Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.
Owners have filed 143 complaints with NHTSA about the 2017 Toyota Prius Prime, and it carries no recalls. These are owner allegations rather than confirmed defects, but the pattern of what people complain about is the most useful signal a used buyer has.
| Area | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Visibility/wiper | 26 | 18% |
| Service brakes | 9 | 6% |
| Unknown or other | 8 | 6% |
| Electrical system | 7 | 5% |
| Structure | 7 | 5% |
| Engine | 6 | 4% |
| Steering | 6 | 4% |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 5 | 3% |
| Power train | 5 | 3% |
| Vehicle speed control | 5 | 3% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
The contact owns a 2017 Toyota Prius Prime. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle stalled. Several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated that while attempting to
NHTSA complaint: Engine
In the 2017 Prius Prime when the car switches from Electric power to gas the car frequently fails to allow you to accelerate. It is like you are stuck in neutral on the freeway, taking your foot off of the acceleration
NHTSA complaint: Vehicle speed control
I have a 2017 Toyota Prius Prime advanced. It has the large infotaiment screen that is where I have to access many items. Often, seemingly randomly, the screen shuts down and reboots itself. During the time it is reboo
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
The dealer sold original Toyota Truestart H4, 12 Volt battery failed after 2 years and 9 months. The battery is warranted for 84 months/7 years.
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
During hot temperatures and after coming to a full stop, the car stalls/hesitates significantly (5-6seconds) when pushing the gas pedal. The car eventually proceeds but the issue reoccurs. It can only be intermittently r
NHTSA complaint: Fuel/propulsion system
Toyota has a very well known issue with head gasket failures right around 140k miles that they refuse to address. This is my second Prius and my second failure right at 140k miles. They refuse to acknowledge it, but the
NHTSA complaint: Engine
Background Toyota has received reports of paint peeling on certain vehicles with the original factory-applied Blizzard Pearl or Super White paint colors. These reports indicate that vehicles with these specific paint col
NHTSA complaint: Structure
The contact owns a 2017 Toyota Prius. The contact stated that while driving approximately 25-30 MPH, the vents were blowing out cold air. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact was adding coolant to
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling
| Reliability raw | 81 | excellent |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 84 | excellent |
| Maintenance | 86 | excellent |
| Depreciation | 79 | good |
| Performance | 43 | below average |
| Efficiency | 73 | good |
Percentile ranks against other midsize & large cars in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 143 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and visibility/wiper is the most reported area with 26 of them (18%). No recalls are on record for it.
AVOIR scores its reliability 81/100 (excellent) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density. That figure is a raw complaint count, not yet adjusted for sales volume, so a high-volume model scores worse than it deserves.
AVOIR scores its longevity 84/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 2017 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.
AVOIR's read: worth a look, because a solid ownership case with specific caveats below. Its overall ownership score is 78/100. Condition, mileage and service history still matter more than any score, so get a pre-purchase inspection on the specific car.
Sources: NHTSA recalls and complaints, EPA fuel economy, IIHS awards, and live market listings. A score describes a model-year, not the individual car in front of you. Get a pre-purchase inspection.