What 399 owners told NHTSA about the 2013 Toyota Prius Phev

Pulled out of the driveway drove about a 100 ft heard large clunking sound front end dropped down as if there was a flat tire pulled off the highway drove through the grass 100 ft back to my home the car started smoking from the engine compartment and burst into flames. Tried to extinguish with fire extinguishers and water hose while calling 911. Fire Department extinguished the fire. Car is a complete loss. There was an oil leak trail from where the car first drop down through the grass. The car did not have a previous oil leak. The car had 300,000 miles on it. No one was injured.

NHTSA ODI 11669902

The contact owns a 2013 Toyota Prius. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the contact's vehicle was involved in a head-on collision. The air bags did not deploy. The vehicle was towed to the contact's residence. The vehicle had not been inspected for damages. The contact was transported to the local medical center. The contact sustained injuries such as a fractured sternum and a fractured left foot. The contact received treatment and the local medical ctr for a total of four days and then transferred to a primary care facility. In addition, the contact was receiving continued treatment. A Police report was filed. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 73,761.

NHTSA ODI 11649711

I was driving on the highway. All of a sudden abs light, brake light and traction control light came up on my screen. Car lost braking efficiency and I almost crashed into the vehicle in front of me. It was within inches from crash. Found out it was the brake booster and the brake booster pump. Both these parts had been under extended warranty by Toyota unbeknownst to me. Never received any warranty letter or anything from Toyota. I contacted them but since our car has more tha 150,000 miles and over 10 years old they will not cover

NHTSA ODI 11624400

Traveling approximately 15mph I collided with a full size truck the front end of my car totaled. I was wearing my seat belt and air bags did not deploy causing me to hit the steering wheel with enough force to fracture my sternum. This is the 2nd time a frontal impact occurred causing damage to the front bumper and air bags did not deploy.

NHTSA ODI 11602955

Problem 1. Both curtain airbags on the passenger side deployed while no one was sitting in those seats, no injuries sustained to anyone. This happened one time as it happened in a car accident, nothing indicated that the air bags were on or active at the moment. Problem 2. ABS system failure has caused the brakes on the prius to lock and not work while driving, almost causing an incident. The car has not been driven since for the fear of that happening again. The vehicle has been seen by a mechanic to determine it is the abs system. The ABS light has been on as well, it appeared a couple of weeks before the brakes locked up back in March of this year.

NHTSA ODI 11587762

THIS VEHICLE NEEDS TO TAKE OFF FROM THE CONSUMERS DUE DOESN'T DRIVES PROPERLY HAS REAR MAJOR DAMAGE ALSO LEFT SIDE REAR DOOR THEY DIDN'T DID GOOD JOB ALSO THE HYBRID BATTERY SHOWS AT THE DASHBOARD IN N OUT ENGINE CHECK LIGHT. THE REAR FRAME BOUNCE BY THE SIDE IT'S UNSAFE. CAR TIME DEALERSHIP AT ONTARIO, CA DON'T CARE BE CAREFUL ALSO SOLD ME WITH STOLEN CA LICENSE PLATES THIS DEALERSHIP, IT'S SCAM. I DIDN'T KNOW LIKE TO SCAM CONSUMERS SINCE [XXX] GOT IT AND RETURN IT DUE REFUSE TO FIX IT RIGHT AND; THE BANK CANCEL THE TRANSACTION GLOBAL LENDING SERVICES BY ROSE BROWN GENERAL MANAGER EXT 51033 AT THE TELEPHONE THE BANK 877-538-2071 INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ODI 11565590

Failure of the ABS accumulator caused an accident that could have easily killed my family. The issue makes all ABS and stability control inoperable. While applying the brakes to avoid a deer at highway speeds, the wheels locked up while sending the car in an uncontrollable sideways slide across the highway and into a culvert. My wife was driving at the time and she had our 2 small children with her. I learned about the problem from the Toyota dealer and the service advisor told me that Toyota knows about this problem. The advisor informed me that it’s simply just a TSB. This is highly dangerous and Toyota should be responsible for this faulty system.

NHTSA ODI 11439073

Brakes were applied in order to avoid a collision with a deer, but the brakes locked up, sending my family out of control across the oncoming lane and into an embankment. They were lucky they weren’t killed. Toyota knows this is an issue and have failed to address it. The ABS accumulator no longer works, causing a dangerous situation. A local Toyota dealer alerted me to this issue.

NHTSA ODI 11438708

Another vehicle jumped the light, cutting me off, and I hit him. My car sustained massive front end damage, and the radiator was leaking. I sustained a broken rib. The airbag failed to deploy. I was taken by ambulance to a hospital. My car was not inspected or impounded - the police had it towed to a body shop. My insurance company will inspect it.

NHTSA ODI 11432558

I CANNOT STOP MY CAR IN TIME, IT FEELS LIKE I AM FRED FLINSTONE TRYING TO USE MY FEET TO STOP. I HAVE REAR-ENDED ANOTHER CAR. I HAVE NO CAR TO DRIVE AS IT IS NOT SAFE. KENDALL WEST TOYOTA GAVE ME CAR BACK AND SAID PART OF RECALLS COMPLETED BUT UNABLE TO COMPLETE OTHER RECALLS. THEY SAID ABS FIXED BUT IT IS NOT AS STILL MAKES THE SAME WHINING SOUND AND I CANNOT BRAKE. I HAVE TO USE ALL MY STRENGTH TO PUSH AS HARD AS HUMANLY POSSIBLE. I HAVE TO PAY FOR RENTAL CAR. KENDALL TOYOTA COULD NOT PROVIDE A TIME FRAME OF WHEN MY CAR WOULD BE FIXED.

NHTSA ODI 11413928

APRIL 01,2021, OUR 2013 TOYOTA PRIUS WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD ON COLLISION AND THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT, WHEN STRUCK HEAD ON. THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SUSTAINED INJURIES.

NHTSA ODI 11408024

ON MONDAY JAN, 27, 2020, I WAS INVOLVED IN THE ACCIDENT WITH MY 2013 TOYOTA PRIUS I WAS DRIVING ON A FREEWAY WITH REGULAR TRAFFIC. THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME SUDDENLY CAME TO A STOP. I IMMEDIATELY SLAMMED ON MY BRAKES VERY HARD. I HAD PLENTY OF SAFE DISTANCE BETWEEN TWO CARS. I ENDED UP RUNNING INTO THE REAR END OF FRONT CAR WITHOUT ANY NOTICEABLE SLOWDOWN. THE BRAKES DID NOT COME ON. THERE WAS NOT ANY FEELING OF GRABBING OR TIRE MAKING ANY SCREECHING NOISE. ALSO I DID NOT SEE ANY TIRE MARKS ON ROAD. ALL OF THE AIR BAGS WERE DEPLOYED AND THERE WAS A FRONTAL IMPACT. I ALSO DID NOT FEEL MY SEAT BELT TIGHTENING UP.THE BRAKES WERE NEVER FELT LIKE BEING EXERTING AT ALL. THE CAR WAS BADLY DAMAGED IN FRONT.

NHTSA ODI 11306219

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2013 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE ACCELERATING FROM A STOP, A TACOMA TRUCK CRASHED INTO THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED AND TOWED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE HEAD THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THEIR INVESTIGATOR DID NOT HAVE A READING OF ANY FAILURES FOR THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 64,800.*MP THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE FRONT AND SIDE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY BECAUSE THERE WAS INSUFFICIENT DECELERATION IN THE CRASH. *DL

NHTSA ODI 11268836

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2013 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE DRIVER PRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL TO STOP THE VEHICLE BUT THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED FORWARD AND CRASHED INTO A SECOND VEHICLE. DURING THE CRASH THE DRIVER SUSTAINED MULTIPLE CONTUSIONS TO THE BODY INCLUDING THE CHEST AREA WHICH REQUIRED MEDICAL TREATMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED AWAY. A POLICE REPORT #159681-2019 WAS TAKEN AT THE SCENE. THE LOCAL DEALER TOYOTA OF RICHARDSON (1221 N. CENTRAL EXPY. RICHARDSON TX.) THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

NHTSA ODI 11243249

I WAS IN LOS ANGELES PICKING UP MY TWO FRIENDS ON WHITLEY AVENUE, THIS STREET IS ON A BIT OF AN INCLINE. I WAS DRIVING MY TOYOTA PRIUS AND PRESSED THE "PARK" BUTTON. INSTEAD OF PARKING, THE CAR STARTED TO ROLL BACKWARDS AND WENT INTO NEUTRAL. THE GEAR SHIRT IS SEPARATE FROM THE PARK BUTTON SO I KNOW FOR A FACT THAT I DID NOT PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL. I ATTEMPTED TO PRESS THE POWER BUTTON ON "PARK" BUTTON ON THE CAR. I EVEN TRIED TO CHAGE THE GEAR SHIFT TO "D" (FOR DRIVE) REPEATEDLY. NOTHING I TRIED AT THE TIME WAS WORKING AND WHITLEY AVENUE INTERSECTS A VERY HEAVY TRAFFIC STREET, FRANKLIN AVENUE SO I NEEDED TO STOP THE CAR BEFORE IT WENT INTO THIS STREET. I TURNED MY WHEEL TO HIT MY CARE AGAINST CURB SO THAT IT WOULD STOP ROLLING. THIS RESULTED IN MY CAR CAUSING A DOMINO EFFECT AND HITTING A SECOND CAR, WHICH HIT ANOTHER CAR, WHICH HIT ANOTHER CAR. IN TOTAL MY CAR AND THREE OTHER CARS WERE AFFECTED BY THIS IMPACT. MY TRUNK COMPLETELY SHATTERED AND THE STUFF FROM IT FLEW INTO THE CAR THAT I HIT DIRECTLY HIT (THIS TRUNK ALSO COMPLETELY SHATTERED). THE TRUNK OF THE THIRD CAR ALSO COMPLETELY SHATTERED. MY CAR IS NOW TOTALED AND I WOULD LIKE TO FIND OUT WHAT HAPPENED. AFTER THE ACCIDENT I WAS SPEAKING WITH PEOPLE IN THE AREA AND ANOTHER LADY INFORMED ME THAT SHE HAD SEEN ANOTHER PRIUS ROLL UNCONTROLLABLY DOWN THAT HILL AS WELL.

NHTSA ODI 11233513

SOMETHING STARTED BUZZING EVERY FEW SECONDS IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT TOWARD DRIVERS SIDE FIREWALL. AT SLOW SPEEDS, BRAKES PULSATED WITH UNEVEN BRAKING. AS TIME WENT ON, BUZZING WAS MORE FREQUENT. WARNING LIGHTS FLASHED ONCE BUT WENT OUT. AFTER THAT, WHEN PARKING CAR, THE BRAKES WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR AND I HIT ANOTHER CAR AT PARKING SPEEDS. DEALER SAYS 'BRAKE ACTUATOR PUMP' AND WILL COST NEARLY $3000 TO FIX. THIS PUMP ALSO WENT OUT ON MY 2005 PRIUS! BUT THAT WAS COVERED BY A 'HIDDEN' WARRANTY THAT I FOUND WHILE GOOGLING THE ISSUE. WOULD HAVE PAID FULL PRICE FOR THAT REPAIR IF I HAD NOT RUN ACROSS THAT TSB. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A BIG MONEY MAKER FOR TOYOTA FIXING THESE BUT IS A HUGE DANGER TO THE MANY DRIVERS THIS HAS HAPPENED TO OVER THE YEARS. PLEASE DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT. IT IS A RECURRING AND SUBSTANTIAL THREAT TO DRIVER SAFETY THAT MANY DRIVERS WILL OVERLOOK BECAUSE OF THE INFLATED COST OF THE PARTS. THANK YOU.

NHTSA ODI 11186947

I WAS DRIVING DOWN A CITY ROAD AT 25-30 MPH AT DUSK (5:15PM), AND WITH MY HEADLIGHTS ON. THE FIRST INDICATION OF A PROBLEM WAS THE SMELL OF BURNING RUBBER WHEN I TURNED ON THE HEATER. ASSUMING THE PROBLEM WAS WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE AHEAD OF ME, I TURNED OFF THE HEATER AND KEPT DRIVING. A MILE LATER, AS I WAS NEARING MY DESTINATION, I NOTICED SEVERAL WARNING LIGHTS TURN ON (SKID LIGHT AND EXCLAMATION MARK LIGHT) AND THE STEERING BECAME LESS RESPONSIVE. I THEN SAW SMOKE EMITTING FROM UNDER MY HOOD. A FEW SECONDS LATER, THE FRONT PASSENGER-SIDE CORNER OF THE CAR BURST INTO FLAMES. I MANAGED TO PULL OVER, WOKE UP MY TWO YOUNG CHILDREN FROM THEIR CAR SEATS, AND GOT EVERYONE OUT. WITHIN A MINUTE, THE ENTIRE HOOD WAS ABLAZE. GIVEN WHERE THE FIRE STARTED, I SUSPECT THE HEADLIGHT. I REPLACED IT THE DAY BEFORE. THE LIGHT SEEMED TO WORK FINE FOR 1 DAY, BUT IT IS SUSPICIOUS THAT IS ALSO THE AREA WHERE THE FIRE STARTED.

NHTSA ODI 11150819

I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK. THE CAR WAS WORKING JUST FINE. ALL OF A SUDDEN I NOTICED SMOKE. I PUT MY EMERGENCY LIGHTS ON AND STARTED LOOKING FOR ANY SIGN OF TROUBLE. NO WARNING LIGHTS WHEN OFF ON THE DASH BOARD. ALL OF A SUDDEN A CAR PULLED UP NEXT TO ME AND TOLD ME GET OUT YOUR CAR IS ON FIRE! AT THAT POINT I STOPPED ON THE FREEWAY IN THE SECOND LANE AND RAN TO THE CENTER DIVIDER. THE CAR BURNED OUT.

NHTSA ODI 11000622

2013 PRIUS V HAD A COLLISION WITH A MUSTANG CONVERIBLE. BOTH VEHICLES ARE TOTALED. THE MUSTANG'S AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. THE PRIUS'S AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND THE DRIVER HAS A SEVERE CONCUSSION. EMS APPARENTLY TOLD THE HOSPITAL THIS WAS THE SENDING ONE THEY HAD SEEN WHERE AIRBAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY. THE HOSPITAL TOLD ME I NEEDED TO LOOK INTO AIRBAGS (3XS) BASED ON WHAT EMS SAID. WHEN I WENT TO TOYOTA THEY ASKED IF I WAS THE ONE THAT HAD CALLED A COUPLE OF DAYS PRIOR DUE TO AIRBAGS FAILING. (NO I HAD NOT CALLED.) SO, WAS EMS REFERRING TO A SECOND TOYOTA WHERE AIRBAGS HAD NOT DEPLOYED IN 2 DAYS? PLEASE LOOK AT PICTURES. THIS WAS A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. POLICE REPORT STATES BOTH VEHICLES DOING 35MPH. AGAIN, PRIUS AIRBAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY.

NHTSA ODI 10994100

THE VEHICLE HAS SHIFTED INTO NUETRAL WHILE IN DRIVE AND WHILE IN PARK. ALSO ROLLS TO MUCH WHEN PARKED. THE VEHICLE RAN MY WIFE OVER IN OUR DRIVEWAY, TOYOTA REFUSES TO SERVICE THE VEHICLE...UPDATED 03/08/17 *BF

NHTSA ODI 10956383

I WAS DRIVING STRAIGHT ON A CITY ROAD WITH THE FLOW OF HEAVY TRAFFIC AT ABOUT 40 MILES PER HOUR WHEN THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME CAME TO A SUDDEN STOP. I IMMEDIATELY SLAMMED ON MY BRAKES VERY HARD. AT THE TIME I DID THIS I HAD PLENTY OF SAFE DISTANCE BETWEEN US. BUT, THE BRAKES NEVER CAME ON AND I ENDED UP RUNNING INTO THE REAR END OF AN SUV AT APPARENTLY FULL SPEED WITHOUT ANY NOTICEABLE SLOWDOWN. THE BRAKES DID NOT COME ON. THEY DIDN'T GRAB, AND THEY DIDN'T MAKE ANY SCREECHING NOISE AND THERE WERE NO TIRE MARKS ON THE ROAD. ALSO ALL OF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED AND THIS WAS A FRONTAL IMPACT, WHICH WAS VERY SURPRISING AND SUFFOCATING. A CLOUD OF DUST FILLED THE CABIN OF THE CAR AND I COULD NOT BREATHE. I WAS LITERALLY SUFFOCATING UNTIL I WAS ABLE TO OPEN THE DOOR AND GET OUT OF THE VEHICLE. I DIDN'T EVEN FEEL THE SEAT BELT TIGHTEN UP BEFORE THE CRASH. THE BRAKES NEVER FELT LIKE THEY CAME ON AT ALL. *TR *JS

NHTSA ODI 10923921

I WAS TRAVELING LESS THAN 25 MPH ON A CITY STREET WHEN THE CAR IN FRONT SUDDENLY STOPPED. I PANIC STOPPED - MOVING MY FOOT OFF THE GAS PEDAL AND I BELIEVE THAT I HIT THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE BRAKES DID NOT APPLY, AND I REAR-ENDED THE CAR IN FRONT. I LEFT NO SKID MARKS. OBVIOUSLY I COULD HAVE NOT ACTUALLY PUSHED THE BRAKE PEDAL, BUT I SINCERELY BELIEVE THAT I DID. THE CAR BRAKES SEEM TO BE FINE, SO IF THE CAR FAILED TO STOP THE PROBLEM HAD TO BE IN THE COMPUTER. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10919990

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2013 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF THE PRECEDING VEHICLE. ALL THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED EXCEPT THE STEERING WHEEL AIR BAG, WHICH HAD A DELAYED DEPLOYMENT. THE CONTACT'S HEAD STRUCK THE STEERING WHEEL AND WAS INJURED, WHICH REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND VIN WERE NOT PROVIDED.

NHTSA ODI 10855446

WHEN THE DRIVER HAS TO SLAM ON THE BRAKES REALLY QUICKLY THE CAR DOES NOT SLOWDOWN AT ALL. THE SKID LIGHT COMES ON THE DASH BOARD, BUT OTHERWISE THE CAR DOES NOT STOP. THIS HAPPENS EVEN ON A DRY SURFACE, WITH NO MOISTURE ON THE SURFACE, AT SPEEDS AS LOW AS 20-30 MILES PER HOUR. IT ALMOST ALWAYS DOES IT. IF THE DRIVER LIGHTLY TAP THE BREAKS, THEN THE CAR WILL DECELERATE, BUT NOT IF THE DRIVER HAS TO ABRUPTLY STOPPED. THIS IS QUILT A PROBLEM GIVEN THAT SOMETIMES YOU NEED THE CAR TO STOP SUDDENLY IT IT SIMPLY WON'T AT SPEEDS OF 20 MORE. THE CAR JUST STARTS TO SKID. IT WILL NOT STOP OR GAIN TRACTION WITH THE SURFACE THAT IT IS ON. THIS MEANS THAT IN A SITUATION WHERE THE DRIVER NEEDS TO HIT THE BREAKS ALL THE WAY DOWN, THE CAR STILL WON'T STOP. THIS PROBLEM IS MUCH WORSE IF ON WET OR NEGATIVE SLOPING ROADS. HOWEVER, IT CAN HAPPEN EVEN ON COMPLETE DRY SURFACE.

NHTSA ODI 10855586

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH ON A ROADWAY, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS APPLIED AND MADE AN ABNORMAL NOISE. ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WHILE THE CONTACT WAS MAKING A TURN. WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS APPLIED, THE VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED. THE FRONT AND REAR DRIVER SIDE AND THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE CURTAIN AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE FRONT AND REAR PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A YARD AND THEN TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP FOR FURTHER INSPECTION BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS WAITING TO DETERMINE IF AN INVESTIGATOR WOULD BE SENT. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED A HEAD INJURY THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL TREATMENT AND WAS HAVING DIFFICULTY WITH VISIBILITY DUE TO THE IMPACT OF THE CRASH AND NO AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 64,000.

NHTSA ODI 10851950