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2023 Toyota Prius problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls

NO ELEVATED SIGNAL
17%
4 of 25 relevant owner complaints are about the engine, transmission or fuel system

No elevated drivetrain complaint concentration in the available NHTSA records for the 2023 Toyota Prius. Engine, transmission and fuel system account for 17% of relevant complaints.

Better than 91% of the 1,790 model years we track (2010–2023).

NHTSA data checked October 3, 2026
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Does the 2023 Toyota Prius have engine or transmission problems?

Not as a pattern, going by owner complaints. 4 of 25 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2023 Toyota Prius concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (17%). For comparison, the 2022 scores 21%. This describes the model year, not any one car: a well-maintained or already-repaired example can be fine, and a clean model year can still have a bad car in it.

Drivetrain complaints
4
engine, transmission, fuel
Total complaints
25
this model year
Fires reported
0
owner-reported
Recall campaigns
4
1 crashes · 1 injuries

Complaints by component

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM8 · 32%
POWER TRAIN4 · 16%
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES4 · 16%
STRUCTURE3 · 12%
WHEELS3 · 12%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER3 · 12%

The years either side

2010
11%
278 of 2,822
2011
17%
72 of 522
2012
18%
111 of 701
2013
18%
95 of 592
2014
20%
58 of 321
2015
18%
34 of 206
2016
19%
31 of 182
2017
25%
33 of 147
2018
28%
13 of 58
2019
21%
7 of 38
2020
19%
5 of 30
2021
too few complaints
2022
21%
6 of 32
2023
17%
4 of 25

Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.

What owners reported

POWER TRAIN08/14/2026
The contact owns a 2023 Toyota Prius. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. The contact stated that the vehicle lost motive power. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was driven to the reside…
POWER TRAIN,SERVICE BRAKES08/06/2024
The contact owns a 2023 Toyota Prius. The contact stated that while sitting in traffic with the brake pedal depressed, the vehicle started rolling backward even though the gear shifter was in drive(D). The contact stated that upon attempting to accelerate, the vehicle failed to respond and continued to roll backward. T…
POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM08/19/2026
The vehicle exhibits an unaddressed factory programming defect where the Plug-In Charge Control ECU fails to enter sleep mode while plugged in or resting. This causes continuous, heavy parasitic drain on the 12V auxiliary battery, causing chronic low-voltage state across critical systems. The 12V auxiliary network supp…

Three of 4 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows more, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.

Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2023 Toyota Prius?

No engine or transmission recalls. NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns on the 2023 Toyota Prius, none of them for the engine, transmission or fuel system. A recall is the manufacturer admitting a defect and paying to fix it; whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN, which the full report checks. The owner complaints above are a separate record and often point at problems that never became a recall.

4 other recalls on this model year (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
electrical system: wiring: switches/knobs/buttons26V049000 · Jan 2026
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2023-2024 Prius Prime, 2023-2026 Prius, and 2025-2026 Prius Plug-in Hybrid vehicles. Water may enter the rear door switch and…
back over prevention: display function25V744000 · Oct 2025
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2022-2026 Toyota, Lexus, and Subaru Solterra vehicles equipped with a Panoramic View Monitor (PVM) system. Please see the recall…
equipment: other: labels24V548000 · Jul 2024
Gulf States Toyota, Inc. (GST) is recalling certain Toyota 2023 GR Supra, 2024 4 Runner, Corolla, Grand Highlander, Grand Highlander Hybrid, Land Cruiser Hybrid, Tacoma, Tacoma Hybrid, 2023-2024…
electrical system: wiring: switches/knobs/buttons24V274000 · Apr 2024
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2023-2024 Prius and Prius Prime vehicles. Water may enter the rear door switch and cause a short circuit, allowing an unlocked…

Source: NHTSA recall campaigns filed against this year, make and model. Checked October 3, 2026.

Before you buy a 2023 Toyota Prius

Questions people ask about the 2023 Toyota Prius

Does the 2023 Toyota Prius have engine or transmission problems?

Not as a pattern, going by owner complaints. 4 of 25 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2023 Toyota Prius concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (17%). It describes the model year, not any one car, so an inspection still matters.

Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2023 Toyota Prius?

No. NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns on the 2023 Toyota Prius, none of them for the engine, transmission or fuel system.

Which Toyota Prius years are better?

Among the Toyota Prius years we track, the 2010 (11%) has a lower engine and transmission complaint share than the 2023 (17%). Manufacturers fix things mid-generation, so the year before or after can be a different car.

Should I buy a 2023 Toyota Prius?

That depends on the car in front of you, not just the model year. The 2023 Toyota Prius shows no elevated engine or transmission pattern in owner complaints, which is a good starting point. It is still one car with its own history, so get an independent pre-purchase inspection and a vehicle history report before you commit.

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Experimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across a model year, not the condition of any individual vehicle. Combined across 2 body styles NHTSA files separately.