2012 Toyota Prius Plug-IN Hybrid Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Prius Plug-IN Hybrid years
- Far more complaints than other years 1st of 9 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 2 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 25 complaints with NHTSA about the 2012 Toyota Prius Plug-IN Hybrid. That is the most of any Prius Plug-IN Hybrid model year in the database (9 years). The most reported problem area is service brakes (10 complaints, 40%), typically at around 88,000 miles. Complaints mention 1 crash, 1 fire, 2 injuries. There are 2 safety recalls covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 1 defect investigation involving it.
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- 25owner complaints
- 2safety recalls
- 1NHTSA investigations
- 1complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2012 Toyota Prius Plug-IN Hybrid problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Service Brakes | 10 | 40% | 88,000 | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 4 | 16% | 88,000 | — | — |
| Electrical System | 3 | 12% | 60,000 | — | — |
| Engine | 2 | 8% | 45,100 | — | — |
| Power Train | 2 | 8% | 107,500 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 2 | 8% | 130,000 | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 2 | 8% | 88,000 | — | — |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 1 | 4% | 168,000 | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 1 | 4% | 10,500 | — | — |
| Hybrid Propulsion System | 1 | 4% | 105,000 | — | — |
| Steering | 1 | 4% | — | — | — |
| Suspension | 1 | 4% | — | — | — |
| Wheels | 1 | 4% | — | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2012 Toyota Prius Plug-IN Hybrid recalls (2)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Hybrid propulsion system
Problem: 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.
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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.
Air bags:side/window
Problem: 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.
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
NHTSA defect investigations
- Brake Actuator Valve Wear (DP19004) — opened Sep 30, 2019, closed Jan 21, 2021.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
1. The ABS system failed upon inspection at a dealership. Specifically the ABS accumulator and booster. 2. The ABS system put us at risk by failing prematurely, and traction control and ABS functions seemingly stopped working while driving on the road. 3. Yes, dealership confirmed the issue with a…
Today 05/25/2024 noticed a slight camber on the right rear wheel. Jacked up the car and removed the right rear to take a closer look and realized the rear axle/subframe was splitting in half along the weld point. If I hadn't caught this today and my daughter was driving it I'm confident she or…
The contact owns a 2012 Toyota Prius Plug-in Hybrid. The contact stated that while driving down a winding road, the brake warning light and brake message suddenly activated and while depressing the brake pedal, the pedal extended to the floorboard and the vehicle would not immediately stop. The…
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.
The contact owns a 2012 Toyota Prius Plug-In Hybrid. The contact stated while driving approximately 70 MPH, the stabili-trak, ABS, and a several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated there were also audible alarms being sounded. The contact depressed the brake pedal and the…
Other Toyota Prius Plug-IN Hybrid years
← 2011 Prius Plug-IN Hybrid · 2013 Prius Plug-IN Hybrid →
See all Toyota Prius Plug-IN Hybrid problems by year, every Toyota model, or the Toyota VIN decoder.
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2012 Toyota Prius Plug-IN Hybrid?
Owners most often report service brakes, unknown or other, electrical system problems. The top one, service brakes, accounts for 10 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2012 Toyota Prius Plug-IN Hybrid?
Yes, 2 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2012 Toyota Prius Plug-IN Hybrid a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Prius Plug-IN Hybrid model years, the 2012 has far more complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.