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Toyota Prius V VIN Check

NHTSA holds 451 owner complaints on the Toyota Prius V from 84 production runs; the worst run has 26, the typical one 5.4.

NHTSA complaint records · 451 complaints · 84 runs · 2011–2017 · Updated Nov 3, 2026
Quick answer

The most-reported Prius V run is JTDZN3EU4C3 (2012 builds) with 26 complaints, 4.8× the typical run. Service brakes problems make up 48% of reports; 2012 is the worst model year at 15.8 complaints per run; NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns for Prius V model years 2012–2017.

Which build runs owners report most

A production run is the first 11 characters of the VIN: plant, model year, body and engine. The Toyota Prius V has 84 of them on record. The five runs at the top of this table hold 26% of every Prius V complaint on file.

FIG.01·Toyota Prius V — complaints by production run
Production run (VIN 1–11)YearComplaintsInvolved a crashFire
JTDZN3EU4C3••••••2012262—
JTDZN3EU6C3••••••2012261—
JTDZN3EU5C3••••••2012241—
JTDZN3EUXC3••••••2012244—
JTDZN3EU9C3••••••20121831
JTDZN3EU2C3••••••2012163—
JTDZN3EU8C3••••••201216——
JTDZN3EU3C3••••••2012152—
JTDZN3EU1C3••••••201213——
JTDZN3EU7C3••••••20121311
JTDZN3EU0C3••••••2012121—
JTDZN3EU1D3••••••2013111—
ROWS 12·SOURCE NHTSA complaint records, grouped by VIN prefix

Each of the other 72 Prius V runs has 11 complaints or fewer. ForCar has checked 31 Prius V VINs so far, most often 2014, 2013, 2017 builds; 3 of them belong to one of the 12 runs above.

Which model years to check twice

Complaints per production run, so a year that simply sold more does not top the list. On the Toyota Prius V the gap between build years is 9.9×: a 2012 car draws 15.8 complaints per run, a 2016 one 1.6.

FIG.02·Toyota Prius V — complaint rate by model year
YearPer runComplaintsRunsCrashes
20171.61173
20161.616106
20152.32192
20143.580235
20135.6117218
201215.82051318
ROWS 6·SOURCE NHTSA complaint records

Heaviest year here is 2012 at 15.8 complaints per run; lightest is 2016 at 1.6.

What to inspect on this car

One system accounts for 48% of everything Toyota Prius V owners report: Service Brakes, 249 of 451 complaints. Start the pre-purchase inspection there.

FIG.03·Toyota Prius V — most-reported systems
SystemComplaintsInvolved a crashFire
Service Brakes24918—
Engine6523
Electrical System5723
Unknown Or Other4423
Vehicle Speed Control3411—
Fuel/propulsion System272—
Air Bags2112—
Power Train192—
ROWS 8·SOURCE NHTSA complaint records

Recalls to check against your VIN

NHTSA has 6 recall campaigns on the Toyota Prius V; the 6 below cover build years 2012 to 2017. These are for the model and year; whether one is still open on a given car, only that VIN can tell.

FIG.04·Toyota Prius V — recall campaigns
CampaignComponentModel years
20V369000Hybrid Propulsion System: Inverter2014–2017
18V684000Hybrid Propulsion System2012–2014
15V449000Hybrid Propulsion System: Inverter2012–2014
15V013000Air Bags2014–2015
13E070000Exterior Lighting:tail Lights2012–2013
13V014000Air Bags:frontal:sensor/control Module-inactive2012
ROWS 6·SOURCE NHTSA recall campaigns

20V369000 was opened in 2020 on cars built from 2014: 6 years on the road before the recall.

How serious were they

Of the 451 reports on the Toyota Prius V, 9.3% involved a crash against 5.8% across all vehicles, above the norm.

FIG.06·Toyota Prius V — complaint severity
OutcomeToyota Prius VAll vehicles
Complaints filed4511,115,966
Involved a crash42 (9.3%)64,194 (5.8%)
Involved a fire6 (1.3%)26,974 (2.4%)
Injuries reported2258,013
Deaths reported32,728
ROWS 5·SOURCE NHTSA complaint records

Crash-related reports run 60% above the all-vehicle rate.

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How this check works

The file behind this page holds 1,115,966 complaints filed with NHTSA between 1981 and 2026, across 298,921 production runs. The Toyota Prius V share of that is 451 complaints over 84 runs, 0.04% of everything on record.

Everything on the Toyota Prius V
Recalls15 campaignsFuel economy41 mpg bestReliability4.5/5Common problems1,744 complaintsDimensionsSize, weight, generationsCargo space34 cu ftUsed prices714 listingsWhat yours is worthValue by year & mileageInsurance costEstimated per yearWindow stickerOriginal Monroney labelDecode a VINWhat each character meansAbout this car2012–2017

Frequently asked questions

How do I check a Toyota Prius V VIN for free?

Enter the 17 characters above. ForCar matches the first eleven, the production run, against 451 NHTSA complaints from 84 Prius V runs and 6 recall campaigns. No account, no card.

Which Prius V production run has the most complaints?

JTDZN3EU4C3, a 2012 build, with 26 complaints, 2 of them after a crash. The typical Prius V run has 5.4.

Which Prius V years have the most complaints?

Per production run, 2012 is heaviest at 15.8 complaints per run and 2016 lightest at 1.6.

How many Prius V complaints involve a crash?

9.3% of 451 reports, against 5.8% across all vehicles; 6 involved a fire.

Complaint and recall records from NHTSA, grouped by VIN production run (characters 1–11). Per-run rates computed by ForCar. Federal data covers safety only — title, odometer and insurance history are not included. Last updated Nov 2026. — ForCar Reviewed by , founder of ForCar.
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