NHTSA (USA)High Risk
At a glance
What can fail
Water can seep into the rear door switch, causing an electrical short circuit that disables the door lock, allowing the rear door to open unexpectedly while driving.
What the fix does
This page covers 4 recalls, 10 owner complaints, NHTSA crash-test ratings and EPA fuel economy for the 2024 Toyota Prius Prime.
48 mpg combined
4.9 L/100km
Midsize Cars
Fuel economy data from fueleconomy.gov (EPA / U.S. Dept. of Energy). Annual cost based on 15,000 mi/yr at 55% city driving and current fuel prices. MPG is U.S. gallons; L/100km converted.
The 2023 to 2024 Toyota Prius Prime received an overall rating of 5 stars in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program for US-market vehicles. The vehicle earned 4 stars in frontal crash protection and 5 stars in side crash protection. It also received 5 stars in rollover resistance and 5 stars in side pole crash testing. NHTSA applies these ratings across model years until a significant redesign occurs, so this assessment covers the entire 2023 to 2024 range tested.
5/5 Overall
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Rating
With only 10 complaints filed for the 2024 Prius Prime, no single system dominates the picture, but tires, electrical, and door latches each drew a couple of reports. On tires, owners describe unusually rapid wear, one case reaching all four tires by around 24,000 miles on routine paved-road driving. On the electrical side, a recurring pattern involves the 12-volt auxiliary battery depleting without warning, leaving the car unable to start; owners report no dashboard alert before finding the vehicle dead. Door latch complaints describe the electric rear door lock system failing to operate as expected. A single report mentions side mirror trim warping and detaching in hot weather. Windshield wiper failure also appears in one report, though the circumstances described involve mud contact rather than a spontaneous malfunction.
10
Total Complaints
By System
The 2024 Toyota Prius Prime has 4 recalls, the most serious being a rear door that can swing open unexpectedly while the vehicle is moving or during a crash, raising the risk of injury to occupants.
Water can enter the rear door switch and cause a short circuit that unlocks and releases the door without any input from the driver or passenger. This is the same underlying defect covered across two recall filings, and the fix addresses both the latch and the switch together.
On the visibility side, a software error in the optional Panoramic View Monitor system can cause the rearview camera to freeze or go completely blank when the vehicle is shifted into reverse, leaving the driver with no view of what is directly behind the car while backing up. There is also a label concern: certain vehicles distributed through Gulf States Toyota carry an incorrect maximum cargo capacity value on the placard, which could lead an owner to load the vehicle beyond its actual safe limit and affect handling or braking.
At a glance
What can fail
Water can seep into the rear door switch, causing an electrical short circuit that disables the door lock, allowing the rear door to open unexpectedly while driving.
What the fix does
We may earn a commission for purchases made through these links.
Driver Assistance
Ratings from NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program (NCAP).
Complaints are owner-reported and reflect individual experiences, not confirmed defects. They are distinct from recalls. Data sourced from the national vehicle safety complaint database. See trending complaints →
Dealers will modify the rear door switch circuits to prevent water entry and restore proper lock function.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
A software error in the Panoramic View Monitor system may cause the rearview camera to freeze or go blank when backing up, blocking your rear visibility.
What the fix does
Dealers will update the parking assist software at no cost to restore proper rearview camera function.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The weight capacity label on certain Toyota vehicles with GST accessories shows incorrect added weight values, which doesn't meet federal tire and rim safety standards.
What the fix does
Toyota will mail corrected labels to owners at no cost. Contact GST customer service at 1-800-444-1074 for assistance.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
Water can enter the rear door switches and cause a short circuit, which may allow a rear door to open unexpectedly while the vehicle is in motion.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace both the right and left rear door opener switches at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.