Every safety complaint, recall and defect investigation the US government
holds on this vehicle.
35
Complaints
5
Crashes
0
Fires
2
Injuries
0
Deaths
Owners of the 2018 Toyota Prius have filed 35
safety complaints with NHTSA
between February 2018 and June 2026.
The most complained-about system is the exterior lighting,
named in 5 of them
(14%). The typical failure was reported at 9,300 miles, the median
across the 24 complaints that gave an
odometer reading.
NHTSA has issued 1 recall covering this
vehicle.
Recalls (1)
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
18V579000 · September 5, 2018
The defect
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2016-2018 Toyota Prius vehicles. A portion of the engine wire harness connected to the hybrid Power Control Unit (PCU), could contact the cover at this connection and wear, causing an electrical short circuit.
The risk
An electrical short can increase the risk of a fire.
The remedy
Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the engine wire harness assembly and replace it if damage is found. A protective sleeve or protective tape will be included to prevent any future damage. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began October 30, 2018. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371. Toyota's number for this recall is J0T.
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing · up to 192,347 vehicles across all model years covered
Defect investigations (1)
An investigation means NHTSA has decided a pattern is worth examining. A
preliminary evaluation is often closed with no action; an engineering
analysis is the stage that usually precedes a recall.
Pedestrian alert sounds
DP22005
Closed defect petition · opened January 27, 2023 · closed August 7, 2023 · led to recall 22V063000
the electrical system
NHTSA received a petition on or about July 18, 2022, requesting that Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 141 be applied to all electric and hybrid vehicles operating in the United States. The petition can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under ODI Number 11486072. FMVSS 141 establishes performance requirements for pedestrian alert sounds for motor vehicles. The standard applies to hybrid and electric vehicles that have a gross vehicle weight rating of 4,536 KG or less or are defined as low-speed vehicles. The standard became fully applicable to all such vehicles manufactured on or after March 1, 2021.On January 27, 2023, NHTSA opened Defect Petition (DP) 22-005 to evaluate the subject matter described in the petition. On June 24, 2023 and as supplemented on June 25, 2023, the petitioner notified NHTSA he was withdrawing his petition. The petitioner indicated that, based on his review of data, there is no justification for asserting potential benefits that could be derived from actions sought by my petition. Based on the petitioner's withdrawal, DP22-005 is closed. Closure of this DP does not represent a determination by NHTSA regarding the subject matter of the petition.
What owners report
Complaints naming each system. One complaint can name several, so these add
up to more than 35.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING 5 14%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 5 14%
VISIBILITY/WIPER 5 14%
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 4 11%
AIR BAGS 3 9%
SERVICE BRAKES 3 9%
STRUCTURE 3 9%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 2 6%
ENGINE 2 6%
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 2 6%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 2 6%
POWER TRAIN 2 6%
When the complaints arrived
By the year NHTSA received them, which is not the year the failures
happened. They peaked in 2018 at 9.
2018 to 2026, the last of them a part year
In owners' own words
Quoted from NHTSA's complaint file. These are unverified accounts by the
people who filed them, not findings of fault.
AIR BAGS
1 injured · crash · towed · 70,000 miles
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 65 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE PULLED INTO THE HIGHWAY, WITHOUT STOPPING, AND CRASHED INTO THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE FENDER OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THERE WAS NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION, INCLUDING BACK, NECK, ANKLE AND HEAD INJURIES. HE ALSO STATED THAT HE RIPPED THE TENDON ON THE RING FINGER. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED AND WAS TOWED TO A TOW YARD. THE DEALER WAS NOT CALLED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 70,000. …
NHTSA complaint 11324401, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
SEATS
1 injured · crash · towed
Someone rear-ended my Prius and they were driving a Ford 250 truck pulling a large flatbed truck that had a huge box on it. My seat went forward and backwards - I slammed my knee under the dashboard and then slammed by head into the headrest and I could not reach the pedals after this. I have repeatedly asked the collision center to look at it because there is nothing about it on the report of the estimate of repairs. My adult son was a passenger in the front and his seat didn't move.
NHTSA complaint 11552860. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
crash · towed · 6,000 miles
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE THE VEHICLE HAD EXPERIENCED UNINTENDED ACCELERATION AND CRASHED INTO A SECOND PARKED VEHICLE. NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN AT THE SCENE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE LOCAL DEALER DCH TOYOTA (1504 US HWY 1 NORTH BRUNSWICK NJ) BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 6,000.
NHTSA complaint 11252385. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
STRUCTURE:BODY
crash · towed · 4,500 miles
I WAS DRIVING UP TO MY GARAGE ON THE SIDE OF MY HOUSE ON A CLEAR DAY, EARLY AFTERNOON. I WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 3 MPH AND TRIED TO STOP TO PARK IN FRONT OF THE GARAGE DOOR. I DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND IT DID NOT ENGAGE, BUT LURCHED FORWARD INTO THE GARAGE, CRASHING INTO THE GARAGE AND CAUSING DAMAGE TO BOTH THE GARAGE AND THE AUTO.
NHTSA complaint 11271167. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
188,000 miles
The contact owns a 2018 Toyota Prius. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the engine constantly overheated. An unidentified warning light was flashing on the instrument panel. An independent mechanic inspected the vehicle and became aware that the coolant reservoir was empty. One month later, the same failure reoccurred. A second independent mechanic inspected the vehicle, and the coolant reservoir was empty. The vehicle was taken to a dealer. The dealer diagnosed the vehicle with a coolant leak into the head gasket. The dealer advisor referenced a customer satisfaction program as the cause of the failure; however, the vehicle was over the mileage limit for the …
NHTSA complaint 11746813, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Both taillamps holding moisture. Could cause electrical issues or fire. .. same year and model car have same reported issues and were fixed by manufacturer. This vehicle is the same but different level.
NHTSA complaint 11724219. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Driver door lock actuator not working. This seems to be a common problem for Toyota over the last decade, but they yet to put more vehicles to their recall list. Actuator just stopped working. I have to use key out of FOB to manually open. This is a safety issue if I’m trying to get in my car quickly for safety reasons and it does not open.
NHTSA complaint 11683274. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
160,000 miles
The contact owns a 2018 Toyota Prius. The contact stated the trunk opened at a slow speed and failed to remain open. The dealer was contacted and informed of the failure. The dealer informed the contact that the vehicle needed to be taken in to be inspected. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure and confirmed that the VIN was not covered under recall. The manufacturer directed the contact back to the dealer for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 160,000.
NHTSA complaint 11670706. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES:EXTERIOR
Was driving around 35 mph and my right side mirror blew up. The back blew off and the mirror was shattered and hanging. Nothing hit it. Contacted Toyota and the parts have been on a stop, but there is no recall. It has been 4 months.
NHTSA complaint 11656375. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
ENGINE
89,682 miles
The contact owns a 2018 Toyota Prius. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed with a failed heat exchanger, catalytic converter, and exhaust system. The contact was informed that the heat exchanger, the catalytic converter, and the exhaust system needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but provided no assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 89,682.
NHTSA complaint 11650717. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
If this is your car and a dealer keeps failing to fix it, your state's lemon
law may require the manufacturer to replace it or buy it back.
What each state asks for
, read from the statutes.
Where these numbers come from
Complaints: NHTSA's ODI
complaint file
, published August 20, 2026. One
complaint is one ODI number, which is how NHTSA counts them.
Recalls: NHTSA's recall
campaign API
, most recent campaign filed August 12, 2026.
Investigations: NHTSA's ODI
investigation file
, published 2026-08-19.
A complaint is one owner's account and has not been verified by NHTSA or by
us. A vehicle with more complaints is not necessarily worse: models that
sold in larger numbers collect more of them. How this is counted.
G
Compiled and maintained by guarledes Independent developer and analyst