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2015 Toyota Prius

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2015 Toyota Prius do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 164.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

71 reports with mileage · 93 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 87 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 27 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 13 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

29 crash reports1 fire reports12 injury reports

Power Train complaints

13 reports
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4,580 miles · Jan 13, 2016
Electrical SystemPower Train

CAR WAS STATIONARY IN DRIVEWAY CAR WOULD NOT START AND MASTER WARNING LIGHT WAS ON IN ADDITION TO A WARNING SAYING "SHIFT MALFUNCTION. WHEN PARKING, PARK IN FLAT PLACE AND APPLY PARKING BRAKE SECURELY" A BUZZER WAS SOUNDING. THIS INDICATES A SHIFT CONTROL SYSTEM ERROR. THE CAR WOULD NOT START. NOTIFIED DEALER AND THE CAR WA…

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CAR WAS STATIONARY IN DRIVEWAY CAR WOULD NOT START AND MASTER WARNING LIGHT WAS ON IN ADDITION TO A WARNING SAYING "SHIFT MALFUNCTION. WHEN PARKING, PARK IN FLAT PLACE AND APPLY PARKING BRAKE SECURELY" A BUZZER WAS SOUNDING. THIS INDICATES A SHIFT CONTROL SYSTEM ERROR. THE CAR WOULD NOT START. NOTIFIED DEALER AND THE CAR WAS TOWED. NO ERROR CODES WERE FOUND. THE CAR STARTED FOR THE DEALER.

NHTSA ODI #10820084

6,000 miles · Dec 15, 2015
Power Train

THIS IS AN UPDATE TO COMPLAINT NUMBER: 10809942. === I FORGOT TO INCLUDE THIS: *** BESIDES THE ROLLING BACKWARD PROBLEM I HAD, IF ONE HAS A GET-INTO-GEAR-AND-GO EMERGENCY, IT IS VERY LIKELY THAT THE CAR WILL NOT GET INTO GEAR, YOU WILL NOT REALIZE THAT, AND WHEN YOU STEP ON THE ACCELERATOR TO GO, THE CAR WILL NOT MOVE. …

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THIS IS AN UPDATE TO COMPLAINT NUMBER: 10809942. === I FORGOT TO INCLUDE THIS: *** BESIDES THE ROLLING BACKWARD PROBLEM I HAD, IF ONE HAS A GET-INTO-GEAR-AND-GO EMERGENCY, IT IS VERY LIKELY THAT THE CAR WILL NOT GET INTO GEAR, YOU WILL NOT REALIZE THAT, AND WHEN YOU STEP ON THE ACCELERATOR TO GO, THE CAR WILL NOT MOVE. THEN YOU HAVE TO REALIZE WHY IT DID NOT GO AND SHIFT AGAIN. IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY, THIS DELAY MAY BE CRITICAL.

NHTSA ODI #10810580

6,000 miles · Dec 14, 2015
Power Train

THE TRANSMISSION GEAR SHIFT IS DANGEROUSLY DESIGNED. THE SHIFTER WILL MOVE INTO A GEAR POSITIONS EVEN IF IT TRANSMISSION DOES NOT ACTUALLY SHIFT INTO THE GEAR. WHENEVER THE HANDLE IS RELEASED, IT SPRINGS BACK TO THE CENTRAL POSITION, WHETHER THE TRANSMISSION IS IN GEAR OR NOT, SO THE DRIVER DOES NOT KNOW IF THE TRANSMISSIONS …

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THE TRANSMISSION GEAR SHIFT IS DANGEROUSLY DESIGNED. THE SHIFTER WILL MOVE INTO A GEAR POSITIONS EVEN IF IT TRANSMISSION DOES NOT ACTUALLY SHIFT INTO THE GEAR. WHENEVER THE HANDLE IS RELEASED, IT SPRINGS BACK TO THE CENTRAL POSITION, WHETHER THE TRANSMISSION IS IN GEAR OR NOT, SO THE DRIVER DOES NOT KNOW IF THE TRANSMISSIONS IS ACTUALLY IN GEAR OR NOT--OR IF IN GEAR, WHICH GEAR. THE DRIVER IS EXPECTED TO LOOK AT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL SO SEE WHAT GEAR IS HIGHLIGHTED IN THE DISPLAY. I RENTED A PRIUS FOR A WEEK AND NUMEROUS TIMES, I THOUGHT I HAD SHIFTED INTO DRIVE (OR REVERSE), BUT WHEN I PRESSED ON THE ACCELERATOR, NOTHING HAPPENED BECAUSE IT HAD NOT GONE INTO THE SELECTED GEAR, AND I DID NOT KNOW THAT BECAUSE THE SHIFT LEVER ALWAYS SPRINGS BACK TO CENTER POSITION, WHETHER THE TRANSMISSION IS IN GEAR OR NOT. ONE TIME, AT NIGHT, I WAS MAKING A THREE-POINT U-TURN, SHIFTED INTO DRIVE, TURNED THE WHEEL TO THE LEFT, STEPPED ON THE ACCELERATOR, AND SUDDENLY THE CAR WAS TURNING TO THE RIGHT! PANIC'SLAM ON THE BRAKES. THEN I REALIZED THE TRANSMISSION HAD NOT SHIFTED INTO DRIVE AND I WAS ROLLING BACKWARDS. IF THE DRIVER FEELS THE SHIFT LEVER GO INTO A GEAR, THE CAR SHOULD BE IN THAT GEAR; IF IT DOES NOT GO INTO THAT GEAR, THEN THE SHIFT LEVER SHOULD NOT MOVE INTO THE POSITION; AND ONCE IN GEAR, THE SHIFT LEVER SHOULD STAY IN POSITION, NOT SPRING BACK TO CENTER.

NHTSA ODI #10809942

Official recalls

1

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.

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

3

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

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.

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.

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.