How the 2018 compares
One of the better Prius years
Owners filed about 70% fewer complaints than a typical Prius year. The area owners reported most is the lights, wipers and visibility, which half of owners reported by about 22,000 miles.
Based on owner complaints to NHTSA, compared with other Prius years from 2012 to 2024. A good year can still be a bad car, so check the one you are looking at.
Owners have filed 37 complaints with NHTSA about the 2018 Toyota Prius. The most reported problem area is the lights, wipers and visibility (10, 27% of complaints), followed by the engine and cooling and the brakes and stability control. That ranks 7th of 13 Prius years from 2012 to 2024 for complaints. It has 1 recall.
Complaints37filed with NHTSA
Recalls1for this model year
Crashes52 injuries reported
Fires0reported in complaints
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Start my car searchMost reported problems
Problem areas ranked by how many complaints mention them. One complaint can name more than one area. Open an area to see what to check on a 2018 Toyota Prius before you buy.
Lights, wipers and visibility
10 complaintsHeadlights that dim or fail, wiper and washer failures, and windshield cracks.What to check before you buy
Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 22,000 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
Both taillamps holding moisture. Could cause electrical issues or fire. .. same year and model car have same reported issues and were fixed by manufacturer. This vehicle is the same but different level.Owner complaint, filed 2026
Was driving around 35 mph and my right side mirror blew up. The back blew off and the mirror was shattered and hanging. Nothing hit it. Contacted Toyota and the parts have been on a stop, but there is no recall. It has been 4 months.Owner complaint, filed 2025
Engine and cooling
5 complaintsStalling, misfires, oil consumption, leaks, overheating and engine failure.What to check before you buy
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 2018 Toyota Prius. The contact stated that while having a routine oil change, the contact was made aware that there was no coolant in the coolant reservoir. No warning lights were illuminated. The contact was constantly adding coolant to the coolant reservoir; however, the following day the coolant reservoir was empty.…Owner complaint, filed 2026, at 89,100 miles
The contact owns a 2018 Toyota Prius. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the engine constantly overheated. An unidentified warning light was flashing on the instrument panel. An independent mechanic inspected the vehicle and became aware that the coolant reservoir was empty. One month later, the same failure…Owner complaint, filed 2026, at 188,000 miles
Brakes and stability control
4 complaintsBrakes that feel soft or grab, grinding, ABS and stability control faults.What to check before you buy
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
This is a brand new car I purchased. There is a high-pitched noise that the brake pedal makes when you depress the brake pedal. I thought this was part of the beeps the car makes, but it's not. The brake booster was replaced, but the brake pedal continues to make a high-pitched chirping noise. I returned to toyota service to have it…Owner complaint, filed 2018, at 13 miles
The contact owns a 2018 Toyota Prius. The contact stated that while in bumper-to-bumper traffic, the vehicle suddenly accelerated. The brake pedal was applied but failed to respond. The driver crashed into the front passenger side of the Lexus. The vehicle continuously moved forward. The contact was eventually able to pull over safely.…Owner complaint, filed 2024, at 39,000 miles
Cruise control and acceleration
4 complaintsHesitation, loss of power, sudden acceleration and cruise control problems.What to check before you buy
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
The contact owns a 2018 toyota prius. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle the vehicle had experienced unintended acceleration and crashed into a second parked vehicle. No injuries were reported. A police report was taken at the scene. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer dch toyota (1504 us hwy 1 north brunswick nj)…Owner complaint, filed 2019, at 6,000 miles
The contact owns a 2018 Toyota Prius. The contact stated that while in bumper-to-bumper traffic, the vehicle suddenly accelerated. The brake pedal was applied but failed to respond. The driver crashed into the front passenger side of the Lexus. The vehicle continuously moved forward. The contact was eventually able to pull over safely.…Owner complaint, filed 2024, at 39,000 miles
Body, doors and structure
4 complaintsRust, doors and liftgates that will not latch, leaks, and frame or structure concerns.What to check before you buy
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
The contact owns a 2018 Toyota Prius. The contact stated the trunk opened at a slow speed and failed to remain open. The dealer was contacted and informed of the failure. The dealer informed the contact that the vehicle needed to be taken in to be inspected. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the…Owner complaint, filed 2025, at 160,000 miles
The heat shield on the underside of the car, by the storage battery came lose while driving and was damaged. It is held in place by only four plastic pins. The car is so low to the ground that it is hard to clear normal speed bumps let alone older larger ones. We were traveling a housing addition less than 20 MPH and just went over an…Owner complaint, filed 2019, at 3,000 miles
Air bags
3 complaintsAir bag warning lights, air bags that did not deploy, and inflator recalls.What to check before you buy
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
The Airbag lights were lit, the person sitting with seatbelt on (flashing) and the person sitting with an inflated airbag in front of them. I ran an OBD2 scan on SRS and got code B1656. Driver seat belt buckle Left Hand. I Investigated the latch and found one wire was snapped off and a couple of inches shorter that the wire that was…Owner complaint, filed 2024
The contact owns a 2018 toyota prius. The contact stated that while driving about 65 MPH, another vehicle pulled into the highway, without stopping, and crashed into the front driver's side fender of the contact's vehicle. The contact stated that none of the air bags deployed. There was no warning lights illuminated. The contact…Owner complaint, filed 2020, at 70,000 miles
Fuel system
2 complaintsHesitation, stalling, fuel smell, fuel pump and injector failures.What to check before you buy
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
UNKNOWN My car started stalling when it comes to a full stop. I.e. if I stop at a red light or stop sign, and I then press the gas, it stalls. It might inch forward, but it doesn’t really accelerate. This happened last year, and I took it to the dealer. They couldn’t reproduce the results, and they could only suggest changing my small…Owner complaint, filed 2022
Stopped at red light, then the car didn't accelerate when hitting gas. Engine revs but the car does not accelerate. It happened multiple time when the car was out in sun with full ac on(100f). Happened once in intersection and almost got hit head onOwner complaint, filed 2022
Electrical system
2 complaintsDead batteries, warning lights, failed screens and cameras, and electrical shorts.What to check before you buy
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
Driver door lock actuator not working. This seems to be a common problem for Toyota over the last decade, but they yet to put more vehicles to their recall list. Actuator just stopped working. I have to use key out of FOB to manually open. This is a safety issue if I’m trying to get in my car quickly for safety reasons and it does not…Owner complaint, filed 2025
Error codes p0113 and p0102 and warning messages for check engine and ics malfunction* lappeared when starting the garaged vehicle in approximately 55f room [VIN]. Toyota of escondido and toyota's customer care telephone center explained that they will not inspect (although under the 3-year/36,000 miles warranty) without a service fee.…Owner complaint, filed 2020, at 19,100 miles
Transmission and drivetrain
2 complaintsHarsh or delayed shifts, slipping, shuddering, CVT whine, and drivetrain clunks.What to check before you buy
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
Stopped at red light, then the car didn't accelerate when hitting gas. Engine revs but the car does not accelerate. It happened multiple time when the car was out in sun with full ac on(100f). Happened once in intersection and almost got hit head onOwner complaint, filed 2022
The gear would shift either from 'drive to neutral' or 'reverse to neutral' this happened more than 10 times when I had my sister, mother, and father in the car. 1) it happened when I was pulling out of the garage (about 20 degree angel) going up the hill. I went to pick them up, all 3 pf them went in. I had my foot on the brake and gear…Owner complaint, filed 2018, at 590 miles
Seats and seat belts
2 complaintsBelts that will not latch or retract, seat adjusters and passenger occupancy sensors.What to check before you buy
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
Someone rear-ended my Prius and they were driving a Ford 250 truck pulling a large flatbed truck that had a huge box on it. My seat went forward and backwards - I slammed my knee under the dashboard and then slammed by head into the headrest and I could not reach the pedals after this. I have repeatedly asked the collision center to look…Owner complaint, filed 2023
Driver assist systems
1 complaintPhantom braking, false collision warnings, and lane keeping or backup sensors that act up.What to check before you buy
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
The contact owns a 2018 Toyota Prius. The contact stated that while in bumper-to-bumper traffic, the vehicle suddenly accelerated. The brake pedal was applied but failed to respond. The driver crashed into the front passenger side of the Lexus. The vehicle continuously moved forward. The contact was eventually able to pull over safely.…Owner complaint, filed 2024, at 39,000 miles
Wheels and tires
1 complaintTire failures, wheels and lug nuts, and tire pressure sensor faults.What to check before you buy
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
New car just over 1000 miles. Rear tire blows on freeway, no pothole or anything hit. Since owning the car I've heard a faint thudding when going over 65 miles an hour. No indicator light and the tires felt hard, not deflated when I checked. So I thought it might just be an uneven road making that sound. Now I believe it was the tire. I…Owner complaint, filed 2018, at 1,020 miles
Toyota Prius complaints by year
Compare the 2018 with other years before you choose one. Tap a year to see its problems.
Compare with similar 2018 compact cars
Each car is rated against its own other years, since popular models always get more complaints than rare ones.
| Car | Vs. its other years | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 Toyota Prius | One of the better years | 1 |
| 2018 Toyota Corolla | One of the better years | 3 |
| 2018 Honda Civic | Worse than most years | 6 |
| 2018 Mazda Mazda3 | About average | 4 |
2018 Toyota Prius recalls
This is every recall issued for the 2018 Toyota Prius, not what is still open on one car. A recall that was fixed does not show up any differently here. Check a VIN at NHTSA to see what is still open on the car you are looking at, and ask the seller for proof any recall work was done.
Electrical system Wiring
- Risk
- An electrical short can increase the risk of a fire.
- Fix
- Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the engine wire harness assembly and replace it if damage is found.
Full recall summary
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2016-2018 Toyota Prius vehicles. A portion of the engine wire harness connected to the hybrid Power Control Unit (PCU), could contact the cover at this connection and wear, causing an electrical short circuit.
2018 Toyota Prius questions
What are the most common problems with the 2018 Toyota Prius?
The most reported problem areas on the 2018 Toyota Prius are the lights, wipers and visibility (10 complaints), the engine and cooling (5 complaints) and the brakes and stability control (4 complaints).
Is the 2018 Toyota Prius a good year to buy?
One of the better Prius years. Owners filed about 70% fewer complaints than a typical Prius year. The area owners reported most is the lights, wipers and visibility, which half of owners reported by about 22,000 miles. Based on owner complaints to NHTSA, compared with other Prius years from 2012 to 2024. A good year can still be a bad car, so check the one you are looking at.
How many recalls does the 2018 Toyota Prius have?
NHTSA lists 1 recall for the 2018 Toyota Prius. The most recent, from Sep 2018, covers the wiring. Recalls cover the whole model year, so check the VIN of the car you are looking at to see which are still open.
At what mileage do 2018 Toyota Prius problems start?
Half of the owners who reported a problem with the lights, wipers and visibility gave a mileage of about 22,000 miles or less. Plenty of cars have these problems later or never, so ask for service records.
Which Toyota Prius years should I avoid?
The Prius years with the most complaints compared with the rest are 2012 and 2013. Years with clearly fewer complaints are 2019, 2020 and 2021. Years from 2022 on are too new to rate fairly yet.
Check the exact car
These problems are for the model year as a whole. Here is how to find out about the one you are looking at.
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Where these numbers come from. Complaints are reports that owners filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), counted from NHTSA’s complaint database as of November 5, 2026. Owners do not have to prove a problem to file one, so a complaint is a report, not a confirmed defect. Models that sell in big numbers get more complaints, and newer model years have had less time on the road, so compare years of the same model rather than different models. Recalls come from NHTSA’s recall database and cover every vehicle of that model year, not one particular car. Quotes are trimmed, and anything that looks like a VIN is hidden.
- Check a specific car for open recalls at NHTSA
- Decode a VIN to see recalls, safety ratings and complaints for that exact year, make and model