YearToAvoid

2015 Toyota Prius Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls

Caution The 2015 Toyota Prius has a Complaint Index of 55, ranked 10th of 21 model years, and is rated Caution mainly for brake complaints, which make up 56% of its 165 total complaints. It has one recall for a fuel system issue tied to the hybrid inverter.

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

YearToAvoid Scorecard

Complaint Index
55/100
#10 of 21 Prius years
Verdict
Caution
vs. other years of this model
Complaints
165
unique NHTSA reports
Recalls
1
distinct NHTSA campaigns
Crashes
29
reported in complaints
Fires
1
Injuries
17
Top issue
Brakes
Best nearby year
2018
rated Best
NHTSA overall rating
4 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
48
50 city / 46 hwy
Injuries / deaths
17 / 3

Top 2015 Toyota Prius problems

Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Brakes93 (56%)
  2. Electrical System33 (20%)
  3. Other15 (9%)
  4. Engine14 (8%)
  5. Transmission & Powertrain13 (8%)
  6. Fuel System9 (5%)
  7. Structure & Body9 (5%)
  8. Collision Avoidance & Cameras7 (4%)
  9. Airbags6 (4%)
  10. Suspension, Wheels & Tires6 (4%)

A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.

What owners report

  • Owners report the brake pedal feeling unresponsive or delayed, sometimes leading to rear-end collisions when transitioning from throttle to brake.
  • Some drivers describe the vehicle unexpectedly moving forward on its own after the shift lever was left in drive or the power button was pressed, even without anyone in the driver seat.
  • Several complaints describe brake failure at low speeds, such as approaching a driveway or gate, with the pedal needing a second application to stop.
  • One owner reported a spark and sudden forward acceleration while shifting from reverse to forward, resulting in a crash.
  • Airbag-related complaints include the passenger airbag showing an 'off' indicator after a rear-end collision and dashboard warning lights staying lit.
  • A structural complaint described roof collapse after a 40 mph frontal crash, resulting in fatalities.
2015 Toyota Prius complaints: complaints filed per quarter142015 Q12016 Q32018 Q12019 Q32021 Q32023 Q22025 Q12026 Q3
165 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2015 Q1 to 2026 Q3; peak 2025 Q3 (14).

2015 Toyota Prius recalls

1 NHTSA recall campaign 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.

2015 Toyota Prius fuel economy and fuel cost

City
50 MPG
Highway
46 MPG
Combined
48 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$1,350
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 years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’05’06’07’08’09’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2013Caution60409348
2014Caution50207348
2015Caution55165148
2016Good45154554
2017Good4091354

All Toyota Prius years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2015 Toyota Prius reliable?
NHTSA data gives the 2015 Prius a Complaint Index of 55, a Caution rating, and it ranks 10th out of 21 model years for reported problems. Brakes account for 56% of its complaints.
What is the main problem with the 2015 Toyota Prius?
Brakes are the top problem area, with 93 complaints (56% of the total) and a median failure mileage of 41,000 miles.
Does the 2015 Toyota Prius have any recalls?
NHTSA lists one recall for 2015 Prius models covering excessive voltage in the hybrid system's Intelligent Power Module, addressed with a software update.
How does the 2015 Prius compare to other Prius years?
The 2015 model's Complaint Index of 55 is better than earlier years like 2010 (index 100, Avoid) but worse than later years such as 2018 and 2019, which earn Best ratings with indexes of 5 and 10.
What is the fuel economy of the 2015 Toyota Prius?
EPA rates the 2015 Prius at 48 mpg combined (50 city / 46 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $1,350.

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.