repaired · 2020 Q2
Hybrid propulsion system
Risk. If the hybrid system shuts down unexpectedly, it can increase the risk of a crash.
2013 Toyota Prius VProblems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 125 owner complaints about the 2013 Toyota Prius V, most often about the service brakes. It is covered by 2 safety recalls, and for recall 18V-684 the manufacturer reports only 65% of affected cars repaired.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through October 1, 2026. Updated daily. Photo: Elise240SX, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Complaints by system
Where the 2013 Toyota Prius V has problems
125 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
64Service brakes5 crash/fire/injury
16Electrical system1 crash/fire/injury
15Engine
9Fuel/propulsion system
7Exterior lighting
7Power train
6Air bags
6Vehicle speed control
4Suspension
2513 other systems1 crash/fire/injury
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Service brakes | 64 | 5 |
| Electrical system | 16 | 1 |
| Engine | 15 | 0 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 9 | 2 |
| Exterior lighting | 7 | 0 |
| Power train | 7 | 1 |
| Air bags | 6 | 3 |
| Vehicle speed control | 6 | 1 |
| Suspension | 4 | 0 |
| 13 other systems | 25 | 1 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
2 recalls
2013 Toyota Prius V recalls and how many were fixed
Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
repaired · 2016 Q4
Hybrid propulsion system: inverter
Risk. The vehicle may enter a fail-safe/limp-home mode that limits the drivability of the vehicle.
Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Toyota.
Mileage at failure
When do service brakes problems start?
72kmiles, median
Based on the odometer reading in 22 service brakes complaints. 64% were reported before 100,000 miles.
5under 30k miles14under 100k miles8100k miles or more
Owner-reported costs
What owners say repairs cost
Dollar amounts owners wrote in their complaints when describing a repair or a quote. These are not price estimates; a system is shown only when at least 8 owners mentioned a cost.
Service brakes
14 owners mentioned a cost$4,000median
Middle half: $3,010 – $4,950
If a problem is covered by a recall, the dealer fixes it for free. Some manufacturers also reimburse owners who paid for a repair before a recall was announced.
Best & worst years
2013 vs. every other Prius V year
Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Prius V median. How we score
'12'13'14'15'16'17'18
- Avoid
- Caution
- Solid
- Best
- Not rated
NHTSA crash tests
2013 Toyota Prius V safety ratings
2013 Toyota Prius V SW FWD in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.
★★★★★
Frontal crash★★★★★
Side barrier★★★★★
Side pole★★★★★
- Rollover: 4 stars (13.6% risk)
- Stability control: Standard
- Forward collision warning: No
- Lane departure warning: No
In owners' words
What Prius V owners report
Recent service brakes complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.
My Prius had brake warning lights come on around December 2025. Turns out the brake accumulator had an internal leak. After doing some research, I discovered this was a known brake booster issue that Toyota has not issued a recall on. They do have an extended warranty program, but my vehicle did…
Suddenly Cars Brakes failed with vehicle almost lunged forward. I had to slam the brakes heavily for it to stop; Took the vehicle to Toyota Service and clearly its a QUALITY issue toyota acknowledged as a know problem with error code C1391. They even had customer support program 20TE07…
When I'm in the car, the brake booster keeps recharging with out touching the brake pedal. Also, the car has problems when I apply the brakes while driving. They make a hissing and popping noise and the braking is spongy. I have had braking warning lights come on as well. It is similar to what…
Own a 2013 Prius V?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.