repaired · 2020 Q2
Hybrid propulsion system
Risk. If the hybrid system shuts down unexpectedly, it can increase the risk of a crash.
2010 Toyota PriusProblems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 2,823 owner complaints about the 2010 Toyota Prius, most often about the service brakes, hydraulic. It is covered by 10 safety recalls, and for recall 16V-396 the manufacturer reports only 24% of affected cars repaired.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through October 6, 2026. Updated daily.
Complaints by system
Where the 2010 Toyota Prius has problems
2,823 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
849Service brakes, hydraulic57 crash/fire/injury
593Service brakes45 crash/fire/injury
502Service brakes, electric20 crash/fire/injury
287Vehicle speed control35 crash/fire/injury
192Electrical system
149Exterior lighting
140Engine
84Air bags
79Power train
45623 other systems51 crash/fire/injury
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Service brakes, hydraulic | 849 | 57 |
| Service brakes | 593 | 45 |
| Service brakes, electric | 502 | 20 |
| Vehicle speed control | 287 | 35 |
| Electrical system | 192 | 13 |
| Exterior lighting | 149 | 6 |
| Engine | 140 | 8 |
| Air bags | 84 | 27 |
| Power train | 79 | 10 |
| 23 other systems | 456 | 51 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
10 recalls
2010 Toyota Prius 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.
repaired · 2018 Q1
Air bags: side/window
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.
repaired · 2017 Q4
Front assembly: seat heater/cooler
Risk. If damaged, the copper strand heating element may short circuit, increasing the risk of a fire.
repaired · 2016 Q2
Front assembly: seat heater/cooler
Risk. Damage to the seat heater wiring could cause the wires to short, increasing the risk of the seat burning and causing personal injury to the occupant.
Show 6 more recalls
repaired · 2015 Q2
Electrical system: software
Risk. The vehicle may enter a fail-safe/limp-home mode that limits the drivability of the vehicle.
no report yet
Service brakes
Risk. As nitrogen is released into the brake fluid, the brake pedal may have reduced hydraulic pressure.
no report yet
Frontal: sensor/control module-inactive
Risk. If the front passenger seat occupant sensing system is out of calibration, the front passenger airbags may not deploy or they may deploy inappropriately for…
no report yet
Antilock: control unit/module
Risk. VEHICLE STOPPING DISTANCES MAY INCREASE RELATIVE TO A CUSTOMER'S EXPECTATION INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
no report yet
no report yet
Other: labels
Risk. A DRIVER MAY OVERLOAD A VEHICLE WHICH MAY INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.
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.
Mileage at failure
When do service brakes, hydraulic problems start?
3kmiles, median
Based on the odometer reading in 753 service brakes, hydraulic complaints. 98% were reported before 100,000 miles.
723under 30k miles739under 100k miles14100k miles or more
Owner-reported costs
What owners say repairs cost
Dollar amounts owners wrote in their complaints when describing a repair or a quote. These are not price estimates; a system is shown only when at least 8 owners mentioned a cost.
Service brakes
101 owners mentioned a cost$3,000median
Middle half: $2,850 – $4,000
Engine
13 owners mentioned a cost$5,000median
Middle half: $2,000 – $6,400
Electrical system
12 owners mentioned a cost$550median
Middle half: $350 – $1,050
Exterior lighting
11 owners mentioned a cost$540median
Middle half: $265 – $826
If a problem is covered by a recall, the dealer fixes it for free. Some manufacturers also reimburse owners who paid for a repair before a recall was announced.
Best & worst years
2010 vs. every other Prius 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 median. How we score
'01'02'03'04'05'06'07'08'09'10'11'12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19'20'21'22'23'24'25'26
- Avoid
- Caution
- Solid
- Best
- Not rated
NHTSA crash tests
2010 Toyota Prius safety ratings
2010 Toyota Prius 4-DR.w/SAB in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.
Frontal crashNot rated
Side barrierNot rated
- Stability control: Standard
- Forward collision warning: Optional
- Lane departure warning: No
4 investigations
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal investigations that included the 2010 Toyota Prius, and the recalls they led to.
- Brake Actuator Valve WearNo recall
- Pedestrian alert soundsLed to recall 22V-063
- Brake Actuator Valve WearOpen
- Braking Performance, Hybrid VehicleNo recall
In owners' words
What Prius owners report
Recent service brakes, hydraulic complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.
The contact owns a 2010 Toyota Prius. The contact stated that while driving 70 MPH, the vehicle jerked, and the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended while depressing the accelerator pedal. Additionally, the steering wheel seized, and the vehicle stalled. The contact pulled over to the side of…
The contact owns 2010 Toyota Prius. The contact stated that while depressing the brake pedal, the ABS, brakes, and the vehicle stability control warning lights were illuminated. An Independent mechanic was contacted. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed and…
The contact owns a 2010 Toyota Prius. The contact stated while driving 45-50 MPH and depressing the brake pedal, the ABS, the traction control, and the check engine warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle experienced reduced braking power and the vehicle failed to…
Own a 2010 Prius?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.