2012 Toyota Prius UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.
Complaint Timeline
Chronological view of owner reports
CA No problem
I contacted Toyota about the peeling paint on my car. The Toyota representative told me to file a complaint with your agency. The paint is peeling on the roof of my car. There are many similar cars with the same problem. Toyota is unresponsive.
2012 Prius has a fault from the the manufactor where the electronic brake abs actuator and pump, which are two seperate parts working together, are faulty. Various lights on dashboard illuminate brake, tire pressure, abs, and traction control. When this occurs the car becomes very unsafe to drive as the brakes become almost non existant because the braking system on the car is electronic and controlled by both the pump and actuator. This makes the car dangerous to drive, even in short trip conditions as the brakes could fail to engage at any time. The dealer confirmed that it is a known issue on this model Prius and did not cover the cost to fix it even though the car is not safe to drive. This is dangerous and should have a recall so the car can be safe to drive on roads and potenially save lives if the brake system fails to engage,
My letter to Toyota: I'm writing this in regard to an inverter issue my 2012 Prius C recently experienced. While driving last month my car completely shut down, no warning and thankfully cars avoided hitting me and I was able to get from the middle lane to be able to coast to a side street in which I had to be towed. It turned out it was an inverter issue which had to be replaced. Granted my vehicle has less than 135k even though it is a 2012. I have done research and found models of Prius had the same exact issue(s) which was part of a warranty enhancement and I truly think my vehicle should be included. I want this to be looked in to and addressed. I will be contacting NHTSA also in regard to this. I filed with Toyota and ref#230323001904
I was driving on freeway when my vehicle shut off and wouldnt start again. It almost caused an accident thankfully not. I paid to have car taken tothe repair shop Viva Toyota in Las Cruces NM and they inspected it and gave me a quote on repair as well what was causing the problem. There was a saftey recall for the PCU and i believe the inverter is causing the failure. please help me to get this figured out.
No problem
Three doors stopped opening and closing with the remote key and inside lock/unlock buttons in a span of three weeks. Not able to open and close the door with the remote key or lock/unlock button is a safety risk. Toyota confirmed that all three door lock actuators failed. Each one costs $800 to replace with a total cost of $2400. It is inspected by Toyota dealership, Toyota 101, 386 convention way, Redwood City, 94063. The car had only 36,448 miles. The problem appeared all of a sudden. First one lock failed. Soon all three locks failed.
I was in freeway going home last night after visiting my mom by point loma area San Diego. I was on 8fwy going east, then I merge to 805fwy South which I always and usually take same route. As I went on ramp of 805 South going on a steep high altitude, my 2012 PriusV stall and I can't accelerate when I was stepping into my gas pedal which I have already pushed it all the way in. So I quickly put emergency lights on and slowly guided my car to the right shoulder. I called AAA which I've been a member for so many years. And believe me it is really a life saver. This safety could have been worst from my experience of been driving for more than 30 years. I got it towed all the way home which was about 7 miles. The traffic was heavy on a Saturday night and I waited for almost 2 hours for my towing. When I got up this late Sunday almost noontime, I went out to check on my car and it is still saying "Check Hybrid System" with all the lights on my module was on. I started it and noticed there was an acceleration so I drove it back to my driveway since the tow truck just drop it off on the curveside close by my residence. It drove ok, and then I started my research online and I recently bought a code reader but not sure if it will work on my hybrid 2012 Prius V. Nothing came out on the reader. I called my buddy which was a certified ASE mechanic but has less experience on hybrid. But he has a more expensive code reader and analyser equipment and tools. I also check the Toyota headquarters and you website about my car on safety recalls. I just had taken this vehicle to the dealer for some sort of worldwide safety recalls on all this typical model. I've also read an additional recall and they just have launched it 01/2019. I've plug in my vin# on all of this sites for a check but nothing is coming out. But their complaint is similar to what's going on to my car. It's "Check Hybrid System" and I believe it's the Inverter issues. Please update me and also the Toyota HQ.
Car suddenly had no pick up. There seems to be problems with the engine accelerating/switching gears. This was extremely dangerous while I was driving. Also If just had the car inspected a few months prior.
DRIVERS SIDE DOOR LOCK MALFUNCTION.DRIVERS SIDE DOOR WILL NOT OPEN WITH KEYLESS REMOTE OR BY RESTING MY HAND ON THE DOOR HANDLE WHICH SHOULD AUTOMATICALLY OPEN ALL DOORS. I TRIED USING ELECTRONIC UNLOCK BUTTON INSIDE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR AND ALSO WON'T OPEN.IT APPEARS TO BE A BAD DRIVERS SIDE UNLOCK ACTUATOR WHICH HAS SO MANY COMPLAINTS THAT ITS OBVIOUS THIS PART IS NOT BUILT CORRECTLY. IT IS A SAFETY CONCERN BECAUSE YOU CAN GET LOCKED INSIDE VEHICLE.
THE LINING ON THE DEFLECTOR RUBBER GASKET/SEAL OF THE SUNROOF HAS BEEN DETERIORATING. I HAVE HEARD FROM MANY OTHER PRIUS III OWNERS THAT THIS IS A COMMON DEFECT FOR THE 2010-2013 YEAR MODELS. I BELIEVE IT IF IS THIS COMMON, TOYOTA SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR REPLACING IT.
I SWITCHED INTO NEUTRAL AND PUSHED THE PARK BUTTON TO PARK. I LEANED FORWARD TO GRAB MY WALLET AND FELT THE CAR ACCELERATING OVER THE PARKING CURB. I IMMEDIATELY SLAMMED THE BRAKES AND THE CAR ACCELERATED INTO A BUILDING. I AM FORTUNATE TO BE ALIVE BECAUSE IF THE AIRBAG WOULD HAVE ACTIVATED, I WOULD HAVE BROKE MY NECK.
MY 2012 PRIUS C WITH 90,000 MILES BEGAN TO LOSE POWER/SPEED DRIVING WHEN CHECK HYBRID SYSTEM WARNING SUDDENLY CAME ON TONIGHT. IT WAS UNRESPONSIVE TO THE GAS PEDDLE, EVEN AT FULL THROTTLE. DID NOT ALLOW ENOUGH TIME TO PULL TO THE SIDE OF A BUSY ROAD BEFORE IT LOST ALL ABILITY TO DRIVE, LEAVING ME STALLED NEAR INTERSECTION. A STRANGER HELPED PUSH MY CAR OFF THE MAIN ROAD UNTIL AAA SENT A TOW TRUCK. HAD THIS OCCURRED ONE MILE LATER, I WOULD'VE STALLED ON THE 25 SOUTHBOUND FREEWAY GOING FROM LONE TREE TO DENVER AT A VERY BUSY TIME IN THE EVENING WITHOUT WARNING (SCARY THOUGHT). UPON ARRIVING HOME WITH THE TOWED VEHICLE, I ATTEMPTED TO START THE ENGINE AGAIN, BUT IT WOULD NOT START. TURNED OFF THE IGNITION, REMOVED KEYS, BUT A LOW SOUND I'VE NEVER CONTINUED FOR SEVERAL MINUTES. AFTER THAT, THE CAR WAS COMPLETELY DEAD. DASHBOARD WON'T LIGHT UP, NO WORKING HORN, POWER LOCKS, WINDOWS, ALARM. I NOW HAVE NO FUNCTIONING VEHICLE AND HAVE NO IDEA WHAT CAUSED MY CAR TO LOSE POWER WHILE DRIVING.
THE BRAKE BOOSTER/ACCTUATOR HAS FAILED ON MY PRIUS AT ABOUT 76000 MILES AND I BOUGHT IT USED WITH 35000 MILES. I HAVE FOUND OUT THAT THIS HAS BEEN AN ISSUE WITH PRIUS VEHICLES SINCE 2006 AND ENHANCED WARRANTIES HAVE BEEN ISSUED ON MODELS FROM 2006 AS WELL AS 2010-2015. I HAVE TRIED TO CALL TOYOTA TO HAVE THEM FIX THE ISSUE BUT THEY SAY THAT MY VEHICLE ISNT COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY FOR SOME REASON. WHAT THEY SAID WAS THAT MY PARTS MAKER WASNT COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY BUT IF ITS A PROBLEM THAT HAS BEEN PREVELANT IN OTHER PRIUS VEHICLES, I DONT UNDERSTAND WHY THIS WOULDNT BE COVERED REGARDLESS OF WHO MADE THE PART. IT HAS AFFECTED MY BRAKING RANDOMLY AND HAS ALMOST CAUSED ME TO HAVE AN ACCIDENT A COUPLE TIMES ALREADY. WHEN DIAGNOSED I GOT ERROR CODE C1391 WHICH WAS COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY ENHANCEMENT LETTER I FOUND YET TOYOTA WILL NOT FIX MY VEHICLE.
OWNER/DRIVER FOUND BLACKED OUT BEHIND WHEEL IN 55 MPH HIGHWAY IN OPPOSING TRAFFIC DITCH. DRIVER AMBULANCED TO HOSPITAL ER. DMV REQUIRES MEDICAL EVALUATION FOR CONTINUED DRIVING PRIVILEGES. DRIVER SUSPECTED CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING. SUBSEQUENTLY, DRIVER PLACES RESIDENTIAL CARBON MONOXIDE DETECTOR INSIDE PRIUS WHICH ALARMED WHILE PARKED AND TURNED OFF AT RESIDENCE DRIVEWAY. TOYOTA CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE CENTER ISSUED CASE # [XXX]. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
NHTSA RECALL #18V-684 I WAS DRIVING ON THE STREET WHEN CHEQ HIBRID SISTEM SIGN CAME ON, AFTER I GOT THIS MASAGE, I DID DROVE FOR A WHILE TIL STOP ON A SAFE PLACE, WHEN TURNING IT BACK ON WITH THE BREAK PEDAL PUSHED, THE SISTEM DID NOT GET A READY LIGHT, WHICH MEANS ABLE TO MOVE, SO I CALLED AAA (A TOWING SERVICE). WE WENT TO A WEST COVINA TOYOTA DEALER. THE SERVICE MAN MANNY TOLD ME IT MAYBE IS ABOUT THE RECALL ON THIS VEHICLE. WHEN VEHICLE WAS READY MANNY TOLD ME ON THE PHONE THAT IT WAS A LOOSE WIRE AND WHEN I GOT AT THE DEALER HE SHOW ME A SWITCH (NOT A WIRE) THAT IT IS IMPOSIBLE TO UNLOCK IT BY IT SELF, IT HAS TO BE MOVE BY A FINGER IN ORDER TO UNLOCK IT OR LOCK IT BACK ON, SO MY POINT IS THAT I FEEL THAT THEY ARE TELLING ME THAT JUST TO CHARGE ME AND I BELIEVE THAT THEY ARE MAKING THIS UP. I DID TALK TO THE MANAGER GARY KUFTEDJIAN, HE GOT MAD AT ME BECAUSE I DID NOT WANT TO SIT DOWN AND TOLD ME THAT I WAS NO RESPECTING HIM JUST BECUASE I DID NOT HAVE A SIT, I TOLD HIM THAT THE ISSUE WITH THE VEHICLE WAS THE NEED OF THE UPDATE ( THE RECALL ) NOT THE SWITCH THE THEY SAID SO I TOLD HIM THAT I DID NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR IT AND HE TOLD ME THAT IF I DO NOT PAY THAT I HAVE TO LEAVE MY VEHICLE AN OTHER DAY FOR THEM TO CHEQ IT AGAING AND I SAID WHY IF THE VEHICLE IS READY? AND HE SAID TO CHEQ IT UP AGAIN, SO I PREFER TO PAY 139.00 DOLLARS AND COMPLAIN ABOUT IT AFTER... SO I DID A COMPLAIN TO THE TOYOTA HEAD QUARTERS REFERENCE # [XXX] I DID SPEAK WITH MRS. BETH . IF YOU NEED MORE PICTURES PLEASE SEND ME AN EMAIL SO I CAN SEND MORE EVIDENCE ABOUT THIS CASE ...THANK YOU PLEASE CALL ME IF ANY AS WELL .. [XXX] MY EMAIL IS [XXX] THANK YOU [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TT
I HAVE A RECALL ON MY PRIUS FOR SOFTWARE AND IT SAYS ON YOUR SITE THAT IF I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH MY INVERTOR THEY SHOULD FIX IT OR REPAIR IT FOR FREE MY CAR HAD THIS PROBLEM 1 WEEK AGO AND MY INVERTOR FAILED AND I WENT TO TOYOTA TODAY THEY GAVE ME AN APPOINTMENT TODAY AND THEY SAID THEY CONTACTED TOYOTA JAPAN AND THE RECALL GOT REJECTED FOR THE INVERTOR PART THEY SAID I SHOULD FIX MY INVERTOR FIRST THEN THEY WILL DO THE RECALL OF THE SOFTWARE! AND IT COSTS 3000 JDS HERE IN JORDAN ITS TOO EXPENSIVE WHAT SHOULD I DO?
I LIVE IN AN APARTMENT COMPLEX IN ILLINOIS, AND I DO NOT HAVE A GARAGE. I THINK THAT SOME, IF NOT ALL, OF MY TIRES WERE STOLEN OVERNIGHT WHILE I WAS SLEEPING. I DO NOT HAVE A CAR ALARM. I BOUGHT 4 NEW AND VERY INEXPENSIVE TIRES TODAY. THE TIRE THEFT COULD HAVE HAPPENED IN MY PARKING LOT, OR AT AN AUTO-BODY SHOP LIKE NTB WHILE I WAS GETTING AN OIL CHANGE. I THINK IT WAS THE NTB IN DEKALB, ILLINOIS. I AM NOT 100% SURE IF THIS IS WHERE IT HAPPENED.I AM NOT SURE WHEN IT HAPPENED. MY TIRES WERE SO BALD, THAT I ALMOST LANDED IN THE DITCH. CAN YOU PLEASE START A DOT TIRE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER REGISTRATION FORM ONLINE VIA YOUR WEBSITE? IT WOULD BE EASIER TO TRACK TIRES BOUGHT BY HONEST AND HARD-WORKING MIDDLE-CLASS AMERICANS. ALSO, ARE ALL 4 DOT ID NUMBERS SUPPOSED TO BE THE SAME IF YOU BUY 4 NEW TIRES ALL AT ONCE? THE DOT ID NUMBER IS LOCATED ON EVERY TIRE APPROVED BY THE NHTSA. I WOULD UPLOAD PICTURES OF ALL 4 OF MY NEW TIRES IF THAT WAS THE OPTION. PLEASE HELP HONEST PEOPLE SAVE MONEY AND TIME! MC FROM ILLINOIS.
I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY, ABOUT 65 MPH, GOING TO WORK ON 06/12/18 AT APPROXIMATELY 9:45 AM ARIZONA TIME. ALL OF A SUDDEN I HEARD A LOUD BANG (EXPLOSION) AND LOOKED AROUND MY CAR. I NOTICED IN MY REAR VIEW MIRROR BLACK GLASS FLYING OFF THE ROOF OF MY CAR. THERE WERE OTHER CARS AROUND ME BUT NO TRUCKS OR SEMI'S. I CAUTIOUSLY CHANGED LANES UNTIL I COULD PULL OFF THE FREEWAY. WHEN I GOT OUT OF MY CAR I LOOKED AT THE ROOF AND FOUND THAT THE SUNROOF OF MY CAR WAS SHATTERED AND HAD DROPPED INTO THE AREA BELOW THE ROOF. I COULD STILL HEAR GLASS CRACKING AND SEE IT FALLING INTO THE WELL UNDER THE ROOF AREA. I HAD HAD THE INSIDE SHIELD CLOSED SO THERE WAS NO GLASS ON ME. I SLOWLY DROVE TO MY LOCAL TOYOTA DEALERSHIP TO ASK FOR HELP. THEY SAID THAT THEY HAD NEVER SEEN THIS BEFORE AND THAT I PROBABLY HAD SOMETHING HIT MY ROOF. I TOLD THEM THAT I DIDN'T SEE ANYTHING FLYING AT ME AND THAT THERE WERE NO TRUCKS/SEMI'S AROUND ME. THEN THEY TOLD ME THEY COULDN'T DO ANYTHING BUT WOULD HELP ME CALL MY INSURANCE COMPANY TO FILE A CLAIM. I DID (IT TOOK STATE FARM OVER AND HOUR TO FIGURE OUT WHERE TO CONNECT ME FOR A GLASS CLAIM). I HAD TO TAKE IT TO A BODY SHOP AND GET AN ESTIMATE, THEN GET IT APPROVED, AND GET A RENTAL CAR. EVEN AT THE BODY SHOP I COULD STILL HEAR THE GLASS CRACKING. EVERYONE KEPT TELLING ME THAT SOMETHING MUST HAVE ME BUT I DIDN'T FEEL ANYTHING WHEN IT HAPPENED, JUST THE LOUD BANG LIKE AN EXPLOSION.
I HAVE REPLACED 5 EVAP CHARCOAL CANISTERS AT $590 PER CANISTER
RECEIVED A WARNING CHECK HYBRID SYSTEM - IT WAS CODE POA93. ENDED GETTING THE INVERTER PUMP AND RADIATOR REPLACED DO TO THIS CODE. APPEARS TO BE A KNOWN ISSUE WITH TOYOTA WITH THERE PRIUS'S. THE CAR DIED ROLLING INTO A TOYOTA DEALER.
TOOK MY CAR INTO DEALERSHIP BECAUSE OF A NOISE IT WOULD MAKE WHEN I STARTED TO BRAKE AND WHEN I WAS STOPPED AT A LIGHT. THE CAR WOULD ALSO VIBRATE AND SHAKE. THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THE ABS ACTUATOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED WHICH WOULD COST OVER 4 GRAND! I COULDN'T BELIEVE IT. I'M SCARED TO DRIVE THE CAR NOW.
I OWN A 2012 TOYOTA PRIUS. ON THE DASHBOARD THE BRAKE LIGHT, THE ABS LIGHT, AND THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT ARE ALL ON. IN ADDITION TO THE WARNING LIGHTS THE BRAKE ACCUMULATOR PUMP IS CONSTANTLY BUZZING WITHOUT EVER STOPPING. I TOOK THE CAR TO OUR LOCAL DEALER AND I WAS TOLD THAT IT IS A LEAKY ACCUMULATOR PUMP DEFECT. I WAS ALSO TOLD THAT THIS IS NOT A WARE AND TEAR ITEM AND THAT IT IS IN FACT A FAULTY ITEM FROM THE MANUFACTURE. I CALLED TOYOTA CORPORATE FOR HELP BUT I WAS TOLD THAT THE CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY AND THAT THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN HELP ME WITH. MY MAIN CONCERN IS THE SAFETY OF MY FAMILY AND I REALLY HOPE THAT TOYOTA DOES IN FACT DO A RECALL ON THESE FAULTY ITEMS AS IT IS A REAL HAZARD TO SAFETY. ## VIN PASSED ## TOYOTA PRIUS 2012 ##
2012 TOYOTA PRIUS HAS BEEN CONSUMING LARGE AMOUNTS OF OIL SINCE 89000 MILES. DEALER COMPLETED AN OIL CONSUMPTION TEST, OF COURSE IF PASSED. DEALER STATED RAVE4'S AND CAMRY'S HAVE HAD SAME ISSUE AND THEY ISSUE RECALLS. TOYOTA HAS YET TO ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY AND REPLACE THE PISTIONS TO CORRECT THE OIL CONSUMPTION.
THE DESIGN OF BOTH HONDA ACCORD AND TOYATO PRIUS, AND LIKELY OTHERNEW MODEL CARS, MAKES IT VERY DIFFICULT TO SEE WHEN BACKING UP. THE BACK UP CAMERA IS PLACED SUCH THAT IT IS EASILY COVERED WITH ROAD DEBRI (DIRT AND SNOW) SO IT OFTEN USELESS. THE DEISGN OF WINDOWS, SEAT AND CAMERA DO NOT SUFFICIENTLY ALLOW ONE TO SEE OVER ONES LEFT SHOULDER. PERHAPS THIS IS MORE BECAUSE I AM BARELY 5'1:" AND THE CAR'S SAFETY FORBIDS USING A SEAT CUSHION TO RAISE ME HIGHER. BACKING UP IS FRIGHTENING BUT MANY CAR LOTS REQUIRE YOU TO PULL IN FRONT FORWARD SO PULLING OUT WHEN PEDESTRIANS MIGHT BE BEHIND OR OTHER CARS BACKING UP IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM. I DID NOT HAVE THIS PROBLEM WHEN I DROVE A 2007 FORD RANGER OR A 1995 LE BARON CONVERTIBLE. SO FAR I HAVE MANAGED TO NOT HAVE AN ACCIDENT BUT THINK CARS' DESIGNS DO NOT CONSIDER THIS SITUATION SUFFICIENTLY FOR SAFE DRIVING..
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The 2012 Toyota Prius has 27 UNKNOWN OR OTHER complaints on file. 2 crashes have been reported. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.