TT: Some Toyota vehicles installed with Toyota Complete Maintenance Care (TCMC) brake pads may exhibit a groan or squeak noise in various driving conditions
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2014 Toyota Prius brakes problems
severe 80 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $450 · see brakes across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
80
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$450
7crashes
1injury
When does it fail?
Of the 80 brakes complaints filed for the 2014 Toyota Prius, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 0-25,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
Brakes accounts for 35% of every owner complaint on file for this vehicle — the dominant problem area across 10 categories tracked.
Owners have filed 80 brakes complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering brakes on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
TT: Some Toyota vehicles installed with Toyota Complete Maintenance Care (TCMC) brake pads may exhibit a groan or squeak noise in various driving conditions.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗TT: Some Toyota vehicles installed with Toyota Complete Maintenance Care (TCMC) brake pads may exhibit a groan or squeak noise in various driving conditions.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗TT: Some Toyota vehicles installed with Toyota Complete Maintenance Care (TCMC) brake pads may exhibit a groan or squeak noise in various driving conditions.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Dealer Package: Toyota has received reports about certain internal malfunctions of the brake booster assemblies in some of the subject vehicles. Although the brake booster and brake booster pump assemblies are covered by Toyota?s New Vehicle Limited Warranty for 3 years or 36,000 miles (whichever comes first), Toyota is now offering a voluntary Customer Support Program that applies to certain internal malfunctions of the brake booster assemblies. The following information is provided to inform you and your staff of the program notification schedule and your degree of involvement.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners describe sudden loss of braking assist while driving, accompanied by illuminated ABS, brake, traction control, and VSC warning lights—sometimes with dashboard beeping. The failure pattern is consistent: brake pedal becomes soft, spongy, or unresponsive; stopping distance increases sharply; and in worst cases, brakes fail completely. Owners report the problem often emerges with preliminary warnings: a whirring or clicking noise from the brake booster (sometimes every 5–30 seconds, often during cold weather), dash lights flickering, or brief loss of control over bumps. Code C1391 (abnormal leak in accumulator) appears across multiple complaints. Some owners describe this noise for months or years before catastrophic failure, while mechanics told them the system was safe until full failure occurred.
Toyota issued a Customer Support Program (ZJB/21TE01/23TE07) covering brake booster and pump assembly replacement for 10 years or 150,000 miles—whichever came first. Many owners fall just outside the deadline: one at 102k miles but 2 months over 10 years; another at 165k miles; another at 162k miles; one at 170k miles. Others missed the recall window entirely or never received notification of the program. Dealership repair quotes range from $2,375 to $5,500. A technical service bulletin (TSB T-SB-0043-13) acknowledges the defect. Toyota declined coverage for most out-of-warranty claims despite acknowledging the known defect, and one complaint alleged dealership instructions forbid informing customers of the support program.
Same Toyota Prius brakes reports on nearby years: 2011 · 2012 · 2013 · 2015 · 2016
Failure modes owners describe
Brake booster/accumulator pressure loss
Internal leak in the brake accumulator causes loss of hydraulic pressure and progressive failure of power-assist braking. The electric pump cycles frequently (every 5–30 seconds) attempting to maintain pressure.
When: Typically occurs between 79k and 170k miles; often 10–15 years after manufacture. Many fail suddenly after preliminary noise warnings lasting months.
Symptoms owners cite: Whirring, buzzing, or clicking sound from brake booster (often every 5–30 seconds, especially when parked or at cold start); Brake warning light, ABS light, and traction control light illuminate simultaneously; Brake pedal becomes soft, spongy, or hard to depress; Increased stopping distance; brakes require pedal pressed to floor to engage; Loss of power-assist braking; vehicle continues at speed when brakes applied; Dashboard beeping or warning chimes; Brief loss of control or slip sensation when hitting bumps or railroad tracks (before full failure); Parking brake light or VSC light may illuminate
Codes mentioned: C1391 (abnormal leak in accumulator), C1241 (low or high power supply voltage), C1252, C1256, C1253 (variants noted in support program)
Repairs/costs cited: Brake booster pump assembly, accumulator, master cylinder, and brake booster actuator replacement. Repair costs quoted by dealers: $2,375–$5,500. One owner cited 8.9 hours labor charged vs. 5.3 hours per Toyota technical bulletin.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Toyota Customer Support Program ZJB/21TE01/23TE07 (issued circa 2018–2021) covers replacement at no cost for 10 years or 150,000 miles from original purchase date, whichever comes first. Technical Service Bulletin TSB T-SB-0043-13 documents the defect. Extended warranty offered on some pre-owned units in 2019. Program is now expired for most vehicles; Toyota declined goodwill coverage or extended consideration for owners who fell outside the window by months or who did not receive notification. One complaint alleged dealership instructions (bulletin 'ZJB') forbade service writers from informing customers of the program.
Brake system intermittent failure or unresponsive pedal
Brake pedal loses responsiveness or brakes fail without stored diagnostic codes, making detection difficult before catastrophic failure. Issue may be intermittent, occurring under specific conditions.
When: Can occur at any mileage; one case reported at 92,802 miles. Intermittent failures reported in wet conditions or during specific driving patterns.
Symptoms owners cite: Brake pedal depresses to floor without resistance; No OBD2 codes logged at auto parts stores despite symptoms; Brakes work on one occasion but fail shortly after; Intermittent loss of braking on highways or in stop-and-go traffic; Vehicle requires excessive pedal pressure or longer stopping distance
Codes mentioned: C1202 (noted in one case but did not qualify for support program coverage)
Repairs/costs cited: Brake master cylinder, booster, and brake lines may require replacement. One owner paid $2,087 for brake booster replacement with diagnostic code C1202; similar cases with C1391 were covered under program but this code was not.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No specific program identified for non-C1391 codes. Toyota referred one owner to NHTSA for assistance.
Synthesized from 80 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 5 most recent
the brakes have not failed yet, but there is a known issue with the brake booster on my model year. I would like to have the government force Toyota to guarantee the brakes for a longer period of time. currently Toyota has extended the warranty out 10 years / 150k miles from date of first use. Since these cars last so long, this should be 20 years / 300k miles from date of first use.
The ABS and traction control system in my 2014 Toyota Prius 4 are not functioning. They ABS light an the traction control lights are both on. I work in the automotive industry and I used a code reader to pull the codes and got a C1391 which is a brake booster and brake booster pump. That means either the brake booster has failed or the master cylinder is leaking. I contacted Gosche Toyota in…
While I was doing a slow turn in a driveway, my brake failed and the car continued to accelerate in a forward motion. When I shifted into reverse, the car revved and roared accelerating at full tilt. It raced across a road into another driveway only stopping when wedged between a garage door and a tree. Toyota took the totaled car and had it inspected by engineering associates and insurance…
Apparently there is a known defect on the brake actuator/master cylinder/booster on the 2014 Prius that would have been addressed if the car had been driven for less than 10 years or 150,000 miles. We purchased our car in April 2014 and the part just failed yesterday at only 126,000 miles. We understand that there is a pending class action suit (or perhaps one that was settled) but do not know…
In nov 22 2017 I parked my car at 1719 brader pl. South in seattle, washington in a city street. Approximately at 1500 pm, I puled the car from the street parking I-order to pick a passenger about 4 feet and the car accelerated by itself toward right into the building complex on right and flipped on the side of the driver side. The car was on drive but I was trying to stop to pick up a…
Had brakes trouble with your 2014 Toyota Prius?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the brakes problem on the 2014 Toyota Prius?
It's a meaningful issue. 80 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $450.
At what mileage does the brakes typically fail?
Across the 18 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most brakes failures cluster between 21,000 and 116,000 miles, with the median around 82,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 21,000; a quarter make it past 116,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
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.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2014/Toyota/Prius.
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. Some links on this page are affiliate links.