2010 Toyota PRIUS
Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report
Quick Summary
The 2010 Toyota PRIUS has 3482 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 43.5x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is brakes problems (58% of all complaints), specifically: tl* the contact owns a 2010 toyota prius. while driving over large and small speed bumps the vehicle accelerated without warning. as a consequence his risk for serious injury and crash were increased. he is in the process of having the vehicle inspected to determine the cause of the failure. the fai. ⚠️ 20 fire reports filed.
3482
Total Complaints
0
Recalls Issued
—/5
Safety Stars
43.5x
vs Segment Avg
Known Problems
BRAKES
2014 complaints- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING OVER LARGE AND SMALL SPEED BUMPS THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. AS A CONSEQUENCE HIS RISK FOR SERIOUS INJURY AND CRASH WERE INCREASED. HE IS IN THE PROCESS OF HAVING THE VEHICLE INSPECTED TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAI
- • PLEASE INVESTIGATE THE 2010 PRIUS AND ITS' BRAKING SYSTEM. WHILE BRAKING ON A WET PAVEMENT, GOING DOWN HILL OR BRAKING WHEN THE CAR GOES OVER AN UNEVEN OR BUMPY SERVICE, THE CAR ACCELERATES OR LURCHES FORWARD. FORTUNATELY, I WAS A SAFE DISTANCE FROM OTHER CARS OR COULD HAVE HIT SOMETHING WITH THIS
- • I BOUGHT A BRAND NEW 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS AND LEFT THE DEALER ON OCTOBER 23, 2009. I HAD TO STOP SHORT AT ONE OF THE STOPLIGHTS ON THE WAY HOME AND NOTICED A DISTURBING LAG BEFORE THE BRAKES ENGAGED. HOURS LATER I WAS DRIVING DOWN A MAJOR HIGHWAY WHEN TRAFFIC STOPPED SUDDENLY AND THE BRAKES WOULD NOT
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING OVER LARGE AND SMALL SPEED BUMPS THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. AS A CONSEQUENCE HIS RISK FOR SERIOUS INJURY AND CRASH WERE INCREASED. HE IS IN THE PROCESS OF HAVING THE VEHICLE INSPECTED TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAI”
— NHTSA complaint filing
SPEED CONTROL
288 complaints- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING OVER LARGE AND SMALL SPEED BUMPS THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. AS A CONSEQUENCE HIS RISK FOR SERIOUS INJURY AND CRASH WERE INCREASED. HE IS IN THE PROCESS OF HAVING THE VEHICLE INSPECTED TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAI
- • ON THREE OCCASIONS, WHILE DRIVING ON CLEAN, DRY ROAD SURFACES, MY 2010 PRIUS SUDDENLY AND BRIEFLY ACCELERATED WITHOUT ANY WARNING AFTER I DROVE OVER MINOR BUMPS AND, ONE 1 OCCASION, A MANHOLE COVER, WHILE BRAKING. THE SENSATION WAS THAT OF THE ENGINE SUDDENLY SURGING AND ACCELERATING. I WAS FORTUNA
- • MY NEW 2010 PRIUS ACCELERATED ON IT'S OWN AS I WAS BRAKING AND SLOWLY APPROACHING THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME THAT WAS STOPPED AT A STOP LIGHT QUITE SOME DISTANCE AWAY. MY CAR HAD ALMOST COME TO A COMPLETE STOP WHEN SUDDENLY THE ENGINE REVVED ON IT'S OWN AS MY FOOT WAS STILL ON THE BRAKE. I HAD TO PRES
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING OVER LARGE AND SMALL SPEED BUMPS THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. AS A CONSEQUENCE HIS RISK FOR SERIOUS INJURY AND CRASH WERE INCREASED. HE IS IN THE PROCESS OF HAVING THE VEHICLE INSPECTED TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAI”
— NHTSA complaint filing
ELECTRICAL
194 complaints- • TL*THE CONTACT TEST DROVE A 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS FROM A AUTHORIZED DEALER. HE STATES THAT HE WAS WEARING POLARIZED SUNGLASSES. HE HAD EXTREME DIFFICULTY READING THE INSTRUMENT PANEL CLUSTER AND SPEEDOMETER GAUGE WHICH EXHIBITED DIM LIGHTING. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. BL UPDATED 10
- • WE RECENTLY PURCHASED PRIUS 2010 V WITH TECHNOLOGY OPTION. AFTER DRIVING IT FOR TWO WEEKS CAR DESIGN HAS CAUSED A LIFE-TREATING SITUATION FOR DRIVER AND TWO PASSENGERS (ONE OF THEM BEING A CHILD) BY STOPPING AT THE INTERSECTION IN A NON-DRIVABLE CONDITION IN A WAY OF HIGH TRAFFIC IN THE NIGHT. CAR H
- • 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS - WHEN BRAKING, IF YOU HIT A BUMP OR POT HOLE IN THE ROAD, THE CAR LUNGES FORWARD (ACCELERATES). YOU HAVE TO REALLY PAY ATTENTION FOR THIS OCCURRENCE OR YOU WILL REAR END SOMEONE. I HAS HAPPEN ABOUT 5 TIMES NOW. THIS SEEMS TO BE A ELECTRONICS ISSUE NOT A PEDAL PROBLEM. *TR
“TL*THE CONTACT TEST DROVE A 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS FROM A AUTHORIZED DEALER. HE STATES THAT HE WAS WEARING POLARIZED SUNGLASSES. HE HAD EXTREME DIFFICULTY READING THE INSTRUMENT PANEL CLUSTER AND SPEEDOMETER GAUGE WHICH EXHIBITED DIM LIGHTING. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. BL UPDATED 10”
— NHTSA complaint filing
ENGINE
173 complaints- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS. THE DRIVER STRUCK A BUMP IN THE ROADWAY WHICH CAUSED THE ENGINE TO VIOLENTLY REV. HE APPLIED PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL, AND HE RESUMED NORMAL VEHICLE OPERATION. AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WAS NOT
- • ACCESS TO THE OIL DRAIN PLUG AND OIL FILTER IS THROUGH A PLASTIC DOORWAY OPENING UNDER THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE DOORWAY IS A PARTIAL CUTOUT FROM A LARGER PLASTIC SHIELD WHICH ENCOMPASSES THE ENTIRE FRONT PORTION OF THE CAR. I PERFORMED MY 3RD OIL CHANGE AND DURING THIS PREPARATION I FOUND THAT
- • TOYOTA PRIUS 2010 SUDDENLY STOPS AND STALLS AT LOW SPEEDS. AFTER THIS, IT WOULD NOT START FOR 20 MINUTES, DESPITE REPEATEDLY TURNING THE ENGINE ON AND OFF. *TR
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS. THE DRIVER STRUCK A BUMP IN THE ROADWAY WHICH CAUSED THE ENGINE TO VIOLENTLY REV. HE APPLIED PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL, AND HE RESUMED NORMAL VEHICLE OPERATION. AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WAS NOT”
— NHTSA complaint filing
OTHER
170 complaints- • AFTER PUSHING THE POWER BUTTON AND THEN SHIFTING OUT OF PARK TO EITHER DRIVE OR REVERSE, THE VEHICLE LUNGES AND I HAVE TO APPLY THE BRAKE, WHICH MAKES THE VEHICLE JERK. SOMETIMES THE GASOLINE ENGINE STARTS BEFORE I SHIFT INTO GEAR SOMETIMES IT DOESN'T. THIS PROCESS IS REPEATED OVER SEVERAL TIMES F
- • ON MY 2010 PRIUS IV WHICH I TOOK DELIVERY OF IN AUGUST, 2009, EVERY TIME I BRAKE, GOING OVER A POTHOLE OR LARGE BUMP, THE CAR LURCHES FORWARD EVEN THOUGH I AM STEPPING ON THE BRAKE. A FEW TIMES I ALMOST HIT THE CAR AHEAD OF ME. THIS IS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SITUATION, AND COULD RESULT IN A CRASH
- • 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS HAS PROBLEM WITH THE FM RADIO. ***NAR*** *NJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE FM RADIO HAD EXCESSIVE, INTERMITTENT STATIC AND EASILY LOST SIGNALS, EVEN ON HIGH WATTAGE. THE TRAFFIC FEATURE WHICH AUTOMATICALLY LOCATED BAY AREA FM TRAFFIC STATIONS DID NOT ALWAYS WORK BECAUSE THE SIGNAL
“AFTER PUSHING THE POWER BUTTON AND THEN SHIFTING OUT OF PARK TO EITHER DRIVE OR REVERSE, THE VEHICLE LUNGES AND I HAVE TO APPLY THE BRAKE, WHICH MAKES THE VEHICLE JERK. SOMETIMES THE GASOLINE ENGINE STARTS BEFORE I SHIFT INTO GEAR SOMETIMES IT DOESN'T. THIS PROCESS IS REPEATED OVER SEVERAL TIMES F”
— NHTSA complaint filing
Estimated Repair Costs
Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.
🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist
Based on 3482 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:
- ☐BRAKES: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING OVER LARGE AND SMALL SPEED BUMPS THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. AS A CONSEQUENCE HIS RISK FOR SERIOUS INJURY AND CRASH WERE INCREASED. HE IS IN THE PROCESS OF HAVING THE VEHICLE INSPECTED TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAI
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐SPEED CONTROL: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING OVER LARGE AND SMALL SPEED BUMPS THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. AS A CONSEQUENCE HIS RISK FOR SERIOUS INJURY AND CRASH WERE INCREASED. HE IS IN THE PROCESS OF HAVING THE VEHICLE INSPECTED TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAI
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐ELECTRICAL: TL*THE CONTACT TEST DROVE A 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS FROM A AUTHORIZED DEALER. HE STATES THAT HE WAS WEARING POLARIZED SUNGLASSES. HE HAD EXTREME DIFFICULTY READING THE INSTRUMENT PANEL CLUSTER AND SPEEDOMETER GAUGE WHICH EXHIBITED DIM LIGHTING. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. BL UPDATED 10
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐ENGINE: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS. THE DRIVER STRUCK A BUMP IN THE ROADWAY WHICH CAUSED THE ENGINE TO VIOLENTLY REV. HE APPLIED PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL, AND HE RESUMED NORMAL VEHICLE OPERATION. AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WAS NOT
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)
Toyota PRIUS — Year Comparison
How does 2010 compare to other years? Fewer complaints = more reliable.
NHTSA Safety Rating
No NHTSA safety rating available
At a Glance
- Complaints
- 3482
- Recalls
- 0
- Fire reports
- 20
- Crash reports
- 214
- Injury reports
- 81
- Segment avg
- 80
Check a Specific VIN
See recalls for YOUR 2010 Toyota PRIUS