Parts for your 2020 Toyota Prius-Universal joints

2020 Toyota Prius universal joints — are they even a thing here?

Short answer: universal joints (the classic cross-style U-joints you find on a prop shaft) aren’t used in the driveline of the 2020 Toyota Prius. Technical references like Toyota’s New Car Features (NCF) manual for the Gen 4 Prius platform and the Toyota Repair Manual show the Prius uses a front-wheel-drive hybrid transaxle (the P-series hybrid transaxle) with constant-velocity (CV) half-shafts, not a longitudinal driveshaft with U-joints. Even the AWD-e variant adds a compact electric motor at the rear axle rather than a prop shaft, so there’s still no place for traditional driveline U-joints.

Why’s that? The Prius packages its engine, motor-generators, and differential into a single front transaxle to keep things efficient and tidy. CV joints on the front half-shafts handle large steering angles and suspension travel smoothly, which is ideal for a FWD layout. Universal joints can cause speed fluctuation at angles (the old cyclic velocity issue), so Toyota uses CV joints where articulation is needed. This design choice is backed by Toyota’s service literature for Drivetrain/Axle, which details front drive shafts with inner/outer CV joints and no propeller shaft assembly. Industry write-ups and SAE technical papers on the fourth‑gen Prius powertrain architecture align with this layout as well.

Just to clear the air: there is a small universal joint in the steering intermediate shaft on most modern Toyotas, including Prius. That’s part of the steering column, not the driveline. It’s generally maintenance-free and only gets attention if there’s play, binding, or a clunk over bumps.

So if someone’s chasing a “bad universal joint” noise on a 2020 Prius, it’s more likely one of these instead:

• Split or leaking CV boots leading to worn CV joints
• Worn engine/transaxle mounts causing a thud on take-off
• Front wheel bearings humming with road speed
• Steering intermediate shaft play (rare, but possible)

For normal servicing in Australia or New Zealand, the go-to is simple: inspect the front CV boots at each service, check for grease fling, cracks, or clicks on full lock. The Prius doesn’t have scheduled maintenance for driveline U-joints because it doesn’t use them. If it’s an AWD-e model, technicians will also run the usual checks on the rear electric drive unit and wheel bearings—still no prop shaft, still no U-joints.

Popular questions about 2020 Toyota Prius universal joints

Does a 2020 Toyota Prius have universal joints in the driveline?

No. The 2020 Prius uses a front-wheel-drive hybrid transaxle with CV half-shafts. There’s no longitudinal prop shaft, so no traditional driveline U-joints to service or replace.

The AWD-e version adds a small electric motor on the rear axle, again removing the need for a prop shaft and U-joints.

What sounds might be mistaken for a bad universal joint on a Prius?

Clicking on tight turns often points to a worn outer CV joint, a rhythmic hum that changes with speed can be a wheel bearing, and a clunk on take-off might be an engine or transaxle mount.

A rare steering clunk can come from the steering intermediate shaft, which does use a small U-joint—but it’s unrelated to the driveline U-joints found in rear-drive vehicles.

What should be serviced instead of universal joints on a 2020 Prius?

Have the CV boots and joints inspected at routine services, especially if there’s grease around the inner guards or undertray. Technicians will check for split boots, play, and clicking noises.

Also keep an ear on wheel bearings and ensure mounts are in good nick. There’s no scheduled U-joint maintenance because the Prius doesn’t have them in the driveline.