2012 Toyota Prius Seats Problems
- Complaints
- 6about this part
- Share
- 1%of 424 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 21,382miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 6 complaints about the seats of the 2012 Toyota Prius, 1% of the 424 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 21,382 miles. 1 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers. 2 recall campaigns on record are filed under a similar system.
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.
“Head restraint (head rest) on driver seat does not stay in place. After I adjust it, it rises very slowly. If I do not continually readjust it (3 or 4 times a day), it rises above my head. I consider this a safety concern. This has been happening since I bought the car (new) and I have asked Toyota several times to repair this defect, and they say that it is 'normal'. I have owned many cars during my lifetime, and this has never happened before in any of them. It does not happen to the passenger head restraint. …”
NHTSA complaint #10496559, filed 2013-02, 100 miles“I am 5'3 . The headrest of my car is designed to angle forward at the top. This pushed my head down at a 15* angle. It is painful to drive. I will have toremove the headrest completely, losing any protection in any accident and losing the support it shoud give my head now. I understand this design is mandated by your agency and that all people in the 5'0 to 5'4 height range experience this problem. Since the average height for american women is 5'5 your regulation discomforts and/or endangers half of the women in the country. Change the regulation. …”
NHTSA complaint #10726702, filed 2015-06, 21,382 miles“My wife was involved in a two car crash when a car coming in the opposite direction made an illegal left turn directly in front of her. It happened so quick that she never had time to hit her brakes. She was traveling between 30 and 35 MPH in a 35 MPH zone on a two lane road. I would think that at that speed if all her safety equipment worked she would not suffer any injuries. Her seat belt failed causing the seat latch to fail and she ended up jammed into the bottom and under side of the dashboard. She suffered a blow to her chest and injuries to her knees, lower legs and foot. …”
NHTSA complaint #10778889, filed 2015-09, 46,500 miles“I was driving down the interstate with my factory installed seat warmer on the driver's seat on. I got out at a gas station to go to the bathroom. When I sat down on the toilet I felt an excruciating pain on my left upper back side of the thigh. The car seat gave me second degree burns on the back of my upper left thigh. I went to the er the next morning when more blisters appeared so that the open and closed blisters could be cleaned and dressed. I was given a tetanus shot as well. I contacted Toyota the day after the incident after being seen by the er. I spoke with a claims adviser on dec. …”
NHTSA complaint #10669290, filed 2014-12, 28,000 miles“The contact owns a 2012 Toyota Prius v. The contact stated that the driver side seat could not be adjusted away from the steering wheel. Neither the dealer nor the manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 2,300 and the current mileage was 2300.”
NHTSA complaint #10453180, filed 2012-03, 2,300 milesRelated recalls
- 16V396000Jun 2, 2016Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain 2005-2011 4Runner, Highlander, Sequoia, and Sienna, 2005-2010 Avalon and Tundra, 2006-2008 Camry…Covers: Toyota Prius 2010–2012, Camry 1988–1990, 2005–2010, Highlander 2005–2011 +11 more
- 13V014000Jan 16, 2013Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain models interspersed through model years 2009 through 2013 as follows: model year 2009-2012…Covers: Toyota Prius 2009–2012, Highlander 2009–2013, Venza 2009–2013 +13 more
Related service bulletins
- 10208995Feb 1, 2022TSB: Some 2010 ? 2022 model year Toyota vehicles may exhibit paint stains after the removal of Rapgard?. The paint stains may appear to be under the clear coat but are usually…
- 10190448Mar 5, 2021TSB: Some 2010 ? 2021 model year Toyota vehicles may exhibit paint stains after the removal of Rapgard?. The paint stains may appear to be under the clear coat but are usually…
- 10129968Feb 2, 2018TSB: The purpose of this Service Bulletin is to elevate awareness and provide best practices for leather and synthetic leather care in Toyota vehicles. As an additional resource…
Seats: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 1 | 4% |
| 2018 | 2 | 5% |
| 2017 | 3 | 3% |
| 2016 | 3 | 2% |
| 2015 | 3 | 2% |
| 2014 | 4 | 2% |
| 2013 | 4 | 1% |
| 2012 | 6 | 1% |
| 2011 | 6 | 1% |
| 2010 | 5 | 0% |
| 2009 | 2 | 0% |
| 2008 | 3 | 0% |
| 2007 | 1 | 0% |
| 2006 | 4 | 0% |
| 2005 | 1 | 0% |
| 2004 | 1 | 0% |
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 complaintsFuel system
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