TC, Brake and ABS all on (then goes off / back) + abnormal breaking

I was driving home from work today when the traction control, brake light and ABS lights all came on my 2010 Prius. I noticed that when the lights were on my ability to break seemed reduced, suddenly it became more difficult to break. After driving a bit more the lights went off (breaking capacity then restored) but then came back on about 10 minutes later.

I parked my car, turned it off, turned it back on but the lights were still on. Once again I drove a bit with the lights on, noticed the reduced breaking capacity and then the lights went off (breaking capacity was then restored).

Could this be a 12v battery issue or something else? My car has 120k on it and still has the original 12v battery.

Thank you

 

Thanks guys for the tips and information. I started my car this morning and the lights turned off, then came back on 15 minutes later (breaking capacity reduced again) and then turned off again (breaking capacity) restored. Weird.

I called my local Toyota dealer and got a quote for the 12v battery replacement. $230. The parts guy I talked to was thinking this behavior could possibly be related to the hybrid battery itself going bad? I sure hope that wouldn't go bad already, not at 120k miles. Replacement quote for the hybrid battery was $3k...

 

I'm now at 120,000 miles.

 

Could very well be. When the TC, brake and ABS lights were on I had to break fairly hard at one point and noticed a slight grinding noise coming from I think the back drivers side tire. Looks like Michigan is not a carb state.

 

Well, I think I may be bringing my car to the dealer to have this checked out. The problem keeps occurring on and off. I'm going to see if I can catch the codes with my OBD2 scanner. I also noticed another grinding noise when the 3 sets of lights were on. The sound seemed to be coming from either one of the wheel wells or directly under the car.

 

Hi guys,

Over the past 2 years I've had the issue on and off with the TC, brake and ABS lights coming on and breaking capacity being reduced by around 50%. I've noticed that the issue would only happen in winter months during freezing weather. Last October I finally replaced the 12v battery and to my surprised the issue didn't happen once all winter. It's May now and the last 3 times I've driven the my car the same 3 lights have been on at startup and my breaking capacity is reduced by 50%. Car is a 2010 Prius with 155k miles on. Brake fluid level looks good.

Has anyone else had this issue?

Thank you

 

Car is still on the original brake fluid. I inquired with a Toyota dealer about doing a break fluid flush and fill last October and they mentioned they didn't think it was needed. However, I've read on here about the Toyota manual recommending it changed at 100k.

A few minutes ago I disconnected the negative terminal on the 12v, waited 30 seconds, reconnected and then went for short drive. The warning lights were still on but breaking capacity seemed normal again. Weird.