2011 vs 2012 Toyota Prius

Both years

• 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

Both years

• 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

Both years

Engines

1.8L hybrid A published reference

Transmissions

Planetary power-split (eCVT) A published reference

Drivetrains

Front-wheel drive A published reference

Trims

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

Both years

• Super White 040, 2010–2015 Edmunds, an owners' registry (unofficial)
• Blizzard Pearl 070, 2010–2015 Edmunds, an owners' registry (unofficial)
• Classic Silver Metallic 1F7, 2010–2015 Edmunds, an owners' registry (unofficial)
• Winter Gray Metallic 8V1, 2010–2015 Edmunds, an owners' registry (unofficial)
• Black 202, 2010–2015 Edmunds, an owners' registry (unofficial)
• Barcelona Red Metallic 3R3, 2010–2015 Edmunds, an owners' registry (unofficial)

Both years

• 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)