Recalls (3)
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for the 2012 Toyota Prius V. Check whether yours was repaired with NHTSA's free VIN lookup ↗
Only NHTSA and your automaker know whether your specific car was repaired. PlainVIN shows every recall campaign listed for a model year, with the official text and how many cars have been fixed so far.
Check on NHTSA ↗Hybrid System may Shutdown and cause Stall
- Summary
- 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.
- Consequence
- If the hybrid system shuts down unexpectedly, it can increase the risk of a crash.
- 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. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371. Toyota's number for this recall is J0V. Note: The software updates in this recall are needed even if the vehicle had the software previously updated under recalls 14V-053 or 15V-449.
Inverter Failure may cause Hybrid Vehicle to Stall
- Summary
- 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 circumstances, the hybrid system may shut down causing the vehicle to stop while being driven.
- Consequence
- The vehicle may enter a fail-safe/limp-home mode that limits the drivability of the vehicle. The hybrid system could also shut down completely resulting in a vehicle stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
- 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 contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371.
Occupant Sensing System Calibration
- Summary
- 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 year 2009-2013 Highlander and Venza; model year 2012 Prius V; and model year 2010-2012 Sequoia. During modification by SET to include accessories such as leather seat covers, seat heaters or headrest DVD systems, these vehicles may not have had the passenger seat occupant sensing system calibration tested. Without passing the calibration test, the occupant sensing system may not operate as designed.
- Consequence
- 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 of personal injury during the event of a vehicle crash necessitating airbag deployment.
- 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 at 1-800-301-6859.
PlainVIN shows public government records for education. It isn't a vehicle inspection or legal advice. Check your own VIN with NHTSA or your dealer.
Owner complaints (218)
218 complaints filed with NHTSA (owner reports, not verified findings). The service brakes is mentioned most often.
As reported by owners in their complaints. These are reports, not NHTSA findings.
Most-reported components
| Component | Complaints | % of 218 |
|---|---|---|
| Service brakes | 133 | 61% |
| Engine | 36 | 16.5% |
| Electrical system | 24 | 11% |
| Unknown or other | 15 | 6.9% |
| Vehicle speed control | 15 | 6.9% |
| Steering | 11 | 5% |
| Air bags | 8 | 3.7% |
| Electronic stability control | 7 | 3.2% |
| Power train | 7 | 3.2% |
| Forward collision avoidance | 6 | 2.8% |
How 2012 compares with other Prius V years
Best and worst Prius V years →| Model year | Complaints | Recall campaigns |
|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 1 | 0 |
| 2012 | 218 | 3 |
| 2013 | 125 | 2 |
| 2014 | 82 | 4 |
| 2015 | 24 | 2 |
| 2016 | 16 | 1 |
| 2017 | 12 | 1 |
| 2018 | 1 | 0 |
Counts are owner reports, not failure rates. Higher sales years tend to draw more reports. Owners are still filing reports for recent model years, so these counts will grow. Source: NHTSA ODI, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Fuel economy: up to 41 mpg combined
- EPA annual fuel cost
- $1,650
- CO₂ tailpipe
- 217 g/mi
- EPA class
- Midsize Station Wagons
What it costs you to run
Miles ÷ 41 mpg × $4.354 (EIA US average regular, week of Oct 5, 2026, all taxes included). Source: EPA · EIA.
EPA label estimates from lab tests; your mileage will vary.
Specs by configuration
| Engine · transmission | Drive | City / Hwy / Comb | EPA $/yr | CO₂ g/mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.8 L 4-cyl · CVT | Front-Wheel Drive | 43 / 39 / 41 | $1,650 | 217 |
Source: EPA fuel economy data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026. Configurations are listed when EPA and NHTSA records match.
Looking at a 2012 Prius V for sale?
Print a one-page buyer's checklist: each recall campaign with a box to tick when the seller shows proof of repair, the top complaint areas to inspect, crash stars, MPG, and a link back to this page.
Where to next
2012 Toyota Prius V FAQ
How many recalls does the 2012 Toyota Prius V have?
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns: 18V684000 (hybrid propulsion system), 15V449000 (hybrid propulsion system), 13V014000 (air bag). Use NHTSA's VIN lookup to see whether a specific car was repaired.
What are the most common 2012 Toyota Prius V problems?
Owners filed 218 complaints with NHTSA. Service brakes (133), Engine (36), Electrical system (24) are mentioned most. These are owner reports, not verified findings.
What mpg does the 2012 Toyota Prius V get?
EPA rates the 1.8 L 4-cyl · CVT version at 43 city, 39 highway and 41 combined mpg.
How does the 2012 Prius V compare with other years?
Among the 2011–2018 Toyota Prius V model years at least five years old, the 2011 drew the fewest complaints (1) and the 2012 the most (218). The 2012 drew 218. Counts are owner reports, not failure rates.
How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes
Data sources
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - US DOT recall completion rates (data.transportation.gov)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA ODI owner complaints
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA NCAP 5-Star Safety Ratings
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EPA fuel economy data (licence confirmation pending)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EIA weekly retail gasoline prices
Weekly, all taxes included
Processing
- Complaints are counted per component. One complaint can list several, so component totals add up to more than the total.
- Fuel cost = miles per year ÷ EPA combined mpg × EIA weekly price for your region.
Limitations
- Complaint counts are owner reports, not verified findings or failure rates. There is no sales denominator.
- Recall campaigns are listed for the model year. Only NHTSA and the automaker know whether a specific car was repaired.
- Recent model years are still collecting reports.
Review
Data compiled automatically from the official files listed here.
Changelog
- 2026-10-06 Data refreshed from the official files.