2012 Toyota Prius Fuel system Problems
- Complaints
- 11about this part
- Share
- 3%of 424 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 15,000miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 11 complaints about the fuel system of the 2012 Toyota Prius, 3% of the 424 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 15,000 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 was stopped at a red light on a hill. When the light turned green, I stepped on the gas with no response. The car slid back and I braked. The panel light affirmed that the car was supposed to be in drive. Yet there was no response at all. The car seemed to be in neutral. I put the blinkers on and the cars behind me passed. The panel lights and radio were on along with the blinkers. I turned the ignition off and then turned it on again. It worked without a problem. I called the dealer who stated he had no idea what happened and there was nothing he could check. …”
NHTSA complaint #10717858, filed 2015-05, 20,500 miles“Soon after getting a recall software update for the hybrid system, the car displayed hybrid system check message and lost power. Car had to be towed. Created an extremely dangerous situation due to nature of problem while driving on the road and had to pull over right away.”
NHTSA complaint #11196480, filed 2019-04, 75,000 miles“Fuel indicator on the dash showed 3 bars for remaining fuel. Vehicle ran out of fuel despite showing 3 bars. Oftentimes after tank is filled it only illuminates to 1 or 2 under the top bar instead of showing a full tank. There is obviously a problem that the car is not accurately reporting the fuel level.”
NHTSA complaint #10478898, filed 2012-10, 13,104 miles“I was driving the 2012 Prius on a downhill parkway at about 40 MPH when the warning light check hybrid system came on. Within 10 second, the vehicle totally lost power. It automatically shifted into neutral. There was no back up fail-safe/limp home mode. Fortunately the car was gliding downhill by gravity and eventually was steered into a driveway. Then it refused to go on ready or drive mode. On this saturday afternoon the car had to be towed home. It had to be towed again to the dealership for service the following week. …”
NHTSA complaint #10860857, filed 2016-04, 31,703 miles“When driving dashboard hybrid system not working. Pull over... This was 7/3/2012. It had run out of gas even though there were 2 bars out of 10 still present on gas gauge. On 7/30/12 later this happened again with 4 bars showing. Got the fuel sensor and gauge replaced on 7/30/12. 8/14/12 with 3 bars showing, cruising range of 60 miles and having gone 480 miles the same warning hybrid system not working... I was able to get to a gas station before running out of gas. The Prius manual states the tank holds 9.5 gallons. Filling up the tank took 9.91 gallons. There is clearly something wrong. …”
NHTSA complaint #10470699, filed 2012-08, 6,000 milesFuel system: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1 | 6% |
| 2021 | 2 | 33% |
| 2020 | 1 | 7% |
| 2019 | 1 | 3% |
| 2018 | 2 | 5% |
| 2017 | 12 | 13% |
| 2016 | 6 | 4% |
| 2015 | 6 | 4% |
| 2014 | 5 | 2% |
| 2013 | 16 | 4% |
| 2012 | 11 | 3% |
| 2011 | 11 | 2% |
| 2010 | 71 | 3% |
| 2009 | 24 | 5% |
| 2008 | 55 | 4% |
| 2007 | 28 | 1% |
| 2006 | 20 | 1% |
| 2005 | 28 | 3% |
| 2004 | 13 | 2% |
| 2003 | 4 | 4% |
| 2002 | 5 | 3% |
| 2001 | 12 | 7% |
Other parts of the 2012 Toyota Prius
200 complaintsElectrical system
52 complaintsExterior lighting
36 complaintsOther or unknown
33 complaintsEngine
31 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
30 complaintsAir bags
28 complaintsBody and structure
23 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
21 complaintsSteering
13 complaintsVehicle speed control
13 complaintsSeat belts
11 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2012 Toyota Prius
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 30, 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