2020 Toyota PRIUS PRIME

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Excellent Reliability

Quick Summary

The 2020 Toyota PRIUS PRIME has 23 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 0.3x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is visibility problems (26% of all complaints), specifically: on multiple occasions, frost developing on the inside of the windshield while vehicle parked in the parking lot at work 2 times(jan 17th and the 30th at home and at work in the morning and after work) and another time while vehicle parked at home in the driveway. it takes 20 or more minutes to defr.

8 crash reports

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

0.3x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

VISIBILITY

6 complaints

26%

• ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS, FROST DEVELOPING ON THE INSIDE OF THE WINDSHIELD WHILE VEHICLE PARKED IN THE PARKING LOT AT WORK 2 TIMES(JAN 17TH AND THE 30TH AT HOME AND AT WORK IN THE MORNING AND AFTER WORK) AND ANOTHER TIME WHILE VEHICLE PARKED AT HOME IN THE DRIVEWAY. IT TAKES 20 OR MORE MINUTES TO DEFR
• FROST DEVELOPING ON THE INSIDE OF WINDSHIELD ON MULTIPLE DAYS IN DIFFERENT LOCATIONS. AT HOME AND AT WORK DURING THE DAY TIME AND AT NIGHT. TAKES 20 MINUTES OR MORE TO DEFROST.
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2020 TOYOTA PRIUS PRIME. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE PURCHASED AND INSTALLED A DASHBOARD COVER IN THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE REVERSING, THE DASHBOARD COVER SHIFTED AND BLOCKED THE SENSOR FOR THE BACK OVER PREVENTION CAMERA, ALLOWING THE DISPLAY SCREEN TO GO DARK

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 1 crashes

“ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS, FROST DEVELOPING ON THE INSIDE OF THE WINDSHIELD WHILE VEHICLE PARKED IN THE PARKING LOT AT WORK 2 TIMES(JAN 17TH AND THE 30TH AT HOME AND AT WORK IN THE MORNING AND AFTER WORK) AND ANOTHER TIME WHILE VEHICLE PARKED AT HOME IN THE DRIVEWAY. IT TAKES 20 OR MORE MINUTES TO DEFR”

— NHTSA complaint filing

TRANSMISSION

3 complaints

13%

• MICE CHEWED THROUGH WIRES AND AIR FILTER, CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE HYBRID SYSTEM. THE CHECK HYBRID SYSTEM WARNING SIGN CAME ON AND THE CAR RUNNING ROUGH. TOYOTA DEALER CHARGED $13066.81 FOR THE DAMAGE.
• The contact owns a 2020 Toyota Prius Prime. The contact stated that while coasting her vehicle into a parking spot at 2 MPH, the vehicle independently accelerated forward with her foot lightly on the accelerator pedal. The vehicle jumped the curb and crashed into two vehicles. The contact was uncert
• I was driving yesterday on Freeway in the 2nd lane ,all of a sudden car went from drive to neutral,I didn't touch transmission gear lever and I put gas And it says it is on neutral N,I was in dangerous situation, the other cars were flying by,I put on hazard lights Slowly changed lanes because it wa

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 1 crashes

“MICE CHEWED THROUGH WIRES AND AIR FILTER, CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE HYBRID SYSTEM. THE CHECK HYBRID SYSTEM WARNING SIGN CAME ON AND THE CAR RUNNING ROUGH. TOYOTA DEALER CHARGED $13066.81 FOR THE DAMAGE.”

— NHTSA complaint filing

SPEED CONTROL

3 complaints

13%

• I WAS GOING TO PARK MY CAR IN PARKING LOT OF MY APARTMENT. I PUSHED THE BAKER, THE CAR DIDN'T DECREASE THE SPEED OR STOP, BUT ACCELERATED. IT WAS JUST OUT OF CONTROL AND CRASHED TO THE WALL. THE SENSOR SYSTEM DIDN'T DO ANY JOB, NOT EVEN A WARNING.
• The contact owns a 2020 Toyota Prius Prime. The contact stated that while driving slowly into a parking space the vehicle suddenly experience unintended acceleration and accelerated forward before crashing into a building. During the crash, the front end of the vehicle was severely damaged but the a
• The contact owns a 2020 Toyota Prius Prime. The contact stated that while pulling into a parking lot, traveling down the aisle, and driving around the end cap to the second aisle, pulling into the parking spot at 5 MPH, the vehicle suddenly accelerated. The wheels squealed. The vehicle traveled thro

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 3 crashes

“I WAS GOING TO PARK MY CAR IN PARKING LOT OF MY APARTMENT. I PUSHED THE BAKER, THE CAR DIDN'T DECREASE THE SPEED OR STOP, BUT ACCELERATED. IT WAS JUST OUT OF CONTROL AND CRASHED TO THE WALL. THE SENSOR SYSTEM DIDN'T DO ANY JOB, NOT EVEN A WARNING.”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

3 complaints

13%

• THE DISPLAY ON THE MEDIA-CONTROL UNIT WOULD SOMETIMES GO BLANK, IN PART OR ENTIRELY. THE TOUCHSCREEN ISSUES INTERFERED WITH DRIVERS' ABILITY TO USE HEAT, AIR CONDITIONING, DEFROST AND DEFOGGING SYSTEMS. THIS HAS HAPPENED AT LEAST 30 TIMES DURING THE PAST YEAR. THE LAST INCIDENT OCCURRED ON 01/13/202
• I WAS DRIVING TO WORK INTO THE GARAGE. THE ENTRANCE OF THE GARAGE HAS A MILD INCLINE WITH A NARROW ENTRANCE AND I NORMALLY WILL SLOW DOWN SO I CAN STEEL THE CAR SLOWLY. I WAS GOING AT ABOUT 10 TO 15 MILE SPEED AND FELT A STALL FIRST AND THEN THE CAR WENT INTO ACCELERATED MODE ON ITS OWN. I FELT THE
• The contact owns a 2020 Toyota Prius Prime. The contact stated that while coasting her vehicle into a parking spot at 2 MPH, the vehicle independently accelerated forward with her foot lightly on the accelerator pedal. The vehicle jumped the curb and crashed into two vehicles. The contact was uncert

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 1 crashes

“THE DISPLAY ON THE MEDIA-CONTROL UNIT WOULD SOMETIMES GO BLANK, IN PART OR ENTIRELY. THE TOUCHSCREEN ISSUES INTERFERED WITH DRIVERS' ABILITY TO USE HEAT, AIR CONDITIONING, DEFROST AND DEFOGGING SYSTEMS. THIS HAS HAPPENED AT LEAST 30 TIMES DURING THE PAST YEAR. THE LAST INCIDENT OCCURRED ON 01/13/202”

— NHTSA complaint filing

BRAKES

2 complaints

• I WAS GOING TO PARK MY CAR IN PARKING LOT OF MY APARTMENT. I PUSHED THE BAKER, THE CAR DIDN'T DECREASE THE SPEED OR STOP, BUT ACCELERATED. IT WAS JUST OUT OF CONTROL AND CRASHED TO THE WALL. THE SENSOR SYSTEM DIDN'T DO ANY JOB, NOT EVEN A WARNING.
• The contact owns a 2020 Toyota Prius Prime. The contact stated while driving at approximately 40 MPH, the brake pedal was depressed while making a left turn onto another road, but the vehicle failed to slow down. The contact stated that the brake pedal was vibrating, and the vehicle felt like it was

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 1 crashes

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

VISIBILITY(~50K mi)

$500

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

SPEED CONTROL(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

BRAKES(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 23 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
VISIBILITY: ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS, FROST DEVELOPING ON THE INSIDE OF THE WINDSHIELD WHILE VEHICLE PARKED IN THE PARKING LOT AT WORK 2 TIMES(JAN 17TH AND THE 30TH AT HOME AND AT WORK IN THE MORNING AND AFTER WORK) AND ANOTHER TIME WHILE VEHICLE PARKED AT HOME IN THE DRIVEWAY. IT TAKES 20 OR MORE MINUTES TO DEFR
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
TRANSMISSION: MICE CHEWED THROUGH WIRES AND AIR FILTER, CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE HYBRID SYSTEM. THE CHECK HYBRID SYSTEM WARNING SIGN CAME ON AND THE CAR RUNNING ROUGH. TOYOTA DEALER CHARGED $13066.81 FOR THE DAMAGE.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
SPEED CONTROL: I WAS GOING TO PARK MY CAR IN PARKING LOT OF MY APARTMENT. I PUSHED THE BAKER, THE CAR DIDN'T DECREASE THE SPEED OR STOP, BUT ACCELERATED. IT WAS JUST OUT OF CONTROL AND CRASHED TO THE WALL. THE SENSOR SYSTEM DIDN'T DO ANY JOB, NOT EVEN A WARNING.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ELECTRICAL: THE DISPLAY ON THE MEDIA-CONTROL UNIT WOULD SOMETIMES GO BLANK, IN PART OR ENTIRELY. THE TOUCHSCREEN ISSUES INTERFERED WITH DRIVERS' ABILITY TO USE HEAT, AIR CONDITIONING, DEFROST AND DEFOGGING SYSTEMS. THIS HAS HAPPENED AT LEAST 30 TIMES DURING THE PAST YEAR. THE LAST INCIDENT OCCURRED ON 01/13/202
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)