Problems · by component
2010 Toyota Prius engine and engine cooling problems
33 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2010 Toyota Prius cite engine and engine cooling, 1% of all 2,823 complaints for this model year.
Complaints
33
1% of all complaints
Crashes
2
Reported by owners
Fires
1
Reported by owners
Injuries
1
Reported by owners
What owners say about the engine and engine cooling
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“The contact owns a 2010 Toyota Prius. The contact stated that while driving 60-65 MPH, the vehicle lost motive power and went into LIMP Mode. The coolant temperature and several unknown warning lights were illuminated, and the message "Check Hybrid System" was displayed. The contact pulled to the side of the road, where he disconnected and reconnected the battery to reset the Hybrid system. The contact was able to drive to the residence; however, the failure recurred. The contact used an OBD reader to retrieve diagnostic test code: P261B. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 18V684000 (Hybrid Propulsion System) however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 148,469.”
“AFTER TAKING MY SON TO SCHOOL WHICH IS 2.2 MILES AWAY, CAME BACK HOME AND PARKED THE VEHICLE ON THE DRIVEWAY AND NOTICED SMOKE FROM THE ENGINE BAY. BEFORE THE VEHICLE WAS SHUT OFF, CAR GAVE OFF "HEATER SMELL" AND THE HEATER WAS TURNED OFF. MY WIFE CAME UP AND GOT ME UP, I WENT DOWN MAYBE 2 MINUTES AWAY AND FOUND THE CAR FULLY ENGULFED IN FIRE. FIRE SPREAD TO THE PORTION OF THE GARAGE BEFORE IT WAS PUT OF BY FIRE DEPARTMENT. *TR”
“I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 55 MPH WITH HEAT ON AND ALL A SUDDEN CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE ALL LIGHTS IN DASH BOARD CAME ONE WITH CHECK HYBRID SYSTEM SIGN AND ENGINE LOST POWER AND CAME TO COMPLETE STOP I PULLED OVER AND WAITED FEW MINUTES AFTER IT WAS FINE BUT WHEN EVER I TURN HEAT OR AC ON IT DOES THE SAME I DID MY RESEARCH IT LOOK LIKE INVERTER ISSUE OR THEY HAVE SOME CODE IN THERE SOFTWARE BECAUSE WE BOUGHT 2 CAR PRETTY MUCH SAME TIME AND BOTH HAS SAME PROBLEM SAME TIME AND THIS YEAR BOTH CARS HAD HYBRID BATTERY ISSUE WITH BOTH CAR SAME TIME TOYOTA SEND LETTERS TO 2013 AND 2014 PRIUS OWNER IF THEY EXPERIENCE SAME ISSUE ITS COVERED UNDER WARRANTY BUT WE HAVE SAME ISSUE BUT THEY DIDN'T ADDRESS IT MEANS THEY KNOW. *TR”
“AROUND 4PM ON THU JAN 2ND 2014, WE WERE DRIVING EASTBOUND ON BEL-RED RD JUST ABOUT TO COME TO THE INTERSECTION OF NE 116TH ST WHEN I NOTICED THE ABS LIT UP, ALONG WITH THAT A WHOLE BUNCH OF OTHER LIGHTS LIT UP ON THE DASHBOARD AND I LOST POWER TO THE CAR (NO ACCELERATOR/BRAKE/STEERING). ALL ELECTRICALS SEEMED TO WORK. I TRIED TO POWER DOWN AND RESTART THE CAR. I CALLED TOYOTA OF KIRKLAND AND CHECKED IF THEY HAD A TOWING SERVICE, THEY DIDN'T. A COP OFFERED TO CALL A TOWING SERVICE. THE TOW TRUCK CAME BY AND HE AGREED TO GIVE ME A RIDE TO TOYOTA OF KIRKLAND AS WELL. AT THE DEALERSHIP, THEY JUST DID THE PAPERWORK AND SAID THEY'D CALL TOMORROW. FRIDAY JAN 3RD 2014 I WAITED UNTIL 11:15AM. NO CALL FROM TOYOTA OF KIRKLAND. I CALLED THEM. I SPECIFICALLY ASKED FOR THE ERROR CODES. HE CALLED BACK A LITTLE WHILE LATER AND SAID THAT IT LOOKED LIKE THE INVERTER WAS FAULTY. THIS WOULD BE COVERED UNDER THE DRIVE TRAIN WARRANTY WHICH WAS FOR 3 YEARS OR 36,000 MILES WHICHEVER CAME FIRST. SO, I WOULD BE LOOKING AT PAYING ABOUT $3300 FOR THE PART, $300 FOR LABOR, $110 FOR THE DIAGNOSTIC TEST AND TAXES. THEY COULD GET THE PART IN TOMORROW AND POTENTIALLY HAVE IT FIXED SAT OR…”
“WE NOTICED THAT THE CARPET WAS SATURATED. THE DEALER TOLD US IT WAS BECAUSE THERE WERE SPIDER WEBS BLOCKING THE DRAIN FROM THE A/C. IT WAS REPAIRED AT A COST OF $1,554, THE WORK INCLUDED DRYING THE AIR BAG MODULE AND REPLACEMENT OF CARPET. WE BELIEVE THIS SHOULD BE THE SUBJECT OF A RECALL AS IT IS THE IDENTICAL PROBLEM RECALLED FOR THE TOYOTA CAMRY. *TR”
“IN THE LAST YEAR OR SO, MOST NOTICEABLY RANGING 50K MILEAGE, I'VE STARTED FALLING ASLEEP AT THE WHEEL. I'VE NEVER FALLEN ASLEEP DRIVING NOR HAVE I FELT THIS WAY WHILE OPERATING ANY OF THE 4 VEHICLES I'VE OWNED. IT HAPPENS DURING MY COMMUTE TO/FRO WORK GENERALLY 40-70 MINUTES LONG, LONG AND SHORT DRIVES BUT MORE OFTEN ON COMMUTE AND 30 MIN OR LONGER TRIPS. ITS AT RANDOM AND I'VE ANALYZED ITS NOT THE BASIC AND OBVIOUS ISSUES CAUSING IT; LACK OF SLEEP, FOOD, ADEQUATE HYDRATION ETC. IT GOT SO BAD I COULD NOT DRIVE TO WORK IN THE MORNING OR EVENINGS WITHOUT PULLING OVER AND TAKING A 20 MINUTE NAP. SOMETIMES ITS WORSE THAN OTHER TIMES AND IT FEELS LIKE I'M PASSING OUT, NOT QUITE TIRED AND DROWSY, I AM ALL-OUT CAN'T KEEP MY EYES OPEN, ROLLING EYES, HEAD BOBBING. EVENTUALLY WHEN I MAKE IT HOME SAFE, THINKING I'LL GO TO BED RIGHT AWAY I AM ALERT AND ACTIVE ALL NIGHT - THIS IS THE BEHAVIOR OVER AND OVER. I'VE DISCUSSED WITH THE DOCTOR AS WELL AND I'VE BEEN GENERALLY FATIGUED FOR A FEW YEARS NOW, I'VE OWNED THE PRIUS SINCE 2011. SOMEONE SAID ONLINE IN A FORUM "ITS A COMMON OCCURRENCE OF PEOPLE WHEN THEY'RE EXPOSED TO HIGH LEVELS OF ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION TO FEEL…”
Showing 6 of 33 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 4, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.