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What 159 owners told NHTSA about the 2015 Toyota Prius

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 (159)Crash / fire / injury (28)Brakes (88)Electrical system (26)Transmission & drivetrain (13)Engine (7)Lights (7)Speed control (7)Airbags (6)Body & structure (6)Fuel system (6)Driver assistance (5)

6 of 159 complaints match · Body & structure · clear filters

May 30, 2026Body & structure

The factory clear coat has delaminated

NHTSA ODI 11741039

Mar 12, 2018Body & structure

ON FEBRUARY 28, 2018 AT 10:00 A.M. I WAS DRIVING ON I-10 W ABOUT 10 MILES OUTSIDE OF NEW ORLEANS WHEN MY CLOSED, LOCKED SUNROOF EXPLODED UPWARDS, SHATTERING COMPLETELY THE CENTER SUNROOF PANEL AND SHOWERING ME WITH GLASS. IT WAS A CLEAR SUNNY DAY, ABOUT 70 DEGREES, THE ROAD WAS CLEAR WITH NO TRAFFIC OR DEBRIS AND I WAS TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH.

NHTSA ODI 11078711

Jul 28, 2016Electrical systemBody & structureBrakesCrash

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

Feb 12, 2016Body & structure

DRIVING ON AN EXPRESSWAY WHEN I HEARD SOMETHING SIMILAR TO A GUNSHOT AND THE SUNROOF SPONTANEOUSLY EXPLODED. NO INDICATION OF A FOREIGN OBJECT HITTING THE ROOF AND MUCH OF THE GLASS FLEW OUTWARD RATHER THAN INWARD.

NHTSA ODI 10825889

Jul 21, 2015Body & structureCrash

I PULLED INTO MY DRIVEWAY TO PARK THE CAR. I PRESSED THE POWER OFF BUTTON TO TURN OFF THE CAR. THE SHIFT LEVER WAS IN THE DRIVE POSITION. THE CAR DISPLAY SAID GOODBYE BUT THE CAR DROVE FORWARD. I JAMMED ON THE BRAKE AND HIT A WAGON CAUSING $1300 DAMAGE. A CHILD OR ANIMAL COULD HAVE BEEN HIT. THE OWNER'S MANUAL STATES ON P.188 THAT IF THE HYBRID SYSTEM OF THE CAR IS TURNED OFF WITH THE SHIFT LEVER IN A POSITION OTHER THAN PARK, THE CAR WILL BE TURNED TO ACCESSORY MODE.

NHTSA ODI 10735586

Jul 17, 2015Body & structureCrash3 injuries3 deaths

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2015 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE ANOTHER DRIVER WAS OPERATING THE VEHICLE AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. AS A RESULT, THE ROOF COLLAPSED ON THE DRIVER AND TWO PASSENGERS. THERE WERE TWO FATALITIES UPON IMPACT AND THE THIRD PASSENGER WAS AIRLIFTED TO A HOSPITAL. THE DOCTOR DIAGNOSED THAT THE THIRD PASSENGER WAS BRAIN DEAD, WHICH LED TO HER DEATH DUE TO THE ROOF COLLAPSING ON HER HEAD. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED AWAY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,000. UPDATED 9/25/15 *LN UPDATED 11/28/2017*CN

NHTSA ODI 10734833

Working with the data? Download all 159 complaints as CSV · fetched from NHTSA July 10, 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 2015 Toyota Prius verdict →