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Toyota PriusModel year report

2010 Toyota Prius Problems

Compared with other Toyota Prius years

More complaints than typical for this model

100/100 26× a typical year · 50 = typical

Open NHTSA investigationBrake Actuator Valve Wear

Based only on NHTSA complaints, recalls and investigations. Not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold, and not a reliability rating. How this is calculated

Complaints
2,823filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
6,419miles, 2,259 complaints with mileage
Recalls
10campaigns on record
Trend
FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA crash rating
—overall rating starts with 2011 models
EPA fuel economy
50 mpgcombined, 1.8L 4-cyl · hybrid FWD · 51 city / 48 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2010 Toyota Prius (complaints, recalls, investigations), NHTSA crash tests, EPA fuel economy. Report an error

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often describe ABS, brake, and traction warning lights coming on together with reduced or delayed braking, frequently linked to the brake booster, booster pump, or ABS actuator. A second group reports hybrid system warnings, loss of power, and stalling, often tied to the inverter. Brake noise and regenerative braking dropping out also appear, and most reports involve mileage above roughly 90,000 miles.

  1. Brakes

    Brake and ABS warning lights with reduced braking

    • 1,233 complaints (44%)
    • median 7,000 mi at 0.5 yrs old (968 state mileage)
    • 97 mention a crash, fire or injury
    • owner-quoted repair $3,000 (median of 116 quotes)
    • filed 2009–2026

    Owners describe the ABS, brake, and traction warning lights coming on, sometimes at highway speed, with the brake pedal feeling spongy or firm, or traveling further toward the floor before braking takes effect. Many complaints tie the symptom to the brake booster, booster pump, master cylinder, or ABS actuator, and some mention a diagnostic code. According to complaints, several owners were told the repair was costly, and many say the manufacturer declined help after a warranty or extension deadline had passed. Most reports are at about 85,000 to 230,000 miles, with a few at around 74,000 miles.

    Recall 13V235000Recall 10V039000

    What to check: Ask whether the brake booster, booster pump, or ABS actuator has been repaired, and ask for the diagnostic records and codes. On a test drive, check that the ABS, brake, and traction lights stay off and that the pedal feels firm over several stops.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “Hazard lights flashing when driving forward or reverse dependent on the speed of wheel rotation. I am told that my skid control ecu as well as the brake booster and pump are bad and need replacing. I keep reading about this issue, but Toyota says it is not a broad issue. It is not clear what systems have failed or what risk there is in driving.”

    NHTSA complaint #11297406, filed 2020-01, 201,000 miles

    “I am having an issue with my brake actuator/brake booster. This is a known issue and Toyota is refusing to help with the issue. The ABS, brake, and traction control light are on and regen braking is not working. They are supposed to cover this based on bulletin zjb but absolutely refuse any help.”

    NHTSA complaint #11376852, filed 2020-11, 150,000 miles
  2. Electrical system

    Hybrid system warning and loss of power

    • 346 complaints (12%)
    • median 50,894 mi at 4.2 yrs old (274 state mileage)
    • 23 mention a crash, fire or injury
    • owner-quoted repair $3,185 (median of 34 quotes)
    • filed 2009–2026

    Owners describe a hybrid system or check hybrid warning appearing while driving, followed by a loss of power, reduced speed, or a stall. Some say the car would not restart until the rear battery was disconnected and reconnected. Complaints often name the inverter as the failed part, and some say the recall repair was done but the warning returned. Reports range from about 97,000 to 387,000 miles, and several describe the problem on highways or in hot weather.

    Recall 18V684000Recall 14V053000

    What to check: Ask whether the inverter recalls listed here were completed and ask for a scan of hybrid system codes. During a test drive, confirm that the hybrid warning lights stay off and that the car accelerates normally at highway speed.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “While driving the vehicle the hybrid system failed as per notification on the dashboard. The car was operable but I was not able to drive above 40 miles per hour. I was told by the certified Toyota dealer that the inverter failed and they were not able to provide a reason why it failed. There was a previous recall on the inverter in 2014 to fix a software issue which was repaired. I was told by the dealer this recent incident was unrelated.”

    NHTSA complaint #11300773, filed 2020-01, 175,000 miles

    “Vehicle shuttered and warning lights came on while driving on busy roadway. Was able to pull onto side street and stopped vehicle. Outside temperatures were over 100 deg f and my wife was alone with the vehicle. Attached mechanic estimate lists codes and indicates the inverter failed. We had the ecu updated in 2016 to avoid this failure but believe Toyota's ecu flash failed to fix the issue. Subsequent extended warranty did not cover this vehicle's VIN # according to Toyota dealership we contacted on 05/29/2020.”

    NHTSA complaint #11326618, filed 2020-05, 97,363 miles
  3. Brakes

    Brake noise, vibration, or pulsing at low speed

    • 169 complaints (6%)
    • median 10,500 mi at 0.9 yrs old (127 state mileage)
    • 15 mention a crash, fire or injury
    • owner-quoted repair $3,000 (median of 26 quotes)
    • filed 2009–2026

    Owners describe shrieking, grinding, humming, or buzzing when braking, sometimes with vibration or pulsing through the pedal at low speed. Several say the noise came with warning lights or a change in pedal feel, and some suspected the brake pump or actuator. Complaints describe mixed results at the dealer, with some saying no fault was found. Reports range from about 93,000 to 297,000 miles, and several describe the noise at low speeds.

    What to check: Listen for noise and check for pedal pulsing during a slow-speed stop on a test drive. Ask whether the brake pump, booster, and actuator were inspected for noise and whether any brake-related diagnostic records exist.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “I was driving down the highway and the traction control, ABS, and brake light all come on. I go to use the brakes and the pedal was a lot firmer and was harder to press. The car makes a buzzing noise I believe it is the brake accumulator. I go to the nearest place to get the codes read. It came up with c1391 and I look that code up and it comes up with that code is a common issue with the Prius. I read that it could lead to brake failure.”

    NHTSA complaint #11389026, filed 2021-01, 181,323 miles

    “I was comfortably driving my 2010 Toyota Prius down a city street on a thursday afternoon--about 25 MPH, light traffic--when suddenly--without any trigger or warning--I lightly pressed down the brake pedal to slow down for a speed bump, and the brakes shuddered, the brake pedal seemed to twitch, and the car started making a loud shrieking and grinding noise every 3-5 seconds. For the record, my 2010 Toyota Prius has been regularly serviced at my local Toyota dealership since I purchased it in 2018. The loud shrieking felt like it was coming from below my feet and from the drive shaft. …”

    NHTSA complaint #11352523, filed 2020-09, 92,600 miles
  4. Brakes

    Regenerative braking drops out intermittently

    Mentioned in 5 of 80 sampled complaints

    Owners describe regenerative braking stopping suddenly or intermittently, often with the ABS, brake, or traction lights on. When regeneration is lost, the pedal can feel soft or need more effort, and some say the car was harder to stop in traffic. Several say the regeneration returned after the car sat overnight, while others report the problem recurring. Reports range from about 92,000 to 150,000 miles, and several describe it occurring on highways or through town.

    Recall 13V235000

    What to check: Ask whether the regenerative braking warning has appeared in the car's service history, and ask for a scan of brake and hybrid codes. On a test drive, check that regenerative braking engages normally and that the brake pedal stays firm.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “Regenerative brakes stopped working while driving in clear conditions on the highway at 60mph, ABS, traction control, and brakes lights on dash illuminated. Almost crashed as brake pedal needed to be pressed really hard and almost to the floor to stop the car. Known issue and dealer refuses to fix the problem”

    NHTSA complaint #11416211, filed 2021-05, 92,000 miles

    “I have lost all regenerative braking. The ABS, traction control, and service lights are all illuminated continually. It has become difficult to stop and the hybrid battery is depleting at a rapid rate with very slow recharging.”

    NHTSA complaint #11398233, filed 2021-02, 130,000 miles

Buying note. Ask for the brake and hybrid repair history, including whether the booster or pump, ABS actuator, and inverter have been repaired, and confirm whether the brake recalls were completed. A pre-purchase inspection should include a diagnostic scan for brake and hybrid codes.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 80 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.

NHTSA recorded 2,823 consumer complaints for the 2010 Toyota Prius. 2,259 of the complaints include a mileage, and 72% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 6,419 miles. Of all complaints, 183 involved a crash, 13 a fire, 65 an injury, 2 a death, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 10 recall campaigns and 387 technical service bulletins for this model year. Compared with the other 11 Toyota Prius model years that have at least 25 complaints and are old enough to compare, this one scores 100 out of 100, where 50 is a typical year for the model (more complaints than typical for this model). The comparison allows for the era and for how long each year has had to collect complaints, but not for how many vehicles were sold.

Which parts are reported most

Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.

Also reported: Body and structure (35), Engine cooling (33), Hybrid propulsion system (30), Steering (30), Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors) (21), Forward collision avoidance (18), Tires (17), Wheels (17), Seat belts (16), Equipment (15), Suspension (9), Seats (5), Interior lighting (2), Back-over prevention (rear camera) (1).

Example complaints

Brakes: “Intermittently, several warning lights come on at once while driving: traction control, brake, and ABS lights. While on, braking is lessened, brakes feel spongy, and the battery generation indicator shows no energy being produced. I found several similar complaints online. For me, the problem has comes and goes, affecting about 50 percent of my driving time.”

NHTSA complaint #11154142, filed 2018-11, 193,000 miles

Vehicle speed control: “I was driving on the freeway at about 70 MPH when the check hybrid system light came on and the car lost all power and ability to accelerate. It completely began to descend in speed and within 2 minutes came to a complete shut down. I could have easily been rear ended had I not moved to the side of the freeway as quickly as I did.”

NHTSA complaint #11003313, filed 2017-07, 170,000 miles

Electrical system: “Air bag did not deployed at the time of accident. Damaged/rip apart front bumper...car is total loss as per insurance adjuster. Other collided honda cr-v had all its air bags deployed. None on my Prius. Accident happened at major intersection ,when green light turned on I paddle my car , other car honda cr-v came at a speed to make left turned and hit my front bumper.”

NHTSA complaint #11301005, filed 2020-01, 88,500 miles

Exterior lighting: “Low beam started getting dim, but were brand new. They both suddenly failed on the highway almost causing a crash. I replaced bulbs and they were dim again. I went to buy the top line headlights thinking that was the issue, but I discovered the passenger side headlight assembly was corroded and melted. Once I turned the car on it began smoking. I can't install any lights now.”

NHTSA complaint #11327579, filed 2020-06, 185,000 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

72% of the 2,259 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 1,800 and 60,000 miles.

58%0–108%10–257%25–506%50–756%75–10010%100–1506%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (2,259 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 6,419 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Trend: falling. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.

1,468’11’14’17’20’23’26
Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Crash test ratings

NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2010 Toyota Prius. Frontal results are shown driver / passenger; rollover shows the star rating and NHTSA's estimated risk of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.

VersionOverallFrontalSideSide poleRollover
Prius · sedan FWDnot rated4 / 4———

Driver aids listed by NHTSA for the 2010 model year: forward collision warning optional, lane departure warning not available, automatic emergency braking not available.

Ratings before the 2011 model year come from an older, less demanding test and are not comparable with ratings for 2011 and later.

Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings), nhtsa.gov/ratings.

Fuel economy and running cost

EPA ratings for each 2010 Toyota Prius version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).

VersionEngineTransmissionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yr
Prius FWD1.8L 4-cyl · hybridCVT514850$1,350

Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.

Recalls and investigations

See all 10 recalls for the 2010 Toyota Prius → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls

NHTSA investigations

Technical service bulletins

TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 387 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 387 bulletins →

Other model years of the Toyota Prius

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
202661,1001554—Too new
20251612,4502552—Too new
2024273,0004554Too new to compareToo new
20232115,2054554—Too new
20222434,6001552—Rising
202165,2000552—Not enough data
20201412,85004–552—Not enough data
2019305,50035520 · FewerRising
20183710,00015560 · FewerRising
20179114,000355628 · FewerStable
201615519,600555655 · TypicalFalling
201516630,00014488 · FewerRising
201421027,000344834 · FewerRising
201341454,425354844 · TypicalRising
201242450,00064–54880 · MoreRising
201152276,000654872 · MoreStable
20102,8236,41910—50100 · MoreFalling
200950230,0006—46100 · MoreStable
20081,49751,1764—46100 · MoreFalling
20072,00450,0504—46Not compared (before 2008)Falling
20061,43950,0006—46Not compared (before 2008)Falling
20051,05176,8546—46Not compared (before 2008)Stable
200461072,4366—46Not compared (before 2008)Falling
20039971,0001—41Not compared (before 2008)Falling
200216770,2002—41Not compared (before 2008)Falling
200116560,5743—41Not compared (before 2008)Stable

All Toyota Prius model years · Best and worst years by complaints

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 2010 Toyota Prius?

Owners of this model year most often describe ABS, brake, and traction warning lights coming on together with reduced or delayed braking, frequently linked to the brake booster, booster pump, or ABS actuator. The issues reported most often: Brake and ABS warning lights with reduced braking; Hybrid system warning and loss of power; Brake noise, vibration, or pulsing at low speed.

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2010 Toyota Prius have?

NHTSA recorded 2,823 consumer complaints for the 2010 Toyota Prius as of Oct 29, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2010 Toyota Prius is reported most often?

Brakes is named most often, in 1,945 complaints (69% of the total), followed by vehicle speed control with 287.

Has the 2010 Toyota Prius been recalled?

NHTSA lists 10 recall campaigns for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What gas mileage does the 2010 Toyota Prius get?

The EPA rates the 2010 Toyota Prius (Prius, 1.8L 4-cyl · hybrid) at 50 mpg combined, 51 city and 48 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $1,350 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 2010 Toyota Prius reported?

Among the 2,259 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 6,419 miles and the middle half falls between 1,800 and 60,000 miles; 72% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 29, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Crash ratings are from NHTSA’s New Car Assessment Program. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).

Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.