Toyota Prius Problems by year

failed. I also took the car to [[redacted]] and a local mechanic; both said the work is out of scope for them because it requires Toyota's special brake line tool - only a Toyota dealer can do the repair. Toyota previously acknowledged this defect in Customer Support Program ZJB covering 2010-2015 Prius models (diagnostic codes C1391, C1252, C1256, C1253) for 10 years or 150,000 miles; my car has just reached 150,000 miles and the program has expired. Dealer repair estimate is $2,000-$4,100. My [[redacted]] inspection is due [redacted] and the car will not pass with this brake failure. The vehicle has NOT been repaired yet and is available for inspection upon request. The car was received as a gift from my mother-in-law about two years ago and has never been in an accident. There was no crash, fire, injury or death. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

to function normally. An independent mechanic inspected the vehicle but could not retrieve a diagnostic code at that time. On November 1, 2026, an ABS diagnostic scan at O'Reilly Auto Parts confirmed trouble code C1391, "Abnormal Leak of Accumulator Pressure." The diagnostic report recommended replacement of the brake booster and master cylinder. Toyota previously acknowledged this brake booster problem through Customer Support Program ZJB, which covered certain 2010-2015 Prius vehicles with this defect. Despite my vehicle having fewer than 150,000 miles, Toyota informed me that the coverage period had expired and that no exceptions would be granted. I am concerned that this known braking system defect can develop in vehicles that remain in service after Toyota's limited coverage expires. The intermittent nature of the malfunction makes it particularly concerning because the brakes may appear normal even when an underlying hydraulic pressure problem exists. I request that NHTSA investigate whether this defect warrants a safety recall rather than a time-limited customer support program. My diagnostic report is available, and the vehicle can be made available for inspection upon request.

failure occurred at highway speed, it could have caused a loss of control and a serious crash. Other owners have reported the same rear axle beam corrosion failure on 2010-2015 Prius models.

external leak. A shop pressure test found no leak. Coolant collected inside the tailpipe after the car sat overnight, and white steam came intermittently from the exhaust while driving. The car stored code P148F00. On [redacted] a Toyota dealer ([DEALER NAME], [[redacted]]) confirmed coolant leaking from the front exhaust pipe heat exchanger, per T-SB-0135-19, repair order #[RO NUMBER], and quoted $1,870 to replace the front exhaust pipe with the updated part. My concern is that a vehicle losing coolant this fast can run low without warning and overheat while driving, which can cause engine damage or loss of power, and the white steam from the exhaust may reduce visibility for drivers behind. I also worry that coolant entering the exhaust damages the catalytic converter. The car has been serviced regularly, and the leak was not caused by an accident or impact. Toyota covered this repair under its emissions warranty for 8 years/80,000 miles, but my car is past that and Toyota has declined goodwill coverage (Toyota case #[redacted]). I'm reporting this so NHTSA can see that the failure is happening in vehicles outside that warranty period and can evaluate whether it is a safety defect. Vehicle: 2016 Toyota Prius, VIN [[redacted]] Component: Engine and engine cooling / exhaust system Crash: No. Fire: No. Injuries: No. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)