Home › Toyota Prius › 2021

2021 Toyota Prius problems

What owners reported to NHTSA, at what mileage, and every safety recall for this model year.

6owner complaints
0safety recalls
1involved a crash

Also reported: 0 fires, 0 people injured, 0 deaths. Each complaint is counted once even if it lists several components.

Read this first

Most reported problems

Complaints by component. One complaint can name more than one component, so these add up to more than 6.

Engine2
Usually 5,200–5,200 miles (middle half of 1 reports with mileage)
Fuel/propulsion system2
Usually 5,200–5,200 miles (middle half of 1 reports with mileage)
Electrical system1
No mileage given in these reports
Forward collision avoidance1
No mileage given in these reports
Parts named: Adaptive cruise control (1)
Lane departure1
No mileage given in these reports
Parts named: Assist (1)
Service brakes1
No mileage given in these reports
Unknown or other1
Usually 5,200–5,200 miles (middle half of 1 reports with mileage)
Vehicle speed control1
Usually 56,000–56,000 miles (middle half of 1 reports with mileage)
Wheels1
Usually 190–190 miles (middle half of 1 reports with mileage)

When problems show up

Reports by odometer reading at the time of the problem, top components. Each bar is a 25,000-mile band, labeled by where it starts (0 = 0–25k miles). Reports without mileage are left out.

Engine

1 reports with mileage · median 5,200 miles
025k50k75k100k125k150k175k200k+

Fuel/propulsion system

1 reports with mileage · median 5,200 miles
025k50k75k100k125k150k175k200k+

Safety recalls (0)

Recalls that cover the 2021 Toyota Prius. Some apply only to certain trims or build dates. This page cannot tell whether a specific car's recall work was done.

Check a specific VIN's open recalls on nhtsa.gov

No safety recalls on file for this model year.

Questions to ask the seller

Has the engine had any repairs, oil leaks, or check-engine lights? Ask for the invoices and listen for knocking or ticking on a cold start.

2 owner complaints mention the engine.

Any stalling, hesitation, loss of power, or fuel smell? Ask whether fuel-system parts were replaced and get the receipts.

2 owner complaints mention the fuel or propulsion system.

Any battery drain, dashboard warning lights, or electrical repairs? Test every switch, screen, and power accessory before buying.

1 owner complaint mentions the electrical system.

Has the automatic emergency braking ever activated with nothing ahead, or shown sensor errors? Ask about windshield or sensor repairs.

1 owner complaint mentions the forward collision avoidance system.

Does the lane-keeping assist work without unexpected steering inputs or error messages?

1 owner complaint mentions the lane-keeping system.

Other Toyota Prius years

Owner complaints per model year (2010–2022). Older cars have had more time to collect reports.

Compare all years on one chart

Source: NHTSA complaints file (FLAT_CMPL, updated 2026-10-21) and NHTSA recalls file. Page generated 2026-10-22.

Get the LotCheck app

iOS & Android app coming soon: scan the VIN at the lot, see this report offline, and get a printable inspection checklist. One email when it launches. No spam.

We store only your email (no tracking cookies). Privacy