2011 Toyota Prius: Recalls, Problems & MPG
Here are the deets on the 2011 Toyota Prius: 6 recalls, 521 owner complaints and up to 48 mpg combined.
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Recalls
6 vehicle recalls from the manufacturer. Repairs are free. Check your VIN to see if one is still open on your car.
Seats, Airbags Vehicle recall #13V014000 · 2013 · 3,235 vehicles
What's wrong: 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.
Why it matters: 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…
The fix: 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.
Hybrid system, Electrical Vehicle recall #14V053000 · 2014 · 698,457 vehicles
What's wrong: 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.
Why it matters: 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.
The fix: 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…
Seats Vehicle recall #14V743000 · 2014 · 3,233 vehicles
What's wrong: The affected vehicles May experience compression of the seat cushion which May damage the seat heater wiring.
Why it matters: 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.
The fix: 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.
Seats Vehicle recall #16V396000 · 2016 · 7,749 vehicles
What's wrong: The electrical wiring in the seat heaters May be damaged when the seat cushion is compressed.
Why it matters: If damaged, the copper strand heating element May short circuit, increasing the risk of a fire.
The fix: 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.
Airbags Vehicle recall #16V487000 · 2016 · 482,002 vehicles
What's wrong: 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.
Why it matters: 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.
The fix: 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.
Hybrid system Vehicle recall #18V684000 · 2018 · 807,329 vehicles
What's wrong: 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.
Why it matters: If the hybrid system shuts down unexpectedly, it can increase the risk of a crash.
The fix: 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.
Most-reported problems
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component. One complaint can list several components. 7 mention a fire, 17 injuries and 0 deaths were reported.
What owners describe
- Brakes (264): the most common themes are warning light on (70), noise or vibration (36), brake failure / soft pedal (35).
- Electrical (68): the most common themes are electrical failure (18), warning light on (17), stalls / loses power (15).
- Exterior lights (48): the most common themes are electrical failure (8), stalls / loses power (5).
- Engine (47): the most common themes are warning light on (16), stalls / loses power (15), noise or vibration (12).
The 2011 Toyota Prius has 521 owner complaints, ranking #7 of 27 Prius model years for complaints (about average; the typical year has 464). Complaints peaked in 2016 (56 filed that year). The typical problem showed up when the car was about 7 years old, at a median of 76,000 miles. Neighboring years: 2010 (2823 complaints, 10 recalls), 2012 (424 complaints, 6 recalls).
Engines & fuel economy (EPA)
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.8 L 4-cyl hybrid | Automatic (variable gear ratios) | Front-Wheel Drive | 49 | 46 | 48 | Regular |
Want the full repair deets? Get the factory manual.
Recall and complaint data tells you what goes wrong. A service manual tells you how to fix it: torque specs, wiring diagrams, fluid capacities and step-by-step procedures for the 2011 Toyota Prius.
Closest thing to the factory manual for most years. Pay once, keep it.
Most $25–$78, one-timePro-shop repair procedures, wiring diagrams and TSBs for your exact car.
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FAQ
Does the 2011 Toyota Prius have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 6 vehicle recalls for the 2011 Toyota Prius. Recall repairs are free at any dealer, no matter how old the car is. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What are the most common 2011 Toyota Prius problems?
Owners have filed 521 complaints with NHTSA. The most-reported areas are brakes (264), electrical (68), exterior lights (48).
What gas mileage does the 2011 Toyota Prius get?
EPA ratings run up to 48 mpg combined (1.8 L, Automatic (variable gear ratios)), across 1 engine and transmission combos.
Where can I get a 2011 Toyota Prius repair manual?
eManualOnline sells downloadable manuals, Mitchell 1 DIY and ALLDATAdiy sell online access to factory repair data, and Haynes sells printed guides and online access. Pick a download if you want to keep it, or a subscription for wiring diagrams and TSBs.