Toyota Prius Complaints (2012)
449 consumer complaints on file.
- #10549531October 25, 2013VISIBILITY/WIPER, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
I HAVE NOTICED GHOSTING OF IMAGES MOST OBVIOUS WHILE NIGHT DRIVING. PARTICULARLY NOTICEABLE IN LED LIGHTS. IT LOOKS LIKE A DUPLICATE IMAGE OF THE LIGHTS CREATED. IT CAN BE VERY GLARING AND HARD TO JUDGE DISTANCE OF OTHER VEHICLES. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10549196October 23, 2013VISIBILITY/WIPER
ON OCT. 23, 2013 AT 6AM IN THE MORNING IN ABOUT 45 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT, MY TOYOTA PRIUS 2012 REAR WINDOW EMITTED A LOUD PUNCHING SOUND AND THEN SHATTERED WHEN I TURNED ON THE REAR WIPER. I GOOGLED THE INCIDENT AND WE'RE NOT THE ONLY ONES WHO EXPERIENCE THIS. THERE HAVE BEEN SIMILAR INCIDENTS ON OTHER PRIUS IN OTHER YEARS AS WELL. THUS, WE ARE REPORTING IT AND HOPE THIS WILL BE LOOKED INTO. OUR CAR IS BARELY A YEAR OLD AND UNDER WARRANTY BUT OUR LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER SAID WARRANTY WILL NOT COVER THIS. THANK GOODNESS OUR AUTO POLICY WILL AND WE DON'T HAVE TO PAY A DEDUCTIBLE. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10543441September 13, 2013EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
UPON STARTING THE ENGINE AND ENGAGING THE AIR CONDITIONING OF MY 2012 TOYOTA PRIUS WITH 10,000 MILES, A STRONG FOUL SMELLING AIR COMES FROM THE A/C VENTS. AT THE 10,000 MILE SERVICING, THE TOYOTA SERVICE MANAGER STATED THIS SMELL IS TYPICAL TO SOME TOYOTAS. A TOYOTA TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE WAS PERFORMED. THE REPORT STATED "NO REPAIRS NEEDED AT THIS TIME VEHICLE IS OPERATING AS PER DESIGNED. I KNOW OF NO VEHICLE DESIGN THAT WOULD STREAM FOUL AIR FROM THE A/C VENTS OF A NEW CAR. MY SAFETY CONCERN IS WITH THE CONTAMINANTS CREATING THE FOUL SMELL AND HOW LONG CAN A HUMAN CONTINUE TO BREATHE THESE CONTAMINANTS BEFORE BECOMING ILL WITH RESPIRATORY PROBLEMS. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10542760September 9, 2013VISIBILITY/WIPER, STRUCTURE:BODY
THE WINDSHIELD CAUSES MOST LIGHT SOURCES, PARTICULARLY LED LIGHTS, STREET LIGHTS, AND ONCOMING HEADLIGHTS (BASICALLY ANY BRIGHT LIGHT SOURCE), TO APPEAR WITH A "GHOSTING" IMAGE. THE "GHOSTING" APPEARS IN THE WINDSHIELD VERTICALLY BELOW THE LIGHT SOURCE AS ONE, TWO, OR EVEN THREE IMAGES. THE DEALER HAS REPLACED THE WINDSHIELD TWICE ALREADY, BUT THERE HAS BEEN NO IMPROVEMENT. IN FACT, THE FIRST AND SECOND REPLACEMENTS ARE WORSE THAN THE ORIGINAL. I ALSO OWN A 2008 TOYOTA SIENNA, AND I DRIVE VARIOUS CHEVY EQUINOXES AND FORD ESCAPES WHERE I WORK - I DO NOT EXPERIENCE THE "GHOSTING" EFFECT IN THOSE VEHICLES. PERSONNEL FROM THE DEALER'S SERVICE DEPARTMENT AS WELL AS REPRESENTATIVES FROM TOYOTA HAVE ALSO OBSERVED THIS PHENOMENA WITH THE WINDSHIELDS IN MY PRIUS PLUG-IN. I WAS TOLD BY A REPRESENTATIVE IN THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AFTER THE LAST REPLACEMENT THAT EVEN THE TOYOTA ENGINEERS WEREN'T HAPPY WITH THE REPLACEMENT. IT HAS NOW BEEN TWO WEEKS SINCE THE LAST WINDSHIELD WAS INSTALLED. I NOTIFIED THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT (DURING MY DRIVE HOME THAT SAME DAY) AT THE DEALERSHIP THAT THE WINDSHIELD WAS UNSATISFACTORY, AND I WAS TOLD THAT THEY WOULD NOTIFY ME WHEN TOYOTA DECIDED WHAT TO DO ABOUT IT NEXT. TO DATE NOT ONLY HAVE I HEARD NOTHING, BUT THE LAST THREE PHONE CALLS TO THE SERVICE ADVISER HAVE GONE TO VOICE MAIL, AND I RECEIVED NO REPLY. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10542290September 6, 2013SERVICE BRAKES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE BRAKES FAILED TO RESPOND. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4,600 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 4,900....UPDATED 11-01-13 *BF
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10542285September 6, 2013VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 17 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKES WOULD NOT RESPOND. THE CONTACT WAS NOT INJURED AND A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE CONTACT ADDITIONALLY STATED THAT ALL OF THE LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE DASH BOARD AS THE VEHICLE ABNORMALLY ACCELERATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER BUT WAS NEITHER DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,500.
- Crash:
- Yes
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10542291September 6, 2013SERVICE BRAKES, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, AIR BAGS
WHILE TRAVELING IN A RAIN STORM AT 17MPH, I TRIED TO ENGAGE THE BRAKES TO PREVENT FROM CRASHING INTO AN 18 WHEELER AND THE BRAKES DID NOT WORK. I REPEATEDLY TRIED TO STOP THE CAR AND THE CAR WAS ACCELERATING EVEN THOUGHT I WAS APPLYING THE BRAKES NOT THE GAS. THE CAR WOULD NOT SHUT DOWN, GO INTO PARK OR NEUTRAL. I DID CRASH INTO THE 18 WHEELER BECAUSE THE ENGINE WAS ACCELERATING AND I WANTED TO STOP.WHEN I CRASHED THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. EVEN AFTER IMPACT THE CAR WAS STILL ACCELERATING LIKE IT WAS TRYING TO PUSH THE 18 WHEELER. EVENTUALLY THE CAR POWERED DOWN AFTER REPEATEDLY PUSHING EVERY BUTTON POSSIBLE. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO A TOYOTA DEALERSHIP. I PHONED YOUR HOTLINE BUT THE VIN NUMBER I GAVE HAD A NUMBER THAT WAS WRONG MY PRIOR CONFIRMATION NUMBER IS 10542285. TOYOTA IS AWARE AND I AM WAITING FOR THEM TO CALL ME BACK.
- Crash:
- Yes
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10536766August 22, 2013SERVICE BRAKES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH AND MAKING A TURN, THE BRAKES FAILED TO RESPOND UPON ENGAGEMENT. THE VEHICLE CAME TO A STOP AFTER THE CONTACT APPLIED THE BRAKES SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE THEN RESUMED WITHOUT THE BRAKE MALFUNCTION. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 12,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10535045August 13, 2013STRUCTURE:BODY, VISIBILITY/WIPER
THERE IS A NOTICEABLE HALO EFFECT IN THE WINDSHIELD WHEN VIEWING ONCOMING LIGHTS. IT IS BOTHERSOME AND IRRITATING ON THE EYES ESPECIALLY WHEN DRIVING FOR LONG PERIODS OF TIME. I AM WRITING TOYOTA DIRECTLY TO LEARN WHEN A DIFFERENT WINDSHIELD CAN BE PROVIDED. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10535048August 13, 2013STRUCTURE:BODY, VISIBILITY/WIPER
WHILE DRIVING, A LOUD POPPING NOISE (CRACKING) WAS HEARD WITH NO OBSERVED DAMAGE, AND LATER THAT DAY THE WINDSHIELD GREW A LONG CRACK IN WINDSHIELD WHILE THE CAR WAS PARKED. AN EDGE CRACK FORMED ON THE WINDSHIELD EXTREME OUTER EDGE IN THE CHAMFER ABOUT 2/3 OF THE WAY UP ON THE DRIVER?S SIDE A-PILLAR. THE WINDSHIELD BY IT?S DESIGN APPEARS TO BE RATHER THIN, AND THE WINDSHIELD EDGE IS EXPOSED, NOT COVERED OR EMBEDDED IN PLASTIC OR RUBBER OR TRIM MATERIAL. THE WINDSHIELD EDGE AS OBSERVED HAS A VERY SMALL CHAMFER AND DOES NOT HAVE A GENEROUS BEVEL (ROUND) THAT IS HIGHLY POLISHED SUCH AS FOUND ON THE PASSENGER WINDOW EDGES OR OLDER WINDSHIELDS I AM FAMILIAR WITH. I TOOK THE CAR TO TOYOTA OF BOWIE AND WAS TOLD BY THE SERVICE MANAGER, HE BELIEVES THERE WAS AN IMPACT TO THE WINDSHIELD AT THE VERY EXTREME EDGE OF THE WINDSHIELD WHERE THE CRACK ROOT IS ON THE CHAMFER AND THEIR DEALERSHIP WOULD NOT REPLACE IT UNDER ANY WARRANTY. THE SERVICE MANGER DID NOT LOOK AT THE CRACK WITH ANY TOOLS, FOR EXAMPLE, A MAGNIFYING CLASS OR THE USE OF A BALL POINT PEN TO DETERMINE ANY IMPACT LOCATION OR IF IT IS IN FACT A STRESS CRACK THAT HAS FORMED. THE SERVICE MANAGER DID NOT OFFER TO ARRANGE TO HAVE THE CAR REPAIRED AND TOLD ME TO GO TO A GLASS COMPANY. WHEN THE SERVICE MANAGER WAS ASKED ABOUT ANY PROBLEMS OR CONCERNS WITH TOYOTA WINDSHIELDS OR EXPOSED GLASS EDGE WINDSHIELDS WITH A SMALL CHAMFER, HE SAID THERE WERE NO PROBLEMS OR RECALLS. I HAVE ONLY OWNED THE CAR EIGHT MONTHS AND PLAN TO WRITE TOYOTA TO LEARN WHEN A MORE ROBUST CRACK RESISTANT WINDSHIELD CAN BE MADE AVAILABLE. NOTE: PICTURES CAN BE MADE AVAILABLE. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10522566July 1, 2013AIR BAGS, SEAT BELTS
I EXPERIENCED A FRONT END COLLISION IN MY NEW 2012 PRIUS WITH 2,500 MILEAGE. THE COLLISION VEHICLE SPEED WAS NEARLY 30 MPH. THE SEAT BELT DID NOT RESTRAIN ME AND THE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. I WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL AND SUSTAINED A FRACTURED STERNUM DUE TO HITTING THE STEERING WHEEL AND WHIPLASH. THERE WAS SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. TOYOTA'S RESPONSE AFTER THEIR OWN INSPECTION WAS "OUR INSPECTION FOUND NO EVIDENCE OF A MANUFACTURING OR DESIGN DEFECT WITH THE AIRBAG OR SEAT BELTS." *TR
- Crash:
- Yes
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 1
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10521531June 24, 2013STEERING
I HAD TO RETURN A 2012 PRIUS I RENTED FROM AVIS CORP. THE CARBON FIBER STEERING WHEELS ON THE 2012 PRIUS VEHICLES ARE DECOMPOSING IN THE FLORIDA HEAT AND SUN. THE STEERING WHEEL IS PUTTING CARBON (GLASS) FIBERS INTO PEOPLE'S HANDS. THEY MAKE OUR HANDS RED AND ITCH FROM THE CARBON GLASS FIBERS POKING OUR HANDS. YOU CAN SEE THE FIBERS SHINING IN THE SUNLIGHT AT THE RIGHT ANGLE. YOU GUYS NEED TO LOOK INTO THIS. PROBABLY NEED TO COVER WHEELS WITH LEATHER OR SOMETHING. ALSO, IT APPEARS TOYOTA DOES NOT ANSWER THEIR SUPPORT PHONES AND FIXED THEIR SUPPORT (COMPLAINT) WEB SITE NOT TO WORK. YOU CANNOT TYPE INTO THE MESSAGE FILED TO DESCRIBE YOUR ISSUE. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 1
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10514988June 4, 2013SERVICE BRAKES
I WAS EXITING THE PARK AND MY TOYOTA PRIUS' BRAKES FAILED, CAREENING ME ONTO A MAJOR THOROUGHFARE (SOUTH ORANGE AVENUE) ON A HILL, WHILE MY CAR BEGAN ACCELERATING. I HIT THE PARK BUTTON AND MY CAR SLOWED UNTIL I WAS ABLE TO GET CONTROL AGAIN AND TURN UP A HILL TO A STOP. WHEN I TURNED MY CAR OFF AND ON AGAIN, THE BRAKES WERE FUNCTIONING NORMALLY. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10510372May 2, 2013EXTERIOR LIGHTING
THERE IS A TRIPLING OF LIGHT SOURCES THROUGH THE FRONT WINDSHIELD FROM THINGS SUCH AS ONCOMING VEHICLES HEADLIGHTS, VEHICLE TAILLIGHTS, EMERGENCY VEHICLE LIGHTS, STREET LIGHTS, INTERSECTION STOP/YIELD LIGHTS AND ANY OTHER STRONG LIGHT SOURCE. THE ISSUE IS APPARENT AT ALL TIMES HOWEVER THE ISSUE IS SIGNIFICANTLY ACUTE IN THE EVENING HOURS AS THERE ARE MORE LIGHT SOURCES DURING THE DARK. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10509908April 29, 2013VISIBILITY/WIPER
HEAD LIGHTS FROM ONCOMING TRAFFIC AT NIGHTTIME HAVE A "HALO" AND "PRISM" APPEARANCE. ADDITIONALLY, REFLECTIVE ROAD SIGNS ARE ALSO VERY DISTORTED, SEEING WHAT APPEARS TO BE MULTIPLE SIGNS. SINCE THAT TIME EYES HAVE BEEN TESTED WITH NO CHANGE FROM LAST EXAM AND NEW GLASSES ARE NOW BEING WORN. THERE IS NO DIFFERENCE. MY WIFE STATES SHE SEES THE SAME DISTORTION WHEN DRIVING AFTER DARK. THIS HAS BEEN A CONTINUAL PROBLEM SINCE WE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, THE WINDSHIELD WAS REPLACED IN AUGUST, 2012, AS A RESULT OF HAIL DAMAGE. IT WAS REPLACED WITH GENUINE TOYOTA PARTS. THERE IS NO DIFFERENCE. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10507352April 6, 2013VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
PARKING CAR IN HANDICAPPED SPOT - SPEED APPROXIMATELY 2 MPH - GAS ENGINE CUT IN AND THE CAR ACCELERATED AT A VERY HIGH SPEED. IT WENT OVER SPACE STOP (CONCRETE) - CROSSED THE SIDEWALK ONTO GRASS AND I HAD BOTH FEET ON THE BRAKE AND STOPPED THE CAR APPROX. 3 FEET FROM A WALL OF A BUILDING AND SHUT OFF THE ENGINE. THE HANDICAPPED SIGN SCRAPED THE WHOLE RIGHT SIDE OF MY CAR AND THERE ARE SEVERAL DENTS. THE SIGN WAS FINE. *TR
- Crash:
- Yes
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10507100April 4, 2013FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM, FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHENEVER HE MADE A U-TURN, THE VEHICLE MADE A LOUD NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL SENDING UNIT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 16,400. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10504961March 29, 2013VISIBILITY/WIPER
WINDSHIELD OPTICS CAUSE LIGHT SOURCES TO TRIPLE WITH GHOSTING ABOVE AND BELOW THE SOURCE OF LIGHT. THIS IS CAUSING DIFFICULTY IN JUDGING DISTANCE, DISTRACTION AND EYE STRAIN WHILE DRIVING. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10504667March 27, 2013VISIBILITY/WIPER
THE WINDSHIELD HAS A VERTICAL "PRISM" EFFECT WITH ANY LIGHT SOURCE COMING THROUGH IT. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10502134March 8, 2013VISIBILITY/WIPER
WINDSHIELD PRODUCES BLURRY VISION OR DUPLICATED IMAGES AT NIGHT. TAILLIGHTS AND STREET LIGHTS ARE SHOWN IN MULTIPLES OF TWO OR THREE. EXTENDED DRIVING BEYOND 20 MINUTES CAUSES EYE FATIGUE AND ALSO DISTORTED GAUGE OF DISTANCE. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0