RoadVitals

2011 Toyota Prius Powertrain (other) Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the powertrain system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Powertrain (other) reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
18
Latest Apr 27, 2026
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
3%
of 517 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
0
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2011 Toyota Prius submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 18 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming powertrain

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

BrakesDriver assistancePowertrain (other)
Filed Apr 27, 2026

I was driving my car and suddenly the traction , hand brake and ABS sign started showing up. I usually apply only 10% of force on brake pedal but after this I have to apply almost 60% of force to even slow down the car. Almost 90% force to stop the car It has threatened safety of my family. When diagnosed at autozone they told cannot determine error code. When reading in internet this seems to be common problem in prius. Please help is fixing the issue as it is not at my fault. This seems to be manufacturing defect.

NHTSA ID
11734183
Incident
Apr 25, 2026
BrakesElectricalPowertrain (other)
Filed Jan 21, 2021

BRAKES COMPLETELY FAILED. LOUD BEEPING SOUND HAPPENED, COULDN'T STOP CAR EVEN IN A PARKING LOT. HAD TO USE TRANSMISSION TO SLOW TO A STOP. WAS IN A GROCERY STORE PARKING LOT.

NHTSA ID
11389268
Incident
Jan 18, 2021
Mileage
200,000 mi
EnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Jul 19, 2020

MY CAR HAD THE HYBRID SYSTEM SOFTWARE UPDATE RECALL DONE AND IT STILL STALL WHILE DRIVING , EVEN AT HIGHWAY SPEED

NHTSA ID
11340192
Incident
Jul 18, 2020
Mileage
147,000 mi
EnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Aug 23, 2019

CAR STALLED PULLING INTO TRAFFIC. TOOK ABOUT 15 SEC TO RESTART. NO DIAGNOSTIC LIGHTS LIT UP ON DASH. CAR LOST POWER LAST MONTH AND ENGINE LIGHT WENT ON AND ENGINE COULD NOT BE RESTARTED.HAD TO BE TOWED TO DEALERSHIP. IT REPLACED VALVE ASSEMBLY FOR VACUUM AND REPROGRAMMED PCM. HOWEVER, THAT ISSUE WAS PRECEDED BY A CREEP OF DIAGNOSTIC LIGHTS (COURSE OF 1 HOUR), FROM CHECK OIL TO CHECK ENGINE, AND THEN IT COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN.

NHTSA ID
11245992
Incident
Aug 21, 2019
Mileage
57,000 mi
BrakesDriver assistancePowertrain (other)
Filed Apr 25, 2019

WHEN BREAKING AND STILL MOVING, THE CAR WILL ACCELERATE MOMENTARILY RESULTING IN GOING FASTER FOR A SECOND OR TWO. THIS HAPPENED RANDOMLY OVER THE YEARS AND MAY IN SOME INSTANCES BE RELATED TO HITTING AN IRREGULARITY IN THE ROAD, BUT I CANNOT BE SURE. IT HAS NOT CAUSED AN ACCIDENT, BUT IS STRONG ENOUGH THAT IT COULD. I'M A PRETTY SAFE DRIVER SO TEND NOT TO RIDE ON THE TAIL OF THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. I HAVE NOT KEPT TRACK OF WHEN IT HAPPENS.

NHTSA ID
11203669
Incident
Mar 5, 2019
EnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Apr 11, 2019

MY TOYOTA PRIUS LOSES POWER RANDOMLY AFTER HAVING THE RECALL FIX J0V COMPLETED UPDATING THE SOFTWARE IN INVERTER. VEHICLE STALLED 3 TIMES ON FREEWAY, HIGHWAY AND OFF RAMP. DASH BOARD LIGHTS LIGHT UP WITH ALL WARNING LIGHTS. VEHICLE LOSES POWER....CAN DRIVE A MILE OR SO WITH ALMOST NO POWER...THEN VEHICLE SHUTS DOWN. DASH PANEL READS CHECK HYBRID SYSTEM CONDITIONS ARE EXACTLY THE SAME AS THE ZE3 WARRANTY ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM DESCRIBES. HOWEVER THE DTC CODE IS SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT SO DEALER AND TOYOTA WILL NOT FIX INVERTER. THE CAR IS DANGEROUS TO DRIVE AS THE SYMPTOMS APPEAR RANDOMLY, USUALLY AFTER AN ACCELERATION OF THE VEHICLE PUTS LOAD ON ENGINE. PLS HELP ME

NHTSA ID
11195556
Incident
Mar 28, 2019
Mileage
192,000 mi
EnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Feb 15, 2019

WENT IN TO HAVE THE SPARK PLUGS AND 2 COILS(CYLINDERS 1 & 2) STARTED SHAKING, KNOCKING AND SMOKING AT THE TIME I PICKED IT UP. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON AND HASN'T GONE OFF. THE MECHANIC I TAKE THE VEHICLE TO SAYS IT IS A PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL CAR, TRYING TO DETERMINE THIS, SINCE HE STATED IT IS NOW MY HEAD GASKET THAT NEEDS REPLACING.

NHTSA ID
11180311
Incident
Feb 13, 2019
Mileage
1 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Dec 5, 2018

WHILE DRIVING MY 2011 PRIUS INTERMITTENTLY CHANGES FROM DRIVE TO NEUTRAL. THE CAR CONTINUES TO ROLL BUT SLOWS DOWN. A WARNING COMES UP ON THE SCREEN THAT THE CAR IS IN NEUTRAL. I CAN POP THE GEARSHIFT INTO DRIVE AND IT SEEMS FINE, AND MAY OR MAY NOT BEHAVE THE SAME WAY AGAIN. THIS HAS OCCURRED ON THE FREEWAY AS WELL AS ON CITY STREETS. THERE DOES NOT SEEM TO BE ANY CORRELATION TO ACCELERATION OR DECELERATION OR TO MOVEMENT (TURNS OR CHANGING LANES). I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER WHO STATES THAT THE SYSTEMS CHECK OUT FINE AND THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. (IT IS INTERMITTENT AND I AM NOT ABLE TO DUPLICATE IT EITHER.) I NEVER HAD THIS PROBLEM UNTIL AFTER I HAD MY CAR THOROUGHLY STEAM CLEANED. IT HAS BEEN SUGGESTED TO ME BY ANOTHER PRIUS OWNER THAT IT MIGHT BE A SWITCH. BUT, AGAIN, THE DEALER SAYS THE SYSTEMS CHECK OUT FINE.

NHTSA ID
11156058
Incident
Dec 2, 2018
Mileage
162,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Jul 12, 2018

WAS DRIVING ON THE ON THE SURFACE STREET ABOUT TO GET ON THE FREEWAY AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE THE HYBRID SYSTEM LIGHT CAME ON.

NHTSA ID
11111076
Incident
Jul 6, 2018
Mileage
166,017 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Jul 10, 2018

THE CHECK HYBRID SYSTEM LIGHT CAME ON.

NHTSA ID
11110635
Incident
Jul 6, 2018
Mileage
138,216 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Jul 10, 2018

CAME IN FOR CONCERN OF THE HYBRID SYSTEM LIGHT BEING ON

NHTSA ID
11110634
Incident
Jul 6, 2018
Mileage
138,216 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Nov 29, 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING AT UNKNOWN SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE BURNED AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF OIL. THE CONTACT ESTIMATED THAT IT BURNED A QUART OF OIL PER WEEK. THE CONTACT CALLED A LOCAL DEALER (TOYOTA CARLSBAD, 6020 AVENIDA ENCINAS, CARLSBAD, CA 92011) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE COULD BE TAKEN APART TO FIND THE ISSUE, BUT THERE WAS NO GUARANTEE THAT THIS WOULD REMEDY THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT SPOKE WITH THE USED CAR DEPARTMENT AND WAS INFORMED THAT VEHICLES WERE NOT MADE LIKE THEY PREVIOUSLY WERE AND WAS ADVISED TO PURCHASE A NEWER VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT BELIEVED THERE WAS AN ISSUE WITH TOYOTA VEHICLES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO NHTSA. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.

NHTSA ID
11051229
Incident
Nov 29, 2017
Mileage
60,000 mi
BrakesPowertrain (other)
Filed Jun 22, 2016

WHEN BRAKING WHILE THE VEHICLE IS GOING OVER A BUMP OR DEPRESSION IN THE GROUND, THE VEHICLE LURCHES FORWARD. INSTEAD OF STOPPING THE VEHICLE SEEMS TO ACCELERATE FORWARD. THIS HAPPENS CONSISTENTLY IN THIS SETTING.

NHTSA ID
10875765
Incident
Jun 15, 2012
Mileage
50 mi
EnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Nov 16, 2015

EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION. RECENTLY I NOTICE OIL PRESSURE LOW LIGHT LIGHTS FREQUENTLY. IT USED THE OIL WAS CHANGED EVERY TIME THE MAINTENANCE LIGHT COME UP. ABOUT EVERY 5000 MILES. NOW THE LOW OIL PRESSURE COMES ALMOST EVERY 1000 MILES. THE CAR ONLY HAS 89K MILES.

NHTSA ID
10790539
Incident
Sep 1, 2015
Powertrain (other)
Filed Dec 3, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 75 MPH, THE VEHICLE WOULD INDEPENDENTLY SHIFT FROM DRIVE INTO NEUTRAL AFTER DRIVING FOR A LONG DISTANCE. THE CONTACT RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AND IT RESUMED NORMAL FUNCTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WERE DEPRESSED SIMULTANEOUSLY, SENDING THE VEHICLE INTO AUTOMATIC OVERRIDE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,000. UPDATED 5/5/15*CN

NHTSA ID
10662026
Incident
Dec 3, 2012
Mileage
20,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Oct 26, 2011

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 55 MPH WHENM THE VEHICLE UNEXPECTEDLY SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL AND A WARNING BELL SOUNDED. THE FAILURE HAD SINCE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT SHE MAY HAVE BEEN INADVERTENTLY PRESSING THE PARKING BUTTON. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND THE CONTACT WAS AWAITING A RESPONSE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 800.

NHTSA ID
10432919
Incident
Oct 5, 2011
Mileage
800 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Aug 30, 2011

MY 2011 PRIUS II INTERMITTENTLY GOES INTO REVERSE WHEN I SHIFT INTO DRIVE. APPROXIMATELY 10 TIMES NOW SINCE BEGINNING. TWICE IT HAS GONE INTO DRIVE WHEN I HAVE SHIFTED INTO REVERSE.

NHTSA ID
10423463
Incident
Jun 15, 2011
Mileage
3,500 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Mar 30, 2011

NEW 2011 TOYOTA PRIUS SHOOK VIOLENTLY UPON STARTUP. SEVERE ENGINE NOISE FOR 10 SECONDS UNTIL SMOOTHING OUT AFTER 40 SECONDS. DASHBOARD AND BODY PANELS VISIBLY RATTLING. ONLY 970 MILES ON ODOMETER. CHECKED INTERNET, AND FOUND MANY OTHERS WITH SAME PROBLEM. WORRIED ABOUT DRIVETRAIN DAMAGE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10393790
Incident
Mar 27, 2011
Mileage
970 mi

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.

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Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .