2012 Toyota PRIUS PLUG-IN HYBRID: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
25 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
89,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2012 model year. Data snapshot: . 16 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Service Brakes is the most frequently named component, appearing in 10 of 25 complaints (40.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 16 | 64.0% |
| Transmission and shifting | 3 | 12.0% |
| Engine operation | 2 | 8.0% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 4.0% |
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 | 10 |
| Unknown Or Other | 4 |
| Electrical System | 3 |
| Engine | 2 |
| Power Train | 2 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 2 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 2 |
| Electronic Stability Control (Esc) | 1 |
Service Brakes: 10; Unknown Or Other: 4; Electrical System: 3; Engine: 2; Power Train: 2; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 2; Vehicle Speed Control: 2; Electronic Stability Control (Esc): 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 2 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 4 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 4 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 5 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 2; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 4; 75,000 to 99,999: 4; 100,000 to 149,999: 5; 150,000 and above: 1
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (5). 9 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 |
|---|---|
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2017 | 3 |
| 2018 | 5 |
| 2019 | 3 |
| 2020 | 2 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2022 | 2 |
| 2023 | 4 |
| 2024 | 4 |
2016: 1; 2017: 3; 2018: 5; 2019: 3; 2020: 2; 2021: 1; 2022: 2; 2023: 4; 2024: 4
Pattern summary
Service Brakes leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 16 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 3 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 2 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10937368 · 2016-12-25 (December 25, 2016)
CAR WAS PARKED AND THE CHARGE CORD CONNECTED. IT HAD ABOUT 2.9 MILES LEFT ON BATTERY POWER, BY THAT CALCULATION IT SHOULD BEEN CHARGED BY 1100P. AT 1230P CAR WAS FULLY ENGULFED IN FIRE. FIRE DEPT IS INVESTIGATING FOR ARSON, BUT MY NEIGHBORS CAMERA CAUGHT IT ALL (I HAVEN'T SEEN IT) IT SEEMS THE CAR JUST START ON FIRE BY ITSELF, INSURANCE IS STILL INVESTIGATING, BUT I'M ALMOST POSITIVE THAT THIS FIRE STARTED ON ITS ON. IT WOULD BE GREAT IF YOU GUYS COULD FOLLOW UP. MY HOUSE ALSO CAUGHT ON FIRE. HAD I NOT BEEN JOLTED UP AND TRIED TO SAVE MY HOUSE …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10937368 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10947277 · 2017-01-24 (January 24, 2017)
I HAVE HYBRID SYSTEM WARNING MESSAGE & PCS SYSTEM WARNING MESSAGE ON MY CAR I HAVE TAKEN IT TO DIFFERENT DEALERSHIP IN DALLAS TX AREA ANY NONE OF THEM HAS FIX IT TRY TO DO RESEARCH ON MY OWN TO FIGURE OUT AND FOUND THAT TOYOTA HAS THIS IN RECALL MY DEALERSHIP IS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING WITH THE CAR. SO I REALLY DONT KNOW WHAT TO DO ..TRYING TO GET HELP SO THIS ISSUES R FIXED AND IT SAFE FOR ME TO DRIVE THIS CAR I DRIVE ABOUT 30000 MILE EVERY YEAR AND JUST DON'T FELL SAFE DRIVING THIS CAR. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10947277 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10957492 · 2017-02-28 (February 28, 2017)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA PRIUS PLUG-IN HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER AND THE VEHICLE STALLED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO REPLICATE AND DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT WAS UNCERTAIN IF THE VEHICLE WOULD BE REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 60,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10957492 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11055000 · 2017-12-15 (December 15, 2017)
WHEN OPERATING THE VEHICLE ON A SNOW COVERED ROAD, I ATTEMPTED TO STOP WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 35 MPH. WHEN I PRESSED MY BRAKE PEDAL DOWN AS I WAS APPROACHING THE INTERSECTION, THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES DID NOT FUNCTION. THE PEDAL PRESS WAS FIRM, BUT THERE WAS NOISE THAT IS TYPICALLY EXPERIENCED WHEN ANTI-LOCK BRAKES ARE IN USE, AND IT FELT LIKE THERE WAS INITIAL BRAKING WITH MY APPLICATION OF THE BRAKES, BUT WHEN THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES SHOULD HAVE KICKED IN, IT FELT LIKE THE CAR SURGED AHEAD AND THE BRAKING MOSTLY STOPPED, EVEN THOUGH …
Owner-reported narrative. 59,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11055000 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11065786 · 2018-01-30 (January 30, 2018)
WHEN THE DRIVER DOOR IS OPEN, FULL POWER IS ON, BRAKE PEDDLE RELEASED THE CAR WILL STILL MOVE FORWARD. THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY. THEN STARTED IN MOTION I STARTED TO GET OUT OF CAR BUT STOPPED IT
Owner-reported narrative. 88,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11065786 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11090142 · 2018-04-25 (April 25, 2018)
I RECENTLY HAD A REPAIR SERVICE DONE ON MY PRIUS PLUG-IN, BUT CAN'T IN GOOD CONSCIOUS UNDERSTAND WHY I HAD TO PAY $756 TO GET INTO MY CAR. I PURCHASED MY 2012 TOYOTA PRIUS PLUG-IN IN JULY, 2012. THREE AND A HALF YEARS LATER, I HAD TO HAVE THE DRIVER'S DOOR LOCK ACTUATOR REPLACED @ 51K MILES. LESS THAN TWO AND A HALF YEARS LATER, THE SAME DRIVER'S DOOR LOCK ACTUATOR HAD TO BE REPLACED @ APPROXIMATELY 80K MILES ' IN ADDITION TO ALL THREE OTHER DOOR LOCK ACTUATORS. ROUGHLY SIX MONTHS AGO, THE RIGHT, REAR DOOR LOCK STOPPED WORKING. THEN THE LEF…
Owner-reported narrative. 81,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11090142 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11098126 · 2018-05-26 (May 26, 2018)
THE ACTUATORS FOR THE LOCKS ON 3 OF THE DOORS HAVE FAILED OVER TIME. I HAVE REPLACED THE FRONT-DRIVER SIDE ACTUATOR ONCE PREVIOUSLY AND IT STARTED TO FAIL FIRST. WHEN I LOCK THE CAR, I ONLY HAVE ONE DOOR THAT UNLOCKS WHICH IS THE REAR-PASSENGER DOOR. IF IT FAILS, I WILL BE LOCKED OUT OF THE CAR. IT SEEMS WRONG THAT I CANNOT UNLOCK MY CAR WELL. IT SEEMS WRONG THIS HAS FAILED MULTIPLE TIMES ON A 6YR OLD CAR. IT IS DEFECTIVE AND POTENTIALLY UNSAFE.
Owner-reported narrative. 68,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11098126 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11104266 · 2018-06-27 (June 27, 2018)
ENGINE OIL GETTING TO THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. AND FILLING UP WITH OIL. THROTTLE BODY GETS REALLY DIRTY WITH OIL. IN TURN THE ENGINE BURNS OIL. WHICH CLOGS UP THE EGR SYSTEM. THE ENGINE WOULD OVER HEAT WHICH COULD CAUSE THE HEAD GASKET TO BLOW. DURING WINTER MONTHS. ENGINE RESTARTS WOULD BE HARSH BECAUSE IT WOULD HAVE CONDESAION ON THE CYCLINDER THIS COULD CAUSE THE ENGINE TO BLOW. BROKEN CONNECTING RODS. BLOWN HEAD GASKET ALL SORT OF THINGS COULD HAPPEN FROM HAVING OIL GET TO THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. STARTING FROM 2010 THESE PRIUS SUFFER FROM THIS AND…
Owner-reported narrative. 90,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11104266 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
2 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
16V487000 · Air Bags:Side/Window
Reported: 2016-06-30 (June 30, 2016)
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2010-2012 Toyota Prius, 2010 and 2012 Toyota Prius Plug-in Hybrid, and 2011-2012 Lexus CT200h vehicles. A weld in the curtain shield air bag inflator may crack causing one or both portions of the inflator to eject into the passenger cabin.
Consequence: If either portion of the curtain shield air bag inflator ejects into the passenger cabin, there is an increased risk of injury to vehicle occupants.
Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will install retention brackets to the curtain shield air bags, free of charge. The recall began on October 17, 2016. Owners may contact Toyota Customer Service Department at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is Toyota G0U, and Lexus GLJ.
NHTSA campaign record ↗17V718000 · Hybrid Propulsion System
Reported: 2017-11-15 (November 15, 2017)
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2012-2015 Prius Plug-in Hybrid vehicles. The hybrid battery contains an Electric Vehicle (EV) fuse that may fracture after repeated high-load driving conditions such as climbing long hills.
Consequence: The failed fuse may cause the hybrid system to shut down resulting in the loss of power. Loss of power while driving at higher speeds can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the EV fuse, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin January 8, 2018. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is H0R.
NHTSA campaign record ↗