Problems · NHTSA complaints

2018 Toyota Prius Prime problems

Owners filed 15 complaints about the 2018 Toyota Prius Prime with NHTSA between Feb 2018 and Mar 2026. The most-cited component is power train (2).

Complaints
15
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
4
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
3
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Power train2
  2. Air bags2
  3. Fuel/propulsion system2
  4. Visibility1
  5. Structure1
  6. Vehicle speed control1
  7. Service brakes1
  8. Back over prevention1
  9. Forward collision avoidance1
  10. Exterior lighting1
  11. Engine1
  12. Electrical system1
  13. Visibility/wiper1
  14. Other / unknown3

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 Nov 11, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
20181
20190
20203
20213
20221
20234
20240
20251
20262

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.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Power train

2 reports
“On at least 4 occasions when the EV battery becomes depleted while driving at highway speeds and the car is switching to gas, the engine completely loses all power. This has lasted from 10-30 seconds. The dealership said a small battery needed to be replaced, and replaced that, but this recurred within a month of replacement.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 10, 2026Power trainODI 11723385

Air bags

2 reports2 crashes
“Airbags deployed prematurely as I was parking my car in a doctor's office parking lot. The car was going less than 5 mph and I did not hit anything. The premature deployment of the airbag startled me and caused me to hit the accelerator instead of the brake and I ended up crashing my car into a nearby pole and another .automobile. The accident resulted in a soft tissue injury for my daughter and I'm experiencing lower back pains. The air bag caused burns on my nose and arms. My daughter has bruising on the arms from the air bag deployment”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 15, 2023Air bagsCrash reportedODI 11538765

Fuel/propulsion system

2 reports
“SUPPLEMENT TO COMPLAINT # 11384074 THE VEHICLE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM ON JANUARY 11 AND 12, 2021 AT APPROXIMATELY 7 AM. SPEED WAS 76 MPH, AND THE FUEL DEPRIVATION OCCURRED FOR 8-10 SECONDS EACH TIME. THE VEHICLE HAS NEVER HAD THE PROBLEM GOING HOME AT 2 PM.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 12, 2021Fuel/propulsion systemODI 11387762

Visibility

1 report
“Hi, My Prius Prime recently just suffered the loss of heat in the middle of winter. Based on the diagnostic of my local Toyota dealer, it appears one of the metal heater coolant hose had rusted off. This is not just causing a safety issue of having no issue, it is also a risk as the engine can now overheat and suffer permanent damage. Despite being such a serious problem, Toyota doesn't stock the part nor does it know when the new part will come. I am currently owning an asset that can't be safely driven, I would like the NHTSA to review this. Toyota seems to be aware of this issue as they have a TSB out on a similar heater coolant hose. With that said, having no part is not an acceptable option. NHTSA, please step in”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 26, 2025VisibilityODI 11644964

Structure

1 report1 crash
“My 2018 Toyota Prius Supreme was parked too far away from the curb in front of a house where we were invited, in a residential area in Naperville IL. I entered the car to park it properly. I had my foot on the brakes and pressed the starting button for the engine to turn on. I then put the car on reverse and suddently the car accelerated uncontollably. Went on the grass, hit the neighbor's mailbox and stopped by crashing on a tree. I was in shock but luckily not injured. Other guests were present and witnessed the incident. Police was called in and issued a report. The car was declared by Progressive Insurance Co as a total loss.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 6, 2023Structure, Vehicle speed control, Unknown or otherCrash reportedODI 11553897

Vehicle speed control

1 report1 crash
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 11, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.