YearToAvoid

2013 Toyota Prius Brakes Problems

NHTSA lists 242 brake complaints for the 2013 Toyota Prius, 59% of all 409 complaints for the year. These reports include 18 crashes and 10 injuries, with a median failure mileage of 92,000 miles. No related recalls are listed in NHTSA data for this issue.

Brakes complaints
242
59% of 409
Crashes reported
18
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
10
Median mileage
92,000 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical brake symptoms owners report

  • Owners report pressing the brake pedal and getting little or no deceleration, resulting in low-speed rear-end collisions.
  • Some describe the ABS warning light coming on followed by the brakes locking up or the car lurching forward unexpectedly.
  • Several report the skid/traction light illuminating during hard braking while the vehicle continues at speed without slowing.
  • A few describe ABS accumulator failure causing loss of stability control and a sideways slide during braking at highway speed.
  • Some owners report an abnormal noise from the brake pedal accompanied by unintended forward surge instead of stopping.

When 2013 Toyota Prius brake complaints were filed

First complaint Jun 19, 2013, latest Sep 10, 2026.

2013 Toyota Prius brakes complaints: complaints filed per quarter202013 Q22016 Q12018 Q32020 Q12021 Q42023 Q22024 Q42026 Q2
242 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2013 Q2 to 2026 Q3; peak 2025 Q2 (20).

Brakes recalls for the 2013 Toyota Prius

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Brakes complaints by Prius model year

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

  1. 20101,922 (70%)
  2. 2011281 (54%)
  3. 2012200 (47%)
  4. 2013242 (59%)
  5. 2014105 (51%)
  6. 201593 (56%)
  7. 201620 (13%)
  8. 201714 (15%)
  9. 20184 (11%)
  10. 201912 (40%)
  11. 20205 (36%)
  12. 20211 (17%)
  13. 20225 (21%)
  14. 20232 (11%)
  15. 20242 (8%)
  16. 20252 (13%)

Frequently asked questions

How many 2013 Toyota Prius owners complained about brakes?
NHTSA lists 242 brake complaints for the 2013 Toyota Prius, which is 59% of the 409 total complaints filed for that model year.
Is there a brake recall for the 2013 Toyota Prius?
NHTSA data provided here shows no related recalls listed for the brake complaints on the 2013 Toyota Prius.
At what mileage do 2013 Prius brake problems tend to happen?
The median mileage at failure for brake complaints on the 2013 Toyota Prius is 92,000 miles.
Did the 2013 Prius brake problems cause crashes or injuries?
NHTSA records show 18 crashes and 10 injuries tied to brake complaints for the 2013 Toyota Prius, with no fires reported.
How does the 2013 Prius compare to other years for brake complaints?
The 2013 Prius has a 59% share of brake complaints among its total complaints, higher than 2012 (47%) and 2014 (51%), but lower than 2010 (70%).

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.