ToyotaPrius Prime2021Overview/toyota/prius-prime/2021/base/

2021 Toyota Prius Prime

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2021 Prius Prime.

Transmission Automatic (variable gear ratios)

The 2021 Toyota Prius Prime utilizes 4.4 quarts of 0W-20 engine oil and employs an automatic transmission with variable gear ratios. Reliability data registers only ten total owner complaints for this model year—clustered primarily in the electrical system—with zero recalls issued, indicating controlled production variance. Within the 20172024 generation, a span that saw complaint volume peak at 143 for the 2017 launch year and drop to a low of four for 2023, the 2021 model’s minimal complaint load positions it among the more reliable entries in the series.

Model year20242023202220212020201920182017

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity4.4 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type0W-20OEM · verified
Lug nut torque76.0 ft-lbsOEM · verified
EPA efficiency55/53/54 MPGeEPA · verified
EPA electric range640 miEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 140R · 295 CCA battery, OE oil filter 90915YZZN1. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Battery groupBCI 140R · 295 CCAOEM · verified
Tail / brake / turnCANHOEM · verified
Tire size195/65R15 91SOEM · verified
Wheel / rim6.5 inOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter90915YZZN1
Engine air filter1780121060
Spark plug9091901298
Battery2880037130
Front wiper blades8522247130 alt 8521247130
Thermostat1632637020 alt 1603137010
Cabin air filter8713958010 alt 871390R030

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic (variable gear ratios)

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length178.7 in
Overall width69.3 in
Overall height57.9 in
Wheelbase106.3 in
Curb weight3364 lb
Track (front / rear)60.2 / 60.2 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)60/40

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined55 / 53 / 54 MPGe
Electric range640 mi
Charge time (240V)2.0 hr
Electric motor22 and 53 kW AC Induction
Energy use25.0 kWh/100mi
DrivetrainFront-Wheel Drive
Recommended fuelRegular Gasoline

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 4.4 qt of 0W-20 engine oil, SAE J1703 · Dot 3 · SAE J1704 · Dot 4 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 76.0 ft-lbs.

Lubricants & capacities

Automatic Transmission FluidATF
Automatic Transmission Fluid CapacityP610
Brake FluidSAE J1703 · Dot 3 · SAE J1704 · Dot 4
Engine CoolantToyota Super Long Life Coolant
Engine Oil0W-20
Engine Oil Capacity4.4 qt

Engine torques

Crankshaft Position (CKP) Sensor Bolt(s)7.0 ft-lbs
Camshaft Position (CMP) Sensor Bolt(s)7.0 ft-lbs
Camshaft Bearing/Carrier Cap Bolts or Studs20 ft-lbs
Engine Coolant Temperature (ECT) Sensor Bolt(s)14.0 ft-lbs
Oxygen (O2S) Sensor Bolt(s)32.0 ft-lbs
Knock Sense (KS) Bolt(s)15.0 ft-lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine BoltsIntake to Cylinder Head: 21.0 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts19.0 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts76.0 ft-lbs
Automatic Transmission Drain Plug37.0 ft-lbs

Ignition

Spark Plug ManufacturerDenso
Spark Plug TypeFC16HR-CY9
Spark Plug Torque15.0 ft-lbs

Battery & A/C

Oil TypeND-11 or equivalent
Standard BCI Group Number140R
Standard BCI Cranking Performance295 cca

Service checks

Fuel Pump Pressure MinimumStandard: 44.0 psi
Fuel Pump Pressure MaximumStandard: 50.0 psi
Residual Pressure21.0
Engine Compression89.5
Engine Oil Pressure8.7 psi minimum @ Idle psi
Engine Oil Pressure RPM21.0 psi minimum @ 2,500 RPM

Brakes

Minimum Pad ThicknessFront: 0.0394; Rear: 0.0394 in

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
115 ft. lbs., Step 2: 9015 ft. lbs
Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
115.0 ft. lbs., Step 2: 90°15 ft. lbs
Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 1 stages
1In multiple turns evenly tighten to 36.0 ft. lbs., Step 2: 90°, Step 3: 45°36 ft. lbs
Engine Flywheel Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
136 ft. lbs., Step 2: 9036 ft. lbs
Main Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
130 ft. lbs., Step 2: 9030 ft. lbs
Main Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
130.0 ft. lbs., Step 2: 90°30 ft. lbs

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 10,000 mi; spark plugs at 120,000 mi; coolant every 50,000 mi. The big-interval services (every 50,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

Every 5,000 miBrake System (inspect) · Floor Mat (inspect) · Hybrid Battery Compartment Air Filter (inspect) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate) · Universal Vehicle Operation (inspect all fluid levels) · Windshield Wiper Blade (inspect)
Every 10,000 miEngine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace)
At 15,000 miCabin Air Filter (inspect)
Every 15,000 miAir Conditioning Condenser (inspect) · Brake Line (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Engine Coolant System (inspect fluid level) · Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect) · Hybrid Inverter (inspect coolant level)
Every 30,000 miBrake Drum Assembly (inspect) · Brake Linings (inspect) · Brake Rotor (inspect) · Cabin Air Filter (inspect) · Cabin Air Filter (replace) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace)
Every 50,000 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)
At 100,000 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)
At 120,000 miSpark Plugs (replace)
At 150,000 miHybrid Inverter (drain, flush & refill coolant)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The 2021 Toyota Prius Prime sits in a mature, stable phase of this generation's lifecycle, well removed from the launch-year turbulence of 2017 (143 complaints, 320 TSBs) and predating the recall spike that emerged in 20232024 (four recalls each year). Complaint volumes across the generation settled into single- and low-double-digit territory from 2018 onward, and 2021's 10 complaints fall squarely within that band—slightly above the 8 recorded in 2019 and 2022, but below 2020's 16. Notably, 2021 is one of only two model years in this generation with zero recalls (the other being 2018), and its 122 TSBs are consistent with the steady 90–125 range maintained from 2018 through 2022, suggesting no new service-driven discoveries. The 10 complaints are spread across Electrical System, Service Brakes, Fuel/Propulsion System, Back Over Prevention, and Power Train with no single dominant failure area, and the data does not specify root causes for any of these. Four crash-associated complaints and zero fire complaints are on record, but the dataset provides no further detail on circumstances. For a used buyer, 2021 represents one of the cleaner entries in this generation—low complaint volume, no open recalls at launch, and a stable position before the late-generation recall uptick—making it a solid choice.

0
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
122
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
1
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
10
Owner complaints
4 involved a crash · 0 a fire
NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars
Overall★★★★★
Frontal★★★★
Side★★★★★
Rollover★★★★
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 10 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Electrical System1
Electrical System,Service Brakes,Fuel/Propulsion System1
Back Over Prevention1
Power Train,Electrical System,Fuel/Propulsion System1
Forward Collision Avoidance1
Service Brakes, Hydraulic,Vehicle Speed Control1
Power Train,Electrical System1
Air Bags,Service Brakes,Engine1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

No recall campaigns on record with NHTSA for this vehicle as of the last data refresh.

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 122 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
T-SB-0106-22 Rev22026-01-30Electrical SystemOBSOLETE NOTICE January 30, 2026: This bulletin is now obsolete. Please see T-SB-0001-26.
T-SB-0001-262026-01-28Electrical SystemSome 2018 – 2024 model year Toyota vehicles equipped with a Premium Audio with Dynamic…
T-SB-0055-24 Rev22026-01-07Unknown Or OtherSome 2005 – 2026 Toyota vehicles that have undergone water intrusion may exhibit a…
T-TT-0784-25 Rev12025-06-17EngineSome ECUs can set a DTC that is common with other ECUs. This can lead to accidental use…
T-SB-0058-23 Rev12025-06-13Electrical SystemThe air conditioning dye injection tool kit has been developed to aid in identifying the…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420
Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1
P0300
Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected
P0171
System too lean — Bank 1
P0455
Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak
P0128
Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature
P0442
Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN
Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Prius Prime. OEM
Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
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Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 2021 Prius Prime take?

4.4 qt of 0W-20, per the factory manual.

Does the 2021 Prius Prime have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 0 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What is the EPA range and efficiency of the Prius Prime?

EPA figures are 55 city / 53 highway / 54 combined MPGe. EPA electric range is 640 miles.