Verdict
2016 Toyota Prius v: Complaints, Recalls & Known Issues
What the public record actually says about the 2016 Toyota Prius v — every figure below is a NHTSA or EPA number, not an opinion.
The read
More reported complaints than most wagon.
Owners filed 166 NHTSA complaints — more complaints than 87% of 2016 wagons. Visibility/Wiper leads the reports (19%). 1 safety recall campaign on record — check the VIN and remedy terms with a dealer.
Based on NHTSA complaint volume against 2016 wagons, not adjusted for how many were sold. It describes the model year, not the individual car you are looking at.
Complaints filed
166
Reports to NHTSA, 2016
Safety recalls
1
NHTSA campaigns on record
NHTSA crash test
Not rated
Overall NCAP rating
Combined MPG
41
EPA estimate
Complaint volume vs. segment peers
More complaints than 87% of 2016 wagons
The bar is this car's percentile among 2016 wagons by complaint volume — a full bar means the fewest complaints in its class. Not adjusted for sales.
Known issues
Visibility/Wiper issues lead owner complaints (19% of 166 reports), followed by unknown or other (14%).
+ 12 more component categories with fewer reports.
Share of all 166 NHTSA complaints for this model year, grouped by the component owners named. Bars are scaled to the largest category. Examples: ODI 11437574, ODI 11350840, ODI 11339798, ODI 11218509, ODI 11183577.
Recalls(1)
Open a recall to read what NHTSA says is wrong, what can happen, and how it gets fixed. Check the VIN and remedy eligibility with a dealer; federal no-charge requirements have an age limit, though a manufacturer may offer more coverage.
Hybrid Propulsion System · 20V369000Details +Close −
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.
A campaign can apply to this model year without being incomplete on a specific vehicle. Check the VIN with NHTSA or a dealer to confirm whether a particular car needs repair.
Investigations
0 NHTSA investigations on record
No investigations are on record as of Jul 2026. An empty record is not a clean bill of health.
Crash-test ratings
2016 Toyota Prius V SW FWD NHTSA source
- Overall
- Not rated
- Frontal
- Not rated
- Side
- Not rated
- Rollover
Fuel economy by trim
| Trim | Engine | Drivetrain | Transmission | City | Hwy | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prius v | 1.8L 4-cyl | Front-Wheel Drive | Automatic (variable gear ratios) | 43 | 39 | 41 |
EPA laboratory estimates by trim and engine. Actual mileage varies with driving, weather, load, and maintenance. EPA source.
Before you buy
Useful next checks
Federal records tell you about patterns. These checks can tell you more about the specific car in front of you.
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Compare model years
"Fewest reports" and "most complained" describe raw NHTSA complaint totals, not vehicle reliability. The last few model years are left unlabelled because they have had less road time.
2016 Toyota Prius v: frequently asked
What does the complaint record show for the 2016 Toyota Prius v?
Owners filed 166 NHTSA complaints about the 2016 Toyota Prius v — more complaints than 87% of comparable 2016 wagons, so it sits toward the weaker end of its class. That's a signal, not a guarantee about any single car.
What are the most common problems on the 2016 Toyota Prius v?
The most-reported problem areas are Visibility/Wiper (19% of complaints) and unknown or other (14%).
How many recalls does the 2016 Toyota Prius v have?
1 recall has been issued that affect the 2016 Toyota Prius v, covering components such as hybrid propulsion system. Check the VIN with NHTSA and ask a dealer to confirm remedy eligibility; federal no-charge requirements have an age limit, though manufacturers may offer more coverage.
What gas mileage does the 2016 Toyota Prius v get?
The EPA rates the 2016 Toyota Prius v at 41 mpg combined.