toyota Prius C problems

1 safety recall. 6 owner complaints. We mapped every trouble spot before you sign the papers.

Reliability score

8.8 / 10

Above-average reliability for the segment. Few systemic issues on file.

Critical

Severe

Moderate

What owners are saying recent NHTSA-filed complaints · verbatim

2018 Prius C · electrical

Certain 2018+ and all later Toyota Prius C modes have a 12V battery for which there is currently no OEM or aftermarket replacement. The battery has a form factor (shape and size) that is exclusive to these vehicles and not used in any other car sold in North America. Vehicles…

12/01/2021 · NHTSA ODI #11442218.0

2018 Prius C · other Injury

WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY WITH NO OTHER VEHICLES AROUND ME THE MOONROOF UNEXPECTEDLY EXPLODED SHOWERING THE INTERIOR WITH RAZOR SHARP SHARDS OF GLASS WHICH INFLICTED A SPLINTER. AFTER CONTACTING TOYOTA, I WAS INFORMED THAT MOONROOFS ARE NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY I HAVE…

10/04/2018 · NHTSA ODI #11133378.0

2018 Prius C · visibility Injury

WHILE ON MY MORNING COMMUTE ON THE FREEWAY THE MOONROOF UNEXPECTEDLY EXPLODED SHOWERING FRAGMENTS OF GLASS INTO THE VEHICLE. ONE SHARD ACTUALLY SPLINTERED INTO MY FINGER REQUIRING MEDICAL ATTENTION I HAVE NUMEROUS PICTURES ON MY PHONE

10/04/2018 · NHTSA ODI #11133398.0

2018 Prius C · steering

IRECEIVED THE WARNING THAT "PRE-COLLISION SYSTEM MALFUNCTION" WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY THIS MORNING. THE WARNING MESSAGE ASKED ME TO STOP THE CAR AT A SAFE PLACE AND VISIT THE DEALER. AS SOON AS I GOT OFF THE HIGHWAY, THE CAR STOPPED ITSELF, AND THE STEERING WAS…

09/27/2020 · NHTSA ODI #11361389.0

Active recalls showing 1 of 1

severe NHTSA 18V176000 15/03/2018

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2018 Toyota Prius C vehicles sold in Puerto Rico

If the label is missing, occupants may not follow the proper restraint usage guidelines, increasing the risk of injury in the event of a crash.

Fix: Toyota will notify owners and will mail the removable labels to all known owners of the subject vehicles, free of charge. The recall began on April 11, 2018. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371. Toyota's number for this recall is J0L.

Common questions

Is the 2018 Toyota Prius C reliable?

Mostly yes. With a reliability score of 8.8 out of 10 based on 6 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2018 Toyota Prius C is generally a sound vehicle. The areas to watch are listed in the top problem section above — most are budget items, not deal-breakers.

What's the most common problem on the 2018 Toyota Prius C?

No problem area has crossed our reporting threshold yet, which is a good sign for this vehicle.

What's the most expensive thing that goes wrong?

Major repair items haven't been flagged often enough on this vehicle to single one out.

How do I check if my Toyota Prius C has open recalls?

Paste your VIN into the decoder at the top of this page. We pull live from NHTSA, so you'll see exactly which campaigns apply to your vehicle and whether the dealer has logged the fix. Recall repairs are always free regardless of mileage or warranty status.

Is an extended warranty worth it on a 2018 Toyota Prius C?

Math is straightforward: a quality service contract runs $1,800–3,500 over 3 years. With 6 complaints on file, one major failure more than pays for it. The catch is reading the contract — many providers exclude wear items and require pre-authorization, so cheaper plans aren't always better value.

Related vehicles

Recall and complaint data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) public records database, last synced 16 hours ago. Editorial commentary written by ProblemsByVin contributors and reviewed by ASE-certified mechanics. We are not affiliated with toyota. Some links on this page are affiliate links and we may earn a commission if you complete a quote or purchase.