Model year guide

2011 Toyota Prius

Recalls, most-reported problems, crash-test ratings, fuel economy and what a 2011 Toyota Prius is worth — from official NHTSA and EPA data. 316 on record.

2011 Toyota Prius — representative photo
Representative photo · via Wikimedia Commons

2011 Toyota Prius at a glance

Safety recalls6
Owner complaints517
Overall safety5 / 5 ★
Combined48 mpg
Typical price$12,300

Free: specs, open recalls for that exact car, build sheet and fair price.

2011 Toyota Prius recalls 6

Hybrid Propulsion System NHTSA Campaign #18V684000 · 04/10/2018

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.

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. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371. Toyota's number …

Air Bags:side/window NHTSA Campaign #16V487000 · 30/06/2016

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.

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. Owners may contact Toyota Customer Service Department at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is Toyota G0U, and Lexus GLJ.

Seats:front Assembly:seat Heater/cooler NHTSA Campaign #14V743000 · 19/11/2014

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.

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. Owners may contact SET customer service at 1-866-405-4226.

Hybrid Propulsion System: Inverter NHTSA Campaign #14V053000 · 12/02/2014

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 …

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 re…

Seats:front Assembly:seat Heater/cooler NHTSA Campaign #16V396000 · 02/06/2016

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 heat…

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. Owners may contact SET customer service at 1-866-405-4226. SET number for this recall is SET16B.

Air Bags:frontal:sensor/control Module-inactive NHTSA Campaign #13V014000 · 16/01/2013

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…

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. Owners may contact Southeast Toyota at 1-800-301-6859.

Source: U.S. NHTSA. A recall applies to a model year, but only a VIN check shows whether a specific car has had the repair done.

2011 Toyota Prius common problems

The most-reported problem areas from 517 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — and what to check before you buy.

Service Brakes
Brakes should feel firm and quiet — no grinding, pulsing or pulling. Check for an ABS light and uneven pad/rotor wear.
Forward Collision Avoidance
Have a trusted mechanic inspect this system as part of a pre-purchase inspection.
Power Train
Drive through every gear: watch for slipping, hard or delayed shifts, and shudder. Check for transmission/driveline leaks and noises.
Vehicle Speed Control
Test cruise control and throttle response, and watch for any hesitation or unintended acceleration.
Electrical System
Test every electrical feature: windows, locks, infotainment, charging and all lights. Watch for flickering, dead accessories or warning lights.
Engine
Listen for knocks or ticking, check for leaks and blue/white exhaust smoke, and make sure it doesn't overheat. No check-engine light should be on.

2011 Toyota Prius safety ratings

Overall★★★★★
Frontal crash★★★★★
Side crash★★★★★
Rollover★★★★★

Source: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (NCAP), tested as the 2011 Toyota Prius 4 DR FWD. Ratings can differ by body style and drivetrain.

2011 Toyota Prius MPG & running costs

Combined48 mpg
City49 mpg
Highway46 mpg
Est. annual fuel cost$1,300

Source: U.S. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov, averaged across trims.

What's a 2011 Toyota Prius worth?

Low
$8,600
Typical price
$12,300
High
$14,900

From 314 comparable 2011 Toyota Prius listings.

Estimated 5-year cost to own

A rough guide to what running a 2011 Toyota Prius costs over five years and 75,000 miles.

Fuel (5 yrs)$6,500
Depreciation (5 yrs)$7,600
Total$14,100
Per mile$0.19

How this is estimated: fuel is the U.S. EPA annual cost at 15,000 miles a year. Depreciation compares today's typical asking price for this model year ($12,300) with the same model 5 model-years older ($4,717), from CarLogs listing data. Not included: insurance, maintenance, repairs, taxes, registration and finance costs. Treat it as a comparison guide, not a quote.

2011 Toyota Prius trims & engines on record

Trims
Three
Engines
1.8L 4-cyl

2011 Toyota Prius vehicles on record

Other Toyota Prius model years

2011 Toyota Prius — frequently asked questions

Does the 2011 Toyota Prius have any safety recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 6 safety recalls for the 2011 Toyota Prius. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN.

What are the most common problems with the 2011 Toyota Prius?

Based on 517 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the most-reported problem areas are service brakes, forward collision avoidance, power train.

What is the 2011 Toyota Prius safety rating?

NHTSA gives the 2011 Toyota Prius an overall crash-test rating of 5 out of 5 stars (frontal 4★, side 5★, rollover 4★).

What gas mileage does the 2011 Toyota Prius get?

The U.S. EPA rates the 2011 Toyota Prius at about 48 mpg combined (49 city / 46 highway).

How much is a 2011 Toyota Prius worth?

Comparable 2011 Toyota Prius listings run roughly $8,600–$14,900, typically around $12,300 (from 314 vehicles).

Sources: NHTSA (recalls, complaints, crash tests), U.S. EPA (fuel economy). Vehicle data only — CarLogs never shows owner information.