Toyota Prius Prime: Years to Avoid and Best Years to Buy
Toyota Prius Prime: 8 model years scored from 73 NHTSA owner complaints and 11 recall campaigns. Worst year 2024, best year 2023.
Toyota Prius Prime: which years to avoid
Across 7 scored model years the Toyota Prius Prime ranges from 70/100 in 2024 to 92/100 in 2019 — a 22-point spread, so which year you buy matters. The weakest year’s complaints concentrate in Electrical System (4 of them).
Safest years: 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 — scored 70 or better.
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: 2023 (score 83). Worst: 2024 (score 70, BUY).
| Year | Score | Verdict | Running cost / yr | NHTSA complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 70 | BUY | $2,074 | 11 | 4 |
| 2023 | 83 | BUY | $2,142 | 5 | 4 |
| 2022 | 89 | BUY | $2,138 | 8 | 1 |
| 2021 | 90 | BUY | $2,278 | 10 | 0 |
| 2020 | 86 | BUY | $2,430 | 16 | 1 |
| 2019 | 92 | BUY | $2,541 | 8 | 1 |
| 2018 | 91 | BUY | $2,695 | 15 | 0 |
| 2017 | — | DATA PENDING | $2,800 | 0 | 0 |
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 Prime sub-models & family
What goes wrong on the Toyota Prius Prime
Across every Prius Prime 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.
- Electrical System16 complaints across all Prius Prime years · typical job: Alternator, battery-drain or body-module diagnosis and replacement$540–$1,310
- Power Train9 complaints across all Prius Prime years · typical job: Transmission service or clutch-pack repair$1,290–$4,040
- Unknown Or Other6 complaints across all Prius Prime years · typical job: Diagnosis and mixed repair$360–$940
- Service Brakes6 complaints across all Prius Prime years · typical job: Pads, rotors and caliper service, both axles$580–$1,140
- Visibility/Wiper5 complaints across all Prius Prime years · typical job: Wiper motor, linkage or windscreen replacement$490–$1,200
- Vehicle Speed Control5 complaints across all Prius Prime years · typical job: Throttle body, pedal sensor or cruise module replacement$520–$1,150
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 Prime years to buy?
2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 all score 70 or better. The strongest is the 2019 at 92/100, on 8 complaints and 1 recall campaigns.
Which Toyota Prius Prime years should I avoid?
The 2024 is the weakest year we score, at 70/100 (BUY), on 11 complaints and 4 recalls. Check the year-by-year table above before committing to any particular car.
What is the most common Toyota Prius Prime problem?
16 of the complaints filed against the Prius Prime across all its model years sit in the Electrical System group — more than any other component.
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Sources: NHTSA, EPA · Methodology · Updated 2026-10-04