2014 TOYOTA PRIUS Service Brakes Problems

The brake booster system (electric brake booster pump) in my 2014 Toyota Prius has been making frequent, audible cycling noises inside the cabin, particularly during cold weather. I have also noticed a faint odor outside the vehicle that seems related to electrical movement. No ABS or brake warning lights have illuminated, but the cycling pump may indicate increased stress on the brake system. The issue has not yet been diagnosed or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center. The problem has not caused a loss of braking ability to date, but the unusual noises and electrical odor suggest potential risk if the booster were to fail completely. No recall or customer support program currently covers this issue. The component is part of the vehicle’s brake system and would be available for inspection by a dealer or manufacturer upon request. Toyota has offered no help or possibility of Goodwill assistance inspection for this issue.

The brake system malfunctioned suddenly. While driving and while stopped, the brake pedal became very hard and braking behavior became unpredictable. The vehicle sometimes brakes aggressively and other times requires excessive pedal force to stop. The ABS and BRAKE warning lights illuminated. The vehicle no longer provides normal braking assistance. This issue is related to a failure of the brake actuator / brake booster, which is a known issue affecting Toyota Prius models from 2010 to 2015. This defect creates a serious safety risk, as braking performance is inconsistent and may increase stopping distance or cause loss of control during emergency braking situations. The vehicle has not been repaired yet because the cost is very high and the manufacturer has declined assistance despite this being a known safety-related defect.

My 2014 Toyota Prius (VIN [XXX] , 77,000 miles) displayed Brake, ABS, and Slip warning lights. A mechanic confirmed failure of the Brake Booster and Pump Assembly (DTC C1391). Toyota previously acknowledged this as a safety-related defect under Customer Support Program ZJB, but my coverage expired because I never received Toyota’s notice dated May 21, 2019. My car has been undrivable for weeks and Toyota refuses goodwill repair. This is a serious brake safety issue that should be reviewed for recall or extended coverage since many Prius owners have experienced the same failure. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

ABS complete and total failure while driving.

The ADS, traction light, and brake light all came on at once. Apparently this is a known problem with these cars and Toyota was fixing them for awhile but has stopped. No brake issues were reported when I brought it in for inspection in 2023. I never received any mail stating that this was a know defect and I needed to bring my car in to get it inspected. It's obvious to me that Toyota designed a defective part that impacts safety, and is forcing the owner to bear the cost of the fix by creating parameters that can never be met before the warranty expires.

My brakes consistently lock and the car lunges forward. Driving down the highway I tapped my brakes and they didn’t work. I lost traction in the brakes. I had no control over the car or speed. I’m scared everyday I have to drive it. This is extremely dangerous and I've seen this comment often with this vehicle. Toyota said they had an extended warranty for this but it expired. I never received any mail or phone calls stating that this was a known defect. They say they can’t do anything now and are quoting me over $3000 to fix it.

The brake actuator failed, it can be available for inspection anytime. My ABS light, brake light, and traction control lights all came on to indicate the failure. Since the hybrid engine requires the breaking system to recharge, failure of this part will eventually lead you to be stranded if it isn’t functional. Additionally, the responsiveness of the breaks makes driving at higher speeds a lot riskier. Toyota offered an "extended warranty" to have the parts replaced for free for 10 years or 150,000 miles, whichever came first. My make is 2014, at only 89,000 miles.

Apparently Toyota knows of a recurring problem with the brake actuator. I took my Toyota Prius to the dealer for an unrelated recall issue that they repaired and I asked them what the sound was that I kept hearing every 10 seconds or so. The told me it is the brake actuator, but did not seem concerned at all that I get it repaired right away. They did quote me a very high price to have it fixed by them. I have chosen to take it to my mechanic for repair. In the mean time, I decided to research this on the internet and discovered that it is a known problem by Toyota and there is a class action suite filed on them. I want Toyota to pay to have it fixed! I fear for my life and lives of others with the same issue.

There was a safety recall issued for brake system malfunctions involving the brake booster and brake booster pump assemblies on my vehicle. Unfortunately, the recall expired on December 31, 2024. On March 4, 2025, at 4:10 PM, I contacted the District Manager Advocate in Plano, Texas. I explained that I had been in the ICU twice and am now [XXX]. During the recall period, I was in and out of hospitals for more than four years, making it impossible for me to be aware of or respond to the recall in time. My vehicle has since begun exhibiting the exact symptoms outlined in the recall. When I brought this to their attention, I was told that while the issue was indeed covered under a past recall, there is nothing they can do now because it has expired. This vehicle is our only mode of transportation, which is critical for my ongoing medical treatments, as well as for my husband who recently suffered a heart attack. As I write this, we have no other option but to continue using the vehicle—despite the serious safety risk—because of the urgent and necessary care both of us require. On August 4, 2025, I contacted Toyota headquarters. They reached out to the dealership and spoke with management, but unfortunately, no resolution was offered except for information about a separate, newer recall. I followed up again with the District Manager and spoke with Ashley, who informed me that after escalating the case, there was still nothing further they could do and she expressed her apologies. This situation has caused further deterioration to my health due to the stress and anxiety of potential vehicle failure, and it has added to the burden of my husband’s fragile health condition. At this time, he has been unable to return to work, and we have no income to cover the cost of a repair that should have been addressed through the original recall. We would deeply appreciate any assistance, reconsideration, or compassionate review of our case. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

I am writing to express my profound concern and disappointment regarding a recent, terrifying incident involving the brake system of my 2014 Toyota Prius. On Saturday, June 21, 2025, while driving with other passengers, my vehicle experienced a complete and sudden brake failure. Multiple warning lights illuminated on the dashboard, and despite my efforts, the brakes became unresponsive, making it impossible to stop the car. The sheer terror and helplessness I felt in that moment, with the very real potential for a catastrophic accident involving myself, my passengers, and other road users, is indescribable. Fortunately, through sheer luck and quick thinking, I was able to make an emergency stop on the side of the road, preventing any collision or injury. However, the emotional toll of that experience, the lingering stress, and the fear of a recurrence remain significant. I was subsequently informed that the cause of the failure was a leak in the brake accumulator. I am attaching the diagnosis and repair invoice. The necessary repairs were not completed until Wednesday, June 25th. This unforeseen and critical malfunction also necessitated the expense of a rental car for four days, adding to the financial burden and inconvenience. My frustration is compounded by the fact that this brake accumulator issue is a well-documented and known defect in Toyota Prius models, specifically affecting 2010-2015 vehicles. Toyota itself has previously issued a Technical Service Bulletin (TSB T-SB-0043-13) acknowledging this problem and offering warranty extensions for affected vehicles, typically up to 10 years or 150,000 miles. Despite this being a recognized safety concern, I was informed that my vehicle falls approximately eight months outside the 10-year warranty period, thus disqualifying me.

After 120K miles and 11 years of use, my Prius 3 brake booster pump failed while I was driving. The warning lights came on, including the ABS and brake lights. My brake felt strange, and I had to finish my drive to the dealership keeping a large driving distance so the brakes would work in time. I was advised that this was a result of a C1391 error and that the brake pump part is only covered under extended warranty for 10 years. The advisors at the dealership said it is extremely common for cars to come in with this problem just after the warranty period has ended. I have spoken to other Prius user who have complained of the same issue and are considering a class action lawsuit because this safety issue is so common.

While driving my dashboard lit up with Brake, ABS, and traction control warning lights. Brake pedal fell to the floor when pressed. I was then able to stop the car. I brought the car to a local auto parts store, where they were able to determine that the error code was C1391 brake accumulator pressure leak. I made an appointment and brought my car to my local Toyota dealer the next day. I was informed that the brake booster assembly, brake booster pump, and master cylinder would have to be replaced, at a cost of approximately $4035.00. I was informed that Toyota issued a Customer Satisfaction Program for this exact issue on my car. While my car has 129,000 miles and falls within their coverage range of 150,000, the car’s age of 11 years did not fall within their limit of 10 years. According to Toyota, this is a known failure and my only problem is that my brakes did not fail sooner. Toyota’s corporate office denied my appeal to cover the cost of the repair. The local Toyota dealer charged me $150 to read the code and confirm what the local Auto parts store was able to do for free.

Issue started with a noise sounding like a motor constantly trying to prime its self. Then while driving on freeway ABS light Brake light and traction control lights all came on. Took car to dealership and was given a $3700 bill to replace Brake Booster Master Cylinder and Brake booster pump. This is a known issue to Toyota and have offered an extended warranty 10 years or 150000 miles but not a recall. My vehicle is at 11 years and 123000 miles. This issue put my family in danger due to the threat of total brake failure.

Was driving down the road and the brakes stopped working and the the brake light the traction light and abs light came on. The brakes only worked if i put the pedal all the way to the floor after that. I checked online and found numerous other people have had this issue but no recall has ever been done. only nhtsa safety notices and a volunteered customer support program by toyota which was no longer being honored because I was passed the 10 year mark even though my vehicle was still under the 150k mile threshold by toyota. I wish your organization would force toyota to do a full recall on this. this is a dangerous safety issue involving a defective brake booster and master cylinder

The brake booster assist assembly failed, causing a leak of brake fluid, im told that over time this failure can lead to a break failure. I contacted Toyota. They informed me that there was an assistance program for fixing this defect. However it expired in 2024? If they know about a defect why did the program expire? This is a safety issue.

Failed Brake booster and pump assembly, confirmed by Toyota service. Warning lights turned on all at once: AEB, skid control and brake light. Estimated cost to repair is $3,000.

The brake booster assembly failed at odometer reading 92,463. Prior to diagnosis, several dashboard lights turned on, and the vehicle's braking was negatively affected. The failed brake booster assembly problem was diagnosed, confirmed and repaired by an ASE certified repair technician on 3/14/2024. Toyota refuses to reimburse me for this expensive repair ($2,375.97.) Toyota has operated in an unethical way by not issuing a true RECALL for this known defect. Its "Customer Support Program Bulletin" is full of unclear instructions and vague definitions of what is required for reimbursement. Toyota refuses to reimburse me for even a portion of this expensive repair. NTHSB should force Toyota to issue a recall and reimburse all affected customers who incurred this $2,000 - $3,000 repair.

Brake booster system failed and needs replacement. Was told that there was a recall but it expired in 2024 and my car is not covered. Cal has 102000 miles on it.

Failed brake booster on 2014 Toyota Prius due to Customer Support Program Bulletin POL18-03 See attached documents sent to Toyota. They would not reimburse the ~ $3,000 repair to the brake booster which was in the Customer Support Program Bulletin POL18-03 Almost had an accident and the repair was done within the repair window.

Got code C1391, a common issue with the Prius. Brake Booster Assembly is defective due in no part to owner/driver of vehicle. This creates a serious safety issue with braking. Traction control light, brake light, and ABC light are all on and repair is ridiculously expensive.

Apparently there is a known defect on the brake actuator/master cylinder/booster on the 2014 Prius that would have been addressed if the car had been driven for less than 10 years or 150,000 miles. We purchased our car in April 2014 and the part just failed yesterday at only 126,000 miles. We understand that there is a pending class action suit (or perhaps one that was settled) but do not know how to become a member of it. It seems as if they knew that the part was defective, but did not offer to do a voluntary recall and remediate this before a failure, they should have, but instead, now we have a $3400 repair bill. Requesting assistance in evaluating whether there was negligence and or liability for them not addressing this issue in a timely manner.

Yesterday, while driving on the interstate, all of the brake related warning lights on my dashboard lit up- ABS, traction control, brake, caution)- causing me concern, so I looked for the next exit. While exiting and slowing, I noticed my brakes felt different and were not as responsive as usual. I called my mechanic and cautiously headed to his shop a couple of miles away. Today, I met with him and found out that there is a leak in the brake booster line, but the extent of the problem is yet to be determined. I immediately did an internet search for my model year and found that there was a safety campaign on other Toyota hybrids for that year, so I called the Toyota customer service number. I was told that my vehicle had an extended warranty for the brake booster, but it expired 9 months prior, 10 years post purchase, The rep has escalated my issue but I will have to wait to see if someone with more authority can potentially give me an additional extension. Meanwhile, my car is not drivable, as the brakes could fail at any moment. In my estimation, this should not be a time limited coverage, but an actual recall covered by Toyota. This is not normal brake pad rotor wear and tear, but a known issue with the assembly system and a true safety hazard that one cannot foresee without experiencing minor to catastrophic failure of the system.

The brake master cylinder and brake booster failed. It is available for inspection upon request. My safety was put at risk as braking distance increased significantly. The problem has not yet been confirmed by a dealer or independent service center. The vehicle has not yet been inspected. The warning lights appeared upon failure. Brake warning light, traction control light, and ABS light appeared. Prior to complete failure, the brake booster would cycle on after opening the door and would then cycle every few seconds for 10 minutes or so after parking.

Something felt wrong with the brakes for many years, but mechanics checked the brake pads and rotors and said they were fine on multiple service visits. I had multiple close calls during quick stops on highways, I though I just needed new tires. I then started to hear a whirring buzz noise become more and more frequent. I researched what it was and found on reddit that there was customer support program ZJB to repair failed brake accumulators, which affects hundreds of thousands of these cars. The problem was that my brakes were only in the process of failing rather than being fully failed enough to send codes and light up the dashboard, which is the only way the customer support program would cover the $4,000 repair. The failure finally happened when I was three hours from home and had half the braking power as usual and had to limp the car home for fear of the brakes going completely out. I can't believe Toyota is letting this many people drive around with a potentially catastrophic brake issue.

I was driving on the highway during rush hour when a loud beeping noice began. My 15 year old cousin was in the passenger seat and began to check for the source of the beeping. I was driving 55mph on a busy highway with no safe shoulder stop. As I was preparing for the exit, the brakes suddenly became dysfunctional. The pedal was extremely hard to press down and I found myself unable to slow down the car in enough time to avoid hitting upcoming traffic. I found myself in an urgent, life threatening situation and needed to pull over into the emergency lane located before the exit. I could not just consider my safety, but that of other drivers and my 15 year old passenger. She is traumatized. I was able to get the car to stop with my entire weight on the pedal. Once stopped, I scrambled to find the reason for the sudden brake problem, checking if anything rolled under my foot, if the floor mat was loose, if the gear shift was wrong, even checked if I accidentally hit the emergency brake. Nothing was out of place. No new dash lights. I looked in the manual. I had no information. I went to jiffy lube and they performed a diagnostic test and informed me they are unable see all the codes with hybrids because Toyota’s computer can only see Just in August I went to Toyota for my oil change, nothing was said about the brakes needing to be fixed and how repairing them now would prevent the failure of the accumulator pump system. If I had known paying $400-$500 for the brakes then would prevent having to pay $3000 to replace a pump. I would have made that sacrifice and went outside of my budget. This is paramount information that should be disclosed to all Toyota customers that take their car in for care and pay. After further research, I STRONGLY BELIEVE TOYOTA EMPLOYEES PURPOSELY WITHHOLD INFORMATION FROM THEIR CUSTOMERS NOT INFORMING CONSUMERS ABOUT AVOIDING PUMP FAILURE AND THE NEED REPAIR THEIR BRAKES AND IS COMPLICIT IN ANY INCIDENT CAUSED BY PUMP FAILURE MAY CAUSE.

Without warning, my brakes completely stopped working and I was fortunate enough to be somewhere I was able to pull over without being killed. Toyota is aware of this issue, but put a 10 year timeline on the complementary repair, which is totally unacceptable, as owners were not notified directly about this program, therefore how could we know it existed, was a problem, and to go get it fixed within their arbitrary deadline? I could have died losing brakes on the freeway, or even could have killed or injured others. This is a known, and severe safety hazard, and Toyota is not taking responsibility. It is unconscionable. Hoping for a class action lawsuit. It was a $5500 repair in California, which was almost the value of the car. Absolutely brutal and horrendous business practices from this company. Shame on them. I hope this agency NHTSA will add this report to the pile of others who have reported this, and actually take meaningful action for those of us who have been put at risk, and ripped off in the process.

My 2014 prius experienced a failing brake booster actuator assembly. I was driving when suddenly my traction control light came on and my brake pedal turned mushy. I pulled over to a parking lot and put my vehicle in park. As soon as I did this, the ABS and parking brake light both turned on. I had the vehicle towed to the Toyota dealership. They diagnosed the problem as an internal leak in the brake booster actuator assembly. This is a common problem with these vehicles, but instead of Toyota issuing a recall, they only did an extended warranty coverage of which my prius didn't fit the parameters. Now I am stuck with a vehicle that is unsafe to drive and a repair estimate of $3,900 because of one of their parts failing. This should clearly have been made a recall with the volume of prius owners experiencing this problem. What a disappointment after having 3 Toyotas for many years.

On [XXX] my brakes failed while driving, (brake booster and actuator) moving at 25 mph, all of a sudden lights ABS and brakes indicator light started flashing and beep. I was approaching a yellow light and attempting to slow down, my foot went to to floor and the were NO BRAKES. I used the EMG brake slow down me pulled into an empty parking lot. My vehicle is available for inspection at request. My safety was was put at risk due to having no control and coming very close to crashing into another car putting that driver at risks as well, but was blessed I was able to avoid an accident. This problem has been confirmed by Phillips Toyota in Leesburg FL #(352)728-3020. The vehicle components have not been inspected by others besides the dealer. I am 2 months over the 10yr customer support program at 102k miles. I have been complaining for the past YEAR to the dealer regarding strange noises like chirping, air deflating when pressing brakes, constant buzzing sounds from system even when car is off, and being propelled forward when going over gravel or railroad track surfaces of the ABS light goes on. This is on record and each time I’d ask, they’d mention it is the brake booster going but because there was no indicator lights or code coming up, they were unable to do anything. My last service in may 2024, I requested a diagnostic on the brake system, which I paid extra for, knowing the 10yr program was about to be expired in July. The dealer found no codes and assured me it was safe to drive and that if I were to see those warning light come on, that I was to drive the car straight to the dealer to inspect. Well, long story short, the lights came on, and immediately the were NO Brakes and I was completely out of control with no time to drive it safely to the dealer. I had it towed to the dealer and they quoted me $3000 to repair brake booster/actuator. I am working with Toyota corporate for compensation. This is a major safety issue that should be a RECALL! INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION

The braking system is failing with the following codes I tested with the BlueDriver scanner. Code TypeCodeDescription ABS CodesC1241Low or high power supply coltage ABS CodesC1391Abnormal leak in accumulator Main BodyB1206P/W Master SW ECU Communication Stop Main BodyB2321D-Door Motor ECU Communication Stop Main BodyB2430LED Headlight LH Entry and StartU0142Mainbody Ecu Communication Circuit Entry and StartU0155Lost Communication with Instrument Panel Cluster Control Module The car is available for inspection. This puts the drivers, myself and fiance, at risk of catastrophic collision in the event that the brakes fail while driving. I will call Toyota to obtain a replacement of the system that has occurred with many other drivers. The vehicle has not been inspected by manufacturer yet but it is important to know that this is a serious problem that could kill people. The problem was identified when warning lights came up on the dashboard but there is also a sound coming from the brake actuator that shows a problem. The problem is due to manufacturer error, I have driven the vehicle normally.

So my wife is pulling into our driveway with my little ones and notices the ABS, traction control and Brake light come on. I then had the vehicle looked at by a local Toyota dealership and they tell me I'm getting code C1391 and that it's a known issue. They then tell me I'm out of my extended customer support warranty time frame and I will have to pay. According to NHTSA this is a known defect on this vehicle and it affects more than 100k Toyota Prius vehicles. So basically, we've been driving around in a vehicle that the brakes may fail at any moment and potentially kill us all but is only addressed by the manufacturer when the known failure occurs. Even then, they only address it if the error occurs during their set time frame. It seems this has been brought to NHTSA's attention on a few occasions and nothing has been done. I would think brakes are something that warrants a recall on a known defect. Thankfully my wife and kids weren't doing 70mph down the highway when the brakes all of the sudden stopped working.

This vehicle lost braking assist while in motion on a well known problem from TOYOTA. There has been class action lawsuits on this very fact. Toyota issued a customer service warranty for vehicles that have less than 150,000 and filed before March 2024! My car has 127k and failure was Sept 9 out of the warranty. I understand that there is a line if the sand however this needs to be a recall as it effects so many vehicles and it is dangerous! I am asking you urge them to make a recall for this! I have paid for this repair and am furious but I had to do it!

ABS actuator failed in April of 2023 after more than a year of constant whirling, which my mechanic didn't diagnose until after my dashboard lit up with errors. The issue was diagnosed by AAA mechanics after the dashboard warning lights lit up, with a $4,000 cost to repair. Brakes are spongy, car is rarely driven at this time. We were told that the brakes would continue to work, but the ABS system would not. Now the vehicle beeps constantly when driving, which appears to mean the brakes could fully fail at any time. Based on subsequent research, Toyota was quietly fixing the ABS acuator issue until last year, but it was not offered when my vehicle was brought in last year during another recall. When it failed the car was under 10 years and 150K.

My car started exhibiting signs of a known brake booster/brake systems failure for Priuses in the 2010-2015 range. These include the ABS, brake system, and skid/traction lights coming on and a 3-5 cycling whirring noise. The brake sensitivity is also altered. This happened suddenly today. I checked the battery voltage (normal), so this is not causing the issue. After investigating online, I have discovered that many consumers have experienced the same issue and are being denied a recall/repair coverage by Toyota. Today, I am reaching out to Toyota to see if the replacement/repair, which should be in the range of $3-4k will be covered by Toyota. According to numerous other Prius owners online, this issue is being denied by Toyota for coverage, even though it is something they are fully aware of. This is unacceptable and dangerous on their part. My vehicle has 110k miles, was leased used last year, and has not had any issues otherwise. I am up to date with all routine maintenance, including getting my pads replaced and rotors maintained last year as well as new tires.

Brake warning lights illuminated and loud beeping for the first time. Took the car to local repair shop who advised me to take it to the dealership. Dealership indicates that R&R Brake Booster assembly with master cylinder and brake booster pump assembly need to be replaced at over $3100 and brakes are at risk of failure. I researched and found the NHTSA Customer Support Bulletin - [XXX] indicating this known issue. The support period expired in March and mileage has now exceeded the limit for support. Though I have had the car in the dealership for service many times, this was never brought to my attention. The dealership advised me to contact Toyota. Toyota then advised me to contact NHTSA about the problem. Further research indicates ongoing problems with this issue that have not been resolved - [XXX] should have issued a recall for this important safety issue. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Brake Booster Assembly in my 2014 Toyota Prius began cycling more often than usual in December 2023. By March 2024 it began cycling approximately every 30 seconds. Randomly while stopped or parked, there would be four warning lights illuminated on the dash - SLIP indicator, both Brake System Warning Lights - the word "Brake" and the "((!))", and ABS Warning Light. By June 2024, I would also randomly lose stopping power & a great distance was necessary to stop the vehicle. I took the Prius into my local Toyota Service Center where it was recommended both the Brake Booster Pump and Brake Booster Actuator be replaced. When I brought up Toyota's Customer Support Program for which my Prius is eligible in terms of age, mileage, and symptoms, I was told a DTC is required to verify the issue. According to this local Toyota dealership, the Master Tech confirming the issue and recommending replacement is not sufficient. Since the lights were illuminated, I asked why there was no stored DTC. They responded "Well, I'm not sure" and continued to reference the required DTC. This brake assembly is an issue that Toyota has acknowledged, but fails to accept full responsibility by issuing a recall. This gross negligence by a vehicle manufacturer.

I lost the brakes. The Brake actuator failed. I was able to swerve around traffic to avoid a collision and get the car towed home. No warning lamps until it failed. The brake actuator was replaced and I saved the old, defective component.

The brake booster and master cylinder failed on my Prius. The diagnostic code is C1391 Abnormal leakage in accumulator, which is a code covered by Toyota’s prior recall on this vehicle.

Drove car to work one morning and it was VERY difficult to brake almost causing an accident. Brought it into the Toyota shop and they said this code came up: DTC code C1391: Abnormal leak of accumulator pressure ,recommending to replace brake booster and brake booster pump assembly internal malfunction of components.The necessity of its routine replacement is vital as an old or malfunctioning unit leads to decreased braking performance and ultimately brake failure. They told me that there was a program offered to customers where they would replace this known issue, but I'm 2 months outside of this so the issue is no longer covered under Toyota. The fact that this is a known issue that Toyota does not want to recall is ridiculous and now they want customers to pay for it.

Noticed a whirring/hydraulic sound that occurred every 5-10 seconds. Could only hear sound if no music was playing and not driving at highway speeds. Sound was noticeable upon parking or exiting vehicle. Only noticed sound because it occurred more frequently than usual. Spouse who is hard of hearing could not hear sound at all. My understanding of sound was that it was normal for vehicle, however, within the time span of approximately 2 weeks, sound became more frequent. Researched noise, and found it was the brake booster assembly pressurizing. Took vehicle to dealership to have it confirmed. Per dealership "Accumulator inside brake booster has internal leak causing accumulator to constantly run." Brakes did not show signs of loss of function and there was no indicator lights on dash to warn me of problem with vehicle. When I inquired with dealership of how much longer they would last, they informed me they could not say, and that it was likely they could go out at any time. Called Toyota Customer support to see if they could provide any assistance. They stated a support program had been issued back in 2021, but is now expired. According to support program 21TE01, Toyota was willing to replace brake boosters that had already failed and could be confirmed with diagnostic code. However, as the part had not failed or showed signs of failure at that time, vehicle would not have qualified, and it was prior to current ownership. Owners should not have to wait for their brakes to fail in order to recognize they have an issue. If I had not heard the noise and brought it in BEFORE an accident occurred, it could have been very dangerous indeed. Now I am left to pay $2500 out of pocket for repair of a faulty/failing brake booster assembly.

We were on the interstate when suddenly our cruise control stopped working. We then noticed several lights on the dashboard lit up, related to traction control, brakes, and ABS system. We could still use the car brakes, but it took more pressure than usual to engage the brakes. We pulled over to an auto parts store, but they stated there were no ODB codes logged. After researching online, I suspected a brake booster failure as described in Toyota's Customer Support Bulletin ZJB. At my earliest convenience, I brought the car in to a Toyota dealership, who confirmed that the brake booster and master cylinder were failing and needed to be replaced. Thankfully, the brakes did not fail outright, but the situation could have ended much worse. I understand by reading online that this is not an isolated incident. I encourage this issue be more thoroughly investigated so that a proper recall can be issued if needed, to bring this to the attention of other drivers of affected vehicles.

Code C1391 - Abnormal Leak in Accumulator. Accumulator for the brake pump is not holding pressure so the pump has to keep turning on to refill. Brake pump and ABS unit have to be replaced. In emergency situations, a malfunctioning ABS module leads to increased stopping distances and loss of steering control during hard braking. Lastly, tires can be worn more easily, which could lead to tire blowouts. This puts myself and others at risk for deadly consequences due to an increased chance for collision if I am unable to control or stop my car. This problem has been confirmed by Toyota and multiple years of Toyota vehicles have had their brake actuator assembly warranty enhanced. The warranty enhancement program has secondary coverage, which is applicable for 10 years from the first date of use, or 150,000 miles, whichever occurs first. Currently I meet the 10 year requirement but have 162,000 miles on my prius, which is completely frustrating. Many have posted with the same problem of being just outside the warranty. The vehicle has been inspected at a Toyota dealership. A symptom was noticeable starting from over 1 ½ years ago when I was under 150,000 miles. The car produced clicking sounds when the brake pedal was held down at traffic lights. Once released, the clicking sound would stop. I spoke with a Toyota mechanic and he told me it was an issue with the brake pump and ABS unit, but Toyota would not repair it until it completely failed. He also mentioned that there was coverage available for the ABS unit once it failed as it was a common issue for the Toyota Prius. If Toyota warranty allowed for the brake pump and ABS unit to be replaced when the symptoms appear instead of when it completely fails, I would have qualified with my mileage. Not only is the repair costly, but for those who cannot afford it and need to continue to use their car despite the brake pump and ABS unit failure, risk their own and others safety when continuing to operate their vehicle.

the brakes have not failed yet, but there is a known issue with the brake booster on my model year. I would like to have the government force Toyota to guarantee the brakes for a longer period of time. currently Toyota has extended the warranty out 10 years / 150k miles from date of first use. Since these cars last so long, this should be 20 years / 300k miles from date of first use.

The ABS and traction control system in my 2014 Toyota Prius 4 are not functioning. They ABS light an the traction control lights are both on. I work in the automotive industry and I used a code reader to pull the codes and got a C1391 which is a brake booster and brake booster pump. That means either the brake booster has failed or the master cylinder is leaking. I contacted Gosche Toyota in Hemet and after waiting for a service writer to contact me (which they never did) I called 5 times till I finally got someone on the phone. They were very familiar with the problem. The problem is so common that SOME vehicles have been recalled. But for others like mine only a "Customer Support Program" was made. That program covers repair "if the parts are available" only for 10 years or 150,000 miles whichever comes first. But for someone like myself who has 170,000 miles Toyota says there's nothing they can do. The cost for me to repair it is $4800. The customer support program bulletin "ZJB" even says that service writers are not allowed to tell customers about the problem or the customer support program. That way when the car doesn't meet the requirements, they won't be responsible for the repairs, even though they know it will eventually fail. There is a lawsuit somewhere regarding this very same problem but for me, I'm screwed. I depend on my car to make money and now me and my family are out of a car. This is a known defect and a safety concern. Toyota is okay with leaving us with nothing.

BRAKES ARE NOT WOKING AT FULL SPECIFICATION DUE TO BRAKE ACCUMILATOR HAVING AN INTERNAL LEAK C1391

After I started my car and began driving away from a shopping center, I noticed that there were 3 static warning lights on the dashboard that had not been there before. They were the slip indicator light, the brake light, and the ABS light. I also heard a short, repeating buzzing sound coming from the front of the car that I had never heard before. As I was driving, the brake suddenly felt loose. Luckily, this happened as I was pulling out of a shopping center parking lot, so I was able to pull over to the side of the road instead of getting on the highway, which I was about to do. The following day, a Toyota dealer indicated that the issue was the brake booster pump/actuator system and that my car returned with error code C1391. The dealer indicated that this is a known problem with Priuses within my year range. I was told that I would have to replace both the pump and actuator. After talking to the dealer, I realized that there had been subtle clues of this problem beforehand. In the few months leading up to this incident, sometimes if I hit a big bump in the road, for a moment the Slip indicator light would flash and I would feel like I had no control of the car i.e. I was ever so briefly slipping. However, because this happened so briefly and when I hit a bump and everything went back to normal, I didn't think this was an actual problem, but now I believe this was an early sign of the brake failure. I contacted Toyota Corporate Office. They confirmed that this was an issue known to them with Priuses and said that they had sent letters to the previous owner of the car in 2019 offering an extended warranty not a recall. However, apparently, the previous owner had not fixed the problem and the extended warranty expired. Toyota refused to pay for the repair for this and refused to forward a copy of the 2019 letter to me,. This brake defect is a serious issue with no major warning signs. As of this writing, the part is available for inspection.

Good Evening, I'm writing to request a callback in regards to my 2014 Toyota Prius which is subject to a recall. "The involved vehicles were designed to enter a failsafe driving mode in response to certain hybrid system faults. Toyota has found that in rare situations, the vehicle may not enter a failsafe driving mode as intended. If this occurs, the vehicle could lose power and stall. While power steering and braking would remain operational, a vehicle stall while driving at higher speeds could increase the risk of a crash." I recently just moved back to South Florida, I was living in NJ for a few years and had the Inverter malfunction earlier this February, 2023, forcing the car to enter the fail safe mode described giving me the warning to "Check Hybrid System, Stop the Vehicle in a Safe Place". The car was at Toyota Universe, Little Falls, NJ for about 45 days, since this was going to take the complete replacing of the inverter and an update of some sort of software. After receiving the car back around March 17th, I moved back to Florida about 2 weeks later. This evening around 5:30 returning from work, the car stalled again while I was driving surrounded by dense traffic, wouldn't accelerate with all lights flashing. Thankfully I was able to pull over slowly into a parking lot after which my steering wheel locked, and my car was no longer able to be put into Drive or Reverse. Car was only able to shift into Neutral and Park. This was the most terrifying experience of my life had something worse happen in the middle of traffic. I have dropped off my car to the dealership parking lot and will be checking it in first thing in the morning. I'd like to ascertain what I should expect from Toyota Manufacturing should this issue be unfixable? I am more than happy to let them attempt fixing it, but I also need to live a normal life and don't feel the need to be responsible for a manufacturing defect putting my life in jeopardy every time I go drive.

Was at Toyota dealership looking at 2023 Prius and 2023 Corolla Cross for daughter. I decided to leave and when I started backing up, my daughter noticed the Brake, ABS and Anti-Skid lights all came on at once. She asked if that was normal. It was not. A few minutes later, they stated flashing, then went out after I turned the car off. I live over an hour away and decided to drive it to Walmart, which is approximately 2 miles from the dealership and upon getting into the Walmart parking lot the lights started flashing again and upon applying the brakes, we heard a loud grinding sound. We didn’t think we were going to be able to stop! I immediately parked it and called my husband to tell him our horror story and to come pick us up. Our prayers were answered when he came and we were able to drive it slowly to the dealer. It was a cold rainy night to be on the road with braking issues. This is a very dangerous if not deadly situation! Shame on Toyota for not recalling this. How many lives have to be lost before you take ownership of your faulty hybrid braking system. We demand this be fixed for free regardless of mileage and be made a recall…NOT A CUSTOMER SUPPORT PROGRAM. RIDICULOUS!!! I don’t think our daughter wants a Toyota hybrid anymore…

I was in stop and go traffic. We got into a crash and my vehicle was totalled. I’ve never been in an accident before. It felt like the break system just broke down.

Mileage: 100,000

2014 TOYOTA PRIUS. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARD TO HISSING SOUND COMING FROM BRAKES.

My brakes completely stopped working while driving on a busy road. I took it to Toyota and they said it was my brake booster pump assembly. There is a known issue with the booster pump assembly and Toyota has a program to extend their warranty to fix this, but I was never once notified of this issue and never received any mail or notifications. They refuse to cover the repair because my mileage is out of warranty, despite the fact that this is an issue they caused and I almost wrecked and could’ve died. I was on a very busy road and my car was completely uncontrollable due to the brakes not responding. My passenger, others on the road, and myself could’ve died. The Toyota customer service representatives confirmed that this is part of the “customer service” program and it does not qualify due to it exceeding 150,000 miles. No warnings appeared on the dash until the brakes stopped working. The vehicle was inspected by Toyota and was confirmed to have said issue. This needs to be immediately recalled, I almost got into a very serious wreck.

Aloha! I got 3 lights lid up on a dashboard: traction control, abs and brakes. C1391 error is coming up on obd reader. I researched online and found that it’s a common issue , brake booster and actuator needs to be replaced. Many people having same problem. I found your website because of this YouTube video where many people found same problem: https://youtu.be/xA9jyrbZDWo

BRAKE BOASTER FAILURE. Dashboard lights illuminated: Brake, ABS and Traction. Brakes themselves felt spongy. Car felt very unsafe. I did find out that Toyota has a hidden Customer Support Program ZJB. However, the dealer found my diagnostic code to be c1202 and the Customer Support Program ZJB only supports repairs for codes c1391, c1252, c1256 or c1253. However, the exact same symptoms and safety issues were experienced and all the exact same warning lights also came on. The dealer’s diagnostics resulted in a $2,087 replacement of the brake booster.  The dealer did contact the Toyota district manager along the way.  He denied coverage based on the diagnostic codes reported BUT again I am arguing that my crazy expensive repair had the EXACT same symptoms, safety issues, and repair (e.g, brake booster replacement). The car clearly could not be driven. Note my Prius only has 92K miles.  Attached is a picture of the dashboard warning lights that came on and the dealer invoice for the repair.

Brake being less effective to be spongy and keep losing pressure. The brake actuator constantly making boosting noise. Making driving unsure that the brake working even no warning light on yet.

ON AUGUST 28,2020 WE WERE DRIVING IN HEAVY RAIN FOR 1 1/2 HRS TO FAYETTEVILLE. OUR BRAKE ABS AND ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. WE ASSUMED THE LIGHTS WOULD GO OFF, WHEN WE DID NOT DRIVE IT DOING THE NIGHT, BUT NEXT MORNING IT CAME BACK ON. WE CARRIED TO MECHANIC SHOP TODAY SEPT. 1, 2020. THEY COULD NOT READ ANY ERRORS AND SAID NEED TO CARRY IN TO A TOYOTA DEALER. WE HAVE NOT SET UP APT. JUST LEFT VM. HOPEFULLY THEY WILL CALL US BACK TODAY

Mileage: 102,500

THE PRIUS VEHICLES COVERED ONLY BY WARRANTY ENHANCEMENT ZJB ARE SUFFERING THE SAME DANGERS FROM BRAKE BOOSTER PUMP FAILURES AS THOSE TOYOTA COVERED SAFETY RECALLS D0H AND K0L. BY EXCLUDING PRIUS WITH DEFECTIVE BRAKES FROM D0H AND K0L, TOYOTA HAS LEFT THE OWNERS TO HELPLESSLY EXPERIENCE LIFE-THREATENING BRAKE FAILURES OR MALFUNCTIONS BEFORE TOYOTA WILL PROVIDE THE REPLACEMENT BRAKE COMPONENTS NEEDED TO MAKE THE CAR SAFE. THE LAW REQUIRES TOYOTA TO PREVENT THE LIFE-THREATENING DANGERS OF THIS DEFECT BEFORE BRAKE FAILURE OCCURS. TOYOTA'S COST-CUTTING STRATEGY IS CAUSING CRASHES. INJURIES AND CRASHES CAUSED BY THE BRAKE DEFECT EXPLAINED HEREIN HAVE BEEN REPORTED TO NHTSA. TOYOTA'S DECISION TO PROVIDE POST-FAILURE REPAIR REIMBURSEMENT - INSTEAD OF A PREVENTATIVE SAFETY RECALL REMEDY - EXPLAINS MANY OF THE CRASHES AND INJURIES REPORTED TO NHTSA. HERE IS A LIST OF RELEVANT COMPLAINTS FROM SAFERCAR.GOV: 10794873,10875685,10876015,10927047,11231660,11219354,11014878,11151142,10680404,10627821,11154835,10983408,10704553,10734278,11173353,11064519,10971881,11186947,10923921,10573591,11243249,10819439,10592400,10919990, 10851950,10855586,11240240,11197067,11193820,11173721,11156466,11144698, 11235210,10550179,11253950,11102264,11044156,11253725,10616134,10875625, 11231596,10584723,11207636,10749388,11014797,11203834,11203591,11193354, 11182610,11155778,11130742,11129946,11164336,10498096,11219901,11154783, 10598545,11228248,10547701,11110691,11164990,11222966,11207630,11192342, 11184751,11183661,11183178,11173804,11173173,11173044,11162242,11144888, 11139660,11121916,11088447,11080403,11061959,10984549,11073636, 11034572, 10870866,10929397,11104163 WHEN THE BRAKE BOOSTER PUMP ASSEMBLY FAILS IN A PRIUS VEHICLE EXCLUDED FROM D0H, C1256, C1253, C1252, C1391, U0293, AND OTHER DTCS INDICATING DANGERS AND FMVSS NONCOMPLIANCE ARE BEING STORED. *TR

WHEN I START THE CAR AND IT BECOMES IDLE THE BRAKE PEDAL BECOMES STIFF AND GETS STUCK. I HAVE TO PUT THE CAR BACK IN PARK AND RESTART IT FOR THE BRAKE TO WORK PROPERLY. THIS DOESN'T HAPPEN ALL THE TIME BUT HAPPENS ENOUGH FOR ME TO BE CONCERNED. I TOOK IT TO TWO TOYOTA DEALERS AND THEY COULDN'T DUPLICATE IT AND COULDN'T FIND A PROBLEM BUT IT IS STILL HAPPENING. THIS ONLY HAPPENS WHEN I START CAR NOT WHILE DRIVING.

Mileage: 77,000

THE EDR REPORT CLEARLY SHOWED THAT THE BRAKE OIL PRESSURE CHANGES DID NOT CORRELATE WITH THE PROGRESSIVELY INCREASING VEHICLE DECELERATION. THE ISSUE IS OCCASIONAL, RARE AND CANNOT BE REPRODUCED EVERY SINGLE TIME. THIS LEADS TO DISPARITY IN ASSUMED BRAKING DISTANCE FROM ROUTINE EXPERIENCE BY DRIVING THE VEHICLE AND ACTUAL BRAKING DISTANCE AT THE TIME OF FAILED BRAKING WHICH SUPPOSEDLY MAY BE AS A RESULT OF INVERTER ISSUES THAT ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR EXCLUSIVELY REGENERATIVE BRAKING AT LOW (<50 MPH) SPEEDS.

Mileage: 176,619

BRAKES COMPLETELY FAILED AND I REAR ENDED A CAR. I WAS STOPPING NORMALLY ON A CITY STREET. ACCORDING TO DASHCAM I WAS TRAVELING AT ABOUT 25MPH. THE CAR SLOWED TO ABOUT 12MPH WHEN THE BRAKES WENT DOWN TO THE FLOOR AND THE CAR ACCELERATED.

Mileage: 64,000

THE CAR BRAKES FAILED AT LOW SPEEDS (10-15 MPH) AND BUMPED INTO THE CAR IN FRONT IN A STOP-AND-GO TRAFFIC ON THE WET FREEWAY AFTER A RECENT RAIN. THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY DOWN TO TOUCH THE FLOOR, AS IF THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DISENGAGED FROM THE BRAKING SYSTEM AND THE ABS LIGHT DID NOT TURN ON AT THE TIME OF BRAKING. THE CAR WAS DRIVING IN THE STRAIGHT LINE AND IMMEDIATELY BEFORE THIS I WAS ABLE TO SUCCESSFULLY BRAKE THE CAR ON THE VERY SAME TRIP. SO THE PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME WITH THIS CAR, AS MY SPOUSE ALSO EXPERIENCED THE SIMILAR BRAKE FAILURE AT EVEN LOWER SPEEDS (<10 MPH) RESULTING IN TOUCHING THE CAR IN FRONT AND MINOR SCRATCH ON THE BUMPER. IT WAS A DRY DAY THEN AND ALMOST SIMILAR CIRCUMSTANCES. ASSOCIATED GEICO CLAIM NUMBER IS 0423477190101054. WE OPENED A CASE WITH TOYOTA TO CHECK THE DATA RECORDER. ASSOCIATED TOYOTA CASE NUMBER IS 181112370.

Mileage: 176,619

ON A WINTER DAY MY CAR SLID DOWN A STEEP ROAD AND WOULD NOT STOP WHILE BREAKING, BOTH FRONT FENDER FLARES BROKE OFF CAUSING THE CAR TO ACT LIKE IT WAS ON A SLED. THE CAR EVENTUALLY STOPPED AFTER I PLACED IT IN NEUTRAL AND THEN SLID AGAIN AND THEN IT FINALLY STOPPED. I ALMOST KILLED MYSELF.

Mileage: 27,000

IN NOV 22 2017 I PARKED MY CAR AT 1719 BRADER PL. SOUTH IN SEATTLE, WASHINGTON IN A CITY STREET. APPROXIMATELY AT 1500 PM, I PULED THE CAR FROM THE STREET PARKING I-ORDER TO PICK A PASSENGER ABOUT 4 FEET AND THE CAR ACCELERATED BY ITSELF TOWARD RIGHT INTO THE BUILDING COMPLEX ON RIGHT AND FLIPPED ON THE SIDE OF THE DRIVER SIDE. THE CAR WAS ON DRIVE BUT I WAS TRYING TO STOP TO PICK UP A PASSENGER, BUT FAILED TO STOP AND ACCELERATED AND TURNED AND FOUND MYSELF FLIPPED ON THE SIDE AS YOU CAN SEE ON PICTURE.

Mileage: 106,000

VEHICLE INCREASED ACCELERATION WHILE MAKING A RIGHT-HAND TURN AND BRAKING, INTO A COVERED PARKING STALL. VEHICLE DID NOT STOP UNDER BREAKING UNTIL FRONT END WENT OVER CEMENT PARKING BUMPER.

Mileage: 60,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS APPLIED, BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESPOND.THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL. THE CONTACT DID NOT WANT TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS STILL NEW AND SHOULD NOT HAVE ANY ISSUES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000.

Mileage: 30,000

WHILE I WAS DOING A SLOW TURN IN A DRIVEWAY, MY BRAKE FAILED AND THE CAR CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE IN A FORWARD MOTION. WHEN I SHIFTED INTO REVERSE, THE CAR REVVED AND ROARED ACCELERATING AT FULL TILT. IT RACED ACROSS A ROAD INTO ANOTHER DRIVEWAY ONLY STOPPING WHEN WEDGED BETWEEN A GARAGE DOOR AND A TREE. TOYOTA TOOK THE TOTALED CAR AND HAD IT INSPECTED BY ENGINEERING ASSOCIATES AND INSURANCE AUTO AUCTIONS. THEIR RESPONSE IS THAT "THERE WAS NO SERIOUS DEFECTS IDENTIFIED." OBVIOUSLY, THE MOMENTARY MECHANICAL OR ELECTRONIC FAILURE OF MY CAR COULD NEVER BE DETECTED, SO ACCORDING TO TOYOTA, THERE WAS NOTHING TO CAUSE THE FAILURE. I FEEL TOTALLY VICTIMIZED AND BELIEVE TOYOTA SHOULD TAKE RESPONSIBILITY AND COMPENSATE ME FOR THE LOSS OF MY CAR.

Mileage: 21,000

WHEN CAR STALLS ...THERE ARE NO BRAKES..HAPPENED TO ME 4 TIMES. HIT OBJECTS 3 TIMES TO STOP.

Mileage: 1,100

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED THE VEHICLE INTO A BUILDING AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED CHEST INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,700. UPDATED 01/20/16*LJ *CN

Mileage: 2,700

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL, BUT THE VEHICLE DID NOT STOP. AS A RESULT, A CRASH OCCURRED AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT WAS NOT INJURED AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,200.

Mileage: 3,200

I WAS IN A PARKING LOT AND PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE. THEN I HEARD A "BOOM" AND I THOUGHT THAT I BACKED INTO SOMETHING, SO I QUICKLY PUT THE CAR INTO DRIVE. I THEN FELT THE CAR EXCELERATING FAST AND I WAS PUSHING THE BRAKE AS HARD AS I COULD AND COULD NOT STOP THE CAR FROM MOVING FORWARD. THE CAR PROCEEDED TO EXCELLERATE AND WHEN OVER A CURB UP ONTO PAVEMENT AND THROUGH A METAL FENCE AND BENT A 5 INCH ROUND METAL FENCING DOWN TO THE GROUND AND THE CAR KEPT GOING ANOTHER 30 FEET TILL IT FINALLY STOPPED. YOU CAN SEE THE SKID MARKS IN THE THE PARKING LOT.

Mileage: 11,560

I PULLED MY 2014 TOYOTA PRIUS SLOWLY OUT OF A PARKING SLOT IN A SMALL PARKING LOT TURNING IT THE DIRECTION I WANTED TO GO ON A VERY SLIGHT SLANT DOWNHILL. BEFORE I COULD PUT IT IN DRIVE FROM REVERSE IT STARTED ROLLING DOWNWARD ON ITS OWN. WHEN I WENT TO APPLY THE BRAKES, THEY WERE SQUISHY AND DID NOT ENGAGE. I TRIED SEVERAL TIMES TO GET THEM TO ENGAGE BUT THEY NEVER DID. I WENT TO PUT THE EMERGENCY BRAKE ON BUT IT IS LOCATED SO HIGH UP IT WAS DIFFICULT TO GET MY FOOT UP THERE QUICKLY. MEANWHILE THERE WAS A TRUCK PARKED ACROSS THE END OF THE PARKING LOT LANE SO MY CAR ROLLED INTO THE TRUCK CREATING DENTS IN THE FRONT DOOR PANEL AND REAR DOOR PANEL. THIS WAS OBVIOUS BRAKE FAILURE. I WENT TO THE LOCAL TOYOTA REPAIR AND DEALERSHIP AND SPOKE WITH A SHOP EMPLOYEE. HE TOLD ME THAT THIS CAN ACTUALLY HAPPEN WHERE YOU CAN BACK A CAR UP AND TURN IT AND IT WILL GO ON ITS OWN (BUT IT SEEMS HE IMPLIED THAT THE "READY" LIGHT MIGHT NOT HAVE ENGAGED) AND THAT HE "HAD SEEN IT HAPPEN HIMSELF". IF THE TRUCK HAD NOT BEEN THERE, MY CAR WOULD HAVE ROLLED DIRECTLY OUT INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC ON THE MAIN THOROUGHFARE THROUGH TOWN WHICH HAD THE HUGE POTENTIAL OF CAUSING A MAJOR ACCIDENT WITH INJURIES. I DID TRY TO RECREATE THE EVENT IN A NONPOPULATED AREA IN A VERY SAFE MANNER AND WAS UNABLE TO DO SO. THAT EVEN SCARES ME MORE!!! AS YOU HAVE NO IDEA IF IT CAN OR WILL HAPPEN AGAIN. I SPENT $20,000 PLUS FOR A NEW CAR THAT I AM ALWAYS HYPER-CAUTIOUS IN BECAUSE NO ONE WILL FESS UP TO PROBLEMS. IF I SELL THE CAR IT WILL BE AT A GREAT LOSS WHICH I CANNOT AFFORD! IN THE INTERNET I NOTE THAT THERE WERE SIMILAR PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKES, ESPECIALLY AROUND 2007 - MANY WERE DOCUMENTED BUT TOYOTA WAS NEVER TAKEN TO TASK RE: THESE CONSUMER COMPLAINTS AS I SUPPOSE THE CONSUMERS JUST COULDN'T "PROVE" THEM. AS USUAL MONEY TRUMPS HUMAN LIVES AND SAFETY. TOYOTA SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF THEMSELVES. *TR

Mileage: 13,000

I WAS CROSSING THE TRAIN TRACKS IN PALO ALTO ON CHARLESTON ST NEAR ALMA AND TRIED TO STOP AT A STOP LIGHT RIGHT AFTER THE TRACKS. WHEN I STEPPED HARD ON THE BRAKES, THE BRAKES DID NOT WORK AT ALL. MY CAR DID NOT SLOW DOWN AT ALL AND I HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. *TR

Mileage: 2,900

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE DROVE OVER A POTHOLE, WHICH CAUSED THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE TO ELEVATE. THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE STEERING AND BRAKES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,500. THE CONSUMER STATED HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, FOR ERRATIC STEERING WHEN GOING AROUND CURVES AT MODERATE SPEEDS. THE SAME MORNING, WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE WENT OVER A DIP IN THE PAVEMENT. THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE WENT AIRBORNE AS IF, IT WAS ON A HYDRAULIC LIFT. THE CONSUMER HAD NO CONTROL OF THE STEERING OR BRAKING. WHAT SAVED HIM WAS THE LEFT REAR BRAKE AND THE TIRE JERKED ON THE PAVEMENT AND PULLED THE VEHICLE BACK STRAIGHT. HE EXPERIENCED THE FAILURE FOR A SECOND TIME. UPDATED 10/29/14 UPDATED 11/21/14*CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE DOESN'T OCCUR WITH MULTIPLE PEOPLE IN THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER REFUSED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE ALONE.*JS

Mileage: 1,500

I WAS PULLING INTO A CONVENIENCE STORE IN MY 2014 PRIUS. AS I WAS GLIDING IN, I DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE CAR KEPT GOING. I CONTINUED TO PRESS IT AND THE CAR STARTED TO ACCELERATE, I COULD FEEL THE SURGE OF POWER. I WAS COMPLETELY UNABLE TO STOP THE CAR AND RAN INTO PARKING POSTS AT THE FRONT OF THE STORE. ALL AIRBAGS WERE DEPLOYED. I GOT A CUT ON MY FOREHEAD, AN AMBULANCE CAME BUT I DECLINED AND MY HUSBAND DROVE ME TO THE ER LATER WHERE I RECEIVED TREATMENT. I WAS COMING HOME FROM THE GYM AT 9 AM I HAVE NEVER BEEN AT FAULT IN AN ACCIDENT BEFORE. I HAVE A WITNESS THAT SAID HE HEARD A CHIRPING SOUND COMING FROM THE BRAKES BEFORE I CRASHED. TOYOTA COMPLETELY DENIES THERE IS ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR, BUT GIVES NO EXPLANATION AS TO HOW THIS COULD HAVE OCCURRED. THEY WILL NOT HELP AT ALL. SOMEONE IS GOING TO GET SERIOUSLY INJURED OR KILLED. THIS NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED BY SOMEONE OTHER THAN TOYOTA. *TR

Mileage: 3,000

I WAS PULLING INTO A CONVENIENCE STORE IN MY 2014 PRIUS. AS I WAS GLIDING IN, I DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE CAR KEPT GOING. I CONTINUED TO PRESS THE BRAKE AND THE CAR STARTED TO ACCELERATE. I COULD FEEL THE SURGE OF POWER. I WAS COMPLETELY UNABLE TO STOP THE CAR AND I RAN INTO PARKING POSTS AT THE FRONT OF THE STORE. ALL AIRBAGS WERE DEPLOYED. I GOT A CUT ON MY FOREHEAD AND WAS BLEEDING. AN AMBULANCE ARRIVED AND MY HUSBAND DROVE ME TO THE ER AFTERWARDS AND I RECEIVED TREATMENT. I WAS COMING HOME FROM THE GYM AT 9AM IN THE MORNING. I HAVE NEVER BEEN AT FAULT IN AN AUTO ACCIDENT BEFORE. I HAVE A WITNESS THAT SAID HE HEARD A CHIRPING SOUND COMING FROM MY BRAKES RIGHT BEFORE THE CRASH. I HAVE THE PIN DRIVE FROM THE CAR THAT A REPRESENTATIVE, SUPPOSEDLY FROM AN OUTSIDE SOURCE, THAT RETRIEVED IT. THIS IS WHAT TOYOTA USED TO CONDUCT THEIR "INVESTIGATION" INTO THE INCIDENT. THEY CONCLUDED THAT IT WAS COMPLETELY NOT THEIR FAULT, NOT INDICATING HOW IT COULD HAVE HAPPENED. THEY ARE NOT GOING TO HELP AT ALL. SOMEONE OTHER THAN TOYOTA NEEDS TO INVESTIGATE THIS PROBLEM BEFORE SOMEONE ELSE GETS KILLED. ( I FILED A PREVIOUS COMPLAINT THIS MORNING BUT REALIZED I HAD ENTERED THE VIN NUMBER WRONG. THIS IS THE SAME COMPLAINT WITH THE CORRECT VIN NUMBER. *TR

Mileage: 3,000

WE HAVE RECENTLY PURCHASED A 2014 TOYOTA PRISM THAT NOW HAS LESS THAN 4000 MILES ON THE ENGINE. IN A VERY SHORT PERIOD WE HAVE EXPERIENCED A MASS AMOUNTS OF DEFECTS WITH THE CAR. THE FIRST REPAIR WAS TOYOTA HAD TO REPLACE THE BATTERY FROM OUR HOME. THE SECOND WAS A RECALL DEALING WITH A NATIONAL RECALL WITH SOFTWARE UPDATES. ON JULY 16TH THE YELLOW LIGHT CAME ON AS SOON AS WE STARTED TO DRIVE THE CAR. IT WAS THE BRAKE INDICATOR AND THEY ASKED MY WIFE TO DRIVE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP 25 MILES AWAY? I CALLED INTO QUALITY IMPORTS TOYOTA IN FT. WALTON BCH , FLORIDA WHERE WE PURCHASED THE CAR AND VENTED MY FRUSTRATIONS. I WAS NOT SATISFIED WITH THEM ASKING US TO DRIVE THE CAR WITH A BRAKE LIGHT INDICATOR THAT JUST CAME ON. WE ARE FEARFUL OF THE NEXT FAILURE WITH THIS VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURE GAVE ME A CLAIM NUMBER 1407161970 TO START THE PROCESS OF THE COMPLAINT. I GOT A CALL FROM THE TOYOTA CASE MANAGER [XXX] WHO BASICALLY SAID WE HAVE TO FILL OUT A LOT OF FORMS FOR THE LEMON LAW AND ARBITRATION PROCESS. BASICALLY WE WERE ASKED TO DRIVE THE CAR UNTIL 30-40 DAYS LATER FOR THE PROCESS. I TOLD [XXX] WE DON'T FEEL SAFE IN THE CAR AND THAT THEY SHOULD LET US USE A LOANER. HE DENIED THE REQUEST?? REQUEST TO HAVE THIS INVESTIGATED. 'INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).' *TR

Mileage: 3,900