2016 Toyota Prius: Recalls, Problems & MPG
Here are the deets on the 2016 Toyota Prius: 5 recalls, 155 owner complaints and up to 52 mpg combined.
Recalls
5 vehicle recalls from the manufacturer. Repairs are free. Check your VIN to see if one is still open on your car.
Airbags Vehicle recall #16V672000 · 2016 · 7,817 vehicles
What's wrong: An air bag inflator manufacturing error May result in the inadvertent partial inflation of the front passenger air bag.
Why it matters: A front passenger air bag that unintentionally inflates can increase the risk of a crash or injury.
The fix: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag assembly, free of charge. The recall began November 10, 2016.
Parking brake Vehicle recall #16V741000 · 2016 · 91,585 vehicles
What's wrong: The affected vehicles are equipped with a foot-operated parking brake system that has a parking brake cable that May disengage.
Why it matters: If the parking brake cable disengages from the mechanism and the transmission is left in a gear other than 'park' while the ignition is on and the driver leaves the vehicle, the vehicle May roll unexpectedly, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will install a clip at the parking brake cable end to prevent the cable from disengaging, free of charge. The recall began November 10, 2016.
Hybrid system Vehicle recall #17V658000 · 2017 · 6 vehicles
What's wrong: A capacitor within the hybrid system May not have been properly bolted to the inverter housing.
Why it matters: If the capacitor was not properly secured, vibrations from driving the vehicle May damage the capacitor, shutting down the hybrid system, causing a loss of motive power and increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the inverter, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin by early December 2017.
Airbags, Airbags Vehicle recall #18V085000 · 2018 · 48,672 vehicles
What's wrong: The air bag pressure sensors and/or the acceleration sensors May fail causing the side/curtain shield air bags and/or the front air bags to not deploy in the event of a crash.
Why it matters: If the air bags fail to deploy in a crash, it can increase the risk of injury.
The fix: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the sensors as necessary based on their serial numbers, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin March 12, 2018.
Electrical Vehicle recall #18V579000 · 2018 · 192,347 vehicles
What's wrong: A portion of the engine wire harness connected to the hybrid power control unit (pcu), could contact the cover at this connection and wear, causing an electrical short circuit.
Why it matters: An electrical short can increase the risk of a fire.
The fix: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the engine wire harness assembly and replace it if damage is found. A protective sleeve or protective tape will be included to prevent any future damage. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began October 30, 2018.
Most-reported problems
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component. One complaint can list several components. 0 mention a fire, 6 injuries and 0 deaths were reported.
What owners describe
- Visibility/Wiper (40): no single recurring theme in the descriptions.
- Other / unknown (30): the most common themes are noise or vibration (3), electrical failure (2).
- Electrical (20): the most common themes are electrical failure (9), noise or vibration (2).
- Brakes (18): the most common themes are noise or vibration (4), brake failure / soft pedal (3).
The 2016 Toyota Prius has 155 owner complaints, ranking #15 of 27 Prius model years for complaints (well below the 464 average). Complaints peaked in 2017 (40 filed that year). The typical problem showed up when the car was about 2 years old, at a median of 19,600 miles. Neighboring years: 2015 (166 complaints, 1 recalls), 2017 (91 complaints, 3 recalls).
Engines & fuel economy (EPA)
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.8 L 4-cyl hybrid | Automatic (variable gear ratios) | Front-Wheel Drive | 54 | 50 | 52 | Regular |
Want the full repair deets? Get the factory manual.
Recall and complaint data tells you what goes wrong. A service manual tells you how to fix it: torque specs, wiring diagrams, fluid capacities and step-by-step procedures for the 2016 Toyota Prius.
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FAQ
Does the 2016 Toyota Prius have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 5 vehicle recalls for the 2016 Toyota Prius. Recall repairs are free at any dealer, no matter how old the car is. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What are the most common 2016 Toyota Prius problems?
Owners have filed 155 complaints with NHTSA. The most-reported areas are visibility/wiper (40), other / unknown (30), electrical (20).
What gas mileage does the 2016 Toyota Prius get?
EPA ratings run up to 52 mpg combined (1.8 L, Automatic (variable gear ratios)), across 1 engine and transmission combos.
Where can I get a 2016 Toyota Prius repair manual?
eManualOnline sells downloadable manuals, Mitchell 1 DIY and ALLDATAdiy sell online access to factory repair data, and Haynes sells printed guides and online access. Pick a download if you want to keep it, or a subscription for wiring diagrams and TSBs.