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10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 2
Injuries / Deaths:
2 / 0
Average Mileage:
26,992 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2012 Toyota Prius electrical problems

electrical problem

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2012 Toyota Prius Owner Comments (Page 1 of 3)

problem #43

Nov 012022

Prius

  • 120,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 2012 Toyota Prius. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the ABS warning light illuminated and the vehicle skidded while depressing the brake pedal. The contact stated that the hazard lights independently activated and caused the battery to drain, and the vehicle would stall. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where the contact was informed that there was a Customer Satisfaction Program for the failure, but the Customer Satisfaction Program had expired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but offered no assistance. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 120,000.

- Swampscott, MA, USA

problem #42

Aug 242023

Prius

  • 120,000 miles
******* delete voq ******* this complaint is being marked for deletion because it is requested by the consumer that they wish to have it removed. Djr ******* delete voq *******

- Bay Saint Louis, MS, USA

problem #41

Jan 102023

Prius

  • miles
Our 2012 Toyota Prius experienced brake failure due to the Accuator and Accumulator. I contacted Toyota Corporate office, which advised it is a known problem and had a customer support program that expired last year. The Toyota rep advised me to not drive the vehicle because of the brake failure and opened a ticket advising it is a known issue. After researching online, it is a very common issue. https://www.aboutautomobile.com/Consumer-Complaint/2010/Toyota/Prius/Brake

- Mt. Washington, KY, USA

problem #40

Feb 132020

Prius

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The engine caught fire while sitting in my garage. I had driven it for a few hours doing deliveries for a store and parked it in my garage around 2:30pm. About 1.5 hours later, my wife was coming home and opened the garage door and saw smoke above the hood of my car and then a few seconds later it burst into flames. I believe that it was smouldering for a while and the gust of wind when the big garage door opened gave it the extra push to ignite. The car was bought used and had a front end accident prior to my purchasing it so the electrical system could have melted and started the fire but the inspector that Toyota sent did not give me any copy of his report. It is a 2012 model. I bought the car in 2014, and had it for about 5 years until this happened and completed burned up the car and all the contents of my garage. I had a T-Mobile Sync-up module in the OBD port and it recorded a drop in voltage from around 12 to 5 volts at the time of the fire which I believe was transferred to my phone when I was near it.

- Norridge, IL, USA

problem #39

Oct 102022

Prius

  • miles
My breakes failed when driving. I almost got in accident. Code C1391. Brake Actuaror Failure. car has 200,000 miles. Toyota is denying to repair the car. It is well known problem with that but still not fixing.

- Brooklyn, NY, USA

problem #38

Sep 122022

Prius

  • miles
I was driving on highway & the vehicle stopped accelerating as I was pressing the gas. I put my hazards on & got to the side of the road. Then the eps light came on & the dash stopped showing the mph. The ac stopped blowing cold air & the windows were working slow. I turned car off then back on a couple of times then more lights came on. No lights were on prior to this & I haven-??t had any problems w the vehicle before this. I just got this car & I feel like it has something to do with a recall but no one wants to take responsibility for the issue.

- Baltimore, MD, USA

problem #37

Mar 112022

Prius

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

on the pasenger side front low beam light if the headlight does not sit correctly it melts the headlight housing and or the headlight is dimmer my damage wiring harness in past dealership blames owner feel like this is a part defect the heat from a bulb should not melt or damage housing assemblies damage was found during a new headlight install

- Conyers, GA, USA

problem #36

Feb 222022

Prius 4-cyl

  • miles
I brought the car to the Toyota dealer already 3 times for the same problem, now happened again, they told me the first time, nothing wrong with the car, and I paid them, the second time nothing wrong they said, the third time they said it-??s the 12 v battery has to be replace it, I did replace it, but still the same problem I have, the HYBRID SYSTEM problems, the Toyota company should fix it, because it-??s something very unsafe it-??s happening with my car, please help me to resolve this problem-??.. the car drive but stop anytime, I almost have a very bad accident with my daughter ON board

- Amityville , NY, USA

problem #35

Jan 312022

Prius

  • miles
Hi, I have a 2012 Toyota Prius with around 120k miles that is completely inoperable. A local Toyota dealership is charging $3400 to replace both computers, but the more I research the more apparent it becomes that this is directly linked with past issues that were never fully resolved during previous recall attempts. The following article describes the exact situation my car is in (https://www.latimes.com/local/california/la-fi-prius-overheat-inverter-defect-20190414-story.html). When you combine that with the previous recalls back in 2014 & 2018, this quickly becomes a pattern. That pattern suggests that past software issues (1 & 2 below) were never fully resolved, and/or already caused premature damage to internal/computer components that then fail regardless. I spoke with the California Bureau of Automotive Repair who referred me to nhtsa. The agent I spoke with noted that because the Inverter wasn't actually replaced back in 2014 (Toyota only performed a software update), this part definitely could have been already damaged due to the software issues, which could then cause problems with the computers later on (which is what occurred). --- 1) NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID: 14V053000 - In the affected vehicles, the Intelligent Power Module (IPM) inside the inverter module (a component of the hybrid system) contains transistors that may become damaged from high operating temperatures. 2) NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID: 18V684000 - Excessive voltage in the Intelligent Power Module (IPM) within the inverter may cause the hybrid system to shut down, causing the vehicle to stall while being driven. --- General: - Computers both failed, not currently available for inspection as they are being replaced - If this computer failure happens again later (while on the road - as it has for other consumer), it's very dangerous as the car essentially shuts down on the spot - Dealer is dismissing this due to the car's age - No previous warning lights or messages

- San Diego, CA, USA

problem #34

Oct 042021

Prius

  • miles
I was Driving with my daughter as always, then the car put on the screen hybrid system problems and the car stop running-??..I almost had an accident, I took the car to Toyota dealer and the charged me to fix it, but the didn-??t fix the problem, this is something that Toyota company should fix it before something bad happen while driving ???"

- Amityville , NY, USA

problem #33

Nov 012020

Prius

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

There has been a safety recall on my vehicle for the years 2004-2009 models of the Toyota Prius, but my model year is 2012 and I have the exact same issue. 1) My check engine light comes on and off and it appears to be the hybrid electric water pump issue related to the coolant. The cap pops off and spills out. 2) When the light comes on, I am assuming the car is starting to overheat and is putting myself and my 3 year old daughter at risk as this is the primary car we use to transport her. We have just stop taking her out at all due to this issue. When the car overheats, I pull over and it can be risky as sometimes, I am on the highway or local streets. I do not want this issue to cause problems for other other drivers as well while I am trying to pull over where ever I am. 3) The problem as I stated above has been acknowledge by you and Toyota but just for 2004-2009 models. 4) The problem has not been inspected by Toyota, the police, or third party. I have been the only person checking the car and I am using a diagnostic check engine light tool to read the code and looking under the hood to find the coolant pump leaking and popped out just as indicated in the recall for other models. 5) Yes, the check engine light and high temperature light goes on and off. The issue first appeared around November of 2020.

- Huntington Beach, CA, USA

problem #32

Feb 172020

Prius

  • miles
I have never received a recall mail regarding the car. I used an insurance tracking plugin, and all the problems started.pcs error message on my dashboard, due to a leak in brake booster they said. My dealership will not tell me it's a recall, made it seem like they helped me instead of charging as high as $4000. I was not given a loaner car for the 4days they had my car, and did not get any refunds for the rental car I got

- Katy, TX, USA

problem #31

Mar 192019

Prius

  • 91,000 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Toyota Prius. While driving at unknown speeds, the vehicle stalled and all the indicators illuminated on the instrument panel. The vehicle was towed to della Toyota (32 della dr, plattsburgh, NY 12901), but a diagnosis was not provided. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 18V684000 (hybrid propulsion system). The approximate failure mileage was 91,000.

- Mineville, NY, USA

problem #30

Feb 202019

Prius

  • 179,180 miles
Car horn stop working, if the steering will its turn half way either way it works, the car its not that old for electrical to do that

- Riverside, CA, USA

problem #29

Nov 142018

Prius

  • miles
Horn stopped working in November 2018. Dealer tells me that there is an opening in the spiral cable which is causing horn not to work. Entire spiral cable needs to be replaced. This vehicle has had driver's airbag recalled once, maybe twice. Did spiral cable get damaged in one of these recalls? I know that there was a recall in earlier Toyota with same part, but not this year and model, wondering if there should be.

- Hinesburg, VT, USA

problem #28

Mar 142016

Prius

  • 125,000 miles
My Prius was just fine then one day it stalled while I was driving in the middle of the free way. I took my vehicle in to elmore Toyota in westminster, ca, they found it had a failed inverter and it was still covered under warranty. It took 2 weeks for them to fix it, but when they returned my car, the slip indicator was now on and would not turn off. They claim it was like that prior to the failed inverter, this was false, my car was running perfect. They then wanted to charge me nearly $1K to fix a problem I did not have prior to failed inverter. I feel the situation was connected but they refuse to cover it.

- Anaheim, CA, USA

problem #27

Nov 152017

Prius

  • miles
The contact owns a 2012 Toyota Prius. The contact stated that NHTSA campaign number: 17V718000 (electrical system) exceeded a reasonable amount of time for repair. The contact received the recall notice in November of 2017. The dealer (thousand oaks Toyota, 2401 thousand oaks blvd, thousand oaks, ca 91362) stated that the part for the repair was not available. The manufacturer was also contacted and confirmed that the part was unavailable. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.

- Thousand Oaks, CA, USA

problem #26

Nov 152017

Prius

  • 60,000 miles
Both left and right low beam head light bulbs fail in 6 months of less

- Roseville, CA, USA

problem #25

Jun 042018

Prius

  • 0 miles
My car will turn on, but it will not shift into drive or reverse until numerous attempts. I usually have to turn it on and off for about 10-15 times before it will allow my to shift into gear. The key fob will lock and unlock the car. The car will still turn on, ac will still come on, radio still works. The only thing that doesn't work on the first 10-15 tries is the sifting into gear. Priuschat forum talk about this issue a lot. They all have similar stories with the same details as mine. It takes me about 5-7 min to get my car started. Once I finally get the car in gear, no issues pop up for the rest of the drive. All of this started about within the last month for me.

- Jacksonville, NC, USA

problem #24

Dec 272017

Prius

  • 2 miles
On my way home I suddenly saw a sign on the screen "check the hybrid system. Stop in a safe place". I pulled over, smelled smoke and saw smoke in the rear. I opened the trunk ans frightened by flame. I pulled things out and covered the flame with two big towels and succeeded in putting it out, although I got burned on my fingers. I called geico. They sent a towing car and it took my car to my apartment. When geico took my car to a collision center, they said it is total loss after inspecting it. I claimed it to Toyota. They inspected it, but said that there was no evidence that the car had electrical or mechanical defect. I did nothing but driving the car, but it caught fire. Whose responsibility is that" I believe the producer should take the responsibility but they do not. Where can I be compensated for the loss"

- Silver Spring, MD, USA

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