Toyota Prius C Problems by Year
NHTSA has 191 owner complaints and 4 safety recalls on file for the Toyota Prius C, across 8 model years (2012–2019). The 2012 model year has the most complaints (64). The most reported problem area overall is service brakes.
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Toyota Prius C years to avoid? What the complaint data shows
These model years drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical Prius C year: 2012, 2013, 2014. Look at what owners reported before buying one, and check the VIN for open recalls.
Model years with the most complaints
- 2012 Prius C: 64 complaints, 0 recalls
- 2013 Prius C: 57 complaints, 0 recalls
- 2014 Prius C: 33 complaints, 0 recalls
Model years with the fewest complaints
- 2017 Prius C: 2 complaints, 1 recall
- 2018 Prius C: 6 complaints, 2 recalls
- 2016 Prius C: 12 complaints, 0 recalls
Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold or how long each year has been on the road, so newer and less popular years naturally have fewer complaints. Use them to spot problem patterns, not as a safety ranking.
Most common Toyota Prius C problems (all years)
| Problem area | Complaints | Model years | Crashes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Service Brakes | 58 | 6 | 5 |
| Electrical System | 52 | 6 | 5 |
| Engine | 23 | 5 | 3 |
| Air Bags | 18 | 5 | 16 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 14 | 6 | 5 |
| Exterior Lighting | 12 | 5 | 0 |
| Power Train | 11 | 4 | 3 |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 8 | 3 | 0 |
| Steering | 8 | 4 | 1 |
| Structure | 8 | 4 | 3 |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 6 | 3 | 1 |
| Hybrid Propulsion System | 6 | 2 | 0 |
| Wheels | 6 | 3 | 1 |
| Seat Belts | 5 | 2 | 4 |
| Seats | 4 | 2 | 1 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| Tires | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| Visibility/wiper | 3 | 3 | 0 |
| Visibility | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Back Over Prevention | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Equipment | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Suspension | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Traction Control System | 1 | 1 | 0 |
All Toyota Prius C model years
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Crash rating | Top problem | Compared with other years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 Prius C | 0 | 1 | 4★ | — | |
| 2018 Prius C | 6 | 2 | 4★ | Unknown or Other | |
| 2017 Prius C | 2 | 1 | 4★ | Air Bags | |
| 2016 Prius C | 12 | 0 | 4★ | Unknown or Other | Far fewer complaints than other years |
| 2015 Prius C | 17 | 1 | 4★ | Unknown or Other | Fewer complaints than other years |
| 2014 Prius C | 33 | 0 | 4★ | Service Brakes | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2013 Prius C | 57 | 0 | 4★ | Electrical System | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2012 Prius C | 64 | 0 | — | Service Brakes | Far more complaints than other years |
More from Toyota: all Toyota models · Toyota VIN decoder
Frequently asked questions
Which Toyota Prius C years should you stay away from?
By NHTSA complaints, 2012 (64), 2013 (57), 2014 (33) drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical Prius C year. Counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, and newer years have had less time to collect complaints.
What is the biggest problem with the Toyota Prius C?
Service Brakes, with 58 complaints across 6 model years.
How many recalls does the Toyota Prius C have?
4 safety recalls across all model years. Each model year page lists its recalls and fixes.