What 612 owners told NHTSA about the 2012 Toyota Prius V

PARKING CAR IN HANDICAPPED SPOT - SPEED APPROXIMATELY 2 MPH - GAS ENGINE CUT IN AND THE CAR ACCELERATED AT A VERY HIGH SPEED. IT WENT OVER SPACE STOP (CONCRETE) - CROSSED THE SIDEWALK ONTO GRASS AND I HAD BOTH FEET ON THE BRAKE AND STOPPED THE CAR APPROX. 3 FEET FROM A WALL OF A BUILDING AND SHUT OFF THE ENGINE. THE HANDICAPPED SIGN SCRAPED THE WHOLE RIGHT SIDE OF MY CAR AND THERE ARE SEVERAL DENTS. THE SIGN WAS FINE. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10507352

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHENEVER HE MADE A U-TURN, THE VEHICLE MADE A LOUD NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL SENDING UNIT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 16,400. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10507100

SLOWED FOR RED LIGHT THAT WAS VISIBLE FOR A GREAT DISTANCE SO COASTING AND APPLIED BRAKES AND THEY WEREN'T THERE....I HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME, HE HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF HIM....MOSTLY DINGS IN FENDERS....MY HOOD WAS UP ON ONE SIDE, AND FRONT PANEL MOVED....NOBODY WAS HURT POLICE CAME AND SAT IN THE CAR AND APPLIED BRAKE AND IT WENT TO THE FLOOR. HE SAID "YOU HAVE NO BRAKES; DO NOT DRIVE THE CAR, HAVE IT TOWED". *TR

NHTSA ODI 10505322

WINDSHIELD OPTICS CAUSE LIGHT SOURCES TO TRIPLE WITH GHOSTING ABOVE AND BELOW THE SOURCE OF LIGHT. THIS IS CAUSING DIFFICULTY IN JUDGING DISTANCE, DISTRACTION AND EYE STRAIN WHILE DRIVING. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10504961

THE WINDSHIELD HAS A VERTICAL "PRISM" EFFECT WITH ANY LIGHT SOURCE COMING THROUGH IT. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10504667

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA PRIUS V. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, SMOKE EMITTED FROM THE DASHBOARD AND THE VEHICLE'S MILEAGE FLUCTUATED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT HER INSULIN PUMP MALFUNCTIONED WHILE IN THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE SMOKING FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED BUT THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE SMART KEY'S FREQUENCY INTERFERED WITH THE INSULIN PUMP. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 156.

NHTSA ODI 10503130

WHEN YOU START TO DRIVE IT MAKES A LOUD HOWLING SOUND, IT IS GETTING LOUDER AS TIME GOES ON. PEOPLE LOOK AT US LIKE WE ARE CRAZY FOR DRIVING WITH BAD BRAKES. WE HAVE HAD IT IN TO THE DEALER MANY TIMES TO JUST BE TOLD IT IS THE WAY IT IS. NO REPAIR IS NECESSARY. IT IS GETTING MORE AND MORE ANNOYING TO LISTEN TO. IT LASTS LONGER AS TIME GOES ON. COME ON TOYOTA LETS GET THIS TAKEN CARE OF BEFORE THERE IS A FATAL COLLISION DUE TO THIS! IT IS GETTING SCARY TO DRIVE AND FEEL SAFE. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10502344

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA PRIUS V. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH AND DECELERATING, THE VEHICLE ERRONEOUSLY ACCELERATED AFTER HITTING A BUMP IN THE ROAD. THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO THE PRECEDING VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES ASSOCIATED WITH THE CRASH. THE POLICE WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS LATER TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 9,700. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10502085

WINDSHIELD PRODUCES BLURRY VISION OR DUPLICATED IMAGES AT NIGHT. TAILLIGHTS AND STREET LIGHTS ARE SHOWN IN MULTIPLES OF TWO OR THREE. EXTENDED DRIVING BEYOND 20 MINUTES CAUSES EYE FATIGUE AND ALSO DISTORTED GAUGE OF DISTANCE. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10502134

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. THE VEHICLE VEERED INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC, RAN ONTO THE SIDEWALK, THEN CRASHED INTO A TREE. UPON IMPACT, THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE DRIVER RECEIVED INJURIES TO THE NOSE, BACK, AND KNEES AND ALSO SUSTAINED TWO BLACK EYES. THE PASSENGER DID NOT SUSTAIN ANY INJURIES. THE POLICE WERE CONTACTED AND A REPORT WAS AVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS LATER TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THE VEHICLE WAS DEEMED DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 2,500. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10501924

NEW 2012 TOYOTA PRIUS PLUG-IN. VISIBILITY THROUGH FRONT WINDSHIELD IS BLURRY - PARTICULARLY NOTICEABLE AT NIGHT WHEN LIGHT SOURCES ARE VIEWED THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD. LIGHT SOURCES PRODUCE MULTIPLE IMAGES (UP TO TWO ADDITIONAL) BELOW THE ORIGINAL LIGHT SOURCE. PROBLEM IS ALSO NOTICEABLE DURING DAYLIGHT HOURS, PARTICULARLY DURING CLOUDY CONDITIONS. GHOSTING EFFECT WORSE AT A DISTANCE, DOES NOT SEEM TO OCCUR WHEN LIGHT SOURCE IS VERY CLOSE TO VEHICLE (FOR EXAMPLE WITHIN 10 FEET). GHOSTING EFFECT IS QUITE NOTICEABLE AT NIGHT. I AM WORRIED THAT THE PROBLEM MAY CAUSE HEADACHES, VISUAL FATIGUE, AND ACCIDENTS. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10501199

WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT I HAVE AN ISSUE WHERE THE LIGHT SOURCE FROM HEADLIGHTS HAVE A RAINBOW AFFECT. ALSO TAIL LIGHTS ARE SEEN THREE TIMES FOR EVERY ONE LIGHT. IE. CENTER BRAKE LIGHT IS ILLUMINATED ON VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME, THERE IS A REPLICATED LIGHT ABOVE AND BELOW THE ACTUAL LIGHT. THIS IS ALSO AN ISSUE WITH TRAFFIC LIGHTS AS THERE ARE 3 DISTINCT LIGHTS FOR EVERY ONE LIGHT. THIS MAY ALSO BE REFERRED TO GHOSTING. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10501230

LOUD SCRAPING NOISE COMING FROM REAR OF CAR---HAD THE CAR IN TO TOYOTA 5 TIMES. THE NOISE CONTINUES TO GET LOUDER AS TIME PASSES.-- ITS NOW LOUD ENOUGH TO DROWN OUT THE RADIO.--TOYOTA SERVICE SAYS IT IS JUST RUST ON THE ROTORS.--THIS IS THE 4TH NEW TOYOTA I HAVE OWNED,-- BUT THIS THE ONLY ONE I HAVE HA D THIS PROBLEM WITH.-- WHICH LEADS ME TO BELIEVE THAT THERE IS A FIX FOR THIS PROBLEM.--II WAS TOLD BY THE SERVICE MANAGER THAT TOYOTA KNOWS OF THIS PROBLEM AND ARE WORKING A RECALL TO FIX IT.---SO WHERE IS THE RECALL?????? *TR

NHTSA ODI 10501305

A GROANING NOISE AT ALL TEMPERATURES SO FAR. IT BEGINS AND THEN GOES AWAY AFTER I DRIVE FOR A BLOCK. IT IS VERY LOUD AND IT CAN BE HEARD BY OTHERS AROUND ME. IT IS EMBARRASSING AND DOESN'T SOUND LIKE IT IS HEALTHY FOR THE LONGEVITY OF THE VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10498368

BOUGHT CAR ON 1/23/13 AND DROVE HOME. NEXT DAY GOT A CALL THEY FORGOT TO GIVE US ACCESS KEY SO DROVE 27 MILES TO DEALERSHIP AND SMOKE ON DASHBOARD. PULLED INTO SERVICE AND SALES MANAGER GOT IN CAR DROVE AROUND AND SAID ALL IS FINE. CAME HOME AN ODOMETER SHOWED 564 MILES AFTER I DROVE 27 THERE AND 27 BACK. THE CAR HAD 156 NIGHT WE BOUGHT IT THE DAY BEFORE. WE ARE OLD AND DISABLED AND DO NOT DRIVE OFTEN. ODOMETER NOW SHOWING ALMOST 900 MILES IN LESS THEN THE 3 WEEKS WE HAVE OWNED IT. REPORTED THE SMOKE ON DASHBOARD TO TOYOTA CORP OFFICE AND TOLD THEM HOW HOT THE DASHBOARD GOT AND ODOMETER JUMPING. THE MAN THOUGHT IT WAS FUNNY AND SAID HE HOPED I DID NOT BURN MY HAND. NOW NAV SYSTEM NOT WORKING AND RADIO SOUNDS TINNY. CALLED LAKELAND TOYOTA AND TALKED TO OWNER [XXX] WHO SAYS HE IS AN ACCOUNTANT AND KNOWS NOTHING ABOUT CARS. TOOK CAR TO ANOTHER DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD NAV SYSTEM SOFTWARE 2.1 SHOULD BE A 2.2 AND CLAIMED TO HAVE IT UPDATED. THE CAR THEN ADDED ANOTHER 100 MILES AGAIN. WE NEED HELP TO MAKE SURE CAR IS SAFE TO DRIVE AND NEED MILES TO STOP ADDING UP EVEN WHEN WE ARE NOT DRIVING. ALSO THE HISTORY ON MPG ONE TIME SHOWED 99.9 AND THEN 26 AND THEN 44.7 AND THEN 49. WE HAD TO PUT GAS IN IT THREE TIMES IN IT IN LESS THEN 3 WEEKS BECAUSE GAGE ON DASHBOARD KEEPS SHOWING GETTING LOW BUT THEN IT ONLY TAKES 6 GALLONS. I PUT NO FOR FIRE BUT I DID SEE SMOKE ON THE DASH ABOVE THE COMPUTER AND IT WAS VERY VERY HOT. SO NOT SURE IF THERE WAS AN ELECTRICAL FIRE OR NOT OR JUST A SURGE OR SHORT. NO ONE WILL HELP ME. NEED HELP. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI 10498374

2012 PRIUS HAS SERIOUS DEFECT IN THE WINDSHIELD LAMINATION. BRIGHT LIGHT SOURCES ARE TRIPLED AT NIGHT. A GHOST IMAGE APPEARS ABOVE AND BELOW THE ORIGINAL LIGHT SOURCE. LIGHT SOURCES MAY BE, HEADLIGHTS, TAILLIGHTS, SIGNAL LIGHTS, AND EVEN REFLECTED LIGHTS OFF CERTAIN ROAD SIGNS. AS YOU APPROACH THE LIGHT SOURCE, THE TWO GHOST IMAGES WILL MERGE INTO THE PRIMARY LIGHT SOURCE. THE SAFETY HAZARD IS EXTREME EYE FATIGUE AT NIGHT, AND SEVERE VISUAL DISTORTION THAT IS DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE BRIGHTNESS OF THE LIGHT SOURCE. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10498148

2012 PRIUS HAS SERIOUS DEFECT IN THE WINDSHIELD LAMINATION. BRIGHT LIGHT SOURCES ARE TRIPLED AT NIGHT. A GHOST IMAGE APPEARS ABOVE AND BELOW THE ORIGINAL LIGHT SOURCE. LIGHT SOURCES MAY BE, HEADLIGHTS, TAILLIGHTS, SIGNAL LIGHTS, AND EVEN REFLECTED LIGHTS OFF CERTAIN ROAD SIGNS. AS YOU APPROACH THE LIGHT SOURCE, THE TWO GHOST IMAGES WILL MERGE INTO THE PRIMARY LIGHT SOURCE. THE SAFETY HAZARD ARE EXTREME EYE FATIGUE AT NIGHT, AND SEVERE VISUAL DISTORTION THAT IS DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE BRIGHTNESS OF THE LIGHT SOURCE. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10498150

PURCHASED PRIUS V IN MARCH 2012, JUNE 2012 TOOK VEHICLE IN FOR SERVICE AND TO HAVE DEALER LOOK INTO NOISE COMING FROM REAR BRAKES. DEALER STATED THEY COULD NOT HEAR THE NOISE AND SAW NOTHING UPON INSPECTION. NOISE BECAME MORE FREQUENT AND LOUDER, TOOK VEHICLE BACK TO DEALER AND THEY COULD HEAR THE NOISE. UPON INSPECTING THE REAR BRAKES THEY FOUND REAR ROTORS HAD ABNORMAL MARKINGS IN THEM FROM IMPROPER MACHINING. BRAKE PAD FRICTION MATERIAL GLAZED. ROTORS AND PADS REPLACED. AFTER A WEEK THE NOISE RETURNED. TOOK VEHICLE BACK TO DEALER AND WAS TOLD THIS WAS A PROBLEM WHICH TOYOTA HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING FOR MONTHS BUT HAS FOUND NO SOLUTION TOO. WAS TOLD I WOULD BE INFORMED WHEN A SOLUTION WAS FOUND AND I COULD BRING THE VEHICLE BACK THEN. I FEEL THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN WHICH NEEDS TO BE LOOKED INTO. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10496940

HEAD RESTRAINT (HEAD REST) ON DRIVER SEAT DOES NOT STAY IN PLACE. AFTER I ADJUST IT, IT RISES VERY SLOWLY. IF I DO NOT CONTINUALLY READJUST IT (3 OR 4 TIMES A DAY), IT RISES ABOVE MY HEAD. I CONSIDER THIS A SAFETY CONCERN. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR (NEW) AND I HAVE ASKED TOYOTA SEVERAL TIMES TO REPAIR THIS DEFECT, AND THEY SAY THAT IT IS 'NORMAL'. I HAVE OWNED MANY CARS DURING MY LIFETIME, AND THIS HAS NEVER HAPPENED BEFORE IN ANY OF THEM. IT DOES NOT HAPPEN TO THE PASSENGER HEAD RESTRAINT. I DO NOT THINK IT IS 'NORMAL', AND IF IT IS 'NORMAL' FOR TOYOTA, THEN ALL TOYOTA CARS HAVE A SAFETY PROBLEM. I HAVE CONTACTED TOYOTA AND THEY JUST REFER THE PROBLEM BACK TO MY LOCAL DEALER, WHO CONTINUES TO GIVE ME THE SAME ANSWER. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10496559

DESIGN OF CAR INCLUDES A FLAW CAUSING A HUGE VERTICAL BLINDSPOT ON BOTH THE RIGHT AND LEFT SIDE OF THE CAR. BECAUSE THERE IS A BAR THAT RUNS VERTICAL ON BOTH SIDES AT THE BEGINNING OF THE DRIVER AND FRONT PASSENGERS' WINDOWS, THIS, ALONG WITH THE PILLAR COMING DOWN THE WINDSHIELD CONTRIBUTE TO AN EXTREMELY LARGE SPOT WHERE OBJECTS IN ROAD CANNOT BE SEEN. THIS IS ESPECIALLY HAZARDOUS FOR PEDESTRIAN FOOT-TRAFFIC CROSSING PERPENDICULAR TO THE CAR. PEDS IN CROSSWALKS OR IN PARKING LOTS ARE AT TIMES, COMPLETELY MASKED BY THIS BLIND SPOT BY THE COMBINATION OF THE FRONT WINDSHIELD PILLARS AND FRONT WINDOW SUB-PILLARS. OTHER CARS (SUCH AS HONDA INSIGHT) WITH A DRAMATICALLY ANGLED WINDSHIELD AVOID THIS BY USING A SMALLER SUB-PILLAR ON THE FRONT WINDOW, ALLOWING FOR THINGS TO BE SEEN FAR MORE EASILY. THIS ISSUE SHOULD BE ADDRESSED BEFORE IT CAUSES A PEDESTRIAN INJURY OR DEATH. THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT CAN BE REPAIRED. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10496529

ON COLD MORNINGS THE CAR MAKES A GROANING NOISE FROM THE REAR FOR APROX A 1/2 BLOCK. MY DEALER WAS ABLE TO VERIFY THE PROBLEM WHEN I LEFT THE CAR OVERNIGHT PARKED OUTSIDE. THEY SAID THEY ARE WAITING FOR TOYOTA TO COME UP WITH A FIX. THE CAR NOW HAS JUST OVER 10,000 MILES BUT IT HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR MOST OF THE TIME WE HAVE OWNED IT. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10496215

BRAND NEW PRIUS 2012 WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT, LIGHTS, ESPECIALLY RED IN COLOR, WHEN VIEWED FROM FRONT WINDSHIELD, APPEAR AS THREE DISTINCT IMAGES. ONE DARK IMAGE ALONG WITH TWO FAINT IMAGE ONE ABOVE AND ONE BELOW THE DARK ONE. I GOT THE CAR IN NOV END, REPORTED THE ISSUE IN DEC 17 TO TOYOTA, THEN WENT TO DEALER BEFORE CHRISTMAS. TECHNICIAN THERE ACKNOWLEDGED THE ISSUE AND ORDERED A NEW GLASS. WINDSHIELD WAS REPLACED ON 11 JAN BUT SAW THE SAME ISSUE, TECHNICIAN TEST DROVE THE CAR AND ACKNOWLEDGED THE ISSUE IS STILL THERE. TOYOTA REP WILL COME AND LOOK INTO THE ISSUE. IT IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE AS SOMETIMES THERE ARE LOTS OF RED TAIL LIGHTS AHEAD. I SEE LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE REPORTED THE ISSUE ......BELOW ARE ODI ID NUMBER FOR PRIUS 2012. SEEMS LIKE COMMON PROBLEM. NOT SURE IF TOYOTA IS WAITING FOR ACCIDENTS TO HAPPEN BECAUSE OF THIS ISSUE BEFORE FIXING IT. ODI ID NUMBER : 10490622 ODI ID NUMBER : 10485390 ODI ID NUMBER : 10485239 ODI ID NUMBER : 10483605 ODI ID NUMBER : 10483561 ODI ID NUMBER : 10482102 ODI ID NUMBER : 10479684. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10493124

WHEN STARTING TO DRIVE THE CAR AFTER IS HAS BEEN SITTING FOR ABOUT 3 HOURS AND ESPECIALLY FIRST THING IN THE MORNING, THE VEHICLE MAKES A GROANING NOISE WHICH SEEMS TO BE COMING FROM THE LEFT REAR TIRE AREA. IT LASTS FOR ABOUT THE FIRST 50 FEET AND THEN IT STOPS MAKING THE NOISE. THIS HAS HAPPENED WITH TEMPERATURES VARYING BETWEEN 40 TO 75 DEGREES. WHEN IT IS REALLY HOT IN THE MORNING, THE NOISE IS NOT PRESENT. THE DEALER HAS LOOKED AT THE VEHICLE SEVERAL TIMES AND THEY SAY THAT THIS IS A NATIONAL PROBLEM WITH NO SOLUTION. I HAVE OWNED THIS CAR FOR 4 DAYS SHORT OF A YEAR WITH 12,250 MILES ON IT AND IT DOES IT ALL THE TIME. THIS IS VERY FRUSTRATING BECAUSE THE CAR IS FINE OTHERWISE. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10492027

WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT, ALL LIGHTS, ESPECIALLY RED IN COLOR, WHICH ARE VIEWED FROM FRONT WINDSHIELD, APPEAR AS THREE DISTINCT IMAGES. THE SOURCE LIGHT, THEN A DISTINCT SHADOWED LIGHT ABOVE AND BELOW THE SOURCE. THIS SAFETY ISSUE IS EXTREMELY COMPOUNDED WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT IN HIGH TRAFFIC SITUATIONS WHERE THERE ARE HUNDRENDS OF TAILIGHTS IN FRONT OF ME. ALL THOSE LIGHTS ARE ESSENTIALLY TRIPPLED CAUSING CONFUSION AND DISTRACTION. TOYOTA REFUSES TO AKNOWLEGE THE ISSUE. THROUGH RESEARCH, I HAVE FOUND THAT THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE WITH MANY FRUSTRATED OWNERS JUST LIVING WITH IT BECAUSE TOYOTA WONT FIX IT. IT IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE. PLEASE HELP MAKE TOYOTA RECTIFY THIS HUGE SAFETY ISSUE BEFORE IT CAUSES PREVENTABLE ACCIDENTS!! *TR

NHTSA ODI 10490622

CIGARETTE/POWER OUTLET FUSE ALWAYS BLOWS VERY FREQUENTLY - EVEN WITH A GPS USE OF CELLPHONE CHARGER ONLY. HAVE BEEN TO TOYOTA DEALERSHIP AND HAVE NOT ADDRESSED THE ISSUE AFTER SEVERAL COMPLAINTS. REPLACING FUSES DOES NOT ADDRESS THE ISSUE. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE FOR PEOPLE DEPENDENT ON GPS AND COMMUNICATION SPECIALLY FOR LONG TRAVELS. *TR ## VIN FAILED ##

NHTSA ODI 10490210