Complaints by model year
Each bar is one model year. Highlighted: 2012. The most recent years are still collecting complaints.
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026
New York safety inspections
Share of first inspections failed on safety, by model year. Older cars fail more as miles build up, so compare each year with the average car of the same year. Best against its own year: 2017.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections, initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
Year by year
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 0 | 0 |
| 2020 | 0 | 0 |
| 2019 Prius C | 0 | 1 |
| 2018 Prius C | 6 | 2 |
| 2017 Prius C | 2 | 1 |
| 2016 Prius C | 12 | 0 |
| 2015 Prius C | 17 | 1 |
| 2014 Prius C | 33 | 0 |
| 2013 Prius CMost complaints | 57 | 0 |
| 2012 Prius CMost complaints | 64 | 0 |
A model year gets its own page when it has enough data for at least three sections
Most common problems
- Service brakes58
- Electrical system52
- Unknown or other35
- Engine23
- Air bags18
- Vehicle speed control14
- Exterior lighting12
- Power train11
NHTSA ODI complaints, all model years
Fatal crashes in the US
From 2020 to 2023, 76 Prius C vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died, and 49 people died inside them. These are counts, not crash rates: a model with more cars on the road shows up more often, and people killed outside the vehicle are not counted here.
| Model year | Vehicles in fatal crashes | Deaths in the vehicle |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 2 | 1 |
| 2017 | 1 | 1 |
| 2016 | 7 | 7 |
| 2015 | 13 | 9 |
| 2014 | 13 | 6 |
| 2013 | 23 | 14 |
| 2012 | 17 | 11 |
NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), crash years 2020–2023 (public domain) · how we count
Crash-test ratings by year
NHTSA 5-star results for 8 model-year variants; 0 of 8 rated variants score five stars overall. Rollover risk is the estimated chance of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.
| Year | Variant | Overall | Rollover risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 2020 Toyota PRIUS c 5 HB FWD | ★★★★☆ | 11.8 % |
| 2019 | 2019 Toyota Prius C 5 HB FWD | ★★★★☆ | 11.8 % |
| 2018 | 2018 Toyota Prius C 5 HB FWD | ★★★★☆ | 11.8 % |
| 2017 | 2017 Toyota Prius C 5 HB FWD | ★★★★☆ | 11.8 % |
| 2016 | 2016 Toyota Prius C 5 HB FWD | ★★★★☆ | 11.8 % |
| 2015 | 2015 Toyota Prius C 5 HB FWD | ★★★★☆ | 11.8 % |
| 2014 | 2014 Toyota Prius C 5 HB FWD | ★★★★☆ | 11.8 % |
| 2013 | 2013 Toyota Prius C 5 HB FWD | ★★★★☆ | 11.8 % |
NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings), api.nhtsa.gov · US federal work, public domain
Fuel consumption by year
Official Canadian test results for 9 model years, best variant per year. Combined consumption ranges from 4.7–5.1 L/100 km.
| Year | Variant | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Prius c · Compact · Regular gasoline | 4.9 | 5.5 | 5.1 |
| 2019 | Prius c · Compact · Regular gasoline | 4.9 | 5.5 | 5.1 |
| 2018 | Prius c · Compact · Regular gasoline | 4.9 | 5.5 | 5.1 |
| 2017 | Prius c · Compact · Regular gasoline | 4.9 | 5.5 | 5.1 |
| 2016 | Prius c · Compact · Regular gasoline | 4.5 | 5.1 | 4.7 |
| 2015 | Prius c · Compact · Regular gasoline | 4.5 | 5.1 | 4.8 |
| 2014 | Prius c · Compact · Regular gasoline | 4.6 | 4.9 | 4.7 |
| 2013 | Prius c · Compact · Regular gasoline | 4.5 | 4.9 | 4.7 |
| 2012 | Prius c · Compact · Regular gasoline | 4.5 | 4.9 | 4.7 |
Litres per 100 km. Natural Resources Canada, Fuel consumption ratings (open.canada.ca) · Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
4 campaigns cover the Prius C.
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Prius C vehicles. The DC-DC converter may fail resulting in the auxiliary battery no longer receiving power from the converter, which may cause a loss of drive.
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2018 Toyota Prius C vehicles sold in Puerto Rico. The front passenger air bag and recommended child occupant seating positions label may not have been attached during assembly. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."
Gulf States Toyota, Inc. (Gulf States) is recalling certain 2017 4Runner , 86, Avalon, Camry, Camry Hybrid, Corolla, Corolla iM, Highlander, Highlander Hybrid, Prius, Prius C, RAV4, RAV4 Hybrid, Sienna and Yaris vehicles. The spare tire air pressure was not adjusted to the proper pressure as stated on the Tire Pressure Label.
Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain model year 2015 Toyota Prius C vehicles manufactured April 20, 2015, to June 30, 2015. In the affected vehicles, the Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) may be improperly calibrated and, as a result, the TPMS may fail to warn the driver that the tire pressure is low. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 138, "Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems."
NHTSA recalls