10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
16 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
4 / 0
Average Mileage:
55,453 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2011 Toyota Prius brakes problems

brakes problem

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2011 Toyota Prius Owner Comments (Page 4 of 10)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #138

Mar 112021

Prius

  • 3 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

A check hybrid system alert came on and included lit break, check engine, steering, ABS, skid and yellow triangle with an ! mark inside. The car stopped and I could not move it. Good thing I was on a side street with light traffic. This happened again after the inverter was replace; and it happened again after the 12 V battery was replaced.

- Washington, DC, USA

problem #137

Jan 012019

Prius 4-cyl

  • 78,000 miles
The contact owns a 2011 Toyota Prius. The contact stated that while pressing the brake pedal to stop, the pedal had extending to the floor resulting the braking distance to be extended. The contact indicated on two separate occasions while the failure occurred the vehicle made contact with an object and a pole. The cause of the failure was not determined. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer fernelius Ford located at 10459 N straits hwy, cheboygan, mi 49721 who was unable to determine the cause of the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 78,000.

- Harbor Springs, MI, USA

problem #136

Jan 182021

Prius

  • 200,000 miles
Brakes completely failed. Loud beeping sound happened, couldn't stop car even in a parking lot. Had to use transmission to slow to a stop. Was in a grocery store parking lot.

- Mims, FL, USA

problem #135

Nov 212020

Prius

  • 90,500 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Brake light, ABS, slip indicator, brake system warnig light system all came on while driving at high velocity [75M/H] in the rain and lost 75% of the braking power plus the car started to slide. Needless to say this was a catastrophic failure of the entire brake system on a car that has a customer support program notification from Toyota[zjb] that was sent to me with a warning of such occurrence. This is down right irresponsible to a major car manufacturer to allow these vehicles on the road without testing the entire system on each of these affected vehicles and with for a catastrophic failure to occur and cause public harm or even death. I had just taken the vehicle for service a few weeks prior where I explained the service advisor of an issue with brake pulsation. However, the entire brake system was not throughly checked and was just told that its the front rotors that are uneven, thank god I did not fully loose control of the vehicle and cause a catastrophic accident as it would have resulted in bodily harm to my family. I expect this federal government Agency to use it's authority to prevent such occurrence to the tax paying citizens of this nation.

- Tampa, FL, USA

problem #134

Aug 192020

Prius 4-cyl

  • miles
2011 Toyota Prius. Consumer writes in regards to defective brakes and electrical issues. The consumer stated the master warning light, air bag light, slip indicator light, and brake sysytem light all illuminated.

- Safety Harbor, FL, USA

problem #133

Aug 052020

Prius

  • 165,000 miles
2011 Toyota Prius is displaying warning lights for brake, traction control, and ABS. The automobile can no longer brake at the same effectiveness as prior. Car skids and slips when braking. Brake booster sounds intermittently every 10 seconds while operating. Called Toyota regarding recall, recall is only available for cars with less than 150,000 miles despite the dangers this poses to drivers. My automobile has 165,000 miles. Toyota requiring drivers to pay out of pocket for known recall issue. Vehicle was stationary, parked, and weather conditions were dry and sunny when warning lights appeared.

- Nashville, TN, USA

problem #132

May 192020

Prius 4-cyl

  • 160,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Had the traction, ABS, and brake lights all pop on. Braking feels a little different now. C1391 code was given by mechanic. He is talking about brake parts that will cost parts and labor around $2500. I can't afford this and I need a car to drive, so hoping no wrecks. We are a Toyota family with 4 now in the family. Called to complain to Toyota headquarters and they said out of warranty, but they did recall the 2010 models, even though the same problem is with the 2010-2015 and some other Toyota. They basically blew me off.

- Jacksonville, NC, USA

problem #131

Dec 022019

Prius

  • 80,000 miles
The contact owns a 2011 Toyota Prius. The contact stated that while attempting to park in a parking space, the vehicle independently accelerated and crashed into a sign post. The contact stated that the brake pedal was depressed during the independent acceleration. There was no injuries sustained. A police report was not filed. The vehicle was repaired by the insurance company. Neither the dealer nor the manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 80,000.

- Harbor Springs, MI, USA

problem #130

Mar 032020

Prius

  • 101,000 miles
The contact owns a 2011 Toyota Prius. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, several warning lights displayed on the instrument panel. The contact stated that the brake pedal was depressed and went to the floorboard which extended the braking distance. The vehicle was included in NHTSA campaign number: 18V684000 (hybrid propulsion system). The vehicle was taken to marietta Toyota located at (750 cobb pkwy S, marietta, ga 30060 (470) 938-8430). The dealer declined to offer the repair because the vehicle had a salvage title. The manufacturer was contacted and offered a software update of the hybrid system but declined to offer any additional repairs. The failure mileage was 101,000.

- Marietta, GA, USA

problem #129

Feb 172020

Prius

  • 111,100 miles
A few weeks ago my brake and ABS lights came on and my brake pedal changed and became spongy. Since I was still able to brake, I kept driving the car and became used to the spongy pedal. Then the other day I was returning home from work when the car in front of me suddenly hit his brakes. I had to quickly hit mine as well and the brakes locked up sending the car sharply to the right and I crashed into the guard rail causing $1500 worth of damage. I picked up the car today after having the damage repaired but I still have the same problem.

- Palm Harbor, FL, USA

problem #128

Feb 012020

Prius

  • 144,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 2011 Toyota Prius. While driving a squilling came from the brakes. The braking distance was extended. The contact was concern the vehicle unsafe to drive. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle a squilling noise was present coming from the front of the vehicle and when pressing the brake pedal the braking distance was extended. The vehicle was taken to the local service center server co Toyota(2841 pukoloa, hi) who diagnosed that the brake actuator was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 144,000.

- Tallahassee, FL, USA

problem #127

Dec 142019

Prius

  • 128,000 miles
I have been lucky to miss closed-call hitting the car in front of me after skidding. When I apply brakes going down the ramp, the car skids and the brake doesn't stop the car until I get pretty close to the car in front of me. I am more concerned because some parts of the road are uneven where I live that increases the chance of brake failure. It happens on surface roads when there is a bump too. The braking distance increase when the street is wet.

- West Sacramento, CA, USA

problem #126

Jan 312020

Prius

  • 343,000 miles
When I was about to exit while driving on freeway, myabs, brake, tcs light is suddenly on, the brake need power to push and regenerate charger not working when brake pedal push, and make mpg drop.

- Loma Linda, CA, USA

problem #125

Feb 022020

Prius

  • 149,700 miles
Traction control, ABS and brake lights came on today and brake pressure dropped severely while driving on the highway. Not safe to drive.

- Sheffield Village, OH, USA

problem #124

Jan 012020

Prius

  • 70,000 miles
When driving over uneven surfaces like potholes and applying my breaks, I feel a delayed response until after I'm out of the pothole. In other words; I apply breaks, go over pot hole, breaks disengage even though the pedal is pressed, and reengaged once I'm on a smooth surface. This has been happening since I first bought my car five years ago, but I always thought it was me over thinking it.

- Atlanta, GA, USA

problem #123

Jan 112020

Prius

  • 167,048 miles
The ABS traction, control and brake light come on for 2 to 3 hours. Then the light will go off throughout the day and then the lights will pop back on and I just went to stop my car went sideways scariest moment ever. The other vehicle on the 2 lane road I was on swerved off the road to avoid hitting me because the vehicle went sideways. At this time all 3 lights were lit up. I drive about 10 hours a day. Please investigate. (nearly died as well as the guy in the other vehicle)

- Glen Allen, VA, USA

problem #122

Dec 242019

Prius

  • 118,000 miles
The brake system appears to break down; ABS module and brake booster lose power. This causes braking to be harder and potential safety for the vehicle to lose all braking capability. This issue occurs when braking. There appears to be less air pressure in assist in the braking. Reading online this is a very common issue for the 2011 vehicle! the 2010 model had a recall due to manufacture defect. Https://www.carcomplaints.com/Toyota/Prius/2011/brakes/service_brakes.shtml please address soon because this is a major safety issue!

- Tempe, AZ, USA

problem #121

Nov 102019

Prius

  • 175,000 miles
Brake, traction control, tire pressure, ABS lights all come on while driving. Took to shop. Claims it's the brake booster/ actuator problem. Customer support program

- Jacksonville, FL, USA

problem #120

Sep 302019

Prius

  • 132,465 miles
My car spontaneously started showing the ABS system warning light, the "brake" light, and the electronic stability control indicator light without warning while parked. As soon as this happened and I put it in motion, the car began responding poorly to braking, with increased pressure and lack of responsiveness. Additionally, the car is receiving barely any battery charge from the brakes (a small amount compared to the normally full charge), and a whirring noise can be heard about every 3 seconds ( the same whirring noise that occurs when the car is starting up, which I think may be related to the battery). This issue happened while the car was at rest, and affects the car while in motion and at rest. The car feels unsafe to drive due to unpredictability with the brakes and their effectiveness. I believe this issue may be associated with the brake actuator.

- Plano, TX, USA

problem #119

Oct 082019

Prius

  • 47,000 miles
After applying brakes car continued to move forward through garage opening crashing into wall at end of garage before it stopped. Brake was not slowing/stopping vehicle

- San Francisco, CA, USA

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