NHTSA has 171 owner complaints on file for the 2015 Toyota Prius[1]. Brakes come up most often, with 95 complaints[2].
Most reported problems
Owners report trouble in several parts of the car. Here are the groups, biggest first.
- Brakes. 95 complaints[2]. Owners describe a pedal that does not slow the car the way they expect, and a few say the car seemed to keep moving or pick up speed while they were braking.
- Electrical System. 28 complaints[6]. Owners describe a small battery that went flat and left the car unable to start, shift warnings on the dash, and radio or phone connections that act up. Some also say the screens are hard to read in bright sun.
- Unknown Or Other. 15 complaints[7]. These reports do not fit a clear component group.
- Power Train. 13 complaints[8]. Owners describe a gear selector that springs back to the middle so they are unsure which gear they are in. Others say the car slipped into neutral on its own, did not move when they pressed the pedal, or rolled backward.
- Engine. 9 complaints[9]. In the stories we read, owners describe stalling when pulling away, a rise in revs while on cruise control, and an overheating warning.
- Speed Control. 8 complaints[10]. This group has 7 crashes tied to it[10].
- Structure. 7 complaints[11].
- Exterior Lighting. 7 complaints[12].
Recalls
Newest first. Each recall covers only certain vehicles, so not every 2015 Prius is necessarily included.
- Hybrid Propulsion System › Inverter (20V369), June 2020. About 266,638 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: a crash. Dealers do the repair free of charge.[13]
- Hybrid Propulsion System (17V718), November 2017. About 39,915 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: a crash, loss of power. Dealers do the repair free of charge.[14]
Fuel economy
EPA ratings depend on the engine and drive. Annual fuel cost uses EPA's current fuel price assumptions, not prices when the car was new.
Safety ratings
Engine and size
Horsepower is the rating listed for EPA test vehicles.
How 2015 compares with other years
Show the numbers
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 165 | 3 |
| 2002 | 167 | 2 |
| 2003 | 99 | 1 |
| 2004 | 610 | 6 |
| 2005 | 1,051 | 6 |
| 2006 | 1,439 | 6 |
| 2007 | 2,003 | 4 |
| 2008 | 1,497 | 4 |
| 2009 | 502 | 6 |
| 2010 | 2,829 | 10 |
| 2011 | 522 | 6 |
| 2012 | 449 | 7 |
| 2013 | 426 | 4 |
| 2014 | 222 | 4 |
| 2015 | 171 | 2 |
| 2016 | 155 | 5 |
| 2017 | 91 | 3 |
| 2018 | 37 | 1 |
| 2019 | 30 | 3 |
| 2020 | 14 | 0 |
| 2021 | 6 | 0 |
| 2022 | 24 | 1 |
| 2023 | 21 | 4 |
| 2024 | 27 | 4 |
| 2025 | 18 | 2 |
| 2026 | 10 | 1 |
NHTSA's counts for the Prius show 171 complaints and 2 recalls for 2015[3]. Among the 27 model years listed, 15 have fewer complaints than 2015 and 11 have more[3]. The fewest complaints are for 2027 (0) and the most are for 2010 (2,829)[3]. These counts are not adjusted for sales, so treat them as a rough guide. The chart above shows every year.
Should you buy a used 2015 Prius?
The complaint record for the 2015 Prius is led by the brakes, which have 95 complaints[2]. The electrical system comes next with 28[6]. Some reports mention crashes and injuries, so they are worth taking seriously[1]. These are unverified owner reports and the counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold. If you are shopping for one, check the recall section above and test the brakes and gear selector on a drive.
Frequently asked questions
- What are the most common problems with the 2015 Toyota Prius?
- Brakes are named most often, with 95 complaints[2]. Electrical issues follow with 28[6], then power train with 13[8].
- Has the 2015 Toyota Prius been recalled?
- Yes. The by-year fact lists 2 recalls for 2015[3]. See the Recalls section on this page for the details.
- What MPG does the 2015 Toyota Prius get?
- See the fuel economy section on this page. It is built from EPA data.
- Is the 2015 Toyota Prius reliable?
- NHTSA has 171 owner complaints on file for this year[1]. These are unverified reports, so read the problems section and the safety section together.
- What is the best year for the Toyota Prius?
- Use the by-year comparison on this page to see how the years stack up.
Keep exploring
Other model years of the Toyota Prius
Compare all model years of the Toyota Prius
Other Toyota models from 2015
- 2015 Toyota 4Runner
- 2015 Toyota Highlander
- 2015 Toyota Land Cruiser
- 2015 Toyota Sienna
- 2015 Toyota Tacoma
Similar cars from 2015: midsize cars
Facts and sources
- NHTSA has 171 owner complaints on file for the 2015 Toyota Prius (30 mention a crash, 1 a fire, 17 injuries, 3 deaths reported). NHTSA vehicle records
- 95 complaints name the brakes component group (12 crashes, 0 fires, 6 injuries, median mileage at failure 45,500). NHTSA vehicle records
- Owner complaints and recalls for every Toyota Prius model year (chart above). NHTSA recall database
- EPA rating for Prius, 1.8L 4-cyl, Automatic (variable gear ratios), Regular, Front-Wheel Drive: 50 city / 46 highway / 48 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $1,400. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
- NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, 5 HB FWD: overall 4 stars, frontal 4 stars, side 5 stars, rollover 4 stars; rollover risk 12.1%. NHTSA vehicle records
- 28 complaints name the electrical system component group (5 crashes, 1 fires, 2 injuries, median mileage at failure 26,035). NHTSA vehicle records
- 15 complaints name the unknown or other component group (2 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
- 13 complaints name the power train component group (4 crashes, 0 fires, 3 injuries, median mileage at failure 22,267). NHTSA vehicle records
- 9 complaints name the engine component group (3 crashes, 0 fires, 1 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
- 8 complaints name the speed control component group (7 crashes, 0 fires, 3 injuries, median mileage at failure 4,729). NHTSA vehicle records
- 7 complaints name the structure component group (3 crashes, 0 fires, 3 injuries, median mileage at failure 4,500). NHTSA vehicle records
- 7 complaints name the exterior lighting component group (1 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 75,000). NHTSA vehicle records
- Recall 20V369, filed June 24, 2020: Hybrid Propulsion System › Inverter. NHTSA recall database
- Recall 17V718, filed November 15, 2017: Hybrid Propulsion System. NHTSA recall database
- EPA rating for Prius Plug-in Hybrid, 1.8L 4-cyl, Automatic (variable gear ratios), Regular Gas and Electricity: 50 MPGe combined, 540 miles of range. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
- NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, 5 HB FWD: rollover 4 stars; rollover risk 12.4%. NHTSA vehicle records
- EPA Test Car List, 2015 Toyota Prius with 1.5L 4-cylinder: rated 82 hp. www.epa.gov
- EPA Test Car List, 2015 Toyota Prius with 1.8L 4-cylinder: rated 98 hp. www.epa.gov