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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.

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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

Vehicle Speed Control complaints

4 reports
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Mileage unknown · Aug 28, 2026
Electrical SystemPower TrainVehicle Speed Control

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 h…

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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 Hybrid Inverter Module (Critical Recall): Excessive voltage inside the Intelligent Power Module (IPM) can cause the hybrid system to overheat, shut down completely, or put the car into "limp home" mode while you are driving.

NHTSA ODI #11760483

Mileage unknown · Aug 16, 2023
Fuel/propulsion SystemVehicle Speed Control

I was going on my way to work on the freeway at approximately 65 miles per hour, suddenly I felt as if my car shut off will driving and I lost power. I pressed on the gas Pedal as I was pulled into the emergency lane to the right of the freeway, the gas pedal did not work. I pulled to the side and I shut the car off. I waited ab…

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I was going on my way to work on the freeway at approximately 65 miles per hour, suddenly I felt as if my car shut off will driving and I lost power. I pressed on the gas Pedal as I was pulled into the emergency lane to the right of the freeway, the gas pedal did not work. I pulled to the side and I shut the car off. I waited about 20 minutes and I turned the car back on.

NHTSA ODI #11539026

31,000 miles · Jun 22, 2018
Power TrainVehicle Speed Control

AROUND 2:00 AM ON FWY 101 NORTH/SOUTH DIVISION POINT, CAR SUDDENLY LOST ITS POWER AND ACCELERATOR STOPPED WORKING AND STOPPED IN THE CURVING AREA ON FASTEST LANES. I TURNED MY KEY ON/OFF FOR 5 TIMES LIGHTS ON THE PANEL WAS ON BUT ACCELERATOR WAS NOT WORKING AT ALL FOR 30 MIN SO I CALLED POLICE AND AAA TOWING. WHEN FINALLY AAA C…

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AROUND 2:00 AM ON FWY 101 NORTH/SOUTH DIVISION POINT, CAR SUDDENLY LOST ITS POWER AND ACCELERATOR STOPPED WORKING AND STOPPED IN THE CURVING AREA ON FASTEST LANES. I TURNED MY KEY ON/OFF FOR 5 TIMES LIGHTS ON THE PANEL WAS ON BUT ACCELERATOR WAS NOT WORKING AT ALL FOR 30 MIN SO I CALLED POLICE AND AAA TOWING. WHEN FINALLY AAA CAME AND TALKING ON THE PHONE, THE CAR STARTED TO ACCELERATED AGAIN. IT WAS VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION AS MY CAR WAS FORCED TO PARK ON THE FASTEST LANE ON THE CURVING AREA AT 2:00AM AND MANY TRUCKS AND CARS WERE DRIVING 90 MILES/HOUR. 4-5 CARS WERE YELLING AT ME "IT IS VERY DANGEROUS TO PARK YOUR CAR RIGHT HERE !" AND SOME MALE DRIVERS OFFERED ME FOR HELP BUT I TOLD THEM THAT I WAS WAITING FOR POLICE (AS I WAS MORE AFRAID TO GET A HELP FROM STRANGERS.) THIS INCIDENT COULD CAUSE A VERY SERIOUS INJURIES OR DEATH. NEXT DAY, I TOOK MY CAR TO TOYOTA NORTHLEDGE BUT THEY SAID THERE WAS NO PROBLEM OF THIS CAR. I READ THE "RECALL" OF TOYOTA PRIUS 2010-2014 ABOUT INVERTER PROBLEM WHICH CAUSE THE POWER FAILURE BUT TIM/SERVICE MANGER TOLD ME THAT "YOUR VIN # IS NOT COVERED WITH THIS ISSUE." THEREFORE, HE CAN NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT.

NHTSA ODI #11103445

5,000 miles · Dec 25, 2014
Vehicle Speed ControlCrash

AT APPROXIMATELY 2:10PM ON MONDAY DECEMBER 10, 2014 I WAS RETURNING HOME FROM A BRIEF TRIP. I WAS MAKING THE 90 DEGREE RIGHT TURN INTO MY DRIVEWAY WHEN I FELT MY CAR, A PRIUS, ACCELERATE BY ITSELF. BUT THIS ACCELERATION WAS NOT LIKE WHAT YOU GET WHEN YOU STEP ON THE GAS. IT WAS AS IF THE CAR HAD A MIND OF ITS OWN AND IT WAS GO…

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AT APPROXIMATELY 2:10PM ON MONDAY DECEMBER 10, 2014 I WAS RETURNING HOME FROM A BRIEF TRIP. I WAS MAKING THE 90 DEGREE RIGHT TURN INTO MY DRIVEWAY WHEN I FELT MY CAR, A PRIUS, ACCELERATE BY ITSELF. BUT THIS ACCELERATION WAS NOT LIKE WHAT YOU GET WHEN YOU STEP ON THE GAS. IT WAS AS IF THE CAR HAD A MIND OF ITS OWN AND IT WAS GOING TO GO! THIS CAR HAS A LOW HORSEPOWER ENGINE AND I CAN'T IMAGINE ME BEING ABLE TO "LAY RUBBER" WITH THIS VEHICLE AND YET THE PHOTOS MY HUSBAND TOOK LATER CLEARLY SHOW TIRE MARKS ON THE ASPHALT DRIVEWAY. THE CAR HIT MY NEIGHBOR'S CONCRETE BLOCK RETAINING WALL AND CLIMBED IT. THE UPWARD THRUST WAS ON THE PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL OF THE VEHICLE AND THE CAR FLIPPED OVER AND CAME TO REST ON ITS WINDSHIELD. THE DRIVER SIDE WINDOW WAS SHATTERED, BUT NO AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. I WAS UPSIDE DOWN, HANGING FROM THE SEAT BELT AND SHOULDER HARNESS. I WAS NOT HURT AS FAR AS I CAN DETERMINE, WHICH IS PRETTY AMAZING. I WAS ABLE TO EFFECT AN EXIT FROM THE VEHICLE, WITH ASSISTANCE, THROUGH THE SHATTERED WINDOW. OUR DRIVEWAY IS PRETTY SHORT SO ALL THIS HAPPENED WITHIN LESS THAN 3 SECONDS AND ~20 FEET. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10668239

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.