2017 Toyota Prius Electrical Problems
11 owner-reported electrical complaints from NHTSA data
Data sourced from NHTSA public database. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified mechanic.
Electrical Recalls (1)
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
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.
Fix: 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.
Owner Complaints (11)
Your 2017 Prius may have had its odometer rolled back before you purchased it. The mileage jumped from 126,611 miles when you bought it to 225,810 miles according to a CARFAX report from November 2024, suggesting someone tampered with the odometer reading. This is odometer fraud, which affects the vehicle's true maintenance history and value. Addressing this would require documenting the discrepancy with CARFAX, your purchase records, and potentially contacting Toyota or pursuing legal action against the seller.
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Your car won't start even though the battery tests fine, and this happens when you leave accessories like the radio, wipers, heater, or air conditioner running when you turn off the engine. When the "Low Battery" warning appears, you need a jump start to get the car going again, which is inconvenient in remote areas. The issue suggests a sensor or charging system problem rather than an actual dead battery, since the car starts immediately once another vehicle's battery is connected.
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EVEN THOUGH THIS VEHICLE HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THIS CASE, I CONSIDER THAT IT IS VERY RELEVANT THAT I EXPRESS MY CONCERNS WITH THIS VEHICLE DUE TO THE FACT THAT I TRADED IN MY 2015 TOYOTA PRIUS FOR A VEHICLE THAT PROVIDED AN UNSAFE DRIVING EXPERIENCE TO MY FAMILY WHICH WAS THE 2017 TOYOTA PRIUS WITH VIN NUMBER [XXX] AFTER TAKING IT TO THREE DIFFERENT TOYOTA DEALERSHIPS TO BE EVALUATED BY TWO DIFFERENT TOYOTA FIELD INSPECTORS FROM TOYOTA HEADQUARTERS, TOYOTA MOTOR VEHICLES MADE THE CHOICE NOT TO LISTEN TO OUR CONCERNS AND REJECTED TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY PROVIDING ME A SAFETY HAZARD PRODUCT IN ORDER TO AVOID LEMON LAW AND/OR MAKE ME AWARE OF THE HIGH LEVELS OF EMF THAT THE VEHICLE HAD. ON APRIL 18 2019, WE NEVER WERE TOLD BY THE SECOND FIELD INSPECTOR SENT BY TOYOTA HEADQUARTERS THE RESULTS OF HIS FINDINGS. BIG TWO TOYOTA TOOK ADVANTAGE OF THE SITUATION AND CONVINCED US TO TRADE IN THIS VEHICLE FOR A NEW 2019 TOYOTA SIENNA. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
WHEN DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY DURING RAIN THE ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL SPONTANEOUSLY STOPS AND LASHES ON THE DASH DISPLAY THAT IT IS NO LONGER SET, THE CAR DECELERATES RAPIDLY, LEAVING THE DRIVER SCRAMBLING TO DETERMINE WHAT HAS HAPPENED. THE SYSTEMS INVOLVED ARE THE ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL AND "TOYOTA SAFETY SENSE."
WHILE DRIVING ON I-75 THERE SEEMS TO BE A SPARK CAUSED FUEL TO LEAK AND BURN BACK TIRE AND THE TIRE ROLLED OFF THE FREEWAY PUTTING ALL THE FIVE PASSENGERS INTO A HAZARDOUS SITUATION ON THE I-75 FREEWAY. WE SMELLED SMELL OF TIRE AND GAS LEAK. FORTUNATELY, WE WERE ABLE TO PULL OFF THE FREEWAY. IT WAS REPORTED TO TOYOTA AND THEIR DEALERS MULTIPLE TIMES. NO ONE EVEN BOTHERED OR CONCERNED ABOUT THE ISSUE OR SAFETY OF PASSENGERS.
THE VEHICLE STARTED NORMALLY BUT WHEN I REACHED ABOUT TWO BLOCKS FROM MY HOUSE, THE PRIUS STARTED TO ACT AS IF THE ELECTRIC MOTORS WERE NOT ENGAGING. THE ENGINE DID NOT ENGAGE EITHER AND THE GAS PEDAL WAS UNRESPONSIVE. THE FIRST TIME THIS OCCURRED, I WAS STUCK IN THE MIDDLE OF A 4-WAY INTERSECTION UNTIL I SHUT DOWN THE VEHICLE AND RESTARTED IT. AFTER I RESTARTED THE PRIUS, IT CONTINUED BEHAVING ERRATICALLY. IT SOUNDED AND FELT LIKE THE GAS MOTOR HAD ENGAGED BUT THE ELECTRIC MOTOR HAD NOT. IT ALSO FELT LIKE THE TRANSMISSION WAS SLIPPING/NOT ENGAGING AND I HAD TO REV THE MOTOR TO GET THE TRANSMISSION TO ENGAGE (WHICH IT DID WITH A KICK LIKE IT WAS BEING PUT INTO GEAR). THIS HAS HAPPENED 3 TIMES SO FAR. I HAD A PASSENGER IN THE VEHICLE ON THE LAST INCIDENT. I HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE INTO THE DEALERSHIP 3 TIMES, BUT THEY ARE UNABLE TO FIND ANY ISSUES WITH THE VEHICLE. I REACHED OUT TO TOYOTA TO SEE IF THEY COULD ADDRESS THE ISSUE, BUT THEY SAID THAT THEIR FIELD TECH WAS UNABLE TO FIND ANY PROBLEM. I AM WORRIED THAT THIS CAR WILL FAIL IN TRAFFIC AND CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. THE INCIDENT DATES ARE JUNE 20, JULY 2 AND JULY 27, 2018. THE ONLY INDICATION THAT SOMETHING WAS ABNORMAL ON JULY THE 27TH. WAS A LOWER MPG READING ON MY DISPLAY. OTHER THAN THAT, THERE WAS NO WARNING OR ERROR CODES DISPLAYED.
CAR STARTED BY ITSELF WHEN IT WAS PARKED IN A DRIVEWAY IN HOT WEATHER IN THE SUN. MY KEY FOB DOES NOT HAVE A REMOTE STARTING MECHANISM - ONLY DOOR UNLOCK AND LOCK CAPABILITY.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY, THE ENGINE AUTOMATICALLY STARTED. KOONS ARLINGTON TOYOTA (4045 LEE HWY, ARLINGTON, VA 22207, (703) 522-6000) WAS CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5,000. *TT
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STARTED ON ITS OWN WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE HAD AN AUTO POWER START FOB, BUT IT WAS NOT AROUND THE KEY FOB. IN ADDITION, A HEADLIGHT WARNING SENSOR ILLUMINATED THAT ADVISED THE CONTACT TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL DEALER (BRUNSWICK AUTO MART, 3031 CENTER RD, BRUNSWICK, OH, 44212). THE DEALER REPLACED THE PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT SYSTEM AND SENSOR. THE HEADLIGHT WAS REPAIRED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THE VEHICLE ENGAGING INDEPENDENTLY TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND THEY STATED THAT THEY WOULD DOCUMENT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 2,000. ...UPDATED 09/21/17 *BF UPDATED 9/22/2017*JS UPDATED 09/25/2017*JS ***UPDATED 09/26/17*LJ *JS
1) THE TABLET INFORMATION SCREEN IS SO LARGE AND THE INSTRUCTIONS SO COMPLICATED THAT YOU HAVE TO TAKE YOUR EYES OFF THE ROAD FOR A LONG TIME JUST TO REGULATE HVAC AND RADIO 2) THE CAR GOES COMPLETELY DEAD RANDOMLY AFTER DRIVING IT. MUST BE TOWED.
WE PURCHASED A 2017 TOYOTA PRIUS ON JANUARY 29TH 2017 AND ON MARCH 22ND 2017 THE CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE OUT OF NO WHERE. THE CAR WAS PARKED AND OFF WHEN SMOKE BEGAN TO COME OUT FROM THE AROUND THE SHIFT CHANGER AND THE TOUCH SCREEN AREA. AFTER A FEW SECONDS THE CAR WAS COMPLETELY ON FIRE.