2021 Toyota Prius Recalls and Problems
NHTSA lists 0 safety recalls and 16 owner complaints for the 2021 Toyota Prius.
Most-reported area: electrical system (5 complaints, 31%).
Fewer complaints than a typical Prius year
The 2021 drew 8 owner complaints in its first three years, against about 44 for a typical Prius year (21 for a typical year since 2016).
Years to avoid: 2010, 2012, and 2016. Based on owner complaints, not adjusted for sales.
Includes the Prius Prime plug-in hybrid. Excludes the smaller Prius c and the Prius v wagon.
0 safety recalls for the 2021 Toyota Prius
NHTSA lists no safety recalls for the 2021 Toyota Prius in its recall file dated Nov 12, 2026. Recalls can still be issued later, so check your VIN from time to time.
NHTSA investigations
NHTSA's investigations file, dated Nov 12, 2026, lists no investigations for the 2021 Toyota Prius.
What owners report
Owners have filed 16 complaints with NHTSA about the 2021 Prius. Below, they are sorted by the areas NHTSA files them under. NHTSA does not verify complaints.
A complaint can name more than one area, so shares add up to more than 100%.
Toyota Prius recalls and complaints by model year
The highlighted bars are the 2021 model year. Newer model years have had less time on the road, so their counts are lower. Counting complaints filed in each model year's first three years, the 2010 Prius drew the most (1,682) and the 2021 drew 8.
Owner complaints
2021: 16 complaintsTap or drag across the chart for other years.
Show as a table
| Model year | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 2,829 |
| 2011 | 523 |
| 2012 | 450 |
| 2013 | 426 |
| 2014 | 224 |
| 2015 | 172 |
| 2016 | 156 |
| 2017 | 133 |
| 2018 | 53 |
| 2019 | 39 |
| 2020 | 30 |
| 2021 | 16 |
| 2022 | 32 |
| 2023 | 28 |
| 2024 | 43 |
| 2025 | 18 |
| 2026 | 10 |
Safety recalls
2021: 0 recallsTap or drag across the chart for other years.
Show as a table
| Model year | Recalls |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 10 |
| 2011 | 6 |
| 2012 | 7 |
| 2013 | 4 |
| 2014 | 4 |
| 2015 | 2 |
| 2016 | 5 |
| 2017 | 3 |
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2019 | 3 |
| 2020 | 1 |
| 2021 | 0 |
| 2022 | 1 |
| 2023 | 4 |
| 2024 | 4 |
| 2025 | 2 |
| 2026 | 1 |
Crash test ratings
NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for each version it tested. Rollover risk is NHTSA's estimate of the chance of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.
| Tested version | Overall | Frontal | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Toyota PRIUS 5 HB AWD Rollover risk 10.7% |
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Toyota PRIUS 5 HB FWD Rollover risk 10.7% |
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Toyota PRIUS PRIME 5 HB FWD Rollover risk 10.7% |
2021 Prius MPG
EPA rates the 2021 Toyota Prius up to 56 mpg combined as a hybrid.Every version and fuel costQuestions
What are the most common 2021 Prius problems?
The areas owners name most often in NHTSA complaints: electrical system (5), brakes (4), fuel and propulsion system (4). NHTSA does not verify complaints, and one complaint can name several areas.
Is the 2021 Toyota Prius safe?
In NHTSA crash tests every tested version of the 2021 Toyota Prius earns 5 stars overall. The table above lists each tested version.
Is NHTSA investigating the 2021 Toyota Prius?
No. NHTSA's investigations file, dated Nov 12, 2026, lists no investigations for the 2021 Toyota Prius.
How do I check if my Prius has an open recall?
Enter the 17-character VIN from your dashboard, door jamb or registration at nhtsa.gov/recalls. The lookup lists unrepaired recalls for that exact vehicle. Safety recall repairs are free at Toyota dealers.
Sources and method
- NHTSA recalls file (NHTSA datasets), dated Nov 12, 2026; every campaign checked against NHTSA's recalls API.
- NHTSA owner complaints file, dated Nov 11, 2026. Counted by complaint number, so a complaint naming three components counts once in the total.
- NHTSA investigations file, dated Nov 12, 2026. Defect petitions, which ask NHTSA to open an investigation, are listed apart and only while open. Audit queries, which check whether a company met its recall and reporting duties rather than whether a vehicle has a problem, are not listed.
- NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (NCAP).
- NHTSA model names covered: PRIUS, PRIUS PRIME.
Complaint counts are unverified owner reports. They rise with sales volume and time on the road, so compare model years with care. How we build these pages. Spotted an error? Tell us.