Does the 2013 Toyota Prius have any recalls?

Yes. NHTSA lists 3 recalls for the 2013 Toyota Prius, the most recent reported on June 24, 2020 (Hybrid propulsion system: inverter). Check a specific car by its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What are the most common problems with the 2013 Toyota Prius?

Owners have filed 414 complaints with NHTSA. The most frequently reported area is service brakes (232 complaints), followed by electrical system (52).

How many 2013 Toyota Prius complaints mention a crash or fire?

40 of 414 complaints report a crash and 4 a fire; 24 injuries were reported in total. Complaints are unverified reports from owners.

2013 Toyota Prius recalls and problems

3 recalls and 414 owner complaints on file with NHTSA for the 2013 Toyota Prius.

recalls

414

owner complaints

complaints mentioning a crash

mentioning a fire

Recalls apply to specific production ranges. To see whether a particular car still has an open recall, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Repairs for safety recalls are free at authorised dealers.

2013 Toyota Prius recalls

Hybrid propulsion system: inverter

NHTSA campaign 20V369000 · reported June 24, 2020 · Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing · 266,638 vehicles potentially affected

The problem: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2013-2015 Prius and 2014-2017 Prius V vehicles not included in recall 18V-684. 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.
The risk: An unexpected hybrid power system shut down may increase the risk of a crash.
The fix: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will perform a software update for the hybrid system. If the vehicle has experienced an inverter failure with certain hybrid system faults related to this condition, the inverter assembly will be repaired or replaced, prior to software update. All repairs will be performed free of charge. This recall began July 24, 2020. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371. Toyota's number for this recall is 20TB10 / 20TA10.

Hybrid propulsion system

NHTSA campaign 18V684000 · reported October 4, 2018 · Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing · 807,329 vehicles potentially affected

The problem: 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.
The risk: If the hybrid system shuts down unexpectedly, it can increase the risk of a crash.
The fix: 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. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371. Toyota's number for this recall is J0V. Note: The software updates in this recall are needed even if the vehicle had the software previously updated under recalls 14V-053 or 15V-449.

Electrical system: software · Hybrid propulsion system: inverter

NHTSA campaign 14V053000 · reported February 12, 2014 · Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing · 698,457 vehicles potentially affected

The problem: Toyota is recalling certain model year 2010 through 2014 Prius vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the Intelligent Power Module (IPM) inside the inverter module (a component of the hybrid system) contains transistors that may become damaged from high operating temperatures. If this occurs, various warning lamps will be illuminated on the instrument panel and the vehicle will have reduced power allowing it to only drive a short distance.
The risk: The vehicle may enter a fail-safe/limp-home mode that limits the drivability of the vehicle. The hybrid system could also shut down completely resulting in a vehicle stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Toyota will notify owners and dealers will update the software for both the motor/generator control electronic control unit (ECU) and the hybrid control ECU, free of charge. If an owner experiences a failure of the inverter before the vehicle receives updated software, the dealer will repair or replace the inverter assembly with a new one at no charge. The recall began on March 21, 2014. Owners may contact Toyota at 1-800-331-4331.

Most reported problems

Areas named in owner complaints to NHTSA. One complaint can name several areas.

Service brakes232
Electrical system52
Unknown or other50
Engine37
Vehicle speed control22
Air bags18
Fuel/propulsion system16
Power train14
Structure13
Exterior lighting12

What owners report

Recent complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. These are unverified accounts from owners, not findings.

Oct 19, 2026 · Service brakes
On …, 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…

Oct 17, 2026 · Unknown or other · crash reported
I experienced sudden unintended acceleration. While I was making a right turn from the street to my driveway, my car suddenly accelerated on its own and hit the side of the house and the garage door, causing significant damage to the house and the front of my car. My street is uphill, so my car was almost stopped when…

Oct 12, 2026 · Service brakes
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…

Oct 6, 2026 · Service brakes
While driving, my brake pedal would randomly lose power assist. The pedal would get hard and I couldn't press it down normally, and I had to push as hard as I could just to get the car to slow down. This happened more than once while driving and I almost crashed because I couldn't stop the car in time. A scan later…

Sep 28, 2026 · Electrical system · 138,932 miles · fire reported
The contact owns a 2013 Toyota Prius. The contact stated that while driving and pulling into a parking lot, there was a burning odor coming from the vehicle. The contact exited the vehicle but saw no fault with the vehicle. The contact was then notified by another person that the vehicle had caught on fire. The fire…

Prius model years compared

Year	Recalls	Complaints	Crashes	Fires
2010	10	2,823	183	13
2011	6	521	37	7
2012	6	424	46	2
2013	3	414	40	4
2014	3	210	26	1
2015	1	166	29	1
2016	5	155	8	0

Across all years, the 2010 Prius has the most complaints (2,823). All Toyota Prius years →

Questions

Does the 2013 Toyota Prius have any recalls?: Yes. NHTSA lists 3 recalls for the 2013 Toyota Prius, the most recent reported on June 24, 2020 (Hybrid propulsion system: inverter). Check a specific car by its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What are the most common problems with the 2013 Toyota Prius?: Owners have filed 414 complaints with NHTSA. The most frequently reported area is service brakes (232 complaints), followed by electrical system (52).
How many 2013 Toyota Prius complaints mention a crash or fire?: 40 of 414 complaints report a crash and 4 a fire; 24 injuries were reported in total. Complaints are unverified reports from owners.

Source: NHTSA recall and complaint data, updated October 27, 2026. Latest complaint received October 19, 2026.