2006 Toyota Prius: ABS light or ABS activating

Filed Jan 2, 2025 · Brakes, Electrical · DE

The following describes a near total failure of the brake system that accompanies and is triggered by routine aging of the battery. I believe this applies to multiple model years and editions of the Prius, based on reports by other owners on owners' discussion groups. I believe this should have the highest severity level. Here is what happens: An alarm is sounded, several warning lights ABS, VCS appear, and soon after that, the front brakes stop working. The rear brakes then prove ineffective and lock up. The happens with high frequency under any of the following conditions: (a) as the battery approaches 3yrs age, (b) it is excessively cold outside. (c) there is a higher than typical load on the 12V system from any of a variety of reasons. After installing a fresh new 12V battery, the above happens with much less frequency. There no warning on the dashboard to indicate that the condition of the 12V battery is not safe for operation of the vehicle. It seems clear that the route cause is that the brake control unit is configured within inadequate tolerance for the normal aging of the 12V battery, compounded by the absence of warning on the dash. This probably traces back to a poorly chosen LDO voltage regulator in the design of the brake control unit. Recommendation: Review the electrical designs for the brake control unit, all model years, replace as needed and update the dash board computer to provide warning when the battery condition is not sufficient for safe operation of the vehicle. I further recommend that this be done with all due haste, as the condition is quite dangerous. Qualifications: PhD Chemical Physics and Electrical Engineer

Filed Jan 14, 2024 · Brakes · TX

The ABS Sensor on the brakes failed while driving on the highway. This could have caused an accident. These modules should last the lifetime of the car.

Filed Jun 3, 2023 · Brakes · 170,000 miles · CA

my 2006 prius has 170000 miles, recently has abs brake actuator making sounds everytime when turn off.

Filed May 29, 2022 · Brakes, Driver assistance · FL

The abs actuator is bad. Cant stop nor use the rechargeable braking. Very dangerous.

Filed May 16, 2022 · Brakes · PR

Power braking goes out and ringing in car with brakes and abs light on. Have to press extra hard to brake car. Also anther time coming out of a parking lot in reverse and brakes just stopped car as if I had hit something but had not hit anything.

Filed Apr 20, 2022 · Brakes · 243,000 miles · MA

The contact owns a 2006 Toyota Prius. The contact stated while getting into the vehicle, there was a loud buzzing sound coming from the brakes. The contact stated that the brake, anti-slip regulation, ABS, and vehicle stability control warning lights were illuminated on the instrument panel. The contact stated that the brake was inoperable. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and diagnosed with an accumulator failure. The part was replaced; however, the failure recurred consistently. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 243,000.

Filed Oct 1, 2021 · Brakes · FL

In June of 2018 My brake actuator failed on my 2006 Prius. At that time I had 169,689 miles on the vehicle. I had the part replaced at Autonation, a Toyota dealership for $2626 . Recently I had noticed that while sitting at a stoplight I was hearing a tapping noise at the brakes along with what they refer to as a 'seal bark'. The same sounds the car was making just before the actuator failed three years before. A few days later I was driving south on highway 19 in Saint Petersburg during a light rainstorm. Traffic slowed quickly in front of me. I pressed on the brake pedal and the brakes locked up. The ABS was not working. I was barely able to avoid a crash. On September 27th I took the car to the same Toyota dealership that had replaced the actuator three years earlier. I told them about the noises at the brakes and told them these were the same sounds the car was making when the actuator failed the first time. They checked it out and told me that everything was working fine and that the car was not issuing any error codes. They could hear the same noises that I could, but said that I would need to continue to drive the car until the actuator failed to the point that it lit up dash lights or issued error codes. I logged on to PriusChat to search for what other people were seeing. I am not alone in this. Many others have had the same experience with the dealerships saying 'drive it till it fails'. Drive it until you lose your brakes? If I'm in this situation, then how many other Prius owners are driving around with dangerous brakes. I have no choice but to wait until the failure gets worse. If you search results on PriusChat for 'actuator', I think you will see that this probably means that there are thousands of cars just like mine out there on the roads. I got 169,689 miles out of the first actuator and just 22,000 out of the second one. Based on what I've seen on PriusChat, the new part seems to be worse than the original part.

Filed Feb 29, 2020 · Brakes · 163,000 miles · TX

Abs warning light are now on. Feel car is losing break capability. No accident but do not feel confident with the brake capacity. Today I took the car to the dealer and they stated that the ABS actuator assembly (code c1391) need to be replace. Looking in the internet and it looks a very common defect for prius. This is a prius 2006 with 163.000 miles. Toyota know about this, extended warranty, but I am out out this extension. But this system should property work for the life of the car.

Filed Sep 23, 2019 · Brakes · 280,000 miles · NY · crash

While I was driving on the highway cruising at highway speed I suddenly received a loud continuous beep and my ABS , brake , and (!) illuminated. I attempted to stop and I had no brakes except when the pedal was all the way to the floor it felt as is it was just pulling the rear drums. It took a while to stop and I side swiped the median barrier to avoid a collision with the vehicle in front of me as traffic was building. I assume it was the brake actuator that there was an extended warranty for almost a decade later but no recall. For something so dangerous I can't imagine how that isn't a recall.

Filed Aug 12, 2019 · Brakes · 192,000 miles · FL

Abs actuator failure. There was a recall that was good until 2017 and 150k miles. My vehicle has 192k miles. I was backing out of my driveway and the three ABS ligths came on and my brakes failed. I scanned the computer using an obd and it indicated failure.

Filed Jun 13, 2019 · Brakes · GA

When driving my 2006 prius I am unable to stop properly. The brakes go all the way down but it hesitates to stop I get a loud peeping and the ABS lights are coming on. I almost hit another car while driving and the brakes are good. I was told that there was a warranty on this vehicle that deals with the ABS system. The warranty has expired and toyota is price gauging to fix it, can someone look into this because it is a safety concern and toyota knows about this issue but wont work with people to fix it?

Filed May 3, 2019 · Engine · 232,000 miles · GA

Tl* the contact owns a 2006 toyota prius. While driving, a whistling noise was heard coming from the engine. In addition, the check engine, ABS reqd, air bag, and brake warning indicators illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer or an independent mechanic for diagnostic testing. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 232,000.