Toyota Prius Plug-in 2012 — Reported problems

When I started my car this morning, the red BRAKE light, ABS warning light and anti-slip light were all illuminated. The car does still stop but the brakes are very spongy and there's a clicking noise under the hood. I only moved the car out of the driveway to allow other cars to leave. The brake fluid is not low. This is the problem listed under Toyota's Customer Support Program Notice ZJB but it is past the coverage expiration date. There should not be an expiration date on a known manufacturer issue. If this had happened while I was on the highway driving to work, I could have had a serious accident.

1. My Brake booster failed/malfunctioned. I had to get it repaired/replaced by Toyota so it might be with the dealership or thrown out by now. 2. I had to take it in because I had an incident where I was unable to apply the break on the car. I was lucky enough to be in a not busy street and was able to pull over safely. 3. Toyota diagnosed the issue and proceeded with the repair. They even have an extended warrantee but due to covid I was unable to get the repair in time for it to be covered by one year and had to pay. 4.Toyota did inspect and diagnose the problem. I have already paid for the repair with the dealership. 5.I had some breaking issues but I had brought it to an independent mechanic and they said it was my rotators since they needed to be replaced soon. I replaced them but then still had the issue and that's when my breaks stopped working for a brief time and I took it into Toyota to get it fixed. It been a while at this point but I do remember there being warning lights that turned on because of this issue as well.

The contact owned a 2012 Toyota Prius. The contact stated that while making a left turn at 10 MPH, another vehicle crashed into the vehicle and t-boned the front passenger's side door of the vehicle. The air bags did not deploy. There was no warning light illuminated. After the impact, the front windshield slowly cracked. A Police report was filed. The contact and her husband were transported by ambulance to the hospital. The contact suffered a fractured sternum, five fractured ribs, a crushed left wrist, and two fractured bones in the left ankle. The contact's husband had a fractured neck and five fractured ribs. The vehicle was towed to a tow yard and was declared a total loss by the insurance company. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 140,000.

Brake warning lights on, buzzing sound every 10 seconds. Likely a known actuator and master cylinder issue

Brake lights icons stay on mechanic at Toyota dealership state need new brak master cylinder and booster

Unknown. There were a multitude of codes that appeared on the diagnostics causing problems with engine. The temperature, brake, tire sensor lights are all on. The cruise control is not working. White smoke emitting from tail pipe and engine. Main engine coolant leaking. Car overheating rapidly.

My 2012 Toyota Prius is experiencing brake actuator pump failure, presenting diagnostic trouble codes C1253 (brake actuator pump motor stuck/locked) and C1256 (brake actuator pump motor overcurrent). These codes trigger ABS, brake, and VSC warning lights and disable ABS and stability control. Toyota previously acknowledged this exact defect under Customer Support Program ZJB, which covered 2010-2015 Prius vehicles for brake booster and brake booster pump assembly failures triggered by these specific codes. I am the original owner of this vehicle, purchased new in 2012. I never received notification of CSP ZJB despite being the registered owner at the time notifications were distributed in 2019-2021. My current mileage is under 150,000 miles, within the secondary coverage mileage limit established by the program. Toyota has declined to provide goodwill coverage citing program expiration. This is a known safety defect that reduces braking effectiveness and disables ABS — it should have been addressed through a mandatory recall rather than a voluntary program with an expiration date that left original owners without recourse due to failed notification.

The power brake unit and actuator are failing.

Almost had an accident due to the brake master, actuator and booster pump assemblies, failing. There were no warning lights alerting me to an issue. Just lost ability to break and car shut off completely while in motion.

The brake booster and brake booster pump assembly (also referred to as the Accumulater or Accentuater) have failed in my vehicle the same as Toyota's known defect that was mentioned in their Customer Support Program 20TE07 (part numbers can be found within the filing of their CSP 20TE07). I am reporting that this issue appears to have affected more than their initial estimate of ~118,960 states impacted vehicles.l because Toyota is declaring my vehicle is outside of their CSP 20TE07 although their defect endangers my safety (and the safety of others) and attempts to put their defective vehicle brake parts as my financial burden. This issue should have been/should be a larger recall. Thank you.

2012 Prius with 174,344 miles in great condition, with regularly scheduled oil changes. ABS/Break Actuator failure on freeway with no warning other than a beep a few seconds before the breaks disappeared completely. Break pads changed 4 months ago and new wheels installed as well. This is a known problem with Toyota under the TSB002419 where Break booster actuator was put on a customer service program to be fixed by the dealerships, but has since expired since 2022. The cars are still known to have their breaks go out due to this malfunction but it is now not covered by Toyota and cost $4K-$5K to fix which is more than the market value of the car today. This needs to be fixed and regulated.

Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2012 Toyota Prius. The contact stated that while attempting to register the vehicle, it was discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy. The vehicle was a dealer sale. At the time of purchase, the vehicle mileage was 187,000, and at the time of registration, it was discovered that the mileage was 227,000.

The contact owns a 2012 Toyota Prius. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, several unknown warning lights illuminated, with an abnormal sound coming from the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed with brake booster failure. The contact was informed that the brake booster pump needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the failure was a known failure with the vehicle. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The contact was informed that an undisclosed Extended Warranty Program had expired. In addition, the contact was informed that the repair was not covered. The failure mileage was approximately 175,000.

My Brake Booster/Actuator failed on me while on the freeway with out any warnings. It made it really hard to stop the car. I didn't find out what it was untill I took it into a repair shop and they told me it was the Brake Booster/Actuator.

The vehicle is experiencing a suspected brake actuator / brake booster failure. Multiple warning lights appeared simultaneously, including ABS, Brake, Traction Control, and Master Warning lights. The vehicle produces a frequent buzzing noise from the brake system, especially at low speeds or when stopped. The noise occurs repeatedly when pressing the brake pedal, indicating the system is struggling to maintain hydraulic pressure. This condition raises serious safety concerns because it may reduce braking performance and increase stopping distance. Brake system failures present a significant risk to vehicle occupants and others on the road. After researching the issue, I learned this appears to be a common failure in Toyota Prius vehicles of similar model years, and Toyota previously issued extended warranty coverage for the brake booster/actuator assemblies. However, many vehicles now exceed the coverage limits despite the safety nature of the defect. I am submitting this complaint because a failing brake system is a critical safety hazard, and this issue appears widespread.

Vehicle check engine code C1391 (Antilock Brake System - abnormal leak in accumulator) came up on 2/5/2026. Recommended repair is to replace the Brake Booster Pump and Assembly, Brake Booster - over $1000 in parts alone. This WAS covered by an Extended Warranty by Toyota (10 years / 150K miles). I only have 120K miles at this time but am past the 10 year mark. However, it seems that this part will fail in every Prius given time and encourage NHTSA to monitor these failures and hold Toyota accountable to address post the 10 year / 150K mile mark.

Vehicle: 2012 Toyota Prius Mileage: Approximately 217,000 miles While driving normally in traffic, the vehicle experienced a sudden and unexpected brake system failure. Multiple warning lights illuminated simultaneously, including the red BRAKE warning light, ABS warning light, traction control light, and warning symbol (!). Shortly after, the vehicle began emitting an audible warning/beeping, and there was a sudden loss of power brake assist. The brake pedal behavior changed abruptly: the pedal became very soft initially, then became suddenly hard halfway through travel, This failure occurred while approaching another vehicle in traffic, and I narrowly avoided rear-ending the vehicle in front of me. The unexpected loss of brake assist created an immediate and dangerous situation, as the vehicle did not decelerate as expected when the brake pedal was applied. Due to the seriousness of the brake failure and safety risk, the vehicle was removed from service and towed. This incident represents a critical safety defect, as sudden loss of braking assist while driving poses a significant risk to vehicle occupants and other road users. I am reporting this incident to document the hazard and request investigation into the reliability and safety of the brake system design. I am requesting you to please issue a recall and reimburse me , as these parts are very expensive , it affected my financial situation, Thanks

My 2012 Toyota Prius plug in hybrid had just passed state inspections and was even looked at by a dealership a year ago with no reported issues. I brought up a whirring issue at the dealership when breaking but the dealership said that’s normal for a hybrid. In a matter of minutes while driving, the traction light, brake light, and ABS light came on as well as a groaning, whirring sound when breaking. Over time, the breaks failed and I could not stop the car, almost causing a wreck because I could not stop without putting all my body weight on the break pedal. When taking it to the Toyota dealership for a whole diagnostic, they said it was a break actuator and break booster failure that is known to happen with Prius’s. They quoted me $3000 for a repair and then marked my breaks as yellow not red on their sheet implying I could still drive it despite the dangerous situation of driving without functioning breaks. When looking into it, this seems to be a known and common problem with Prius’s due to a faulty manufactured part. Codes were c1391, wc1256, and c1252. I believe this part should be recalled and Toyota should fix these faulty parts, especially considering they inspected my car and did not mention it as an issue despite it being a known issue. I got a second opinion from Mavis Tires and they concurred with the diagnosis but could not fix it.

While driving, the vehicle experienced a sudden brake system malfunction without prior warning or gradual degradation. The vehicle was being operated under normal driving, road, and weather conditions. No recent brake service, repairs, or aftermarket modifications had been performed prior to the failure. Multiple warning lights illuminated on the dashboard, including the ABS warning light, brake warning light, and traction control warning light. Shortly after the warning lights appeared, the vehicle began emitting continuous warning beeps. Audible buzzing or pumping noises were also present from the brake system during the malfunction. During this event, brake performance was reduced and braking felt inconsistent. The brake pedal became hard at times and spongy at other times, requiring increased effort to slow the vehicle and resulting in unpredictable braking response. This created a safety concern while the vehicle was in motion. The driver was forced to alter driving behavior and exercise extreme caution due to reduced braking confidence and unpredictable pedal feel. The malfunction has occurred intermittently during normal driving. The condition temporarily resolves on its own and later reoccurs without corrective action. The suspected failed component is the brake actuator / ABS actuator assembly. A diagnostic scan retrieved fault codes C1252 (Brake Booster Pump Motor ON Time Abnormally Long), C1253 (Pump Motor Relay Malfunction), and C1256 (Accumulator Low Pressure), which are consistent with brake actuator malfunction. The failure occurred at approximately 154,000 miles. This vehicle model and generation have a documented history of premature brake actuator failures with similar safety-related symptoms reported by other owners. The condition places the driver and others at risk due to unpredictable braking behavior, reduced braking effectiveness, and repeated warning alarms while driving. Warning lamps and audible alerts continue intermittently.

The contact owns a 2012 Toyota Prius. The contact stated that while reversing, the driver's side rear wheel flipped over. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with a corroded I-Beam assembly on the rear wheel. The contact was informed that the driver's side rear hub and the BRG assembly, rear suspension, and bolts needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 196,347.

Odometer Fraud. The contact’s son recently purchased a 2012 Toyota Prius. The vehicle was a private sale. After the purchase, it was discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy based on the Carfax report. At the time of purchase, the vehicle displayed 137,000 miles. However, the Carfax report listed the mileage as 281,586 miles, and the current mileage on the vehicle was 151,103.

While driving on a city road below the speed limit, braking was compromised leading to loss of traction and failure of the ABS system. During the incident, the brake, ABS, and engine warning lights all turned on and a collision was only avoided due to pumping of the brakes. Further investigation by a mechanic revealed a failure of the brake actuator system. Failure of this system has increased the stopping distance of the vehicle considerably and makes braking unreliable and unpredictable.

The hybrid system fails to enter “Ready” mode with no SMR engagement audible from the junction box. Dashboard displays ABS, brake, engine, and master warning lights. OBD codes include U0142, U0155, and previously U0073 . Rear brake lights function normally when pedal is pressed. Dealer said to pay 250$ for diagnostic and diagnosed incorrect voltage from brake light switch and quoted $348.94 to replace, but refused to proceed with open safety recall J0V / 18V684 (NHTSA 18V684000) citing inability to achieve “Ready” mode. Recall covers inverter failure leading to loss of motive power. Dealer declined to jump 12V battery or use external power to perform required software update and inverter inspection. Vehicle remains inoperable and poses safety risk due to sudden power loss potential. Component (inverter G9200-47141) available for inspection. Problem confirmed by dealer diagnostics. No police or insurance inspection. Warning lamps appeared after 12V battery replacement three months ago.

While driving 60 mph in highway, ABS, traction control and brake lights lit up and vehicle lost its effective braking power. There were no prior warnings prior to this failure. It was a sudden incident. Since it wasn't rush hour, I could safely reduce speed and bring the car to stop. Situation could have been much different if it was normal hours. After taking the car to dealership, it indicated DTC code 1391, Brake Assembly Failure. The car was fixed at dealership at cost of $3,000. When researched further, it appeared that there is broader pattern of failures. Numerous reports have been made by owners of 2010–2015 Toyota Prius, Prius PHV, 2012–2015 Prius V, 2012–2014 Camry Hybrid, and 2013–2015 Avalon Hybrid vehicles, all of which share the same brake booster pump assembly design manufactured by Advics Co., Ltd. Dealerships, including Capistrano Toyota and Claremont Toyota in California, have previously petitioned NHTSA regarding this very defect. Their 2019 letter to the agency documented that Toyota: * Knowingly excluded hundreds of thousands of hybrids from prior safety recalls (DOH 13V-235 and KOL 19V-544) despite identical failures. *Issued “post-failure” repair programs (Warranty Enhancements ZJB, ZKK, ZKC, ZLM, 20LE03, 23TE06 and 23TE07) only after owners experienced brake failure. * Identified the same DTC codes (C1252, C1253, C1256, C1391, U0293) in both recalled and unrecalled vehicles—codes that correspond to accumulator leaks, loss of brake pressure, and failure of brake assist and stability control systems. * Admitted through Technical Service Bulletin TSB-0130-19 that these defects caused loss of hydraulic pressure, increased stopping distance, and total loss of brake assist in affected hybrids. In short, the defect pattern across multiple hybrid models is identical to those already recognized by Toyota and NHTSA under prior recall campaigns, but for reasons unexplained, Toyota limited the recall population and left many consumers unprotected

Traction control.Abs and brake warning lights all came on.

2012 Toyota Prius. The brake system malfunctioned and my daughter was almost in a wreck. The ABS, traction control, and brake warning lights on the bashboard all illuminated at the same time. The brake pedal feels soft and is less responsive requiring more effort to stop the vehicle. The brake actuator assembly is making a hissing noise. Ran a ABS test using a scan tool and received a C1391 error code. The Code points to a leak within the brake actuator system. Upon research I have found that this is a very common and costly repair that Toyota has known about for many years. Toyota issued a customer support program related to this issue that ran for 10 years or 150,000 miles from the vehicle's date of first use. This car, being a 2012, is beyond the support program. I contacted Toyota, hoping they would do the right thing and cover the repair. I was told that they would not cover the repair or supply the parts to cover the repair. I told the Rep. for Toyota that I did not feel like it was fair for Toyota to continue to put millions of drivers at risk for a product that they clearly realize for years now is defective and could hurt or kill someone. The code and the braking issue did not appear until after the customer support program ended and therefore we had no warning or way to anticipate this braking issue or the danger to my daughter and anyone else riding with her in the car or on the roadway near her travel routes. I traveled 300 miles, rented a Uhaul car tow trailer and brought the car back home. My mechanic confirmed the code C1391 and the fact that the brake actuator has failed. The mechanic has ordered the parts (the same defective parts) to replace the broken ones. Toyota is still selling the same part as a replacement part clearly knowing that it is not safe and no warning came with the replacement part explaining the potential for a braking issue. Based on internet research this same part is in many 2005 to 2013 Toyota and Lexus

While pulling out of a parallel parking spot going slightly uphill, I braked as I looked around the back of a double parked truck. I saw a car coming, braked hard, and suddenly my car surged forward across the street and hit a parked car. I looked down and saw that my foot was squarely on the brake pedal pressing down as hard as I could. The parked car was unoccupied, and I was uninjured. There were no warning lamps, messages, or other symptoms of the problem. I turned my car into the dealer for repairs and a fix to the sudden unexpected acceleration. They could offer no fix until a Toyota representative examined the car. On August 14, by an emailed letter, Toyota claimed it found no defects and it must be the result of driver error, specifically, my mistakenly hitting the accelerator. This is gaslighting denialism. (a) The EDR data sent to me does not indicate that I hit the accelerator unless that data is in the page of hexadecimal numbers. (b) Toyota's claim that I hit the breaks at "-0.2 seconds prior to the collision" is physically impossible. No one can move their foot from the accelerator to the brake that fast. (c) Toyota's claim is contrary to what I experienced and observed.

The contact owns a 2012 Toyota Prius. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. The contact stated that the check engine and the hybrid warning lights were illuminated, and the vehicle decelerated. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 18V684000 (Hybrid Propulsion System). The vehicle was taken to the dealer; however, the contact was informed that parts were not yet available for the recall repair. The contact was informed that the parts might be available within a week. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but provided no assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 137,000.

Brake getting stuck on the floor would have to press on brake really hard just to get a response, this will happen out of the blue! Driving in highway or just driving off the driveway. I almost hit a car in front of me due to lack of brake, i had to swerve to the side! First appear 1 day after buying the car..This issue needs to be worked on right away.

While driving on the freeway I applied the brakes and the brakes suddenly felt soft and not very responsive. At that moment 3 dashboard lights turned on: ABS, BRAKE, and the slip indicator lights. I carefully got out of the freeway, parked the car, and had the car towed to an independent mechanic. The mechanic detected brake booster and actuator problems, code C1391.

Brake Actuator and ABS Accumalator failed. It is a common failure reported by multiple owners on these cars. I was on the high way going 70 when it failed and lost any brake boost I had putting me in a very dangerous situation where I narrowly avoided an accident. Upon scanning the car's codes I got code C1391 which I looked up and saw a bunch of other people who were also struggling with this issue.

While driving on the interstate I went to slow down to merge and my brakes failed. The following warning lights came on: Master Warning Light (yellow), Brake System Warning Light, Brake System warning light (red), ABS Warning Light, and the Slip Indicator light. My vehicle was towed to a Toyota Dealership and after running a diagnostic test, they confirmed that it was the "Break booster with accumulator c1391 stored internal leak of accumulator and need immediate attention" which they quoted at $4,295.68 to fix. After researching the issue saw A Customer Support Program 20TE07 was issued taking responsibility for the faulty Brake Booster Pump Assembly however only covered the repair for a two-year period and only if it was one of the identified diagnostic trouble codes listed in the CSP issued by Toyota but expired in Feb 2022. The code pulled from my vehicle 3 days ago was listed in this document, but the coverage only covers until Feb 2022. This is not a normal wear and tear issue, it is a faulty part that Toyota identified as a life and death safety concern but refuses to do anything about because mine didn't show an issue within their 2-year CSP timeframe. Toyota identified that there are roughly 118,950 2012-2014 model year prius V with a production period of late September 2010 to mid-November 2014 vehicles that this faulty part affects along with everyone else on the road with these vehicles as it causes failure of the brake booster pump assembly, which leads to a loss of braking assist and the deactivation of the Vehicle Stability Control system. For the safety and lives of the owners of these vehicles and all of the other lives of the drivers on the road that this could affect in the case of this faulty part should there be a catastrophic accident, like mine could have been, a nationwide recall on this part MUST be issued.

C1391 - Abnormal Leak in Accumulator

My Prius, along with the thousands of others this has apparently happened to according to a quick online search, has had the C1391 code appear, indicating a failed brake actuator and accumulator. It, like the thousands of Priuses from this generation, have had these faulty brake pump systems develop a leak and begin to fail. You will hear a whirring and hissing noise constantly when it starts going out, eventually resulting in a Christmas tree of dash warning lights and reduced braking due to a failsafe kicking on. Toyota apparently issued a "customer service bulletin" that is now ineffective as it only covered if you had the system fail within 10 years of manufactor or 150,000 miles AND had the codes appear. Most people's Priuses go out AFTER this, unless you're driving it like you stole it. It is a hefty repair too, being quoted at over $3000 at the Toyota STEALSRSHIP!! I have since gone to an independent mechanic and had one portion replaced in hopes that would fix the issue, but it turns out both the actuator and accumulator are needed to be replaced, which is extremely expensive, more so for the actuator than the accumulator, but still exorbitantly expensive. In conjunction with this, Toyota further added difficulties by making their paet numbers they have listed different from the mark number engraved on the part, so buying third party is made a bigger hassle by this as they will not know for certain the part number. This is a huge safety concern as this affects the vehicle's ability to brake. Their service bulletin was the equivalent of offering people bandaids years before they'd be anywhere to getting a cut!! Please investigate and please please PLEASE lead to Toyota issuing an actual recall, regardless of miles or year from manufacture. More and more Priuses are reaching the time where this will occur and it's a huge safety concern, if not an environmental concern when people start disposing of Priuses due to this massive failure with hefty repair bills.

CA No problem

The brake booster and brake booster pump assemblies had to be replaced at the dealership. Parts are not available for inspection as far as I know. We were warned by the dealership that we should not be driving the car because the brakes could completely fail at any moment if we didn't have parts replaced. That would have been dangerous for us and anyone else sharing the road with us. On a Sunday, leaving our house and driving down our street, three lights turned on on the dashboard display - traction, brakes, and ABS - and the brakes felt softer and less responsive than normal. After having gotten a diagnosis and repair estimate from the dealership, we carefully drove the car home to consider our options. We tried to get a second opinion from a trusted mechanic, but it sounded like the parts we needed were tightly monitored by Toyota and the original estimate for the repair from the dealership was above $3,000. After a few days, the dashboard warning lights turned off and the brakes felt back to normal. The whirring noise which had been happening roughly every 4 seconds had slowed to roughly every 10-12 seconds. We were told that this turning off of the lights sometimes happened, but that the issue was still the same. Prior to these lights turning on, the car had been making a lot of the whirring noises for some time, but it had never thrown the codes before that would have been picked up by a mechanic. At the time, we didn't recognize the sounds as a sign of an impending commonly recognized failure - only after doing some research did we find that this was a very common problem for a lot of Prius owners, especially for the given year and number of miles we had. There is an "extended warranty" for this part and repair, but while we were within the mileage limit, we were outside of the time limit and we were told at the dealership that Toyota would be inflexible about paying for the repairs.

I am writing to express a complaint regarding the issues I have experienced with the brake system of my Toyota Prius C, 2012 model. For the past several months, I have noticed that the brakes exhibit strange noises, soft pedal sensation, reduced braking efficiency, were driving and the ABS, traction, brake, and that other light turned on and the brakes became slow these issues have been observed on multiple occasions and pose a safety risk to myself, other drivers, and pedestrians. I have taken the vehicle for inspection, but the problems persist or have not been definitively resolved. I believe these faults may be related to defects in the braking system, and therefore I request a thorough inspection and necessary repairs at no cost, considering that the manufacturer could be responsible for manufacturing defects.

While driving my 2012 Toyota Prius, the traction control, brake, and ABS warning lights all came on at the same time. I used a home OBD scanner but it didn’t show any diagnostic codes. After some research and inspection, I discovered that the issue was related to a faulty brake booster and accumulator—something I’ve learned is a common problem with this model. I was relieved to hear that Toyota has an extended warranty on these parts. However, last night while driving, the brakes suddenly stopped functioning properly. It became very difficult to slow down, which put me in a dangerous situation. I’m deeply concerned about the safety risks this defect poses and believe this issue deserves further attention.

The contact owns a 2012 Toyota Prius. The contact stated while driving 30 MPH, the ABS and traction control warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that while attempting to depress the brake pedal, the vehicle hesitated while responding. The contact stated that there was a buzzing sound coming from accumulator pump. The dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the failure had occurred on several occasions. The vehicle was taken to Nico's Auto Repair where it was diagnosed and determined that the brake booster and accumulator assembly needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but offered no assistance. The approximate failure mileage was 140,000.

I am reporting a sudden and dangerous failure of the brake booster in my 2012 Toyota Prius. While driving, I experienced a loss of braking power, accompanied by several warning lights including ABS, Brake, and the Traction Control system. The brake pedal became extremely stiff and unresponsive, significantly increasing the stopping distance. This failure nearly caused an accident, as I was unable to stop quickly enough when traffic slowed unexpectedly. This issue happened without warning and is a serious safety risk. I later discovered this is a common and widely reported defect in 2010–2015 Toyota Prius models. Toyota issued an extended warranty (Customer Support Program ZE3) to cover this known brake booster defect — but only for vehicles within 10 years or 150,000 miles. While my Prius has well under 150,000 miles, it is just over 10 years old, which disqualifies me from coverage, leaving me with a repair estimate over $4,000 for a well-documented manufacturer defect. This seems grossly unfair, especially for responsible owners with low-mileage, well-maintained vehicles. Toyota’s refusal to issue a formal recall and instead offering only limited support puts millions of Prius drivers at risk. A brake system failure of this kind should qualify as a safety defect and trigger a mandatory recall, not a quietly limited program with arbitrary expiration dates. I urge NHTSA to investigate this issue further and consider a recall of the defective brake booster system in these Prius models to protect public safety and ensure fair treatment for affected owners. Thank you.

This Prius Hybrid is my [XXX] mother's car which she got thinking is was a very safe and reliable vehicle. She purchased the vehicle from a Toyota dealership here in Maine on [XXX]. Last week while driving down the road, all of a sudden, every brake warning light lit up the dashboard and the brakes became extremely unresponsive. It scared us both to death but thank goodness, I was driving when this happened. After doing some research, I have discovered that this a very well known brake issue with the 2010-2015 Prius cars. I cannot for the life of me understand how this major safety defect has not been made into an actual safety recall. I did contact Toyota customer service and they will not help us at all. Even though my mother has only had the car for just under 9 years and is well under the allotted mileage, they said their Customer Support Program (ZJB) only covers 10 years from the day the car was first driven after production. Her Prius now is inoperable and the repair costs are in the thousands. We are so incredibly disappointed with Toyota and the safety board for allowing this to happen to all of the defective Prius owners. I hope you will reconsider and do the right thing and recall these cars before someone does get into an accident where they are injured or killed. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

On three of the four tires at different times the tires were separating. They had bulges in the tire. Caused extreme vibration and noise. The last tire was today with 22k miles. The other two were a year ago with 15k miles. I’ve had to replace all 4 tires

Brake booster failures are a common safety issue with 2012-2015 Toyota Prius' this one included is starting to fail which can lead to ABS deactivating and shorter braking distances. There was a recall for this part but most tend to fail after the warranty period. Leaving many vehicles unrepaired and dangerous.

My brakes began making a funny noise when I used them. I only have 80000 on the car and do regular maintenance. I took it in because it seemed the brake pedal was getting spongy as well. They ran in through diagnostic tests and determined the braking module or brake booster/master assembly was bad. This seems to be an issues with Toyota and should be addressed immediately. It is an expensive fix for a low mileage car

47050-47180 47070-47060 Both failed at same time along with many others getting quotes of 3500-4000 to replace no brake control or anti lock brakes

Toyota installed known faulty brake booster and master cylinder systems in Prius C models manufactured 2012-2014. Knowing these systems would fail, but not wanting to pay for their mistake, they created a basically secret "extended warranty program" for owners to get their brake booster replaced ONLY IF for a specific 2 year time frame their brakes failed with a certain DTC code. Knowing that many prius owners would not actually receive the notification nor had driven their vehicle enough miles for the braking system to fail, they got away without having to correct their issue. The brakes literally just fail and stop working in the middle of the highway, causing extreme safety concerns and accidents with no responsibility from Toyota.

Brake system went out suddenly making the car brakes not work

The accelerator wasn’t pushing down after I turned a corner then the lights in attached photo appeared. The power inverter needs to be replaced and since my car had the J0V software update in 2/2019, and the recall update came out in 3/2019, it was not linked to my vin as it should’ve been. The update to J0V (attached) should have been posted w my vin, correct? They are fixing it under customer support but refuse to tow it or give me rental bc they are saying it isn’t a recall issue, when the document below says it applies to all cars that needed J0V. I want to be sure all cars that had recall service before the March2019 update get this update linked to their vin.

Subject: Safety Complaint – 2012 Toyota Prius Brake Booster Failure (C1391 Code) I am writing to formally report a serious safety defect in my 2012 Toyota Prius involving the brake system. Recently, my vehicle’s dashboard displayed the ABS, traction control, and brake warning lights, indicating a critical braking issue. Upon diagnostic testing at a Toyota dealership, the vehicle was found to have DTC Code C1391 – Brake Booster Leak/Accumulator Failure. I later discovered that Toyota acknowledged this defect and issued a Customer Support Program (CSP) to cover repairs. However, I was never notified, despite always servicing my vehicle at Toyota dealerships. When I contacted Toyota, they confirmed that my vehicle has been flagged in their system, yet I was never received anything in the mail about the potential brake failure. Toyota initially set the CSP expiration in 2023, later extending it to May 2025, but they have refused to repair my vehicle under this program. The estimated repair cost is $4,680.09 along with a diagnostic fee of 206.09, which is a significant financial burden for an issue stemming from a known manufacturing defect. Most importantly, this is a major safety hazard: My brakes now produce a loud hissing sound when pressed, indicating imminent failure. If the brake booster fails completely, it could result in a loss of braking power, endangering myself, passengers, and others on the road. Numerous Prius owners have reported similar failures, yet Toyota has not issued a formal recall. I urge NHTSA to investigate this defect further and push Toyota to issue a full recall instead of a limited support program that many owners were unaware of. Given the life-threatening nature of brake failure, Toyota should not be allowed to limit coverage or deny repairs for a problem they have long recognized. I respectfully request that NHTSA take action to ensure Toyota addresses this safety defect responsibly.

The styrofoam padding of the headrest came unglued from the plastic base of the headrest. This was discovered when removing fabric to wash the fabric. Car was not driving at the time.

My break actuator goes off every 12 seconds continuously. There is no warning sign in the dash board. Brought the vehicle to the Toyota dealership and had it checked out. The dealership says there is no problems according to their analysis. But the actuator continuously goes off every 12 seconds and the dealership said this was "normal" and charged me the service fee. I am seriously concerned because I drive this car with my child and I am reading that this is a bad sign and that the breaks might fail at any time. Since the dashboard doesn't give me a warning sign and the dealership says there's no problems based on their diagnostics, even if everyone can hear the actuator go off ever 12 seconds I guess I can safely drive this vehicle...it seems like driving a ticking disaster waiting to happen.

ABS pump and master cylinder malfunction. Pump is running very often. Hard braking makes it sound abnormally.

Brakes failed

The contact owns a 2012 Toyota Prius. The contact stated while driving 60 MPH, there was an abnormal grinding sound coming from the brakes while the brake pedal was depressed. The brakes, the traction control, and the ABS warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was then taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed with brake booster and master cylinder assembly failure. The vehicle was not repaired for the most recent failure. The local dealer was contacted; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 106,019.

I accidentally slid out into traffic as my brakes failed as I pulled up to stop at the edge of the parking lot. I was nearly hit driver's side on a pickup. Fortunately, it was able to swerve around me and there was no immediate following vehicle. I was able to pull out and back into a nearby parking lot to address the problem with my brakes. Upon speaking to my mechanic and local Toyota Dealership I was informed that the brake booster/accumulator had failed and that this was a known issue on my vehicle. Toyota extended a special warranty on these parts several times but did not notify owners of the safety risk. That warranty coverage has expired for my vehicle. I believe it is an inherent safety risk and they obscured it by covering the parts under this extended warranty. I believe they should be recalled and at the least owners should be warned of the risks. All communications were done over the phone or in person, I have no electronic records. I submitted an identical request on my 2011 Prius by accident, as I used it's VIN when I meant to use the VIN on my 2012 Prius. Regardless, I am now concerned for my safety in both vehicles.

Failure in ABS system

Vehicle has good break pads and rotors. Also the vehicle turn on the ABS the Break and the slippery lights on. When the car was scanned is show code C1391" which indicates a problem with the brake accumulator within the system, often requiring replacement of the brake booster and accumulator assembly. I can't drive the car and other people with same car on 2011 year has the same issue

As i was driving, my breaks suddenly became spongey and unresponsive. I could hear a "hiss" sound come from below me. ABS and other warning lights came on on my dash. As i was near my auto mechanic i tried to make it there safely, and as i drove the brakes seemed to become softer and softer. By the time i had reached my mechanic i was so uncomfortable with its ineffectivness i felt it necessary to use the emergency brake to come to a complete stop. My mechanic confirmed that the issues included the failing of the Brake Booster, Brake Master Cylinder, Accumulator Pump, ABS, ABS Computer. According to him this was caused by a set of issues involving internal leaks in the brake booster assembly. These issues were replicatable, and my mechanic says they pose a saftey risk. Even after he gave it a "temporary patch job." Due to this the only times it has been driven were to get it home, to move it along our street so as to not get ticketed for having a stationary vehicle too many days in a row, and one time it was taken up the nearest rise in preparation for a Tsunami warning. When looking for replacment parts, my mechanic allerted me to a Technical Service Bulletin that should have been sent out to owners warning them of this issue and offering replacment parts. I never received this notice as I am the second owner of this vehicle, the notices were sent before i owned it, the previous owner claims not to have been aware of this issue herself, and because it was a voluntary service call, when researching the vehicle myself for any reported issues such as recalls, none had come up, meaning i had no way of knowing. To add to this, i contacted Toyota to see if they would honor the past offer to service this issue, but Toyota refuses to replace the parts now as it is too far past the voluntary service dates they set.

My Brakes almost caused me to crash on Jan 18th. I'm driving down the highway and traffic comes to a complete stop. I started braking but my abs, stability control and brake light come on. When this occurred I had to push the brakes to the floor just to stop. My brakes were very unsafe and unpredictable. I had to drive way below the speed limit to make it home, keeping at least 8 car lengths between me. I inspected the vehicle when I made it home. Their is noise coming from the driver side firewall. Something is consistently turning on and off and a slight click after each cycle, every 5 seconds approximately. I was told that it was my abs pump or brake actuator. This is unacceptable and dangerous to all consumers. The fact there was no warning that occurred in a safer environment. I'm so thankful my kid wasn't driving it. Why isn't this a recall? I don't understand how something this dangerous is not a factor to the consumers. I have researched and found many cases that consumers have had a similar issue. This issue is not like brake pads. Their is a clear warning when its time to change brake pads. I honestly would like to see toyota to fix this issue.

I am writing to bring attention to a critical safety issue affecting the 2012 Toyota Prius and other Toyota models equipped with the brake booster and actuator system. These components are failing at alarming rates, leaving vehicles with no functional brakes, ABS, or traction control. Additionally, this failure compromises the hybrid system due to the regenerative braking no longer working, potentially causing further damage to hybrid components and resulting in repairs costing several thousand dollars. Toyota issued Customer Support Program ZJB, which covered these issues for a limited period. This program was in effect from August 31, 2021, with no mileage or year restrictions, but offered secondary coverage for up to 10 years or 150,000 miles from the vehicle’s first use. Unfortunately, my vehicle, with approximately 130,000 miles and 12 years of age, was denied coverage when brought to a dealer after the program had ended. Despite the brake booster and actuator failing, the dealership did not advise me not to drive the vehicle, further emphasizing the gravity of this oversight. This is a significant safety hazard, as vehicles with these failures lack the ability to stop effectively, risking lives on the road. Furthermore, this problem is not isolated to my Prius; it affects thousands of Toyota vehicles equipped with these components. The estimated repair cost exceeds $3,000, an undue burden on owners for an issue that stems from defective manufacturing. I firmly believe Toyota’s decision to address this problem through a limited Customer Support Program, rather than a full recall, is inadequate and irresponsible. This issue meets the criteria for a safety recall and should be treated as such by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). I respectfully urge the NHTSA to investigate this matter further asap/mandate a recall for all affected vehicles. This is a big safety issue. [XXX] [XXX] [XXX] [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

The brake actuator has failed in this 2012 Prius with 135,000 miles. No issues were noticed while braking, however, when starting the car, the ABS, Brake and Traction Control warning lights lit up. The Toyota Dealership said this is a failed Brake Actuator and quoted $3,800. We have learned there is a secondary warranty on this part due to constant failures that Toyota issued, however, this warranty only applies to Prius up to 150,000 miles or 10 years from initial use, whichever comes first. This is unfair to most Prius users as this is a common problem happening, but typically happening after the 10 year mark.

The ABS, Brake, and Traction Control lights all illuminated while driving. I took it into a local shop, the computer scanned "brake accumulator leak". The accumulator is buzzing every 10 seconds and the brake fluid needs topping up. Now there is a brake fluid puddle under the car. The fix is to repair the brake master cylinder and replace the brake booster pump. The car is a 2012 with 110,000 miles. This is a known Toyota Prius vehicle issue but they decline to service it and can the brakes can fail.

Without warning, the ABS, Traction Stability, Brake and other lights lit up and I lost braking on the highway. Luckily, I was in very light and narrowly avoided a crash. I was able to get home with far less braking power and no regenerative braking. Since then, I have researched the problem and found that this is an extremely common issue. I can remedy it for ten or twenty minutes by putting the car in DIAG mode and pumping the brakes, but it will do it again, and again. I need a new accumulator and ABS module, and the dealer wants thousands for it. I cannot afford it and it is a known flaw and a safety issue. I take my daughter to school in this car, thankfully it's nearby, but it's terrifying. Our other Prius has no issues, and I understand that Toyota has repaired other cars under a warranty program of which I was never notified.

2012 Prius in very good condition with 180k miles- only 12 years old. Driving on back roads (thankfully) and the drivers side rear wheel compelely fell off while driving. I was doing about 30 MPH and felt like there was a flat tire so I was in the process of pulling over when the whole rear assembly snapped. The wheel hit the rear quarter of the car and bounced about 100 feet down the road. I could have been on the highway and this could have been fatal I believe. Very, Very scary. As can be seen in attached photos the issue was rust from the inside. This is very concerning since there was no way for me to know this was an issue. I could have been killed or killed someone else. I believe Toyota needs to look into this since there are other Prius' out there the same thing happened to on this very thread. Although this is a Massachusetts car I have owed it since 25k miles and have maintained it impeccably. I always have the undercarriage cleaned after driving on salty roads. Safety inspection was current- only done the month before. Had that wheel bearing replaced about 2 weeks before the incident and the reputable mechanic reported no issues. There was no warning except for maybe a minute before it happened- the car was vibrating like I had a flat tire. The damage repair estimate on this was $8500. Catastrophic fail Toyota. Is this a rust issue like the Tacoma, Tundra, and Sequoia?????

2012 Toyota Prius 5 with 105k miles. ABS, Brake, and Traction Control lights all illuminated while driving to work. Drove to the dealership and had their service department run a diagnosis for 200$. Their scanner reported CODE C1391, and that a new BRAKE PUMP and MASTER CYLINDER ASSEMBLY would need to be replaced for a total cost of $4,000. Toyota has a Customer Support Program Bulletin indicating that certain 2010-2015 Toyota Prius will experience internal malfunctions and require repair for BRAKE BOOSTER AND BRAKE BOOSTER PUMP ASSEMBLIES. Since this is a safety issue, Toyota should extend the program indefinite and repair their faulty systems.

Wednesday morning I went to start my car to go to work. I noticed the brake would not go down. It was difficult to press. I was unable to go to work safely. I brought my car to a mechanic where I was informed it was a faulty brake booster. When I researched online, I saw many many other Toyota owners went through the exact same issue. There is no recall but it’s a huge issue and a a safety problem.

ABS Pump and Actuator failed at 100,000 miles. Traction control, ebrake, ABS light came on while driving. Many other stories of Toyota vehicles with the same failure.

1. The ABS system failed upon inspection at a dealership. Specifically the ABS accumulator and booster. 2. The ABS system put us at risk by failing prematurely, and traction control and ABS functions seemingly stopped working while driving on the road. 3. Yes, dealership confirmed the issue with a full diagnostic, and the part has a customer support program bulletin/TSB out for this specific issue. 4. inspected by manufacturer dealership service center. 5. Lights such as the parking brake, ABS, and (!) lit up while driving and the failure occurred at the same time.

My actuator is failing. This is a known issue for Priuses and a danger to those on the road. Toyota issued a voluntary service program on these parts to avoid a recall and now many are on the road with actautors that should have been replaced.