2011 Toyota Prius Air bags Problems
- Complaints
- 46about this part
- Share
- 9%of 522 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 65,000miles
- Trend
- FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 46 complaints about the air bags of the 2011 Toyota Prius, 9% of the 522 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 65,000 miles. 18 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers. 1 recall campaign on record is filed under a similar system.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“Got hit on the front left side of veh. Not at fault and I believe the other party might have provided false papers. But the reason for the complaint is my airbags didnt deploy??? Front bumper cover bumper and radi. Had damages. In my nonenexpert opinion enough to cause it to eeploy”
NHTSA complaint #10929844, filed 2016-12, 65,000 miles“My wife was driving our 2011 Prius during stop and go traffic. She said the car just took off on her on it's own she tried to brake but it wouldn't stop. It crashed into the motorhome that I was driving. The air bags never deployed. The car was totaled due to the extensive damage.”
NHTSA complaint #10734475, filed 2015-07, 105,234 miles“The car was traveling at about 40mph when we t boned another car that entered our lane illegally. My wife applied the brakes and we skidded for about 10 yards before hitting the other car. Neither the seat belt restraining system nor the air bag system operated.”
NHTSA complaint #10874869, filed 2016-06, 75,000 miles“The car was parked in a parking lot at 6:45 am. When I returned to the car at 3:45 pm, I found that the drivers side curtain airbag had deployed sometime that day. There was no sign of collision or impact. The car was dirty, and the dust had not been disturbed. I took the car to the dealership and was told that it was 227 miles over the warranty for the airbag (at 60,227 miles total). They ran diagnostics and found no error code or reason for the airbag to have deployed. …”
NHTSA complaint #10593558, filed 2014-05, 60,200 miles“On friday, jan. 16, 2014 my husband made a right had turn from a stop sign onto a road in toledo, oh. An oncoming vehicle did not see him and turned into the front drives side smashing the door into my husband. His head went through the window and the side air bags did not deploy. Our frame was smashed, door smashed, front tire bent in, dashboard was bowed and broken, front, small side, and main drivers side windows broken. The car was found to be a total lose, my husband had to seek medical attention, but my main questions is why did the side air bag not deploy 02/05/15 updated 6/9/2015”
NHTSA complaint #10679523, filed 2015-01, 108,152 milesRelated recalls
- 16V487000Jun 30, 2016Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2010-2012 Toyota Prius, 2010 and 2012 Toyota Prius Plug-in Hybrid, and…Covers: Toyota Prius 2010–2012, Lexus CT Hybrid 2011–2012, Toyota Prius Plug-In Hybrid 2010, 2012
Related service bulletins
- 10244113Aug 17, 2023TSB: Replacement certification labels (the vinyl label installed on the driver door or door post) and VIN plates (the metal plate riveted to dashboard) (see Figure 1) for most…
- 10227898Nov 23, 2022TSB: Some 2005 ? 2022 model year Toyota vehicles that have undergone water intrusion may exhibit a condition in which a musty smell is present. Follow the procedures in this…
- 10190460Mar 17, 2021Toyota Safety Recall and Service Campaign - Technician Certification Requirements
- 10132410Jul 20, 2017TSB: REVISION NOTICE July 20, 2017 Rev1: Applicability has been updated to exclude 2007 ? 2017 model year Avanza vehicles. Some hazardous material treatment and handling…
Air bags: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 1 | 17% |
| 2024 | 3 | 11% |
| 2022 | 3 | 13% |
| 2020 | 1 | 7% |
| 2019 | 4 | 13% |
| 2018 | 3 | 8% |
| 2017 | 3 | 3% |
| 2016 | 7 | 5% |
| 2015 | 6 | 4% |
| 2014 | 14 | 7% |
| 2013 | 18 | 4% |
| 2012 | 28 | 7% |
| 2011 | 46 | 9% |
| 2010 | 84 | 3% |
| 2009 | 17 | 3% |
| 2008 | 41 | 3% |
| 2007 | 50 | 3% |
| 2006 | 30 | 2% |
| 2005 | 44 | 4% |
| 2004 | 18 | 3% |
| 2003 | 1 | 1% |
| 2002 | 3 | 2% |
| 2001 | 1 | 1% |
Other parts of the 2011 Toyota Prius
278 complaintsElectrical system
68 complaintsExterior lighting
48 complaintsEngine
47 complaintsOther or unknown
30 complaintsVehicle speed control
28 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
18 complaintsElectronic stability control
16 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
13 complaintsFuel system
11 complaintsHybrid propulsion system
10 complaintsBody and structure
9 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2011 Toyota Prius
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology