Lexus CT brake failure problems

Filed Dec 5, 2025 · Brakes · VA

I am submitting a formal complaint regarding Lexus’ refusal to correct a known safety-related defect under Customer Support Program (CSP) 21LE01. My vehicle meets all criteria outlined in the program, yet Lexus denied coverage. Details: 1.Program Coverage: CSP 21LE01 covers Brake Booster and Brake Booster Pump assemblies for internal malfunctions verified by Diagnostic Trouble Codes C1391, C1252, C1256, or C1253. Coverage extends 10 years or 150,000 miles, whichever comes first. 2.Vehicle Qualification: •Mileage: under 150,000 miles •Model year/production range: covered under CSP 21LE01 •Symptoms: brake-system warning lights, reduced braking performance, and internal malfunctions •DTCs: C1391, C1252, C1256, C1253 confirmed 3.Lack of Notification: Lexus indicates that owners were notified of this program starting May 2021. I never received any notice, despite my contact information being current with the DMV. 4.Denial of Repair: Despite the vehicle qualifying under all CSP 21LE01 criteria, Lexus informed me I am “not eligible” for the repair. This refusal directly contradicts the program’s published requirements. Safety Concern: This defect affects the brake system, a critical safety component. Denying the repair for a qualifying vehicle exposes the driver and others on the road to potential brake failure and increased risk of accident. If the brake booster/pump fails while driving, braking can become hard, delayed, or fail completely, greatly increasing the risk of accidents, collisions, injury, or death. Request: I am requesting that the federal safety agency investigate Lexus’ denial of a safety-related repair and compel the manufacturer to honor the repair coverage under CSP 21LE01 for my vehicle.

Filed Aug 29, 2025 · Brakes, Driver assistance · CA

Driving down the 99Freeway at speeds approx. Up to 72mph, my abs,traction, and brake lights illuminated at the same time on my dash. I pushed on my brake pedal in order to slow down and pull over, my brake pedal was extremely hard to push in and no matter how hard I pushed it didn't appear to be slowing the vehicle down. I pushed on the emergency brake slowly to help slow down safely and was able to get pulled over. I turned the car off and proceeded to call a friend for help. My friend suggested that I start the vehicle back up and see if I was comfortable enough to continuing to drive it to get myself off of the freeway, which I did. Then when I got off the freeway, I noticed all the lights had gone off and the car felt like it was driving normal again. I proceeded home. The following day my check engine light came on saying to check hybrid system. After being informed to clear the check engine to reset everything my car seemed fine. Then approximately 3 weeks later the abs, traction and brake light came back on and I had difficulty braking. This time and alarm started beeping inside my car as well, the check engine light saying traction battery is not charging and my vehicle does not want to stop. I've been researching different forums online and I'm seeing a numerous amount of other Toyota and Lexus owners with very similar complaints with their cars as well. I've replaced my brake pads, replaced my 12v battery and key fob battery as well. So far I still have no brakes and this is my only vehicle so I'm really hoping this turns out to be a recall or something cause I can't afford to do the repairs .

Filed Aug 7, 2025 · Brakes · TX

common problem with these Lexus ct200h, as well as Toyota Prius V models, are that the brake accumulators begin to leak internally, as they share the same part numbers. Therefore, the actuator will buzz every few seconds trying to keep pressure in the braking system to a safe operating level of gas pressure to no avail due to this leak in the actuator. After it quits buzzing from shutting the car off, you can hear the air leak hissing the pressure away. There are tons and tons of articles on this issue online as this is a major safety concern. Many have had Toyota replace the part free of charge as well due to the extended 10 year, or 150k miles, in whichever comes first. warranty. This may be perhaps because there are several more prius on the road than this rare Lexus CT200H. Just look up “c1391 danger” and see what comes up. In my opinion, as well as many, it is pathetic that an issue in which endangers the lives of others due this brake failure is not further addressed. There is Not much stopping distances when and after this suddenly occurs. In the process, the abs, traction control, brake, a yellow exclamation mark, lights suddenly all come on the dash at once and the brake feels like a sponge very suddenly, as it did me as I was driving today. There were no engine lights as I started my drive. There are no external brake fluid leaks involved for this actuator. Toyota covers it under extended warranty, although it appears as though Lexus does not, this is a major safety hazard and concern. The trouble code is.: C1391. Also, I went to Sewell Lexus of Dallas today and was told there are no recalls, after looking my vin #. The service program had expired and there is nothing they can do for me. Please extend the program or issue a recall for this dangerous failure. The repair cost is substantial and should be covered for a known flaw.

Filed Aug 1, 2025 · Brakes, Electrical · FL

I’m reporting a serious safety issue with my 2014 Lexus CT200h involving the brake booster and ABS pump/accumulator system. This issue is well-documented across Lexus CT200h and Toyota Prius V models, which use the same components. Lexus quietly issued a Customer Support Program (CSP) for the affected part but never notified me. I contacted Lexus and was told they “didn’t have to” notify all owners. After escalating, they claimed a letter was sent, but I confirmed my address and never received anything. Several months before the CSP expired, I noticed inconsistent brake response, a soft/spongy pedal, and warning lights: ABS, traction control, brake, and TPMS. I took the car to an independent mechanic who misdiagnosed it as a TPMS issue. Six months later, a loud chime began sounding repeatedly, unrelated to seatbelt use. I brought the car to Lexus of North Miami, where they diagnosed a failing ABS pump and accumulator — the exact components covered by the CSP. This is a critical safety failure. Loss of braking pressure compromises stopping distance and puts my safety and others at risk. Lexus refused assistance because the CSP expired, even though the problem began earlier and I sought help. Corporate and their Resolution Team were dismissive and unprofessional. The issue is reproducible and confirmed by a certified Lexus dealer. Thousands of drivers online report the same pattern: trouble code C1391, buzzing brake actuator, unexplained chimes, hissing noises after shutdown, and external fluid leaks. Some dealers reportedly told customers to disable the chime rather than investigate. Toyota Prius owners with the same part received repairs under warranty or recall — Lexus drivers did not. I urge the federal safety agency to investigate this defect before it leads to serious injury or death. This is not normal wear. It’s a known mechanical failure affecting a critical safety system. What makes this even more dangerous is that most owners won’t do the deep digging I did to connect it.

Filed Apr 12, 2025 · Brakes · FL

Brake failure while driving. The brake pedal went soft when pressed and all the associated warning lights illuminated. ABS, traction, control, etc. This is a known issue for Toyota and Lexus, and even after servicing my vehicle at the dealer for the last two years I was never notified that this was a concern.

Filed Dec 13, 2024 · Brakes · LA

A prevalent issue observed in the Lexus CT200h and Toyota Prius V models is the internal leakage of brake accumulators, as they utilize identical part numbers. Consequently, the actuator emits a buzzing sound intermittently as it attempts to maintain the necessary gas pressure within the braking system, ultimately failing due to the leak. Numerous articles addressing this concern are available online, highlighting its significance as a safety issue. Many owners have successfully had Toyota replace the faulty part at no cost, thanks to the extended warranty covering a period of ten years or 150,000 miles, whichever occurs first. This may be attributed to the higher prevalence of Prius vehicles on the road compared to the less common Lexus CT200h. A simple search for "C1391 danger" will yield substantial information on the topic. It is disheartening, in my view and that of many others, that a problem posing a risk to public safety due to brake failure has not been adequately addressed. The sudden onset of this issue significantly reduces stopping distances. When it occurs, warning lights for ABS, traction control, and brakes illuminate simultaneously. Notably, there are no visible brake fluid leaks associated with this actuator. While Toyota provides coverage under the extended warranty, it appears that Lexus may not offer similar support, raising concerns about the safety implications discussed across various platforms.

Filed Nov 5, 2024 · Brakes · FL

The actuator will buzz every few seconds trying to keep pressure in the braking system to a safe operating level of gas pressure to no avail due to this leak in the actuator. After it quits buzzing from shutting the car off, you can hear the air leak hissing the pressure away. There is not much stopping distances when and after this suddenly occurs. In the process, the abs, traction control, brake, a yellow exclamation mark, lights suddenly all come on the dash at once and the brake feels like a sponge very suddenly. The brake booster pump may fail causing a deactivation of the Vehicle Stability Control system and a loss of braking assist. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 126, Electronic Stability Control Systems."" Deactivation of the vehicle stability control system or a loss of braking assist increases the risk of a crash.

Filed Jun 12, 2024 · Brakes · FL

The brake accumulator loosing pressure for the brake booster and abs, the actuator will buzz every few seconds trying to keep pressure in the braking system to a safe operating level of gas pressure. It isn't holding pressure due to this leak in the actuator. This is a very serious issue which endangers the lives of others due this brake failure is not being fully addressed. There is not much stopping distances after this suddenly occurs. In the process, the abs, traction control, brake, a yellow exclamation mark, lights suddenly all come on the dash at once and the brake feels like a sponge very suddenly, and the car has little to no brakes. This can lead to a major accident. Toyota/ Lexus have an extended warranty that expires in at a 10 year mark or 150K miles but several complaints of this failure has been just after that time usually with in a few months and come at a high cost of repair almost $3-4K, fortunately I searched the internet for the warranty info and my vehicle is just under the warranty period by a few days and couple miles but the amount of people who currently drive these Toyota/Lexus models that may experience this failure is pretty high

Filed Feb 7, 2024 · Brakes · FL

Urgent Safety Complaint Regarding Brake System Failure and Manufacturer's Extended Warranty Acknowledgment To Whom It May Concern, I am writing to formally file a complaint concerning a critical safety issue with my vehicle, which has significantly impacted its braking system. This issue not only presents a severe risk to my safety and that of other road users but has also been acknowledged by the manufacturer through the issuance of an extended warranty for this specific malfunction. Approximately one month prior to the complete failure, my vehicle began emitting an unusual hissing noise from the brake pedal area, leading to a near-total loss of braking functionality. The incident was characterized by the activation of the Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), traction control, and brake warning lights, accompanied by a repetitive buzzing noise every 5-10 seconds related to the brake system's charging mechanism. The brake pedal became exceedingly soft, rendering the vehicle's brakes nearly non-existent. Despite the vehicle being only a year and a half old and previously showing no major issues, this braking system failure occurred suddenly and without warning. However, in light of the manufacturer's recent communication regarding the extended warranty for this specific problem, it is clear that this is a known issue that poses a significant safety risk. Given the manufacturer's acknowledgment of the defect through the extended warranty, I urge the federal safety agency to investigate this matter with heightened urgency. The potential for harm not only to myself but to other individuals on the road necessitates prompt and decisive action to ensure the safety and reliability of affected vehicles. I am prepared to provide further information and cooperate fully with any investigations into this critical safety issue. Thank you for your immediate attention to this matter. Sincerely, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed Dec 14, 2023 · Acceleration, Brakes · KY

A common problem with these Lexus ct200h, as well as Toyota Prius V models, are that the brake accumulators begin to leak internally, as they share the same part numbers. Therefore, the actuator pumpwill buzz every few seconds trying to keep pressure in the braking system to a safe operating level of gas pressure,to no avail due tothisleak inthe accumulator. After it quits buzzing, say shutting the car off, you can hear the air leak “hiss”pressure away. as you may know tons and tons of articles on this issue online as this is a major safety concern. Many have had Toyota replace the part free of charge as well due to the extended 10 year, or 150k miles, in whichever comes first. warranty. This may be perhaps because there are several more prius on the road than this rare Lexus 200h Just look up “c1391 danger” and see what comes up. I’m not trying to get [XXX], but in my opinion, as well as many, it is pathetic that an issue in which endangers the lives of others due this brake failure is not further addressed. There is Not much stopping distances when and after this suddenly occurs. In the process, the abs, traction control, brake, a yellow exclamation mark, lights suddenly all come on the dash at once and the brake feels like a sponge very suddenly, as it did me with my 4 year old daughter in the car seat. There are no external brake fluid leaks involved. for this actuator. Toyota covers it under extended warranty, although it appears as though Lexus does not(?), this is a major safety hazard and concern for a heavy amount on several different websites. The trouble code is.: C1391. If I can find the article, it happened to a lady after losing control and crashed because of this, so she went to Lexus and drives something else now. Also, I went to The Lexus of Louisville today and he said “nope” no recalls, after looking my vin #up. It would rather be an extended warranty, first of all I’d think. Thank you for taking the time to read this. [XXX] [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION