MY CAR'S BRAKE ACTUATOR FAILED WHILE I WAS ON HIGHWAY. GLADLY NOTHING DANGEROUS HAPPENED BUT I AM CONCERNED OTHERS WILL FACE THE SIMILAR SITUATION WITH WORST SCENARIO. TOYOTA TOLD ME THE WARRANTY EXPIRED AND QUOTED ME $2600. PLEASE ASK TOYOTA TO EXTEND THE WARRANTY.
2009 Toyota Prius brakes problems
critical 174 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $450
Complaints
174
Recalls
0
Crashes
20
Avg fix
$450
What owners are reporting 4 most recent
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND FAILED TO RESPOND. IN ADDITION, THE BRAKE, THE VSC, AND THE ABS WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,500.
ON DEC 11, 2009, I WAS DRIVING DOWN A STREET IN CAMBRIDGE, MA (I HAD A COWORKER IN THE CAR) AND WE WERE IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC AT A STOP LIGHT. THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME CRAWLED UP TO APPROACH THE LIGHT AFTER SEVERAL CARS HAD GONE THROUGH-THEN STOPPED @ THE RED LIGHT. I PROCEEDED TO DO THE SAME. WHEN I APPLIED MY BRAKES TO STOP THERE WAS NO RESPONSE, SO I PRESSED DOWN HARDER-STILL NO RESPONSE. I THEN…
BRAKE WARNING LIGHT WENT ON THE DASH. BROUGHT THE CAR IN AND DEALERSHIP SAID IT WAS A BAD BRAKE ACTUATOR. SAID IT WOULD COST ALMOST $3000 TO REPAIR AND SAID THAT THERE WAS A EXTENDED WARRANTY ON THE PART THAT EXPIRED. IF NOTHING SCREAMS OF A RECALL AS A PROBLEM WITH BRAKES, I DON' KNOW WHAT WOULD.
Common questions
How serious is the brakes problem on the 2009 Toyota Prius?
It's a serious issue. 174 complaints have been filed, including 20 reports involving a crash and 1 fatality(ies). We've classified it as critical based on NHTSA's reported outcomes.
At what mileage does the brakes typically fail?
Mileage data is limited for this issue. Owners report failures across a wide range, suggesting cause is more about driving conditions and maintenance than mileage alone.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $450 for brakes repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to brakes?
No active recalls currently cover brakes issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Other problem areas on this vehicle
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities.
Repair cost estimates are independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area.
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