The 2018 Toyota Prius is associated with 42 official NHTSA owner defect complaints and 3 safety recall campaigns in the federal safety database. The most frequently reported component area is Other / Uncategorized, accounting for 5 reports (12% of total complaints). EPA testing covers 4 certified vehicle configurations spanning 1.8L 4-Cyl hybrid, 1.8L 4-Cyl plug-in hybrid, and 1.5L 4-Cyl hybrid configurations. Gasoline and hybrid variants deliver 46 to 56 MPG combined. Plug-in hybrid variants are rated up to 133 MPGe (54 MPG on gasoline) with up to 25 miles of electric driving range.
Key Data Findings
- • NHTSA Owner Complaints: 42 reports
- • Safety Recall Campaigns: 3 campaigns
- • Top Reported Defect Area: Other / Uncategorized (5 / 12%)
- • Safety Incident Signals: 6 crash / 0 fire / 5 injury reports
- • NHTSA Overall Safety Rating: 5 / 5 Stars
- • EPA Efficiency: 46–56 MPG (4 variants • PHEV up to 133 MPGe)
Data Note: Compiled directly from official NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI), NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, and EPA FuelEconomy.gov databases.
| Variant | Engine | Drivetrain | Transmission | City | Highway | Combined | EV Range | Est. Annual Fuel Cost |
| Prius Eco Hybrid | 1.8L 4-Cyl | Front-Wheel Drive | Automatic (variable gear ratios) | 58 MPG | 53 MPG | 56 MPG | — | $1,100 / yr |
| Prius Prime Plug-in Hybrid | 1.8L 4-Cyl | Front-Wheel Drive | Automatic (variable gear ratios) | 145 MPGe (55 MPG) | 121 MPGe (53 MPG) | 133 MPGe (54 MPG) | 25 mi EV (640 mi total) | $1,150 / yr |
| Prius Hybrid | 1.8L 4-Cyl | Front-Wheel Drive | Automatic (variable gear ratios) | 54 MPG | 50 MPG | 52 MPG | — | $1,200 / yr |
| Prius c Hybrid | 1.5L 4-Cyl | Front-Wheel Drive | Automatic (variable gear ratios) | 48 MPG | 43 MPG | 46 MPG | — | $1,350 / yr |
Data Boundary Note: EPA specifications are shown by certified vehicle configuration. NHTSA complaints and recall totals are recorded at the model-year level across all configurations.
Electric Range & Charging: The 2018 Toyota Prius provides an official EPA-rated driving range of up to 25 miles on a single battery charge.
| Tested Drivetrain / Cab Variant | Overall Rating | Frontal Crash | Side Crash | Rollover Rating | Rollover Risk |
| 5 HB FWD | | | | | 10.7% |
| PRIME 5 HB FWD | Not Rated | Not Rated | Not Rated | Not Rated | — |
Active Driver Assistance Systems (NHTSA Recorded): Forward Collision Warning (FCW) is documented as Standard and Lane Departure Warning (LDW) is documented as Standard in official NHTSA records for tested 2018 Toyota Prius models.
View complete 2018 Toyota Prius crash test & safety breakdown →
Top Reported Problem Categories
Ranked by total consumer complaint submissions recorded by NHTSA
Data Attribution & Context: Complaints are self-reported by vehicle owners to NHTSA and represent unverified consumer submissions. Complaint volume does not equal a statistically controlled failure rate and is not adjusted for total vehicles sold or cumulative mileage driven.
View all 2018 Toyota Prius problems & component breakdown (25 categories) →
Affected Component: HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM
Defect Summary: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Prius C vehicles. The DC-DC converter may fail resulting in the auxiliary battery no longer receiving power from the converter, which may cause a loss of drive.
Free Manufacturer Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the DC-DC converter with a new one, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began August 23, 2019. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371. Toyota's number for this recall is K0K.
Affected Component: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
Defect Summary: 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.
Free Manufacturer Remedy: 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.
Affected Component: EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS
Defect Summary: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2018 Toyota Prius C vehicles sold in Puerto Rico. The front passenger air bag and recommended child occupant seating positions label may not have been attached during assembly. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."
Free Manufacturer Remedy: Toyota will notify owners and will mail the removable labels to all known owners of the subject vehicles, free of charge. The recall began on April 11, 2018. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371. Toyota's number for this recall is J0L.
View all 2018 Toyota Prius recalls & campaign history (3 campaigns) →