What 233 owners told NHTSA about the 2014 Toyota Prius Phev

The brake system malfunctioned suddenly. While driving and while stopped, the brake pedal became very hard and braking behavior became unpredictable. The vehicle sometimes brakes aggressively and other times requires excessive pedal force to stop. The ABS and BRAKE warning lights illuminated. The vehicle no longer provides normal braking assistance. This issue is related to a failure of the brake actuator / brake booster, which is a known issue affecting Toyota Prius models from 2010 to 2015. This defect creates a serious safety risk, as braking performance is inconsistent and may increase stopping distance or cause loss of control during emergency braking situations. The vehicle has not been repaired yet because the cost is very high and the manufacturer has declined assistance despite this being a known safety-related defect.

NHTSA ODI 11707101

ABS complete and total failure while driving.

NHTSA ODI 11692224

We were driving on a city street about 25-30mph and the car jerked suddenly and the lights on the dashboard illuminated and the "Check Hybrid System" message came up as well. The car was able to coast to a nearby parking lot. We attempted to drive the car home and the car stalled in the middle of the street. We were able to push the car off the road and then get it towed. The presented a potentially very dangerous situation as the car had a complete failure while driving in the middle of the road. The Toyota service department ran a diagnosis which returned DTC P0A94. All of this indicates that the car should be covered under the CUSTOMER CONFIDENCE PROGRAM 23TE03 however that program seems to only cover the 2010-2015 Prius and 2011-2017 Prius V models and not the Prius C. There are several reports of this same issue happening on the Prius C as well though so it doesn't make sense that it is not covered.

NHTSA ODI 11667479

I was driving on the highway during rush hour when a loud beeping noice began. My 15 year old cousin was in the passenger seat and began to check for the source of the beeping. I was driving 55mph on a busy highway with no safe shoulder stop. As I was preparing for the exit, the brakes suddenly became dysfunctional. The pedal was extremely hard to press down and I found myself unable to slow down the car in enough time to avoid hitting upcoming traffic. I found myself in an urgent, life threatening situation and needed to pull over into the emergency lane located before the exit. I could not just consider my safety, but that of other drivers and my 15 year old passenger. She is traumatized. I was able to get the car to stop with my entire weight on the pedal. Once stopped, I scrambled to find the reason for the sudden brake problem, checking if anything rolled under my foot, if the floor mat was loose, if the gear shift was wrong, even checked if I accidentally hit the emergency brake. Nothing was out of place. No new dash lights. I looked in the manual. I had no information. I went to jiffy lube and they performed a diagnostic test and informed me they are unable see all the codes with hybrids because Toyota’s computer can only see Just in August I went to Toyota for my oil change, nothing was said about the brakes needing to be fixed and how repairing them now would prevent the failure of the accumulator pump system. If I had known paying $400-$500 for the brakes then would prevent having to pay $3000 to replace a pump. I would have made that sacrifice and went outside of my budget. This is paramount information that should be disclosed to all Toyota customers that take their car in for care and pay. After further research, I STRONGLY BELIEVE TOYOTA EMPLOYEES PURPOSELY WITHHOLD INFORMATION FROM THEIR CUSTOMERS NOT INFORMING CONSUMERS ABOUT AVOIDING PUMP FAILURE AND THE NEED REPAIR THEIR BRAKES AND IS COMPLICIT IN ANY INCIDENT CAUSED BY PUMP FAILURE MAY CAUSE.

NHTSA ODI 11622029

I was dropping my daughter off at school and the car completely shut down on me and turned off in the middle of an intersection. I have just had brakes and oil changed but ever since I got the car codes keep popping up and when checked it’s all good. Front lights keep glitching and even with new brakes there is still a bad sound. My dash computer thing keeps going in and out. It happens a lot more when it rains and makes a sizzling sound I’m afraid to drive it in the rain. I’m besides myself how the car turned off on me and my child we couldn’t move I could accelerate and we almost got hit then another light came on and I couldn’t even turn my wheel. Very dangerous

NHTSA ODI 11569995

BRAKES ARE NOT WOKING AT FULL SPECIFICATION DUE TO BRAKE ACCUMILATOR HAVING AN INTERNAL LEAK C1391

NHTSA ODI 11548807

Good Evening, I'm writing to request a callback in regards to my 2014 Toyota Prius which is subject to a recall. "The involved vehicles were designed to enter a failsafe driving mode in response to certain hybrid system faults. Toyota has found that in rare situations, the vehicle may not enter a failsafe driving mode as intended. If this occurs, the vehicle could lose power and stall. While power steering and braking would remain operational, a vehicle stall while driving at higher speeds could increase the risk of a crash." I recently just moved back to South Florida, I was living in NJ for a few years and had the Inverter malfunction earlier this February, 2023, forcing the car to enter the fail safe mode described giving me the warning to "Check Hybrid System, Stop the Vehicle in a Safe Place". The car was at Toyota Universe, Little Falls, NJ for about 45 days, since this was going to take the complete replacing of the inverter and an update of some sort of software. After receiving the car back around March 17th, I moved back to Florida about 2 weeks later. This evening around 5:30 returning from work, the car stalled again while I was driving surrounded by dense traffic, wouldn't accelerate with all lights flashing. Thankfully I was able to pull over slowly into a parking lot after which my steering wheel locked, and my car was no longer able to be put into Drive or Reverse. Car was only able to shift into Neutral and Park. This was the most terrifying experience of my life had something worse happen in the middle of traffic. I have dropped off my car to the dealership parking lot and will be checking it in first thing in the morning. I'd like to ascertain what I should expect from Toyota Manufacturing should this issue be unfixable? I am more than happy to let them attempt fixing it, but I also need to live a normal life and don't feel the need to be responsible for a manufacturing defect putting my life in jeopardy every time I go drive.

NHTSA ODI 11520152

The air temperature was probably about 50 or 60 F. On a route I routinely drive , I accelerated up hill normally from 0mph to about 45 to 55 mph. I did not accelerate aggressively. Just after climbing the short hill, The engine suddenly loses all power. I had to pull over. I look under the engine to find five pieces of metal blown out of the bottom of the engine block above the oil pan and oil spilling out onto the ground. The car has about 98,000 miles on it and was maintenance regularly including on schedule oil changes, coolant change, state inspections. There were no check engine lights or electronic error codes to indicate anything was wrong with the vehicle which I would have been able to diagnose and possibly fix. The car had been maintenanced in August/September for winter by myself. On the last maintenance, oil was discovered inside the engine air manifold and throttle body that had to be cleaned out and (The EGR was also moderately carbon clogged). I'm very dissatisfied with how Toyota handled my case. They called twice to ask when I wanted to schedule my next service appointment when they had the car sitting on their parking lot for three months. I also wrote them a detailed email similar to this report asking how Toyota could help and that I could not afford to buy another car. The engine failed and it can be inspected upon request. The vehicle had complete loss of power. The vehicle was towed to the nearest dealer. I have seen videos on youtube.com that show other people replacing blown prius engines and head gaskets. You would see chunks of metal missing from the engine block. The vehicle was not inspected by the manufacturer police or insurance. I could have been hit by another car from behind especially if the hill were longer like on a mountain side or some other situation. Separate issue: Mice enter the two rear ventilation openings to nest in the car. Mice chewed on of the oxygen sensor wires to cause an electrical fault.

NHTSA ODI 11471272

While driving, I received a warning "hybrid system malfunction". Within seconds, the vehicle powered off and the steering wheel LOCKED. I had no control of the car and came to an abrupt stop in lane 1 of a two lane road. I was fortunate that it was late in the evening with few cars on the road, had I been on the highway during rush hour the outcome, due to loss of power and control (steering), could have been catastrophic and perhaps fatal for me or other commuters. I note that in 2014, Toyota notified NHTSA of a recall to, "rectify software in two of the Prius's electronic control units, one for the motor/generator and the other controlling the hybrid system." Further Toyota said, "In rare circumstances, it could shut down the hybrid system itself, resulting in loss of power and the vehicle coming to a stop". This is exactly what happened to me the other night. Toyota claims, in 2014, that "it has received no reports of accidents or injuries related to the problem." This seems to be an extraordinarily amount of good luck as I could have been easily rear-ended the other night. Curiously, in this NHTSA data base, another owner reported an incident (11439720) on November 8, 2021, that is similar to the experience I had just days prior. And our VINS are eerily close. Coincidence? Not likely. Does the 2014 recall apply to my car and if not, why not given I experienced the exact same symptoms?

NHTSA ODI 11441194

While driving on the interstate yesterday my Prius computer shut down entirely.

NHTSA ODI 11439720

Originally, Toyota issued a safety recall in 2014 to address the inverter defect in model years 2010 to 2014, an attempt to fix the problem on about 800,000 cars in the U.S. by modifying software that controls the hybrid electrical system. It was intended to fix the overheating problems. The inverter controls the power flowing between the battery and electrical motors. The inverter boosts the battery from 200 - 500 volts. They inspected my car saying it was in excellent condition. After, the software upgrade i had major problems. My original Prius battery with around 65,000 miles stopped holding a charge. My 12 volt battery also died shortly after. And my power outlets in my got super hot and spiratually worked off and on. And my driver seat gets hot when i turn on car even though seat button is off. I am sweating all the time. Plus, i have skin conditions and asma. I talked to dimitri, and they tried to charge me 1200for unnecessary repair. Also, failed to call NHTSA as promised

NHTSA ODI 11426958

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 75 MPH, THE CONTACT RELEASED HER FOOT OFF OF THE BRAKE PEDAL AND DEPRESSED THE ACCELERATE PEDAL HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESPOND. AN UNKNOWN WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND WAS FLASHING ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT COASTED THE VEHICLE TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROADWAY AND STOPPED THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TURNED OFF. AFTER WAITING FOR APPROXIMATELY 10 MINUTES, THE VEHICLE RESUMED NORMAL FUNCTIONALITY. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO TOYOTA TOWN OF STOCKTON (2150 E HAMMER LN, STOCKTON, CA 95210, (209) 751-4077) TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT WHILE READING THE INFORMATION FROM THE DIAGNOSTIC TEST, SHE NOTICED THAT THE INVERTER HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V053000 (HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) AS A POSSIBLE SOLUTION TO THE FAILURE HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND CONFIRMED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT UNDER RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 44,250.

NHTSA ODI 11414427

ON AUGUST 28,2020 WE WERE DRIVING IN HEAVY RAIN FOR 1 1/2 HRS TO FAYETTEVILLE. OUR BRAKE ABS AND ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. WE ASSUMED THE LIGHTS WOULD GO OFF, WHEN WE DID NOT DRIVE IT DOING THE NIGHT, BUT NEXT MORNING IT CAME BACK ON. WE CARRIED TO MECHANIC SHOP TODAY SEPT. 1, 2020. THEY COULD NOT READ ANY ERRORS AND SAID NEED TO CARRY IN TO A TOYOTA DEALER. WE HAVE NOT SET UP APT. JUST LEFT VM. HOPEFULLY THEY WILL CALL US BACK TODAY

NHTSA ODI 11352569

SPORATIC NON START. NOW EXTREMELY OFTEN,

NHTSA ODI 11348422

WHILE BEING DETAILED, PUDDLE LIGHT WAS SEEN SMOKING ON DRIVERS SIDE DOOR. IT MELTED THE BODY OF DOOR AND HAD TO BE REMOVED. I ALSO HAVE VIDEO OF IT SMOKING AND MELTING DOOR.

NHTSA ODI 11321209

I TURNED ON MY VEHICLE AND WHEN I SWITCHED GEARS, FROM PARK TO DRIVE, IT DID NOT REGISTER THAT IT WAS IN DRIVE. WHEN I TRIED TO DRIVE AWAY, THERE WAS NO ACCELERATION AND LACK OF POWER. MY BATTERY WAS OPERATING AT ALMOST MAX CAPACITY.

NHTSA ODI 11310098

SOMETIMES THE CAR NOTHING IN THE CAR WILL LIGHT UP NOR WILL IT START. WE REPLACED THE BATTERY IN THE REAR. WE REPLACED THE FOB BATTERY. SOMETIMES WE OPEN THE DRIVER'S DOOR AND SHUT IT AND IT WILL MAKE THE DASH LIGHTS GO ON AND THE CAR WILL THEN STAT WHEN THE START BUTTON IS PUSHED. THE CAR REMAINS DEAD SOMETIMES NO MATTER HOW MANY TIMES YOU OPEN AND CLOSE THE DRIVERS DOOR. COME BACK 15 MINUTES LATER AND THE LITTLE RED CAR LIGHT ON THE DASH IS BLINKING AND THE CAR THEN WILL START WHEN START BUTTON IS PUSHED. OTHER TIMES THE LITLE RED CAR LIGHT ON THE RIGHTSIDE BOTTOM OF THE DASH LIGHTS REMAINS OFF AND CAR REMAINS DEAD.

NHTSA ODI 11258853

THE DRIVER DOOR AND PASSENGER DOOR LOCKS ONLY WORK SOMETIMES AND IT SEEMS TO BE A ELECTRICAL ISSUE BECAUSE I HAVE NOTICED OTHER ODD THINGS WITH THE ELECTRICAL IN THE CAR

NHTSA ODI 11258035

THE CAR BRAKES FAILED AT LOW SPEEDS (10-15 MPH) AND BUMPED INTO THE CAR IN FRONT IN A STOP-AND-GO TRAFFIC ON THE WET FREEWAY AFTER A RECENT RAIN. THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY DOWN TO TOUCH THE FLOOR, AS IF THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DISENGAGED FROM THE BRAKING SYSTEM AND THE ABS LIGHT DID NOT TURN ON AT THE TIME OF BRAKING. THE CAR WAS DRIVING IN THE STRAIGHT LINE AND IMMEDIATELY BEFORE THIS I WAS ABLE TO SUCCESSFULLY BRAKE THE CAR ON THE VERY SAME TRIP. SO THE PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME WITH THIS CAR, AS MY SPOUSE ALSO EXPERIENCED THE SIMILAR BRAKE FAILURE AT EVEN LOWER SPEEDS (<10 MPH) RESULTING IN TOUCHING THE CAR IN FRONT AND MINOR SCRATCH ON THE BUMPER. IT WAS A DRY DAY THEN AND ALMOST SIMILAR CIRCUMSTANCES. ASSOCIATED GEICO CLAIM NUMBER IS 0423477190101054. WE OPENED A CASE WITH TOYOTA TO CHECK THE DATA RECORDER. ASSOCIATED TOYOTA CASE NUMBER IS 181112370.

NHTSA ODI 11151142

CAR BATTERY CEASED FUNCTION FOLLOWING HEAT WAVE - REQUIRED SECONDARY BATTERY REPLACEMENT. VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY AFTER SHORT DRIVE (1 MILE) FOLLOWING 24 HOUR NON OPERATION DURING HIGH HEAT (100+). ATTEMPTED TO TURN CAR ON AND ENGINE WOULD NOT START. REQUIRED A TOW AND FULL BATTERY REPLACEMENT.

NHTSA ODI 11113935

ALL FOUR DOOR LOCK ACTUATORS HAVE FAILED ON MY 2014 VEHICLE. TOYOTA DENIES ANY KNOWLEDGE OF THIS AS A COMMON PROBLEM, BUT THE INTERNET SHOWS THAT IT IS A PROBLEM AFTER ONLY 3 OR 4 YEARS OF PURCHASE OF A BRAND NEW VEHICLE. REPAIR COSTS ARE VERY HIGH FOR EACH DOOR FOR THIS PROBLEM. THERE IS ONLY ONE DOOR WITH KEY ENTRY.

NHTSA ODI 11103641

ON FRIDAY, JANUARY 12, 2018 I FOUNT THE CAR SEAT SEVERELY SMOLDERING ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. THE CARE WAS FILLED WITH BROWN SMOKE AND TOXIC FUMES. THE SEAT WAS COMPLETELY BURNED AND MELTED AND TOXIC RESIDUE. FIRE DEPARTMENT PUT OUT FIRE WITH WATER. CAR SEAT HEATER APPARENTLY DID NOT TURN OFF AND SMOLDERED ALL NIGHT. TOYOTA GIVING ME THE RUN AROUND, DELAYING INVESTIGATION AT LEAST 5 WEEKS OR MORE. THE CAR WAS PARKED IN GARAGE, LAST DRIVEN BRIEF DISTANCE EVENING BEFORE. GARAGE NOW WITH TOXIC FUMES AND RESIDUE. CAR LIKELY TOTALED, AND TOYOTA TRYING TO GET OUT OF ANY ASSISTANCE/RESPONSIBILITY. THEY ARE ON PURPOSE BEING VERY DIFFICULT, AND FORCING ME TO COMPLY WITH THEIR AGENDA, OR LOSE OPTION FOR THEIR TAKING SOME RESPONSIBILITY.

NHTSA ODI 11063809

ELECTRIC BURNING SMELL EMANATING FROM FRONT OF CAR SMELL COMING QUESTIONABLY THROUGH AIR DUCTS WHICH COMES/GOES AND IS NOTED UPON STARTING CAR AND FOR FIVE MINUTES DURATION AFTER START. INCREASE INCIDENCE OF BURNING SMELL ON DAYS WHEN AMBIENT AIR TEMPERATURE IS 90 OR HIGHER. I WONDER IF I AM INHALING TOXIC FUMES . WILL CONSIDER REPORT OF PROBLEM TO THE EPA. CHECKED BY POHANKA TOYOTA IN EARLY SUMMER "COULD NOT DUPLICATE SMELL PROBLEM" NO FOLLOW-UP. REPORT MADE TO TOYOTA MOTORS PER EMAIL AND TO REPRESENTATIVE AS WELL AT TOYOTA. STATED " WE WILL REPORT YOUR ISSUE TO THE ADMINISTRATION; "NO RECOMMENDED FOLLOW-UP. INTERNET SEARCH INDICATES THERE ARE SEVERAL MODELS OF TOYOTAS WITH SIMILAR COMPLAINTS. IT IS ABOUT TIME THERE WOULD BE A RECALL AND SOMETHING DONE ABOUT THIS BLOCK BELOW ASKING WHEN DID THIS HAPPEN IS FORCED CHOICE FOR DATE(SO NOT ACCURATE REFLECTION OF THE PROBLEM); THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING ON/OFF SINCE MAY 2017 S. I DID INFORM THE TOYOTA REP BY PHONE THAT I WOULD FILE A COMPLAINT WITH MY STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE AND THE BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU.

NHTSA ODI 11015750

RODENTS CHEWED ELECTRICAL WIRING MAKING THE VEHICLE UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE ELECTRONIC SENSORS WERE RENDERED INOPERABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN MY GARAGE FOR THE WEEK END. NEVER HAD THIS PROBLEM WITH MY OTHER VEHICLES PARKED IN SAME GARAGE! REPAIR COST,NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY WAS $ 1100.00.

NHTSA ODI 10986015

RODENTS CHEWED THROUGH MAJORITY OF THE WIRING UNDER THE HOOD AND BUILD NESTS IN THE ENGINE. THIS HAS HAPPENED TWICE AND I HAVE ONLY OWNED THE CAR FOR 5 MONTHS AND COST ME A LOT OF MONEY FOR REPAIRS WHICH TOYOTA WILL NOT COVER AND SAID IT IS NOT THEIR RESPONSIBILITY FOR USING THESE SOY BASED WIRES THAT ATTRACTS RODENTS.

NHTSA ODI 10948489