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BrakesPart report

2016 Toyota Prius Brakes Problems

Complaints
20about this part
Share
13%of 155 total for the year
Median mileage
8,400miles
Trend
RisingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% higher than in the 3 years before.

NHTSA recorded 20 complaints about the brakes of the 2016 Toyota Prius, 13% of the 155 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 8,400 miles. 1 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers. 1 recall campaign on record is filed under a similar system.

Example complaints

Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.

“While driving the vehicle started to shake from underneath fiercely, I called my mother who came and picked up the car she turned around and went back to my residence, while attempting to park in the garage the car started to roll down the driveway and the brakes wouldn't work, the car landed on the street. City of lancaster ca”

NHTSA complaint #10953980, filed 2017-02, 3,510 miles

“On friday, october 21, 2016 while driving over a pothole I pressed on the brake. The car slowed but all of a sudden the brake suddenly depressed even further down and the car jerked and seemed to stall before pushing forward. I had been pressing the brake as far down as it would go and it seemed as if there would be some kind of brake failure. On october 31, 2016 while driving over another pothole, I again stepped on the brake and suddenly the pedal again depressed further down and there was a creaking and squealing sound. …”

NHTSA complaint #10926286, filed 2016-11, 1,500 miles

“As I took a highway exit, following behind other cars doing the same, my Prius refused to brake efficiently when another car abruptly invaded our line. It felt as if the brakes made a slight release or couldn't reach a full stop. I had enough space to stop, and I pressed the brakes on time but there was almost no brake reaction and I crashed into the truck in front of me. I was probably going 20-30 MPH, somewhere in the middle... So not even that fast. Best part is that the airbags didn't inflate, even though the car was almost totaled. This feels explainable to me... …”

NHTSA complaint #10915494, filed 2016-10, 500 miles

“When putting the car in park and then engaging the foot parking brake on a slope, such as my driveway, and then turning off the car, the car rolls back significantly. Then, while exiting the car, the rear brakes make loud grinding and creaky noises as the car settles downwards slightly. Then, when entering the car, the brakes make the same creaky and grinding sounds. …”

NHTSA complaint #11413149, filed 2021-04, 31,000 miles

“When breaking while traveling over bumps/ripples on the road or over rough road conditions such as potholes or roadwork, the vehicle feels as though the breaks are skipping or failing. This has occurred multiple times under the same or similar conditions. There is a sensation while attempting to stop, that the car is not going to stop in time or that you have lost control of the vehicle's ability to stop safely.”

NHTSA complaint #11022408, filed 2017-09, 5,986 miles

Related recalls

Related service bulletins

Brakes: other model years

YearComplaintsShare of year
2025213%
202427%
2023210%
2022521%
2021117%
2020429%
20191137%
2018411%
20171415%
20162013%
20159356%
201410349%
201324258%
201220047%
201127853%
20101,94569%
200919940%
200839026%
200733117%
200621015%
200528227%
20047612%
20031616%
20022012%
20011610%

Other parts of the 2016 Toyota Prius

Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
41 complaintsOther or unknown
31 complaintsElectrical system
20 complaintsEngine
17 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
15 complaintsVehicle speed control
14 complaintsBody and structure
11 complaintsAir bags
7 complaintsTires
7 complaintsFuel system
6 complaintsSuspension
5 complaintsWheels
4 complaints

← All problems reported for the 2016 Toyota Prius

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology