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2013 Toyota Prius V

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most Prius V years

Owner complaints for the 2013 Toyota Prius V are substantially higher than the model-year median of 20.

About this comparison →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

67 reports with mileage · 57 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Service Brakes. Review the 64 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 15 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine. Review the 15 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

9 crash reports1 fire reports6 injury reports

What owners actually said

124 reports
52,000 miles · Jun 1, 2015
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Unknown Or Other

ALTHOUGH OUR VEHICLE IS NOT IDENTIFIED FOR A RECALL THE SYMPTOMS ARE EXACTLY THE SAME DESCRIPTION AS THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER14V053000. DEALER SAYS EVERYTHING IS NORMAL BUT WE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT DRIVING THE VEHICLE WITH THE WHOLE FAMILY WHICH INCLUDES CHILDREN. CONCERNED ABOUT TOYOTA NOT RESPONDING TO OUR CLAIMS AND THE RISK …

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ALTHOUGH OUR VEHICLE IS NOT IDENTIFIED FOR A RECALL THE SYMPTOMS ARE EXACTLY THE SAME DESCRIPTION AS THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER14V053000. DEALER SAYS EVERYTHING IS NORMAL BUT WE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT DRIVING THE VEHICLE WITH THE WHOLE FAMILY WHICH INCLUDES CHILDREN. CONCERNED ABOUT TOYOTA NOT RESPONDING TO OUR CLAIMS AND THE RISK OF COLLISION AS A POSSIBILITY.

NHTSA ODI #10722776

100 miles · Apr 15, 2015
Structure

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 TOYOTA PRIUS V. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD MOLD GROWING INSIDE THE INSTRUMENT PANEL SECTION OF THE DASHBOARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPLACED BY THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. TH…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 TOYOTA PRIUS V. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD MOLD GROWING INSIDE THE INSTRUMENT PANEL SECTION OF THE DASHBOARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPLACED BY THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #10705774

10,000 miles · Apr 14, 2015
Electrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 TOYOTA PRIUS V. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED MOLD GROWING INSIDE THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER; HOWEVER, THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 TOYOTA PRIUS V. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED MOLD GROWING INSIDE THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER; HOWEVER, THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,000.

NHTSA ODI #10705525

1,200 miles · Jan 21, 2015
Fuel/propulsion SystemService BrakesCrashInjury

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 …

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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

28,583 miles · Dec 10, 2014
Service Brakes

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. …

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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

36,198 miles · Nov 6, 2014
Air BagsService BrakesCrashInjury

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 OTHE…

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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

85,000 miles · Oct 12, 2014
Engine And Engine Cooling

THERE WAS A LOAD BANG, WHICH I THOUGHT CAME FROM THE TIRES, I REALIZED IT WASN'T THE TIRES BUT SMOKE COMING OUT FROM THE ENGINE. I OPENED THE HOOD OF THE CAR THERE WAS SMOKE AND ODOR COMING FROM THE ENGINE. I THAN WENT BACK TO THE VEHICLE AND TURNED OFF THE ENGINE AND STARTED TO STARTED IT AGAIN. THE SMOKE STOPPED AND I TURNED I…

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THERE WAS A LOAD BANG, WHICH I THOUGHT CAME FROM THE TIRES, I REALIZED IT WASN'T THE TIRES BUT SMOKE COMING OUT FROM THE ENGINE. I OPENED THE HOOD OF THE CAR THERE WAS SMOKE AND ODOR COMING FROM THE ENGINE. I THAN WENT BACK TO THE VEHICLE AND TURNED OFF THE ENGINE AND STARTED TO STARTED IT AGAIN. THE SMOKE STOPPED AND I TURNED IT BACK ON, EVERYTHING LOOKED NORMAL SO I STARTED TO DRIVE. AFTER 5 MILES OF DRIVING THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME BACK ON FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR. I PULLED OVER TO A GAS STATION THINKING IT WAS A LEAK OF WATER. I CHECKED THE EVERYTHING I HAD ENOUGH WATER BUT DECIDE TO BUT MORE ANYWAYS. THE ENGINE LIGHT WAS STILL ON, I DECIDED TO DRIVE IT HOME SO I CAN DEALER TOMORROW, BUT WHILE DRIVING HOME THE CAR TURNED ITSELF OFF. I COULDN'T STARTED IT BACK ON. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10644187

Mileage unknown · Jul 9, 2014
Electrical System

2013 TOYOTA PRIUS V. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILURE. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN HIS WIFE EXITED THE VEHICLE, SHE NOTICED THE HEADLIGHTS WERE NOT ON. THEY WERE SET TO REMAIN ON FOR A BRIEF PERIOD AFTER THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. SHE GOT BACK IN THE VEHICLE AND THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILED; N…

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2013 TOYOTA PRIUS V. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILURE. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN HIS WIFE EXITED THE VEHICLE, SHE NOTICED THE HEADLIGHTS WERE NOT ON. THEY WERE SET TO REMAIN ON FOR A BRIEF PERIOD AFTER THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. SHE GOT BACK IN THE VEHICLE AND THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILED; NO LIGHTS, THE DOOR LOCKS DID NOT WORK AND THE ENGINE WOULD NOT START, THE ONLY FUNCTIONING ITEM, WAS THE BRAKE LIGHTS. THE CONSUMER AND HIS WIFE TRIED SEVERAL TIMES, TO GET THE VEHICLE TO START, SO EVENTUALLY THEY HAD A TECHNICIAN COME AND START THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHERE THEY WERE UNABLE T O FIND A PROBLEM. THE SECOND OCCURRENCE HAPPENED ON MAY 31, 2014. WHEN THE CONSUMER RETURNED TO THE VEHICLE FOUR HOURS LATER, HE WAS UNABLE TO UNLOCK THE DRIVER'S DOOR. EVENTUALLY, HE REMOVED THE PHYSICAL KEY FROM THE ELECTRONIC KEY FOB, AND OPENED THE DOOR, BUT WAS UNABLE TO START THE VEHICLE. THE ONLY SIGN OF ELECTRICITY WAS TWO GREEN TURN SIGNAL LIGHTS FLASHING SIMULTANEOUSLY WHEN HE PUSHED THE POWER BUTTON. THE CONSUMER RETURNED HOURS LATER, AND THE VEHICLE STARTED IMMEDIATELY. HOWEVER, THE CLOCK HAD ZEROED OUT CONFIRMING THE POWER FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER, BUT THEY WERE UNABLE DIAGNOSE A PROBLEM. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10609379

18,500 miles · Jul 6, 2014
StructureUnknown Or OtherVehicle Speed Control

DRIVER PULLED INTO PARKING STALL. FOOT ON BRAKE AT CURB. PUSHED THE "P" BUTTON FOR PARK FUNCTION ON DASH BOARD. THE CAR REVED AND LURCHED OVER THE CURB TOWARD THE BUILDING. DRIVER CONTINUED TO PRESS BRAKE PEDAL AND SWERVED TO AVOID THE BUILDING, YET SCRAPED THE SIDE WITH SIDE PANEL AND RUNNING OVER TW0 RECENTLY PLANTED TREES. TH…

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DRIVER PULLED INTO PARKING STALL. FOOT ON BRAKE AT CURB. PUSHED THE "P" BUTTON FOR PARK FUNCTION ON DASH BOARD. THE CAR REVED AND LURCHED OVER THE CURB TOWARD THE BUILDING. DRIVER CONTINUED TO PRESS BRAKE PEDAL AND SWERVED TO AVOID THE BUILDING, YET SCRAPED THE SIDE WITH SIDE PANEL AND RUNNING OVER TW0 RECENTLY PLANTED TREES. THE CAR CONTINUED LURCHING FOR APPROXIMATELY 30-40 FEET, BACK OFF OF THE CURB, PAST TO TWO PARKED CARS (WHICH SUSTAINED NO DAMAGE). THE CAR FINALLY CAME TO A REST ON ITS OWN. THE ENGINE WAS STILL RUNNING UNTIL THE "START/OFF" BUTTON WAS DEPRESSED. *JS

NHTSA ODI #10608480

Mileage unknown · Jun 25, 2014
Steering

STARTED HEARING FAINT POPPING/THUD SOUND WHEN TURNING WHEEL TO LEFT AT SLOW SPEEDS LIKE BACKING UP OR IN THE PROCESS OF PARKING THAT INVOLVES TURNING WHEEL TO THE LEFT. THIS IS ACCOMPANIED BY SOME LOOSE FEEL ON THE STEERING WHEEL WHEN IT MAKES THAT SOUND. INITIALLY STARTED HEARING/FEELING IT WHEN IT HAD 9K MILES ON IT. BROUGHT …

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STARTED HEARING FAINT POPPING/THUD SOUND WHEN TURNING WHEEL TO LEFT AT SLOW SPEEDS LIKE BACKING UP OR IN THE PROCESS OF PARKING THAT INVOLVES TURNING WHEEL TO THE LEFT. THIS IS ACCOMPANIED BY SOME LOOSE FEEL ON THE STEERING WHEEL WHEN IT MAKES THAT SOUND. INITIALLY STARTED HEARING/FEELING IT WHEN IT HAD 9K MILES ON IT. BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALER FOR 10K SERVICE AND COMPLAINED ABOUT IT. THEY/I COULD NOT REPLICATE IT. STILL HEARING THE SOUND AND FEELING IT ON STEERING WHEEL. SOUND AND FEEL GOT WORSE WITH STEERING AS MILEAGE WENT UP. BROUGHT TO LOCAL DEALER AT 20K MILES FOR SERVICE AND COMPLAINED ABOUT IT AGAIN. WAS ABLE TO REPLICATE THE SYMPTOM WITH SERVICE MANAGER ON BOARD BUT SERVICE MANAGER SAYS IT WAS NORMAL. HAD TO BRING VEHICLE BACK AT 23K MILES AND INSIST THERE IS A PROBLEM BECAUSE I CAN REPLICATE THE PROBLEM CONSISTENTLY. ONCE IN A WHILE THE SOUND AND FEEL IS AFFECTING STEERING TO THE RIGHT NOW. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10605808

Official recalls

2

18V684000 · Hybrid Propulsion System

Oct 4, 2018

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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the hybrid system shuts down unexpectedly, it can increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy: 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.

15V449000 · Hybrid Propulsion System: Inverter

Jul 15, 2015

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2012-2014 Prius V vehicles manufactured August 22, 2011, to June 30, 2014. A component within the hybrid inverter assembly may overheat, causing the hybrid system to reduce output power allowing the vehicle to only drive a short distance. In some circumstances, the hybrid system may shut down causing the vehicle to stop while being driven.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: 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.

Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will update the software for the motor/generator control electronic control unti (ECU) and the hybrid control ECU, free of charge. The recall began on July 30, 2015. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.