RoadVitals

2013 Toyota Prius Airbags Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the airbag system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Airbags reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
18
Latest Mar 21, 2025
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
4%
of 403 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
12
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
12

What this page shows

Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2013 Toyota Prius submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 18 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming airbag

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Airbags
Filed Mar 21, 2025
Crash reported1 injury reported

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. The contact sustained injuries such as a fractured sternum and a fractured left foot. The contact received treatment and the local medical ctr for a total of four days and then transferred to a primary care facility. In addition, the contact was receiving continued treatment. A Police report was filed. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 73,761.

NHTSA ID
11649711
Incident
Feb 22, 2025
Mileage
73,761 mi
Airbags
Filed Jul 17, 2024
Crash reported1 injury reported

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 deploy.

NHTSA ID
11602955
Incident
Jul 11, 2024
AirbagsBrakes
Filed May 8, 2024
Crash reported

Problem 1. Both curtain airbags on the passenger side deployed while no one was sitting in those seats, no injuries sustained to anyone. This happened one time as it happened in a car accident, nothing indicated that the air bags were on or active at the moment. Problem 2. ABS system failure has caused the brakes on the prius to lock and not work while driving, almost causing an incident. The car has not been driven since for the fear of that happening again. The vehicle has been seen by a mechanic to determine it is the abs system. The ABS light has been on as well, it appeared a couple of weeks before the brakes locked up back in March of this year.

NHTSA ID
11587762
Incident
Oct 20, 2020
Airbags
Filed Sep 3, 2021

The contact owns a 2013 Toyota Prius. The contact stated that the passenger’s side airbag indicated that the airbag was turned off even though there was a passenger weighing approximately 80 pounds seated in the passenger’s side front seat. The contact had not taken the vehicle to the dealer. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was unknown.

NHTSA ID
11431657
Incident
Aug 2, 2021
Airbags
Filed Apr 22, 2021

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HAVING AN INSPECTION PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE AT MAPLEWOOD TOYOTA (2873 MAPLEWOOD DR, MAPLEWOOD, MN 55109, (651) 419-5144) THE TECHNICIAN INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE SPIRAL CABLE FOR THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 160,650.

NHTSA ID
11413353
Incident
Apr 12, 2021
Mileage
160,650 mi
Airbags
Filed Apr 14, 2021
Crash reported2 injuries reported

APRIL 01,2021, OUR 2013 TOYOTA PRIUS WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD ON COLLISION AND THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT, WHEN STRUCK HEAD ON. THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SUSTAINED INJURIES.

NHTSA ID
11408024
Incident
Apr 1, 2021
Mileage
3 mi
Airbags
Filed Oct 16, 2019
Crash reported1 injury reported

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2013 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE ACCELERATING FROM A STOP, A TACOMA TRUCK CRASHED INTO THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED AND TOWED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE HEAD THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THEIR INVESTIGATOR DID NOT HAVE A READING OF ANY FAILURES FOR THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 64,800.*MP THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE FRONT AND SIDE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY BECAUSE THERE WAS INSUFFICIENT DECELERATION IN THE CRASH. *DL

NHTSA ID
11268836
Incident
Jul 8, 2019
Mileage
64,800 mi
Airbags
Filed Jun 9, 2017
Crash reported1 injury reported

2013 PRIUS V HAD A COLLISION WITH A MUSTANG CONVERIBLE. BOTH VEHICLES ARE TOTALED. THE MUSTANG'S AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. THE PRIUS'S AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND THE DRIVER HAS A SEVERE CONCUSSION. EMS APPARENTLY TOLD THE HOSPITAL THIS WAS THE SENDING ONE THEY HAD SEEN WHERE AIRBAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY. THE HOSPITAL TOLD ME I NEEDED TO LOOK INTO AIRBAGS (3XS) BASED ON WHAT EMS SAID. WHEN I WENT TO TOYOTA THEY ASKED IF I WAS THE ONE THAT HAD CALLED A COUPLE OF DAYS PRIOR DUE TO AIRBAGS FAILING. (NO I HAD NOT CALLED.) SO, WAS EMS REFERRING TO A SECOND TOYOTA WHERE AIRBAGS HAD NOT DEPLOYED IN 2 DAYS? PLEASE LOOK AT PICTURES. THIS WAS A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. POLICE REPORT STATES BOTH VEHICLES DOING 35MPH. AGAIN, PRIUS AIRBAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY.

NHTSA ID
10994100
Incident
Jun 3, 2017
Mileage
80,000 mi
AirbagsBrakesSeat belts
Filed Nov 2, 2016
Crash reported1 injury reported

I WAS DRIVING STRAIGHT ON A CITY ROAD WITH THE FLOW OF HEAVY TRAFFIC AT ABOUT 40 MILES PER HOUR WHEN THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME CAME TO A SUDDEN STOP. I IMMEDIATELY SLAMMED ON MY BRAKES VERY HARD. AT THE TIME I DID THIS I HAD PLENTY OF SAFE DISTANCE BETWEEN US. BUT, THE BRAKES NEVER CAME ON AND I ENDED UP RUNNING INTO THE REAR END OF AN SUV AT APPARENTLY FULL SPEED WITHOUT ANY NOTICEABLE SLOWDOWN. THE BRAKES DID NOT COME ON. THEY DIDN'T GRAB, AND THEY DIDN'T MAKE ANY SCREECHING NOISE AND THERE WERE NO TIRE MARKS ON THE ROAD. ALSO ALL OF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED AND THIS WAS A FRONTAL IMPACT, WHICH WAS VERY SURPRISING AND SUFFOCATING. A CLOUD OF DUST FILLED THE CABIN OF THE CAR AND I COULD NOT BREATHE. I WAS LITERALLY SUFFOCATING UNTIL I WAS ABLE TO OPEN THE DOOR AND GET OUT OF THE VEHICLE. I DIDN'T EVEN FEEL THE SEAT BELT TIGHTEN UP BEFORE THE CRASH. THE BRAKES NEVER FELT LIKE THEY CAME ON AT ALL. *TR *JS

NHTSA ID
10923921
Incident
Oct 17, 2016
Mileage
30,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Apr 14, 2016
Crash reported1 injury reported

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2013 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF THE PRECEDING VEHICLE. ALL THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED EXCEPT THE STEERING WHEEL AIR BAG, WHICH HAD A DELAYED DEPLOYMENT. THE CONTACT'S HEAD STRUCK THE STEERING WHEEL AND WAS INJURED, WHICH REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND VIN WERE NOT PROVIDED.

NHTSA ID
10855446
Incident
Mar 28, 2016
AirbagsBrakes
Filed Mar 28, 2016
Crash reported1 injury reported

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH ON A ROADWAY, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS APPLIED AND MADE AN ABNORMAL NOISE. ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WHILE THE CONTACT WAS MAKING A TURN. WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS APPLIED, THE VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED. THE FRONT AND REAR DRIVER SIDE AND THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE CURTAIN AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE FRONT AND REAR PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A YARD AND THEN TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP FOR FURTHER INSPECTION BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS WAITING TO DETERMINE IF AN INVESTIGATOR WOULD BE SENT. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED A HEAD INJURY THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL TREATMENT AND WAS HAVING DIFFICULTY WITH VISIBILITY DUE TO THE IMPACT OF THE CRASH AND NO AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 64,000.

NHTSA ID
10851950
Incident
Mar 24, 2016
Mileage
64,000 mi
AirbagsInterior & seats
Filed May 18, 2015
Crash reported1 injury reported

I WAS STOPPED IN TRAFFIC WHEN A BOX TRUCK DROVE INTO MY CAR, PUSHING IT INTO THE CAR INFRONT OF ME, OVER A CURB, AND THEN OFF THE ROAD. THERE WAS SEVERE DAMAGE TO EACH SIDE OF MY CAR; INCLUDING THE CRUMPLED BACKEND. THE DIVERS SEAT GAVE OUT AND FELL BACKWARDS SOMEHOW CAUSING THE HEADREST TO TWIST OFF LEAVING THE LEG OF IT BENT TOWARDS BY MY HEAD. THERE WAS NO AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT IN THE ACCIDENT. THE SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO THE CAR DEEMED IT TOTALED. HOW IS IT THAT THERE WAS SEAT, HEADREST, AND AIRBAG FAILURE?

NHTSA ID
10717223
Incident
Apr 4, 2014
Mileage
15,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Apr 4, 2015

FRONT PASSENGER'S AIRBAG SENSOR DOESN'T SENSE MEDIUM WEIGHT PASSENGER. I'VE TALKED TO THE TOYOTA DEALER AND THEY TOLD ME THAT IF SOMEONE OVER 70LBS IN PASSENGER SEAT, THE LIGHT WILL COME ON "AIRBAG ON" AND STAY ON. IF THERE IS SOMETHING IN THE SEAT THAT IS LIGHTWEIGHT, THE LIGHT WILL SAY "AIRBAG OFF." IF THERE IS NOTHING IN THE SEAT, THE LIGHT WILL REMAIN OFF. MY WIFE IS ABOUT 110 LBS BUT THE WARNING LIGHT "AIRBAG OFF" IS ON MOST OF THE TIME. SOMETIMES I NOTICE IT AND ASK MY WIFE TO GET OUT AND THEN GET BACK IN TO ACTIVATE IT. SEEMS LIKE IT WORKS THAT WAY. MANY TIMES I DID NOT PAY ATTENTION TO IT UNTIL WE CAME TO OUR DESTINATIONS. I DID ASK MY WIFE TO LIFT HER BODY UP FOR A FEW SECONDS AND SIT DOWN BUT THE WARNING LIGHT "AIRBAG OFF" JUST STAY ON. DEALER SAYS THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO BECAUSE THE SENSOR IS NON-ADJUSTABLE AND THERE IS NO RECALL FOR IT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10703694
Incident
Jan 3, 2015
Mileage
15,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Dec 18, 2014

2013 TOYOTA PRIUS. CONSUMER CONCERNED ABOUT DEFECTIVE AIRBAG INFLATORS MANUFACTURED BY TAKATA CORP. *TA

NHTSA ID
10660619
Incident
Dec 1, 2014
AirbagsSeat belts
Filed Nov 4, 2014
Crash reported2 injuries reported

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE REAR END OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. AS A RESULT, THE SEAT BELT FAILED TO RETRACT AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A HEAD INJURY THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE FRONT SEAT PASSENGER SUSTAINED HEAD AND NECK INJURIES THAT DID NOT REQUIRE MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 9,800. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID
10652498
Incident
Nov 2, 2014
Mileage
9,800 mi
Airbags
Filed Oct 28, 2014

I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHY ALL TOYOTA VEHICLES HAVE NOT BEEN RECALLED DUE TO THE CURRENT AIR BAG PROBLEM. IT'S NOT LIKE THE CAR IS NEVER DRIVEN OUT OF THE STATE AND IT DOES GET HUMID AND HOT HERE! I DROVE TO CALIFORNIA AND ARIZONA THIS PAST SUMMER...AND YES, I AM CONCERNED!!! I EXPECT TOYOTA TO TAKE CARE OF ALL OF THEIR CARS! *TR

NHTSA ID
10650672
Incident
Oct 28, 2014
Mileage
4,500 mi
Airbags
Filed May 28, 2014

MY DAUGHTER (AGE 17) WEIGHS RIGHT AROUND 100 POUNDS. WHEN SHE SITS IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT, THE LIGHT ON THE DASHBOARD SAYS THE AIRBAG IS TURNED OFF. *TR

NHTSA ID
10594551
Incident
May 23, 2014
Mileage
10,500 mi
Airbags
Filed May 15, 2014
Crash reported

VEHICLE WAS STOPPED IN A LINE OF TRAFFIC ON THE HIGHWAY. A VEHICLE TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH HIT IT FROM BEHIND PROPELLING IT INTO THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF IT. DAMAGE TO THE PRIUS WAS IN EXCESS OF $12,000. PART OF THE REPAIR WAS TO REPLACE THE AIR BAG SENSOR. THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY DURING THE ACCIDENT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10588602
Incident
Apr 10, 2014
Mileage
18,000 mi

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .