2013 Toyota PRIUS V

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Below Average

Quick Summary

The 2013 Toyota PRIUS V has 164 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 2.0x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is brakes problems (41% of all complaints), specifically: 2013 prius v - brand new. brakes make a grinding noise when cold. three different toyota dealerships told me that it is normal for the brakes to grind when cold. nothing they could do about it. vehicle now has 15,000 miles on it and it still makes grinding noises when cold. i had a 2010 prius. ⚠️ 1 fire report filed.

1 fire report 9 crash reports 9 injuries

164

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

2.0x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

BRAKES

67 complaints

41%

• 2013 PRIUS V - BRAND NEW. BRAKES MAKE A GRINDING NOISE WHEN COLD. THREE DIFFERENT TOYOTA DEALERSHIPS TOLD ME THAT IT IS NORMAL FOR THE BRAKES TO GRIND WHEN COLD. NOTHING THEY COULD DO ABOUT IT. VEHICLE NOW HAS 15,000 MILES ON IT AND IT STILL MAKES GRINDING NOISES WHEN COLD. I HAD A 2010 PRIUS
• 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 W
• 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 I

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 4 crashes

“2013 PRIUS V - BRAND NEW. BRAKES MAKE A GRINDING NOISE WHEN COLD. THREE DIFFERENT TOYOTA DEALERSHIPS TOLD ME THAT IT IS NORMAL FOR THE BRAKES TO GRIND WHEN COLD. NOTHING THEY COULD DO ABOUT IT. VEHICLE NOW HAS 15,000 MILES ON IT AND IT STILL MAKES GRINDING NOISES WHEN COLD. I HAD A 2010 PRIUS”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ENGINE

16 complaints

10%

• WHILE DRIVING IT SEEMED THE CAR JUST STOPPED LOUD BANG IN REAR AND QUICKLY MOVED AGAIN TOOK TO DEALER AND THEY CANNOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG DON'T FEEL SAFE IN CARE THIS IS SECOND TIME IT HAS HAPPENED. THANK YOU *TR
• 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. TH
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 TOYOTA PRIUS V. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE STOPPED, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS SERVICED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V449000 (HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM) BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED.

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“WHILE DRIVING IT SEEMED THE CAR JUST STOPPED LOUD BANG IN REAR AND QUICKLY MOVED AGAIN TOOK TO DEALER AND THEY CANNOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG DON'T FEEL SAFE IN CARE THIS IS SECOND TIME IT HAS HAPPENED. THANK YOU *TR”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

15 complaints

• 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 T
• 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 APPRO
• 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 RESPONDI

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 1 crashes

“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 T”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

12 complaints

• 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
• 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 RESPONDI
• AIR CONDITIONING STOPPED WORKING WHILE DRIVING ON 7/4/2015. WE WERE IN EASTERN WASHINGTON AT THE TIME IN 100 DEGREE TEMPERATURE. WE TOOK IT TO THE DEALER, TOYOTA OF SEATTLE, ON 7/8/2015. ON HEARING OUR CONCERN, THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN SUGGESTED IT WAS PROBABLY ROAD DAMAGE. AND, ON INSPECTION, IT

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports

“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 ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

FUEL SYSTEM

9 complaints

• 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 LES
• 1ST - EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION...BOUGHT THE VEHICLE NEW IN 2013, NEVER HAD TO REFILL ENGINE OIL IN BETWEEN OIL CHANGES OF EVERY 10,000 MILES (SYNTHETIC OIL 0W 20). AT APPX A LITTLE OVER 100,000 MILES, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND WHEN I CHECKED THE DIPSTICK, NO OIL IS REGISTERING. WENT TO A GA
• I HAVE JUST RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FROM TOYOTA REGARDING AN UPDATE TO THE HYBRID SYSTEM ON MY CAR. THIS IS THE 3RD SUCH RECALL FOR THE SAME PROBLEM SINCE 2014!! APPARENTLY 2 PREVIOUS UPDATES TO THIS SYSTEM HAVE NOT SOLVED THE PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS ISSUE. THE RECALL STATES THAT A RECALL FI

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 2 crashes

“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 LES”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

BRAKES(~50K mi)

$500

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

FUEL SYSTEM(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 164 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
BRAKES: 2013 PRIUS V - BRAND NEW. BRAKES MAKE A GRINDING NOISE WHEN COLD. THREE DIFFERENT TOYOTA DEALERSHIPS TOLD ME THAT IT IS NORMAL FOR THE BRAKES TO GRIND WHEN COLD. NOTHING THEY COULD DO ABOUT IT. VEHICLE NOW HAS 15,000 MILES ON IT AND IT STILL MAKES GRINDING NOISES WHEN COLD. I HAD A 2010 PRIUS
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ENGINE: WHILE DRIVING IT SEEMED THE CAR JUST STOPPED LOUD BANG IN REAR AND QUICKLY MOVED AGAIN TOOK TO DEALER AND THEY CANNOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG DON'T FEEL SAFE IN CARE THIS IS SECOND TIME IT HAS HAPPENED. THANK YOU *TR
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ELECTRICAL: 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 T
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
OTHER: 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
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)