2016 Toyota Prius Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often report windshield glass that chips or cracks from minor debris and then spreads quickly, frequently at low mileage. A second theme is a delay in power when accelerating from a stop, which several owners describe as happening in hot weather, along with brake and hybrid-system warning messages on the dash.

1. 1
   Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)

   Windshield chips and cracks easily

   • 44 complaints (28%)
   • median 19,500 mi at 2.0 yrs old (37 state mileage)
   • owner-quoted repair $690 (median of 9 quotes)
   • filed 2016–2023

   Owners describe small pebbles or road debris producing chips that quickly turn into long cracks, sometimes spreading within minutes or while the car is parked. Several say they saw no impact at all and found a crack after the car sat in the sun. Replacements were often paid through insurance, and owners mention camera recalibration costs and part availability delays; dealers generally treated the damage as impact-related rather than a warranty matter. Mostly reported under 30,000 miles, in a wide range of temperatures and both while driving and while parked.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: Inspect the windshield closely for chips, repaired spots or replaced glass, and ask whether the forward camera was recalibrated after any replacement. Check whether the car has a spare tire, since some were sold without one.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I have owned 3 Toyota Prius and since I purchased this 2016 Prius in 09/2016. I have had to replace the windshield twice so far, 1 in 09/2016 and 06/2017. And now have cracked windshield all cause by small rock chip starting in the corners of the windshield. This is getting ridiculous, I have never had this issue with other 2 models or other vehicle I have owned.”

   NHTSA complaint #11072075, filed 2018-02, 100 miles

   “The oem windshields that are installed on new 2016 Prius 2 models are clearly not to standard. I have a huge crack across my windshield from a very tiny pebble while traveling at 12 MPH. What the heck Toyota??? I was traveling on the 101 southbound in la in a merging lane moving at a pace that joggers could keep up with when a stray pebble cracked my entire glass.”

   NHTSA complaint #11006174, filed 2017-07, 60,000 miles
2. 2
   Engine

   No power or delayed acceleration from a stop

   • 14 complaints (9%)
   • median 41,020 mi at 4.8 yrs old (9 state mileage, few)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2017–2026

   Owners report pressing the accelerator with the car in Drive and getting no forward movement, while the engine revs or the car stays put; a restart sometimes restores normal operation. Several say it occurs mainly in hot weather or after repeated stop-and-go driving. Some had the car inspected or a fuel system component replaced, with the problem returning in at least one case. Reported from roughly 40,000 to 90,000 miles, with several owners noting it in summer heat.

   4 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask whether the car has ever failed to move from a stop and whether any throttle-related diagnostic codes or updates were addressed. A test drive that includes several stop-and-go starts in warm conditions is worthwhile.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “2016 Toyota Prius has issues accelerating when put in drive and foot is on the gas petal. Car engine will rev but does not accelerate. I reversed, put the car in drive and went about a tenth of a mile and stopped to wait for the gate to open. Upon gate opening I pressed the gas petal and car did not move but the engine revved. No warning lights were on and car was in fact in the drive position. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11350158, filed 2020-08, 41,020 miles

   “Car does not accelerate from a stop when pressing the gas petal while car is in drive. This seems to happen only in the summer months. While pulling up to a red light I slowed the car to a stop. When the light turned green I let my foot off the brake, car motioned forward a bit but when I pressed my foot on the gas petal the engine would rev but would not accelerate in any way. I put the car in reverse to try and get out of main road traffic but car continued to have no power. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11350160, filed 2020-08, 40,100 miles
3. 3
   Brakes

   Brake and hybrid system warning messages

   • 16 complaints (10%)
   • median 18,350 mi at 1.2 yrs old (12 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2016–2026

   Complaints describe multiple dash warnings appearing together, including low braking power, ABS malfunction, pre-collision system malfunction and check cruise control. Some owners describe a pedal that felt firm or that sank further than expected, and one report notes a brake booster diagnostic code. In several cases the warnings cleared and the cause was not confirmed at the dealer. Reported from very low mileage up to about 100,000 miles, in ordinary driving conditions.

   Recall 16V741000

   What to check: Check that no brake, ABS or pre-collision warnings are stored or showing, and ask for any brake-related service history. Confirm the foot-operated parking brake holds the car on a slope.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “While driving the vehicle started to shake from underneath fiercely, I called my mother who came and picked up the car she turned around and went back to my residence, while attempting to park in the garage the car started to roll down the driveway and the brakes wouldn't work, the car landed on the street. City of lancaster ca”

   NHTSA complaint #10953980, filed 2017-02, 3,510 miles

   “On friday, october 21, 2016 while driving over a pothole I pressed on the brake. The car slowed but all of a sudden the brake suddenly depressed even further down and the car jerked and seemed to stall before pushing forward. I had been pressing the brake as far down as it would go and it seemed as if there would be some kind of brake failure. On october 31, 2016 while driving over another pothole, I again stepped on the brake and suddenly the pedal again depressed further down and there was a creaking and squealing sound. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10926286, filed 2016-11, 1,500 miles
4. 4
   Other or unknown

   Tire and wheel wear complaints

   • 17 complaints (11%)
   • median 12,650 mi at 1.5 yrs old (16 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2016–2024

   Owners describe uneven wear on the inner rear tires, with one report attributing it to rear camber being out of the specified range. Others report tires losing pressure quickly or tire pressure warnings staying on in cool weather, and sidewall failures on original tires. One owner noted the car was sold without a spare tire or jack. Reported mostly under 30,000 miles, with some sidewall failures at highway speed.

   What to check: Look at inner and outer tread depths on all four tires and ask for a recent alignment printout. Confirm what spare or inflation kit the car came with.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “If the tire pressure is decreased by the slightest amount the light will go on and stay on. If the temperature is cool the light will go on and stay on. I've brought it back to service 4 times during november and december of 2016. Their scan shows no fault. I purchased the Prius in february 2016 and didn't have this problem until november. The light may come on while driving or sometimes when the car is first started.”

   NHTSA complaint #10943978, filed 2017-01, 3,000 miles

   “My 2016 Prius four touring with 25,202 miles is chewing up its tires. Specifically, it is chewing them up on the inside of the rear tires (that is, the tread of the rear tires closest to the center of the car is being worn off faster than the tread on the outside of the tires). The rear wheels are out of alignment in the camber by a negative 1.7 degrees out of where it should be (the top of the tire is tilted in toward the middle of the car 1.7 degrees from where it should be). …”

   NHTSA complaint #11316777, filed 2020-03, 25,202 miles
5. 5
   Electrical system

   Bluetooth and infotainment resets

   • 10 complaints (6%)
   • median 31,200 mi at 3.7 yrs old (9 state mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2016–2026

   Owners report phone calls dropping a few seconds after connecting, and the display unit restarting as if the car had just been started when a phone connects. Some describe the instrument display going blank at startup and returning after a restart. Dealers were not always able to reproduce the behavior. Reported from about 40,000 to 97,000 miles, both while parked and while driving.

   3 related service bulletins

   What to check: Pair a phone during the test drive and check whether calls hold and the display stays on. Ask whether any audio or infotainment software updates were applied.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “When starting the car the electronic dashboard was black with no info on speed. We drove it 70 miles home guessing at the speed. We turned if off and restarted it with the same result. Then we got home, turned it off, restarted it and the dashboard was back, working normally. Wtf? Not having a speedometer is a huge safety hazard. There should be a fallback for this. We cant trust this car and likely will trade it in soon for something else.”

   NHTSA complaint #11221678, filed 2019-06, 40,700 miles

   “Blue tooth connection via phone will be dropped after 7-10 seconds post connection to the vehicle. Audio player can be connected separately but once the phone connects the display console resets as if the car was just being started. Car can be stationary not moving. No difference”

   NHTSA complaint #11385149, filed 2020-12, 97,300 miles

Buying note. Check the windshield and its camera calibration history first, then verify that no brake, ABS or hybrid warnings appear and that the car accelerates normally from repeated stops. A pre-purchase alignment check and a look at rear tire wear are also worth the effort.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.