37 of the
649 complaints filed about the Toyota Prius V
are about the throttle and cruise control —
6% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2012.
37
Complaints
6%
Share of all complaints
13
Crashes
1
Fires
Acceleration & Cruise Control complaints by model year
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 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
On [XXX] at [XXX] I was backing out of a driveway when my 2016 Prius V5 accelerated on its own. When I applied the brakes, nothing happened. I hit a curb, which flattened the front passenger tire. In order to get the car to stop, I took it out of gear and put it in neutral. The car finally came to a stop. My speed while backing out of the driveway was less than 5 mph. It accelerated to about 15 mph. I was told that because the tire flattened due to the force of impact with the curb, Toyota considered it an accident. Toyota had me complete an "Unintended Acceleration" form so they could investigate the situation. A case number ([XXX]) was assigned. I was also told that I needed to contact Toyota's Brand Engagement Center at (800) 331-4331. Toyota assigned Engineering Analysis Associates (EAA) to perform a thorough inspection and read out the Event Data Recorder (EDR) of my vehicle at Findlay Toyota. Anne Chapman with EAA did the inspection and sent a copy of the report to me on 09/15/25, the day of the inspection. She suggested that I keep the copy because I may need it if I needed to contact an attorney. My insurance company, USAA, sent an adjuster to examine the extent of the damage. Findlay Collision Center completed the repairs on 09/26/25, which cost $3,433.92. The accelerator nor the brakes were addressed. On 10/09/25, Toyota provided a response to the incident: they were not at fault. They claimed operator error. Unintended acceleration and unresponsive brakes have been an issue with Toyota's in the past. At that time, instead of fixing the problem, they told dealerships to educate their buyers on how to take the car out of gear. Approximately one week after picking up my car from the repair shop, the vehicle accelerated on its own again. Fortunately, the brakes worked this time. Because I felt very unsafe, I got rid of the car shortly after that incident. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint #11704813 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Car was driving fine one day and then while driving down the interstate I had the Pre collision system malfunction error, Brake light came on, Cruise will not operate, ABS light is on. After much research it seems Prius V has a common issue with brake booster faulting.
NHTSA complaint #11657666 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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?
NHTSA complaint #11621260 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
On February 27 2024 I had spend 2300 dollars on car repairs see enclosed then on April 11 2024 while backing out of my driveway, I experienced a sudden acceleration of my vehicle which led to body damage to my car yet Toyota after inspection says that now the car system works perfectly. Prior to this incident I experienced warning light and windshield wiper malfunction .
NHTSA complaint #11586049 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Upon driving out of my school parking lot at approximately 15 to 20 miles per hour I noticed a cushiony filled with a brakes and all of a sudden I heard a shhh all of my lights popped up on my dashboard. When I took my vehicle in to be able to find out what was going on with it I was told that I need a master cylinder and a brake booster. This was after having my vehicle for only 3 years where I purchased it from Rice Toyota Greensboro North Carolina.
NHTSA complaint #11566877 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ABS Unit failure (may also be called ABS CONTROL MODULE ACTUATOR AND PUMP ASSEMBLY). Three mechanics, including a Toyota dealership, is unable to reset the system to correct. The PCS system cannot be disabled which, in turn, means cruise control is no longer operable.
NHTSA complaint #11527136 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHILE SLOWING AND PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE, IN FRONT OF THE DENTIST OFFICE WHERE MY WIFE HAD AN APPOINTMENT, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. IT JUMPED THE CURB, AND SHE STEERED HARD RIGHT TO AVOID THE BUILDING DIRECTLY IN FRONT OH THE PARKING SPACE. SHE SIDESWIPED THE FRONT OF 2 VEHICLES PARKED NEXT TO THE SPACE SHE WAS MOVING INTO, AND THE CAR CONTINUED TOWARD THE STREET. IT HIT THE CURB GOING OUT OF THE PARKING LOT AND THE CAR FINALLY STOPPED. A PERSON CAME TO THE DRIVERS SIDE OF THE CAR AND ASKED MY WIFE IF SHE WAS OK, AND SAID SHE SHOULD TURN THE CAR OFF - WHICH SHE DID.
NHTSA complaint #11413018 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY THE OTHER DAY AND MY 2013 PRIUS AND ALL OF A SUDDEN I FELT A POP AND I HAD NO GAS BY THE GRACE OF GOD I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER AND NOT GET KILLED I CALLED FOR ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE I DID HAVE POWER I DID HAVE STEERING BUT THERE WAS NO GAS UPON CHECKING AT MY TOYOTA DEALER THEY SAID THE PISTON HAD GONE STRAIGHT THROUGH THE ENGINE AND I NEEDED A NEW ENGINE AND THAT IT WAS PROBABLY DUE TO ABUSE OF OIL AND LACK OF OIL CHANGES I GOOGLED AND SAW THAT THIS WAS A KNOWN PROBLEM AND I'M ACTUALLY A DOCTOR AND HAVE SEVEN CHILDREN AND I DID CHANGE MY OIL AND I HAD NO WARNING LIGHT
NHTSA complaint #11397581 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TOYOTA PRIUS V 2012 LOST POWER AS I WAS DRIVING OUT OF THE PARKING LOT. I HAD TO MAKE EMERGENCY STOP ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD BECAUSE INVERTER/ELECTRIC MOTOR FAILED. MECHANIC RAN COMPUTER TEST AND FOUND THAT PROBLEM CODES INDEED POINTED TO FAILURE OF INVERTER.I CALLED LOCAL DEALER MCCORD TOYOTA AND WAS TOLD MY CAR DOES NOT FALL TO EXTENDED WARRANTY OF INVERTER AND DID NOT OFFER ANY HELP. SAME DAY I CALLED TOYOTA CUSTOMER CARE AT 1-800-331-4331 AND THEY TOLD ME THAT MY CAR DOES NOT FALL UNDER INVERTER WARRANTY BASED ON MY VIN NUMBER, AND GAVE ME CASE NUMBER 2005072419. I WAS ABLE TO CALL MY INSURANCE COMPANY TO ARRANGE TOWING FROM MY LOCATION TO REPAIR SHOP. REPAIR SHOP COMPLETED WORK AND VEHICLE IS NOW IN OPERABLE CONDITION. I FEEL LUCKY THAT I WAS NOT ON FREEWAY AND DID NOT HAVE MY CHILDREN WITH ME WHEN IT HAPPENED.
NHTSA complaint #11325497 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 TOYOTA PRIUS V. WHILE DRIVING INTO THE DRIVEWAY AT 5 MPH WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL DEPRESSED WHEN THE VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD AND CRASHED INTO THE GARAGE DOOR. AS A RESULT, THERE WAS PROPERTY DAMAGE AND THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE WAS DAMAGED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING REPAIRED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 80,000.
NHTSA complaint #11287204 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TODAY, 9/11/2019. I WAS DRIVING ON HIGHWAY 405, MY CAR WAS GOING AT HIGHWAY SPEED AROUND 65. SUDDENLY THERE WAS A BEEP SOUND AND MY ENGINE LIGHT TURN ON. MY VEHICLE WENT INTO THE "LIMP HOME" MODE, THE CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. THEN THE CAR RED LIGHT WAS ON, AND THE SPEEDOMETER WENT OFF AND THE ENGINE SHUTS OFF. LUCKILY I WAS DRIVING ON THE SLOW LANE AS I WAS PLANNING TO EXIT THE HIGHWAY IN A MILE DISTANCE. MY VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESPOND TO THE ACCELERATION PEDAL AT ALL, SO I PUT ON THE EMERGENCY FLASHING LIGHT UP AND SLOWLY ROW OUT TOWARD THE EXIT. THIS IS THE THIRD TIME HAPPENED TO ME, WITHIN THE LAST 30 DAYS. TWO INCIDENT HAPPENED ON HIGHWAY AND ONE HAPPENED ON LOCAL ROAD. THE FIRST TIME WAS ALSO ON HIGHWAY WITH SIMILAR EXPERIENCE. I AM LUCKY TO BE ALIVE. I HAVE BROUGHT MY VEHICLE IN TO THE TOYOTA DEALER MAINTENANCE 5 DAYS AGO, 9/13/2019, WHERE THEY CLAIMED THEY HAVE CHECKED EVERYTHING AND TOLD ME THE VEHICLE WAS FINE AFTER CHARGING ME $150 ANALYZE FEE. THE VEHICLE IS OBVIOUSLY NOT FINE AND I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED ON HIGHWAY. THE PICTURE PROVIDED WAS THE DAY BEFORE I BROUGHT MY CAR IN TO THE TOYOTA DEALER.
NHTSA complaint #11254880 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE AS EXPECTED. IT BEHAVED AS IF THE FUEL INJECTOR WAS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. WE WERE NOT ABLE TO KEEP A CONSISTENT SPEED AND THE MOTOR STARTED TO HAVE A ROUGH IDLE SOUND. THE HYBRID SYSTEM STOPPED WORKING, THE ICON OF THE BATTERIES TURNED PURPLE AND WOULD NOT RECHARGE WHEN STOPPING. WE TOOK IT INTO THE DEALERSHIP, THE SERVICE PERSON THEY SAID IT WAS A SOFTWARE AND EMISSIONS MISS-FIRE ISSUE. IT WILL TAKE A PART TO BE REPLACED AND SOFTWARE UPDATED. TOYOTA SENT OUT A MEMO TO THEM STATING THIS MIGHT HAPPEN AND THIS IS HOW TO FIX IT. IT SEEMS SINCE THEY ARE WARNING SERVICE STAFF TO BE AWARE OF THIS THAT MAYBE THEY SHOULD TAKE CARE OF IT BEFORE IT HAPPENS AND NOT HAVE ME PAY OVER $900 AND THE STRESS OF IT HAPPENING ON THE FREEWAY AND THEN HAVING ME GET IT FIXED.
NHTSA complaint #11234238 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I WAS SLOWLY ( < 5MPH) APPROACHING A STOPLIGHT AT A BUSY INTERSECTION IN A 25 MPH ZONE ON A 4 LANE STREET THERE WERE 2 VEHICLES AHEAD OF ME. EVERYTHING SEEMED FINE UNTIL MY VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED RAPIDLY AND I WAS UNABLE TO STOP IT. THE PATH OF LEAST RESISTANCE WAS TO DRIVE IT INTO THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME AND NOT TO SWERVE. ONCE I HAD STOPPED AND CAUGHT MY BREATH, I PUT THE CAR INTO REVERSE TO BACK AWAY FROM THE CAR I HAD HIT, AND ONCE AGAIN THE CAR RAPIDLY ACCELERATED BACKWARD INTO THE CAR BEHIND ME. UNTIL THIS TIME I HAVE HAD ABSOLUTELY NO PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE. IT ONLY HAS BEEN DRIVEN 14,500 MILES.
NHTSA complaint #11210079 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHILE PARKING MY VEHICLE AND SLOWING DOWN TO ENTER A PARKING SPACE, I EASED OFF THE BRAKE TO PULL INTO THE SPACE WHEN I HEARD THE ENGINE REV LOUDLY AND THEN THE CAR ACCELERATED AND CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE DESPITE ATTEMPTS TO PUMP THE BRAKES, RELEASE THE BRAKES WITHOUT TOUCHING ANY PEDAL AND ALSO TRYING TO PUT THE TRANSMISSION INTO PARK. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP AT ALL. I WAS AFRAID FOR MY LIFE AND TRIED EVERYTHING TO AVOID OTHER VEHICLES AND PEDESTRIANS AS THE CAR ACCELERATED GREATLY. I STEERED THE CAR TO TRY AND AVOID A SLIGHT EMBANKMENT AND CURVE BUT WITH THE RAPID SPEED OF THE CAR, IT BECAME HARD TO MANEUVER THE CAR. THE VEHICLE JUMPED THE CURB STRIKING A TREE AND THEN A CONCRETE POST. THE CAR CAME TO REST ON ITS SIDE AFTER IMPACT. THE CAR WAS A TOTAL LOSS.
NHTSA complaint #11154115 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SAFETY RISK THAT VEHICLE COULD LOSE POWER AND STALL. MANUFACTURER RECALL NUMBER J1V. NHTSA RECALL NUMBER 18V684 AS OF OCTOBER 4, 1918. IT IS NOW NOVEMBER 1, 2018. CALLED THE DEALERSHIP THIS WEEK AND THE REPORT WAS THAT THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT FIX TO DATE. QUESTION: WHAT RELIEF IS AVAILABLE UNTIL FIX DISCOVERED? FREE USE OF CAR PROVIDED BY DEALERSHIP?
NHTSA complaint #11144785 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WAS DRIVING DOWN THE STREET IN MY PRIUS WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE CAR WENT TOTALLY DEAD. IT DID NOT GO INTO A LIMP-HOME MODE. I WAS DEAD IN THE WATER IN THE MIDDLE OF A STREET ALL OF A SUDDEN. WE HAD TO GET OUT AND PUSH IT OUT OF THE STREET. MECHANIC SAYS ITS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH PRIUS AND INVERTER. THAT WAS PRETTY DANGEROUS AND I WAS GLAD WE WERENT ON THE FREEWAY. WE WERE UNAWARE OF ANY RECALL. THE CAR WENT INTO "DISCO MODE" - EVERY WARNING LIGHT IT HAD WAS ON AND BLINKING BUT THE CAR WAS COMPLETELY DEAD.
NHTSA complaint #11144597 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
OFTEN REFERRED CLOCK SPRING AS IT IS REFERRED TO PART NUMBER 84307-47020 IT AFFECTS A MULTITUDE OF THINGS ON MY CAR THAT ARE SAFETY RELATED INCLUDING THE HORN, THE BUTTONS ON THE STEERING WHEEL THAT CONTROL THE RADIO AND TRICKS ODOMETER, THE AIRBAG, MAYBE BE AIRBAGS PLEARLE, BE ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL AND MAYBE OTHER THINGS. MY KNOWLEDGE MY CAR HAS NEVER BEEN WRECKED OR HAD AIRBAGS BLOWN AND THIS IS VERY PREMATURE FOR THIS PART TO FAIL. BELIEVE TOYOTA SHOULD TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR IT. THE WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AND IT SAYS IN THE MANUAL THAT IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. DO NOT HAVE A CLUE WHY IT FAILED. THE TOYOTA DEALER REPAIR IS CLOSE TO $900 WHICH IS RIDICULOUS.
NHTSA complaint #11142395 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2015 TOYOTA PRIUS V HYBRID. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY, THE CONTACT SHIFTED INTO REVERSE AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED RAPIDLY BETWEEN 5-10 MPH. THE SPEED INCREASED TO 20 MPH AND THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A FENCE. THE CONTACT APPLIED SIGNIFICANT PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL DURING THE FAILURE, BUT THE VEHICLE DID NOT STOP. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED MINOR SORENESS FROM THE IMPACT OF THE CRASH, WHICH DID NOT REQUIRE MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP AND DEEMED DESTROYED. STEVE LANDERS TOYOTA (10825 COLONEL GLENN ROAD, LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS 72204) WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIATELY 59,100. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
NHTSA complaint #11139230 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.