2013 Toyota Prius Problems

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 92,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• The pedal should feel firm and the car should stop straight without pulling, grinding or a pulsing pedal.
• The ABS and stability control lights should go out after startup and stay out.
• Look through the wheels at the rotors. A deep lip on the edge means brakes are due soon, which is a fair thing to negotiate on.

Tools that help

What owners said

On XXX, at approximately 152,570 miles, the brake, ABS, and traction-control warning lights illuminated at the same time on my 2013 Toyota Prius. The brakes felt spongy, and I heard a recurring buzzing sound approximately every 3 seconds. Because of the change in brake-pedal feel and concerns about braking safety, I stopped using the…Owner complaint, filed 2026

While driving our 2013 Toyota Prius, the vehicle experienced a sudden and severe loss of braking effectiveness while the vehicle was in motion. This created an immediate safety risk because the vehicle did not respond to braking as expected. After the incident, the vehicle displayed the red BRAKE warning light, ABS warning light…Owner complaint, filed 2026

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 65,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• Test every switch: windows, locks, mirrors, seat heaters, the screen, the backup camera, Bluetooth and every USB port.
• Watch the dash at startup. Every warning light should come on briefly and then go out.
• Have the battery and charging system tested. A weak alternator or battery drain shows up here.

Tools that help

What owners said

Check hybrid system. Stop the vehicle in a safe place. About 90,000 miles 2013 Prius bought brand new and regular all dealer maintenance completed. Lost power on the road and very slow pickup. Not drivable and very unsafe car. Thanks.Owner complaint, filed 2023

The contact owns a 2013 Toyota Prius. The contact stated that the hazard lights would activate inadvertently and were not able to be turned off as designed. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer but was not yet diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure but offered no assistance. The failure mileage was…Owner complaint, filed 2022, at 124,000 miles

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 76,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• Ask the seller not to warm the car up, and start it cold. Listen for ticking, knocking or a rough idle in the first minute.
• Pull the oil dipstick and the oil cap. Low oil, a gasoline smell or a milky film on the cap are reasons to walk away or get an inspection.
• Plug in an OBD2 scanner. Stored or pending codes matter, and so do readiness monitors that show "not ready", which usually means the codes were cleared right before the sale.
• Ask for oil change records. A gap in the records on a model known for engine complaints is a negotiating point at minimum.

Tools that help

What owners said

Crack in the Engine. I had been following the recommended Maintenance schedule, but I suddenly had issues where the engine would stall/stutter on activation (switching from electric to motor operation). The check engine light came on, and I immediately took it to the dealer who replaced the battery and spark plugs saying that was the…Owner complaint, filed 2026

I pushed on the gas, the car started mildly shaking under the hood( the engine) then I released my foot off the gas and the shaking ceased. I the. Attempted to accelerate again and the car started violently shaking so I released my foot from the accelerator and turned the car while coasting onto a side road where I traveled back home.…Owner complaint, filed 2024

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 10,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• On the test drive, press the gas gently and firmly. The response should be smooth with no lag or surge.
• Set the cruise control, then use resume and cancel to make sure each one works.

Tools that help

What owners said

My 2013 toyota prius occasionally experiences delays in acceleration and abnormal hybrid function. The dealership says they can't do anything because there are no lights on the dashboard. Corporate toyota doesn't seem to care. I asked if I had to get into an accident before this became an issue. An extra second of unexpected inability to…Owner complaint, filed 2018, at 71,000 miles

This vehicle attempts to go 8 MPH with the accelerator pedal not depressed at all. It does this any time the car is "on", even if it is in reverse. The brake must be applied to stop the car. Even when the brake is pressed, the computer will apply power to the wheels, which results in the brake having to fight against the motors.…Owner complaint, filed 2016, at 500 miles

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 5,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• Check every light: headlights on low and high, fog lights, brake lights, turn signals and reverse lights.
• Run the wipers on every speed with washer fluid, and run the defroster front and back.

Tools that help

What owners said

Replaced low beam on Right Lamp Headlight. Then replace high beam on Right Lamp Headlight. Then realized it is actually appears to be the power going to the Headlight does not appear to be strong enough? Looked to see if there was a recall and noticed several others have reported this same problem. It is so dim that it required high beam…Owner complaint, filed 2022

Hi, my dim lights don't light the road in front of me, I have a 2013 Prius and to drive it at night is taken my life and any on coming motorists at risk...I put expensive bulbs in and that doesn't help the problem, can you help?Owner complaint, filed 2022

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 18,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• The air bag (SRS) light should come on at startup and go out within a few seconds. If it stays on, the system may not work in a crash.
• Air bag recalls are some of the most serious. Check this exact VIN for open recalls and get proof any recall work was done.

Tools that help

What owners said

The contact owns a 2013 Toyota Prius. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the contact's vehicle was involved in a head-on collision. The air bags did not deploy. The vehicle was towed to the contact's residence. The vehicle had not been inspected for damages. The contact was transported to the local medical center.…Owner complaint, filed 2025, at 73,761 miles

Traveling approximately 15mph I collided with a full size truck the front end of my car totaled. I was wearing my seat belt and air bags did not deploy causing me to hit the steering wheel with enough force to fracture my sternum. This is the 2nd time a frontal impact occurred causing damage to the front bumper and air bags did not…Owner complaint, filed 2024

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 40,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• Smell around the engine bay and under the rear of the car for raw fuel.
• On the test drive, accelerate firmly from a stop and up a grade. Stumbling, surging or a flashing check engine light are red flags.
• Fuel pump recalls are common. Check this exact VIN for open recalls before you buy.

Tools that help

What owners said

I had the proper recall fixes done on my 2013 toyota prius 3 months ago for the stalling issues. Last night while accelerating to get on the freeway my prius shut down and entered limp home mode. The 'check hybrid system. Stop vehicle in a safe place' light came on. Eventually the car wouldn't turn on at all. I didn't feel safe one bit.…Owner complaint, filed 2020, at 49,000 miles

Please reference the los angeles times article of april 14, 2019: "after second recall, toyota prius electrical system is still overheating". My car has had the software updates, but is apparently still unsafe to drive. I am terrified that I could experience a "limp-home" situation while traveling at high speed on the local freeways. I…Owner complaint, filed 2019

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 31,000 miles. Parts named most: Body (11).

What to check before you buy

• Look underneath with a flashlight. Utah road salt is hard on frames, brake lines and the bottoms of doors.
• Open and close every door, the hood and the liftgate, and lock and unlock each one.
• Use a paint thickness gauge and compare panels. A panel that reads very differently from the rest has likely been repaired.

Tools that help

What owners said

The clear coat failed despite regular wax and optimal storage. I have seen a few Toyota vehicles of this same color with clear coat failures.Owner complaint, filed 2024

Sun roof exploded / shattered while driving on the fwy. At 70 MPH. No traffic around, clear day about 70 deg f. After hearing the explosion, I pulled over and found the glass had shattered and it appeared that it was caused by pressure from inside as the shape of the shattered glass was bowed outwardly. No apparent impact from any…Owner complaint, filed 2018, at 90,000 miles

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 42,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• Drive it from cold if you can. Shifts should be smooth in every gear, including reverse.
• Feel for slipping (revs rise without the car speeding up), shudder at low speed and a delay when you put it in gear.
• Listen for whining, which is a common CVT complaint, and clunks when you go from drive to reverse.
• If it has 4WD or AWD, engage it on the test drive and ask when the transmission and differential fluids were last changed.

Tools that help

What owners said

The contact owns a 2013 Toyota Prius. The contact stated that while attempting to shift to drive(D), the transmission failed to shift as needed. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, who informed the contact that a hose had detached from the valve. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 167,000.Owner complaint, filed 2023, at 167,000 miles

I was driving the car to the dealership to get an oil change and the check hybrid system warning light came on while driving on the freeway.Owner complaint, filed 2018, at 107,887 miles

Parts named most: Automatic emergency braking (11).

What to check before you buy

• Where it is safe, try the adaptive cruise and lane keeping on the test drive and watch for sudden braking or warnings with nothing there.
• Check the windshield in front of the camera and the bumper sensors for cracks, chips or poor repairs.
• Ask whether the windshield has been replaced. The camera has to be recalibrated afterward, and many shops skip it.

Tools that help

What owners said

Year/Make/Model: 2013 Toyota Prius • Component: Brake Booster Assembly with Master Cylinder (Part #47070-47060) Description of the Defect: After approximately 30, 40 minutes of driving, my dashboard illuminates with the Brake, ABS, and VSC warning lights simultaneously. The brake pedal becomes inconsistent and requires significantly more…Owner complaint, filed 2026

The brake actuator/ABS hydraulic system on my 2013 Toyota Prius failed. The component is available for inspection upon request, as it was replaced by a Toyota dealership. Prior to failure, the vehicle intermittently displayed ABS, Traction Control, and VSC warning lights while driving, which would sometimes clear on their own but…Owner complaint, filed 2026

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 12,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• Read the four-digit DOT date on each tire. Tires older than about six years should be replaced, whatever the tread looks like.
• Check tread depth on all four. On AWD vehicles all four tires should match.
• The tire pressure light should go out after startup.

Tools that help

What owners said

purchased tires at walmart auto care center in 2019 at 2770 E. Carson St. Lakewood, 90712, +[VIN]. the warranty shows they should last at least 40000 miles. the tires worned out (by walmart auto care center staff on 11/2024) at 27000 miles. Walmart has not worked with me to replace these defective low quality tires (viva3 brand) and i am…Owner complaint, filed 2025

A warning light came on indicating low tire pressure. I stopped immediatly in the closest parking lot. The sidewall on my goodyear [VIN] fuel maxx tires had split apart, about 12 inches total in 3 spots. The cords of the sidewall were showing. These were 65,000 mile tires purchased january 2016. They had about 28,000 miles on them at the…Owner complaint, filed 2017, at 88,000 miles

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 10,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• Pull out and latch every seat belt, and let each one retract on its own.
• Try every seat adjuster, and watch for a passenger air bag "off" light when an adult is in the seat.

Tools that help

What owners said

**What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? **How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? **Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? **Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance…Owner complaint, filed 2024

The contact owns a 2013 toyota prius. The contact stated that the driver's seat belt was loose and did not have any tension. The contact took the vehicle to germain toyota of naples (13315 tamiami trail n, naples, fl 34110, (239) 301-3156) and was informed that the seat belt needed to be replaced. The vehicle had not been repaired. The…Owner complaint, filed 2019, at 129,000 miles

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 65,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• Ask for a hybrid battery health report from a dealer or hybrid shop.
• Watch for warning messages at startup and on the test drive, and confirm the car switches between gas and electric smoothly.

Tools that help

What owners said

The contact owns a 2013 toyota prius. While driving 70 MPH, the check engine and two unknown warning indicators illuminated. In addition, the check hybrid system and "stop the vehicle at a safe place' messages appeared on the instrument panel. Furthermore, while depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle failed to accelerate. The…Owner complaint, filed 2019, at 170,000 miles

The contact owns a 2013 toyota prius. While driving approximately 35 MPH, the vehicle stalled and was unable to be restarted. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the inverter needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was included in NHTSA campaign number: 18v684000 (hybrid…Owner complaint, filed 2019, at 36,000 miles

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 24,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• Turn the wheel lock to lock while parked and listen for groaning, clicking or binding.
• On a straight road the car should track straight with the wheel centered and no loose feeling.
• A power steering warning on the dash, even briefly, deserves a mechanic’s look before you buy.

Tools that help

What owners said

Steering vibrates when driving on smooth road but rattles loudly on small bumps. Toyota initially said there was no problem and that it was normal. I thought it was suspension but the suspension is still good. All the tires are good. Control arms and anything visible is good. When elevated the steering makes a but but noise when turned.Owner complaint, filed 2020

The contact owns a 2013 Toyota Prius. The contact stated that after several days of torrential rainfall, the contact noticed there was water in the tire and 12-volt battery compartment. After having a routine oil change at an independent mechanic, while the contact was driving, the vehicle lost power steering functionality. The power…Owner complaint, filed 2024, at 119,000 miles

What to check before you buy

• Drive over a few bumps and potholes slowly with the radio off and listen for clunks or rattles.
• Check the tires for uneven wear on the inside or outside edges, a sign of alignment or suspension trouble.
• Look behind the wheels for oily, wet shocks or struts.

Tools that help

What owners said

The contact owns a 2013 Toyota Prius. The contact stated that while reversing, there was an abnormally loud sound coming from the vehicle. The contact exited the vehicle and performed an inspection of the vehicle. While inspecting the vehicle, the contact became aware that the passenger’s side rear wheel was touching the frame of the…Owner complaint, filed 2025, at 179,000 miles

My 2013 Prius has 86,500 miles on it. It has been regularly maintained. A routine state inspection revealed a severely rusted rear axle beam and a front axle that is heading in that direction. Other Prius' in [XXX] have had this issue, and in some cases, the wheels have detached from the axle while the car is in motion. That is…Owner complaint, filed 2026