2016 Toyota PRIUS C: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
12 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
4,475 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2016 model year. Data snapshot: . 6 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Unknown Or Other is the most frequently named component, appearing in 4 of 12 complaints (33.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 5 | 41.7% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 3 | 25.0% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Unknown Or Other | 4 |
| Service Brakes | 3 |
| Electrical System | 2 |
| Exterior Lighting | 1 |
| Hybrid Propulsion System | 1 |
| Tires | 1 |
| Tires:Sidewall | 1 |
| Tires:Tread/Belt | 1 |
Unknown Or Other: 4; Service Brakes: 3; Electrical System: 2; Exterior Lighting: 1; Hybrid Propulsion System: 1; Tires: 1; Tires:Sidewall: 1; Tires:Tread/Belt: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 6 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 6; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (6). 6 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 |
|---|---|
| 2016 | 3 |
| 2017 | 3 |
| 2019 | 1 |
| 2022 | 1 |
| 2024 | 2 |
| 2025 | 1 |
| 2026 | 1 |
2016: 3; 2017: 3; 2019: 1; 2022: 1; 2024: 2; 2025: 1; 2026: 1
Pattern summary
Unknown Or Other leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 5 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 3 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 10897152 · 2016-08-19 (August 19, 2016)
BRAKES, I HAVE ANTI LOCK BRAKES, BUT IF I HAVE TO PRESS THE BRAKE THE LEAST BIT HARD IT LOCKS UP. I HAVE TALKED TO THE DEALER ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND HE SAYS ITS NORMAL. THEY ALSO GRAB WHEN I PUT THEM ON. THIS IS MY THIRD PRIUS AND I HAVE NEVER HAD THIS PROBLEM. I THINK THIS NEEDS TO BE LOOKED INTO.IT MAKES THE CAR SKID . THANK YOU *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 11,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10897152 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10935533 · 2016-12-15 (December 15, 2016)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 TOYOTA PRIUS C. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, A RUBBER ODOR EMITTED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT NO FAILURE WAS DETERMINED. SEVERAL DAYS LATER, THE "HYBRID COOLANT SYSTEM NEEDS SERVICE" WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED AS A SAFETY HAZARD. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO BE DRIVEN AND THAT THE BATTERY COMPARTMENT FILTER SYSTEM NEEDED CLEANING TO PREVENT THE BATTERIES FROM OVERHEATING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIR…
Owner-reported narrative. 7,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10935533 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10938581 · 2016-12-29 (December 29, 2016)
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 TH…
Owner-reported narrative. 2 miles reported. Look up ODI 10938581 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11011994 · 2017-08-01 (August 1, 2017)
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.
Owner-reported narrative. 62 miles reported. Look up ODI 11011994 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11041440 · 2017-10-30 (October 30, 2017)
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 OCCASI…
Owner-reported narrative. 1,950 miles reported. Look up ODI 11041440 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11055096 · 2017-12-17 (December 17, 2017)
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.
Owner-reported narrative. 19,700 miles reported. Look up ODI 11055096 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11181608 · 2019-02-21 (February 21, 2019)
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).
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11181608 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11490244 · 2022-10-20 (October 20, 2022)
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.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11490244 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.