2021 Toyota Prius problems
The Toyota Prius (/ˈpriːəs/ PREE-əss) (Japanese: トヨタ・プリウス, Hepburn: Toyota Puriusu) is a compact/small family liftback (supermini/subcompact sedan until 2003) produced by Toyota. The Prius has a hybrid drivetrain, combined with an internal combustion engine and an electric motor. Initially offered as a four-door sedan, it has been produced only as a five-door liftback since 2003.
The Prius was developed by Toyota to be the "car for the 21st century"; it was the first mass-produced hybrid vehicle, first going on sale in Japan in 1997 at all four Toyota Japan dealership chains, and subsequently introduced worldwide in 2000.
In 2011, Toyota expanded the Prius family to include the Prius v, an MPV, and the Prius c, a subcompact hatchback. The production version of the Prius plug-in hybrid was released in 2012. The second generation of the plug-in variant, the Prius Prime, was released in the U.S. in November 2016. The Prius family totaled global cumulative sales of 6.1 million units in January 2017, representing 61% of the 10 million hybrids sold worldwide by Toyota since 1997. Toyota sells the Prius in over 90 markets, with Japan and the United States being its largest markets.
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Common 2021 Toyota Prius problems
Based on complaints from owners of the 2021 Toyota Prius, several common problems have been reported:
- Broken Windshields: Owners have reported broken windshields, with some occurring within the first 5,000 miles. Certain production runs of glass are more prone to cracking when chipped, leading to replacement costs of around $500 depending on local labor rates.
- Excessive Wheel Noise: Some Prius models experience excessive wheel noise around 20,000 miles due to front wheel bearings wearing out quickly compared to other cars. Replacing the bearings is labor-intensive and costs around $400.
- Chipping Paint: Owners have mentioned chipping paint issues around 10,000 miles, particularly on the edges of the front bumper when hit with stones. Repair options include touching up the bumper for under $100 or repainting the entire bumper for around $1,000.
- Battery Replacement: Around 200,000 miles, owners should be prepared to replace the battery pack, which can cost up to $7,000.
- Maintenance Costs: Regular annual maintenance costs are lower than average at $398 per year. At 100,000 miles, owners may need to replace the brake hose for $200, coolant temperature sensor for $350, and the A/C expansion valve for $425.
These issues, although common among some 2021 Toyota Prius owners, are relatively minor compared to other small cars on the market. It's important for Prius owners to address these problems promptly to ensure the longevity and performance of their vehicles.
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.
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.
Why did Toyota discontinue the Prius?
Declining Sales: One of the primary reasons for discontinuation was declining sales. The demand for larger hybrid vehicles, like SUVs and crossovers, increased over time, while the market for compact hybrid wagons like the Prius V declined. Buyers were shifting towards vehicles that offered more space and versatility.
What is the downside of owning a Prius?
In addition, the Prius has a serious issue with road noise. If you're someone who can't stand the wind and engine noises, you'll likely hate driving this hybrid car. For this reason, we can only recommend the Prius for city driving because the cabin noise becomes an issue at highway speeds.
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.
How reliable is the 2021 Prius?
The 2021 Prius has a predicted reliability score of 74 out of 100. A J.D. Power predicted reliability score of 91-100 is considered the Best, 81-90 is Great, 70-80 is Average and 0-69 is Fair and considered below average.
Which year Toyota Prius is best?
The 2012-2015 Prius models are often considered the sweet spot. These years strike a good balance between age, features, and price. Plus, they've got a solid track record for reliability. As for MPG, you're looking at some pretty good numbers.
Is Prius high maintenance?
It's important to note that while the maintenance costs for a Prius are generally lower, there are some maintenance tasks specific to hybrid vehicles that can be more costly. These include servicing the electric motors and battery, which may require specialized knowledge and equipment.
2021 Toyota Prius car problems categorized by type of issue
After analyzing all complaints sent to the NHTSA and researching popular Toyota Prius problems, we found that the most common problems with these 2023 model year vehicles are:
- Engine problems
- Vehicle speed control problems
- Forward collision avoidance problems
- Lane departure problems
- Electrical system problems
The graph below shows statistics for all 2021 Toyota Prius vehicle components and the number of complaints received.
2021 Toyota Prius complaints
The NHTSA has received 5 complaints about various vehicle components related to the 2021 Toyota Prius.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-09-14
- VIN: JTDKAMFUXM3
- Components: VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
- Summary: The contact owns a 2021 Toyota Prius. The contact stated while driving approximately 35 - 45 MPH, the vehicle independently accelerated. The brake pedal was depressed but failed to stop the vehicle immediately. The contact swerved around the vehicle in front and ended up on the opposite side of the roadway. The contact attempted to avoid oncoming traffic and swerving around all the other vehicles and ended up in a ravine. The contact's husband depressed the START/STOP button from the passenger’s side to turn off the vehicle, enabling the vehicle to come to a stop. The contact restarted the vehicle and continued to drive the vehicle to the dealer at slow speeds. The dealer was unable to determine the cause of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure by the dealer. The failure mileage was 56,000.
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE,LANE DEPARTURE PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2022-01-04
- VIN: JTDL9MFU3M3
- Components: FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE,LANE DEPARTURE
- Summary: The Lane keeping assist used in radar cruise control mode during some drive cycles will attempt to maintain the vehicle position to the far extreme of the lane and in some cases actively veer out of the lane. My safety ant others can be put at risk when the vehicle behaves outside of its design parameters like this. To solve the issue the vehicle must be pulled over, turned off, then restarted. After the restart it will resume functioning normally, maintaining lane positioning as intended within the limits of the system. The trigger for this is unknown but could be speculated that it is drive cycle dependent and may start during initialization. The problem has not been reproduced by a dealer or service center due to its intermittent nature. There are no warning indicators or lamps on when this occurs.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,SERVICE BRAKES,ENGINE PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2023-05-08
- Crash: 1
- VIN: JTDKAMFU0M3
- Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,SERVICE BRAKES,ENGINE
- Summary: The car accelerated without my foot on the accelerator, brake did not respond, and I had to drive through grass and a rock-filled ditch until after about 10 seconds the car returned to my control.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2021-02-26
- VIN: JTDKAMFU6M3
- Components: UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
- Summary: CARBON MONOXIDE SEEPS INTO THE PASSENGER CAR BUT DILLER CANNOT FIND IT AND DID NOT HAVE TOOLS TO DETECT CO LEVEL IN THE CAR. I CAN'T USE THIS CAR BECAUSE WAS POISONED MANY TIMES AND AFTER A SECOND CHECK-UP, THE LEVEL OF CO BECOMES HIGHER SO I CAN'T DRIVE THE CAR WITHOUT POISONING. PLEASE HELP ME. I AM WORRYING TO SELL MY CAR BECAUSE OTHER DRIVER WILL GET INJURY. THIS IS THE NEW CAR ONLY 7000 MILES.
WHEELS PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2021-03-23
- VIN: JTDKAMFU8M3
- Components: WHEELS
- Summary: WHILE DRIVING ON THE I 4 WE HAD A BLOWOUT ON THE REAR PASSENGER TIRE. THE CAR HAD LESS THAN 200 MILES ON IT SO IT WAS BRAND NEW. THE DEALERSHIP FOUND OBJECT IN THE TIRE THAT COULD HAVE CAUSE THE PROBLEM THE ONLY CONCLUSION I COULD COME TO IS THAT THIS TIRE WAS DEFECTIVE. THE DEALERSHIP SAID I COULD HAVE RUN OVER A LARGE OBJECT OR A LARGE POTHOLE, WHICH I DOUBT.
Negative 2021 Toyota Prius car reviews
Positive 2021 Toyota Prius car reviews
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Awesome car and great price using the Edmonds app! I'm glad to hear that you had a positive experience and I hope you continue to use it for your future purchases!
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I must admit, I feel a bit guilty about the gas mileage. Sometimes I feel like I should be writing checks each week to Exxon Mobile. However, I have purchased six Prius cars so far, and my wife even got rid of her Rav4 to buy one because she liked mine so much. The Prius is roomy, peppy off the line, has good highway acceleration, excellent vision, and is well-equipped. The only downside I can think of is that it doesn't come with a spare tire or doughnut.
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Automation Toyota in Libertyville was fantastic! I'm so glad to hear that you've purchased a number of vehicles from them and highly recommend that location. Congratulations on your new 2021 Toyota Prius! I'm glad to hear that it's been driving very nicely. Although it's smaller than your previous car, I'm happy to hear that it's still comfortable inside.
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I really enjoy my Toyota, but there is one thing that bothers me a bit. It seems like Toyota caters more towards Apple users, which makes it difficult for me to access all the extras since I have an Android phone instead of an iPhone.
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We are so glad to hear that you are enjoying your Prius L ECO! It sounds like it has just the right amount of features for your needs, including a backup camera and lane change alert. And of course, the great mileage is a huge plus. Thank you for sharing your positive experience with us!
Additional sources
More sources of information about 2021 Toyota Prius problems:
2021 Toyota Prius Problems | Kelley Blue Book
How reliable is the 2021 Toyota Prius? See the most common repairs performed and learn if your vehicle is at risk for major repairs in the next 12 months.
Is there any downside to a Toyota Prius at any year ? : r/askcarguys
Oct 20, 2023 ... I used to have a 2006 Prius and had no problems ... common issue, most solved with headgasket in a bottle. ... I drive a 2021 Prius Prime Limited.
What are some of the problems that a used Toyota Prius may have ...
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Other years of Toyota Prius
Are you having problems with your 2021 Toyota Prius?
Braeden Stanton 2024-11-28
I recently purchased this car after being very happy with my 2008 Prius. Although they didn't have a similar model in stock, the salesman convinced me that this car would be just as great. While it is my first time with AWD, there are a few things that have been disappointing. Firstly, the fact that the car doesn't come with a spare tire has been a bit of a nightmare. I've had two flats and dealing with the warranty has been a headache. The wait times to fix the tire have been long and frustrating. Secondly, the storage space is not as good as my older Prius, despite the car being bigger. There are fewer storage compartments and no cute secret compartments like before. Thirdly, the buttons on the steering wheel, especially for phone calls, are super sensitive to touch. If you turn the wheel, something might turn on or off accidentally. Fourthly, you have to click the remote four times to get all four doors to open, and if you try to open the doors from the passenger side with your remote, they won't open. They will only open from the driver's side, unlike the 2008 model. Fifthly, there is no GPS unless you download the Toyota app, which has been a bit of a disappointment. Sixthly, the windshield got dented from something on the road and the dent turned into a long crack, probably from the heat of the summer. While I was happy to find out that I had a warranty to cover this, I was disappointed to learn that the crack couldn't be too long. Seventhly, the car is quite low to the ground and I didn't realize this until I parked and felt the curb scratching the bottom of the front bumper. Eighthly, the choices of color are limited and I ended up going with blue. Lastly, I initially wanted to return the car within a month, but decided to keep it for a few more months. However, less than 5 months later, I definitely wanted to return it as I had no use for AWD.Too late. 10) I really like how the car gives you a grade- A, B, C, D, or even an F to tell you how well you're driving. However, what I don't like is that every time I accelerate to pick up speed, it accelerates very slowly, almost as if it's gasping for air. But that's not a big deal- I'll just go slow.
Carson Breitenberg 2024-06-22
The car has quite high mileage for a 2020 model. Also, the inside passenger side appeared to be either dirty or worn. During the test drive, the acceleration seemed a bit sluggish.
Bryce Huels 2024-03-28
The 2020 Prius AWD-e gets great mileage and the AWD system works well, especially on wet gravel (although I haven't had the chance to try it in the snow yet). While some have criticized the engine, I have other concerns. Every time I get into my car, I feel like Toyota is stuck in the past. The software is unfinished and unacceptable for a commercial product, and Toyota chooses to leave its customers with broken software instead of issuing bugfixes. I first noticed this issue when I tried to buy a 2016 Prius and found that some couldn't display km/h, which was frustrating for someone who travels to Canada frequently. Toyota could have easily released a software patch, but instead, they told owners to buy a new Prius. However, when I bought my 2020 Prius, the problem was solved. While the car does seem to do OTA updates, the software still has some issues. For example, it can display km/h and l/100km, but not temperature in Centigrade, only Fahrenheit. Additionally, if you try to engage cruise control while in engine-braking mode, it fails silently. Despite these issues, I'm still happy with my Prius and hope that Toyota will continue to improve their software in the future.Took me a long time to debug that one! Every time you plug in your phone to the USB port to charge, it pops up a couple of error messages on your phone telling you that you need to install Entune, which you have to dismiss. Just go to the Android Play store and read the reviews for Entune. It's worse than useless, and it violates Android's notification policies in an intrusive way. So you have to have it, but it does nothing but annoy, whether you install it or not. Unfortunately, there is no support for Android Auto. However, some Toyotas have this feature, so it's not like they don't know how. They just didn't feel like it? If you want to use standard Bluetooth commands to control your phone's media player from your steering wheel, you can pause, but you can't play, and it's difficult to skip to the next or previous track. There's a nice prominent I had the opportunity to purchase the Prius PHEV at a great price, but ultimately decided against it. The trunk, which is one of my favourite features of the Prius, is unfortunately not as useful in the PHEV model. Additionally, the concave rear windshield design is structurally weak and cannot accommodate a wiper blade. It seems that Toyota may need to reevaluate their design choices for the Prius.