2012 Toyota Prius Visibility/Wiper Problems
- 25
- Owner complaint records in our dataset
Records are owner complaints, not a measured failure rate.
Owner complaint recordsComplaint records reflect reports in our dataset and do not measure how frequently the problem occurs across all vehicles.
What owners report
- light source · 16 records
- above below · 9 records
- light sources · 8 records
- ghost image · 8 records
- through windshield · 5 records
- original light · 5 records
Mileage in stored records
| Band | Records |
|---|---|
| 1–30k mi | 19 |
Complaint records
Owner-submitted complaint content, presented as stored.
Visibility/Wiper
Wind shield wiper switch quit working at 62,500 mile.the wind shield wiper motor is now making grinding noises and needs to be replaced(74,000 miles). Both parts broke when we were traveling out of state,during rain storms.
ODI 10809808
Visibility/Wiper
I bought a 2012 toyota prius plug-in. The windshield creates a ghosting effect on lights, especially at night. Lights from other cars and streetlights are glaring through the windshield with a ghosted image above and below so i see three lights. The effect is so pronounced that it is impossible to read lit highway safety signs at night because the ghosting obscures the letters completely. The lights look fine…
ODI 10557011
Visibility/Wiper
On oct. 23, 2013 at 6am in the morning in about 45 degrees fahrenheit, my toyota prius 2012 rear window emitted a loud punching sound and then shattered when i turned on the rear wiper. I googled the incident and we're not the only ones who experience this. There have been similar incidents on other prius in other years as well. Thus, we are reporting it and hope this will be looked into. Our car is barely a year…
ODI 10549196
Body · Visibility/Wiper
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/[redacted] 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…
ODI 10535048
Body · Visibility/Wiper
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
ODI 10535045
Body · Visibility/Wiper
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…
ODI 10542760
Visibility/Wiper
The windshield has a vertical "prism" effect with any light source coming through it. *tr
ODI 10504667
Visibility/Wiper
New 2012 toyota prius plug-in. Visibility through front windshield is blurry - particularly noticeable at night when light sources are viewed through the windshield. Light sources produce multiple images (up to two additional) below the original light source. Problem is also noticeable during daylight hours, particularly during cloudy conditions. Ghosting effect worse at a distance, does not seem to occur when light…
ODI 10501199
Visibility/Wiper
Windshield produces blurry vision or duplicated images at night. Taillights and street lights are shown in multiples of two or three. Extended driving beyond 20 minutes causes eye fatigue and also distorted gauge of distance. *tr
ODI 10502134
Visibility/Wiper
Brand new prius 2012 while driving at night, lights, especially red in color, when viewed from front windshield, appear as three distinct images. One dark image along with two faint image one above and one below the dark one. I got the car in nov end, reported the issue in dec 17 to toyota, then went to dealer before christmas. Technician there acknowledged the issue and ordered a new glass. Windshield was replaced…
ODI 10493124
Visibility/Wiper
2012 prius has serious defect in the windshield lamination. Bright light sources are tripled at night. A ghost image appears above and below the original light source. Light sources may be, headlights, taillights, signal lights, and even reflected lights off certain road signs. As you approach the light source, the two ghost images will merge into the primary light source. The safety hazard are extreme eye fatigue…
ODI 10498150
Body · Visibility/Wiper
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…
ODI 10496529
Exterior Lighting · Visibility/Wiper
I have noticed ghosting of images most obvious while night driving. Particularly noticeable in led lights. It looks like a duplicate image of the lights created. It can be very glaring and hard to judge distance of other vehicles. *tr
ODI 10549531
Visibility/Wiper
Prius is not safe to drive at night. The windshield distorts light sources and causes a ghosting/multiplying effect. Traffic signals images are doubled, tripled or more - not safe as it is distracting and confusing. This issue is very prominent at night. It is not just traffic signals but other light sources as well. In december 2012, i contacted toyota and was referred to dealer. Service manager confirmed issue and…
ODI 10555224
Visibility/Wiper
The windshield has a serious optical illusion during night time driving. The windshield creates a ghost image of the original light source - the ghost image appears above and below the original light source. For example, at night the red traffic light will have a ghost image of the red light above and below it, ultimately showing three red lights (ghost image(1), original light(2), and another ghost image (3)). This…
ODI 10483605
Visibility/Wiper
Brand new 2012 prius driving out of the dealership at night, noticed a rather bothersome trait: lights viewed through the windshield have a prism effect where there is a "ghost" image located above and below the actual light source. I wanted to know if this was defective windshield, or just how the prius is due to the very low angle of the windshield. It is definitely a prism type effect as it differs by color, and…
ODI 10485239
Visibility/Wiper
There is a ghosting image seen through the front windshield on my new 2012 toyota prius ii that is affecting night time driving and the visibility of lights, especially red lights. When you are operating the vehicle at night and you approach a light there is a ghost image of the light above and below the actual light source until you get within a few feet of the light source then it disappears. This is becoming a…
ODI 10482102
Visibility/Wiper
Windshield optics cause light sources to triple with ghosting above and below the source of light. This is causing difficulty in judging distance, distraction and eye strain while driving. *tr
ODI 10504961
Visibility/Wiper
There is a triple effect in visibility when a light source (eg oncoming traffic headlights) fall on the windshield. This issue is evident from all angles and both front seats. Has a distracting and a straining effect on the eyes. Feels like wearing bi-focal glasses. *tr
ODI 10479684
Visibility/Wiper
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 toyota prius. The contact stated that the dashboard reflected onto the side view mirrors, blocking the contact's visibility. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who refused to assist him since they were unable to alter the vehicle design. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure who did not offer any assistance. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 75 and the…
ODI 10480730
Visibility/Wiper
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 toyota prius. While driving at various speeds, the contact noticed that the auto dimming rear view mirror failed to function correctly and would not dim the lights from other vehicles in the rear. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for diagnostic testing. The dealer was unable to diagnose the failure. The contact stated that he believed the spoiler on the hatch back would cast a shadow…
ODI 10475438
Structure · Visibility/Wiper
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
ODI 10465343
Visibility/Wiper
Head lights from oncoming traffic at nighttime have a "halo" and "prism" appearance. Additionally, reflective road signs are also very distorted, seeing what appears to be multiple signs. Since that time eyes have been tested with no change from last exam and new glasses are now being worn. There is no difference. My wife states she sees the same distortion when driving after dark. This has been a continual problem…
ODI 10509908
Visibility/Wiper
There are very dangerous blind spots on both rear driver and passenger sides of the toyota prius v . Vehicles located near the mid to rear of the car can not be seen in mirrors or by glancing over the shoulder when changing lanes. I have had numerous near collisions due to this design defect. I have brought this to the attention of the toyota corporation and the local dealership and have had no co-operation in…
ODI 10466936
Visibility/Wiper
Vehicle windshield has an apparent critical defect in production. Light passing through the windshield is replicated above and below the source of light. As light source becomes more distant, light is replicated 2, 3, or 4 times more than its source (as distance increases). This creates a major hazard during night driving and driving when the sun is low enough in the sky where it can be seen through the windshield.…
ODI 10483561
Catalog parts for this system
Catalog year/make/model rows for 2012 Toyota Prius.
Catalog fitment does not by itself prove OEM-equivalent compatibility.