Home · 2013 Toyota Prius V · Complaints

What 471 owners told NHTSA about the 2013 Toyota Prius V

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 (471)Crash / fire / injury (54)Brakes (248)Electrical system (61)Engine (50)Speed control (26)Fuel system (25)Airbags (22)Transmission & drivetrain (20)Lights (19)Body & structure (15)Driver assistance (12)

248 of 471 complaints match · Brakes · clear filters · page 10 of 10

Aug 24, 2016Brakes

ON 07/20/15 THE BRAKES FAILED COMPLETELY WHILE DRIVING. ON 08/05/16 THE SAME BRAKES FAILED AGAIN WHILE DRIVING. IT IS THE SAME ISSUE VERIFIED BY TWO TOYOTA DEALERSHIPS, (FRONT LEFT CALIPER AND BRAKE PAD REPLACEMENTS NEEDED). THE CAR WAS BOUGHT NEW. THE BRAKES HAVE FAILED TWICE, THEY CITE SAFETY DEFECTS. ON 08/15/16 I PHOTOGRAPHED LEFT FRONT BRAKE ISSUE. THEY CLAIM THEY, "DON'T KNOW WHY IT'S HAPPENING." IT IS CLEAR THE CAR IS UNSAFE AND SHOULD BE REPLACED ENTIRELY. I REPORTED THE FIRST BRAKE FAILURE 07/20/15 THE BRAKES FAILED WHILE DRIVING. THE DEALER STATED IT WAS A SAFETY RELATED DEFECT THAT THEY COULD NOT FIGURE OUT WHY AND THUS SENT THE ORIGINAL BRAKES TO TOYOTA FOR INSPECTION & INVESTIGATION. I NEVER HEARD BACK. ON 08/05/16 (12 MONTHS 15 DAYS LATER, APPROX. 12,000 MILES DRIVEN) THE SAME BRAKE FAILURE HAPPENED AGAIN. FILLED IT WITH BRAKE FLUID ON 08/15/16 MAKE IT TO DEERFIELD TOYOTA (CLOSEST) THAT STATED I WOULD HAVE TO TAKE IT TO THE ORIGINAL TO AVOID PAYING. VERY DANGEROUS. THEN TOOK TO SAME, ERIC JONES, LIPTON TOYOTA, FORT LAUDREDALE, FL, AS LAST TIME. HE STATED THE REPLACED CALIPERS AND BRAKE PADS WERE DEFECTIVE. THE CAR REMAINS THERE, 10 DAYS AWAITING A BACK ORDER. I INQUIRED FURTHER ON 08/22/16 TO WHICH MR. JONES STATED THE CAR WAS BOUGHT NEW WITH DEFECTIVE BRAKES/ CALIPERS AND THAT THEY HAD REPLACED THEM 07/2015 BUT THAT THEY HAD REPLACED THEM WITH TOYOTA DEFECTIVE BRAKES AGAIN. (ESPECIALLY SPECIFICALLY THE FRONT LEFT CALIPER AND BRAKE PADS). BRAKES HAVE FAILED TWICE. IT IS CLEAR THE DEFECTIVE ISSUE IS FROM THE CAR. PHOTOS REVEAL THAT THE REPLACEMENTS NEVER RESOLVED THE ISSUE AS IT HAS BEEN OCCURRING EVER SINCE THEN. TO CONTINUE DRIVING TO SEE IF A 3RD BRAKE FAILURE OCCURS IS TO RISK MINE AND OTHERS ON THE ROAD LIVES. 1ST REPORTED SAFETY CONCERN TO NHTSA ON 07/20/15, REFERENCE #10735054 : RANDY REID. I AM SCARED. HELP PLEASE.

NHTSA ODI 10898290

Apr 14, 2016BrakesCrash

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

Mar 28, 2016AirbagsBrakesCrash1 injury

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

Mar 16, 2016Seat beltsBrakes

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 TOYOTA PRIUS V. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE BRAKES ACTIVATED INDEPENDENTLY AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO RAPIDLY DECELERATE. IN ADDITION, THE SEAT BELT TIGHTENED WITHOUT BEING USED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE WAS UNDETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 62,000....UPDATED 04/11/16 *BF *TR

NHTSA ODI 10850066

Jan 11, 2016BrakesCrash1 injury

I WAS DRIVING HOME IN MY 2013 TOYOTA PRIUS ON TUESDAY, DECEMBER 29, 2015, AT APPROXIMATELY 4:30P.M. WHILE TURNING RIGHT FROM THE STREET ON WHICH I LIVE INTO MY DRIVEWAY, THE CAR, AFTER I APPLIED THE BRAKES, SUDDENLY SURGED FORWARD. IN SPITE OF CONTINUOUSLY PUSHING DOWN ON THE BRAKES, THE CAR WOULD NOT STOP. THE DRIVEWAY SHOWS SKID MARKS FROM MY ATTEMPTS TO STOP THE CAR. THE CAR DID NOT STOP. THE BRAKES FAILED. THE CAR SHOT FORWARD, CRASHING INTO THE CLOSED WOODEN GARAGE DOOR AND THE WALL TO THE LEFT OF THE GARAGE DOOR. THE GARAGE DOOR BROKE AND ONE HALF OF THE GARAGE DOOR SPLIT AND WAS PUSHED INTO THE GARAGE. THE GARAGE DOOR COLLAPSED ON MY CAR AS WELL AS ITEMS STORED IN THE GARAGE INCLUDING PARTS OF THE GARAGE STRUCTURE AND LARGE SECTIONS OF A STORAGE UNIT, WHICH WAS BOLTED TO THE WALL. APPROXIMATELY 90% OF MY CAR WAS INSIDE THE GARAGE. I TRIED TO EXIT THE CAR THROUGH THE DRIVER'S SIDE BUT THE DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN. I CRAWLED TO THE TRUNK AREA AND COULD NOT FIND A MECHANICAL RELEASE FOR THAT DOOR. FINALLY I FORCED OPENED THE DRIVER'S SIDE REAR DOOR AND EXITED THE CAR THROUGH THE BROKEN WALL. IF THE BRAKES HAD NOT FAILED THIS WOULD HAVE NOT HAVE HAPPENED. AS A RESULT OF THE BRAKE FAILURE, I HAVE INCURRED SUBSTANTIAL LOSS, INCLUDING THE GARAGE DOOR (A TOTAL LOSS), DAMAGE TO STRUCTURAL SUPPORT TO THE GARAGE WALL, A BUILT-IN GARAGE STORAGE UNIT, CONTENTS STORED IN THE GARAGE AND SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE CAR. FORTUNATELY, I DID NOT SUFFER ANY MAJOR PHYSICAL INJURIES, ALTHOUGH FOLLOWING THE COLLISION I EXPERIENCED AND CONTINUE TO EXPERIENCE MUSCLE, JOINT, HIP, NECK AND BACK PAIN AND DISCOMFORT. IN ADDITION, I CONTINUE TO EXPERIENCE EMOTIONAL DISTRESS FROM THIS INCIDENT. I WANT TOYOTA TO PERFORM A COMPLETE DIAGNOSTIC SAFETY CHECK OF ALL SYSTEMS INCLUDING THE BRAKES AND ANY SOFTWARE THAT CONTROLS THE BRAKING SYSTEM.

NHTSA ODI 10819439

Sep 21, 2015Brakes

RECURRING PROBLEM. WHEN BRAKING THE VEHICLE WILL OCCASIONALLY "SLIDE" RATHER THAN BRAKE WHEN THE CAR GOES OVER DIFFERENT ROAD SURFACES. THIS HAPPENS FOR ABOUT THE LENGTH OF THE CAR OR LESS (PROBABLY THE LENGTH OF THE DIFFERENT SURFACE) AND THEN THE BRAKING CONTINUES ONCE THE ROAD IS CONSISTENT AGAIN. I HAVE SPOKEN WITH THE DEALER AND THEY INDICATE THIS IS A KNOWN SYMPTOM OF THE CAR'S DEGENERATIVE BRAKING SYSTEM FUNCTIONING "PROPERLY" WHEN ALL TIRES ARE NOT WORKING IN SYNC. I THINK IT'S A DEFECT THAT WILL EVENTUALLY LEAD TO REAR-END COLLISIONS. THIS HAS OCCURRED WHEN GOING OVER STEEL PLATES, POTHOLES, APPROACHING TOLL-BOOTH STOPS - ALL IN GOOD WEATHER, AND ON SLICK ROAD SURFACES DURING POOR WEATHER.

NHTSA ODI 10766475

Sep 3, 2015BrakesCrash

SECOND OF TWO ACCIDENTS. BRAKING DISTANCE APPEARS SEVERELY COMPROMISED. UNABLE TO STOP WITHIN A REASONABLE DISTANCE.

NHTSA ODI 10761283

Aug 7, 2015Brakes

WHILE TRAVELING ON A LOCAL INTERSTATE, I HAD TO USE THE BRAKES BECAUSE TRAFFIC IN FRONT OF ME HAD SLOWED. WHEN PRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL IT WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR AND AT THE SAME TIME TWO DIFFERENT WARNING LIGHTS ON THE DASH ILLUMINATED; THE ABS LIGHT AND THE BRAKE FAILURE LIGHT. I MANAGED TO SLOW THE VEHICLE USING THE EMERGENCY BRAKE AND ENGINE COMPRESSION. CAR WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL TOYOTA DEALERSHIP AND THEY WAS NOT ABLE TO IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM. THEY STATE THAT WHEN THEY CHECKED THE CAR THE NEXT MORNING THE CAR HAD BRAKES. HOWEVER, WHEN THE SERVICE TECH PERFORMED A TEST DRIVE LATER THAT DAY, SHE WOULD NOT RELEASE THE VEHICLE BECAUSE AGAIN THE BRAKES FAILED BUT AGAIN WHEN FURTHER TESTED, THIS PRIUS AGAIN HAD NORMAL BRAKES. THE ECU SOFTWARE WAS UPDATED AND I WAS TOLD THAT WAS THE ISSUE BUT THAT IS NOT POSSIBLE. THE CAR IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE,. THIS ISSUE NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED BECAUSE IF THIS PRIUS HAS THE DEFECT SO DO OTHERS.

NHTSA ODI 10746924

Jul 20, 2015Brakes

THE BRAKES STOPPED WORKING COMPLETELY AND SUDDENLY . EXTREMELY DANGEROUS .

NHTSA ODI 10735054

Jul 14, 2015Brakes

ABS, BRAKE AND TRACTION CONTROL WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON WHILE DRIVING ON POSTED LIMITS ON HIGHWAY UNDER DRY CONDITIONS. AT SAME TIME, BRAKE PEDAL SUDDENLY REQUIRED MORE PRESSURE TO STOP CAR. WARNING LIGHTS STAYED ON, AND RETURNED AFTER CAR WAS TURNED OFF AND ON AGAIN. DEALER STATED IT WAS BRAKE STROKE SENSOR MALFUNCTION AND REPLACED PART. CAR WAS PURCHASED NEW AND HAD ONLY DRIVEN IT FOR A FEW WEEKS. EXACT SAME THING HAPPEN AGAIN JUNE 2015 AND JULY 2015. DRIVING ON HIGHWAY, DRY CONDITIONS, ALL THREE WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON, AND BRAKE PEDAL REQUIRED MUCH MORE PRESSURE TO WORK. STEERING ALSO LOST SOME POWER. DEALER DIAGNOSED A STROKE SENSOR MALFUNCTION. COMPUTER CODE WAS C1247. FIRST DEALER I TOOK IT TO IN JUNE 2015 COULDN'T RECREATE THE PROBLEM, CLEARED THE CODE, AND SAID EVERYTHING WAS FIXED. WROTE "CAR IS SAFE TO DRIVE" ON MY RECEIPT. 2 WEEKS LATER SAME PROBLEM REAPPEARED AND A DIFFERENT DEALER SAID BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER WAS FAILING.

NHTSA ODI 10734049

Jan 21, 2015BrakesFuel systemCrash2 injuries

WE RENTED A TOYOTA PRIUS FROM ENTERPRISE IN SHREVEPORT LA AT THE AIRPORT. WE DROVE TO KILGORE TX FOR THE SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL. IN KILGORE, THE DRIVER WITH ONE PASSENGER ATTEMPTED TO ENTER A DIAGONAL PARKING SPACE IN FRONT OF A STRIP MALL. UPON APPROACH, GOING APPROXIMATELY FIVE MILES PER HOUR OR LESS, THE CAR'S BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR, WITH NO BRAKING HAPPENING. THE CAR THEN SURGED INTO THE PARKING SPACE, UP OVER THE CURB, AND INTO THE CORNER OF A STORE, CAUSING EXTENSIVE INJURY TO PASSENGER SIDE AND PASSENGER, MINOR INJURY TO DRIVER, AND EXTENSIVE INJURY TO THE BUILDING. POLICE RECORDS STATE THAT "AT THE SCENE, I CHECKED THE BRAKES OF THE VEHICLE BOTH RUNNING AND NOT RUNNING AND FOND THERE WAS LITTLE OR NO RESISTANCE WHILE THREATENING PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL. I OBSERVED THE BRAKE PEDAL GO ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR AND HEARD A METALLIC GRINDING. THIS LEAD ME TO BELIEVE THE BRAKES DID NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY AT THE TIME OF, OR IMMEDIATELY PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT." *TR

NHTSA ODI 10676908

Dec 10, 2014Brakes

WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE, COMING TO A STOP AT A STOP SIGN, WE WENT OVER UNEVEN PAVEMENT AND THE CAR LURCHED FORWARD WHILE ONLY A FEW FEET FROM THE CROSSWALK. *TR BRAKING TO A STOP AT AN INTERSECTION - THE ROAD IS DRY AND FLAT. THE CAR'S TRACTION CONTROL/SLIPPERY ICON COMES ON. CAR IS PARKED IN AN UNDERGROUND PARKING LOT. START CAR AND REVERSE OUT OF PARKING SPOT WHEN THE CAR SUDDENLY STOPS AND LOSSES POWER. HAD TO START CAR AGAIN AND THE SLIPPERY ICON COMES ON AND CAR WOULDN'T GO INTO GEAR. POWER ON AND OFF A FEW TIMES BEFORE CAR WENT INTO GEAR.

NHTSA ODI 10663345

Nov 6, 2014AirbagsBrakesCrash2 injuries

WAS GOING DOWN HILL AT 40MPH THE LIGHT TURNED RED I TRIED TO STOP I PUMPED THE BRAKES TWICE THEN TWICE AGAIN THE LAIN TO MY LIFE WAS FULL TO MY RIGHT WAS A CURB ABOUT 13IN HEIGHT AND BY THEN WE WERE IN THE BACK END OF THE CAR IN FRONT OF US AND NO AIR BAGS I DON'T KNOW WHEN AIR BAG DEPLOY OR AT WHAT SPEED I THANK GOD FOR OTHER CARS BACK ENDS THAT WE CAN HIT AND NOT KILL ANY ONE I GUESS. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10653155

Sep 15, 2014SteeringTransmission & drivetrainBrakes

I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 55~60MPH, AND SUDDENLY THE POWER STEERING TROUBLE LIGHT INDICATOR CAME ON. I NOTICED THE STEERING WHEEL WAS A BIT HARDER TO TURN( LEFT OR RIGHT). I SLOWED DOWN AND TOOK THE FIRST EXIT, REDUCING SPEED TO 30~35MPH. AT THE STOP SIGN, ALL INDICATORS LIGHT CAME ON AND I COULDN'T TURN THE STEERING WHEEL (LEFT OR RIGHT). I WAS ABLE TO ACCELERATE OUT OF THE STOP SIGN, BUT THEN I FELT A "THUGH" IN THE ENGINE, AND NOTICE I DIDN'T HAVE ANY BRAKING POWER FOR A FEW SECOND. SO I PULLED OVER, I TURNED THE CAR OFF, AND TURNED ON AGAIN, I IMMEDIATELY DROVE INTO A PARKING LOT AFTER THE STOP SIGN, THE CAR JUST DIED; I COULDN'T BRAKE, NO STEERING, NO GAS POWER, NOTHING. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO TOYOTA DEALERSHIP. THIS WAS THE 2ND INCIDENCE WITHIN 3 WEEKS. THE FIRST TIME THIS OCCURRED WITH SIMILAR SEQUENCE OF FAILURE. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO TOYOTA DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THE AUXILIARY BATTERY DIED, AND REPLACED IT FREE OF CHARGE ( CAR WAS 24,250 MILES AT THAT TIME). THIS SECOND TIME, I HOPE TOYOTA CAN FIND THE ROOT CAUSE OF THIS ISSUE. I DON'T THINK THE NEW AUXILIARY BATTERY DIED AGAIN. IT'S ONLY BEEN 3 WEEKS SINCE TOYOTA INSTALLED THE BATTERY. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY RISK. I'M AFRAID TO DRIVE MY CAR NOW. I THINK I WILL NEED TO SELL THE CAR. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10633254

Aug 28, 2014BrakesEngineFuel systemCrash

THE RENTED 2013 TOYOTA PRIUS WITH ONE PASSENGER AND THE DRIVER, PULLED INTO A DIAGONAL PARKING SPACE IN FRONT OF A STRIP MALL STORE. TRAVELING AT MAYBE 5 MPH TO PARK, THE CAR'S BRAKE PEDAL GAVE WAY AND HIT THE FLOOR FLAT, PROVIDING NO BRAKING AT ALL. THE CAR KEPT ROLLING TOWARD THE CORNER OF THE BRICK BUILDING. THE CAR THEN SUDDENLY SURGED AHEAD, SMASHING INTO THE CORNER OF THE ENTRY TO THE BRICK BUILDING AT SUCH A SUDDEN FORCE THAT THE DOORS TO THE BUILDING WERE WEDGED SHUT. AFTER EMERGENCY VEHICLE TOOK THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER TO THE HOSPITAL, THE POLICEMAN ON THE JOB, AS WELL AS THE WRECKER SERVICE THAT CAME TO EXTRACT THE VEHICLE, COULD NOT MOVE THE CAR BECAUSE THERE WERE NO BRAKES, AS STATED IN THE POLICE REPORT. THE WRECKER DRIVER COULD NOT LOAD THE VEHICLE TO TOW USING THE CAR'S POWER BECAUSE THERE WERE NO BRAKES. NO AIRBAGS DEPLOYED, BUT THE CONDITION OF THE CORNER SHOWS DAMAGE THAT A VEHICLE MOVING FASTER THAN 5 MPH WOULD INCUR. THE POLICEMAN CAME TO THE HOSPITAL TO INFORM THE DRIVER THAT THERE INDEED WERE NO BRAKES ON THE CAR AND THE DRIVER WAS NOT AT FAULT - THE VEHICLE'S BRAKING AND ACCELERATION SYSTEMS HAD FAILED. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10629088

May 19, 2014Speed controlBrakesCrash

TL * THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED. THE VEHICLE RESUMED TO 40 MPH ONCE THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AGAIN. THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL AGAIN AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED. A CRASH OCCURRED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THERE WAS A DELAY IN THE BRAKING SYSTEM. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 12,000.

NHTSA ODI 10592400

Apr 21, 2014Brakes

2013 PRIUS V - BRAND NEW. BRAKES MAKE A GRINDING NOISE WHEN COLD. THREE DIFFERENT TOYOTA DEALERSHIPS TOLD ME THAT IT IS NORMAL FOR THE BRAKES TO GRIND WHEN COLD. NOTHING THEY COULD DO ABOUT IT. VEHICLE NOW HAS 15,000 MILES ON IT AND IT STILL MAKES GRINDING NOISES WHEN COLD. I HAD A 2010 PRIUS AND HAD NO PROBLEMS WITH IT. FOUND ON THE TOYOTA OWNERS WEBSITE THERE ARE SEVERAL OTHERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. ONE OF THEM HAD THE SEATTLE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP FIX THE PROBLEM: TOYOTA OF SEATTLE 1,379 SERVICE DETAILS REAR BRAKE NOISE WHEN COLD PRIUS V R&R BOTH CALIPERS, R. DSC 1-SD (ON-VEH) COMB: OPPOSITE SIDE THERE IS A FIX AND TOYOTA IS REFUSING TO FIX THE PROBLEM. PLEASE ISSUE A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM BEFORE THE GRINDING BRAKES BECOME A LOSS OF BRAKING ACTION AND ACCIDENTS OCCUR. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10583895

Apr 11, 2014Brakes

TODAY, APRIL 11, 2014 AROUND 6PM PST, MY DAD COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED BECAUSE OF YOUR TOYOTA PRIUS 2013 FAILED AT BREAKING AND MALFUNCTIONED AND ACCELERATED OUT OF CONTROL. I AM VERY VERY CONCERNED AND ANGRY ABOUT THIS. YOU SHOULD UNDERSTAND. MY FATHER ALMOST GOT KILLED BY TOYOTA. BECAUSE YOU FAILED AT MAKING SURE THAT THE SYSTEM DOES NOT HAVE ANY ISSUE. MY FATHER TODAY WAS PARKING THE CAR AFTER THE DROPPING MY MOTHER OFF AT WORK AND COMING BACK HOME. HE WAS PARKING THE CAR AT THE USUAL PARKING SPOT IN FRONT OF OUR HOME. HE PRESSED THE BREAKS AS HE NORMALLY DOES WHEN CAR WAS TRAVELING LESS THAN 5MPH. BUT INSTEAD OF PRIUS STOPPING, IT ACCELERATED OUT OF CONTROL. WE HAVE THICK PLANTS IN FRONT OF OUR HOME AND THIS STOPPED THE CAR. BUT THE MALFUNCTIONED CAR GOT A LONG SCRATCH ON THE BUMPER AND WE MOST LOST MY FATHER TO THIS TRAGIC INCIDENT. WE THANK GOD THAT NO ONE GOT KILLED BUT YOU CAN UNDERSTAND THAT THIS COULD HAVE ENDED WITH SOMEONE DEAD. MURDERED. WE TRUSTED TOYOTA. AS A CONSUMER, WE RELY ON THE MANUFACTURER TO LEARN FROM THEIR MISTAKES AND MAKE SURE SAME THING DOES NOT HAPPEN. BUT YOU FAILED US. WE BOUGHT YOUR PRIUS BELIEVING IN THE INTEGRITY OF TOYOTA AND TRUSTING THAT THE ABRUPT ACCELERATION THAT CAUSED DEATH AND INJURED PEOPLE WERE RESOLVED. YOU RECALLED AND FIXED THIS ISSUE FOR YOUR PREVIOUS VEHICLES. THIS SHOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED. WE ARE GENUINELY CONCERNED ABOUT OUR SAFETY. WE CONTACTED THE DEALER BUT BECAUSE IT IS OUTSIDE OF THEIR BUSINESS HOUR, THEY WERE UNREACHABLE. WE ARE TOO SCARED EVEN THINKING OF DRIVING THIS CAR BACK TO THE DEALER. WHAT IF THIS HAPPENS ON THE ROAD? WHAT IF WE CAUSE A DEATH OF A PERSON, A CHILD ON THE WAY TO THE DEALER? I AM TERRIFIED. WE ARE VERY SHAKEN UP BY THIS EXPERIENCE. I WANT ANSWERS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. I CALLED TOYOTA CUSTOMER SUPPORT LINE, I CALLED THE DEALER... NO ONE WAS THERE TO HELP ME. *JS

NHTSA ODI 10579305

Mar 19, 2014Body & structureWheelsBrakesCrash

WHILE THE CAR WAS GOING DOWN THE RAMP TO THE PARKING BASEMENT, THE BRAKE IN OUR PRIUS DIDN'T FUNCTION EVEN THOUGH THE DRIVER SLAMMED ON IT AND THE CAR CONTINUED TO PICKED UP ACCELERATION. NONE OF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED EITHER, AMAZINGLY. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN AND MISSED THE WALL/CONCRETE PILLAR, BUT THE DRIVER HIT A PARKED CAR AND THAT'S WHAT STOPPED THE PRIUS FROM MOVING FURTHER. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10573591

Feb 12, 2014SteeringBrakes

I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH. THE STEERING BEGAN TO VEER BACK AND FORTH. I THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE DUE TO AN UNEVEN ROAD. I SWITCHED LANES AND EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM. IT BECAME VERY APPARENT THAT IT WAS NOT DUE TO AN UNEVEN ROAD. AS I BEGAN TO APPLY THE BRAKES DUE TO A TRAFFIC JAM, THE BRAKES WERE WEAK AND HAD TO EVENTUALLY SLAM ON THE BRAKES TO STOP ON TIME. I HAVE TO BEGIN APPLYING THE BRAKES AT ABOUT 50 YDS FROM A STOP SIGN TRAVELING AT 45 MPH IN ORDER TO STOP ON TIME. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10564010

Dec 19, 2013Speed controlBrakesCrash

2013 PRIUS C TWO, BOUGHT BRAND NEW WITH 15 MILES ON IT 5 WEEKS AGO. A FEW TIMES WHEN DRIVING, I NOTICED THE BRAKES SEEMED WEAK, LIKE THEY WEREN'T STOPPING THE CAR VERY WELL EVEN AT LOW SPEEDS. MY DRIVING IS MOSTLY IN TOWN ON RESIDENTIAL STREETS, SO I'M RARELY GOING OVER 35 MPH. EVEN SO, I'D HAVE TO REALLY MASH THE PEDAL ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR TO GET THE CAR TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP, OTHERWISE IT WOULD KEEP MOVING FORWARD. SEVERAL TIMES I ENDED UP ABOUT 5-10 FEET PAST THE LINE, STICKING THE FRONT BUMPER INTO CROSS TRAFFIC. LUCKILY NO ONE HIT ME. I CHALKED IT UP TO THE QUIRKS OF A DIFFERENT CAR THAN THE ONE I WAS USED TO, AND FIGURED IF IT KEPT HAPPENING I'D TAKE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP. ON MONDAY, MY WIFE WAS STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT. THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN AND THE CAR IN FRONT OF HER STARTED TO MOVE FORWARD. AFTER A FEW HUNDRED FEET, HE SUDDENLY SLAMMED ON HIS BRAKES. SHE SAID HER BRAKE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR, AND THE PRIUS DIDN'T SLOW DOWN AT ALL. SHE HIT HIM GOING ABOUT 25 MPH AND TOTALED THE PRIUS. SHE'S AN EXCELLENT DRIVER AND I'VE BEEN WITH HER BEFORE WHEN SHE'S HAD TO PANIC-STOP. SHE'S NEVER DRIVEN A CAR WITHOUT ABS, SO SHE IS USED TO PUSHING THE PEDAL HARD AND KEEPING HER FOOT ON IT. SHE WOULDN'T EVEN KNOW HOW TO "PUMP" THE PEDAL. SHE SWEARS THE PEDAL JUST WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR AND THE CAR DIDN'T SLOW DOWN AT ALL. THANKFULLY, SHE'S OKAY AND NO ONE WAS INJURED. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10556587

Dec 18, 2013Speed controlBrakes

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE BRAKES FAILED. THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED ABNORMALLY, TRAVELED OVER A SIDEWALK AND THEN OVER THE STEPS OF THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER HOWEVER, THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ACCELERATION FAILURE WAS RECURRING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 7,500. UPDATED 01/08/14*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE DEALER WENT FAR BEYOND, WHAT THEY HAD TO DO, TO MAKE SURE SHE WAS TAKEN CARE OF. HOWEVER, TOYOTA CORPORATION WAS LESS THAN HELPFUL. UPDATE 01/09/13

NHTSA ODI 10556533

Jun 19, 2013Seat beltsSpeed controlBrakes

I OWN A NEW 2013 TOYOTA PRIUS V-5. WHILE ON THE FREEWAY TAKING AN INTERCHANGE. I HAD CRUISE CONTROL SET AT 65 MPH, DISENGAGING IT AS I APPROACHED THE INTERCHANGE THAT SLOWS TO 35 MPH DUE TO THE CURVE. I WAS COASTING WHEN THE CAR SUDDENLY BRAKE, INTERNAL WARNING LIGHT FLASHING, ALARM BEEPING AND SEAT BELT LOCKED UP. I WAS ALONE IN THE CAR (THANK GOD) WITH NO CARS BEHIND ME OR IN FRONT OF ME. IT WAS AN EXTREMELY WINDY DAY AND WAS TOLD BY TOYOTA THAT IT IS POSSIBLE SOMETHING BLEW IN FRONT OF THE SENSOR. THAT IN ITSELF IS ANOTHER SAFETY ISSUE. CAN I NOT DRIVE MY CAR ON A WINDY, RAINY OR SNOWY DAY, IN FEAR OF THE PRE COLLISION SYSTEM MISINTERPRETING WHAT IS IN FRONT OF THE SENSOR? I IMMEDIATELY TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP ONLY TO BE TOLD TODAY THAT THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG AND THAT I AM MORE THAN WELCOME TO TAKE A DRIVE WITH THEIR TECHNICIAN TO SEE IF I CAN REPLICATE WHAT HAD OCCURRED. I INQUIRED IF THE EDR HAD RECORDED THE EVENT AND THEY TOLD ME NO. IS THERE SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE EDR? SHOULDN'T IT HAVE RECORDED SOMETHING LIKE THAT? I CAN'T UNDERSTAND WHY THE PRE-COLLISION SYSTEM (PCS) WOULD ACT AS IF IT WERE TRYING TO PREPARE FOR IMPACT IF THERE WAS NOTHING IF FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. I COULD HAVE BEEN REAR ENDED OR LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10520768

← Newer

Working with the data? Download all 471 complaints as CSV · fetched from NHTSA July 22, 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 V verdict →