2013 Toyota Prius Reliability
The 2013 Toyota Prius has 414 owner complaints and 3 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about service brakes and electrical system. Compared with other Prius model years, it rates as a year to avoid: its complaint rate runs well above the Prius's typical year.
By CarWhere Research · Updated 2026-11-04 · Source: NHTSA
414
NHTSA owner complaints
3
Recall campaigns
40
Complaints citing a crash
4
Complaints citing a fire
2013 Toyota Prius complaints by component
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2013 model year, filed between 2012 and 2026. A complaint can name more than one component.
| Component | Complaints | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Service brakes | 242 | 58% |
| Electrical system | 52 | 13% |
| Unknown or other | 50 | 12% |
| Engine | 37 | 9% |
| Speed control / throttle | 22 | 5% |
| Air bags | 18 | 4% |
| Fuel / propulsion system | 16 | 4% |
| Powertrain / transmission | 14 | 3% |
2013 Toyota Prius recalls
3 recall campaigns on NHTSA record for the 2013 model year, by the date NHTSA received the manufacturer's report. Recall repairs are free at a dealer.
| NHTSA campaign | Date | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 14V053000 | Feb 12, 2014 | Hybrid propulsion system — inverter | 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… |
| 18V684000 | Oct 4, 2018 | 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… |
| 20V369000 | Jun 24, 2020 | Hybrid propulsion system — inverter | 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… |
How the 2013 compares with nearby Prius years
Verdicts come from CarWhere's year-by-year Prius analysis where it covers the year, otherwise from the years shown here.
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Most-reported area | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 523 | 6 | Service brakes | Avoid |
| 2012 | 688 | 6 | Service brakes | Avoid |
| 2013 (this page) | 414 | 3 | Service brakes | Avoid |
| 2014 | 241 | 3 | Service brakes | Avoid |
| 2015 | 166 | 1 | Service brakes | Caution |
Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA and are not adjusted for how many of each year were sold, so they compare years of the same model rather than different models.
What to check on a used 2013 Toyota Prius
- Brakes: check pedal feel, pulling and grinding, and look at rotor and pad wear; ask when the brake fluid was last changed.
- Electrical: test every light, window, lock, the infotainment screen and the charging system; scan for stored fault codes.
- Engine: cold-start it yourself, listen for ticking or knocking, check for oil leaks and oil consumption, and ask for oil-change records.
- Throttle and speed control: check for surging, hesitation or a reduced-power warning, and test cruise control.
- Recalls: confirm each of the 3 campaigns above was completed on this VIN; open recalls are repaired free at a dealer.
- History: run the VIN for salvage, theft and odometer records, and have an independent mechanic inspect the car before you pay.
Check this exact car
Any 2013 Toyota Prius can be better or worse than its model year. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015. Free preview first; the full report is $12.99, one time.
2013 Toyota Prius reliability FAQ
Is the 2013 Toyota Prius reliable?
The 2013 Toyota Prius has 414 owner complaints and 3 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about service brakes and electrical system. Compared with other Prius model years, it rates as a year to avoid: its complaint rate runs well above the Prius's typical year.
What are the most common 2013 Toyota Prius problems?
The most-reported problem areas in NHTSA owner complaints for the 2013 Toyota Prius are service brakes (242), electrical system (52), unknown or other (50), engine (37). One complaint can name more than one component.
Does the 2013 Toyota Prius have recalls?
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for the 2013 Toyota Prius, including 14V053000 (hybrid propulsion system — inverter) and 18V684000 (hybrid propulsion system). Recall repairs are free at a dealer, and whether one was done is tracked by VIN.
How does the 2013 Toyota Prius compare with the 2012 and 2014 models?
By NHTSA records, the 2012 has 688 complaints and 6 recalls (avoid); the 2014 has 241 complaints and 3 recalls (avoid). The 2013 has 414 complaints and 3 recalls.
How do I check a specific used 2013 Toyota Prius?
Run its VIN. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015, with a free preview first and the full report at $12.99, one time. Pair it with an independent pre-purchase inspection.
More Toyota Prius research
Other Toyota Prius model years:
Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation owner complaints (all body-style listings for the 2013 Prius, de-duplicated by complaint number) and NHTSA recall campaigns, retrieved 2026-11-04.