Recalls (1)
NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 2018 Toyota Prius. Check whether yours was repaired with NHTSA's free VIN lookup ↗
Only NHTSA and your automaker know whether your specific car was repaired. PlainVIN shows every recall campaign listed for a model year, with the official text and how many cars have been fixed so far.
Check on NHTSA ↗Engine Wire Harness May Chafe and Short
- Summary
- Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2016-2018 Toyota Prius vehicles. A portion of the engine wire harness connected to the hybrid Power Control Unit (PCU), could contact the cover at this connection and wear, causing an electrical short circuit.
- Consequence
- An electrical short can increase the risk of a fire.
- Remedy
- Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the engine wire harness assembly and replace it if damage is found. A protective sleeve or protective tape will be included to prevent any future damage. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began October 30, 2018. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371. Toyota's number for this recall is J0T.
PlainVIN shows public government records for education. It isn't a vehicle inspection or legal advice. Check your own VIN with NHTSA or your dealer.
Owner complaints (37)
37 complaints filed with NHTSA (owner reports, not verified findings). The unknown or other is mentioned most often.
As reported by owners in their complaints. These are reports, not NHTSA findings.
Most-reported components
| Component | Complaints | % of 37 |
|---|---|---|
| Unknown or other | 6 | 16.2% |
| Exterior lighting | 5 | 13.5% |
| Visibility/wiper | 5 | 13.5% |
| Service brakes | 4 | 10.8% |
| Vehicle speed control | 4 | 10.8% |
| Air bags | 3 | 8.1% |
| Engine | 3 | 8.1% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 3 | 8.1% |
| Structure | 3 | 8.1% |
| Electrical system | 2 | 5.4% |
How 2018 compares with other Prius years
Best and worst Prius years →| Model year | Complaints | Recall campaigns |
|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 207 | 3 |
| 2015 | 166 | 1 |
| 2016 | 154 | 5 |
| 2017 | 91 | 3 |
| 2018 | 37 | 1 |
| 2019 | 30 | 3 |
| 2020 | 14 | 0 |
| 2021 | 6 | 0 |
| 2022 | 24 | 1 |
| 2023 | 20 | 4 |
Counts are owner reports, not failure rates. Higher sales years tend to draw more reports. Owners are still filing reports for recent model years, so these counts will grow. Source: NHTSA ODI, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Crash tests: 5 stars overall
Source: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (NCAP), 2018 Toyota Prius 5 hb fwd, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Fuel economy: up to 56 mpg combined
- EPA annual fuel cost
- $1,200
- CO₂ tailpipe
- 158 g/mi
- EPA class
- Midsize Cars
What it costs you to run
Miles ÷ 56 mpg × $4.354 (EIA US average regular, week of Oct 5, 2026, all taxes included). Source: EPA · EIA.
EPA label estimates from lab tests; your mileage will vary.
Specs by configuration
| Engine · transmission | Drive | City / Hwy / Comb | EPA $/yr | CO₂ g/mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.8 L 4-cyl · CVT | Front-Wheel Drive | 58 / 53 / 56 | $1,200 | 158 |
| 1.8 L 4-cyl · CVT | Front-Wheel Drive | 54 / 50 / 52 | $1,300 | 170 |
Source: EPA fuel economy data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026. Configurations are listed when EPA and NHTSA records match.
Looking at a 2018 Prius for sale?
Print a one-page buyer's checklist: each recall campaign with a box to tick when the seller shows proof of repair, the top complaint areas to inspect, crash stars, MPG, and a link back to this page.
Where to next
2018 Toyota Prius FAQ
How many recalls does the 2018 Toyota Prius have?
NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign: 18V579000 (electrical). Use NHTSA's VIN lookup to see whether a specific car was repaired.
What are the most common 2018 Toyota Prius problems?
Owners filed 37 complaints with NHTSA. Unknown or other (6), Exterior lighting (5), Visibility/wiper (5) are mentioned most. These are owner reports, not verified findings.
What mpg does the 2018 Toyota Prius get?
EPA rates the 1.8 L 4-cyl · CVT version at 58 city, 53 highway and 56 combined mpg. Other configurations are listed in the fuel economy section.
What safety rating did the 2018 Toyota Prius get?
NHTSA rated the 2018 Toyota Prius 5 hb fwd 5 stars overall, with 4 stars frontal, 5 stars side and 4 stars rollover (10.7% rollover risk).
How does the 2018 Prius compare with other years?
Among the 2014–2021 Toyota Prius model years at least five years old, the 2021 drew the fewest complaints (6) and the 2014 the most (207). The 2018 drew 37. Counts are owner reports, not failure rates.
How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes
Data sources
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - US DOT recall completion rates (data.transportation.gov)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA ODI owner complaints
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA NCAP 5-Star Safety Ratings
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EPA fuel economy data (licence confirmation pending)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EIA weekly retail gasoline prices
Weekly, all taxes included
Processing
- Complaints are counted per component. One complaint can list several, so component totals add up to more than the total.
- Fuel cost = miles per year ÷ EPA combined mpg × EIA weekly price for your region.
Limitations
- Complaint counts are owner reports, not verified findings or failure rates. There is no sales denominator.
- Recall campaigns are listed for the model year. Only NHTSA and the automaker know whether a specific car was repaired.
- Recent model years are still collecting reports.
Review
Data compiled automatically from the official files listed here.
Changelog
- 2026-10-06 Data refreshed from the official files.