2020 Toyota Prius
The Verdict
Worst problem area
Brakes
Brakes leads by volume: 5 of 14 complaints (36%) mention it.
Complaints filed fell from 30 in 2019 to 14 in 2020.
Data last changed . Sources: NHTSA complaints and recalls, EPA fuel economy data. Methodology
Cost, Fuel Economy & Complaint History
| Category | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | vs. 2020 Midsize Cars |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fuel cost ($) | 1,100–1,200 | 1,100–1,250 | 1,100–1,350 | 1,100–1,250 | 1,100–1,250 | |
| Combined MPG | 52–56 | 50–56 | 46–56 | 49–56 | 49–56 | |
| City / Highway MPG | 54–58 / 50–53 | 52–58 / 48–53 | 48–58 / 43–53 | 51–58 / 47–53 | 51–58 / 47–53 | |
| CO₂ tailpipe (g/mi) | 158–170 | 158–176 | 158–193 | 158–179 | 158–179 | |
| Complaints filed | 36 | 30 | 14 | 6 | 24 | |
| Recalls issued | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | |
| Crash-involved complaints | 5 | 7 | 6 | 1 | 4 | |
| Fire-involved complaints | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Injuries reported | 2 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 4 | |
| Deaths reported | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Configurations compared | 2 | 3 | 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 2020 Toyota Prius have?
No NHTSA recall campaigns as of Sep 16, 2026.
What is the most common complaint about the 2020 Toyota Prius?
Brakes: 5 of 14 NHTSA complaints (36%) mention it.
What gas mileage does the 2020 Toyota Prius get?
EPA rates it 46–56 MPG combined.
How much does it cost to fuel a 2020 Toyota Prius?
EPA estimates $1,100–$1,350 a year in fuel costs, using EPA's assumptions.
Similar Vehicles
EPA-Rated Configurations (4)
| Configuration | Transmission | Cylinders | Displacement | Drivetrain | Fuel Type | Vehicle Class | City | Highway | Combined | Annual Fuel Cost | CO₂ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Configuration 1 | Automatic (variable gear ratios) | 4 | 1.5L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Compact Cars | 48 mpg (low) | 43 mpg (low) | 46 mpg (low) | $1,350 (high) | 193 g/mi (high) |
| Configuration 2 | Automatic (variable gear ratios) | 4 | 1.8L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Midsize Cars | 54 mpg | 50 mpg | 52 mpg | $1,200 | 169 g/mi |
| Configuration 3 | Automatic (variable gear ratios) | 4 | 1.8L | Part-time 4-Wheel Drive | Regular | Midsize Cars | 52 mpg | 48 mpg | 50 mpg | $1,250 | 176 g/mi |
| Configuration 4 | 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 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Transmission & Drivetrain | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel System | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Electrical | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Brakes | 5 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| Steering | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension, Wheels & Tires | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Airbags & Restraints | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Driver Assistance & Speed Control | 3 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Body, Seats & Latches | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibility & Lighting | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 5 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 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
No recalls have been issued for this model-year.