2019 Toyota Prius Prime Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2019 Toyota Prius Prime, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Other / unspecified440.0%
- Driver assistance110.0%
- Electrical110.0%
- Brakes110.0%
- Steering110.0%
- Tires & wheels110.0%
- Interior & seats110.0%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Other / unspecified
Reports whose component NHTSA recorded as unknown, or that do not map to one of the categories above.
From owner reports, verbatim
PASSENGER SIDE BEHIND THE DRIVER'S SEAT'S TIRE BLEW OUT. STARTED TO DRIVE AND CAR WAS MOVING SLOWER AND EVENTUALLY HAD TO PULL OVER BECAUSE CAR FELT UNSTABLE. WAS NOT GIVEN AN ALARM THAT THE TIRE WAS BLOWN AND FLAT. WAS DRIVING LESS THAN 30MPH, IN A STRAIGHT, FLAT STREET.
10/19-LEFT REAR TIRE KEPT LOOSING PRESSURE, I TOOK IT TO THE MECHANIC, THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING, I AGAIN TOOK IT AFTER 2 WEEKS, THEY CHANGED THE TIRE. MILES 7014. ON 9/26/20-MILES 16430, THE SAME TIRE LEFT PASSENGER BLEW OUT ON THE FREEWAY. NO INDICATOR OF TIRE PRESSURE BEING LOW CAME ON. THE TIRE WAS COMPLETELY BLOWN OUT. I LOST CONTROL OF THE CAR, THANKFULLY IT STOPPED ON LEFT SIDE. IT WAS VERY SCARY. NO WAS HURT, BUT I COULD HAVE DIED. I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 70MPH.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHEN I DRIVE THE VEHICLE ON THE FREEWAY, IT FEELS UNSTABLE. IT GOES LEFT AND RIGHT. THE VEHICLE IS BRAND NEW. WE JUST BOUGHT IT LAST WEEK. TIRE PRESSURE IS GOOD AND THE DEALERSHIP SAID THERE IS NO RECALL ON THE CAR.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2019 TOYOTA PRIUS PRIME. WHILE CHARGING THE VEHICLE'S BATTERY, THE DOORS ABRUPTLY LOCKED ON THEIR OWN. THE CONTACT CALLED ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE TO HAVE THE DOORS UNLOCKED. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,080. THE VIN WAS INVALID.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
I've have to take my 2019 Prius Prime (with 20,000 miles total) in twice for brake issues in 6 weeks. Each time the dealer had to deal with a rotor heat issue. The first service was on 3/29/2021, the initial reason for appt was hearing squealing from the front. Upon inspection dealer found major heat marks and deep scratches/grooves as well as the rear rotors had deep scratches as well . All 4 rotors were resurfaced and the brake pads were “scuffed” during the service. At that time all brakes were inspected with the front brakes having 9mm and rears having 8mm of pads. I started hearing grinding a grinding sound about 2 week later. I took my car in for service on 5/11/2021 where the dealer found a “rusty” color on the rotors as well as a cracked and chipped front brake pad. They started a TAS case after which they resurfaced the rotors again and replaced the front brake pads. I am concerned about this issue with my car only having 20,000 miles on it and the rotors being resurfaced twice in less than 2,000 miles between services. The rotors and pads are supposed to be designed to have a longer life than standard gas non-hybrid vehicles. Rotors are only able to be resurfaced a limited number of times, which can cause future repair costs to soar. I am in need of Toyota’s assistance in making any fixes so this does not continue to occur. As well as looking into if there is a larger brake issue within my vehicle.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Steering
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHEN I DRIVE THE VEHICLE ON THE FREEWAY, IT FEELS UNSTABLE. IT GOES LEFT AND RIGHT. THE VEHICLE IS BRAND NEW. WE JUST BOUGHT IT LAST WEEK. TIRE PRESSURE IS GOOD AND THE DEALERSHIP SAID THERE IS NO RECALL ON THE CAR.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Tires & wheels
Reports naming tires, wheels, hubs, or the tire-pressure monitoring system.
From owner reports, verbatim
CAR HAD 27540 MILES ON FACTORY ORIGINAL TOYO NANOENERGY TIRES WHEN THE REAR PASSENGER TIRE BLEW OUT. I WAS 22 MILES INTO MY DRIVE HOME . NO TPS WARNING AND I HAD VISUALLY LOOKED AT MY TIRES BEFORE HEADING HOME. THE ENTIRE TREAD SEPARATED FROM THE SIDEWALLS. THE SIDEWALLS STAYED WITH THE RIM AND I WAS ABLE TO SAFELY STOP THE CAR ON THE GRASS MEDIAN. THIS TYPE OF SIDEWALL BLOWOUT HAS NEVER HAPPENED IN ALL MY YEARS OF DRIVING. I WAS ON US-321 NORTH BOUND JUST AFTER THE HARDIN RD EXIT GOING 70 MPH AT TIME OF BLOWOUT. NOT IN A TURN BUT NEARLY STRAIGHT LINE DRIVING. WEATHER WAS MOSTLY SUNNY AND 65 DEGREES.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Interior & seats
Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2019 TOYOTA PRIUS PRIME. WHILE CHARGING THE VEHICLE'S BATTERY, THE DOORS ABRUPTLY LOCKED ON THEIR OWN. THE CONTACT CALLED ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE TO HAVE THE DOORS UNLOCKED. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,080. THE VIN WAS INVALID.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .