NHTSA Owner Complaint Log
This page lists owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2013 Toyota Prius. Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA and do not by themselves prove a defect or defect rate.
Traveling approximately 15mph I collided with a full size truck the front end of my car totaled. I was wearing my seat belt and air bags did not deploy causing me to hit the steering wheel with enough force to fracture my sternum. This is the 2nd time a frontal impact occurred causing damage to the front bumper and air bags did not deploy.
As I was driving my vehicle, all lights related to ABS system came on and stayed on. This included the traction light, the ABS light, and the brake light. My brake pedal became much less responsive and took more pressure to activate the brakes in the car. If I had needed to brake suddenly, I don't know that my car would have stopped. I took it to the dealer and they said there is an abnormal leak inside the ABS accumulator.
The brake booster and actuator assembly has failed at 130000 miles, within mileage and outside of time frame of limited recall bulletin. No help from dealership with repair costs exceeding value of the vehicle and vehicle is unsafe to drive.
The clear coat failed despite regular wax and optimal storage. I have seen a few Toyota vehicles of this same color with clear coat failures.
I was driving and suddenly the car started beeping and the brake, e-brake, abs, and traction control lights came on. As soon as I found an opportunity I tried to brake but the car would not stop and the brake pedal became really hard. I had swerve to avoid hitting cars in front of me. It was the scariest moment of my life. I shifted the car from D to B to use the engine braking. I finally was able to slow down enough to turn right on a side Street and pushed on the brake pedal with all my strength and it finally came to a stop. I was lucky I didn't have a collision or strike a pedestrian, that I also drive defensively and leave enough space in front of me, and that I was on a surface street and not on a freeway which I frequently use because if I was I would have surely crashed. This is NOT right. Brakes should NOT suddenly fail! Under any circumstances. It was confirmed by a mechanic that it's the BRAKE BOOSTER AND BRAKE BOOSTER PUMP ASSEMBLIES had failed and had the following codes C1252, C1253, and C1256 were found. The same issue and codes reported in tsb pol18-03.
While driving on the highway, ABS, "Brake"/E-Brake, Traction Control Lights lit up all at the same time out of the blue. No prior engine lights/codes before this incident. During that trip, brakes felt more difficult to press, loss all brake regeneration for the hybrid battery but was still about to brake for that entire 100 miles trip. As of now, the car is still able to brake but it looks like it's just primarily using the mechanical brakes all the time now. It still has that different brake feel compared to when before all those engine lights went on. Regenerative braking is no longer working. Brought the car to the shop at was given the error codes C1391 and C2315.
The contact owns a 2013 Toyota Prius. The contact stated while driving approximately 5 to 10 MPH, the vehicle stalled. The contact was able to restart the vehicle, but the failure persisted. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who replaced the battery on two occasions, but the failure reoccurred. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 173,699.
Car currently at 88k miles. Spongy and weakening brake pressure. Slower to stop. Brake constantly priming indicates brake actuator and brake boost failure. Confirmed by independent mechanic.
2013 with 128000 miles, brake pump and accumulator for ABS failed, all sensors are on. Pedal is shaking when pressed, called Toyota South Coast in California, have told the extended warranty expired on 28 December 2022, what a joke, right on 10 years it means. But car has been driven less than 12k miles until today. This brake issue is a safety problem, cant use a used part which more likely will have the same issue. Not speaking of the labor of Dealership service, but having the original updated parts for over $1000 is a lame and Toyota USA should be shamed for this. Code C1391, T-SB 0024-19
2013 Prius lit up like a Christmas tree last night. Traction control, brake, and abs warning lights all came on at once. The brake feel really weird and luckily I was like 3 miles away from home
On this 2013 Toyota Prius 2, the brake actuator is starting to make more and more rhythmic noise. A mechanic just alerted me that the seal is leaking, requiring a costly repair - to which he said to check for a recall as he has seen many Priuses with the same issue. While no Toyota recall is present, I can see that the NHTSA is already investigating the issue for a potential recall. As this is a live example in the Los Angeles, CA area, I am happy to demonstrate this issue to a NHTSA office, if necessary and/or available.
ABS brake failure (code c1391) occurred at less than 98,000 miles. Toyota will not cover cost despite being a commonly known failure.
Brake booster failure; actuator and pump replacement needed.
Lost brakes on the freeway. Managed to pull over and get the car to a mechanic. He diagnose d the problem as the brake actuator pump.We then took the car to a Toyota dealership that confirmed the Diagnosis. I understand that the NHTSA is revisiting a complaint about the failure of this part. It cost me $3600 to have it repaired. I personally believe that Toyota should cover this as they have known the part was a problem.
**What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? **How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? **Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? **Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? **Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT The passenger side seat belt became folded and stuck. It would not enable the person to pull it and attach it to the clasp. When my little boy did pull it in the clasp it was an extremely snug fit. I had 3 people try to unfold it. Finally someone had to slice it so that we could at least get part of it to work and go into the clasp. The shoulder strap did attach properly it is just the stomach strap that is not working properly. I brought it to the Toyota dealership to see: 1. If there were any recalls on it. 2. To see about getting it repaired. The dealer said that there were no recalls on that item and that it was indeed broken and it would cost over $500 to repair. I have not brought it the manufacturer. I don’t know where the manufacturer is located. Are they in Japan? The only warning signs were when the seatbelt was not properly attached because it did not properly fit on my passenger.
The 2013 pruis has developed the notorious brake booster fault triggering the brake light abs light and traction control light to stay illuminated. Toyota has many complaints about this brake booster issue and needs to recall and fix this issue as they have done on other Toyotas. This is leaving owners with a $2500 repair or having to take a big risk driving these cars with a big prevalent brake issue that Toyota needs to be held accountable for.
The contact owns a 2013 Toyota Prius. The contact stated that after several days of torrential rainfall, the contact noticed there was water in the tire and 12-volt battery compartment. After having a routine oil change at an independent mechanic, while the contact was driving, the vehicle lost power steering functionality. The power steering warning light illuminated after the failure. The driver was able to restart the vehicle and pull over to the side of the road. The contact called Roadside Assistance and was informed that there was a code for the hybrid battery system that needed to be checked. The contact noticed that water might have entered through the rear passenger’s side brake light. The contact removed the water with a sump pump. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic who was unable to assist. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 119,000.
I was driving my 2013 Toyota Prius last week when my my dashboard lit up with the Brake, ABS, and Traction Control lights all going on simultaneously. Shortly thereafter, I attempted to brake, as a car stopped in my lane to make a left hand turn, and the brakes did not engage as they should. I had to press twice as hard for very limited braking; my braking distance increased substantially and I narrowly avoided hitting the turning car in front of me. I drove it directly to the dealership and they diagnosed it as a failure of the Brake Master Cylinder Assembly and Brake Booster Pump Assembly (code C1391). Upon further research, I found that Toyota had previously acknowledged the problem and issued a warranty extension (Customer Support Program ZJB) that covered up to 150,000 miles or 10 years. While my Prius is well below the mileage requirement, I am beyond the 10 year limitation by less than 6 months. By Toyota's own admission, the Customer Support Program covered approximately 946,100 vehicles. This part failure put the safety of those on the road in front of me—and me—at risk.
The brake pump which pressurizes the nitrogen accumulator kept cycling on more and more frequently until it was cycling on every 8 seconds after stopping while trying to maintain pressure in the automated brake system. Brake pressure began pulsating when applying brakes and was slowly becoming noticeably more unstable as time progressed. I could also hear a steady flow of fluid through the booster/master cylinder unit. This seems to be a common issue often being discussed online in forums like “Prius Chat”, an online car community describing the characteristics of the power brake system in this vehicle before it fails as well as with a number of online youtube mechanics replacing these units. It seems as though the solution is for dealerships to charge in many cases more than 4000 dollars to replace both the entire “Brake Booster Assy, w/Master Cylinder” and the “ Pump Assy, Brake Booster” as standard procedure. I believe it’s the ‘Brake Booster Assy, w/Master Cylinder’ unit causing the issue, I do all my own repair work on my vehicles and I partially disassembled the booster/master cylinder unit, upon removing the cover for the circuit board control unit integrated into the assembly I discovered evidence of an overheated or corroded circuit board. The soldered pins for the main bus connecting the wiring harness to the circuit board showed possible charing and discoloration as well as very dull colored soldered joints. This was also observed at the bottom of the circuit board as well. After replacing both assembly units in the vehicle the brakes work flawlessly again. I was told by the parts salesman at the local Toyota dealership that he had been selling a lot of these replacement units lately.
- The Hydraulic Brakes, or brake actuator, failed. I have taken it to my local mechanic and they confirmed. - My brakes are operating at a substantially reduced capacity - an emergency mode that only allows for the front brakes to work - Yes, my local mechanic confirmed the problem - It has only been inspected by my local mechanic - yes, several warning lights came on while I was driving.
While driving on a highway overpass, the brake booster system suddenly failed in my 2013 Prius on March 12, 2024. The vehicle displayed Diagnostic Trouble Code (DTC) 1391, which is a known issue with Toyota Prius vehicles. Toyota offered an extended warranty for this repair that expired in August of 2023, admitting that their vehicles contained faulty parts. There have been several complaints about this known issue and an investigation needs to be reopened regarding this ongoing issue. Will someone from the NHTSA please start an investigation or facilitate in any way to get an investigation into to this reoccurring issue. Brakes matter and society is depending on government and corporations to be transparent and ethical. The FTC, BBB and Attorney General’s need to act on behalf of everyone in keeping our roads safe and holding Toyota accountable again. This is absolutely a major safety issue that should be covered by Toyota regardless of when it manifests.
Loss of brake function coming to a red light. 5 warning lights illuminated. Also noticed a noise that appears to be coming from the brake pump that is cycling every 3-4 seconds. 1) Masterv Warning Light. 2) Brake System Warning Light 3) Brake System Warning Light 4) ABS Warning Light 5) SLIP Indicator I have called the Toyota service advisor and will be getting a quote for repair. Apparently, I have found out that there is a class action inquiry that I would like to be included in.
Several dashboard lights came on suddenly when braking. Upon speaking with the dealership it was determined that I experienced sudden brake actuator failure resulting in loss of braking power. Fortunately, it was not complete loss of braking or it could have been dangerous to myself and others on the road. Upon researching this issue, I have discovered that brake actuator failures are not uncommon in Toyota Prius models, and there have been numerous reports and complaints from other owners facing similar problems. This raises serious questions about the integrity of the brake system in these vehicles and the potential for widespread safety hazards.
Brake Booster failed last February 2024 while driving. The mileage at that time was around 89,270. Found out there was customer service support program for this issue that run through 2023. Since I bought the car used from Honda of Capitola (2018), I didn’t get any notification or unaware of this CSP. And the issue came out only this year. Had I know about this letter, I could have this inspected by Toyota. This is very unusual to have a brake booster failed with less than 100K. Called Toyota for assistance but they said I’m passed the CSP service date. Paid $3343.22 to have the car fix last 3/27/24. There should be a recall of this problem as more and more Toyota owner are still having this same issue. Thank you.
Getting a C1391 brake module /ABS failure
As I was driving, the ABS, Brake, and Traction Control lights all illuminated on my dashboard and have remained on since. I took the car into the dealership to get a diagnosis, and they told me that I had a accumulator leak and needed to repair my brake master cylinder and replace the brake booster pump assembly. This is apparently a known issue with Toyota Prius, as hundreds of others have discussed this in various forums.
I pushed on the gas, the car started mildly shaking under the hood( the engine) then I released my foot off the gas and the shaking ceased. I the. Attempted to accelerate again and the car started violently shaking so I released my foot from the accelerator and turned the car while coasting onto a side road where I traveled back home. Had the car towed to mechanic. He said the engine needs to be replaced as the pistons are damaged. My car has 196,000. I will have the engine replaced as my other 2012 engine just did the same similar thing and I am out two Priuses with blown engines. There were no warning lights and no previous issues or signs prior to the catastrophic events.
Took vehicle for state inspection on 2/13/2024, failed inspection because of brake warning lights. Slip indicator, Electronically controlled brake warning light, Brake warning light, Anti-lock brake system, and Low tire pressure lights are all on. I have looked into it, and it seems the brake actuator/booster used to be under warranty, however since this is a 2013 in 2024 with almost 210k miles on it, it no longer qualifies for the original recall.
The abs system and brake lights started showing on my dash and when I put my foot on the brake it makes a noise and the car shakes hard to brake when to the mechanic they said is the abnormal leak acc pressure code c1319
Power brake, electronic systems around braking, brake actuator and assembly. Gradual degradation of brake power and resistance resulting in complete loss of power brakes system. Vehicle's brake system no longer works as designed. Vehicle has been inspected by technician. No warning lights or lamps in advance of total brake system shut down.
The brake booster system suddenly failed in my 2013 Prius. I was driving when the ABS warning light, the brake warning light, and slip indicator light came on. The brakes became soft and it was difficult to stop the vehicle. I had it towed to a local, independent mechanic and the entire brake assembly had to be replaced. Toyota offered an extended warranty for this repair that expired in August of 2023, admitting that their vehicles contained faulty parts. This is absolutely a major safety issue that should be covered by Toyota regardless of when it manifests.
ABS Brake Warning Light On-stays on-this just happened within last 2 weeks. Not sure on safety measures but unsure if I keep driving it the brakes will just give out. The problem has been confirmed and seen by Tire Max but no diagnostic tests were ran. The just saw the light was on. No one has inspected the vehicle component by the manufacturer, police, or insurance company. No warning lamps prior to the problem but the ABC Warning light stays on while cranked and it first appeared about 2 weeks ago. I do want to add that a similiar recall or warranty had been put out by Toyota on Sept 4th 2020-(T-SB-0089-20) for 2012-2014 Prius V & C stating: "Some 2012-2014 model year Prius V hybrid vehicles may exhibit a condition where the brake, ABS, and/or TRAC warning lights are on and/or a Check VSC message displays. Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTCS) C1391, C1252, C1256, C1253 may be stored. This condition may be caused by a small internal brake fluid leak inside the brake booster assembly with master cylinder. The warranty was for Prius V or C but my Prius(no V or C) has been affected with the same issue but Toyota will not honor this warranty or recall due to the problem not showing as specific to my vin#. So I am reporting this problem so it can be submitted that there is a similar problem with my Prius as well as the Prius V or C so others could submit their problem as well. I cannot afford to fix this myself. I need Toyota to back up their cars.
ABS , brake. Anti lock lights
I was driving home on a busy street in Houston, TX on a clear day. I tried to slow down due to traffic & the following warning lights appeared on the dash: red brake system warning and yellow brake light, ABS, brake system warning light & the slip indicator light. Right after, I came to a red light & started to brake, the car felt like it was on ice and couldn't stop properly. Fortunately I didn't have to come to a complete stop because there were many cars in front of me and the light turned green. when I stopped applying pressure to the brakes the car sort of shook side to side. Each time I had to brake, the car felt like it was on ice, I had to put the hazards on & give myself a very large amount of room to stop the car. While at a red light I turned the car off/on; no change in the dashboard lights. I turned onto a street w/ less traffic; pulled over, turned the car on/off again and no change. I was less than a mile from home so I drove the rest of the way w/ my hazards on & never went faster than about 15 mph; even at that speed the car took too long to come to a complete stop, it felt like I almost had no brakes at all. Thank God I wasn't on the highway w/ no brakes!! This is a HUGE safety issue, someone could die or be seriously injured. Had the car towed to a Toyota dealership on Mon 1/15/24; they said there was a brake fluid leak in the master cylinder & malfunction of brake booster pumps, the code was C1391; both parts needed to be replaced. Total cost for repairs $3800. Had the car towed to a mechanic, paid $2600 for the same service. Per my research this is a known problem with this generation of Prius', Toyota offered an "enhanced warranty" to replace the parts if they were broken, but the dealer said my warranty expired in 2022. Why weren't owners made aware of this issue and warranty? I would have brought the car in for repair in the past if I knew there was a defect with the car. The car should be recalled.
ABS, Brake, Trac warning, and brake lights turned on. When I used a diagnostic device, I read the code C1391 code. The brakes of the vehicle are not working properly. Upon my research, I found that several factors can trigger the C1391 code, including a faulty brake accumulator pressure sensor, low brake fluid level, brake system leaks, issues with the ABS pump/motor, or electrical problems within the brake system. This problem has many safety implications. The brake system is fundamental for vehicle control and stopping power. Any compromise in its performance poses a risk to the driver, passengers, and others on the road. Prompt action is necessary to investigate and rectify the root cause of the C1391 code to ensure the continued safety of affected vehicles. I think Toyota company should issue a recall for this faulty system.
ABS, Brake, and Traction control lights are on alongside a constant beeping. I have lost regenerative braking and it now takes more effort upon the brake pedal to come to a complete stop. I am in fear that the brake system will go out completely, causing damage to myself or my children.
While driving on the freeway, all of a sudden the ABS, Slip Indicator, Brake, and Brake System lights lit up on the dashboard. I immediately switched lanes to one that had no cars in front/back of me since I was going about 55mph. I tested the brakes since I saw the brake lights appear. It felt as though when the brake pedal was pushed, they didn't activate until you reached a certain point, almost to the point where the pedal needed to be fully pressed to stop. It didn't feel like the brakes were fully functional and behaving in the way they were prior to the lights appearing. I was afraid the brakes would give out. Then I noticed a whirling/hissing sound that was consistent. The sound was easier to hear when the car was at a complete stop but it could still be heard while driving. We took the car to a local Toyota dealership/service dept to get it evaluated. They diagnosed the car saying it needs immediate attention and is not safe for driving since it involves the brakes. The repair invoice stated VARIOUS BRAKE WARNING LIGHTS ON C1391.
I am the joint title owner of a 2013 Prius. This complaint is Case # [XXX] at Toyota. Our [XXX] daughter has full-time use & possession of this vehicle. In her own words, this is what happened: “I was driving on the [XXX], about to merge onto the [XXX] in Los Angeles. This is an extremely traffic-heavy interchange. Approaching the stopped car in front of me, I applied my brakes. The brakes did not work properly. I had to press the brake pedal much harder than I normally do, & my car kept going for another two seconds or so before stopping. Three dash lights came on – ABS light, brake light, & light with the swerving car symbol. There was a ‘puffing’ type of sound from the brake pedal that lasted about a second, then stopped for about two seconds, then started again, & so on. That sound would come out of the pedal area regardless of whether I applied the brakes. Frightened by the brake failure, I pulled off the freeway in downtown L.A. I turned the car off & let it sit for a few minutes. When I turned it back on, the same three dash lights came back on, & the car was still not braking properly – still the delay, the need to press harder than usual, & the sound. I drove directly to my Toyota dealer. It was a 35-minute, nerve-wracking trip.” The dealer found "CODE C1391 ABNORMAL LEAK IN ACCUMULATOR." Cost of repair was $3,163.12. Note also that in 7/23, she had taken the car to the dealer with the "SAME sound" (her words) when braking. The dealer could not duplicate the problem. They did not conduct a brake test at that time. Online, I discovered that this serious safety issue had been raised in a previous petition, investigation, & customer support program that expired. This problem is the subject of a CURRENT, OPEN, NHTSA Action, # DP23005. Toyota knew of this problem, instituted a program due to safety risks from C1391, allowed the program to expire, & has left us at risk without warning. Our other daughter owns a 2014 Prius. This needs recall. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Just like many prius owners have complained of brake actuator/booster failure , my brake booster has failed also. Toyota recalled some cars and then decided to not own up to this issue which they know is affecting many pruis owners and costs between $3000 and $4500 for dealers to fix, therefore Toyota has just decided to refuse to do this repair and leave their customers high and dry with a known major safety brake issue affecting these most prius vehicles. Toyota needs to be forced to recall these cars and own up to this issue. Look at how many complaints Toyota has had on this brake booster issue and yet they are refusing to recall or even offer help to resolve this major safety issue. NHTSA needs to put pressure on Toyota to recall this brake issue affecting many prius owners as shown by the volume of complaints.
The rear right wheel broke off when going in reverse, leaving driveway (low speed). Towed to a garage. Was told that the rear frame member had rusted through. Had no warning of this -- car is used regularly and had been inspected several months ago. EXACT SAME THING HAPPENED TO ANOTHER COUPLE WE KNOW WHO ALSO OWN A 2013 PRIUS -- rear wheel came off because the frame member rusted through. Happened about a month before ours. They too were going in reverse, slowly, coming out of a parking spot, after driving 40+ miles to Boston. Car needed to be towed and rear frame member replaced. Repair for us cost $1300
THIS VEHICLE NEEDS TO TAKE OFF FROM THE CONSUMERS DUE DOESN'T DRIVES PROPERLY HAS REAR MAJOR DAMAGE ALSO LEFT SIDE REAR DOOR THEY DIDN'T DID GOOD JOB ALSO THE HYBRID BATTERY SHOWS AT THE DASHBOARD IN N OUT ENGINE CHECK LIGHT. THE REAR FRAME BOUNCE BY THE SIDE IT'S UNSAFE. CAR TIME DEALERSHIP AT ONTARIO, CA DON'T CARE BE CAREFUL ALSO SOLD ME WITH STOLEN CA LICENSE PLATES THIS DEALERSHIP, IT'S SCAM. I DIDN'T KNOW LIKE TO SCAM CONSUMERS SINCE [XXX] GOT IT AND RETURN IT DUE REFUSE TO FIX IT RIGHT AND; THE BANK CANCEL THE TRANSACTION GLOBAL LENDING SERVICES BY ROSE BROWN GENERAL MANAGER EXT 51033 AT THE TELEPHONE THE BANK 877-538-2071 INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
The brake accumulator and brake actuator failed while driving and lost brakes. I had to step on the pedal very hard to avoid a collision. Check engine light C1391 came on
See attached document for complaint
BRAKE BOOSTER AND BRAKE BOOSTER PUMP ASSEMBLIES. making a buzzing noise. cost to repair is estimated to be 2500 or more. Toyota even has a bulletin for it, but they did not inform the public, because the part is very expensive and difficult to fix on a prius. since it has expired, we are out of luck.
Brake system failure. Traction control light, brake light, abs light, and brake system warning light all lit up on dash. The regenerative braking is no longer working or charging battery. Obvious loss of stopping power. Does not feel safe to drive at all. Toyota wants $3,000-$4,000 for the repair. Toyota should be held liable for these failures causing crashes and potential fatalities. This should already be a recall.
Check hybrid system. Stop the vehicle in a safe place. About 90,000 miles 2013 Prius bought brand new and regular all dealer maintenance completed. Lost power on the road and very slow pickup. Not drivable and very unsafe car. Thanks.
Brake pump failed while on the highway. Brake functionality and braking distance changed drastically while driving high speeds. Dealer confirmed that the breaker pump and master cylinder must be replaced with a new assemblies. There was no recall for this failure, but a Toyota Customer Support Program for replacement of this brake assembly was active for reports of this failure only before April 2023. Toyota dealerships are not obligated to cover this replacement or make customer aware on any suspected vehicle unless the failure was present before April 2023. Warning lamps only appeared at brake pump failure - not before failure.
Factual Background: I purchased the vehicle on May 2, 2023, with approximately 61,000 miles on the odometer. On October 22, 2023, the vehicle displayed Diagnostic Trouble Code (DTC) 1391, which is a known issue with Toyota Prius vehicles. Currently my vehicle currently has approximately 86,000 miles on the odometer. I first contacted Toyota on October 27, 2023, and spoke to Tier 1, Tier 2, and ultimately to a Tier 3 support representative. I was told that I could not escalate further, but that a supervisor would do a one business day call back. On October 30, 2023, I received a call back from a supervisor who escalated my case to the Executive Office. On October 31, 2023, I received a call from the Executive Office and asked for their address in order to file a formal complaint. On that very same day, I went to Peterson Toyota to have them confirm DTC 1391, which they did and my visit and paperwork is recorded within your internal system via Toyota Information System (1TIS) per the dealership. I am requesting that Toyota fix the known and now verified defective brake booster and brake booster pump in my vehicle at no cost to me, the consumer, pursuant to the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act and implied warranty of Toyota’s products. Again all of the details regarding my vehicle and its history are found on Toyota Information System (TIS). There have been several complaints about this known issue and an investigation needs to be reopened regarding this ongoing issue. Several class action lawsuits are getting settled before consumers have a chance to hold Toyota liable. Will someone from the NHTSA please start an investigation or facilitate in any way to get an investigation into to this reoccurring issue. Brakes matter and society is depending on government and corporations to be transparent and ethical. The FTC, BBB and Attorney General’s need to act on behalf of everyone in keeping our roads safe and holding Toyota accountable again. Too many people’s lives matter.
Brake booster defect caused ABS and brake light went on, thus we lost ABS while driving. Initially we heard noises while breaking in April 2023, told to change break pads. We went in to Toyota dealer again in Oct 2023, and diagnosed with brake booster problem, leaking gas inside. Toyota knew that its brake booster has a defect in design and has customer support program as a post failure solution vs recalls as a preventative measure. We were never informed about this customer support program regarding defect in brake booster. Toyota declined to repair saying my car already missed the time window (10 years since first use). Toyota should recall brake booster assemblies for Prius 2010-2015. In my case, due to delay in diagnosing this serious problem, I was put on a serious financial burden to pay for this repair ($2800 quoted by Toyota dealer). I was also put on a life threatening risk of driving a malfunctioning car for a long time without being informed. Since the beginning of this incidence, I’ve called Toyota four times and Toyota acknowledged that they did not inform me and Toyota dealer failed to make a proper diagnosis on time to repair.
What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? Brake Booster and Brake Booster Pump Assembly have failed. Part are available for inspection. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? Had trouble stopping on the highway and at intersections. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? Yes Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? No Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? No. Problem happened before warning lights appeared. Later, problem was verified with error codes, dash lights, and sensation of brake action.
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026