YearToAvoid

2015 Toyota Prius V Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Good

Complaint Index

43/100

#5 most-complained of 8 Prius V years

The 2015 Toyota Prius V has a Complaint Index of 43, ranking 5th worst among 8 model years, with a verdict of Good relative to other Prius V years. It logged 24 complaints, 2 recalls, and 3 crashes, with Brakes as the top problem area.

Complaints
24
Recalls
2
Crashes / fires
3 / 0
Injuries / deaths
2 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
41
43 city / 39 hwy

Top 2015 Toyota Prius V problems

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

  1. Brakes12 (50%)
  2. Engine5 (21%)
  3. Fuel System4 (17%)
  4. Other4 (17%)
  5. Transmission & Powertrain3 (13%)
  6. Electrical System2 (8%)
  7. Airbags1 (4%)
  8. Seat Belts1 (4%)

What owners report

  • Owners describe the vehicle lurching or moving unexpectedly when shifting into reverse, sometimes leading to a crash at low speed.
  • Some report the brake pedal feeling firm but failing to stop the car, even with heavy pressure applied.
  • Others describe a delayed brake response after the car sits overnight, caused by an accumulator that pressurizes the brake system when the driver door opens.
  • Several owners report a loss of acceleration or intermittent failure to respond to the accelerator pedal while driving at highway speed.
  • One complaint describes a hybrid system failure warning followed by the engine shutting off while driving on a residential street.
  • Airbags reportedly failed to deploy in a side-impact crash that resulted in injury.
2015 Toyota Prius V complaints: complaints filed per month5Aug 2015Mar 2016Feb 2019Nov 2020Jun 2021Mar 2024May 2025Sep 2026
32 complaints filed with NHTSA from Aug 2015 to Sep 2026; peak Oct 2018 (5).

2015 Toyota Prius V recalls

2 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 20V369000Jun 24, 2020Fuel System266,638 vehicles

    Hybrid propulsion system: inverter

    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.

    Risk: 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.

  2. NHTSA 15V013000Jan 16, 2015Airbags4,971 vehicles

    Air bags

    Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2014-2015 Toyota Prius V vehicles manufactured November 7, 2013, to January 7, 2015. The occupant classification system (OCS) that activates or deactivates the passenger seat air bag system may be improperly calibrated. As a result, the passenger air bag may not deploy in a vehicle crash. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."

    Risk: If the air bag does not deploy as intended, there is an increased risk of injury in the event of a crash.

    Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will re-calibrate of the OCS system, free of charge. The recall began February 12, 2015. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331.

2015 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.

2015 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
2013Avoid86124241
2014Caution7182441
2015Good4324241
2016Caution5716141
2017Good2912141

All Toyota Prius V years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2015 Toyota Prius V reliable?
Based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2015 Prius V carries a Complaint Index of 43 and a Good verdict, ranking 5th worst out of 8 model years for this model.
What is the top problem area for the 2015 Prius V?
Brakes account for 50% of complaints (12 of 24), with a median failure mileage of 34,500 miles and 2 reported crashes.
Does the 2015 Prius V have any recalls?
NHTSA lists 2 recalls for the 2015 Prius V: one for the fuel system involving an inverter power module software update, and one for the airbag occupant classification system.
How does the 2015 Prius V compare to other years?
The 2015 model's Complaint Index of 43 is lower than 2012 (100), 2013 (86), and 2014 (71), all rated Avoid or Caution, making 2015 a comparatively better year.
What is the fuel economy of the 2015 Prius V?
EPA rates the 2015 Prius V 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.