2017 Toyota PRIUS

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Below Average

Quick Summary

The 2017 Toyota PRIUS has 127 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 1.6x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is visibility problems (13% of all complaints), specifically: traveling east on the 10 through phoenix az, my windshield was hit by something so small i couldn't see it. caused a star less than 1/3" but also a winding crack almost 1 ft. long. the real problem is that every day when i come out to my car, the crack has grown in a snaking pattern. it does not gro. ⚠️ 5 fire reports filed.

5 fire reports 15 crash reports 11 injuries

127

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

1.6x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

VISIBILITY

17 complaints

13%

• TRAVELING EAST ON THE 10 THROUGH PHOENIX AZ, MY WINDSHIELD WAS HIT BY SOMETHING SO SMALL I COULDN'T SEE IT. CAUSED A STAR LESS THAN 1/3" BUT ALSO A WINDING CRACK ALMOST 1 FT. LONG. THE REAL PROBLEM IS THAT EVERY DAY WHEN I COME OUT TO MY CAR, THE CRACK HAS GROWN IN A SNAKING PATTERN. IT DOES NOT GRO
• CAR WAS HIT BY FLYING DEBRIS WHICH PRODUCED LARGE CRACK IN WINDSHIELD. VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING DOWN TWO LANE HIGHWAY AT LEGAL SPEED.
• DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AND A SMALL ROCK HIT THE OUTER EDGE OF MY WINDSHIELD AND WITHIN 5 MINUTES HAD AN 8 INCH CRACK AND BY THE END OF THE DAY IT HAS EXPANDED TO OVER 12 INCHES. CALLED TO HAVE FIXED AND WINDSHIELD HAS BEEN ON BACKORDER FOR OVER A MONTH. CAR IS ONKY 1 WEEK OLD!

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“TRAVELING EAST ON THE 10 THROUGH PHOENIX AZ, MY WINDSHIELD WAS HIT BY SOMETHING SO SMALL I COULDN'T SEE IT. CAUSED A STAR LESS THAN 1/3" BUT ALSO A WINDING CRACK ALMOST 1 FT. LONG. THE REAL PROBLEM IS THAT EVERY DAY WHEN I COME OUT TO MY CAR, THE CRACK HAS GROWN IN A SNAKING PATTERN. IT DOES NOT GRO”

— NHTSA complaint filing

BRAKES

14 complaints

11%

• PLEASE NOTE: THAT I HAVE OWNED A PREVIOUS GENERATION PRIUS - A 2011 - AND I AM MORE THAN AWARE THAT REGENERATIVE BRAKING WORKS ENTIRELY DIFFERENTLY THAN A CONVENTIONAL BRAKING SYSTEM. SO IN NO WAY AM I REFERRING TO THE "USUAL NOISES" THAT COME FROM REGENERATIVE BRAKING. PLEASE SEE ATTACHED DOCUMEN
• I HAVE RECENTLY INSTALLED HAND CONTROLS ON MY CAR AND UNDERWENT PROPER TRAINING.FSINCE THE HAND CONTROLS WORK THE OPPOSITE OF A ZERO TURN LAWNMOWER I HAVE TO FIGHT THE FACT THAT THEY WORK IN REVERSE. I HAVE TRIED TO FIND AN APP FOR MY COMPUTER WITH A JOYSTICK THAT WOULD SIMULATE DRIVING AND HOW TO R
• I WANT TO CHECK IF THERE IS A ISSUE WITH THE PRE COLLISION AND THE BRAKING ASSISTANCE FEATURES. MY PRIUS PRIME ROLL FORWARD DURING A IDLED STOP AND I DID NOT RECEIVE WARNING AND THE CAR DID NOT ASSIST STOP FEATURE DID NOT ENGAGE.

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 4 crashes

“PLEASE NOTE: THAT I HAVE OWNED A PREVIOUS GENERATION PRIUS - A 2011 - AND I AM MORE THAN AWARE THAT REGENERATIVE BRAKING WORKS ENTIRELY DIFFERENTLY THAN A CONVENTIONAL BRAKING SYSTEM. SO IN NO WAY AM I REFERRING TO THE "USUAL NOISES" THAT COME FROM REGENERATIVE BRAKING. PLEASE SEE ATTACHED DOCUMEN”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ENGINE

14 complaints

11%

• CAR STARTED BY ITSELF WHEN IT WAS PARKED IN A DRIVEWAY IN HOT WEATHER IN THE SUN. MY KEY FOB DOES NOT HAVE A REMOTE STARTING MECHANISM - ONLY DOOR UNLOCK AND LOCK CAPABILITY.
• THE INVOLVED VEHICLES WERE DESIGNED TO ENTER A FAILSAFE DRIVING MODE IN RESPONSE TO CERTAIN HYBRID SYSTEM FAULTS. TOYOTA HAS FOUND THAT IN RARE SITUATIONS, THE VEHICLE MAY NOT ENTER A FAILSAFE DRIVING MODE AS INTENDED. IF THIS OCCURS, THE VEHICLE COULD LOSE POWER AND STALL. WHILE POWER STEERING AND
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V579000 (ENGINE). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. TOYOTA CERTIFIED AT CAPITAL PLAZA (6100 ANNAPOLIS RD, LANDOVER, MD

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“CAR STARTED BY ITSELF WHEN IT WAS PARKED IN A DRIVEWAY IN HOT WEATHER IN THE SUN. MY KEY FOB DOES NOT HAVE A REMOTE STARTING MECHANISM - ONLY DOOR UNLOCK AND LOCK CAPABILITY.”

— NHTSA complaint filing

SPEED CONTROL

13 complaints

10%

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, IT ROLLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO CATCH UP WITH THE VEHICLE BEFORE IT STRUCK A POLICE VEHICLE. THE OFFICER GAVE THE CONTACT A WARNING. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN INTERMITTENTLY. THE LOCAL DE
• WHILE DRIVING ON INTERSTATE HIGHWAY IN HEAVY TRAFFIC USING CRUISE CONTROL MY CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED QUICKLY. WEATHER WAS ALIGHT RAIN. IT WAS LIKE THE RADAR FOR THE CRUISE CONTROL SHUT OFF OR STOPPED BEING PROCESSED.
• IN MODERATE TO HEAVY RAIN WITH THE TOYOTA DYNAMIC CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED ON THE HIGHWAY BETWEEN 55 AND 70 MPH, THE PRIUS HAS DANGEROUSLY ACCELERATED ITSELF TOWARDS A CAR IMMEDIATELY IN FRONT OF MY CAR AND WOULD HAVE CREATED A FRONT-TO-REAR COLLISION IF I WAS NOT EXTREMELY VIGILANT AND MANUALLY BRAKE

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 5 crashes

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, IT ROLLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO CATCH UP WITH THE VEHICLE BEFORE IT STRUCK A POLICE VEHICLE. THE OFFICER GAVE THE CONTACT A WARNING. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN INTERMITTENTLY. THE LOCAL DE”

— NHTSA complaint filing

FUEL SYSTEM

12 complaints

• ON I-75 @70 MILES/HR, WITH AROUND 800 MILEAGE NEW PRIUS, TOYO TIRE OF THE REAR TIRE POPPED OUT AND ROLLED ON THE I-75 WITHOUT ANY WARNING LIGHTS BUT WITH SOME GAS SMELL, PUTTING ALL THE OCCUPANTS TO HIGH RISK OF CRASH ON THE BUSIEST FREEWAY, AND THE AGONY OF THE INCIDENT. I TOWED MY PRIUS TO VALDOS
• THE VEHICLE STARTED NORMALLY BUT WHEN I REACHED ABOUT TWO BLOCKS FROM MY HOUSE, THE PRIUS STARTED TO ACT AS IF THE ELECTRIC MOTORS WERE NOT ENGAGING. THE ENGINE DID NOT ENGAGE EITHER AND THE GAS PEDAL WAS UNRESPONSIVE. THE FIRST TIME THIS OCCURRED, I WAS STUCK IN THE MIDDLE OF A 4-WAY INTERSECTION
• WHILE DRIVING ON I-75 THERE SEEMS TO BE A SPARK CAUSED FUEL TO LEAK AND BURN BACK TIRE AND THE TIRE ROLLED OFF THE FREEWAY PUTTING ALL THE FIVE PASSENGERS INTO A HAZARDOUS SITUATION ON THE I-75 FREEWAY. WE SMELLED SMELL OF TIRE AND GAS LEAK. FORTUNATELY, WE WERE ABLE TO PULL OFF THE FREEWAY. IT WAS

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports

“ON I-75 @70 MILES/HR, WITH AROUND 800 MILEAGE NEW PRIUS, TOYO TIRE OF THE REAR TIRE POPPED OUT AND ROLLED ON THE I-75 WITHOUT ANY WARNING LIGHTS BUT WITH SOME GAS SMELL, PUTTING ALL THE OCCUPANTS TO HIGH RISK OF CRASH ON THE BUSIEST FREEWAY, AND THE AGONY OF THE INCIDENT. I TOWED MY PRIUS TO VALDOS”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

VISIBILITY(~50K mi)

$500

BRAKES(~50K mi)

$500

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

SPEED CONTROL(~50K mi)

$500

FUEL SYSTEM(~50K mi)

$500

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

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 127 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
VISIBILITY: TRAVELING EAST ON THE 10 THROUGH PHOENIX AZ, MY WINDSHIELD WAS HIT BY SOMETHING SO SMALL I COULDN'T SEE IT. CAUSED A STAR LESS THAN 1/3" BUT ALSO A WINDING CRACK ALMOST 1 FT. LONG. THE REAL PROBLEM IS THAT EVERY DAY WHEN I COME OUT TO MY CAR, THE CRACK HAS GROWN IN A SNAKING PATTERN. IT DOES NOT GRO
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
BRAKES: PLEASE NOTE: THAT I HAVE OWNED A PREVIOUS GENERATION PRIUS - A 2011 - AND I AM MORE THAN AWARE THAT REGENERATIVE BRAKING WORKS ENTIRELY DIFFERENTLY THAN A CONVENTIONAL BRAKING SYSTEM. SO IN NO WAY AM I REFERRING TO THE "USUAL NOISES" THAT COME FROM REGENERATIVE BRAKING. PLEASE SEE ATTACHED DOCUMEN
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ENGINE: CAR STARTED BY ITSELF WHEN IT WAS PARKED IN A DRIVEWAY IN HOT WEATHER IN THE SUN. MY KEY FOB DOES NOT HAVE A REMOTE STARTING MECHANISM - ONLY DOOR UNLOCK AND LOCK CAPABILITY.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
SPEED CONTROL: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, IT ROLLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO CATCH UP WITH THE VEHICLE BEFORE IT STRUCK A POLICE VEHICLE. THE OFFICER GAVE THE CONTACT A WARNING. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN INTERMITTENTLY. THE LOCAL DE
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)