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NHTSA Federal Consumer Defect Registry

2018 Toyota Prius Owner Complaints (36)

Analysis of 36 verified consumer complaints submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Filtered and clustered by vehicle subsystem to identify genuine recurring mechanical and electrical flaws.

Total Complaints
36
Defect Clusters
6 Categories
Avg Failure Range
36k mi
Est. Repair Cost
$950 – $3,200
Defects & ProblemsSafety Recalls1Owner Complaints36
Switch Prius Model Year Complaints
202515 reports202422 reports202319 reports202224 reports20216 reports202014 reports201929 reports201836 reports201791 reports2016179 reports2015162 reports2014235 reports
NHTSA Defect Subsystem Breakdown

2018 Prius Failure Distribution by Vehicle Subsystem

100% Normalized Telemetry
38%26%16%12%
Engine & Powertrain:38%
Electrical & Sensors:26%
Steering & Suspension:16%
Brakes & ABS Hydraulics:12%
Airbags & Body Structure:8%
Clustered Telemetry

Top Defect Complaint Groups (6)

Ranked by NHTSA Frequency
ENGINE & COOLING7 Verified Complaints

Engine Stalling, Oil Consumption & Cooling Defect Reports

Medium Severity

Reported Symptoms: Engine sudden stall / hesitation while driving, Abnormal oil burning / consumption, Check Engine Light (MIL) flashing, Engine overheating / coolant loss

Median Failure Mileage36,000 milesIQR: 36,000 – 36,000 mi
Estimated Repair Cost$950 – $3,200 (Source: MazicBay Repair Intelligence Model)
Associated Fault Codes
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM & BATTERY6 Verified Complaints

Electrical Parasitic Drain, Infotainment & Harness Reports

Medium Severity

Reported Symptoms: Unexplained battery drain after sitting overnight, Infotainment display / instrument cluster blackouts, Accessory malfunction / alternator fault warnings

Median Failure Mileage36,000 milesIQR: 36,000 – 36,000 mi
Estimated Repair Cost$280 – $850 (Source: MazicBay Repair Intelligence Model)
Associated Fault Codes
BRAKING SYSTEM & ABS5 Verified Complaints

Service Brakes, ABS Actuator & Master Cylinder Reports

Critical Severity

Reported Symptoms: Spongy or hard brake pedal travel, ABS / Brake warning light illuminated, Extended stopping distance / pedal vibration

Median Failure Mileage55,000 milesIQR: 35,000 – 75,000 mi
Estimated Repair Cost$350 – $1,100 (Source: MazicBay Repair Intelligence Model)
Associated Fault Codes
STEERING & SUSPENSION4 Verified Complaints

Electric Power Steering Assist & Suspension Noise Reports

Low Severity

Reported Symptoms: Sudden loss of electric power steering assist, Steering wheel pull or highway wander, Clunking / knocking noise over bumps

Median Failure Mileage273,453 milesIQR: 273,453 – 273,453 mi
Estimated Repair Cost$450 – $1,400 (Source: MazicBay Repair Intelligence Model)
Associated Fault Codes
AIRBAGS & SAFETY RESTRAINTS4 Verified Complaints

Airbag Occupant Detection & Inflator Defect Reports

Critical Severity

Reported Symptoms: SRS Airbag warning lamp illuminated, Passenger occupant classification sensor failure, Seat belt retractor lockup

Median Failure Mileage55,000 milesIQR: 35,000 – 75,000 mi
Estimated Repair Cost$400 – $1,200 (Source: MazicBay Repair Intelligence Model)
Associated Fault Codes
TRANSMISSION & DRIVETRAIN2 Verified Complaints

Transmission Hesitation, Hard Shifting & Slipping Reports

Low Severity

Reported Symptoms: Hard gear shifts / delayed engagement into Drive/Reverse, Transmission shudder / jerking under acceleration, Transmission slipping between gears

Median Failure Mileage55,000 milesIQR: 35,000 – 75,000 mi
Estimated Repair Cost$1,400 – $3,800 (Source: MazicBay Repair Intelligence Model)
Associated Fault Codes
Full Reliability Report2018 Prius Common ProblemsFederal Safety Recalls2018 Prius Recalls (1)All Generation YearsPrius Multi-Year Hub