gallon (MPGe for electric). Ranges cover trims that share the same engine.

EngineDriveCityHighwayCombined
1.8L 4‑cyl Plug-in hybridFWD555354

What 2021 Toyota Prius Prime owners say

Most recent owner complaints, unedited.

Filed Mar 9, 2026 · Electrical · 274,000 miles · CA

Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2021 Toyota Prius Prime. The contact discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy after the purchase. The vehicle was a private sale. At the time of the purchase, the vehicle mileage was 73,000. It was later discovered upon checking the vehicle history report with a Local dealer, the contact was informed that the mileage was 274,000.

Filed Oct 29, 2025 · Brakes, Electrical · NY · crash · 2 injuries

I was slowly entering a handicapped parking place right in front of a business. The distance from the front of the parking space to the building wall was about 15 feet, one car length. I approached the place to stop in the parking spot when in a split second the car violently surged forward and would have crashed into the cinderblock wall had there not been a supporting post on the building and a metal frame with equipment which stopped the forward movement. The surge was explosive, almost like the acceleration of an airplane taking off. The whole incident took a second or two. There was no opportunity for any driver response to the surge. Had we not been using seatbelts, the front seat passenger & myself would have gone into the windshield and perhaps been killed or very seriously injured. Had I not been driving toward the building when the violent episode occurred, I likely would have hit someone in the parking area and killed or seriously injured people or crashed into park cars. Our injuries were relatively minor due to the seatbelts. The passenger will need therapy on her neck and back. A week later we are still emotionally stressed. There were no indications there was anything wrong with the car prior to this incident. It had only 27,000 miles with new tires and no apparent service issues. This hybrid car, which goes about 22 miles on a charge, was about at the point when it would have transitioned from electric to use of the gasoline engine. The badly damaged car was towed to a lot and later picked up and taken to the insurance facility for evaluation. I have not yet heard back. A NYS trooper investigated. He told me twice to have the Insurance Company look at possible vehicle defects when they examined the vehicle for insurance purposes. I passed on that information, but it appears the insurance company only evaluates the car for damaged. I have not yet gotten a report back yet, but it appears the car is totaled.

Filed Sep 22, 2025 · Driver assistance · 27,696 miles · IL

The contact owns a 2021 Toyota Prius Prime. The contact stated that while shifted into reverse(R), the rearview camera intermittently went black. No warning light was illuminated. In addition, the contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the rearview camera intermittently went black. The local dealer was contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. Upon further investigation, the contact related the failure to an unknown the federal safety agency Campaign; however, the VIN was not under recall. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 27,696.

Filed Mar 30, 2025 · Electrical, Fuel system · ME

Rodents accessed and damaged the car because there essentials components are not protected.

Filed Oct 20, 2024 · Driver assistance · MD · crash

My vehicle is equipped with Toyota Safety Sense, which includes Full-Speed Range Dynamic Radar Cruise Control (DRCC) and a Pre-Collision System. Today, while driving with DRCC engaged, my vehicle followed a leading car and appropriately slowed down to 2 mph as we approached a signalized intersection. However, when the leading vehicle changed lanes, a gap was created between me and a new lead vehicle, which was fully stopped. Despite this, the DRCC system accelerated to 5mph and collided with the stopped vehicle.

Filed Jul 25, 2024 · Acceleration, Brakes · 34,000 miles · ME

The contact owns a 2021 Toyota Prius Prime. The contact stated while driving 45–50 MPH and approaching a stop sign, the brake pedal was depressed but the vehicle failed to respond. The driver continued to pump the brake pedal, but the vehicle failed to respond and depressed to the floorboard. The vehicle accelerated, veered across the road, jumped the curb, and stopped. There were no warning lights illuminated. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, and an engineer determined that the brakes were working properly. The failure mileage was approximately 34,000.

Filed Sep 20, 2023 · Electrical, Transmission · 80,000 miles · MD

The contact owns a 2021 Toyota Prius Prime. The contact stated that after the vehicle was shifted into park, the key was removed and the contact stepped away from the vehicle, when the vehicle inadvertently started to roll away. As a result, the vehicle rolled into the neighbor’s driveway and grazed another vehicle then stopped. Additionally, the contact stated that while the vehicle was on the charger port, the vehicle failed to start. The dealer was notified of the failure and the contact was advised to take the vehicle in to be diagnosed. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacture was notified of the failure and the contact was provided a case number. The failure mileage was approximately 80,000.

Filed Nov 6, 2022 · Airbags, Brakes · CA · crash

Brakes of my Toyota Pirius Prime did not work after I was hit on my right side. Brakes completlety was out. Also I was not able to run the car. The cars brakes should work even I got an accident to precent some further damage to other cars.

Filed Apr 3, 2022 · TX · crash

A sticky accelerator caused my 2021 Prius to lurch forward into a wall. I was pulling into a parking place when this happened. The front airbag deployed. This is the second time this has happened to me with a Prius. In my previous Prius it happened to me two years ago. Both times the vehicle suddenly lurched forward. It was terrifying.

Filed May 12, 2021 · Visibility · 518 miles · OH

Can't see vehicle display screen during bright sunny days, which I find dangerous contacted toyota about issue, they don't care about people safety

Compare the 2021 Toyota Prius Prime

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Questions about the 2021 Toyota Prius Prime

Is the 2021 Toyota Prius Prime reliable?

Owners have filed 10 complaints about the 2021 Toyota Prius Prime, close to a typical Prius Prime model year.

What is the 2021 Toyota Prius Prime year score?

The 2021 Toyota Prius Prime scores 70 out of 100 (average). The score compares it with the other model years of the Toyota Prius Prime: 75 is a typical year, 50 means twice the usual complaints, and serious complaints and recalls lower it.

What is the most common problem with the 2021 Toyota Prius Prime?

Electrical system, with 4 complaints. Next is brakes (3).

How many recalls does the 2021 Toyota Prius Prime have?

No recalls on record.

What gas mileage does the 2021 Toyota Prius Prime get?

Official estimates for the 2021 Toyota Prius Prime range from 54 mpg combined. The most efficient version (1.8L 4-cyl plug-in hybrid, FWD) gets 55 city and 53 highway.

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