Equal-exposure complaint evidence and changes in the reported problem mix

2011 vs 2012 TOYOTA PRIUS

NHTSA Consumer Complaints complaints · snapshot 2026-08-21

Share shifts show how a vehicle's problem mix changed. They do not measure reliability, and complaint counts are not normalized for sales volume.

First 179 months on market for each model year

Exposure window calculated through Aug 22, 2026

Age-matched reports

▼ 9.0% fewer reports in the equal exposure window

2011 491 complaints 2012 447 complaints

NHTSA Consumer Complaints complaints · snapshot 2026-08-21

Component share shift

Bars start at the neutral midpoint. Left means a smaller share; right means a larger share.

View component share data as a table
Component 2011 share 2012 share Share change
VISIBILITY 2.2% 5.8% ▲ 3.7 pts larger share
AIR BAGS 7.4% 4.3% ▼ 3.2 pts smaller share
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 5.1% 2.2% ▼ 2.8 pts smaller share
SERVICE BRAKES 42.2% 39.8% ▼ 2.4 pts smaller share
ENGINE 7.4% 5.4% ▼ 2.1 pts smaller share
POWER TRAIN 3.1% 5.2% ▲ 2.0 pts larger share
SEAT BELTS 0.2% 1.6% ▲ 1.4 pts larger share
STRUCTURE 1.4% 2.7% ▲ 1.3 pts larger share
EXTERIOR LIGHTING 9.2% 8.1% ▼ 1.1 pts smaller share
STEERING 1.0% 1.8% ▲ 0.8 pts larger share
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 7.0% 7.8% ▲ 0.8 pts larger share
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE 1.0% 0.2% ▼ 0.8 pts smaller share
SUSPENSION 0.4% 1.1% ▲ 0.7 pts larger share
FUEL SYSTEM 1.2% 1.8% ▲ 0.6 pts larger share
WHEELS 0.4% 0.9% ▲ 0.5 pts larger share
LANE DEPARTURE not reported 0.2% ▲ 0.2 pts larger share
TIRES 0.4% 0.2% ▼ 0.2 pts smaller share
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 17.0% 19.2% ▲ 2.3 pts larger share

NHTSA Safety Recalls recalls · snapshot 2026-08-22

Recall campaigns

2011 6

Campaign components: AIR BAGS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, and SEATS

2012 7

Campaign components: AIR BAGS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EQUIPMENT, and SEATS

NHTSA Consumer Complaints complaints · snapshot 2026-08-21

Safety signals

◆ Fires
7 → 3
◆ Injuries
17 → 35