2004 Toyota Prius Owner Complaints

Codes C1256 and C1391 ACC low pressure and abnormal leak of ACC press

NHTSA ID

11689579

Incident

Sep 24, 2025

The odometer on my 2004 Prius stops at 299,999. This is a known problem in the 04-05 models that was corrected in 2006. Leaves me unable to track miles for maintenance and other uses. This also has the problem with the entire digital dash going dark which means no speedometer or gas gauge. Making the vehicle almost unable to be driven safely at this point. I have reached out to Toyota and they verify that it was an issue with this year range but because I have owned it too long they don't do anything about it

NHTSA ID

11674939

Incident

Jul 18, 2025

During a hot period of summer, my drive selector decided to not stay in the drive position unless I held it there. I could make the initial selection of drive and then stop on the gas, but it would not stay unless I physically held the lever down in the drive position. I never had an issue with the reverse position; only drive. I could always get the car back into Park. This is an extremely unsafe driving condition because it happens without warning and the fix is not obvious. Once the driver is aware of the fix, it forces them into an unsafe driving condition: driving with one hand on the parking selector. Once cooler weather came, the issue went away. It didn't happen on all hot days and was intermittent. I replaced the drive selector in 2022 and have only had the issue come up one other time since replacing this part.

NHTSA ID

11493255

Incident

Sep 1, 2020

The contact owns a 2004 Toyota Prius. The contact stated while driving 51 MPH, the vehicle experienced phantom braking and a loss of power steering assist with the engine overheating message displayed. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 154,079.

NHTSA ID

11468633

Incident

Jun 9, 2022

Mileage

154,079 mi

The contact owns a 2004 Toyota Prius. The contact stated while driving approximately 30 MPH, the vehicle stalled. The vehicle lost power steering functionality but the contact was able to safely pull off of the road. The contact stated that the check engine warning light and other unknown warning lights were illuminated before the vehicle stalled. Additionally, the instrument panel went black. The contact stated that she attempted to restart the vehicle but the vehicle would not restart. The contact had the vehicle towed to her residence and later towed to an independent mechanic. The vehicle was diagnosed and it was determined that a wiring cable connector had melted onto the battery and affected the engine. Additionally, the fuel pump needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 83,200.

NHTSA ID

11460805

Incident

Apr 9, 2022

Mileage

83,200 mi

I need your help to get Toyota to fix 2 items: -ABS Accumulator: I understand Toyota at one time had a recall on the ‘ABS Accumulator’, that may have expired. At that time, I did not have any issue, nor was I aware of the recall. Now the ‘ABS Accumulator’ has gone out and is really hurting the braking. I had to get new brakes & they get locked because of the ABS malfunction. It is an expensive item – more than the cost of the car. I intend to keep the car for a long time, if Toyota can help me get the ABS Accumulator fixed? -MFD: The Multi-Functional Display (MFD) in the middle of the dashboard, has gone blank. It used to just partially blank out before, but now the whole screen is blank all the time, making it very hazardous to drive. Obviously, there is nothing I have done & it is a manufacturing defect, because it should last the life of the car. Please have Toyota fix the 2 problems (ABS & MFD). All requests to Toyota have gone unfulfilled. Your help is needed & will be greatly appreciated.

NHTSA ID

11459332

Incident

Apr 2, 2022

ABS failure. Won't pressurize. Anti-lock brakes quit working.

NHTSA ID

11452343

Incident

Sep 13, 2021

Toyota has issued time-limited 'Warranty enhancement program ZG1' instead of working with the NHSTA to issue a comprehensive BRAKE ACTUATOR ASSEMBLY RECALL. ZG1 was explicitly in place only from April 2016 to Dec 2017, requiring dealer verification of an actual system failure prior to 31 Dec 2017. My failure occurred in 2021 and Toyota will not extend ZG1 for me (case 211015000390). Obviously the BRAKE ACTUATOR is a key safety component. Obviously this is a design flaw - brake systems MUST be designed to last the life of the vehicle. Obviously Toyota has had an excessive number of failures. Toyota is improperly using this 'warranty enhancement program ZG1' to avoid the NHSTA and to avoid responsibility for the poor BRAKE ACTUATOR ASSEMBLY design. Per their letter to owners, Toyota was NOT replacing the BRAKE ACTUATOR ASSEMBLY on a preventive basis prior to actual brake failure. Because of the importance and severity, Toyota should have replaced the BRAKE ACTUATORS via a recall. I would like Toyota to fix my faulty brakes at their expense.

NHTSA ID

11441812

Incident

Sep 1, 2021

BRAKE ACTUATOR WENT OUT AND DEALER SAID TOYOTA USED TO COVER IT, BUT NOT ANYMORE. I SEARCHED THE INTERNET AND DISCOVERED THIS [PART IS BAD IN MOST PRIUS VEHICLES AND TOYOTA EXTENDED THE COVERAGE ON THE 2010-2015 UNTIL AUGUST 31, 2021. UNFORTUNATELY MY CAR IS 2004 AND DOES NOT GET THE BENEFIT OF THE EXTENSION. THE COST TO REPAIR IS ALMOST $4,000. TOYOTA KNOWS OF THIS ISSUE AND SHOULD REPAIR MY CAR AS THEY ARE WITH THE OTHER YEARS 2010-2015. THIS IS A DRIVER SAFETY ISSUE.

NHTSA ID

11416310

Incident

May 12, 2021

Mileage

242,520 mi

ALL THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER LIGHTS CONTINUE TO GO OUT ON MY 04 PRIUS. I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH FUEL I HAVE THIS COULD BE A SAFETY ISSUE. I DON'T KNOW HOW FAST I'M GOING THIS COULD DEFINITELY BE A SAFETY ISSUE. AND ZERO WARNING LIGHTS COME ON THIS IS DEFINITELY A SAFETY ISSUE. BY LOOKING ON THE INTERNET I CAN TELL THOUSANDS OF PRIUSES HAVE THIS EXACT SAME ISSUE WITH THE INSTRUMENT PANEL CLUSTER GOING OUT. THIS SHOULD DEFINITELY BE A RECALL.

NHTSA ID

11373705

Incident

Nov 2, 2020

Mileage

160,000 mi

MY LEFT HEADLIGHT GOES OFF BUT IF I TURN THE HEADLIGHTS BACK OFF AND BACK ON IT COMES BACK ON. THE HEADLIGHT IS NOT BURNED OUT. THIS HAPPENS WHILE ON THE FREEWAY IN THE DARK WHILE RAINING. THIS HAPPENS INTERMITTENTLY AND NOT ALL THE TIME.

NHTSA ID

11373269

Incident

Nov 5, 2020

Mileage

100,000 mi

ABOUT 1.5 YEARS AGO DURING A VACATION. MY CAR DECIDED TO NOT SHUT OFF. I DROVE TO THE NEAREST DEALERSHIP THAT WAS ABOUT THE CLOSE. THEY ASSISTED AND SAID TO HOLD THE POWER BUTTON DOWN UNTIL IT SHUTS OFF THEN TURN IT BACK ON. THIS WAS A DEALERSHIP IN GEORGIA. THE MECHANIC HAD HEARD OF THE PROBLEM BEFORE. I RECENTLY HAD THE FRONT DASH LIGHT GO COMPLETELY OUT. I DID NOT HAVE AN INSTRUMENT PANEL AT ALL. THE WAS NOT A WAY TO SEE MPH, GAS GAUGE, WARNING LIGHTS, NOTHING. THE CENTER MONITOR STAYED ON. IT TOOK 2 DAYS BUT IT CAME BACK ON. A WEEK LATER IT HAPPENED AGAIN AND AGAIN CAME BACK ON. WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON AND I DROVE TO DEALERSHIP. IT WAS THE 2ND WATER PUMP GOING OUT. AS I WAS LEAVING MY DASH LIGHTS WENT OUT AGAIN. I TOOK IT BACK INTO THE PRIUS DEALERSHIP. THEY HAD PAPERWORK STATING THERE HAD BEEN ISSUES WITH THE METERED DASH BEFORE. IS THERE A RECALL ON IT OR NOT? I HAD TO HAVE A CAR AND WAS ALLOWED TO LEAVE WITH THE DASH NOT WORKING. I DROVE TO A GAS STATION. AFTER FILLING WITH GAS THE DASH LIGHTS CAME ON AGAIN. I HAD TO PAY FOR THE METERED DASH PART TO BE ORDERED UP FRONT BECAUSE THE MECHANIC SAID IT MAY COME BACK ON. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THIS AS IT IS AN ONGOING ISSUE. THE MECHANIC EVEN CALLED IT A SHORT. DUE TOT HE PAPERWORK THE DESK REPRESENTATIVE HAD, IT APPEARS THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL REPORTS BEFORE ON THE METERED DASH SHORTING. PLEASE HELP. I NEED THE CAR AND CANNOT AFFORD THESE RIDICULOUS PRICES FOR MANUFACTURER MISTAKES.

NHTSA ID

11365481

Incident

Oct 20, 2020

Mileage

160,000 mi

I WAS DRIVING APPROX. 15 MPH ON A STREET ON 5/14/20 AND WAS MAKING A SOFT TURN AND HEARD A 'CLICK' NOISE. IMMEDIATELY AFTER MY STEERING WHEEL BEGAN TO SPIN FREELY WHILE TOTALLY DISENGAGED FROM THE FRONT WHEELS CAUSING TOTAL INABILITY TO CONTROL DIRECTION OF VEHICLE TRAVEL. THIS CAUSED A MINOR COLLISION WITH ROCK /DEBRIS WHICH CAUSED MINOR FRONT BUMPER DAMAGE. I THEN HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO NEAREST MECHANIC WHO DETERMINED THAT THE MAIN BOLT AT THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT AND STEERING RACK WAS DISCONNECTED. THE MECHANIC CHECKED THE SHAFT AND SPLINES FOR DAMAGE AND FOUND NONE, THEN PROCEEDED TO REATTACH BOLT. I WAS ALSO INFORMED BY THIS MECHANIC THAT TOYOTA HAD TWO RELATED RECALLS: ONE FOR THE STEERING SHAFT, AND ONE FOR THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT EXTENSION. BOTH OF THESE RECALLS HAD BEEN ADDRESSED AND REPLACEMENT PARTS INSTALLED FOR MY VEHICLE. THERE ARE TWO RELATED RECALLS: 06V188000 (STEERING SHAFT) AND 12V537000 (INTERMEDIATE STEERING EXTENSION SHAFT). *TR

NHTSA ID

11325172

Incident

May 14, 2020

Mileage

135,265 mi

HEADLIGHTS OCCASIONALLY GO OUT AT RANDOM WHILE DRIVING. BEGAN WITH DRIVER SIDE, VERY INTERMITTENT, BECAME MORE FREQUENT, NOW ALSO INCLUDES PASSENGER SIDE. BOTH HAVE GONE OUT AT THE SAME TIME WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT TWICE. TURNING ALL LIGHTS OFF BRIEFLY AND BACK ON WILL RE-ILLUMINATE THE HEADLIGHTS. PROBLEM FIRST OCCURRED SEVERAL MONTHS AGO AND HAS GOTTEN PROGRESSIVELY MORE FREQUENT. NOW, ONCE LIGHT(S) GOES OUT DURING A DRIVE, IT WILL CONTINUE TO DO SO REPEATEDLY EVERY FEW MINUTES. VERY DANGEROUS.

NHTSA ID

11321001

Incident

Apr 3, 2020

Mileage

250,000 mi

HEADLIGHT GO OUT DAILY AND HAPPENS WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT FROM WORK, THEY TURN BACK ON SWITCH ON AND OFF

NHTSA ID

11309757

Incident

Feb 1, 2019

COMBINATION METER IS BLACK 90% OF THE TIME. RESTARTING ENGINE OR DISCONNECTING BATTERY ONLY WORKS ON OCCASION. HAVE SAFETY CONCERNS.

NHTSA ID

11289673

Incident

Dec 15, 2019

Mileage

130,000 mi

WHEN STOPPING SUDDENLY SOMETIMES THE BRAKES ON MY 2004 PRIUS WOULD NOT RESPOND IMMEDIATELY AS THEY SHOULD. THEY WOULD RELEASE THE CALIPERS COMPLETELY AND THE ONLY WAY TO STOP WOULD BE TO LET OFF THE BRAKES AND PRESS THEM AGAIN. IT DOES NOT HAPPEN OFTEN BUT IT IS REGULAR ENOUGH THAT THIS HAS ALWAYS CONCERNED ME VERY MUCH. TODAY I WAS FOLLOWING A CAR WHO SLAMMED ON THEIR BRAKES VERY SUDDENLY AND THEREFOR I ALSO HAD TO SLAM ON MY BRAKES. THIS SAME ISSUE OCCURRED AND I DID NOT HAVE TIME TO RELEASE THE BRAKES AND PRESS THEM AGAIN CAUSING ME TO HIT THE BACK OF THE CAR THAT I WAS FOLLOWING. I MAINTAIN MY CARS VERY WELL AND THIS CAR WAS IN TOP CONDITION WITH BRAND NEW TIRES. THE BRAKES DO NOT EVEN ACTIVATE ENOUGH TO SQUEAL OR LEAVE ANY RUBBER BEHIND. THERE IS NO WAY THAT I COULD POSSIBLY HAVE STOPPED IN TIME. THIS IS NOT SAFE AND NEEDS TO BE RESOLVED FOR OTHER PEOPLE WHO HAVE THESE CARS.

NHTSA ID

11257981

Incident

Sep 25, 2019

Mileage

138,000 mi

BRAKE ACTUATOR ASSEMBLY MALFUNCTIONED, AND HAD TO BE REPLACED, JUST AS PREDICTED IN TOYOTA'S WARRANTY ENHANCEMENT ZG1. TOYOTA KNOWS THE PART IS DEFECTIVE, BUT THEY REFUSED TO REPLACE IT UNTIL IT FAILED, AND MINE DID NOT FAIL UNTIL AFTER THE EXTENDED WARRANTY DEADLINE. THIS FAILURE HAPPENED ON I-45 NEAR MADISONVILLE AND I HAD TO PULL OFF THE ROAD BECAUSE A WARNING LIGHT BRAKE LIGHT WENT ON.

NHTSA ID

11246485

Incident

Aug 18, 2019

Mileage

138,900 mi

WHEN DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD ALL OF A SUDDEN WE TRIED TO USE THE BRAKES AND IT FELT LIKE WE ONLY HAD 10% OF OUR BRAKING ABILITY. THE BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON AND ABS LIGHT WENT ON AND THE STABILITY CONTROL LIGHT CAME ON AS WELL AS A WARNING BUZZER. IT FELT LIKE WE HAD MANUAL BRAKES.

NHTSA ID

11208876

Incident

May 18, 2019

Mileage

190,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 12V537000 (STEERING) BY BALISE TOYOTA (1399 RIVERDALE ST, WEST SPRINGFIELD, MA 01089, (413) 306-3037), BUT THE REMEDY FAILED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE POWER STEERING WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AFTER THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 138,000.

NHTSA ID

11203203

Incident

Apr 9, 2019

Mileage

138,000 mi

I AM THE OWNER OF A 2004 PRIUS. AFTER BUYING MY CAR USED 2 YEARS AGO I NOTICED THAT ONCE IN AWHILE THE DISPLAY, INCLUDING FUEL CONSUMPTION, SPEEDOMETER, ODOMETER, AND MORE, WOULD NOT LIGHT UP AND THAT THE CAR WOULD NOT TURN OFF EASILY SEVERAL TIMES I HAVE BEEN IN SITUATIONS WHERE I HAVE LITTLE GAS AN AM UNABLE TO SEE MY GAS GAUGE OR KNOW HOW FAT IAM GOING ON THE HIGHWAY. I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS WAS ONCE COVERED BY TOYOTA UNDER THE WARRANTY EXTENSION BUT IS NOT CONSIDERED A SAFETY CONCERN. THE WARRANTY EXTENSION IS EXPIRED. IN WHAT UNIVERSE ARE A FUNCTIONING FUEL GAUGE AND SPEEDOMETER NOT CONSIDERED A SAFETY CONCERN? I AM ALSO CONCERNED THAT THIS WILL DETERIORATE FURTHER AND CAUSE AN ACCIDENT.

NHTSA ID

11202903

Incident

Apr 22, 2019

Mileage

115,000 mi

(COMBINATION METER PROBLEM) WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT ON THE FREEWAY THE ENTIRE INSTRUMENT PANEL (DASH BOARD) STARTED BLINKING ON AND OFF. FOR OUR SAFETY, WE DECIDED TO SLOW DOWN AND EXIT THE FREEWAY AND STOP IN A SAFE AREA. WE TURNED THE IGNITION OFF, THEN STARTED THE CAR, WITH NOTHING APPEARING ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL BESIDE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. WE LOST THE SPEEDOMETER, ALL GAUGES AND ALL THE ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONICS WHICH NORMALLY HELPS TO GUIDE OUR DRIVING.WE HAD TO TAKE THE CAR TO THE TOYOTA DEALER THE FOLLOWING MORNING WHICH TOOK SEVEN DAYS TO REPLACE THE COMBO METER. I LATER FOUND OUT THAT THIS ISSUE IS NOT KNEW AND THERE WAS A LETTER ISSUED BY TOYOTA TITLED (2004 TO CERTAIN 2009 MODEL YEAR PRIUS VEHICLES COMBINATION METER WARRANTY ENHANCEMENT NOTICE). THE LETTER STATED THAT THEY HAD PROBLEMS WITH SOME OF THESE PRIUS YEAR MODELS AND THAT IF THE OWNER DID NOT EXPERIENCE THIS CONDITION TO FILE THE LETTER IN THEIR VEHICLE'S OWNER'S WARRANTY INFORMATION BOOKLET. HERE IS MY REQUEST: THIS SHOULD NOT BE A WARRANTY ISSUE BUT SHOULD HAVE BEEN A SAFETY RECALL AS DEPENDING OF THE NUMBER OF MILES THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN, THIS ISSUE SEEMS TO SOONER OR LATER OCCUR. I REPAIRED MY VEHICLE AND PAID FOR ALL THE REPAIRS, ALL I NEED NOW IS FOR THE NHTSA TO LOOK INTO THIS PROBLEM, INVESTIGATE IT AND HAVE TOYOTA SEND A RECALL LETTER RATHER THAN AN EXTENDED WARRANTY. THIS WAY I CAN RECEIVE A REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE REPAIRS. HERE IS A LINK TO THE LETTER AND ALL CONSUMERS COMPLAINTS: HTTPS://WWW.TOYOHEADQUARTERS.COM/THREADS/2004-2009-TOYOTA-PRIUS-COMBINATION-METER-WARRANTY-EXTENSION-ZTV.174/ I BELIEVE FOR THE SAFETY OF ALL PRIUS DRIVERS IN THE USA, THIS SHOULD BE CHANGED TO A RECALL SINCE MANY OF THESE MODEL AND YEAR PRIUS VEHICLES ARE STILL ON THE ROAD AND WILL REACH A CERTAIN MILEAGE TO MAKE TO COMBINATION METER FAIL.

NHTSA ID

11193001

Incident

Nov 21, 2018

Mileage

5 mi

TAKATA RECALL VEHICLE NEEDS TO HAVE BRAKE ACTUATOR. BG BRAKE FLUID SERVICE.

NHTSA ID

11182905

Incident

Feb 22, 2019

Mileage

135,838 mi

WHILE DRIVING, THE ABS, VCS AND RED BRAKE LIGHT ALL CAME ON. HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THE BRAKE ACTUATOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED FOR $3,000. IT WAS DIAGNOSED AS: REPLACE BRAKE ACCUMULATOR ASSY. (BRAKE ACCUMULATOR ASSY. LEAK/ LOW PRESSURE (C1256, C1391))

NHTSA ID

11174988

Incident

Jan 29, 2019

Mileage

111,000 mi

ABS ACTUATOR FAILURES. EFFECTING THE BRAKING.

NHTSA ID

11172434

Incident

Jan 10, 2019

Mileage

10 mi