The Lemon IndexAll cars · Toyota Prius · 2013
2013 Toyota Prius. Advanced data.
The raw numbers: engines, recall campaign numbers, failure mileage and manufacturer communications.
Failure mileage by system
Half of owners who gave a mileage reported the problem between 800 and 23,000 miles. Median 5,000, from 73 complaints with a mileage.
Mileage owners typed into their NHTSA complaint, all complaints for this model year. People report some problems late, so read it as a range.
Complaints by system
| System | Share of complaints |
|---|---|
| Brakes | 24% |
| Electrical | 17% |
| Speed control | 13% |
| Airbags | 12% |
| Engine | 10% |
One complaint can name more than one system, so shares can add to more than 100%.
Severity, all complaints
| Total | Crashes | Fires | Injuries | Deaths | Tows |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 84 | 22 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 5 |
As reported by owners to NHTSA. Not verified.
Recall campaigns 3
20V369000 Jun 2020 Hybrid Propulsion System / Inverter
Defect. 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.
Risk. 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
18V684000 Oct 2018 Hybrid Propulsion System
Defect. Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2010-2014 Toyota Prius and 2012-2014 Toyota Prius V vehicles. 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.
Risk. If the hybrid system shuts down unexpectedly, it can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy. Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will update the software for the motor/generator control electronic control unit (ECU) and the hybrid control ECU as necessary, free of charge. The recall began January 22, 2019. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371. Toyota's number for this recall is J0V. Note: The software updates in this recall are needed even if the vehicle had
14V053000 Feb 2014 Hybrid Propulsion System / Inverter
Defect. Toyota is recalling certain model year 2010 through 2014 Prius vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the Intelligent Power Module (IPM) inside the inverter module (a component of the hybrid system) contains transistors that may become damaged from high operating temperatures. If this occurs, various warning lamps will be illuminated on the instrument panel and the vehicle will have reduced power allowing it to only drive a short distance.
Risk. The vehicle may enter a fail-safe/limp-home mode that limits the drivability of the vehicle. The hybrid system could also shut down completely resulting in a vehicle stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy. Toyota will notify owners and dealers will update the software for both the motor/generator control electronic control unit (ECU) and the hybrid control ECU, free of charge. If an owner experiences a failure of the inverter before the vehicle receives updated software, the dealer will repair or replace the inverter assembly with a new one at no charge. The recall began on March 21, 2014. Owners
NHTSA investigations
| Status | Subject | Opened | Closed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Open | Brake actuator valve wear | 2023 | – |
| Closed | Pedestrian alert sounds | 2023 | 2023 |
| Closed | Brake actuator valve wear | 2019 | 2021 |
Manufacturer communications 466
Toyota filed 466 service communications for this car with NHTSA.
- See document search button for owner letter
- Hv batteries have liquid filled cell modules, to prevent leakage from cells, it is very important
- Warranty policy bulletin (pol14-05): toyota has received some reports indicating the…
Crash ratings by version
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Toyota Prius 5 HB FWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
| Toyota Prius C 5 HB FWD | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ |
Safety equipment
| Electronic stability | Forward collision warning | Lane departure warning |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | No | No |
Engines and drivetrains 3
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | City / hwy / combined | Fuel | Fuel cost/yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.5L 4-cyl hybrid | Auto (variable gear ratios) | FWD | 53 / 46 / 50 | Regular | $1,250 |
| 1.8L 4-cyl hybrid | Auto (variable gear ratios) | FWD | 49 / 46 / 48 | Regular | $1,300 |
| 1.8L 4-cyl plug-in hybrid | Auto (variable gear ratios) | FWD | 51 / 49 / 50 | Regular | $1,250 |
EPA test versions for this model year. Fuel cost is the EPA's current estimate, not the price in that year.
YouTube repair topics
200 videos about the 2010–2015 Toyota Prius, 32.3M views.
| Topic | Videos | Views |
|---|---|---|
| Oil changes & service | 7 | 1.5M |
| Infotainment, battery & electrical | 11 | 1.3M |
| Intake, EGR & engine sensors | 5 | 912K |
| Timing chain & engine | 8 | 813K |
| Spark plugs & ignition coils | 3 | 667K |
| Gauges, lights & wiring | 3 | 609K |
| Brakes & ABS | 5 | 539K |
| Heat, A/C & blend door | 2 | 182K |
Nearby model years
Sources: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer communications; EPA fuel economy data; YouTube video titles. Complaints are owner reports, not proof of a defect.
Updated · Free to use with credit: Source: The Lemon Index (lemonindex.com)
. Get the data