The Verdict
Worst problem area
Brakes
Brakes leads by volume: 254 of 426 complaints (60%) mention it. Complaints mentioning Airbags & Restraints include more reported injuries (13) than those mentioning any other identified area.
Complaints filed fell from 450 in 2012 to 426 in 2013.
At a glance
- NHTSA complaints
- 426
- Recall campaigns
- 4
- EPA fuel cost per year
- $1,250–$1,300
- Combined MPG
- 48–50
Complaints by model year
Where owners report problems
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Cost, Fuel Economy & Complaint History
| Category | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | vs. 2013 Midsize Cars |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fuel cost ($) | 1,300 | 1,250–1,300 | 1,250–1,300 | 1,250–1,300 | 1,250–1,300 | |
| Combined MPG | 48 | 48–50 | 48–50 | 48–50 | 48–50 | |
| City / Highway MPG | 49 / 46 | 49–51 / 46–49 | 49–51 / 46–49 | 49–51 / 46–49 | 50–51 / 46–49 | |
| CO₂ tailpipe (g/mi) | 185 | 185 | 186 | 186 | 185 | |
| Complaints filed | 523 | 450 | 426 | 224 | 171 | |
| Recalls issued | 6 | 7 | 4 | 4 | 2 | |
| Crash-involved complaints | 37 | 47 | 43 | 29 | 30 | |
| Fire-involved complaints | 7 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 1 | |
| Injuries reported | 17 | 35 | 24 | 15 | 17 | |
| Deaths reported | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | |
| Configurations compared | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
Not compared: this database has no vehicle sales or registration figures, so a raw count mostly reflects how many were sold, not how safe the vehicle is.
Common questions
How many recalls does the 2013 Toyota Prius have?
4 NHTSA recall campaigns as of Nov 7, 2026. Check your VIN with NHTSA to see whether one applies to your car.
What is the most common complaint about the 2013 Toyota Prius?
Brakes: 254 of 426 NHTSA complaints (60%) mention it.
What gas mileage does the 2013 Toyota Prius get?
EPA rates it 48–50 MPG combined across 2 configurations.
How much does it cost to fuel a 2013 Toyota Prius?
EPA estimates $1,250–$1,300 a year in fuel costs, using EPA's assumptions.
Similar Vehicles
EPA-Rated Configurations (2)
| Configuration | Transmission | Cylinders | Displacement | Drivetrain | Fuel Type | Vehicle Class | City | Highway | Combined | Annual Fuel Cost | CO₂ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Configuration 1 | Automatic (variable gear ratios) | 4 | 1.8L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Midsize Cars | 49 mpg (low) | 46 mpg (low) | 48 mpg (low) | $1,300 (high) | 186 g/mi |
| Configuration 2 | Automatic (variable gear ratios) | 4 | 1.8L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular Gas and Electricity | Midsize Cars | 51 mpg (high) | 49 mpg (high) | 50 mpg (high) | $1,250 (low) | 133 g/mi |
Complaints by Category
| Category | Complaints | Crash-Involved | Fire-Involved | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 37 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Transmission & Drivetrain | 15 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Fuel System | 24 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical | 55 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Brakes | 254 | 21 | 0 | 10 | 0 |
| Steering | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension, Wheels & Tires | 17 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Airbags & Restraints | 22 | 12 | 0 | 13 | 0 |
| Driver Assistance & Speed Control | 35 | 11 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Body, Seats & Latches | 19 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Visibility & Lighting | 20 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 53 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 0 |
A complaint that names more than one category is counted in each, so the rows can add up to more than the total number of complaints.
Recalls (4)
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.
- 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.
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.
- Consequence
- 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 the software previously updated under recalls 14V-053 or 15V-449.
HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM
- Defect
- Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2012-2015 Prius Plug-in Hybrid vehicles. The hybrid battery contains an Electric Vehicle (EV) fuse that may fracture after repeated high-load driving conditions such as climbing long hills.
- Consequence
- The failed fuse may cause the hybrid system to shut down resulting in the loss of power. Loss of power while driving at higher speeds can increase the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the EV fuse, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin January 8, 2018. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is H0R.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE; 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.
- Consequence
- 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 may contact Toyota at 1-800-331-4331.