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)
The worst 2016 Toyota Prius V problems
Ranked by number of owner complaints. Mileage and cost come from what owners wrote.
- Acceleration4
- Airbags4
- Electrical4
- Brakes3
- Engine2
Problems by type
Tap a problem to see which part fails, at what mileage and in which other years.
- Acceleration4
- Airbags4
- Electrical4
- Brakes3
- Engine2
- Body1
- Fuel system1
- Transmission1
- Visibility1
Recalls 1
Hybrid propulsion system: inverter
- What is wrong
- 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.
- Risk
- An unexpected hybrid power system shut down may increase the risk of a crash.
- 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.
Recall number 20V369000 · Recall details
Technical service bulletins for the 2016 Toyota Prius V 273
Bulletins tell dealers how to fix known problems. A warranty extension means the manufacturer pays for that repair for longer.
- Obsolete notice
- This bulletin includes basic procedures for performing a rescue charge on Ni-MH high voltage (HV) batteries
- Condition in which a musty odor is present
- Some customers may experience echoing on the line calling the vehicle when using Bluetooth Hands Free
- The air conditioning dye injection tool kit has been developed to aid in identifying the location of air...
- Acid rain results from rainwater or other airborne moisture that become acidic due to industrial chemical...
- To prevent brake rotor rust from forming during transportation and storage, wheel film will be used...
- The condition known as acid rain is caused by airborne chemicals or particles in the atmosphere, which mix...
- Toyota vehicles are currently protected with RapgardTM protective film designed to protect the horizontal...
- Vehicles may occasionally be subjected to contamination by airborne iron particles shed from railroad...
2016 Toyota Prius V fuel economy
Official EPA estimates in miles per gallon (MPGe for electric). Ranges cover trims that share the same engine.
| Engine | Drive | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.8L 4‑cyl Hybrid | FWD | 43 | 39 | 41 |
What 2016 Toyota Prius V owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
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.
Driving on the freeway the car stalled and was unable to accelerate. The issue seems identical to the 2020 recall. 2020-06-23 Recall no. 20V369000 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. I was told by the service center that my car is not on the recall list so they are unable to work it as a recall.
While traveling on NHS CA 99 about 80 miles before taking exit 97, there were pieces of tire debri on the center lane. It couldn’t be spotted and my vehicle drove over it making a big thud sound. It shaked my vehicle and left my family scared. It could have been really dangerous if there was a vehicle right ahead or behind my car. This incident broke the front bumper and caused big dent on my right door. This is a big monetary hole in my pocket. This is big concern and should be immediately addressed to avoid incidents further. Kindly let me know if there is a way to file a claim with NHST
Driving on freeway my prius V started shaking violently from what appeared to be overheating of water pump failure or the coolant invertor pump. I believe this to be a known issue Toyota is aware of when I took my Prius into Camelback Toyota in Phoenix they said they could not recreate the issues. I know this was powertrain failure that could have caused me to crash on the freeway.
While going 70 MPH, I hid a feral hog. Although the front end of my car crumpled up, and we came to a sudden stop, the air bags did not deploy.
Airbags failed to deploy upon impact with guardrail. Drivers side front corner hit the guardrail at approx. 45% angle at 50-60mph. The vehicle was inspected by an insurance rep. and was deemed a total loss. The car is available for inspection.
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.
I previously sent in a complaint but there have been developments and I needed to explain more clearly. Our toyota has less than 18,000 miles and has been very well taken care of. Despite this, our vehicle has not been in operation since earlier this month. It started by flashing warning lights 2 weeks ago and then wouldn't start up. Saturday when I opened the driver door to get something out of the inoperable vehicle, this initiated a very lengthy terrible sound coming from under hood on driver's side. It sounded like something would explode under the hood. This horrible process appearantly drained the whole battery. It has absolutely no signs of life now. All of this happened while the vehicle was stationary.
Our vehicle is completely inoperable. The battery works but the vehicle flashes all kinds of warning lights and will not start up. We believe that it may be due to rodents as toyota dealership pointed out rodent issue in cabin air filter last time we went there for some safety recall. It seems to be a huge issue with prius and we would have never bought one had toyota been upfront with the rodent issues that they have with their vehicles. Are there any recalls or class action suit related to this rodent issue and their using soy based wiring and failing to close up rodent access to cabin air filter etc.? Thank you for your time!
Compare the 2016 Toyota Prius V
Other model years
Questions about the 2016 Toyota Prius V
Is the 2016 Toyota Prius V reliable?
Owners have filed 16 complaints about the 2016 Toyota Prius V, fewer than a typical Prius V model year.
What is the 2016 Toyota Prius V year score?
The 2016 Toyota Prius V scores 73 out of 100 (average). The score compares it with the other model years of the Toyota Prius V: 75 is a typical year, 50 means twice the usual complaints, and serious complaints and recalls lower it.
What is the most common problem with the 2016 Toyota Prius V?
Acceleration and speed control, with 4 complaints. Next is airbags (4).
How many recalls does the 2016 Toyota Prius V have?
1 recall, covering hybrid propulsion system.
What gas mileage does the 2016 Toyota Prius V get?
Official estimates for the 2016 Toyota Prius V range from 41 mpg combined. The most efficient version (1.8L 4-cyl hybrid, FWD) gets 43 city and 39 highway.
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