Car Yearsto Avoid

2015 Toyota Prius Problems

What owners have reported about the 2015 Toyota Prius, which problems come up most, at what mileage, and which recalls to check.

From NHTSA owner complaints and recalls. Updated Oct 17, 2026.

Is the 2015 Toyota Prius a good year?

It's about average for this model. Owners have filed 166 complaints with NHTSA, the 8th most of 13 Prius model years. The most reported problems involve the brakes, electrical system and transmission.

166 complaints 1 recall 8th worst of 13 Prius years

Top 2015 Toyota Prius problems

1

Brake problems

93 complaints (56%) name the brakes.

Complaints 93 · Usually at 23,000–91,000 miles

2

Electrical problems

27 complaints (16%) name the electrical system, most often the inverter.

Complaints 27 · Usually at 3,000–38,000 miles

3

Transmission problems

13 complaints (8%) name the transmission.

Complaints 13 · Usually at 6,000–70,000 miles

4

Engine problems

8 complaints (5%) name the engine.

Complaints 8 · Usually at 6,000–12,000 miles

Which parts fail most

Share of complaints that name each system. One complaint can name several.

Brakes 56%
Electrical 16%
Unknown or Other 9%
Transmission 8%
Engine 5%
Acceleration 4%
Lights 4%
Emergency Braking 4%
Airbags 4%
Body 4%

Mileage when it failed

Each dot is a complaint that gave a mileage (69 of 166). The amber line is the middle value, about 31,000 miles.

When problems were reported

Complaints by the year the problem happened.

2015 Toyota Prius recalls

Inverter

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. An unexpected hybrid power system shut down may increase the risk of a crash.

Fix: 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.

Recall 20V369000 · Jun 2020
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Prius years to avoid

Total NHTSA complaints by model year. Newer years have had less time on the road, so their totals will keep climbing. See the full comparison.

2010 Prius 2,823
2008 Prius 1,497
2011 Prius 521
2009 Prius 502
2012 Prius 424
2013 Prius 412
2014 Prius 208
2015 Prius 166
2016 Prius 155
2017 Prius 91
2018 Prius 37
2019 Prius 30
2024 Prius 27

Common questions

Is the 2015 Toyota Prius a reliable year?

It's about average for this model. Owners have filed 166 complaints with NHTSA, the 8th most of 13 Prius model years. The most reported problems involve the brakes, electrical system and transmission.

What are the most common 2015 Toyota Prius problems?

Owners most often report problems with the brakes, electrical system, transmission and engine. 93 complaints (56%) name the brakes.

At what mileage do 2015 Toyota Prius brakes problems start?

Reported mileage ranged widely, but most complaints fell between about 23,000–91,000 miles, with a middle value near 46,000 miles.

How many recalls does the 2015 Toyota Prius have?

1. Inverter (20V369000). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see if the work was done.

Should I buy a used 2015 Toyota Prius?

Ask for service records covering the brakes, confirm the recall work was done, and compare with the 2024, 2019 and 2018 models, which have the fewest complaints.

Source: NHTSA complaints and recalls databases. Complaints are unverified owner reports. Counts include each complaint once per model year.