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2014 Toyota Prius Phev
Buyable, but go in with open eyes: this car has specific known issues to check before money changes hands.
233 owner complaints · 3 recalls · data verified July 20, 2026 · source: NHTSA
Buy-rated alternatives from this era
Other 2012–2016 cars in the same rough price bracket with a clean, matured Buy verdict — worth cross-shopping before you commit to the 2014 Toyota Prius Phev.
Why caution?
3 recall campaigns (3 safety-critical). Confirm every one shows "remedy completed" on the seller's VIN.
Brakes problems dominate (43% of complaints, typically reported near 140k miles).
Score breakdown, by factor
Full methodology →#241 of 416Among the 2014 models with a matured record, the 2014 Toyota Prius Phev ranks #241, scoring higher than 14% of them. See the 2014 ranking →
Complaints filed per year
Fading = early teething worked out. Climbing = problems aging in.
How it crashes
NHTSA’s own crash tests, separate from the reliability score above.
4/5 overall
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Rating · 2014 Toyota Prius 5 HB FWD
Rollover risk in a single-vehicle crash: 12%
3 open NHTSA defect investigations on file, separate from the recalls above.
Source: nhtsa.gov/ratings. Star ratings compare vehicles within the same class and size, not across every car on the road.
The road ahead
What breaks on a 2014 Toyota Prius Phev, plotted where owners report it happening.
Also reported (mileage varies): Electrical system (38) · Speed control (18) · Airbags (17) · Visibility & wipers (12)
Mileage medians come from owners who mentioned an odometer reading in their NHTSA complaint, a rough guide, not a schedule.
Brakes
43%101 complaints · typically near 140k mi · 59 in the last 2 years
“Car is at less than 105k miles and yet brake actuator is failing.”
Electrical system
16%38 complaints · 4 in the last 2 years
“ABS complete and total failure while driving.”
Engine
10%24 complaints · typically near 70k mi · 3 in the last 2 years
“misfire code along with rough starts/light load. T-SB-0116-15”
Speed control
8%18 complaints · 1 in the last 2 years
“I TURNED ON MY VEHICLE AND WHEN I SWITCHED GEARS, FROM PARK TO DRIVE, IT DID NOT REGISTER THAT IT WAS IN DRIVE. WHEN I TRIED TO DRIVE AWAY, THERE WAS NO ACCELERATION A…”
Check it against this car’s mileage
Type the odometer reading on the actual car you’re looking at to see which of these problem areas owners tend to report before it, around it, or after it.
We can place 2 of this model's commonly reported problem areas against a mileage. Nothing is stored.
Read all 233 owner complaints in their own words → · just the 33 crash/fire/injury reports →
Recalls (3)
Safety recall repairs are free at the brand’s franchised dealers. Before buying, run the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and make the seller show the work was done.
Hybrid Propulsion System · 20V369000
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2013-2015 Prius and 2014-2017 Prius V vehicles not included in recall 18V-684. Excessive voltage in the Intelligent Power Module (IPM) within the inverter may cause the hybrid system to shut down, causing the vehicle to stall while being driven.
Risk: An unexpected hybrid power system shut down may increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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.
Hybrid Propulsion System · 18V684000
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2010-2014 Toyota Prius and 2012-2014 Toyota Prius V vehicles. Excessive voltage in the Intelligent Power Module (IPM) within the inverter may cause the hybrid system to shut down, causing the vehicle to stall while being driven.
Risk: If the hybrid system shuts down unexpectedly, it can increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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.
Hybrid Propulsion System · 14V053000
Toyota is recalling certain model year 2010 through 2014 Prius vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the Intelligent Power Module (IPM) inside the inverter module (a component of the hybrid system) contains transistors that may become damaged from high operating temperatures. If this occurs, various warning lamps will be illuminated on the instrument panel and the vehicle will have reduced power allowing it to only drive a short distance.
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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.
Questions to ask the seller
Questions worth asking the seller of this Toyota before you buy, drawn from its public record:
- NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for the 2014 Toyota Prius Phev. Can you run this car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and confirm each one shows "Remedy Completed"?
- Owners of this model report brakes problems more than anything else (owners tend to report it near 140k miles). Has this car shown any brakes symptoms, and are there repair records for it?
- Owners of this model report electrical system problems more than anything else. Has this car shown any electrical system symptoms, and are there repair records for it?
- Has this car been in any accident or had any structural, airbag, or flood-related repair? Do you have a clean title and a recent history report (Carfax / AutoCheck)?
- How many owners has it had, do you have the maintenance records, and why are you selling it?
- Are you open to me having an independent mechanic inspect it before we settle on a price?
Before you hand over money
Verify the recall work was done
NHTSA’s free lookup shows whether this exact car had its recall remedies completed.
Free NHTSA VIN check ↗Get a pre-purchase inspection
A $150 to $250 independent inspection of this exact 2014 Toyota PRIUS PHEV beats every score on the internet, including ours.
What to ask forNot set on the 2014? See how every Prius Phev model year scores →
Cross-shopping? Compare the 2014 Toyota Prius Phev against another car →
What owners say
Real owners of this exact model-year, shown separately from the NHTSA score. If they disagree, that’s worth knowing.