Toyota Prius problems
395 owner complaints with NHTSA, no active recalls. Here's where owners say it breaks.
Solid reliability overall. Common issues are concentrated in a few systems.
Worth owning if you verify the specific issues below before you buy.
- Brakes: 185 complaints, classified severe, failures cluster 87,000–122,000 mi
- Reliability score 7.2/10 — around the segment average
Our read of the federal NHTSA complaint and recall record for this exact year and model — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection. How we score.
Top trouble spots 8 categories with 3+ complaints
What owners are saying recent NHTSA-filed complaints · verbatim
2013 Toyota prius. Consumer would like reimbursement for repairs and parts for the defected oil filter housing part. *ta the consumer stated the vehicle was equipped with a cheap, plastic oil filter housing. Over time, the heat generated by the engine caused the oil filter…
I bought this car in november since the car is new . I wanted to install mud guards so I had to remove each wheel. As I was torquing the wheel nuts, one stud came off. I used a torque wrench 65 ftlb. I went to the dealer they told me that I broke the stud that this is not cover…
Brake pump failed while on the highway. Brake functionality and braking distance changed drastically while driving high speeds. Dealer confirmed that the breaker pump and master cylinder must be replaced with a new assemblies. There was no recall for this failure, but a Toyota…
Tl* the contact owns a 2013 Toyota prius. While the vehicle was parked with the shift lever in the park position, the vehicle independently rolled backwards. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was…
Estimate your repair exposure
Drag to your current mileage. Numbers are derived from this vehicle's complaint history.
Under investigation 1 open at NHTSA
NHTSA has an open defect investigation covering this vehicle — the step that can precede a recall, not a finding of fault. DP23005 on NHTSA →
How NHTSA investigations work, and what's open now →
Common questions
Is the 2013 Toyota Prius reliable?
Mostly yes. With a reliability score of 7.2 out of 10 based on 395 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2013 Toyota Prius is generally a sound vehicle. The areas to watch are listed in the top problem section above — most are budget items, not deal-breakers.
Should you avoid the 2013 Toyota Prius?
The 2013 Toyota Prius is acceptable, with specific caveats. Worth owning if you verify the specific issues below before you buy. The record behind that call: Brakes: 185 complaints, classified severe, failures cluster 87,000–122,000 mi; Reliability score 7.2/10 — around the segment average. This is our read of the federal complaint and recall data — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection.
What's the most common problem on the 2013 Toyota Prius?
Based on NHTSA records, the most-reported issue is brakes, with 185 complaints filed. Typical failure occurs around 105,163 miles. Average repair cost runs about $450 at an independent shop.
What's the most expensive thing that goes wrong?
The brakes is one of the costlier repair items. Average repair cost runs about $450 at an independent shop. Typical failure occurs around 105,163 miles. Catching early warning signs can sometimes extend life by 20–30,000 miles.
How do I check if my Toyota Prius has open recalls?
Paste your VIN into the decoder at the top of this page. We pull live from NHTSA, so you'll see exactly which campaigns apply to your vehicle and whether the dealer has logged the fix. Recall repairs are always free regardless of mileage or warranty status.
Is an extended warranty worth it on a 2013 Toyota Prius?
Math is straightforward: a quality service contract runs $1,800–3,500 over 3 years. With 395 complaints on file and the costliest repair averaging $450, one major failure more than pays for it. The catch is reading the contract — many providers exclude wear items and require pre-authorization, so cheaper plans are not always better value.