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2016 Toyota Prius

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2016 Toyota Prius do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 164.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

100 reports with mileage · 54 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.

  • Visibility/wiper. Review the 40 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 20 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes. Review the 18 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

8 crash reports0 fire reports4 injury reports

Service Brakes complaints

18 reports
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8,400 miles · Apr 3, 2017
Air BagsService Brakes

NHTSA RECALL NO.16V672 AND 16V741 WERE NOT COMPLETED. CALLED THE AUTHORIZED TOYOTA DEALER, STEVENS CREEK TOYOTA, 380 KIELY BLVD, SAN JOSE, CA 95129, ON 01/20/2017 FOR REMEDY TO BE PERFORMED. I WAS TOLD THAT THEY WILL CALL ME BACK WHEN TEH PARTS ARE AVAILABLE. REMEDY NOT COMLETED YET.

NHTSA ODI #10970349

2 miles · Feb 24, 2017
EnginePower TrainService Brakes

VEHICLE FEELS LIKE IT WANTS TO GO FORWARD AS SOON AS THE GAS ENGINE TURNS ON TO CHARGE THE HYBRID BATTERY WHEN IT IS STATIONARY, IS IN PARK GEAR WITH THE FOOT PARKING BRAKE FULLY ON AND ON A FLAT SURFACE. WHEN THE CAR IS RUNNING OFF OF BATTERY MODE AND THE BATTERY BECOMES DEPLETED THE GAS ENGINE TURNS ON TO CHARGE THE HYBRID…

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VEHICLE FEELS LIKE IT WANTS TO GO FORWARD AS SOON AS THE GAS ENGINE TURNS ON TO CHARGE THE HYBRID BATTERY WHEN IT IS STATIONARY, IS IN PARK GEAR WITH THE FOOT PARKING BRAKE FULLY ON AND ON A FLAT SURFACE. WHEN THE CAR IS RUNNING OFF OF BATTERY MODE AND THE BATTERY BECOMES DEPLETED THE GAS ENGINE TURNS ON TO CHARGE THE HYBRID BATTERY, YOU CAN FEEL THE CAR SENDING POWER TO THE WHEELS FOR A SLIGHT TWO SECONDS AND CAN ALSO HEAR THE BRAKES CREAKING AS A RESULT OF THE ENGINE FEELING ENGAGED TO THE WHEELS EVEN WHEN THE PARK GEAR (/BUTTON) IS SELECTED. IT HAPPENS ALL THE TIME AND NOT SURE WHY IT WOULD DO THAT WHILE IN PARK. IF A PARKING BRAKE FAILURE WAS TO HAPPEN WHAT WOULD HAPPEN WHEN THE ENGINE TURNS ON TO CHARGE THE BATTERY AGAIN? WILL IT CREEP FORWARD OR WHAT? JUST THOUGHT THIS WAS A CONCERN SINCE I HAVE NOT EXPERIENCED THIS WITH NON HYBRID CARS.

NHTSA ODI #10956818

3,510 miles · Feb 11, 2017
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Service BrakesUnknown Or Other

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE STARTED TO SHAKE FROM UNDERNEATH FIERCELY, I CALLED MY MOTHER WHO CAME AND PICKED UP THE CAR SHE TURNED AROUND AND WENT BACK TO MY RESIDENCE, WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PARK IN THE GARAGE THE CAR STARTED TO ROLL DOWN THE DRIVEWAY AND THE BRAKES WOULDN'T WORK, THE CAR LANDED ON THE STREET. CITY OF LANCASTER C…

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WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE STARTED TO SHAKE FROM UNDERNEATH FIERCELY, I CALLED MY MOTHER WHO CAME AND PICKED UP THE CAR SHE TURNED AROUND AND WENT BACK TO MY RESIDENCE, WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PARK IN THE GARAGE THE CAR STARTED TO ROLL DOWN THE DRIVEWAY AND THE BRAKES WOULDN'T WORK, THE CAR LANDED ON THE STREET. CITY OF LANCASTER CA

NHTSA ODI #10953980

Mileage unknown · Jan 10, 2017
Service Brakes

TOYOTA OF SURPRISE IS SAYING THAT THEY CAN'T FIX OUR PRIUS RECALL FOR THE EMERGENCY BRAKE UNTIL JANUARY 2018.

NHTSA ODI #10944144

Mileage unknown · Nov 19, 2016
Service Brakes

16V741000 WAS NOT PERFORMED ON THE CAR EVEN THOUGH IT WAS PURCHASED 11/17 , AND THE RECALL BEGAN 11/10. DEALER LEE'S TOYOTA LOCATED AT 139-65 QUEENS BLVD, JAMAICA NY 11435

NHTSA ODI #10927070

1,500 miles · Nov 15, 2016
Service Brakes

ON FRIDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2016 WHILE DRIVING OVER A POTHOLE I PRESSED ON THE BRAKE. THE CAR SLOWED BUT ALL OF A SUDDEN THE BRAKE SUDDENLY DEPRESSED EVEN FURTHER DOWN AND THE CAR JERKED AND SEEMED TO STALL BEFORE PUSHING FORWARD. I HAD BEEN PRESSING THE BRAKE AS FAR DOWN AS IT WOULD GO AND IT SEEMED AS IF THERE WOULD BE SOME KIND …

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ON FRIDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2016 WHILE DRIVING OVER A POTHOLE I PRESSED ON THE BRAKE. THE CAR SLOWED BUT ALL OF A SUDDEN THE BRAKE SUDDENLY DEPRESSED EVEN FURTHER DOWN AND THE CAR JERKED AND SEEMED TO STALL BEFORE PUSHING FORWARD. I HAD BEEN PRESSING THE BRAKE AS FAR DOWN AS IT WOULD GO AND IT SEEMED AS IF THERE WOULD BE SOME KIND OF BRAKE FAILURE. ON OCTOBER 31, 2016 WHILE DRIVING OVER ANOTHER POTHOLE, I AGAIN STEPPED ON THE BRAKE AND SUDDENLY THE PEDAL AGAIN DEPRESSED FURTHER DOWN AND THERE WAS A CREAKING AND SQUEALING SOUND. THEN ON NOVEMBER 4, 2016 WHILE GOING OVER A POTHOLE, THERE WAS A SQUEALING AND CREAKING SOUND BUT NOT A SUDDEN ADDITIONAL DEPRESSION OF THE BRAKE PEDAL. ALL THESE INCIDENTS HAPPENED ON SALT LAKE BLVD. OR KAMEHAMEHA HIGHWAY AND PASSES UNDER THE FIXED GUIDEWAY FOR HAWAII'S RAIL SYSTEM. THE ROAD IS EXTREMELY BUMPY AND FULL OF POTHOLES.

NHTSA ODI #10926286

500 miles · Oct 12, 2016
Air BagsService BrakesCrash

AS I TOOK A HIGHWAY EXIT, FOLLOWING BEHIND OTHER CARS DOING THE SAME, MY PRIUS REFUSED TO BRAKE EFFICIENTLY WHEN ANOTHER CAR ABRUPTLY INVADED OUR LINE. IT FELT AS IF THE BRAKES MADE A SLIGHT RELEASE OR COULDN'T REACH A FULL STOP. I HAD ENOUGH SPACE TO STOP, AND I PRESSED THE BRAKES ON TIME BUT THERE WAS ALMOST NO BRAKE REACTION …

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AS I TOOK A HIGHWAY EXIT, FOLLOWING BEHIND OTHER CARS DOING THE SAME, MY PRIUS REFUSED TO BRAKE EFFICIENTLY WHEN ANOTHER CAR ABRUPTLY INVADED OUR LINE. IT FELT AS IF THE BRAKES MADE A SLIGHT RELEASE OR COULDN'T REACH A FULL STOP. I HAD ENOUGH SPACE TO STOP, AND I PRESSED THE BRAKES ON TIME BUT THERE WAS ALMOST NO BRAKE REACTION AND I CRASHED INTO THE TRUCK IN FRONT OF ME. I WAS PROBABLY GOING 20-30 MPH, SOMEWHERE IN THE MIDDLE... SO NOT EVEN THAT FAST. BEST PART IS THAT THE AIRBAGS DIDN'T INFLATE, EVEN THOUGH THE CAR WAS ALMOST TOTALED. THIS FEELS EXPLAINABLE TO ME... I HAD IT FOR ONLY TWO MONTHS THUS FAR. I DO NOT RECOMMEND THIS CAR TO OTHERS.

NHTSA ODI #10915494

500 miles · Jun 30, 2016
Service Brakes

WHEN GENTLY APPLYING BRAKES FOR A STOP LIGHT, AND THE RIGHT WHEEL HITS A 1 AND 1/8 INCH DEEP DEPRESSION IN THE ROAD, THE BRAKES FEEL LIKE THEY MOMENTARILY RELEASE. THE DEPRESSION IS FOR A 9 INCH DIAMETER CITY WATER COVER, AND THE OVERALL DIAMETER OF THE DEPRESSION IS 12 INCHES, AND IT IS 1 AND 1/8 INCHES DEEP. THIS CAN BE REPLIC…

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WHEN GENTLY APPLYING BRAKES FOR A STOP LIGHT, AND THE RIGHT WHEEL HITS A 1 AND 1/8 INCH DEEP DEPRESSION IN THE ROAD, THE BRAKES FEEL LIKE THEY MOMENTARILY RELEASE. THE DEPRESSION IS FOR A 9 INCH DIAMETER CITY WATER COVER, AND THE OVERALL DIAMETER OF THE DEPRESSION IS 12 INCHES, AND IT IS 1 AND 1/8 INCHES DEEP. THIS CAN BE REPLICATED AT THIS LOCATION AND WE HAVE ALSO NOTICED THE SAME THING HAPPENING ELSEWHERE IN TOWN.

NHTSA ODI #10881749

Official recalls

5

18V579000 · Electrical System:wiring

Sep 5, 2018

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2016-2018 Toyota Prius vehicles. A portion of the engine wire harness connected to the hybrid Power Control Unit (PCU), could contact the cover at this connection and wear, causing an electrical short circuit.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: An electrical short can increase the risk of a fire.

Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the engine wire harness assembly and replace it if damage is found. A protective sleeve or protective tape will be included to prevent any future damage. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began October 30, 2018. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371. Toyota's number for this recall is J0T.

18V085000 · Air Bags:frontal; Air Bags:frontal:sensor/control MODULE-INACTIVE ; Air Bags:side/window

Jan 31, 2018

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2016 Toyota Prius and Lexus RX 350, RX 350 F Sport, RX 450h F Sport and RX 450h vehicles and 2015-2016 Lexus NX 200T, NX Turbo and NX 300h vehicles. The air bag pressure sensors and/or the acceleration sensors may fail causing the side/curtain shield air bags and/or the front air bags to not deploy in the event of a crash.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the air bags fail to deploy in a crash, it can increase the risk of injury.

Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the sensors as necessary based on their serial numbers, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin March 12, 2018. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are JLA, J0F.

Additional source detail variants (3)

Air Bags:side/window

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2016 Toyota Prius and Lexus RX 350, RX 350 F Sport, RX 450h F Sport and RX 450h vehicles and 2015-2016 Lexus NX 200T, NX Turbo and NX 300h vehicles. The air bag pressure sensors and/or the acceleration sensors may fail causing the side/curtain shield air bags and/or the front air bags to not deploy in the event of a crash.

Consequence: If the air bags fail to deploy in a crash, it can increase the risk of injury.

Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the sensors as necessary based on their serial numbers, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin March 12, 2018. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are JLA, J0F.

Air Bags:frontal:sensor/control MODULE-INACTIVE

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2016 Toyota Prius and Lexus RX 350, RX 350 F Sport, RX 450h F Sport and RX 450h vehicles and 2015-2016 Lexus NX 200T, NX Turbo and NX 300h vehicles. The air bag pressure sensors and/or the acceleration sensors may fail causing the side/curtain shield air bags and/or the front air bags to not deploy in the event of a crash.

Consequence: If the air bags fail to deploy in a crash, it can increase the risk of injury.

Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the sensors as necessary based on their serial numbers, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin March 12, 2018. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are JLA, J0F.

Air Bags:frontal

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2016 Toyota Prius and Lexus RX 350, RX 350 F Sport, RX 450h F Sport and RX 450h vehicles and 2015-2016 Lexus NX 200T, NX Turbo and NX 300h vehicles. The air bag pressure sensors and/or the acceleration sensors may fail causing the side/curtain shield air bags and/or the front air bags to not deploy in the event of a crash.

Consequence: If the air bags fail to deploy in a crash, it can increase the risk of injury.

Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the sensors as necessary based on their serial numbers, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin March 12, 2018. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are JLA, J0F.

17V658000 · Hybrid Propulsion System: Inverter

Oct 18, 2017

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2016 Prius vehicles. A capacitor within the hybrid system may not have been properly bolted to the inverter housing.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the capacitor was not properly secured, vibrations from driving the vehicle may damage the capacitor, shutting down the hybrid system, causing a loss of motive power and increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the inverter, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin by early December 2017. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is H0U.

16V741000 · Parking Brake

Oct 14, 2016

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Prius vehicles manufactured August 6, 2015, to October 3, 2016. The affected vehicles are equipped with a foot-operated parking brake system that has a parking brake cable that may disengage.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the parking brake cable disengages from the mechanism and the transmission is left in a gear other than 'Park' while the ignition is on and the driver leaves the vehicle, the vehicle may roll unexpectedly, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will install a clip at the parking brake cable end to prevent the cable from disengaging, free of charge. The recall began November 10, 2016. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371. Toyota's number for this recall is G01.

16V672000 · Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module

Sep 16, 2016

Toyota Motor Engineering and Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2016 Toyota Prius vehicles manufactured November 30, 2015, to June 14, 2016. An air bag inflator manufacturing error may result in the inadvertent partial inflation of the front passenger air bag.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: A front passenger air bag that unintentionally inflates can increase the risk of a crash or injury.

Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag assembly, free of charge. The recall began November 10, 2016. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is G0W.

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

1

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.