Model year record

2011 Toyota Prius

6 recall campaigns on file for this model year. 719 owner complaints on file.

Recalls

Recall campaignNHTSA 18V684000

Hybrid propulsion system

Component
Hybrid propulsion system
Manufacturer
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing
Vehicles affected
807,329
Reported to NHTSA
2018-10-04
Owners notified
2019-01-22

Defect description

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.

Safety risk

If the hybrid system shuts down unexpectedly, it can increase the risk of a crash.

Manufacturer remedy

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. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371. Toyota's number for this recall is J0V. Note: The software updates in this recall are needed even if the vehicle had the software previously updated under recalls 14V-053 or 15V-449.

Recall campaignNHTSA 16V487000

Air bags: side/window

Component
Air bags: side/window
Manufacturer
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing
Vehicles affected
482,002
Reported to NHTSA
2016-06-30
Owners notified
2016-10-17

Defect description

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 into the passenger cabin.

Safety 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.

Manufacturer remedy

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 Service Department at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is Toyota G0U, and Lexus GLJ.

Recall campaignNHTSA 16V396000

Seats: front assembly: seat heater/cooler

Component
Seats: front assembly: seat heater/cooler
Manufacturer
Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC
Vehicles affected
7,749
Reported to NHTSA
2016-06-02
Owners notified
2016-07-14

Defect description

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 Prius, 1988-1990 and 2005-2010 Camry, and 1989 and 2009-2010 Corolla vehicles equipped with aftermarket accessory seat heaters with a copper strand heating element. The electrical wiring in the seat heaters may be damaged when the seat cushion is compressed.

Safety risk

If damaged, the copper strand heating element may short circuit, increasing the risk of a fire.

Manufacturer remedy

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 SET customer service at 1-866-405-4226. SET number for this recall is SET16B.

Recall campaignNHTSA 14V743000

Seats: front assembly: seat heater/cooler

Component
Seats: front assembly: seat heater/cooler
Manufacturer
Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC
Vehicles affected
3,233
Reported to NHTSA
2014-11-19
Owners notified
2015-01-29

Defect description

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 affected vehicles may experience compression of the seat cushion which may damage the seat heater wiring.

Safety 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.

Manufacturer remedy

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. Owners may contact SET customer service at 1-866-405-4226.

Recall campaignNHTSA 14V053000

Hybrid propulsion system: inverter

Component
Hybrid propulsion system: inverter
Manufacturer
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing
Vehicles affected
698,457
Reported to NHTSA
2014-02-12
Owners notified
2014-03-21

Defect description

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. 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.

Safety risk

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.

Manufacturer 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. If an owner experiences a failure of the inverter before the vehicle receives updated software, the dealer will repair or replace the inverter assembly with a new one at no charge. The recall began on March 21, 2014. Owners may contact Toyota at 1-800-331-4331.

Recall campaignNHTSA 13V014000

Seats

Component
Seats
Manufacturer
Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC
Vehicles affected
3,235
Reported to NHTSA
2013-01-16
Owners notified
2013-03-21

Defect description

Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain models interspersed through model years 2009 through 2013 as follows: model year 2009-2012 Tacoma, 4Runner, Camry, Camry Hybrid, Prius, and RAV4; model year 2009-2010 Avalon, FJ Cruiser, and Highlander Hybrid; model year 2010-2013 model year Corolla, Sienna and Tundra; model year 2009-2013 Highlander and Venza; model year 2012 Prius V; and model year 2010-2012 Sequoia. 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.

Safety risk

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 deployment.

Manufacturer remedy

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. Owners may contact Southeast Toyota at 1-800-301-6859.

Owner complaints

A complaint is one person's report to a federal agency. It is not a finding.

ComponentComplaintsMedian mileage
Service brakes29380,000 mi
Electrical system6580,464 mi
Engine49116,480 mi
Exterior lighting4867,000 mi
Air bags4665,290 mi
Unknown or other3190,100 mi
Vehicle speed control2820,000 mi
Power train1960,000 mi
Electronic stability control (ESC)1651,045 mi
Fuel/propulsion system12115,000 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic1295,000 mi
Hybrid propulsion system9116,480 mi
Forward collision avoidance: automatic emergency braking8
Structure: body862,000 mi
Steering7117,000 mi
Tires724,000 mi
Seats532 mi
Visibility530 mi
Seat belts455,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling312,000 mi
Hybrid propulsion system: inverter3141,000 mi
Suspension349 mi
Visibility: sun/moon roof assembly356,000 mi
Wheels3130,000 mi
Electrical system: instrument cluster/panel2147,000 mi
Electrical system: instrument panel: speedometer/odometer2227,000 mi
Electrical system: propulsion system: traction battery2
Engine and engine cooling: exhaust system: emission control: catalytic convertor2227,000 mi
Traction control system277,000 mi
Visibility/wiper271,000 mi
Visibility: power window devices and controls253,000 mi
Air bags: frontal: driver clockspring/spiral cassette1
Electrical system: 12V/24V/48V battery1204,000 mi
Electrical system: horn160,000 mi
Electrical system: software160,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling: cooling system120,000 mi
Equipment158 mi
Equipment adaptive/mobility156,000 mi
Equipment adaptive/mobility: vehicle controls: speed control13,000 mi
Equipment: electrical: navigational system(global positioning system)146,000 mi
Interior lighting1
Latches/locks/linkages130,000 mi
Seats: front assembly: head restraint132 mi
Seats: front assembly: seat heater/cooler1
Service brakes, air: antilock: ABS warning light175,000 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip: ABS warning light1156,000 mi
Structure1
Vehicle speed control: accelerator pedal1119,000 mi
Visibility: defroster/defogger/hvac system120,000 mi

The 2010 model has about a fifth as many complaints as this one. The 2012 model has roughly the same number of complaints as this one. These figures reflect raw complaint counts, not failure rates. Higher-selling model years naturally receive more complaints.

Open investigations

An investigation is not a recall. It indicates that NHTSA is currently evaluating an alleged defect but has not reached a final determination.

DP23005Brake Actuator Valve Wear

Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components

Safety recall repairs are provided free of charge by franchised dealers, regardless of vehicle age or mileage. This page displays aggregated data for the model year. To check recall status for a specific vehicle, search its VIN at nhtsa.gov.