Are there open safety recalls?
5 open
Ask the seller for proof each was fixed. Repairs are free — and there’s also an open investigation.
FREE VEHICLE RESEARCH
The 2016 Toyota Prius has 5 NHTSA safety recalls on file, 179 owner complaints, and gets about 41 mpg combined. Here's the full free record from NHTSA and the EPA.
FREE PUBLIC RECORD · U.S. GOVERNMENT DATA
2016 Toyota Prius
- Engine 4-cyl 1.8L
- Drive Front-Wheel Drive
- Fuel Regular
- Body Midsize Station Wagons
Should you worry?
Look closer
Something in the public record needs a closer look before you buy.
What do owners report?
8 injuries reported
8 of 179 reports (~4%). On a high-volume model that alone isn’t unusual — look for patterns below.
How did it score in crash tests?
5 out of 5 stars
5 is best. This model scored well in government crash tests.
Open recalls · nearby years
Same make and model. This car is the 2016.
- 20143recalls
- 20151recall
- 2016 · this car5recalls
- 20173recalls
Based on free U.S. government safety data · checked August 3, 2026.
SAFETY
Will it protect people in a crash?
These are government crash-test scores. 5 stars is best. They rate this year and model, not your exact car.
- Overall
- 5 / 5 stars
- Frontal
- 4 / 5 stars
- Side
- 5 / 5 stars
- Side pole
- 2 / 5 stars
- Rollover
- 4 / 5 stars
Factory safety & driver-assist equipment
- Stability control
- Standard
- Forward collision warning
- Optional
Tested as: 2016 Toyota Prius 5 HB FWD
Open safety recalls
5 openA recall means the manufacturer must fix a safety problem for free at a dealer. Ask the seller for proof the work was done.
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Hybrid Propulsion System
18/10/2017
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.
How they fix it: 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.
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Electrical System
05/09/2018
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.
How they fix it: 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.
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Air Bags
16/09/2016
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.
How they fix it: 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.
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Air Bags
31/01/2018
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.
How they fix it: 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.
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Parking Brake
14/10/2016
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.
How they fix it: 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.
The government also has an open investigation on this model. Look it up on nhtsa.gov before you buy.
From NHTSA (U.S. safety agency) · checked August 3, 2026.
OWNERS
What problems do owners report?
People file these with the government when something goes wrong. They show patterns, not a diagnosis of any one car for sale.
Owner reports · nearby years
Same make and model. This car is the 2016.
- 2014234reports
- 2015161reports
- 2016 · this car179reports
- 2017101reports
179 owner reports on file
13 crash mentions 8 injury mentions
Parts mentioned most often. Longer bar = more reports. Counts are out of 179 total reports.
- VISIBILITY/WIPER 33 of 179
The original windshield has a “rippling distortion” where the windshield has ripple/bubble from defective glass or installation mistakes, making seeing traffic signs or streets very hard. I just bought this vehicle and noticed the problem
- UNKNOWN OR OTHER 27 of 179
Found coolant leak from heat exchanger into exhaust pipe. Looks like, T-SB-0135-19.
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 22 of 179
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 issu
- POWER TRAIN 14 of 179
During summer months when temperatures are above 100 degrees when accelerating from a complete stop I can hear the engine rev and the RPMs increase but the vehicle will move at 1-2 mph. Even if the accelerator is to the floor. After 3-4 sec
- SERVICE BRAKES 12 of 179
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”, “See Owner's Manual",
- STRUCTURE 11 of 179
Paint is starting to peel around trunk, clear coat has peeled off of black triangle areas by rear passenger windows on both sides of vehicle. Other 2016 Prius have had a paint recall. My vehicle needs to be included in the recall.
Bars are sized relative to the most-mentioned part on this list, not to 100% of all cars.
From NHTSA owner complaints · checked August 3, 2026. Anyone can file a report; they are not verified repairs.
FUEL COST
What does it cost to drive?
EPA estimates for this year and model. Your real cost depends on gas prices, how you drive, and how far you go.
Combined MPG · nearby years
Same make and model. This car is the 2016.
- 201448mpg
- 201548mpg
- 2016 · this car41mpg
- 201752mpg
$1,500
estimated fuel cost per year if you drive about 15,000 miles
Miles per gallon. Higher is cheaper to drive.
City driving 43 mpg
Highway driving 39 mpg
Combined (typical mix) 41 mpg
Over 5 years, compared to an average new car
This model is estimated to save about $3,500 on fuel.
Spends more Saves more
- Passenger space
- 97 cubic feet
- Cargo space
- 34 cubic feet
From EPA fueleconomy.gov · checked August 3, 2026.
HOW IT WAS BUILT
Factory details
What’s on the build record for this VIN or model.
Engine
4-cyl 1.8L
Drivetrain
Front-Wheel Drive
Transmission
Automatic (variable gear ratios)
Fuel
Regular
See all factory details (7)
- Engine
- 4-cyl 1.8L
- Cylinders
- 4
- Displacement
- 1.8 L
- Drivetrain
- Front-Wheel Drive
- Transmission
- Automatic (variable gear ratios)
- Body
- Midsize Station Wagons
- Fuel
- Regular
From EPA and NHTSA vehicle records · checked August 3, 2026.
What this free check does not include
We only show free U.S. government data: safety recalls, owner reports, crash tests, and fuel economy. We do not show prior accidents, flood or salvage titles, odometer rollback, insurance history, or a “should you buy” verdict on a specific listing. For that kind of check on one car for sale, use the VINly app.
BEFORE YOU BUY
What to check on this car
Confirm the recalls were fixed
This model has 5 open NHTSA recalls (including the hybrid propulsion system). Recall repairs are free at the dealer, so ask the seller for proof the remedy was performed, or verify by VIN at nhtsa.gov before you buy.
Watch for a pending investigation
NHTSA has an open investigation covering this model. A recall can follow an investigation, so check nhtsa.gov for the latest before you commit.
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Test-drive the basics
Cold start, full-lock steering both ways, firm brakes with no pulsing, smooth shifts, and every electronic feature. Warning lights should come on at key-on, then go out.
-
Check the title and the VIN
Confirm the title status in hand matches the listing, and that the VIN matches across the dash, door jamb, and title. VINly does not show ownership or accident history, for that, run a paid report like Carfax.
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Ask the seller the right questions
Why they are selling, any service records, accident or panel-repaint history, how many owners, and whether any open recalls were completed.
See the full used-car inspection checklist. None of this replaces a hands-on inspection by a mechanic.
FOR SALE NEAR YOU
2016 Toyota Prius listings
Quick answers
What is recalled on the 2016 Toyota Prius? +
NHTSA lists 5 safety recalls for the 2016 Toyota Prius, including the hybrid propulsion system. See the full list above, and confirm by VIN at nhtsa.gov.
What gas mileage does the 2016 Toyota Prius get? +
The EPA rates the 2016 Toyota Prius at 41 mpg combined (43 city / 39 highway), about $1,500 a year in fuel.
How safe is the 2016 Toyota Prius? +
NHTSA's NCAP program gives the 2016 Toyota Prius 5 out of 5 stars overall, with 4 stars for rollover resistance.
What do owners complain about on the 2016 Toyota Prius? +
Owners have filed 179 complaints with NHTSA for the 2016 Toyota Prius, including 13 involving a crash. The most-reported area is visibility/wiper.
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