Too new to judge fully
It has been on the road 3 years, so complaints are still coming in. So far it has fewer than a typical older Prius year, which is normal for a newer car. The area owners report most so far is the body, doors and structure.
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 21 complaints with NHTSA about the 2023 Toyota Prius. The most reported problem area is the body, doors and structure (6, 29% of complaints), followed by the electrical system and the wheels and tires. That ranks 11th of 13 Prius years from 2012 to 2024 for complaints. It has 4 recalls.
1 of these complaints came from Utah owners.
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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 2023 Toyota Prius before you buy.
Body, doors and structure
6 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
What component failed: The rear plastic trim on my 2023 Toyota Prius cracked without any impact, accident, or external cause. The component is still on the vehicle and available for inspection upon request. Safety risk: While this is primarily a structural/cosmetic defect, cracking plastic trim that was not caused by the owner suggests a…Owner complaint, filed 2026
The contact owns a 2023 Toyota Prius. The contact received a recall notification, NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V049000 (Electrical System, Latches/Locks/Linkages)however the parts were unavailable. The dealer was contacted, the contact was informed that the parts were unavailable. The manufacturer was not contacted. The contact had not…Owner complaint, filed 2026
Electrical system
5 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
Front door locks defective. Remote control doesn’t open the doors, even after replacing battery in key fob. It started with the driver door and now the passenger door doesn’t lock or unlock.Owner complaint, filed 2025
The contact owns a 2023 Toyota Prius. The contact received a recall notification, NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V049000 (Electrical System, Latches/Locks/Linkages)however the parts were unavailable. The dealer was contacted, the contact was informed that the parts were unavailable. The manufacturer was not contacted. The contact had not…Owner complaint, filed 2026
Wheels and tires
5 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.
Tools that help
What owners said
The contact owns a 2023 Toyota Prius equipped with Toyo Tires, Tire Line: Extensa A/S, Tire Size: 195/50R/19, and DOT Number: N/A. The contact stated that upon taking the vehicle to the dealer for routine maintenance, it was discovered that a bubble had developed in the front driver-side tire. The vehicle manufacturer was notified of the…Owner complaint, filed 2026, at 15,205 miles
The contact owns a 2023 Toyota Prius equipped with Bridgestone Tires, Tire Line: Ecopia, Tire Size: 195/60/R17, DOT Number: 1ELUK0DDB. The contact stated that while driving approximately 5 - 10 MPH in a parking lot, a piece of metal slashed the passenger’s side front tire. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact was unable…Owner complaint, filed 2025
Transmission and drivetrain
3 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
I purchased my 2023 Prius new which comes with a 5 year 60k mile powertrain warranty. My car, at 42.2k miles, has developed a clicking sound when the steering wheel is fully turned to the left and the vehicle is moving slowly. I brought it to the dealer today Oct 2, 2026 and their technician was able to reproduce my concern. However I…Owner complaint, filed 2026
The contact owns a 2023 Toyota Prius. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. The contact stated that the vehicle lost motive power. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was driven to the residence. The vehicle…Owner complaint, filed 2026, at 35,050 miles
Brakes and stability control
2 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
The 12 volt battery was low, apparently from opening and closing doors during a camping trip. After a few days of sitting unused, I attempted to drive the vehicle. I pushed the start button and the car indicated that it was "ready". When I went to shift the transmission into Drive, the transmission went into Neutral instead and stuck…Owner complaint, filed 2024
The contact owns a 2023 Toyota Prius. The contact stated that while sitting in traffic with the brake pedal depressed, the vehicle started rolling backward even though the gear shifter was in drive(D). The contact stated that upon attempting to accelerate, the vehicle failed to respond and continued to roll backward. The contact stated…Owner complaint, filed 2024
Steering
1 complaintLoss of power steering assist, wandering, play in the wheel and noises when turning.What to check before you buy
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
Driving at highway speed on Interstate 30. Warning lights came on the dashboard. The Prius began to stall. Could not steer vehicle to shoulder. Prius came to a stop in the outside lane of travel. Rear-ended by Tractor Trailer rig. Passenger died. Driver sustained serious injuries. Witnesses called 911 prior to the collision to report…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 car was being driven on US287 south from Wichita Falls, TX toward Fort Worth, Texas on an open road, in the middle of the afternoon, in clear sunshine, no clouds, no rain. On a stretch of the highway where the road dipped down into a gully, and had a normal rise afterwards, the automatic braking system activated, gave a warning of an…Owner complaint, filed 2023
Seats and seat belts
1 complaintBelts 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
Body / Liftgate The rear hatch unexpectedly dropped and fell on my head while the vehicle was stationary. The right-side rear hatch gas strut separated from the body at the mounting point. The left-side rear hatch gas strut had also shown signs of imminent failure and subsequently broke near its mounting point. This resulted in loss of…Owner complaint, filed 2026
Toyota Prius complaints by year
Compare the 2023 with other years before you choose one. Tap a year to see its problems.
Compare with similar 2023 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 Toyota Prius | Too new to judge | 4 |
| 2023 Toyota Corolla | Too new to judge | 3 |
| 2023 Honda Civic | Too new to judge | 4 |
| 2023 Mazda Mazda3 | Too new to judge | 0 |
2023 Toyota Prius recalls
Electrical system Switches / knobs / buttons
- Risk
- A door that unexpectedly opens while the vehicle is moving increases the risk of injury.
- Fix
- Dealers will modify the rear door switch circuits, free of charge.
Full recall summary
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2023-2024 Prius Prime, 2023-2026 Prius, and 2025-2026 Prius Plug-in Hybrid vehicles. Water may enter the rear door switch and cause a short circuit, allowing an unlocked rear door to open unexpectedly.
Backup camera Display function
- Risk
- A rearview camera that fails to display an image can reduce the driver's view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Fix
- Dealers will update the parking assist software, free of charge.
Full recall summary
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2022-2026 Toyota, Lexus, and Subaru Solterra vehicles equipped with a Panoramic View Monitor (PVM) system. Please see the recall report for a complete list of models. A software error may cause the rearview camera to freeze or display a blank screen when the vehicle is in reverse. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 111, "Rear Visibility."
Equipment Labels
- Risk
- A vehicle with an incorrect maximum capacity weight value may be overloaded, which can increase the risk of a crash.
- Fix
- GST will mail new labels to owners, free of charge.
Full recall summary
Gulf States Toyota, Inc. (GST) is recalling certain Toyota 2023 GR Supra, 2024 4 Runner, Corolla, Grand Highlander, Grand Highlander Hybrid, Land Cruiser Hybrid, Tacoma, Tacoma Hybrid, 2023-2024 BZ4X, Corolla Cross Hybrid, GR Corolla, GR86, Highlander, Highlander Hybrid, Prius, Prius Prime, Sequoia Hybrid, Tundra, Tundra Hybrid, Venza Hybrid, 2023-2025 Crown, and 2025 Camry Hybrid vehicles equipped with GST accessories. The load carrying capacity modification label may display inaccurate added weight values. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims."
Electrical system Switches / knobs / buttons
- Risk
- A door that unexpectedly opens while the vehicle is moving or during a crash increases the risk of injury.
- Fix
- Dealers will replace both right and left rear door opener switches, free of charge.
Full recall summary
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2023-2024 Prius and Prius Prime vehicles. Water may enter the rear door switch and cause a short circuit, allowing an unlocked rear door to open unexpectedly.
2023 Toyota Prius questions
What are the most common problems with the 2023 Toyota Prius?
The most reported problem areas on the 2023 Toyota Prius are the body, doors and structure (6 complaints), the electrical system (5 complaints) and the wheels and tires (5 complaints).
Is the 2023 Toyota Prius a good year to buy?
Too new to judge fully. It has been on the road 3 years, so complaints are still coming in. So far it has fewer than a typical older Prius year, which is normal for a newer car. The area owners report most so far is the body, doors and structure. 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 2023 Toyota Prius have?
NHTSA lists 4 recalls for the 2023 Toyota Prius. The most recent, from Jan 2026, covers the switches / knobs / buttons. Recalls cover the whole model year, so check the VIN of the car you are looking at to see which are still open.
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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