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Summary
  • The resale value of the Toyota Prius only depreciates by 17% in five years.
  • With proper handling and regular maintenance, the Toyota Prius can have a long service life.
  • The most commonly reported issues for different Toyota Prius model years include cracked windshields, excessive engine oil consumption, and engine issues.
  • Depending on the model year, the Toyota Prius can also develop problems with its headlights, interior accessories, fuel gauge, transistors, and parking brake.

If you’re in the market for a reliable electric car, you can’t go wrong with a Toyota Prius. All of its model years have something great to offer, from excellent safety ratings to fantastic fuel economy. Its resale value is also good, only depreciating by 17% in five years according to CarEdge.com. However, some have questioned the Toyota Prius’ reliability in the long-term, especially because of some common problems experienced by some owners.

Is the Toyota Prius Reliable?

US News & World Report ranked the 2021 Toyota Prius 10th out of 17 vehicles in the hybrid and electric segment. With these figures, it’s apparent that the Toyota Prius can enjoy a long service life with proper handling and regular maintenance.

Top Toyota Prius Problems

Although the Toyota Prius is one dependable electric car, it still has its fair share of problems. Even if it ranked among the top ten hybrid and electric cars in the US News & World Report, the 2021 Prius’s predicted reliability rating from JD Power was only 74 out of 100, which is considered average. It’s only wise to look at the history of the model line to familiarize yourself with its potential problems. Here are the most commonly reported issues for different model years:

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Windshield Prone to Cracking

Windshield cracking is among the most reported 2016 Toyota Prius problems. According to some owners, the crack on the front windshield spreads very quickly. They say that even the smallest pebble could crack as much as two-thirds of the windshield’s surface.

To resolve this problem, some owners had to get their windshields replaced. Although this issue seems like a design flaw, as of this writing, Toyota has not issued any recalls to address this problem.

Excessive Oil Consumption

2010 2011 Toyota Prius White - Toyota USA Newsroom
Some owners of the 2011 Toyota Prius had to top up their engine oil every other week to keep their oil warning light from illuminating. Image source: Toyota USA Newsroom.

According to some owners of the 2011 Toyota Prius, problems linked to excessive oil consumption are common in some units of this model year. Affected vehicles would burn engine oil at roughly 1 quart per 1,000 miles. Some owners had to top up their engine oil every other week to keep their oil warning light from illuminating. Drivers had to pay special attention to their car’s oil levels to prevent serious engine damage.

To resolve this issue, some owners had to get their leaking timing cover gaskets replaced. Others weren’t as lucky and needed to get their vehicles’ engines replaced. As of this writing, Toyota has not issued a recall to fix this issue.

Engine Problems

2010 2011 Toyota Prius Red Toyota - USA Newsroom
Engine problems are among the most reported 2010 Toyota Prius problems. Image source: Toyota USA Newsroom.

Engine problems are among the most reported 2010 Toyota Prius problems. According to some owners, their vehicles have experienced a wide variety of engine-related issues, such as a blown head gasket, engine hesitation, engine failure, overheating, and stalling.

Toyota has issued recalls for this model year to address multiple engine problems. To properly diagnose these issues, it’s best to seek the expertise of a licensed mechanic to get an accurate diagnosis.

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Headlight Failure

Many owners of the 2008 Toyota Prius have reported problems with their car’s headlights, which may go out while driving. Turning them off and switching them back on may work but only for a few minutes. In some cases, both headlights would go out simultaneously.

For some affected vehicles, simply replacing the headlight bulbs wasn’t enough to resolve the problem. Others had to replace the headlight assembly to fix this. As of this writing, Toyota has not issued any recalls to resolve this problem.

Interior Accessory Issues

According to owners of the 2007 Toyota Prius, problems due to a malfunctioning dashboard display, warning system, backup camera, and cruise control are common in some units of this model year.

Among these interior accessory issues, dashboard display problems are the most common. Some drivers report that their dashboard display would suddenly cut out, leaving them without visible speed, odometer, and fuel gauges. Their vehicles wouldn’t lock and their engines wouldn’t shut down as well.

Those who took their vehicles to the dealership discovered that these problems were due to a bad battery that needed to be replaced. Although there have been no recalls to resolve this issue, this problem may be covered by your car’s warranty.

Incorrect Fuel Gauge Reading

Many owners of the 2006 Toyota Prius have reported problems with their vehicle’s fuel gauge, which gave inaccurate readings and worked intermittently. Drivers of affected vehicles would notice that their fuel levels stayed low despite filling up their tank and discovered that the levels were going down much faster in comparison to the mileage indicated in the odometer.

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To resolve this problem, a recalibration procedure may need to be performed on the vehicle’s fuel gauge.

Thermal Transistor Stress

Another one of the problems with the 2010-2014 Toyota Prius is the excessive thermal stress put on some of its transistors. Faulty software settings on the motor/generator electronic control unit (ECU) and the hybrid control ECU causes this issue. The stress on the transistors would result in warning lights going off and the vehicle entering a failsafe mode. The vehicle would then lose power and stop running. Toyota recalled over 700,000 Prius units that were affected by this problem. Check the repair history of any 2010-2014 Prius you may be looking at to make sure this issue has been resolved.

Parking Brake Problems

The parking brake caused certain 2016 Toyota Prius models problems, thanks to a faulty brake cable. The issue would arise when the driver exited the vehicle while the ignition was on and the “Park” gear wasn’t activated. The vehicle’s brakes would cease to operate, leading to the vehicle rolling away. Some hybrid Prius models from 2017 were also affected by this problem. Toyota recalled over 92,000 Prius units that were affected by this issue.

Are Toyota Prius good cars?

If you’re in the market for a Toyota Prius, be prepared to embrace the good and the potential bad. As long as you know the issues that the specific model year you’re planning to get may have, buying it should come with little risk. Knowing what to watch out for will help you avoid costly repairs through preventive maintenance, so you can maximize the service life of your hybrid.

About The Authors
Written By Automotive and Tech Writers

The CarParts.com Research Team is composed of experienced automotive and tech writers working with (ASE)-certified automobile technicians and automotive journalists to bring up-to-date, helpful information to car owners in the US. Guided by CarParts.com's thorough editorial process, our team strives to produce guides and resources DIYers and casual car owners can trust.

Reviewed By Automotive Features Reviewer at CarParts.com

Lisa Conant grew up in Canada around a solid contingency of gear heads and DIY motor enthusiasts and isn't afraid to get some grime under her own fingernails. She is an eclectic writer with a varied repertoire in the automotive industry, writing numerous product round-ups and reviews, how-to-guides, and research pieces with a focus on daily drivers and recreational vehicles. When she's not writing about lift kits and paint chip solutions, you can find her hanging out in New Hampshire with her family and her car-hating cats. Lisa has written automotive reviews and features for Car Bibles and The Drive.

Any information provided on this Website is for informational purposes only and is not intended to replace consultation with a professional mechanic. The accuracy and timeliness of the information may change from the time of publication.

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Hyunjin Choe

I ordered a brand new Toyota and after a week later I notice my break doesn’t work properly. Fight after fight they said nothing is wrong. I could not win. I’ve been driving car since 1982 with various model. I know something is not right. Two weeks after, they have recall. A few recall (very annoying) and now I have to fix my front passenger side break about every 8mo. Because now it’s over 12years ago, I drove over 80,000 miles, I’m not ready to buy another car yet, I just changed my break last 4years.
I will never, never, and never buy another Toyota car as long as I live.

Jin

Dotson

Never heard of such things happening to any Toyota. I’ve driven 3 Toyotas 175,000 miles each since 1986 and will always buy another Toyota.

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