AI Damage2016 Toyota Prius V: common problems
Owners of the 2016 Toyota Prius V filed 1 complaints with NHTSA, most often about service brakes and vehicle speed control. The maker issued 171 service bulletins for this year. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 1
- involving a crash
- 1
- Technical service bulletins (TSB)
- 171
What fails most often
- 1 Service brakes 100% of all complaints
- 2 Vehicle speed control 100% of all complaints
- Service brakes: 1 complaints (100% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 4.
- Vehicle speed control: 1 complaints (100% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 1.
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
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Service brakes | 1 | 1 | 4 |
| Vehicle speed control | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Equipment | 0 | 0 | 79 |
| Electrical system | 0 | 0 | 50 |
| Structure | 0 | 0 | 46 |
| Engine and cooling | 0 | 0 | 8 |
| Engine | 0 | 0 | 7 |
| Backover prevention | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| Air bags | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| Hybrid propulsion system | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Powertrain | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Seats | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Steering | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Tires | 0 | 0 | 2 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
On [XXX] at [XXX] I was backing out of a driveway when my 2016 Prius V5 accelerated on its own. When I applied the brakes, nothing happened. I hit a curb, which flattened the front passenger tire. In order to get the car to stop, I took it out of gear and put it in neutral. The car finally came to a stop.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 1,964 of 2,102 model years in the NHTSA data (among the 7% least complained about).
On average one model year of the Prius V has 4 complaints (3 years in the data). This year has 1, below average.
What to check before buying
- Service brakes. Pedal feel, ABS operation, leaks, discs and hoses.
- Vehicle speed control. Accelerator pedal, cruise control, throttle codes.
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Structure. Rails, pillars, panel gaps, signs of pulling or welding.
Manufacturer service bulletins
Bulletin titles as filed with NHTSA.
- This bulletin includes basic procedures for performing a rescue charge on Ni-MH high voltage (HV) batteries
This bulletin should be used in conjunction with the applicable model and model year Repair Manual while performing a rescue charge. The GRX-5100 should be used wherever the Repair Manual references the Toyota Hybrid…
- OBSOLETE NOTICE February 13, 2026
This bulletin is now obsolete. Please see T-SB-0009-26.
- Some 2005 – 2026 Toyota vehicles that have undergone water intrusion may exhibit a condition in which a…
Some 2005 – 2026 Toyota vehicles that have undergone water intrusion may exhibit a condition in which a musty odor is present. Follow the procedures in this bulletin to remediate the odor and address this condition…
- Some customers may experience echoing on the line calling the vehicle when using Bluetooth Hands Free
This is caused by the phone Hands Free volume being too low.
- The air conditioning dye injection tool kit has been developed to aid in identifying the location of air…
The air conditioning dye injection tool kit has been developed to aid in identifying the location of air conditioning refrigerant leaks. The procedures outlined in this Service Bulletin aid in locating, inspecting, and…
- The condition known as acid rain is caused by airborne chemicals or particles in the atmosphere, which mix…
The condition known as acid rain is caused by airborne chemicals or particles in the atmosphere, which mix with rainwater, nighttime dew, or high humidity to form acidic compounds. If these contaminants settle and…
- To prevent brake rotor rust from forming during transportation and storage, wheel film will be used…
To prevent brake rotor rust from forming during transportation and storage, wheel film will be used instead of a cardboard type of anti-rust cover. The purpose of the wheel film is to shield the disc brake rotor from…
- Acid rain results from rainwater or other airborne moisture that become acidic due to industrial chemical…
Acid rain results from rainwater or other airborne moisture that become acidic due to industrial chemical impurities in the atmosphere. If these acidic compounds settle on an exposed vehicle, especially the horizontal…
- Toyota vehicles are currently protected with RapgardTM protective film designed to protect the horizontal…
Toyota vehicles are currently protected with RapgardTM protective film designed to protect the horizontal painted surfaces. This material protects from acid rain, environmental fallout, and rail contamination. Follow…
- Vehicles may occasionally be subjected to contamination by airborne iron particles shed from railroad…
Vehicles may occasionally be subjected to contamination by airborne iron particles shed from railroad tracks, train wheels, exposure to heavy machinery facilities, grinding, welding, etc. This type of contamination can…
- Some 2005 – 2024 Toyota vehicles that have undergone water intrusion may exhibit a condition in which a…
Some 2005 – 2024 Toyota vehicles that have undergone water intrusion may exhibit a condition in which a musty odor is present. Follow the procedures in this bulletin to remediate the odor and address this condition…
- Toyota vehicles are currently protected with RapgardTM protective film designed to protect the horizontal…
Toyota vehicles are currently protected with RapgardTM protective film designed to protect the horizontal painted surfaces. This material protects from acid rain, environmental fallout, and rail contamination.
NHTSA lists 171 bulletins for this year; the 12 newest are shown here.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2016 Toyota Prius V?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: service brakes, vehicle speed control. Total complaints: 1. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: unintended acceleration (100%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2016 Toyota Prius V?
NHTSA lists 171 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 2016 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 2016 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 2026-11-04.