Recalls
6campaigns
2 air bag · 2 seat · 1 hybrid propulsion system
Source: NHTSA
Complaints
521filed
Owner reports, 2007–2016 shown
Source: NHTSA ODI
Crash tests
5★overall
★★★★★ Frontal 4★ · Side 5★ · Rollover 4★
Source: NHTSA NCAP
Fuel economy
48mpg combined
$1,361/yr at this week's prices
Source: EPA · EIA
Specs
1.8 L 4-cyl· CVT
EPA-listed configuration
Source: NHTSA vPIC
Recalls (6)
NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns for the 2011 Toyota Prius. Check whether yours was repaired with NHTSA's free VIN lookup ↗
Only NHTSA and your automaker know whether your specific car was repaired. PlainVIN shows every recall campaign listed for a model year, with the official text and how many cars have been fixed so far.
Check on NHTSA ↗Listed for 2011 Toyota Prius. Not checked against your VIN.
Hybrid System may Shutdown and cause Stall
Hybrid propulsion system
Official NHTSA text
- Summary
- 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.
- Consequence
- 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.
72% repairedof 807,329 vehicles
Manufacturer report to NHTSA · Source: US DOT recall completion data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026
Check your VIN on NHTSA
or ask a dealer to check campaign 18V684000
Listed for 2011 Toyota Prius. Not checked against your VIN.
Curtain Shield Air Bag Inflators May Crack
Air bags · side/window
Official NHTSA text
- Summary
- 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.
- Consequence
- 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.
69.4% repairedof 482,002 vehicles
Manufacturer report to NHTSA · Source: US DOT recall completion data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026
Check your VIN on NHTSA
or ask a dealer to check campaign 16V487000
Listed for 2011 Toyota Prius. Not checked against your VIN.
Seat Heater Electrical Wiring
Seats · front assembly · seat heater/cooler
Official NHTSA text
- Summary
- 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.
- Consequence
- 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.
23.6% repairedof 7,749 vehicles
Manufacturer report to NHTSA · Source: US DOT recall completion data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026
Check your VIN on NHTSA
or ask a dealer to check campaign 16V396000
Listed for 2011 Toyota Prius. Not checked against your VIN.
Seat Heater Electrical Wiring
Seats · front assembly · seat heater/cooler
Official NHTSA text
- Summary
- 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.
- Consequence
- 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.
- 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.
26.9% repairedof 3,233 vehicles
Manufacturer report to NHTSA · Source: US DOT recall completion data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026
Check your VIN on NHTSA
or ask a dealer to check campaign 14V743000
Listed for 2011 Toyota Prius. Not checked against your VIN.
Inverter Failure may cause Hybrid Vehicle to Stall
Electrical system · software
Official NHTSA text
- Summary
- 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.
- Consequence
- 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.
- 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.
87% repairedof 698,457 vehicles
Manufacturer report to NHTSA · Source: US DOT recall completion data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026
Check your VIN on NHTSA
or ask a dealer to check campaign 14V053000
Listed for 2011 Toyota Prius. Not checked against your VIN.
Occupant Sensing System Calibration
Air bags · frontal · sensor/control module-inactive
Official NHTSA text
- Summary
- 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.
- Consequence
- 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.
- 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.
Repair progress not yet reported3,235 vehicles potentially affected
Manufacturer report to NHTSA · Source: US DOT recall completion data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026
Check your VIN on NHTSA
or ask a dealer to check campaign 13V014000
PlainVIN shows public government records for education. It isn't a vehicle inspection or legal advice. Check your own VIN with NHTSA or your dealer.
Owner complaints (521)
521 complaints filed with NHTSA (owner reports, not verified findings). The service brakes is mentioned most often.
37involved a crash
7involved a fire
17injuries reported
0deaths reported
As reported by owners in their complaints. These are reports, not NHTSA findings.
Most-reported components
| Component | Complaints | % of 521 |
|---|---|---|
| Service brakes | 277 | 53.2% |
| Electrical system | 68 | 13.1% |
| Exterior lighting | 48 | 9.2% |
| Engine | 47 | 9% |
| Air bags | 46 | 8.8% |
| Unknown or other | 28 | 5.4% |
| Vehicle speed control | 28 | 5.4% |
| Power train | 18 | 3.5% |
| Electronic stability control | 16 | 3.1% |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 11 | 2.1% |
How 2011 compares with other Prius years
Best and worst Prius years →20072,003
20081,497
2009502
20102,822
2011521
2012424
2013410
2014207
2015166
2016154
| Model year | Complaints | Recall campaigns |
|---|---|---|
| 2007 | 2,003 | 4 |
| 2008 | 1,497 | 4 |
| 2009 | 502 | 6 |
| 2010 | 2,822 | 10 |
| 2011 | 521 | 6 |
| 2012 | 424 | 6 |
| 2013 | 410 | 3 |
| 2014 | 207 | 3 |
| 2015 | 166 | 1 |
| 2016 | 154 | 5 |
This year (2011)Other yearsStill collecting reports
Counts are owner reports, not failure rates. Higher sales years tend to draw more reports. Owners are still filing reports for recent model years, so these counts will grow. Source: NHTSA ODI, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Crash tests: 5 stars overall
Overall★★★★★
Frontal crashDriver 5★ · Passenger 4★★★★★☆
Side crashDriver 5★ · Passenger 5★★★★★★
Side pole★★★★★
RolloverRollover risk 12.1%★★★★☆
Compare fairly. Compare stars only between vehicles of similar size and weight. Ratings apply to the tested configuration.
Source: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (NCAP), 2011 Toyota Prius 5 hb fwd, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Fuel economy: up to 48 mpg combined
48
mpg combined
49
city
46
highway
- EPA annual fuel cost
- $1,400
- CO₂ tailpipe
- 185 g/mi
- EPA class
- Midsize Cars
What it costs you to run
$1,361per year
$113per month
313gallons a year
Miles ÷ 48 mpg × $4.354 (EIA US average regular, week of Oct 5, 2026, all taxes included). Source: EPA · EIA.
EPA label estimates from lab tests; your mileage will vary.
Specs by configuration
| Engine · transmission | Drive | City / Hwy / Comb | EPA $/yr | CO₂ g/mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.8 L 4-cyl · CVT | Front-Wheel Drive | 49 / 46 / 48 | $1,400 | 185 |
Source: EPA fuel economy data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026. Configurations are listed when EPA and NHTSA records match.
Looking at a 2011 Prius for sale?
Print a one-page buyer's checklist: each recall campaign with a box to tick when the seller shows proof of repair, the top complaint areas to inspect, crash stars, MPG, and a link back to this page.
Where to next
2011 Toyota Prius FAQ
How many recalls does the 2011 Toyota Prius have?
NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns: 18V684000 (hybrid propulsion system), 16V487000 (air bag), 16V396000 (seat), 14V743000 (seat), 14V053000 (electrical), 13V014000 (air bag). Use NHTSA's VIN lookup to see whether a specific car was repaired.
What are the most common 2011 Toyota Prius problems?
Owners filed 521 complaints with NHTSA. Service brakes (277), Electrical system (68), Exterior lighting (48) are mentioned most. These are owner reports, not verified findings.
What mpg does the 2011 Toyota Prius get?
EPA rates the 1.8 L 4-cyl · CVT version at 49 city, 46 highway and 48 combined mpg.
What safety rating did the 2011 Toyota Prius get?
NHTSA rated the 2011 Toyota Prius 5 hb fwd 5 stars overall, with 4 stars frontal, 5 stars side and 4 stars rollover (12.1% rollover risk).
How does the 2011 Prius compare with other years?
Among the 2007–2016 Toyota Prius model years at least five years old, the 2016 drew the fewest complaints (154) and the 2010 the most (2,822). The 2011 drew 521. Counts are owner reports, not failure rates.
How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes
Data sources
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - US DOT recall completion rates (data.transportation.gov)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA ODI owner complaints
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA NCAP 5-Star Safety Ratings
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EPA fuel economy data (licence confirmation pending)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EIA weekly retail gasoline prices
Weekly, all taxes included
Processing
- Complaints are counted per component. One complaint can list several, so component totals add up to more than the total.
- Fuel cost = miles per year ÷ EPA combined mpg × EIA weekly price for your region.
Limitations
- Complaint counts are owner reports, not verified findings or failure rates. There is no sales denominator.
- Recall campaigns are listed for the model year. Only NHTSA and the automaker know whether a specific car was repaired.
- Recent model years are still collecting reports.
Review
Data compiled automatically from the official files listed here.
Changelog
- 2026-10-06 Data refreshed from the official files.
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