2010 Toyota Prius: Recalls, Problems & MPG
Here are the deets on the 2010 Toyota Prius: 10 recalls, 2823 owner complaints and up to 50 mpg combined.
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Recalls
10 vehicle recalls from the manufacturer. Repairs are free. Check your VIN to see if one is still open on your car.
Equipment Vehicle recall #10V035000 · 2010 · 271,417 vehicles
What's wrong: 110, "tire selection and rims." these vehicles were sold between September 1, 2005 and June 2, 2008 without the requisite load carrying capacity modification labels.
Why it matters: This does not meet the standard requirements.
The fix: 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.
Equipment Vehicle recall #10V036000 · 2010 · 153,418 vehicles
What's wrong: 110, "tire selection and rims." these vehicles were sold without the requisite load carrying capacity modification labels.
Why it matters: A driver May overload a vehicle which May increase the risk of a crash.
The fix: 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.
Brakes (air) Vehicle recall #10V039000 · 2010 · 148,549 vehicles
What's wrong: Customers have experienced inconsistent brake feel after ABS actuation during slow and steady application of the brakes on rough or slick road surfaces. Stopping distances May be increased compared with a customer's expectation for a given pedal force.
Why it matters: Vehicle stopping distances May increase relative to a customer's expectation increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: 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.
Seats, Airbags Vehicle recall #13V014000 · 2013 · 3,235 vehicles
What's wrong: During modification by set to include accessories such as leather seat covers, seat heaters or headrest dvd systems, these vehicles May not have had the passenger seat occupant sensing system calibration tested. Without passing the calibration test, the occupant sensing system May not operate as designed.
Why it matters: 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…
The fix: 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.
Brakes Vehicle recall #13V235000 · 2013 · 87,060 vehicles
What's wrong: Nitrogen gas from a component of the brake booster pump assembly could leak into the brake fluid.
Why it matters: 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.
The fix: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the affected brake booster pump assemblies. The recall began on August 7, 2013.
Hybrid system, Electrical Vehicle recall #14V053000 · 2014 · 698,457 vehicles
What's wrong: 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. If this occurs, various warning lamps will be illuminated on the instrument panel and the vehicle will have reduced power allowing it to only drive a short distance.
Why it matters: 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.
The fix: 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…
Seats Vehicle recall #14V743000 · 2014 · 3,233 vehicles
What's wrong: The affected vehicles May experience compression of the seat cushion which May damage the seat heater wiring.
Why it matters: 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.
The 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 to began in January 2015.
Seats Vehicle recall #16V396000 · 2016 · 7,749 vehicles
What's wrong: The electrical wiring in the seat heaters May be damaged when the seat cushion is compressed.
Why it matters: If damaged, the copper strand heating element May short circuit, increasing the risk of a fire.
The 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.
Airbags Vehicle recall #16V487000 · 2016 · 482,002 vehicles
What's wrong: A weld in the curtain shield air bag inflator May crack causing one or both portions of the inflator to eject into the passenger cabin.
Why it matters: 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.
The 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.
Hybrid system Vehicle recall #18V684000 · 2018 · 807,329 vehicles
What's wrong: 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.
Why it matters: If the hybrid system shuts down unexpectedly, it can increase the risk of a crash.
The 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 January 22, 2019.
Most-reported problems
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component. One complaint can list several components. 13 mention a fire, 65 injuries and 2 deaths were reported.
What owners describe
- Brakes (hydraulic) (849): the most common themes are brake failure / soft pedal (126).
- Brakes (593): the most common themes are warning light on (161), brake failure / soft pedal (86).
- Brakes (electric) (502): no single recurring theme in the descriptions.
- Speed control / throttle (287): the most common themes are sudden acceleration (82).
The 2010 Toyota Prius has 2823 owner complaints, ranking #1 of 27 Prius model years for complaints (6.1× the average Prius year). Complaints peaked in 2010 (1468 filed that year). The typical problem showed up when the car was about 2 years old, at a median of 6,419 miles. Neighboring years: 2009 (502 complaints, 6 recalls), 2011 (521 complaints, 6 recalls).
Engines & fuel economy (EPA)
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.8 L 4-cyl hybrid | Automatic (variable gear ratios) | Front-Wheel Drive | 51 | 48 | 50 | Regular |
Want the full repair deets? Get the factory manual.
Recall and complaint data tells you what goes wrong. A service manual tells you how to fix it: torque specs, wiring diagrams, fluid capacities and step-by-step procedures for the 2010 Toyota Prius.
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FAQ
Does the 2010 Toyota Prius have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 10 vehicle recalls for the 2010 Toyota Prius. Recall repairs are free at any dealer, no matter how old the car is. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What are the most common 2010 Toyota Prius problems?
Owners have filed 2823 complaints with NHTSA. The most-reported areas are brakes (hydraulic) (849), brakes (593), brakes (electric) (502).
What gas mileage does the 2010 Toyota Prius get?
EPA ratings run up to 50 mpg combined (1.8 L, Automatic (variable gear ratios)), across 1 engine and transmission combos.
Where can I get a 2010 Toyota Prius repair manual?
eManualOnline sells downloadable manuals, Mitchell 1 DIY and ALLDATAdiy sell online access to factory repair data, and Haynes sells printed guides and online access. Pick a download if you want to keep it, or a subscription for wiring diagrams and TSBs.