2013 Toyota Prius V Problems
Shopping for a used 2013 Toyota Prius V? This page highlights owner-reported complaint patterns and recall history so you can inspect the right systems before buying. Based on 470 real NHTSA owner complaints, with Brake System the most reported area.
Before you buy
This 2013 Toyota Prius V has 470 NHTSA complaints — top issue: Brake System.
A model-year pattern isn't the car in front of you. Check this exact VIN for accidents, open recalls, odometer rollback, and salvage titles.
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2013 Toyota Prius V Fuel Economy
✓ EPA Official DataEPA official fuel economy rating for the 2013 Toyota Prius V.
Source: EPA FuelEconomy.gov. Figures reflect EPA lab testing; real-world results vary by driving style, load, and conditions.
2013 Toyota Prius V Safety Ratings
NHTSA 5-Star ProgramOfficial crash test results from the NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings program. Stars reflect government-conducted tests; higher is safer.
Overall
13.6% rollover risk
Frontal Crash
Side Crash
Rollover
13.6% probability
Source: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Ratings are based on government crash tests and may not reflect all trim levels.
Based on NHTSA complaint data, the 2013 Toyota Prius V has 470 owner complaints, 45 crash-related complaints, and 3 recall campaigns on record. The most frequently reported component is Brake System. NHTSA reliability signal: Severe Issues.
- Make
- Toyota
- Model
- Prius V
- Model year
- 2013
- NHTSA owner complaints
- 470
- Crash-related complaints
- 45
- Safety recall campaigns
- 3
- Top reported component
- Brake System
- Reliability signal
- Severe Issues
- EPA MPG combined
- 41
- EPA MPG city / highway
- 43 / 39
- Fuel type
- Regular Gasoline
- NHTSA overall safety rating
- 5/5 stars
- NHTSA frontal crash rating
- 4/5 stars
- NHTSA side crash rating
- 5/5 stars
- NHTSA rollover rating
- 4/5 stars
- Electronic stability control
- Standard
Common problems
Most common 2013 Toyota Prius V problems
Top owner-reported complaint areas and where they often appear.
Brake System
Electrical Faults
Uncategorized Issues
Complaint patterns center on Brake System, Electrical Faults, Uncategorized Issues. Use these as a pre-purchase inspection guide, then verify recall and damage history on the specific VIN.
Buyer verdict
Should you buy a used 2013 Toyota Prius V?
The 2013 Toyota Prius V shows higher complaint activity for its model-year profile, so buyers should inspect known problem areas carefully before purchase.
Use the model-year trend to shortlist candidates, then confirm the exact vehicle condition with service records, recall status, and a VIN history report.
Pre-purchase
What to check before buying a used 2013 Toyota Prius V
Inspection Focus
- Have the brake system inspected by a qualified mechanic before purchase.
- Verify all open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
- Request service records for brake and electrical system repairs.
- Test drive the vehicle to check for any unusual brake behavior or unintended acceleration.
Before You Close the Deal
- Have the brake system inspected by a qualified mechanic before purchase.
- Verify all open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
- Request service records for brake and electrical system repairs.
- Test drive the vehicle to check for any unusual brake behavior or unintended acceleration.
Check the exact car
Shortlist with model-year data. Decide with the exact VIN.
Before buying a used 2013 Toyota Prius V, run a VIN history report to verify accidents, title brands, odometer records, theft checks, and open recalls for the exact vehicle.
AI verdict
What the complaint data suggests
Editorial interpretation of NHTSA public complaint data. Source: nhtsa.gov. Complaints are owner-submitted and do not confirm a defect. Methodology
Complaints for the 2013 Toyota Prius V are heavily concentrated in the brake system, which accounts for over half of all reports. Electrical faults and engine problems also appear as recurring themes, though with lower frequency. The data suggests potential issues with braking components, but the low confidence level and consumer-submitted nature of the data warrant caution.
- Brake system complaints dominate, with 249 out of 470 total complaints.
- Electrical faults are the second most reported component, with 61 complaints.
- Unintended acceleration, while less frequent (26 complaints), is a notable safety-related concern.
- Brake System: 249 complaints, indicating a potential pattern of brake-related issues.
- Electrical Faults: 61 complaints, suggesting possible electrical system problems.
- Unintended Acceleration: 26 complaints, a safety-critical concern.
Full breakdown
All 2013 Toyota Prius V complaints by category
Every owner-reported complaint category filed with NHTSA for the 2013 Toyota Prius V. Use this as a pre-purchase inspection checklist.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brake System | 249 | 20 | — | — | |
| Electrical Faults | 61 | 1 | 1 | — | |
| Uncategorized Issues | 53 | 4 | 4 | — | |
| Engine Problems | 51 | 1 | 2 | — | |
| Unintended Acceleration | 26 | 9 | — | — | |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 25 | 4 | — | — | |
| Airbag Malfunctions | 22 | 14 | — | — | |
| Transmission / Drivetrain | 20 | 1 | — | — | |
| Headlight/Taillight Failures | 19 | — | — | — | |
| Structural Problems | 15 | 2 | 1 | — | |
| Forward Collision Avoidance: AEB | 12 | — | — | — | |
| Hybrid Propulsion System | 11 | — | — | — | |
| Steering Defects | 9 | — | — | — | |
| Electronic Stability Control (Esc) | 9 | — | — | — | |
| Hydraulic | 8 | 1 | — | — | |
| Wheel Issues | 8 | 2 | — | — | |
| Seat Belt Issues | 8 | 2 | — | — | |
| Suspension Failures | 6 | 1 | — | — | |
| Visibility/Wiper | 6 | — | — | — | |
| Seat-Related Issues | 5 | 1 | — | — | |
| Tire Issues | 4 | 1 | — | — | |
| Equipment | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Equipment Adaptive/Mobility | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Air | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Door Lock Issues | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Visibility | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Chest Clip | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Buckle | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Harness | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Parking-Brake Issues | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Back Over Prevention | 1 | 1 | — | — | |
| Child Seat | 1 | — | — | — |
Source: NHTSA Complaints Database. Complaint counts may exceed total complaints because one report can span multiple categories.
In their words
Real owner complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2013 Toyota Prius V. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
Suddenly Cars Brakes failed with vehicle almost lunged forward. I had to slam the brakes heavily for it to stop; Took the vehicle to Toyota Service and clearly its a QUALITY issue toyota acknowledged as a know problem with error code C1391. They even had customer support program …
The harness webbing/strap on the Evenflo Revolve360 Slim tore without any known incident or accident causing the damage. The defect was discovered on April 15, 2026 when the seat was temporarily removed from the vehicle. Upon inspection, the harness strap was found to be nearly c…
The contact owns a 2013 Toyota Prius V. The contact stated that while pulling out of a parking space at approximately 15 MPH and depressing the brake pedal, the brake pedal felt spongy, but the vehicle responded as intended. The brake, the ABS, the traction control warning lights…
The contact owns a 2013 Toyota Prius V. The contact stated that while in reverse(R), the rear driver’s side tire became flat. Upon inspection, it was discovered that the rear axle had fractured due to rusting and corrosion, and had punctured the rear passenger’s side tire. The ve…
When I'm in the car, the brake booster keeps recharging with out touching the brake pedal. Also, the car has problems when I apply the brakes while driving. They make a hissing and popping noise and the braking is spongy. I have had braking warning lights come on as well. It is s…
Spontaneous failure of brake actuator system.
Upon a hard (but not emergency) brake, my ABS and brake warning lights came on and my car began whirring once every few seconds. I immediately took the car to the Toyota dealership, who informed me that my master brake cylinder and booster had to be replaced, and that issues with…
The brake actuator and compressor is having repeated problems and causing the brakes to lock up completely while driving both in city and ON THE HIGHWAY. Abs/parking/normal brakes The lights on the dash all start flashing and beeping. ABS / emergency brake / exclamation warning …
Brake booster failure
The ABS brake actuator in my 2013 Prius V failed at just over 91,000 miles in December 2025, making the vehicle unsafe to drive. I understand that this is a known issue with this model of vehicle.
Upon acceleration, several brake related warning lights came on along with a consistent chime. When it came time to stop. The vehicle would not stop then with great pressure on the pedal, I was able to slow the vehicle narrowly avoiding a collision with another vehicle. The vehic…
Brake actuator failure requires actuator and master cylinder replacement. All dash lights came on while driving. The vehicle was diagnosed at Brian Easler Toyota in Hendersonville North Carolina. The brakes are still operational temporarily but spongy and expected to fail so t…
My 2013 Prius Plug-In Hybrid with 131k miles on it showed the ABS, Brake, and Traction Control lights while driving last week. Diagnostics from auto shop showed DTC code C1391. System is available for inspection upon request. Safety is definitely at risk, since I am needing to dr…
Brake actuator went out on 2013 Toyota Prius Gen 5. The part is very expensive and in my opinion is a part that should not have to be replaced. The care has 120,000 miles. It is driven very softly, meaning not fast and hard but commuting to work and grocery store as needed. …
I had my car serviced Oct 21 and when I picked it up the vehicle brakes made a whooshing noise and felt spongy. I thought it must be ok as they had just serviced it but when it became apparent this could be a problem I took it back Nov 1 and was told the hydraulic brake booster…
2013 toyota prius V. 64,000 miles and ABS Light is on also VSC warning light and brake light. There has been many issues with this type of vehicle as i researched on internet. I didnt know there has been a recall on this vehicle. And i did not make it time. 10 yrs or 150,000 k w…
The brakes suddenly failed in our 2013 Prius V while she was driving with our two young children. It was extremely scary, and very dangerous. Toyota has known about the braking system issues for years but refused to offer a recall to avoid costs. This needs to be immediately addr…
Returning from a trip, several brake and skid related dashboard light illuminated. I pulled over and was able to stop the car and took it directly to the Toyota dealership after calling them. Brakes felt very spongy and stopping distance was increased. The dealer informed me that…
ABS and brake lights suddenly turned on and brake pedal effectiveness changed dramatically. When pressing brake pedal the brakes barely work now. Just got quoted $5161 for ABS accumulator repair, $2336 for major suspension concern, and total $8386 estimate for repairs from Toyo…
All ABS, Brakes light on, code 139. Its been making a buzzing noise for a couple of years, the noise got shorter over time, and finally was coming on every 5 second, and finally the dash brake lights came on. I've cleared a couple of times, but the lights come back on after a few…
Source: NHTSA Complaints Database. Real owner reports for the 2013 Toyota Prius V.
Safety recalls
2013 Toyota Prius V recalls
3 campaignsNHTSA recall campaigns for the 2013 Toyota Prius V. 3 recall campaigns are on record for this model year. Recalls are free to fix at authorized dealers, but completion status must be verified on the exact VIN.
HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM
HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM: INVERTER
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS
Research more
Keep researching before you buy
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Questions
2013 Toyota Prius V buying FAQ
Buyer-focused answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this model year.
Is the 2013 Toyota Prius V reliable?▾
Severe Issues. NHTSA currently shows 470 owner complaints, 45 crash-related complaints, and 3 recall campaigns for this model year. The 2013 Toyota Prius V shows higher complaint activity for its model-year profile, so buyers should inspect known problem areas carefully before purchase. Treat this as a model-year signal, then verify the exact vehicle's condition and history before purchase.
What are the most common problems with the 2013 Toyota Prius V?▾
#1: Brake System (249 complaints). #2: Electrical Faults (61 complaints). #3: Uncategorized Issues (53 complaints)
At what mileage do problems start on the 2013 Toyota Prius V?▾
Mileage data is not available or insufficient for this model year.
How safe is the 2013 Toyota Prius V?▾
Complaint data is not the same as crash-test scoring, but it does highlight possible risk patterns. For the 2013 Toyota Prius V, NHTSA complaints include 45 crash-related reports and 4 fire reports out of 470 total complaints. 30 injury reports are also on file. For controlled crash-test ratings, check nhtsa.gov/ratings.
Does the 2013 Toyota Prius V have any recalls?▾
Yes. 3 NHTSA recall campaigns affect the 2013 Toyota Prius V. A major recall area is HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM. 3 recall campaigns are on record for this model year. Always verify open recalls by VIN because completion status varies by vehicle.
Should I buy a 2013 Toyota Prius V?▾
The 2013 Toyota Prius V shows higher complaint activity for its model-year profile, so buyers should inspect known problem areas carefully before purchase. Use the model-year trend to shortlist candidates, then confirm the exact vehicle condition with service records, recall status, and a VIN history report. Pay extra attention to Brake System during inspection. Before committing, run a VIN history report to verify accidents, title brands, odometer records, and recall completion for the exact car.
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinSpectorAI.
Wider context: See the full Toyota Prius V reliability report with year-by-year comparison.
Owner Reliability Rating
Rate the 2013 Toyota Prius V based on your ownership experience.
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Ratings are based on owner experience and are separate from NHTSA data shown above.
Before you buy
Check the exact vehicle history before you buy
Model-year complaints and recalls reveal patterns. A VIN report confirms whether the exact car has accident history, title brands, mileage issues, or open recalls.