Vehicle has clicking noise when we push the break paddle. This is the second vehicle that I got from Toyota which has the same problem. The company kept the first vehicle and then give me this one after the trade in.
2016 Toyota Prius brakes problems
severe 11 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $450 · see brakes across all vehicles →
Complaints
11
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$450
2injuries
What stands out
No new NHTSA brakes complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 6 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
The failure pattern owners describe
Buyer takeaway: The 2016 Prius brake system shows a pattern of unwanted ABS activation, brake pressure loss, pedal control issues, and delayed recall service. Get a pre-purchase diagnostic focused on the brake actuator, ABS behavior under light braking, and parking brake holding power—especially on slopes.
Owners report multiple distinct brake failures on the 2016 Prius. The most dramatic issue is unintended ABS activation: one owner experienced six episodes in a year where gentle braking triggered violent full-emergency stopping—dropping from 25 mph to 12 mph in less than half a second, throwing occupants forward with whiplash and seatbelt strain. The dash lit red, audio alarms sounded, and Toyota initially denied the problem despite video evidence.
Other owners describe brake pedal sinking unexpectedly during hard braking on pothole-filled roads, causing jerking and creaking from the rear brakes. One vehicle lost brake pressure entirely—brakes felt soft and spongy—about 50 miles after a pothole strike, nearly causing a rear-end collision; the shop found no leaks or low fluid. Brake actuator replacement failed to fix jerking during reversal in another case.
Some owners report the parking brake doesn't hold on slopes, with the car rolling backward while the parking pawl takes the load instead. ABS lockup occurs with even light pedal pressure, causing skidding. One owner reports clicking when pressing the brake. Lastly, two owners note emergency brake recall 16V741000 was either not performed timely or delayed until January 2018 by dealers.
Same Toyota Prius brakes reports on nearby years: 2013 · 2014 · 2015
Failure modes owners describe
Unintended ABS activation / emergency braking
ABS engages abruptly and violently during normal braking or light brake application, causing rapid deceleration (25 mph to 12 mph in less than half a second), jerking, whiplash, and seatbelt tightening. Occurs repeatedly—owner reported 6 episodes over one year. No warning that ABS should trigger; light traffic conditions.
When: First reported February 2018; prior history documented November 2017; 6 instances in preceding 12 months
Symptoms owners cite: Sudden full ABS emergency braking without driver intent; Red BRAKE warning light on dash; Loud pulsating audio noise from speakers; Violent lurch and whiplash; Seatbelt engagement causing shoulder pain
Repairs/costs cited: Owner documented problem with dealer Thousand Oaks Toyota and Toyota National; Toyota claimed issue never occurred; owner installed video cameras to capture incidents
Brake pedal sudden over-depression and creaking / squealing on bumpy roads
When driving over potholes, brake pedal suddenly sinks further down than intended after initial press, causing jerking and car seeming to stall. Also produces creaking and squealing noises from rear brakes. Occurred on three separate occasions on the same rough, pothole-filled road.
When: October–November 2016; occurred over potholes on Salt Lake Blvd. and Kamehameha Highway
Symptoms owners cite: Brake pedal suddenly depresses further than expected; Car jerks and appears to stall; Creaking and squealing sounds from rear brakes; Occurs when vehicle hits potholes
Parking brake ineffective / vehicle rollback on slopes
Foot parking brake does not hold vehicle on slope (driveway); car rolls back significantly after parking brake engaged and engine shut off. Rear brakes produce loud grinding and creaky noises as car settles. When starting car and disengaging parking brake, car jerks abruptly with loud disengagement sound, suggesting parking pawl is holding vehicle instead of parking brake.
When: Ongoing issue when parked on slope
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle rolls back on inclined driveway despite parking brake engaged; Loud grinding and creaking from rear brakes; Abrupt jerking when disengaging parking brake; Loud 'stuck' disengagement sound; Parking pawl appears to be primary load-holder instead of parking brake
Brake jerking during reversal and brake actuator failure
Vehicle jerks abruptly when braking during reverse at low speed. Brake actuator diagnosed as faulty and replaced, but same jerking failure recurred after repair. No warning indicators lit before failure.
When: Approximately 17,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Abrupt jerking while braking in reverse; Loss of smooth deceleration
Repairs/costs cited: Brake actuator replaced at City Toyota (255 San Pedro Rd, Daly City, CA 94014); failure recurred after repair
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer notified; dealer advised scheduling diagnostic appointment
Brake loss of pressure after pothole impact
Approximately 50 miles after driving over a pothole, brakes became soft and unresponsive. Driver had to press hard on pedal with minimal braking effect; nearly rear-ended vehicle ahead. Brake fluid level normal and no leaks found by shop inspection.
When: Incident occurred approximately 50 miles after pothole impact
Symptoms owners cite: Brakes suddenly feel soft and unresponsive; Requires hard pedal pressure with minimal stopping effect; Inadequate deceleration in traffic
Repairs/costs cited: Shop inspection found no brake fluid leaks and fluid level near maximum
Brake momentary release when wheel strikes road depression
Brakes feel like they momentarily release when right wheel strikes a 1 1/8-inch depression (water cover hatch) while gently applying brakes. Owner reports same condition replicable at that location and occurring elsewhere in town.
When: During gentle brake application when wheel encounters depression
Symptoms owners cite: Sensation of brakes momentarily releasing; Occurs with specific road hazard (water cover hatch depression)
ABS lock-up on moderate brake pressure and brake grab
Anti-lock brakes lock up excessively when pressed even gently or with moderate force, causing skidding. Brakes also grab abruptly when applied. Owner states this is new issue not experienced in previous two Prius models; dealer dismissed as normal.
When: Ongoing since purchase
Symptoms owners cite: ABS lock-up with light-to-moderate brake pressure; Brake grab when applied; Vehicle skids during braking
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer advised condition is normal
Clicking noise when brake pedal pressed
Clicking noise occurs when brake pedal depressed. Owner reports this is the second Toyota (including prior vehicle) with the identical problem; first vehicle was kept by company.
When: Ongoing since purchase
Symptoms owners cite: Clicking noise when brake pedal pressed
Recall 16V741000 not performed in timely manner
Emergency brake recall 16V741000 not performed on vehicle at time of complaint despite recall start date of 11/10 and vehicle purchase date of 11/17. Dealer Lee's Toyota did not complete recall work.
When: Vehicle purchased 11/17; recall began 11/10; not completed by complaint date
Symptoms owners cite: Recall not executed
Codes mentioned: 16V741000
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall 16V741000 (emergency brake)
Emergency brake recall repair delay
Dealer Toyota of Surprise informed owner that emergency brake recall repair cannot be completed until January 2018, leaving vehicle unrepaired for extended period.
When: Complaint timing suggests delay of at least several weeks prior to January 2018
Symptoms owners cite: Recall repair not scheduled promptly
Repairs/costs cited: Toyota of Surprise rescheduled repair to January 2018
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall repair delayed; rescheduled to January 2018
Synthesized from 11 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
Had brakes trouble with your 2016 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 2016 Toyota Prius?
It's a meaningful issue. 11 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $450.
At what mileage does the brakes typically fail?
Based on the 11 complaints filed, brakes issues most often appear around 16,040 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 $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/2016/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.