2020 Toyota Prius Prime recalls & complaints
Source: NHTSA, updated daily. Last checked 2026-10-18. Recalls apply to specific VINs — run your VIN to confirm.
1 safety recall, most serious first
1. Electronic Stability Control (esc)
What's wrong, in plain English: A vehicle part that may fail. The brake booster pump may fail causing a deactivation of the Vehicle Stability Control system and a loss of braking assist. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 126, "Electronic Stability Control Systems."
What could happen: Deactivation of the vehicle stability control system or a loss of braking assist increases the risk of a crash.
The fix: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the brake booster pump, free of charge. The recall began September 20, 2019. Toyota owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371 and Lexus owners may contact Lexus customer service at 1-800-255-3987. Toyota's numbers for…
What to do
- Check whether your car is affected: enter your 17-digit VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. A recall covers specific VINs, not every 2020 PRIUS PRIME.
- Book a repair at any authorized Toyota dealer. Quote NHTSA campaign 19V544000 (manufacturer code K1L/K0L).
- The repair is free. By US law, safety recall repairs cost the owner nothing, no matter the car's age or mileage.
- Manufacturer hotline: 1-888-270-9371.
- Buying this car used? Ask the seller for proof the recall was completed, or run the VIN yourself before paying.
Official wording from NHTSA
Component: ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
Summary: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2019 Lexus LS500, LC500, ES300h, UX250h, LS500h, Toyota Prius, RAV4 HV, 2019-2020 Toyota Prius Prime, and 2020 Corolla HV vehicles. The brake booster pump may fail causing a deactivation of the Vehicle Stability Control system and a loss of braking assist. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 126, "Electronic Stability Control Systems."
Consequence: Deactivation of the vehicle stability control system or a loss of braking assist increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the brake booster pump, free of charge. The recall began September 20, 2019. Toyota owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371 and Lexus owners may contact Lexus customer service at 1-800-255-3987. Toyota's numbers for this recall are K1L/K0L. Lexus' numbers for this recall are K2F/KLF.
Notes: Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.
Useful for owners
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Most complained-about parts: Visibility (wipers / glass) (6), Vehicle Speed Control (3), Transmission / drivetrain (3), Electrical system (3), Brakes (2).
Complaints are unverified reports from owners. A pattern (many complaints about the same part) matters more than any single one.
Read recent complaints (8)
09/29/2025 · Vehicle Speed Control · crash
The contact owns a 2020 Toyota Prius Prime. The contact stated that while pulling into a parking lot, traveling down the aisle, and driving around the end cap to the second aisle, pulling into the parking spot at 5 MPH, the vehicle suddenly accelerated. The wheels squealed. The vehicle traveled through the spot and sideswiped another vehicle, and stopped. T…
02/28/2025 · Brakes
The contact owns a 2020 Toyota Prius Prime. The contact stated while driving at approximately 40 MPH, the brake pedal was depressed while making a left turn onto another road, but the vehicle failed to slow down. The contact stated that the brake pedal was vibrating, and the vehicle felt like it was skidding on ice. The contact stated the vehicle maintained…
03/27/2024 · Wheels / tires
I purchased Goodyear Assurance MaxLife 195/65 R 15 from Sam's Club in Kingston on August 2023. On [XXX] my tire blew out on the inner sidewall of my tire. When I spoke with an employee from the automotive department in Sam's Club about my tire, the person said " Let me guess, was it an Assurance MaxLife?" I said "yes, how did you know?" The employee said "…
01/10/2024 · Visibility (wipers / glass)
The car had about 8000 miles on it. It was parked in Garage the night before. In the morning the outside temperature was 39F. During my 30 minutes driving, the front defrost was turned on. Afterwards it was parked on driveway and at that time the windshield was fine. 6 hours later, I noticed a spiderweb like crack under the camera section on the front winds…
08/12/2023 · Visibility (wipers / glass)
The right side outside mirror glass detached and fell off while driving down the road. There was no noticeable defect on the vehicle prior to this and no known reason for this to happen. The vehicle was operating normally and was not involved in any sort of unusual maneuvering or crash. Upon taking it to the Toyota dealership it was found that glass did in…
12/09/2022 · Airbags · crash
The contact owns a 2020 Toyota Prius Prime. The contact stated that while driving slowly into a parking space the vehicle suddenly experience unintended acceleration and accelerated forward before crashing into a building. During the crash, the front end of the vehicle was severely damaged but the air bags did not deploy. No injuries were reported. The vehi…
08/15/2022 · Transmission / drivetrain
I was driving yesterday on Freeway in the 2nd lane ,all of a sudden car went from drive to neutral,I didn't touch transmission gear lever and I put gas And it says it is on neutral N,I was in dangerous situation, the other cars were flying by,I put on hazard lights Slowly changed lanes because it was not on D drive mode,pulled it over to Shoulder applied b…
02/01/2022 · Transmission / drivetrain · crash
The contact owns a 2020 Toyota Prius Prime. The contact stated that while coasting her vehicle into a parking spot at 2 MPH, the vehicle independently accelerated forward with her foot lightly on the accelerator pedal. The vehicle jumped the curb and crashed into two vehicles. The contact was uncertain if any warning lights illuminated on the instrument pan…