2013 Toyota Prius: sudden loss of power

Filed Oct 6, 2026 · Brakes · VA

While driving, my brake pedal would randomly lose power assist. The pedal would get hard and I couldn't press it down normally, and I had to push as hard as I could just to get the car to slow down. This happened more than once while driving and I almost crashed because I couldn't stop the car in time. A scan later showed codes C1252 (brake booster pump motor on-time abnormally long), C1253 (pump motor relay fault), and C1256 (accumulator pressure low), pointing to a failure in the brake booster pump/accumulator system. A repair shop confirmed this and said the brake booster assembly with master cylinder and the brake booster pump assembly with accumulator both needed to be replaced. I also contacted Toyota and was told my car was previously covered under a Warranty Enhancement Program for this exact part, which has since expired meaning this is a known issue with this component. The part is available for inspection if needed.

Filed Jul 1, 2026 · Brakes · TX

I am filing a formal safety complaint regarding a catastrophic brake component failure on my 2013 Toyota Prius, occurring at less than 83,000 miles. The vehicle’s Brake Master Cylinder/Actuator Assembly has suffered an internal hydraulic pressure leak, causing the electric booster pump to run continuously to prevent a total loss of braking assist. This is a well-documented manufacturing defect that directly compromises passenger safety, drastically increases stopping distances, and threatens a complete loss of power assist while driving. Toyota explicitly acknowledged this inherent design flaw through its Customer Support Program (ZJB). However, they limited coverage to a strict 10-year expiration date from the first date of use. Because my vehicle has exceptionally low mileage and was driven gently, the component took longer to degrade, causing it to fail just outside Toyota's arbitrary time limit. Limiting safety coverage based on time rather than mileage penalizes owners of low-mileage vehicles for an engineered factory defect.

Filed Aug 5, 2024 · Brakes · GA

On August 3rd, 2024 my 2013 Toyota Prius lost power brakes at INTERSTATE SPEEDS. This put a number of lives, including my own, at risk. The computer program on the car appears to have been programmed to give operators a "death threat" by initiating a PROGRAMMED LOSS of power braking on the vehicle. There were a number of brake warning lights and an Audible Continuous beeping. When I moved over into the exit ramp from the interstate and applied my brakes this is when it was evident that power brakes were no longer available. I drove the car to a parking lot very close by and let it sit and checked my brake fluid but the brake fluid level was good. After this occurrence the power brakes returned to sufficient operation and have been in operation for approximately 2 days now with many display lights about brakes on the dash and the same audible beep is present. The brakes lights on the dash have been on since approximately November 2021 (2013 model car not even 10 years old of usage at that point). This is a safety risk that Toyota appears to have attempted to mitigate financial losses by having the customers that were not covered by their "customer care" program be the ones to pay exorbitantly high prices for the repair of this item in order to better balance and reduce their own financial loss for this mechanical problem. Toyota appears to have conscientiously reduced the number of cars that they offered to help repair financially under their customer care program. Their repair program went to 10 years since the date of first use or 150,000 miles, whichever comes first. It is unreasonable to expect that these cars will end their usage life at 150,000 miles and can be reasonably expected to be non-usable at that point. There are many vehicles that go past 150,000 miles of use and also past 10 years of use.

Filed Apr 5, 2024 · Electrical, Steering · 119,000 miles · VA

The contact owns a 2013 Toyota Prius. The contact stated that after several days of torrential rainfall, the contact noticed there was water in the tire and 12-volt battery compartment. After having a routine oil change at an independent mechanic, while the contact was driving, the vehicle lost power steering functionality. The power steering warning light illuminated after the failure. The driver was able to restart the vehicle and pull over to the side of the road. The contact called Roadside Assistance and was informed that there was a code for the hybrid battery system that needed to be checked. The contact noticed that water might have entered through the rear passenger’s side brake light. The contact removed the water with a sump pump. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic who was unable to assist. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 119,000.

Filed Mar 11, 2024 · Brakes · GA

Power brake, electronic systems around braking, brake actuator and assembly. Gradual degradation of brake power and resistance resulting in complete loss of power brakes system. Vehicle's brake system no longer works as designed. Vehicle has been inspected by technician. No warning lights or lamps in advance of total brake system shut down.

Filed Nov 17, 2023 · Electrical · VA

Check hybrid system. Stop the vehicle in a safe place. About 90,000 miles 2013 Prius bought brand new and regular all dealer maintenance completed. Lost power on the road and very slow pickup. Not drivable and very unsafe car. Thanks.

Filed Aug 14, 2023 · Brakes · FL

Back in May 2022, my Toyota Prius experienced issues with the braking system. I lost braking power while driving, the brake experienced a loss of power and felt very squishy to press. I had my car towed to a nearby auto shop who examined the vehicle but could not resolve the issue and recommended I take the car to Toyota. This third party auto shop reset the computer diagnostic system and cleared the error codes. When I towed the car to Toyota, the braking issue had miraculously resolved - but without the active error codes - Toyota refused to make the extended warranty repairs to the braking system that are a widespread and known issue. I continued driving the car without issue until 8/13/23 where the brake lights went on while driving and the same squishy brake issue occurred again. Toyota looked into it and determined it was related to the extended warranty braking issue, but my cars extended warranty ended on 6/29/23 - just over 6 weeks ago. Toyota refused to honor the extended warranty even though the issue first occurred in May 2022. They estimated the repair would cost $3000. I would like to have Toyota honor their agreement to extend the warranties of this braking issue.

Filed Aug 18, 2022 · Brakes · NM

I had taken the Prius in to my local Toyota dealer to get the brakes flushed and bled due to thinking there was air in the brake system. I thought this because I had noticed over the past few months that the brake actuator was pressurizing at a slowly increasing rate, which I had assumed meant there was air present. I had taken the Prius in to Toyota for multiple oil changes and was never informed of any stored ABS codes or even of the Technical Service Bulletin for the actuator and master cylinder malfunctioning in Prius’ of the same years. Had I had known about the TSB, or informed of the abnormal behavior of the brakes being more than just air in the system, the repairs would have been performed free of charge under the TSB guidelines. The Prius is now out of the mileage requirements of the TSB as I use my care for work but have been experiencing this since before the mileage was over the TSB limit. After the brake flush and bleed was performed, the ABS light, BRAKE light and traction control light all illuminated and I had lost power brakes while driving. I managed to park safely due to the roads not being busy and checked the brake fluid reservoir. It was grossly overfilled. I took the car back to Toyota thinking this was the issue. When the technician received the vehicle, the lights had gone but the code for the master cylinder malfunctioning was stored. The Service Assistant informed me there was a TSB for this exact issue and was the actual cause for the actuator behavior I had been experiencing. They completed another flush and bleed and sent me on my way. He told me if the lights come back on, to bring it back to carry out the $3300 repair. The problem is, I heavily rely on my vehicle for work and if the lights come on, I experience complete loss of power brakes and might not be lucky enough to be on an empty road. This is a massive safety concern for my family and me. I am appalled that this was the conclusion I was left with.

Filed Feb 21, 2020 · 1 miles · CA

Recurring "check hybrid system" issue = jov software update failedthis is my 2nd complaint (11298645)re. The non-safety of my prius. Dec 2019, the jov software update failed. I was lucky to be driving in a parking lot as otherwise I wouldn't be here writing to you. My car stopped working entirely & abruptly. I drove it only for 1.2 miles that day. It didn't go into a fail-safe driving mode & didn't go into neutral either. They're 3 witnesses. It got towed to toyota hollywood who accused the car's power loss on the regular battery. The bad overheated inverter caused it & drained the battery surely. Toyota's executive office send out a fts inspection who drove the car also to recreate the dtc code w/ tests & thereafter said it's safe to drive. False assessment. The hybrid warning msg appears again on january 16. I drove it only for 1.6 mi that day. I started my car, the warning msg remained on display until I drove it home for 1.6mi going 15mi/hr. The public knows: "the inverters have been overheating, causing the software that controls the vehicles to shut down the power or put the vehicle into what is known as a limp-home mode that is supposed to allow drivers to get to the side of the road safely." now, toyota culver city has my car since jan 18; they could only see a "low voltage battery" issue & aren't sure. ?toyota has found that in rare situations, the vehicle may not enter a fail-safe driving mode as intended,? The statement said. ?if this occurs, the vehicle could lose power and stall. While power steering and braking would remain operational, a vehicle stall while driving at higher speeds could increase the risk of a crash." what will it take for the largest auto manufactures in the world to replace my inverter? A crash. I hope not. Thank you for assuring safeness on the road. Sincerely, [xxx] redacted to protect personally identifiable information pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6). *cc

Filed Nov 2, 2018 · CA

My vehicle may not enter a failsafe driving mode as intended. Vehicle could lose power and stall on a freeway where higher speed will take place. This is dangerous and may cause a fatality. I am concern about there not being a remedy as of october of this year.

Filed Aug 8, 2018 · Transmission · 70,000 miles · CA

Vehicle loss power while driving residential roads

Filed Jul 17, 2018 · Transmission · 40 miles · CA

After driving for approximate 40 miles on freeay I was at a stop light and when accelerating I heard a popping sound and vehicle lost power. Would not acclelerate and the hybrid/ABS and check engine lights came on,luckly this happen on a stret and not on the highway. I pulled over and had vehicle towed to toyota dealer. They found that the ipm resistor for the inverter had failed. Dealer replaced ipm and inverter.