Toyota · NHTSA safety record

2013 Toyota Prius C

Every safety complaint, recall and defect investigation the US government holds on this vehicle.

Owners have filed 57 safety complaints about the 2013 Toyota Prius C with the US government. Of those, 8 describe a crash, 2 people were injured and no death is recorded. No recall campaign has been matched to this year, make and model.

The most complained-about system is the electrical system, named in 23 complaints, 40% of the total. The typical failure was reported at 66,000 miles, the median across the 27 complaints that gave an odometer reading.

Compiled from NHTSA's complaint, recall and investigation files · Covers June 2013 to August 2026 · How this is counted

What is on file

57 complaints on file

Complaints

Describe a crash

Mention fire

People injured

Deaths

A complaint is an unverified account by the person who filed it, not a finding of fault. One complaint is one ODI number, which is how NHTSA counts them.

Complaints rose 33% year on year: 8 in the twelve months to 2026-Q2, against 6 in the twelve before.

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.

Which system owners named

Complaints naming each system

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 23 · 40% 23 40%

SERVICE BRAKES 16 · 28% 16 28%

ENGINE 7 · 12% 7 12%

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 5 · 9% 5 9%

HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM 5 · 9% 5 9%

UNKNOWN OR OTHER 5 · 9% 5 9%

AIR BAGS 4 · 7% 4 7%

EXTERIOR LIGHTING 4 · 7% 4 7%

POWER TRAIN 4 · 7% 4 7%

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 4 · 7% 4 7%

STEERING 3 · 5% 3 5%

STRUCTURE 3 · 5% 3 5%

0 12 23

One complaint can name several systems, so these add up to more than 57.

When the complaints arrived

By the year NHTSA received them

By the year NHTSA received them, which is not the year the failures happened. They peaked in 2025 at 7.

8 6 4 2

13 2013 14 2014 15 2015 16 2016 17 2017 18 2018 19 2019 20 2020 21 2021 22 2022 23 2023 24 2024 25 2025 26 2026

This is the year the complaint was filed, not the year the failure happened. The range runs from 2013 to 2026, the last of them a part year, which is why its column is drawn faint.

Crash test ratings

NHTSA New Car Assessment Program

NHTSA crashes a car into a barrier and a pole and measures what happens to the dummies inside. This is what it awarded the 2013 Toyota PRIUS C, and it is a separate question from what owners report going wrong later.

Test	5 HB FWD
Overall
Frontal crash
Frontal, driver
Frontal, passenger
Side crash
Side barrier
Side pole
Rollover
Chance of rollover	11.8%

Stability control standard Forward collision warning standard Lane departure warning standard

A dash means NHTSA did not rate that test for this vehicle.

Defect investigations

1 on file

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.

In owners’ own words

Quoted from the complaint file

Quoted from NHTSA's complaint file. These are unverified accounts by the people who filed them, not findings of fault.

AIR BAGS Filed June 10, 2019

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 Filed November 7, 2014

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 Filed July 8, 2020

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 Filed December 28, 2020

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.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM Filed August 28, 2026

While I was driving on the freeway the dash lit up with multiple lights. Simultaneously, I lost power to the car and could not accelerate and only break. The steering was tight and I could not steer correctly. Then a message that said, CHECK HYBRID SYSTEM STOP THE VEHICLE IN A SAFE PLACE IMMEDIATELY. The was slowing down and I had to pull over on the side of the freeway. There were no fluids leaking from the car.The car did not power back on nor run for over 10 minutes. The incident put my safety and other safety at risk by turning off while driving highway speeds. I was afraid for my life. There is an open recall which has not yet been resolved Major Safety Recalls for the 2013 Prius •The

NHTSA complaint 11760483, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM Filed February 5, 2026

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 Filed January 23, 2026

Brake master cylinder failure.

NHTSA complaint 11713042. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

SERVICE BRAKES Filed January 2, 2026

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 Filed December 20, 2025

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 Filed October 1, 2025

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.

Compare

Other years of the Toyota Prius C

Model year	Complaints	Recalls	Deaths
2016	12	0	—
2015	17	1	—
2014	32	0	—
2012	63	0	—

Other 2013 Toyota models

Prius 410 Camry 274 RAV4 257 Highlander 207 Corolla 201 Sienna 183 Avalon 137 Tacoma 125

Complaints on file, same model year.

Every Toyota on this site — 281 vehicles.

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. How many repair attempts it takes, and how long you have to file, is set by the state you bought in and by nothing on this page.

Where these numbers come from

Complaints: NHTSA's ODI complaint file, published October 2, 2026. One complaint is one ODI number, which is how NHTSA counts them.
Recalls: NHTSA's recall campaign API, no campaign on file for this vehicle.
Investigations: NHTSA's ODI investigation file, published October 2, 2026.

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.

Compiled and maintained by guarledes
Independent developer and analyst