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ProblemsByVin File / 2016-TOYOTA-PRIUS
2016 · toyota

toyota Prius problems

3 safety recalls. 177 owner complaints. We mapped every trouble spot before you sign the papers.

0 5 10
Reliability score
7.0 / 10

Solid reliability overall. Common issues are concentrated in a few systems.

0
Critical
3
Severe
0
Moderate

Top trouble spots 8 categories with 3+ complaints

visibility
34 reports · avg $350
moderate
electrical
22 reports · avg $850
severe
powertrain
14 reports · avg $2,500
moderate
airbags
11 reports · avg $1,100
severe
body
11 reports · avg $1,500
moderate
cruise control
11 reports · avg $600
severe
brakes
10 reports · avg $450
severe
tires
8 reports · avg $150
moderate

What owners are saying recent NHTSA-filed complaints · verbatim

2016 Prius · visibility
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 TOYOTA PRIUS HYBRID. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE WINDSHIELD TRAPPED RAIN WATER, WHICH MADE IT DIFFICULT FOR THE CONTACT TO SEE THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE…
12/30/2016 · NHTSA ODI #10938767.0
2016 Prius · other
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V741000 (PARKING BRAKE). THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE…
12/29/2016 · NHTSA ODI #10938499.0
2016 Prius · lighting
AT NIGHT ON DARK STREETS WITH NO OTHER LIGHTING, YOU CANNOT SEE TO DRIVE UNLESS YOU USE HIGH BEAMS. THERE IS A LINE ACROSS THE WINDSHIELD; A HORIZON. YOU CAN SEE BELOW THAT HORIZON (A THIN AREA), BUT IT'S BLACK ABOVE IT, MAKING IT VERY HARD TO SEE. VISIBILITY IS ONLY A FEW…
12/29/2016 · NHTSA ODI #10938581.0
2016 Prius · airbags Crash
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT A VERY LOW SPEED A SECOND VEHICLE SUDDENLY CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE PUSHING IT INTO THE REAR END OF A THIRD VEHICLE POSITIONED AHEAD. DURING THE INCIDENT THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED…
12/28/2020 · NHTSA ODI #11385206.0

Estimate your repair exposure

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Active recalls showing 3 of 3

severe NHTSA 18V085000 31/01/2018

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2016 Toyota Prius and Lexus RX 350, RX 350 F Sport, RX 450h F Sport and RX 450h vehicles and 2015-2016 Lexus NX 200T, NX Turbo and NX 300h vehicles

If the air bags fail to deploy in a crash, it can increase the risk of injury.

Fix: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the sensors as necessary based on their serial numbers, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin March 12, 2018. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are JLA, J0F.
severe NHTSA 17V658000 18/10/2017

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2016 Prius vehicles

If the capacitor was not properly secured, vibrations from driving the vehicle may damage the capacitor, shutting down the hybrid system, causing a loss of motive power and increasing the risk of a crash.

Fix: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the inverter, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin by early December 2017. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is H0U.
severe NHTSA 16V672000 16/09/2016

Toyota Motor Engineering and Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2016 Toyota Prius vehicles manufactured November 30, 2015, to June 14, 2016

A front passenger air bag that unintentionally inflates can increase the risk of a crash or injury.

Fix: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag assembly, free of charge. The recall began November 10, 2016. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is G0W.

Common questions

Is the 2016 Toyota Prius reliable?

Mostly yes. With a reliability score of 7.0 out of 10 based on 177 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2016 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.

What's the most common problem on the 2016 Toyota Prius?

Based on NHTSA records, the most-reported issue is visibility, with 34 complaints filed. Average repair cost runs about $350 at an independent shop.

What's the most expensive thing that goes wrong?

The visibility is one of the costlier repair items. Average repair cost runs about $350 at an independent shop. 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 2016 Toyota Prius?

Math is straightforward: a quality service contract runs $1,800–3,500 over 3 years. With 177 complaints on file and the costliest repair averaging $350, 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 aren't always better value.

Related vehicles

Recall and complaint data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) public records database, last synced 14 hours ago. Editorial commentary written by ProblemsByVin contributors and reviewed by ASE-certified mechanics. We are not affiliated with toyota. Some links on this page are affiliate links and we may earn a commission if you complete a quote or purchase.
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