2010 Toyota Prius Problems: Brakes (2,811 Complaints)

The most-reported problem on the 2010 Toyota Prius is Brakes (62% of 2,811 owner reports). There are 10 safety recalls. Check the VIN and inspect Brakes — this is the NHTSA file, not a score.

NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation Snapshot 2026-10-16 2,811 complaints · 10 recalls

What problems show up on the 2010 Toyota Prius?

1,729 of 2,811 filings named Brakes (62% of the file). That is what owners wrote, not a shop diagnosis of the vehicle in the driveway.

Second is Cruise / speed control (240 reports).

There are 10 official safety recalls on this year. They were filed about Brakes, Airbags, and Electrical. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov — a campaign on this page can still be open on a specific truck.

The 2009 has 501 reports on file; this year has 2,811. Older years collect more reports just by being on the road longer. If you need a fairer comparison, use the equal-time view.

What to check before you buy a 2010 Toyota Prius

A useful visit to this page takes five minutes. YearTell does not score years and cannot see the vehicle in front of you.

  1. Look up the VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov. This year has 10 campaigns on file below.
  2. Brakes. Have a shop check pads, rotors, fluid and whether the pedal feels firm.
  3. Cruise / speed control. Test cruise control and ask about unintended-acceleration reports on this year.
  4. Lights. Walk around the vehicle: headlights, brake lights and turn signals all working.
  5. Skim a few owner reports below for Brakes. Look for the same symptom repeating.
  6. Take that list to a mechanic. Do not turn the complaint total into a score.

What owners reported

System named most often: Brakes 1,729 complaints · 61.5% of the file
Crashes, fires, injuries and deaths in those filings:
  • Crashes 185
  • Fires 13
  • Injuries 65
  • Deaths 2
All Toyota Prius years →
NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-10-16 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Which systems owners named

Share of owner complaints filed against each vehicle system. These shares are not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold.

Which systems owners named Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES) appears in 1,729 of 2,811 owner complaints (61.5%) in this vehicle snapshot. Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES): 1,729 complaints, 61.5% of reports Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES) 97 crash reports 1,729 · 61.5% Cruise / speed control (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL): 240 complaints, 8.5% of reports Cruise / speed control (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL) 28 crash reports 1 fire reports 240 · 8.5% Lights (EXTERIOR LIGHTING): 141 complaints, 5.0% of reports Lights (EXTERIOR LIGHTING) 2 crash reports 3 fire reports 141 · 5.0% Engine (ENGINE): 120 complaints, 4.3% of reports Engine (ENGINE) 3 crash reports 1 fire reports 120 · 4.3% Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM): 109 complaints, 3.9% of reports Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) 3 crash reports 3 fire reports 109 · 3.9% Airbags (AIR BAGS): 66 complaints, 2.4% of reports Airbags (AIR BAGS) 19 crash reports 66 · 2.4% Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN): 54 complaints, 1.9% of reports Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN) 5 crash reports 1 fire reports 54 · 1.9% Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM): 44 complaints, 1.6% of reports Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM) 44 · 1.6% Body / frame (STRUCTURE): 25 complaints, 0.9% of reports Body / frame (STRUCTURE) 3 crash reports 25 · 0.9% Unclassified NHTSA leftover: 1,527 complaints, 54.3% of reports Unclassified NHTSA leftover 82 crash reports 4 fire reports 1,527 · 54.3% 0% 25% 50% 75% 100%

“Unclassified NHTSA leftover” is not a car part. It is a filing bucket and always sits last.

View component data as a table
System / Component Complaints Share of Reports Safety Reports (Crashes / Fires)
Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES) 1,729 61.5% 97 crashes · 0 fires
Cruise / speed control (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL) 240 8.5% 28 crashes · 1 fires
Lights (EXTERIOR LIGHTING) 141 5.0% 2 crashes · 3 fires
Engine (ENGINE) 120 4.3% 3 crashes · 1 fires
Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) 109 3.9% 3 crashes · 3 fires
Airbags (AIR BAGS) 66 2.4% 19 crashes · 0 fires
Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN) 54 1.9% 5 crashes · 1 fires
Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM) 44 1.6% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Body / frame (STRUCTURE) 25 0.9% 3 crashes · 0 fires
Unclassified NHTSA leftover 1,527 54.3% 82 crashes · 4 fires
NHTSA Consumer Complaints, NHTSA Safety Recalls, and NHTSA Defect Investigations Snapshot 2026-10-16 Open source record

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

When reports and recalls showed up

When owners filed reports, and when recall campaigns showed up.

When reports and recalls showed up Owner reports in this snapshot begin in Jul 2009; the first recall shown was reported in Feb 2010. 2009-Q3: 4 owner reports 4 2009-Q4: 60 owner reports 60 2010-Q1: 1,307 owner reports 1,307 2010-Q2: 87 owner reports 87 2010-Q3: 34 owner reports 34 2010-Q4: 33 owner reports 33 2011-Q1: 30 owner reports 30 2011-Q2: 26 owner reports 26 2011-Q3: 24 owner reports 24 2011-Q4: 13 owner reports 13 2012-Q1: 16 owner reports 16 2012-Q2: 10 owner reports 10 2012-Q3: 14 owner reports 14 2012-Q4: 13 owner reports 13 2013-Q1: 23 owner reports 23 2013-Q2: 33 owner reports 33 2013-Q3: 30 owner reports 30 2013-Q4: 18 owner reports 18 2014-Q1: 29 owner reports 29 2014-Q2: 39 owner reports 39 2014-Q3: 20 owner reports 20 2014-Q4: 27 owner reports 27 2015-Q1: 23 owner reports 23 2015-Q2: 28 owner reports 28 2015-Q3: 20 owner reports 20 2015-Q4: 23 owner reports 23 2016-Q1: 27 owner reports 27 2016-Q2: 32 owner reports 32 2016-Q3: 45 owner reports 45 2016-Q4: 28 owner reports 28 2017-Q1: 25 owner reports 25 2017-Q2: 25 owner reports 25 2017-Q3: 27 owner reports 27 2017-Q4: 30 owner reports 30 2018-Q1: 36 owner reports 36 2018-Q2: 35 owner reports 35 2018-Q3: 31 owner reports 31 2018-Q4: 32 owner reports 32 2019-Q1: 22 owner reports 22 2019-Q2: 14 owner reports 14 2019-Q3: 8 owner reports 8 2019-Q4: 15 owner reports 15 2020-Q1: 23 owner reports 23 2020-Q2: 22 owner reports 22 2020-Q3: 26 owner reports 26 2020-Q4: 14 owner reports 14 2021-Q1: 17 owner reports 17 2021-Q2: 23 owner reports 23 2021-Q3: 26 owner reports 26 2021-Q4: 10 owner reports 10 2022-Q1: 19 owner reports 19 2022-Q2: 21 owner reports 21 2022-Q3: 21 owner reports 21 2022-Q4: 9 owner reports 9 2023-Q1: 14 owner reports 14 2023-Q2: 17 owner reports 17 2023-Q3: 11 owner reports 11 2023-Q4: 15 owner reports 15 2024-Q1: 12 owner reports 12 2024-Q2: 13 owner reports 13 2024-Q3: 11 owner reports 11 2024-Q4: 12 owner reports 12 2025-Q1: 16 owner reports 16 2025-Q2: 14 owner reports 14 2025-Q3: 8 owner reports 8 2025-Q4: 8 owner reports 8 2026-Q1: 6 owner reports 6 2026-Q2: 3 owner reports 3 2026-Q3: 3 owner reports 3 2026-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 Owner reports Jul 2009 Oct 2026 Recall campaign 10V035000 ◆ Recall campaign 10V035000 Recall campaign 10V036000 ◆ Recall campaign 10V036000 Recall campaign 10V039000 ◆ Recall campaign 10V039000 Recall campaign 13V014000 ◆ Recall campaign 13V014000 Recall campaign 13V235000 ◆ Recall campaign 13V235000 Recall campaign 14V053000 ◆ Recall campaign 14V053000 Recall campaign 14V743000 ◆ Recall campaign 14V743000 Recall campaign 16V396000 ◆ Recall campaign 16V396000 Recall campaign 16V487000 ◆ Recall campaign 16V487000 Recall campaign 18V684000 ◆ Recall campaign 18V684000 Investigation PE10006 ● Investigation PE10006 Investigation DP19004 ● Investigation DP19004 Investigation DP19004 ● Investigation DP19004 Investigation DP22005 ● Investigation DP22005 Investigation DP23005 ● Investigation DP23005
  • Campaign 10V035000 was reported 161 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 10V036000 was reported 161 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 10V039000 was reported 116 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 13V014000 was reported 1,069 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 14V053000 was reported 1,631 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 14V743000 was reported 1,911 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 16V396000 was reported 2,472 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 16V487000 was reported 2,330 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
View timeline records as a table
Date Record type Count Record identifier
2009-Q3 Owner reports 4
2009-Q4 Owner reports 60
2010-Q1 Owner reports 1,307
2010-Q2 Owner reports 87
2010-Q3 Owner reports 34
2010-Q4 Owner reports 33
2011-Q1 Owner reports 30
2011-Q2 Owner reports 26
2011-Q3 Owner reports 24
2011-Q4 Owner reports 13
2012-Q1 Owner reports 16
2012-Q2 Owner reports 10
2012-Q3 Owner reports 14
2012-Q4 Owner reports 13
2013-Q1 Owner reports 23
2013-Q2 Owner reports 33
2013-Q3 Owner reports 30
2013-Q4 Owner reports 18
2014-Q1 Owner reports 29
2014-Q2 Owner reports 39
2014-Q3 Owner reports 20
2014-Q4 Owner reports 27
2015-Q1 Owner reports 23
2015-Q2 Owner reports 28
2015-Q3 Owner reports 20
2015-Q4 Owner reports 23
2016-Q1 Owner reports 27
2016-Q2 Owner reports 32
2016-Q3 Owner reports 45
2016-Q4 Owner reports 28
2017-Q1 Owner reports 25
2017-Q2 Owner reports 25
2017-Q3 Owner reports 27
2017-Q4 Owner reports 30
2018-Q1 Owner reports 36
2018-Q2 Owner reports 35
2018-Q3 Owner reports 31
2018-Q4 Owner reports 32
2019-Q1 Owner reports 22
2019-Q2 Owner reports 14
2019-Q3 Owner reports 8
2019-Q4 Owner reports 15
2020-Q1 Owner reports 23
2020-Q2 Owner reports 22
2020-Q3 Owner reports 26
2020-Q4 Owner reports 14
2021-Q1 Owner reports 17
2021-Q2 Owner reports 23
2021-Q3 Owner reports 26
2021-Q4 Owner reports 10
2022-Q1 Owner reports 19
2022-Q2 Owner reports 21
2022-Q3 Owner reports 21
2022-Q4 Owner reports 9
2023-Q1 Owner reports 14
2023-Q2 Owner reports 17
2023-Q3 Owner reports 11
2023-Q4 Owner reports 15
2024-Q1 Owner reports 12
2024-Q2 Owner reports 13
2024-Q3 Owner reports 11
2024-Q4 Owner reports 12
2025-Q1 Owner reports 16
2025-Q2 Owner reports 14
2025-Q3 Owner reports 8
2025-Q4 Owner reports 8
2026-Q1 Owner reports 6
2026-Q2 Owner reports 3
2026-Q3 Owner reports 3
2026-Q4 Owner reports 1
Recall campaign 1 10V035000
Recall campaign 1 10V036000
Recall campaign 1 10V039000
Recall campaign 1 13V014000
Recall campaign 1 13V235000
Recall campaign 1 14V053000
Recall campaign 1 14V743000
Recall campaign 1 16V396000
Recall campaign 1 16V487000
Recall campaign 1 18V684000
Defect investigation 1 PE10006
Defect investigation 1 DP19004
Defect investigation 1 DP19004
Defect investigation 1 DP22005
Defect investigation 1 DP23005
NHTSA Safety Recalls Snapshot 2026-10-16 Open source record

Safety Recalls (10)

Official campaigns. Each one says what could go wrong and what the dealer was told to fix.

In short, these campaigns were filed about Brakes, Airbags, and Electrical.

  1. Recall campaign 10V035000

    Safety recall 10V035000

    Report date
    Component:
    Unclassified NHTSA leftover
    Consequence:
    THIS DOES NOT MEET THE STANDARD REQUIREMENTS.
    Remedy:
    DEALERS WILL MAIL TO CONSUMERS THE CORRECTED LABEL OR THE CUSTOMER WILL HAVE THE OPTION FOR DEALERS TO INSTALL THE LABEL FREE OF CHARGE. DEALERS WILL ALSO CORRECT THE OWNER'S MANUAL. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 27, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT GULF STATES TOYOTA AT 713-580-3300.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  2. Recall campaign 10V036000

    Safety recall 10V036000

    Report date
    Component:
    Unclassified NHTSA leftover
    Consequence:
    A DRIVER MAY OVERLOAD A VEHICLE WHICH MAY INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.
    Remedy:
    DEALERS WILL MAIL TO CONSUMERS THE CORRECTED LABEL OR THE CUSTOMER WILL HAVE THE OPTION FOR DEALERS TO INSTALL THE LABEL FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 27, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SOUTHEAST TOYOTA AT 1-800-301-6859.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  3. Recall campaign 10V039000

    Brakes

    Report date
    Component:
    Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES)
    Consequence:
    VEHICLE STOPPING DISTANCES MAY INCREASE RELATIVE TO A CUSTOMER'S EXPECTATION INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
    Remedy:
    DEALERS WILL REWRITE THE PROGRAMMING OF THE ABS CONTROL UNIT FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 3, 2010, AND IS EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETED IN LATE MARCH 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331 AND LEXUS AT 1-800-255-3987.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  4. Recall campaign 13V014000

    Airbags

    Report date
    Component:
    Airbags (AIR BAGS)
    Consequence:
    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 the passenger's size and position. This could increase the risk of personal injury during the event of a vehicle crash necessitating airbag deployment.
    Remedy:
    Southeast Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will test the sensitivity of the occupant detection sensors, and recalibrate them as necessary. The recall began on March 21, 2013. Owners may contact Southeast Toyota at 1-800-301-6859.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  5. Recall campaign 13V235000

    Safety recall 13V235000

    Report date
    Component:
    Not available in the source record
    Consequence:
    As nitrogen is released into the brake fluid, the brake pedal may have reduced hydraulic pressure. Under certain circumstances, this condition could affect stopping distance and increase the risk of a crash.
    Remedy:
    Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the affected brake booster pump assemblies. The recall began on August 7, 2013. Owners may contact Toyota at 1-800-331-4331.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  6. Recall campaign 14V053000

    Electrical

    Report date
    Component:
    Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM)
    Consequence:
    The vehicle may enter a fail-safe/limp-home mode that limits the drivability of the vehicle. The hybrid system could also shut down completely resulting in a vehicle stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
    Remedy:
    Toyota will notify owners and dealers will update the software for both the motor/generator control electronic control unit (ECU) and the hybrid control ECU, free of charge. If an owner experiences a failure of the inverter before the vehicle receives updated software, the dealer will repair or replace the inverter assembly with a new one at no charge. The recall began on March 21, 2014. Owners may contact Toyota at 1-800-331-4331.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  7. Recall campaign 14V743000

    Safety recall 14V743000

    Report date
    Component:
    Unclassified NHTSA leftover
    Consequence:
    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.
    Remedy:
    SET will notify owners, and dealers will disconnect the heaters with copper strand heating elements and refund the purchase price of the seat heater accessory, free of charge. The recall is expected to began in January 2015. Owners may contact SET customer service at 1-866-405-4226.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  8. Recall campaign 16V396000

    Safety recall 16V396000

    Report date
    Component:
    Unclassified NHTSA leftover
    Consequence:
    If damaged, the copper strand heating element may short circuit, increasing the risk of a fire.
    Remedy:
    SET will notify owners, and dealers will disconnect the seat heaters, free of charge, and refund the purchase price of the seat heater accessory. The recall began on July 14, 2016. Owners may contact SET customer service at 1-866-405-4226. SET number for this recall is SET16B.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  9. Recall campaign 16V487000

    Airbags

    Report date
    Component:
    Airbags (AIR BAGS)
    Consequence:
    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.
    Remedy:
    Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will install retention brackets to the curtain shield air bags, free of charge. The recall began on October 17, 2016. Owners may contact Toyota Customer Service Department at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is Toyota G0U, and Lexus GLJ.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  10. Recall campaign 18V684000

    Safety recall 18V684000

    Report date
    Component:
    Not available in the source record
    Consequence:
    If the hybrid system shuts down unexpectedly, it can increase the risk of a crash.
    Remedy:
    Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will update the software for the motor/generator control electronic control unit (ECU) and the hybrid control ECU as necessary, free of charge. The recall began January 22, 2019. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371. Toyota's number for this recall is J0V. Note: The software updates in this recall are needed even if the vehicle had the software previously updated under recalls 14V-053 or 15V-449.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →
NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-10-16 Open source record

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

What owners actually wrote

Short excerpts from the public NHTSA file. Look for the same symptom repeating.

Data: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation · snapshot 2026-10-16
Safety incident filters
Showing 3 of 2,811 complaints · page 1 of 113
2026-10-06Lights (EXTERIOR LIGHTING)
NHTSA ODI 11769259
CrashFireInjuryDeath
The low-beam headlight bulbs on my 2010 Toyota Prius keep burning out, about every [6 months or less]. Since I have owned the vehicle I have replaced them too many times to count, on both sides, but twice as often on the drivers side. The most recent failure was on XXX, my driver low beam failed while I was driving at night on a county highway in heavy rain. Visibility was already poor, and I was stopped by law enforcement because of the burned-out headlight. I was given a warning to get it fxed. Warnings from the police has happened twice in the last couple years. This is a known problem on 2010-2011 Prius models. Toyota acknowledged it in a technical service bulletin and addressed it under Customer Support Program ZHB, a warranty enhancement that replaced the headlamp bulbs and wiring harness. That program has expired, but the problem continues on my vehicle. I have been using factory-type / standard replacement bulbs, so I do not believe the bulbs themselves are the cause. The repeated failures point to a voltage or wiring problem in the headlamp circuit. The safety concern is that a low-beam bulb can fail without warning while driving at night. In winter in [XXX], with early darkness, snow, and temperatures below zero, losing a headlight reduces visibility and makes it harder for other drivers to see the vehicle. I am also physically small (5'1") and have limited hand strength, so replacing these bulbs repeatedly is difficult, particularly in frigid [XXX] weather. I plan to ask Toyota to perform the harness and bulb repair as a goodwill gesture and want to reference this report. I am filing this report so the problem is documented. There have been no crashes or injuries. Vehicle: 2010 Toyota Prius, approximately 170000 miles. Sincerely, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
2026-09-13Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES)
NHTSA ODI 11763884
CrashFireInjuryDeath
Subject: Vehicle Safety Defect Complaint / Request for Investigation Review Vehicle: 2010 Toyota Prius VIN: [XXX] Component: Electronic Brake Booster / Pressure Accumulator Assembly Dear Administrator, I am writing to formally report a critical safety defect in my 2010 Toyota Prius regarding the electronic brake booster and accumulator pump assembly. This component exhibits classic failure symptoms—specifically a distinct puffing, ticking, and pressure-loss noise directly from the brake pedal mechanism—which points to internal nitrogen or hydraulic pressure leakage. This component was previously the subject of Toyota’s Customer Support Program / Safety Recall (Campaign ZJB / D0H) due to fatigue cracking in the internal accumulator bladder. However, Toyota's arbitrary cutoff timelines have left me completely unprotected, even though the underlying engineering defect remains identical and poses an active, catastrophic threat to public safety. The real-world implications of this failure are severe: •Daily Risk to Life: I am a self-employed small-business owner who relies on this vehicle daily to travel between clients across the greater [XXX] area. Because of this failing component, I experience profound fear every single time I drive that I will completely lose my brakes in heavy traffic. •Financial Barrier to Remedy: Authorized Toyota dealerships have quoted me several thousand dollars for the repair. Due to a 40% drop in my business income amid the soaring cost of living in [XXX], I cannot afford this repair, nor can I afford a rental car or alternative transportation. My car is my literal lifeline, forcing me to drive a vehicle with a compromised, safety-critical braking system. •Unfair Expiration of Safety Remedies: My vehicle was serviced by authorized Toyota dealerships twice during the active primary campaign window (on XXX at 36,675 miles, on 08/30/2019 at 41,238 miles), where recall status checks were routinely requested INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(
2026-08-27Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES)
NHTSA ODI 11760155
CrashFireInjuryDeath
Component failed: Brake actuator and accumulator on a 2010 Toyota Prius. It is available for inspection upon request. Safety: ABS, traction, and brake lights turned on suddenly in the middle of rush-hour traffic, followed by a spongey, hard-to-press pedal. Braking distance and efficiency was greatly impacted, and driving to a safe turn-out was extremely dangerous as I feared the brakes would give out entirely at any moment. The problem has been reproduced and confirmed by a dealership. UNKNOWN. Requested an inspection by the manufacturer but their "Customer Support Program" for the brake actuator and accumulator expired 10 years after the car's production date. After speaking to both the dealership and corporate, they have informed me that there is nothing else they can do in regards to reimbursement or satisfying the complaint. The only symptom of the problem prior to failure was a periodic hissing noise coming from the brakes. When the car was brought in for the catalytic converter in late 2025, the dealership failed to diagnose any issue with the brake booster system at that time.

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems on the 2010 Toyota Prius?

Owners named Brakes most often — 1,729 of 2,811 reports (62%). That is the NHTSA file, not a diagnosis of every vehicle.

Are there recalls for the 2010 Toyota Prius?

NHTSA lists 10 safety recall campaigns. They were filed about Brakes, Airbags, and Electrical. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov; a campaign on this page can still be open on a specific vehicle.

What should I inspect before buying a 2010 Toyota Prius?

Look up the VIN for open recalls. Have a shop check pads, rotors, fluid and whether the pedal feels firm. Then skim owner filings for the same symptom and take that list to a mechanic.

Does a high complaint count mean I should skip this year?

No. Counts are reports people chose to file and they are not adjusted for sales volume. YearTell does not publish scores or a list of years to skip. Inspect the vehicle.

EPA Fuel Economy Database Snapshot 2026-10-04 Open source record

Estimated Ownership Cost

EPA fuel economy ratings and annual operating cost estimates

Data: US EPA Fuel Economy Guide · snapshot 2026-10-04
Supported range: 1,000–60,000 miles per year
Supported range: $1.50–$10.00 per gallon
55% city45% highway
Estimate unavailable

EPA fuel-economy data is unavailable for this vehicle.

No estimate is shown when required EPA values are unavailable.

 Open Ownership Cost Calculator →

Adjacent Model Years

Immediate preceding and succeeding model year records

NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-10-16 Open source record

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Methodology & Data Integrity

Source: NHTSA ODI / recalls, snapshot 2026-10-16. YearTell is not a government agency.

Read our complete data methodology → Sources