repaired · 2022 Q2
Hybrid propulsion system: inverter
Risk. An unexpected hybrid power system shut down may increase the risk of a crash.
2013 Toyota PriusProblems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 414 owner complaints about the 2013 Toyota Prius, most often about the service brakes. It is covered by 3 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 19, 2026. Updated daily. Photo: Elise240SX, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Complaints by system
Where the 2013 Toyota Prius has problems
414 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
232Service brakes18 crash/fire/injury
52Electrical system2 crash/fire/injury
37Engine3 crash/fire/injury
22Vehicle speed control
18Air bags
16Fuel/propulsion system
14Power train
13Structure
12Exterior lighting
8818 other systems14 crash/fire/injury
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Service brakes | 232 | 18 |
| Electrical system | 52 | 2 |
| Engine | 37 | 3 |
| Vehicle speed control | 22 | 9 |
| Air bags | 18 | 12 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 16 | 2 |
| Power train | 14 | 1 |
| Structure | 13 | 4 |
| Exterior lighting | 12 | 0 |
| 18 other systems | 88 | 14 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
3 recalls
2013 Toyota Prius 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 · 2020 Q2
Hybrid propulsion system
Risk. If the hybrid system shuts down unexpectedly, it can increase the risk of a crash.
repaired · 2015 Q2
Electrical system: software
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?
84kmiles, median
Based on the odometer reading in 48 service brakes complaints. 65% were reported before 100,000 miles.
Only 42% of complaints for this model year include a mileage.
17under 30k miles31under 100k miles17100k 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
41 owners mentioned a cost$3,300median
Middle half: $3,000 – $4,000
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 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 median. How we score
'01'02'03'04'05'06'07'08'09'10'11'12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19'20'21'22'23'24'25'26
- Avoid
- Caution
- Solid
- Best
- Not rated
NHTSA crash tests
2013 Toyota Prius safety ratings
2013 Toyota Prius 5 HB FWD in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.
★★★★★
Frontal crash★★★★★
Side barrier★★★★★
Side pole★★★★★
- Rollover: 4 stars (12.1% risk)
- Stability control: Standard
- Forward collision warning: No
- Lane departure warning: No
3 investigations
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal investigations that included the 2013 Toyota Prius, and the recalls they led to.
- Brake Actuator Valve WearNo recall
- Pedestrian alert soundsLed to recall 22V-063
- Brake Actuator Valve WearOpen
In owners' words
What Prius owners report
Recent service brakes complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.
On XXX, at approximately 152,570 miles, the brake, ABS, and traction-control warning lights illuminated at the same time on my 2013 Toyota Prius. The brakes felt spongy, and I heard a recurring buzzing sound approximately every 3 seconds. Because of the change in brake-pedal feel and concerns about…
While driving our 2013 Toyota Prius, the vehicle experienced a sudden and severe loss of braking effectiveness while the vehicle was in motion. This created an immediate safety risk because the vehicle did not respond to braking as expected. After the incident, the vehicle displayed the red BRAKE…
While driving, my brake pedal would randomly lose power assist. The pedal would get hard and I couldn't press it down normally, and I had to push as hard as I could just to get the car to slow down. This happened more than once while driving and I almost crashed because I couldn't stop the car in…
Own a 2013 Prius?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.