2013 Toyota Prius C Problems, Recalls & Reliability
Verdict
AvoidComplaint Index
86/100
#2 most-complained of 8 Prius C years
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
The 2013 Toyota Prius C has 57 complaints and a complaint index of 86, ranking 2nd worst of 8 model years tracked, with a verdict of Avoid. Electrical System issues make up 47% of complaints, followed by Brakes at 32%.
- Complaints
- 57
- Recalls
- 0
- Crashes / fires
- 8 / 0
- Injuries / deaths
- 2 / 0
- NHTSA overall rating
- 4 / 5 ★
- EPA combined MPG
- 50
- 53 city / 46 hwy
Top 2013 Toyota Prius C problems
NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Electrical System27 (47%)
- Brakes18 (32%)
- Engine11 (19%)
- Fuel System10 (18%)
- Other6 (11%)
- Airbags4 (7%)
- Transmission & Powertrain4 (7%)
- Steering3 (5%)
- Structure & Body3 (5%)
- Collision Avoidance & Cameras2 (4%)
What owners report
- Owners report sudden loss of power and the vehicle dropping out of ready mode while driving on the freeway, sometimes with dashboard warning lights and a message to stop the vehicle immediately.
- Owners describe brake pedals that fail to respond or that slam down abruptly, leading to skidding or crashes during emergency stops.
- Some drivers say airbags did not deploy during side-impact or T-bone collisions despite significant crash force.
- Owners report the check hybrid system light appearing repeatedly, sometimes tied to hybrid battery wiring, with the issue recurring after temporary fixes.
- A few drivers describe unintended acceleration while making low-speed turns, despite not pressing the accelerator normally.
2013 Toyota Prius C recalls
No safety recalls on record for this model year.
2013 Toyota Prius C fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 53 MPG
- Highway
- 46 MPG
- Combined
- 50 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $1,300
- 15,000 mi/yr
- Fuel
- Regular
- Current regular gas
- $4.32/gal
- national avg.
EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.
2013 compared with other Prius C years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2013 Toyota Prius C reliable?
- Compared to other Prius C model years, the 2013 ranks 2nd worst out of 8 years tracked, with a complaint index of 86 and a verdict of Avoid based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls.
- What are the most common problems with the 2013 Toyota Prius C?
- NHTSA data shows Electrical System complaints make up 47% of all reports, followed by Brakes at 32% and Engine issues at 19%.
- Does the 2013 Toyota Prius C have any recalls?
- NHTSA lists 0 recalls for the 2013 Toyota Prius C, including 0 do-not-drive recalls.
- At what mileage do problems typically show up on the 2013 Prius C?
- Median mileage at failure varies by system: Brakes issues show up at a median of 39,850 miles, Engine at 62,350 miles, and Electrical System issues at 70,000 miles.
- How does the 2013 Prius C compare to other years?
- The 2013 model (complaint index 86) trails only the 2012 model (complaint index 100) as the worst years, while the 2016 model (complaint index 14) is rated Best among the years tracked.