2013 TOYOTA PRIUS — Owner-Reported Problems

NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation Snapshot 2026-08-22 413 complaints · 4 recalls
Most-reported system: SERVICE BRAKES (198 complaints · 47.9%)
Safety signals:
  • Crashes 41
  • Fires 3
  • Injuries 21
  • Deaths 0
Compare with 2012 →
NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-08-21 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Component Problem Distribution

Share of owner complaints filed for each vehicle system (unaffected by sales volume)

Component Problem Distribution SERVICE BRAKES appears in 198 of 413 owner complaints (47.9%) in this vehicle snapshot. SERVICE BRAKES: 198 complaints, 47.9% of reports SERVICE BRAKES 198 · 47.9% · 15 crash reports ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: 31 complaints, 7.5% of reports ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 31 · 7.5% · 1 crash reports ENGINE: 19 complaints, 4.6% of reports ENGINE 19 · 4.6% VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL: 15 complaints, 3.6% of reports VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 15 · 3.6% · 6 crash reports AIR BAGS: 13 complaints, 3.2% of reports AIR BAGS 13 · 3.2% · 7 crash reports EXTERIOR LIGHTING: 12 complaints, 2.9% of reports EXTERIOR LIGHTING 12 · 2.9% FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: 11 complaints, 2.7% of reports FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE 11 · 2.7% POWER TRAIN: 11 complaints, 2.7% of reports POWER TRAIN 11 · 2.7% FUEL SYSTEM: 10 complaints, 2.4% of reports FUEL SYSTEM 10 · 2.4% · 2 crash reports UNKNOWN OR OTHER: 91 complaints, 22.0% of reports UNKNOWN OR OTHER 91 · 22.0% · 8 crash reports 3 fire reports 0% 25% 50% 75% 100%

UNKNOWN OR OTHER is an NHTSA classification artifact and is always listed last.

View component data as a table
System / Component Complaints Share of Reports Safety Reports (Crashes / Fires)
SERVICE BRAKES 198 47.9% 15 crashes · 0 fires
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 31 7.5% 1 crashes · 0 fires
ENGINE 19 4.6% 0 crashes · 0 fires
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 15 3.6% 6 crashes · 0 fires
AIR BAGS 13 3.2% 7 crashes · 0 fires
EXTERIOR LIGHTING 12 2.9% 0 crashes · 0 fires
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE 11 2.7% 0 crashes · 0 fires
POWER TRAIN 11 2.7% 0 crashes · 0 fires
FUEL SYSTEM 10 2.4% 2 crashes · 0 fires
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 91 22.0% 8 crashes · 3 fires
NHTSA Consumer Complaints, NHTSA Safety Recalls, and NHTSA Defect Investigations Snapshot 2026-08-22 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Problem & Recall Timeline

Observed complaint volume and manufacturer recall actions over time

Problem & Recall Timeline Owner reports in this snapshot begin in Oct 2012; the first recall shown was reported in Feb 2014. 2012-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 2013-Q1: 2 owner reports 2 2013-Q2: 5 owner reports 5 2013-Q3: 11 owner reports 11 2013-Q4: 9 owner reports 9 2014-Q1: 6 owner reports 6 2014-Q2: 11 owner reports 11 2014-Q3: 5 owner reports 5 2014-Q4: 5 owner reports 5 2015-Q1: 4 owner reports 4 2015-Q2: 3 owner reports 3 2015-Q3: 4 owner reports 4 2016-Q1: 4 owner reports 4 2016-Q2: 4 owner reports 4 2016-Q3: 2 owner reports 2 2016-Q4: 7 owner reports 7 2017-Q1: 7 owner reports 7 2017-Q2: 3 owner reports 3 2017-Q3: 2 owner reports 2 2017-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 2018-Q1: 3 owner reports 3 2018-Q2: 6 owner reports 6 2018-Q3: 7 owner reports 7 2018-Q4: 13 owner reports 13 2019-Q1: 10 owner reports 10 2019-Q2: 5 owner reports 5 2019-Q3: 8 owner reports 8 2019-Q4: 7 owner reports 7 2020-Q1: 11 owner reports 11 2020-Q2: 2 owner reports 2 2020-Q3: 4 owner reports 4 2020-Q4: 5 owner reports 5 2021-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 2021-Q2: 5 owner reports 5 2021-Q3: 6 owner reports 6 2021-Q4: 6 owner reports 6 2022-Q1: 7 owner reports 7 2022-Q2: 2 owner reports 2 2022-Q3: 6 owner reports 6 2022-Q4: 2 owner reports 2 2023-Q1: 6 owner reports 6 2023-Q2: 7 owner reports 7 2023-Q3: 12 owner reports 12 2023-Q4: 9 owner reports 9 2024-Q1: 20 owner reports 20 2024-Q2: 16 owner reports 16 2024-Q3: 12 owner reports 12 2024-Q4: 11 owner reports 11 2025-Q1: 19 owner reports 19 2025-Q2: 24 owner reports 24 2025-Q3: 21 owner reports 21 2025-Q4: 16 owner reports 16 2026-Q1: 9 owner reports 9 2026-Q2: 12 owner reports 12 2026-Q3: 7 owner reports 7 Owner reports Oct 2012 Jul 2026 Recall campaign 14V053000 ◆ Recall campaign 14V053000 Recall campaign 17V718000 ◆ Recall campaign 17V718000 Recall campaign 18V684000 ◆ Recall campaign 18V684000 Recall campaign 20V369000 ◆ Recall campaign 20V369000 Investigation DP19004 ● Investigation DP19004 Investigation DP19004 ● Investigation DP19004 Investigation DP22005 ● Investigation DP22005 Investigation DP22005 ● Investigation DP22005 Investigation DP23005 ● Investigation DP23005
  • Campaign 14V053000 was reported 268 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 20V369000 was reported 2,745 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
View timeline records as a table
Date Record type Count Record identifier
2012-Q4 Owner reports 1
2013-Q1 Owner reports 2
2013-Q2 Owner reports 5
2013-Q3 Owner reports 11
2013-Q4 Owner reports 9
2014-Q1 Owner reports 6
2014-Q2 Owner reports 11
2014-Q3 Owner reports 5
2014-Q4 Owner reports 5
2015-Q1 Owner reports 4
2015-Q2 Owner reports 3
2015-Q3 Owner reports 4
2016-Q1 Owner reports 4
2016-Q2 Owner reports 4
2016-Q3 Owner reports 2
2016-Q4 Owner reports 7
2017-Q1 Owner reports 7
2017-Q2 Owner reports 3
2017-Q3 Owner reports 2
2017-Q4 Owner reports 1
2018-Q1 Owner reports 3
2018-Q2 Owner reports 6
2018-Q3 Owner reports 7
2018-Q4 Owner reports 13
2019-Q1 Owner reports 10
2019-Q2 Owner reports 5
2019-Q3 Owner reports 8
2019-Q4 Owner reports 7
2020-Q1 Owner reports 11
2020-Q2 Owner reports 2
2020-Q3 Owner reports 4
2020-Q4 Owner reports 5
2021-Q1 Owner reports 1
2021-Q2 Owner reports 5
2021-Q3 Owner reports 6
2021-Q4 Owner reports 6
2022-Q1 Owner reports 7
2022-Q2 Owner reports 2
2022-Q3 Owner reports 6
2022-Q4 Owner reports 2
2023-Q1 Owner reports 6
2023-Q2 Owner reports 7
2023-Q3 Owner reports 12
2023-Q4 Owner reports 9
2024-Q1 Owner reports 20
2024-Q2 Owner reports 16
2024-Q3 Owner reports 12
2024-Q4 Owner reports 11
2025-Q1 Owner reports 19
2025-Q2 Owner reports 24
2025-Q3 Owner reports 21
2025-Q4 Owner reports 16
2026-Q1 Owner reports 9
2026-Q2 Owner reports 12
2026-Q3 Owner reports 7
Recall campaign 1 14V053000
Recall campaign 1 17V718000
Recall campaign 1 18V684000
Recall campaign 1 20V369000
Defect investigation 1 DP19004
Defect investigation 1 DP19004
Defect investigation 1 DP22005
Defect investigation 1 DP22005
Defect investigation 1 DP23005
NHTSA Safety Recalls Snapshot 2026-08-22 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Safety Recalls (4)

Official safety recall campaigns filed with NHTSA

  1. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 14V053000

    Report date
    Component:
    ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
    Consequence:
    The vehicle may enter a fail-safe/limp-home mode that limits the drivability of the vehicle. The hybrid system could also shut down completely resulting in a vehicle stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
    Remedy:
    Toyota will notify owners and dealers will update the software for both the motor/generator control electronic control unit (ECU) and the hybrid control ECU, free of charge. If an owner experiences a failure of the inverter before the vehicle receives updated software, the dealer will repair or replace the inverter assembly with a new one at no charge. The recall began on March 21, 2014. Owners may contact Toyota at 1-800-331-4331.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  2. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 17V718000

    Report date
    Component:
    Not available in the source record
    Consequence:
    The failed fuse may cause the hybrid system to shut down resulting in the loss of power. Loss of power while driving at higher speeds can increase the risk of a crash.
    Remedy:
    Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the EV fuse, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin January 8, 2018. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is H0R.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  3. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 18V684000

    Report date
    Component:
    Not available in the source record
    Consequence:
    If the hybrid system shuts down unexpectedly, it can increase the risk of a crash.
    Remedy:
    Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will update the software for the motor/generator control electronic control unit (ECU) and the hybrid control ECU as necessary, free of charge. The recall began January 22, 2019. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371. Toyota's number for this recall is J0V. Note: The software updates in this recall are needed even if the vehicle had the software previously updated under recalls 14V-053 or 15V-449.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  4. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 20V369000

    Report date
    Component:
    HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM
    Consequence:
    An unexpected hybrid power system shut down may increase the risk of a crash.
    Remedy:
    Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will perform a software update for the hybrid system. If the vehicle has experienced an inverter failure with certain hybrid system faults related to this condition, the inverter assembly will be repaired or replaced, prior to software update. All repairs will be performed free of charge. This recall began July 24, 2020. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371. Toyota's number for this recall is 20TB10 / 20TA10.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →
NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-08-21 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Complaint Narrative Explorer

Verbatim owner-reported defect narratives from NHTSA public records

Data: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation · snapshot 2026-08-21
Safety incident filters
Showing 0 of 413 complaints · page 1 of 17

No complaints match the current filters.
EPA Fuel Economy Database Snapshot 2026-08-21 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Estimated Ownership Cost

EPA fuel economy ratings and annual operating cost estimates

Data: US EPA Fuel Economy Guide · snapshot 2026-08-21
Supported range: 1,000–60,000 miles per year
Supported range: $1.50–$10.00 per gallon
55% city45% highway
Estimate unavailable

EPA fuel-economy data is unavailable for this vehicle.

No estimate is shown when required EPA values are unavailable.

 Open Ownership Cost Calculator →

Adjacent Model Years

Immediate preceding and succeeding model year records

NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-08-21 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Methodology & Data Integrity

Data sourced from NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Snapshot date: 2026-08-21.

Read our complete data methodology → Sources