Every safety complaint, recall and defect investigation the US government
holds on this vehicle.
56
Complaints
8
Crashes
0
Fires
2
Injuries
0
Deaths
Owners of the 2013 Toyota Prius C have filed 56
safety complaints with NHTSA
between June 2013 and February 2026.
The most complained-about system is the electrical system,
named in 22 of them
(39%). The typical failure was reported at 66,000 miles, the median
across the 27 complaints that gave an
odometer reading.
No recall campaign was matched to this year, make and model. That is not
the same as a clean vehicle: recalls are issued against production
ranges, and the only reliable check is your own VIN.
Defect investigations (1)
An investigation means NHTSA has decided a pattern is worth examining. A
preliminary evaluation is often closed with no action; an engineering
analysis is the stage that usually precedes a recall.
Pedestrian alert sounds
DP22005
Closed defect petition · opened January 27, 2023 · closed August 7, 2023 · led to recall 22V063000
the electrical system
NHTSA received a petition on or about July 18, 2022, requesting that Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 141 be applied to all electric and hybrid vehicles operating in the United States. The petition can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under ODI Number 11486072. FMVSS 141 establishes performance requirements for pedestrian alert sounds for motor vehicles. The standard applies to hybrid and electric vehicles that have a gross vehicle weight rating of 4,536 KG or less or are defined as low-speed vehicles. The standard became fully applicable to all such vehicles manufactured on or after March 1, 2021.On January 27, 2023, NHTSA opened Defect Petition (DP) 22-005 to evaluate the subject matter described in the petition. On June 24, 2023 and as supplemented on June 25, 2023, the petitioner notified NHTSA he was withdrawing his petition. The petitioner indicated that, based on his review of data, there is no justification for asserting potential benefits that could be derived from actions sought by my petition. Based on the petitioner's withdrawal, DP22-005 is closed. Closure of this DP does not represent a determination by NHTSA regarding the subject matter of the petition.
What owners report
Complaints naming each system. One complaint can name several, so these add
up to more than 56.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 22 39%
SERVICE BRAKES 16 29%
ENGINE 7 13%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 5 9%
HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM 5 9%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 5 9%
AIR BAGS 4 7%
EXTERIOR LIGHTING 4 7%
POWER TRAIN 3 5%
STEERING 3 5%
STRUCTURE 3 5%
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 3 5%
When the complaints arrived
By the year NHTSA received them, which is not the year the failures
happened. They peaked in 2025 at 7.
2013 to 2026, the last of them a part year
In owners' own words
Quoted from NHTSA's complaint file. These are unverified accounts by the
people who filed them, not findings of fault.
AIR BAGS
1 injured · crash · towed · 67,300 miles
I WAS INVOLVED IN A LEFT-HAND TURN, T-BONE STYLE/SIDE IMPACT CAR ACCIDENT ON JUNE 5TH, 2019. THE OTHER DRIVER WAS GOING 50+ MPH AND I WAS GOING 20 MPH. MY AIR BAGS SHOULD HAVE AT LEAST DEPLOYED ON THE PASSENGER SIDE WHERE THERE IS IMPACT.
NHTSA complaint 11219077. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
SERVICE BRAKES
1 injured · crash · 8,000 miles
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. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN IMPOUND YARD. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 8,000.
NHTSA complaint 10653254. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
STRUCTURE:BODY
crash · towed · 70,000 miles
WHILE IN MOTION, THE VEHICLE SWITCHED OUT OF READY MODE. THE VEHICLE DID NOT SWITCH BACK INTO READY MODE. BODY DAMAGE INCURRED DURING EMERGENCY STOP, DUE TO VEHICLE GOING AT ABOUT 35MPH WHEN THE MALFUNCTION OCCURRED ON A SURFACE STREET.
NHTSA complaint 11338161. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
crash · towed · 200,717 miles
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 12/27/2020 AT APPROXIMATELY 6:30PM 2.) THE VEHICLE LOST ALL POWER.. DASHBOARD LIGHTS CAME ON.. ERROR MESSAGE SAID "HYBRID SYSTEM FAILURE" 3.) POWER TO BRAKING AND STEERING REMAINED 4.) VEHICLE WENT OFF THE FREEWAY, WITH NO POWER, DOWN AN EXIT RAMP, AND CAME TO A STOP, LUCKILY, IN A LEGAL PARKING PLACE, AT THE CURB ON DE ANZA BLVD.. THIS IS WHAT TOYOTA SAID PUBLICLY: 'THE INVOLVED VEHICLES WERE DESIGNED TO …
NHTSA complaint 11385233, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM
150,000 miles
The contact owns a 2013 Toyota Prius C. The contact stated that while his wife was attempting to cold-start the vehicle, the vehicle failed to start. The contact stated that on several occasions the vehicle was started; however, the instrument cluster and other electrical devices failed to operate as needed. The contact replaced the auxiliary battery. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure reoccurred, and the vehicle needed to be jump-started. The vehicle was not taken to a local dealer or independent mechanic to be diagnosed or repaired. The contact researched online and related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V369000 (Hybrid Propulsion System); however, the VIN was not included …
NHTSA complaint 11715964, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
SERVICE BRAKES
Brake master cylinder failure.
NHTSA complaint 11713042. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
SERVICE BRAKES
Car suddenly needed a jump start and again after a day or two of non-use. On the third day Brakes, ABS and traction control warnings were lighted up and remains. Brakes are mostly ineffective. My own scan returns the code C1252 and C1256 that says brake booster system failing. Took it to the dealer who charged $290 again to scan and came up with failed brake booster and pump assembly. The dealers is quoting total $4000 to fix. Toyota Customer Support Program Bulletin dated 8/2018 and revised on 8/2019 extends the warranty on for this issue (for Toyota Prius C 2013) for 10 years or 150000 miles. I was never informed by Toyota or the seller (Stevens Creek Toyota, San Jose CA) about this …
NHTSA complaint 11708254, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
SERVICE BRAKES
Warning lamps for ABS and others and the chiming dings came on while pulling away from the bank drive through and parking for a second. I shut the engine off and turned back on with no success. I was barely able to park in a spot because of difficulties braking. My car had been making an electric noise every 15 seconds or so previously, at different times when parked, but I thought it was the hybrid engine. Now I think it was the brake pump trying to build up pressure due to a faulty, leaking brake actuator.
NHTSA complaint 11706251. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
My 2013 Toyota Prius has a failed inverter/converter assembly, including the Intelligent Power Module (IPM). This component is critical for vehicle operation and designed to last the life of the car. Premature IPM shorting and inverter failure is a known defect acknowledged by Toyota through multiple recalls and service campaigns for other VINs with the same part number. My vehicle is giving codes P0A94 and P0A1A which are also listed in the recalls for other Prius models of similar age. My vehicle experiences the same failure, yet Toyota has denied goodwill coverage, claiming “insufficient service history.” Routine maintenance like oil changes and brake inspections does not affect this …
NHTSA complaint 11690862, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM: INVERTER
towed · 75,421 miles
The contact owns a 2013 Toyota Prius C. The contact stated that while driving at 25 MPH, the vehicle stalled and failed to restart. The contact stated that he and his wife were in the vehicle during the failure, and the vehicle was almost crashed into. The contact stated that he and his wife were left stranded in oncoming traffic. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that there was a computer failure and that the inverter converter assembly needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 75,421.
NHTSA complaint 11684746. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
If this is your car and a dealer keeps failing to fix it, your state's lemon
law may require the manufacturer to replace it or buy it back.
What each state asks for
, read from the statutes.
Where these numbers come from
Complaints: NHTSA's ODI
complaint file
, published August 20, 2026. One
complaint is one ODI number, which is how NHTSA counts them.
Recalls: NHTSA's recall
campaign API
, most recent campaign filed August 12, 2026.
Investigations: NHTSA's ODI
investigation file
, published 2026-08-19.
A complaint is one owner's account and has not been verified by NHTSA or by
us. A vehicle with more complaints is not necessarily worse: models that
sold in larger numbers collect more of them. How this is counted.
G
Compiled and maintained by guarledes Independent developer and analyst