2013 Toyota Prius Complaint Log

Brake accumulator suddenly failed in vehicle. Known issue from manufacturer

Last year, the brake light failure came on the dashboard. I brought the car to a repair shop they diagnosed the problem as a rusted brake line on the passenger side. Bill approximately $700 for the repair. Over the last weekend, I was driving near my home, and the same indicator lights came on. I drove home and when I got home, noticed that there was brake fluid on my garage floor. I checked the brake fluid level there was none detected. I filled it up with brake fluid and waited until the next day, and the level seemed stable. I started the car to bring it to a local repair shop. No more indicator lights were showing. The repair shop said it was the driver's side brake line that had rusted out. $400 for it to be replaced. I reported this to Toyota today. Reference Number #250516001403

Vehicle warning lights for brakes, ABS and traction control all on while driving. Per mechanic, known problem on Prius and repair cost is $3-$5K. Covered by a prior customer support program but has expired. I have two Prius’s with the identical problem - bill will be up to $10K Error codes C1391, C1214

CODE C1391 for leak in brake accumulator pressure. All brake system lights flashed (e-brake, traction control, ABS).

the abs booster/master cylinder has failed due to an internal leak causing the accumulator pump to constantly run and sets a c1391 dtc. the brakes work poorly and has a stiff pedal feel. braking is definitely reduced. this issues has not been seen by any dealer, shop, or agency yet. I was a toyota certified Master Diagnostic Technician for years before i quit to be a stay-at-home dad and am more than qualified and capable to accurately diagnose this. in addition, toyota has a CSP out (ZGB) that covers this, but the coverage needs to be extended. this is a known very dangerous failure that should be covered for much longer. i did notice, what i thought was an over-frequent cycling of the accumulator pump, but since i had just purchased the vehicle, it was hard to tell how out of the norm it was.

Vehicle warning lights for brakes, ABS and traction control all on while driving. Per mechanic, known problem on Prius and repair cost is $3-$5K. Covered by a prior customer support program but has expired. I have two Prius’s with the identical problem - bill will be up to $10K. Error code C1391

CODE C1391 - Brake booster assembly failure

I wash my car at the car wash and when I got back in a bunch of the dash lights were on including the ABS light traction control and I had no brake pressure. I took it to the shop and they said my brake booster had failed and it was going to be $3,000 to fix it went out do I have any idea now okay

Around May 2025, the brake booster and pump in the car stopped working. There was no clear warning lamp or indicator prior to it failing. While driving on the highway, the part stopped working and significantly changed the car's braking power. Rather than smoothly braking as it did before, the car's brakes have significantly less braking power. The defective part also affects the car's ABS system, making the car unsafe if a sudden stop were required as the brakes will lock up and the car will lose grip on the road and start skidding. Significantly longer braking distances is needed and it's not clear the car would be able to safely stop at a short distance in the event of an emergency. It's a miracle we didn't get into any accidents when the part suddenly failed. There is a significant risk that failure of this part will be the cause of a car accident when the car suddenly no longer brakes how the driver is used to. Toyota has previously offered an extended warranty on the part, but the part did not fail until shortly after the warranty expired. The car has been within my family since it was originally put into service and none of the owners were ever notified that the part could be replaced or even fail in such a manner. The problem has been confirmed by a dealer but they have only offered to fix it at a significant cost. The vehicle does not feel safe to drive. Warning lights only appeared after the part failed but they weren't particularly helpful in diagnosing the problem in the moment because 4 different lights turned on all at once.

Hybrid System fail safe. I was driving on the highway and the car started to slow down on its own. There were no warning signs. I was able to pull over in time. I turn my car off and when I try to start it, it stalled. I couldn't drive off. Three hours later Hybrid System Fail error appeared, stating for me to pull over. I could have gotten in an accident.

The brake booster assembly (part number 47070-47060) on my 2013 Toyota Prius has failed. This component is critical to the proper functioning of the braking system. It is currently still installed in the vehicle and available for inspection upon request. As a result of the failure, the ABS warning light, traction control light, and brake warning light are all illuminated on the dashboard. The braking performance has noticeably declined — the pedal feels inconsistent and at times unresponsive. This has created a significant safety risk while driving, especially during sudden stops or in wet conditions, as it compromises the vehicle's ability to brake efficiently and predictably. The issue has been confirmed by a Toyota dealer (or independent mechanic if that’s the case — feel free to change this line accordingly). The dealer diagnosed the issue as a failure of the brake booster assembly, which aligns with known failures reported by many other 3rd-generation Prius owners. The vehicle has not been involved in an accident, and has not been inspected by the police or insurance representatives. Toyota previously issued a Customer Support Program (CSP ZJB or ZG1) covering this part, but it has since expired. I only recently began experiencing symptoms and was unaware of the CSP until after contacting Toyota. Prior to the warning lights, I experienced intermittent symptoms such as a soft or delayed brake pedal, and an unusual sound from the brake system when the vehicle was turned off. The warning lights first appeared around [insert approximate mileage or date here], and have remained illuminated since then. Given the safety-critical nature of this component and the known defect history, I am requesting assistance from Toyota in the form of goodwill coverage or reimbursement, and would like this issue escalated for further review.

ABS, Brake, and Traction Control light came up had dealer review these and got error code C1391 and P0441. Initially they said its covered by Toyota customer service program which covered upto 150k miles as my vehicle only has 98k miles. Later they said only 10 years from the vehicle service which ended in 2023 and quoted $4500 to fix. Previously i asked them to check before expiration since it was not showing consistent light on they could not fix it. Reading through several forums it seems like consistent issue should have been included in recall not customer support program.

The contact owns a 2013 Toyota Prius. The contact stated there was a constant beeping sound while attempting to depress the brake pedal while slowing down. Additionally, the brake pedal was very firm, requiring added for to be depressed. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer to be diagnosed, and the contact was informed that the brake booster assembly, brake master cylinder, and the brake booster pump were faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 119,000.

failure of the brake booster system resulting in no ABS function, appears to be a common problem with this vehicle.

Was driving on the freeway and 3 dash lights lit up. found out the brake accuator is failing. apparently this is a known issue for toyota priuses.

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.

While driving on the highway at ~70 mph, the brakes just gave out and I narrowly escaped crashing into someone as I drove into the median having been unable to stop in the expected distance. The ABS light just came on and apparently it’s a very known issue that Toyota is refusing to fix or intimate owners. I have been going to the same dealership for 12+ years and never had this brought up by them.

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

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

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.

The contact owns a 2013 Toyota Prius. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the contact's vehicle was involved in a head-on collision. The air bags did not deploy. The vehicle was towed to the contact's residence. The vehicle had not been inspected for damages. The contact was transported to the local medical center. The contact sustained injuries such as a fractured sternum and a fractured left foot. The contact received treatment and the local medical ctr for a total of four days and then transferred to a primary care facility. In addition, the contact was receiving continued treatment. A Police report was filed. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 73,761.

The contact owns a 2013 Toyota Prius. The contact stated while driving at approximately 25 MPH and depressing the brake pedal to slow for a traffic sign, the vehicle was not slowing down. The contact pumped the brake pedal several times before the vehicle slowed down. The contact stated that an unknown warning light was illuminated. The contact had the vehicle towed to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the brake booster and brake actuator had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

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.

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.

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.

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The brake booster pump assembly has been failed.everytime I tried to stop the. vehicle the brake pedal will go to the floor and it will take longer to stop the car. IT has been inspected by my mechanic and conformed the problem

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

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.

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

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 $5000.00, THAT IS CRAZY. IS THIS LEGAL FOR THEM TO DO AS IT IS A MAJOR MANUFACTOR PROBLEM EFFECTING THE BRAKING OF THE CAR?

A very common issue with 2012-2015 models caused by a defective part that causes the brake fluid to leak into the brake actuator causing an eventual DTC C1391 error code that Toyota previously had a recall and warranty on the parts. ABS has failed, traction control is non-responsive and the brake light is on. This is an issue that Toyota was previously aware of and only recently discontinued their “extended” warranty for the failed parts - despite this occurring in the upper mileage life of the car. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Brake booster and actuator failure.

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

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

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

purchased tires at walmart auto care center in 2019 at 2770 E. Carson St. Lakewood, 90712, +15624298137. the warranty shows they should last at least 40000 miles. the tires worned out (by walmart auto care center staff on 11/2024) at 27000 miles. Walmart has not worked with me to replace these defective low quality tires (viva3 brand) and i am in a dilemma as i am unable to replace them now. I am [XXX] and [XXX] and i use my vehicle for doctors, pharmacy and errands for my daily survival. thanks INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Brake booster and actuator failing. Internal leaks.

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 $3,700.00 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.

What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? Hydraulic Brake Booster Pump Failure with code C1391: Abnormal internal leak in the accumulator. Inspection was performed by Certified Toyota Dealer : Anaheim Toyota, 1331 N Euclid St, Anaheim, CA 92801 on 10/28/2024. This is a known issue to Toyota, with Toyota Customer Support Program ZJB. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? Per Toyota Certified Inspection, the Hydraulic Brake Booster Pump is an electric pump used to assist in applying the brakes. Without the brakes, the vehicle cannot be stopped. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? Issue was verified by a certified Toyota Dealer : Anaheim Toyota, 1331 N Euclid St, Anaheim, CA 92801 on 10/28/2024. Additionally, this is a known issue to Toyota, with Toyota Customer Support Program ZJB. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? Yes, Toyota Customer Advocates notated to get the vehicle inspected by a certified toyota center, which was done. Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? When driving on the freeway, suddenly, the braking jolted and felt off and the ABS light, traction control, brake light, brake system warning light, master warning light appeared. Additional Information: Per Toyota on 10/28/2024, 3:00pm PDT Representative: Stephanie, that Toyota is unwilling to do anything as it is not a safety recall.

Took car in for repair because all the warning lights are on. The repair shop quoted $1200 for Anti lock braking actuator system which is defective. This is a huge safety issue and a costly repair from Toyota.

While driving my brake light, ABS light, and traction(?) light all came on at once. The brake felt like it had resistance and I have to push it a lot harder than normal to stop. I took it to get a diagnostic ran and received the code C1391. After looking more up for this, this is a very known issue for Priuses and I was never made aware of it. This is a safety concern for all Prius drivers and nobody is made aware until it becomes an issue.

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)

Toyota defective ABS system- revised master cylinder&brake booster pump never changed by dealership except misleading inspection and breach of recall in 2020. The incident happened last year in Sep 2024 dangerous on hwy or freeway. Thank got I was on the side street with beeping vehicle and codes on the dashboard, barely with serious risk went back home! As a defective parts they should be replaced for free or customer should received reimbursement! A professional dealer who performs  ONLY AN INSPECTION for a “recall” in 2020 should replace the factory-damaged part and not brazenly wait for the codes to appear on the dashboard, depriving the customer of free replacement of the factory-defective ABS system. "the complaint was originally filed over the Toyota hybrid system problems in Feb. 2020, presenting claims on behalf of owners of certain 2010 through 2015 Toyota Prius and Prius PHV, 2012 through 2015 Toyota Prius V, 2012 -2014 Toyota Camry Hybrid and Toyota Avalon Hybrid vehicles that contain the defective braking system" ... This complaint accuses Toyota of placing PROFITS before the lives and safety of hundreds of thousands of drivers and passengers whose brakes are defective, but must wait for the potentially life-threatening brake booster defect to occur before the manufacturer will address it. The lawsuit ; ;"presents claims of breach of warranties, false advertisement, illegal sales practices, fraudulent concealment, unfair and deceptive trade practices, unjust enrichment and various other allegations on behalf of hundreds of thousands of impacted vehicle owners across the nation". Similar problem with defective piston rings in my engine which was burning oil under 85-87k based on NEW WORLD ORDER which cost catastrophic engine failure in so many brands and models -2010-2025 Toyota is playing idiotic game about defective products/parts from Toyota Motor Corporation #8rebuild engine [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

C1391 code at 148000 miles - just as others have reported. Quoted 3,500+ for the fix, Dealership said it was out of warranty and thus no help could be provided. The Code reads for a bad Brake Booster Assembly.

On the way home from a family vacation, the brake warning light, ABS warning, and swerve warning lit up on our 2013 Toyota Prius's dashboard. It was evening already, and with only a few miles to go we continued toward our home. While driving at approximately 50 mph, a red light appeared around a bend. I hit the brakes, a little hard, but certainly with enough time to safely stop. The brakes completely locked and the tired screeched and let off smoke, while the back of the car fishtailed around until we were sideways. It was terrifying. I believe the anti-lock brakes failed, and when they seized up it caused loss of control of the vehicle. Fortunately, no other vehicle was in the left turning lane, where we ended up, and we did not pass into the intersection. No one was hurt, but we could easily have been if not for good luck. I have noticed that the Toyota Prius has had a number of warning and warranty extensions due to brake actuator [XXX] ) and that several class-action lawsuits are underway. We would like to report our problem for the safety of others. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Brake actuator needs replaced. Yes please inspect. You have my permission for further review. My safety was put at risk since I was traveling 70-75 mph when my dashboard lit up with warnings. I tried braking and the brake was extremely hard to the touch and required a lot of force to even slow down and stop the car. Just making it home was dangerous. I almost ran into the garage wall since braking is extremely difficult and unresponsive. It hasn't been reproduced or confirmed yet with dealer or mechanic but everything suggests it's this from other accounts online. Toyota refuses to honor faulty part that is rampant in this generation model. The warning lights appeared as soon as it happened out of nowhere. All of these lit up on the dash all at once: brake, ABS, Skid, and the tire pressure icon. My car was making strange wheezing noises in the week or two prior to this happening. I think that is a symptom it will soon fail.

malfunctions of the brake booster and brake booster pump assemblies

Dashboard lights came on today, 8-9-24, indicating Brake Accuator Failure in my 2013 Prius. When I took my 2013 Prius to a dealership for service in April 2024 with mileage of 118,000, I informed them of the noise symptoms I experienced which apparently are a precursor to Brake Accuator failure. I even played them a video in which you can clearly hear these noise symptoms. I was not aware of this issue as I have never received correspondence from Toyota regarding this problem, although I now know a Warranty Enhancement Notification ZG-1 was supposedly sent out. I have not moved in 20 years and should have received this notice. Because the dashboard lights were not on at the time of the April 2024 service visit, and having no idea that the extended warranty window of under 150,000 miles or 10 years had closed on 12-31-23, the dealership would not even consider repairing the Brake Accuator issue. Even though this was a known issue by Toyota, and a dangerous safety issue, they will not provide unlimited free warranty repair. Add to that the prohibitive and unreasonable cost to repair this issue (anywhere from $2000 to $4000) for a car which is 10 years old, and for many is completely out of their monetary reach, is absurd. Even more importantly are the lives put in danger if the brakes go out while at high speed. Toyota should be forced to address this problem and resolve it immediately!

On August 3rd, 2024 my 2013 Toyota Prius lost power brakes at INTERSTATE SPEEDS. This put a number of lives, including my own, at risk. The computer program on the car appears to have been programmed to give operators a "death threat" by initiating a PROGRAMMED LOSS of power braking on the vehicle. There were a number of brake warning lights and an Audible Continuous beeping. When I moved over into the exit ramp from the interstate and applied my brakes this is when it was evident that power brakes were no longer available. I drove the car to a parking lot very close by and let it sit and checked my brake fluid but the brake fluid level was good. After this occurrence the power brakes returned to sufficient operation and have been in operation for approximately 2 days now with many display lights about brakes on the dash and the same audible beep is present. The brakes lights on the dash have been on since approximately November 2021 (2013 model car not even 10 years old of usage at that point). This is a safety risk that Toyota appears to have attempted to mitigate financial losses by having the customers that were not covered by their "customer care" program be the ones to pay exorbitantly high prices for the repair of this item in order to better balance and reduce their own financial loss for this mechanical problem. Toyota appears to have conscientiously reduced the number of cars that they offered to help repair financially under their customer care program. Their repair program went to 10 years since the date of first use or 150,000 miles, whichever comes first. It is unreasonable to expect that these cars will end their usage life at 150,000 miles and can be reasonably expected to be non-usable at that point. There are many vehicles that go past 150,000 miles of use and also past 10 years of use.