Brake complaints by model year
| Year | Complaints | Share of year's complaints | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2 | 13% | — |
| 2024 | 2 | 7% | 3,000 miles |
| 2023 | 2 | 10% | — |
| 2022 | 5 | 21% | 121,000 miles |
| 2021 | 1 | 17% | — |
| 2020 | 4 | 29% | 16,000 miles |
| 2019 | 11 | 37% | 11,000 miles |
| 2018 | 4 | 11% | 8,000 miles |
| 2017 | 14 | 15% | 15,000 miles |
| 2016 | 20 | 13% | 8,000 miles |
| 2015 | 93 | 56% | 41,000 miles |
| 2014 | 102 | 49% | 60,000 miles |
| 2013 | 242 | 58% | 92,000 miles |
| 2012 | 200 | 47% | 96,000 miles |
| 2011 | 277 | 53% | 81,000 miles |
| 2010 | 1,945 | 69% | 5,000 miles |
| 2009 | 199 | 40% | 16,000 miles |
| 2008 | 390 | 26% | 35,000 miles |
| 2007 | 331 | 17% | 43,000 miles |
| 2006 | 210 | 15% | 52,000 miles |
| 2005 | 282 | 27% | 65,000 miles |
| 2004 | 76 | 12% | 84,000 miles |
| 2003 | 16 | 16% | 83,000 miles |
| 2002 | 20 | 12% | 44,000 miles |
| 2001 | 16 | 10% | 120,000 miles |
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (service brakes, ABS, rotors and pads, parking brake).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
The contact owns a 2022 Toyota Prius. The contact stated that on two separate occasions while shifted into reverse, the brake pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to stop. The contact stated that he applied extra pressure and turned off the hybrid power system to stop the vehicle. No warning lights were illuminated. The contact was concerned that the failure could cause an accident or potential injury. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. Neither the dealer nor the manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 10,000.
The contact owns a 2022 Toyota Prius. The contact stated that while driving, depressed the brakes, brake pedal became stiff and had to apply extra force to apply the brakes. The issue occurred multiple times. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it bent brake pedal and the bracket was bent. The vehicle was not repaired at the time of the report. The manufacturer was notified of the issue. The approximate failure mileage was 121,000.
The contact owns a 2020 Toyota Prius. The contact stated that while, driving approximately 5 mph, making a right turn, the vehicle suddenly accelerated, jumped the curb, and crashed into the bushes. The brake pedal was applied however, failed to respond. There were no warning lights illuminated. There were no reported injuries, police report or air bag deployment. The vehicle was towed to an independent body shop. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified however no further assistance was provided. The contact was concerned about driving the vehicle. The failure mileage was 15,670.
Attempted to park in my garage and overshot the turn. The brake then failed to stop and I dented my garage outer wall. I reversed my car and tried to reposition it to go inside the garage, putting it on drive. However, the brake pedal made the car accelerate and the car went on reverse. It then crashed into the neighbor's garage and crashed the door and car inside. Both the car inside the garage and the garage itself (along with the inside of the house) have been damaged.
The contact owns a 2019 Toyota Prius. The contact stated while at a complete stop, another vehicle crashed into the rear of the vehicle and the vehicle began to accelerate unintendedly. The air bags failed to deploy. The brake pedal was depressed but failed to respond. The contact stated that he was able to prevent a crash by avoiding several vehicles while continuously depressing the brake pedal. The brake pedal responded; however, there was 62-100 ft. stopping distance delay. The contact veered to the side of the road for a moment. The contact stated that as he restarted the vehicle, the vehicle operated as needed. There was no warning light illuminated. There was no police report filed. There was no injury sustained. The contact was able to drive to his workplace. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. …
On Saturday [redacted], while shifting to reverse in a back alley to back up slowly, the car engine suddenly and loudly revved and shot backwards at accelerating speed. I slammed on brakes which did not respond at all, thus forcing me to attempt to shift gears which also failed to stop the acceleration. Car only stopped because it went up a curb and hit the corner of a parked vehicle in a neighbors driveway. If I had been on busier street and not a back alley this could have resulted in numerous vehicle collisions and unimagined fatalities. Car is being towed on [redacted] to Advanced Collision Repair on 4511 Central Ave, Columbia Heights, for diagnostic assessment. There were no warning lamps, messages or other indicators prior to this terrifying lack of vehicle control . This was first episode since purchasing car approx one year ago. Incident was captured on neighbor's home camera. …
The contact owns a 2018 Toyota Prius. The contact stated that while in bumper-to-bumper traffic, the vehicle suddenly accelerated. The brake pedal was applied but failed to respond. The driver crashed into the front passenger side of the Lexus. The vehicle continuously moved forward. The contact was eventually able to pull over safely. The pre-collision malfunction warning light illuminated. The brake malfunction light was flashing. The air bags did not deploy. There was no reported fire or injury. A police report was filed. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, who could not determine the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The vehicle was then towed to an autobody center where it remained. The manufacturer was contacted, but no additional assistance was provided. The approximate failure mileage was 39,000.
I was driving up to my garage on the side of my house on a clear day, early afternoon. I was traveling about 3 MPH and tried to stop to park in front of the garage door. I depressed the brake pedal and it did not engage, but lurched forward into the garage, crashing into the garage and causing damage to both the garage and the auto.
Related recalls (4)
Service brakes
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2019 Lexus LS500, LC500, ES300h, UX250h, LS500h, Toyota Prius, RAV4 HV, 2019-2020 Toyota Prius Prime, and 2020 Corolla HV vehicles. The brake booster pump may fail causing a deactivation of the Vehicle Stability Control system and a loss of braking assist.
Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the brake booster pump, free of charge. The recall began September 20, 2019.
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.
Service brakes
Toyota is recalling certain model year 2010 Prius vehicles manufactured March 31, 2009, through October 9, 2009; and model year 2010 Lexus HS250h vehicles manufactured June 19, 2009, through October 9, 2009. Nitrogen gas from a component of the brake booster pump assembly could leak into the brake fluid.
Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the affected brake booster pump assemblies. The recall began on August 7, 2013. Owners may contact Toyota at 1-800-331-4331.
Service brakes, air › Antilock › Control unit/module
Toyota is recalling certain model year 2010 Toyota prius and Lexus hs250h passenger vehicles. Customers have experienced inconsistent brake feel after ABS actuation during slow and steady application of the brakes on rough or slick road surfaces.
Remedy: Dealers will rewrite the programming of the ABS control unit free of charge. The safety recall began on March 3, 2010, and is expected to be completed in late March 2010.
NHTSA investigations
Braking Performance, Hybrid Vehicle
The subject vehicles are the first model year of a new design generation of the Prius model line.The vehicles are powered by a hybrid drive system that uses both a regenerative braking system, which converts vehicle momentum into electrical energy to be stored in onboard batteries, and a hydraulic brake system more typical of the brake system used on non-hybrid vehicles.As is the case for other similarly designed…
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.
Brake Actuator Valve Wear
On September 19, 2019, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) received a defect petition from Mr. Roger Hogan requesting that the Agency investigate and recall certain Toyota Prius, Prius PHV, Camry Hybrid and Avalon Hybrid vehicles for a brake actuator valve wear condition covered under Toyota Customer Support Programs ZJB and ZKK (subject CSP?s).
Frequently asked questions
Which Toyota Prius years have brake problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 2010 (1,945), 2008 (390), 2007 (331), 2005 (282) and 2011 (277) model years. Brake complaints make up 69% of all complaints for the 2010.
Is there a recall for Toyota Prius brake problems?
Yes — 4 recalls, including 19V-544 (service brakes, Jul 24, 2019); 16V-741 (parking brake, Oct 14, 2016); 13V-235 (service brakes, Jun 5, 2013). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers; check a specific car with the VIN recall check.
At what mileage do Toyota Prius brake problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 29,000 miles; 65% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip › control unit/module (194 mentions), followed by the antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip (53).
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.