KnownCarProblems2018 Toyota Prius Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 37 complaints with NHTSA about the 2018 Toyota Prius, most often about the other or unspecified (16% of complaints). It is 18th of 27 Prius model years by number of complaints and has 1 recall.
Most common 2018 Toyota Prius problems
Other or unspecified
6 complaints · 16%On dec 2, 2020 while driving on the freeway at about 45-50 MPH our sunroof exploded causing US to get to the side of the road. The shade was closed which saved US from exploding glass. There were no road hazards, no issues other than a spontaneous exploding of our sunroof. The orlando police dept was summoned and the…
Visibility and wipers
6 complaints · 16%Half of these problems showed up before 22,000 miles. Parts named most often: rearview mirrors/devices.
Last year,june 2017, while the car was parked we noticed there was a hairline crack on the windshield. We received some quotes saying it would be about $900 to fix. So we decided to go with an adhesive injection and paid about $50 for someone to come fix it. However, after a month, it spread. We had no choice but to…
The car is inadequate in the winter. When it snows I can't keep the windows clean. They changed the fittings and I can't even put winter blades on the car. Also, and this applies to almost all new cars as well, the LED lights freeze over. It's a safety hazard not to have lights that work. And it's a safety hazard to…
Engine
5 complaints · 14%Parts named most often: exhaust system.
The contact owns a 2018 Toyota Prius. While driving 20 MPH, the electrical system failed and everything in the vehicle shut down. The vehicle decelerated and lost power. While the vehicle coasted, the engine restarted on its own. The vehicle was driven to Toyota vallejo (201 auto mall parkway, vallejo, ca 94591…
The contact owns a 2018 Toyota Prius. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed with a failed heat exchanger, catalytic converter, and exhaust system. The contact was informed that the heat exchanger…
Lights
5 complaints · 14%Automatic high beams dim and then fail to brighten intermittently. When driving, automatic high beams function as intended then the dash indicator spontaneously turns off and the headlights fail to brighten. Vehicle has been to the dealership service department twice for this. The second time , the dealer was able to…
The car is inadequate in the winter. When it snows I can't keep the windows clean. They changed the fittings and I can't even put winter blades on the car. Also, and this applies to almost all new cars as well, the LED lights freeze over. It's a safety hazard not to have lights that work. And it's a safety hazard to…
Brakes
4 complaints · 11%Parts named most often: antilock.
I started my car, put it in drive and began to make a u turn out of a parking lot when it suddenly accelerated on its own. I had three turns I had to make in quick succession (u turn, left on public driveway, right on main road) to get on to the main road, and I did this at break neck speed. By the second turn I was…
I was driving up to my garage on the side of my house on a clear day, early afternoon. I was traveling about 3 MPH and tried to stop to park in front of the garage door. I depressed the brake pedal and it did not engage, but lurched forward into the garage, crashing into the garage and causing damage to both the…
Speed control
4 complaints · 11%I started my car, put it in drive and began to make a u turn out of a parking lot when it suddenly accelerated on its own. I had three turns I had to make in quick succession (u turn, left on public driveway, right on main road) to get on to the main road, and I did this at break neck speed. By the second turn I was…
The contact owns a 2018 Toyota Prius. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle the vehicle had experienced unintended acceleration and crashed into a second parked vehicle. No injuries were reported. A police report was taken at the scene. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer dch Toyota (1504 US hwy 1…
Body and structure
3 complaints · 8%Parts named most often: body.
The heat shield on the underside of the car, by the storage battery came lose while driving and was damaged. It is held in place by only four plastic pins. The car is so low to the ground that it is hard to clear normal speed bumps let alone older larger ones. We were traveling a housing addition less than 20 MPH and…
I was driving up to my garage on the side of my house on a clear day, early afternoon. I was traveling about 3 MPH and tried to stop to park in front of the garage door. I depressed the brake pedal and it did not engage, but lurched forward into the garage, crashing into the garage and causing damage to both the…
Air bags
3 complaints · 8%The contact owns a 2018 Toyota Prius. The contact stated that while driving about 65 MPH, another vehicle pulled into the highway, without stopping, and crashed into the front driver's side fender of the contact's vehicle. The contact stated that none of the air bags deployed. There was no warning lights illuminated.…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2018 Toyota Prius recalls
Electrical: wiring
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.
Full defect summary
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.
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
NHTSA defect investigations
Pedestrian alert sounds
Summary
Nhtsa received a petition on or about july 18, 2022, requesting that federal motor vehicle safety standard (fmvss) 141 be applied to all electric and hybrid vehicles operating in the united states. The petition can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under odi number 11486072. Fmvss 141 establishes performance requirements for pedestrian alert sounds for motor vehicles. The standard applies to hybrid and electric vehicles that have a gross vehicle weight rating of 4,536 kg or less or are defined as low-speed vehicles. The standard became fully applicable to all such vehicles manufactured on or after march 1, 2021.on january 27, 2023, NHTSA opened defect petition (dp) 22-005 to evaluate the subject matt
Questions about the 2018 Toyota Prius
- What are the most common problems with the 2018 Toyota Prius?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: other or unspecified (6 complaints); visibility and wipers (6 complaints, typically around 22,000 miles); engine (5 complaints).
- How many recalls does the 2018 Toyota Prius have?
- 1 recall listed by NHTSA, the latest from September 5, 2018 (electrical). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2018 a bad year for the Toyota Prius?
- It is 18th of 27 Prius model years by number of complaints, with 37 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.