Most common 2020 Toyota Prius Prime problems
Share of the 16 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Toyota Prius Prime complaints by model year
Best Prius Prime years: 2019, 2023, 2021. Compare all years →
2020 Toyota Prius Prime recalls (1)
Service brakes
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2019 Lexus LS500, LC500, ES300h, UX250h, LS500h, Toyota Prius, RAV4 HV, 2019-2020 Toyota Prius Prime, and 2020 Corolla HV vehicles. The brake booster pump may fail causing a deactivation of the Vehicle Stability Control system and a loss of braking assist.
Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the brake booster pump, free of charge. The recall began September 20, 2019.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into a possible defect involving the 2020 Toyota Prius Prime:
Pedestrian alert sounds
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.
What 2020 Toyota Prius Prime owners say
Windows, wipers & sunroof
The right side outside mirror glass detached and fell off while driving down the road. There was no noticeable defect on the vehicle prior to this and no known reason for this to happen. The vehicle was operating normally and was not involved in any sort of unusual maneuvering or crash. Upon taking it to the Toyota dealership it was found that glass did in fact detach on its own and needed to replace the entire mirror mechanism. This is obviously a safety concern for the driver due to a required mirror missing and also a safety hazard that could impact another motorist by this glass flying and hitting another car.
The car had about 8000 miles on it. It was parked in Garage the night before. In the morning the outside temperature was 39F. During my 30 minutes driving, the front defrost was turned on. Afterwards it was parked on driveway and at that time the windshield was fine. 6 hours later, I noticed a spiderweb like crack under the camera section on the front windshield. The crack was about 11 inch long. It looks like the glass could not handle the temperature change.
Transmission & drivetrain
The contact owns a 2020 Toyota Prius Prime. The contact stated that while coasting her vehicle into a parking spot at 2 MPH, the vehicle independently accelerated forward with her foot lightly on the accelerator pedal. The vehicle jumped the curb and crashed into two vehicles. The contact was uncertain if any warning lights illuminated on the instrument panel during the failure. The air bag did not deploy upon impact. Police were called to the scene; however, since no injuries or property damage were reported, they informed that contact that they would not be needed. The contact had the vehicle towed to an independent mechanic where it remained in their possession. A dealer was notified and offered no assistance. The manufacturer was also notified and informed her that she would receive a callback. The vehicle had yet to be repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 6,000.
I was driving yesterday on Freeway in the 2nd lane ,all of a sudden car went from drive to neutral,I didn't touch transmission gear lever and I put gas And it says it is on neutral N,I was in dangerous situation, the other cars were flying by,I put on hazard lights Slowly changed lanes because it was not on D drive mode,pulled it over to Shoulder applied brakes and shift to D Then proceeded back to freeway, I was very scare in this whole ordeal
Speed control & acceleration
The contact owns a 2020 Toyota Prius Prime. The contact stated that while driving slowly into a parking space the vehicle suddenly experience unintended acceleration and accelerated forward before crashing into a building. During the crash, the front end of the vehicle was severely damaged but the air bags did not deploy. No injuries were reported. The vehicle was towed from the scene. No police report was filed. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The manufacturer and local dealer were not yet notified. The VIN was not available. The failure mileage was 14,000. The contact stated that the car traveled approximately 29 feet when it accelerated forward. The car's front end was totaled.
The contact owns a 2020 Toyota Prius Prime. The contact stated that while pulling into a parking lot, traveling down the aisle, and driving around the end cap to the second aisle, pulling into the parking spot at 5 MPH, the vehicle suddenly accelerated. The wheels squealed. The vehicle traveled through the spot and sideswiped another vehicle, and stopped. There were no reported injuries or fire. A police report was filed. The vehicle was serviced a week prior. The local dealer was contacted, who referred to the manufacturer. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 54,300.
2020 Toyota Prius Prime engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.8L 4-cyl plug-in hybrid | CVT | FWD | 55 / 53 / 54 |
EPA ratings. Class: Midsize car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2020 Toyota Prius Prime a good car?
Based on 16 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2020 Prius Prime rates average: 1.3× as many complaints as a typical year of the Prius Prime at the same age. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2020 Toyota Prius Prime?
The windows, wipers & sunroof — 5 complaints, 31% of all complaints for this model year, most often about rearview mirrors/devices › exterior. Next are the transmission & drivetrain (3) and speed control & acceleration (3).
How many recalls does the 2020 Toyota Prius Prime have?
There is 1 recall for the 2020 Toyota Prius Prime, the most recent from July 24, 2019 (service brakes). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Toyota Prius Prime?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2019, 2023 and 2021. See the full Toyota Prius Prime years comparison.
At what mileage do 2020 Toyota Prius Prime problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 12,000 miles; 83% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.