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2013 Toyota Prius C

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

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

About this comparison →
57Owner complaints

Model-year median: 14.5

0Recall campaigns

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1Investigations

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
63
201257
201332
201417
201512
2016
Compare all Prius C years →

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

What owners reported most

Electrical System
23Service Brakes
16Engine
7Fuel/propulsion System
5Hybrid Propulsion System
5
All reported categories
Unknown Or Other
5Air Bags
4Exterior Lighting
4Power Train
4Vehicle Speed Control
4Steering
3Structure
3Back Over Prevention
1Electronic Stability Control (esc)
1Equipment
1Forward Collision Avoidance
1Service Brakes, Hydraulic
1Traction Control System
1Visibility
1Wheels
1

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

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

27 reports with mileage · 30 unknown

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.

  • Electrical System. Review the 23 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes. Review the 16 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 →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

8 crash reports0 fire reports2 injury reports

Air Bags complaints

4 reports
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Mileage unknown · Apr 3, 2025
Air BagsForward Collision AvoidanceUnknown Or OtherCrash

There was a driver side collision and the airbags did not deploy. Brakes do not slowly apply they slam down causing vehicle to slide/skid in emergency braking, ABS does not function properly. The dealership recently did an appraisal (4/2/25) on the vehicle that states “Lost communication with side airbag sensor LH, Side airbag s…

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There was a driver side collision and the airbags did not deploy. Brakes do not slowly apply they slam down causing vehicle to slide/skid in emergency braking, ABS does not function properly. The dealership recently did an appraisal (4/2/25) on the vehicle that states “Lost communication with side airbag sensor LH, Side airbag sensor LH initialization incomplete, front speed sensor RH & LH circuit, and D- Door Motor ECU communication stop”. Insurance company inspected vehicle after crash, and there was a police report filed. There were no warning indicators prior to incident or after.

NHTSA ODI #11652650

76,000 miles · Jan 25, 2021
Air BagsElectrical System

HYBRID WARNING LIGHT COMES ON OUT OF NOWHERE. CODE 3107: LOST COMMUNICATION BETWEEN SRS ECU AND POWER MANAGEMENT ECU. ALL WIRES ARE OTHERWISE GOOD AND NO CORROSION IS APPARENT. THIS MISCOMMUNICATION MEANS THAT THE AIRBAGS ARE NOT WORKING PROPERLY. BATTERY IS HEALTHY ACCORDING TO TOYOTA DEALERSHIP. HYBRID WARNING LIGHT COMES ON I…

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HYBRID WARNING LIGHT COMES ON OUT OF NOWHERE. CODE 3107: LOST COMMUNICATION BETWEEN SRS ECU AND POWER MANAGEMENT ECU. ALL WIRES ARE OTHERWISE GOOD AND NO CORROSION IS APPARENT. THIS MISCOMMUNICATION MEANS THAT THE AIRBAGS ARE NOT WORKING PROPERLY. BATTERY IS HEALTHY ACCORDING TO TOYOTA DEALERSHIP. HYBRID WARNING LIGHT COMES ON INTERMITENTLY TO SHOW WHEN MISCOMMUNICATION IS HAPPENING.

NHTSA ODI #11389826

67,300 miles · Jun 10, 2019
Air BagsCrashInjury

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 ODI #11219077

8,000 miles · Nov 7, 2014
Air BagsService BrakesCrashInjury

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. T…

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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 ODI #10653254

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.