Service Brakes. Review the 9 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Air Bags. Review the 8 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Steering. Review the 7 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

11 crash reports0 fire reports11 injury reports

Exterior Lighting complaints

2 reports

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300 miles · Mar 12, 2015

Exterior LightingService Brakes

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I FIRST NOTICED THE ISSUE LITERALLY DRIVING THE NEW CAR OFF THE DEALER LOT. I WAS TRAVELING BEHIND MY WIFE IN MY TRUCK WITH HER BEHIND THE WHEEL IN THE NEW CAR. I BEGAN TO NOTICE THAT AT TIMES THE BRAKE LIGHTS WOULD COME ON WHEN BRAKING OR NOT, VERY INTERMITTENTLY. I FIGURED THAT SINCE IT WAS A NEW CAR IT WOULD TAKE TIME FOR ANY NEW DRIVER TO GET FAMILIAR TO THAT NEW VEHICLE. IT IS VERY RARE THAT I WOULD BE FOLLOWING HER IN A SEPARATE VEHICLE WATCHING HER BRAKE. EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE, PREFERABLY AT NIGHT I WOULD DRIVE IT MYSELF AND TEST TO SEE IF I CAN COME TO A COMPLETE STOP WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES BUT ONLY APPLYING A CERTAIN OF PRESSURE TO NOT SIGNAL THE BRAKE LIGHTS, AND I WAS ABLE TO DO SO. WHILE DRIVING I WOULD LOOK IN MY REAR VIEW MIRROR AND WATCH THE THIRD BRAKE LIGHT. AT CERTAIN DRIVING CONDITIONS I FOUND A WAY WHERE EVEN AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC I CAN ACHIEVE SPEEDS IN EXCESS OF 40 MPH AND COME TO A COMPLETE STOP WITHOUT SIGNALING MY BRAKE LIGHTS, AND I WOULD BE APPLYING PRESSURE ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. I ASSUMED THIS ISSUE WAS CAUSED EITHER BY THE HYBRID REGENERATIVE BRAKING SYSTEM TRIGGERING ON, AND/OR THE LITTLE SWITCH UNDER THE BRAKE PEDAL WHICH SIGNALS THE BRAKE LIGHTS. AROUND NOVEMBER OF 2014, I GOT FED UP WITH THE ISSUE AND THOUGHT ABOUT THE SAFETY FACTOR AND HAD CLAREMONT TOYOTA, FIX THE SENSITIVITY OF THE BRAKING SWITCH. WITH THE THIRD BRAKE LIGHT ASSEMBLY UNATTACHED AND TURNED 180 DEGREES AROUND FACING FORWARD THE TECHNICIAN TESTED AND SIMULATED WHAT I HAD CLAIMED. I EVEN RODE WITH THE TECHNICIAN IN THE PASSENGER SEAT WHILE HE DROVE AND WAS ABLE TO DO THE SAME THING, COME TO A COMPLETE STOP WITHOUT SIGNALING THE BRAKE LIGHTS. HE ADJUSTED THE SWITCH TO THE MOST SENSITIVE SETTING SO THAT THE BRAKE LIGHTS WOULD ALWAYS SIGNAL WHEN BRAKING. IN MY OPINION IF ANY AMOUNT OF PRESSURE IS APPLIED TO THE BRAKES, THE BRAKE LIGHTS SHOULD SIGNAL. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10693813

Mileage unknown · Jan 30, 2014

Exterior LightingService Brakes

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I HAVE NOTICED THAT THE REAR BRAKE LIGHT IS NOT TURNED ON WHEN I PLACE MY FOOT ON BRAKE PEDAL. IN ORDER TO TURN ON THE LIGHT, I HAD TO PUSH LITTLE MORE THAN I USED TO DO ON THE OTHER NON-HYBRID CAR. BECAUSE THIS VEHICLE HAS REGENERATIVE BRAKE SYSTEM, IT ACTIVATES WHENEVER MY FOOT IS OFF FROM GAS PEDAL, AND STARTS TO SLOW DOWN. ON THE OTHER NON-HYBRID VEHICLE, THE LIGHT IS TURNED ON AS SOON AS I TOUCH THE BRAKE PEDAL, HOWEVER, ON THIS HYBRID VEHICLE, I HAVE TO PUSH MORE TO TURN IT ON. EVEN I CAN STOP THIS CAR WITHOUT TURNING ON THE BRAKE LIGHTS. I ASKED THE DEALER ABOUT THIS ISSUE, BUT THEY TOLD ME IT IS WITH IN NORMAL RANGE. BUT I FEEL THIS IS VERY SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. FOR INSTANCE, A FOLLOWING DRIVER BEHIND THIS VEHICLE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO NOTICE THAT IT IS SLOWING DOWN BECAUSE BRAKE LIGHTS ARE NOT ON, BUT ACTUALLY THE CAR IS STOPPING. PLEASE REVIEW THIS ISSUE AND COMPARE TO OTHER HYBRID VEHICLE WITH REGENERATIVE BRAKE SYSTEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10562277

Official recalls

13V014000 · Air Bags:frontal:sensor/control MODULE-INACTIVE ; Seats

Jan 16, 2013

Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain models interspersed through model years 2009 through 2013 as follows: model year 2009-2012 Tacoma, 4Runner, Camry, Camry Hybrid, Prius, and RAV4; model year 2009-2010 Avalon, FJ Cruiser, and Highlander Hybrid; model year 2010-2013 model year Corolla, Sienna and Tundra; model year 2009-2013 Highlander and Venza; model year 2012 Prius V; and model year 2010-2012 Sequoia. During modification by SET to include accessories such as leather seat covers, seat heaters or headrest DVD systems, these vehicles may not have had the passenger seat occupant sensing system calibration tested. Without passing the calibration test, the occupant sensing system may not operate as designed.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the front passenger seat occupant sensing system is out of calibration, the front passenger airbags may not deploy or they may deploy inappropriately for the passenger's size and position. This could increase the risk of personal injury during the event of a vehicle crash necessitating airbag deployment.

Remedy: Southeast Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will test the sensitivity of the occupant detection sensors, and recalibrate them as necessary. The recall began on March 21, 2013. Owners may contact Southeast Toyota at 1-800-301-6859.

Additional source detail variants (2)

Seats

Consequence: If the front passenger seat occupant sensing system is out of calibration, the front passenger airbags may not deploy or they may deploy inappropriately for the passenger's size and position. This could increase the risk of personal injury during the event of a vehicle crash necessitating airbag deployment.

Remedy: Southeast Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will test the sensitivity of the occupant detection sensors, and recalibrate them as necessary. The recall began on March 21, 2013. Owners may contact Southeast Toyota at 1-800-301-6859.

Air Bags:frontal:sensor/control MODULE-INACTIVE

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

DP23005 · Brake Actuator Valve Wear

Opened Nov 22, 2023 · No close date supplied

Status: open (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:power Assist

The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) has received a petition dated September 19, 2023 from the owner of a 2012 Toyota Prius V requesting that ODI reevaluate its decision to deny DP19-004. In the letter, the petitioner reported experiencing an unexpected and complete loss of brake power while driving, accompanied by multiple dashboard warning lights. This petition is based on the petitioner's direct experience and assessment that ODI closed DP19-004 because its prompting petition was withdrawn by that petitioner. ODI will review the work conducted during DP19-004 and a review of any additional related complaints and crashes via a new defect petition The petition and related materials can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under the following ODI number:11553736.

Additional source detail variants (2)

Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components

Service Brakes, Hydraulic:power Assist

DP22005 · Pedestrian Alert Sounds

Opened Jan 27, 2023 · Closed Aug 7, 2023

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Electrical System:propulsion System

NHTSA received a petition on or about July 18, 2022, requesting that Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 141 be applied to all electric and hybrid vehicles operating in the United States. The petition can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under ODI Number 11486072. FMVSS 141 establishes performance requirements for pedestrian alert sounds for motor vehicles. The standard applies to hybrid and electric vehicles that have a gross vehicle weight rating of 4,536 KG or less or are defined as low-speed vehicles. The standard became fully applicable to all such vehicles manufactured on or after March 1, 2021.On January 27, 2023, NHTSA opened Defect Petition (DP) 22-005 to evaluate the subject matter described in the petition. On June 24, 2023 and as supplemented on June 25, 2023, the petitioner notified NHTSA he was withdrawing his petition. The petitioner indicated that, based on his review of data, there is no justification for asserting potential benefits that could be derived from actions sought by my petition. Based on the petitioner's withdrawal, DP22-005 is closed. Closure of this DP does not represent a determination by NHTSA regarding the subject matter of the petition.

DP19004 · Brake Actuator Valve Wear

Opened Sep 30, 2019 · Closed Jan 21, 2021

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:power Assist

On September 19, 2019, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) received a defect petition from Mr. Roger Hogan requesting that the Agency investigate and recall certain Toyota Prius, Prius PHV, Camry Hybrid and Avalon Hybrid vehicles for a brake actuator valve wear condition covered under Toyota Customer Support Programs ZJB and ZKK (subject CSP?s). In support of his request, the petitioner identified 117 NHTSA complaints allegedly related to the subject CSP condition, including 60 reporting crashes. On September 30, 2019, ODI opened Defect Petition DP19-004 to evaluate the petitioner?s request for an investigation. In August 2020, the petitioner notified the Agency that he was withdrawing his petition. Because the petitioner has withdrawn the petition, we are denying the petition as moot and no further analysis of this petition is necessary.NHTSA is authorized to issue an order requiring notification and remedy of a defect if the Agency?s investigation shows a defect in the design, construction, or performance of a motor vehicle that presents an unreasonable risk to safety. 49 U.S.C. ?? 30102(a)(9), 30118. Because the petitioner has with withdrawn the petition, the petition is denied as moot. This action does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that a safety-related defect does not exist. The Agency notes that it is not required to receive a defect petition prior to opening a defect investigation and will take further action if warranted by future circumstances.