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ProblemsByVinFile / 2016-TOYOTA-PRIUSNHTSA data synced 8 hours ago
2016 · Toyota
Toyota Prius problems
178 owner complaints and 3 active recall campaigns on file. Here's the breakdown — what's serious, what's noise, what a working mechanic would actually do about it.
Reliability score
7.0 / 10
Solid reliability overall. Common issues are concentrated in a few systems.
0
Critical
3
Severe
0
Moderate
Should you avoid this 2016 Prius?
Acceptable — with caveats
Worth owning if you verify the specific issues below before you buy.
Reliability score 7.0/10 — around the segment average
3 recall campaigns on file
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.
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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…
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…
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…
Blue tooth connection via phone will be dropped after 7-10 seconds post connection to the vehicle. Audio player can be connected separately but once the phone connects the display console resets as if the car was just being started. Car can be stationary not moving. No difference
Had a problem with your 2016 Toyota Prius?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free and official — owner filings are what build the federal safety record behind this page.
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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.
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.
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 178 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.
Should you avoid the 2016 Toyota Prius?
The 2016 Toyota Prius is acceptable, with specific caveats. Worth owning if you verify the specific issues below before you buy. The record behind that call: Reliability score 7.0/10 — around the segment average; 3 recall campaigns on file. 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 2016 Toyota Prius?
Based on NHTSA records, the most-reported issue is visibility, with 34 complaints filed. Typical failure occurs around 23,094 miles. 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. Typical failure occurs around 23,094 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 2016 Toyota Prius?
Math is straightforward: a quality service contract runs $1,800–3,500 over 3 years. With 178 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 are not always better value.
Recall and complaint data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database, last synced 8 hours ago. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2016/Toyota/Prius.
Editorial commentary written by ProblemsByVin contributors and reviewed by ASE-certified mechanics.
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