Toyota · NHTSA safety record

2014 Toyota Prius V

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

Complaints

Crashes

Fires

Injuries

Deaths

Owners of the 2014 Toyota Prius V have filed 81 safety complaints with NHTSA between February 2015 and July 2026. The most complained-about system is the brakes, named in 37 of them (46%). The typical failure was reported at 96,500 miles, the median across the 34 complaints that gave an odometer reading.

Complaints fell 29% year on year: 12 in the twelve months to 2026-Q1, against 17 in the twelve before.

NHTSA has issued 4 recalls covering this vehicle.

Recalls (4)

HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM: INVERTER

20V369000 · June 24, 2020

The defect: 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 shut down, causing the vehicle to stall while being driven.
The risk: An unexpected hybrid power system shut down may increase the risk of a crash.
The remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will perform a software update for the hybrid system. If the vehicle has experienced an inverter failure with certain hybrid system faults related to this condition, the inverter assembly will be repaired or replaced, prior to software update. All repairs will be performed free of charge. This recall began July 24, 2020. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371. Toyota's number for this recall is 20TB10 / 20TA10.

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing · up to 266,638 vehicles across all model years covered

HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM

18V684000 · October 4, 2018

The defect: 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 the vehicle to stall while being driven.
The risk: If the hybrid system shuts down unexpectedly, it can increase the risk of a crash.
The remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will update the software for the motor/generator control electronic control unit (ECU) and the hybrid control ECU as necessary, free of charge. The recall began January 22, 2019. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371. Toyota's number for this recall is J0V. Note: The software updates in this recall are needed even if the vehicle had the software previously updated under recalls 14V-053 or 15V-449.

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing · up to 807,329 vehicles across all model years covered

HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM: INVERTER

15V449000 · July 15, 2015

The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2012-2014 Prius V vehicles manufactured August 22, 2011, to June 30, 2014. A component within the hybrid inverter assembly may overheat, causing the hybrid system to reduce output power allowing the vehicle to only drive a short distance. In some circumstances, the hybrid system may shut down causing the vehicle to stop while being driven.
The risk: The vehicle may enter a fail-safe/limp-home mode that limits the drivability of the vehicle. The hybrid system could also shut down completely resulting in a vehicle stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
The remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will update the software for the motor/generator control electronic control unti (ECU) and the hybrid control ECU, free of charge. The recall began on July 30, 2015. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371.

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing · up to 108,624 vehicles across all model years covered

AIR BAGS

15V013000 · January 16, 2015

The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2014-2015 Toyota Prius V vehicles manufactured November 7, 2013, to January 7, 2015. The occupant classification system (OCS) that activates or deactivates the passenger seat air bag system may be improperly calibrated. As a result, the passenger air bag may not deploy in a vehicle crash. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."
The risk: If the air bag does not deploy as intended, there is an increased risk of injury in the event of a crash.
The remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will re-calibrate of the OCS system, free of charge. The recall began February 12, 2015. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331.

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing · up to 4,971 vehicles across all model years covered

What owners report

Complaints naming each system. One complaint can name several, so these add up to more than 81.

SERVICE BRAKES 37 46%

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 15 19%

ENGINE 13 16%

UNKNOWN OR OTHER 12 15%

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 10 12%

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 8 10%

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC 6 7%

POWER TRAIN 4 5%

STRUCTURE 4 5%

WHEELS 3 4%

ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) 2 2%

STEERING 2 2%

When the complaints arrived

By the year NHTSA received them, which is not the year the failures happened. They peaked in 2025 at 17.

2015 to 2026, the last of them a part year

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, HYDRAULIC Filed July 1, 2024

1 injured · crash · 120,000 miles

The contact owns a 2014 Toyota Prius V. The contact stated that the vehicle was previously involved in two car crashes, where the vehicle rear-ended other vehicles due to the brakes failure. The air bags did not deploy. A police report was filed after the second crash, but the information was not available. The contact stated that the other driver sustained unknown injuries during the second crash. The vehicle sustained damages and was repaired. There was no further information provided. Additionally, the contact stated while driving at various speeds and depressing the brake pedal, the brakes made an abnormal sound and the brake pedal was spongy. The contact stated that the vehicle

NHTSA complaint 11597987, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM Filed December 13, 2017

fire · 31,222 miles

TOYOTA ISSUED SAFETY RECALLS E0E AND F0R FOR THE FAILURE OF THE HYBRID INVERTER. IF THE INVERTER HAD NOT FAILED YET, THE TOYOTA'S REMEDY IS A 'SOFTWARE RE-FLASH'. THE SOFTWARE REFLASH 'REMEDY' IS NOT SUFFICIENT. THERE HAVE BEEN AN EXCESSIVE NUMBER OF INVERTER FAILURES AFTER THE SOFTWARE RE-FLASH 'REMEDY' FOR THESE RECALLS HAS BEEN COMPLETED. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS TO DRIVERS, AS IT LEADS TO UNINTENDED DECELERATION ' THE PRIUS SPONTANEOUSLY ENTERING 'LIMP-HOME MODE' OR EVEN A 'HYBRID SYSTEM SHUT DOWN'. THIS IS DANGEROUS AS IN RESULTS IN DRASTIC REDUCTIONS, IF NOT THE COMPLETE LOSS, OF POWER. THESE UNINTENDED DECELERATION OCCURRENCES PREDOMINANTLY HAPPEN WHILE THE VEHICLES ARE IN MOTION '

NHTSA complaint 11054604, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM Filed June 28, 2019

fire · 215,000 miles

'TAKATA RECALL ' I BELIEVE THERE IS A MAJOR PROBLEM WITH TOYOTA PRIUS V THEY MAKE IT ONLY FOR FIVE YEARS, THEY STOP MAKING IT AFTER 2016 BECAUSE THEY REALIZE THERE IS SO MUCH PROBLEMS IN THE ENGINE, MANY CAR THIS MODEL THE ENGINE GET IN FIRES, HEAD GASKET HAD TO BE REPLACED AT 125,000 MILE. HYBRID BATTERY IT GO BAD AT 120,000 MILES WHERE IS MOST PRIUS HYBRID BATTERY GO FOR 250,000 MILE MINIMUM. MY PRIUS BE IN GIN GA ON FIRE BECAUSE THERE IS A PIECE OF METAL FROM THE ENGINE FELL DOWN IN THE ENGIN BLOCK AND THE ENGINE BREAK DOWN WITH A BIG HOLE AND MOST OF THE ENGINE OIL CAME DOWN IN TO THE MUFFLER AND MY CAR GOT ON FIRE. AND THAT'S HAPPENED I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AND THERE IS NO CHECK

NHTSA complaint 11223095, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

STRUCTURE:BODY Filed December 18, 2020

fire · 170,000 miles

UNKNOWN. I WAS BASICALLY DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY, WHEN MY CAR'S ENGINE SUDDENLY STOPPED RUNNING. THE CAR WAS AUTOMATICALLY PUT INTO NEUTRAL AND WAS NOT ABLE TO CONTROL THE SPEED OF THE CAR, SO I HAD TO MOVE TO THE SIDE OF THE FREEWAY. AS I WAS SITTING IN THE CAR, I STARTED SMELLING BURNED WIRE AND INTERIOR STARTED TO FILL WITH SMOKE. I IMMEDIATELY TURNED THE CAR OFF AND GOT OIT. AS I WAS STANDING FAR AWAY FROM THE VEHICLE, FLUID STARTED LEAKING AND IT HAD CAUGHT INTO FIRE. THE FRONT BUMPER WAS COMPLETELY BURNED OFF, AS WELL AS SOME OF THE ENGINE AND ELECTRICAL PARTS WERE AFFECTED AS WELL.

NHTSA complaint 11384128. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

SERVICE BRAKES Filed July 22, 2026

In 2024, I had my vehicle checked out prior to a road trip because the brakes were making "fart noises," and I was worried about driving it to Albuquerque. The AAA certified dealer I took the car to said everything checked out alright. I never received the letter regarding the brake system issue, so I could not take advantage of the extended warranty repair program. My car was in the 80-90 thousand mile range and had not yet rolled over. Fast forward to 2025, my dashboard lit up all over the place, and I got the brakes checked again. By that time, the fault code was coming up, but the entire ABS system needed to be replaced. I was unable to get any help from TOYOTA despite this being a

NHTSA complaint 11751973, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

STRUCTURE:BODY Filed July 21, 2026

N/a

NHTSA complaint 11751939. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE Filed June 30, 2026

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

NHTSA complaint 11747383, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

SERVICE BRAKES Filed May 13, 2026

Description of the Problem Vehicle: 2014 Toyota Prius v (Mileage: 70,000) Problem Description: The vehicle is experiencing a critical failure of the Electronically Controlled Braking (ECB) system, specifically 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 (straining) every 10–20 seconds even when the vehicle is stationary and the brake pedal is not depressed. Loss of Braking Safety Features: The

NHTSA complaint 11737539, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

SERVICE BRAKES Filed May 7, 2026

I have 2014 Prius v 5 with 100,000 miles but I had issues with brake booster pump

NHTSA complaint 11736312. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM Filed April 23, 2026

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?

NHTSA complaint 11733421. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

Compare

Other years of the Toyota Prius V

Model year	Complaints	Recalls	Deaths
2017	12	1	—
2016	16	1	—
2015	23	2	—
2013	124	2	—
2012	215	3	3

Other 2014 Toyota models

Camry 454 Corolla 268 Prius 205 RAV4 197 Sienna 162 Highlander 134 Avalon 96 Tacoma 93

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

Complaints: NHTSA's ODI complaint file , published August 20, 2026. One complaint is one ODI number, which is how NHTSA counts them.
Recalls: NHTSA's recall campaign API , most recent campaign filed August 12, 2026.
Investigations: NHTSA's ODI investigation file , published 2026-08-19.

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 guarledes
Independent developer and analyst