2012 Toyota PRIUS C: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
63 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
52,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2012 model year. Data snapshot: . 36 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Service Brakes is the most frequently named component, appearing in 26 of 63 complaints (41.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 30 | 47.6% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 9 | 14.3% |
| Engine operation | 7 | 11.1% |
| Steering behavior | 4 | 6.3% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 1.6% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Service Brakes | 26 |
| Electrical System | 13 |
| Unknown Or Other | 8 |
| Air Bags | 7 |
| Engine | 5 |
| Electronic Stability Control (Esc) | 4 |
| Seat Belts | 4 |
| Exterior Lighting | 3 |
Service Brakes: 26; Electrical System: 13; Unknown Or Other: 8; Air Bags: 7; Engine: 5; Electronic Stability Control (Esc): 4; Seat Belts: 4; Exterior Lighting: 3
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 9 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 8 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 4 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 8 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 7 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 9; 25,000 to 49,999: 8; 50,000 to 74,999: 4; 75,000 to 99,999: 8; 100,000 to 149,999: 7; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (9). 27 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2013 | 5 |
| 2014 | 6 |
| 2015 | 1 |
| 2016 | 7 |
| 2017 | 4 |
| 2018 | 7 |
| 2019 | 6 |
| 2020 | 3 |
| 2021 | 4 |
| 2022 | 4 |
| 2023 | 5 |
| 2024 | 3 |
| 2025 | 6 |
| 2026 | 2 |
2013: 5; 2014: 6; 2015: 1; 2016: 7; 2017: 4; 2018: 7; 2019: 6; 2020: 3; 2021: 4; 2022: 4; 2023: 5; 2024: 3; 2025: 6; 2026: 2
Pattern summary
Service Brakes leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 30 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 9 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 7 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10507511 · 2013-04-08 (April 8, 2013)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA PRIUS C. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE EXITING A RESIDENTIAL DRIVEWAY, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE VEHICLE AND ALL OF THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE BUT DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 5,527. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 5,527 miles reported. Look up ODI 10507511 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10513805 · 2013-05-28 (May 28, 2013)
THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED GENTLY AS THE CAR WAS APPROACHING A STOPPED CAR. THE PRIUS C THEN ACCELERATED, AT WHICH TIME THE BRAKES WERE FIRMLY APPLIED, THE ABS SYSTEM ENGAGED, BUT NOT IN ENOUGH TIME FOR THE VEHICLE TO STOP. THE PRIUS REAR ENDED THE VEHICLE IN FRONT, ALL AIRBAGS WERE DEPLOYED CAUSING INJURY TO THE DRIVER, AND THE FRONT END OF THE PRIUS WAS DESTROYED. IT CANNOT BE FIXED AND WILL NEED TO BE SCRAPPED. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 5,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10513805 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10524876 · 2013-07-15 (July 15, 2013)
MY 2012 TOYOTA PRIUS C FOUR MODEL (PURCHASED NEW IN AUGUST, 2012) WITH APPROXIMATELY 5,200 ORIGINAL MILES EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF POWER AND TOTAL FAILURE (ENGINE STALLED RIGHT AFTER THE HYBRID MOTOR WARNING LIGHT APPEARED) OF THE 2012 TOYOTA PRIUS C HYBRID INVERTER ENGINE DUE TO AN ELECTRICAL PANEL DEFECT WHILE EXITING I 495 IN ALEXANDRIA, VIRGINIA ON THE LATE EVENING OF JULY 6, 2013. TOYOTA CORPORATE ([phone removed]) OPENED CASE FILE # 1307101143 AND OUR LOCAL TOYOTA DEALERSHIP IN ALEXANDRIA, VA. WAS VERY HELPFUL AND PROACTIVE IN REPLACING …
Owner-reported narrative. 5,240 miles reported. Look up ODI 10524876 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10525561 · 2013-07-18 (July 18, 2013)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA PRIUS C. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKED, THE REAR WINDSHIELD SHATTERED WITHOUT WARRANT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 36,000. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 36,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10525561 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10547468 · 2013-10-09 (October 9, 2013)
WINDSHIELD WAS CHIPPED BY SOME DEBRIS WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY GOING ABOUT 55 MPH, THE SIZE WAS HALF A CENTIMETER, IF THAT. THE NEXT MORNING IT TURNED INTO A 6 INCH CRACK AND HAS GROWN EVEN BIGGER IN THE PAST COUPLE WEEKS TO WHERE IT HAS COME TO BLOCK MY VISION. OTHER CARS THAT I HAVE OWNED HAD CHIPS IN THE WINDSHIELD, BUT NEVER DEVELOPED INTO A CRACK. I AM THINKING THE WINDSHIELD IS TOO, TOO, THIN FOR IT TO BE PRACTICAL FOR A VEHICLE TRAVELING HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND HAVE READ THAT THIS IS A COMMON OCCURRENCE AMONG OTHER OWNERS. MY BIGGEST CONC…
Owner-reported narrative. 22,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10547468 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10579128 · 2014-04-11 (April 11, 2014)
CAR IN FRONT SLOWED THEN STOPPED QUICKLY AS THE CAR AHEAD OF IT ATTEMPTED TO USE THE MIDDLE LANE IMPROPERLY (NOT A TURN LANE AT THAT TIME), NOT MOVING FULLY NOR QUICKLY INTO THE LANE. CAR IN FRONT STOPPED. APPLIED BRAKES IMMEDIATELY TO THE PRIUS C TO SLOW, THEN ADDED ONE RAPID PUMP, AND ULTIMATELY PUSHED THE PEDAL TO THE FLOOR. THE PRIUS DID LITTLE MORE THAN SLOW (WITHOUT EVEN A JOLT FROM THE FIRM APPLICATION OF THE BRAKES), CAUSING A CRASH INTO THE REAR OF THE CAR IN FRONT AND SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO THE ENTIRE FRONT END. NO AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT…
Owner-reported narrative. 25,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10579128 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10583756 · 2014-04-20 (April 20, 2014)
WHEN STEPPING ON THE BRAKES DURING WEST WEATHER (MOISTURE IN THE BRAKES) THE REAR WHEELS LOCK UP FOR A SPLIT SECOND EVERY TIME. WHEN IT IS DRY IT DOESN'T LOCK UP BUT STILL HITS HARD.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10583756 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10585791 · 2014-04-30 (April 30, 2014)
BRAKES ARE EXTREMELY TOUCHY AND GRAB WHENEVER IT IS DAMP OUTSIDE. *JS
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10585791 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
0 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
No recall campaigns are recorded in this snapshot.