2013 Toyota PRIUS C

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Average

Quick Summary

The 2013 Toyota PRIUS C has 88 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 1.1x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is electrical problems (25% of all complaints), specifically: when i pulled up outside of my house and went to open the back hatch, i accidentally hit the lock button. the car then locked - but with my smart key fob and my 10-month-old daughter inside of the car. it is supposed to be impossible to lock the car with the key fob inside. i had no way of getting i.

12 crash reports 3 injuries

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

1.1x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

ELECTRICAL

22 complaints

25%

• WHEN I PULLED UP OUTSIDE OF MY HOUSE AND WENT TO OPEN THE BACK HATCH, I ACCIDENTALLY HIT THE LOCK BUTTON. THE CAR THEN LOCKED - BUT WITH MY SMART KEY FOB AND MY 10-MONTH-OLD DAUGHTER INSIDE OF THE CAR. IT IS SUPPOSED TO BE IMPOSSIBLE TO LOCK THE CAR WITH THE KEY FOB INSIDE. I HAD NO WAY OF GETTING I
• I HAVE HAD MY TOYOTA PRIUS C FOR 1.5 YEARS. I WAS ASSURED IT WAS A SAFE CAR. HOWEVER THIS CAR IS DANGEROUS. THE CAR HAS AN AUTO TRACTION CONTROL THAT WILL TURN ON DURING FLURRIES OR IF THERE ARE WET LEAVES OR RAIN. WHEN THE TRACTION CONTROL (A SAFETY FEATURE) TURNS ON MY WHEELS STOP,MY BRAKES ST
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 TOYOTA PRIUS C. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS MOISTURE WITHIN THE INSTRUMENT PANEL THAT CAUSED MOLD TO GROW INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 4 crashes

“WHEN I PULLED UP OUTSIDE OF MY HOUSE AND WENT TO OPEN THE BACK HATCH, I ACCIDENTALLY HIT THE LOCK BUTTON. THE CAR THEN LOCKED - BUT WITH MY SMART KEY FOB AND MY 10-MONTH-OLD DAUGHTER INSIDE OF THE CAR. IT IS SUPPOSED TO BE IMPOSSIBLE TO LOCK THE CAR WITH THE KEY FOB INSIDE. I HAD NO WAY OF GETTING I”

— NHTSA complaint filing

BRAKES

17 complaints

19%

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 TOYOTA PRIUS C. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND FAILED TO RESPOND. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A TREE AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED BACK AND KNEE INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION
• BRAKE LIGHTS STAY ON AFTER BRAKE PEDAL IS RELEASED WHEN CAR IS IN PARK AND WHEN IT IS IN MOTION. THE BRAKE LIGHTS STAY ON EVEN AFTER THE KEY IS REMOVED FROM IGNITION AND CAR LOCKED. TOYOTA HAS REPAIRED THIS PROBLEM TWICE AND NOW IT IS THE THIRD TIME I HAVE THE PROBLEM.
• CAR DIED LAST NIGHT (10/27) AAA NOT ABLE TO JUMP BATTERY. BAD FUSE. TOWED TO SF TOYOTA ON GEARY BL. TAKEN CAR TO SHOP THREE TIMES SINCE PURCHASE 7/22/20 FOR PROBLEMS. ALSO TOLD NOTHING IS WRONG. THIS APPEARS TO BE A SAFETY ISSUE. ALSO I WAS TOLD CAR WAS DAMAGED, NOT IN MAJOR ACCIDENT. HAS SIGNS OF H

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

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 TOYOTA PRIUS C. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND FAILED TO RESPOND. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A TREE AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED BACK AND KNEE INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

7 complaints

• A VERY DANGEROUS CONDITION EXISTS IN THE NAVIGATION SYSTEMS, APPARENTLY IN ALL MODELS OF 2012 AND 2013 TOYOTAS EQUIPPED WITH FACTORY INSTALLED NAVIGATION SYSTEMS. THE PROBLEM IS THAT THE SYSTEM FAILS TO PRODUCE A VOICE PROMPT FOR TURNS PERHAPS AS MUCH AS 50% OF THE TIME. FAILURE OF THE VOICE PROMPT
• DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY ON MY WAY TO WORK SUDDENLY THE MY 2013 PRIUS C ENGINE COMPLETELY STOPS. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND CHECK HYBRID SYSTEM LIGHT CAME ON. THE CAR COMPLETELY SHUTS DOWN AND NOW I'M A SITTING DUCK GOOD THING PEOPLE SLEW DOWN FOR ME AND EVEN HELP ME PUSH MY CAR TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD
• While in line at a church food bank, with cars in front and in back of me, the Prius C suddenly lunged forward. While my foot was on the brake, I hit the car in front of me. The impact was strong enough to cause almost $1400 worth of damage to the car in front of me and more than that for my car.

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

“A VERY DANGEROUS CONDITION EXISTS IN THE NAVIGATION SYSTEMS, APPARENTLY IN ALL MODELS OF 2012 AND 2013 TOYOTAS EQUIPPED WITH FACTORY INSTALLED NAVIGATION SYSTEMS. THE PROBLEM IS THAT THE SYSTEM FAILS TO PRODUCE A VOICE PROMPT FOR TURNS PERHAPS AS MUCH AS 50% OF THE TIME. FAILURE OF THE VOICE PROMPT ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ENGINE

7 complaints

• WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, WITH LESS THAN 45,000 MILES AND REGULAR MAINTENANCE METICULOUSLY PERFORMED ON THE CAR, THE BRAKE SYSTEM WARNING, ABS WARNING, AND SLIP INDICATOR WARNING LIGHTS ALL ILLUMINATED - INDICATING, "HAVE THE VEHICLE INSPECTED BY YOUR TOYOTA DEALER IMMEDIATELY." TOOK CAR TO TOYO
• DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY ON MY WAY TO WORK SUDDENLY THE MY 2013 PRIUS C ENGINE COMPLETELY STOPS. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND CHECK HYBRID SYSTEM LIGHT CAME ON. THE CAR COMPLETELY SHUTS DOWN AND NOW I'M A SITTING DUCK GOOD THING PEOPLE SLEW DOWN FOR ME AND EVEN HELP ME PUSH MY CAR TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD
• TOYOTA IS TRYING TO COVER UP THE TRUE NUMBER OF VEHICLES SUBJECT TO THE HYBRID SYSTEM RECALL.. TOYOTA CLAIMS THIS VEHICLE IS NOT THE SUBJECT OF RECALL, YET THE VEHICLE DISPLAYS ALL THE SYMPTOMS DESCRIBED IN THE RECALL.. 1.) THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION AT FREEWAY SPEED ON WESTBOUND HWY 92 ON 12/27/2

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

“WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, WITH LESS THAN 45,000 MILES AND REGULAR MAINTENANCE METICULOUSLY PERFORMED ON THE CAR, THE BRAKE SYSTEM WARNING, ABS WARNING, AND SLIP INDICATOR WARNING LIGHTS ALL ILLUMINATED - INDICATING, "HAVE THE VEHICLE INSPECTED BY YOUR TOYOTA DEALER IMMEDIATELY." TOOK CAR TO TOYO”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRONIC SYSTEMS

6 complaints

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 TOYOTA PRIUS C. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED, AND THE BRAKES HESITATED TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER FOR
• WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, WITH LESS THAN 45,000 MILES AND REGULAR MAINTENANCE METICULOUSLY PERFORMED ON THE CAR, THE BRAKE SYSTEM WARNING, ABS WARNING, AND SLIP INDICATOR WARNING LIGHTS ALL ILLUMINATED - INDICATING, "HAVE THE VEHICLE INSPECTED BY YOUR TOYOTA DEALER IMMEDIATELY." TOOK CAR TO TOYO
• The contact owns a 2013 Toyota Prius C. The contact stated that while driving at slow speeds, the vehicle stalled as a system failure warning message appeared on the instrument panel. The vehicle inadvertently turned. The vehicle was restarted but shifted into limp mode with the message displayed. T

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

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 TOYOTA PRIUS C. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED, AND THE BRAKES HESITATED TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER FOR”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

BRAKES(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRONIC SYSTEMS(~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:

☐
ELECTRICAL: WHEN I PULLED UP OUTSIDE OF MY HOUSE AND WENT TO OPEN THE BACK HATCH, I ACCIDENTALLY HIT THE LOCK BUTTON. THE CAR THEN LOCKED - BUT WITH MY SMART KEY FOB AND MY 10-MONTH-OLD DAUGHTER INSIDE OF THE CAR. IT IS SUPPOSED TO BE IMPOSSIBLE TO LOCK THE CAR WITH THE KEY FOB INSIDE. I HAD NO WAY OF GETTING I
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
BRAKES: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 TOYOTA PRIUS C. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND FAILED TO RESPOND. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A TREE AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED BACK AND KNEE INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
OTHER: A VERY DANGEROUS CONDITION EXISTS IN THE NAVIGATION SYSTEMS, APPARENTLY IN ALL MODELS OF 2012 AND 2013 TOYOTAS EQUIPPED WITH FACTORY INSTALLED NAVIGATION SYSTEMS. THE PROBLEM IS THAT THE SYSTEM FAILS TO PRODUCE A VOICE PROMPT FOR TURNS PERHAPS AS MUCH AS 50% OF THE TIME. FAILURE OF THE VOICE PROMPT
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ENGINE: WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, WITH LESS THAN 45,000 MILES AND REGULAR MAINTENANCE METICULOUSLY PERFORMED ON THE CAR, THE BRAKE SYSTEM WARNING, ABS WARNING, AND SLIP INDICATOR WARNING LIGHTS ALL ILLUMINATED - INDICATING, "HAVE THE VEHICLE INSPECTED BY YOUR TOYOTA DEALER IMMEDIATELY." TOOK CAR TO TOYO
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)