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2015 Toyota Prius Plug-in Hybrid

Solid pick — the complaint record is strong for its age. It does carry safety recalls, so confirm every one shows "remedy completed" on the VIN before money changes hands.

Recalls, complaint breakdown & inspection checklist — a shareable PDF

120 owner complaints · 1 recalls · data verified July 10, 2026 · source: NHTSA

Buywillitcar.com

Why buy?

Brakes problems dominate (43% of complaints, typically reported near 123k miles).

Very few owner complaints for its age and sales volume.

The math, shown

Full methodology →
Complaint volume (40%)92
Severity (30%)57
Recall load (20%)95
Trend (10%)50

Complaints filed per year

Fading = early teething worked out. Climbing = problems aging in.

20152025

The road ahead

What breaks on a 2015 Toyota Prius Plug-in Hybrid, plotted where owners report it happening.

040k mi70k mi110k mi140k miBrakes~123k mi · 51 reports

Also reported (mileage varies): Electrical system (23) · Transmission & drivetrain (13) · Speed control (8) · Lights (7)

Mileage medians come from owners who mentioned an odometer reading in their NHTSA complaint — a rough guide, not a schedule.

Brakes

43%

51 complaints · typically near 123k mi · 22 in the last 2 years

While driving my Prius on the highway, the ABS and traction control warning light suddenly came on. The brakes started feeling different right away, and it didn’t feel…

Electrical system

19%

23 complaints · 1 in the last 2 years

The headlight bulbs keep going out. I have replaced the bulbs at least 2-3 times a year for the past few years. I have asked dealers about this and they tell me there …

Transmission & drivetrain

11%

13 complaints

When I looked up my car on Kelly Blue Book for pricing, it said that it has been recalled as of 2020. I was not aware of this at all and could have got into a serious …

Speed control

7%

8 complaints

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.

Recalls (1)

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 · 17V718000

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2012-2015 Prius Plug-in Hybrid vehicles. The hybrid battery contains an Electric Vehicle (EV) fuse that may fracture after repeated high-load driving conditions such as climbing long hills.

Risk: The failed fuse may cause the hybrid system to shut down resulting in the loss of power. Loss of power while driving at higher speeds can increase the risk of a crash.

Fix: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the EV fuse, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin January 8, 2018. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is H0R.

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–$250 independent inspection of this exact 2015 Toyota PRIUS PLUG-IN HYBRID beats every score on the internet, including ours.

What to ask for

Not set on the 2015? See how every Prius Plug-in Hybrid model year scores →

Cross-shopping? Compare the 2015 Toyota Prius Plug-in Hybrid 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.

The fine print: this verdict is computed from public NHTSA complaint and recall records for the 2015 Toyota Prius Plug-in Hybrid as a model, not for any individual car. A well-maintained example of an “Avoid” can outlast a neglected “Buy”. Informational only — always get a professional pre-purchase inspection.