2015 Toyota PRIUS: complaints, problems and recalls
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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
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 10723794 · 2015-06-06 (June 6, 2015)
I WAS PULLING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE WHERE MY FRONT WAS UP AGAINST A BUILDING WITH A CAR ON EITHER SIDE OF ME. I REVERSED FOR ABOUT 25' WHERE A TELEPHONE POLE MANDATED THAT I MAKE A K-TURN TO GET OUT. AS I SWITCHED FROM REVERSE TO FORWARD, I SAW A SPARK AS THE CAR JET-PROPELLED FORWARD. I TRIED TO BREAK MULTIPLE TIMES, BUT THE CAR ACCELERATED THE 25' INTO THE WALL. ALL AIRBAGS DEPLOYED, AND FLUID GUSHED OUT OF THE FRONT END. THE CAR WAS DECLARED A TOTAL LOSS. I WAS TOLD BY TOYOTA AND MY INSURANCE COMPANY THAT I MUST HAVE ACCIDENTALLY ACCELERATE…
Owner-reported narrative. 3,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10723794 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10734833 · 2015-07-17 (July 17, 2015)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2015 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE ANOTHER DRIVER WAS OPERATING THE VEHICLE AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. AS A RESULT, THE ROOF COLLAPSED ON THE DRIVER AND TWO PASSENGERS. THERE WERE TWO FATALITIES UPON IMPACT AND THE THIRD PASSENGER WAS AIRLIFTED TO A HOSPITAL. THE DOCTOR DIAGNOSED THAT THE THIRD PASSENGER WAS BRAIN DEAD, WHICH LED TO HER DEATH DUE TO THE ROOF COLLAPSING ON HER HEAD. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED AWAY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT …
Owner-reported narrative. 1,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10734833 at NHTSA ↗
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 10761548 · 2015-09-04 (September 4, 2015)
THE NAVIGATION AND AUDIO SCREENS ARE MOSTLY UNREADABLE IN BRIGHT SUNLIGHT. IN ORDER TO ATTEMPT TO SEE THE SCREENS IN THESE CONDITIONS SOME OPERATORS MAY BE DISTRACTED FROM THE ROADWAY IN ORDER TO READ THE SCREEN INFORMATION. THESE DISTRACTIONS MAY INCLUDE MOVING HEADS AWAY FROM THE WHEEL AREA IN ORDER TO GET A BETTER VIEW OF THE SCREEN OR ATTEMPTING TO HOLD OBJECTS ABOVE THE SCREEN IN ORDER TO MINIMIZE THE GLARE FROM THE SUNLIGHT. COMPLAINANT HAS OWNED PREVIOUS MODELS OF TOYOTA PRIUS WHICH DID NOT HAVE THIS PROBLEM.
Owner-reported narrative. 2,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10761548 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 10794873 · 2015-11-19 (November 19, 2015)
I HAVE NOTICED THAT THE BRAKES SOMETIMES DO NOT APPEAR TO WORK PROPERLY, AND ONCE I WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT DUE TO THE POOR BRAKING PERFORMANCE. ONCE I QUICKLY TRANSITIONED FROM THROTTLE TO FULL BRAKING AND THE CAR DIDN'T SEEM LIKE IT WAS APPLYING FULL BRAKING. IT DIDN'T SEEM TO DECELERATE LIKE IT SHOULD HAVE. I REAR ENDED A VEHICLE BECAUSE OF THE BRAKING PERFORMANCE. ANOTHER TIME I HAD TO SLAM ON THE BRAKES COMING OFF AN INTERSTATE AND THE BRAKES ALSO DIDN'T SEEM POWERFUL ENOUGH. IT'S AS IF THE BRAKES DON'T FULLY "CATCH" UNTIL THE LAST…
Owner-reported narrative. 8,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10794873 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
20V369000 · Hybrid Propulsion System: Inverter
Reported: 2020-06-24 (June 24, 2020)
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.
Consequence: 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 service at 1-888-270-9371. Toyota's number for this recall is 20TB10 / 20TA10.
NHTSA campaign record ↗