What 160 owners told NHTSA about the 2015 Toyota Prius Phev

Pulling out of a parking stall, when put vehicle in drive, the engine revved up and accelerated - vehicle crashed, the brakes did not work- there was skid marks. Floor mats are factory OEM were installed properly. I did not hit the accelerator and I am in good health and mind. I have driving for over 30 years, never had and accident nor a ticket! - A county officer was at the seen and left me with vehicle that had to be towed away. The Vehicle is a total loss. I have insurance but felt that this incident need to be reported, There is no safety recalls and the vehicle was always property maintained

NHTSA ODI 11750516

The contact owns a 2015 Toyota Prius. The contact stated that while driving and coming to a complete stop, the vehicle was rear-ended by another vehicle driving approximately 35-45 MPH. The contact stated that upon impact, the front driver's seat unexpectedly reclined and struck the rear passenger’s seat. The contact was concerned about the movement of the seat and stated that an occupant seated directly behind the driver's seat could have been injured. The rear bumper, trunk, and rear body structure sustained damage from the crash. The contact stated that the force of the impact caused the rear driver’s side body panels to flare outward and become deformed. No additional property damage had occurred from the crash. The vehicle remained in the roadway following the crash. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact sustained neck injuries, whiplash, and emotional trauma from the crash. Medical attention was sought. The Uber passenger inside the vehicle was also transported from the scene to seek medical attention and treatment; however, the extent of the injury was unknown. The contact considered the vehicle a total loss by the contact, but the vehicle was not declared a total loss. The vehicle was towed to a tow yard. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 205,000.

NHTSA ODI 11744174

On the morning of December 11th, 2024, the brake system warning light (ABS, yellow) illuminated on the dashboard along with the red BRAKE indicator and the yellow Vehicle Stability Control (VSC) system light. I consulted a mechanic who performed a computer diagnostic and informed me that the ABS module booster had failed. He said that will order the part to change it but meanwhile he advised me to drive more cautiously and maintain a greater distance from the vehicle ahead, allowing extra space for my car to stop due to the increased braking distance caused by the failed ABS module booster. Later that day, at approximately 5:30 PM, I was driving home in heavy traffic, with speeds not exceeding 40 miles per hour. The vehicle in front of me began to decelerate abruptly. When I applied firm pressure to the brake pedal to slow down my car, it lost all control. The vehicle began to skid, with the amplitude of the skid increasing progressively. It struck the highway guardrail on the left, changed trajectory, crossed all four lanes to the right uncontrollably, and ultimately collided with the highway guardrail on the right side.

NHTSA ODI 11630769

I want to sale

NHTSA ODI 11619659

My vehicle has an ongoing issue with the headlights not being bright enough to drive at night with. I have replaced the headlights more than 5 times now over the course of a year, each time with different brands including Toyota OEM headlights. Each time, they are still not sufficiently bright enough to see with at night. This has led to 3 collisions with curbs and objects which caused damage to my vehicle, because I could not see the objects while having to drive at night. I have brought the issue up to Toyota and they said they would not do anything about it. I brought it in for service to Toyota and they tried to charge me $200 to even look at it, money which I do not have. I am forced to continue driving at night for work and fear I will get into a more serious crash or hit a pedestrian as the headlights aren't bright enough to see safely at night. The photo I have included shows a gash in the tire and dent in the rim where it hit the curb. The issue seems to be the headlight wiring or connectors. When I replace the headlight bulbs, they are a bit brighter initially. Thus initial brightness only lasts about a week, and it's still not sufficiently bright to drive safely. They then dim even further to the point where it's like driving without headlights at all. Again this has led to 3 collisions at this point since I'm required to drive at night and don't have the money to fix it. Toyota refused a good faith repair and did not acknowledge there was an issue, however if you do a web search for "Prius headlights too dim" it seems to be a major issue with many other Prius owners. It should be noted that even the high beam headlights are not bright enough to sufficiently see with at night.

NHTSA ODI 11595133

Airbags didn’t deploy in a front end collision that totaled the car. The driver hit their forehead on the steering wheel. Driver had bruising from the seatbelt. There were no warning lights or indications of any issues.

NHTSA ODI 11566726

Driving making slight turn car locked up steering wheel, brakes and gas all locked up ran in to a wall. The vehicle just failed with no prior warning.

NHTSA ODI 11541248

The contact owns a 2015 Toyota Prius. The contact stated that as he approached a stop light at 25 MPH, the brake pedal was depressed and traveled to the floorboard as he attempted to stop the vehicle. The brakes failed to operate without warning as he hit the vehicle in front of him. The air bags did not deploy upon impact. A police report was filed and both the contact and the other driver were able to drive away from the scene. No injuries were reported. Prior to this failure, the contact stated that the same failure occurred months prior while traveling at 20 MPH in the rain. The contact stated that the brakes failed to operate without warning as he depressed the brake pedal to the floorboard; he hit an unknown object on the road due to the failure. The contact initially thought that the failure was related to slippery roadways; however, after the most recent failure, he related the prior incident with his most recent failure. The dealer nor the manufacturer had yet to be notified of the failure. The vehicle had yet to be serviced or diagnosed. The failure mileage was approximately 80,000.

NHTSA ODI 11467724

My mom was involved in an accident in her 2015 Toyota Prius on April 19, 2022, which she advised lurched forward at a stop and when applying the brakes to stop the vehicle, she said was unresponsive, causing her to clip a vehicle and sending her vehicle into a ditch totaling her car and injuring her passenger and her. I would like to have this investigated and hold Toyota responsible. This could have been much worse and lives could have been lost. She is now without means of transportation, and she is now possibly responsible for damages to property and bodily injury because of this. Through my research I have discovered multiple class action lawsuits brought against Toyota for the same exact models. I asked the police officer to run a scan on the computer, but he advised it was only for serious accidents. There was no indication of the problem or messages.

NHTSA ODI 11462365

During routine low speed suburban driving, a fire started under the hood in the right front of the car. The smoke was first noticed by a pedestrian so I pulled over, got out of the car, and called 911. I had no prior warning of any sort. The fire completely destroyed the car. This is being investigated by Toyota. I have photos and would be happy to provide more details.

NHTSA ODI 11420093

BRAKES FAILED TO SLOW OR STOP VEHICLE AT ?20 MPH; DRIVING ON A SIDE STREET. NO WARNING LIGHTS WERE ACTIVE THAT MORNING. CRASH INTO TELEPHONE PHONE RESULTED IN "TOTALED" CAR. THERE WAS BROKEN BRANCHES ON ROAD AND SOME MUD; CAR MAY HAVE SKIDDED. MY WIFE SAYS THE CAR SEEMED TO SPEED UP BEFORE THE CRASH

NHTSA ODI 11350859

THE PRIUS WAS STATIONARY, PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY OF OUR HOUSE. MY TEENAGE DAUGHTER WAS IN THE CAR WASHING THE WINDSHIELD AND WINDOWS ON THE INSIDE AND ACCIDENTALLY BUMPED THE GEARBOX (SHIFTER). THE CAR WENT OUT OF PARK AND INTO NEUTRAL AND ROLLED BACKWARD. THE ENGINE WAS NOT ON. THE CAR QUICKLY ROLLED 20 FEET INTO A TREE AND CAUSED 6200$ DAMAGES TO THE REAR OF THE CAR. LUCKILY NO ONE WAS BEHIND THE CAR. I BELIEVE THAT THE PRIUS CAN BE ACCIDENTALLY PLACED IN NEUTRAL IF ELECTRICAL IS ON IN THE CAR (IE RADIO) AND SOMEONE HAS THEIR FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND HITS THE GEARBOX BY ACCIDENT. THERE IS NO SAFETY ON THE SHIFTER TO PREVENT UNINTENTIONAL SHIFTING. MANY OTHER CARS REQUIRE A MANUAL BUTTON ON THE SHIFTER TO BE DEPRESSED PRIOR TO SHIFTING. THIS IS NOT THE CASE ON THE PRIUS. WITHOUT THAT SAFETY FEATURE, ACCIDENTS LIKE THIS ONE CAN HAPPEN AND POTENTIALLY KILL SOMEONE. THE CAR CAN BE MADE TO BE IN NEUTRAL BY ACCIDENT RATHER EASILY.

NHTSA ODI 11308647

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2015 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HER HUSBAND WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE REAR-ENDED THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. AS RESULT THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE ROLLED OVER MULTIPLE TIMES CRASHING INTO A DITCH. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ONLY THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG DEPLOYED. THERE WAS NO WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE FRONT SEAT PASSENGER SUSTAINED FRACTURES TO THE RIGHT ARM, WRIST, PELVIS, RIBS AND STERNUM AS WELL A FEW BUMPS AND BRUISES ON LOWER LEG AND CHIN. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED A CONCUSSION, MULTIPLE FACIAL FRACTURES AND LACERATIONS AND A BROKEN NOSE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SHE BELIEVES THAT THE .DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT AND HEAD REST FRACTURED AS HER HUSBAND WAS FOUND LAYING UNCONSCIOUS IN THE REAR PASSENGER SEAT FACE DOWN. THE CONTACT AND THE DRIVER WERE TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL BY AMBULANCE. THE CONTACT WAS UNAWARE OF INJURIES IN THE OTHER VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO TOW LOT AND DEEMED A TOTAL LOSS. THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 70,000. THE VIN WAS NOT PROVIDED.

NHTSA ODI 11244474

I ENTERED MY PARKED, STATIONARY PRIUS, PRESSED MY RIGHT FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, DISENGAGED THE PARKING BRAKE AND PRESSED THE ON/OFF BUTTON TO TURN THE CAR ON. MY FOOT REMAINED ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE ENGINE IMMEDIATELY RACED AND THE CAR BEGAN TO ACCELERATE AT HIGH SPEED. I STOMPED ON THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE CAR KEPT MOVING. THE SOUND OF THE ENGINE WAS LOUD ENOUGH THAT PEOPLE IN NEARBY HOUSES HEARD IT. MY CAR WOULD NOT SLOW WITH MY EFFORTS TO BRAKE. I TRIED TO SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL AND PARK BUT THE CAR DID NOT SLOW DOWN. IT RACED ACROSS THE STREET AND PLOWED DIRECTLY INTO A NEIGHBOR'S STONE WALL. MY CAR BECAME WEDGED BETWEEN THE WALL AND A LARGE TREE. I HAD TO EXIT THE VEHICLE FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE AS THE DRIVER'S DOOR WAS PRESSED AGAINST THE TREE. AFTER THE COLLISION, INTERIOR LIGHTS WERE NON-FUNCTIONING EVEN WHEN THE DOOR WAS PROPPED OPEN. THE CAR WOULD HAVE CRASHED THROUGH THE HOUSE IF IT HAD NOT BEEN STOPPED BY THE WALL AND TREE.

NHTSA ODI 11219137

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND THE TIRE BLEW OUT CAUSING ME TO HIT THE CENTER DIVIDER ON THE 101 ON THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT TIRE WHICH CAUSED THE CARS ASS END TO ALSO GET SCUFFED UP AS WILL

NHTSA ODI 11048843

I BACKED OUT OF A CARPORT AND PLACED MY CAR IN ACCELERATION AND IT PICKED UP SPEED AND THEN HIT A WALL AT AN APARTMENT COMPLEX.

NHTSA ODI 11013735

2015 PRIUS 4 AFTER REAR END COLLISION NOTED PASSENGER AIRBAG 'OFF'- PASSENGER SEATBELT ICON BLINKS - AIRBAG ICON ON DASH LIT CONTINUOUSLY. VEHICLE WAS HIT FROM BEHIND WHEN IN PROCESS OF STOPPING (BREAKING BUT STILL IN MOTION 90 - 50 FT FROM TURN) WAITING FOR LEFT TURN THROUGH ONCOMING TRAFFIC ONTO SIDE ROAD FROM HIGHWAY. BODY SHOP ATTEMPTED TO CLEAR WITH DIAGNOSTIC COMPUTER INTERFACE BUT UNSUCCESSFUL. BODY SHOP SHRUGGED IT OFF FORCING US TO DEAL WITH MFG FOR REPAIRS.

NHTSA ODI 10899387

I WAS SITTING IN THE PASSENGER SEAT OF THE CAR WHILE IT WAS PARALLEL PARKED. I PRESSED THE PUSH TO START BUTTON TO TURN ON THE BATTERY SO I COULD CHARGE MY PHONE. THERE WAS NO ONE IN THE DRIVER SEAT. THE CAR TURNED COMPLETELY ON WHEN I REACHED OVER TO PRESS THE BUTTON. NOT ONLY DID THE ENGINE START, BUT WITHOUT ANYONE PRESSING ON THE BREAKS THE CAR RELEASED ITSELF FROM BEING PARKED. THE CAR STARTED ROLLING BACKWARDS INTO THE CAR PARKED BEHIND ME. I HAVE NO EXPLANATION ABOUT HOW THIS HAPPENED. I HAVE BEEN READING INTO IT AND APPARENTLY IT'S A DEFECT OF THE 2015 AND OLDER MODELS. WHEN THE CAR STARTED ROLLING BACK I ALSO STARTED PRESSING BOTH THE PARK AND PUSH TO START BUTTONS TO TURN IT OFF AGAIN. I'VE NEVER FELT SO UNSAFE IN A VEHICLE AND GOES TO CONFIRM THAT PARK AND PUSH TO START SHOULD NOT BE BUTTONS!!! IT MAKES THE VEHICLE MUCH MORE DANGEROUS NOT BEING ABLE TO OVERRIDE THOSE COMMANDS WHEN IT CHOOSES TO GO ON ITS OWN.

NHTSA ODI 10889298

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHEN THE VEHICLE'S GEAR SHIFTER PARK POSITION BUTTON WAS ACTIVATED, THE ENGINE WAS TURNED ON, AND THE VEHICLE WAS UNOCCUPIED, IT ACCELERATED FORWARD ON ITS OWN. THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A ROCK. THE AIR BAGS HAD NOT DEPLOYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES SUSTAINED. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN HOME. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 6,459.

NHTSA ODI 10888762

I APPLIED THE BRAKE WHEN THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME STOPPED SUDDENLY AND MY CAR SEEMED TO ACCELERATE AND I HAD TO PUT THE BRAKE ON AGAIN TO GET THE CAR TO STOP RESULTING IN A COLLISION. I WAS DRIVING AT A SPEED OF LESS THAN 25 MILES AN HOUR.

NHTSA ODI 10876015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 TO 10 MPH AND APPROACHING THE DRIVEWAY, THE BRAKES FAILED. THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED AND CRASHED INTO A GATE. THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS RE-APPLIED AND THE VEHICLE STOPPED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE TRAVELED 20 FEET BEFORE IT STOPPED. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING AND REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 17,000.

NHTSA ODI 10875685

WHILE DRIVING IN A PARKING LOT, THE BRAKES WERE PRESSED TO SLOW DOWN THE CAR TO TURN INTO A PARKING LANE. HOWEVER, INSTEAD OF BRAKING THE CAR ACCELERATED. THE BRAKES WERE PRESSED AGAIN, AND THE CAR CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. THE CAR FINALLY STOPPED, APPROXIMATELY MIDWAY DOWN THE PARKING LANE. AS A RESULT, MY MOTHER AND I WERE INVOLVED IN A MINOR CAR ACCIDENT.

NHTSA ODI 10872601

THE SIDE IMPACT AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY PROPERLY.

NHTSA ODI 10837739

I HAVE NOTICED THAT THE BRAKES SOMETIMES DO NOT APPEAR TO WORK PROPERLY, AND ONCE I WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT DUE TO THE POOR BRAKING PERFORMANCE. ONCE I QUICKLY TRANSITIONED FROM THROTTLE TO FULL BRAKING AND THE CAR DIDN'T SEEM LIKE IT WAS APPLYING FULL BRAKING. IT DIDN'T SEEM TO DECELERATE LIKE IT SHOULD HAVE. I REAR ENDED A VEHICLE BECAUSE OF THE BRAKING PERFORMANCE. ANOTHER TIME I HAD TO SLAM ON THE BRAKES COMING OFF AN INTERSTATE AND THE BRAKES ALSO DIDN'T SEEM POWERFUL ENOUGH. IT'S AS IF THE BRAKES DON'T FULLY "CATCH" UNTIL THE LAST MINUTE. BOTH TIMES WEATHER CONDITIONS WERE DRY.

NHTSA ODI 10794873

I WAS INCHING INTO A GROCERY STORE PARKING SPOT IN MY NEW, PERFECTLY MAINTAINED 2015 TOYOTA PRIUS WHEN I EXPERIENCED UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. MY VEHICLE SHOT FORWARD AND IN A SECOND HAD CRASHED OVER A CEMENT CURB, THROUGH A FLOWER BED, AND WAS STOPPED - DESPITE MY DESPERATELY JAMMING THE BRAKE - ONLY BY SMASHING INTO A BRICK WALL. THE SUSPENSION AND STEERING ON THE CAR IS NOW SEVERELY DAMAGED, AND THE CAR CANNOT BE DRIVEN. I AM HORRIFIED: I COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED AND WORSE, HIT/HURT ANOTHER PERSON (OR AT THE VERY LEAST SEVERELY DAMAGED PROPERTY). WHAT IF I HAD CHOSEN A PARKING SPOT IN FRONT OF A GROUP OF CHILDREN?!! THEY CLOUD HAVE BEEN KILLED! THE CAR IS NOW AT A TOYOTA SERVICE CENTER WAITING FOR TOYOTA CORPORATE TO "DECIDE" IF A CAR ACCELERATING INTO A BRICK WALL OF ITS ACCORD IS A "DESIGN FLAW" THAT IT WILL PAY TO FIX. I BELIEVE THAT WHAT MAY HAVE HAPPENED IS THAT THE COMPUTER SYSTEM THAT CONTROLS THE THROTTLE/ACCELERATION EXPERIENCED A SOFTWARE BUG WHICH THREW THE CAR FORWARD. IN FACT, TOYOTA WAS FORCED PAY OUT OVER ONE BILLION DOLLARS IN FINES LAST YEAR (2014) BY THE US GOVERNMENT FOR THIS EXACT ISSUE - BUT APPARENTLY IT DIDN'T FIX ITS 2015 LINE B/F LETTING IT GO TO MARKET. I PURCHASED THE TOYOTA PRIUS BECAUSE IT WAS RECEIVED TOP SAFETY AND RELIABILITY RATINGS. ONLY NOW DO I LEARN TOYOTA HAS A HISTORY OF HIDING UNINTENDED ACCELERATION BUGS IN ITS CAR DESIGNS FOR YEARS - AND BLAMING OWNERS FOR ITS RECKLESSLY UNSAFE AND THEREBY UNETHICAL AUTO DESIGNS (NO, THIS WASN'T CAUSED BY A STUCK FLOOR MAT). I AM FURIOUS. NO ONE CAN AFFORD TO BE BLAMED FOR VEHICULAR MANSLAUGHTER DUE TO MANUFACTURER NEGLIGENCE. EVEN IF TOYOTA CLAIMS TO HAVE FIXED MY PRIUS, ITS WORD CLEARLY MEANS NOTHING AND I DO NOT TRUST THE COMPANY. I WILL BE GETTING RID OF THE CAR ASAP AND SEARCHING FOR A SAFER MODEL.

NHTSA ODI 10745911