What Owners Report NHTSA ODI · 2,175,102 complaints · MY1998–2026

2010 Toyota Prius

Typical pattern

16.5% of complaints about the 2010 Toyota Prius came in the first year, which is unremarkable for a 2010 vehicle — around the middle of the 203 model-years on record. The median complaint arrives at 6.4 yr in service. The most-reported system is service brakes (590 complaints), typically at 9.2 yr or about 93,000 miles.

Complaints
2,032
Median age at failure
6.4 yr
Median mileage
60,000 n=1494
Crash / fire / tow
12.3% of reports
Safety recalls
10

When each system is reported — middle 50% of complaints

System
0y2y4y6y8y10y12y14y
Service brakes
590 reports · 93,000 mi
9.2 yr
8.1%
Service brakes, hydraulic
199 reports · 6,500 mi
8 mo
15.6%
Electrical system
171 reports · 75,000 mi
6.7 yr
9.9%
Exterior lighting
144 reports · 68,250 mi
5.9 yr
4.2%
Engine
140 reports · 102,000 mi
7.6 yr
8.6%
Speed control
129 reports · 10,000 mi
1.3 yr
22.5%
Other
86 reports · 99,700 mi
9.1 yr
11.6%
Air bags
85 reports · 61,000 mi
6.9 yr
31.8%
Service brakes, electric
65 reports · 4,400 mi
6 mo
7.7%
Fuel / propulsion
60 reports · 116,373 mi
8.9 yr
6.7%
Power train
54 reports · 49,000 mi
4.8 yr
18.5%
Electronic stability control (esc)
46 reports · 96,000 mi
8.1 yr
6.5%

Safety recalls — NHTSA campaigns

18V684000 2018-10-04
Hybrid propulsion system

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2010-2014 Toyota Prius and 2012-2014 Toyota Prius V vehicles. Excessive voltage in the Intelligent Power Module (IPM) within the inverter may cause the hybrid system to shut down, causing the vehicle to stall while being driven.

If the hybrid system shuts down unexpectedly, it can increase the risk of a crash.

16V487000 2016-06-30
Air bags:side/window

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2010-2012 Toyota Prius, 2010 and 2012 Toyota Prius Plug-in Hybrid, and 2011-2012 Lexus CT200h vehicles. A weld in the curtain shield air bag inflator may crack causing one or both portions of the inflator to eject into the passenger cabin.

If either portion of the curtain shield air bag inflator ejects into the passenger cabin, there is an increased risk of injury to vehicle occupants.

16V396000 2016-06-02
Seats:front assembly:seat heater/cooler

Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain 2005-2011 4Runner, Highlander, Sequoia, and Sienna, 2005-2010 Avalon and Tundra, 2006-2008 Camry Solara, 2006-2010 Highlander hybrid, 2006-2011 Rav4 and Tacoma, 2007-2010 FJ Cruiser, 2007-2011 Camry hybrid, 2009-2010 Venza, 2010-2012 Prius, 1988-1990 and 2005-2010 Camry, and 1989 and 2009-2010 Corolla vehicles equipped with aftermarket accessory seat heaters with a copper strand heating element. The electrical wiring in the seat heaters may be damaged when the seat cushion is compressed.

If damaged, the copper strand heating element may short circuit, increasing the risk of a fire.

14V743000 2014-11-19
Seats:front assembly:seat heater/cooler

Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain model year 2010-2011 Prius and Corolla, 2009-2011 Venza, 2006-2010 Avalon, 2007-2010 FJ Cruiser, 2005-2011 Sienna and Sequoia, 2006-2011 Tacoma 4x2 and 4x4, Camry, Highlander, Tundra 4x2 and 4x4, and 2007-2011 Rav4 and 4Runner. The affected vehicles may experience compression of the seat cushion which may damage the seat heater wiring.

Damage to the seat heater wiring could cause the wires to short, increasing the risk of the seat burning and causing personal injury to the occupant.

14V053000 2014-02-12
Hybrid propulsion system: inverter

Toyota is recalling certain model year 2010 through 2014 Prius vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the Intelligent Power Module (IPM) inside the inverter module (a component of the hybrid system) contains transistors that may become damaged from high operating temperatures. If this occurs, various warning lamps will be illuminated on the instrument panel and the vehicle will have reduced power allowing it to only drive a short distance.

The vehicle may enter a fail-safe/limp-home mode that limits the drivability of the vehicle. The hybrid system could also shut down completely resulting in a vehicle stall, increasing the risk of a crash.

13V235000 2013-06-05
Service brakes

Toyota is recalling certain model year 2010 Prius vehicles manufactured March 31, 2009, through October 9, 2009; and model year 2010 Lexus HS250h vehicles manufactured June 19, 2009, through October 9, 2009. Nitrogen gas from a component of the brake booster pump assembly could leak into the brake fluid.

As nitrogen is released into the brake fluid, the brake pedal may have reduced hydraulic pressure. Under certain circumstances, this condition could affect stopping distance and increase the risk of a crash.

13V014000 2013-01-16
Air bags:frontal:sensor/control module-inactive

Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain models interspersed through model years 2009 through 2013 as follows: model year 2009-2012 Tacoma, 4Runner, Camry, Camry Hybrid, Prius, and RAV4; model year 2009-2010 Avalon, FJ Cruiser, and Highlander Hybrid; model year 2010-2013 model year Corolla, Sienna and Tundra; model year 2009-2013 Highlander and Venza; model year 2012 Prius V; and model year 2010-2012 Sequoia. During modification by SET to include accessories such as leather seat covers, seat heaters or headrest DVD systems, these vehicles may not have had the passenger se

If the front passenger seat occupant sensing system is out of calibration, the front passenger airbags may not deploy or they may deploy inappropriately for the passenger's size and position. This could increase the risk of personal injury during the event of a vehicle crash necessitating airbag deployment.

10V039000 2010-02-09
Service brakes, air:antilock:control unit/module

TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS AND LEXUS HS250H PASSENGER VEHICLES. CUSTOMERS HAVE EXPERIENCED INCONSISTENT BRAKE FEEL AFTER ABS ACTUATION DURING SLOW AND STEADY APPLICATION OF THE BRAKES ON ROUGH OR SLICK ROAD SURFACES. STOPPING DISTANCES MAY BE INCREASED COMPARED WITH A CUSTOMER'S EXPECTATION FOR A GIVEN PEDAL FORCE.

VEHICLE STOPPING DISTANCES MAY INCREASE RELATIVE TO A CUSTOMER'S EXPECTATION INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

10V036000 2010-02-03
Equipment:other:labels

SOUTHEAST TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2005-2011 PASSENGER VEHICLES FOR FAILING TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 110, "TIRE SELECTION AND RIMS." THESE VEHICLES WERE SOLD WITHOUT THE REQUISITE LOAD CARRYING CAPACITY MODIFICATION LABELS.

A DRIVER MAY OVERLOAD A VEHICLE WHICH MAY INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.

10V035000 2010-02-03
Equipment:other:labels

GULF STATES TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2005-2010 VEHICLES FOR FAILING TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 110, "TIRE SELECTION AND RIMS." THESE VEHICLES WERE SOLD BETWEEN SEPTEMBER 1, 2005 AND JUNE 2, 2008 WITHOUT THE REQUISITE LOAD CARRYING CAPACITY MODIFICATION LABELS.

THIS DOES NOT MEET THE STANDARD REQUIREMENTS.

In owners’ own words

Speed control mileage not reported 0 mo in service
RE: 2010 PRIUS. WHEN BRAKING OVER A POTHOLE, THE CAR SURGED FORWARD SUDDENLY (SUDDEN ACCELERATION DESPITE BRAKING). *TR
Speed control 2,000 mi 1 mo in service
I HAVE A 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS AND IT ACCELERATES RANDOMLY. USUALLY WHEN I PUSH ON THE BRAKE A LITTLE BIT, BUT NOT ALL THE WAY, IT WILL JUMP FORWARD AND ACCELERATE. I HEARD ABOUT THE ISSUES WITH THE MAT AND I REMOVED THE MAT MONTHS AGO. ITS IS STILL UNINTENTIONALLY ACCELERATING. IT HAS HAPPENED MAY 6 TIMES SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR IN JULY. I AM SCARED TO DRIVE IT AND HAVE BEEN DRIVING MY SPARE CAR UNTIL SOMETHING IS DONE BY TOYOTA OR SOMEONE ELSE THAT CARES ABOUT THE SAFETY OF DRIVERS. *TR
Speed control 867 mi 2 mo in service
2010 TOYOTA PRIUS ACCELERATES SLIGHTLY WHEN BRAKE IS COMPRESSED AND CAR IS TRAVELING OVER LARGE ROAD BUMPS OR MANHOLE COVERS/SLIPPERY SURFACES (MULTIPLE TIMES EACH TIME I DRIVE). I HAVE NOT YET REPORTED THIS TO TOYOTA, BASED ON THE ONLINE AND NEWS-BROADCAST ACCOUNTS OF HOW TOYOTA HAS RESPONDED TO MUCH MORE SERIOUS ACCELERATION ISSUES. I INTEND TO ATTEMPT RETURNING THE VEHICLE TO THE COMPANY FOR A FULL REFUND. *TR
Power train 15,300 mi 4 mo in service
WHILE BRAKING AT A SPEED OF ABOUT 25 MPH, WHEELS HIT A POTHOLE AND THE CAR SEEMED TO ACCELERATE AND LURCH FORWARD FOR A FRACTION OF A SECOND BEFORE BRAKING RESUMED. *TR

Other Prius model years

20172016201520142013201220112010200920082007200620052004200320022001

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