Which Years Of Used Toyota Prius Primes Are Most Reliable?
Toyota Prius Prime by Alistair Fernandez - CC-BY-SA-4.0
The idea of a plug-in hybrid vehicle (PHEV) is compelling: a battery for all-electrical local driving, a gas engine for long-distance travel, and a hybrid system for increased fuel efficiency. That’s the fundamental appeal of the Toyota Prius Prime, a PHEV. Buying a used edition comes down to knowing about dependability, which is why we’ve compiled this list of the most reliable Toyota Prius Prime years (we’ve also included which years to stay away from).
For a comprehensive look at all Prius PHEVs, we’ve included the Prius Plug-In Hybrid, which preceded the Prius Prime for the 2012-2015 model years. These dependability recommendations come after reviewing information from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), Consumer Reports, RepairPal, and carcomplaints.com.
Buying a used car should also include researching other factors, such as safety and fuel economy. In addition, it’s always wise to have a professional mechanic conduct a pre-purchase inspection before signing the paperwork.
Quick Look: Most Reliable Toyota Prius Prime Years
The most reliable Toyota Prius Prime Years are:
- 2014 (Prius Plug-In Hybrid)
- 2015 (Prius Plug-In Hybrid)
- 2016
- 2017
- 2018
- 2019
- 2020
- 2021
- 2022
Keep reading to learn all the details.
Most Reliable Toyota Prius Prime Years: The Breakdown
2012 Toyota Prius Plug-In Hybrid
Reliability Ruling: Thumbs Down
Toyota’s foray into the world of PHEVs starts with the 2012 Prius Plug-In Hybrid. And like many debuts of all-new vehicles, the first year is often plagued by troubles that usually disappear in later models. NHTSA data shows that there are more than 300 owner complaints on file for this model year, more than any other Prius Plug-In or Prius Prime. The 2012 Prius Plug-in also leads in another unfortunate way: the most recalls (seven). That’s enough for us to say skip this year.
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2013 Toyota Prius Plug-In Hybrid
Reliability Ruling: Keep Looking
With fewer recalls and complaints, the 2013 Prius Plug-In appears to have solved its predecessor’s problems. However, a dive into NHTSA data shows dozens of owner reports that cite problems with the electric system. That’s an issue that can signal significant headaches for a vehicle so dependent on electricity. It’s not worth the risk. Check out other model years if you must have a Prius PHEV.
2014 Toyota Prius Plug-In Hybrid
Reliability Ruling: Thumbs Up
The 2014 Prius Plug-In has the same number of recalls (four) as the previous year. However, owner trouble reports are down, according to NHTSA and carcomplaints.com. That gives us confidence that this model year is a worthwhile buy. RepairPal says that the 2014 Prius Plug-In has an average annual repair cost of $371, hundreds less than the typical vehicle—another reason to give this car a thumbs up.
2015 Toyota Prius Plug-In Hybrid
Reliability Ruling: Thumbs Up
All signs point to the positive for the 2015 Prius Plug-In, the last year of this generation. Recalls and complaints declined, which is particularly encouraging. Repair and maintenance costs are also modestly lower than the 2014 model year. We’re confident in adding the 2015 edition to the Most Reliable Toyota Prius Prime years list.
2017 Toyota Prius Prime
Reliability Ruling: Don’t Buy This One
Now wearing the Prius Prime badge, Toyota’s next edition of this PHEV is all-new. As mentioned earlier, this is a warning that owners may face engineering and manufacturing “teething pains.” Due to the risk of nagging problems that may never go away, our advice is the same: spend your money on a different model year. NHTSA records confirm this recommendation as the 2017 edition has more recalls and complaints than any subsequent Prius Plug-In.
THE TOYOTA PRIUS PRIME YEARS TO AVOID
The Toyota Prius Prime plug-in hybrid (PHEV) offers a comfortable bridge for those not quite ready to jump to all-electric driving. But not every model is a worthwhile buy. There are definitely Toyota Prius Prime years to avoid.
2018 Toyota Prius Prime
Reliability Ruling: Thumbs Up
The quirky looks of this generation of Prius PHEV have nothing to do with reliability, as evidenced by the 2018 model year. NHTSA has zero recalls on file (as of this writing) and only ten owner complaints. Importantly, none of these reports show any pattern of problems, which is also reassuring. Equally as comforting is Consumer Reports, giving the 2018 Prius Prime a perfect 5 out of 5 reliability rating. You can feel confident putting this Toyota on your shopping list.
2019 Toyota Prius Prime
Reliability Ruling: Thumbs Up
The 2019 Prius Prime gets a ding because of a single recall, but the issue involves the stability control system (not something that impacts overall vehicle reliability). And like the 2018 edition, very few owner complaints submitted to NHTSA fail to identify any concentrated trouble areas. That’s sufficient evidence that this PHEV should hold up over time.
2020 Toyota Prius Prime
Reliability Ruling: Thumbs Up
Carcomplaints.com flags the 2020 model year as having the most owner reports (among all Prius Primes), but it’s all relative. This amounts to seven complaints, a drop in the bucket compared to the thousands of units sold by Toyota for this year. In case you’re wondering, NHTSA has 12 complaints on file, also a trivial amount. In other words, we don’t see any reason not to give this model year a thumbs up.
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2021 Toyota Prius Prime
Reliability Ruling: Thumbs Up
If you’re looking for an excuse not to buy the 2021 Prius Prime, we can’t find any. There are no recalls and hardly any complaints (just three on file with NHTSA). Consumer Reports (CR) does give this model year a solid 4 (out of 5) for reliability. But this is still a green light in CR’s book.
2022 Toyota Prius Prime
Reliability Ruling: Thumbs Up
The 2022 Prius Prime has one recall, a glitch due to a software error with the hybrid system. It’s an easily correctable issue (reprogramming at the dealer) that, once corrected, won’t impact long-term reliability. Otherwise, all the signs (including single-digit frequency of owner complaints) point in the right direction for this Toyota.
2023-2024 Toyota Prius Prime
Reliability Ruling: Too Soon For A Verdict
Toyota introduced an all-new Prius Prime for the 2023 model year. Its sharp styling is a head-turner, but it’s too early to judge reliability for this edition. There’s not enough data to yet determine a verdict (good or bad); reports are just coming in. Stay tuned for more details.
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