2016 Toyota Prius Brakes Problems
NHTSA logged 20 brake complaints for the 2016 Toyota Prius, 13% of its 154 total complaints for the year. One crash and two injuries are tied to this area, with a median failure mileage of 8,400 miles. A related recall (16V741000) covers a parking brake cable clip issue.
- Brakes complaints
- 20
- 13% of 154
- Crashes reported
- 1
- Fires reported
- 0
- Injuries reported
- 2
- Median mileage
- 8,400 mi
- Related recalls
- 1
Typical brake symptoms owners report
- Owners report the brakes momentarily feel like they release or lose grip when the wheel hits a bump, pothole, or road depression, sometimes followed by a jerk or stall-like sensation before the car pushes forward.
- Some describe a soft or unresponsive brake pedal at speed, with little to no stopping power when pressed, in one case leading to a crash into the vehicle ahead.
- Several drivers saw ABS and traction control warning lights along with messages such as "Braking Power Low" or "ABS Malfunction," accompanied by a loud pulsating noise and the car entering emergency ABS braking during normal stops.
- Owners on hills report the car still sends power to the wheels while stationary with the brake applied and in Drive, causing a forward creep or surge.
- One owner noted the parking brake recall repair could not be scheduled with the dealer until roughly a year after the recall was announced.
When 2016 Toyota Prius brake complaints were filed
First complaint Jun 30, 2016, latest Jun 29, 2026.
Brakes recalls for the 2016 Toyota Prius
- NHTSA 16V741000Oct 14, 2016Brakes91,585 vehicles
Parking brake
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Prius vehicles manufactured August 6, 2015, to October 3, 2016. The affected vehicles are equipped with a foot-operated parking brake system that has a parking brake cable that may disengage.
Risk: If the parking brake cable disengages from the mechanism and the transmission is left in a gear other than 'Park' while the ignition is on and the driver leaves the vehicle, the vehicle may roll unexpectedly, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will install a clip at the parking brake cable end to prevent the cable from disengaging, free of charge. The recall began November 10, 2016. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371. Toyota's number for this recall is G01.
Brakes complaints by Prius model year
Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.
Frequently asked questions
- How many brake complaints does the 2016 Toyota Prius have?
- NHTSA lists 20 brake-related complaints for the 2016 Prius, which is 13% of the 154 total complaints filed for that model year.
- Is there a brake recall for the 2016 Toyota Prius?
- Yes. Recall 16V741000, reported October 14, 2016, covers the foot-operated parking brake cable; Toyota dealers install a clip to prevent the cable from disengaging.
- At what mileage do 2016 Prius brake problems typically show up?
- The median mileage at failure for brake complaints on the 2016 Prius is 8,400 miles.
- Have brake issues caused crashes or injuries on the 2016 Prius?
- NHTSA data tied to this area shows 1 crash and 2 injuries, with no fires reported.
- How does the 2016 Prius compare to other model years for brake complaints?
- The 2016 Prius had 20 brake complaints (13% share), lower than earlier years like 2010 (1,922 complaints, 70% share) and 2013 (242 complaints, 59% share).