2013 Toyota Prius Plug-in: True Cost, Problems & Verdict
355 NHTSA owner complaints · 1 recalls · data-computed verdict. No opinions — public data only.
Owner complaints: 355 filed with NHTSA
Complaints per year on the road: 27.31
What owners say
Verbatim reports filed with the United States safety regulator (NHTSA) by owners of this exact model year. Public record.
My 2013 Prius Plug-In Hybrid with 131k miles on it showed the ABS, Brake, and Traction Control lights while driving last week. Diagnostics from auto shop showed DTC code C1391. System is available for inspection upon request. Safety is definitely at risk, since I am needing to drive it around to assess the issue, and brakes could fail at any time. Vehicle has not been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance …
Brake actuator went out on 2013 Toyota Prius Gen 5. The part is very expensive and in my opinion is a part that should not have to be replaced. The care has 120,000 miles. It is driven very softly, meaning not fast and hard but commuting to work and grocery store as needed. A nice commuter. It is not fast but gets you there. The actuator put me at risk as stepping on the brake was hard and the car did not wa…
I am experiencing the issue described in the BRAKE BOOSTER AND BRAKE BOOSTER PUMP ASSEMBLIES recall issued by Toyota for the Prius, which for me ended in 2023. The vehicle is unsafe to drive without performing this $4000 repair (dealer cost), which is almost more than my car is worth. Toyota should issue another extension for the repair coverage since they are known to be faulty. The previous recall and extension o…
Recalls: 1 campaigns
| Campaign | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|
| 17V718000 | Hybrid Propulsion System | Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2012-2015 Prius Plug-in Hybrid vehicles. The hybrid battery contains an Electric Vehicle (EV) fuse that may fracture after repeated high-load driving conditions such as climbing long hills. |
What it costs to buy — and what owning it really takes
Class-level estimates, priced as a compact car of its model year, re-priced to your country. Not a quote, not a valuation of one specific car — condition, mileage and options move it. How these are computed.
What it costs to run
EPA combined 50 MPGe · estimated annual energy cost $1,300 · EPA range 11 mi
Re-priced automatically from your country's retail fuel, electricity and parts indices — change country in the bar at the top. Estimates; see methodology.
What this car's problems cost to fix
Ranked by the components owners of this exact model year actually complain about. Each figure is flat-rate labour hours x the local shop rate plus a parts band — an estimate of what this kind of failure costs, not a quote, and not a prediction that this car will need it. Formula.
- Service Brakes187 complaints · typical job: Pads, rotors and caliper service, both axles (3.0 h labour + parts)$580–$1,140
- Electrical System49 complaints · typical job: Alternator, battery-drain or body-module diagnosis and replacement (3.0 h labour + parts)$540–$1,310
- Unknown Or Other46 complaints · typical job: Diagnosis and mixed repair (2.0 h labour + parts)$360–$940
- Engine35 complaints · typical job: Cooling-system or timing-drive repair (6.0 h labour + parts)$1,040–$2,220
- Vehicle Speed Control21 complaints · typical job: Throttle body, pedal sensor or cruise module replacement (2.5 h labour + parts)$520–$1,150
- Air Bags17 complaints · typical job: Airbag module, clockspring or sensor replacement (2.5 h labour + parts)$600–$1,700
Other Toyota Prius Plug-in years
Toyota Prius Plug-in years to avoid, and the best years to buy →
FAQ
What is the most common problem with the 2013 Toyota Prius Plug-in?
The most-reported issue in NHTSA complaint data is Service Brakes (187 complaints in our indexed sample).
Is the 2013 Toyota Prius Plug-in a good used car to buy?
Our data verdict is CAUTION with a reliability score of 64/100, computed from 355 NHTSA complaints and 1 recall campaigns. See the verdict card for the top reasons.
How much does it cost to fix the 2013 Toyota Prius Plug-in's most common problem?
187 of the NHTSA complaints filed against the 2013 Toyota Prius Plug-in sit in the Service Brakes group — more than any other component on this model year. The representative job there is pads, rotors and caliper service, both axles: about 3.0 hours of labour plus parts, roughly $580–$1,140 at a US independent shop and re-priced to your country at the top of the page. It is an estimate of what this class of failure costs, not a quote for this car.
What does a 2013 Toyota Prius Plug-in cost to run per year?
About $4,168 a year in fuel or energy plus the maintenance band — roughly $20,842 over five years, before purchase price, insurance and depreciation. Figures come from available EPA fuel-economy data and industry maintenance averages, and are re-priced to your country.
Does the 2013 Toyota Prius Plug-in have recalls?
Yes — NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign(s) for the 2013 Toyota Prius Plug-in, 0 of them touching fire, crash or stall risk, the most recent recorded 15/11/2017. Check this car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls before you buy.
Compare with
Other compacts of about the same age.
What will a 2013 Toyota Prius Plug-in really cost YOU per year?
Fuel, maintenance band and depreciation — computed from public data in 10 seconds.
Open the true-cost calculatorData sources
Complaints & recalls: NHTSA ·
Fuel economy: EPA fueleconomy.gov ·
Scoring: our published methodology.
Maintenance bands are industry-average estimates (AAA Your Driving Costs, CarMD index) — labeled estimates, not measurements.
Last updated: 2026-10-04.
Strong evidence — 355 complaints, 1 recalls on record
- 355 NHTSA complaints on record (27.3/yr of exposure) — worse than a typical year of this model (15.5/yr)
- 1 recall campaigns, 0 touching safety-critical systems