2012 Toyota PRIUS C

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Average

Quick Summary

The 2012 Toyota PRIUS C has 88 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 1.1x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is brakes problems (30% of all complaints), specifically: the brakes were applied gently as the car was approaching a stopped car. the prius c then accelerated, at which time the brakes were firmly applied, the abs system engaged, but not in enough time for the vehicle to stop. the prius rear ended the vehicle in front, all airbags were deployed causing in. ⚠️ 2 fire reports filed.

2 fire reports 14 crash reports 16 injuries

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

1.1x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

BRAKES

26 complaints

30%

• THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED GENTLY AS THE CAR WAS APPROACHING A STOPPED CAR. THE PRIUS C THEN ACCELERATED, AT WHICH TIME THE BRAKES WERE FIRMLY APPLIED, THE ABS SYSTEM ENGAGED, BUT NOT IN ENOUGH TIME FOR THE VEHICLE TO STOP. THE PRIUS REAR ENDED THE VEHICLE IN FRONT, ALL AIRBAGS WERE DEPLOYED CAUSING IN
• CAR IN FRONT SLOWED THEN STOPPED QUICKLY AS THE CAR AHEAD OF IT ATTEMPTED TO USE THE MIDDLE LANE IMPROPERLY (NOT A TURN LANE AT THAT TIME), NOT MOVING FULLY NOR QUICKLY INTO THE LANE. CAR IN FRONT STOPPED. APPLIED BRAKES IMMEDIATELY TO THE PRIUS C TO SLOW, THEN ADDED ONE RAPID PUMP, AND ULTIMATELY
• WHEN STEPPING ON THE BRAKES DURING WEST WEATHER (MOISTURE IN THE BRAKES) THE REAR WHEELS LOCK UP FOR A SPLIT SECOND EVERY TIME. WHEN IT IS DRY IT DOESN'T LOCK UP BUT STILL HITS HARD.

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 2 crashes

“THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED GENTLY AS THE CAR WAS APPROACHING A STOPPED CAR. THE PRIUS C THEN ACCELERATED, AT WHICH TIME THE BRAKES WERE FIRMLY APPLIED, THE ABS SYSTEM ENGAGED, BUT NOT IN ENOUGH TIME FOR THE VEHICLE TO STOP. THE PRIUS REAR ENDED THE VEHICLE IN FRONT, ALL AIRBAGS WERE DEPLOYED CAUSING IN”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

14 complaints

16%

• MY 2012 TOYOTA PRIUS C FOUR MODEL (PURCHASED NEW IN AUGUST, 2012) WITH APPROXIMATELY 5,200 ORIGINAL MILES EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF POWER AND TOTAL FAILURE (ENGINE STALLED RIGHT AFTER THE HYBRID MOTOR WARNING LIGHT APPEARED) OF THE 2012 TOYOTA PRIUS C HYBRID INVERTER ENGINE DUE TO AN ELECTRICAL PANEL D
• WHEN IN THE HIGH 80S+ OUTSIDE, MY 2012 PRIUS C, BOUGHT NEW, HAS NOT STARTED FROM IN A STOPPED POSITION, WITH ALL THE WARNING LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD ACTIVATING &, MANY TIMES, THE HYBRID SYSTEM SHUTTING DOWN WHILE I'M TRYING TO EXIT A DRIVEWAY OR GARAGE, CITY STREET OR PARKING THE VEHICLE, CREATING A
• THE PRIUS C IS MADE IN JAPAN. THEY ARE COATING THE WIRING AND SEAT FOAM WITH SOYBEAN OIL AND PEANUT OIL. MICE ARE NOW EATING THE WIRING AND SEAT FOAM AND ANY ELECTRICAL OR RUBBER PARTS IN THE PRIUS C

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“MY 2012 TOYOTA PRIUS C FOUR MODEL (PURCHASED NEW IN AUGUST, 2012) WITH APPROXIMATELY 5,200 ORIGINAL MILES EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF POWER AND TOTAL FAILURE (ENGINE STALLED RIGHT AFTER THE HYBRID MOTOR WARNING LIGHT APPEARED) OF THE 2012 TOYOTA PRIUS C HYBRID INVERTER ENGINE DUE TO AN ELECTRICAL PANEL D”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

8 complaints

• BRAKE BOOSTER W/ MASTER ECM COMMUNICATION MALFUNCTION -UNABLE TO COMMUNICATE AND PERFORMS ABS, ANTI SLIPPERY AND BRAKE PEDAL TO LOW. THE MALFUNCTION INCLUDES WARNING LIGHTS PANEL TO STAY ON.
• WHEN IN THE HIGH 80S+ OUTSIDE, MY 2012 PRIUS C, BOUGHT NEW, HAS NOT STARTED FROM IN A STOPPED POSITION, WITH ALL THE WARNING LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD ACTIVATING &, MANY TIMES, THE HYBRID SYSTEM SHUTTING DOWN WHILE I'M TRYING TO EXIT A DRIVEWAY OR GARAGE, CITY STREET OR PARKING THE VEHICLE, CREATING A
• I WAS STOPPED AT A GREEN LIGHT THE CAR IN FRONT ME TURNED LEFT AN ONCOMING CAR SWERVED TO MISS THEM, THEN OVERCORRECTED AND HIT ME. HIT ME ON THE FRONT RIGHT SIDE, THEY HIT ME WITH SO MUCH FORCE THEY MOVED MY CAR ALMOST 6 FEET SIDEWAYS. NONE OF THE MY AIRBAGS WENT OFF AND MY SEAT BELT DID NOT LOCK.

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 1 crashes

“BRAKE BOOSTER W/ MASTER ECM COMMUNICATION MALFUNCTION -UNABLE TO COMMUNICATE AND PERFORMS ABS, ANTI SLIPPERY AND BRAKE PEDAL TO LOW. THE MALFUNCTION INCLUDES WARNING LIGHTS PANEL TO STAY ON.”

— NHTSA complaint filing

AIR BAGS

7 complaints

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA PRIUS C. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE EXITING A RESIDENTIAL DRIVEWAY, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE VEHICLE AND ALL OF THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE A
• THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED GENTLY AS THE CAR WAS APPROACHING A STOPPED CAR. THE PRIUS C THEN ACCELERATED, AT WHICH TIME THE BRAKES WERE FIRMLY APPLIED, THE ABS SYSTEM ENGAGED, BUT NOT IN ENOUGH TIME FOR THE VEHICLE TO STOP. THE PRIUS REAR ENDED THE VEHICLE IN FRONT, ALL AIRBAGS WERE DEPLOYED CAUSING IN
• CAR IN FRONT SLOWED THEN STOPPED QUICKLY AS THE CAR AHEAD OF IT ATTEMPTED TO USE THE MIDDLE LANE IMPROPERLY (NOT A TURN LANE AT THAT TIME), NOT MOVING FULLY NOR QUICKLY INTO THE LANE. CAR IN FRONT STOPPED. APPLIED BRAKES IMMEDIATELY TO THE PRIUS C TO SLOW, THEN ADDED ONE RAPID PUMP, AND ULTIMATELY

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports💥 6 crashes

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA PRIUS C. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE EXITING A RESIDENTIAL DRIVEWAY, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE VEHICLE AND ALL OF THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE A”

— NHTSA complaint filing

SEATS/RESTRAINTS

7 complaints

• METAL COMING THRU RIGHT SIDE OF SEAT. *TR
• CAR WAS INVOLVED IN A 18+ CAR ACCIDENT. TRAVELING AT APPROX 55MPH ALL TRAFFIC CAME TO A SUDDEN STOP. THE CAR DID STOP BEFORE IMPACT. DRIVER PRESSED HIMSELF TO THE SEAT WHILE SLAMMING ON BREAKS. A CAR SLAMMED INTO THE BACK OF THE PRIUS WHICH SHOT THE PRIUS FORWARD, WEDGING IT BETWEEN THE 2 VEHICLES I
• THE PRIUS C IS MADE IN JAPAN. THEY ARE COATING THE WIRING AND SEAT FOAM WITH SOYBEAN OIL AND PEANUT OIL. MICE ARE NOW EATING THE WIRING AND SEAT FOAM AND ANY ELECTRICAL OR RUBBER PARTS IN THE PRIUS C

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports💥 3 crashes

“METAL COMING THRU RIGHT SIDE OF SEAT. *TR”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

BRAKES(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

AIR BAGS(~50K mi)

$500

SEATS/RESTRAINTS(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 88 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
BRAKES: THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED GENTLY AS THE CAR WAS APPROACHING A STOPPED CAR. THE PRIUS C THEN ACCELERATED, AT WHICH TIME THE BRAKES WERE FIRMLY APPLIED, THE ABS SYSTEM ENGAGED, BUT NOT IN ENOUGH TIME FOR THE VEHICLE TO STOP. THE PRIUS REAR ENDED THE VEHICLE IN FRONT, ALL AIRBAGS WERE DEPLOYED CAUSING IN
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ELECTRICAL: MY 2012 TOYOTA PRIUS C FOUR MODEL (PURCHASED NEW IN AUGUST, 2012) WITH APPROXIMATELY 5,200 ORIGINAL MILES EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF POWER AND TOTAL FAILURE (ENGINE STALLED RIGHT AFTER THE HYBRID MOTOR WARNING LIGHT APPEARED) OF THE 2012 TOYOTA PRIUS C HYBRID INVERTER ENGINE DUE TO AN ELECTRICAL PANEL D
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
OTHER: BRAKE BOOSTER W/ MASTER ECM COMMUNICATION MALFUNCTION -UNABLE TO COMMUNICATE AND PERFORMS ABS, ANTI SLIPPERY AND BRAKE PEDAL TO LOW. THE MALFUNCTION INCLUDES WARNING LIGHTS PANEL TO STAY ON.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
AIR BAGS: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA PRIUS C. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE EXITING A RESIDENTIAL DRIVEWAY, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE VEHICLE AND ALL OF THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE A
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)