10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
12 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
7 / 0
Average Mileage:
43,092 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.

2012 Toyota Prius brakes problems

brakes problem

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2012 Toyota Prius Owner Comments (Page 3 of 6)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #66

Oct 112021

Prius

  • miles

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

ABS Actuator and Booster Assembly failing. No recall was issued but a safety bulletin to the dealer with a cutoff date and nothing issued to consumer to know it needs to be replaced. Now I am outside their service bulleting window with a 3,000 repair that should be covered indefinitely by toyota

- Philadelphia, PA, USA

problem #65

Jun 012021

Prius

  • miles
Brake Booster assembly has failed on my car preventing the regenerative braking to function normally and it could potentially lead to the brakes failing all together. Upon further research it seems to be a common issues with these vehicles and Toyota has a "Customer Support Program" under the code "ZJB" that will replace the faulty brake booster assembly. My car is still technically covered under the service bulletin that Toyota sent out but when I called several dealers and Toyota corporate, they notified me that my car was ineligible due to mileage. I was quoted over $3,000 at various dealers to replace the part to what amounts to a basically very expensive brake job. I am concerned for my safety in terms of the brakes failing while driving. This is my only vehicle and I have started to resort to driving on the city streets as opposed to the freeway.

- Ontario, CA, USA

problem #64

Jun 142021

Prius

  • miles
The brake, abs, and stability control light come on and the brakes require more pressure to function. The problem is intermittent, but has been happening more often and for longer. The rotors, pads, and brake fluid were looked at within the last month and have no issues. I am getting a code C1391 Abnormal Leak in the Accumulator. The symptoms, as well as my car year and make match this recall, but I was never informed of this recall and there are no open recalls associated with my VIN. https://toyotatalk.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/ZJB-Phase-2-.pdf?fbclid=IwAR1I91f2ohQk73kYnbBYOlOi-yYlpgVNQ0leI3N8uWbg7V4IMKgULdG7F10

- Denver, CO, USA

problem #63

May 192021

Prius

  • miles

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

The brakes felt very spongy and the car was having a difficult time coming to a complete stop. The ABS, brake, and stability control lights turned on at the same time. Also, a whirring noise close to the passenger side started happening every 2-3 seconds. After some research I later learned that the noise is most probably coming from a brake pump assembly that has failed and is not able to keep pressure. The car is currently parked since I don-€™t feel safe to drive it. I contacted a local dealer to see if this part can be changed for free since this is not normal wear and is unsafe. I also learned in online Prius owner forums that there is a large group of Toyota Prius owners with the exact same issue.

- Winter Park, FL, USA

problem #62

May 152021

Prius

  • miles
Lights came on and code are C1252 and C1253, beeping sounded and brakes when to floor and wouldn't stop.

- Summerfield, FL, USA

problem #61

Mar 302021

Prius

  • 95,755 miles
My Toyota Prius 2012 with 95K mil. ABS, traction and brake lights came on while driving on highway, the breaking wasn't like used to be, it was mushy after the warning lights, took it to Toyota dealership they estimated $3500 for the brake replacement the fault codes C1241, C1247, C1391 found break booster and pump assy, needed. This should be recalled by Toyota, its safety issue, I have owned the car since it had 41K miles and regularly maintained the car throughout my ownership period.

- Murfreesboro, TN, USA

problem #60

Jan 232021

Prius

  • 190,000 miles

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

Brake master cylinder and brake booster failed and needed to be replaced.

- Cary, NC, USA

problem #59

Nov 112020

Prius

  • 170,000 miles
ABS, traction control, brake lights on. No power assist brake, no ABS, no traction control

- Orange City, FL, USA

problem #58

Jul 272020

Prius

  • 154,000 miles
My 2012 Prius was diagnosed at our Toyota dealership. They said it needs a brake booster/solenoid. When I looked into it, it seems that this has happened to hundreds of consumers with Prius cars from the same era. It is a devastating $3,000 repair. Total injustice if it is a manufacturer issue as it seems.

- Wilmington, NC, USA

problem #57

Mar 162020

Prius

  • 61,900 miles
ABS warning light indicating trouble with the braking system, I took the car to an independent auto repair store and the mechanic checked the codes on his computer and received 2 codes that indicating that the ABS pump needs to be replaced. The total cost would be between $3000 to $5000. The ABS light goes on when I start the car

- Vero Beach, FL, USA

problem #56

Feb 172020

Prius

  • miles

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

I have never received a recall mail regarding the car. I used an insurance tracking plugin, and all the problems started.pcs error message on my dashboard, due to a leak in brake booster they said. My dealership will not tell me it's a recall, made it seem like they helped me instead of charging as high as $4000. I was not given a loaner car for the 4days they had my car, and did not get any refunds for the rental car I got

- Katy, TX, USA

problem #55

Dec 222019

Prius

  • 98,000 miles
The problem started with a chirping noise when the brake pedal is depressed. Today the car appears to lose regenerative braking charging. The vehicle stability control and ABS light and brake light came on. The brake appeared to be mushied.

- Garland, TX, USA

problem #54

Oct 232019

Prius

  • miles
I replaced my brake booster three times in two months.still I have big issues with toyata company.

- Silver Spring, MD, USA

problem #53

Oct 012019

Prius

  • 75,300 miles
More than once I was driving about 40/45mph, once on a curve, anyhow as I was going through the curve it felt as though the brakes engaged, without me touching them. I understand the safety thing, however at both instances it was not necessary. It caused the car to pull to the left. Almost causing me to loose control.

- San Diego, CA, USA

problem #52

Sep 302019

Prius

  • 151,000 miles
I started my car and my dash lights for brakes, anti-lock, anti-skid came on and brakes became spongy. This happens intermittently. I parked the car and later checked the lights and the car was operating normal. I drove the car around the neighborhood to try to duplicate the issue. Could not duplicate. The next day I started the car the lights came on again and brakes were not operating normally. Spongy and no anti-lock. I checked recalls and found the issue was recalled in 2010. I also found numerous complaints on Prius forums for this issue covering 2012 Prius. I think this is a safety issue Toyota should recall for 2012 as well.

- Hagerstown, MD, USA

problem #51

Jun 272019

Prius

  • 212,566 miles
Car was in motion and brake pedal went half way to floor and ABS, brake, traction control and tire sensor lights came on. Master cylinder or brake booster seem to have failed. Dealer didn't recognize codes and could only recommend changing spark plugs when I just had them replace 6-8 months prior. Explained that did think that had anything to do with brakes giving out. They reset codes and sure enough happened again within the next 30 days. Toyota admitted to since receiving many reports of certain internal malfunctions of brake booster assemblies. 4 trips later to dealer the response is the codes are not coming up (dtcs) C1391, C1252, C1256 or C1253 in order to be covered it's voluntary customer support program which has brake booster and brake booster pump coverage. Very frustrating!

- Lawrenceville, GA, USA

problem #50

Jul 012019

Prius

  • 133,000 miles
My car has the same brake booster/master cylinder defect that the 2010/11 model Prius were recalled for. Brake booster or brake pressure accumulator failure on 2012 models causes loss of braking effectiveness. Serious safety issue that can cause death. Toyota is well aware of this. This happens in motion at highway speeds.

- Dobbs Ferry, NY, USA

problem #49

Aug 042019

Prius

  • 130,000 miles
My 2012 Toyota Prius II threw error code C1391 abnormal leak in accumulator. I've reset it and its come back on again. Regenerative braking has gone out and stopping is difficult. This is not right. My car has just over 130,000 miles

- Saint Petersburg, FL, USA

problem #48

Jul 012018

Prius

  • miles
Vsa, avs, and brake lights on with decreased resistance in petal. Brakes will return to normal without warning periodically while driving. This makes driving and stopping unsafe and unpredictable.

- Houston, TX, USA

problem #47

May 142019

Prius

  • 115,000 miles
Traction, brake and ABS lights all came on at once, pratically lost all braking while driving but able to slowly stop. Squishy brakes. "pump" sounding noise like it's having trouble pumping brake fluid.

- Riverview, FL, USA

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