Brake complaints by model year
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (service brakes, ABS, rotors and pads, parking brake).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
On [redacted] at [redacted] I was backing out of a driveway when my 2016 Prius V5 accelerated on its own. When I applied the brakes, nothing happened. I hit a curb, which flattened the front passenger tire. In order to get the car to stop, I took it out of gear and put it in neutral. The car finally came to a stop. My speed while backing out of the driveway was less than 5 mph. It accelerated to about 15 mph. I was told that because the tire flattened due to the force of impact with the curb, Toyota considered it an accident. Toyota had me complete an "Unintended Acceleration" form so they could investigate the situation. A case number ([redacted]) was assigned. I was also told that I needed to contact Toyota's Brand Engagement Center at [phone]. …
Car was driving fine one day and then while driving down the interstate I had the Pre collision system malfunction error, Brake light came on, Cruise will not operate, ABS light is on. After much research it seems Prius V has a common issue with brake booster faulting.
I started hearing the whirring sound from the brake booster that normally only comes on at startup almost constantly, about every 15 seconds. Along with this, a puffing sound and a pulsing from the brake pedal when stopped with the car on, such as at a traffic light. Also, when coming to a stop there would be a shudder from the brakes. After about a month I was driving when 3 separate warning lights lit up on the dashboard and the next time I braked the pedal felt very different than normal, very mushy, and the car seemed to not stop as well. I consulted a repair shop and they told me it's a common problem with this model: brake booster/actuator failure resulting in a loss of the ABS system. They quoted me over $2000 to make the repair. …
Emergency Brake, Traction and ABS warning came on and stayed on in addition to a five-second interval cycling on of a motor sound under the hood. O'Reilly Auto Parts and then Toyota dealership confirmed the same code that indicated brake booster assembly needs replacing (C1391) **This is a "known issue" but not yet a recall. Toyota did extend the part warranty to 10 years or 150,000 miles - my vehicle has only gone 85,500 and unfortunately is eight months into the 10th year and Toyota is refusing to cover any portion of the repair. I would like to be part of the effort to have this formally declared a recall because I got the quote today to replace the brake booster assembly and it's going to cost half the value of the vehicle! $4000 is the low estimate Bighorn Toyota gave me to do the repair/replacement. Thank you for your help!
The contact owns a 2014 Toyota Prius V. The contact stated that the vehicle was previously involved in two car crashes, where the vehicle rear-ended other vehicles due to the brakes failure. The air bags did not deploy. A police report was filed after the second crash, but the information was not available. The contact stated that the other driver sustained unknown injuries during the second crash. The vehicle sustained damages and was repaired. There was no further information provided. Additionally, the contact stated while driving at various speeds and depressing the brake pedal, the brakes made an abnormal sound and the brake pedal was spongy. The contact stated that the vehicle hesitated to respond. The ABS warning light and several unknown warning lights were illuminated. …
The contact owns a 2014 Toyota Prius V. The contact stated that while driving approximately 35 MPH, the brake light, tire pressure, traction control, battery, and other warning lights were illuminated. While attempting to depress the brake pedal, there was more resistance than normal, making it difficult to slow the vehicle. The contact was able to drive the vehicle to the nearest mechanic; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed. The vehicle was then taken to the residence. The vehicle was taken to another certified mechanic, who diagnosed and determined that the brake master cylinder and actuator assemblies had failed. The brake master cylinder and brake actuator assemblies were in the process of being repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 220,000.
The contact owned a 2013 Toyota Prius. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 25 MPH, the ABS warning light was illuminated. The contact then stated that the brake pedal was applied but failed to respond, causing the vehicle to swerve and the contact to crash into a retaining wall. The contact sustained whiplash. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where failure codes were retrieved for the brake booster and ABS. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed that the brake booster needed to be replaced; however, the warranty had expired. The vehicle was not repaired and was auctioned. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 143,000.
The contact owns a 2013 Toyota Prius V. The contact stated that while driving approximately 65 MPH in stop-and-go traffic and applying the brake pedal to decrease in speed, the vehicle hesitated to decrease in speed. The contact had to apply an excessive amount of pressure for the vehicle to decrease in speed. The Slip indicator light, brake system failure, and anti-lock brake failure warning lights are illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a certified mechanic who informed the contact that code C1391 which showed on the diagnostic machine. The dealer stated the brake booster pump needed to be replaced. The mechanic informed the contact that the failure was related to the Customer Support Program 20TE07 with the NHTSA ID Number 10184564 (Service Brakes, Equipment, Equipment Adaptive/Mobility). …
NHTSA investigations
Brake Actuator Valve Wear
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) has received a petition dated September 19, 2023 from the owner of a 2012 Toyota Prius V requesting that ODI reevaluate its decision to deny DP19-004. In the letter, the petitioner reported experiencing an unexpected and complete loss of brake power while driving, accompanied by multiple dashboard warning lights.
Frequently asked questions
Which Toyota Prius v years have brake problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 2012 (133), 2013 (68), 2014 (44) and 2015 (12) model years. Brake complaints make up 61% of all complaints for the 2012.
Is there a recall for Toyota Prius v brake problems?
No. NHTSA lists no brakes recall for any Toyota Prius v model year. A widespread problem may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin, so ask a dealer.
At what mileage do Toyota Prius v brake problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 80,000 miles; 34% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the antilock › abs warning light (1 mentions), followed by the power assist › vacuum (1).
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.