Problems · by component

2009 Toyota Prius service brakes, hydraulic problems

91 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2009 Toyota Prius cite service brakes, hydraulic, 18% of all 502 complaints for this model year.

Complaints
91
18% of all complaints
Crashes
11
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
4
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the service brakes, hydraulic

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“The contact owns a 2009 Toyota Prius. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the brake pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to stop as intended. The contact stated that the ABS warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was driven to the residence. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The dealer was made aware of the failure. The contact was informed that the extended warranty had expired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, and a case was filed. The contact was informed that the extended warranty had expired. The failure mileage was approximately 174,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 8, 2026Service brakes, hydraulicODI 11729947
“The contact owns a 2009 Toyota Prius. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, extra effort was needed to stop the vehicle while depressing the brake pedal. In addition, the contact stated that the instrument panel intermittently went blank and failed to operate as needed. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where the contact was informed that the ABS and the instrument cluster needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 157,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 14, 2025Service brakes, hydraulic, Electrical systemODI 11642706
“2009 TOYOTA PRIUS. CONSUMER WRITE REGARDS TO VEHICLE BRAKE PROBLEMS. CONSUMER ALSO SENT REVISED TOYOTA DOCUMENT. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE SAME BRAKING PROBLEM EXISTED FOR MODELS BEFORE AND AFTER THE 2010 MODELS. HOWEVER, ONLY THE 2010 MODELS WERE RECALLED.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 14, 2013Service brakes, hydraulicODI 10498801
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA PRIUS HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO BRAKE, THE TRACTION WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE BRAKE FAILED TO RESPOND WITH A REDUCTION IN ENGINE POWER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE ONLY LASTED FOR A MOMENT BEFORE RETURNING TO NORMAL FUNCTION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 67,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 8, 2011Service brakes, hydraulicODI 10439054
“ONE WEEK AFTER BEING AT THE DEALERSHIP FOR ITS ROUTINE OIL/VEHICLE CHECK-UP (55,000-60,000), MY RED BRAKE LIGHT, THE YELLOW WARNING SIGN AND THE ABS LIGHTS COME UP ON MY DASHBOARD. TOWED IT BACK TO DEALERSHIP SINCE THE BRAKES DIDN'T WORK. THEY FOUND I NEEDED TO CHANGE MY BRAKE ACTUATOR AND THE SOLENOID THAT IS STUCK. ACCORDING TO WHAT I'VE READ, THIS SHOULD NOT HAPPEN PERIOD PARAGRAPH BUT IF IT DOES IT WOULD BE ON A MUCH OLDER VEHICLE WITH A LOT MORE MILES WITH A STOP AND GO HISTORY. ACCORDING TO THE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE AT THE DEALERSHIP THIS IS A MALFUNCTION OF THE PART. WHEN I CALLED TOYOTA THEY GAVE ME THE GO AROUND ABOUT BEING OUT OF WARRANTY. I NEED HELP. ALSO THERE IS A REFLECTIVE LINE OF LIGHT THAT SHINES ON THE DRIVER SIDE OF THE WINDOW FROM MY DASHBOARD. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 12, 2011Service brakes, hydraulic, Exterior lightingODI 10435339
“MY 2009 TOYOTA PRIUS BRAKES ARE FAULTY. THE BRAKES DO NOT RESPOND PROPERLY, ESPECIALLY ON SLIPPERY ROADS AND ON A DECLINE. I TOOK THE CAR INTO THE DEALER IN 10/2010 AND THEY DIDN'T FIND ANYTHING. I CHANGED ALL 4 TIRES ON THE CAR IN 2/2011 AND STILL EXPERIENCED THE PROBLEM. I TOOK THE CAR INTO THE DEALER ON 5/24/11 AND AGAIN THEY DID NOT FIND ANYTHING. THEY MENTIONED "ABS SYSTEM" AND IMPLIED THAT I WAS EXPERIENCING THE ABS SYSTEM KICKING IN. THE PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT, AND THUS DIFFICULT TO IDENTIFY. BUT, I DO NOTICE THE PROBLEM MORE FREQUENTLY WHEN IT RAINS. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 28, 2011Service brakes, hydraulicODI 10403643

Showing 6 of 91 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 4, 2026NHTSA vehicle page

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.