2017 Toyota Prius problems and recalls

Owners have filed 91 complaints on the 2017 Toyota Prius, and NHTSA has issued 3 recalls. The most cited component is the Visibility/Wiper (17 complaints).

91
Complaints
3
Recalls
12
Crash reports
2
Fire reports
7
Injuries
92.6
Severity index

Severity index 92.6 High. The index weights crashes, fires, injuries and fatalities per 100 complaints. How it is calculated.

Middle half of all tracked vehiclesThis vehicle: 92.6p25 46p75 80cleanestworst
Severity index against the quartile range for all tracked vehicles.

Ranked 24 of 137 by severity index among 2017 vehicles with at least 40 complaints, highest first. 82% of those vehicles scored lower. Full 2017 ranking.

Components cited in complaints

Visibility/WiperVisibility/Wiper: 17 complaints (18.7%)17 19%Service BrakesService Brakes: 14 complaints (15.4%)14 15%Vehicle Speed ControlVehicle Speed Control: 13 complaints (14.3%)13 14%EngineEngine: 12 complaints (13.2%)12 13%Fuel/Propulsion SystemFuel/Propulsion System: 12 complaints (13.2%)12 13%Electrical SystemElectrical System: 11 complaints (12.1%)11 12%Unknown Or OtherUnknown Or Other: 11 complaints (12.1%)11 12%StructureStructure: 7 complaints (7.7%)7 8%
A single complaint can cite more than one component, so shares total over 100%.
ComponentComplaintsShare of complaints citing it
VISIBILITY/WIPER1718.7%
SERVICE BRAKES1415.4%
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL1314.3%
ENGINE1213.2%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM1213.2%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM1112.1%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER1112.1%
STRUCTURE77.7%

Complaints filed per year

012232017: 222018: 232019: 192020: 42021: 42022: 42023: 52024: 52025: 42026: 1 (partial year)1718231920212223242526
Complaints by the calendar year they were filed. The hatched bar is the current year to date.
YearComplaints
201722
201823
201919
20204
20214
20224
20235
20245
20254
2026 (year to date)1
Filings in 2023 to 2025 were close to 2020 to 2022 (14 against 12).

Recall campaigns

CampaignReportedComponentSummary
18V57900005/09/2018ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRINGToyota 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
17V29500002/05/2017TIRES:TEMPORARY/EMERGENCY SPARE TIREGulf States Toyota, Inc. (Gulf States) is recalling certain 2017 4Runner , 86, Avalon, Camry, Camry Hybrid, Corolla, Corolla iM, Highlander, Highlander Hybrid, Prius, Prius C, RAV4, RAV4 Hybrid, Sienna and Yaris vehicles. The spare tire air pressure was not adjusted to the prop
16V74100014/10/2016PARKING BRAKEToyota 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 diseng

Other Toyota Prius model years

Severity index for every other model year on file. Compare all 13 years side by side.

Source. NHTSA public complaint and recall APIs (api.nhtsa.gov), retrieved 2026-08-23. Complaints are unverified consumer reports. Totals vary with units sold and years on the road. Not affiliated with NHTSA or any manufacturer.