10.0
really awful- Crashes / Fires:
- 20 / 1
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 12 / 0
- Average Mileage:
- 106,025 miles
About These NHTSA Complaints:
The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.
Unknown I had just financed the vehicle 2-3 days prior.
- Mcminnville, OR, USA
Due to water infiltration from a poorly manufactured hatchback, water is able to get inside the "Supply Assy, Brake Control Power" module in the trunk of the second generation Prius. This part ultimately shorts out and fails causing a loss of regenerative braking and a "brake warning light". Toyota seems to be aware of the problem as a replacement module is now sold in a "water proof sheet" (see attached). Toyota has also moved this module to a different location (away from the rear wall of the Prius) in other hybrid vehicles (such as in the Camry where it has been moved forward). I wonder if the hybrid batteries in the Prius also fail due to water infiltration in the rear sections of these cars.
- New London, CT, USA
Toyota has admitted that their BRAKE ACTUATOR assembly on their 2007 Prius FAILS and they will fix it for no charge BUT ONLY IF YOU COMPLAIN. The brake actuator on my 2007 Prius is now failing and the braking system has become UNRELIABLE and UNSAFE. Toyota should replace my failing brake actuator with a new unit for no cost because this is a SAFETY ISSUE. I refuse to pay $3000 out of my own pocket to repair an item which has a long history of FAILING.
- Austin, TX, USA
The abs actuator failed which caused the breaks to act up.also casue warning lights.and noise from the pump.it also can casue the hybrid battery to fail because it can't charge right
- Quincy, IL, USA
Brake Actuator Re. Vin: [XXX] On 4/13/21 my Toyota Prius '07 was diagnosed by Toyota of Hollywood of a bad abs actuator that needs to be replaced. The fact of the matter is that about 28 months before that on 2/14/19 the Actuator assembly was replaced by Toyota of North Miami after being diagnosed first by Toyota of Hollywood. The reason I choose to do the job in north Miami is because it was less costly. My question is how can a genuine Toyota part fail in just 28 months." Many Prius owners have been experiencing this safety issue since 2018. The warranty enhancement program ended before the fact in 2017. And there seem to be a misprint because how can the Secondary Coverage end on the same date as the Primary Coverage" (2017) When you use the date of first use of a 2007 Prius. Toyota needs to do another Recall for this safety problem. INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
- Hollywood, FL, USA
Under hard braking (over 50% of the pedal) the front passenger wheel applies all the force to stop the car to that one tire causing it to lose traction and skid. Brakes are insufficient to properly stop the vehicle and no warning lights are illuminated on the dash. Actually more than half of the time the whole dash does nothing, no MPH, no gas gauge, nothing but a blacked out information less panel. Then to top it off the car only has one headlight bc it blows what ever headlight I put into the ballast. 3 of the most common failures for a 2007 and my Prius has a grand slam assortment of serious potential life threatening problems that should have been repaired (never should have been assembled with) by Toyota. Minor wreck when attempting to stop the car under not driving conditions. Thankfully no one was hurt and only had to replace the front hood, bumper and radiator and support but have deemed the car as not road worthy and unfit for any driving conditions.
- Mesquite , TX, USA
Abs vsc brake light
- Poway, CA, USA
When turning car on the car beeps loudly for 10-15 seconds. The brakes will randomly lock up. They do not always work properly on hills.
- Fairlawn, VA, USA
Brake actuator pump is a known issue on this generation Prius and Toyota has stop offering a warranty before I even got the vehicle.
- Paris, IL, USA
My car has only 65,000 miles on it and the ABS actuator has failed. Before getting it repaired, there were many instances when the braking power was significantly reduced. This is clearly a safety issue that Toyota is aware of, but not willing to repair. I am shocked that there has been no recall.
- Atlanta, GA, USA
ABS actuator failure at only 64,000 miles. Potential for complete break failure if not immediately addressed. Toyota is aware of the issue as there is a tsb, but they are charging thousands of dollars for a repair for a safety critical item that is due to a manufacturing defect. This should be covered under a recall.
- Atlanta, GA, USA
My wife and I picked up our 3 little boys from school on our way home as we got on the highway we heard this loud long beep sound and immediately after that my brakes will not work so I began push down on the brake pedal many times and finally by the grace of god I was able to stop. We had the car towed to have it looked at and the mechanic concluded it is an ABS/actuator problem which Toyota is very much aware of. The mechanic advised me to contact Toyota to fix it free because it is costly. I contacted Toyota about the situation and they just didn't care. Now I have no car because its unsafe to drive and I don't have the money to fix it. This was a life threatening situation for me and my family had it not been god we would have lost our precious lives.
- Pompano Beach, FL, USA
Dash went out no visual, twice, 1st time I unhooked front cable to battery, it come back on, 2nd time, I started car, consol went out again, had to take it to Toyota place, to order new consol, brake light on, asb light on, after replacing both front & back brake shoes, enjector pump went out
- Midland, TX, USA
I own a Toyota Prius 2007 and I experiencing brakes not engaging as they should when applied. I notice my ABS vsc brake lights are on my dashboard. I took it in to a shop and was told I have a bad ABS actuator. I researched it on the recall list and it was listed but expired in Dec 2017. Toyota should fix this problem. This was a known problem.
- Dearborn Heights, MI, USA
Started getting brake actuator failure noises in my 2007 Prius back in March 2020 and took it to the West coast Toyota dealership in long beach, ca. They didn't find anything wrong with the ABS system even though the grinding noise I now know is commonly associated with the problem was going off. The other day the ABS light warning came on as well as the emergency brake light. I pulled over on Washington blvd and arlington in los angeles and when I started the car again and started to move forward I had no control of the brakes and turned the car off immediately. From what I've read this is extremely common! Toyota extended the warranty's on many of their vehicles to 10 years but there were no recalls so if this part malfunctions a day after the warranty then you are out of luck. The brake system is just about the most dangerous part to fail. I can't imagine what would have happened if the same thing happened at a higher speed.
- Los Angeles, CA, USA
I was driving down the highway at about 70 mph when the break light, ABS light, and tire light all came on accompanied by a high pitch beeping. As I attempted to pull over the breaks were almost completely unresponsive. When I contacted Toyota about the issue they let me know it was a problem they were aware of the issue but didn't believe that having your breaks go out was grounds for a recall. I was almost involved in a high speed crash without the ability to stop because of this.
- Godley, TX, USA
While driving around a corner on city streets, braking suddenly became very difficult, and caused the vehicle to skid when brakes were applied. A high-pitched electronic squeal came from the dashboard, and the brake system light, ABS light, vsc light, and master warning light all turned on. These are all listed as symptoms of a failed brake actuator. After contacting a licensed Toyota dealership, I was directed to the Toyota customer care department. After being escalated to a supervisor, I was informed that Toyota is aware of this problem, but that the warranty extension they used to cover it expired in 2017, and they refused to cover the cost of replacement (~$3000). I believe this issue should be cause for a safety recall, as it happened suddenly and without warning while the vehicle was in motion. It was pure luck that this didn't result in a crash.
- Elizabeth, CO, USA
I was driving my car on the highway and suddenly my brake warning light, ABS warning light, and other lights came on as well as a constant beeping noise. The brakes almost stopped working completely; it only worked about 10%. my foot was all the way down on the brake pedal, but the car was still moving. I was able to pull over, but this issue left me in a compromising position for my safety and could easily have been involved in a serious accident from it. The warning lights go away after turning off the car, but then they come back on randomly. Based on what I've read online on similar issues, I believe this is an issue with the brake actuator.
- Sherman Oaks, CA, USA
My husband and I recently purchased a used 2007 Toyota Prius or are 17 year old daughter and since purchasing vehicle a little over a month ago she has already had four or more instances of her car dying and making her lose all control in the middle of the road. The car goes into neutral on its own and will not go back into drive or any other gear the car becomes immobile with no ability even steer off the side of the road or shut the car off or put it in park all dashboard lights come on brakes become glowing red hot and severe issues with lighting and moisture.
- Culver, IN, USA
- Sonoma, CA, USA