AI Damage2019 Toyota Prius: common problems
Owners of the 2019 Toyota Prius filed 30 complaints with NHTSA, most often about service brakes and engine. The maker issued 107 service bulletins for this year. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 30
- involving a crash
- 7
- Technical service bulletins (TSB)
- 107
What fails most often
- 1 Service brakes 37% of all complaints
- 2 Engine 20% of all complaints
- 3 Electrical system 13% of all complaints
- 4 Air bags 13% of all complaints
- 5 Vehicle speed control 13% of all complaints
- 6 Forward collision avoidance 13% of all complaints
- 7 Powertrain 7% of all complaints
- 8 Tires 7% of all complaints
- Service brakes: 11 complaints (37% of all), 5 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 4.
- Engine: 6 complaints (20% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 9.
- Electrical system: 4 complaints (13% of all), 2 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 30.
- Air bags: 4 complaints (13% of all), 4 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 4.
- Vehicle speed control: 4 complaints (13% of all), 2 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 2.
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 1.8 L · hybrid · 4 cyl
- CVT
Drive: FWD, 4WD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 30 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Service brakes | 11 | 5 | 4 |
| Engine | 6 | 1 | 9 |
| Electrical system | 4 | 2 | 30 |
| Air bags | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Vehicle speed control | 4 | 2 | 2 |
| Forward collision avoidance | 4 | 2 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| Tires | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| Engine and cooling | 1 | 0 | 6 |
| Backover prevention | 1 | 0 | 3 |
| Visibility | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| Lane departure | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Wheels | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Electronic stability control | 1 | 0 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
The vehicle surged forward and the BRAKE sign came on. I pushed my brake to the floor and nothing happened. I was moving toward a brick wall so I put in in reverse and the car surged backwards.
Vehicle was involved in a accident and it was a total loss and no airbags deployed There wasBodily injury due to this accident
The air bags failed to deploy. The brake pedal was depressed but failed to respond. The contact stated that he was able to prevent a crash by avoiding several vehicles while continuously depressing the brake pedal. The brake pedal responded; however, there was 62-100 ft. stopping distance delay.
Our prius was involved in front to passenger side collision, which totaled the prius, yet no airbags deployed during the accident. The prius should have been equipped with side airbag and passenger airbag, which both failed even though those areas were impacted.
Some 2016–2019 Prius and 2017–2019 Prius Prime vehicles may exhibit low coolant level, MIL on with DTC P148F00, and/or poor heater performance due to coolant leakage at the front exhaust pipe heat exchanger. The front exhaust pipe with heat exchanger assembly has been updated.
Frequency when I start car makes a very loud , painful high pitch noise for anywhere from 5-15 seconds
The contact stated there was a coolant leak and the coolant level was low. There was no indication of coolant on the ground. The check engine and engine HOT warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated that the failure was related to TSB: 0135-19.
Safety risk: complete loss of coolant can cause sudden engine overheating and possible power reduction or shutdown while the vehicle is moving. I transport two young children daily; an unexpected stall on a highway or during an intersection turn would put all occupants and surrounding traffic at risk.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 1,087 of 2,102 model years in the NHTSA data (among the 48% least complained about).
On average one model year of the Prius has 37 complaints (12 years in the data). This year has 30, below average.
What to check before buying
- Service brakes. Pedal feel, ABS operation, leaks, discs and hoses.
- Engine. Cold start, unusual noises, oil leaks and engine codes.
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Air bags. Check the SRS light, stored codes and airbag/curtain status after any impact.
Manufacturer service bulletins
Bulletin titles as filed with NHTSA.
- OBSOLETE NOTICE August 20, 2026
This bulletin is now obsolete. Please see T-SB-0051-26.
- This bulletin includes basic procedures for performing a rescue charge at battery on high voltage (HV)…
This bulletin includes basic procedures for performing a rescue charge at battery on high voltage (HV) Ni-MH and Li-ion batteries.
- Some 2005 – 2026 Toyota vehicles that have undergone water intrusion may exhibit a condition in which a…
Some 2005 – 2026 Toyota vehicles that have undergone water intrusion may exhibit a condition in which a musty odor is present. Follow the procedures in this bulletin to remediate the odor and address this condition…
- Some customers may experience echoing on the line calling the vehicle when using Bluetooth Hands Free
This is caused by the phone Hands Free volume being too low.
- Some ECUs can set a DTC that is common with other ECUs
This can lead to accidental use of the wrong repair manual when diagnosing these type of DTCs.
- The air conditioning dye injection tool kit has been developed to aid in identifying the location of air…
The air conditioning dye injection tool kit has been developed to aid in identifying the location of air conditioning refrigerant leaks. The procedures outlined in this Service Bulletin aid in locating, inspecting, and…
- This bulletin includes basic procedures for performing a rescue charge at battery on high voltage (HV)…
This bulletin includes basic procedures for performing a rescue charge at battery on high voltage (HV) Ni-MH and Li-ion batteries. This bulletin should be used in conjunction with the applicable model and model year…
- The condition known as acid rain is caused by airborne chemicals or particles in the atmosphere, which mix…
The condition known as acid rain is caused by airborne chemicals or particles in the atmosphere, which mix with rainwater, nighttime dew, or high humidity to form acidic compounds. If these contaminants settle and…
- To prevent brake rotor rust from forming during transportation and storage, wheel film will be used…
To prevent brake rotor rust from forming during transportation and storage, wheel film will be used instead of a cardboard type of anti-rust cover. The purpose of the wheel film is to shield the disc brake rotor from…
- Acid rain results from rainwater or other airborne moisture that become acidic due to industrial chemical…
Acid rain results from rainwater or other airborne moisture that become acidic due to industrial chemical impurities in the atmosphere. If these acidic compounds settle on an exposed vehicle, especially the horizontal…
- Toyota vehicles are currently protected with RapgardTM protective film designed to protect the horizontal…
Toyota vehicles are currently protected with RapgardTM protective film designed to protect the horizontal painted surfaces. This material protects from acid rain, environmental fallout, and rail contamination. Follow…
- Vehicles may occasionally be subjected to contamination by airborne iron particles shed from railroad…
Vehicles may occasionally be subjected to contamination by airborne iron particles shed from railroad tracks, train wheels, exposure to heavy machinery facilities, grinding, welding, etc. This type of contamination can…
NHTSA lists 107 bulletins for this year; the 12 newest are shown here.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2019 Toyota Prius?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: service brakes, engine, electrical system. Total complaints: 30. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: warning lights, check engine (23%), overheating, coolant loss (13%), rust, corrosion (7%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2019 Toyota Prius?
NHTSA lists 107 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 2019 Toyota Prius from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 2019 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-04.