2015 Toyota PRIUS problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
164 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
30,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2015 model year. Data snapshot: . 71 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Service Brakes is the most frequently named component, appearing in 87 of 164 complaints (53.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 96 | 58.5% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 13 | 7.9% |
| Engine operation | 8 | 4.9% |
| Transmission and shifting | 4 | 2.4% |
| Steering behavior | 4 | 2.4% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 0.6% |
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 | 87 |
| Electrical System | 26 |
| Unknown Or Other | 15 |
| Power Train | 13 |
| Engine | 8 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 7 |
| Air Bags | 6 |
| Exterior Lighting | 6 |
Service Brakes: 87; Electrical System: 26; Unknown Or Other: 15; Power Train: 13; Engine: 8; Vehicle Speed Control: 7; Air Bags: 6; Exterior Lighting: 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 | 32 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 15 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 8 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 6 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 7 |
| 150,000 and above | 3 |
Under 25,000: 32; 25,000 to 49,999: 15; 50,000 to 74,999: 8; 75,000 to 99,999: 6; 100,000 to 149,999: 7; 150,000 and above: 3
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (32). 93 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 |
|---|---|
| 2015 | 11 |
| 2016 | 13 |
| 2017 | 10 |
| 2018 | 8 |
| 2019 | 12 |
| 2020 | 9 |
| 2021 | 11 |
| 2022 | 6 |
| 2023 | 6 |
| 2024 | 8 |
| 2025 | 40 |
| 2026 | 30 |
2015: 11; 2016: 13; 2017: 10; 2018: 8; 2019: 12; 2020: 9; 2021: 11; 2022: 6; 2023: 6; 2024: 8; 2025: 40; 2026: 30
Pattern summary
Service Brakes leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 96 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 13 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 8 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 10735586 · 2015-07-21 (July 21, 2015)
I PULLED INTO MY DRIVEWAY TO PARK THE CAR. I PRESSED THE POWER OFF BUTTON TO TURN OFF THE CAR. THE SHIFT LEVER WAS IN THE DRIVE POSITION. THE CAR DISPLAY SAID GOODBYE BUT THE CAR DROVE FORWARD. I JAMMED ON THE BRAKE AND HIT A WAGON CAUSING $1300 DAMAGE. A CHILD OR ANIMAL COULD HAVE BEEN HIT. THE OWNER'S MANUAL STATES ON P.188 THAT IF THE HYBRID SYSTEM OF THE CAR IS TURNED OFF WITH THE SHIFT LEVER IN A POSITION OTHER THAN PARK, THE CAR WILL BE TURNED TO ACCESSORY MODE.
Owner-reported narrative. 90 miles reported. Look up ODI 10735586 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10745911 · 2015-08-03 (August 3, 2015)
I WAS INCHING INTO A GROCERY STORE PARKING SPOT IN MY NEW, PERFECTLY MAINTAINED 2015 TOYOTA PRIUS WHEN I EXPERIENCED UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. MY VEHICLE SHOT FORWARD AND IN A SECOND HAD CRASHED OVER A CEMENT CURB, THROUGH A FLOWER BED, AND WAS STOPPED - DESPITE MY DESPERATELY JAMMING THE BRAKE - ONLY BY SMASHING INTO A BRICK WALL. THE SUSPENSION AND STEERING ON THE CAR IS NOW SEVERELY DAMAGED, AND THE CAR CANNOT BE DRIVEN. I AM HORRIFIED: I COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED AND WORSE, HIT/HURT ANOTHER PERSON (OR AT THE VERY LEAST SEVERELY DAMAG…
Owner-reported narrative. 1,303 miles reported. Look up ODI 10745911 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10781478 · 2015-10-12 (October 12, 2015)
WITHIN A 6 DAY PERIOD, THE MAIN 12 VOLT BATTERY DIED AND THE CAR WHICH WAS ONLY 3 WEEKS OLD WOULD NOT START. ALSO THE CABLE USED TO CHARGE THE HYBRID BATTERY TRIPS THE CIRCUIT BREAKER IN MY HOUSE EACH TIME EVEN THOUGH IT IS A GROUND FAULT OUTLET AND A 20 AMP BREAKER. I HAD TO CALL OUT A TOW TRUCK TO JUMPSTART THE BATTERY BOTH TIMES. CAR WAS PARKED AND DIRECTIONS WERE FOLLOWED EXACTLY FOR CHARGING IT. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER WHO FOUND NOTHING WRONG AND WAS TOLD I SHOULD HAVE A DEDICATED LINE TO CHARGE THE CAR, EVEN THOUGH I WASN'T TOLD THIS BY…
Owner-reported narrative. 575 miles reported. Look up ODI 10781478 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10824682 · 2016-02-07 (February 7, 2016)
RANDOM ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS STARTED HAPPENING. BLUETOOTH WOULD NOT ALLOW ME TO ANSWER INCOMING PHONE. I COULD NOT CALL OUT. UNABLE TO CHANGE RADIO STATION, TURN ON/OFF RADIO. UNABLE TO TURN ON CD, OR EJECT DISK. THEN RADIO WILL START WORKING AND AM ABLE TO USE BLUETOOTH IF I DIAL FROM MY CELL PHONE. ALL WITHIN A WEEK. LAST NIGHT ,I DROVE IN SILENCE. NO RADIO, CD, BLUETOOTH. HAVE MAINTENANCE APPT. TUES., AND STATED PROBLEMS W/ ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. DIDN'T MATTER IF CAR WAS MOVING OR STOPPED.
Owner-reported narrative. 33,888 miles reported. Look up ODI 10824682 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10862058 · 2016-04-28 (April 28, 2016)
WHILE ACCELERATING FROM A STOP, AND TURNING ONTO A HIGHWAY TO MERGE INTO MOVING TRAFFIC, THE ENGINE BRIEFLY STALLED FOR A FEW SECONDS AFTER I HAD ALREADY ENTERED THE TRAFFIC LANE AND WAS ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE TO TRAFFIC SPEED..
Owner-reported narrative. 10,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10862058 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10965814 · 2017-03-14 (March 14, 2017)
STALLS AT STOP ON CITY STREETS
Owner-reported narrative. 13,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10965814 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10809942 · 2015-12-14 (December 14, 2015)
THE TRANSMISSION GEAR SHIFT IS DANGEROUSLY DESIGNED. THE SHIFTER WILL MOVE INTO A GEAR POSITIONS EVEN IF IT TRANSMISSION DOES NOT ACTUALLY SHIFT INTO THE GEAR. WHENEVER THE HANDLE IS RELEASED, IT SPRINGS BACK TO THE CENTRAL POSITION, WHETHER THE TRANSMISSION IS IN GEAR OR NOT, SO THE DRIVER DOES NOT KNOW IF THE TRANSMISSIONS IS ACTUALLY IN GEAR OR NOT--OR IF IN GEAR, WHICH GEAR. THE DRIVER IS EXPECTED TO LOOK AT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL SO SEE WHAT GEAR IS HIGHLIGHTED IN THE DISPLAY. I RENTED A PRIUS FOR A WEEK AND NUMEROUS TIMES, I THOUGHT …
Owner-reported narrative. 6,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10809942 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11219137 · 2019-06-10 (June 10, 2019)
I ENTERED MY PARKED, STATIONARY PRIUS, PRESSED MY RIGHT FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, DISENGAGED THE PARKING BRAKE AND PRESSED THE ON/OFF BUTTON TO TURN THE CAR ON. MY FOOT REMAINED ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE ENGINE IMMEDIATELY RACED AND THE CAR BEGAN TO ACCELERATE AT HIGH SPEED. I STOMPED ON THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE CAR KEPT MOVING. THE SOUND OF THE ENGINE WAS LOUD ENOUGH THAT PEOPLE IN NEARBY HOUSES HEARD IT. MY CAR WOULD NOT SLOW WITH MY EFFORTS TO BRAKE. I TRIED TO SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL AND PARK BUT THE CAR DID NOT SLOW DOWN. IT RACED ACROSS THE STREET…
Owner-reported narrative. 50,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11219137 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10679356 · 2015-01-28 (January 28, 2015)
A BRAND NEW:2015 ONLY DRIVEN FOR TWO DAYS, WENT OUT OF CONTROL AFTER COMPLETING RIGHT TURN. DRIVER STOPPED AT RED LIGHT. TURNED RIGHT WHILE ACCELERATING WITH FULL CONTROL OF VEHICLE. COMPLETED RIGHT TURN WHILE ACCELERATING TO ATTAIN HIGHWAY SPEED IN 45 MPH ZONE. UPON COMPLETION OF TURN DRIVER TURNED STEERING WHEEL LESS THAN 2 INCHES TO DRIVERS RIGHT TO CONTINUE BEARING ON STRAIT COURSE DOWN HIGHWAY. IMMEDIATELY THEREAFTER STEERING WHEEL SHUDDERED, AND STEERING WHEEL ROTATED HARD TO THE RIGHT FOR WHAT SEEMED LIKE A 110 PLUS DEGREE ROTATION.…
Owner-reported narrative. 400 miles reported. Look up ODI 10679356 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11330732 · 2020-06-25 (June 25, 2020)
I WAS DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE WHEN MY CAR'S HYBRID SYSTEM WARNING LIGHTS A CAME ON , AND THE CAR SLOWED TO A CRAWL. LUCKILY I WAS IN THE RIGHT LANE AND WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF ON THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD. THE CAR COMPETELY SHUT DOWN. I'VE HAD IT TOWED TO TWO TOYOTA DEARLSHIPS, (THE SAME ONE TWICE),WHERE I WAS TOLD A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT THINGS. FIRST, I WAS TOLD THERE WAS WATER IN THE GAS TANK. THERE WAS NO WAY THAT WAS TRUE, SINCE I HAD ALREADY DRIVEN 3/4'S OF A TANK OF GAS, AND I ALWAYS FILL MY TANK UP. I REFUSED TO HAVE A NEW FUEL SYSTEM PUT I…
Owner-reported narrative. 94,501 miles reported. Look up ODI 11330732 at NHTSA ↗