1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

Very stiff brake pedal, very little brake action

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by Dan T, May 13, 2022.

Tags:
  1. Dan T

    Dan T New Member

    Joined:
    May 13, 2022
    2
    0
    0
    Location:
    Coudersport, PA
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    III
    Noob here, grateful for this forum.

    2 days ago, the wife parked our 2010 Prius in the driveway and mentioned an odd sound from the brakes.
    Next day I go to run an errand and find that the brake pedal is hard, very hard to depress and there's almost no braking action, it barely stops.

    So I had it towed to a local dealership in Bradford, PA.

    They're diagnosing a failed actuator and a break line leak.

    They want to charge $3500 to replace the actuator (which was replaced in 2013 under a recall), $350 to do the brake line.

    I've researched the average cost to replace this and they run from $1500 to $2000. SO we really think the dealership is trying to gouge us on this repair.

    Who else has had this issue and how much did repairs cost?
     
    #1 Dan T, May 13, 2022
  2. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    108,635
    49,358
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    i have read around $2,500. typically. have you checked other dealers?

    it's hard to believe there is a brake line leak, how is the level in the reservoir?
     
    #2 bisco, May 13, 2022
  3. 2010moneypit?

    2010moneypit? Active Member

    Joined:
    Oct 26, 2021
    314
    122
    0
    Location:
    Beaumont ca
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    V
    Seems expensive as said above I would try another dealer of better yet find a mom and pop hybrid shop.
    I would file a complaint with NHTSA. This is a major safety problem and should be covered by Toyota especially if it’s a repeat fail point.
     
    #3 2010moneypit?, May 13, 2022
    Dan T likes this.
  4. Dan T

    Dan T New Member

    Joined:
    May 13, 2022
    2
    0
    0
    Location:
    Coudersport, PA
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    III
    Anyone done the CG jumper trick? Put in the jumper, start the car, let it run it's diags then hit the brakes 8 times in rapid succession to reset the brake system.
     
    #4 Dan T, May 14, 2022
  5. ChapmanF

    ChapmanF Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 30, 2008
    23,761
    15,405
    0
    Location:
    Indiana, USA
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    IV
    That isn't a reset, it just clears trouble codes. But getting the car to forget what it knows about a brake problem isn't the same as fixing the brake problem.
     
    #5 ChapmanF, May 14, 2022
    Dan T, Tombukt2, CR94 and 2 others like this.
  6. Tombukt2

    Tombukt2 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 29, 2020
    8,880
    1,549
    0
    Location:
    Durham NC
    Vehicle:
    2009 Prius
    Model:
    Base
    Pennsylvania is not a state where you want to be messing with Toyota dealerships or having to go to court with your kids believe me
     
    #6 Tombukt2, May 15, 2022
    Dan T likes this.
(You must log in or sign up to post here.)