YearToAvoid

2012 Toyota Prius V Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Avoid

Complaint Index

100/100

#1 most-complained of 8 Prius V years

Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology

The 2012 Toyota Prius V ranks worst of 8 model years tracked, with a Complaint Index of 100 and 217 complaints. Brakes account for 63% of complaints, with 10 crashes tied to brake issues, plus 3 recalls including a hybrid inverter fire risk.

Complaints
217
Recalls
3
Crashes / fires
19 / 2
Injuries / deaths
10 / 3
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
41
43 city / 39 hwy

Top 2012 Toyota Prius V problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Brakes136 (63%)
  2. Engine49 (23%)
  3. Electrical System26 (12%)
  4. Other15 (7%)
  5. Steering11 (5%)
  6. Airbags8 (4%)
  7. Fuel System8 (4%)
  8. Transmission & Powertrain7 (3%)
  9. Collision Avoidance & Cameras6 (3%)
  10. Structure & Body6 (3%)

What owners report

  • Drivers report the car lunges or briefly fails to brake when crossing a bump or rough pavement, then reengages and takes longer to stop.
  • Some owners describe pedal-to-floor brake failure with no stopping power, resulting in rear-end collisions.
  • One report describes the engine throwing a rod on the highway followed by an engine fire, with no warning lights beforehand.
  • A driver-side airbag reportedly failed to fully inflate during a low-speed side-impact crash, leading to chest injuries.
  • Owners report sudden unintended acceleration while parking or backing out of a driveway, causing body damage.
2012 Toyota Prius V complaints: complaints filed per quarter232013 Q12015 Q22017 Q32019 Q22021 Q12023 Q12024 Q42026 Q3
279 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2013 Q1 to 2026 Q3; peak 2019 Q4 (23).

2012 Toyota Prius V recalls

3 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 18V684000Oct 4, 2018Fuel System807,329 vehicles

    Hybrid propulsion system

    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.

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

    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.

  2. NHTSA 15V449000Jul 15, 2015Fuel System108,624 vehicles

    Hybrid propulsion system: inverter

    Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2012-2014 Prius V vehicles manufactured August 22, 2011, to June 30, 2014. A component within the hybrid inverter assembly may overheat, causing the hybrid system to reduce output power allowing the vehicle to only drive a short distance. In some circumstances, the hybrid system may shut down causing the vehicle to stop while being driven.

    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.

    Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will update the software for the motor/generator control electronic control unti (ECU) and the hybrid control ECU, free of charge. The recall began on July 30, 2015. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371.

  3. NHTSA 13V014000Jan 16, 2013Structure & Body3,235 vehicles

    Seats

    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.

    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.

    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.

2012 Toyota Prius V fuel economy and fuel cost

City
43 MPG
Highway
39 MPG
Combined
41 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$1,600
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Regular
Current regular gas
$4.32/gal
national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2012 compared with other Prius V years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)025507510020112012201320142015201620172018
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2011No verdict010—
2012Avoid100217341
2013Avoid86124241
2014Caution7182441

All Toyota Prius V years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2012 Toyota Prius V reliable?
Among the 8 model years tracked, 2012 ranks worst, with a Complaint Index of 100 and 217 NHTSA complaints, most tied to brakes.
What is the biggest problem with the 2012 Prius V?
Brakes are the top problem area, making up 63% of complaints (136 of 217), with a median failure mileage of 79,500 and 10 related crashes.
Does the 2012 Prius V have any recalls?
Yes, NHTSA lists 3 recalls, including a 2015 hybrid inverter overheating recall and a 2018 inverter voltage recall affecting the motor/generator control unit.
How does the 2012 Prius V compare to later years?
2012 has a Complaint Index of 100, the highest of all years listed; 2013 sits at 86, 2014 at 71, and 2017 drops to 29, showing steady improvement.
What is the fuel economy of the 2012 Prius V?
EPA rates it at 41 mpg combined (43 city / 39 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $1,600.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.