# Toyota Prius aBS warning light: complaints, recalls and what to do **Verdict:** Drive to a shop this week - **Owner complaints:** 40 - **Most complaints:** 2015 (36) - **Related recalls:** 0 - **Verdict:** This week ## Quick answer NHTSA has 40 owner complaints about the aBS warning light on the Toyota Prius (2015-2026 models), most for the **2015** model year (36). No recall covers the parts behind this light, so a repair is usually at the owner's cost. Drive to a shop this week: If only the ABS light is on and the brakes feel normal, you can drive carefully to a shop, leaving more stopping room. ## Toyota Prius aBS warning light complaints by model year | Model year | Complaints mentioning the abs light | All complaints that year | Share | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2015 | 36 | 166 | 22% | | 2016 | 3 | 181 | 2% | | 2017 | 1 | 145 | 1% | Counts are complaints filed with NHTSA whose description mentions this light. They show where owners have had trouble, not a failure rate: popular years collect more complaints simply because more cars are on the road. ## Is there a recall for the Toyota Prius aBS warning light? Not for the parts behind this light, as of 2026-11-04. The Toyota Prius has 15 recalls for other parts in 2015-2026; see the [Toyota Prius page](/vehicles/toyota-prius) or check your VIN at [nhtsa.gov/recalls](https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls). ## What Toyota Prius owners report - "ICS warning, ABS, traction control, check engine, brake malfunction lights and Multi-Information Display errors all illuminated at the same time while traveling at highway speeds." -- owner of a 2017 Toyota Prius, complaint filed 2021 - "Same problem as before Brake Actuator/Booster Failures: Multiple reports indicate issues with the ABS actuator or brake booster pump, leading to warning lights ("Braking power low", "ABS system malfunction")." -- owner of a 2016 Toyota Prius, complaint filed 2026 - "The lights for traction and abs went off with a warning sound. Pulled over both times and called aaa for tow.....each a separate incident." -- owner of a 2015 Toyota Prius, complaint filed 2023 Excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly cleaned for reading. They are owners' own accounts and have not been verified. ## What the aBS warning light means The ABS light means the anti-lock brake system has found a fault and turned itself off. Your regular brakes should still work, but the wheels can lock up in a hard stop, especially on wet or icy roads. The most common cause is a failed wheel speed sensor. If the red brake warning light is also on, the problem may affect normal braking and you should stop driving. The most common causes, on any make: 1. **Failed wheel speed sensor** (most common) 2. **Damaged sensor wiring or tone ring** (common) 3. **Low brake fluid** (less common) 4. **ABS module or pump failure** (less common) Full causes, what to do and how to reset it: [ABS warning light](/warning-lights/abs). ## Frequently asked questions ### Is there a recall for the Toyota Prius abs light? Not for the parts behind this light, as of 2026-11-04. A repair is usually at the owner's cost unless the car is under warranty. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls, since new recalls are added often. ### Which Toyota Prius years have the most abs light complaints? In NHTSA's database the 2015, 2016 and 2017 Prius model years have the most complaints mentioning the aBS warning light, with 36 for 2015. Complaint counts reflect how many cars were sold as well as how often problems happen. ### Is it safe to drive a Toyota Prius with the abs light on? Drive to a shop this week. If only the ABS light is on and the brakes feel normal, you can drive carefully to a shop, leaving more stopping room. Stop driving and have it towed if the red brake light is on too, the pedal is soft or sinks, or the car pulls hard when braking. ### How do I check if my Toyota Prius has an open recall? Enter the 17-character VIN from your dashboard or registration at nhtsa.gov/recalls, or ask any Toyota dealer. Open recalls are fixed free of charge, even if you are not the first owner. ## Sources - [NHTSA: Vehicle safety complaints and recalls (api.nhtsa.gov)](https://www.nhtsa.gov/nhtsa-datasets-and-apis) - [NHTSA: Check for recalls by VIN](https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls) ## Other Toyota Prius warning lights - [Airbag (SRS) warning light](https://diagxcar.com/warning-lights/airbag/toyota-prius): 4 complaints - [Brake warning light](https://diagxcar.com/warning-lights/brake/toyota-prius): 47 complaints - [Check engine light](https://diagxcar.com/warning-lights/check-engine/toyota-prius): 19 complaints - [Coolant temperature warning light](https://diagxcar.com/warning-lights/coolant-temperature/toyota-prius): 22 complaints - [Traction control light](https://diagxcar.com/warning-lights/traction-control/toyota-prius): 24 complaints ## ABS warning light on other models - [Ram 1500](https://diagxcar.com/warning-lights/abs/ram-1500): 280 complaints - [Jeep Wrangler](https://diagxcar.com/warning-lights/abs/jeep-wrangler): 180 complaints - [Chevrolet Silverado](https://diagxcar.com/warning-lights/abs/chevrolet-silverado): 89 complaints - [Honda Accord](https://diagxcar.com/warning-lights/abs/honda-accord): 72 complaints - [Jeep Grand Cherokee](https://diagxcar.com/warning-lights/abs/jeep-grand-cherokee): 58 complaints - [Chevrolet Traverse](https://diagxcar.com/warning-lights/abs/chevrolet-traverse): 53 complaints - [Hyundai Santa Fe](https://diagxcar.com/warning-lights/abs/hyundai-santa-fe): 45 complaints - [Hyundai Sonata](https://diagxcar.com/warning-lights/abs/hyundai-sonata): 42 complaints - [GMC Sierra](https://diagxcar.com/warning-lights/abs/gmc-sierra): 37 complaints - [Kia Sorento](https://diagxcar.com/warning-lights/abs/kia-sorento): 36 complaints ## Toyota Prius - [Toyota Prius specs and mpg by year](https://diagxcar.com/vehicles/toyota-prius) --- Source page: https://diagxcar.com/warning-lights/abs/toyota-prius Updated: 2026-11-04 General information, not a substitute for a qualified mechanic.