10.0
really awful- Crashes / Fires:
- 7 / 0
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 6 / 0
- Average Mileage:
- 38,922 miles
About These NHTSA Complaints:
The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.
Air bag did not deployed at the time of accident. Damaged/rip apart front bumper...car is total loss as per insurance adjuster. Other collided Honda CR-V had all its air bags deployed. None on my Prius. Accident happened at major intersection, when green light turned on I paddle my car, other car Honda CR-V came at a speed to make left turned and hit my front bumper.
- Riverside, CA, USA
Automotive paint is unstable. On the sides there are several points. Many paint chips in front of the car. The machine quickly rusts.
- Cincinnati, OH, USA
I was on the freeway in traffic, going 60 mph. There was road construction coming up ahead. I depressed the brake pedal and nothing happened. The car didn't slow down at all and I crashed into another vehicle. My car was manufactured when the 'voluntary safety recall' by Toyota was supposed to address this, but I received no notification, nor did thousand oaks Toyota, where I had the car serviced, communicate about it.
- Morro Bay, CA, USA
*takata recall I was involved in a major car accident during lunch hour on the 405 South fwy in los angeles, ca. I was struck by a semi truck who was merging into my lane and while I tried to get out of his way by speeding up. I was clipped by the truck and my car careened infront of the truck and was pushed before he applied his brakes. My car then spun out of control across all fwy lanes. I was hit by two other on coming cars before coming to a stop in the carpool lane. All cars including the truck were driving approximately 65-70 mph based on the police report. My foot was on the gas the entire time as I spun out of control. My complaint is regarding the airbags. None of the side or front airbags deployed at the time of all impacts. I had the vehicle inspected by an independant inspection company after contacting Toyota. I have yet to hear back from Toyota even though they have had the report for almost two months. I finally received the report from the inspector after threatning to have my attorney contact them. I don't know how to read the findings of the report since its all technical engineering. I am attaching the report and hope that someone in your department can review it and followup. Thank you
- Los Angeles, CA, USA
Went to swap the license plate in my Prius after registering in new state. Back license plate bolt on upper-right side unscrewed partially and then the bolt housing detached from the vehicle. As a result, the screw cannot be unscrewed and the license plate cannot be removed. Called Toyota and they knew what I was talking about. Said the repair would take one hour and cost $110'for a bolt that malfunctioned. The vehicle isn't technically street legal now and they can't see me for several days. I said that I didn't think a component like that should just break off, and I was told it may have been a result of the wrong bolt size being used. That's unlikely as this car has only ever seen Toyota dealerships and that was where it was purchased. Very disappointed and it sounds like Toyota knows about this issue.
- Newmarket, NH, USA
Vehicle was parked. When I returned to the vehicle, the rear window glass had spontaneously shattered/ exploded. There were no signs of vandalism. I understand that this is a problem with the type of glass that is used, and that this is not an uncommon occurrence. Examples may be found on youtube.
- Minneapolis, MN, USA
Ongoing problem should have reported much earlier. Body parts are plastic--likely to reduce weight--coupled with undersurfaces to improve aerodynamics and mpg. The front "spoiler" is set too low and snags wheel chocks when parking. This snagging tears connectors in a "cascade" to loosen or tear from other parts. At about 35 mphthe loosened passenger-side inner fender tore loose on a major thoroughfare (fortunately low-trafficed at the time). It was run over and recovered. I asked local dealerabout repair/replacement but couldn't get specifics and let it slide. This inner fender provides structural integrity as well as shielding the washer tank and parts of the engine compartment's innards. Lacking that integrity, and with some connector holes torn, wind gusting at road speeds (and further snagging) often causes the wrap-around part of the front bumper to pull loose from its "lego-like snaps" into the fender. Were things to tear loose at road speeds on a busy highway the "shrapnel" could cause major accidents. Specific dates unknown-has been a continuing issue. --so date below is, therefore, arbitrary.
- Washington, DC, USA
Affected part# 5141012105 cover. While driving a scraping sound was heard. After stopping and checking, a plastic part under the engine compartment was dragging. We had to drive 5 miles to have the part removed. The service entry of the plastic engine belly protector had broken away. The service entry is not hinged or reinforced in any way to the belly protector. The cost to repair was $271.37 for parts and $50 for installation. This is a very poor design of a part meant to be bent at service!!
- Hilo, HI, USA
The front bumper is so low that I have to go over bumps and dips very slowly, when turning into a driveway I'm very afraid I'll get hit from behind by cars going in the same direction because I have to enter the driveway so slowly. I've had numerous close calls. My bumper has damage from dragging when going thru a dip.
- Newport Beach, CA, USA
Backing up in a private parking lot of an apartment in sunnyvale the evening of November 20 aprox 22:00 hrs. At 2 mph or less an impact was felt to rear of bumper from a stationary object. Visibility was poor. An auto body shop determined bumper needs to be replaced and not repairable. Pictures available. I feel bumper standard spelled out by NHTSA is not met by 2010 Toyota Prius.
- Santa Clara, CA, USA
Whilst stopped at a traffic light, behind a suburu, the brake failed and hit the suburu. (this was not the first time the brake failed, but fortunately there were no other cars involved when the car did not stop. The driver believed that black ice was involved, but after the incident with the suburu, realized that it was brake failure.) believing that the auto could no longer be trusted, it was sold. Toyota insisted it was driver error., and claimed that there was no fault in the breaking system.
- Saco, ME, USA
The oil door fells off.
- Tampa, FL, USA
Overhead console sunglass holder cover will not close due to latch stuck inside. Only repeated pressing of black spring button will release latch to catch and close cover lip.
- Santa Clara, CA, USA
Driving at approximately 30 mph and the oil change cover fell off the vehicle. The cover is beneath the car's engine nearest the passenger-side tire. The panel had shown wear and it looked like a plastic fastener failed. The panel was able to be recovered.
- North Thetford, VT, USA
I was driving on the freeway, going the speed limit when my bumper bottom became partially detached. It caused me to swerve slightly. I immediately slowed down and put on my emergency lights, driving slowly on the freeway until I could pull off safely. Once on the side of the road, I inspected my car and saw a large black bumper piece dragging from the front of the car. I was 1 mile from the Toyota dealership, so I drove my car to the dealership. I was told by the service personnel that this was a design issue with the Toyota Prius as it is very low to the ground and many customers had problems with the bumper. In the two years I have owned my Toyota Prius, I have noticed that it hits the parking lot separations because it is low. I must stop before the parking lot separation in order to avoid this. It is strange that the Toyota would be allowed to be so low as to cause this problem. Even more alarming is that my bumper bottom suddenly fell off, without warning. This seems like a potentially dangerous and poor design that should be addressed.
- San Francisco, CA, USA
The following event happened twice with this vehicle. Tin both instances, the car was running and in park with no one in the vehicle. It then down the driveway with no one in it. In the second occurrence, it appears to have gone into reverse on its own and rolled into a retaining wall causing damage to the rear passenger side bumper and back panel.
- Sioux Falls, SD, USA
2010 Toyota Prius at dealership for 25000 mile service. On 11/07/2012 at 1700 the dealership called and reported that the car is "infested with rodents." Stated that headliner is saturated with urine/ feces, air and cabin air filters destroyed, wires chewed, rodents found to be living in dashboard, in door interiors, and other areas. Reported that this was "the worst case we've seen." Car is owned by two professionals- no children who would have dropped food and no food ever eaten in vehicle. Purchased new from this same dealership 01/02/2011. Dealership now reports that the car is a health/ safety hazard and could cost "thousands" to repair. Our internet research revealed that rodent infestation is common in the Toyota Prius, reportedly because rodents are able to gain easy access through the car's ventilation system. Owners reported contacting Toyota, who denied liability and denied request for assistance.
- Shermans Dale, PA, USA
Cheap thin black plastic engine cover for oil pan is defective with one edge cracked 100% after only 5 oil changes similar to aircraft aluminum metal fatigue. This plastic flap under oil drain plug is now dragging on the road hanging by a single bolt. Ridiculous to fail after opening and closing oil drain pan cover 5 times. We view this as a defect covered under our bumper to bumper 7 year 100,000 mile platinum extended warranty contract for which we paid $1870 on 07-14-2009 for a new vehicle. Minor scratches and dust are not proximate cause of failure.
- Santa Clara, CA, USA
Plastic undercarriage cover loosened and started dragging on highway for no apparant reason.
- Toms River, NJ, USA
- Dedham, MA, USA