2009 vs 2010 Toyota Prius

2009

• HID headlights going out All years

  What to check: Drive with the headlights on for a while and watch for one or both going out, and ask whether bulbs or ballasts have been replaced.

  A published reference reports 28,000 warranty repairs among 216,000 cars with the optional HID headlights, which could shut off without warning. Toyota settled a class action by extending their cover from three years to five, so it has ended. On CarComplaints.com's page for the 2007, an unofficial source, owners report a headlight going out at about 97,650 miles on average, and 25 replaced bulbs.

  A published reference, owners' reports (unofficial)

• Brake actuator All years One source so far

  What to check: Watch for brake, ABS or traction warning lights when starting and on a test drive, and ask whether the brake actuator was replaced.

  Toyota's program ZG1 extended cover for the brake actuator, whose internal faults light brake warning lamps, to ten years or 150,000 miles from first use, so on these cars it has ended.

  Toyota

• Electric water pump All years

  What to check: Ask whether recall 12V536000 was done, and watch the temperature and warning lights.

  A scratch made in assembly could let the coil wire in the electric water pump corrode and break, stopping the pump or stalling the hybrid system. Jalopnik adds that the inverter's water pump can fail with age.

  NHTSA, Jalopnik

• Steering intermediate shaft All years

  What to check: Ask whether recalls 06V188000 and 12V537000 were done, and feel for play or clunks in the steering.

  Toyota recalled 2004–2006 cars because the steering shaft and sliding yoke could crack, and 2004–2009 cars because the shaft's splines could be too soft and wear until steering failed.

  NHTSA

2010

• Oil burning 2010–2014

  What to check: Ask how much oil it uses between changes, check the level on the dipstick, and ask whether Toyota's piston and ring repair was done.

  Toyota's bulletin T-SB-0169-16 fixes oil burning in the 1.8-liter engine of 2010–2014 cars with new pistons and rings, under the powertrain warranty of five years or 60,000 miles, which has ended. On CarComplaints.com, an unofficial source, 137 owners of the 2010 report it at about 110,350 miles on average, and 14 of them had the engine replaced.

  Toyota, owners' reports (unofficial)

• Brake booster and pump All years

  What to check: Watch for brake warning lights when starting and on a test drive, and ask whether the brake booster or its pump was replaced.

  Toyota's program ZJB extended cover for the brake booster and its pump, whose faults light the brake warning lamps, to ten years or 150,000 miles, so on a car first sold more than ten years ago it has ended. Toyota also recalled 2010 cars for brakes that could feel inconsistent after the ABS worked, and some for nitrogen leaking into the brake fluid.

  Toyota, NHTSA

• Clogged EGR valve All years

  What to check: Listen for a rough idle or a rattle on a cold start, and have the codes read for P0401.

  Toyota's program ZF3 covered sticking EGR valves on 2010–2012 cars for ten years or 150,000 miles, which has ended. Jalopnik says the 3rd gen's EGR system can clog past 100,000 miles, causing misfires, and that head gaskets can leak.

  Toyota, Jalopnik

• Inverter shutting down All years

  What to check: Ask whether recalls 14V053000 and 18V684000 were done, and on a 2013 to 2015 car 20V369000 too, and watch for warning lights.

  Toyota recalled 2010–2014 cars twice for the power module inside the inverter, which could put the car in limp mode or shut the hybrid system down while driving, and 2013–2015 cars not covered by the second recall.

  NHTSA

2009

• 09V388000 2004–2009

  An unsecured or wrong driver's floor mat can trap the accelerator pedal wide open. NHTSA

• 12V537000 2004–2009

  The splines on the steering intermediate shaft may not be hard enough, and can wear until the steering fails. NHTSA

• 12V536000 2004–2009

  A scratch made in assembly can let the coil wire in the electric water pump corrode and break, stopping the pump or stalling the hybrid system. NHTSA

2010

• 10V039000 2010

  After the ABS works on rough or slippery roads, the brakes can feel inconsistent and the car may take longer to stop than the driver expects. NHTSA

• 13V235000 2010

  Nitrogen from the brake booster pump can leak into the brake fluid, which can lengthen stopping distances. NHTSA

• 14V053000 2010–2014

  Transistors in the power module inside the inverter can be damaged by heat, putting the car in a limp mode with warning lights, or shutting down the hybrid system. NHTSA

• 16V487000 2010–2012

  A weld in the curtain airbag inflator may crack, throwing parts of the inflator into the cabin. NHTSA

• 18V684000 2010–2014

  Too much voltage in the power module inside the inverter may shut down the hybrid system, and the car can stall while driving. The software update is needed even on cars updated under 14V053000. NHTSA

2009

Engines

1.5L hybrid A published reference

Trims

Standard (2008–2009) Edmunds, Base Edmunds, Touring Edition (2007–2009) Toyota, Edmunds, a published reference

2010

Engines

1.8L hybrid A published reference

Trims

Two Edmunds, a published reference, Three Edmunds, a published reference, Four Edmunds, a published reference, Five Edmunds, a published reference

2009

• Magnetic Gray Metallic 1G3, 2006–2009 Edmunds, an owners' registry (unofficial)
• Driftwood Pearl 4S2, 2004–2009 Edmunds, an owners' registry (unofficial)
• Silver Pine Mica 6U0, 2006–2009 Edmunds, an owners' registry (unofficial)
• Seaside Pearl 8S2, 2004–2009 Edmunds, an owners' registry (unofficial)
• Spectra Blue Mica 8M6, 2008–2009 Edmunds, an owners' registry (unofficial)

2010

• Blizzard Pearl 070, 2010–2015 Edmunds, an owners' registry (unofficial)
• Winter Gray Metallic 8V1, 2010–2015 Edmunds, an owners' registry (unofficial)
• Sandy Beach Metallic 4T8, 2010–2011 An owners' registry (unofficial)
• Blue Ribbon Metallic 8T5, 2010–2011 An owners' registry (unofficial)

2009

• Sought after: Perhaps the most reliable All years One source so far

  Jalopnik ranks the 2nd gen second of five for reliability, saying there is an argument it is the most reliable Prius of all, and points to one that passed 303,000 miles. Jalopnik

2010

• Avoid: 2010–2012 Less sought after

  SlashGear says to avoid the 2010, 2011 and 2012, citing oil use, headlights, brakes and ten recalls on the 2010. CarComplaints.com, an unofficial source, counts 327 complaints for the 2010, the most of any Prius year, and names the 2011 the worst year. Jalopnik ranks the 3rd gen last of five for reliability. SlashGear, Jalopnik, owners' reports (unofficial)