Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (battery, alternator, wiring, ignition, instrument cluster, infotainment).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2010 Toyota Prius owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
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 stated that the following day, upon entering the vehicle, both the contact and the contact's spouse experienced headaches, nausea, and cognitive discomfort. Concerned about possible exposure to harmful fumes, the contact inspected the vehicle and determined that the vehicle's battery appeared to be inoperable. The vehicle was taken to a dealer. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The contact expressed concern that the failure presents a serious safety hazard due to potential exposure to toxic fumes within the cabin. …
The contact owns a 2010 Toyota Prius. The contact stated that while driving, the brake lights, ABS, and check engine warning lights illuminated. There was an abnormal noise detected. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer and diagnosed that the brake booster assembly needed to be replaced. Additionally, the contact was informed that the vehicle was not safe to drive. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to NHTSA. The failure mileage was approximately 115,000. The VIN was not available.
My problem began when I pressed my brakes and instead it accelerated. I thought maybe my foot slipped and didn't know what it meant. It happened again a few weeks later and then all of the dash lights went on that indicated that I had to have the big brake recall repair. Being that my car is past the 10 year warranty and past the extension for mileage, I had to pay out of pocket. This repair was done and upon receiving my car back, the gas mileage instantly began to drop. It went from averaging 42-48MPG in my town to 25-30MPG. I took it in the be looked at and they ensured me nothing was wrong with the car AT ALL. …
While driving on a highway at night around 60 mph, brake light turned on then AB light then slip light. Nothing else happened but since this hadn't happened before, I pulled over, turned off car, waited a bit then turned back on. Car still worked although these lights stayed on. Continued driving to get home at reduced speed (around 45-50) plus with blinkers on with mental note to take to the dealer next morning. A few miles out, a loud unchanging alarm went off and I couldn't use my brakes no matter how hard I pressed on them. I was able to glide off an exit that was near and making right turns get into a lot. Also neither of the brake pad nor the parking button was working so I couldn't stop the car but then I hit power to shut down and that was able to stop it. Called for towing to dealer the following day. …
Hi- I have a Toyota Prius 2010 model and I encountered a braking failure yesterday. My ABS lights, brake lights and another light came up on my dashboard of the car. Upon diagnosis, I was informed by Toyota dealership that my car has a faulty C1391 - Abnormal leak in accumulator. This condition may be caused by small internal brake fluid leak inside the brake booster assembly with master cylinder. This is a known issue by Toyota and lots of press coverage on this issue since the past few years. I was told today that if this issue occurred within 10 year or purchase or <150K then the repair work would be covered by Toyota. I purchased the car in 2010 and I past the 10 year mark but mileage coverage is 125K (<150K). Toyota is unwilling to bear the cost and would want me to pay for the fix. …
brake booster that was a recall that toyota said expired in 2020 when i bought the vehicle and the toyotal dealer didnt inform me of the recall to fix it said everything was fine when it was not, i had a dc inverter sensor brake booster issues and now it ills off my 12volt battery every time i put one in lasts about 1 mth, upset dealer never told me this wjhen took in tel me any recalls or probelms, they said none, they lied to me. it kills off my 12volg agm batteries in the last 7 mths been having braking booster issues problems grrr,,, noise all the time when the car is off too, its killing off my hybrid system and my temathetics module is having issues too because of all this and evey battery i put in the car, i want the ntc gov to have toytota recall fix these problems with my car and not expire the recall they had in 2020 cause now i cant fix my car cause of it, i was lied to by …
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 the brake booster, master cyclinder actuator abs pump fialing loosing brakes making grrr noises leaking all brake fluid out continously dangerous to drive can cause bad accident wreck since i drive down the hwy alot and this is the only car i have to drive, i also have dc inverter module /sensor that is killing off 3 batteries now that i installed in 3 months, and toyota dealers wont fix unless it shows error but its a recall so since problen should fix this recall but wont pay for it to fix it even though it a recall right now that is not expired. im upset 3 dealers wont do it unless then charge me to do it. …
The ABS Pump( Accumulator and booster) are regularly failing on all Toyota Prius( 2010-2015). When the ABS pump starts to fail, the warning lights for Traction control, Brake and ABS come on. These lights come on at all speeds and its very hard to bring the vehicle to a complete stop when this happens. The brakes completely stop working and the brakes become rock solid. The brakes become so hard that they can't be possibly be depressed to stop in time. I nearly missed getting killed from this as I am out of country and Toyota is refusing to fix it since its not a recall and I am in Canada. Toyota is asking $3500 in parts and $1500 in labor to repair. I can not afford it and this issue is on all Prius from 2010-2015. This is a major safety hazard and can cause serious injury and damage. Toyota is refusing to repair it since they believe the cars are out of warranty. …
The ABS, Brake, and traction control light came on. The braking became difficult. The car did stop but if it was in an emergency circumstance there may have been a collision. I called Toyota about the issue and was informed that there was a brake actuater and master cylinder issues with this make and model. Toyota replaced them in cars that had this issue under a special warranty that was over in 2021. It is a $3500 issue. I purchased this car new and have never received a notice about bad braking system. I have lived at the same address since the purchase. Toyota informed me that notices were not sent out, however if the owner came in with this issue before 2021 it would have been repaired and replaced. I can not understand how ALL owners were not informed. I do not understand how a recall wasn't enforced. I live in Florida where the speed limit is 70mph. This could have been deadly. …
My 2010 Toyota Prius hatchback suddenly had 4 or 5 warning lights appear on the dashboard and my brakes failed to function properly. It felt like the power brakes was turned off ! Although I did get the vehicle stopped, it surely was a dangerous situation. I understand that Toyota knows about this problem, and have read that it was warranted if this happened before 150,000 miles. My Prius has approx 167,000 miles right now and to replace the Brake Actuator, the cost will be $ 3 - 5 thousand dollars...absurd amount in my opinion. Since this critical feature (brakes) has a long known history of being faulty on Toyota vehicles it should be warranted for at least 25 years and at least 300k ! My Prius is "unsafe to drive" and is nothing more than a paperweight...I repeat, Toyota knows, and has known about this defective brake actuator problem for years and years!!! …
Related recalls
Electrical system › Software
Toyota is recalling certain model year 2010 through 2014 Prius vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the Intelligent Power Module (IPM) inside the inverter module (a component of the hybrid system) contains transistors that may become damaged from high operating temperatures.
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.
NHTSA investigations
Pedestrian alert sounds
NHTSA received a petition on or about July 18, 2022, requesting that Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 141 be applied to all electric and hybrid vehicles operating in the United States. The petition can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under ODI Number 11486072. FMVSS 141 establishes performance requirements for pedestrian alert sounds for motor vehicles.
Electrical complaints in other Prius years
Frequently asked questions
How common are electrical problems on the 2010 Toyota Prius?
NHTSA has 192 complaints about the electrical system of the 2010 Toyota Prius, 7% of the model year's 2,823 complaints. The component named most often is instrument cluster/panel (6 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2010 Toyota Prius electrical problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 14V-053 (software, Feb 12, 2014). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2010 Toyota Prius electrical problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 65,000 miles, and 25% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 5 crashes, 6 fires and 5 injuries to electrical system problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.