Model year record

2012 Toyota Prius

6 recall campaigns on file for this model year. 616 owner complaints on file.

Recalls

Recall campaignNHTSA 18V684000

Hybrid propulsion system

Component
Hybrid propulsion system
Manufacturer
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing
Vehicles affected
807,329
Reported to NHTSA
2018-10-04
Owners notified
2019-01-22

Defect description

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2010-2014 Toyota Prius and 2012-2014 Toyota Prius V vehicles. 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.

Safety risk

If the hybrid system shuts down unexpectedly, it can increase the risk of a crash.

Manufacturer remedy

Toyota will notify owners, and 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 January 22, 2019. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371. Toyota's number for this recall is J0V. Note: The software updates in this recall are needed even if the vehicle had the software previously updated under recalls 14V-053 or 15V-449.

Recall campaignNHTSA 16V487000

Air bags: side/window

Component
Air bags: side/window
Manufacturer
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing
Vehicles affected
482,002
Reported to NHTSA
2016-06-30
Owners notified
2016-10-17

Defect description

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.

Safety 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.

Manufacturer remedy

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.

Recall campaignNHTSA 16V396000

Seats: front assembly: seat heater/cooler

Component
Seats: front assembly: seat heater/cooler
Manufacturer
Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC
Vehicles affected
7,749
Reported to NHTSA
2016-06-02
Owners notified
2016-07-14

Defect description

Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain 2005-2011 4Runner, Highlander, Sequoia, and Sienna, 2005-2010 Avalon and Tundra, 2006-2008 Camry Solara, 2006-2010 Highlander hybrid, 2006-2011 Rav4 and Tacoma, 2007-2010 FJ Cruiser, 2007-2011 Camry hybrid, 2009-2010 Venza, 2010-2012 Prius, 1988-1990 and 2005-2010 Camry, and 1989 and 2009-2010 Corolla vehicles equipped with aftermarket accessory seat heaters with a copper strand heating element. The electrical wiring in the seat heaters may be damaged when the seat cushion is compressed.

Safety risk

If damaged, the copper strand heating element may short circuit, increasing the risk of a fire.

Manufacturer remedy

SET will notify owners, and 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. Owners may contact SET customer service at 1-866-405-4226. SET number for this recall is SET16B.

Recall campaignNHTSA 14V053000

Hybrid propulsion system: inverter

Component
Hybrid propulsion system: inverter
Manufacturer
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing
Vehicles affected
698,457
Reported to NHTSA
2014-02-12
Owners notified
2014-03-21

Defect description

Toyota is recalling certain model year 2010 through 2014 Prius vehicles. 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. If this occurs, various warning lamps will be illuminated on the instrument panel and the vehicle will have reduced power allowing it to only drive a short distance.

Safety risk

The vehicle may enter a fail-safe/limp-home mode that limits the drivability of the vehicle. The hybrid system could also shut down completely resulting in a vehicle stall, increasing the risk of a crash.

Manufacturer remedy

Toyota will notify owners and 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. Owners may contact Toyota at 1-800-331-4331.

Recall campaignNHTSA 13V123000

Equipment: other: labels

Component
Equipment: other: labels
Manufacturer
Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC
Vehicles affected
7,525
Reported to NHTSA
2013-04-09
Owners notified
2013-05-28

Defect description

Southeast Toyota is recalling certain model year 2008 and 2010-2013 Toyota Tundra, 2010-2012 Rav4, 2012 Toyota Sequoia, 2010-2011 Toyota Corolla, 2010-2011 Toyota Camry and Camry Hybrid, 2010-2013 Toyota Highlander and Highlander Hybrid, 2010-2013 Toyota FJ Cruiser, 2011 Toyota Land Cruiser, 2010-2013 Toyota Venza, 2010-2011 Toyota 4Runner, 2010-2013 Toyota Tacoma, 2011-2012 Toyota Sienna, 2012 Toyota Prius, 2013 Scion FR-S, 2011 Scion XD, 2011 Scion XB, and 2012 Scion TC vehicles. These vehicles were sold with labels that were outside the allowable one percent of accuracy of actual weight added. Thus, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) Number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims."

Safety risk

An inaccurate label could lead to owners overloading their vehicles and tires. An overloaded vehicle can result in a tire failure which may result in a vehicle crash, personal injury, or property damage.

Manufacturer remedy

Southeast Toyota will notify owners and provide a corrected label with instructions concerning its installation. A small group of the affected vehicles will need additonal remedies which are still being developed. The recall began on May 28, 2013. Owners may contact Southeast Toyota at 1-800-301-6859.

Recall campaignNHTSA 13V014000

Seats

Component
Seats
Manufacturer
Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC
Vehicles affected
3,235
Reported to NHTSA
2013-01-16
Owners notified
2013-03-21

Defect description

Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain models interspersed through model years 2009 through 2013 as follows: model year 2009-2012 Tacoma, 4Runner, Camry, Camry Hybrid, Prius, and RAV4; model year 2009-2010 Avalon, FJ Cruiser, and Highlander Hybrid; model year 2010-2013 model year Corolla, Sienna and Tundra; model year 2009-2013 Highlander and Venza; model year 2012 Prius V; and model year 2010-2012 Sequoia. 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. Without passing the calibration test, the occupant sensing system may not operate as designed.

Safety risk

If the front passenger seat occupant sensing system is out of calibration, the front passenger airbags may not deploy or they may deploy inappropriately for the passenger's size and position. This could increase the risk of personal injury during the event of a vehicle crash necessitating airbag deployment.

Manufacturer remedy

Southeast 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. Owners may contact Southeast Toyota at 1-800-301-6859.

Owner complaints

A complaint is one person's report to a federal agency. It is not a finding.

ComponentComplaintsMedian mileage
Service brakes22776,000 mi
Electrical system5414,000 mi
Exterior lighting3680,000 mi
Unknown or other3491,000 mi
Engine3277,000 mi
Air bags2827,000 mi
Visibility/wiper28700 mi
Power train2125,300 mi
Structure: body2015,600 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic14140,000 mi
Vehicle speed control1420,000 mi
Steering1340,000 mi
Fuel/propulsion system1020,500 mi
Seat belts1046,500 mi
Suspension102,400 mi
Electronic stability control (ESC)798,000 mi
Wheels79,300 mi
Hybrid propulsion system5120,000 mi
Seats521,382 mi
Electrical system: instrument panel: speedometer/odometer4227,000 mi
Forward collision avoidance: automatic emergency braking4
Fuel system, other49,550 mi
Equipment adaptive/mobility39,851 mi
Service brakes, air: antilock: ABS warning light3102,000 mi
Structure314,000 mi
Hybrid propulsion system: inverter269,500 mi
Insert, padding2
Tires: tread/belt2
Traction control system2106,019 mi
Air bags: frontal: driver clockspring/spiral cassette190,000 mi
Electrical system: horn190,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling19,851 mi
Equipment14,000 mi
Lane departure: blind spot detection1
Power train: automatic transmission123,900 mi
Seat belts: front1
Seats: front assembly: head restraint1100 mi
Service brakes, air: antilock: control unit/module153,000 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip: ABS warning light188,000 mi
Visibility: glass, side/rear1
Visibility: windshield1

The 2011 model has roughly the same number of complaints as this one. The 2013 model has roughly the same number of complaints as this one. These figures reflect raw complaint counts, not failure rates. Higher-selling model years naturally receive more complaints.

Open investigations

An investigation is not a recall. It indicates that NHTSA is currently evaluating an alleged defect but has not reached a final determination.

DP23005Brake Actuator Valve Wear

Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components

Safety recall repairs are provided free of charge by franchised dealers, regardless of vehicle age or mileage. This page displays aggregated data for the model year. To check recall status for a specific vehicle, search its VIN at nhtsa.gov.