YearToAvoid

2011 Toyota Prius Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls

Caution The 2011 Toyota Prius carries a Caution verdict, ranking 7th worst among 21 model years with a complaint index of 70. Brakes drive 54% of its 519 complaints, with 6 recall campaigns on file, none rated do-not-drive.

Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology

YearToAvoid Scorecard

Complaint Index
70/100
#7 of 21 Prius years
Verdict
Caution
vs. other years of this model
Complaints
519
unique NHTSA reports
Recalls
6
distinct NHTSA campaigns
Crashes
37
reported in complaints
Fires
7
Injuries
17
Top issue
Brakes
Best nearby year
2018
rated Best
NHTSA overall rating
5 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
48
49 city / 46 hwy
Injuries / deaths
17 / 0

Top 2011 Toyota Prius problems

Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Brakes281 (54%)
  2. Electrical System109 (21%)
  3. Engine78 (15%)
  4. Airbags46 (9%)
  5. Other32 (6%)
  6. Fuel System21 (4%)
  7. Transmission & Powertrain18 (3%)
  8. Structure & Body16 (3%)
  9. Visibility & Wipers12 (2%)
  10. Suspension, Wheels & Tires11 (2%)

A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.

What owners report

  • Owners describe brakes failing to respond or lurching the car forward on bumpy, slippery, or snowy surfaces, sometimes leading to collisions.
  • Several reports describe complete loss of braking while parking at low speed, resulting in the car striking curbs, walls, or other vehicles.
  • One owner reported a rear tire sidewall blowout at highway speed that caused a rollover and severe injuries.
  • An electrical fire was reported that started near the dash and consumed the passenger compartment.
  • A curtain airbag failed to deploy during a moderate-speed side-impact crash.
  • One driver reported the vehicle moving on its own while attempting to park at low speed, striking a parking bumper.
2011 Toyota Prius complaints: complaints filed per quarter242011 Q12013 Q12015 Q12017 Q12019 Q12021 Q12023 Q12025 Q1
519 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2011 Q1 to 2026 Q3; peak 2018 Q4 (24).

2011 Toyota Prius recalls

6 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 18V684000Oct 4, 2018Fuel System807,329 vehicles

    Hybrid propulsion system

    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.

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

    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.

  2. NHTSA 16V487000Jun 30, 2016Airbags482,002 vehicles

    Air bags:side/window

    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.

    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.

    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.

  3. NHTSA 16V396000Jun 2, 2016Structure & Body7,749 vehicles

    Seats:front assembly:seat heater/cooler

    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.

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

    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.

See all 6 recalls for the 2011 Toyota Prius →

2011 Toyota Prius fuel economy and fuel cost

City
49 MPG
Highway
46 MPG
Combined
48 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$1,350
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Regular
Current regular gas
$4.32/gal
national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2011 compared with other Prius years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’05’06’07’08’09’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2009Avoid80502646
2010Avoid1002,8221050
2011Caution70519648
2012Caution65423648
2013Caution60409348

All Toyota Prius years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2011 Toyota Prius reliable?
NHTSA lists 519 complaints for the 2011 Prius, giving it a complaint index of 70 and a Caution verdict, ranking 7th worst out of 21 model years for this model.
What is the biggest problem with the 2011 Toyota Prius?
Brakes are the top problem area, accounting for 281 complaints, 54% of all complaints, with a median failure mileage of 80,000.
Does the 2011 Toyota Prius have any recalls?
Yes, NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns covering the Fuel System, Airbags, and Structure & Body, none of which are do-not-drive recalls.
How does the 2011 Prius compare to other Prius years?
Its complaint index of 70 is lower than the 2005-2010 Prius years, which range from 75 to 100 and are all rated Avoid, but higher than 2012 onward, which trend toward Good and Best verdicts.
What is the fuel economy of the 2011 Toyota Prius?
EPA rates it at 48 mpg combined (49 city / 46 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $1,350.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.