What 399 owners told NHTSA about the 2013 Toyota Prius Phev

Vehicle warning lights for brakes, ABS and traction control all on while driving. Per mechanic, known problem on Prius and repair cost is $3-$5K. Covered by a prior customer support program but has expired. I have two Prius’s with the identical problem - bill will be up to $10K. Error code C1391

NHTSA ODI 11660976

Brake accumulator suddenly failed in vehicle. Known issue from manufacturer

NHTSA ODI 11661045

the abs booster/master cylinder has failed due to an internal leak causing the accumulator pump to constantly run and sets a c1391 dtc. the brakes work poorly and has a stiff pedal feel. braking is definitely reduced. this issues has not been seen by any dealer, shop, or agency yet. I was a toyota certified Master Diagnostic Technician for years before i quit to be a stay-at-home dad and am more than qualified and capable to accurately diagnose this. in addition, toyota has a CSP out (ZGB) that covers this, but the coverage needs to be extended. this is a known very dangerous failure that should be covered for much longer. i did notice, what i thought was an over-frequent cycling of the accumulator pump, but since i had just purchased the vehicle, it was hard to tell how out of the norm it was.

NHTSA ODI 11660165

CODE C1391 for leak in brake accumulator pressure. All brake system lights flashed (e-brake, traction control, ABS).

NHTSA ODI 11659383

The brake booster pump assembly has been failed.everytime I tried to stop the. vehicle the brake pedal will go to the floor and it will take longer to stop the car. IT has been inspected by my mechanic and conformed the problem

NHTSA ODI 11658846

failure of the brake booster system resulting in no ABS function, appears to be a common problem with this vehicle.

NHTSA ODI 11658028

The contact owns a 2013 Toyota Prius. The contact stated while driving at approximately 25 MPH and depressing the brake pedal to slow for a traffic sign, the vehicle was not slowing down. The contact pumped the brake pedal several times before the vehicle slowed down. The contact stated that an unknown warning light was illuminated. The contact had the vehicle towed to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the brake booster and brake actuator had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

NHTSA ODI 11657226

The brake booster assembly (part number 47070-47060) on my 2013 Toyota Prius has failed. This component is critical to the proper functioning of the braking system. It is currently still installed in the vehicle and available for inspection upon request. As a result of the failure, the ABS warning light, traction control light, and brake warning light are all illuminated on the dashboard. The braking performance has noticeably declined — the pedal feels inconsistent and at times unresponsive. This has created a significant safety risk while driving, especially during sudden stops or in wet conditions, as it compromises the vehicle's ability to brake efficiently and predictably. The issue has been confirmed by a Toyota dealer (or independent mechanic if that’s the case — feel free to change this line accordingly). The dealer diagnosed the issue as a failure of the brake booster assembly, which aligns with known failures reported by many other 3rd-generation Prius owners. The vehicle has not been involved in an accident, and has not been inspected by the police or insurance representatives. Toyota previously issued a Customer Support Program (CSP ZJB or ZG1) covering this part, but it has since expired. I only recently began experiencing symptoms and was unaware of the CSP until after contacting Toyota. Prior to the warning lights, I experienced intermittent symptoms such as a soft or delayed brake pedal, and an unusual sound from the brake system when the vehicle was turned off. The warning lights first appeared around [insert approximate mileage or date here], and have remained illuminated since then. Given the safety-critical nature of this component and the known defect history, I am requesting assistance from Toyota in the form of goodwill coverage or reimbursement, and would like this issue escalated for further review.

NHTSA ODI 11653660

The abs system and brake lights started showing on my dash and when I put my foot on the brake it makes a noise and the car shakes hard to brake when to the mechanic they said is the abnormal leak acc pressure code c1319

NHTSA ODI 11653767

ABS, Brake, and Traction Control light came up had dealer review these and got error code C1391 and P0441. Initially they said its covered by Toyota customer service program which covered upto 150k miles as my vehicle only has 98k miles. Later they said only 10 years from the vehicle service which ended in 2023 and quoted $4500 to fix. Previously i asked them to check before expiration since it was not showing consistent light on they could not fix it. Reading through several forums it seems like consistent issue should have been included in recall not customer support program.

NHTSA ODI 11651658

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.

NHTSA ODI 11650965

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.

NHTSA ODI 11649711

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.

NHTSA ODI 11649579

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.

NHTSA ODI 11648008

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.

NHTSA ODI 11647238

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

NHTSA ODI 11647110

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

NHTSA ODI 11645866

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.

NHTSA ODI 11645468

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

NHTSA ODI 11645446

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.

NHTSA ODI 11644623

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.

NHTSA ODI 11644688

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NHTSA ODI 11644180

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)

NHTSA ODI 11642777

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 communication until I brought it into a mechanic who researched it.

NHTSA ODI 11642850

Inverter and brake booster

NHTSA ODI 11640958