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2016 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: 6 of 12 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 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Tires. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

0 crash reports0 fire reports0 injury reports

What owners actually said

12 reports
Mileage unknown · Jun 3, 2026
Service Brakes

My name is [XXX] currently active duty military stationed in San Diego. Can you please check if my car VIN number [XXX] 2016 Toyota Prius C 103k miles still covered for brake booster malfunction code 1391. I have told they are extended warranty up to 10 yrs less 150k. Toyota dealer here seems not seeing any warranty coverage…

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My name is [XXX] currently active duty military stationed in San Diego. Can you please check if my car VIN number [XXX] 2016 Toyota Prius C 103k miles still covered for brake booster malfunction code 1391. I have told they are extended warranty up to 10 yrs less 150k. Toyota dealer here seems not seeing any warranty coverage issues. Please help me look into this issues thank you. My contact number is [XXX] . INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ODI #11741935

Mileage unknown · Aug 16, 2025
Tires

P 175/65r15 I was driving on a slight curve on the I-10 in El Paso, TX when the rear bumper exploded. The car started swaying and swerving then I pulled over. I then realized that the tread on the tire was gone floating across the highway. The trie was bare with no tread with the bumper around the tire was gone. The explosion a…

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P 175/65r15 I was driving on a slight curve on the I-10 in El Paso, TX when the rear bumper exploded. The car started swaying and swerving then I pulled over. I then realized that the tread on the tire was gone floating across the highway. The trie was bare with no tread with the bumper around the tire was gone. The explosion also caused the tail light to break.

NHTSA ODI #11681053

Mileage unknown · Aug 21, 2024
Tires

See attached document for complaint

NHTSA ODI #11609943

Mileage unknown · Aug 9, 2024
Tires

Prinx HiCITY HH2 175/65R15 84H Bought this tire in November 2022. About 15000 miles into it, on Aug 6, 2024, the passenger front tire just busted. After swapping with the spare tire, and upon inspection, there was no nail nor it hit the curb, but the side wall is busted. This is a manufacturing quality issue.

NHTSA ODI #11607627

Mileage unknown · Oct 20, 2022
Visibility/wiper

The original windshield has a “rippling distortion” where the windshield has ripple/bubble from defective glass or installation mistakes, making seeing traffic signs or streets very hard. I just bought this vehicle and noticed the problem. It created poor road vision, especially at night. Toyota needs to recall and replace a…

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The original windshield has a “rippling distortion” where the windshield has ripple/bubble from defective glass or installation mistakes, making seeing traffic signs or streets very hard. I just bought this vehicle and noticed the problem. It created poor road vision, especially at night. Toyota needs to recall and replace all these windshields before it causes more accidents due to poor visibility looking through the glass.

NHTSA ODI #11490244

Mileage unknown · Feb 21, 2019
Service BrakesUnknown Or OtherVehicle Speed Control

WHEN I AM IN THE PROCESS OF BRAKING AND HIT A ROUGH SPOT IN THE ROAD SUCH AS A POTHOLE, I ESSENTIALLY LOSE CONTROL OF THE CAR FOR A SPLIT SECOND. IT FEELS JERKY LIKE IT LURCHES FORWARD OR SHAKES SIDE TO SIDE. ITS NOT VERY PRONOUNCED BUT ENOUGH TO MAKE ME FEEL UNSAFE. THIS HAPPENS EVERY TIME I AM BRAKING AND RUN OVER POTHOLES,…

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WHEN I AM IN THE PROCESS OF BRAKING AND HIT A ROUGH SPOT IN THE ROAD SUCH AS A POTHOLE, I ESSENTIALLY LOSE CONTROL OF THE CAR FOR A SPLIT SECOND. IT FEELS JERKY LIKE IT LURCHES FORWARD OR SHAKES SIDE TO SIDE. ITS NOT VERY PRONOUNCED BUT ENOUGH TO MAKE ME FEEL UNSAFE. THIS HAPPENS EVERY TIME I AM BRAKING AND RUN OVER POTHOLES, SO ITS NOT AN ISOLATED INCIDENT THAT ONLY HAPPENED ON ONE DAY, AND IT DOESN'T MATTER HOW HARD I'M BRAKING OR HOW FAST I'M GOING UNLESS I'M BARELY MOVING (THEN IT DOESN'T JERK).

NHTSA ODI #11181608

19,700 miles · Dec 17, 2017
Unknown Or Other

SINCE PURCHASE OF THE CAR, THE VEHICLE HAS SHIFTED FROM DRIVE TO NEUTRAL UPON BRAKING HARD. THIS HAS OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY. THE CAR WILL NOT RETURN TO DRIVE WITHOUT TURNING OFF THE ENGINE AND RESTARTING. IT IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. TOYOTA OF CARLSBAD COULDN'T REPRODUCE THE EVENT AFTER A FEW TRIES ON A TEST DRI…

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SINCE PURCHASE OF THE CAR, THE VEHICLE HAS SHIFTED FROM DRIVE TO NEUTRAL UPON BRAKING HARD. THIS HAS OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY. THE CAR WILL NOT RETURN TO DRIVE WITHOUT TURNING OFF THE ENGINE AND RESTARTING. IT IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. TOYOTA OF CARLSBAD COULDN'T REPRODUCE THE EVENT AFTER A FEW TRIES ON A TEST DRIVE, SO THEY WILL NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. I AM CONCERNED ABOUT HAVING A FATAL ACCIDENT WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY. THE EVENTS HAPPEN RANDOMLY.

NHTSA ODI #11055096

1,950 miles · Oct 30, 2017
Unknown Or Other

WITH THE AUXILIARY BATTERY WELL CHARGED THE GAS ENGINE WILL TURN OFF WHEN VEHICLE COMES TO A STOP. IN ORDER TO TURN THE IGNITION KEY TO THE OFF POSITION AND REMOVE THE KEY IT IS NECESSARY TO MOVE THE SHIFT LEVER TO THE PARK POSITION. AT THE SAME TIME IT IS ADVISABLE TO SET THE PARKING BRAKE. IF DISTRACTED IT IS POSSIBLE TO OP…

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WITH THE AUXILIARY BATTERY WELL CHARGED THE GAS ENGINE WILL TURN OFF WHEN VEHICLE COMES TO A STOP. IN ORDER TO TURN THE IGNITION KEY TO THE OFF POSITION AND REMOVE THE KEY IT IS NECESSARY TO MOVE THE SHIFT LEVER TO THE PARK POSITION. AT THE SAME TIME IT IS ADVISABLE TO SET THE PARKING BRAKE. IF DISTRACTED IT IS POSSIBLE TO OPEN THE DOOR AND LEAVE THE VEHICLE WITH THE ELECTRIC ENGINE STILL RUNNING. THERE IS NO ENGINE NOISE AT ALL. THERE IS NO SIGNAL, AUDIO OR LIGHT, TO INDICATE THE ENGINE IS STILL RUNNING. I HAVE HAD THIS OCCUR ON TWO OCCASIONS, ONCE DURING DAYTIME, WITH MY SON ACCOMPANYING ME, 09/07/2017, THE SECOND TIMEL ALONE, WHEN PARKING THE CAR IN MY GARAGE AT NIGHT, 09/13/2017. ON RETURN TO THE CAR, WITH MY SON, I SEARCH FOR MY KEYS AND FOUND THE CAR'S GAS ENGINE RUNNING, EMITTING THE NORMAL ENGINE NOISE, THE KEY NOT HAVING BEEN REMOVED AFTER PARKING. WHEN TURNING OFF AND REMOVING THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION, INSIDE LIGHTS AND DRIVE LIGHTS CONTINUE TO BE ON UNTIL THE DOOR IS CLOSED, AT WHICH TIME THE LIGHTS, INSIDE AND OUT, GO OFF AFTER A BRIEF PERIOD OF TIME. THE THREE ACTIONS, MOVING THE SHIFT LEVER, SETTING THE PARKING BRAKE AND TURNING OFF THE IGNITION ALL REQUIRE USE OF THE RIGHT HAND, WITH THE MOVING OF THE SHIFT LEVER BEING MANDETORY. WITH NO AUDIBLE ENGINE NOISE IT IS EASY TO OVERLOOK THE FACT THAT THE ENGINE IS STILL RUNNING. AN AUDIBLE BEEP OR FLASHING LIGHT WOULD ALERT THE DRIVER TO THE FACT THAT SOMETHING IS AMISS. OF COURSE AN UNLOCKED PARKED CAR WITH ENGINE RUNNING IS ALSO AN INVITATION TO CAR THEFT. THE CAR'S DOORS CANNOT BE LOCKED WITH THE KEY IN THE IGNITION, BUT THERE IS NO INDICATION THAT THE DOORS HAVE NOT LOCKED WITHOUT TESTING THE DOORS FROM THE OUTSIDE. NOT HAVING SUCCESSFULLY LOCKED THE DOORS CAN ALSO BE EASILY OVERLOOKED BY A DISTRACTED DRIVER.

NHTSA ODI #11041440

62 miles · Aug 1, 2017
Electrical SystemUnknown Or Other

THE CAR HAS BEEN TOWED TWICE. EVERY TIME I ATTEMPT TO TURN ON THE CAR, THERE IS NO POWER. THE DEALER SAYS IT IS THE BATTERY AND HE HAS CHANGED THE BATTERY TWICE. I AM AFRAID TO USE THE CAR AND GET STRANDED IN THE HIGHWAY.

NHTSA ODI #11011994

2 miles · Dec 29, 2016
Exterior Lighting

AT NIGHT ON DARK STREETS WITH NO OTHER LIGHTING, YOU CANNOT SEE TO DRIVE UNLESS YOU USE HIGH BEAMS. THERE IS A LINE ACROSS THE WINDSHIELD; A HORIZON. YOU CAN SEE BELOW THAT HORIZON (A THIN AREA), BUT IT'S BLACK ABOVE IT, MAKING IT VERY HARD TO SEE. VISIBILITY IS ONLY A FEW FEET. I CONTACTED TOYOTA AND THE SALES AND MANAGEMENT…

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AT NIGHT ON DARK STREETS WITH NO OTHER LIGHTING, YOU CANNOT SEE TO DRIVE UNLESS YOU USE HIGH BEAMS. THERE IS A LINE ACROSS THE WINDSHIELD; A HORIZON. YOU CAN SEE BELOW THAT HORIZON (A THIN AREA), BUT IT'S BLACK ABOVE IT, MAKING IT VERY HARD TO SEE. VISIBILITY IS ONLY A FEW FEET. I CONTACTED TOYOTA AND THE SALES AND MANAGEMENT TEAM CLAIM THAT THEY HAVE NEVER HEARD OF SUCH A THING. I CONTACTED SERVICE AND WAS TOLD THAT THIS IS NORMAL. THERE IS NO FIX. I AM DEMANDING THAT MY HEADLIGHTS BE AIMED HIGHER IN HOPES THAT I CAN SEE TO DRIVE. IF THIS DOES NOT FIX THE PROBLEM, THIS CAR CANNOT BE DRIVING AT NIGHT. IT IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE WITH SUCH LOW VISIBILITY. I WAS DRIVING VERY SLOWLY AND STILL FELT THAT I SHOULD HAVE JUST STOPPED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10938581

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.