2017 Toyota Prius Problems

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 10,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• Check every light: headlights on low and high, fog lights, brake lights, turn signals and reverse lights.
• Run the wipers on every speed with washer fluid, and run the defroster front and back.

Tools that help

What owners said

Windshield cracked from bottom to top and across while sitting and there was no evidence of a rock or chip that would cause that. Air temp was about 95 degrees. No rain, no impact, car was sitting parked and not running.Owner complaint, filed 2021

My windshield cracked for no reason, while it was parked. This is the second crack I gotten on my windshield from owning it for 2 years. This is highly unusual, I don't drive my car very far, and it happened while it was parked.Owner complaint, filed 2021

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 15,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• The pedal should feel firm and the car should stop straight without pulling, grinding or a pulsing pedal.
• The ABS and stability control lights should go out after startup and stay out.
• Look through the wheels at the rotors. A deep lip on the edge means brakes are due soon, which is a fair thing to negotiate on.

Tools that help

What owners said

On 9/14/22 I was almost a hundred miles from my home in Sherrill, NY on Rte 81 south, approaching the bridge in Binghamton, NY when I heard a loud ringing noise. At first I thought it was my phone; then I thought it was a police vehicle; then a construction noise. I finally faced the fact if was coming from my 2017 Prius which had just…Owner complaint, filed 2022, at 20,000 miles

My 2 year check up w/14,932 miles I was advised my front rotors need to be replaced due to poor pad contact and rear rotors are grooved heavily and need to be replaced as well. I was shocked. I did not have replaced . Mechanic said will not pass inspection. Is there a recall? What is going on w/toyota prius brakes. Am afraid to drive car…Owner complaint, filed 2020, at 14,932 miles

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 23,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• Ask the seller not to warm the car up, and start it cold. Listen for ticking, knocking or a rough idle in the first minute.
• Pull the oil dipstick and the oil cap. Low oil, a gasoline smell or a milky film on the cap are reasons to walk away or get an inspection.
• Plug in an OBD2 scanner. Stored or pending codes matter, and so do readiness monitors that show "not ready", which usually means the codes were cleared right before the sale.
• Ask for oil change records. A gap in the records on a model known for engine complaints is a negotiating point at minimum.

Tools that help

What owners said

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 the coolant reservoir every three to four days. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed and…Owner complaint, filed 2025, at 81,700 miles

Coolant leaking into exhaust And engine also vehicle suddenly stops for no reason now engine is completely broken due to the coolant going into the motor oilOwner complaint, filed 2024

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 14,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• On the test drive, press the gas gently and firmly. The response should be smooth with no lag or surge.
• Set the cruise control, then use resume and cancel to make sure each one works.

Tools that help

What owners said

On 10/16/23 I was turning slowly into a parking spot and my car suddenly accelerated without my pressing the accelerator. I slammed on the break and the car stopped. It was frightening because I could have hit someone or something but luckily the car stopped before that happened. I believe that this was a malfunction of the accelerator.…Owner complaint, filed 2023

2017 toyota prius. Consumer writes in regards to unintended acceleration. *ld the consumer stated the vehicle [VIN] and the brakes were unresponsive resulting in a crash. The consumer was injured and required medical attention.Owner complaint, filed 2019

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 14,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• Smell around the engine bay and under the rear of the car for raw fuel.
• On the test drive, accelerate firmly from a stop and up a grade. Stumbling, surging or a flashing check engine light are red flags.
• Fuel pump recalls are common. Check this exact VIN for open recalls before you buy.

Tools that help

What owners said

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 reproduced and no codes are shown on the car dashboard. Mechanics are unable to identify the source of the issue so it…Owner complaint, filed 2025

While filling my Prius with gas, as soon as I started pumping, it spewed gas all over my arms and shirt, as the gas would not go down the pipe into the gas tank. My mechanic explained that gasline exhaust valve was stuck causing the gas to spirt back out the intake opening. This part had to be replaced. Firestone replaced it for a total…Owner complaint, filed 2023

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 5,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• Test every switch: windows, locks, mirrors, seat heaters, the screen, the backup camera, Bluetooth and every USB port.
• Watch the dash at startup. Every warning light should come on briefly and then go out.
• Have the battery and charging system tested. A weak alternator or battery drain shows up here.

Tools that help

What owners said

Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2017 Toyota Prius. It was discovered when the contact listed the vehicle for sale that there was a mileage discrepancy. The vehicle was as a private sale. At the time of the purchase, the mileage was 126,611. The potential purchaser provided a CARFAX report that recorded the mileage on 11/6/2024 at…Owner complaint, filed 2025, at 225,810 miles

For the past year or so we have had issues with the vehicle not starting properly. If we leave the radio, wipers, heater, or air conditioner in the ON position when we shut the car off, or a window down a little on a hot day, a sensor triggers a Low Battery error code. We have had the battery checked and it is NOT low. When this happens…Owner complaint, filed 2022

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 22,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• Turn the wheel lock to lock while parked and listen for groaning, clicking or binding.
• On a straight road the car should track straight with the wheel centered and no loose feeling.
• A power steering warning on the dash, even briefly, deserves a mechanic’s look before you buy.

Tools that help

What owners said

The covering on the steering wheel at the hand locations has excessive wear and the plastic is rough on skin. The [VIN] will not warranty the steering wheel cover because of being out of warranty I do not feel that a steering wheel cover should wear off in less than two years regardless of mileage which is currently at 139000 miles.Owner complaint, filed 2020

The contact owns a 2017 toyota prius. While traveling approximately 20 MPH and attempting to turn, the steering ability became very difficult without warning. The vehicle was taken to dmark toyota (15933 n idahocenter blvd, nampa, id 83687) where it was determined that a sensor on the intermediate steering shaft needed to be replaced.…Owner complaint, filed 2019, at 30,000 miles

Parts named most: Body (7).

What to check before you buy

• Look underneath with a flashlight. Utah road salt is hard on frames, brake lines and the bottoms of doors.
• Open and close every door, the hood and the liftgate, and lock and unlock each one.
• Use a paint thickness gauge and compare panels. A panel that reads very differently from the rest has likely been repaired.

Tools that help

What owners said

Windshield cracks from impact with small rocks. In the past week, my windshield was impacted twice by small rocks. Both times the windshield was damaged. Both times I was driving approximately 50 miles per hour on a highway. The windhield is the problem. I realize a rock might damage a windshield but the glass in my prius is much more…Owner complaint, filed 2018, at 5,000 miles

Takata recall possibly. Wet pavement, traffic slowed on interstate to about 45 MPH, tailgating small pickup hit my rear crumple zone, shoved me into a small suv that crushed my front crumple zone. Airbags did not deploy. Neither my wife (front seat passenger) nor I felt any discomfort, but a few days later she complained about pain in…Owner complaint, filed 2019, at 20,500 miles

What to check before you buy

• Read the four-digit DOT date on each tire. Tires older than about six years should be replaced, whatever the tread looks like.
• Check tread depth on all four. On AWD vehicles all four tires should match.
• The tire pressure light should go out after startup.

Tools that help

What owners said

My complaint has to do with a design "feature" of my new vehicle. Having owned it less than a week, no related incident has occurred. However, I see an [VIN] risk due to this design. My new car, a 2017 prius 4 touring, comes with no spare tire. There are three prius models like that, even for the 2018 model year. Have you considered the…Owner complaint, filed 2017

1) the event occurred on october 4, 2017. 2) 2017 toyota prius with approximately 19,980 miles. 3) the vehicle has been served on schedule at a toyota dealership. 4) at the prior inspection no damage or abnormal wear was reported. 5) from the time of the 15,000 mile inspection no damage occurred to the tire. 6) at no time did the tire…Owner complaint, filed 2017, at 19,980 miles

What to check before you buy

• Drive it from cold if you can. Shifts should be smooth in every gear, including reverse.
• Feel for slipping (revs rise without the car speeding up), shudder at low speed and a delay when you put it in gear.
• Listen for whining, which is a common CVT complaint, and clunks when you go from drive to reverse.
• If it has 4WD or AWD, engage it on the test drive and ask when the transmission and differential fluids were last changed.

Tools that help

What owners said

The contact owns a 2017 Toyota Prius. The contact stated while the contact's wife was driving at an undisclosed speed, the accelerator pedal was depressed. The accelerator pedal was depressed, however the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. The contact stated that the vehicle stalled and jerked. The vehicle was driven to the…Owner complaint, filed 2024, at 68,000 miles

I was going to make a right turn and the car would not accelerate right away even though it was in "d" my husband said he experienced the same thing twice while driving this car.Owner complaint, filed 2018, at 24,000 miles

What to check before you buy

• The air bag (SRS) light should come on at startup and go out within a few seconds. If it stays on, the system may not work in a crash.
• Air bag recalls are some of the most serious. Check this exact VIN for open recalls and get proof any recall work was done.

Tools that help

What owners said

My vehicle was rear-ended and shoved into a third vehicle. We were on an interstate highway with wet pavement, and traffic was slowing. We were traveling straight. The airbags did not deploy, and my wife, belted in the front passenger seat, was twisted sideways by the impact. She experienced a pelvic fracture and aggravation of her…Owner complaint, filed 2019, at 20,555 miles

Takata recall possibly. Wet pavement, traffic slowed on interstate to about 45 MPH, tailgating small pickup hit my rear crumple zone, shoved me into a small suv that crushed my front crumple zone. Airbags did not deploy. Neither my wife (front seat passenger) nor I felt any discomfort, but a few days later she complained about pain in…Owner complaint, filed 2019, at 20,500 miles

What to check before you buy

• Pull out and latch every seat belt, and let each one retract on its own.
• Try every seat adjuster, and watch for a passenger air bag "off" light when an adult is in the seat.

Tools that help

What owners said

The driver's side car seat automatic seat adjustment (backwards/forwards) failed all of a sudden with no warning. It was working when I parked the car to go into an office for an appointment. When I came back out to the car, it wouldn't work and was making strange noises. I called the dealer and they said to bring in the car to be looked…Owner complaint, filed 2022

1)the driver's seat is tilted to the right 2)driver seat bad 3)long-distance driving very tired 4)the passenger seat is tilted to the right 5)sheet can not support my bodyOwner complaint, filed 2017, at 4,276 miles

What to check before you buy

• Drive over a few bumps and potholes slowly with the radio off and listen for clunks or rattles.
• Check the tires for uneven wear on the inside or outside edges, a sign of alignment or suspension trouble.
• Look behind the wheels for oily, wet shocks or struts.

Tools that help

What to check before you buy

• Where it is safe, try the adaptive cruise and lane keeping on the test drive and watch for sudden braking or warnings with nothing there.
• Check the windshield in front of the camera and the bumper sensors for cracks, chips or poor repairs.
• Ask whether the windshield has been replaced. The camera has to be recalibrated afterward, and many shops skip it.

Tools that help

What owners said

In moderate to heavy rain with the toyota dynamic cruise control engaged on the highway between 55 and 70 MPH, the prius has dangerously [VIN] itself towards a car immediately in front of my car and would have created a front-to-rear collision if I was not extremely vigilant and manually braked and canceled the adaptive cruise system…Owner complaint, filed 2018, at 7,400 miles