Recalls (3)
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for the 2013 Toyota Prius. Check whether yours was repaired with NHTSA's free VIN lookup ↗
Only NHTSA and your automaker know whether your specific car was repaired. PlainVIN shows every recall campaign listed for a model year, with the official text and how many cars have been fixed so far.
Check on NHTSA ↗Hybrid System may Shutdown and cause Stall
- Summary
- 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 System may Shutdown and cause Stall
- Summary
- 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.
Inverter Failure may cause Hybrid Vehicle to Stall
- Summary
- 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.
PlainVIN shows public government records for education. It isn't a vehicle inspection or legal advice. Check your own VIN with NHTSA or your dealer.
Owner complaints (410)
410 complaints filed with NHTSA (owner reports, not verified findings). The service brakes is mentioned most often.
As reported by owners in their complaints. These are reports, not NHTSA findings.
Most-reported components
| Component | Complaints | % of 410 |
|---|---|---|
| Service brakes | 239 | 58.3% |
| Electrical system | 52 | 12.7% |
| Unknown or other | 49 | 12% |
| Engine | 37 | 9% |
| Vehicle speed control | 22 | 5.4% |
| Air bags | 18 | 4.4% |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 16 | 3.9% |
| Power train | 14 | 3.4% |
| Structure | 13 | 3.2% |
| Exterior lighting | 12 | 2.9% |
How 2013 compares with other Prius years
Best and worst Prius years →| Model year | Complaints | Recall campaigns |
|---|---|---|
| 2009 | 502 | 6 |
| 2010 | 2,822 | 10 |
| 2011 | 521 | 6 |
| 2012 | 424 | 6 |
| 2013 | 410 | 3 |
| 2014 | 207 | 3 |
| 2015 | 166 | 1 |
| 2016 | 154 | 5 |
| 2017 | 91 | 3 |
| 2018 | 37 | 1 |
Counts are owner reports, not failure rates. Higher sales years tend to draw more reports. Owners are still filing reports for recent model years, so these counts will grow. Source: NHTSA ODI, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Crash tests: 5 stars overall
Source: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (NCAP), 2013 Toyota Prius 5 hb fwd, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Fuel economy: up to 48 mpg combined
- EPA annual fuel cost
- $1,400
- CO₂ tailpipe
- 186 g/mi
- EPA class
- Midsize Cars
What it costs you to run
Miles ÷ 48 mpg × $4.354 (EIA US average regular, week of Oct 5, 2026, all taxes included). Source: EPA · EIA.
EPA label estimates from lab tests; your mileage will vary.
Specs by configuration
| Engine · transmission | Drive | City / Hwy / Comb | EPA $/yr | CO₂ g/mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.8 L 4-cyl · CVT | Front-Wheel Drive | 49 / 46 / 48 | $1,400 | 186 |
Source: EPA fuel economy data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026. Configurations are listed when EPA and NHTSA records match.
Looking at a 2013 Prius for sale?
Print a one-page buyer's checklist: each recall campaign with a box to tick when the seller shows proof of repair, the top complaint areas to inspect, crash stars, MPG, and a link back to this page.
Where to next
2013 Toyota Prius FAQ
How many recalls does the 2013 Toyota Prius have?
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns: 20V369000 (hybrid propulsion system), 18V684000 (hybrid propulsion system), 14V053000 (electrical). Use NHTSA's VIN lookup to see whether a specific car was repaired.
What are the most common 2013 Toyota Prius problems?
Owners filed 410 complaints with NHTSA. Service brakes (239), Electrical system (52), Unknown or other (49) are mentioned most. These are owner reports, not verified findings.
What mpg does the 2013 Toyota Prius get?
EPA rates the 1.8 L 4-cyl · CVT version at 49 city, 46 highway and 48 combined mpg.
What safety rating did the 2013 Toyota Prius get?
NHTSA rated the 2013 Toyota Prius 5 hb fwd 5 stars overall, with 4 stars frontal, 5 stars side and 4 stars rollover (12.1% rollover risk).
How does the 2013 Prius compare with other years?
Among the 2009–2018 Toyota Prius model years at least five years old, the 2018 drew the fewest complaints (37) and the 2010 the most (2,822). The 2013 drew 410. Counts are owner reports, not failure rates.
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.