2009 Prius Traction Control Alarm Malfunction After Service

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by MC777, May 19, 2026.

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  1. MC777

    MC777 Junior Member

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    Hi there,

    I recently dropped off my 2009 Prius for its 65K service. When I picked it up, the orange VSC/TRAC light came on at 35mph, with a loud beeping sound, and it stays on until my speed is below 35 again. I can also feel the brakes kick in when I go around a bend in the road and it won't 'recover' until my speed is below 35 again, sometimes as low as 25mph before the brakes will let up.

    There was nothing wrong with it before the service. The shop owner told me about it when I picked up the car, said he doesn't know why it's happening, and that 'he wishes he never ran diagnostics on the car'. ?? He said it will go away by itself after a few days, and/or it could be a bigger, pricey issue that must be fixed.

    I've never had an issue before, why now all of a sudden?

    Has anyone else had this issue before? If so, how did you fix it?

    Please and thank you!

    MC
     

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    #1 MC777, May 19, 2026
  2. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    What was included with the 65k service? What did the shop touch? That's where you would begin looking. But these errors don't go away on their own, that's just a way to get rid of you. Since you paid for the service, it's his duty to fix the issue or find the cause of it
     
    #2 JC91006, May 20, 2026
  3. Tombukt2

    Tombukt2 Senior Member

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    What was the service was it involving your tires now go out and look at tyres all same sizes asaeked on tyre ?? This is important . Same tyres as before service ? You know this by looking. Brakes serviced? Looking at wheel sensors and tone rings . Drive axle services same as wheel and tyre issues. the bill would be better to see !
     
    #3 Tombukt2, May 20, 2026
  4. ChapmanF

    ChapmanF Senior Member

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    Are there any warning lights? (That stay on, I mean, not just the skid control light blinking while it takes over on your turns.)

    If the related lights stay on, you can get trouble codes to pin down the issue. If you don't have a scan tool for that, you can get them this way:

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

    If no lights except the blink while cornering, you can still pull up the car's "ABS History", which shows what all the sensor inputs were the most recent four times either ABS or skid control kicked in. Techstream or another comparably-capable scan tool is needed to pull that up. That information, again, will probably be enough to pin down what sensor input looks bogus.

    (Disclaimer: what I just said about an "ABS History" page is from my gen 3 experience. Does gen 2 have that page? Dun᠎no.)
     
    #4 ChapmanF, May 20, 2026
  5. MC777

    MC777 Junior Member

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    2009 Prius
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    N/A
    Thank you so much for your replies.
    The front disc brake pads and brake rotors were replaced.
    All 4 tires are the same size. Tires replaced and wheel alignment done around Thanksgiving of 2025. Left/front tie rod replaced at the same time.
    My TPS light has been on for 3 or 4 years. I was told it's $600 and up to replace - a bit absurd for a 2009 car. I opted to just regularly check the air in my tires.
    No other lights are on and the traction control alarm only came on after the 60K service (60K - 65K was a typo, sorry), from the sound of it, after the diagnostic scan was done, because the guy said 'he wishes he never scanned the car'...
    I've uploaded the service receipt.

    Ps: I realize it is the mechanics job to fix the issue, but with his explanation and reasoning of why it is on, and that it will go away after a few days doesn't inspire much confidence in his capabilities. Also why I thought to reach out to the experts here on Prius Chat instead =)
    Thank you again for any and all advise offered, I do appreciate it!
     

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    #5 MC777, May 20, 2026
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