2012 Toyota Prius Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE VIBRATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO TOYOTA VALLEJO (201 AUTO MALL PKWY, VALLEJO, CA 94591, (707) 552-4545) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE HEAD GASKET WAS BLOWN OUT AND THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 165,000.

ROUGH START AT COLD START WHEN CAR IS LEFT FOR MORE THAN 12 HOURS. INTERMITTENT PROBLEM CANNOT BE DETERMINED AT DEALER DUE TO INFREQUENCY OF ISSUE, BUT HAPPENS MULTIPLE TIMES A MONTH. TOYOTA WAS UNABLE TO HELP ME AND SAYS THIS IS UNRELATED TO THE EXACT SAME ISSUE PLAGUING 2010-2013 PRIUS AND PRIUS V MODELS, EVEN THOUGH SYMPTOMS ARE EXACTLY THE SAME.

TYPICALLY THE KEY IS LEFT IN THE CAR IN THE GARAGE. TONIGHT AT 6 PM, AT A GARAGE TEMPERATURE OF 83 DEGREES F, THE ENGINE SPONTANEOUSLY STARTED. NO ONE WAS IN THE CAR AND IT HAD BEEN GARAGED FOR ABOUT 3 HOURS. I JUST HAPPENED TO BE IN THE GARAGE WHEN THE PRIUS STARTED AND WAS NOTHING SHORT OF FLABBERGASTED.

CAR STALLED ON HIGHWAY. WAS JUST MERGING ONTO HIGHWAY, THE CAR STALLED AND DIED. WAS ABLE TO VERY, VERY SLOWLY PULL OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD . THIS WAS A FEW MONTHS AFTER THE SOFTWARE UPDATE FOR THE INVERTER. COULD HAVE BEEN A CATASTROPHIC ACCIDENT!!! GOT TOWED TO A TOYOTA DEALER. THEY REPLACED THE INVERTER AND PARTS WITH AN UPDATED ONE AND SOFTWARE TOO. THERE WAS NO CHARGE TO ME. HOWEVER, I BELIEVE THE 2012 INVERTER WAS INFERIOR AND ALL THESE MODELS SHOULD BE UPDATED WITH NEW INVERTERS. THIS IS AN ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN!

MY CAR HAS STARTED TO BURN OIL AT AN ALARMING RATE: 2 QUARTS BETWEEN OIL CHANGES AT 5,000 MILES. THIS DOES NOT SEEM NORMAL. THERE DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE A LEAK.

EXCESS OIL CONSUMPTION

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA PRIUS V. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE AIR CONDITIONER WAS ACTIVATED AND THERE WAS A STRONG ODOR IN THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER (TOYOTA OF RENTON, LOCATED AT 150 SW 7TH ST, RENTON, WA 98057; (425) 228-4700) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ODOR WAS DUE TO MOLD. THE DEALER CLEANED THE VENTS AND THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL OTHER TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE SAME DEALER, BUT THEY USED THE SOLUTION TO CLEAN THE VENT THE SECOND TIME. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE STILL OCCURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.

MY PRUIS IS BURNING OIL AT A FASTER RATE THAN IT SHOULD BE.

MY PRIUS IS USING 1 QUART OF OIL PER 900 MILES, THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP DID A OIL STUDY AND VERIFIED THAT INDEED THE CAR IS USING 1 QUART PER 900 MILES, BUT WILL NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT AND STATED MY CAR IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY AND COULD BE REBUILT FOR 9000 DOLLARS-THIS IS A COMMUTER CAR ONLY AND HAS ONLY BEEN USED FOR OPEN ROAD DRIVING.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AS THE MASTER WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE ONLY CODE FOUND WAS RELATED TO LOW FUEL ALTHOUGH THE VEHICLE HAD A FULL TANK OF FUEL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND MADE THE CONTACT WAS MADE AWARE THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V053000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM , HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 37,795.

STARTING IN SPRING 2013 AND CONTINUING DURING THE REST OF THE SPRING, SUMMER AND EARLY FALL IN THE HOTTEST MONTHS, AFTER PARKING MY PRIUS C OUTSIDE, IT ALWAYS HAD ISSUES STARTING, WHICH CONTINUES TO THIS DAY. I WILL PUT THE KEY IN THE IGNITION, START THE CAR, ALL THE DASH LIGHTS COME ON AND THE CAR WILL USUALLY NOT ALLOW ME TO PUT IT INTO REVERSE OR DRIVE. I HAVE TO TAKE THE KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION AND START IT AGAIN AT LEAST TWICE BEFORE IT STARTS NORMALLY AS IT DOES WHEN THE WEATHER IS COOLER AND/OR WHEN THE CAR IS PARKED IN MY GARAGE. A COUPLE OF TIMES, I MANAGED TO GET THE CAR TO GO INTO REVERSE, BUT IT WAS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO STEER AS IF THE PARKING BRAKE WAS ON. THEN THE VEHICLE STOPPED, LEAVING ME IN THE PATH OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR AND THE DEALERSHIP SAYS THEY CAN'T FIX IT UNLESS THEY CAN RECREATE THE PROBLEM. I HAVE TAKEN PICTURES AND VISEO, BUT THAT MAKES NO DIFFERENCE TO THEM. THIS IS A DANGEROUS PROBLEM AND NEEDS TO BE FIXED. THIS IS THE SECOND COMPLAINT I HAVE FILED RE: THIS MATTER AS MY FIRST DOES NOT SEEM TO APPEAR HERE.

DRIVING THE INTERSTATE AT 65 MPH THE ENGINE STOPPED - WITH NO WARNING OF ANY KIND, THE AIR, DASH LIGHTS, RADIO, ETC ALL CONTINUED TO WORK. WE COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD & RESTARTED THE ENGINE. WE PURCHASED NEW & HAD ALL THE REQUIRED MAINTENANCE DONE AT THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP. WE LEARNED OF A RECALL ON THE NEWS IN FEBRUARY & TOOK THE CAR IN FOR THE REPAIR. (A SOFTWARE PROBLEM RELATED TO THE CAR ENGINE STOPPING WHILE DRIVING) WHEN WE LEARNED OF THE RECALL WE REMEMBERED THIS HAD HAPPENED TO US ABOUT A MONTH EARLIER, AGAIN, ON THE INTERSTATE AT 65 MPH & THOUGHT IT WAS JUST A FLUKE AT THE TIME. WE WERE VERY UPSET WHEN THIS LATEST INCIDENT HAPPENED AFTER HAVING THE RECALL REPAIR DONE ON THE CAR & HAVING DRIVEN A FEW THOUSAND MILES BETWEEN INCIDENTS. WE DROVE THE CAR DIRECTLY TO OUR DEALER'S SERVICE DEPT AND REPORTED THESE FACTS TO THE SERVICE MANAGER. THEY IMMEDIATELY TOOK IT IN AND TRIED TO DETECT ANY EVIDENCE OF THE INCIDENT. THEY TOLD US THAT THEY ALSO CONTACTED TOYOTA CORPORATE TECHNICAL SERVICES FOR ASSISTANCE. THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO FIND ANY EVIDENCE OF THE INCIDENT. AS WE ARE NOW AFRAID TO DRIVE THE CAR, THEY GAVE US A CAR TO DRIVE UNTIL THE PROBLEM COULD BE RESOLVED. WE DON'T WANT TO SEE THIS CAR SOLD TO AN UNSUSPECTING DRIVER. WE FEEL THIS IS A LIFE THREATENING DEFECT AND TOYOTA SHOULD REPURCHASE THE CAR FROM US AT A FAIR VALUE SO THAT WE COULD REPLACE IT WITH ANOTHER CAR. WE CONTACTED THE TOYOTA CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE CENTER YESTERDAY BY PHONE AND FILED A FORMAL COMPLAINT, THEY OPENED A FILE AND GAVE US A CASE NUMBER. TODAY WE WERE CONTACTED BY PHONE BY A TOYOTA REGIONAL ANALYST AND WERE TOLD THAT SINCE THEY CANNOT FIND ANY EVIDENCE OF THE INCIDENT BY USING THEIR COMPUTER SYSTEM WE WOULD NEED TO FILE A LEMON LAW COMPLAINT. WE TOLD HIM THAT WE EXPECT TOYOTA TO RESOLVE OUR ISSUE - WE SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PROVE THE DEFECT. HELP. *TR

MOLDY ODOR EMITS FROM VENTS. HAD ROUND ROCK TOYOTA DEALERSHIP ATTEMPT TO CORRECT THE ISSUE FOUR TIMES AND ALSO HAD CALLED UP TOYOTA CORP BUT ISSUE WAS NEVER RESOLVED. ON THE FOURTH ATTEMPT AT THE DEALERSHIP, TOYOTA HAD AUTHORIZED A CARBON-TYPE CABIN FILTER THAT WAS SUPPOSE TO BE ABLE TO REMOVE THE ODOR BUT IT DID NOT HELP. DID NOT FIX OR REPLACE THE ROOT CAUSE OF THE ISSUE. FOOD WAS NEVER ALLOWED IN THIS VEHICLE; AIR VENT WAS SELECTOR FOR FRESH (NOT RECIRCULATE). THIS IS MY THIRD BUT LAST TOYOTA. IT BREAKS MY HEART TO HAVE PURCHASED A BRAND NEW PRIUS AND BY 3000 MILES, STRONG MOLDY ODOR EXISTS. DEALER HAD SPRAYED LYSOL, PROVIDED AC REFRESH KIT BUT EVAPORATOR OR VENTILATION SYSTEM IS FAULTY. TOYOTA BULLETIN # T-SV-0142-13 (SEPT 12). *TR

MY 2012 PRIUS V HAS SEVERAL UNRESOLVED PROBLEMS. ON THOSE OCCASIONS WHEN THE GAS ENGINE CRANKS THE CAR, THERE IS A LOUD ENGINE RATTLER. THE ENGINE SOUNDS AS IF THERE ISN'T ANY OIL. TURNING OFF THE ENGINE AND RE-CRANK DOES NOT ALWAYS FIX THE PROBLEM. THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT SOMETIMES RATTLE. TWO DIFFERENT TOYOTA SERVICE DEPARTMENTS ARE UNABLE TO DETERMINE AND FIX THE PROBLEM. ONE OF THE SHOPS REPLACED ONE OF FIFTY BUTTON LIKE LEATHER SEAT FASTENERS. THIS SEEMED TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. TWO WEEKS LATER THE PROBLEM STARTED AGAIN. NOW, I SUSPECT THE FRONT PASSENGER DOOR SPEAKER IS THE PROBLEM. OCCASIONALLY, THE REAR DRIVER WINDOW SQUEAKS. THESE PROBLEMS HAVE BEEN REPORTED TO SERVICE SHOPS BUT THEY WANT TO KEEP THE CAR OVER NIGHT. I DID NOT BUY A NEW CAR FOR OVER NIGHT SLEEPOVERS AT THE DEALER. FINALLY, TWO WEEKS AGO A ROCK HIT MY WINDSHIELD. FIVE DAYS LATER THE WINDSHIELD CRACK GREW FROM A TINY DING TO 15 INCHES. I HAVE OWNED THIRTEEN NEW CARS IN THIS LIFE TIME. I HAVE SUFFERED WINDSHIELD CRACKS BUT NONE OF THEM SUGGESTED THAT THE GLASS WAS TOO THIN. THIS IS MY FIRST TOYOTA. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE CONTACT MENTION THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE GIVEN A JUMP START IN ORDER TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE DUPLICATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 17,500. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. *TR