Electric System
Alternator, starter, hybrid battery and related systems, regular battery, battery cables, engine harness, coil, ignition switch, electronic ignition, distributor or rotor failure, spark plugs and wires failure.
What Owners Say
"Probably my fault for having a defective (shorted) USB port plugged into the 12V socket. Fixed by the dealer twice"
Anonymous, KY (2011 Toyota Prius Two 1.8-L 4 Cyl hybrid)"Headlight failure on both front headlights. Significant cost to replace and fix"
Anonymous, VA (2011 Toyota Prius Three 1.8-L 4 Cyl hybrid)"Both headlight failed 4 month apart. Replacement (labor) was expensive. Apparently had remove other components first"
Karl L., NY (2011 Toyota Prius Four 1.8-L 4 Cyl hybrid)"They burn out too frequently"
Anonymous, OR (2011 Toyota Prius Two 1.8-L 4 Cyl hybrid)"Have replaced driver's side bulb 3 times in the last 15 months...unusually short life span...although it could have been the lights themselves"
Jan W., MI (2011 Toyota Prius Two 1.8-L 4 Cyl hybrid)"Left and right headlight bulbs failed after 5yrs of use. Replacement bulbs failed roughly 3 months after installation Google search found T-SB-0204-12 October 17, 2012 Headlamp Durability Enhancement that Toyota only did under warranty if the headlights failed early enough. Should be a recall as it is dangerous if both headlights fail at the same time"
Anonymous, MA (2011 Toyota Prius Unsure 1.8-L 4 Cyl hybrid)"Constantly burn out 5 times in one year"
Anonymous, MT (2011 Toyota Prius Two 1.8-L 4 Cyl hybrid)"replaced head and fog lights on both sides numerous times in the last 12 months"
P P., NJ (2011 Toyota Prius Unsure 1.8-L 4 Cyl hybrid)"weak, poor alignment dealer claimed no problem,but would be glad to fix it for$400 each side"
Robert H., MI (2011 Toyota Prius Four 1.8-L 4 Cyl hybrid)"Headlight bulbs and turn signal bulbs continue to burn out"
Patrick I., NC (2011 Toyota Prius Four 1.8-L 4 Cyl hybrid)"I have had to replace the bulbs three times a year. It could be because we live on gravel roads, but none of the other cars or trucks have ever had a bulb replaced and one if them is a 2006 model"
Anonymous, TX (2011 Toyota Prius Four 1.8-L 4 Cyl hybrid)"The bulb burned out. I changed the bulb myself"
Glenn S., WA (2011 Toyota Prius Four 1.8-L 4 Cyl hybrid)"One headlight went out, had it replaced under warranty, the next month the second went out and it also was covered under warranty. No other issues"
Patrick A., WA (2011 Toyota Prius Unsure 1.8-L 4 Cyl hybrid)"Headlights failed. Fortunately, it was daytime. The dealer charged $130 to replace them. Why would they both "burn out" at precisely the same moment???"
Anonymous, CA (2011 Toyota Prius Four 1.8-L 4 Cyl hybrid)"The headlights had to be replaced and were much more expensive than any headlights I had ever purchased. When we purchased the care we were told that the headlights would turn themselves off. Using this feature caused the headlights to last a short"
Anonymous, CT (2011 Toyota Prius Two 1.8-L 4 Cyl hybrid)"Replaced three halogen low beams in the past year. Tried to use carefully rubber gloves to avoid oil transfer problems, but fault could be in my handling"
Lenore L., TX (2011 Toyota Prius Four 1.8-L 4 Cyl hybrid)"I have replaced the bulbs twice on both sides. They appear to go out easily. AND, one of the lights will not stay in place now that it's been replaced and is a constant bother. The other lamps, fog lights or blinkers, also go out constantly"
Anonymous, TX (2011 Toyota Prius Four 1.8-L 4 Cyl hybrid)"Have been able to replace the one on the left myself. That on the right is really difficult and was done badly (pointed at the ground until it burned out) the first time by the dealer and then done right the second time. I always leave the lights o"
Anonymous, KY (2011 Toyota Prius Two 1.8-L 4 Cyl hybrid)"The groove in which the highlight is placed is not holding the headlight straight on the passenger side"
Anonymous, FL (2011 Toyota Prius Unsure 1.8-L 4 Cyl hybrid)"I have had to replace both headlights twice in 4 years. My daughter has a 2010 Prius and she has had to replace hers 3 times. I think that something is defective in thes lights. they are $250 a piece. I never replaced a GM headlight"
Anonymous, IN (2011 Toyota Prius Unsure 1.8-L 4 Cyl hybrid)"only last about 6 months"
Thomas M., CA (2011 Toyota Prius Three 1.8-L 4 Cyl hybrid)"withing 2 or 3 years the headlight bulbs needed to be replaced, seemed too soon based on experience with other vehicles I've owned"
Anonymous, IL (2011 Toyota Prius Two 1.8-L 4 Cyl hybrid)"Headlights stopped working one day. Repair was covered and repaired under recall"
Patrick I., NC (2011 Toyota Prius Four 1.8-L 4 Cyl hybrid)"the car has numerous light bulbs that have failed at various times and are difficult to change, not to mention the expense, king of annoying"
Anonymous, IL (2011 Toyota Prius Two 1.8-L 4 Cyl hybrid)"They heated seat switch stopped working"
Peter S., OR (2011 Toyota Prius Unsure 1.8-L 4 Cyl hybrid)"Dashboard lights dim to unreadable when headlights are on during the day (such as when it is raining)"
Carl W., VA (2011 Toyota Prius Unsure 1.8-L 4 Cyl hybrid)"Twice interior lights stayed on after locking car and thus battery ran down"
Anonymous, MA (2011 Toyota Prius Unsure 1.8-L 4 Cyl hybrid)"Over head lights in front did not go off one night and the battery completely drained out. Car would not start until used jumper cables to get power from another car. This was very, very difficult to do because we had to get help from neighbors"
Anonymous, OH (2011 Toyota Prius Unsure 1.8-L 4 Cyl hybrid)"Because the battery failed, I could not use the keyless entry, I could not get into the "trunk" to unload my belongings, I had no way to get into any seat except the driver's side and that was basically useless because nothing else worked"
Anonymous, NC (2011 Toyota Prius Unsure 1.8-L 4 Cyl hybrid)"several times, the keyless entry fob wouldn't start the car, all warning lights were flashing---another time fob wouldn't shut off the car....each time I took it to dealer who checked it out and said nothing is wrong....the 3rd time this happened, I asked the Parts Desk for a new battery for key fob...and that took care of the problem.....no one at the dealer ever suggested that I might need a new battery in the key fob"
Anonymous, CA (2011 Toyota Prius Unsure 1.8-L 4 Cyl hybrid)"to me very dangerous, especially if you have packages and want to get in quick but have to open front door and click twice to get any other doors to open"
Anonymous, NC (2011 Toyota Prius Unsure 1.8-L 4 Cyl hybrid)"fob failure - $20"
Beverly E., PA (2011 Toyota Prius Two 1.8-L 4 Cyl hybrid)"The expensive keyless fobs do not work properly.The dealer claims proximity of other keys make battery drain, but it is not consistent, sometimes it won't work even following directions for failure of battery. Batteries last as little as 3 months"
Sheryl L., VA (2011 Toyota Prius Unsure 1.8-L 4 Cyl hybrid)"The button on the key doesn't lock the car anymore; over $300 to fix"
Dennis C., GA (2011 Toyota Prius Unsure 1.8-L 4 Cyl hybrid)"Keyless entry did not work on Prius when key fob for 4runner was in the vicinity of the key fob for the prius. Dealer had difficulty diagnosing this. Finally recognized problem and had to do a software upgrade to keyless entry system"
Anonymous, ID (2011 Toyota Prius Five 1.8-L 4 Cyl hybrid)"Unreliable, I always carry the second Fob if I'm going to be too far from home. When the battery decides to die, it just dies and locks you out of the car. Also accidentally got my Fob wet on a trip at a rest area and it took a couple hours to get"
Anonymous, OR (2011 Toyota Prius Three 1.8-L 4 Cyl hybrid)"Was diagnosed as a defective battery associated with the Hybrid system. Actually had to go on line and find problem for dealer as problem was intermittent and dealer denied until similar problems showed to them"
Anonymous, FL (2011 Toyota Prius Unsure 1.8-L 4 Cyl hybrid)"after changing tires the tire light came on and they ask $50 or so to correct the problem. for a senior on limited income this is a bit hard. have grown up without this type of feature so the light stays on"
Anonymous, WA (2011 Toyota Prius Unsure 1.8-L 4 Cyl hybrid)"Wipers began to behave erratically. Stopping mid swipe or not working at all"
P P., NJ (2011 Toyota Prius Unsure 1.8-L 4 Cyl hybrid)"Very noisy, inefficient. Replaced under extended warranty"
Anonymous, MD (2011 Toyota Prius Unsure 1.8-L 4 Cyl hybrid)
"It was the fuse...it was expensive for a tiny thing. Dont know why it went bad"
Anonymous, IL (2011 Toyota Prius Unsure 1.8-L 4 Cyl hybrid)