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2010 Toyota Prius Plug-in HybridProblems, recalls & complaints

NHTSA has logged 6 owner complaints about the 2010 Toyota Prius Plug-in Hybrid, most often about the service brakes. It is covered by 1 safety recall, and for recall 16V-487 the manufacturer reports only 69% of affected cars repaired.

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CarFlaw IndexNot enough dataHigher is better (0–100)
Safety recalls1Lowest repair rate 69%Owner complaints62 with a crash, fire or injuryTypical failure mileage97kService brakes, median miles

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through March 8, 2019. Updated daily.

Complaints by system

Where the 2010 Toyota Prius Plug-in Hybrid has problems

6 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.
Complaints by system
SystemComplaintsCrash, fire or injury
Service brakes31
Electrical system11
Engine10
Hybrid propulsion system11
Vehicle speed control11

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.

1 recall

2010 Toyota Prius Plug-in Hybrid recalls and how many were fixed

Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

69%repaired · 2018 Q1

Air bags: side/window

Recall 16V-487 · Jun 30, 2016 · 482,002 vehicles · 334,252 repaired

Risk. If either portion of the curtain shield air bag inflator ejects into the passenger cabin, there is an increased risk of injury to vehicle occupants.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Toyota.

Best & worst years

2010 vs. every other Prius Plug-in Hybrid year

Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Prius Plug-in Hybrid median. How we score

'10'11'12'13'14'15'25'26
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
1 investigation

NHTSA defect investigations

Federal investigations that included the 2010 Toyota Prius Plug-in Hybrid, and the recalls they led to.

  1. Brake Actuator Valve WearDP19004 · closed Jan 21, 2021
    No recall
In owners' words

What Prius Plug-in Hybrid owners report

Recent service brakes complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS PLUG-IN HYBRID. WHILE REVERSING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY, THE CONTACT RELEASED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL TO SWITCH THE VEHICLE INTO DRIVE. SUDDENLY, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED BACKWARDS AND DROVE INTO A NEIGHBOR'S YARD. THE VEHICLE SPUN OUT OF CONTROL EVEN WITH THE…
Complaint 11145306 · Nov 5, 2018 · 74,000 miles
THE BRAKE SYSTEM ABS NOT WORKS. THE CAR WAS IN MOTION ON THE STREET WHEN THE SYSTEM ABS STOPPED WORKING AND THE WARNING LIGHTS IN DASHBOARD. THE BRAKE PEDAL IS LOWERED UNEXPECTEDLY AND THE CAR CONTINUES NON-STOP UNTIL THE PEDAL IS REPEATEDLY DEPRESSED AGAIN. DIAGNOSTIC IN DEALER TOYOTA, KENDALL…
Complaint 11024742 · Sep 20, 2017 · 119,000 miles

Own a 2010 Prius Plug-in Hybrid?

Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.