I have owned a 2010 prius for about a month, and have driven just over 1000 miles on it. There have been three separate incidents now where my brakes have experienced a sudden failure while decelerating. Each time occurred right after hitting a pothole or a bump in the road. Passengers in my car have reported a feeling of the brakes "catching" or "jerking" while driving on bumpy roads. The three…
2010 Toyota Prius cruise control problems
severe 216 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $600 · see cruise control across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
216
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$600
27crashes
1fire
4injuries
When does it fail?
Of the 216 cruise control complaints filed for the 2010 Toyota Prius, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 0-25,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
Of the 13 model years of Toyota Prius we track for cruise control problems, this one carries the most owner complaints on file — 216.
Owners have filed 216 cruise control complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
What owners are reporting 3 most recent
Tl* the contact owns a 2010 Toyota prius. During brake application while making a left turn onto a gravel road , the vehicle surged forward. Identical failures occurred three times. The dealer was contacted and they stated that they did not have any reports of the failure. The vehicle has not been diagnosed. The failure mileage was 2800. The current mileage was 6000. Updated 01/29/10 *bf…
I have a 2010 Toyota prius, when I am trying to stop and hit a pothole, or manhole cover or the streets are wet, the car's brakes will disengage temporarily. It is scary and I've almost had a few accidents. Please look into this. *tr
Had cruise control trouble with your 2010 Toyota Prius?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the cruise control problem on the 2010 Toyota Prius?
It's a meaningful issue. 216 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $600.
At what mileage does the cruise control typically fail?
Across the 150 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most cruise control failures cluster between 2,500 and 12,000 miles, with the median around 5,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 2,500; a quarter make it past 12,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $600 for cruise control repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to cruise control?
No active recalls currently cover cruise control issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2010/Toyota/Prius.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.