2011 TOYOTA PRIUS Problems
Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 2011 Toyota Prius. This model year has 511 NHTSA complaints — top issue: Brake System.
Before you buy — check the actual VIN
This page shows the model year's reputation. The VIN tells you about the specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer rollbacks, and open recalls.
Worst 2011 Toyota Prius Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
Brake System
Electrical Faults
Engine Problems
Considering a 2011 Toyota Prius?
This page shows the model year's reputation. The VIN tells you about this specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud. Full report just $4.99 (vs. Carfax $44.99).
All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2011 Toyota Prius. A single complaint may appear in multiple categories.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brake System | 266 | 16 | — | — | |
| Electrical Faults | 68 | 3 | 4 | — | |
| Engine Problems | 51 | 1 | 2 | — | |
| Headlight/Taillight Failures | 49 | — | 1 | — | |
| Airbag Malfunctions | 46 | 18 | — | — | |
| Unintended Acceleration | 28 | 3 | — | — | |
| Uncategorized Issues | 28 | 1 | — | — | |
| Transmission / Drivetrain | 18 | — | — | — | |
| Electronic Stability Control (Esc) | 16 | 1 | — | — | |
| Hydraulic | 12 | — | — | — | |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 11 | — | — | — | |
| Hybrid Propulsion System | 11 | 1 | — | — | |
| Visibility | 11 | — | — | — | |
| Structural Problems | 9 | 3 | — | — | |
| Steering Defects | 7 | — | — | — | |
| Tire Issues | 7 | 2 | — | — | |
| Seat-Related Issues | 6 | 1 | 2 | — | |
| Forward Collision Avoidance: AEB | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Seat Belt Issues | 4 | 3 | — | — | |
| Wheel Issues | 3 | 2 | — | — | |
| Suspension Failures | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Equipment | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Equipment Adaptive/Mobility | 2 | 1 | 1 | — | |
| Traction Control System | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Visibility/Wiper | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Air | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Door Lock Issues | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Interior Lighting | 1 | — | — | — |
Source: NHTSA Complaints Database. Complaint counts may exceed total complaints because one report can span multiple categories.
Search Owner Complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2011 Toyota Prius. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
Showing 400 most recent complaints of 511 total. View all on NHTSA ↗
I was driving my car and suddenly the traction , hand brake and ABS sign started showing up. I usually apply only 10% of force on brake pedal but after this I have to apply almost 60% of force to even slow down the car. Almost 90% force to stop the car It has threatened safety …
The brake cylinder assembly and the brake booster pump assembly failed while driving, which made braking very difficult, caused the regenerative braking to stop working, and caused multiple warning lights to come on. No warning lights, messages, or other symptoms were present pr…
Brake Booster went out right at 160000 miles. ABS, emergency parking light, tire pressure light, and others I'm not sure if went on. Brakes felt very mushy and scary to drive.
While driving, the Brake, ABS, traction light and other light lit up. The car lurched in an odd way. I can hear the oil pressure pump turn on every 5 seconds. Toyota shops told me the master cylinder and booster pump are failing and that the brakes will stop working while driving…
I was driving my car at over 70 mph on a highway, no check engine, no issues, just had oil changed when check hybrid system alert came on with check engine light. I started to change lanes to get to shoulder when my car just died, completely. It died in the middle of the highway …
The abs, brake, and traction control are intermittently on and off recently. I thought that there was a visible leak in the brake fluid. But my mechanic said that there was no feasible leaks found upon inspection. The car has also been inspected in Maryland without any issues. I …
ABS, Slip Indicator and Brake warning lights have appeared on the cars dashboard. DTC fault code C1391 has appeared indicating a failure of the Brake Booster and Brake Booster Pump assemblies per Toyota Customer Support Bulletin (ZJB) No.: POL18-03. Loss of regenerative braking,…
The Master Cylinder started failing while I was driving the car, the car only has 138k miles, the dashboard lit up like a Christmas tree, all the warning lights were on, and when I went to step on the brake, I had to push it all the way to the floor for any braking to happen. I r…
I purchased a 2011 Prius 4 years ago from a dealership. For the last 2 years, whenever I drive the car, the ABS, brake, and skid lights are on. also, there's a slightly whirring noise every few seconds from under the hood. Braking has been affected, and I've had to increase my st…
VIN: [XXX] Year/Make/Model: 2011 Toyota Prius Mileage: 87,433 Date: 11/4/2025 DESCRIPTION Sudden 80% brake loss. Loss of ABS Brake Light + ABS + Traction Control lights on dash (photo attached). Known failed brake actuator (C1391) — identical to 500+ complaints in PE19-…
ABS Brake pump booster and actuator broke and got me almost into an accident. It's a known issue and it's a safety issue because car can still run but the brake is less sensitive. Please get Toyota to honor the repair.
The ABS actuator on my 2011 Toyota Prius has failed, which is a known and common issue with this generation of Prius vehicles. The component causes abnormal brake pedal feel and inconsistent braking performance. The vehicle has been inspected and diagnosed by a Toyota dealership,…
Have continuous display of ABS , Brake lights for some time. Diagnosed as problems of ABS brake booster and pump. Toyota recognizes this issue but will not replace it.
The contact owns a 2011 Toyota Prius. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the master warning light, ABS, and Brake warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed failures with the brake master cylinder and th…
Toyota issued a Customer Support Program ZJB for extended coverage of the brake booster and actuator assembly (this notice was not sent to the correct address the car was registered to with the dmv in 2019 so I never received the notice for this program) The Toyota program lengt…
The contact owned a 2011 Toyota Prius. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed in an intersection, a Ford F-150 vehicle crashed into the front driver's side of the vehicle. The contact stated he was pinned between the door and the infotainment system. The airbags…
I' m getting ABS warning light. Dealer confirmed that I need to replace Brake Actuator and Accumulator which costs me over $3K. Dealer refused to cover under warrant though it's a known issues with TOYOTA PRIUS vehicles.
Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2011 Toyota Prius. The contact stated that while attempting to register the vehicle, it was discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy. The vehicle was a dealer sale. At the time of purchase, the mileage was 145,000 and at the time of …
Around 14 months ago (march 2024) I purcheded a replacment battery pack for our 2011 Toyota Prius form NexPower Energy (also going by, project lithium, sodiumhybrid) based out of CA. The battery pack is a lithum pack that replaces the orginal nickel metal hydride pack. In the b…
ABS warning system on dashboard is intermittent. I hear computer noises near the front driver tire. Then the warning light goes out or reappears on dashboard. Issue is the expensive diagnostic fee that may not unearth the cause, and if cause identified the diagnostic fee cannot …
Source: NHTSA Complaints Database. Real owner reports for the 2011 Toyota Prius.
Recalls for 2011 Toyota Prius
6 campaignsNHTSA recall campaigns for the 2011 Toyota Prius. Recalls are free to fix at any authorized dealer. Run a VIN check below to see if your specific vehicle has open recalls.
2011 Toyota Prius — FAQ
Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.
Is the 2011 Toyota Prius reliable?▾
Severe Issues. The 2011 Toyota Prius has 511 NHTSA owner complaints, 36 crash-related, and 6 recall campaigns. The most reported issue is Brake System (266 complaints). Source: NHTSA via VinSpector AI.
What are the most common problems with the 2011 Toyota Prius?▾
#1: Brake System (266 complaints). #2: Electrical Faults (68 complaints). #3: Engine Problems (51 complaints)
At what mileage do problems start on the 2011 Toyota Prius?▾
Mileage data is not available or insufficient for this model year.
How safe is the 2011 Toyota Prius?▾
The 2011 Toyota Prius has 36 crash-related complaints and 7 fire reports out of 511 total NHTSA complaints. 17 injuries were reported. For NCAP lab crash test star ratings, visit nhtsa.gov/ratings.
Does the 2011 Toyota Prius have any recalls?▾
Yes — 6 NHTSA recall campaigns affect the 2011 Toyota Prius. The largest issue: HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM. Check nhtsa.gov/recalls or run a VIN check to see if your specific vehicle has open recalls.
Should I buy a 2011 Toyota Prius?▾
The 2011 Toyota Prius has severe issues — review the top problems before buying. Pay particular attention to Brake System issues. Always run a VIN check on the specific car you're considering to check for accident history, open recalls, and title brands.
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinSpector AI.
Wider context: See the full Toyota Prius reliability report with year-by-year comparison.
Check Your Specific 2011 Toyota Prius
Real owner complaints tell you about the model. The VIN tells you about your specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud. Full report just $4.99.