I WAS DRIVING MY 2012 PRIUS C AND I'M MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC MY CAR LOST ITS POWER, THANKFULLY I WAS ABLE TO PARK THE CAR. I GOT IT TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY TOLD ME IT'S THE INVERTER. I ADVISED THAT I HAD READ ON RECALLS ON THEM THEY SAID MY CAR DIDN'T HAVE A RECALL THEY ARE WANTING ME TO PAY 4K FOR A NEW INVERTER ( WHICH I K…
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I WAS DRIVING MY 2012 PRIUS C AND I'M MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC MY CAR LOST ITS POWER, THANKFULLY I WAS ABLE TO PARK THE CAR. I GOT IT TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY TOLD ME IT'S THE INVERTER. I ADVISED THAT I HAD READ ON RECALLS ON THEM THEY SAID MY CAR DIDN'T HAVE A RECALL THEY ARE WANTING ME TO PAY 4K FOR A NEW INVERTER ( WHICH I KNOW IT'S THE SAME ISSUE OTHER 2012 PRIUS C HAVE HAD ISSUES TOO). IT'S UPSETTING THAT NO INVESTIGATION IS TAKING PLACE JUST SORRY AND OHH BY THE WAY THE EMPLOYEE AT THE DEALERSHIP HANDLING MY CASE OFFERED ME $200 FOR MY CAR SAID I WOULD NOT GET MORE THAN $400 IF I TRIED SELLING IT LIKE THAT. VERY UNPROFESSIONAL AND CAN'T EVEN TRUST MY OWN DEALERSHIP.
NHTSA ODI #11350503
Mileage unknown · Dec 19, 2019
Power Train
TRANSAXLE IS FAILING AFTER 100K MILES OF NORMAL DRIVING AND MAINTENANCE. SPOKE WITH BOTH A TOYOTA DEALER AND TRANSMISSION SHOP WHO SAID THE CVT FAILURE ON THIS MODEL YEAR AND THE FOLLOWING SEVERAL IS AN EXTREMELY COMMON OCCURRENCE. THIS IS A $5000+ REPAIR FAIRLY EARLY IN THE LIFE OF THE VEHICLE. THE TRANSMISSION SHOP SAID THIS W…
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TRANSAXLE IS FAILING AFTER 100K MILES OF NORMAL DRIVING AND MAINTENANCE. SPOKE WITH BOTH A TOYOTA DEALER AND TRANSMISSION SHOP WHO SAID THE CVT FAILURE ON THIS MODEL YEAR AND THE FOLLOWING SEVERAL IS AN EXTREMELY COMMON OCCURRENCE. THIS IS A $5000+ REPAIR FAIRLY EARLY IN THE LIFE OF THE VEHICLE. THE TRANSMISSION SHOP SAID THIS WAS DUE TO POOR INITIAL DESIGN.
NHTSA ODI #11290164
800 miles · Jan 17, 2019
Electrical SystemPower TrainService Brakes
FROM DATE OF PURCHASE, VEHICLE PERFORMED UNPREDICTABLY. TRANSITIONING FROM ELECTRIC TO MOTOR WAS ROUGH AND NOTICEABLE. AT 600 MILES, A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT WAS FELT DURING TRANSITION. DEALER FOUND NOTHING. BRAKE PEDAL TRAVELED TO THE FLOOR AND VEHICLE WENT THROUGH STOP SIGN AT LOW SPEED. ROUTE 44 TOYOTA INSISTED I NEEDE…
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FROM DATE OF PURCHASE, VEHICLE PERFORMED UNPREDICTABLY. TRANSITIONING FROM ELECTRIC TO MOTOR WAS ROUGH AND NOTICEABLE. AT 600 MILES, A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT WAS FELT DURING TRANSITION. DEALER FOUND NOTHING. BRAKE PEDAL TRAVELED TO THE FLOOR AND VEHICLE WENT THROUGH STOP SIGN AT LOW SPEED. ROUTE 44 TOYOTA INSISTED I NEEDED TO GET USED TO ELECTRONIC BRAKES. TOYOTA INSISTED BRAKES WORKED AS PRESCRIBED. RECENTLY, A AAA DRIVER DISCOVERED THE GROUND WIRE ON THE BATTERY WAS LOOSE. THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED AND THE VEHICLE NOW FUNCTIONS AS DESCRIBED, THE HILL HOLD FUNCTIONS AS DESCRIBED. NHTSA DID AN INSPECTION IN RESPONSE TO A DEFECT PETITION - VEHICLE DID NOT PERFORM AS DESCRIBED IN THE FEDERAL REGISTER. BRAKE PEDAL IS NOW HIGH, AS IT WAS INITIALLY. THIS VEHICLE WAS SENT FROM THE FACTORY WITH A LOOSE BATTERY GROUND AND IT WAS COVERED UP BY EVERYONE FROM TOYOTA, DEALERSHIPS TO NHTSA WHEN THE CORRECTION WAS SIMPLE. TOYOTA DOES NOT STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT.
NHTSA ODI #11170640
Official recalls
0
No recalls in this snapshot.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
2
DP22005 · Pedestrian Alert Sounds
Opened Jan 27, 2023 · Closed Aug 7, 2023
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Electrical System:propulsion System
NHTSA received a petition on or about July 18, 2022, requesting that Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 141 be applied to all electric and hybrid vehicles operating in the United States. The petition can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under ODI Number 11486072. FMVSS 141 establishes performance requirements for pedestrian alert sounds for motor vehicles. The standard applies to hybrid and electric vehicles that have a gross vehicle weight rating of 4,536 KG or less or are defined as low-speed vehicles. The standard became fully applicable to all such vehicles manufactured on or after March 1, 2021.On January 27, 2023, NHTSA opened Defect Petition (DP) 22-005 to evaluate the subject matter described in the petition. On June 24, 2023 and as supplemented on June 25, 2023, the petitioner notified NHTSA he was withdrawing his petition. The petitioner indicated that, based on his review of data, there is no justification for asserting potential benefits that could be derived from actions sought by my petition. Based on the petitioner's withdrawal, DP22-005 is closed. Closure of this DP does not represent a determination by NHTSA regarding the subject matter of the petition.
DP13002 · Drivability, Service Brake Failure
Opened Mar 18, 2013 · Closed Jul 25, 2014
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes
On January 3, 2013, NHTSA received a letter (ODI No. 10487746) from Ms. Jessie A. Powell petitioning the agency to investigate drivability and braking concerns in the subject vehicle.The petition expressed two concerns: 1. The first software problem was when the vehicle shifted from battery to motor and caused such impact, I initially believed the vehicle had been struck in the rear.2. The next more alarming problem was NO BRAKES. The brake pedal traveled to the floor and a dashboard warning light flashed.This symptom occurred twice, leading to the vehicle being towed to the dealership, the second time in the dealership parking lot after diagnostics of the first incident.After a test drive and vehicle inspection, no actionable problem was found within the petitioner?s vehicle.The braking concern reported turned out to be normal vehicle operation.The petitioner identified other complaints of poor braking performance and low brake pedal received by NHTSA concerning Prius models. Broader review of the consumer complaints reported for all variants of the subject vehicle showed no indication that either the reported jolting sensation or the brake performance concerns reported are occurring in this vehicle population at a level that would require investigative action by NHTSA.The following recalls by Toyota were to address many of these complaints in Prius variants. Neither of these recalls is applicable to Ms. Powell?s 2012 Prius C: 1. Recall 10V-039 March 5, 2010 - 2010 Prius, Lexus HS - Reprogramming ABS ECU - Improve Antilock brake function over bumpy surfaces. 2. Recall 13V-235 August 7, 2013 - 2010 Prius, Lexus HS - Replace Brake Booster / Pump assembly - Low brake pedal due to nitrogen bubble in hydraulic portion of brake system. In the Agency?s view, additional investigation is unlikely to result in a finding that a defect related to motor vehicle safety exists in the subject vehicles.Therefore, given the need to allocate and prioritize NHTSA limited resources to best accomplish the Agency?s safety mission, the petition is denied.This action does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that a safety-related defect does not exist.The Agency will take further action if warranted by future circumstances.More details concerning our review can be found in the Federal Register Notice for this action.
2012 Toyota Prius C Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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