Last updated: 2026-10-10
2022 Toyota Prius Reliability Report
The 2022 Toyota Prius rates good and beats most 2022 sedans, but owners report unintended acceleration and some brake failures.
Recalls
2
Complaints
29
Complaint Rate
8.7per 10,000 sold
Est. Repair Cost
$408
Annual Fuel Cost
$1,050–$1,200
Detailed Score Breakdown
Component-weighted complaints normalized by sales volume
Independent repair cost ratings
Recall count weighted by severity
Breadth of reported problem categories
The Verdict
Rates good and sits mid-pack among Prius years, with more complaints than 2021 but fewer recalls than 2023, plus reports of surging and brake failure.
Top Issues to Watch
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (6)
- VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL (3)
- SERVICE BRAKES (3)
Should You Buy the 2022 Toyota Prius?
Reliability is good here, and well above average among 2022 sedans. Independent repair-cost data puts yearly repairs at $408 against $526 for the class, and the federal crash-test rating is 5 of 5 stars. Among the Prius years we score, this one lands in the middle. The 2021 rates better, with 15 complaints and no recalls. The 2023 rates about the same but carries 8 recalls.
Three owners describe unintended acceleration, with the car surging while the brake is pressed. No cause was found, and one case ended in a crash into a wall. Three others say the brakes would not stop the car, mostly between 10,000 and 12,500 miles. One dealer diagnosed a failed brake booster and master cylinder assembly. The most repeated complaint is a loud screech from the speakers at startup that comes and goes and is hard for dealers to reproduce. Federal records show 2 recalls, for engine and engine cooling and for the hybrid propulsion system.
Ask the seller for proof both recalls were done and for any brake service records. A 2021 has fewer complaints and no recalls.
Compared to the 2023 Toyota Prius, which scored 2 points lower. See also the 2021 Toyota Prius for an earlier comparison.
Pros
- +Acceptable reliability score
- +$118 cheaper to maintain than avg midsize cars
- +Low major repair risk (11%)
- +Low recall count
Cons
- −ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: Loud, ear-piercing screech from the speakers at startup is the most repeated... (6 complaints)
- −UNKNOWN OR OTHER: Hood latch that stops releasing leaves the hood stuck shut, so it takes two... (4 complaints)
Compare 2022 Toyota Prius With
2022 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
Reliability: 60/100
2022 BMW 5 Series
Reliability: 68/100
2022 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
Reliability: 47/100
2022 BMW 4 Series
Reliability: 66/100
Common Problem Categories
Safety
LOW RISK- 2 manufacturer recalls issued
Other
HIGH RISK- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (6)
- UNKNOWN OR OTHER (4)
Recall Overview
2
recalls on record
The 2022 Toyota Prius carries 2 recalls — a low count. Authorized dealers repair any open recall free of charge, regardless of warranty status.
NHTSA.gov →Complaint Breakdown
8.7
per 10,000 soldSegment avg: 17.8
Safety Incidents
6
Crashes
0
Fires
4
Injuries
0
Deaths
NHTSA 5/5 Stars
Data sourced from NHTSA complaint filings and manufacturer recall notices. Complaint narratives are owner-reported.
2022 Toyota Prius Recall Details
2 recalls have been issued for the 2022 Toyota Prius. All recall repairs are performed free of charge at authorized dealerships.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2022 Prius and Prius Prime vehicles. The Engine Control Unit (ECU) software may falsely detect an error and shut down the hybrid system, causing a loss of drive power.
Consequence
A loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy
Dealers will update the ECU software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 18, 2021. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is 21TB07/21TA07.
Buying a used 2022 Toyota Prius? Check its history first
Electrical system problems lead owner complaints about the 2022 Toyota Prius, and 2 recalls were issued for it. A VIN check shows whether this car's recall work was done, plus accident, title, and odometer history.
- Accidents
- Open Recalls
- Title History
- Odometer Rollback
2022 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 PriusRepair 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.
Toyota Prius Resale Value
The Toyota Prius is estimated to retain about 58.1% of its original value after 5 years, based on observed used-car listings.
This benchmark covers the Toyota Prius model overall and is not specific to the 2022 model year.
- Value Retained
- 58.1%
- Depreciation
- 41.9%
- Listings Analyzed
- 123
after 5 years
over the same period
U.S. used-car listings
Listings observed in . This is a historical market benchmark, not a current price quote.
Explore Toyota Prius depreciation and resale value on CarResaleValue.comMPG & Annual Running Costs
Plug-in Hybrid
49–56 MPG
Running cost: $1,450–$1,600/yr
Fuel + repair
51–58 city / 47–53 hwy MPG
Running cost includes EPA fuel-cost estimate and independent repair-cost data (repair cost estimated at model level). Excludes routine maintenance, depreciation, and insurance. Data as of 2022 EPA label cycle.
Plug-in Hybrid trims
| Trim | Drive | Trans. | City | Hwy | Comb | Fuel Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prius Prime 1.8L 4-cyl | Front-Wheel Drive | Automatic (variable gear ratios) | 55 | 53 | 54 | $1,100 |
Used Buying Checklist
Key things to inspect or verify before purchasing a 2022 Toyota Prius.
Start the car several times and listen for a loud screech from the speakers.
Compare the odometer reading against title records and a vehicle history report before paying.
Pull the hood release and confirm the hood opens without forcing or a second person.
Inspect the insulation under the hood for melted or burned spots.
Test the brakes at low speed going forward and in reverse; the car should stop firmly without creeping.
Have a Toyota dealer run the VIN for open recalls and confirm the repair parts are available.
Check that dash indicators are readable in bright sunlight before buying.
Run the air conditioning and sniff the vents for a mildew smell.
2022 Toyota Prius Common Problems by Component
29 owner complaints grouped by vehicle system.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
6 complaintsSafety-relatedA loud, ear-piercing screech from the speakers at startup is the most repeated complaint. It lasts a few seconds and comes and goes, and dealers say they cannot fix what they cannot reproduce. One dealer traced the noise to the Data Control Unit at about 55,000 miles. The 3 reported injuries are tied to this noise. Other reports describe a spot on the steering wheel getting hot enough to melt the cover, dash icons that wash out in bright sun, and odometer records that do not match the advertised mileage. One crash report describes a sudden surge followed by no brake response.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
4 complaintsA hood latch that stops releasing leaves the hood stuck shut, so it takes two people to open it. The report puts this near 54,490 miles, and it happened more than once. A more serious report says the catalytic converter ran hot enough to melt or ignite the insulation under the hood, which is a fire risk. Smaller complaints cover a mildew smell from the air conditioning and remote climate control that does not heat or cool the cabin.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
3 complaintsSafety-relatedUnintended acceleration is the main pattern. Reports describe the car surging forward while the brake is pressed, or speeding up from 25 to 50 mph before the driver can stop it. These cases range from 700 to 25,000 miles. One ended in a crash into a wall, with the airbags deploying. No cause has been found. A separate complaint says adaptive cruise control speeds up hard when another car cuts in, then slows down.
SERVICE BRAKES (3 complaints)
SERVICE BRAKES
3 complaintsSafety-relatedThe brakes fail to stop the car in these reports. Drivers describe the car rolling forward, or moving in reverse, while they press the pedal hard. One driver had to shut off the hybrid system to stop. In another case the car lost drive with several warning lights on, and a dealer diagnosed a failed brake booster and master cylinder assembly, quoted at about $4,230. The failures cluster between 10,000 and 12,500 miles. One crash ended in a rollover off a rock wall.
AIR BAGS (2 complaints)
AIR BAGS
2 complaintsSafety-relatedBoth complaints are crash reports. In one total-loss crash, neither the front nor the side airbags deployed and the SOS system did not work, and one injury is reported. The other report describes the car lurching forward through a garage door while the driver held the brake. That one reads more like an unintended acceleration complaint than an airbag fault. Neither report gives a cause.
VISIBILITY/WIPER (2 complaints)
VISIBILITY/WIPER
2 complaintsGlass breaks with nothing hitting it in these reports. In one, the windshield cracked 12 to 18 inches up from the bottom edge while the car sat parked with the defroster running. In the other, the driver's side window shattered at highway speed with no sign that anything struck it, covering the driver and seat in glass. Both failures came on suddenly, and neither report names a cause.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING (2 complaints)
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
2 complaintsMost of these complaints are about a recall repair that has not been done. One owner says the dealer could not get the part for the repair and the car had no failure yet. Another says the car would not accelerate as intended and several warning lights came on briefly, at about 12,000 miles. The dealer could not find a cause, and the owner tied it to the same recall. Neither report shows a finished repair.
TIRES (1 complaints)
TIRES
1 complaintThe rear passenger Dunlop Enasave 01 AS 195/65R15 tire on my 2022 AWD model Prius blew while I was driving 50 MPH down a residential highway. I ran over nothing, and the tire tread was completely separated from the rest of the tire and rim.
SEAT BELTS (1 complaints)
SEAT BELTS
1 complaintThe contact owns a 2022 Toyota Prius. The contact stated that while attempting to use the front driver's side seat belt, the lap belt and the anchor bolt detached, rendering the seat belt unusable. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the lap belt was reattached to the seat. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and advised the contact that a representative would return a call back. The failure mileage was approximately 34,600.
INTERIOR LIGHTING (1 complaints)
INTERIOR LIGHTING
1 complaintThe contact owns a 2022 Toyota Prius. The contact stated that the driver's side front power door lock button failed to illuminate during the night. The dealer was made aware of the failure and informed the contact that the model vehicle was not equipped with illumination for the driver's side front power door lock button. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 10.
Best & Worst Toyota Prius Years
Best Toyota Prius Years to Buy
Based on reliability index score2021
2020
2022
(Current Model)
Toyota Prius Years to Avoid
No Toyota Prius years are statistical outliers in our data.
Scores stay between 76 and 84 across 9 scored model years.
Toyota Prius Reliability Score Trend
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 |
| 2026 | 84/100 | Excellent |
Toyota Prius Reliability Compared to Other Years
2022 Toyota Prius Reliability by Powertrain
The 2022 Toyota Prius is available with 2powertrain options. Here's how they compare on reliability.
| Powertrain | Complaints | Recalls | Incidents* | Crash Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gas | 21 | 1 | 3 | 5 out of 5 |
| PHEV | 8 | 1 | 3 | 5 out of 5 |
| Total | 29 | 2 | 6 |
NHTSA tracks complaints by vehicle configuration when that detail is available. Model-level reports that do not identify a specific powertrain are included in Total but not assigned to a row. A plus sign indicates a confirmed minimum; — means no complaints could be attributed to that specific powertrain. N/T = Not tested by NHTSA.
* Incidents = crash + fire reports. A single complaint can include multiple incident types.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the 2022 Toyota Prius reliable?
What are the most common problems with the 2022 Toyota Prius?
Does the 2022 Toyota Prius have brake problems?
Does the 2022 Toyota Prius have unintended acceleration problems?
Is the 2022 Toyota Prius better than the 2021 or 2023?
Don’t buy a 2022 Toyota Prius without checking its VIN first — hidden accidents, title issues, and open recalls could cost you thousands.
How we score the 2022 Toyota Prius
Of the four inputs behind this score, the 2022 Toyota Prius does best on recall impact (88/100) and worst on complaint severity (69/100). Scores weight complaint severity at 35%, repair costs at 30%, recall impact at 20%, and the spread of complaints across systems at 15%, with complaint counts adjusted for US sales. Read the full methodology.
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