Toyota · Prius · 2021
2021 Toyota Prius
0
Recalls
6
Complaints
5/5
Safety Rating
The 2021 Toyota Prius has no recalls and 6 owner-reported complaints on file with NHTSA. Overall safety rating: 5 out of 5 stars. Most reported issue: fuel/propulsion system (1 reports).
Source: NHTSA Public Records · Updated Apr 29, 2026
Research Context
The 2021 Toyota Prius page works best as a research starting point. Complaint totals show how much owner-reported activity exists, while recalls and investigations help show whether any of that activity turned into formal safety action.
Because this is a newer-era vehicle page, it usually helps to compare this year against nearby model years before deciding whether a complaint pattern looks isolated or persistent. On this page, the most prominent complaint area is fuel/propulsion system with 1 reported complaint.
Best Research Moves
- Use the complaint log to understand what owners were actually reporting instead of relying only on the raw complaint total.
- Review the recall section even if the total is smaller, because a limited number of recalls can still point to meaningful safety actions.
- Check the linked investigations for extra ODI context if you want to see whether owner complaints escalated into formal defect review.
Key Takeaways
- The 2021 Toyota Prius currently shows no active NHTSA recalls listed on this page and 6 owner-reported complaints.
- This page currently shows 1 NHTSA investigation linked to this page.
- This page reflects complaint volume, recall history, and NHTSA test data, but it does not diagnose causes or rank reliability by itself.
- Safety data currently shows 5/5 overall NHTSA safety rating.
- The most frequently reported complaint categories on this page are fuel/propulsion system (1), unknown or other,engine,fuel/propulsion system (1), electrical system,service brakes,engine (1).
- Vehicle
- 2021 Toyota Prius
- Recalls
- 0
- Complaints
- 6
- Safety Rating
- 5/5
How to Interpret This Page
This page combines three types of NHTSA data: recall campaigns (official manufacturer or government actions), owner complaints (unverified consumer reports), and crash test ratings (where available). A vehicle with many complaints is not necessarily less reliable — complaint volume correlates with sales volume and vehicle age. Recalls indicate identified defects, not overall quality. To compare this model year with others, use the year navigation in the sidebar or return to the model overview page.
If you are researching a used vehicle, start with the complaint categories, compare them against the recall list, and then check nearby model years to see whether the same issue profile repeats. That usually produces a better buying or research signal than treating the raw complaint total as a standalone safety ranking.
NHTSA Crash Test Performance
Frontal Crash Test
Side Crash Test
Overall Frontal Rating
Driver and Passenger Assessment
Driver Side
Passenger Side
Overall Side Rating
Side Barrier and Side Pole Tests
Driver Side
Passenger Side
Rollover Resistance
10.7% rollover risk in single-vehicle crash
Safety Features
ESC: StandardForward Collision Warning: StandardLane Departure Warning: Standard
Investigations
1 totalDPClosed
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 matter described in the petition. On June 24, 2023 and as supplemented on June 25, 2023, the petitioner notified NHTSA he was withdrawing his petition. The petitioner indicated that, based on his review of data, there is no justification for asserting potential benefits that could be derived from actions sought by my petition. Based on the petitioner's withdrawal, DP22-005 is closed. Closure of this DP does not represent a determination by NHTSA regarding the subject matter of the petition.
Component: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:PROPULSION SYSTEMOpened: Jan 27, 2023Closed: Aug 7, 2023Related recall: 22V063000
Owner Complaints
6 totalVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Sep 14, 2024
The contact owns a 2021 Toyota Prius. The contact stated while driving approximately 35 - 45 MPH, the vehicle independently accelerated. The brake pedal was depressed but failed to stop the vehicle immediately. The contact swerved around the vehicle in front and ended up on the o...
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FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Oct 31, 2023
When i am going down it's charging when the charge reaches 6 from 8 the engine starts working and stop changing at that point and the power continues comes from engine only without the hybrid battery and there are no codes
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,SERVICE BRAKES,ENGINE
CRASHMay 8, 2023
The car accelerated without my foot on the accelerator, brake did not respond, and I had to drive through grass and a rock-filled ditch until after about 10 seconds the car returned to my control.
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE,LANE DEPARTURE
Jan 4, 2022
The Lane keeping assist used in radar cruise control mode during some drive cycles will attempt to maintain the vehicle position to the far extreme of the lane and in some cases actively veer out of the lane. My safety ant others can be put at risk when the vehicle behaves outsid...
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WHEELS
Mar 23, 2021
WHILE DRIVING ON THE I 4 WE HAD A BLOWOUT ON THE REAR PASSENGER TIRE. THE CAR HAD LESS THAN 200 MILES ON IT SO IT WAS BRAND NEW. THE DEALERSHIP FOUND OBJECT IN THE TIRE THAT COULD HAVE CAUSE THE PROBLEM THE ONLY CONCLUSION I COULD COME TO IS THAT THIS TIRE WAS DEFECTIVE. THE DEAL...
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UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Feb 26, 2021
CARBON MONOXIDE SEEPS INTO THE PASSENGER CAR BUT DILLER CANNOT FIND IT AND DID NOT HAVE TOOLS TO DETECT CO LEVEL IN THE CAR. I CAN'T USE THIS CAR BECAUSE WAS POISONED MANY TIMES AND AFTER A SECOND CHECK-UP, THE LEVEL OF CO BECOMES HIGHER SO I CAN'T DRIVE THE CAR WITHOUT POISONING...
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Showing 6 recent complaints from 6 total
View Full Complaint LogCompare Related Vehicles
Why Compare These Pages
The strongest comparison flow is usually: exact vehicle-year page, then nearby years of the same model, then other 2021 Toyota models. That sequence helps separate one-off year spikes from broader make-wide patterns.
More Toyota Prius Years
2022 Toyota PriusCompare this year against 2021 for complaint and recall shifts.1r1i22c2020 Toyota PriusCompare this year against 2021 for complaint and recall shifts.1i14c2023 Toyota PriusCompare this year against 2021 for complaint and recall shifts.4r16c2019 Toyota PriusCompare this year against 2021 for complaint and recall shifts.3r1i28c2024 Toyota PriusCompare this year against 2021 for complaint and recall shifts.4r20c2018 Toyota PriusCompare this year against 2021 for complaint and recall shifts.1r1i34c
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many recalls does the 2021 Toyota Prius have?
The 2021 Toyota Prius has 0 recalls recorded by NHTSA.
How many complaints have been filed for the 2021 Toyota Prius?
NHTSA has received 6 owner-reported complaints for the 2021 Toyota Prius.
What is the NHTSA safety rating for the 2021 Toyota Prius?
The 2021 Toyota Prius received an overall safety rating of 5 out of 5 stars from NHTSA.
What are the most common problems with the 2021 Toyota Prius?
The most commonly reported complaint categories for the 2021 Toyota Prius are fuel/propulsion system (1 reports), unknown or other,engine,fuel/propulsion system (1 reports), electrical system,service brakes,engine (1 reports).
Does the 2021 Toyota Prius have any recalls?
NHTSA does not currently list any recalls on record for the 2021 Toyota Prius. To verify the status of your specific vehicle, check nhtsa.gov/recalls with your VIN.
Check Another Vehicle
Look up recalls and complaints for any year, make, and model.
This page summarizes publicly available data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaint counts reflect reports submitted to NHTSA by vehicle owners and do not by themselves prove defect severity or vehicle safety. Safety ratings may not be available for all vehicle-years. This site is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. For official information, visit the official NHTSA page for this vehicle.