Toyota Prius Common Problems
The Toyota Prius Hatchback has been a people pleaser with good looks, immense versatility, and low running costs. It has been leading the sales charts in this segment for quite some time now despite new entrants. People have had a very positive experience but there are many issues that the owners have to go through. Let’s see what the most common problems were:
Electrical issues:
- Infotainment system issues: People have reported the infotainment system in the Prius crashing. The complainants state that the system blacked out while driving and caused a distraction. Many times this system lags and gets stuck on one screen. This disables the other functions on the screen.
- Backup camera issues: Owners of the 2017-2020 Prius Hybrid have reported the backup camera getting stuck. People have reported that the camera only displayed the gridlines and did not show any visuals.
- Battery issues: Many 2017 Prius owners have reported the battery of the Prius getting discharged when not used for as short as one day. The complainants have reported the battery has discharged while moving as well. This killed all the electrical functions in the car and caused the car to stall.
- Soy-based wiring: People have reported rodent issues due to the soy-based outer layering of the wiring harness. The rodents chew off the outer layer, leaving the inner layer exposed and prone to damage.
Mechanical issues:
- Excess engine oil consumption: Many Prius owners have reported excessive engine oil consumption in their cars. The complainants have reported that this issue has caused the car to stall. In some cases, low engine oil has also resulted in engine seizures.
- Loss of power assistance: Owners of the 2020 Prius have reported a loss in the power assistance to the steering wheel and the brakes. This loss of power affects the handling of the car and is said to result in collisions. Loss in power assistance to the brakes still left the mechanical brakes functional which made braking difficult.
- Gear slipping: Owners of the 2020-2021 Prius have reported the transmission slipping gears while driving. The gears slipped from drive to neutral and caused the car to rev up. In some cases, the transmission could not be shifted to drive from park.
- Transmission noise: The Prius’ current generation experiences a noise from the transmission during driving. The noise isn’t loud but causes a distraction while driving on highways.
- Suspension noise: Many pre-facelift Prius owners have reported a creaking noise coming from the rear suspension. The suspension feels very soft and does not inspire confidence while driving.
Exterior issues:
- Sunroof issues: Many people have reported issues with the Prius’ sunroof. The complainants state that the sunroof controls do not function properly and cause the sunroof to get stuck. In some cases, the sunroof gets stuck while open and exposes the cabin to the elements. Some people have reported the sunroof shattering without any impact. This filled the cabin with glass and caused a distraction while driving.
- Malfunctioning active grille shutter system: Many Prius owners have had the active grille shutter system malfunction due to debris entering the system. This causes the grille to shut off and not let air pass through. The issue causes overheating of the engine and stalls the car.
Toyota Prius Recalls
The Toyota Prius is one of the best-selling cars in the American market and is a huge success in its current generation. It is the perfect embodiment of Toyota reliability and hybrid technology working in perfect harmony. To maintain a good image the hatchback has been recalled multiple times to take care of numerous issues. The current generation has been through 11 recalls, which have been summarised below:
|
S. No.
|
Date
|
NHTSA Campaign Number
|
Affected Component
|
Additional Remarks
|
|
1.
|
September 16 2016
|
16V672000
|
Airbags
|
Error in the manufacturing of the airbag inflators may cause partial airbag inflation on the front-passenger side, increasing the risk of injury in a crash.
|
|
2.
|
October 14, 2016
|
16V741000
|
Parking Brake
|
For the vehicles equipped with a foot-operated parking brake system, the parking brake cable may disengage and cause unintended movement which increases the risk of a crash.
|
|
3.
|
May 2, 2017
|
17V295000
|
Tires
|
The improperly air-adjusted spare tire may cause loss of handling when in use, increasing the risk of a crash.
|
|
4.
|
October 18, 2017
|
17V658000
|
Hybrid Propulsion System
|
An improperly bolted capacitor might not have a stable connection with the inverter housing, the damage to which increases the risk of a crash.
|
|
5.
|
January 31, 2018
|
18V085000
|
Airbags
|
Failure of airbag pressure sensors and/or the acceleration sensors may cause improper deployment of side-curtain/front airbags.
|
|
6.
|
September 5, 2018
|
18V579000
|
Electrical System
|
Contact of a portion of the engine wire harness and its cover might cause friction, increasing the risk of an electrical fire.
|
|
7.
|
March 27, 2019
|
19V244000
|
Equipment
|
Ineligible text on the load capacity label may cause unintentional overloading of the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash. As such, the affected vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims”.
|
|
8.
|
July 24, 2019
|
19V544000
|
Electronic Stability Control
|
Failure of the brake booster pump may deactivate the Vehicle Stability Control system and cause loss of braking assist, increasing the risk of a crash.
|
|
9.
|
December 11, 2019
|
19V876000
|
Electric System
|
A short circuit in the combination meter disables the odometer, the fuel gauge, and the speedometer. As such, the affected vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 101, "Controls and Displays”.
|
|
10.
|
June 24, 2020
|
20V369000
|
Hybrid Propulsion System
|
A shutdown of the hybrid system due to excessive voltage in the Intelligent Power Module (IPM) might cause the vehicle to stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
|
|
11.
|
September 22, 2021
|
21V734000
|
Hybrid Propulsion System
|
False detection of an error might cause a shutdown of the hybrid system and a complete loss of power, increasing the risk of a crash.
|
What model year of the Toyota Prius to avoid?
The Toyota Prius has been a pretty trouble-free experience for most of its owners but the story isn’t all roses. The 2016, 2017, and 2019 model years have been subject to a lot of recalls and have to go through a lot of criticism as well. The 2019 model year had gone through a facelift that bought some new issues to notice. We’d recommend avoiding these three model years due to the unforeseen issues that you might face later.
Should you buy the 2022 Toyota Prius?
The 2022 Toyota Prius is a massive improvement over the previous model years and still continues to charm the hearts and budgets of many people. The car is as versatile and peppy as before while hosting a modern cabin with comfier seating. It makes a perfect choice for the budget-and-environmentally conscious people who want a no-frills commuter. If you want to get a used Toyota Prius, consider buying the 2018 model year or go with the 2020 model year and above.
