2018 Toyota Prius Recalls, Problems & Safety Rating

2018 Toyota Prius recalls

Most common 2018 Toyota Prius problems

Problem areas named in the 37 complaints owners filed with NHTSA.

Problem area	Reports
Unknown Or Other	6
Visibility/Wiper	5
Exterior Lighting	5
Vehicle Speed Control	4
Service Brakes	3
Engine	3
Structure	3
Air Bags	3
Engine And Engine Cooling	3
Power Train	2

What owners report

2026-10-02, Engine
I am writing to inform you about a very dangerous situation that occurred to me in June 2026 and that could pose a significant safety risk to other drivers who own 2016-17-18-19 Toyota Prius cars.  The risk stems from a defective part (the catalytic converter) that Toyota Corporation knew about in 2019 but failed to notify owners of those models.    Instead of issuing a recall and replacing the defective part, Toyota chose instead to issue a nationwide alert to their mechanics (Technical Service Bulletin (TSB)—0135-19, issued on 9/27/19).  Through the TSB, Toyota extended the warranty to 8 years or 80,000 miles for the part.  However, Toyota never notified the car owners of this pote

2026-08-17, Engine And Engine Cooling
The contact owns a 2018 Toyota Prius. The contact stated that while having a routine oil change, the contact was made aware that there was no coolant in the coolant reservoir. No warning lights were illuminated. The contact was constantly adding coolant to the coolant reservoir; however, the following day the coolant reservoir was empty. The failure had occurred on several different occasions. The vehicle was taken back to the residence. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact researched and was made aware of TSB Number: 013519; however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 89,100.

2026-06-26, Engine And Engine Cooling
The contact owns a 2018 Toyota Prius. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the engine constantly overheated. An unidentified warning light was flashing on the instrument panel. An independent mechanic inspected the vehicle and became aware that the coolant reservoir was empty. One month later, the same failure reoccurred. A second independent mechanic inspected the vehicle, and the coolant reservoir was empty. The vehicle was taken to a dealer. The dealer diagnosed the vehicle with a coolant leak into the head gasket. The dealer advisor referenced a customer satisfaction program as the cause of the failure; however, the vehicle was over the mileage limit for the pro

2026-03-13, Exterior Lighting
Both taillamps holding moisture. Could cause electrical issues or fire. .. same year and model car have same reported issues and were fixed by manufacturer. This vehicle is the same but different level.

2025-08-26, Electrical System
Driver door lock actuator not working. This seems to be a common problem for Toyota over the last decade, but they yet to put more vehicles to their recall list. Actuator just stopped working. I have to use key out of FOB to manually open. This is a safety issue if I’m trying to get in my car quickly for safety reasons and it does not open.

2018 Toyota Prius questions

Does the 2018 Toyota Prius have any recalls?

Yes. NHTSA lists 1 safety recall for the 2018 Toyota Prius: Wiring Wear Can Cause Short Circuit and Fire Risk. Recall repairs are normally free at an authorized dealer.

What are the most common problems with the 2018 Toyota Prius?

Based on 37 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the most-reported problem areas are Unknown Or Other (6), Visibility/Wiper (5), Exterior Lighting (5).

How do I check if a recall on my 2018 Toyota Prius has been fixed?

Enter your 17-character VIN in our VIN recall check. It shows open recalls that have not been repaired on your specific vehicle. Recall repairs are normally free at an authorized dealer.