Severe Issues

2016 TOYOTA PRIUS Problems

Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 2016 Toyota Prius. This model year has 177 NHTSA complaints β€” top issue: Visibility/Wiper.

177
Complaints
13
Crashes
β€”
Fires
8
Injuries
β€”
Deaths
5
Recalls

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This page shows the model year's reputation. The VIN tells you about the specific car β€” accidents, title issues, odometer rollbacks, and open recalls.

Worst 2016 Toyota Prius Problems

Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.

#1
42
complaints

Visibility/Wiper

#2
37
complaints

Uncategorized Issues

#3
26
complaints

Electrical Faults

Crash-related:1
Injuries:1

Considering a 2016 Toyota Prius?

This page shows the model year's reputation. The VIN tells you about this specific car β€” accidents, title issues, odometer fraud. Full report just $4.99 (vs. Carfax $44.99).

All Problems by Category

Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2016 Toyota Prius. A single complaint may appear in multiple categories.

ComponentComplaintsCrashesFiresAvg MileageVolume
Visibility/Wiper42β€”β€”β€”
Uncategorized Issues37β€”β€”β€”
Electrical Faults261β€”β€”
Brake System212β€”β€”
Engine Problems201β€”β€”
Unintended Acceleration175β€”β€”
Transmission / Drivetrain15β€”β€”β€”
Structural Problems12β€”β€”β€”
Airbag Malfunctions117β€”β€”
Tire Issues9β€”β€”β€”
Fuel/Propulsion System6β€”β€”β€”
Suspension Failures5β€”β€”β€”
Headlight/Taillight Failures4β€”β€”β€”
Wheel Issues4β€”β€”β€”
Seat-Related Issues31β€”β€”
Steering Defects2β€”β€”β€”
Hybrid Propulsion System2β€”β€”β€”
Seat Belt Issues21β€”β€”
Forward Collision Avoidance: AEB2β€”β€”β€”
Visibility2β€”β€”β€”
Electronic Stability Control (Esc)2β€”β€”β€”
Back Over Prevention1β€”β€”β€”
Equipment1β€”β€”β€”
Parking-Brake Issues1β€”β€”β€”

Source: NHTSA Complaints Database. Complaint counts may exceed total complaints because one report can span multiple categories.

Search Owner Complaints

Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2016 Toyota Prius. Type a keyword (e.g. β€œtransmission”, β€œstalling”, β€œbrakes”) to filter.

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Showing 177 most recent complaints

Fuel/Propulsion SystemApr 21, 2026

The car has a very strong gas smell, especially when full.

Uncategorized IssuesAug 4, 2025

Found coolant leak from heat exchanger into exhaust pipe. Looks like, T-SB-0135-19.

Electrical FaultsApr 29, 2025

Car was driving fine one day and then while driving down the interstate I had the Pre collision system malfunction error, Brake light came on, Cruise will not operate, ABS light is on. After much research it seems Prius V has a common issue with brake booster faulting.

Headlight/Taillight FailuresApr 11, 2025

The headlights are either too bright or aimed poorly that it blinds oncoming traffic, who frequently flash their high beams at me. This occurs without any load in back and without me using the high beams. Can Toyota either adjust the bulbs or place a film on the headlights to pre…

Engine ProblemsMar 13, 2025

Water pump failed without warning and caused irreparable damage to the engine ("blown" engine requiring replacement). Vehicle began to stall and not respond to attempted acceleration while traveling on 4 lane divided highway, 55 mph speed limit. One "Maintenance Required" messa…

Engine ProblemsJan 25, 2025

Refer to TSB 0135-19 dealer denied repairing under the California emissions defect and performance warranty.

Steering DefectsJan 16, 2025

My car suddenly stopped in the middle of the road with message "Hybrid system stopped steering power low". Safety concern to this happen on the middle of road during rain or cold.

Fuel/Propulsion SystemOct 7, 2024

Driving on the freeway the car stalled and was unable to accelerate. The issue seems identical to the 2020 recall. 2020-06-23 Recall no. 20V369000 Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2013-2015 Prius and 2014-2017 Prius V vehicles not included in…

Tire IssuesAug 21, 2024

See attached document for complaint

Tire IssuesAug 9, 2024

Prinx HiCITY HH2 175/65R15 84H Bought this tire in November 2022. About 15000 miles into it, on Aug 6, 2024, the passenger front tire just busted. After swapping with the spare tire, and upon inspection, there was no nail nor it hit the curb, but the side wall is busted. This…

Transmission / DrivetrainJul 9, 2024

During summer months when temperatures are above 100 degrees when accelerating from a complete stop I can hear the engine rev and the RPMs increase but the vehicle will move at 1-2 mph. Even if the accelerator is to the floor. After 3-4 seconds the tires will squeal and the vehic…

Structural ProblemsJun 5, 2024

Paint is starting to peel around trunk, clear coat has peeled off of black triangle areas by rear passenger windows on both sides of vehicle. Other 2016 Prius have had a paint recall. My vehicle needs to be included in the recall.

Brake SystemJun 5, 2024

We were driving in San Diego and had driven oven a bit pothole. About 50 miles after driving over the pothole, the brakes stopped working. We were pressing down hard on the brake, but the brake was soft and did not do its job. We almost rear ended the car in front of us. We broug…

Structural ProblemsMay 26, 2024

While traveling on NHS CA 99 about 80 miles before taking exit 97, there were pieces of tire debri on the center lane. It couldn’t be spotted and my vehicle drove over it making a big thud sound. It shaked my vehicle and left my family scared. It could have been really dangerous …

Structural ProblemsMay 1, 2024

Starting in about 2019, the exterior black panel behind the rear right mirror began peeling. Soon, the blue exterior paint on the car began to show damaged spots, lining up with the parts of the car most exposed to the sun: the roof most of all, but the top panel behind the rear …

Electrical FaultsApr 24, 2024

While driving vehicle on the freeway it stated braking power low, stop in a safe place, antilock brake system malfunction, pre-collision system malfunction, lane departure alert malfunction. I was almost in a major scary accident.

Electrical FaultsApr 10, 2024

The contact owns a 2016 Toyota Prius. The contact stated while driving at approximately 70 MPH, the steering wheel stopped operating and the vehicle began to shut down. The contact stated that a yellow blinking light and a hybrid system malfunction warning light illuminated the i…

Uncategorized IssuesFeb 12, 2024

Coolant is leaking. There were no indicator that coolant is low. Suddenly while trying to get on the freeway the car would not get up to speed regardless how much pressure was put on the pedals. On the way back home, all of a sudden the engine temperature light flashed on then of…

Structural ProblemsJul 28, 2023

I reported issues with this car in 2018. Clicking sounds under the car which is still happening, peeling paint on exterior and inside door areas, substandard windshield that spread in a very unusual pattern when hit by a small rock. The NHTSA ID Number that was assigned to thes…

Engine ProblemsJun 8, 2023

We were driving kids to camp and the thermometer light went on. It was blinking for a while, then turned off and then turned steadily on. We weren't sure what to do, so we called our trusty mechanic who said "bring it in right now." We did and it turned out that this was a broken…

Page 1 of 9

Source: NHTSA Complaints Database. Real owner reports for the 2016 Toyota Prius.

Recalls for 2016 Toyota Prius

5 campaigns

NHTSA recall campaigns for the 2016 Toyota Prius. Recalls are free to fix at any authorized dealer. Run a VIN check below to see if your specific vehicle has open recalls.

17V658000Invalid Date
HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM: INVERTER

18V579000May 9, 2018
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING

16V672000Invalid Date
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

18V085000Invalid Date
AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW

16V741000Invalid Date
PARKING BRAKE

2016 Toyota Prius β€” FAQ

Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.

Is the 2016 Toyota Prius reliable?β–Ύ

Severe Issues. The 2016 Toyota Prius has 177 NHTSA owner complaints, 13 crash-related, and 5 recall campaigns. The most reported issue is Visibility/Wiper (42 complaints). Source: NHTSA via VinSpector AI.

What are the most common problems with the 2016 Toyota Prius?β–Ύ

#1: Visibility/Wiper (42 complaints). #2: Uncategorized Issues (37 complaints). #3: Electrical Faults (26 complaints)

At what mileage do problems start on the 2016 Toyota Prius?β–Ύ

Mileage data is not available or insufficient for this model year.

How safe is the 2016 Toyota Prius?β–Ύ

The 2016 Toyota Prius has 13 crash-related complaints and 0 fire reports out of 177 total NHTSA complaints. 8 injuries were reported. For NCAP lab crash test star ratings, visit nhtsa.gov/ratings.

Does the 2016 Toyota Prius have any recalls?β–Ύ

Yes β€” 5 NHTSA recall campaigns affect the 2016 Toyota Prius. The largest issue: HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM: INVERTER. Check nhtsa.gov/recalls or run a VIN check to see if your specific vehicle has open recalls.

Should I buy a 2016 Toyota Prius?β–Ύ

The 2016 Toyota Prius has severe issues β€” review the top problems before buying. Pay particular attention to Visibility/Wiper issues. Always run a VIN check on the specific car you're considering to check for accident history, open recalls, and title brands.

Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinSpector AI.

Wider context: See the full Toyota Prius reliability report with year-by-year comparison.

Check Your Specific 2016 Toyota Prius

Real owner complaints tell you about the model. The VIN tells you about your specific car β€” accidents, title issues, odometer fraud. Full report just $4.99.