Skip to content
Toyota Prius Plug-In HybridModel year report

2012 Toyota Prius Plug-In Hybrid Problems

Complaints
25filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
89,000miles, 16 complaints with mileage
Recalls
2campaigns on record
Trend
RisingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% higher than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA crash rating
—no overall rating published
EPA fuel economy
50 mpgcombined (gas only), 1.8L 4-cyl · plug-in hybrid FWD · 51 city / 49 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2012 Toyota Prius Plug-In Hybrid (complaints, recalls, investigations), EPA fuel economy. Report an error

NHTSA recorded 25 consumer complaints for the 2012 Toyota Prius Plug-In Hybrid. The part named most often is brakes, with 12 complaints (48% of the total), followed by other or unknown (4) and electrical system (3). 16 of the complaints include a mileage, and 13% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 89,000 miles. Of all complaints, 1 involved a crash, 1 a fire, 2 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns and 93 technical service bulletins for this model year. Other or unknown complaints overlap with 1 technical service bulletin filed under the same part.

Not compared (fewer than 3 comparable model years). Model years 2008–2023 of the same vehicle that have at least 25 complaints are compared, and a model needs at least 3 of them.

Which parts are reported most

Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.

Also reported: Suspension (1), Wheels (1).

Example complaints

Brakes: “My 2012 plug-in prius came up with a c1391 code. The ABS, brake and brake skid lights came on. I have no re-gen braking and when I actually brake it seems very sluggish.”

NHTSA complaint #11387560, filed 2021-01, 135,000 miles

Other or unknown: “While stopped in a parking lot, foot brake pressed,transmission in drive, when opening drivers door and foot brake released car still moves forward. It should go into park automatic but does not.”

NHTSA complaint #11319211, filed 2020-03, 90,000 miles

Electrical system: “The contact owns a 2012 Toyota Prius Plug-In Hybrid. The contact stated that there was a sudden loss of power and the vehicle stalled several times. The vehicle was taken to the dealer. On several occasions, the dealer was unable to replicate and diagnose the failure. The manufacturer was notified. The contact was uncertain if the vehicle would be repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 60,000.”

NHTSA complaint #10957492, filed 2017-02, 60,000 miles

Engine: “I have hybrid system warning message & pcs system warning message on my car I have taken it to different dealership in dallas tx area any none of them has fix it try to do research on my own to figure out and found that Toyota has this in recall my dealership is not willing to do anything with the car. So I really dont know what to do ..trying to get help so this issues r fixed and it safe for me to drive this car I drive about 30000 mile every year and just don't fell safe driving this car.”

NHTSA complaint #10947277, filed 2017-01, 200 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

13% of the 16 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 60,000 and 125,000 miles.

6%0–106%10–250%25–5025%50–7525%75–10031%100–1506%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (16 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 89,000 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Trend: rising. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% higher than in the 3 years before.

2016201720185201920202021202220232024
Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Fuel economy and running cost

EPA ratings for each 2012 Toyota Prius Plug-In Hybrid version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving); plug-in hybrid figures are for gasoline-only (hybrid mode) driving, so no annual cost is shown.

VersionEngineTransmissionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yr
Prius Plug-in Hybrid FWD1.8L 4-cyl · plug-in hybridCVT514950 gas only—

Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.

Recalls and investigations

Recall details for the 2012 Toyota Prius Plug-In Hybrid → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls

Technical service bulletins

TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 93 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 93 bulletins →

Other model years of the Toyota Prius Plug-In Hybrid

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
2015560,0001—50—Not enough data
20141370,0681—50—Not enough data
20131288,9001450—Not enough data
20122589,0002—50Not compared (fewer than 3 comparable model years)Rising
20106110,0001———Not enough data

All Toyota Prius Plug-In Hybrid model years

Frequently asked questions

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2012 Toyota Prius Plug-In Hybrid have?

NHTSA recorded 25 consumer complaints for the 2012 Toyota Prius Plug-In Hybrid as of Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2012 Toyota Prius Plug-In Hybrid is reported most often?

Brakes is named most often, in 12 complaints (48% of the total), followed by other or unknown with 4.

Has the 2012 Toyota Prius Plug-In Hybrid been recalled?

NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What gas mileage does the 2012 Toyota Prius Plug-In Hybrid get?

The EPA rates the 2012 Toyota Prius Plug-In Hybrid (Prius Plug-in Hybrid, 1.8L 4-cyl · plug-in hybrid) at 50 mpg combined, 51 city and 49 highway when running on gasoline in hybrid mode. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 2012 Toyota Prius Plug-In Hybrid reported?

Among the 16 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 89,000 miles and the middle half falls between 60,000 and 125,000 miles; 13% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).

Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.