One of the better Prius years
Owners filed about 95% fewer complaints than a typical Prius year. The area owners reported most is the engine and cooling.
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 6 complaints with NHTSA about the 2021 Toyota Prius. The most reported problem area is the engine and cooling (2, 33% of complaints), followed by the fuel system and the electrical system. That is the fewest complaints of any Prius year from 2012 to 2024 on file. It has 0 recalls.
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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 2021 Toyota Prius before you buy.
Engine and cooling
2 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 car accelerated without my foot on the accelerator, brake did not respond, and I had to drive through grass and a rock-filled ditch until after about 10 seconds the car returned to my control.Owner complaint, filed 2023
Carbon monoxide seeps into the passenger car but diller cannot find it and did not have tools to detect co level in the car. I can't use this car because was poisoned many times and after a second check-up, the level of co becomes higher so I can't drive the car without poisoning. Please help me. I am worrying to sell my car because…Owner complaint, filed 2021, at 5,200 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
When i am going down it's charging when the charge reaches 6 from 8 the engine starts working and stop changing at that point and the power continues comes from engine only without the hybrid battery and there are no codesOwner complaint, filed 2026
Carbon monoxide seeps into the passenger car but diller cannot find it and did not have tools to detect co level in the car. I can't use this car because was poisoned many times and after a second check-up, the level of co becomes higher so I can't drive the car without poisoning. Please help me. I am worrying to sell my car because…Owner complaint, filed 2021, at 5,200 miles
Electrical system
1 complaintDead 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 car accelerated without my foot on the accelerator, brake did not respond, and I had to drive through grass and a rock-filled ditch until after about 10 seconds the car returned to my control.Owner complaint, filed 2023
Brakes and stability control
1 complaintBrakes 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
The car accelerated without my foot on the accelerator, brake did not respond, and I had to drive through grass and a rock-filled ditch until after about 10 seconds the car returned to my control.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 Lane keeping assist used in radar cruise control mode during some drive cycles will attempt to maintain the vehicle position to the far extreme of the lane and in some cases actively veer out of the lane. My safety ant others can be put at risk when the vehicle behaves outside of its design parameters like this. To solve the issue…Owner complaint, filed 2023
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 2021 Toyota Prius. The contact stated while driving approximately 35 - 45 MPH, the vehicle independently accelerated. The brake pedal was depressed but failed to stop the vehicle immediately. The contact swerved around the vehicle in front and ended up on the opposite side of the roadway. The contact attempted to avoid…Owner complaint, filed 2024, at 56,000 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
While driving on the I 4 we had a blowout on the rear passenger tire. The car had less than 200 miles on it so it was brand new. The dealership found object in the tire that could have cause the problem the only conclusion I could come to is that this tire was defective. The dealership said I could have run over a large object or a large…Owner complaint, filed 2021, at 190 miles
Toyota Prius complaints by year
Compare the 2021 with other years before you choose one. Tap a year to see its problems.
Compare with similar 2021 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 Toyota Prius | One of the better years | 0 |
| 2021 Toyota Corolla | About average | 1 |
| 2021 Honda Civic | One of the better years | 4 |
| 2021 Mazda Mazda3 | One of the better years | 1 |
2021 Toyota Prius recalls
NHTSA has no recalls on file for this model year.
2021 Toyota Prius questions
What are the most common problems with the 2021 Toyota Prius?
The most reported problem areas on the 2021 Toyota Prius are the engine and cooling (2 complaints), the fuel system (2 complaints) and the electrical system (1 complaint).
Is the 2021 Toyota Prius a good year to buy?
One of the better Prius years. Owners filed about 95% fewer complaints than a typical Prius year. The area owners reported most is the engine and cooling. 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 2021 Toyota Prius have?
NHTSA has no recalls on file for the 2021 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.
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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