2016 Toyota Prius
The Verdict
Worst problem area
Visibility & Lighting
Visibility & Lighting leads by volume: 44 of 154 complaints (29%) mention it. Complaints mentioning Airbags & Restraints include more reported injuries (3) than those mentioning any other identified area.
Complaints filed fell from 169 in 2015 to 154 in 2016.
Data last changed . Sources: NHTSA complaints and recalls, EPA fuel economy data. Methodology
Cost, Fuel Economy & Complaint History
| Category | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | vs. 2016 Midsize Cars |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fuel cost ($) | 1,250–1,300 | 1,250–1,300 | 1,100–1,200 | 1,100–1,200 | 1,100–1,200 | |
| Combined MPG | 48–50 | 48–50 | 52–56 | 52–56 | 52–56 | |
| City / Highway MPG | 49–51 / 46–49 | 50–51 / 46–49 | 54–58 / 50–53 | 54–58 / 50–53 | 54–58 / 50–53 | |
| CO₂ tailpipe (g/mi) | 186 | 185 | 158–170 | 158–171 | 158–170 | |
| Complaints filed | 219 | 169 | 154 | 91 | 36 | |
| Recalls issued | 4 | 2 | 5 | 3 | 1 | |
| Crash-involved complaints | 28 | 30 | 8 | 12 | 5 | |
| Fire-involved complaints | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | |
| Injuries reported | 15 | 17 | 6 | 7 | 2 | |
| Deaths reported | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Configurations compared | 2 | 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 2016 Toyota Prius have?
5 NHTSA recall campaigns as of Sep 16, 2026. Check your VIN with NHTSA to see whether one applies to your car.
What is the most common complaint about the 2016 Toyota Prius?
Visibility & Lighting: 44 of 154 NHTSA complaints (29%) mention it.
What gas mileage does the 2016 Toyota Prius get?
EPA rates it 52–56 MPG combined across 2 configurations.
How much does it cost to fuel a 2016 Toyota Prius?
EPA estimates $1,100–$1,200 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 | 54 mpg (low) | 50 mpg (low) | 52 mpg (low) | $1,200 (high) | 170 g/mi (high) |
| Configuration 2 | Automatic (variable gear ratios) | 4 | 1.8L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Midsize Cars | 58 mpg (high) | 53 mpg (high) | 56 mpg (high) | $1,100 (low) | 158 g/mi (low) |
Complaints by Category
| Category | Complaints | Crash-Involved | Fire-Involved | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 17 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Transmission & Drivetrain | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel System | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical | 20 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Brakes | 20 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Steering | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension, Wheels & Tires | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Airbags & Restraints | 8 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| Driver Assistance & Speed Control | 14 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Body, Seats & Latches | 14 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Visibility & Lighting | 44 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 31 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 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 (5)
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING · Campaign 18V579000 · Sep 5, 2018
Defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2016-2018 Toyota Prius vehicles. A portion of the engine wire harness connected to the hybrid Power Control Unit (PCU), could contact the cover at this connection and wear, causing an electrical short circuit.
Consequence: An electrical short can increase the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the engine wire harness assembly and replace it if damage is found. A protective sleeve or protective tape will be included to prevent any future damage. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began October 30, 2018. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371. Toyota's number for this recall is J0T.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL; AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE-INACTIVE; AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW · Campaign 18V085000 · Feb 5, 2018
Defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2016 Toyota Prius and Lexus RX 350, RX 350 F Sport, RX 450h F Sport and RX 450h vehicles and 2015-2016 Lexus NX 200T, NX Turbo and NX 300h vehicles. The air bag pressure sensors and/or the acceleration sensors may fail causing the side/curtain shield air bags and/or the front air bags to not deploy in the event of a crash.
Consequence: If the air bags fail to deploy in a crash, it can increase the risk of injury.
Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the sensors as necessary based on their serial numbers, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin March 12, 2018. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are JLA, J0F.
HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM: INVERTER · Campaign 17V658000 · Oct 19, 2017
Defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2016 Prius vehicles. A capacitor within the hybrid system may not have been properly bolted to the inverter housing.
Consequence: If the capacitor was not properly secured, vibrations from driving the vehicle may damage the capacitor, shutting down the hybrid system, causing a loss of motive power and increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the inverter, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin by early December 2017. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is H0U.
PARKING BRAKE · Campaign 16V741000 · Oct 14, 2016
Defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Prius vehicles manufactured August 6, 2015, to October 3, 2016. The affected vehicles are equipped with a foot-operated parking brake system that has a parking brake cable that may disengage.
Consequence: If the parking brake cable disengages from the mechanism and the transmission is left in a gear other than 'Park' while the ignition is on and the driver leaves the vehicle, the vehicle may roll unexpectedly, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will install a clip at the parking brake cable end to prevent the cable from disengaging, free of charge. The recall began November 10, 2016. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371. Toyota's number for this recall is G01.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE · Campaign 16V672000 · Sep 16, 2016
Defect: Toyota Motor Engineering and Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2016 Toyota Prius vehicles manufactured November 30, 2015, to June 14, 2016. An air bag inflator manufacturing error may result in the inadvertent partial inflation of the front passenger air bag.
Consequence: A front passenger air bag that unintentionally inflates can increase the risk of a crash or injury.
Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag assembly, free of charge. The recall began November 10, 2016. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is G0W.