10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
17 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
9 / 0
Average Mileage:
24,188 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.

Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 2013 Toyota Prius:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

problem #147

Mar 112025

Prius

  • miles
It was raining when I drove my 2013 Prius to pick up my daughter from school on March 11, 2025. I suddenly felt the brake of the car was very weird, it was hard to stop at the stop sign, and when I stepped the brake paddle I had to make more effort to control the car to stop. The brake light and ABS light were both on. I drove the car to the local dealer next morning they said the brake booster with master cylinder & pump assembly need be replaced, and it was cost over $4000. I did research and found it was a common problem for Prius but Toyota did not do a recall, instead the customer repaired program has expired on 2023. It is very dangerous for this situation.

- Hemet, CA, USA

problem #146

Feb 172025

Prius

  • miles
The brake actuator has stopped functioning properly in my 2013 Toyota Prius that has 124,000 miles. NHTSA is welcome to inspect my car. I took my car to a Toyota Service Center because of a noise that cycles every 15 seconds. The mechanic said the noise "is in fact coming from the accumulator of the brake boosters." He said it's kind of like a battery--it may go out tomorrow or next year and it would be $3,957 for the job, but recommended to wait until it completely goes out. I was shocked he said this when I later read online this is a very dangerous problem that should not be ignored and should be fixed right away. I learned that Toyota issued an extended warranty for this known problem yet my car is not eligible because it's been more than 10 years. No warning lamps or messages have appeared. I'm afraid to drive my car and would never have bought it if I'd known how frequently this happens in this generation of Prius. I can't even sell it in its current state because no one will want to pay a $4,000 repair cost.

- Round Rock, TX, USA

problem #145

Mar 022025

Prius

  • miles
Failure of ABS module and actuator..Known problem with Prius

- Mt Juliet, TN, USA

problem #144

Feb 242025

Prius

  • miles
Toyota did a voluntary recall on the brake booster pump on this particular model when I inquire at the dealership about it they said that it has expired and refuse to fix the recall issue I did not know a recall can't have an expiration date especially when it can cause an accident

- Roanoke, VA, USA

problem #143

Jul 052022

Prius

  • miles
The brake booster and ABS system failed requiring replacement of the entire system. A Toyota dealer service center examined the vehicle and deemed it unsafe to drive until the repairs were made. It was held for months due to part availability.

- Norman, OK, USA

problem #142

Jan 152025

Prius

  • miles
A well documented issue on the brake booster and master cylinder developing leaks and requiring replacement effecting Gen 3 Prius models well before the parts should show such issues. known to toyota under customer support program ZJB but arbitrarily limited by VIN batches and time span leading to me and it seems many others being hung out to dry

- Franklin, NC, USA

problem #141

Feb 182025

Prius

  • miles
The hydraulic break pump system failed, causing my brakes to go out for a minimum of 10 seconds while I was driving. It put me and my passenger at risk for collision until they abruptly came back on but weren-??t working well. The vehicle has been inspected by toyota itself, and there were no warning lights until the system itself failed.

- Maineville, OH, USA

problem #140

Feb 232025

Prius

  • miles
Brake booster and pump failing. Traction light, brake light, and ABS light all came on at once on February 23. 2025. I brought my car to a Toyota dealership the next day and paid for a diagnostic. I was told the brakes could give out at any time if I do not get the parts listed above replaced. This is a danger to me and to others on the road. I was told the parts would take a few days to get ordered and I was quoted $3490.60. I was informed that Toyota was repairing these for free if the problem occurred within 10 years of manufacturing (2023) or under 150,000 miles. Unfortunately it has been 12 years but my car is under 100,000 miles.

- Plantation, FL, USA

problem #139

Feb 142025

Prius

  • miles
On 2/14/2025 I brought my 2013 prius into a third party mechanic because all the brake warning lights came on while driving. After inspection the mechanic informed me that there was a vehicle service bulletin about the brake booster and brake booster system that Toyota sent out in September 2020. It states that models made between 2012-2014 may exhibit a condition where the brake ABS and/or on track lights are on and it is caused by a small internal brake fluid leak inside the brake booster assembly with master cylinder. Toyota placed an extended warranty on the part. They state that if the vehicle had the abs light come on for this reason they would fix it if and only if it fell within 150,000 miles or ten years from the first driven part. I have been told if the issue is not addressed it could caused brake failure, the repair is upwards of $3000. I have contacted Toyota to open a case and will be taking the car to a Toyota dealership but Toyota is not taking any responsibility for the faulty part even when they know it is an issue because they say it fell outside of the extended warranty. I need Toyota to be held accountable and for not addressing a known issue with the their product. This is not an issue with wear and tear, it caused by a faulty part on their part and just because the issue became apparent after their cut off does not mean they are not liable. The car has 125,000 miles on it, I was never made aware that there was an issue with the part, received no communication until I brought it into a mechanic who researched it.

- Covina, CA, USA

problem #138

May 012023

Prius

  • miles
Inverter and brake booster

- La Verne, CA, USA

problem #137

Jan 292025

Prius

  • miles
In less than 30 days after having bought the car, the brake booster system went out and the dealer is requesting I pay despite this being apart of the massive Prius recall

- Boynton Beach , FL, USA

problem #136

Jan 172025

Prius

  • miles
My car is at 89K total miles and last week I had three warning lights pop up on my dash (Traction control, brake, ABS) which indicates something wrong with the automatic break system. My car is under 100K miles and I purchased it used in 2016, under ten years ago, and this problem is way too early to happen in my make an model. I got a code read on the issue (C1391) which indicates that my ABS Actuator is leaking/broken, a major safety issue as it happened as I was driving. Again, this should not be typical as I only drive a few miles per day on average.

- Tustin, CA, USA

problem #135

Jan 062025

Prius

  • miles
Brake booster replacement zjb code hust started to light up. Come to find out thhere was a problem that being refered to as a customer service notice or something and I'm being told Toyota will not cover the replacement because the timeframe has expired. If the light had come on two years ago they would have. I'm reading from others that they had the same problem and have heard of repairs costing upwards to $5000, that is crazy. Is this legal for them to do as it is a major manufactor problem effecting the braking of the car?

- Hope, RI, USA

problem #134

Dec 022024

Prius

  • miles
Brake booster and actuator failure.

- Azusa, CA, USA

problem #133

Nov 062024

Prius

  • miles
Parking brake and ABS lights are on. According to internet research it is a common problem amongst Toyota Prius Brake Actuators

- Houston, TX, USA

problem #132

Sep 072024

Prius

  • miles
Hello, This is not only ridiculous but not unacceptable alert what Toyota did to customers under certain age of Prius 2010-15, Camry hybrid 2012-2014 and Avalon hybrid 2013-2015 They -??inspected-?? my vehicle at the dealership in 2020 during the recall but they did not replaced defective parts (master cylinder & brake booster pump) from Japan. In September I could easily crash my vehicle. This is dangerous for customers and drivers especially in Uber & Lyft. Headquarters should be easily informed by you about it I fixed and send receipts to lovely Toyota- Idiota but they reacted with no responsibility of reimbursement. [XXX] Thanks for your attention! [XXX] [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

- Chicago, IL, USA

problem #131

Nov 052024

Prius

  • miles
I was driving on the highway. All of a sudden abs light, brake light and traction control light came up on my screen. Car lost braking efficiency and I almost crashed into the vehicle in front of me. It was within inches from crash. Found out it was the brake booster and the brake booster pump. Both these parts had been under extended warranty by Toyota unbeknownst to me. Never received any warranty letter or anything from Toyota. I contacted them but since our car has more tha 150,000 miles and over 10 years old they will not cover

- Ventura , CA, USA

problem #130

Nov 062024

Prius

  • miles
I need a replacement of my Full booster brake pack and there have class action lawsuits associated with this exact problem.

- Saint Louis, MO, USA

problem #129

Oct 302024

Prius

  • miles
When the brake pedal is depressed, it occasionally emits a loud squeaking sound. I recently took the car to a nearby dealership (Ourisman Toyota in Chantilly, VA) for inspection, where the service advisor informed me that both the Brake Master Cylinder and the Hydraulic Brake Booster Pump require replacement. Here-??s the detailed diagnosis: 1) Hydraulic Brake Booster Pump: The master cylinder/brake booster assembly is leaking pressure internally and requires replacement. 2) Updated Booster Pump: The updated part for the booster pump requires it to be replaced in tandem with the new master cylinder. The repair cost was estimated about $3,700 The advisor warned that if this brake component fails while driving, it could cause the brakes to lock up, posing a significant safety risk. Despite this being a well-known issue among 2010-2015 Prius owners, Toyota has yet to initiate an official recall for this part.

- Centreville, VA, USA

problem #128

Oct 312024

Prius

  • miles
Brake booster and actuator failing. Internal leaks.

- Sacramento, CA, USA

Read the next 20 complaints »