10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
5 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
36,970 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 v engine problems

engine problem

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2012 Toyota Prius v Owner Comments

problem #15

Apr 112024

Prius v

  • miles

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

On February 27 2024 I had spend 2300 dollars on car repairs see enclosed then on April 11 2024 while backing out of my driveway, I experienced a sudden acceleration of my vehicle which led to body damage to my car yet Toyota after inspection says that now the car system works perfectly. Prior to this incident I experienced warning light and windshield wiper malfunction.

- Los Angeles , CA, USA

problem #14

Jan 222024

Prius v

  • miles
Upon driving out of my school parking lot at approximately 15 to 20 miles per hour I noticed a cushiony filled with a brakes and all of a sudden I heard a shhh all of my lights popped up on my dashboard. When I took my vehicle in to be able to find out what was going on with it I was told that I need a master cylinder and a brake booster. This was after having my vehicle for only 3 years where I purchased it from Rice Toyota Greensboro North Carolina.

- Reidsville, NC, USA

problem #13

Jun 092023

Prius v

  • miles
ABS Unit failure (may also be called ABS CONTROL MODULE ACTUATOR AND PUMP ASSEMBLY). Three mechanics, including a Toyota dealership, is unable to reset the system to correct. The PCS system cannot be disabled which, in turn, means cruise control is no longer operable.

- Burlington, NC, USA

problem #12

May 072020

Prius v

  • 113,221 miles

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

Toyota Prius V 2012 lost power as I was driving out of the parking lot. I had to make emergency stop on the side of the road because inverter/electric motor failed. Mechanic ran computer test and found that problem codes indeed pointed to failure of inverter.I called local dealer mccord Toyota and was told my car does not fall to extended warranty of inverter and did not offer any help. Same day I called Toyota customer care at 1-800-331-4331 and they told me that my car does not fall under inverter warranty based on my VIN number, and gave me case number 2005072419. I was able to call my insurance company to arrange towing from my location to repair shop. Repair shop completed work and vehicle is now in operable condition. I feel lucky that I was not on freeway and did not have my children with me when it happened.

- Vancouver, WA, USA

problem #11

Dec 092018

Prius v

  • miles
When I brake the car shakes a noticeable type of shake and starts to make a weird stalling noise.

- Union City, CA, USA

problem #10

Jan 042018

Prius v

  • 84,620 miles
Safety risk that vehicle could lose power and stall. Manufacturer recall number J1V. NHTSA recall number 18V684 as of October 4, 1918. It is now November 1, 2018. Called the dealership this week and the report was that the manufacturer has not fix to date. Question: What relief is available until fix discovered" free use of car provided by dealership"

- Racine, WI, USA

problem #9

Oct 252018

Prius v

  • 130,000 miles

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

Was driving down the street in my prius when all of a sudden the car went totally dead. It did not go into a limp-home mode. I was dead in the water in the middle of a street all of a sudden. We had to get out and push it out of the street. Mechanic says its a known issue with prius and inverter. That was pretty dangerous and I was glad we werent on the freeway. We were unaware of any recall. The car went into "disco mode" - every warning light it had was on and blinking but the car was completely dead.

- Tucson, AZ, USA

problem #8

Jun 012018

Prius v

  • 125,000 miles
Engine shake on start up when vehicle is not in motion, seems to be an issue with power.

- Morganville, NJ, USA

problem #7

May 192014

Prius v 4-cyl

  • 38,000 miles
When the vehicle hits a bump, rock or uneven road while decelerating, the vehicle suddenly accelerates. It feels like when you skip a step. I have had the vehicle since December 2012 and this has happened enough times that I do not think its fortuitous. The sudden acceleration makes the car travel a couple of feet. Updated 12/5/2014

- Guaynabo, PR, USA

problem #6

Dec 192013

Prius v 4-cyl

  • 15,800 miles
I bought Prius V in February 2012. I've noticed few times issues with brakes. While decelerating with my foot on the brake pedal to slow the car to a stop and if the car goes over a pothole or slight bump on the road then car accelerates forward before coming to a stop. This is safety hazard since it almost led to hitting the other car's rear bumper. Also, I've gotten into an accident in December 2013 where there was another brake issue. I stopped my car in the incline road by putting my foot on the brake pedal. Then, I changed the gear shift to rear and slowly took my foot off the brake pedal so that I can back into the street parking which was only about 4 to 5 feet away. Suddenly, car sped down the road going rear direction to the directly opposite street and hit two parked cars. I had put the foot down on the brake pedal when I noticed the car going rear fast but it would not stop the car from going down the road. I had no control over the car or the speed. This is major safety hazard since someone could have been seriously injured with losing control of the brake and acceleration. I've owned other Toyota car (Camry) before but never had this issue until this Prius V. my car has been in body shop for over a month with repairs. I plan to take the car to the Toyota dealer to check out this brake issue.

- Santa Monica, CA, USA

problem #5

Jul 252013

Prius v 4-cyl

  • 9,000 miles

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

The car was parked on a steep incline while I closed a gate behind me to a gated driveway. When I got back in the car and put the car in drive, I took my foot off of the brake and before I could get it to the gas pedal the car immediately rolled back and into the gate. The car released as if it was a standard shift car that needed a clutch and slammed into the gate. I have taken the car to other safe spots that are on hills and found that this car can not hold a stopped position on an incline.

- Pebble Beach, CA, USA

problem #4

Oct 262013

Prius v 4-cyl

  • 16,004 miles
Driver was making a sharp left turn into a parking space at low speed and attempted to brake to a stop. The vehicle did not slow down at all despite hard pressure on brake pedal but instead accelerated, jumped a curb in front of the vehicle and hit a wall which stopped the car. No one was injured but front bumper badly gouged and front door slightly dented. Driver was able to put the car in reverse and get off the sidewalk. Vehicle is now at Toyota dealer for inspection. Upon reflection 2 other incidents occurred where what felt like a momentary speedup occurred again at low speed while turning and braking. But these 2 were while moving forward and not attempting to bring the vehicle to a complete stop.

- Elmsford, NY, USA

problem #3

Feb 062013

Prius v 4-cyl

  • 12,000 miles
From a standstill, under light winter conditions, there have many times when the vehicle will not/can not move. When the accelerator is depressed power is sent for a fraction second (very quick pulse) and then all power is cut off and nothing further happens until you lift off accelerator and try again. It does the same thing in reverse. The only way out of this cycle is to physically push the car to get it moving(slow walking pace) and then the traction control behaves very much like our 2012 Camry SE V6. A couple times we had our Camry right next to the prius(side by side) and the Camry was able to get itself moving(with tc on) and prius would not budge. Both have the factory tires, the prius tires are in better shape than the Camry. I know the two vehicles are vastly different and that this comparison may be of little help; I simply want to express that the conditions the prius will not function under should not be thought of as extreme, but rather ordinary winter conditions. It seems that the prius traction control parameters do not even give the car the chance to get moving before shutting the system down.

- Pittsburgh, PA, USA

problem #2

Dec 022011

Prius v 4-cyl

  • 1,200 miles
My car has an issue I first noticed soon after I bought it, and that now happens at least twice a week. The date I've entered is the approximate first date I noticed the problem occur. I describe below a more recent instance of the same behavior, the time when it felt the least safe. /// the recurring behavior is that while decelerating with my foot on the brake pedal, if the car goes over an obstruction like a rock, a rough patch of road, or a pothole, it sometimes lurches forward before resuming deceleration. The sensation is of accelerating, but even if it's only that the car momentarily stops decelerating it's disconcerting and in a few instances has gotten me close to an accident. /// the time it came closest to causing an accident was on 3/21/13, when I feared the car was going to roll into a crosswalk as people crossed. With my foot on the brake, coming to a stop at a stop sign, we went over uneven pavement and the car lurched forward while only a few feet from the crosswalk. Several people waited close to the edge of the sidewalk at a bus stop. One of them seemed ready to step outto cross the street, and I braced for the worst. /// ultimately I stopped a few feet before the crosswalk, but the situation felt completely unsafe since it involved losing stopping power while coming to a stop sign with pedestrians present.

- Chicago, IL, USA

problem #1

Mar 012013

Prius v

  • 9,700 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Toyota Prius V. the contact stated that while driving approximately 10 mph and decelerating, the vehicle erroneously accelerated after hitting a bump in the road. The contact crashed into the preceding vehicle. There were no injuries associated with the crash. The police were not contacted. The vehicle was later taken to the dealer who was unable to diagnose the failure. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure and current mileages were approximately 9,700. The VIN was unavailable.

- Chicago, IL, USA

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