Toyota Prius Plug-in: Years to Avoid and Best Years to Buy
Toyota Prius Plug-in: 4 model years scored from 661 NHTSA owner complaints and 5 recall campaigns. Worst year 2013, best year 2015.
Toyota Prius Plug-in: which years to avoid
Across 4 scored model years the Toyota Prius Plug-in ranges from 64/100 in 2013 to 91/100 in 2015 — a 27-point spread, so which year you buy matters. The weakest year’s complaints concentrate in Service Brakes (187 of them).
Safest years: 2012, 2014, 2015 — scored 70 or better.
Check carefully: 2013.
Scored from NHTSA complaints per year of exposure and recall campaigns. How the score works · every car’s years to avoid.
Year-by-year data table
Best year in our data: 2015 (score 91). Worst: 2013 (score 64, CAUTION).
| Year | Score | Verdict | Running cost / yr | NHTSA complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 91 | BUY | $3,486 | 120 | 1 |
| 2014 | 84 | BUY | $3,714 | 186 | 1 |
| 2013 | 64 | CAUTION | $4,028 | 355 | 1 |
| 2012 | 89 | BUY | $3,650 | 0 | 2 |
Running cost is fuel or energy plus the maintenance band midpoint for that car at its age today, re-priced to your country. Purchase price, insurance and depreciation are not included.
Prius Plug-in sub-models & family
What goes wrong on the Toyota Prius Plug-in
Across every Prius Plug-in model year in our index, owners report these component groups most often. The cost beside each one is the representative repair for that group at a US independent shop, re-priced to your country.
- Service Brakes317 complaints across all Prius Plug-in years · typical job: Pads, rotors and caliper service, both axles$580–$1,140
- Electrical System104 complaints across all Prius Plug-in years · typical job: Alternator, battery-drain or body-module diagnosis and replacement$540–$1,310
- Unknown Or Other81 complaints across all Prius Plug-in years · typical job: Diagnosis and mixed repair$360–$940
- Engine52 complaints across all Prius Plug-in years · typical job: Cooling-system or timing-drive repair$1,040–$2,220
- Vehicle Speed Control43 complaints across all Prius Plug-in years · typical job: Throttle body, pedal sensor or cruise module replacement$520–$1,150
- Air Bags31 complaints across all Prius Plug-in years · typical job: Airbag module, clockspring or sensor replacement$600–$1,700
Flat-rate labour hours x local shop rate plus a parts band. An estimate of what this class of failure costs, not a quote. Formula.
FAQ
What are the best Toyota Prius Plug-in years to buy?
2012, 2014, 2015 all score 70 or better. The strongest is the 2015 at 91/100, on 120 complaints and 1 recall campaigns.
Which Toyota Prius Plug-in years should I avoid?
The 2013 is the weakest year we score, at 64/100 (CAUTION), on 355 complaints and 1 recalls. Check the year-by-year table above before committing to any particular car.
What is the most common Toyota Prius Plug-in problem?
317 of the complaints filed against the Prius Plug-in across all its model years sit in the Service Brakes group — more than any other component.
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Sources: NHTSA, EPA · Methodology · Updated 2026-10-04