The best and worst Toyota Prius years, by the numbers
Short answer: among Toyota Priuss old enough to judge (2005–2022), the 2018–2021 have the fewest owner complaints per 10,000 sold. The 2005, 2007–2008 and 2010 have the most.
We counted every owner complaint filed with the federal government (NHTSA) for each model year and divided by how many were sold that year, so a year that sold more doesn’t look worse just for being popular. Years newer than 2022 are shown but not ranked — they haven’t been on the road long enough. How this is calculated.
Years with the most complaints
2005 Toyota Prius · 73.4 per 10,000 sold (5.1× this model’s typical year)
Most-reported: Wiring harness, grounds and connectors, typically around 114,292 miles; then abs module and wheel speed sensors.
2007 Toyota Prius · 82.4 per 10,000 sold (5.7× this model’s typical year)
Most-reported: Wiring harness, grounds and connectors, typically around 60,000 miles; then abs module and wheel speed sensors.
2008 Toyota Prius · 83.1 per 10,000 sold (5.8× this model’s typical year)
Most-reported: Wiring harness, grounds and connectors, typically around 64,620 miles; then abs module and wheel speed sensors.
2010 Toyota Prius · 195.6 per 10,000 sold (13.6× this model’s typical year)
Most-reported: ABS module and wheel speed sensors, typically around 3,943 miles; then master cylinder and booster.
Years with the fewest complaints
2018 Toyota Prius · 4.1 per 10,000 sold (0.3× this model’s typical year)
Most-reported, even so: Master cylinder and booster, typically around 7,500 miles.
2019 Toyota Prius · 4.3 per 10,000 sold (0.3× this model’s typical year)
Most-reported, even so: Body control and other modules, typically around 61 miles.
2020 Toyota Prius · 3.2 per 10,000 sold (0.2× this model’s typical year)
Most-reported, even so: Body control and other modules, typically around 1,325 miles.
2021 Toyota Prius · 1.0 per 10,000 sold (0.1× this model’s typical year)
Most-reported, even so: Exhaust manifold, studs and leaks, typically around 5,200 miles.
Every year: complaints per 10,000 sold
Typical Toyota Prius year: 14.3 per 10,000 sold.
Complaints are counted once each, even when an owner lists several parts. Sales are US units sold in the calendar year, a close stand-in for the model year.
Common questions
What is the worst year for the Toyota Prius?
Among Toyota Priuss old enough to judge (2005–2022), the 2010 has the most owner complaints per 10,000 sold: 195.6, about 13.6× a typical Toyota Prius year. The 2005 and 2007–2008 also stand out.
What is the best year for the Toyota Prius?
The 2021 has the fewest owner complaints per 10,000 sold among Toyota Priuss from 2005–2022: 1.0, against 14.3 for a typical year. The 2018–2020 are also well below typical.
What goes wrong on the 2010 Toyota Prius?
The most-reported problem on the 2010 Toyota Prius is abs module and wheel speed sensors, typically around 3,943 miles.
Why aren't the newest Toyota Prius years ranked?
The 2023–2026 haven't been on the road long enough. Newer cars have fewer complaints mainly because they're newer, so ranking them would flatter them.
Looking at a specific Toyota Prius?
See what it’s likely to cost you over the next 3 years from its year and mileage.
Open the cost estimator → Full Toyota Prius reportCompare the Toyota Prius with
Source: NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; US sales from public industry figures. Complaints are self-reported and not independently verified. This is not an inspection and not a recommendation to buy or avoid any vehicle.