Problems · NHTSA complaints
2017 Toyota Prius Prime problems
Owners filed 143 complaints about the 2017 Toyota Prius Prime with NHTSA between Mar 2017 and Jun 2026. The most-cited component is visibility/wiper (27).
Complaints
143
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
20
Reported by owners
Fires
2
Reported by owners
Injuries
10
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Visibility/wiper27
- Service brakes18
- Electrical system17
- Engine15
- Vehicle speed control15
- Fuel/propulsion system13
- Structure12
- Steering9
- Power train8
- Exterior lighting7
- Seats6
- Air bags6
- Wheels6
- Tires4
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Oct 28, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
34
34
22
10
10
5
9
10
7
2
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 2017 | 34 |
| 2018 | 34 |
| 2019 | 22 |
| 2020 | 10 |
| 2021 | 10 |
| 2022 | 5 |
| 2023 | 9 |
| 2024 | 10 |
| 2025 | 7 |
| 2026 | 2 |
Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.
Top problems in owners’ words
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
Visibility/wiper
27 reports
“My 2017 Toyota Prius Prime has experienced a second windshield crack perhaps hit by a small object, which I didn't notice at all. The crack is a "L" shape, about 15 in at each direction. The firs Windshield crack was happened about a year ago. Toyota dealer replaced it with an original Toyota Windshield. I believe this particular Windshield type isn't strong enough to withstand a small stone hitting it. As I didn't notice any loud popping sound during driving”
Service brakes
18 reports5 crashes
“On 9/14/22 I was almost a hundred miles from my home in Sherrill, NY on Rte 81 south, approaching the bridge in Binghamton, NY when I heard a loud ringing noise. At first I thought it was my phone; then I thought it was a police vehicle; then a construction noise. I finally faced the fact if was coming from my 2017 Prius which had just reached 20,000 miles. I was in heavy traffic but managed to pull over and walk around the car as the noise seemed to be coming from the rear. I saw nothing amiss. I managed to drive another twenty minutes to Great Bend, PA and just before I pulled into the parking lot at McDonalds the noise stopped. I called Nye Automotive in Oneida, NY which had sold me the car and talked to a mechanic who said he had no experience with a ringing noise. Proceeding cautiously I drove 135 miles to Quakertown, Pa where my son diagnosed the problem as the brake pad on the drivers side rear wheel that had tilted and was banging against the rotor. My son replaced the brake pad and next day we drove to Long Beach Island, NJ, stopping to check for heat coming from that wheel. It was fine. When I got back home to Sherrill I could found the email of Mark…”
Electrical system
17 reports2 fires
“I have a 2017 Toyota Prius Prime advanced. It has the large infotaiment screen that is where I have to access many items. Often, seemingly randomly, the screen shuts down and reboots itself. During the time it is rebooting I do not have any access to the controls. It gives no warning when it is going to reboot. I have seen other Toyota recalls for a similar problem on the RAV4 vehicles and I wonder if it is related.”
Engine
15 reports
“The contact owns a 2017 Toyota Prius Prime. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle stalled. Several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated that while attempting to start the vehicle, the vehicle started. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or the dealer. The contact used a portable diagnostic machine to diagnosed the vehicle; however, no fault codes displayed. The contact stated that the failure had not reoccurred. The contact referenced an unknown recall; however, the VIN was not associated with a recall related to the failure. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 90,000.”
Vehicle speed control
15 reports6 crashes
“In the 2017 Prius Prime when the car switches from Electric power to gas the car frequently fails to allow you to accelerate. It is like you are stuck in neutral on the freeway, taking your foot off of the acceleration pedal and pushing it down doesn't always fix the issue. The accelerator foot pedal can be completely down to the floorboard as you are losing speed. The safety issue is that you are losing speed, and on the freeway and the car doesn't recover losing some control. I have taken the car to the Toyota delearship and when taken in that say it is a software update, but this continues to happen. There is no real notification when this will occur as the battery milage switchover is often misreported by the car.”
Fuel/propulsion system
13 reports1 fire
“During hot temperatures and after coming to a full stop, the car stalls/hesitates significantly (5-6seconds) when pushing the gas pedal. The car eventually proceeds but the issue reoccurs. It can only be intermittently reproduced and no codes are shown on the car dashboard. Mechanics are unable to identify the source of the issue so it cannot be resolved.”
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 28, 2026
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.