2013 Toyota Prius recalls

NHTSA lists 3 safety recall campaigns for the 2013 Toyota Prius. Between them they involve hybrid and electric propulsion and electrical system. The most recent was received on June 24, 2020.

June 24, 2020Hybrid and electric propulsion

Hybrid System may Shutdown and cause Stall

NHTSA campaign 20V-369 · 266,638 vehicles potentially affected · Hybrid propulsion system

The defect: 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.

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

The 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.
October 4, 2018Hybrid and electric propulsion

Hybrid System may Shutdown and cause Stall

NHTSA campaign 18V-684 · 807,329 vehicles potentially affected · Hybrid propulsion system

The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2010-2014 Toyota Prius and 2012-2014 Toyota Prius V vehicles. 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.

The risk: If the hybrid system shuts down unexpectedly, it can increase the risk of a crash.

The remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will update the software for the motor/generator control electronic control unit (ECU) and the hybrid control ECU as necessary, free of charge. The recall began January 22, 2019. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371. Toyota's number for this recall is J0V. Note: The software updates in this recall are needed even if the vehicle had the software previously updated under recalls 14V-053 or 15V-449.
February 12, 2014Electrical system

Inverter Failure may cause Hybrid Vehicle to Stall

NHTSA campaign 14V-053 · 698,457 vehicles potentially affected · Electrical system

The defect: Toyota is recalling certain model year 2010 through 2014 Prius vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the Intelligent Power Module (IPM) inside the inverter module (a component of the hybrid system) contains transistors that may become damaged from high operating temperatures. If this occurs, various warning lamps will be illuminated on the instrument panel and the vehicle will have reduced power allowing it to only drive a short distance.

The risk: The vehicle may enter a fail-safe/limp-home mode that limits the drivability of the vehicle. The hybrid system could also shut down completely resulting in a vehicle stall, increasing the risk of a crash.

The remedy: Toyota will notify owners and dealers will update the software for both the motor/generator control electronic control unit (ECU) and the hybrid control ECU, free of charge. If an owner experiences a failure of the inverter before the vehicle receives updated software, the dealer will repair or replace the inverter assembly with a new one at no charge. The recall began on March 21, 2014. Owners may contact Toyota at 1-800-331-4331.

Check by VIN

A campaign rarely covers every Prius built in 2013. Enter your 17-character VIN to find the recall campaigns filed for your make, model and model year. The VIN is on the driver’s side of the dashboard (visible through the windshield), on the door-jamb label, and on your registration and insurance documents.

Is a recall still open on your vehicle? Only NHTSA’s official VIN check can say whether a campaign applies to your exact vehicle and whether the repair has already been done.

Your VIN is decoded with NHTSA’s public vPIC service to identify the make, model and year. It is not stored and is not added to any page address.

What 2013 Toyota Prius owners should do

Check your VIN on NHTSA’s lookup to see which of these campaigns apply to your vehicle and whether any are still open.
Call a Toyota dealer and book the repair, quoting the campaign numbers (20V-369, 18V-684, 14V-053).
If you have bought the vehicle used, the recall still applies: the repair is free whoever owns the vehicle now.
Make sure your current address is on file with the manufacturer so the owner letters reach you.

Other Toyota Prius model years

Common questions

Does the 2013 Toyota Prius have any recalls?

Yes. NHTSA lists 3 campaigns for the 2013 Toyota Prius: 20V-369 (Hybrid System may Shutdown and cause Stall); 18V-684 (Hybrid System may Shutdown and cause Stall); 14V-053 (Inverter Failure may cause Hybrid Vehicle to Stall).

How do I know if my 2013 Toyota Prius has an open recall?

Enter your VIN in NHTSA’s recall lookup. Most campaigns cover only part of a model year’s production, and the lookup also shows whether the repair has already been done on your vehicle.

Will the dealer charge to fix the 2013 Toyota Prius?

No. Safety recall repairs are done free of charge by Toyota dealers. Quote the NHTSA campaign number when you book.