2012 Toyota Prius V reliability

Is it reliable?

Owners have filed 13 complaints with NHTSA about the 2012 Toyota Prius V over 15 years — 0 per year. That is fewer complaints per year than most Prius V years here — under the median of the other years, which is 3. NHTSA has 4 recalls on file, including Hybrid propulsion, Inverter, and Tail lights.

Complaints

Per year

Recalls

Years on the road

What owners report

The complaints owners file most often name Service brakes (10 of 13), then Hydraulic brakes (2) and Engine (1). The most filings arrived in 2026 (7 of 13). Those filings include 2 that report a crash, 1 that reports a fire, 1 that reports an injury, and 1 that reports a death.

Next to 2013

The 2013 Prius V has 124 complaints, 6 per year. The 2012 has fewer complaints per year than the 2013.

The complaint rate is complaints filed in this year’s first 3 years on the road, divided by however many of those years have passed. Recalls are a separate count. The numbers are for the US-market 2012 Toyota Prius V. How we count. Data as of 2026-10-16.

Recalls (4)

Recall hybrid propulsion 2018-10-04 · NHTSA campaign 18V684000

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.

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.

Recall hybrid propulsion, inverter 2015-07-15 · NHTSA campaign 15V449000

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.

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.

Recall exterior lighting, tail lights 2013-12-12 · NHTSA campaign 13E070000

Summary Genera Corporation (Genera) is recalling certain aftermarket replacement tail lights, model 11-6468-00 (driver-side), and model 11-6467-00 (passenger-side), sold for use on 2012-2013 Toyota Prius V vehicles. The brake light and tail light circuits are switched causing the brake lights to be illuminated continuously until the brake pedal is pressed, when the brake lights will go out.

Remedy Genera will notify owners and provide replacement aftermarket tail lamps, free of charge. The recall began on January 23, 2014. Owners may contact Genera at 1-888-963-9888. This recall is being conducted by Genera Corporation, not by Toyota Motor Corporation.

Recall air bags, frontal, inactive sensor control module 2013-01-16 · NHTSA campaign 13V014000

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.

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.

Complaints by component (13 total)

Service brakes

Hydraulic brakes

Engine

Forward collision avoidance

Steering

Crash-flagged

Fire-flagged

Injury reports

Death reports

Complaints filed per year

Excerpts from recent NHTSA complaint filings

"The contact owns a 2012 Toyota Prius V. The contact stated that while driving 65 MPH, brake fluid was leaking from the vehicle. While driving over 45 MPH, the brake pedal became firm, requiring the driver to exert extra…"
Hydraulic brakes · filed 2026-09-16
"2012 Toyota Prius v with 89,662 miles. Multiple brake warning lights illuminated, and the vehicle stored diagnostic trouble code C1391, “Abnormal Leak in Accumulator.” The brake booster/accumulator pump is also cycling…"
Service brakes · filed 2026-09-09
"Brake actuator assembly failure on a vehicle with 99,818 miles. Whirring sound when braking followed by lighting of several brake alert lights on dash including PCS and ABS and others. The whirring noise has occured for…"
Service brakes · filed 2026-06-29
"Driving down the highway, the engine suddenly threw a rod, causing a terrible jolt, after which the engine burst into flames. There had been no warning lights."
Engine · filed 2026-06-28
"The ABS system has failed. All brake related warning lights have appeared on the dash board and the ABS no longer works. The car will brake for now, but the pedal is mushy. The issue was diagnosed by a dealer. The…"
Service brakes · filed 2026-06-21

NHTSA crash ratings

Version	Overall	Front	Side	Rollover
2012 Toyota Prius V SW FWD	Not rated	Not rated	Not rated	Not rated

Stars are how this vehicle did in NHTSA crash tests. They are a safety result, separate from the complaint record. Not rated means that test was not run for this version.

Fuel economy

Trim	Engine	Transmission	Drive	City	Hwy	Combined	Annual fuel cost
Prius v	1.8L, 4-cyl	Automatic (variable gear ratios)	Front-wheel drive	43	39	41 MPG	$1600

Specs and fitment

First generation (ZVW40/ZVW41), 2012–2017

Body styles Wagon

Oil 0W-20 (all temps); 5W-20 temporary if 0W-20 unavailable , 4.4 qt capacity

Tire size 205/60R16 or 215/50R17 (trim dependent)

Known issues for this generation

Recall 18V-684 covers 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 and the vehicle to stall while being driven. Dealers update software for the motor/generator control ECU and hybrid control ECU. Recall 15V-449 covers certain model year 2012-2014 Prius v vehicles manufactured August 22, 2011, through June 30, 2014: a component within the hybrid inverter assembly may overheat, causing the hybrid system to reduce output power.

Compare

Next year 2013 Toyota Prius V See every Toyota Prius V model year →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2012 Toyota Prius V reliable?

What are common problems with a 2012 Toyota Prius V?

Is the 2012 Toyota Prius V more reliable than the years next to it?

The 2013 Prius V has 124 complaints, 6 per year. The 2012 has fewer complaints per year than the 2013.

Has the 2012 Toyota Prius V been recalled?

The 2012 Toyota Prius V has 4 recalls on file with NHTSA. See the recalls table on this page for dates, components, and remedies.

How many complaints have owners filed about the 2012 Toyota Prius V?

Owners have filed 13 complaints about the 2012 Toyota Prius V with NHTSA.

What mpg does a 2012 Toyota Prius V get?

EPA-rated combined fuel economy for the 2012 Toyota Prius V is 41 MPG. See the fuel economy table on this page for city and highway figures by engine and transmission.

What oil does a Toyota Prius v take?

0W-20 for all temperatures; 5W-20 may be used temporarily if 0W-20 is unavailable. Capacity is about 4.4 quarts with filter.

What does recall 18V-684 cover on the Prius v?

Certain 2010-2014 Prius and 2012-2014 Prius v vehicles: excessive voltage in the Intelligent Power Module may damage transistors. See the NHTSA campaign for the remedy.

What tire sizes did the Prius v use?

205/60R16 or 215/50R17 depending on trim.