2012 Toyota Prius Airbag Problems

Which parts fail

• Frontal › Driver clockspring/spiral cassette
  1

Components named in complaints (front, side and curtain air bags, sensors and inflators).

Mileage when the problem started

• Under 25k
  1045%
• 25k–50k
  732%
• 50k–75k
  15%
• 75k–100k
  29%
• 100k–150k
  15%
• 150k+
  15%

Owner reports

Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2012 Toyota Prius owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).

The contact owned a 2012 Toyota Prius. The contact stated that while making a left turn at 10 MPH, another vehicle crashed into the vehicle and t-boned the front passenger's side door of the vehicle. The air bags did not deploy. There was no warning light illuminated. After the impact, the front windshield slowly cracked. A Police report was filed. The contact and her husband were transported by ambulance to the hospital. The contact suffered a fractured sternum, five fractured ribs, a crushed left wrist, and two fractured bones in the left ankle. The contact's husband had a fractured neck and five fractured ribs. The vehicle was towed to a tow yard and was declared a total loss by the insurance company. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 140,000.

The contact owns a 2012 Toyota Prius. The contact stated while attempting to use the horn, the horn failed to operate as needed. The contact also stated that the front passenger's air bag warning light illuminated and then turned off. The vehicle was taken to the dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the clock spring failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was also taken to an independent mechanic who confirmed the cause of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer informed the contact that the vehicle was not included in the manufacturer communications regarding the clock spring assembly repair. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 90,000.

The front and driver side air bags did not deploy (although the passenger side air bag did deploy). Initial impact came from behind, toward the passenger side, causing the vehicle to turn fully sideways, where the vehicle was then t-boned on the driver's side. The lack of driver side air bag deployment resulted in a lot of glass making it into the left side of the driver's head.

Tl* the contact owned a 2012 Toyota Prius. While driving 60 MPH, the engine stalled. Various warning lights illuminated and a beeping noise was present. The contact's vehicle coasted to a stop and was rear ended by another vehicle. A police report was filed. The air bags did not deploy. The contact sustained injuries to the forearm that required medical attention. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 14V053000 (electrical system, hybrid propulsion system). The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was destroyed and towed. The failure mileage was approximately 45,000.......updated 04/01/16 consumer stated there have been previous stalls which there have been recalls. Updated 6/7/18

Tl* the contact owns a 2012 Toyota Prius. While driving at an unknown speed, the contact crashed into the driver's side of another vehicle. The steering wheel air bag partially deployed. The contact's head struck the steering wheel without a cushion. The driver was injured and transported to the hospital via ambulance. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a tow yard. The contact's insurance company was processing the claim and took custody of the vehicle. The dealer and the manufacturer were not contacted. The cause of the failure was not determined. The failure mileage was 150,000.

Tl* the contact owns a 2012 Toyota Prius. While driving 21 MPH, the contact crashed into the passenger side of another vehicle. The air bags failed to deploy and the seat belt also failed to hold the driver in place. A police report was not filed. The contact sustained a fractured sternum, which required medical attention. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic and repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 83,569.

Wife in accident with side impact and front impact approximately 35-40 MPH ran off of a road with no shoulder side impact with oak tree then front impact with another oak tree. No airbags deployed. Vehicle totaled. Emt and chp commented that unusual that airbags did not deploy. I was amazed as well!....updated 12/30/15; updated 05/11/18

On September 8, 2012 my wife was on her way to our rental and was hit as she readied to turn to the house. Our 2012 Toyota Prius 3 was thrown into the air and bounced back to a diagonal position across the road. Upon impact, the steering wheel air bag did not deploy until after impact--her seatbelt did not restrain her from hitting her chest on the steering wheel nor did the knee air bag deploy until after she hit her knees on the lower dash. Fortunately for her and me, she suffered deep bruising but no broken bones etc. As of today, 9/26/2012, her chest still hurts but the pain is diminishing. I contacted Toyota and filed a complaint on 9/8/2012 and was told they would investigate--case #[redacted], my concern since we have heard nothing is that you too will hear nothing and if this issue exists in other Prius cars on the road, someone will suffer more than my wife. …

While traveling in a rain storm at 17mph, I tried to engage the brakes to prevent from crashing into an 18 wheeler and the brakes did not work. I repeatedly tried to stop the car and the car was accelerating even thought I was applying the brakes not the gas. The car would not shut down, go into park or neutral. I did crash into the 18 wheeler because the engine was accelerating and I wanted to stop.when I crashed the airbags did not deploy. Even after impact the car was still accelerating like it was trying to push the 18 wheeler. Eventually the car powered down after repeatedly pushing every button possible. I had the car towed to a Toyota dealership. I phoned your hotline but the VIN number I gave had a number that was wrong my prior confirmation number is 10542285. Toyota is aware and I am waiting for them to call me back.

Tl* the contact owns a 2012 Toyota Prius. The contact stated that while driving at low speeds, the vehicle suddenly accelerated. The vehicle veered into oncoming traffic, ran onto the sidewalk, then crashed into a tree. Upon impact, the air bags failed to deploy. The driver received injuries to the nose, back, and knees and also sustained two black eyes. The passenger did not sustain any injuries. The police were contacted and a report was available. The vehicle was later towed to an independent mechanic and the vehicle was deemed destroyed. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure and current mileages were approximately 2,500.

Related recalls

Airbag complaints in other Prius years