10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
4 / 6
Injuries / Deaths:
4 / 0
Average Mileage:
60,507 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2010 Toyota Prius electrical problems

electrical problem

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2010 Toyota Prius Owner Comments (Page 6 of 9)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #73

Dec 032014

Prius 4-cyl

  • 187,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Most Prius 2008-2009-2010-2011 they all have a big problem on the multi-information display do not show not thing when the car is cold after 10 or 15 minutes the display show. It's danger because the driver can not see how fast he is driving of if and thing wrong with the car you can not see the display. Most of my friend have this problem. I called the dealer and they say ther is no recall. I try to send a photo with my message and the photo can not add on to my message. This might be some thing that you might not know ! if you try to call my cell phone and if I do not pick up my call ! please leave a message and I will call you ! because I am driving on the road every day. Thank you for helping me with this information above ! this problem been going on for 5 months.

- Brooklyn, NY, USA

problem #72

Jan 112015

Prius 4-cyl

  • 59,000 miles
The dash display mph and mileage totally went black. Looked it up on the internet and seems like it is a common problem for the 2010 Toyota Prius. Sounds like Toyota use to cover this before this year model, but not now, even though it is still happening. They may have done their dash alittle different, but it is still having the same problem.

- Quitman, AR, USA

problem #71

Feb 262014

Prius 4-cyl

  • 33,350 miles
I purchased a certified used 2010 Toyota Prius from the East coasts number one certified used Toyota dealer. I was presented with papers showing all the checks performed with a certified used Toyota and that the vehicle I was purchasing had pass all the inspections. I test drove the vehicle during the day and did not use the headlights. Once I was home (over 3 hours away) I used the headlights for the first time in the next few days. The driver's side lights were very dim. I took the low beam bulb out and notice a lot of corrosion on the bulb and moisture in the headlamp assembly. I let it dry out and replaced both the drivers and passenger side low beam light bulbs. Over the summer I noticed a few time moisture would build up but would be gone within a few days. Now during the winter the moisture has frozen inside the driver side headlamp assembly and impedes on the effectiveness of the headlamp. My visibility is reduced and has now become a safety issue. I have not owned the vehicle for a full year yet and even purchased the top of the line extended Toyota warranty. My local dealer stated it was not covered under any warranty and that would cost around $500 to be replaced. Toyota has a technical service bulletin on this issue and should repair at no cost to owners due to a safety hazard.

- Perryville, MD, USA

problem #70

Jan 172015

Prius

  • 114,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

After returning to vehicle, low beam headlights failed to properly illuminate. I replaced both bulbs with new ones, and they still fail to cast enough light. The bulbs appear to be on, but are too dim to be effective.

- Overland Park, KS, USA

problem #69

May 022014

Prius 4-cyl

  • 5,000 miles
One of the headlights (low beam) stopped working sometimes in 2013, then it came back. Over the course of 2013-2014, the front right light went out and I had the light bulb replaced. Then it died again. I replaced both bulbs based on the aftermarket recommendation but the lights are not bright enough. The front left parking light also died twice. Something is screwy with the electrical for the lights.

- San Jose, CA, USA

problem #68

Mar 252014

Prius 4-cyl

  • 40,000 miles
My 2010 Prius has had an ongoing problem with the main headlamps blowing, becoming inoperative and effectively leaving me with diminished visibility. This has happened approximately every 3 months since March 2014. Either one or both headlamps will blow. This is due to a known problem with this model and is covered under a Toyota/NHTSA service bulletin (tsp-0204-12). In my case, I purchased the car used, from a Toyota dealer with the Toyota certified car warranty, but this failure of the wiring harness is apparently not covered. Judging by the percentage of complaints in the safercar.gov database for this model, this is a common problem and my experience has been typical. In the most recent incident, it was raining heavily and I ended up driving 150 miles with a blown headlamp, unsafe for me and unsafe for those whom I shared the road with.

- Sammamish, WA, USA

problem #67

Nov 252014

Prius 4-cyl

  • 55,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Toyota has issued a warranty enhancement program for certain vehicles to extend the warranty for certain internal malfunctions of the intelligent power module {\9ipm). This warranty is extended for 15 years. In the event this described condition in the enhancement program occur, and, if verified, an appropriate remedy will be performed. However Toyota further states, "the warning lights and stored hybrid system diagnostic trouble codes (dtcs) can be triggered due to conditions detected not specific to the inverter assembly and its internal components. These additional conditions may require diagnosis or repairs not specifically covered by this warranty enhancement. Please be aware that if the condition is not covered by this warranty enhancement, you may be responsible for the initial diagnostic fees and any other repairs you may "decide" to have performed. Any authorized Toyota dealership can determine if a condition is covered by this warranty enhancement. My local Toyota dealership, larry miller Toyota, has already recommended costly inspections to be performed for the hybrid battery coolant system, which have not been recommended by a Toyota technical service bulletin or any other qualified engineering person at Toyota. Now Toyota is asking the owners to trust their dealer's if what the dealer's are deciding needs to be performed. The Toyota dealers do not engineer, test nor manufacture the vehicle. Toyota corporation is responsible for the condition of the vehicle not the dealer. What specifically may cause the dtcs to be triggered to simulate a problem with the ipm? what are these conditions, are they a serious safety risk and, how can I as a consumer, be 100% confident that if a dtc condition occurs in my vehicle what exactly is the cause. II the dealer is left to decide, will I be treated fairly. Toyota is the car manufacturer not their dealers.

- Sun City West, AZ, USA

problem #66

Apr 032013

Prius 4-cyl

  • 30,000 miles
This has happened several times over the past two years. As I brake at low speeds, the car surges ahead as though your foot is on the accelerator. Sometimes it was so subtle, you wondered if it really happened. Today (11/23/14) there was absolutely no mistaking it. The car surged forward a couple of feet as I was slowing to turn left. If someone had been stopped in front of me, I would have hit them from behind.

- Essex Junction, VT, USA

problem #65

Nov 182014

Prius

  • miles
Vehicle was being driven when a smell of smoke was detected. Upon stopping, smoke came from the engine compartment. Within 3 minutes the vehicle started on fire, extending to the roll up garage door. The fire burned the engine compartment, passenger area, garage door and siding before the fire department extinguished.

- Everett, WA, USA

problem #64

Oct 262014

Prius 4-cyl

  • 68,041 miles
Driving home at night going approximately 40 mph both low beam head lights went out at the same time. Turned on the high beam and they worked ok. Bought new bulbs the next day and installed but did not resolve the problem.

- Eagle, ID, USA

problem #63

Oct 072014

Prius 4-cyl

  • 64,930 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

2010 Toyota iv Prius: Returning home at night in a dark, rural country area of Pennsylvania. Windy, two-lane road with frequent opposing traffic. Left front headlight goes out making it very difficult to see with remaining headlight. Switched to high beams which worked ok until opposing traffic appeared and had to switch back to low beam (singular). A dangerous situation with opposing headlights in your eyes and not enough light from my own car to illuminate the road in front of me. Later, it turned out that the headlamp bulb was ok and "something" was making it either intermittent or go out completely. Sometimes striking the headlight lens assembly with the heel of your hand would get the light to come back on. My wife recently was cited for driving with a headlight out in our local area. This is not a safe situation and the local dealer says he can't help us.

- Harrisburg, PA, USA

problem #62

Oct 252011

Prius 4-cyl

  • 5,000 miles
We have owned this vehicle since it has been new and have replaced the driver's side front headlight annually. This time it went out just 4 weeks after a local mechanic replaced the bulb. When I took it to Toyota and complained of the problem and asked about a warranty fix I was told that the prior bulb had been installed incorrectly and now the entire headlight should be replaced for $500. This is the same problem we have always had.

- Ames, NE, USA

problem #61

Jul 252014

Prius 4-cyl

  • 133,508 miles
The hybrid inverter assembly failed when I tried to accelerate from a stop onto a rural highway. This occurred approximately two months after receiving the motor generator ECU and power management ECU software update that was intended to prevent this type of failure.I was notified of this update/recall in late March 2014 and had the update completed at a authorized Toyota service center.

- Grass Valley, CA, USA

problem #60

Jun 252014

Prius

  • 50,000 miles
Was traveling about 65 mph on route 11 in ct when red lights come on and car slows to 20 mph.pulle to side of road and called aaa/towed to hartford Toyota in hartford ct. First told it was a hybrid battery then told it was the inverter which they said is on back order. Now I, M getting the run around from the main office in California.. brought car in for a recall on software update in Feb 2014 and from what I read this may cause the invert to fail thanks for your attention in this matter.

- Newington, CT, USA

problem #59

May 242014

Prius 4-cyl

  • 96,472 miles
I was leaving a parking space and exiting the parking area when both headlights went off leaving me in the dark. I pulled over and turned them on and off several times but nothing happened. I had the running lights, the turn signals, the high beams but no low beams. I drove home with my high beams on. I went today and replaced both bulbs then tried the lights again. Nothing. I took the bulbs back and exchanged them and still no headlights.

- Alexandria, VA, USA

problem #58

May 012014

Prius 4-cyl

  • miles
(40) fleet 2010 Toyota Prius. Consumer writes in regards to vehicles headlights malfunction. The consumer stated he had to routinely replace 7-8 headlamps per week on the fleet of 40 vehicles. The dealer informed the consumer the frequent burnout of the bulbs was likely due to wither security officers not properly caring for the vehicle or the vehicles being used more frequently for personal use. Also, the wiring harness failed on the vehicles. The consumer stated there is currently 1 vehicle in the shop now, and the dealer quoted a price of $8,000 to replace the wiring harness.

- Smithtown, NY, USA

problem #57

Apr 222014

Prius 4-cyl

  • 26,762 miles
The low beam bulb lamp came loose from its housing - melting the socket, and while still "working" did not provide proper illumination for night driving and perhaps posed a fire hazard. Upon taking to the dealer, they replaced the entire unit (for $720.08) and have ordered a retrofit bracket (it is on back order) that they will installed to prevent re-occurrence. Seems there is a problem - they know it - but the public bares the cost and possible safety issues associated with the problem. They are not taking any proactive action to install a retrofit bracket to prevent the working lamp on the opposite side of the car from dislodging and causing a similar problem.

- Alameda, CA, USA

problem #56

Apr 172014

Prius 4-cyl

  • 65,000 miles
Vehicle was stopped at a red light with engine running. Engine suddenly stopped and would not restart. A check hybrid signal appeared on the dashboard and vehicle would not move in the middle of a busy intersection. It had to be towed.

- East Amherst, NY, USA

problem #55

Nov 052012

Prius 4-cyl

  • miles
ODI # 10556900 further incidents with my Prius.

- Chatham, LA, USA

problem #54

Mar 312014

Prius 4-cyl

  • 36,718 miles
Fuse box cover left loose by dealer after Prius recall service. In the process of doing the engine software update for the Prius recall, apparently the Toyota dealer technician failed to engage the hooks & tabs at the back of the fuse box cover, and just "clicked" the front latch; this left the fuse box cover loose and exposed to water penetration. The loose fuse box cover might permit water to enter the fuse box compartment, causing a short. The short could shut-down car electrical systems causing a catastrophic shut-down of engine, air bags, power brakes, etc. This could easily result in loss of life, when the engine stops and safety systems (air bags) fail due to the short; this similar to the GM ignition recall issue. This is especially critical in a "drive-by-wire" car like the Prius. ==>the Toyota Prius recall is being done improperly (at least occasionally), leading to a much more serious safety issue. The could lead to passenger injury or death, at any time, without warning.

- Rockville, MD, USA

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