2015 Toyota Prius V

Emergency Brake, Traction and ABS warning came on and stayed on in addition to a five-second interval cycling on of a motor sound under the hood. O'Reilly Auto Parts and then Toyota dealership confirmed the same code that indicated brake booster assembly needs replacing (C1391) **This is a "known issue" but not yet a recall. Toyota did extend the part warranty to 10 years or 150,000 miles - my vehicle has only gone 85,500 and unfortunately is eight months into the 10th year and Toyota is refusing to cover any portion of the repair. I would like to be part of the effort to have this formally declared a recall because I got the quote today to replace the brake booster assembly and it's going to cost half the value of the vehicle! $4000 is the low estimate Bighorn Toyota gave me to do the repair/replacement. Thank you for your help!

I started hearing the whirring sound from the brake booster that normally only comes on at startup almost constantly, about every 15 seconds. Along with this, a puffing sound and a pulsing from the brake pedal when stopped with the car on, such as at a traffic light. Also, when coming to a stop there would be a shudder from the brakes. After about a month I was driving when 3 separate warning lights lit up on the dashboard and the next time I braked the pedal felt very different than normal, very mushy, and the car seemed to not stop as well. I consulted a repair shop and they told me it’s a common problem with this model: brake booster/actuator failure resulting in a loss of the ABS system. They quoted me over $2000 to make the repair. Internet research confirmed that this is a common problem that Toyota is aware of but refuses to acknowledge as something to be recalled, despite the huge safety risk associated with it. This on a car with only 85,000 miles.

Car hesitates after stopping at a traffic light (5/30/21). After a few seconds the car finally engages (accelerate). Happens infrequently. Brakes seems to be stuck after braking and releasing brakes (7/15/21). Took a few second to acceleerate. Happens infrequently. Car switch to neutral after stopping at a traffic light (9/15/21). Car switch to neutral after stopping at a traffic light (10/12/21.) Car switch to neutral after stopping at a traffic light (10/15/21). Warning lights came on (10/15/21) Diagnosted: pressure control chip for the master cyclinder failed. After braking at a traffic light the car switched to neutral by itself and failed to acceleerate or move forward (10/16/21).

TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH IN A NEIGHBORHOOD, I HAD JUST TURNED INTO A DIAGONAL PARKING SPACE IN A CUL-DE-SAC AT ABOUT 10AM AND THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED FORWARD AND HIT A YELLOW IRON POST BEYOND THE FRONT OF THE PARKING SPACE. IT HAPPENED IN A MATTER OF 2-3 SECONDS AND I COULDN'T STOP THE CAR BY BRAKING. THE POST STOPPED THE CAR AND CAUSED EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE CAR. IT WAS EXTREMELY PERPLEXING AND I STILL DON'T THINK IT WAS CAUSED BY MY ACTIONS DUE TO THE SUDDEN ACCELERATION. I NO LONGER HAVE PHOTOS OF THE DAMAGE. I CONTACTED MY INSURANCE CARRIER AND MY RATES INCREASED SIGNIFICANTLY BUT I STILL FEEL STRONGLY THAT I DID NOT CAUSE THE ACCIDENT. I HAD BEEN DRIVING AT 20MPH THROUGH THE NEIGHBORHOOD PRIOR TO PARKING. REPAIRS TOTALED ABOUT $2400.00.

ISSUE STARTED AFTER 2 YEARS, WHEN WET AND COLD AS I BACK UP AND PUT MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, A VERY LOUD NOISE HEARD COMING FROM THE BACK? IT LASTS AS LONG AS I PUT MY FOOT ON THE PEDAL. EXPRESSED MY CONCERNS AT PETERSON TOYOTA DEALER LOCALLY, BUT THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT "IT'S NORMAL", COULD BE THE BRAKE HYDRAULIC BOOSTER SYSTEM? THE ISSUES STILL CONTINUE AS OF TODAY. I DO RECORD THE NOISE WHEN IT HAPPENS

THIS IS AN OCCASIONAL AND INTERMITTENT ISSUE. AT 35 TO 45 MPH, TRAVELING STRAIGHT, ON CITY AVENUES AND BOULEVARDS. WHEN BRAKING IN AN URGENT FSHION (NOT PANICK AND NOT EASY) THE BRAKE PEDDAL IS SOFT AND TRAVELS SIGNIFICANTLY FURTHER THAN USUAL BEFORE THE CARS BREAKING SYSTEM TAKES EFFECT. THIS WAS ON DRY ROADS AND ABOVE FREEZING TEMPERATURES. WE HAVE NOT EXPERIENCED ANY ACCIDENTS DUE TO THIS BUT THERE HAVE BEEN MOMENTS OF NEAR PANICK PRIOR TO THE BRAKES WORKING AS EXPECTED. AS A SEPARATE BRAKE ISSUE, ON TWO OCCASIONS WHEN PANICK BRAKING FROM APEEDS OVER 50 MPH, TRAVELING STRAIGHT, ON FREEWAYS THE BRAKES HAVE LOCKED AND THE CAR HAS SKIDDED. THIS WAS ON DRY ROADS DURING DAYLIGHT HOURS, DRY ROADS AND ABOVE FREEZING TEMPERATURES. THIS VEHICLE HAS ANTILOCK BRAKING SYSTEM. THE LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER WAS ADVISED OF THIS LOCKING ISSUE AND REPORTED THEY FOUND NO ISSUE. WE HAVE OUR BRAKES INSPECTED BY A LOCAL TOYOTA DEALRE AT MANUFACTURER RECOMMENDED INTERVALS AND HAVE BEEN GIVEN A 'GREEN' RATING FOR PAD THICKNESS. THE ABOVE EVENTS STARTED LATE IN THE FIRST YEAR OF OWNERSHIP AND WE ARE THE FIRST OWNERS OF THIS VEHICLE. I AMA RETIRED ENGINEER WITH A FAIR BACKGROUND WITH PERFORMANCE DRIVING ON CLOSED CIRCUITS. I HAVE A SOLID UNDERSTANDING OF PROPER BRAKE PERFORMANCE. I FOND THE ABOVE EXPERIENCES DISCONCERTING AND OF CONCERN. THE BELOW DATE OF OCCURRENCE IS FOR THE LATEST SLOW BRAKE RESPONSE, NOT THE LOCKING UP.