CSR

Toyota · NHTSA safety record

2014 Toyota Prius Plug-IN Hybrid

Every safety complaint, recall and defect investigation the US government holds on this vehicle.

13

Complaints

3

Crashes

0

Fires

0

Injuries

0

Deaths

Owners of the 2014 Toyota Prius Plug-IN Hybrid have filed 13 safety complaints with NHTSA between December 2016 and December 2024. The most complained-about system is the brakes, named in 5 of them (38%). The typical failure was reported at 70,068 miles, the median across the 7 complaints that gave an odometer reading.

NHTSA has issued 1 recall covering this vehicle.

Recalls (1)

HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM

17V718000 · November 15, 2017

The defect
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2012-2015 Prius Plug-in Hybrid vehicles. The hybrid battery contains an Electric Vehicle (EV) fuse that may fracture after repeated high-load driving conditions such as climbing long hills.
The risk
The failed fuse may cause the hybrid system to shut down resulting in the loss of power. Loss of power while driving at higher speeds can increase the risk of a crash.
The remedy
Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the EV fuse, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin January 8, 2018. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is H0R.

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing · up to 39,915 vehicles across all model years covered

Defect investigations (2)

An investigation means NHTSA has decided a pattern is worth examining. A preliminary evaluation is often closed with no action; an engineering analysis is the stage that usually precedes a recall.

Pedestrian alert sounds

DP22005

Closed defect petition · opened January 27, 2023 · closed August 7, 2023 · led to recall 22V063000

the electrical system

NHTSA received a petition on or about July 18, 2022, requesting that Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 141 be applied to all electric and hybrid vehicles operating in the United States. The petition can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under ODI Number 11486072. FMVSS 141 establishes performance requirements for pedestrian alert sounds for motor vehicles. The standard applies to hybrid and electric vehicles that have a gross vehicle weight rating of 4,536 KG or less or are defined as low-speed vehicles. The standard became fully applicable to all such vehicles manufactured on or after March 1, 2021.On January 27, 2023, NHTSA opened Defect Petition (DP) 22-005 to evaluate the subject matter described in the petition. On June 24, 2023 and as supplemented on June 25, 2023, the petitioner notified NHTSA he was withdrawing his petition. The petitioner indicated that, based on his review of data, there is no justification for asserting potential benefits that could be derived from actions sought by my petition. Based on the petitioner's withdrawal, DP22-005 is closed. Closure of this DP does not represent a determination by NHTSA regarding the subject matter of the petition.

Brake Actuator Valve Wear

DP19004

Closed defect petition · opened September 30, 2019 · closed January 21, 2021

the hydraulic brakes

On September 19, 2019, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) received a defect petition from Mr. Roger Hogan requesting that the Agency investigate and recall certain Toyota Prius, Prius PHV, Camry Hybrid and Avalon Hybrid vehicles for a brake actuator valve wear condition covered under Toyota Customer Support Programs ZJB and ZKK (subject CSP?s). In support of his request, the petitioner identified 117 NHTSA complaints allegedly related to the subject CSP condition, including 60 reporting crashes. On September 30, 2019, ODI opened Defect Petition DP19-004 to evaluate the petitioner?s request for an investigation. In August 2020, the petitioner notified the Agency that he was withdrawing his petition. Because the petitioner has withdrawn the petition, we are denying the petition as moot and no further analysis of this petition is necessary.NHTSA is authorized to issue an order requiring notification and remedy of a defect if the Agency?s investigation shows a defect in the design, construction, or performance of a motor vehicle that presents an unreasonable risk to safety. 49 U.S.C. ?? 30102(a)(9), 30118. Because the petitioner has with withdrawn the petition, the petition is denied as moot. This action does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that a safety-related defect does not exist. The Agency notes that it is not required to receive a defect petition prior to opening a defect investigation and will take further action if warranted by future circumstances.

What owners report

Complaints naming each system. One complaint can name several, so these add up to more than 13.

SERVICE BRAKES 5 38%
ENGINE 3 23%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 3 23%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 2 15%
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC 2 15%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 2 15%
EXTERIOR LIGHTING 1 8%
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE 1 8%
SEAT BELTS 1 8%
TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM 1 8%

When the complaints arrived

By the year NHTSA received them, which is not the year the failures happened. They peaked in 2024 at 4.

2016 2024
2016 to 2024

In owners' own words

Quoted from NHTSA's complaint file. These are unverified accounts by the people who filed them, not findings of fault.

SERVICE BRAKES

crash · towed · 110,083 miles

The contact owned a 2014 Toyota Prius PHV. The contact stated while driving approximately 30 mph when the vehicle would not brake while the pedal was depressed, which resulted in the contact crashing into a vehicle in front of it. No one was injured and a police report was filed. The contact stated no warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to a lot and then towed to a local dealer where it was diagnosed as being totaled. The contact does not know which dealership the vehicle was towed to. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was 110,083.

NHTSA complaint 11435456. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

SERVICE BRAKES

crash · 70,068 miles

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE CONTACT SUDDENLY DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE PEDAL TRAVELED ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOORBOARD AND DID NOT STOP THE VEHICLE. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT REAR ENDED THE PRECEDING VEHICLE. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,068. *BF *JS

NHTSA complaint 11255948. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

SERVICE BRAKES

crash · 229,922 miles

Got rear end on 08.21.2023. Was able to drive car to work next day. Once I got home the ABS, traction control, and brake light went on. Using OBD2 scanner. Code 16-17 Right--Rear Wheel Speed Sensor Electrical Noise or Intermittent interruption, Code 16-17 Left-Right Wheel Speed Sensor Malfunction, 61-01 Modulator-Control Unit Initial IG Low Voltage, 65-33 Brake Fluid Level Switch Stuck On, 83-19 ECM/PCM Relation Failure, CT1203 ECM/EV Communication Circuit, C1345 Linear Solenoid Value Offset Learning Undone, C1392 Zero Point Calibration of Stroke Sensor Undone. Tow car to Toyota and they recommend to replace brake booster with Master Cylinder Assembly. Ran me $2968.41 bill which adjuster

NHTSA complaint 11544196, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
The contact owns a 2014 Toyota Prius Plug-In-Hybrid. The contact stated while driving 65 MPH, the brake pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to stop as intended. The contact stated that the brake pedal had to be depressed abnormally hard to stop the vehicle. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The contact was informed that the VIN was not under recall. The failure mileage was unknown.

NHTSA complaint 11631073. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

SERVICE BRAKES
I WENT TO SEVERAL MECHANICS AND GOT THE SAME ISSUE CONFIRMED. IT IS A BOOSTER BRAKE SYSTEM ISSUE. I CALLED CONSUMER ADVOCATES AND THEY SAID THE NOTICE WENT OUT IN 2019 AND SINCE THEN EXPIRED. THEREFORE DEALERSHIP IS NOT GOING TO REPAIR THE DEFECT. I RECEIVED NO SUCH NOTICE. WHEN I CONTENDED THAT THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND SHOULD IMMEDIATELY BE HANDLED AND MY CAR HAS 80,000 MILES ON IT AND IT HAS NOT EVEN BEEN 10 YEARS THEY REFUSED. FROM MY RESEARCH I SEE THAT IT IS A WIDE SPREAD ISSUE WITH THE BREAK BOOSTER AND DEFFINATELY WARRANTS A RECALL. I AM DISABLED AND HAVE MANY MEDICAL ISSUES I NEED MONEY FOR AND CAN NOT AFFORD $3000 MANUFACTURING FAULT DEFECT IS NOT MY RESPONSIBILITY.

NHTSA complaint 11625528. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

SERVICE BRAKES
Complete failure of ABS system. Error code C1391. This is a well-known problem with Gen 2 and 3 Priuses.

NHTSA complaint 11604167. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

167,000 miles

The contact owns a 2014 Toyota Prius Plug-In Hybrid. The contact stated while driving at various speeds and attempting to depress the brake pedal, the brake pedal was very stiff. The contact stated that the ABS, brake lights, and traction control warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed a failure with the brake power booster and brake power gasket. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 167,000.

NHTSA complaint 11602995. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

Compare

Other years of the Toyota Prius Plug-IN Hybrid

Model year Complaints Recalls Deaths
2013 12 1
2012 25 2

Other 2014 Toyota models

Every Toyota on this site — 272 vehicles, 370 recall campaigns and 3 open investigation s.

If this is your car and a dealer keeps failing to fix it, your state's lemon law may require the manufacturer to replace it or buy it back. What each state asks for , read from the statutes.

Where these numbers come from

A complaint is one owner's account and has not been verified by NHTSA or by us. A vehicle with more complaints is not necessarily worse: models that sold in larger numbers collect more of them. How this is counted.

Compiled and maintained by
Independent developer and analyst