Used 2010 Toyota Prius Consumer Reviews
Used Prius for sale
Worst car I've ever owned
Disappointed in Illinois, 07/28/2024
updated 07/31/2025
2010 Toyota Prius IV 4dr Hatchback (1.8L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT)
3 of 3 people found this review helpful
***UPDATE Summer 2025*** Our family will be relocating soon. The problems with the 2010 Prius have never been fixed, even after thousands of dollars invested at various "Toyota-certified" mechanics. We'll be scrapping this vehicle before moving as we can't even trust it to be safe to drive to our new home out of state. The Prius is now a glorified golf-cart our family uses for grocery runs nearby only so if it breaks down we can quickly get help. Never thought we'd be writing this kind of review about a Toyota, once considered to be nearly indestructible economic tanks. We won't waste any more money going forward--either us parents or our now adult children--on fancy electric vehicles with so many things that can go wrong but which require expensive certified-mechanic "fixes" that aren't even guaranteed to work. We're hunting for "old" vehicles that have withstood the test of time and that can still be worked on at home for minor fixes or at any general local mechanic for bigger fixes. I still feel bitterness and anger whenever I see another Prius or just walk up to my own. Lost faith in Toyota. ***UPDATE*** We're still using this car. The auto market is horrible now. Dealers are having trouble moving inventory and few people are buying used cars. We had the car fully serviced about a month ago. Costly. All the fancy electronics and "sealed" fluid system mean you have to pay BIG to service the vehicle. And despite getting the head gasket replaced about a year ago (again, costly), the car still shakes when accelerating at anything above a snail's pace. The paint job is the worst of any car I've ever owned. Just sitting in the sun, it peels like a bad sun burn. Off the hood. Off the rear-view mirror housing. Off random edges and corners. Unsightly. Yes, the car is reasonably fuel-efficient (nowhere NEAR Toyota's listing, though!). But I wouldn't even trust driving this car more than 25-miles. We keep it because we can't otherwise get rid of it. When it finally breaks down, we'll junk it and never look back. Shame on Toyota for producing this lemon. ***ORIGINAL REVIEW*** I grew up thinking Hondas & Toyotas were bulletproof. My mom owned a Toyota for 20 years without any major problems. My first car was a Honda Accord. Problem-free. Briefly, I owned later German cars--fun but too costly to maintain. I jumped at the chance to own the Prius because I thought it would give great mileage and be as bulletproof as earlier Toyotas like my mom's. Boy was I wrong! Where to begin? Peeling paint that makes the car look like something that sat languishing for years in a junk yard. Infamous head gasket problems that, no matter how often I pay buckets of money to fix, keep re-occurring. Equally persistent drive/acceleration problems that make me nervous to drive the car more than a few miles from home. The hybrid battery that discharges as soon as I leave my driveway. Lackluster mileage that I could frankly match with a smaller Japanese car driven conservatively. Never-ending problems with the tire sensors that throw error messages whenever it's hot. Or cold. Any atmospheric event that brings a pressure change, no matter how barely noticeable, sets off the tire pressure sensor. Oh, did I mention the hideously peeling paint--off the rear-view mirrors, the hood of the vehicle, the bumpers...? I feel ashamed every time I walk up to the car. The WORST automobile I've ever owned. Ugly, lethargic, and riddled with expensive electronic problems that make me long for the days of spending gobs of money on my 330X. At least a BMW is beautiful and fun to drive. The 2010 Prius, what I learned too late is this make's WORST year by far, is junk from a company I used to think could do no wrong. Oh, and the dealerships? They don't want to help. You're on your own with this lemon. I don't see myself ever buying another Toyota. Between the horror of owning this car and dealing with uncaring Toyota dealerships, I've been turned off from the company.
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Great car!
Yooper Birrski, 03/03/2022
2010 Toyota Prius II 4dr Hatchback (1.8L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT)
3 of 3 people found this review helpful
The only negative to the car is how low it is to the ground and thus getting into and out of it. And while my wife enjoys it immensely, I find the driver's seat uncomfortable for long trips (an hour or more). Otherwise, it is an economical car to operate and handles well!
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2010 Toyota Prius for sale near you
Showing 3 of 24 listings
- IV Hybrid 4dr HatchbackMSRP: $12,99036 mi away
- II Hybrid 4dr HatchbackMSRP: $5,999176 mi away
- II Hybrid 4dr HatchbackMSRP: $5,49563 mi away
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Very Reliable, Fuel Efficient
Erick , 01/16/2021
2010 Toyota Prius III 4dr Hatchback (1.8L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT)
3 of 3 people found this review helpful
Amazing car for its reliability and fuel efficiency. High mileage doesn't seem to make any difference, it remains reliable and fuel efficient at 149 000 miles. It's also comfortable, roomy and offers high tech features. Best car I've ever had, and I've owned Volvo, Honda, Mazda, Opel, Audi, Ford, Pontiac etc
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Very Dependable And Uses Half The Gas
Edkolb5, 11/19/2017
2010 Toyota Prius II 4dr Hatchback (1.8L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT)
3 of 3 people found this review helpful
This is my 2nd Prius - had a 2005 that was totaled in an accident with nearly 300k miles and still had no significant repairs - so expected similar with the 2010 and was not disappointed. Pros - Great mileage getting up to 60 mpg with cautious driving, consistent 45 mpg driving fast. No repair bills for engine, transmission, etc, in 5 years, just maintenance - brake pads, headlamps, etc. Can carry lots of items as hatchback. Still original starter battery and battery pack, good front wheel drive traction. Negative - Acceleration sufficient for interstate and on ramps, but not a fast car.
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My Prius still surges even after 'fix'
Betsyr, 06/03/2010
2010 Toyota Prius V 4dr Hatchback (1.8L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT)
8 of 11 people found this review helpful
I bought my Prius with high hopes, but soon the surges started. After the fix I was sure the surges would go away. They have not and I am having them more now. I understand that Toyota maintains that it is 'normal' to have that feeling of loss of brakes, but it's unacceptable. I take my foot off the gas way before an intersection and drive roads where I know the bumps. It works for the most part, but what will happen when I am on a 45 mph road and am cut off by someone on uneven surface! A wreck! A check on NHTSA shows that we are not the only people still having this problem! We want to trade-in but will lose 12k if we do. Lose money or possibly have a wreck - neither option is good.