2018 Toyota Prius prime problems

General information about Toyota-Prius prime
Overview of popular issues
Analysis of common problems
Сomplaints list
Negative car reviews
Positive car reviews

The Toyota Prius Plug-in Hybrid (often abbreviated as the Prius PHV and known as the Prius Prime in North America, South Korea, and New Zealand) is a plug-in hybrid liftback manufactured by Toyota. The first-generation model was produced from 2012 to 2016. The second-generation model has been produced since 2016. Production of the third-generation model began in 2023.

The Prius Plug-in Hybrid was the second most sold plug-in electric car in 2012, and became third-best all-time in December 2014. As sales declined after the end of its production, the Prius PHV fell to fifth place in the global ranking by November 2015, after being surpassed by both the Tesla Model S and the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV. As of December 2017, sales were led by North America with 66,800 units, followed by Japan with 48,800, and the European market with 13,100 units. The U.S. was the leading country market with 65,703 units sold by 2017. As of December 2019, cumulative global sales of both Prius plug-in generations totaled 209,000 units.

Concept and demonstration models

The Prius Plug-In Hybrid Concept was exhibited at the September 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show, the October 2009 Tokyo Motor Show, and the December 2009 Los Angeles Auto Show. The vehicle was based on the third-generation Toyota Prius (model XW30) but outfitted with 5.2 kWh lithium-ion batteries. The selected battery capacity is the minimum required for a vehicle to be eligible for the U.S. federal tax credit of US$2,500, which under the American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009 is applicable to the first 200,000 plug-ins sold by an automaker.

After displaying the concept version in these three shows, a global demonstration program involving 600 pre-production test cars began in late 2009 and took place in Australia, Canada, China, France, Germany, Japan, New Zealand and the United States. The demonstration vehicles were made available for lease to fleet and government customers, of which, 230 were delivered in Japan beginning in late December 2009, 125 in the U.S. by early 2010, and 200 in Europe in spring 2010. All program vehicles were equipped with data tracking devices to allow Toyota to monitor the car's usage for further development of the plug-in hybrid system.

The pre-production Prius Plug-in used three different batteries: two added batteries to provide all-electric drive and the standard hybrid battery which engages when the first two are depleted, allowing the car to operate like a regular hybrid Prius. According to Toyota, when the vehicle started, it operates in all-electric mode, drawing electrical power directly from the first battery pack. When the first battery was depleted, it disconnected from the circuit and the second pack engaged. When the second pack was depleted, it disconnected from the circuit and the vehicle defaulted to conventional hybrid mode, using the main battery as the sole electrical power source. Pack one and pack two would not reengage with the circuit until the vehicle was plugged in and charged.

According to Toyota, the demonstrator was rated at 1.76 L/100 km (134 mpg‑US; 161 mpg‑imp) on the Japanese JC08 cycle with a combined efficiency based on 43.6% of driving in EV mode, and CO2 emissions of 41 g/km. Fuel efficiency operating as a gasoline-electric hybrid, like the regular Prius, is 3.3 L/100 km (72 mpg‑US; 86 mpg‑imp) with CO2 emissions of 76 g/km.

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Common 2018 Toyota Prius prime problems

The 2018 Toyota Prius Prime has been reported to have several common problems based on complaints from owners. Here are the details of those problems:

Electrical Accessories Issues: Some owners have reported issues with electrical accessories, including the infotainment system, rear entertainment system, backup or other camera/sensors, head-up display, and microSD card for the GPS. The microSD card for the GPS was removed to show to the Toyota parts manager. When it came to time to reinstall the card, the car would not recognize the card. Toyota Service requests I have them troubleshoot the problem and I have not done this. The cost of keeping the GPS maps current is expensive and replacement of the microSD card is awkward and unreliable.

Paint and Trim Issues: Some owners have reported issues with paint and trim, including cracked windshield that had to be replaced.

EV Battery Issues: Some owners have reported issues with the EV battery, including starter battery needed to be jumped on a couple of occasions.

In-car Electronics Issues: Some owners have reported issues with in-car electronics, including infotainment system (audio, GPS, phone), rear entertainment system, backup or other camera/sensors, head-up display. The microSD card for the GPS was removed to show to the Toyota parts manager. When it came to time to reinstall the card, the car would not recognize the card. Toyota Service requests I have them troubleshoot the problem and I have not done this. The cost of keeping the GPS maps current is expensive and replacement of the microSD card is awkward and unreliable.

Windshield Cracks: Some owners have reported issues with the windshield, including windshield cracked in the 2019 Prius Prime, windshield cracks easily in the 2018 Prius Prime, and windshield chips and cracks easily in the 2017 Prius Prime.

Rodent Damage: Some owners have reported issues with wires chewed by rodents in the 2017 Prius Prime.

These problems are based on complaints from owners and may not represent all 2018 Toyota Prius Prime vehicles. It's important to note that the Toyota Prius Prime is still considered a reliable vehicle, with many owners reporting no significant problems.

What are the most common problems on a 2018 Prius?

How many years will the Prius Prime battery last?

Toyota Prius Hybrid Battery Life

The average battery life of a Toyota Prius is 8-10 years or around 150,000 miles. Regarding battery life, the Prius is one of the most reliable cars on the road. The hybrid battery is designed to maintain its charge over the car's life and should last as long as the car itself.

How many miles will a 2018 Prius last?

With regular maintenance, a Toyota Prius owner can expect to get between 200,000 and 250,000 miles out of their Prius, with some owners topping the 300,000-mile mark and going strong.

What is the most common problem of Toyota Prius?

A list of some of the most common issues Prius owners have to deal with.

Bluetooth Echos During Calls. ...
Musty and Moldy A/C. ...
Unintended Acceleration. ...
Rodents Chew Soy-Coated Wires. ...
Prius Headlight Problems. ...
Prius Brake Defects. ...
Toyota Excessive Oil Consumption.

What are the most common problems on a 2018 Prius?

Owner Reported Trouble Spots

Exhaust. Muffler, pipes, catalytic converter, exhaust manifold, heat shields, leaks. ...
Electrical Accessories. ...
Paint And Trim. ...
EV Battery. ...
Brakes. ...
Steering And Suspension.

What is the most common problem of Toyota Prius?

A list of some of the most common issues Prius owners have to deal with.

Bluetooth Echos During Calls. ...
Musty and Moldy A/C. ...
Unintended Acceleration. ...
Rodents Chew Soy-Coated Wires. ...
Prius Headlight Problems. ...
Prius Brake Defects. ...
Toyota Excessive Oil Consumption.

What is the fuel economy of a 2018 Prius Prime L 100km?

Toyota estimates the Prius Primes fuel consumption at 4.3/4.4 L/100 km (city/highway), while electric energy use is 1.8Le/100 km combined.

How many miles will a 2018 Prius last?

With regular maintenance, a Toyota Prius owner can expect to get between 200,000 and 250,000 miles out of their Prius, with some owners topping the 300,000-mile mark and going strong.

2018 Toyota Prius prime car problems categorized by type of issue

After analyzing all complaints sent to the NHTSA and researching popular Toyota Prius prime problems, we found that the most common problems with these 2023 model year vehicles are:

Unknown or other problems
Air bags problems
Fuel/propulsion system problems
Structure problems
Vehicle speed control problems

The graph below shows statistics for all 2018 Toyota Prius prime vehicle components and the number of complaints received.

2018 Toyota Prius prime complaints

The NHTSA has received 11 complaints about various vehicle components related to the 2018 Toyota Prius prime.

2023-11-06

STRUCTURE,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,UNKNOWN OR OTHER PROBLEM

Date Of Incident: 2023-10-21
Crash: 1
VIN: JTDKARFPXJ3
Components: STRUCTURE,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Summary: 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.

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2023-08-15

AIR BAGS PROBLEM

Date Of Incident: 2023-08-03
Number Of Injuries: 2
Crash: 1
VIN: JTDKARFPXJ3
Components: AIR BAGS
Summary: 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

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2023-04-14

POWER TRAIN PROBLEM

Date Of Incident: 2023-04-14
VIN: JTDKARFP3J3
Components: POWER TRAIN
Summary: Take foot of break, car accelerates under power. Sooner or later, this is going to result in killing a pedestrian. The question has been for the last year, is this a behavior that can be gotten used to. The answer is definitely NO! This resulted in a near collision with a pedestrian today. Toyota believes the behavior is intentional and will not confirm the safety issue. Farmers Insurance is willing to believe the issue exists without inspection but has no idea what to do. You have a problem on your hands. Biden is trying to transition almost everybody away from gasoline vehicles; thus those that drive manual transmissions will be driving electric vehicles, and their brain patterns have not changed and the procedure for getting rolling from a dead stop will be done the old way, and it's now dangerous. In a manual transmission it is necessary to transition off the break before completing looking all three ways (left, right, straight) because the transition time from break to power is so long that if the looking is done before, it is out of date by the time power is being applied. Applying the same procedure to an electric car has potentially lethal results; and people who have been driving a manual transmission for a long time will end up using its procedure in an electric car by habit. Perhaps you observed the reports over the last few decades of old men with new cars having unintended acceleration problems with no cause found. I now believe that a number of these have a very similar explanation. Car isn't off, take foot of break to get out of car, car accelerates. In an electric car, telling the car isn't off isn't very easy any more. This is easy to understand. An automatic transmission vehicle has an unremovable dumb behavior where take foot off break accelerates, whereas in a manual transmission this stalls, which is a safer result. There is no reason this behavior should carry over to computer drive, including electric or hybrid vehicles.

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2023-01-19

AIR BAGS PROBLEM

Date Of Incident: 2023-01-11
Number Of Injuries: 1
Crash: 1
VIN: JTDKARFP6J3
Components: AIR BAGS
Summary: Air bag did not deploy during a head on collision at 25-30 mph. No warning lamps. Car is totaled according to tow truck driver. Currently at the body shop, waiting for adjusters approval for body shop to take car apart to assess the damage.

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2022-10-03

SERVICE BRAKES PROBLEM

Date Of Incident: 2022-08-31
Crash: 1
VIN: JTDKARFP4J3
Components: SERVICE BRAKES
Summary: The contact owns a 2018 Toyota Prius. The contact stated while driving approximately 5 MPH and in heavy traffic, the contact depressed the brake pedal for traffic but the brakes failed. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact crashed into the rear end of a truck. The damage was very light due to the low speed. The top of the hood at the front was scratched and the grill also sustained minor scratches. The contact continued on the road. The contact had taken the vehicle to a local dealer, who contacted a manufacturer representative to diagnose the vehicle. The contact was advised that there was no brake failure. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was 40,063.

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2021-07-22

BACK OVER PREVENTION,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE PROBLEM

Date Of Incident: 2018-11-15
VIN: JTDKARFP0J3
Components: BACK OVER PREVENTION,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE
Summary: From the first week of ownership sensors would alarm that they needed cleaning but they were clean. Parking assist sensors also malfunctioning. Also saw Intelligent Clearance Sonar error messages and warnings. Alarm tended to go off in wet weather. Brought to dealership many times and problem occurred infrequently that no problem was ever found. For two years I was plagued by alarms of sensor malfunction. I worried the sensors would fail to detect cars and objects in front of, behind or on the side of the car. That would be a serious failure and cause of an accident. After two years of unsuccessful testing, I traded in the car.

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2021-01-28

EXTERIOR LIGHTING PROBLEM

Date Of Incident: 2021-01-28
VIN: JTDKARFP4J3
Components: EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Summary: WHILE DRIVING ON RURAL ROADS WITH NO STREET LIGHTS, THE AUTOMATIC HIGH BEAM SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONS WHEN PASSING ONCOMING TRAFFIC WHO DO NOT DIM THEIR HEADLIGHTS OR WHO HAVE THOSE HEADLIGHTS THAT SHOULD BE ILLEGAL (LIKE FORD). NORMAL LOW-BEAM HEADLIGHTS DO NOT CAUSE THE SYSTEM TO MALFUNCTION. I BELIEVE THIS MALFUNCTION TO BE RELATED TO THE CAMERA SENSOR LOCATED ON THE WINDSHIELD AND WHEN THE GLARE OF THE EXCESSIVELY BRIGHT HEADLIGHTS HIT THAT SENSOR, IT CRASHES THE AUTO SYSTEM. THE SYMBOL ON THE DASH THAT INDICATES THAT THE SYSTEM IS WORKING NORMAL CUTS OFF FOR APPROXIMATELY 25-30 SECONDS, DURING WHICH TIME THE HIGH BEAMS WILL NOT ENGAGE. AFTER THAT 30 SECOND DELAY, THE SYSTEM REBOOTS, THE LIGHT ON THE DASH COMES BACK ON AND THE HIGH BEAMS RE-ENGAGE. THIS IS DANGEROUS AS ALL MANNER OF WILDLIFE CROSS THAT ROAD AT NIGHT AND WITHOUT BRIGHT LIGHTS, MY REACTION TIME IS CUT IN HALF. I HAVE TALKED TO THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP ABOUT THIS ISSUE SINCE I PURCHASED THIS CAR IN MAY OF 2019 TELLING THEM THERE IS A MALFUNCTION IN THE SYSTEM, AND WAS INITIALLY INFORMED THAT THIS WAS NORMAL FUNCTIONALITY. I OWNED A 2017 PRIUS PRIME ADVANCED (ONE YEAR OLDER THAN THIS ONE) AND IT NEVER MALFUNCTIONED, SO I KNOW THIS IS A MALFUNCTION IN THE SYSTEM. AFTER SPEAKING WITH THE SERVICE MANAGER IN DEPTH ABOUT MY EXPERIENCE WITH THIS ISSUE, HE FINALLY UNDERSTOOD THAT THIS IS AN ISSUE AND NOT NORMAL FUNCTIONALITY. THEY HAVE KEPT MY CAR SEVERAL TIMES TRYING TO RECREATE THE FAILURE, BUT UNLESS THEY DRIVE OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE (SUPER DARK) AND COME ACROSS SOMEONE WITH "TOO-BRIGHT" HEADLIGHTS, IT IS UNLIKELY THEY WILL ACCOMPLISH A FAILURE. I WAS ALSO TOLD THAT TOYOTA DID NOT KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THIS ISSUE. I HAVE SINCE DONE THE RESEARCH AND FOUND THAT THIS HAS BEEN AN ISSUE SINCE AT LEAST 2017, AND OCCURS ON VARIOUS TOYOTA MODELS (PRIUS, AVALON, RAV4, ETC...). I HAVE VIDEO OF THE FAILURE.

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2021-01-12

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM PROBLEM

Date Of Incident: 2021-01-11
VIN: JTDKARFPXJ3
Components: FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Summary: 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.

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2020-12-18

ENGINE PROBLEM

Date Of Incident: 2020-12-01
VIN: JTDKARFPXJ3
Components: ENGINE
Summary: AFTER THE HYBRID BATTERY IS DISCHARGED, AND THE GAS ENGINE KICKS IN, THE VEHICLE LOSES POWER FOR APPROXIMATELY 5-10 SECONDS ON THE FREEWAY. THIS HAS HAPPENED FOUR TIMES, AT APPROXIMATELY 7 AM, ON DECEMBER 1, 10, 14 AND 15. ON ALL OCCASIONS, THE TEMPERATURE WAS BETWEEN 40-45 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT, AND AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS NOT IN USE. NO WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON. I CALLED THE TOYOTA DEALER ON DECEMBER 1 AND THE SERVICE ADVISER SAID THAT SINCE NO WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON, HE COULD NOT DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. I HAVE A PHOTO SHOWING MY CONTACTING THE TOYOTA DEALER ON DECEMBER 1ST. ON DECEMBER 10, I TOOK THE VEHICLE INTO TOYOTA IN THE AFTERNOON. THE DEALER CHECKED THE VEHICLE AND ROAD TESTED THE VEHICLE WITHOUT HAVING THE HYBRID BATTERY CHARGED, AND THE AIR TEMPERATURE WAS WARMER. I WAS CHARGED $210 FOR THE DIAGNOSTIC SERVICE, ALTHOUGH I HAVE AN EXTENDED WARRANTY. THE SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED ON DECEMBER 14 AND 15. SPECIFIC PROBLEM UNKNOWN BUT I BELIEVE THAT A SWITCH THAT CONTROLS THE GASOLINE VOLUME INTO THE ENGINE AFTER THE HYBRID BATTERY POWER IS DEPLETED IS DEFECTIVE. I WAS IN THE CARPOOL LANE AT APPROXIMATELY 7 AM ON ALL 4 OCCASIONS AND MY SPEED DROPPED, ALTHOUGH I DEPRESSED THE GAS PEDAL TO MAXIMUM AS WELL AS PUMPING THE GAS PEDAL, ALL TO NO AVAIL. THE CAR IS IN USE ONLY MONDAY, TUESDAY, WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY, THE DAYS THAT I WORK. I CONTACTED TOYOTA CUSTOMER ADVOCATE (800-331-4331, CASE # 2012120505) AND THEY SAID THEY DID NOT HAVE THE ABILITY TO DETERMINE IF ANYONE ELSE EVER HAD THE SAME PROBLEM.

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2020-11-11

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM PROBLEM

Date Of Incident: 2020-11-10
VIN: JTDKARFP3J3
Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Summary: 'HYBRID SYSTEM FAILURE' APPEARED ON DASH DISPLAY DURING A LONG (120 MILE) DRIVE AT HIGHWAY SPEED ON SEPTEMBER 24. AFTER DRIVING ABOUT 40 MILES FURTHER, THE 'CHECK ENGINE LIGHT' CAME ON AND THE DISPLAY SAID TO PULL OVER IMMEDIATELY. AS I PULLED OFF THE FREEWAY, MESSAGES TOLD ME THE POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKES WERE SHUTTING OFF AND LEFT ME IN FEAR THE CAR WOULD DIE ON THE FREEWAY RAMP BEFORE I COULD PULL OVER. TOWED CAR TO DEALER WHO FIXED A LOOSE CABLE. THIS WEEK (11/10) THE DISPLAY SHOWED THE SAME MESSAGE. THIS IS NOW A RECURRING PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL.

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2020-02-06

UNKNOWN OR OTHER PROBLEM

Date Of Incident: 2020-02-06
VIN: JTDKARFP8J3
Components: UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Summary: AFTER STARTING FROM A STOP AFTER THE TRAFFIC LIGHT TURNED GREEN, THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME PULLED AHEAD AS THEY ACCELERATED FASTER THAN ME. WHEN THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME WAS ABOUT 50 YARDS IN FRONT OF ME, AND I HAD REACHED ABOUT 25 MILES PER HOUR THE CAR'S COLLISION AVOIDANCE SYSTEM ENGAGED AND SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES AND BROUGHT ME TO A FULL STOP. THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME HAD NOT APPLIED THEIR BRAKES OR SLOWED AT ALL, AND THERE WERE NO VISIBLE OBSTACLES. MY CAR STOPPED SO SUDDENLY THAT I THOUGHT I HAD BEEN HIT FROM THE REAR AT HIGH SPEED UNTIL THE RED WARNING LIGHTS APPEARED ON THE DASH (AFTER THE BRAKING STARTED). THE CARS BEHIND ME ALMOST RAN INTO ME BECAUSE OF THE SUDDEN STOP.

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Negative 2018 Toyota Prius prime car reviews

Gerhard Williamson 2025-01-10

This car has the most road noise out of any car I've owned, and the low beam headlights are terrible. However, the lane departure warning is nice, and the seats are typically Toyota - very supportive and comfortable. The fit and finish are typical Toyota perfection. Overall, I believe this is the most reliable and affordable EV on the market, although it should be noted that it is not a luxury car.
Kaleigh Rodriguez 2024-04-05

Hi there! I hope you're doing well. I wanted to share my experience with my 2018 Toyota Prius that I purchased in February 2019. I've driven about 6 thousand miles so far, but unfortunately, I had an accident 4 weeks ago due to unintended acceleration. It was a scary experience, but thankfully no one was hurt. Since then, I've been trying to get in touch with Toyota to investigate the case, but they have been quite slow in responding. I'm still waiting to hear from them. I understand that these types of complaints can take some time to resolve, but I was surprised by how bureaucratic Toyota has been in dealing with the case. As you may know, Toyota sells 3 million vehicles in North America every year, so I had high hopes for their customer service. I'll keep you posted on any developments every week. Thanks for listening!
Darrion Crooks 2024-03-18

I noticed that the front scoop bumper configuration may not be to everyone's liking as it may be prone to scratches and dings. The driver's seat has a lot of features and can be overwhelming at first, but I believe one would get used to it over time. Unfortunately, the rear visibility is not the best and could potentially be a safety issue. On a positive note, the car has great gas mileage, comfortable seats, and a spacious cargo/trunk. Overall, it seems like a great car with some minor drawbacks.

Positive 2018 Toyota Prius prime car reviews

Ted Leuschke 2025-08-11

It's been a year since we got our car, and we've already driven over 15,000 miles. Since we mainly use it around town, we rarely need to fill up on gas. In fact, I filled up the tank back in November and as I write this in May, I still have half a tank left! The car's sensors have been a huge help for my wife, who has macular degeneration. With the sensors, we can drive across the state with ease, only needing to touch the steering wheel and turn signal on the interstate.
Ludwig Hauck 2025-08-05

In August 2021, I sold my Prius Prime to Carvana. It was a great car with zero issues, and the fit and finish after 3 years and 45K miles were as good as new. What's even better is that I sold the car for the same price as I got it for. I drove the car for 3 years on the house, just paying for gas and insurance. Working from home since March 2020 has muted some of the benefits of owning a super duper efficient car. However, I haven't had to visit a gas station since then, and I've been constantly postponing tire changes since all my trips are to the grocery store now. The Prius Prime continues to validate my purchase decision. The MPG has gone up to 100+ mpge as I am getting used to the car, which is twice as much as my 2015 CMAx Energi. Fill-ups are once every 900 miles. The radar cruise control and automatic braking have saved me more than a few times. No issues till now, it's a wonderful commuter car and I'm happy with my decision. Three of my coworkers even brought the Prius Prime after hearing my raving reviews :-) Literally walked across to the Toyota dealership after dropping off the Ford CMax. My commute increased from 65 miles round trip to 80 miles. The choice was between the new LEAF, Bolt and the Prime. I decided against the LEAF because of all the range anxiety I had with my 2012 LEAF. The Bolt was finally off the list because of the size of the car. The Prius won me hands down. The automatic collision detection has saved me at least once while driving back from work. It has 6000 miles on the car already, averaging about 99 Mpge lifetime. My visit to the gas station is every 850 miles which is wonderful. As of February 2020, the car is solid as a rock, with no complaints and saves money on gas. This is the rock star commuter car. I might switch to the RAV 4 Prime when it becomes available. That car has 47 miles promised range on EV which is going to be good for the next few years.
Jaron Champlin 2025-07-21

I recently traded in my 13-year old Honda Fit for a more environmentally friendly vehicle, and I couldn't be happier with my choice. I opted for a slightly used 2018 Prius Prime Advanced, which had only 7480 miles on it, and it has exceeded my expectations in every way. While I loved my Fit, the Prime is much quieter, more comfortable, and significantly more energy efficient. It offers both hybrid and pure electric modes, making it far less polluting than even my Fit, which was rated as an 'ultra low emission vehicle'. In fact, the EPA rates the Prime at 78 grams of pollution per mile in hybrid mode, compared to 287 grams per mile for the Fit, and of course, zero pollution in electric mode. The Prime also offers three driving modes: 'economy', 'normal', and 'power', but I have found that the economy mode provides adequate zip for merging with traffic on the freeway without sacrificing energy efficiency. However, the other modes are available if needed. In terms of energy efficiency, the EPA predicts up to 25 miles on a full battery charge, but I have consistently been getting 30 to 35 miles on a charge, and have been able to do all my local driving in the Asheville NC area in pure electric mode, averaging a little over 5 miles per kWh over 500 miles so far. The EPA also rates the Prime at 53 mpg on the highway, but during a test trip through the western NC mountains, down to Atlanta and back, I used only 8.136 gallons of gas for 493 miles (60+ mpg) using hybrid mode only. I purchased a Poniie PN2000 electric monitor through Amazon to measure charging electricity, so I have exact electric use data per mile. My guess is that the EPA instrumentation is unable to account for the significant amount of battery recharging that occurs from downhill runs and momentum charging that happens on slow-downs for stop lights. Overall, this is a beautifully engineered vehicle, and I personally love the sleek styling as well. The only downside, which may be an issue for some, is the lower luggage capacity.The Prius Prime has slightly less capacity than a regular Prius due to its larger battery, but with the rear seats folded down, there is still plenty of room for baggage for two people. Although I miss being able to put my bike in the back, the greatly improved energy efficiency and significantly lower environmental impact make it a fair tradeoff. As an update, I recently completed a round trip from Asheville, NC to Plainfield, IN, covering slightly over 500 miles each way, plus another 100 miles of partly local driving using the hybrid engine only. I averaged just over 66 mpg for the trip, and the Prius Prime was comfortable, easily driven, and generally enjoyable. The adaptive cruise control option was a particular stress reliever, especially with multiple traffic slow-downs associated with road construction along the way. I would highly recommend the value of this option on any vehicle. After 8 months of ownership, the Prius Prime continues to exceed expectations. A second road trip of over 900 miles confirmed the previous cited road mileage of mid 60s, while after a little over 3000 miles of local battery-only (EV mode), I continue to average over 5 miles per kWh. If you're considering purchasing a Prius Prime, it's worth noting that I have a 110 ground-fault protected power outlet in my garage, making recharging even at the slow rate convenient.If you're looking for an economical choice, a slightly cheaper 'regular' Prius might be a better option than going to a charging station, even a free one, to get 35 miles of charge. It's important to keep in mind that speed is the enemy of economy with any vehicle. During my experience, driving over 75 miles on fairly flat Interstate at 68 to 70 mph lowered my mpg to just less than car-reported 58. However, I seem to do better in mountains where there is opportunity for momentum recharging of the battery on down-hills. When the speed limit dropped to 65, and my speed accordingly, overall car-reported gas mileage climbed back to 63 mpg. This appears doubly true in battery-only (EV mode). Even 65 mpg chews up stored energy rapidly, reducing my range to 28 from the usual 32 to 35 miles. Slower traffic and 35 to 45 mph speed limits are a much more efficient use of EV mode. I choose my local routes with those considerations in mind to obtain the 5.5+ miles per kWh I have been achieving. For me, the few minutes of delay are well worth it for the economic gains. The Prime defaults to battery and Eco mode every time it is started, but one can select the hybrid-only Eco-mode with the 'HV/EV' button. So, I normally save running on battery for travel on secondary roads and use only hybrid mode on fast roads or interstates. If you're not concerned with such things, you may not obtain the full value of a plug-in. I hope the above information is helpful rather than boring. Update 10/26/22: The car now has 15,970 total miles (8520 of those miles are mine.) My average EV miles per kWh have remained 5.25 with highs over 6 miles per kWh under ideal conditions and lows around 4.6 at worst. Usual EV range remains 30 to 35 miles. When I bought the car, the odometer registered 57.5 lifetime miles per gallon, but it now indicates 153.1 mpg--perhaps the best indication of how much I'm able to use pure EV mode. Because of age, not miles, my second oil change is scheduled for next week--the only cost beyond fuel and electricity.My review of 'far exceeding expectations' continues. I absolutely love this car! Edmond's asked for an update, so here's one for April 29, 2023. Although I have little to add, after 21 months of ownership, all of the above is validated. I can only add that in EV mode, temperature does make a difference. In the moderate spring weather we're currently having in Asheville, where no A/C or heat is required, my EV mileage per kWh has climbed to 5.9 miles per kilowatt, as measured by my PN2000 watt meter during charging. With free tire rotations from Discount Tire, my only maintenance over 21 months and 11,394 miles has been two oil changes and replacement windshield wipers. The lifetime gas mileage reported by the car is currently at 155.3 mpg. Over half my driving is in EV-only mode, thus the high miles per gallon. It's worth repeating, however, that availability of home charging is critical to the car's value. The car predicts 5 hours 40 minutes to go from zero to full charge, but my experience on my regular 110 circuit is under 4 hours 45 minutes, and I'm seldom charging from empty, so it's shorter. Installation of a 2-hour charging 220-volt circuit has not been worth the significant cost to me. I hope this information is helpful.
Kole Tremblay 2025-07-20

I really appreciate Toyota's effort in designing the car. As a car enthusiast, I used to be into exotic sports cars and never really considered the Prius. However, when it was time to buy a new car, I realized the importance of practicality and making a smart purchase. The tax credit and advanced technology were definitely appealing factors. Working in manufacturing, I have a great deal of respect for Toyota's manufacturing processes and I knew that I would be making a wise decision by choosing a well-built and reliable car from Toyota. Additionally, Toyota has a great reputation for taking care of their customers in the event of recalls, which was important to me as a buyer. The Prime's design is also very attractive, and I personally think that the front end looks similar to Acura's new NSX supercar. My first impression of the car was fantastic - the handling and power (especially with a charge in power mode) really surprised me. Although the handling in winter (New Hampshire) wasn't as good as my previous Audi A4 with Quattro AWD, I still found it to be quite impressive. However, I did notice that the touchscreen can be quite glare-prone and the acrylic front bumper is prone to chipping and cracking. Unfortunately, when I tried to fix it, I found out that the entire grille sub-assembly had to be replaced for $550, which was quite disappointing. I have a hole in my bumper now, which you can see in this video: https://youtu.be/dLOSR0gQ84M. The low ground clearance of the car is also something to consider, as it can be prone to scraping on steep driveways or speedbumps. Overall, I am very happy with my purchase and would highly recommend the Toyota Prime to anyone looking for a reliable and stylish car.I don't have a garage, so after a snowstorm, the snow packs underneath the car, making it nearly impossible to get unstuck. If you have a charge, it defaults to EV mode, which will not allow the wheels to spin. So, when you press the accelerator to try getting unstuck, literally nothing happens, which can be extremely frustrating. If you live where there is snow, make sure you plow or shovel a path. I no longer charge mine, though, because it is less expensive for me to run on gasoline than to charge it. If you have flat-rates too, do the math to figure out what makes the most sense. Do not assume that plugging in will save you money. Plugging in or not, it's still a great car. I have averaged 52 mpg over 24,000 miles, nearly all of which were in hybrid mode with no charge. I also drive on the interstate to and from work, so that's also at highway speeds. When I tried to get good fuel economy on a recent 317-mile road trip, I was able to get 77.3 mpg without a charge: https://youtu.be/8fAm7YuebWU. The fuel mileage, tech, futuristic looks, and the fact that it's a Toyota, and my experience so far, would make me buy this car again and recommend it to most people. However, it's important to pay attention to the low ground clearance and snow concerns.
Jacinto Conn 2025-07-01

If you're interested in a green car, the Prime is a great option. With the tax deduction, it's very competitive with the regular Prius, but you also get an EV vehicle that can go about 25 miles. The car drives much better than my 3rd generation hybrid, which I really loved, and it's a lot quieter too. I personally like the futuristic styling, although I understand it's not for everybody. By the way, electric cars only really make economical sense if you have a solar system, but it's worth considering. It's unfortunate, but gas is otherwise very competitive.

Additional sources

More sources of information about 2018 Toyota Prius prime problems:

Any problems experienced with the 2019 Prius Prime? : r/PriusPrime

https://www.reddit.com/r/PriusPrime/comments/zf2o31/any_problems_experienced_with_the_2019_prius_prime/

Dec 7, 2022 ... Brake booster and head gaskets were an issue with 3rd gen. Some Early years of the 4th gen and Prime had coolant loss from a leak into the ...

2018 Toyota Prius Prime Problems | Kelley Blue Book

https://www.kbb.com/toyota/prius-prime/2018/common-problems/

How reliable is the 2018 Toyota Prius Prime? See the most common repairs performed and learn if your vehicle is at risk for major repairs in the next 12 ...

2018 Prius Prime EV battery problem | PriusChat

https://priuschat.com/threads/2018-prius-prime-ev-battery-problem.227462/

But when this sudden drop in the ACTUAL EV range happens in absence of any common causes listed and persists even after eliminating all the ...

2018 Toyota Prius Reliability - Consumer Reports

https://www.consumerreports.org/cars/toyota/prius/2018/reliability/

Owner Reported Trouble Spots · Exhaust · Electrical Accessories · Paint And Trim · EV Battery · Brakes · Steering And Suspension · Engine Major · Electric Motor.