2012 Toyota Prius: engine and transmission complaints
NO ELEVATED SIGNAL
18%
111 of 606 relevant owner complaints are about the engine, transmission or fuel system
No elevated drivetrain complaint concentration in the available NHTSA records for the 2012 Toyota Prius. Engine, transmission and fuel system account for 18% of relevant complaints.
Better than 89% of the 1,230 model years we track (2010–2023).
Excludes 91 airbag, lighting and seat-belt recall complaints that would otherwise mask the signal (unadjusted: 16%).
Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.
What owners reported
POWER TRAIN01/13/2015CRASH1 INJURED
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, IT ROLLED AWAY IN REVERSE INDEPENDENTLY. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE ROLLED OVER THE CONTACT'S LEG AND CRASHED INTO A BUILDING. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A BROKEN LEG, A FRACTURED KNEE THAT REQUIRED M…
POWER TRAIN06/13/20141 INJURED
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN A RESIDENTIAL GARAGE, IT STARTED TO ROLL AWAY IN REVERSE INDEPENDENTLY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE ROLLED ALL THE WAY INTO THE STREET KNOCKING HER DOWN TO THE GROUND AND INTO A MAIL BOX. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A L…
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,WHEELS,ENGINE07/06/2026
Unknown. There were a multitude of codes that appeared on the diagnostics causing problems with engine. The temperature, brake, tire sensor lights are all on. The cruise control is not working. White smoke emitting from tail pipe and engine. Main engine coolant leaking. Car overheating rapidly.
Three of 111 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows more, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.
Recall campaigns on this model year (8)
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…
AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2010-2012 Toyota Prius, 2010 and 2012 Toyota Prius Plug-in Hybrid, and 2011-2012 Lexus C…
HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM: INVERTER
Toyota is recalling certain model year 2010 through 2014 Prius vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the Intelligent Power Module (IPM) inside the inverter module (a compo…
This does not say whether a particular car has an open, unrepaired recall. That depends on the VIN.
Before you buy a 2012 Toyota Prius
No elevated drivetrain pattern for this model year. That describes the model, not the car in front of you.
Get an independent pre-purchase inspection from a mechanic you choose.
8 recall campaigns on this model year. Whether a specific car still has one open depends on the VIN; the report checks that.
Ask for service records. A engine already replaced under warranty is a different car from one that was not.
Have the VIN?Paste it and get the full report for that car. First report free, then a 30-day pass covers a whole car search.
Experimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history
report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across a model year, not the condition
of any individual vehicle. Combined across 2 body styles NHTSA files separately.
