2021 Toyota Prius prime problems
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 2021 Toyota Prius prime problems
The Toyota Prius Prime is a popular plug-in hybrid vehicle, but like any car, it can have its share of issues. Based on owner complaints and recalls, here are some common problems with the 2021 Toyota Prius Prime:
- Brake Booster Pump Failure: Toyota has also issued a recall for certain 2019 Lexus LS500, LC500, ES300h, UX250h, LS500h, Toyota Prius, RAV4 HV, 2019-2020 Toyota Prius Prime, and 2020 Corolla HV vehicles due to a potential brake booster pump failure. This issue can cause a deactivation of the Vehicle Stability Control system and a loss of braking assist, which may not comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 126.
- Infotainment System Issues: Some owners have reported dissatisfaction with the infotainment system in the Prius Prime. They have criticized the system for being difficult to use, lacking certain features, and having a poor user interface. Some users have also reported issues with connectivity and compatibility with their smartphones.
- Limited Trunk Space: The Prius Prime's battery pack takes up a significant amount of trunk space, which can limit its practicality for some users. This is especially true for those who need to transport larger items or have a lot of cargo.
- Lack of Manual Controls: Some owners have reported that the Prius Prime's touch screen controls can be distracting and make it difficult to make adjustments while driving. They have also criticized the lack of manual controls for certain functions, such as climate control.
It is important to note that while these issues have been reported by some owners, the Prius Prime has also received positive reviews and is generally considered to be a reliable and efficient vehicle. If you are considering purchasing a Prius Prime, it is always a good idea to do your research, read owner reviews, and consider any potential issues or recalls before making a decision.
Is the 2021 Prius prime reliable?
The 2021 Prius Prime isn't the best plug-in hybrid, but it does have its own unique weird-science flair and benefits from Toyota's reputation for reliability.
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.
How long does a Prius Prime last?
How long is Prius Prime's battery designed to last? The hybrid battery is covered for 10 years/150,000 miles, whichever comes first, and is transferable across ownership. Can Prius Prime charge itself? Prius Prime must be plugged in to fully recharge the battery.
What is the best year of the Prius?
Looking for the best year Prius to buy used, huh? Great choice, Priuses are known for their reliability and fuel efficiency. The 2012-2015 Prius models are often considered the sweet spot.
Is the 2021 Prius prime reliable?
The 2021 Prius Prime isn't the best plug-in hybrid, but it does have its own unique weird-science flair and benefits from Toyota's reputation for reliability.
What is the common problem with Toyota Prius?
The most commonly reported issues for different Toyota Prius model years include cracked windshields, excessive engine oil consumption, and engine issues. Depending on the model year, the Toyota Prius can also develop problems with its headlights, interior accessories, fuel gauge, transistors, and parking brake.
Is Toyota Prius Prime a safe car?
2024 Toyota Prius Prime Crash Test Results
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety gave the 2024 Toyota Prius Prime the highest rating of Good in all four crash tests conducted. The Prius Prime also received the second-highest rating of Acceptable for how well its headlights illuminate the road.
How long does a Prius Prime last?
How long is Prius Prime's battery designed to last? The hybrid battery is covered for 10 years/150,000 miles, whichever comes first, and is transferable across ownership. Can Prius Prime charge itself? Prius Prime must be plugged in to fully recharge the battery.
2021 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:
- Service brakes problems
- Forward collision avoidance problems
- Hydraulic problems
- Vehicle speed control problems
- Power train problems
The graph below shows statistics for all 2021 Toyota Prius prime vehicle components and the number of complaints received.
2021 Toyota Prius prime complaints
The NHTSA has received 6 complaints about various vehicle components related to the 2021 Toyota Prius prime.
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-10-20
- Crash: 1
- VIN: JTDKAMFP8M3
- Components: FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE
- Summary: My vehicle is equipped with Toyota Safety Sense, which includes Full-Speed Range Dynamic Radar Cruise Control (DRCC) and a Pre-Collision System. Today, while driving with DRCC engaged, my vehicle followed a leading car and appropriately slowed down to 2 mph as we approached a signalized intersection. However, when the leading vehicle changed lanes, a gap was created between me and a new lead vehicle, which was fully stopped. Despite this, the DRCC system accelerated to 5mph and collided with the stopped vehicle.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-06-17
- VIN: JTDKAMFP3M3
- Components: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
- Summary: The contact owns a 2021 Toyota Prius Prime. The contact stated while driving 45–50 MPH and approaching a stop sign, the brake pedal was depressed but the vehicle failed to respond. The driver continued to pump the brake pedal, but the vehicle failed to respond and depressed to the floorboard. The vehicle accelerated, veered across the road, jumped the curb, and stopped. There were no warning lights illuminated. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, and an engineer determined that the brakes were working properly. The failure mileage was approximately 34,000.
POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2023-09-10
- VIN: JTDKAMFPXM3
- Components: POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- Summary: The contact owns a 2021 Toyota Prius Prime. The contact stated that after the vehicle was shifted into park, the key was removed and the contact stepped away from the vehicle, when the vehicle inadvertently started to roll away. As a result, the vehicle rolled into the neighbor’s driveway and grazed another vehicle then stopped. Additionally, the contact stated that while the vehicle was on the charger port, the vehicle failed to start. The dealer was notified of the failure and the contact was advised to take the vehicle in to be diagnosed. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacture was notified of the failure and the contact was provided a case number. The failure mileage was approximately 80,000.
AIR BAGS,SERVICE BRAKES,ENGINE PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2022-11-03
- Crash: 1
- VIN: JTDKAMFP2M3
- Components: AIR BAGS,SERVICE BRAKES,ENGINE
- Summary: Brakes of my Toyota Pirius Prime did not work after I was hit on my right side. Brakes completlety was out. Also I was not able to run the car. The cars brakes should work even I got an accident to precent some further damage to other cars.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2022-03-15
- Crash: 1
- VIN: JTDKAMFP2M3
- Components: UNKNOWN OR OTHER
- Summary: A sticky accelerator caused my 2021 Prius to lurch forward into a wall. I was pulling into a parking place when this happened. The front airbag deployed. This is the second time this has happened to me with a Prius. In my previous Prius it happened to me two years ago. Both times the vehicle suddenly lurched forward. It was terrifying.
VISIBILITY/WIPER PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2021-05-06
- VIN: JTDKAMFP8M3
- Components: VISIBILITY/WIPER
- Summary: CAN'T SEE VEHICLE DISPLAY SCREEN DURING BRIGHT SUNNY DAYS, WHICH I FIND DANGEROUS CONTACTED TOYOTA ABOUT ISSUE, THEY DON'T CARE ABOUT PEOPLE SAFETY
Negative 2021 Toyota Prius prime car reviews
Positive 2021 Toyota Prius prime car reviews
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Congratulations on your new 2021 Prius Prime Limited! Thank you for sharing your initial assessment with us. We appreciate your honesty and willingness to provide updates in the future. Regarding the connectivity issue, we understand your frustration with the lack of Android Auto on the 11.6The Prime is actually peppier when taking off with the electric motor than when driving on the gas engine. I'm super pleased with the power of the electric motor, especially for a car with just a 25-mile electric range. A coworker of mine bought a 2016 Prius, a low trim level I believe was a Two, shortly after I bought my 2015. I was envious of the fact that his low-end Prius had parking sensors in front and back. My Mustang I had in between these cars was fully loaded -- rear parking sensors, rear cross traffic alert, and blind spot monitor -- yet lacked the forward driving laser/radar sensors like The infotainment screen is a bit of an overkill, but unfortunately, the software behind it is very rudimentary. It doesn't offer many choices for configuration, and even adjusting the sound with the equalizer can be a bit of a challenge. The Audio Settings menu is not very helpful, and I had to pore through the manual to figure out how to get there. However, I was able to turn up the bass and treble, which was better than my initial suspicion that Toyota had decided to not offer any sound adjustment at all. The climate control can also be a bit difficult to adjust, especially in the winter. In my previous cars, I had big problems with the climate control in the winter, but I'm hoping that won't be the case with this car. I'll have to wait until next winter to make a proper judgement though.
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I've owned the 2021 Prius Prime for a few months now and I'm absolutely loving it! I was able to get 800 miles on my first tank of gas with infrequent charging, which is amazing. The average MPG is around 80, so I can take my car out for a cruise without worrying about gas at all. The EV range is fantastic and it's so much fun to drive in EV mode - it's really zippy! The LE has a smaller infotainment system that supports both android and apple car play. Personally, I prefer physical controls over touch, so it's great to get more features for a cheaper price. I have no problems with the screen or the displays, and the interior looks really cool. I plan to own this car forever and I got nearly $10,000 off buying it in NY. I couldn't even imagine going back to a car that only gets 30mpg anymore. I drive carefully and I enjoy how this car guides you into driving more economically. There's certainly a lot of technology on here that you need to watch out for, but it's a Toyota, so you know things won't break on their own. The warranty is good, so I'm not worrying about that anytime soon, but I do fear the day I need to pay for something fancy to be fixed. Nonetheless, I think this car came up to a bit under $20k, so it's a no-brainer if you compare it to other cars for that price.
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I'm so glad to hear that you're enjoying your Prime XLE! It sounds like you're getting amazing fuel economy, which is always a plus. I'm also happy to hear that the car is comfortable and that you're enjoying the Apple Car Play feature. It's a shame that the 5th seat takes up some trunk space, but it's great that you're still able to seat 5 people. I appreciate you mentioning the minor drawbacks, such as the lack of ventilation to the back seats and the absence of a Homelink garage door opener on the XLE. Overall, it sounds like you would highly recommend this vehicle, which is great to hear!
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We chose the Limited version to enjoy the advanced screen and electronics. Thanks to the $2,000 credit and the $4,500 federal tax credit, the price of this car dropped to $25,000. The plug-in feature works seamlessly and provides a good 26 miles on electric-only power. The range with the hybrid is impressive. The interior boasts a clean design and is comfortable. Although the screen takes a little getting used to, once you learn it, it's great. While it may not be as thrilling to drive as a Tesla, it costs less than half the price of a Model 3 and is a great and environmentally responsible vehicle. The only minor issue is that the heads-up screen can only be adjusted up or down, not right or left. Additionally, it would be nice if they added auto park assist instead of just vehicle warning. A wider range of colors would also be appreciated, but we are happy with the Silver.
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I bought this car because I wanted to reduce my gasoline consumption substantially, but I wasn't ready to go all-electric. It suits my setup very well. I charge it overnight in the driveway using a regular plug (which I can easily schedule with the in-car timer), and then drive to and from my office, which is a total of 21 miles round trip. When the car first arrived, it indicated 22 miles of electric range. Now, a few weeks later, it's up to 28.5 miles. Running in electric mode is far quieter than a normal car - you can hear the radio and other cars going by, and that's it. So far, I've traveled 500 miles and used only 1.3 gallons of gas. The odometer says I'm averaging 390 mpg, which is amazing! With the federal income tax rebate of $4,500, it was the easiest decision ever to purchase this car, compared to a non-plug Prius or any other vehicle. The big screen GPS and infotainment system is fun, and there are lots of ways to 'gameify' your commute. The only drawback I've found so far is that the trunk is a bit small due to the extra space needed for the larger battery. Overall, I'm really happy with my purchase!
Additional sources
More sources of information about 2021 Toyota Prius prime problems:
what problems have you had? : r/PriusPrime
Jul 15, 2022 ... Any common problems you guys have encountered?! ... 2021 Prius Prime XLE. Almost 2 years of ... search prius chat, its a known issue. Upvote
2 problems with my new 2021 XLE that the dealer claims is "Normal ...
Noticed my week old Prius is making a fairly loud noise when the car is put into reverse and gets louder as it is driven in reverse.
what do you NOT like about your Prius Prime? : r/PriusPrime
Sep 12, 2022 ... The car is very low. The door scrapes on curbs when trying to open the door. The infotainment system is shitty. The gps is useless. The fake ...
2021 Toyota Prius Prime Reliability - Consumer Reports
Owner Reported Trouble Spots · Exhaust · Steering And Suspension · EV Battery · Transmission Major · Electric Motor · Electrical Accessories · Drive System.
Any common, lesser-known (big significant) issues with 2016 Prius I ...
I found a website called Car Complaints that lists "WINDSHIELD CRACKS EASILY" as the top reported problem (compared to the 2011, which has " ...
Other years of Toyota Prius prime
Are you having problems with your 2021 Toyota Prius prime?
Gus Pfeffer 2025-05-12
This is my 3rd prius. The drive is fine. The entertainment system is not. It was fine when I got. Third push notification for updates, and it doesn't work right. I left it in the I heart app last night, this morning it wouldn't connect . You can't get out of it, to the radio, if it won't connect to toyota app. I have had to forget and reconnect blue tooth several times. I would have rather had a CD player than the apps that freeze.
Immanuel Schroeder 2025-04-05
The vehicle experiences a screen freeze and power loss after being parked, which requires opening and closing the driver's door multiple times to reset and regain power. Additionally, all defaults are changed after the power loss. Despite being disappointed and surprised by this issue, I am confident in the expertise of the Toyota dealer and trust that they will resolve the issue promptly.
Newton Turcotte 2024-09-18
If fuel mileage is a top priority for you, then this vehicle is definitely worth considering. However, if fuel economy is not a major concern, this car may not be the best option. The driving experience can be unpleasant and there is a high level of interior noise at highway speeds. Additionally, the luggage space is compromised by the large battery that only provides about a 25 mile range. Lastly, the infotainment system could be improved.
Leone Leffler 2024-09-04
The 21 Prius Prime is a comfortable and roomy car, but it has some major drawbacks that should be considered before making a purchase. The price ranges from $28-36k and the fuel mileage is not much better than a plain-jane hybrid that costs thousands less. However, the federal rebate can help offset the cost. The EV-only options are nice, but they come at a premium that may not be worth it. When fully charged, the ride is brisk, responsive, and agile, providing a pleasant driving experience. However, wind and engine noise can be pronounced and may detract from the overall experience. The hatch/boot space is extremely small, limiting the amount of luggage or cargo that can be carried. Additionally, there is no rear window wiper, which can be more annoying than it seems at first glance. Despite these concerns, the LE version (with no adjustable seats, small infotainment, and cloth seats) used and with low miles may be the best option for those looking to save money. A used 20/21 car with a few thousand miles for 18K, with EV-only options, might be the best option if you must have a Prius over an Ionic. Overall, it is important to carefully consider the drawbacks before making a purchase.
Sheridan Romaguera 2024-07-07
I recently purchased my third Prius, the 2021 plug-in model. While my previous two hybrids were great and the service was excellent, I have to admit that I'm not entirely satisfied with this latest purchase. Unfortunately, I didn't receive all the necessary operating information when I bought the car, which made it difficult for me to understand and program the controls and settings. The placement of the controls is also quite inconvenient and even dangerous, as one must look down towards the floor to determine which button is which. The instruction manual is quite lengthy, with 650 pages of confusing acronyms and symbols. However, the local service department is currently working to sort it out. I've been informed that this model has 27 computers, which may be a bit excessive. Despite these challenges, I'm confident that with some patience and assistance, I'll be able to fully enjoy my new car. I would also like to advise others to be aware of the federal tax rebate, which is currently around $2500, rather than the $7500 that some may have been led to believe.