2019 Toyota Prius recalls and problems

The 2019 Toyota Prius has 3 safety recalls and 30 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at any Toyota dealer.

Recalls
3
Complaints
30
Crashes / fires
7 / 0
Injuries / deaths
2 / 0

Recalls may cover only some 2019 Toyota Prius vehicles. Check your VIN at NHTSA ↗ to see open recalls for your exact car.

2019 Toyota Prius recalls

Recall 19V-876: Electrical System

Reported Dec 11, 2019 · 3,751 vehicles affected · Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing

Problem: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2019 Prius vehicles. An electrical short circuit in the combination meter could occur, causing the speedometer, the odometer, and the fuel gauge to go blank. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 101, "Controls and Displays."

Risk: A blank main display will not show important information like vehicle speed or fuel level. Driving with an inoperative display can increase the risk of a crash.

Fix: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the flash memory chip (ROM) production date, and if necessary, replace it along with the combination meter circuit board, free of charge. The recall began February 7, 2020. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 19TA21 and 19TB21.

Recall 19V-544: Service Brakes, Electronic Stability Control (ESC)

Reported Jul 24, 2019 · 6,925 vehicles affected · Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing

Problem: 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."

Risk: Deactivation of the vehicle stability control system or a loss of braking assist increases the risk of a crash.

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 this recall are K1L/K0L. Lexus' numbers for this recall are K2F/KLF.

Recall 19V-244: Equipment

Reported Mar 27, 2019 · 3,634 vehicles affected · Gulf States Toyota, Inc.

Problem: Gulf States Toyota (GST) is recalling certain 2019 C-HR, 4Runner, Avalon, Avalon Hybrid, Camry, Camry Hybrid, Highlander, Land Cruiser, Prius, RAV4, Sequoia, Tacoma, Sienna, Tundra and Yaris vehicles. The text on the load capacity label may become illegible. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims."

Risk: If the driver cannot read the label, they may unknowingly overload the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

Fix: GST will notify owners, and dealers will provide corrected load carrying capacity modification labels, free of charge. The recall began May 24, 2019. Owners may contact GST customer service at 1-800-444-1074. GST's number for this recall is 19R1.

2019 Toyota Prius problems reported by owners

Problem areaReports
Service Brakes9
Unknown or Other8
Engine6
Vehicle Speed Control4
Air Bags4
Forward Collision Avoidance4
Electrical System4
Tires3
Power Train2
Electronic Stability Control (ESC)1
Service Brakes, Air1
Back Over Prevention1

Most reported parts

  • Forward Collision Avoidance › Automatic Emergency Braking — 3
  • Service Brakes, Air › Disc › Rotor — 1
  • Forward Collision Avoidance › Warnings — 1
  • Back Over Prevention › Warnings — 1
  • Vehicle Speed Control › Accelerator Pedal — 1
  • Tires › Pressure Monitoring and Regulating Systems — 1
  • Lane Departure › Assist — 1

Typical mileage at the time of the problem: 5,500 miles (median of owner reports).

Problems that are not covered by a recall are paid repairs; labor rates follow local mechanic pay — see what auto mechanics earn in each state.

Recent 2019 Toyota Prius complaints

Owner reports filed with NHTSA, as written (personal details removed). Complaints are not verified by NHTSA.

Engine · reported Aug 26, 2026
Coolant is leaking into the catalytic converter. This seems to be a common issue. Toyota issued a technical service bulletin on XXX covering this exactly. Some 2016–2019 Prius and 2017–2019 Prius Prime vehicles may exhibit low coolant level, MIL on with DTC P148F00, and/or poor heater performance due to coolant leakage at the front exhaust pipe heat exchanger. The front exhaust pipe with heat exchanger assembly has been updated. The repair is listed as a 1.5-hour remove-and-replace of the front exhaust pipe assembly, and the diagnostic procedure involves unbolting the rear exhaust pipe…
Unknown or Other · reported Jan 6, 2026
Body of car has rust perforation starting from the inside working out. This is on the roof, so water incursion will effect airbags and electrical system. FIrst noticed rust bubbles a few years ago, but did not think much of it. Now two body shops have said roof panel needs to be replaced. This is big stuff!
Forward Collision Avoidance · reported Oct 11, 2025
Since October 2023, my 2019 Toyota Prius has developed severe and unpredictable driving behavior after a regular brake service, which may have triggered or coincided with a software or ECU update. The car, which had been driving smoothly since I bought it in 2021, suddenly began showing false braking, steering interference, and lane instability — as if the car were trying to “correct” problems that didn’t exist. These interventions often happen on highways or during turns, creating serious safety risks for both driver and passengers. I’ve spent months and thousands of dollars…
Unknown or Other · reported Aug 6, 2025
Coolant system failed because coolant was leaking into catalytic converter. Two mechanics in two different states (one a Toyota dealer) claimed this is defect with 2019 Prius and results in repair costing more than $2000.00 because of this design flaw. Warning light did not come on until coolant was gone.
Engine and Engine Cooling · at 95,000 miles · reported Jun 17, 2025
The contact owns a 2019 Toyota Prius. The contact stated there was a coolant leak and the coolant level was low. There was no indication of coolant on the ground. The check engine and engine HOT warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated that the failure was related to TSB: 0135-19. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer where it was diagnosed that there was a coolant leak in the front exhaust pipe heat exchanger. The parts to repair the vehicle were on backorder. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 95,000.

Other Toyota Prius years

Compare all Toyota Prius years · All Toyota models

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2019 Toyota Prius have any recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 3 recalls for the 2019 Toyota Prius: 19V-876 (electrical system), 19V-544 (service brakes, electronic stability control (esc)), 19V-244 (equipment). Not every vehicle is affected, so check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What is the most common problem with the 2019 Toyota Prius?

Owners report service brakes problems most often (9 reports), followed by unknown or other (8). The typical mileage when problems were reported is about 5,500 miles.

Are Toyota recall repairs free?

Yes. Safety recall repairs are free at authorized Toyota dealers, whether you are the first owner or bought the car used.