2010 Toyota Prius Plug-In Hybrid Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2010 Toyota Prius Plug-In Hybrid, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Brakes342.9%
- Driver assistance114.3%
- Electrical114.3%
- Engine114.3%
- Other / unspecified114.3%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS PLUG-IN HYBRID. WHILE REVERSING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY, THE CONTACT RELEASED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL TO SWITCH THE VEHICLE INTO DRIVE. SUDDENLY, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED BACKWARDS AND DROVE INTO A NEIGHBOR'S YARD. THE VEHICLE SPUN OUT OF CONTROL EVEN WITH THE CONTACT STANDING ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE STRUCK THE CORNER OF A NEIGHBOR'S HOUSE AND FINALLY CAME TO A STOP. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO TURN OFF THE VEHICLE TWICE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A TOW LOT UNTIL THE INSURANCE COMPANY PROVIDED FURTHER INSTRUCTIONS. THE CONTACT CALLED THE DEALER (CUMBERLAND TOYOTA, 1540 INTERSTATE DR, COOKEVILLE, TN 38501, (931) 272-3719) PRIOR TO THE CRASH ABOUT A POSSIBLE RECALL AND WAS INFORMED THAT THEY COULD NOT ASSIST UNTIL SHE RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN CALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V684000 (HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM), BUT THE CONTACT WAS NOT SURE IF IT WAS RELATED TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 74,000.
THE BRAKE SYSTEM ABS NOT WORKS. THE CAR WAS IN MOTION ON THE STREET WHEN THE SYSTEM ABS STOPPED WORKING AND THE WARNING LIGHTS IN DASHBOARD. THE BRAKE PEDAL IS LOWERED UNEXPECTEDLY AND THE CAR CONTINUES NON-STOP UNTIL THE PEDAL IS REPEATEDLY DEPRESSED AGAIN. DIAGNOSTIC IN DEALER TOYOTA , KENDALL TOYOTA (10943 SOUTH DIXIE HIGHWAY MIAMI, FLORIDA 33156), SYSTEM ABS/VSC/TRAC NOT WORKING, (CODE C1391: ABNORMAL LEAK IN ACCUMULATOR). DATE SEPTEMBER 20 THE 2017. WARNING: 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. DEALER COST REPAIR , CHANGE NEW CYLINDER ASSY B (PART N 47080-47140), PUMP ASSY, BRAKE (PART N 47070-47060) AND 6.5 HRS. LABOR; $ 4,429.65.- RECALL SUBJECT: SERVICE BRAKES REPORT RECEIPT DATE: 06-05-2013 NHTSA CAMPAIGN: 13V235000 MANUFACTURE: TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING SUMMARY: 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. CONSEQUENCE: 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. REMEDY: TOYOTA WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE AFFECTED BRAKE BOOSTER PUMP ASSEMBLIES. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 7, 2013. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS PLUG-IN HYBRID. WHILE REVERSING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY, THE CONTACT RELEASED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL TO SWITCH THE VEHICLE INTO DRIVE. SUDDENLY, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED BACKWARDS AND DROVE INTO A NEIGHBOR'S YARD. THE VEHICLE SPUN OUT OF CONTROL EVEN WITH THE CONTACT STANDING ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE STRUCK THE CORNER OF A NEIGHBOR'S HOUSE AND FINALLY CAME TO A STOP. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO TURN OFF THE VEHICLE TWICE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A TOW LOT UNTIL THE INSURANCE COMPANY PROVIDED FURTHER INSTRUCTIONS. THE CONTACT CALLED THE DEALER (CUMBERLAND TOYOTA, 1540 INTERSTATE DR, COOKEVILLE, TN 38501, (931) 272-3719) PRIOR TO THE CRASH ABOUT A POSSIBLE RECALL AND WAS INFORMED THAT THEY COULD NOT ASSIST UNTIL SHE RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN CALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V684000 (HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM), BUT THE CONTACT WAS NOT SURE IF IT WAS RELATED TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 74,000.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
THIS RECALL NO LONGER APPEARS ON YOUR WEBSITE: 2010-2014 PRIUS RECALL HTTPS://WWW.CONSUMERREPORTS.ORG/CRO/NEWS/2014/02/TOYOTA-RECALLS-1-9-MILLION-PRIUS-HYBRIDS-FOR-SHUTDOWN-RISK/INDEX.HTM
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION (MORE THEN A QUART EVERY 800 MILES)
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Other / unspecified
Reports whose component NHTSA recorded as unknown, or that do not map to one of the categories above.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS PLUG-IN HYBRID. WHILE REVERSING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY, THE CONTACT RELEASED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL TO SWITCH THE VEHICLE INTO DRIVE. SUDDENLY, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED BACKWARDS AND DROVE INTO A NEIGHBOR'S YARD. THE VEHICLE SPUN OUT OF CONTROL EVEN WITH THE CONTACT STANDING ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE STRUCK THE CORNER OF A NEIGHBOR'S HOUSE AND FINALLY CAME TO A STOP. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO TURN OFF THE VEHICLE TWICE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A TOW LOT UNTIL THE INSURANCE COMPANY PROVIDED FURTHER INSTRUCTIONS. THE CONTACT CALLED THE DEALER (CUMBERLAND TOYOTA, 1540 INTERSTATE DR, COOKEVILLE, TN 38501, (931) 272-3719) PRIOR TO THE CRASH ABOUT A POSSIBLE RECALL AND WAS INFORMED THAT THEY COULD NOT ASSIST UNTIL SHE RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN CALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V684000 (HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM), BUT THE CONTACT WAS NOT SURE IF IT WAS RELATED TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 74,000.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .