Toyota Prius Complaints (2010)

2,829 consumer complaints on file.

#11654656April 15, 2025
POWER TRAIN, UNKNOWN OR OTHER, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11652694April 3, 2025
SERVICE BRAKES, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING
My ABS system light is on. The Toyota mechanic has determined that it is due to Nitrogen gas from a component of the brake booster pump assembly could leak into the brake fluid. 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. Toyota recalled model year 2010 Prius vehicles manufactured March 31, 2009, through October 9, 2009. I took my Prius to Toyota to fix this ABS recall problems but they are refusing to fix the problem for free. They are charging me $4000 to fix it.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11652185April 1, 2025
SERVICE BRAKES
ABS, traction, and brake warning lights came on. No OBD code reading. Mechanic says needs brake booster pump; brake booster master cylinder. Theoretically mine were serviced but no way for me to actually verify it happened on the recall. Vehicle located in Kamuela, Hawaii.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11651753March 31, 2025
SERVICE BRAKES
- Brake system failure - Safety risk due to longer stopping distance - Problem was reproduced and confirmed by two repair shops - Components were inspected by repair shop - Several brake warning lights were ON on dashboard AFTER failure occurred. Toyota recalled 2010 Prius vehicles for Brake Booster and Brake Booster Pump assembly failures. Recall code D0H. Toyota claims that the replacement parts are fixed for the gasket leak issue. Toyota replaced these parts on my car in 2013 as part of the recall. The replaced parts labeling are verified to be the claimed fixed ones. But only about 62,000 miles after the D0H repairs (odometer at 81,400 miles) the parts failed again on March 20, 2015. I do not put many miles on my cars. Toyota has put a maximum repair date for this issue knowing failures keep re-occurring (No repairs supported after 2019). Toyota has not fixed this issue given the repeat failures. Repairs for this issue is extremely expensive at more than $4000 at independent shop (parts and labor)
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11648229March 13, 2025
SERVICE BRAKES, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING
I am writing to express my concern regarding an issue with the PCS System dash lights on my 2010 Toyota Prius. I recently became aware of problems related to the brake booster system, which I understand have been addressed through recalls or warranty extensions on certain models. I believe that the issue I am experiencing should be covered under warranty, and I kindly request your assistance in resolving this matter.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11644827February 25, 2025
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
odometer error
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11643005February 16, 2025
SERVICE BRAKES
I drove the car to my destination without any issues. An hour later, when I restarted the vehicle to leave, the following dashboard lights were on (slip indicator, ABS warning light, and brake system warning light). When I drove the vehicle, the brakes had diminished stopping power. It took farther for the vehicle to come to a full stop when applying the brakes. When we had it checked by the Toyota dealer we were informed that there was an abnormal leak in the accumulator assembly (system diagnostic code C1391) and it would need brake booster/master cylinder assembly with accumulator pump replacement.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11640956February 5, 2025
SERVICE BRAKES, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING
Brake booster, brake accuater went out even after the recall. Dealership said they could do nothing to help
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11640202February 2, 2025
SERVICE BRAKES, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
While driving at a high speed in the left lane of a 2 lane interstate a car in the right lane merged into me. Luckily I was able to brake in time to avoid a collision, unfortunately the sudden braking at a high speed caused my car to loose all control. Upon braking my front tires lost all traction and shifted my car to the right, I remained horizontal sliding across the highway for an unrecognized distance (my guess is 10-20 meters), before shifting another 90 degrees to the right leaving me backwards. At this point I had shifted across both lanes and the emergency lane, I was backwards in a grass border on the right side of the interstate. If this had been any other sort of barrier I may not have Lived. This incident has not been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center. The vehicle had recently had its worn brake components replaced in response to a similar incident happening, which I first attributed to worn brakes— this theory was supported by the brake technician prior to service. I have had a tire pressure light on since I purchased the car, but this was explained to me as a malfunctioned TPS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11639446January 29, 2025
SERVICE BRAKES
Dear NHTSA Team, I am filing a safety complaint regarding my 2010 Toyota Prius (VIN: [XXX] ) due to ongoing brake system failures. My vehicle is affected by Safety Recall D0H (Brake Booster Pump Assembly – Accumulator), but Toyota refuses to replace all necessary components for a proper repair. Issue Summary: •My brakes have intermittently failed, requiring excessive pedal pressure and causing delayed stopping, putting me at serious risk. •I took my car to Toyota on Edens for the recall repair, where Service Advisor David confirmed that the brake booster and accumulator should be replaced together. •However, Toyota will only cover the accumulator under Recall D0H, despite the brake booster being critical for safety. •My vehicle has Diagnostic Trouble Code (DTC) C1391, indicating an internal leak in the braking system, but Toyota refuses to cover the booster replacement. Toyota’s Response: •I contacted Jessica from Toyota’s Customer Experience Center (Case Number: [XXX]). •Toyota refuses to replace the booster under the recall, leaving me responsible for the cost, even though the dealership confirmed it’s necessary. •This decision leaves my car in an unsafe condition even after the recall repair. Request for NHTSA Action: 1.Investigate the safety risks related to this recall and the necessity of replacing both the booster and accumulator together. 2.Ensure Toyota properly covers all necessary brake repairs for affected vehicles. 3.Expand or modify Recall D0H to include the brake booster, as it directly affects braking performance. I urge NHTSA to take action before this defect leads to accidents or injuries. I am available to provide additional information as needed. Thank you for your time and attention to this urgent matter. Sincerely, [XXX] [XXX] [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11638499January 25, 2025
ENGINE
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.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11638253January 24, 2025
SERVICE BRAKES
Abs lights on, traction light on .Actuator running cicle constantly . Breaks felt spongy
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11638279January 24, 2025
SERVICE BRAKES
Break booster fail. Will cause the breaks to fail. There was a voluntary recall on these but I never recieveed the letter in the mail. Thr break booster failed after the voluntary recall was up. Toyota said they cannot help with this. Other prius owners i talked to have the same issue with their 2010 prius break boosters and also did not get the letter in the mail.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11638170January 23, 2025
SERVICE BRAKES
ABS Pump/Motor failed. Lost power and control over the breaks . ABS light on
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11638175January 23, 2025
UNKNOWN OR OTHER, SERVICE BRAKES
My car, a 2010 Toyota Prius, Level V has about 161,000 miles on it, and I have driven about 140K of those miles over the last 13 years. I have traveled around the DC/Maryland area and also taken the car on long trips. The car has been reliable, safe, and predictable... EXCEPT in one place/instance. I have probably driven a dozen times or more to the BWI airport from my home in Chevy Chase. On the return drive on [XXX], as I drive towards an overpass that is just before the [XXX] exit, my Prius goes into "Emergency Approaching Collision" mode. The brakes automatically forcibly apply, the seatbelt/lap harness grab me, and there is an emergency beeping from the system. The first time this happened... probably 10 years ago, it was very startling. My car was traveling about 60-65 mph. Luckily, there were no cars behind me... and I remained calm enough not to overreact. I was so startled that I needed to pull over to regain my composure. In one of the numerous other cases on this happening, my wife was in the car and she basically wanted me to sell the car because she felt it was unsafe. Because I am aware of the situation with my car, I always am cautious when I am driving towards the [XXX] exit. I drive slower, watch carefully for surrounding vehicles beside or behind me. But even yesterday, I was driving very slowly (approximately 35 mph). While I did not feel the system take aggressive avoidance/safety actions, still the warning beeps did take place... a little unnerving, but I had come to expect a problem at that site. In any event, I did want to bring the matter to your agency. Sincerely, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11636126January 15, 2025
SERVICE BRAKES, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING
Twice while I was driving on the highway, my ABS and brake light came on, and my brakes became less sensitive to pressure. That is to say, it took more effort and I had to push my brakes further towards the floor in order for them to respond. I went to an independent mechanic and got the code C1391 which indicates a brake pump accumulator issue. I went to a Toyota dealership and and had the car inspected. They confirmed the C1391 code and said the brake booster assy with master cylinder pump assy was malfunctioning. However, I was never told by Toyota that this issue meant my brakes could fail at any time. My safety and the safety of others was put at risk because my brakes spontaneously became less responsive, my stopping distance was increased, and they were at risk of spontaneous failure.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11636160January 15, 2025
SERVICE BRAKES
I was coming to an intersection where two cars were waiting for a right turn. I pressed on the brakes and nothing happened. The car continued to move without slowing down. The brakes felt "blocked" and unresponsive. I engaged the manual break at the last moment and that slowed me down. But I still hit the car in front of me which in turn hit another car in front of it. The police report says "following too close". But I was not following other cars. The two cars were already at the intersection. I was just coming to this intersection and attempted to slow down as usual. Except that the brakes did not respond. My car was a total loss.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#11634124January 4, 2025
SERVICE BRAKES
I recently had an issue with the brake actuator on my 2010 Toyota Prius, showing error code C1391. This caused reduced braking efficiency, and research shows it’s a common safety concern with Priuses. While there was a recall, it has expired, leaving owners like me without support. I kindly request an investigation to address this critical issue for the safety of all affected drivers.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11633892January 3, 2025
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
The contact owns a 2010 Toyota Prius. The contact stated that while her husband was driving 25 MPH, the brake pedal was depressed but the vehicle failed to respond. The contact stated that several unknown warning lights illuminated with an audible chime being heard. The contact's husband pulled over to the side of the road and depressed the brake pedal and the pedal went to the floorboard and the brakes started to respond as needed. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed and determined that the brake pads and rotors needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired but the failure persisted. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the brake pedal was depressed, and there was an abnormal sound coming from the brakes. The contact stated that the brake pedal went to the floorboard. The contact then towed the vehicle to the residence. The vehicle was taken to the dealer but was not yet diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and offered a Customer Satisfaction Program Extended warranty repair. The failure mileage was approximately 105,336.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11632271December 24, 2024
ENGINE
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.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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