Toyota Prius: Years to Avoid and Best Years (Engine & Transmission)
Toyota Prius problems by model year, from 5,692 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. For each year: the share of complaints about the engine, transmission or fuel system, how many there were, and the recalls.
No Toyota Prius year we score has an elevated engine or transmission signal. The highest is the 2018 at 28%, under the 33% line.
Best years on this measure: 2010 (11%), 2011 (17%) and 2023 (17%). 2023 rests on fewer than 60 complaints, so treat it as provisional. A low share means owners complained about other things more than the drivetrain, not that nothing ever fails.
By raw volume, the 2010 drew the most drivetrain complaints (278 of 747 across the scored years). Volume also tracks how many were sold and how long they have been on the road, which is why the share, not the count, sets the verdict.
2021 has fewer than 25 complaints on record so far, too few to score. Newer cars have had less time to collect complaints.
Engine and transmission complaint share, 2010–2023
Share of relevant owner complaints about the engine, transmission or fuel system. 33% is elevated, 40% high, 60% very high. A dash means too few complaints to score.
Every Toyota Prius year
| Model year | Signal | Drivetrain share | Drivetrain complaints | All complaints | Rank (1 = worst) | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 Prius | no elevated signal | 11% | 278 | 2,822 | 13/13 | 10 |
| 2011 Prius | no elevated signal | 17% | 72 | 522 | 12/13 | 6 |
| 2012 Prius | no elevated signal | 18% | 111 | 701 | 8/13 | 8 |
| 2013 Prius | no elevated signal | 18% | 95 | 592 | 10/13 | 5 |
| 2014 Prius | no elevated signal | 20% | 58 | 321 | 5/13 | 5 |
| 2015 Prius | no elevated signal | 18% | 34 | 206 | 9/13 | 3 |
| 2016 Prius | no elevated signal | 19% | 31 | 182 | 6/13 | 6 |
| 2017 Prius | no elevated signal | 25% | 33 | 147 | 2/13 | 4 |
| 2018 Prius | no elevated signal | 28% | 13 | 58 | 1/13 | 3 |
| 2019 Prius | no elevated signal | 21% | 7 | 38 | 4/13 | 3 |
| 2020 Prius | no elevated signal | 19% | 5 | 30 | 7/13 | 1 |
| 2021 Prius | too few to score | – | 7 | 16 | – | 0 |
| 2022 Prius | no elevated signal | 21% | 6 | 32 | 3/13 | 1 |
| 2023 Prius | no elevated signal | 17% | 4 | 25 | 11/13 | 4 |
What owners complain about most, all years
Categories as NHTSA files them, summed across the Toyota Prius years with data. A complaint can name more than one component, so the shares overlap. Red is engine, transmission or fuel.
Toyota Prius engine recalls: timeline
NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign on the Toyota Prius involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 32 across the years we track. Each model-year page has the details. Whether a particular car still has a recall open depends on its VIN.
| Date | Campaign | Component | Model years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 2021 | 21V734000 | engine and engine cooling: engine: engine control module (ecu/ecm): software | 2022 |
31 other recalls (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
| Date | Campaign | Component | Model years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 2010 | 10V035000 | equipment: other: labels | 2010 |
| Feb 2010 | 10V036000 | equipment: other: labels | 2010 |
| Feb 2010 | 10V039000 | service brakes, air: antilock: control unit/module | 2010 |
| Jan 2013 | 13V014000 | air bags: frontal: sensor/control module-inactive | 2010–2012 |
| Apr 2013 | 13V123000 | equipment: other: labels | 2012 |
| Jun 2013 | 13V235000 | service brakes | 2010 |
| Dec 2013 | 13E070000 | exterior lighting: tail lights | 2012–2013 |
| Feb 2014 | 14V053000 | hybrid propulsion system: inverter | 2010–2014 |
| Nov 2014 | 14V743000 | seats: front assembly: seat heater/cooler | 2010–2011 |
| Jan 2015 | 15V013000 | air bags | 2014–2015 |
| Jul 2015 | 15V449000 | hybrid propulsion system: inverter | 2012–2014 |
| Aug 2015 | 15V514000 | tires: pressure monitoring and regulating systems | 2015 |
| Jun 2016 | 16V396000 | seats: front assembly: seat heater/cooler | 2010–2012 |
| Jun 2016 | 16V487000 | air bags: side/window | 2010–2012 |
| Sep 2016 | 16V672000 | air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module | 2016 |
| Oct 2016 | 16V741000 | parking brake | 2016–2017 |
| May 2017 | 17V295000 | tires: temporary/emergency spare tire | 2017 |
| Oct 2017 | 17V658000 | hybrid propulsion system: inverter | 2016 |
| Jan 2018 | 18V085000 | air bags: side/window | 2016 |
| Mar 2018 | 18V176000 | equipment: other: labels | 2018 |
| Sep 2018 | 18V579000 | electrical system: wiring | 2016–2018 |
| Oct 2018 | 18V684000 | hybrid propulsion system | 2010–2014 |
| Mar 2019 | 19V244000 | equipment: other: labels | 2019 |
| Jun 2019 | 19V491000 | hybrid propulsion system | 2018 |
| Jul 2019 | 19V544000 | electronic stability control (esc) | 2019–2020 |
| Dec 2019 | 19V876000 | electrical system: instrument cluster/panel | 2019 |
| Jun 2020 | 20V369000 | hybrid propulsion system: inverter | 2013–2017 |
| Apr 2024 | 24V274000 | electrical system: wiring: switches/knobs/buttons | 2023 |
| Jul 2024 | 24V548000 | equipment: other: labels | 2023 |
| Oct 2025 | 25V744000 | back over prevention: display function | 2023 |
| Jan 2026 | 26V049000 | electrical system: wiring: switches/knobs/buttons | 2023 |
What the free pages leave out on the Toyota Prius
- The mileage where it happens, for the model year you are looking at.
- What the repair costs, to price into your offer.
- Cleaner alternatives: similar cars with a better record.
- Up to 15 owner reports, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
- What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive.
- Open recalls on the actual car, by VIN.
Questions people ask about the Toyota Prius
What are the worst years for the Toyota Prius?
None stands out. No Toyota Prius year we score has an elevated engine or transmission share; the highest is the 2018 (28%).
What are the best years for the Toyota Prius?
On engine and transmission complaints, the best Toyota Prius years are the 2010 (11%), the 2011 (17%) and the 2023 (17%). That describes the model year; any one car still needs an inspection.
Does the Toyota Prius have engine problems?
Not as a pattern. Across the 13 scored years, 747 of 5,456 relevant NHTSA complaints (14%) concern the engine, transmission or fuel system; the largest drivetrain category is engine.
Is the Toyota Prius reliable?
On the engine and transmission it depends on the year: 0 of 13 Toyota Prius years we score have an elevated complaint share and 13 do not. Pooled across those years, 14% of relevant complaints are about the drivetrain, against a 33% line for an elevated signal. Complaint data does not measure overall reliability, so pick the year first, then inspect the car.
Are there transmission or engine recalls on the Toyota Prius?
Yes. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign involving the engine, transmission or fuel system across the Toyota Prius years we track, out of 32 in total: 21V734000 (Sep 2021, 2022). Whether a car still has one open depends on its VIN.
Have the VIN?Paste it and get the full report for that car. First report free, then a 30-day pass covers a whole car search.
Check a VINExperimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across model years, not the condition of any individual vehicle. Model years with fewer than 25 complaints are not scored.