Service Brakes. Review the 93 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Electrical System. Review the 33 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Engine. Review the 17 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

25 crash reports1 fire reports12 injury reports

Vehicle Speed Control complaints

14 reports

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Mileage unknown · Sep 18, 2019

Electronic Stability Control (esc)Service BrakesVehicle Speed Control

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THE PRIUS VEHICLES COVERED ONLY BY WARRANTY ENHANCEMENT ZJB ARE SUFFERING THE SAME DANGERS FROM BRAKE BOOSTER PUMP FAILURES AS THOSE TOYOTA COVERED SAFETY RECALLS D0H AND K0L. BY EXCLUDING PRIUS WITH DEFECTIVE BRAKES FROM D0H AND K0L, TOYOTA HAS LEFT THE OWNERS TO HELPLESSLY EXPERIENCE LIFE-THREATENING BRAKE FAILURES OR MALFUNCTIONS BEFORE TOYOTA WILL PROVIDE THE REPLACEMENT BRAKE COMPONENTS NEEDED TO MAKE THE CAR SAFE. THE LAW REQUIRES TOYOTA TO PREVENT THE LIFE-THREATENING DANGERS OF THIS DEFECT BEFORE BRAKE FAILURE OCCURS. TOYOTA'S COST-CUTTING STRATEGY IS CAUSING CRASHES. INJURIES AND CRASHES CAUSED BY THE BRAKE DEFECT EXPLAINED HEREIN HAVE BEEN REPORTED TO NHTSA. TOYOTA'S DECISION TO PROVIDE POST-FAILURE REPAIR REIMBURSEMENT - INSTEAD OF A PREVENTATIVE SAFETY RECALL REMEDY - EXPLAINS MANY OF THE CRASHES AND INJURIES REPORTED TO NHTSA. HERE IS A LIST OF RELEVANT COMPLAINTS FROM SAFERCAR.GOV: 10794873,10875685,10876015,10927047,11231660,11219354,11014878,11151142,10680404,10627821,11154835,10983408,10704553,10734278,11173353,11064519,10971881,11186947,10923921,10573591,11243249,10819439,10592400,10919990, 10851950,10855586,11240240,11197067,11193820,11173721,11156466,11144698, 11235210,10550179,11253950,11102264,11044156,11253725,10616134,10875625, 11231596,10584723,11207636,10749388,11014797,11203834,11203591,11193354, 11182610,11155778,11130742,11129946,11164336,10498096,11219901,11154783, 10598545,11228248,10547701,11110691,11164990,11222966,11207630,11192342, 11184751,11183661,11183178,11173804,11173173,11173044,11162242,11144888, 11139660,11121916,11088447,11080403,11061959,10984549,11073636, 11034572, 10870866,10929397,11104163 WHEN THE BRAKE BOOSTER PUMP ASSEMBLY FAILS IN A PRIUS VEHICLE EXCLUDED FROM D0H, C1256, C1253, C1252, C1391, U0293, AND OTHER DTCS INDICATING DANGERS AND FMVSS NONCOMPLIANCE ARE BEING STORED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #11256504

64,000 miles · Nov 29, 2018

Service BrakesVehicle Speed ControlCrashInjury

BRAKES COMPLETELY FAILED AND I REAR ENDED A CAR. I WAS STOPPING NORMALLY ON A CITY STREET. ACCORDING TO DASHCAM I WAS TRAVELING AT ABOUT 25MPH. THE CAR SLOWED TO ABOUT 12MPH WHEN THE BRAKES WENT DOWN TO THE FLOOR AND THE CAR ACCELERATED.

NHTSA ODI #11154835

Mileage unknown · Oct 7, 2018

Electronic Stability Control (esc)Unknown Or OtherVehicle Speed Control

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CAR WAS IN MOTION IN A RESIDENTIAL AREA, MOVING AT A LOW SPEED, UNDER 25MPH. WHILE IN AN UNDULATING PORTION OF THE ROAD, DURING ENTRY AND EXIT FROM A DIP AND SLIGHT TURN IN THE ROAD, THE ENGINE STALLED FOR A BRIEF MOMENT, FOR NO MORE THAN A SECOND OR SO THE ACCELERATOR WAS NON-RESPONSIVE, CAUSING ME TO FORCE A STOP BY USING THE BRAKE, AFTER WHICH TIME THE MOTOR RE-ENGAGED AS NORMAL. UNKNOWN CAUSE, HAPPENED ONCE IN MY EXPERIENCE WITH THE CAR AND NEVER AGAIN. CAR HAS BEEN DRIVEN BY MY DAUGHTER FOR THE LAST 3+ YEARS, SHE HAS NOT REPORTED A RECURRENCE OF THE PROBLEM.

NHTSA ODI #11138932

53,400 miles · Apr 17, 2018

Fuel/propulsion SystemVehicle Speed Control

PULLING INTO A PARKING STALL ALMOST STOPPED. MY CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND JUMPED THE CURB.

NHTSA ODI #11088619

27,000 miles · Jan 23, 2018

Service BrakesStructureVehicle Speed ControlCrash

ON A WINTER DAY MY CAR SLID DOWN A STEEP ROAD AND WOULD NOT STOP WHILE BREAKING, BOTH FRONT FENDER FLARES BROKE OFF CAUSING THE CAR TO ACT LIKE IT WAS ON A SLED. THE CAR EVENTUALLY STOPPED AFTER I PLACED IT IN NEUTRAL AND THEN SLID AGAIN AND THEN IT FINALLY STOPPED. I ALMOST KILLED MYSELF.

NHTSA ODI #11064519

Mileage unknown · May 29, 2017

Vehicle Speed ControlCrash

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SUDDEN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. 2014 PRIUS WAS PARKED FOR A FEW DAYS IN HOT, HUMID WEATHER. WHEN PULLING THE CAR INTO THE DRIVEWAY AT A LOW SPEED, THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED TO A VELOCITY FAST ENOUGH TO COLLIDE WITH AN SUV PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY, KNOCKING IT THROUGH A METAL FENCE AND INTO THE BACKYARD. IT ALSO CAUSED THE DRIVER OF THE PRIUS WHIPLASH AND A HEAD INJURY. THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AS THE CAR ACCELERATED. WE BELIEVE THAT THE CAR ONLY STOPPED ACCELERATING WHEN THE RADIATOR WAS PUSHED INTO THE ENGINE BY THE IMPACT WITH THE BUMPER OF THE SUV.

NHTSA ODI #10992060

60,000 miles · May 3, 2017

Service BrakesVehicle Speed ControlCrash

VEHICLE INCREASED ACCELERATION WHILE MAKING A RIGHT-HAND TURN AND BRAKING, INTO A COVERED PARKING STALL. VEHICLE DID NOT STOP UNDER BREAKING UNTIL FRONT END WENT OVER CEMENT PARKING BUMPER.

NHTSA ODI #10983408

2,700 miles · Sep 8, 2015

Air BagsService BrakesVehicle Speed ControlCrashInjury

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED THE VEHICLE INTO A BUILDING AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED CHEST INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,700. UPDATED 01/20/16*LJ *CN

NHTSA ODI #10762201

11,687 miles · Jun 22, 2015

Vehicle Speed Control

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING AT 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED UNEXPECTEDLY. THE FAILURE PREVIOUSLY OCCURRED ONCE BEFORE. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 11,687.

NHTSA ODI #10726617

4,100 miles · Sep 15, 2014

Power TrainVehicle Speed Control

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ACCELERATION DRIVING EAST ON US RTE. 50 AT ABOUT 60 MPH: VEHICLE ACCELERATED FOR NO APPARENT REASON. I NEARLY RAN INTO THE CAR AHEAD OF ME. THIS CAR IS EQUIPPED WITH RADAR ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL, WHICH WAS ENGAGED AT THE TIME. I TURNED OFF THE CRUISE CONTROL IN TIME TO AVOID A COLLISION. UNINTENDED ACCELERATION HAS SPORADICALLY OCCURRED, BUT IT IS USUALLY FAIRLY MILD. THIS TIME IT WAS SO POWERFUL THAT IT FELT LIKE I HAD STOMPED ON THE ACCELERATOR; THE ENGINE ROARED AND THE CAR TOOK OFF AT FULL THROTTLE. THANKFULLY I WAS TRAVELING AT THE MAX DISTANCE OF THE CRUISE CONTROL. ACCELERATION WAS NOT CAUSED BY FLOOR MATS. I WATCHED WHILE THE DEALER SERVICE MANAGER CHECKED. DECELERATION DRIVING EAST ON I-70: THE CAR AHEAD OF ME SIGNALED TO EXIT THE INTERSTATE AND TURNED SMOOTHLY ONTO THE EXIT RAMP. AS SOON AS HE WAS OUT OF MY LANE MY CAR'S CRUISE CONTROL LOCKED ON TO THE THAT OF THE EXITING CAR AND VIGOROUSLY APPLIED THE BRAKES. STEPPING ON THE ACCELERATOR DID NO GOOD. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10633228

Official recalls

20V369000 · Hybrid Propulsion System: Inverter

Jun 24, 2020

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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: An unexpected hybrid power system shut down may increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy: 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.

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.

14V053000 · Electrical System:software; Hybrid Propulsion System: Inverter

Feb 12, 2014

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.

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 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.

Additional source detail variants (2)

Hybrid Propulsion System: Inverter

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 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.

Electrical System:software

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

DP23005 · Brake Actuator Valve Wear

Opened Nov 22, 2023 · No close date supplied

Status: open (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:power Assist

The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) has received a petition dated September 19, 2023 from the owner of a 2012 Toyota Prius V requesting that ODI reevaluate its decision to deny DP19-004. In the letter, the petitioner reported experiencing an unexpected and complete loss of brake power while driving, accompanied by multiple dashboard warning lights. This petition is based on the petitioner's direct experience and assessment that ODI closed DP19-004 because its prompting petition was withdrawn by that petitioner. ODI will review the work conducted during DP19-004 and a review of any additional related complaints and crashes via a new defect petition The petition and related materials can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under the following ODI number:11553736.

Additional source detail variants (2)

Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components

Service Brakes, Hydraulic:power Assist

DP22005 · Pedestrian Alert Sounds

Opened Jan 27, 2023 · Closed Aug 7, 2023

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Electrical System:propulsion System

NHTSA received a petition on or about July 18, 2022, requesting that Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 141 be applied to all electric and hybrid vehicles operating in the United States. The petition can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under ODI Number 11486072. FMVSS 141 establishes performance requirements for pedestrian alert sounds for motor vehicles. The standard applies to hybrid and electric vehicles that have a gross vehicle weight rating of 4,536 KG or less or are defined as low-speed vehicles. The standard became fully applicable to all such vehicles manufactured on or after March 1, 2021.On January 27, 2023, NHTSA opened Defect Petition (DP) 22-005 to evaluate the subject matter described in the petition. On June 24, 2023 and as supplemented on June 25, 2023, the petitioner notified NHTSA he was withdrawing his petition. The petitioner indicated that, based on his review of data, there is no justification for asserting potential benefits that could be derived from actions sought by my petition. Based on the petitioner's withdrawal, DP22-005 is closed. Closure of this DP does not represent a determination by NHTSA regarding the subject matter of the petition.

DP19004 · Brake Actuator Valve Wear

Opened Sep 30, 2019 · Closed Jan 21, 2021

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:power Assist

On September 19, 2019, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) received a defect petition from Mr. Roger Hogan requesting that the Agency investigate and recall certain Toyota Prius, Prius PHV, Camry Hybrid and Avalon Hybrid vehicles for a brake actuator valve wear condition covered under Toyota Customer Support Programs ZJB and ZKK (subject CSP?s). In support of his request, the petitioner identified 117 NHTSA complaints allegedly related to the subject CSP condition, including 60 reporting crashes. On September 30, 2019, ODI opened Defect Petition DP19-004 to evaluate the petitioner?s request for an investigation. In August 2020, the petitioner notified the Agency that he was withdrawing his petition. Because the petitioner has withdrawn the petition, we are denying the petition as moot and no further analysis of this petition is necessary.NHTSA is authorized to issue an order requiring notification and remedy of a defect if the Agency?s investigation shows a defect in the design, construction, or performance of a motor vehicle that presents an unreasonable risk to safety. 49 U.S.C. ?? 30102(a)(9), 30118. Because the petitioner has with withdrawn the petition, the petition is denied as moot. This action does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that a safety-related defect does not exist. The Agency notes that it is not required to receive a defect petition prior to opening a defect investigation and will take further action if warranted by future circumstances.