Home · 2013 Toyota Prius Phev · Complaints

What 399 owners told NHTSA about the 2013 Toyota Prius Phev

These are the actual owner complaints behind this car’s reliability verdict, filed with the federal government, unedited. They’re unverified reports, not confirmed defects: read them as leads for your pre-purchase inspection, not a diagnosis.

All (399)Crash / fire / injury (43)Brakes (229)Electrical system (50)Engine (37)Speed control (21)Airbags (18)Fuel system (16)Transmission & drivetrain (14)Body & structure (12)Driver assistance (12)Lights (12)

12 of 399 complaints match · Lights · clear filters

Oct 4, 2022Lights

Replaced low beam on Right Lamp Headlight. Then replace high beam on Right Lamp Headlight. Then realized it is actually appears to be the power going to the Headlight does not appear to be strong enough? Looked to see if there was a recall and noticed several others have reported this same problem. It is so dim that it required high beam to see. When we purchased this car one thing was brightness of the headlights was very nice since we live in a rural area without street lights. The brightness does not meet the headlight safety standard. Currently try to only drive during daylight hours.

NHTSA ODI 11487867

Feb 21, 2022Lights

Hi, my dim lights don't light the road in front of me, I have a 2013 Prius and to drive it at night is taken my life and any on coming motorists at risk...I put expensive bulbs in and that doesn't help the problem, can you help?

NHTSA ODI 11453327

Oct 4, 2020Lights

OUR 2013 PRIUS BURNS OUT THE RIGHT HEADLIGHT EVERY THREE MONTHS. IT'S NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE TO DRIVE WITH ONLY ONE HEADLIGHT. IT BURNS OUT WHILE MOVING, STATIONARY, ANY TIME AND IT HAS DISCOLORATION LIKE EXCESSIVE HEAT WAS APPLIED.

NHTSA ODI 11362668

Mar 12, 2020Electrical systemLights

WE HAVE HAD MULTIPLE LOW BEAM BULB FAILURES. USUALLY IT STARTS WITH 1 THE BURNS OUT THE OTHER WITHIN A WEEK OR TWO. IN THE LAST YEAR WE HAVE REPLACED BOTH BULBS 3 TIMES. THE LAST TIME WAS FEBRUARY 24TH LAST NIGHT ON MARCH 11TH WE RECEIVED A WARNING TICKET FOR A HEADLIGHT OUT. I WENT TO REPLACE THE BULB AGAIN AND IT WAS GOOD, AFTER REMOVING IT I REINSTALLED AND IT WORKED. SHUT THE CAR OFF AND CAME BACK OUT AND IT WOULDN'T COME ON AGAIN WITHOUT DISCONNECTING THE HARNESS AND PLUGGING IT BACK IN. THERE IS NOTICEABLE DISCOLORATION ON BOTH HEADLIGHT PLUGS.

NHTSA ODI 11317660

Jun 25, 2018Lights

LOW BEAM HEADLAMPS HAVE BEEN REPLACED BY ME 3 TIMES IN 80K MILES. I AM NOW AWARE THERE IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM AS THEY ARE AGAIN FAILING, AND I REPLACED THE BULBS OF BOTH JUST 2 WEEKS AGO. THERE IS NO WARNING, THEY JUST DON'T WORK. I NOTICE IT WHILE DRIVING AND CANNOT SEE WITHOUT BRIGHT HEADLIGHTS ON.

NHTSA ODI 11103766

Mar 4, 2017Lights

BOTH LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS FAILED SIMULTANEOUSLY AND WITHOUT WARNING.

NHTSA ODI 10958616

Feb 23, 2015Lights

BOTH LEFT & RIGHT LOW BEAMS WENT OUT. ALL OTHER LIGHTS WORK FINE. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10690179

Mar 24, 2014Electrical systemLightsBody & structure

WHEN I TURN ON THE LOW BEAM OF THE HEADLIGHTS THERE IS A SIGNIFICANT SHADOW ON THE UPPER HALF OF THE WINDSHIELD. IT GREATLY DIMINISHES VISIBILITY. WHEN I TOOK THE CAR IN FOR ITS 6 MONTHS SERVICE A FEW WEEKS AGO THEY ACKNOWLEDGED THE PROBLEM BUT SAID THERE IS NOTHING THAT CAN BE DONE TO FIX IT. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10574378

Mar 20, 2014Lights

WHEN I TURN ON THE LOW BEAM OF THE HEADLIGHTS THERE IS A DARK SHADOW ON THE UPPER HALF OF THE WINDSHIELD THAT DIMINISHES VISIBILITY. I ASKED THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT ABOUT IT AT FREEMAN TOYOTA IN SANTA ROSA WHERE I PURCHASED IT NEW IN AUGUST OF 20123 AND WAS TOLD NOTHING COULD BE DONE TO FIX IT. IT'S A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD WHICH I HOPE YOU CAN HELP ME REMEDY. THANK YOU. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10573859

Oct 25, 2013Lights

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH UPHILL, THE HEADLIGHTS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE AN ADEQUATE AMOUNT OF ILLUMINATION. THE FAILURE RECURRED WHENEVER THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING ON AN INCLINE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000. UPDATED 11/15/13*CN

NHTSA ODI 10549461

Jul 25, 2013Lights

MY 2013 PRIUS-V3, HAS A BUILD UP OF CONDENSATION IN HEADLIGHTS, DEALER REPLACED BOTH ONCE. CONDENSATION RETURNED, DEALER TOOK PICTURES AS TOYOTA CORPORATION WANTED. AFTER WEEKS, TOYOTA SAID THEY WOULD DO NOTHING TO FIX PROBLEM UNLESS THERE WAS STANDING WATER IN THE HEADLIGHT. NOTE CONDENSATION SHOULD NOT EXIST, AND CONDENSATION WILL DAMAGE THE BULBS WHICH IN TURN CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10531874

Jun 15, 2013Lights

NEITHER MY WIFE NOR I CAN HEAR THE DIRECTIONAL SIGNAL INDICATOR (THE CLICKING) WHEN THE SIGNAL INDICATES A LEFT OR RIGHT TURN WHEN THE CAR IS MOVING. THUS, WE DON'T TURN OFF THE INDICATOR WHEN WE FINISH TURNING. THEREFORE, WE ARE VERY OFTEN DRIVING WITH OUR DIRECTIONAL SIGNALS INDICATING A TURN WHEN WE HAVE NO INTENTION OF TURNING. WE CALLED THE LOCAL TOYOTA SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND THEY TOLD US THAT THEY ARE UNABLE TO AUGMENT THE SOUND SO THAT IT IS AUDIBLE. WE BELIEVE THAT THIS CONDITION OF THE PRIUS IS HAZARDOUS AND TOYOTA SHOULD ISSUE A RECALL AND FIX IT. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10519961

Working with the data? Download all 399 complaints as CSV · fetched from NHTSA July 20, 2026

How to use these: a complaint is one owner’s report, filed voluntarily and published unverified. Patterns matter more than any single story. If several owners describe the same failure at similar mileage, put that system at the top of your pre-purchase inspection list. Back to the full 2013 Toyota Prius Phev verdict →