2012 Toyota Prius Hybrid Problems And Complaints

2012 Toyota Prius User Complaints and Problems

Mechanical Complaints

• Engine problems- The gasoline engine on the 2012 Toyota Prius, in stark contrast to general beliefs, is prone to midlife failure as recorded by the NHTSA. Multiple complaints have been coming in about the premature failure of the head gaskets on the 1.8L mill on the Prius, which in multiple instances have necessitated the requirement for an engine replacement for customers. Excessive oil consumption, engine overheating, sputtering while accelerating and loss of power with stall are some indications of a failed head gasket. If diagnosed, the engine would require a rebuild and in worst cases a replacement, with a quoted estimate of over $5,500. The average failure mileage is around 150,000 miles.

• Transmission Problems- The CVT unit on the 2012 Toyota Prius is reported to showcase a variety of problems. From basic shifter issues, the unit is known to experience loss of power, excessive noise, and internal mechanical component failure. Transmission rebuilds are quite common and a replacement is estimated to cost in excess of $5,000. The average failure mileage recorded is around 100,000 miles. The poor initial design is said to be the cause of the premature failure of the unit.

• Service brake- Brake failure has been one of the most commonly reported issues on the 2012 Toyota Prius as per the NHTSA reports. Drivers experience a sudden or gradual loss of braking effort which in some cases has even led to crashes. The primary cause has been traced to be a faulty brake booster while issues with the master pump and ABS module are not that uncommon. Though Toyota has rolled out a warranty program ZJB for suspected brake issues, guidelines mention that the vehicle has to have an error code C1391 to be considered under the updated policy irrespective of the symptoms.

 Electric System complaints

• Hybrid system problems- Issues with the hybrid systemhave been quite common with the 2012 Toyota Prius. Several owners have complained about the vehicle randomly stalling coupled with a “Check Hybrid System” message and a multitude of malfunction lights. As updates suggest, this issue can arise either due to the failure of the inverter or errors within the intelligent power control module. The manufacturer is aware of these issues and has initiated multiple recalls (IDs- 18V684000, 15V449000, and 14V053000) providing free rectification for all these issues.

• Headlamp Failure- Excessive voltage in the headlight circuit on the 2012 Toyota Prius has been a cause of the frequent blowing of headlamp bulbs. Toyota has rolled out a “Headlamp durability enhancement and customer support program ‘ZHB’ ” for this issue, but the VINs of vehicles from 2010 to early 2011 have been included as reports suggest.

Structural Complaints

• Steering problems- As like many Toyota’s from this generation, certain batches of the 2012 Toyota Prius reportedly have steering issues. The steering intermediate shaft failure has been one of the most reported issues, which, outside of warranty coverage would cost an approximate $1,100 to fix. Clicking noises when turning, feeling of looseness from the steering wheel or sticking are some indications of a failed intermediary U-Joint on the column.

Safety Complaints

• Airbags Issues- The 2012 Toyota Prius has a couple of recalls on its name for a faulty occupant detection system and a manufacturing defect for the side curtain airbags. Persistent airbag warning lights may indicate the existence of some sort of issue and the owners are advised to get the vehicles inspected as soon as possible to obtain the rectification as per recall protocols.

2012 Toyota Prius Recalls

S. No	Date	NHTSA ID	Issues Noticed	Additional Remarks	Remedy
1	4th October 2018	18V684000	The hybrid system may shut down a cause stall	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, increasing the risk of a crash.	The dealers will update the software for the motor/generator control electronic control unit (ECU) and the hybrid control ECU as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on January 22, 2019.
2	30th June 2016	16V487000	The curtain shield airbag inflator may crack	A weld in the curtain shield airbag inflator may crack causing one or both portions of the inflator to eject into the passenger cabin, increasing the risk of severe injury.	The dealers will install retention brackets to the curtain shield air bags, free of charge. The recall began on October 17, 2016.
3	2nd June 2016	16V396000	Seat heater electrical wiring	The electrical wiring in the seat heaters may be damaged when the seat cushion is compressed, which may cause it to short circuit and increase the risk of a fire.	The dealers will disconnect the seat heaters, free of charge, and refund the purchase price of the seat heater accessory. The recall began on July 14, 2016.
4	15th July 2015	15V449000	Inverter failure may cause the hybrid vehicle to stall	A component within the hybrid inverter assembly may overheat, causing the hybrid system to reduce output power allowing the vehicle to only driving a short distance or shut down completely, increasing the risk of a crash.	The dealers will update the software for the motor/generator control electronic control until (ECU) and the hybrid control ECU, free of charge. The recall began on July 30, 2015.
5	12th February 2014	14V053000	Inverter failure may cause the hybrid vehicle to stall	A component within the hybrid inverter assembly may overheat, causing the hybrid system to reduce output power allowing the vehicle to only drive a short distance or shut down completely, increasing the risk of a crash.	The dealers will update the software for both the motor/generator control electronic control unit (ECU) and the hybrid control ECU, free of charge. If an owner experiences a failure of the inverter before the vehicle receives updated software, the dealer will repair or replace the inverter assembly with a new one at no charge. The recall began on March 21, 2014.
6	12th December 2013	13E070000	Aftermarket tail lamps (circuit-switched)	The brake light and tail light circuits are switched causing the brake lights to be illuminated continuously until the brake pedal is pressed when the brake lights will go out confusing other drivers and increasing the risk of a crash.	Genera will notify owners and provide replacement aftermarket tail lamps, free of charge. The recall began on January 23, 2014.
7	9th April 2013	13V123000	Inaccurate load carrying capacity labels	Affected vehicles were sold with labels that were outside the allowable one percent of accuracy of actual weight added, causing the operator to unknowingly overload the vehicle and increase the risk of a crash.	Toyota will notify owners and provide a corrected label with instructions concerning its installation. The recall began on May 28, 2013.
8	16th January 2013	13V014000	Occupant system sensing calibration	During modification by SET to include accessories such as leather seat covers, seat heaters, or headrest DVD systems, these vehicles may not have had the passenger seat occupant sensing system calibration tested, causing it to not work as intended and increase the risk of injury in the event of a crash.	Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will test the sensitivity of the occupant detection sensors, and recalibrate them as necessary. The recall began on March 21, 2013.

Should you buy a used 2012 Toyota Prius?

Even though the Toyota Prius tops our list for compact hatchback ranking this year, we can’t refrain from pointing out the loose ends on this vehicle, especially for those planning to keep it as a long-termer or getting one from the used market. Though the vehicle essentially does most things the manufacturer states it will, recent updates have shown a bunch of hurdles popping up, which are more in number than what we would like to see from a Toyota. Some of the standouts here are engine problems, brake booster failure, and Hybrid system issues. Although Toyota seems to be doing a decent job with their extended warranty policies for common and widespread issues, the process has been reported to be far from smooth and we advise readers to approach the vehicle with caution, given all the existing complaints against its name.