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Electrical systemPart report

2017 Toyota Prius Electrical system Problems

Complaints
11about this part
Share
12%of 91 total for the year
Median mileage
5,000miles
Trend
Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.

NHTSA recorded 11 complaints about the electrical system of the 2017 Toyota Prius, 12% of the 91 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 5,000 miles. 2 a fire, according to the filers. 1 recall campaign on record is filed under a similar system.

Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.

Example complaints

Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.

“While driving on I-75 there seems to be a spark caused fuel to leak and burn back tire and the tire rolled off the freeway putting all the five passengers into a hazardous situation on the I-75 freeway. We smelled smell of tire and gas leak. Fortunately, we were able to pull off the freeway. It was reported to Toyota and their dealers multiple times. No one even bothered or concerned about the issue or safety of passengers.”

NHTSA complaint #11133438, filed 2018-10, 1,000 miles

“The vehicle started normally but when I reached about two blocks from my house, the Prius started to act as if the electric motors were not engaging. The engine did not engage either and the gas pedal was unresponsive. The first time this occurred, I was stuck in the middle of a 4-way intersection until I shut down the vehicle and restarted it. After I restarted the Prius, it continued behaving erratically. It sounded and felt like the gas motor had engaged but the electric motor had not. …”

NHTSA complaint #11118193, filed 2018-08, 12,240 miles

“Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2017 Toyota Prius. It was discovered when the contact listed the vehicle for sale that there was a mileage discrepancy. The vehicle was as a private sale. At the time of the purchase, the mileage was 126,611. The potential purchaser provided a CARFAX report that recorded the mileage on 11/6/2024 at 225,810.”

NHTSA complaint #11706080, filed 2025-12, 225,810 miles

“When driving on the highway during rain the adaptive cruise control spontaneously stops and lashes on the dash display that it is no longer set, the car decelerates rapidly, leaving the driver scrambling to determine what has happened. The systems involved are the adaptive cruise control and Toyota safety sense.”

NHTSA complaint #11170968, filed 2019-01, 27,000 miles

“We purchased a 2017 Toyota Prius on january 29th 2017 and on march 22nd 2017 the car caught on fire out of no where. The car was parked and off when smoke began to come out from the around the shift changer and the touch screen area. After a few seconds the car was completely on fire.”

NHTSA complaint #10971466, filed 2017-04, 1,600 miles

Related recalls

Related service bulletins

Electrical system: other model years

YearComplaintsShare of year
2026233%
2025638%
2024415%
2023524%
2022625%
2021117%
2020214%
2019413%
201825%
20171112%
20162013%
20152716%
20143316%
20135213%
20125212%
20116813%
20101927%
20096012%
200823516%
200724812%
200615211%
200517817%
200417729%
20031313%
20021811%
20012716%

Other parts of the 2017 Toyota Prius

Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
17 complaintsBrakes
14 complaintsVehicle speed control
13 complaintsEngine
12 complaintsFuel system
12 complaintsOther or unknown
11 complaintsSteering
7 complaintsBody and structure
7 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
4 complaintsWheels
4 complaintsAir bags
3 complaintsSeats
3 complaints

← All problems reported for the 2017 Toyota Prius

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 28, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology