Toyota Prius V Best and Worst Years by Owner Complaints
We rank Toyota Prius V model years by the number of owner complaints filed with NHTSA, from fewest to most. Complaint counts aren't failure rates: years that sold more cars, or that are older, can show more reports. We rank only model years at least five years old, because newer ones are still collecting reports. Among settled years shown, the 2011 drew the fewest (1) and the 2012 the most (218).
Complaints filed by model year
Every year compared
| Most-reported component | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 Among the fewest complaints |
1 | 0 | Exterior lighting | — | — |
| 2018 Among the fewest complaints |
1 | 0 | Electrical system | — | — |
| 2017 Among the fewest complaints |
12 | 1 | Exterior lighting | — | 41 |
| 2016 | 16 | 1 | Air bags | — | 41 |
| 2015 | 24 | 2 | Service brakes | — | 41 |
| 2014 Among the most complaints |
82 | 4 | Service brakes | 5★ | 41 |
| 2013 Among the most complaints |
125 | 2 | Service brakes | 5★ | 41 |
| 2012 Among the most complaints |
218 | 3 | Service brakes | — | 41 |
Sources: NHTSA ODI complaints, NHTSA recalls, NHTSA NCAP, EPA; retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
What owners reported in the Toyota Prius V years with the most complaints
These settled model years drew the most owner complaints to NHTSA. The share in brackets is the part of that year’s complaints that names each component; one complaint can name several.
2012 Toyota Prius V: 218 complaints
Most-reported: Service brakes 133 (61%); Engine 36 (17%); Electrical system 24 (11%).
Reports mention 19 crashes, 2 fires, 10 injuries, 3 deaths. Typical odometer reading when owners filed: 69,347 miles. 3 recall campaigns listed.
2013 Toyota Prius V: 125 complaints
Most-reported: Service brakes 68 (54%); Electrical system 16 (13%); Engine 15 (12%).
Reports mention 9 crashes, 1 fire, 8 injuries. Typical odometer reading when owners filed: 68,000 miles. 2 recall campaigns listed.
2014 Toyota Prius V: 82 complaints
Most-reported: Service brakes 44 (54%); Electrical system 15 (18%); Engine 13 (16%).
Reports mention 5 crashes, 4 fires, 1 injury. Typical odometer reading when owners filed: 100,000 miles. 4 recall campaigns listed.
The Toyota Prius V years with the fewest complaints
2011 Toyota Prius V: 1 complaints
Most-reported: Exterior lighting 1 (100%).
0 recall campaigns listed.
2018 Toyota Prius V: 1 complaints
Most-reported: Electrical system 1 (100%); Electronic stability control 1 (100%); Structure 1 (100%).
Reports mention 1 fire. 0 recall campaigns listed.
2017 Toyota Prius V: 12 complaints
Most-reported: Exterior lighting 4 (33%); Structure 2 (17%); Air bags 1 (8%).
Reports mention 3 crashes. 1 recall campaign listed.
Crashes, fires and injuries in Toyota Prius V owner reports
| Model year | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Injuries | Deaths | Typical miles at filing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2017 | 12 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2016 | 16 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — |
| 2015 | 24 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 59,100 |
| 2014 | 82 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 100,000 |
| 2013 | 125 | 9 | 1 | 8 | 0 | 68,000 |
| 2012 | 218 | 19 | 2 | 10 | 3 | 69,347 |
| 2011 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
Owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA. “Typical miles” is the median odometer reading in complaints that gave one (shown when at least 10 did). Source: NHTSA ODI complaints, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Largest Toyota Prius V recalls
- Hybrid System may Shutdown and cause Stall (2012–2014 model years; 807,329 vehicles across all models; filed Oct 2018; 18V684000)
- Hybrid System may Shutdown and cause Stall (2014–2017 model years; 266,638 vehicles across all models; filed Jun 2020; 20V369000)
- Inverter Failure may cause Hybrid Vehicle to Stall (2012–2014 model years; 108,624 vehicles across all models; filed Jul 2015; 15V449000)
- Passenger Air Bag may not Deploy/FMVSS 208 (2014–2015 model years; 4,971 vehicles across all models; filed Jan 2015; 15V013000)
- Occupant Sensing System Calibration (2012 model year; 3,235 vehicles across all models; filed Jan 2013; 13V014000)
All 5 Toyota Prius V recall campaigns · Toyota Prius V problems, recalls and mpg by year · Used car inspection checklist
What the numbers can't tell you
- Sales volume. NHTSA publishes no sales figures with complaints, so a popular year draws more reports even if each car is no worse.
- Recent years are under-counted. Owners file reports for years after purchase; the newest model years will keep growing.
- The individual car. Maintenance, mileage and repairs matter more for one used car than any model-year average. Get a pre-purchase inspection and check open recalls by VIN.
Toyota Prius V years FAQ
Which Toyota Prius V year has the fewest complaints?
Among the model years shown whose counts have settled, the 2011 has the fewest owner complaints filed with NHTSA (1). That is a count of reports, not a measure of reliability.
Does fewer complaints mean a more reliable car?
Not necessarily. Complaint counts depend on how many cars were sold, how old they are and how many owners file reports. Use them to spot patterns worth asking about, alongside recalls, crash tests and a pre-purchase inspection.
Are there Toyota Prius V years to avoid?
No model year is officially one to avoid. By owner complaints to NHTSA, the settled years with the most reports are the 2012, 2013 and 2014 models, and across all years the most-reported problem area is the service brakes. Compare those years with the ones that drew the fewest reports, then check any specific car for open recalls by VIN and get a pre-purchase inspection.
What is the most common Toyota Prius V problem?
Across the model years shown, owners most often report problems with the service brakes (260 of 479 complaints list it). Each model-year report breaks the complaints down by component.
How many recalls does the Toyota Prius V have?
NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns covering the Toyota Prius V. See every one, with official wording and repair rates, on the Toyota Prius V recall page.
Why are newer years left out of fewest and most?
Owners keep filing complaints for years after a car is sold. We mark the two newest model years as still collecting reports, and we only rank years that are at least five years old.
How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes
Data sources
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - US DOT recall completion rates (data.transportation.gov)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA ODI owner complaints
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA NCAP 5-Star Safety Ratings
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EPA fuel economy data (licence confirmation pending)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EIA weekly retail gasoline prices
Weekly, all taxes included
Processing
- Complaints are counted per component. One complaint can list several, so component totals add up to more than the total.
- Fuel cost = miles per year ÷ EPA combined mpg × EIA weekly price for your region.
Limitations
- Complaint counts are owner reports, not verified findings or failure rates. There is no sales denominator.
- Recall campaigns are listed for the model year. Only NHTSA and the automaker know whether a specific car was repaired.
- Recent model years are still collecting reports.
Review
Data compiled automatically from the official files listed here.
Changelog
- 2026-10-06 Data refreshed from the official files.