Brake Indicator Lights are On

Read codes with a hybrid capable scanner.

A common failure is the Brake Booster (master cylinder/abs/skid control ecu) which runs about $2400 installed at the dealer.

There was an extended warranty but it expired at 10 years or 150k miles, whichever occurs first.

There are plenty of threads on the subject. It results in reduced braking and no regen.

It is a complex job and requires Techstream bleeding and calibrations after the installation. Trained Toyota techs are paid five hours for the repair.

Independent hybrid shops get a discount on parts and may do it for much less. However their are no rebuilt or aftermarket parts and used parts are often bad or improperly labeled.

Codes first.

 

If you don't have a suitable scan tool yet to find out the trouble codes, it is fastest to go ahead and get the codes this way:

Blink (a/k/a Flash) Codes – How to. | PriusChat

and post them here. That way, finding out what the trouble is doesn't have to wait while you shop for a scan tool, and you can take your time picking out a tool you can have for next time.

 

Lots of Prius enthusiast love the Prius V, so if it's in decent shape with all dealership records - I'm sure you could get $3K for it AS-IS on Facebook marketplace of Craig's list. It still runs, just not safe to drive.

Good Luck.....

 

"This issue" sounds singular, but the lights you have come on for around 200 reasons, which is a little too plural to try matching up to any Toyota letter yet. I would want to start by knowing what the trouble codes are.

 

Your concern is the brake booster or sensors, not the hybrid battery. While Toyota replaced the Brake Booster and separate Pump, most owners are back running with just the Booster.

The warranty program covered the brake booster and pump with the right codes in the above pdf. Yours probably never had codes. It is common for the brake booster to slowly degrade and remain safe for years UNTIL it codes.

Everyone wants to do diy thinking it saves money. First you need a diagnosis. I would let a hybrid shop diagnose. THEN come back for cost saving advice if needed.

Often calling for prices is the wrong thing to do. Shops hate people price shopping by phone. Visit a hybrid shop in person and ask for help.

 

If the car is more or less a daily driver, I wouldn't expect a traction battery issue - since your working the pack. Parking the car and letting it sit for week, months, or years will kill both batteries and is the worst thing you can do to these cars - that's why I question looking for a low mileage Prius. A purely mechanical car suffers less in storage.
Has the brake fluid system ever been flushed out or changed? You may want to try that first; if a piece of debris jammed up the valve; preventing it from fully closing - your system could be fine.
If you ever get a soft pedal, don't panic and start rapidly pumping the brake pedal. That's the redundant backup engineered into that system.

Good Luck.......

 

First having a dealer change both parts is easy and comes with a guarantee. For many that is worth an upcharge of 100% on parts and 50% on labor.

For me $4500 is too much but to do better, you have to buy the right parts at discount (online Toyota dealers), wait a week and locate a hybrid shop that will let you supply parts (even though they get similar discounts).





The first is what most people have installed along with a gasket.

Even if you buy both and pay a shop five hours at $200 an hour you are looking at ~$1400 for parts and $1000 in labor. $2400 and everybody is making good money.

PS. Last week we had a guy upgrade his gen2 brake booster with a new Toyota part for $800 installed. $500 for the brake booster (he received an additional nationwide holiday discount) and $300 labor at an independent shop. A gen2 is one part and is slightly easier.