2011 Toyota PRIUS problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
517 owner complaints analyzed
6 distinct recall campaigns
76,500 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2011 model year. Data snapshot: . 330 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Service Brakes is the most frequently named component, appearing in 261 of 517 complaints (50.5%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 281 | 54.4% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 32 | 6.2% |
| Engine operation | 15 | 2.9% |
| Steering behavior | 11 | 2.1% |
| Transmission and shifting | 7 | 1.4% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 0.2% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Service Brakes | 261 |
| Electrical System | 61 |
| Exterior Lighting | 48 |
| Engine | 46 |
| Air Bags | 45 |
| Unknown Or Other | 28 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 27 |
| Power Train | 18 |
Service Brakes: 261; Electrical System: 61; Exterior Lighting: 48; Engine: 46; Air Bags: 45; Unknown Or Other: 28; Vehicle Speed Control: 27; Power Train: 18
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 72 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 41 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 44 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 50 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 74 |
| 150,000 and above | 49 |
Under 25,000: 72; 25,000 to 49,999: 41; 50,000 to 74,999: 44; 75,000 to 99,999: 50; 100,000 to 149,999: 74; 150,000 and above: 49
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (74). 187 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2011 | 17 |
| 2012 | 23 |
| 2013 | 27 |
| 2014 | 38 |
| 2015 | 32 |
| 2016 | 56 |
| 2017 | 29 |
| 2018 | 51 |
| 2019 | 55 |
| 2020 | 23 |
| 2021 | 22 |
| 2022 | 38 |
| 2023 | 34 |
| 2024 | 35 |
| 2025 | 24 |
| 2026 | 13 |
2011: 17; 2012: 23; 2013: 27; 2014: 38; 2015: 32; 2016: 56; 2017: 29; 2018: 51; 2019: 55; 2020: 23; 2021: 22; 2022: 38; 2023: 34; 2024: 35; 2025: 24; 2026: 13
Pattern summary
Service Brakes leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 281 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 32 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 15 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10396689 · 2011-04-18 (April 18, 2011)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD SUDDENLY ACCELERATE FORWARD WHILE PRESSURE WAS BEING APPLIED TO THE BRAKES. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT TO BRING THE VEHICLE IN FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER TOOK A COMPLAINT ON THE CONTACTS BEHALF BUT PROVIDED NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 2,000 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 900.
Owner-reported narrative. 900 miles reported. Look up ODI 10396689 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10415273 · 2011-07-26 (July 26, 2011)
I HAVE A 2011 PRIUS AND IF WHILE I AM BRAKING, I DRIVE OVER A BUMP IN THE ROAD, THE BRAKES RELEASE. I MUST RE-APPLY THE BRAKES TO RE-ENGAGE THEM. I FEEL THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS. THERE ARE NUMEROUS WEBSITE REFERENCES TO THIS PROBLEM. WHEN WILL A RECALL HAPPEN BEFORE SOMEONE HAS A SERIOUS ACCIDENT? *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 6,600 miles reported. Look up ODI 10415273 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10500800 · 2013-02-28 (February 28, 2013)
PERIODICALLY, AFTER GOING OVER A BUMP AT FAIRLY LOW SPEEDS, THE CAR WILL ACCELERATE. IN LIGHT OF THE OTHER UNINTENDED ACCELERATION ISSUE REPORTED UNDER ODI 10499911, I WONDER IF THESE TWO EVENTS ARE RELATED -- POSSIBLY SOMETHING TO DO WITH GOING FROM THE MOTOR TO THE BATTERY? *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10500800 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10605946 · 2014-06-25 (June 25, 2014)
OWNER OF VEHICLE DRIVING TO WORK WHEN THEY OBSERVED A RED GLOW IN FRONT OF THEM. THE OWNER THEN OBSERVED SMOKE FROM THE FRONT. THE OWNER PULLED OFF ROADWAY AND MORE SMOKE DEVELOPED. THE VEHICLE THEN CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE FIRE CONSUMED THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. A FIRE SCENE EXAMINATION WAS PERFORMED AND THE ORIGIN WAS DETERMINED TO BE IN THE PASSENGER SIDE DASH AREA WHERE CIRCUIT BOARDS AND WIRING BUNDLES WERE LOCATED. THE FIRE RESULTED IN A TOTAL LOSS OF THE VEHICLE. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 50,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10605946 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10454049 · 2012-04-04 (April 4, 2012)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING UPHILL AT 5 MPH AND IN THREE INCHES OF SNOW WHEN THE VEHICLE STALLED WITH THE ILLUMINATION OF THE SDS WARNING LIGHT. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE WHO STATED THAT THE WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED IN FORWARD MODE ONLY TO DEMONSTRATE IN WHAT MODE THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT NO LONGER OWNED THE VEHICLE. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 12,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 12,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10454049 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10840217 · 2016-03-07 (March 7, 2016)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE DID NOT HAVE A TRACTION CONTROL SWITCH. DUE TO THE SWITCH NOT BEING IN THE VEHICLE, THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE DRIVING UP AN INCLINE DURING INCLEMENT WEATHER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FAILURE WAS INHERENT TO THE MODEL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 77,000. UPDATED 05/06/16*LJ
Owner-reported narrative. 77,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10840217 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10605625 · 2014-06-24 (June 24, 2014)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED WHEN MAKING A TURN THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD BECOME STUCK IN THE POSITION THE VEHICLE WAS TURNING TOO. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING GEAR ASSEMBLY WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 124,117.
Owner-reported narrative. 124,117 miles reported. Look up ODI 10605625 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10605972 · 2014-06-25 (June 25, 2014)
NUMEROUS TIMES WHEN TRYING TO STOP, THE VEHICLE WOULD LOSS CONTROL OF THE BRAKING WHEN GOING OVER EVEN THE SMALLEST OF BUMPS. A FEW TIMES EVEN THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT WOULD LUMINATE WHEN THIS HAPPENED. IT ALSO APPEARED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD ACCELERATE JUST SLIGHTLY DURING THIS BRAKING RATHER THAN SLOWING DOWN. THE BEST WAY TO DESCRIBE HOW THE VEHICLE FELT, IS AS IF IT WAS "HYDROPLANING", THERE WAS NOT CONTROL OVER THE STEERING OR BRAKING. THIS HAPPENS EVERY TIME THE VEHICLE GOES OVER ANY TYPE OF BUMPS, OR POTHOLES. I HAVE CHILDREN AND THIS …
Owner-reported narrative. 36,121 miles reported. Look up ODI 10605972 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10423463 · 2011-08-30 (August 30, 2011)
MY 2011 PRIUS II INTERMITTENTLY GOES INTO REVERSE WHEN I SHIFT INTO DRIVE. APPROXIMATELY 10 TIMES NOW SINCE BEGINNING. TWICE IT HAS GONE INTO DRIVE WHEN I HAVE SHIFTED INTO REVERSE.
Owner-reported narrative. 3,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10423463 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10432919 · 2011-10-26 (October 26, 2011)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 55 MPH WHENM THE VEHICLE UNEXPECTEDLY SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL AND A WARNING BELL SOUNDED. THE FAILURE HAD SINCE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT SHE MAY HAVE BEEN INADVERTENTLY PRESSING THE PARKING BUTTON. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND THE CONTACT WAS AWAITING A RESPONSE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 800.
Owner-reported narrative. 800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10432919 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10906450 · 2016-09-14 (September 14, 2016)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THERE WAS A FRACTURE IN THE FUEL TANK THAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THIS WAS A GLOBAL RECALL (TOYOTA/AUSTRALIA: FUEL SUCTION PLATE), BUT WAS NOT YET A RECALL IN THE UNITED STATES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 58,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10906450 at NHTSA ↗