2013 Toyota Prius complaints

While driving on the highway at ~70 mph, the brakes just gave out and I narrowly escaped crashing into someone as I drove into the median having been unable to stop in the expected distance. The ABS light just came on and apparently it’s a very known issue that Toyota is refusing to fix or intimate owners. I have been going to the same dealership for 12+ years and never had this brought up by them.

The contact owns a 2013 Toyota Prius. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the contact's vehicle was involved in a head-on collision. The air bags did not deploy. The vehicle was towed to the contact's residence. The vehicle had not been inspected for damages. The contact was transported to the local medical center. The contact sustained injuries such as a fractured sternum and a fractured left foot. The contact received treatment and the local medical ctr for a total of four days and then transferred to a primary care facility. In addition, the contact was receiving continued treatment. A Police report was filed. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 73,761.

Was driving on the freeway and 3 dash lights lit up. found out the brake accuator is failing. apparently this is a known issue for toyota priuses.

It was raining when I drove my 2013 Prius to pick up my daughter from school on March 11, 2025. I suddenly felt the brake of the car was very weird, it was hard to stop at the stop sign, and when I stepped the brake paddle I had to make more effort to control the car to stop. The brake light and ABS light were both on. I drove the car to the local dealer next morning they said the brake booster with master cylinder & pump assembly need be replaced, and it was cost over $4000. I did research and found it was a common problem for Prius but Toyota did not do a recall, instead the customer repaired program has expired on 2023. It is very dangerous for this situation.

The brake actuator has stopped functioning properly in my 2013 Toyota Prius that has 124,000 miles. NHTSA is welcome to inspect my car. I took my car to a Toyota Service Center because of a noise that cycles every 15 seconds. The mechanic said the noise "is in fact coming from the accumulator of the brake boosters." He said it's kind of like a battery--it may go out tomorrow or next year and it would be $3,957 for the job, but recommended to wait until it completely goes out. I was shocked he said this when I later read online this is a very dangerous problem that should not be ignored and should be fixed right away. I learned that Toyota issued an extended warranty for this known problem yet my car is not eligible because it's been more than 10 years. No warning lamps or messages have appeared. I'm afraid to drive my car and would never have bought it if I'd known how frequently this happens in this generation of Prius. I can't even sell it in its current state because no one will want to pay a $4,000 repair cost.

Failure of ABS module and actuator..Known problem with Prius

Toyota did a voluntary recall on the brake booster pump on this particular model when I inquire at the dealership about it they said that it has expired and refuse to fix the recall issue I did not know a recall can't have an expiration date especially when it can cause an accident

The brake booster and ABS system failed requiring replacement of the entire system. A Toyota dealer service center examined the vehicle and deemed it unsafe to drive until the repairs were made. It was held for months due to part availability.

A well documented issue on the brake booster and master cylinder developing leaks and requiring replacement effecting Gen 3 Prius models well before the parts should show such issues. known to toyota under customer support program ZJB but arbitrarily limited by VIN batches and time span leading to me and it seems many others being hung out to dry

Brake booster and pump failing. Traction light, brake light, and ABS light all came on at once on February 23. 2025. I brought my car to a Toyota dealership the next day and paid for a diagnostic. I was told the brakes could give out at any time if I do not get the parts listed above replaced. This is a danger to me and to others on the road. I was told the parts would take a few days to get ordered and I was quoted $3490.60. I was informed that Toyota was repairing these for free if the problem occurred within 10 years of manufacturing (2023) or under 150,000 miles. Unfortunately it has been 12 years but my car is under 100,000 miles.

The hydraulic break pump system failed, causing my brakes to go out for a minimum of 10 seconds while I was driving. It put me and my passenger at risk for collision until they abruptly came back on but weren’t working well. The vehicle has been inspected by toyota itself, and there were no warning lights until the system itself failed.

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Purchased tires at walmart auto care center in 2019 at 2770 E. Carson St. Lakewood, 90712, +15624298137. the warranty shows they should last at least 40000 miles. the tires worned out (by walmart auto care center staff on 11/2024) at 27000 miles. Walmart has not worked with me to replace these defective low quality tires (viva3 brand) and i am in a dilemma as i am unable to replace them now. I am [XXX] and [XXX] and i use my vehicle for doctors, pharmacy and errands for my daily survival. thanks INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

On 2/14/2025 I brought my 2013 prius into a third party mechanic because all the brake warning lights came on while driving. After inspection the mechanic informed me that there was a vehicle service bulletin about the brake booster and brake booster system that Toyota sent out in September 2020. It states that models made between 2012-2014 may exhibit a condition where the brake ABS and/or on track lights are on and it is caused by a small internal brake fluid leak inside the brake booster assembly with master cylinder. Toyota placed an extended warranty on the part. They state that if the vehicle had the abs light come on for this reason they would fix it if and only if it fell within 150,000 miles or ten years from the first driven part. I have been told if the issue is not addressed it could caused brake failure, the repair is upwards of $3000. I have contacted Toyota to open a case and will be taking the car to a Toyota dealership but Toyota is not taking any responsibility for the faulty part even when they know it is an issue because they say it fell outside of the extended warranty. I need Toyota to be held accountable and for not addressing a known issue with the their product. This is not an issue with wear and tear, it caused by a faulty part on their part and just because the issue became apparent after their cut off does not mean they are not liable. The car has 125,000 miles on it, I was never made aware that there was an issue with the part, received no communi

Inverter and brake booster

In less than 30 days after having bought the car, the brake booster system went out and the dealer is requesting I pay despite this being apart of the massive Prius recall

My car is at 89K total miles and last week I had three warning lights pop up on my dash (Traction control, brake, ABS) which indicates something wrong with the automatic break system. My car is under 100K miles and I purchased it used in 2016, under ten years ago, and this problem is way too early to happen in my make an model. I got a code read on the issue (C1391) which indicates that my ABS Actuator is leaking/broken, a major safety issue as it happened as I was driving. Again, this should not be typical as I only drive a few miles per day on average.

BRAKE BOOSTER REPLACEMENT ZJB CODE HUST STARTED TO LIGHT UP. COME TO FIND OUT THHERE WAS A PROBLEM THAT BEING REFERED TO AS A CUSTOMER SERVICE NOTICE OR SOMETHING AND I'M BEING TOLD TOYOTA WILL NOT COVER THE REPLACEMENT BECAUSE THE TIMEFRAME HAS EXPIRED. IF THE LIGHT HAD COME ON TWO YEARS AGO THEY WOULD HAVE. I'M READING FROM OTHERS THAT THEY HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AND HAVE HEARD OF REPAIRS COSTING UPWARDS TO $5000.00, THAT IS CRAZY. IS THIS LEGAL FOR THEM TO DO AS IT IS A MAJOR MANUFACTOR PROBLEM EFFECTING THE BRAKING OF THE CAR?

Brake booster and actuator failure.

Parking brake and ABS lights are on. According to internet research it is a common problem amongst Toyota Prius Brake Actuators

Hello, This is not only ridiculous but not unacceptable alert what Toyota did to customers under certain age of Prius 2010-15, Camry hybrid 2012-2014 and Avalon hybrid 2013-2015 They “inspected” my vehicle at the dealership in 2020 during the recall but they did not replaced defective parts (master cylinder & brake booster pump) from Japan. In September I could easily crash my vehicle. This is dangerous for customers and drivers especially in Uber & Lyft. Headquarters should be easily informed by you about it I fixed and send receipts to lovely Toyota- Idiota but they reacted with no responsibility of reimbursement. [XXX] Thanks for your attention! [XXX] [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

I was driving on the highway. All of a sudden abs light, brake light and traction control light came up on my screen. Car lost braking efficiency and I almost crashed into the vehicle in front of me. It was within inches from crash. Found out it was the brake booster and the brake booster pump. Both these parts had been under extended warranty by Toyota unbeknownst to me. Never received any warranty letter or anything from Toyota. I contacted them but since our car has more tha 150,000 miles and over 10 years old they will not cover

I need a replacement of my Full booster brake pack and there have class action lawsuits associated with this exact problem.

When the brake pedal is depressed, it occasionally emits a loud squeaking sound. I recently took the car to a nearby dealership (Ourisman Toyota in Chantilly, VA) for inspection, where the service advisor informed me that both the Brake Master Cylinder and the Hydraulic Brake Booster Pump require replacement. Here’s the detailed diagnosis: 1) Hydraulic Brake Booster Pump: The master cylinder/brake booster assembly is leaking pressure internally and requires replacement. 2) Updated Booster Pump: The updated part for the booster pump requires it to be replaced in tandem with the new master cylinder. The repair cost was estimated about $3,700.00 The advisor warned that if this brake component fails while driving, it could cause the brakes to lock up, posing a significant safety risk. Despite this being a well-known issue among 2010-2015 Prius owners, Toyota has yet to initiate an official recall for this part.

Brake booster and actuator failing. Internal leaks.

What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? Hydraulic Brake Booster Pump Failure with code C1391: Abnormal internal leak in the accumulator. Inspection was performed by Certified Toyota Dealer : Anaheim Toyota, 1331 N Euclid St, Anaheim, CA 92801 on 10/28/2024. This is a known issue to Toyota, with Toyota Customer Support Program ZJB. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? Per Toyota Certified Inspection, the Hydraulic Brake Booster Pump is an electric pump used to assist in applying the brakes. Without the brakes, the vehicle cannot be stopped. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? Issue was verified by a certified Toyota Dealer : Anaheim Toyota, 1331 N Euclid St, Anaheim, CA 92801 on 10/28/2024. Additionally, this is a known issue to Toyota, with Toyota Customer Support Program ZJB. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? Yes, Toyota Customer Advocates notated to get the vehicle inspected by a certified toyota center, which was done. Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? When driving on the freeway, suddenly, the braking jolted and felt off and the ABS light, traction control, brake light, brake system warning light, master warning light appeared. Additional Information: Per Toyota on 10/28/2024, 3

Took car in for repair because all the warning lights are on. The repair shop quoted $1200 for Anti lock braking actuator system which is defective. This is a huge safety issue and a costly repair from Toyota.

The car has been making an intermittent buzzing sound that I now have had diagnosed as a failing Brake Booster Actuator. This part is integral to safely stopping the car. Though the actuator has apparently been failing for months, there have not been any DTCs associated with it. I now find that there was a Customer Support Program regarding this issue which has since expired. It is referred to as "Customer Support Program ZJB" and it refers to T-SB-0024-19. Had I been notified of this, I would have had the brake issue corrected before the program expired.

Brake Booster failed last February 2024 while driving. The mileage at that time was around 89,270. Found out there was customer service support program for this issue that run through 2023. Since I bought the car used from Honda of Capitola (2018), I didn’t get any notification or unaware of this CSP. And the issue came out only this year. Had I know about this letter, I could have this inspected by Toyota. This is very unusual to have a brake booster failed with less than 100K. Called Toyota for assistance but they said I’m passed the CSP service date. Paid $3343.22 to have the car fix last 3/27/24. There should be a recall of this problem as more and more Toyota owner are still having this same issue. Thank you.

While driving my brake light, ABS light, and traction(?) light all came on at once. The brake felt like it had resistance and I have to push it a lot harder than normal to stop. I took it to get a diagnostic ran and received the code C1391. After looking more up for this, this is a very known issue for Priuses and I was never made aware of it. This is a safety concern for all Prius drivers and nobody is made aware until it becomes an issue.

Getting a C1391 brake module /ABS failure

On the way home from a family vacation, the brake warning light, ABS warning, and swerve warning lit up on our 2013 Toyota Prius's dashboard. It was evening already, and with only a few miles to go we continued toward our home. While driving at approximately 50 mph, a red light appeared around a bend. I hit the brakes, a little hard, but certainly with enough time to safely stop. The brakes completely locked and the tired screeched and let off smoke, while the back of the car fishtailed around until we were sideways. It was terrifying. I believe the anti-lock brakes failed, and when they seized up it caused loss of control of the vehicle. Fortunately, no other vehicle was in the left turning lane, where we ended up, and we did not pass into the intersection. No one was hurt, but we could easily have been if not for good luck. I have noticed that the Toyota Prius has had a number of warning and warranty extensions due to brake actuator [XXX] ) and that several class-action lawsuits are underway. We would like to report our problem for the safety of others. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

C1391 code at 148000 miles - just as others have reported. Quoted 3,500+ for the fix, Dealership said it was out of warranty and thus no help could be provided. The Code reads for a bad Brake Booster Assembly.

Brake actuator needs replaced. Yes please inspect. You have my permission for further review. My safety was put at risk since I was traveling 70-75 mph when my dashboard lit up with warnings. I tried braking and the brake was extremely hard to the touch and required a lot of force to even slow down and stop the car. Just making it home was dangerous. I almost ran into the garage wall since braking is extremely difficult and unresponsive. It hasn't been reproduced or confirmed yet with dealer or mechanic but everything suggests it's this from other accounts online. Toyota refuses to honor faulty part that is rampant in this generation model. The warning lights appeared as soon as it happened out of nowhere. All of these lit up on the dash all at once: brake, ABS, Skid, and the tire pressure icon. My car was making strange wheezing noises in the week or two prior to this happening. I think that is a symptom it will soon fail.

Malfunctions of the brake booster and brake booster pump assemblies

Dashboard lights came on today, 8-9-24, indicating Brake Accuator Failure in my 2013 Prius. When I took my 2013 Prius to a dealership for service in April 2024 with mileage of 118,000, I informed them of the noise symptoms I experienced which apparently are a precursor to Brake Accuator failure. I even played them a video in which you can clearly hear these noise symptoms. I was not aware of this issue as I have never received correspondence from Toyota regarding this problem, although I now know a Warranty Enhancement Notification ZG-1 was supposedly sent out. I have not moved in 20 years and should have received this notice. Because the dashboard lights were not on at the time of the April 2024 service visit, and having no idea that the extended warranty window of under 150,000 miles or 10 years had closed on 12-31-23, the dealership would not even consider repairing the Brake Accuator issue. Even though this was a known issue by Toyota, and a dangerous safety issue, they will not provide unlimited free warranty repair. Add to that the prohibitive and unreasonable cost to repair this issue (anywhere from $2000 to $4000) for a car which is 10 years old, and for many is completely out of their monetary reach, is absurd. Even more importantly are the lives put in danger if the brakes go out while at high speed. Toyota should be forced to address this problem and resolve it immediately!

On August 3rd, 2024 my 2013 Toyota Prius lost power brakes at INTERSTATE SPEEDS. This put a number of lives, including my own, at risk. The computer program on the car appears to have been programmed to give operators a "death threat" by initiating a PROGRAMMED LOSS of power braking on the vehicle. There were a number of brake warning lights and an Audible Continuous beeping. When I moved over into the exit ramp from the interstate and applied my brakes this is when it was evident that power brakes were no longer available. I drove the car to a parking lot very close by and let it sit and checked my brake fluid but the brake fluid level was good. After this occurrence the power brakes returned to sufficient operation and have been in operation for approximately 2 days now with many display lights about brakes on the dash and the same audible beep is present. The brakes lights on the dash have been on since approximately November 2021 (2013 model car not even 10 years old of usage at that point). This is a safety risk that Toyota appears to have attempted to mitigate financial losses by having the customers that were not covered by their "customer care" program be the ones to pay exorbitantly high prices for the repair of this item in order to better balance and reduce their own financial loss for this mechanical problem. Toyota appears to have conscientiously reduced the number of cars that they offered to help repair financially under their customer care program. Their repai

Traveling approximately 15mph I collided with a full size truck the front end of my car totaled. I was wearing my seat belt and air bags did not deploy causing me to hit the steering wheel with enough force to fracture my sternum. This is the 2nd time a frontal impact occurred causing damage to the front bumper and air bags did not deploy.

2013 with 128000 miles, brake pump and accumulator for ABS failed, all sensors are on. Pedal is shaking when pressed, called Toyota South Coast in California, have told the extended warranty expired on 28 December 2022, what a joke, right on 10 years it means. But car has been driven less than 12k miles until today. This brake issue is a safety problem, cant use a used part which more likely will have the same issue. Not speaking of the labor of Dealership service, but having the original updated parts for over $1000 is a lame and Toyota USA should be shamed for this. Code C1391, T-SB 0024-19

The brake booster and actuator assembly has failed at 130000 miles, within mileage and outside of time frame of limited recall bulletin. No help from dealership with repair costs exceeding value of the vehicle and vehicle is unsafe to drive.

As I was driving my vehicle, all lights related to ABS system came on and stayed on. This included the traction light, the ABS light, and the brake light. My brake pedal became much less responsive and took more pressure to activate the brakes in the car. If I had needed to brake suddenly, I don't know that my car would have stopped. I took it to the dealer and they said there is an abnormal leak inside the ABS accumulator.

While driving on the highway, ABS, "Brake"/E-Brake, Traction Control Lights lit up all at the same time out of the blue. No prior engine lights/codes before this incident. During that trip, brakes felt more difficult to press, loss all brake regeneration for the hybrid battery but was still about to brake for that entire 100 miles trip. As of now, the car is still able to brake but it looks like it's just primarily using the mechanical brakes all the time now. It still has that different brake feel compared to when before all those engine lights went on. Regenerative braking is no longer working. Brought the car to the shop at was given the error codes C1391 and C2315.

The clear coat failed despite regular wax and optimal storage. I have seen a few Toyota vehicles of this same color with clear coat failures.

I was driving and suddenly the car started beeping and the brake, e-brake, abs, and traction control lights came on. As soon as I found an opportunity I tried to brake but the car would not stop and the brake pedal became really hard. I had swerve to avoid hitting cars in front of me. It was the scariest moment of my life. I shifted the car from D to B to use the engine braking. I finally was able to slow down enough to turn right on a side Street and pushed on the brake pedal with all my strength and it finally came to a stop. I was lucky I didn't have a collision or strike a pedestrian, that I also drive defensively and leave enough space in front of me, and that I was on a surface street and not on a freeway which I frequently use because if I was I would have surely crashed. This is NOT right. Brakes should NOT suddenly fail! Under any circumstances. It was confirmed by a mechanic that it's the BRAKE BOOSTER AND BRAKE BOOSTER PUMP ASSEMBLIES had failed and had the following codes C1252, C1253, and C1256 were found. The same issue and codes reported in tsb pol18-03.

ABS brake failure (code c1391) occurred at less than 98,000 miles. Toyota will not cover cost despite being a commonly known failure.

The contact owns a 2013 Toyota Prius. The contact stated while driving approximately 5 to 10 MPH, the vehicle stalled. The contact was able to restart the vehicle, but the failure persisted. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who replaced the battery on two occasions, but the failure reoccurred. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 173,699.

2013 Prius lit up like a Christmas tree last night. Traction control, brake, and abs warning lights all came on at once. The brake feel really weird and luckily I was like 3 miles away from home

Lost brakes on the freeway. Managed to pull over and get the car to a mechanic. He diagnose d the problem as the brake actuator pump.We then took the car to a Toyota dealership that confirmed the Diagnosis. I understand that the NHTSA is revisiting a complaint about the failure of this part. It cost me $3600 to have it repaired. I personally believe that Toyota should cover this as they have known the part was a problem.

Problem 1. Both curtain airbags on the passenger side deployed while no one was sitting in those seats, no injuries sustained to anyone. This happened one time as it happened in a car accident, nothing indicated that the air bags were on or active at the moment. Problem 2. ABS system failure has caused the brakes on the prius to lock and not work while driving, almost causing an incident. The car has not been driven since for the fear of that happening again. The vehicle has been seen by a mechanic to determine it is the abs system. The ABS light has been on as well, it appeared a couple of weeks before the brakes locked up back in March of this year.

Brake booster failure; actuator and pump replacement needed.