ToyotaPrius2016Overview/toyota/prius/2016/base/

2016 Toyota Prius

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2016 Prius.

Body PASSENGER CARTransmission Automatic (variable gear ratios)

The 2016 Toyota Prius is a passenger car equipped with an automatic transmission featuring variable gear ratios and EPA-rated fuel economy of 54 mpg city, 50 mpg highway, and 52 mpg combined. In terms of reliability data, this model year generated 179 total owner complaints with Visibility/Wiper cited as the top complaint area, alongside 6 documented recalls. When contextualized within the broader Prius complaint history spanning 2000 through 2026, the 2016 sits well below the nameplate's peak of 2,819 complaints in 2010 yet notably above its lowest point of just 4 complaints in 2000. For researchers examining the vehicle's dependability trajectory, this complaint frequency positions the 2016 near the middle-to-lower range of the model's historical reliability spectrum.

Model year202520242023202220212020201920182016

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

EPA fuel economy54/50/52 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI S46B24R · 325 CCA battery, OE oil filter 9030169011. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Battery groupBCI S46B24R · 325 CCAOEM · verified
Tail / brake / turnOFFOEM · verified
Tire sizeP195/65R15, P215/45R17OEM · verified
Wheel / rim6.5, 7.0 inOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter9030169011 alt 04152YZZA6
Engine air filter1780121060
Spark plug9091901298
Battery2880037130
Front wiper blades8522247130 alt 8521247130
Thermostat1632637020 alt 1603137010
Cabin air filter871390R030 alt 8713958010

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic (variable gear ratios)

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length178.7 in
Overall width69.3 in
Overall height57.9 in
Wheelbase106.3 in
Curb weight3064 lb
Track (front / rear)60.2 / 60.2 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)60/40

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined54 / 50 / 52 mpg
DrivetrainFront-Wheel Drive
Recommended fuelRegular Gasoline

Performance & power Independent road tests

0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.

Independent road tests for the Prius of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.

9.4–10.5 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 9.40 sec — 2016 Two Eco Hatchback
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
2016Two Eco Hatchback 1.8L I-4 + Elec 0.8-kWh9.40 sec17.20 sec121 hpFWD
2016Four Hatchback 1.8L I-4 + Elec 0.7-kWh9.70 sec17.40 sec121 hpFWD
2016Two Eco Hatchback 1.8L I-4 + Elec 0.8-kWh9.90 sec17.40 sec121 hpFWD
2016Four Touring Hatchback 1.8L I-4 + Elec 0.7-kWh10.50 sec17.80 sec121 hpFWD
2017Prime Advanced Hatchback 1.8L I-4 + Elec 8.8-kWh10.00 sec17.40 sec121 hpFWD
2017Prime Advanced Hatchback 1.8L I-4 + Elec 8.8-kWh10.10 sec17.50 sec121 hpFWD
2017Prime Advanced Hatchback 1.8L I-4 + Elec 8.8-kWh10.20 sec17.70 sec121 hpFWD
2017Prime Plus Hatchback 1.8L I-4 + Elec 8.8-kWh10.30 sec17.70 sec121 hpFWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine SAE J1703 · DOT 3 brake fluid. Torque the oil drain plug to 30.0 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-3-4-2.

Lubricants & capacities

Automatic Transmission FluidATF
Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity3.6
Brake FluidSAE J1703 · DOT 3
Engine CoolantHOAT
Power Steering FluidATF

Engine torques

Camshaft Bearing/Carrier Cap Bolts or Studs20 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug20.0 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug30.0 ft-lbs
Oil Pump to Cylinder BLock Bolts/Studs16 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Steering Track (Rod End) Bolts36.0 ft-lbs
Front Wheel HubInstall a new nut and torque to 159.0 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-3-4-2
Curb Idle Speed (No Load)950-1050 rpm
Spark Plug ManufacturerToyota
Spark Plug Gap.039 - .043 (2) in
Spark Plug Torque15 ft-lbs
Ignition Timing10 degrees
Ignition Timing Acceptable Variance2 degrees

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR134a
Refrigerant Capacity0.80-1.10 lbs
Oil TypeND 8 oil
Standard BCI Group NumberS46B24R
Standard BCI Cranking Performance325 cca

Service checks

Regulated Fuel System Pressure (With Vacuum)44-50 @ idle or fuel pump running psi
Engine Compressionpsi 89.5 / max variation 14.5 psi

Brakes

Brake Caliper Bolt to Carrier TorqueFront: 25; Rear: 25 /
Brake Caliper Carrier to Hub Bolt TorqueFront: 101; Rear: 42 /
ABS Sensor Torque8.5 / NS
Minimum Pad ThicknessFront: 0.039; Rear: 0.039 in
Minimum Shoe Thickness0.039 in
Vented Rotor Minimum Thickness for ReplacementFront: .866; Rear: .295
Maximum Rotor RunoutFront: .0020; Rear: .0059

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
115 ft. lbs., Step 2: 9015 ft. lbs
Engine Flywheel Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
136 ft. lbs., Step 2: 9036 ft. lbs
Main Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
130 ft. lbs., Step 2: 9030 ft. lbs

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 10,000 mi; spark plugs at 120,000 mi; coolant every 50,000 mi. The big-interval services (every 50,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

Every 5,000 miBrake System (inspect) · Floor Mat (inspect) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate) · Universal Vehicle Operation (inspect all fluid levels) · Windshield Wiper Blade (inspect)
Every 10,000 miEngine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace)
Every 15,000 miAir Conditioning Condenser (inspect) · Brake Line (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Engine Coolant System (inspect fluid level) · Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect) · Hybrid Inverter (inspect coolant level)
Every 30,000 miBrake Drum Assembly (inspect) · Brake Linings (inspect) · Brake Rotor (inspect) · Cabin Air Filter (replace) · Differential (inspect fluid level) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace)
Every 50,000 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)
At 100,000 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)
At 120,000 miSpark Plugs (replace)
At 150,000 miHybrid Inverter (drain, flush & refill coolant)
At 200,000 miHybrid Inverter (drain, flush & refill coolant)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The 2016 Prius marks the debut of the fourth generation and shows the typical first-year elevation: 179 complaints and six recalls against 160 complaints and one recall for the 2015 carryover, with TSBs jumping to 424 from 324 the prior year. Complaints then drop sharply in 2017 to 101 with three recalls and continue a steep descent to 35 by 2018, while recalls remain low (one to three annually) through the rest of the generation. The 2016 complaint profile is led by Visibility/Wiper (33 reports), followed by Unknown Or Other (22), Service Brakes (11), and Air Bags (8); the data does not specify root causes for these categories. Thirteen crash-related complaints were recorded for 2016 with no fire complaints. This pattern confirms 2016 as the highest-exposure model year of the generation, with significantly more federal activity than any subsequent year. Buyers should treat the 2016 as the riskiest year of the fourth-generation run and prioritize later models unless a thorough pre-purchase inspection verifies all recall campaigns are complete.

6
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
424
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
1
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
179
Owner complaints
13 involved a crash · 0 a fire
NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars
Overall★★★★★
Frontal★★★★
Side★★★★★
Rollover★★★★

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 179 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Visibility/Wiper33
Unknown Or Other22
Service Brakes11
Air Bags8
Vehicle Speed Control8
Tires7
Engine6
Structure6

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 5 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

17V658000Hybrid Propulsion System: InverterReported 18/10/2017

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. 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…

18V579000Electrical System:WiringReported 05/09/2018

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… 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…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 424 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
T-SB-0055-24 Rev22026-01-07Unknown Or OtherSome 2005 – 2026 Toyota vehicles that have undergone water intrusion may exhibit a…
T-TT-0790-252025-08-20Electrical SystemSome customers may experience echoing on the line calling the vehicle when using…
T-SB-0058-23 Rev12025-06-13Electrical SystemThe air conditioning dye injection tool kit has been developed to aid in identifying the…
T-SB-0110-20 Rev22024-12-10EngineThis bulletin includes basic procedures for performing a rescue charge at battery on high…
T-SB-0035-24 Rev22024-12-06StructureAcid rain results from rainwater or other airborne moisture that become acidic due to…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420
Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1
P0300
Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected
P0171
System too lean — Bank 1
P0455
Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak
P0128
Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature
P0442
Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN
Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Prius. OEM
Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Frequently asked

Does the 2016 Prius have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 6 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the Prius get?

EPA figures are 54 city / 50 highway / 52 combined mpg.