2012 Toyota Prius Hybrid Propulsion System Problems

Your Prius experienced a loss of power when you pressed the accelerator pedal, and the check engine and hybrid warning lights came on. The vehicle then slowed down on its own. Your dealer informed you this is a known issue (NHTSA recall 18V684000) but that replacement parts weren't available yet. The fix will require the dealer to install updated hybrid system components once they become available.

The contact owns a 2012 Toyota Prius V. The contact stated while driving approximately 65 MPH, the vehicle stalled. The contact stated that the power steering and power brakes failed to operate as needed. The contact stated that the check hybrid system and check battery warning lights were illuminated. The contact pulled off the roadway safely but was unable to restart the vehicle. The contact had the vehicle towed to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the inverter needed to be replaced. The vehicle had not been repaired. The contact researched online and related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 18V684000 (Hybrid Propulsion System). The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 247,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO STALL AND A WARNING INDICATOR SIGNALED THE CONTACT TO PULL THE VEHICLE OVER. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO COAST THE VEHICLE INTO A PARKING SPACE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO MARIETTA TOYOTA (750 COBB PKWY S, MARIETTA, GA 30060, (470) 938-8436) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE HYBRID INVERTER NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN *BF .

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA PRIUS V. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HYBRID WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE SHOOK, VIBRATED, AND STALLED. THE FAILURE CODE WAS CLEARED BY AUTONATION TOYOTA SOUTH AUSTIN (4800 S IH 35 FRONTAGE RD, AUSTIN, TX 78745, (512) 518-6900) BEFORE THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V684000 (HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM). THE DEALER REPAIRED THE VEHICLE. SHORTLY AFTER, THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING AND THE HYBRID WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE SAME DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE HEAD GASKET MAY NEED TO BE REPLACED. A SECOND DEALER, CHARLES MAUND TOYOTA (8400 RESEARCH BLVD, AUSTIN, TX 78758, (512) 270-5055), DIAGNOSED THAT THE INVERTER NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V684000 (HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM). THE DEALER (SOUTH BAY TOYOTA, 18416 S WESTERN AVE, GARDENA, CA 90248, 310-323-7800) WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REMEDY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE ONLY ACCELERATED TO 9 MPH WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING THE CAR PREPARING TO TURN TO ENTER THE FREEWAY WHEN THE PRIUS LOST ALL DRIVING POWER SPONTANEOUSLY AT THE SAME TIME PROMPTED WITH A WARNING ON THE SCREEN 'CHECK HYBRID SYSTEM AND PARK IN A SAFE PLACE'. THE CAR LOST ALL DRIVING POWER INCLUDING POWER STEERING BUT MY HUSBAND WAS ABLE TO GLIDE THE VEHICLE ACROSS SEVERAL LANES TO A PARKED POSITION BEFORE THE FREEWAY ENTRANCE. THE CAR NEVER RESUMED ITS ABILITY TO DRIVE DESPITE TURNING IT OFF AND AN ATTEMPT TO RESTART. THE PRIUS WAS TOWED TO THE HOUSE AND TOWED AGAIN TO THE DEALERSHIP THE FOLLOWING DAY FOR AN ASSESSMENT AND REPAIR. AS A TOYOTA CUSTOMER, WE WERE INFORMED THE VEHICLE HAD EXPERIENCED INVERTER/COMPONENT FAILURE. MY VEHICLE HAD A RECALL YEARS EARLIER TO REFLASH SOFTWARE IN THE PRIUS INVERTER, BUT THIS DID NOT RESOLVE/PREVENT THE SPONTANEOUS INVERTER FAILURE WE EXPERIENCED ON WEDNESDAY, MARCH 28, 2018. IT HAS BEEN BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION THAT TOYOTA CORPORATION IS AWARE OF SEVERAL CUSTOMERS REPORTING SIMILAR OR NEAR IDENTICAL CIRCUMSTANCES, BUT ARE NOT ISSUING A RECALL TO PREVENT THIS FROM HAPPENING TO A TOYOTA DRIVER ON THE ROAD. TOYOTA IS AGREEING TO REPLACE PARTS AT NO COST TO ME, WITH NO GUARANTEE THIS WILL CORRECT ANY INVERTER FAILURE. I HAVE REQUESTED THE SYSTEM BE REPLACED BASED ON TOYOTA'S CORRECTIVE ACTION ON THE NEWEST PRIUS MODELS, BUT THEY HAVE DENIED MY REQUEST. IF TOYOTA IS ACKNOWLEDGING COST FOR THIS VEHICLE FAILURE, WHY IS IT NOT A RECALL? IF TOYOTA HAS MADE ATTEMPTS TO CORRECT THIS VEHICLE FAILURE IN NEWER PRIUS MODELS BY INSTALLING IMPROVED INVERTER SYSTEMS, WHY AM I BEING DENIED THE SAFETY OF ALSO HAVING AN IMPROVED AND NEW INVERTER SYSTEM INSTALLED IN MY PRIUS AFTER WHAT WE HAVE EXPERIENCED AND REPORTED TO BOTH THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP AND TOYOTA CORPORATION? PLEASE INVESTIGATE BEFORE INJURY OR FATALITY COMES FROM THIS CORPORATE NEGLECT OF AN IDENTIFIED PROBLEM.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA PRIUS V. WHILE DRIVING AT A SLOW RATE OF SPEED, THE VEHICLE SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL AND CAME TO A SLOW STOP. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO GET THE VEHICLE OUT OF NEUTRAL AFTER THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE INVERTER FAILED ON THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER STATED THIS WAS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH TOYOTA'S HYBRID VEHICLES, BUT COULD ONLY REPLACE IT WITH THE SAME MODEL INVERTER THAT WOULD FAIL AGAIN. THE MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT CONFIRM WHAT THE DEALER STATED ABOUT THIS BEING A KNOWN ISSUE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 33,634. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. MA 07/30/15 UPDATED 10/19/2017*CN