Toyota Prius
Every model year 2016–2027: recalls, owner complaints, NHTSA crash ratings and EPA efficiency side by side, each value traced to the file it came from.
Every Toyota Prius model year
Source: NHTSA · EPA · one row per year| Year | Powertrains | Safety | Recalls | Complaints | Crash | Best efficiency | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2027 | Hybrid | A | 0 | 0 | — | 55 mpg | |
| 2026 | Hybrid | A | 1 | 10 | ★★★★★ | 57 mpg | |
| 2025 | Plug-in hybrid Hybrid | B | 2 | 18 | ★★★★★ | 57 mpg | |
| 2024 | Hybrid | C | 4 | 27 | ★★★★★ | 57 mpg | |
| 2023 | Hybrid | C | 4 | 21 | ★★★★★ | 57 mpg | |
| 2022 | Hybrid | A | 1 | 24 | ★★★★★ | 56 mpg | |
| 2021 | Hybrid | A | 0 | 6 | ★★★★★ | 56 mpg | |
| 2020 | Hybrid | A | 0 | 14 | ★★★★★ | 56 mpg | |
| 2019 | Hybrid | B | 3 | 30 | ★★★★★ | 56 mpg | |
| 2018 | Hybrid | B | 1 | 38 | ★★★★★ | 56 mpg | |
| 2017 | Hybrid | C | 3 | 91 | ★★★★★ | 56 mpg | |
| 2016 | Hybrid | F | 5 | 155 | ★★★★★ | 56 mpg |
Which model year the record favours
Source: recalls and complaints per year on the roadOn the filed record so far, the 2021 is the cleanest Prius year we hold, and the 2016 the one to check hardest.
Both figures are divided by the number of years the car has been on sale, because otherwise the oldest year on the page loses every time simply for having been around longer. The current model year and any year under three on the road are left out: their records are not finished.
Which Toyota Prius years reported which system early
Source: NHTSA complaints, odometer at reportEarliest on the record: 2017 visibility/wiper complaints at 0.33× the mileage of same-age vehicles (median 10,000 miles). Latest: 2016 visibility/wiper at 0.49× (17,800 miles).
Each cell is that model year’s median odometer when owners reported the system, divided by the median for the same system across every make’s complaints on the same model year. under 0.67× reported early; 1.5× or more late; a dash means too few readings. When problems get reported, not how often — complaint counts are in the table above. Across the whole fleet: which systems go first.
What changed year to year
Source: computed from the filed record- 2027: best combined mpg 57 → 55
- 2026: dropped plug-in hybrid; 6 → 4 EPA configurations
- 2025: added plug-in hybrid; 4 → 6 EPA configurations
- 2023: best combined mpg 56 → 57; 3 → 4 EPA configurations
- 2021: 4 → 3 EPA configurations
- 2020: 3 → 4 EPA configurations
- 2019: 2 → 3 EPA configurations
| Head-to-head | Verdict | |
|---|---|---|
| 2027 Prius vs Audi S5 · Midsize Hatchback | Prius +25.4 | |
| 2027 Prius vs Volkswagen Golf / GTI · Midsize Hatchback | Toss-up |
In the studies
Source: computed from the same record, method on each pageCommon questions about the Toyota Prius
Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kitsWhich Toyota Prius year is the best used buy?
On the recall record, the 2021 Prius comes out top of the years before the current one: Safety Signal grade A (100/100), 0 recalls and 6 owner complaints on file. That ranks paperwork, not condition — a specific car's history and service record still decide it.
What Toyota Prius years should I avoid?
2016 has the weakest recall record in this range. The year pages list every campaign, its severity and whether a repair exists yet. Every Prius model year ranked, with the reasons.
How many recalls does the Toyota Prius have?
Across model years 2016–2027, NHTSA has posted 24 recall campaigns for the Toyota Prius. They are counted per model year in the table above, because a campaign almost never covers the whole run — it covers a build range.