2012 Toyota Prius Transmission & Powertrain Problems
NHTSA lists 21 Transmission & Powertrain complaints for the 2012 Toyota Prius, 5% of its 423 total complaints that year, with a median failure mileage of 25,300 miles. No related recalls are listed for this component on this model year.
- Transmission & Powertrain complaints
- 21
- 5% of 423
- Crashes reported
- 4
- Fires reported
- 0
- Injuries reported
- 2
- Median mileage
- 25,300 mi
- Related recalls
- 0
Typical transmission symptoms owners report
- Owners report the vehicle rolling away in reverse on its own after being parked, in some cases striking objects, buildings, or people.
- Some drivers say the car unexpectedly shot backward at full speed when shifting from park into reverse, even with the brake applied.
- Several complaints describe sudden loss of power or a 'check hybrid system' warning while driving, sometimes followed by the vehicle slowing sharply or needing a tow.
- Owners describe the transmission refusing to shift into neutral, including one case where the car became stuck moving through an automatic car wash.
- One driver reported the car accelerating instead of slowing when going over bumps with the brake pressed.
- A jerking motion and loud noise during highway driving was reported, with normal acceleration returning only after braking.
When 2012 Toyota Prius transmission complaints were filed
First complaint Aug 1, 2012, latest Jan 21, 2025.
Transmission & Powertrain recalls for the 2012 Toyota Prius
No safety recalls on record for this model year.
Transmission & Powertrain complaints by Prius model year
Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.
Frequently asked questions
- How many transmission and powertrain complaints does the 2012 Toyota Prius have?
- NHTSA lists 21 Transmission & Powertrain complaints for the 2012 Prius, which is 5% of the 423 total complaints filed for that model year.
- Is there a recall for the 2012 Toyota Prius transmission or powertrain?
- NHTSA shows no related recalls listed for the Transmission & Powertrain component on the 2012 Prius, though one owner complaint references a separate recall (18V684) that a dealer said did not apply to their vehicle.
- At what mileage do 2012 Prius transmission problems typically appear?
- The median mileage at failure for Transmission & Powertrain complaints on the 2012 Prius is 25,300 miles.
- Did the 2012 Prius powertrain issues cause any crashes or injuries?
- Within this complaint area, NHTSA records 4 crashes and 2 injuries, with no fires reported.
- How does the 2012 Prius compare to other years for this problem area?
- The 2012 Prius has a 5% share of complaints in this area, higher than 2011 (3%), 2013 (3%), and 2014 (3%), but lower than 2016 (9%) and 2023 (11%).