2012 Toyota PRIUS PLUG-IN HYBRID

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Above Average

Quick Summary

The 2012 Toyota PRIUS PLUG-IN HYBRID has 31 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 0.4x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is brakes problems (39% of all complaints), specifically: 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 exper. ⚠️ 1 fire report filed.

1 fire report 2 crash reports 4 injuries

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

0.4x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

BRAKES

12 complaints

39%

• 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 EXPER
• 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
• MY 2012 PLUG-IN PRIUS CAME UP WITH A C1391 CODE. THE ABS, BRAKE AND BRAKE SKID LIGHTS CAME ON. I HAVE NO RE-GEN BRAKING AND WHEN I ACTUALLY BRAKE IT SEEMS VERY SLUGGISH.

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 1 crashes

“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 EXPER”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

4 complaints

13%

• 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 J
• 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
• 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

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports

“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 J”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

3 complaints

10%

• 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 NOTIFI
• 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.
• NOTHING HAPPENED YET, BUT I AM CONCERNED ABOUT NUMEROUS REPORTS OF THE INVERTER FAILING AND CAUSING SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER. I UNDERSTAND THIS IS STILL HAPPENING DESPITE AFFECTED CARS HAVING RECEIVED A SOFTWARE UPDATE TO "PREVENT" THE ISSUE. DURING AN EMERGENCY, REGENERATIVE SYSTEMS PREVENT THESE CARS

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“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 NOTIFI”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ENGINE

2 complaints

• 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
• 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 BECAUS

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“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 ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

SPEED CONTROL

2 complaints

• 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
• I was driving less than 55mph on freeway on February 5, 2024 when my vehicle went into an out of control spin, Brakes did not seem to work and unable to control vehicle until hit center divider on freeway, Spun 180 degrees and kept going back with no braking until hit center divider.

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 1 crashes

“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”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

BRAKES(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

SPEED CONTROL(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 31 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
BRAKES: 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 EXPER
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
OTHER: 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 J
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ELECTRICAL: 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 NOTIFI
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ENGINE: 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
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)