13 of the
544 complaints about the 2012 Toyota Prius are about the
steering — 2% of everything
reported for this model year.
Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before
40,000 miles.
I was driving on highway & the vehicle stopped accelerating as I was pressing the gas. I put my hazards on & got to the side of the road. Then the eps light came on & the dash stopped showing the mph. The ac stopped blowing cold air & the windows were working slow. I turned car off then back on a couple of times then more lights came on. No lights were on prior to this & I haven’t had any problems w the vehicle before this. I just got this car & I feel like it has something to do with a recall but no one wants to take responsibility for the issue.
NHTSA complaint #11484055 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 80,000 milesOrangeburg, SC
STEERING
The contact owns a 2012 Toyota Prius. The contact stated that after starting the vehicle, the vehicle lost brakes and power steering functionality. The traction control, ABS, and braking system warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer and was diagnosed with brake booster failure. The vehicle remained at the dealer and was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 13V235000 (Service Brakes). The approximate failure mileage was 80,000.
NHTSA complaint #11463354 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Taunton, MA
STEERING
THIS CAR HAS A STEERING WHEEL PROBLEM
NHTSA complaint #11462967 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
West Windsor, NJ
STEERING
After feeling looseness from the front end all the way up to the steering wheel when going over any bumps I brought the car to the local dealer. After inspection I was told four things that are very disturbing: The steering shaft needs replacement; The cost will be more than $1100; There is no warranty or recall or cost coverage; The car is not reliable and should not be driven any more than essential until fixed (and they don’t know when the parts will be available). Although the car is out of warranty based on age, this car has only 66,525 miles after almost 9 years, and my wife and I have been the only drivers and not on any dirt roads. I have been told by an independent repair shop this is a known problem with Prius and should be a recall item since it is dangerous to keep driving. This is especially troubling since the dealer could not fix it when I was there because they have to order parts and they don't know when the parts will be in.
NHTSA complaint #11439743 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Cupertino, CA
STEERING
THE STEERING WHEEL MAKE A CLUNKING NOISE AND FEEL LIKE IT'LL FALL OFF WHEN DRIVEN.
NHTSA complaint #11329804 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 75,300 milesSAN Diego, CA
STEERING
MORE THAN ONCE I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 40/45MPH, ONCE ON A CURVE, ANYHOW AS I WAS GOING THROUGH THE CURVE IT FELT AS THOUGH THE BRAKES ENGAGED, WITHOUT ME TOUCHING THEM. I UNDERSTAND THE SAFETY THING, HOWEVER AT BOTH INSTANCES IT WAS NOT NECESSARY. IT CAUSED THE CAR TO PULL TO THE LEFT. ALMOST CAUSING ME TO LOOSE CONTROL.
NHTSA complaint #11279410 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 95,000 milesShingle Springs, CA
STEERING
PIVOT BOLT INSIDE STEERING WHEEL CAME LOOSE, WAS WARNED IT HAD DROPPED TO WHERE IT COULD INTERFERE WITH BRAKE LINKAGES. FILED COMPLAINT WITH TOYOTA AND NEVER HEARD BACK SO FILING THIS COMPLAINT. (1) A LARGE BOLT INSIDE A SEALED AREA SHOULD NOT BE ABLE TO COME LOOSE IF INSTALLED CORRECTLY (MANUFACTURING ERROR - SINGLE INSTANCE OR SYSTEMATIC?) AND (2) A LOOSE BOLT SHOULD NOT BE A RISK FOR A POSSIBLE CATASTROPHIC OUTCOME - LOSS OF BRAKES (DESIGN FLAW, LINKAGES SHOULD NOT BE SUSCEPTIBLE TO BEING JAMMED - THAT'S WHAT THEY WARNED ME ABOUT WHEN THEY ASKED FOR THE $330 TO FIX IT). THIS WAS DISCOVERED WHEN I TOOK THE VEHICLE IN FOR REGULAR SERVICING, THEY TOLD ME THE STEERING FELT FUNNY.
NHTSA complaint #10947045 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 40,000 milesChino Hills, CA
STEERING
THERE WAS A RATTLING OR KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM UNDER THE DASH AREA OF THE PASSENGER SIDE WHENEVER DRIVING OVER BUMPS AT SLOWER SPEEDS ON CITY STREETS, OFTEN FELT TRAMSMITTED TO THE STEERING WHEEL. UPON TAKING IT TO THE TOYOTA DEALER, THEY FOUND THAT THERE WAS FREE PLAY IN THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT, WHICH THEY SAID, COULD EVENTUALLY FAIL. IT HAD TO BE REPLACED.
NHTSA complaint #10883057 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 50,000 milesClarksville, VA
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, A LOUD CLUNKING NOISE EMITTED WHEN MAKING A TURN. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ONLY WHEN MAKING A TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.
NHTSA complaint #10870942 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 10 milesBlairsville, PA
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO DRIVE IN A STRAIGHT LINE AND DRIFTED TO THE LEFT AND RIGHT. THE CONTACT HAD TO CONSTANTLY ADJUST THE STEERING WHEEL. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10. UPDATED 11/25/14*CN UPDATED 12/02/14
NHTSA complaint #10640448 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 25,070 milesNewport Beach, CACrash
STEERING
I WAS DRIVING ON MY RESIDENTIAL STREET AND STEPPED ON THE BRAKE TO SLOW DOWN TO MAKE A LEFT TURN INTO MY DRIVEWAY. THE CAR FAILED TO SLOW DOWN OR STOP, AND INSTEAD WENT OVER THE CURB, VEERING TO THE RIGHT AND SIDE SWIPED THE LEFT SIDE OF MY NEIGHBOR'S CAR, NARROWLY MISSING HIS GARAGE.THE CAR THEN SIDE SWIPED A TREE ON MY LEFT (ON PROPERTY BETWEEN MY AND NEIGHBOR'S PROPERTY.) THE FRONT END OF THE CAR CRASHED INTO A TREE, SAVING ME FROM ROLLING ABOUT 900 FEET TO THE STREET BELOW. THE ENTIRE TIME OF THIS INCIDENT THE BRAKES NEVER ENGAGED (PEDAL WAS DOWN TO FLOOR) AND I FRANTICALLY TRIED TO STEER TO AVOID HITTING ANYTHING. A WITNESS, STANDING ON THE STREET, CONFIRMED MY BRAKE LIGHTS WERE ON. CAR WAS SERVICED BY TOYOTA (WORLD CLASS INSPECTION) 15 DAYS BEFORE THE INCIDENT. INSPECTION REPORT INDICATED BRAKE FLUID LEVEL AND BRAKE LINING WERE "CHECKED AND OK." AFTER THE INCIDENT THE CAR WAS TOWED TO A REPAIR SITE WHERE THE OPERATOR DEMONSTRATED TO ME THAT THE BRAKES WERE NONEXISTENT AND THE BRAKE FLUID LEVEL WAS STILL APPROPRIATE. CAR WAS DEEMED TOTALED.
NHTSA complaint #10616134 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 9,800 milesSimi Valley, CA1 injured
STEERING
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.
NHTSA complaint #10521531 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 1,000 milesSAN Diego, CA
STEERING
VEHICLE IS PARKED OUTSIDE, AND DURING MORNING COLD START, THE VEHICLE PRODUCES A MOANING/WOOING SOUND FOR APPROX. 50-75 YARDS WITH VEHICLE MOVING UNDER 25 MPH. THE SOUND IS BEING GENERATED FROM THE FRONT WHEEL WELLS. SOUND GENERATED IS RELATED TO VEHICLE SPEED. THE FASTER THE VEHICLE MOVES, THE MORE FREQUENT THE SOUND BEING PRODUCED DURING THE FIRST 50-75 YARDS. STRANGE SOUND IS GONE AFTER THAT, AND DOES NOT RETURN UNTIL THE NEXT COOL/COLD START. OWNER TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO DEALERSHIP FOR INSPECTION, AND DEALER TOOK OFF THE FRONT WHEEL TO INSPECT BRAKES, WHEELS, AND TIRES, AND WAS NOT ABLE TO LOCATE OR REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM. ABNORMAL SOUND IS ONLY PRODUCED DURING MORNING COLD STARTS AND WHEN VEHICLE IS LEFT TO COOL(I.E. PARKING LOT AT WORK).
NHTSA complaint #10481010 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.