2014 Toyota Prius — Known Issues & Recalls

Your brake booster and pump assembly may fail, causing the brake pump to cycle repeatedly every 13 seconds—a sign of an internal pressure leak that can lead to loss of power-assisted braking. This is a serious safety issue because the brakes could fail without any warning lights or error codes alerting you first. Fixing this typically requires replacing the brake booster and pump assembly, which is a labor-intensive repair.

Your brake booster and accumulator system failed suddenly, causing your brake pedal to feel soft and spongy with reduced braking power. Multiple warning lights appeared (ABS, traction control, and brake warning), and your electric brake pump started cycling frequently. This is a known issue affecting 2012–2014 Prius v vehicles, and the repair will likely involve replacing the brake booster and accumulator assembly.

Your brake booster/accumulator has failed, which means your brakes may not work properly or feel spongy when you press the pedal. This is a known issue on 2010-2015 Prius models that Toyota extended warranty coverage for, but your vehicle is just beyond that extended coverage window at 108k miles. The repair costs around $4,000 and you won't be able to drive safely until it's fixed.

While driving on the highway, your brake warning light, ABS light, and traction control light all came on at the same time. Your brakes became stiff and didn't stop the car as quickly or effectively as normal. The braking performance returned to normal once the lights turned off.

Your brake warning light came on along with your ABS, tire pressure, and traction control lights all at once. You noticed your brakes are losing pressure and hearing a strange noise coming from under the front driver's side. The fix will likely involve inspecting your brake system for leaks, checking brake fluid levels, and potentially replacing brake components or hoses.

While driving on the freeway, your ABS and brake warning lights came on with a beeping sound, and you lost all braking ability. Your car eventually slowed and stopped on its own after about two miles. A mechanic confirmed this was a known Toyota issue covered under warranty up to 150,000 miles, but your car had 165,000 miles at the time. The repair will likely involve diagnosing and replacing faulty brake system components, possibly including the ABS module or brake actuator.

Your brake system is showing warning lights for brakes, ABS, and traction control, and a mechanic confirmed the brake booster and pump assembly has failed. Toyota had previously acknowledged this as a known safety issue under a customer support program, but your coverage expired because you didn't receive Toyota's notice before the deadline. The repair will likely involve replacing the brake booster and pump assembly to restore proper braking function.

Your brakes are locking up and causing the car to lunge forward unexpectedly. When you applied the brakes while driving on the highway, they failed to respond and you lost control of your vehicle's speed. You report being afraid to drive the car daily due to this safety concern, and Toyota indicated there was an extended warranty for this issue that has since expired. The repair is quoted at over $3,000. Fixing this will likely require a complete brake system inspection and possible replacement of brake components like the master cylinder, calipers, or the brake control module.

Your brake actuator failed, causing your ABS light, brake light, and traction control light to all come on at once. Because your Prius uses the braking system to recharge the hybrid battery, a broken actuator could eventually leave you stranded. Your brakes also became less responsive, making highway driving unsafe. The fix will involve replacing the brake actuator assembly.

Your Prius's electric brake booster pump is making frequent cycling noises inside the cabin, especially in cold weather, and you've noticed a faint electrical odor outside the vehicle. Your brakes still work normally and no warning lights have appeared, but the noises and smell suggest the pump may be under stress. A dealer should inspect the brake booster pump to determine if it needs repair or replacement before a potential failure occurs.

Your ABS light, traction control light, and brake warning light all illuminated at the same time. You report that Toyota has acknowledged this as a known issue and previously offered repairs, but has since stopped. Despite a 2023 inspection showing no actual brake problems, you weren't notified of any recall or need for service. Getting these warning lights to turn off may require Toyota to reprogram or replace brake system components.

Your cylinder head gasket failed, likely due to a design issue with the intake manifold and EGR system. This caused a severe knocking sound in the engine (sometimes called "death knock") that started during highway driving, with no warning lights to alert you beforehand. The failure allowed coolant to enter the combustion chamber, which may have damaged your connecting rods. Fixing this will require disassembling the engine, replacing the gasket, and potentially repairing or replacing internal engine components.

Your car's head gasket has failed, allowing combustion vapors to leak into the engine coolant. You may notice misfiring in cylinders 2 and 4, severe engine knocking, and coolant contamination—but the check engine light may not appear. A chemical test can confirm the problem. Fixing this will require replacing the head gasket and inspecting the cylinder head for damage.

Your brakes failed to slow down the car when you pressed the brake pedal while driving, and your ABS warning light came on occasionally. A mechanic found that your brake master cylinder, brake booster, and brake lines all needed replacement. This happened at around 152,000 miles, though the issue may be related to a recall that didn't apply to your vehicle's VIN.

Your brake pedal has become very hard to press and your braking feels unpredictable — sometimes your car brakes too aggressively, other times it requires excessive force to stop. Your ABS and brake warning lights are on, indicating your brake booster isn't working properly. This is a known issue on 2010-2015 Prius models that creates a serious safety risk because your stopping distance may increase or you could lose control during emergency braking. The fix will likely require replacing the brake actuator and brake booster assembly.

While driving at 40-45 mph, your ABS, Brake, and Brake System Warning lights all came on at once, and your brakes felt different than normal — though they still stopped the car when needed. Your mechanic advised not driving it and the Toyota dealer diagnosed a faulty brake booster and pump, which turned out to be a recall issue you were never notified about. The repair will involve replacing the brake booster and brake pump to restore normal brake operation.

Your Prius is experiencing engine misfires and rough starts, especially under light acceleration. You may notice hesitation when the engine is starting or running at low power demands. The issue is related to Toyota Technical Service Bulletin TSB-0116-15. Fixing this typically involves inspecting and replacing spark plugs, ignition coils, or fuel injectors to restore smooth engine operation.

Your car's anti-lock brake system (ABS) stopped working completely while you were driving. The regular brakes still function, but the ABS — which prevents wheel lockup during emergency stops — failed entirely.

Your ABS and traction control warning lights came on at 150,000 miles. The dealer said you needed a brake master cylinder, but a certified mechanic found the brake booster had failed instead and replaced it. However, the warning lights returned the next day. The mechanic cleaned the hydraulic valves and tried again, but the problem persisted.

Your car's paint is chipping in multiple areas around the vehicle. There was a recall issued for this paint chipping problem, but you didn't receive the recall notice and found out after the program ended. You'll need to contact Toyota directly to see if they can still address this issue, as it may require repainting affected areas or applying protective coatings.