
PRIUS_OM_OM47F01U_(U)
5256-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
6
Maintenance and care
Remove the reservoir cap.
Add brake fluid slowly while checking the fluid level.
Make sure to check the fluid type and prepare the necessary ite m.
■Brake fluid can absorb moisture from the air
Excess moisture in the brake fluid can cause a dangerous loss o f braking effi-
ciency. Use only newly opened brake fluid.
3
4
Fluid type SAE J1703 or FMVSS No.116 DOT 3 brake fluid
SAE J1704 or FMVSS No.116 DOT 4 brake fluid
ItemsClean funnel
WARNING
■
When filling the reservoir
Take care as brake fluid can harm your hands and eyes and damage
painted surfaces.
If fluid gets on your hands or in your eyes, flush the affected area with clean
water immediately.
If you still experience discomfort, see a doctor.
NOTICE
■ If the brake fluid level is low or high
It is normal for the brake fluid level to go down slightly as the brake pads
wear out or when the fluid level in the accumulator is high.
If the reservoir needs frequent refilling, there may be a serious problem.

587
PRIUS_OM_OM47F01U_(U)
7
When trouble arises
7-2. Steps to take in an emergency
If you think something is wrong
●Fluid leaks un der the vehicle
(Water dripping from the air conditioning a fter use is normal.)
● Flat-looking tires or uneven tire wear
● High coolant temperature warni ng light flashes or comes on
● Changes in exhaust sound
● Excessive tire squeal when cornering
● Strange noises related to the suspension system
● Pinging or other noises related to the hybrid system
● Engine missing, stumb ling or running roughly
● Appreciable loss of power
● Vehicle pulls heavily to one side when braking
● Vehicle pulls heavily to one s ide when driving on a level road
● Loss of brake effectiveness, spongy feeling, pedal almost touch es
the floor
If you notice any of the followi ng symptoms, your vehicle proba -
bly needs adjustment or repair. Contact your Toyota dealer as
soon as possible.
Visible symptoms
Audible symptoms
Operational symptoms

588
PRIUS_OM_OM47F01U_(U)
7-2. Steps to take in an emergency
If a warning light turns on or a war ning
buzzer sounds
Calmly perform the following actions if any of the warning ligh ts
comes on or flashes. If a light comes on or flashes, but then
goes off, this does not necessarily indicate a malfunction in the
system. However, if this continues to occur, have the vehicle
inspected by your Toyota dealer.
Warning light and w arning buzzer list
Warning lightWarning light/Details/Actions
(U.S.A.)
(Canada)
Brake system warning light and warning buzzer (red
indicator)
*1
Indicates that:
• The brake fluid level is low; or
• The brake system is malfunctioning
Immediately stop the vehicle in a safe place and con-
tact your Toyota dealer. Continuing to drive the vehi-
cle may be dangerous.
Brake system warning light (yellow indicator)
Indicates a malfunction in:
• The regenerative braking system; or
• The electronically controlled brake system
Have the vehicle inspected by your Toyota dealer
immediately.
Charging system warning light
Indicates a malfunction in the vehicle’s charging system
Immediately stop the vehicle in a safe place and con-
tact your Toyota dealer.
Low engine oil pressure warning light
(warning buzzer)
*2
Indicates that the engine oil pressure is too low
Immediately stop the vehicle in a safe place and con-
tact your Toyota dealer.
(U.S.A.)
(Canada)
Malfunction indicator lamp Indicates a malfunction in:
• The hybrid system;
• The electronic engine control system; or
• The electronic throttle control system
Have the vehicle inspected by your Toyota dealer
immediately.

5897-2. Steps to take in an emergency
PRIUS_OM_OM47F01U_(U)
7
When trouble arises
SRS warning lightIndicates a malfunction in:
• The SRS airbag system;
• The front passenger occupant classification system; or
• The seat belt pretensioner system
Have the vehicle inspected by your Toyota dealer
immediately.
(U.S.A.)
(Canada)
ABS warning light Indicates a malfunction in:
• The ABS; or
• The brake assist system
Have the vehicle inspected by your Toyota dealer
immediately.
(Red/yellow)
Electric power steering system warning light (warning
buzzer)
Indicates a malfunction in the EPS (Electric Power Steer-
ing) system
Have the vehicle inspected by your Toyota dealer
immediately.
(Flashes or
illuminates)
(If equipped)
PCS warning light
• When a buzzer sounds simultaneously:Indicates a malfunction has occurred in the PCS (Pre-
Collision System).
Have the vehicle inspected by your Toyota dealer
immediately.
• When a buzzer does not sound: The PCS (Pre-Collision System) has become temporar-
ily unavailable, corrective action may be necessary.
Follow the instructions dis played on the multi-infor-
mation display. ( P. 289, 605)
If the PCS (Pre-Collision System) or VSC (Vehicle Stability
Control) system is disabled, the PCS warning light will illu-
minate.
P. 301
(Orange)
(If equipped)
LTA indicator (warning buzzer)
Indicates a malfunction in the LTA (Lane Tracing Assist)
Follow the instructions dis played on the multi-infor-
mation display. ( P. 316)
Warning lightWarning light/Details/Actions

5907-2. Steps to take in an emergency
PRIUS_OM_OM47F01U_(U)
Slip indicator lightIndicates a malfunction in:
• The VSC system;
• The TRAC system; or
• The hill-start assist control system
Have the vehicle inspected by your Toyota dealer
immediately.
The light will flash when the ABS, VSC or TRAC system is
operating.
High coolant temperature warning light • When the light flashes:
Indicates that the engine coolant temperature is too high
The light changes from a flashing to a solid light when
the temperature further increases
Immediately stop the vehicle in a safe place. ( P. 652)
• When the light comes on without flashing: Indicates a malfunction in the exhaust heat recirculator
system
Have the vehicle inspected by your Toyota dealer
immediately.
(Flashes)
(If equipped)
PKSB OFF indicator
Indicates a malfunction in the Parking Support Brake func-
tion
Have the vehicle inspected by your Toyota dealer.
The warning light will operate as follows, even when the
system is not malfunctioning:
• The light will come on when the Parking Support Brake function is turned off ( P. 372)
• The light will come on when the Parking Support Brake function is operating ( P. 376)
• The light will flash when the system cannot be temporar- ily used ( P. 378)
Open door warning light (warning buzzer)*3
Indicates that a door is not fully closed
Check that all the doors are closed.
Low fuel level warning light
Indicates that remaining fuel is approximately 1.7 gal.
(6.4 L, 1.4 Imp.gal.) or less
Refuel the vehicle.
Warning lightWarning light/Details/Actions

5927-2. Steps to take in an emergency
PRIUS_OM_OM47F01U_(U)
Inappropriate pedal operation warning light*6 (warning
buzzer) When a buzzer sounds:
Indicates a malfunction in:
• The Brake Override System
• The Drive-Start Control
Have the vehicle inspected by your Toyota dealer
immediately.
Indicates that the shift position was changed and Drive-
Start Control was operated while depressing the accelera-
tor pedal.
Momentarily release the accelerator pedal.
Indicates that the Parking Support Brake function (if
equipped) is operating ( P. 376)
Follow the instruction that is displayed on the multi-
information display.
When a buzzer does not sound:
Indicates that the accelerator and brake pedals are being
depressed simultaneously, and the Brake Override Sys-
tem is operating.
Release the accelerator pedal and depress the brake
pedal.
(Canada only)
Low engine oil pressure warning (symbol display)*6
Indicates that the engine oil pressure is too low
Immediately stop the vehicle in a safe place and con-
tact your Toyota dealer.
Warning lightWarning light/Details/Actions

5937-2. Steps to take in an emergency
PRIUS_OM_OM47F01U_(U)
7
When trouble arises
*1: Brake system warning buzzer:When there is a possible problem that could affect braking perf ormance,
the warning light will come on and a warning buzzer will sound.
*2: Low engine oil pressure warning buzzer: A buzzer also sounds continuously for approximately 30 seconds at maxi-
mum in addition to the low engine oil pressure warning light when the
“READY” indicator is illuminated.
*3: Open door warning buzzer:
The open door warning buzzer sounds to alert one or more of the doors is
not fully closed (with the vehicle having reached a speed of 3 mph [5 km/h]).
*4: Driver’s seat belt warning buzzer:
The driver’s seat belt warning buzzer sounds to alert the drive r that his or
her seat belt is not fastened. Once the power switch is turned to ON mode,
the buzzer sounds. If the seat belt is still unfastened, the bu zzer sounds
intermittently for a certain period of time after the vehicle r eaches a certain
speed.
Front passenger’s seat belt warning buzzer:
The front passenger’s seat belt warning buzzer sounds to alert the front
passenger that his or her seat belt is not fastened. If the sea t belt is unfas-
tened, the buzzer sounds intermittently for a certain period of time after the
vehicle reaches a certain speed.
*5: Rear passengers’ seat belt warning buzzer: The rear passengers’ seat belt warning buzzer sounds to alert t he rear
passenger that his or her seat belt is not fastened. If the sea t belt is unfas-
tened, the buzzer sounds intermittently for a certain period of time, after
the seat belt is fastened and unfastened and the vehicle reache s a certain
speed.
*6: This symbol is displayed on the multi-information display.

5967-2. Steps to take in an emergency
PRIUS_OM_OM47F01U_(U)
WARNING
■When the electric power steering system warning light comes on
When the light comes on yellow, the assist to the power steering is
restricted. When the light comes on red, the assist to the power steering is
lost and handling operations of the steering wheel become extre mely
heavy. When steering wheel operations are heavier than usual, grip the
steering wheel firmly and operate it using more force than usua l.
■
If the tire pressure warning light comes on
Be sure to observe the following precautions. Failure to do so could
cause a loss of vehicle control and result in death or serious injury.
●Stop your vehicle in a safe place as soon as possible. Adjust the tire
inflation pressure immediately.
●Vehicles with emergency tire puncture repair kit: If the tire p ressure
warning light comes on even after tire inflation pressure adjus tment, it
is probable that you have a flat tire. Check the tires. If a ti re is flat,
repair the flat tire by using emergency tire puncture repair ki t.
●Vehicles with spare tire: If the tire pressure warning light co mes on
even after tire inflation pressure adjustment, it is probable t hat you
have a flat tire. Check the tires. If a tire is flat, change it with the spare
tire and have the flat tire repaired by the nearest Toyota deal er.
●Avoid abrupt maneuvering and braking. If the vehicle tires dete riorate,
you could lose control of the steering wheel or the brakes.
■If a blowout or sudden air leakage should occur
The tire pressure warning system may not activate immediately.