Problems · NHTSA complaints
2014 Toyota Prius V problems
Owners filed 255 complaints about the 2014 Toyota Prius V with NHTSA between Jan 2014 and Sep 2026. The most-cited component is service brakes (104).
Complaints
255
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
29
Reported by owners
Fires
5
Reported by owners
Injuries
16
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Service brakes104
- Electrical system45
- Engine27
- Vehicle speed control22
- Air bags15
- Fuel/propulsion system14
- Structure12
- Service brakes, hydraulic12
- Steering10
- Electronic stability control (esc)10
- Power train10
- Visibility/wiper9
- Exterior lighting6
- Hybrid propulsion system6
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 9, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
25
25
13
17
21
23
13
9
16
13
39
32
9
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 2014 | 25 |
| 2015 | 25 |
| 2016 | 13 |
| 2017 | 17 |
| 2018 | 21 |
| 2019 | 23 |
| 2020 | 13 |
| 2021 | 9 |
| 2022 | 16 |
| 2023 | 13 |
| 2024 | 39 |
| 2025 | 32 |
| 2026 | 9 |
Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.
Top problems in owners’ words
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
Service brakes
104 reports15 crashes
“The vehicle is experiencing a critical failure of the Brake Actuator and Booster Pump assembly. The dashboard currently displays multiple warning indicators: ABS light, Traction Control light, and the Brake System Warning light (Master Warning "!"). Symptoms: Mechanical Failure: The internal high-pressure accumulator is failing to hold pressure. The electric brake booster pump is heard cycling every 10-20 seconds even when the vehicle is stationary and the brake pedal is not depressed. Loss of Braking Safety Features: The system has disabled regenerative braking and Anti-lock Braking (ABS), causing significantly increased stopping distances and a “spongy" brake pedal feel with diminished braking response. Predictability of Failure: This failure matches the exact symptoms described in Toyota's Customer Support Program 20TE07 (and previously ZJB), which acknowledges an internal defect in the brake actuator. Safetv Risk: The sudden transition from power-assisted braking to manual hydraulic braking during a drive creates an immediate safety hazard. As the pump motor continues to cycle excessively to compensate for the internal leak, it is at risk of total thermal…”
Electrical system
45 reports2 crashes3 fires
“8/2025 Car stalled on freeway. Went to dealer. They said nothing wrong. Then on a trip north, car stalled again on freeway. Went to the nearest dealer. They too said nothing wrong. This time same thing. There is a recall for the exact symptoms of the exact car yet they say the repair was done. Why does my vin not qualify for the exact symptoms that generated a recall? This was super dangerous at freeway speed. Toyota knows there is a problem with the inverter and it's computer. Now I'm paying again for a diagnosis. That makes $750 just diagnosing and now if they actually decide it is the inverter, I have to pay upwards of $3000 even though there is a recall? What the heck?”
Engine
27 reports2 fires
“I purchased a 2014 Toyota Prius V in 2013, and it currently has 120,000 miles on it. Last month, the engine light came on, so I took it to a dealership. They diagnosed the issue and provided the codes P0302 and P0304. After consulting multiple shops, all confirmed that coolant is leaking into the engine, which means I either need to repair the head gasket or replace the engine entirely. The quotes I've received for this repair range from $5,000 to $15,000, while the current value of the car is only about $5,000. I want to file a complaint regarding Toyota's responsibility for these engine issues. We buy cars because we trust the brand, and in this case, Toyota has broken that trust. Despite maintaining the car according to Toyota's recommended schedule, I have encountered this serious problem.”
Vehicle speed control
22 reports10 crashes1 fire
“Car was diagnosed at a Toyota dealership with a brake booster issue reading code 20TE07 after my vehicles brakes suddenly would not work and the car continued to jolt forward. The brakes wouldn’t stop the car. According to Toyota, my vehicle is three months outside of the warranty period but under the covered mileage so we are left to repair this defect ourselves. This was a very dangerous situation and could have cost us and our children our lives instead of just the $4800 repair cost. This has happened to both of our Prius’s so this is not a rare issue. Toyota needs to have a plan for these parts failing suddenly and they should all be recalled for safety in my opinion. The experience was very scary and we had zero control over the vehicle when the brakes suddenly went out. Where do I join the class action lawsuit?”
Air bags
15 reports9 crashes1 related recall
“Passenger airbag indicator on/off light was on despite having passenger over the airbag activation weight requirement being present with seatbelt buckled. Brought car to Toyota dealership and after running diagnostics for two hours they found that the airbag itself is faulty.”
Fuel/propulsion system
14 reports2 crashes1 fire
“The car stalls randomly and does not enter fail-safe mode. The dealer says it is the transmission but the transmission has never shuddered or hesitated. I am reading that these vehicles have intelligent power modules in the hybrid inverter that fail and can cause stalling. I feel like the dealership is working with Toyota to avoid addressing the actual problem. In the meantime I was sent home in a vehicle that continues to stall randomly and does not enter fail-safe mode.”
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 9, 2026
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.