Toyota Prius Electrical System Problems
Owners have filed 1,595 complaints with NHTSA about electrical system problems on the Toyota Prius across 26 model years. The 2007 model year has the most (248). The words owners use most often: “combination meter” (5% of reports).
- 1,595electrical system complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 51mention a crash
- 30mention an injury
- 5related recalls
- $1,500typical repair cost reported by owners
- 43%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Combination meter: mentioned in 83 of 1,595 complaints (5%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical electrical system repair on the Toyota Prius at $1,500, and half of them between $910 and $3,250.
Based on 61 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2007–2025), converted to 2026 dollars with the U.S. consumer price index. These are owners' own figures, not a quote: they include dealer quotes, and owners who file complaints often faced larger repairs, so they can run higher than typical shop prices. Prices vary by shop, region and warranty coverage. How we calculate this.
At what mileage do electrical system problems happen?
Based on 1,231 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 1,595 complaints, 51 mention a crash, 37 a fire, 30 an injury.
Toyota Prius electrical system complaints by model year
| Model year | Electrical System complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Prius | 2 | 33% | — |
| 2025 Prius | 6 | 38% | 12,450 |
| 2024 Prius | 4 | 15% | — |
| 2023 Prius | 5 | 25% | — |
| 2022 Prius | 6 | 25% | 114,000 |
| 2021 Prius | 1 | 17% | — |
| 2020 Prius | 2 | 14% | 1,325 |
| 2019 Prius | 4 | 13% | — |
| 2018 Prius | 2 | 5% | 19,100 |
| 2017 Prius | 11 | 12% | 5,000 |
| 2016 Prius | 20 | 13% | 25,500 |
| 2015 Prius | 27 | 16% | 21,000 |
| 2014 Prius | 33 | 16% | 19,483 |
| 2013 Prius | 52 | 13% | 65,000 |
| 2012 Prius | 52 | 12% | 36,600 |
| 2011 Prius | 68 | 13% | 81,482 |
| 2010 Prius | 192 | 7% | 65,000 |
| 2009 Prius | 60 | 12% | 89,761 |
| 2008 Prius | 235 | 16% | 81,500 |
| 2007 Prius | 248 | 12% | 66,945 |
| 2006 Prius | 152 | 11% | 61,500 |
| 2005 Prius | 178 | 17% | 100,000 |
| 2004 Prius | 177 | 29% | 30,000 |
| 2003 Prius | 13 | 13% | 108,000 |
| 2002 Prius | 18 | 11% | 88,500 |
| 2001 Prius | 27 | 16% | 61,000 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (5)
Electrical system:wiring:switches/knobs/buttons; latches/locks/linkages:doors:latch
Model years: 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026
Problem: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2023-2024 Prius Prime, 2023-2026 Prius, and 2025-2026 Prius Plug-in Hybrid vehicles. Water may enter the rear door switch and cause a short circuit, allowing an unlocked rear door to open unexpectedly.
Risk: A door that unexpectedly opens while the vehicle is moving increases the risk of injury.
Fix: Dealers will modify the rear door switch circuits, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed July 13, 2026. Owners may contact Toyota's customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 26TB03 and 26TA03. This recall expands and replaces NHTSA recall number 24V274. Vehicles repaired under the previous recall will need to have the new remedy performed.
Electrical system:wiring:switches/knobs/buttons; latches/locks/linkages:doors:latch
Model years: 2023, 2024
Problem: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2023-2024 Prius and Prius Prime vehicles. Water may enter the rear door switch and cause a short circuit, allowing an unlocked rear door to open unexpectedly.
Risk: A door that unexpectedly opens while the vehicle is moving or during a crash increases the risk of injury.
Fix: Dealers will replace both right and left rear door opener switches, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed August 9, 2024. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 24TB06 and 24TA06.
Electrical system: instrument cluster/panel
Model years: 2019
Problem: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2019 Prius vehicles. An electrical short circuit in the combination meter could occur, causing the speedometer, the odometer, and the fuel gauge to go blank. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 101, "Controls and Displays."
Risk: A blank main display will not show important information like vehicle speed or fuel level. Driving with an inoperative display can increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the flash memory chip (ROM) production date, and if necessary, replace it along with the combination meter circuit board, free of charge. The recall began February 7, 2020. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 19TA21 and 19TB21.
Electrical system:wiring
Model years: 2016, 2017, 2018
Problem: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2016-2018 Toyota Prius vehicles. A portion of the engine wire harness connected to the hybrid Power Control Unit (PCU), could contact the cover at this connection and wear, causing an electrical short circuit.
Risk: An electrical short can increase the risk of a fire.
Fix: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the engine wire harness assembly and replace it if damage is found. A protective sleeve or protective tape will be included to prevent any future damage. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began October 30, 2018. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371. Toyota's number for this recall is J0T.
Hybrid propulsion system: inverter; electrical system:software
Model years: 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014
Problem: Toyota is recalling certain model year 2010 through 2014 Prius vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the Intelligent Power Module (IPM) inside the inverter module (a component of the hybrid system) contains transistors that may become damaged from high operating temperatures. If this occurs, various warning lamps will be illuminated on the instrument panel and the vehicle will have reduced power allowing it to only drive a short distance.
Risk: The vehicle may enter a fail-safe/limp-home mode that limits the drivability of the vehicle. The hybrid system could also shut down completely resulting in a vehicle stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Toyota will notify owners and dealers will update the software for both the motor/generator control electronic control unit (ECU) and the hybrid control ECU, free of charge. If an owner experiences a failure of the inverter before the vehicle receives updated software, the dealer will repair or replace the inverter assembly with a new one at no charge. The recall began on March 21, 2014. Owners may contact Toyota at 1-800-331-4331.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
The contact owns a 2013 Toyota Prius. The contact stated that while driving and pulling into a parking lot, there was a burning odor coming from the vehicle. The contact exited the vehicle but saw no fault with the vehicle. The contact was then notified by another person that the vehicle had caught…
My safety and the safety of 6,031 passengers/riders were put at risk when Lyft's Flex Drive rented this vehicle to me as a rideshare driver for one year. They admitted yesterday upon confronting them in person that they were aware of the recall and decided to not inform me. The company deflected…
The small battery located in the back of the car has a serious problem. I have been stranded over four times now. The battery loses it charge or isn't being fully charged up. When I go to get in the car. The interior lights flash and it will not go into ready mode to allow the vehicle to be driven…
My vehicle has 105492 miles and ABS light, Trackion and Brake light went on. I could hear a buzzing sound from the brake actuator every 5 seconds. The brake actuator and master cylinder was failing. According to the dealership failure of brake actuator and master cylinder is a common safety issue…
I am submitting this complaint regarding a serious safety concern involving the brake actuator/booster assembly on my 2014 Toyota Prius. My vehicle has experienced failure of this critical braking component and has been unable to be properly repaired since November due to difficulty obtaining the…
Frequently asked questions
Do all Toyota Priuss have electrical system problems?
No. NHTSA has 1,595 owner complaints about electrical system for the Toyota Prius. Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the Toyota Prius electrical system?
Yes: 5 safety recalls list electrical system. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
How much does it cost to fix electrical system problems on the Toyota Prius?
Owners report a typical cost of $1,500 (half paid between $910 and $3,250), from 61 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about electrical system problems on the Toyota Prius?
The most frequent phrase is “combination meter”, in 83 of 1,595 complaints.
Other Toyota Prius problems
- Exterior Lighting problems (3,505)
- Service Brakes problems (2,039)
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic problems (1,594)
- Vehicle Speed Control problems (1,050)
- Service Brakes, Electric problems (817)
- Engine problems (479)
- Structure problems (428)
- Air Bags problems (426)
See all Toyota Prius problems.