YearToAvoid

2013 Toyota Prius V Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Avoid

Complaint Index

86/100

#2 most-complained of 8 Prius V years

Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology

The 2013 Toyota Prius V ranks 2nd worst of 8 model years, with a Complaint Index of 86 and 124 complaints, most tied to brakes. It carries 2 recalls, both for the fuel system/hybrid inverter, and gets an Avoid rating relative to other Prius V years.

Complaints
124
Recalls
2
Crashes / fires
9 / 1
Injuries / deaths
8 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
5 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
41
43 city / 39 hwy

Top 2013 Toyota Prius V problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Brakes70 (56%)
  2. Electrical System22 (18%)
  3. Engine20 (16%)
  4. Fuel System12 (10%)
  5. Other10 (8%)
  6. Transmission & Powertrain7 (6%)
  7. Airbags5 (4%)
  8. Collision Avoidance & Cameras4 (3%)
  9. Structure & Body4 (3%)
  10. Suspension, Wheels & Tires4 (3%)

What owners report

  • Brake pedal reportedly goes to the floor with no braking response, sometimes at low speeds while parking.
  • ABS warning light illuminates before brakes fail to respond, leading to loss of control.
  • Owners describe sudden unintended acceleration while braking or decelerating at low speed, in one case weeks after a recall software update.
  • Vehicle allegedly continues to roll after being placed in park, resulting in a collision.
  • Airbags reportedly fail to deploy in low-speed crashes, with owners citing neck and spine injuries.
  • Engine reportedly surges or lurches unexpectedly while decelerating or maneuvering at low speed, sometimes striking curbs or gates.
2013 Toyota Prius V complaints: complaints filed per quarter122014 Q12015 Q32017 Q42019 Q32021 Q22023 Q32025 Q12026 Q3
161 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2014 Q1 to 2026 Q3; peak 2025 Q4 (12).

2013 Toyota Prius V recalls

2 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 18V684000Oct 4, 2018Fuel System807,329 vehicles

    Hybrid propulsion system

    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.

    Risk: 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.

  2. NHTSA 15V449000Jul 15, 2015Fuel System108,624 vehicles

    Hybrid propulsion system: inverter

    Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2012-2014 Prius V vehicles manufactured August 22, 2011, to June 30, 2014. A component within the hybrid inverter assembly may overheat, causing the hybrid system to reduce output power allowing the vehicle to only drive a short distance. In some circumstances, the hybrid system may shut down causing the vehicle to stop while being driven.

    Risk: 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 the motor/generator control electronic control unti (ECU) and the hybrid control ECU, free of charge. The recall began on July 30, 2015. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371.

2013 Toyota Prius V fuel economy and fuel cost

City
43 MPG
Highway
39 MPG
Combined
41 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$1,600
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Regular
Current regular gas
$4.32/gal
national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2013 compared with other Prius V years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)025507510020112012201320142015201620172018
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2011No verdict010—
2012Avoid100217341
2013Avoid86124241
2014Caution7182441
2015Good4324241

All Toyota Prius V years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2013 Toyota Prius V a good year to buy?
It is one of the weaker years for this model. NHTSA data give it a Complaint Index of 86 and rank it 2nd worst out of 8 model years, mainly due to brake complaints.
What are the most common problems with the 2013 Toyota Prius V?
Brakes account for 56% of complaints (70 of 124), with a median failure mileage of 72,000 miles. Electrical system issues (18%) and engine issues (16%) follow.
Does the 2013 Toyota Prius V have any recalls?
Yes, it has 2 recalls, both involving the fuel system/hybrid inverter assembly, addressed with a motor/generator control software update. Neither is a do-not-drive recall.
How does the 2013 Prius V compare to other years?
The 2012 Prius V has a higher Complaint Index of 100 and is also rated Avoid, while 2015 and 2017 score 43 and 29 respectively and are rated Good.
What is the fuel economy of the 2013 Toyota Prius V?
EPA rates it at 41 mpg combined (43 city / 39 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $1,600.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.