AI Damage2013 Toyota Prius V: common problems
Owners of the 2013 Toyota Prius V filed 125 complaints with NHTSA, most often about service brakes and electrical system. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 125
- involving a crash
- 9
What fails most often
- 1 Service brakes 54% of all complaints
- 2 Electrical system 13% of all complaints
- 3 Engine 12% of all complaints
- 4 Fuel/propulsion system 7% of all complaints
- 5 Exterior lighting 6% of all complaints
- 6 Powertrain 6% of all complaints
- 7 Air bags 5% of all complaints
- 8 Vehicle speed control 5% of all complaints
- Service brakes: 68 complaints (54% of all), 4 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Electrical system: 16 complaints (13% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Engine: 15 complaints (12% of all).
- Fuel/propulsion system: 9 complaints (7% of all), 2 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Exterior lighting: 7 complaints (6% of all).
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 1.8 L · hybrid · 4 cyl
- CVT
Drive: FWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 125 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Service brakes | 68 | 4 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 16 | 1 | 0 |
| Engine | 15 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 9 | 2 | 0 |
| Exterior lighting | 7 | 0 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 7 | 1 | 0 |
| Air bags | 6 | 3 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 6 | 1 | 0 |
| Forward collision avoidance | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Hybrid propulsion system | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Structure | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Electronic stability control | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Seat belts | 2 | 0 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
The contact stated that while driving at approximately 25 MPH, the ABS warning light was illuminated. The contact then stated that the brake pedal was applied but failed to respond, causing the vehicle to swerve and the contact to crash into a retaining wall. The contact sustained whiplash.
The air bag failed to deploy. A police report was filed. There was no injuries. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. A local dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 27,000.
May 3, 2019, approximately 33 days after software updated due to recall (to prevent stalling) vehicle experienced unintended acceleration. Due to location of event, all property damage and injuries were minor. Event has been reported to toyota and owner's auto insurance provider.
The consumer was in a car accident in which the air bags did not deploy. The consumer hit the steering wheel and the dashboard. The consumer believes had the airbags deployed there would have been less injuries.
The air bags did not deploy. A police report was not filed and there were no injuries. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was not diagnosed, but the structure of the vehicle was repaired. The failure recurred when the brake pedal was depressed, and the vehicle failed to stop.
Upon approach, going approximately five miles per hour or less, the car's brake pedal went to the floor, with no braking happening. The car then surged into the parking space, up over the curb, and into the corner of a store, causing extensive injury to passenger side and passenger, minor injury to driver, and…
Tl* the contact owns a 2013 prius v. The contact stated that while decelerating, the vehicle suddenly accelerated and crashed into a metal gate. There were no injuries. The contact indicated that the failure recurred on multiple occasions. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who was unable to diagnose the failure.
My Prius had brake warning lights come on around December 2025. Turns out the brake accumulator had an internal leak. After doing some research, I discovered this was a known brake booster issue that Toyota has not issued a recall on. They do have an extended warranty program, but my vehicle did not qualify.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 3,035 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 8% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Prius V has 60 complaints (8 years in the data). This year has 125, above average.
What to check before buying
- Service brakes. Pedal feel, ABS operation, leaks, discs and hoses.
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Engine. Cold start, unusual noises, oil leaks and engine codes.
- Fuel/propulsion system. Fuel smell, leaks, rough running, fuel-system codes.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2013 Toyota Prius V?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: service brakes, electrical system, engine. Total complaints: 125. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: warning lights, check engine (31%), brake failure (7%), headlights and tail lights (6%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2013 Toyota Prius V?
NHTSA lists 0 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 2013 Toyota Prius V from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 2013 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-05.