What 684 owners told NHTSA about the 2012 Toyota Prius C

THE ACTUATOR HAS BEEN MAKING NOISE FOR THE PAST YEAR . I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER ABOUT FEB 2019 AND SINCE MY WARRANTY HAD JUST EXPIRED THE DEALER WOULD NOT FIX. AND TODAY IT'S BEEN WORSE . EVERY TIME I AM AT A STOP IT MAKES TONS OF NOISE. *TR

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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. *TR

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BRAKE LIGHT/TSC LIGHT ON DASH WAS ON. THERE APPEARED TO BE NO DIFFERENCE IN DRIVE-ABILITY, BUT THERE WAS A HUMMING NOISE PRESENT AT IDLE AND 20-30 MPH. TOOK CAR TO DEALER 4/30/2019 FOR CHECK. COGGINS TOYOTA IN JACKSONVILLE, FL DETERMINED THE CAUSE WAS A, ABNORMAL LEAK IN THE ACCUMULATOR. THEY REPLACED THE BRAKE BOOSTER/MASTER CYLINDER ASSEMBLY. AFTER THE NEW EQUIPMENT WAS INSTALLED, THE TECHNICIAN NOTICED THE NEW PUMP ASSEMBLY HAD EXCESSIVE NOISE AND VIBRATION INTERNALLY SO ANOTHER REPLACEMENT PART WAS ORDERED. NEW PUMP ASSEMBLY BRAKE BOOSTER WAS INSTALLED AND CAR WAS PUT BACK IN SERVICE 5/19/2019. TOTAL COST OF THIS SERVICE WAS $2,745.11. WE LATER LEARNED THAT A CUSTOMER SUPPORT PROGRAM CSP ZJB WAS ISSUED BY TOYOTA FOR 'CERTAIN" 2010 PHD PRIUS, "CERTAIN" 2011-2015 PRIUS, AND "CERTAIN" 2012-2015 PHV PRIUS. AS PER THE CSP ZJB MAILING TO OUR RELATIVE WHO ALSO OWNS A PRIUS, THE PROBLEM WAS "WITH THE BRAKE BOOSTER AND BRAKE BOOSTER PUMP ASSEMBLIES". ACCORDING TO DIANNE, CUSTOMER SERVICE REP WITH TOYOTA, THESE VEHICLES INCLUDED IN THE CSP ZJB WERE PRODUCED BETWEEN OCTOBER 2010 TO NOVEMBER 2015 AND INCLUDED SOME 946,100 VEHICLES. MY VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THIS PROGRAM AS THE VIN NUMBER DID NOT MATCH THE AFFECTED VEHICLES. HOWEVER, WE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH OUR VEHICLE THAT THE PROGRAM WAS INITIATED TO INCLUDE. UPON SUBMITTING A REQUEST FOR REIMBURSEMENT FROM TOYOTA FOR THE COST ASSOCIATED WITH REPAIRS, IT WAS REJECTED. WE BELIEVE THE PROBLEM FOR WHICH THE SERVICE PROGRAM WAS INITIATED IS THE SAME PROBLEM WE EXPERIENCED AND OUR VEHICLE VIN SHOULD BE ADDED BY TOYOTA TO THE LIST OF AFFECTED VEHICLES SO THAT IT BECOMES ELIGIBLE FOR EXPENSE REIMBURSEMENT.

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1)INTERMITTENT REGEN BRAKING FAILURE CAUSING BRAKES TO BECOME MORE DIFFICULT TO PRESS THUS HARDER TO STOP THE CAR IN A TIMELY MANNER. USUALLY WHEN THERE IS STOP AND GO DRIVING WILL THE REGENERATIVE BRAKING FAIL. 2) CLOGGED EGR VALVE CAUSING A LOUD ENGINE KNOCK RESULTING IN A BLOWN HEAD GASKET.

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PROBLEM WITH HEAD GASKET, LOW MILES, COLD ENGINE STARTING, STATIONER, AND SOME TIMES IN MOTION

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2012 TOYOTA PRIUS II, DEALER MAINTAINED, NOW NEEDS NEW ENGINE DUE TO BLOWN HEAD GASKET. MILEAGE 151000. THE CAR HAS RUN PERFECTLY UNTIL A RECENT ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. WHEN IT WAS BROUGHT INTO THE DEALERSHIP, THE DIAGNOSIS WAS MISFIRING OF 2 CYLINDERS AND COOLANT LEAKING INTO CYLINDERS 3 AND 4. THERE WAS NO PREVIOUS ENGINE PROBLEMS. AN OFFICIAL COMPLAINT WAS FILED WITH TOYOTA CUSTOMER SERVICE. THEY RESPONDED THAT THERE WAS NO FAULT ON THEIR END AND I SHOULD HAVE THE ENGINE REPLACED AT AN AUTHORIZED TOYOTA DEALER. A SEARCH FOR THIS TROUBLE RESULTED IN SEVERAL OTHER COMPLAINTS OF THE FAILURE OF HEAD GASKETS IN THIS YEAR AND MODEL PRIUS.

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ABS WARNING LIGHT INDICATING TROUBLE WITH THE BRAKING SYSTEM, I TOOK THE CAR TO AN INDEPENDENT AUTO REPAIR STORE AND THE MECHANIC CHECKED THE CODES ON HIS COMPUTER AND RECEIVED 2 CODES THAT INDICATING THAT THE ABS PUMP NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THE TOTAL COST WOULD BE BETWEEN $3000 TO $5000. THE ABS LIGHT GOES ON WHEN I START THE CAR

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THIS COMPLAINT IS FOR A 2012 PRIUS V THAT I'VE NOTIFIED MY LOCAL DEALER AND TOYOTA ABOUT A POSSIBLE SAFETY ISSUE RELATING TO THE BRAKE BOOSTER. THE PRIUS V IS CURRENTLY NOT INCLUDED IN THE ZJB CUSTOMER SUPPORT PROGRAM AND I BELIEVE IT SHOULD BE. BRAKE PEDAL FEELS VERY FIRM AND INCONSISTENT AND MUCH HARDER TO ACTIVATE THE BRAKES. THERE IS CONSTANT (EVERY FEW SECONDS) BRAKE BOOSTER ACTUATION/WHIRRING CONSISTENT WITH SYMPTOMS OF A LEAKING/DEFECTIVE BRAKE BOOSTER PER MY LOCAL DEALER. WARNING LIGHTS FOR BRAKE, ABS, STABILITY CONTROL, AND TIRE PRESSURE ARE ON.

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FAULTY HEAD GASKET, ENGINE SHAKING ON STARTUP, COOLANT DRAINING PREMATURELY, WHITE EXHAUST, LOW COMPRESSION AND POWER.

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I HAVE NEVER RECEIVED A RECALL MAIL REGARDING THE CAR. I USED AN INSURANCE TRACKING PLUGIN, AND ALL THE PROBLEMS STARTED.PCS ERROR MESSAGE ON MY DASHBOARD, DUE TO A LEAK IN BRAKE BOOSTER THEY SAID. MY DEALERSHIP WILL NOT TELL ME IT'S A RECALL, MADE IT SEEM LIKE THEY HELPED ME INSTEAD OF CHARGING AS HIGH AS $4000. I WAS NOT GIVEN A LOANER CAR FOR THE 4DAYS THEY HAD MY CAR, AND DID NOT GET ANY REFUNDS FOR THE RENTAL CAR I GOT

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BROUGHT CAR IN FOR RECALL J0V00D AND IMMEDIATELY AFTERWARDS THE ABS,TRACTION-CONTROL, BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON. THE LIGHTS WENT ON AND OFF AND THEN STAYED ON. WENT BACK TO DEALER AND WAS TOLD IT NEEDED A $3800.00 REPAIR. WAS TOLD THAT CERTAIN VIN NUMBERS WERE AFFECTED, BUT NOT MY VIN#. NOT SURE HOW THIS IS POSSIBLE SINCE I AM READING ALL OVER THE INTERNET THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM ON THIS YEAR CAR ALSO? I WAS DRIVING ON HIGHWAY US 19 IN CLEARWATER, WHEN THIS ALL HAPPENED.

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UNLIKE OTHER 2011-2015 TOYOTA PRIUS VEHICLES THE PRIUS V IS NOT COVERED UNDER TOYOTA'S CSP-ZJB CUSTOMER SUPPORT PROGRAM. MY 2012 PRIUS V HAS ALL THE INDICATIONS OF THIS BRAKE BOOSTER AND PUMP PROBLEM... MULTIPLE LIGHTS ON THE DASH (BRAKE, ABS, PCS ..... ON; CODES C1252 & C1256; AND BRAKE BOOST PUMP RUNNING EVERY 6-8 SECONDS PLUS A BRAKE PEDAL THAT YOU CAN PUSH TO THE FLOOR IN 4-5 SECONDS. IN HARD BRAKING I'VE HAD TO PUMP THE BRAKE PEDAL TO GET STOPPED. IT'S MY WIFE'S CAR BUT SHE WILL NOT DRIVE IT ANYMORE. TOOK THE CAR TO A TOYOTA DEALER WHO WAS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM AND STARTED TO HAVE IT FIXED AT THEIR EXPENSE UNTIL HE PUT THE VIN # IN HIS COMPUTER. HIS ESTIMATE WAS $2500+ TO HAVE THE PROBLEM FIXED AFTER I PAID TO HAVE THE PROBLEM DIAGNOSED EVEN THOUGH HE KNEW WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS. I DECLINED AND CALLED TOYOTA CUSTOMER SERVICE WHICH WAS A WASTE OF TIME...SORRY, YOUR CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY AND YOUR CAR DOES NOT HAVE A PROBLEM WE WILL COVER. ON THE NET, THERE ARE MULTIPLE PRIUS V OWNERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM THAT STARTED IN 2008. UNTIL SOMEONE WITH A BIGGER STICK (NHTSA), TOYOTA IS SAYING THERE ISNOT A PROBLEM WITH THE PRIUS V BRAKES.

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WHILE DRIVING THE BRAKES WENT OUT. I BROUGHT THE CAR TO TOYOTA AND THEY SAID THE BRAKE BOOSTER IS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED THE PRICE TO DO SO IS ABOUT $3,000 THEY ALSO SAID THEY DON'T KNOW WHY THIS HAPPENED AS IN SOME CASES YOU NEVER HAVE TO REPLACE A BRAKE BOOSTER NOR MASTER CYLINDER

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THE LINING ON THE DEFLECTOR RUBBER GASKET/SEAL OF THE SUNROOF HAS BEEN DETERIORATING. I HAVE HEARD FROM MANY OTHER PRIUS III OWNERS THAT THIS IS A COMMON DEFECT FOR THE 2010-2013 YEAR MODELS. I BELIEVE IT IF IS THIS COMMON, TOYOTA SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR REPLACING IT.

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I SWITCHED INTO NEUTRAL AND PUSHED THE PARK BUTTON TO PARK. I LEANED FORWARD TO GRAB MY WALLET AND FELT THE CAR ACCELERATING OVER THE PARKING CURB. I IMMEDIATELY SLAMMED THE BRAKES AND THE CAR ACCELERATED INTO A BUILDING. I AM FORTUNATE TO BE ALIVE BECAUSE IF THE AIRBAG WOULD HAVE ACTIVATED, I WOULD HAVE BROKE MY NECK.

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IGUALMENTE QUE LOS CARROS PRIUS REGULARES, EL CUAL HAY UNA GARANTIA EXTENDIDA, MI EL AUTO DAO LA BOMBA DE FRENOS, LO CUAL ES MUY COSTOSA, ESTA GARANTIA SOLO ES SOLO PARA PRIUS REGULARES IGUALMENTE UTILIZAN EL MISMO SISTEMA. SE DEBE VERIFICAR PORQUE NO CUBRE LOS OTROS AUTOS YA QUE TIENEN EL MISMO SISTEMA.

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IT STARTED WITH SHAKING ON STARTUP, IDLE AND LOW SPEEDS. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. DIAGNOSED WITH MULTIPLE CYLINDER MISFIRE. IGNITION COILS REPLACED, BUT DID NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM. SUBSEQUENT ANALYSIS INDICATED COOLANT IN THE COMBUSTION CHAMBER DUE TO A FAILED HEAD GASKET.

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VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION TRAVELING ABOUT 50 MPH WHEN AN EFFORT WAS MADE TO PASS ANOTHER VEHICLE ON A 2 LANE ROAD, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER WHILE WE WERE PASSING, WE BARELY GOT BACK INTO OUR LANE AND JUST BARELY AVOIDED A HEAD ON COLLISION. THEN THE VEHICLE SLOWED TO ABOUT 15 MPH AND LIMPED TO A STOP A MILE LATER. WE COULD HAVE DIED.

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INNER LEFT TIE ROD LOOSE, REVEALED WHEN ANNUAL INSPECTION CONDUCTED. TOYOTA HAS NO PART NUMBER FOR THE INNER TIE ROD (EST PRICE $30.00) SO MUST PURCHASE ENTIRE STEERING ASSEMBLY (PART COST = $1,000; LABOR ABOUT THE SAME).

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MY 2012 PRIUS C WITH 90,000 MILES BEGAN TO LOSE POWER/SPEED DRIVING WHEN CHECK HYBRID SYSTEM WARNING SUDDENLY CAME ON TONIGHT. IT WAS UNRESPONSIVE TO THE GAS PEDDLE, EVEN AT FULL THROTTLE. DID NOT ALLOW ENOUGH TIME TO PULL TO THE SIDE OF A BUSY ROAD BEFORE IT LOST ALL ABILITY TO DRIVE, LEAVING ME STALLED NEAR INTERSECTION. A STRANGER HELPED PUSH MY CAR OFF THE MAIN ROAD UNTIL AAA SENT A TOW TRUCK. HAD THIS OCCURRED ONE MILE LATER, I WOULD'VE STALLED ON THE 25 SOUTHBOUND FREEWAY GOING FROM LONE TREE TO DENVER AT A VERY BUSY TIME IN THE EVENING WITHOUT WARNING (SCARY THOUGHT). UPON ARRIVING HOME WITH THE TOWED VEHICLE, I ATTEMPTED TO START THE ENGINE AGAIN, BUT IT WOULD NOT START. TURNED OFF THE IGNITION, REMOVED KEYS, BUT A LOW SOUND I'VE NEVER CONTINUED FOR SEVERAL MINUTES. AFTER THAT, THE CAR WAS COMPLETELY DEAD. DASHBOARD WON'T LIGHT UP, NO WORKING HORN, POWER LOCKS, WINDOWS, ALARM. I NOW HAVE NO FUNCTIONING VEHICLE AND HAVE NO IDEA WHAT CAUSED MY CAR TO LOSE POWER WHILE DRIVING.

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THE PROBLEM STARTED WITH A CHIRPING NOISE WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED. TODAY THE CAR APPEARS TO LOSE REGENERATIVE BRAKING CHARGING. THE VEHICLE STABILITY CONTROL AND ABS LIGHT AND BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON. THE BRAKE APPEARED TO BE MUSHIED.

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I REPLACED MY BRAKE BOOSTER THREE TIMES IN TWO MONTHS.STILL I HAVE BIG ISSUES WITH TOYATA COMPANY.

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TRANSAXLE IS FAILING AFTER 100K MILES OF NORMAL DRIVING AND MAINTENANCE. SPOKE WITH BOTH A TOYOTA DEALER AND TRANSMISSION SHOP WHO SAID THE CVT FAILURE ON THIS MODEL YEAR AND THE FOLLOWING SEVERAL IS AN EXTREMELY COMMON OCCURRENCE. THIS IS A $5000+ REPAIR FAIRLY EARLY IN THE LIFE OF THE VEHICLE. THE TRANSMISSION SHOP SAID THIS WAS DUE TO POOR INITIAL DESIGN.

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OWNER/DRIVER FOUND BLACKED OUT BEHIND WHEEL IN 55 MPH HIGHWAY IN OPPOSING TRAFFIC DITCH. DRIVER AMBULANCED TO HOSPITAL ER. DMV REQUIRES MEDICAL EVALUATION FOR CONTINUED DRIVING PRIVILEGES. DRIVER SUSPECTED CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING. SUBSEQUENTLY, DRIVER PLACES RESIDENTIAL CARBON MONOXIDE DETECTOR INSIDE PRIUS WHICH ALARMED WHILE PARKED AND TURNED OFF AT RESIDENCE DRIVEWAY. TOYOTA CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE CENTER ISSUED CASE # [XXX]. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

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MY ENTIRE BREAKING SYSTEM WENT OUT WHILE DRIVING TO WORK ON A BUSY ROAD, WHERE I HAD TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE TO SEE WHAT WAS WRONG, AS I HAD NEVER SEEN THOSE FIVE LIGHTS LIGHT UP EVER, AS THIS IS NOT A TYPICAL ISSUE THAT WOULD EVER BREAK WITHOUT A MANUFACTURING ISSUE. I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED OF A SPECIFIC ISSUE WITH CERTAIN 2011-2015 PRIUS VEHICLES THAT ARE INVOLVED IN A CUSTOMER SUPPORT PROGRAM ZJB. I HAVE NOW PAID $100 TO TOYOTA TO DIAGNOSE THIS PROBLEM, WHICH WAS NOT NECESSARY, AS IT IS OBVIOUSLY THE EXACT ISSUE (5 LIGHTS LUMINATED) FROM THE CUSTOMER SUPPORT PROGRAM, AND THEY HAVE TOLD ME THAT I WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE BECAUSE MY VIN IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE PROGRAM. IT HAS BEEN DIAGNOSED WITH THE EXACT BREAK BOOSTER ISSUE LISTED IN THE LETTER SENT TO OTHER VIN NUMBERS. I DRIVE CHILDREN AROUND IN THIS CAR, AND THIS ISSUE IS SEVERE AND SHOULD CLEARLY BE FOR A LARGER NUMBER OF CARS THAN THEY ARE ADMITTING. I HAVE NOW BEEN TOLD THAT THEY WILL NOT PAY FOR THE $3,000 IN REPAIRS BECAUSE IT IS NOT INCLUDED. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD ON THE ROAD AND UNBELIEVABLE THAT I WOULD PAY EXTRA MONEY FOR A TOYOTA BECAUSE IT IS SUPPOSED TO BE A SAFE AND RELIABLE CAR, ONLY TO FIND OUT THEY WILL NOT ADMIT WHEN THEY HAVE A WIDESPREAD BREAK MANUFACTURING ISSUE WITH THEIR VEHICLES. MY ONLY RECOURSE THOUGH TOYOTA I AM TOLD IS TO MAKE A CASE NUMBER AND IF MY VIN HAPPENS TO BE ADDED TO THE LIST, THEY MAY REIMBURSE ME. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE. TOYOTA NEEDS TO RECALL ALL VINS FOR THIS ISSUE, SO CONSUMERS ARE AWARE THAT THEIR BREAKS MAY FAIL AT ANY MOMENT.

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