2012 Toyota Prius V Engine Problems

NHTSA component category: ENGINE · data through 07/14/2026

36Engine complaints

16.7%Of all 215 complaints

#2Most-reported category

Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.

How engine ranks on this vehicle

SERVICE BRAKES123 · 57.2%

ENGINE36 · 16.7%

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM22 · 10.2%

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL15 · 7%

Unspecified / other15 · 7%

Share of the 215 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 2012 Toyota Prius V overview page.

What owners report

“IT IS HAVING HEAVY MISS FIRE WHICH MAKE THE ENGING SHAKING TOO MUCH MANY TIMES”NHTSA complaint 11352892 — filed 09/02/2020

“APPROXIMATELY 2 MONTHS AGO I STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS WHEN STARTING THE CAR IN THE MORNINGS OR AFTER THE VEHICLE SAT FOR A WHILE. WHEN STARTING…”NHTSA complaint 11340784 — filed 07/21/2020

“1)INTERMITTENT REGEN BRAKING FAILURE CAUSING BRAKES TO BECOME MORE DIFFICULT TO PRESS THUS HARDER TO STOP THE CAR IN A TIMELY MANNER. USUALLY WHEN THERE…”NHTSA complaint 11320724 — filed 04/09/2020

Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.

Engine complaints by year filed

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2012 Toyota Prius V have engine problems?

Engine is the #2 most-reported problem area on the 2012 Toyota Prius V: 36 of 215 complaints on file (16.7%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.

How many complaints does the 2012 Toyota Prius V have in total?

215 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/14/2026. Across all categories, 19 involved a crash, 2 involved a fire, 10 reported injuries, and 3 reported deaths.

What does NHTSA's engine category include?

NHTSA assigns each complaint to standard component categories; this page reports the ENGINE category exactly as NHTSA defines and records it.

About this data — Complaint figures on this page are consumer reports submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a U.S. government agency. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints; a complaint is not proof that a defect exists, and counts reflect what owners chose to report, not confirmed failure rates. Recall information comes from official NHTSA safety recall campaigns; recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Always check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. CarModelProblems.com is an independent site and is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. Data through 07/14/2026.