Representative model. Photo: Elise240SX, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

Recalls & complaints · NHTSA data

2016 Toyota Prius recalls

Every recall campaign and owner complaint NHTSA has on file for the 2016 model year. Not every vehicle is affected by every campaign: check a specific car by VIN below.

Recall campaigns: 5
Park-it warnings: 0
Complaints: 180
Latest campaign: Sep 5, 2018

Recall summary by component5

NHTSA Recalls API · cached ≤24 h

Component	Campaigns	Latest	Campaign IDs
Air bags	2	Jan 31, 2018	18V085000 16V672000
Electrical system	1	Sep 5, 2018	18V579000
Hybrid propulsion system	1	Oct 18, 2017	17V658000
Parking brake	1	Oct 14, 2016	16V741000

Safety recalls5

NHTSA Recalls API · cached ≤24 h

0Park-it warnings

0Fixable over the air

Sep 5, 2018Latest campaign


Sep 5, 201818V579000	Electrical system: wiring An electrical short can increase the risk of a fire. DetailsHide details for campaign 18V579000 What's wrong Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2016-2018 Toyota Prius vehicles. A portion of the engine wire harness connected to the hybrid Power Control Unit (PCU), could contact the cover at this connection and wear, causing an electrical short circuit. Risk An electrical short can increase the risk of a fire. Remedy Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the engine wire harness assembly and replace it if damage is found. A protective sleeve or protective tape will be included to prevent any future damage. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began October 30, 2018. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371. Toyota's number for this recall is J0T. Campaign NHTSA 18V579000 · Sep 5, 2018
Jan 31, 201818V085000	Air bags: side/window If the air bags fail to deploy in a crash, it can increase the risk of injury. DetailsHide details for campaign 18V085000 What's wrong Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2016 Toyota Prius and Lexus RX 350, RX 350 F Sport, RX 450h F Sport and RX 450h vehicles and 2015-2016 Lexus NX 200T, NX Turbo and NX 300h vehicles. The air bag pressure sensors and/or the acceleration sensors may fail causing the side/curtain shield air bags and/or the front air bags to not deploy in the event of a crash. Risk If the air bags fail to deploy in a crash, it can increase the risk of injury. Remedy Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the sensors as necessary based on their serial numbers, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin March 12, 2018. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are JLA, J0F. Campaign NHTSA 18V085000 · Jan 31, 2018
Oct 18, 201717V658000	Hybrid propulsion system: inverter If the capacitor was not properly secured, vibrations from driving the vehicle may damage the capacitor, shutting down the hybrid system, causing a loss of motive power… DetailsHide details for campaign 17V658000 What's wrong Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2016 Prius vehicles. A capacitor within the hybrid system may not have been properly bolted to the inverter housing. Risk If the capacitor was not properly secured, vibrations from driving the vehicle may damage the capacitor, shutting down the hybrid system, causing a loss of motive power and increasing the risk of a crash. Remedy Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the inverter, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin by early December 2017. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is H0U. Campaign NHTSA 17V658000 · Oct 18, 2017
Oct 14, 201616V741000	Parking brake If the parking brake cable disengages from the mechanism and the transmission is left in a gear other than 'Park' while the ignition is on and the driver leaves the… DetailsHide details for campaign 16V741000 What's wrong Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Prius vehicles manufactured August 6, 2015, to October 3, 2016. The affected vehicles are equipped with a foot-operated parking brake system that has a parking brake cable that may disengage. Risk If the parking brake cable disengages from the mechanism and the transmission is left in a gear other than 'Park' while the ignition is on and the driver leaves the vehicle, the vehicle may roll unexpectedly, increasing the risk of a crash. Remedy Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will install a clip at the parking brake cable end to prevent the cable from disengaging, free of charge. The recall began November 10, 2016. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371. Toyota's number for this recall is G01. Campaign NHTSA 16V741000 · Oct 14, 2016
Sep 16, 201616V672000	Air bags: frontal passenger side A front passenger air bag that unintentionally inflates can increase the risk of a crash or injury. DetailsHide details for campaign 16V672000 What's wrong Toyota Motor Engineering and Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2016 Toyota Prius vehicles manufactured November 30, 2015, to June 14, 2016. An air bag inflator manufacturing error may result in the inadvertent partial inflation of the front passenger air bag. Risk A front passenger air bag that unintentionally inflates can increase the risk of a crash or injury. Remedy Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag assembly, free of charge. The recall began November 10, 2016. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is G0W. Campaign NHTSA 16V672000 · Sep 16, 2016

To see whether a recall is still open on your car, enter the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or the Toyota recall lookup. Recall repairs are free at a franchised dealer (federal law; see limits).

Buying a used 2016 Toyota Prius? Recalls cover the model; a history report checks one car's title, odometer and accident records. VinAudit history report → Sponsored · disclosure

Owner complaints by component180

NHTSA Complaints API · cached ≤24 h

180Complaints filed

13Involving a crash

0Involving a fire

8Injuries reported

Component	Complaints	%	Crashes	Injuries
Visibility/wiper	42	23	0	0
Unknown or other	37	21	0	0
Electrical system	26	14	1	1
Service brakes	23	13	2	3
Engine	19	11	1	1
Vehicle speed control	18	10	5	1
Power train	16	9	0	0
Structure	12	7	0	0
Air bags	11	6	7	4
Tires	9	5	0	0
Fuel/propulsion system	7	4	0	0
Suspension	5	3	0	0
Exterior lighting	4	2	0	0
Wheels	4	2	0	0
Seats	3	2	1	1

12 more components with fewer complaints not shown. An owner can tag several components, so percentages add up to more than 100. Complaints are unverified owner reports, de-duplicated by NHTSA ODI number.

Latest reports

Power train
“I turned on my car in a flat parking lot, reversed out of my spot, and drove up to a traffic light to exit the parking lot.”
Filed 10/06/2026 · ODI 11769246
Service brakes
“The contact owns a 2016 Toyota Prius. The contact stated that while the vehicle was on and running, the ABS and traction control warning lights illuminated, and the messages "Braking Power Low - Stop in a Safe Place”,…”
Filed 06/29/2026 · ODI 11747244
Service brakes
“Second time !!!! during ownership of car that brakes fail. Same problem as before Brake Actuator/Booster Failures: Multiple reports indicate issues with the ABS actuator or brake booster pump, leading to warning lights…”
Filed 05/12/2026 · ODI 11737281

Other Toyota Prius model years

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2016 Toyota Prius recall questions

How many recalls does the 2016 Toyota Prius have?

NHTSA lists 5 safety recall campaigns for the 2016 Toyota Prius. The most recent, 18V579000 (reported September 5, 2018), concerns electrical system. Not every vehicle is covered by every campaign; check a specific car by VIN.

What are the 2016 Toyota Prius recalls for?

The largest group is air bags, with 2 campaigns. Others: electrical system (1), hybrid propulsion system (1), parking brake (1). Each campaign below lists the defect, the risk and the free remedy.

What is the most common complaint about the 2016 Toyota Prius?

Visibility/wiper is the most-reported component, named in 42 complaints out of 180 filed with NHTSA (23%). Across all complaints, owners reported 13 crashs and 0 fires. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

How do I check if a recall is open on my 2016 Toyota Prius?

Enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or the Toyota recall lookup. That shows campaigns still unrepaired on that exact car. Safety recall repairs are free at a franchised Toyota dealer.

Check a specific Toyota by VIN

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