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KLUNK
KLUNK

2009 Toyota Prius

The Verdict

25 Check Engine

The 2009 Toyota Prius has 502 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. The most reported issues are brakes (193 complaints) and electrical (153 complaints). With a Klunk Score of 25/100, it earns a "Check Engine" rating. If you're shopping for a Toyota Prius, consider the 2021 model year which has 98% fewer complaints.

Safe Bet

The 2021 has 98% fewer complaints

View the 2021 Toyota Prius dashboard →

25

Klunk Score: Check Engine

More complaints than most vehicles. Known issues exist — budget for potential repairs.

How is this calculated?

The Klunk Score ranks this vehicle year against all others in our database based on total owner complaints filed with NHTSA. 100 = fewest complaints (top tier), 0 = most complained-about. Scores above 60 are better than average; below 40 means more problems than most.

Recalls 1

Active safety recalls from NHTSA for this vehicle year.

13V014000 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,...

Risk

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...

Remedy

Southeast Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will test the sensitivity of the occupant detection sensors, and recalibrate them as necessary. The recall began on March 21, 2013. Owners may con...

Reported Apr 11, 2026

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Under the Hood

Each number is a complaint. Darker = bigger problem.

YearBodyBrakesElectricalEngineTransmission
2001941426325
200211826201712
200364167177
2004657233110933
200516627347310433
200613520310196318
200736231912077934
200824737770911250
2009901931534917
2010351189927822661
2011682561215813
20121283201238625
201369224474612
2014559844287
20153083231310
20161002127247
2017521212214
20181541051
2019109360
202064211
202130030
202275831
2023111501
2024142501
202562511

By Category

Brakes
193
Electrical
153
Body
90
Engine
49
Transmission
17

By Severity

1
207
2
227
4
66
5
2

Worst Problems

Complaints

Brakes 1

Dashboard Warning Lights: ABS, VSC, Parking Brake Light, Triangle with Exclamation Point, Codes: C1256 & C1391, Intermittent Audible Cabin Buzzing indicating critical pressure loss on start-up for about 10 seconds...then stops, not loss so much as anti-braking quick bursts at about 5 mph of stopping v slowly and seamlessly coming to a stop. I contacted Toyota Corporate Case Management; they refused to escalate or remediate the issue due to vehicle mileage, despite being notified of the active brake pressure leak codes and the audible safety alarm.

1mo ago
Brakes 2

I own 2 2009 Toyota Prius. Both cars less than 175,000 miles and both have failed ABS modules. The ABS module in this vehicle is also the power brake booster. This failure can cause braking issues such as loss of braking or sudden brake application. Only known fix is replacement of the ABS brake module which requires the Toyota Techstream service computer.

2mo ago
Brakes 1

Brake actuator is broken. Toyota knew about this problem and they had a warranty for 10 years or 150k miles. Mine only has 80k miles. The repair is half of what the car is worth. I thought a Toyota with such low miles would be dependable. Toyota knew that people have died from this problem with their car. I need this car to get to work and get my kids to school. It’s older than 10 years so I am just screwed on something they knew was broken. Of course the sales person at the Toyota dealership did not tell us about it when he sold us the car

2mo ago
Brakes 2

The contact owns a 2009 Toyota Prius. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the brake pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to stop as intended. The contact stated that the ABS warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was driven to the residence. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The dealer was made aware of the failure. The contact was informed that the extended warranty had expired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, and a case was filed. The contact was informed that the extended warranty had expired. The failure mileage was approximately 174,000.

3mo ago
Body 1

Cooling system

10mo ago
Brakes 1

The brake actuator is failing. It’s making unusual noises when stepping on the brakes. A new additional noise started in the last month which is the pump connected to the brake actuator. The technician told me the brakes are about to fail. Toyota used to cover this issue but stopped a few years ago. It’s a $3,000.00 job at the dealer.

11mo ago
Engine 1

Breaking system failure do to ASB Actuator, breaks are locking and vehicle is engine braking.

15mo ago
Body 1

When I am coming to a stop or need to put on my brakes my car will accelerate at a jump ahead pace As if to take off instead of slowing down and stopping. Regardless whether I’m turning a corner or I’m continuing straight when I have to Put on the brakes it speeds up instead.

16mo ago
Brakes 2

The contact owns a 2009 Toyota Prius. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, extra effort was needed to stop the vehicle while depressing the brake pedal. In addition, the contact stated that the instrument panel intermittently went blank and failed to operate as needed. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where the contact was informed that the ABS and the instrument cluster needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 157,000.

17mo ago
Brakes 2

In the 2009 Toyota Series II vehicle there are two parts for the brake actuator pump assembly which has been cycling about every 20 seconds for the past six months or more. There is an intermittent tone when depressing the brake pedal before starting the car (engine off). The Brake dash warning light is on continuously. Occasional loss of brake power in reverse causing the driver to re-apply the brakes to stop unwanted motion of the vehicle.

19mo ago
Brakes 2

My dashboard brake, tire pressure, vsc and AB’s light came on while driving

20mo ago
Brakes 1

Failed brake actuator. Toyota knows about the issue and refuses to honor any reasonable repair. Braking at any speed the car ferociously pulls to the left, throwing you into another lane or on coming traffic.

21mo ago
Engine 2

The engine light went on while driving on the highway. We immediately pulled over and had the vehicle towed to the nearest dealership. The dealership informed us that both the Brake Actuator (Toyota part TO44500-47141) and water pump (Toyota par TOG9020-47031) had failed. The car was no longer save to drive.

21mo ago
Brakes 2

Car Mechanics say I need a new ABS actuator/pump costing about $4,400 at dealership and over $2500 at garages. Most quoting about $3500.00. It is a known fact that this is common on Pruises, which I am now learning. I feel Toyota should be reimbursing their consumer for this unexpected charge. My car has only about 60000 miles on the car. RIght now I have to park the car until I come up with the money. So have no invoice to attach until I do the repair.

23mo ago
Electrical 1

The contact owns a 2009 Toyota Prius. The contact stated that the instrument cluster was intermittently inoperable. The contact stated that the failure had been recurring increasingly. Additionally, the contact stated that the vehicle would fail to start or to turn off intermittently while pressing the Push to Start button. The contact stated that the vehicle would respond as needed after several attempts. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that the instrument panel combination meter had failed and needed to be replaced. The mechanic related the failure to Toyota Campaign Number: ZTV and referred the contact to the dealer for the repair. The dealer was contacted and informed the contact that the repair could not be covered under Toyota Campaign Number: ZTV. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 167,532.

26mo ago
Brakes 2

The contact owns a 2009 Toyota Prius. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, several unknown warning lights illuminated. Additionally, the contact depressed the brake pedal however, the brakes did not function as needed. The vehicle was driven to the residence. The dealer was contacted and made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure however, the contact was informed that the failure was like an unknown recall; however, the recall notification had expired. The contact was advised to report the failure to the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 116,000.

26mo ago
Brakes 1

Losing all breaking from abs dealership says $3000 to replace abs brake actuator module. I have been hearing from other second generation owners this is a common problem and it vecomes unsafe when you lose brake functioning in traffic additionally it was an extended warranty twice with no milage limitations but wondering why itvwasntvrecalled. Now I fear driving because u safe yet I am unable to afford to make the repair because I am unable to worker as delivery driver is my employment to generate income needed for repair.

28mo ago
Brakes 1

ABs Light came on high pitched sound and brakes suddenly stopped working while driving making very unsafe driving conditions. i recently purchased this car as my second, 2nd generation prius but the abs recall was evidently not performed when it was recalled and extended. this puts me upside down in a loan because i have found the repairs will be $1000-$2000 and now I can not afford to drive it. the car is at my home and available for inspection upon request. i felt very unsafe last night and the abs light recently came on and was intermittently making the high pitch sound which was continuous last evening when i was driving when the brakes stopped functioning

30mo ago
Electrical 2

Apparently a known issue with the HID lights coming on or off intermittently.

31mo ago
Electrical 2

The front lights and break lights sometimes turn off while I am driving. Both of the lights or one of them.

33mo ago

502 total

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