What 612 owners told NHTSA about the 2012 Toyota Prius V

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE FROM A STOP, THE VEHICLE HESITATED PRIOR TO ACCELERATING. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKE ACTUATOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 63,000.

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MICE IN CABIN. SINCE I'VE OWNED THIS CAR (BOUGHT NEW) I'VE HAD SEVERAL OCCASIONS WHERE MICE GET INSIDE THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. I'VE LOOKED ON-LINE AND HAVE SEEN NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS AND SUGGESTED SOLUTIONS. MOST HAVE SAID THEIR DEALERS DENY ANY DESIGN PROBLEMS AND WILL NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. FRUSTRATING!

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TAKATA RECALL. NO SOLUTION FOR THIS YET

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TAKATA RECALL. NHSTA SHOWS RECALL BUT ALSO SHOWS THAT TOYOTA DOESN'T HAVE A REMEDY. WHY NOT?!? NOTHING HAS HAPPENED REGARDING THE DEFECT BUT I'M CONCERNED IT MAY. BLOOMBERG SAYS TAKATA USES AMMONIUM NITRATE (FERTILIZER) AS A PROPELLANT WHICH IS APPARENTLY UNSTABLE.

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MY TOYOTA PRIUS 2012 HEADLIGHTS ARE REPEATEDLY BURNING OUT. LAST BULBS LASTED 3 DAYS. I'VE BLOWN OVER $200 ON DIFFERENT BULBS. I DRIVE FOR A LIVING. THIS IS MURDERING MY BUSINESS.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING 21 MPH, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO THE PASSENGER SIDE OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY AND THE SEAT BELT ALSO FAILED TO HOLD THE DRIVER IN PLACE. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A FRACTURED STERNUM, WHICH REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 83,569.

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DOOR LOCKING MECHANISM, SECURITY ISSUE, VEHICLE WILL NOT LOCK DUE TO FAULTY LOCK ACTUATOR--- MAY EFFECT OTHER ACTUATORS. VEHICLE STATIONARY AND ON START UP FOR MOTION.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AS THE MASTER WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE ONLY CODE FOUND WAS RELATED TO LOW FUEL ALTHOUGH THE VEHICLE HAD A FULL TANK OF FUEL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND MADE THE CONTACT WAS MADE AWARE THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V053000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM , HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 37,795.

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I WAS DRIVING, TRYING TO PARK MY CAR, WHEN THE STEERING (POWER FAILED) IT TOOK ALL MIGHT STRENGTHEN TO TURN THE WHEEL. THE CAR WAS SERVICED BY TOYOTA REGULARLY - THERE WERE NO PREVIOUS SIGNS OR INDICATORS THAT ANY PROBLEM EXISTED. STEERING SYSTEM FAILED; HAD THE CAR TOWED TO A TOYOTA DEALERSHIP. AT 50,000 THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP SAID THE STEERING COLUMN FAILED, NOT GETTING ANY ELECTRICITY TO THE STEERING COLUMN. NEEDED A NEW STEERING COLUMN.

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THERE WAS A RATTLING OR KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM UNDER THE DASH AREA OF THE PASSENGER SIDE WHENEVER DRIVING OVER BUMPS AT SLOWER SPEEDS ON CITY STREETS, OFTEN FELT TRAMSMITTED TO THE STEERING WHEEL. UPON TAKING IT TO THE TOYOTA DEALER, THEY FOUND THAT THERE WAS FREE PLAY IN THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT, WHICH THEY SAID, COULD EVENTUALLY FAIL. IT HAD TO BE REPLACED.

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WHILE DRIVING TO A GET TOGETHER THE BACK SEAT MIDDLE PASSENGER RESTRAINT BECAME SEPARATED FROM THE LOCKING CLIP THAT HOLDS SEAT BELT OVER PASSENGERS LAP. MAKING IT DANGEROUS TO DRIVE WITH MY CHILDREN IN THE BACK SEAT. IT WILL NOT CLIP TOGETHER ANYMORE. I JUST BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE 3 MONTHS AGO AND IT HAD NO PROBLEMS AT THAT TIME.

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AFTER TOYOTA POWER MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE RECALL INSTALLED "POWER MANAGEMENT UPGRADE" SOFTWARE IN MY CAR I IMMEDIATELY EXPERIENCED SERIOUS PROBLEMS WITH MY IGNITION /START OF HYBRID/GASOLINE ENGINE. AFTER PRESSING IGNITION, I HAD TO WAIT 15 TO 20 MINUTES AND PRESS START BUTTON ON/OFF REPEATEDLY UNTIL THE GASOLINE ENGINE IGNITE BUT HYBRID FAILED TO START. IT IS NOT NORMAL BECAUSE A PRIUS HYBRID ENGINE STARTS FIRST NOT THE GASOLINE ENGINE. TOYOTA HAS DISABLED SOME IMPORTANT FUNCTIONS IN ITS POWER MANAGEMENT RECALL SOFTWARE UPDATE THAT AFFECTS THE HYBRID ENGINE PERFORMANCE AND FAILURE TO START. I DRIVE MY PRIUS 3-4 TIMES A MONTH AND I DID NOT HAVE ANY PROBLEM BEFORE THE RECALL SOFTWARE UPGRADE BECAUSE PRIUS OWNERS MANUAL CLEARLY SAYS THAT THE BATTERY WITH BE DISCONNECTED BY BATTERY SAVING FUNCTION WHEN YOUR CAR IS PARKED FOR LONG TIME, SEVERAL DAYS, WEEKS. IN FACT, WHEN YOUR CAR IS PARKED FOR JUST DAYS, TOYOTA POWER MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE (RECALL) IS DRAINING THE CAR BATTERY AND RECONFIGURING THE RELAYS TO POWER UP THE GASOLINE ENGINE. TOYOTA OWNERS MANUAL CLEARLY STATES THAT WHEN YOU ARE PARKED, "POWER MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE DISCONNECTS THE AUXILIARY BATTERY FROM THE HYBRID SYSTEM." HOWEVER, AFTER THE RECALL, NOT ONLY AUXILIARY BATTERY IS NOT DISCONNECTED BUT THERE ARE LOTS OF "ACTIVITY" IN HYBRID ENGINE THAT DRAINS THE BATTERIES. I CALLED THE TOYOTA SERVICE AND THEY NOW SAY YOU HAVE TO KEEP THE CAR ON A CHARGER ALL THE TIME WHEN PARKED FOR SEVERAL DAYS. OF COURSE , IT IS A HUGE SAFETY PROBLEM TO KEEP THE CAR ON A CHARGER ALL THE TIME WHEN PARKED FOR DAYS BECAUSE THE BATTERY IS HOUSED IN THE CABIN AND THE VENTILATION DOES NOT EXIST UNLESS YOU PARK YOUR CAR OUTDOORS. AT THE SAME TIME TOYOTA RECOMMENDS KEEPING THE CAR ON A CHARGER , IT ALSO WARNS OF EXPLOSION CAUSED BY CHARGING THE BATTERIES IN A GARAGE.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, BUT FAILED TO ENGAGE. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE AWAY FROM THE CRASH SCENE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 135,000.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, A LOUD CLUNKING NOISE EMITTED WHEN MAKING A TURN. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ONLY WHEN MAKING A TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.

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I WAS DRIVING THE 2012 PRIUS ON A DOWNHILL PARKWAY AT ABOUT 40 MPH WHEN THE WARNING LIGHT CHECK HYBRID SYSTEM CAME ON. WITHIN 10 SECOND, THE VEHICLE TOTALLY LOST POWER. IT AUTOMATICALLY SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL. THERE WAS NO BACK UP FAIL-SAFE/LIMP HOME MODE. FORTUNATELY THE CAR WAS GLIDING DOWNHILL BY GRAVITY AND EVENTUALLY WAS STEERED INTO A DRIVEWAY. THEN IT REFUSED TO GO ON READY OR DRIVE MODE. ON THIS SATURDAY AFTERNOON THE CAR HAD TO BE TOWED HOME. IT HAD TO BE TOWED AGAIN TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR SERVICE THE FOLLOWING WEEK. IT TOOK THE MECHANIC TWO DAYS TO MAKE A DIAGNOSIS THAT A FUSE ON THE MAIN DRIVE BATTERY HAD BLOWN. ANOTHER DAY WAS SPENT WAITING FOR THE PART. THE DEALERSHIP CANNOT GUARANTEE THAT THIS EVENT WILL NOT HAPPEN AGAIN. I CONTACTED TOYOTA USA. AN AGENT NAMED MICHAEL WAS COURTEOUS ENOUGH TO LISTENED TO ME AND GAVE ME A CASE NUMBER 1604142245. TO ANYONE WITH COMMON SENSE, THIS TOTAL LACK OF AN EMERGENCY ALTERNATIVE PROPULSION SYSTEM FOR EVEN A CHEAP CAR IS UNACCEPTABLE. THE DEALERSHIP CANNOT EVEN COME UP WITH A PLAUSIBLE EXPLANATION AS TO WHAT MAY HAVE CAUSED THE FUSE TO BLOW. WAS IT OVER HEATING? WAS THERE A SHORT IN SOME INTERNAL BATTERY CELLS? THIS PAST WEEK, I NOTICED THAT THE CHARGING PART OF THE OPERATION NO LONGER CAN FULLY CHARGE THE BATTERY TO THE FORMER 11.9 MILE RANGE. IT ONLY CHARGES UP TO 9.8 MILES. THIS IS A SUDDEN LOSS OF 2 MILES OF CHARGE. I SUSPECT THAT SOME LITHIUM CELLS HAVE BEEN DAMAGED AFTER THE INCIDENT. I ALSO SUSPECT THAT THERE MAY BE OTHER ISSUES AS WELL SUCH AS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE INVERTER MODULE RELATED TO A RECALL ON OTHER MODELS OF PRIUS DURING MY SEARCH FOR AN ANSWER. I NEED ASSURANCE FROM SOMEONE THAT THIS VEHICLE IS NOW SAFE TO DRIVE. BESIDES THE CASE NUMBER FROM MY COMPLAINT TO TOYOTA USA, AAA HAS RECORD OF MY RECENT TOWINGS ON 04/09/16 AND ON 04/12/16.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA PRIUS V. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE POSITION OF THE DRIVER SIDE HEAD REST FAILED TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE SUPPORT. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT SUSTAINED PAIN TO THE HEAD, NECK, LOWER BACK, AND LEFT LEG THAT DID NOT REQUIRE MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 31,000.

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NOISE ("CLUNKING") WHEN TURNING LEFT & RIGHT AS IF THERE IS "PLAY" OR SOMETHING IS LOOSE SOMEWHERE IN THE STEERING SYSTEM. WORRIED ABOUT SAFETY AND UNDERSTAND THERE WERE PREVIOUS RECALLS OF THE SHAFT ON PREVIOUS YEAR MODELS. DO NOT WANT TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE STEERING SHAFT AS DEALER SUGGESTS IF NOT NECESSARY.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2012 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED. VARIOUS WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED AND A BEEPING NOISE WAS PRESENT. THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE COASTED TO A STOP AND WAS REAR ENDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE FOREARM THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V053000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 45,000.......UPDATED 04/01/16 *BF *JS CONSUMER STATED THERE HAVE BEEN PREVIOUS STALLS WHICH THERE HAVE BEEN RECALLS. UPDATED 6/7/18*JB

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL, IT MADE AN ABNORMAL NOISE. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKE ACTUATOR WAS FAULTY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS INVALID. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 46,000.

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THE REAR HATCHBACK LATCH IS WEAK AND THE LATCH ASSEMBLY NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THIS PREVENTS THE REAR HATCHBACK DOOR FROM BEING OPENED OR MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO OPEN. IT WILL COST JUST SHY OF $700 TO FIX. OF THE FOUR PRIUSES MY FAMILY HAS OWNED (PRIUS 2005 AND 2 PRIUS 2007 AND PRIUS V 2012) HAVE HAD ISSUES WITH THE REAR HATCHBACK LATCH. TOYOTA PLEASE FIX THIS PROBLEM.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA PRIUS V. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V449000 (HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM). WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AFTER THE TRACTION CONTROL WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE RESTARTED AND WAS ABLE TO BE DRIVEN IN THE LIMP-HOME MODE AND FAILED TO ACCELERATE PAST 40 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE INVERTER FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,475.

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BRAKES SOMETIMES GRAB VERY SHARPLY WHEN TOUCHED WHILE IN MOTION, CAUSING FORWARD MOMENTUM OF BODY TO SLAM ON BRAKES. ALMOST CAUSED ACCIDENT WHEN I TOUCHED BRAKES WITH SOMEONE TAILGATING TOO CLOSELY. ALSO TRACTION IS INTERRUPTED WHEN HITTING THE METAL ABUTMENT TO BRIDGES.

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HEADLIGHTS LOW BEAM FAIL EVERY MONTH OR SO AND I HAVE REPLACED 16 BULBS IN LAST YEAR. THIS CREATES A DANGEROUS SITUATION FOR US. ALSO THE COST IS GREAT. I HAVE NEVER HAD TO REPLACE HEADLIGHTS BEFORE IN OTHER VEHICLES. WHEN IS A RECALL GOING TO BE DEMANDED ? WHEN SOMEBODY IS KILLED BECAUSE OF THIS

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VEHICLE IN MOTION WHEN STEERING COLUMN ADJUSTMENT RELEASED AND WOULD NOT RELOCK CAUSING THE STEERING COLUMN TO MOVE FORWARD AND BACK, UP AND DOWN. THE CAR WAS DIFFICULT TO DRIVE BECAUSE THE STEERING COLUMN WOULD NOT STAY FIXED IN ONE POSITION. TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY REMOVED THE STEERING COLUMN AND REINSTALLED A BOLT THAT HAD COME OUT OF THE STEERING COLUMN AND REINSTALLED THE BOLT WITH THREAD LOCK. COST OF REPAIR WAS $532. I BELIEVE THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND OTHER MODELS SHOULD BE CHECKED FOR THE LOOSE BOLT.

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I HAVE TO REPLACE BOTH LOW BEAM HEAD LAMPS APPROXIMATELY EVERY THREE WEEKS. I HAVE BOUGHT AND REPLACED 5 SETS SINCE OWNING THE CAR IN JUNE 2015. I CURRENTLY HAVE 40,000 MILES ON THE CAR.

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