2010 Toyota Prius 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, 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
- Brakes1,94359.2%
- Driver assistance35710.9%
- Electrical1945.9%
- Engine1735.3%
- Exterior lighting1474.5%
- Other / unspecified1013.1%
- Airbags842.6%
- Fuel system712.2%
- Powertrain (other)621.9%
- Body & structure341.0%
- Steering300.9%
- Visibility210.6%
- Tires & wheels170.5%
- Transmission170.5%
- Seat belts160.5%
- Suspension90.3%
- Interior & seats70.2%
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
This car was totaled due to the ABA brake failure in a parking lot. They are liars trying to cover it up. My name is [XXX] and I live in [XXX] at [XXX]. My 2010 Prius took off on it's own and my brakes failed when I turned into a parking lot and went over a bump. My car took off on it's own and when I went to brake, the brakes did not work. I contacted the Toyota Brand Engagement Center and they denied my claim like they do everyone else. Toyota is horrible. My number is [XXX] if you need additional info INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
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.
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
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 ,
The brake and pre collision system suddenly fail without warning.
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
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.
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 ,
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
I own a 2010 Toyota Prius hybrid 4 door sedan. I am the second owner of the vehicle. I purchased it in 2018 from a used car dealer. The vehicle ran well up until 2022 where a “check hybrid warning would appear on the dashboard along with a yellow triangle and service engine light would come on and the vehicle accelerator would not respond and the car would have to glide to the side of the parkway. This problem would happen when the car speed is between 60-70mph. It is very dangerous to lose power on the highway because many times there is no where to pull over. In 2024 I changed the water pump because the fault code on the cars built in diagnostic code read error “P216B” which is the cars electrical water pump signal. I researched it on google and a lot of 2010 Prius owners are complaining of the same thing. Also the changed water pump from April 2024 died again in January 2025. It is very scary that the cars accelerator pedal goes unresponsive and all the fault lights come on. My vehicle has 155,000 miles runs great and my family loves the 40mpg it gets. However, this stalling problem is being ignored by Toyota and could lead to a fatal car accident if not recalled by the manufacturer. To conclude, I would like for your office to possibly conduct an investigation with the 2010 toyota Prius hybrid for this ongoing problem that the company is ignoring. This is a serious issue and can possibly lead to a fatal accident. THANK YOU FOR HEARING MY COMPLAINT AGAINST TOYOTA.
At around 1000,000 miles my Toyota Prius started burning oil like crazy. The dealer did an oil consumption test and confirmed the problem. I had to have my engine rebuilt because the rings were not seating properly. I had to bear all costs even though this is clearly a manufacturing default.
Exterior lighting
Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting.
From owner reports, verbatim
There is a long-standing problem with the instrument panel being very difficult to see when operating the vehicle on a very sunny day. It is very dim even when the "instrument panel light control" is adjusted, especially when wearing sunglasses. No response by dealer.
Hazard lights flashing, flashes faster at higher speeds. Hazard button useless. Mechanic not sure what is the problem; reset codes. Problem went away for a few days and then came back.
Other / unspecified
Reports whose component NHTSA recorded as unknown, or that do not map to one of the categories above.
From owner reports, verbatim
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.
The contact owns a 2010 Toyota Prius. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the message "Hybrid Malfunction" was displayed, and the vehicle lost motive power. The contact was able to pull over to the shoulder of the roadway, where the vehicle was able to restart after detaching and reconnecting the rear battery. The vehicle returned to normal functionality, but the failure became a regular occurrence. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who was unable to determine the cause of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 120,000.
Airbags
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.
From owner reports, verbatim
The contact owns a 2010 Toyota Prius. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V487000 (Air Bags); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.
I was hit in the back by an SUV (my speed=40 mph, the SUV's speed=70 mph). As a result of the impact, my prius flew off the road, hit the roadside railings, and then rolled over 4 times landing upside down. However, NONE of the airbags deployed. This includes the front, side, and curtain airbags. The vehicle was serviced at a Toyota dealership a few years ago where they performed the airbag recall. However, the airbags did not deploy at all. Only sheer luck saved me from death due to the airbag malfunction.
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
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.
My 2010 Toyota Prius has had a charcoal fuel canister leak since day one. 2.9 million Prius cars were recalled and Toyota says my car is NOT included in the recall but has the same issue of the other Toyota Prius that were included? Check engine light has never gone off. Upon fueling a strong odor of gasoline is detected and I am very worried about the car catching fire. Toyota needs to be held accountable and forced to fix this safety related problem.
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
The contact owns a 2010 Toyota Prius. The contact stated while driving 45 MPH downhill on a mountain and depressing the accelerator pedal, the pedal travelled down to the floorboard, but the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. The contact pulled over to the side of the road. The contact stated that upon turning off and restarting the vehicle several times, the vehicle responded as needed. The contact stated that the failure recurred after making a turn at 3-4 MPH downhill. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The dealer and the manufacturer were notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 194,000.
While driving through the mountains, the ABS, Brake, and Slippery (traction control) warning lights all suddenly illuminated on the dashboard. This happened without any noticeable trigger, and the warning lights remained on for the duration of the drive. I'm concerned about potential issues with the braking or stability systems and request a diagnostic check to ensure everything is functioning properly. Also I am aware that there was recall on Prius 2010 related to ABS system. My VIN was not included in that but seems like similar issue
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
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?
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.
Steering
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.
From owner reports, verbatim
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)
Hello there, my name is Lashyrah and I do not know much about cars so most of this is unknown. The person I bought my vehicle from did not give me much information and I was desperate at the time so I bought it. Most of the lights on the dashboard are on: ABS, Brake system, Engine, Tire/Safety Alert, Fuel pump reset warning, and Stability control are lights that come and go. I have used the code system to try to reset these things and they go away then pop back up. Sometimes while I am driving, all the dashboard lights disappear and the breaks start getting really touchy and it feels completely different driving until the previous lights all come back on. This has been an issue before and when I last went to Toyota to get my car serviced, I asked them to check the lights and system, and if they could do a multi-point inspection. They wanted me to pay $300 just to find out why the lights keep coming back on. Please help me get this fixed at no cost I am a single mom and college student working part time so I need my car to get around or a free loaner car to get around until this is fixed. I strongly feel these are recalls that did not get taken care of or are not showing up in the recall system. I need assistance as soon as possible and would like to know my options, especially after getting a notice in the mail a few days ago from Toyota about my car possibly being affected. My fuel gauge is also empty at around 3 bars or sometimes 2 bars instead of going all the way down to empty, costing me more money on gas having to fill it up more often. Thank you for your time and help.
Visibility
Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.
From owner reports, verbatim
I PURCHASED A 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS, WITHIN A MONTH I HAD TO REPLACE THE FUEL PUMP SENSOR (AFTER IT WENT OUT ON THE HIGHWAY AND THE CAR DIED WHILE DRIVING IT). THEN 6 WEEKS AFTER PURCHASE I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AGAIN AND THE HOOD RIPPED UP COMPLETELY SHATTERING THE WINDSHIELD WHILE DRIVING. I LATER LEARNED BOTH SAFETY'S ON THE HOOD LATCH WERE BROKEN AND MISSING PARTS. IT ALSO HAS AN OIL LEAK THAT WILL COST ME $2,200 TO REPAIR WHEN I ONLY PAID $6,000 FOR THE CAR ON TOP OF MANY OTHER MINOR ISSUES.
HEADLIGHT WOULD BURN OUT A YEAR AFTER REPLACEMENT. MANUFACTURER ISSUED A VARIANT OF A RECALL INTENDING TO PROVIDE A FIX FOR HIGH RATE OF BURNOUT. I TOOK MY CAR IN TO A DEALERSHIP TO RECEIVE THE FIX AND THE DEALERSHIP CAUSED A PROBLEM WITH THE FRONT WINDSHIELD WIPER APPARATUS. WIPERS WOULD NOW WORK IF THE HEADLIGHTS WERE OFF, BUT WOULD NO LONGER WORK ONCE THE HEADLIGHTS WERE TURNED ON. THIS WOULD OCCUR WHETHER STATIONARY OR MOVING.
Tires & wheels
Reports naming tires, wheels, hubs, or the tire-pressure monitoring system.
From owner reports, verbatim
Tires losing air and noticed the rubber breaking down and separating from the sidewall on all four tires. Took into Evans dealership and they informed us the tires were a safety issue and tried to sell new tires. They told us the tires were made in 93 but we bought in 2016, so we looked up and DOT number on tire (only had u093). The service tech did not understand the DOT numbers since it was missing the last four numbers. They do have a date on the paperwork U09304160416 The tires only have approximately 25, 000 miles and car is garage kept. Rubber should not be breaking down. What can we do? We had no idea about the date until they pointed it out. Legally these tires are a safety issue. Tires P 195/60R15
TIRE BLEW OUT ON THE FREEWAY WITHOUT WARNING. IT WAS A GENERAL ALTIMAX RT43 SIZE 195/65 15.WITH ABOUT 9300 MILES ON IT. TIRE HAS SEVERAL BLOWN OUT SECTION IN THE SIDEWALL.
Transmission
Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules.
From owner reports, verbatim
EXITING FROM A PARKING GARAGE. AFTER PASSING THROUGH THE PAY LINE, I HEADED DOWN THE EXIT RAMP TOWARD THE STREET. THE VEHICLE REFUSED TO ACCELERATE AS I PUSHED ON THE ACCELERATOR. . IT DID VERY SLOWLY ACCELERATE TO 11 MPH AND THEN STARTED TO DECELERATE. I STOPPED THE CAR ON THE RAMP, TURNED THE ENGINE OFF AND RESTARTED IT. AFTER THAT, EVERYTHING WAS FINE, AND I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE HOME. . IF THIS HAD HAPPENED WHILE I WAS TRYING TO MERGE INTO TRAFFIC. IT WOULD HAVE BEEN HAZARDOUS. *TR
ON THE DAY PRIOR TO THE EVENT, THE WEATHER WAS AROUND 55 DEGREES AND MISTY WITH OCCASIONAL LIGHT RAIN. OUR 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS IV WAS PARKED DURING MOST OF THE DAY. WHILE DRIVING ON INTERSTATE 35 IN TEXAS GOING 70 MPH, ALL OF A SUDDEN 4 DIFFERENT WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE DASH ALONG WITH THE LARGE RECTANGULAR WARNING MESSAGE SAYING "CHECK HYBRID SYSTEM". THE VEHICLE LOST POWER TO THE WHEELS, THE ACCELERATOR DID NOT WORK EVEN THOUGH THE GASOLINE ENGINE WAS STILL RUNNING, THE VEHICLE COASTED TO THE SHOULDER WHERE IT WAS IMMOBILE AND HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE NEAREST TOYOTA DEALERSHIP. THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME WE HAD ANY TROUBLE WITH THE VEHICLE. THE ODOMETER READING WAS ~3,500 MILES. THE DTC CODE WAS DTC P0A3F "DRIVE MOTOR A POSITION SENSOR CIRCUIT". THE DEALER INITIALLY REPLACED THE ENTIRE INVERTER ASSEMBLY, WHICH DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THEN THEY REPLACED THE ENTIRE TRANSAXLE FOR THE VEHICLE. THIS CORRECTED THE PROBLEM. I DO NOT HAVE EITHER OF THE PARTS THAT WERE REPLACED, ALTHOUGH I AM SURE TOYOTA DOES HAVE THE PARTS. *TR
Seat belts
Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners.
From owner reports, verbatim
ABS system displayed airbag symbol displayed brake symbol displayed seat belts light flashing airbag system showing off. Toyota dealership is aware of the problem with the ABS system along with the items mentioned. accident could have been avoided contact if the ABS system was working. Airbags did not deploy. Advise Toyota corporation on 27 February 2023 file number 230-227-00 2210 in regards to the ABS they were also advised of the airbag symbol displayed in the seat belt fasten flashing on driver side when an individual is seated in the car and buckled in. Vehicle has not been inspected yet however on Monday 6th of March it will be inspected by copart, by the direction of the USAA insurance company.
ABS SYSTEM FAILS, REAR PASSENGER SEAT BELT ISSUE, HEADLIGHT BULBS BURNED TOO MUCH
Suspension
Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.
From owner reports, verbatim
The rear axle beam broke off near the passenger side rear wheel. The wheel flops around and the vehicle is totally unsafe to drive.
Strut mount on Monroe Quick Strut catastrophically failed with no warning. No corrosion noted, appears to be metal fatigue due to inferior design / manufacturing of aftermarket strut mount. Failure happened when leaving driveway at low speed; no prior noises or warning occurred.
Interior & seats
Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.
From owner reports, verbatim
MY 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS HAS LEATHER SEATS AND THE PASSENGER SIDE LIGHT IS COMING ON. ACCORDING TO TOYOTA RECALL THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE LEATHER SEATS AND CALIBRATION.THE SENSOR ON THE PASSENGER SIDE IS NOT COMMUNICATING WITH THE FRONT AIRBAG SO WHEN YOU SIT DOWN AND BUCKLE IN IT DOES NOT ACTIVATE THE FRONT AIRBAG. A SEATBELT AND AIRBAG LIGHT IS CONSTANTLY ON.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HER VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V014000 (AIR BAGS, SEATS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
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 .