# Toyota Prius brake warning light: complaints, recalls and what to do **Verdict:** Stop driving - **Owner complaints:** 47 - **Most complaints:** 2015 (27) - **Related recalls:** 0 - **Verdict:** Stop now ## Quick answer NHTSA has 47 owner complaints about the brake warning light on the Toyota Prius (2015-2026 models), most for the **2015** model year (27). No recall covers the parts behind this light, so a repair is usually at the owner's cost. Stop driving: If the light goes out when you release the parking brake, you are fine. ## Toyota Prius brake warning light complaints by model year | Model year | Complaints mentioning the brake light | All complaints that year | Share | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2015 | 27 | 166 | 16% | | 2016 | 7 | 181 | 4% | | 2017 | 7 | 145 | 5% | | 2018 | 2 | 52 | 4% | | 2019 | 1 | 39 | 3% | | 2023 | 1 | 27 | 4% | | 2025 | 2 | 16 | 13% | 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 brake 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 - "As I was pulling my car into a parking space with the brake applied lightly, the car suddenly lost braking and lurched forward when the front wheels touched the curb. This caused the front of the car to jump the curb and hit a tree a foot or two away. My foot was on the brake during this and the car did not brake..." -- owner of a 2025 Toyota Prius, complaint filed 2025 - "At this time, I tried to shift back into park (push-button) and got an error message that said, Parking Brake Unavailable. So here I am with a vehicle that I need to start to get the battery charged but it won't let me out of Neutral or into Park, which prevents it from starting. Repeated attempts to get the car..." -- owner of a 2023 Toyota Prius, complaint filed 2024 - "The contact stated that upon depression of the brake pedal, pulsation in the brake pedal could be felt without warning. Upon taking the vehicle to a dealer, he requested to have the rotors checked for any defects. He was given a service report that stated that the rotors needed to be replaced. Upon taking the..." -- owner of a 2019 Toyota Prius, complaint filed 2021 Excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly cleaned for reading. They are owners' own accounts and have not been verified. ## What the brake warning light means The red brake warning light most often means the parking brake is still on. If it stays on after you fully release the parking brake, the brake fluid is likely low, which can mean worn pads or a leak in the brake system. A brake light that stays on while driving is a reason to pull over and check, because a fluid leak can lead to loss of braking. The most common causes, on any make: 1. **Parking brake on or not fully released** (most common) 2. **Low brake fluid from worn pads** (common) 3. **Brake fluid leak** (less common) 4. **Faulty fluid level sensor or parking brake switch** (less common) Full causes, what to do and how to reset it: [Brake warning light](/warning-lights/brake). ## Frequently asked questions ### Is there a recall for the Toyota Prius brake 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 brake light complaints? In NHTSA's database the 2015, 2016 and 2017 Prius model years have the most complaints mentioning the brake warning light, with 27 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 brake light on? Stop driving. If the light goes out when you release the parking brake, you are fine. If it stays on, especially with a soft pedal, low fluid, or the ABS light also on, stop driving and have the car towed, because the brakes may fail. ### 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 - [ABS warning light](https://diagxcar.com/warning-lights/abs/toyota-prius): 40 complaints - [Airbag (SRS) warning light](https://diagxcar.com/warning-lights/airbag/toyota-prius): 4 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 ## Brake warning light on other models - [Honda CR-V](https://diagxcar.com/warning-lights/brake/honda-cr-v): 561 complaints - [Chevrolet Silverado](https://diagxcar.com/warning-lights/brake/chevrolet-silverado): 383 complaints - [Honda Accord](https://diagxcar.com/warning-lights/brake/honda-accord): 360 complaints - [Honda Pilot](https://diagxcar.com/warning-lights/brake/honda-pilot): 223 complaints - [Jeep Cherokee](https://diagxcar.com/warning-lights/brake/jeep-cherokee): 215 complaints - [Ram 1500](https://diagxcar.com/warning-lights/brake/ram-1500): 208 complaints - [GMC Sierra](https://diagxcar.com/warning-lights/brake/gmc-sierra): 206 complaints - [Honda Odyssey](https://diagxcar.com/warning-lights/brake/honda-odyssey): 176 complaints - [Chevrolet Equinox](https://diagxcar.com/warning-lights/brake/chevrolet-equinox): 154 complaints - [Jeep Grand Cherokee](https://diagxcar.com/warning-lights/brake/jeep-grand-cherokee): 142 complaints ## Toyota Prius - [Toyota Prius specs and mpg by year](https://diagxcar.com/vehicles/toyota-prius) --- Source page: https://diagxcar.com/warning-lights/brake/toyota-prius Updated: 2026-11-04 General information, not a substitute for a qualified mechanic.