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2014 Toyota Prius C

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

All reported categories

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 16 of 32 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Service Brakes. Review the 8 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine. Review the 7 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

5 crash reports0 fire reports4 injury reports

Service Brakes complaints

8 reports
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Mileage unknown · Mar 17, 2026
Service Brakes

Brake actuator assembly known issue in Prius C, Toyota refuses to do anything about it. Part is not cheap.

NHTSA ODI #11724852

Mileage unknown · Nov 21, 2025
Service Brakes

While driving, suddenly all brake lights and warning lights went on, and brakes stopped working normally. It became difficult to brake (brake took a while to engage - had to press pedal to the floor). After diagnostics at the dealership it looks like the brake booster failed. Apparently Toyota knew about this issue as they did a…

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While driving, suddenly all brake lights and warning lights went on, and brakes stopped working normally. It became difficult to brake (brake took a while to engage - had to press pedal to the floor). After diagnostics at the dealership it looks like the brake booster failed. Apparently Toyota knew about this issue as they did an extended warranty through a Customer Support Program, but unfortunately my issue occurred just past the expiration of that warranty. Since brakes are such a critical component of vehicle safety, if they don't operate well or as expected, it endangers the driver and everyone else on the road. It is wild that Toyota is aware of this issue but that there has been no recall yet.

NHTSA ODI #11700832

Mileage unknown · Aug 7, 2025
Service Brakes

I was told that my Brake Booster and Brake Booster Pump Assembly needed replaced. I had specifically asked my dealership in the past if there were any issues with my car and was told that there was nothing, which was untrue. I called Toyota and was told that I was mailed something back in 2018, but I do not remember receiving it…

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I was told that my Brake Booster and Brake Booster Pump Assembly needed replaced. I had specifically asked my dealership in the past if there were any issues with my car and was told that there was nothing, which was untrue. I called Toyota and was told that I was mailed something back in 2018, but I do not remember receiving it. Now I am told that this has expired. I wanted to know if I had any recourse or extension time on this program 21 TE01. I am afraid that my brakes will not work, as the lights go off and on. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ODI #11679204

Mileage unknown · Jul 14, 2025
Service BrakesUnknown Or OtherVehicle Speed Control

Cruise Control Not Working. Traction Control Light Active, Brake Light Active, And Light Active The cause was diagnosed by Toyota of Paris. TSB for C1391 Code abnormal leak in accumulator. The corrective action is to replace brake booster assembly with Master cylinder and Brake Booster pump Assembly.

NHTSA ODI #11673351

Mileage unknown · Jun 6, 2025
Service Brakes

2014 Toyota Prius C with 220k miles. Four warning lights came on while driving. Brakes became not responsive unless you press down very hard. Regenerative braking, went away. The Brake pump can be audibly heard turning on every few seconds.

NHTSA ODI #11665317

Mileage unknown · Aug 19, 2021
Power TrainService BrakesVehicle Speed Control

Brake failure / Unintended Acceleration / Unknown cause Driving at approx 25mph on urban street (road in good condition no potholes, ramps, etc) I began to slowly brake as I approached a red traffic light. Instead of braking, the car began to accelerate quickly. I pressed the brake pedal again - no response. Pressed down hard …

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Brake failure / Unintended Acceleration / Unknown cause Driving at approx 25mph on urban street (road in good condition no potholes, ramps, etc) I began to slowly brake as I approached a red traffic light. Instead of braking, the car began to accelerate quickly. I pressed the brake pedal again - no response. Pressed down hard for a third time which executed an emergency stop. This all happened within 1 or 2 secs. There were no injuries or involvement of other cars on this occasion. However, had I been any closer to the car in front, I believe I would have rear-ended it. Had this occurred a few moments later, at the busy junction 400m ahead, it could have been fatal. I am absolutely sure it was not driver error. I was not distracted, drive regularly, and have been a confident and safe driver for over 30yrs. I have never experienced this in a car before, and in fact wasn't aware that it could happen until I researched it on this site. No warning lights or indicators came on. The car ran normally for the remaining 2 miles back home. I didn't think anything of it before, but prior to this incident (in our 5 yrs ownership) there were approx. 5 instances when the engine would "roar" as if it wanted to accelerate but didn't when I was breaking or slowing down on a highway. Also, there were perhaps 3 instances when the car felt as though it was "running away" i.e. a slight acceleration - for no obvious reason. As neither of these represented safety issues, I assumed the car was just a bit old and these issues would be addressed as part of any service. Now I wonder if they are related to the sudden acceleration. The car is currently having a "health checks" run, but nothing has been found. I am reluctant to drive this vehicle if neither my dealer or Toyota can discern the problem. Overall we have been happy with this car and its performance, but this is an unacceptable "anomaly" as far as safety is concerned. Vehicle available for inspection.

NHTSA ODI #11429735

65,530 miles · Aug 14, 2018
Service Brakes

WHILE BRAKING THE FRONT WHEEL ROLLED OVER A SUNKEN SEWER COVER CAUSING TEMPORARY BRAKING FAILURE AND A SLIDING SENSATION.

NHTSA ODI #11119828

28,000 miles · Jan 7, 2018
Service Brakes

A LOS 3 MESES DE COMPRADO FUE EN MARZO 2017 DIO LA PRIMERA VEZ EL PROBLEMA EN TODO EL SISTEMA DE FRENOS LO REPARE Y AL MISMO TIEMPO EXACTO FINALES DE JUNIO 2017 VOLVIO A DAR EL MISMO PROBLEMA EL CONCESIONARIO NO QUIZO RESPONDER NI PORQUE TENIA GARANTIA LLEVE EL CARRO Y COMO NO SE PODIA MANEJAR POR LOS FRENOS NO SERVIAN ME ENVIAR…

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A LOS 3 MESES DE COMPRADO FUE EN MARZO 2017 DIO LA PRIMERA VEZ EL PROBLEMA EN TODO EL SISTEMA DE FRENOS LO REPARE Y AL MISMO TIEMPO EXACTO FINALES DE JUNIO 2017 VOLVIO A DAR EL MISMO PROBLEMA EL CONCESIONARIO NO QUIZO RESPONDER NI PORQUE TENIA GARANTIA LLEVE EL CARRO Y COMO NO SE PODIA MANEJAR POR LOS FRENOS NO SERVIAN ME ENVIARON EL CARRO EN GRUA A MI CASA NO LO USO DESDE AGOSTO Y LO ESTOY PAGANDO Y POR LOGICA YA SUCEDIO DOS VECES EL CARRO NO SIRVE Y YA NO SE A QUIEN PEDIR AYUDA PORQUE EL CARRO AUNQUE SE REPARE SU PROBLEMA SE VOLVERA A REPETIR PORQUE EL CARRO NO SIRVE Y ME E ENCONTRADO UN COMUNICADO DONDE DICEN QUE LOS PRIUS MUCHOS HAN RESULTADO CON EL MISMO PROBLEMA DE LOS FRENOS. TOYATA DIJO EN UNOS DE MIS RECLAMOS QUE ERA MI CULPA Y NI EN LO MAS ABSOLUTO NL ES MI CULPA SOY DUEA DE 3 CARROS MAS Y MAS VIEJOS Y CON NINGUNO HE TENIDO PROBLEMAS DE NINGUNA INDOLE ESPERO PUEDAN AYUDARME PORQUE MI VIDA Y LA DE MI HIJA CORREN PELIGRO AL MANEJAR ESE VEHICULO. ADJUNTO FOTO DE CUANDO DEL DEALER MANDARON MI CARRO PORQUE NO ES NADA SEGURO MANEJARLO.😠

NHTSA ODI #11060968

Official recalls

0

No recalls in this snapshot.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

1

DP22005 · Pedestrian Alert Sounds

Opened Jan 27, 2023 · Closed Aug 7, 2023

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Electrical System:propulsion 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.