CarBrief

NHTSA has 10 owner complaints on file for the 2026 Prius[1]. The car has one recall about a rear door switch, so check that it was done before you buy[2].

10owner complaints[1]
1recalls[3]
49–57MPG combined (EPA)[4]
5★NHTSA overall rating[5]

Most reported problems

NHTSA lists 10 owner complaints for the 2026 Prius[1]. Two mention a crash, one mentions an injury, and none mention a fire or a death[1]. These are unverified reports from owners, and one complaint can name several parts.

The groups with the most complaints are:

Component group Complaints
Electrical system[6] 4
Exterior lighting[7] 2
Unknown or other[8] 2
Back over prevention[9] 1
Visibility and wipers[10] 1
Air bags[11] 1

We read the texts of a small sample of these complaints. In the electrical group, owners describe the rear door switch recall, including a car delivered while the recall was open and a dealer who said no fix was available yet[6]. One electrical complaint describes outside mirrors that freeze or move in jerks when adjusted[6].

In the two exterior lighting complaints, owners describe headlights that light the road poorly at night. One of them mentions dark spots from one headlight[7]. One of the two lighting complaints mentions a crash[7].

One back over prevention complaint describes an infotainment screen that did not start, which left the rear camera unavailable when the car was put in reverse[9]. The one air bag complaint describes a highway crash with a truck in which the air bags did not deploy. It lists one injury[11].

With so few complaints, none of these themes tells you how likely a problem is for your car.

Recalls

NHTSA lists one recall for the 2026 Prius[3].

Before buying a used one, ask the seller for proof that the 26V049 work was done.

Fuel economy

The EPA lists four versions of the 2026 Prius. All use a 2.0L 4-cylinder engine and Regular fuel, with an automatic (variable gear ratios)[12].

EPA model Drive City / highway / combined MPG Annual fuel cost
Prius[4] Front-wheel 57 / 56 / 57 $1,200
Prius XLE/LTD[13] Front-wheel 52 / 52 / 52 $1,300
Prius AWD[12] All-wheel 53 / 54 / 54 $1,250
Prius AWD XLE/LTD[14] All-wheel 49 / 50 / 49 $1,350

The EPA fuel cost uses the EPA's current fuel price assumptions, not what you pay at your pump.

Safety ratings

NHTSA gives the 5 HB FWD and 5 HB AWD versions 5 stars overall, 5 stars in the frontal test and 5 stars in the side test[5][15]. Both get 4 stars for rollover, with a rollover risk of 10.2%[5][15].

Engine and size

The EPA test car list rates the 2.0L 4-cylinder engine at 150 hp[16].

Size figures are Canadian-market specifications and can differ slightly from US models.

Measure Liftback Plug-in hybrid liftback
Length[17][18] 181 in 181 in
Width[17][18] 70 in 70 in
Height[17][18] 56 in 56 in
Wheelbase[17][18] 108 in 108 in
Curb weight[17][18] 3,097 lb 3,461 lb

How 2026 compares with other years

2001: 165 complaints, 3 recalls20012002: 167 complaints, 2 recalls2003: 99 complaints, 1 recalls2004: 610 complaints, 6 recalls20042005: 1,051 complaints, 6 recalls2006: 1,439 complaints, 6 recalls2007: 2,003 complaints, 4 recalls20072008: 1,497 complaints, 4 recalls2009: 502 complaints, 6 recalls2010: 2,829 complaints, 10 recalls20102011: 522 complaints, 6 recalls2012: 449 complaints, 7 recalls2013: 426 complaints, 4 recalls20132014: 222 complaints, 4 recalls2015: 171 complaints, 2 recalls2016: 155 complaints, 5 recalls20162017: 91 complaints, 3 recalls2018: 37 complaints, 1 recalls2019: 30 complaints, 3 recalls20192020: 14 complaints, 0 recalls2021: 6 complaints, 0 recalls2022: 24 complaints, 1 recalls20222023: 21 complaints, 4 recalls2024: 27 complaints, 4 recalls2025: 18 complaints, 2 recalls20252026: 10 complaints, 1 recalls102026
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA for each Prius model year. The 2026 is highlighted[3].
Show the numbers
Model yearComplaintsRecalls
20011653
20021672
2003991
20046106
20051,0516
20061,4396
20072,0034
20081,4974
20095026
20102,82910
20115226
20124497
20134264
20142224
20151712
20161555
2017913
2018371
2019303
2020140
202160
2022241
2023214
2024274
2025182
2026101

The 2026 Prius has 10 complaints and 1 recall on file[3]. Only 2021 (6 complaints) and 2027 (0) have fewer complaints[3]. The 2020 model year has 14, and 2022 through 2025 have between 18 and 27[3].

For recalls, 2020, 2021 and 2027 have none, and 2003, 2018 and 2022 have one each, the same as 2026[3]. These counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so they show how a year compares with other Prius years and nothing more.

Should you buy a used 2026 Prius?

The complaint count is low next to most other Prius years[3], and the EPA ratings run from 49 to 57 MPG combined[14][4]. Both rated versions earn 5 stars overall from NHTSA[5][15]. The main item to check is recall 26V049. Make sure the rear door switch work is done, and that it was the new fix if the car had the earlier recall[2]. Keep in mind that the complaint sample is small and unverified, so it cannot show how the car holds up over time[1].

Frequently asked questions

What problems does the 2026 Toyota Prius have?
NHTSA lists 10 owner complaints[1]. Electrical system has the most with 4, and exterior lighting and unknown or other each have 2[1][6][7][8].
Does the 2026 Toyota Prius have any recalls?
Yes. Recall 26V049 covers a rear door switch that water can short out, which could let a rear door open while driving. Dealers modify the switch circuits for free[2].
What MPG does the 2026 Toyota Prius get?
The EPA rates the front-wheel drive Prius at 57 MPG combined[4]. Other versions range from 49 to 54 MPG combined[12][14][13].
How safe is the 2026 Toyota Prius?
NHTSA gives the 5 HB FWD and 5 HB AWD versions 5 stars overall and 4 stars for rollover[5][15].
How many complaints does the 2026 Prius have compared with other years?
It has 10 complaints[3]. Only 2021 with 6 and 2027 with 0 have fewer[3].

Facts and sources

  1. NHTSA has 10 owner complaints on file for the 2026 Toyota Prius (2 mention a crash, 0 a fire, 1 injuries, 0 deaths reported). NHTSA vehicle records
  2. Recall 26V049, filed January 28, 2026: Electrical System › Wiring › Switches / Knobs / Buttons. NHTSA recall database
  3. Owner complaints and recalls for every Toyota Prius model year (chart above). NHTSA recall database
  4. EPA rating for Prius, 2.0L 4-cyl, Automatic (variable gear ratios), Regular, Front-Wheel Drive: 57 city / 56 highway / 57 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $1,200. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
  5. NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, 5 HB AWD: overall 5 stars, frontal 5 stars, side 5 stars, rollover 4 stars; rollover risk 10.2%. NHTSA vehicle records
  6. 4 complaints name the electrical system component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
  7. 2 complaints name the exterior lighting component group (1 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
  8. 2 complaints name the unknown or other component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
  9. 1 complaints name the back over prevention component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
  10. 1 complaints name the visibility/wiper component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
  11. 1 complaints name the air bags component group (1 crashes, 0 fires, 1 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
  12. EPA rating for Prius AWD, 2.0L 4-cyl, Automatic (variable gear ratios), Regular, All-Wheel Drive: 53 city / 54 highway / 54 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $1,250. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
  13. EPA rating for Prius XLE/LTD, 2.0L 4-cyl, Automatic (variable gear ratios), Regular, Front-Wheel Drive: 52 city / 52 highway / 52 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $1,300. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
  14. EPA rating for Prius AWD XLE/LTD, 2.0L 4-cyl, Automatic (variable gear ratios), Regular, All-Wheel Drive: 49 city / 50 highway / 49 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $1,350. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
  15. NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, 5 HB FWD: overall 5 stars, frontal 5 stars, side 5 stars, rollover 4 stars; rollover risk 10.2%. NHTSA vehicle records
  16. EPA Test Car List, 2026 Toyota Prius with 2.0L 4-cylinder: rated 150 hp. www.epa.gov
  17. Transport Canada specifications via NHTSA vPIC, PRIUS 4DR LIFTBACK: length 181 in, width 70 in, height 56 in, wheelbase 108 in, curb weight 3,097 lb (converted from centimeters and kilograms). vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov
  18. Transport Canada specifications via NHTSA vPIC, PRIUS PHEV 4DR LIFTBACK: length 181 in, width 70 in, height 56 in, wheelbase 108 in, curb weight 3,461 lb (converted from centimeters and kilograms). vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov

Complaints submitted to NHTSA by owners; unverified reports, one complaint can name several components. Complaint counts are not normalized by sales; compare years of the same model, not different models. EPA annual fuel cost uses EPA's current fuel price assumptions, not the price when the car was new. Horsepower is the rating listed for EPA test vehicles. Dimensions are Canadian-market specifications and can differ slightly from US models.