Dashboard Warning Lights: ABS, VSC, Parking Brake Light, Triangle with Exclamation Point, Codes: C1256 & C1391, Intermittent Audible Cabin Buzzing indicating critical pressure loss on start-up for about 10 seconds...then stops, not loss so much as anti-braking quick bursts at about 5 mph of stopping v slowly and seamlessly coming to a stop. I contacted Toyota Corporate Case Management; they refused to escalate or remediate the issue due to vehicle mileage, despite being notified of the active brake pressure leak codes and the audible safety alarm.
2009 Toyota Prius brakes problems
199 complaints (40% of all complaints for this car). Typical mileage when it fails: 15,215. 27 crashes reported.
- owner complaints
- 199
- of this car's complaints
- 40%
- typical mileage
- 15,215
- crashes
- 27
- recalls
- 0
Which part fails
- Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip: control unit/module11
- Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip7
- Antilock: ABS warning light1
At what mileage
Complaints by mileage at the time of the problem.
0k-25k
25k-50k
50k-75k
75k-100k
100k-125k
125k-150k
150k-175k
175k-200k
200k+
Toyota Prius brakes problems in other years
Specific symptoms reported on the 2009 Toyota Prius brakes
Phrases found in the owners' own descriptions, so one complaint can mention several symptoms.
Related recalls
No recalls on record for this model year.
What 2009 Toyota Prius owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
I own 2 2009 Toyota Prius. Both cars less than 175,000 miles and both have failed ABS modules. The ABS module in this vehicle is also the power brake booster. This failure can cause braking issues such as loss of braking or sudden brake application. Only known fix is replacement of the ABS brake module which requires the Toyota Techstream service computer.
Brake actuator is broken. Toyota knew about this problem and they had a warranty for 10 years or 150k miles. Mine only has 80k miles. The repair is half of what the car is worth. I thought a Toyota with such low miles would be dependable. Toyota knew that people have died from this problem with their car. I need this car to get to work and get my kids to school. It’s older than 10 years so I am just screwed on something they knew was broken. Of course the sales person at the Toyota dealership did not tell us about it when he sold us the car
The contact owns a 2009 Toyota Prius. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the brake pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to stop as intended. The contact stated that the ABS warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was driven to the residence. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The dealer was made aware of the failure. The contact was informed that the extended warranty had expired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, and a case was filed. The contact was informed that the extended warranty had expired. The failure mileage was approximately 174,000.
The brake actuator is failing. It’s making unusual noises when stepping on the brakes. A new additional noise started in the last month which is the pump connected to the brake actuator. The technician told me the brakes are about to fail. Toyota used to cover this issue but stopped a few years ago. It’s a $3,000.00 job at the dealer.
The contact owns a 2009 Toyota Prius. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, extra effort was needed to stop the vehicle while depressing the brake pedal. In addition, the contact stated that the instrument panel intermittently went blank and failed to operate as needed. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where the contact was informed that the ABS and the instrument cluster needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 157,000.
In the 2009 Toyota Series II vehicle there are two parts for the brake actuator pump assembly which has been cycling about every 20 seconds for the past six months or more. There is an intermittent tone when depressing the brake pedal before starting the car (engine off). The Brake dash warning light is on continuously. Occasional loss of brake power in reverse causing the driver to re-apply the brakes to stop unwanted motion of the vehicle.
My dashboard brake, tire pressure, vsc and AB’s light came on while driving
Failed brake actuator. Toyota knows about the issue and refuses to honor any reasonable repair. Braking at any speed the car ferociously pulls to the left, throwing you into another lane or on coming traffic.
The engine light went on while driving on the highway. We immediately pulled over and had the vehicle towed to the nearest dealership. The dealership informed us that both the Brake Actuator (Toyota part TO44500-47141) and water pump (Toyota par TOG9020-47031) had failed. The car was no longer save to drive.
Questions about the 2009 Toyota Prius brakes
Does the 2009 Toyota Prius have brakes problems?
Owners have filed 199 complaints about the brakes of the 2009 Toyota Prius, 40% of all its complaints, more than any other problem.
At what mileage do 2009 Toyota Prius brakes problems start?
The typical (median) mileage in owner complaints is 15,215 miles.
Was there a recall on the 2009 Toyota Prius brakes?
There is no recall for this problem on this model year.
What year does the Toyota Prius have bad brakes?
The Toyota Prius model years with the most brakes complaints are 2010 (1,945 complaints), 2008 (391 complaints) and 2007 (331 complaints).
Other 2009 Toyota Prius problems
Lights 111Acceleration 71Electrical 60Driver assistance 32Engine 26Fuel system 24Transmission 22Body 19Airbags 17Steering 13Suspension 5Seats 2Visibility 2Seat belts 1Tires 1Wheels 1
VIN decoder
See the problems and recalls for an exact car
Buying a used 2009 Toyota Prius?
Check the exact car before you pay: accidents, salvage or flood titles, odometer readings and previous owners.
Check its history