Most common 2013 Toyota Prius v problems
Share of the 125 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Toyota Prius v complaints by model year
Best Prius v years: 2017, 2016, 2015. Years to avoid: 2012, 2013, 2014. Compare all years →
2013 Toyota Prius v recalls (2)
Hybrid propulsion system
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2010-2014 Toyota Prius and 2012-2014 Toyota Prius V vehicles. Excessive voltage in the Intelligent Power Module (IPM) within the inverter may cause the hybrid system to shut down, causing the vehicle to stall while being driven.
Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will update the software for the motor/generator control electronic control unit (ECU) and the hybrid control ECU as necessary, free of charge. The recall began January 22, 2019.
Hybrid propulsion system › Inverter
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2012-2014 Prius V vehicles manufactured August 22, 2011, to June 30, 2014. A component within the hybrid inverter assembly may overheat, causing the hybrid system to reduce output power allowing the vehicle to only drive a short distance.
Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will update the software for the motor/generator control electronic control unti (ECU) and the hybrid control ECU, free of charge. The recall began on July 30, 2015.
What 2013 Toyota Prius v owners say
Brakes all 68 →
The contact owned a 2013 Toyota Prius. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 25 MPH, the ABS warning light was illuminated. The contact then stated that the brake pedal was applied but failed to respond, causing the vehicle to swerve and the contact to crash into a retaining wall. The contact sustained whiplash. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where failure codes were retrieved for the brake booster and ABS. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed that the brake booster needed to be replaced; however, the warranty had expired. The vehicle was not repaired and was auctioned. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 143,000.
The contact owns a 2013 Toyota Prius V. The contact stated that while driving approximately 65 MPH in stop-and-go traffic and applying the brake pedal to decrease in speed, the vehicle hesitated to decrease in speed. The contact had to apply an excessive amount of pressure for the vehicle to decrease in speed. The Slip indicator light, brake system failure, and anti-lock brake failure warning lights are illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a certified mechanic who informed the contact that code C1391 which showed on the diagnostic machine. The dealer stated the brake booster pump needed to be replaced. The mechanic informed the contact that the failure was related to the Customer Support Program 20TE07 with the NHTSA ID Number 10184564 (Service Brakes, Equipment, Equipment Adaptive/Mobility). …
Engine & cooling
On October 31, my wife and son were in the car approaching a parking space after completing a 360 degree turn into the parking space. Car suddenly accelerated and jumped a 7" high curb blowing out the right front tire and damaging the right rear tire. Car was towed to the team Toyota in glen mills who told me to notify Toyota of the incident. Toyota called me on November 2 and given a complete detailed account of the incident. On November 3, Toyota sent an authorization form to download the edr data which was returned along with diagrams of the incident. On November 4, Bosch contacted me requesting the information already sent to Toyota which was sent to them. On November 22, the Bosch representative went to the dealership and downloaded the edr data. On 11/26/16 - received report from eaa engineering analysis. Indicates that the car accelerated from 2.5 MPH to 7.5 MPH in 1.8 sec. …
I was leaving work and as I got on to the freeway, I noticed that when I pressed the acceleration, the car would rev and jerk. Didn't think much of it thinking I would make it home. By time I made it to the freeway, my car began to rev loudly and I noticed I was loosing acceleration. Around this time I was going almost 65mph. So I pulled off the freeway and inspected the engine, didn't see anything out of the ordinary so tried to crank it up again. Car crunk, 'ready' light came on and so did electric vehicle mode. As the car went start the engine, the loud rattle and shaking of the car could be hear and felt. I was able to drive another half a mile before the car just shut down. They car would not drive over 5 miles per hour. When it shut down the engine began to smoke so I knew that could not be good. …
Electrical system
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 the car is not drivable. I expect to have the actuator and master cylinder replaced in then next few weeks at a cost of $5600. I see there were previous recalls on the braking system that have now expired.
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 whichever comes first. many other vehicles this year have this problem its common.. i cannot brake in time because now its using my back brakes. Dealership said brake booster pump and brake master cylinder.
2013 Toyota Prius v engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.8L 4-cyl hybrid | CVT | FWD | 43 / 39 / 41 |
EPA ratings. Class: Wagon.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2013 Toyota Prius v a good car?
Based on 125 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2013 Prius v rates avoid: 3.5× as many complaints as a typical year of the Prius v at the same age. It is one of the Prius v years we suggest avoiding. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2013 Toyota Prius v?
The brakes — 68 complaints, 54% of all complaints for this model year. Next are the engine & cooling (16) and electrical system (16).
How many recalls does the 2013 Toyota Prius v have?
There are 2 recalls for the 2013 Toyota Prius v, the most recent from October 4, 2018 (hybrid propulsion system). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Toyota Prius v?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2017, 2016 and 2015. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2012, 2013 and 2014. See the full Toyota Prius v years comparison.
At what mileage do 2013 Toyota Prius v problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 68,000 miles; 36% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.