2013 Toyota PRIUS
Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report
Quick Summary
The 2013 Toyota PRIUS has 532 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 6.7x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is brakes problems (43% of all complaints), specifically: i own a new 2013 toyota prius v-5. while on the freeway taking an interchange. i had cruise control set at 65 mph, disengaging it as i approached the interchange that slows to 35 mph due to the curve. i was coasting when the car suddenly brake, internal warning light flashing, alarm beeping and se. ⚠️ 6 fire reports filed.
532
Total Complaints
0
Recalls Issued
—/5
Safety Stars
6.7x
vs Segment Avg
Known Problems
BRAKES
229 complaints- • I OWN A NEW 2013 TOYOTA PRIUS V-5. WHILE ON THE FREEWAY TAKING AN INTERCHANGE. I HAD CRUISE CONTROL SET AT 65 MPH, DISENGAGING IT AS I APPROACHED THE INTERCHANGE THAT SLOWS TO 35 MPH DUE TO THE CURVE. I WAS COASTING WHEN THE CAR SUDDENLY BRAKE, INTERNAL WARNING LIGHT FLASHING, ALARM BEEPING AND SE
- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE BRAKES FAILED. THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED ABNORMALLY, TRAVELED OVER A SIDEWALK AND THEN OVER THE STEPS OF THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER HOWEVER, THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABL
- • 2013 PRIUS C TWO, BOUGHT BRAND NEW WITH 15 MILES ON IT 5 WEEKS AGO. A FEW TIMES WHEN DRIVING, I NOTICED THE BRAKES SEEMED WEAK, LIKE THEY WEREN'T STOPPING THE CAR VERY WELL EVEN AT LOW SPEEDS. MY DRIVING IS MOSTLY IN TOWN ON RESIDENTIAL STREETS, SO I'M RARELY GOING OVER 35 MPH. EVEN SO, I'D HAVE TO
“I OWN A NEW 2013 TOYOTA PRIUS V-5. WHILE ON THE FREEWAY TAKING AN INTERCHANGE. I HAD CRUISE CONTROL SET AT 65 MPH, DISENGAGING IT AS I APPROACHED THE INTERCHANGE THAT SLOWS TO 35 MPH DUE TO THE CURVE. I WAS COASTING WHEN THE CAR SUDDENLY BRAKE, INTERNAL WARNING LIGHT FLASHING, ALARM BEEPING AND SE”
— NHTSA complaint filing
OTHER
51 complaints- • EVERY TIME I RECEIVED CALL ON MY CELL BLUETOOTH SEEMS LIKE VOICE BREAKING UP. IT IS NOT THE PHONE PROBLEM. I HAVE CHECKED THE SAME PHONE IN MY OTHER CARS AND WORKS FINE. THIS BLUETOOTH NEEDS SOFTWARE UPGRADE. *TR
- • WE PURCHASED A 2013 PRIUS V IN JULY. WHEN WE BOUGHT IT, I WAS CONCERNED ABOUT THE BACK SEAT MIDDLE BODY RESTRAINT BEING ATTACHED TO THE INSIDE ROOF BEHIND THE BACK PASSENGER SEAT. BUT MY BOYS ARE 6, SO FELT THEY WOULD BE OKAY. THIS WEEK, ONE OF THE BOYS GOT TANGLED IN THE SEAT BELT. WHEN HE TRIED
- • CAR WENT INTO REVERSE WHEN SHIFTER WAS PUT IN DRIVE.
“EVERY TIME I RECEIVED CALL ON MY CELL BLUETOOTH SEEMS LIKE VOICE BREAKING UP. IT IS NOT THE PHONE PROBLEM. I HAVE CHECKED THE SAME PHONE IN MY OTHER CARS AND WORKS FINE. THIS BLUETOOTH NEEDS SOFTWARE UPGRADE. *TR”
— NHTSA complaint filing
ELECTRICAL
50 complaints- • TOYOTA PRIUS EMITS A LOUD AND DISTRACTING BEEPING TONE INSIDE THE CABIN WHEN PLACED IN REVERSE. THE TONE IS SO LOUD THAT A DRIVER MAY NOT HEAR SHOUTS, A HORN, OR OTHER EXTERIOR NOISE INDICATING A HAZARD WHILE REVERSING. TOYOTA DEALERSHIPS CHARGE HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS TO TURN OFF THE INTERIOR BEEPI
- • WHEN PUTTING THE VEHICLE IN REVERSE A LOUD BEEPING IS HEARD INSIDE THE CABIN. WE AREN'T SURE OF ITS PURPOSE AS THE BEEPING CANNOT BE HEARD OUTSIDE OF THE CAR IF THE WINDOWS ARE UP OR IF THE WINDOWS ARE DOWN AND THE RADIO IS ON. THE BEEP CAN ONLY BE FAINTLY HEARD OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE IF THE WIND
- • WHILE DRIVING THE CAR--ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS--THE DASH LIGHTS ALL ILLUMINATE AT ONCE, FOLLOWED BY UNRESPONSIVE CONTROLS FOR A FEW SECONDS. THEN THE DASH LIGHTS GO OUT (RETURN TO NORMAL) AND NORMAL CONTROLS AND ACCELERATION RETURN. *TR
“TOYOTA PRIUS EMITS A LOUD AND DISTRACTING BEEPING TONE INSIDE THE CABIN WHEN PLACED IN REVERSE. THE TONE IS SO LOUD THAT A DRIVER MAY NOT HEAR SHOUTS, A HORN, OR OTHER EXTERIOR NOISE INDICATING A HAZARD WHILE REVERSING. TOYOTA DEALERSHIPS CHARGE HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS TO TURN OFF THE INTERIOR BEEPI”
— NHTSA complaint filing
ENGINE
37 complaints- • WHILE DRIVING THE CAR--ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS--THE DASH LIGHTS ALL ILLUMINATE AT ONCE, FOLLOWED BY UNRESPONSIVE CONTROLS FOR A FEW SECONDS. THEN THE DASH LIGHTS GO OUT (RETURN TO NORMAL) AND NORMAL CONTROLS AND ACCELERATION RETURN. *TR
- • WHILE SLOWING DOWN FOR A RED LIGHT THE CAR'S ELECTRONICS MADE A BEEPING NOISE, ALL THE DASH LIGHTS CAME ON, THE GAS GAUGE DISPLAYED A RAPIDLY DROPPING QUANTITY, THEN WENT BACK UP TO HALF FULL. A RED TRIANGLE WAS DISPLAYED ON THE DASH DURING THIS TIME. DURING THIS TIME, THE CAR WAS COMPLETELY D
- • WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY THE CAR'S DASH LIT UP AND THE CAR'S ENGINE DIED AND THEN RESTARTED. THE FUEL QUANTITY DISPLAYED, DECREASED BY THREE BARS BEFORE RETURNING TO IT'S NORMAL--ACCURATE--LEVEL. THE CAR THEN DROVE NORMALLY AND ALLOWED ME TO GET IT INTO THE DRIVEWAY. *TR
“WHILE DRIVING THE CAR--ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS--THE DASH LIGHTS ALL ILLUMINATE AT ONCE, FOLLOWED BY UNRESPONSIVE CONTROLS FOR A FEW SECONDS. THEN THE DASH LIGHTS GO OUT (RETURN TO NORMAL) AND NORMAL CONTROLS AND ACCELERATION RETURN. *TR”
— NHTSA complaint filing
SPEED CONTROL
22 complaints- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PARK, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY AND CRASHED INTO A WOODEN STAIRCASE. THE CONTACT THEN SHIFTED INTO REVERSE AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY IN REVERSE, COMING TO A STOP IN THE STREET. THE VEHIC
- • I OWN A NEW 2013 TOYOTA PRIUS V-5. WHILE ON THE FREEWAY TAKING AN INTERCHANGE. I HAD CRUISE CONTROL SET AT 65 MPH, DISENGAGING IT AS I APPROACHED THE INTERCHANGE THAT SLOWS TO 35 MPH DUE TO THE CURVE. I WAS COASTING WHEN THE CAR SUDDENLY BRAKE, INTERNAL WARNING LIGHT FLASHING, ALARM BEEPING AND SE
- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 2 MPH AND APPLYING THE BRAKES, THE VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD AND ACCELERATED UNEXPECTEDLY. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESPOND TO THE BRAKES AND CRASHED INTO A NEARBY CEMENT POST. THERE WERE NO PERSONAL INJURIES. A
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PARK, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY AND CRASHED INTO A WOODEN STAIRCASE. THE CONTACT THEN SHIFTED INTO REVERSE AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY IN REVERSE, COMING TO A STOP IN THE STREET. THE VEHIC”
— NHTSA complaint filing
Estimated Repair Costs
Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.
🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist
Based on 532 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:
- ☐BRAKES: I OWN A NEW 2013 TOYOTA PRIUS V-5. WHILE ON THE FREEWAY TAKING AN INTERCHANGE. I HAD CRUISE CONTROL SET AT 65 MPH, DISENGAGING IT AS I APPROACHED THE INTERCHANGE THAT SLOWS TO 35 MPH DUE TO THE CURVE. I WAS COASTING WHEN THE CAR SUDDENLY BRAKE, INTERNAL WARNING LIGHT FLASHING, ALARM BEEPING AND SE
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐OTHER: EVERY TIME I RECEIVED CALL ON MY CELL BLUETOOTH SEEMS LIKE VOICE BREAKING UP. IT IS NOT THE PHONE PROBLEM. I HAVE CHECKED THE SAME PHONE IN MY OTHER CARS AND WORKS FINE. THIS BLUETOOTH NEEDS SOFTWARE UPGRADE. *TR
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐ELECTRICAL: TOYOTA PRIUS EMITS A LOUD AND DISTRACTING BEEPING TONE INSIDE THE CABIN WHEN PLACED IN REVERSE. THE TONE IS SO LOUD THAT A DRIVER MAY NOT HEAR SHOUTS, A HORN, OR OTHER EXTERIOR NOISE INDICATING A HAZARD WHILE REVERSING. TOYOTA DEALERSHIPS CHARGE HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS TO TURN OFF THE INTERIOR BEEPI
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐ENGINE: WHILE DRIVING THE CAR--ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS--THE DASH LIGHTS ALL ILLUMINATE AT ONCE, FOLLOWED BY UNRESPONSIVE CONTROLS FOR A FEW SECONDS. THEN THE DASH LIGHTS GO OUT (RETURN TO NORMAL) AND NORMAL CONTROLS AND ACCELERATION RETURN. *TR
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)
Toyota PRIUS — Year Comparison
How does 2013 compare to other years? Fewer complaints = more reliable.
NHTSA Safety Rating
No NHTSA safety rating available
At a Glance
- Complaints
- 532
- Recalls
- 0
- Fire reports
- 6
- Crash reports
- 44
- Injury reports
- 25
- Segment avg
- 80
Check a Specific VIN
See recalls for YOUR 2013 Toyota PRIUS