Verdict
2021 Toyota Prius: Complaints, Recalls & Known Issues
What the public record actually says about the 2021 Toyota Prius — every figure below is a NHTSA or EPA number, not an opinion.
The read
Middle-of-the-pack complaint volume for hatchback.
Owners filed 6 NHTSA complaints — fewer complaints than 58% of 2021 hatchbacks. Electrical System leads the reports (17%). No safety recalls on record.
Based on NHTSA complaint volume against 2021 hatchbacks, not adjusted for how many were sold. It describes the model year, not the individual car you are looking at.
Complaints filed
6
Reports to NHTSA, 2021
Safety recalls
0
NHTSA campaigns on record
NHTSA crash test
Overall NCAP rating
Combined MPG
52
EPA estimate
Complaint volume vs. segment peers
Fewer complaints than 58% of 2021 hatchbacks
The bar is this car's percentile among 2021 hatchbacks by complaint volume — a full bar means the fewest complaints in its class. Not adjusted for sales.
Known issues
Electrical System issues lead owner complaints (17% of 6 reports), followed by forward collision avoidance (17%).
Share of all 6 NHTSA complaints for this model year, grouped by the component owners named. Bars are scaled to the largest category. Examples: ODI 11526893.
Recalls
0 recalls — none issued for this model year as of Jul 2026. Recall records can change as NHTSA publishes new campaigns.
A campaign can apply to this model year without being incomplete on a specific vehicle. Check the VIN with NHTSA or a dealer to confirm whether a particular car needs repair.
Investigations
1 NHTSA investigation on record
Investigations are agency reviews, not findings that a vehicle is defective.
NHTSA received a petition on or about July 18, 2022, requesting that Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 141 be applied to all electric and hybrid vehicles operating in the United States. The petition can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under ODI Number 11486072. FMVSS 141 establishes performance requirements for pedestrian alert sounds for motor vehicles. The standard applies to hybrid and electric vehicles that have a gross vehicle weight rating of 4,536 KG or less or are defined as low-speed vehicles. The standard became fully applicable to all such vehicles manufactured on or after March 1, 2021.On January 27, 2023, NHTSA opened Defect Petition (DP) 22-005 to evaluate the subject matter described in the petition. On June 24, 2023 and as supplemented on June 25, 2023, the petitioner notified NHTSA he was withdrawing his petition. The petitioner indicated that, based on his review of data, there is no justification for asserting potential benefits that could be derived from actions sought by my petition. Based on the petitioner's withdrawal, DP22-005 is closed. Closure of this DP does not represent a determination by NHTSA regarding the subject matter of the petition.
Crash-test ratings
2021 Toyota PRIUS 5 HB FWD NHTSA source
- Overall
- Frontal
- Side
- Rollover
2021 Toyota PRIUS 5 HB AWD NHTSA source
- Overall
- Frontal
- Side
- Rollover
Fuel economy by trim
| Trim | Engine | Drivetrain | Transmission | City | Hwy | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prius | 1.8L 4-cyl | Front-Wheel Drive | Automatic (variable gear ratios) | 54 | 50 | 52 |
EPA laboratory estimates by trim and engine. Actual mileage varies with driving, weather, load, and maintenance. EPA source.
Before you buy
Useful next checks
Federal records tell you about patterns. These checks can tell you more about the specific car in front of you.
These are affiliate links. TireKick may earn a fee if you use one.
Compare model years
"Fewest reports" and "most complained" describe raw NHTSA complaint totals, not vehicle reliability. The last few model years are left unlabelled because they have had less road time.
2021 Toyota Prius: frequently asked
What does the complaint record show for the 2021 Toyota Prius?
Owners filed 6 NHTSA complaints about the 2021 Toyota Prius — fewer complaints than 58% of comparable 2021 hatchbacks, so it sits toward the stronger end of its class. That's a signal, not a guarantee about any single car.
What are the most common problems on the 2021 Toyota Prius?
The most-reported problem areas are Electrical System (17% of complaints) and forward collision avoidance (17%).
How many recalls does the 2021 Toyota Prius have?
No safety recalls are on record for the 2021 Toyota Prius as of Jul 2026.
What gas mileage does the 2021 Toyota Prius get?
The EPA rates the 2021 Toyota Prius at 52 mpg combined.