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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.

About this comparison →

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

What owners actually said

154 reports
42,372 miles · Sep 28, 2020
Vehicle Speed ControlCrash

CAR ACCELERATING WITH NOT BEING ABLE TO STOP WHEN APPLYING BRAKE, CAR WAS PUT IN REVERSE AND TOOK OFF WITH ENGINE RACING IN HOME DRIVEWAY.

NHTSA ODI #11361559

91,000 miles · Sep 16, 2020
Unknown Or Other

I WAS DRIVING UPHILL THEN I HAD TO MADE MAKE A STOP SIGN, CAR WOULDN'T MOVE WHEN ACCELERATING, KEPT PRESSING GAS AND STILL NOT MOVING (IT WAS ON DRIVE MODE) DECIDED TO GET OUT AND LOOK AROUND THE CAR. I HEARD UP NORMAL NOISE COMING OUT OF THE EXHAUST. I TURNED ENGINE OFF FOR SOME MINUTES AND IT MOVED. AFTER FEW MINUTES THERE WAS…

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I WAS DRIVING UPHILL THEN I HAD TO MADE MAKE A STOP SIGN, CAR WOULDN'T MOVE WHEN ACCELERATING, KEPT PRESSING GAS AND STILL NOT MOVING (IT WAS ON DRIVE MODE) DECIDED TO GET OUT AND LOOK AROUND THE CAR. I HEARD UP NORMAL NOISE COMING OUT OF THE EXHAUST. I TURNED ENGINE OFF FOR SOME MINUTES AND IT MOVED. AFTER FEW MINUTES THERE WAS ANOTHER STOP SIGN. SAME THING HAPPENED BUT CAR WOULDN'T MOVE EVEN AFTER TURNING ENGINE IF FOR MORE THAN 15 MINUTES. I HAD TO LEAVE THE CAR SOMEWHERE IN THAT AREA UNTIL I GET IT TOWED. FOLLOWING DAY I TOOK IT TO TOYOTA SERVICE CENTER, THE GUY TOLD ME I WAS THE SECOND PERSON WHO HAD THIS ISSUE THAT DAY. I THINK TOYOTA SERVICE TECH DIDN'T DO GOOD DIAGNOSES AS THE REPORT SAYS I WAS PRESSING THE GAS PEDAL WHEN THE CAR WAS IN NATURAL MODE NOT DRIVE AND THE NOISE I HEARD FROM EXHAUST WAS A RESULT FROM PRESSING THE GAS WHILE CAR IN NATURAL! THAT DOESN'T MAKE ANY SENSE AND I FEEL THAT WAS AN INSULT TO ME. FIRST I LOOKED AT THE CAR MODE TO MAKE SURE IT'S ON DRIVE MODE, I EVEN CHANGED THE DRIVE MODE TO POWER MODE IN CASE IT NEEDED MORE POWER TO MOVE. SECOND. I WAS OUT OF THE CAR, BEHIND THE CAR , LISTENING TO THE NOISE FROM THE EXHAUST SO I DON'T KNOW WHO WAS PRESSING THE GAS PEDAL IN THE CAR, MAYBE THERE WAS A GHOST PUSHING THE GAS PEDAL.

NHTSA ODI #11355295

44,000 miles · Aug 24, 2020
Visibility/wiper

2016 PRIUS SITTING IN THE DRIVEWAY DURING A RELATIVELY HOT DAY (~95 F TEMPERATURE), APPEARS TO HAVE A BIG CRACK. I LOOKED IT UP AND APPARENTLY TOYOTA IS UNDERGOING A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT OVER THE SAME ISSUE. NO OUTSIDE DAMAGE TO THE WINDSHIELD, THE DRIVER SIDE WINDOW WAS DOWN FOR THE REASON OF THE HEAT. SHAME THAT THIS HAPPENED.…

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2016 PRIUS SITTING IN THE DRIVEWAY DURING A RELATIVELY HOT DAY (~95 F TEMPERATURE), APPEARS TO HAVE A BIG CRACK. I LOOKED IT UP AND APPARENTLY TOYOTA IS UNDERGOING A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT OVER THE SAME ISSUE. NO OUTSIDE DAMAGE TO THE WINDSHIELD, THE DRIVER SIDE WINDOW WAS DOWN FOR THE REASON OF THE HEAT. SHAME THAT THIS HAPPENED. HOPEFULLY SOMEONE FROM THE AUTHORITY CAN HELP WITH THIS.

NHTSA ODI #11350840

40,100 miles · Aug 18, 2020
EngineFuel/propulsion SystemPower Train

CAR DOES NOT ACCELERATE FROM A STOP WHEN PRESSING THE GAS PETAL WHILE CAR IS IN DRIVE. THIS SEEMS TO HAPPEN ONLY IN THE SUMMER MONTHS. WHILE PULLING UP TO A RED LIGHT I SLOWED THE CAR TO A STOP. WHEN THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN I LET MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE, CAR MOTIONED FORWARD A BIT BUT WHEN I PRESSED MY FOOT ON THE GAS PETAL THE ENG…

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CAR DOES NOT ACCELERATE FROM A STOP WHEN PRESSING THE GAS PETAL WHILE CAR IS IN DRIVE. THIS SEEMS TO HAPPEN ONLY IN THE SUMMER MONTHS. WHILE PULLING UP TO A RED LIGHT I SLOWED THE CAR TO A STOP. WHEN THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN I LET MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE, CAR MOTIONED FORWARD A BIT BUT WHEN I PRESSED MY FOOT ON THE GAS PETAL THE ENGINE WOULD REV BUT WOULD NOT ACCELERATE IN ANY WAY. I PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE TO TRY AND GET OUT OF MAIN ROAD TRAFFIC BUT CAR CONTINUED TO HAVE NO POWER. I THEN PUT THE CAR INTO DRIVE, PUT MY FOOT ON THE GAS PETAL AND AGAIN, ENGINE WOULD REV BUT CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AS THE CAR WILL ROLL FORWARD WHEN TAKING YOUR FOOT OFF THE BRAKE, SO YOU CAN ROLL INTO THE MIDDLE OF A HIGHWAY BEFORE YOU REALIZE THERE IS NO ACCELERATION PUTTING DRIVERS AT GREAT RISK OF BEING T-BONED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO TURN (ESPECIALLY LEFT TURNS). I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TO TOYOTA TWICE AND SERVICE CAN NOT FIND ANY ISSUES AS NO CODES HAVE SHOWN UP. THE SOFTWARE WAS UPDATED AND ISSUE OCCURRED AGAIN AFTER UPDATE.

NHTSA ODI #11350160

41,020 miles · Aug 18, 2020
Power TrainUnknown Or Other

2016 TOYOTA PRIUS HAS ISSUES ACCELERATING WHEN PUT IN DRIVE AND FOOT IS ON THE GAS PETAL. CAR ENGINE WILL REV BUT DOES NOT ACCELERATE. I REVERSED, PUT THE CAR IN DRIVE AND WENT ABOUT A TENTH OF A MILE AND STOPPED TO WAIT FOR THE GATE TO OPEN. UPON GATE OPENING I PRESSED THE GAS PETAL AND CAR DID NOT MOVE BUT THE ENGINE REVVED. N…

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2016 TOYOTA PRIUS HAS ISSUES ACCELERATING WHEN PUT IN DRIVE AND FOOT IS ON THE GAS PETAL. CAR ENGINE WILL REV BUT DOES NOT ACCELERATE. I REVERSED, PUT THE CAR IN DRIVE AND WENT ABOUT A TENTH OF A MILE AND STOPPED TO WAIT FOR THE GATE TO OPEN. UPON GATE OPENING I PRESSED THE GAS PETAL AND CAR DID NOT MOVE BUT THE ENGINE REVVED. NO WARNING LIGHTS WERE ON AND CAR WAS IN FACT IN THE DRIVE POSITION. SECOND OCCURRENCE HAPPENED AT A MAJOR INTERSECTION, I WAS WAITING AT A RED LIGHT, LIGHT TURNED GREEN I PRESSED THE GAS AND ENGINE REVVED BUT CAR DID NOT MOVE. TOYOTA HAS BEEN UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE ISSUE BECAUSE THE CAR DOESN'T GIVE ANY CODES OR WARNING LIGHTS. THEY HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO REPLICATE THE PROBLEM.

NHTSA ODI #11350158

24,000 miles · Jul 24, 2020
Power Train

LEFT CV AXLE JOINT DISCONNECTED.THIS HAPPEN IN CITY WHEN IN MOTION.

NHTSA ODI #11341250

58,500 miles · Jul 16, 2020
Visibility/wiper

FOR THE SECOND TIME IN MY OWNERSHIP OF THIS TOYOTA 2016 PRIUS, THE WINDSHIELD HAS CRACKED CONSIDERABLY DUE TO TINY ROAD DEBRIS MAKING CONTACT WITH IT. I WAS DRIVING ALONG THE HIGHWAY WHEN A SMALL PEBBLE FROM THE ROAD MADE CONTACT WITH MY WINDSHIELD CAUSING A CRACK WHICH HAS GROWN IN SIZE AND HAS SNAKED ALONG MY WINDSHIELD CONSID…

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FOR THE SECOND TIME IN MY OWNERSHIP OF THIS TOYOTA 2016 PRIUS, THE WINDSHIELD HAS CRACKED CONSIDERABLY DUE TO TINY ROAD DEBRIS MAKING CONTACT WITH IT. I WAS DRIVING ALONG THE HIGHWAY WHEN A SMALL PEBBLE FROM THE ROAD MADE CONTACT WITH MY WINDSHIELD CAUSING A CRACK WHICH HAS GROWN IN SIZE AND HAS SNAKED ALONG MY WINDSHIELD CONSIDERABLY SINCE THE CRACK OCCURRED EARLIER THIS WEEK (7/13/2020). THE TOTAL REPLACEMENT OF THE WINDSHIELD ALONG WITH THE CALIBRATION OF THE EQUIPPED ADS CAMERA SYSTEM IS VERY EXPENSIVE, ESPECIALLY CONSIDERING THAT THIS WILL BE THE SECOND TIME THAT I MUST REPLACE AND RE-CALIBRATE. ALTHOUGH I WOULD PREFER TO USE A TOYOTA DEALERSHIP, IT WOULD BE VERY DIFFICULT FOR ME TO DO SO AS THE ESTIMATED COST IS OVER $1K. WITH THE CURRENT STATE OF GLOBAL AFFAIRS, NO GLASS REPAIR COMPANIES IN MY VICINITY OFFER ANY OEM WINDSHIELDS AND THEY ARE HEAVILY INUNDATED WITH CLIENTS SO THE EARLIEST THAT I COULD GET A REPLACEMENT SERVICE WOULD BE AT THE END OF THIS MONTH. I FEAR THAT THE CRACK MAY FULLY SPREAD ACROSS THE WINDSHIELD AND THAT THE INTEGRITY OF THE WINDSHIELD MAY GIVE. AS A HEALTHCARE WORKER, I CANNOT AFFORD TO NOT USE MY VEHICLE.

NHTSA ODI #11339798

81,000 miles · Jun 25, 2020
Fuel/propulsion System

SOMETIMES WHEN IT IS HOT MY PRIUS DOES NOT ACCELERATE FROM A STOP WHEN THE ACCELERATOR IS PRESSED FOR 1 OR MORE SECONDS; THIS MAKES IT A DEATH-TRAP ON LEFT TURNS. TOYOTA DEALERS HAVE SERVICED IT 3 TIMES FOR THIS COMPLAINT WITH NO RESOLUTION. *TR

NHTSA ODI #11330881

Mileage unknown · Mar 16, 2020
Vehicle Speed ControlCrash

TOYOTA PRIUS. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. *LD THE CONSUMER THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED ON IT'S OWN STRIKING 2 VEHICLES. *JS

NHTSA ODI #11318434

25,202 miles · Mar 7, 2020
Wheels

MY 2016 PRIUS FOUR TOURING WITH 25,202 MILES IS CHEWING UP ITS TIRES. SPECIFICALLY, IT IS CHEWING THEM UP ON THE "INSIDE" OF THE REAR TIRES (THAT IS, THE TREAD OF THE REAR TIRES CLOSEST TO THE CENTER OF THE CAR IS BEING WORN OFF FASTER THAN THE TREAD ON THE "OUTSIDE" OF THE TIRES). THE REAR WHEELS ARE OUT OF ALIGNMENT IN THE …

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MY 2016 PRIUS FOUR TOURING WITH 25,202 MILES IS CHEWING UP ITS TIRES. SPECIFICALLY, IT IS CHEWING THEM UP ON THE "INSIDE" OF THE REAR TIRES (THAT IS, THE TREAD OF THE REAR TIRES CLOSEST TO THE CENTER OF THE CAR IS BEING WORN OFF FASTER THAN THE TREAD ON THE "OUTSIDE" OF THE TIRES). THE REAR WHEELS ARE OUT OF ALIGNMENT IN THE CAMBER BY A NEGATIVE 1.7 DEGREES "OUT" OF WHERE IT SHOULD BE (THE TOP OF THE TIRE IS "TILTED IN" TOWARD THE MIDDLE OF THE CAR 1.7 DEGREES FROM WHERE IT SHOULD BE). THE TOYOTA DEALER SERVICE WRITER REFUSES TO TAKE OWNERSHIP AND IS SAYING THAT THERE IS NO KIT/REPAIR TO MAKE A CAMBER ADJUSTMENT ON THE REAR TIRES OF THE 2016 PRIUS CARS. I JUST ROTATED MY TIRES WITH 25,202 MILES ON 3.7.2020 AND THE TIRE DEPTH ON THE REAR TIRES IS A 2/32 WITH THE FRONT 4/32 AS O 3.7.2022. ON 12.19.2019, WITH A MILEAGE READING OF 23,361THE TIRE DEPTH WAS 6/32 ON THE REAR TIRES AND 7/32 ON THE FRONT.

NHTSA ODI #11316777

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.