2016 Toyota Prius recalls

• Electrical#2021723November 24, 2021

  55,683 units affected

  Issue: This recall is for certain block heater kits installed on certain vehicles or sold as accessories at Toyota or Lexus dealerships. On certain vehicles, the engine block heater cable may not have enough heat protection and could be damaged by high temperatures. If this happens, the cable could short circuit while plugged in, and cause the wiring to overheat or melt. Note: This recall only affects the following block heater/cord part numbers: C014003034 PK5A408J09 PU14000904 C014003151 PK5A408J13 PU14000905 C014000885 PK5A489J11 PU14000907 C014000888 PK5A489J22 PU14000909 C014000907 PK5A410H00 PU14000911 C014100904 PU14000900 PU14000913 C014100907 PU14000901 PU14003571 C014100911 PU14000902 PK5A489J14 PK5A408J05 PU14000903 Safety Risk: Engine block heater wiring that overheats or melts could create the risk of a fire. Corrective Actions: Toyota recommends that you should stop using the engine block heater immediately. Toyota will notify owners by mail and instruct you to take your vehicle to a dealer to disable the engine block heater. For some vehicles, the corrective actions for this recall are under development. For others, a new engine block heater cannot be installed, and the owner will receive a refund of the purchase price of the engine block heater.

• Electrical#2020284June 25, 2020

  11,576 units affected

  Issue: The Intelligent Power Module (IPM), which is part of the hybrid drive system, could become damaged under certain driving conditions. This could cause various warnings to appear on the instrument panel and cause the hybrid system to shut down. If this happens, there can be a loss of power to the wheels. Safety Risk: A loss of power to the wheels could create the risk of a crash. Corrective Actions: Toyota will notify owners by mail and instruct you to take your vehicle to a dealer to update the software for the hybrid system.

• Electrical#2018477September 5, 2018

  7,200 units affected

  On certain vehicles, the hybrid vehicle Power Control Unit connector cover could come into contact with the wiring harness and could cause wear on the wiring insulation. If bare wires become exposed, an electrical short circuit could occur, which could increase the risk of fire causing injury and/or damage to property. Correction: Dealers will inspect the wiring for damage and, as necessary, install protective tape or replace the wire harness assembly with a new one, which includes a protective sleeve.

• Airbag#2018061January 31, 2018

  4,571 units affected

  On certain vehicles, the airbag system pressure sensors and/or acceleration sensors used to detect vehicle impact may contain manufacturing defects. As a result, the airbag warning light may illuminate and the side/curtain shield airbags and/or front airbags may not deploy, increasing the risk of injury in the event of a crash. Correction: Dealers will inspect and replace the defective sensors as necessary. Note: This will not affect the front airbags of the Prius model.

• Electrical#2017363July 20, 2017

  39,189 units affected

  On certain vehicles, the electrical power cords of some dealer installed block heaters may have been improperly manufactured, causing the wires to contact each other, resulting in a short circuit. A short circuit could lead to a fire which would increase the risk of injury and/or damage to property. Correction: For vehicles where the subject block heater was approved for installation, the dealer will replace the block heater assembly with a new one of an improved design. For vehicles where the subject block heater was not approved for installation, dealers will remove the block heater assembly. In the interim, until the remedy can be performed, dealers will cut the plug end from the block heater cord to disable the block heater's operation.

• Brakes#2016501October 12, 2016

  2,780 units affected

  On certain vehicles, the parking brake cables may disengage from the crank lever at the rear caliper. This could cause the parking brake to become inoperative. If this occurs and the transmission is left in a gear other than ‘Park’ while the ignition is on and the driver leaves the vehicle, the vehicle could roll away, increasing the risk of a crash causing injury and/or property damage. Correction: Dealers will install a clip at the parking brake cable end to prevent the cable from disengaging from the rear brake caliper crank lever.

• Airbag#2016449September 14, 2016

  185 units affected

  On certain vehicles, a defect in the passenger airbag inflator could cause stored compressed gas to be released into the airbag. This would cause an unwarranted partial inflation of the airbag. If this were to occur while the vehicle is being driven, it could startle the driver, potentially leading to a crash, or the airbag could contact a passenger seated in the front passenger seat. These issues could increase the risk of injury and/or damage to property. Correction: Dealers will replace the front passenger airbag assembly.

Canadian data updated August 24, 2026

• ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING#18V579000September 5, 2018

  Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2016-2018 Toyota Prius vehicles. 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.

  Risk: An electrical short can increase the risk of a fire.

  Remedy: 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. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371. Toyota's number for this recall is J0T.

• AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW#18V085000January 31, 2018

  Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2016 Toyota Prius and Lexus RX 350, RX 350 F Sport, RX 450h F Sport and RX 450h vehicles and 2015-2016 Lexus NX 200T, NX Turbo and NX 300h vehicles. 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.

  Risk: If the air bags fail to deploy in a crash, it can increase the risk of injury.

  Remedy: 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. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are JLA, J0F.

• HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM: INVERTER#17V658000October 18, 2017

  Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2016 Prius vehicles. A capacitor within the hybrid system may not have been properly bolted to the inverter housing.

  Risk: 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.

  Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the inverter, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin by early December 2017. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is H0U.

• PARKING BRAKE#16V741000October 14, 2016

  Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Prius vehicles manufactured August 6, 2015, to October 3, 2016. The affected vehicles are equipped with a foot-operated parking brake system that has a parking brake cable that may disengage.

  Risk: 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.

  Remedy: 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. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371. Toyota's number for this recall is G01.

• AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE#16V672000September 16, 2016

  Toyota Motor Engineering and Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2016 Toyota Prius vehicles manufactured November 30, 2015, to June 14, 2016. An air bag inflator manufacturing error may result in the inadvertent partial inflation of the front passenger air bag.

  Risk: A front passenger air bag that unintentionally inflates can increase the risk of a crash or injury.

  Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag assembly, free of charge. The recall began November 10, 2016. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is G0W.