Skip to content
EnginePart report

2012 Toyota Prius Plug-In Hybrid Engine Problems

Complaints
2about this part
Share
8%of 25 total for the year
Median mileage
45,100miles
Trend
Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.

NHTSA recorded 2 complaints about the engine of the 2012 Toyota Prius Plug-In Hybrid, 8% of the 25 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 45,100 miles.

Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.

Example complaints

Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.

“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

“Engine oil getting to the intake manifold. And filling up with oil. Throttle body gets really dirty with oil. In turn the engine burns oil. Which clogs up the EGR system. The engine would over heat which could cause the head gasket to blow. During winter months. Engine restarts would be harsh because it would have condesaion on the cyclinder this could cause the engine to blow. Broken connecting rods. Blown head gasket all sort of things could happen from having oil get to the intake manifold. …”

NHTSA complaint #11104266, filed 2018-06, 90,000 miles

Related service bulletins

Engine: other model years

YearComplaintsShare of year
2014323%
201228%
2010117%

Other parts of the 2012 Toyota Prius Plug-In Hybrid

Brakes
12 complaintsOther or unknown
4 complaintsElectrical system
3 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
2 complaintsVehicle speed control
2 complaintsElectronic stability control
1 complaintsExterior lighting
1 complaintsHybrid propulsion system
1 complaintsSteering
1 complaintsSuspension
1 complaintsWheels
1 complaints

← All problems reported for the 2012 Toyota Prius Plug-In Hybrid

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.

To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology