There are 19 owner-reported speed control & cruise complaints for the 2012 Toyota Priusin NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
ABS Unit failure (may also be called ABS CONTROL MODULE ACTUATOR AND PUMP ASSEMBLY). Three mechanics, including a Toyota dealership, is unable to reset the system to correct. The PCS system cannot be disabled which, in turn, means cruise control is no longer operable.
My wife hit a deer at highway speed. The airbags deployed. The drivers side lower airbag deployed in the footwell. The driver was unable to get to the break paddle to stop due to the airbag at het feet. She had to use the emergency brake to stop the vehicle. That worked, but she had limited vision of the road ahead and it took some time for her to think of using the emergency brake.
The brake, abs, and stability control light come on and the brakes require more pressure to work . getting a code C1391 Abnormal Leak in the Accumulator. but I was never informed of this recall and there are no open recalls associated with my car
IN EARLY OCTOBER I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FROM TOYOTA FOR A "FAILSAFE DRIVING MODE" HYBRID SYSTEM FAULT THAT COULD CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO "STALL" INCREASING THE POSSIBILITY OF VEHICLE CRASH DURING CRITICAL DRIVING CONDITIONS. IT STATED I WOULD BE NOTIFIED WHEN THE FIX WAS AVAILABLE. 2 1/2 MONTHS LATER, I'VE YET TO HEAR FROM TOYOTA AND MY DEALERSHIP STATES THEY HAVE NOT RECEIVED REMEDY PARTS OR PROCEDURES FROM TOYOTA. ALL THEY COULD DO WAS GIVE ME A PHONE NUMBER AT TOYOTA CORPORATE. I CALLED THE NUMBER AND THE PERSON HAD NO FURTHER INFORMATION ON WHEN A FIX FOR THE PROBLEM WOULD BE AVAILABLE. SHE STATED THE ORIGINAL NOTICE STATED A TIME FRAME OF 2-3 MONTHS; IN FACT, IT DOES NOT CONTAIN ANY TIME PERIOD INDICATION. IT IS INAPPROPRIATE FOR FIX FOR SOMETHING OF THIS POTENTIAL MAGNITUDE TO TAKE SO LONG. I'M CONCERNED THAT TOYOTA, AS THEY HAVE DONE WITH OTHER RECALL ISSUES, IS MERELY DELAYING TO AVOID COSTS OF IMPLEMENTING THE FIX AND ENDANGERING ALL OWNERS FURTHER THAN THEY ALREADY HAVE. THE LADY STATED I COULD CONTACT THE DEALERSHIP ABOUT PROVIDING A RENTAL VEHICLE DURING THE PERIOD, SOMETHING THE DEALERSHIP HAS DENIED THEY WILL DO. I BOUGHT MY VEHICLE TRUSTING TOYOTA WOULD STAND BEHIND THE VEHICLE AND THEY ARE FAILING TO DO SO.
ENGINE SHAKE ON START UP WHEN VEHICLE IS NOT IN MOTION , SEEMS TO BE AN ISSUE WITH POWER.
SAFETY RISK THAT VEHICLE COULD LOSE POWER AND STALL. MANUFACTURER RECALL NUMBER J1V. NHTSA RECALL NUMBER 18V684 AS OF OCTOBER 4, 1918. IT IS NOW NOVEMBER 1, 2018. CALLED THE DEALERSHIP THIS WEEK AND THE REPORT WAS THAT THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT FIX TO DATE. QUESTION: WHAT RELIEF IS AVAILABLE UNTIL FIX DISCOVERED? FREE USE OF CAR PROVIDED BY DEALERSHIP?
AS I WAS PULLING INTO A SPACE IN FRONT OF MY SCHOOL, AND HAD MY FOOT ON THE ACCELERATOR, GOING LESS THAN FIVE MILES PER HOUR, THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AT GREAT SPEED, CRASHING INTO A STAIRWELL AND STAIR RAILING. THE CAR ENGINE SUDDENLY REVVED UP AND SPED AHEAD; THEN I WENT TO PUT MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE, BUT THE CAR REVVED AGAIN, AND SLAMMED FURTHER INTO THE RAILING. I WAS ALONE IN THE CAR, BUT NOW MY INSURANCE IS TRYING TO CLAIM "MY FAULT", WHEN THE CAR ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN. THERE WAS NO FLOOR MAT BEING STUCK, ETC. ISSUE. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH TOYOTA AND UNINTENDED ACCELERATION WITH PRIOR REGULAR TOYOTA PRIUS YEAR MODELS. I AM STILL AWAITING AN INSURANCE INSPECTION ETC. THE REPAIR ESTIMATE HASN'T BEGUN.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY ACCELERATED WHILE PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL APPLIED. THE CONTACT APPLIED EXTREME FORCE AND THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO UNINTENDEDLY ACCELERATE AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED. THE VEHICLE TURNED RIGHT AND CRASHED INTO A TRASH DUMPSTER. THE DRIVER AND FRONT PASSENGER SUSTAINED WHIPLASH. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS NOT REQUIRED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER'S COLLISION CENTER WHO REPAIRED THE BODY DAMAGES AND WAS TO SEND A THIRD PARTY TO INVESTIGATE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS WAITING ON THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER TO DETERMINE THE REMEDY TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,000.
WHEN THE VEHICLE HITS A BUMP, ROCK OR UNEVEN ROAD WHILE DECELERATING, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATES. IT FEELS LIKE WHEN YOU SKIP A STEP. I HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE SINCE DECEMBER 2012 AND THIS HAS HAPPENED ENOUGH TIMES THAT I DO NOT THINK ITS FORTUITOUS. THE SUDDEN ACCELERATION MAKES THE CAR TRAVEL A COUPLE OF FEET. UPDATED 12/5/2014 *JS
2012 TOYOTA PRIUS. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE SUDDEN ACCELERATION. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED AS HE ENTERED A PARKING LOT AND TURNED TO GO DOWN AN AISLE, HE HIT THE CURB TOO CLOSELY AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED AT AN INCREDIBLE SPEED. HE PUT HIS FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND IT WENT TO THE FLOOR; HE TRIED TO TURN THE POWER OFF, BUT THE VEHICLE DID NOT STOP. AT THE RATE THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED, HE PASSED BY 2 PARKING AISLES AND WAS STOPPED BY HITTING A PARKED VEHICLE, WHICH THE FORCE OF HIS VEHICLE WAS PUSHED UNDER A FENCE AND ONTO A RAILROAD TRACK. THE VEHICLE WAS BADLY DAMAGED BECAUSE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS ON AND THE IMPACT DESTROYED THE TRANSMISSION. THE DEALERSHIP REVIEWED THE COMPUTER DATA AND CONCLUDED THE VEHICLE DID NOT ACCELERATE ON ITS OWN. THEY IMPLIED HIS FOOT WAS ON THE ACCELERATOR AND NOT THE BRAKE. *JB
I BOUGHT PRIUS V IN FEBRUARY 2012. I'VE NOTICED FEW TIMES ISSUES WITH BRAKES. WHILE DECELERATING WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL TO SLOW THE CAR TO A STOP AND IF THE CAR GOES OVER A POTHOLE OR SLIGHT BUMP ON THE ROAD THEN CAR ACCELERATES FORWARD BEFORE COMING TO A STOP. THIS IS SAFETY HAZARD SINCE IT ALMOST LED TO HITTING THE OTHER CAR'S REAR BUMPER. ALSO, I'VE GOTTEN INTO AN ACCIDENT IN DECEMBER 2013 WHERE THERE WAS ANOTHER BRAKE ISSUE. I STOPPED MY CAR IN THE INCLINE ROAD BY PUTTING MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. THEN, I CHANGED THE GEAR SHIFT TO REAR AND SLOWLY TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE PEDAL SO THAT I CAN BACK INTO THE STREET PARKING WHICH WAS ONLY ABOUT 4 TO 5 FEET AWAY. SUDDENLY, CAR SPED DOWN THE ROAD GOING REAR DIRECTION TO THE DIRECTLY OPPOSITE STREET AND HIT TWO PARKED CARS. I HAD PUT THE FOOT DOWN ON THE BRAKE PEDAL WHEN I NOTICED THE CAR GOING REAR FAST BUT IT WOULD NOT STOP THE CAR FROM GOING DOWN THE ROAD. I HAD NO CONTROL OVER THE CAR OR THE SPEED. THIS IS MAJOR SAFETY HAZARD SINCE SOMEONE COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED WITH LOSING CONTROL OF THE BRAKE AND ACCELERATION. I'VE OWNED OTHER TOYOTA CAR (CAMRY) BEFORE BUT NEVER HAD THIS ISSUE UNTIL THIS PRIUS V. MY CAR HAS BEEN IN BODY SHOP FOR OVER A MONTH WITH REPAIRS. I PLAN TO TAKE THE CAR TO THE TOYOTA DEALER TO CHECK OUT THIS BRAKE ISSUE. *TR
DRIVER WAS MAKING A SHARP LEFT TURN INTO A PARKING SPACE AT LOW SPEED AND ATTEMPTED TO BRAKE TO A STOP. THE VEHICLE DID NOT SLOW DOWN AT ALL DESPITE HARD PRESSURE ON BRAKE PEDAL BUT INSTEAD ACCELERATED,JUMPED A CURB IN FRONT OF THE VEHICLE AND HIT A WALL WHICH STOPPED THE CAR. NO ONE WAS INJURED BUT FRONT BUMPER BADLY GOUGED AND FRONT DOOR SLIGHTLY DENTED. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE AND GET OFF THE SIDEWALK. VEHICLE IS NOW AT TOYOTA DEALER FOR INSPECTION. UPON REFLECTION 2 OTHER INCIDENTS OCCURRED WHERE WHAT FELT LIKE A MOMENTARY SPEEDUP OCCURRED AGAIN AT LOW SPEED WHILE TURNING AND BRAKING. BUT THESE 2 WERE WHILE MOVING FORWARD AND NOT ATTEMPTING TO BRING THE VEHICLE TO A COMPLETE STOP. *TR
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.
WHILE WAITING AT A STOP LIGHT BEHIND TRAFFIC, MY CAR SUDDENLY SURGED. I WAS JUST SITTING THERE WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE. I THOUGHT SOMEONE HAD HIT ME FROM BEHIND, BUT WHEN I LOOKED UP THERE WAS NO CAR BEHIND ME. LUCKILY, I DID NOT HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME AND HAD PUSHED HARDER ON THE BRAKE WHEN I FELT THE SURGE. I DID REPORT THIS WHEN I TOOK MY CAR IN TO BE SERVICED, ORR TOYOTA, SEARCY, ARKANSAS. THEY TOLD ME TO TELL THEM IF THIS HAPPENS AGAIN. SO FAR IT HAS NEVER HAPPENED AGAIN. *TR
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
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA PRIUS V. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH AND DECELERATING, THE VEHICLE ERRONEOUSLY ACCELERATED AFTER HITTING A BUMP IN THE ROAD. THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO THE PRECEDING VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES ASSOCIATED WITH THE CRASH. THE POLICE WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS LATER TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 9,700. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. *TR
FROM A STANDSTILL, UNDER LIGHT WINTER CONDITIONS, THERE HAVE MANY TIMES WHEN THE VEHICLE WILL NOT/CAN NOT MOVE. WHEN THE ACCELERATOR IS DEPRESSED POWER IS SENT FOR A FRACTION SECOND (VERY QUICK PULSE) AND THEN ALL POWER IS CUT OFF AND NOTHING FURTHER HAPPENS UNTIL YOU LIFT OFF ACCELERATOR AND TRY AGAIN. IT DOES THE SAME THING IN REVERSE. THE ONLY WAY OUT OF THIS CYCLE IS TO PHYSICALLY PUSH THE CAR TO GET IT MOVING(SLOW WALKING PACE) AND THEN THE TRACTION CONTROL BEHAVES VERY MUCH LIKE OUR 2012 CAMRY SE V6. A COUPLE TIMES WE HAD OUR CAMRY RIGHT NEXT TO THE PRIUS(SIDE BY SIDE) AND THE CAMRY WAS ABLE TO GET ITSELF MOVING(WITH TC ON) AND PRIUS WOULD NOT BUDGE. BOTH HAVE THE FACTORY TIRES, THE PRIUS TIRES ARE IN BETTER SHAPE THAN THE CAMRY. I KNOW THE TWO VEHICLES ARE VASTLY DIFFERENT AND THAT THIS COMPARISON MAY BE OF LITTLE HELP; I SIMPLY WANT TO EXPRESS THAT THE CONDITIONS THE PRIUS WILL NOT FUNCTION UNDER SHOULD NOT BE THOUGHT OF AS EXTREME, BUT RATHER ORDINARY WINTER CONDITIONS. IT SEEMS THAT THE PRIUS TRACTION CONTROL PARAMETERS DO NOT EVEN GIVE THE CAR THE CHANCE TO GET MOVING BEFORE SHUTTING THE SYSTEM DOWN. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AS SHE WAS ENTERING A PARKING SPACE AT 3 MPH, THE VEHICLE DID NOT STOP WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A TREE. THE CONTACT WAS NOT INJURED. THE POLICE WERE NOTIFIED AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT'S INSURANCE COMPANY WAS CONTACTED WHO ADVISED THAT THEY WOULD INSPECT THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE WHO SENT A REPRESENTATIVE TO FURTHER ASSES THE FAILURE. AFTER INSPECTION, THE REPRESENTATIVE NOTICED THAT THE BRAKE AND ACCELERATOR PEDALS WERE DEPRESSED SIMULTANEOUSLY AND ADVISED THAT THERE WERE NO FAILURES WITHIN THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,400.... UPDATED 08/15/12 *BF
MY CAR HAS AN ISSUE I FIRST NOTICED SOON AFTER I BOUGHT IT, AND THAT NOW HAPPENS AT LEAST TWICE A WEEK. THE DATE I'VE ENTERED IS THE APPROXIMATE FIRST DATE I NOTICED THE PROBLEM OCCUR. I DESCRIBE BELOW A MORE RECENT INSTANCE OF THE SAME BEHAVIOR, THE TIME WHEN IT FELT THE LEAST SAFE. /// THE RECURRING BEHAVIOR IS THAT WHILE DECELERATING WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, IF THE CAR GOES OVER AN OBSTRUCTION LIKE A ROCK, A ROUGH PATCH OF ROAD, OR A POTHOLE, IT SOMETIMES LURCHES FORWARD BEFORE RESUMING DECELERATION. THE SENSATION IS OF ACCELERATING, BUT EVEN IF IT'S ONLY THAT THE CAR MOMENTARILY STOPS DECELERATING IT'S DISCONCERTING AND IN A FEW INSTANCES HAS GOTTEN ME CLOSE TO AN ACCIDENT. /// THE TIME IT CAME CLOSEST TO CAUSING AN ACCIDENT WAS ON 3/21/13, WHEN I FEARED THE CAR WAS GOING TO ROLL INTO A CROSSWALK AS PEOPLE CROSSED. WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE, COMING TO A STOP AT A STOP SIGN, WE WENT OVER UNEVEN PAVEMENT AND THE CAR LURCHED FORWARD WHILE ONLY A FEW FEET FROM THE CROSSWALK. SEVERAL PEOPLE WAITED CLOSE TO THE EDGE OF THE SIDEWALK AT A BUS STOP. ONE OF THEM SEEMED READY TO STEP OUTTO CROSS THE STREET, AND I BRACED FOR THE WORST. /// ULTIMATELY I STOPPED A FEW FEET BEFORE THE CROSSWALK, BUT THE SITUATION FELT COMPLETELY UNSAFE SINCE IT INVOLVED LOSING STOPPING POWER WHILE COMING TO A STOP SIGN WITH PEDESTRIANS PRESENT. *TR
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 26, 2026