2024 Toyota Prius Safety Report

The 2024 Toyota Prius, despite being a new model, has accumulated 20 NHTSA complaints, with no reported crashes, fires, injuries, or deaths. A significant concern is the lack of NHTSA safety ratings (Overall, Frontal, Side, Rollover are all N/A), which means its crashworthiness is currently unassessed by the agency. The vehicle has been subject to 4 recalls, indicating several design or manufacturing issues identified early in its lifecycle. Two recalls, 24V274 and 24V275, specifically address water intrusion into the rear door switch, which could lead to an unlocked door opening unexpectedly while the vehicle is moving or during a crash, increasing injury risk. Another recall, 24V276, pertains to a rearview camera malfunction that could reduce the driver's view and increase crash risk. The fourth recall, 24V277, involves incorrect maximum capacity weight labels, which could lead to overloading and increased crash risk. Complaint patterns, even with a low total count, show a diverse range of issues. 'UNKNOWN OR OTHER' is the most frequent complaint category with 5 reports, suggesting various unclassified problems. Other notable complaints include 'WHEELS' (2 reports), 'AIR BAGS' (1 report, with a specific complaint detailing non-deployment in a front-end collision), and 'BACK OVER PREVENTION' (1 report, aligning with a recall for rearview camera issues). There are also reports of sudden unintended acceleration, electrical system malfunctions, and issues with tires and suspension. The airbag non-deployment complaint is particularly concerning given its direct impact on occupant safety during a crash. The recall history highlights critical safety defects that Toyota has acknowledged and is working to remedy. The rear door switch issue, affecting both Prius and Prius Prime models, is a direct safety hazard. The rearview camera recall is also significant, as proper visibility is crucial for preventing backing collisions. The absence of official crash test ratings makes it difficult to fully assess the vehicle's structural integrity and occupant protection beyond the specific airbag non-deployment complaint. Overall, while the vehicle is new and complaint numbers are low, the presence of multiple recalls and diverse complaints, including critical safety system failures like airbags and unintended acceleration, suggests potential areas of concern that prospective buyers should be aware of.

Our recommendation: Given the multiple recalls for critical safety components and early complaints including airbag non-deployment and unintended acceleration, prospective buyers should exercise caution and ensure all recall remedies have been performed before purchase, and be aware of the lack of official crash test ratings.