There are 10 owner-reported brakes complaints for the 2016 Toyota Priusin NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
We were driving in San Diego and had driven oven a bit pothole. About 50 miles after driving over the pothole, the brakes stopped working. We were pressing down hard on the brake, but the brake was soft and did not do its job. We almost rear ended the car in front of us. We brought the car right away to a close by auto shop and they said there were no leaks as the brake fluid was still close to the max and they did not find any indication of a brake fluid leak and sent us on our way. We are still unsure as to why the brake from this vehicle stopped.
WHEN PUTTING THE CAR IN PARK AND THEN ENGAGING THE FOOT PARKING BRAKE ON A SLOPE, SUCH AS MY DRIVEWAY, AND THEN TURNING OFF THE CAR, THE CAR ROLLS BACK SIGNIFICANTLY. THEN, WHILE EXITING THE CAR, THE REAR BRAKES MAKE LOUD GRINDING AND CREAKY NOISES AS THE CAR SETTLES DOWNWARDS SLIGHTLY. THEN, WHEN ENTERING THE CAR, THE BRAKES MAKE THE SAME CREAKY AND GRINDING SOUNDS. WHEN HOLDING THE BRAKE PEDAL TO POWER ON THE CAR, THEN DISENGAGING THE FOOT PARKING BRAKE, THEN SHIFTING THE CAR FROM PARK TO REVERSE OR DRIVE, THE CAR JERKS ABRUPTLY AND AT THE SAME TIME MAKES A LOUD AND STUCK DISENGAGEMENT SOUND, AS IF THE CAR WAS BEING HELD ON THE HILL/DRIVEWAY SOLELY BY THE PARKING PAWL. IT SEEMS LIKE THE PARKING BRAKE IS NOT HOLDING THE CAR, AND INSTEAD, THE PARKING PAWL IS.
FEBRUARY 7, 2018 !01 FRWY NORTH APPROACHING SANTA ROSA/ PLEASANT VALLEY OFF RAMP ON THE DOWNGRADE OUT OF NEWBURY PARK AT 25 MPH IN THE RIGHT LANE. A.BRAKE LIGHTS ARE SEEN IN CAR AHEAD. B.THE DASH BOARD LIGHTS UP RED WITH THE WORD BRAKE IN RED C.A LOUD PULSATING AUDIO NOISE CAN BE HEARD COMING FROM THE SPEAKERS. D.THE DRIVER TOUCHES THE BRAKES AND THE CAR GOES INTO FULL ABS EMERGENCY BRAKING REDUCING SPEED FROM 25 MPH TO 12 MPH IN LESS THAN 1/2 SECOND E.THE DRIVER AND THE PASSENGERS EXPERIENCE A VIOLENT LURCH WHICH PRODUCES WHIP LASH. F.THE SEAT BELTS ENGAGE CAUSING PAIN TO THE SHOULDERS. G.THE INCIDENT OCCURRED AT 25 MPH. THIS HAS OCCURRED OVER 6 TIMES IN THE PAST YEAR. A PDF IS ATTACHED OF THE HISTORY OF PROBLEM AS PRESENTED TO THOUSAND OAKS TOYOTA AND TOYOTA NATIONAL IN NOVEMBER 2017. VIDEO CAMERAS WERE INSTALLED IN THE CAR IN DECEMBER 2017 TO CAPTURE THIS AS THOUSAND OAKS TOYOTA AND TOYOTA NATIONAL SAID THIS NEVER HAPPENED. HERE ARE THE LINKS TO THE VIDEO OF THE ABOVE INCIDENT: ACCIDENT STARTS AT 30 SECONDS HTTPS://VIMEO.COM/254847752 HTTPS://YOUTU.BE/62AO8Z0IGDY [XXX] - DRIVER [XXX] - PASSENGER FRONT SEAT [XXX] - PASSENGER REAR LEFT SEAT CAMERA 1 MOUNTED IN BACK CEILING CAMERA 2 MOUNTED ON CONSOLE INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
TOYOTA OF SURPRISE IS SAYING THAT THEY CAN'T FIX OUR PRIUS RECALL FOR THE EMERGENCY BRAKE UNTIL JANUARY 2018.
16V741000 WAS NOT PERFORMED ON THE CAR EVEN THOUGH IT WAS PURCHASED 11/17 , AND THE RECALL BEGAN 11/10. DEALER LEE'S TOYOTA LOCATED AT 139-65 QUEENS BLVD, JAMAICA NY 11435
ON FRIDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2016 WHILE DRIVING OVER A POTHOLE I PRESSED ON THE BRAKE. THE CAR SLOWED BUT ALL OF A SUDDEN THE BRAKE SUDDENLY DEPRESSED EVEN FURTHER DOWN AND THE CAR JERKED AND SEEMED TO STALL BEFORE PUSHING FORWARD. I HAD BEEN PRESSING THE BRAKE AS FAR DOWN AS IT WOULD GO AND IT SEEMED AS IF THERE WOULD BE SOME KIND OF BRAKE FAILURE. ON OCTOBER 31, 2016 WHILE DRIVING OVER ANOTHER POTHOLE, I AGAIN STEPPED ON THE BRAKE AND SUDDENLY THE PEDAL AGAIN DEPRESSED FURTHER DOWN AND THERE WAS A CREAKING AND SQUEALING SOUND. THEN ON NOVEMBER 4, 2016 WHILE GOING OVER A POTHOLE, THERE WAS A SQUEALING AND CREAKING SOUND BUT NOT A SUDDEN ADDITIONAL DEPRESSION OF THE BRAKE PEDAL. ALL THESE INCIDENTS HAPPENED ON SALT LAKE BLVD. OR KAMEHAMEHA HIGHWAY AND PASSES UNDER THE FIXED GUIDEWAY FOR HAWAII'S RAIL SYSTEM. THE ROAD IS EXTREMELY BUMPY AND FULL OF POTHOLES.
VEHICLE HAS CLICKING NOISE WHEN WE PUSH THE BREAK PADDLE. THIS IS THE SECOND VEHICLE THAT I GOT FROM TOYOTA WHICH HAS THE SAME PROBLEM. THE COMPANY KEPT THE FIRST VEHICLE AND THEN GIVE ME THIS ONE AFTER THE TRADE IN.
BRAKES, I HAVE ANTI LOCK BRAKES, BUT IF I HAVE TO PRESS THE BRAKE THE LEAST BIT HARD IT LOCKS UP. I HAVE TALKED TO THE DEALER ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND HE SAYS ITS NORMAL. THEY ALSO GRAB WHEN I PUT THEM ON. THIS IS MY THIRD PRIUS AND I HAVE NEVER HAD THIS PROBLEM. I THINK THIS NEEDS TO BE LOOKED INTO.IT MAKES THE CAR SKID . THANK YOU *TR
WHEN GENTLY APPLYING BRAKES FOR A STOP LIGHT, AND THE RIGHT WHEEL HITS A 1 AND 1/8 INCH DEEP DEPRESSION IN THE ROAD, THE BRAKES FEEL LIKE THEY MOMENTARILY RELEASE. THE DEPRESSION IS FOR A 9 INCH DIAMETER CITY WATER COVER, AND THE OVERALL DIAMETER OF THE DEPRESSION IS 12 INCHES, AND IT IS 1 AND 1/8 INCHES DEEP. THIS CAN BE REPLICATED AT THIS LOCATION AND WE HAVE ALSO NOTICED THE SAME THING HAPPENING ELSEWHERE IN TOWN.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS REVERSING AND DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE VEHICLE JERKED WHILE COMING TO A STOP. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT HAD TO RELEASE THE BRAKE PEDAL TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO CITY TOYOTA (255 SAN PEDRO RD, DALY CITY, CA 94014, (650) 204-8135) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKE ACTUATOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT TO SCHEDULE A DIAGNOSTIC APPOINTMENT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 17,000.
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 26, 2026