2019 Toyota Prius
The Verdict
Worst problem area
Brakes
Brakes leads by volume: 12 of 30 complaints (40%) mention it. Complaints mentioning Airbags & Restraints include more reported injuries (2) than those mentioning any other identified area.
Complaints filed fell from 36 in 2018 to 30 in 2019.
Data last changed . Sources: NHTSA complaints and recalls, EPA fuel economy data. Methodology
Cost, Fuel Economy & Complaint History
| Category | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | vs. 2019 Midsize Cars |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fuel cost ($) | 1,100–1,200 | 1,100–1,200 | 1,100–1,250 | 1,100–1,350 | 1,100–1,250 | |
| Combined MPG | 52–56 | 52–56 | 50–56 | 46–56 | 49–56 | |
| City / Highway MPG | 54–58 / 50–53 | 54–58 / 50–53 | 52–58 / 48–53 | 48–58 / 43–53 | 51–58 / 47–53 | |
| CO₂ tailpipe (g/mi) | 158–171 | 158–170 | 158–176 | 158–193 | 158–179 | |
| Complaints filed | 91 | 36 | 30 | 14 | 6 | |
| Recalls issued | 3 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | |
| Crash-involved complaints | 12 | 5 | 7 | 6 | 1 | |
| Fire-involved complaints | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Injuries reported | 7 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 0 | |
| Deaths reported | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Configurations compared | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
Not compared: this database has no vehicle sales or registration figures, so a raw count mostly reflects how many were sold, not how safe the vehicle is.
Common questions
How many recalls does the 2019 Toyota Prius have?
3 NHTSA recall campaigns as of Sep 16, 2026. Check your VIN with NHTSA to see whether one applies to your car.
What is the most common complaint about the 2019 Toyota Prius?
Brakes: 12 of 30 NHTSA complaints (40%) mention it.
What gas mileage does the 2019 Toyota Prius get?
EPA rates it 50–56 MPG combined across 3 configurations.
How much does it cost to fuel a 2019 Toyota Prius?
EPA estimates $1,100–$1,250 a year in fuel costs, using EPA's assumptions.
Similar Vehicles
EPA-Rated Configurations (3)
| Configuration | Transmission | Cylinders | Displacement | Drivetrain | Fuel Type | Vehicle Class | City | Highway | Combined | Annual Fuel Cost | CO₂ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Configuration 1 | Automatic (variable gear ratios) | 4 | 1.8L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Midsize Cars | 54 mpg | 50 mpg | 52 mpg | $1,200 | 170 g/mi |
| Configuration 2 | Automatic (variable gear ratios) | 4 | 1.8L | Part-time 4-Wheel Drive | Regular | Midsize Cars | 52 mpg (low) | 48 mpg (low) | 50 mpg (low) | $1,250 (high) | 176 g/mi (high) |
| Configuration 3 | Automatic (variable gear ratios) | 4 | 1.8L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Midsize Cars | 58 mpg (high) | 53 mpg (high) | 56 mpg (high) | $1,100 (low) | 158 g/mi (low) |
Complaints by Category
| Category | Complaints | Crash-Involved | Fire-Involved | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Transmission & Drivetrain | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel System | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Brakes | 12 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension, Wheels & Tires | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Airbags & Restraints | 5 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Driver Assistance & Speed Control | 8 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Body, Seats & Latches | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibility & Lighting | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
A complaint that names more than one category is counted in each, so the rows can add up to more than the total number of complaints.
Recalls (3)
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL · Campaign 19V876000 · Dec 12, 2019
Defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2019 Prius vehicles. An electrical short circuit in the combination meter could occur, causing the speedometer, the odometer, and the fuel gauge to go blank. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 101, "Controls and Displays."
Consequence: A blank main display will not show important information like vehicle speed or fuel level. Driving with an inoperative display can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the flash memory chip (ROM) production date, and if necessary, replace it along with the combination meter circuit board, free of charge. The recall began February 7, 2020. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 19TA21 and 19TB21.
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC); SERVICE BRAKES · Campaign 19V544000 · Jul 24, 2019
Defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2019 Lexus LS500, LC500, ES300h, UX250h, LS500h, Toyota Prius, RAV4 HV, 2019-2020 Toyota Prius Prime, and 2020 Corolla HV vehicles. The brake booster pump may fail causing a deactivation of the Vehicle Stability Control system and a loss of braking assist. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 126, "Electronic Stability Control Systems."
Consequence: Deactivation of the vehicle stability control system or a loss of braking assist increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the brake booster pump, free of charge. The recall began September 20, 2019. Toyota owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371 and Lexus owners may contact Lexus customer service at 1-800-255-3987. Toyota's numbers for this recall are K1L/K0L. Lexus' numbers for this recall are K2F/KLF.
EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS · Campaign 19V244000 · Apr 1, 2019
Defect: Gulf States Toyota (GST) is recalling certain 2019 C-HR, 4Runner, Avalon, Avalon Hybrid, Camry, Camry Hybrid, Highlander, Land Cruiser, Prius, RAV4, Sequoia, Tacoma, Sienna, Tundra and Yaris vehicles. The text on the load capacity label may become illegible. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims."
Consequence: If the driver cannot read the label, they may unknowingly overload the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: GST will notify owners, and dealers will provide corrected load carrying capacity modification labels, free of charge. The recall began May 24, 2019. Owners may contact GST customer service at 1-800-444-1074. GST's number for this recall is 19R1.