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Your vehicleHome›Toyota›Prius› 2016
Toyota · Midsize Hatchback

2016 Toyota Prius

Hybrid
Midsize Cars
2 EPA-rated configurations
Data refreshed 2026-10-26
F
Safety Signal
57 / 100 from the NHTSA recall record
Counts recalls, not crash safety — this vehicle earned 5 of 5 stars from NHTSA. A much-recalled best-seller scores low here; see the methodology.
Recalls2 critical 5
Complaints8 crash · 6 injured reported 155
Crash ratingNHTSA overall 5★
Fuel economybest combined, EPA 56 mpg
202720262025202420232022202120202019201820172016

The 2016 Toyota Prius is sold in the U.S. as a hybrid midsize hatchback with 2 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Prius Eco, is EPA-rated at 56 mpg combined. NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns for this model year, 2 rated critical, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of F. Owners have filed 155 complaints, most often about the visibility/wiper. NHTSA crash-tested it at 5 stars overall.

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

Specs & fuel economy

Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov
ConfigurationPowertrainDriveEngine / motorCityHwyCombAnnual fuel*
Prius EcoHybridFWD1.8L 4-cyl + 207V Li-Ion585356$1,200
PriusHybridFWD1.8L 4-cyl + 202V Ni-MH545052$1,300

*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year at EPA reference fuel and electricity prices. fueleconomy.gov record ids: 37164, 37163.

Emissions & certification

Source: EPA emission certificates
ConfigurationSmog ratingEmission standardWhere it can be sold newSmartWay
Prius, Prius Eco7–9 / 10Bin 3 / California LEV-III SULEV30/PZEVAll 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standardsSmartWay Elite

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.

Specifications filed with NHTSA

Source: NHTSA vPIC

Dimensions Exterior

Body styleHatchback/Liftback/Notchback
Doors5
GVWR classClass 1: 6,000 lb or less (2,722 kg or less)

Engine Basics

Cylinders4
Displacement1.8 L
Engine configurationIn-Line

Engine Output

Horsepower96 hp

Fuel Economy

FuelGasoline

Transmission

Drivetrain4x2

Filed by the manufacturer with NHTSA under the federal vehicle-identification rule and decoded from the VIN pattern — not a manufacturer press kit, so it describes the configurations we could identify rather than every trim (seen: NHP10L, Two Eco/Three/Three Touring/Four/Four Touring, ZVW41L). Figures for the trim you are looking at may differ.

Dimensions & weight

Source: Transport Canada
Length178.7 in
Width (body, without mirrors)69.3 in
Height57.9 in
Wheelbase106.3 in
Track, front60.2 in
Track, rear60.2 in
Curb weight3,064 lb
Weight distribution, front/rear60/40

Measured by Transport Canada for its Canadian Vehicle Specifications database, which covers the North American versions of each model — here one configuration: 5-door Liftback. Where a range is shown, those versions differ. Width is the body without mirrors, which is why it can read narrower than a brochure figure. Before we used it we checked it against the US manufacturer press kits we hold (27 Sep 2026): wheelbase agreed within 1% on every vehicle we could compare, length on 98%, and the curb weight fell inside the manufacturer's range on 96%. Source dataset. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada. Licence.

Also on file Beside the 2016 Prius
Other years The 2027 Prius Recalls Toyota recalls
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Factory warranty running out?

The 2016 Toyota Prius is in the years where transmission, electronics and drivetrain 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 →

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Recalls (5)

Source: NHTSA recall database
!critical

Electrical System

J0T
192,347 vehicles 90% reported repaired built Jun 22, 2015 – May 15, 2018
Problem Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2016-2018 Toyota Prius vehicles. A portion of the engine wire harness connected to the hybrid Power Control Unit (PCU), could contact the cover at this connection and wear, causing an electrical short circuit. Risk An electrical short can increase the risk of a fire. Fix Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the engine wire harness assembly and replace it if damage is found. A protective sleeve or protective tape will be included to prevent any future damage. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began October 30, 2018. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371. Toyota's number for this recall is J0T.
Filed with NHTSAOwner letter PDFRemedy instructions PDF
NHTSA campaign 18V579000 reported Sep 5, 2018 Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
▲high

Air Bags

JLA, J0F
48,672 vehicles 86% reported repaired built Jun 9, 2015 – Dec 25, 2015
Problem Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2016 Toyota Prius and Lexus RX 350, RX 350 F Sport, RX 450h F Sport and RX 450h vehicles and 2015-2016 Lexus NX 200T, NX Turbo and NX 300h vehicles. The air bag pressure sensors and/or the acceleration sensors may fail causing the side/curtain shield air bags and/or the front air bags to not deploy in the event of a crash. Risk If the air bags fail to deploy in a crash, it can increase the risk of injury. Fix Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the sensors as necessary based on their serial numbers, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin March 12, 2018. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are JLA, J0F.
Filed with NHTSADefect report PDFOwner letter PDF
NHTSA campaign 18V085000 reported Jan 31, 2018 Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
▲high

Hybrid Propulsion System

H0U
6 vehicles 100% reported repaired built Dec 9, 2015 – Jun 8, 2016
Problem Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2016 Prius vehicles. A capacitor within the hybrid system may not have been properly bolted to the inverter housing. Risk If the capacitor was not properly secured, vibrations from driving the vehicle may damage the capacitor, shutting down the hybrid system, causing a loss of motive power and increasing the risk of a crash. Fix Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the inverter, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin by early December 2017. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is H0U.
Filed with NHTSAOwner letter PDFRemedy instructions PDF
NHTSA campaign 17V658000 reported Oct 18, 2017 Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
▲high

Parking Brake

G01
91,585 vehicles 92% reported repaired built Aug 6, 2015 – Oct 3, 2016
Problem Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Prius vehicles manufactured August 6, 2015, to October 3, 2016. The affected vehicles are equipped with a foot-operated parking brake system that has a parking brake cable that may disengage. Risk If the parking brake cable disengages from the mechanism and the transmission is left in a gear other than 'Park' while the ignition is on and the driver leaves the vehicle, the vehicle may roll unexpectedly, increasing the risk of a crash. Fix Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will install a clip at the parking brake cable end to prevent the cable from disengaging, free of charge. The recall began November 10, 2016. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371. Toyota's number for this recall is G01.
Filed with NHTSAOwner letter PDF
NHTSA campaign 16V741000 reported Oct 14, 2016 Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
!critical

Air Bags

G0W
7,817 vehicles 88% reported repaired built Nov 30, 2016 – Jun 14, 2016
Problem Toyota Motor Engineering and Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2016 Toyota Prius vehicles manufactured November 30, 2015, to June 14, 2016. An air bag inflator manufacturing error may result in the inadvertent partial inflation of the front passenger air bag. Risk A front passenger air bag that unintentionally inflates can increase the risk of a crash or injury. Fix Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag assembly, free of charge. The recall began November 10, 2016. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is G0W.
Filed with NHTSAOwner letter PDFRemedy instructions PDF
NHTSA campaign 16V672000 reported Sep 16, 2016 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.

NHTSA defect investigations

Electrical System:Propulsion System — Pedestrian alert sounds closed

NHTSA received a petition on or about July 18, 2022, requesting that Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 141 be applied to all electric and hybrid vehicles operating in the United States. The petition can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under ODI Number 11486072. FMVSS 141 establishes performance requirements for pedestrian alert sounds for motor vehicles. The standard applies to hybrid and electric vehicles that have a gross vehicle weight rating of 4,536 KG or less or are defined as low-speed vehicles. The standard became fully applicable to all such vehicles manufactured on or after March 1, 2021. On January 27, 2023, NHTSA opened Defect Petition (DP) 22-005 to evaluate the subject mat

Opened Jan 27, 2023 · closed Aug 7, 2023 · action DP22005 · the investigation’s page →

Whether any of this applies to one specific Prius

A campaign covers a build range, not a model year, so two identical-looking cars from 2016 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.

NHTSA VIN check →Toyota’s own VIN lookup →

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 2016 Toyota Prius, 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 2016 Toyota Prius

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 →

Owner complaints

Source: NHTSA complaint database
155complaints filed

8 involved a crash · 0 a fire · 6 injuries · 0 deaths reported

Filed per year: 2016: 24 · 2017: 40 · 2018: 29 · 2019: 9 · 2020: 17 · 2021: 9 · 2022: 7 · 2023: 4 · 2024: 7 · 2025: 5 · 2026: 4

Most-cited components

Visibility/Wiper 42
Unspecified 30
Electrical System 20
Service Brakes 19
Engine 18
Power Train 15

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.

While driving the vehicle started to shake from underneath fiercely, I called my mother who came and picked up the car she turned around and went back to my residence, while attempting to park in the garage the car started to roll down the driveway and the brakes wouldn't work, the car landed on the street. City of lancaster ca
Service Brakes at 3,510 miles Feb 11, 2017 NHTSA owner report · ODI 10953980
Windshield cracked 12+ inches overnight with no cause. Vehicle was parked in garage. Crack has since grown to 20+ inches
Visibility/Wiper Jan 14, 2017 NHTSA owner report · ODI 10945338
If the tire pressure is decreased by the slightest amount the light will go on and stay on. If the temperature is cool the light will go on and stay on. I've brought it back to service 4 times during november and december of 2016. Their scan shows no fault.
Wheels at 3,000 miles Jan 9, 2017 NHTSA owner report · ODI 10943978
I purchased a new 2016 Prius four on february 16, 2016. The literature on the Toyota factory website says my Prius is equipped to switch from english to metric units. Unfortunately, Toyota failed to disclose that any Prius manufactured in january and february and delivered to the united states did not have this feature working correctly.
Electrical System Dec 25, 2016 NHTSA owner report · ODI 10937393
As I took a highway exit, following behind other cars doing the same, my Prius refused to brake efficiently when another car abruptly invaded our line. It felt as if the brakes made a slight release or couldn't reach a full stop.
Air Bags at 500 miles Oct 12, 2016 NHTSA owner report · ODI 10915494
There is an ongoing issue with the head rests on this vehicle. The default setting is much too far forward, causing a forward head and neck posture, resulting in headaches, neck pain, etc., and make it very uncomfortable to drive, and difficult to check blind spots.
Seats May 11, 2016 NHTSA owner report · ODI 10864390

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: 91 death-or-injury claims on this model year in its quarterly Early Warning reports to NHTSA (49 CFR 579.21): 1 killed, 113 injured, as claimed, not verified. Every Prius model year, by year and system → Dated and by system, they are exhibit F of the defect dossier.

When owners reported it

Reported at 20k

miles, typically

Half the 93 owner reports with an odometer reading on file fall between 10,000 and 31,000 miles. That is when problems get reported, which is not the same as when they start — and not a failure rate, because nobody knows how many of these cars never had a problem at all.

under 10k 23
10k–20k 21
20k–30k 17
30k–40k 11
40k–50k 8
50k–60k 1
60k–70k 2
70k–80k 3
80k–90k 2
90k–100k 2
100k–150k 1
150k + 2

Median mileage by component

ComponentReportsMedian milesVs same age
Visibility/Wiper3517,8000.49×
Unspecified1510,000—
Service Brakes1217,0000.42×

Vs same age is this model year’s median for the system divided by the median of every 2016-model-year complaint about the same system, all makes: under 1× means owners of this car reported it at lower mileage. Here, owners reported earlier than same-age vehicles: visibility/wiper (0.49×), service brakes (0.42×). Which systems go early across the whole fleet: the component study.

Odometer readings as filed by owners with NHTSA. Readings under 100 or over 400,000 miles are dropped as data entry rather than history, and a component needs at least 12 readings before a median is shown for it.

Crash ratings

Source: NHTSA NCAP
ConfigurationOverallFrontalSideRolloverRollover risk
5 HB FWD★★★★★★★★★☆★★★★★★★★★☆11%

NHTSA New Car Assessment Program.

Service bulletins & campaigns

Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications
Communicationsfiled with NHTSA 343
Most recentmanufacturer date 2026-08-20
Kindsas classified by NHTSA 342 service bulletins, 1 service campaign

Most often about: Equipment, Electrical System, Structure, Engine, Back Over Prevention.

  • T-SB-0110-20 Rev2 Service bulletin
    2026-08-20 · Engine
  • OBSOLETE NOTICE August 20, 2026: This bulletin is now obsolete. Please see T-SB-0051-26.
  • T-SB-0051-26 Service bulletin
    2026-08-20 · Engine
  • This bulletin includes basic procedures for performing a rescue charge at battery on high voltage (HV) Ni-MH and Li-ion batteries.
  • 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-0790-25 Service bulletin
    2025-08-20 · Electrical System
  • Some customers may experience echoing on the line calling the vehicle when using Bluetooth Hands Free. This is caused by the phone Hands Free volume being too low.
  • 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-SB-0110-20 Rev2 Service bulletin
    2024-12-10 · Engine
  • This bulletin includes basic procedures for performing a rescue charge at battery on high voltage (HV) Ni-MH and Li-ion batteries. This bulletin should be used in conjunction with the applicable model and model year Repair Manual while performing the battery rescue charge. The GRX-5100 should be used wherever the Repair Manual references the Toyota Hybrid System (THS) charger.
  • T-SB-0039-24 Rev2 Service bulletin
    2024-12-06 · Structure — Body
  • The condition known as acid rain is caused by airborne chemicals or particles in the atmosphere, which mix with rainwater, nighttime dew, or high humidity to form acidic compounds. If these contaminants settle and remain on a painted vehicle surface, especially the horizonal areas of the hood, roof, and decklid, significant damage can occur. This damage is the result of actual etching of the paint
  • T-SB-0038-24 Rev2 Service bulletin
    2024-12-06 · Structure — Body
  • To prevent brake rotor rust from forming during transportation and storage, wheel film will be used instead of a cardboard type of anti-rust cover. The purpose of the wheel film is to shield the disc brake rotor from weather elements and initial rust before the vehicle is delivered to the customer. Consequently, the film should remain on the wheel for as long as possible.

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.

Diagnostic trouble codes on file

Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications and complaints

Codes documented against this model year in the federal record. A code appearing here does not mean this vehicle will set it — it means the code is part of this nameplate-year's documented history.

CodeWhat it meansMost often filed underWhere it appears
P0A80
P0A80 on Toyota →		Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Electrical System · Battery →7 bulletins
P0A7F
P0A7F on Toyota →		Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Engine2 bulletins

Generic codes (the second character is 0 or 2) mean the same thing on every vehicle sold in the United States. Manufacturer-specific codes (1 or 3) mean whatever the automaker assigned, and no honest source can define them for you — which is why the ones here carry the evidence instead of a definition. A code is a link when enough separate federal documents name it across the catalogue to be worth a page of its own; the rest are listed here, where the vehicle is the context that makes them mean something.

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.

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 2016 Toyota Prius failed the emissions check on 1.2% of first inspections — lower than the 4.2% for every 2016 model-year vehicle inspected; and the safety inspection on 1.9% (every 2016 vehicle: 2.2%).

New York inspections 1.2%

failed emissions

1,911 initial inspections of 1,870 vehicles.

MeasureThe 2016 PriusEvery 2016 vehicleBehind it
Failed the emissions check1.2%4.2%1,908
Failed the safety inspection1.9%2.2%1,911
Air-bag warning lamp stayed lit0.10%0.27%1,911
Miles driven a year11,42610,028odometer at inspection
Average odometer117,451103,109odometer 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 2016 vehicle” is every 2016 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).

Prius by model year

all years, side by side →
Year Safety Recalls Complaints
2027 A 0 0 55 mpg2026 A 1 10 57 mpg2025 B 2 18 57 mpg2024 C 4 27 57 mpg2023 C 4 21 57 mpg2022 A 1 24 56 mpg2021 A 0 6 56 mpg2020 A 0 14 56 mpg2019 B 3 30 56 mpg2018 B 1 38 56 mpg2017 C 3 91 56 mpg2016 this page F 5 155 56 mpg

Common questions about the 2016 Prius

Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kits

Does the 2016 Toyota Prius have any recalls?

NHTSA has posted 5 recall campaigns for the 2016 Toyota Prius, 2 of them rated critical. The most serious on file is 18V579000, covering Electrical System. Check your own VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls; a recall applies to specific build ranges, not every car.

How safe is the 2016 Toyota Prius?

NHTSA gave the 2016 Toyota Prius 5 stars overall in its New Car Assessment Program tests — 4-star frontal crash, 5-star side crash, 4-star rollover. WhichTrim also grades it F (57/100) on its recall record, which is a different question from crash protection.

What is the fuel economy of the 2016 Toyota Prius?

Across the 2 EPA-rated configurations of the 2016 Toyota Prius, the best EPA combined figure is 56 mpg. Figures are the EPA's own, per configuration, and every one is listed above.

What are the dimensions of the 2016 Toyota Prius?

Transport Canada measured it at 178.7 in long, 69.3 in wide (body, without mirrors), 57.9 in tall, on a 106.3 in wheelbase. Curb weight: 3,064 lb. Those are its measurements of the North American versions; every figure is in the table above.

What do owners complain about on the 2016 Toyota Prius?

Owners have filed 155 complaints with NHTSA about the 2016 Toyota Prius, most often about visibility/wiper, unspecified, electrical system. Of those, 8 involved a crash, 6 reported injuries. Complaints are unverified owner reports, so treat the pattern as a signal and the individual report as an anecdote.

How clean is the 2016 Toyota Prius?

The EPA smog rating for the 2016 Toyota Prius runs 7 to 9 out of 10 across its configurations. 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 — Bin 3, California LEV-III SULEV30/PZEV — which the table above lists per configuration.

Are there service bulletins for the 2016 Toyota Prius?

The manufacturer has filed 343 service bulletins and related communications with NHTSA for the 2016 Toyota Prius, most often covering equipment, electrical system, structure. The most recent is dated 2026-08-20. 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 2016 Toyota Prius do at state inspection?

In New York’s inspection lanes over the 12 months to Oct 10, 2026, the 2016 Toyota Prius failed the emissions check on 1.2% of first inspections — lower than the 4.2% for every 2016 model-year vehicle inspected; and the safety inspection on 1.9% (every 2016 vehicle: 2.2%). 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.

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.
Recalls5NHTSA recall campaignsA complete federal register: every campaign covering this model year, with severity and advisory flags.
Owner complaints155NHTSA 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 bulletins343NHTSA manufacturer communicationsEverything the manufacturer told its dealers about a defect or malfunction, short of a recall.
Investigations1NHTSA Office of Defects InvestigationOpen and closed defect investigations, with the agency's own narrative.
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 NHTSA9 fieldsNHTSA vPIC, decoded from VIN patternsWhat the manufacturer filed under the federal VIN rule — a configuration, not the full trim ladder.
Measured dimensions7 fieldsTransport Canada, Canadian Vehicle SpecificationsLength, width, height, wheelbase, track and curb weight, measured on the North American versions.
Trims, pricing & equipmentnoneManufacturer press kitWe have not transcribed a press kit for this model year yet. This is our gap, not the manufacturer's — the one row here where an empty cell means we are behind.

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.

Where to go next

pages beside this one
Other years The 2027 Prius The Prius model year with the cleanest record on file — grade A, 0 recalls.Recalls Every Toyota recall on file All campaigns filed against Toyota vehicles, newest first, with the manufacturer's own number.Recall Watch Watch this Prius by VIN Give it the VIN and you hear the night a campaign is filed — from $29 a month for a lot, free for ten.

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.

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