Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2016 Toyota Prius owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owns a 2016 Toyota Prius. The contact stated that while the vehicle was on and running, the ABS and traction control warning lights illuminated, and the messages "Braking Power Low - Stop in a Safe Place", "See Owner's Manual", "Braking Power Low - Visit the Dealer", and "ABS Malfunction - See Dealer" were displayed. The contact stated that while driving approximately 35 MPH and depressing the brake pedal, the brake pedal was firm. The vehicle was taken to a dealer, and DTC: C14B6 was retrieved, indicating that the brake booster needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired; however, the code was cleared. The vehicle was then taken to an independent mechanic, where the information from the dealer was relayed that the brake booster needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 100,028.
We were driving in San Diego and had driven oven a bit pothole. About 50 miles after driving over the pothole, the brakes stopped working. We were pressing down hard on the brake, but the brake was soft and did not do its job. We almost rear ended the car in front of us. We brought the car right away to a close by auto shop and they said there were no leaks as the brake fluid was still close to the max and they did not find any indication of a brake fluid leak and sent us on our way. We are still unsure as to why the brake from this vehicle stopped.
Second time !!!! during ownership of car that brakes fail. Same problem as before Brake Actuator/Booster Failures: Multiple reports indicate issues with the ABS actuator or brake booster pump, leading to warning lights ("Braking power low", "ABS system malfunction").
While driving vehicle on the freeway it stated braking power low, stop in a safe place, antilock brake system malfunction, pre-collision system malfunction, lane departure alert malfunction. I was almost in a major scary accident.
As I took a highway exit, following behind other cars doing the same, my Prius refused to brake efficiently when another car abruptly invaded our line. It felt as if the brakes made a slight release or couldn't reach a full stop. I had enough space to stop, and I pressed the brakes on time but there was almost no brake reaction and I crashed into the truck in front of me. I was probably going 20-30 MPH, somewhere in the middle... So not even that fast. Best part is that the airbags didn't inflate, even though the car was almost totaled. This feels explainable to me... I had it for only two months thus far. I do not recommend this car to others.
February 7, 2018 !01 frwy north approaching santa rosa/ pleasant valley off ramp on the downgrade out of newbury park at 25 MPH in the right lane. A.brake lights are seen in car ahead. B.the dash board lights up red with the word brake in red c.a loud pulsating audio noise can be heard coming from the speakers. D.the driver touches the brakes and the car goes into full ABS emergency braking reducing speed from 25 MPH to 12 MPH in less than 1/2 second e.the driver and the passengers experience a violent lurch which produces whip lash. F.the seat belts engage causing pain to the shoulders. G.the incident occurred at 25 MPH. This has occurred over 6 times in the past year. A pdf is attached of the history of problem as presented to thousand oaks Toyota and Toyota national in November 2017. …
On Friday, October 21, 2016 while driving over a pothole I pressed on the brake. The car slowed but all of a sudden the brake suddenly depressed even further down and the car jerked and seemed to stall before pushing forward. I had been pressing the brake as far down as it would go and it seemed as if there would be some kind of brake failure. On October 31, 2016 while driving over another pothole, I again stepped on the brake and suddenly the pedal again depressed further down and there was a creaking and squealing sound. Then on November 4, 2016 while going over a pothole, there was a squealing and creaking sound but not a sudden additional depression of the brake pedal. All these incidents happened on salt lake blvd. Or kamehameha highway and passes under the fixed guideway for hawaii's rail system. The road is extremely bumpy and full of potholes.
Vehicle feels like it wants to go forward as soon as the gas engine turns on to charge the hybrid battery when it is stationary, is in park gear with the foot parking brake fully on and on a flat surface. When the car is running off of battery mode and the battery becomes depleted the gas engine turns on to charge the hybrid battery, you can feel the car sending power to the wheels for a slight two seconds and can also hear the brakes creaking as a result of the engine feeling engaged to the wheels even when the park gear (/button) is selected. It happens all the time and not sure why it would do that while in park. If a parking brake failure was to happen what would happen when the engine turns on to charge the battery again? Will it creep forward or what? Just thought this was a concern since I have not experienced this with non hybrid cars.
When putting the car in park and then engaging the foot parking brake on a slope, such as my driveway, and then turning off the car, the car rolls back significantly. Then, while exiting the car, the rear brakes make loud grinding and creaky noises as the car settles downwards slightly. Then, when entering the car, the brakes make the same creaky and grinding sounds. When holding the brake pedal to power on the car, then disengaging the foot parking brake, then shifting the car from park to reverse or drive, the car jerks abruptly and at the same time makes a loud and stuck disengagement sound, as if the car was being held on the hill/driveway solely by the parking pawl. It seems like the parking brake is not holding the car, and instead, the parking pawl is.
When the car is in drive and stationary on a hill facing up wards (like in a driveway) the car still sends electrical power to the electric motor and to the wheels even when the brakes are applied. This only happens when facing up a hill. All electrical power is suppose to turn off when the brake is pressed. This started happening two weeks ago and the dealership said that this is normal but it is not normal as it never did this before. It does not happen when on flat ground or when facing down hill. Dealership claimed that this is the hill assist feature holding the car but that's a lie as the hill assist utilizes the brakes and not the motor. Dealership could not find any error codes and refused to dig further into the issue and made up lies about it.
Related recalls
Parking brake
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Prius vehicles manufactured August 6, 2015, to October 3, 2016. The affected vehicles are equipped with a foot-operated parking brake system that has a parking brake cable that may disengage.
Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will install a clip at the parking brake cable end to prevent the cable from disengaging, free of charge. The recall began November 10, 2016.
Brake complaints in other Prius years
Frequently asked questions
How common are brake problems on the 2016 Toyota Prius?
NHTSA has 20 complaints about the brakes of the 2016 Toyota Prius, 13% of the model year's 155 complaints.
Is there a recall for 2016 Toyota Prius brake problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 16V-741 (parking brake, Oct 14, 2016). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2016 Toyota Prius brake problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 8,000 miles, and 77% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 1 crash, 0 fires and 2 injuries to brakes problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
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.