The vehicle is experiencing a critical failure of the Brake Actuator and Booster Pump assembly. The dashboard currently displays multiple warning indicators: ABS light, Traction Control light, and the Brake System Warning light (Master Warning "!"). Symptoms: Mechanical Failure: The internal high-pressure accumulator is failing to hold pressure. The electric brake booster pump is heard cycling every 10-20 seconds even when the vehicle is stationary and the brake pedal is not depressed. Loss of Braking Safety Features: The system has disabled regenerative braking and Anti-lock Braking (ABS), causing significantly increased stopping distances and a “spongy" brake pedal feel with diminished braking response. Predictability of Failure: This failure matches the exact symptoms described in Toyota's Customer Support Program 20TE07 (and previously ZJB), which acknowledges an internal defect in the brake actuator. Safetv Risk: The sudden transition from power-assisted braking to manual hydraulic braking during a drive creates an immediate safety hazard. As the pump motor continues to cycle excessively to compensate for the internal leak, it is at risk of total thermal failure, which would lead to a near-total loss of braking assist while the vehicle is in motion. Despite the vehicle having only 75,689 miles (well under the 150,000 mile limit acknowledged in Toyota's support programs), Toyota has declined to provide assistance because the vehicle has surpassed the 10-year age mark. Toyota is wrong in not providing support for vehicles whose critical components such as brakes shouldn’t experience catastrophic internal failure at 75,689 miles, regardless of the vehicle's age.
Toyota Prius V spongy pedal problems
11 of the 480 owner complaints about the Toyota Prius V describe soft or spongy brake pedal, most of them for the 2013 model year.
- owner complaints
- 11
- worst model year
- 2013
By model year
- 20151
- 20144
- 20135
- 20121
Often reported together
ABS 6Brake failure 2Warning lights 1Check engine light 1No deployment 1
Trouble codes mentioned
C1391 2
What owners say
The contact owns a 2013 Toyota Prius V. The contact stated that while pulling out of a parking space at approximately 15 MPH and depressing the brake pedal, the brake pedal felt spongy, but the vehicle responded as intended. The brake, the ABS, the traction control warning lights, and an unknown warning light were illuminated. The contact scanned the vehicle with a code reader and retrieved diagnostic trouble codes for the brake booster and brake accumulator systems failure. The contact related the failure to the Toyota Customer Satisfaction Program: 20TE07 (Certain 2012 - 2014 Model Year Prius V Coverage for Brake Booster and Brake Booster Pump Assemblies). The manufacturer was contacted and informed the contact that the vehicle was no longer covered because the 10-year limit was exceeded. The contact was referred to the dealer, who provided an estimate for the repair. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 120,000.
When I'm in the car, the brake booster keeps recharging with out touching the brake pedal. Also, the car has problems when I apply the brakes while driving. They make a hissing and popping noise and the braking is spongy. I have had braking warning lights come on as well. It is similar to what others have been describing as the brake booster and pump actuator issue with these Prius V cars. This has been happening ongoing for about two years or so. I called the Toyota dealership and they would not check it out for free or remedy the issue that was part of their Customer Support Program (Policy 13V‑235) for booster pump issues.
Brake actuator failure requires actuator and master cylinder replacement. All dash lights came on while driving. The vehicle was diagnosed at Brian Easler Toyota in Hendersonville North Carolina. The brakes are still operational temporarily but spongy and expected to fail so the car is not drivable. I expect to have the actuator and master cylinder replaced in then next few weeks at a cost of $5600. I see there were previous recalls on the braking system that have now expired.
Returning from a trip, several brake and skid related dashboard light illuminated. I pulled over and was able to stop the car and took it directly to the Toyota dealership after calling them. Brakes felt very spongy and stopping distance was increased. The dealer informed me that this was a known problem with my model but that I was not eligible for recall or extended warranty. I have also seen a number of complaints of this issue on the internet. The cost to repair the issue was over $4800.
While driving on the highway, all the Brake-Related Warning Lights appeared on the dashboard. This was accompanied by a frequent electric buzzing noise (every 15-20 seconds, lasting two seconds each time). The brakes became difficult to press, almost spongy, and required more pressure to function. Upon taking it to the dealer, I was told that the vehicle (a 2013 Prius V with 181k miles) needed a new ABS pump and brake actuator, totaling roughly $4100.
Brake light and several other lights suddenly came on. The brakes became spongy. Taken to a repair place close enough for walking for diagnostic work. It showed that the brake booster needs to be replaced. There was a campaign for this problem, so Toyota knows that it is/was a problem. That campaign has apparently ended. This is a very expensive repair on a car that I expected to use the rest of my life. There was no warning by the dealership from which I purchased the car that this was a possible pending problem.
I have a 2014 Toyota Prius V. I was driving down the highway at 55 m/h when my brakes became spongy all of a sudden and the ABS, traction and brake lights came on the dashboard. I was very scared and seeing that my brakes were failing I almost caused an accident that could have cost my life and my family's. I managed to get home safely and after scanning the system got the code C1391 - ABORMAL LEAK IN ACCUMULATOR. I did some research and this defect is so well known that Toyota launched a costumer program to replace the booster for free. I took it to a Toyota dealership and they wont't replace it though because the program expired a couple of months ago. This is an expensive and life-threatening part. The defect comes from the manufacturing facility, not from usage, so Toyota should be responsible for it.
The contact owns a 2014 Toyota Prius V. The contact stated that the vehicle was previously involved in two car crashes, where the vehicle rear-ended other vehicles due to the brakes failure. The air bags did not deploy. A police report was filed after the second crash, but the information was not available. The contact stated that the other driver sustained unknown injuries during the second crash. The vehicle sustained damages and was repaired. There was no further information provided. Additionally, the contact stated while driving at various speeds and depressing the brake pedal, the brakes made an abnormal sound and the brake pedal was spongy. The contact stated that the vehicle hesitated to respond. The ABS warning light and several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the brake booster had failed and needed to be replaced. The dealer informed the contact that it was a known failure; however, the repair could not be covered because the vehicle had a salvage title. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and a case was opened. The failure mileage was approximately 120,000.
My 2012 prius v started showing the warning lights for brakes, ABS, anti-skid and engine lights. This happened while driving on a regular road. Brakes still work but feel spongy. Scanned for codes and it says c1391 which requires replacing all the main brake components. The cost is over $3000 because so many parts involved. There's seems to have been a recall for other models of prius but the 'v' not included. Many v owners have experienced this problem. All the parts shown in the attached picture need to be replace cause toyota doesn't know or can't figure out where the problem is. Car only has 68,000 miles on it
Related recalls
No recalls on record for this model year.
Questions about the Toyota Prius V spongy pedal
Which Toyota Prius V years have soft or spongy brake pedal problems?
The model years with the most reports are 2013 (5 complaints), 2014 (4 complaints) and 2012 (1 complaints).
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