TSB: Replacement certification labels (the vinyl label installed on the driver door or door post) and VIN plates (the metal plate riveted to dashboard) (see Figure 1) for most 1979 ? 2023 model year vehicles may be available provided the requests meet the criteria listed in this Service Bulletin. Follow the Procurement Procedure in this bulletin to request a replacement certification label or VIN plate.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2014 Toyota Prius cruise control problems
severe Owners of the 2014 Toyota Prius have filed 12 NHTSA complaints about the cruise control at roughly $600 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of August 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See cruise control across all vehicles →
Complaints
12
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$600
| Model year | cruise control complaints |
|---|---|
| 2010 Prius | 216 |
| 2011 Prius | 21 |
| 2012 Prius | 20 |
| 2013 Prius | 16 |
| 2014 Prius (this page) | 12 |
| 2016 Prius | 11 |
| 2017 Prius | 9 |
5crashes
5injuries
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering cruise control 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.
Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners report three distinct failure patterns. First, brake booster pump assembly failure during low-speed driving—parking lot entries, slow turns, pulling into driveways—where depressing the brake pedal produces no stopping power and the car accelerates instead. One owner heard a chirping sound from brakes seconds before loss of control and impact with parking posts; another's car accelerated hard enough to ram an SUV through a fence despite brake application. Diagnostic codes C1391, C1256, C1253, C1252, and U0293 appear in conjunction with this failure. One dealership diagnosis specified "abnormal leak in accumulator" requiring brake booster assembly and pump replacement.
Second, a single report of engine stall and accelerator non-responsiveness during undulating road surface (dips and slight turns) at low speed, requiring hard braking; the engine re-engaged normally and the issue never recurred.
Third, traction control system activation in slippery conditions (snow/ice) cuts engine power completely, leaving the accelerator unresponsive and the vehicle sliding uncontrollably. One owner could not disable traction control despite the dangerous loss of power on an ice-covered highway.
Owners emphasize that Toyota denies vehicle fault, provides no explanation for failures, and covers only post-failure repairs under warranty enhancement ZJB rather than issuing a preventative safety recall despite identical failure modes matching existing recall campaigns.
Same Toyota Prius cruise control reports on nearby years: 2011 · 2012 · 2013 · 2016
Failure modes owners describe
Brake booster pump assembly failure causing unintended acceleration
Brake booster pump fails, causing brake pedal to become unresponsive and vehicle to accelerate instead of slowing. Multiple owners report depressing brake pedal but car accelerating, sometimes with accompanying electrical codes indicating accumulator leaks and system faults.
When: Various—one at 11,687 miles; incidents reported during low-speed maneuvering (parking, slow-speed turns, pulling into driveways), some after vehicle parked in hot/humid weather for days.
Symptoms owners cite: Brake pedal depressed but vehicle accelerates; Vehicle continues or increases speed despite brake application; Brake pedal goes to floor with no stopping power; Chirping sound from brakes prior to failure; Traction control light illuminated; Brake light illuminated; Dashboard lights illuminate at moment of failure
Codes mentioned: C1391, C1256, C1253, C1252, U0293
Repairs/costs cited: Toyota Paris dealership diagnosed and replaced brake booster assembly with master cylinder and brake booster pump assembly per TSB for C1391.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Warranty enhancement ZJB (post-failure reimbursement only); excluded from safety recalls D0H and K0L despite identical failure mode; Toyota investigation concluded no fault; no preventative recall issued.
Engine stall and non-responsive accelerator during road undulation
Engine briefly stalls and accelerator becomes non-responsive while driving on undulating road surface (dips and slight turns), requiring hard braking to force stop; motor re-engages normally after stall.
When: Single incident at unknown mileage; occurred once over 3+ years of vehicle operation by different driver with no recurrence reported.
Symptoms owners cite: Engine stalls briefly (approx. 1 second); Accelerator non-responsive during stall; Requires hard brake application to stop; Engine re-engages after stall
Traction control system failure—inability to disable during slippery conditions
Traction control function cannot be turned off during slippery conditions (snow/ice), causing engine to cut power completely when wheels slip, leaving vehicle unresponsive to accelerator input. Vehicle slides uncontrollably despite driver input.
When: Winter conditions on ice-covered highways; low-speed snow-related slide.
Symptoms owners cite: Traction control light illuminated and beeping; Complete loss of engine power when traction control activates; Unresponsiveness to accelerator input; Vehicle slides uncontrollably despite driver attempts to correct; No ability to disable traction control function
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Owners note that newer vehicles allow traction control to be disabled; no recall or TSB cited.
Synthesized from 12 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 0 most recent
Had cruise control 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 cruise control problem on the 2014 Toyota Prius?
It's a meaningful issue. 12 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $600.
At what mileage does the cruise control typically fail?
Based on the 12 complaints filed, cruise control issues most often appear around 45,727 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $600 for cruise control 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 cruise control?
No active recalls currently cover cruise control 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.