2013 Toyota Prius V Driver assistance Problems

Upon a hard (but not emergency) brake, my ABS and brake warning lights came on and my car began whirring once every few seconds. I immediately took the car to the Toyota dealership, who informed me that my master brake cylinder and booster had to be replaced, and that issues with the booster were something they had seen frequently in this generation of Priuses. I paid $5095 for repairs and inspection, but I had no other choice, as my brakes could have gone out at any moment whilst I was on the road and caused a very serious accident.

NHTSA ID

11713700

Incident

Jan 14, 2026

The brake actuator and compressor is having repeated problems and causing the brakes to lock up completely while driving both in city and ON THE HIGHWAY. Abs/parking/normal brakes The lights on the dash all start flashing and beeping. ABS / emergency brake / exclamation warning / sliding / lights all on It also caused the speedometer to stop working and most of the lights of the computer part of my dash to not display information Problem code 1391 confirmed by mechanic This is a danger to me and other drivers and Toyota needs to take responsibility for these repairs because it can cost us our lives.

NHTSA ID

11712245

Incident

Jan 19, 2026

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.

NHTSA ID

11699327

Incident

Nov 12, 2025

The brakes suddenly failed in our 2013 Prius V while she was driving with our two young children. It was extremely scary, and very dangerous. Toyota has known about the braking system issues for years but refused to offer a recall to avoid costs. This needs to be immediately addressed.

NHTSA ID

11696755

Incident

Oct 31, 2025

I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY THE OTHER DAY AND MY 2013 PRIUS AND ALL OF A SUDDEN I FELT A POP AND I HAD NO GAS BY THE GRACE OF GOD I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER AND NOT GET KILLED I CALLED FOR ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE I DID HAVE POWER I DID HAVE STEERING BUT THERE WAS NO GAS UPON CHECKING AT MY TOYOTA DEALER THEY SAID THE PISTON HAD GONE STRAIGHT THROUGH THE ENGINE AND I NEEDED A NEW ENGINE AND THAT IT WAS PROBABLY DUE TO ABUSE OF OIL AND LACK OF OIL CHANGES I GOOGLED AND SAW THAT THIS WAS A KNOWN PROBLEM AND I'M ACTUALLY A DOCTOR AND HAVE SEVEN CHILDREN AND I DID CHANGE MY OIL AND I HAD NO WARNING LIGHT

NHTSA ID

11397581

Incident

Feb 17, 2021

Mileage

172,000 mi

TODAY, 9/11/2019. I WAS DRIVING ON HIGHWAY 405, MY CAR WAS GOING AT HIGHWAY SPEED AROUND 65. SUDDENLY THERE WAS A BEEP SOUND AND MY ENGINE LIGHT TURN ON. MY VEHICLE WENT INTO THE "LIMP HOME" MODE, THE CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. THEN THE CAR RED LIGHT WAS ON, AND THE SPEEDOMETER WENT OFF AND THE ENGINE SHUTS OFF. LUCKILY I WAS DRIVING ON THE SLOW LANE AS I WAS PLANNING TO EXIT THE HIGHWAY IN A MILE DISTANCE. MY VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESPOND TO THE ACCELERATION PEDAL AT ALL, SO I PUT ON THE EMERGENCY FLASHING LIGHT UP AND SLOWLY ROW OUT TOWARD THE EXIT. THIS IS THE THIRD TIME HAPPENED TO ME, WITHIN THE LAST 30 DAYS. TWO INCIDENT HAPPENED ON HIGHWAY AND ONE HAPPENED ON LOCAL ROAD. THE FIRST TIME WAS ALSO ON HIGHWAY WITH SIMILAR EXPERIENCE. I AM LUCKY TO BE ALIVE. I HAVE BROUGHT MY VEHICLE IN TO THE TOYOTA DEALER MAINTENANCE 5 DAYS AGO, 9/13/2019, WHERE THEY CLAIMED THEY HAVE CHECKED EVERYTHING AND TOLD ME THE VEHICLE WAS FINE AFTER CHARGING ME $150 ANALYZE FEE. THE VEHICLE IS OBVIOUSLY NOT FINE AND I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED ON HIGHWAY. THE PICTURE PROVIDED WAS THE DAY BEFORE I BROUGHT MY CAR IN TO THE TOYOTA DEALER.

NHTSA ID

11254880

Incident

Sep 4, 2019

Mileage

65,000 mi

CAR BEGAN TO DISPLAY INCOHERENT DASH ICON AND ALERTS. WE PARKED AND HAD A TOW SERVICE DELIVER OUR VEHICLE TO TOWN & COUNTRY TOYOTA, SOUTH BLVD, CHARLOTTE NC. THERE THEY TOLD US IT NEEDED ALTERNATELY A $1,500 REPAIR, A $350 REPAIR AND FINALLY A $100 REPAIR, NONE OF WHICH THE SERVICE SALESMAN COULD DESCRIBE OR EXPLAIN. WHEN WE MENTIONED THE SYMPTOMS WERE IDENTICAL TO THE "HYBRID SYSTEM/FAILSAFE DRIVING MODE" RECALL NOTICE HE WAS EVASIVE AND SAID THAT WE WERE TOO LATE FOR THE RECALL. WE DIDN'T THINK IT WAS POSSIBLE TO BE TOO LATE FOR A SAFETY RECALL, ESPECIALLY ONE THAT LANDED IN THE LAST WEEK. AFTER TWO (2) 20 MINUTE WAITS ON HOLD CALLING THE TOYOTA CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE CENTER, WE WERE TOLD NOTHING OF VALUE, EXCEPT WE COULD CHOOSE TO GO BACK TO THE SAME DEALER AND ASK FOR SOMEONE DIFFERENT, OR WE COULD GO TO A DIFFERENT DEALERSHIP (I AM NOT MAKING THIS STUFF UP...!) WE ARE AT A LOSS; IS THIS A SAFETY CONCERN OR NOT? TOYOTA AND THE DEALER DO NOT ACT LIKE IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO THEM. IS IT POSSIBLE FOR YOUR ENFORCEMENT POWERS TO MOVE THIS PROCESS TOWARDS A RESULT THAT MIGHT ENTAIL ADDITIONAL SAFETY..?

NHTSA ID

11193209

Incident

Mar 31, 2019

Mileage

59,000 mi

OFTEN REFERRED CLOCK SPRING AS IT IS REFERRED TO PART NUMBER 84307-47020 IT AFFECTS A MULTITUDE OF THINGS ON MY CAR THAT ARE SAFETY RELATED INCLUDING THE HORN, THE BUTTONS ON THE STEERING WHEEL THAT CONTROL THE RADIO AND TRICKS ODOMETER, THE AIRBAG, MAYBE BE AIRBAGS PLEARLE, BE ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL AND MAYBE OTHER THINGS. MY KNOWLEDGE MY CAR HAS NEVER BEEN WRECKED OR HAD AIRBAGS BLOWN AND THIS IS VERY PREMATURE FOR THIS PART TO FAIL. BELIEVE TOYOTA SHOULD TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR IT. THE WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AND IT SAYS IN THE MANUAL THAT IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. DO NOT HAVE A CLUE WHY IT FAILED. THE TOYOTA DEALER REPAIR IS CLOSE TO $900 WHICH IS RIDICULOUS.

NHTSA ID

11142395

Incident

Oct 20, 2018

Mileage

88,000 mi

MY CAR HAS A PROBLEM WITH THE RADAR CONTROL. IT HAS FAILED MULTIPLY TIMES ON THE FREEWAY WHEN I HAD IT IN CRUISE. THE PROBLEM IS THAT A "BEEP BEEP GOES OFF AND THEN THE CAR SLOWS DOWN FOR NO APPARENT REASON. THIS HAS HAPPENED MOSTLY IN WET WEATHER BUT HAS FAILED MANY TIMES. WITH NO ONE IN FROM OF ME. I HAD IT IN TO TOYOTA AND THEN SPENT THE WHOLE DAY GOING OVER THE CAR. THEY SAID THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR BUT MAYBE NOT USE THE CRUISE. THEY WOULD NOT SENT ME A LETTER TO THE FACT THAT THEY DID NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. IT TOOK ME 3 TO 4 DAYS OF CALLING AND FAXING TO GET THIS INFO. NOW THE INSURANCE COMPANY IS TELLING ME THAT BEFORE I BOUGHT THIS SUPPOSABLE NEW CAR IN 2015 WITH ONLY 8,000 MILES ON IT THAT IT HAS BEEN WRECKED OR IN 2 ACCIDENTS BEFORE I BOUGHT IT. I BELIEVE THAT THERE IS SOMETHING SERIOUSLY WRONG WITH IT AND IT IS A DANGER TO DRIVE IT. CAN YOU HELP ME.I CAN NOT SUPPLY YOU WITH ANY DATA OTHER THAN MY PERMISSION FAX THAT I SENT TOYOTA TO GO THROUGH MY CAR. MY SON DROVE THE CAR OR I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE THAT WITNESS THIS OCCURRENCE

NHTSA ID

11097588

Incident

May 23, 2018

Mileage

45,000 mi

ALTHOUGH OUR VEHICLE IS NOT IDENTIFIED FOR A RECALL THE SYMPTOMS ARE EXACTLY THE SAME DESCRIPTION AS THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER14V053000. DEALER SAYS EVERYTHING IS NORMAL BUT WE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT DRIVING THE VEHICLE WITH THE WHOLE FAMILY WHICH INCLUDES CHILDREN. CONCERNED ABOUT TOYOTA NOT RESPONDING TO OUR CLAIMS AND THE RISK OF COLLISION AS A POSSIBILITY.

NHTSA ID

10722776

Incident

May 29, 2015

Mileage

52,000 mi

DRIVER PULLED INTO PARKING STALL. FOOT ON BRAKE AT CURB. PUSHED THE "P" BUTTON FOR PARK FUNCTION ON DASH BOARD. THE CAR REVED AND LURCHED OVER THE CURB TOWARD THE BUILDING. DRIVER CONTINUED TO PRESS BRAKE PEDAL AND SWERVED TO AVOID THE BUILDING, YET SCRAPED THE SIDE WITH SIDE PANEL AND RUNNING OVER TW0 RECENTLY PLANTED TREES. THE CAR CONTINUED LURCHING FOR APPROXIMATELY 30-40 FEET, BACK OFF OF THE CURB, PAST TO TWO PARKED CARS (WHICH SUSTAINED NO DAMAGE). THE CAR FINALLY CAME TO A REST ON ITS OWN. THE ENGINE WAS STILL RUNNING UNTIL THE "START/OFF" BUTTON WAS DEPRESSED. *JS

NHTSA ID

10608480

Incident

Jul 1, 2014

Mileage

18,500 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 PRIUS V. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DECELERATING, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND CRASHED INTO A METAL GATE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,000.

NHTSA ID

10595899

Incident

Apr 25, 2014

Mileage

10,000 mi