2012 Toyota PRIUS problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
422 owner complaints analyzed
6 distinct recall campaigns
50,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2012 model year. Data snapshot: . 237 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Service Brakes is the most frequently named component, appearing in 182 of 422 complaints (43.1%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 211 | 50.0% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 27 | 6.4% |
| Steering behavior | 17 | 4.0% |
| Engine operation | 12 | 2.8% |
| Transmission and shifting | 6 | 1.4% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 0.2% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Service Brakes | 182 |
| Electrical System | 49 |
| Exterior Lighting | 36 |
| Engine | 31 |
| Unknown Or Other | 31 |
| Visibility/Wiper | 28 |
| Air Bags | 27 |
| Power Train | 20 |
Service Brakes: 182; Electrical System: 49; Exterior Lighting: 36; Engine: 31; Unknown Or Other: 31; Visibility/Wiper: 28; Air Bags: 27; Power Train: 20
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 88 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 27 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 25 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 30 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 38 |
| 150,000 and above | 29 |
Under 25,000: 88; 25,000 to 49,999: 27; 50,000 to 74,999: 25; 75,000 to 99,999: 30; 100,000 to 149,999: 38; 150,000 and above: 29
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (88). 185 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2012 | 38 |
| 2013 | 36 |
| 2014 | 29 |
| 2015 | 17 |
| 2016 | 19 |
| 2017 | 22 |
| 2018 | 34 |
| 2019 | 34 |
| 2020 | 10 |
| 2021 | 22 |
| 2022 | 42 |
| 2023 | 31 |
| 2024 | 28 |
| 2025 | 44 |
| 2026 | 15 |
2011: 1; 2012: 38; 2013: 36; 2014: 29; 2015: 17; 2016: 19; 2017: 22; 2018: 34; 2019: 34; 2020: 10; 2021: 22; 2022: 42; 2023: 31; 2024: 28; 2025: 44; 2026: 15
Pattern summary
Service Brakes leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 211 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 27 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 17 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10445290 · 2012-01-17 (January 17, 2012)
SUNDAY DEC. 11TH: PULLING OUT OF CHICAGO GARAGE, CAR MAKES ODD ROTATIONAL NOISE. THE SOUND SEEMS TO GO AWAY AFTER ABOUT A BLOCK OR SO OF DRIVING. THE DEALERSHIP IS CLOSED AND I AM BOOKED UP WITH CLIENTS, SO I CONTINUE TO TEST AND SEE IF TEMPERATURE OR ENVIRONMENT EFFECT THE NOISE. THE NOISE APPEARS TO ONLY HAPPEN ON A 'COLD START' BUT ALL OTHER FACTORS DO NOT SEEM TO SHOW AN IMPRESSIVE CHANGE. DEC. 15TH: I CALL TOYOTA CORPORATE AND FILE A COMPLAINT, THEN PER THEIR DIRECTION, CALL THE DEALER AND MAKE AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE THE NOISE PROBLEM …
Owner-reported narrative. 2,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10445290 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10458505 · 2012-05-15 (May 15, 2012)
AS I WAS APPROACHING A TURN I BEGAN TO BRAKE AND THE BRAKES FAILED. I TRIED PRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL HARDER AND MAKING SURE THAT I HAD PROPER FOOT PLACEMENT AND IT FELT LIKE THE CAR ACCELERATED AT THAT POINT. SINCE THE CAR WAS NOT SLOWING DOWN I WAS UNABLE TO MAKE THE TURN AND ENDED UP CROSSING THE ROAD DIAGONALLY AND GOING UP ONTO THE CURB. ONCE THE CAR WAS OVER THE CURB AND IN THE GRASS THE BRAKES FINALLY ENGAGED AND THE VEHICLE CAME TO A STOP. *JS
Owner-reported narrative. 1,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10458505 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10487746 · 2012-12-08 (December 8, 2012)
1. WHEN VEHICLE TRANSITIONED FROM BATTERY TO MOTOR, SIGNIFICANT IMPACT RESULTED 2. BRAKE PEDAL TRAVELED TO FLOOR, DASH WARNING LIGHT CAME ON [VEHICLE TOWED] 3. ATTEMPTING TO LEAVE DEALERS LOT, BRAKE PEDAL TRAVELED TO FLOOR. TECHNICIAN WITNESSED. *TR UPDATED 01/15/13
Owner-reported narrative. 600 miles reported. Look up ODI 10487746 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10498374 · 2013-02-16 (February 16, 2013)
BOUGHT CAR ON 1/23/13 AND DROVE HOME. NEXT DAY GOT A CALL THEY FORGOT TO GIVE US ACCESS KEY SO DROVE 27 MILES TO DEALERSHIP AND SMOKE ON DASHBOARD. PULLED INTO SERVICE AND SALES MANAGER GOT IN CAR DROVE AROUND AND SAID ALL IS FINE. CAME HOME AN ODOMETER SHOWED 564 MILES AFTER I DROVE 27 THERE AND 27 BACK. THE CAR HAD 156 NIGHT WE BOUGHT IT THE DAY BEFORE. WE ARE OLD AND DISABLED AND DO NOT DRIVE OFTEN. ODOMETER NOW SHOWING ALMOST 900 MILES IN LESS THEN THE 3 WEEKS WE HAVE OWNED IT. REPORTED THE SMOKE ON DASHBOARD TO TOYOTA CORP OFFICE AND TOLD …
Owner-reported narrative. 156 miles reported. Look up ODI 10498374 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10453180 · 2012-03-27 (March 27, 2012)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA PRIUS V. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT COULD NOT BE ADJUSTED AWAY FROM THE STEERING WHEEL. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,300 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 2300.
Owner-reported narrative. 2,300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10453180 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10474289 · 2012-09-07 (September 7, 2012)
DRIVING 70 MPH CAR BEGAN TO GO INTO HIGH RPM, THEN ACCELERATED TO 74 FROM 70 MPH. I TRIED TO DECREASE SPEED THEN VEHICLE SHUT OFF GOT A LONG BEEP AND MESSAGE ON DISPLAY "CHECK HYBRID SYSTEM, PULL OVER IMMEDIATELY" ALL LIGHTS ON DASH WERE INDICATING FAILURES. COASTED TO SAFETY WITH 5 PASSENGERS IN VEHICLE ACROSS TRAFFIC AT 9:30 PM TO SHOULDER. TRIED TO RESTART SEVERAL TIMES THEN VEHICLE WENT INTO HIGH RPM THEN ENGINE KNOCKED LOUDLY AND WAS COMPLETELY DISABLED. LOST BRAKES, PEDAL WAS HARD, LOST POWER STEERING, DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. I STILL HAD 2…
Owner-reported narrative. 4,944 miles reported. Look up ODI 10474289 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10680574 · 2015-02-02 (February 2, 2015)
AFTER STARTING THE CAR, IT WOULD NOT GO INTO GEAR. THE DASHBOARD WAS LIT BUT I COULD NOT GET THE CAR MOVING. AFTER FIDDLING AROUND FOR SOMETIME, IT FINALLY CLICKED AND I WAS ABLE TO GO INTO REVERSE. THE CAR FUNCTIONED FINE UNTIL LATER THAT DAY I MADE A DROP-OFF STOP AND THE SAME THING HAPPENED. THE DASH BOARD WAS LIT BUT I COULD NOT GET THE CAR MOVING. I WAS STALLED ALMOST IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. THE NEXT DAY I TOOK IT TO THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP AND THEY DID THE MOST EXTENSIVE COMPUTER GENERATED DIAGNOSIS ON THE CAR BUT COULD FIND NO INDICATO…
Owner-reported narrative. 25,300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10680574 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10682480 · 2015-02-10 (February 10, 2015)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND ALL OF THE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE RESTARTED BUT WAS NOT ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD OR REVERSE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT WAS AWARE OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V053000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM) HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 53,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 53,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10682480 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10469781 · 2012-08-01 (August 1, 2012)
CAR BECOMES IMMOBILE - WILL NOT SHIFT INTO REVERSE OR DRIVE. COMPUTER KEEPS SENDING THE MESSAGE TO PUT IT IN PARK AND DEPRESS BRAKE, BUT ONCE THAT IS DONE, ANY ATTEMPT TO SHIFT INTO REVERSE OR DRIVE TRIGGERS THE MESSAGE, ENDLESSLY. THE PROBLEM IS APPARENTLY INTERMITTENT. OCCURRED FOR TWO HOURS YESTERDAY, AFTER OCCURRING TO A LESSER EXTENT IN PRECEDING DAYS (IN THE DAYS PRECEDING THE TOTAL BREAKDOWN, I WAS ABLE TO SHIFT AFTER A SLIGHT DELAY AND A FEW ATTEMPTS). THE DEALERSHIP TO WHICH I HAD IT TOWED SAID IT WAS FINE TODAY. EVERYTHING CHECKS…
Owner-reported narrative. 2,865 miles reported. Look up ODI 10469781 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10577661 · 2014-04-08 (April 8, 2014)
2012 TOYOTA PRIUS. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE SUDDEN ACCELERATION. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED AS HE ENTERED A PARKING LOT AND TURNED TO GO DOWN AN AISLE, HE HIT THE CURB TOO CLOSELY AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED AT AN INCREDIBLE SPEED. HE PUT HIS FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND IT WENT TO THE FLOOR; HE TRIED TO TURN THE POWER OFF, BUT THE VEHICLE DID NOT STOP. AT THE RATE THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED, HE PASSED BY 2 PARKING AISLES AND WAS STOPPED BY HITTING A PARKED VEHICLE, WHICH THE FORCE OF HIS VEHICLE WAS PUSHED UNDER A FENCE AND ONTO A RAILROAD …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10577661 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10472441 · 2012-08-25 (August 25, 2012)
HYBRID ENGINE SUDDENLY SHUT DOWN WITHOUT WARNING WHILE VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING 65 MPH ON A BUSY FREEWAY, CAUSING VEHICLE TO COME AN UNSAFE STOP. DEPRESSING ACCELERATOR HAD NO EFFECT. ONBOARD COMPUTER GAVE ERROR MESSAGE "CHECK HYBRID SYSTEM. STOP THE VEHICLE IN A SAFE PLACE." RESTARTING VEHICLE PRODUCED THE SAME ERROR MESSAGE AND STILL UNABLE TO SHIFT VEHICLE INTO DRIVE OR REVERSE. FUEL TANK FULL AT TIME OF INCIDENT. VEHICLE PURCHASED NEW 5 MONTHS PRIOR FROM TOYOTA DEALERSHIP. NO AFTERMARKET PARTS OR MODIFICATIONS PRESENT. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 9,550 miles reported. Look up ODI 10472441 at NHTSA ↗