2014 Toyota Prius Recalls, Ratings & Complaints

Incident: October 30, 2026 · Filed: October 31, 2026

While backing out of a parking space at low speed, the rear axle beam (torsion beam) broke apart and the rear wheel assembly tore away from the beam. The vehicle was towed. The beam shows heavy, long-standing corrosion with flaking scale and rust-through holes on its exterior near the rear mounting points. Six weeks earlier, on September 16, 2026, a Toyota dealer performed a multipoint inspection and tire rotation and marked the suspension and corrosion items as “Checked and OK.” No warning was given. Had this failure occurred at highway speed, it could have caused a loss of control and a serious crash. Other owners have reported the same rear axle beam corrosion failure on 2010–2015 Prius models.

Incident: October 15, 2024 · Filed: October 21, 2026

The Toyota Prius, models through 2010 - 2015 have a known issue with the Brake Booster (actuator) and ABS Pump where the parts will degrade and break at or around 100,000mi. Toyota issued a bulletin and had a replacement program that covered the part that has since elapsed but has not corrected the issue with existing stock and inventory so the problem remains. When I purchased my car I was the 2nd owner, the car was purchased with roughly 160,000mi. The previous owner had informed me that he already replaced the actuator and ABS pump so I wouldn't have to worry about that repair. All told he said he spent $4000+ on the repair. When the car was driving I heard a high pitched whine. I took it to garages after my OBD tools could not identify the issue, no one had a fix and speculated that it was a power inverter and it was normal. Some weeks later, I was involved in an accident where the car did not stop in time, the brake went spongy and locked up, ABS failed to activate with no warnings or indicators. This is what first led me to suspect something wrong with the ABS. later the persistent whine was loud enough that I could identify that it was hydraulic in nature, pointing to the brakes. Within weeks the whine had stopped and my brake, ABS, and TCS lights came on, on the cluster. My OBD indicated that the ABS pump and Brake actuator were giving codes to the ECM. I replace it, and at about 240,000mi it went out again. Due to the extremely expensive nature of the part I purchased a used part which is now also bad. Toyota informed me that they have no intention of passing a recall notice or fixing the defective part. I would imagine that if the NHSTA looked into crashes involving this model and year group they would see an unusually high trend of these getting into an accident around 100,000mi increments. I believe that a recall should be issued due to the serious safety implications of potential defective cars on the road that may not be able to brake in time.

Incident: October 3, 2025 · Filed: October 16, 2026

My vehicle is experiencing the well-known brake booster failure. This started at 90,000 miles, with an increased frequency in the running of the brake booster. It has steadily gotten worse, and now the pump runs with every brake application or every 13 seconds. There is now a hissing sound when I apply the brakes. I have repeatedly taken this to Toyota dealers and have been told: "The system is working as designed; no issues found". When I asked why the pump runs so frequently. No response. This is a $4,000 repair that Toyota should step up and fix. The next step in the degradation of this part is a loss of brake pressure. I tried resolving this matter with Toyota Corporate and was denied, even though my mileage is well below the extended coverage for this part of 150K miles and 10 years.

Incident: October 1, 2026 · Filed: October 5, 2026

Facing brake booster/accumulator leak at ~105,000 miles diagnosed and confirmed by a mechanic at an independent service center. Problem is characterized by a hissing and chirping sound from the brakes. No warning lights appear on the dash, but this is a known problem with the 2014 Prius. Brake system could fail at any time, preventing the car from stopping. Repair of this system requires a >$2,500 payment. Toyota had an extended warranty up to 10 years after the car was purchased or before 150,000 miles. In this situation, the problem showed up after this time (2026), preventing compensation for repairs.

Incident: September 1, 2026 · Filed: September 12, 2026

ABS and brake light are on. was on the freeway and when i pressed the brake the wheels got locked and the car made a 360 spin, it almost flipped over

Incident: August 26, 2026 · Filed: September 4, 2026

While driving my 2014 Toyota Prius, the BRAKE, ABS, and vehicle stability/traction control warning lights illuminated. There was no crash, injury, or noticeable loss of braking before the warnings appeared, and there were no preceding symptoms. The vehicle was evaluated by Mac Haik Toyota in League City, TX, an authorized Toyota dealer. They diagnosed DTC C1391, “Abnormal Leak of Accumulator,” and determined that the brake booster and brake booster pump/accumulator assembly require replacement. The dealer advised that the vehicle cannot be driven and is considered down. The vehicle/components are available for inspection upon request. My safety concern is that this is a brake-system malfunction serious enough that an authorized Toyota dealer has determined the vehicle cannot be driven. Toyota previously established Customer Support Program ZJB addressing internal malfunctions of the brake booster and brake booster pump assemblies in 2011–2015 Prius vehicles. Toyota’s documentation specifically identifies C1391 as a diagnostic code associated with this condition. My Prius has only approximately 102,000 miles, well below the program’s 150,000-mile limitation, but is outside its 10-year time limitation. The Toyota replacement part required to repair the brake system is now backordered with no known timeframe for availability. Because Toyota has advised the vehicle cannot be driven, it will remain out of service until the part becomes available. I am reporting this because a previously identified brake-system failure continues to occur after Toyota’s support period expires. I ask NHTSA to consider whether continued C1391 brake booster/accumulator failures in these Prius vehicles warrant further investigation or safety action.

Incident: November 11, 2025 · Filed: August 3, 2026

I am submitting this complaint regarding a serious safety concern involving the brake actuator/booster assembly on my 2014 Toyota Prius. My vehicle has experienced failure of this critical braking component and has been unable to be properly repaired since November due to difficulty obtaining the correct replacement parts. This involves a major safety system required for proper braking operation. Brake actuator/booster assembly. Diagnostic codes: B1206, B2321, C1252, C1253 C1256. Toyota previously acknowledged brake actuator concerns through Customer Support Program ZJB. However, my vehicle is outside the program limits despite experiencing what appears to be the same type of failure reported by many other Prius owners. Since November, I have faced difficulty obtaining the correct parts, reports of nationwide backorders or limited availability, conflicting information regarding updated Toyota part numbers, and concerns about repair providers advertising new OEM parts that may actually be aftermarket or incorrect components. This creates a safety concern because owners experiencing brake failures may be unable to obtain timely repairs using verified, appropriate parts. Repair estimates have ranged from approximately $3,000 to over $4,000, including a Toyota dealership estimate of approximately $4,100. This creates a significant barrier to restoring a vehicle to safe operation, especially involving a component Toyota has previously addressed through a customer support program. I request that NHTSA review this complaint and similar reports to determine whether further investigation is warranted regarding Toyota Prius brake actuator failures, parts availability issues, and whether additional manufacturer action or support is needed. A vehicle’s braking system is a fundamental safety component. Owners should be able to obtain a safe and reliable repair without months of delay or uncertainty regarding replacement parts.

Incident: May 16, 2026 · Filed: July 17, 2026

My car experienced a failing brake actuator/accumulator. The first sign was the ABS and break lights accompanied by a whoosing sound. The issue causes intermittent system wide break failure and renders the car undriveable. Toyota had an extended warranty for this issue but that offer was closed by the time my car had the failure even though it was still under 150,000 miles. I believe this is a significant safety issue and should rise to the level of a recall by Toyota.

Incident: July 14, 2026 · Filed: July 14, 2026

Brake actuator had been making noises and it finally stopped working on 7/14/26. Thankfully my car was and stopped and parked. The car has 137k miles on it, one owner and no explanation of what caused this. There were no accidents, abuse, or failure to maintenance.

Incident: June 30, 2026 · Filed: July 2, 2026

The traction control, abs, and emergency brake light came on. We checked and the code produced was C1391. There’s a humming noise every 10 or so seconds when idle. The humming noise is also present when braking. We did some research and this appears to be an issue with Toyota Prius. We called the dealership and were informed that this was not a known issue. Thank you.