2015 Toyota Prius V Brakes Problems

Emergency Brake, Traction and ABS warning came on and stayed on in addition to a five-second interval cycling on of a motor sound under the hood. O'Reilly Auto Parts and then Toyota dealership confirmed the same code that indicated brake booster assembly needs replacing (C1391) **This is a "known issue" but not yet a recall. Toyota did extend the part warranty to 10 years or 150,000 miles - my vehicle has only gone 85,500 and unfortunately is eight months into the 10th year and Toyota is refusing to cover any portion of the repair. I would like to be part of the effort to have this formally declared a recall because I got the quote today to replace the brake booster assembly and it's going to cost half the value of the vehicle! $4000 is the low estimate Bighorn Toyota gave me to do the repair/replacement. Thank you for your help!

NHTSA ID

11696236

Incident

Oct 5, 2025

Brake light + ABS + traction light came on and the brake became harder to control. I was driving in the rain and briefly lost control. Fortunately, no accident.

NHTSA ID

11671770

Incident

Jul 5, 2025

brake failure during operation due to bad brake booster pump and accumulator.

NHTSA ID

11663280

Incident

May 27, 2025

Brakes failing while driving in the rain. I was unable to use my brakes in the rain and headlights turned off while driving too. Took it to the dealer and they won't do anything unless lights are on on dashboard to read the code.

NHTSA ID

11642078

Incident

Jan 30, 2025

I started hearing the whirring sound from the brake booster that normally only comes on at startup almost constantly, about every 15 seconds. Along with this, a puffing sound and a pulsing from the brake pedal when stopped with the car on, such as at a traffic light. Also, when coming to a stop there would be a shudder from the brakes. After about a month I was driving when 3 separate warning lights lit up on the dashboard and the next time I braked the pedal felt very different than normal, very mushy, and the car seemed to not stop as well. I consulted a repair shop and they told me it’s a common problem with this model: brake booster/actuator failure resulting in a loss of the ABS system. They quoted me over $2000 to make the repair. Internet research confirmed that this is a common problem that Toyota is aware of but refuses to acknowledge as something to be recalled, despite the huge safety risk associated with it. This on a car with only 85,000 miles.

NHTSA ID

11578597

Incident

Mar 13, 2024

Car hesitates after stopping at a traffic light (5/30/21). After a few seconds the car finally engages (accelerate). Happens infrequently. Brakes seems to be stuck after braking and releasing brakes (7/15/21). Took a few second to acceleerate. Happens infrequently. Car switch to neutral after stopping at a traffic light (9/15/21). Car switch to neutral after stopping at a traffic light (10/12/21.) Car switch to neutral after stopping at a traffic light (10/15/21). Warning lights came on (10/15/21) Diagnosted: pressure control chip for the master cyclinder failed. After braking at a traffic light the car switched to neutral by itself and failed to acceleerate or move forward (10/16/21).

NHTSA ID

11437152

Incident

May 30, 2021

TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH IN A NEIGHBORHOOD, I HAD JUST TURNED INTO A DIAGONAL PARKING SPACE IN A CUL-DE-SAC AT ABOUT 10AM AND THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED FORWARD AND HIT A YELLOW IRON POST BEYOND THE FRONT OF THE PARKING SPACE. IT HAPPENED IN A MATTER OF 2-3 SECONDS AND I COULDN'T STOP THE CAR BY BRAKING. THE POST STOPPED THE CAR AND CAUSED EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE CAR. IT WAS EXTREMELY PERPLEXING AND I STILL DON'T THINK IT WAS CAUSED BY MY ACTIONS DUE TO THE SUDDEN ACCELERATION. I NO LONGER HAVE PHOTOS OF THE DAMAGE. I CONTACTED MY INSURANCE CARRIER AND MY RATES INCREASED SIGNIFICANTLY BUT I STILL FEEL STRONGLY THAT I DID NOT CAUSE THE ACCIDENT. I HAD BEEN DRIVING AT 20MPH THROUGH THE NEIGHBORHOOD PRIOR TO PARKING. REPAIRS TOTALED ABOUT $2400.00.

NHTSA ID

11397425

Incident

Apr 14, 2019

Mileage

34,500 mi

ISSUE STARTED AFTER 2 YEARS, WHEN WET AND COLD AS I BACK UP AND PUT MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, A VERY LOUD NOISE HEARD COMING FROM THE BACK? IT LASTS AS LONG AS I PUT MY FOOT ON THE PEDAL. EXPRESSED MY CONCERNS AT PETERSON TOYOTA DEALER LOCALLY, BUT THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT "IT'S NORMAL", COULD BE THE BRAKE HYDRAULIC BOOSTER SYSTEM? THE ISSUES STILL CONTINUE AS OF TODAY. I DO RECORD THE NOISE WHEN IT HAPPENS

NHTSA ID

11319325

Incident

Dec 1, 2017

Mileage

25,000 mi

THIS IS AN OCCASIONAL AND INTERMITTENT ISSUE. AT 35 TO 45 MPH, TRAVELING STRAIGHT, ON CITY AVENUES AND BOULEVARDS. WHEN BRAKING IN AN URGENT FSHION (NOT PANICK AND NOT EASY) THE BRAKE PEDDAL IS SOFT AND TRAVELS SIGNIFICANTLY FURTHER THAN USUAL BEFORE THE CARS BREAKING SYSTEM TAKES EFFECT. THIS WAS ON DRY ROADS AND ABOVE FREEZING TEMPERATURES. WE HAVE NOT EXPERIENCED ANY ACCIDENTS DUE TO THIS BUT THERE HAVE BEEN MOMENTS OF NEAR PANICK PRIOR TO THE BRAKES WORKING AS EXPECTED. AS A SEPARATE BRAKE ISSUE, ON TWO OCCASIONS WHEN PANICK BRAKING FROM APEEDS OVER 50 MPH, TRAVELING STRAIGHT, ON FREEWAYS THE BRAKES HAVE LOCKED AND THE CAR HAS SKIDDED. THIS WAS ON DRY ROADS DURING DAYLIGHT HOURS, DRY ROADS AND ABOVE FREEZING TEMPERATURES. THIS VEHICLE HAS ANTILOCK BRAKING SYSTEM. THE LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER WAS ADVISED OF THIS LOCKING ISSUE AND REPORTED THEY FOUND NO ISSUE. WE HAVE OUR BRAKES INSPECTED BY A LOCAL TOYOTA DEALRE AT MANUFACTURER RECOMMENDED INTERVALS AND HAVE BEEN GIVEN A 'GREEN' RATING FOR PAD THICKNESS. THE ABOVE EVENTS STARTED LATE IN THE FIRST YEAR OF OWNERSHIP AND WE ARE THE FIRST OWNERS OF THIS VEHICLE. I AMA RETIRED ENGINEER WITH A FAIR BACKGROUND WITH PERFORMANCE DRIVING ON CLOSED CIRCUITS. I HAVE A SOLID UNDERSTANDING OF PROPER BRAKE PERFORMANCE. I FOND THE ABOVE EXPERIENCES DISCONCERTING AND OF CONCERN. THE BELOW DATE OF OCCURRENCE IS FOR THE LATEST SLOW BRAKE RESPONSE, NOT THE LOCKING UP.

NHTSA ID

11182511

Incident

Feb 6, 2019

Mileage

60,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2015 TOYOTA PRIUS V HYBRID. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY, THE CONTACT SHIFTED INTO REVERSE AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED RAPIDLY BETWEEN 5-10 MPH. THE SPEED INCREASED TO 20 MPH AND THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A FENCE. THE CONTACT APPLIED SIGNIFICANT PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL DURING THE FAILURE, BUT THE VEHICLE DID NOT STOP. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED MINOR SORENESS FROM THE IMPACT OF THE CRASH, WHICH DID NOT REQUIRE MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP AND DEEMED DESTROYED. STEVE LANDERS TOYOTA (10825 COLONEL GLENN ROAD, LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS 72204) WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIATELY 59,100. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

11139230

Incident

Sep 24, 2018

Mileage

59,100 mi

2015 TOYOTA PRIUS V: THIS CAR HAS A BRAKE SYSTEM ACCUMULATOR THAT ACTIVATES AFTER THE CAR HAS SAT FOR A SUFFICIENTLY LONG TIME (OVERNIGHT, DURING THE WORKDAY, ETC). WHEN YOU OPEN THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR, THE ACCUMULATOR ACTIVATES AND PRESSURIZES THE BRAKE SYSTEM. HOWEVER, WHEN USING THE BRAKES WHILE DRIVING FOR THE FIRST TIME AFTER THE ACCUMULATOR ACTIVATES, THE BRAKES ARE WAY TOO SOFT/SPONGY - SO SOFT THAT IT FEELS LIKE THE CAR WILL NOT STOP AND THE STOPPING DISTANCE IS LENGTHENED, SOMETIMES MORE THAN DOUBLED. MY LOCAL DEALER CLAIMS THEY HAVE TO BE ABLE TO REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM TO FIX IT. I HAVE HAD OTHER MODEL PRIUSES WHERE THEY HAVE SAID THE SAME THING, YET THE PROBLEM TURNED OUT TO BE A SYSTEMIC ISSUE IN A CERTAIN PRIUS MODEL. I FEAR THAT THIS IS ANOTHER PERVASIVE BRAKE ISSUE THAT TOYOTA IS TRYING TO HIDE.

NHTSA ID

10915077

Incident

Aug 1, 2016

Mileage

13,000 mi