Does the 2016 Toyota Prius have recalls?

NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns for the 2016 Toyota Prius, including Air Bags › Side/Window; Hybrid Propulsion System › Inverter; Air Bags › Frontal › Passenger Side › Inflator Module. Recalls are matched by model year, so check your exact VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

What are the most common 2016 Toyota Prius problems?

Owners filed 181 complaints with NHTSA. The most-reported areas are visibility/wiper (42), electrical system (26), service brakes (23), engine (20).

How much does a 2016 Toyota Prius cost to own for 5 years?

About $35,276 over 5 years ($588/month) at an estimated $14,250 purchase price and 12,000 miles a year, including depreciation, insurance, fuel, maintenance, repairs, loan interest and taxes. Run a VIN report to personalize it.

2016 Toyota Prius

The 2016 Toyota Prius earns a fair Throttlebook Ownership Score of 67/100. Expect about $35,276 to own it for five years, or $588 a month. NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns that may apply, so check the exact VIN at nhtsa.gov before you buy. Owners have filed 181 complaints.

Recalls: 5
Complaints: 181
5-yr cost: $35k
MPG (EPA): 52

Fair

Ownership Score

2016 Toyota Prius vs nearby years

Compare this year with the model years next to it on the same hub.

Looking at a specific Prius?

Paste its VIN for the exact trim, recalls that may apply, and a Fits / Stretch / Not yet verdict for your budget. Free.

5 recalls may apply

For the 2016 Toyota Prius. NHTSA matches recalls by model and year — confirm by VIN.

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.
Fix: 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.

Check recalls for this exact VIN at NHTSA

Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer.

5-year cost to own

Estimated $14,250 price, 20% down, 11.19% APR for 60 months (Experian avg.), 12,000 mi/yr.

$35,276

$588/month · $0.59/mile

Depreciation	$2,325
Insurance (national avg.)	$12,000
Fuel / charging	$3,865
Maintenance	$7,320
Repairs	$4,000
Loan interest	$3,911
Taxes & fees	$1,855

Estimate, not financial advice. How we calculate.

Owner complaints & safety

What real owners reported to NHTSA for this model year.

181 complaints13 involved a crash

Visibility/Wiper42
Unknown Or Other37
Electrical System26
Service Brakes23
Engine20
Vehicle Speed Control18

Complaint counts scale with how many were sold; compare against similar models.

NHTSA crash-test stars

Overall: 5 out of 5 stars
Frontal: 4 out of 5 stars
Side: 5 out of 5 stars
Rollover: 4 out of 5 stars

Rated as: 2016 Toyota Prius 5 HB FWD

What to check on a used 2016 Toyota Prius

Ordered by what owners of this model year reported most. Reports are not proof of a defect.

Electrical and lights
- Test every window, lock, light and wiper.
- Watch for warning lights that stay on after start-up.
Engine and transmission
- Cold start: listen for knocking, ticking or rough running.
- Shifts should be smooth with no slipping or jerking.
Brakes
- Press the pedal firmly: it should feel solid, not sink or pulse.
- Listen for grinding or squealing when stopping.

If anything in a safety area feels wrong (brakes, steering, airbags, tires), stop driving and get it inspected before you buy or drive it further. Paste a VIN above for the full printable checklist.

Common 2016 Toyota Prius problems

Cheaper alternatives

FAQ

Is the 2016 Toyota Prius a good car to buy?: The 2016 Toyota Prius earns a fair Throttlebook Ownership Score of 67/100. Expect about $35,276 to own it for five years, or $588 a month. NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns that may apply, so check the exact VIN at nhtsa.gov before you buy. Owners have filed 181 complaints.
Does the 2016 Toyota Prius have recalls?: NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns for the 2016 Toyota Prius, including Air Bags › Side/Window; Hybrid Propulsion System › Inverter; Air Bags › Frontal › Passenger Side › Inflator Module. Recalls are matched by model year, so check your exact VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
What are the most common 2016 Toyota Prius problems?: Owners filed 181 complaints with NHTSA. The most-reported areas are visibility/wiper (42), electrical system (26), service brakes (23), engine (20).
How much does a 2016 Toyota Prius cost to own for 5 years?: About $35,276 over 5 years ($588/month) at an estimated $14,250 purchase price and 12,000 miles a year, including depreciation, insurance, fuel, maintenance, repairs, loan interest and taxes. Run a VIN report to personalize it.

Sources: NHTSA recalls, complaints and NCAP ratings; EPA fueleconomy.gov. Data refreshed weekly. Complaint counts scale with sales volume.