2011 Toyota Prius

Vehicle Information: Year: 2011 Make: Toyota Model: Prius Mileage at Failure: 58,769 miles Date of First Use: February 20, 2012 Complaint Description: As I was driving on the freeway, my 2011 Toyota Prius brakelights all came on. I pulled off, had it towed to nearest mechanic, who diagnosed a failure involving the brake booster, brake actuator, and ABS system at only 58,769 miles. The vehicle was diagnosed with Diagnostic Trouble Code C1391 (Abnormal Leak of Accumulator Pressure). According to my mechanic, the condition is caused by an internal brake fluid leak within the brake booster assembly with master cylinder. The recommended repair includes replacement of both the brake booster assembly with master cylinder and the brake booster pump assembly. The estimated cost of repair is approximately $4,100. This concerns me because the brake system is a critical safety component, and I believe such a failure at fewer than 60,000 miles is highly unusual and may pose a safety risk to drivers and passengers. Toyota previously issued a Warranty Enhancement Program for this issue, but my vehicle was denied coverage because the program expired on August 31, 2021, and the secondary coverage expired on February 20, 2022, ten years after the vehicle's first use date. Toyota declined any out-of-warranty assistance despite the vehicle's exceptionally low mileage. I am submitting this complaint so that this incident is documented as a potential safety concern involving premature failure of the brake booster and ABS system components on the 2011 Toyota Prius.

Reported

Jun 2026

Incident date

Jan 2026

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

Shortly after purchasing used last year I had my brake, traction control, ABS, & TPMS lights come on when stopping at a stop light all at once. I went and had it scanned and no codes showed up. I hear a buzzing from the brake actuator/ brake pump every 15 seconds. This all has been going on for almost a year now. Over the weekend a loud buzzing warning alarm came on that will not turn off. I had it checked out and was quoted around 3500 to repair.

Reported

Jun 2026

Incident date

Dec 1969

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

The ABS actuator (brake booster) went out suddenly. It is 100% available for inspection. It is being towed to M&M Auto Repair in Gaston SC. I was not sure if the car was going to stop when I was trying to figure out what was wrong. The car was acting like it wasn't going to stop until a few seconds later. People online have had a similar problem as me with prius models around my year to 2015. And it was a problem confirmed by the dealership. The component has not been inspected. Only diagnostics were ran. The ABS system light came on. But it would disappear for a long time then come back. So I thought it was a computer error for the longest until it proved to not be one. Because the brakes were working just fine like normal. Other than that, the light itself was playing peekaboo with me, making me believe that it was a computer error since the brakes were working just fine. Then on monday, the car started beeping excessively and the brakes were not working suddenly after being fine over the weekend....with no issues.

Reported

Jun 2026

Incident date

Jun 2026

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

There is a known problem with the brake booster and skid control that was a part of an customer support extended recall program. Our Prius has very low miles (less that 60,000) so the issue didn't trigger for us until recently. Unfortunately, we are out of the extended recall program of 10 years or 150,000. This doesn't seem fair since it is a known and documented issue from Toyota. Unless we fix the issue, we are at risk of losing braking control. All brake lights on the dash are on and it is currently in the shop.

Reported

Jun 2026

Incident date

May 2026

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

2011 Prius. 80k miles. Brake booster buzz coming on every 15 seconds now. ABs, traction and brake lights on. I’ve heard of many Prius owners with the same issue. I also have another Prius with the same issue at 120k miles. Brake booster accumulator codes popping up with 80k miles. It is a safety concern as the abs brakes don’t work. Almost every Prius is effected by this.

Reported

May 2026

Incident date

May 2026

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

I was driving my car and suddenly the traction , hand brake and ABS sign started showing up. I usually apply only 10% of force on brake pedal but after this I have to apply almost 60% of force to even slow down the car. Almost 90% force to stop the car It has threatened safety of my family. When diagnosed at autozone they told cannot determine error code. When reading in internet this seems to be common problem in prius. Please help is fixing the issue as it is not at my fault. This seems to be manufacturing defect.

Reported

Apr 2026

Incident date

Apr 2026

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

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.

Reported

Apr 2026

Incident date

Mar 2026

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

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.

Reported

Apr 2026

Incident date

Apr 2026

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

While driving, the Brake, ABS, traction light and other light lit up. The car lurched in an odd way. I can hear the oil pressure pump turn on every 5 seconds. Toyota shops told me the master cylinder and booster pump are failing and that the brakes will stop working while driving, causing an accident.

Reported

Feb 2026

Incident date

Jan 2026

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

I was driving my car at over 70 mph on a highway, no check engine, no issues, just had oil changed when check hybrid system alert came on with check engine light. I started to change lanes to get to shoulder when my car just died, completely. It died in the middle of the highway merging with another major road, so I was stuck between 2 lanes of 70mph traffic on either side. The time to react to the sudden warning to my car dying was less than 2 minutes. I quickly called 911 to ask for help and was told someone had already reported my breakdown as well because my car had died in a horribly dangerous area. I was very lucky that a state trooper came quickly and blocked off my car until it could be towed for repair. I was told that I need a new Hybrid Battery. The fact that I had no signs of failure before complete shut down makes for a very dangerous driving situation and makes me second guess ever buying a Prius again.

Reported

Jan 2026

Incident date

Jan 2026

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

The abs, brake, and traction control are intermittently on and off recently. I thought that there was a visible leak in the brake fluid. But my mechanic said that there was no feasible leaks found upon inspection. The car has also been inspected in Maryland without any issues. I came across many forums that said that this is a common issue in Prius. My safety was at risk if this is due to internal failure or defect of the product, especially because I drive with my [XXX] almost everyday to take her to daycare. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Reported

Jan 2026

Incident date

Nov 2025

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

ABS, Slip Indicator and Brake warning lights have appeared on the cars dashboard. DTC fault code C1391 has appeared indicating a failure of the Brake Booster and Brake Booster Pump assemblies per Toyota Customer Support Bulletin (ZJB) No.: POL18-03. Loss of regenerative braking, putting the safety off occupants at risk.

Reported

Dec 2025

Incident date

Dec 2025

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

The Master Cylinder started failing while I was driving the car, the car only has 138k miles, the dashboard lit up like a Christmas tree, all the warning lights were on, and when I went to step on the brake, I had to push it all the way to the floor for any braking to happen. I remember being scared for my life because I had almost no brakes which I could've got into a serious accident or been killed had it failed completely. I took the car to the dealer and they diagnosed it with code C139: Abnormal Leak at Accumulator Assembly, and recommended a new Brake Booster with Master Cylinder Assembly and Brake Booster Pump Assembly with Bracket. The car by age was not in Toyota's extended warranty on the parts but mileage-wise it still is, so I was footed with a $4-5k bill to replace both parts.

Reported

Dec 2025

Incident date

Nov 2025

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

I purchased a 2011 Prius 4 years ago from a dealership. For the last 2 years, whenever I drive the car, the ABS, brake, and skid lights are on. also, there's a slightly whirring noise every few seconds from under the hood. Braking has been affected, and I've had to increase my stopping distance as a result. Also, the brake pads and rotors deteriorate faster. Apparently, this is a common problem with this type of car. I've called Toyota, and despite it being a known flaw with this car, they refuse to do anything about it.

Reported

Nov 2025

Incident date

Mar 2023

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

VIN: [XXX] Year/Make/Model: 2011 Toyota Prius Mileage: 87,433 Date: 11/4/2025 DESCRIPTION Sudden 80% brake loss. Loss of ABS Brake Light + ABS + Traction Control lights on dash (photo attached). Known failed brake actuator (C1391) — identical to 500+ complaints in PE19-004. Toyota corporate denied coverage (email attached). This is a SAFETY RECALL issue — please reopen investigation. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Reported

Nov 2025

Incident date

Nov 2025

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

ABS Brake pump booster and actuator broke and got me almost into an accident. It's a known issue and it's a safety issue because car can still run but the brake is less sensitive. Please get Toyota to honor the repair.

Reported

Nov 2025

Incident date

Oct 2025

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

The ABS actuator on my 2011 Toyota Prius has failed, which is a known and common issue with this generation of Prius vehicles. The component causes abnormal brake pedal feel and inconsistent braking performance. The vehicle has been inspected and diagnosed by a Toyota dealership, who confirmed the ABS actuator assembly needs replacement. This failure poses a serious safety risk because it affects braking reliability and increases stopping distance, especially during sudden stops or wet road conditions. There were no warning lights or messages prior to the failure. The vehicle is available for inspection upon request. The problem has been confirmed by the dealership service department but has not been inspected by the manufacturer, police, or insurance representatives.

Reported

Oct 2025

Incident date

Oct 2021

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

Have continuous display of ABS , Brake lights for some time. Diagnosed as problems of ABS brake booster and pump. Toyota recognizes this issue but will not replace it.

Reported

Oct 2025

Incident date

Oct 2024

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

The contact owns a 2011 Toyota Prius. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the master warning light, ABS, and Brake warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed failures with the brake master cylinder and the hydraulic accumulator. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, and a case was opened. The failure mileage was 95,000.

Reported

Oct 2025

Incident date

Oct 2023

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

Toyota issued a Customer Support Program ZJB for extended coverage of the brake booster and actuator assembly (this notice was not sent to the correct address the car was registered to with the dmv in 2019 so I never received the notice for this program) The Toyota program length was for 10 years or 150k miles. My car’s part just failed at 129k which is far below the 150k threshold. Despite being outside the 10 year window I am still under the mileage, the car is in perfect condition and this car is used for work for uber. The malfunction of the Toyota part in my car is a critical safety issue and because it is outside of the program Toyota refused to provide any goodwill assistance

Reported

Aug 2025

Incident date

Aug 2025

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

The contact owned a 2011 Toyota Prius. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed in an intersection, a Ford F-150 vehicle crashed into the front driver's side of the vehicle. The contact stated he was pinned between the door and the infotainment system. The airbags failed to deploy. No warning lights were illuminated. The contact was taken to the local hospital by a friend in a private vehicle, and the contact received medical assistance. The contact sustained internal bruising and external bruising and cuts. Additionally, the contact sustained a major injury was on the neck, on the laryngeal prominence area of the neck and on the collar bone. The medical Doctor informed the contact that the major injury could heal in 4 weeks, or in 7-8 months. The contact was also informed that the major injury could become a permanent condition, causing cramps and stiffness depending on the weather. The contact was experiencing trouble sleeping due to the injuries. The vehicle was towed to a local tow lot and was totaled. A Police report was filed. The leasing company the vehicle was purchased from was notified of the failure. The contact related the failure to an unknown air bag recall. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 325,000.

Reported

Aug 2025

Incident date

Jul 2025

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

Crash 1 injuries

I' m getting ABS warning light. Dealer confirmed that I need to replace Brake Actuator and Accumulator which costs me over $3K. Dealer refused to cover under warrant though it's a known issues with TOYOTA PRIUS vehicles.

Reported

Jul 2025

Incident date

Jun 2025

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2011 Toyota Prius. The contact stated that while attempting to register the vehicle, it was discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy. The vehicle was a dealer sale. At the time of purchase, the mileage was 145,000 and at the time of registration, it was discovered that the mileage was 227,000. The contact stated that while driving at 60 MPH, the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact took the vehicle to Auto Zone and was informed that the catalytic converter had failed and needed to be replaced. The contact was informed that it was not a new failure and that there was a possibility that the dealer may have removed the check engine light prior to the sale.

Reported

Jul 2025

Incident date

Jul 2025

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

Around 14 months ago (march 2024) I purcheded a replacment battery pack for our 2011 Toyota Prius form NexPower Energy (also going by, project lithium, sodiumhybrid) based out of CA. The battery pack is a lithum pack that replaces the orginal nickel metal hydride pack. In the beginning of June 2025, the car through an battery error and went into limp mode wile my wife was driving, when i go home and plugged in my scanner to check the battery out i noticed that the cells were out of balance and some were becoming very over charged. My fear is that if the cells were continued to be overcharged an thermal runaway event might occure due to BMS not being included with the overall pack.

Reported

Jun 2025

Incident date

Jun 2025

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

ABS warning system on dashboard is intermittent. I hear computer noises near the front driver tire. Then the warning light goes out or reappears on dashboard. Issue is the expensive diagnostic fee that may not unearth the cause, and if cause identified the diagnostic fee cannot be applied to the expensive repair. That’s a hard pill to swallow —and not affordable given economy, and I just had all four tires replaced along with a wheel alignment. Also, the yellow tire pressure light now blinks non-stop. (Previously it blinked 3x then stayed on but stopped blinking.) Anyways, Lots of covo about same issue in the 2011 Prius chat room I found after googling “2011 Toyota Prius ABS warning system.” Wondering if software needs updating, or perhaps there’s a systemic mfg defect?

Reported

Jun 2025

Incident date

Jun 2025

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

My ability to break unexpectedly stopped working while I was on the highway during morning, rush-hour. I was going 55 mph on the highway at the time and luckily, I was on an uphill incline when they went out, thus allowing me to be able to ‘naturally’ slow down. But had I not been on an incline at that time of the brakes faulting, I would have 100% caused a wreck because I could not break at all. My emergency breaks weren’t even working, which is confusing because I thought that was the whole point of the emergency break, was for if your regular brakes become faulty… But NONE of my brakes worked. Which has created a new fear I didn’t know could happen while driving… Also, all the lights that have to do with the breaking system were on (ABS, Traction control, BREAK lights). And a consistent building up hissing noise under the hood.

Reported

May 2025

Incident date

May 2025

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

Our trac abs and brake lights came on and braking became more difficult but not totally gone. I took it to my mechanic (not Toyota dealer) and he said the codes were going off for the abs hydraulic system and it would be $3000 to fix! This is unacceptable. I feel like my safety is affected but no one else has been hurt YET. I’m trying to be proactive. they first appeared last month. No manufacturer, insurance agent or cop has inspected it. It can be inspected by appt. Please help

Reported

May 2025

Incident date

Apr 2025

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

The contact owns a 2011 Toyota Prius. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the check engine warning light remained illuminated, the vehicle had unexpectedly shut off. Additionally, the transmission failed to shift into the intended gear. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer who replaced the catalytic converter, but the failure persisted. The vehicle was towed back to the dealer who diagnosed that the inverter was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The contact was informed that the VIN was not included in the NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V053000 (HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). The contact stated that the vehicle had experienced the failure listed in the recall. The failure mileage was 117,000.

Reported

Apr 2025

Incident date

Jul 2023

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

ABS actuator and pump failure

Reported

Mar 2025

Incident date

Mar 2025

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

There were not any prior problem with my 2011 Toyota Prius' brake but it started making air pumping noises when I brake which makes me very nervous to drive my car. A local mechanic confirmed that the problem is the faulty brake booster assembly and pump. Toyota issued Customer Support Program for this problem but covered only up to 10 years from the first date of use. Although my car has less than 120,000 mileage, I have to pay for this repair and it will cost me close to $2500 at a local repair shop! I want to go to Toyota dealership to fix but their cost is going to be even more! According to online research, many Prius owners have this same problem and have to pay out of their own pockets. This is unacceptable. Toyota should put a recall on this problem and cover the repair cost!!

Reported

Mar 2025

Incident date

Feb 2025

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

Brake warning came on and wouldn’t go off. Followed by continuous beeping and now the brakes are no longer working properly. You have to force the brake all the way to the ground to even come to a rolling stop. The problem first occurred on 3/8/25. The brake actuator seems to be a reoccurring problem that Toyota addressed but is no longer fixing. It is dangerous to drive my vehicle and others have said their brakes have completely failed when this problem arose.

Reported

Mar 2025

Incident date

Mar 2025

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

My brakes suddenly stopped responding correctly as I was pulling up to a busy road. My car went part way into traffic and I was nearly hit. After speaking to my mechanic and my local Toyota dealership, I was informed that there was a know issue with the Brake Booster and Hydraulic Accumulator on this vehicle and that Toyota had extended the warranty several times but that it no longer covered my vehicle. They never once acknowledged the safety issue and I was never notified of the risk. I believe the extended warranty was setup to avoid a recall and hide the risk. I firmly believe a recall should be done on these parts and owners should be notified of known safety risks this presents.

Reported

Feb 2025

Incident date

Feb 2025

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

While driving on the interstate, the "brake", "TCS", and "ABS" lamps lit up. The brake pedal was stiff and couldn't be depressed. The vehicle initially did not decelerate while attempting to push down on the brake pedal. While maneuvering off the interstate on to the exit lane, the pedal remained stiff however, the vehicle did begin to decelerate. Critically, the amount of time needed to bring the vehicle to a stop was significantly longer than normal. This brake failure could have resulted in a catastrophic, life threatening and/or deadly accident. The DTC associated with this brake booster and pump failure is C1391 which is referenced in TSB-0024-19. This is a known problem that exists in Priuses manufactured between 2010-2015 and addressed by Toyota with CSP(s). The CSP takes a reactive approach to this serious safety concern as owners who "have not experienced the condition described" were informed that "there is no action necessary at this time". The extended warranty of 10 years or 150,000 miles is not applicable to countless drivers who are experiencing this failure caused by "internal malfunctions" outside of this arbitrary time/mileage frame. A letter was sent to the NHTSA on 9/19/19 by the president of Claremont and Capistrano Toyota to petition for the initiation of a Defect Investigation regarding this issue. The letter notes that this brake defect is "causing crashes that are injuring people- and Toyota is mishandling it". The advisor assigned to this repair estimated that they see this issue 1-2 times a month and increasingly, drivers are not covered by the CSP. Toyota is failing to take a proactive approach to this dangerous safety issue by telling owners to essentially wait and see if they experience this failure and then failing to take responsibility for said costly failure should it occur outside of their arbitrary time/mileage frame. This approach to safety is egregious, irresponsible, and unethical and it is putting countless lives at risk.

Reported

Jan 2025

Incident date

Jan 2025

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

In 11/2024, I started experiencing intermittent noises coming from the engine compartment of my 2011 Toyota Prius. The initial sound resembled the buzzing noise generated when first starting the vehicle. Then the noise started to persist for extended periods after the vehicle was turned off. It would oscillate between buzzing for approximately 10 seconds & remaining dormant for about 1 minute, repeating this cycle. The duration of these cycles could extend for up to 20 minutes. Concurrently, I experienced several instances where the brake pedal would abruptly become stiff & difficult to press. Notably, no warning lights were illuminated on the dashboard. Recognizing these symptoms as unusual, I conducted online research and discovered that the issue could potentially stem from a malfunction in the “brake booster pump and assembly.” Given the potential for a loss of braking power and the risk of personal/public safety, I scheduled a diagnostic inspection at Toyota of Poway, Poway, CA, on 12/18/2024. It confirmed the presence of a problem with the brake booster pump and associated components. In light of this diagnosis, I made the decision to refrain from driving the vehicle until the repairs were completed. The repair costs amounted to $3,475.47. I found I had received a notification from Toyota’s Customer Support Program, designated as “Customer Support Program Notification-ZJB.” This notification explicitly acknowledged this defect & provided a repair coverage policy that stipulated a coverage policy of which I’m no longer entitled to. Despite not meeting the eligibility criteria for the repair coverage program, I am deeply troubled by the fact that this recognized defect persists in vehicles currently on the road, such as mine, without any corresponding recall action and subsequent repair costs covered by Toyota. Fortunately, I was spared from any accidents as a direct consequence of this issue. Many similar complaints here support this dangerous issue!

Reported

Jan 2025

Incident date

Nov 2024

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

The contact owns a 2011 Toyota Prius. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the vehicle lost motive power temporarily. The contact stated that upon depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle continued driving; however, the vehicle was operating on gasoline. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 18V684000 (Hybrid Propulsion System). The vehicle was taken to the dealer for the recall repair. The dealer determined that the hybrid battery needed to be replaced. The dealer provided an estimate for the repair. The contact declined to pay for the repair and advised the dealer to perform the recall repair; however, the dealer failed to acknowledge the recall. The vehicle was not repaired. Additionally, the contact stated while driving 25 MPH downhill, the vehicle stalled. The check engine and several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The contact was able to restart the vehicle, and the contact pulled into the driveway of the nearby residence. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 116,000.

Reported

Jan 2025

Incident date

Oct 2024

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

All brake lights on Dashboard came on. Almost got into an accident because brakes were not responding. Brakes started responding but lights remained on. At time it will contibue to beep and Brakes do not respond. I am seeing that this is a common issue happening to most Prius vehicles after a certain period. It is extremely expensive to repair. Since this is happening on quite a lot of Prius vehicles, I feel this should still be covered by Toyota. This appears to be a faulty Brake Pump and Brake Booster. This has not been inspected by a dealer but being that the car is a 2011, I'm afraid they will decline from what I have been reading.

Reported

Dec 2024

Incident date

Nov 2024

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

Attached is a report from the Florida Attorney General's project office. Vehicle front headlight bulbs burn out prematurely and frequently and without warning causing reduced visibility at night on dark roads. This is a common and on-going problem for Toyota and other manufacturers and me. Toyota recognized this and issued its own recall ending in 2019, but my car was missed. The 'fix' for me is advice that I should drive my car with high beams on, but in bad weather or on-coming traffic this fix is also a safety hazard. My fear is that one night both bulbs will go out and I will be unable to see the roadway. My car is available for inspection. Constantly replacing bulbs has been and continues to be an expensive issue.

Reported

Dec 2024

Incident date

Sep 2024

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

I have been doing some research, and the brake actuator and ABS system failing is a common problem on these cars. Mine recently started acting up and they used to replace it for free. I got my Prius only 6 months ago and have not had any luck getting Toyota to replace it. This needs to be recalled it is a serious safety hazard if the brakes suddenly give out. They should be replacing this free on all cars having this issues and they are aware of the issue (Toyota). The brakes suddenly stopped working well and lights came on in this exact instant on the interstate. This first happened about a month ago. Tons of people are making complaints with the NHTSA for the same issue.

Reported

Dec 2024

Incident date

Nov 2024

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

12 months ago we noticed a vibration while braking at very slow speed/creeping forward that worsened over time. We didn’t understand the significance at the time. In addition, we noticed more recently the brake pump running more and more frequently, even when the brakes weren’t being pressed. We suspect some sort of problem with the brake booster. This has had many claims against Toyota where my break booster is going out, and I have called toyota to assist since they've had a class action lawsuit that caused them to assist with recalls on vehicles; however the year my vehicle does not qualify for a recall. They opened a service case# 241010002348, but told me it would have to be an out of pocket expense since there's nothing they can do. Unfortunately this is a failure defect on the manufacturers production. Please help.

Reported

Dec 2024

Incident date

Dec 2023

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

The low-beam headlamps on thousands of 2011 Toyota Priuses were burning out very prematurely (a matter of weeks, not months). Toyota Corporate said they created a customer support program to replace the headlight wiring harness free of charge, but this program ended in 2019. I believe that Toyota should be compelled to issue a recall to replace the wiring harnesses on all 2011 Toyota Priuses, because working headlights are a critical component of a safely traveling vehicle. The cost of replacing the wiring harness is more than $700, a real dent in a working family's budget. For now, we are replacing the burned-out bulbs. However, we believe a recall initiated by NHTSA is warranted in this case.

Reported

Oct 2024

Incident date

Oct 2024

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

The contact owns a 2011 Toyota Prius. The contact stated while her husband was driving approximately 40-50 MPH and depressing the accelerator pedal, the accelerator pedal failed to go back to the normal position and remained stuck. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact's husband depressed the brake pedal, and the engine revved significantly. The driver was able to pull to the side of the road. The driver turned off and restarted the vehicle, and the vehicle responded as needed. The dealer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the manufacturer for assistance. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 119,000.

Reported

Oct 2024

Incident date

Oct 2024

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

The brake booster has failed. I was driving, and the ABS, Brake, and Traction Control lights suddenly came on. The brakes felt less powerful. I drove the car Broadway Toyota in Portland, Oregon for maintenance. I was told that the system has failed, and while this is a known issue. It is not currently covered. I was also told that the car is not safe to drive. Toyota had a "Customer Support Program" to cover this issue. However, the program expired on Oct. 8th, 2021. Had I known, I would have brought it in prior to the expiration date. This seems like a recall issue. In Toyota's paperwork for the Customer Support Program, it states that Toyota is aware of "certain internal malfunctions of the Brake Booster Assembly"!

Reported

Oct 2024

Incident date

Oct 2024

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

The contact owns a 2011 Toyota Prius. The contact stated that while driving at unknown speeds or starting the vehicle, the check hybrid system warning light was illuminated. The vehicle went into a Safe Mode. There was no option to place the vehicle in neutral or drive. The vehicle would start but failed to move. The contact stated that the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 18V684000 (Hybrid Population System). The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that there were error codes related to the battery and hybrid system. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and referred the contact to the local dealer. The failure mileage was approximately 120,000.

Reported

Oct 2024

Incident date

Aug 2024

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

I was driving on a surface street at about 40 miles an hour and then the brakes suddenly don't work. You have to press on the brakes very hard to make them stop. All the safety warning lights were lit up on the dash. Took the car into the Toyota dealership and they said that there was a brake booster and pump customer support program but it's now expired so they won't fix it for free. The brake booster part is about $2000. I contacted Toyota Customer Service and asked them when they sent the notices out for this. They looked up our vin number and said that the notice was sent to the previous owner, since we bought the vehicle used from a Toyota dealer. Spoke to a Toyota supervisor from customer service and told them we never were notified to fix the brake booster. The supervisor said they will not pay for the repair. I think this should be a safety recall and Toyota needs to repair these parts. It's very dangerous to drive the car when the brakes fail to stop.

Reported

Oct 2024

Incident date

Sep 2024

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

Brake booster has failed. I'm told this is a known issue but no recall has been issued

Reported

Sep 2024

Incident date

Sep 2024

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

To whom it may consern, I avoided a situation that could have been a very serious or deadly accident when my vehicle had unusual issue with the vehicle breaking system while driving on the freeway today [XXX]. The vehicle would not stop while pressing on the break pedal and I was able to quickly maneuver the vehicle on the shoulder of the freeway and was able to avoid a deadly crash. Looked on the dash and noticed that ABS, Break, and Traction Control lights all lit up. I was scared for my life and the safety of others around me. The vehicle was towed to my residence since it happened around 10:30pm California time. Quickly did some researched online for any recall on nhtsa.gov website but unsuccessful with any recall regarding the breaking system. I also found out that it is a common problem that other owners have been/experienced with the same vehicle year, make and model. I would greatly appreciate for any information I can gather in order to assist me on how I can get Toyota to look into this issue for the safety of myself and others. It was a very scary scenario that could have been a tragic one that I found myself into. Looking for a prompt response to address this issue. Thank you! INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Reported

Sep 2024

Incident date

Sep 2024

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

Symptoms: The vehicle exhibits a constant and repetitive noise when the brake pedal is pressed. Additionally, multiple warning lights are illuminated on the dashboard, including the red brake light, yellow ABS light, yellow traction control light, and tire pressure light. Suspected Cause: The issue appears to be related to the brake actuator or accumulator. This may be associated with Diagnostic Trouble Code (DTC) C1391, indicating an abnormal leak in the accumulator. This problem causes the brake booster pump to run continuously to maintain pressure, leading to the warning lights and noise. Safety Concerns: The malfunctioning brake system components could compromise the vehicle's braking performance and overall safety. Purchase Details: The vehicle was purchased recently from a dealership, and the issue was not present at the time of purchase.

Reported

Sep 2024

Incident date

Sep 2024

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

On our 2011 Toyota Prius there is a complete loss of breaking. The ABS, TCS, and brake lights all came on at one but went off after a few minutes. A few days later the entire system failed when the car was started and now there is no breaks at all on the car. A few months before we took the car to the dealership complaining about a noise when hitting the breaks and was told it was normal and to ignore it. It looks like Toyota knows about this issue and opened a customer care repair program but it expired in 2022 and was not advertised at all so the only way someone would know about it would be if they had an issue. Currently in order to fix the problem we are looking at around $3000 in parts and labor. Looking at other websites including this one the issues appears to be widespread.

Reported

Aug 2024

Incident date

Aug 2024

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

I was driving the vehicle around 55 mph when a check hybrid system warning popped up. About 30 seconds later the vehicle went from being in drive to B (brake mode) and the vehicle began to slow at a rapid pace with no warning. Could potentially cause an accident as this occurred with very little warning.

Reported

Aug 2024

Incident date

Aug 2024

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

On April 28, 2024 I was driving when my brakes became squishy and my ABS warning light, red brakes warning light, and traction control light came on. I was very fortunate to be close to my destination and only traveling under 25mph. Roughly a week later it was driven approximately 150ft (on private property) and the brakes were very unresponsive. The car was never accelerated past 3mph for that move. The loss of braking was sudden and happened without any prior warnings. Had I been on a high traffic, high speed road, I believe it likely that this would have resulted in a catastrophic accident. The Master Cylinder Actuator Assembly and Brake Booster Pump Assembly failed. This was confirmed with OBD and a Snap-On Solus Ultra scanner. Both parts have been removed and are available for inspection upon request. They have not been inspected by anyone. I did contact Toyota about the braking issue and they did not express any interest in the issue or inspecting the failed parts. To make my Prius road safe and legal, I needed to replace the Master Cylinder Actuator Assembly and Brake Booster Pump Assembly. These parts were bought from Toyota, who has so far profited from my car's brake failure.

Reported

Aug 2024

Incident date

Apr 2024

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

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.

Risk: If the hybrid system shuts down unexpectedly, it can increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy: 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 for this recall is J0V. Note: The software updates in this recall are needed even if the vehicle had the software previously updated under recalls 14V-053 or 15V-449.

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 heaters with a copper strand heating element. The electrical wiring in the seat heaters may be damaged when the seat cushion is compressed.

Risk: If damaged, the copper strand heating element may short circuit, increasing the risk of a fire.

Remedy: 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.

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 drive a short distance.

Risk: The vehicle may enter a fail-safe/limp-home mode that limits the drivability of the vehicle. The hybrid system could also shut down completely resulting in a vehicle stall, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: 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 replace the inverter assembly with a new one at no charge. The recall began on March 21, 2014. Owners may contact Toyota at 1-800-331-4331.

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 2010-2012 Sequoia. During modification by SET to include accessories such as leather seat covers, seat heaters or headrest DVD systems, these vehicles may not have had the passenger seat occupant sensing system calibration tested. Without passing the calibration test, the occupant sensing system may not operate as designed.

Risk: If the front passenger seat occupant sensing system is out of calibration, the front passenger airbags may not deploy or they may deploy inappropriately for the passenger's size and position. This could increase the risk of personal injury during the event of a vehicle crash necessitating airbag deployment.

Remedy: 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.

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.

Risk: Damage to the seat heater wiring could cause the wires to short, increasing the risk of the seat burning and causing personal injury to the occupant.

Remedy: 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.

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.

Risk: If either portion of the curtain shield air bag inflator ejects into the passenger cabin, there is an increased risk of injury to vehicle occupants.

Remedy: 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.