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2015 Toyota Prius

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2015 Toyota Prius do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 164.

About this comparison →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

71 reports with mileage · 93 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Service Brakes. Review the 87 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 27 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 13 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

29 crash reports1 fire reports12 injury reports

What owners actually said

164 reports
20,000 miles · Nov 18, 2016
Service Brakes

WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AT ABOUT 45 MPH WHEN I CAR ABRUPTLY CHANGED LANES IN FRONT OF ME. I IMMEDIATELY SLAMMED ON THE BREAKS BUT THE CAR DID NOT COME TO A COMPLETE STOP. IT KEPT GOING FORWARDS AND WAS NOT DECELERATING FAST ENOUGH. TO AVOID HITTING THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME I HAD TO SWERVE TO THE RIGHT, WHICH IMMEDIATELY CAUSED …

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WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AT ABOUT 45 MPH WHEN I CAR ABRUPTLY CHANGED LANES IN FRONT OF ME. I IMMEDIATELY SLAMMED ON THE BREAKS BUT THE CAR DID NOT COME TO A COMPLETE STOP. IT KEPT GOING FORWARDS AND WAS NOT DECELERATING FAST ENOUGH. TO AVOID HITTING THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME I HAD TO SWERVE TO THE RIGHT, WHICH IMMEDIATELY CAUSED THE ESC TO TURN OFF AND MY CAR KEPT SWERVING.

NHTSA ODI #10927047

25,500 miles · Aug 29, 2016
Air BagsSeat BeltsCrash

2015 PRIUS 4 AFTER REAR END COLLISION NOTED PASSENGER AIRBAG 'OFF'- PASSENGER SEATBELT ICON BLINKS - AIRBAG ICON ON DASH LIT CONTINUOUSLY. VEHICLE WAS HIT FROM BEHIND WHEN IN PROCESS OF STOPPING (BREAKING BUT STILL IN MOTION 90 - 50 FT FROM TURN) WAITING FOR LEFT TURN THROUGH ONCOMING TRAFFIC ONTO SIDE ROAD FROM HIGHWAY. BODY SH…

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2015 PRIUS 4 AFTER REAR END COLLISION NOTED PASSENGER AIRBAG 'OFF'- PASSENGER SEATBELT ICON BLINKS - AIRBAG ICON ON DASH LIT CONTINUOUSLY. VEHICLE WAS HIT FROM BEHIND WHEN IN PROCESS OF STOPPING (BREAKING BUT STILL IN MOTION 90 - 50 FT FROM TURN) WAITING FOR LEFT TURN THROUGH ONCOMING TRAFFIC ONTO SIDE ROAD FROM HIGHWAY. BODY SHOP ATTEMPTED TO CLEAR WITH DIAGNOSTIC COMPUTER INTERFACE BUT UNSUCCESSFUL. BODY SHOP SHRUGGED IT OFF FORCING US TO DEAL WITH MFG FOR REPAIRS.

NHTSA ODI #10899387

3,000 miles · Aug 23, 2016
Visibility

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WAS DISTORTED AND MADE VISIBILITY DIFFICULT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THE DISTORTION WAS CONFIRMED; HOWEVER, A TECHNICIAN FROM THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WAS NORMAL. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WAS DISTORTED AND MADE VISIBILITY DIFFICULT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THE DISTORTION WAS CONFIRMED; HOWEVER, A TECHNICIAN FROM THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WAS NORMAL. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE WINDSHIELD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS; HOWEVER, ALL REPLACEMENT PARTS WERE DISTORTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,000. UPDATED 10/18/16*LJ *TR

NHTSA ODI #10898019

21,000 miles · Jul 28, 2016
Electrical SystemService BrakesStructureCrash

I WAS SITTING IN THE PASSENGER SEAT OF THE CAR WHILE IT WAS PARALLEL PARKED. I PRESSED THE PUSH TO START BUTTON TO TURN ON THE BATTERY SO I COULD CHARGE MY PHONE. THERE WAS NO ONE IN THE DRIVER SEAT. THE CAR TURNED COMPLETELY ON WHEN I REACHED OVER TO PRESS THE BUTTON. NOT ONLY DID THE ENGINE START, BUT WITHOUT ANYONE PRESSING O…

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I WAS SITTING IN THE PASSENGER SEAT OF THE CAR WHILE IT WAS PARALLEL PARKED. I PRESSED THE PUSH TO START BUTTON TO TURN ON THE BATTERY SO I COULD CHARGE MY PHONE. THERE WAS NO ONE IN THE DRIVER SEAT. THE CAR TURNED COMPLETELY ON WHEN I REACHED OVER TO PRESS THE BUTTON. NOT ONLY DID THE ENGINE START, BUT WITHOUT ANYONE PRESSING ON THE BREAKS THE CAR RELEASED ITSELF FROM BEING PARKED. THE CAR STARTED ROLLING BACKWARDS INTO THE CAR PARKED BEHIND ME. I HAVE NO EXPLANATION ABOUT HOW THIS HAPPENED. I HAVE BEEN READING INTO IT AND APPARENTLY IT'S A DEFECT OF THE 2015 AND OLDER MODELS. WHEN THE CAR STARTED ROLLING BACK I ALSO STARTED PRESSING BOTH THE PARK AND PUSH TO START BUTTONS TO TURN IT OFF AGAIN. I'VE NEVER FELT SO UNSAFE IN A VEHICLE AND GOES TO CONFIRM THAT PARK AND PUSH TO START SHOULD NOT BE BUTTONS!!! IT MAKES THE VEHICLE MUCH MORE DANGEROUS NOT BEING ABLE TO OVERRIDE THOSE COMMANDS WHEN IT CHOOSES TO GO ON ITS OWN.

NHTSA ODI #10889298

6,459 miles · Jul 26, 2016
Power TrainVehicle Speed ControlCrash

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHEN THE VEHICLE'S GEAR SHIFTER PARK POSITION BUTTON WAS ACTIVATED, THE ENGINE WAS TURNED ON, AND THE VEHICLE WAS UNOCCUPIED, IT ACCELERATED FORWARD ON ITS OWN. THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A ROCK. THE AIR BAGS HAD NOT DEPLOYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES SUSTAI…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHEN THE VEHICLE'S GEAR SHIFTER PARK POSITION BUTTON WAS ACTIVATED, THE ENGINE WAS TURNED ON, AND THE VEHICLE WAS UNOCCUPIED, IT ACCELERATED FORWARD ON ITS OWN. THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A ROCK. THE AIR BAGS HAD NOT DEPLOYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES SUSTAINED. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN HOME. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 6,459.

NHTSA ODI #10888762

9,200 miles · Jun 22, 2016
Service BrakesCrashInjury

I APPLIED THE BRAKE WHEN THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME STOPPED SUDDENLY AND MY CAR SEEMED TO ACCELERATE AND I HAD TO PUT THE BRAKE ON AGAIN TO GET THE CAR TO STOP RESULTING IN A COLLISION. I WAS DRIVING AT A SPEED OF LESS THAN 25 MILES AN HOUR.

NHTSA ODI #10876015

17,000 miles · Jun 21, 2016
Service BrakesVehicle Speed ControlCrash

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 TO 10 MPH AND APPROACHING THE DRIVEWAY, THE BRAKES FAILED. THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED AND CRASHED INTO A GATE. THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS RE-APPLIED AND THE VEHICLE STOPPED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE TRAVELED 20 FEET BEFORE IT STOPPED. A POLICE REPORT WAS N…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 TO 10 MPH AND APPROACHING THE DRIVEWAY, THE BRAKES FAILED. THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED AND CRASHED INTO A GATE. THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS RE-APPLIED AND THE VEHICLE STOPPED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE TRAVELED 20 FEET BEFORE IT STOPPED. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING AND REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 17,000.

NHTSA ODI #10875685

12,700 miles · Jun 5, 2016
Unknown Or OtherCrash

WHILE DRIVING IN A PARKING LOT, THE BRAKES WERE PRESSED TO SLOW DOWN THE CAR TO TURN INTO A PARKING LANE. HOWEVER, INSTEAD OF BRAKING THE CAR ACCELERATED. THE BRAKES WERE PRESSED AGAIN, AND THE CAR CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. THE CAR FINALLY STOPPED, APPROXIMATELY MIDWAY DOWN THE PARKING LANE. AS A RESULT, MY MOTHER AND I WERE INVO…

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WHILE DRIVING IN A PARKING LOT, THE BRAKES WERE PRESSED TO SLOW DOWN THE CAR TO TURN INTO A PARKING LANE. HOWEVER, INSTEAD OF BRAKING THE CAR ACCELERATED. THE BRAKES WERE PRESSED AGAIN, AND THE CAR CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. THE CAR FINALLY STOPPED, APPROXIMATELY MIDWAY DOWN THE PARKING LANE. AS A RESULT, MY MOTHER AND I WERE INVOLVED IN A MINOR CAR ACCIDENT.

NHTSA ODI #10872601

10,000 miles · Apr 28, 2016
Engine

WHILE ACCELERATING FROM A STOP, AND TURNING ONTO A HIGHWAY TO MERGE INTO MOVING TRAFFIC, THE ENGINE BRIEFLY STALLED FOR A FEW SECONDS AFTER I HAD ALREADY ENTERED THE TRAFFIC LANE AND WAS ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE TO TRAFFIC SPEED..

NHTSA ODI #10862058

10,000 miles · Feb 23, 2016
Air BagsCrashInjury

THE SIDE IMPACT AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY PROPERLY.

NHTSA ODI #10837739

Official recalls

1

20V369000 · Hybrid Propulsion System: Inverter

Jun 24, 2020

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2013-2015 Prius and 2014-2017 Prius V vehicles not included in recall 18V-684. Excessive voltage in the Intelligent Power Module (IPM) within the inverter may cause the hybrid system to shut down, causing the vehicle to stall while being driven.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: An unexpected hybrid power system shut down may increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will perform a software update for the hybrid system. If the vehicle has experienced an inverter failure with certain hybrid system faults related to this condition, the inverter assembly will be repaired or replaced, prior to software update. All repairs will be performed free of charge. This recall began July 24, 2020. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371. Toyota's number for this recall is 20TB10 / 20TA10.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

3

DP23005 · Brake Actuator Valve Wear

Opened Nov 22, 2023 · No close date supplied

Status: open (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:power Assist

The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) has received a petition dated September 19, 2023 from the owner of a 2012 Toyota Prius V requesting that ODI reevaluate its decision to deny DP19-004. In the letter, the petitioner reported experiencing an unexpected and complete loss of brake power while driving, accompanied by multiple dashboard warning lights. This petition is based on the petitioner's direct experience and assessment that ODI closed DP19-004 because its prompting petition was withdrawn by that petitioner. ODI will review the work conducted during DP19-004 and a review of any additional related complaints and crashes via a new defect petition The petition and related materials can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under the following ODI number:11553736.

Additional source detail variants (2)

Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components

The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) has received a petition dated September 19, 2023 from the owner of a 2012 Toyota Prius V requesting that ODI reevaluate its decision to deny DP19-004. In the letter, the petitioner reported experiencing an unexpected and complete loss of brake power while driving, accompanied by multiple dashboard warning lights. This petition is based on the petitioner's direct experience and assessment that ODI closed DP19-004 because its prompting petition was withdrawn by that petitioner. ODI will review the work conducted during DP19-004 and a review of any additional related complaints and crashes via a new defect petition The petition and related materials can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under the following ODI number:11553736.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic:power Assist

The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) has received a petition dated September 19, 2023 from the owner of a 2012 Toyota Prius V requesting that ODI reevaluate its decision to deny DP19-004. In the letter, the petitioner reported experiencing an unexpected and complete loss of brake power while driving, accompanied by multiple dashboard warning lights. This petition is based on the petitioner's direct experience and assessment that ODI closed DP19-004 because its prompting petition was withdrawn by that petitioner. ODI will review the work conducted during DP19-004 and a review of any additional related complaints and crashes via a new defect petition The petition and related materials can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under the following ODI number:11553736.

DP22005 · Pedestrian Alert Sounds

Opened Jan 27, 2023 · Closed Aug 7, 2023

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Electrical System:propulsion System

NHTSA received a petition on or about July 18, 2022, requesting that Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 141 be applied to all electric and hybrid vehicles operating in the United States. The petition can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under ODI Number 11486072. FMVSS 141 establishes performance requirements for pedestrian alert sounds for motor vehicles. The standard applies to hybrid and electric vehicles that have a gross vehicle weight rating of 4,536 KG or less or are defined as low-speed vehicles. The standard became fully applicable to all such vehicles manufactured on or after March 1, 2021.On January 27, 2023, NHTSA opened Defect Petition (DP) 22-005 to evaluate the subject matter described in the petition. On June 24, 2023 and as supplemented on June 25, 2023, the petitioner notified NHTSA he was withdrawing his petition. The petitioner indicated that, based on his review of data, there is no justification for asserting potential benefits that could be derived from actions sought by my petition. Based on the petitioner's withdrawal, DP22-005 is closed. Closure of this DP does not represent a determination by NHTSA regarding the subject matter of the petition.

DP19004 · Brake Actuator Valve Wear

Opened Sep 30, 2019 · Closed Jan 21, 2021

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:power Assist

On September 19, 2019, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) received a defect petition from Mr. Roger Hogan requesting that the Agency investigate and recall certain Toyota Prius, Prius PHV, Camry Hybrid and Avalon Hybrid vehicles for a brake actuator valve wear condition covered under Toyota Customer Support Programs ZJB and ZKK (subject CSP?s). In support of his request, the petitioner identified 117 NHTSA complaints allegedly related to the subject CSP condition, including 60 reporting crashes. On September 30, 2019, ODI opened Defect Petition DP19-004 to evaluate the petitioner?s request for an investigation. In August 2020, the petitioner notified the Agency that he was withdrawing his petition. Because the petitioner has withdrawn the petition, we are denying the petition as moot and no further analysis of this petition is necessary.NHTSA is authorized to issue an order requiring notification and remedy of a defect if the Agency?s investigation shows a defect in the design, construction, or performance of a motor vehicle that presents an unreasonable risk to safety. 49 U.S.C. ?? 30102(a)(9), 30118. Because the petitioner has with withdrawn the petition, the petition is denied as moot. This action does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that a safety-related defect does not exist. The Agency notes that it is not required to receive a defect petition prior to opening a defect investigation and will take further action if warranted by future circumstances.