Problems · NHTSA complaints

2009 Toyota Prius problems

Owners filed 502 complaints about the 2009 Toyota Prius with NHTSA between Dec 2008 and Jun 2026. The most-cited component is exterior lighting (111).

Complaints
502
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
64
Reported by owners
Fires
4
Reported by owners
Injuries
27
People reported injured
Deaths
2
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Exterior lighting111
  2. Service brakes, hydraulic91
  3. Vehicle speed control71
  4. Service brakes63
  5. Electrical system60
  6. Service brakes, electric44
  7. Power train22
  8. Engine19
  9. Structure19
  10. Air bags17
  11. Traction control system15
  12. Fuel system, gasoline14
  13. Steering13
  14. Electronic stability control (esc)12

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 4, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
20082
200931
2010198
201115
20128
201334
201436
201532
201618
201722
201834
201921
202011
202110
20225
20237
20249
20255
20264

Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Exterior lighting

111 reports1 crash
“Headlights intermittently go off, and I wound have to switch it off and on for light to come back on, but for few minutes until it does it again, and I drive Uber at night. I have searched the problem online, it seems to be a common problem on the second generation Prius from 04-09, I called few repair shops and they acknowledged the problem but did not have an answer to solve it.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 15, 2021Exterior lightingODI 11429147

Service brakes, hydraulic

91 reports11 crashes
“The contact owns a 2009 Toyota Prius. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the brake pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to stop as intended. The contact stated that the ABS warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was driven to the residence. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The dealer was made aware of the failure. The contact was informed that the extended warranty had expired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, and a case was filed. The contact was informed that the extended warranty had expired. The failure mileage was approximately 174,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 8, 2026Service brakes, hydraulicODI 11729947

Vehicle speed control

71 reports26 crashes1 related recall
“When I am coming to a stop or need to put on my brakes my car will accelerate at a jump ahead pace As if to take off instead of slowing down and stopping. Regardless whether I’m turning a corner or I’m continuing straight when I have to Put on the brakes it speeds up instead.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 12, 2025Vehicle speed control, Unknown or otherODI 11647997

Service brakes

63 reports6 crashes1 fire
“Dashboard Warning Lights: ABS, VSC, Parking Brake Light, Triangle with Exclamation Point, Codes: C1256 & C1391, Intermittent Audible Cabin Buzzing indicating critical pressure loss on start-up for about 10 seconds...then stops, not loss so much as anti-braking quick bursts at about 5 mph of stopping v slowly and seamlessly coming to a stop. I contacted Toyota Corporate Case Management; they refused to escalate or remediate the issue due to vehicle mileage, despite being notified of the active brake pressure leak codes and the audible safety alarm.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 17, 2026Unknown or other, Service brakes, Forward collision avoidanceODI 11744740

Electrical system

60 reports2 crashes4 fires
“The contact owns a 2009 Toyota Prius. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, extra effort was needed to stop the vehicle while depressing the brake pedal. In addition, the contact stated that the instrument panel intermittently went blank and failed to operate as needed. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where the contact was informed that the ABS and the instrument cluster needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 157,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 14, 2025Service brakes, hydraulic, Electrical systemODI 11642706

Service brakes, electric

44 reports7 crashes
“GOING OVER POT HOLES IT FEELS LIKE THE BRAKES SKIP. IT OCCURS ALMOST EVERY TIME I GO OVER A HOLE OF SOME SORT AND APPLY THE BRAKE. I ASKED TOYOTA TO DOUBLE CHECK THAT THE ABS BRAKES WERE WORKING CORRECTLY. TOYOTA SAYS ITS NORMAL AND THAT THE ABS SYSTEM WORKS BY MOMENTARILY INTERRUPTING THE BRAKING FORCE TO PREVENT A SKIT AND THE RESULTING LOSS OF CONTROL. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 23, 2010Service brakes, electricODI 10331814
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 4, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.