2013 Toyota Prius V problems
Owners have filed 165 complaints about the 2013 Toyota Prius V with NHTSA. Service brakes account for 38.8% of them — far more than any other system, ahead of engine at 9.1%.
Complaints165
Crashes12
Fires1
Injuries12
Deaths0
What owners report breaking
Service brakes 38.8% · 64
Engine 9.1% · 15
Electrical system 9.1% · 15
Fuel/propulsion system 5.5% · 9
Unknown or other 4.8% · 8
Power train 4.2% · 7
Exterior lighting 4.2% · 7
Vehicle speed control 3.6% · 6
Severity
Of those complaints, 12 describe a crash, 1 describe a fire and 12 report an injury.
Reading the numbers
Across the 3 model years of the Toyota Prius V in this data, 2013 ranks 2nd by complaint volume — 2012 draws the most.
Filings are rising — 59 in the last three years against 20 in the three before. For a vehicle this age that usually points to a wear-related failure owners are hitting now.
The median odometer reading at the time of complaint was 70,000 miles.
In owners' own words
All ABS, Brakes light on, code 139. Its been making a buzzing noise for a couple of years, the noise got shorter over time, and finally was coming on every 5 second, and finally the dash brake lights came on. I've cleared a couple of times, but the lights come back on after a few miles. The brake pedal has to be pushed down hard to stop. The problem is the brake part is $1500, and 1500 to install. Service brakes
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 what speed I thank god for other cars back ends that we can hit and not kill any one I guess. Service brakes · reported at 36,198 miles
I was travelling at 65MPH and realized the brakes were gone there was no pressure in the brake pedal and it just sunk and applied all my strength and nothing happened,luckily this car has engine braking mode and actuated that and came to stop using steep road and hand brake luckily no one was hurt and road was empty. This is a serious issue and applies to every other Toyota prius cars out there Service brakes
Verbatim from NHTSA filings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.
Safety recalls
Checking NHTSA for open recalls…