2017 Toyota Prius Prime Complaints

ENGINE — Filed 06/26/2026

The contact owns a 2017 Toyota Prius Prime. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle stalled. Several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated that while attempting to start the vehicle, the vehicle started. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or the dealer. The contact used a portable diagnostic machine to diagnosed the vehicle; however, no fault codes displayed. The contact stated that the failure had not reoccurred. The contact referenced an unknown recall; however, the VIN was not associated with a recall related to the failure. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 90,000.

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,ENGINE — Filed 03/15/2026

In the 2017 Prius Prime when the car switches from Electric power to gas the car frequently fails to allow you to accelerate. It is like you are stuck in neutral on the freeway, taking your foot off of the acceleration pedal and pushing it down doesn't always fix the issue. The accelerator foot pedal can be completely down to the floorboard as you are losing speed. The safety issue is that you are losing speed, and on the freeway and the car doesn't recover losing some control. I have taken the car to the Toyota delearship and when taken in that say it is a software update, but this continues to happen. There is no real notification when this will occur as the battery milage switchover is often misreported by the car.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER — Filed 12/05/2025

I have a 2017 Toyota Prius Prime advanced. It has the large infotaiment screen that is where I have to access many items. Often, seemingly randomly, the screen shuts down and reboots itself. During the time it is rebooting I do not have any access to the controls. It gives no warning when it is going to reboot. I have seen other Toyota recalls for a similar problem on the RAV4 vehicles and I wonder if it is related.

STRUCTURE,UNKNOWN OR OTHER — Filed 09/23/2024

Standing at a red light and someone rear ended

POWER TRAIN — Filed 05/15/2021

The contact owned a 2017 Toyota Prius Prime. The contact stated after the vehicle was in the park position and exiting, the vehicle accelerated on its own in reverse. The contact mentioned when she parked, the front tires pointed towards a curb which allowed her to get inside the vehicle and to depress the brake pedal. The vehicle continued accelerating, crashed into two trees on the front driver's side and front passenger side, jumped the curve, and crashed into a fence where the vehicle came to a stop. The contact mentioned that she was a professional driver for a living and assured that the failure was not a user error. A police report was not filed due to the incident occurring on her property. No injuries were sustained. A Toyota representative inspected the vehicle at the contact's residence to diagnose the vehicle but the results were not available. The unknown local dealer was contacted. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was traded in at the dealer and the contact no longer owns the vehicle. The contact mentioned that after the failure incident, an unknown manufacturer recall was opened related to unintended acceleration. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and opened a case. The failure mileage was unknown.

SEATS — Filed 04/17/2023

Driver side electric Seat rail malfunction after I was hit from the rear end collision. The seat electric adjustment became inoperable. The seat rail has a small gear in the electric seat that got destroyed during the rear end collision. Is the seat designed for damping, if so why does the driver side electric seat become inoperable?

AIR BAGS,SEAT BELTS — Filed 03/25/2023

I had to avoid an oncoming driver who lost control in a flash storm and ended up colliding with a telephone pole head on going 60mph. No safety devices activated at all, and Toyota refuses to admit it’s a problem.

FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE — Filed 08/05/2021

This vehicle rear ended another vehicle in peak hour stop and go traffic. The estimated speed at the time of impact was 10-15 MPH. There was exensive front end damage to the vehicle. The air bags did not deploy. Unclear if the AEB engaged but the driver actively tried braking but not successful in avoiding the collision.

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,UNKNOWN OR OTHER — Filed 06/05/2021

For the second time (first in 2019) I was seconds and maybe two feet from stopping the car to park when, with my foot on the brake, the car suddenly and without warning lunged forward at what seemed like full throttle. The first "crash" was in my driveway. The force was shocking and took off the front of the car. I insisted Toyota investigate and they ultimately denied any liability. After the car was allegedly repaired, I started noticing another phenomenon: every time I would slow down to brake--approaching an intersection or stop sign, etc.--the car would briefly lunge forward before the brakes engaged to stop the car. I reported this to the dealer 2-3 times and each time I was assured that this was "normal" for a hybrid transitioning from gas to electric at a lower speed. Two weeks ago, with a friend in the car, I was pulling into a parking space, foot on the brake and about to stop, when the same thing occurred: without warning, the car lunged forward, at what seemed like full throttle, and crashed into a low concrete wall. Had it been seconds later, we would have had our seatbelts off and gone into the windshield. There were injuries. FYI, I have a pretty much perfect driving record and log thousands of miles each year. I had ZERO problems with the Prius I owned prior to this one. I will never drive this car again.

POWER TRAIN,AIR BAGS,SERVICE BRAKES — Filed 10/20/2020

JUST FIVE MINUTES AFTER I LEFT THE HOUSE, I WAS DRIVING AT 15 MILES MPH ON A CURVED ROAD AND THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY LOST POWER. THIS INCLUDES BOTH THE ELECTRIC MOTOR AND THE GAS MOTOR. BOTH THE STEERING SYSTEM AND BRAKES MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING THE STEERING WHEEL TO BECOME TOO STIFF TO TURN AND THE BRAKES WERE NOT ABLE TO BE PRESSED DOWN NO MATTER HOW HARD I TRIED. THIS CAUSED THE CAR TO SWERVE OFF THE ROAD AND HIT A LIGHT POLE. NOT ONLY DID THE AUTOMATIC COLLISION PREVENTION SYSTEM FAILED TO WORK, THE AIRBAGS ALSO FAILED TO DEPLOY WITH THE AMOUNT OF IMPACT. THIS HAS CAUSED SEVERE DAMAGE TO MY CAR AND SEVERE INJURY TO MY BODY. UNFORTUNATELY, THIS WAS NOT THE FIRST TIME THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A POWER FAILURE. THE FIRST TIME I WAS IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC ON THE FREEWAY. THE CAR COMPLETELY SHUT OFF FOR 5 SECONDS AND TURNED BACKED ON AGAIN. LUCKILY THE VEHICLE WAS NOT MOVING DUE TO THE SPEED OF TRAFFIC. I TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP AND COMPLAINED ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. HOWEVER, THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT FAILED TO FIND ANY PROBLEM. THE SECOND TIME IT HAPPENED I WAS DRIVING ON A STRAIGHT ROAD AND THE VEHICLE SLOWED DOWN AND COMPLETELY SHUT OFF. NOTHING APPEARED ON THE MONITOR NOR THE DASHBOARD, JUST LIKE THE FIRST TIME. I COULD NOT GET THE VEHICLE TO START FOR 30 MINUTES. I EVEN CAPTURED THIS INCIDENT ON VIDEO THAT NO MATTER HOW MANY TIMES I'VE PRESSED THE START BUTTON, I COULD NOT GET THE VEHICLE TO POWER UP AGAIN (ENGINE OR BATTERY MODE). JUST LIKE LAST TIME, I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP, BUT THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT ONCE AGAIN FAILED TO FIND ANY PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE. AT ALL TIMES, I'VE DONE MY DUE DILIGENCE TO ENSURE THAT THE BATTERY WAS FULLY CHARGED BEFORE I BEGIN DRIVING FOR THE DAY AND WITH ADEQUATE FUEL FOR THE ENGINE MODE. TOYOTA'S NEGLIGENCE AND THE POOR QUALITY OF THE VEHICLE HAVE CAUSED ME AN ALMOST LIFE-THREATENING ACCIDENT.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING — Filed 08/16/2020

SINCE WE HAD PURCHASE OUR CAR PRIUS V FOUR WITH DRL (DAY RUNNING LIGHTS)(VERTICAL LED UNIT IN BUMPER) THEY NEVER WORKED PROPERLY-HENCE NOT VISIBLE IN OUR ACCIDENT.. UNLIKE OTHER EARLIER MODELS THE USER COULD ADJUST THE SENSOR AND TURN THIS FEATURE ON OR OFF-BUT NOW THE FEATURE CAN ONLY BE PERFORMED BY A TOYOTA SERVICE MECHANIC. THE FEATURE ALSO OPERATES OFF A DAY LIGHT SENSOR THAT ALSO CANNOT BE ADJUSTED BY THE OWNER OF THE VEHICLE. HENCE SINCE THIS IS A SAFETY FEATURE NOTED IN FAQ ON TOYOTAS SITE IT SHOULD BE CONSIDERED FOR A RECALL.

SERVICE BRAKES — Filed 11/19/2019

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HIS DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 19 MPH AND APPROACHING A TRAFFIC LIGHT, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND THE TRACTION CONTROL WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP AND THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE VEHICLE IN FRONT. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE MILLENIUM TOYOTA, 257 N FRANKLIN ST, HEMPSTEAD, NY 11550, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS INFORMED OF THE FAILURE AND AN INSPECTOR WAS SENT OUT TO RETRIEVE INFORMATION FROM THE VEHICLE DATA RECORDER. THE CONCLUSION WAS DRIVER ERROR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 13,000.

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,SERVICE BRAKES — Filed 08/28/2019

I HAD AN SUA (SUDDEN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION). I DROVE UP AN INCLINE INTO THE "DRIVEWAY" OF THE HOLIDAY IN IN DOWNTOWN SAN DIEGO, PULLED UP INTO A SMALL CIRCULAR AREA/DRIVEWAY WHERE YOU CAN REGISTER FOR YOUR ROOM OR PICK UP OR DROP OFF PEOPLE. MY FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE, I WAS STOPPING THE CAR TO PICK UP MY DAUGHTER AND HER BOYFRIEND. AND THE CAR TOOK OFF ON IT'S OWN. I TRIED DESPERATELY TO USE THE BRAKES, BUT THEY WOULDN'T WORK, SO I KEPT DRIVING AROUND THE CIRCULAR DRIVEWAY TO KEEP CONTROL OF THE CAR WHILE I KEPT TRYING TO STOP THE CAR TO NO AVAIL. THE CAR KEPT ACCELERATING AND SCREECHING AROUND THE DRIVEWAY AND THEN I FINALLY LOST CONTROL AND THE CAR HIT A WALL TO MY RIGHT, THEN MOVED A BIT FORWARD AND BUMPED INTO A CURB ON THE LEFT AND FINALLY STOPPED.MY OTHER DAUGHTER WAS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT.WE WERE BOTH TERRIFIED! I CONTACTED TOYOTA AND FROM THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT (10/28/19) TO THE TIME I WAS ABLE TO TALK WITH A PERSON IN THEIR CLAIMS DEPT OR RATHER RECEIVE AN EMAIL RESPONSE, IT WAS 64 DAYS LATER (10/31/19). AND THAT IS ONLY BECAUSE I CALLED THEM. I TALKED TO SEVERAL CASE MANAGERS ON DIFFERENT DAYS WHO SEEMED UNHELPFUL UNTIL FINALLY ONE OF THEM GOT IN TOUCH WITH THE CLAIMS DEPARTMENT AND TOLD ME THEY WOULD CALL ME. TOYOTA WILL NOT TAKE ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS AND I AM REALLY UPSET THAT NOW I WILL HAVE AN ACCIDENT ON MY RECORD AND MY INSURANCE WILL INCREASE SIGNIFICANTLY FOR SOMETHING THAT ISN'T EVEN MY FAULT! I AM AN EXCELLENT DRIVER AND HAVE NEVER HAD AN ACCIDENT THAT WAS MY FAULT. I WAS ALERT AND COHERENT AS WAS OBVIOUS TO ALL OF THE PEOPLE I SPOKE TO DIRECTLY AFTER THE ACCIDENT. MY DAUGHTER, IN THE PASSENGER SEAT, WITNESSED ALL OF MY ATTEMPTS TO USE THE BRAKES TO STOP THE CAR.

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,SERVICE BRAKES — Filed 10/23/2019

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2017 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS REVERSING THE VEHICLE INTO A PARKING LOT, IT ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL, BUT IT FAILED TO ENGAGE AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO CRASH INTO A TREE. ALL THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE CONTACT DID NOT ENGAGE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE. THE CONTACT AND PASSENGER SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES AND RECEIVED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE CONTACT'S INSURANCE COMPANY TOWED THE VEHICLE TO A LOT AND DEEMED IT A TOTAL LOSS. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURES WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 13,850. *LN*JB

AIR BAGS — Filed 01/04/2019

MY VEHICLE WAS REAR-ENDED AND SHOVED INTO A THIRD VEHICLE. WE WERE ON AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY WITH WET PAVEMENT, AND TRAFFIC WAS SLOWING. WE WERE TRAVELING STRAIGHT. THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, AND MY WIFE, BELTED IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT, WAS TWISTED SIDEWAYS BY THE IMPACT. SHE EXPERIENCED A PELVIC FRACTURE AND AGGRAVATION OF HER ARTHRITIC LEFT HIP JOINT. WE BELIEVE THAT AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT WOULD HAVE PREVENTED THESE INJURIES. I HAVE ATTACHED THREE EVENT DATA FILES AND VEHICLE CONTROL HISTORY FILES. (I CAN'T SEE IF ALL THREE ARE ATTACHED.)

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL — Filed 08/05/2018

2017 TOYOTA PRIUS. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED AND THE BRAKES WERE UNRESPONSIVE RESULTING IN A CRASH. THE CONSUMER WAS INJURED AND REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. *JS *JS

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL — Filed 05/24/2019

I WAS SLOWLY ( < 5MPH) APPROACHING A STOPLIGHT AT A BUSY INTERSECTION IN A 25 MPH ZONE ON A 4 LANE STREET THERE WERE 2 VEHICLES AHEAD OF ME. EVERYTHING SEEMED FINE UNTIL MY VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED RAPIDLY AND I WAS UNABLE TO STOP IT. THE PATH OF LEAST RESISTANCE WAS TO DRIVE IT INTO THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME AND NOT TO SWERVE. ONCE I HAD STOPPED AND CAUGHT MY BREATH, I PUT THE CAR INTO REVERSE TO BACK AWAY FROM THE CAR I HAD HIT, AND ONCE AGAIN THE CAR RAPIDLY ACCELERATED BACKWARD INTO THE CAR BEHIND ME. UNTIL THIS TIME I HAVE HAD ABSOLUTELY NO PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE. IT ONLY HAS BEEN DRIVEN 14,500 MILES.

STEERING — Filed 05/21/2019

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2017 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN AND THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A STORE. THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO EDMARK TOYOTA (LOCATED AT 15933 N IDAHO CENTER BLVD, NAMPA, ID 83687, (208) 468-8000) WHERE IT WAS BEING DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,300. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

AIR BAGS,STRUCTURE — Filed 01/04/2019

TAKATA RECALL POSSIBLY. WET PAVEMENT, TRAFFIC SLOWED ON INTERSTATE TO ABOUT 45 MPH, TAILGATING SMALL PICKUP HIT MY REAR CRUMPLE ZONE, SHOVED ME INTO A SMALL SUV THAT CRUSHED MY FRONT CRUMPLE ZONE. AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. NEITHER MY WIFE (FRONT SEAT PASSENGER) NOR I FELT ANY DISCOMFORT, BUT A FEW DAYS LATER SHE COMPLAINED ABOUT PAIN IN HER WAIST AREA. SHE WAS LATER DETERMINED TO HAVE A FRACTURED PELVIS AND A JOSTLED LEFT HIP JOINT.

STRUCTURE,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL — Filed 01/19/2019

WE WERE STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC SIGNAL GOING NORTH. WHEN THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN, THE CAR IN FRONT OF US STARTED TO GO AND ALL OF THE SUDDEN, OUR CAR WENT INTO RAPID ACCELERATION. WE COULD NOT STOP THE CAR. IT CRASHED INTO THE CAR IN FRONT OF US. WE TRIED JAMMING ON THE BREAKS AND TURNING OFF THE IGNITION, BUT COULD NOT GET CONTROL. BECAUSE WE WERE HEADING UPHILL, THE CAR FINALLY CAME TO A STOP. WE WERE ON A CITY STREET AT A STOP SIGNAL.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,WHEELS,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM — Filed 12/22/2017

WHILE DRIVING ON I-75 THERE SEEMS TO BE A SPARK CAUSED FUEL TO LEAK AND BURN BACK TIRE AND THE TIRE ROLLED OFF THE FREEWAY PUTTING ALL THE FIVE PASSENGERS INTO A HAZARDOUS SITUATION ON THE I-75 FREEWAY. WE SMELLED SMELL OF TIRE AND GAS LEAK. FORTUNATELY, WE WERE ABLE TO PULL OFF THE FREEWAY. IT WAS REPORTED TO TOYOTA AND THEIR DEALERS MULTIPLE TIMES. NO ONE EVEN BOTHERED OR CONCERNED ABOUT THE ISSUE OR SAFETY OF PASSENGERS.

AIR BAGS,WHEELS — Filed 07/14/2018

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, THE REAR WHEELS SEIZED. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND CRASHED INTO A DITCH. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A BODY SHOP AND THE BODY DAMAGES WERE REPAIRED SO THAT THE VEHICLE COULD BE DRIVEN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO KALISPELL TOYOTA (2845 U.S. 93 S, KALISPELL, MT 59901) FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING, BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS UNDETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 7,000.

AIR BAGS — Filed 07/03/2018

MY 2017 PRIUS V WAS INVOLVED IN 2 RECENT CRASHES IN WHICH THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY: FRONT END/BUMPER IMPACT ON 6/1/18 AND FRONT & REAR END IMPACT WHICH TOTALED CAR ON 7/3/18. BOTH TIMES AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. IMPACT ON 6/1/18 CAUSED OTHER CAR'S (2008 HONDA ACCORD) AIR BAGS TO DEPLOY, BUT NOT MINE. TOYOTA SENT INSPECTOR AFTER 6/1 CRASH; REPORT ENCLOSED. 7/3 CRASH WAS EVEN MORE SEVERE TRAVELING AT 61 MPH WHEN IMPACTED IN THE REAR BY ANOTHER VEHICLE TRAVELING AT EXCESSIVE SPEED. MY CAR SUSTAINED FRONT AND REAR DAMAGE AFTER IMPACT BY OTHER CAR IN THE REAR AND IMPACT IN THE FRONT INTO HIGHWAY CENTER CEMENT DIVIDER. MY CAR WAS TOTALED, BUT STILL AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. I AM CONCERNED THERE MAY BE A MFR DEFECT IN THE PRIUS V AIR BAG SYSTEM SIMILAR TO THE OTHER PRIUS AIR BAG RECALL REQUIRED BY YOU IN JANUARY 2018. PLEASE INVESTIGATE FURTHER. I HAVE BOUGHT ANOTHER CAR, AND AM RECOVERING FROM MINOR BRUISING INJURIES. I DO NOT PLAN ANY LEGAL ACTION. I AM MAINLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY FOR OTHER PRIUS V DRIVERS. THANK YOU.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER,SERVICE BRAKES — Filed 11/11/2017

I WANT TO CHECK IF THERE IS A ISSUE WITH THE PRE COLLISION AND THE BRAKING ASSISTANCE FEATURES. MY PRIUS PRIME ROLL FORWARD DURING A IDLED STOP AND I DID NOT RECEIVE WARNING AND THE CAR DID NOT ASSIST STOP FEATURE DID NOT ENGAGE.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,STRUCTURE,UNKNOWN OR OTHER — Filed 03/22/2017

WE PURCHASED A 2017 TOYOTA PRIUS ON JANUARY 29TH 2017 AND ON MARCH 22ND 2017 THE CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE OUT OF NO WHERE. THE CAR WAS PARKED AND OFF WHEN SMOKE BEGAN TO COME OUT FROM THE AROUND THE SHIFT CHANGER AND THE TOUCH SCREEN AREA. AFTER A FEW SECONDS THE CAR WAS COMPLETELY ON FIRE.