The Lemon Index
201120133rd generation
121 owner complaints, first 3 years 48 mpg combined, EPA
Similar cars, same year
2012 Chevrolet Volt 1772012 Kia Forte 402012 Mazda3 62
Lemon Index: 100 = the average car, lower is better.
What breaks most on the 2012 Toyota Prius
- Brake booster / hard pedal120 complaintsmostly at 93,000–186,000 miles (150,000–299,000 km)
- Hybrid battery / inverter56 complaintsmostly at 34,000–118,000 miles (54,000–190,000 km)
- Engine stalling49 complaintsmostly at 40,000–120,000 miles (64,000–193,000 km)
Specific parts named in the 709 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2012 Toyota Prius (all dates). Miles = the odometer owners typed in (middle half); cost = the repair bills owners wrote in those same complaints, in U.S. dollars. Owners' reports, not confirmed defects.
When problems show up
Most problems on this year showed up between 1,800 and 21,000 miles (2,900–34,000 km) (the middle half of the 106 complaints, of all 121 filed so far, that listed a mileage).
- At 60K, 100K and 150K miles (97K, 161K and 241K km) Past the range where most problems showed up: it has likely had them or dodged them, so repair records matter most.
This is when owners who had a problem reported it, not the odds that one car will have it.
Questions to ask the seller
- Were recalls 18V684000 (hybrid propulsion system), 16V487000 (airbags) and 16V396000 (seats) done? It has 6 recalls in all. Ask for the dealer printout, or check the VIN.
- NHTSA has an open investigation into brake actuator valve wear. Has this car had that problem?
- Do the wipers, washers, defrost and mirrors all work?
- Do the brakes feel even, with no ABS or brake warning light? When were the pads and brake fluid last done?
- Do all the lights, screens and power features work? Has the battery, alternator or any wiring been replaced?
- Toyota sent dealers 461 repair notes for this car. Was this one done: “See document search button for owner letter”?
From this year's own recalls, top problems, top repair bills and Toyota's repair notes. Recall repairs are free at any dealer.
How serious. Out of all 121 owner complaints filed so far (every year since it was sold, not just the first 3), owners reported:
“Average car” = what the same number of complaints would include at the rate across every model year we track. Owners report these themselves; NHTSA doesn't confirm the cause.
What owners complain about most. From owner complaints to the government.
Share of this year's owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not the share of cars that break. One complaint can name more than one area.
Check engine light on? Look up any code →
When owners reported problems. From owner complaints to the government.
Most owners who filed a complaint with NHTSA had 1K to 21K miles (3K to 34K km) on the car (106 of all 121 complaints filed so far listed the miles). This shows when people who had a problem reported it, not the odds that your car will have it.
In owners' words
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.
2012 Toyota Prius owner · NHTSA complaint 10502134
More owner reports
Vehicle had little or no braking power in a panic stop situation. This was likely cause by a delay switching from regenerative braking to mechanical brakes.
NHTSA complaint 10749388
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.
NHTSA complaint 10549531
Fixes owners look up most.
From 200 YouTube videos · 32.3M views · 2010–2015 Toyota Prius
What owners say one repair costs on YouTube
- Batteryone repair, as owners say it$900most $250–$4,000 · 6 videos▶ Hear it
Most-watched topics
- Oil changes & service1.5M views
2010-2015 Toyota Prius oil change HDNutzAboutBolts · 794K views · 7 videos - Infotainment, battery & electrical1.3M views
How To replace Hybrid Battery Fan Filter : 2010-2015 PriusThe Car Care Nut · 262K views · 11 videos - Intake, EGR & engine sensors912K views
2011 - 2015 Toyota Prius tire pressure sensor reset Button!DIY Approved · 243K views · 5 videos - Timing chain & engine813K views
2010-2015 Prius Morning Death Rattle Test! Head gasket or not? 3rd GenDrew's Garage · 220K views · 8 videos
Show 4 more
- Spark plugs & ignition coils667K views
2010-2015 Toyota Prius Spark plugs remove and install HDNutzAboutBolts · 425K views · 3 videos - Gauges, lights & wiring609K views
How To Reset The Maintenance Required Light On A 2012-2014 Toyota PriusHow to Automotive · 378K views · 3 videos - Brakes & ABS539K views
2010-2015 Toyota Prius Brake flushNutzAboutBolts · 250K views · 5 videos - Heat, A/C & blend door182K views
2010-2015 Toyota Prius hybrid AC problem EASY 30 min FixMaxat Hybrid Repair · 143K views · 2 videos
Before you buy, watch
Top 5 Problems Toyota Prius Hybrid 3rd Generation 2010-151A Auto: Repair Tips & Secrets Only Mechanics Know · 543K views
2010 Toyota Prius Review - (High Mileage Reliability?)Jake Tiesler Auto · 173K views
2011 - 2015 Prius Review! Real Fuel Consumption - Reliability - How to DriveDIY Approved · 87K viewsViews show how many people looked up each fix, not how often it breaks. Videos belong to their creators; we link to them. The 2012 is the same generation.
Costs are the middle (median) of the dollar amounts people say out loud in these videos, so one wild number can't swing it. They aren't verified bills or sales; real prices depend on year, miles, condition and where you live. Tap Hear it to jump to the moment.
Problems Toyota told dealers about
Toyota sent dealers 461 repair notes for this car. The ones about its biggest problems:
- See document search button for owner letter
- Hv batteries have liquid filled cell modules, to prevent leakage from cells, it is very important
- Warranty policy bulletin (pol14-05): toyota has received some reports indicating the…
Ask a seller or mechanic if these were done. Some are free under warranty or a special program.
Recalls 6
- Hybrid propulsion system · recall issued 2018
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.
- Airbags · recall issued 2016
A weld in the curtain shield air bag inflator may crack causing one or both portions of the inflator to eject into the passenger cabin.
- Seats · recall issued 2016
The electrical wiring in the seat heaters may be damaged when the seat cushion is compressed.
Show all 6 recalls
- Hybrid propulsion system · recall issued 2014
In the affected vehicles, the Intelligent Power Module (IPM) inside the inverter module (a component of the hybrid system) contains transistors that may become damaged from high operating temperatures.
- Equipment · recall issued 2013
These vehicles were sold with labels that were outside the allowable one percent of accuracy of actual weight ad.
- Airbags · recall issued 2013
If the front passenger seat occupant sensing system is out of calibration, the front passenger airbags may not deploy or they may deploy inappropriately for the passenger's size and position. This could increase the risk…
Recall repairs are free at any dealer. A recall only matters if it's still open on that exact car, so check its VIN.
Canada? See recalls at Transport Canada
Government investigations
- OpenBrake actuator valve wear2023
- ClosedPedestrian alert sounds2023
- ClosedBrake actuator valve wear2019–2021
NHTSA looks into a problem when enough owners report it. Many end in a recall.
Safety
Crash test details
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Toyota Prius 5 HB FWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
| Toyota Prius Plug-In 5 HB FWD | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
Fuel cost and engines
About $1,350 (USD) a year in fuel (EPA estimate at U.S. prices, 15,000 miles or 24,000 km a year). Engines: 1.8L 4-cyl.
Every Toyota Prius year. 2012 is highlighted. Lower is better.
Newest year first. Red = worse than average, gray = about average, too new (2023+: a partial score, marked “partial”) or too few complaints to score. #1, #2… = that year's YouTube rank among the 24 Toyota Prius years with enough videos (#1 = the year owners and reviewers talk about most positively). It is not a reliability rank.
Embed this chart
Put this chart on your site, blog or forum. Free, with the credit line built in; the 2012 bar is highlighted.
<iframe src="https://lemonindex.com/embed/cars/toyota-prius/?y=2012" title="Toyota Prius reliability by model year (The Lemon Index)" width="100%" height="767" style="border:0;max-width:720px" loading="lazy"></iframe><p style="font-size:13px;margin:4px 0 0">Data: <a href="https://lemonindex.com/cars/toyota-prius/2012/">Lemon Index</a> (2012 Toyota Prius reliability)</p>Quick answers
Is the 2012 Toyota Prius reliable?
Yes, better than average by government complaints. It drew about three-quarters as many complaints as the average car filed with NHTSA in its first 3 years, per car sold (Lemon Index 76; 100 is average, lower is better). 2012 is one of the better years of a model that draws 1.8× the average car's complaints. The Toyota Prius year with the fewest complaints per car sold since 2010 is 2021.
What are the most common 2012 Toyota Prius problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are wipers & visibility (21%), brakes (17%) and electrical (14%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2012 Toyota Prius have?
6 safety recalls (latest: hybrid propulsion system). Recall repairs are free at any dealer; check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2012 Toyota Prius get?
48 mpg combined, depending on the engine (EPA estimate).
Is the 2012 Toyota Prius safe?
NHTSA gave it 5 out of 5 stars overall in its best tested version. Ratings differ by body style, and the full table is on the advanced page.
At what mileage do 2012 Toyota Prius problems show up?
Most problems on this year showed up between 1,800 and 21,000 miles (2,900–34,000 km) (the middle half of the 106 complaints, of all 121 filed so far, that listed a mileage). At 60K, 100K and 150K miles, a 2012 is past the range where most problems showed up: it has likely had them or dodged them, so repair records matter most. This is when owners who had a problem reported it, not a prediction for one car.
Does the 2012 Toyota Prius have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues aren't among its top 5 complaint areas.
How much does the 2012 Toyota Prius cost in fuel a year?
About $1,350 a year, by the EPA's current estimate.
What engines does the 2012 Toyota Prius have?
1.8L 4-cyl.
What Toyota Prius year is better than the 2012?
Nearby, the 2015 drew fewer owner complaints per car sold (about a third as many complaints as the average car). Across every year, 2021 drew the fewest.
The Lemon Index counts owner complaints filed with the U.S. government (NHTSA) in a car's first 3 years, per car sold, against the average car of the same model years (100 = average, lower is better). It measures complaints, not crash safety. A complaint is an owner's report, not a confirmed defect. How it works