NHTSA Owner Complaint Log
This page lists owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2011 Toyota Prius. Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA and do not by themselves prove a defect or defect rate.
WHEN BREAKING AND STILL MOVING, THE CAR WILL ACCELERATE MOMENTARILY RESULTING IN GOING FASTER FOR A SECOND OR TWO. THIS HAPPENED RANDOMLY OVER THE YEARS AND MAY IN SOME INSTANCES BE RELATED TO HITTING AN IRREGULARITY IN THE ROAD, BUT I CANNOT BE SURE. IT HAS NOT CAUSED AN ACCIDENT, BUT IS STRONG ENOUGH THAT IT COULD. I'M A PRETTY SAFE DRIVER SO TEND NOT TO RIDE ON THE TAIL OF THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. I HAVE NOT KEPT TRACK OF WHEN IT HAPPENS.
A FEW MONTHS AGO I HAD THE REQUIRED SOFTWARE UPDATE TO ADJUST THE SAFETY FEATURE IN THE HYBRID SYSTEM IN CASE OF A FAILURE. WHILE DRIVING ON A SIDE STREET ON 3/1/19 I PRESSED THE GAS AFTER BEING STOPPED, THE CAR JERKED, AND THE CHECK HYBRID SYSTEM LIGHT CAME ON. THIS WAS ON RAILROAD TRACKS BUT THE CAR DID DRIVE ON THE GAS ENGINE A SHORT DISTANCE TO MAKE IT OVER THE RAILROAD TRACKS. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO A TOYOTA DEALER WHO STATED THE INVERTER WAS BAD, BUT THAT TOYOTA WOULD REPLACE IT AS THEY EXTENDED THE WARRANTY. THIS SEEMS TO BE AN ISSUE THAT TOYOTA IS IGNORING. I ALSO OWN A 2014 TOYOTA PRIUS V WHICH IS ALSO PRONE TO THIS ISSUE. TOYOTA SHOULD ADDRESS THIS ISSUE BEYOND A MERE SOFTWARE UPDATE.
I'M CONSTANTLY HEARING A BARKING/ PURGING NOISE COMING FROM THE BRAKE ACCUMULATOR PUMP WHENEVER I DO HARD BRAKING. WHENEVER I HIT POTHOLES OR ROUGH ROADS, THE CAR WOULD STILL ROLLS DURING BRAKING AS IF THE ABS IS GETTING TRIGGERED. I WAS QUOTED BY TOYOTA DEALER OF AN ESTIMATE OF $3000 TO REPLACE THE BRAKE ACCUMULATOR PUMP AND BOOSTER. I'M AFRAID THAT THE BRAKES WOULD FAIL WHILE DRIVING.
THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. SEVERAL WARNING LIGHTS ON THE DASH CAME ON AT ONCE, AND THE BRAKES REQUIRED SIGNIFICANT ADDITIONAL PRESSURE TO OPERATE. WE DROVE HE VEHICLE HOME, AND THEN TO A NEARBY REPAIR SHOP. WE WERE INFORMED THAT THE BRAKE BOOSTER HAD AN INTERNAL LEAK, AND REQUIRED REPLACEMENT. THIS IS THE SAME PART THAT WAS ADDRESSED IN A CUSTOMER SUPPORT PROGRAM FOR THE 2010 MY PRIUS; HOWEVER, THE 0211 PRIUS IS NOT COVERED. 110,000 MILES.
TOYOTA HAD A CUSTOMER SUPPORT PROGRAM ZJB FOR DEFAULT BRAKE BOOSTER/MASTER CYLINDERS ON THE 2010 PRIUS MODELS. I HAVE A 2011 PRIUS THAT HAS BEEN DIAGNOSED WITH THE SAME PROBLEM AND THERE IS NO CUSTOMER SUPPORT OFFERED. THIS WARRANTY ENHANCEMENT ON THE 2010 MODELS IS GOOD THRU 11/30/19 REGARDLESS OF MILEAGE. EVEN THOUGH MY VEHICLE HAS THE EXACT PROBLEM THERE IS NO RECOGNITION FOR SUPPORT DUE TO THE YEAR OF THIS VEHICLE. I WAS NOT AWARE I EVEN HAD A PROBLEM UNTIL I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER FOR A SOFTWARE RECALL UPDATE. WE WERE EXPERIENCING HEAVY RAIN AND MY INDICATOR LIGHTS CAME ON WHICH IS WHY THEY CHECKED THIS AND CONFIRMED THE ISSUE ALTHOUGH MY BRAKES ARE WORKING FINE. I AM NOT UNDERSTANDING WHY TOYOTA IS NOT HONORING THE FIX FOR THE DEFAULT OR WHY AFTER DISCOVERING THIS ISSUE IN 2010 THE 2011 WOULD NOT BE CONSIDERED. I WOULD APPRECIATE SOME HELP IN THIS MATTER.
WENT IN TO HAVE THE SPARK PLUGS AND 2 COILS(CYLINDERS 1 & 2) STARTED SHAKING, KNOCKING AND SMOKING AT THE TIME I PICKED IT UP. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON AND HASN'T GONE OFF. THE MECHANIC I TAKE THE VEHICLE TO SAYS IT IS A PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL CAR, TRYING TO DETERMINE THIS, SINCE HE STATED IT IS NOW MY HEAD GASKET THAT NEEDS REPLACING.
THE CAR STOP WORKING ALL THE DASH LIGHTS STOP WORKING ,THE BRAKES START GETTING HARDER AND THE DON'T STOP AT ALL AND BEEPING WITHOUT STOP THAT NOISE AND THE HIBRYD SYSTEM STOP WORKING AFTER I LIVING FOR SOME RECALLS REPAIRS AND THE WANT ME TO FIX THE CAR TO PAY AND I KNOW IS NOT MY FAULT EVERYTHING IS BECAUSE IS THIS CAR IS ALL ELECTRONIC SYSTEM.NEVER ON MY LIVE I HAVE THIS PROBLEM WITH MY OTHER CARS.ONLY WITH THIS ONE AND NOW THEY ONE ME TO PAY FOR SOMETHING THE COMPANY MAKES WRONG.THIS IS NOT FAIR AT ALL.BEFORE I WAS RECOMENDED THIS CAR BUT RIGHT NOW PEOPLE ASK ME AND I HAVE TO TALK NEGATIVE SITUATION ABOUT IT.
ALTHOUGH TOYOTA ISSUED A RECALL NOTICE IN OCTOBER OF 2018 FOR OUR 2011 PRIUS, THE AFFECTED PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE AND THE LETTER STATED WE WOULD BE NOTIFIED WHEN THE REPAIR COULD BE MADE. ON FEB. 5 OUR CHECK HYBRID SYSTEM WARNING CAME ON AND THE CAR WAS DIFFICULT TO DRIVE WITH DIMINISHED ACCELERATION/POWER--CERTAINLY A SAFETY ISSUE IN OUR AREA'S HEAVY TRAFFIC. THE AUTO NATION TOYOTA FT MYERS, FL DEALERSHIP SAID THE CAR SHOULD BE DRIVEN IN TO THE SERVICE DEPT. (BUT TOLD MY HUSBAND ONCE IT WAS THERE, IT WAS NO LONGER SAFE TO OPERATE) AND IT WOULD BE CHECKED AND THEN "GRACIOUSLY" SAID THE INVERTER SYSTEM WOULD BE REPLACED AT NO COST (APPROX. $3800) TO US AS TOYOTA OPTED TO "EXTEND THE WARRANTY". THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN REPLACED IN OCTOBER WHEN INITIALLY NOTIFIED AND BEFORE IT FAILED AND BECAME A SAFETY ISSUE AND BEFORE WE WERE TOLD TO "DRIVE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP". I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED IN TOYOTA AND I WORRY ABOUT OTHER PRIUS DRIVERS STILL ON THE ROAD.
AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY AFTER BEING REAR ENDED STRAIGHT ON AT 55 MPH, NOT A SINGLE AIRBAG DEPLOYED.
ABS ACTUATOR MALFUNCTION
THE FOLLOWING IS A SUMMARY OF HOW I BECAME AWARE OF THE POWER BOOSTER AND MASTER CYLINDER PROBLEM WITH MY 2011 TOYOTA PRIUS. 'UPON DISCOVERY OF MULTIPLE LIGHTS DISPLAYED ON DASHBOARD SUCH AS BRAKE, ABS SYSTEM & TRACTION LIGHTS, DURING DRIVING THE BRAKING PERFORMANCE HAS CHANGED DRASTICALLY & THE CAR NO LONGER PERFORMS BRAKING FUNCTION ADEQUATELY. UNABLE TO RELY ON SAFE BRAKING DUE TO BRAKE RESISTANCE FELT WITH STIFFENING IN WHICH PEDAL DEPRESSES DEEPLY & MORE TIME IS REQUIRED TO COME TO A FULL STOP. WHEN BRAKING THE HYBRID BATTERY DOES NOT CHARGE & RUNS DANGEROUSLY LOW RESULTING IN DAMAGE TO THE HYBRID BATTERY WHICH CAN LEAD TO SUBSTANTIAL COST TO REPLACE THE BATTERY. 'CAR BROUGHT TO FIRESTONE FOR DIAGNOSTICS. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION BY THEIR TECHNICIAN IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE POWER BRAKE BOOSTER/MASTER CYLINDER WAS DAMAGED & MALFUNCTIONING AND WAS IN NEED OF REPLACEMENT. INFORMED REPAIR WOULD BE IN EXCESS OF $1,500.00. SEE ENCLOSED SUPPORTIVE DOCUMENTATION FROM FIRESTONE DIAGNOSTICS.
I'M TRYING TO COMPLAIN ABOUT THIS LONG TIME AGO,BUT NOW I FOUND THAT OUT.I CAN'T DRIVE MY CAR LONG TIME AGO BECAUSE THIS PROBLEM. I DON'T MY MILES TO DRIVES AND I CAN'T SEE MY GAS MILES. ALL MY DASHBOARD GONE AND MY WINDOWS THEY CAN'T OPEN AT ALL. I CAN BELIEVE TO HAVE A FUTURE CAR.THEY HAVE SO MANY PROBLEMS WITH THE ELECTRIC SYSTEMS.
THE ATTRACTION BRAKE AND ABS LIGHTS COME ON, THE BRAKE BECOME SPONGEY AND FAIL TO STOP THE VEHICLE , I ALMOST HAD AN ACCIDENT WHILE THIS HAPPENS WHILE I WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE
MY CAR WAS PARKED ON THE STREET,I GOT INTO IT, TURNED IT ON, SHIFTED TO DRIVING AND STARTED PROCEEDING FORWARD. I THEN NOTICED 3 LIGHTS (THE ABS LIGHT, BRAKE LIGHT, AND TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT) SUDDENLY APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD. NOTHING OUT OF THE ORDINARY OCCURRED PRIOR TO THE LIGHT COMING ON, IT JUST SUDDENLY APPEARED. THE ERROR CODE IN THE COMPUTER SYSTEM READ C1391. THE DETAILS READ THERE WAS "ABNORMAL LEAK IN ACCUMULATOR". THE CAR NO LONGER DRIVES SAFELY. IF THE BRAKES ARE PRESSED SUDDENLY THE CAR SKIDS INSTEAD OF SLOWING DOWN. IN ORDER FOR THE CAR TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP A LOT MORE PRESSURE HAS TO BE APPLIED TO THE BRAKE COMPARED TO BEFORE ABS PROBLEM. THE STOPPING DISTANCE HAS INCREASED BY APPROXIMATELY TWICE ITS LENGTH. THE CAR IS NO LONGER CAPABLE OF SHARP TURNS, THE BACK END OF THE CAR SKIDS DANGEROUSLY LEFT OR RIGHT WHILE TURNING, DEPENDING ON THE DIRECTION THE DRIVER IS TURNING. THE BRAKING, HANDLING AND CONTROL OF THE CAR DECREASES SO MUCH WHEN THE ROADS ARE WET THAT AT TIMES THE CAR SKIDS EVEN WHEN GOING AT A CAUTIOUS SPEED IN RAIN. FOR MY SAFETY AND FOR OTHERS I DRIVE IN "B" INSTEAD OF "D" WHEN IT RAINS.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS APPLIED AND WAS STIFF. THE CONTACT HAD TO TAP THE BRAKE PEDAL TO SLOW DOWN THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, THE BRAKE AND ABS INDICATORS WERE ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO CHARLES MAUND TOYOTA (8400 RESEARCH BLVD, AUSTIN, TX 78758 (866) 797-4354) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKE ACTUATOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND PROVIDED CASE NUMBER: 1901140996. NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 119,384. *TT*JB
BRAKE ACCUMULATOR FAILURE. SPECIFICALLY REPAIR T-SB-0079-18 ABS, TRACTION, BRAKE LIGHTS ON. BRAKES NOT AS RESPONSIVE/SPONGEY. NO REGENERATIVE ENERGY FROM BRAKING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 TOYOTA PRIUS PLUG-IN HYBRID. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V684000 (HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. BERGERON TOYOTA (1600 N STEPHENSON AVE, IRON MOUNTAIN, MI 49801, (906) 774-2189) WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL TO STOP, THE PEDAL HAD EXTENDING TO THE FLOOR RESULTING THE BRAKING DISTANCE TO BE EXTENDED. THE CONTACT INDICATED ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS WHILE THE FAILURE OCCURRED THE VEHICLE MADE CONTACT WITH AN OBJECT AND A POLE. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL DEALER FERNELIUS FORD LOCATED AT 10459 N STRAITS HWY, CHEBOYGAN, MI 49721 WHO WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 78,000. *BF
BRAKE BOOSTER AND ACTUATOR FAILED AND ERROR CODE C1391. VEHICLE IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND TOYOTA KNOWS THIS PROBLEM BECAUSE OF THE NUMBER OF CASES INVOLVED WITH THIS ISSUE. THE YEAR PRIOR SAW A MASSIVE RECALL OF 87,000 VEHICLES WITH THE SAME ISSUE. THE SAME ISSUE HAS CARRIED OVER AND TOYOTA REFUSES TO BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS ISSUE.
BRAKE ACTUATOR HAS GONE OUT GIVING A CODE OF C1391. I HAVE HAD THE CAR LESS THAN A YEAR AND THE BRAKES ARE NOW GRABBY AND NOT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THE GEN 2 PRIUS (MY PREVIOUS CAR) AND WAS COVERED UNDER AN EXTENDED WARRANTY. APPARENTLY THE GEN 3 PRIUS HAS THE SAME ISSUE AND TOYOTA HAS EXTENDED THE WARRANTY OF THE 2010 PRIUS TO THE MANUFACTURING DATE OF 11/2010. MY PRIUS WAS MANUFACTURED IN 12/2010 AND I WAS JUST NOTIFIED IT WOULD BE $4000 TO FIX THE ISSUE THAT IS A KNOWN MANUFACTURING DEFECT. APPARENTLY TOYOTA DIDN'T FIX THE PROBLEM THE FIRST TIME AND IT'S A DIRECT SAFETY ISSUE WHEN THE BRAKES DON'T WORK AS INTENDED.
WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY OR INTERSTATE, MY TRACTION WARNING LIGHT, THE BRAKE LIGHT, AND THE ABS WARNING LIGHT ALL CAME ON, AND THE BRAKES BECAME HARD TO PRESS. WHEN LETTING OFF THE BRAKE, THERE WAS AN AIRY, SUCTION SOUND. AFTER A WHILE, WHILE DRIVING, ALL OF THE WARNING LIGHTS WENT OFF, AND THE BRAKE PRESSURE NORMALIZED. THERE IS STILL AN AIRY SOUND WHEN I USE THE BRAKE PEDAL, THOUGH, WHICH ALWAYS SEEMS TO BE THERE, EVEN WHEN THE WARNING LIGHTS ARE OFF. THIS HAS HAPPENED ABOUT 4 TIMES WITHIN THE PAST SIX MONTHS. I HAD A DIAGNOSTIC TEST RUN, AND IT GAVE CODE #1391, LEAKAGE IN ACCUMULATOR ABNORMAL, WHICH POINTED TO AN INTERNAL LEAK IN THE BRAKE BOOSTER/MASTER CYLINDER ASSEMBLY. I NOTICED THAT TOYOTA HAS ISSUED RECALLS FOR THIS SAME PROBLEM IN 2010 AND PRIOR PRIUS MODELS, BUT MINE DOES NOT QUALIFY BECAUSE IT IS A 2011. SINCE THIS ISSUE HAS NOT BEEN RESOLVED AND APPEARS TO BE A DEFECT IN TOYOTA'S BRAKE BOOSTER ASSEMBLY, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THIS RECALL EXTENDED TO COVER MODELS BEYOND 2010.
AFTER RECEIVING THE COMPUTER UPDATE MY FUEL MILEAGE HAS DROPPED 10 MILES. THE OTHER PROBLEM IN THE RATE OF TIRE WEAR AND PULL. I TOOK THE CAR IN FOR AN ALIGNMENT TO A TOYOTA DEALERSHIP BECAUSE IT WAS PULLING THEY TOLD ME THEY DID THE ALIGNMENT. AFTER I GOT MY CAR BACK IT WAS STILL PULLING I QUESTIONED THEM AND THEY SAID THAT WAS NORMAL. THE LAST THING IS I GOT NEW TIRES PUT ON THE CAR AND HAD TO REPLACE THEM 10 MONTHS LATER BECAUSE THERE WAS ABOUT 15 PERCENT TREAD LIFE LEFT. THE TIRES WERE ROTATED PROPERLY.
I WAS ON DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY WHEN SUDDENLY TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT WAS ON AND BRAKES SEEMED TO HAVE LOCKED. THE CONDITIONS OF THE ROAD WERE DRY AND I WAS DRIVING THE SPEED LIMIT. THIS OCCURED ON A FEW DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. ONE DAY BRAKE LIGHT, ABS AND TRACTION LIGHT ALL APPEARED. TOOK IT INTO TOYOTA DEALERSHIP AND WAS INFORMED IT WAS BRAKE BOOSTER.
ENGINE DEVELOPED AN OIL LEAK AROUND 120,000 MILES. DEALER RAN AN OIL LEAK TEST ($700)AND PERFORMED SOMETHING ELSE FOR $300 DOLLARS. NOTHING WORK. DEALER SAYS THE FIX IS TO BUY A NEW SHORT BLOCK FOR $6,700. I WILL NOT. I'M ADDING OIL MYSELF TO CAR ABOUT ONCE EVERY 10 DAYS
ABS LIGHTS ON ,TRACKS WARNING LIGHTS ON AND VSC LIGHTS ON .ITS A SERIOUS PROBLEM. TOYOTA SHOULD FIX IT . TOYOTA SHOULD OWN ITS PROBLEM
ON DECEMBER 8TH, 2018, I WAS DRIVING EASTBOUND ON INTERSTATE 10 IN PHOENIX, AZ AT APPROXIMATELY MILEPOST 141 AROUND 5:45 PM. SUDDENLY, I HEARD A LARGE, *BANG* WHICH SOUNDED LIKE A GUNSHOT. I IMMEDIATELY CHECKED MYSELF FOR INJURIES AND FELT THE CAR TO DETERMINE IF A TIRE WAS BLOWN. I WAS INTACT, AND THE TIRES SEEMED OK AS WELL, BUT I HEARD THE NOISE OF AIR ESCAPING FROM THE VEHICLE. AFTER TURNING SOUTH ON I-17, I EXITED ON THE FIRST STREET, EXIT 199, JEFFERSON ST. I TURNED LEFT AND LOOKED FOR A SAFE PLACE TO PULL OVER. IT ISN'T A GOOD NEIGHBORHOOD, SO I SLOWED DOWN AND CONTINUED TO LOOK AROUND THE VEHICLE AS I TRIED TO FIND THE PLACE WHERE THE AIR WAS ESCAPING. FINALLY, I CRACKED OPEN THE SLIDING DOOR AT THE TOP OF MY SUNROOF, AND I NOTICED SHARDS OF GLASS. I IMMEDIATELY CLOSED IT AND WAS RELIEVED IT HAD NOT BEEN OPEN WHEN THIS INCIDENT HAPPENED. I DECIDED I MUST GET HOME IMMEDIATELY, PROCEEDED BACK TO THE FREEWAY, AND DROVE HOME. WHEN I ARRIVED, I NOTICED THE SUNROOF WAS SHATTERED - ONE MAIN HORIZONTAL SHATTER AT THE CENTER AND TWO MORE VERTICAL SHATTERS AT EACH END. I CHECKED THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE FOR A PROJECTILE AND FOUND NOTHING. AFTER RESEARCHING FURTHER, IT WAS CLEAR THAT THE GLASS HAD BROKEN SIMPLY DUE TO POOR DESIGN. I IMMEDIATELY FILED A CLAIM WITH MY INSURANCE COMPANY, FARMERS. THE CLAIM NUMBER IS 910380. I HAVE ALSO CONTACTED TOYOTA TO GET A RESPONSE, BUT I HAVE NOT HEARD BACK. I AM FORTUNATE THAT THE SUNROOF WAS NOT EXPOSED. THERE IS A PAPER-THIN SLIDING DOOR THAT BLOCKS THE SUN. EVEN THOUGH THE SUN HAD SET, I HAD LEFT IT CLOSED, AND IT PROTECTED ME FROM THE SHARDS OF GLASS. THIS IS CLEARLY A DEFECT THAT TOYOTA NEEDS TO ADDRESS. IT IS DECEMBER IN ARIZONA, AND THE TEMPERATURE WAS 69 DEGREES WHEN I LEFT TO RETURN HOME YESTERDAY. IT'S NOT A HEAT ISSUE. IT'S LIKELY A GLASS DEFECT. I LOOK FORWARD TO OBTAINING MORE INFORMATION.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, ALL THE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED THE SAME SYMPTOMS AS LISTED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V684000 (HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM). THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO KEARNY MESA TOYOTA (4910 KEARNY MESA RD, SAN DIEGO, CA, 858-413-9625) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE COMPUTERS FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND PROVIDED CASE NUMBER: 1812113112. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 124,000.
WHILE DRIVING MY 2011 PRIUS INTERMITTENTLY CHANGES FROM DRIVE TO NEUTRAL. THE CAR CONTINUES TO ROLL BUT SLOWS DOWN. A WARNING COMES UP ON THE SCREEN THAT THE CAR IS IN NEUTRAL. I CAN POP THE GEARSHIFT INTO DRIVE AND IT SEEMS FINE, AND MAY OR MAY NOT BEHAVE THE SAME WAY AGAIN. THIS HAS OCCURRED ON THE FREEWAY AS WELL AS ON CITY STREETS. THERE DOES NOT SEEM TO BE ANY CORRELATION TO ACCELERATION OR DECELERATION OR TO MOVEMENT (TURNS OR CHANGING LANES). I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER WHO STATES THAT THE SYSTEMS CHECK OUT FINE AND THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. (IT IS INTERMITTENT AND I AM NOT ABLE TO DUPLICATE IT EITHER.) I NEVER HAD THIS PROBLEM UNTIL AFTER I HAD MY CAR THOROUGHLY STEAM CLEANED. IT HAS BEEN SUGGESTED TO ME BY ANOTHER PRIUS OWNER THAT IT MIGHT BE A SWITCH. BUT, AGAIN, THE DEALER SAYS THE SYSTEMS CHECK OUT FINE.
AS I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY MY CAR FILLED WITH SMOKE AND I REALIZED MY ENGINE HAD CAUGHT FIRE, I WAS ABLE TO GET OUT, THE WHOLE FRONT OF MY CAR WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES IN NO TIME
DRIVING VEHICLE DOWN HIGHWAY, TAPPED BRAKES BUT BRAKES DID NOT WORK, ALL THE LIGHTS ON MY DASH LIT UP. I LOST TRACTION IN BRAKES CAUSING VEHICLE TO LOSE CONTROL.
THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT, ANTILOCK BRAKE SYSTEM NOT FUNTION AND THE LIGHT STAYS ON
4 LIGHTS CAME ON MY DASHBOARD: BRAKES, ABS, ETC. SO I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP. THEY SAID I NEED A NEW BRAKE ACCUMULATOR BUT IT ISN'T COVERED AND IS A $3500 REPAIR. I SEE THAT THE 2010 PRIUS WAS RECALLED FOR THIS SAME PART BUT THEY WON'T COVER MINE.
THE FOLLOWING DASHBOARD LIGHTS CAME ON ON OUR VEHICLE AT THE SAME TIME:TRACTION MODE, EMERGENCY BRAKE, ABS, AND BRAKE SYSTEM WARNING LIGHT. SINCE THE LIGHTS HAVE CAME ON, I HAVE NOTICED THAT I HAVE TO PRESS DOWN FURTHER DOWN ON THE BRAKE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. MY STOPPING DISTANCE IS FURTHER NOW AS WELL.
TAKATA RECALL MY 16 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER HAS THIS CAR WITH A MAJOR SAFETY RECALL AND NO APPARENT FIX! NOT HAPPY AND NOT FEELING SAFE WITH HER DRIVING IT NOW. IT HAS STALLED OUT ONCE SO FAR ON A BACKROAD.
MY CAR ONLY HAD 120K MILES AND THE BREAK BOOSTOR AND ACTUATOR BREAKS DOWN WHILE WE WERE ON THE ROAD. MY WIFE DRIVES THE CAR WITH MY 3-CHILDRENS. SHE WAS ALMOST HIT THE OTHER CAR ON HIGHWAY BECAUSE THE BREAKS SYSTEM STOPS WORKING AT NORMAL MODE. THE DASH BOARD SHOWS ALL KINDS OF BREAK, TRACTION CONTROL, AND ABS LIGHTS . THIS IS A LIFE THREATNING ISSUE AND TOYOT NEEDS TO REPLACE THIS PART WITH NO CHARGE BECASUE IT HAS A MANUFACTURING DEFECTS AND THOUSANDS OF PRIUS OWNER HAS THE SAME ISSU.
BRAKE ACCENTUATOR FAILED - NO WARNING AND TRACTION CONTROL/BRAKE LIGHT/ABS WARNING LIGHTS ALL ILLUMINATED. HARD BREAKING TEST @25 MPH CONFIRMS ABS NOT WORKING (I.E. TIRES SKID) AND BREAKING DISTANCE ADVERSELY IMPACTED FOR NORMAL BRAKING. HYBRID SYSTEM CHARGING FROM BRAKING IS DIMINISHED.
STARTING FROM A STOP AFTER ENGINE SHUT-DOWN, THE CAR FELT LIKE IT WAS GOING OVER RUMBLE STRIPS. THIS GOT WORSE OVER TIME UNTIL I REALIZED THAT IT WAS ACTUALLY AN ENGINE MIS-FIRE. THE DEALER TRACED THE ROOT CAUSE TO A LEAKING CYLINDER HEAD GASKET THAT IS A COMMON FAILURE ON HIGH MILEAGE 3RD GENERATION PRIUS CARS. $4,000 REPAIR. FIRST CAR I'VE EVER OWNED THAT CYLINDER HEAD GASKETS ARE ROUTINE MAINTENANCE ITEMS. CLEAR DESIGN ISSUE. IF YOU KEEP THIS CAR LONG ENOUGH, YOU WILL BE BUYING A HEAD GASKET REPAIR.
GOT IN CAR ONE MORNING AND ALL THE BRAKE / TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM RELATED LIGHTS ARE ON. TURNED CAR OFF, WAITED 10 MINUTES RESTARTED CAR AND LIGHTS ARE STILL ON. TESTED BRAKE FUNCTION IN YARD, REDUCED BUT STILL ABLE TO GET CAR STOPPED. TOOK IT TO SHOP AND READ CODES, CAME BACK AS THE ACTUATOR WHICH IS ALREADY RECALLED ON PREVIOUS YEAR MODEL PRUIS', OBVIOUSLY THEY DID NOT FIX THE ISSUE ON THE EARLY GEN 3 MODELS (2010 & 2011). I HAVE FOUND MULTIPLE OTHER PEOPLE WITH GEN-3'S THAT HAVE HAD THE SAME ISSUE OS THESE SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE GEN-2 RECALL BECAUSE THEY ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE. WITH IT BEING A DEALER ONLY PART AT $4500-$5000 (PARTS AND LABOR) TO FIX ON A CAR THAT'S ONLY WORTH ABOUT $10,000 I WONDER IF IT'S REALLY WORTH FIXING. AT THIS POINT THE CAR IS PARKED BECAUSE WITH THE DIMINISHED BRAKING PERFORMANCE I DON'T FEEL SAFE DRIVING IT.
IN MOTION WHILE ACCELERATING PAST A SLOWER CAR. HEARD AND FELT A PRONOUNCED THUMP AND LOST ENGINE POWER ON BUSY LOCAL THOROUGHFARE. MOVED TO A TURN LANE AND STOPPED. MULTIPLE DASHBOARD LIGHTS AND "CHECK HYBRID SYSTEM" ON LED DISPLAY. POWER OFF CAR, AND BACK ON TWICE AND GOT THE SAME ERROR ON DISPLAY. FOUND THAT CAR COULD MOVE ON EV POWER AND I GOT IT INTO A SAFER LOCATION AT AN ADJACENT PARKING LOT. HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO REPAIR FACILITY. AS A DRIVER THIS WAS DISCONCERTING AS I COULD NOT CLEARLY DETERMINE IF THE CAR WAS AT ALL DRIVEABLE. IF A DRIVER WERE TO STOP IMMEDIATELY IN THE SAME SITUATION THEY WOULD BE ON THE ROADWAY. IF I HAD NOT PRESSED ON THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AFTER POWERING ON THE CAR AGAIN I WOULD NOT HAVE KNOWN I COULD MOVE THE CAR TO A SAFER LOCATION. DISPLAY SHOULD READ "HYBRID SYSTEM FAILURE" THEN "LIMITED EV POWER AVAILABLE" THEN "MOVE TO SAFE AREA IF NECESSARY" CAUSE: HYBRID INVERTER FAILURE. REPAIRED BY TOYOTA UNDER 2014 EOE AND NEW 10/2018 RECALL J0A
BRAKE ACTUATOR FAILURE. ABS, TRACTION CONTROL, AND BRAKE LIGHT ALL ON DASHBOARD. THE CAR HAS NO REGENERATIVE BRAKING. ISSUE OCCURED RANDOMLY WHILE IN MOTION.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2011 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER WITHOUT WARNING. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A TREE AND A CEMENT BARRIER. THE AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AND WAS ABLE TO BE DRIVEN TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED BACK, NECK, AND CHEST INJURIES THAT DID NOT REQUIRE MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS LATER DEEMED DESTROYED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V684000 (HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND PROVIDED A CASE NUMBER. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 72,000.
WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY ALL THE BREAK LIGHTS CAME ON AND STAYED ON BRAKE, ABS AND SKID LIGHTS ON ALSO NOISE UNDER HOOD BY BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER. TOOK IT IN TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY VERIFIED ABS / BRAKE LIGHTS ON). TOLD ME I NEEDED TO REPLACE BRAKE ACTUATOR / BRAKE BOOSTER PUMP / BLEED / AND RE-FLASH SYSTEM . FOUND OUT THIS ALSO HAS BEEN HAPPENING ON THE 2009 AND THE 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS HYBRID AND THEY HAVE A RECALL OUT ON THIS. I WAS TOLD AT THE DEALERSHIP THAT IT WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE WITH THIS OCCURRING
TOYOTA AFTER 2 MONTHS HAS NOT RESOLVED THIS ISSUE/RECALL. SINCE THAT I HAVE TO STOP TO SHARE MY CAR ON TURO AND I'LL HAVE A LOST OF INCOME. I'M ASKING FOR A COMPENSATION
THE TRACTION CONTROL, ABS LIGHT AND WARNING LIGHT ALL CAME WHICH I BELIEVE ALL TO BE A SAFETY ISSUE
AFTER HEAVY RAINS, WATER GETS INTO THE SPARE TIRE STORAGE WELL, CAUSING A SHORT IN THE TPMS MONITOR FOR THE SPARE TIRE. ALL TIRES HAVE APPROPRIATE AIR PRESSURE BUT THE TELL-TALE SHOWS UNTIL THE SPARE TIRE STORAGE AREA DRIES OUT - SEVERAL DAYS. THIS IS A NEW PHENOMENON BUT THERE ARE NO TEARS OR DINGS IN THE GASKET AROUND THE HATCHBACK. NOT SURE WHERE THE WATER GETS IN.
THE BRAKES TEMPORARILY DISENGAGED SOMETIMES WHEN BRAKING. AT AROUND 100,000 MILES, THE BRAKE ACCUMULATOR WOULD CONSTANTLY MAKE NOISES WHILE DRIVING AND AFTER SHUTTING THE CAR OFF. EVENTUALLY THE BRAKE ACCUMULATOR AND BRAKE BOOSTER FAILED COMPLETELY AT 117,000 MILES, COSTING AROUND $4,000 TO REPAIR.
THE PROBLEM MY CAR EXPERIENCED HAPPENED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION ON I-110 IN PENSACOLA, FLORIDA AND PRESENTED ITSELF ABRUPTLY (THROUGH THE CAR'S WARNING INDICATORS AT LEAST) ON FRIDAY, AUGUST 31ST HEADED TO PENSACOLA BEACH FOR LABOR DAY WEEKEND FROM OUR HOME IN BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA. ALL THE CAR'S BRAKE WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON SIMULTANEOUSLY AND WITHOUT WARNING, THE MASTER BRAKE LIGHT, THE ABS LIGHT, FIVE DIFFERENT LIGHTS IN ALL. I PULLED OFF THE INTERSTATE, WENT TO AN AUTOZONE STORE, CHECKED THE BRAKE FLUID LEVEL AND BRAKE PADS (ALL LOOKED NOMINAL) AND GOT THE CAR'S COMPUTER CHECKED FOR WARNING CODES (NONE CAME UP). SEEING NOTHING CATASTROPHIC, BUT BEING UNSURE OF WHETHER OUR CAR WAS REALLY SAFE TO DRIVE EVEN THOUGH THE BRAKES STILL FELT FUNCTIONAL (IF A BIT OFF), WE GOT THE CAR BACK TO BATON ROUGE AND BROUGHT IT TO THE LOCAL TOYOTA DEALERSHIP'S (ALL-STAR TOYOTA, ON AIRLINE HIGHWAY) SERVICE DEPARTMENT. WE HAD NOTICED FOR SOME WEEKS PRIOR INCREASINGLY FREQUENT BUZZING SOUNDS ' ANYONE WITH A PRIUS KNOWS THESE, SUCH AS WHEN YOU TURN THE CAR OFF ' MADE BY (I'M TOLD) THE CAR'S BRAKE ACTUATOR PRESSURIZING THE BRAKE FLUID. THIS ESCALATING FREQUENCY OF THE NOISE, AND A CERTAIN CONSTANT 'PULSING' OF THE SOUND WHEN THE BRAKE WAS SLIGHTLY APPLIED, BUT NOT PUSHED DOWN TO THE FLOOR ' I NOW UNDERSTAND TO BE SYMPTOMATIC OF A FAILING BRAKE ACTUATOR. FOLLOWING SOME RESEARCH, I DISCOVERED IN 2013 TOYOTA ISSUED A RECALL FOR THOUSANDS OF 2010 PRIUS AND OTHER TOYOTA AUTOMOBILES FOR A PROBLEM WITH BRAKE ACTUATORS; ALSO, IN 2016, A WARRANTY EXTENSION AND PART REPLACEMENT WAS OFFERED TO HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF 2004 THROUGH 2009 TOYOTA PRIUS VEHICLES FOR PROBLEMS WITH BRAKE ACTUATORS. IN THAT MORE RECENT MATTER, OWNERS WERE OFFERED A WARRANTY EXTENSION TO 10 YEARS AFTER FIRST USE OF THE CAR OR 150,000 MILES, OR UNLIMITED MILEAGE OR AGE UP TO THE END OF 2017.
UNKNOWN CAUSE. THE BREAKS TEMPORARILY DISENGAGE (FOR ANYWHERE BETWEEN 1-3 SECONDS) WHEN THE CAR ENCOUNTERS A SMALL BUMP OR POT-HOLE IN THE ROAD, WHILE BREAKING DOWNHILL. USUALLY HAPPENS WHEN BREAKING HARD ON A DECLINED FREEWAY OFF-RAMP. THIS HAS ALMOST CAUSED ME TO REAR-END ANOTHER VEHICLE ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE EXITING HIGHWAY TRAFFIC, THE ENGINE STALLED AND ALL THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTING ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO COAST THE VEHICLE TO A SAFE AREA. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO HENDRICK TOYOTA CONCORD (7670 BRUTON SMITH BOULEVARD, CONCORD, NORTH CAROLINA 28026, 704-467-8287) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE COMPUTER INVERTER FAILED. THE INVERTER WAS REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 93,500.
THE ABS/BRAKE/SKID/WARNING TRIANGLE ON. MY 2011 PRIUS III IS 121K MILE. THIS WENT ON/OFF FOR A FEW DAYS THEN IT WAS ON THE WHOLE TIME. THE BRAKE SEEMS TO LOOSE THE HYDRAULIC POWER BRAKE. I FEEL LIKE THE BRAKES FEEL WEIRD WHENEVER HIT SMALL BUMP, BRAKE JUST FAILED FOR A SECOND. I WENT TO TOYOTA DEALERSHIP THEY SAID IT'S THE ACTUATOR THAT NEED TO BE REPLACED AND IT'S EXPENSIVE $2-3K. THEY SAID IT NEED TO BE FIX SOON BECAUSE BRAKE MIGHT FAIL AT ANY TIME. THERE SEEMS TO BE A WARRANTY ENHANCEMENT FOR THE 2010 AND OLDER BUT NOT 2011 AND NEWER. SEEMS LIKE TOYOTA STILL HAVE THE SAME ISSUE WITH NEWER MODEL, NOT FIXED YET. PLEASE BRING THIS ISSUE UP FOR SAFETY REASON.
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026