10.0
really awful- Crashes / Fires:
- 42 / 0
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 19 / 0
- Average Mileage:
- 70,306 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.
« Read the previous 20 complaints
Brake system has kept making air pushing sound but suddenly I cannot push the brake pedal at all. It feel like blocked. Braking force is not working
- Katy, TX, USA
Serious issue with the Prius. Brake actuator/brake booster fail. The braking is seriously compromised because of this problem. The dealership says it is known to Toyota, but they will not offer any assistance. When the brake/ABS/trac lights are reset the brakes function perfectly for a short period of time and then the lights/problem returns.
- Deland, FL, USA
The other day my brake light, traction, and ABS light came on. Took it to the mechanic and they said it's code C1391 - abnormal leak in the accumilator, electrical issue, and I must go to the dealer. I've seen others complain about this. Shouldn't this be a recall?
- Woodland Hills, CA, USA
Antilock brake actuator and pump failure. Quoted as a $4700 repair at dealer with labor. Parts are just over $3600. There were recalls on gen 2 Prius'and extended warranty on other Prius'. this car falls under no help at all. We are original owners and car had been essentially problem free. Disgusted that this dangerous and known problem isn't being properly addressed by Toyota. All lights on dash related to brakes lit up while driving. Still had brakes. Took to dealer to check problem.
- Merritt Island, FL, USA
I own a 2010 Toyota Prius iv. I concur with all that has been documented about ABS and braking issues with the Prius. Two weeks ago my brakes started to sqeal. I took it to a mechanic and was informed all was well (brake pads, fluids, oil). A week later the brake and ABS indicator came on in my vehicle. The braking distance is elongated as I have to pressed firmly on the brake for the car to stop. I took it to my mechanic who reset the car. I drove from the mechanic and all appeared to be fine until I hit a bump in the road. The indicators came back on immediately and the braking changed. I had to pressed the brake pedal all the way down in order for the car to start. The car always surges forward whenever I hit a pothole, bump or any rough surface. In hin sight, when I first bought the car I had a fender bender because the car lurched forward when I was parking. I am now discovering this issue is a knwon issued with Toyota; particularly the Prius. Fixing this problem seems to be expensive. Toyota should cover the cost via a recall.
- Brooklyn, NY, USA
A tire blew out on the highway, and afterwards the ABS light, brake light, and traction light came on. Apparently the brake acuator has failed completely.
- Melbourne, FL, USA
On a few occasions when the car is in motion, we have depressed the brakes and they did not grab right away. This happened once getting onto a highway, twice on a city street, and another time on a country road. There seems to be a small delay before they will grab, causing the car to feel out of control for that brief moment. It feels unsafe when this happens and doesn't seem normal. We contacted the service manager at Toyota to have the car looked at, and he did not return our call.
- Green Bay, WI, USA
When I press brake on the bumped road, the car function weird and seems like it has sudden "shock" so it is kind of losing control for the car even I didn't press brake that hard, it happens several times already during the course of 7 years that I owned this car, even when car is new. I was so scared and nervous, I don't know where to report this problem and did mentioned to dealer before. The problem is random and unpredictable and I don't know when it will happen. But I guess I am kind of cautious on when I press pedal when I drive. This is mostly happen in local drive, not highway. In driving when driving forward, maybe there is something on the road, but it should not be doing this as it is very scary and it's like a sudden "jerky". my name is [xxx] it happened at least 10 times during the past 7 years to me. Information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
- San Jose, CA, USA
2010 Toyota Prius. Consumer writes in regards to vehicle brake defect.
- Freeland, MD, USA
The contact owns a 2010 Toyota Prius. While driving various speeds, depressing the brake pedal to come to a stop, or when driving over a bump, the vehicle failed to stop. The contact stated that the vehicle stopped after a distance, but not when prompted. All the warning indicators illuminated on the instrument panel. The vehicle was taken to gullo Toyota of conroe (45 S, conroe, tx 77304, (888) 483-0321) where it was diagnosed that the brake actuator assembly failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired due to the repair fees. The manufacturer informed the contact that the VIN was not included in a recall and did not offer further assistance. The approximate failure mileage was 147,000.
- Spring, TX, USA
Vsc, brake, and ABS lights are on symptoms: Cruise control will bump up the speed then "cancel" cruise control the ability to "set" cruise is rejected vsc, brake, ABS lights turn on no regen braking brakes need way more effort to slow/stop abrupt braking will cause a skid any help will be appreciated.
- Winston-Salem, NC, USA
My wife had a 'near-death' experience on 22-Mar-18 while driving her Prius (2010) back home. She was driving on a high speed interstate freeway (I-10) in houston and suddenly her ABS brake system failed and she can she all warning lights in the dashboard (ABS warning light, brake system warning light, slip indicator) were lit. As soon as she saw these warning, she tried to slow down the vehicle safely by applying brakes, but brakes were barely responsive. At this time, she was driving at a speed around 65 mph. She kept pressing the brake pedals and slowly moved towards the shoulder area. After traveling for some distance, the vehicle stopped eventually. She called tow truck and took the car to Toyota dealership nearby. We are waiting for the response from the Toyota service center about the fault.
- Katy, TX, USA
As my wife was driving the brakes failed; the pedals went to the floor. She had to swerve to avoid hitting someone. She continue to press the pedals and the car eventually stopped. When I got to her I turned the car back on and tested the brakes. This time the pedals would barely go down and would only stop the vehicles if you went 5 to 10 mph. It rendered the car unusable. I found online that there was recall for 2010 Toyota Prius's but Toyota said my VIN wasn't listed in the recall for an actuator.
- Monroe, LA, USA
While driving on highway at approximately 50mph, instrument cluster displayed brake, ABS, (!), and tcs. As I attempted to slow down, brakes lost effectiveness and became mushy. I had to press on brake pedal extra hard to slow the car down and bring to car to a stop. Pedal travel and force required was way more then normal.
- Aiea, HI, USA
My emergency brake has failed. I park on a hil and my car almost went down without me in it, I was getting something out of the back seat when the eb failed, luckily the drivers door was open and I was able to jump in and brake with the normal brakes. Also while braking and going over a bump my brakes fail for a second.
- Bountiful, UT, USA
ABS light stays on, I have no brakes when emergency braking, there was a Toyota Prius recall on brake master cylinder and booster pump but Toyota said it was not for my vehicle. My problem is exactly the same problem as other Prius brake recalls but Toyota will not cover it. Less then 65,000 miles on the car. How can a master cyl be bad by now, they usually last over 100,000 miles. Very unsafe, and may kill someone. This should be covered by Toyota with all the other brake recall problems with this year and model. I had to slam on my brakes but my car would not stop causing me to run into a wall at the baltimore harbor tunnel. This is a recall and letters were sent out by Toyota about this faulty braking but now Toyota will not honor the recall
- Baltimore, MD, USA
My car need to replace the brake pump assembly which is same as one of their past recall in 2013. I called Toyota and they said my car's was not in the range so they don't cover it. Yea, certain vins but it is clearly that all the 2010 Prius have this issue.
- Renton, WA, USA
Copied the below from another complaint because this guy is having the exact same issue I am having, I bought the car Aug 2017 right before the period to get it replaced expired, was never notified in any way of this warranty change so how am I supposed to know I have a defective part on my car.. but the dealership still sold it to me, now a month after the eligibility to get it repaired expires, my brakes die and Toyota says they wont help nor is the dealership responsible for selling me the car without checking if the recalled part was replaced. They also keep mentioning the extended warranty on the actuator is only for "certain VIN's". so they are gonna extend the warranty on certain 2010 Prius' but not all of them.. this makes no sense.. please help my 2010 Prius is having issues as same as the safety recall back in 2013 ( 13V-235 ). the ABS light, vsc light, and brake light were on after a bumpy rooad in my neighborhood. I brought it to the dealer and they indicated that there was a leak in the accumulator. After reset the system, all the lights went off but I still feel the losses of pressure on the brake pedal. However, my car has 0 open recall and the dealer quoted me over 5K for the repair which is ridiculous compare to the value of the car.
- Auburn, AL, USA
My 2010 Prius is having issues as same as the safety recall back in 2013 ( 13V-235 ). the ABS light, vsc light, and brake light were on after a bumpy rooad in my neighborhood. I brought it to the dealer and they indicated that there was a leak in the accumulator. After reset the system, all the lights went off but I still feel the losses of pressure on the brake pedal. However, my car has 0 open recall and the dealer quoted me over 5K for the repair which is ridiculous compare to the value of the car.
- Renton, WA, USA
- Partlow, VA, USA