Hybrid car reliability

I just finished responding to an e-mail that covered a common question that I receive, "Is it true that hybrid cars are unreliable?"

NO, it is not true! Recently there have been a few dozen complaints regarding a software glitch in the Toyota Prius hybrid. That glitch; however, has still not lead to a government recall, nor has it caused any deaths, injuries, or any accidents.

Additionally, consumer surveys have put the Prius atop customer satisfaction rankings. They have been exceedingly reliable and almost 100% of Prius owners would buy another Prius.

While there could be long term maintenance issues and battery pack problems, there is no proof thus far that either issue will actually ever materialize - it's pure speculation at this point. Many first generation Prii are soon approaching their first decades of operation and the evidence thus far suggests one thing, reliability.