repaired · 2020 Q2
Hybrid propulsion system
Risk. If the hybrid system shuts down unexpectedly, it can increase the risk of a crash.
2011 Toyota PriusProblems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 522 owner complaints about the 2011 Toyota Prius, most often about the service brakes. It is covered by 6 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 27, 2026. Updated daily. Photo: IFCAR, Public domain.
Complaints by system
Where the 2011 Toyota Prius has problems
522 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
265Service brakes17 crash/fire/injury
68Electrical system7 crash/fire/injury
48Exterior lighting1 crash/fire/injury
47Engine3 crash/fire/injury
46Air bags18 crash/fire/injury
28Vehicle speed control
18Power train
16Electronic stability control (ESC)
12Service brakes, hydraulic
9219 other systems17 crash/fire/injury
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Service brakes | 265 | 17 |
| Electrical system | 68 | 7 |
| Exterior lighting | 48 | 1 |
| Engine | 47 | 3 |
| Air bags | 46 | 18 |
| Vehicle speed control | 28 | 3 |
| Power train | 18 | 0 |
| Electronic stability control (ESC) | 16 | 1 |
| Service brakes, hydraulic | 12 | 0 |
| 19 other systems | 92 | 17 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
6 recalls
2011 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 2 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
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…
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 problems start?
80kmiles, median
Based on the odometer reading in 139 service brakes complaints. 59% were reported before 100,000 miles.
34under 30k miles82under 100k miles57100k 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
42 owners mentioned a cost$3,000median
Middle half: $2,666 – $3,500
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
2011 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
2011 Toyota Prius safety ratings
2011 Toyota Prius 4 DR FWD in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.
★★★★★
Frontal crash★★★★★
Side barrier★★★★★
Side pole★★★★★
- Rollover: 4 stars (12.1% risk)
- Stability control: Standard
- Forward collision warning: No
- Lane departure warning: No
3 investigations
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal investigations that included the 2011 Toyota Prius, and the recalls they led to.
- Brake Actuator Valve WearNo recall
- Pedestrian alert soundsLed to recall 22V-063
- Brake Actuator Valve WearOpen
In owners' words
What Prius owners report
Recent service brakes complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.
I was driving the vehicle and a bunch of dash lights came on regarding traction control and stability and lost all brakes and almost caused an accident! The codes thrown showed a fluid level indicator and a leak in accumulator
I was driving on the highway when my 2011 Toyota Prius started beeping repeatedly, and as I approached the red light, my brakes were not operational. My car completely passed through the red light, narrowly missing what could have been a fatal accident for me and others on the road. I had to…
2011 Toyota Prius with approximately 134,000 miles. The brake actuator/master cylinder has been diagnosed as malfunctioning and failing to maintain hydraulic pressure. The brake booster pump initially began cycling approximately every 10 seconds while the vehicle was in READY mode, stationary, and…
Own a 2011 Prius?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.