Service Brakes Problems of Toyota Prius - part 2

The contact owns a 2013 Toyota Prius v. The contact stated that while pulling out of a parking space at approximately 15 mph and depressing the brake pedal, the brake pedal felt spongy, but the vehicle responded as intended. The brake, the abs, the traction control warning lights, and an unknown warning light were illuminated. The contact scanned the vehicle with a code reader and retrieved diagnostic trouble codes for the brake booster and brake accumulator systems failure. The contact related the failure to the Toyota customer satisfaction program: 20te07 (certain 2012 - 2014 model year Prius v coverage for brake booster and brake booster pump assemblies). The manufacturer was contacted and informed the contact that the vehicle was no longer covered because the 10-year limit was exceeded. The contact was referred to the dealer, who provided an estimate for the repair. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 120,000.

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The abs brake system is now making a noise that is directly related to the failure of the brake pump booster and associated parts. I only know about this as I was able to look up other people that have heard a noise coming from it and I was able to directly compare my sound to video recordings of other Priuses that make that noise just before the system fully fails. Mine has not yet completely failed and there are no warning lights yet, nor are there any "recalls" out for my VIN number. My car is also outside of the 10 year "extension" that Toyota issued for he part, but is well under the 150,000 mile marker that Toyota chose. It's at around 113,000 miles currently. I listed the date of the incident as the first date that I began hearing this noise. Please help.

Brake booster went out right at 160000 miles. Abs, emergency parking light, tire pressure light, and others I'm not sure if went on. Brakes felt very mushy and scary to drive.

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While driving, three warning lights suddenly appeared on the dashboard . Abs warning, traction light, and break warning light at the same time, the brake pedal became very hard to press, and the vehicle did not slow down as expected. This caused a significant increase in stopping distance, and I nearly rear-ended the vehicle in front of me. The issue appears to involve the braking system and created an immediate safety risk. No prior warning signs were noticed before this incident. The vehicle has not yet been inspected but is available for inspection upon request.

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On April 5, 2026, while driving downhill around a corner in my 2014 Toyota Prius, the brake booster and brake booster pump assembly failed without any prior warning. When I pressed the brake pedal the car did not slow down and instead appeared to accelerate due to a complete loss of braking assist. I was unable to stop the vehicle normally and had to rely on gravity and coasting to slow down, creating a serious risk of collision. There were no warning signs prior to the failure. Immediately after the incident, three warning lights illuminated on the dashboard: the brake light, the abs light, and the vsc (vehicle stability control) light, which have remained on since. The vehicle was taken to darcars Toyota baltimore, 6007 eastern Ave, baltimore, MD 21224, where the failure was confirmed on April 15, 2026. Technician victor lawson diagnosed diagnostic trouble code c1391, which is the exact qualifying code listed under Toyota's customer support program zjb for brake booster and brake booster pump assembly failure (ro# xxx). The vehicle remains at the dealership and is available for inspection. Toyota corporate was contacted and opened case number xxx but declined to cover the repair despite this being a documented issue that Toyota has publicly acknowledged. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

Suddenly cars brakes failed with vehicle almost lunged forward. I had to slam the brakes heavily for it to stop; took the vehicle to Toyota service and clearly its a quality issue Toyota acknowledged as a know problem with error code c1391. They even had customer support program 20te07 acknowledging it as their issue; I almost got killed for this. The repair costs are abnormally high at 4900$'s putting me a financial burden also and currently unsafe car; Toyota - they literally know this issue and still put me at risk. They are refusing any kind of assistance to help too.

The incident involved having to press extremely hard on the brake pedal to stop the car, while it was uphill in the middle of the road. The car started going backward and was throwing abs, master warning light, brake system warning light and warning buzzer, brake system warning light, and slip indicator signals. This was a highly distraughtful situation on the road. Diagnostics showed c1391 diagnostic trouble code on the 2015 Toyota Prius: brake booster and brake booster pump problem. When pressing the brake pedal there is a high pitched metal scraping noise. Toyota coverage program is only applicable for 10 years from the date of first use or 150,000 miles, whichever occurs first. Many cars run well for over 10 years with good care, so the 10 year cap barely covers anything. This is highly unfair and borderline scamming for an issue so severe, which can cause big accidents on the road. In all honesty, this is a life or death situation when it comes to not being able to properly brake while driving. This should be a full recall!!.

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The contact owns a 2009 Toyota Prius. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the brake pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to stop as intended. The contact stated that the abs warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was driven to the residence. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The dealer was made aware of the failure. The contact was informed that the extended warranty had expired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, and a case was filed. The contact was informed that the extended warranty had expired. The failure mileage was approximately 174,000.

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Brake actuator is broken. Toyota knew about this problem and they had a warranty for 10 years or 150k miles. Mine only has 80k miles. The repair is half of what the car is worth. I thought a Toyota with such low miles would be dependable. Toyota knew that people have died from this problem with their car. I need this car to get to work and get my kids to school. It’s older than 10 years so I am just screwed on something they knew was broken. Of course the sales person at the Toyota dealership did not tell us about it when he sold us the car.

Brake booster failed. We were driving on the freeway and almost got into a pile up. Brakes completely stopped working and pedal became very stiff. The more I look it is this is an extremely common issue.

My brake actuator and brake booster are failing. All of my dashboard lights have come on (brake, abs, traction control, brake system warning light). Unfortunately, I am over 10 years and Toyota is saying that I need to pay out of pocket for the repairs. This is a known problem and should be covered. I was unaware of the known issue and my car didn't start having problems until after the 10 year mark. I am under 150,000 miles.

The brake cylinder assembly and the brake booster pump assembly failed while driving, which made braking very difficult, caused the regenerative braking to stop working, and caused multiple warning lights to come on. No warning lights, messages, or other symptoms were present prior to the sudden failure. This sudden failure could have easily resulted in a crash and/or death(s). I brought the vehicle to a Toyota dealership, and they confirmed the above issue and replaced the parts. I was told by the dealership, and also read online, that this is a known issue of Toyota for my vehicle and that Toyota extended a warranty years ago; however, the extended warranty is no longer valid for this known defect.

Subject: brake booster/pump assembly failure – Toyota program zjb / 23te07 description of incident: I am reporting a failure of the brake booster and pump assembly on my 3rd generation Prius (82,000 miles). While the vehicle is 11. 3 years old, it is well under the 150,000-mile threshold of Toyota’s customer support program zjb. The brake pump began cycling every 13 seconds, indicating an internal pressure leak in the accumulator. This is a documented precursor to a total loss of power-assist braking. Despite the clear mechanical failure, no warning lamps or diagnostic trouble codes (dtcs) were triggered, creating a safety hazard where the system could fail without prior electronic notification. Repair and cost details: because the vehicle was 1. 3 years past the arbitrary 10-year "secondary coverage" window, I was forced to pay $3,461. 18 out-of-pocket for a known manufacturing defect. I would like to highlight a discrepancy in labor billing: while Toyota’s own technical bulletins (zjb/23te07) state the repair should take approximately 5. 3 hours, the dealership charged 8. 9 hours of labor for the same procedure. Safety concern: by limiting coverage to 10 years, Toyota has left many low-mileage owners with a critical safety defect that degrades over time regardless of mileage. I request that the NHTSA transition this from a "customer support program" to a formal safety recall to ensure all affected vehicles are repaired and owners are reimbursed, regardless of the vehicle's age.

Brake actuator assembly known issue in Prius c, Toyota refuses to do anything about it. Part is not cheap.

Year/make/model: 2013 Toyota Prius • component: brake booster assembly with master cylinder (part #47070-47060) description of the defect: after approximately 30–40 minutes of driving, my dashboard illuminates with the brake, abs, and vsc warning lights simultaneously. The brake pedal becomes inconsistent and requires significantly more effort to stop the vehicle. This is a known internal fluid leak within the brake booster assembly that causes the accumulator pump to run continuously and ultimately reduces braking performance — a direct safety hazard. Why this requires federal attention: this is not an isolated incident. Hundreds of 2013 Prius owners have reported identical symptoms, with associated diagnostic trouble codes c1391, c1252, c1256, and c1253. Toyota acknowledged this defect by issuing technical service bulletin TSB-0089-20 and a customer support program (zjb) providing limited extended warranty coverage. However, that program was not well publicized . I was never informed as a vehicle owner . And it has now expired, leaving thousands of owners with a dangerous defect and repair bills costing thousands . A safety defect of this magnitude — one that can result in sudden, significant loss of braking ability — should not have an expiration date on its remedy. Toyota has not issued a mandatory recall, and owners continue to unknowingly drive vehicles with compromised brake systems. Requested action: I respectfully urge NHTSA 1. Open a formal investigation into this defect across all affected 2013–2015 Toyota Prius model years 2. Require Toyota to issue a mandatory safety recall 3. Compel Toyota to cover repair costs for all affected owners regardless of mileage or age of vehicle.

Toyota Prius abs brake pump actuator booster failing making hissing noises and warning icon at only 10 years 9 month, 85,000 miles. Toyota extended warranty is not covering.

The contact owns a 2014 Toyota Prius. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle failed to slow down as intended with the brake pedal depressed. The abs warning light was occasionally illuminated. The vehicle was pulled over to the shoulder of the roadway and restarted. The vehicle was taken to a local independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed, and determined that the brake master cylinder, brake booster, and brake lines needed to be replaced. The local dealer was contacted; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. Upon further investigation, the contact related the failure to an undisclosed recall; however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The contact was referred to the NHTSA hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 152,000.

When the brake is applied, the vehicle accelerates for a fraction of a second before slowing down. I have experienced this when the vehicle is moving slowly, such as in a parking lot.

Brake booster and abs, brake master cylinder went out in car without any lights or warning while driving the vehicle at a moderate speed on freeway. I was able to avoid an accident and take the car to a repair shop in which at 119k miles and just at 10. 5 yrs old the entire brake system had to be replaced/repaired.

My 2013 Prius brake booster aassembly with aster cylinder had to be replaced for the sum $3996. 75. Milage on the vehicle was 109,541. The car 's brake light went on and the engine area a buzzing occured. The car was very difficult to stop and I was concerned enough to drive the vehicle home and have it towed to the [xxx] Toyota dealer. I was informed that I needed a brake booster assembly and master cylinder the quote was about four thousand dollars. Attached is my paid bill for $3996. 75. The VIN number of the car is [xxx] . Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

While driving my 2010 Toyota Prius, the brake warning lights suddenly illuminated and the brake pedal became soft and unresponsive. Stopping distance increased significantly, and the vehicle required much more pressure to slow down. This created an unsafe situation in traffic and could have easily resulted in a collision. A Toyota dealership diagnosed the issue as a failure of the brake booster and brake booster pump assembly (dtc c1391). This is the same failure Toyota previously acknowledged in customer support program zjb for 2010–2015 Prius models. My vehicle is experiencing the exact symptoms described in that program, but the support period has expired even though the mileage is well within normal expectations for a hybrid of this age. The sudden loss of braking assist is a serious safety hazard. There was no warning before the failure, and the vehicle became difficult to stop immediately. This appears to be part of a widespread pattern of brake booster failures on this generation of Prius, and the defect poses a risk of crash or injury. I am filing this complaint because this is a safety?critical component that should not fail under normal use, and many other owners have reported the same issue. A review or investigation may be warranted given the frequency and severity of these failures.

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Vehicle: 2014 Toyota Prius v hybrid mileage: 79,000 miles the vehicle experienced sudden failure of the brake booster / brake accumulator system. Multiple warning lights appeared including abs, traction control, and the red brake warning light. Diagnostic code c1391 was retrieved. The brake pedal became soft/spongy and the electric brake pump began cycling frequently. Braking performance felt reduced and inconsistent, creating a potential safety risk. This vehicle has very low mileage (79,000 miles) and has been well maintained. The failure appears to be related to a known defect in the Prius braking system. Toyota previously issued customer support program 20te07 addressing brake booster and pump failures on 2012–2014 Prius v vehicles. Despite this known issue, the repair is not being covered and the cost quoted is several thousand dollars. A failure of the brake booster/accumulator system significantly affects braking performance and should not occur at this mileage. This appears to be a widespread issue affecting Prius vehicles and represents a potential safety defect involving the braking system.

This vehicle qualifies for a repair under t-sb-0024-19. However, this TSB expired in 2023 but the defect and responsibility shouldn't. The car didn't qualify for the repair before the TSB expired, but does now. Because the bulletin was issued and Toyota as acknowledged the repair is needed I have asked them to cover the repair as if it was prior to expiration date. Without the pricey repair, the car is unsafe to drive at no fault of the purchaser. The TSB covers the brake booster and brake booster pump and fail. Do lives have to be put at risk for Toyota to honor and repair the very thing they know is faulty? the car has under 115,000 miles and the issue just started in February. The dealership refuses to provide an itemized repair receipt. The ticket just outlines warranty information of the repair and the second are the techs notes provided via text.

2008 Toyota Prius gen2 with 139k miles. Abs, brake, parking brake, and traction control lights all illuminated while driving the other day. Potential is losing all electronically assisted braking function in the car. Problem has been confirmed by local independent service center. Independent service center pulled codes: c1256 accumulator low pressure c1378 capacitor communication malfunction c1391 abnormal leak of acc pressure all consistent with abs accumulator failure. Recommending abs modulator assembly replacement at $2742. 66 Toyota had a warranty enhancement program that covered this component: warranty enhancement program – zg1 2006-2007 model year highlander hybrid & 2004-2009 model year Prius vehicles extension of warranty coverage for brake actuator assembly this warranty enhancement program provides enhanced coverage to the vehicle’s “new vehicle limited warranty” as it applies to the brake actuator assembly. The specific condition covered by this program are repairs related to an internal malfunction of the brake actuator assembly. If the condition is verified, the vehicle will be repaired with a new brake actuator assembly at no charge under the terms of this warranty enhancement program. • the primary coverage offers warranty enhancement until December 31, 2017, regardless of mileage. • after the primary coverage end, the secondary coverage is applicable for 10 years from the date of first use, or 150,000 miles, whichever occurs first.

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In 2019 Toyota repaired my 2010 Prius(120,189 miles) braking system under the zjb program. The brake cylinder assembly and brake booster pump assembly were replaced as they had a known defect that caused the braking system to fail. As of February 27, 2026 the replaced components are failing again. The auto has approximately 224,000 miles. So the replacement components failed in less miles and time then the original equipment failed which was determined to be faulty. Toyota has declined any assistance in the matter.

I am looking to receive a little bit more assistance regarding my daughter's first car that she worked very hard for. It is a 2006 Toyota Prius. It was garage-kept and owned by an older couple who only put 85,000 miles on it. It is really a gem of a car. Soon after we registered the car, my daughter was out driving with her father. While going through a 4-way stop, she found that the brakes had failed and she was unable to stop at the intersection. Luckily, she was with her father, and he was able to give her verbal instruction to guide the both of them to safety. Upon further investigation, we learned that there was a recall on the brake actuator assembly in 2016. Which is the part that has failed and almost caused my 16 year old daughter to crash the car she worked hard for. I contacted the Toyota brand engagement center. It was stated to me that the recall has expired, however, I feel that the fact that a recall was issued means that it was recognized by Toyota that the vehicle was sold with a faulty brake system. This, in and of itself, is a hazard and could be fatal. This should be addressed and the brake system should be replaced as it is no fault to any owner regardless of the recall expiry date. We look forward to your timely response on how we can remedy this very serious safety issue. My daughter was super excited as she worked very hard to save up for her first Toyota and get it registered only to find that the brake system fails.

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While driving my 2013 Toyota Prius (110,691 miles), multiple warning lights suddenly illuminated on the dashboard, including the abs, brake, and stability control lights. I initially took the vehicle to an independent specialist (DC line), but the mechanic there suggested I take it directly to Toyota because his staff recognized this as a known manufacturing defect that should be covered by the manufacturer. A Toyota dealership confirmed diagnostic code c1391, which indicates an internal high-pressure leak in the brake actuator and booster assembly. This is a critical safety defect that causes the brake pedal to become soft and unpredictable, significantly increasing stopping distances and disabling the abs system. This poses a direct threat to my safety and others on the road. Toyota is fully aware of this defect through customer support program zjb, but they are refusing to cover the repair because of an arbitrary expiration date they set for 2023. I am currently 40,000 miles under the 150,000-mile limit Toyota established for this exact part failure, yet they are using the 2023 calendar date to deny coverage. Furthermore, I was never properly informed of this defect. Toyota claims they sent a single notification card in 2018, which I never received. I am now being forced to pay $3,000 out of pocket for a manufacturing flaw that even independent mechanics recognize as Toyota’s responsibility. It is unacceptable that a manufacturer can avoid responsibility for a dangerous braking failure by relying on a single postcard and an arbitrary 2023 deadline on a vehicle well under the mileage limit. This should be a mandatory safety recall, as the safety of a vehicle's braking system should not depend on a postcard or a calendar date.

My brake booster/actuator failed on me while on the freeway with out any warnings. It made it really hard to stop the car. I didn't find out what it was untill I took it into a repair shop and they told me it was the brake booster/actuator.

See all problems of the 2012 Toyota Prius 🔎.

On Feb. 19, 2026, I went to an auto repair store to change oil. I was told that I need to have rear brake pad and rotor replacement service because my car does not have it. The mechanic showed me and said that I only have the front brake work and it can cause safety issue.

The vehicle is experiencing a suspected brake actuator / brake booster failure. Multiple warning lights appeared simultaneously, including abs, brake, traction control, and master warning lights. The vehicle produces a frequent buzzing noise from the brake system, especially at low speeds or when stopped. The noise occurs repeatedly when pressing the brake pedal, indicating the system is struggling to maintain hydraulic pressure. This condition raises serious safety concerns because it may reduce braking performance and increase stopping distance. Brake system failures present a significant risk to vehicle occupants and others on the road. After researching the issue, I learned this appears to be a common failure in Toyota Prius vehicles of similar model years, and Toyota previously issued extended warranty coverage for the brake booster/actuator assemblies. However, many vehicles now exceed the coverage limits despite the safety nature of the defect. I am submitting this complaint because a failing brake system is a critical safety hazard, and this issue appears widespread.

This is the 3rd time I have had to address this issue. The abs system fails, resulting in increased braking distances. The dealership refuses to warranty or recall this dangerous defect, replacing the parts which fail again. Symptoms include increased braking distance, extremely hard pedal, lack of abs function, lack of traction control, lack of hybrid regen. The entire dash lights up with indicators for all these functions.

The brake booster suddenly fails at 54k mile. Brake responds slower and need to push the brake pedal all the way it seems a lot of 2010-2015 Prius are facing this problem abs light, skid light, and brake light was on when it happened, first appeared on Feb 6, 2026 have to replace brake boost for ~$1500.

Spontaneous failure of brake actuator system.

Vehicle check engine code c1391 (antilock brake system - abnormal leak in accumulator) came up on 2/5/2026. Recommended repair is to replace the brake booster pump and assembly, brake booster - over $1000 in parts alone. This was covered by an extended warranty by Toyota (10 years / 150k miles). I only have 120k miles at this time but am past the 10 year mark. However, it seems that this part will fail in every Prius given time and encourage NHTSA to monitor these failures and hold Toyota accountable to address post the 10 year / 150k mile mark.

Brake booster is not working.