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.
Sometimes after starting the car, brakes will only response to hard braking. Cannot brake to slow down gradually. Brakes will not respond at all when lightly pressing down on brake pedal. Only after driving about 1 mile will normal braking functionality return. This has been an issue ever since I first bought my car new.
Intermittently, several warning lights come on at once while driving: Traction control, brake, and ABS lights. While on, braking is lessened, brakes feel spongy, and the battery generation indicator shows no energy being produced. I found several similar complaints online. For me, the problem has comes and goes, affecting about 50 percent of my driving time.
I am entering this complaint based on reading dozens of accounts that resemble my issue exactly. Ten minutes into a forty minute drive three lights suddenly came on, the brake, ABS and traction control lights. The brakes immediately became soft, requiring 50-60% more effort to stop the car and drastically reduced stopping time. This occurred on a dark county road, after a light snowfall and temperatures in the mid-20's. I quickly pulled into a church parking lot to check the brake fluid level and for any broken brake lines. I also shut off the car hoping to clear the error, which it did not. Fluid levels looked normal and I decided to proceed the remaining 25 miles of my drive after ensuring that I could stop as needed. After 20 minutes of driving 45-55mph the lights turned off and braking power was instantly restored to 100%. I have not taken my car into the dealer yet, but plan on notifying them.
I had not any problem with breaks at all....once after taking a left turn.......check pcs sytem with other lights like warning, slippary, ABS, front breaks, came on. Emergency lights keep flashing even if you shut the car off. I took off the fuse 16 for turn signals...everything came normal....only that I dont have turn signals. As soon as I put the turn signal fuse back...emergency lights started flashing and check pcs system with all other lights came on. Dealer diagnosed the car for $ 150.00.....no clue....said they will charge me extra $550 to find problem.....on the second day evening they said I need to replace ABS actuator will cost me $ 4500.00
- Hamilton, On, Canada, NY, USA
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I was exiting exit 3 of interstate 91 in new haven ct and was trying slow down and stop but when I applied the brakes there was no response. I pumped the pedal several times but the brakes still failed. I steered the car to the left to avoid directly colliding with the vehicle in front of me and wound up scraping it and crashing into into a barrier. I have since learned that this has been an ongoing problem with the 2010 Prius and am outraged that the company has been willing to gamble with my safety and that of other Prius owners. I do not have the ability to scan documents but the claim number is allstate 0523873875 and the ct state police incident report is 1800537795.
My car is making a weird noise coming from the firewall. My traction control lights are on, brake, and a couple other. It turns off and then will turn back on.
Warning lights : ABS, brake, and anti-skid come on and stay one. Brake pedal is spongy and unresponsive. The error code reads out P1241 & C1391 which indicate brake booster pump failure. ABS brakes have failed.
The contact owns a 2010 Toyota Prius. While driving 55 mph, the park, ABS, and vcs warning indicators illuminated and the brakes became difficult to maneuver. The contact had to depress the brake pedal several times to stop the vehicle. The contact stated that the vehicle exhibited the same symptoms as listed in tsb: 0079-18. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer to be diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.
Park, ABS, vcs, (!) warning lights on in dashboard. Other symptoms - barking brakes and continuous pump whine, a cylcing electrical noise while parked. Seems to be an issue with the actuator.
I recently noticed that when I open the car door to get into the car (with the engine off), the brake assist primes for quite a bit (> 30 seconds). Then I start my car, I notice that the sound can be heard priming the brake (vacuum?) every 15 seconds or so and lasting about 3-5 seconds. It primes every time I release the brake pedal. The dealer said that the brake actuator is bad and will need to be replace or the car will not some in driving conditions.
Brake actuator keeps activating every 10 seconds. The cars ABS, traction control, and brakes error lights have all come on. Brakes are compromised in some manner which can pose serious safety issues while driving.
ABS actuator failed while driving vehicle on high speed city street. Loss of braking power noticed/observed. Actuator failure has been confirmed by Toyota dealer - car is currently being held for repair.
ABS and brake lights "turned on" on the dashboard while driving along freeway. Had to push the brake pedal harder to stop the car. Search online on what might be causing the warning lights, it was found out that so many Toyota Prius car owners were having the same issue. The symptom was caused by either faulty accumulator or master cylinder/actuator.
The brakes make sounds when pressed. Look into the internet and Prius chat forums and taking to local mechanic and found the brake actuator is faulty and need replacing asap.
I was driving to my house and the brake pedal went to the bottom. Several lights appeared on the dashboard. I was driving in the highway and fortunately there was an exit and I could get out of the highway and I manage how to stop and I did not crash. The story could be another if I was driving faster. The next day I took it to the Toyota dealer and they told me that the problem was the booster pump (attached you can find the estimate). I was shocked when I found how much was going to cost me. My car has never had a problem and all oil changes had been at the same Toyota dealer. I have never taken the car anywhere else. Investigating I found that this model Prius 2010 in 2013 had a recall for this same problem affecting 82000 people. I am using the car with because I have to go out to work every day for the sustenance of my family and with a constant concern of having an accident and causing death to other people including myself, I need the help of Toyota to pay for the entirety of arrangement I already spoke with Toyota headquarters and they said that they will not help me with the cost of the repair, it is really expensive and it is not my fault. Does Toyota have to wait until there is an accident" or injury or dead people".
I stated to the glendale Toyota dealer in California that I hear and feel a buzz/click when I step on the brake and they informed me it is the brake actuator and warranty expired in December 2017. I am requesting is an extension to this warranty or voluntarily make it a safety recall. It is very dangerous and expensive to fix.
Letter from congressman olson on behalf of constituent regarding Toyota brake recall on her 2010 Toyota Prius. The consumer was concerned about not receiving a notice for the safety recall for the brakes.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- San Diego, CA, USA