2010 Toyota Prius
The Verdict
The 2010 Toyota Prius has 2,815 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. The most reported issues are brakes (1,899 complaints) and body (351 complaints). With a Klunk Score of 5/100, it earns a "Total Klunk" rating. If you're shopping for a Toyota Prius, consider the 2021 model year which has 99% fewer complaints.
Safe Bet
The 2021 has 99% fewer complaints
View the 2021 Toyota Prius dashboard →
Klunk Score: Total Klunk
Among the most complained-about vehicle years on record. Strongly consider alternatives.
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 3
Active safety recalls from NHTSA for this vehicle year.
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 ...
Risk
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.
Remedy
Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will install retention brackets to the curtain shield air bags, free of charge. The recall began on October 17, 2016. Owners may contact Toyota Customer Ser...
Reported Apr 11, 2026
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 ...
Risk
If the hybrid system shuts down unexpectedly, it can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy
Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will update the software for the motor/generator control electronic control unit (ECU) and the hybrid control ECU as necessary, free of charge. The recall be...
Reported Apr 10, 2018
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) ...
Risk
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 ...
Remedy
Toyota will notify owners and dealers will update the software for both the motor/generator control electronic control unit (ECU) and the hybrid control ECU, free of charge. If an owner experience...
Reported Dec 2, 2014
Get notified if a recall hits this car.
We email you when NHTSA issues a new recall on the 2010 Toyota Prius. No spam, no marketing.
Under the Hood
Each number is a complaint. Darker = bigger problem.
| Year | Body | Brakes | Electrical | Engine | Transmission |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 94 | 14 | 26 | 32 | 5 |
| 2002 | 118 | 26 | 20 | 17 | 12 |
| 2003 | 64 | 16 | 7 | 17 | 7 |
| 2004 | 65 | 72 | 331 | 109 | 33 |
| 2005 | 166 | 273 | 473 | 104 | 33 |
| 2006 | 135 | 203 | 1019 | 63 | 18 |
| 2007 | 362 | 319 | 1207 | 79 | 34 |
| 2008 | 247 | 377 | 709 | 112 | 50 |
| 2009 | 90 | 193 | 153 | 49 | 17 |
| 2010 | 351 | 1899 | 278 | 226 | 61 |
| 2011 | 68 | 256 | 121 | 58 | 13 |
| 2012 | 128 | 320 | 123 | 86 | 25 |
| 2013 | 69 | 224 | 47 | 46 | 12 |
| 2014 | 55 | 98 | 44 | 28 | 7 |
| 2015 | 30 | 83 | 23 | 13 | 10 |
| 2016 | 100 | 21 | 27 | 24 | 7 |
| 2017 | 52 | 12 | 12 | 21 | 4 |
| 2018 | 15 | 4 | 10 | 5 | 1 |
| 2019 | 10 | 9 | 3 | 6 | 0 |
| 2020 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| 2021 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| 2022 | 7 | 5 | 8 | 3 | 1 |
| 2023 | 11 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 1 |
| 2024 | 14 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 1 |
| 2025 | 6 | 2 | 5 | 1 | 1 |
By Category
By Severity
Worst Problems
Complaints
ABS light came on 6 months ago as well as ((!)) light. As soon as those lights came on, the brakes had an increased stopping distance and it became harder to get the car to come to a complete stop. I have seen a few Prius owners in my area also having the same problem with their Prius. For my car, the ABS light would come on, then turn off for 300 or so miles, then turn back on and stay on for about 300 miles. That has lasted for 6 months. I had almost gotten in an accident yesterday after getting brake lines fixed for 4th time, and we determine the actuator and accumulator are both bad. I have also seen a lot of Prius owners with the same code. Where I am at, my shop is quoting me $2300 for the fix in total. That is absurd.
The contact owns a 2010 Toyota Prius. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, a strong and unusual odor was detected inside the vehicle with no warning lights illuminated. The contact further stated that the following day, upon entering the vehicle, both the contact and the contact’s spouse experienced headaches, nausea, and cognitive discomfort. Concerned about possible exposure to harmful fumes, the contact inspected the vehicle and determined that the vehicle’s battery appeared to be inoperable. The vehicle was taken to a dealer. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The contact expressed concern that the failure presents a serious safety hazard due to potential exposure to toxic fumes within the cabin. The contact noted that the situation could have been more severe if a child had been present in the vehicle at the time of the incident. The failure mileage was approximately 75,000.
My 2010 Prius has experienced the following error codes: C12341 and C1391, prompting the dealer to recommend replacing the brake booster assembly and master cylinder for $3938.89. This is a known issue with this vehicle and a Customer Support Program (CSP) was issued back in 2018, stating that if this vehicle displayed these codes, the repairs would be at no charge to the customer. Toyota extended this coverage to 10 years from date of first use or 150,000 miles (whichever came first). I never receied the notice. The details of the CSP are below. (I found on the internet.) "Toyota has received reports indicating various brake system related warning lamps illuminate due to internal malfunctions. The Brake Booster and Brake Booster Pump are covered by Toyota’s New Vehicle Limited Warranty for 3 years or 36,000 miles (whichever occurs first). However, because we at Toyota care about each customer’s ownership experience, Toyota is now offering a voluntary Customer Support Program that applies to various brake system related warning lamps of covered vehicles as a result of internal malfunctions, regardless of whether the vehicle is out of warranty. The timing of any repair under this voluntary Customer Support Program is subject to parts availability. The Customer Support Program will be offered for all vehicles until November 30, 2019, regardless of mileage. In addition, the Customer Support Program will be available for 10 years from the date of first use, or 150,000 miles whichever occurs first." My vehicle has about 132,000 miles and just displayed theses codes. Since it is 16 years old, the CSP has expired. It being a known issue, and one related to such a safety concern, I emplore you to make this a formal recall rather than a mere suggestion of repair. Back in 2018, my vehicle was not displaying these codes so was ineligible for the repair. Upon further research I am finding hundreds of Prius owners with the same issue. Clearly this is a defect in manufacturing.
There are issues with the brake. Many times the brake pedal goes down to the floor and it losses ability to stop. Apparently there is a common ABS actuator and Brake issues. Toyota will not address the issue
i have have 2 problems, both was recalls, but this one they say expired in 2021 when i bought the car and toyota dealer didnt tell me had recall so i could fix it before it expired. there is a class action lawsuit in the brake booster, master cyclinder actuator abs pump fialing loosing brakes making grrr noises leaking all brake fluid out continously dangerous to drive can cause bad accident wreck since i drive down the hwy alot and this is the only car i have to drive, i also have dc inverter module /sensor that is killing off 3 batteries now that i installed in 3 months, and toyota dealers wont fix unless it shows error but its a recall so since problen should fix this recall but wont pay for it to fix it even though it a recall right now that is not expired. im upset 3 dealers wont do it unless then charge me to do it. when toyotal mfg take it to any dealer and they will fix free but no one will do it. toyota mfg needs to make these dealers fix these 2 recalls on this car that can kill me and my passengers and anyone on the road that i could hit by not haivng controll brakes or the hybrid system shuttong completely down and could even kill a pedestrian with these 2 recalls that dealers wont fix but mfg said they need to everyone with these cars i see are having these same problems. need make the toyota mfg and dealers fix these free of charge before more people get killed injuried or cause more accidents ,
For the last 14 years, a check engine light has been coming on telling me that I have a fuel canister emissions leak because the canister is cracked. In 2016 2.87 million Toyota Priuses were recalled with the fuel canister crack issue. For unknown reasons Toyota has refused to fix this dangerous issue and has told me that my car was NOT included in the recall. I do not believe Toyota is being honest in their continued denial of this dangerous issue and excluding my 2010 Toyota Prius. This issue has been ongoing since the car was new.
While driving my 2010 Toyota Prius, the brake warning lights suddenly illuminated and the brake pedal became soft and unresponsive. Stopping distance increased significantly, and the vehicle required much more pressure to slow down. This created an unsafe situation in traffic and could have easily resulted in a collision. A Toyota dealership diagnosed the issue as a failure of the brake booster and brake booster pump assembly (DTC C1391). This is the same failure Toyota previously acknowledged in Customer Support Program ZJB for 2010–2015 Prius models. My vehicle is experiencing the exact symptoms described in that program, but the support period has expired even though the mileage is well within normal expectations for a hybrid of this age. The sudden loss of braking assist is a serious safety hazard. There was no warning before the failure, and the vehicle became difficult to stop immediately. This appears to be part of a widespread pattern of brake booster failures on this generation of Prius, and the defect poses a risk of crash or injury. I am filing this complaint because this is a safety‑critical component that should not fail under normal use, and many other owners have reported the same issue. A review or investigation may be warranted given the frequency and severity of these failures.
brake booster that was a recall that toyota said expired in 2020 when i bought the vehicle and the toyotal dealer didnt inform me of the recall to fix it said everything was fine when it was not, i had a dc inverter sensor brake booster issues and now it ills off my 12volt battery every time i put one in lasts about 1 mth, upset dealer never told me this wjhen took in tel me any recalls or probelms, they said none, they lied to me. it kills off my 12volg agm batteries in the last 7 mths been having braking booster issues problems grrr,,, noise all the time when the car is off too, its killing off my hybrid system and my temathetics module is having issues too because of all this and evey battery i put in the car, i want the ntc gov to have toytota recall fix these problems with my car and not expire the recall they had in 2020 cause now i cant fix my car cause of it, i was lied to by the lavista toyota dealer that it has no probblems in 2020 of august when i bought it no recalls and this recall could have been fixed if they would have been honest. unexpire the recall on my brake booster and my dc inverter and sensors probelms killing off my new batteries all the time. call me right away or email me about this, its a urgent matter life or death situation with this car, since the brakes are failing and i have to drive it every day and toyota mfg or dealer wont fix cause says expired recalls cant fix it.
In 2019 Toyota repaired my 2010 Prius(120,189 miles) braking system under the ZJB program. The brake cylinder assembly and brake booster pump assembly were replaced as they had a known defect that caused the braking system to fail. As of February 27, 2026 the replaced components are failing again. The auto has approximately 224,000 miles. So the replacement components failed in less miles and time then the original equipment failed which was determined to be faulty. Toyota has declined any assistance in the matter.
On November 25, 2025, at approximately 11:45 p.m., our 2010 Toyota Prius experienced a braking system malfunction during normal operation. The brake pedal required significantly increased effort and the vehicle exhibited reduced braking performance, indicating a loss of brake power assist. The vehicle required increased stopping distance, creating an immediate risk of a collision. At the time of the failure, multiple warning indicators illuminated simultaneously, including the brake system warning, ABS warning, check engine light, battery warning, steering warning, tire pressure warning, and vehicle stability control/slip indicator. There were no warning lamps or abnormal symptoms prior to the failure. The failure was determined to involve the brake booster pump assembly, a component responsible for maintaining hydraulic brake assist pressure. This component is known to experience internal accumulator housing degradation, which can allow nitrogen gas migration into the brake fluid and result in partial or complete loss of brake assist. The affected component remains available for inspection. Following the incident, an authorized Toyota dealership inspected the vehicle and reproduced and confirmed the condition. Service records indicate the brake booster pump assembly had previously been replaced under a Toyota safety recall. Despite this prior recall repair, the same component failed again after approximately 41,000 miles of service, demonstrating that the recall remedy was ineffective. As a result of this failure, the vehicle was rendered unsafe to operate. Despite dealer confirmation that the malfunction involved a previously recalled safety component, corrective repairs were declined, with warranty limitations cited rather than addressing the repeat safety-related failure.
The color of my Prius 2010 starts with 070, blizzard white pearl. The body started peeling. I have visited Toyota dealer on 12/29/25 with this issue and got to know that this issue is well known but the service campaign was finished around June, 2025. I own this car from 2023, October and visiting Toyota dealers for services regularly, but never thought that this issue was a common issue by Toyota. Also, I have not heard anything from dealer. It is also true that the issue was not severe and even if it was, I was not attentive to that, apologize for my ignorance. However, it seems the issue is getting worse day by day. I did not receive any notice from Toyota about any campaign about this issue. My Toyota dealer recommended me to reach out to Toyota if any courtesy repair can be done on my vehicle. I reached out to Toyota, but seems to me they cannot do much. Can I get any help in this regards?
Car keeps throwing a C1391 Abnormal Leak in Accumulator code. The ABS, traction control, and brake lights are all illuminated. Hissing sound from brake pedal. Spongy feel when braking and incredibly soft braking as well, very hazardous to driving and stopping. This is a known issue with the 2010-2015 Prius, and a quick internet search shows thousands of other Prius owners who also have this issue with their vehicles. It’s a safety hazard and can be potentially life threatening. Toyota is not doing anything to rectify this potentially fatal issue that impacts thousands of vehicles and vehicle owners and their families. Estimated cost of repair is upwards of $4,000 and simply not affordable to most consumers. Actions needs to be taken IMMEDIATELY by Toyota to recall these vehicles and fix them.
The contact owns a 2010 Toyota Prius. The contact stated that while driving 70 MPH, the vehicle jerked, and the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended while depressing the accelerator pedal. Additionally, the steering wheel seized, and the vehicle stalled. The contact pulled over to the side of the road, opened the hood, and disconnected and reconnected the battery terminals to reboot the vehicle. The contact stated that a yellow triangle warning light and the check engine warning light were illuminated. The message "Check Hybrid System" was displayed. The contact was able to restart the vehicle; however, the vehicle failed to exceed 65 MPH while driving. The ABS warning light was illuminated. The contact took the vehicle to Auto Zone and O'Reilly's; however, no cause for the failure was found. The vehicle was then taken to the dealer. The contact was informed that the failure might be an ABS system failure. The vehicle was not repaired due to the cost. The contact stated that the failure first occurred years ago, and the failure persisted. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.
It's a known quality defect covered under CSP ZKG. Toyota has received reports of paint peeling on certain vehicles with the original factory-applied Blizzard Pearl or Super White paint colors. These reports indicate that vehicles with these specific paint colors, applied during the vehicle manufacturing process, may experience paint peeling on exterior metal body panels. The Customer Support Program (CSP) provides coverage for involved vehicles with the original factory Blizzard Pearl or Super White paint. The covered condition may occur when sunlight over time degrades the adhesion between the factory-applied paint primer coat layer and the base metal electrodeposition layer causing the paint to peel from the metal body panel. If the condition is verified, the specific panel affected will be repainted. The problem is that I was not notified for my 2010 Prius II and found out today, November 19th, that the paint peeling issue was covered in a CSP. I contacted the Toyota of Richardson service department, Justin Houge, and he referred me to Toyota Headquarters in Plano, TX. I contacted Toyota Headquarters specialist, Amanda, and she informed me that the CSP expired on June 13, 2025 and to contact the dealership for remedy. Attached are photos of the blizzard pearl paint peeling on all four door panels and driver fender panel.
The contact owns 2010 Toyota Prius. The contact stated that while depressing the brake pedal, the ABS, brakes, and the vehicle stability control warning lights were illuminated. An Independent mechanic was contacted. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed and determined that the brake booster and accumulator needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the VIN was not included in the recall; however, the recall had expired. The failure mileage was 172,000.
One day after arriving home from work, all the sudden my ABS light, BRAKE light and traction control light turned on, my brake pedal being harder to push, and my car making weird humming noises every 5 seconds. Upon taking my 2010 Prius to my trusted repair shop, it was revealed that my break actuator was faulty. I drive on roads that need this part to WORK! Especially in the height of construction going on PA. One of the roads that I take has been milled up and upon driving on that road I nearly swerved onto the side walk 3 times! My breaking has been harsh and with one incident that nearly didn't break in time at all! Doing research and looking into the active investigations on this part, it turns out I am one of possible thousands who are dealing with this issue that has all been tied back to the break actuator being faulty which is very expensive to even repair for something that is obviously a poor design.
The brake and pre collision system suddenly fail without warning.
Have multiple warning lamps that light up on and off and the brakes in my car get spongy making the braking unsafe. The lights that turn on are the steering/ traction , brake, and abs light. There are multiple complaints online on YouTube from similar issues ongoing and no recall made. My mechanic says it indicates a leak however there is no brake fluid missing and on YouTube there’s work arounds because people keep getting the same message, yet no recall has been made. This can affect steering and cause an accident. Please recall soon. Including YouTube link so you can see all the comments and issues from thousands that don’t know how to report but view to fix temporarily. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
The ABS, Brake, TSC lights have all appeared on the dash. When running the OBD codes, the error C1391 appears indicating a problem with the ABS pump. When under the dash with the vehicle running, one can hear the abs pump engaging every few seconds which is not normal. After resetting the code. The error quickly pops back up. This is a known problem with this model Prius that Toyota is aware of. Toyota has NOT put out a safety recall for this issue. They refuse to make the repair of a faulty designed abs module, which is obviously a safety concern. The vehicle currently has 128000 miles with no other issues.
It is a known problem that Priuses manufactured from 2004 to 2015 have issues with the brake master cylinder and brake booster accumulator. When the vehicle computer recognizes an internal leak (ABS C1391) or other issue in the accumulator pump, it completely disables the regenerative braking system, which significantly reduces braking power. In my case, the problem is intermittent, and the vehicle computer will occasionally clear the code and operate normally. A slight whirring sound can still be heard (indicative of an internal leak), leading me to conclude that the part is still damaged, even when the code clears itself. This continues to affect my and my passengers' safety because the problem comes back with no warning while driving. Many times at highway speeds, the regenerative braking system will shut off while decelerating. This has caused scares and near-accidents. Imagine you are approaching stopped traffic while traveling 65 miles per hour. You press the brake to start slowing down, and while decelerating, the dashboard lights up and the brake pedal goes spongey. Now, you must slam the brake all the way into the firewall to engage the disks and pads exclusively. Aside from the imminent terror of hitting the car in front of you, now you are skidding on the brakes, worried the car behind you will crush the rear. Sooner or later this will cause somebody to get into an accident when a split-second decision cannot to be made quickly enough. The issue is well-known, and a warranty recall was issued, but it does not cover any vehicles over a certain age and mileage. It has been reproduced by my local mechanic and inspected by a Prius specialist, who both quote about $3800 to fully replace and recalibrate the failing parts. There were no indicators of this issue before it happened to my wife and I the first time on the highway. While I am grateful that nobody was injured, the situation could be completely different had the problem occurred just seconds later.
2815 total