Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: the reliability record is poor enough to outweigh everything else here.
Owners have filed 2,821 complaints with NHTSA about the 2010 Toyota Prius, and it carries 10 recalls. These are owner allegations rather than confirmed defects, but the pattern of what people complain about is the most useful signal a used buyer has.
| Area | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Service brakes | 719 | 25% |
| Service brakes | 455 | 16% |
| Service brakes | 439 | 16% |
| Vehicle speed control | 170 | 6% |
| Exterior lighting | 102 | 4% |
| Engine | 81 | 3% |
| Electrical system | 58 | 2% |
| Air bags | 57 | 2% |
| Unknown or other | 54 | 2% |
| Service brakes | 40 | 1% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
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, follow
NHTSA complaint: Service brakes
To Whom It May Concern, I am writing to formally complain about the way Toyota has handled the problems with my 2010 Toyota Prius and my repeated requests for assistance. I have been a loyal Toyota customer and have pu
NHTSA complaint: Structure
ABS light came on 6 months ago as well as ((!)) light. As soon as those lights came on, the brakes had an increased stopping distance and it became harder to get the car to come to a complete stop. I have seen a few Priu
NHTSA complaint: Service brakes
The contact owns a 2010 Toyota Prius. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, a strong and unusual odor was detected inside the vehicle with no warning lights illuminated. The contact further state
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
My 2010 Prius has experienced the following error codes: C12341 and C1391, prompting the dealer to recommend replacing the brake booster assembly and master cylinder for $3938.89. This is a known issue with this vehicle
NHTSA complaint: Service brakes
There are issues with the brake. Many times the brake pedal goes down to the floor and it losses ability to stop. Apparently there is a common ABS actuator and Brake issues. Toyota will not address the issue
NHTSA complaint: Service brakes
i have have 2 problems, both was recalls, but this one they say expired in 2021 when i bought the car and toyota dealer didnt tell me had recall so i could fix it before it expired. there is a class action lawsuit in th
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
For the last 14 years, a check engine light has been coming on telling me that I have a fuel canister emissions leak because the canister is cracked. In 2016 2.87 million Toyota Priuses were recalled with the fuel canist
NHTSA complaint: Fuel/propulsion system
NHTSA lists 10 recall campaigns for the 2010 Toyota Prius. Recalls are free to have fixed at a franchised dealer regardless of who owns the car now, but only if they were never done, so check the VIN of the specific car rather than trusting the model.
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2010-2014 Toyota Prius and 2012-2014 Toyota Prius V vehicles. Excessive voltage in the Intelligent Power Module (IPM) within the inverter may cause the hybrid system to shut down, causing the vehicle to stall while being driven.
Risk: If the hybrid system shuts down unexpectedly, it can increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2010-2012 Toyota Prius, 2010 and 2012 Toyota Prius Plug-in Hybrid, and 2011-2012 Lexus CT200h vehicles. A weld in the curtain shield air bag inflator may crack causing one or both portions of the inflator to eject int
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.
Fix: 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 Servic
Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain model year 2010-2011 Prius and Corolla, 2009-2011 Venza, 2006-2010 Avalon, 2007-2010 FJ Cruiser, 2005-2011 Sienna and Sequoia, 2006-2011 Tacoma 4x2 and 4x4, Camry, Highlander, Tundra 4x2 and 4x4, and 2007-2011 Rav4 and 4Runner. The affec
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.
Fix: 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
Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain 2005-2011 4Runner, Highlander, Sequoia, and Sienna, 2005-2010 Avalon and Tundra, 2006-2008 Camry Solara, 2006-2010 Highlander hybrid, 2006-2011 Rav4 and Tacoma, 2007-2010 FJ Cruiser, 2007-2011 Camry hybrid, 2009-2010 Venza, 2010-2012 Priu
Risk: If damaged, the copper strand heating element may short circuit, increasing the risk of a fire.
Fix: 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
| Reliability raw | 33 | below average |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 62 | average |
| Maintenance | 86 | excellent |
| Depreciation | 79 | good |
| Performance | 43 | below average |
| Efficiency | 70 | good |
Percentile ranks against other midsize & large cars in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 2,821 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and service brakes is the most reported area with 719 of them (25%). There are 10 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 33/100 (below average) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density. That figure is a raw complaint count, not yet adjusted for sales volume, so a high-volume model scores worse than it deserves.
AVOIR scores its longevity 62/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 2010 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.
AVOIR's read: skip, because the reliability record is poor enough to outweigh everything else here. Its overall ownership score is 61/100. Condition, mileage and service history still matter more than any score, so get a pre-purchase inspection on the specific car.
Sources: NHTSA recalls and complaints, EPA fuel economy, IIHS awards, and live market listings. A score describes a model-year, not the individual car in front of you. Get a pre-purchase inspection.