What 612 owners told NHTSA about the 2012 Toyota Prius V

CAR BECOMES IMMOBILE - WILL NOT SHIFT INTO REVERSE OR DRIVE. COMPUTER KEEPS SENDING THE MESSAGE TO PUT IT IN PARK AND DEPRESS BRAKE, BUT ONCE THAT IS DONE, ANY ATTEMPT TO SHIFT INTO REVERSE OR DRIVE TRIGGERS THE MESSAGE, ENDLESSLY. THE PROBLEM IS APPARENTLY INTERMITTENT. OCCURRED FOR TWO HOURS YESTERDAY, AFTER OCCURRING TO A LESSER EXTENT IN PRECEDING DAYS (IN THE DAYS PRECEDING THE TOTAL BREAKDOWN, I WAS ABLE TO SHIFT AFTER A SLIGHT DELAY AND A FEW ATTEMPTS). THE DEALERSHIP TO WHICH I HAD IT TOWED SAID IT WAS FINE TODAY. EVERYTHING CHECKS OUT. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD BECAUSE THE CAR CAN BE IN AN UNSAFE POSITION WHEN IT BECOMES IMMOBILE. I WAS PARTLY OUT OF A PARKING SPACE, SOMEWHAT BLOCKING TRAFFIC. THE PROBLEM INVOLVES THE COMPUTER AND THE TRANSMISSION - AT LEAST

NHTSA ODI 10469781

THERE ARE VERY DANGEROUS BLIND SPOTS ON BOTH REAR DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDES OF THE TOYOTA PRIUS V . VEHICLES LOCATED NEAR THE MID TO REAR OF THE CAR CAN NOT BE SEEN IN MIRRORS OR BY GLANCING OVER THE SHOULDER WHEN CHANGING LANES. I HAVE HAD NUMEROUS NEAR COLLISIONS DUE TO THIS DESIGN DEFECT. I HAVE BROUGHT THIS TO THE ATTENTION OF THE TOYOTA CORPORATION AND THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP AND HAVE HAD NO CO-OPERATION IN DEALING WITH THIS SAFETY HAZARD. I AM A VERY EXPERIENCED DRIVER AN NEVER HAD AN ACCIDENT THAT WAS MY FAULT IN MY 50 YEARS OF DRIVING. ANY ASSISTANCE YOU CAN PROVIDE FOR THIS VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION WILL BE GREATLY WELCOMED. THIS CONDITION IS AN ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN! [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

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MY 2012 PRIUS V HAS A SERIOUS REFLECTION IN THE POINT OF VEIW OF THE SIDE VIEW MIRRORS, WHEN THE FRONT WINDOWS ARE ROLLED UP, AND THE SUN IS HIGH NOON(+-5 HOURS) POSITION. THIS IS CAUSED BY THE WHITE DASH TRIM THAT THE SUN HITS. *TR ## VIN PASSED ## TOYOTA PRIUS V 2012 ##. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10465343

NEW PRIUS DOES NOT WORK BLUETOOTH WISE WITH EXISTING PHONE. PRIUS I JUST TRADED IN DID. NO RESOLUTION FROM DEALER (TOYOTA WORLD O NEWARK DELAWARE) AND NO RESOLUTION FROM TOYOTA CORPORATE. I WAS TOLD THEY COULD DO NOTHING AND THAT I WOULD HAVE TO PURCHASE NEW PHONES. WE ARE DRIVING VEHICLE WITHOUT BLUETOOTH WITHOUT CELL PHONES IN OUR EARS THEREBY CREATING SAFETY HAZARD. *TR

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AS SHE WAS ENTERING A PARKING SPACE AT 3 MPH, THE VEHICLE DID NOT STOP WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A TREE. THE CONTACT WAS NOT INJURED. THE POLICE WERE NOTIFIED AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT'S INSURANCE COMPANY WAS CONTACTED WHO ADVISED THAT THEY WOULD INSPECT THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE WHO SENT A REPRESENTATIVE TO FURTHER ASSES THE FAILURE. AFTER INSPECTION, THE REPRESENTATIVE NOTICED THAT THE BRAKE AND ACCELERATOR PEDALS WERE DEPRESSED SIMULTANEOUSLY AND ADVISED THAT THERE WERE NO FAILURES WITHIN THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,400.... UPDATED 08/15/12 *BF

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AS I WAS APPROACHING A TURN I BEGAN TO BRAKE AND THE BRAKES FAILED. I TRIED PRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL HARDER AND MAKING SURE THAT I HAD PROPER FOOT PLACEMENT AND IT FELT LIKE THE CAR ACCELERATED AT THAT POINT. SINCE THE CAR WAS NOT SLOWING DOWN I WAS UNABLE TO MAKE THE TURN AND ENDED UP CROSSING THE ROAD DIAGONALLY AND GOING UP ONTO THE CURB. ONCE THE CAR WAS OVER THE CURB AND IN THE GRASS THE BRAKES FINALLY ENGAGED AND THE VEHICLE CAME TO A STOP. *JS

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THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A MULTI VEHICLE ACCIDENT, WHERE THE CAR WAS HIT TWICE ON THE DRIVERS SIDE, THE 2ND IMPACT HITTING THE DRIVERS DOOR CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE DOOR AND FENDER ALONG SIDE OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE AIR BAGS ILLUMINATED DUE TO THE CRASH, BUT THERE WAS NO DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIRBAGS. ALL PARTY'S WERE CONCERNED WHY THE MALFUNCTION LIGHT CAME ON DURING THE CRASH, AND SHOULD THE BAGS HAVE DEPLOYED. THE BODY SHOP SAID THEY THINK IT WAS CAUSE THE DOOR WAS MISALIGNED AFTER THE IMPACT. CONCERNED THAT THE SYSTEM MAY DEACTIVATE ITSELF DURING A CRASH AND NOT DEPLOY THE AIRBAGS. *TR

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA PRIUS V. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT COULD NOT BE ADJUSTED AWAY FROM THE STEERING WHEEL. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,300 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 2300.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS EQUIPPED WITH A HANDS-FREE PHONE SYSTEM. THE CONTACT EXPRESSED CONCERNS THAT HE HAD TO ACTIVATE TOO MANY BUTTONS IN ORDER TO OPERATE THE PHONE SYSTEM. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT FELT THAT THE SYSTEM COULD CREATE A SAFETY HAZARD WHILE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND NO ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATING AS INTENDED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5.

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THE LATCH SYSTEM DESIGN ON THE SEATS ON THE NEW PRIUS V IS FLAWED. INSTEAD OF HAVING FOUR LATCH POINTS, ONE SET OF TWO FOR THE LEFT SEAT AND ONE SET OF TWO FOR THE RIGHT SEAT, THEY HAVE ONLY THREE LATCH POINTS, ONE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE LEFT SEAT, ONE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE RIGHT SEAT AND ONE IN THE MIDDLE OF CAR. OUR CHILD SAFETY SEAT HAS THREE BUCKLES DESIGNED TO WORK WITH THE LATCH SYSTEM, ONE ON THE LEFT, ONE ON THE RIGHT AND A TOP TETHER. THE LEFT AND RIGHT BUCKLES CANNOT ATTACH TO THE SAME LATCH POINT BECAUSE THEN THE CHILD SAFETY SEAT WILL PIVOT. THIS MEANS ONE MUST INSTALL THE CHILD SAFETY SEAT AT AN OFFSET TO THE CAR'S SEAT, USING THE MIDDLE AND RIGHT LATCH POINTS FOR A CHILD SAFETY SEAT INSTALLED ON THE RIGHT SIDE. BUT THEN THE TOP TETHER, WHICH MUST GO OVER THE TOP OF THE SEAT DOWN TO A LATCH POINT, IS NO LONGER AS SECURE AS IT SHOULD BE, SINCE THE LATCH POINT IS THEN OFF-CENTER WITH REGARD TO THE TOP TETHER. IF THE CHILD IS OLD ENOUGH THAT THEY NEED TO USE THE CAR'S SEAT BELTS WITH THE CHILD SAFETY SEAT (E.G., A BOOSTER SEAT) INSTEAD OF THE RESTRAINTS BUILT-INTO THE CHILD SAFETY SEAT, ONE CAN'T BUCKLE IN THE SEAT BELT BECAUSE THE BUCKLE INTENDED FOR THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE CAR IS BURIED UNDERNEATH THE OFFSET CHILD SAFETY SEAT. THE MIDDLE BUCKLE IS DESIGNED TO NOT WORK WITH THE SIDE SEAT BELTS. IF ONE USES THE LEFT SIDE BUCKLE WITH THE RIGHT SIDE SEAT BELT, IT'S NOT AS SECURE, AND THEN THE LEFT SIDE PASSENGER (OR A SECOND CHILD SAFETY SEAT) HAS NO SEAT BELT. SO A PROPER USE OF THE SEAT BELTS REQUIRES THE CHILD SAFETY SEAT TO BE CENTERED ON THE SEAT, BUT THEN EITHER THE LATCHES ARE CONNECTED AT AN OFFSET OR THEY ARE CONNECTED TO THE SAME LATCH AND PIVOT. EITHER WAY THE CHILD SAFETY SEAT IS NOT REALLY SECURE. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10446096

SUNDAY DEC. 11TH: PULLING OUT OF CHICAGO GARAGE, CAR MAKES ODD ROTATIONAL NOISE. THE SOUND SEEMS TO GO AWAY AFTER ABOUT A BLOCK OR SO OF DRIVING. THE DEALERSHIP IS CLOSED AND I AM BOOKED UP WITH CLIENTS, SO I CONTINUE TO TEST AND SEE IF TEMPERATURE OR ENVIRONMENT EFFECT THE NOISE. THE NOISE APPEARS TO ONLY HAPPEN ON A 'COLD START' BUT ALL OTHER FACTORS DO NOT SEEM TO SHOW AN IMPRESSIVE CHANGE. DEC. 15TH: I CALL TOYOTA CORPORATE AND FILE A COMPLAINT, THEN PER THEIR DIRECTION, CALL THE DEALER AND MAKE AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE THE NOISE PROBLEM FIXED. JAN. 13TH: AFTER SEVERAL CALLS TO CORPORATE, AND HAVING TAKEN THE CAR IN THREE TIMES TO THE DEALERSHIP (MIDTOWN TOYOTA- CHICAGO), I HAVE BEEN INFORMED BY ONE OF THE SERVICE EMPLOYEES THAT TOYOTA IS HAVING A PROBLEM WITH MANY OF THESE MODELS. THEY THINK IT IS A BACK BRAKE ISSUE, PERHAPS DEFECTIVE PART(S). AS BOTH TOYOTA & THE DEALERSHIP ARE NOT OFFICIALLY TELLING ME THIS. THIS IS WHAT I KNOW, THEY HAVE BEEN LYING TO ME AS A CONSUMER AND ME AND OTHER CUSTOMERS ARE DRIVING A CAR WITH A POTENTIAL SAFETY PROBLEM. I DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING THIS CAR.

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THE DRIVERS SEAT DOES NOT RAISE FAR ENOUGH TO ALLOW SHORTER DRIVERS TO SEE OVER THE DASH BOARD , BASE OF WINDSHIELD AND REAR OF HOOD. THIS PREVENTS SHORTER DRIVERS FROM BEING ABLE TO SEE THE THE GROUND ANYWHERE NEAR THE CAR. GIVING THE DRIVERS A 2 DIMENSIONAL VIEW OF THE TRAFFIC AND OBJECTS BETWEEN 3 AND 5 FEET HIGH. ANYTHING BELOW 3 FOOT TALL IS NOT VISIBLE FOR 30 TO 50 FEET IN FRONT OF THE CAR. THE RAISED BELT LINE IS ALSO CAUSING THIS PROBLEM OF 2 DIMENSIONAL VIEWS VERSES 3 DIMENSIONAL VIEWS. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE.. IT COULD BE FIXED WITH INCREASED TRAVEL HEIGHT FOR THE DRIVERS SEAT. AS I HAVE HAD TO OFFER SEVERAL FRIEND CHAIR CUSHIONS TO PROP THEM UP SO THEY COULD SEE.. WHEN I LOOKED IN THE CAR. I DON'T THINK DO TO THE WINDSHIELD ANGLE.. THAT I BEING ALMOST 6 FOOT TALL COULD SEE THE GROUND ANYWHERE NEAR THE FRONT OF THE CAR EITHER. I DON'T FIT IN THESE CARS. *KB

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