general problems of the 2008 Toyota Prius - part 1

Abs failed and mechanic tells me my actuator needs replacement which is a known issue with my generation of Prius.

The abs brake booster/accumulator is going out and this has been a known issue with Toyota for years. Mine was purchased used a few years ago and had no issues until recently, as the pump is running more frequently.

My name is [xxx] ,I am filing this report on behalf of my daughter [xxx] the driver of the vehicle that involved with the unintended acceleration on the 2009 Toyota Prius . On a good clear morning on [xxx] . My daughter drove the 2009 Toyota Prius to work- when she enter to the parking lot at the speed round 5 mile/hour . Just when she was making a left turn on to the entrance gate with her left foot on the brake pedal . On a sudden the vehicle rpm unintended rev up too high and the vehicle had an unintended accelerating to move forward aggressively causing lose control of the steering . Also she could not brake even though her left foot was on the brake pedal and pressing hard to try to stop the vehicle . . This dangerous incident causing her Prius to bumped into the electrical gate panel control box . The accident caused some damages to her Prius and to the entrance gate control box though no body was hurt . But it got us through the terrible experience because it could kill some one for sure . My daughter been driving this commute car daily in the past 5 years and she has the skill of 20 year driving with good record . This Prius of her still have all oem equipments with no add- on parts-,no modifying part on any systems what so ever- and no extra floor mat cause we been warned before about the possible of unintended acceleration causing by aftermarket floor mat to any vehicles. . We feel unsafe after the mystery accelerating problem on Toyota vehicle that could take people lives . So the mystery unintended accelerating on car is real . I am currently checked and find out her Prius has 2 incomplete recalls (un-notice to us ) but none of them related to the unintended acceleration problem . We would like the NHTSA to take this problem seriously to save people life . I will included photos of this incidents and willing to provide all information if needed to address this problem, again to save lives . Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 5.

I recently took my vehicle to the dealership because all the hazard lights on the dash came on. They diagnosed it as an issue with the inverter water pump and suggested that the engine was overheating, which was causing the hazard light to appear on the dashboard. So I had them replace that part and everything was fine. A week later, I went to drive to work and my entire dashboard was out. My radio, clock, blinkers, and brakes worked, but I could not see the speedometer, gas gauge, odometer or any other dashboard features. When I tried to restart the car, it wouldn't turn off. I tried several times and even got my husband to try. When we couldn't turn it off, I drove blindly straight to the dealership. They diagnosed the issue as being a problem with the combination meter. Recently, I found out that there was a customer support program through Toyota that replaced the combination meter in my same car model. This service expired in 2017. I got the car in 2020-21. Thankfully I was home, and was able to follow my husband to the dealership. I'm not sure what I would've done if this happened while I was out. I am also have traction issues with the brakes. When I try to brake on a slope or incline, the glide hazard lights come on. It's happened several times when it's raining, but it's been happening more when it's not. I typically give enough space between myself and the car in front of me, but it's concerning that the brakes lock up when I'm on any type of sloped surface.

Brake actuator fails. Subject to prior recalls, but they're continuing to be an issue. This vehicle, and thousands of others like it, the electric brake actuator/pump starts running constantly then fails entirely. When that happens, as has to mine, the vehicle has no power brakes, which can and does cause the vehicle to crash. The replacement part is over a thousand dollars. Toyota has engineered a failure mode that creates massive continuing profits.

Incident summary: while relocating from northern to southern alabama, I experienced a sudden and concerning failure in the vehicle’s braking system. While driving, multiple dashboard warning indicators were triggered simultaneously, including: •brake warning light •abs light •vsc (vehicle stability control) light •additional system fault alerts this happened unexpectedly and severely impacted my ability to drive the vehicle safely. Given the nature of these warnings and the critical systems they pertain to, I immediately took the vehicle to a certified Toyota dealership for diagnostics and repair. Following inspection, I was informed that the abs actuator and related components had failed and would require replacement at an estimated cost of nearly $3,000. I was further advised that while this issue had been part of a previous recall or customer support program, that program is no longer active. Rationale for cost coverage request: 1) known safety issue: this abs/vsc failure aligns with prior technical service bulletins and recall actions issued by Toyota for Prius models of this era. The abrupt system failure while driving raises significant safety concerns. 2) purchased from certified dealership: the vehicle was purchased from an authorized Toyota dealership. I trusted that all known recall issues would have been properly addressed prior to sale. 3) recall program timing & fairness: the original recall or warranty enhancement was tied to a timeframe or mileage limit, but given that this issue has not been resolved and is now manifesting as a serious failure, I believe an exception should be made—especially since it was known to affect vehicles like mine. 4) customer loyalty and safety assurance: I have maintained this vehicle responsibly and expect Toyota, as a brand committed to quality and safety, to assist with this issue in good faith. Request: I respectfully request that Toyota cover the full cost of diagnosing and repairing the abs system issue.

The error lights related to the abs, vsc braking system can suddenly come on, the antilock brakes stop working, and breaking power is greatly diminished. This occurs without warning and when it does, the brakes do not work safely and it is more difficult to bring the car to a stop. I have taken the car in to repair shops who have confirmed the issue. This malfunction produces error code c1256 and multiple mechanics have confirmed it is related to a faulty abs actuator assembly and recommend immediate replacement of the unit. This is a common and known issue with these cars. I have been quoted a range of $2,100+tax to $2950+tax to perform the repair using a brand new part from Toyota.

Brake actuator assembly failed.

Brake actuator failing just like everybody else.

Loud grinding noise coming from engine compartment accompanied by a loud shrill alert. When attempting to pull over to a safe place, I put my foot on the brake pedal, but immediately became distressed because it felt like I had no brakes at all. After applying extreme pressure to the brake pedal, the car did begin to slow down, albeit very slowly. I had 2 passengers in the car (ages [xxx] and [xxx] ) and I felt their lives were in jeopardy. Upon researching, I found that Toyota has known about this abs problem for quite awhile (at one point, they even extended the warranty on the faulty parts). With the gravity of losing the ability to brake while driving, reasonable people would conclude that a recall is in order. It does not matter if it is voluntary by Toyota or mandatory by the appropriate government entities. I, literally, feared for my life and the lives of my passengers. I am grateful it didn't happen while traveling at highway speeds because the outcome could have been much much worse. I sincerely hope that my government who is in charge of protecting it's citizens against known automobile dangers, will take the necessary steps to initiate a recall for all Toyota vehicles that have this serious abs problem. My fear is that those decisions are made by algorithms and actuarial data rather than by reasonable common sense. I certainly hope there isn't an arbitrary number of deaths before a recall is made. What if one of your family died as a result of purposeful inaction. The diagnostic codes for my Toyota are c1256 and c1391. These both point to serious problems with the abs system ( actuator, accumulater etc. ). Please consider investigating this common and life threatening problem. Thank you information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

I have a 2008 Toyota Prius (172k miles). From the sounds coming from the abs brake actuator and soft breaks, it is clear from my research online that I will soon have a failing abs brake actuator. . Read more...

Brake abs and front brakes have completely failed because a software error where the and cannot be calibrated and terminates during calibration. The car only has rear brakes which frequently lock of and cause a safety issue. Front brakes completely disabled due to a software calibration issue.

Brake failure while driving. No warnings prior to failure. Abs module 4450047141.

The abs actuator failed. It can be inspected. This is dangerous as this has the possibility of causing a brake failure. A retired mechanic plugged in his scan tool and determined that the abs actuator is leaking. In addition, I can tell audibly that this is the case because the car's pump is starting up every 10-15 seconds trying to fill the air reservoir but is unable to due to the leak. Neither the vehicle nor the component has been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives, or others. The brake and abs lights are lit up on the dashboard. The car's pump is starting up every 10-15 seconds trying to fill the air reservoir but is unable to due to the leak.

My abs actuator has failed at 104k miles.

Brake actuator failure.

The electronic brake actuator failed while driving causing the loss of brakes. Didn't cause accident but still very dangerous situation. Mechanic pulled odb code c1256 from vehicle and says not to drive until it is repaired.

I was shocked to find out that Toyota appears to be falsifying data in order to get out of paying to repair safety problems with their cars. Hiding safety issues may have already led to injuries and death. We bought a 2008 Toyota Prius in 2014. The title with virginia dmv is dated 08/01/14. On November 4, 2023, after several indicator lights showed up, I found out from my garage that the car's anti-lock braking system was defective and not working. However, according to the garage manager, Toyota had acknowledged a defect with their anti-lock braking system. There had been a recall some years ago for this part on the 2008 Prius, but it was no longer in effect. On November 6, 2023, brittany at Toyota told me the same thing. Toyota acknowledged in 2016 that there was a problem with the anti-lock braking system with this model of car, and that it would be replaced for free by Toyota. This was a "customer support program" rather than a recall. However, according to brittany, the notice of this "customer support program" was not mailed to us. It was mailed to the previous owner, who owned it before 2014. We never received it. Of course, the dates do not work. We bought the car in 2014, and the notice went out in 2016. There was no reason to send the notice to someone who didn't own the car. Brittany, pretty innocently, had revealed that Toyota is falsifying records. She said that Toyota is using state dmv records to find car owners and send notices of faulty and dangerous parts. However, this is obviously not true. Virginia dmv issued our title to the car on 08/01/14, well before the recall. The only way I can see this happening is if Toyota is falsifying records so that they have to pay to fix far fewer cars. This practice could easily lead to injury and death. There would appear to be a notification mailing, with a postage bill to prove it, but it could have been at least partly fabricated by using past owners instead of current owners. If Toyota had not falsi.

Yes it is available for inspection upon request. My brakes failed going down the road due to a flaw in brake actuator design that had a previous recall. My safety was put at risk as the brakes failed while I was traveling down the road. The problem has not gone away and can be easily reproduced. There are various warning lamps and the car is unable to be driven. Requests for Toyota to repair the vehicle have been fruitless. This is a known issue on this year and model.

The contact owns a 2008 Toyota Prius. The contact stated that while driving approximately 65 mph the warning messages for the emergency brake, tire pressure monitoring system, abs and vsc suddenly activated and had remained illuminated while driving the vehicle. The vehicle was later driven to the local dealer who diagnosed that the brake actuator and brake pump was faulty and needed to be replaced. The failure was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but no assistance was offered. The contact was informed of the manufacturer's extended coverage for the failure but the time to have the vehicle serviced had expired. The failure mileage was 129,674.

The contact owns a 2008 Toyota Prius. The contact stated that while driving approximately 15 mph, the brakes failed when pressed causing the vehicle to crash into the rear end of a second vehicle. During the crash, the air bags did not deploy and the rear driver-side seat belt had sprung outward, although no rear seat passenger was present. The second vehicle's rear driver's side passenger was later treated for an undisclosed injury. A police report was taken at the scene and the vehicle was towed away. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The manufacturer and local dealer were notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 240,000.

Brake actuator is going bad, they had a recall on it and are refusing to fix it. Brakes are a lot harder to press.

The inverter water pump failed while I was driving 50mph, it caused the car to stop working and the brakes malfunctioned as well. When I tried to hit the brakes I had to hit them a lot harder and it still acted like it wasn’t going to stop. I was lucky enough that the light up ahead was still green and the cars in front of me started going forward.

To whom it my concern, I’m the original owner of a 2008 Toyota Prius. The car has 93,000 miles on it. I encountered a braking problem one day after starting the car and backing up. The brakes felt spongy and car started to roll backwards with the brakes applied. Had to push harder for the car to stop. The vsc, abs and brake lights were on, on the dash with a tone I could hear indicating something is wrong. I shut the car down and restarted and problem still existed. I called the dealer and did a little research online and found out the brake actuator had malfunctioned and will need to be replaced. Dealer said there was a program offering an extended warranty, but that has expired in 2018. I never received any letter from dealer or Toyota themselves indicating there was a problem. I called Toyota corporate office and they indicated a letter was sent out in 2016, but I never received any letter. The car now sits and I’m trying to figure out if it’s worth fixing. This car has meticulously been taken car of and ran great when I was driving it. I will try reaching out to Toyota again to see if there any exceptions to this case. Over 700,000 cars were affected by this problem and was wondering why a recalled was not issued.

I was driving at a speed of 30mph on a road with a slight incline. As I descended that slight incline, I began my descent at a speed of 30mph. There was about 250 ft between the descent of the incline, and the red light at the bottom. As soon as I began my descent I lost all brake pressure. Fortunately there was an entrance to a parking lot to my right, just before the stop light. When friction had slowed my car down I was able to find a parking spot to pull over. Accompanied with my failing brakes were all of my brake associated lights on the dash, and the red triangle light. There was also a steady high pitch buzzing noise. Still, without brake pressure I get out to inspect the car. There were no signs of leaking brake fluid and the rotors and pads were in great condition. The drum brakes in the back were also in great working order. After finding nothing of suspicion, I turn the far off and back on. To my surprise all the warning lights were off, and my brakes were once again functioning properly. The only thing changed was a buzzing noise from the brake actuator as it built up pressure. It has now been over a month with no issues from the brakes expect for the lingering unusual noise from the actuator, which I suspect it to mean that the actuator is close to failing. I no longer feel safe driving this vehicle. I took the car to my nearest Toyota dealer the day after the incident. They were not able to read any codes because the codes did not store. They told me they would have to see the car with all the lights on for it to read. Basically meaning, "we can't do anything about it until you're life is at great risk". This problem should absolutely be recalled as I am not the only one to have this issue. Toyota says there top priority is consumer safety, yet they blatantly disregard the issue, and instead do very little to resolve it.

Vehicle braking system faulting because of lack of pressure from failing abs accumulator. Given the price of the vehicle on the used market, parts and labor drive the cost of repair to a significant portion of the vehicle's value.

Abs system began a high pitch tone every time the brake pedal was pressed. Brakes did not function consistently, stopping either jarringly or not at all at a specific pressure. Brake pedal has high resistance. Toyota system diagnosed abs codes c1252, c1256, and c1391: indicative of a faulty/broken brake actuator.

There are no lights on in the dashboard. Everything seem normal and working fine. I was trying to park going like 5 mph, I had to stop because some people were crossing and the breaks failed, car kept going for like 5 seconds, there was a beep and a few lights turned on (break, abs, !). Finally the car came to a sudden and abrupt stop, after that the lights turned back off. It was horrible, lucky I didn't hurt anyone. I drove back home immediately very slow. It happened 3 more times, specially when going in reverse and after a turn. Mechanic said there are no codes and he wasn't able to figure it out. This is a huge safety problem. A recall definitely needs to be done.

My VIN number says its a 2008, it is a 2011, Prius my brake booster pump went out and locked my breaks. I ended up on side walk. Called dealer said it was dangerous to drive. It appears that there is a recall/class action. Costing me $1400. 00 for a new system. It was in motion.

While driving normally down the highway, a buzzing pitch suddenly came up at the same time that a red triangle, abs, brake, and brake system warnings lighted up. The brakes felt unresponsive, but fortunately, there was low traffic and I was able to get home safely. When I started the car the next day and changed the gear from parking to reverse, the brakes again were unresponsive, and I had to press them completely down to avoid a collision. I was able to get the car to the dealer, and they diagnosed a failed brake actuator. The dealer informed me that there was an enhanced warranty for this part and although the car qualified under the mileage requirements (it had only 76,500 miles), they told me that I was out of that warranty because the car was more than 10 years old. I inquired them about how it was possible that if they knew about this part failure, I was never notified about it as an owner. Then, they explained to me that it was not a recall, that they only informed a customer if his/her car presented that specific problem. The cost of the repair was around $2,750 with parts and labor. From what I have read online, this has been a continuing issue affecting many Toyota Prius as well as other Toyota models, and it seems that Toyota has tried to avoid a recall on it. At least, they should have implemented that enhanced warranty for the vehicle's lifetime if they do not proactively notify about it. I personally was lucky that I did not get hurt, but clearly, this malfunctioning part is a safety hazard for drivers out there and a recall should have been issued to prevent accidents; we are talking about people's lives.

I was traveling at about 35-40 mph on a 4 lane city road & a truck pulled in front of me from a shopping center on opposite side of road from which I was traveling without stopping in center median crossover. I hit brakes but I had no time to stop. I'm not sure the brakes even worked as there were no skid marks from braking. The front driver side of my car hit hard & also damaged drivers side wheel well, fender panel. My airbag did not deploy and my head collided with the steering wheel. It resulted in my having a concussion, whiplash, a fracture in my neck, shoulder pain & nerve issues in my arms & hands, back & hip pain. I know if the airbag had deployed I wouldn't have suffered all the physical issues. This all happened Jan. 11 & I still have pain. The car is a total loss.

On August 31, 2020 drove into town with wife in our 2008 Toyota Prius. Highway speed. No problems. Drove around town-no problem. Stopped at friend's house. When leaving his house, went to start car as always and the following warning lights went brake, vsc, abs and <!> also, brake pedal went down to floor when engine started. Other than warning lights being on and with brake pedal feel coming back to normal , we drove home. I put a code reader on to see what the problem was/is and clear codes. None were found. Decided to take car to autozone for them to put their code reader on. Once again no problem codes were found. Went back home and called local Toyota dealership and left message for service guy I use if necessary. No response from him. Later, I looked up reported Prius problems on internet and came across your web site where I noticed this Prius problem has been reported to you many times before. Called Toyota USA (888-270-9371) and obtained a inquiry reference number. Someone was suppose to get back with me but never did so today I called back in and ended up speaking to a higher Toyota advocate. Basically was told the brake part which is not functioning, they had a self imposed recall on it in 2015 and it lasted till end of 2017. If you had a failure during that time they replaced it at no charge. . If they knew it was bad part in 2015 or probably before that, they needed to replace all or replace them as the problem presented itself. Per the research I have done, it costs now with them several thousand dollars to fix. The car is not drivable as the brakes can go out at any time. Bottom line is that they knew the part problem existed and limited their liability to a short time period and only on cars that actually had the issue in the time frame allowed. Working brakes on a vehicle is extremelly critical .

My 2008 Toyota Prius brake system is very dangarous ,on the hi way speed of 55 I push the brake softly ,out of sadden car started acting like a wild horse slipping to the left and right and I am an experienced driver on ice,I lived in m ichigan for a long time ,so I survived , and all drivers around me stopped and there was no accident, I am afraid driving that car,I have called Toyota dealer, seems like use to be a recall but they have some hesitions to accept the faulty,dangarous brake system,I am going to complain to the ceo of the company. God help me,I was lucky my family and I survived ,my message to the Toyota Prius owners is please double check your VIN number and recalls,and insist to fix this common defect on Toyota Prius ,by the dealer with no charges. Very very unsfe brake system. And my instrument lights are on and off I can not see the speed and the odometer and the gas indicator,I heard it was a recall but the dealership did not accept it. If I want to fix these faulty defective parts would cost me over 4000 dollars,Toyota is responsible,I beleive should and must fix it for free valuntarly ,.

I was having trouble with my brakes, lost control of my car going 30-35 mph on a city street, hit telephone pole, airbag deployed, injured. Mva 06/12/20.

I bought a used 2008 Prius for my daughter at a dealership in may, 2020. Soon after the abs, brake and traction control lights on the dash came on. I took it to the Toyota dealer and was told it's the abs actuator that is leaking. The leaking can cause your brakes to lock up and not stop the car when pushing them. After further research, there are many complaints about this issue for the 2008 Prius. This seems like a very serious safety issue and is documented on many owner forums as a common problem for the Prius. After further research, Toyota did offer a limited warranty on this issue, however, many people are now getting this issue after the warranty has already expired. Toyota has bulletin gz1 with over 171 complaints and there are hundreds of complaints about this throughout the internet. I could understand a warranty being issued for a problem that is common but not deadly, however, the failure of the abs actuator has already caused deaths and should be an issued recall and not a temporary warranty. .