2013 Toyota PRIUS V problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
124 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
68,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2013 model year. Data snapshot: . 67 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Service Brakes is the most frequently named component, appearing in 64 of 124 complaints (51.6%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 69 | 55.6% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 8 | 6.5% |
| Engine operation | 7 | 5.6% |
| Steering behavior | 5 | 4.0% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 0.8% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Service Brakes | 64 |
| Engine | 15 |
| Electrical System | 14 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 9 |
| Unknown Or Other | 8 |
| Exterior Lighting | 7 |
| Power Train | 6 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 6 |
Service Brakes: 64; Engine: 15; Electrical System: 14; Fuel/Propulsion System: 9; Unknown Or Other: 8; Exterior Lighting: 7; Power Train: 6; Vehicle Speed Control: 6
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 12 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 12 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 12 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 11 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 16 |
| 150,000 and above | 4 |
Under 25,000: 12; 25,000 to 49,999: 12; 50,000 to 74,999: 12; 75,000 to 99,999: 11; 100,000 to 149,999: 16; 150,000 and above: 4
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (16). 57 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2014 | 10 |
| 2015 | 8 |
| 2016 | 3 |
| 2017 | 5 |
| 2018 | 10 |
| 2019 | 17 |
| 2020 | 7 |
| 2021 | 7 |
| 2022 | 2 |
| 2023 | 8 |
| 2024 | 16 |
| 2025 | 21 |
| 2026 | 10 |
2014: 10; 2015: 8; 2016: 3; 2017: 5; 2018: 10; 2019: 17; 2020: 7; 2021: 7; 2022: 2; 2023: 8; 2024: 16; 2025: 21; 2026: 10
Pattern summary
Service Brakes leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 69 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 8 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 7 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10583895 · 2014-04-21 (April 21, 2014)
2013 PRIUS V - BRAND NEW. BRAKES MAKE A GRINDING NOISE WHEN COLD. THREE DIFFERENT TOYOTA DEALERSHIPS TOLD ME THAT IT IS NORMAL FOR THE BRAKES TO GRIND WHEN COLD. NOTHING THEY COULD DO ABOUT IT. VEHICLE NOW HAS 15,000 MILES ON IT AND IT STILL MAKES GRINDING NOISES WHEN COLD. I HAD A 2010 PRIUS AND HAD NO PROBLEMS WITH IT. FOUND ON THE TOYOTA OWNERS WEBSITE THERE ARE SEVERAL OTHERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. ONE OF THEM HAD THE SEATTLE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP FIX THE PROBLEM: TOYOTA OF SEATTLE 1,379 SERVICE DETAILS REAR BRAKE NOISE WHEN COLD …
Owner-reported narrative. 200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10583895 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10608480 · 2014-07-06 (July 6, 2014)
DRIVER PULLED INTO PARKING STALL. FOOT ON BRAKE AT CURB. PUSHED THE "P" BUTTON FOR PARK FUNCTION ON DASH BOARD. THE CAR REVED AND LURCHED OVER THE CURB TOWARD THE BUILDING. DRIVER CONTINUED TO PRESS BRAKE PEDAL AND SWERVED TO AVOID THE BUILDING, YET SCRAPED THE SIDE WITH SIDE PANEL AND RUNNING OVER TW0 RECENTLY PLANTED TREES. THE CAR CONTINUED LURCHING FOR APPROXIMATELY 30-40 FEET, BACK OFF OF THE CURB, PAST TO TWO PARKED CARS (WHICH SUSTAINED NO DAMAGE). THE CAR FINALLY CAME TO A REST ON ITS OWN. THE ENGINE WAS STILL RUNNING UNTIL THE "START/O…
Owner-reported narrative. 18,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10608480 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10609379 · 2014-07-09 (July 9, 2014)
2013 TOYOTA PRIUS V. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILURE. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN HIS WIFE EXITED THE VEHICLE, SHE NOTICED THE HEADLIGHTS WERE NOT ON. THEY WERE SET TO REMAIN ON FOR A BRIEF PERIOD AFTER THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. SHE GOT BACK IN THE VEHICLE AND THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILED; NO LIGHTS, THE DOOR LOCKS DID NOT WORK AND THE ENGINE WOULD NOT START, THE ONLY FUNCTIONING ITEM, WAS THE BRAKE LIGHTS. THE CONSUMER AND HIS WIFE TRIED SEVERAL TIMES, TO GET THE VEHICLE TO START, SO EVENTUALLY THEY HAD A …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10609379 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10971699 · 2017-04-10 (April 10, 2017)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 TOYOTA PRIUS V. WHILE MAKING A U-TURN AND DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AT 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE AND LOST TRACTION. THE VSC, ENGINE, AND HYBRID SYSTEM MALFUNCTION WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED WITH A MALFUNCTIONING HYBRID SYSTEM AND BATTERY. THE CONTACT WAS UNAWARE OF THE REPAIRS THAT WERE NEEDED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAI…
Owner-reported narrative. 128,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10971699 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10807143 · 2015-11-27 (November 27, 2015)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 TOYOTA PRIUS V. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE STOPPED, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS SERVICED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V449000 (HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM) BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 30,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10807143 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10605808 · 2014-06-25 (June 25, 2014)
STARTED HEARING FAINT POPPING/THUD SOUND WHEN TURNING WHEEL TO LEFT AT SLOW SPEEDS LIKE BACKING UP OR IN THE PROCESS OF PARKING THAT INVOLVES TURNING WHEEL TO THE LEFT. THIS IS ACCOMPANIED BY SOME LOOSE FEEL ON THE STEERING WHEEL WHEN IT MAKES THAT SOUND. INITIALLY STARTED HEARING/FEELING IT WHEN IT HAD 9K MILES ON IT. BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALER FOR 10K SERVICE AND COMPLAINED ABOUT IT. THEY/I COULD NOT REPLICATE IT. STILL HEARING THE SOUND AND FEELING IT ON STEERING WHEEL. SOUND AND FEEL GOT WORSE WITH STEERING AS MILEAGE WENT UP. BROUGHT TO LO…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10605808 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10933509 · 2017-08-17 (August 17, 2017)
2013 TOYOTA PRIUS. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO AIRBAG MALFUNCTION DURING VEHICLE ACCIDENT. *SMD 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 CONSUMER EXPERIENCED PAINS ON THE NECK , 3 C SPINE DISK HERNIATIONS, HEAD, ARMS, ELBOWS, CHEST,KNEES, LEGS, AND CHIN. UPDATED *JS
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10933509 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11129220 · 2018-09-13 (September 13, 2018)
THIS HAS HAPPENED FIVE TIMES NOW, THUS FAR ONLY ON A LEVEL SURFACE. STARTING WITH THE CAR OFF AND PARKED WITH THE PARKING BRAKE ON. I DEPRESS AND HOLD THE BRAKE PEDAL WITH MY RIGHT FOOT. START THE CAR BY PRESSING POWER. WHILE CONTINUING TO HOLD THE BRAKE PEDAL I DEPRESS AND RELEASE THE PARKING BRAKE TO DISENGAGE IT. THEN, STILL WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, I SHIFT INTO REVERSE. INSTEAD OF REMAINING STILL THE CAR ROLLS BACKWARDS. IMMEDIATELY DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL FARTHER DOES NOT CAUSE ANY BRAKING. I HAVE INSTINCTIVELY REMOVED MY FOOT F…
Owner-reported narrative. 51,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 11129220 at NHTSA ↗