2012 Toyota Prius V Recalls, Complaints & Specs
3 safety recalls list the 2012 Toyota Prius V, and owners have filed 218 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
3 safety recalls for the 2012 Toyota Prius V
Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.
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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.
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.…
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Inverter (hybrid propulsion system)
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…
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…
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Seats and air bags: sensor/control module-inactive
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…
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…
218 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 2012 Toyota Prius V have filed 218 complaints with NHTSA; 19 describe a crash and 2 describe a fire. Reports cite 10 injuries and 3 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 81,322 miles. Complaints peaked in 2019 with 30 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“The contact owns a 2012 Toyota Prius. The contact stated that while driving 65 MPH and depressing the brake pedal there was a buzzing sound coming from the vehicle and the brake warning light illumina”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, September 24, 2026 · Service brakes, hydraulic
“The contact owns a 2012 Toyota Prius V. The contact stated that while driving 65 MPH, brake fluid was leaking from the vehicle. While driving over 45 MPH, the brake pedal became firm, requiring the dr”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, September 16, 2026 · Service brakes, hydraulic
Fuel economy and specs
EPA ratings for the 2012 Toyota Prius v. Ranges cover every tested configuration.
| Combined | 41 mpg |
|---|---|
| City / Highway | 43 / 39 |
| Fuel | Regular |
| EPA class | Midsize Station Wagons |
| Engine | 4 cyl, 1.8 L |
| Transmission | Automatic (variable gear ratios) |
Compare Toyota Prius V model years
Recall and complaint counts for every Toyota Prius V model year in NHTSA's database.
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 2011 Toyota Prius V | 0 | 1 |
| 2012 Toyota Prius V | 3 | 218 |
| 2013 Toyota Prius V | 2 | 125 |
| 2014 Toyota Prius V | 4 | 82 |
| 2015 Toyota Prius V | 2 | 24 |
| 2016 Toyota Prius V | 1 | 16 |
| 2017 Toyota Prius V | 1 | 12 |
| 2018 Toyota Prius V | 0 | 1 |
Checking a specific 2012 Toyota Prius V
How do I know if my 2012 Toyota Prius V has an open recall?
Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 3 campaigns currently list the 2012 Toyota Prius V; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Toyota dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 13V014000).
What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?
A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.
Other Toyota models
- Camry18,189 complaints
- Prius12,516 complaints
- Corolla11,739 complaints
- RAV49,385 complaints
- Sienna8,549 complaints
- Tacoma8,440 complaints
- Tundra6,922 complaints
- Highlander5,745 complaints
Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.