2016 TOYOTA PRIUS Complaints and Recall Information
The 2016 TOYOTA PRIUS has 8 complaints and 7 recalls filed with NHTSA. Owners most frequently report sudden vehicle shutdowns related to the hybrid system which cause loss of steering power. Other complaints include coolant leaks, engine damage from water pump failures, and headlight issues.
- Sudden shutdowns. Vehicles abruptly stop while driving, displaying messages like "Hybrid system stopped steering power low," causing loss of power steering.
- Water pump failure. Water pump failure causes engine damage requiring replacement; incidents include stalling on highways without warning or related alerts.
- Coolant leaks. Leaks from the heat exchanger into the exhaust pipe have been detected, consistent with technical service bulletin T-SB-0135-19.
- Headlight glare. Headlights are reported as too bright or poorly aimed, causing oncoming drivers to flash high beams frequently without use of high beams by the owner.
- Emissions warranty repair denial. Dealers have denied repairs for emissions-related defect under California warranty despite technical service bulletins.
There are 7 recalls addressing various safety and mechanical systems including airbags, electrical wiring, hybrid components, and parking brake mechanisms. These recalls affect multiple systems critical to vehicle operation and occupant safety.
- Passenger air bag inflator. (Recall 16V672000) Around 7,817 vehicles may have a defective air bag inflator that could partially inflate unexpectedly increasing crash injury risk. Dealers will replace the front passenger air bag assembly at no cost.
- Air bag sensors. (Recall 18V085000) Approximately 48,672 vehicles have faulty air bag pressure or acceleration sensors that can prevent air bags from deploying, raising the risk of injury. Dealers will replace sensors based on serial numbers free of charge.
- Engine wire harness. (Recall 18V579000) 192,347 vehicles risk electrical shorts from engine wire harness wear near the hybrid Power Control Unit. Inspections and replacements with protective coverings will be performed free of charge to reduce fire risk.
- Hybrid inverter capacitor. (Recall 17V658000) 6 vehicles have a capacitor possibly not bolted securely in the inverter housing, which can cause hybrid system shutdown and loss of power. Dealers will replace the inverter free of charge.
- Parking brake cable. (Recall 16V741000) 91,585 vehicles have a foot-operated parking brake cable that may disengage leading to unexpected vehicle roll if the transmission is not in park. A clip will be installed at no charge to prevent cable disengagement.
Owners facing repeated shutdowns, safety defects, or unresolved recall repairs may have rights under state lemon laws. Consulting legal resources or professionals specializing in these issues may be beneficial for those with ongoing problems.
2016 TOYOTA PRIUS Summary
2016
Model Year
8
Total Complaints
5
Total Recalls
340427
Vehicles Affected
Recalls
2016 TOYOTA PRIUS
48672 vehicles affected
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
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.
2016 TOYOTA PRIUS
192347 vehicles affected
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
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.
2016 TOYOTA PRIUS
6 vehicles affected
HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM: INVERTER
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.
2016 TOYOTA PRIUS
7817 vehicles affected
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
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.
2016 TOYOTA PRIUS
91585 vehicles affected
PARKING BRAKE
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.
Complaints
2016 TOYOTA PRIUS
ID: 2116616FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Found coolant leak from heat exchanger into exhaust pipe. Looks like, T-SB-0135-19.
2016 TOYOTA PRIUS
ID: 2116615UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Found coolant leak from heat exchanger into exhaust pipe. Looks like, T-SB-0135-19.
2016 TOYOTA PRIUS
ID: 2081889EXTERIOR LIGHTING
The headlights are either too bright or aimed poorly that it blinds oncoming traffic, who frequently flash their high beams at me. This occurs without any load in back and without me using the high beams. Can Toyota either adjust the bulbs or place a film on the headlights to prevent blinding oncoming traffic? Thank you!
2016 TOYOTA PRIUS
ID: 2073360ENGINE
Water pump failed without warning and caused irreparable damage to the engine ("blown" engine requiring replacement). Vehicle began to stall and not respond to attempted acceleration while traveling on 4 lane divided highway, 55 mph speed limit. One "Maintenance Required" message was received the previous week, but disappeared. This is the same message that appears for routine oil changes. No other warning messages were noted at the time of the incident, no unusual noises, and no smoke or other sign of overheating. Driver was able to steer vehicle to safety, but this failure could result in stranding on a busy, dangerous interstate highway. For such a critical piece of the vehicle (i.e., the water pump), there should be obvious warning message(s) and dedicated monitoring of the equipment.
2016 TOYOTA PRIUS
ID: 2059037ENGINE
Refer to TSB 0135-19 dealer denied repairing under the California emissions defect and performance warranty.
2016 TOYOTA PRIUS
ID: 2056115ENGINE
My car suddenly stopped in the middle of the road with message "Hybrid system stopped steering power low". Safety concern to this happen on the middle of road during rain or cold.
2016 TOYOTA PRIUS
ID: 2056114POWER TRAIN
My car suddenly stopped in the middle of the road with message "Hybrid system stopped steering power low". Safety concern to this happen on the middle of road during rain or cold.
2016 TOYOTA PRIUS
ID: 2056113STEERING
My car suddenly stopped in the middle of the road with message "Hybrid system stopped steering power low". Safety concern to this happen on the middle of road during rain or cold.