YearToAvoid

2013 Toyota Prius V Brakes Problems

NHTSA lists 70 brake complaints for the 2013 Toyota Prius V, 56% of all 124 complaints filed for the year. There is no related recall on file. Median mileage at failure is 72,000, with 4 crashes and 7 injuries reported.

Brakes complaints
70
56% of 124
Crashes reported
4
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
7
Median mileage
72,000 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical brake symptoms owners report

  • Owners report the brake pedal sinking toward the floor with little or no stopping power, sometimes at low speeds while parking.
  • Multiple complaints describe the ABS, traction control, and brake warning lights illuminating together, followed by a sluggish or partially unresponsive pedal.
  • Several owners point to failure of the brake booster pump, brake actuator, or master cylinder as the diagnosed cause of the lost braking.
  • Some drivers report a high-pitched thumping noise when the brakes were applied, occurring before the warning lights came on.
  • A few complaints describe brake accumulator failure at higher mileage, leaving the brakes largely unresponsive.
  • One report describes the vehicle rolling forward unexpectedly after being placed in park, causing injury.

When 2013 Toyota Prius V brake complaints were filed

First complaint Apr 21, 2014, latest Jul 17, 2026.

2013 Toyota Prius V brakes complaints: complaints filed per quarter72014 Q22016 Q12019 Q32021 Q32023 Q32024 Q42026 Q1
70 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2014 Q2 to 2026 Q3; peak 2025 Q4 (7).

Brakes recalls for the 2013 Toyota Prius V

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Brakes complaints by Prius V model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 20110 (0%)
  2. 2012136 (63%)
  3. 201370 (56%)
  4. 201444 (54%)
  5. 201512 (50%)
  6. 20163 (19%)
  7. 20171 (8%)
  8. 20181 (100%)

Frequently asked questions

How common are brake complaints on the 2013 Toyota Prius V?
NHTSA shows 70 brake-related complaints for the 2013 Prius V, which is 56% of the 124 total complaints filed for that model year.
Is there a recall for the 2013 Prius V brake issues?
No. NHTSA's data on file shows no related recall for this brake problem area on the 2013 Prius V.
At what mileage do brake problems typically show up on the 2013 Prius V?
NHTSA complaint data shows a median mileage of 72,000 miles at the time of the reported brake failure.
Have the brake problems caused crashes or injuries?
Yes. NHTSA records 4 crashes and 7 injuries linked to brake complaints on the 2013 Prius V, with no fires reported.
Is the brake complaint rate higher in 2013 than other Prius V years?
The 2013 model's 56% share is lower than 2012's 63%, but higher than 2014 (54%), 2015 (50%), and later years, which drop off sharply.

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.