2012 Toyota Prius Body & Structure Problems

On February 27 2024 I had spend 2300 dollars on car repairs see enclosed then on April 11 2024 while backing out of my driveway, I experienced a sudden acceleration of my vehicle which led to body damage to my car yet Toyota after inspection says that now the car system works perfectly. Prior to this incident I experienced warning light and windshield wiper malfunction .

Weather stripping around the solar sunroof cracked and has come off in sections. This is a very common problem with this specific model, but remains low due to the low numbers the solar sunroof packages was produced. Afraid the sunroof will leak if used, so it stays inoperable in order to not damage broken seals.

I WAS COMING UP THE FREEWAY OFF RAMP AND MY CAR JUST TURNED OFF I HAD NO BRAKING I HIT SIX OTHER CARS ROLLED OVER AND WAS SEVERLY IMJURED IN THE HOSPITAL FORR THREE DAYS

THREE DIFFERENT DOOR LOCK ACTUATORS (FRONT LEFT, FRONT RIGHT, REAR LEFT) HAVE FAILED AND BEEN REPLACED. SYMPTOM IS THAT DOOR DOES NOT LOCK OR UNLOCK FROM KEY FOB OR LOCK CONTROL ON DRIVER'S ARMREST, ALSO FAILS TO LOCK AUTOMATICALLY WHEN SHIFTING INTO GEAR IF THAT OPTION IS SET. DOOR MUST BE LOCKED AND UNLOCKED MANUALLY USING THE ROCKER SWITCH IN THE INSIDE DOOR HANDLE. CLEARLY THERE WAS A BATCH OF DEFECTIVE PARTS USED DURING MANUFACTURING.

ON JULY 28, 2017, I WAS DRIVING ALONG WITH MY THREE CHILDREN. I PULLED INTO A DRIVEWAY TO PARK MY VEHICLE BEHIND A PARKED VEHICLE. THERE WAS APPROXIMATELY A 2 FOOT SPAN BETWEEN THE BACK OF THE VEHICLE AND THE FRONT OF MY 2012 TOYOTA PRIUS. TO THE RIGHT OF THE PARKED VEHICLE WAS A PARKED TRUCK. BEING THAT I WAS PULLING INTO A SPACE TO PARK MY VEHICLE, I WAS TRAVELING EXTREMELY SLOWLY. I BEGAN TO PRESS ON MY BRAKE TO PARK THE VEHICLE AND INSTANTLY KNEW THERE WAS A PROBLEM. UPON DEPRESSING THE BRAKE, SEVERAL LIGHTS BEGAN TO FLASH WITHIN THE DASH TO INCLUDE BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE ABS, WARNING LIGHT, AND THE LIGHT WITH VEHICLE SWERVE LINES. OTHER LIGHTS WERE ALSO FLASHING, BUT I DO NOT RECALL EACH ONE. THE BRAKE PAD INSTANTLY WENT STRAIGHT TO THE FLOOR WITH NO PRESSURE. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP AND CONTINUED TO TRAVEL FORWARD WITH ACCELERATION. TO AVOID HITTING THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME I BEGAN TO TURN MY WHEEL TO THE RIGHT. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE AND CAME INTO CONTACT WITH THE TRUCK THAT WAS TO MY FRONT-RIGHT. MY PRIUS FAILED TO SLOW OR STOP. IT CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE AND BEGAN PUSHING THE TRUCK UP THE DRIVEWAY AND INTO THE METAL GARAGE DOOR WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL BEING DEPRESSED THE ENTIRE TIME. EVENTUALLY, THE CAR CAME TO A STOP AND THE LIGHTS CONTINUED TO FLASH PRIOR, DURING, AND AFTER THE INCIDENT. AFTER THE CAR WAS TOWED TREAD WHEEL MARKS WERE FOUND ON THE DRIVEWAY WHERE THE WHEELS SPUN AND LEFT AN IMPRINT IN THE ASPHALT. I AND MY CHILDREN WERE UNINJURED HOWEVER, THE INCIDENT WAS INCREDIBLY TRAUMATIC. THE VEHICLE WAS DEEMED A TOTAL LOSS BY MY INSURANCE COMPANY AND AS OF YET TO BE PROCESSED FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING BY TOYOTA. THE TOYOTA CARE SERVICE WAS INFORMED OF THE ACCIDENT. TOYOTA BELIEVES IT TO BE ASSOCIATED WITH THE INTELLIGENCE COMPONENT OF THE VEHICLE, HOWEVER DETERMINATION IS CURRENTLY UNKNOWN UNTIL DIAGNOSTIC IS PERFORMED.

MICE IN CABIN. SINCE I'VE OWNED THIS CAR (BOUGHT NEW) I'VE HAD SEVERAL OCCASIONS WHERE MICE GET INSIDE THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. I'VE LOOKED ON-LINE AND HAVE SEEN NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS AND SUGGESTED SOLUTIONS. MOST HAVE SAID THEIR DEALERS DENY ANY DESIGN PROBLEMS AND WILL NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. FRUSTRATING!

THE REAR HATCHBACK LATCH IS WEAK AND THE LATCH ASSEMBLY NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THIS PREVENTS THE REAR HATCHBACK DOOR FROM BEING OPENED OR MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO OPEN. IT WILL COST JUST SHY OF $700 TO FIX. OF THE FOUR PRIUSES MY FAMILY HAS OWNED (PRIUS 2005 AND 2 PRIUS 2007 AND PRIUS V 2012) HAVE HAD ISSUES WITH THE REAR HATCHBACK LATCH. TOYOTA PLEASE FIX THIS PROBLEM.

I WAS COMPLETING PARKING THE CAR IN A HEAD-IN PARKING SPACE IN A PARKING LOT. WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE, THE CAR EXPERIENCED UNINTENDED SUDDEN ACCELERATION. THE CAR JUMPED A CONCRETE SIDEWALK, CROSSED THE 6-8 FOOT WIDE SIDEWALK, AND CRASHED INTO A METAL SECURITY FENCE. *JS

A DEAD MOUSE WAS FOUND IN THE CABIN AIR FILTER. THE DEALER CHARGED ME TO CHANGE THE FILTER AND CLEAN OUT THE AIR SYSTEM. I THOUGHT IT WAS A FLUKE. I HAD SEVERAL UNEXPLAINED MESSES IN THE CAR (BLAMED MY CHILDREN) THEN FOUND A LIVE MOUSE IN THE GLOVE COMPARTMENT. OPENED UP THE GLOVE BOX ALL THE WAY AND EXPOSED WHAT WAS BEHIND IT AND FOUND THE MICE HAD SHREDDED UP THE INSULATION AROUND THE WIRING SYSTEM. WE REMOVED A GALLON SIZED BAGGIE OF INSULATION THAT MADE A VERY COZY AND LARGE MOUSE NEST. NOW THE DEALER WANTS TO CHARGE ME AGAIN FOR A MOUSE ISSUE. WHERE WILL THIS END? IN READING ON THE INTERNET, IT APPEARS TOYOTA PRIUS HAS A BIG PROBLEM WITH NOT SEALING UP THE CAR FOR VERMIN. HANTA VIRUS IS A VERY BIG CONCERN FOR ME, AS IS THE THOUGHT OF A MOUSE SCURRYING NEAR OR OVER ME WHILE I AM DRIVING. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE INTERIOR SPLASH PROTECTOR BECAME DISENGAGED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT HAD PREVIOUSLY EXPERIENCED THE SAME DEFECT WITH THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE SPLASH PROTECTOR. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE DEFECT WAS DUE TO THE VEHICLE BEING TOO LOW TO THE GROUND AND WHEN PARKING THE VEHICLE, THE SPLASH PROTECTORS WOULD MAKE CONTACT WITH THE CURB CAUSING THEM TO BECOME LOOSE AND EVENTUALLY DETACH FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE PROTECTORS WOULD ALSO MAKE CONTACT WITH THE TIRES ONCE THEY BECAME LOOSE. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED AND REPAIRED AT THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND NO SOLUTION WAS OFFERED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5,000.

INTERIOR WATER LEAKAGE THAT DRIPS DOWN FROM THE CENTER CONSOLE DOWN TO THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER FLOORS. FIRST OCCURRENCE OCCURRED AROUND 14K MILES. IT IS POSSIBLE THAT IT WAS LEAKING BEFORE BUT I DID NOT NOTICE IT BECAUSE I HAVE WEATHER PROOFING FLOOR MATS, THE WETNESS OCCURS UNDER THE MAT. THE DEALER SAYS CLOGGED AC TUBING BY DEBRIS. THEY CLEANED IT OUT BUT CHARGE ME $100. SECOND OCCURRENCE IN DEC 6 2013 AT 16K MILES. IT RAIN THE NIGHT BEFORE. I SUSPECT IT IS A DESIGN FLOW IF THERE ARE TREND FOR SIMILAR COMPLAINTS OR MY CAR HAS A DEFECTIVE PART(S). THE CONSISTENT DAMPNESS UNDER THE FLOOR MATS COULD LEAD TO LONG TERM ISSUE WITH THE CAR. *TR

THE WINDSHIELD CAUSES MOST LIGHT SOURCES, PARTICULARLY LED LIGHTS, STREET LIGHTS, AND ONCOMING HEADLIGHTS (BASICALLY ANY BRIGHT LIGHT SOURCE), TO APPEAR WITH A "GHOSTING" IMAGE. THE "GHOSTING" APPEARS IN THE WINDSHIELD VERTICALLY BELOW THE LIGHT SOURCE AS ONE, TWO, OR EVEN THREE IMAGES. THE DEALER HAS REPLACED THE WINDSHIELD TWICE ALREADY, BUT THERE HAS BEEN NO IMPROVEMENT. IN FACT, THE FIRST AND SECOND REPLACEMENTS ARE WORSE THAN THE ORIGINAL. I ALSO OWN A 2008 TOYOTA SIENNA, AND I DRIVE VARIOUS CHEVY EQUINOXES AND FORD ESCAPES WHERE I WORK - I DO NOT EXPERIENCE THE "GHOSTING" EFFECT IN THOSE VEHICLES. PERSONNEL FROM THE DEALER'S SERVICE DEPARTMENT AS WELL AS REPRESENTATIVES FROM TOYOTA HAVE ALSO OBSERVED THIS PHENOMENA WITH THE WINDSHIELDS IN MY PRIUS PLUG-IN. I WAS TOLD BY A REPRESENTATIVE IN THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AFTER THE LAST REPLACEMENT THAT EVEN THE TOYOTA ENGINEERS WEREN'T HAPPY WITH THE REPLACEMENT. IT HAS NOW BEEN TWO WEEKS SINCE THE LAST WINDSHIELD WAS INSTALLED. I NOTIFIED THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT (DURING MY DRIVE HOME THAT SAME DAY) AT THE DEALERSHIP THAT THE WINDSHIELD WAS UNSATISFACTORY, AND I WAS TOLD THAT THEY WOULD NOTIFY ME WHEN TOYOTA DECIDED WHAT TO DO ABOUT IT NEXT. TO DATE NOT ONLY HAVE I HEARD NOTHING, BUT THE LAST THREE PHONE CALLS TO THE SERVICE ADVISER HAVE GONE TO VOICE MAIL, AND I RECEIVED NO REPLY. *TR

THERE IS A NOTICEABLE HALO EFFECT IN THE WINDSHIELD WHEN VIEWING ONCOMING LIGHTS. IT IS BOTHERSOME AND IRRITATING ON THE EYES ESPECIALLY WHEN DRIVING FOR LONG PERIODS OF TIME. I AM WRITING TOYOTA DIRECTLY TO LEARN WHEN A DIFFERENT WINDSHIELD CAN BE PROVIDED. *TR

WHILE DRIVING, A LOUD POPPING NOISE (CRACKING) WAS HEARD WITH NO OBSERVED DAMAGE, AND LATER THAT DAY THE WINDSHIELD GREW A LONG CRACK IN WINDSHIELD WHILE THE CAR WAS PARKED. AN EDGE CRACK FORMED ON THE WINDSHIELD EXTREME OUTER EDGE IN THE CHAMFER ABOUT 2/3 OF THE WAY UP ON THE DRIVER?S SIDE A-PILLAR. THE WINDSHIELD BY IT?S DESIGN APPEARS TO BE RATHER THIN, AND THE WINDSHIELD EDGE IS EXPOSED, NOT COVERED OR EMBEDDED IN PLASTIC OR RUBBER OR TRIM MATERIAL. THE WINDSHIELD EDGE AS OBSERVED HAS A VERY SMALL CHAMFER AND DOES NOT HAVE A GENEROUS BEVEL (ROUND) THAT IS HIGHLY POLISHED SUCH AS FOUND ON THE PASSENGER WINDOW EDGES OR OLDER WINDSHIELDS I AM FAMILIAR WITH. I TOOK THE CAR TO TOYOTA OF BOWIE AND WAS TOLD BY THE SERVICE MANAGER, HE BELIEVES THERE WAS AN IMPACT TO THE WINDSHIELD AT THE VERY EXTREME EDGE OF THE WINDSHIELD WHERE THE CRACK ROOT IS ON THE CHAMFER AND THEIR DEALERSHIP WOULD NOT REPLACE IT UNDER ANY WARRANTY. THE SERVICE MANGER DID NOT LOOK AT THE CRACK WITH ANY TOOLS, FOR EXAMPLE, A MAGNIFYING CLASS OR THE USE OF A BALL POINT PEN TO DETERMINE ANY IMPACT LOCATION OR IF IT IS IN FACT A STRESS CRACK THAT HAS FORMED. THE SERVICE MANAGER DID NOT OFFER TO ARRANGE TO HAVE THE CAR REPAIRED AND TOLD ME TO GO TO A GLASS COMPANY. WHEN THE SERVICE MANAGER WAS ASKED ABOUT ANY PROBLEMS OR CONCERNS WITH TOYOTA WINDSHIELDS OR EXPOSED GLASS EDGE WINDSHIELDS WITH A SMALL CHAMFER, HE SAID THERE WERE NO PROBLEMS OR RECALLS. I HAVE ONLY OWNED THE CAR EIGHT MONTHS AND PLAN TO WRITE TOYOTA TO LEARN WHEN A MORE ROBUST CRACK RESISTANT WINDSHIELD CAN BE MADE AVAILABLE. NOTE: PICTURES CAN BE MADE AVAILABLE. *TR

I AM FILING A CLAIM TO NOTIFY OTHER CONSUMERS ABOUT AN ONGOING ISSUE I'VE EXPERIENCED WITH MY 2012 TOYOTA PRIUS V. WE PURCHASED THE CAR IN JANUARY 2012 AND SINCE THEN WE'VE HAD 3 INCIDENTS (THAT WE KNOW OF) IN WHICH RODENTS HAVE INFESTED OUR VEHICLE. . THE FIRST INCIDENT OCCURRED (AUGUST 2012), WE BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALERS ATTENTION AND WERE TOLD THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO BUT WE COULD CONTACT TOYOTA HEADQUARTERS. THE DEALER DETERMINED THAT THE RODENT HAD CLIMBED IN TO THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE THROUGH AN AIR VENT, AND CHEWED THE WIRES OF THE REAR HARNESS SYSTEM (THE WIRING SYSTEM THAT AFFECTS THE HYBRID TECHNOLOGY). THE ESTIMATED REPAIR WAS $2 - 3K. AFTER CONTACTING TOYOTA HEADQUARTERS, I WAS TOLD TOYOTA DOES NOT CONSIDER THIS TO BE A DEFECT IN THE DESIGN OF THE CAR OR A SAFETY ISSUE. I WAS TOLD IT WAS AN ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUE AND I NEEDED TO DO SOMETHING TO CORRECT MY SURROUNDINGS. THEY ADVISED THAT I OPEN A CLAIM WITH MY INSURANCE PROVIDER TO COVER THE COSTS FOR THE REAR HARNESS WIRING DAMAGE. AFTER RESEARCHING THIS, IT APPEARS THERE ARE 6 OPENINGS/GAPS WITHIN THE VEHICLE THAT RATS CAN GET INTO TO ACCESS THE INTERIOR CABIN. NEITHER TOYOTA OR THE DEALERSHIP OFFERED TO BLOCK/COVER THESE VENTS TO PREVENT ANY FUTURE ATTEMPTS BY A RODENT GETTING IN. THEY DIDN'T OFFER ANY SUGGESTIONS OR ADVICE AS TO WHAT I SHOULD DO TO PREVENT THIS. THIS MORNING (APRIL 27, 2013) WE WOKE UP AND REALIZED THE RODENTS HAD ENTERED THE VEHICLE AGAIN, THIS TIME CHEWING UP MY CHILD'S CAR SEAT AND THE LEATHER OF THE REAR SEATS. THERE ARE NUMEROUS PEOPLE THAT HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS ISSUE DATING BACK TO 2007 AND YET TOYOTA HAS DONE NOTHING TO REPAIR THIS DESIGN/SAFETY FLAW. FOLLOWING IS A LINK TO A PRIUS FORUM WHERE PRIUS OWNERS COMPLAIN OF THIS ISSUE: HTTP://PRIUSCHAT.COM/THREADS/TOYOTA-CLAIMS-NOT-AWARE-OF-MOUSE-PROBLEM.113690/ . *TR

DESIGN OF CAR INCLUDES A FLAW CAUSING A HUGE VERTICAL BLINDSPOT ON BOTH THE RIGHT AND LEFT SIDE OF THE CAR. BECAUSE THERE IS A BAR THAT RUNS VERTICAL ON BOTH SIDES AT THE BEGINNING OF THE DRIVER AND FRONT PASSENGERS' WINDOWS, THIS, ALONG WITH THE PILLAR COMING DOWN THE WINDSHIELD CONTRIBUTE TO AN EXTREMELY LARGE SPOT WHERE OBJECTS IN ROAD CANNOT BE SEEN. THIS IS ESPECIALLY HAZARDOUS FOR PEDESTRIAN FOOT-TRAFFIC CROSSING PERPENDICULAR TO THE CAR. PEDS IN CROSSWALKS OR IN PARKING LOTS ARE AT TIMES, COMPLETELY MASKED BY THIS BLIND SPOT BY THE COMBINATION OF THE FRONT WINDSHIELD PILLARS AND FRONT WINDOW SUB-PILLARS. OTHER CARS (SUCH AS HONDA INSIGHT) WITH A DRAMATICALLY ANGLED WINDSHIELD AVOID THIS BY USING A SMALLER SUB-PILLAR ON THE FRONT WINDOW, ALLOWING FOR THINGS TO BE SEEN FAR MORE EASILY. THIS ISSUE SHOULD BE ADDRESSED BEFORE IT CAUSES A PEDESTRIAN INJURY OR DEATH. THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT CAN BE REPAIRED. *TR

MY 2012 PRIUS V HAS A SERIOUS REFLECTION IN THE POINT OF VEIW OF THE SIDE VIEW MIRRORS, WHEN THE FRONT WINDOWS ARE ROLLED UP, AND THE SUN IS HIGH NOON(+-5 HOURS) POSITION. THIS IS CAUSED BY THE WHITE DASH TRIM THAT THE SUN HITS. *TR ## VIN PASSED ## TOYOTA PRIUS V 2012 ##. *TR