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Toyota · Midsize Sedan

2023 Toyota Prius Prime

Plug-in hybrid
Midsize Cars
2 EPA-rated configurations
Data refreshed 2026-10-26
C
Safety Signal
79 / 100 from the NHTSA recall record
RecallsNHTSA campaigns 4
Complaintsnone reporting a crash, fire or injury 6
Crash ratingNHTSA overall 5★
Fuel economybest combined, EPA 52 mpg
Starting MSRP3 trims · manufacturer $32,975
20242023202220212020201920182017

The 2023 Toyota Prius Prime is sold in the U.S. as a plug-in hybrid midsize sedan with 2 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Prius Prime SE, is EPA-rated at 52 mpg combined. NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for this model year, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of C. Owners have filed 6 complaints, most often about the electrical system. NHTSA crash-tested it at 5 stars overall. Manufacturer pricing runs from $32,975 to $39,670 across 3 trims.

Toyota Prius — photograph via Wikimedia Commons
Toyota Prius · Photo: TTTNIS · CC0 · Wikimedia Commons

Trims & pricing

Source: manufacturer press kitWhich trim should I buy? → Compare a trim →
TrimPowertrainDriveMSRPHPTorqueMPG combSeatsCargo (2nd row)Wheels
SEPlug-in hybridFWD$32,975150 hp139 lb-ft52 mpg520.3 cu-ft17 in
XSEPlug-in hybridFWD$36,225150 hp139 lb-ft48 mpg520.3 cu-ft19 in
XSE PremiumPlug-in hybridFWD$39,670150 hp139 lb-ft48 mpg520.3 cu-ft19 in
Warranty basic 3 yr / 36,000 mi · powertrain 5 yr / 60,000 mi · roadside 3 yr

MSRP excludes destination. MSRP for 3 trims is taken from Toyota’s press kit for the same car filed under another name (prius plug in hybrid), where this kit states no price. Open a trim for the complete spec sheet and standard/optional equipment. Have the car in front of you? Decode its VIN to see which of these trims it is and what it was priced at.

Specs & fuel economy

Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov
ConfigurationPowertrainDriveEngine / motorCityHwyCombRangekWh/100miCharge (240V)Annual fuel*
Prius Prime SEPlug-in hybridFWD2.0L 4-cyl + 120 kW AC Induction535152 (89 MPGe blended)45 mi electric264 h$1,300
Prius PrimePlug-in hybridFWD2.0L 4-cyl + 120 kW AC Induction504748 (79 MPGe blended)40 mi electric294 h$1,400

*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year at EPA reference fuel and electricity prices. fueleconomy.gov record ids: 47229, 47228.

Emissions & certification

Source: EPA emission certificates
ConfigurationSmog ratingEmission standardWhere it can be sold newSmartWay
Prius Prime, Prius Prime SE7 / 10Federal Tier 3 Bin 30 / California LEV-III SULEV30All 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standardsSmartWay

Certified for all fifty states, so it can be registered new anywhere in the U.S.

The smog rating scores tailpipe pollutants other than greenhouse gases, 1 (worst) to 10 (best), and is comparable only within a model year. The standard is the federal bin or California tier the configuration was certified to. Both come from the EPA certificate behind the window sticker.

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Factory warranty running out?

The 2023 Toyota Prius Prime is in the years where high-voltage electronics and module repairs land on the owner. What an extended plan does and does not cover is worth reading before a dealer quotes you one.

What to check before you buy →

Affiliate disclosure: some links on this page are affiliate links. If you request a quote or buy through them we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Nothing on this page changes because of it.

Recalls (4)

Source: NHTSA recall database
▲high

Latches/Locks/Linkages

26TB03 / 26TA03
141,286 vehicles
Problem Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2023-2024 Prius Prime, 2023-2026 Prius, and 2025-2026 Prius Plug-in Hybrid vehicles. Water may enter the rear door switch and cause a short circuit, allowing an unlocked rear door to open unexpectedly. Risk A door that unexpectedly opens while the vehicle is moving increases the risk of injury. Fix Dealers will modify the rear door switch circuits, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed July 13, 2026. Owners may contact Toyota's customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 26TB03 and 26TA03. This recall expands and replaces NHTSA recall number 24V274. Vehicles repaired under the previous recall will need to have the new remedy performed.
NHTSA campaign 26V049000 reported Jan 28, 2026 Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
●moderate

Back Over Prevention

25TB13/25LB06/WRE25
1,024,407 vehicles 81% reported repaired built Oct 13, 2022 – Dec 20, 2024
Problem Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2022-2026 Toyota, Lexus, and Subaru Solterra vehicles equipped with a Panoramic View Monitor (PVM) system. Please see the recall report for a complete list of models. A software error may cause the rearview camera to freeze or display a blank screen when the vehicle is in reverse. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 111, "Rear Visibility." Risk A rearview camera that fails to display an image can reduce the driver's view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash. Fix Dealers will update the parking assist software, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed January 2, 2026. Owners may contact Toyota's customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 25TB13 and 25LB06. Subaru's number for this recall is WRE25.
NHTSA campaign 25V744000 reported Oct 30, 2025 Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
○minor

Equipment

24R2
33,848 vehicles 99% reported repaired
Problem Gulf States Toyota, Inc. (GST) is recalling certain Toyota 2023 GR Supra, 2024 4 Runner, Corolla, Grand Highlander, Grand Highlander Hybrid, Land Cruiser Hybrid, Tacoma, Tacoma Hybrid, 2023-2024 BZ4X, Corolla Cross Hybrid, GR Corolla, GR86, Highlander, Highlander Hybrid, Prius, Prius Prime, Sequoia Hybrid, Tundra, Tundra Hybrid, Venza Hybrid, 2023-2025 Crown, and 2025 Camry Hybrid vehicles equipped with GST accessories. The load carrying capacity modification label may display inaccurate added weight values. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims." Risk A vehicle with an incorrect maximum capacity weight value may be overloaded, which can increase the risk of a crash. Fix GST will mail new labels to owners, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 16, 2024. Owners may contact GST customer service at 1-800-444-1074. GST's number for this recall is 24R2.
NHTSA campaign 24V548000 reported Jul 23, 2024 Gulf States Toyota, Inc. the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
▲high

Latches/Locks/Linkages

24TB06 / 24TA06
55,690 vehicles 93% reported repaired
Problem Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2023-2024 Prius and Prius Prime vehicles. Water may enter the rear door switch and cause a short circuit, allowing an unlocked rear door to open unexpectedly. Risk A door that unexpectedly opens while the vehicle is moving or during a crash increases the risk of injury. Fix Dealers will replace both right and left rear door opener switches, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed August 9, 2024. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 24TB06 and 24TA06.
Filed with NHTSAOwner letter PDF
NHTSA campaign 24V274000 reported Apr 17, 2024 Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing the full filing, and every vehicle covered →

These are vehicle campaigns — the ones the automaker filed against this model. NHTSA also records equipment recalls, filed by a parts maker against a component (a tyre, a child seat, an aftermarket part), and those are not listed here or counted above. nhtsa.gov/recalls shows both for a VIN.

Whether any of this applies to one specific Prius Prime

A campaign covers a build range, not a model year, so two identical-looking cars from 2023 can differ. Both of these check a VIN against the manufacturer’s own list, free, in about ten seconds. Toyota publishes its own lookup because federal rule 49 CFR 573.15 requires it to, and to keep it current to within seven days.

Hear about a recall before the letter does

The manufacturer’s letter is the last step of a recall: it has up to 60 days after filing to mail owners, at the address on the registration. We email you the day NHTSA posts a recall on the 2023 Toyota Prius Prime, with what to do next. Nothing else, ever — no newsletter, no marketing, one-click unsubscribe in every message.

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Parts & accessories for the 2023 Toyota Prius Prime

Search by fitment on eBay Motors — OEM take-offs, aftermarket, and the trim pieces dealers no longer stock. The listing and the price are the seller's.

Find parts for this Prius Prime →

Owner complaints

Source: NHTSA complaint database
6complaints filed

0 involved a crash · 0 a fire · 0 injuries · 0 deaths reported

11 per 10,000 built · Toyota reported 5,563 Prius Prime built (its Early Warning production report to NHTSA)

Filed per year: 2024: 1 · 2025: 1 · 2026: 4

Most-cited components

Electrical System 3
Power Train 2
Exterior Lighting 1
Latches/Locks/Linkages 1
Suspension 1

In owners' own words

Filed with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, one per problem area. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed.

The vehicle exhibits an unaddressed factory programming defect where the Plug-In Charge Control ECU fails to enter sleep mode while plugged in or resting. This causes continuous, heavy parasitic drain on the 12V auxiliary battery, causing chronic low-voltage state across critical systems.
Electrical System Aug 19, 2026 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11758058
The 2023 Toyota Prius Prime features fixed, non-adjustable rear suspension geometry. My vehicle arrived from the factory with the Right Rear Camber out of specification (-2.2°, max spec limit is -2.0°).
Suspension Sep 23, 2026 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11766488
The contact owns a 2023 Toyota Prius Prime. The contact stated that upon approaching the vehicle after it had been parked and turned off in the garage, the contact noticed that the hatch door was opened.
Latches/Locks/Linkages at 7,920 miles Jan 30, 2025 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11639703
The contact owns a 2023 Toyota Prius Prime. The contact stated while driving 40 MPH with the headlights activated, the low-beam headlights were not providing adequate illumination to light the sides of the roadway properly. The contact stated that shadows were projected to the side of the road from the headlights.
Exterior Lighting at 9,176 miles Oct 3, 2024 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11617928
My 2023 Prius Prime cannot be charged normally in hot weather without triggering a thermal-protection fault on its high-voltage charging system. Avondale Toyota diagnosed it in writing: "CODE P1CE996 CHARGER COOLING FAN REVOLUTION SENSOR COMPONENT INTERNAL FAILURE.
Electrical System Jul 15, 2026 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11750574
There is an unexplained loss of 12V power from the 12V battery, and the car will not start. This was reported to the local Toyota dealership on 12/5/25. The car had to be jumped in order to drive it to the dealership/service department.
Electrical System Feb 23, 2026 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11720026

Complaint counts are raw owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many were sold. Use them to spot patterns, not to rank.

Reported by Toyota itself: 3 death-or-injury claims on this model year in its quarterly Early Warning reports to NHTSA (49 CFR 579.21): 3 injured, as claimed, not verified — about 54 per 100,000 built. Every Prius Prime model year, by year and system → Dated and by system, they are exhibit F of the defect dossier.

Crash ratings

Source: NHTSA NCAP
ConfigurationOverallFrontalSideRolloverRollover risk
5 HB FWD★★★★★★★★★☆★★★★★★★★★★9%

NHTSA New Car Assessment Program. Standard driver-assist: forward collision warning, lane departure warning, automatic emergency braking.

Service bulletins & campaigns

Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications
Communicationsfiled with NHTSA 90
Most recentmanufacturer date 2026-02-27
Kindsas classified by NHTSA 74 service bulletins, 9 service campaigns, 7 others

Most often about: Electrical System, Structure, Engine, Unknown Or Other, Equipment.

  • T-SB-0104-21 Rev2 Service bulletin
    2026-02-27 · Engine
  • OBSOLETE NOTICE February 27, 2026: This bulletin is no longer applicable and is now obsolete.
  • T-SB-0055-24 Rev2 Service bulletin
    2026-01-07 · Unknown Or Other
  • Some 2005 – 2026 Toyota vehicles that have undergone water intrusion may exhibit a condition in which a musty odor is present. Follow the procedures in this bulletin to remediate the odor and address this condition. The purpose of this Service Bulletin is to provide general guidelines and procedures for odor remediation. This Service Bulletin provides a guide on how to prepare and treat the interi
  • T-TT-0784-25 Rev1 Service bulletin
    2025-06-17 · Engine
  • Some ECUs can set a DTC that is common with other ECUs. This can lead to accidental use of the wrong repair manual when diagnosing these type of DTCs.
  • T-TT-0784-25 Service bulletin
    2025-06-13 · Engine
  • Some ECUs can set a DTC that is common with other ECUs. This can lead to accidental use of the wrong repair manual when diagnosing these type of DTCs.
  • T-SB-0058-23 Rev1 Service campaign
    2025-06-13 · Electrical System
  • The air conditioning dye injection tool kit has been developed to aid in identifying the location of air conditioning refrigerant leaks. The procedures outlined in this Service Bulletin aid in locating, inspecting, and repairing refrigerant leaks.
  • T-TT-0779-25 Service bulletin
    2025-04-02 · Electrical System
  • To assist with the early detection and early resolution of audio related concerns you may be asked to recover MMR data from the head unit. The following steps are instructions on how to retrieve the data from the system and are only to be used when requested by FTS and/or FPE.
  • T-SB-0107-20 Rev2 Service bulletin
    2025-02-12 · Engine
  • OBSOLETE NOTICE February 11, 2025: This bulletin is now obsolete. Please see T-SB-0021-25.
  • T-SB-0021-25 Service bulletin
    2025-02-10 · Engine
  • Flash reprogramming allows the Electronic Control Unit (ECU) software to be updated without replacing the ECU. Flash calibration updates for specific vehicle models/ECUs are released as field-fix procedures described in individual Service Bulletins. This bulletin details the Global Techstream+ (GTS+) ECU flash reprogramming procedures and outlines use of the Technical Information System (TIS) and

A service bulletin is the manufacturer telling its dealers how to diagnose or repair a known condition. It is not a recall, not a finding that the vehicle is defective, and the work is not automatically free — though a bulletin is often what a dealer works from when you describe a symptom, so quoting the document number can save a diagnosis. The count is every communication filed; the list shows the most recent, one entry per campaign, because a single campaign is usually filed as several documents on the same day. The summaries are NHTSA's; the full documents come from the manufacturer.

At the New York inspection station

Source: New York State DMV

In New York’s inspection lanes over the 12 months to Oct 10, 2026, the 2023 Toyota Prius Prime failed the emissions check on 3.6% of first inspections — higher than the 1.6% for every 2023 model-year vehicle inspected; and the safety inspection on 2.0% (every 2023 vehicle: 1.1%).

New York inspections 3.6%

failed emissions

395 initial inspections of 385 vehicles.

MeasureThe 2023 Prius PrimeEvery 2023 vehicleBehind it
Failed the emissions check3.6%1.6%392
Failed the safety inspection2.0%1.1%395
Air-bag warning lamp stayed lit0%0.16%395
Miles driven a year9,25910,038odometer at inspection
Average odometer29,74632,673odometer at inspection

New York’s emissions test on these model years is an on-board diagnostics check: it fails a car whose check-engine light is on or whose self-tests have not finished. First inspections only, so a car that failed and came back is counted once; private and special plates, not taxis, livery or commercial plates. A rate appears only where at least 200 inspections stand behind it. “Every 2023 vehicle” is every 2023 model-year car, SUV and pickup inspected in the same window, all makes. This is the state’s record of test results, not a reliability score by itself. Source: New York State Department of Motor Vehicles, Vehicle Inspections (data.ny.gov, Open NY terms).

Compare the 2023 Prius Prime with

Any vehicle, your weights →
Head-to-headVerdict
2023 Hyundai Elantra · Midsize Sedan · grade DElantra +12.1
2023 Honda Civic · Midsize Sedan · grade CToss-up
2023 Nissan Altima · Midsize Sedan · grade APrius Prime +8.1
2023 Tesla Model 3 · Midsize Sedan · grade DModel 3 +9.7
2023 Nissan Sentra · Midsize Sedan · grade APrius Prime +6.8
2023 Audi A7 · Midsize Hatchback · grade APrius Prime +15

Prius Prime by model year

all years, side by side →

Common questions about the 2023 Prius Prime

Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kits

How much does the 2023 Toyota Prius Prime cost?

Manufacturer pricing runs from $32,975 for the SE FWD to $39,670 for the XSE Premium FWD, across 3 trims. Those are MSRPs from the manufacturer's own press material; they exclude destination, options, taxes and whatever the dealer adds. Every trim and price is listed above.

Does the 2023 Toyota Prius Prime have any recalls?

NHTSA has posted 4 recall campaigns for the 2023 Toyota Prius Prime. The most serious on file is 26V049000, covering Latches/Locks/Linkages. Check your own VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls; a recall applies to specific build ranges, not every car.

How safe is the 2023 Toyota Prius Prime?

NHTSA gave the 2023 Toyota Prius Prime 5 stars overall in its New Car Assessment Program tests — 4-star frontal crash, 5-star side crash, 5-star rollover. WhichTrim also grades it C (79/100) on its recall record, which is a different question from crash protection.

What is the fuel economy of the 2023 Toyota Prius Prime?

Across the 2 EPA-rated configurations of the 2023 Toyota Prius Prime, the best EPA combined figure is 52 mpg (MPGe on the electrified versions). Figures are the EPA's own, per configuration, and every one is listed above.

What do owners complain about on the 2023 Toyota Prius Prime?

Owners have filed 6 complaints with NHTSA about the 2023 Toyota Prius Prime, most often about electrical system, power train, exterior lighting. Complaints are unverified owner reports, so treat the pattern as a signal and the individual report as an anecdote.

How clean is the 2023 Toyota Prius Prime?

The EPA smog rating for the 2023 Toyota Prius Prime is 7 out of 10. That score covers tailpipe pollutants other than greenhouse gases, and it only compares vehicles within the same model year. It is certified for all fifty states, so it can be registered new anywhere in the U.S. Its configurations were certified to different standards — California LEV-III SULEV30, Federal Tier 3 Bin 30 — which the table above lists per configuration.

Are there service bulletins for the 2023 Toyota Prius Prime?

The manufacturer has filed 90 service bulletins and related communications with NHTSA for the 2023 Toyota Prius Prime, most often covering electrical system, structure, engine. The most recent is dated 2026-02-27. A bulletin is not a recall: it is the repair procedure a manufacturer sends its dealers for a condition it knows about, and the work is not automatically paid for. It is still worth knowing — if the symptom matches, quoting the bulletin number at the service desk can save a diagnosis. The document numbers and summaries are listed above.

How does the 2023 Toyota Prius Prime do at state inspection?

In New York’s inspection lanes over the 12 months to Oct 10, 2026, the 2023 Toyota Prius Prime failed the emissions check on 3.6% of first inspections — higher than the 1.6% for every 2023 model-year vehicle inspected; and the safety inspection on 2.0% (every 2023 vehicle: 1.1%). The figures are New York State DMV’s own inspection records, first inspections only, and the table above sets each one against every vehicle of the same model year.

Which 2023 Toyota Prius Prime trim is the best value?

$6,695 separates the cheapest of the 3 trims from the most expensive, so the answer depends on which of the differences you would actually use. Every trim has its own page here with the manufacturer's full specification and equipment list, plus a short summary of exactly what it adds over the base trim — worth reading before a dealer frames the walk-up for you. The trim-by-trim ladder shows what every step up costs and what it makes standard.

Is the 2023 Toyota Prius Prime better than the 2023 Hyundai Elantra?

The Hyundai Elantra wins clearly, 88 to 75.9, on tech & comfort, price, warranty. The Toyota Prius Prime is ahead on safety and space & cargo. We publish a full side-by-side of the 2023 Toyota Prius Prime against the 2023 Hyundai Elantra — specifications by family, equipment feature by feature, safety record and ownership costs. You can re-weight what matters to you and the verdict recalculates.

What we hold, and what an empty row means

Paid vehicle-history reports will not tell you the difference between “nothing happened to this car” and “we never received that record” — both of the big two say as much in their own help pages. Most of what is on this page comes from complete federal registers, so we can tell you which is which, row by row.

DataHeldSourceWhat it covers — or what empty means
Fuel economy & configurations2 configurationsEPA certification recordsEvery configuration the EPA certified for sale, with its own test figures.
Emission certificates2 configurationsEPA emission certificatesSmog rating, standard and the sales area that decides where the car can be sold new.
Recalls4NHTSA recall campaignsA complete federal register: every campaign covering this model year, with severity and advisory flags.
Owner complaints6NHTSA complaint databaseAlso complete, but unverified: these are reports owners filed, not findings. Counts scale with how many were sold.
Crash ratings1 testedNHTSA NCAPOnly the configurations NHTSA chose to crash-test, which is never all of them.
Service bulletins90NHTSA manufacturer communicationsEverything the manufacturer told its dealers about a defect or malfunction, short of a recall.
InvestigationsnoneNHTSA Office of Defects InvestigationNo defect investigation has been opened.
Driver-assist crash reportsnoneNHTSA Standing General Order 2021-01No report has been filed. Only entities named in the order report, and only crashes they hear of — so this is also what an unequipped car, or a manufacturer without telematics, looks like.
Specifications filed with NHTSAnoneNHTSA vPIC, decoded from VIN patternsWe had no VIN pattern to decode for this model year, or the manufacturer filed nothing usable.
Trims, pricing & equipment3 trimsManufacturer press kitTranscribed from the manufacturer's own press material, every value carrying the document it came from.

Rebuilt nightly; this page was generated 2026-10-26. Every figure above is traceable to the source named beside it, and the JSON for this page carries the same values with their identifiers.

Sources & method

Safety Signal starts every model-year at 100 and subtracts points per open NHTSA recall campaign by severity: critical 15 (fire risk, park-outside or do-not-drive advisories), high 8 (brakes, steering, airbags, loss of drive power, structure, battery), moderate 6, minor 3 (software, labels, lighting fixed by an update). The most serious recall counts in full and each further one counts 85% of the one before, because a vehicle sold in millions is recalled more often than a rare one without being more dangerous — and because a flat subtraction bottomed the scale out, scoring a vehicle with 22 recalls within a point of one with six. A ≥ 90, B ≥ 80, C ≥ 70, D ≥ 60, otherwise F. Read it as what it counts: recall campaigns on the federal record, weighted by severity. The damping reduces the sales bias by roughly 40% but does not remove it: like our complaint counts, this is not normalized by how many were sold, so a best-seller still scores somewhat worse than an obscure model with the same real risk. NHTSA crash ratings, do-not-drive and park-outside advisories, and the crash, fire, injury and death counts in owner complaints are reported separately on every page and never blended into the letter — a vehicle can hold five stars and a poor letter at once, and where that happens we say so rather than leave you to notice. Because the scale subtracts from a clean sheet, a model year too new to have been recalled, complained about or bulletined scores full marks on an empty record; we label those grades provisional rather than present them as earned.

EPA figures come from fueleconomy.gov vehicle records. Recalls, complaints, investigations and crash ratings come from NHTSA's public flat files, refreshed nightly. Trim-level specifications and pricing are transcribed from the manufacturer's official press kit; every value carries its source in the data file.

JSON for this page · API