Problems · by component
2015 Toyota Prius electrical system problems
27 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2015 Toyota Prius cite electrical system, 16% of all 166 complaints for this model year.
Complaints
27
16% of all complaints
Crashes
5
Reported by owners
Fires
1
Reported by owners
Injuries
2
Reported by owners
What owners say about the electrical system
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“Pulling out of a parking stall, when put vehicle in drive, the engine revved up and accelerated - vehicle crashed, the brakes did not work- there was skid marks. Floor mats are factory OEM were installed properly. I did not hit the accelerator and I am in good health and mind. I have driving for over 30 years, never had and accident nor a ticket! - A county officer was at the seen and left me with vehicle that had to be towed away. The Vehicle is a total loss. I have insurance but felt that this incident need to be reported, There is no safety recalls and the vehicle was always property maintained”
“The incident involved having to press extremely hard on the brake pedal to stop the car, while it was uphill in the middle of the road. The car started going backward and was throwing ABS, Master Warning Light, Brake System Warning Light and Warning Buzzer, Brake System Warning Light, and SLIP Indicator signals. This was a highly distraughtful situation on the road. Diagnostics showed C1391 Diagnostic Trouble Code on the 2015 Toyota Prius: brake booster and brake booster pump problem. When pressing the brake pedal there is a high pitched metal scraping noise. Toyota coverage program is only applicable for 10 years from the date of first use or 150,000 miles, whichever occurs first. Many cars run well for over 10 years with good care, so the 10 year cap barely covers anything. This is highly unfair and borderline scamming for an issue so severe, which can cause big accidents on the road. In all honesty, this is a life or death situation when it comes to not being able to properly brake while driving. This should be a full recall!!”
“The brake pump and actuator on my 2015 prius has been faulty and the repair was apparently covered under the customer support program but it expired in December. I had no knowledge of it and when I took my car in to a toyota dealership, no one told me about about the profram but told me that they needed to be replaced. I did not get the repair because of the hefty cost and I missed the deadline. My safety and the safety of other drivers were put at risk for not allowing me to be notified by it and my car being at risk for my brakes failing at any time. Their were absolutely no warning lights on my vehicle as well.”
“I was driving from Las Vegas to my home in Los Angeles. An alarming message began flashing on the dashboard telling me to pull over. The vehicle became hard to control. I somehow managed to get it off an exit. I was "lucky" enough to get it towed to a nearby Toyota dealership where I was told the inverter had failed and that that inverter and associated parts had to be replaced. On my 2015 Prius with only 50,000 miles on it. I SPECIFICALLY asked if there had been a recall on the electrical system of any 2015 Priuses, and they flatly said no. I also CALLED TOYOTA, and they also said there were no recalls involving the electrical system or inverters. The Barstow Toyota dealership said it would cost over $5,000 to repair AND that they wouldn't have the parts they needed for a WEEK. As it was, I had been stranded in the desert at a hotel for two days. I then had to pay $1,100 to be towed back to LA and took it to a hybrid mechanic I trust and paid them to do the work. But this cost me THOUSANDS UPON THOUSANDS. In a month where a friend of mine died (which was the reason I was driving from city to city). To have to replace this on a car with only 50,000 miles is…”
“Got the warning code for C1391 for the brake booster. It failed at 140k miles but because it failed past the 10 year mark did not qualify for the Toyota extended warranty program. I don't think the warranty program is good enough and should be addressed as a recall. I had sudden total brake failure on the highway which could have been extremely deadly.”
“The headlight bulbs keep going out. I have replaced the bulbs at least 2-3 times a year for the past few years. I have asked dealers about this and they tell me there is no recall or tsb. This is a hazard to night driving because of decreased illumination, especially in dark roads with not enough lighting. Please recall/fix this issue!!”
Showing 6 of 27 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 3, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.