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Air bagsPart report

2012 Toyota Prius V Air bags Problems

Complaints
8about this part
Share
4%of 218 total for the year
Median mileage
24,726miles
Trend
Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.

NHTSA recorded 8 complaints about the air bags of the 2012 Toyota Prius V, 4% of the 218 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 24,726 miles. 4 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers.

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.

“My front and driver's side air bags didn't open when my car was hit on that side by another car driven by a lady who ran a stop sign; and struck my moving car; totaling my car. I suffered sertous chest, neck and back sprains that still l bother me. I was struck pretty hard, I suffered a terrible jolt to my chest area when my car came to a hard stop, and I still hit the steering wheel. This accident costs me my job and I am no longer able to stand or walk for long periods of time.”

NHTSA complaint #11173058, filed 2019-01, 26,452 miles

“On several occasions it sounds as though something 'metal' is sliding around inside the panel of the front passenger door. I have taken it to the dealer 3 or 4 times and they cannot verify it. When I went out with a tech, once, although it had made the sound as I turned out of my driveway, it wouldn't duplicate with the technician. They wouldn't take off the panel to investigate. Given the problem with airbags this makes me very nervous and I hope that I am never in a crash.”

NHTSA complaint #10761879, filed 2015-09, 200 miles

“Driver in a 2005 ford focus 4 door turned left in front of me. My Prius V hit the ford focus on the front passenger side corner. My prius was damaged in the center of the front. The speed of my vehicle is less that 40 MPH, the speed limit. I believe I was traveling about 30 MPH before I hit the brakes had about 25 feet to stop. When we hit the ford it was like hitting a brick wall, my prius popped up off the ground about a foot. Neither of the front air bags deployed. My wife, the passenger in my prius fractured her sternum due to the pressure of the seat belt. Updated 06/06/2014”

NHTSA complaint #10578327, filed 2014-04, 30,150 miles

“Upon driving out of my school parking lot at approximately 15 to 20 miles per hour I noticed a cushiony filled with a brakes and all of a sudden I heard a shhh all of my lights popped up on my dashboard. When I took my vehicle in to be able to find out what was going on with it I was told that I need a master cylinder and a brake booster. This was after having my vehicle for only 3 years where I purchased it from Rice Toyota Greensboro North Carolina.”

NHTSA complaint #11566877, filed 2024-01

“The contact owned a 2012 Toyota Prius V. While driving 5 MPH and making a left turn, a vehicle crashed into the front passenger side of the contact's vehicle. As a result, the air bags deployed, but the driver side air bags failed to fully inflate. The contact sustained injuries to the chest that required medical attention. A police report was filed and the vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, who deemed the vehicle destroyed. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 23,000.”

NHTSA complaint #10733946, filed 2015-07, 23,000 miles

Related service bulletins

Air bags: other model years

YearComplaintsShare of year
201718%
2016425%
201514%
201411%
201365%
201284%

Other parts of the 2012 Toyota Prius V

Brakes
133 complaints
Engine
36 complaints
Electrical system
24 complaints
Other or unknown
15 complaints
Vehicle speed control
15 complaints
Steering
11 complaints
Electronic stability control
7 complaints
Transmission and drivetrain
7 complaints
Forward collision avoidance
6 complaints
Fuel system
5 complaints
Body and structure
4 complaints
Exterior lighting
3 complaints

← All problems reported for the 2012 Toyota Prius V

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