Toyota Prius Complaints

92 consumer complaints on file.

#11720956February 27, 2026
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
There has been no incident, however the concern what happens with regards if someone is not completely understanding of when the battery is completely discharged….per instructions(difficult to find, terrible diagram, not even as described)we were finally able to unlock and open our rear hatch. However you must have a screw driver in order to open a panel to get to the latch which is supposed to be able to open easily. Upon opening, there is another screw which must be loosened, and a very tiny unmarked leaver which can not be seen as it is not marked nor easily seen. In the manual as well as when i actually went to the dealership I was told that there should be a brightly colored in either bright green or red pull that will open the latch. Our concern is for the individual who needs to open this hatch, is older and not as limber. Toyota needs to do better with their instructions. Who drives around with a screw driver in a Prius? When i went to the dealership to ask how to get into my vehicle the gentleman had to go speak to someone and I was given misinformation as the manual and the service individuals directions were completely different.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11720150February 24, 2026
WHEELS
We took delivery of our 2024 Prius XLE (Gen 5) on 09-05-2024. It came with Toyo 19" Low Profile tires (195/50R19). On 04-17-2025 we had to replace a tire at 10,848 miles due to sidewall damage. On 05-05-2025 we had to replace a second tire at 11,749 miles due to side wall damage. Our dealer stated both side wall failures were most likely due to potholes. We did not remember hitting any major potholes. However, we live in Wisconsin were potholes of all sizes are prevalent. Both tire failures happen at night. Toyota does not provide a spare tire for the Prius. On the second tire failure, my wife had to drive a few miles to get to a safe spot to stop. On 11-25-2025 I replaced these Toyo tires with 19" Michelin tires. At that time I was told one of our wheels was damaged. I expect that happen when my wife had to drive on the flat to get to a safe location. In researching these tire problems, I found many other Gen 5 Prius owners had similar problems with the 19" Toyo tires. Interestingly, most owners reporting these tire problems lived in cold climate areas as we do. My Toyota dealer refuses to cover the wheel damage under warranty. In addition, Toyota refuses to cover the wheel replacement under warranty. These are the expenses I have encountered addressing this problem. First tire: $216.81, Second tire: $233.48, Replacement set of tires: $952.92. The cost for a new wheel is estimated at $781.93. In my opinion, the 19" Toyo tires are Unsafe At Any Speed on cold climate roads. Can you provide me with assistance in getting Toyota to cover my replacement wheel under warranty? In addition, I feel Toyota should face a RECALL for the 19" Toyo tires on the Gen 5 Prius. I have all the documentation for these charges. In addition, if you want more data on other owners that have faced this problem, I can reach out to them on social media and get them to contact you. Thanks for your assistance. [XXX] [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11719876February 23, 2026
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
When i am going down it's charging when the charge reaches 6 from 8 the engine starts working and stop changing at that point and the power continues comes from engine only without the hybrid battery and there are no codes
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11719084February 19, 2026
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
A 2026 Toyota Prius was delivered to me on or about February 5, 2026 while subject to an active federal safety recall involving a rear door electrical switch defect. The recall indicates that water intrusion into the rear door switch can cause an electrical short circuit which may allow a rear door to open while the vehicle is in motion. At the time of delivery, there was no remedy available for this recall. The recall had been announced on January 28, 2026 and was active in both the manufacturer’s system and NHTSA recall lookup at the time the vehicle was leased. Despite the active recall and lack of remedy, the vehicle was delivered for use. The safety risk is that a rear door could open unexpectedly while driving, potentially creating risk of passenger ejection or injury to other motorists. No failure has yet occurred, but the vehicle was delivered under active recall without repair. This complaint concerns delivery of a new vehicle while subject to an unrepaired federal safety recall.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11719028February 19, 2026
TIRES
The contact owns a 2024 Toyota Prius Hybrid equipped with Bridgestone Tires, Tire Line: Ecopia EP422, Tire Size: 195/60/R17, DOT Number: Y9CDCJTX. The contact stated that while the vehicle was in for routine maintenance, during the tire rotation, the mechanic discovered that one of the front tires had developed a bubble on the sidewall. The contact was advised that the tire was unsafe to use and recommended that the tire be replaced. No further information was available. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 10,400. The VIN was not available.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11714567January 30, 2026
SEAT BELTS
The contact owns a 2022 Toyota Prius. The contact stated that while attempting to use the front driver's side seat belt, the lap belt and the anchor bolt detached, rendering the seat belt unusable. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the lap belt was reattached to the seat. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and advised the contact that a representative would return a call back. The failure mileage was approximately 34,600.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11712974January 23, 2026
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
The contact owns a 2022 Toyota Prius. While attempting to start the vehicle using the Push to Start feature, the vehicle made a loud screeching sound. The contact drove the vehicle to a dealer, where the failure was diagnosed as a failure with the Data Control Unit (DCU). The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 55,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11711400January 16, 2026
STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE
The rear plastic where the handle to open the truck is easily damaged and can cause water or damage inside the vehicle.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11711380January 16, 2026
STRUCTURE:BODY, SEAT BELTS
Body / Liftgate The rear hatch unexpectedly dropped and fell on my head while the vehicle was stationary. The right-side rear hatch gas strut separated from the body at the mounting point. The left-side rear hatch gas strut had also shown signs of imminent failure and subsequently broke near its mounting point. This resulted in loss of hatch support and uncontrolled closure, creating a risk of head and upper-body injury. The failure appears related to structural stress at the strut mounting locations, not misuse. Seat Belt – Rear Center Passenger The rear center passenger seat belt upper cover can be easily pulled off by passengers, which breaks the plastic retaining tab. When the tab breaks, plastic fragments fall into the seat belt mechanism, causing the belt to jam and fail to retract properly. This results in impaired seat belt function, which is a safety concern for rear passengers. The vehicle has not been modified, and the failure occurred during normal use. Vehicle mileage at time of incident was approximately 150,000 miles. The rear center passenger seat belt issue has been present since the vehicle was new. The rear center passenger seat belt mechanism was replaced twice by the dealer during the warranty period, with one replacement performed as a goodwill repair after Toyota Corporate declined coverage. Despite these repairs, the same issue reoccurred, indicating a persistent design-related vulnerability rather than isolated misuse. The issue results in seat belt jamming and failure to retract, which is a safety concern.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11708925January 5, 2026
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING, POWER TRAIN
My Prius suddenly malfunctions and goes berserk randomly. No other way to describe it. I've taken it into the dealer twice, and I'm not confident I'm driving a safe car. I've not done anything to the car and it has not been in an accident. It's unclear why it does it. When it has an episode it is not safe to drive, won't turn on and won't turn off. The alarm goes crazy. Nothing works, all the dash lights turn on. I have videos. This has happened about five times and I've been called back from the dealer to pick it up. I"m not confident it is safe to drive, and I don't think Toyota is taking my concerns seriously. The vehicle has about 7400 miles and is otherwise pristine. All service is up to date. It is a lease.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11706052December 19, 2025
STRUCTURE:BODY
There is water leakage between the window and and the scraper seal resulting in water saturating the insulation in the door. During spring, summer and fall, this results in a powerful mildew/mold smell. We are concerned about health risks of breathing this pollutant. The dealership, Page Toyota in Southfield Mi has confirmed this. In addition, Toyota Engagement Center has also been involved. The problem is confirmed however the only solution they presented was the cleanup of only 1 inside door panel. The problem persists. We believe this ongoing issue presents a health risk and the outside rubber scraper needs to be re designed.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11704569December 11, 2025
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:INSTRUMENT PANEL:SPEEDOMETER/ODOMETER
The contact owns a 2022 Toyota Prius. The contact purchased the vehicle from a private seller online. The contact stated that the sales advertisement indicated that the odometer mileage was 63,000. The contact stated that when he went to the local Department of Motor Vehicles to register the vehicle, the contact was informed that there was no current odometer information for the VIN. In addition, the contact was informed that there was never any odometer information reported for the VIN. The contact was informed that the first owner purchased the vehicle brand new in 2022. The contact then purchased a Bumper VIN report, which indicated that the odometer was last reported at 209,000 miles. The contact later purchased a Clear VIN report, which indicated that no odometer information had ever been reported for the VIN. The vehicle was then taken to an independent mechanic for inspection. The contact was informed that the odometer was inoperable. The contact was informed that the odometer had not rolled since the vehicle was brought in. In addition, the contact stated that the seller had informed the contact that the vehicle was purchased from an auction. The contact researched and confirmed that the auction recorded the odometer at 209,000. In addition, the contact did not receive the pink slip or the title.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11701355November 24, 2025
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
The two outside rear view mirrors on the 2026 Prius have an adjustment problem. When attempting to adjust them they will freeze (won't move), move intermittently, and jerk. The Toyota dealer told me that it is a known problem and all 2026 Priuses have the same problem. He further informed me that Toyota is aware of the problem. He went to another new Prius on the dealership lot and found that its outside rear view mirrors do the very same thing. This is a serious safety issue and the manufacturer should address and remedy it. Toyota nor the dealership have a fix for this problem.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11700575November 20, 2025
WHEELS
Automanufactures are Phasing Out Spare Tires Toyota and other automakers no longer include spare tires in new vehicles. I recently experienced the serious consequences of their decision . While driving to work in my new 2025 Toyota Prius, I got a flat tire. I manage to get to work and parked in a parking garage. My husband came to help and went to install the spare. He opened the trunk and found Styrofoam under the liner with a tire inflation kit... no spare tire! We had a horrible experience for the next three days!!! So... Consumer Beware: • Tire kit is not a solution; it does not work for all leaks. • Tow trucks can not access cars in parking garages due to low height. • Driving out could damage tire rims. • Health risks from exposure to the tire inflation chemicals: headaches within an hour, lasting into the next day, skin irritation, and respiratory inflammation/congestion. Time, Labor, and Cost; (It's all on the consumer) After days and many hours of calling Toyota, the dealer, and tire shops, we had to: • drive back to remove the flat tire • order a new tire • deliver to the flat tire to the shop • pick up the new tire the next day • drive back to replace the flat ourselves. Solutions / Warnings: • Spare tire: Toyota does not make one, leaving consumers without options. • Consumers must rely on unreliable tire kits, roadside assistance towing to a dealership (which could not help because tow trucks can not fit in parking garage) or do it all yourself. • No adequate health warnings on the tire kit—contains natural rubber (latex), propylene, and ammonia. Toyota reps offered no empathy or real solutions, only demeaning statements that consumer should know that Toyota (and other automakers) no longer includes spare tires only ineffective tire kits, leaving Toyota and others removing spare tires to save money and appear to improve gas mileage creates serious risk for consumers.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11697031November 2, 2025
VISIBILITY/WIPER, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Design of rear window, side mirrors and large rear pillar greatly reduce the visibility and checking of blind spot if you are a taller person. Blind spot electronic detection can not be trusted as it's performance is intermittent. Solution would be for Toyota of retrofit electronic mirror feature like installed in the Limited version of this car. This feature has live rear view camera enabled on the rearview mirror at all times. Prius without this feature is very dangerous to drive.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11697030November 2, 2025
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: WARNINGS, BACK OVER PREVENTION: WARNINGS, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL
Infotainment screen stuck on "Experience Drive Connect" screen which disables all the safety devices on the vehiucle. OEM needs to update the software to remove this screen. Screen is tied to Toyota subscription service. I believe all new Toyota products would have this vulnerability.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11694800October 21, 2025
SUSPENSION
Took vehicle in for new tires and alignment at 47,302 miles on the odometer. I was informed that a camber bolt was completely seized and that the right rear control arm busing was bad/missing. My car is just over a year old and has been vibrating for a while at interstate speeds. I thought it was a belt broken in a tire as they were reaching the time to be changes but weren't at the wear marks. I did have one tire that the inside was worn and starting into the belt most likely because of the misalignment from the bad/missing right rear bushing. With the car being so new and used mostly on the interstate, I felt this may be a saftey issue for failing bushings on suspension components.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11692648October 11, 2025
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Toyota has a popup ad appear on their infotainment screen every time the car cranks. This does not allow me to use the map and other apps in the CarPlay system. I have on occasion driven the wrong route and got lost in traffic and confusing me as to turns and whatnot. I need to be able to use the maps for guidance purposes to safely get to my destination.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11692080October 8, 2025
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
The contact owns a 2026 Toyota Prius. The contact stated that while driving at night, the headlights were activated, and the contact became aware of a blind spot on the roadway. The contact stated that there were dark spots coming from the driver’s side headlight. The contact stated that it was difficult to see the roadway while driving at night. There were no warning lights illuminated. The local dealer was contacted, but was unable to fix the vehicle. The dealer informed the contact that it was a new technology failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, filed a complaint, but no additional assistance was provided. The contact requested a vehicle buyback. The approximate failure mileage was 1,100.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11687772September 17, 2025
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL, LANE DEPARTURE: WARNING
2025 Toyota Prius XLE. The upgraded 12 inch infotainment flickers light then dark then back to light several times. Automatic braking is being turned off without knowledge. The Toyota cruise control and adaptive cruise control will say unavailable or see owners manual. Different safety features will turn off on their own. The 12 inch infotainment center will switch from Apple car play to regular radio (Sirius Xm) on its own.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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