Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC)
Every generation
Power
0–62 mph (0–100 km/h)
Top speed (175 km/h)
Combined, EPA 2026
What owners say
Our take, from owner reports
Extremely negative sentiment regarding ownership viability, dominated by severe infrastructure and cost-of-fuel criticisms.
5 problems reported (3 very frequent, 2 recurrent) · high confidence
Problems owners report
- Very frequentCatastrophically limited and unreliable refueling infrastructure
Stations are sparse, frequently out of service, or out of hydrogen for weeks, stranding owners. Long repressurization times (15-20 minutes between fill-ups) create long lines at functional stations.
- Very frequentProhibitively high hydrogen fuel cost
Prices cited from $21/kg to over $30/kg, resulting in a fueling cost of approximately $75-$150 per tank and a cost per mile of $0.19-$0.50/km ($0.30-$0.80/mile), vastly exceeding gasoline and electricity costs.
- Very frequentSevere depreciation
Used values are extremely low (e.g., $15k-$17k for a 2017-2018 model) due to the above factors and the expiration of fuel credits for second owners.
+ 2 more issuesShow fewer
- RecurrentPoor performance
Acceleration cited as sluggish, with 0-60 mph (0-97 km/h) around 9.1 seconds, comparable to economy cars costing far less.
- RecurrentFuel supply constraints
Reliance on hydrogen trucked from Louisiana (or other sources) leads to regional shortages and price spikes.
The version owners recommend
Insufficient owner data available to distinguish between trims or model years. The 2021+ second-generation model is noted for its "stunning" and "decent" redesign, a significant improvement over the widely criticized aesthetics of the first-generation (2015-2020) model. No specific trim recommendations are present in the data.
Competitors to consider
Owners compare it most often with the Tesla Model 3, Hyundai Nexo, Honda Clarity FCEV, Toyota Prius and Subaru Impreza.
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Overall sentiment
Extremely negative sentiment regarding ownership viability, dominated by severe infrastructure and cost-of-fuel criticisms. The vehicle is acknowledged as a technological showcase with a smooth, quiet driving experience and a drastic aesthetic improvement in the 2021+ redesign. However, the overwhelming consensus from owner discussions is that the Mirai is a compromised and impractical vehicle for nearly all buyers due to the cripplingly limited and unreliable hydrogen refueling infrastructure, exorbitant fuel costs after initial subsidies expire, and catastrophic depreciation. Positive remarks are almost exclusively conditional on heavy purchase incentives and complimentary fuel cards, with satisfaction plummeting once those benefits end. The vehicle is widely characterized as suitable only for leasing with included fuel, not for purchase.
Positioning vs competitors
Positioned as a niche, technology-demonstrator alternative to battery electric vehicles (BEVs), with its sole advantage being faster refueling time (approximately 5 minutes). It is consistently portrayed as inferior to BEVs in nearly every other metric: significantly higher energy cost per mile, vastly underdeveloped and unreliable refueling network, higher vehicle purchase price before massive subsidies, and poorer performance (e.g., 0-60 mph/0-97 km/h in ~9.1 seconds). Compared to mainstream hybrids like the Prius, it offers zero-emissions driving but at a monumental operational cost and inconvenience. The Hyundai Nexo is mentioned as a direct FCEV competitor sharing the same infrastructure limitations.
Recommended configurations
Lease, do not buy. This is the singular, recurrent recommendation. Owners and commentators strongly advise only acquiring the Mirai via a lease that includes a comprehensive fuel card, as this transfers the risk of fuel cost volatility and infrastructure failure to the manufacturer. Purchase is strongly discouraged due to catastrophic depreciation and the burden of post-warranty fuel costs.
General recommendations
ONLY consider if all the following conditions are met: You live in very specific parts of California (primarily Los Angeles or San Francisco) with multiple hydrogen stations in close proximity to both home and work; you can secure a lease with a substantial incentive and a full complimentary fuel package; you accept the vehicle as a short-term experiment with no long-term value. NOT recommended for first-time buyers, those needing reliable transportation, anyone outside of major California metro areas, or anyone purchasing with their own money. Before committing, physically verify the operational status and wait times of local hydrogen stations, as stations are frequently reported as "out of service" or "out of hydrogen" for extended periods.
Remarks
The economic model of the Mirai is entirely dependent on massive manufacturer and government subsidies, including purchase incentives up to $20,000 and fuel credits up to $15,000. The vehicle's transaction price can reportedly fall into the $18,000-$26,000 range after incentives, but its operational cost without the fuel credit is ruinous. Owner discussions indicate the infrastructure has not improved reliably over time, with reports of stations being abandoned by operators like Shell. The vehicle serves as a case study in the practical challenges of hydrogen FCEVs for personal transportation, with consensus pointing to battery electric vehicles as the superior zero-emissions pathway for passenger cars. Analysis based on commentary spanning 2015-2025, reflecting experiences with both first and second-generation models.
Generation by generation
Owner insights per generation and US complaint/recall records (NHTSA).
Complaints and recalls by model yearWorst year: 2022. Years to avoid: 2023, 2022Source: NHTSA (US)Show table
Each year graded against the model's other years: Year Score. See all Toyota Mirai years to avoid
| Year | Complaints | Recalls | Most-reported area |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 6 | 2 | fuel/propulsion system |
| 2022 | 10 | 1 | forward collision avoidance |
| 2021 | 1 | 1 | fuel/propulsion system |
| 2020 | 1 | 0 | vehicle speed control |
| 2019 | 4 | 0 | air bags |
| 2018 | 2 | 0 | unknown or other |
| 2017 | 4 | 0 | service brakes |
| 2016 | 2 | 0 | fuel/propulsion system |
Complaint counts come from owner reports filed with the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Higher-selling years naturally accumulate more complaints.
Recall notices4 on record · Source: NHTSA (US)Show recalls
2023 · back over prevention:display functioncampaign 24V124000
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2023 Mirai, Lexus LS500, LS500H, 2023-2024 Lexus ES250, ES300H, ES350, 2024 Lexus LC500, and LC500H vehicles equipped with a Panoramic View Monitor (PVM) system. Due to incorrect programming of the parking-assist electronic control unit (ECU) software, the rearview camera image may not immediately display within a couple of seconds after the shifter is placed into reverse. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."
2023 · back over prevention:display functioncampaign 25V744000
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2022-2026 Toyota, Lexus, and Subaru Solterra vehicles equipped with a Panoramic View Monitor (PVM) system. Please see the recall report for a complete list of models. A software error may cause the rearview camera to freeze or display a blank screen when the vehicle is in reverse. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 111, "Rear Visibility."
2022 · electronic stability control (esc):control module:softwarecampaign 22V239000
Toyota Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2022 Lexus LX 600, Lexus NX 350h, Lexus NX 450h+, Toytoa RAV4 Hybrid, 2021-2022 Lexus LS 500h, Toyota Mirai, RAV4 PRIME, Sienna, Venza, and 2020-2022 Toyota Highlander Hybrid vehicles. The Skid Control ECU software may not turn on the Vehicle Stability Control (VSC) system when the vehicle is restarted after the driver has disabled the VSC system. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 126, "Electronic Stability Control Systems."
2021 · electronic stability control (esc):control module:softwarecampaign 22V239000
Toyota Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2022 Lexus LX 600, Lexus NX 350h, Lexus NX 450h+, Toytoa RAV4 Hybrid, 2021-2022 Lexus LS 500h, Toyota Mirai, RAV4 PRIME, Sienna, Venza, and 2020-2022 Toyota Highlander Hybrid vehicles. The Skid Control ECU software may not turn on the Vehicle Stability Control (VSC) system when the vehicle is restarted after the driver has disabled the VSC system. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 126, "Electronic Stability Control Systems."
Specifications
1.2 kWh FCEV
Electric · 182 hp · RWD · automatic
Built 2020–2026