Skip to content
Toyota PriusModel year report

2018 Toyota Prius Problems

Compared with other Toyota Prius years

Fewer complaints than typical for this model

0/100 0.1× a typical year · 50 = typical

Based only on NHTSA complaints, recalls and investigations. Not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold, and not a reliability rating. How this is calculated

Complaints
37filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
10,000miles, 25 complaints with mileage
Recalls
1campaigns on record
Trend
RisingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% higher than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA crash rating
5 / 5stars overall
EPA fuel economy
56 mpgcombined, 1.8L 4-cyl · hybrid FWD · 58 city / 53 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2018 Toyota Prius (complaints, recalls, investigations), NHTSA crash tests, EPA fuel economy. Report an error

NHTSA recorded 37 consumer complaints for the 2018 Toyota Prius. The part named most often is other or unknown, with 6 complaints (16% of the total), followed by visibility (6) and exterior lighting (5). 25 of the complaints include a mileage, and 80% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 10,000 miles. Of all complaints, 5 involved a crash, 2 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign and 201 technical service bulletins for this model year. Other or unknown complaints overlap with 4 technical service bulletins filed under the same part. Visibility complaints overlap with 3 technical service bulletins filed under the same part. Compared with the other 11 Toyota Prius model years that have at least 25 complaints and are old enough to compare, this one scores 0 out of 100, where 50 is a typical year for the model (fewer complaints than typical for this model). The comparison allows for the era and for how long each year has had to collect complaints, but not for how many vehicles were sold.

Which parts are reported most

Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.

Also reported: Fuel system (2), Seats (2), Transmission and drivetrain (2), Forward collision avoidance (1), Latches, locks and linkages (1), Wheels (1).

Example complaints

Other or unknown: “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 roadrangers stopped to assist us. I took the car directly to the Toyota dealership in clermont, fl and they repaired the glass at no charge but told me had the car not been under manufacturer warranty I would have been responsible for the cost of replacement. …”

NHTSA complaint #11397301, filed 2021-02, 6,800 miles

Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors): “My windshield has cracked twice without being struck by an object and without being near another vehicle. Both incidents occurred during normal highway driving. I was not speeding or driving recklessly. Both times required the replacement of the windshield as the crack quickly spread and affected a good portion of the windshield. I am requesting reimbursement for the cost of replacing the windshield (twice). The first incident occurred just a few days after purchase. The second incident occurred today, march 4, 2021.”

NHTSA complaint #11399109, filed 2021-03, 29,500 miles

Exterior lighting: “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 have to get out of the car in dangerous conditions to try and scrape ice off the windows and lights. The front and rear lights get caked with ice and snow. This picture is of my windshield after an hour of warming up. The wipers stay caked with ice. …”

NHTSA complaint #11278866, filed 2019-11, 26,000 miles

Brakes: “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 garage and the auto.”

NHTSA complaint #11271167, filed 2019-10, 4,500 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

80% of the 25 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 3,000 and 29,500 miles.

48%0–1016%10–2516%25–504%50–758%75–1000%100–1508%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (25 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 10,000 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Trend: rising. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% higher than in the 3 years before.

20189201992020202120222023202420252026
Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Crash test ratings

NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2018 Toyota Prius. Frontal results are shown driver / passenger; rollover shows the star rating and NHTSA's estimated risk of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.

VersionOverallFrontalSideSide poleRollover
Prius · hatchback FWD★★★★★4 / 4524 · 10.7% risk

Driver aids listed by NHTSA for the 2018 model year: forward collision warning standard, lane departure warning standard, automatic emergency braking standard.

Neighbouring years: 2017: same overall rating; 2019: same overall rating. A redesign between years can change both the car and the test.

Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings), nhtsa.gov/ratings.

Fuel economy and running cost

EPA ratings for each 2018 Toyota Prius version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).

VersionEngineTransmissionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yr
Prius FWD1.8L 4-cyl · hybridCVT545052$1,300
Prius Eco FWD1.8L 4-cyl · hybridCVT585356$1,200

Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.

Recalls and investigations

Recall details for the 2018 Toyota Prius → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls

NHTSA investigations

Technical service bulletins

TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 201 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 201 bulletins →

Other model years of the Toyota Prius

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
202661,1001554—Too new
20251612,4502552—Too new
2024273,0004554Too new to compareToo new
20232115,2054554—Too new
20222434,6001552—Rising
202165,2000552—Not enough data
20201412,85004–552—Not enough data
2019305,50035520 · FewerRising
20183710,00015560 · FewerRising
20179114,000355628 · FewerStable
201615519,600555655 · TypicalFalling
201516630,00014488 · FewerRising
201421027,000344834 · FewerRising
201341454,425354844 · TypicalRising
201242450,00064–54880 · MoreRising
201152276,000654872 · MoreStable
20102,8236,41910—50100 · MoreFalling
200950230,0006—46100 · MoreStable
20081,49751,1764—46100 · MoreFalling
20072,00450,0504—46Not compared (before 2008)Falling
20061,43950,0006—46Not compared (before 2008)Falling
20051,05176,8546—46Not compared (before 2008)Stable
200461072,4366—46Not compared (before 2008)Falling
20039971,0001—41Not compared (before 2008)Falling
200216770,2002—41Not compared (before 2008)Falling
200116560,5743—41Not compared (before 2008)Stable

All Toyota Prius model years · Best and worst years by complaints

Frequently asked questions

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2018 Toyota Prius have?

NHTSA recorded 37 consumer complaints for the 2018 Toyota Prius as of Oct 29, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2018 Toyota Prius is reported most often?

Other or unknown is named most often, in 6 complaints (16% of the total), followed by visibility with 6.

Has the 2018 Toyota Prius been recalled?

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

How did the 2018 Toyota Prius do in NHTSA crash tests?

NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings give the 2018 Toyota Prius 5 out of 5 stars overall. Ratings from different model years are only comparable when the vehicle was not redesigned in between.

What gas mileage does the 2018 Toyota Prius get?

The EPA rates the 2018 Toyota Prius (Prius Eco, 1.8L 4-cyl · hybrid) at 56 mpg combined, 58 city and 53 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $1,200 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 2018 Toyota Prius reported?

Among the 25 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 10,000 miles and the middle half falls between 3,000 and 29,500 miles; 80% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 29, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Crash ratings are from NHTSA’s New Car Assessment Program. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).

Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.