YearToAvoid

2012 Toyota Prius V Brakes Problems

NHTSA has logged 136 brake complaints for the 2012 Toyota Prius V, 63% of all complaints filed for that model year, with 10 crashes and 2 injuries reported. Median mileage at failure is 79,500. No related recalls are listed for this brake issue.

Brakes complaints
136
63% of 217
Crashes reported
10
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
2
Median mileage
79,500 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical brake symptoms owners report

  • Owners describe the brakes momentarily disengaging over bumps or rough pavement, causing the car to lunge forward before stopping.
  • Some report the brake pedal going to the floor with little or no stopping power, leading to low-speed collisions with curbs, trees, or parked cars.
  • Several drivers say the car felt like it accelerated instead of slowing when brakes were applied, especially while parking or backing up.
  • A few complaints mention the ABS warning light coming on before a later loss of braking at highway speed.
  • One driver reported total brake failure while backing out of a driveway, with the pedal doing nothing despite repeated pumping.

When 2012 Toyota Prius V brake complaints were filed

First complaint Feb 8, 2013, latest Sep 16, 2026.

2012 Toyota Prius V brakes complaints: complaints filed per quarter92013 Q12014 Q42018 Q12019 Q42021 Q22023 Q22024 Q42026 Q2
136 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2013 Q1 to 2026 Q3; peak 2024 Q3 (9).

Brakes recalls for the 2012 Toyota Prius V

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Brakes complaints by Prius V model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 20110 (0%)
  2. 2012136 (63%)
  3. 201370 (56%)
  4. 201444 (54%)
  5. 201512 (50%)
  6. 20163 (19%)
  7. 20171 (8%)
  8. 20181 (100%)

Frequently asked questions

How common are brake complaints for the 2012 Toyota Prius V?
NHTSA lists 136 brake complaints for the 2012 Prius V, which is 63% of all 217 complaints filed for that model year, the highest share of any Prius V year in this dataset.
Is there a recall for the 2012 Prius V brakes?
No related recalls are listed in NHTSA data for this brake complaint area on the 2012 Prius V.
At what mileage do brake problems usually show up?
The median mileage at failure among these complaints is 79,500 miles, though some owners reported issues at much lower mileage.
Have the brake issues caused crashes?
Yes, NHTSA data tied to these complaints shows 10 crashes and 2 injuries, with no fires reported.

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.