Last updated: 2026-03-04
2021 Toyota Prius Reliability Score & Common Problems
The 2021 Toyota Prius scores 82/100 ("Excellent") with a complaint rate below the segment average. Data shows a dependable ownership experience across 0 recalls and 15 owner complaints.
2021 is the last model year of the Fourth generation (XW50).
Recalls
0
Complaints
15
Complaint Rate
2.5
per 10k sold
Below avgEst. Annual Cost
$408
Below avgMajor Repair Risk
11%
NHTSA Rating
5/5
Score Breakdown
Component-weighted complaints normalized by sales volume
Independent repair cost ratings
Recall count weighted by severity
Breadth of reported problem categories
Strong reliability record — a solid choice for buyers.
Top Issues
Generation & Refresh (US)
2021 is the last model year of the Fourth generation (XW50).
- Final-year models are typically the most refined version of a generation.
- 3 years after the last refresh (2018).
- 4th generation Prius (US).
What this means for buyers
Final-year models are usually the most polished version of a generation, but resale value may dip as buyers anticipate the next redesign.
Fourth generation (XW50)
Should You Buy the 2021 Toyota Prius?
The 2021 Toyota Prius earns an Excellent 82/100 reliability score. 2021 is the last model year of the Fourth generation (XW50).
Its complaint rate (2.5 per 10k sold) sits below the Sedan segment average, and most owners report a trouble-free ownership experience.
A solid choice for buyers prioritizing dependability, whether purchased new or used.
Compared to the 2022 Toyota Prius, which scored 4 points lower. See also the 2020 Toyota Prius for an earlier comparison.
Pros
- Strong reliability score
- $118 cheaper to maintain than avg midsize cars
- Low major repair risk (11%)
- No recalls issued
- Below-average complaint rate for Sedan
Cons
- FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE issues reported (2 complaints)
- 5 crash incidents reported in owner complaints
Compare 2021 Toyota Prius With
2021 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
Score: 56/100
2021 BMW 5-Series
Score: 66/100
2021 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
Score: 47/100
2021 BMW 4-Series
Score: 57/100
Common Problem Categories
Other
- FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE (2)
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (2)
- UNKNOWN OR OTHER (2)
- POWER TRAIN (2)
- FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM (1)
- VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL (1)
- WHEELS (1)
- BACK OVER PREVENTION (1)
- SERVICE BRAKES (1)
- AIR BAGS (1)
- VISIBILITY/WIPER (1)
Recall Overview
0
recalls on record
The 2021 Toyota Prius has no recalls on record, which is uncommon and a positive indicator of manufacturing quality.
NHTSA.gov →Complaint Breakdown
2.5
per 10k soldSegment avg: 12.3
Safety Incidents
Crashes
5
Fires
0
Injuries
2
Deaths
0
Data sourced from NHTSA complaint filings and manufacturer recall notices. Complaint narratives are owner-reported.
2021 Toyota Prius NHTSA Safety Ratings
Overall Safety Rating
Crash Test Results by Configuration (expand)
Gas Powertrain
Rollover risk: 10.7%
Safety Technologies
PHEV Powertrain
Rollover risk: 10.7%
Safety Technologies
Toyota Prius Repair Costs & Maintenance
Maintenance Rating
4Maintenance rating: 4 out of 5Based on NHTSA complaint patterns, recall severity, and publicly available cost benchmarks.
Est. Annual Maintenance
$408
vs $526 avg for midsize cars
vs $652 avg for all vehicles
Repair Frequency
0.5
unscheduled repair visits per year
Severe Repair Probability
11%
chance of a major repair
Annual Cost Comparison
Category-level averages derived from publicly available industry reports (AAA, CarMD). Model-level estimates produced by Auto Reliability Index.
When Buying a Used 2021 Toyota Prius
Key things to inspect or verify before purchasing, based on the most common reported issues.
- Test for unintended acceleration by accelerating and braking multiple times
- Inspect cabin for carbon monoxide seepage signs or use a CO detector
- Check rearview camera functionality, especially in reverse
- Verify lane keeping assist and dynamic radar cruise control operation
- Examine tires for defects or previous blowouts
- Ensure brakes respond promptly and do not depress to the floor
Check Any 2021 Toyota Prius's History Before You Buy
Reliability scores tell you what to expect from the 2021 Prius in general — but every car has its own story. Uncover past accidents, title issues, odometer rollbacks, and service records for a specific Toyota Prius with a free VIN lookup.
Powered by VINExposed.com — free vehicle history reports using public title and safety data.
2021 Toyota Prius Common Problems by Component
15 owner complaints grouped by vehicle system.
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE
2 complaintsSafety-relatedOwners report issues with the 2021 Toyota Prius's forward collision avoidance systems, specifically related to the Lane Keeping Assist and Dynamic Radar Cruise Control (DRCC). Complaints frequently mention the Lane Keeping Assist causing the vehicle to veer towards the edge of the lane or even out of it, requiring a vehicle restart to resolve the issue. The DRCC is reported to accelerate unexpectedly when a leading vehicle changes lanes, resulting in a collision with a stopped vehicle. These issues occur intermittently and without warning indicators, posing potential safety risks such as crashes and loss of lane control. No specific mileage or timeline patterns are evident from the complaints, but the incidents highlight concerns with the vehicle's automated driving features.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
2 complaintsSafety-relatedOwners of the 2021 Toyota Prius report incidents of unintended acceleration, with two complaints involving crashes and injuries. In both cases, drivers describe the vehicle accelerating without input from the accelerator pedal and the brakes failing to respond, leading to loss of control. One incident occurred as the vehicle was transitioning from electric to gasoline power, while the other did not specify any such transition. Both vehicles had relatively low mileage, around 27,000 miles, suggesting these incidents may occur early in the vehicle's life. The safety implications are significant, as these events resulted in crashes, injuries, and potential for more severe outcomes.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
2 complaintsSafety-relatedOwners of the 2021 Toyota Prius report issues related to carbon monoxide seeping into the cabin and problems with the accelerator. One owner describes experiencing carbon monoxide poisoning multiple times, with increasing levels of CO detected, making the vehicle undriveable at approximately 7,000 miles. Another owner reports a sticky accelerator that caused the vehicle to lurch forward, resulting in a crash into a wall and airbag deployment while parking. This incident marks the second occurrence for the owner, indicating a potential pattern. The safety implications include the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning and loss of vehicle control leading to crashes.
POWER TRAIN (2 complaints)
POWER TRAIN
2 complaintsOwners of the 2021 Toyota Prius report two distinct power train issues. One complaint describes rodent damage due to unprotected essential components, leading to potential operational disruptions. Another owner reports unintended vehicle movement after shifting into park, resulting in a minor collision, and also mentions the vehicle's failure to start while connected to a charger. This latter issue is noted at approximately 80,000 miles. These issues could have safety implications, particularly the unintended movement, which resulted in a collision. Buyers should be aware of these potential power train vulnerabilities when considering this vehicle.
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM (1 complaints)
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
1 complaintWhen 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 codes
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL (1 complaints)
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
1 complaintThe 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 oncoming traffic and swerving around all the other vehicles and ended up in a ravine. The contact's husband depressed the START/STOP button from the passenger’s side to turn off the vehicle, enabling the vehicle to come to a stop. The contact restarted the vehicle and continued to drive the vehicle to the dealer at slow speeds. The dealer was unable to determine the cause of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure by the dealer. The failure mileage was 56,000.
WHEELS (1 complaints)
WHEELS
1 complaintWHILE 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 POTHOLE, WHICH I DOUBT.
BACK OVER PREVENTION (1 complaints)
BACK OVER PREVENTION
1 complaintThe contact owns a 2021 Toyota Prius Prime. The contact stated that while shifted into reverse(R), the rearview camera intermittently went black. No warning light was illuminated. In addition, the contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the rearview camera intermittently went black. The local dealer was contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. Upon further investigation, the contact related the failure to an unknown NHTSA Campaign; however, the VIN was not under recall. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 27,696.
SERVICE BRAKES (1 complaints)
SERVICE BRAKES
1 complaintThe contact owns a 2021 Toyota Prius Prime. The contact stated while driving 45–50 MPH and approaching a stop sign, the brake pedal was depressed but the vehicle failed to respond. The driver continued to pump the brake pedal, but the vehicle failed to respond and depressed to the floorboard. The vehicle accelerated, veered across the road, jumped the curb, and stopped. There were no warning lights illuminated. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, and an engineer determined that the brakes were working properly. The failure mileage was approximately 34,000.
AIR BAGS (1 complaints)
AIR BAGS
1 complaintSafety-relatedBrakes of my Toyota Pirius Prime did not work after I was hit on my right side. Brakes completlety was out. Also I was not able to run the car. The cars brakes should work even I got an accident to precent some further damage to other cars.
When Do 2021 Toyota Prius Problems Start?
Based on owner complaint patterns, here's when common issues tend to appear.
Best & Worst Toyota Prius Years
Best Toyota Prius Years to Buy
The best Toyota Prius year is 2021 with a reliability score of 82/100, rated excellent. Other strong picks include 2020 (79/100) and 2025 (78/100).
2021(this page)
0 recalls · 15 complaints
2020
1 recall · 30 complaints
2025
4 recalls · 10 complaints
Toyota Prius Years to Avoid
No Toyota Prius years are statistical outliers in our data — all years score consistently.
See full Toyota Prius years-to-avoid analysis →Toyota Prius Reliability Score Trend
Toyota Prius reliability has remained consistent across model years, averaging 78/100.
Scores 0–100. Higher is better. Current year highlighted.
| Year | Score | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 78/100 | Good |
| 2019 | 77/100 | Good |
| 2020 | 79/100 | Good |
| 2021 | 82/100 | Excellent |
| 2022 | 78/100 | Good |
| 2023 | 76/100 | Good |
| 2024 | 77/100 | Good |
| 2025 | 78/100 | Good |
Toyota Prius Reliability Compared to Other Years
2021 Toyota Prius Reliability by Powertrain
The 2021 Toyota Prius is available with 2 powertrain options. Here's how they compare on reliability.
| Powertrain | Complaints | Recalls | Incidents* | Crash Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gas | 6 | 0 | 1 | 5 out of 5 |
| PHEV | 9 | 0 | 4 | 5 out of 5 |
| Total | 15 | 0 | 5 |
NHTSA tracks complaints separately for each powertrain configuration. Totals reflect the sum across all variants. N/T = Not tested by NHTSA.
* Incidents = crash + fire reports. A single complaint can include multiple incident types.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the 2021 Toyota Prius reliable?
What are the most common problems with the 2021 Toyota Prius?
How many recalls does the 2021 Toyota Prius have?
Is the 2021 Toyota Prius expensive to maintain?
How We Calculate Reliability Scores
Auto Reliability Index scores are calculated on a 0–100 scale using a weighted formula that combines multiple public data sources. Each factor is weighted based on its predictive value for real-world ownership experience.
Key Ranking Factors
Complaint Severity
NHTSA owner complaints weighted by component category (e.g., powertrain, safety systems, electronics, cosmetic) — safety-critical issues carry more weight than cosmetic ones. Adjusted for sales volume so high-volume models aren't unfairly penalized.
Repair Costs
Independent reliability ratings based on repair frequency, average repair costs, and severity of typical repairs for each model.
Recall Impact
Number of NHTSA recalls weighted by severity. “Stop driving” and fire-risk recalls are penalized more heavily than minor software or labeling recalls.
Issue Diversity
Measures how many major vehicle systems (engine, transmission, electrical, braking, etc.) have recorded complaints. A vehicle with issues spread across many systems may indicate systemic quality issues.
Scores are grouped into four tiers:
- 80–100: Excellent — Top-tier reliability, minimal issues
- 60–79: Good — Reliable with some minor concerns
- 40–59: Mixed — Notable issues, research before buying
- 0–39: Risky — Significant problems, proceed with caution
Data is sourced from NHTSA recall records, owner complaint filings, and independent repair databases. Scores are recalculated as new data becomes available. While the weighting model is proprietary, all underlying data sources are public and traceable.
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