10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
3 / 4
Injuries / Deaths:
2 / 0
Average Mileage:
57,615 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 miscellaneous problems

miscellaneous problem

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2010 Toyota Prius Owner Comments (Page 1 of 5)

problem #96

Oct 262023

Prius

  • miles

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

Hi I want submit issues with the master cylinder and abs pump assy I have 2 vehicles same model with average same mileage and both had issues with this system if I drove any distance below 25 mph in a constant time the dash lights comes on traction control, abs light, brake light, and the brake pedal goes low and barely brakes make this situation dangerous when I stop if you try turn it off the engine and on again lights stay there but if I reset the codes the pump works again for some while and then again when you don-??t expected lose pressure and I am really afraid for my safety and my family, and I am not the only one with this problem is too many Prius owners who have the issues I went from dealer and they advice $3000 dlls fix situation who motivate people to lose money for $1200 in parts and $1800 dlls in labor for something they can resolve it because in reality is an manufactured defect

- Raytown, MO, USA

problem #95

Sep 262023

Prius

  • miles
My car malfunctioned causing me to lose control of the car and it crashed into 38 Woodcutters Lane first, and 33 Woodcutters Lane second.

- Staten Island, NY, USA

problem #94

May 262023

Prius

  • miles
Hybrid system shut down while driving. Cleared at deal ship twice. happened two more time. Dealership claims they were unable to recreate the issue.

- Seattle, WA, USA

problem #93

May 162023

Prius

  • miles

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

Took my car to Toyota dealership to get remedy J0V NHSTA recall ID NO. 18V684 Fixed. Dealership has refused to work on recall and has told me I need to pay out of pocket for repair because my car does not fall into certain codes yet it-??s a specific recall that needs to be done on my vehicle

- Sumner, WA, USA

problem #92

Jan 152022

Prius

  • miles
2010 Toyota Prius. Driven about 10000 miles a year. Brake booster system went out at about the 125,000 mile mark. Reason to complain is no parts are available for repair and it is a common problem. Check out youtube.com about it. Dealer has a long waiting list, with no idea of availability. Local repair shops do not have any pumps, meaning there are many cars being driven with defective brake systems. An unusual Toyota recall for the brake problem happened in 2019 that expired in 2020 but my brakes were OK at that time. With so many Prius vehicles on the road, this problem needs more exam and Toyota forced to provide quicker relief, even a recall.

- Cumming, GA, USA

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problem #91

Jun 142022

Prius

  • miles
The car while being driven experienced a hard unprovoked break while on the road. The check hybrid system light then went on. The inverter has gone bad despite me completing the previous recall repair meant to avoid this issue. Toyota in 2021 agreed to pay for failed inverters outside of warranty on SOME 2010 Priuses but my VIN is not included in that recall. The repair cost nearly meets the value of the car at this point and also almost caused an accident.

- Hazel Park, MI, USA

problem #90

May 032022

Prius 4-cyl

  • miles

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

My Toyota Prius has significant problems with mice entering and living in the vehicle. They stay in the cabin filter area and there is evidence they come into the cabin and deposit feces on the floor mats, glove compartment and air filters. There are numerous instances of this on online forums and it appears Toyota does not design to deter rodents. Vent openings are large and unscreened and there are numerous areas in the car that are perfect for mice and rodents to live. Other cars do not have this issue. Toyota must design their cars better so as not to be infested with mice. They must screen openings to vents and other access points and limit areas that are appealing to mice and rodents to live. This is a health and safety hazard. Recently a mice died somewhere in the dash area behind the glove compartment and it has created a horrible smell. I do not leave food in my car and keep it very neat and clean. This is clearly a design issue and many people have reported this on Prius and Toyota forums. Thank you for taking this concern seriously. It has cost me a lot of money and been very difficult. [XXX] Prius Owner 7 Years. INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Santa Barbara, CA, USA

problem #89

Apr 052020

Prius

  • miles
I drive a 2010 Toyota Prius. Color of the car is Pearl White and its starting to peel off and bare metal of the car is getting exposed. Exposed metal will start rusting and start impacting the sturdiness of the car and eventually the safety. Toyota Manufacturer already has a recall in place for several Toyota models for same pearl white paint as shown in link below but Prius model is not part of it. I feel Prius model should also be included in this recall plan as it uses same Pearl white paint. Its a manufacturers defect and they should fix it at their expense. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/defects-autos-paint-toyota-warranty-extension-1.5459368

- Irvine, CA, USA

problem #88

Mar 302022

Prius

  • miles
I was driving on the road and right before a stop light my car jumped as if someone hit me from behind. After looking in my rear view and seeing no one on me I realized something else happened. I look at my dash and check hybrid system light was on. I was in traffic at the light waiting and looked it up on my phone to find out what to do. Some article said to pull over and turn it off and restart it. The light turned green and traffic started moving so I started to drive. I thought I could probably make it home but the car started driving a lot slower than usual. I really didn-€™t want to pull over because it was in a bad part of town but I felt like I had no choice because the car was barely moving. It seemed more dangerous to be on the road with other drivers. So I pulled over and parked and tried starting it again. It wouldn-€™t shift to drive so now I-€™m stuck and can-€™t get home unless I pay to get my car towed. I get my car towed to the house. I put a meter on the battery and it was fine. I put a diagnostics tester on it and came up with these codes POA1A and POA94. I contacted hybrid mechanic that doesn-€™t work at Toyota and he said to take it in to a dealership and sent me the ZE3 warranty letter and said they would fix it. I paid for it to be towed to the dealership. There were already a lot of cars waiting to be serviced when I got there. Anyway, they said they would fix it after they did their diagnostics after I paid $120 for it. That was 3/21/2022. I sent CSR the ZE3 letter and he said it wasn-€™t covered. It-€™s like he didn-€™t even read it. A day later he said he needed to talk to a warranty administrator then a day later he said it would be covered but I don-€™t qualify for a loaner but they can give me a rental for $45 a day. I friend let me borrow their car for a couple days. Now as of writing this it-€™s midnight 3/30/2022. I still don-€™t have my car and I-€™m about to be without a car unless I buy one or rent one. No ETA on the part being delivered either. I-€™m SOL.

- Portland, OR, USA

problem #87

Mar 132022

Prius

  • miles
In Nov 2020 I was informed that my ABS actuator needed to be replaced since all warning systems went off and brakes were disabled. On March 13, 2022 the ABS and traction system warning came on again. On March 14, 2022 I had my car towed to Daves Ultimate Automotive in Austin, Texas because my brakes failed. They told me I needed to replace the Brake Booster which is going to coat me $2500. I have looked at car complaints and this seems to be a faulty system that Toyota is aware of because they extended a warranty to Dec 2019. It is my belief that this should be a recall because of the dangerous potential of no brakes when this system fails.

- Austin, TX, USA

problem #86

Sep 132021

Prius

  • miles

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

I have recently bought a 2010 Prius. The ABS (!), traction control, and emergency brake light all illuminated three days after I transferred title with the dmv. This apparently is a very common problem with this car. I am told that these lights lead to a very expensive repair. My primary concern is my safety and of course the safety of others. A car that has brakes that suddenly fail is lethal. I was advised by a helpful agent that these repairs would come out of my pocket. My complaint is that Toyota should be responsible for this. I cannot drive this vehicle at the moment because I refuse to endanger anyone.

- Santa Rosa, CA, USA

problem #85

Jun 302021

Prius

  • miles
Seek exteral brake fluid no external leaks found ABS pump noise probable abs pump flalure leak

- Killeen , TX, USA

problem #84

Jun 202021

Prius

  • miles
While driving on an uncrowded 2 lane rural highway at approx. 4pm on June 20th, 2021, I heard what sounded like a gunshot in my ear. I quickly looked around at my interior & saw no broken windows. I had no driving issues, but pulled over safely to inspect the exterior of my vehicle. As soon as I opened my driver's door & exited, I turned to close the door & saw that my sunroof had basically exploded. It was jagged & missing pieces around 3 of 4 edges. I was an hour from home & wanted to make sure I arrived safely. En route I heard chunks falling off & by the time I got home the middle portion had rippled & gaping holes were visible.

- Astoria, OR, USA

problem #83

Mar 172021

Prius

  • miles
Impending failure of the brake booster / brake booster pump assembly. ABS and brake warning lights remain on and a constant electrical whining sound can be heard from the brake booster assembly. Toyota is aware of the problem and offered a customer support program that expired in 2019 ( https://attachments.priuschat.com/attachment-files/2019/12/178663_162714_ZJB_Phase_2_.pdf )

- Kaneohe, HI, USA

problem #82

Feb 232021

Prius

  • 115,000 miles
On Tuesday, February 23, our braking system failed on our Toyota Prius while driving on a side road after months of continuing weakness in the brake pedal and "lurching" when braking over potholes. The brake system lost hydraulic pressure. Upon inspection by an ase-certifie mechanic, they determined the brake booster assembly had likely failed, but recommended sending to a Toyota dealership. They confirmed the vehicle was unfit to drive. The vehicle was sent to a Toyota dealer. The dealer confirmed the break booster assembly/actuator had failed. The dealer advised the brake booster had previously been under a Toyota "customer service campaign, " but that the "warranty" campaign had expired. However, he advised Toyota brand engagement center has often assisted customers when they're just outside the warranty period. When contacting Toyota, they stated this vehicle was never under recall and was not eligible, but then said they sent information on a Toyota safety campaign. Upon research, we continued to confirm that the diagnosis was tied to recall D0H from July 2013. We've also reviewed our vehicle history, and the brake pump assembly was never replaced despite being inspected consistently by Toyota dealers since 2013 and under recall. Toyota has declined to cover the cost of the replacement for the brake pump assembly. The cost of repair is nearly the same as the current value of the vehicle. Toyota brand engagement center has declined to provide this information in writing, would not provide a name, and otherwise acted completely sketchy - for lack of a better word - any time we tried to clarify the repair was clearly tied to the June 2013 recall. We were very, very fortunate the brakes failed on a side street near our home, not on a highway or other high-risk area. We would like Toyota to honor the recall, extend it for other customers, and cover the cost of repair.

- Washington, DC, USA

problem #81

Sep 042018

Prius

  • 58,000 miles
The casing of the brake actuator is cracking. The brake actuator apparently is an underlying problem that Toyota does not want to take responsibility for and fix.

- Los Angeles, CA, USA

problem #80

Sep 302020

Prius

  • 0 miles
I was driving on the hwy with 3 children when it cut off on me and my steering wheel was locked. I took it to four mechanics I saw the Toyota dealer and they told me that it was my battery and now I know that I have a recall on it. I have not driven my car in three months I'm also still paying payments on it. I also was told that it was my break. I bought a new brake booster and pay for the replacement and the problem was still hungry just

- Baltimore, MD, USA

problem #79

Oct 242020

Prius

  • 114,700 miles
I have experienced problems with the electrical, oil, and break systems ever since purchasing my certified pre-owned 2010 Prius from the dealership in 2013. Toyota has never provided a satisfactory answer for what is actually wrong with the electrical system; the problem still remains. Toyota also does not have an ideal maintenance plan set up for the known increased oil consumption rate that is directly linked to my model vehicle and has not only not performed routine oil changes but also sent me home after a supposed oil change with zero oil in my tank. But today my main concern that I take issue with and that ive encountered from the get-go, has to do with the breaks. For years I've been telling Toyota about how my breaks do this thing where under the right circumstances (those being things like slight bumps or raises in the road, or going over a manhole cover) the breaks not only give out but actually propel me forward with zero chance for stopping which is quite terrifying already and then when you add in other drivers on the road into the equation is a literal nightmare. Despite my many efforts for Toyota to take a look at them they always refuse any service to them because my dashboard is not displaying any warning signs. Also, due to the fact that its not a constant issue, meaning it only happens under the right circumstances which idk where such a precise place exists near the dealership, they cant experience it for themselves. So my concerns are dismissed leaving me to fend for myself whenever these circumstances arise which no doubt an accident seems to be on the horizon. Then with ~114,700 miles on the odometer, my entire ABS system crashed while I was in traffic. Luckily I am a beyond exceptional driver and also have catlike reflexes so was able to manage my way to the shoulder of the road when this occurred. However, with warning lights now illuminated O

- San Diego, CA, USA

problem #78

Sep 282020

Prius

  • 107,000 miles
Car stalls while driving and and check hybrid system notification lights up on the dash.

- Dunedin, FL, USA

problem #77

Aug 242020

Prius

  • 200,000 miles
The morning of 8/24/20, I attempted to start my car. A message appears, "check hybrid system". I found there had been a recall, in 2018, that involves a software issue. I had my 2010 Prius towed to kolar Toyota in hermantown Minnesota, on, I believe 8/26/20. They gave me an estimate of $3200 to replace the inverter. I had read about the inverter failure being directly linked to software recall. They said they'd look in to it and later replied to me that, yes, the inverter would be included in the recall and repaired at no cost to me. They said they had ordered the part but my car would not be ready until 8/31/20, at the earliest. They said the part arrived and my car was in the process of being repaired. I contacted them and asked how things were going. The service manager, taylor, told me "for the first time ever we had two vehicles, of the same make but different years, in for the same repair". he went on to say, according to fedex tracking, the part had been shipped but tracking showed nothing else. I asked him if he was sure the tracking was for my part and not the part for the other vehicle. He told me he had no idea for which part the tracking was for. He then went on to tell me we would just have to "wait and see if the part shows up". he went on to say "it could take days or weeks or longer" before we know if the part was coming in. A few days later I called to see if any progress had been made and was told by taylor "the part has disappeared from tracking". I asked him if that meant it had been delivered and was possibly the part for the other vehicle. He basically replied he had no clue. He said we would just have to wait and see, once again. I've been calling every two or three days since then. Sometimes he returns my calls. Sometimes he doesn't. I don't know what to do at this point. My vehicle is a 2010 Toyota Prius.

- Duluth, MN, USA

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