2018 Toyota Prius Safety Report

The 2018 Toyota Prius presents a generally strong safety profile, earning an excellent 5-star overall safety rating from NHTSA, with 5 stars in side crash tests and 4 stars in frontal and rollover tests. However, a review of 34 NHTSA complaints reveals several concerning patterns. A significant recall (NHTSA ID: 18V808000) addresses a critical electrical system issue where a portion of the engine wire harness connected to the hybrid Power Control Unit could short, increasing the risk of fire. This recall affects 2016-2018 Prius models and is a high-severity concern. Beyond the recall, common complaint patterns include issues with exterior lighting (4 complaints), visibility/wipers (4 complaints), and airbags (3 complaints). Specific complaints highlight problems such as taillamps holding moisture, automatic high beams failing intermittently, and windshields cracking spontaneously without impact. Several complaints also detail instances of unintended acceleration (2 complaints) and brake pedal failure (1 complaint), which are severe safety concerns, though these are isolated incidents within the total complaint count. Airbag non-deployment in a crash was also reported once, despite the vehicle's 5-star side crash rating. The vehicle's crash test performance is commendable, achieving high marks in all categories. However, the real-world complaint data suggests potential vulnerabilities not fully captured by crash tests, particularly concerning electrical systems, visibility, and unexpected vehicle behavior. The single recall is a serious electrical fire risk, and while addressed, it underscores a potential manufacturing defect. The relatively low number of total complaints (34) for a popular model year is positive, but the nature of some complaints, especially those related to unintended acceleration and airbag function, warrants attention.

Our recommendation: While the 2018 Toyota Prius boasts strong crash test ratings and good fuel economy, potential buyers should ensure the critical electrical system recall has been addressed and be aware of reported issues concerning visibility, lighting, and rare but serious unintended acceleration complaints.