NHTSA has received 30 owner complaints about the 2020 Toyota Prius, or 4.5 per year on the road — far fewer complaints than typical for a vehicle of its age (complaint index 0.11, where 1.00 is the average of all tracked vehicles). Among the 82 model-year 2020 vehicles we track, it ranks #6 for fewest complaints per year. Against other Toyota models its rate is 87% lower; against other Compact cars it is 80% lower.
Counts are normalized by time on the road, not by sales volume: a popular model generates more reports than a rare one, and complaints are not verified individually. How we count
Complaints filed between 2020-02-08 and 2025-09-29. Median delay from incident to filing: 3 days.
30Complaints
4.5Complaints per year on the road
0.11Complaint index vs. all tracked vehicles
1Recalls
36.7%Share involving a crash or fire
2Last 12 months
Analysis
The previous model year (2019) drew 5.0 complaints per year, more than this one. The following model year (2021) drew 2.8 per year, fewer than this one. In its first two years on the road the 2020 model collected 15 complaints, 74% lower than the average vehicle of the same model year.
The most common problem area is Electrical (20.0% of complaints), followed by Brakes (16.7%) and Body & structure (16.7%). 11 reports (36.7%) describe a crash or fire; owners mention 6 injuries and 0 deaths.
Half of the reported incidents happened within 25 months of the model year's start; the busiest period was the first year (33% of incidents). 2 complaints were filed in the last 12 months.
NHTSA lists 1 safety recall for this model year. 20% of the complaints fall in component areas that a recall addresses. 1 NHTSA defect investigation covers this model year; the most recent is “Pedestrian alert sounds” (opened 2023-01-27, closed 2023-08-07).
Complaint index
vs. all tracked vehicles0.11
vs. other Toyota models0.13
vs. other 2020 models0.12
vs. other Compact cars0.2
Complaints in first 2 years on the road · vs. same-year average (15)0.26
The contact owns a 2020 Toyota Prius Prime. The contact stated that while pulling into a parking lot, traveling down the aisle, and driving around the end cap to the second aisle, pulling into the parking spot at 5 MPH, the vehicle suddenly accelerated.
Other · 2025-09-29 · ODI 11690279 · Crash
I turned left into a parking space in my 2020 prius. I stepped on the brake, and my car shot forward. I couldn't stop it, and it hit a concrete pole. It only took 1 second.
Brakes · 2025-09-13 · ODI 11687071 · Crash
I was the victim of an accident on [XXX]. The person of the other vehicle that collided with my vehicle after crossing at high speed and without stopping in the red light.
The contact owns a 2020 Toyota Prius Prime. The contact stated while driving at approximately 40 MPH, the brake pedal was depressed while making a left turn onto another road, but the vehicle failed to slow down.
Brakes · 2025-02-28 · ODI 11645501
About a year ago and again a few days ago, I was slowly moving my Prius forward when suddenly it accelerated at full speed. The first time I was pulling into a parking spot beyond which was a grassy area and then a stockade fence.
Interior & equipment · 2024-07-19 · ODI 11603436
Excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, trimmed for length. The ODI number is NHTSA's record identifier.
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) Campaign 19V544000 · 2019-07-24
Summary: 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."
Risk: 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.
DP22005 · ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:PROPULSION SYSTEM · Opened 2023-01-27 · Closed 2023-08-07 · Campaign 22V063000 · Model years: 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022
NHTSA received a petition on or about July 18, 2022, requesting that Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 141 be applied to all electric and hybrid vehicles operating in the United States. The petition can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under ODI Number 11486072. FMVSS 141 establishes performance requirements for pedestrian alert sounds for motor vehicles. The standard applies to hybrid and ele…
Frequently asked questions
How many complaints were filed for the 2020 Toyota Prius?
30 complaints were filed with NHTSA for the 2020 Toyota Prius, or about 4.5 per year on the road.
What is the most common problem reported for the 2020 Toyota Prius?
The most common category is Electrical, accounting for 20.0% of complaints.
Does the 2020 Toyota Prius have any recalls?
NHTSA lists 1 safety recall(s) for this model year. 1 NHTSA defect investigation covers this model year; the most recent is “Pedestrian alert sounds” (opened 2023-01-27, closed 2023-08-07).
Is the 2020 Toyota Prius still generating complaints?
2 complaints were filed in the last 12 months.
How does the 2020 Toyota Prius compare with similar vehicles?
NHTSA has received 30 owner complaints about the 2020 Toyota Prius, or 4.5 per year on the road — far fewer complaints than typical for a vehicle of its age (complaint index 0.11, where 1.00 is the average of all tracked vehicles). Among the 82 model-year 2020 vehicles we track, it ranks #6 for fewest complaints per year. Against other Toyota models its rate is 87% lower; against other Compact cars it is 80% lower.