How the 2020 compares
One of the better Prius years
Owners filed about 89% fewer complaints than a typical Prius year. The area owners reported most is the brakes and stability control.
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 14 complaints with NHTSA about the 2020 Toyota Prius. The most reported problem area is the brakes and stability control (5, 36% of complaints), followed by the wheels and tires and the electrical system. That ranks 12th of 13 Prius years from 2012 to 2024 for complaints. It has 0 recalls.
Complaints14filed with NHTSA
Recalls0for this model year
Crashes66 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 2020 Toyota Prius before you buy.
Brakes and stability control
5 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
My dad was driving on the highway. He said that he stepped on the brakes and the brakes did not work. He got into an accident in which the all airbags were deployed and the car was totaled. The car only had 700 miles. I believe this was the second time that my dad drove this car on the highway. My mom, who was a passenger, said that the…Owner complaint, filed 2020, at 700 miles
Proximity sensors generated an alert that parking assistance sensors needed cleaning during moderate rain cleaning the sensors did not resolve the issue. Stopped at dealer to have it checked and was advised that the sensor do that in inclement weather and I would need to learn to live with it. If it was just the parking sensors it would…Owner complaint, filed 2020, at 12,850 miles
Wheels and tires
3 complaintsTire 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.
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What owners said
Ballooning on side wall of tire. When brought to dealer, they indicated that three other tires had same problem but not as obvious. Car had only 24k miles, with half these on these tires (rest on snow tires). Dealer reported that this was a serious danger.Owner complaint, filed 2022
I was making a left turn into my subdivision after a full stop. My speed was no more than 5 MPH. The Toyota dealer informed me that the sidewall had blown and was not repairable. They had no definitive cause as to why the tire blew. The tire was retained by the dealer. The tire size is P 195/65R15 and is a Toyo NanoEnergy A41 Tire. It…Owner complaint, filed 2021
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
The multi information display that shows the speed, fuel, and other driving metrics stopped working, I am not able to see how fast I am going, how much fuel is left, odometer or other items that is displayed there.Owner complaint, filed 2020, at 1,325 miles
On May 16, 2023 I was slowly driving out of a market parking lot when the car suddenly accelerated, full throttle, and speeded across the street (Colusa Avenue, Berkeley, CA), crashing head on into a fence. Immediately after the crash, the dashboard displayed the following: "Check Engine (!) A malfunction in the electronic control of the…Owner complaint, filed 2023
Driver assist systems
2 complaintsPhantom 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
After heavy rains, the car says the park assist doesn't work, as well as the parking sensor system. There is a warning sign that says it doesn't work.Owner complaint, filed 2024
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 sensors of the anti-collision vehicle of my vehicle did not work and the air bag also did not work. Due to speed the airbag of the other vehicle triggered. I have…Owner complaint, filed 2025
Engine and cooling
1 complaintStalling, 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
On May 16, 2023 I was slowly driving out of a market parking lot when the car suddenly accelerated, full throttle, and speeded across the street (Colusa Avenue, Berkeley, CA), crashing head on into a fence. Immediately after the crash, the dashboard displayed the following: "Check Engine (!) A malfunction in the electronic control of the…Owner complaint, filed 2023
Fuel system
1 complaintHesitation, 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
On May 16, 2023 I was slowly driving out of a market parking lot when the car suddenly accelerated, full throttle, and speeded across the street (Colusa Avenue, Berkeley, CA), crashing head on into a fence. Immediately after the crash, the dashboard displayed the following: "Check Engine (!) A malfunction in the electronic control of the…Owner complaint, filed 2023
Transmission and drivetrain
1 complaintHarsh 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
2020 toyota prius. Consumer writes in regards to needing transmission repair after vehicle was towed. *ld the consumer stated the axel rods, rims needed to be repaired/replaced, steering issues,. Rear wheel issues, and bumper [VIN].Owner complaint, filed 2020
Cruise control and acceleration
1 complaintHesitation, 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 2020 Toyota Prius. The contact stated that while, driving approximately 5 mph, making a right turn, the vehicle suddenly accelerated, jumped the curb, and crashed into the bushes. The brake pedal was applied however, failed to respond. There were no warning lights illuminated. There were no reported injuries, police…Owner complaint, filed 2021, at 15,670 miles
Air bags
1 complaintAir 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
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 sensors of the anti-collision vehicle of my vehicle did not work and the air bag also did not work. Due to speed the airbag of the other vehicle triggered. I have…Owner complaint, filed 2025
Body, doors and structure
1 complaintRust, 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
2020 toyota prius. Consumer writes in regards to needing transmission repair after vehicle was towed. *ld the consumer stated the axel rods, rims needed to be repaired/replaced, steering issues,. Rear wheel issues, and bumper [VIN].Owner complaint, filed 2020
Toyota Prius complaints by year
Compare the 2020 with other years before you choose one. Tap a year to see its problems.
Compare with similar 2020 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 Toyota Prius | One of the better years | 0 |
| 2020 Toyota Corolla | Worse than most years | 3 |
| 2020 Honda Civic | One of the better years | 5 |
| 2020 Mazda Mazda3 | One of the better years | 2 |
2020 Toyota Prius recalls
NHTSA has no recalls on file for this model year.
2020 Toyota Prius questions
What are the most common problems with the 2020 Toyota Prius?
The most reported problem areas on the 2020 Toyota Prius are the brakes and stability control (5 complaints), the wheels and tires (3 complaints) and the electrical system (2 complaints).
Is the 2020 Toyota Prius a good year to buy?
One of the better Prius years. Owners filed about 89% fewer complaints than a typical Prius year. The area owners reported most is the brakes and stability control. 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 2020 Toyota Prius have?
NHTSA has no recalls on file for the 2020 Toyota Prius.
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.
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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